NOTE: I honestly was starting to get some extreme writer's block after posting EPISODE 10, so I had to unleash my personal cure for it: listening to SKALD and watching episodes of Gayle. Works every time. Hope you all enjoy! :D
. . .
Starscream curled up in the cell, thoughtfully staring at the holes in his upper arms; Megatron had briefly returned after departing from the prison to confiscate his guns, leaving the pits behind. It was no bother for they could be easily reattached.
Starscream considered his lover's plan to be ridiculous; he didn't want to be here, hidden away from the newborn world that awaited outside. He was ready to enjoy consuming the familiar sights of the planet, but here he was caged.
Heavy footsteps echoed down the hallway, and Starscream rose, placing his face close to the cell's electric door, trying to get a good peek at who was approaching. From the sound of the steps, Starscream could tell it was Megatron, probably coming to fake putting him on trial or televising him to the world, daring those who looked up to him to reveal themselves.
"Megatron, thank Primus you're back -"
Shatter clanked up to the door, her disfigured face partially hooding her flaming eyes. She clasped her hands together, amused by Starscream's interesting situation.
"Seems they got a hold of you." Her mouth undulated as she spoke, creepy yet astonishing.
"Get me out of here. They are coming back soon."
"Where's the keycard?"
"Megatron has it."
"Stand back. I guess I have to be loud for this one."
Starscream scuttled to the rear of the cell, hankering down behind the bed. Shatter revealed a gun, and it protruded out of the top of her forearm as she fired upon the doorframe. The blasts were loud and shrill, her weaponry mechanics not repaired correctly after her battle. The door malfunctioned, allowing Starscream to exit into the hallway.
"How did you find me?"
Rumble climbed up onto Shatter's broken shoulder, perching himself on her cracked ruby armor. His periwinkle casing glimmered in the prison's lighting.
"Rumble remained the only loyal Decepticon out of Soundwave's entourage of sidekicks. He was able to able to follow the transportation vehicle to the prison and enter undetected, reporting your location back to me and the others."
Rumble smirked before making a small kissy face at Starscream, teasing the Seeker about what he had observed, before jumping to the floor. Starscream glared at him as he scampered down the hall.
"You need to announce your rise to power," Shatter continued, placing a three-fingered hand on Starscream's back and guiding him after Rumble. "The others can start a crowd, letting it grow with curious bystanders."
"I need my guns first." Starscream zipped into another room, finding his blaster also locked away like he had previously been. "Shatter, can you shoot again?"
Shatter elegantly entered the room before firing upon the blasters' shrunken cell, disabling the door. Starscream reached in, reclaiming his weaponry and reattaching them, before hastily stalking back out to the hallway. Shatter jogged sloppily up to Starscream.
"Do they know?" Starscream glanced at Shatter's burnt chest, her headlights demolished from extreme heat.
"Know about what?"
"Megatron and I."
"What about you two? That you aren't working together anymore?"
Starscream forced a devious grin not to appear on his face. "Yes, that."
"Yes, of course. They are pleased that Megatron won't be our leader."
. . .
Starscream raised his chest as he stood on the high platform, overlooking the miniature crowd that Shatter had summoned. No familiar faces peered up at him; he had never worked closely with any of these former Decepticons. Shatter ambled up to the blossoming leader, a Decepticon flag clutched furiously in her fist, and she handed it respectfully to Starscream.
Starscream accepted the pole, gazing wondrously up at the symbol flapping in the weak wind. Many Cybertronians, he had heard, were disposing of their symbols, trying to return to a time before the war. The Cybertronians here were still adorned with their purple sigils, proud of the group they identified with, and Starscream's wings remained marked as well.
"Here," Shatter muttered, pulling something else from behind her back. She revealed a makeshift crown to Starscream, the band constructed of soldered metal scraps and adorned with energon crystals. "It was the best that I could make."
Lubricant filled Starscream's eyes as she delicately slipped it onto his head.
"It is wonderful," Starscream breathed, and he haughtily paraded up to the edge of the platform, allowing for the onlookers to adore him better. The flag snapped overhead as the wind whistled stronger, and Starscream called out to his admirers.
"We have been betrayed!"
The Decepticons energetically raised their fists, pounding the air while shouting with rage. Their emphatic cries caused Cybertronians huddled away in the surrounding buildings to stir, now opening their windows to listen to the disturbance.
"I, Starscream, vow to reverse the damage that Megatron has caused. A traumatic brain injury has caused his woeful decision to surrender to the Autobots, but I unfortunately was not allowed to take his place, securing the strength of our kind. Now, look what he has done to us!"
A boisterous engine started to approach, and Knock Out peeled around the corner, his tires screeching as he braked in front of the platform. He revered back to his original form, his face contorted into an expression of fear.
"Starscream!" Knock Out shouted. He dashed up the stairs to Starscream.
