As we head into a new year, we'd like to thank you all for your kind support, inspiration and general rabid-ness which makes writing all the more fun! We really look forward to producing more for your enjoyment in the 'twenty-tens', which includes more Fleshling, more Cantabile and much, much more! Happy New Year!!


Chapter 17

Rumble in the Jungle

One of the biggest vices of humanity was to take differences and mutate them into divisions. Black and white, male and female, conservative and liberal… The differences between groups couldn't have been more abysmal, and yet they had one thing in common: they all thought they were right.

Orson Kane was above such trivialities. His own personal code recognized only two kinds: the survivors and the ones to be stepped on, no idiotic concepts such as morale or race included. An individuals' worth determined by themselves… and how useful they could be to him.

When he caught sight of the handsome young man who had brought down his two closest lieutenants with such ease, he had no doubt he was facing a survivor; an over-confident, immature, ambitious punk… Kane could read him like a book, but still, there was something in him that intrigued him. Later, when he remembered that first encounter, he would realize it had been that impossible aura… the feeling that the arrogant jerk didn't belong to this world.

Of course, almost immediately he considered such thought as stupidity.

"And just who the fuck are you?!" the bearded, obese man roared, trying not to expose his instantaneous liking for the young prick.

"I am the one who will defeat whoever enters that arena," he replied as if he owned the world.

Kane rubbed his chin and glanced at him from head to toes. "Just because you trashed my two assistants doesn't mean you stand a chance against Maximus… What makes you think I'd actually pay you for making me lose money? The world doesn't work that way, child."

"I am no child, and as for how this world works, I still have to say my word on the matter. You'll pay me that three grand or whatever you called it, or you are next."

From his spot on the floor, Frank managed to get on his knees and extracted something from his jacket. "Don't you dare threaten Mr. Kane like that… aaaaaahhhh!!"

A crunching sound could be heard when the young man kicked Frank's hand, making him drop his gun and breaking two of his fingers at the same time.

Amongst the redhead's groans of pain, Kane's raspy laughter could be heard.

His first impression hadn't been wrong. He definitely liked that punk.

"You have some nerve, pretty boy," he said. "Did you know that all I have to do is snap my fingers and you'll be floating in the river in less than an hour with a pretty bullet between your eyes?"

The young man smirked. "Perhaps, but you won't do such a thing."

"Oh, really? What makes you so sure?"

"Because a dead corpse doesn't produce earnings, unless my information about how things work in this place has been erroneous."

Kane narrowed his eyes, trying to understand who the hell that bugger was. There was something about him, an eloquence that didn't come naturally to the scum that normally festered on the streets – the rarity of intelligence – a characteristic that endeared him as much as it raised suspicion and danger.

"What's your name, pretty boy?"

The young man seemed to hesitate, but finally decided to speak. "Latta. Sean Latta."

"If that's a fake name…"

"Spare yourself more wasted time, flesh creature. I have no other name on this Earth other than this one, that I can assure you."

"What the fuck did you just call me…?"

"Three grand," Sean interrupted. "If you have the slightest bit of intelligence, you'll take my offer."

Kane remained in silence. Vast experience urged him to liquidate that clown, but instinct, the same instinct that had taken him to the top of the gangs of North Portland, was pointing in a different direction.

Kane's stubby finger drifted over his bearded chin as he regarded the young man through narrowed eyes. It wasn't often he hesitated when deciding someone's fate...

The curtain that kept them away from the crowd gathered around the ring suddenly opened. A bulky man dressed in a black suit and with his right hand inside his jacket cast a distrustful glance toward the intruder.

"Is everything okay, Mr. Kane?" he asked.

Kane nodded his head quickly before addressing Sean again. "I'll tell you what, Sean Latta," he finally said. "I won't give you three, but five grand if you defeat Maximus in less than three rounds, if you can stand them, that is. Fail, and I'll have your balls for dinner tonight, got it?"

