AN: Happy new year!
It was with great struggle and sheer force of will that Starscream emerged victorious from the confines of his would-be rocky tomb.
The seeker took shaky steps away from the collapsed debris and coughed a few times due to the dust stuck in his intake fans. He couldn't believe he'd survived when the odds were so stacked against him, first Megatron, then the Autobot and the triple-changer and, finally, the mine collapsing all around them… nothing had been enough to take him down and snuff his spark.
Starscream thought of his enemies, all buried under the rubble with no chance of escaping, and laughed with glee. "Predictable, master? Is that what you called me? Well, now who has hit rock bottom? What's that? I'm sorry, I can't hear you beneath all that rubble? Farewell, Lord Megatron, may you rust in peace!"
He could already envision it, the Decepticon Empire at his command with no one to oppose his might. He would first destroy Earth and all its inhabitants, along with the Autobots and Makers that constantly got in his way, then he would rally all the scattered troops and begin conquering planet after planet, quadrant after quadrant, until the galaxy was his and then the Universe.
When he was about to take flight and retreat it was then that Starscream realized something very important: he'd already been in that sort of position before. So many times when all seemed to be lost and the warlord offline something always managed to bring the mech back from being one with the Allspark. There was no blaster, sword, explosive, even dark energon, no nothing that could take out the hulking brute for good and everyone knew it.
"But you have survived far worse…" The thoughts began to settle in the SIC's processor. "If you were to free yourself you would blame me for your setback and there is no place I can escape from your wrath. Or worse, yet, your mindless followers might come looking for you and take credit for your rescue… Credit that could rightfully be mine!" He couldn't let anyone else take his spot, his glory.
Yes, there was also the side of him that would do anything for recognition. The side that worked incessantly to rise to the top and gain the glory that could only be attributed by those in a station above himself. He'd done I to rise quickly through the ranks and he'd never stopped, that aspect of his personality becoming more and more evident with each promotion until he was one step away from becoming the supreme leader.
"Megatron!" With a roar into the skies the seeker went back though where he came from.
Silverbot groaned and slowly opened his optics, clutching his processor as an ache ran over it like someone had just ran him over several times. It felt more than ten times worse than Mayhem's improvised concerts, that was for sure.
Carefully getting up he maneuvered between the rocks, bringing his wings close to his frame and hunching himself to try and avoid touching the walls or ceiling, unsure if the smallest movement could cause another collapse. The stalactites seemed very unstable, that he could tell, and he was a short distance away from bumping either his helm or wing into one and he didn't want to find what type of damage he could cause himself if that occurred.
The triple-changer had very little recollection of what had happened after the debris had begun raining down when the ceiling collapsed around them and the floor collapsed but he did know that he had to find the others and get out of there as fast as possible. Megatron and Starscream could have survived and be milling about and, while he could handle the SIC, the big bad 'Con himself was someone he wasn't thrilled to fend off.
"Mayhem? Arcee? Bulkhead?" Silverbot yelled out.
The mech feared the worst might have happened to the others, but his sister kept especially bothering his processor. He could already picture their Creator throwing a fit and backtracking on her promise to let them explore more in their outings but if he didn't feel any pull at his spark it meant his Creator did neither, so Mayhem was still alive and well. They may have had their fights and bickered like it was their hobby but they were siblings and they cared for each other, meaning they could patch up whatever rifts their discussions created by just waiting the right amount of time or realizing neither could remember what they'd been fighting over in the first place.
Looking in all directions he kept calling out the names of his teammates, unsure if he would be answered, until he spotted a drill. Likely a Decepticon piece of equipment but beggars can't be choosers, especially in his situation, so he decided he would have to use it in order to get out of that situation and rescue the others.
The triple-changer approached the piece of machinery and began pressing some buttons, unsure of how to operate that piece of equipment and, if he found out how, hoping there would be some fuel left. Luck appeared to be on his side that time because the drill came to life almost immediately and began trudging forward and, even if Silverbot himself was too big to take a seat on the equipment he followed close behind.
It took him a just a short few minutes before he saw some light up ahead and steered the drill in the direction where the glow was coming from. The mech was already preparing to meet any of the Autobots or, even better his sister when his expectations went down the drain faster than a turbo-fox could run, because when the rocks gave way to another, smaller tunnel he was face to face with Megatron himself.
