Author's note. Well today was my first exam, can't really say how well I did. That's why I didn't update sooner, lots of studying, just taking a small break to write this. Wish me luck for my next two exams, Environment on Wednesday and Biology on Friday.
Anyway about what's coming up, Megatron interrogates Starscream and Skywarp FINALLY remembers an important detail but will it be in time to save Starscream? Read on to find out.
Enjoy and please review.
Soundwave's POV.
Soundwave waited silently with the other Decepticons for the return of their leader. As soon as the Autobots had left the scene, Soundwave had ordered a retreat, there was no point in remaining, not with the storm brewing. Plus Megatron had given strict orders, no one was to interfere with his mission to retrieve Starscream. And so they had returned and were now awaiting Megatron's arrival. He had comm'd to say he was returning but hadn't said whether or not his mission was a success.
Standing with his Cassettes and still painted grey, Soundwave desperately hoped it wasn't. He had done his best to get Optimus Prime to attack him hard enough so that Megatron's plot was revealed in the hope that the Autobots could stop Megatron. Soundwave hadn't been able to simply tell them what was going on, he was under orders so he had ensured that they discovered it for themselves.
His Spark ached, remembering the look of horror on Prime's and the other Autobots faces as 'Megatron's' face had crumbled and they had relished it was Soundwave in disguise. The Shuttle Skyfire had given an incredible scream of grief that matched the expressions on the Autobots faces. Several of them including Prime and his mate had piled into Skyfire before he took off at astonishing speed leaving the other Autobots to race after him.
Blaster had given him a look of anguish as he had leapt into an Autobot named Grapple to follow the others back to the Ark. Soundwave hoped that Blaster understood why he had done what he had done.
The only possible thing he could say about the day was that his creations had all made it back safety. He was never overly happy about letting them fight, even though he knew they could look after themselves, especially Ravage and Laserbeck. It supposed all parents felt this way, not that this made it any easier particularly when they were hurt. But they hadn't been hurt on this occasion, they were actually all groped around his feet, waiting like him. This was unusual, normally most of them would be in his chest but after all they had all been fighting to get the SIC back, they wanted to see if Megatron had succeeded.
Glancing subtly to his left he eyed the pair of Seekers eagerly waiting for their Trine leader. Well, at least Skywarp was looking eager, Thundercracker had a slightly glazed look about him. He had been like that for the past day or so, he seemed he couldn't focus properly on what was happening. Soundwave had a nasty suspicion he knew who was responsible for that. So since nothing had come of trying to tell the Seekers about their trine mate, Soundwave had resigned himself to praying to Primus that Starscream would somehow get away.
But it was not to be, Megatron came in carrying unconscious Starscream in his arms. With a very triumphant smirk, Megatron strode forward.
"Starscream" Skywarp cried joyously while Thundercracker groggily grinned. Both Seekers surrounded their leader and he kindly deposited Starscream into Skywarp's arms. The other Decepticons made sounds of triumph, delighted that their leader had outsmarted the Autobots and relieved to see Starscream. Who knows what would have happened if Megatron had returned empty-handed, he would not have been in a good mood.
Of course though they had missed their Second to a certain extent, mostly because of his wit and ability to make a fool of himself. However many were pleased because now Megatron could focus his temper on his usual punch bag.
"What's wrong with him?" Skywarp said in concern as he tried to rouse his trine leader.
"The Autobots had him drugged, it's lucky I got him out of there when I did" Megatron said, shaking his head sorrowfully. Ignoring questions about why the Autobots had kept Starscream, he said.
"I'll hear your report in my office Soundwave" Megatron said calmly turning to Soundwave who inclined his head and sent his Cassettes away to the Rec Room. Megatron turned to the other Decepticons and announced they might as well relax for the rest of the cycle, they had all done well. This of course put all of the Decepticons in a good mood and they all headed off to the Rec Room apart from the Seekers who headed to their quarters. Soundwave gazed sadly at them as he followed his leader to his office.
Megatron's POV.
