Chapter 35

The tall, elegant form of the Decepticon femme stood tall, her slender shape silhouetted against the fading sky. Alexis stood, deep in thought, on the wide balcony overlooking the main atrium of the fortress, the stars reflected in her pensive optics. Mechs of all sizes passed back and forth, some paying her the occasional greeting. She acknowledged them with just the slightest inclination of her head.

Her sophisticated scanners, until a few moments ago, had been honed in on Frenzy, but his energy signature had suddenly been dampened down to the point it was no longer traceable. Whether that was due to his entering deep stasis, or for some other reason, she wasn't sure. Her attention now turned to the vivid, tiny blob of body heat in Starscream's laboratory. Lucy.

The human girl's presence was only just within the range of her infra-red. Alexis tilted her head, her still figure belying all of the unsolved problems and memories circling around inside her mind. The fate of the human slaves, the whereabouts of the mysterious figure known only as Silas. The memory of Joshua Black's fingers roughly ripping at her tights as she struggled and pleaded - she pushed that last one angrily aside, focusing her thoughts once more on Lucy.

Starscream wouldn't harm the timid redhead. Of that she was certain - the plainest reason being Lucy just did not warrant that level of attention from the towering jet. Alexis did not make many demands when it came to her relationship with the Decepticon leader. No one could ever accuse her of trying to change him or attempting to sway him to a more reasonable, more human way of seeing things. The truth was she didn't have to. It meant that on the rare occasion that Alexis did need to appeal to Starscream's very limited reserve of mercy, at least he could appreciate that the magnitude of her plea carried some weight.

She frowned. Lucy's heat signature was moving - but not, as she had expected, out into the main corridor. Instead it was moving further into the fortress, fading from her range. Lucy was being taken somewhere - and the speed of her departure suggested it wasn't under her own steam. Alarmed, she strode down the passage towards Starscream's lab, almost breaking into a run. The doors hissed apart as she approached, and she collided with the familiar towering form of Starscream, who drew back in not-quite-genuine surprise. Grinning, he grasped her wrists. 'Whoa, my one. What's the hurry?'

'Where is she, where's she gone?' asked Alexis, trying in vain to see past him into the gleaming laboratory.

'Where has who gone?'

She shot him a look, and he relented, trying not to laugh. 'Alright, alright. The human girl is safe.'

'What have you done? What did you say to her?'

'Alexis!' Starscream gathered her closer to him. She squirmed crossly as he rested his chin on top of her helmet. 'I merely negotiated an outcome where the human gets to stay here - which is what she wants, by the way, and makes herself useful into the bargain.'

Alexis groaned as the pieces fell into place, placing a hand over her optics. 'You talked her into slavery, didn't you. Oh, great…'

'She was perfectly happy with the terms of the agreement,' said the jet calmly. 'She'll have special privileges, the chance to earn credits just like the other slaves. She'll be sheltered, housed, fed. What's not for her to like?'

She merely looked at him. He spread his hands wide, a tiny hint of reproach in his voice. 'I thought you'd be pleased!'

'You manipulated her! You got her alone, intimidated her, and took advantage of her vulnerability!'

He stared at her. 'Well… yes. Of course.'

Alexis sighed. They began to walk slowly beside one another.

'I want to see her.'

'Of course.'

'As many times as I want!'

Starscream inclined his head. 'As if I would dream of trying to stop you.'

Alexis emitted a grudging 'hmph' in acquiescence. 'I suppose… it does make a sort of sense, from a Decepticon standpoint.'

'It's the only logical, fair course of action. There are many that would kill just to get their hands on the kind of terms I was offering that little scrap,' said Starscream. 'Alexis, I honestly don't care about that little human. It makes no difference to me whether she stays or leaves, lives or dies. This way she is out from under my feet, and I can now focus on other things. If you wish to see her and monitor her welfare, you are most welcome to, as long as I don't have to hear about it.'

Alexis nodded. 'Fair enough. Now what?'

Starscream's demeanour changed, his face assuming the usual stern, cold mask as his attention returned to more serious matters. 'There are a few tasks ahead. Some, in fact most, involve you and I working together. There are other matters I must undertake alone.'

