14
"Nice work blowing up the Autobot base, Soundwave," Wolfstrider said, slapping him on the back. Soundwave was silent.
"And where were you during the battle, Wolfstrider?" Sideways asked, bumping her with his elbow.
She glared at him, "Fighting."
"The last thing I saw was you running. Did the Autobots scare you?"
"No," she growled, "only the ones who want to take me to the asylum."
"We all want you in an asylum," Blitzwing whispered to Cruellock.
"And we all want you to go with her," Cruellock grumbled.
"Silence, Decepticons!" Starscream screeched. Everyone turned their lenses to him. "The fragment, Soundwave," he ordered. Soundwave opened his chest silently and the Spark fragment landed in his hand. Starscream smiled in relish, "Now, we are all eager to have Megatron back, but I feel the Decepticons could use new leadership."
"Like Soundwave, for instance?" Diamondshard called over Blackout.
"Like me for instance," Starscream said. Everyone's lenses hardened, and Soundwave closed his hand over the fragment slightly.
"Megatron will live again," Soundwave droned.
Starscream held his hand palm up to Soundwave, "That's very nice; now hand me the fragment." Soundwave didn't move. "I demand you give it to me!" Only Soundwave's fingertips twitched. Starscream clenched his hands into fists, "Are you undermining your superior officer?"
"Megatron is my only superior officer," Soundwave's tone grew harsh, and he took one step back, pulling his hand behind him. Starscream leapt for the fragment, and everyone snapped.
Starscream was hit back by Soundwave, slammed into Blitzwing, and both of them hit the ground. Sideways had been going for Starscream, but couldn't stop once Starscream was out of the way and collided with Soundwave. Blitzblade tried to grab Sideways and pull him back, but he tripped over Ravage and took him, Sideways and Soundwave to the ground.
Starscream pulled him himself up and dove for Soundwave's hand. Blackout took him down from the side, and Starscream was squished underneath the bigger 'con. Diamondshard was trying to calm everyone down but she got back-handed by Cruellock and she hit the far wall. Once she regained her senses she stood up and launched herself at the 'con, and he fell back in surprise. He bit at her arm, but she slashed at him with her other arm.
Starscream clawed his way out from under Blackout and continued on his way towards the downed Soundwave. Blitzblade was pushing himself off of Sideways, and Sideways was yelling fiercely at the much larger 'con. Soundwave also sounded less than happy. Starscream snuck around the quarreling trio and began to pry Soundwave's fingers apart. Soundwave didn't give up easily, but Starscream eventually got them apart in the midst of the fighting Decepticons. "Victory!" Starscream smiled, holding the fragment above his head.
"Not for long," a voice came out of the air. Blitzwing flew over Starscream and plucked the Spark fragment from his outstretched fingertips. His head spun and Blitzwing's crazy face appeared, "Better luck next time." He was too busy looking back and crashed into the wall above Megatron's body, dropping the fragment and collapsing in a heap on the ground. Starscream cackled in delight until the fragment bounced and landed in the center of Megatron's spark chamber.
A light pulsed in the chamber and his whole body jerked upwards. A grunt came from his voice box and his head began to move. "L-l-l-lord, Megatron," Starscream gulped quietly. Everyone froze in place; some even had fists still raised. They waited in stony silence as their leader pushed himself into a sitting position. Blitzwing scrambled away so that he wouldn't get crushed.
Megatron put a hand to his head and looked around the room, "What in the name of Unicron is going on here?" Everyone stood frozen in place for a minute more, and then scrambled off of each other and formed a ragged line across the room.
"I'm sorry, Lord Megatron, but there was a little misunderstanding-"
"I don't want to hear your excuses, Starscream," Megatron held out a hand and then went to one end of the line, checking out each Decepticon in turn. Starscream followed his procession from a distance. "Where are we, Soundwave?"
"A planet called Earth, in the Theta Quadrant," he replied.
"Well, well," Megatron mused. He put a hand on Soundwave's shoulder, "It's great to be working with you again."
"The Autobots have arrived as well."
Megatron's lenses narrowed slightly, "Hopefully they will only be a little snag in the great web of my master plan."
He moved on, "Blitzwing, did you revive me?"
"Accidentally," Blitzwing was tripping over his words, "I was going to let Soundwave do it-"
Megatron cut him off, "Good job; we might make a soldier of you yet."
"Megatron," Cruellock gave a small bow to his leader.
"Cruellock," Megatron replied back.
"Good to have you back." Cruellock nodded.
"Wolfstrider," Megatron said, "you'd do good to keep yourself in line."
Wolfstrider looked down and saw her feet were farther ahead than the others. She quickly shuffled back, "Sorry, Lord Megatron."
"You always were an odd one," Megatron muttered, shaking his head. "Blitzblade and Blackout, the team is always stronger with you on it."
Both of them inclined their heads. "Thank you, Megatron," Blitzblade rumbled.
"Sideways, ever present and ever a nuisance," Sideways looked at the ground. "For the Autobots." Sideways looked up and Megatron was giving him an approving look. Sideways smiled and Megatron moved on.
"Shockwave," Megatron looked at the purple Decepticon, "always a pleasure."
"The same goes to you," Shockwave nodded.
"Diamondshard," Megatron's tone was pleasant, "give me a check-over. I feel fine, but you never know with the Autobots around," he spat the word Autobots.
Diamondshard bowed, "Of course, my Lord." She went over and grabbed her tools and began to check him over.
"Where are Bonecrusher and Breakdown?" Megatron asked Shockwave.
"Bonecrusher has been…destroyed by the Autobots," Shockwave watched as Megatron's expression darkened. "Breakdown is…somewhere."
"You didn't think to call him?" Megatron tapped where his ear would be and called up his con-link. "Breakdown, report in. It's your leader, Megatron."
"Megatron!" a voice on the other end says in surprise. "You're alive! It's great to hear your voice."
"Why aren't you at base, where you're supposed to be?"
Breakdown's voice was lowered, "Well, I'm kind of undercover…"
Nick settled back in his leather seat; he was almost at the Autobot base. He reached for the controls and turned on the radio. Some tunes might clam his frayed nerves. Nick settled against the seat again and tried to decide if he would ever go back to that office.
"I'm spying on the Autobots, and am trying to penetrate into their central circle."
"Good work. Get back here and report to me as soon as you can."
"What the?" Nick breathed, reaching for the controls. "What kind of radio station is this?"
"Make sure you find out as much about them as you can before you get caught, Breakdown."
"Can do, Megatron. Breakdown, out."
"Megatron?" Nick felt like something bad was going to happen. He opened his phone and dialed the number Ratchet had put into the contacts. "Hello, Ratchet? It's Nick. I need some help. I think it's the Decep-"
Nick gasped as a laser gun came out of the steering wheel and shot the phone out of his hands. He sat frozen for a moment as the steering wheel moved itself under his loose grip.
"I'm sorry," a voice rumbled from the dashboard, "You're call has been disconnected."