Shadowzone
"Do we have an understanding?"
"Yes, My Lord."
"Good. You are dismissed."
...
Silence. I stood around... waiting. Just, waiting. Their eyes skipped over me. A few times I would catch those who worried about themselves. Worried about what I thought. What I caught. What I could report about. It was like staring into a ginormous mirror. All I could think about were day-codes, and rules of conduct, how not do that labeled misconduct, how not to appear suspicious, how to be the good, the accepted, the right Decepticon. That was what killed me. That was what my existence boiled down to. I waited patiently, not in anyone's way, not in any way useful, I just existed... as a deterrent. I was, as my father always wanted me to be: a prime example for one to follow. And I hated it.
...
"Psychology?" The Shadow of Death asked.
"Psychotherapy." I replied. "Nickel says it really helps the cons back on the Peaceful Tyranny."
"Philosophy?"
"Towards Peace?"
"Tarn's favorite."
"It's a part to the whole."
"More, then?"
"Philosophical works aren't outlawed."
"Only discouraged."
"Not yours."
"You've—"
"Read them? Yes. Admired them? Quoted them? Used them to prove a point? At least one time per each."
"And... you thought they were good?"
"What I think doesn't matter. They are good."
"Thank you, Ghost. I can't tell you what that means to me."
"... You're welcome."
I had never been thanked before. Not really. I liked the feeling. I wanted more. I wanted to talk to her more.
...
"And your brothers?" I asked.
"Were always a source of competition for me."
"What was worth the struggle?"
"Looking back on it, nothing important."
"Superiority?"
"Pride, power, and my parents' respect."
"Parents?"
"The human word for creators."
"Humans? They inhabit this world, correct?"
"They are very similar to us."
"How?"
"Pain, fear, following rules... they do all of it."
"So, then, they are like us?"
"We all share something. Similarities are the dirt that underlie even the most steadfast of stone."
"You think we all want to be different?"
"I think some are more different than others, but that we're all the same underneath, no matter what we want to be."
"Cybertronian?"
"Not alone."
...
I enjoyed talking to the Shadow of Death. She was the only Decepticon I was comfortable communicating with. Most held ranks, which it would be socially unacceptable for me to barge up to without purpose and converse with. The rest would be so far below me, that to talk to them, meant dishonoring my "father's" teachings. The Shadow of Death was different, though. In her boredom, or sheer lack of having anything better to do, she would come to me. Or, perhaps I was mistaken. I was assigned to watch and guide commander Starscream through his recovery. It was never specified whether his recovery should be painful, painless, quick, or long and drawn out. I decided to be quick and successful. She came a few times. Checked on him. Sympathy? Perhaps. The commander was recharging whenever we talked. I don't think she remembers it: Any of it. But, even so, I enjoyed speaking with her. She gave me new words for my vocabulary, and ideas for my mind to ponder. She doesn't say too much, not at one time, at least. She knows that I follow rules; that I keep my word. With her, it's confidential. And with that I find no crime. Although it is odd that she prefers to keep this information from the audio receptors of our Lord, I suppose we all have things we'd rather not like for him to hear. Besides, I enjoy speaking about "subjects" with "Shadow". Talking with her helps me pass by any sorely hated time. But, time flies ever so slowly, and sometimes, I think my patience is wearing thin.
...
The wheezing sounds of my patient's pain-filled struggle for breath accompanied the metronomic beeps of his monitor. The commander's eyes were shut. Hours passed.
Lord Megatron entered the medical room unannounced. I was checking over my patient's charts at the time. Commander Starscream's optics opened wide, if only for an instant, before he calmed into his normal-deceptive state. My servos shook. I spent all of my concentration in steadying them as I handed my Lord the newest report. In summation, Starscream was almost healed. His outward appearance was still a bit banged up, but I was trained in making my patients healthier, not giving them the appearance of looking so.
The silence ran my spark on what the Shadow of Death would call a 'treadmill'. My Lord handed me back the chart, and moved towards commander Starscream. His loud steps clanged against the floor, ringing tremors across the room. I gripped the data pad as if my very life depended on it.
