Ch. 104

Starscream held his faceplates in his servos as he sat on a ledge in the base. Had Fowler been certain? Was he entirely sure and correct and... right? Fowler stopped speaking when he saw the seeker collapse. Optimus was the first to help Starscream and, to his great surprise, Smokescreen was right behind him. They sat him down but the silver mech dared not speak. Stupid, stupid future sight. Stupid... right, it wasn't future sight.

It had been almost twenty minutes and still no one spoke. They all waited patiently. They could all give him that much.

When the seeker finally drew an intake it was quick, "So..." he paused, his chassis feeling as though he was falling, "... who..."

Agent Fowler pointed up at the base's computer screen as a fuzzy photo popped up, "You. But you're clearly here. And you're not modified with robotic spider legs."

Starscream lightly choked out a laugh, shaking his helm, "Spider legs... I was hoping I had been wrong about that..."

Arcee came to his side and gripped his shoulder, "Hey, there couldn't have been anyone else that could've grabbed her. We just didn't expect this level of..."

She trailed off. How could she even describe this?

Agent Fowler sighed, "The Pentagon is frantic. I need answers. And since you know, Starscream, or at least should know enough..."

The seeker nodded weakly and tried to stand, but Optimus held him down, "Give yourself a moment," he coached softly, "Just sit and tell us what we need to know."

Starscream nodded again, "... Silas is inside that thing."

Ratchet scoffed, "An amalgamation?! Impossible! Organic life can't be fused with Cybertronian biology!"

"They did it once and they've done it again!" the silver mech snarled, his wings flaring out, "MECH had Breakdown the last time! And the only way they could have gotten a chassis that looks like me is if they pieced back together my clone that was shot down just outside of Megatron's ship!"

"A few tweaks here, a few transplants from Airachnid," Knockout hissed, "Yep, it's feasible."

Ratchet shook his helm, "Fine, but for what purpose?"

Starscream shrugged, "I don't... Super human-Cybertronian combination? Silas was never really clear on why he allowed it, but he thought himself a god afterwards... At least, for a while..."

Knockout purred, "Ooo, I think that's a story for another time, isn't it?"

Bumblebee beeped, asking why Silas had attacked the base.

Starscream crossed his arms, "Silas had worked on a satellite based weapons project. He's just getting what's his out of storage..."

"Project: Damocles," Agent Fowler confirmed, "Seems Silas, aka former Colonel Leland Bishop, wanted his research back."

Optimus looked to the seeker once more, "Will he use this weapon?"

"He did before," Starscream grumbled, remembering back; a new thought struck him and he frowned, "but... I think he won't now."

Smokescreen crossed his arms, "Uh, a weapon in space? Why wouldn't he use it?"

The seeker frowned, "Not because of something he did before, but something he told me recently. Something he... changed because he knew I knew it was coming."

Optimus nodded, "When he set a trap for you at the factory."

Starscream stood slowly, "He changed enough so that he could gain the upper hand and attempt my capture. He even used my frame as a model for more of a lure... And he may use Damocles in the same way. His obsession with my capture and study borders alongside Megatron's."

Bulkhead frowned, "Can we really chance that, though? What if trapping you doesn't work? Then they could just use the satellite the way it's supposed to be used."

The seeker let his gaze travel to Optimus, hoping the Prime would have the answer for all of them, "I... I'm not sure. I just know that Silas has changed. Just like Megatron has..."

"Dreadwing!" Megatron snarled, "What is this abomination and why have you brought it here?!"

The blue seeker stayed back, allowing the horrific creation to step forward, "I am C.Y.L.A.S.," the mech introduced himself, "as in Cybernetic Life Augmented by Symbiosis. I come with a proposition."

Megatron snarled quietly, but allowed C.Y.L.A.S. to continue, "I come offering my services and aid to your ranks in search of him," the mech sneered, "Starscream."

The warlord glared hard and lunged forward, grabbing the mech by the front of his chest plate, "And what do you know of my second-in-command?! What could you possibly offer to assure his capture?!"

