Chapter 25

Never before in Starscream's entire existence had he ever been so happy to see his superior than then. "Megatron!" he exclaimed, half relieved, half surprised. How had he found him?

Silverblade, his face a mixture of surprise and anger, straightened up and faced the Decepticon. Megatron watched him, his arm cannon aimed at his face. "So we finally meet," the scientist said, his face twisted in disgust. "I finally get to meet the one responsible for this whole thing face to face."

Megatron felt he needed to correct the scientist. He wasn't to blame. "You cannot blame me for this," he informed him. "This was your own doing."

"So how did you find this place?" the scientist wanted to know, ignoring the accusation. "Did that bounty hunter open her big mouth?"

"No," the Decepticon told him. "I got the information from a more personal sourse."

The tarnished silver mech cocked his head. "and that would be?"

Just then another figure entered the room and stood in plain view, right next to Megatron. Silverblade's mouth fell open in shock. "Silv?"

She nodded, her purple optics burning into his own. "Yes."

"How could you?!" he demanded angrily. How dare she give awya the buildings location! and to Megatron at that!

"It had to be done."

"Why?" he wanted to know.

"Somebody needed to end this," she replied calmly. He did not intimidate her, not anymore.. "Before you hurt anyone else." now she looked right at him, her gaze never leaving his. "Starscream was never responsible for what happened to the others. You were!"

Her creator stared at her in shock. "What?!"

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Sam stepped out of the shadows and crept up to the now open door. She peaked inside, taking note of the four machines. Silverblade had his full attention focused on either Megatron or the black and green robot that looked female. She couldn't be sure. It didn't matter anyway. As long as he was distracted.

Knowing that none of them would be paying any attention to her, she slipped into the room and took off to the left. She could get a better firing position from there.

The others didn't notice her but Starscream did. He watched her, surprised to see she was still alive after all. He was tempted to say something but kept his mouth shut. It wouldn't help anyone if he gave her away. Besides, she might just come in handy soon.

Silv was still talking. "We knew something would happen if one of us ever left," she said. "and we were right. After he defied you and ran off, you changed. You kept on saying you didn't want to lose anymore of us." she pointed a finger at him and went on, her voice accusing. "That's when you did it! You destroyed your own creations because you didn't want them to leave you! But they did, thanks to you, and they're never coming back! I was lucky to get out of there alive!"

Silverblade stood there, shaking his head in denial "No," he protested. "I didn't do it! It wasn't me!"

She studied him with her serious purple optics. "Yes, you did," she confirmed. "Check the holofeeds if you have not destroyed them. It was you and only you, not Starscream."

Megatron listened to all of this with growing fascination. So not only was Silverblade an egotistical dictator but he was a psychopath and a murderer as well. No wonder Starscream ran away.

Silverblade said nothing more about the subject she mentioned. Instead he turned his attention on Megatron, ignoring her. "This was your fault," he growled at him.

Megatron glared at him. "I believe," he said. "That you're the one who caused this. I didn't make him leave. You drove him away yourself."

The scientist made no comment. Megatron hadn't expected him to. He nodded. "Can't deny it, can you?" he asked. "Of course not. You know it's true."

"I don-" Silverblade started to speak but Megatron cut him off. "So now you're going to lie. Of course that would be just like you. I wouldn't lie if I was in your place. I've been around Starscream long enough to know how he can be. How childish he is."

Starscream felt offended. "Hey-" he started. He hated when Megatron insulted him. It was bad enough when he could fight back but now that he was practically helpless it was worse.

A glare from Megatron silenced him. "If it had been me, I would have been happy to see him go," he went on. "Seeing how he used to act, but I know something about him you don't."

Silverblade stared at him. "What would that be?" he asked. Go ahead. Lie.

"Though he's a pain he's useful," the Decepticon leader answered. "and because of that I can't let you kill him." he aimed at Starscream with his cannon. "and if anyone is going to kill him that person is going to be me."

Silv stepped away from him, her optics widening. Was he going to kill Starscream after he'd spent so much time trying to find him?

Starscream stared at him in horror. "No!" he screamed. "Megatron!"