"I suppose, helping those less fortunate would be out of the question." The tyrant dryly spoke, his whole body still pinned under the rubble with only his faceplate free to stare in one direction. "If that is the case, you might just as well finish me. I guarantee you will never have a better opportunity than right now. Think of the glory, seize the day and snuff my spark!" He taunted, wanting to get a reaction out of the younger Cybertronian
Silverbot felt at a metaphorical crossroads. He thought back to his younger days, the ones he'd spent on Cybertron and how he saw his Carrier get her hopes up only for, in the end, to tear them up and end up worse for the wear. He remembered every tear shed because of that maniacal tyrant that thought violence could solve everything and that wanted to be worshiped as a Prime.
The triple-changer could end it all then and there if he wished, it would only take one simple action to put an end to the madness and to the mech who caused a war that had already cost so many sparks… He could do it, but would he? That blind rage he felt on the back of his processor could easily take over and he was strong enough to snuff out a spark with a swift move of his claws.
"No. You have no idea how much I would enjoy doing that but I have better things to do right now than take vengeance on behalf of my Carrier." He was better than taking down a crippled enemy and would prove himself above senseless violence to everyone.
"Your Carrier? She and I share a history together that requires no revenge. You were but a mere sparkling when we met for the first time, if I can recall it."
"That is where you are mistaken. She should have never even met you, you lying sack of bolts!" Silverbot then realized something, his optics widening in recollection of his mission. "No matter, I have to find my sister. Have fun rusting in here for the rest of your pitiful existence. If not, I will definitely make sure your death comes with the exact painful price."
With a few stiff gestures the triple-changer turned on the drill and continued on the opposite direction of the warlord. He refused to look back as he walked away because it could jeopardize everything he promised himself he would not do and finally choke the life out of that miserable retro-rat.
"I will be sure to share the details of our little conversations the day I rip out his spark!" Megatron shouted, the feeling of humiliation for not being considered having worth for a revenge.
The tyrant watched as the mech walked away in search of the others and pondered their conversation. Solarflare didn't have a daughter… did she? He had no idea but now all he had to do was keep freeing himself and ignore that persistent tug at his spark.
On another side of the caved-in mine there was another struggle going on. Or rather two.
Bulkhead kept trying to get back on his pedes, never having truly given up, but found himself unable to do so throughout the entire ordeal. The wrecker felt the need to help Mayhem with holding up the boulder over their helms, knowing the femme could not hold it up indefinitely, and the helplessness that permeated his spark did not become of him.
"Bulk, please stop." Pleaded Mayhem with a strained smile. "Who knows what might have happened in there to throw off your balance system. Please, just stay still until someone comes to help us." She might not have wanted to follow on her Carrier's example and become a medbot but she had picked up a few things after getting hurt after a certain amount of times.
"But, how long will you be able to hold up that rock?" Retorted the wrecker, nervous about their predicament.
"Long enough."
"I can see it in our optics, you're getting tired."
"There's just this persistent tugging at my sparkchamber, it's really getting annoying. Please don't worry about me. I'll be alright." The femme gave a strained smile to her friend. "I'm sorry, if it weren't for me we wouldn't be in this situation."
The two Cybertronians remained in silence for a few moments, letting the situation finally sink in. One of them was unable to stand up by himself while the other could not move unless she wanted to risk both getting crushed by a giant boulder, none able to go around their situations and find a way out of that mine.
"I'm sorry." Mayhem broke the silence with a downcast apology. "If it wasn't for me we wouldn't even be in this mess."
"Mayhem, that's not true." Bulkhead attempted to soften the blow his friend was feeling.
"Yeah, it is. I was the one who wanted to explore the mine and drove you all to come and look for me."
"But you didn't mean for any of this to happen."
"It doesn't matter!" She held back a sob. "I always do reckless things that get others in trouble. Mom says I take after my Sire in that department and I wonder if there's more stuff I take after."
Bulkhead attempted to say something else but he couldn't. He didn't know much about Victory or Makers to help Mayhem feel better about herself. The wrecker was used to being the clumsy one, the one that crushed equipment and anything else in his path with just a wrong step and so knew what must have been running through the Maker's mind. Yes, she was a handful but sometimes things happened and it wasn't anyone's fault, no matter their propensity for trouble.
All hope seemed lost at that point, that was until the drill noises started coming though the collapsed stone walls.
"Do you hear that?" The green mech's spark skipped a beat.
