A/N: Excuse my lateness, but I have updated. I have a few things to say about Megatron, because he's one of my most favorite characters, but writing him was difficult, which is why this chapter took long to make. His personality has depth, and he definitely is not vague like some. I made him how he is, and he will hopefully stay in this character.
Dedicated to DemigodPhantom
"The end justifies the means."- Niccolo Machiavelli
The coding was in her program, it was just as easy to control as her T-cog. Performing this tactic should be secondhand, almost involuntary. Andromeda could very well feel this in her systems. Primus had not lied when promising her power of invisibility, not that she had attempted it yet.
Andromeda was waiting to test it today, the day of her first mission. She might as well risk it all if she was betraying this team. She knew Primus was not going to be pleased, but he didn't exactly lay out any regulations for this mission. As far as the femme was concerned, anything was allowed. Besides, she was trying to convert Optimus' enemy into a good mech, that Prime would be the one thanking her in the end.
She looked away, knowing that what she was doing was wrong. For some reason, all she ever did wasn't correct. That was why Primus stopped looking at her with pride, why others found her contemptible... Now turning her back on this Prime was just another immorality she add to the growing list.
There was no need for this, she knew. It was just the easiest choice to make. Andromeda didn't need friends, especially on these terms. It was simply effortless to let them think what everyone else thought: that she was a bad Cybertronian.
Though, it shouldn't matter, right? She was doing this for a good cause. That treacherous Megatron would stop causing damage, and she'd go back to her previous home. Everyone would win...
Whatever it took,
The end justifies the means.
Her optics skimmed across her chambers. It was her last day there and Andromeda had taken a few energon cubes for the trip. She was sure they wouldn't mind, but even if they did, she would be long gone. Perhaps deep down in her spark, in her ancient programming, the ex-guardian felt like her actions had been unkind. Maybe she wouldn't have been so insensitive towards them if they hadn't treated her like an outside.
But what else was new? They didn't like her. They didn't confide in her. They would never treat her like part of a team.
Andromeda clenched her fists and looked down at her pedes. A shadow downcast her faceplates. This was yet another reason why she had never found a location to deem habitable. Her only favorable option was up above them with Primus... then she'd never interacting with them again.
She brushed her finish off, as if riding of any molecules on it. The femme didn't need the bad atmosphere. This ex-guardian had a job to do, no matter the cost. If those bots hated her now, oh, they'll sure hate her later on. Andromeda fixated her emotions towards the back of her illuminating spark. Her lips forced a crooked smile.
She shouldn't be so down. A chuckle escaped her lips.
Andromeda would finally cross paths with the tyrant.
Optimus explained the aspirations and his expectations for his team. He was sending the other femme Arcee and that large mech Bulkhead.
The team initially thought that she was simply waiting in her room; they suspected of nothing. Of course, they had more important matters than her presence. Andromeda didn't mind, this was more to her advantage anyways.
Her fist remained clenched during her procedure. It was a curt action that could have taken a few seconds at most. The femme's body completely shifted, all colors fading away from the reality she was placed in. Andromeda's optics attempted to detect herself in her reflection, an arm, leg, or pede, but she found nothing. She had to remind her processor that she was indeed there, despite the illusion.
This would cause a few difficulties in the future, the femme was sure. However, it appeared that she'd have to set the thought aside. The two soldiers were about to depart, and she'd have to be there if she was planning on leaving with them.
Andromeda snuck into the room full of Autobots. She spotted the two targets calmly standing there. A spacebridge formed out of thin air before them. Andromeda would have to leave with them now or wait for another opportunity, and that wasn't happening.
Her optics snapped shut as she tested her invisibility among the Autobots. Her steps were forced silent, something she was extremely proud of given her heels. It was there that she learned that being silent was also being slow. Though, Spacebridges close very quickly, and the one before her was no exception.
Her window of opportunity was closing. The femme dove straight towards the shrinking portal. No one had even considered looking in her direction as her body slimly made its way towards the other end. She fell face first to the ground, busting her lip in the progress. The blaring sound of her body slamming on the ground caused the pair of Autobots to turn around, their weapons ready to kill.