C.Y.L.A.S. had expected a powerful reaction to the seeker's name but didn't resist regardless, "I almost had him. He sees the future but seemingly only in bits and pieces. Sudden changes he is unable to plan for. I brought you Project: Damocles, a particle beam so powerful and precise it can annihilate whomever stands in your way. Do whatever you like with it. But if the Autobots come after you to stop you from using it..."

"They'll have Starscream following right behind them," Megatron sneered, slowly letting the mech go.

The disfigured seeker smirked, "He aligns himself with them. At least, for now. He'll follow after them to do what he can and that is when we can spring our trap."

Dreadwing growled quietly from off to the side. He didn't like this. The mech was a horrific welding of multiple parts and a human. And to add to his discomfort, this abomination wanted to help capture Starscream, the seeker he wanted to either die or stay away. But only if this C.Y.L.A.S. was allowed to remain would the silver mech be returned to the Nemesis...

The blue seeker's horrors were confirmed when Megatron gave a soft chuckle, "And what is it that you wish in return?"

C.Y.L.A.S. bowed lightly, "Merely a place at the table."

The warlord nodded, "Earn your place, and I shall allow you to keep it."

"There's more."

Ratchet sighed, "Isn't there always?"

Agent Fowler opened a folder he had at his side, taking a look, "The Cons may have the satellite, but it's nothing without the activation codes. And the only base to store them is one in the deserts of Colorado."

Arcee looked to Optimus, "They could use this to bait Starscream out or they could use it against us. What's our move?"

The Prime shuttered his optics in thought, "To allow the Decepticons the ability to activate this weapon is unwise. Agent Fowler, please have the base evacuated so that my team can have the codes permanently deleted. Soundwave?"

The blue mech buzzed in preparation but Ratchet scowled, "Optimus, Soundwave has not yet fully recovered from his encounter with Megatron. I cannot in good conscience clear him for this mission."

"Soundwave: is only bot equipped to delete Project: Damocles codes."

Bulkhead smirked, "Don't worry, Ratchet. It'll be a quick job. In, delete, out. Swear!"

The older mech huffed, "And if the Decepticons show up to interfere?"

Breakdown punched a fist into the palm of his servo, "They'll regret doing it. Bulk?"

The green mech laughed, "I'm thinking a coupling of 'Tie the Knot' and a 'Surface Slam'."

The other Wrecker shook his helm, "Nah, not flashy enough. What about the 'Rip and Toss'?"

Bulkhead gasped, "Followed by the 'Lit on Fire'?!"

Both Wreckers started to rev up and Arcee snapped her digits, "Mechs, mechs. Calm down, we're not even on the battlefield yet."

Knockout leered at them both, "And who the heck names their fighting moves like that? Point and shoot for scrap's sake."

Starscream watched them, his wings low, "Are you sure you want to chance all this?"

Smokescreen smiled excitedly, "If we wait, bad things happen. We gotta move in now while they're still setting up. Right, Optimus?"

The Prime nodded, "That is correct, Smokescreen, but this is not a mission you will be accompanying us on. Nor will you, Starscream. If anything should happen that is not in our favor, only then will I call upon the pair of you, but only when it is clear that there are no other options."

Smokescreen's optics widened, "What?! What do you mean? Optimus, I got this! I can help!"

Ratchet gently waved the young mech back, "Op, bop, bop, you have yet to conduct yourself on a live mission. And this, of all missions, is not the one to start yourself on. If any humans are present, that'll make it all the more challenging for you."

The white mech frowned, "Well, how am I supposed to learn if I don't get out there?"

Arcee glared, "We're wasting too much time. Smokescreen, you're staying. Starscream, don't let him leave. Ratchet, we'll take good care of Soundwave."

"The base has just been cleared," Agent Fowler informed the group, putting his phone away, "It's now or never, bots."

Optimus nodded, "Autobots, roll out!"

Ratchet activated the ground bridge and the team, save for Smokescreen and Starscream, transformed and rushed through the portal.