Nota Bene:
Time units: Astrosecond = 0.283 seconds; Breems = 8.3 minutes; Joor = 1 hour; Mega-cycle = 93 hours; Orn = 13 days; Meta-cycle = 13 months; Vorn = 83 years
Length units: Klik - 1 kilometer; Mechanometer = 1 meter
Italics: scene taking place in the past
'Text': thoughts of a character
(Text): discussion through comm.-links
Warning: slash scene.
Chapter 21: Interlude – Before the storm
Forward Operational Headquarters 0025 of the Earth Resistance Force
Near the platform 55
The three mechs were silent, each of them trying to sort out the intricate details of their brainstorming. Each suspect had a particular profile and personal reasons to take on Megatron and Galvatron – except maybe Soundwave. The truth would be hard to find.
Galvatron yawned noisily and stirred a little. He then looked at his two interrogators and chuckled at the feverish state of the Seeker. "I don't think we're going to find a solution tonight," he declared. "And anyway, I'm bored. I'm going back to my quarters."
The purple mech stood up and without a glance at the other two he exited from the room. Megatron watched him walking away with an upset look, while Starscream couldn't hide his surprise at his offhand manner.
After a few meters the purple Decepticon stopped and looked over his shoulder.
"Be at Meeting Room Kappa tomorrow morning. 8:30 AM sharp. Bring your pet."
Megatron frowned in response. "For what?" he hissed.
"A little gathering… You will find it instructive." The warlord chuckled and resumed his walk, now ignoring the two flyers. He was already out of sight when Megatron yelled at him.
"Don't count on it! I'm not one of your pawns and I don't take orders from you!"
An echo carried a light chuckle back.
"Oh, by the way, don't be too noisy with your pet tonight! You know, these walls are not well soundproofed…"
"Idiot!"
No reply came this time. Galvatron was too far away, or perhaps had decided to hold back his sarcasm.
Megatron cursed other insults in Cybertronian and looked back at Starscream. The Seeker peered back at him, silent and expecting. He was obviously tormented by a thought, which Megatron could easily read in his optics. He forgot Galvatron, he had a more important task at hand.
"We should also leave."
"So… Are you going to meet with Soundwave, Megatron?"
Starscream's voice was almost pleading. Megatron briefly weighed the pros and cons of not visiting his third in command. Galvatron's remark had disturbed him, and deep within him he didn't want to know the truth. At least, not tonight.
He stood up slowly and walked to the door, followed by Starscream. The hallway was dark and a dim light was flickering at the threshold. His gaze fell on the form of the flier and he admired the play of light and shadows on his body.
"No. I will meet him tomorrow. It's too late now."
"So you're going back to your quarters," Starscream ventured, scratching a panel with his right foot. "And I- I'm going back to mine." He looked up and threw him a vibrant look. "Aren't we?"
Megatron couldn't resist touching such softness. He stepped close and snaked a hand around Starscream's slim waist. The Seeker came gently to lean against his body, energy field flaring with arousal.
"I don't think it's safe to leave you alone. I'd be more at ease if you would stay with me, in my quarters. I'm your caretaker, after all."
Starscream smiled seductively and sealed his acceptance with a kiss.
…..
Human detention area
Nerte couldn't sleep. The conversation with Spike Witwicky and the news about Daniel had sent her into a state close to depression. She had tried to push away her dark thoughts, but they continuously came back, eating minutes after minutes of what was left of her hope.
'I've messed up my life… I've never been able to do something right. I'm just a loser…'
She felt a lump squeezing her throat and held back a sob. She curled up and hid her face in her arms, wishing she could go back to her early youth, when she still had a future. The time when she was still a human, not this thing between a woman and a drone. She was on the verge of crying when the door of her cell opened with a screech.
"Sorry to disturb you, Nerte, but we need you for identification."
The voice of Witwicky! She looked up, trying to hide her dim expression. Witwicky certainly noticed her tears but said nothing. He gave her a comforting smile instead.
