Deliberation Before Confrontation
Stephen was so confused; he was now being surrounded by Decepticons. They all seemed eager to meet him. He was about to collapse from mental and emotional overload. His heart was beating so fast; he could have sworn that it would give out on him at any minute. He just signed up to be a Decepticon; and that was a thought that just did not register. He was in the Decepticon base and right there! Was Megatron, leader of the Decepticons. And for some reason, his sister was defending him? Stephen did not want to anger the megalomaniac so he just acted as polite as he could. He was greeted by a con that to him looked like a tank.
Brawl – "Hi you must be Stephen, nice to meet you, I am Brawl."
Stephen – "Uh…hi." {Stephen said with nervousness as a Cyclops transformer approached him}
Shockwave – "Just great, just when I thought I was on my way back to Cybertron I have to stay and do another procedure. Let me put it this way human, I look forward to hearing you scream."
Megatron – "Shockwave! Silence your complaining, your constant nagging is frying my central processors."
Shockwave – "Yessir, I was only trying to joke about the situation."
Megatron – {just glared at Shockwave who then left the room to go figure out how to change his machine to handle the upcoming procedure}
Taiya – {tapping Megatron} "Sir can you let me down now?"
Megatron – {pinched the back of Taiya's shirt and tossed her to Blackout who was more then happy to relieve her of Megatron and his evil grasp} "Taiya, you and your brother are to report tomorrow morning in this room by 1000!"
Taiya – {dizzy from the toss, saluted} "YESSIR!"
Megatron – "Ack ehm?!"
Taiya – "Stephen!"
Stephen – {rose his hand} "Yes sir."
Megatron – "Better." {Megatron turned and left}
Blackout – "Phew, I am sure glad he didn't do anything more."
Taiya – "Speak for yourself, I think my ribs are bruised."
Blackout – {looking at Taiya sorrowful} "I am so sorry for that. I should…I should…."
Taiya – "Its okay, I really wouldn't expect you to put yourself at risk for me, well, at least not up against Megatron."
Blackout – "But I should have done something!"
Dirge – "Hey don't rust yourself there buddy, no one would dare do anything against Megatron." {Dirge said as he patted blackout on the back}
Bones – "Unless you are slagged like Starscream." {that made everyone laugh except star and Stephen who did not understand the joke}
Star – "HA HA very funny, you will see, you will all see, I WAS DESTINED FOR LEADERSHIP!" {star bellowed as he raised his fist in the air}
Rumble – "Leadership of what? Of failed attempts or failure in general?" {Starscream was very angry about that, and rumbles comment only made the cons laugh more}
Star – {bent down to see Rumble eye to eye} "And when I do BECOME LEADER, YOU WILL BE CONVERTED INTO SLAG."
Rumble – "when you become leader, vector sigma will be offline." {earth meaning, like in when hell freezes over}
Star – "why you little." {Starscream raised his hand}
Soundwave – "Touch Rumble and you will not be able to fly straight for a century."
Star – {frowned and he too left the room, when it came to Soundwave he did not mess with him.}
Rumble – "WOULD YOU STOP THAT DADCON ROUTINE! YOUR EMBARASSING ME!"
Soundwave – {his shoulders dropped and lowered his head}
Frenzy – "Geeze you wanna make him cry too?"
Rumble – "Ever since we got to earth, Soundwave has been acting kind of fragged, so excuse me."
Frenzy – "Well if you do think about it, he is a dad to us. At least that's what earth customs say."
Rumble – "well it's starting to bother me." {rumble said as he crossed his arms}
Frenzy – "apologize."
Rumble – "you have to be sparking."
Frenzy – "APOLOGIZE."
Rumble – "No!"
Frenzy – "yes."
Rumble – "Make me."
Frenzy – {grabbed the side of rumbles helmet and dragged him over to Soundwave} "NOW!"
Rumble – {smacked frenzy} "not in this breem."
Frenzy – "You are such a screw head." {frenzy and rumble started to fight just like a bunch of kids which made Stephen and Taiya laugh a lot}
Stephen – "You two act like me and my sister when we were little."
Taiya – "It's funny huh? They are older then us but act younger."
Stephen – "Remember the time you glued dad's hair to the pillow, and blamed me?"
Taiya – "you bet I do, you and I both had to clean the garage for that one."
Stephen – "oh and the time we dyed all of moms shirts tie dye?"
Taiya – "Mom looked like a hippy for weeks."
{the Decepticons laughed with them, and frenzy and rumble stopped fighting, the last thing they wanted was to look like a bunch of sparklings in front of the others.}
Blackout – "I knew I picked the right one." {blackout said as he hugged Taiya}
Thrust – "at least you have two PET's now, I can't even find one."
Dirge – "Yeah, how did you get so lucky the first time?"
Blackout – {thinking frag, make a story up} "Uh…just beginners luck."
Ramjet – "Well you have to have a junion foot with you to be that lucky." {junion is like a rabbit's foot}
Brawl – "Yup, first you save my hide, and then you find Taiya who just happens to have a twin brother. What are the probability of those odds?"
Soundwave – "1987500/1"
Brawl – "See that's what I mean."
Scrapper – "Constructicons, we have an elevator to fix, seeing as our old associate is no help."
Bones – "You're just jealous that I am a soldier and your not."
Scrapper – "I can still turn your afterburners inside out bones." {scrapper said tauntingly}
Bones – {shrugged} "Yeah I hate you too."
The Constructicons left to redo bones work. But before scavenger left, he handed both Taiya, Stephen, frenzy, and rumble each a box.
Scavenger – "I was waiting to give these to you guys." {they opened the boxes and inside were medallions, one was a flame, the others were, curly spiral shape lined in silver, a gold lightning bolt through a star, and an octagon with a picture of the earth}
Rumble – {looking at the octagon} "Earth."
