Author's note: Some swearing... things are about to go south for Phoenix... possibly... you'll have to stay tuned to find out ;-)

Also, you may also notice some characters in this chapter that weren't in the movies... part of the whole ''shoved in a blender'' / 'MY story'' deal.

Chapter 170 – Checkmate!

Starscream P.O.V

I have many faults. So I have been told.

However, I also have some redeeming qualities that most do not notice or take the time to appreciate. As I watched that insufferable, slagging femme – Phoenix – take to the sky and wing her way back to base I could not help feeling a smile spread across my dermas.

/Persistence/.

It was one of my greatest qualities. A quality that has allowed me to survive, and to an extent, thrive, within the ranks of the Decepticons. You see, when I, Starscream, set my processor to something; an idea, a goal, a target, I will stick to it with such tenacity and single mindedness as to be almost obsessed. Whether it was to become Commander of the Seekers, eventual leader of the Decepticons or proving that Phoenix was indeed an Autobot spy, I would have my day.

Climbing to a higher altitude to avoid detection as I followed that deceitful and traitorous bitch across the ocean below, another quality came to mind.

/Patience/.

I was able to wait. To endure. Plot and scheme in the shadows, bide my time until all the pieces in my own private game of chess had been set up, and were ready to be claimed. Now, the time for waiting had come to an end. I had my penultimate piece of evidence to take her down, to prove to Megatron that his pet, his favoured femme, was nothing more than a lying, manipulative slagger. The anticipation of his reaction when he realised she was not what she seemed, sent waves of excitement coursing through my circuits. /Not long now and I will be back in my rightful place as Commander of MY Seekers!/.

I activated my private comms channel to set up the final piece in my game, the piece that would prove beyond a doubt that I, Starscream, had been right all along in my distrust of her!

::Thundercracker, Skywarp, Thrust, acknowledge:: I barked down the comms.

After a moment several voices erupted over the static, indicating they had heard. Thundercracker continued, having been elected the speaker for the group. ::Yeah, whaddya want Screamer?::

I bit back the urge to angrily bring to his attention his lack of respect in speaking to me, but I managed to calm myself. /After all, I need their assistance – for the time being/. ::Have you got the final piece of evidence? Is it secure?::

There was a chuckle down the line. ::Yeah, we have it::. There was a slight pause. ::Wasn't easy to get this piece of evidence as it didn't want ta be collected, but we managed it, finally::

There was a snort of amusement down the line. ::Yeah! Skywarp will need ta visit Knockout when we get back to base. You better hurry and get back here with Megatron and Phoenix, cause Skywarp might be tempted ta get rid of your evidence for ya as pay back!::

I growled down the comms in annoyance and threat. ::You are NOT to do anything of the sort – yet! I promise you can have your fun once Phoenix and Megatron have seen what we happened to find on our missions. Until then, do as I have Commanded::

::Yeah, but aint Phoenix still in charge of…:: Thundercracker dared to question me.

I could not contain my anger. ::SHE IS NOT THE RIGHTFUL LEADER OF THE SEEKERS! I AM!:: I bellowed down the comm. :: And when Lord Megatron is made to see the depth of her treachery, she will cease to function not only as Commander of the Seekers, but in general! Her spark is as good as forfeit. And when that happens, I Starscream will be rewarded for my loyalty to the Decepticon cause. You can either ally yourself to me or - displease me. Do I make myself clear?::

There was a moment's silence as my words sunk in. ::Yes, Starscream. Crystal clear::

I felt a smirk form on my dermas. ::Good. Starscream out::

The line went dead, and I began my decent towards the small speck on the horizon. Phoenix had already reached the base. I did not have long. I had to seek an audience with Megatron without her so I could alert him to her deception and get him on side. If she were around while I tried to tell him, she would convince him not to listen, poison his thoughts against me. /And he would listen to her. He would take her side over mine; such is her sway over our leader/.

