A/N: So, some punter I was serving in the bar I work at saw my Decepticon badge, and decided to start a conversation about it, as drunks generally do. He said, "Oh I used to love that cartoon as a kid! Especially... Magmatron!" MAGMATRON. XD On the plus side, saw that there's an IDW 'Best of Starscream' collection coming out... but not 'til January, unfortunately. -_-
...Anyway, here's chapter two. Thanks to everyone who reviewed, especially Nybuh, my little pal from Y!gallery. I'm pleased you decided to give my fic a shot.
This chapter is inspired by Aphotic Emulations, also by Cruciform Injection: "Trying to force the human condition, cleansing this whole mortal race... I don't feel that I need to explain that I have been disgraced."
-/-
Aphotic
-/-
Starscream hated to admit it, but yes, he deeply disliked being admonished in front of other Decepticons. It was a matter of pride, of dignity! It stoked his preciously short temper, and made him nervous.
He knew it. Megatron knew it.
It had been irritating enough that Soundwave had been there (Wasn't he always? What a glitcher!), but Thundercracker, too. And Skywarp, standing there with his mouth hanging open, like some... inferior aquatic earth creature! It was almost comical, to look back on it.
Now, however, cruising along smooth air currents and generally enjoying some private time, Starscream allowed the night air to cool his circuits and bring him some clarity of processor.
Megatron. Even just thinking of the name sent shudders of anger, fear and... that glitch in his systems through his frame. The chaos inside him was always rife when his thoughts were filled with his Leader; respect clashing with frustration, fear clashing with excitement, hate clashing with... that Pit-damned glitch, or whatever it was.
Technically, it wasn't a glitch, as such. That was just the term Starscream was willing to give it until he was content with its presence. If ever.
The sleek form of the F-15 manoeuvred gracefully around some rocky cliffs, the calm and controlled flight belied by the struggle going through Starscream's processors.
The worst part of it all, the absolute worst part... was that Starscream was deeply unsure whether or not Megatron felt anything towards him, other than disgust and annoyance. It was hard to see past that, and he hated feeling uncertain. There had been times where he could swear that Megatron returned the suggestive glances, and occasions when he even went as far as to touch him- just a servo here, or a casual brush there...
Sighing audibly, Starscream barrel-rolled through the sky to amuse himself.
Megatron was so stubborn. So reluctant to give praise, and downright stingy when it came to sharing any information about himself.
The Air Commander scoffed to himself. Why did he even waste his time and excellent tactical input on that old fragger? It was utterly beyond him.
Thundercracker and Skywarp -but not so much Skywarp- had started to see a pattern forming, too, and that was a concern. They understood that Starscream was an audacious, opinionated and downright defiant mech, but they didn't understand what it was about Megatron that brought those traits out so badly.
Well, Starscream did, because he had been Megatron's Second long enough to know that he would be a far better leader. And it rankled.
It would also never change, at this rate, and at his own expense. He had to decide what to do with the carefully ignored part of him that wanted to be under Megatron forever, and in every way.
-/-
Denial was a funny thing, and not at all unique to humans. It was, in fact, blatant in almost every motion Megatron's SIC subconsciously made.
The Decepticon Leader was pacing his quarters, now, a smirk hovering over his faceplates . It was starting to become very clear that Starscream had some kind of urge or feeling that he was struggling to conceal, and Megatron had several ideas of what it might be.
All the nippy remarks and teasing chassis-language seemed laughable and almost endearing now that he reflected on them, especially since it was himself that affected his Air Commander so nicely. He had the potential to manipulate the Seeker endlessly, to make him squirm and whine even more than usual.
However... There was also potential for much more.
Megatron stopped his pacing momentarily to lift a cube of high-grade to his mouth, and drained it swiftly.
His thoughts of Starscream were starting to turn carnal. Images of all the things he wanted to do -would do- filtered through his CPU in a heated blur. No doubt the high-grade gave him a sly nudge in that direction.
