Chapter 11

"OK… run that by me again…"

"I told you. He brought me back in, like you saw."

It was morning. Ben had a working watch- sixteen minutes past seven to be exact. The two girls were perched in the top level, surrounded by sleeping bodies, wrapped in towels, blankets, coats… here and there people stirred or talked in low whispers. Ben was leaning back against the mesh, arms resting on his bent knees, head tilted back, mouth open as he slept. Charlie held a sleeping Rose, and Alexis sat cross legged, with a bottle of water and a scrap of cloth, she was washing the scratches on her limbs from her climb the previous night.

"Why would he do that?" Charlie pressed, for the hundredth time. "He's one of the worst ones out there, everyone says so! But, according to you…"

"He just brought me back in," finished Alexis wearily.

There had no point trying to skim over the events of last night. As the red light of Blackout's optics had approached, people had drawn back from the mesh in fear, scurrying as far away from him as they could. He had opened one of the compartments and there were yells of horror as one hand reached in… and deposited Alexis on the floor. Then he had locked up, pinched the open mesh where she had escaped so that the hole was shut, glared at them all, and left. The outline of his back receded into darkness, as people had remained pressed against the back walls until they were sure he was gone. And when he had gone, the questions had started.

"I'm still trying to get all of this…" Charlie was shaking her head vigorously as if trying to clear away all the confusion. "We are kidnapped, some of us killed, dragged here, imprisoned by monsters who have invaded our entire planet and are set on wiping it of all life… and in that time you've managed to convince them to let us keep a baby, plus gone for a midnight stroll with not so much as a slapped wrist? Do you care to actually tell me how you managed to escape, confront them, and not end up dead? What's going on?"

There was a sound of engines overhead, outside in the night sky, and both of their faces turned towards the noise. Throughout the night there had been echoes… doors opening and closing, thundering footsteps, the rumble of voices… the base was getting busier.

Alexis dropped her head again. "You know the day we met? When I told you I had had a near-miss with the jet? Well… I didn't really give you the whole story…" When Charlie motioned urgently for her to continue, she hesitated. "It's pretty hard to believe…"

Charlie tossed her head dismissively. "There's not much that surprises me, not any more."

So Alexis told her everything, starting with the morning she had stormed out of London and up to her dad's house, that fateful day the year before. Charlie listened intently, eyes widening slightly as Alexis relayed the events on her birthday night out with Sari.

"I didn't see Starscream again, after the invasion," she insisted. "Then that day, I recognised him, in the warehouse… he was unconscious, or whatever they call it, on the floor. I thought I'd try and be clever then, and see if I could sabotage him, or hack him and get some information… it sounds so lame and stupid now."

Charlie had one hand to her mouth in disbelief. "You're insane," she whispered.

"I know," said Alexis grimly. "He woke up when I was right there and nearly caught me. I had no idea he even recognised me…

'Then the day you lost me at the park, I was taken by this guy, Stephen. Turns out Starscream had decepticons and humans looking all over for me." She shook her head, and let out a mirthless laugh. "He certainly nurses a grudge. I've been here ever since."

"How are you not dead? And another thing I don't understand- why all this trouble for one human?"

"Search me." She sighed. "I had majorly pissed him off when I tried messing around with him, plus we had all that… history in the barn, and he had already spared my life once before, remember? I don't think he wanted me dead, at least, not yet. I think he wanted me… broken, perhaps..."

"And now?"

"And now… I don't know…" Her mind returned to the night before, the memory of his fingers tightening around her, the look of conquest on his face as she had uttered those words… she shuddered. What had she done, last night? What had she let herself in for?

Relief flooded her now that she was telling someone about all this, for the first time. She had never confided in anyone about her strange relationship with the fearsome decepticon. Partly it was fear that people would think of her as a traitor to the human race. Hugo had come the closest to figuring some of it out… She had tried her best, these last weeks, to survive, not just physically but mentally, and it had felt like she had succeeded, to an extent. Her fear of Starscream had ebbed, not completely, but it had dulled to wariness, as she had become accustomed to his moods, when to stay silent, when to speak.

Now she was fully afraid all over again. She didn't want to see him, didn't want to find out how he would uphold their alliance, forged out on a hill in the darkness.