Megatron prowled around the hanging Seeker, whose head was bowed, in front of him slowly. After allowing those stupid trine mates of his to fuss over the red Seekers for an hour or two (they wanted to make sure he really was there), he had taken Starscream back. He had told them he needed to question Starscream about his time with the Autobots. Of course he had assured them he only wanted to talk to Starscream as the Seeker was his Second and he was concerned about him. And they had swallowed that slag like a Sparkling swallows an energy treat, pathetic.
He had to admit, Thundercracker might have seen through it had it not been for the fact he was still drugged to his optics. Megatron mentally smirked at the memory of Thundercracker trying to contact the Autobots to ask whether or not he Megatron had really attacked Starscream. Megatron had found him before he could and after drugging him had fed him a pile of slag about him and Starscream which the fool of course believed.
Anyway, after he had gotten Starscream he had taken him to a low ceiled room some way away from the Nemesis Rec Room where most of the Decepticons where. There he had suspended the Seeker from the ceiling with a heavy chain with a beam tied to Starscream's wings, weighing him down. Using another bar which also had a weight in the middle, he had tied Starscream's feet apart. Lastly he had gagged the limp Seeker with a gag ball.
His optics roved over the poor Seeker's form whose limbs were being stretched with the way he was tied with heavy weights. The Seeker was raised above him however he could still reach up and touch his face. He considered his next move, should he start Starscream's punishment now or give him a chance to talk.
With a mental shrug he decided to give Starscream a chance to talk. 'It's his lovely body all tied up for me' he though as he reached up to remove the gag ball. 'I'm clearly getting soft in my old age' he mused 'To give in like this'.
"Well my little Star, care to tell me how you ended up with Prime and his boy scouts?" Megatron asked smiling.
Even after Starscream spat in his face, he kept smiling. Replacing Starscream's gag, he calmly removed several pieces of Starscream's armour exposing numerous sensitive wires. Carefully placing the bits of armour on a table, he took up several cables and attached them in place to Starscream's bare wires.
As Starscream struggled vainly to dislodge them, Megatron causally sat down in a chair and took up the battery that those cables led to. Even more causally he flipped the switch to a low setting. He watched as Starscream's body jerked as electrical currents shot through his body and he screamed with pain through his gag. After five minutes of this Megatron flipped the switch and Starscream slumped down, smoke curling from where the cables where attached to his wires.
"Well, Starscream?" Megatron softly.
Starscream lifted his head to shoot Megatron a defiant glare causing Megatron to sigh softly and after setting the voltage at a higher level, flipped the switch. This continued for over half an hour, with Megatron changes the wires which the cables were attached to as the original ones were shorted out. Eventually the Seeker shook his head in defeat, moaning heavily through his gag. Megatron removed the gag before sitting himself back down, one foot resting his knee to regard Starscream who was panting.
"Well?" Megatron prompted coolly.
Breathing heavily, Starscream said.
"It was pure chance I came to be with the Autobots. After you....interfaced with me, I...went for a flight" he whispered. "I was....in pain so I crashed and it was right outside their base. And I saw that yellow Younlging playing and I...attacked him."
"Why did you do that?"
"He...was so happy" Starscream whispered miserably. "He made me angry and I...lost it. But Prime and his officers found me and...and..."
"Oh dear" Megatron sneered, loving where this was going. "Where you afraid Prime was going to hurt you?"
Starscream whimpered in answer, tears pooling at his optics. Megatron laughed cruelly. Standing up he walked over to the silently crying Seeker, and stroked his cheek.
"Dear Starscream, did you think Prime was going to take you and fuck you?" he sneered, malice dripping from his voice. Starscream squeezed his optics shut giving Megatron his answer.
"So then what?" Megatron all but purred into Starscream's audio.
Starscream's optics snapped open as he turned to glare at Megatron as he snarled.
"And then he came, Skyfire protected me from them and took into the base. Ratchet examined me and then they all knew what you had done to me" Starscream spat as Megatron started prowling round him.
"They were disgusted that you had done what you and they said I could stay. Skyfire looked after me and I was never happier. And you know what Megatron" Starscream hissed twisted his body to glare at Megatron, his optics alight with a fierce fire.