Frenzy – {looking at his bolt shaped medallion} "lightning, I think?"
Stephen – {his was the flame} 'fire"
Taiya – {curly shape} "water and air."
Scavenger – "well, I thought you guys are a team now and well, the humans have a thing for elements, so I found these. One for each of you, you know to symbolize what you guys can do."
Taiya – {smiling} "It's beautiful. Thank you."
Frenzy – "So I am energetic?'
Scavenger – "Yes, Rumble is earth, because he can shake it up, Taiya, I saw you skating so easily, I thought wind and water suited you best, and Stephen, your sister did say you protected her a lot when you were kids so I thought firewall."
Rumble – "awesome, this is going to look so cool in my Cybertronian form."
Stephen – {thinking, this is odd, I thought these guys were all homicidal} "Thanks...uh...I didn't get your name."
Scavenger – "My name is scavenger."
Blackout – "So that's where you have been for the last few weeks. You were making these."
Scavenger – "yup... {he was interrupted by scrappers yelling}
Scrapper – "SCAVENGER, GET THOSE DIODES IN GEAR!"
Scavenger – "Yes sir!" {he ran off to go help the other Constructicons}
The tension in the room died down pretty fast after that. The others went to do more work or just to sit back and take in earth's culture. One thing, a few Decepticons loved earth movies and music. Barricade loved the movies with the kick ass cop beating on the bad guys. He also loved 24, because to him, Jack Bauer was just like him, except for the "I love America" bit. Frenzy and Rumble went to play the new game and a few of the cons were watching them play. Bonecrusher went to his room to play more Disturbed music and a bit of Psyclon Nine. He never could admit that he actually liked metal music. He just says that it is the least hated of the music genres. They also got news that a few more cons would be coming from Cybertron to aid Megatron. Their names were Vortex, Lugnut, and Blitzwing. And according to Blackout, Vortex looked up to Blackout as a big brother and a role model. Meanwhile, Scorponok was kind of mad at Stephen and refused to let Taiya out of his sight. He thought Stephen would try and take away his "mommy". When Taiya explained why scorpy thought she was his mom, and Stephen only became more confused. It was bad enough thinking about his sis with a Decepticon and now another con thought of her as its mom?! This did not sit well with him. Taiya and Stephen went out to the docking bay outside so that she could talk with her brother away from the others. Blackout respected her wish and had to drag Scorponok away who was putting up a big fight. They sat on deck looking out at the ocean. Stephen now knew why no one could find her; she was in the middle of the Atlantic ocean. Taiya started talking first.
Taiya – "You are probably wondering why I am here in the first place."
Stephen – "Yeah that would be a good place to start." {Stephen said kind of angry at his sis}
Taiya – "this is all my fault. If I just left that boy alone I wouldn't be here right now."
Stephen – "what boy?"
Taiya – "you probably heard that the bots and cons want the allspark right?"
Stephen – "Yeah, but, what does this have to do with you?"
Taiya – "the boy that was with Optimus during the press conference, the one named Sam."
Stephen – "you mean the Witwicky kid, whose grand-dad found Megatron."
Taiya – "I was in L.A that day, the day the cube got stolen."
Stephen – "you told me and dad you were no where near L.A, and that you were in San Andres."
Taiya – "I lied, {Taiya spoke in a whisper} I took the cube."
Stephen – "YOU DID WHAT!"
Taiya – "quiet!"
Stephen – "all right, all right." {feeling stupid because he forgot they were on a Decepticon ship}
Taiya – "Sam dropped it when he got hit with debris, he was laying there, barely conscious, he kept saying the cube, the cube. I was keeping his head still after I saw him get hit, and then I saw Blackout. And I ran taking the cube with me."
Stephen – "then what?"
Taiya – "I kept on running, I tired to hide but Blackout found me, and I uh…uh…" {shy to say it}
Stephen – "what did you do!?"
Taiya – {blushing red} "I kissed him."
Stephen – "YOU DID WHAT!"
Taiya – "I couldn't think of anything else to do, he asked why he shouldn't destroy me, so I, uh, he he he. Resorted to that."
Stephen – "WHY WOULD YOU KISS THE THING TRYING TO KILL YOU?"
Taiya – "I don't know! It worked at the time."
Stephen – "I am gonna be sick."
Taiya – "so Blackout, being a Decepticon, acted selfishly, and blackmailed me into being his PET."
Stephen – {got up and started pacing} "this is a bad dream, A FRIGGIN NIGHTMARE."
Taiya – "so me and him are keeping this a secret, at least until we know how to break the news to Megatron."
Stephen – "please tell me you're joking."
Taiya – {looked at her brother in the most serious face} "I am not joking, and no thanks to me, I practically sold my brother up river."
Stephen – "what did you do with the cube?"
Taiya – {looked around to make sure no one was near} "I remembered my chemistry teacher saying that there are old lead mines no longer accessible to the public. Closed down for safety reasons. I took the cube and hid it in an old safe where the mine owners would keep scraps of gold and I wheeled the safe to the deepest part of the mountain. I figured if lead was strong enough to keep radiation from uranium contained, it should work for the cubes energy. Only I know the combination."
Stephen – "why didn't you just give the thing to the feds?"
Taiya – "after what they did to me and mom, I don't think so. I didn't really know who to trust. The Autobots said that the cube was needed for life on Cybertron and that they were going to destroy it. I don't want to be the one to send genocide to an entire race without clause."
Stephen – "and if Megatron gets it."
Taiya – "He wants to convert our souls into sparks, and using this world's machinery for new transformer bodies, make more soldiers for his army."
Stephen – "Yup, this is a nightmare. But if blackout knows where it is, then why hasn't he told Megatron?"
