Hey :) This one is fairly long, hopefully it will make up for some of the shorties I have been posting. Hope you enjoy!

Chapter 32

Joshua sat up with a huge gasp, consciousness rushing back to him in the space of one, sickening second. For a moment, he wasn't sure where he was, or how he had got there. Then recent, unwelcome memories barged their way into his mind, and his lip quivered.

'Oh shit. Oh shit…'

His voice, tiny in the huge space, echoed thinly off the metal walls.

He sat, frozen to the spot, his hands wandering to rough fabric over his chest. He was dimly aware that he wasn't dressed in the same clothes he had been snatched in - but that was hardly the most pressing problem he faced right now.

He stared at his surroundings with a mounting sense of dread, his wide-eyed gaze taking it all in. At first the only sound he could hear was his own breathing, ragged with panic, and the frantic thundering of his heart. But, if he concentrated, he could hear other sounds. Far off rumbles and metallic crashes. The occasional distant voice - booming and echoing. The structure he was in must be unimaginably large.

He was on a vast, hard and cold surface - it looked like brushed steel. He was high up. On a table, then. The walls, impossibly far away on each side, loomed high all around. The far off-ceiling had pale spotlights, illuminating the place harshly, and he blinked, forced to look away when it hurt his eyes. After the table he could spot what looked like a giant, tilted chair, like a nightmarish version of the kind seen at the dentist. Joshua spied the restraining cuffs on the arm-rests, and swallowed hard.

Over on the far wall there was one, massive metal door. It did not look like the kind that opened easily.

But that wasn't the worst thing. No the worst thing lay some yards away, and he shuddered, shuffling up onto his knees to get a better look. There was a smell… and he lifted his nose, sniffing, before grimacing in disgust.

There was a silver tray, about seven or eight feet away from him. It was about the length of a small truck. It was covered in blood and meaty chunks of flesh, the gory splattered puddles blackening and congealed.

Something had been butchered on that tray.

It was freezing cold, and he shivered, hugging his arms and feeling the unfamiliar fabric once more. Looking down he saw that his clothes had been exchanged for a rough, grey set of overalls, the kind a prisoner might wear. His feet were bare, numb with cold.

He struggled to his feet, taking a step back… and almost fell over something. He turned, letting out a squeal of fear, recoiling at the sight - it was a long, lethal-looking knife - no - a scalpel. Longer than his own body. Beyond were other, equally terrifying-looking instruments, and Joshua was left in no doubt as to the type of room he was in.

Staggering, he wandered aimlessly around the tabletop, feeling like a mouse trapped in a lab, his hands clamped tightly under his arms. He could feel his breathing speeding up as the panic rose within him. A trip to the edge of the table confirmed his fears - it was a lethal drop to the floor below. For one, mad moment, he considered throwing himself off, to escape whatever fate awaited him… but he knew deep in his heart he couldn't do it. The desperate, primal need to stay alive, to survive, was too strong inside him. He knew, in that moment with pure certainty, that he didn't want to die. He would do anything not to die.

Shaking his head, as if to deny the horrible reality he now faced, he backed up into the centre of the table… then whipped round, his eyes even wider, as he heard a sound that turned his blood to ice.

The sound of the massive door being unlocked.

He flinched as there was a CHONK, the sound like a gunshot in the silence. The bolts were being drawn back.

'No,' he whispered, shaking his head once more. 'No… no…'

The thick door slowly swung open. Joshua didn't wait to see who it was - he dropped down and curled into a ball, all courage deserting him, as heavy footsteps thudded into the space, the vibrations reaching his very bones through the surface of the table.

The giant, for he knew it was a giant even without looking up, came to a stop. The door boomed shut.

Silence. After what felt like an eternity, he forced himself, very slowly, to uncurl, to raise his head. His eyes saw gleaming white - a waist, he realised, which tapered out, broadening into wide shoulders framing a golden cockpit and red thrusters. His gaze travelled up, and further up, over the soaring wings, and finally, far away, the helmeted head, tilted down, the better to see him, the crimson narrowed optics glowing above a cruel mouth.

