Annabelle awoke to the sound of engines, and the deafening shriek of a whistle. She jolted up at the sudden noise, alarmed.
Looking about a second, the teen found she was inside Megatron's cab, and peered out the dusty dirt-caked windshield to see up ahead about a mile out, was a train cargo station. There was a rickety wooden platform, where workers were seen loading and unloading various crates and barrels to and from the rusty cargo trains. Some locomotives were parked on spare tracks not in use, whilst trains continued to pull in and out of the station. A heavy guard fence with vicious barbed wire cresting along top it ringed the complex, with most storage laying either out past the secondary fencing, or moved by jeeps into the platform and into the hanger bay tan and rusting behind. No one seemed to notice them out beyond, which to any passerby would seem suspicious of such a vehicle sitting out past the complex without much aware.
"…What are we doing here, might I ask?" Annabelle mumbled.
"Collecting restock of supplies, girl." Megatron growled lowly through his speakers. "We are growing limited at our encampment, and I have not been able to collect such supplies on my own. They end up destroying the only things I require, in hopes I don't return. But still, even then they still ring in the occasional necessities. Yet, even in vehicle mode, I draw too much attention."
The teen scowled to the dash. "I don't like where this is going, dude."
"You don't have to." The truck replied, with his engine rumbling and shaking the cab only slightly. "They will shut down the station near sundown, and one last transport will arrive at a nighttime route. That very transport has all I-er, we, require."
Annabelle rubbed her eyes. "Just cut to the chase, please. What do you want me to do?"
Megatron growled, agitated at her attitude. "YOU, girl, shall sneak into the facility past the security rings, and retrieve the supplies we both require before the transport leave the station."
She frowned back to the dashboard. "And how exactly am I gonna do that? They have guards, GUNS. I'll be screwed over the minute they see me. How am I gonna make it past BOTH fences AND make it to the train before it leaves?"
"Trust me, girl." Megatron rumbled. "I have coordinated a simple route once the night drop off arrives. See the east gate?"
The teen scooted across the long seat, and looked out as the driver's window rolled down for her to see. She spotted the high outpost gate, and nodded.
"In the daylight hours, that gate remains heavily guarded. But once night falls, they transfer their guards toward the west gate. They may have one or two to stay at the east, but their paths of watch are far easy to penetrate with a proper timing." He paused, now using his side mirror to gesture to the inner fence and loading dock. "The secondary gate has a gap that will be difficult to pass, but once you locate a weak point, take it before a guard swings past. The transport will come to a stop just around the back of the platform. Once no one is in sight of you, break in under the car I report you of, since I shall be locating which car shall have the supplies we desire. A few of the supplies will be difficult for you on your own to move, so move them first and take them to the far gate in the back for me to retrieve. The rest you will be able to take on your persons. Once you have everything, head to the far north corner fence, and I will pick you up there before the guards swing by."
Annabelle just stared once he finished, and then blinked. "…You're fucking crazy, you know that, right?" she flopped back into the seat. "I can't do this, Megs, I really can't. You make it sound simple enough, but it's not that easy for me. I've never done something crazy like this before! What makes you think it will even work?"
The truck snarled. "It WILL work, girl." He rumbled his engine. "I will be watching your every move and keep you alert of guards throughout the mission. As long as you keep to my order, you will not be caught. I assure you."
"Your word of 'assurance' has a different definition then mine." She frowned. "I'll get caught, and you know it."
"Not as long as you do what I said, and you will get out without difficulty. I COULD make it more challenging for you, if that is what you wish." He growled.
Annabelle shook her head quickly. "Nono, your plan is fine as it is, Megs. I just don't know if I CAN do it, even if I do everything you told me."
The Decepticon was silent, save for his idling engine and rattling armor. "…Have faith in me, girl." He replied solemnly.
The teen stared, bewildered. Was he really reassuring her like a normal person should? She had to give a mental double take for a moment, and thought about it. Still, if she somehow got caught, the whole place would be in ruins by Megatron for him to get her out of there. But she rather would go ahead and hope that wouldn't happen. Hell, it might even be a little fun.
Annabelle sat quietly, looking down in thought, before nodding almost defeated and in tone as well. "Fine, fine, I'll do it. But if I get caught the minute I set foot in there, you're gonna get scrapped along with me, got it?'
Megatron gave a dark chuckle and snarl. "They will have to try harder than that, girl, if any of them intend to make me into scrap. But yes, I will keep you to that, girl."
He revved his engine in a brief roar, and turned back around to wait behind the hill for nightfall.
-X-
For such a large, rattling truck, Megatron was incredibly quiet when rolling toward the station outpost. He slid to a near silent halt near a mile out, facing the left of the east gate.
