A/N: Warning: This part contains torture, child abuse and talk of child's death!
Part 14: Black Stars
Starscream came around back in his cell. Rigel was touching his faceplate softly.
The Seeker hurt. His head hurt horribly. He had a sore on the back of his neck where the scrambler had been. His valve felt ripped, it throbbed from over-use. His throat felt raw, stretched. His fuel was low.
"Fa-ther…" Rigel whispered. He nudged his sire carefully. Starscream could smell energon being touched close to his mouth, his little one trying to get him to drink.
His internal clock said he had been out almost 7 days. The entire celebration he'd been drugged and fragged. Unknown to Starscream, pictures of him were on the holo-net now, while humiliating, had given his trine and the renegade Autobots vital information. They knew where Starscream was being held.
"Fff-fa-father…" Rigel tried again. The child had been terrified when he was gone so long and was so happy he had come back, though he had been offline for two days despite the little one's best attempts to wake him. He had managed to clean his sire some with a rag Clank had given him. The little one cleaned all the blood out of seams and coils and cables. He cleaned… dried fluids off his father's thighs and plating. He knew. He remembered.
Starscream let out a hoarse moan, feeling his throat was like overused sandpaper. Raw and really painful. His optics flickered several time, having a hard time adjusting to the light in the cell, blinking like a owl caught in headlights. He tried to roll to his side, to move, but everything hurts. All he managed to do was curl on his side, and his tanks rolled from the action. He moaned again willing the whatever was in his tanks not to come back out, to no avail. He barely just managed to push himself away from Rigel enough so his throw up didn't splatter the child as well as the floor. He gagged for a few minutes, dry retching and gears grinding in his tanks and throat before it seems to calm down enough for him to sit up, very slowly, and lean against the wall.
His optics finally fell on Rigel, his worried little faceplates looking up at him, and he smiled weakly. He reached out with a trembling hand and put it on the boy's helm. "Hey..." He said, his voice barely above a whisper and a lot raspier than usual. he coughed and cleared his intakes. "Rigel, I'm sorry I was gone so long..." he had trouble getting this all out, and he stopped talking after that. Better use the bond. he was a mess, and it just started to dawn on him what had been done to him.
His expression darkened, his optics clouding over, and he was letting out an angry hiss through clenched theet. Those bastards! They drugged him! Drugged him and raped him for a whole fucking week! A thought came to his mind and his optics widened. Did anyone...? He hoped none of those dumb fragger merged spark with him! They were sometimes too fragging stupid to realize that merging sparks while fragging could equal sparkling! He had just purged, too. It was worrisome. He still had a rolling nausea in the pit of his tanks. He prayed to Primus it was JUST the aftereffect of the drug and the intense fragging.
He felt used, like some pleasure drone of a Kaonite Whorehouse, and he had the sudden urge to clean. He was dirty, he was so, so dirty! He needed to get cleaned! Now! He looked around frantically, but there was nothing there that could be used as cleanser or anything like that. He spotted the rag in the corner of the berth and grabbed it and started to scrub himself frantically, so hard in some areas that spark flew from too rough scrapping.
Rigel stared at him, he had tried to clean him of what he could. He watched in silent sadness, still holding the energon cube he had been saving for his sire. "Too ha-hard…" He said gently, watching Starscream trying to clean away more than dry body-fluids. The little one inched closer until he touched pedes. "Sick?" He wondered.
He'd never seen an adult puke before. He had, himself, puked but it was different to see someone else, especially an adult, especially his father.
He wanted to know what to do, if anything. The child felt terrible to see Starscream so upset. He wasn't worried anymore about Star being gone, he had been at the time, but he was back and the child's world was somewhat righted once more.
Rigel wanted to tell Starscream that someone he didn't know had come by when he was gone, a bot who looked like an animal, though Rigel didn't know what kind of animal to even name it. It had been Ravage. He began to attempt to tell this, it was why he had energon. "Four lllll-lllll-legs, fa-fa-fa-fangs," He put the cube down and used his hands to make, what seemed to be ears. "Blllll-black, br-br-br-brought us ener-enerrrrrrrr-energon."
Starscream stilled his movements at his child's words, his attention returned to the little one. He had almost forgotten he was there in his frenzy! He let out a strangled cry and pulled him to his chest, tight, forgetting about the rag. "Oh Rigel! I'm so, so sorry! I was gone so long! I didn't meant to!" He ignored the pain in his sore throat as he whispered hoarsely those words to his little boy. He held him for a few more minutes before letting go and smiling sadly. "I'm back now, and I'll try not to leave you for so long again."
"I'm fine, it'll pass." Starscream said when Rigel asked if he was sick. He felt the nausea was subsiding already, and was relieved. he didn't want to be sick in front of his child and upset him more. He tilted his head at the description. That sounded familiar. Black Cyberpanther that had brought energon. That could only be Ravage, one of Soundwave's cassette. He wasn't sure where to stand with the telepath. he hadn't shown him any hostility, not even resentment, after he lost the sparklings. He'll wait and see he supposed.
"That was probably Ravage, one of Soundwave's cassettes. He's a spy and I think he's friendly." He said to the child answering his words about their visitor. Whatever Soundwave was up to, to help them or whatever, he felt a pang of anger that the fragger did nothing to stop that horrible ordeal from happening. He probably could have. Fuck them all...
Rigel nodded, though he looked a bit startled when Starscream grabbed and clutched at him, though he leaned into him, he hugged his father. "It's o-okay…" He said, feeling he needed to comfort Star. Needed to take care of him. But he was so small and everything was hard. He leaned his head against Starscream's chest, wishing he was bigger like his carrier, wishing he was grown up and able to control these things.
Then Starscream heard it.
Those footsteps.
Tunnelclaw.
The big bot was coming down the hall. He stopped in front of the bars, "I thought you should be coming around about now," He was checking, he eyed the puke on the floor. He shook a bottle. "This should help you readjust from the circuit-breaker." He tossed the bottle through the bars, it rolled nosily along the floor. He had some scratches on his paint job from their fragging.
