#17 - Dark Designs: Was Waspy Right?

Starfeather was in beast mode and happily pecking up fresh raspberries from a bush not too far from her clearing. Only last week after the 'victory' had she discovered that she could still eat. That was because Terrorsaur had said that he had gotten sick of Tarantulas slobbering from eating any rodents that happened to crawl into the crevasse that they had all hidden in. It wasn't as efficient as energon, but it would keep her from wanting more than one cube of energon each day.

If only I knew how to make chocolate, she thought wistfully as she snapped up another berry. She nearly choked on it when her comm. link sprang to life.

"Starfeather, where are you?" came Megatron's impatient voice. She swallowed.

"Um, out?"

"Playtime is over," he growled. "Return to base immediately. The Maximals are in a good location for an attack, yes."

"What, now?"

"Yes, now!"

"Y-yes sir," she squeaked and cut the link. "Oh shit," she muttered to herself. She had no time to get to her real comrades to warn them. She didn't dare try to contact through her comm. link because she had no idea if Megatron could still intercept signals or not. She cursed again and flew upwards.

-x-

The Predacons were buried under an avalanche of boulders, thanks to Rhinox's smart shooting. This gave Megatron a new idea. Tarantulas had been working on one of his latest toys and it just might come in handy today.

Starfeather could barely move and she could hardly see. Her legs were getting crushed and her right arm was dislocated according to her internal computer. She could just hear voices above her, Megatron's and Terrorsaur's. She saw shadows flicker across the small shafts of light she could see and then heard rocks being shifted below her. The weight on her legs lessened, but whoever was digging her out moved up to where her upper body was. Soon, the stone over her face was rolled away and she could see again.

"You alright?" her savior asked.

"Other than the fact that I might not be able to walk once you get me out and my arm feels like an elephant trampled on it, I'm doing fantastic," she announced sarcastically. Terrorsaur laughed dryly.

"I can only wonder how Waspinator faired."

"Finish freeing me then we'll find out," Starfeather replied.

"You don't have to tell me twice," he said and started moving more rocks that were covering her. When she was free and tried to get up, she fell back with a sharp cry of pain.

"Nope, can't walk," she said through gritted teeth. The pterodactyl felt a stab of concern for the raven's well being.

"Stay there, I'll get Waspinator." He then went to find the trapped insect. She sighed and leaned back against a boulder, minding her arm. This must be my punishment for not warning the Maximals, she thought. Waspinator had survived with minor damage, to his wingmates' surprise. Then again, so had Megatron, Scorponok, Blackarachnia, and Tarantulas. Starfeather was the only one to suffer more severe injuries, probably because she was located below everyone else.

With everyone out and gathering together to go back to the base plus with their new prisoner that Tarantulas had caught, Terrorsaur went back to where Starfeather still waited. That's when he realized what he had to do in order to help her. He had to take her in his arms like he did when she had been sick. Her situation then had been so severe, he hadn't thought twice about it. This time, someone else could take care of her if he didn't, but he found that he didn't want someone else to take care of her. She saw him hesitate and wondered why. She inclined her head and looked at him with confusion. Why wasn't he doing anything?

He saw her look and so forced himself to kneel beside her and take her in his arms. She was just as light as he remembered... He shook his head to ward off the thoughts, but they continued to pester him. Starfeather suddenly realized the awkward position they were in. She made it a point not to meet his gaze. She made a subtle sound like she was clearing her throat as she shifted so that her injured arm was resting on her chest and her good arm was around his neck to keep her steady.

Going was slower than normal, to the two's discomfort, but they soon got back to base. Starfeather was the only one in need of serious repair so Terrorsaur had to take her to the CR tanks. Before the platform lowered and she off-lined for the repair sequence, she smiled nervously up at him.

"Thanks," she whispered then her optics dimmed as her body was submerged. He stood there for a moment longer.

"Yeah," he murmured. He then reverted to beast mode and left the room. He just couldn't or wouldn't wrap his processor around why he would do these things. He knew that sooner or later, something was going to happen and the truth would come out. He wasn't sure if he really wanted to know or if it would be for the better.

