MERCY

Chapter 1

Midnight Skylight

It is common knowledge that the warship Nemesis was no place for a cruise. There wasn't to many opportunities for anyone aboard to have a relaxing R&R. The halls through the ship, though wide and long, were dark and poorly ventilated. All the work stations were just as uncomfortable, perhaps with no place to sit or walk away too it was worst. Then again, if you were a drone working for the Decepticon cause, you would be lucky if you were assigned a counsel monitoring job. Any other assignment usually called for working in unstable energon mines or patrolling the earth for Autobot activity. The very unlucky handful would be assigned the honor of assisting the higher officers in retrieving lost Cybertronian artifacts. Even though it's an opportunity to get some sun and fresh air, it's also the best way to get squashed, blasted, or torn apart by an Autobot ambush. A drone's life was a hard one, and there weren't too many chances for a quiet day at work.

Of course, to keep the drones functioning longer they were allowed scheduled times for recreation. There were two different sections of the ship that are very popular destinations for groups of drones to gather for their time off. The Vehicon's took to the bottom sections of the maintenance store rooms. It wasn't the most scenic of places, but the grounded drones, over time, created a decent place for them to retreat too. They played old Cybertronian games, listened to classic earth rock music, and discuss how their day went while sipping on home stilled high grade. Every now and again you would also find the occasional Eradicon joining in on the fun, if they didn't feel up to exploring their usual haunt. However, it was almost an extreme rarity to find a Vehicon venturing around the flight decks with the Eradicons. It was no secret to the higher officials that the flier drones liked to spend their leisure time loitering around the flight and landing decks, but if the festivities didn't interfere with the war effort the higher ups would turn a blind optic or two. It made total sense that the grounders stayed safe inside the ship rather than join the fliers outside up-top where they could fall over the edge and never be heard from again.

The Eradicons enjoyed their time off almost the same way as the Vehicons. They played games and talked. They also listened to music, but it wasn't just rock. Usually it was whatever was on the radio at the time, and it was usually local. High grade was just as common place there as it was in the maintenance store rooms, but it was monitored a little more closely. If anyone was caught slurring their words or teetering along the edge of the ship they would immediately be cut off and told to go recharge for the night. Last thing anyone needed was to lose more recruits for something as trivial as an FWO (Flying While Overcharged). The drones have always looked out for each other. More so now that their numbers were starting to dwindle. If Shockwave hadn't disappeared after the last evacuation of Cybertron, there would be more of them coming in. The last shipment of drones that came to the Nemesis had already been functioning for a few thousand years, but before they came to Earth, they had been given orders on different sectors of the universe. Not a lot of them were still thriving when Megatron gave the order for the younger models to regroup on the Nemesis, but orders were orders.

In the end, however, only 200 Eradicons and 125 Vehicons showed up. Those numbers dropped drastically over the years and believe it or not there were now only 50 younger Eradicons and only one Vehicon. That one Vehicon was perhaps the only grounder that was crazy enough to spend his time off with the Eradicons on the wide open, windy flight deck. Even crazier still was what he chose to do up on the flight deck. He never touched any high grade and didn't particularly engage in mingling for too long. Almost every other night this lone Vehicon model would venture out alone along the edge of the deck. The fliers came to know this Vehicon with a sense of safeguarding. At first, he came off as shy and withdrawn, but as he slowly started opening more socially, the other drones found him to quite charming. He was polite and kind, very timid, and incredibly pure. Without a doubt he was a rare personality for a Cybertronian let along a Decepticon. That is why everyone watched him with well-placed worry. There was at least one Eradicon visor on him at a time as the brave, or most likely foolish Vehicon drifted along the edge of the ship. He was often asked repeatedly by almost every drone why he felt like endangering his life every other night like that, and his only reply was simply, 'I just love the night air and watching the stars. I don't really know why, I just do.'

"There he is again." One Eradicon chuckled to another. "Watching the sky like he thinks it's going to disappear."

The drone adjacent to him sipped on his high grade and nodded. "He is the youngest out of everyone on the ship. Maybe Shockwave did something different with his programing. He just thinks differently than everyone else."

"Or maybe it has something to do with his frame." A third Eradicon joined in on the conversation. "He's just so…. So…. What's the word I'm looking for?"

"Teeny?"

"Scrawny?"

"Lightweight?"

