Ch. 188

Starscream couldn't help it. He let out a heavy sigh of relaxation. Who knew having your servos free would feel as good as this? The seeker nestled back against Predaking's side and shuttered his optics, letting the sun above them warm his chassis as he rested his helm back on his servos. He could do that now, since his cuffs were no longer attached and all. And he was loving every second of it.

Predaking snorted lightly and rumbled as he bumped his muzzle against the silver mech's wing. Starscream smiled but didn't move. He was vacationing away from all this right now. Do not disturb.

The Predacon's optics widened, a whimper escaping his maw, and he bumped against Starscream more insistently as he whined. The seeker squawked as he nearly fell over and glared at the beast.

"Find that funny, do you?"

Predaking let out a bellowing laugh and the smaller mech scowled, "Yes, quite amusing. Now leave me alone, I'm trying to rest. It's hard being on guard at all hours of a miserable day."

The Predacon cocked his helm to the side, then shook it wildly, standing. He paced around and flexed his wings to give them a good flap then settled down again. The beast was bored and a loud yawn followed by a grumble made that evident.

Starscream stood with a sigh and rolled his optics, "Well what do you expect me to do about it? I'm supposed to be a prisoner, you know. Guard work isn't glamorous. It's not supposed to be entertaining unless I try to escape. Then you'd have to catch me."

Predaking purred as though questioning the scenario and the seeker growled, his chassis starting to tremble, "N-no, no, Predaking. And I mean that. I don't like being chased, I-I don't like it. So don't. And I really mean that, too. Don't."

The beast pouted and shrugged, resting his helm on the floor of the flight deck. He watched Starscream cross his arms tightly and hold himself to stop the shaking. It must have had something to do with the warlord. Predaking growled quietly. The seeker didn't like when the 'master' chased him. Megatron was never kind about it, never gentle, never with restraint...

A humming noise, familiar and distinct, caught the Predacon's attention. He felt himself go rigid as though on cue and Predaking immediately stood, gruffly huffing at Starscream as he approached him quickly.

The seeker backed away, "What are you doing? Predaking, I told you no, I don't want to run around and be chased."

The beast tried to grab at the smaller mech and Starscream squealed, ducking out of the way, "What are you doing?! STOP!"

Predaking snarled in frustration, swiping at the seeker as carefully as he could. The sound was getting closer and he knew his charge couldn't hear it. The beast roared now, chuffing and snorting as he tried to speak. Starscream was shaking too much, his optics were too wide. He was too afraid.

The Predacon whined and struck out as quick as he could, managing to snag one of the silver mech's arms. His shriek hurt Predaking, his terror made him upset. But the coming sound was nearly upon them and he didn't want Starscream to be harmed or tormented.

The seeker struggled to free his arm from the beast's grasp, tears streaming down his faceplates. He had trusted too readily, he had made the mistake of trusting this creation. Predaking quickly lifted the smaller mech and winced at another shriek he was rewarded with. His large claws held around the seeker's middle as he sat and tried to carefully hold him. All of these other mechs were so delicate and he was far larger than all of them; he certainly didn't want to harm the one who treated him the best.

Predaking steadied his reserve and quickly took hold of Starscream's arms, pressing the cuffs back together. He hoped with everything he had that what he had done worked. Just as quickly as he had begun, the Predacon released the seeker and laid beside him, watching with a glare as the lift doors opened and a pair of mismatched optics looked out with a sneer.

"Well, well," came C.Y.L.A.S.'s unwanted voice as he stepped out with Hardshell and a new Insecticon at his sides, "trouble in paradise, Starscream?"

The silver mech shook as he tugged at his cuffs and found them bound. Predaking had wanted to continue the illusion of his full imprisonment. He had wanted to keep them convinced he was still incapacitated.

Starscream quickly wiped the tears from his optics, "The frag do you want, parasite?"

C.Y.L.A.S. smirked as he approached, his guards on either side, "Just here to check on my favorite fortune teller. I've been practicing. As you can see," he gestured to the new Insecticon, "Bombshock is but an example of how I've been doing. Isn't he, Hardshell?"

