A/N: I really don't enjoy writing any kind of battle scene, but I tried with this one. I based SS's moves on the ones he uses in the TF: WFC game on Xbox 360. He is so damn... quick in that boss fight at the beginning. XD Anyone else play that, btw? No one on my friend list has it. ¬_¬ If you do, my gamertag is: ToxicNebula. Anyway, sorry for the delay with this installment- it's been an odd couple of weeks, and when you work til 3am in a bar some nights, finding the time and energy to write is demanding. Grr... damn job coming between me and my baby!
This chapter is inspired by Certainty, by Mind in a Box. "Do you see the confusion? Where do you think this will lead? Do you feel the commotion? Why do you feel so much need? Certainty... All I would need is certainty..."
-/-
Certainty
-/-
"That's right, you little glitchers, flee like the inferior beings you are!" Starscream laughed uproariously, firing another cluster bomb in the direction of the amassed human soldiers. Taking full advantage of his streamlined jet-form, the Air Commander barrel-rolled gracefully away from the resulting explosion.
Thundercracker roared past overhead, firing a stream of missiles at a tank unit. As Starscream transformed and hovered above the carnage, he looked up and smiled as the Trine-link sounded.
"Are you sure Megatron is alright with this? He didn't give any orders to attack, merely patrol."
The SIC snorted, lining up a shot through his scope, and firing his Null Ray at a soldier who happened to be aiming a rocket launcher at him. "This is a bonus. I'm sure even he wouldn't object to an opportune energon raid! Besides, it's time we reminded him what I can do when I'm at my finest."
"Oh, typical. Reaping all the glory for yourself, again?" Skywarp said aloud, never far from his Trine-mates. He landed atop an outcrop of rock in robot-form. "We're here, too!"
Thundercracker transformed and landed next to Skywarp, shaking his helm down at Starscream. "I know the real reason you're doing this- You're trying to redeem yourself for the failed energon raid yesterday."
Starscream put his sky-blue servos on his hips, turning his nose up in disdain.
"Yeah, Thundercracker's right. I'll bet you just want Megatron to like you again," Skywarp added, visibly shaking from restrained laughter.
Starscream sneered up at his presumptuous Trine-mates. "Oh, please... You're going to break my spark, if you keep this up," he drawled sarcastically.
Thundercracker shrugged. "Whatever." He suddenly looked to the smoking debris below, squinting at something coming through the dust. "Starscream, we've got trouble."
"What, a challenge at last?" the red Seeker followed Thundercracker's gaze, and frowned.
"We can assume so," Thundercracker rumbled, readying his weapon. "They've got anti-air vehicles."
Starscream lowered himself to the ground, a small dust-cloud billowing around his thrusters. "Then we fight them as we are! I won't be stopped now!"
With his Trine-mates at either side, the Seeker ran forward until the anti-air unit lumbered into clear view. Starscream strafed to the side to dodge an oncoming missile, then darted forward again to fire a volley of lasers into the windows of the nearest vehicle. It veered aside and crashed into another one, sending both straight into Thundercracker's waiting line of fire.
Skywarp materialised behind the remaining vehicles in jet-form, swooping in and launching a barrage of missiles into the back of them, before warping once more.
Starscream then took the opportunity to boost several feet into the air, charging up his Null Rays. As the two trucks skidded towards him, he rotated his fully-charged frame into a graceful vortex high above, spraying streams of plasma into his surroundings in vicious circles, and destroying the last of the humans' pitiful anti-air unit. Megatron's SIC landed moments later, taking in the devastation around him with a smug smile. "So much for the challenge."
The purple and blue Seekers made their way over to him, unable to resist Starscream's infectious arrogance, thus wearing matching smirks.
"We'll start filling cubes from those fuel tankards. You'd best report to Megatron," Thundercracker said, jerking his thumb over his shoulder towards the source of energy.
"Do it," Starscream nodded, and opened a private comm. link to his Leader. He ignored the heat pooling in his sensor-net. "Megatron, it's me, Starscream," his mouth curled up in spite of himself. "Have you missed me?" he said in a lilting vocaliser.
He heard Megatron grunting. "I assume you have a good reason for your dereliction of duty."
"Oh, I do," Starscream grinned. "You might want to send Astrotrain out to our coordinates, for the energon we've secured," he failed to keep the smugness from his tone, then realised he didn't really want to try.
"He has already been dispatched about a breem ago," Megatron replied neutrally.
