Title: Sidus Ad Quirito Diabolo

By: Ceris Malfoy

Drabble #3b: Perfection, Part 2

Summary: Optronix can easily picture this seeker as what he should be: Death and War and Insanity made whole and perfect.

Characters: Optronix a.k.a. Optimus Prime, Starscream, Starsinger (OC), Autobots, Unicron

Pairings: Optronix (OP)/Starscream, Autobots/Starscream, Optronix (OP)/Starsinger (OC), (very slight) Unicron/Starscream

Warnings: bad mojo, character death

Continuity: Shattered Glass, major AU

A/N:For 14FlashSteps, who gave me this prompt:

"He had, Optimus realized in dark humor as his ember fell into darkness, unintentionally created the perfect weapon."

This is part 2 of 4 (or 5, depending), and things are starting to heat up. ^^ The really interesting bits are actually in the next section, but this leads up nicely to it, so I hope you guys don't mind so much. Didn't get much response towards the first section, so I have no idea if you guys even like this so far. Not that it matters – I'm going to write it regardless. XD

And I'm really glad you like this 14FlashSteps. I really liked the prompt, and it obviously liked me back. ^^ Hope you continue to enjoy this!


"Advance, and never halt, for advancing is perfection. Advance and do not fear the thorns in the path, for they draw only corrupt blood."
-Khalil Gibran

Optronix proceeds very carefully. He cannot afford to drive off Starscream, not at this stage in his plans. He woos the young seeker twice as carefully as he did the sire, and spends much time in the archives researching the things Starscream is interested in so that they can have true conversations. He doesn't always succeed, and he has the distinct impression that Starscream is vastly amused by his attempts, but the attempt has been made and Starscream is appropriately appreciative.

He had thought once that he would not be enthusiastic about Starscream's scientific pursuits, and now knows he had been very wrong. Over the course of his research, he has discovered that without rigid morals and ethical coding, Starscream's research and projects could be so easily be perverted and used for ill-gain that he spends many cycles alone just laughing at how easy it was all turning out to be.

He wonders at the study of contradictions he finds in his little beloved, and looks forward to the day that enticing puzzle is attached permanently to his own ember.


Starscream does not send him extravagant gifts as Starsinger had; no, Starscream's gifts were of a more subtle, useful nature. Though he has not said much of anything about his goals for Cybertron, and the universe afterwards, he suspects that Starscream knows enough to guess the sorts of mechs he needs to get in contact with to build his support base and command team.

He meets Starscream's associates, peers, and mentors at both the Crystal City Academy of Learning and the Iacon Institute of the Sciences. Ratchet is a medic with a sharp tongue and a sadistic streak that is only barely hidden – and tolerated – by his sheer brilliance at his job. Prowl is the security director of the whole of Iacon who has little-to-no emotional programming whatsoever and enough ruthlessness to cause multiple inquiries on whether or not his actions were completely necessary, and who has an office based in the Institute and occasionally can be convinced to give lectures on Tactics. Jazz, Prowl's bond-mate, is an apparently easy-going, fun-loving mech who acts as friend and councilor to almost every mech that comes through the Institute's doors, but behind that friendly persona is a mech who has no concept of right and wrong and a processor that does not stop planning such casually cruel pranks that have so much potential for becoming deadly. Skyfire is a teacher at the Academy with a memory that is spot-on perfect and who had coached and inspired Starscream into pursuing a career in the Sciences; Skyfire is a shuttle-class flier with a casual, sociopathic nature that is almost alarming to see, especially when the shuttle makes it subtlety clear that he considers Starscream his, and not Optronix's.

It is a threat that will not be tolerated for long, but Optronix can and will be patient. Starscream obviously has already made his choice – he can afford to do nothing about Skyfire until Starscream was his in entirety.

Because of these mech's natures and the perfection with which they fit into his plans, he never once considers that the mechs he meets with are high enough in Cybertronian society that becoming their acquaintance would ease his own way into handling the responsibilities that would come with being the bond-mate of a seeker lord. He never once considers that Starscream hasn't guessed at his agenda, that in fact Starscream is quite oblivious to his desires, and is only doing what must be done to ensure a smooth transition for them both.

