Ch. 246
"They have not returned from their pass on the lower part of the mountain," an Insecticon snarled, bowing to the clear leader of the group as they reconvened atop the mountain's plateau, "Some of the rock formations have proven to be unstable. Perhaps they have been trapped somewhere."
The leader hissed in irritation, "Then they shall stay there a while longer," he huffed to the three before him, "The Prime could not have traversed far in these lands, the terrain is too rough. We will find him and present him to Bombshock."
"Bombshock?" came a voice unfamiliar to them, "Did he take over after C.Y.L.A.S.'s incompetence and Hardshell's failures?"
The Insecticons turned to see a red, blue and white seeker perched comfortably on a boulder, admiring his long, blue talons.
"What is the meaning of this?!" the lead Insecticon snapped, "Who are you? Why do your colors resemble the Prime?!"
"Starscream," came Optimus's worried voice quietly in his COMM, "I do not like this."
Starscream ignored the larger mech's voice as he let his wings flutter, "The Prime? Here? Oh, you should be so lucky," he almost purred, "but you unfortunate six- well, now four- have found me. And I am the Autobot that no Decepticon likes to talk about..."
"He says he has killed them!" exclaimed one of the Insecticons and the lead had to hiss to keep his group together.
"So he claims," their group leader snarled lowly, "but he has shown us no proof of that."
"But they have yet to return!"
"And they have not been answering our calls!"
"How long have the lot of you been in stasis?" Starscream slid carefully from his seat, "A million years? More?"
The lead Insecticon growled lowly, "Do not answer him!"
Starscream smirked, "It would be better if you do. I didn't want to have to end your friend's lives so easily but they left me with little choice, now did they? They were, of course, kind enough to let me know that you're fresh back into the war, now aren't you?"
"What relevance does this-"
"Oh, it is very relevant," the seeker's voice deepened, "because it leaves you with the most generous of opportunities: to choose to stop fighting."
The Insecticons hissed as though they had been smacked with insults.
The lead snarled, "You dare suggest we would join you?!"
"Did I say 'join'? Did you hear me say 'join'?" the smaller mech frowned, "I said 'stop fighting' which, as I'm sure you can tell, is far different than me offering you placement in the Autobot faction."
"And why would we even consider such an option?" one of the Insecticons asked gruffly.
Starscream's wings flicked, "... Because you have not seen what the Decepticons have become, what they have devolved into. Do you remember what made you choose that side? Was it the whole of the hive's decision or was it each among you that said their values matched what the faction said they were willing to give?"
The Insecticons looked between themselves in confusion. This was not how they thought all of this was going to play out.
Starscream stood up straighter, "I am telling you to listen, because your friends wouldn't: there's no reason to fight anymore. The Decepticon's leadership can easily be called into question and the safety and lives of those who continue to follow him are, at best, no better than cannon fodder. And is it not in the best interest of a single Insection to think of not just themselves, but the whole hive? How safe will all of you be if you're sent off to die meaninglessly?"
The lead Insecticon was intaking slowly and heavily, his red optical visor dim, "... You claim these things, after admitting to the killing of my brothers. Why should we trust anything you say?"
Starscream tried not to look too hopeful, but he could feel them being swayed; he gestured to himself, "Because I chose to talk to you first, didn't I? I risked being blasted and maimed, knowing that I could beat you regardless, because I thought you deserved the chance to make your own choice. What we've gone through for so long makes no sense anymore. What's the point?"
"To win-"
"No," Starscream glared, "that was lost long ago. Now, it only matters if you can live to see the end of it. So I am asking you, I am telling you, it won't do you any good to continue to follow in his name and live under Decepticon rule. Just stop. Leave while you can. Start heading back home or find some sort of... quiet life here. But don't you think it's been hard enough looking over your shoulder, nursing wounds and wondering if the next day was going to be your last?"
The Insecticons didn't respond. Starscream was just as surprised with himself. Swaying others had never been his strong suit, not when he had so many lies to keep track of... but this felt so different. He hadn't had to tell a single lie...
"Starscream," he heard in his COMM as Optimus spoke quietly, "that was wonderfully put."
He felt proud of himself and made the bold choice to take a couple steps closer, "You may think that I'm asking you give up everything, all that you have lived and lost energon for. I understand how painful that must be. But I promise you, I'm not asking much. Make this choice for yourselves. This is a rare opportunity to save yourselves and whomever is left in your hive. Don't waste this."
The Insecticons began to make small chattering noises amongst themselves, turning away as they discussed the offer that was being made to them. Starscream smiled and stayed where he was, struggling not to look towards the other side of the plateau where he knew Optimus had situated himself to make sure all went well. His smile, however, didn't last.
"Seeker," the lead Insecticon addressed him, "you are clearly passionate about this. It is admirable, honorable, that you would consider giving your enemy such a choice... but we have chosen not to accept it."
Starscream's wings flattened in surprise, "What?! How can you reject something that will do you no harm in-"
"It harms," another Insecticon snarled, "our pride. The Insecticons have always been a brutal race. There is pride and honor in dying for the protection of the hive and the Decepticon cause."
The lead Insecticon stepped forward in a threatening manner, "This provides me little joy, seeker," he hissed, flexing his claws, "but your death will pay for the lost lives of my kin. Your ideals, as I said, are admirable..." he raised his servo, "but they serve no place in war-"
"STOP!"
The loud, pained buzzing of a struggling flier came within range and Starscream stepped away as a leaking, energon soaked Insecticon all but fell from the sky, transforming as he gasped deep intakes and pointed, "Y-you cannot harm him! We must bring him back, alive!"
"You still function! Where is-"
"Dead!" the weakened Insecticon panted, "He caught us! Him and the Prime! Their trap failed and my companion was crushed under the rubble! His chassis atop mine saved my life!" he pointed again, "HIM! He cannot be allowed to escape! He is the one Bombshock told us of! He is what our leader seeks!"
Attention turned back on Starscream and the smaller mech could barely hear Optimus in his COMM as his wings fell flat and his feelings of panic began to rise.
"It is HIM! The END to this war! He is our assured VICTORY! IT IS LORD MEGATRON'S DEAR STARSCREAM!"
The next thing Starscream heard was Optimus's blaster fire.