"What?" Megatron growled still walking around the red Seeker, flexing his fingers as Starscream continued.
"He never pushed me away, never, didn't care what you had done to me, even after they found the whip marks" Starscream said, his voice dropping as he remembered the incident with the twins.
"Not even when he found about your perversions" Starscream hissed again as Megatron paused in his pacing. "He didn't despise me when I told him that you want Prime. I don't know why I believed your lies about Prime, he is a thousand times the leader you are, and he didn't turn me away even after finding out about that and the other stuff."
"Yes I told him everything" Starscream screamed hysterically. "But he and the other Autobots have still done everything in their power to protect me and when I'm free I'm going to join the Autobots...."
But further declarations were cut off as Megatron suddenly seized Starscream's cod piece from behind. Starscream cried out as Megatron twisted his grip. As Megatron started to rub as he brought himself closer to the whimpering Seeker and snaked around his trembling waist.
"Join the Autobots" Megatron scorned, pausing to lick Starscream neck while he continued to rub. Starscream jerked his chains trying to free himself. But it was no use.
"Oh no my little Star, you're staying right here with me, where you belong."
And no one" he added. "Including Prime or that spineless Shuttle are going to take you from me."
"That's what you think" Starscream managed to bite out, ignoring the growing heat in his groin area.
"Oh it's not what I think, Starscream" Megatron said, his voice a gentle caress as he stopped rubbing. "It's what I know."
And he tore off Starscream's cod piece and shoved several fingers up the now open Port. Starscream screeched with pain but with his free hand, Megatron gagged him again. For the next hour groped and abused Starscream, though he didn't actually rape him.
This was small comfort to the Seeker as Megatron released him from his chains causing the Seeker to crash onto the floor. As Starscream struggled to stand, for he still had that heavy bar on his wings, Megatron took hold of his shoulders and started forcing him down.
"On your knees" Megatron snarled, lust filling his optics as one hand pushed Starscream head down and the other removed his cod piece. Starscream fought back but in the end was forced to do as Megatron wanted.
After that, Megatron removed the rest of Starscream bonds and shoved him into a chair. Planting a hand either side of him he said nastily.
"I can't believe how soft you've become after spending a single week with those sentimental Autobots led by that soft fool Optimus Prime. Or was it that even softer Shuttle's influence that has weakened you?"
"Don't you talk about my love that way" Starscream protested hotly back. Contrary to what Megatron had just said, being with the Autobots, especially Skyfire had made him stronger. He had managed to endure more torture before succumbing. That was how he was able to answer Megatron's taunts instead of simply weeping, he did it because of his love for Skyfire.
"So you're in love with him" sneered Megatron as he leered down at the red Seeker.
"Yes I am" Starscream snarled at him, optics blazing. "And there's nothing you can do about it and when my trine finds out what you have been doing to me, they will free me and make you pay."
Megatron laughed at this declaration before his expression turned very serious.
"Let me make this very clear Starscream" he said quietly. "If you breathe a word of what has happened to anyone, especially your Trine I will take your love."
Megatron smiled nastily at the look of horror Starscream was giving him.
"Yes, that's right Starscream, I will make him suffer. First I will torture you in front of him and then I will take you in front of him. And then, though the thought of him repulses me, I will fuck him again and again till he off lines."
Starscream entire form trembled violently as he imagined the scene Megatron had laid out for him, his friend, his beloved raped until he off-lined. Skyfire's first would be as bad if not worse than Starscreams. How long could he withstand the pain, how long till blissful blackness took him? Skyfire was strong, he would take an incredible amount from Megatron before he succumbed.
Tears streamed down Starscream's face as he imagined his friend broken, yes that's Megatron would do would, he would break his strong friend. He could not let that happen. Skyfire still had a chance at happiness at least, if he never managed to save the red Seeker, Starscream would not let that chance be ruined.
As he sobbed his Spark out, he felt fingers left his chin so that he was staring into Megatron's blood red optics. Those optics bore into his, searching for the slightest hint of treachery.
