Title: The Prime
Genre: Action/Drama, Friendship/Romance
Rating: T for mild transformer swearing, some violence, and crude language
Short Summary:
When a young mech destined to be the next Prime is exiled by his evil uncle, he must learn what it means to become a great leader.

Chapter Twenty One

Speeding across the Badlands as fast as he could, Optimus couldn't believe this was happening. He knew the danger his friend was in, and wasn't he a fool for it! To actually think that Starscream was actually going to face his uncle alone!

'Starscream! Do not do anything stupid! Please!' The young mech begged as he kicked up his speed, along with everyone right behind him.

"Iacon is just up ahead, Optimus! We should reach it in about 2 breems!" Elita One yelled from her silver and pink form.

Optimus would have nodded if he could. But he just sped up, running his engine hard. He just hoped by then, nothing would happen to Starscream.

The Seekers all swooped into the massive throne chamber, gaining much attention from the Cybertronians inside. All optics turned upward to watch as they landed gracefully and bowed to one knee before their Leader.

Megatron was not in the best of moods, however. He had just learned not two cycles ago that his positional mate had gone missing, along with many of her femmes. He was not happy that Soundwave's subunits had failed to keep an optic on her. He had already dealt with them, much to their creator's disapproval and dissatisfaction. But he hadn't been foolish enough to word his bitter thoughts to The Prime.

As it was, everyone had been watching the interrogation of the only one who could have known of Elita One's whereabouts.

So when Starscream landed with his brothers, he had to pause to gape at the femme lying on the ground, spilling energon everywhere from her beatings. He couldn't believe his optics. These monsters had beaten a femme nearly into deactivation. The sight of her broken form made him shudder. He wondered what she had done to deserve such a beating.

But then he looked right at the mech sitting on the throne and had to hide a cringe. He had not expected Megatron to be so big and dangerous looking.

"Thundercracker, who is that? What business does he have here?" The powerful voice spoke from the massive bot.

Thundercracker stood up and smiled fondly at his youngest brother. "My Lord, allow me to introduce you to Starscream, my long lost brother." He said in a proud voice.

Megatron's optics lit up in surprise as he looked right the Seeker before him. He had not been expecting this at all. "Starscream, the lost son of Silverbolt?" He asked in wonder.

Starscream swept into a graceful bow. "Yes, Lord Prime. I am he. I suppose you are probably wondering where I have been all these vorns, Great Master." He said as humbly as he could.

"The thought did cross my processor, Starscream. I am definitely looking forward to hearing the tale of your survival. But for now, I am wondering what you are doing here. Why be lost for so long and then suddenly turn up?" Megatron asked pausing to glance over at Soundwave, who did understand that look.

Starscream dared to look into those burning optics, holding back his grimace. "I have heard of your greatness, My Lord and Master. And I have come to join your ranks of the Decepticons." He stated proudly.

Megatron smirked before standing up and making his way forward until he towered over the Seeker. "Did you now?" He glanced at Soundwave, who was staring deeply at Starscream.

When the treacherous Prime looked over at him, he met the tyrant's gaze and shook his head.

Optics narrowing, Megatron looked back at the Seeker, smirking. He reached out and placed his servo onto Starscream's wing, who had tensed up only but a little. "Welcome then, Starscream. I see no reason why the lost Prince of Vos cannot join us. Unless, you are lying." He said his voice darkening.

Starscream stiffened, looking up at him with widening optics but he shook his head. "No, My Lord. I do not lie to you. I mean as I say." He stated, trying not to flinch away.

Megatron smirked before turning and urging Starscream to walk with him closer to Soundwave. He shot a warning look at Thundercracker and Skywarp when they tensed up, looking worried. "Let me you introduce you to your new comrade then, my young mech." He motioned to Barricade, who was standing over the femme, who was very much online. She was trembling and looking up at Starscream in pain. "This is my Security Chief, Barricade. He is charge of upholding my laws and making sure there is no trouble. He also interrogates prisoners in a most painful way. Barricade, say hello to our newest Decepticon."

Barricade sneered but nodded sharply. "Welcome, brat." He said, smugly.

Starscream had to grit his denta to keep himself from snapping at the black and white. He instead looked at the femme. "Did he do that to her? What did she do?" He asked, trying to sound as if he didn't care.

"Ah, her name is Flareup. She is withholding information of my future mate's whereabouts." Megatron said before he lashed out a foot and kicked the femme, earning a painful screech.

Starscream flinched at the sound but quickly covered it up with a smirk. "Well, I do hope you get what you are looking for out of her then." He stated.

Megatron chuckled darkly before turning both of them towards Shockwave, who had a datapad in his servos. "This is my Chief Scientist and Medical Officer. He is in charge of keeping prisoners alive during interrogation. His methods are not always humane, however. Some would say he is rather sadistic. His name is Shockwave." He did not miss the way Starscream narrowed his optics at the one optic mech. He definitely saw hatred within those burning red optics. "Say hello to Starscream, Shockwave."