Joshua's own mouth was wide open, matching his eyes. He couldn't tear his gaze away from it - how HUGE it was up close.

Enormous hands, each one capable of crushing his body without effort, slowly gripped the edge of the table, and Starscream leaned forwards.

'Stand up.'

Joshua breathed out, mouthing wordlessly for a few moments. Disobeying wasn't an option that ever entered his mind, and he put out one hand, trying to push himself upright. Suddenly slick with sweat, he slipped, and had to try again, but the giant jet didn't rebuke him, merely regarding him with cold patience. He finally managed to stand up, shaking all over, and the jet raised an eyebrow, satisfied. After a moment, he spoke again, his tone conversational.

'I see you are shaking. Interesting. I have, in my spare time, devoted myself to study of your kind and its unique behaviours. Call it an indulgence, if you will. I don't get the opportunity to discuss it with anyone that often. My men don't appreciate the idiosyncracies of humans you see.'

Joshua mouthed once more, his racing mind struggling to process the strange proclamation. The voice was deep, rasping, and articulate. Starscream spoke again.

'Anyway. I was recently reading up on executions of times past on Earth. Apparently the English king, Charles I, requested an extra shirt to wear before he was beheaded in 1649. It was cold, according to historical accounts, and he did not want the crowd watching him to think he was shivering from fear.'

Joshua, his teeth beginning to chatter in his head, stood rigid as Starscream looked down, a sly smile now on his features. 'So. Joshua Black. Tell me. Are you shivering from cold… or from fear?'

Joshua stared up at him - then immediately was violently sick. He doubled over, the bile and unidentified chunks spattering onto the metal surface and up the side of his overalls.

'Fear it is, then,' said Starscream casually above his head.

Joshua wiped his mouth with the back of his shaking hand. Already he felt exhausted from standing upright in front of a massive creature that exuded so much menace. He shook his head. 'I didn't… I haven't done…'

Starscream held up a hand, his voice mocking Joshua with its soothing tone. 'Ssshh. We will get to what you did, or failed to do in due course. There is no rush. We have plenty of time.'

He leaned forward, swamping the man in his shadow. 'The rest of your life, in fact.'

Joshua dropped his head, but an enormous fingertip swooped down, forcing his chin up once more. 'Do you know who I am?'

Mute, Joshua nodded.

'Say it.'

'L… Lord Starscream,' said Joshua. He cleared his throat, trying to summon his last few scraps of courage, and let out a shaky laugh, a pale shade of his old, swaggering charm trying to break through. 'Look, I don't know what you've heard, or been told, but this…' he gestured to their vast, cold surroundings.

Starscream raised an eyebrow. 'That's enough…'

'...is all just a huge misunderstanding, I swear...'

The jet glanced down, apparently thinking this statement over, before leaning forwards. Joshua scrabbled back, panicked. 'I should let you know… that if you speak without permission again, I will pick up that knife over there and I will use it to separate you from a part of your body. Am I clear?'

Joshua's eyes flicked over to the mess of gore on the large tray, fighting the urge to be sick once more. He looked up and nodded rapidly, his mouth now firmly shut.

'That said, I will permit you to ask a question. I'm sure you have at least one,' said Starscream, straightening up. After a moment of silence he looked back down. 'You may speak,' he said languidly, gesturing towards the human.

Joshua swallowed hard, trying to summon saliva into his dry mouth, already dreading the answer. 'Where am I?'

'You are in Darkmount. A top security prison,' Starscream elaborated. 'On Cybertron.' Below him, Joshua emitted a moan of despairing realisation. '...I have facilities for keeping you in my own fortress, but the truth is I didn't want you in the same building as Alexis.'

It was the first time her name had been mentioned, and Joshua couldn't stop his head from snapping up, immediately cursing himself for reacting. Starscream merely responded with a dark smile. 'You and her have met, so I hear.'

Before Joshua could stutter a reply, the door was pushed open once more, the heavy metal rasping across the floor. Both Decepticon and human looked round to see another seeker stride in. Joshua took a moment to check if it was the one who had abducted him - but no, this one was blue and black. Thundercracker. He was holding a container, about the size of a shed to Joshua, in one hand.