"What? But..." Starscream faltered, confused.
"I saw the entire thing, Starscream. Did you think I would trust you to follow orders obediently, after yesterday?" There was a wry tone in the silver mech's deep vocaliser now.
"You've been spying on me?" Starscream fumed, optic ridge twitching. He shuddered involuntarily when Megatron let out a low, appreciative laugh.
"You have no idea."
Starscream optics widened slightly at that, then shook it off in disregard. "Then since you already know everything, I have nothing more to report!" and he cut off the link. "Fragger," he swore, turning and making his way to his Trine-mates.
"Well? Was he pleased with you?" Skywarp said over his shoulder, emphasis on the 'you'.
The Trine-leader shrugged as casually as he could muster. "Of course he was impressed. We were getting desperately low on energon, after all."
"Yeah," Thundercracker agreed, adding another energon cube to the pile, "But we still abandoned the patrol. I'm sure there will be repercussions, Starscream."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Starscream snapped. He had no intention of admitting that Laserbeak or Buzzsaw (presumably) had been reporting on them. He inwardly cursed Soundwave for his interference in the matter, for there was no doubt in his processor that it was him Megatron had entrusted the surveillance to.
Skywarp stopped filling the cube in his hands, giving his Commander a worried look. "When you defy Megatron like this, we think he takes it personally. I guess we figured it would have an effect on you."
The red Seeker stomped a thruster on the ground. "You've been discussing me? This army is full of traitors!"
"Yeah, like you," Skywarp muttered with a snicker.
Starscream pushed the purple Seeker roughly. "Shut up!"
Thundercracker hastily stepped between them, a hand against each Trine-mate's chest. "We don't have time for this, you guys. We'd better get more cubes filled up before the collection party gets here."
Starscream glared at Thundercracker, then Skywarp, before turning away with a loud 'hmph'.
-/-
Megatron was pleased with the unexpected turn of events.
It was almost touching, how far Starscream was willing to go to prove his -Loyalty? Skill?- to Megatron. Almost.
The Leader of the Decepticons sat at his throne, remembering in vivid detail the footage he had witnessed only moments before. That refined talent Starscream had displayed sent Megatron's circuitry into lustful downward spirals- it was a pity he rarely got to witness it, and he suspected that if he hadn't utilised Soundwave's cassettes, he would probably never see it at all.
It was sometimes surprising how well Starscream and his Trine worked together, under the red jet's dubious command.
The silver mech rubbed between his optic ridges, shaking his head at the Seeker's ridiculously sporadic ideas. While his impromptu raid had, in fact, been a success that shifted the odds of victory in their favour, it was still clear that Starscream needed to know his place.
Megatron's mouth formed a broad smile. He could see exactly what would unfold, next: Starscream would march in with his helm high and chest puffed out, expecting gratuitous praise from Megatron on top of all the commendation he constantly gave himself. When he failed to get any, he would start screeching in that abnormally high-pitched vocaliser about how incompetent Megatron was, before no doubt storming from the Command Centre and sulking in his quarters for the rest of the evening.
Still amused by his often-correct predictions, the former gladiator opened a private comm. link to his foolish but still very much desirable SIC. "Starscream, report on your status."
There was silence.
Megatron frowned. He drummed his fingers against his thigh. "Starscream," he repeated, still receiving no response. Losing his good humour, the tyrant's tone grew dangerous. "Do not ignore me, Starscream, I'm warning you..."
An irritated tutting sound came through the link, at that. "Astrotrain arrived literally microseconds before your transmission. I apologise for being busy."
"Busy?" Megatron growled. "Don't insult me with your half-processed excuses. How much energon has been stored thus far?"
There was a pause, no doubt due to Starscream quickly scanning his optics over what he'd accumulated. "Roughly two hundred cubes so far, with lots more coming- Enough to fuel one of your ostentatious drinking ceremonies, anyway."
Megatron's optics narrowed at his Second's insolent words. Before he could spit out a retort, Starscream continued his diatribe, but seemed aware that he may have gone too far.
"I don't have a problem, if you want to squander all our energon in one evening," Starscream said in an infamously placating voice, "After all, it's always a pleasure to see you lose some of your rigid inhibitions..."
"What are you getting at, Starscream?" Megatron said in a short, gruff prompt. He wouldn't let his Second's wheedling, sickeningly sweet voice get under his plating.
"Nothing, my Leader! I am merely pointing out that you're... more obvious, when you're over-energised."
