Author's Note: Sorry it took me so long. I had to sort out how I would approach some of the aspects of this story. This story will remain half 'past' and half 'present'. I rather like how it works like that, allowing us to get a feeling of how Megatron slowly became as he did. I really hope everyone likes it. I feel Skywarp and Ironhide actually work rather well in this story, though I try to keep events in this as much to some of the canon as possible.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything other than Megatron's pillow. XD
This chapter is based partially upon the events at the beginning of IDW's 'Megatron Origin'. I will be doing several Orion Pax events in the next chapter.
Decepticon Flagship, Nemesis, Low Earth Orbit
"Ironhide?" Fingertips lightly touched against one cheekplate, softly stroking the scarred face, his blue optics sweeping over the too still body. "...Please...?" It was a soft shaken whisper, his palm carefully cupping the strong jaw, tipping Ironhide's head back just enough for him to look into that handsome face. "Please... Love... I can't stand to be alone..." A broken sound escaped him. A tear streaked down one cheekplate to splash against the cooling metal.
Ironhide lay motionless, his massive black and red frame sprawled against the metal just outside of the Core that housed Primus. Large jagged slices ran across the powerful body, fluids streaking the floor and now Optimus Prime's hands. The first to stain them after he had been gifted with the Matrix. The lifeless grey optics stared off into space, unseeing and unaware of the fact that he had succeeded in protecting Orion Pax and allowing him to gain the Matrix of Leadership.
He couldn't accept it. His spark was shattering into a thousand fragments at the sight of his lover dead, the life having fled his frame as Optimus had been conversing with Primus. Around them lay sentinel droids and Trans-Organics, their bodies torn apart and some blasted into pieces, the sheer number testifying to Ironhide's determination and strength to protect the mech formerly known as Orion Pax.
"I did it." He whispered softly, tears coming faster, streaking down over his face and dripping onto his lover's, his arms struggled to lift the dead weight of the other half of his spark against his chassis. His tortured cries of anguish filled the silent void, Optimus rocking back and forth slowly, smoothing a hand against Ironhide's helm, unwilling to leave the one mech who had always remained at his side whenever he had need of him. "I did it, 'Hide. I did it for us... Can't you feel the Matrix? Can't you..." It should have been the proudest moment of his existence, but ended up being a reminder that everything came with a cost.
"IRONHIDE!" His anguished scream of the mech's name rang clearly for all of Cybertron to hear.
The mech woke up with an abrupt start, jerking upwards and lifting a hand to lightly touch his fingertips to his cheekplates, shocked at the dampness he found there. Confusion shimmered through him, his optical ridges pressing together as he desperately tried to get his entire frame under control. Limbs trembled with the force of the corrupted memory file that had sneaked in and overwhelmed his usually silent and empty recharge cycle, Orion Pax sat up and his hand immediately stretched out towards one side of the berth, searching for the reassuring presence of... he froze.
Head twisting to regard the empty side of the berth, his mind couldn't quite comprehend the fact that it was empty, that the thermal blankets that were spread across it were undisturbed and cool to the touch. Gaze flickering around the place, he sat there for a moment, confusion still surging beneath his armour, filling him. The quarters were unfamiliar, nothing within them was even remotely recognisable to the Data Clerk.
Rolling slightly, his legs swept over the edge of the berth, his body swaying slightly when he made it up onto his pedes, his optical ridges pressing together. It was rare that Ironhide was not present during a recharge cycle unless he was off-world or had a long training session planned.
"Ironhide?" Staggering forwards, he bumped against the chair beside the berth, almost ending up flat on his facial plates as his gyros spun wildly, everything within him whirling out of control. Blue optics searching the dark confines of the quarters that he had clearly been given by Megatronus, he swallowed hard as memory files attempted to put themselves back together for him.
Legs buckling out from under him, he landed aft first into the chair, frame still feeling terribly drained as if most of his spark and life force had been sucked out of him. A heavy ache had settled deep within his spark, a weight that rested squarely within it, which he could not move by any force of will.
"Easy." A brush of something warm ghosted against Orion Pax's cheekplate, stroking ever so softly across the expanse of it as if attempting to wipe away the damp tracks that still marred the smooth surface. "Calm yourself, Orion."
