Disclaimer: I do not own Transformers.
Author's notes: Very close to end now... Few more chapters, I think. Thank you reviewers, you make me smile :)
Loyalty Paid In Full
Megatron woke up to the nasty feeling of being tied up. He couldn't move at all. He powered on his optics and found Starscream pacing around in the room nervously.
"Release me." Megatron startled the Seeker. "You shouldn't have woken up so soon... What went wrong?" The Seeker wondered and rubbed his chin. "Maybe you've grown resistance to my null-ray. No matter."
Starscream strolled to the berth. He smiled down on the silver mech and tilted his head. "Sweet dreams, huh leader?"
Megatron groaned. "Release me." He demanded. Starscream laughed. "I'm not stupid you know."
"I disagree." Megatron muttered and pulled on his restraints. It didn't work. He noticed that the reassuring weight of his fusion cannon had left his arm. He was at Starscream's mercy. The silver mech could do nothing but glare and talk.
"Starscream, this is foolish. Let me go. Release me or I'll comm. Soundwave."
The Seeker snickered.
"Always threatening me with your guard dog... Go ahead and try to comm. him. You will only notice that I've cut out all communication between you and your troops. You can't comm. anyone. Don't try to scare me, Megatron. I am not afraid of Soundwave. My partner will take care of him, he is even now following him. Who will save you now?"
Megatron pulled on his restraints again, then snarled as he found it useless.
"Your partner? I knew you'd drag your wingmates down with you someday!"
"I haven't dragged anybody down with me. Skywarp and Thundercracker don't even know I'm here."
"Then who's your partner?"
Starscream smirked.
"Are we jealous? Alright. He goes by the name Hellscream." Megatron frowned. He had heard that name once before from Starscream's lips. "He's my bondmate." Starscream went on. It took some time for Megatron to adjust to what he had just heard.
"You have a bondmate?" He asked weakly. His spark twisted with jealousy. "I can't believe you bonded with a complete stranger instead of me."
"Hellscream's not a stranger. I have known him for many millenias, longer than you've known me. Don't be a hypocrite, I know you were about to bond with Soundwave. I heard you talking."
"Yes, but I know Soundwave well. If this Hellscream really exists, then how come I've never met him? I think you've made it all up. You haven't got a bondmate."
"Oh yeah? You've met Hellscream many times, through me. He's a part of me. Was. Now he's got his own body. And what a body it is..." Starscream trailed off dreamily, teasing the silver mech.
Megatron grimaced in disgust. "You mean you bonded with yourself? How's that even possible? I don't believe you."
Starscream smirked and opened his canopy. His casing came forth and inside it was a glowing red and blue orb.
"Red is mine and blue is his. Like it?"
Megatron shuttered his optics. "You are your mother's son... Truly." He muttered.
"What did you say?" Starscream inquired, squinting his optics into slits. Megatron opened his optics.
"I said; you truly are your mother's son. She was a whore as well."
Starscream slapped the silver mech's face. "Don't. Ever. Say that about my mother. She was not-"
"Oh, just get over it already! Your mother was a whore and a traitor, worse than you even."
"Shut up!" Starscream shriek. Megatron smirked. "That's right. You can't defend your mother with anything. You know nothing of her. But I do. She was my follower, one of the first among Shockwave. She was also a very good friend of mine. If you knew enough about her, you wouldn't want to defend her at all."
"Shut up, shut up, shut up!"
Megatron laughed. "I wonder what Thundercracker and Skywarp would think if they knew what you've been up to lately."
Starscream pointed his finger at the Decepticon leader's face. "You leave them out of this!"
"Fine." Starscream took a deep breath and pulled a disturbing object from his sub space. A scalpel. He turned it around in his hands, then glanced at Megatron.
"I'll stab your spark with this. But first I'll show you the meaning of pain. I'll do to you what you did to me." Starscream spoke to the silver mech casually and watched how the fear of death became him.
Megatron swallowed hard. "So... What are you going to do after I'm dead?"
Starscream flinched. Then he leaned down, very close to the silver mech's face. "I am going to rule the Decepticons with my bondmate."
Megatron rolled his optics. "Right. Why did I even ask... But you know, Shockwave and Soundwave won't ever pledge their loyalty to you. Without them you have no real power."
"They are just two Decepticons. When we have the rest of your forces under our command, they will have no choice but to follow me and my bondmate. Besides, I just gave Hellscream the permission to kill your precious Soundwave. He won't live to see your death and my leadership. Pity, isn't it?"
Starscream smirked and placed the scalpel's busy end on Megatron's chest plate. He drew circles with it, watching the silver mech's face closely. Megatron's optics followed the deadly object carefully.
Starscream leaned closer with a malicious grin on his lips. "Don't worry, I've done this before. It'll hurt like hell and leave you sore. Then your spark will slowly extinguish into oblivion."