The platform for the oil rig approached rapidly as I closed the distance. Cutting my engines and initiating the transformation sequence, I came to land gracefully. I quickly cast my optics about searching. I had a moment to spare as no doubt she was reporting to Megatron even now of her failure to secure the Star Sabre. We had searched The Smokey Mountains and the Sierra Nevada's and found nothing. No readings, no sign. Nothing. Phoenix had even tried other mountain ranges but to no avail. The Sabre simply didn't exist here on Earth. /That is if it existed at all/.

As I slowly began to make my way towards the Command Room where no doubt Megatron would be stationed with his other pet – Soundwave, I allowed myself the pleasure of smiling at the thought that perhaps Megatron might be inclined to listen to me. Now that the ''Great Phoenix'' has failed to find that which he desires so desperately, he might see her in a slightly less favourable light.

I fought back a bubble of laughter as the other thought flashed through my processor. /And when he comes to realise how she has played him, the Mighty Megatron, how she has made such a fool of him, what then?/ The sound of my delighted laugh echoed off the walls as I made my way along the corridors.

One floor above the Command Room, I consulted my energon signature reader to detect how many were in the room below me, or perhaps even who was there. /Two/. At present there were only two signatures reading. /Two well known signatures/. My smile remained as I closed the distance to the room quickly. There was not an astrosecond to lose. /I have you now bitch!/.

Entering the room, it was as I expected. Megatron stood by the monitors with his faithful shadow, Soundwave. His other pet was nowhere to be seen, so I assumed she had been dismissed immediately following her unfortunate report. I came to stand a few metres away from our leader. ''Lord Megatron, I humbly request a moment of your time.'' I made a small bow of my helm in deference to him. Though it pained me to do so, I had a role to play and play it I would.

At the sound of my voice, he turned slowly, his optical ridge creased in annoyance at yet another seemingly fruitless disruption. ''What is it Starscream? Phoenix has already spoken to me about failing to obtain the Star Sabre. I am not in a good mood, so I suggest that unless you have somehow managed to procure the Sabre yourself, you leave my sight.''

I felt myself fight back the wave of anger that rose at his curt dismissal. Yet I would not be so easily deterred. /Persistence, patience/. ''Lord Megatron I wish that I could obtain that which you desire so desperately but instead I bring before you information which is of great importance and demands your immediate attention.''

Megatron audibly growled at me, though he did not remove his helm from the monitor. ''For your sake this had better be good Starscream. You have less than a Klik to make your point.''

I gritted my denta together in frustration but never the less, I proceeded to make my plea. ''Lord Megatron as you know you tasked me with keeping an optic on Phoenix the day she first arrived….''

Megatron whipped around and glared at me. ''Where is this going Starscream? You have been down this path before with me to no avail. I suggest you choose your words carefully.'' He glowered at me though he gave me his attention.

I nodded my helm. ''Lord Megatron, I am nothing if not loyal and diligent in my commitment to the Decepticon..''

''Loosing interest Starscream, half a kilk!'' He growled at me, folding his arms across his chest.

I narrowed my optics and spat the words out. The time for delicately worded responses had passed. ''I have discovered some painful news. Phoenix is in league with that annoying yellow Autobot scout, Bumblebee!''

Megatron stilled, his arms fell by his sides and clenched into fists, and he took a menacing step towards me. His face like thunder. ''I do not believe you!'' He growled out in a low and threatening voice.

I lowered my helm slightly in deference, and in fear, though I kept my optics on him. ''It's true my Lord Megatron! I have seen her consorting with him with my own optics. She is nothing more than a spy and a despicable traitor!''

Megatron swiftly closed the distance between us, and I braced myself for the blow that would surely land. ''ENOUGH!'' The blow landed heavily on my face, sending me staggering backwards, clutching my cheek plate. ''You have no proof of this Starscream!'' He advanced on me, towering above me. ''Phoenix has proven her loyalty to me and shown she is a far greater asset to the Decepticons than you EVER were!'' His dermas curled into a sneer as he stood above me, knowing full well his words would find their mark in my spark.

I had played this game numerous times before. But this time, I intended to win.

