Title: Maneuverability
Fandom: Transformers Fall of Cybertron
Rating: PG
Word Count: 1124
Characters: Starscream, Combaticons
Summary: Set between chapters 8 and 9 of Fall of Cybertron. In which Starscream deals with his prisoners.

Ever since they'd been brought out of stasis none of the Combaticons did well in confinement. Some hid it better than others but overall being shoved into individual cells for over a day got to them. At least they were close enough to talk and they had their gestalt link to fall back on. Even if they weren't aware during that time spent in stasis the knowledge that they'd spent thousands of years in it made even this degree of isolation unbearable.

"And how are my lovely traitors today?"

As one the Combaticons' engines hitched into low, angry rumbles. Starscream just strolled between the cells as if he were among friends.

"What'd you want, Screamer?" Swindle all but spat.

"Me?" He placed a hand to his chestplate as he couldn't fathom why he warranted such hostilities from the gestalt. "Why I merely want to know if you wish to rejoin my army. I'm sure you'll find submitting to my leadership would be far more comfortable than being in these cells."

Brawl didn't look convinced. "What'd you do with Onslaught?"

"What does he have to do with anything?"

"He's our leader!"

"I am your leader. And I can make him nothing."

At first the Combaticons scoffed at that like an empty threat. But something in Starscream's smug grin sharpened and Vortex's head lowered a fraction, "You're going to execute him."

The others stared at Starscream hard. The sadistic twist of his smile was all the confirmation they needed. "You can't be serious," Blast Off bit out. "Onslaught houses the bulk of the gestalt components. He's literally Bruticus's central hub, you can't replace the core nearly as easily as you can a limb. You may as well attempt to make a new combiner all together!"

Starscream's optics narrowed almost gleefully, "How right you are! At least one of you isn't completely ignorant. Of course if you were even slightly intelligent I wouldn't have to explain how a traitorous soldier is worth less than an incompetent one. What would be the point in keeping a gestalt- or its team -that I can't trust? Oh, but I am a fair mech. I'm sure you hadn't meant to betray me, you were merely following orders. In my mercy, I've decided to give you four a second chance. All you have to do is renounce your loyalty to Onslaught." He leaned in close to the energon bars, grinning as if he had the Combaticons beaten. "So tell me, which do you value more? Onslaught? Or your lives?"

~*~*~*~

To think Starscream tried to turn his team against him. Just who did he think the Combaticons were? Onslaught had hand picked each of his teammates for a reason, their loyalty wasn't so easily swayed.

His escorts lead him to the lift, passing a crowd of Decepticons, half of whom jeered at him, the other half unable to meet his optics. What a shameful lot, he thought darkly. How undependable. Not like his team.

/I'm in position. Once Vortex sends me the right frequency, remotely hacking your inhibitor will be a breeze./

/Just like you predicted, all anti-air measures are aimed outward. I have a clear flight path into and out of the arena./

Disabling Onslaught's comms didn't do much good when he could still communicate through the gestalt link. The details of the plan were still being hashed out but the framework was firmly in place: Vortex would get the code for the shackles, Swindle would remote deactivate them- preferably when Starscream was within Onslaught's head-ripping-range -Blast Off would back up or extract depending on the situation and Brawl would support as needed. Onslaught hated improvising but nothing could be done when he didn't have prior knowledge of terrain or enemy forces.

When he was prodded off the lift and into the arena he couldn't help a double-take at the statue. Swindle felt the bewilderment over the link and said, /There's two more behind you./ Onslaught stifled the urge to vent- with their energon stores at critical, that was what Starscream prioritized? On the other hand, a timely collapse of one would cause a good distraction. He added that to the plan if not just to please Brawl. Brawl was indeed pleased.

/Data transmitted,/ Vortex cackled, /I'm making my way to the arena. Try not to star- arty- ou-/ There was a brief crackle of static and then nothing.

/Vortex? Vortex!/ Onslaught reached out for anyone in the link and only received silence. He whipped his head around to Swindle and Brawl's locations, both staring back at him with something dangerously close to confused panic. To make matters worse, both had half a dozen guards each flocked pointedly around them.

"Tsk, tsk, Onslaught! I know you don't care much for me, but I'd assume you of all mechs would know better than to underestimate your adversary!" Starscream strode up to him, smiling like a friendly adder. With that smile still in place he kicked the back of Onslaught's knees, forcing him to the ground. "As if I didn't think your team's pledge was nothing but lip service. Honestly, it's almost disappointing how predictable this was."

Onslaught glared at him for one moment before scanning through the crowd, trying to reach through the link again. Still nothing. He couldn't see what happened to Blast Off or Vortex, either. Something almost like fear stabbed through his spark and he jerked against the inhibitor before he could stop himself.

Starscream chortled. "Like it? I had Thundercracker install a disruptor field- with optional shield generators -specifically for this occasion. It even has the wondrous side effect of blocking your gestalt link."

Onslaught's engine growled deeply (Vortex always found it hilarious whenever Onslaught spoke to Starscream. "You get all growly at him- and only at him! Starscream enters the room and- bam! Instant growl! It's great!") as he sneered, "Was that in exchange for not being dragged to this farce? Did you saddle him with Skywarp while you were at it? Not that I blame them, wanting to put as much distance as possible between them and a joke of a leader."

"Such petty vitriol is truly the last resort of a mech about to meet the Unmaker. You're hardly in a position to ruin my coronation." He traced a finger almost delicately over Onslaught's helmet and the Combaticon weathered the touch out of sheer stubbornness. "You shall make a wonderful example to those who still question me. I will draw out your death exquisitely."

Onslaught seethed and struggled but all that did was make Starscream laugh. He turned his back, boldly, arrogantly, to the bound Combaticon as he began his speech, "Decepticons, as your leader, I, Starscream, demand absolute loyalty from all of my subjects!"