The group of three turned to four as everyone had an input one way or another. The original third drone shook his helm. "No…. Um…. Delicate, I guess. But I must admit, I admire his resolve. He knows who he is and what he enjoys. And he doesn't give a scrap what any of us have to say about it."

Everyone nodded in agreement again. Though they all found his routine to be a little strange, they also found it very endearing. It was now a part of their routine as well. Not seeing him on the ledge was now simply unthinkable. It never crossed any of their processors that this nice part of their lives would be disturbed or taken away. Not until the unthinkable happened.

"Hey," the first Eradicon gestured to the skyline opposite the Vehicon, "What's that? Are there more troops coming in?" In the vast distance there was an unidentified flier. They could all here his engines roar drawing in closer at a seemingly rapid pace.

"I don't think so." The fourth one answered. "All patrols ended hours ago. It's probably just some stragglers…. Wait. Is that….?"

"Uh-oh. I think it is. Bob! Cut the radio!" Everyone reeled their helms in the direction the group of four was standing. The Eradicon addressed as Bob however, was rushing over to the sound system. The moment he realized whom was flying in he practically stumbled over his own struts to turn the radio off in time, and it wasn't a moment too soon. The second the music stopped, the unidentified flier transformed midair, and landed with a booming thud onto his peds.

Every single drone froze in place. Silence engulfed the entire fight deck like a curse as the large and imposing silver mech stood up right. Everyone shuttered as they unconsciously backed away submissively.

"L-Lord Megatron." One finally spoke up. "We didn't know you were out. We would've volunteered to assist you had we been informed of any extra missions. Forgive us. We'll collect everything and return to our quarters right away and be ready for tomorrows duties."

"Not necessary." The larger mech rolled his optics. "There was a matter that I needed to address myself. There was no need for any of your assistants." As his optics came to a halt the warlord's attention was suddenly drawn to the lone Vehicon at the edge of the landing pad. They narrowed as his faceplate contorted into an unreadable expression. "Continue as you all were."

"Oh? Um…. Yes, my Lord. Thank you." The Eradicon whom addressed the warlord quarried. "May I interest you in a cube of high grade?" He was defiantly pushing his luck, but Megaton ignored the groveling drone and walked over to the ledge of the landing. Much too every Eradicon's horror. They all knew that the tyrannical warlord was walking right towards their precious Vehicon, and they felt powerless to stop it from happening. Nobody really knew what Megatron had in mind for the young drone, but he was very unpredictable. One minute he can be the most level headed Cybertronian in the room, then the next he could snap and take it out on the nearest drone standing close enough to him.

"Lord Megatron?" Bob stepped forward as Megatron walked passed him. "I-uh…. Well. I think it is getting very late, and the party is dying down anyway." He inched closer towards the unsuspecting Vehicon, blocking Megatron's view. "Everyone is getting ready to head inside and call it night. If you like I can get the bay doors for you before we—Oomph!" It was clear the warlord was not in the mood to be patronized. A gesture made transparent as his servo clasped around Bob's helm and pushed him aside.

The Vehicon had somehow remained completely oblivious to everything that had happened behind him. He stayed where he was staring tenderly at the night sky and enjoying feeling of cool evening air glide in between his transformation seams. It was a full moon that night, and he wore the glowing light on his back. Letting its luminance glisten over his unusually slim frame. He was very content and felt so at easy he hardly noticed the larger silver mech sauntering up behind him. Not until the moonlight on his back had been completely over shadowed.

"Vehicon." The shadow spoke to him. Startling the poor young mech so much he lurched forward. He would have fallen over the edge if Megatron hadn't wrapped his servo around the Vehicon's waist.

"Careful!" The warlord bellowed as he turned the mech now in his arms to face him. "What are you even doing up here? Do you have a death wish? Or are you just unbelievably foolish?"

"Oh!" The Vehicon gasped. "Forgive me M' lord! I guess I am just foolish, because I do not desire death. Thank you Lord Megatron, for catching me." His voice was surprisingly light and had an odd slight accent. He was already smaller compared to the other drones, but in Megaton's arms he was incredibly lithe. The Eradicons behind them watched the duo intently with held in intakes. The Vehicon looked like a rag doll being cradled in a human child's embrace…. A very large, angry looking human child.

Megatron could feel the gaze of the other drones leering over him, so he briefly glared over his shoulder to announce his non-verbal annoyance. It partially did the trick, enticing the Eradicons to quickly turn away, but they picked up their audios trying to listen in.

