Solace

Punishment

Season 1 Episode 14: Out of His Head

Scene occurs after the end of this episode. Megatron did not hold back when it came to punishing Starscream, it would seem.

***

Shrill creeks and clangs of broken metal rattled around the open room as Megatron, quite literally, mopped the floor with his second. He slammed the dazed seeker against the floor for the umpteenth time and leaned down to fully bask in the wild, fearful gaze frozen in Starscream's optics. Pathetic, Megatron thought. To think that a simple beating could bring the sniveling excuse for a warrior to his knees in a matter of seconds. Still, he thought with a cruel smile, watching in delight as Starscream's optics desperately scanned the area in search of somebot willing enough to save him, he had to admit that the sight was entertaining.

He twisted Starscream's helm in his grasp until the shaking seeker was forced to look him in the optics and leaned down further, a growl bubbling at the back of his throat.

"Name one reason," he snarled, his voice rising with each word, "one good reason why I should even consider keeping you alive!"

Megatron relished in the way his captive squirmed underneath his servos. He released his grasp, backing off far enough for Starscream to stand. Weakly, Starscream struggled to his feet, shielding himself from any blows Megatron might try to land by holding his arms up in front of his face.

"Please, Megatron," Starscream gasped and begged. "Please, see reason! I... I was wrong. I see that now. But I'm still of value, please! You need me!"

Megatron slashed the side of Starscream's face with the back of his servo, snarling at the whimper of pain that he received in return. "Excuses!" He cried. "Nothing but excuses, Starscream! Have you nothing better to offer than empty words from your silver tongue?"

Standing outside of the room was the Decepticon medic, Knock Out, along with his assistance, Breakdown. The pair watched in mild interest as their leader continued to rant and rage against his second, neither one willing enough to step in. Occasionally, Knock Out would lean in and whisper something to his partner, but quickly stopped when the situation began to escalate. Now, he stood uneasily in the doorway, leaning against Breakdown for support as he watched the beatings continue.

Megatron towered over the seeker, who was now lying flat against the floor, tears of coolant pooling in the corners of his optics as he stared up at his aggressor. He propped himself up with his elbows and tried to crawl away, but Megatron simply dropped down by his side and slammed a powerful fist against his chest, stopping Starscream in his tracks.

"Enlighten me, my dear second," he sneered, tracing a careful claw across one of Starscream's cheeks. When the tears fell, he flicked them away. "Why do you always do this, time and time again? Do you expect a different result? Do you expect to succeed?"

Starscream bit the inside of his cheek to prevent any fearful noises from escaping and flinched away from Megatron's touch, his breath coming in quick gasps. The warlord, seemingly unfazed by his second's show of terror, wrapped a careful servo around Starscream's neck and held him tight. Starscream desperately struggled against his grasp, scratching at the iron fist with dull claws and kicking frantically at his frame, but to no avail.

Clang.

Megatron slammed his victim into the ground and unsheathed his sword. Looming over Starscream with a look of pure malice in his optics, Megatron chuckled softly.

"Do you take pleasure in trying to overthrow my leadership?" He asked, casually looking over the sword in his grasp as if he hadn't just inflicted a century's worth of damage on the mech beneath him. "Or are you simply trying to find an easy way out of the torture you insist on subjecting yourself to?"

Starscream didn't respond. He forced his breaths to regulate as he held his arms protectively over his middle, hiding the treasured spark chamber from view.

Megatron glared down at the seeker and shoved the tip of his sword under Starscream's chin, a twisted smile curling at his lips when Starscream whimpered in response.

"Pathetic," he scoffed, pulling the sword away long enough to receive a quiet sigh of relief from the seeker. Megatron began to trail the sword blade down Starscream's chest until it was resting just above his spark chamber.

"Tell me, my loyal second," Megatron said, the words spat out like venom. "Why did you do it?"

Starscream stopped in his shivering long enough to stare at Megatron from behind his servos, which had moved up to protect his face from any further harm. "T-to what are you referring, my lord?" He asked nervously, somehow managing a quivering smile and lighthearted chuckle amidst the beating he had just endured.

"The true motive behind your most recent betrayal," Megatron grounded out, pushing the sword harder against Starscream's plating. "Tell me. Now."

"I-I don't understand," Starscream said, crying out when the sword was driven deeper. "Please, Megatron, I'm telling the truth! I-I didn't mean to cause your demise. I wasn't trying to take your place. It was just a mistake, I swear! Just a simple, honest mistake—"

Starscream's ramble was cut off with an ear-splitting shriek. Both Knock Out and Breakdown watched in horror as Megatron's blade was embedded deep into the seeker's chest. Megatron leaned against the hilt, pressing down until the sword was visible from behind Starscream's back.

Knock Out quickly held a servo to his mouth to muffle a sound of disgust and turned away, his tanks twisting in horror at the sight. In all of his millions of years working as a medic, he had never seen such an act of violence. Breakdown gently patted his partner's shoulder and watched on, struggling to block out to cries of agony that came from the victim of Megatron's wrath. The sounds would forever be embedded into his memory, he thought, watching on as Starscream desperately clung to life from underneath the force of Megatron's most feared weapon.

Carefully, delicately, Megatron removed the sword from Starscream's chest, grunting in annoyance at the high pitched squeal that the act elicited from his second. He slowly wrapped an arm around Starscream's shoulders, careful not to irritate any open wounds, and pulled the poor seeker up to rest against his chest. Megatron's optics watched in satisfaction at the tears of coolant dripping down Starscream's face as his second struggled to stay awake. He wiped his sword clean of any residue and sheathed it, then clutched Starscream close.

Once he was finished, Megatron leaned down to Starscream's ear, watching the terrified seeker screws his eyes shut in pain and utter despair.

"Fail me again," Megatron whispered, tracing a finger across the precious spark chamber he had come so close to destroying, "and there will be no second chances."

After a small nod from his whimpering second, Megatron stood and dropped the seeker to the ground. He glared as fresh energon spilled from the wounds, bright blue specks dotting his peds. With his victim now shuddering beneath him and desperately clutching the wound in his chest, Megatron turned to his horrified medics and pointed down at the grisly sight.

"Take him to the medbay," he said, already stomping past on his way to accomplish more important tasks. "Alert someone regarding the mess down here, as well. These floors better be spotless before I return."

"Yes, Lord Megatron," Knock Out hissed under his breath, crouching to retrieve the seeker. Seeing the prideful, fierce commander in such a fragile state triggered something deep inside of the young medic. His faceplates twisted with a look of undisguised disgust as he watched the retreating form of Megatron. As usual, the medical team had been left to pick up the shattered pieces.

"Your wish is my command."