Annabelle lifted her gaze to see his glove compartment open. She reached inside cautiously, and pulled out a small ring like device around the size round as a pencil.
"That will be your communications device." The truck rumbled. "Place it inside your audio receptor."
The teen frowned at the 'audio receptor' mention, then pieced together it must mean 'ear'. She put it toward her left ear, and then yelped when two small needle-like claws sprung out of the device, and stabbed into her head just behind her ear. She hissed in pain whilst rubbing at it, as it felt like a harsh bee sting. "God, that hurts like a mother!"
"The pain doesn't last long, girl. Quit your whining." Megatron sneered, annoyed. "I will lead you throughout the mission. Do exactly what I command, and you will get through without incident."
Annabelle, after rubbing the claw piece more, drops her hand with a groan. "Then why do I still have the feeling this still isn't going to work?"
"It WILL work, girl. When have any of my plans failed?"
"How about that plan you had to take over earth? THAT seemed to go well for you, didn't it?"
He growled through the cab. "Our need of supplies is extremely imminent. You will do this for us both, but find it benefit for yourself if you must. Unless you want to die slowly out in our wasteland of an outpost, you will gather our supplies here."
Annabelle frowned, hesitant on the thought. Trapped in her choice, she groans. "Ok, I'm going, alright? I'm going right now." She opens up the driver's door, and hops out onto the ground, allowing the door to shut itself.
The engine growled, before Annabelle winced in surprise hearing Megatron's voice in her head thanks to the communication bug. "With the device I will be able to see and hear what you do, and I will direct you on. I will be on the north end of the outpost. You will drop the contents there." His engine rumbled as she walked on with a nod. "Keep alert, girl." The large villainous truck rolled away once she approached the far side of the east gate.
Jogging low to the ground in a crouch, she stopped against the fence, eyeing the guard post intensely at the gate. A few were laughing at some joke she couldn't hear, and pacing about. She rolled her eyes, annoyed.
"A vehicle is coming your way, stay low." Megatron echoed in her head roughly.
Annabelle blinked, and turned her gaze to see an armored commando jeep rolling up with yellow headlights, stopping alongside the gate checkpoint. The guards went up to the driver's window, whilst the other remained in his cubicle post to man the gate controls.
"Maybe I can sneak through the gate when the monitor opens it for the jeep." She whispered.
Megatron growled, rattling her head painfully. "You will NOT. It is a fool's move. They will fire upon you before you even reach the gate. Look along the border fence near you. Is there any other opening?"
The teen peered around through the dark, sections of the fence lit by dim yellow spotlights. She frowned, and perked up slightly seeing a folded brace of fence flexed out on near edge of breaking. "You see this? That work?"
"Hmm." He rumbled. "If you have the strength and stealth, it is worth the risk. But make it quick, before a guard passes on the other side."
She nodded, and moved swift and silently to the twisted break. She examined a quick moment, before gripping the chain link fence with both hands where it was flexed the worst, and tore back with a grunt. It shook the fence, and ripped back harder and viciously. She yelped when it finally broken a hole from the middle to the ground. She had stumbled back from the sudden snap, but lucky she saw no one come over or hear her. She squeezed through the narrow gap, scratching her vest and arms, but pulled through.
"Ok, now what?"
"You are in the outer ring now. An extensive amount of guards will be in this section more than the others you will go past. Keep on high alert here. There is another break in the next border fence ahead of you. Guards use this to go to and from each section of the border rings. Find it, and go through before a guard comes by."
Annabelle rolled her eyes, and mumbled low. "I'm starting to think it's gonna be crazy going through here. I'm right, aren't I?"
Megatron growled harshly. "GO."
"Alright alright, chill, I'm going." Quickly, she snuck and ducked near a half broken crate used of its supplies, and tossed over into this ring along with all other empty crates and barrels. She kept quiet as a flashlight of a passing guard moved back, and could hear him shifting his rifle on his back as he walked by. She breathed slowly, finding she had been holding her breath.
"Ok, I'm freaking out now." She whimpered quietly, nervous suddenly.
"You're alive, aren't you?" The Decepticon snarled back, agitated. "Swallow your pride, girl. Look around quickly now. You need to find the entrance gap."
Annabelle peeked over her cover, and saw another two guards coming her way from her right, and decided to swing left on her hands and knees. She slid behind another crate and barrel, both rusting from years of ware and weather.
"I don't see ANYTHING, Megatron." He grumbled, "You sure there's a doorway gap I can pass through here? Maybe you miscalculated."
"I did NOT miscalculate, FOOL." She yelped as her head was forcibly turned behind her without her control. "It is to the north end, you will find it pas-"
"Why didn't you tell me you could control my movements with this stupid bug thing too?" Annabelle hissed, scratching at it now behind her ear. "This isn't cool, man. Get this off now!"