Sean smirked. "You better prepare that five grand, then."

Kane addressed the man in the black suit. "Hayami, take this punk to the ring. Let's see if he can bite as much as he can bark."

The man nodded and showed Sean the way.

Kane licked his lips as he watched his new discovery leaving. The boy had potential, he certainly would be useful… Then he returned his attention to Pete, who was still grabbing his bloody nose.

"You, get up!" he said, kicking him in the side. "You too, Frank! What a shame, letting yourselves get stepped on like that."

"S…ssorry, sir…" the black haired man whimpered, doing his best to contain the blood coming from his broken nose.

"I'll deal with you two idiots later. Now you better move and make sure everything's ready in 10 minutes! Put ten grand on that punk… no, make it fifteen."

"Fifteen thousand dollars? But sir, all the odds will be against him…"

"And so the bets, I hope, which will take my earnings to the skies once he wins."

"How are you so sure he'll win? He just had a lucky shot; the other night we beat him nice and easily. He's just some regular fucked up guy. With his pretty face, he'd do better walking the streets," Frank said as he grasped his two broken fingers.

"Oh, and that's precisely what I have planned for him in case he loses. I bet his tight little ass would sell quite good… But I have a feeling with this one. Call me perceptive, but I think we just met the guy who will break Maximus' perfect record."

……………

Cigarette smoke created a hazy aura under the spotlights of the auditorium, giving the crowded arena an air of heaviness. It wasn't a pleasant smell, nor was it unfamiliar, the scent instantly reminding the young man of the small abode of that female Stella.

But there were other smells there too; alcohol, dirt, sweat... the unmistakable aroma of stale blood which stirred memories of the days during which he trampled those scampering human insects instead of standing as one of them.

Accursed humans...

Through the pock-marked darkness Starscream watched as they scurried about one another, fighting for the best seats, waving their currency about like signal flags as they placed their bets and purchased their vices without remorse. For a moment he was reminded of his youth, the crowded gladiatorial pits of Kaon; the greed and excitement...

Starscream shook his head; humanity was getting to him like a disease. The differences were of course enormous, their race being just one... what in Primus' name was he thinking?

As he watched the crowd part noisily to allow the entrance of his rival, he couldn't help but wonder how much those beasts were paying to see his approaching fight. Certainly nothing nearing his true worth but still, the question intrigued his arrogant side. Those pathetic animals didn't have a clue how privileged they were but that didn't matter, they would soon learn.

He couldn't help but allow a sly smirk spread across his face; he didn't know why but he had felt an immediate dislike of the man upstairs and he was truly looking forward to snatching that five grand from his fat, stubby fingers.

A partial hush fell over the crowd as a grizzled man in a tuxedo climbed proudly into the ring. As the spotlights centred on his tall form and he reached up for what looked like some kind of communications device, it crossed his mind with great satisfaction that even in its now tattered form, his tuxedo was far superior to that one.

As Starscream leaned on his corner of the improvised ring, hearing the noisy human announcing the stellar fight, he took a moment to analyse his rival, the one called Maximus.

Never before had the term 'flesh bag' been more adequate for a human. The thing was literally a big mass of flesh; his body made of big muscles in which were carved an unknown number of strange insignias. Both of his arms had badges resembling femme's faces, and there was a cross marking one side of his chest… He definitely belonged to some faction, even though Starscream knew that particular terrestrial zone was not currently in the midst of civil war.

Maximus was considerably taller and bulkier than him. At first it had seemed easy to decide to take part into that fight, guided by his certainty that he could defeat any human despite the fact that hand to hand combat was not his speciality. But looking at the size of his enemy he wasn't so sure anymore…

He discarded such pessimistic thoughts. Soundwave had said he was stronger than a regular human, besides he was a Decepticon. Despite being an aerial warrior, he was also a cunning fighter – he had received constant and painful "training" from Megatron, after all... All he had to do was prove he continued being deadly despite wearing an organic skin.