Starscream went very still as he watched the door and the form of Tunnelclaw appearing in front of them. His fists tightened, and his optics narrowed while a low, angry growl escaped his throat. He followed the bottle with his optics for but a second before looking back up at the mech.
He hated him. Like he had never hated anyone since his father's demise by his own hands. Not even Megatron, and that was saying a lot. If he could... He pictured himself ripping the mech's throat open with his own fangs and tearing out his sparks with his bare claws. His claws had unsheathed and he looked like a very pissed off feline ready to pounce despite and bars.
"Get the Pit away, Tunnelclaw! I've got nothing to tell you!" he spat, putting as much hate and venom into his voice as he possibly could. If looks could kill, as the saying goes, the mech would be a pile of molten slag right now. Starscream held protectively his son behind himself as he stood in front of the bars defiantly now, all riled up and filled with burning rage and hatred.
Tunnelclaw's faceplate tensed, "What's your problem, Princess? Headache?" He grumbled. "You had a good time, I promise. You moaned like breeder whore you are, while I fragged you again and again and again. You begged to suck my dirty spike clean, to taste your own valve, you had a good time," He said, to humiliate him. It annoyed him that Starscream was mouthing off already. "You should be grateful. If it wasn't for your good looks you wouldn't have anything. You'd sit here and rot and your sparkling would be long dead from lack of energon. You think I need to give you those pills?" He had expected gratitude.
Rigel shifted uncomfortably and he touched his sire's hand, giving it a small squeeze, telling him he was here through their bond. His little buddy. He loved Starscream without fault.
"Where's my thank you, Starscream, you fragging glitch?" Tunnelclaw growled.
Starscream's expression darkened as the disgusting fragger spoke, and his hands tightened into fists. Well, the one not holding Rigel's little hand anyway. "Don't say things like that in front of the sparkling!" he hissed, baring his fangs, hatred shining in his optics. He managed, with Rigel's support, to calm his rage though and he was just angry now. "You drugged me! I couldn't do a fragging thing!"
It was true, he had been out of it for the entirety of the ordeal. And the mech expected he be grateful and thank him for being raped?! He was glitching... However, he did take the bottle from the floor and grumbled something that was clearly not very nice through his theet. "Thanks for the meds." He said louder at least, almost like the words burned his glossa. He squeezed back Rigel's little hand, taking comfort in the presence and support of his little one.
Tunnelclaw left in a huff.
Starscream and Rigel had some days of peace. The normal routine. No sign of Tunnelclaw. Rigel, with the energon Ravage had snuck in, was feeling better than he had in a long time and Clank had slipped the child an old data-pad that still worked so he could draw pictures on it. Rigel would draw and draw but seemed to have no pride, not like Sirius who demanded to be seen and heard and appreciated, Rigel would never want to show Starscream his pictures. He was quiet, he drew, and if Starscream asked he would shyly show and try to explain if questions were asked. The child was so beaten down by life, he couldn't even take pride in a picture but at least he still had enough will to bother to draw in the first place. It said things were not hopeless.
Though, Starscream could hear the heavy steps of the big warden. Tunnelclaw. Here he was. He stopped outside the bars and motioned at Starscream, "Let's have some fun, Princess." He growled, showing denta. "It's just me this time, lucky you."
Starscream was deeply worried for his child's mind. He seemed to have lost all progress he'd made in the months he'd been home, and Starscream felt a pang of anger when he thought about it. Megatron will have to pay the highest price for doing this to his child. He swore it as he watched Rigel draw on his little pad. "I promise my little one, we'll get out of here soon. I'll do my best to make it happen."
When he heard those familiar heavy footsteps he rose from where he'd been sitting with Rigel and watching him draw again, to turn to the bars and glare in anger at the disgusting grounder. "Well, no, so you can kiss my aft, you disgusting piece of scrap!" he said with his arms crossed over his chest.
Tunnelclaw was quiet for a few seconds and then laughed.
Rigel jerked up and stared as the grounder laughed loudly.
He stopped. "You really want me to come in that cell and drag you out, Starscream?" He questioned. He knew what really pissed the Seeker off and that was messing with the kid but Tunnelclaw really had no interest in that but a few words, well, that he could manage. "Rigel." He said hard enough to get the child's attention.
"Sssss-sss-s-ss-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-ssssir."
"Frag, are you retarded? Your sire has a lot of little ones that are going to pound you into the pavement when they're older, you stupid runt, you know the percentage of Cybertronian's who stutter? It's like zero, zero, zero, zero point something. You won the idiot lottery. Stand up."
Rigel did, shivering with nerves.
"Tell me your father gets to stay in this cell without stuttering and I won't drag his sorry aft out, crying and screaming," Tunnelclaw said. "Say: Starscream stays in the cell. Five words. You want to protect your daddy? Huh? Five words."
Rigel became very still. It hurt him. Not being made fun of. It hurt him that he couldn't do it. That if he could do something that was so normal and easy, his father would be safe and not have to go and do something awful that he didn't want to do. Guilt and self-loathing settled on the sparkling's spark. His stutter had grown even worse since they had been locked up. "Ssssssss-"
"NOPE," Tunnelclaw smirked. "Looks like daddy is coming with me."
Rigel couldn't look at Starscream. He just stood where he was, shoulders hanging, head down. Ashamed.
Tunnelclaw slide the cell door open.
Starscream was about to step in front of Rigel to protect him and answer that idiotic fragger when the mech decided to pick on Rigel's most obvious weakness. This was low, disgusting and instantly made his blood boil. He sent soothing waves to the child through their bond, trying to calm him and reassure him. "Don't listen to that fragger, Rigel. You're a smart kid. You just have some issues. he's the stupid one, not you." he said coldly, looking the other straight in the optics. he bared his fangs, his anger kept mounting to dangerous proportions. And of course, he just snapped. he was still sore from his previous ordeal, was still a little sick from the drug, and he was just an inch from exploding.