-x-

Starfeather was up and about by the time Megatron had accomplished his plans for Rhinox to have his formating reprogramed. In fact, he had just given the new Predacon a tour of the base. The raven had mixed feelings about this. She thought that maybe Megatron had gone too far this time. It was bound to backfire, just like most of his other plans.

"Starfeather," Megatron's voice came over her comm. She sighed. She didn't feel like getting down from her spot on a rafter in the CR tank room. Her legs were still sore.

"What?" she replied, sounding as tired as she could, which wasn't hard.

"There is a problem in the computer room and I want you to assist Scorponok in fixing it. Now," he ordered.

"Okay," she groaned and cut the link as she hovered down toward the floor. Once she got near the computer room, she met Rhinox coming in the hallway.

"Hello there, little lady," he said with a smirk.

"Uh, hi," she replied, a little unnerved. She slipped past him and walked rather quickly up to the scorpion. "Megatron sent me to help. What do you want me to do?"

"Just stay outa my way," Scorponok snapped. "I don't need an inexperienced kid messing everything up." Starfeather was taken aback but her shock turned into offence.

"I'm not a kid, I'm your comrade and our leader sent me to you to help. Now tell me what to do because I don't know what the fucking problem is!"

"Well, I don't know either so you can just shove it up your aft and go find something else to do until I actually need assistance."

"I hope I'm not interrupting anything too important," the reformed rhino stated, cutting off the Second in Command. "But the chief wants to know how long this is gonna take." Starfeather sighed in exasperation and crossed her arms.

"Well, tell him not to get his servos in a snarl," Scorponok answered snottily. "I just have to figure out what the fraggin' problem is."

"I'm right here. I could help, you know," the raven growled. He ignored her and opened the panel to the computer.

"Hold on," he muttered, taking a closer inspection of the inner workings. "The redactor modem is missing."

"No. You shock me, Scorponok," Rhinox said, faking surprise. Starfeather looked at him as he sounded too sarcastic to be only messing around. As the scorpion shoved passed her to see if there was a spare lying around, Rhinox placed a finger over his own lips to signal her to be quiet and opened his palm. The raven saw the missing modem and raised an optic brow as he crushed it and discarded its remnants on the floor. He then motioned for her to go near the wall and look like she was doing something. She did so and watched as he went over to a stack of spare computers.

"Oh, Scorponok, over here," he called in a taunting voice. The rhino then lightly pushed on the second piece of equipment, causing the whole stack to groan and sway. Scorponok looked up at the sound of equipment creaking.

"Hey, you oughta be careful there!" he warned, coming closer.

"Oh, I'm being really careful, see? I'm on this side and it's all gonna fall that way!" Rhinox grunted as he gave the stack a final push. It leaned and gravity pulled the machinery down. Scorponok saw this too late and tried to make a run for it but one fell on top of him, putting him to a stop. As two more fell on him, the raven could hear something being crunched.

I think I'm gonna be sick, she thought, putting a hand to her mouth and trying to drown out the sound. But she didn't have time to be sick as Rhinox came back over to her.

"You didn't see anything," he said, snapping his fingers in front of her aqua green optics. She flinched and gaped up at him. "Now get and tell Megs you were almost here, heard a crash, and came running or I'm gonna pluck you bare and string up like a roast turkey."

"O-okay..." Now she was really confused. She then gladly ran from the room, Rhinox leaving as well only going in a different direction and taking a piece of equipment with him. From the shadows, someone had been watching. If what he thought was true, then this just might be his chance. He just needed more evidence...

-x-

"Idiot! What have you done?" he was demanding of the unconscious figure, even prodding him roughly. Megatron was standing over the flattened form of Scorponok with Waspinator and Starfeather on either side.

"The idiot doez not rezzpond. The idiot iz comatozze," the wasp spoke up. Megatron growled.

"You," he indicated at Waspinator. "Get him to the restoration chamber. And you," he directed at the raven. "Straighten up this mess." With that, he stalked out of the room. The two left standing looked at each other. The bug shrugged and grabbed the downed scorpion by the tail and dragged him away. Starfeather sighed. She couldn't move all the equipment herself, she needed help.