A poke on his leg made him look down.

"Shirt off, tough guy," the man who had taken him to the ring said. "We're about to start."

Starscream took off his jacket and shirt and tossed them aside. A general murmur made itself heard through the auditorium when he exposed his slim but muscular torso.

Even Maximus raised an eyebrow whilst he approached the center of the ring.

"Well hello!" the big man said. "I don't know if I want to fight you or fuck you."

Starscream grimaced. It took him just an astro klik to decide that he would definitely prefer interfacing with the human whore Stella than with this hairy, greasy male.

"Either option would result in the same thing, earth germ," Starscream spat defiantly. "Your termination. But not before you've been humiliated beyond what your puny brain can imagine..."

"Earth germ?!" Maximus repeated. "What the fuck are you on, pretty boy? You buy some of that tainted shit Kane's been trying to get rid of, huh? I hear it makes your balls go numb... Well lucky you, cock sucker, you might not feel so much pain as I beat the shit out of you."

A bell rang and Maximus immediately pounced at him.

As he easily avoided the first punch Starscream recalled the so-called rules of that pathetic imitation of a gladiatorial match. No biting and no eye pecking… Aside from that, everything was allowed. Starscream wished he had his null rays. It would only take a slight shot to make all the organs of that human stop functioning in a blink of an optic.

When he didn't have problems avoiding the second attack, Starscream relaxed. That was going to be a fight as easy as he had expected. His speed was far superior to Maximus', so all he had to decide was when to end the combat.

The human named Kane had said he had to win the fight in less than three rounds, so it was pointless to wait.

"Stop dancing and start fighting you fag!!" Maximus shouted as his third punch impacted the air.

It was in that fraction of a second in which Starscream made his move. He quickly put himself behind the man and punched one of his sides. Maximus stepped back and Starscream attacked again, this time targeting his face.

Infinite satisfaction filled his systems when he felt the soft flesh deforming against the strength of his attack.

"Is that better, worm?" Starscream hissed cynically. "You should be careful what you ask for, I'm feeling generous today so you might just get what you wanted." He accented his malice with a blow to his opponent's torso.

A pained roar was his only response.

Perhaps it was the heady stench of the arena, perhaps it was the roar of his improvised worshippers, cheering him on or not, but suddenly the ex-Seeker felt invigorated... It felt so good to be inflicting harm...

Alright, he may be no gladiator, but he would make that fight memorable. Once the nightmare of being a fleshling was over, he would rub his success as a human fighter right into Megatron's face.

Yes, he would enjoy that, gloating about a success that Megatron would never have granted him... The accursed tyrant would hate it, almost as much as he would hate seeing his Cybertronian form rising from the depths of disgrace, those cleansing waters dripping from his frame as they restored is former glory.

Starscream smirked as he released Maximus from his grip and began to weave around his rival's furious punches. But said smirk vanished almost as quickly as it had appeared; like if it had been invoked, a very annoying buzz inside his ear made him realize he was receiving a comm link.

"Frag, not now!!" he cried as he grabbed his right ear.

"What do you mean 'not now', you fool? Who do you think you are talking to? I can comm you whenever I want, do you understand?!" Megatron's rough voice resounded inside his head.

"I'm kind of busy right now, Megatron!" he said, right before something with the force of a torpedo impacted his cheek.

He flew, literally, but the experience wasn't pleasant. He fell face down on the floor, which was harder than he had thought.

The roar of the crowd only increased his sensation of dizziness, and the frenetic beating in the place in which he had been hit.

"Megatron, really… this is not a good time…" he said in low voice. The humans would suspect if they saw him talking alone.

"I am the one to decide that. Now listen, I have instructions for you."

A brutal kick to one of his sides threw him toward the edge of the ring.

"Aaaaarrrghh!!!"

