A 'Screamer By Any Other Name

Inside Decepticon Headquarters...

Two large metal doors slid open, as Megatron entered the science lab where Starscream stood waiting. "Nice of you to finally grace us with your presence, Megatron!" the obviously annoyed Air Commander snapped.

Megatron brushed past his fellow Decepticon and began looking at Starscream's invention. "This had better be worth my time, Starscream."

Thundercracker watched on in silence. He recalled a conversation he'd overheard several days ago, one in which Starscream addressed a handful of Decepticons in a most peculiar manner. Thundercracker only stumbled upon the secret gathering by accident, as he was performing a routine security check and opted to change the order of his check-list. One of the attendees happened to be Skywarp, but his friend said little about what was discussed. He only implied that he had nothing to worry about, and that when it went down, he'd be taken care of.

"Behold," Starscream began, "This is the key to our ultimate victory over the Autobots!" His fingers rested atop the laser barrel, as if he was a spokesman attempting to sell the latest model. "This device will generate enough energy to destroy anything within a four-hundred mile area!" A sense of accomplishment and pride filled his circuits.

Megatron quickly interjected. "The humans have weapons that cause damage on a much larger scale! How does your weapon differ from theirs?" The commander cast a stern look upon Starscream's form.

A smile came across Starscream's faceplate. "Because it's localized- there is no fall-out." He noticed Megatron's stance shift slightly, a sure sign of his interest in what he had heard. "No danger zone. It is target specific, Megatron... we point and aim, and it does the rest. Simply apply the proper programming and anybody... anyplace... is wiped out of existence." Starscream waved his hand over the device, anxiously awaiting whatever praise his captive audience was surely to give.

Megatron was still unsure of the weapon's potential. He had seen his fair share of super-weapons and fail-proof devices, only to watch them crumble before the day was through. There had to be a catch to this one as well. "What type of power source is needed to run your super weapon?"

From a slight distance, Thundercracker felt his humor circuits tingle. This was what he had been waiting for. "This is gonna be good," he thought.

"Neptonium," Starscream stated. "While I understand it is still in the process of being analyzed, early reports indicate-"

"Neptonium!" Megatron roared. "No chance, Starscream!" Neptonium was an unstable source of energy discovered deep underground on the planet Gogon. Upon first discovery, it had been proclaimed a miracle fuel. Shortly after it had been sampled, the test-subjects grew confused and weak, eventually losing even the strength needed to rise from a seated position. Their mental capacity was corrupted by the Neptonium they had ingested, sentencing the once strong-bodied beings to a life of darkness and silence. Its chemical make-up was very volatile, and rouge science groups had been rumored to be creating a warhead laced with it for military expansion. "This project is terminated as of this moment!"

Starscream remained calm despite being shouted at. Could it be because he had grown so used to the treatment, or did he have another reason?"I'm afraid that isn't true, Megatron." Across the room, now in a state of disbelief, Thundercracker felt a significant down-surge in energy. If he were human, he would have fainted.

"What did you say, Starscream?" Megatron asked, his fusion cannon begging for a reason to be activated.

Starscream walked over to a side panel on the wall behind him, and pressed the middle button. "This weapon is going to end this war whether you approve of it or not. I thought you might shoot this down, just like you always shoot down everything I come up with!" Starscream allowed himself to smile. "So I made sure I had a back-up plan in case something like this happened." It was at that very moment Thundercracker fully realized what that meeting had been about- the taking of command. "This time, Megatron, you're the one who is being terminated!"

As though on cue, a horde of Decepticon warriors entered the room, called there by the side panel Starscream had just used. Megatron turned around and saw himself being surrounded by his comrades. "For too long, we have allowed you to lead us into defeat upon defeat," Starscream continued. "Your reign of nothingness ends today! I am taking over leadership of the Decepticons," he stated. He motioned for Soundwave and Motormaster to take their former leader away. "Lock him up," he ordered.

"This is mutiny!" Megatron screamed.

"NO!" Starscream yelled in return. "This is redemption!"

end of chapter 4

A/N: Again, my thanks to Alaskan Olive for helping me edit this chapter-- I really appreciate your help. And to all who have been reading the story so far, a mighty big Thanks to you too!