'Well?' demanded Starscream.

By way of an answer, Thundercracker tapped the top of the container once. Starscream nodded curtly. 'Put her down there.'

'And the other? Shall I send it in?'

Starscream nodded.

Joshua stared as Thundercracker lowered the container onto the table-top, opening one end and giving the box a slight shake. 'Come on. Out. Don't keep your master waiting.'

After a few tense moments, a middle-aged, plump figure falteringly stepped onto the cold surface, and Joshua's eyes widened in recognition. Thundercracker spoke again.

'Lord Starscream, this is the human you requested. Dr Jane Connell.'

Jane was wearing the same shabby grey overalls as Joshua. As she stumbled out of the container she blinked, disoriented… before shrinking at the sight of the two titans before her. Her face betrayed her shock as she recognised Thundercracker as the mech who had shown a glimmer of compassion when she and her daughter had been herded onto the ship - but if she had been hoping for the same show of kindness now she was disappointed - Thundercracker didn't even look at her. He picked up the empty container and withdrew, the door booming shut once more.

The two humans were now alone with Starscream. Jane's face was blotchy with tears, and she shook from head to foot, her hair in wisps around her face. Joshua felt contempt uncurl inside him - forgetting that he had displayed the same snivelling behaviour just minutes prior.

The change in Joshua's demeanour did not go unnoticed by Starscream. The jet watched shrewdly as the human male stood up a little straighter, the faintest vestige of hope returning.

Joshua's mind was racing. Now that the snivelling doctor had arrived, the dynamics had changed - the arrival of another person presented an opportunity. A chance to deflect attention and blame onto another individual. He waited in silence as Jane took in her hostile surroundings, her knees knocking together. When her stare found Joshua Black she did not show hatred or hostility - but dissolved into tears, burying her face in her hands.

If I play this right, I might just survive.

'Almost all of the pieces are on the board,' said Starscream softly.

Jane sank to her knees, her face still hidden in her hands. Joshua took a few steps sideways, watching intently, as Starscream stalked towards her, leaning over her prostrate form.

Yes yes yes that's it. Go after her, not me.

'Human. Look at me.'

Starscream's voice rumbled into her body, Jane could feel the vibration in her lungs. Unable to resist, she turned her tear-stained face upwards into his stare.

'You know why you are here.'

Petrified, she nodded. 'I… I... '

'Speak,' he said softly, his face now mere feet from hers.

'I'm sorry,' she whispered, tears rolling down her plump cheeks.

'Hm.'

After a few moments watching her huddled form collapse in on itself, Starscream straightened up. Likewise Jane, shaking all over, slowly raised her face, looking up into the fearsome stare. His torso reared like a cliff-face above her, swamping her with its enormity. She felt like an insect cowering before a god.

'We have work to do, in this room,' said Starscream, beginning to pace slowly in front if the two humans, their eyes following his every movement. 'You both represent a piece of a puzzle. The most significant part is not here. You are going to assist me in locating him.'

The door opened once more, and the humans stared as two mechs entered, carrying something between them. Joshua caught a glimpse of trailing wires.

Moving carefully, the two mechs lowered something onto the surface, in the centre. The body was set down. A limp, scaly black arm flopped onto the surface. Jane emitted a gasp of horror. Joshua clapped his hands over his mouth, retching. Far above, Starscream rolled his optics.

'Must you?'

Between them lay a twisted, blackened metal figure, skeletal and barely human, scraps of what looked like tattered skin and muscle hanging from it in places. The face was sightless, the mouth wide open, black fluid dripping from jagged teeth. The thing had too many limbs, bent at unnatural angles. Four tubes ran from various points on its body to what Joshua guessed was some sort of alien life-support unit. The two mechs stepped back against the wall, watching Starscream respectfully and awaiting instruction.

Starscream's hand lowered, inviting his two captives to venture closer. 'Please. You're quite safe. Come and see.'