It is an oversight that he comes to regret as surely as he comes to hate his seeker.


The first time Starscream brings up the possibility of a casual merge, Optronix is both alarmed and pleased. He is pleased because he wants the seeker, has been craving him for far too long already, and a casual merge will do much in satiating that hunger. He is alarmed because Starscream is not quite ready to know the full agenda, regardless of how much he may have guessed already, and even a casual merge would allow no half-truths or lies between them.

Starscream would know everything, and he was not ready for that yet. Even if the seeker could handle the truth of Optronix's goals for Cybertron, the image of just whathe wants to mold Starscream into would be enough to scare him off. Optronix can't risk losing Starscream; he is already so entwined with the seeker that he thinks he will go mad if Starscream ever left. He hadn't mean for things to progress that far, but he also had made no move to stop them either, and that scares him the most in the deepest recesses of his ember.

That Starscream has already become so much of his reason for living is half the reason he denies the seeker the merge he so desperately wants. Until he can maneuver things into going the way they need to, he will not risk any chance of losing the seeker.


Starscream is disappointed and displeased, and there is an unbearable silence between them that is slowly driving Optronix mad. He dotes on the seeker, sending him gifts and apologies and platitudes, but nothing seems to thaw the ice that is steadily growing in those too-blue optics. He is desperate now, wanting nothing more than to simply hear a single word from his seeker's mouth, but there is nothing for him.

Starscream does not argue, wheedle, negotiate, or beg for what he wants, as Optronix is rapidly discovering. Though Starscream is normally a gentle, passive being more than capable of a level of generosity and empathy that belies his station in society, he is still nonetheless the only heir of a very rich and influential seeker lord, and will one day be the ruler of an entire people – he is stubborn and spoiled and very used to getting what he wants, when he wants it. And, apparently, Starscream wanted him, not just to talk to or to share kisses and cuddles, but in entirety; Starscream wanted to know Optronix on the deepest level, and it was rapidly becoming an ultimatum in their relationship. Either Optronix gave in and allowed Starscream to do as he willed or they were over.

So he thinks over his options very carefully, never once considering leaving the seeker – their separation will never happen, he won't allow it. Eventually, he finds himself in Ratchet's office, quietly explaining the situation and seeking advice he doesn't even really know how to ask for. Ratchet, thankfully, understands only too well what he wants.

"It's not possible to block information in a merge without leaving your partner very aware that there is something being blocked – which defeats the whole purpose of a merge anyway," the medic says brusquely. "The only hope you have is that your seeker is inexperienced when it comes to merges of this nature, as – if he's inexperienced – it will take him several merges to learn how to sift through the data feeds. Considering that he's the one who suggested it, and the one determining that this relationship will go no further until it happens, I'd say you are completely out of luck." The medic grins unrepentantly and shoves him out the door.

But just before he closes the door in Optronix's face, he pauses, expression thoughtful. "Perhaps," he says slowly, unsurely, "you should go talk to Prowl." There is a moment of silence, and then even quieter, "I never told you to talk to him." And then Optronix is staring at a door, a million thoughts spinning through his processor.


Prowl stays silent and still throughout Optronix's explanation, staring thoughtfully out the window where both mechs could clearly see Jazz and a group of scientists that Optronix has mentioned once or twice before that he'd like to recruit, if at all possible. There is a long moment of silence between them, but Optronix is a patient mech. He can wait.

Eventually, Prowl's completely monotonous tone break's the silence. "Love, passion, and obsession do strange things to an otherwise rational mech, Optronix. A rational mech begins to latch onto signs of behavior and beliefs that aren't actually there, and he can be blinded by what he wants as opposed to what actually is." Prowl goes silent for a bit, before continuing blithely, "Are you certain that this seeker is like us? Or do you simply wish him to be?"

