Chapter 5: Covering the Autobot's Escape
"Sir Rumble, General Starscream said he's been away from the main battlefield for too long and doesn't know the current situation. He wants you to bring him the latest battle report he says he wants to study the situation!"
Following Starscream's plan, the Autobot easily tricked Rumble, leaving only two rookie Decepticons both tractor-like machines guarding the entrance.
"Hey, I just remembered there's a lot of good stuff here. You motorcycle warriors could really use it. Why don't you take it all?"
According to the escape plan she had agreed on with Starscream, after fooling Rumble, it was time to deal with the two guards at the door. These two first-generation Decepticons had the most basic components, so tempting them with valuable equipment was the best move. Unfortunately, neither of them was particularly bright, but they weren't easy to fool either.
"This seems against the rules. We can't just take whatever we want,"
said the one on the left. The one on the right nodded in agreement.
"What are you afraid of? General Starscream already approved it. Just take a few things no one else will ever know."
"Well, if the General said it's fine, then we can take it!"
The two stubborn fools finally came to their senses and followed the Autobot into the warehouse.
But then they both paused. Why was the warehouse so empty? Wasn't Starscream supposed to be in here?
Before either of them could make sense of it, one of their figures suddenly lifted into the air not because he was flying, but because someone had grabbed him by the head.
With a crunch, a metallic sphere rolled across the floor it was the Decepticon's severed head, torn clean off his body. Faint blue sparks flickered from the exposed neck joint. The brutality was shocking.
The headless robot staggered a few steps forward before collapsing onto the warehouse floor, his body reduced to a pile of scrap metal and sparking components.
"Lord Starscream, this is... incomprehensible, my lord…"
Perhaps it was a matter of intellect. After witnessing the gruesome death of his comrade, the remaining Decepticon finally looked up to see Starscream hovering above the warehouse ceiling. But before he could process what was happening, the Autobot struck him at the back of the neck with a solid iron block.
"Autobot ambush betrayal by Lord Starscream ah!"
Starscream gave him no chance to call for help. Just as the Autobot's strike connected, the towering Decepticon general leaped from above. He grabbed the unfortunate soldier by the legs like a chicken and slammed him headfirst into the floor. With his other massive steel arm, he tore out the fuel line and communication antenna from the Decepticon's back. Black, oily fuel sprayed everywhere.
Then Starscream snapped his metallic fingers near the leaking pipeline, creating a spark that ignited the spilled oil engulfing the Decepticon in a burst of fire.
The entire sequence lasted less than ten seconds. Every movement was executed flawlessly, as if rehearsed countless times before.
A clean, elegant kill.
The nearby Autobot stood frozen, utterly stunned.
Was this was this really the same foolish Starscream she remembered from Autobot reports? The one who couldn't hit a stationary target? The second-in-command of the Decepticons who constantly argued with Megatron?
So it had all been an act?
If he truly was a deep-cover agent sent by the elder Autobots, then everything suddenly made sense perfect sense.
"Hey, hey, hey Miss Autobot, what are you daydreaming about? The problem's solved, but we still need to take care of these two. Let's disassemble their bodies and put out the flames. You want to help?"
Starscream's voice snapped her out of her daze.
The danger wasn't over yet, so everything had to be handled cleanly no evidence left behind. They had to destroy the bodies completely and make it look as if the two Decepticons had vanished from the planet. But they were close to the front lines, and patrols could pass by at any moment. They had to move fast.
"Huh? Oh, right I'm sorry, I was distracted. Your moves were… incredible!"
"Forget it. Once we're done here, we leave immediately. Tonight might be your only chance to reunite with the Autobots… and my last chance to reconnect with our organization."
For so long, Starscream had been known among the Decepticons as a mediocre subordinate, a clown of sorts. But today, without meaning to, he'd revealed his true skill in front of a comrade. Those few precise, deadly movements most Autobots couldn't even execute them so cleanly.
Starscream's strategic insight was equally astounding. Who would have thought that, on such a dark and stormy night, a traitor would rise within the Decepticon ranks not only killing his own "brothers" but also helping an Autobot escape?
Was this some twisted version of Infernal Affairs?
But there was no time for reflection. Luck was on their side. With both armies focused entirely on the front lines that night, no one would notice a small disturbance in the rear.
"We'll pass through an abandoned Decepticon trench. If we run into patrols, follow my lead. I might have to rough them up a bit rip out a few oil lines or high-level data cables. Just… don't be too aggressive, alright?"
Among Decepticons, such behavior was common they bullied the weak, both male and female, especially prisoners. Since their faction had no female Decepticons, after conquering most of Autobot territory, many male Decepticons began committing atrocities against captured females. It was nothing new to either side.
And that very ugliness of their kind Starscream now used as his disguise.
(End of Chapter)