Andromeda's energon ran cold as she froze almost dead on the ground. The Autobots stared at the air, diligent optics flickering for any traces of life. When the location was secured, they proceeded. Her fingers brushed over her lip, seeing traces of the blue fluid. The femme brushed it off completely before rising to her pedes.
"Optimus said that Agent Fowler's comin'" Bulkhead looked up.
"Joy." Arcee quipped. A roar of a promising engine filled her audios. The disturbance caused her to jolt up. The slight noise was muffled by the loud vehicle above her. Her optics trailed after the aerial vehicle. Andromeda took some time to admire the sleek wings and favorable speed. The femme blinked, breaking her gaze before turning back to the Autobots.
Her curious express dropped. Andromeda deadpanned when realizing that they were far ahead of her, gas and dust the only evidence that they had been there.
Gah! There was no way she would catch up now! Quick... quick!
Left, right, down, and up... wait a second. Up! There it was! There was a perfect candidate vehicle for the seeker. Her wings ached for some freedom, and her ticket was right there.
Optics widened completely, invisible light rays commencing their scan of the vehicle roaming the skies. Her body and armor adapted to the new system in her t-cog. Her old programming had been outdated anyways, and this felt much better.
Andromeda's optics down trailed the path the Autobots had left. They wouldn't be able to discern her from their proximity.
That meant the coast was clear. Taking the leap of faith, for the first time ever, Andromeda transformed. Her engines propelled forward, leaving the other malfunctioning engine to eat the trail her tailpipes made.
It had been smooth sailing from there. There was no way of if it was without flying. There was no describing the sense of liberty her spark received. Wings finally stretched after what seemed eons, and oh boy, this was true pleasure tasting the skies! She almost pitied those Autobots for missing out on such a glorious thing.
She twirled around, welcoming the new cooler atmosphere of the planet. Increasing her speed, she immediately detected the pair she intended to follow.
Andromeda didn't like being patient, but flying was definitely a welcomed distraction.
It was hard to tell if it was minutes or hours that passed, but Bulkhead and Arcee began to decrease their speed, eventually transforming. Andromeda wasn't sure why they had stopped, so she descended lower to take a first hand look. Optimus had vaguely explained the mission and from what she learned, it wasn't supposed to be anything grand. The ex-guardian expected them to arrive towards a meek base, but what the femme saw before her, was certainly the most astonishing thing she had seen yet.
More times than not, the great leader had to secure the his army's victory. Making sure they didn't fail because of simple mistake was essential as a leader. This wasn't Cybertron anymore; it was hard to find a good soldier. Back on their home planet, he remembered the abundance of his loyal mechs. It seemed more of a rarity now a days. Sure, he could find a loyal soldier, but that left the vacancy of finding a competent one.
His second in command had been an utter disgrace in Decepticon history, nor loyal or useful. The Lord rubbed his helm in irritation, reminding himself why he kept the fool around. Blood-red optics opened and immediately spotted the seeker.
"No you fool! Listen to your higher commander, I said over there!" Starscream let out a frustrated shriek. "It's so hard to find a soldier whom actually listens to their commander."
The leader's red optics narrowed in accusation; it was a highly ironic statement coming from him. Composing his grand figure, placing two pedes in a similar march, he proceeded. Optics narrowed coldly at the sight.
"Simmer down, Starscream. All is going as planned, no need for any of your... scenes." Megatron spoke in a manner that meant it was not up for debate. This type of warning was rarely heeded by the seeker. Starscream scoffed at his leader.
"I would have thought that this was more important to you, Lord Megatron. I'm just seeing to it that there are no flaws. Wouldn't you like us to be closer to victory?"
Megatron growled, "Do not undermine me, Starscream. Rest assured, you can recharge safely at night knowing I will always have the upper hand."
The seeker acknowledged his words, but was not pleased to hear them.
The naval was obviously not something to ignore. Her past spaceship paled in comparison to this large beauty. If this didn't scream Decepticon, she didn't know what did. Andromeda looked down, seeing Autobot Arcee and Bulkhead beginning their own battle. That meant that they had arrived towards their destination.
