Chapter 5

Emptiness Machine

Author note: Hey yall here is a link to my AO3 so you can find the work there as well! Hope the link works 😬

https://archiveofourown.org/works/61381396

Starscream X Reader (Mech Pilot AU)

Chapter 5

You squirm a bit in the too tight grip of the bot’s servos as he holds you. When the other blue bot had come in, he had switched back to speaking in Cybertronian. However, something about his expression when he looked down at you made you think he finally pieced it all together. You smile triumphantly up at him and narrow your eyes. You had successfully gotten under his plating.

The autobots had made it very clear to their human hosts that the Decepticons were nothing more than monsters. They weren’t to be trusted at all. But as you look between the two bots as they gaze down at you in horror, you can’t help but compare their reaction to the autobots. Both looked as if you might sprout another head at any moment. The one holding you looked absolutely affronted as his gaze darted from the scan displayed on the screen to you. You couldn’t read the other boxier mech, his mask and visor making it difficult to tell what he was feeling. But clearly he was one step ahead of the one who plucked you from the tube. You grimace and gasp suddenly unable to breathe.

“I’m still here. You’re starting to squish me you oaf.”

You say breathless as his servo tightens around your middle in his shock. Turning at your voice, he turns and dumps you unceremoniously back into the tube, knocking the breath out of you and making your head start to spin again. You try to pull yourself to your feet but fall against the side. Just in time to watch them both rush out muttering in their language. The door sliding shut once again.

‘What was the all about?’

You think as you try to gather yourself, glancing over at your mech and up to the top of the tube. It would be easy for you to shimmy your way up the thing if you could stop being so damn dizzy. You swallow back the wave of nausea that crashes over you. It’s not like you hadn’t been trained for things like this. You had run through scenario after scenario. But this one, this was unexpected. You had been told by the autobots that if a human were to be captured, it would end in their demise. A horrible gruesome one at that. No ifs, ands, or buts about it. The Decepticons did not care about preserving life.

Gripping the side of the glass container, you manage to lift yourself up and stand on wobbly legs. The adrenaline from the interaction was still coursing through you and making your hands shake as you stood slowly. You began an awkward climbing shimmy up the tube. Using your body and limbs to help you along. The tube wasn’t that high but it was high enough that you couldn’t just jump out. After reaching the rim, you take a moment to breathe and make sure no bots were around. Shockwave hadn’t returned. A lucky break. It was also lucky they had severely underestimated your ability to do anything. You smirk as you imagine the looks on their faces when they find you gone.

…

Starscream takes long strides towards Megatron’s throne room with Soundwave trailing after him. The communications officer had a point. That wasn’t just an organic creature. It was something straight out of a horror holo-drama. Something created in a lab that could turn the tide of the war in the Autobot’s favor. Lord Megatron needed to know about this immediately. If Shockwave hadn’t already informed his leader. The thought made him suddenly rock to a stop, Soundwave nearly crashing into his back as his wings flick. If Shockwave got ahold of this creature, if he figured out already that the humans can be infused with energon and used as weapons….

This wouldn’t do. This was something he could use. An advantage over his tyrannical leader. He had suspected for some time that Megatron was losing his grip on reality. Fueled by rage and hate for the leader of the Autobots.

Optimus prime.

His personal vendetta clouding his ability to make wise decisions as a leader. Starscream knew he couldn’t best him in battle but maybe…just maybe he could find a way to use this to his advantage. He turns to Soundwave, his voice thoughtful.

“Soundwave, we should keep this tidbit of information between us. You know how delicate Lord Megatron’s sensibilities have been lately. We wouldn’t want him putting barbaric ideas into Shockwave’s head. He’s already unstable as it is.”

Soundwave only nods. Looking back towards the lab where they left the human. Starscream huffed in exasperation. His companion still practically radiated anxiety for the little creature.

“We do need to get it out of Shockwave’s care. As SIC, I am responsible for prisoners. Not that glitched scientist. I’ll have the drones take her and that husk to the brig.”

He seemed sure of himself but the facilities on the Nemesis weren’t made to hold something so small. Something easily under ped. He thought for a moment as he stalked off on just how he was going to contain such an interesting threat. Soundwave turns. His loyalty to Megatron tempting him to go seek his counsel. But even he knew that his old friend wasn’t the same bot he used to be. He decided it’s in the human’s best interest that he keep it with him for now. Turning, he heads back towards the lab. Trusting something so fragile and small to Starscream of all mechs wasn’t sitting right with him. He pictured the small creature crushed in the seeker’s grip and shuddered.

