Ch. 206

Predaking was keeping a very close optic on the Predacons behind them. He was more than sure that the seeker walking just ahead of him was keeping his own attentions on C.Y.L.A.S. and the Insecticons. This whole situation was off. The descent of the Nemesis was already odd as it had been kept as high in the planet's atmosphere as safely possible; what reason did they have to get so close to the planet's surface now? Predaking remembered large shipments of energon pick ups, of course, but they hadn't had to be escorted below deck for that. The large mech was feeling an anticipation of danger he didn't like.

Starscream could sense the tension around him, not just from C.Y.L.A.S. and his bugs. This agitation was transferring to the Predacons quickly. The seeker needed to find out what was going on immediately. He chanced walking a bit faster to get within whispering distance of the black mech, but C.Y.L.A.S. turned suddenly and aimed his blaster into the seeker's chestplate.

"Don't you dare," he hissed, "You talking will only slow us down. Just keep your mouth shut and keep walking. I've been told to get you down into the kennels by any means necessary. So don't push your luck."

Starscream scowled, "What a pleasant explanation to my unsaid question, you parasite. Care to actually answer my unasked inquiry?"

"No," C.Y.L.A.S. turned again and walked faster, letting Hardshell and Bombshock lag behind him to box the silver mech in.

Starscream grumbled to himself and huffed when he saw the large door they were clearly heading to, "Oh, the kennels moved, did they? Is this one more accommodating or will Predaking and I have to informally check out to express our complaints again?"

The disfigured mech ignored him as he activated the door's control panel and the entrance slid open, "Get in and stay quiet. Megatron will be coming to see you shortly."

"I'm not going in there until you start talking to me, C.Y.L.A.S."

C.Y.L.A.S. growled and glanced back to meet those bright and defying blue optics, "Do whatever you're going to. Tell Megatron. It's not as though he really hears you, you know," he scoffed, "He only hears and sees what he wants. So tell him I control the Insecticons. What will he care? So I have a better handle of the hive. All he knows is that I've struggled to meet his demands. And I've yet to make any moves that would give him a reason to eliminate me; he won't worry about me."

Starscream's glare disappeared but he tried to keep his voice firm, "You wouldn't dare take the risk after you've seen how he treats everyone else. After what he did to Dreadwing-"

"Shockwave told me what happened," the black mech rolled his mismatched optics, "Dreadwing tried to kill you. As though he actually could. Megatron isn't sane. He doesn't see how stagnant he's become. Shockwave can't even provide him with the information he needs because he's hindering him so much."

'Information about me. Because Shockwave isn't allowed to perform invasive tests...'

"So what will telling that idiot anything do for you?" C.Y.L.A.S. interrupted the silver mech's thoughts, "So long as I don't come after you, I'll just be on notice. I'm going to take him down myself, Starscream. Me and my army. I'll be so tightly wound in his good graces that he won't know what's happened until I've left his eviscerated chassis in a pool of energon on the deck."

The black mech reached forward and grabbed the seeker's arm, throwing him into the kennel; Predaking hissed and followed Starscream into the bare room, nuzzling against him delicately as the silver mech glared again.

"You've lost this and everything else, my dear Starscream," C.Y.L.A.S. smirked, closing and locking the door, "more than you know..." his attention went to the still waiting Predacons and he pointed firmly, "You two, stay here and guard this door. They're not allowed to leave. Understand? Guard."

Darksteel and Skylynx chortled and rushed to either side of the kennel door, sitting and watching like gargoyles. It was good enough. The black mech didn't have to gesture for his Insecticons to follow as he made his way down the hall to the hive.

"M... master," Hardshell spoke up, "what is the plan?"

C.Y.L.A.S. shook his helm, "We'll assess our options once we're on the ground," he thought aloud, "If the Autobots end up having the advantage, we'll strike Megatron down then. If they are defeated, we will bide our time. Shockwave hasn't had enough time to figure out Starscream's power. Should Megatron still live after today's battle, I'll have to find ways to encourage him to listen to that purple monstrosity."

Hardshell simply nodded and Bombshock hissed in agreement beside him.

"Make no mistake, my soldiers," the black mech sneered, "Megatron is living on borrowed time. The Decepticon cause is of little interest to me; I only want his troops, his resources, his firepower and that sad little treasure he calls 'his' dear Starscream."