Joshua hung back, his stomach churning. But Jane, ever the medical professional even now, allowed her curiosity to overcome her terror, and she hesitantly ventured forwards. 'W… what is it?'

'Ah. Of course. Neither of you saw her change.'

Jane, moving very slowly, laid a hand onto a blackened, wizened appendage. The horrible thing twitched under her touch, and she jumped back. 'No...no, it can't be…'

'Your colleague. Captain Margaret Botrill,' said Starscream.

The thing that had been Botrill writhed weakly, emitting a strangled, metallic moan. Jane paled, shaking her head. 'We thought she was dead,' she blurted.

'Everyone thought she was dead,' said Starscream calmly. 'But, you see, my prisoners don't die until I say so.'

He waited for the implications of that latest statement to sink in amongst the two humans, before pacing slowly up and down before the table. 'Now. Let's set the scene. You both abandoned Alexis, in your own different ways, before Botrill decided she would experiment on her - the aim being to absorb her unique powers. In front of us we see the result.'

He looked away from them, addressing the lab mechs. 'Well?'

'Her organic parts are disintegrating, my Lord. We had to cut them away, as you can see.' The mech gestured to the bloody tray. 'We've done our best, but she's fading. Her internal systems can't decide what she needs, and we can't keep up with her accelerating metabolic rates.'

'So she's burning herself up.'

'Yes, my Lord. Her internal systems make no sense, they can't keep her alive.'

Starscream bent down, his hands either side of the pitiful object. Botrill's face, unrecognisable, turned fretfully onto its side. 'It… hurtssss.'

'I know,' replied Starscream softly. 'You don't have to endure the pain for much longer. Tell me who is behind this venture of yours.'

Botrill writhed once more, her knobbly back arching, before sinking back down. 'I managed it… I did it…'

'You certainly did,' said Starscream, quietly. 'Well done. Who funded your experiment?'

The voice was growing fainter by the second. 'S… Silas…'

'Where is he? Who is he?'

Botrill shook her head, and Jane watched, aghast, as a chunk of plating fell away from the side of her head with a sizzling clatter.

'Far away… somewhere…'

'Where?' Starscream leaned in closer, his voice now an urgent growl, but Botrill merely mouthed senselessly. In the silence that followed, her head slumped sideways with a sigh, and she went very still.

Starscream straightened up, pinching the bridge of his nose. No one dared to move or speak as he stood in silent contemplation for a moment. Them he gestured to the lab mechs, who carefully lifted the ruined corpse from the table, departing the room with it. The door closed once again.

'It looks as though I am now relying on you two to supply me with the information I want,' said Starscream softly, breaking the horrified silence.

Jane was staring at the floor, stricken, when suddenly Joshua's voice rang out in the huge chamber. 'You want info? Fine. I'll give it to you. I'll tell you everything!'

Jane stared as Joshua stepped forwards, looking slightly manic, pointing a shaking finger. 'She was part of it all… she sedated Alexis and took her blood. She worked with Botrill to make sure she couldn't escape! They were on the same team! She knew about the whole thing!'

Jane's mouth fell open as the crimson stare turned to her, and she backed up, raising her hands. 'Wait…'

'Can I speak in more detail, Lord Starscream?' asked Joshua, and Jane gazed in disbelief when Starscream, still watching Jane, nodded. The dark-haired man she loathed so much appeared to draw confidence from this, warming to his topic. 'Look. This was a wide-spread operation with the single aim of procuring Alexis' amazing powers. It's almost easier to tell you who wasn't involved. I was brought along late to the party as an… image consultant, if you like.' Joshua allowed himself a grin. 'It's what I do. You know, we all had our parts to play, me included, and this Silas guy… well, he's the one you want, trust me. But if you're out for immediate punishment, this one…' he gestured to Jane, who stood frozen and dumbstruck '...definitely had a hand in the mistreatment of your… your… he looked up. 'Um… is she, like, your wife?'

Starscream watched him for a moment, tilting his head and considering his statement. 'I've never used that word before. But...'

Joshua chuckled. 'Probably an unusual concept for a species like you, huh?'

