Starscream & Acid Storm - Pride & Loyalty. One Shot.
Rare Pairings
Title: A Tale of the Seekers: Pride & Loyalty.
Series: None. One Shot.
Rating: PG, for violence and language.
Verse: G1.
Summary: Acid Storm learns a harsh lesson.
Pairings: Acid Storm & Starscream
Notes: Written in response to the weekly request:
Starscream/Acidstorm - Less than friendly rivalry. Betaed by my most awesome Beta uptherabbithole ! (We’re not worthy! We’re not worthy!)
Hope it's an interesting read.
Side Note - The Decepticon capital is still Polyhex, because I like the place!
Starscream seems to be very comfortable there, so it might be his home town.
And the title for this piece could be the Seekers' motto. Just a thought.
Solar cycle - One day
Astrosecond - Eh, less than a second, because Cybertronians live on the fast lane!
//Internal communications//
A Tale of the Seekers: Pride & Loyalty
Acid Storm fled, engines at full power, flying blindly through banks of thick clouds that buffeted his sensors.
It didn’t matter where on Cybertron he fled to as long as he managed to-
Laserfire flashed past his left wing. His right.
Warning shots, nothing more.
He banked heavily to the left and emerged from the clouds, prepared to defend himself against his foe. He knew it was a no win situation but would, nevertheless, make a brave last stand.
He was prepared for anything except the dark shadow that suddenly burst from the cloudbanks.
'You pathetic excuse for a Seeker!’ Starscream shrieked and seized him. ‘Did you really think you could get away from ME!’
Acid Storm struggled, pivoted left, right, tried to gain altitude before diving in a frantic spiral, anything in order to shake the infuriated Air Commander off of him.
‘Transform, coward!!’ Starscream shrieked. ‘Face me!’
Acid Storm transformed and found Starscream’s hands tight about his throat column, the Air Commander’s optics ablaze in fury, fixed on the Rainmaker hovering before him.
‘How DARE YOU?!’ Starscream hissed.
Acid Storm tried to speak but Starscream’s hands were crushing his vocaliser and had already damaged his synthesizers.
//Please!// Acid Storm begged through their comm. Frequency. //I-I was out of line! I admit it! Please!//
Starscream sneered and released him, granting the Rainmaker only enough time for a brief surge of hope before opening fire indiscriminately.
Acid Storm cried out as Starscream’s null rays sent painful shocks of energy through his frame, stunning him, halting all his components, including his engines.
The Rainmaker’s central processors were seized by warning signal after warning signal as he plummeted from the skies in an uncontrollable spin, Starscream descended with him, staying close as the green seeker plunged to certain destruction.
Starscream savoured the abject horror that remained frozen on Acid Storm’s features, circling about Acid Storm’s frame as the Rainmaker fell.
He reached out and seized Acid Storm’s right heel thruster, halting the Rainmaker’s fall, for now.
Acid Storm’s processors registered damage to his joints as he came to a sudden halt and he dangled limply from Starscream’s grasp, optics fixed on the distant ground below. At this height he stood little chance of surviving the fall.
‘Did you really think I wouldn’t know?’ Starscream shook him.
//I didn’t-Shockwave awarded me the honour!// Acid Storm pleaded his case. //Shockwave-//
‘Shockwave this and Shockwave that!’ Starscream growled. ‘He awarded you an honour without consulting me. ME!’
//I didn’t think-//
‘That’s right! You “didn’t think!”’ Starscream growled. ‘Didn’t think that as a Seeker you were supposed to ask my permission FIRST?!’
//But Shockwave-//
‘ENOUGH!!’ Starscream cried and shook him again. ‘Blaming Shockwave for your obvious lack of judgment will not prevent your well deserved punishment.’ He smiled evilly. ‘Perhaps a lesson is in order, just to remind you exactly WHO is in charge!’
//Don’t drop me!// Acid Storm pleaded. //Please!//
‘I had no intention to,’ Starscream smiled evilly, ‘but now that you mention it...’
//PLEASE!!// Acid Storm urged.
‘Such a pity,’ Starscream spoke, enjoying Acid Storm’s pleas. ‘To think I initiated you as a Seeker, and now I’m witnessing your demise.’
//I-I’ll do anything to make up for my lack of judgment!// Acid Storm offered. //Starscream! I beg of you-//
‘You...BEG?! PATHETIC WEAKLING!’ Starscream released him and Acid Storm plunged to the ground once more.
Starscream transformed and followed Acid Storm’s fall.
‘Begging?!’ Starscream mocked Acid Storm’s plight. ‘You’re no Seeker! A Seeker never begs! He’d rather DIE than grant his foe the satisfaction of hearing him beg!’
