Scrapper checked the signal jamming device as the last few panels were put on the spacebridge. Still working. Starscream clicked on his comm. "Starscream to Megatron. Do you read?"
Back at the underwater Decepticon base, Megatron hit a button on the computer console, and Starscream's slate grey face appeared on the screen. "Report." Megatron commanded. "The Megatron is finally completed, Megatron. But I..." Megatron cut him off.
"Excellent. I shall arrive shortly to inspect your work. Keep a watchful eye out for those meddling Autobots."
"Yes Megatron..." Starscream replied, but anything after that was cut off when Megatron cut the connection.
Meanwhile, in the trees above the 'construction crew', Laserbeak watched amusedly. Megatron had ordered Soundwave to dispatch him for surveillance of the work team, to make sure Starscream didn't try anything sneaky. He might be able to use Starscream's action as blackmail against him later, but that was up to master Soundwave to decide. So long as there was an energon cube in it for him, he would watch anyone anywhere, or whatever lord Megatron wanted. Actually, he would anyway if ordered, but the cube just made it more enjoyable. Call it a bribe, of sorts. Soundlessly, he took off from the tree to meet up with lord Megatron and master Soundwave as they left the Nemesis. Lord Megatron would want his report on the way here.
The metal condor squawked a greeting as he approached, and Soundwave opened his chest cassette-door for the bird to slide in. He started his report.
About ten or fifteen minutes later, Megatron landed at the newly created spacebridge, Soundwave beside him. he knew about Starscream's conversation with his trinemates. The Construction group walked up. "Hail, Megatron." Hook greeted. Megatron nodded to them. Starscream gave the crane (Hook) a look as though to say 'kissup' "It's about time you got here." the seeker said, his high-pitched voice almost making it sound like he was whining. "These two spent the entire time talking instead of getting any work done." he complained.
"We did too get work done." Thundercracker glared back, but Megatron just gave Starscream a tiresome look. As though he was already tired to the seeker's complaining. "And you didn't?" he asked accusingly. Starscream actually looked surprised. "I did half the work!" behind him, Skywarp rolled his optics. Megatron folded his arms. "That's not what Laserbeak reported.
"Hah! that tin-foil turkey doesn't know micro-welder from micro-chips, let alone who's doing the work around here!"
Soundwave's visor flashed, though it went unseen. "Report, accurate; Starscream, inaccurate."
Megatron didn't glance back at his second-in-command. He knew the truth of what had happened. "Laserbeak's video surveillance of you said otherwise." he leaned forward slightly, getting into the seeker's personal space a little bit, towering slightly over him. "I saw it with my own optics"
Starscream took a step back, sputtering. well...I..I...Someone had to keep a watchful eye out for the Autobots! What if they had detected our presence?" He retorted. Megatron tried to keep his anger in check. He really didn't want to argue with Starscream just now. "You yourself told me to keep a watchful eye out for them not even twenty astro-seconds ago!"
Megatron glared. "That's because the Constructicons' jamming signal device was temporary. It was supposed to have been packed up so we could take it back to the Nemesis with us to use another time." he raised his voice a little. "It was running the entire time you were building the spacebridge!"
Starscream huffed. "And what if there had been a problem with your little device? you put so much faith into such shoddily constructed machinery"
"GAH!" Megatron's eyes lit volcanic red, and Starscream took another step back, fearful. In the background, Hook snorted. "How dare you doubt our skills!" Megatron gave him a cursory glance. The other Constructicons had started to murmur agreements, and voice their displeasure. "Enough!" Megatron commanded. Constructicons, you will return to base and collect your reward. Skywarp and Thundercracker will escort you back." the now incensed leader turned his angry gaze back to Starscream, who had started to ask "But what about me, Megatron?" He actually sounded like he was afraid of the answer he was about to get. Megatron smiled inwardly. He would punish the seeker without ever laying a finger on him. Yes, that would work nicely.
"Since you are so concerned with the safety of our new spacebridge, you may stay here and guard it."
Starscream's face visibly fell. Him! the Decepticon Air Commander, reduced to mere guard duty!
"Oh, Don't worry." Megatron held up a hand to stave off any further comments. His voice took on a tone of fake pity. "I wouldn't dare leave you here to guard the spacebridge all by yourself." he turned to Soundwave. "Soundwave, dispatch Rumble and Frenzy." as Soundwave hit the eject button, Megatron turned back to the Air Commander. "I trust you will get along?" it wasn't a question. It might have sounded like a question, but it wasn't. The two Cassetticons looked up at Megatron, then at Starscream. Megatron's voice lowered to a threatening rumble. "And if anything happens to this spacebridge, Starscream, I will hold you personally responsible"
Megatron stooped to address the two Cassetticons. "You are to stay here with Starscream and guard the spacebridge." he lowered his voice so Starscream would think he wasn't meant to hear it, but purposely kept his voice at a level the seeker jet could hear. "And if he attempts any treachery, Contact me immediately." He stood back to his full height and gave Starscream a look that said he would shoot the seeker if he argued. Megatron turned and walked away. He took to the air, Soundwave following. "I will return in eight earth-hours to relieve you of your post. Until then, here is your reward." he pulled out an energon cube and threw it at the ground. Starscream scrambled to catch it, but it hit the ground and exploded.
Megatron had already flown away, too far to hear if Starscream yell anything. Not that Starscream would have lowered himself to grovel and plead. Or yell "Wait, Megatron, come back!" like he so wanted to. No, he was better than that.
"Shoulda moved faster, Starscream." Frenzy teased.
"Shut up, pipsqueak!" Starscream retorted.
"Hey!" Rumble stepped in. "Who 'ya callin' a pipsqueak, Screamer!?"
Starscream really didn't want to let these two mini-cons get away with such insubordination. he wanted to pound the both of them, just to relieve some of his stress. His day was not going well at all. But if he did start a fight with them, he'd be in big trouble with Megatron for it later. The two would probably tell Soundwave, who would tell Megatron. He grimaced. He sighed. and here he'd though Megatron might actually be in a good mood because his new spacebridge had been finished, and that his plans were actually going according to schedule. "Why Me?" he thought, looking up at the sky. He wished he could be up there, flying around right now. Or, well, anywhere but here. Anything but this.
Little did Starscream know, the very spot in the sky he was looking at was where the drifter satellite hung in the Earth's atmosphere, it's camera looking back down on him. And an anxious set of faces watching the main viewscreen of their computer inside their mountain-base, watching the image transmitted from the satellite's camera. "Can he see us?" Jade (who was currently disguised as Starscream) asked. Windstriker, the purple femmejet next to her, gave her an 'are you stupid?' look. "Huh? Oh, I meant, can he see the satellite. eheh." the now-a-Starscream-mimic amended. Bullet, who was now identical to Megatron, gave her a sidelong glance. "No." Razer answered. The reddish-brown, green, and black Cybertronian jet was between Jade and Bullet, manning the controls to the small spy satellite. They watched the screen for a few second more, than Jade broke the silence. "If I may.." she smirked. "I might have an idea on how we can get past Starscream and across the spacebridge...
----------------------------------------
Yup, things are about to get exciting. And no, i haven't forgotten the Autobots. I had originally planned for this to go Autobots, Kintari, Decepticons, repeat. Unfortunately my muse favors my fancharacters, and I'm REALLY trying not to let that happen.
More will be up soon.