Taiya – "I don't want to be egotistical but blackout likes me, and I like him back."
Stephen – "this is not happening. Dad is gonna kill me."
Taiya – "yeah, I don't think he would approve."
Stephen – "he would let you be with Frankenstein over a Decepticon."
Taiya – "what happened to us? We used to be closer then this."
Little to Taiya's and Stephens knowledge, Megatron wanted to sit outside too, but before he came outside he decided to stay and listen. It was only luck that kept him clear of most of the conversation. He only caught the Frankenstein bit. He sat inside the hallway and paid attention to what they were saying. Megatron was up to something, a question haunted Megatron since the reign of Sentinel Prime. A question he hoped Taiya and Stephen could answer for him.
Stephen – I think the problem is we moved apart."
Taiya – "I never could forgive our parents for separating us."
Stephen – "you're not the only one. I don't even know why our parents split."
Taiya – "neither do I. all I know is it's probably my fault."
Stephen – "how could it be your fault?"
Taiya – "if you hadn't been expelled maybe dad wouldn't have had to move."
Stephen – "IF THIS IS ABOUT ALL THOSE TIMES I GOT SUSPENDED, NO THAT'S NOT WHY OUR PARENTS DIVORCED."
Taiya – "Yes it is Stephen! It's my fault, if you didn't have to protect me all the time, you wouldn't have been expelled.' {Taiya was starting to tear up}
Stephen – "HEY! That's my decision, I made a promise and BY DAMN I AM GONNA KEEP IT!" {he grabbed his sister's hand} "I promised you, I wouldn't let your hand go, not ever again! And I don't plan on doing it any time soon!" {Stephen dropped his head and looked at all of the bruises and scars from the surgery} "I failed, and I do not want to fail again. You will always be my sister, and if you think this metal and circuitry inside of you is going to change that, forget it."
Taiya – {smiled up at her brother and gave him a big hug and knowing she had to warn him about what was to come changed her tone} "I have to tell you what Megatron is going to put you through."
Stephen – "what do you mean Taiya?"
Taiya – "how I got these wires under my skin and these access ports on my arms, legs, and lower back, it was a procedure that was executed by the Cyclops transformer named Shockwave."
Stephen – "So its surgery, I've done that before, remember I had my leg reset after I broke it skiing."
Taiya – "You don't understand, its, {Taiya bit her lip and tried desperately to keep her composure}
Stephen – "it's what?"
Taiya – "no anesthesia, no pain medication, that is what's in store for you."
Stephen – {shocked} "what, you mean, bare surgery?"
Taiya – {shook her head} "its painful, the worst pain you can imagine."
Stephen – "that's what they did to you?"
Taiya – {adverted her eyes from her brothers and touched the access port above the Decepticon logo tattoo}
Stephen – "and that monster, shockwave, did it?"
Taiya – "yes."
Stephen – "Taiya, if you can do it, SO CAN I! and heck, if it means I can have a cool tattoo like yours, then it is probably worth it."
Taiya – [could see her brother trying to lift her spirit} "well it may not be as cool as mine, after all I am the first so I get the coolest one."
Stephen – "hey I am the older brother here."
Taiya – "yeah by 3 minutes."
Stephen – "I'm still older."
Taiya – "whatever you say bro, its getting late, we should get something to eat."
Stephen – "got any pizza?"
Taiya – "I think we do, pepperoni?"
Stephen – "Yup with plenty of mushrooms and onions."
Megatron knowing now he had to leave got up and started to head back down. Megatron's plan was coming together. What Blackout and the others didn't know, is that Megatron looked up all the information on Taiya, as soon as Blackout mentioned he wanted a PET. Only when he found out that she was a twin, did he agree. Megatron said silently to himself "They will help, I know it. I just hope they are strong enough to prove my theory." Taiya and Stephen would have to talk to Megatron the next morning. This made frenzy and rumble mad, they had hoped they could haze Stephen, but knowing Megatron was angry beyond words opted not to do it until he calmed down. In the mean time, they would have to come up with something even more devious then before. Taiya showed Stephen a room that was supposed to be for other PET's, but it was obviously for a female and not a boy. Taiya said Blackout and her would help him in making the room more him. Nevertheless, both could hardly sleep, just the thought of having to speak with Megatron in the morning was straining to the mind. After breakfast they stood inside the command room, patiently waiting for Megatron. They did not want to seem disrespectful so they showed up at 9:30. When Megatron did come in he ordered everyone to leave. He started out with Stephen, as Taiya left to go wait outside. She was jostled when the door slammed shut behind her. Megatron paced around Stephen in circles. And just kind of gawked at the boy.
Megatron – "You don't look like an identical twin. Your hair is far too dark, and your eye colors don't match with your sisters. How bizarre, wouldn't you say?"
Stephen - "not really sir, we used to look alike when we were small, but as we got older, I guess we sort of changed."
Megatron – "perhaps you are right, rumble and Frenzy are twins and they only have basic construction the same."
Stephen – "But they are clearly separated by color scheme."
Megatron – "yes there's that too, I am interested in one thing from you Stephen, why are you so adamant on protecting your sister."
Stephen – "because she is my sister."
Megatron – "you can drop that foolish unconditional love act."
Stephen – "Why are you so persistent in insulting me?"
Megatron – {sat down in his chair} "I am not, I just like to get the straight answers, now back to you, what happened to you that made you this way. Because form what I can see, you don't have any initial programming guiding you."
Stephen – "you're not going to let me leave without telling you huh?"
Megatron – "Nope, not on your life."
Stephen – "I was hopping I could just forget it, but after what I did, I…"
Megatron – "something in your past that haunts you, hum?"