"We want to make sure that we've found the F2NRIL…"
…..
Somewhere nearby the Forbidden Area
Nightbird sped up, well aware that she was in breach of military law of the base. She had superseded the orders of Rodimus Prime, and worst of all, had been caught by a Senior Officer on her spying. She had few doubts about Cyclonus' reaction; he had given her away to her leader. She had to find a way to cover herself.
Her hopes crashed when a door slid open on the familiar face of a red car Transformer. Rodimus Prime glared at her and crossed his arms on his chest, deliberately blocking her way.
"May I know what you are doing here?" he coldly asked.
She had to lie. That was her only way to cover her real intent. "I was chasing a Salonian spy in the hallways. I've already told you, they're everywhere."
"And your shoulder? Is it the spy who did that to you?"
Nightbird peeped at the bump that deformed her right shoulder. "Yes, of course!" she retorted.
"That just tops it all!" scoffed a male voice. "I'm a Salonian spy now?"
The ninja femme watched with surprise and worry as Cyclonus emerged from the other side of the hallway. How had he managed to follow her without raising her suspicion?
"Cyclonus, it's okay. I'm taking care of the problem." Rodimus Prime replied. "The situation is under control now!" he added with conviction.
"Under control, my after-burners!" Cyclonus hissed and then glared at the femme. "Why were you spying on Megatron and Starscream while you were supposedly on a mission?"
Nightbird felt her oil boiling when the Decepticon looked at her threateningly. 'Decepticons, all the same!' This feeling increased when Rodimus Prime looked helplessly at Cyclonus, as if it was to calm him down. 'Autobots, so useless and insipid!' she cursed.
"Nightbird, it would help if you–"
"If I say the truth!?" she shrieked in response. "Oh, you want to know why I was spying. Fair enough!" She looked at the two mechs with a defiant expression. "I want them to apologize to me for what they have done to me!" she rasped.
Cyclonus and Rodimus Prime stared at her blankly.
"You're kidding?" Cyclonus asked. He let out a brief and derisive chuckle.
"I'm not kidding! Megatron used me to play his jealous game on Starscream! And–" Rage overflowed her CPU, and she had hard time putting together her argument. "And– And Starscream shot me in the back, because it's the only thing that the stupid emotional brat could do! They both considered me a mindless drone, a puppet they could play with and throw away when they are done! I want them to apologize to me!" she shrieked at the top of her voice.
"But… You were a mindless drone at the time!" Cyclonus retorted.
"Cyclonus!" Rodimus Prime shook his head in disapproval. "Don't say that!"
"How dare you!?"
Nightbird banged her fist and was ready to jump at the throat of the purple Decepticon. 'How dare the bunny head speak that way to me!?'
"That's the truth! Face it, Nightbird. When Megatron reprogrammed you, you were nothing else but a drone, built by humans. You were deprived of self-consciousness and of the simple gift of speaking," Cyclonus retorted calmly. "It's only after the Cybertronian forces found your cell where you had been put in stasis and decided to reprogram you, using Transformers' technology, that you became a real sentient being!" He stood up in front of her and looked at her with superiority. "Without this, you would be nothing more than a mindless drone!" he added in a growl.
Far from being frightened, Nightbird replied with an equality fierce glare: "That is your point of view, not mine! I still want apologies from them!"
"Don't be childish, little femme! Megatron and Starscream will never apologize to you. They've never apologized to anybody as far as I know!"
Rodimus Prime stepped prudently between the two and tried to set a hand on the femme's shoulder, but Nightbird jumped back like she was protecting herself from an aggressive attack.
"Cyclonus is right, Nightbird. They won't apologize. Megatron killed hundreds of Autobots with his bare hands without apologizing to us; do you think he feels sorry for what he has done to you? Starscream is an egocentric little bastard, don't expect anything from him neither," Rodimus pleaded. "You were just caught between the two, as a victim of their twisted relationship. It happened to others also. Really, forgive and forget … Turn over a new leaf!"