//Damn you!!// Acid Storm riled. //Damn you! I hope Megatron blasts a hole through your spark!//
‘Cheap threats from one about to meet his creator.’ Starscream laughed. ‘Not impressed.’
Acid Storm’s rage knew no bounds.
All respect he’d fostered for Starscream had been betrayed by the Air Commander himself through this display of petty jealousy.
So be it! If he was to meet Primus he would not go alone!
Bypassing non functioning circuits he managed to lock into the reflex servo circuits, unable to reactivate his engines but managing to regain some control of his limbs... And his weapon systems.
Starscream screamed as a volley of random laserfire from Acid Storm’s weapons struck him, searing a path across his wings and undercarriage.
The Air Commander’s left wing released black smoke and he spun out of control alongside the Rainmaker, Acid Storm laughed as the ground loomed closer with every astrosecond.
Any moment now they would impact, together, and explode into shards.
He would perish, but he would perish alongside his foe!
A worthy end to a Seeker!
‘Sneaky little slagger!!’ Starscream hissed, regaining control and transforming. ‘You-HA!‘
Starscream’s reached out and grasped what he could of the Rainmaker before his heel thrusters fired, halting his fall.
He descended safely, Acid Storm’s frame dangling once more from his grasp, this time painfully as Starscream held on to the Rainmaker’s wing.
‘Congratulations.’ Starscream spoke. ‘You’ve managed to regain my interest with that last stunt.’
He growled and cast Acid Storm’s semi stunned frame aside, enjoying the Rainmaker’s cry of pain now that Acid Storm had begun to regain control of his systems.
//I would have taken you with me!// Acid Storm laughed, still unable to speak since his synthesizers were still damaged. //No matter, another will succeed where I fail!//
‘Not begging for your life?’ Starscream asked. ‘Not imploring for mercy?’
‘To the Pit with you!’ Acid Storm managed to vocalize through scrambled static. ‘I’d rather be melted down into slag than-‘
‘Now that’s a Seeker talking!’ Starscream spoke, standing above him.
‘I-I don’t underst-‘
Acid Storm was silenced again, this time by the Air Commander’s hand striking across his features.
‘Why do you think I’m angry?’ Starscream asked. ‘Answer me truthfully.’
‘Y-You’re jealous Shockwave awarded me an honour.’ Acid Storm offered.
‘Is that...’ Starscream burst into laughter. ‘Little flier!’ Starscream laughed. ‘Shockwave dispenses awards like energon cubes, to gain obedience. I’m angry because you’ve insulted me by accepting honours from another, not from the Air Commander or the Supreme Commander.’
‘I see.’ Acid Storm understood. ‘I’m sorry I called... For what I said.’
‘Never forget you’re a Seeker, answerable only to me or to Megatron. Shockwave is not our equal, never will be.’ Starscream drew closer. ‘Never let me hear you’ve bent knee once more before that... monoptic!’
‘Yes, Commander Starscream.’ Acid Storm spoke. ‘I won’t forget.’
‘I chose you for a reason.’ Starscream spoke. ‘I saw in you the strength, the PRIDE of a Seeker, and Seekers don’t bow before anyone!’ His ire began to dissipate and he studied the damage to his wing and armour.
‘Not bad, considering.’ Starscream offered. ‘We had best return to Polyhex before the high and mighty Lord Protector sends his drones to look for us.’ Starscream held out his hand. ‘Can you transform?’
‘Yes.’ Acid Storm took Starscream’s hand and rose, able to stand now that his systems were coming fully online, ashamed he’d doubted Starscream’s integrity.
‘Good.’ Starscream spoke. ‘Come. You’ve much to learn as to what being a Seeker means. I still have high hopes for you, don’t disappoint me.’
‘Yes, Commander.’ Acid Storm spoke, transforming and taking to the skies after Starscream, wondering if he would survive any further instructions the Air Commander had to dispense.
Starscream smiled. One more would be rival put in his place, he thought.
Acid Storm would think twice before stepping out of line or considering any loyalty to Shockwave, and through him, loyalty to Megatron.
Never! Starscream vowed. As long as he was Air Commander, no Seeker, NOT ONE, would ever dare to contradict him by siding with Shockwave, or worse, attempt to topple him from his position as Air Commander.
The Seekers are mine! Starscream thought.
I will have no rival, no equal! I am Starscream!
When the time comes the Seekers will be loyal to me, rally to my call and raise me as the new Decepticon leader. All I have to do is play not on their fears, as Megatron does, but on their pride, a Seeker’s greatest strength, and his greatest weakness.
Seekers were brothers after all, the elite of all Decepticon forces.
Who better to lead all the Decepticons than one of their ranks?
