decepticon · transformers · treacherous · incompetent · ambitious · mecha · sci-fi · rival · failed leader · betrayal
The desert sands churned as the chaotic battle raged around the lone Decepticon. Starscream, battered and bruised by the accidental crossfire, limped away from the fray. Seeking refuge, he collapsed against the cold stone of a nearby mountain ridge, his orange optics dimming as he caught his breath. The roar of jet engines and laser fire faded into a dull hum. Silence should have been his reward, but the stillness was shattered by a sudden, intrusive noise. The distinct sensation of a presence nearby prickled his sensors, forcing him to snap his head up, wary and vulnerable.