Author's Notes- Hi here is the second chapter, sorry for the wait.

Special thanks to LadyBonBon, sakiko of soleana, Iwanita, fan girl 666, The-writing-Mew, anon and Kit_SummerIsle for their reviews and comments, and to all those who favourited, alerted and gave kudos.

Suggestions are welcomed.

Bold- Comm link.

Italics- Thoughts/memories/link speak.

Possible future pairing- Megatron/Starscream

Warnings- Rated T but may rise to an M later for slash so later chapters may be censored on this site. Sparkling abuse, violence and Transformer swearing.

Disclaimer- I do not own Transformers or its characters.

Verse- AU.

Units of Time: Astrosecond- 1 second, Klik- 1 minute, Cycle- 1 hour, Orn- 1 day, Decacycle- 1 week, Meta-cycle- 1 month, Solar cycle- 1 year, Vorn- 1 million years.

Unbetaed.

All mistakes are my own.

Hope you all enjoy it.

Chapter Two- Future Plans

Starscream purred in his recharge, waking gradually in the arms of his toy. Chirping to it in greeting quietly, optics dim as his systems booted, the sparkling stared across at a still slumbering Megatron. Sliding down his new friend onto the coverlet, he flicked his wings out in a stretch and yawned, tiny engines humming steadily. Pressing a digit to his lip components as he glanced up at old toy, he padded to the bars to watch his guardian recharge.

The larger mech had been so angry the previous orn but the Seeker didn't quite know why, only able to assume that he had done something to upset the older Cybertronian. He'd have to behave better… Wings rising in resolve, Starscream crept back to his toy and, with a 'goodnight' chitter, went back into recharge curled up with his helm resting on his new friend's chassis.

Megatron stirred not long after, checking his internal chronometer as a matter of habit and finding it was still quite early, both of Cybertronian's suns having yet to rise over the city, he still nevertheless dragged his frame from his berth, going to his desk and settling down to work. Cycles passed in silence but, several kliks after the second dawn, the aspiring tyrant's intercom buzzed and he was forced to abandon his datapad to greet his visitor.

Starscream by this time was wide awake, but nestled into his toy and barely audible. On the way to the door Megatron, barely pausing, reached a servo into the Seekerlet's crib and stroked his helm, smiling down fondly on the young mech when he looked up at him, larger engines rumbling with affection. Starscream beamed back, waving his own servo in greeting, a light twitch of his digits as his wings flicked up.

The sparkling bounded down his crib as Megatron headed for the door, eager to see who was calling on them at this cycle of the orn. Small servos wrapping around the bars, Starscream pressed his faceplates to the gap between them so he see clearly. A chirp of greeting and excitement burst from his vocaliser as Skyfire was permitted entry into the room, the elder flier's wings pulled in close in a gesture that when Starscream was older he would recognise was that of nervousness.

Skyfire quirked his lip components as he gazed down on his student, servo half-raising in a wave before his attention completely focussed in on Megatron.

Keen ruby optics followed the adult's movements, servos playing with themselves as Starscream watched them curiously. They were speaking too fast for him to keep up, his helm fell on his shoulder as he tried to do so in vain, but from the occasional glance in his direction the sparkling did manage to deduce that at least part of the conversation concerned him.

Spark swirling as a funny feeling settled in his tanks, Starscream instantly crawled into Skyfire's servo the moment it was offered, optics flying back and forth between the two older mechs. Megatron gave a parting stroke to his left wing and a quiet goodbye as the larger flier carried the sparkling out. Starscream stared up at Skyfire curiously as they passed through corridors and hallways the younger mech hadn't seen before. The still-developing frame was filled with interest as his helm began to move from side to side, trying to take everything in. Mechs passed them without acknowledgement but Starscream, when he looked round Skyfire's arm, could see some them pausing to look with twisted faceplates.

Optics narrowing as the young mech vented a sigh at the familiar sight; he curled tighter into Skyfire's servo and hugged the jet's digits to offer comfort. The fingers were quickly pulled away, Skyfire's free appendage pushing the Seeker closer to the centre of his metallic palm. As they walked deeper into this area of the base and the corridors grew more sterilised in nature, mechs gradually became more respectful, particularly those with wings. Starscream chirped at the multitude of different coloured fluttering metal, engines purring at the idea that one orn he'd have them too.

They paused briefly at a wide door, a soft beeping sound tinkling out in the quiet as the scientist input his codes, and they were permitted entry with a barely audible swoosh. Starscream blinked at the pale whites and greens, everything was utterly clean. It didn't sparkle however, the lab wasn't new and it showed, but nothing was dirty and everything had a clear place.

'Lord Megatron has decided that you will take on further lessons with me. One of these will be science.' The jet placed Starscream down on the table top. 'This is important,' he tilted up the Seeker's chin so they could look each other in the optic, 'you do not touch anything unless I say you can. You could get very hurt.'

Starscream nodded, slightly awed, and his optics lit up at the sight of luminous glowing colours in tubes. Some bore warning symbols of them, and the sight of some of the small images made the Seeker flinch as they hinted at what certain substances could do to a Cybertronian. His curiosity soon returned, however, to temper the silent threat. Starscream would be careful (strangely, Megatron only really got mad when the flier got injured, and that provided a deterrent that Skyfire could never equal), and he would learn so he could try and impress his guardian, but he also intended to have some fun. His wings flicked up as a table of elements was placed in front of him, tiny digits tracing the symbols to help him commit them to memory.