Megatron sneered to himself. It wasn't by the bug in which he controlled her movement. Yet he refused to give the real reason away. "Get moving. A guard is coming up from behind you."
The girl flinched, and quietly slipped off toward the north along the fence. She barely passed a few guards without incident. Managing to move against the fence was her best bet, as crates and barrels gave her cover.
She slid to a stop when she found the small chain link door. No guards seemed to be around. She grabbed the lock, and groaned. "It's locked. Great."
Megatron growled, and took control of her body once more. She yelped quietly as she gripped a hand to the lock, whilst her bug device separating in half, and a small tinier bug skittered down her arm. She whimpered briefly, as the metal bug when to the lock and crawled inside the keyhole. After a few sounds of clicking and snaps, the lock fell apart on the ground in various pieces. The bug hopped out of the remains, and climbed back up her leg and reconnected to her ear device again.
"Um, thanks." Annabelle murmured, opening the gate quickly and shutting quickly behind her before shuffling off silently.
She peered behind a covered jeep as cover, and froze. The tracks ran along her left about eight yards out, with the loading dock further up ahead of her. Armed troops and guards surrounded the place, leaving no opening for her to sneak closer. She grabbed behind her ear. "Megs..? Now what? I'm a trapped rat in here."
He growled, not wanting to have to resort to this.
Annabelle yelped again as she was moved again, this time sprinting across and diving under another jeep and crate, and shuffled on her stomach. "Hey hey, stop! STOP. Quit doing that! It's freaking me out, please stop! I'd like to control my own body now, if that's too much to ask. Stop it, Megatron!"
The Decepticon ignored her, moving her along to the edge of the jeep cab, and as a lone guard passed by, she gripped him by the ankle, and slid him behind the cover and kicked his head to silence him.
"Are. You. Crazy?" Annabelle hissed, shocked at what he made her do to the guard knocked out at her feet. "This wasn't the plan!"
"This is the last resort." He sneered. "Strip his clothing and weapon, and put them on."
The teen chose not to argue, and reluctantly took the guards jacket and black pants, and slipped the rifle on her shoulder. She finished it off by taking the cap, and tipped it slightly to cover her face.
"Now what?"
"The transport with our supplies is behind the platform dock. You will be able to reach it now. Blend in to get there without incident."
She nodded, and taking a guard's stance with shoulder broad and tall posture, she strode out into the open. She was shaking in her boots as she walked past various troops, fearing she will be caught. Gritting her teeth nervously, she hurried the last few feet across the tracks and against the side of the platform.
"Hey, you!" a shout came in her direction. She locked up and cursed under her breath.
She deepened her voice, turning to face the voice. "Er, yes, sir?"
A man in the same uniform as her's came up to her, scowling. "You think you could sneak through THAT easy?"
She kept locked up at the knees. Megatron said nothing to her.
The man leaned closer, armed crossed. "…The next time you wanna play hooky on the job, try and change out the uniform." He grabbed her by the arm, and yanked her to the top of the platform. "Help load the jeeps, will you? I'll take the train." With that, he marched off to the back.
She mumbled under her breath, moving around crates to look busy. "Um, this is great. I'm surrounded. Any bright ideas?"
Megatron growled. "This isn't the worse that could happen, girl. Go along with it, and once you have the chance, head to the back before the transport leaves."
Annabelle groaned, but grabbed a box and moved it to the back of a jeep parked with its rear to the platform for loading. Setting it down, she kept taking more boxes and small crates to place in the jeep flat bed.
"Tell the truth, damn it!" a man demanded. He was leaning against the hood of the jeep, laughing. "There's no way!"
"I'm speaking the truth, I saw what they were doing with my own eyes!" another younger man said.
Annabelle listened in, curious yet cautious.
"Those Americans. They are bargaining a secret cargo of Energon? For what?"
"Hell if I know." The youngest said. "All I heard and saw were them loading barrels into their hanger and dumping them into their vehicles and military transports. And I heard from my friend the other night…that one of the jets came to life that same night they dumped a few barrels into its intake."
Annabelle tapped at her ear. "Megs…you hearing this?"
"Clearly." Was all he said.
"…What do you think's going on?"
The mech said nothing for a moment. "…Get to the transport now."
"But what about-?"
"NOW, girl." He growled viciously back.
The conversation lingering in her mind, Annabelle snuck to the back of the loading dock, and hopping off the rear platform.
She spotted a rusting red and black cargo train ahead of her, sitting alone with a few cargo cars open.
"THAT is our target, girl." Megatron replied evenly. "Remember what I called for."
The teen nodded, and slunk over to the parked train, and jumped into the open car. There were crates of medical supplies, food, and barrels the Decepticon also demanded for. She grabbed the barrels, rolling them out the other side door, and pushed them out into the abandoned north fence.