…

You had climbed to the rim of the glass tube. Looking down at about a ten foot drop. Surely this wouldn’t be so bad? You brace yourself before jumping and landing hard. The sound echoing a lot more than you wish it would have. You freeze, waiting for someone to burst through the door. No one does and you smile. They hadn’t posted any guards outside. First mistake. They won’t make that mistake twice which means you get one shot at this. Peering over the edge of the table you look down at the almost thirty foot drop before pushing away feeling dizzy. Heights never bothered you but this, knowing you could fall to your death, was something different altogether. You take a deep breath and stepped back a few paces. It was a small jump from here to the inverted table and the arm of your mech. From there you could crawl up to her chest. Your head still pounding and chest still aching from the phantom pain, you brace yourself and run like mad for the jump.

Landing against her plating, you feel how cold she’s become. It wasn’t going to be a pleasant experience once you got inside. That ache in your chest reminding you of the gaping wound she possessed. You take a deep breath before climbing the rest of the way to the cockpit in her chest cavity. The damage was extensive. Torn proto-mesh and energon leaking from several damaged sections. At least Shockwave had been precise and missed all the main energon lines. This was salvageable. The pneumonic needle and gel cushion your body rested in were both still intact. You breathe a sigh of relief as you settle yourself back in. There was a small risk associated with re-establishing a severed connection but you pushed that out of your mind. You had to get out of here.

Closing your eyes and leaning back, you let your head fall into the gel. The familiar sting in the back of your neck barely noticeable as everything goes black. Blinding pain wracks your body as it comes online once more. You hold back a scream as your servos come up to clutch at your chest. Using your shaking servos, you try to close the plating as gently as you can around the tiny helpless body within. Bending the metal back in place makes you double over as the pain becomes almost unbearable. You groan and stumble off of the table. Noting the fact that your wrist restraints had been removed. They really underestimated you didn’t they. You get a small sliver of satisfaction in knowing you pulled one over on them as you stagger towards the door.

As you do, it slides open to reveal the blue mech from earlier. You hear him make a startled sound as you activate your jump jets and slam past him. Knocking him flat on his aft. He calls after you but you don’t hear it. Tearing through the hallways as fast as your jets will carry you. Wing panels flaring out to keep you stabilized as you search frantically for an exit.

Chapter 9

The crushing hug the scout had you in nearly cracked the brand new welds that had been used to repair you. You chuckle as he finally lets go but keeps a servo wrapped around the arm of your mech. The other bot, Ironhide, waved at the two of you from the door.

“C’mon we ain’t got time for tearful hellos. The others are guarding the open spacebridge as we speak.”

He starts out the door and bee goes to pull you along with him. The restraints that Starscream had ordered the drones to place on you were still binding your wrists. You awkwardly stumble along letting him guide you through the smoke. He and Ironhide had done quite a number on the drones through this hallway. you smile a little knowing later you would congratulate them on their victory. After turning down a few more hallways, you join up with the lambo twins and Hound. They urge you forward and through the last set of blast doors. The scene that awaited you was straight out of a science fiction comic book. Optimus himself stood in front of the open space bridge locked in hand to hand combat with Megatron.

Optimus swung his axe missing Megatron’s helm by mere inches. The Decepticon leader taking the opportunity to drive his energy blade up just missing vital energon lines running through his opponent’s neck. The prime countered, his joints straining as he swung the heavy weapon down in a brutal arc. Megatron sidestepped just in time to watch the axe slamming into the ground with a deafening thud, sending up a spray of sparks.

Before the axe could be pulled back, Megatron darted in, his energy blade flashing in the dim light, a precise thrust aimed at his opponent’s chassis. Optimus twisted, deflecting the strike with a swift, brutal swipe of his axe. Megatron’s blade grazed his plating, but he barely flinched.

There were scowls on their faces as they circled each other, each waiting for an opening to strike. Optimus growled deep in his frame, lunging forward again, his weapon whistling through the air. His opponent narrowly avoiding the strike. The energy blade was raised just in time, blocking the blow but the sheer force of it drove him to his knees. With a growl of fury, Megatron pushed back, rolling aside, narrowly avoiding a second strike.

He sprang to his feet, his blade now a blur as he countered with a series of fast, slashing attacks.The two bots locked optics, and in a flash, they were upon each other again, weapons clashing in a deafening frenzy of power and precision, each driven by eons of war and the raw need to destroy one another.

This wasn’t a fight Optimus was trying to win. As you look closer, you see the Autobot leader carefully leading Megatron to the opposite side of the room from the portal. An effective strategy and flawless distraction. Using his own fury against him. You can’t help but smile a bit as Bee tugs on your arm, pulling you towards the portal. Ironhide and the twins had already gone through and Hound was right on their aft. No one wanted to stick around while the two big shots had it out. Letting the scout lead you forward you brace for the dizzying swirl of noise and light before disappearing behind the rest of the team.