The yellow optics flashed angrily, but Nightbird cooled down a little. She knew she had no chance of convincing the two Cybertronians of the validity of her request.
"I know what can make me turn over a new leaf," she spat back, trying to control the anger in her voice. "Excuse me, but I have a mission to carry out."
She stepped aside and walked around Rodimus Prime, who didn't try to block her way. She knew he disapproved of her behavior but was at loss what to say.
'So long, losers. I'll get apologizes from those two monsters. If they refuse, they will pay with their lives.' She wowed.
O
Rodimus and Cyclonus watched silently the femme walking away. They knew they had failed to reason with the femme; there was too much anger in her energy field, and her last reply made her intentions clear.
"If I were you, Rodimus, I'd learn to handle my subordinates better."
The young Transformer stared at the Decepticon, confused by the accusation lacing his words.
"What do you mean?" he asked.
"I mean… Optimus Prime might have picked you as his second in command, but you're still learning to fit the function," Cyclonus retorted. His red optics flashed with annoyance. "That means sometimes being harsh with rebellious soldiers. Nightbird should have never have left this place before you set her thinking straight again!"
This time, Rodimus replied by an equally icy look.
"Oh, I see. Use the good old Decepticon method and beat her to death?" he retorted, "That's not the Autobot way."
"If the Decepticons were allowed to fight the way they knew, this war would have ended a long time ago!" Cyclonus hissed, moving threateningly in his direction.
Rodimus was tempted to act the same way but his reason told him to keep his energon cool. This was not the first time that Cyclonus displayed his nostalgia of the Decepticon army. He might be one of the more civilized Decepticons, but his true nature did surface from time to time.
"Believe me; I will prevent Nightbird from carrying out her little vendetta. That is the promise of a High Officer!"
…
Launch Pad # 36
Skyfire waited until the Salonian transforming bike was pulled out his cargo hold before he shifted back to his robot mode. He was much more at ease after the evacuation of the robot, as F2NRIL had tried to rebel during the flight. He had put up a fight with Rumble, and some laser shots had followed. The white shuttle pressed a hand against his midsection, where the shots had burned him. 'I'm too nice… I must be cursed!' he thought.
He was leaving the launch pad when he heard the roar of an F-15 decelerating for landing, followed by the characteristic noise of transformation. He assumed that Thundercracker and Skywarp had landed. Concluding that he needed recharge and had nothing to do here, he headed to the exit.
"Skyfire! Hey, Skyfire! Do you have a few minutes to talk?"
Skyfire turned his gaze to the purple Seeker who had just hailed him.
"You want to talk about what? I'm exhausted… The damned robot opened fire in my cargo. I'd like to perform some repairs before recharge."
He had no intention of chatting and walked forward once more. Unfortunately, Skywarp walked faster and stood in front of him, blocking his way to the exit.
"I'm sure you'd like to talk about Starscream and Megatron."
Skyfire peered at the smaller flyer, caught between the urge to sweep him aside and the need to confide in somebody; lighten the burden that had been weighing on his spark for a week.
The purple Seeker was soon rejoined by his wing mate. Thundercracker grabbed Skywarp by a wrist and pulled him backwards.
"Come on, Warp'. Mind your own business!" the blue Seeker complained.
"You're right, TC. The big guy wants to cry by himself," Skywarp agreed, offering no resistance. "As if it was going to bring the pretty Seeker back to him!"
"You're really an insufferable sparkling today."
Thundercracker trailed the black Seeker behind him, ranting about his childish behavior while the guilty flier retorted in an equal unnerved tone. Skyfire suddenly realized that he was missing the opportunity to free his conscience.
"No, please, wait… I'd like to talk," he called.
The two Seekers looked back at him, surprised a little by this change of mood.