She peered about past the chain link, but didn't see Megatron. Was he there?
"Keep moving, girl." He growled inside her head. "The transport will be leaving soon."
"What the hell is in these barrels anyway?" she asked, knocking on one curiously. "It was heavy as hell." She flinched with a gasp, hearing someone pass by.
Megatron snarled. "Get down!"
She dropped to her stomach, and crawled along until reaching the car again. Two men had passed by, and saw the barrels beside the fence. She went and grabbed the crates, and as she went to bring them out, she blinked at the men shouting once, before silenced suddenly. They had vanished without a trace, which made her stomach dropped.
"…Megatron? What did you-?"
"Keep moving, you fool!" he sneered.
"Did you kill them?" she widened her eyes in shock.
"I said hurry! Do you WANT to get terminated, you stupid girl?" he growled.
"What is with you? You weren't like this when we started out."
The 'Con snarled. "There is not anything wrong. But there WILL be if you don't move now!"
"Megatron, stop this. Something's wrong with you, now what is it?"
"I said GO NOW! We are no longer discussing this!"
"It's about that Energon thing we overheard, isn't it? You're bothered by it? No, SCARED by it, aren't you?" She glared at nothing as she brought the crates over to the fence, and shouting into air.
"Girl, you are going to get caught!" Megatron snarled, frustrated and weary. "Get to the gate and quiet down!"
She dumped down the crate. "I'm not gonna drop this, Megatron. Now just admit that you're-"
A shot rang out, and she cried out as pain struck up her shoulder as she fell to the ground.
Megatron roared out, grasping his shoulder as he dropped to a knee beyond the fence. She was hurt.
Annabelle groaned, getting up to her feet in a daze and panic. Lifting her hand from her shoulder, she inspected to see one a few drops of blood. To her luck, the bullet has struck her armored vest underneath, leaving just a nicked wound. She was breathing heavy, and gasped when she spotted a trooper cocking his pistol again as he stalked toward her a couple yards out.
She shouted out past the fence into the dark. "Megatron hurry, please! Get me out of here, please!" She staggered back, a bullet fired just past her head and striking the fence post behind her with a clang.
"Don't you move, kid!" he man shouted out in anger, aiming for her head. "I'm gonna blast you away like you just did to my officer!"
"What?" she blinked out. "What do mean? I didn't kill anybody!" Another shot went past her. "No please, don't!"
He aimed again. This time, he wouldn't miss.
The ground shook violently, and a large pair of metal pedes slammed down between the two. The man screamed, but was silenced with a strike of a claw that sent him flying into the side of the train car, limp.
"Megatron!" Annabelle yelped as she was scooped up in one claw, and shut her eyes as Megatron roared out at approaching armed troops.
As men fired up at him, Megatron grabbed the supplies and transformed with both them and human in hand. Once fully in vehicle mode, he drove off, crashing through the fence with ease. Bullets pinged off his sides and tires, not even scratching him.
Annabelle lay in the cab, stunned and looking about. "Oh shit, oh shit..!" she kept repeating, catching her breath. She looked through the side mirror at jeeps chasing them down, continuing to fire in hopes to pop the alien truck's tires.
"Keep going." Annabelle said to the dash, and unsung the rifle from her back and climbed through his back cab window to hop into his cargo bed.
He growled through the cab as he drove. "What do you think you're doing, you stupid bug?" he snarled back to her.
"Giving you some cover!" She called back, keeping balanced as the truck drove violently across the rocky ground. The jeeps were nearing, and Megatron was swerving and kicking up rock and dirt in hopes to slow down the tailing humans. All Annabelle was doing was trying to keep from falling about inside Megatron's cargo cab.
She got down to a knee at the back, and knocked on the truck doors. Reluctantly, one door opened, and the girl ducked behind the other to avoid a flurry of bullets.
"Just keep driving, alright?" she shouted up to the cab.
The wheel turned sharply to and fro. "No problem, girl." The truck growled sarcastically.
Annabelle took a breath, and swung back to the opening, and fired at the jeeps. Most drivers swerved suddenly at the sudden fire, but remained on course, firing even more above their shouts and commands.
Aiming for the tires, Annabelle fired continuously, occasionally ducking back to reload or avoid a rain of bullets. She swung back, and fired again with a long cry.
The closest jeep burst at its front left tire, then its right, and went spinning once before skidding to a stop in a cloud of tossed dirt.
"Yeah, got one!" she exclaimed with a laugh.
"Celebrate later, girl!" Megatron shouted back. "We have others closing in. Keep firing!"
Annabelle kept raining down as much fire as she could, not used to using such a big gun before. It was much larger than the model she used when she encountered Megatron the first night of their meet. But still, keeping it propped on one knee kept it up.