Perhaps he viewed her pledge with amusement and would forget about it, after all, how could she possibly be of any use to a being such as him? But there was something in the way his optics had glowed with more intensity than usual, when she had knelt on his palm and hissed those words, in the heat of her grief and hatred. He wouldn't forget.

She hadn't even registered Charlie placing Rose in her lap and standing up some minutes ago. Now she was back, flopping down onto the cold floor and swearing quietly under her breath.

"Just got warm and now I'm freezing again after going down there. Right, I've got baked beans, mushy peas, mmm… plus Party Rings and some Pepsi. What a feast!"

Alexis pulled her cardigan tighter around her as she watched Ben stir and wearily choose the peas from the cans Charlie held out. Although she felt desperately sorry for them both, all of them, for being captured, she couldn't deny the comfort she felt from their presence. She shook her head as Charlie offered her a tin, then looked down to check on the sleeping baby girl.

"Good name, by the way. Rose, I mean." Ben mumbled sleepily as he tugged on the lid of his tin. "It was getting to the point where she was going to start answering to 'Baby'."

Charlie snorted with laughter and Alexis smiled as she looked back down at the tiny form. She's so beautiful, she thought. And clueless to all of this. Lucky thing…

Starscream had allowed the baby to live, something she should feel happy about. But deep down she knew that Rose, and all of them for that matter, lived on a whim, nothing more. If she were to cry just a little too loud… or if they didn't work hard enough for his liking… or… she swallowed hard at this last thought… if she didn't make good on her rash offer to assist him in whatever way he decided…

She pushed the dark thoughts away, and leant down closer over the sleeping infant. "I'll keep you safe," she whispered. "I promise."

They stayed put for over an hour longer. This was not usual. By now they would have been hustled out of the quarters and down into the hall to start combing through the scrap heaps. But no one had come for them. Charlie and Alexis lay on the blankets and listened intently to the muffled sounds echoing through the vast halls… More decepticons arriving, by the sound of it. Something was happening.

Alexis fidgeted amongst the covers. She hated waiting around. More than ever she felt like a captive… whatever was going on must be big to merit such a break in routine, for routine seemed to govern the decepticons through and through.

Ben had been down in the stores, trying his best to clean Rose and change her nappy. "I've done my best," he said grimly, as he rejoined them at the top. He sat down carefully, Rose was in a sling he had fashioned from a hooded sweater, the sleeves tied around his neck. "Not that I'm ungrateful to you for appealing to Thundercracker's sensitive side…" he gave a small wry smile. "But she's going to need food, clothes, nappies… how on earth are we going to manage that?"

"Leave it to me," assured Alexis. "You're right. I'll get her those things as soon as I can. Hopefully I'll be allowed out again soon. Or… I don't know, ask one of them?"

Charlie gave her an incredulous stare. "Yeah… I can just see it now… 'Oooh, and whilst you're out destroying our cities and killing people, could you pick us up some Pampers?'"

Sideways was elbowed once again as he made his way down the crowded corridor. He snarled, but whoever it was, was already lost in the throng. How dare they? Didn't they know he was Megatron's aide? They should be parting respectfully to let him through, heads down!

As of early this morning, many more decepticons had arrived, some faces were familiar to him, others not. He would be sure to ask Starscream what the meaning of all this was. Forces were stretched, even he knew that, although to voice such a fact aloud to Megatron these days usually resulted in some nasty punishment. How could Starscream warrant all these reinforcements? Particularly to this insignificant scrap of land! There was nothing here!

In fact, a country as small as this should have been converted long ago. Something wasn't right. Starscream was being too slow. The Strategy seemed to have taken second place… to what? Sideways scowled to himself as he walked. Already he was mentally preparing his report for Megatron. More bases would have to be built, and someone else assigned to the task, to ensure it would be carried out properly. Maybe Megatron would have to come here to see for himself the extent of Starscream's laziness. And when he did, he would surely appoint someone in the arrogant jet's place- with the right vision, the proper authority…

Sideways allowed the pleasant reverie to envelope him as he approached the main hall… Starscream, having been away from his supreme leader for so long, had grown complacent… but when Megatron would issue the inevitable beating for such disobedience, he, Sideways, would be beckoned forwards… Starscream would kneel in smoking ruins, begging in vain for a second chance… he would turn to Megatron…

I assure you, leader, you will not be disappointed...