It was clear that Starscream was deriving far too much enjoyment from this, judging from the smothered mirth he could hear. "Obvious," Megatron repeated in an acknowledging, but unimpressed tone.
"Quite," a sly giggle, "The last time we had one of these pretentious and undisciplined affairs, you couldn't keep your optics off me."
"Perhaps because I do not trust you enough to let them wander elsewhere!" Megatron growled, fingers clenching the armrests of his throne.
The irritating part was, Starscream was right. He did find himself staring too long at times, when lost in the lull brought on by copious amounts of energon. At times like that, his optics always found their way to the tri-coloured Seeker, drinking in the sight of his fine frame and the proud arrogance it radiated.
Damn him.
"If you say so, my liege," Starscream said, sounding far too knowing for Megatron's liking. "But don't worry- you won't have to wait much longer before you can look at me again." With a screeching laugh, Starscream cut the link.
"Impudent little slag-pile!" Megatron roared aloud.
Soundwave looked up curiously, saw his Leader's barely-suppressed fury, and busily went back to work.
-/-
When the four aerial warriors returned, Starscream left Astrotrain and his Trine-mates to deal with unloading the cargo, and made his way straight to the Command Centre where Megatron was no doubt waiting.
He had very much enjoyed getting the last word in with his Leader, and was fully prepared for whatever Megatron had to say about it. In the back of his processor, however, he was still mildly annoyed about being spied on. It made his spark burn with contempt, but at the same time, it was slightly suggestive. Just how often did that pompous old mech watch his exploits?
Starscream smiled to himself as he marched proudly towards the large double doors. It did wonders for his ego to know how hard it was for Megatron to resist him.
More confident than the previous evening, the Air Commander stepped into the CC.
Soundwave was typing away at his usual spot, with Buzzsaw perched on the back of his chair. Starscream narrowed his optics at the cassette, suspicious of all Soundwave's minions since the admission from Megatron.
Starscream finally cast his gaze towards the throne, where the tyrant himself sat expectantly.
"I expect you're here to aggrandise your little energon raid," Megatron said, sharply lifting his chin from where it had been resting against his chest.
And just like that, Starscream's confidence wavered, and his wings drooped slightly to show it. "I thought you'd be pleased," he said weakly, frustrated as always by Megatron's reluctance.
The silver mech leaned his helm on one black fist, regarding his Second for a lengthy moment. "Next time, you needn't go to such lengths to merely prove a point," he said, disapproval now glaringly evident.
Starsrcream clenched both blue servos in agitation, further incensed by Soundwave's leery presence. "Nothing's ever good enough for you! I excelled myself today!" the Seeker protested bitterly.
"Yes, you did, but that's not a hard task, considering your poor performance as of late," Megatron continued scathingly.
Starscream stood in humiliated silence, grinding his dental plates back and forth. Without a word, he turned on his heel and marched back towards the door.
"Starscream."
He stopped in his tracks, but refused to turn around; He didn't deign Megatron worthy of his full attention, and he knew that angered him.
"I trust you will attend my 'undisciplined affair' in the mess hall, for your share of the energon if nothing else," Megatron snarled.
"Is that an order?" Starscream called over his shoulder, mockingly. He didn't relish the idea of celebrating a victory that he had been more-or-less denied.
"It is," Megatron said sternly.
"Yes, sir," Starscream answered quietly, never more glad to leave the Command Centre.
-/-
His army of Deceptions were always so enthusiastic after a successful energon raid, and that was why these events that Starscream so disapproved of were necessary. If morale was low, that only gave those nauseating Autobots the advantage, and that Megatron would not allow.
He knew Starscream was angry, and expected no less. He was, however, moderately surprised to see him obeying orders, for once. He had indeed come along to the mess hall, despite how insulted he clearly felt.
Megatron smirked, watching as his Air Commander quickly fell in with his Trine -for comfort, no doubt. He was gesturing wildly between talking and drinking his energon cube, and Megatron could surmise from the looks on Skywarp's and Thundercracker's faceplates that it was himself who was the topic of discussion. It only made him smile more.
At the rate he was consuming, it wouldn't be long before Starscream was over-energised. Megatron would have to be watchful of that- Starscream had a tendency to swan about, flaunting himself, in that condition.
Additionally, when the Seeker was bitter from embarrassment or shame he was also prone to scheming revenge.
That was two reasons to watch him, then. Megatron's smile faded.