Azure optics lifted and he almost jolted from the chair he was in when his gaze met that of dark navy blue optics or at least the faint outline of them. Ironhide's silhouette hovered just before him on one knee, placing them at optic level with one another. "Ironhide." Relief filled the mech for one long sparkbeat seeing the familiar warm gaze of his lover, yet... His hand reached out and swept right through the image of his beloved, his spark screaming in fear. Soon both hands were attempting to gasp the shade that had come to him, yet they slipped right through the form of his protector and beloved.
One massive servo lifted, large fingers carefully closing over both of Orion's gently, stilling them with the faintest of pressures and drawing them to his lips softly. A flicker of something soft brushing against fingertips, the most haunting of loving touches. "I promised I would be here."
"But... you're..." His head shook violently just once, his spark in his throat as he gazed into those warm navy optics. "No... No."
Ironhide's body beneath his hands, the cold lifeless frame... so much fluid coating his palms and frame, streaking his face. The long joors he had remained in that dark grave, refusing to let go of Ironhide, refusing to belief that death had stolen away the one thing that mattered most to him. It had been Jazz that had found him, the mech shaken deep to his core at the death of one who had been so vital to their cause, one who had stood by them all from the start.
Orion Pax shook his head, denying it outright. It was impossible. The Matrix of Leadership? Him? He was no Prime.
"Orion." His voice was tender and soft, his expression showing just how much he loved the mech before him. "You need to remember."
"Remember what? Remember losing you? No." Leaning forwards, he swallowed hard and wished he knew what was happening. "I can't bear the thought of ever having been parted from you. You are my other half, my strength. I am nothing without you, Ironhide."
"My sweet Orion." Lips turned upwards into a loving smile, though his head tipped to the side, taking in everything else around them. "You always knew how to touch my spark. However, time has not changed your hard-helmed stubbornness."
"Me? Stubborn?" A bubble of laughter had somehow found its way into his throat, his entire world being brightened by Ironhide's words. "Whatever gave you that idea?"
A low growl of amusement escaped Ironhide, his fingers squeezing around Orion's for a long moment. "We need to get you back to the Autobots."
"The who?"
Orbital Mining Station, C-14, Cybertronian Orbit [Pre-War]
"You know..." Fingertips slowly caressed along D-16's jaw, lightly trailing across the newly welted marks. "I don't exactly know what to do with you." The corners of Skywarp's lips turned upwards while he gazed into the pair of golden optics that regarded him from the strikingly handsome face of the miner he had managed to corner long enough to treat. "Stubborn." Laughter escaped Skywarp, his aft resting against the edge of the hard berth that filled most of the small space the other mech called 'home'.
D-16 lips quirked slightly, a smile trying to escape him at the sound of that rich warm laughter that filled his spark and chased away the darkness that claimed him every time he shuttered his optics. This was the only cure for that dark rage that boiled up from somewhere deep within him, Skywarp's smile was the only peace he had. "I am not stubborn. I just did not see the point in you wasting time tending to my injuries."
Two palms suddenly thumped hard against the centre of the miner's chassis, knocking him back just a little as crimson optics narrowed sharply on him with a flicker of anger darkening the colour to a beautiful ruby black. "Don't you dare say something like that about yourself. Being with you, tending to you is never a waste of my time. You are not a waste. If I ever hear you talk about yourself like that I'll..."
Large hands curled around Skywarp's jaw, drawing the mech's head upwards slightly, enough that D-16 could devour that mouth, silencing any more words that would have escaped. The kiss was almost brutal in its intensity, but the Seeker surrendered to it, his own servos curling against the back of D-16's and just holding him there, not wanting to break the heated kiss.
Their foreheads touched lightly for a moment as D-16 drew back, his optics sweeping over the face of the engineer before him. "Skywarp." It was a silent prayer, a plea for something he couldn't quite describe.
"If you ever get arrogant, I'll fry your aft." Head twisting upwards, he kissed the miner again, both arms wrapping around broad shoulders and tugging him down onto the berth. Practically sprawling across the large frame because of the small size of the berth, he tucked his face against the curve of D-16's throat, both arms wrapping around the large frame and giving him the physical contact that had been denied the mech for so long.
The miner's head dropped back against the pillow when his limbs lift to curve over Skywarp's back and wings, one large work roughened servo stroked across one sensitive wing, index finger tracing the edge of it. A little shiver worked its way right up along the Seeker's back and he sighed and relaxed into D-16's large frame.
"Why do you do this?"
"Mmmh?" Skywarp's lips brushed a soft kiss against the sensitive cords of the miner's throat, denta lightly scrapping over where the hot pulse of fluids ran through his fuel lines. Dark crimson optics were half unshuttered, glancing up at him from where his face had lifted from the curve of his throat.