Starscream seethed with anger, that stupid disgusting asshole had no right to insult his child! He hissed and suddenly lunged at him, all claws out, digging them in his throat hard. "You bastard! You have no right to torment a sparkling like that! I'll make you eat those words!" he snarled in n his face, firmly latched into him and tearing all he could until the other either dropped or he pulled him off him.
Starscream sliced a major tube along Tunnelclaw's neck and he gushed blood. Still the grounder was much bigger than Starscream and once his huge servo grabbed Starscream's head he, for a moment, considered ripping it off but instead flung Star back against the wall behind them. He listened to the satisfying sound of metal hitting metal and grabbed hold of his bleeding wound, squeezing hard.
"NO!" Rigel cried out helplessly. He dashed towards Starscream out of instinct not some will to challenge the warden and the black bot wacked the kid back into the cell. Rigel hit the ground on his back and rolled several times before coming to a stop on the back wall of their cell and slumped over, optics flickering dim, completely knocked out.
Tunnelclaw slammed the cell shut with one arm and grabbed Starscream after, letting his hand off his neck, letting his wound bleed. He shook the flyer and then started dragged him down the hall. He didn't rant or rave or say anything. He just marched and not in the direction of his office where he always brought him. He shoved Starscream hard, again, into a door and then spoke. "RAMPAGE," He hit a button and there was snarling inside and the sound of electric currents going off. The only way Tunnelclaw would open the cell was after delivering a jolt that would have killed most bots. He opened it then and not looking, not listening, not caring- he threw Starscream within and shut the door again. It was a metal door, not bars. It had a very small sliding hole where energon sticks were carefully deposited for Rampage when needed.
Starscream choked when he was grabbed by his neck and he wiggled and fought with all his might to get out of the mech's grip, kicking and trying to claw and bite. He was aware they weren't going to Tunnelclaw's 'office' either and when he was tossed inside a cell where something roared and growled like a beast, he immediately jumped to his feet and back against the door, his optics adjusting to the obscurity.
What he saw was a creature out of a nightmare. it was a beast alright, with sharp theet, claws, beast-like features. it was more an animal then a mech, and Starscream felt his spark clench in his chest with fear. Rampage, as Tunnelclaw called that thing, seemed unconscious for now. He turned back and pounded on the door frantically. "LET ME OUT! OUT!"
Rampage was a stunning mech with crab-like hooks on his back and a strange face, or lack of what one would consider a traditional face. Two eyes, green in color, where most had a mouth or a faceplate he had a more precise plate, two gunmetal gray pieces coming together and when he talked they split vertically and clicked like an insect. He was big but he just sat where he was, smoking lazily from being electrocuted, and stared at the Seeker.
What was the rush?
"You're an emotional one," He said, because he could feel it. Among his many strengths, he was a telepath and gained energy from the emotional states of those around him—especially intense ones. The more intense, the better. Nothing satisfied him more than torture and he instantly knew several things- that Starscream was here for strange reasons, that he had a child, perhaps more than one, and he was protecting something… something vulnerable. He watched, he listened to the emotions around the other as if it was a song playing, he listened to the words.
"Starscream."
Rampage tipped his red chin up, "What are you protecting? A sparkling. But they are near you, near now," He found this odd. It made no sense. Why would a sparkling be here? But he knew he wasn't wrong, even if it was odd. Oh he'd love to get his hands on something so innocent, when the pain would be pure, so pure… these older mechs, they were so jaded. So used up.
Starscream slowly turned around to face the larger mech once more, and stayed close to the door. he narrowed his optics at what the mech was saying, it made no fragging sense! It was obvious that he wasn't quite sane and that he would rather eat him then talk to him. Starscream kept his optics on him at all times, but was smart enough not to back himself in a corner. he kept his distance though.
"A sparkling? What do you mean? There's no sparkling here!" He finally said, not getting what the mech was saying. he was crazy... "Maybe I'm protecting something, so what? It's not here with us anyway." he hissed, he wouldn't say anything else to the fragger.
Rampage slowly stood up, leaned back, rolled his shoulders and neck. "Do you know who I am?" He sensed Starscream had some idea, at least idea enough to be afraid which was what most had. He started to close the space between them, watching without shuttering his optics. "You can't run from me in this little space and fighting, while I enjoy it, is… not where we need to be just yet. You know he put you in here to die."
He stopped, "Even if I don't kill you, they won't open the door unless they shock me and the voltage would kill you I, on the other hand," He clicked his faceplate. "I can't die."
"Yes, I know who you are. Rampage, well-know serial killer with cannibalistic tendencies. Even the Decepticons wouldn't take you in..." Starscream replied, narrowing his optics, following the mech's movements. "A monster through and through. Even Megatron can't claim to be as cruel and sadistic are you are known to be."
Oh yes, he was terrified. he didn't want to die. he had a sparkling to take care off! What would become of Rigel if he stayed here at the mercy of that monster?! What if Tunnelcalw decide to throw Rigel in here with him?... No! No he wouldn't! he wasn't that cruel! Was he?... He was certain Rampage was telling the truth. They wouldn't open that door unless they shock the beast first, and that would certainly kill him. He was going to die here, and he was certain it wasn't going to be pretty or fast.
He would never see his mate or sparklings again.
he just hopes Thundercracker would be wise enough not to go on a wild attempt at rescue and get himself killed, making their little ones orphan in the process.
Rampage watched, "Serial killer? I was created," He said. "Because my spark, it won't die, I've been experimented on since before the war because no matter what they did, I'd survive, and when they sickened of me they tried to kill me, tried everything, and here I stay… they call me Rampage because when I finally snapped," He tilted his head. "Well. They are not saying anything anymore."