"Just what the frag are you doing there, Starscream? I didn't send you to that human city state for your own enjoyment. You better be investing your time in the mission I assigned you and not in some twisted human activities, or else…"

"I can assure you I'm not enjoying this, fearless leader… but for Primus' sake don't mess with me right now!!!"

"Don't you dare talk to me that way, Starscream! It's been two solar cycles since you abandoned the base, and if I know you well, you must have been wasting your time miserably instead of focusing on your assignment."

"Just...frag...off..." Starscream muttered as he winced in pain. A second kick to the side replaced any further words of insult with another cry of frustrated agony.

Damn Megatron...damn him to the deepest, slag-filled depths of the Pit...

"You filthy piece of slag, when I get my hands on you I'll make sure you pay for your insubordination, do you hear me, fleshling? I've had enough of your games, Starscream, now report your status or I will have you terminated, understood?!"

When a powerful claw grabbed the back of his trousers and lifted him like a toy, Starscream decided to ignore Megatron, as difficult as that was.

"Take his pants off!" one of the females in the audience cheered.

"In your slagging dreams you filthy slut," the dangling Decepticon murmured to himself as he heard Maximus roaring triumphantly.

"What the slag did you just say?! Stop wasting my time, Starscream, I'm warning you!"

"What's that, asshole, you calling for your mummy?" Maximus mocked as he began to swing Starscream back and forth like a ragdoll. "Well your mummy can't help ya now, pretty boy, she's too busy earning her keep on the streets, just like you will be when I'm done with you."

Starscream violently struggled to release himself from the grip, but Maximus was faster and threw him to one side, impacting him against one of the poles of the ring. He fell on his knees, immediately recognizing the warm liquid that started to flow from one of his temples.

No… not again… his blood…

"Starscream! I'm talking to you! Answer me this instant or you are terminated!"

That did it. Megatron's voice was so irritating, incredibly irritating… when the big human made his way toward him, all Starscream saw was Megatron.

Suddenly he didn't feel pain anymore. Megatron had beaten him too many times… but this one would be different.

He was nobody's joke.

Attack the enemy's weaknesses. If he had no weaknesses, create them…

The vicious kick intended to impact his head like it would a ball found no target. Recovering his speed, Starscream evaded it and took the muscular leg instead, twisting it sideways as much as he could.

A cry of pain erupted from Maximus' throat, and then Starscream knew.

He would win that fight after all.

Maybe it was the sensation of his own blood mixing with his sweat and trickling down his face and heaving torso, but suddenly Starscream was reminded of one of the his last encounters with his benevolent Commander... The humiliation he had felt as punishment was inflicted for a failure that was not his, the pain of his wings being torn, his fuel lines leaking as smoke from his wounds clouded his vision...

That tyrant would pay...

He jumped from the floor and impacted his knee against the man's face, succeeding in pushing him backward. As he pounded his victim, Starscream saw nothing but Megatron; that gleaming silver carapace that reflected every insult, those merciless optics, that vicious smirk of contempt that seemed to mock him every time brutal hands of black punished him...

When hitting his opponent's stomach and head proved to be useless, Starscream searched for the spot that could already be considered a weakness. He concentrated all his strength in his right leg and kicked his enemy's injured knee.

The creaking that could be heard was like music to his ears. Maximus' leg bent in what even Starscream could recognize as an unnatural way. The man fell down, only to receive a point blank punch right in the middle of his face. Blood came out along with two teeth, and the formerly undefeated Maximus moved no more.

Drunk on adrenaline and the roar of the audience, Starscream remained before his defeated rival, his sweaty torso moving agitatedly.

Only then did he realize that Megatron had ended the communication.

To be continued.


And we continue using Transformer related names for the humans we are using in this story. (Fortress) Maximus, Peter (Cullen) and Frank (Welker) are no coincidence, and also the name of that god named Orson Welles (Citizen Kane), whose last job was voicing Unicron before leaving this world to become one with the Matrix.

We hope you liked this chapter and you can count with a fast update. Your opinions are always welcome!