And another thing. More slaves were needed. There were plenty of the organics still roaming the countryside, hiding, if you could call it that. It really was pitiful- they were practically asking to be captured. He would gather some of these useless slag-buckets and go out to harvest more later. Hardly a duty- more a sport. Sideways idly wondered how Starscream had disposed of the young female last night.What a shame he didn't let me help… Well, plenty more to play with…

He emerged into the main hall, snatching an energon cube from a smaller mech as he strode in. The room was busy and crowded, Starscream sitting at one end, seemingly receiving reports from a group of new arrivals. Thundercracker and another he recognised as Bonecrusher stood at one of the terminals. Other decepticons bustled in the space. Down one end he saw Blackout jostling in the human slaves. Sideways made towards Starscream.

And stopped, and did a double take down the hall.

Finally they had been summoned, and made their way once again into the hall. Ben had panicked momentarily when Blackout had ordered them out, but had brought Rose along- what else could they do? She was awake, but quiet and cooperative, gurgling in the sling, and chewing on a biscuit.

"So, what do we do?" Charlie inquired out of the side of her mouth, watching the decepticons fearfully.

Alexis didn't answer straight away, she too, was eyeing all the huge creatures, never having seen this many in one place before. "Do as I do," she replied, still watching the robots. "We have to sort through these piles, metal over there, wires there…"

"That's it? All day?"

"Yes. It actually goes by quite quick, you'd be surprised."

"Huh. Just like life before the invasion really. Work, eat, sleep. Work, eat, sleep…"

"I work all day, and get half-drunk at night.
Waking at four to soundless dark, I stare.
In time the curtain-edges will grow light.
Till then I see what's really always there:
Unresting death, a whole day nearer now,
Making all thought impossible but how
And where and when I shall myself die…"

Both girls turned to stare at Ben, who coughed and looked slightly embarrassed as he finished the recital. "Aubade, by Philip Larkin," he said sheepishly. 'I studied him at college…"

"He was a cheerful bastard, wasn't he?" Charlie grinned. "Now come on. You're depressing Rose."

Rose giggled and waved a pudgy hand aimlessly from within the sling. They moved with the rest of the group amongst the piles, the four of them, sticking together.

What. The. Slag. Is. She. Doing. Alive?

Sideways blinked, unable to comprehend the sight. The girl was alive. Alive, seemingly un-maimed, industriously hauling materials with the others. How can this be? What kind of game is this?

He glanced over at Starscream, who was listening with growing impatience to a small green mech, gabbling nervously. As he watched, Starscream swatted the bot's words away with a curt gesture.

"Enough," he snapped, and the bot in question cringed and stepped backwards. The jet's optics came to rest on Sideways, and the nasty sneer widened.

"My favourite decepticon, the loyal Sideways…"

Then he stood up, and addressed the room.

"Those of you with orders, carry them out. I want no excuses, no half measures. Am I clear?"

"Yes, Lord Starscream!" the clamour of voices seemed to please the Air Commander, and he seated himself smugly.

Lord Starscream? Sideways watched the room empty, until only a few decepticons remained behind. What's going on? What orders? Unease began to bloom in Sideway's circuitry. As they exited, some threw him derisive glances, he heard muttering, sniggering, but when he whirled to face the sounds, he met blank faces.

Squaring his shoulders, he approached the Seeker.

"Know any poetry that doesn't make me want to top myself then?"

Charlie was wrestling with a car stereo, trying to dismantle it. She dropped down onto the floor and sat cross-legged, poking the device in her lap. Beside her, Ben frowned in thought, disentangling a bundle of wire, Rose snuggled to his chest.

"Not all of Larkin's poetry was like that…"

"Hugo and I used to tell jokes, or try and remember song lyrics, to pass the time," said Alexis.

"How about a poem about a giant robot that decides to bugger off back to its home planet?" suggested Charlie under her breath. She cast a quick glance up at Blackout, who luckily hadn't heard.

Sideways balled his fists in growing frustration. "Don't you understand me?" he snapped as Starscream smirked and reclined in his chair. "I demand you tell me what's going on here!"

Starscream smiled dangerously. Across the room, Thundercracker paused at his terminal. When Starscream smiled like that, it never boded well for the recipient. He shook his head, and not for the first time, marvelled at Sideway's stupidity.