"Excuse me, M' Lord?" The Vehicon drew Megatron's attention back to him. "Could you set me down now? Please?"

The tyrant lingered on the request and held onto the small mech momentarily. Megatron set him down slowly, gazing at him still with an unreadable expression. "Take off your mask." He ordered.

"I-I'm sorry?" The Vehicon stammered.

"Are your audios damaged Vehicon?" Megatron hissed. "I said take of your battle visor!"

"Y-yes M' Lord…." The Vehicon shook as he raised his servos up to his helm. He struggled with the clasps around his chin seams for a moment. Mostly because Megatron left one of his servos loiter there. It made the poor Vehicon even more nervous since his gaze was positioned awkwardly to look up at the warlord. His mask came off his faceplate clumsily, nearly dropping it as a result.

Megatron studied the Vehicons' newly expose faceplate. It was, for the most part, a simple faceplate. Like the shape and size of most drones faces, but slightly more rounded. His optics, however, were quite striking. They were wide and round, but also slanted gently upward. Normally a Decepticon's optic color would vary between red, yellow, or violet, but this Vehicon had an intriguing combination of colors. His optical irises consisted of three rings. The outer rings were red, the center rings were yellow, and the last color was and odd light green. It was a strange collection of color, but it was without a doubt, very intriguing.

"What is your designation?" Megatron asked staring at the flustered mech below him. His face never faltering to show no emotion.

"I am designated as CA-591-AN, sir." The Vehicon answered without hesitation.

"Don't just give me your serial number." The warlord growled. "I know you drones have those odd nick names you give each other, so just tell me what your comrades call you."

"W-well…." The smaller mech shock some more. "My brethren aboard the first ship I was assigned too called me Caspian, but here everyone occasionally just address me as Cass."

Again, Megatron just stared down at the Vehicon now known as Cass and looked him over. As his optics traveled down the small purple frame, he allowed his clawed servo to ghost over Cass's arm, and examined attentively how he would react. Cass froze in place while Megatron hovered over him like a snake rearing his head to strike. It was an odd new feeling for the smaller mech. He couldn't tell if this attention frightened him…. Or excited him. His air-vents hitched, and his faceplate heated into a bright blue blush. Cass looked back up at his leader with wide optics and watched as his placid expression change into a sinister sharp grin.

"You're one of the mid-digits." The warlord whispered, aware the drones were listening in. "Not too many of your kind left in our ranks. I've seen a handful of the Eradicons. How many of the Vehicons like you still exist?"

"None…. M' Lord." Cass bowed his helm. "I'm the last mid-digit Vehicon."

"Mm-hm…." Megatron hummed while he lifted his servo back up to Cass's helm. He stroked his thumb along his jaw line and leant down to whisper into his audios. "Come to my personal quarters tonight. Be there before the end of the hour."

"I—" There was a hint of protest in his voice, but the moment he felt the heat of Megatron's exhaust roll down his neck cables, he was reminded of his position. Nobody said no to Megatron on the Nemesis. Especially not a drone. "Yes…. Yes M' Lord. As you wish."

Megatron flashed one last sinister grin, before he slipped away. As he turned around, he gently guided Cass to turn with him so the drone was no longer standing so close to edge. He just saved the drone from falling once, who knows if he would do it a second time.

"Within the hour…. Caspian." With that last reminder he was gone. Completely turned away and walking towards the bay doors of the hanger. The Eradicons didn't even notice that they were starting to group together the entire time their Lord was talking to the Vehicon, but they immediately parted like the Red Sea for Megatron as he strutted past them. They observed with caution, expecting at any given moment he would spin around, and give off more commands or strike someone. For whatever reason. Often times, the warlord never needed one.

Once he reached the bay doors, they flew open, and when they closed behind him there an enormous collective sigh of relief. It didn't take long for almost everyone to get their wits about them. Soon the music was started again, then high grade was pouring, and the rumor mill started full swing all around. However, one after another the group of four Eradicons and Bob rushed over to Cass. Their concern would've been more then obvious if they hadn't still been wearing their masks. Cass was still clinging onto his, clutching it like he feared it would disappear.

"Caspian!" The first drone reached out and wrapped his arms around the still shocked Vehicon. "Are you alright? You poor little thing."

