A Life For A Life {ON HOLD}

Chapter 1

This is an idea I came up with a while ago, started off as just a one-shot idea but then I started thinking of things to put in so I decided to make it a book. It probably won't be too long, just a few chapters, but we'll see.

Anyways, I came up with this idea because I always thought that Arcee and the Predacons would bond well over their shared hate for Starscream. I want to make it just a friendship thing but I'm not sure yet, I'll have to see where my mind decides to take this story. xD

Enjoy!

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Starscream was terrified, petrified even. He shrunk down in the throne seat where he was sitting as he tried to make himself as small as possible. He felt complete fear as the three Predacons moved closer to him, a lust for his Energon shining in their optics. They want to tear him apart, rip out his inner circuitry as they tear apart his metal. They want to make him feel the pain he made them feel and even worse.

"Wait!"

The three Predacons halt their advance at the sound of the feminine voice behind them. They look back and see a blue femme standing there. They could sense fear in her as she came face to face with the three beasts. They growl at her in annoyance, they do not appreciate being interrupted from their fun. Predaking steps towards the femme, "What do you want Autobot?" He asks in a tone that's filled with irritation and venom.

Arcee looks at him as she steels herself. After Optimus descended into the well of All-sparks the other Autobots decided it would be best to hunt down Shockwave and Starscream to bring them in so they can give account for their actions during the war and be punished. Arcee was the one to pick up Starscream's signal which led her to this tower, when she saw the Predacons land on top she knew she was at the right place but she needed to hurry. The thought of facing the three Predacons on her own scared her but she can't wait for backup, if she doesn't get up there fast there won't be anymore Starscream. As much as she would love to let them tear him apart she knows it's only right that he gets a fair judgment and punishment.

She manages to make it to the top in time to stop them from tearing him to scrap but she's now looking at three angry Predacons that are ready to tear her to scrap for interrupting them. She has to calm herself as she starts to speak, "You can't kill him..."

"Why not!?" Predaking growls, "He has tortured and humiliated us and we want to pay him back for it."

"I can understand that I honestly can. But I need to take him in to give account for everything he has done..."

"There is no way you could possibly understand!" Skylynx says after him and Darksteel transforms, "So you might want to run along little Autobot before we decide to include you in our fun."

Arcee throws him a hardened glare, "I'm not going anywhere! I do understand..." She looks over at Starscream who is looking at her with pleading optics as she places a servo over her side where he had wounded her that one time, "Because you're not the only one he has harmed." She then looks back to the Predacons as she removes her servo from her side, "He has hurt a lot of bots and did a lot of bad things during our war, which is why I'm here to take him in to be judged and punished."

"I don't feel any sympathy for any of you Autobots after you killed my Predacon brethren on Earth!" Predaking says as he glares at her.

"We had no choice, Megatron was gonna use them to destroy the human race. We had an obligation to protect them which meant taking out any threat to their survival. I'm sorry Predaking. I truly am. If they were being created somewhere else or for a different purpose besides war then we would have let them be. But as long as they were a threat to Earth and the human race we had no choice but to destroy them."

Predaking growled at her but her reasoning is understandable. He would go to great lengths to protect his Predacon brethren and he has noticed that the Autobots will do whatever it takes to protect creatures smaller than them.

"I know you guys want to seek revenge on him for what he's done to you and believe me I would be more than happy to let you, but it's only right that he gets a fair judgment and punishment."

"I'll take whatever punishment you deem fit for me! Just get me away from these beasts!" Starscream yells from the throne he's still sitting in.

"Starscream, shut your mouth!" Arcee yells back at him.

"Why should he be treated with fairness when he's never treated any other with it?" Darksteel asks.

"Yeah! He's electrocuted us, hit us, called us names, treated us like animals!" Skylynx throws in, "He doesn't deserve a fair punishment."

"I can side with you on that, he really doesn't deserve one. But it's our way of doing things."

"What did he do to you?" Predaking asked.

Arcee looks down to the ground as she furrows up her optic ridges, "He killed my partner, then when I was trying to get my revenge on him for it he took a cheap shot and cut my side. While I was wounded and losing Energon he tried to kill me." She looks up at them, "That's why I said that I understand, I want revenge on him just as much as you three do."

"And yet you still want to take him in to be given a fair punishment." Predaking says as he looks her over. He can still sense fear from her but she's masking it so well, she's very brave and foolish to be standing in front of them and asking that they release their prey. But he will admit that he does kind of admire her for her braveness and determination.

"Maybe she can help you create more Predacons." Starscream speaks up, "She is a female after all and that is what females do."

"Shut up Starscream!" Arcee yells as she glares at the mech, no way would she ever create Predacon sparklings. She doubts she even has the right body type for that.

The three Predacons look her up and down and Darksteel laughs, "Is certainly something to think on."

"Maybe." Predaking says as he thinks it over. It is a thought but he would never force it on her, she would have to be willing to do it and from what he can tell by her reaction she isn't willing to. But that does give him an idea, "We'll let you have Starscream..." He begins but then trails off as he hears Skylynx and Darksteel whine and protest, "Silence!" He snarls at them and they hush, "As I was saying, we'll let you have Starscream but you must give up yourself. A life for a life."

Arcee's optics widened, he wants her to give up her own life to save Starscream? He must be joking. Why can't he just let Starscream go and leave it at that? She looks at the other two Predacons who got looks of excitement on their faces before looking at Starscream. Is he even worth her giving up her own life? Would Optimus agree to the exchange to save the life of a Decepticon just so he can get a fair punishment? Yes, he would. It's the Autobot way to be sure that everything is done fairly. But is it fair that she should give up her own life for Starscream?

"I'm sorry, Arcee. I'm sorry for everything I have done to you, including getting you into this predicament. Just please get me away from here." Starscream pleads with her.

Arcee looks Predaking straight in the optics, "You have a deal, my life in exchange for his. Just let me get him back to the others."

"Take him to the others and then return." Predaking says as he moves to the side.

Starscream runs towards her, "Thank you Arcee! Thank you!" He says as he tries to hug her but she pushes him back.

"Don't touch me!"

Starscream flinches back, "Sorry."

Arcee brings out a pair of cuffs and puts them on his wrists. She then grabs his arm and heads for the stairs leading into the tower.

The three Predacons watch them until they're out of sight, "She's kind of cute for an Autobot." Skylynx says.

Darksteel laughs, "Indeed. Do you think she'll actually return?"

"If she doesn't we'll go retrieve her and bring her back here."