Megatron sat at his desk, and began drumming jet-black digits against the surface. It didn't even matter if he was reading Starscream wrong; he would have the Seeker either way.
Where was that insufferable mech?
Megatron opened a comm. link to his Communications Officer. "Soundwave. Has Starscream returned from his sulk?"
"Negative," came the monotonic reply. "Starscream's location: no longer on radar."
Megatron scowled, cutting off the link. He would give the jet a little more time, but no more than a few breems. After all, the longer he waited, the more thoroughly he would frag the Pit out of his Second. Thus, the greater the chances of Starscream ending up in the medic bay. It wouldn't do to mar the Seeker's beautiful frame too badly.
Megatron allowed himself a ghost of a smirk at that- the treacherous little brat wouldn't know what hit him.
-/-
Starscream was far into Autobot territory before he realised it.
"Frag," he swore, already in plain sight of a small air patrol. It wouldn't matter so much if one of them wasn't the enormous Skyfire.
"It's Starscream!" cried the white jet.
Powerglide let out a loud, irritating 'whoop'. "Let's send 'im back with a few dents in his aft!"
Starscream swerved around and circled them warily. He would rather kiss Optimus Prime than flee, but Skyfire was a complication. They had a past, after all. No doubt the traitor wanted to 'talk'. How terribly gloomy.
As if on cue, the clouds opened and heavy rain began to pour down, an added irritation to the already vexed Starscream. It grew rapidly more violent, and it took Starscream a moment to realise it was now hailstones. He hated hailstones! They stung his sensitive wings and jeopardised his flight sensors.
The Seeker arced downwards gracefully as the two Autobots gave chase, transforming mid-flight and landing on his feet with enough force to make the ground quake. He stood rigidly alert, one Null Ray poised to fire if necessary.
Skyfire transformed first and landed near Starscream, his faceplates full of nostalgic despair. Powerglide followed suit, but touched down further to Starscream's right.
"What do you want?" Starscream snapped, the hailstones bouncing mercilessly off his chassis. He shook some of them from his shoulder-intakes in disgust, and narrowed his optics at the much bigger mech.
"That's what I should be asking you!" Skyfire replied in confusion, his vocaliser gentle but firm. "You flew into our territory, and seeing as we're enemies now... What am I to assume?" the jet shook his head. "Starscream, I don't like how this all turned out. If we could just talk, like we used to..."
"No!" Starscream cut him off angrily. "You made your loyalties clear the last time we met! There is nothing to discuss, and reminiscing will get you nowhere!" He aimed at Powerglide without warning, and fired. The red mech dodged a nanoklik too late, and fell to the ground with a strangled groan, now helplessly offline.
Skyfire made to lunge forward, but stopped himself. "Starscream! Enough of this." He slowly moved closer to Powerglide, shielding the other mech while levelling his rifle shakily at Starscream.
Seeing the indecision in his former friend, Starscream took the opportunity to dart off in the opposite direction, preparing to transform and head back to the Nemesis. Skyfire, however, apparently remembered the particulars of how Starscream worked, and was one step ahead of him. He boosted around in an attempt to block the Seeker's exit, cradling Powerglide under one arm.
"Get out of my way!" Starscream screeched, transforming and firing up his thrusters. The poor weather was interfering with his visibility, among other things, and he climbed hopelessly upward into the swirls of freezing white. When his comm. link beeped, he swore in indecipherable static.
"Starscream, where the blazes are you?" fumed the voice of Megatron.
"Damn you, not now-" the Air Commander flew blindly into Skyfire, who was at a distinct advantage with his colour scheme and Starscream's distraction.
The Autobot jet grabbed Starscream and transformed around him, the larger jet's massive frame engulfing the smaller mech easily, and leaving the thoroughly disorientated Decepticon in what he assumed was the cargo hold.
Starscream metamorphosed again and slammed a sky-blue fist into the side of the hull. "Skyfire, let me go!" He stumbled back when Skyfire's vocals vibrated through Starscream's surroundings, tripping over the still frame of Powerglide in the process.
