Ch 11:

-Two Orns Later-

Dragging my peds I start heading to the red council room. The council was to work on a solution to stopping anymore outbreaks of war and since it was my livelihood on the line I got to sit in on the council. "Soundwave you can't do this to me!" I hear Starscream's screech around the corner.

"Explanation: No one else is good enough."

"Not good enough? There are plenty of Decepticons to choose from, just point in a random direction. Why do you think I let you take over?"

"Explanation: As ironic as it is I trust you the most. Also, you are more charismatic than I."

Silence. "Fine, I'll be the second in command again, although I might regret it. We better hurry or we'll be late." The walk around the corner and Starscream walks right into me. "Oh, Optimus. Sorry did I scuff your paint?" He peers closely at my paint. Glancing over his head I catch Soundwave staring right at me, his visor and mask concealing his emotions.

"Nothing that can't be fixed later." I reply and continue walking. Starscream fell in step next to me, pulling out a polishing cloth and working on the sections of paint that had been scuffed on himself. "Are you sitting in on this meeting as well?" I ask. He looks up, still polishing.

"I have no choice. Just when I say I don't want leadership, leadership finds me." He sighs. As we exit the halls I see Backfire and Skyseam land. They appeared to be having an argument. They quiet down and fall in line with us, Skyseam at Starscream's elbow, Backfire behind us to loop arms with Soundwave.

Getting to the appropriate door I'm surprised to see Skyseam as well as Backfire enter and take seats at a half round table. The other half round table only had one other seat as the other council members were there already. Since there were only four seats at the other table I assumed the number had been planned for.

"Reasoning: Could we do this as quickly as possible? I have much to do." Soundwave asks. A casseticon pops out of his chest and unfolds on the desk, Razorbeak. "Explanation: Razorbeak will record this meeting for future reference."

"Very well. Unfortunately we could only come up with one solution. I would like to hear yours first." Soundwave leans back and lowers his helm. Backfire leans forward.

"Unfortunately we have not been able to come up with a solution. Well, there was one-"

"Interuption: That is out of the question!" Soundwave slams his servo onto the desk, disrupting Razorbeak who was carefully scooped up by Starscream. He strokes her tiny helm reassuringly and whispers something before perching her on top of one of his shoulder scoops.

"The only option we could come up with was a spark bond." Ultra Magnus says quickly before a fight broke out. "But for it to work we'd need someone influential. It has come to our understanding that Skyseam is quite popular amongst the Decepticons." Soundwave waves his servo.

"Demand: Choose someone else! She is not ready for something of this matter and she should choose who it is that gets her spark."

"Who would you pick?" Skyseam asks.

"Decided: I will choose no one. They will volunteer." Everyone goes silent before Skyseam places her servos on the table, probably preparing to volunteer. Gently Starscream places Razorbeak back on the table and stands up.

"I volunteer. Decepticon second in command is a more powerful position than the leader's creation." He didn't look up from the desk. Several clicks of silence passed before Skyseam slammed her servos onto the desk.

"Disbelieving: You can't do this!" She shouts, her voice scratching and breaking due to her voice box.

"It is my duty." He replies.

"Demand: You can't do this! I would give everything for you, especially your happiness!" She walks over to the front of his desk section. "Pleading: Please let someone else volunteer."

Starscream finally looks up. "Skyseam there is no other way. It'll be okay, I promise." Her helm hangs and her wings droop.

I get up and walk around to Skyseam's position, aware that almost all eyes were on me. "Skyseam, it will be alright. I promise to treat him fairly." She looks up, optics distrustful before she gives me a weak smile.

"You better or I'll slag you ten ways to the next decacycle." She says. Looking up I catch Starscream's surprised optics. Razorbeak flies up to his helm and starts pecking him, breaking him out of shock.

"Then it is decided. All that's left to do is come up with a date. We can't hold it off for too long though." Ultra Magnus says, getting up. The rest of the council files out after him with Soundwave and Backfire following. Starscream places Razorbeak on the desk and Skyseam picks her up.

"Come on, you look like you need a repaint. I might not be as good as but I'm not bad at it." She says. This left Starscream and I alone.

"Did you volunteer or were you made to do it?" He asks after awhile, going back to averting his gaze. What if Jazz had been wrong?

"Not really, it was decided before the meeting. But if it grants you any consolation I'm happy that it was you who volunteered." He looks back up.

"Why?" It was a cautious question.

"It showed you were willing to risk yourself for your apprentice. And there's no other bot I'd rather have." His cheek plates begin to glow from energon and he starts fiddling with his digits.

"It's funny."

"What is?"

"I like you more than I feel comfortable to say. I've never been this lucky." He adds with a small laugh.

"Then maybe it's time you deserved a bit of luck."

A/N You guys do realize I love reviews right?