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

[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]

"Chief Enforcer Sunhalo." Starscream takes the exosuit from the younger Transformer, who looks nearly identical to herself save for length of hair and colour of skin and jumpsuit, and sets it on her shoulder. "My eldest sentient creation."

Ruby eyes that show a cooler nature than Starscream's own examine the yeerk noncommittally, but Sunhalo doesn't speak.

[in-the-cracks.livejournal.com]

Arrash's sensors remain on Sunhalo as it studies her. "Greetings," it says in a neutral voice.

[screamsofstars.livejournal.com]

"Hi." Her English has an accent that's absent from Starscream's own. "You're unharmed?"

She can see that it is, but she knows her manners.

The rookie laying on the ground suddenly curls into a tight ball of misery and embarrassment, but she ignores him.

[in-the-cracks.livejournal.com]

"Yes..." The other robot's movement draws Arrash's attention. "Is he?"

[screamsofstars.livejournal.com]

"He'll live. Probably longer than he would have without the lessons he learned today." Sunhalo turns a frown toward the teen, then looks at the one that the medics are working on. That one she's proud of. He stuck to the fight, despite being in over his head.

[in-the-cracks.livejournal.com]

Arrash clicks in amusement. "I think he'll remember them."

[screamsofstars.livejournal.com]

"If he doesn't he's too stupid to live," says Sunhalo dryly.

[in-the-cracks.livejournal.com]

"Of course." Arrash muses on how strange it is, finding notes of similarity in among the disparities. "Our own training takes much the same approach."

[screamsofstars.livejournal.com]

"Hrmm." Sunhalo excuses herself and goes to check on the wounded boy.

"We should be getting back," decides Starscream, rolling the shoulder that Arrash isn't sitting on. She's looking a lot more relaxed, and once more wearing her usual expression of slightly smug good nature.

[in-the-cracks.livejournal.com]

Arrash is glad to see her mood's improved. Indifferent though it is to an alien's upset, it doesn't relish the idea of dealing with her when she's angry. "Are you done toying with them?"

[screamsofstars.livejournal.com]

"Hrm," comes the noncommittal reply as she walks over and signals to the medics to let her close. Pained and weary grey eyes look up at her uncertainly, but the wounded teen offers her a smile.

Starscream smiles back, then hunkers down to pat him on an undamaged spot on his chest. "Good work, rookie."

The smile blooms as his face lights, and the scientist chuckles and pats him again before standing and walking away. "Fold your legs, Arrash."

[in-the-cracks.livejournal.com]

The Yeerk does as instructed without a word. It's thinking about something now, and it wants to formulate its question and be airborne again before it says anything.