Andromeda didn't need them anymore, she had found her way. They wouldn't approve and they would surely criticize her if they discovered her intentions, but Andromeda wasn't staying long enough to find out. If she wanted someone to judge her, Andromeda would talk to Primus. Sure, the Autobots didn't treat her with violence, but it wasn't hard to see that they didn't like her. Why would she want to stay in a place where she wasn't liked? She tried doing that before and it hadn't work. The Autobots could kiss her goodbye because she sure as Pit wasn't going back there again.
Andromeda quietly landed making sure than no one could hear her arrival. She still had the burden of finding Megatron, whoever he was. It wasn't as if she could ask everyone if they were this mech. Unfortunately that hadn't gone so well the first time she had asked Optimus Prime.
The femme stepped onto the platform. Her heels made clicks, but with amount of noise the other mechs were making, they would never hear her.
Mechs of similar features ran in groups, immediately transforming before reaching the ground. All those mechs had the exact same blank faceplates. Their frames were a little too exact as their paintjob. Andromeda had heard of twins, but this was just uncanny. Her blue optics studied them a bit more before deciding to disregard them. As long as they weren't Megatron, she didn't need to pay them any mind.
The femme continued to travel forward, finding an entrance into the naval. Once Andromeda made it in, she found that it was empty. Everyone must have been outside, she concluded. She wasn't complaining, there had been enough obstacles in her way.
Andromeda walked down the corridors, optics skimming over her new surroundings. Her steps weren't hasty; the femme had the amount of time necessary. Finding Megatron would be easier, wouldn't it? It certainly should! He was the leader of all these Cybertronians, it only made sense that he was there. After all, this was a Deception naval ship, wasn't it?
...She sure hoped it was, otherwise, she was scraped...
The ex-guardian neared the corner of the hall.
Andromeda didn't register the slight pain until after it had happened.
She had been abruptly stopped when an unforeseen force shoved her back. Andromeda was caught off guard, the situation happening too quickly enough to catch herself. The amount of energy the other figure had, was enough to momentarily make her processor fritz. Andromeda held her helm and elevated her optics. Both her and the other bot were surprised at what they saw. Her own blue optics locked with a golden one.
"Scrap...!" she uttered. His mouth widened and he froze. Taking advantage of the mech's stupefied reaction, Andromeda made a move to run down the hallway. Her legs pushed her as fast as they could in the limited time. The femme's helm twisted back and it seemed like the mech's stunned reaction hadn't lasted long. Andromeda saw the mech on her tail, only at a near distance away.
The femme groaned in frustration. The previous noiseless corridors were filled with loud thumping steps, some were hers and others were his.
"Get back here!" he yelled.
His voice succeeded to motive her to run faster. She could hear something shifting from behind but Andromeda refrained from looking back at him, knowing it would only slow her down. The ex-guardian lead him through more twists and turns, hoping she'd lose him. When that didn't work, Andromeda outran him in a different hall, camouflaging herself once more. Andromeda briskly pressed herself against a wall, waiting for the mech to make his next move.
As expected, he finally appeared. The heavily armored mech looked around, obviously looking for her. He narrowed warily his optic, his large weapon at hand. Andromeda would have attacked herself, if she were any less smarter. The bulky mech slowly advanced into the hallway, taking his steps with precaution. The femme took the opportunity to slip away.
The seeker let out a relieved sigh.
She was well aware of how badly that could have ended. Luck was generous enough to provide her at least that. Rubbing her arm from the collision, she continued through the maze of hallways.
Learning her lesson, Andromeda remained on one side of the broad hallway, making sure to avoid any unintentional confrontations.
"Megatron's calling everyone back to the ship." a voice spoke. The voice caused her to automatically press against the wall.
Andromeda quietly stepped closer to take a look at whom the speakers were. Two identical mechs spoke to one another despite having different voices. It was possible that she had misjudged the significance of the clone mechs. They could have been more useful than she had first thought.
"I'll signal the others,"
They nodded to each other and departed. Andromeda bolted for one of the mechs, praying that he would lead her somewhere valuable to her mission. Her heels clicked behind him, and unfortunately this mech wasn't an idiot. The noise managed to attract is attention. He quickly turned around, stopping when he saw no one there. Andromeda froze in her place, fearing that she had been spotted.