One jeep gave heavy fire, while the other drove to the right and accelerated, trying to come alongside them.
"Megatron, we got a Pit boy!"
The mech snarled. "Hang on, insect." Violently, he swung hard to his left, throwing the teen back into a crate to hold onto, and struck the jeep against his grill ram. He pushed the screaming jeep through kicked up grass and rock, grinding the vehicle into shreds against his undamaged armor and the ground at such speed. After being pushed viciously near half a mile, Megatron swung away sharply to the right again, tipping the jeep at the sudden-turned velocity, flipping the jeep at the corner and sending it tumbling furiously.
Annabelle gathered herself inside the truck, and grasped the open door to balance out. "Whoa…sick." She mumbled in a daze.
"Girl!" he roared, and she snapped back to reality when the remaining jeep fired upon them, nearly hitting the teen in the head.
"Hey, cheap shot!" Annabelle shouted out at the jeep, and shot back at the driver. "Megatron, start swerving! They can't shoot if we keep moving off a straight target!"
The Decepticon took the suggestion, and began driving about back and forth, occasionally going straight for a moment, before swinging more. It was such a wild pattern of movement that even Annabelle couldn't predict which way to hang to when he would turn.
As the teen tried to resume shooting, her gun clicked a few times. "Fuck, I'm out!" she hissed, throwing the empty gun aside. She held tight as the truck bounced harshly for a short minute, and was splashed with water. They were going through a thinning river, using the uneven and slick river bed as attempt to slow the troops down.
But the jeep kept on their tail, their vehicle adaptable to the rough terrain.
"Great, forgot jeeps got the damn four-wheel drive." Annabelle mumbled.
Megatron growled. His vehicle mode rocked and shook violently on the harsh rock, mud, and water. This alternate form was not adept for such terrains, and was beginning to slow. The jeep was beginning to close in on them, and aimed its hood just against his bumper.
"Oh fucking shit!" Annabelle shrieked, as one trooper leap atop the hood and leaped into the truck with her. She ducked as he grabbed for her, and kicked his knee swiftly. He cried out in anger, and punched her in the gut to buckle her over.
Megatron snarled, feeling her pain in his systems, and swung sharp to where the two humans feared he would tip himself over. Yet the Decepticon stayed upright, but the sharp turn flung the unbalanced trooper into the side of his cargo cab, and a steel crate slammed him to pin his lower body against it, trapping him.
Annabelle took the opportunity, and punched the trooper once in the jaw, and then kicked him in the nose with her heavy boot. He went limp, unconscious, and Annabelle shoved him loose and threw him out, watching him tumble into the water.
The jeep returned, but this time the teen was ready. When another trooper attempted to leap inside, she grabbed the open door, and slammed it into him in mid jump, and smirked as he flung into the river with a yelp.
The jeep fell back, giving space between them and the escapees. They fired upon them again, aiming for the tires. One kept a handgun, aiming for Annabelle.
The teen flung herself back to dodge the fire, and kept low knowing she would both keep out of range, and not be thrown about during Megatron's maneuvering turns.
"I don't have any more ammo back here, Megs!" She called up to the cab, hands over her head as she kept on her stomach. "We can't shake them back here! We gotta change this game!" She yelped as another round of bullets flew over her.
The Decepticon growled. He had one idea, but it wouldn't be pleasant for either of them. If she would survive was the other question.
No, he knew she would live. He couldn't allow it.
"Girl, you know you have trust issues with one such as I, correct?" he replied as he turned sharp again, ripping up and wave of water.
Annabelle blinked up to the cab. "…Yea?" she mumbled back nervously. She already didn't like where this was leading up to.
"Then you better swallow your trust now, girl. You may despise me further after what I'm preparing to do."
"Megs, believe me, ANYTHING you plan that's gonna be crazy I'm gonna hate you more for!" she barked back. After another round of fire, Annabelle rolled her eyes. "Fine, just do what you need to do! Just hurry before I get turned into Swiss cheese back here!"
The engine rumbled louder for a second. Primus, he was getting too rusted for this.
Roaring out his speakers, Megatron turned on a dime, throwing river rock and water high into the air in a swinging whip. As he came to a stop so he faced the oncoming jeep, he sped forward with pedal to the metal, head on toward the attackers.
Annabelle's eyes widened, grabbing onto one of the chains hanging from above his cargo cab. "Megs…? Megatron!" She shrieked, fearing they would crash head on into the smaller vehicle continuing to fire upon them. She shut her eyes as Megatron's windshield shattered in various points, flinging glass inside his cab and at her in the back.
The Decepticon's engine growled deafening.
With nearly a half mile between them, Megatron engaged.