"Look, my fellow Decepticons, a close comrade of mine has come to join our fight!"
Knock Out grabbed his shoulder, glancing fretfully up at the violet flag angrily towering over them. "What are you doing?!" he whispered.
"Claiming my throne and gifting Cybertron with its rightful leader," Starscream retorted, acting like the answer was simple.
"You can't do this!"
"I think I am capable, don't you think? I was deputy for eons. Your appearance means that word is spreading quickly."
More Cybertronians were starting to gather, their optics fixated on the powerful and small form of Starscream, and his crown reflected glorious rays of sunlight.
"Yes, it is. Megatron and Optimus are coming!"
Starscream smirked and wrapped an arm around Knock Out's shoulders, pulling him close. "My friend has informed me that the former leaders of the Autobots and Decepticons will be arriving promptly."
Frenzied calls erupted from the crowd, damning the pair of guests that would be showing their faces soon.
"Save your shouts, my comrades! Save it for them, the ones who have screwed us over! Leaving you all without guidance and abandoning you to anarchy!"
"Starscream, they are trying to set up structure and government," Knock Out said, his irises quivering, on the verge of tears as he observed his friend igniting yet another issue on Cybertron. "They are trying, trust me."
"It's not fast enough for them." Starscream pushed the medic away, giving him room to raise the flag upwards.
The hollers of rebellion were smothered by the roar of Megatron's engine as he swooped overhead, dive bombing chaotically onto the platform, and he transformed and ran up to Starscream.
"Starscream! What is the meaning of this?"
"I lead them, Megatron! They are disappointed with you and Optimus, and they want me."
Optimus barreled into the gathering area and reconstructed himself back into his humanoid form, gazing over the riled up congregation, who were now spewing vile curses at Megatron. Optimus dashed up the stairs, joining Megatron at his side, and he attempted to pacify those who were gathered. As Optimus called out, Megatron angrily snatched the flag away, throwing it far into the shadows of the buildings.
"You fool! You...you...I don't even have words for how I feel about you right now!" Megatron's optics widened in fury, his eyebrows curled downward viciously. A snarl curved across his face.
"I am going to give them what they want!" Starscream wrinkled his pointy nose, trying to defy Megatron and spark fear in his partner.
"Don't you remember? Are you stupid? Shatter is trying to use you!"
"Then get rid of her!"
Starscream pointed his gun to Shatter, who was poised at the edge of the platform, watching the chaos unfold before her. Her hilarity mutated into bewilderment as Starscream aggressively slaughtered her, his plasma bullets slipping like ice through her spark chamber. The Cybertronians grew quiet as blaster fire sounded, and Shatter dropped to the ground ahead of them, her body breaking apart as it smashed against the concrete. Her corroded joints refused to hold her together, so an assortment of fingers and metallic plates were launched into the crowd.
A disturbing silence captured all who were watching, and Knock Out's hands were plastered across his mouth, horrified by what he had witnessed. Megatron's lips hung open in disbelief, and Optimus had hunkered down. A few of Megatron's and Optimus' close followers entered the gathering area, their footsteps dainty and light as they tried to evaluate what had just occurred.
Megatron cracked the lull as he jumped onto Starscream, forcing him to the ground. Fury broke out, and blaster fire vibrated through the late morning light. A horrendous scream echoed through the arena, and everyone curled up, covering their sensitive audio receptors. The cruel sound was being produced by Soundwave, and his yellow visor was decorated with the display of a pale sound wave visualizer. The amplitude of the sound was maxed out, and the cry suddenly cut off.
"Cease your fighting," Soundwave commanded. "We have endured enough. Make all this end."
A lilac blast hit Soundwave, disabling him, and as he crashed down, the former Decepticons began to overpower Optimus's and Megatron's small resistance, beating them down to the ground.
"All hail Starscream!" someone shrieked, their message quickly passing to the others around them.
"All hail Starscream!"
"All hail Starscream!"
"All hail Starscream!"
Optimus rushed over to his followers, protecting them from further harm and pushing the attackers away. His ebony ion cannon was charged up, but he refused to fire upon anyone. A squad of Decepticons tackled Megatron, peeling him off their king. Megatron attempted to reawaken the frenzied gladiator that was tucked deep away in the posterior of his mind, but that identity stayed asleep. He was overpowered and ripped off of Starscream. The Decepticons immobilized him, using their weight to keep him locked to the ground. Starscream placed his crown back on his pretty little head before smugly looking down at Megatron. He crouched, enjoying the sight of Megatron struggling under the power of his followers.
"It's over, Starscream!" Megatron spat.
"Oh, but my reign has just begun! Join me as my prince!" Starscream flicked his finger, silently ordering the Decepticons to retreat. They clambered off Megatron, allowing the massive Cybertronian to rise once again.
"No, we are over."