As the Seeker leaned even closer, Megatron leaned up to bite his neck. Starscream let out an angry shriek and quickly pulled away before he lost his self-control. Starscream rubbed his now bleeding throat and glared at the silver mech. Strange sensations overcame him. That small bite woke up all the suppressed desires towards his leader.
Starscream's expression betrayed him.
"I hit a nerve, didn't I?" Megatron chuckled.
"Why are you talking like you're holding all the cards? You are at my mercy, tied down and helpless. No one will come for your rescue."
"No one will have to. I know when I've lost. All I want is a last wish. Come closer." Megatron's optics flamed with passion.
The Seeker hastily turned his head away from the temptation. "No! You're trying to trick me into something! I know you, Megatron."
"And I know you. Why are you refusing a dead mechanism's last request? Just one kiss. That's all I ask."
Starscream bit his lower lip. "Alright..." Starscream turned around and leaned over the silver mech. His lips grazed against Megatron's. He shut his optics.
"You know you're doomed when death wants to kiss you and you want to kiss him back..." Starscream whispered. Megatron smirked. "Stunning new nickname you have..." The silver mech teased. "Alot better than 'Screamer'."
Before he could go on, Starscream captured his lips with his own. The Seeker felt a slick glossa tugging into his mouth. The temptation grew too big for him to resist, the scalpel fell on the floor as Starscream eagerly grabbed the silver mech's helm and pulled his mouth firmly against his own.
Before he knew it, he had climbed on the berth and straddled Megatron's hips.
"You know..." Megatron said breathily into the Seeker's mouth, "the only way to get rid of temptation is to give in to it."
"Slag you, Megatron..." Starscream muttered into the silver mech's mouth.
"This would be far more exiting if I had my hands free..." Megatron remarked innocently. With an angry snarl, Starscream quickly pulled back.
"Don't take me for a fool! I see what you're trying to do here!" Megatron saw the sadness in his optics, the love. He could use that to his advantage.
"Fine. Then let's make a deal."
Starscream squinted his optics again. "What deal? What do you have to offer that I can't get after you're dead?"
"Information. Knowledge. My memories."
"Memories..." Starscream repeated. His face turned blank as he thought. Then his expression turned clearer. "Yes... Yes! I want to see my mother through your optics!" Starscream grabbed Megatron's shoulders and shook the mech. "Show me, show me!"
"If you release me first."
Starscream pointed his finger at the silver mech again.
"You will try something if I release you. And even if you don't, where would you go? Cybertron? Am I to believe that you'll stay there forever? That you wouldn't fight for your leadership?"
"It's better to be nobody than dead. I appreaciate my life, even if I have nothing else left but my life."
Starscream tilted his head. "Can I really trust you?"
"I am unarmed. And I love you. I would never hurt you." That was all Starscream needed. He opened the chains on Megatron's hands quickly, then worked the chains on his legs open. Megatron sat up and Starscream almost fell from the berth. The silver mech's arm caught him just in time.
Starscream glared up at the Decepticon leader's face. Megatron smiled.
"I promised, didn't I... That I would catch you if you fell."
Starscream couldn't help it; he smiled back. Then he turned serious again. "Your part of the deal." Megatron nodded and pulled the Seeker up.
"Are you nervous?" Megatron asked. Starscream nodded. "A little."
"Well you should be. The memories I have of your mother are not that pleasant." Megatron sat down beside the Seeker and opened a panel on his forehead. Starscream did the same and Megatron pulled out a wire from inside his helm. He connected it to the access port on Starscream's helm and began to feed his memories to the Seeker's CPU.
As soon as Starscream had received all the silver mech's memories about his mother, the Seeker became oblivious to Megatron. It was a two-way traffic; while connected, two mechanisms could not only see each other's memories, but also gain access to the other's processor.
What Megatron was after, however, was Starscream's sub space. And he had a free access to there too.
As Starscream was busy watching the silver mech's memories, Megatron slyly pulled his fusion cannon from Starscream's sub space. He set it on stun and turned to watch the Seeker's memories. He put them on fast forward.
Megatron learned alot in only five minutes. Hellscream was not only Starscream's bondmate, he was Starscream. That was also where Starscream's ambition seeped from; Hellscream had always wanted to lead the Decepticons, not Starscream.
All that Starscream had ever dreamed about, was a normal, quiet life.
Starscream had wanted to become a scientist and a painter. But now he was a soldier first and foremost. And he was a scientist when he had time to himself, which was very rarely. Starscream had been abandoned, rejected, abused and despised all his life. And now he was brainwashed too.
For all his life, Starscream had been looking for himself, he had wanted to belong somewhere. That was why he had joined the Decepticons; he had been rejected by the Autobots. No one had ever accepted Starscream the way he was.
