'Twas the night before Christmas…

Explosions bloomed violently over Earth as the Nemesis unleashed a seemingly endless barrage of its terrible firepower. The huge Decepticon warship fired salvo after nightmarish salvo, blasting away and just barely missing as its target streaked across the night skies with blinding speed.

The target in question was an odd looking craft, to say the least. Aerodynamically speaking its design was unusual…its curved lines and contours almost awkward. Much like the bumblebee native to Earth it appeared utterly incapable of flight, much less able to achieve the incredibly high speeds it had already demonstrated. Its burnished surface of scarlet and ivory was highly ornate, decorated with intricate patterns and symbols wholly unknown. Everything about the mystery vessel screamed alien, and yet somehow it had a hauntingly familiar quality.

The strange vessel banked sharply, narrowly avoiding yet another deadly plasma burst. Emitting a peculiar chiming peal it suddenly turned in a sweeping horizontal arc back towards the Nemesis and engaged its boosters, accelerating to even greater velocities and leaving a sparkling contrail in its wake. Insanely, the relatively tiny vessel began to counterattack against the overwhelming destructive power of its monstrous opponent. Multiple streams of crimson-colored Energon rained down on the Nemesis, utterly decimating its plasma cannons and effectively nullifying any further threat from the Decepticon warship.

However, the danger had not yet ended. Without warning blistering tracer fire from somewhere behind the craft whistled past, close enough to scorch its outer armor. Dodging another attack from the incoming squadron of aerial Vehicons, the craft suddenly turned at an impossibly sharp angle and hurtled heavenwards before disappearing into the clouds above. The Vehicons immediately gave chase, intending to follow. They were caught completely unaware when their quarry punched through the roiling clouds in a downward spiral and plunged through their ranks. Their formation was already too close and several of the Vehicons lost control, causing them to crash into one another and explode.

Inside the Nemesis, Starscream snarled furiously as he coordinated the battle from his position on the command bridge. He impatiently barked out orders to his Seeker squadrons to take down their foe.

"What do you idiots think you're doing?! It's one foe against many! He's making you all look like fools!"

"Is there a problem, Starscream?"

Startled, Starscream yelped as a harsh voice rasped from behind. He slowly turned and attempted to regain some of his composure as he faced his master.

"N-none, Lord Megatron…I have already dispatched additional squadrons of our finest warriors. It is only a matter of time before our target is overwhelmed by our superior numbers." Starscream smirked wickedly, "He may not realize it yet but he has already been defeated."

When no reply from Megatron was forthcoming, Starscream warily turned back to his controls and quietly muttered, "You won't escape me this time…"

Megatron once again interrupted his subordinate's train of thought, "Remember, Starscream. You are to take him…alive. Do I make myself clear?"

The deadly warning in Megatron's gravelly tone was undeniable.

Starscream gulped nervously and stammered, "O-of course, my Lord Megatron…p-perfectly clear! I shall not fail you, my Liege."

Megatron growled, "See that you don't."

Starscream glowered as he thought to himself.

However, unfortunate accidents HAVE been known to happen…

Just then a Seeker reported in over the secure com-link, "Success, my Lord! I have managed to bring down the target and have taken him aboard as our prisoner."

Starscream reflexively shrank back as Megatron immediately rose from the command chair and stood to his imposing full height. The Decepticon Warlord brusquely pushed past him and smiled as he responded, "Well done, Steve." He glared at Starscream and grinned, baring his razor sharp teeth, "Unlike some of my other warriors, you never fail me."

Megatron smirked as Starscream bridled under the insult before continuing, "Make sure that our 'guest' feels welcome. I shall be there momentarily."

Steve instantly replied, "Understood, my Lord!"

Starscream desperately attempted to worm himself back into his master's good graces and beseeched him with a sniveling drone, "Might I accompany you, Lord Megatron? I would most humbly appreciate an opportunity to speak with our…guest."

Megatron rolled his burning optics and sighed imperiously, "If you must."

Megatron and Starscream soon made their way to the ship's brig. Awaiting them were Steve and several other Vehicon guards. They peered into a particular holding cell and came face to face with a lone battered figure, cruelly restrained by energy manacles.

The mysterious prisoner was a large, rather stout figure. His body was heavily armored by thick alloy plating emblazoned with striking scarlet and ivory hues. Several still-smoking burn marks were seared along the armor's surface, providing sobering evidence of his recent battle against the Vehicons. Cascading from the lower half of his face was a prodigious plume of long strands of ghostly luminescent cable. The massive 'beard' was lavishly decorated by hundreds of tiny metallic bearings and ringlets that jangled musically as they brushed together. The ancient mechanical being slowly raised his head and stared fearlessly back at his captors.

Megatron sneered, "Well, well…who do we have here…?"

Starscream quickly pushed Steve out of his way and attempted to claim the credit for the Vehicon's efforts, bowing dramatically and dramatically flourishing his clawed hands.

"My Lord Megatron…may I present the Old Cybertronian!"

