Ch 21: Tread Softly

-Skyseam's POV-

I sit at my table, looking at me reflection in the polished crystal. I had begun working as a singer for a popular night club. When I was hurting enough for credits I would also subject myself to interfacing which never turned out well. The ones who used me walked away satisfied while I was left with the feeling of dying inside.

Sighing I take out a polishing rag and start rubbing my faceplates down. My decacycle would be up soon which meant Megatron would be expecting me back. So far he had left me alone in my mind, perhaps too busy doing something else.

"Hey, Silverlining, private customer for you." Ventilating my systems I put down the cloth and get up. Walking over to the door I nod to the guard bot who gives me a sad look. "Don't let these mechs keep bashin you around Silver. The boss won't care if you defend yourself."

I pat his arm and stand on the tips of my peds to place a small kiss on his cheek plate. "If I don't then my customers will run dry. But you know if they take it too far I'll bash them back. It'll be alright Skyhammer." I pass him by with a parting pat and head into the next room to meet whoever had hired me.

I immediately want to gag. Right before me stood the triple changer I hated the most, Threeway. Putting on my mask of indifference I step around him with a sneer. "Hard to believe you can afford me. You do realize you have to show me the creds exist first right?" It was true that I charged a lot; I only hired out to the rich patrons. I knew a triple changer from the slums couldn't pay me what I charged.

"Give me a price and we can start negotiations."

I step away from him, swaying my hip joints. "I don't think you get it. There is no haggling here." The next instant I'm swung around and my face plate meets Threeway's olfactory sensor.

"I've heard about you and I know you're pulling my wing struts. You're a dirty little femme who enjoys getting raped. I don't see why I shouldn't have my way with you without paying."

I shove him off and point to the door. "Whoever gave you your information can shove it back up their tail pipes. As for you Threeway, I never want to see your face again!" I storm past him to be grabbed yet again.

"You, you called me by name but I've never met you. Why is that?" I freeze in place. I had just compromised my identity. "No, you couldn't be. Skyseam?" Turning slowly I lock optics with him and knew that he knew it was me.

"You will let go right now and you will tell no one about who I am or where I am. Do I make myself clear?" Threeway chuckles darkly and drags me against him.

"Then I do believe we've reached a deal." I snap my optics shut and the next instant I hear the sound of a saw cutting into something. As warm energon sprays my face I crack open an optic to see the red mech I had met at the beginning of the decacycle. He had cut Threeway's head straight off. As the triple changer's body collapses on me the red mech offers a servo up.

"I do believe that if you want a femme, or a mech for that matter, to do you any interfacial favors then you treat them with respect. Of course that's not how Cybertron works, let alone Chaon."

"Thank you... um..."

"Ah, that's right, I never introduced myself. Knockout."

I chuckle and wipe at the energon. "I can see you are but what's your designation?"

"That is my designation." He replies.

"Well, at least it fits." I sigh. "Good thing this is Chaon where there is no semblance of law other wise we'd both be locked up for murder."

I motion for him to follow me into my private wash racks and wet a cloth. "As a favor to you would you let me wash you off?" I ask.

"Don't bother, I like mechs and I've had my fill of pleasure for the night." He takes the cloth from my servos and starts cleaning himself off. Smiling I wet another cloth and sit on the edge of the wash tub. "So tell me, how did you wind up in a place like this?" He asks after awhile.

"Well, it was the same day I walked out of your shop. I was ringed in for a singing audition, performed an earth song, and then was hired on the spot. Same day they shipped me here, fed me, then set on their stage. Bam, instant hit overnight, business starts to boom and I decided I liked it here although my private customers treat me like slag." He pokes my on the faceplate.

"You missed a spot." I wipe the indicated area.

"Anyway, how did you end up here?"

"Hm? Oh, I was invited. Apparently someone has been going around saying they got frame work done over at my shop. This has been my first orn off for awhile now. But I guess I should thank you." He offers a servo and I give it a look. "I know you know what I'm doing. You offered the same gesture to Breakdown who taught it to me."

I shake his servo with a wink and sigh as a bell chimes. "Well I have another customer."

"I thought with all that information you just gave me you'd earn enough from singing." I halt at his words. Not turning I decide to give him the truth, sort of.

"I give the majority of my credits to help supply my family. None of us are energon related though so it seems funny when I call all eighty of them my family. Only forty of us have jobs truth to tell." I prepare to head out again when he stops me once more.

"There are rumors whispered everywhere in Chaon. I've heard they go all over Cybertron."

"And what are these rumors?" I ask after a moment's hesitation.

"Shadowcons are the new Decepticons. They bear the same symbol only theirs is red with four lines scored underneath. This family you mention and the mark on your back make me think you're part of this secret army." The bell rings again and I sigh.

"I have to go."

"Just promise you'll be careful, you weren't easy to rebuild and I'm far better at destroying thinks rather than fixing them."

-Several Orns Later-

I stood stock still as Megatron paced around me. Apparently he had repairs done since he walked perfectly fine and his plating glowed in the dim lights of the sewer. "How ugly. A shame you had to have yourself remade. Although your last frame was weak it still held some beauty to it. Some semblance of strength."

He halts in front of me and presses his face plate to mine, optics looking straight into mine. "You disgust me so much I don't think I ever want to see you unless it's necessary." He pulls away and stomps off without another word. Just as he's about to turn into a side tunnel he turns back to me. "And tell that red mech you hang out with anything about what we're doing and you'll wish for your sturdier form again.