"Resting comfortably Starscream?" My Lord asked. "Despite the extent of your injuries, my medical staff assures me that you shall make a rapid recovery."
His intimidating tone froze the metal of my bones. Not even Starscream was immune. He pushed off the back of his berth in order to sit up straight, to avoid being frozen sedentary and talked down to.
The commander said, "Hopefully every bit as rapid as your wrath is swift," before he was cut off by his own pain filled coughs. My Lord chuckled as his commander grasped for air.
"And how swiftly things change," Megatron said. His tone shifted from pleasant to rough, "To think that but a short time ago it was you who was standing here, while I was lying there. Right after your failed attempt to terminate me."
Chills had consumed my nerves. I shook from deep inside my armor. I wanted nothing more than to go, than to leave, than to run away. But, none of that would be possible. Not jittery nerves, or a cold core. I was to be stuck doing my duty. If fear ran me cold, I would have to freeze myself to my spot. To my position. To whatever job my father had thought best for me.
"But, know this dear Starscream," Megatron continued, "Our positions shall never again be reversed." The air parted for my Lord as he walked to the door. Every clanging step sent my spark to beat faster.
He was almost to the door... Just a few more paces...
"Ghost," I froze as my Lord called my name, "I require your assistance."
My digits nearly broke through the metal of my data pad. My 'hands' weren't even clawed. That's how tightly I was gripping the device. I forced my statue-like legs to move. The door to the medical room closed behind me as I met my Lord out in the hall.
I attempted to calm my nerves. "Y-Yes, Lord Megatron?" I asked.
"At ease scout," my Lord said. "I need your continued surveillance of Starscream."
"Of course my Lord."
"If he so much happens to look in the wrong direction, extinguish his spark."
I gulped, "Excuse me, my Lord," I stammered, "But how would I know—
"You have had experience with traitors in the past. You know what they look like."
But, every one of them looked different. They were different.
"If his actions remind you in any way of that of a traitor..."
"Extinguish his spark."
"Good. Continue updating Soundwave regularly."
I nodded.
He started to walk away... started.
"One more thing," my Lord said, "tomorrow Starscream will go on a mission with Shadow. Be sure not to let him out of your sight."
...
Who was I, talking to Lord Megatron? One-on-0ne no less. Him, giving me, furthering my previous mission. A private mission. A classified mission. One I didn't want to fail.
Thoughts such as these circled my head as I stood in the shadows behind Starscream. He stood at the grave of "the mighty Skyquake." His words, not mine. None of the present made sense. The commander held a shard of dark energon: a powerful thing of legend. He planned to use it to re-animate Skyquake, and make the fallen Decepticon into a warrior once more. For what purpose, I could not easily tell. I considered taking a few measly steps, activating my claws, and stabbing a hole through his spark chamber. But, something stopped me from doing so. Some part of me did not want to kill him. That same part wanted to convince me that the commander was acting in Megatron's best interest, so that he could recover a once valuable warrior. Another part of me knew that that was a lie. Probably a lie. I did not want to end a life based on a probably.
Starscream broke the shard in two. He threw a half of dark energon into the dirt, and plunged the other fragment into his chest. The ground glowed purple, along with Starscream's optics.
"Yes!" Starscream moaned, "Power of dark energon, be mine!" Purple energy radiated off of him now, as if he had been consumed by purple flames. "Symbiosis," he screamed with maniacal laughter, "I can feel it!"
An energy field opened up in the distance. Nothing I could see, but something I could feel. I retreated a few steps and hid behind the corner of the canyon. I peeked my head out from the large rock formation. I was not yet found.
Five Autobots entered the canyon's stretch shared by Starscream.
"Rise Skyquake, rise!" The commander screamed.
The ground below him rumbled, without fist rising out with reanimated body attached. The ground simply shook with rocks atop it.
The leader of the Autobot-scum drew his blaster. "Starscream!" he called.