He stared. "What happened? You are the second-in-command, so why are you locked up in here… with me? What happened to change this and, more importantly, do you have any way to get me out of this cell? As much as I would love to drink in your misery, slowly, and I am bored, you have no idea… if you have any power left, any at all, maybe you would use it to free me and save yourself in the process?"
"You were created as a way to try and create an immortal spark! That was foolish from the beginning! it's impossible!" He retorted, eyeing the mech warily. He was crazy but he was also very intelligent. He had to be extra careful with that mech.
Starscream untensed a bit and looked at the mech with a more calculating look. If they could strike a deal, he might yet get out of here alive. He smirked and nodded, crossing his arms over his chest. "I still have powerful allies, and they are probably working on a plan to rescue me as we speak. I might be able to convince them to let you out as well. Just... look the other way if you'd like."
Rampage leaned into him, "Prove it," He rumbled. "You are known for being a liar…" Green optics went over him. "You misunderstand when I say I want out. I will never get out, not in the sense you are thinking of but I will get out," He could sense Starscream's spark was different. Very strong. Very strong. It was what he had been waiting for. "You can carry me out…" He scratched a claw down Star's chest.
It took a moment but once Starscream understood what Rampage meant, he felt horror grip his spark and shook his head in denial, his arms coming up to cover his chest, instinct to protect his spark strong. "no..." He whispered, barely audible, his voice holding disbelief and horror. "You... NO! I... I won't!" He backed away against the door, all claws out and hissing like a cornered animal. "Please! Don't!"
"You would rather I torture you, in this very specific way that only I can do. I can drink in your misery and I like to drink," Rampage stepped closer, "Those little needles will scratch off my paint… I was built to withstand bombs, you are the same to me, here, as the sparkling close that you want to protect," He looked at Starscream's chest, he can hear the vibrations, unique, and it sounded like music to him. Beautiful. Brilliant. Violent. "You're perfect…" He trailed.
Rampage watched, already drinking in the fear. "Worse things could happen…" He offered.
"Whatever I say or do, you'll torture me won't you? Just to drink in my misery, as you say." Starscream said, his voice quivering. He was terrified of that mech, but he wasn't going to stop mouthing off. He knew that he had no chance against the huge mech in front of him. Not in a hand-to-hand fight anyway.
"Perfect..." He trailed of himself, moving away as the mech moved closer, trying to keep some distance between them. "Why?..." He was curious about what that mech saw in him really that he couldn't.
"Your spark," Rampage saw no reason to deny him the answer. "It is very strong, I've never felt anything stronger, besides my own. It's violent and pulsing… perfect," He said. "I won't torture you if you cooperate though I believe what I want to do is going to be painful, regardless of your cooperation, though, it would make other aspects less traumatic for you," Rampage said. He paused, "Open your spark chamber, I want to see your spark and you do realize, this is the only way you will make it out of this cell alive. I won't die. Neither will you. The electricity that is going to fry this cube with Tunnelclaw opens the door—you will survive."
He rumbled, "I am impressed that you, of all Decepticons, cannot see what I am," He leaned closer. "I am like you, I was made this way by those around me, yes, I can feel it in you… rage, blood, hatred, lust, need for control, want for power, want to see others crumple beneath you as you were crumpled as a child… you were made this way. So was I." His optics flashed.
Starscream narrowed his optics, this answer made him feel like he was missing a piece. How was it going to work? What Rampage was proposing... it sounded impossible. Starscream was still terrified that the mech would just do whatever the hell he wanted with him regardless of his answer, so there was much to gain by showing a bit a little cooperation. Especially since he didn't felt like dying just yet. Which would happen if Tunnelclaw electrified this place again. "How is it going to work anyway? What you say... it should be impossible." he pointed out, emphasing on the SHOULD BE since nothing about that mech was quite normal. He took a step back instinctively, protecting his spark. "What?! If you think I'm just going to bare my spark just because you say so, you're wrong!" He was extremely protective of his spark after... what was done to him when he was a youngling. He rarely bared his spark, and only to his bondmate. megatron made him do it a few times too... But he always hated it.
There was truth in this. Starscream was what he was because others made him like this. He was his own mech and he craved power, to be recognized and praised for his work, for his intelligence, to have mechs grovel before him and kneel at his feet. They were alike... yet very different. "I'm my own mech, I'm the master of my destiny! I'm a King, no one tells me what to do!" he retorted, optics blazing, still protecting his spark.
Rampage watched, he liked this Starscream…
He'd waited a long time for a creature so perfect to come to him. "A King without a crown is hardly a King," He mused. "Titles mean nothing when everyone hates you. The same as my immortal spark means nothing because everyone is terrified of me, I wasn't born crazy you know…" His faceplate clicked.
Instead he inhaled and bared his own spark which was a bizarre molten glob glowing like a star in his chest. It had much less casing and was the same green as his optics. He was so beaten throughout the years he tipped his chin, daring, imposing and smirked, "Try to kill me. Go on." He scratched digits along Starscream's chest again. "Warrior King, I can taste your pain and rage, it's thick. Let me see it." As much as he wanted things from Starscream his broken nature began to get the better of him and Star's rage and brilliance and pain was nearly impossible for Rampage to deny. He wanted to play in it like a child in a bathtub would water.
"I can understands that..." Starscream whispered, lowering his arms, feeling for the first time a kind of connection with the larger mech. They were kindred spirits, as humans says. They were the same and had a very similar path in life. Forged through pain, rejection, anger and a desperate need to prove themselves. He smiled wickedly, his optics shining with a malice and understanding that was very easy to unlock from himself. Such emotions came so easily to him... too easily, but they were his and he would never deny his own nature. "We are similar in many ways, I see it now. We are the same because we share a similar path or hardships, trials, pain, anger, rejection. I understands so well..."
he stared at his spark, his red optics widening, and he reached out with a hand. His claws were still out, serrated, deadly, almost begging to be used. he looked up questioningly, but Rampaged didn't seem like he was kidding or trying to taunt him into action. Well, yes, but he seemed to genuinely want him to try to kills. However, he hesitated, his claws mere inches from the pulsing green orb. "I've never seen such a fascinating thing in my life..." He whispered, then touched it with the tips of his claws, dragging them slowly across the surface to see what would happen.
