Author's note: I know there are various time units in various timelines of Transformers, and they tend to contradict one another. In my stories I have come to see a joor as equivalent to an earth hour and in this story a fortnight/few weeks is referred to as a ''decacycle.'' A month is a lunar cycle and a year is a solar cycle. Just f.y.i. 😊
Chapter 163 - Accusations
Starscream P.O.V
Just over a decacycle.
That slagging femme has been here just over two Earth weeks and with each passing day, I grow to hate her even more. The hatred I feel towards her is not only due to Galvatron appointing her Commander of MY Seekers just to spite me, but I simply do not trust her. There is something about her that does not sit well with me. /Perhaps it takes such an adept liar to spot another?/. Yet, as I approach Lord Galvatron to make my report on today's mission to him, it is not just her manner that concerns me, but her actions.
''Lord Galvatron,'' I dip my helm attempting to appear humble as I address our leader. He turns away from the various monitors to face me, one of his optical ridges arching in silent question. ''I humbly request the opportunity to report to you on today's successful mission.''
There is a low rumble as he dares laugh at me and I fight back a spike of irritation. ''A mission that was successful Starscream, due to Phoenix's skills and leadership. Wouldn't you agree?'' His optics shone brightly with barely contained amusement and delight as goaded me yet again.
My optics narrowed though I managed to give a brief nod. ''I - agree - that Phoenix does possess some advantageous skills and an ability to lead on some …''
''Then we agree on something Starscream,'' the smile reached his dermas as he continued. ''Your report is not necessary. As Commander of the Seekers, and my third in Command,'' I felt the energon in my lines boil and the corners of my dermas curved into a sneer, all of which only spurred Galvatron on, ''Phoenix has already reported to me all relevant information…''
I could not contain my ire any longer and I yelled defiantly, ''Not All RELEVANT information! Did she tell you how she refused to kill any pathetic human insects during our raid?''
Galvatron's optics flashed dangerously as he stepped towards me, but I did not care. I had suffered just about all he could inflict; I doubt there was anything more he could do to try and break me. /Besides, his growing weakness for this Phoenix, could eventually be used to my advantage/. I pressed on. ''She is weak and pathetic, an Autobot sympathiser sent to spy on us! Why can't YOU see that!?''
Like a whirlwind he fell upon me and struck me to the ground. Knocking me off balance with a mighty punch, and as I rolled to get to my pedes, he landed a solid kick to my abdomen that sent me flying against the wall. I spat out the broken denta and energon from my mouth. Glaring up at him with such intense hatred I thought I too might burst into flames!
As he dragged me roughly to my pedes by my wing struts, I continued. I would say my piece. ''Lo.. Lord Galvatron, sh… she hasn't the necessary qualities to become a true Decepticon!'' He brought his helm looming before mine, his optics narrow, red slits of contempt. ''She lacks the conviction and courage to carry out the Decepticon cause…''
He snorted derisively in my face, ''And what do YOU - Starscream - know of courage or conviction?''
I felt my servo clench in a fist by my side and a low growl escaped my dermas as I fought off a wave of fury at his baiting. ''I assure you Lord Galvatron, I possess both in equal measure…''
Releasing my wing strut, Galvatron roughly threw me against the wall and stepped back a pace, staring down at me like I was a piece of scrap. His face lost expression for a moment as he placed his right servo over his left shoulder, as if recalling something, and a small smile began to form on his face as he began to speak. ''Phoenix is the one who gave me this injury.'' I stilled; I did not know that. ''The first day she arrived here. After I visited her room and tried to ascertain for myself if she could be trusted, she managed to trick me..''
''SEE! She cannot..'' I began to interject.
''SILENCE!'' Galvatron bellowed, raising his servo as if to strike, and I felt myself avert my gaze in contrition. ''She had the opportunity to kill me Starscream and she did not. She has the ability to do it – and yet she has not.'' His sneer deepened as he stared down at me contemptuously. ''She achieved more in one day as a Decepticon than you have in millennia!'' He held that sneer on his face as he continued. ''Do not presume to lecture me on her usefulness. She has far more uses than one such as yourself!'' He turned his back on me, walking back to the various screens and monitors Soundwave sat before. The conversation was at an end.
I stared at him balefully, and, had Soundwave not been in the room, I may have been tempted to give in to my wrath and fire upon him. I growled and rose swiftly to my pedes. Galvatron did not even bother to turn around to see if I would retaliate. /Such was his arrogance, especially with his pet by his side!/.
