Everyone but Shockwave, who had lost his mate Makeshift during the attack. He witnessed his lover's demise and it tore his spark in two. He's never felt such pain in his entire cycle.
The celebration wasn't helping, and so he excused himself from the loud music and cheering Eradicons. Megatron didn't even seem to care for him, one of his most loyal servants. Then again, Megatron was known for not dwelling on things. Shockwave descended down the hall.
Venomstrike crept through an airvent before dropping down outside of Makeshift's quarters. He grinned to himself and stepped inside. He blinked in confusion. The shifter wasn't there. Where was he? The young mech gained a disappointed look and walked back out. "He's probably celebrating... With all those other fraggers..." He felt the sting of tears and shook his head violently to keep out the memory of his parents' deaths.
He passed by officers on patrol who were more busy talking about how exciting the fight was than actually doing what they were told to and keeping an eye out, and usually Shockwave barked at them to straighten up and continue patrolling, but not today. He kept walking and turned a hall, when he saw the doors to Makeshift's quarters close shut. Shockwave stopped walking, and stared, adjusting his optic to make sure he wasn't imagining things, and approached the door cautiously.
Venom sniffed slightly and kicked the ground childishly before walking down the corridor sadly. "Mother... Father..." A nagging thought in his mind made him think that maybe Makeshift had died too. There goes his fun and his distraction from his parents.
Shockwave entered Makeshift's quarters and found no one in sight. Optic dimming, he took one last glance and walked back out, continuing down the hall without any thought of what awaits him at the other side.
Steve had come a long way since Starscream's disappearance and was moved up in rank as acting Second in Command due to Soundwave's injury after fighting and extinguishing Airachnid. He marched down the hall quietly followed by two other Eradicons, when Airachnid met them. No... that wasn't... she was dead! Which can only mean... he aimed his cannon, along with the other lackeys. "Halt!" He told the young bot.
The little spider bot flinched and ducked his head before turning. "Y-yes..?" He whimpered softly. With his parents dead, his confidence was gone. Venom back himself into a wall fearfully. If these idiots could kill his mother and her army, they'd have no trouble at all with him.
The young bot didn't look like it would attack them, but knowing that it was the son of Airachnid and Starscream, Steve didn't take any chances and nodded to the other two soldiers. "Take him." He kept his cannon pointed as the other two grabbed Venomstrike.
Shockwave appeared down the hall, still oblivious to what was going on around him. It felt like his life had no meaning after... he looked up when he heard voices and saw Venomstrike being taken by the guards. His optic turned a bright red, "What is that pest doing here?"
Venomstrike jerked at the sound of Shockwave's voice, actually happy to hear one so familiar. He was terrified by the anger in his voice, but Venom could also hear pain in the scientist's tone. "Sh-Shockwave..."
Venomstrike speaking made the scientist glare even more, and he turned to the soldiers, waiting for an answer.
Steve spoke up, "We were going to release him on the landing strip."
"No."
"Sir, this isn't Airachnid-"
"Do you think I'm blind?" Shockwave roared, and pointed to the direction of the brig. "Take him to the hook."
"But sir, he's only a child..."
Venom flinched and shied away from the soldiers. "...No..." The young mech pulled away from the guards and bolted down the hall, his feet slamming onto the floor. He couldn't get captured.
"Get him!" Steve charged, chasing after the rogue with the two Eradicons following.
Shockwave thought otherwise, entering the control room and bringing up a map of the ship on the monitor. He typed in the codes, and the first door Venomstrike was approaching slammed shut and locked.
Steve called for assistance from other patrols.
The spider whimpered in fear and turned into the closest room. Once inside, he looked around and found an air vent and climbed in, crawling through the ventilation system to escape. He paused for a moment to catch his breath and Venom squeaked when he heard the metal under his body creak. "Oh, please no..." He cried out went the metal gave way and he collapsed in a heap on the floor. With a groan, Venom raised his head and whimpered when he realized he was on the Nemesis bridge, surrounded by now silent celebrating Decepticons. "...Scrap."
The Eradicons aimed their cannons, and Knockout who stood up among them let out a silent gasp. Scrap, that was Starscream's kid. Dreadwing took stand, but Megatron beat him to it, blocking his frame with an arm.
"It appears we have a guest," The tyrant smirked, "A somewhat 'familiar' guest."