"You demand, do you?" Starscream raised one eyebrow. "Nothing for you to worry about, Sideways." He sniggered contemptuously. "If you have finished here, I suggest you run along."

The invitation to leave hung in the air. Every decepticon in the room, if stood where Sideways was, would already be running for the exit.

But Sideways shook his head pompously, and unwittingly discarded his final chance.

"Something funny's going on here, Starscream," he whinged. "And I will find out what! You're failing in your duties to our leader. Your laziness and insubordination will be your undoing! You have lost what it takes to be second in command! If you ever really had it," he added with a sneer.

The room was deathly silent, apart from the small sounds of some of the humans still tinkering on the floor. Alexis and a few of the others had broken off though, and stood stock still, tense, watching.

The silence stretched on, and Sideways seemed to sense he had gone too far. But Starscream merely smiled wider, and stretched one arm out luxuriously, inspecting his null ray with interest.

"You are right, Sideways," he said lazily. "Second in command no longer suits me."

Before anyone could react, he unleashed his weapon, blasting Sideways across the room with such force he smashed into the opposite wall. The noise was unlike anything Alexis had ever heard. It knocked her off her feet and she found herself on the floor with the others, crouched in a ball. The sound of her pounding heart almost drowned out Sideways' roars and the terrible grinding noise of metal on metal.

Sideways struggled to his feet, sparks falling, gasping in shock. He looked round wildly for help. None came. Starscream rose to his feet, and advanced. Sideways readied his weapons, but Starscream was too quick, knocking the other decepticon to the floor with another blow.

One of his arms flopped uselessly, permanently offline. As he writhed on the floor, Starscream stepped over him, and brought his foot crunching down on his good arm, causing him to scream in agony, the sound echoing through the vast space. Realisation dawned on his features, as his optics focused on the humming tip of Starscream's ray, pointing straight down at him.

"Megatron is the one who has lost his way, not I!" Starscream gloated, twisting his heel on the ruins of Sideways' arm, grinding his components into the floor. "And as he is too short-sighted to come and see my insubordination for himself, it appears I will have to practiseon you. Oh, it's not as satisfying as finishing that idiot, granted," he added casually, ignoring Sideways cries and struggles, "But in the mean time, I can focus my attention on you."

Sideways began to babble, desperately.

"I… your boldness is commendable, Lord Starscream," he gasped, slipping in the title in the obvious hope of appeasing the Seeker. Starscream merely smiled nastily and motioned for him to continue, so he did. "I… was wrong to address you so disrespectfully. You are the true decepticon leader. But I'm not who you're after. I'm… not worth your weapons, surely? Let me leave… find another planet, and leave you to carry out your coup… I won't go back to Megatron… please…"

Starscream paused, and seemed to be considering. The seconds ticked by, and the faintest glimmer of hope flashed across Sideways' visage.

Then Starscream turned his head, towards the slaves.

"Alexis?"

Sideways jerked his head, dumbfounded. Thundercracker's eyebrows shot up. Down on the floor, Alexis' heart gave a huge jolt.

Me? What does he want with me?

"Come here."

Very slowly she got to her feet, bewilderment, and despite her best efforts, a trace of fear on her face.

His optics found her, and narrowed. "Now."

She glanced back once at the others, and picked her way through the piles towards the two decepticons.

As she approached, Sideways' optics stayed on her, burning with their intensity. Starscream waited for her to come as close as she dared, then shifted his foot off of Sideways' arm and onto his chest. Then without warning he fired a missile into Sideways' side, who writhed in agony, pinned in place beneath Starscream's foot. Alexis flinched back from the bang and a small cry escaped her.

The smoke cleared and she saw a gaping wound in Sideway's torso, on the side closest to her.

"I've got a you a present, Alexis," said Starscream softly, the predatory smile widening. "Come closer."

She obeyed, reluctantly, still conscious of Sideways' stare on her.

"Do you see a gold cable?"

Peering into the gaping wound, still smoking slightly, she nodded. In the twisted metal of Sideways' hide was indeed a gold wire, about as thick as her arm.

"Pull it out."

Sideways gasped and struggled fruitlessly. "Don't let her touch me! Give me some dignity!" he moaned. Then he appealed to Alexis, turning his great head to her as best he could. "Please don't…" he begged.