"Why do you continue to care for me? There is nothing to be gained from such an action. I can give you nothing in return for your... kindness."
"Have you ever thought that I look after you because I think you're worth it?" Resting one arm across the expanse of the mech's broad chassis, his chin came to rest against it, allowing their gazes to meet. "I see something in you that is not there in the others."
D-16 stiffened, his jaw clenching sharply as he thought about the darkness that was slowly crowding into his spark, the soft whispers of evil that ate away at his control, stole so much from him orn by orn. He didn't want Skywarp to see that darkness. The light that hovered deep within his spark shone through when Skywarp looked at him, the gentle part of him. One servo lifted, stroking the back of his fingers against the mech's cheekplate, the edge of his thumb smoothing over the line of the mech's lower lip.
"As much as you wish to hide it, I know you're a good mech. The way you confronted Sabot... and then Chaos. D-16, there is a part of you that that shines out of the darkness of this place. There is a light within the blackness and I don't want to see it go out."
"I am not the mech you are describing."
"Liar." Skywarp settled himself like a blanket across D-16's frame, curling up there and resting his cheekplate back down against the broad chassis that rested just beneath him. A hand thumped lightly against D-16's chassis, the Seeker nuzzling his face into the warmth of it and sighed softly as fingers continued to stroke across his wings. "I don't know what is happening with you, D-16, but I know there will always be a spark of good in you, no matter how much darkness might seep in..."
Decepticon Flagship, Nemesis, Low Earth Orbit
The reflector shattered beneath the powerful blow from Megatron's fist, his entire body vibrated with the force of so many emotions that scorched through him. Trembling ever so slightly, he glanced back up and saw himself in the shards of cracked metal, the face of the monster that he had become. A flicker of gold flashed through his crimson optics, his body jerked back sharply from his own reflection, his hand lifting to brush the tips of his claws across one temple and close to his optics. For a moment... for a single moment he had seen gold... the pure gold that had once been D-16.
A roar of rage escaped him as his hand slammed so hard into the mirror that he actually cracked the bulkhead just behind it, his shoulders shaking with the strain.
"No matter what you do, Megatronus, I will not give up on you."
A low harsh growl escaped him at the voice that whispered through his mind, his spark responding to the sound, craving the cool fingers of a familiar Seeker. Denta clenching, he wanted to tear the entire ship apart if it would stop the feeling of aching emptiness that resided deep within him. No matter what he did, he could never shake the sensation, it remained there, a gaping hole where Skywarp had once been. He had proven himself the monster.
"I should tear out your spark."
"Well... that is quite the greeting." The voice and presence filled Megatron's private quarters, the silent shift of pedes against deck plating the only physical give away of the Seeker's presence. "I didn't know we were back to the threats again, Megatronus."
A snarl escaped him, his crimson optics burning into the face of the black and crimson Seeker who stood right behind him, both servos clenching sharply in response to the threat this mech posed to Megatron's very sanity. Skywarp knew him. This mech had been there at every major event that had forged Megatron into the mech he was. "You know well not to take such liberties, Seeker."
Crossing his arms over his chassis, Skywarp gave Megatron a slightly amused stare. "Was that meant to scare me?" Both optical ridges lifted in silent question, a smile tugging at his lips. "You know nothing you say will."
Megatron stalked forwards, one hand lifting to reach out to capture the Seeker by his throat, to teach the Decepticon fear. Yet, his clawed fingertips ended up trailing across one dark cheekplate, unable to ever damage this one mech. Skywarp was his weakness. "Do not challenge me, Skywarp. My patience with you is at its limit."
"Missed you too."
Growling, the Decepticon Leader jerking his hand back away from the handsome face, before retreating across the span of his quarters, his back being turned to Skywarp. An uncontrollable shiver ran its way right up along his spinal plating when a soft kiss was pressed between his shoulder blades. The moment he turned around to force the Seeker to step away, Skywarp had already teleported himself to a nearby chair, legs already resting against the desk.
"Get out."
"No." One optical ridge lifted in silent challenge, daring Megatron to attempt to remove him, which they both knew was pointless since Skywarp could just get himself easily back in again.
"Do not challenge me."
"Stop growling."
And a pillow suddenly thumped so hard against Megatron's facial plates that the Decepticon Leader actually stepped back slightly.
