He had expected to be standing where he was, but this time he wasn't sure why. He knew he'd been singled out for a reason. But he couldn't think for the life of him as to that reason. Except… Ah, slag… He'd covered his tracks well, and being as smart as he was, he wasn't going to let anything to chance and get caught.

Soundwave, who had told Megatron about him, stood not far off and Megatron was standing by his 'throne' seat as he liked to call it. He'd been called in before a mission and now he stood, a little apprehensive. When Soundwave was present, it was usually because he'd done something that required punishment.

"Starscream, it seems you and I have something to discuss," Megatron said, turning away from where he was apparently admiring a wall to look him straight in the optics.

Starscream glared as Megatron looked at him. The tyrant's face held somewhat that of amusement. His words were in that cocky 'I have one up on you' voice. "What would that be, Lord Megatron?" he asked almost meekly. Oh, how he hated calling him that, but to stay on his good side, he did what he had to, agitated and hopeful he hadn't brought him because Skywarp had narked on him.

"Soundwave has brought up something with me about you he thought I would like," Megatron responded, "something quite unusual, actually."

Starscream glanced at said mech, and then looked back to Megatron, "What about me?" Deep down he could feel it. SLAG. They knew!

Before Megatron answered him, he looked to the door where two other mechs had arrived. They'd come to take him away… He knew it. Often, he thought about what to do if Megatron ever did find out, but now that it seemed to be happening, he couldn't do anything to help himself, as he couldn't think.

Megatron then looked at Starscream with a spiteful smirk while speaking to the ones who now held him, "Take him to the brig." He then looked at Starscream with a spiteful smirk, "Looks like you have a new job as of today,"

"Wha?" Starscream asked as his arms were grabbed by the two mechs, "Me? Why, Megatron? What have a done?" he continued to question, wondering if they hadn't found out and he was in trouble for something else. In fact, he'd hoped that.

"I want to make sure you don't try to escape before I speak to you again." He nodded to the ones behind the seeker who began pulling him backwards. "Give word when he is set up like I want him to be."

Starscream resisted. He didn't want to be taken away. He wanted answers. He knew the brig was almost always certain abuse that he did not want. It was then he felt something hit his head and it hurt. The pain was so excruciating that his processors were thrown for a loop, and he lost his balance, almost falling to the ground. He felt his body lifted as he was caught, but didn't know what happened next, as he'd blacked out.

When he came to, he found himself shackled, not only to his wrists, but his wings and his legs and his feet. His back was against the wall, and with a small tug, he realized he was held there rather firmly. He tried a few more times to pull himself free, but to no avail. He'd never been shackled like this before… Just what did Megatron have in mind?

There was a guard at the door who hadn't moved as of yet. "What's going on? Why am I in here?" he called.

There was no answer from the guard, as if he hadn't heard him. "Answer me!" the SiC demanded. Starscream glanced in the general direction where he'd heard his name called, it was condescending as always. Dreading the fact Megatron was coming and there wasn't a damned thing he could do, he resolved to go with it, perhaps get out of it.

The seeker looked up as Megatron rounded the corner. Disgust was clear on his features, "Why am I shackled like this? What did I do this time?"

"Such a trivial question, Starscream," Megatron grinned, opening the door to his cell and stepping in, "you should be asking me which territory you will be attacking next,"

Starscream's optic ridges furrowed as he considered what Megatron was talking about. "What do you mean? I ask that question every day, just about. Honestly these chains aren't necessary. What have I done?"

Megatron leaned threateningly in to Starscream's face, "Don't try to play me for a fool. I know your little secret."

If Starscream could have paled, now would have been that time. 'No! That's impossible!' He remained silent and stoic. Did Skywarp turn his back on him perhaps because of Thundercracker…? Either way, it was no longer secret. He tried to act confused but wasn't sure how well that was working out. Maybe he could lie himself out of this one, "Secret? W-what secret?"

"You're the one everyone's been trying to find." He couldn't help but laugh at Starscream's face. It was priceless. "Surprised, are you?" Megatron asked with sarcasm. "You can't do anything without my knowing about it, Starscream, not even kill. How many times must you learn this? I know everything."

"I don't know what you're talking about," Starscream tried to lie. Perhaps he was just being defiant about it, because he could have done better than that.