O
They left the main deck of the platform to settle on a lower deck, cluttered with caissons, coffer-dams and various containers. The three flyers sat down on those makeshift seats as comfortably as possible. Then silence set in, until Skyfire overcame his unease.
"So… What do you guys have to tell me?"
"I want to tell that you are lucky that Starscream prefers Megatron to you! You can't imagine what hell you are escaping from!" Skywarp declared without hesitation.
The white shuttle seemed to be taken aback by such straightforwardness and lowered his gaze. Thundercracker felt ashamed by the behavior of his wing mate and couldn't help hitting the top of the dark helmet. "Warp', you are so tactless! Apologize to Skyfire AS SOON AS POSSIBLE!" he growled.
"What? It's the truth, and you know it!" Skywarp complained.
"There are nicer ways to go about saying something like that!" Thundercracker stopped and looked at Skyfire, looking apologetic. "I didn't mean that Skywarp is right, but…"
"It's okay. You two are certainly right about Starscream. I'm no match for him…" Skyfire whispered. He was miserable, downcast and depressed.
O
Skywarp decided it was time to switch to the electro-shock therapy.
"One thing is certain, Skyfire. You must be a masochistic to be Starscream's lover!" he stated, beckoning to Thundercracker to not interrupt him. He then pointed at Skyfire with an inquisitive finger. "Do you have any idea the hell Megatron had been through with him, hmm?"
"What hell?"
"Well, I can tell you: cries, insult, mockeries, slapping, shots in the back, betrayal…"
Skyfire glared at the Seeker, his optics bright with a sudden anger.
"Megatron beats him to scrap! He's the victim. Maybe, if he wasn't under influence–"
"You've never been with us, in the Decepticon base," Skywarp retorted, shaking his head. "I can tell you that most of the time, it was Starscream who started the arguments. It was as if he wanted to be beaten, or at least, attract the attention of our leader."
"It can't be… He's not like that! He can't have changed that much!"
Skyfire shook his head in denial.
"Didn't he shoot you after your revival on Earth? I don't know how he was back at the Science Academy, but I believe that side of him is gone. Personally, I've known Starscream only as a psychopath. I can tell you that Megatron is the only Transformer tough enough – and masochistic enough – to put up with him. Because first, he's been doing this for million years, and second, he loves Starscream, and Starscream loves him."
Skyfire slumped onto his improvised couch, looking depressed. "Are you sure they love each other?" he murmured.
"I'm sorry that you find out about it like this, Skyfire," Thundercracker interrupted. "Skywarp is telling the truth. We've just received confirmation from Soundwave of something that we had suspected for a long time. Maybe it's not the right time to speak of this. You may–"
"No, I want to know."
Skyfire's expression was now resigned.
"Megatron took care of Starscream after he had crashed on Cybertron, back from your expedition on Earth. He incorporated him in the Decepticon army, and according to what Soundwave said, considered him his own spark… his heir. Starscream returned the feeling, but his love toward this adoptive father changed into another love. The one with a big "L"… Unfortunately, it looks as if Starscream was convinced that Megatron had lied to him about something, and started to attack him relentlessly. At the same time, Megatron learned about Starscream's twisted feeling, and–"
"And our mighty leader fell hard for his unfaithful Seeker!" Skywarp exclaimed, gesturing theatrically.
Skyfire lowered his head, in shock. "So, that's why Megatron never killed him…" he muttered.
"Yep! I don't see any other explanation… Anyway, back to you, Skyfire. I guess now you understand there is no place for another Transformer between Megatron and Starscream. They're drawn to each other, albeit in a very twisted way. If there is a chance they can come to love each other in a peaceful way, we should help. Because…" Skywarp crossed his arms on his chest and took a stern expression, "They have ruined the lives of Cybertronians with their squabbles for too long!"
O
Skyfire let out a low sigh. Deep inside him, he had known this was the truth since the first time Starscream and Megatron had stood in front of him. The way Starscream had spoken about Megatron was too passionate. The way Megatron tried to keep control over his lieutenant bordered on possessive. He could remember the absence of Love in Starscream's gaze before he shot him.