A roar of fury escape the Decepticon, his fists clenching at the plain audacity the Seeker displayed. But as quickly as his anger stirred, it died as he reached down to retrieve the pillow, examining it for a long moment before gritting his denta and attempting to calm his temper. "I will punish you this time." How was it that Skywarp could make everything almost amusing? He would have torn out the spark of anyone that challenged his authority so openly and dare to strike him in such a manner. Yet... Skywarp slipped right under his defences, coiling his mind up in knots.
"Punishment? The last time you attempted that, Megatronus, you ended up on your aft..."
"Skywarp."
"I felt your distress."
The words disarmed him as nothing else could. The concern in that voice slashing through the tight coils of darkness that were still consuming his spark. Even though Matrix energy continued to slowly purify his systems, starting at his extremities and slowly moving inwards. He was being consumed by the energy Optimus Prime had released from the Matrix. It had not dissipated, but instead it had infected both sources of Dark Energon, Unicron himself and Megatron.
"I am not distressed. Your concern is misplaced and unnecessary."
One glance towards the shattered reflector and several other broken objects had Skywarp sighing. "Right. Either you tell me what the slag is going on, on this crazy-afted planet and why the slag you have Optimus Prime on the Nemesis, thinking he's Orion Pax or I start talking to Soundwave."
The only response he earned was a growl from Megatron.
Orbital Mining Station, C-14, Cybertronian Orbit [Pre-War]
The brilliant lighting of the main assembly area almost blinded D-16 as he stepped from the entrance to the deep catacombs of tunnels that made up mine C-14. Golden optics shuttered tightly against the glare, his body continuing to move forwards as other miners pressed in around him, shuffling forwards as their own senses were in turn blinded by the light. Something curled around one of his massive servos, cool fingers wrapping around his wrist, tugging lightly and managing to draw him out of the crush of large bodies and into the shelter of the buildings that ringed the assembly area.
"Skywarp... what is happening?" Shuttering his optics for a moment, he finally opened them, the golden colour almost crimson in the stark white lights that pooled into the open space from the belly of the Senator's ship.
"The end."
And the next moment, Skywarp had gone, vanishing as quickly as he had appeared. The black Seeker melting back into the shadows, becoming the shade that he was up amongst other members of the working teams that were assigned to this particular operation. Yet, D-16 could still feel the presence of his shadow, feeling the presence still attempting to tug at the bright spark that remained within the mech, keeping it alive.
"As you know, the Hub has been facing challenges and as always, we seek to streamline in every way that we can." The Senator's voice carried over the heads of the still half blinded miners, his clean armour and bright blue optics a sharp contrast to the damaged and work roughened appearance of the miners. His bright blue optics glimmered with disgust as he surveyed all those before him. "You can rest easy. The Senate thanks each and every one of you for your contribution. Your hard work here is at the end."
Anger scorched through D-16, his servos clenching as he remembered the bodies of the miners that had been left to die after the last mine collapse, the screams of the dead and dying still ringing in his audios. His fingers curled closed so tightly that tiny beads of fluid formed across his palms. How could this Autobot stand there and treat them civilly when they had been treated no better than slaves since the moment they had arrived on the mining station two vorns previously. So many had fallen. So many had been dumped into the smelting pits that still bubbled and filled the air with the acrid tang of molten metal from the other side of this sector of the mining station.
"That's right, for all of you, this will be your last cycle working on orbiting mine C-12." The Senator's words stirred a boiling rage in all of those present, the blackness that swarmed in the air fuelling the menace that burned in their sparks. "I know this has been like a home to many of you. The Senate will help you find new homes, and new assignments! The Senate takes care of its people."
Death was what awaited them at the hands of these mechs. The moment they stepped from these mines they were of no more use. Voices of protest filled the air, the tension beginning to grow, everyone becoming restless. The darkness was vibrating in silent glee and for the first time, D-16 could almost see it, the thick blanket of evil that permeated everything. It coiled like a snake around his spark, poisoning him, feeding the hatred that had been sparked within him.
"You all know its tru..."
"Get back."
A scream of agony tore through the air, white-blue plasma energy flared as an axe suddenly buried itself deeply into the processors and back of the lead dissident. His pain was tangible, as he was struck again and again by one of the Autobot guards. The body of the mech fell to lay at the Autobot's pedes, smoke hissing out from within the corpse as soft sounds filtered out from the dying being, fluids leaking out and staining the ground.
Shock filled the faces of all the miners around them, the tension reaching a breaking point.
