Author Note: First and foremost, shout out to Marithewolf for her kind review and encouragement. Much appreciated, glad you are enjoying my story! It is for readers such as yourself that these fingers keep typing ;-) Also, to any new followers or favs - welcome! I hope you hang around and thanks for stopping by.

P.S - A swear word is used... dah dah da! :-)

/denotes ANOTHER's internal thoughts/

Chapter 160 – Useful

Galvatron P.O.V

The sound of my own laughter echoed in my audials as I watched Phoenix being led into the bowels of our temporary base.

/What to do with her?/. She was powerful, that much was clear. She was self-assured, almost arrogant in her abilities, and she was not afraid. I turned my helm to take in the cowering form of Starscream. A sneer formed on my dermas as he raised a servo to cover his face. /Like that will save you!/.

I closed the distance between us swiftly and he shouted out loud as I reached down and grabbed his right shoulder, dragging him roughly to his pedes. My digits dug into him painfully as I squeezed, and I lowered my helm so it was mere inches away from his.

''L… Lord Galvatron I…'' Starscream simpered.

''SILENCE!'' I back handed his face and took delight in the spittle that flew from his dermas. Starscream cried out in pain and shock but fell silent. Loathing and hatred boiled away deep within his optics - and I would not have it any other way! It was no secret that Starscream wished to dispose of me so he could rule in my stead. The arrogant mech thought he was supremely capable of ruling the Decepticons. Yet, as I took in the look on his face, I was reminded that his arrogance was matched only by his deceitfulness.

I smiled to myself. /Aside from me and my faithful servant Soundwave, Starscream was perhaps the embodiment of what it meant to be a Decepticon/. He was cunning, resourceful, deceptive, and ambitious. The smile made its way to my dermas and drew a quizzical glance from my Seeker. Yet he was not brave, not fearless like a true Decepticon. /Like Phoenix appeared to be. Perhaps in her I have found a new Commander for my Seekers?/. The grin spread as the thought of what this would do to Starscream appealed to me. It was part of our eternal dance. ''I said I would deal with you for your treatment of our guest, and I have found the perfect way to do so.'' My smile grew malicious.

Starscream tensed in my grip and flinched as he prepared to receive a blow that would render him unconscious. I chuckled. Sometimes mental and emotional torture was far more appealing than physical. In fact, sometimes I preferred it, as the scars it left were often deeper and longer lasting.

When no blow landed, Starscream relaxed slightly, his voice cracking as he queried, ''A…and…if I may ask.. w.. what might that be Lord Galvatron?''

I released his shoulder from my vice like grip and stood to my full height, folding my arms across my chest. ''As punishment for your treatment of Phoenix, who seems to be superior to you at any rate,'' Starscream bristled and his optics flashed, all of which only confirmed I had made the right choice in punishment, ''I have decided that she is to replace you as Commander of the Seekers.''

The words had barely left my dermas when Starscream bolted to his pedes and clenched his right fist tightly, a low growl escaping his clenched denta. ''Lord Galvatron! You can't do this!''

My shoulders shook as I laughed in his face, ''Oh, my dear Starscream, I just have!''

''But I am your faithful servant, a loyal Decepticon and yet you allow this..'' Starscream searched for a word worthy of the contempt he felt towards Phoenix, ''this slagging bitch…''

My servo flew from my chest and landed heavily against his cheek, sending him flying to the ground in an unceremonious heap. I stalked towards him, ''LOYAL? You are no more loyal to me than a Retrorat fleeing a sinking vessel.''

Starscream stopped clutching his cheek where a cracked plate had allowed energon to trickle down, pooling at his chin. His scarlet optics burned with intense anger, and he began to raise his arm that contained the null ray, a look of utter hatred etched on his features.

I stopped walking towards him, but I did not raise my weapon in defence. I merely grinned at him as I held his gaze. Part of me wanted him to fire his weapon, /It would put an end to my own private torments../. Another part of me wanted him to give me the excuse to put an end to his miserable life once and for all. But I knew he would not do it. He would wait until he had exhausted all uses I could afford him and then, he would not hesitate. In some ways, we were very similar, and as he lowered his weapon, I realised just how similar we were.

He hung his helm in silent defeat. ''As you wish – Lord Galvatron.'' The words were ground out before he raised his optics to look at me. ''However, with all due respect Lord Galvatron, I do not trust her. We do not know how long she has been with the Autobots, how long they have had to brainwash her.'' He rose to his pedes. ''We know nothing about her, and she even looks like that pit spawned Optimus Prime! And you have now placed her in a position of trust?''

