Ch. 126

C.Y.L.A.S. was actually struggling to find himself capable of compiling the information Megatron wanted on his temporary second-in-command and the most vocal of the Insecticons. Thoughts came to him, thoughts that said the warlord wouldn't need him once he had helped him with what he was asking. Megatron's care for his troops was lacking. Even C.Y.L.A.S. wouldn't have sacrificed a single soldier when his numbers were this low. But the newly painted black mech was now on Megatron's very violent radar. C.Y.L.A.S. half wondered if Starscream had even been treated in such a way before his power had been recognized.

This new thought came and went quickly, easily forgotten when C.Y.L.A.S.'s audials picked up the sound of Dreadwing talking to an Eradicon drone.

"It is more important than you realize," the blue seeker was explaining, "Wind resistance will unbalance you if you haven't polished properly. You have done a decent job, but I expect each of you to be able to fly without any problems. Wash again. Make sure the rest of the Eradicons do the same. I will inspect the squadron after I have filed my reports."

The Eradicon saluted and walked off, leaving Dreadwing to frown and shake his helm. At least C.Y.L.A.S. couldn't say the mech wasn't detail-oriented. And he took notice in the care his troops put into themselves. Not bad qualities...

C.Y.L.A.S. drifted in his thoughts and was somewhat surprised when a curt clearing of the throat pulled him back to reality and to the quizzical frown of Dreadwing.

"A new paint scheme?" the blue seeker asked.

C.Y.L.A.S. stood taller, "Yes... It seems Lord Megatron was having difficulty with my old colors."

Dreadwing walked around his cautiously to inspect him, "I suppose it is fitting. Tell me, C.Y.L.A.S., have you ever cared for wings in any capacity?"

The black mech shook his helm, "No. I was never introduced into aircraft maintenance."

Dreadwing frowned harder before nodding to himself, "I do not mean to be brash, but it shows. Come. I am going to teach you how to care for your frame. If you don't, you will not be able to fly properly and it is hard enough dealing with the injuries that come in from the Autobots. A flight-induced crash is far more difficult."

The blue seeker began walking down the hall and C.Y.L.A.S. followed, "I didn't realize you were so open to giving me advice."

"I have little choice," Dreadwing explained, "Our numbers are beginning to dwindle. And while I try to give some credit to the drones, they are not as capable as the rest of us."

C.Y.L.A.S. had to hold in a wince. So this mech had the same concerns he did. Perhaps it wouldn't be too out of line to... express worries to the seeker? Worst case would be Megatron finding out...

C.Y.L.A.S. frowned, "Dreadwing? May we speak? Privately?"

Dreadwing stopped at the end of a hall and paused before opening a door, "Is here not private enough?"

The halls were empty of course but the openness made C.Y.L.A.S. uneasy, "No."

The blue seeker hummed lightly and opened the door, revealing a small shower station, "I do not like that you are about to address me privately, C.Y.L.A.S.," he said bluntly, "so I will allow you a moment to rescind the offer if it pertains to the mental state of our leader."

'Mental state of our leader,' the black mech thought, 'Oh, have you any idea...'

There was a long and silent pause as Dreadwing began acquiring different cases and bottles of smoothing polish and different buffers and rags that would aid in a smooth finish.

After a moment, C.Y.L.A.S. spoke, "It does. Along with our physical safety."

Dreadwing sighed, "I am well aware of his violent outbursts towards our troops."

"No," the black mech frowned, "that's not even close. He asked me to do something. Before I tell you what it is, I would like to know that careful and concealed actions could be taken before drastic measures are made."

Dreadwing's optics widened in confusion, but he nodded, "If there is something you must know of me, C.Y.L.A.S., it is that I am bound by honor and clarity of mind. What Lord Megatron may not see is why I am his second-in-command..." he turned away to begin mixing together some cleaning liquids, "even if our leader only sees me as his temporary second..."

The black mech felt his fists clench, "Dreadwing... our leader asked me to observe both you and Hardshell so that he could decide which of you that he was going to... effectively kill."

Dreadwing paused in his work and C.Y.L.A.S. expected a roar of anger to escape him; instead, there was a soft sigh, "So, he asked you as well?"

C.Y.L.A.S. stepped back, "What?"

The blue seeker looked back at him, "A few days ago, Lord Megatron asked that I observe you and see if you were fit for some of his experiments. I told him that our numbers couldn't handle losing another soldier, but agreed. When I went back to him, I told him you had no spark to experiment with. Whether or not this is true, I am uncertain, but I will not allow our leader to slice into his own throat with his rash decisions..."

C.Y.L.A.S. glared, but it wasn't at Dreadwing, "So, he clearly wasn't happy with your assessment."

Dreadwing shook his helm, "Evidently not. But I do not know how you will answer in your case, since you have been given myself and Hardshell as potential candidates."

The black mech crosses his arms tightly, "Do you think Hardshell was given a similar task?"

"I do not know for certain, but I cannot doubt the possibility," the blue seeker admitted, "But I will give you some advice: strength in numbers, C.Y.L.A.S. Whatever our leader is going through, his mind will not be quelled until he has Starscream in his clutches. Until then, it is better that there are more of us than those who follow straight to his word and letter. I still believe in the Decepticons, regardless of where Lord Megatron allows his mind to wander. So I will continue to serve my cause and faction until he has what he believes he requires and when he has calmed and come to his senses, my liege will see that the Decepticons still survive..." he turned back to the liquids, "and that we have not abandoned him as quickly as Starscream did."

C.Y.L.A.S. watched Dreadwing carefully. He could just stab the seeker in the back, go to Megatron now and say Dreadwing was the candidate he needed. But what he said was right. The longer Megatron was being tempted by Starscream's capture, the worse he seemed to get. If he had the silver seeker in his claws, would it be over? Would he calm? Would he be allowed to stay? To BE more than just human and live as one of them?

Dreadwing pulled him from his thoughts again when he handed him a gently wetted rag, "C.Y.L.A.S., if he has given you a deadline, then you have time to think. For now, I will show you how to care for yourself because if I do not, there is no one else on this ship who will."

The black mech hesitantly took the rag and watched as the seeker then prepared his cleaning solution. This level of dedication was admirable. Megatron truly didn't deserve such a thing. And the trust Dreadwing was also offering C.Y.L.A.S. was a welcome sign. A small smile made it onto the disfigured mech's dark gray faceplate and he nodded. The greatest thing he could do right now was share some of that trust in return.