Stephen – {sat on the floor cross-legged} "you could say that, don't tell Taiya please, I don't want her to feel bad, but it was a long time ago. . . . .
It was Christmas time, and our dad took us to the city. He had some unfinished work to do and he thought it would be nice to see all of the window displays. We loved the cab ride in, all of the fancy toys, gifts, and awesome presents that only a few people could really afford. Window shopping was always fun because during that time, everything seemed just better then it usually is. The cab driver got lost, and we pulled up in front of a toy store, and we both begged our dad to let us go inside. I said it would be okay because of the security guards on duty to stop the shoplifters. He said we could go inside, but only on the first 2 levels. He also told me, son don't you let go of your sisters hand. I am counting on you. I kind of shrugged it off and we went inside. I saw a ton of soldier toys, and some neat trucks. So I dragged my sister into all of the departments she didn't like. And I could tell it was starting to bother her. she wanted to go look at the stuffed animals, but me being a selfish jerk didn't let her. I kept dragging her to things that I wanted to see and not her. she tried to be diplomatic with me, and said all she wanted to see was the stuffed animals. But me being so dumb I…I…I just yelled at her instead. I said that why would you wanna see some stupid stuffed animals, why do I always have to look after you, you are such a pest. She started to cry, but I dint let off. I just kept yelling in her face, I shouldn't have gone so far, but I did, I said I wished she had never been born and that I hated her, and that I hated being her twin. She broke free from my hand and ran out of the store. I still don't know how she made it out without my dad seeing her, but she just kept running. I just went back to looking at a new NERF toy and forgot all about it. I didn't know she went outside, so I thought she would calm down and come back. But my dad came in and saw me alone, he got mad at me, and said where is your sister Stephen? Where did Taiya go? I said she went off crying and he panicked, we went to the guard in front and asked him if he had seen me. He said that she rushed out and didn't think anything of it. My dad grabbed my hand hard and rushed out and started to yell for Taiya. We were looking for hours; my dad had to call the police to get their help. We searched for what seemed forever. But I saw Taiya's glove on the ground and my dad put the pieces together. She was down an alley, face down, she must have hit her head. It was bruised and was bleeding. My dad picked her up and god was she cold. The police helped us get her to the hospital. They said she had a compound concussion and that she was pretty much in hyperthermia. My mom came to the hospital and I never seen her so disappointed in me. My dad couldn't even look at me. I knew I screwed up. And this time it was bad.
Megatron – "go on."
Taiya didn't wake up for about a week. Because of me, Taiya missed Christmas. The night before Christmas day I saw that my parents were sleeping in the waiting room of the hospital and I took the opportunity to leave the hospital. All she wanted was to see the stuffed animals, but I wanted to get her one. So I ran to the bus station and went back to the store. When I got there they were closing down. The guard remembered me and told the manager to let me inside. When I got to the stuffed animal display they only had one left. You are not going to believe what it was.
Megatron – "try me."
A scorpion, a bloody scorpion. {Stephen chuckled and Megatron only gave a glance of what the spark. Megatron wouldn't admit it but he was actually interested in what Stephen was saying} I brought it back to the hospital and placed it by her. I wanted her to have something there in case she woke up when no one was around. And when she did wake up she blamed herself for running off. But I said I was sorry and that I would never let her go again. Since then I have just been too scared to let her go.
Megatron – "I see, but you really should be worried about hurting her directly."
Stephen - "What?"
Megatron – "Your problem is that you just can't handle it when you have no control over the situation. I read your school files; you were constantly kicked out for fighting with the kids because they were making fun of your sister. But in doing so, you have made your sister weak. And I have been trying to undo what you have done. All of those times she was being made fun of, you should have let her fight for her self. One day, you will cause her pain, and I am not just talking physically. There is more then one way to crush your opponent."
Stephen – "But my sister isn't my enemy, and it's up to the older sibling to be the protector!"
Megatron – "WRONG! That was never your mission, your mission was to be her aid, not her lifeline. And your father was a fool for putting that kind of pressure on you. He should have been more interested in having two strong children instead of one."
Stephen – {just sat confused and a tad bit unnerved}
Megatron – "You are so much like rumble it is scary, you remind me of how he used to be back before the war. But I will get more into that when I speak to you both. And before I let you go, just how is it that your sister has a Chinese name and you have an European name?"
Stephen – "Our parents meet at a Chinese restaurant named Taiya's Rice & Wok, the waiter that brought our parents together, his name was Stephen. That's how I got my name. I still get letters from him, he is sort of a god-father."
Megatron – "Your free to go, tell your sister to come in and then when I am done with her, I want to speak with you both."
Stephen now more angry forced himself to say yessir and left the room. It was Taiya's turn. The door slammed shut.
Megatron – "Your turn." {he said kind of tauntingly}
Taiya – "sir."
Megatron – "Taiya, I would say that you are weak, do you agree?"
Taiya – "In comparison to you sir, yes."
Megatron – "Stupid?"
Taiya – "probably."
Megatron – "useless?"
Taiya – "If you say so sir."
Megatron – "NO!, Don't you ever stand up for your self?!"
Taiya – "only when necessary sir."
Megatron – "This is worse then I thought. Don't you ever get angry, upset, or just steamed off at someone?!"
Taiya – "of course I do!"
Megatron – 'THEN WHERE IS IT? WHERE IS YOUR SPARK? YOUR INNER FIRE?"
Taiya – "I …uh…. {Taiya was clearly lost for words}
Megatron – "HAVENT YOU EVER PLANNED REVENGE ON SOMEONE? PLOTTED SOMEONES DEMISE?"
Taiya – "No! not that I can think of?"
Megatron – "Liar! EVERYONE HAS EVIL THOUGHTS, EVEN THE GREAT PRIME! WHERE ARE YOURS?"
