Chapter 7! Hope you like! Sorry for the long wait!
Starscream stood on the docking bay of the Nemesis, deep in his thoughts. He knew he should not provoke Deathstrike, as the assassin could hold grudges for eons and had a temper worse than Unicron's. He had been on the receiving end of his rage before, and it had not ended well.
"Lord Starscream." Blackstand and Longscar appeared behind him, seemingly out of nowhere. Primus, those brothers were unsettling even when they were together.
"Yes, what is it?"
"Deathstrike is approaching," they informed.
As if on cue, the sound of a powerful engine reached them. A sleek, slightly-Cybertronian jet shot towards them. Deathstrike transformed, landing silently on his pedes. His optics were narrow and his claws clicked together menacingly, and his wings were raised and slightly flared. He was in a bad mood.
"Deathstrike." The Seeker in command crossed his servos. "What are you doing back?"
The other Seeker fixed his gaze on Starscream. "Breakdown is investigating an Energon signal we picked up. He will contact me if he unearths anything."
"That still does not explain your being here."
Deathstrike's optics narrowed. "Is my freedom restricted, Starscream, because I do not see the reason for me to be explaining my every action to you." At Starscream's look of black disapproval, the assassin moved closer to the other, looking down because of his greater height. "If you do not like my explanation, here is another: I am working on Megatron's injuries." He hissed, baring his fangs. "If that is fine with you." With that, he turned and left.
"A strange one," Blackstand began.
"He is," his brother finished.
"Why are you two out here? Do you not have work to do?"
"We finished," the two said in unison. They stared intently at the other, but not disrespectfully.
"Then help Soundwave monitor the communication channels for Decepticons light years away." His thoughts drifted.
"He will not need it—"
"—and is not a well worker with others."
Starscream snarled, turning on the two. "Find something to do to occupy yourselves and do not bother me again." His deep voice lowered even more, filled with enough anger to make the two mysterious brothers disappear.
Anger filled him.
No, not anger.
Rage.
It was a poison that burned through his veins, enough to stir the beast from its thin slumber as he fumed. He paced the lab, gathering the required tools for repairing Megatron's external injuries. There were massive burns and cuts running over the frame of the warlord's body, and he had yet to begin working on them. Struggling to keep his vents even, he set to work, welding the shallow scrapes first; if he did not, they would get in the way of his repair to the larger ones.
The door to the med-bay opened, and his wings turned, picking up the movement and the signal of the visitor. It was Soundwave.
"What does Starscream want now?" the assassin growled, continuing his work with agile hands. The faceless mech only appeared when Starscream was too indolent to get up and do it himself.
The silent mech said nothing, instead approaching the other. His helm tilted slightly as he looked down at the other. His scanners stated that the medic's vitals were low.
Deathstrike vented. "I am fine, though I do not see how you would care."
Soundwave turned to Megatron. His question was evident.
"He has neither improved nor worsened," the other mech stated. "I am working on the smaller injuries now, but—" A tremor ran through his chassis, cutting off his sentence. The mute Communications Officer turned to see the medic keeled over, a clawed hand keeping him upright. He approached as he noticed the violent tremors racking the mech's body, not out of concern for the mech himself, but out of concern—however small it may be—for the medical division itself. Having an unhealthy medic was not a good thing.
Deathstrike sensed him coming and he straightened, snarling as his wings flared wide in an aggressive stance. Feral hunger flashed before recognition in his optics and he shook himself. Soundwave tilted his helm, defense warnings flashing in his HUD, warning him that danger was forthcoming. For him, or for the medic?
"It would be best if you were to leave now." The Decepticon's servos clenched into fists, his long claws slashing the sensitive metal. His voice was low, as if he were restraining a growl. "I have much work to do and have little time for distractions."
The former Kaon gladiator remained motionless, his curiosity and suspicion sparked. There were not that many coworkers that had the nerve to tell him to leave.
Deathstrike sensed this and fixed his gaze on him. His optics were dark, darker than he had ever seen them, and there was something hidden deep within them. His wings flared out, signaling his darkening mood. Soundwave turned away and headed for the door, deeming it illogical to include himself in an oncoming, petty dispute. But then, he was still slightly curious.
He would keep his optic—so to say—on the medic. Something was not right.
Okay, some author notes:
1.) For Deathstrike's jet alt-mode, he is a matte black Dassualt Rafale, with only slight hints of alien technology. Look up images of Dassault Rafales; they're really cool! :)
2.) Longscar and Blackstand are spark-split twins, similar to Sideswipe and Sunstreaker. You can read their bios on my profile to learn more about them.
3.) Yes, Soundwave is suspicious of Deathstrike. He will be watching him more closely now...no, he is not a stalker.
Sorry for how short this is!
PM/review with any concerns/questions/comments! I need ideas, people...