"Do you understand Starscream?"
Defeated, utterly defeated, Starscrema nodded, he would not tell.
Megatron smiled and leaned closer to plant a kiss on Starscream's quivering lips.
"Believe me, my little Star it's for the best. Now I think we should give the Autobots a call, after all" he said smiling even nastier. "They took such good care of you, it would be rude not to thank them.
Sometime later, after the call to the Autobot base.
Starscream lay curled under a thermal blanket on a large berth in a cold room. Knowing that Thundercracker had probably told Skywarp about him and Starscream being lovers, he had told the purple Seeker he was going to keep Starscream for the night. Of course the rest of the base didn't know about this arrangement, not even Soundwave.
Starscream quietly wept, his Spark felt broken. The sight of his grief stricken new friends was bad enough but the look of horror on Skyfire's face had been pure torture. And thinking what they had suffered made him weep even harder.
He had seen Red Alert and Sideswipe as Megatron had carried him from the Ark but he hadn't seen what had happened to Sunstreaker, Bumblebee or Spike. But after taunting the Autobots, Megatron had told Starscream what he had done to them.
Poor Sunny, how could Megatron have done that? Of course he loved to do that to Starscream on a regularly basis but the thought of that happening to another innocent being was Spark wrenching. What made it worse was that you didn't see Megatron coming and that made it hurt even more.
He whimpered softly as Megatron now came over to the berth and lifting the covers, slipped into bed with Starscream. But poor Starscream was too defeated to even try to struggle as Megatron drew him into his arms and kissed his forehead.
"I've missed you so much my little Star" Megatron whispered, one hand slipping between Starscream's legs. Feeling Starscream shiver, Megatron said with a light laugh.
"Soon my little Star, soon. But not tonight, after all once we reach Cybertron, we'll have all the time in the world."
Megatron leaned even closer to Starscream, his lips right up against Starscream's audio.
"You said you told them everything. But I know there's one thing you didn't tell them."
And Starscream brokenly wept silent tears as Megatron gently rubbed his stomach.
Back at the Autobot base, just after call from Nemesis.
"He hasn't made Starscream pregnant."
"He's going to make Starscream pregnant."
Everyone stared in absolute horror at Elita as she said those words. For a full minute nobody spoke. And then there was a heavy clunk as Ratchet fell to his knees, his optics filled with horrified confusion. Skyfire had already been on his knees, slumped against the console but he looked no less shocked.
"That's why he couldn't bare to hear about Sparklings" Skyfire whispered. "That's why he ran away, Megatron was going to force a Sparkling on him."
"But why" Jazz all but howled. "Why would he do that?"
"To control Starscream" Optimus said grimly as he held his now weeping mate to him.
"Seeker's will do anything for their offspring, if Megatron had his Sparkling, he would do anything to protect it. And he would certainly never try to run away again."
There was another long silence.
"That's sick" Jazz whispered as Spike as several other Mech's looked ready to purge. "That's completely and utterly....SICK."
"Yes" said Prowl grimly. "It is."
"My poor Starscream" Skyfire whispered, burying his face in his hands.
"Wait a minute" Ratchet suddenly said leaping to his feet, wrench in hand. "How can he do that? Only bonded Mech's can produce a Sparkling and there is no way in hell Megatron is going to bond with Starscream."
"Why not?" asked a still revolted Spike. "A forced marriage just up Megatron's street."
Ratchet shook his head as he started pacing, smashing the wrench into his palm.
"I told you Spike, Bonding isn't like marriage, will physically bind ourselves to another. Megatron sees Starscream as his property, his slave, bonding would make Starscream his equal. Not to mention all the dangers of a forced bonding."
Ratchet shook his head.
"No I just can't see it. But I don't see how else, I agree that's probably what the Slagger's plan is but I can't for the love of Primus work out how he's going to do it."
They all pondered the problem but no one could think of an answer. But then Optimus spoke.
"I don't know how Megatron means to accomplish this....atrocity. But I think I know where he is going to do it."
Turning to Elita, he said.