'Hate can be so close to Love, sometimes. They're right, there is no more room for me in Starscream's spark.' He reflected. "I understand," he replied after some time. "I'll stay away from them from now on. At least, as much as the various missions allow me." He then smiled sadly. "I believed I had forgotten him. But he's still there, in my spark."
The two Seekers nodded understandingly.
"This is a weird question, but… You've never fallen for him? It's hard to resist his charms…" Skyfire asked, feeling awkward.
Skywarp and Thundercracker looked at each other and then laughed openly.
"You know, the first time I saw him, I thought to myself: "My, my, what a sex kitten!" Skywarp admitted.
"And then?"
Skyfire's optics were now shining with curiosity.
"And then the brat backhanded me. He also abandoned me on the battlefield and shot me in the back!" Skywarp shook his head angrily. "Before that, I swear he could have stood up in front of me, with his sexy canopy open and his spark ready for merging, I would have admitted defeat! But now…Primus, he's a worst jerk than me! You have to be Megatron to like his behavior," he completed.
Skyfire, feeling a little better, couldn't help chuckling at the antics of the black Seeker.
"And you, Thundercracker?" he asked to the blue Seeker.
The flier seemed as uneasy at the question.
"I'm not interested in a relationship with somebody who calls me idiot ten times a day or wants to dominate me. Love must be shared equally, not be a constant battlefield."
Skyfire smiled at him, considering this answer reflected perfectly his own concept of Love.
…..
Megatron's quarters
The door shut with a hiss and left them in the dark silence of Megatron's quarters. Absent-minded and disturbed by thousands of thoughts, the owner of the place didn't react for a few seconds, until his guest reminded him his presence.
"Megatron?"
"I'm going to put on some lights," he replied, groping for the switch.
The white glow of the ceiling lighting revealed the details of the furniture of his room and the form of the Seeker. Starscream was standing close to the door, scanning his surroundings. His arrogant elegance didn't hide the nervousness in his optics.
"Welcome to my modest quarters," Megatron forced himself to say. "Not as vast as the ones of the Decepticon base, but as it's tidy," he added.
"Yes, thank you."
The Seeker stepped into the middle of the room, wings quivering with evidence of his feverish state, and peered at him. Realizing that Starscream was expecting a move from him, Megatron reduced the distance between them in two quick steps. Their energy field intermingled once again and Starscream shivered. Taking advantage of the flier's euphoria, Megatron wrapped an arm around his waist and pulled him close. Starscream looked up at him, looking a bit lost after his suicide attempt.
"Don't be afraid. You know that I won't let anything bad happen to you," Megatron whispered, caressing his cheek.
"I know. It's just–" stuttered Starscream, obviously searching for the right words. "After so many years of hatred… I mean… You. Me… We're together, and–"
"It's troubling," Megatron agreed, "but things are back to normal, and our lives will follow the path they should have had they never been diverted." He stopped when he saw the gaze of his Seeker was set on the black fusion cannon close to his face. "I'm going to take it off," he quickly offered, "I won't be long."
Megatron walked to the side of his berth and unclasped the cannon attached to his right arm and laid it at its usual place, on the wall. He did the same with the left cannon. Once he was rid of his weapons he turned around, his optics roaming to find his lover. He started when two burning red optics appeared close to his face and hungry lips attacked his lip components.
"You're right… Things are back to normal. We've wasted enough time!"
Starscream roughly pushed Megatron on the berth and climbed on top of him. Megatron groaned in protest when the Seeker pinned his arms over his head and briefly wondered if Starscream wasn't under the effect of the virus. He calmed when the Seeker kissed him savagely, punctuating the kiss with whimpers of satisfaction. His protests didn't go further; and although he hated being the one beneath, he found Starscream's initiative arousing in the extreme.
Finally, Starscream broke the kiss and peered at him with an expression of triumph. "Mine… and mine only!" he chuckled.