-/-
Starscream was draining his third cube when Thundercracker chose to intervene.
"Screamer, slow down a bit... look, you've got some on your chin," the blue Seeker lifted a servo tentatively, then dropped it again with a strange look on his faceplates.
Starscream arched an optic ridge at him, then shrugged and licked at the energon trailing over his chin. "So what? We earned it."
"Yeah," Skywarp piped in from Starscream's right, "I agree with you, Screamer. I want to get blitzed!" He saluted and went back to his own cube.
Thundercracker just shook his helm. "You shouldn't let Megatron get to you so much," he said in a low vocaliser only Starscream could hear.
The Trine-Leader paused, fourth cube poised at his lips. "...What? I don't let him get to me," he lied, putting the cube down begrudgingly.
Thundercracker pointedly glanced at Megatron, then back at Starscream.
Humouring him, Starscream also looked over at Megatron: The warlord was seemingly in deep conversation with Hook and Mixmaster, but his optics were riveted on him. Bristling, Starscream slouched back slightly.
"See? The way you reacted there says it all," Thundercracker frowned.
Starscream scowled back at him, optics glinting angrily from underneath his dark helm. "You'd react like that too, if he was staring at you."
"No, I wouldn't," Thundercracker argued, "Because he's our Leader. He can stare at whoever he wants, and that happens to be you."
Unsure of how to take that comment, Starscream's scowl deepened. "You'd take his side, over mine? Some Trine-mate you are!"
Thundercracker just smirked at him. "What do you think? How many times have I gone along with your wild ideas? Ideas that frequently involve defying Megatron? And don't frown like that, it'll ruin your pretty little face."
"Shut up, fool. You only follow my lead because I'm your Trine-Leader and Air Commander. You're duty-bound," Starscream inwardly willed himself to stop talking. The energon had loosened his vocaliser, and now he was starting to feel sorry for himself, which made him whine.
Thundercracker chuckled, shaking his helm. "I thought we were friends, as well as comrades."
Starscream paused, thoughtfully. All the mid-priority scheming he'd been processing while talking/drinking had suddenly reached a conclusion. Knowing that Megatron was probably still watching him, he leaned closer to Thundercracker and placed an amiable hand on the blue Seeker's wing. "Of course. Friends," he agreed in earnest, smiling as sweetly as he could muster.
Thundercracker stiffened slightly, optics wide. "Yeah..? Good," he muttered, making an effort not to look at Starscream.
"What is it?" Starscream asked, annoyed that Thundercracker wasn't paying him much interest.
Thundercracker frowned, looking his Trine-Leader square in the optics. "Are you flirting with me? You're... you're stroking my wing," he said in an amusingly strangled voice.
"So I am," the tri-coloured jet went on smiling. He could practically feel Megatron's heated optics on him now, and was thrilled by how angry this had to be making him.
Thundercracker was visibly clenching his jaw. "I know you're just putting on a show for Megatron, but... slag it!" The blue Seeker lurched forward, grabbing Starscream's helm and kissing him fiercely on the lips.
Starscream hadn't, in all honesty, expected Thundercracker to take the bait. He was, however, not a bad kisser at all, and Starscream found himself returning the lip-lock eagerly. He felt and heard his Trine-mate moan.
"What are you guys doing?" Skywarp gaped at them, "Are you that blitzed already?"
Starscream abruptly broke off from the kiss with Thundercracker, and smoothly turned the other way to give Skywarp one of equal fervour. When he drew back from that, he had to laugh at the shocked look on Skywarp's faceplates. Sure to be even more amusing, was the look that would be on—
Megatron's livid vocaliser broke into Starscream's dazed euphoria in the form of a private comm. link. "Get your aft to my quarters right this instant, you little glitch! I tire of your games."
Starscream looked up in panic, watching as Megatron stalked towards the doors, optics blazing. He gestured sharply for his Second to follow as he went.
Ignoring his stunned and somewhat enamoured Trine-mates at the table, Starscream shakily got up to go after Megatron. He half-expected the two of them to fall upon each other's company as soon as he left, but didn't stop to check.
Even though fear rippled through his frame, Starscream had to admit to himself how good it felt to have turned the tables- Megatron had been provoked into 'punishing' him far earlier than the tyrant probably would have liked.
He hid his smile by dipping his helm, as he trotted dutifully after his furious leader.
-/-
A/N: Don't worry, something actually HAPPENS in the next chapter. XD; R&R please!