"Sounds like-"
"Drilling! Gotta be Arcee and Silver."
"We're in-" The seeker attempted to shout but the boulder dropped lower as her concentration faltered. "Here!"
"Mayhem, don't worry. Just keep holding up that thing and I'll yell. Silverbot! Arcee! We're in here! Anyone?! It's Bulkhead and Mayhem!"
They kept going at it for a few more moments, not willing to give up now that help was so close. They would be able to get out of there and return home with a story and just a few scratches.
"Are they any close?" Mayhem asked, unsure of where the sound was coming from.
"Can't tell. I'm sorry." Bulkhead shook his helm.
As they were about to start screaming again sounds began coming from one of the walls and the stones began to shake and move. Someone was definitely tearing through to get to them.
"They found us!"
The wall came crumbling down, but, once the dust began settling, it wasn't neither of the two that Mayhem and Bulkhead expected that came through to their 'rescue'. A familiar laughter was the first thing they heard and their sparks sunk in their chestplates at the sound of it.
"Put any doubt of my allegiance to rest." Starscream began but soon realized it wasn't his leader that he had stumbled upon.
"Oh, for the love of Solus, what's he doing here?!" Mayhem shouted.
"Mayhem, be careful!" Bulkhead warned. He couldn't move and neither could she, so Screamer had the upper hand on them.
Starscream finished tearing down the wall and entered the chamber. Oh, Primus had smiled down upon him and given him a blessing. Two incapacitated enemies, ready to be disposed of and their helms surrendered to elevate his status in Megatron's optics.
"Well, well, if it isn't one of those pesky Makers and the Autobot known as Bulkhead." Gloated the SIC of the Decepticon army. "Looks like someone took quite a beating if they're down for the count and my, someone had their servos full."
Mayhem attempted to move but couldn't do much with the weight of the boulder pressing down upon her. "Leave us alone, Screamer."
"I could do that, or…" Starscream reached down with his claws to Bulkhead's hem. "I could terminate two enemies for the price of one."
At that moment Mayhem went into panic. She couldn't let Bulkhead join the Allspark this soon so she gathered her strength and kicked the seeker away as hard as she could. Smirking as Starscream made a sizeable impression in the rocks, causing a few of them to fall down in the process, the femme prepared for the retaliation. Her servos were busy enough and her strengths fading as the minutes ticked by so it was imperative to get this over with as fast as possible and avoid getting injured in the process of fending for both herself and Bulkhead.
Starscream wiped the dust off his optics and began standing up. "That's it, Autobot, I will-"
"What?" Mayhem interrupted the mech with a snarl. "Make me bring down the ceiling on top of all of us?!"
"You like playing with the big bots, don't you, little femme?"
"Come closer and I'll show you just how little I am."
Just as the Decepticon was preparing to try and attempt striking the wrecker once more the sound of drilling interrupted him. Lifting an optic ridge he wondered what was happening as small pebbles began falling but he did not have much time to wonder on what was going on as a drill cut through the wall and knocked him out of the way, stopping just as it hit him.
It was then that Silverbot came rushing through the hole, ready to defend his sister at any cost. Seeing the position she was in and Bulkhead's state was enough to stop the words from flowing from his voicebox but he didn't have much time to think of any other phrases.
"Silver!" Mayhem shouted enthusiastically. "Bulkhead's down! Quick, get him out of here!"
"But-" The triple-changer attempted to argue but was swiftly interrupted.
"No buts! Listen to your sister and just save someone's spark! Who knows if he's suffered an injury that aggravates with time?!"
"But I could-"
"You could nothing! We both know someone has to stay behind and hold this thing, so take him and go!"
Hesitating at the thought of leaving his sister behind, Silverbot resisted the urge to try and argue once more before taking hold of the green mech and dragging the wrecker out of there. He should be able to do something to help Mayhem, he was her older brother and, as such, had the job of making sure she was well and happy.
The triple changer had always been there for his sister, from when they were little and trying to reach the top shelf to get to energon sweets, to when they ventured outside their hab-suite for the first times and even when they had to abandon their planet he was there for her. He would always protect her no matter what.
Just as Silverbot was dragging Bulkhead away from the danger of being crushed by the large boulder he saw movement out of the corner of his optics and stifled. It couldn't be Megatron, could it?!
