Fire in the Sky
According to Plan
Starscream, to say the least, was frustrated.
Clicking his fingers against the console in his quarters, the Decepticon commander thought about all his not quite successful plans, and how they had all failed due to the incompetence of those whom were under his command.
Skyquake's failure was his own fault. He had brought upon his demise himself, when he refused any help, and refused to accept the fact that Starscream was his master. A pity, really. He would have made a fine addition to the Decepticon ranks. Unfortunately, he could not be repaired. Considering that all that remained of him was an impact crater and a pile of scrap.
And thinking of scrap, Starscream thought about his most recent plan. It was simple really. Capture the autobot known as Wheeljack, replace him with a doppelganger, and then, have the foolish autobots bring him back to their base. It was foolproof. All that idiot had to do was either learn the location of the bunker, or activate their accursed land-bridge. But no. Makeshift could not even accomplish those simple tasks. Nor could Starscream's guards keep Wheeljack from escaping. So, as a result, and through no fault of his own, Starscream watched as Makeshift was destroyed and the Nemesis was damaged.
Blasted Autobots.
Of course, all these failures where due to the fact, in Starscream's opinion, that his troops believed that Megatron could still be saved. Which, of course, was utter nonsense. Especially if he had anything to do with it.
He had made sure to dispose of any remaining Dark Energon, including the fragment that he had removed from Megatron's spark chamber. So there was no chance of it being used as potential tool. He also made sure to withhold any useful information from Knock Out and Breakdown, so that those two bumbling idiots could not possibly revive their "master". Not that those two incompetents would be successful even if they did have all the information pertaining to how Megatron ended up in his current predicament.
His thoughts were interrupted when his communicator suddenly beeped.
"Yes, what is it?" Starscream barked. He had left specific orders to be left alone. Unless, a situation of utmost importance occurred.
"A situation of utmost importance." Starscream's own voice answered. Thought it sounded distorted and filtered.
"What is it, Soundwave?" Starscream asked impatiently. He could not stand Megatron's lapdog, and his unfailing loyalty to his fallen master.
"What (skeersh) do (skeersh) Prime?(skreesh) new (skeersh)autobot?"
"Hmm. That sounds like the voice of that Autobot sympathizer that we captured that one time." Starscream recalled, tapping his chin. "And it seems Prime has a new member in his ranks. Was there anymore to that message?"
"No." Soundwave used Starscream's voice to answer again.
"Curious. I was not aware that another Autobot had landed on Earth." Starscream mused. "Are the sensors malfunctioning?"
"No."
"Very well. Dispatch two Vehicon ground-units to the town where we last encountered those annoying Autobots." Starscream ordered. "Have them scout for any odd vehicles, especially for that female motorcycle. They are not to engage until we can determine who this new menace is. Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes. Of course." Once again, Soundwave used Starscream's voice to answer.
"Now. Was there anything else?" Starscream asked, hoping that there wasn't.
"Strange disappearances in the northern Colorado Mountains continue to be reported to Police." Soundwave repeated what sounded like a Human news report. "Campers and hikers are going missing without any explanation, and leaving no clues. Police are advising residents to avoid that section of the mountains until an investigation can be made."
"What has this got to do with anything?" Starscream demanded.
"This just in: A local resident in that area, has reported what appears to be a mysterious, large shadowy figure. No further details are available at this moment. Police, and Park Officials are investigating."
Starscream clicked his fingers together. "I see. That could be something. Or nothing. I shall investigate the matter myself. Have two sky units meet me in the main hanger. You shall remain here and await further orders."
"Yes. Of cour-"
With a impatient growl, Starscream clicked off his communicator. "Useless fool."
He exited his quarters, and made his way down to the main launch hanger. There, already awaiting him, where two Vehicon jet units.
"We are heading to the Colorado mountains to investigate a possible threat." Starscream explained to the drones. "If it does turn out to be a threat, I want it destroyed. Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes, Lord Starscream." The drones answered without hesitation.
"Move out." He ordered. He quickly transformed into his jet mode, and launched from the Nemesis' hanger. The two vehicons quickly followed.
In just under an hour, Starscream and his two troops landed in the Colorado wilderness. Reverting to their robot modes, he and the two drones began scanning for any anomalies.
"Bah. How hideous..." Starscream muttered. He hated organics. It was so, unkempt and unruly. So unlike the sharp, clean order of technology. If he had his way, he would destroy it all. But for now, he would bide his time.
"Spread out." He ordered. Then, for good measure, he kicked a rabbit that was sniffing his foot. "Disgusting creature..."
Making his way through the trees, Starscream kept his optic's peeled for anything odd. For some reason, he knew that those pathetic humans had good cause to be worried. Those "reports" couldn't be random. And he was determined to find the cause of it all.
"Uff!"
"Lord Star-!"
Starscream quickly spun around at the sound of his two troops, ready to tell them to shut-up. Instead, he was speechless to find that they were now missing."
"What is this trickery?" He murmured. "Drones! Answer me immediately!"
Nothing.
"Idiots..." Starscream mumbled. "If you want something done, you have to do it- GAH!"
He was suddenly pinned on the ground, face-down, as a large, heavy mass landed on his back. With considerable ease, he was then tossed against an exposed wall of rock, back first, and upside-down, and was held there as mass of energon webbing came out of nowhere and wrapped around him, holding arms in place.
"What is this?" He demanded, as he struggled against his bonds. "I demand that I be freed immediately!"
A high-pitched, female sounding, laugh reached his audio sensors. "Demand all you want, O mighty Starscream. That really wont' help you."
His optics went wide as he recognized that voice. "Arachnid..."
