Chapter Text
By the time the Command Trine reached the Nemesis’ interior, Starscream was immediately bombarded with comms from an already anxious group of seekers.
Starscream sent a general ping to the lot that he was currently figuring out the oversight and that they would learn when he did the moment a decision was made. Wings raised again in ire, Starscream made his way down a damp corridor with flickering lights, Thundercracker and Skywarp flanking him. Once set on his path to deal with Megatron and his oversight, Starscream was back to plotting.
The current, most recent plan was to secure at least one flight a week for each trine.
Failing that, Starscream was willing to drop flights to every other week for the two month ceasefire, or even a longer flight time three times a month for all seeker trines.
The absolute least would be once a month, but a decent flight time to satisfy the need to be in the air. Sidestepping the snickering Rumble and Frenzy that darted past, Starscream found that he was having difficultly figuring out what could be offered in return for the seekers to have flight time. It was tricky, as Starscream was under no illusions that their energon supply was going to be dismally low the next two months.
Megatron’s displeasure could be heard even from a distance from behind closed doors.
With a warning flick of wings to his trine mates, Starscream moved at a quicker clip to go directly to the command deck. Despite the raised voice, Starscream presumed this was where Megatron was undoubtedly sulking.
Thundercracker and Skywarp wisely fell back a couple of paces.
Starscream stepped onto the command bridge, interrupting what appeared to be the middle of Soundwave giving Megatron a report on the state of energon stores and that it was very low after the trade.
As such, Megatron appeared less than pleased with each synthesized word that left Soundwave. When Soundwave fell silent, the Decepticon leader turned his helm sharply to the side, his optics practically boring into Starscream’s once Megatron noted his SIC’s presence. Attention diverted, Megatron spoke with deep irritability. “Thanks to your capture, Starscream, and one of your trine, our energon supply is critically low.” A large fist curled at Megatron’s side. “What possessed you to go after that shuttle?”
And there it was.
The question that Starscream honestly didn’t have a good answer to, so he would have to bluff and lie his way out of this. It wasn’t like the truth would be better in this case.
Whatever truth that was.
“Is it not a fair assumption that a shuttle would be capable of carrying large amounts of cargo?” Starscream responded dismissively, casually inspecting his claws. “However was I to know that he had no supplies on board?”
”The rest of the seekers returned to the Nemesis together, long before you were captured. Your trine included, until they went back to retrieve you.” Megatron's optics narrowed at Starscream as he studied him. “Laserbeak has image captures and videos that show you willingly entered the shuttle’s cargo hold, even before the capture.” A sardonic laugh. “Looking for supplies, Starscream?”
Starscream didn’t have an answer to that, and he knew that Megatron was aware of this. The seeker was also certain of the fact that they both knew that the shuttle in question had an interesting effect on Starscream, especially when Skyfire had first awoken from being encased in ice. Not long after, Starscream had been forced to shoot Skyfire; Starscream couldn’t think of any other way for Skyfire to be safe but away from the Decepticons.
Away from the war.
Megatron stood in place, optics fixed on Starscream, awaiting whatever response the seeker may come up with.
”…I thought if we were to capture that shuttle mech, we could insist upon a supply run for energon, as well as other necessities, if the Autobots hadn’t shown up with recifocemenrs.” Starscream’s wings bristled over the loud laugh Megatron barked out, along with the scornful once over the larger Decepticon gave him.
”Did you believe you could capture this shuttle mech on your own, once your seekers left?“ Megatron chuckled over whatever image his mind conjured up. “All Skyfire would have to do is refuse to move; you wouldn’t have been able to do anything but screech uselessly at him.”
”You didn’t negotiate for flight time for seekers during the two month ceasefire.” Starscream swiftly diverted the conversation topic away from Skyfire, especially now that he’d been named. Upon seeing Megatron’s frown, Starscream was annoyed to realize that the fool really hadn’t even considered it.
Because of course he wouldn’t have.
“Do you want the bulkheads to be torn to scrap?” Starscream was disappointed but not surprised. He hadn’t been a part of the negotiations in the first place, to be present to nag Megatron with the needs of his seekers. “Do you want to have all the fliers picking fights if they're confined to this ship? Underwater?” Starscream felt vindication in the funny look twisting Megatron’s face; realization and partial horror.
Finally.
Megatron at least understood the possible implications.
It would be a disaster, no doubt about it, so Starscream added. “And if there’s ship-wide fights, there’s likely to be a great dive in military readiness once the ceasefire ends, if any injuries are made within two months.” Starscream left it at that, not caring for the intense red stare lingering on him. Starscream had a feeling that he was not going to enjoy how Megatron chose to deal with this problem.
”Thundercracker. Skywarp.” Megatron said without taking his optics off his second. “Bring all seekers to the medbay. Have Hook, and Knockout figure out how much energon the lot of you will require, at minimum, to get through two months. Everyone else has already been evaluated.”
It was a clear dismissal.
Starscream felt threads of an apology and some lingering reassurance within the trine bond, before he closed it off on his end while TC and Skywarp left. Starscream lifted his wings up and fully faced Megaton, prepared for whatever else came out of his leader’s intake.
Soundwave remained off to one side, eerily still and silent.
Lot of help he would be.
”Incoming transmission from the Autobots.” Soundwave suddenly announced.
”Another negotiation, Starscream?” Megatron asked the seeker rhetorically.