I took a step towards Starscream and he tensed reflexively. Yet instead of lashing out at him, as a part of me felt disposed to do, I placed a servo on his shoulder in a gesture of comradeship. Starscream stared momentarily at the offending appendage torn between shock and disgust. ''Well, my dear Starscream, I am sure you will take great delight in keeping a close optic on her to ensure her – loyalty – to the Decepticons and honour to the Seeker name, won't you?'' I removed my servo, much to Starscream's relief and delight. ''Besides, you reported to me that she shot Optimus Prime several times and then turned on Ironhide and Jazz. If what you say is true, then she already has ingratiated herself to me.''

Starscream nodded reluctantly, ''Yes, she did. I saw it with my own optics. She hit him hard, and he fell. I am not sure if she terminated him or not, I had left to report to you.''

My face grew emotionless. ''Optimus Prime is made of sterner stuff than that Starscream, he still functions of that, I am sure.'' For a moment, as I thought of Prime's abilities, something akin to regret flashed through me as I thought of all we could have accomplished together if he had just…. A growl was torn from my dermas at the thought of my hated nemesis. ''Starscream, go and investigate to determine what became of Optimus Prime and the other Autobots. See if any of their number were wounded and report back to me – immediately.''

Starscream bowed his helm. ''As you wish Lord Megatron.'' At once the Seeker took to the skies and sped off in the direction he had arrived from.

As soon as he was out of my sight, my thoughts returned to Phoenix and what to do with her. Since that day I saw her fight with the Autobots, I had desired to manipulate her for my own ends. She could indeed prove to be a most useful addition to our ranks IF she was all she seemed to be.

I stared down the darkened passageway that led to the quarters she was no doubt becoming settled in. As well as her power and her apparent lack of fear, she was somewhat intelligent, had inside information on the Autobot's, and – she was attractive. /She is perfect/.

I took a step towards the passageway, pausing as I deliberated. She could be a powerful ally, a useful weapon against the Autobots and the pathetic species of this planet. Her talents have been wasted with the Autobots. That snivelling, self-righteous fool Optimus did not realise what he had under his enstrils. If he would only put aside his compassion and nonsensical ideals borne out of idealism, he could have put an end to this war millennia ago. /We could have made a powerful team, Prime and I IF he had but listened to me and followed my lead/. Another growl was torn from my dermas as I again thought of his stupidity and stubborn altruism.

The growl was slowly replaced by a low, wicked chuckle as a new thought coalesced in my processor. /Perhaps I have found the perfect pawn to take Prime's place in my plan?. If he will not be made to see what is for the good of Cybertron, for this planet, for our race, then perhaps Phoenix can? If she is as powerful as I have a feeling she may be, she may be able to assist with ridding me of my other issue…../.

A flash of searing pain tore through me and I raised my servo to my helm as I ground my denta together to ride out the wave of agony. The corners of my dermas curve up into a sneer as a warning pulses through me. //She is mine!/.

I clenched my fist and growled in irritation. As Megatron I served only myself. I made my own choices; I commanded my own army. I was free to do as I chose. Another wave of pain coursed through me. /As Galvatron, some of the choices I have made - changed some things. As Megatron, perhaps I might be able to undo what I have set in motion?/. The sharp, almost blinding stab of pain at my treacherous thoughts almost sent me to my knees, yet I was no weakling. I held my footing and rode out the wave of agony in relative silence.

Standing tall once again as the pain subsided, all thoughts focused on Phoenix. If she IS to play the role I wish her to play, then I need to ascertain if she can indeed be trusted. I began to walk along the same corridor as Phoenix disappeared. /Perhaps I would pay her a visit? See how she was settling in… after all… she might be lonely… and I have not been around a femme for…./. I shook my helm as my lascivious thoughts distracted me from my end goal. /OR perhaps they will help me achieve it?/.

I made my way deeper into the bowels of our base, my processor rationalising my course of action. She may have made out that she could be trusted. But trust is something that had to be earned, it should never be freely given or easily accepted. /For a Decepticon anyway!/. It was always shifting like the wretched sands of this planet – ebbing and flowing like the tides. /And – there was a price/.

As I stepped into the doorway of Phoenix's quarters, I wondered, /is she willing to pay?/.