Turning on my pedes, I strode purposefully from the room, seeking the slagging femme who had made my life even worse than it was before she arrived. I needed some proof. I needed to confront her and somehow trip her up, make her accidentally expose herself for what I KNEW her to be – a liar and spy!
Phoenix, sat in the Common room, an energon cube in her servo and a distant look on her face. She sat alone. Though she may have won temporary favour with Galvatron and some of the Decepticons, many more still regarded her with suspicion and gave her a wide berth. Something I was going to use to my advantage now.
I stalked over to the energon cube dispenser, taking a ration, and moving to sit opposite her. I did not speak, and she did not acknowledge me. Out of my periphery I noticed some of the other 'Cons begin to subtly move closer to us, sensing the tension between us. I smiled into my energon cube.
''I know what you are''. The words were softly spoken but the accusation hung heavy in the air.
Without even looking at me she replied in an even tone. ''And what would that be Starscream? You're superior?'' There was a muffled murmur as the bots who had gathered sniggered at Phoenix's taunt.
I scowled at her and then flashed the onlookers a warning look. They stilled. Downing more of the energon, I slid further forward on my seat. ''Hardly.'' Still, she gazed past me at some unseen image on the far wall. ''LOOK AT ME YOU SLAGGING BITCH!'' I threw my empty energon container against the wall and it fell to the ground with a clang.
Phoenix watched it come to a rest on the floor before she slowly raised her helm to meet my gaze. Her face was impassive, but her optics burned with barely contained hatred. I felt a smirk spread across my face. ''Have something to say do you Starscream? Out with it.''
''Oh, I have something to say alright. Earlier today on our mission, we encountered some pathetic, human insects.''
She snorted as she glared at me. ''So. This is their home world, bound to run into them at some stage. What's your point? Or do you even have one?''
I gritted my denta together. ''My point Phoenix,'' I turned to face the audience that had gathered. ''My point my fellow Decepticons, is that Phoenix here did NOT kill them!''
There was an eruption of murmurs and a wave of disquiet as the gathered 'Cons disagreed with Phoenix's course of action – or inaction as it were. She remained unperturbed. ''They did not offer any resistance to what we were after, they are quite clearly the more inferior species anyway, so why kill them ''just because?'' Is that what it means to be a Decepticon?'' She folded her arms across her chest. ''Make yourself feel all powerful by killing a couple of fleshbags?'' She arched her optic ridge at me in silent challenge. ''I thought Decepticons were more than that, because if that IS all you are about, delighting in killing innocent, vastly inferior lifeforms that do not present a challenge, then I have been sadly mistaken in the might of the Decepticons.''
I narrowed my optics dangerously at her and the way she managed to twist my own words against me. The crowd now seemed to mutter in agreeance to her statement. I snarled at her, ''That is not what I meant, and you know it Phoenix. You are merely shifting the focus from what the real issue is!''
''And what would that be Starscream?'' she spoke without emotion.
I pointed an accusing digit at her as I spoke, ''That YOU are an Autobot sympathiser, and a spy sent to infiltrate our ranks! Your inability to kill those flesh bags, whether they posed resistance or not, is proof of your pacifist mentality that no doubt Optimus Prime brain washed you with before he sent you here!'' I sneered at her as I watched her bristle under my claims.
She shook her helm slowly from side to side. ''What is it you are hoping to achieve with this bullshit Starscream? What is it you want?''
I leaned forward on the edge of my seat. ''What I WANT is for you to admit the truth behind your being here. What I WANT is for you to be punished for your lies and manipulations and what I REALLY WANT is for your spark to cease pulsing.'' I glowered at her.
Phoenix leant further forward herself placing her arms casually across her knees. ''That's funny Starscream.'' She cast her optics about the crowd that had gathered. ''I am sure most of the mechs here would agree with me when I say, we all WANT the same from YOU!''
The room erupted into laughter and Phoenix's dermas curved up into a smirk as she sat back in her seat and folded her arms across her chest, delighting in her efforts.
Spittle flew from my mouth as I growled at her and I shot to my pedes, priming my null ray and aiming it at the crowd. ''SILENCE! You dare laugh at ME?'' I swept the weapon across the room, staring into the optics of the mechs gathered.
''Put that away before you hurt yourself Starscream!'' Phoenix, rose slowly to her pedes and placed her servos on her hips. I swung the null ray around to face her and sneered. She did not react. ''As your Commander Starscream, I ORDER you to put your weapon down. NOW!''