"I'm sorry, my friend. I think you should spend some time in one of our cells to mull things over... I can't let you go when we have still to find out why you were here." There was a pause. "Oh, and don't waste your time shooting at my sides; the blast will likely ricochet and hit you."
"It's none of your business why I'm here!" Starscream cried bitterly, his vocaliser now a stridently high screech. He slumped down against the metal wall dejectedly, glad at least that there was too much interference to continue the comm. link with Megatron.
He kicked Powerglide in disgust. His faceplates burned with shame and humiliation.
Starscream deeply wished that he had never left Megatron's side.
-/-
Megatron was livid.
Soundwave watched the tyrant storm around the Command Centre, careful not to antagonise him further.
"My useless excuse for a Second has clearly buried himself nose-deep in trouble, if that vague-at-best comm. link was anything to go by," Megatron growled. "Much as he deserves the punishment, I cannot allow those wretched Autobots any kind of victory over me!" He turned and faced Soundwave, optics glowing an eerie dark red. "We will retrieve him from the Autobot Headquarters at once! Only I am fit to administer his punishment."
Soundwave moved his head slightly in acknowledgement. "As you command, Megatron."
-/-
It was a disgrace to all Decepticons to be captured by Autobots, but Megatron was furious for another, more discreet reason.
If one inch of Starscream's sleek frame was touched by filthy Autobot servos... Megatron clenched his jaws, grating the metal together with a dull scraping sound. The Seeker was his. His to damage, his to abuse, his to touch in whatever way he desired.
Even now, as they flew relentlessly towards the Ark, Megatron's thought patterns twisted into more of those lovely images from his earlier musings. He particularly liked the concept of Starscream's white thighs parted and sticky with lubricant, yet-to-be-seen valve yearning for interface, pulsing steadily as little volts of energy rippled along the rim...
"Megatron. Approaching destination zone," came Soundwave's rude awakening. Judging from the not-quite-amused lilt to his vocaliser, he had also been probing his Leader's thoughts.
Although outraged at the intrusion, it was overridden by the thrill of battle on the horizon, and Megatron's Fusion Canon hummed in anticipation.
-/-
"Get off me, you moronic ground-pounding incompetents!" Starscream yelled, struggling against the holds of Ironhide and Jazz as he was escorted unceremoniously into a cell, and dumped on the floor.
"Noisy critter, that one," Ironhide grumbled as he made a show of dusting his hands.
Optimus Prime watched in uncertainty as the photon bars flickered into place over the door. "Skyfire, are you sure this is a good idea? Starscream is of no use to us... Although disloyal to Megatron, he is no more loyal to us."
Skyfire's shoulders slumped slightly, and he sighed. "I'm sorry, Optimus... I wasn't processing clearly. I thought I could reason with him, or at least find out why he was attacking us."
"You attacked me!" Starscream shot to his feet, glaring balefully at the Autobots gathered around his prison.
Skyfire regarded him curiously. "Why else would you venture so close, if not to attack us?"
"You're a delusional pile of malfunctioning scrap," Starscream jeered nastily, leaning predatorily close to the bars.
"Taunts will have no effect on us," Optimus said in warning, "You might as well stay quiet in there, until we decide what to do with you." With that, he instructed the others to follow him elsewhere.
Skyfire gave Starscream one last, remorseful glance before moving after the rest of the Autobots.
Starscream shook with unrestricted anger, his coolant fans whirring on in an attempt to stabilise his heated circuits. Things just kept going from bad to worse, and the worse it got, the more he would suffer when Megatron got hold of him.
His shudders grew violent at that train of thought. He could easily envision his Leader's stormy faceplates at the moment. To waste the warlord's precious time like this was unthinkable, but he hadn't exactly been in Megatron's favour to begin with. It really was looking dire.
Sitting begrudgingly on the makeshift berth, Starscream willed himself to calm down. He could effortlessly get himself out of this mess, if he just took the time to think. If he could just think. If he could just... think of something other than Megatron!