And who better than their leader, Air Commander Starscream? Starscream grinned.
Finis
Title: A Tale of the Seekers: Pride & Loyalty.
Series: None. One Shot.
Rating: PG, for violence and language.
Verse: G1.
Summary: Acid Storm learns a harsh lesson.
Pairings: Acid Storm & Starscream
Notes: Written in response to the weekly request:
Starscream/Acidstorm - Less than friendly rivalry. Betaed by my most awesome Beta uptherabbithole ! (We’re not worthy! We’re not worthy!)
Hope it's an interesting read.
Side Note - The Decepticon capital is still Polyhex, because I like the place!
Starscream seems to be very comfortable there, so it might be his home town.
And the title for this piece could be the Seekers' motto. Just a thought.
Solar cycle - One day
Astrosecond - Eh, less than a second, because Cybertronians live on the fast lane!
//Internal communications//
A Tale of the Seekers: Pride & Loyalty
Acid Storm fled, engines at full power, flying blindly through banks of thick clouds that buffeted his sensors.
It didn’t matter where on Cybertron he fled to as long as he managed to-
Laserfire flashed past his left wing. His right.
Warning shots, nothing more.
He banked heavily to the left and emerged from the clouds, prepared to defend himself against his foe. He knew it was a no win situation but would, nevertheless, make a brave last stand.
He was prepared for anything except the dark shadow that suddenly burst from the cloudbanks.
'You pathetic excuse for a Seeker!’ Starscream shrieked and seized him. ‘Did you really think you could get away from ME!’
Acid Storm struggled, pivoted left, right, tried to gain altitude before diving in a frantic spiral, anything in order to shake the infuriated Air Commander off of him.
‘Transform, coward!!’ Starscream shrieked. ‘Face me!’
Acid Storm transformed and found Starscream’s hands tight about his throat column, the Air Commander’s optics ablaze in fury, fixed on the Rainmaker hovering before him.
‘How DARE YOU?!’ Starscream hissed.
Acid Storm tried to speak but Starscream’s hands were crushing his vocaliser and had already damaged his synthesizers.
//Please!// Acid Storm begged through their comm. Frequency. //I-I was out of line! I admit it! Please!//
Starscream sneered and released him, granting the Rainmaker only enough time for a brief surge of hope before opening fire indiscriminately.
Acid Storm cried out as Starscream’s null rays sent painful shocks of energy through his frame, stunning him, halting all his components, including his engines.
The Rainmaker’s central processors were seized by warning signal after warning signal as he plummeted from the skies in an uncontrollable spin, Starscream descended with him, staying close as the green seeker plunged to certain destruction.
Starscream savoured the abject horror that remained frozen on Acid Storm’s features, circling about Acid Storm’s frame as the Rainmaker fell.
He reached out and seized Acid Storm’s right heel thruster, halting the Rainmaker’s fall, for now.
Acid Storm’s processors registered damage to his joints as he came to a sudden halt and he dangled limply from Starscream’s grasp, optics fixed on the distant ground below. At this height he stood little chance of surviving the fall.
‘Did you really think I wouldn’t know?’ Starscream shook him.
//I didn’t-Shockwave awarded me the honour!// Acid Storm pleaded his case. //Shockwave-//
‘Shockwave this and Shockwave that!’ Starscream growled. ‘He awarded you an honour without consulting me. ME!’
//I didn’t think-//
‘That’s right! You “didn’t think!”’ Starscream growled. ‘Didn’t think that as a Seeker you were supposed to ask my permission FIRST?!’
//But Shockwave-//
‘ENOUGH!!’ Starscream cried and shook him again. ‘Blaming Shockwave for your obvious lack of judgment will not prevent your well deserved punishment.’ He smiled evilly. ‘Perhaps a lesson is in order, just to remind you exactly WHO is in charge!’
//Don’t drop me!// Acid Storm pleaded. //Please!//
‘I had no intention to,’ Starscream smiled evilly, ‘but now that you mention it...’
//PLEASE!!// Acid Storm urged.
‘Such a pity,’ Starscream spoke, enjoying Acid Storm’s pleas. ‘To think I initiated you as a Seeker, and now I’m witnessing your demise.’
//I-I’ll do anything to make up for my lack of judgment!// Acid Storm offered. //Starscream! I beg of you-//
‘You...BEG?! PATHETIC WEAKLING!’ Starscream released him and Acid Storm plunged to the ground once more.
Starscream transformed and followed Acid Storm’s fall.
‘Begging?!’ Starscream mocked Acid Storm’s plight. ‘You’re no Seeker! A Seeker never begs! He’d rather DIE than grant his foe the satisfaction of hearing him beg!’