I removed my servo from my cheek and rose to my pedes under his vehement gaze, an act of defiance that momentarily wiped the sneer from his face. Something I took solace in as I prepared to say something that may likely lead to my death. /But I would make my point, I would prove I was right!/. I allowed a sneer of my own to form on my dermas as I stared belligerently back at him.

The sound of metallic pedefalls drew our attention for a moment and my spark stilled in its casing before a smile formed. Knockout and Dirge had arrived, confusion evident on their faces as they took in the scene unfolding before them. /Excellent! More witnesses/. I launched into my accusation. ''It pains me to say this Lord Megatron, but I have proof that you have been duped and deceived by this femme.'' He took a step towards me, his optics flashed like the fire that would burn along Phoenix's frame, yet I stood my ground. I could feel every set of optics on me. ''You have allowed your own feelings towards her to bewitch you.''

Megatron yelled, ''HOW DARE YOU SPEAK TO ME THAT WAY!'' His servo snaked out to grab my throat, squeezing it in his rage. A feral look burned in his optics, his anger palpable. ''It WON'T happen again Starscream, because I am done with you.''

My servos flew to his arm, desperately clawing at it to remove it. I lashed out with my pede, landing the blow in his chest and he released his grip for a moment and it was enough. I staggered back, gaining myself some precious distance. ''SHE HAS BLINDED YOU TO WHAT IS SO PAINFULLY OBVIOUS TO THOSE WILLING TO SEE HER FOR WHAT SHE IS…'' I managed to scream the words hoarsely at him. Megatron snarled at me and prepared to launch his final attack on me. ''AN AUTOBOT SPY AND SYMPATHISER THAT YOU, THE MIGHTY MEGATRON, HAS ALLOWED TO INFILTRATE OUR RANKS!''

''YOU DIE NOW!'' He screamed at me raising his cannon towards me. For once, I stood my ground. I did not cower. I did not beg. I was done playing.

There was a flash of silver as a most unexpected ally came to stand between myself and Megatron. ''Lord Megatron. Permission to speak.''

Unaccustomed to Soundwave intervening, especially for one such as myself, Megatron stayed his servo, begrudgingly lowering his cannon, though his look of hatred remained pinned on me and he growled out through gritted denta. ''Permission granted Soundwave, though be quick about it.''

Soundwave nodded his helm and my optics flicked from him to Megatron who continued to glower at me. ''As you wish Megatron. I believe Starscream speaks the truth – this time. I humbly request you hear him out. It is the most logical course of action Lord Megatron.''

Dirge, who had stayed behind on this last mission having needed repairs, added his voice. ''Lord Megatron what Starscream says is true.'' Megatron's optics snapped to him. ''I believe him. I've seen it with my own optics too.''

''OOh... did someone bring the popcorn? This is getting exciting!'' Knockout began to tap his servos together, as he watched the proceedings with interest.

Megatron scowled at him darkly, before he turned his attention back to me, staring daggers past Soundwave's shoulders as he deliberated and processed what he had heard. I felt a small spark of vindication begin to burn within me. /Patience and Persistence/.

Begrudgingly Megatron lowered his cannon by his side and the fire seemed to die down in his optics, though a simmering hatred still burned there. /Perhaps a reflection of what he sees in mine?/. ''It would seem your miserable life has been spared – for now.''

I felt a small, victorious smile form on my dermas. /Checkmate, Phoenix!/.

He stalked towards me, coming to stand before Soundwave and my smile began to fade. ''For your sake Starscream, you better be telling the truth, for if you are not, I will personally torture you before I end your pathetic life for such slanderous deceit.''

I nodded, fighting the urge to smile triumphantly once again. I simply met his steely gaze with my own. ''And when you finally see that I am telling the truth. What then of Phoenix and her deception - Lord Megatron?''

Megatron sneered at me as Soundwave stood aside and I suddenly felt exposed and vulnerable, my previous bravado evaporating. Stepping closer, his optics flashed dangerously but his servos stayed by his side. Leaning towards me, Megatron spoke three words that made what I had just gone through, and millennia before that, all worth it.

''I'm listening Starscream.''