The mech looked in her direction, but not directly at her. His visor searched left and right, but when he found nothing, he excelled forward. Andromeda found herself waiting for him to disappear from sight before beginning to walk again. Following him again would only raise more alarm.
She huffed in aggravation. What good was it having this ability if others could still sense her? Primus must have really wanted her to fail, she was sure that should have already happened if it hadn't been for her dumb luck. The seeker's wings raised along with her anger as she followed the mech's general direction. However, Andromeda took the time to conceal the noise of her pedesteps, causing her to walk a lot slower.
Minutes went by as she tried to find her way through the corridors. Most of the walls looked the same, making it confusing whether it was a new hallway or whether she was just walking in circles.
Gah! She couldn't take this. It seemed that being closer to the Decepticons didn't help her one bit. As long as Megatron was no where to be found, she considered herself failing. Primus had certainly not made this easy for her.
Her hand dragged across her face, a sign that she was not at all happy or pleased. She clenched her denta together, letting out a forced breathe. The seeker leaned against the wall, attempting to calm herself down. Andromeda knew that if she was going to go through the same endless search, she might as well take a break.
*Swish*
A door suddenly opened.
Andromeda looked up, optics wide in curiosity. All previous irritation had dissipated. A new plan formulated into her processor when she saw a mech exit the area. The femme quietly paced towards the large door, careful of any other wandering mechs. When she was close enough, the door swished open. Not wasting a minute, the seeker bolted inside. Her optics closed for a second, not daring herself to look up.
But when they opened, they opened wide. Cyan colored optics marveled at the large area. It certainly was vast, a lot of advanced technology displayed across the room. It seemed to be vacant, giving Andromeda the chance to awe for a few more moments.
*Swish*
At that moment she knew that her sightseeing was over.
The seeker's wings raised in alarm when she arched her helm to acknowledge the new presence. Andromeda turned to face the Cybertronian that had entered. She hoped it was just another meek clone.
Unfortunately, the femme remembered why she had stopped trusting in hope.
Andromeda stepped aside, and for second time that day, she found herself looking up to someone.
This mech was huge. If she thought Optimus Prime was tall, then she was solely mistaken. The one before her wore sharp silver armor. Parts of it stuck out, such as the pieces from his shoulders and chest. The silver mech had a strong, powerful upper body narrowing down to his waist. His arms were large, definitely promising enough to cause her to stare for longer than necessary. Andromeda's optics wandered to his scarred face and harsh dark optics. His optic-ridges were narrowed and his scowl suggested that he was not in a pleasant mood. In the middle of his chest, stood a peculiar symbol. It differed much from the Autobot one.
But there was something else she couldn't quite put her finger on.
The sliver mech's presence overpowered her. Her own programming gave her urges to both attack and obey him. His aura screamed of power, and his blood-red optics demanded respect. He was some sort of leader, a warrior for sure. No other mechs carried themselves with such self-confidence. Andromeda knew he wasn't a Prime, rather something more cruel, something twisted.
He was... he was...
"Megatron," her current astonishment had caused her to utter the words out loud. Her fists clenched tight. The femme's wings battled with lowering in submission and raising in defiance.
This mech... didn't intimidate her, did he? Only Primes caused such a reaction, but even then she managed to disguise it.
However, this mech wasn't like the Primes. The situation was different because she knew the Primes wouldn't harm her under any simple circumstance. She couldn't say the same about this mech.
There was no doubt in her mind on who he was. This was the notorious leader of the Decepticons. Every inch of him lived up to his designation.
Acknowledging that this mech was more powerful than her, was not the same as admitting it aloud, and Andromeda was far too stubborn to do that. The ex-guardian wouldn't admit it, especially if it dealt with a mortal.
Megatron stilled, his own fist clenching. Anxiety dawned on her when she realized that he had heard her speak. The large canon on his arm began lighting up. The large mech took a few steps forward. Despite every part of her processor telling her to do so, Andromeda would not back up.
Each step he took caused her spark to palpitate harder than usual, and she was sure her posture wasn't as confident as when she had walked in.