'Are you saying,' said Starscream slowly, '...that you had very little involvement in the process?'

Joshua held up his hands, his demeanour now almost jovial. 'Look, I coulda done more to help your little lady. But you can count me out of all the science mumbo-jumbo. Nothing to do with me. I was merely tasked with taking care of her.'

Jane stood, almost physically floored by how easily the lies came tumbling out of his mouth. And how much it sounded so close to the truth. She whimpered as Starscream leaned in, turning his attention to her. He held up a finger behind him, signalling for Joshua to be quiet.

'Doctor Connell.'

The voice was low, and so close as he leaned in. Jane felt fresh, hot tears welling up once more, sinking back onto her knees.

'Think carefully before answering. Did you play a part in the capture and restraint of my consort?'

'Yes,' she replied without hesitation, the sobs wracking her body. 'Yes… I did…'

'Do you know the whereabouts or identity of Silas?'

Jane raised her face to his. It filled her whole vision, and she shrank back, raising her hands. 'N… no…'

Joshua, from across the room, scoffed. 'She's lying!'

'Remember the knife, Joshua,' said Starscream casually without looking round, and the man fell silent.

'I'm so sorry,' whispered Jane. She could see, just beyond the hulking form of Starscream, Joshua straining to listen, but her voice was so tiny she knew only the Decepticon could hear her. 'But I never even heard of a Silas when I took the job.'

Starscream remained where he was, his optics narrowed, filling her vision. 'You have offspring. Don't you?'

She nodded, trying desperately to stem the flow of tears with her hands. 'Two, sir. A girl and a boy.'

'You care for them?'

'More than the world. More than anything,' she replied immediately, and Starscream raised his eyebrows. She sounded more assertive in that moment than any other time she had spoken.

'Enough to want to live for them. Enough to tell the truth,' he said.

Jane bowed her head. 'I…'

'Speak.'

'I should have done more to help Alexis. But I never knew more than what I was told. I don't know anything about Silas.'

Starscream straightened up to his full height. He raised a hand to his com link. 'Thundercracker. Take the woman away. She has served her purpose. She knows nothing.'

Jane looked up, shaking her head more rapidly. 'No… no… please…'

Starscream turned away from her as the door opened. Giant fingers enveloped her body and she cried out. 'Please, please I need to live! For my children!'

The door shut with a BOOM. Starscream pulled a chair up to the table, and lowered himself into it, regarding Joshua. 'Well. First your compatriot Botrill expired. Then the Doctor proved to know nothing of use. It seems I am left with you.'

'I'm honoured, Lord Starscream,' said Joshua. 'I'll give you everything I can, in exchange for my freedom.' He looked up. 'Perhaps we can reach an agreement?'

'You've already given me everything,' said Starscream softly.

Joshua frowned. His face creased in a bemused expression. 'Sorry. I don't follow…'

'Soundwave has seized control of your assets on Earth, all of your net worth, your investments, properties,' said Starscream. 'Small change, if you ask me, but still, the gesture, the message it sends, is important.'

Joshua stared. 'I… I don't…'

'On reflection, you haven't really given me anything,' said Starscream. He leaned forwards. 'I have taken everything. At least, almost everything. There are a few loose ends to tie up.'

Joshua swallowed, suddenly uneasy at the ominous direction the conversation was moving in.

'I can give you Silas' number, his contacts…'

'Already have them,' said Starscream carelessly. 'My men seized your phone along with its contents, and transcripts of your conversations inside the base. I'm afraid you have nothing new to offer me. There is one encounter, though, that we need to discuss.'

Starscream rose from his seat, moving over to a control panel. He tapped on a button, and the recording suddenly filled the chamber.

'That was such a mistake, bitch… Now… are you going to behave?'

Joshua's face drained of colour as Starscream stood, watching, his eyes glittering with malevolent intent. He staggered weakly to one side, raising his hands to his ears, but he couldn't shut out those sounds.

"Has he fucked you? Hm?...He has, hasn't he? What's that like? Can you tell me?...Maybe you can show me…"

"No… No!"