The second drone clasped both his servos around his faceplate, trying to direct his attention to him. "I couldn't see everything that happened. He didn't hurt you in anyway, did he?"

The third and fourth drone each grabbed a separate servo. Bob was right behind the two and he reached out to hold Cass's mask for him. "What did he whisper to you? Nobody could hear him properly when we turned away."

Everyone clung to him like shadows to a pillar. Cass glanced at them all and though their faceplates were still covered he could clearly see the drastic worry rising in all of them. He never understood why all of them cared for him so much. He was just a lower level console operator, but everyone treated him like a treasure. Or sometimes like a sparkling, which he never resented. He sometimes appreciated the attention, and because of it he worked as hard as he could in the stations he was assigned. If that was all he had to offer, then he was going to give it whole-heartedly. Cass couldn't bear to see all his friends look so distraught, and all over something they had almost no control over. The poor Vehicon felt incredibly guilty for causing so much trouble for his friends. Not wanting to create more grief he mustered whatever confidence he could find in him and slowly started shooing his friends aside.

"Guys, I'm alright. Really, I'm fine." Cass smiled nervously, stepping away from the gaggle of doting Eredicons. "Lord Megatron just wanted to know why I was walking along the edge."

"Yes. We all heard that part." The first Eradicon said still clinging too, and now snuggling, Cass's neck cables. "What did he whisper to you? Did he threaten you? Did he give you a dangerous patrol task? Oh-no…. He didn't…. He didn't…." His vocalizer hitched as if he was about cry, automatically fearing the worst. Cass didn't know what his friend was trying to ask him, but he didn't bother waiting to find out. Shifting his frame to the side, Cass placed his servo over the Eradicons helm and gently patted it.

"Don't worry Tristan," he cooed, "It really wasn't anything. He—" Cass thought carefully about what he was going to say next. He was certain if he told them the truth it would just cause them all more grief. He never liked the idea of lying to anyone, but he then felt it best to power through it. "He just wanted me to see him in the morning on the bridge. There are some data files he wants me to archive for Soudwave."

"That's it?" Bob tilted his helm. "What kind of data?"

"Oh! Um…. He didn't specify. My guess is Megatron wants this matter to be discreet."

"And he doesn't believe Soundwave can handle it himself?" The second Eradicon let go of Cass's face. "That doesn't make a whole lot of sense."

"I don't understand it myself." Cass started pulling himself away from the group again. "But when the orders come from Megatron himself it doesn't really have to make sense, you just have to do it without question." Before he turned around to walk to the bay doors, Cass generously patted everyone's shoulders and servos good night. "With that said I should really head back to my quarters and get some recharge. He said he wanted to see early in morning."

"Okay then." Bob was the last one Cass reached out for, and he lingered with him the longest. Mainly because he had to take back his battle visor and put it on before he left. "Do you want anyone to walk back with you? Make sure you don't run into any more trouble tonight."

"I appreciate your concern Bobbi," Cass shook his helm more in amusement then irritation, "but I'm not a sparkling. I'm sure I can manage walking on my on to my room. I'll see you all tomorrow night."

"Good night Cass." They all sighed and watched their young friend glide away. Every so often he was stopped by another group of drones to either check on him or to say good night. He was quite resilient when he wanted to be and he knew the right moments he needed to put on a brave face. No doubt Cass was still frightened. He really didn't know what the warlord wanted from him. There was a chance he unintentionally did something wrong and Megatron just wanted to see to his punishment personally. It wouldn't be the first time he was caught in the crosshairs of an over disgruntled higher up. Pit, if Steve was no where to be found, Cass would often times be the first target of Starscream's tantrums. He had been beaten, scratched, burnt, electrocuted, etcetera, etcetera. Just about anything that could happen to a drone that almost never left the Nemesis happened to him, but every now and again he could hear his comrades comment that there was one thing the officials haven't done to him yet, and the way they snickered and sometimes shook their helms Cass thought it was just a joke at his expense. He never thought that there was more to it, so he never really asked more on it. At the time it just really didn't seem all that important.

"I really hope he's not lying to us." The Eradicon Cass called Tristian huffed. He was still watching the bay doors, even after Cass had finally walked through them. "Please guys, even if you have to lie to me, just tell me you believe what he told you."

"Not a chance." They answered Tristian in unison, knowing fully well that the overly emotional Eradicon would burst into optical fluid.

-END-