"Little traitor." Megatron replied and he smirked. "I should have remembered that you always go all squeamish before backstabbing me!"
"Yes! And you always fall into my trap." The Seeker smirked and caressed the canopy of his captive with languid stealth. "I would have to say that … I think you like it when I trap you. This time, you will beg me for more once I am finished!"
Megatron chuckled when the satisfied smirk grew wider on the dark faceplate. There were few things which would never change with Starscream: his lack of modesty, his exaggerated self-confidence and his twisted imagination. Logic didn't stand a chance behind those beautiful red optics. His own logic faltered when dark lips traced languorously is jaw line.
"I see that you feel better," he replied, trying to hide his trouble. "You will never change: always overrating yourself. You will be the one begging for mercy!"
The Seeker chuckled and devoured the silver lips while his free hand teased the armature of the canopy. He broke the kiss and peered defiantly at his former commander. "I'll never beg you to stop," he purred seductively, "You know how demanding I am!"
"Stop bragging and show me what you're made of, you little–!"
To Megatron's delight, Starscream silenced him with a rough and hungry kiss. It would have been easy for him to push back the lightweight Seeker, but having the beautiful creature straddling his hips and pressing his perfect body so ardently against his was pleasurable. His patience was soon rewarded by gentle caresses as Starscream's hand worked down his cockpit and came to rest on his codpiece. He arched his back when the panel slid open and that inquisitive fingers seized the connection cable and pulled it out. He was tempted to protest against a so free use of this intimate part of his anatomy, but gave up the idea when Starscream slowly pulled out the cable, sending him close to the point of no return. The cable was left alone during a few seconds as Starscream opened his own port, moaning softly his excitement against his lover's lip component. He broke the kiss as he connected to Megatron and gave out a long moan of pleasure. He let go of Megatron's wrists, allowing the silver flyer to come back to a sitting position and grasp his hips.
"Little fool…" Megatron whispered, loving the enticing look the Seeker threw him. "You plugged yourself at the receiving end."
"I would rather say… I'm all yours."
Megatron kissed lightly the dark lips and shot a wave of electricity through the connection. Starscream moaned loudly, almost plaintively and clanged at his shoulders to avoid falling backwards. Encouraged by this reaction, Megatron issued a new wave and secured his Seeker in his arms. The winged Transformer tensed up and arched gracefully against his robust body.
"Say my name," he urged.
"Hum… Megatron!"
It was so deliciously said that he briefly lost control of himself. Starscream lived up to his name as an electrical tidal wave washed over him.
"Say it again!" he ordered, breathing hard.
"Hm… hm… Megatron…"
Starscream tilted his head back, offering his throat to the appetite of the older Transformer. Megatron teased the cables gently, alternately nipping, kissing, biting and sucking. The Seeker was dancing softly against him at the rhythm of the electric discharges that coursed through the connection. The glass of their canopies screeched at each move, producing a metallic music that hardly covered the hammering of the Seeker's fuel pomp in his chest.
"Hm… Megatron… Ah… Hmm!"
"Say you love me!"
"I… love you… Hmm…Megatron!"
The silver flyer smiled as he looked at the face of his lover, reflecting nothing else than rapture. Starscream was already overwhelmed with sensations: the pleasure that Megatron gave him with his caresses, the ecstasy of the connection and the excitement of an act that had been forbidden a so long time. He looked like a young sparkling at his initiation, discovering with awe the sensations created by an interface, bursting into the flames of passion, consumed by the energy surge that disrupted his inner circuits.
'I love you too…'
Stimulated by the awe of his partner, Megatron opened gently the golden canopy and established a new connection, linking his own spark box to Starscream's chamber. As expected, all the Seeker's firewalls and defenses were down, as to better offer himself. Megatron could feel his spark throbbing erratically, as the forewarning of a violent climax.
"Hmmm! I… love you… I LOVE YOU…MEGATRON!"
