Back from speaking with Telrim in the Nexus

[screamsofstars]

Starscream strides into the room that she's set aside for the young yeerk's use, her steps sharp and precise as she focuses on her anger instead of the PINpoint that she just gave to the human woman she'd hoped to protect.

"You!" she says coldly to the creature, all trace of her usual friendly demeanor missing. "Have you been in contact with your superiors?"

Comments

[in-the-cracks.livejournal.com]

Jointed legs uncoil as the little exoskeleton stands and shuffles around to face her, backlit by images from the screen it had been watching. There's a pause as the Yeerk inside - Arrash Twelve-Eight as it's introduced itself - studies Starscream's appearance, and then it responds through the equipment's voice.

"I have," it says, considering what might have happened to anger her. Will it need to make an escape? Have the Transformer's negotiations with the Council broken down so far?

[screamsofstars.livejournal.com]

"So it's reasonable to presume that I won't be accused of kidnapping you?" Starscream's eyes are narrow with suppressed temper.

[in-the-cracks.livejournal.com]

What? "Kidnapping? If I had not contacted them, I would still be an acceptable loss to gain what you're offering."

[screamsofstars.livejournal.com]

There isn't one really now that Starscream's finished yelling.

"So your associates would be able to speak around you with the possibility that you wouldn't understand what they said?" She arches a brow.

[in-the-cracks.livejournal.com]

It's a shame Arrash hasn't the face to give her a funny look. "Yeerks do not use human slang outside of infiltration." All right, sometimes, but! "Galard is the standard language in most of the Empire."

[screamsofstars.livejournal.com]

"Far be it from me to be patronizing." Yeah right. "But knowledge of language is a skill that should never be overlooked."

[screamsofstars.livejournal.com]

Starscream looks up, inhaling deeply and savoring the different components of the air. "Hold on tightly."

They're going to do something new.

[in-the-cracks.livejournal.com]

That's never a good sign. Arrash flattens itself down instinctively, slightly alarmed. "What are you doing?"

[screamsofstars.livejournal.com]

Instead of answering, the Transformer lifts her arms and then shoots into the air, her face flexing into a fierce grin as they pierce the clouds.

[screamsofstars.livejournal.com]

"Very well." She conceals the smirk this time. "What are you waiting for?"

[in-the-cracks.livejournal.com]

Arrash doesn't sigh. It simply begins to disengage from its shell, letting the exoskeleton open and expose it to the air. It can feel the chill through its slime layer immediately.

[screamsofstars.livejournal.com]

Starscream puts out a hand to give support, patient now that her wishes are being met and letting her protective instincts respond slightly to the small creature.

[screamsofstars.livejournal.com]

"They're not self aware." Starscream goes into a brisk spin, then does a loop that no piloted jet would be capable of and with one shot suddenly becomes the pursuer instead of the pursued.

[in-the-cracks.livejournal.com]

Arrash hisses in excitement, knowing she's just outperformed any Taxxon pilot it's flown with. "Are there no sentient guards here?" it asks, not really caring about the answer. It's too caught up in the aerial display it's literally in the centre of.

[screamsofstars.livejournal.com]

"Mmmhmm." Another spin, and then a sudden drop, and two more drones are plummeting downward, damaged wings trailing smoke. "We might get a few later."

She screams skyward again, her sights locking onto the wing of the drone she's pursuing, and which is trying desperately to shake her.

[screamsofstars.livejournal.com]

Right! Left! SpinswoopandDIVE!

The G-force on that last might hurt a bit....

[in-the-cracks.livejournal.com]

Arrash feels the pull, and isn't sure whether to be grateful for its squooshable body or not. The painful tugging on its skin and nerves isn't as important as that speed. And that AAAAAGGH!

[screamsofstars.livejournal.com]

Actually increases just a little as five rookies come roaring up to meet the intruders, their commanding officer hanging back just a little to let the young Transformers at the target. One of the youngsters is soon weebling groundward in flying saucer mode as another transforms and frantically pats out a flaming arm.

Starscream is long past them, chasing the other three in what turned rout so quickly as to be laughable if she weren't yelling at them for wasting her time and being spineless.

[screamsofstars.livejournal.com]

"Not long." Starscream transmits the exact time directly through the suit's communicator. "And most organic creatures would have been crushed by the g-force. You have my apology for my thoughtlessness."

She'd meant to show the yeerk a display of power, but she hadn't intended to turn it into dogfight roadkill.

[in-the-cracks.livejournal.com]

"...Accepted." It's mollified by the thought that it proved itself unexpectedly hardy. Its roving sensors light on Sunhalo. "Who is this?"

[screamsofstars.livejournal.com]

"Ah, are you hungry?" Starscream pauses for a moment before shifting and looks at it with one brow arched.

[in-the-cracks.livejournal.com]

"Soon," it says quietly. It feels a drain already. Regeneration efforts do that. "Starscream, what is the nature of the relationship between students and mentors among your people?"

[screamsofstars.livejournal.com]

"I have little time for bonds myself," she lies smoothly even as she continues the conversation with her mate. "But many Transformers value those known as 'family' bonds above all others."

[in-the-cracks.livejournal.com]

A soft rattle like a snort from the exoskeleton. "Naturally. I should have realised."

[screamsofstars.livejournal.com]

Starscream smiles and walks away, telling Moonshadow her intended time of arrival. "Until next time."