//Damn you!!// Acid Storm riled. //Damn you! I hope Megatron blasts a hole through your spark!//
‘Cheap threats from one about to meet his creator.’ Starscream laughed. ‘Not impressed.’
Acid Storm’s rage knew no bounds.
All respect he’d fostered for Starscream had been betrayed by the Air Commander himself through this display of petty jealousy.
So be it! If he was to meet Primus he would not go alone!
Bypassing non functioning circuits he managed to lock into the reflex servo circuits, unable to reactivate his engines but managing to regain some control of his limbs... And his weapon systems.
Starscream screamed as a volley of random laserfire from Acid Storm’s weapons struck him, searing a path across his wings and undercarriage.
The Air Commander’s left wing released black smoke and he spun out of control alongside the Rainmaker, Acid Storm laughed as the ground loomed closer with every astrosecond.
Any moment now they would impact, together, and explode into shards.
He would perish, but he would perish alongside his foe!
A worthy end to a Seeker!
‘Sneaky little slagger!!’ Starscream hissed, regaining control and transforming. ‘You-HA!‘
Starscream’s reached out and grasped what he could of the Rainmaker before his heel thrusters fired, halting his fall.
He descended safely, Acid Storm’s frame dangling once more from his grasp, this time painfully as Starscream held on to the Rainmaker’s wing.
‘Congratulations.’ Starscream spoke. ‘You’ve managed to regain my interest with that last stunt.’
He growled and cast Acid Storm’s semi stunned frame aside, enjoying the Rainmaker’s cry of pain now that Acid Storm had begun to regain control of his systems.
//I would have taken you with me!// Acid Storm laughed, still unable to speak since his synthesizers were still damaged. //No matter, another will succeed where I fail!//
‘Not begging for your life?’ Starscream asked. ‘Not imploring for mercy?’
‘To the Pit with you!’ Acid Storm managed to vocalize through scrambled static. ‘I’d rather be melted down into slag than-‘
‘Now that’s a Seeker talking!’ Starscream spoke, standing above him.
‘I-I don’t underst-‘
Acid Storm was silenced again, this time by the Air Commander’s hand striking across his features.
‘Why do you think I’m angry?’ Starscream asked. ‘Answer me truthfully.’
‘Y-You’re jealous Shockwave awarded me an honour.’ Acid Storm offered.
‘Is that...’ Starscream burst into laughter. ‘Little flier!’ Starscream laughed. ‘Shockwave dispenses awards like energon cubes, to gain obedience. I’m angry because you’ve insulted me by accepting honours from another, not from the Air Commander or the Supreme Commander.’
‘I see.’ Acid Storm understood. ‘I’m sorry I called... For what I said.’
‘Never forget you’re a Seeker, answerable only to me or to Megatron. Shockwave is not our equal, never will be.’ Starscream drew closer. ‘Never let me hear you’ve bent knee once more before that... monoptic!’
‘Yes, Commander Starscream.’ Acid Storm spoke. ‘I won’t forget.’
‘I chose you for a reason.’ Starscream spoke. ‘I saw in you the strength, the PRIDE of a Seeker, and Seekers don’t bow before anyone!’ His ire began to dissipate and he studied the damage to his wing and armour.
‘Not bad, considering.’ Starscream offered. ‘We had best return to Polyhex before the high and mighty Lord Protector sends his drones to look for us.’ Starscream held out his hand. ‘Can you transform?’
‘Yes.’ Acid Storm took Starscream’s hand and rose, able to stand now that his systems were coming fully online, ashamed he’d doubted Starscream’s integrity.
‘Good.’ Starscream spoke. ‘Come. You’ve much to learn as to what being a Seeker means. I still have high hopes for you, don’t disappoint me.’
‘Yes, Commander.’ Acid Storm spoke, transforming and taking to the skies after Starscream, wondering if he would survive any further instructions the Air Commander had to dispense.
Starscream smiled. One more would be rival put in his place, he thought.
Acid Storm would think twice before stepping out of line or considering any loyalty to Shockwave, and through him, loyalty to Megatron.
Never! Starscream vowed. As long as he was Air Commander, no Seeker, NOT ONE, would ever dare to contradict him by siding with Shockwave, or worse, attempt to topple him from his position as Air Commander.
The Seekers are mine! Starscream thought.
I will have no rival, no equal! I am Starscream!
When the time comes the Seekers will be loyal to me, rally to my call and raise me as the new Decepticon leader. All I have to do is play not on their fears, as Megatron does, but on their pride, a Seeker’s greatest strength, and his greatest weakness.
Seekers were brothers after all, the elite of all Decepticon forces.
Who better to lead all the Decepticons than one of their ranks?
And who better than their leader, Air Commander Starscream? Starscream grinned.
Finis