"Silence!" the gray Decepticon ordered. "I don't want to hear your whining excuses! All you ever make is excuses! Even now you just keep on whining! I've had enough of your whining!"

Starscream closed his mouth, unable to say anything more.

Sam watched this whole drama unfolding with interest. It looked like Starscream didn't have any friends in either area. But why would Megatron waste so much time finding him just to kill him? she wondered. How could have done that anywhere. Unless... she checked the power on her arm cannon. Near full. Good.

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Silv watched this whole thing happening from her spot beside Megatron. She saw the horrified look on Starscream's face and Silverblade's expression become surprised and confused, as if he couldn't believe that Megatron was about to do what he'd planned on doing himself. It confused her too but she had the sneakingest suspicion that he was up to something. But what?

Silverblade finally found his voice. "Y-you're going to kill him yourself?" he asked, his optics flashing with disbelief.

"Why not?" Megatron asked. "You're going to and I have more of a reason to do so than you. Why don't I end both our problems now?"

The scientist got over his shock and glared at him angrily. "No," he said.

Megatron cocked his head. "No?"

"This is myrevenge," Starscream's creator told him. "I will not allow you to do this for me." he pointed a finger at him. "I know what you're trying to do and it's not going to work. If you get in my way of my revenge you will regret it for the rest of your pitiful existence."

The gray Decepticon's lip curled in a mocking sneer. "How do you intend to stop me?" he asked. "You gave up the will to fight eons ago. You're nothing but a pitiful wreck of a transformer that can only harm another when he's weak and helpless and cannot fight back."

Silverblade smiled a chilling smile. "I beg to differ." he stepped backward. "How about I correct you on that?"

Megatron's arm moved faster than the scientist expected. One minute it was aiming its cannon at Starscream the next it was aimed at his tarnished silver face. "Go right ahead."

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Outside Thundercracker, Skywarp, and Soundwave made quick work of Silverblades security drones. "All right," Thundercracker said when all the drones lay in a smoking heap on the landing pad. "I think that's all of them. Let's get inside and assist Megatron."

"Right," Skywarp said. "and let's make sure Silv is alright as well. She doesn't have a weapon."

"Starscream higher priotity than femme," Soundwave said.

Skywarp gave the Communication's Officer a look. "Thanks for the reminder," he said sarcastically.

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Megatron looked ready to take Silverblade up on his challenge but, before he could fire a shot, a missile came firing out of nowhere and hit the table behind the scientist. The explosion knocked everyone off their feet. Silverblade was the first to recover. He shot quickly to his feet and dashed out of the room before anyone could stop him.

Megatron watched him go then looked in the direction the missile had come from. He spotted someone standing on a shelf on the far wall. That bounty hunter! She'd ruined everything.

She seemed to realize her mistake and jumped down from the shelf, dashing over to where he lay. He glared down at her. "Why did you do that?" he demanded. "and where did you come from?"

"That worthless rust bucket tricked me," she explained. "I was going to teach him a lesson." she pointed an accusing finger at him. "Thanks to you I missed!"

He gave her a hateful look, contemplating whether to shoot her or crush her with his bare hands. She was such a nuisance and he was sick of dealing with her. If it hadn't been for her that rotten scientist wouldn't have gotten away. "Thanks to me nothing! You are the one with the bad aim."

"It doesn't matter," Silv broke in, getting up. She crossed the room and released Starscream from his bonds. "He's getting away and we have to stop him."

Sam cursed under her breath. She'd blown it. "Well he's not going to get away," she said with determination.

"No he won't," Megatron agreed, getting to his feet.

"Wait," Silv exclaimed before either person could run off. "You don't know where he is going! He had a head start. He could be anywhere."

"I know where he's going," Starscream said, getting off the floor. He looked at the other three, rubbing his sore wrists. He noticed Megatron was giving him his full attention now. "The coward is headed to his room. The room he wouldn't let any of us in."

"Why would he go there?" Megatron demanded his second in command.

Now you want to listen to me, when I know something you don't. Figures. You're probably going to take the credit when this is over as well At the mment the fact didn't matter. All that mattered was stopping Silverblade. "Because it's safe there," he explained.