Taiya – "I DON'T LIKE THAT SIDE OF ME!" {Taiya grabbed her mouth as she felt she had let something really bad slip her lip}
Megatron – "Now we are getting somewhere. Don't like your evil side do you? Well let's just say I am dying to see it. And I plan on giving it a hand."
Taiya – "why do you even care!?"
Megatron – "YOU'RE A DECEPTICON SLAGGIT! NOW ACT LIKE ONE!"
Taiya – "but I thought the point was for me to stay out of trouble. And to do everything you say."
Megatron – {getting annoyed} "STOP THAT NICE GIRL ROUTINE! YOU ARE NOT GOING TO EARN POINTS WITH ME IF YOU DON'T START ACTING LIKE PART OF THE TEAM!"
Taiya – "You mean you want me to be nasty?" {confused because she was taught to be kind and courteous to others}
Megatron – "YOU ARE NOT HUMAN ANYMORE, SO DROP WHAT THOSE PITIFUL BEINGS TOLD YOU TO DO. I WANT YOU TO GET MAD, I WANT YOU TO START FIGHTING, NOT JUST WITH YOUR FISTS, BUT WITH YOUR MIND AS WELL. BUT MOST OF ALL I WANT YOU TO STOP BEING A PUSHOVER! NOT EVEN FRENZY WILL PUT UP WITH SLAG; YOUR SIZE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH STRENGTH! Out there I want you to put on a face but not here. Isn't there anyone you wish harm?"
Taiya – {still scared to speak of causing someone pain}
Megatron – "Still scared to speak." {Megatron sighed and lowered his hand and Taiya sat down in his palm, he lifted her to see her eye to optic} "Just how badly did this world screw you up? I want you to forget what those meager beings told you to do and just tell me what you want to do. Now imagine you are a transformer, what would you do with that kind of power and who would you want to take down?'
Taiya – {finally letting go} "The state, the state for taking what my mom left me."
Megatron – "What would you do to them?"
Taiya – "I want their building to burn, till its all cinders."
Megatron – "Anyone else?"
Taiya – "I mean no disrespect but, Shockwave sir, for what he did to me."
Megatron – "Here I expect you to get mad, regardless of what you feel is moral or right. Here there is no right, your human morals are not important. Remember you are a Decepticon no longer human. I know I have a long way to go till I can make you more like us, and we need to get you a weapon."
Taiya – "Any other orders sir?"
Megatron – "Show some initiative and just because I am Megatron, doesn't mean you cannot ask me for things, including permission. So we both have a mission, mine is to find out what makes you snap and get angry, and yours is to not take any slag."
Taiya – {saluted} "YESSIR!"
Megatron – {let her down} "STEPHEN! IN HERE NOW!"
Stephen – {came in rather fast} "Yes sir!"
Megatron – "Now, you two get to help me."
Taiya and Stephen just looked at each other
Megatron – "I want you both to get a copy of what it was like on Cybertron before the war, to see how the Autobots cannot be trusted. In the mean time, there has been a question that I cannot for the best of me answer. Back before the war hit full force, Frenzy and Rumble worked in the mine with me. We were all the lowly workers of the Autobot senate. Back then Rumble would not allow Frenzy to go anywhere by himself. You see we can track back to when a transformer came online for the first time. Rumble and Frenzy were created almost simultaneously. A rare occurrence in transformers. for the longest time I have felt that twins share a special connection with one another, and not just twins all transformers that were created at the same time. The two seeker teams, the Constructicons, and the Combaticons. They fight better with each other more then they ever could by themselves or with another partner. I learned my lesson with Bonecrusher. I thought he would do better with soldier upgrades. But that has been a bid hunk of slag to my face. I think these connections give transformers their strength, a strength that I want to exploit to its ultimate degree. You humans have that connection that I need. You are linked by DNA and by a soul. I think that I can use this world's technology to make a grand and strong army, with the ability to gain even more power when working together."
Taiya – 'So me and Stephen are test subjects?"
Megatron – "Yes."
Stephen – "what did I get myself into?"
Megatron – "I am not like the Autobots say, I know the value of a good soldier and I do not think that they come a liter of energon a dozen. Now back to the story, one of my biggest failures when I was starting out as the leader of the new faction of the Decepticons. I sent frenzy out on a mission to gather information on the Autobots, after many breems he did not come back. Rumble said he got a weird feeling and ran out of the base. When he came back he had frenzy, I cannot remember of any time when I saw them both beaten so badly. After that, Rumble got mean and very protective. Remind you of anyone?"
Stephen – {got a bit embarrassed}
Taiya – "why didn't you just ask the twins about it?"
Megatron – "every time I bring it up they find some way of escaping."
Taiya – "That makes sense."
Megatron – "I think your human family ties can give you strength. I have seen videos of tiny earth mothers lift trucks off of their children just to save them. Both brothers and sisters taking bullets and shaking it off like it was nothing. And parents getting 3rd degree burns and not feeling the pain just to save their children from a burning building. The only thing that is standing in my way of this is the lack of power needed. For that I am going to need the Allspark. Prime wants me to be more kind, And what better kindness then TO RID YOU OF THOSE PITIFUL HUMAN BODIES FOR TRANSFORMER ONES. TO TAKE AWAY THE PAIN OF WEAKNESS AND TO ALLOW YOU TO LIVE FOREVER. But of course, you would have to serve ME YOUR SAVIOR AND YOUR MASTER. {Megatron bellowed} NEVER AGAIN WILL YOUR RACE HAVE TO SAY GOODBYE TO THE ONES YOU LOVE. YOU TWO ARE JUST THE START OF MY GRAND AND NEW PLAN, TO HAVE A TRULY STRONG AND POWERFUL FORCE! YOUR PARENTS WERE FOOLS SEPERATING YOU, BUT YOU SEE, I WILL DO NO SUCH THING."