The former decepticon landed in front of him, in her spider mode, and spun her torso around so she could look him directly in the face. And speaking of which, Starscream noticed that half of hers was badly damaged with what looked like an energon burn.
"Ha." She laughed sarcastically. "Don't go by that anymore, Commander. I'm Blackarachnia now. And don't you forget it."
Starscream sneered. "Would that have anything to with your, shall we say, new pathetic spider form?" He tsk'd in a mocking tone. "Tut, tut, tut. Such a poor choice, mimicking a pathetic Earth creature. But then again, you were always good at making poor choices." To add further insult, he added "And black with red arms and legs? Knockout would be pleased to see that you have made such a fashionable choice."
With a howl of rage, Blackarachnia slammed her fist into the rock next to Starscream's head. He assumed that it was meant to scare him, but the action only caused him to smile wider.
"Struck a nerve, have I? Getting under your skin?" He taunted her. "Or course I am. It was always easy to do so." with an evil chuckle, he commented, "By the way, I love what you have done with your face. I quite suits you."
"Shut your mouth, fool, or I'll shut it for you. For good." She warned. "And since we're talking about poor choices; only two drones for support? I thought Megatron was smarter then that."
Starscream laughed. "You are behind the times, Little Spider. Our poor leader is, shall we say, currently enjoying oblivion."
Blackarachnia's optics went wide. All eight of them. "What?"
"Oh, yes." he continued. "Our former Lord had a little accident with the space-bridge. It was destroyed by Optimus Prime, and his annoying Autobots. A shame, really. Megatron was a bit too close for comfort, and now he's nothing more than a charred husk, laying in the Nemesis's repair bay."
"You lie." Blackarachnia spat. "Megaton would never be that foolish."
It was Starscream's turn to laugh. "Oh, but he is. Release me, and I'll show you myself."
"Why would I do that?" She asked, "I could just leave you here and go myself."
Starscream smiled knowingly. "You forget, Spider, that with Megatron out of the way, I am in command of the Decepticons. As their leader, they listen only to me. If you return to our ship without me, you shall be fire upon on sight."
"Cold and calculating. Just like Megatron." She purred. Starscream wasn't impressed.
"You dare mock my intelligences?" He sneered. "You dare compare my greatness to a burnt corpse? Bah! You forget, Blackarachnia, with whom you deal with..."
Without warning, Starscream ripped his arm free from the web and fired three quick laser blasts directly into her torso. She was sent sprawling, and he used his advantage free the rest of him. Acting quickly, he used his boosters to jump up high, and then land directly on her lower torso.
"GAH!" Blackarachnia cried out in pain.
Starscream remained standing on top of her, bent down, and wrapped his long fingers around her neck.
"Do I have your attention now?" He asked with a sneer. She nodded quickly. "Good. Now listen closely, as I have not the patience to repeat myself."
Blackarachnia looked him right in the optics.
"Here are my terms. And might I add that it is in your best interests to accept them." Starscream stated threateningly. "You are now under my command. You will swear your loyalty only to me, or I shall kill you, and bring your pathetic organic corpse back as warning. Do I make myself clear?"
She gasped for air, but answered anyways. "Yes!"
"Yes,what?" He growled, squeezing her neck tighter. "I didn't quiet hear you."
"Yes, Lord Starscream!" She shouted. He let her neck go, and got off from on top of her.
"Now." He said with pride. "As a show of good faith, I will reward your loyalty, and all future loyalty, with a gift, or something of your choice. Within reason, of course."
Blackarachnia's eyes narrowed at him. She transformed into her human mode and crossed her six arms, but didn't say anything.
"You don't believe me?" Starscream asked. With a tsk, and a shake of his head he continued. "Pity. Shall I leave you here, stranded and injured, until you learn your lesson?"
"What? No!" She shouted. Starscream quirked one of his "eyebrows" at her. "I mean... no, My Lord. Please don't. I believe you."
"Then what do you desire, my faithful servant?" he asked, folding his hands behind his back.
She gestured towards her scarred face. "I want the human who did this to me. The one who destroyed my ship and ruined my collection of rare creatures. The one who calls himself Jack. The one who the Autobot Arcee cares so much about. I want him to pay. I want to torture him while Arcee watches."
"Ah." Starscream smirked. "That is easily arranged. We, that is, I know of this human. I know where you can find him. And, I would love nothing more then to watch him suffer for the trouble he and his friend has caused me."
Blackarachnia smiled evilly. "Do this for me, Lord Starscream, and I shall never ask for anything again."
"So be it." Starscream nodded his head. "Now, before we leave this disgusting place, I wish to know how you created the energon webbing."
Blackarahnia blinked her optics in confusion. "I could always process energon and use it for my web, My Lord. I just never had enough of it to use it as an effective weapon."
"And with the abundance of Energon, here on Earth, you can." Starscream said, smiling evilly. "Does this mean you can detect it, even when it is hidden?"
"Yes, my Lord." The spider admitted.
"Excellent." Starscream chuckled. "You may prove more useful than I originally thought." He thought for a minute, then continued. "Now, let us be gone from this place."
"My Lord, what of your drones?" Blackarachnia asked out of concern.
"Hmph. Are they hidden?" he asked coldly.
"...Yes."
"Then leave them for the time being." He stated with a shrug. "Let them think about how they failed me. I have no need for weak, pathetic excuses for 'warriors'."
Without further words, he converted to his jet mode. He hovered as he waited for Blackarachnia to climb on his 'back'. Once she was on, without so much as a warning, he triggered his afterburners and took off into the sky.
Once she had recovered from the sudden burst of speed, Blackarachnia thought to herself, while holding on for dear life, 'Cold and calculating... I think I might enjoy "working" for you, Starscream...'
TBC.