"Greetings, Seeker Starscream. I am glad to see another Seeker is still active. You will be most interesting to have around." Shockwave said, rather coolly.

"Then I will make sure not to disappoint you." Starscream couldn't hide the coolness of his tone. "I happen to be quite the scientist myself. Maybe we can have a test of theories later."

Shockwave tilted his head but shrugged. "We shall see." He said before returning to his datapad.

Then Megatron walked Starscream towards Soundwave, who remained tall and dangerously still. His burning visor was still on the Seeker and there was a dangerous hint of feeling coming from him. Starscream had a distinctive feeling that this mech seemed to be trying to figure him out. He could only hope that he wouldn't.

"And this is the Master of all Spies and Intelligence Gathering. The High Communications Officer, Soundwave. He is one of my favorite soldiers." Megatron said smirking dangerously. "Do you know why I favor him?"

Starscream merely raised an optic ridge but nodded. "Because he is intimidating looking? He doesn't look like he speaks much. But I do look forward to getting to know him." He said.

Megatron chuckled. "Oh, he looks forward to getting to know you as well, my dear Seeker. In fact, he is getting to know you right now." He grinned wickedly when Starscream looked at him in confusion. "You see, Starscream. Soundwave is my most useful soldier. He not only is my Second In Command but he is quite useful prying into processors, digging out information with his telepathy."

Starscream stiffened immediately as he looked wide optic at Soundwave then to Megatron. "Tel-telepathy? As in...?" He was asking.

"Exactly. Soundwave, give our new comrade a demonstration." Megatron said before roughly shoving the Seeker forward.

Starscream yelped as he stumbled forward before yelling out in pain as Soundwave lashed out and grabbed him by the head, digging his servos into his helm. "Wh-what are...!?" He was demanding.

"Starscream! My Lord, please do not...!" Thundercracker was begging.

Megatron whirled around with a snarl and jabbed a sharp claw towards him and Skywarp, as well as the tense Seekers. "Interfere, Thundercracker, and I will remind you of what happens when you test me!" He snapped.

"Suggestion:..." Soundwave spoke in a monotone way to Starscream. "Do not fight it. It will be painful if you do." And then his red visor flickered.

Starscream felt as if someone was reaching into his processor, digging into it. He felt as if claws were scratching at his processor and it hurt. He hissed in pain, trying to pull away but found that he couldn't. He tried throwing up firewalls, trying to keep the mech out but they were ripped down immediately.

It felt as if someone was reaping through his processor and it burned like hot energon.

It could not be helped that Starscream whimpered in pain, his optics shuttering closed. He felt some kind of force ripping through his memory banks, his processing unit and even through his entire being.

Something was digging into his processor and it was not a pleasant feeling.

And as soon as it started, it stopped.

Starscream's legs shuddered from underneath him and he fell to them. His energy had somehow been drained. He felt weakened. "Wh-what was th-that?!" He stammered, still drained.

"That was Soundwave digging into your processor, looking for what you really want here." Megatron sneered.

Starscream looked up at him in horror before looking up at Soundwave. "N-no..."

Megatron sneered before looking at Soundwave. "Soundwave, is our dear Starscream telling the truth? Is he here to join our cause?" He asked.

There was a silence as Soundwave peered down at Starscream, who was horrified by what he had just gone through. He then vented lowly before he shook his head. "Negative. Designation Starscream's true goal: Destroy Lord Megatron and Shockwave."

"No!" Thundercracker and Skywarp gasped stepping forward.

But suddenly Barricade was there, pointing his cannons at them, keeping them from moving.

Starscream felt his entire frame freeze up. He felt as if someone purged his entire system. He looked shakily up at Megatron, who was sneering at him. "N-no! It isn't true!" He said trying to push himself to his feet. He knew he was in danger now.

Megatron sneered before lashing out and grabbing the Seeker roughly by the throat, raising him. He ignored the yelp of pain that escaped his new toy as he squeezed his vocoder. "You think we are fools, little Seeker. I do not know why you want to destroy me but if you lie to me, you are punished. Here. I will address the punishment, myself." And he started to crush Starscream's vocoder.

The Seeker shrieked in pain, his optics shuttering closed as energon tears welled up in his optics.

"GET YOUR SERVOS OFF OF HIM,MEGATRON!" Came a very angry shout from behind them.

Stiffening, Megatron dropped Starscream to the ground and whirled around to see who had the nerve to shout at him like that. He was snarling in rage until his optics landed on a very tall and powerfully built Cybertronian standing in the door way with many mechs and femmes right behind him.

But in truth, Megatron felt terror rush through his system as he saw his supposedly dead brother, having coming back to haunt him.

"N-no! Sentinel?!" The tyrant yelped, scampering backwards in fear.