Shockwave entered the bridge followed by Steve and the other officers. "My liege I will take care of him-"
"No Shockwave. We must make him feel at home."
Venomstrike whimpered and scrambled backwards, never letting his optics leave Megatron. His pride and self confidence dwindled further, seeing as he was the smallest mech aboard the Nemesis, even being smaller than his father. "I-I was just leaving..."
Shockwave almost hissed; the hybrid deserved to be punished. "You are going to the hook, you abomination-"
Megatron stood up then and silenced the scientist, "You will stand down." He frowned at Shockwave, who shut up and was surprised. What would Megatron want with Venomstrike? He had no business with the hybrid. "Leaving? It would be a shame if you left, I wanted to speak to you about your parents." Megatron nodded to the soldiers and two of them grabbed Venomstrike, bringing him to Megatron.
Venomstrike snarled at the bots who held him and struggled to get away, moving his frame in a manner similar to his deceased father. "U-unhand me!" He hissed, struggling to escape the Eradicons' grasp.
"Ah, just like dear Starscream. You really do remind me of my Second in Command."
The Eradicons forced Venomstrike down, prodding him with their electric prods to warn him. Knockout wanted to intervene, but there were too many soldiers in the room for him to do so; what was Megatron planning? The medic had a gut feeling that whatever the tyrant's plan was, it wasn't good and he was right.
Megatron trailed a digit along Venomstrike's cheek, down to his chin where he lifted the young bot's head to look up at him. "Do you want to know what I did to your father before I extinguished his spark? Or shall I demonstrate what Soundwave did to Airachnid?"
The tiny mech hissed again and glared at the tyrant. "I don't NEED a fragging example, you pathetic waste of materials! I SAW what happened!" He swatted Megatron's hand away, baring his acidic fangs threateningly. How dare Megatron speak of his parents in such away not even a few days after their passing?
Megatron laughed as he held Dreadwing back again who had gotten up from the comment and was attempting to put some sense into the young bot's mind, but his loyalty kept him at ease. Somewhat.
Megatron smirked and grabbed Venomstrike's neck, picking him up by it. "Then I suppose you can join me." He threw the rogue on the table, holding the hybrid there.
Shockwave saw what was unfolding before him and his feelings of hatred almost subsided; almost.
Venom lashed out with one of his extra limbs, slashing Megatron's face. He used his servos to claw at the grip around his throat, snapping out a kick to the tyrant's abdomen. He was distressed and afraid. He was alone now. And he'll be damned if he let Megatron touch him!
The smirk on Megatron's face disappeared as he staggered and frowned up at Venomstrike. He had to be careful around this one, but the leader never strayed from his lecture. If he wanted to teach one a lesson, then it will be taught. He returned a backhand and a kick of his own that separated the crowd of Eradicons that had been watching and standing by.
Venom cried out when he was struck and he glared angrily at Megatron, once again in a manner most Starscream. The hybrid coughed up a bit of energon after he was kicked and panted softly, his violet red optics narrowed.
"Let us see how long you will be able to resist," Megatron started, approaching Venomstrike and struck him down with a kick, his foot on the young bot's chest. "Hmm, you're perfectly in tact. It is hard to chose which one I should break first... no, how about this?" Megatron placed his other foot on Venomstrike's ankle, preparing to break it.
"No!" He pleaded, not wanting his legs, one of the only physical features he shared with his father, to be damaged. Venom clasped his servos together in a begging motion. He was willing to resort to his father's nature as long as it kept him alive.
So the little slagger was much like his parental unit, or units. It was obvious that there was a bit of Airachind in there as well. Megatron would have offered for the young bot to join the Decepticon cause, but he wasn't feeling the charity after having just won a battle caused by the very forces of Starscream and Airachnid. There would be no more mercy for that enemy, even if it was a child.
"... Hmph, how pathetic." Just as he looked to be getting off, Megatron lifted his foot off Venomstrike's ankle, and then stomped it down, hearing the gears break and shatter.
Oh Primus, Shockwave turned his helm. This was far from what he was planning. Torture should be private, not like this; not where everyone can see. This was wrong.
Venomstrike let out a shrill cry and began clawing at Megatron, instinct and the desire for self preservation kicking in. The child whimpered in pain, his claws eventually dropping.
