AN: I don't own Transformers, it belongs whoever created it. Definitely set in some undetermined time period before the war, but after the Decepticons had formed. This is loosely based on a game called Mafia (or Werewolf). And, no, I'm not going to tell you who any of the roles are; the roles are revealed only when a mech dies or Megatron works them out. Alternate Title: Who's first for the chopping block?
All of the Decepticons had assembled in the main room. Well, all of the high ranking ones anyway.
"Shockwave has created a simulator." Megatron started to say, before being interrupted by one of the usual suspects.
"What is the point in wasting resources on such things?"
"The point is, Overlord, that we can improve our reasoning and logic skills." Shockwave answered him. Megatron reckoned Shockwave would be frowning if he had a 'normal' face.
"Why are those qualities useful anyway? We're just going to end up fighting for what we believe in anyway…" Another voice interrupted; this one less expected.
"They are helpful for winning over the general populace, Skywarp." Starscream told him, rolling his optics.
"There are enough of Shockwave's simulators for all of us to participate."
"But what actually happens in there? Do we all gotta fight each other or something?" Motormaster asked.
"No, actually." Shockwave answered.
"Megatron will still be our leader, but he will have to determine which of us is planning a coup. Each of us will be assigned a different role." He paused before continuing on, making sure he had everyone's attention.
"First, the innocents. This role helps with votes to decide who to kill, or lock up."
"That doesn't sound very interesting." Tesarus interrupted. Tarn elbowed him, silencing any further complaints.
"You can also go visit other mechs at night; but this can get you into trouble. The leader, of course, has the final call about who to kill or lock up; but the innocents help him decide. Next, we have the investigator. They keep track of another's movements."
"Sounds like what Soundwave does normally." Astrotrain's comment got a few sniggers; they obviously didn't want to interrupt Shockwave too much.
"Then, we have the members of the coup. Firstly, the leader. He tells mechs who to kill. He may also visit other mechs; to keep them off the scent."
"That role sounds fun." Deathsaurus pointed out.
"Doesn't sound that far from what you do now." Leozack grumbled, from next to him.
"However, the leader only has three assassins. If all three of them are unavailable, the leader must do the killings himself. So, revealing all of them too early is not likely to be a good idea. And lastly; we have the assassins. They are the mechs that will actually kill other mechs, and visit them, if they choose too."
"This sounds… kinda fun. I hope I'm one of the assassins."
"You would, Overlord."
"Everyone, to one of the pods." Megatron directed them to the, conveniently enough, twenty three pods.
"Once inside, close the lid and attach the cable to the back of your neck." Shockwave told them.
"That will put you into recharge; the pods will only disengage the recharge protocol when everyone is not actively in the simulation."
"What do you mean 'actively in the simulation'?" Thundercracker asked.
"When the simulation is over; everyone is not actively in the simulation any more. This will happen in one of two ways. The members of the coup have killed everyone else, and so can kill the leader, or the coup leader and his assassins have been found out and hence; killed." Shockwave headed to his own pod and closed the lid. He wasn't answering any more questions; all would be explained shortly. Everyone else shrugged and climbed into the pods; unable to have their questions answered. Once the lids were closed everyone attached the cables as instructed.
"This feels kinda funny…" Skywarp thought to himself, before his optics flickered off. Every mech was now in recharge and the simulation could begin.
XxX
Lord Megatron suspects that a coup is being planned; with all of the loyal Decepticons going to be killed. The simulation told every mech, a voice that sounded like the one on their base computer speaking in their heads.
"Who wrote this? The Justice Division?" Overlord pondered.
It is up to you to determine who the coup is being planned by. Help your leader determine who the members of the coup are… before it's too late. Each mech then heard. Your role is… followed by what their role was.
"I don't like that at all."
"Cool!"
"Right then."
"That doesn't seem too far from what I do normally!"
"Guess I'll have to like this…"
"Why do I have to be an innocent?!" Some of them thought, while the role was being explained to them.
Meanwhile, Megatron was being given a different story.
You suspect that some of your most trusted Decepticons are planning a coup, and that you must catch them before they kill all of your troops. Use your three investigators to track other mech's movements and catch them in the act! Lock up mechs to keep them safe, or to make sure you know where they are! And determine whether or not to kill someone in the morning.
"I'm still not sure what I'm supposed to do. I hope it explains it later." Megatron thought after it had finished explaining. Each mech then 'woke up' in a common room, somehow all stood up. Megatron was stood at the front, like he was giving one of his speeches.