"I have to try anyway," she muttered and went to heave at one. She was able to move two machines against the wall but collapsed half way with the third. "Mega-dork is even- eeh! -dumber than he looks if he thinks- errh! -that I can do this- heeeyah! -by my self! I'm going to get someone to help me." Decision made, she trudged from the room and down the halls. She stopped when she heard voices.

"...a whole operation and take over! Well, I got news for you pal..." That was Terrorsaur.

"...no, here's the deal." That was Rhinox. What was going on? She peeked around the corner, but couldn't see anything. However, now she could hear everything.

"You're gonna keep your big beak shut and do exactly what I tell ya 'cause one false move and you're a new fast food sensation; pterodactyl hot wings! Get it?!" There was a thud and soft choking noises.

"Got it," came the strangled reply. Then she heard the sound of footsteps. Starfeather ducked back around the corner and pressed her back against the wall as flat as she could as Rhinox walked away. When she was sure the reformed rhino had really gone, she turned the corner to find Terrorsaur in robot form sitting slumped against the wall, rubbing his neck.

"Hey, what happened?" she asked softly, kneeling beside him. He was startled when she spoke and knelt beside him.

"N-nothing," he replied hastily. He was shaken by Rhinox's threat.

"Don't give me that, I heard Rhinox threaten you. What happened?" she asked again.

"If you heard that, then you know why I can't tell you," he retorted. She frowned but an idea came to her. A smile played at her lips and she leaned closer to him.

"If you won't tell me willingly, then I'll make you."

"Ha, I'd like to see you try!" He glared at her defiantly. Her smile grew.

"Oh yeah? You asked for it." With that, she leaned closer and quickly kissed him on the cheek. He froze, staring at her in pure shock as she pulled back. His mouth opened and closed a few time as he tried to say something, but it wouldn't come out.

"Now will you tell me?" she asked, beginning to blush. He continued to stare up at her. He just couldn't believe that she had done that.

"I- I- You- You just- ... What did you do?" he asked like an idiot. Starfeather had to force back her laughter.

"You know perfectly well what I did. Now, tell me what happened so I can help get you out of trouble."

Whatever he was going to say next died on the way to his lips. His optics locked with hers as he desperately searched his mind to find some way to answer. He was still stunned from her unexpected move and his processor had gone blank.

"I promise, you can tell me anything you want," she said softly, sitting cross-legged in front of him and holding his gaze. "I won't tell a soul." He attempted to find his racing thoughts again before speaking.

"I... I was in the computer room when Rhinox took out Scorponok," Terrorsaur began slowly. "I thought that maybe if he was planning on shaking things up to take over, I could get him on our side. I guess not." He paused. "He knocked Waspinator literally silly before I confronted him."

That's not good, she thought. "Where's Waspy now? He shouldn't be left alone like that." Starfeather raised an optic ridge. Terrorsaur shrugged.

"I don't know, but you're right," he agreed and moved to get up, Starfeather following. The two reverted to beast mode and nearly jumped out of their mainframes when they heard Megatron's bellow.

"WHAT IS GOING ON AROUND HERE!?"

They looked at each other before running as fast as they could down the hallways.

-x-

A few minutes later, Megatron had called the two to the main control room. When the two entered, they, along with a repaired Scorponok, were ordered to stand off to the side and wait for the signal. Several moments passed before Rhinox came strolling through the room in beast mode. The Predacon leader stopped him, calling his name coolly. The rhinoceros' attention captured, he continued with saying that it was a pleasure to see him.

"Always a treat to see you too, sir," Rhinox replied sweetly.

"Traitor," Megatron spat.

"Yup, you got me there," the rhino chimed. "In which case, Rhinox: Terrorize!" Once in robot form, he stood, even smugly, before the Predacon leader. "They're playing our song Megatron. Time to dance!" he sneered, seizing Megatron roughly by the throat.

"Oh, I do so hate to disappoint," the Predacon leader said. "But you won't mind if I sit this one out." He knocked Rhinox off balance, causing him to let go. It took a short moment for Rhinox to regain his composure only to see that that had been a signal as he was surrounded on all sides by Scorponok, Starfeather, Terrorsaur, and Megatron, who was still before him.