"Autobots!" Starscream yelled back.
The Prime said in a bad *ss tone, "Stand down," as he pointed his long barreled blaster at the commander.
Starscream pointed his missile-stocked arm back at the Prime, "You stand down," he said as he fired his rocket.
The Autobots dove behind rocks, and the missile exploded in black space.
"You cannot harm me while dark energon flows through my veins!" The commander gloated.
In less than an earth-second the Prime leaned out from behind his rock, aimed, and shot a laser that detached the commander's arm from his socket.
Smoke enveloped the commander's stub. Starscream sprinted the twenty lengths to his arm, grabbed it, and hid behind a large rock.
The Autobots chatted with each other in encouraging and fighting tones. They moved from behind their cover and advanced.
Five on one: certain death.
A purple fog rose from the ground beneath the commander. "Come on, come on, rise already!" Starscream yelled.
The Autobots slowed and prepared to fire.
"This is commander Starscream," the commander COM'd, "requesting emergency ground bridge to my coordinates."
A retreat.
The Autobots continued their advance.
Silence...screaming? A screech of some sort? A tiny voice got the attention of the Autobot scum, and they stopped their retreat.
Two ground bridges opened up; One near the commander, and the other near the enemy.
"You three!" The old-white Autobot yelled, "Into our ground bridge, now!"
Three specks in the distance followed the old mech's orders.
Starscream ran out from behind his cover and flew into his.
Chatter: I wasn't sure what to do. If I ran out from my cover, the Autobot-scum might catch me, and my position would no longer be secretive. But, say they didn't catch me... I am rather stealthy. That is possible. If I ran straight into the ground bridge, what would happen? Would the commander find out? That I was trailing him? Hmmm... Perhaps, maybe if I snuck into the portal and waited, not for long, just long enough so that Starscream wouldn't be on the other side. Okay. Solid plan. Go... now!
I ran into the green swirling vortex. Something was off. The gravitational field seemed different, as if it was collapsing in on itself somehow. I transformed and speeded as fast as I could to the exit, but the pull of some invisible force held me back. I rotated my wheels as fast as possible, but I did not move any closer to the goal. The force was getting stronger, and stronger, and stronger. I was sling shot back, for a single moment the gravity ceased to exist and all of time slowed down. Then the walls came crashing in, and the green light consumed me.
The next day:
A knock at my door woke me up. I got out of bed, walked over and opened it.
Snowstorm greeted me, "Good morning Shadow."
"'Morning Snowstorm," I said back.
Snowstorm looked around suspiciously. No one was there. Or at least, no one could be seen. We still had a ghost onboard. Or, at least I thought she was onboard.
Snowstorm informed me, "Today, the vehicons should be checking your room. This is customary for the new Commander. They're just checking for incriminating evidence about you being a traitor. Which is obviously preposterous."
Not Ghost. Vehicons. Doesn't go to the DJD. If Screamy could pass, then it must be easy...
"Good?" I questioned.
"I'll see you in a few days. We're leaving soon. Good luck on your mission." She left.
I went back into my own room. I got changed and hid the picture in a compartment on my armor. I put the damaged armor in a remote drawer as if to say that I did not care about it. I tidied up and left for the command center. I kept on thinking back to how I should have just thrown the fragged thing away.
It's too late. It's too late. I'm too far away. If I go back, I'm going to be late. There's nothing, now, that I can do.
Starscream was not there [in the command center]; however, Megatron, Soundwave, Snowstorm, and Matrix were. The group acknowledged me when I walked through the door. I walked up to the group. Megatron was talking to Soundwave and Snowstorm. He had the warmest hue of red in his eyes. I wanted to be near him, even if he had a really unwelcoming presence. My gaze shifted to the ground. I had to look away. His arm was sliced all the way through. It looked painful. I did not want to bring it up. Matrix was on the outskirts of the group, half paying attention to what the group was talking about.
Matrix turned to me and asked, "You ready for your mission?"