The villainous truck transformed at almost high speed, running at the jeep with a roar. He swept a claw down upon the jeep as the men screamed and shouted in panic. He grabbed the side of the small vehicle in his massive hand, and as he pivoted furiously to a stop, he whirled around and flung the jeep and the men like a discus high into the sky. The vehicle went flying as its passengers cried out, before it disappeared nearly a mile out behind the alien, watching it crashing into a tangled torn mess near where the last jeep wrecked. No men crawled out alive.
The Decepticon roared once more, before folding back into his vehicle mode, and drove up out of the river and straightened out in the direction of their outpost.
"…You alright back there, girl?"
Annabelle sat in his cab, eyes wide, and she was locked up in breathless shock. She just stared ahead, breathing heavily. She didn't even know what happened to her when Megatron transformed with her still inside him. All she saw was armor enveloped around her, and going with his movements. She had no idea where inside Megatron's body she was stored into when he resumed mech form, but it stunned her into speechlessness. She never expected him to do THAT.
The teen's voice was a whisper, barely audible. "…Fine…" With a roll back of her eyes, Annabelle flopped over on her side, understandably having fainted.
Megatron just kept driving on, until vanishing into the wasteland savanna once more.
-X-
Megatron opened a barrel among the supplies retrieved, which discovered to be, obviously, filled with Energon. He rumbled in great content as he knocked it back like a liquor shot, drinking it all ravenously, some dripping down his chin and trailing to his chest as if he had been dying of thirst.
The growling slurps and guzzling of the Decepticon awoke the passed out Annabelle beside him. She moaned as she sat up, holding her head. She peered up at him, cocking a brow at his furious gulping.
He drank like an animal, but who was to blame him? He hadn't had any Energon to replenish himself for months. He was terribly parched, and needed to refill his dry, hungry tank. It was like a human would be if they hadn't had anything to eat after a few weeks. She could handle this unruly guzzling for now.
Megatron growled and slurped violently once he finished, and rumbled as he crushed the empty barrel in his claw before tossing it aside with the pile of other crushed barrels. He grabbed another, and resumed his ravenous gulping.
Annabelle looked about, finding they were under the new stone shade Megs had built. In sitting position, Megatron still had plenty of head room and width space. She had far enough room herself to move about under this shelter, and could be much more comfortable with personal space with the Decepticon if need be in here. She still had to hand it to the tyrant: he made a quite reasonable home.
The Decepticon threw aside another emptied barrel, and growled low in satisfaction with dimmed optics. He placed a claw over his tank, as an equivalent of a human holding a full stomach.
"Ahh…" Megatron rumbled quietly. "I can hardly recall the last time I had a full tank." He had remnants of blue and silver Energon around his mouth, staining and dripping from his sharp teeth. He rubbed his wrist over his maw, smearing most of the substance on his arm. He blinked at it, and shrugged with a huff as he licked the Energon from his armor.
Annabelle looked back up at him as she hugged her knees in a relaxed pose. "Well you seem pretty happy now." She remarked with a smug smirk. "Guess the big bad Con just had an empty stomach."
"'Tank', girl." Megatron growled low in correction, licking his fingers of Energon traces. "We Cybertronians do not possess such primitive organic systems. To think you would consider myself have such a weakling's system such as a human." He shook his head with a hiss.
"Hey, it's a decent comparison." Annabelle argued. "Stomachs and tanks are similar. Just one for humans and one for robots, that's all."
"But it is clearly insulting." The mech sneered, wiping his chest clean of Energon. "I find it uncalled for to compare my superior form to one tiny flesh form. My systems far surpass your own, girl. Now if YOU had an empty 'stomach', you would die in less than a few measly Earth days. I, however, with an empty 'tank', can continue to function for another Earth year." He glanced down to her with brightened crimson optics. "How your kind has survived on this planet as superiors among organics is nothing but baffling."
The teen rolled her eyes, and waved a dismissively. "Ok, ok, you're the great Cybertronian among an unmatched organic. I am unworthy." She praised in mock fashion, which seemed to go over the Decepticon's head.
Megatron grumbled low, and slid steadily onto his back, hand over his tank contently. His torso armor was slightly flexed out around the area, like a human's distended belly. He partially shuttered his optics, rumbling in pleasure of a satisfied tank recharging his drained systems.
Annabelle had to smile a little. She had to admit, Megatron looked quite happy with a refilled system. A lot more content then she ever saw him. Except…
Except when he spoke with her. Just talked to her.
Annabelle shook off the idea. Why would he act that way with her, anyway? She was just a human, a slave, and pet to mess with. He would never do much else then keep her around to harass and torment.
She stood up, and walked out the entrance far enough to look out. A barrel had been left spare for the sparklings and Igor which had half already finished and had tipped it over to clean out the rest.
