Wings of Desire Ch2

Chapter Two

Magpie came to staring into the optics of Hook, it had to have been an illusion, surely she hadn't just been flying alongside commander Starscream. This is what she thought until she heard the low and soothing voice of someone else in the room.
"Is she okay?" Magpies optics widened and her spark skipped, Starscream was in the room.
"She's fine" Hook said turning away from Magpie "She must have fallen a great distance" Hook was posing more of a question than a statement as he raised an optic ridge at Starscream.
Starscream let out a low purr in agreement, then he looked back over at the seemingly still unconscious flier on the bench before him.
"Who is she Hook?"
Hook turned slightly and looked at Magpie.
"She can tell you that herself" With that Hook left the room. There was no point in scolding Magpie for flying when she should have been at her post, his little test subject needed freedom to some degree.
Magpie sat up slowly and looked directly at Starscream, she was shocked to be worthy of his presence, she was close enough to see into his optics and catch glimpses of scars and damage he had endured from training and working. Magpie was so transfixed on his optics alone she didn't notice him walk over until she felt his hand on hers, which made her flinch slightly.
"I'm sorry if I startled you earlier" Starscream said looking concerned, "I just felt you would have liked the company for some of those impressive manoeuvres. No one should have to fly alone"
Magpie felt as though she would faint, this was not possible. She remained silent, staring at Starscream. He looked genuinely concerned about her, his expression was soft and the feel of his hand on hers was making her arm tingle slightly.
"Where did you learn to fly like that?" Starscream asked while moving his hand away and resting his head on one of his hands while folding the other across his chest.
"I've been watching you and the other energon seekers fly by here allot" Magpie was worried that she had just made herself look needy.
Starscream had been looking at her as she spoke, she was stunning, it was obvious she never left the lab because of how clean she looked, there wasn't a scratch or dent on her. Looking into her optics was something else, he could have easily lost himself, before responding he remembered what she had looked like flying. Her wings looked small on her proto form but when she was in the air that was apparently irrelevant, her body was also extremely streamline, given the chance Starscream would bet his energon on her possibly flying faster than some seekers he had in his squadron.
"Stand up for me my dear" Starscream said while standing up himself, then beckoning his arm out so he could help her up.
Magpie took hold of his hand and couldn't help but to smile, looking up at him he was also smiling, only hoping it wouldn't send her weak at the knees as she placed her feet onto the floor and stood before him, having to look up slightly.
Starscream looked shocked, she was so small. Stepping back and leaning down slightly to her height, Starscream looked at her for a moment, trying not to smile as he did so.
"Turn around for me please" Starscream said while standing up and approaching her. He watched as Magpie obediently turned so he could examine her wings. Something wasn't right.
Her wings were made up of a single layer of living metal with no form of propulsion or balance, she may fly well in the lab but outside in Cybertrons atmosphere she would struggle to leave the ground.
Running his hands down her wings to her shoulders he sighed, it was such a shame.
He noticed Magpie shudder slightly as his hand ran down her wings, they were so sensitive, and she was so delicate. Once Starscream moved his hand from her back, she turned to face him.
To his surprise Magpie took hold of his hands and cupped hers around them.
"Commander Starscream, I have hoped for this moment since I first saw you majestically fly over Kaon. I have dreamed for eons that I would have the chance to meet you, because I wish to use this chance to ask for a position in training on your fleet" Magpie let go of his hands and bowed her head before him. "In here I am test subject flight, but outside I could be so much more. I just need the chance" Magpie daren't look up; she was unsure what to expect.
"You have never flown outside of the labs before, have you?" Starscream asked, it was hard to mask his disappointment, it was apparent in his voice and on his face. She was stunning, her display in the lab had been impressive and there was something enchanting about her.
"No commander Starscream, that's also something I have only dreamed of"
Starscream placed a finger gently below her chin and forced her to look up, he could see tears forming in her optics.
Starscream would refuse to say no, he wanted her by his side. Starscream had to formulate a plan.
"Seekers must earn their ranks my dear. Your time will come" Starscream went to leave the lab but looked back at her one more time, she was watching him, her optics flickering slightly. Starscream smiled at her before finally leaving.
Magpies spark skipped, she fell against a bench in the room and took a deep breath.
Starscreams spark was pulsing violently; she had just taken his breath away. Her impressive display and her stunning appearance, combined with her obvious loyalty to him was beyond anything he could take in. Suddenly he saw Hook walking towards the lab.
"I hope she wasn't any trouble" Hook asked as he walked past.
"Hook wait!" Starscream turned to face him. "You'll be getting that shipment of energon after all"
Hook's optics widened, but he stayed silent "Under one condition..." Starscream approached him and continued in a hushed whisper "I give you the supplies, guides and the time for you to turn your test subject into a seeker worthy of my command"
Hook thought for a moment, but it was a no brainer. Everything was being handed to him, but he couldn't help but wonder why Starscream wanted his useless test subject so badly.
"Of course, when should I start?"
"I will drop off some data pads from Iacon tonight, you can start then" Starscream walked off down the hall, leaving Hook still confused but excited. Kaons workers were finally going to be able to receive some proper medical care. All it cost him was his test subject, who now didn't seem to be so useless...