The sounds of her panicked struggle and pained cries echoed around the room. Finally Starscream flicked at the button once more, and the chamber was silent.

They stared at one another.

Joshua sprang into a sprint, not even knowing where he would go… but the metal hand slammed into his back and he was sent sprawling, his legs grabbed by giant fingers. He began to cry, helplessly as he was dragged backwards, his slick hands sliding uselessly against the metal worktop. 'No, no no no no...'

'I have to confess that, despite my love for her, there is much about humankind I am ignorant of,' said Starscream, as he pulled Joshua back towards him. His hand slammed down, trapping the man beneath his palm. 'Because of you, I had to clarify what it was you intended to do to her.'

'I didn't.. I wasn't going to…' sobbed Joshua, writhing beneath the crushing grip. 'I swear…'

'To think that there was a path of evil that I, Starscream, was a stranger to,' hissed the seeker, lowering his face to the whimpering human beneath him.

'Please, please, I'll be your slave, I'll do whatever you want! I'm sorry!'

'You are only sorry that you got captured,' snarled Starscream. 'You know, she hasn't been the same since I rescued her. You wounded a part of her that even I never managed to when I was her master. Her spirit.'

He kept his hand firmly clamped down on his prisoner as he straightened up. 'You truly are a poisonous, worthless little wretch. You know, I had you thoroughly researched in the lead up to your interrogation. There's nothing I cannot find out. I knew Connell had children she was desperate to protect. I knew Botrill was driven by scientific endeavour, albeit at the expense of human life. But you… you have nothing to barter with. No friendships forged, no family you bother to contact… only the pursuit of power and wealth. If I had met you a few aeons ago, we might have seen eye to eye.'

Joshua screamed and wriggled, helplessly pinned down, his fragile limbs trapped by the enormous strength in the solid fingers that held him.

'But you caged her. You hurt her. You hurt and threatened her family. You presumed to try and take her body. Oh, and let's not forget you shot my soldier, Frenzy.'

'I'm sorry, I'm so sorry I'msorrysorrysorry…'

'I will take my time,' said Starscream calmly, unmoved by the sobs and begging drifting upwards. 'I'm not doing this for her, you see. I still believe if she were here, despite everything you've done, she would be pleading on your behalf.'

He leaned down, his face filling Joshua's whole world as the man shook his head, tears and snot leaking from his eyes and nose.

'But she's not here,' Starscream smiled. 'And I'm doing this for me.'

How many hours had passed. One? Two? She couldn't be sure.

A noise down the far end startled her, and suddenly one wall was lifted away.

'Out.'

Jane blinked, hauling herself upright and shuffling forwards into the light.

The room she found herself in could not be more different. She was once more on a vast tabletop, but that was where the similarities ended. The walls were lighter, the space was clean and there were no menacing echoing rumbles in the distance. From this, she deduced that she must be in a different building.

There was a huge, throne-like chair down one end of the table. Down the other end on the far wall was a massive, circular window looking out onto a twilit sky sprinkled with alien stars, over a sprawling city that glittered with bustling movement.

Jane slowly rotated on the spot, her mouth open. On the other side of the table loomed Thundercracker, inspecting a pile of datapads. He was completely ignoring her, and she lacked the courage to speak to him.

The door on the far wall opened, and Jane's heart sank into her feet as Starscream stalked in. He moved over to the chair, and lowered himself into it. Thundercracker looked over at him.

'Done?'

'Done,' replied Starscream.

'Did you get what you needed?'

'We need to establish the right moment to try and make contact. Organise a meeting. There are still multiple threads to tie off. Alexis ought to be involved.'

'Leave it with me,' said Thundercracker. 'I've got a stack of reports for you to look over. I've dealt with all of the ones you don't need to sign off. You've got the latest energon outputs, minutes from the Lithonian Bronze Uprising committee… oh, and a progress report on the human slave quarters. The structure is based on the human terra-colony plans drawn up by the Autobots that never got used. I've arranged payment, as agreed.'

Starscream grunted.

'Any particular location in mind?'