"and that's where all his controls are," Sam finished.

The robots looked down at her.

"That's where I spoke to him the first time," she explained. "I am an observant person." she started out of the room. "Let's go."

Starscream started to follow but felt a tug on his arm. When he turned to see who it was he saw Megatron standing behind him with a hard look on his face. "When this is over," the Decepticon leader said. "You're going to tell me everything."

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Skywarp, Soundwave, and Thundercracker were in the hallway, looking for Megatron when a tarnished silver transformer that wasn't Megatron rushed toward them. Thundercracker and Soundwave had the sense to get out of the way but Skywarp didn't see the robot until it was too late. It slammed into him, knocking him to the hard metal floor. "Hey!" he exclaimed.

The other robot, who hadn't fallen over or lost his balance, stared at him hard for a moment then rushed down the hall. "Who was that?" Skywarp asked as Thundercracker helped him up.

"Identity unconfirmed," Soundwave said.

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Silverblade crashed into his private chamber and pressed the button that would shut and seal it. He leaned against the door for a moment, his processor working a mile a minute. The black and purple seeker and the blue and gray seeker looked just like Starscream. They all look the same. he thought. I cannot stand that mold!

He turned from the door and ran over to a large control panel. It was covered in buttons and other types of control switches. His optics centered on a red button covered in transpersteel. He smashed the glass and pressed the bottom. A loud siren blared and a red light started flashing on and off. "It's time I took care of this the proper way. Let's see them all get away now!" he looked back toward the door. Let's make sure I take care of everything this time.

He turned from the controls and ran into another chamber. There he found what he wanted. He grabbed it off the shelf and ran back to the door where he waited.

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Starscream and the others were on their way to Silverblade's room when the siren went off. "Hold it!" he exclaimed, stopping in his tracks and putting out his arms.

"What is that?" Sam asked.

"He's activated the emergency security system," he explained, his optics scanning the other halls. He sensed an approaching presense, one he'd never felt before. "We're about to have company."

They didn't have time for this! "Soundwave," Megatron said into his comlink.

"Yes, Megatron?" the Communications Officer asked.

"See if you can find a way to deactivate the system."

"Objective impossible." was the monotonous reply.

"What? Why?"

Soundwave, Skywarp, and Thundercracker were surrounded by a large number of security drones. "Current situation critical."

The Decepticon Commander ground his teeth. This was just getting better and better. He looked at Starscream. He seemed to know his way around the lab, which shouldn't have been a surprise since he'd lived there. Megatron also noticed he was shaking but his face was grim and he looked determined. He opened his mouth to ask if he knew of any way to shut off the security system but a metallic scraping cut him off.

"What is that?" Silv asked, looking around. She'd never heard anything that sounded like that before.

Just then a large machine smashed through the wall and blocked their path. It was a large robot with bright red eyes and a large reptilian body. Starscream, who was standing in front of them was knocked against the wall by a large metal claw. He grunted and fell to the floor.

Sam watched this happen then stared at the machine, her eyes wide with recognition. She'd seen this thing before. "Ridley!" she exclaimed. No not Ridley! A machine!

Starscream grunted and got up, his optics locked on the machine. What was this? He didn't remember his creator ever making anything like this! Where had he gotten it?

The metallic reptile screeched loudly and dove at the others. Megatron ducked to avoid a flying claw swipe and fired his cannon at it. The blast knocked the robot back but did little else. The Decepticon commander stared at it with his mouth open. What the? A swiping claw he didn't see hit him in the side and knocked him to the floor.

The robot focused its attention on Silv and fired missiles at her. She jumped back, avoiding the missiles until she too was knocked to the floor.

The bounty hunter, avoided the reptile's strikes and charged at it, firing her missile in a constant rhythm. She seemed to know what to do. "Fire at it's chest!" she shouted at the other, over her shoulder. "That's where it's vunerable!"

How did she know? Had she fought this kind of machine before?

