Chapter 3: Phoenix Feathers: Breakdown

The war had continued to escalate and it appeared it wasn't going to end anytime soon. Praxus fell bringing with it unimaginable causalities on both sides, but it belonged to the Decepticons; at least what was left of it did. Attacks and counter attacks continued, and it seemed unless something was done they would all be dead or living on a dead planet. Dead End wasn't the only member of the small team that was being paranoid. He was just the only one who ever voiced his opinions and Breakdown at least was growing weary of it.

"Mechs we are about to do something that we haven't done in a while. Intel reports the Autobots have more wreckers joining their side sense Praxus and there are reports that they are attempting to counter our air superiority. I am not sure how they plan on doing that but we are not going to stand around and see." He hesitated looking around, certain that this was not going to go over well. Breakdown made optic contact long enough to guess what was coming and could feel anger rising in his spark. Motormaster could sense his team's unease and anger but continued. "I imagine you all have guessed Megatron wants us to go and crush this. Specifically he wants Menasor to do it."

The collective groan was felt before it was heard. They would crush anything that got in their way but it was always a drain on them as a whole and as individuals as it was a literal combination of processors and sparks. That was the reason they did it only under extreme cases, it took megacycles to recover. It had been 3 vorns since their last merge.

"We will do it without complaining. That is an order!" Motormaster told them under no uncertain terms before they had the chance to complain.

'Sure' Breakdown thought, 'Megatron has never been part of a combiner team or shared his spark and processor in that kind of way. If he knew he wouldn't be so anxious.' He could feel the anger rise up in him toward Motormaster, Megatron, and the war in general.

"Use your anger" Motormaster continued."Remember the Autobots made this a necessity. Supposedly they have recruited more wreckers and are attempting an airstrike and counter our known air superiority. That is what we are up against."

'Autobots, nothing' Breakdown thought although he was ready to take his frustrations and combine them with the others and end this nonsense. If they were to do it they might as well go ahead. "When do we roll?" He finally asked resigning himself to the consequences of combining. Surely by now his spark was scarred enough that he would be numb. One more would make no difference. Maybe the bots would experiment with combining; maybe they would bond just to surer this too. Naturally he would never admit that out loud. 'Shake it off and take it like a Decepticon' he reminded himself.

"We leave in 3 breems. It gives us enough time to combine quickly before we go as to not let the merge throw us off guard, as it has been a while. "

"There is one halfway good idea he has had today." Dead End vented. Voicing the others thoughts yet again.

They transformed into their vehicle modes and then into Menasor. The mental rush was far more intense than he remembered as the sense of his individuality was lost and his processor and consciousness merged into one single, albeit schizophrenic consciousness. His own spark slowed almost stopped before speeding up to catch the others and finally pulsing as one. He stepped and the clang of his metal pede on the ground rang out. Many of the new recruits had never seen a combiner team as one and were intimidated. "I'm glad he is on our side a small vehicon commented."

They remained that way for a couple of clicks and got reoriented before the command "Enough, separate" was ordered. The separation was more painful than Breakdown remembered and he recalled why he hated it. Like any bond he now had no secrets as they saw each other with crystal clarity. His only relief in that was that he too knew theirs and there would be plenty of blackmail should any of them were stupid enough to turn on the others. He laughed to himself. He would never have a bond mate, even if there was no war and no Decepticons. They refueled individual and all too soon it was time to do it again.

"Let's bust some Autobot tailpipe!"

"They won't know what hit them", Wildrider announced suddenly ready. "Judging from our own team's reaction this will be great!"

They rolled into the battle and transformed. Breakdown was nearly blinded by the smoke and raining debris. Mech's burnt frames from both sides littered the ground and energon pooled around them running in rivers. He focused again and in that astrosecond he was glad they had a practice run.

The first several klicks they clearly had the advantage and all was going well due to the element of surprise. It seemed the battle was going in their favor until a small Autobot wrecker raced in creating blinding exhaust. There was blaster fire from all directions, including from above. Menasor wasn't sure if it was Autobot or friendly fire as the ground seemed to spin and razor sharp pain hit his spark. Breakdown the slowly felt a disconnect as the others sparks ripped away and he became a single bot again. There was brightness around him. "The Allspark?" he whispered before blackness took him.

He awoke some time later in excruciating pain as his spark felt as it were in a thousand pieces and each competing to beat. He was gasping as his vents were running too fast desperately trying to cool his frame, and he couldn't feel his lower legs. "This isn't how the Well is supposed to be" he muttered, before his audio sensors came online and he could make out voices.

"Code red in coming! Wreckers, doctor, several of them."

"Knockout, get over here. You take the Reds this time."

''Wreckers", Knockout muttered, ''this isn't good!''

"Doc? Knockout?" Breakdown tried to ask as energon pooled in his throat.

"Quiet!" The red mech ordered, "Don't try to speak" To the others he ordered."Put him here and initiate stasis!" "Don't you go anywhere on me Breakdown!" Knockout whispered to his patient as his optics off lined.

Breakdown awoke later and checked his internal chronometer. Thank Primus that was still online. It must mean his primary systems were running normally too. Two days passed and although still physically numb due to battle protocols and large amounts of pain killers in his system he immediately realized he could not feel the others. His spark skipped beats and his frame convulsed. He heard someone coming and forced his optics online. Knockout was standing over him with his arms crossed and red optics piercing his. He looked away and hoped Knockout couldn't see his emotions, his spark's turmoil there.

"Thanks for the near spark attack you almost caused me yesterday, fragger See to it that doesn't happen again!"

"I thought all you did was body work" Breakdown managed to whisper in reply. "I guess that makes two I owe you for."

"You're welcome." Knockout answered. "What happened exactly? I was unaware the Autobots had that kind of fire power."

"I don't remember" Breakdown answered rubbing his helm. His process was beginning to ache again.

"That is okay. Rest and recover your memories. There is much I need to know." He administered a sedative.

"Mmhmm" Breakdown answered as he fell into unconsciousness again.

A/N This chapter is shorter than the next one will be. I didn't want to write the same conversation twice and Knockout's recollection of the events following the attack is more vivid I will put the whole thing in that chapter. These two chapters also tie in with "Unbreakable Bonds" Menasor and the others may be a little OOC as I was mainly using the established names and some quirk because I didn't want to come up with completely new OC's and names. I still don't own the transformers.