The room fell silent as Phoenix, and I engaged in a silent battle of wills. My optics swept between her and the crowd as they stood transfixed, watching to see what would happen. /I could not let this slagging femme treat me like this/. I snarled at her as I lowered my weapon and began to charge towards her. ''I'll crush you with my own servos!''
I had not taken two steps when I felt the sting of her sai slash up the side of my face and her pede landed roughly in my chest sending me off balance. She retracted her sai and landed several punches to my face before she somehow flung me against the backwall, my helm cracking loudly against the metallic surface. I slid to the ground.
Phoenix charged at me, a low, feral growl as she set upon me. She landed blow after blow on my face and my helm, a savage and fiery look in her optics and for a moment, I feared that she might kill me. I was vaguely aware of the sound of cheering and yelling from the gathered crowd as they showed their appreciation for the fight. One of the 'Cons, Loader, was inching closer than the others.
Phoenix yelled in frustration as she grabbed my helm and snapped it back. The sound of her sword being unsheathed from her right arm drew my optics in that direction. I coughed roughly, energon and spittle splattering across her face. She didn't even blink. She brought the sword blade against my neck and began to press down. I gasped, though held her gaze. If this were to be my final moments, I would not give her the satisfaction of grovelling for my life. I would truly rather die!
''Kill him! Kill him Phoenix, do it! End his miserable slagging life.'' I felt my energon boil at the lack of loyalty the crowd showed me. /Don't they know I am trying to protect the Decepticons? Protect them from a filthy spy?/.
She leaned down towards me, her optics flashing brightly, her sword biting into my neck. ''It is not weak to refrain from killing Starscream. Sometimes the greater strength lies in restraint.''
I gasped out loud at her words. ''That sounds like something Optimus Prime would say! See,'' I cast my optics about the crowd who had gathered to witness the disagreement between us, trying to catch someone's sympathetic gaze. 'She IS an Autobot spy!''
A hush fell upon the crowd as the sound of heavy pede falls rang about the room and the other bots shuffled about awkwardly, averting their gaze from the doorway to the comm room. Galvatron and Soundwave had entered and were watching the proceedings.
My spark twisted in its casing as I took in the look on his face. He was amused. He was enjoying watching the once Mighty Commander of his Seekers reduced to this! I growled – at him and at her. /How dare they!/.
Phoenix cast a cursory glance between myself and Galvatron, who continued to watch the scene without any sort of intervention, much to my disgust and shame. A knowing smile spread across her dermas as she flicked her optics between the two of us. ''Sometimes the greater strength lies in refraining, waiting, watching, until the moment is right. We all have a role to play Starscream. Even the likes of you!'' She removed her blade and stepped back from me.
Phoenix stood above me for a moment her sword held by her side. Her optics burning into mine before she lifted them to stare at Galvatron. He merely returned her gaze. For a moment it was as though an unspoken conversation was taking place between them.
Without warning, Phoenix yelled and spun about on the spot bringing her blade down in an arch, slicing Loader's helm clear from his shoulders. There was a collective gasp from those gathered as she brought the blade back around and drove it forcefully through his spark chamber, sparks and energon erupting from the wound. Phoenix lifted her right pede off the ground to place it upon his chest, pushing Loader's lifeless body off her sword before she retracted her weapon and began to walk away.
''Killing innocent bystanders for no reason. Am I enough of a Decepticon for you now Starscream?''
There was silence.
Phoenix stalked past the crowd her optics fixed on the doorway and Galvatron. She did not glance back as I stared at the limp and helmless body of Loader. ''Next time Starscream, it will be you!''
As she approached Galvatron and Soundwave, she paused a moment eyeing them both as they blocked her way. Without a word, both Galvatron and Soundwave moved out of her path. Galvatron sent her a nod of approval as she strode past him. His smile faded from his dermas as his optics came to rest on me.
I simply laid on the floor. The crowd dispersed and I watched as Loader's energon pooled on the floor about his carcass. No one moved to do anything. Galvatron's scornful laugh floated across the room and assaulted my audials. ''That's twice now Starscream. Still haven't learned your lesson I see. Now clean up the mess you caused.''
As his shadow disappeared from the doorway and I was left to my own devices, I felt the utter hatred course through me. /We all have a role to play do we Phoenix?/. A small, spiteful smile began to form on my dermas. /The only role I intend to play is to be your undoing/.
''I swear it!'' I muttered the words to the silence that surrounded me.