"For your own protection. Can't you people see this?" The warrior said, his optics burning with aggravation. There was not a glimmer of remorse for the death he had just caused. "Now get back."
No more.
"Workers... Brothers! Now if you'll just stay calm. I'll take us through the terms of the facility redesignation. I think given the conditions you'll find the terms quite generous, hmm?"
No more!
"The Senate is making sure that you get exactly what you deser..."
And D-16's mining pick buried itself deep into the Senator's shoulder, the makeshift weapon finding its mark.
"Senator!"
You will take no more from us.
"Deploy the..."
D-16 charged the soldier nearest him with a battle cry escaping his lips, his body slamming hard into the warrior. The two of them went down in a tangle of limbs, the Autobot already reaching for a weapon, his voice being almost cut off as D-16 knocked the blaster out of the mech's servo. His weight forced the mech to the ground, his legs straddling the mech's chassis and pinning him down. Hands lifted and curled around his helm, thumbs reaching to pierce D-16's optics.
"No." He growled out, his hands lifting over his head, fingers curled together as his rage overwhelmed all of his senses. "NO!"
And his hands came down, smashing the mech's helm apart. Fluids sprayed hot and wet across D-16's face, coating his face and hands, dripping hotly down across his lips, filling his mouth and senses with its sweetness. His optics lifted, searching the crowd, and meeting a pair of shocked crimson optics. Skywarp had seen. The sight of the mech who had infiltrated his spark forced the clawing darkness away for one moment of clarity.
"BRACE!" One mech shouted.
"Murderers!" One of the miners roared, remembering all the lives that had been torn apart by the brutality of these power-hungry Autobots. "Take 'em apart!" And the two forces clashed in a wave of metal against metal, mining tools against skilled warriors.
His vision was blurred by the fluids that covered his face and suddenly Skywarp was there to ones side of him, the mech's servos gasping his own.
"We have to go." He whispered softly. Skywarp's optics sparking with pain at what had occurred, but he refused to leave behind D-16 to the fate that would await him if he was taken back to Cybertron. "Come..."
"What... what did I do...?" D-16's face showed his guilt and raw grief over the life he had just taken. "No... no..." Fingers curling around the servo that held his own, he swallowed hard, gaze resting on Skywarp's face. "Help him..." His head turned down towards the broken body that rested beneath him, at the shattered helm that had been cracked open like a hollow stone beneath a pick. "Please... Skywarp... help him... I didn't mean to..."
"There... there is nothing that can be done for him." Tugging harder, he attempted to draw the mech away from the shattered body. "We have to go... I have to get you out of here."
"Get them now! What are you waiting for? DO IT BEFORE THEY KILL US ALL!"
Skywarp's head lifted, entire body stilling as he saw the weapons that were being aimed at them.
"Ready, aim..."
"D-16!" Skywarp's body shimmered, the soft pop of displaced air filling the silence for just a moment.
"FIRE AT WILL!"
The Seeker slammed hard into the miner's body, flattening to him to the ground as plasma bolts sizzled through the air, one catching the Seeker right between the wings, send him rolling away. And it was the force of the mech's impact that prevented a bolt from incinerating the miner's helm, another caught him across the shoulder, but even as it seared him, D-16 fought to get to the Seeker who had shielded him with his own body.
The miners fell like broken toys around them, their screams tearing through the air and the entire place slowly began to fall silent as the miners were gunned down by the Autobot protection detail.
"That's enough."
Voices filtered down to D-16's dazed mind, his hand reaching out and lightly touching against Skywarp's limp one, fingers attempting to curl around the Seeker's, feeling the coolness of them and also the tiny squeeze that told him that the Seeker was still functioning.
"Consider them pacified!"
"What's next?"
His hearing faded in and out as he felt the ground vibrate beneath the pedes of warriors who were moving in to surround him.
"That one... is he dead?"
"Dunno."
'No matter... where you go...' Skywarp's words filled D-16's communications systems, as the Engineer was being carefully rolled over and the Autobots were calling a medic over to tend to him, having thought he had gotten in the way of the fighting. 'I will find you again. I promise... I will find you again...'
'Your kindness... will not be forgotten.' He responded softly as darkness finally claimed the miner and Skywarp was torn away from him.
Poor Megatron, I couldn't help but have Skywarp's crazy sense of humor turn up. LOL. I rather liked adding in the events of Megatron Origin. It works so well with some of the previous scenes that I came up with. Any suggestions what memory files you might like to have in the next chapter?