Starscream began picking himself up and looked at the retreating Maker pulling the injured Autobot. He had to act fast and do something that would get him in the good graces of Megatron, while at the same time avoiding being crushed by the collapsing ceiling.
"And then there were two." Said the SIC with a promise of vengeance in his voice. He could injure the Maker and then dash for freedom while leaving her to be crushed along with anyone else that was in her vicinity.
"If you want me to beg for mercy, guess again." Mayhem was now close to kneeling, her arms finally giving to the effort she had put in keeping the boulder from crushing her and Bulkhead. Even then she would not lower herself to begging for her life. She was a fighter until the bitter end.
"While I would love to hear you beg I believe Lord Megatron would be even more pleased if I delivered a war prisoner to him right after I rescue him." Yes, that would be much better and there would be actual proof of his loyalty to the Decepticon cause. All he had to do was figure out how to get them out of there before that darned triple-changer came back…
Mayhem, feeling her fate closing in on her, growled at her enemy and Starscream took a few steps back in fear. Fight until the bitter end… An end that did not include being surrendered to Megatron as a spoil of war. She would rather that place be her tomb along with that sniveling coward's than letting her Carrier down and letting herself get captured.
Starscream felt his spark race. Somehow that growl managed to him the same note that resembled the one that always managed to get him on his knees and begging for forgiveness. With a last step back he felt a something touch between his wings and turned around in surprise.
"Arcee!" Mayhem exclaimed with content. Luck was on her side after all and she couldn't care how cliché it was to be rescued at the last second!
"Arms up, Starscream." The femme ordered with her blaster pointed straight at the Decepticon's helm.
Starscream put his arms and wondered why his plans always went wrong. He attempted to kill Megatron and that went sideways, he attempted to rescue Megatron and that went equally as bad… Had all his luck just abandoned him?!
Outside, the dusk was settling in, the orange colors soft in comparison to what the Cybertronians had just experienced.
The SIC had been left to bear the weight of the boulder as the team made their way through the tunnel he´d dug toward their freedom and they didn´t regret it on bit. Starscream had it coming and the team had even chuckled as he bent over in strain from holding up the boulder that had almost ended Bulkhead and Mayhem´s lives.
"We could finish him, here and now." Arcee said as they overlooked the caved-in mine.
"Shame we didn't bring any grenades." Bulkhead complained, leaning onto Silverbot for support in order to be able to stand up.
"Then allow me." The triple-changer aimed one of his blasters at the semi-blocked entrance from where they had emerged from.
"No!" Mayhem shouted and took out her hammer. "Me."
Both siblings wanted to have a go at finally ending the life of a mech that had caused the Makers, their Carrier, so much pain. While it had been because of Megatron that the talk of equality had reached the common public he had used that message to spread his influence and try to elevate his status through force. Everyone knew of the gladiator that had fought his way into the senate floor and demanded to be made Prime, only to lose the battle and soon turn bitter.
Silverbot wanted to avenge the broken spark of his Carrier more than anything, to finally leave her at peace with the thought that monstrous mech would no longer be aiming to get her in his grasp. He wanted to repay the kindness he´d had while growing up, the attentiveness despite his Sire´s early demise and all the love he´d received throughout his life despite being a constant reminder of Victory.
Mayhem, on the other hand, wanted to prove herself capable of fending off anything that came her way, to finally show her independence by putting an end to the tyrant´s life. Finally she would be able to be free from her Carrier´s restraints on her movements and fight to her spark´s content without being fearful that she would meet face-to-face with the big bad Con himself.
"You two, stop it!" The blue femme put an end to the upcoming discussion. "Do you think Optimus would take this opportunity?"
"Well…" Silverbot´s mind began racing at the thought and soon after he wasn't so sure on blasting those two into a well-deserved grave.
"No." Mayhem crossed her arms in resignation but did not put away her weapon either. "But he wouldn't recue him either, would he?"
"Let's just go home." Said Bulkhead, picking up on the tension they were all feeling.
Slowly but surely the Cybertronians began walking away, all feeling some sort of conflicting emotions towards the situation. Megatron should be punished along with Starscream. Both Decepticons had caused so much despair and offlined so many during the war, they did not deserve to be spared their comeuppance, only to be buried in an unmarked grave and forgotten, with none to mourn for them.
Silverbot and Arcee looked behind at the mine while walking one last time and sighed. Their sparks ached for revenge but, if they did so, they would fail in Optimus´ optics.