Ch. 197

Starscream was near to clawing his helm to pieces in aid of destroying his audials. Megatron must have been prattling on for what felt like hours, though he was sure it had only been a handful of minutes. The brute had snaked an arm through the seeker's bound forelimbs, forcing the smaller bot to not only follow him around but lean on him for support. It was a psychological tactic, Starscream just knew it. He was getting better at spotting these 'power moves'.

The seeker must have sighed a little too loudly or the roll of his blue optics must have become noticeable because, in an all-too-sudden fashion, the warlord's grating voice silenced.

Starscream's wings flicked and he slowly looked up.

Megatron's gaze met his own, "I hope I'm not distracting you from something more pressing, my second."

'Oh, not at all, just my eventual escape. This place is awful.'

The seeker smiled nervously, "No, no, of course not. I was simply... marveling at how much more... purple the walls seem when you're made to look at them from a different point of view," he knew it was a terrible response, but he continued anyway; he was too far gone, "Yes, they... contrast very nicely with the gray," his optics spotted something and he had to choke back a surprised laugh, "a-and the plasma blast holes..."

Megatron's large optical ridges furled in a confused manner, but he didn't press with a response. He probably found the statements as ridiculous as Starscream had.

Predaking huffed loudly behind them and chuffed, butting his muzzle gently against the seeker's wings.

Starscream used the interruption as a topic change, "Yes, I am growing bored of this myself," he mused in a tone that bore no ill wills, "and I find my talents severely underutilized like this. How am I your second if I am trapped in a prison with a body guard at all hours of the day? It's simply unprofessional."

Not quite how he felt about the situation, but the seeker had to placate the part of the warlord that still thought nothing was wrong...

Megatron grinned and hummed lowly, "You have had rebellious transgressions, my dear Starscream. I am treating you 'unprofessionally' since you insist on conducting yourself as such. How else am I to ensure your safety since you have not once, but twice decided to attempt to take your own life? Very 'unprofessional', indeed..."

Starscream flicked his wings again. He was mildly annoyed that the larger mech was giving him such face-value reasons. On the other hand, he was glad that his being attacked by an Insecticon while proving C.Y.L.A.S.'s abilities had simply been lumped in with his actual attempt. That's the way he wanted it; he needed that ugly, malformed freak under his sharp little thumb.

"Yes," came the seeker's curt reply, "I suppose I can see how that would be a problem..."

"So how am I to ensure you will not spiral down such a rebellious path again?"

Starscream couldn't hide his glare. Predaking must have sensed the tension begin to grow because the Predacon grumbled lowly and huffed hot air at the smaller mechs' backs.

Megatron sneered down at his treasure, "Well? Will you not answer me, my second?"

The seeker felt sour energon begin to climb into the back of his throat. This monster was daring him to seal his own fate for him. It was an insult. It was another tactic. Answering correctly or wrong would put him in it either way.

Starscream snarled quietly, "I could not possibly fathom a way to earn your trust once more, my liege."

"Indulge me; have a guess."

"I... would rather not," the smaller mech huffed, "My skills at guessing properly have been somewhat lacking lately."

Megatron's optics flickered in what seemed to be a mix of disappointment and content. Starscream could easily see how. The larger mech wanted him to chose his own punishment or submit; the seeker had done neither. This put Megatron in a stronger state of ease rather than having to devise a clever retort to anything the smaller mech had been willing to snap back.

The warlord stopped, forcing Starscream and the following Predacon behind them to stop as well, and stared down at his mysterious treasure.

Blue optics watched back carefully and the seeker hummed quietly, "Ah... L-Lord Megat-"

"Please."

Starscream flinched at the quiet, hushed and whispered word. The towering mech beside him studied the response and gently set a clawed servo on tense shoulder plating. His optics were focused tightly on him and his voice was oddly steady.

"Stop this. Return to my side. Devote yourself to me and the Decepticon cause once more. There is no reason to be blind to what lies ahead. Without you..." Megatron's expression narrowed, "without you, there is only a lingering and painful war that need not continue. Aid me now, as you have always meant to, and all will be made clear to you... My dear Star-"

"Lord Megatron."

The warlord growled quietly, letting the seeker's shoulder plating go as he turned, "What is it, Shockwave?!"

The purple mech came up to the pair, C.Y.L.A.S. trailing leisurely behind him, "My lord, I request a moment of your time. It is important, my liege."

Megatron huffed and muttered under his intake as he slipped his arm free from Starscream's shackled wrists. He wordlessly nodded his helm towards C.Y.L.A.S. and the black mech stepped forward to keep the seeker company as Shockwave led Megatron further down the hall to speak.

"Is our master having fun with you?"

Starscream growled, "Careful, parasite. Don't give me a reason to start screaming. Don't forget, our claws are very similar in size and shape. I could easily get enough energon spray-back onto you to call you the culprit of any injury I should sustain."

C.Y.L.A.S. smirked, "Relax, I'm only making a little chit-chat. Besides," he looked around nonchalantly, "lots of cameras in these corridors. I highly doubt you'll be making any sort of accusations here."

The seeker still held firm in his stance; he felt more confident when he heard Predaking's rumbling purr behind him, "What do you want?"

The black mech shrugged, "I need a reason to talk with you? I thought we had a... distasteful agreement."

"What do you want?" Starscream hissed more enthusiastically.

C.Y.L.A.S. slowly sneered wide, "Nothing. I want nothing at all..."

The seeker didn't like that response. A shudder of unpleasant assumptions began to cloud his mind. The malformed mech either knew something or had a plan that went against their original deal. Starscream was beginning to feel what little control he thought he had attained slipping away.

"C.Y.L.A.S.!" Megatron shouted from down the hall, making the seeker flinch in surprise, "You are to accompany me. We shall be returning within the hour."

Starscream looked confused. He didn't know whether to see this as an opportunity to escape or a chance to use this to gain more of Megatron's trust back. If the warlord returned and found nothing amiss...

"Y-you're leaving?" the surprised seeker squeaked, "Why? What's so important that you'd have to leave the Nemesis?"

A myriad of possibilities came to mind, but Megatron only smiled, "For now, it is nothing for you to concern yourself over," as C.Y.L.A.S. made his way to the warlord's side, the larger mech turned away, "Shockwave. I trust you will ensure his absolute safety."

The purple mech's unsettling cyclops gaze locked onto Starscream and his deep voice rumbled as the silver mech stumbled back into Predaking's forearm, "Of course, my liege. I will take very good care of him..."