Dramatically aroused by his cries and the growing tension he felt on his lover's body, Megatron went haywire. A new powerful energy wave blasted the Seeker, while dark hands flooded the sensors of his wings with rough sparkles of electricity.
"Me- Megatron… I…Hmmm… I'm going to-!"
Starscream buried his head in Megatron's neck and bit hard. His fingers scratched the immaculate paint job when the accumulated energy blew up deep within him. His chiseled body trembled and his energy field radiated like a sun while his lips spilled shrill cries of ecstasy.
Ignoring the pain of this love bite, the warlord enjoyed each shiver until the cries stopped and the winged body went limp, all systems shut down by a powerful overload. He held Starscream tight, kissing gently his feverish faceplate, tasting his own energon at his lips until some signs of life showed on the Seeker's face.
Megatron laid him down, marveling at his ravished expression and the curves of his graceful body, so worth more loving. He was dramatically aroused, but he knew that a full interface was out of a picture. Judging by the intensity of Starscream's overload, a spark merging would do worse than good. The warlord bit his lips and forced himself to cool down, looking away to distract his mind from such an erotic display. Minutes ticked by slowly, punctuated by the incoherent moans of the recovering Seeker.
"I… don't know… what happened," Starscream finally stuttered with efforts, "I… usually… I… last… longer." His look became pleading and even worried. "Give me… some minutes… and… I recover… and–"
Starscream was so breathless that Megatron couldn't bite back a laugh.
"Don't be silly… A full interface would damage you. You need to rest," he replied, leaning down to cover the slender form with his own body. The Seeker shivered deliciously at the contact, reviving his arousal. Megatron tried to ignore the tremors of his spark and the pressure that built in his body, and cut the connections, setting back the cables in their casing.
"But… I… can… yes… I… You… Me… More… Chance… Please-?"
Megatron cut this meaningless litany with a kiss and peered at the sparkling optics. "We will have other nights," he whispered, "Millions of nights are awaiting us, Starscream. Now, rest."
The Seeker's confused mumbles died away as he surrendered to recharge. Megatron watched him falling asleep, and soon followed him in recharge, lulled by the pulses of his spark.
He hardly caught the noise of an explosion, deep within the base.
Vessel Makahara, of the Empire of Salonia
The black spaceship entered slowly the launch pad of the Makahara and began the landing procedure. Greebo watched with apprehension at its menacing shape coming down the tarmac, while the whizzing of its engines hissed in his ears like promises of death. He beckoned his officers to stand back, cursing the orders of the High Councilor Nyxeris, who had required all officers to be there to welcome her. He would have preferred to be in his quarters, and avoid such a public humiliation.
Greebo knew few things about Nyxeris and her son, Thanatron. At least, he knew no more than all the Salonian High Officers involved in the colonization of new worlds. Some hundred years before, while the spaceships of the Empire were on a hunting trip, in the search of a planet to suck dry of energy, they had found an unknown spaceship. Its occupants, four giant alien robots, had quickly taken down the reconnaissance patrol. Thanks to a significant mobilization of troops, the belligerent robots had been captured few days later. After a battery of tests, the Salonian scientists were convinced of their unique technology and the potential advantage it could bring in the colonization strategy of the Empire. Besides, the robots proved to be extremely intelligent.
The so-called Nyxeris was certainly the cleverest of the four. She quickly understood the goal of the Empire of Salonia and proposed to cooperate in the colonization of planets. Put to a trial by the Emperor, the four transforming robots brought a decisive help to invade a few solar systems. Better than this, Nyxeris suggested new targets, rich in energy and technologies; among them were Cybertron and Earth. The attack against the first planet was a great success, as Nyxeris and her accomplices gave full details about the defense scheme of their own planet and proposed imaginative battle plans to take it down. Pleased by such an effective support, the Emperor had rewarded Nyxeris and her puppets by giving them high ranks in the Imperial Army.