Megatron's spark was filled with the need to protect the little Seeker from the cruel world. Such a sensitive creature... Like a lost sparkling.
Nothing had changed as Starscream went to the Academy, he was still alone.
For years, Starscream's life had included only books and science projects. He had been lonely. That was until he met up with Skyfire. Megatron was jealous, even though he knew that nothing had ever happened between them.
After losing his friend, Starscream had been alone again. Then... Raped? No, but almost. Megatron quickly skipped that memory. No wonder Starscream didn't trust anyone. However, that was when Hellscream had first appeared. And indeed, he was a part of Starscream.
'An alternative ego...' Megatron realised. A very violent alternative ego. Megatron put Starscream's memories on fast forward and paused them on a scene where Starscream was looking at his alter ego.
Amazed, Megatron glared at the picture of the huge black and red Seeker. If that was what Soundwave had to face, he wouldn't stand a chance. Not alone anyway.
Megatron opened his optics and watched Starscream's face closely. He disconnected them and slowly he lifted his fusion cannon and fired. The blast hit Starscream's chest and the Seeker collapsed with a small thud on the berth. Megatron tied the Seeker down on his berth.
"I know you can hear me Starscream. I am not going to hurt you, this is for your own good. We'll talk later, right now Soundwave needs my help. You just keep watching my memories, maybe you'll learn something about your mother."
Megatron didn't hesitate any longer. Soundwave might be already under attack.
XXX
Soundwave stopped as he heard a noise from somewhere behind him. He snorted from experience.
"Skywarp: Very funny." He then remembered that Skywarp was no longer with the Decepticons. Suddenly alerted, Soundwave spun around and turned his mindwave-sensors back on. The mind he felt was not friendly. Soundwave took a step back.
"Hellscream." He said and braced himself for attack. Distantly he felt his creations leave his quarters and rushing to him. They wouldn't make it in time, Soundwave knew it.
The Communications Officer saw movement in the shadows and then a huge Seeker stepped into the dim light. The black and red Seeker smirked.
"Hello there, Soundwave. Long time no see, heh." Hellscream raised both of his weapons and opened fire upon the tape player. Soundwave dodged them all, then produced a mind-numbing wave of sound that disturbed the Seeker's processing. Hellscream, however, was stronger than any other opponent Soundwave had encountered this far.
The black and red Seeker only growled and approached the tape player. "You think a little dose of your nasty music will stop me?! You're wrong!"
Hellscream fired his null-ray, but missed the tape player by only few inches. Soundwave cursed himself for leaving his weapon at his quarters.
'Now I understand why Megatron carries that fusion cannon with him everywhere...' He thought and dodged another wave of laserfire. Unfortunately, one laserbeam hit his chest. He let out a cry of pain and collapsed on his hands and knees. He looked at the wound.
The glass on his tape deck had shattered. The laserbeam had hardly missed his spark casing. The next shot hitting his tape deck would be fatal. Soundwave looked up at the appoaching Seeker. Hellscream smirked.
"And so goes the mighty Soundwave, fearsome Third-In-Command of the Decepticons!" Soundwave lowered his head before the mockery and braced himself for the hit.
'This is it...' He thought and shut his optics behind his visor.
Just as he accepted his fate, he heard a very welcome sound of Ravage's angry battle growl. Soundwave opened his optics. That was all he managed to do before Ravage was all over Hellscream.
"Get off me!" The Seeker growled and fired at the panthercon. He missed. Then the other cassetticons arrived to the scene. Rumble and Frenzy stopped beside their creator, covering their brothers with their laserfire.
"Don't worry, Soundwave. We'll take care of ya." Frenzy comforted his creator as they began to back off, dragging the mech with them. Hellscream was busy with Laserbeak and Buzzsaw attacking him from everywhere and Ravage clawing and biting his legs.
"Get off me!" The Seeker kept on screaming and kicking to no avail.
"Ok, Soundwave. They've got his attention. Can you transform?"
Soundwave stared at his brave creations, fighting for him. It felt so wrong. Had he created them only to cover his own aft?
"No, Rumble. I'm not leaving them." Soundwave used his telepathic skills and tried to get through the heavy defence that protected Hellscream's mind. The Seeker had formidable defences, Soundwave couldn't get through.
Rumble and Frenzy kept firing at the Seeker as the other three creations attacked him from everywhere. Hellscream growled and fired at his feet. The blast hit Ravage on the back. With a high-pitched cry of pain, Ravage fell on the ground, unmoving.
Soundwave could only stare as his oldest creation gave his life for him. Soundwave felt weakened, hurt, but most importantly, furious. He wanted to hurt Hellscream badly, he wanted to avenge Ravage.
But he couldn't.