Rampage growled and inhaled sharply in a very sexual way but didn't flinch, didn't pull away. His spark didn't flicker, it was solid as a stone instead of a flittering thing as so many were. He watched Starscream, drinking in his curiosity and willingness. "Harder," He clicked. "Dig your claw in, do it." He said huskily.
At the same time he pressed a little closer to the Seeker, bumping him some, as if giving some silent greeting. White metal on the sides of his face, like some kind of thin mandible twitched and came down, locking with two prongs on each side of his faceplate but his mouth still clicked beneath. "Come now, fight with me, you know I'll hold back because I need you alive, so let me see this rage, fight with me, frag with me, let insanity have us." He hooked a claw in Star's collar and pulled him closer, "You see, it would be in your best interest to not make that little thing in my head snap that tells me you're prey."
Starscream hissed, he didn't like mechs invading his personal space without his consent. He growled and dug his claws in the spark he was already touching, really digging inside and piercing the green orb. That would usually kill a mech since he wasn't holding back any, and he had a triumphant look for a moment. he doubted that would do anything to Rampage though... but he kept at it, clawing, using his talons and claws to use the mech like a mountain and climb. He had been issued a challenge, and he wouldn't disappoint.
"You want me to fight? Fine! I'll fight alright!" He snarled then, lunging for real at the mech, digging his claws at different places then his spark with his other hand, but the one in his spark was still mercilessly abusing the bright orb. The husky tone used by the larger mech also made him get aroused. he was a bit of a masochist, and rough sex including some blood and fight was fine by him. He never told that to TC though... he wouldn't understands.
Rampage was groaning, he let Starscream tackle him to the floor before he grabbed the mech by his hips and tossed him against the berth. It was an optic-shutter and Rampage was sitting beside him, smirking, he grabbed beneath Starscream's chin and tilted it, to see his optics. He had some scratches but nothing bled. His spark was still bare, almost as if he had forgotten his chest paneling was revealed. "Harder," He said. "I'll sit here and let you play." He was waiting for the Seeker to say he wanted it as well, wanted to bleed a little, wanted to frag and not care about anything but the emotions.
"Yeees..." Starscream growled, letting his own chest finally part and bare his red, brightly pulsing spark. He straddled Rampage and clawed even harder at him, digging deep and leaving bleeding marks. His own bloodlust had been awakened and he wanted it.
To feel it, to taste it. All of it. He leaned closer and whispered hoarsely into the mech's audio. "Hurt me. Makes me bleed. I want to taste it, and feel it!"
Rampage rumbled and grabbed Starscream's servo, he licked bloody claws from between his strange mouth. The hooks on his back lurched forward as if they were alive and thought for themselves, sticking into Starscream's back as he leaned down, clicking his mouth, and bumped his open chest against the other's. The feeling of his spark was addictive, he was so powerful, so brutal, he had not lied- he couldn't die. Starscream felt an awful charge bolt through his spine, awful because it was so dark and potent, it felt delicious but it was poison, dangerous, like blood in water.
Rampage seemed to like being scratched and bitten, "Open your valve," He said. His hooks held Starscream, as if he was in the claws of a monster but they didn't stab into him in a way that would leave him wounded, they just sunk in enough to hurt and hold.
It was raw, primal, grunts and groans of pleasure, carnal and wild, escaped the seeker's pretty lips as those wicked claws came up to dig into his back and dig into his plating holding him in place. Energon was running down his back in small rivulets as his spark flared. The combined feelings of the hooks digging into his back and the spark merging with him were enough to send him into a minor overload, but he recovered soon and let his valve cover slid open. Beautiful, beautiful agony...
Thundercracker never understood that he wanted and needed rough play and even pain and blood during interface once in a while. He was always the caring, gentle lover. Starscream loved him dearly, but he yearned for just what Rampage was giving him. Pain, blood, pure and raw carnal pleasure without fear or anger getting in the way like with Megatron. His now bared valve was already dripping wet and ready.
Rampage pressurized his spike, he had a different looking one, it had a knot halfway down. He thrust up, entered Starscream's wet valve and snarled with pleasure. He thrust a little, twice, and then pulled out. His hooks came off but he threw Starscream against the berth and pushed both servos on his lower back, putting pressure as he rubbed over one of the bleeding marks he left. He pushed back in, leaning over him like an animal. He snarled and rumbled when he thrust and his hooks snapped back down, went into Starscream's sides and one caught his wing. He could feel the heat from Rampage's spark between his wings and that knot. It pressed open Star's valve wide but then went back to normal size, only to push him wide again as Rampage pulled out. One of Rampage's pedes pushed Star's legs wider. He was in Rampage's hold- claws and spike dug into him, being fucked like an organic. His clicking mouth was on the back of his neck, a known cannibal just a snip away from taking his head off if he wanted to…
"Wet for me…" Rampage inhaled deep. "You're so wet."
Starscream whimpered and snarled as he was thrown around and his valve was stretched wide, that knot feeling delightfully painful and just heightened his pleasure. He was digging his own claws on Rampage's shoulders, his back, his arms, whenever he could reach, and his pedes were kicking about as his legs spasmed with pleasure. "Yeeees! Fuck me hard!" he growled, his red optics shining, his spark burning hot and pulsing fast against the other's. The hook burying into his sides and wing sent jolts of agony through him and he cried out, so close to overload. He was aware that Rampage could take a chunk out of him anytime and it just make it all the more thrilling.
Rampage banged harder, he wasn't Thundercracker. When Starscream moaned for harder—he gave it to him. He wasn't worried he would hurt him, he didn't care, it was part of fragging for him and he was sure he found another twisted wire in Starscream.