Hardshell's mandibles struggled to keep a placid expression, a sneer trying to spring forth as he growled, "Yes, m... master."

The disfigured mech tsked, "It still needs a little work, but it won't be long now..." he smiled sweetly at Starscream, "I just wanted to give you another opportunity to perhaps be better behaved for me? After Megatron is gone, you wouldn't have to fight me."

Starscream scoffed, "Leave. Now. And if you ever come back up here again in this capacity then I shall personally see to it that Megatron kills you. I don't care if we have an arrangement."

Predaking snarled alongside the seeker and snapped his maw loudly; the Insecticons hissed back, crouching low as they flexed their claws wide.

C.Y.L.A.S. glared, "Tell your pet to stand down. He's not allowed to touch us."

The silver mech glared back, "He can do what he wants so long as he is protecting me. Leave."

The black mech sneered, "Fine. But allow me to reiterate to this beast who's in charge."

C.Y.L.A.S. lifted his arm quickly and aimed a missile at Predaking's helm. Starscream wasn't sure if the attack would harm the Predacon or if the blowback would cause him damage, but he knew that he wasn't willing to risk anything happening to the beast that was trying his best to help him.

The seeker roared as he leapt forward, everything slowing for him. This hiccup felt different. He'd felt this one... thrice? Yes, only thrice. And even bound, he could still move faster than the disfigured mech before him.

Starscream latched his claws deep into C.Y.L.A.S.'s arm to break its line of fire then tackled into him at blinding hot speed, drips of molten metal falling from the black mech's form as he was thrown painfully into the doors of the lifts. Hardshell's visor flashed when he was finally able to see what had happened and he stepped back in surprise, shrieking. Bombshock ran to C.Y.L.A.S. as the disfigured mech sat up with a groan and glared at the seeker, his scowl saying it all.

"Leave," Starscream hissed, his wings vibrating rapidly, "you have three seconds before I get Megatron myself, I swear it."

C.Y.L.A.S. limped as he stood and scuttled back into the lifts with his guards, as useful as they had been, and left to nurse his wounds.

Predaking looked on with wide optics and chuffed, cooing at Starscream. He didn't dare move. He had already frightened the smaller mech too much today. But the silver mech turned with a smile and took hold of the Predacon's maw as he hushed him.

"Pretty fast, huh? I wasn't even sure I could do that... A... are you alright?"

Predaking snorted and bumped his helm into Starscream's chest plate, whining; the seeker shrugged, "I'm not worried about myself, I'm fine. ... I did not understand what you were trying to do earlier and I'm sorry. That wasn't fair to assume you... were trying to hurt me. I should be less inclined to jump to conclusions, but I'm not. I'm sorry."

The Predacon hummed lightly, accepting the apology, and Starscream frowned back at the lifts, "So C.Y.L.A.S. has been practicing, hm?" he looked down at his servos, smiling a little when Predaking uncuffed his wrists with the quick flick of a claw, "What do you think, Predaking? Maybe I should be practicing too..."

"OW! Shockwave, you-"

C.Y.L.A.S. silenced himself as the purple mech dug into his chassis to remove pieces of melted metal that had gotten themselves lodged in uncomfortable places.

The black mech growled, "Why is it that I listen to you?"

Shockwave didn't falter in his work, "Because if you do not, I will tell Lord Megatron that it was one of your Insecticons that harmed his precious Starscream."

The disfigured mech tensed under the science officer's care, but this did little to hinder the one optic mech.

C.Y.L.A.S. coughed when he finally found his voice again and sat up straighter on the med berth, "S-so... did you get what you needed then?"

"Yes," Shockwave nodded, setting down the scalpel he had been using to clean his servo on a rag, "His cuffs have registered the energy signature and will continue to monitor and collect data. Should he attempt to activate his power again, it will all be recorded."

The black mech watched as the science officer began to leave the med bay and frowned, "Hey, wait! Where are you going? I don't know how to tend to these injuries!"

Shockwave paused in the doorway, "Then perhaps it is time that you learn. I must return to my lab. The structural integrity of the location is becoming unstable and I must begin calculating the risks involved in moving everything. Do not contact me again unless it is a true emergency..." he turned away, "or learn to dodge."