At the sight of the aliens replenishing themselves, Annabelle strode over to the crates set against the wall of the rock cover. She rummaged through, but frowned not finding the crates of food for herself. She blinked, she was positive she retrieved the food crates on her raid of the loading outpost. Her stomach growled in persistent agitation. The teen hadn't eaten in a couple days, and she was beginning to run on nothing but metaphorical steam.
There was a sharp snarl, nearly spearing out her eardrum, and swung to face it. She really wasn't in the mood for Megatron's sadistic quirks.
The Decepticon tapped a claw atop a few crates in the back corner of the shelter he lay beneath. He didn't move or open his optics as he spoke. "Replenish your tank, girl." He mumbled with a growl.
Annabelle wiped her eyes of dust, but walked back inside and sat before one of the food crates on the side of her knees. She reached at the welding nails, and groaned being unable to open it. "Um…could you give me a hand for a sec?" The mech didn't move, as if he was fallen into deep sleep. She tapped on his cheek plate. "Please…?"
Megatron was quiet, but then grumbled something, but reached one claw and popped off the welded lid with ease.
The teen smirked. "Thanks." She rummaged through the contents in hopes of anything appetizing. Knowing she had to eat the produce while it was still fresh, she kept her attention around them instead of the packaged goods. She stopped, finding a peach in rather good shape, and sat down comfortable before taking a bite. Annabelle shut her eyes contently as the sweetness burst in her mouth. She had almost forgotten what it was like to taste such glorious foods, or have actual food at all. Taking another bite, she smirked slightly as some of the peach juice dribbled down her chin.
The tyrant beside her opened his one optic closest to her, watching with minor interest. A human eating was a disgusting display, he thought inwardly. Yet he would suffice the disturbance, knowing he would be stuck with this human for some time. He huffed out a sigh, as he thought about her stay among him. He would have given her up that night when that soldier attack him, that same night…that he unintentionally offlined her. Yet, he just couldn't. It wasn't the need for a medic, or of measly entertainment or abuse of amusement. He just…didn't want her to leave him. It sounded pathetic repeating that idea in his head, but it was true, it made sense. She was a pet, not an equal…but, she now became his equal as she now held a part of him unknowingly within her. Sooner or later, she would discover his secret of his spark split, and he already knew she would hate him with a further passion.
He blinked his lava optics in thought, staring into nothing. She wasn't ready for the truth…and he wasn't ready to explain.
Annabelle threw away the pit of the devoured peach, and wiped her chin as she glanced at the Decepticon giant beside her. She paused, and cocked her head slightly noticing his expression. He seemed to be in deep thought, but she could see even past the metallic features, that it was something that was bothering him. Understandably, Annabelle was concerned with the rarity of his expression.
"You alright?" she asked quietly, a touch of worry in tone.
Megatron flickered his optics, snapping out of his thoughts. He sneered fangs, and turned his head back to glare above. "Fine, insect." He grumbled.
That didn't drop her concern for the tyrant. "Something's bothering you, Megs. Don't lie about it…" He just growled lowly, rattling his chest. She slid just a few inches closer to the mech's head, and he refused to look at her. "…Is it about that thing we overheard at the outpost last night? About the soldiers using Energon in their vehicles and weapons."
"That doesn't bother me in the least, girl." Megatron hissed. "To be honest, perhaps it shall bring new beginning as I brought to your world."
"By what, ruling them and destroying our planet? Gonna try all over again where you failed?"
"That was my original intent when I first landed on this planet in search of the Allspark. Using its power to animate all technology on this planet, and in command of my new army, would have taken control of this world and its inhabitants. However, no human on this planet would survive the 'cleansing'." He clicked his fangs in a lipless grin.
"Then…" Annabelle mumbled, glancing down. "You STILL want to control this planet?"
"You humans have tested my vengeance, ever since I awoke from the ice of the polar north…the insects who kept me imprisoned in the unforgiving block of ice…and THEY taking that advantage over one as I is OUT of the question. I will not stand for being bested by a lower life form, girl." He looked down back at her with the corner of his optic. "If this comes down to a new generation of Cybertronians, I will bring them order and glory. Even if this is my last siege…I will give a battle the humans will never forget. All will perish and burn, and regret the day they chose to tamper with such volatile yet great power of Energon in feeble Earth metals."
Annabelle blinked. "So, if robots did come to of this Energon dumping at the base…you would start what you tried before. What if…you fail again?"
Megatron whipped his fiery gaze fully over her. "You QUESTION my power, girl?" he growled in darkened tone. "Yes, the humans of this planet will fall. I will have my victory, even if I do not return to rebuild my home world, I will have my victor."
"You will destroy all humans on this planet?"
"ALL organic life on this dirtball of a planet." The mech sneered, inches from her face.
Annabelle looked down. "…Even me?"
