Ch. 159

"I must admit," Megatron purred as he watched through a small observation window at Starscream settling himself in the brig, "I am surprised he is still awake."

Shockwave hummed lowly beside his leader, "His current state should have dictated an easier acceptance of the sedatives I gave him after his injuries were repaired."

"And he is fully functional?"

The purple mech hesitated, as though reliving each procedure he had performed hours earlier, then nodded, "Aside from his T-cog still being deactivated, yes. His injuries were not as critical as first assessed. He is as fully functional as he was before he attempted to... disappoint you, my liege."

Megatron smirked and said nothing to add to the comment. Shockwave was beginning to learn how to rephrase his wording. Starscream had... nearly disappointed the warlord. That was the phrase Megatron wanted to hear. Not what the seeker had really attempted, what he had almost succeeded in accomplishing. Starscream had nearly escaped. Starscream had nearly died. Starscream had nearly killed the tyrant that gazed upon him with nothing but obsession and a corrupted fondness that even Shockwave couldn't quite understand. But it wasn't his duty to understand nor fully comprehend his leader's ways, only to aid in achieving the final goals: conquer, victory, domination.

Megatron touched the door of the brig and dug his claws into the metal, his optics never daring to leave the seeker's trembling and sulking form, "Is he ready to join us once more?"

Shockwave's shoulders shifted, "This is not well advised, my lord. He has... much to process since you accomplished his... liberation."

'Since you mentally scarred him with the presentation of his 'crown'', the purple mech thought.

"If I may turn your attentions to matters more pressing," he offered.

Megatron scowled quietly and kept his gaze on Starscream, "You are displeasing me, Shockwave."

Shockwave nodded, "Noted, my liege. I shall be mindful of the words I chose."

"Speak."

"We still have a few glitches to clear from our systems. I have a gift to present to you, my lord, that should accomplish the task quickly and efficiently."

The warlord's optics finally darted from his prisoner to his science officer, but he did not look pleased, "Shockwave," he said in a warning tone.

The purple mech held up a servo, "I shall say no more of this. Meet me on the flight deck within the hour. I shall have what I have promised waiting for you."

Shockwave pulled away from his liege and walked silently to the ground bridge station deeper in the ship. He would have to make a trip to the Decepticon's hidden space bridge in order to retrieve his gift for his leader.

Megatron had stayed longer than he realized to watch his caged seeker pace lightly in his cell. He watched for any hidden signs of something more, of body language that could help him understand what the smaller mech was thinking. He watched his sad blue optics slowly trace the gouges and tears in the room's walls. He watched his wings hang in a sagging state, limp with fear and heavy with tragedy. Megatron drank in the sight like a mech starved of energon. This creature was hardly the Starscream he had come to know all those millions of years ago. He wasn't even close to the mech he remembered from the past few years. This mech, this seeker... his dear Starscream, was hard to describe, even to himself.

"My lord."

Megatron winced and answered his COMM, scowling, "Shockwave, I am busy!"

"I understand, my lord," he replied, "but I have been waiting for you on the flight deck-"

The warlord cut the COMM and used every muster of will he had to draw himself away from the sight of his sorrowful treasure. He stomped angrily through the halls of his ship and made his way to a lift that would take him to the flight deck. As he made his ascension, he identified the feeling of dread broiling within him. So far, his officers and the very few drones who knew had been careful about the mention of Autobot activities. They were dead. That was all his dear Starscream needed to know. But Shockwave now had a gift that could spoil his lie. And if that seeker even had a whiff of the Autobot's escape...

Megatron simply growled to himself and exited the lift as it opened to the flight deck, C.Y.L.A.S. and Hardshell waiting to greet him alongside Shockwave. The mechs were standing out on the open platform, a large ground bridge open and pulsating behind them.

"My liege," Shockwave bowed, C.Y.L.A.S. and Hardshell following suit, "I trust your observations yielded some promising results?"

The warlord held in a snarl. How he watched and coded to memory every detail of Starscream's form and actions and expressions and-

"My patience is thin for everyone on this ship except for my second," Megatron strode forward, his optics settling on the bridge, "so make this quick so that I may return to my... observations."

Shockwave nodded and gazed upon the portal, "Very well. For you, my liege..."

A great rumble shook the ship even before the purple mech's 'gift' made it full through. A great, snarling snout pushed out, followed by sharpened claws and talons that scratched into the deck. A strong body emerged after, great wings held tight at its back, and the monstrous form finally pulled through its legs and long tail before the portal deactivated.

Megatron stared this beast down as it opened its great wings and looked down upon him with striking yellow optics. A bellowing roar erupted from the 'gift's maw as it flapped its wings, causing Hardshell and C.Y.L.A.S. to step back.

Shockwave turned, presenting the creation to his leader, "My lord, I give you Predaking: the ultimate Autobot hunter."

Megatron's optics widened. His mouth curled into a snarl. His expression was far from the awe and excitement the purple mech had been counting on. He had given him the greatest weapon against the Autobots. The warlord should have been thrilled.

"Shockwave," Megatron growled, his optics now boring into the frame of his science officer, "what have you done?!"

"My liege-?"

The silver mech grabbed Shockwave's arm and pulled him from the deck towards the lifts, "You bring this thing here?! Present it as an offering?! What am I to do with a beast that has no function?!"

Shockwave allowed the treatment, confusion clear in his voice as he attempted to structure his answer, "I... do not understand. We are still plagued with the Autobot scum that dare defy your rule. Predaking is perfectly capable of finding and eliminating-"

"That is NOT the point!"

The purple mech silenced himself immediately, watching as his leader seethed from every crevice of his chassis. Predaking had not moved from his spot, his optics trained to observe as his creator and master discussed... argued... the loud conversation was very one-sided...

"This creature- your creation-" Megatron roared, "Starscream has seen it!"

Shockwave's optic flashed briefly, "Impos-"

"Not impossible! And now that you have summoned it, brought it here, presented it aboard MY ship, he will know!" the warlord shook with rage, "My dear Starscream KNOWS what this beast's function is for! He will know that Optimus and the Autobots survived!" Megatron stomped forward, forcing the smaller mech back, "He will be rebellious and uncontrollable once more! He will begin to hope again! He will try to find them, to resist what his destiny will finally boil down to and I will lose him and the power he holds! So I will ask now, once again, Shockwave: what have you DONE?!"