He waited until Starscream was overloading and dug in deep so his valve could spasm over the full length of his spike. He came hard, dug claws down Starscream's back, peeling metal as he shot hard into the flyer. After they both overloaded he pulled out and sat down on the berth, he didn't make a lot of noise like Thundercracker did, engine wise, and his alt-mode was difficult to determine. He watched Starscream, fascinated, scratched, bleeding, satisfied.
"You're better at following your impulses than most…"
Starscream was aching all over but feeling so darn good it had to be illegal. Thundercracker made him feel good too but in a totally different way. This was pure sex without feelings attached. His valve throbbed, his pierced wing, sides and back throbbed, his damn pedes seemed to ache even. he smirked at the larger mech, reclining against the wall. "I'm not most mechs." He replied smugly, having already proved he didn't recoil from pain and blood and rough play during interface.
He shrugged, and winced when it pulled at the wounds on his back. "Since I'm sure Tunnelclaw won't be coming back to check anytime soon... I think we still have time to accomplish what you have in mind." he wasn't afraid at the prospect anymore. he was thrilled and wary, since it was a big unknown, but not afraid.
Rampage looked at the door as if he could see through it and was quiet for several seconds before he looked, clicked, and leaned back. "We have time," He said.
"I want to know why you are here. Megatron took your sparkling and locked him here and you selflessly followed?" He stared. "You do not seem like the selfless type, you don't feel like it either… you want it to be about that. Selflessness. The need to protect your child but no… this is personal but it's not about the child…" He clicked some more, reading, sensing. "You were raped as a child. You don't want your sparkling to be… you but it is too late, isn't it? Futile. You came here because you need to be punished… because you feel, still, like you are that child… that child who was made to feel dirty, bad, black…" He stopped."When you feel helpless you want to be punished, when you feel strong you are a tyrant."
This still wasn't good enough for him. "How many do you think you will need to kill before you're not angry anymore?"
Starscream frowned, he didn't like being analyzed like that, split open and scrutinized like some specimen. He let out a low hiss and his optics narrowed at the larger mech. "I couldn't let my child be thrown here alone!" he spat, but deep within, he knew he was right. It wasn't about Rigel. Well, not entirely about the boy. Yes, a part iof him felt a deep need to protect all his children, but he also felt like he had to be punished for... for everything, he supposed. He wasn't a good mech. maybe when he was still innocent he had the potential to become a good mech, but that potential was snuffed thoroughly by an uncaring and abusive father, and his own obsessive nature.
He was what his past had made him. What all of his experiences combined had turned him into.
Not a good mech, not by a long shot. A tyrant, a sadist, someone who relished in other's pain and misery, who loved to see mech kneel at his feet, implore him, beg him for their lives. No, not a good mech, never a good mech. 'You are worth more than this.' Optimus's words echoed in his mind but he was wrong. He was getting exactly what he deserved.
Rampage felt his mood shift, "It is better to be angry and bold at these things…" He watched. "To chase what you want, to not allow anyone or anything to get in your way. Any story that's found its way to me about Starscream followed those lines." He stood. "Open your chest compartment. Tunnelclaw is coming."
He said calmly, even though it was rather urgent. He opened his own.
Starscream was about to answer, but instead looked warily at the door. He knew what that big fragger would do when he got there. Electrify that room to shock or kill anyone inside. He opened his chest compartment and bared his spark once mare without a second thought. he valued his life way too much to just throw it away like that. It never occurred to him that Rampage might be lying. Why would he? It wasn't like he hadn't already told Starscream what he wanted to do.
Rampage didn't hesitate, he grabbed his own spark and ripped it out of his chest. In the few seconds where the residual energy still coursed through his body, he slammed it into Starscream's spark. The green pulsing heat burst in Starscream's core like fire shooting out of a hole from below ground, but green, and angry. Rampage's spark encased Star's and for a moment it felt like he was being clamped and squeezed, as if Rampage might erase him and take over but in the churning pain it began to lessen.
Rampage's optics went blank and his body crumbled to the side like a marionette.
Starscream felt the second spark lick the side of his and it came to rest, a small green gem, on the side of Starscream's spark. The Seeker felt that click, the moment of conception, where his body did a give and take. He was carrying again what would be some strange incarnation of Rampage.
That and he felt… Rampage's power had been in him and then gone but not really gone… he just had to learn where it went and something else… something…
The cell buzzed and in a snap everything was electric, even the ceiling.
Seeing a mech tore his own spark from its casing was the most disturbing thing Starscream ever saw, and his mind just froze at the sight, refusing to acknowledge that it was real. Then the pain came like something was clawing hard at his spark and tearing shreds out of it. He screamed, loud, anguished, agonized, and fell to his knees. his opened chestplates showed the battled between the two sparks, brief, stopping when Rampage's spark settled and with a click, connected to the carrier's spark.
He was carrying again. A sparkling that would be a new version of Rampage. Probably a flyer. No child of his could be 100% grounder. It was the most intense, the weirdest feeling he ever felt in his life. He could sense rampage yet it was... different, not unlike a second person within him. His mind was searching yet couldn't find it. He was feeling his sanity waver dangerously, his logical, conscious mind refusing to believe what had just happened while his more primal part embraced it. His body had already started the carrying process, and even when the electricity coursed through him, while it was painful, he barely even felt it.
He was too busy trying to come to terms with what just happened as he stared wide eyed at Rampage's body. Now grayed out and lifeless. Of course... his spark was safely nested inside Starscream's spark chamber. When the door opened, he turned his head sharply towards it, and there was a familiar green glow within, under his usual red hue. A very familiar look, and he bared his fangs and hissed at the intruder, all claws out. he needed time to adjust, His more primal programming was still having the forefront of his mind.
Tunnelclaw looked confused, shocked. He couldn't process what he was seeing.
Rampage's body… Starscream…
Rampage's body… Starscream…
Rampage's body and Starscream?