Taiya – {feeling really happy that someone actually wanted to keep them together} "Really! You wouldn't force us apart? And I would never have to say good bye to Stephen again, not ever!?"
Megatron – {smirked} "Now what kind of leader would I be, denying you such."
Stephen – "So all I have to do is last a few hours of surgery and listen to everything you say, and you would do all of that?"
Megatron – "I may be a Decepticon but I do keep my word when it is in my best interest."
Taiya – "THANK YOU LORD Megatron!" {Taiya bowed}
Megatron – "That is something I never tire of hearing."
{A knock on the door interrupted the three}
Arkeville – "Sir, I was wondering if I could see Taiya after you, I need to check her healing."
Megatron – "Alright Arkeville. Stephen, you let your sister defend herself, Taiya, get more angry. I have more work to do, and Taiya before you leave, you have a mission at the end of the month. Train hard and listen to the twins, they know what they are talking about. You will be talking to Soundwave about how you will do your mission. Stephen your operation should be no more then 8 days off. In the mean time, {he tossed them both a CD} read up on your Cybertronian history."
Taiya and Stephen – "YESSIR!"{Who then turned to leave}
Soundwave who was in the other room steeped out.
Soundwave – "You are pure evil, you know that."
Megatron – "A little persuasion is all I did, why?"
Soundwave – "Sometimes I forget just how evil your mind truly is."
Megatron – "Well then its time all Decepticons knew why I am the leader, 4 million years I have been missing. And it is time for a little bit of catch up."
Soundwave – "Affirmative sir, I was starting to develop rust in my central processors, having to obey Starscream's commands."
Megatron – "I don't plan on disappearing any time soon Soundwave, so you can bet that rusting problem wont resurface."
Soundwave – {patted Megatron on the back} "nice to have you back sir."
Taiya and Stephen fallowed doctor Arkeville to a separate room. He tossed Taiya a sheet, and told her to strip down to her underwear. She gave Arkeville an evil look and steeped behind an opposite wall. She sat on the makeshift examination table and Arkeville looked at the scars. Making a few notes in his journal and continued to make sure no infection had occurred. Stephen kept his eyes shut and tired his best not to loose it at the doctor. Form what Stephen could see, this guy was a piece of shit.
Arkeville – "Do you want me to tell you what the surgery is like Stephen?"
Stephen – "excuse me while I pass on that."
Arkeville – "fine, your choice, Taiya lay down on your stomach I have to check your back"
Taiya – {laid down}
Arkeville – {applied pressure to the scared areas} "good no scar tissue or infection, that formula worked beyond fenominal, really you should take a look Stephen, just to get your nerves up.'
Stephen – "I don't think so." {thinking, dear God this guy is sick}
Arkeville – "I think I know what it is, too much of a gentleman to look."
Stephen – "Yeah it is, you dickwad."
Arkeville – "I just wonder how you are going to fair during the procedure."
Taiya – "my brothers tough, I bet he does better then I did."
Arkeville – "we will see, I want to check inside your ear so tilt your head. . . good no sign of bleeding or pustules. So Stephen, I see I have you scheduled for July 28th? Any questions?"
Stephen – "how about this one, when do you shut up?"
Arkeville – "don't like me much do you?"
Stephen – "what was your first clue?"
Arkeville – "how adorable, big brother acting all tough, but you see my boy, in the medical field there is only one golden rule, whoever has the scalpel makes the rules."
Stephen – "do you honestly think that when you are done Megatron is going to let you live. Because I certainly do not think so. And it is you who will be at the other end of the scalpel."
Arkeville – "du ist ein missgeburt."
Taiya – "Did you forget that I can understand you know, so shut it du ist ein arschloch." {paused, did she just speak a language she had never been taught?}
Arkeville – "I see those cyber chips are helping you in the language department, also I am not an asshole!"
Stephen – "by the looks of it, my sister is right, you are one {forgetting to keep his eyes shut saw all of the scars and quickly adverted his eyes and was now a bit nervous}
Arkeville – "don't worry so much, she is practically just a female you."
Taiya – "its okay Stephen they don't hurt. You on the other hand, I wouldn't count so lucky. Just be thankful that you are still of use to Megatron, before he kills you for being an arrogant shit." {Taiya got up and went to put her clothes back on}
Arkeville – "such rudeness, back in my day students respected elders."
Stephen – "not when they are creepy like you."
Arkeville – "you see, I know I will have the last laugh."
Both Taiya and Stephen left Arkeville to his well arkevillisms. Taiya had to go train some more with rumble on hand to hand combat. Stephen was left to go wander the Nemesis and was stating to feel odd, almost like he liked it in the colossal ship. He asked brawl if it would be okay to contact his uncle and aunt to make sure he checked in with them. he was allowed and he said that he found Taiya and that they were enjoying talking so much that they both fell asleep and that he would spend a couple of weeks with her. he told then also that they couldn't reach him because Taiya hadn't gotten her phone hooked up. They were okay with it and they would relay the message to Stephen and Taiya's father and that Taiya would get a mouthful about moving without telling her family. The days seemed to flay by as the date of the surgery approached. All the while Stephen was getting used to being with all of the Decepticons, he even let the term "bro" slip when talking with Rumble, who he attached to immediately. He thought maybe these guys weren't as bad as he had thought. Even more so he saw how happy Taiya was among them. except for Starscream and Bonecrusher who wanted the twins gone. Brawl went out to see if he could show that his luck in finding a PET was better then the others. But the good and calm feeling would be shattered by the coming of day. Stephen put on a set of clothes that looked like the ones Taiya wore during her procedure. Except his shirt was a tank top with buttons along both sides. He tried to calm himself down by thinking that it was going to just be one long day of pain and then he could just rest out his recovery. To Taiya it was a bad dream all over again. He meet up with Taiya who had the same scorpion doll hanging from the side of her bag. She held his hand all the way to the surgical bay.
