Ch. 182

"Did you know?" C.Y.L.A.S. growled, shoving Hardshell roughly away from him, "Did you have even an inkling about this?!"

The Insecticon hissed but made no move against the smaller mech, "There were signs, sounds we heard, but we were uncertain... There was little point saying anything until Starscream made mention-"

"And that's the problem!" the black mech roared, pacing amongst the hive, Insecticons surrounding him and watching intently, "Starscream noticed! He knew what this was; how long until Megatron finds out and deems this a threat?!"

Hardshell shrunk back at the anger, the anxiety, the rest of his kin cringing in a similar fashion, "I... do not know what to say. But our master is Megatron, he should know-"

C.Y.L.A.S.'s optics widened and he pointed quickly, snarling through gritted dentals, "No, you, none of you, are going to say anything to anyone on this ship," he pushed his feeling of wanting to control the hive as much as he could, forcing the command, "Am I clear? Megatron, Shockwave, no one is to know. None of you are to say a word about this."

Hardshell shuddered under the sound of his helm vibrating loudly. The command was clear. Their leader had spoken. He whimpered and whined softly as he and the rest of his kin knelt to the floor in a bow, his mandibles chattering.

"We will obey your commands, master."

C.Y.L.A.S. took a deep intake and felt his tense chassis begin to relax. So Starscream really had been right about this. It made the moment sour.

The disfigured mech scowled, "Good. Then listen up. I want that seeker for my own. I don't have to explain myself. Now is not yet the time to strike but when we do, we will take down Megatron and anyone who will not follow my rule. For now, we bide our time. When it becomes clear that our strength and numbers will undoubtedly succeed, I want Megatron's helm on a pike and Starscream at my peds. Am I understood?"

Hardshell hissed and shrieked loudly with the rest of the hive as they wailed in unison. C.Y.L.A.S. didn't need a translation. He knew the message and been received, loud and clear.

Shockwave waited outside his leader's door, his servo clutching a datapad full of reports. He didn't dare knock for a concern of disturbing Megatron's work. And he knew that Starscream was inside with the warlord. There was no sense in pulling his master away from his... observations if he was truly imbedded in the task. But he still had to disturb him for this...

With a slight note of hesitation, from one obsessive workaholic to another, Shockwave tapped the barrel of his gun as gently as he could against the frame of the door. It was enough to carry sound, but only just. A part of him was thankful that he could hear the telltale pedfalls of Megatron come to the door. Another part was worried that he would be reprimanded for disturbing the warlord.

The door slid back quietly and Megatron's frowning gaze leered down at his science officer. The silver mech didn't speak as he stepped out from the room and allowed the door to close behind him.

"Speak quickly. He has fallen into recharge."

"My lord, Predaking's response to his training shows a far more promising attitude towards you. My tests confirm that he will be more receptive to your commands and your treatment of Starscream."

"Anything else?"

Shockwave nodded, handing over the datapad, "Detailed reports from our mines. The numbers are steady in one and four; two has seen an increase, while three is waning. There are also no updates from our 'search parties'. Still no sign of our problem."

Megatron hummed as he scanned through the datapad, "And?"

The purple mech continued, "C.Y.L.A.S. and I have settled on a final plan to begin cultivating new Predacons. I have settled on two distinct CNA profiles that the drones uncovered back on Cybertron for me. The pair will be fully grown and operational for use by the end of the month. Should Predaking fail to meet your standards, these two will be ready to replace him..."

"Shockwave," the warlord murmured, "that other task I sent you on..."

Shockwave's optic blinked, "... His wounds could not be discerned from his own claws, which would be the same as C.Y.L.A.S.'s, nor from the Vehicons or Insecticons. When he was brought to me, Starscream was the one who admitted to inflicting the damage when I inquired. C.Y.L.A.S. told me the same story he relayed to you. If Starscream decided to... displease you again, my liege, I cannot tell if the act was an admittance to something he did not do."

"Cameras?"

Shockwave shook his helm, "Starscream appears to have requested that C.Y.L.A.S. and Hardshell escort him to the hive from the view of the cameras in the hall... but we do not have video access in the hive room. The three enter the room and C.Y.L.A.S. carries Starscream out a few minutes later."

Megatron growled and said nothing to comment. The science officer's optic left his master to look back at the warlord's quarters' door, curiosity drawing his attention.

"He is recharging? He is not awake?"

Megatron nodded, "He fought unconsciousness for as long as he could. He is exhausted; he is starting to become malleable once more. My dear Starscream will not have much fight in him soon. Be sure to begin your examinations and tests the moment he is more forthcoming."

Shockwave bowed lightly, "I have prepared many noninvasive tests that will yield the results you need. I will have them ready to perform as soon as he is ready."

The warlord gently dismissed his science officer and quickly went back into his room, his red optics brightening when his gaze rested on his treasure, the seeker recharging quietly on his berth. He had promised not to gaze, but the smaller mech was unconscious. He had promised not to speak, but it was likely he wouldn't be heard now. He had promised not to touch and that was still something he wasn't going to risk; all it could take was a soft breeze to rouse that fiery little Starscream from his recharge...

"Oh, my dear Starscream," Megatron purred softly, walking to the side of the berth, "how far we have come, how long we have fought..." he sat on the berthside, smirking, "how much I have grown to enjoy your tenacity, your vibrance..."

He dared to ghost a large servo over the helm of the resting seeker, the smaller mech twitching in his recharge and his chassis curling in tightly. The warlord held an intake and hovered his open servo down the length of Starscream's frame to his chestplate, never touching but wishing he could feel the power within directly. He could sense the vibrations, the flow of energy burning up from the smaller mech and into the metal of his servo, into his digits.

Megatron purred louder, "It won't be much longer now, my second. Every passing moment brings my larger plan closer to fruition. You are at the center of it all. You always have been. Rest, my dear Starscream. It will all be made clear to you soon... it will all finally end the way it should have..."