Megatron didn't even want to hear it. He knew for sure now. "You're The Fallen, aren't you, Starscream?"? It's hard to believe that it's been you all along… It's a curse, isn't it?"

Continuing to try to defy his way out of it, the seeker asked, "Curse? Cursed with what? The only curse I have is being stuck serving you. You've lost your mind."

Megatron backhanded Starscream for his insubordination. "Don't play stupid with me! It's been you all along. Soundwave has already done the research on your condition. The Fallen was said to be a myth like the gods that used them. I don't think anyone has seen anyone else alive with it before, and if they did, they must not have lived to tell their tale. What I now have in my possession is pretty amazing."

Heh. Amazing. 'Should try it sometime.' The seeker thought to himself before realizing who he was thinking this about and murmured as he looked away, "Still no idea what you're talking about,"

Megatron, tired of his game, backhanded him again, this time harder. Starscream glared at Megatron heatedly at the hit, but he refused to say anything. Seeing the defiant look, the leader growled, "Stop lying to me! You're the one who killed Thundercracker, aren't you, Starscream!" Starscream's look of surprise and sadness was obvious, no matter how much he tried to hide it. Megatron's grin widened, "Thought I wouldn't find out, didn't you?"

Busted. But what did the tyrant think he could do? What were his plans now that he did know?

"And just what do you plan to do with me now that you've found me out?" Starscream's demeanor changed as he asked with arrogance. He figured Megatron would try to have him executed or something, which he hoped for deep down, but nothing could have been further from the truth. An execution would be a relief compared to what his leader had in mind. In fact, an execution would have been a blessing.

Megatron grinned at his new prized killer. Happy that one, he'd found out who it was, a two, because he was right under his nose plates the entire time. Given the research, Starscream would be his greatest weapon yet. "Actually, finding out that you've got this apparent 'curse', I think I will have more use for you now,"

Starscream gave no answer at first, not wanting to even entertain the thought. He was more concerned in how Megatron found out. His optics glanced to Soundwave, and he stared at him a long moment. It must have been him. Thanks to him, Megatron was onto him now. Glaring at Soundwave with resentment he then grinned as he said to Megatron, "You think so? You think you've got it all planned out…"

"I know so."

"You're a fool. How long did it take you to come up with this one?"

Megatron hissed at Starscream's defiance, "As long as you do my bidding for me, I don't care what you have to say. You will be my secret weapon against Optimus Prime, and if you can't be killed, the rest of the galaxy!"

He thought he would control him? Really? Obviously, Megatron did not know who or what he was dealing with. "You think so, huh? You're an idiot. You know nothing about me. You can't set me free in an area and expect me to attack. Maybe you should have your lackey do more research." Starscream's glare turned on Soundwave again.

At that, another sadistic grin overcame the tyrant, and he leaned close once again, tempted to hit him again for saying such things. "Oh, no, Starscream. That would be too easy, and I know you… you'd flee. No, I plan to starve you before I send you out…"

The only reason they had him penned up was because it was for their safety – Not his. And he knew it. Now that everyone would know, why not take Megatron down with this? He hadn't tried before, because he still couldn't time it, but now, who cares? "Why don't you remain in here with me while you starve me? I promise you'll be sorry you came up with this brainless idea of yours."

Megatron gave him a dirty look, "I think two or three hungers even. I will stand and watch you from the other side, just to see how you act,"

"I much rather you stay in here with me. You know, to keep me company so I don't lose my cool or something."

Ignoring Starscream's goading, Megatron continued as if voicing his imagination, "Then when I do set you free in the Autobot territory, there is no question you will kill in numbers until you've got your fill. I know you have been using a serum to hide your curse, but being in here with no way to get to it and no way out will insure my plans."

Did Megatron really believe all that? "Now you've dumbed down to fracking idiot," Starscream bluntly said, "And here I thought you were stupid before," He'd heal far faster than Megatron could really hurt him, so what did he have to lose?

Soundwave's stance change as he looked at Starscream, picking up bizarre and erratic readings from him. Megatron, who'd looked to Soundwave because of his movement, looked back at Starscream. The CO spoke up, watching while he studied him. "I'd advise you step out of the cell Lord Megatron; something is happening to him."

Starscream could feel it and he glanced at Soundwave while a smirk played on his lips. He had nothing to control it this time.

Let's just see if Megatron can control what Unicron couldn't, shall we?