"What in the name of the pit." Tunnelclaw said, not even a question, not even in shock. It slipped out of him in a numbed way because he couldn't believe it. How was Rampage dead and how was Starscream alive? He pressed a servo over his faceplate, the cell smelled like sex and fried circuits from the jolt of electricity.
He didn't pull out a weapon because he was a weapon enough but he didn't make any more to put Star in restraints either, he was so baffled and then impressed. "You killed Rampage." He stated because the bot was obviously dead. "How did you kill Rampage?"
Then the actual realization set in. Rampage couldn't die but he was dead. He was going to have to answer for this, explain, file a report, possibly he could be demoted… or worse… a fear settled into Tunnelclaw and this fear made him angry. "It's not possible, you're not strong enough to kill Rampage," He yanked the restraints from his hip. "Turn around." The order was given.
Maybe Rampage wasn't dead…
No.
Tunnelclaw knew well enough if Rampage was faking he'd be up already, he'd have killed him while he stood dumbfounded and trying to process… the bot was really dead and he had to know how.
Starscream didn't had the chance to fight back when he was chained up and yanked forcefully. He looked up at Tunnelclaw with cold optics, his expression now neutral and giving nothing away. He smirked then and his optics glowed with that green hue again, filled with sneer and smug certainty. He had no doubt anymore. This was exactly what he was supposed to do and where he was supposed to be. He felt stronger, powered with a potent, addictive energy that made him feel like he could blow a mountain apart, tear that insignificant mech in front of him to pieces and eat his spark up like candy.
No, he wasn't affraid anymore and this must have shown in his expression and posture. He was ready for anything thrown his way. he merely shrugged at Tunnelclaw's question. "What if I told you he just dropped dead? maybe I was just too good a frag and it fried him to death." he chuckled, grinning like a mech whose sanity wasn't totally what it used to be. "Go on, torture me. I'm sure you're dying to know what happened. I'll never tell you. You'll be left guessing for the rest of your pathetic life. Which, knowing Megatron's oh so forgiving nature, you'll probably spend on a gutter because you won't be able to find another job after he fires your aft."
Tunnelclaw was angered even more when Starscream announced, exactly, what he was afraid of. He shoved the Seeker against the wall and then pushed him forward, "WALK!" He growled. "You're going to tell me what happened, Starscream, I have advantages over you remember? But I'm not even going to bring Rigel into this, yet, because I want to torture you. I do. You have pissed me off and you're right, you fragger, I have to know what happened to Rampage."
Starscream could hear Tunnelclaw's weapon click, he had it ready to shoot into the Seeker's back should be fuss. "Just walk. To the elevator."
When Starscream passed by his cell, Rigel ran up to the bars and put his small arms through. He made a stuttering mess of noise that was, in the sparkling's head actual words, but it came out as nonsense but through their bond Star knew he thought he said 'daddy, daddy' which he had never called him before. It was always Father, sire, sir, or Starscream.
Tunnelclaw shot half a foot in front of the bars, which didn't hurt Rigel but frightened him terribly. He stumbled back and landed on his aft looking wide-opticed and shaken. "Keep walking."
That call to his spark made his anger spike again and Starscream managed to actually shove Tunnelclaw, a mech twice his size, into the bulkhead behind him, knocking him temporarily. Just a minute or two. Enough to go to his child and reach through the bars to pull him to him. Damning the bars for being there between them. "Don't be afraid, don't cry, shh, Daddy's here!" He said, his spark jolting with joy at being called that by his firstborn.
"I don't have much time, but I'll be back! I promise! That big fragger can't hurt me anymore! He'll try but he can't! I will see you soon! Keep hoping!" He heard Tunnelclaw scrambling back to his pedes, probably stunned that Starscream had been strong enough to do this in the first place, and a large hand locked around his neck and pulled him back. He chocked a bit but smirked at the big idiot. «Stay strong baby! Stay strong for daddy!» he sent through the bond, shoving all his love and newfound strength for his son to absorb.
"Do your worst, fraghead!" he spat in his face, his hands cuffed behind his back tightly this time. he had broken the cuffs, like they were sticks. Another feat he hadn't been capable off before.
Tunnelclaw watched this with growing apprehension, "Just keep walking." He said slowly.
He let Starscream walk several yards in front of him now until they were in the large elevator but not the one that had brought him into this underground compound initially. Tunnelclaw didn't bother putting new restraints on.
"What did Rampage do to you?" He asked, not expecting an answer. "That crazy parasite." They went down into the sub-sub-levels. "Get out." Tunnelclaw motioned with his weapon, so Starscream would step out first. This was clearly where prisoners were sent who were out of control or annoying various personnel.
There was a more slender bot sitting at a black desk watching the holo-net, he looked like the scientist type. Not front line, not a warrior. He didn't even bother to look at Tunnelclaw because he seemed to know this wasn't a job he was required to do and kept watching the screen.
"Walk." Tunnelclaw ordered. "Bring me those clamps, would you? The ones we use on Rampage?"
"Get them yourself." The smaller bot snipped.
Tunnelclaw growled in agitation but didn't ask again, "On your right, Princess." He said to the Seeker. The room was a classic Decepticon torture chamber the likes of Overlord's making, a slab table in the middle and tons or horrendous tools hanging around the room like cleavers and metal-cutters.
Starscream let himself be manhandled for now, just smirking at the bog bastard all the way down. He narrowed his optics at the room, tensing just a bit. He didn't like rooms like those. They brought back too many bad memories. He gritted his theet and glared, watching the larger mech as he got whatever he wanted. He was still feeling empowered and confident though, and he was standing tall and proud. Was he taller than before?... It could be. He felt like it though.
He yawned theatrically for show and sat casually on the slab. "Hurry up, I'm gonna start rusting over here." He said, his voice holding a fair bit of sneer and mockery, but no fear.