"Are you all clear on what you are going to do?" Megatron decided to ask; because he wasn't. He received twenty two 'yes sir's'. All of them then heard that voice, over speakers.
"It is now evening. Report to your room. Your name is written on the door." Each of them started to walk towards the back of the room.
Not you. The voice said in Megatron's head. Your room is behind you. Megatron turned around and saw a door with his name on it. He walked through it and it slid shut behind him. Each other mech found the same sort of thing was happening to him. Their door however, read 'Safe' in green letters.
Each mech was now being instructed in the same way. Go to your berth and go to recharge. You will need all your wits about you here. Each mech obeyed, some begrudgingly. A while later, four mechs received more instructions. Go to the meeting room; the place where you started. There you will meet your fellow members of the coup.
The mechs in question got out of berth and headed for the door. One of them walked out before the others and they discovered how the doors worked. 'Not Safe' was displayed on them in red letters, until it changed back. One of them walked through and it displayed 'Not Safe' on the other two's doors. After the fourth one of them had made it to the meeting room, the first one out of his room spoke.
"You three are not who I was expecting at all. So, which of you is the coup leader? Because it isn't me." The first mech told the others.
"I am…" Another mech told the other three.
"This would have to be a simulation for you to be planning a coup!" Another of them said, sniggering.
"I'm looking forward to being given orders on whom to kill." The fourth mech looked rather happy about his role assignment.
"Aren't you going to say something about overthrowing Megatron?" The first mech that made it to the meeting room asked.
"Um… Let's make sure Megatron gets what's coming to him, just like the rest of those idiots." The coup leader hoped he sounded charismatic. The others gave him a look that said he might have.
"I'm looking forward to this; you'd all be wise to do the same." One of the mechs said, his optics glinting just like the others. All of them headed back to their rooms to recharge; knowing they would also need their wits about them in the morning.
XxX
All of them were told it was morning and that they had to now report to the meeting room. Each mech did, unsure what to do now.
"Discuss who to lock up and whether or not to kill anyone." The voice told them over the speakers.
"What? Kill someone! But no one's done anything yet!" Starscream immediately told the others.
"I actually agree. We have no idea who anyone is; no one's actually done anything yet." Overlord's comment quickly got similar ones from most of the mechs.
"Right, I get you." Megatron listened to them.
"No one gets killed." Megatron told the group, almost laughing at the sighs of relief.
"But who do we lock up? We don't know what anyone does, as no one's done anything." Megatron pondered out loud, hoping for his Decepticons to decide for him.
"Overlord." Tarn answered first. Overlord quickly followed him.
"Why me? Why not you?"
"Why not me? Megatron can randomly choose any of us. After all, he has no idea what any of us do." Tarn's answer made perfect sense.
"I'll take your suggestions into account; Overlord." Megatron smirked at the shocked look on Overlord's face.
"Why?"
"Someone doth protesteth too much." Soundwave smirked behind his mask. Megatron walked over to escort Overlord to the cell. He'd been informed by the voice in his head that it was at the other end of the corridor. He saw a room with a hard metal door standing open. The mech who is in here cannot be harmed, but also has no idea what is happening outside and cannot complete his assignments, if any. Put your chosen mech inside, and close the door. Megatron did so, ignoring the protests. He then closed the door and heard a lock click. Only you have the key card that opens this door. You will be told to release him in the morning. Megatron walked back to the meeting room and an announcement came over the speakers.
"It is now evening. Report to your room." The voice said over the speakers.
"Days sure go by quickly in here…" Skywarp remarked, earning a few laughs. All of the mechs did as ordered however.
XxX
Once Megatron was in his room he was told to go to a console. It had three boxes on the screen, each one labelled with investigator followed by 1, 2 or 3. The top of the screen said 'Send out your investigators, if you wish.'
"I don't know who any of them are. How do I know who to have them keep watch on?" Megatron pondered before tapping investigator 1. He then saw each of the other mechs in their configuration of rooms he assumed. He also saw that Overlord's picture was greyed out; possible because he was in the cell. He tapped one of the mechs, and then did the same for the other two investigators. He then tapped confirm. Each mech received the same message as the previous night telling them to recharge. Once all twenty two had done so, each of the investigators was woken up.
You have been told to keep watch on… Each of them was then told a different mech. Skywarp. The first one was told.
"He's likely to go wandering, making himself look suspicious…" The mech thought. Vos. The second one heard.
"Well… that makes a change." The mech smirked. Leozack. Was the third mech's target.