'Disgusting! How could the Emperor trust such a wretched creatures, which had destroyed their own planet with no remorse?'
Greebo ran out of thoughts and insults when the front door of the spaceship opened on the black shape of the High Councilor and her heir, the Commander Thanatron. If the femme was angular and rather slender, her son was bulky and strongly built, taller than her by at least six or seven feet. Salonians were only small ants in comparison to them.
Nyxeris walked down the stairs without haste. Her human-like features were empty of any expression, only her yellow optics were shining of a disturbing light. Her son followed, his masked faceplate showing red optics glittering with a predatory look. Greebo felt like running away when the femme stood in front of him, and bent down to better observe him. The dark faceplate stopped few inches above him, and the vacant expression turned to amusement.
"I see that you managed to follow my orders and gathered the troops for my welcome!"
There was an underlying threat hidden in this soft voice. Greebo stepped back, but bumped into the hand of Nyxeris. The femme squeezed his body and held him up to optics level.
"High Councilor! Please-" Greebo begged, feeling that something bad was to happen to him.
"No cry. No begging. Show some dignity when facing your judgment day!" Nyxeris replied, squeezing hard. "Your men are watching you!" she mocked.
"No please!"
Greebo could feel his exo- skeleton starting to snap and his inner organ giving up under the pressure. Salonian's blood spilled from his gaping mouth as the vice like grip tightened. Something in his back broke and some of his bones cut his flesh. Greebo howled in pain but the machine didn't listen. Pressure and pain became unbearable, sending him straight to unconsciousness.
O
"Was it necessary to do that?"
The voice was deep and slightly scratchy, and the reproachful tone, unnerving. Nyxeris peered at her son, and threw with disdain the broken body of Greebo to the ground, just in front the Salonian officers.
"Clean the place! I don't want to see him anymore!" she ordered to the frightened fleshy aliens.
She smirked when the officers picked up the remains of the former Commander and hastily exited from the launch pad. The Salonians who didn't leave were all quivering with fright, waiting for an order or the apocalypse. 'What a nice sensation!'
"Mother? I asked you a question…"
'A nicer sensation than the sound of Thanatron's voice. What's wrong with him?' she wondered.
"It's always necessary to track and expel the incompetents from an army," she replied, caressing the area in his hand where Greebo's blood had melted the metal, "Otherwise, you find yourself in the situation of this base: stuck in a conflict!"
"It's a loss of time!"
"I don't think so." Nyxeris turned to the Salonians and flashed her optics angrily. "What are you waiting for? Disembark our belongings immediately!" she barked.
Confused "Yes your Highness!" echoed to her command, while the little ants headed hastily and in pure panic inside the ship. This confusion seemed to amuse the Councilor, until she caught the energy field of her heir, giving her the confirmation that Thanatron was now irritated to no end.
"You will have your fun, my son. Tomorrow!" she purred, walking to the bulky mech, oblivious of the small creatures that had to jump out of her way to avoid her giant's feet. "You're attacking the base 0022 in the morning. I'm sure you will make a real slaughter among the resistance's troops! Most of all, it will destroy the main energy supply of the base 0025."
She set her hand on the cannon equipping the right arm of her son, caressing it lightly. This mark of affection didn't brighten the mood of the Transformer, who glared at the femme.
"I know."
"My son, what's going on? I've never seen you in such a dark mood for vorns!" Nyxeris tried to pat his cheek, but Thanatron stepped back, optics flashing angrily. "Aren't you happy to be back to this planet and finish the job we have started few vorns ago?" she asked, upset by his reaction.
"No."
Thanatron spun around and exited from the launch pad without looking back at her. Nyxeris watched him, analyzing closely the variations in his energy field; there were anger, irritation and… worries.
"Do we have a secret towards your mother, my son?" she whispered, tightening her fists. A dangerous light flashed in her optics. "This could be extremely upsetting!"
To be continued
Text originally beta read by Krystalmaze. Reedited in August 2015.