They both came to a halt. Starscream looked down, anticipating her next request before she could open her mouth. 'No,' he said. Alexis' silence, coupled with her look of quiet resignation told Starscream he had guessed her intentions correctly.

They stared at one another for a moment, Alexis holding his crimson gaze steadily. 'Starscream,' she said quietly. 'I… had a chance to talk with Rumble, on Earth.'

'Every conversation that little traitor took part in has been extracted and logged,' said Starscream. 'There is no need for you to brief me further.'

He began to walk, but she grasped his arm. 'Please. Let me attend the trial.'

Starscream paused, before turning to look round at her. 'It gives me no pleasure to refuse you, Alexis. But in this instance I won't be moved.'

She cast her gaze around, as if trying to think of something she could say to change his mind. He moved closer to her, lifting her chin to face him. 'Do you think I relish the task ahead? Is that it?'

'No…'

'Do you think any decision I make will be taken lightly? Flippantly?'

'No, of course not,' she said, shaking her head, her optics searching his, full of earnest appeal. 'It's just… it's…'

'What?'

'It's just all so, so sad,' she said hopelessly. Starscream considered her for a moment, his head slightly tilted, his expression grim.

Finally, he spoke. 'A strange choice of adjective. Your judgement, Alexis, has been clouded because of your relationship with Frenzy.' As he spoke, his tone became more firm, the anger like a steel thread shimmering behind his words. '...I think it is he, rather than Rumble, you feel sad for. Ask yourself - why did Rumble not consider the damage he would do when he embarked on this path? That sour little cassette has long despised me. The fact does not trouble me as much as you may expect - I value respect and fear above admiration or… friendship…' he uttered the last word with disdain. '...but ask yourself, did Rumble not even consider the impact on those he cares about?'

Alexis didn't seem to have an answer in the face of his logic. She looked away, troubled.

'Do well to remember that any fate that awaits him is entirely self-inflicted. That is all I have to say on the matter,' he snapped. He stood tall, his optics glowing fiercely, leaving no room for any doubt that he meant every word.

His consort, rather than responding with the dissent he had been anticipating, nodded once, resigned. She returned her gaze to him. 'Who will be there?'

'Soundwave, of course. Frenzy will testify. Thundercracker will minute the proceedings.'

'That's it?'

Starscream nodded. Alexis knew that to try to push the matter further would do no good. She nodded, looking up into his gaze once more. 'Go and do what you have to do.'

He drew away. She spoke again, her words stopping him in his tracks. 'I don't envy you.'

He slowly turned, and raised an eyebrow, her response catching him off guard. As she stood there, he took in her expression: one of quiet acceptance, devoid of judgement. Deep down, his spark twitched in his chest, as he marvelled, not for the first time, how she was able to reach right down into his scarred and twisted soul with the simplest of utterances.

'Thank you,' he grunted, unable to think of anything else to say. She nodded at him. 'I'm going for a flight, then I'll go and oversee the slave quarters, per your wishes.'

Smoothly, she transformed, diving gracefully off the balcony and banking as she neared the polished floor. Her slim jet form screamed out of the wide doors to the atrium, shooting into the sky and out of sight, like an arrow.

Starscream stood still, clenching his fists, his face twisted in an angry grimace as he fought an invisible battle raging inside of him.

How do you always know exactly what to say? How is it you can… make me so… so weak!

He began stalking towards the central staircase, his long legs covering the distance with ease. A servant drone paused as he passed, bowing low. He didn't even hear the squeal as he crossly batted the hapless little mech aside.


AN: Hi everyone. Sorry for the huge gap between posts. Thank you to those who have favourited, but even more thanks to those who have taken the time to leave a review. Phew, what strange times we live in right now! A couple of you have messaged asking if I'm alright - I'm sorry if I worried anyone with my silence. I'm in week three of lockdown here in the UK. I am completely healthy, as is my husband and wider family, so very thankful for that. The only excuse I have for my silence is lack of inspiration - isn't that just ironic - as I end up with more time on my hands! I have also been collaborating on a story with another author I have long admired. If any of you are into size difference fiction - a few of you I imagine, you might enjoy it. When it's available I'll let you guys know where to find it. I hope all of you are healthy and staying safe. Sending love to all of you.

PS - I promise the next chapter will come soon!

PPS - also I promise it will be longer!