AN

Hey, I'm back! After... stuffs...and shiny things... And this has no reviews...and I sad... :(

Thanks to RevyCaitEll for beta reading...and unfortunately...she is also my sister who is harassing me to upload stories asap.

Title: Deception

Chapter 2: Rage

Verse: G1

Summary: A bond that should have been. Three mechs changed both in body and mind. A war that should never have happened. But then... why did it?

Warnings: Character Death, Gore(ish).

Chapter Word Count: 1,257

Total Word Count: 3,551


Orange.

Bright, disgusting orange.

The the pain hit him like a tidal wave.

He couldn't stop the choked cry that burst from his vocalizer, or the howl of his vents.

Orange and pain, so much pain.

Voices, something holding him down.

A flash of blue.

Bright blue.

His blue.

"Orion?"

XxXxX

Megatron was working at his personal terminal, looking through some of Earth's more hideous monuments so that he may choose one to destroy first when he took over the planet.

The entry request he was waiting for came through and he stood up, opening his door remotely.

His snarl ready only to fall in confusion.

"Soundwave?"

The blue mech gave a small bow. "Reporting on status of Starscream's patrol."

Megatron growled. "Status? I thought you said they were returning."

Soundwave paused. "Affirmative: Seekers enroute to Nemesis. Complication: signals lost. Contact: unobtainable."

Megatron felt a wave of anger wash over him. "What?!"

"Seekers; MIA."

He was already on the way to the command deck, Soundwave at his heels.

"Triple changers are ready for deployment. Laserbeak: enroute to last known location."

"At least some mechs aren't incompetent." Megatron hissed, pushing any low life who didn't get out of his way fast enough.

Whatever state he had been expecting the Command Centre to be in he wasn't prepared for the dull, quite, unworried atmosphere when he burst through the doors. Some mechs burst from their seats upon his arrival out of respect, some were so focused on whatever it was they were doing, which was quite clearly not work, that they didn't notice and so continued to sprawl out on their chairs and desks.

Yes, he got angry with Starscream on a regular basis but the burning rage that filled him then, it was like nothing he had ever felt.

SIlence descended on the room, the murmuring fading away as mechs realised who had just arrived. Those who had been dozing, messing, and Primus knows what else just stared at him, optics wide, as they slowly rose to their peds.

When he had the attention of the entire room he merely glared at every mech who dared look at him. He waited till all faceplates were downturned before speaking.

"What is going on?" He asked, quietly.

No one moved.

Megatron took another step into his command centre. "Can anyone, apart from Soundwave, even tell me why I have come all the way back here?"

Silence.

Another step that brought him closer to Dirge, the highest ranking mech in the room bar himself and Soundwave. The conehead flinched but did not raise his head.

"Can anyone tell me why my Command Centre is being used for recreation instead of work?"

Another Step.

"No?"

A wing flinched.

Megatron sighed through his vents…. and before anyone could react Dirge was suddenly airborne, faceplate smashed and optics fritzing.

The mech's body smashed against the wall with a loud crash. Metal screeching as he slid down the metal surface before slumping in a heap on the floor.

He was out cold.

Mechs stared at him for a while, shocked, before all optics gradually, fearfully travelled back to the seething Warlord.

Megatron stood, arm outstretched and fist still curled, optics blazing. "Someone better tell me exactly where my Second in Command is." Nobody moved. "Now!"

Then the Command Centre became a hub of activity. Mechs scurried about trying to find a monitor to work on.

He let his arm drop to his side, optics glaring around the room. "Soundwave."

"Hook: enroute."

He nodded once and waved Soundwave off with his hand. The telepath got straight to work, already knowing what was expected of him. Megatron stalked to his throne, throwing a glance either side to ensure his orders were being carried out.

With more grace than anyone would think he possessed he lowered himself into his throne. He gripped the armrests tightly. He couldn't believe it.

All this fragging time!

He growled, the mech's nearest him flinching away. Still nobody dared to look his way. Not even the electric buzz that indicated com chatter was present.

He had never felt so angry, not in a long time. Had never felt so… He wanted to kill something but the sheer rage that consumed him held him fast.

Not even Soundwave would look at him.

But then Soundwave had no right to, and the blue mech knew it.

He had thought that his army was disciplined. An efficient workforce. Too afraid of him to even dare think about slacking off.

What made this revelation worse? Starscream had told him otherwise.

Starscream had told him that his mechs were unruly, lazy and useless.

Unruly, yes. Lazy, it would appear so. Useless, most certainly if they hadn't even been aware of the situation of his missing Second in Command.

And it had been Starscream informing him of this?

His heated glare turned on Soundwave.

If Soundwave had delivered the same information he would have accepted it and dealt with it swiftly.

But Soundwave, his most trusted soldier, had said nothing.

The blue mech turned his body towards him, helm bent.

Megatron growled through his vents, mouth twitching. "Soundwave. Report."

The main screen in the Decepticon Command Centre lit up.

"Laserbeak: on scene. Visual connection: established."

A war zone.

That was Megatron's first though as he analysed the images on screen.

The earth was torn up and blackened. Trees splintered and smoldering.

And in the middle of it all; Autobots.

Megatron recognized more of the Autobots's science team then their warriors in attendance.. All examining whatever it was that had taken their interest. The majority of the warriors were gathered around something, blocking Laserbeak's view of whatever lay between them.

"Soundwave, get me audio. I want to hear whatever it is they are at."

The speakers buzzed to life. The wind howling in Laserbeak's audios before the bird former zoned in on a specific target.

The microscope was speaking to the black and white Praxin.

"I don't know what kind of weapon did this. This damage is extensive and completely new to us. It is not one of ours."

Prowl had his back to Laserbeak, but Megatron could see his doorwings flick in alarm.

The image zoomed out and refocused on the group of warriors huddled in a group.

"Primus, what... what the frag did that?" A minbot exclaimed as he chose that moment to push past the bigger mechs.

Jazz only tilted his helm, visor flashing. "No idea my man, and that is what is worryin'." The spy looked over at Prowl. "It weren't the Cons though, that's for sure."

Warpath snorted. "I don't know, Maybe Megs got pissed off enough to finally off him. I mean, Starscream is a pain in the aft on good days"

A murmur of agreement and some separated off to do whatever they were supposed to be doing.

Megatron felt his vents stall.

The Decepticons were used to violence and gore but what they saw on that screen made some mechs turn away in shock and disgust.

It was a seeker.

Or it had been.

Its frame was torn to pieces, internal systems strewn across the ground. A wing lay near the deactivated frame, the Decepticon mark scraped off.

Mechs turned to look at him but he could not take his optics off the screen.

His spark spun painfully in his chest, his vents stalling.

One name kept repeating in his processor.

Starscream?