-
Part two: Ready Set Scream
Less Decepticons were in the room then that of the last procedure. Taiya hugged her brother as he steeped into the bay and it made Taiya weak in the knees seeing Shockwave in the same apron. Arkeville was ordered to start off being part of the operation, and was wearing a lab coat and surgical garbs.
Stephen – "All right one eye, do your worst." {Stephen tried to get angry to block out the fear}
Shockwave – {bent down to see Stephen eye to eye and speaking quietly} "I couldn't make your sister beg for my mercy so you will have to do."
Stephen – "well then don't count on it."
Arkeville – {waved to the chair} "Stephen here please."
Stephen took the chair and the same restraints pined him to the chair. His heartbeat started to elevate. But not like last time, Arkeville started an IV. Stephen was not afraid of that, but his sister on the other hand, hated the needle more then scalpel. Taiya went up against the glass and could only hold her breath. The table went backward and Megatron gave the all clear. As Taiya watched the needles penetrate her brother was starting to make her sick. Stephen handled the pain and only let go a little argh. The wires moved through the shafts of the needles and up though his body. Stephen felt like the largest pin cushion doll and with each needle came pain. Just as before, the restraints pulled him down harder the more he struggled. This was the most bizarre pain Stephen had ever felt, he did not know whether to cry and scream or to just grit his teeth and bear it. What Stephen did know is that this sucked, and it sucked really bad. He was shocked at the coldness and brutality of his captors. He knew he was in trouble when he started to tear and cry out. His muscles contracted to stop the needles from going further. He could feel a tiny hooks move along the shaft of the needles and up through his arms and his legs. The hooks made incisions in the sides of the legs and the tops of the arms. His strength began to wane as the machine pulled his flesh and muscle to the sides to make the cyber hub connections.
Arkeville – "his muscular tension is stronger then his sisters wouldn't you say Shockwave?"
Shockwave - "I would say that is a correct assumption."
Stephens screams were haunting to Taiya to hear. She did not know what to do. And if so could she do anything if given a chance? She would have given anything just to make it stop. Stephen yelled louder as every move the machines made caused his nerves to trigger pain responders like he had never felt before. Stephen did not beg once and this made Taiya feel bad, she gave in so easily that it made her feel shameful. As the hubs started to be put into place Stephen moved and wained from side to side. He just wanted the things out and out fast. Taiya looked down at her old stuffed animal and an idea came to mind and she rushed over to Megatron and bowed down at his feet. He wanted initiative well then he was going to get it.
Taiya – "Megatron Sir, I wish to aid in the surgery." {she said through weeps}
Megatron – "you mean you? You can't handle that kind of exposure."
Stephen – "AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!" {The screams echoed and became hauntingly eerie}
Taiya – "PLEASE SIR! I CAN HANDLE IT!"
Megatron – "you pass out once, or throw up and you will earn yourself a painful punishment, do I make myself perfectly clear on that?"
Taiya – "YESSIR."
Megatron – "You may go."
Blackout – "Sir, why did you let Taiya in when I could not?"
Megatron – "She asked respectfully and did not just barge in. that's why."
Blackout – "So I would have been allowed if I just asked politely?"
Megatron – "No."
Blackout – "why not?"
Megatron – "Taiya bowed, that's why."
Blackout – {angry at Megatron's biased attitude went back to his spot and mumbled} "It's probably because he just likes watching me suffer."
Taiya dropped her bag and tied up her hair and rushed over to Arkeville.
Taiya – "do you have an extra lab coat and gloves?"
Stephen – "Taiya what are you doing?" {Stephen said through weak breaths}
Arkeville – "yes in the back room, why?"
She ran off and found the lab coat and gloves and thoroughly washed her hands up to her elbows. She looked down at Arkeville's bag and found several prescription medications inside. A few she knew as pain meds and one was the key to her ability to handle watching the gore, a small bottle labeled Composine. She being a chemistry major knew that it was a very strong anti nausea drug. She read the label, {Take 2 as needed for nausea every 4-6 hours}. She took down 6 capsules and ran outside where Arkeville was holding open one of the hub areas that just would not stay open. Taiya could see her brother starting to loose consciousness.
Shockwave – "Megatron WHAT ATROCITY IS THIS?"
Megatron – "QUIET DOWN! AND JUST TELL TAIYA WHAT TO DO!"
Shockwave – "Fine! Taiya hold your brothers arm down, he is moving way too much and we wouldn't want to cause him extra pain now would we." {he said sarcastically}
Taiya glared up at Shockwave as she knew; with every scream from her brothers lips brought the monster satisfaction. She held her brothers arm down and was saddened to see her brother torn up from all of the penetration wounds. She grasped his hand and started to hum silently.
Stephen – {barely able to hold back his screaming} "Taiya . . . what are . . . you doing?"
Taiya – "Humming the tune mom used to do when we were little, and holding your hand."
Stephen – "Why?"
Taiya – "Because I wouldn't be anywhere but here, now your not going to let it go now are you?"
Stephen – "not a chance baby sis."{he said weakly}
The clocked ticked away as Taiya helped do the surgery. Stephen lost consciousness a few times. But unlike Taiya he was more in and out of it then purely out of it. The screams just like the last time became harsh and raspy. He needed oxygen so Taiya helped get an oxygen mask on. Then a machine she did not recognize sprung forward. These were like the needles but they had wide hoses at the end. Taiya asked what they were.