Optronix feels anger bubbling beneath his calm exterior – how darethis mech question Starscream so? – but three things stop him from lashing out. The first is that Prowl has unknowingly repeated doubts he himself had about what he has so far observed in regards to Starscream's behaviors and actions. The second is that the strength of his reaction to Prowl's words tell him he was in too deep to give any opinion not already tainted by his feelings for the seeker. The third is the knowledge that, for as powerful and ruthless as Prowl was, Jazz was even worse because the only thing standing in the way of Jazz was Prowl himself.

So he says nothing, merely concentrates on calming his sudden anger. This is apparently the right answer to a test he hadn't even known he was being given, because Prowl suddenly smiles and slides a thin disk across the desk. "Take it," he says, still not looking at Optronix.

Optronix does so. "What is it?" he asks, fingering the small, fragile metal in his hand.

"It contains a small virus of sorts. It distorts the natural behaviors and thought processes of a mech, leaves them open to suggestion and manipulation." The smile slips off his face as if it was never there, and, finally, Prowl's dead stare leaves Jazz and focuses on Optronix. "An otherwise rational mech, blinded by his obsession, may mistakenly believe that he has found the one perfectly suited for his own personal brand of madness, but a smart mech can find that this virus will ensure that he is never proven wrong."

Optronix was not a genius, but he wasn't stupid either. He was remarkably intelligent, in fact, and very capable of reading between the lines. Many mechs wondered how Prowl had convinced the friendly, amiable Jazz into merging with him, let alone bonding, and now he knew. Prowl's ruthlessness was to be both envied and feared. He made a mental note, and left.

He did not give thanks. He did not have to.


Though Prowl's silent warning echoes repeatedly through his thoughts, Optronix decides to let their first merge determine whether or not he will actually need the virus. He shouldn't, he knows, but he cannot help but hope that Starscream was truly his. Once he has made his decision, he is almost too eager to join his ember with Starscream's; the aching want that he has been denying for many cycles now demandingly obvious.

Unfortunately for this not-quite-subtle ache, it takes even longer to coax Starscream into even speaking to him, let alone merging with him. His seeker's eyes are artic cold and without any sign of even exasperated affection, and there is a certain decisive determination to the tilt of his wings that leaves Optronix wary. But he has a purpose, and so he forges ahead, telling lies and partial truths about why he has denied Starscream such a simple thing. By the end of his prepared speech, Starscream is still staring coldly at him, saying nothing, mouth a grim line.

"I love you, you aft" Optronix grinds out forcefully after a long moment of silence, more than a bit angry that all his careful preparation has amounted to nothing. Surprisingly, this works where nothing else has, and while the seeker still doesn't say anything, the ice in his gaze thaws and there is a small, smug smile curling gently at his lips.

A thin, delicately-plated hand stretches out and gently touches the back of Optronix's more heavily-armored and much larger hand, and lingers too long to be anything but a caress. There are no words exchanged, no discreet messages sent over comms, but nevertheless Optronix catches Starscream's meaning perfectly clear.

Tonight.


Ah, so I'm a mean little stinker, aren't I? I did this deliberately, as the merge is what sparks the point where everything starts going wrong. It's also the point where Optronix –rational, if a bit mad and completely helm-over-pedes for Starscream – starts to become Optimus Prime – a mad-mech who desires Starscream as much as he hates and fears him, and could care less if the seeker was agreeable to anything he does. Unicron won't show up until part 4 (or 5, depending), and that's when the shit will really hit the fan. XD

I'm hoping that the dynamics between Starscream and Optronix are coming across right – I was reading over Diabolicae Foedus, and I think I may have made him out to be too much of a victim. Yes, he had horrible things happen to him, and yes, those horrible things were so horrible and so out of proportion to his faults that the fact that he eventually goes completely off the deep end is not only justifiable, but probably necessary – but there is still the fact that if it were not for his choices and his faults, a lot of things could have actually been prevented. As you'll see in the next portion of Perfection. Starscream is not a perfect being, as much as it galls me to admit it, and Shattered Glass Screamer even less so. There is also no such thing as a complete pacifist – even the most saintly person has their moments of cruelty and aggression.

Review?