The tyrant stared. He said nothing.
"To perish all humans on Earth, is what you said to do…that includes me." She frowned up at him. "Guess all my help for you was well worth it, huh?" she mumbled sarcastic and hurt.
Megatron frowned, his optic rims spinning slowly.
No…he couldn't terminate her. Even if he tried, he knew he couldn't. She had become too loyal to him for an organic. Not with what he gave up to retrieve her from the Allspark, he could not afford for her to be eradicated.
Yet, he couldn't tell her that. It was too soft, weak and pathetic for him.
As if giving up his spark wasn't enough.
Megatron glowered only a little in thought. "…No."
Annabelle blinked up at him. "No, my help wasn't worth it?"
"No, not that, stup-er, girl," the 'Con sniped, and then cooled. "No, as in, you will not be among the destroyed."
She glared. "Oh so NOW I'm not one among a billion to not kill? Yea, sounds like you got a plan straightened out there."
"I give you my word, girl." He rumbled with a glare in return.
"That's not enough, Megatron." Annabelle sneered, eyes cloudy. She didn't want to die. She didn't fear dying before, but now the days she spent out in the middle of the savanna were weighing her. Death now petrified.
"My word is enough, girl." He blinked, suspicious. "What ever happened to 'I no longer fear death' attitude, insect?"
"Things change!" she shouted.
That took Megatron slightly back. He frowned.
Annabelle dropped her head again. "…I'm scared, ok?" she murmured. "I'm scared to die…I've been scared to die the moment I was captured by you. Before then, I wasn't so much, but now…now things began changing."
Megatron just stared over her with the glow of his optics. He felt a sharp prick in his spark.
The teen shook her head slowly. "I'm terrified, Megatron, alright? Call me a weakling all you want, it won't change anything. I'll die from your army if it becomes true…what would be the point trying to avoid it?"
He blinked, and clicked his fangs again, uncertain.
His spark began to have a small but noticeable throb.
It was her pain, emotional pain. He caused this, bringing up the mention of all humans being eliminated, which included this young human. Yet he didn't mean her among them, it was just his persona, it was how he was. She wasn't aware, but he knew if she died, so would he. He just didn't have the bolts to tell her. He was ashamed of that catch of a spark bond.
But…he hated feeling her pain. It was the burden he bared. It was his choice, and duty, to fix it.
He leaned a claw to her, and lightly brushed her head. She flinched at it, and he paused until she relaxed, and repeated it with more care.
Annabelle allowed him to pet her head, her hair down and combed with the sharp, deadly tip of the claw. He could pop her head like a grape if he wanted to, and there could be nothing she could do about it. She felt like crying, not from the petting, but the thought of dying by the one who was protecting her. But she knew she couldn't change his mind, as she was always aware that he would dispose of her whenever he wished. It was his choice, no arguing against that. He would never spare her in the end.
Megatron saw the tears built in her eyes, and stroked her head a little more. He tucked the side of the claw under her chin, propping her head up to look at him.
"I'm gonna die…" She couldn't help but whimper.
The Decepticon just stared back into her with alert red optics, bathing her face in their crimson glow. He rumbled in his throat, and shook his head. "No, girl. You will not die…one day you will, like all life does…but not while I still function."
Annabelle swallowed, and looked back to the ground, and he slowly lifted his claw from her chin. She thought over that, somewhat surprised. Why would Megatron say that? He hated humans, why spare just one?
But still, even though it was odd from such a monstrous tyrant, the words were a decent form of assurance.
She looked back to him, about to say something, when she blinked in surprise as another peach was held out on a claw before her.
"You're system is still deprived, girl. One tiny piece of sustenance isn't enough." He nudged it closer to her, insistent. "Eat, girl."
Annabelle stared a moment, but slowly took the fruit, and cautiously bit into it. Once again, the taste was incredible. Perhaps even better then the first one.
She rubbed at his claw, which he stared perplexed at a moment. "Thanks, Megs…"
He sneered, uneasy with the thought of taking the human comfort, but it eased the throb at his spark.
"Don't mention it, girl…really." He mumbled, pulling his claw carefully back, and laid back down to stare upward.
Annabelle jumped when the mech suddenly gave the equivalent of a satisfied belch. He pounded a fist on his chest, clearing his packed tank.
"Nice one." Annabelle chuckled. She forced out a burp of her own, just to better him.
Megatron rolled his optics, and grabbed another barrel. "And so the challenge begins…"He rumbled, and began guzzling another round of Energon.
Annabelle smirked, and found a beer bottle in the crate and began guzzling it down herself, ignoring the horrid taste.
The belching continued, until leaving until one of them to stop in a fit of giggling. They knew it was incredibly immature, but both enjoyed the relief it lifted from their shoulders.