As you come out on the other side, you see the familiar sight of the launch bay. Right behind you, a heavy ped step announces the arrival of Optimus. He’s clutching a fresh wound on his shoulder, but other than that he seems fine. Relief and exhaustion grip you and your knees buckle beneath you. Bumblebee luckily still has his digits locked around your wrist and catches you as you lean forward. His worried tone faded to a deafening ringing sound as your optics white out.

When you wake hours later, you expect to be disconnected from your mech. Instead, you are laid out still connected to your machine on one of the medical berths Ratchet uses to treat injured Autobot. Your chassis is open, exposing your real body. Tubes and energon lines are connected at various points around your frame. Blinding white light from above you makes you blink a few times, trying to adjust your optics to the harsh glow. From the cockpit of your mech, a familiar voice mumbles.

“She’s awake. Seraphim can you hear me?” Dr. Antonov’s voice was muffled by the layers of plating and wires he was behind.

You groan in response and he moves to be closer to your helm. You turn and train him with golden optics. “Dr. Antonov. It’s good to see you. Is…everything alright?”

The doctor stayed shut away in his lab most days. After years of working for the government, he had finally retired. He was promptly brought back for the express purpose of finishing his research on Cybertronian biology after first contact. He was a kind man, albeit a bit odd and antisocial. The corners of his eyes crinkled as he smiled up at you. His greying, dark hair a mess as it usually was.

“You’ve had quite an ordeal haven’t you Sera? Honestly I was surprised we got you back in one piece! Given how Prime had described the Decepticons.” He reached out and patted the side of your helm gently. You look back at your open chassis.

“Doctor, why haven’t I been disconnected?” as you asked this, his smile faded. He looked his age once again as he turned slowly to walk back to where he had been.

“Something is interfering with your ability to disconnect from the Seraphim frame. If we try to sever the connection in this state…your consciousness could be lost.”

Before you could process his words, you hear shouting outside the door. Muffled voices and sounds of a struggle could be heard. Two bots were arguing.

“You better let me in old timer before I let myself in.”

“She’s just waking up, we don’t want to overwhelm her with company. Besides, we don’t know if the doctor has broken the news to her—“

The bot guarding the door was cut off as the other shoved his was into the med-bay. The giant metal door slid open and quick ped steps announced the arrival of a very worried and fussy friend.

•••

“You absolute failure! I cannot believe you allowed Optimus Prime and his lackeys to bridge directly onto the flight deck of my ship!” Megatron sent a devastating kick into the side of the kneeling figure before him. It sent the bot jolting to the side, nearly purging his tanks from the force of the blow. Venting rapidly, Starscream tries to re-align his vocal apparatus to speak.

“Lord Megatron! Please I was interrogating the prisoner! Didn’t you want the valuable information she was carrying?” Another blow to the helm as he bowed low, trying to appease his leader’s anger. Dizzy and disoriented he tried to right himself, only to be grabbed by a wing and flung across the room. There was a sickening crunch as his wing dislocated and hung useless by a few cables. His body hit the opposite wall and he landed in a heap unmoving. The gathered Decepticons seemed to flinch in unison as the Warlord stalked towards the seeker.

“Starscream you imbecile. I told you to take care of it. Didn’t I? I wanted that thing offline! It had no such intel to give you. It was taking you for the fool you are! And now Optimus prime has ground bridge coordinates for the flight deck of the Nemesis!” He reached out a clawed servo and grabbed the seeker around the throat. Lifting him off of his peds. Starscream sputtered but couldn’t get the words out. Energon leaked from the split in the mesh of his lip where Megatron had landed a solid blow earlier. He bared his denta at his leader and scrabbled at the grip around his throat as Megatron squeezed. Starscream’s optics flickered as he was about to lose consciousness. A calm and steady voice interrupted the two.

“Lord Megatron if I may, the abomination did in fact possess coordinates for other energon mines. Isn’t that correct Soundwave?” Shockwave’s even tone despite the mauling of his second in command, made Megatron pause.

He growled and dropped the body of the seeker and he crumpled into a heap on the floor. Turning his attention to a very uncomfortable looking Soundwave, Megatron began to stalk over looking eerily calm. As he approached Soundwave produced a small disk. One he had hoped to keep hidden for his own research. But Shockwave had seen him downloading the information from the prisoner. He handed it over, there was no information on the location of the base of operations for their enemy, however, the location of half a dozen energon mines wasn’t bad intel at all.

While Megatron was discussing the new intel with Shockwave, Starscream winced as he hauled himself up. This wasn’t the first time his leader had taken out a defeat on his frame. He gritted his denta against the pain and limped painfully out. He needed to be away from here. Anywhere but here before panic gripped him once again. He felt his spark start to spin faster as he hobbled to his habisuite to do his own repairs.

Chapter 5

Starscream X Reader (Mech Pilot AU)

Chapter 5

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