Hook worked all through the following cycle on the materials needed to upgrade his test subject into a seeker worthy to become a member of Starscreams fleet, Starscream had given him the designs and materials as promised but it was up to him to do the work. When Starscream had dropped off the data pads he had told Hook not to mention any of this to his test subject, it was to be a surprise.
Finally he had completed the upgrade, it was a thin sheet of metal which was to be attached to the lower side of her wings, when she flew it would dip slightly allowing the wind to travel through and act as a stabiliser. The other upgrade had been small boosters which would be attached to the base of her wings that would propel her in a straight line, turning would be difficult but this was the best he could do, he knew her wings would be too fragile to support any major work.
Walking into the lab where Magpie was based, he was surprised to see her sitting there, normally he would have to look around to find her wandering the labs.
"I have a surprise for you" Hook said trying to sound excited.
Magpie turned and saw what he was holding, she frowned slightly before walking over and taking one of the boosters from Hook, upon realising what she was holding she froze for a moment and smiled.
"I'm testing an upgrade?" She looked up to him with her optics flickering slightly.
"Better" Hook replied. "You're keeping them"
Magpie jumped up to Hook and embraced him.
"Let's get started" he said feeling strangely happy for her, though he still wondered why Starscream wanted this so much. He also realised he would miss having her around. She was a pain in the aft for the most part but she had kept him sane through thick and thin. Before Hook could give Magpie the briefing they heard a familiar voice coming from the corridor.  
"Hook I was wondering how that..." Starscream had just reached the door but stopped upon noticing Magpies presence.
Magpie saw him and let go of Hook immediately. Still clutching to the booster she bowed slightly.
"Commander Starscream. I've been wondering when you'd come back" She half smiled but it was hidden by her bow.
Starscream watched her as a grin crossed his face.
"It's good to see you again my dear" He placed a hand on her shoulder and she slowly began to straighten herself. "I trust you will take good care of her Hook" Starscream frowned slightly in Hooks direction, ignoring the confused look on Magpies face.
"Come back in a cycle Starscream and I will have..." But Hook was cut off.
"I won't be around" Starscream abruptly said walking past Magpie; she noticed Starscream looked proud of himself. "I and a selection of my Iacon fleet have been chosen to be body guards to Sentinel Prime. I'm going to be very busy over the next few cycles and won't be able to make it here. I was hoping you would have my new seeker ready by now"
Magpies optics widened with glee.
"Commander Starscream you can't mean..." but Magpie was cut off by Hook
"Ready by now!? You've barely given me a Cycle Starscream!" Hook was obviously aggravated.
"That's not important" Starscream hissed back. Suddenly his optics turned to Magpie; he noticed she looked a little worried. Starscream spoke to her in a less defensive manner. "Would you mind giving us a moment, my dear?" He smiled slightly as Magpie nodded and left the room.
Once he was sure she had left, Starscream looked back to Hook.
"I have directions you are to give her. Consider this a test of her abilities. As I can't leave Iacon she is to come to me when she is ready"
"Starscream she has never even left the building!"
"You are to instruct her to fly north of here in a straight line, she will come to Iacon and there she will be greeted by Jetfire; one of my trusted younger troops. He has been raised in Iacon and knows the area well"
"Starscream please..." Hook was being interrupted again.
"She is getting out of this place Hook. She will be trained in Iacon and if you want your energon shipment to come through you are to make sure she understands where she needs to be, do I make myself clear?" Starscream was aggravated, not with Hook but with himself, he too wanted to ensure Magpie got to Iacon safely, but it was out of his hands, he had to be in Iacon.
Hook looked away from Starscream, Iacon was the most respected capital on Cybertron, it was a city booming with life and excitement, a contrast to Kaon which was built from the fallen energon of hard work.
"I understand Starscream" Hook finally said with a sigh "do take care of her"
Starscream looked shocked.
"You care about her don't you Hook?"
"I regret taking her presence for granted. But you're right, she deserves more than this. I will do what needs to be done and she will be on her way to Iacon"
Starscream nodded respectfully. "Does she have a name Hook?"
Hook let out a slight laugh before replying. "Yeah. She's asked me countless times to call her Magpie"
Starscream smiled "Magpie" he purred while he walked out of the room, leaving Hook to take in his instructions. Once he was out of earshot and he made sure the hall was clear Starscream repeated her name again "Magpie. Hmm. Soon my dear we will make even the sky envy our very flight" he pictured himself flying over Cybertron with her, if she could fly anywhere near as well as she did in the lab, the two would certainly make a handsome pairing amongst the stars over Cybertron.