Shockwave – "these are chemical binders to make your brothers bones more resistant to breaks."
Taiya – "THEY ARE WHAT?"
Shockwave – "don't be so surprised, we did the same to you."
Taiya – {her head started to spin, not only from the blood but the shock} "wha?'
Stephen – "RRRRGGGGHHHMMMM!"
Arkeville – "I wonder if his bones will handle the slightly more viscous formula I derived?"
Shockwave – "I don't know Arkeville, but we will see."
Stephen – {cried out as the machines injected him with a metallic mixture that coated his bones}
Shockwave – {letting a few laughs escape his vocal box} "I've heard the human saying of a stomach of steel but not bones of iron."
Arkeville – "Good one shockwave, I shall remember that one."
Megatron – "SHOCKWAVE! I have warned you already! You will receive punishment, do you understand?"
Shockwave – {angry} "Yes sir."
Taiya – {slammed her foot onto Arkeville's and smiled behind the medical mask} "oops sorry."
Arkeville – "Ouch!"
Megatron – "Taiya!. . I saw that, next time go a little bit to the right."
Arkeville – {feeling betrayed} "Megatron, YOU MEAN YOU ARENT GOING TO DO ANYTHING?"
Megatron – "I never said she couldn't hurt you, did I Arkeville?"
Arkeville – "no sir." {thinking, and here I thought I was becoming a friend.}
Stephen was covered in sweat and he started to shake in the later part of the surgery. He tried desperately not to wail. The last thing Stephen wanted was to give Shockwave a show. Stephens's heart fluttered with every new machine. He just kept telling himself that the nightmare would be over. His mind was spinning like a top and he passed out cold just as the last port was slaughtered in place. The smell of his own flesh being burnt nearly made him throw up. The machines moved and so did the pain. Taiya monitored his levels and was thankful to know that he was just passed out. As the machines worked the more relieved Taiya began to feel. She knew it was almost over when the laser machine etched the Decepticon logo on to her brother's arm and the same identification tag on the bottom of his foot. However, his was on the left, and hers was on the right. Taiya noted that she saw a few extra parts then when she was going through the procedure. One of the last pieces that had to be put in was the auditory implant. The implant was like a long screw that was secured inside the left ear. Hearing the drill would have made even the bravest of people cringe. It was like a dentist drill from hell. Taiya was thankful that he was not awake for the sensor implants in his hand and that Shockwave could not treat Stephen like a marionette doll. The sight of burnt flesh almost made her lose it. Every wound that was given was just one more reason for Taiya to want to kill Shockwave. But that was a thought that she had to let pass because what could she do? Humans could never take on a transformer head on, and that was the only reason keeping humans away from transformer affairs. When the surgery was over Rumble and Frenzy lifted Stephen on a gurney to the recovery pod. They laid him inside and got all of the necessary tubes and apparatuses in place.
Taiya – "Thanks guys, thanks for all of your help."
Frenzy – "Hey its nothing, and when he wakes up, we will have a new brocon wont we?"
Rumble – {smirked} "Yeah so now I won't be outnumbered by a bunch of computer geeks."
Frenzy – "You calling me a geek?"
Rumble – "yeah, you twinkle toes."
Frenzy – {pointed to his foot} "well these twinkle toes are gonna beat you in a tag team DDR game."
Rumble – "You are on."
The twins left arguing as usual. Taiya asked Blackout if he would watch over her brother while she got changed and cleaned up. He said that would be no problem and she went off to her room. She got the bathroom and just fell to the floor. She looked at her hands and the lab coat, covered in blood. she threw up and just let herself fall weak. What was she becoming? What had she just done? The answer was clear, she was becoming what she hated. A cold and callous individual. Is this what she had to do? And what she hated more was herself. All of this started with her, and her absolute inability to change the situation for good. She felt sorry, for everything. For letting Stephen down most of all. She threw off the gloves into the trash along with the lab coat. She didn't want the thing on her. she had always wanted to be a scientist but this is one experiment she did not want to be a part of. Her entire body and mind was just sick and tired. She gazed at herself in the mirror touching the 4500 X tattoo and had to come up with the conclusion that she was and would forever be a Decepticon and deception would have to be her game. Blackout was a master at it but even he felt guilt for what he had done. He looked down at the human boy all broken and beaten.
Blackout – "I am sorry, this is all my doing. And I know you can't hear me but I will make it up to both of you. But know this, you are now my brother and I will protect you both.{Scorponok tapped his claw on blackouts foot} and so will Scorponok."
Scorponok – {looked up at Blackout in confusion} "**#$ " {translation = uncle?"}
Blackout – "Remind me to get your head fixed." {feeling what in the crab nebula is wrong with you.}
Scorponok – {hissed angrily}
Blackout – "Hey it's not my fault you are fragged. Not even Soundwave was able to help you. And he is our computer expert."
Back in Colorado a doctor pleads with the Autobots for assistance in his experiment. A small con is found by a rather scruffy looking bot with spikes and a mustache. While one con tries to blend in on a military base. All the while, Mark McAlister was an inpatient man and hated the fact that he now had to worry about Keys in his way. He knew that the president would not authorize any scientific plans without first going to Keys. McAlister would have loved to drag all the Autobots in chains if he could. To him they were like a gun, meant to be used to kill. He wasn't looking forward to the Gala. He thought about having to sit and smile as the one they called Jazz gave the military leaders the Decepticon 101 speech. He also detested the thought that Jazz was an Autobot general. How a bot like him ever became a general was beyond McAlister's imagination. Most of all he hated his new president. McAlister loathed Whitmore with a passion, to McAlister, Whitmore was a pencil neck pushover; all traits McAlister deemed disgraceful. One thing no one knew about McAlister was his lust for power.