”It’s flying through the air.” Starscream said stiffly. “Surely it would cost little to be able to fly over and around our own base.”
”Two months of no flight would truly affect the lot of you that poorly?”
”Some more than others.” Starscream admitted, thinking in particular about one of the coneheads.
”Would you trade your flight time for your trine’s?” Megatron questioned suddenly as he stomped forward, looming his way into Starscream’s personal space. “Take less energon, for the rest of your air command?” Megatron sounded curious, as if wondering how far Starscream would go for anyone other than himself.
As much as Starscream hated to be put on the spot like this. He despised Megatron for even considering such things, but Starscream had always been more loyal to other Vosians. Starscream met Megatron’s gaze steadily and stood a little straighter as he looked the salgger in the optics. “If nothing else is acceptable to the Autobots.”
Megatron stared at Starscream a moment longer, before ever so casually turning his back on his second (usually a stupid thing to do) in obvious dismissal as he addressed Soundwave. “Patch Optimus though.”
”Affirmative.”
Starscream slunk his way out of the room the moment he was not being watched by either Megatron or Soundwave. Swiftly making his way down the hall, Starscream was beginning to form a plan to get himself off the Nemesis. Maybe he could get captured in Autobot territory again. Starscream was under no illusions that he would be grounded and confined to the Nemesis as part of these new negotiations.
And if that was the case?
Starscream would rather spend those two months as a prisoner in the Autobot’s brig than whatever Megatron was going to force him to endure in return for his trine and the air command getting their needs met.
~
The medbay was loud when Starscream attempted to sneak in. Unable to justify slinking in, Starscream straightened up and entered, noting that the source of the ruckus was Knockout and Hook screaming at one another from across the room. No doubt one felt as if the other had slighted them. At least the two mechs only gave Starscream the briefest of glances before verbally tearing into one another anew.
A shame.
Seeing how Hook held Knock Out’s saw hand out of the way was a rather funny sight to witness, and would have been interesting to see if the red mech could have done any damage to Hook.
Starscream believed that with the two medics otherwise occupied with one another, that he’d more or less be ignored. But the moment he began to rummage around in cabinets, that was when the two medics paid him heed.
”Megatron sent us a message.” Hook said. “You’re not to take any sedatives with you, or any equipment that can be used to make and induce stasis.”
”Even though the negotiations are not yet finished?” Starscream questioned archly, reluctantly leaving an unopened drawer alone.
”That’s right, and if you do get around to tearing into the bulkhead, Megatron’s ordered you to be locked up.” Knock Out casually tossed in.
“You’ve figured out the rationing already?” Starscream diverted, noting the pointed lack of any other seeker in the med bay.
”Yes; you seekers burn through energon more quickly than the rest of the troops.” Knock Out provided. He casually posed, showing off his frame, neatly buffed and shined. “Good thing I changed my alt, isn’t it? Though it wasn’t because I anticipated something like this happening.”
”With the rationing, the other seekers will be able to go out for short flights, if it’s agreed upon.” Hook stole one of the medical scanners out of Knock Out’s hand.
Knock Out’s optics snapped to the other medic, engine revving in warning as Hook waggled the scanner mockingly.
”And what of my rations?” Starscream didn’t want to know, noticing the distinct lack of being referred to.
”If Megatron succeeds with negotiations, you will not be not allowed out of the Nemesis, and your rations will only be a fraction of everyone else’s.” Knock Out’s derma curved up, as if thinking of something else. But he commed Starscream instead of speaking aloud.
::Is your hot, hunky mountain of a shuttle worth it?::
Starscream glowered at Knock Out, but made the mistake of not denying it.
::Oh, please do tell. I love gossip, you know:: Knock Out’s optics glittered. ::There’s even an ongoing bet that you’re planning to let that shuttle capture you again::
::He didn’t capture me:: Starscream flared his armor out indignantly over Knock Out smiling gleefully at him.
::I am going to have a wonderful night. Breakdown will be pleased to know he was right:: At the spluttering, Knock Out causally turned on a heel and sashayed out of the medbay, speaking aloud again. “Don’t take anything out of the med bay. Megatron wants you to empty out your subspace in the event you need to get put into crazed seeker confinement in the near future.” Knock Out leaned in from around the med bay door he’d just walked through to poke his helm back in, looking far too pleased with himself. ::Oh, would you let Hook know that Scavenger is stuck in the upper decks?::
Starscream’s optic twitched as he fluttered his wings in a series of rude gestures.
Knock Out merely laughed and cracked a wicked smile. “Oh, don’t you worry, commander. I’ll have my aft on the line soon enough. Or my thigh, maybe my wrist. It all depends on Breakdown’s mood.” An aggravating waggle of those optic ridges, Knock Out’s shiny red self finally left Starscream’s sight.
Starscream stood there for a moment, before swinging his helm to Hook, who was not so sneakily hiding medical items from the seeker. “Knock Out has indicated that Scavenger is stuck somewhere on the upper decks.”
Hook held still a moment, his visor brightening as he went quiet. Then, Hook surprised Starscream by seizing an arm and leading the stumbling seeker out of the med bay. Hook locked it shut behind them, and automatically moved out of reach of a swipe of a clawed servo. Hook moved quickly as he could down the hallway, grumbling about the other Constructicons not noting Scavenger’s plight either.
Starscream took in a deep vent, and slowly let it out as his wings lowered into a displeased slump.
He was in for an unpleasant two months.