Skyfire began to describe each one as Starscream's orbs deepened in concentration, mouthing the names as he was told them. The adult finished with, 'this is of course a simplified version, and you will learn more as we progress, but they are enough to be getting along with. This is for you to keep and I want you to work on memorising them, yes?'

Starscream chirped an affirmative, grinning as he looked up at his teacher.

'Very good. Now we won't be doing anything practical for at least a decacycle or so, until I know you are aware of the health and safety measures we must conform to.' Skyfire's tone was firm, but he stroked the barely grown wings with something like affection.

The sparkling nodded, glossa slightly poking out as he read the table's contents again as he imitated the serious expression that Megatron made while he worked. Engines purring, he scampered across the pad and looked up expectantly at his mentor who obligingly scooped him up and placed him on a well-maintained white shoulder.

Starscream settled down as Skyfire settled at his desk and gave him a pad of rules to read, telling the younger to ask for any clarification he needed when he was done. For a time they sat together in silence, the Seeker's wings gently twitching as he tried to remember each guideline, while Skyfire focussed on his own experiment. When Starscream finished, he couldn't resist watching the older mech for a couple of kliks. Skilful digits connected wires and filtered multi-coloured liquids into whatever the larger flier was making...

At what Starscream hoped was a convenient moment he interrupted his teacher to say he understood what behaviour was expected of him in Skyfire's lab.

Megatron arrived to pick him up a few cycles later, chuckling at the four or five datapads Starscream had surrounded himself with as he perched on his diagram of elements. Skyfire pointed out certain ones and asked the sparkling to tell him about them, and more often than not the Seeker could say the names, uses and dangers of each his teacher indicated. Pausing in the doorway, both fliers so absorbed in their work they had yet to notice him, he indulged himself in watching his charge learn for a time. Of course, while science was something Shockwave in particular insisted the young one learn, it was by no means everything. Science and maths could go servo in servo, and Skyfire would teach them those, as well as flying.

The aspiring tyrant wished to teach the sparkling history, politics and fighting himself, with help from Soundwave and a few others of his officers. He hoped for a small period of time, just enough to allow Starscream to mature to his adult upgrade, and it seemed likely that he would be able to have it. Soundwave predicted their activities should not be noticed, if kept discreet, for several solar cycles yet.

And that would have to be long enough.

Optimus contacted him regularly, still tried to convince him to return to Iacon occasionally and Megatron made sure never to completely dash his brother's hope of him 'coming home' to help ensure the Prime's continued loyalty and support. While he was sure his younger sibling would not turn on him, he knew it would be unwise to cause unnecessary rifts. He visited when he was required, attended meetings that needed his attention and pandered to the Council and their idiocy. There were rumblings within it about him, and not all of the anxiety and annoyance was voiced. Soundwave's ability proved more invaluable with each passing orn, and his loyalty was a rare treasure. He would have to use the telepath to his full potential, make sure he was always welcomed in the official meetings and social gatherings- where mechs were generally more loose-glossaed- of the elite.

Watching Starscream process new information, Megatron noted once again that the little one he had chosen had a stronger, more adaptable processor than the average sparkling his age. The Seeker had so far appeared to be a good selection, perhaps the best that had been available at the time. Between finding the sparkling, and obtaining the services of Soundwave and Shockwave, luck seemed to be going his way. He had always known he'd need some of it when the ideas forming in the back of his processor began to merge into a true wish and drive for change. Fighting in the arena had acquainted him with truths that the upper crust of their society seemed determined to ignore. Families were starving, youngsters barely-sparked were dying, people were suffering… It simply could not be allowed to continue.

He was the Lord High Protector and his duty may be more to Cybertron's army than its civilians- arguably more the Prime's responsibility, but Optimus was young, too young in truth for the responsibilities thrust upon him- but Megatron had adapted to taking on more than his role called of him and, while he may not have been the Matrix's chosen bearer, he had become a crutch for his brother when he struggled and a trusted adviser. The gladiator was sure Optimus would come into his own with time and experience, and he would be granted more of it without the Council's persistent petty demands.

Change would have to be gradual, at least at first, and perhaps with Optimus's support and the strong will of the working classes and the underclass, that alone would be enough. Megatron had his army though, gaining members in the underground by the orn and pulling completely functional and useful mechs from the gutters, which was prepared to fight in case a slow political change was not sufficient. The removal and replacement of the current, corrupt Council could, potentially, avert the need for a full-blown revolution and the chance of a war.

Megatron doubted it though, the harm they had done had run deep into Cybertron's society, and it would take a lot of work to rectify it, and almost certainly a great deal of violence. This was why he knew he needed an army of somewhat capable, or at least passionate, mechs. He wished, and had been planning, to rule alone, with Optimus beneath him as a symbol for the people to look up to rather than a proper leader, and a handful of advisers. He believed the line of the Primes to be more a religious icon than beneficial heads of society, and that was where Optimus should be and where he excelled at. He embodied the empathetic and supportive nature that a Prime should have and be, more a counsellor in spark than a strong leader. Megatron would, therefore, allow and present his brother with a function better suited to him than the one he had been forced into and suffered within. He would be an adviser to him, one of his councilmechs, and the figurehead of Cybertron's main church where the voice and, as some would believe, carrier of Primus belonged.

Optimus was too soft-sparked to fight and do what would be necessary so, as always, Megatron would simply have to do it for him.

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