"It seems I am no longer alone." he said. His voice was roguish and just as powerful as the rest of him.
"Reveal yourself," Megatron scowled, "Face me, if you have the courage." His posture was high, arms ready to fire, stance ready to begin combat.
Andromeda realized that he was challenging her. She had never been challenged like this, not so bluntly. The femme was aware that Cybertronians did this in order to test the bravery of the other bot. It was primitive, that she knew, but it surge of it was so strong, it could almost be described as unavoidable.
Andromeda let the illusion of her image drop. Her wings stopped their twittering, and she dared herself to look straight at him. Megatron immediately saw her and his stance seemed to have shifted. His optics skimmed over her, head to pede. The femme didn't agree with his staring, so she copied his actions, eyeing him as he did.
The silver mech abruptly raised his large canon at her. Andromeda's optics widened at the unnerving weapon pointed at her.
"I don't appreciate intruders on my ship," he stated. Her fingers dug into her hands, causing the metal to strain and energon to drip. Her mouth was agape, mentally knowing that she had fragged up when had shown herself. If she couldn't take a step back, might as well go forward.
"You are the Decepticon leader Megatron..." she stated. He seemed somewhat intrigued, or at least that's what she thought.
His scowl morphed into a smirk.
Without any warning, Megatron fired at her. The blast hit her abdomen, the firepower causing her to fall back. Andromeda was no stranger to pain, but she had never experienced at this intensity. Primus, it hurt in unimaginable ways. Wires had been torn and her sensors had reacted wildly to this disruption in her systems. She uttered a few curses before groaning in discomfort. The femme could feel the energon beginning to pool underneath her. Megatron advanced slowly, as if he had all the time in the world. His tall figure shadowed over her, and his optics glowed red in the darkness of it.
"I am." he responded wryly. Andromeda watched him with a mix of ire and disbelief. Her hand went to clutch her wound as she looked up at him.
"Who sent you here?" he questioned. She took a shaky breath.
"No one," she lied. Megatron lightly shifted her with his pede. His optics searched something, then he grumbled in disapproval.
"I don't see an insignia on you." he casually noted. She would have glared at him if she weren't frightened.
"I'm a neutral..." Andromeda said. Again, he didn't appear to be impressed.
"You're a nail," he paused while his optics judged her. Andromeda recognized the name, it was something the Autobots would whisper, when they thought she wasn't listening. Perhaps Megatron wasn't too picky about "Nails" like they were...
"I've always despised them," The large mech kicked her causing her to roll on her side.
"If I recall, they didn't believe in any cause. They were fools, living their miserable lives purposelessly.
"What is it you do on my ship, Nail?" he asked. Andromeda struggled to speak with the throbbing pain in her body. She could feel the mech fluids continue to puddle underneath her.
He chuckled darkly, "Don't be so pathetic; I didn't harm you that fatally,"
"You're not the one bleeding to death on the floors." she mumbled to herself. He smirked before pressing his pede onto her abdomen. She growled out in pain.
"You haven't answered my question." he said. Her optics burned brighter.
"I was looking for you..." she gritted her denta.
"Then you've lied to me. Someone has dispatched you after all." Megatron stated. His pede began pressing harder.
"I never said that,"
"Ah, but you implied it," he watched the look that clouded her optics. She was obviously exasperated, and desperate at this point. "Why would a femme, unarmed nonetheless, have the audacity to come to my ship?"
"I never said I was unarmed," she bitterly choked out. Megatron stomped on her arm, right where her weapon was supposed to unsheathe, crushing the metal almost completely.
"I implied it," he rephrased.
She muttered something under her breathe.
"I didn't quite catch that, femme." his optics glared at her, but his wicked grin told another story.
"Your dauntless behavior will be the death of you,"
Andromeda growled out in their native tongue.
"I like you; You amuse me," he said, "I could have kept you as a pet,"
"Not even Primus has a leash on me—" her words were shaky, and only succeeded to make him grin.
"What a shame that I'll have to discard such a potential adversary."
"..." Andromeda couldn't bring herself to speak.
"But like everyone else, you're expendable."
A familiar bright light bought her in unconsciousness.
To Be Continued...