"You told me that around about the time Starscream came to us, Shockwave started acted odd."
As her optics widened in shock, Optimus turned to the others.
"The very second this storm calms down, we are going straight to the Nemesis to stop Megatron from taking Starscream....to Cybertron."
Early Morning, aboard the Nemesis.
"TC, what's wrong with you" Skywarp whined as his mate gave a huge yawn. "Why are you so tired?"
"I can't understand it" Thundercracker mumbled, rubbing his optics wearily. "I'm just so sleepy all the time now. What were you saying? Something about that human you met."
Skywarp eagerly said.
"Yeah you should have seen it, she was all covered in fake blood...."
Blood dripped from the prone figure on the ground.
"Huh" Skywarp frowned softly as the image of Rosie stirred something within his memory banks. Had he seen someone in a similar state recently?
Starscream gave a cry of terror and rushed forward to kneel next to......?
That cave where he crashed into Megatron, when he had found Starscream. There was a fragment of his memory file missing, something he saw between hitting Megatron and Megatron backhanding him.
Starscream was desperately trying to stem the flow of Energon from the multiple blast wounds on the body of....
Skywarp growled in annoyance why couldn't he remember what had happened when he had found Megatron with Starscream and....Skyfire. That was it, that was what he couldn't remember, Skyfire had been lying bleeding on the cave floor and Starscream had rushed to help him. Megatron had gotten up, prompting Starscream to shield the injured shuttle but Megatron had unleashed his wrath on Skywarp, yes it was all coming back.
"Hey TC, I just remembered something" he said softly.
Thundercracker looked at him, hearing the tone.
"When I bashed into Megatron was there I found that Shuttle Skyfire. He was covered in blood, he looked like Megatron had almost blasted him to bits. And Starscream was trying to...protect him."
Thundercracker stared at him for a full moment. Then suddenly he leapt to his feet with a cry, giving his mate a start. It was although someone had switched a light on in his head, sudden'y his head wasn't foggy anymore. He remembered, he remembered everything, how he had deduced that about STarscream and what had happened to him.
Skywarp's words had broken the spell Megatron had managed to cast over him. Thundercracker growled, no one hurt his trine mate. Turning to Skywarp he said.
"Forget what I said before about Megatron and Starscream, Megatron drugged me to say that, it's Megatron who's been hurting Starscream. That's why the Autobots have been protecting him."
Skywarp stared in horror at him. But to Thundercracker's shock, Skywarp's face suddne'y went very pale.
"In that cave" he whispered. "When Screamer went to help Skyfire, I saw his back. It was covered in marks, whip marks and they looked bad."
Thundercracker stood numbly hardly daring to believe it was possible.
"He's been abusing him" he said simply "Megatron's been abusing him."
They stood there for a moment, as the shock and horror sunk in. Then without a single word they charged for the door, determined to retrieve Starscream and take him to the Autobots. But Starscream wasn't in Megatron's quarters, nor was the grey Mech himself. They charged around until they found a Mech who told them, Megatron had taken Starscream to Cybertron for something important.
And so they had raced outside, where the sky was finally clear took to the air. As they sped towards land they spotted the Autobots and changed course. As they roared towards them, the Autobots stopped and transformed.
"Thundercracker, Skywarp" Optimus Prime just had time to yell before Thundercracker screamed.
"He's taken Starscream to the Space Bridge."
Without another word both the Autobots and the Seekers raced for the Space Bridge, desperate to stop Megatron. But they were too late for as they came over a rocky hill they saw the remains of the Space Bridge.
Megatron had caused it to blow up after he had taken it, ensuring that nobody could follow. Nobody.
Author's note. So the Seekers finally know what's happened and have joined the Autobots but how are they going to get to Cybertron to save Starscream before Megatron's plan is put into action? Next time the full extent evil plan of Megatron's is revealed and the Autobots get help from a surprising source but will it be enough? Also evil Shockwave is contained in the next chapter which won't be updated till the weekend I'm afraid. But don't worry, I'm planning the very last chapter to be posted on Christmas Day, so how's that?
Till next time.