Well it didn't matter. While she kept it distracted, the seeker aimed his nullguns at the things chest and fired. Something there flashed brightly then shattered. The machine screamed in agony as its core power source exploded. It fell to the ground in a smoking heap. Starscream noticed Megatron watching him but he ignored the other transformer. He ran up to the machine and fired again, to make sure it wouldn't get up. Let's see you smack me again, you poor excuse of a Predacon! As he did so Megatron ran past him.

The seeker gave the robot a kick and started to follow with the bounty hunter and Silv close behind. Silv hadn't fired at the robot. She was not built for combat. She'd watched as Starscream had fired at the machine without thinking about the consequences. He was so different than she remembered. He's grown up some but still has a long way to go.

The three had almost caught up with Megatron when suddenly their path was blocked by more robots. This time they weren't of the reptilian variety. They were simple security drones, but there was a lot of them and they wouldn't go down easily. The bounty hunter cursed angrily then started firing more of those missiles. Starscream used his nullguns, setting them at full power. Silv stood behind him, watching his back and trying her best to help, by kicking any that got too close.

It was the best she could do.

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Megatron had left the others behind but he was too determined to find that scientist that he didn't notice and didn't care when he did. He wasn't sure why he wanted to take care of the other robot so much. Was it because the tarnished silver mech did indeed remind him of himself and thus he wanted to get rid of such a thing? Or was it because he thought that other transformer had no right to try to get rid of his second in command?

If he was truely honest with himself he knew that Starscream wasn't totally useless. Sure he was whiny and acted like spoiled child sometimes but when it came to certain things his knowledge was invaluable. Plus Starscream's voice wasn't so annoying when he was serious and he couldbe serious. And, though he would never admit it, maybe he did really need the seekers constant reminders that his plans weren't going to work. More often then not the other transformer had proven to be right.

Every one of the Decepticon Commander's plans hadn't worked, just like Starscream had said. In a way he should be grateful. Every time Starscream proved to be right Megatron would strive to get better, just to spite the other transformer, and more often than not his latest plans worked, even though the Autobot would finally stop him, things were getting harder for them to stop. One day he might even wind up taking a few of them out permanently. Maybe even Optimus Prime himself.

All thanks to Starscream. But he wasn't about to tell him that!

Megatron stopped in his tracks and scanned the hallway. He picked up a faint energy signature coming from a room far to his right. He turned and took that hall. A door loomed at the end, closed and securely locked. That wasn't about to stop him. He raised his arm and fired his fusion cannon at the door.

The door couldn't sustain the blast and burst, sending pieces of melted metal flying. The room beyond the door was dark but Megatron didn't notice. The energy signature was coming from that room.. He charged right in.

IMPALED!

A sharp pain lanced up his side as something sharp pierced his gray frame. He let out a yell of agony and fell to the floor with a clang, a long energy blade sticking out of his side. He gritted his teeth and stared at the blade in the dim light. It looked like Grimlock's only longer and older. He could tell that by the markings on the blade.

It hurt more too. He grabbed at the sword, taking the sharp blade in his hands and yanked.

Suddenly the lights came on and he looked up and spotted Silverblade crouched by the door, his optics cold and full of hate, his other hand holding another sword. He'd been lying in wait.

"Starscream's right," Megatron said when he realized this. "You are a coward."

The scientist straightened up and started across the room, his left hand gripping the other sword tightly. The Decepticon Commander noticed his optics lit up with an insane light. "Not a coward," he said, his voice sounding higher in pitch. "A strategist. I knew you'd come after me so I waited for you." he looked at the sword piercing Megatron's side then at his face. "I just wanted to make sure I had an advantage."

Megatron clenched his teeth together and yanked blade out of his side. It fell to the floor with a clatter. Silverblade, his face suddenly taking on a blank expression, waited from him to stand, the Decepticon covering the damage with a hand. "I can still defeat you even with damage," he growled.

The scientist's expression did not change. He just stepped back, holding his sword in front of him. "Let's see about that."

The Decepticon commander, forgetting about his wound, dropped his hand and dashed toward the much older mech. You're going to regret doing that to me, old man!

A/N

Not my favorite chapter but at least some things happened. I'm not sure how much longer this fic will be but it won't be much longer. It might take me awhile to update this again since I want the fight to come out very good.