'Somewhere they won't annoy me or get under my feet,' growled Starscream. He glanced over the table, spying Jane, and his eyebrows shot up. 'Ah yes. You.'

One long finger beckoned her forwards. Jane saw no alternative but to stumble towards him, her eyes blurry with tears. The door opened, and a drone entered, setting a couple of items down in front of the Decepticon leader.

'You're late,' snarled Starscream.

'I am sorry, my Lord,' said the drone nervously, bowing. He hurried out, and the door closed once again.

Jane arrived in front of the looming mech, her head down. The moment had arrived, and her heart began to thump in her chest. She inhaled a huge, shaky breath, her words tripping over one another.

'Please, please, I'm begging you, don't… For my kids… Let me… Please…'

'What is she snivelling about?' asked Starscream, irritably. Thundercracker leaned down.

'I think, my Lord, she thinks you're going to kill her.'

'What?'

Jane raised her head, a look of terrified confusion on her face. 'You… you said… I had served my purpose…'

Starscream stared at her. 'Oh, dry your eyes, woman,' he growled. 'If I wanted you dead the job would long since be done. As it happens, you do have a purpose. Your first task, in fact, as one of my new slaves.'

Starscream laid down his palm, flattening it. With his other hand he gestured to the items the drone had brought in - a container of water the size of a bathtub, and a large piece of rough fabric. She stared at them, then up at him, for further instruction.

'I've found myself in need of a clean. Some dirt in my plating. Your tiny fingers are just what I need,' said Starscream calmly. 'You may start.'

The hand remained still. Swallowing hard, Jane picked up the rag, dipping it in the water. She scrambled onto the palm, and up close could indeed see there was some sort of residue in the gaps where his plating overlapped - the pieces not unlike the shapes made in the creases of a human hand. Shaking slightly, she inserted two fingers into the wet rag, and ran it along the length of a gap. She turned her hand over, and froze.

The rag was stained red, a few glistening lumps sitting in the rough fibres.

'Good. That's the idea,' said Starscream softly above her head. 'Shouldn't take you too long.'

Jane exhaled, slowly, and shuffled further along, repeating the horrible process. Above her head, the jet spoke.

'I've had a report that said you showed some small kindnesses to Alexis during her ordeal.'

Jane, despite her medical training, failed to hide her horrified disgust as she pulled something long and wet out of his plating. Trying to block speculation as to what it was, she slid off the palm, swirling the rag into the water, which bloomed a faint pink. 'I didn't know until she arrived what they were planning. It wasn't right. I… just... felt sorry for her.'

'Mm. That saved your life.'

Jane looked up, and Starscream tilted his head. 'What?'

'So… you're… you're not going to…'

'Not today,' said Starscream calmly. 'When you return to the rest of your kind, you may pass on a message. Work hard, stay obedient, and who knows what the future will hold.'

Jane put down the rag, the faintest glimmer of hope lighting her features. 'You mean…'

'I mean I have been known to show mercy, though I am not generous with it, and it is hard earned. And never guaranteed. Assume nothing.'

Jane wrung out the rag, hauling herself back onto the palm and returning to her grisly task.

'One more thing, human.'

Jane raised her face again, apprehensive.

'You will no doubt encounter Alexis at some point in the near future. If she doesn't find a way to sneak into your slave quarters and fraternise with you, I'll be amazed. And maybe even disappointed.'

There was a smile in his voice as he spoke about her, and Jane gave a shaky laugh.

'However…'

His tone became serious once more. 'It would be very, very unwise of you to mention this little task you are doing, or any wild theories you may have drawn from it.'

Jane looked down at the rag, stained red once more, then back up at Starscream.

'Suffice to say you won't be seeing him any more,' said Starscream softly.

Jane merely nodded mutely.

'You're not gonna tell Alexis?' asked Thundercracker, frowning.

'When the time is right,' said Starscream.

He tore away his gaze from the cowering human, scrubbing his plating with fearful diligence, and gestured to the stack of datapads.

'Well, it can't be all play and no work, I suppose. Pass me that report.'

Hope you enjoyed. I know I did :D