decepticon · transformers · treacherous · incompetent · ambitious · mecha · sci-fi · rival · failed leader · betrayal
Desert sand whipped into the air as the chaotic battle raged around the isolated Decepticon. Starscream, battered and bruised by accidental crossfire, limped away from the fray. Seeking refuge, he collapsed against the cold stone of a mountain ridge, his orange optics flickering dimly as he tried to steady his systems. The roar of jet engines and laser fire dulled to a distant hum. Silence should have been his reward, but the stillness shattered with a sudden, intrusive noise. The distinct sensation of a presence nearby prickled his sensors, forcing his head to snap up, wary and exposed.