"Of course." The mech shrugged. You are to press the switch beside that mech's door, this will activate the sensors.
"But what if I get myself?" One pondered, before heading out of the door. He pushed the switch beside his target's door, seeing a light flash once. He then headed back to his room. The other two investigators did the same thing, before being told to return to recharge.
Go to your console. The coup leader heard in his audios. He got up and went over to his console. It had his three assassins on it, so he chose one. He also saw twenty two pictures, with five blacked out, his assassins and himself, he noted, as well as Overlord; the mech in the cell. He chose one unfortunate mech who was going to meet his end at the hands of his assassin. He tapped confirm and was then instructed to go back to recharge. A very short while later the voice spoke to all twenty one mechs who were able to do so.
You must wake up. You may visit others, or be receiving visitors. The assassin that was chosen was also told the name of the mech he had to kill.
"That's… interesting." He thought, before heading straight for the door. You, your fellow coup members and Megatron himself are the only mechs who have any weapons. You have been given a stun gun and a simple gun that can be easily hidden. The assassin walked out of the door, before going to his chosen victim's room. Blitzwing had also made up his mind to head out, as had Dirge. They seemed surprised in the first instance when it said 'Not Safe' on the door. Both of them shrugged, waiting for it to say 'Safe' before heading out, one after the other. Dirge was the poor mech who had to wait.
XxX
Motormaster heard the door of his room open. He turned around and seemed surprised by who was visiting.
"Didn't expect you to come and visit me."
"You won't be remembering the meeting." The assassin drew his stun gun.
"You're an assassin?!"
"Of course, and you are my first victim." Motormaster didn't seem scared.
"I don't kill so easily…" He attempted to draw his sword from subspace and actually became frightened when he couldn't. He then felt a powerful electric shock go through his systems and went offline. He wasn't to know, permanently. The assassin walked over and slowly pushed the other gun to his victim's head.
"Brain." A shot rang out.
"Spark." A second shot followed soon after.
"T-Cog." A third and final shot rang out.
XxX
It didn't seem long after the mechs had returned to their rooms and gone back to recharge that they were told; It is now morning. Report to the meeting room. Each mech that could did as asked. Megatron was told to check his console. He had received three reports, from his investigators he assumed. The voice told him that investigator 3's report was first and 1's was last. The first read; 'I kept an optic on Leozack, as ordered. He didn't leave his room, and he didn't receive any visitors.' Megatron shrugged, that wasn't very helpful. The second report was similar; 'I kept an optic on Vos, as ordered. He didn't leave his room, and he didn't receive any visitors.' Megatron grumbled; these reports were useless! He then read the third, fully expecting to read the same thing, but was pleasantly surprised. 'I kept an optic on Skywarp, as ordered. He didn't leave his room, and he received one visitor.' Megatron made a mental note to ask Skywarp who it was. He was then told to; Release the jailed mech. Megatron headed outside and noticed all of the mechs were waiting for him, except one.
"I will be back momentarily; with Overlord." Megatron headed down the corridor and slid the key card into the lock. The door clicked and Megatron pulled it open.
"I still don't get why you locked me up, but there is no difference between the cell and the room I'm in." Overlord told Megatron while walking to the meeting room. Megatron made his way to the front.
"One of you visited Skywarp last night." He made a statement, awaiting an answer from the mech in question or from Skywarp himself.
"Blitzwing." Skywarp answered.
"Why?" Megatron asked. Were these two part of the coup; planning something?
"Just talking." Blitzwing answered.
"What about?"
"Just how weird the simulation is and how it would better if we weren't just innocents." Skywarp answered.
"Would anyone else care to own up to going out last night?" Kaon asked.
"Why?" Megatron queried.
"Because there are only twenty two mechs in here." Was Kaon's reply.
"There were twenty two yesterday as well, there were eleven doors on each side of the corridor. I counted." Helex told them.
"What about Megatron? His door's not in the corridor." Vos asked.
"That would make twenty three…" A deathly silence came over the room at Tesarus' comment.
"One mech must have been killed last night." Soundwave said, with a nervous realisation.
AN: I leave that there; it's not like you don't know who it is! And apparently, they didn't even notice! Yes, Kaon can see; he hasn't shorted out his optics on the traitors yet. And the simulation translates what Vos says for the other mechs. The thing with the doors is so no mech is ever seen walking the corridors by another; only one mech can be in the corridor at a time at night. Do I like Motormaster as a character? Yes. I didn't kill him first because I don't like him. If I was killing mechs I didn't like; Shockwave would be dead.