The Seeker clutched his helm in his hands in frustration, unable to purge the name from his processor. That poor excuse for a Commander was not worthy of his attentions. He lacked finesse, and skill, and only cared about destruction and domination. Was such a mech even capable of anything else? Surely Megatron was a inadequate lover, what with his penchant for violence and brute force. Put to use, such traits would be intriguing, but Megatron? Interfacing?
Starscream began to chuckle to himself, entertained as always at his internal dissection of Megatron's flaws. His humour faded, though, when he realised how unlikely it was that he would ever know what kind of lover Megatron was, whether good or bad.
He frowned bitterly. Was he not attractive, to Megatron? He'd never had any complaints before, and was often accosted quite eagerly by other mechs, due to looks alone. Perhaps Megatron's optics were damaged.
Dark mouth forming a pout, Starscream kicked his legs back and forth from where they hung off the berth. He didn't like being overlooked, and that was all his Leader ever seemed to do. He was used to standing out, drawing optics wherever he went, yet Megatron always regarded him with that same impassive, domineering stare. That stare never failed to send tiny tremors through his body.
Starscream suddenly looked up when a dark flash swooped down on the other side of the bars, drawing his attention. He stood up and approached cautiously, and upon closer inspection he recognised the small mech as Laserbeak.
Growing nervous again, Starscream began to pace the limited confines of his cell, while the birdlike Decepticon pecked furtively at the control panel for the door. He was considering opening a comm. link to Megatron in order to confirm his fears, when the former gladiator beat him to it.
"Starscream, get your worthless aft out here."
The photon bars dissipated, and Starscream tentatively peered around the doorframe. As he predicted, Megatron was standing ominously in the dimly-lit corridor, with various other Deceptions assembled behind him. Strange how only now did Starscream notice the sirens going off throughout the base.
"M-Megatron!" Starscream choked out, wondering for a moment if he should just throw himself back into the cell; anything was preferable to Megatron's wrath.
"Silence, fool. You've done enough damage," The silver mech snarled forebodingly. He glanced up sharply, catching movement from the other end of the corridor. "Optimus! I'm taking back what's mine, and you will not stop me!"
"Autobots, attack! Megatron must not advance any further!" Optimus Prime commanded his followers, firing a shot from his rifle.
The Decepticons fanned out as much as they could in the narrow corridor, while Megatron refused to move, only craning his head aside at the last nanoklik to avoid the shot. In that position, he fixed his red optics on Starscream, who in turn shrunk back. "We will not waste time with this army of imbeciles. Fall back to the entrance!"
Starscream flinched as Megatron lurched forward and grabbed his arm roughly, before hauling him out the cell and along the corridor, firing shots from his Fusion cannon while he marched. Unable to compute any more humiliation, Starscream kept his helm down the entire time.
He was unsure whether or not to be relieved when he felt the cold air coming from outside. At least the hailstones had stopped.
"Autobots, fall back... They're retreating," Optimus Prime boomed mockingly. He gasped when Skyfire pushed past and reached out a hand towards the Decepticons.
"Starscream!" he called, despite knowing it was futile.
Hearing such an imploring call of his Second's name sent furious rivers of energon straight to Megatron's cannon, and he spitefully fired a shot that took the stunned Skyfire's arm clean off.
Starscream cringed at the shout of pain from his former friend, but the noise was drowned out by Megatron's scornful laughter. The dragging then continued, and he was lifted from the ground by a strong silver arm wrapped tightly around his waist, leaving the Autobots behind to tend to Skyfire.
"One word, and I will rip the spark from your chamber this very instant," Megatron said in a dangerously low voice, not looking at him.
Starscream had no desire to say anything, for once, and instead chose to watch the scenery blurring by below.
-/-
A/N: Getting warmer... Sorry for creepy!Skyfire, and KO'd Powerglide... XD He's... not my favourite. R&R!