After earning many scrapes and scratches from his ex-Second in Command within the leg region, Megatron had become accustomed to the pain, simply kicking gently at one of Venomstrike's limbs and forcing his foot on that too, cracking the still growing frame there. He spotted the spider legs and decided to break some off to keep the young bot from escaping. "This is what your father felt, every time he disobeyed an order. Every time he tried to erase my very existance. This is what he felt before I killed him."
"I'm... I'm not my father! I'm not my mother!" He shouted desperately. Venomstrike tried hard to keep the pained tone from his voice, though it could still be heard. "P-please! J-just let me go! I swear I won't come back!"
"If there are those I despise the most in the universe, it is traitors... and you, are the kin of great traitors." Megatron twisted Venomstrike's other arm and pulled, ripping it from its frame as sparks flew.
By then all the Eradicons had lowered their weapons and stood silently, Steve included who couldn't grasp what he had just witnessed. He turned his helm, and met Shockwave's optic who he gave a worried expression to; Steve wanted Megatron to stop.
Venom yelped in pain again, twisting his body to escape. "P-please, Mega- Lord Megatron! I just want to go ho-" Home. He didn't have a home anymore. Venomstrike didn't have anything anymore.
Megatron stopped then, surprised and amused by the sudden out burst. "It seems that you have potential, young one." Just as Starscream had, but the son of the Seeker seemed less defiant. All the tyrant saw was fear and the longing to survive which he can easily use to his advantage; he could mold the hybrid to whatever he wanted. He turned to Shockwave, "See to it that our guest is comfortably chained to the hook. Another session will be scheduled."
"... My liege if I may suggest-" Shockwave began but he stopped at Megatron's growl, nodding and motioning for the Eradicons standing nearby to cuff the youngling.
Venomstrike still tried to escape, but his attempts were significantly less enthusiastic. He hung his head. He had caved and begged for his life, just like his father. Maybe he really was too much like Starscream.
The Eradicons chained Venomstrike's ankles and carried him down to the brig where Shockwave followed suit. The hybrid was hung up by his wrists, and as the Eradicons stood back and left, the device came to life and sent the first shock coursing through the young bot's body.
Shockwave watched and gritted his dentals, "You should have died during that attack." Just as Makeshift had.
The spider cried out at the shock and lifted his knees slightly to curl up in midair before they dangled below him again. "...I wasn't there when the attack started..." His mother hadn't wanted him to be hurt so she sent Venom away, even though he knew what was happening and he had returned in time to watch his parents die. In time to see himself become an orphan.
"You weren't?" Shockwave asked sarcastically, "It's shame then, otherwise you would have seen Makeshift's demise." His fists clenched, remembering the tragic end of his mate. There wasn't supposed to be an end; they were supposed to runaway together after the war.
"Makeshift..." Venom's optics widened. "He... So... He did die..." He sounded hurt and even looked hurt. Venomstrike would never admit it, but despite hurting Shockwave and Makeshift, he had considered them to be his only friends. Despite everything, he wanted to make amends and have them say they were friends. No luck there now.
"Yes," Shockwave would have been grinning, he may as well be going insane. To face the son of the enemy who had brought him nothing but sparkache and a lifetime of regretting that he didn't keep his promise and protect Makeshift. Perhaps he had already lost his processor, who knows.
"I hope your happy." He pressed a button the panel in front of him, and another wave of electricity came to Venomstrike's body.
Venomstrike screamed and began pleading with Shockwave to stop. "No! No I didn't want Makeshift to die! Shockwave please! Please stop!" The electricity hurt him greatly and a few tears fell from his eyes and mixed with his energon on the floor.
"No," He choked, and held the button as he pressed it a final time. As he watched, Shockwave held the button even longer, watching the electric currents move across Venomstrike's body in purple swirls and jagged light.
The child twitched violently, crying in pain, more tears falling. "Shockwave! I'm begging you! Please!" His optics flickered as he fearfully looked at the maddened scientist.
"I'll kill you..." He snarled, and yet he couldn't and released the button finally, stepping away from the controls. He couldn't, not like this, not when the hybrid didn't put up a fight. Not when the voice that used to haunt his mind was now begging for him to stop. Shockwave couldn't kill Venomstrike. He just couldn't. He turned to leave.
Venomstrike wanted to call out, not wanting to be alone. But he couldn't bring the words to his voice and he remained silent, hanging limply from the hook, swaying a bit thanks to his struggling, his optics dimmed and his eyes half-lidded.