He didn't have his weapon and he couldn't get through Hellscream's defences. Laserbeak and Buzzsaw were, fortunately, too fast for the big Seeker. He kept flailing and firing at them, to no avail. But then he hit Laserbeak with his null-ray. As the vulture cassette began to fall, Buzzsaw flew after his brother and caught him before he hit the floor. The youngest of Soundwave's creations carried Laserbeak to the telepath, who gathered the hurt cassette in his arms.
Hellscream laughed. "You're all pathetic. I thought you'd be at least a little challenge to deactivate. It seems I was wrong."
"Alright, you big turkey! Now you have us to take care of!" Frenzy shouted and he and Rumble activated their piledrivers.
"No!" Soundwave stopped them just in time. "You could destroy the whole base!" The twins growled in frustration and grabbed their weapons again, pointing them at Hellscream.
"A surgical strike, Frenzy."
"I know, Rumble. Aim for his canopy."
The big Seeker only laughed as their weapons hit his canopy.
"You think you can hurt me with your puny weapons? You only achieve in increasing my amusement." He mocked.
"Why don't you pick on someone your own size?" The very welcome sound of Megatron's voice made Soundwave lift his head up and smile. Hellscream turned around and faced the very serious Decepticon leader.
"Well, well. Look who joined the party. This is going to be fun."
"The only fun you'll get is a dose of your own medicine." Megatron aimed his fusion cannon at the Seeker's chest and fired. He hit his target and Hellscream growled.
"You miserable... I am stronger than you. You think you can defeat me? Think again!" Instead of shooting at the silver mech, Hellscream attacked him with his fists. Megatron blocked everything the Seeker threw at him, but barely.
"This is what I was trained for. You are soon going to learn the first gladiator lesson; it's not about size, experience counts."
Megatron delivered a heavy punch on the giant Seeker's chin.
"What are we gonna do, Soundwave? If we fire, we might hit Megatron!" Rumble panicked. Soundwave grasped his creation's shoulder gently.
"Don't worry, Rumble. He can take care of himself."
'I hope...' Soundwave added privately. But there was something he could do to help his leader. As Hellscream had his full attention on Megatron, Soundwave gained an easy access to the Seeker's processor. Hellscream's hate towards Megatron made him vulnerable to Soundwave, blind to his attack.
As he had done to many mechs before Hellscream, Soundwave took complete control of the Seeker's mind.
Megatron backed off as Hellscream stopped dead in his tracks. The Seeker's face twisted and suddenly he fell on his knees. He began to scream and claw at his helm.
"Get out of my head!" He managed to say. Then as abruptly as it had begun, it ended. Hellscream's hands fell on his sides and his face turned blank. He fell on the floor with a loud thud like an empty garbage can. Megatron approached the Seeker cautiously. He kicked the mech on his side.
As nothing happened, the silver mech kneeled beside Hellscream and turned him around. The Seeker's inner systems were still working, but his face was blank and his optics dead. Megatron opened his canopy. No spark. Hellscream was dead. Megatron stood up and glanced at Soundwave.
The telepath had already kneeled beside Ravage's body. Soundwave gathered the panthercon in his arms, beside Laserbeak. Megatron went to his Communications Officer and grasped his shoulder gently, offering his comfort.
"He's dead, Megatron. He died protecting me."
"I know, Soundwave."
Megatron helped the telepath back on his feet.
"Come on, let's get you to Hook." Megatron said. Obediently, Soundwave fell in pace with him, still glaring at his creations in his arms. Rumble and Frenzy grabbed Hellscream's arms and followed their leaders from a respective distance, dragging the huge Seeker with them.
While the twins were one of the smallest Decepticons, they were also one of the strongest.
Buzzsaw was left behind, sitting on the floor and tilting his head from side to side, confused as to what he should do. Finally he took off towards the others. He landed on Megatron's shoulder and rubbed his beak against the silver mech's helm; Megatron had finally earned his trust. The silver mech absent-mindedly petted the vulture's head, still glancing at his Communications Officer worriedly.
XXX
"Well, Hook?"
"Laserbeak will be fine in about three days. We were lucky he was only hit by null-ray and not a laserbeam. For a small mech that would be fatal."
"And Soundwave?"
Hook turned to look through the two-sided mirror into the room. Soundwave stood beside Laserbeak's recharge berth, Ravage still in his arms. Rumble, Frenzy and Buzzsaw were gathered around their hurt brother.
"Physically fine, mentally... I don't know."
Megatron sighed. "Alright. Thank you, Hook."
The Constructicon took this as a cue, he nodded and left the room. Megatron watched his subordinates through the mirror.
'Why did I even consider it? I could never be a part of Soundwave's family. I don't fit in. And I don't want that pain to be a part of my life, I don't want to worry about them all. I'm glad Soundwave decided to say no. As always, he was wiser than me.'
Megatron turned around and left the room quietly.
'And now problem number two...'