The mechs on either side of him transformed, the raven already had as she flew into position. Rhinox glanced around and quickly thought of a diversion. He looked at Terrorsaur, hiding the smugness.

"Oh, you're back on there side now?" he questioned, faking he was shocked. "Gee, a guy can hardly keep track." The red mech's optics widened and he immediately became uncomfortable.

"What's he talkin' about?" Scorponok demanded.

"Don't listen to him," Terrorsaur said nervously.

"When I slagged you, he was in the back watching and smirking," Rhinox sneered, pointing accusingly at the pteranodon.

"Th-that's a lie!" Terrorsaur stuttered. Now Starfeather was really mad. Even though he really had done that, only he was smirking at his plans.

"What're you trying to pull, fuck face?" she snapped. "Megatron is the one doing the interrogating, now explain yourself, Rhinox!" Terrorsaur glanced at her but said nothing. Scorponok wasn't satisfied. He let out a battle cry, leaping over Rhinox's head, and landed in front of the red mech.

"He's a smirker! Mangle!" he cried before lunging at him, bashing him on the head with his own. Terrorsaur stood stunned for a second before shaking his head and kicked Scorponok away. Starfeather jumped at the scorpion, landing on his back. She unsheathed her arm blades and went to slash his tail off but someone grabbed her from behind around the neck.

"Lemme go!" she squealed but her answer was being lifted up and thrown to the deck below. She landed with a hard thud and groaned as sat up. She looked up when she heard a clang. She saw what was coming and tried to scramble to cover but cried out in pain when something landed on her legs. She looked behind her to see Terrorsaur and Scorponok in a heap. The sound of Rhinox's machine gun echoed around the room as Starfeather tried to heave herself free.

"Ow, ow! Guys, move! Ow!" she grunted. Suddenly, Megatron landed head first a short ways away. The rhino jumped down near him and smiled smugly.

"Well, what do you know. I win," he declared. He then continued with, "Reprogramming me was the worst mistake you ever made because now that I'm a Predacon, I'm just a little too crafty for you." By this time, Megatron had managed to stand up, supporting himself on his tail weapon.

"Yes, I-" He nearly fell over but regained his balance. "I see this now."

"It's called irony sport," Rhinox gloated. "I take over and you head straight for the recycling bin, yes."

That might be a good thing, the raven thought before she went back to trying to push the stunned mechs off of her leg.

"So it would seem," Megatron said. "And even now Rhinox, you're teaching me a valuable lesson."

"Yeah? What's that?" Rhinox questioned.

"Sometimes Predacons gloat too much!" The Predacons leader then shot a beam at the transmutator, the machine that had reprogrammed him in the first place, causing it to activate. Unfortunately yet fortunately at the same time for Rhinox, he was standing on the platform of it hence was changed back to normal. He stood there for a moment, disoriented.

"Wha? Wh-what happened?"

"Maximal buffoon!" Megatron roared and shot at poor Rhinox, who was knocked over. "You thought you'd outwit me?!"

Just then, there was a loud crash and the ship's alarm went off. When the dust cleared, there was a gaping hole in the Darkside's hull and just outside were Optimus, Rattrap, Cheetor, and Dinobot.

"Okay, so how about we punt your butts a couple of hundred yards downfield!" Cheetor challenged. By this time, Scorponok was able to get up and he was ready for battle at his leader's side. Starfeather had gotten up as well when Terrorsaur had moved. That's when Waspinator came zooming all around, buzzing up a storm.

"De-decepticonz, attack! Attack!" was all that made sense through his razzing. The cheetah took this opportunity to blast the bug right out of the air. Waspinator spiraled to the ground. When he fell on his face, reflex caused his finger to apply enough pressure on the trigger of his gun that he was holding and the shot hit a spire of the transmutator. Its systems began to overload. Meanwhile, several battles were being undertaken between Dinobot and Scorponok, Megatron and Optimus, Terrorsaur and Rattrap, and Starfeather and Cheetor.

"Punt our butts downfield?" the raven repeated what he had said and attempted to punch his face. Cheetor ducked and swiped at the side of her head. She dodged.

"And you could come up with something better?" he grunted when she got him in the gut.