He saw her hesitate and opened his mouth again. Starscream leaned onto his chest, causing his frame to creak, and he moaned again and shook his head violently.

"Never allow pleading and whining to distract you from the task at hand," Starscream said to her, as a teacher to his pupil. "Keep your objective in mind and carry it out."

She still hung back, her heart threatening to burst from her chest. She wanted to run, back to the others. She wanted Hugo to put his arm around her and lead her away, like yesterday. She wanted her Dad. She wanted to be back at up his house, run in the door, up the stairs, jump into her bed and hide under the covers.

Starscream's voice above her snatched her back into herself.

"Very well." His tone made her shiver. "We'll try a different tack."

He bent down still further and addressed Sideways. "Sideways. I have made a decision. You have a chance to redeem yourself."

Sideways' head jerked up. "Name your request, Lord, I will do whatever you ask…" he gasped beseechingly. All arrogance was gone from his demeanour, he twitched in agony, longing for his life to be spared.

Starscream nodded. "Good, good. Kill this human, and I will let you go."

He nodded towards Alexis, who froze to the spot, unable to move. Her mouth fell open.

"Will you do this for me?" Starscream raised an eyebrow at the wrecked Sideways.

Sideways almost sobbed in relief, unable to believe his luck at the ridiculously easy request. His mind, struggling to deal with the pain of his injuries, leapt on the chance for freedom.

"Without hesitation… I would kill a thousand of them, gladly…"

"Did you hear that, Alexis?" Starscream tsked and shook his head, a wicked smile spreading across his face. "This one here would kill you without a thought. I'm shocked I even have to remind you of that…" he laughed at the confounded expression on Sideways' face. "What more motivation do you need? Mmmm?"

Alexis took deep breaths, trying to calm herself.

"Now. Pull out the cable."

She stepped up to the wound, and reached out, she had to lean right in almost up to the shoulders. She grasped the thick gold cable in both hands, it was slightly warm. She tugged.

The cable gave slightly but did not come out. Sideways grunted in pain and convulsed, making her jump. She tried again, and after a huge tug, the cable slipped out.

He immediately went limp. His optics dimmed but did not go out. He seemed paralysed. Above her, Starscream's laughter echoed through the hall.

"Well done Alexis, well done. Now…"

He leaned down and prised the plating away from Sideway's chest. As he did so, she saw a glow emitting from his torso, reflecting on Starscream's face, making him look even more demonic.

"I would allow you to do the honours, Alexis, but I fear your organic shell would not withstand this," Starscream explained pleasantly. He reached down towards the source of the light. As he drew nearer, Sideways' chest shifted, he was partially transforming, trying to protect himself. But it was no good. She watched in fascinated horror as Starscream closed his fist around a small ball of pulsating light, andwrenched.

As Starscream straightened, Sideway's optics dimmed to darkness. Then his whole body appeared to drain completely of colour. As she blinked, astonished, he literally faded right in front of her, until his lifeless body was monotone grey.

Starscream felt the spark in his fist crunch and disintegrate. The few remaining decepticons stood silent, waiting for him to speak.

"My fellow decepticons. It starts now. No more waiting, no more following the pointless commands of our cursed leader who has forsaken our planet and discarded the ways of the true decepticon." He glared around the room. "Who else here opposes my irrefutable reign? Who here would rather fly back to Megatron?"

Silence.

Finally Thundercracker grinned and broke the quiet, stepping forwards.

"Nicely done, Starscream. But you didn't let me have any fun."

"He's all yours now," Starscream said casually. He reached down and nodded curtly at the human girl. Slowly, she got onto his palm. He straightened, and stepped aside. Immediately, the group of decepticons rushed forwards. They began tearing Sideways apart, ripping him limb from limb, holding parts aloft triumphantly. Thundercracker snapped off his weapons and inspected them appraisingly. At his head, Frenzy tore at his optics, sniggering. The sounds of the robot being eviscerated rang through the hall.

Alexis sat with her arms wrapped around her knees. Red light bathed her and she raised her head to meet Starscream's optics.

"How was that, Alexis?" The evil smile unfolded and filled her vision.

Her mind whirled. This is what she had wanted. It was. One less decepticon on planet Earth. Revenge.

It hadn't meant to feel like this.