Megatron snarled with exasperation, "I know who it is, you fool!"

Despite his wounds, the Old Cybertronian managed to gaze at them with a twinkle in his optic as he chuckled, "Poor Starscream…looks like another lump of coal for you this year…"

His wounded pride getting the better of him, Starscream angrily backhanded the Old Cybertronian and screeched, "SILENCE!"

Before Starscream could strike the Old Cybertronian again, Megatron grabbed his subordinate by the throat and slammed him against the opposite wall. He leaned in uncomfortably close and rumbled dangerously, "Do not overstep your authority, Starscream. Our prisoner is to remain alive and unharmed, until such a time as I deem otherwise."

Megatron abruptly dropped Starscream to the ground.

"Return to the bridge and await further orders." Megatron mockingly added, "Oh, and Starscream…try not to do anything stupid!"

Starscream tried in vain to hide a furious facial twitch as he hurriedly bowed and left in a huff.

Megatron snorted, "Pathetic…"

The Old Cybertronian blinked uncertainly and cautiously remarked, "You know that you are deliberately provoking Starscream into once again challenging your authority, don't you?"

Megatron laughed, "But of course! If anything, Starscream is extremely predictable. I can always depend on him…for amusement."

Suddenly Megatron whirled to face his prisoner and all pretense of congeniality abruptly vanished. He snarled, "Make no mistake…simply because we are in agreement that Starscream is an idiot, it does not mean that you have the temerity to speak to me as if you were my equal!"

Megatron brutally struck him in the face over and over again and roared, "I AM MEGATRON! YOU ARE MY PRISONER! YOU WILL REMEMBER YOUR PLACE AND SPEAK ONLY WHEN I ALLOW IT!"

The Old Cybertronian wheezed and panted, "I…I know exactly who you are, Megatron." Painfully he managed to straighten up as he looked directly into Megatron's burning optics. He replied simply, "Do you know who I am…?"

Impressed by the Old Cybertronian's courage, Megatron smirked, "Of course I know who you are. You are nothing but an old, useless fool…a nameless coward who fled Cybertron during the early days of the war and managed to disappear, hiding yourself on this pitiful planet…only for you to eventually reappear thousands of star-cycles later, having disguised yourself as a ridiculous figure of legend who has randomly appeared throughout human history perpetuating a meaningless message of 'good will to all.'" Megatron spat disgustedly, "I care nothing for such paltry things. There is only one thing I am concerned with."

The Old Cybertronian narrowed his optics warily, "And what might THAT be?"

Megatron smiled, "Millennia ago it was rumored that several ancient artifacts of power once belonging to the Thirteen Primes were taken from Iacon before the Decepticons took control."

"What does that have to do with me?"

Megatron began to laugh, "I suspect that you are the one who took those artifacts. Potentially these relics could be powerful enough to tip the balance of the war in my favor! When that happens, Optimus Prime and the Autobots will be vanquished forever!"

The Old Cybertronian remained silent as Megatron chuckled knowingly, "Tell me where they are and I may choose to be merciful."

"Never…"

Megatron growled, "Suit yourself, fool." The Decepticon Warlord mercilessly began to beat him with such savage brutality that even Steve and the Vehicon guards found that they were unable to watch.

When it finally ended, the Old Cybertronian lay broken and bleeding at Megatron's feet. Somehow he managed to find the strength to speak.

"I…I will n-never reveal…wh-where the artifacts…are h-hidden. Their p-power…is not…f-for the likes of you, Megatron. Y-you…will n-never succeed."

"Oh, really…? What makes you so certain?"

"B-because, Megatron…I h-have faith…faith that no m-matter…what h-happens, ultimately good will…ALWAYS…triumph over evil."

Megatron swung one final time, viciously striking the Old Cybertronian across the face. The Decepticon Warlord slowly crouched next to him and spoke with an almost sympathetic tone, "You say that you possess faith? Let me tell you something about faith, my friend. Faith is a delusion. It is a sad, pathetic reaction to the hardships of life. You choose to deny the harsh reality in which we exist and instead cling to ephemeral concepts like good and evil. The sad truth of the matter is this: such things simply do not exist. A long time ago I learned not to place my trust in insubstantial things like hope or friendship. I only believe in one thing now…power. Only the strong survive, and power will make me victorious."

Megatron swiftly rose to his feet and stared at the Old Cybertronian with obvious distaste.

"I almost pity you, old fool. Your time among the humans has obviously enfeebled your mind. Unfortunately for you, none of that matters now. The only reason I have allowed you to live this long is because you are the only one who knows the location of the missing artifacts of the Primes. However, that is all about to change. You will soon tell me where the artifacts are hidden, whether you want to or not."

Megatron suddenly turned to the Vehicon guards and rasped, "STEVE!"

"Y-yes, Lord Megatron…?"

Megatron grinned cruelly, "Prepare the Cortical Psychic Patch."

The Old Cybertronian hung his head low and began to despair.

All hope seemed lost.

To be continued...