"I just thought it was corny- Ahh!" she cried when he tripped her and pinned her down. "Okay, okay! It was alright!" she squawked. Cheetor chuckled and decided to see where everyone else was. His smirk disappeared when he saw what was happening to his leader.

"Optimus!" he shouted. Currently, Primal was cornered by Megatron. Thanks to some quick thinking, and a very sharp sword, he cut the Predacon leader's saurian head arm clean off. Starfeather saw this too from her place under Cheetor's foot. She gasped but didn't feel sympathy toward Megatron. He deserved it. Then, the whole base started to quake. The cheetah let Starfeather up, shoving her aside toward what he hoped was a sheltered spot and cried out.

"Look out, it's gonna blow!"

Megatron came to the same conclusion.

"Predacons! Take cover!" he ordered. The Maximals collected Rhinox and hightailed it out of there. Starfeather grabbed the unconscious Waspinator and dragged him to a spot by the wall behind a support beam. Nearby, she could hear Terrorsaur's voice, high with uneasiness.

"No! Look, I- I can explain!"

"Let me share this with you, Terrorsaur," came Megatron's voice with forced calmness, but not for the next part of what he said. "I am very, very unhappy indeed. Oh yes..."

-x-

ZAP.

"Ow! Easy with the soldering!"

"Sorry, but you keep squirming."

"Well, if Waspinator would stop making like he was gonna crash into me!"

Starfeather was doing what she could to help repair her wingmates since all available CR tanks were occupied. Waspinator wouldn't come down from his flying about in random, jerky movements so she was fixing up Terrorsaur.

"Not Wazzzpinator. Wonko! Wonko the Zzaaaaane!" the wasp declared before he went splat against the far wall and slid to the floor in a heap. Terrorsaur smirked. Starfeather rolled her optics and continued her work.

"Okay, he's down. Now quit flinching," she urged gently. Terrorsaur sighed and leaned back against the support beam. Fortunately, Megatron hadn't gone with an all-out beating. He just shook him up a little. All he had to show for it was several dents and some circuits and wires disconnected.

He absently turned his sights from where the wasp lay, twitching and buzzing, to what Starfeather was doing. He watched as her delicate hands worked so gently to reattach a loose wire on his side. His optics rose to study her smooth face which was fixed in a concentrated expression, her aqua green optics narrowed slightly.

He remembered what she had done back in the hallway about an hour before. Despite the way he had reacted, he had, as much as he wanted to deny it, liked it. It made his spark go wild in his chest. He wanted to say that he didn't want her to do it again, but he really did. Could what Waspinator have said before really be true? Did he really 'love' her?

She glanced up when she was done with her task and caught his optics. She smiled shyly, but he quickly diverted his gaze. He didn't want to become frozen by her optics this time. He heard her sigh wistfully.

"Anything else I can do?" she asked. Terrorsaur looked around to make sure no one was near. When he was certain, though continuing to stare at the floor beside him, he spoke.

"Do... do you think what Waspinator said is true?" he asked quietly. She blinked.

"Waspy says a lot of things. Could you be specific please?"

"I mean... what he said after that game we played back when you were poisoned," he specified. Starfeather had to think for a second.

"Oh, that... Well, if it is true, I don't see why you make it sound like a bad thing. From what I understand, it... Love isn't always something to be taken lightly," she said slowly. When he only looked at her, almost helplessly, she gave him a reassuring smile. "We can take it slow and see what happens or stop while we're ahead. Whatever you want."

"It seems like you know what you're talking about," he replied. She looked down.

"I did think that I loved someone once, but he moved away to go to college and forgot about me. So I guess that wasn't love..." After a short silence, she looked up and held his gaze again. "If something happens to us, you won't forget about me, will you?"

It would be kinda hard to forget her, he thought. She had such an impact on daily life on just about everyone. Things might fall apart if she were to die or be sent home on short notice. Terrorsaur found that he didn't want anything to happen to her. He wanted her to always be around with him and Waspinator. He paused before answering.

"No, I would never forget you."

"Thanks... and that's as far as we can go if you want." She smiled.

"Alright." He smiled back. Just then, Waspinator had gotten up and attempted to fly again, but failed and crashed right into the red mech's lap.

"WASPINATOR!"