Ch. 172

He was getting used to the drumming, chattering hum of the hive surrounding him. Among the Eradicons, he felt like a speck of oil on a white shirt; out of place. But among the hissing, the gurgles and sharp snaps of Insecticon mandibles, something felt proper in his placement. Maybe he could attribute these feelings to the parts Airachnid had oh so generously parted with.

"C.Y.L.A.S.," Hardshell growled as he crawled down the side of the store room wall, standing beside the sitting disfigured mech, "Lord Megatron has COMMed asking for our presence once more."

The black mech onlined his optics and hummed, "Both of us? First it's reports, then energon rationing to the bots upstairs. Did his summons sound a little more intriguing this time?"

Hardshell grumbled, "I could not tell. His strategy lately has not been clear. He does not express his true intentions for the silver seeker. At least, not so blatantly as you."

C.Y.L.A.S. smirked, "Hardshell," he began, standing, "that silver seeker is a powerful thing and he hardly gives it a second thought. Why should Starscream stay in possession of something so grand when others, like myself, would have a far more practical use for it?"

The black mech stretched his wings and spider legs wide, then settled them back down when he and the Insecticon walked out of the store room, "The fact that Shockwave is being inhibited from experimenting freely does raise a cause for concern though. It slows the process down."

"Perhaps our leader is aware of this," Hardshell shrugged, following closely, "and has ordered the purple one to tread carefully in order to keep this power in check?"

C.Y.L.A.S. hummed again, "You were right earlier, Hardshell. Megatron knows a little more than he wants us to about Starscream's capabilities. I would have said Dreadwing would be the mech to go to for such a discussion..."

The Insecticon grimaced, "His deactivation would have been swift, but Lord Megatron's word is absolute. Do not follow too close to the path the blue one decided to take or you will share in the fate bestowed upon him, C.Y.L.A.S."

"I plan to do no such thing," the smaller mech mused as they entered the lifts, heading for the command deck, "If, and I say that word very firmly, I had a plan to take Starscream's powers for my own which directly goes against our leader's intentions, then I would not be so brazen as to announce it to those outside my field of trust," his mismatched optics glanced up at Hardshell, a sneer on his faceplates, "Have I been made clear, Hardshell?"

The larger mech huffed and shook his helm gently as though to clear a sound from his audials, then nodded, "Perfectly, C.Y.L.A.S."

"Good..."

The lift doors opened onto the command deck moments later, the bustling of working Vehicons and tapping digits present in the air. C.Y.L.A.S. and Hardshell exited the lifts and locked optics with Megatron, the warlord waiting at the end of the deck with Shockwave by his side. The black mech and his giant companion walked to their leader, both bowing.

"My lord," C.Y.L.A.S. began, his helm hung low, "you called for us?"

Megatron glared, "I did indeed, C.Y.L.A.S. Tell me, you have planned against my dear Starscream's more... prominent foresight on various occasions, have you not?"

The black mech stood up straighter, "I have. The plan we started with was always scrapped and revised with another. Is this why you have summoned us here?"

The warlord glanced at Hardshell and scoffed, "I called Hardshell to tell you to come here as your COMM seems to be... malfunctioning. But I suppose the answer would be 'yes'. Shockwave and I have discussed expanding our Predacon army and replacing Predaking with a more responsive and obedient guard for my second. Our first thoughts were to scour this planet for any means of Predacon CNA to initiate the project..."

C.Y.L.A.S. felt his wings raise in thought, "If that was your initial plan, I suggest you leave it behind. First thought? Think smaller. You said 'army', make it no more than two or three. Scouring this planet? Another change. If you found Predacon remains on Cybertron, you may want to look again for more materials. You would also have a less likely chance of being disturbed by... outside forces."

Megatron nodded lightly, glancing at Shockwave who began typing into a datapad he was holding, "Good. This is a fair start. Coordinate with Shockwave and revise his original plan. Locations, materials, preparations, whatever needs to be changed, do it. Once details have been settled, report back to me. I will have more work ready then to keep you busy..."

The black mech nodded back and bowed, taking his exit with Hardshell back into the lifts, back down to the hive in the depths of the Nemesis below.

C.Y.L.A.S. smirked when the lift doors opened again and he stepped out, "Looks like I'll be kept away from the rest of you then. Keep the hive in line, would you Hardshell? It seems my talents are required elsewhere."

The Insecticon huffed, scratching at his audial with a grumble, and shook his helm more vigorously, "Yes... I will manage..."