When Tunnelclaw turned around he was holding a weapon and it shot a pulse that interfered with Cybertronian processors, even the biggest warrior couldn't do a thing when his brain stopped telling his body what to do. Immobilized, Tunnelclaw worked fast to haul the Seeker up and onto the table where Star could feel his servos able to move again just as Tunnel finished clamping him down on the table. It took him awhile because he had to change the clamps out to the ones he had asked the smaller bot for.
"I can just leave you here, you know. In this pit, strapped to this table until you offline from fuel loss," He said. "But I'm not that nice. I tried to be. I liked you," He growled the last part and touched Starscream's chin, the only part of him not clamped down was his head. "You could have been my little frag-toy and had it easy but now you're just like everyone else. No more favors for your sparkling, no more nice guy," Tunnelclaw yanked back. "Let's start the classic way, Overlord trained me, and he said you always start big," He grabbed a metal-saw from the hanging tools.
Starscream,s optics widened at the sight of the metal saw, and he let out a slightly fearful hiss. He tried pulling on his restraints but they were clamped tight and he couldn't budge. His spark started pulsing faster and he clamped it shut from his sparkling. He didn,t want him to experience what this monstrous fragger was going to do to him. he already had an idea it wouldn't be pretty. He hoped that Rampage's spark was going to keep him alive...
"No! Don't do that! Rigel is innocent in this! He's just a sparkling! If you have to punish someone, I'm right here! Leave him alone!" He tried to beg for at least his sparkling's survival. His own was secondary, even if he would greatly prefer to live. He hoped Soundwave still would send Ravage with more energon for the little one... He looked as the mech seemed to be deciding where he would cut first, and he prepared for the pain.
Tunnelclaw started to saw along the blue line of Starscream forearm. He didn't care if blood squirted on him, he didn't care how much the Seeker screeched, it was as if he was deaf and working on some other plane where he was only partially aware of the other Cybertronian. He saw until he was clean through and pulled the pretty blue servo clean off and set it Starscream's own forearm on his chest.
"I know you've lost limbs before in battle so that probably isn't as horrible for you as I wanted it to be," Tunnelclaw actually believed that. He remembered hearing stories about Starscream and his trine walking through battlefields carrying part of their arm or wing that had been torn off. Those stories drove the Decepticon army.
He tossed the saw aside and would let Star bleed, for now, he wanted him to be weak.
He grabbed a small spark-tool and worked open the side panel until he could get to Star's T-Cog, which he stimulated so the Seeker tried to take his alt-mode, which he couldn't because he was locked down on the table. It forced gears to grind, his body to flex and try to quickly mold into the sleek jet but it was restrained.
Starscream screamed alright. he screamed for all he was worth, bravado fading quickly as his forearm was cut of slowly. He was dizzy and weak from the shock of losing a limb in this fashion and stared at his own severed limb with a gaping mouth. Blood had spurted profusely from his forearm and splattered every surface around them, and themselves. It reeked of it and it soaked them to the core. Blood was still dripping from the end of the blue forearm and it seemed to flex a finger before going grey and lifeless.
The loss of blood was making his head spin and he was weakening even further. He wasn't prepared for the triggering of the transformation sequence and the gears trying to shift and change while they were locked in a position was excruciating. His limbs bent and twisted in awkward angles and he screamed in agony once more.
Tunnelclaw seemed to do this forever, until circuits had blown, until he could smell burning alloy, until smoke trickled lazily out of various parts of the jet. Only then did he stop and he crudely cauterized Star's severed forearm so it would stop bleeding. He leaned over him, "Tell me something to piss me off, please," He asked. "Or better yet tell me what Rampage did. How are you live and he's not? Why didn't he eat you? Do you have some Primus gifted secret power where everyone wants to frag you instead of kill you?"
He took his spark-tool and stabbed it into Starscream's abdomen to the hilt and pulled it out trailing pink. "Why is Rampage dead?"
Starscream screamed again and coughed up blood, his circuits on the fritz, weakened and in a lot of pain. When the object was removed he slumped on the table, panting hard and gasping for air to cool his overheating circuits. He was sure his T-Cog was slagged, he could tell half of his transformation gears were burned out or damaged, and he was probably so low on energon he could faint any moment. However, he glared at the mech above him, the face of his tormentor becoming the face of his father, the face of Megatron, shifting between the three.
He screamed again, in pain and anger, and tried to bite when he brought his hand closer again. "F-fra-aggg y-yo-ou." His voice crackled with static, and he spat more blood, his battered body yearning for blissful oblivion. "T-tell yo-ou no-not-nothing."
Tunnelclaw could see Seekers were not as tolerant as grounders, "Tell me what happened Princess. Tell me something I can put on my report. Tell me something that Megatron will believe as to why Rampage is dead!" He shouted. "Just tell me!"
He stuck the tool into the same stab wound in Star's abdomen he had made a moment ago.
Starscream screamed again, his voice laced with more static, and he jerked on the table, his one hand tightening at his side into a fist then releasing limply. "He... He j-just... Died... H-had... dunno... F-frag you!" he said finally, his voice crackling and weak. He glared at the mech, in pain but not giving up yet. he couldn't tell him. He'll end up the lab rat if he did.
"He just died?" Tunnelclaw pulled the tool out. "He just died. That's what you want me to tell Megatron? That the bot with the immortal spark just died? Telling him I don't know would be better than what you just said!" He stabbed the Seeker in the abdomen a second time but didn't expect he was going to talk. He was stubborn the way Tunnelclaw knew high-born flyers to be and he couldn't do much more without bleeding him out, which he didn't want to do, so he pulled the tool out and flung it aside bloody, letting it clatter somewhere in the dark.
Starscream just gasped this time, he was growing weaker but he still had energy enough to glare at his torturer. "Yeah... Dunno... what ha-happ-ened..." he held onto his pride, his seeker pride and stubborness. "GO on... Can take... more..." he taunted, baring his bloody fangs, spitting blood on Tunnelclaw.
Tunnelclaw pursed his mouth because Starscream was so ridiculous, "You're going to pass out, Princess."
To be Continued...