I replied, "Yeah. But I don't know where Starscream is."
Megatron roared at me, "He's in the Hanger! Can't you see we're doing something here? Leave!"
I didn't give staying a second thought. I felt so replaced by the two new femmes. Not so much replaced as unneeded and unwanted by Megatron. I wondered if this was a weird form of punishment. Probably not. Megatron didn't do mental torture. I sighed and left for the Hanger. Starscream was waiting for me there with three seekers.
Starscream greeted, "Hello Shadow, shall we go?"
I nodded. Starscream looked different. I asked, "New arm?"
Starscream angrily mumbled something to himself. We transformed and flew to the Arctic. The seekers picked up traces of the object. We landed.
Once I transformed, Starscream advised me, "First piece of advise. When in places like the arctic, retrieving an object that will draw out the Autobots; always have a quick way to flee. You should pull up your wings."
I nodded, "Thank you Starscream."
My wings rose behind my swords. Since I had two vehicular forms, whenever would not be using one of them, I would usually retract all external, unneeded, appendages. So, when I fought, neither my wheels, nor my wings would be visible. They were typically retracted in my armor. The pros usually outweighed the cons. Hah! It might have taken a few more seconds to transform, but there were also fewer places my enemy could aim for, and damage me if they hit.
The seekers started digging for the item. They found it soon after. It had an odd essence of energy emanating from it. The item was frozen to the bottom of the vehicons' tiny tunnel.
A ground bridge opened. Bumblebee and Bulkhead ran out of it.
Starscream called to me, "You stop the Wrecker, I'll take on the scout."
I engaged my mask and drew my swords. I ran at Bulkhead. He swung his wrecking ball; I dodged and swung back. Bulkhead dodged and kicked at me. I was propelled a length backward. I regained my balance and ran back at him. Out of nowhere a laser grazed my head. It did not harm me, but it hit my COM link, which was placed on the side of my mask. Bulkhead stopped fighting and looked over at Starscream. In this very moment I felt much hatred for that mech. Bumblebee was running back towards the Autobots' groundbridge with the item. Starscream fired a rocket at the scout, destroying the object and sending Bumblebee back into the portal. I allowed Bulkhead to retreat. I did not put away my swords. I turned my attention toward the commander. A missile was closing in. I quickly fell to the ground in an attempt to dodge, but I was too late. The missile greatly damaged one of my wings. I should have fled.
When I got up, I was alone. I walked over to the dig site. Bumblebee had killed all three vehicons. It seemed that Starscream didn't even attempt to fight the scout. He was just trying to get a good aim at me. I put a finger up to my audio receptor, and tried to contact base. My COM was down. I rolled my shoulders and sighed. I was very cold. I scanned the area and found a human outpost a ways off from my position. I could not drive on this snow and ice. Ghost could, but I wasn't like her. I walked through the bitter cold and cruel wind bursts. It was growing dark.
I muttered to myself, "Fragged wind. Scrap this cold. Megatron and Starscream are probably sitting warm in the Nemesis right now. Who needs Megatron and Starscream anyway? Not me. Nope."
I spotted the human base in the distance. I was almost too cold to move. I got out the picture Miko had drawn me. I burnt it and warmed myself briefly with the flame. It was really more mental than anything else, but still. I struggled to move to the base. But, I pushed through the wind and snow. It took a while, but I finally arrived at the human base. The base itself was a large building next to a small human dwelling. I broke through the wall into the building. There were a few humans inside; they ran away. I had to work quickly; no doubt the humans were calling their government or someone to get rid of me.
I found a large computer that was connected to a screen. I remembered what Soundwave had taught me. I reconfigured and toyed with the computer. I transformed it into a communications link. I called the Nemesis. The screen turned on, this would be a video communication. I waited for this device to connect with the ship. I looked at myself. My armor was covered with frost.
Starscream picked up the other side of my call. He stood in front of Soundwave's communications monitor. Starscream was wide eyed, he exclaimed terrified, "Shadow! You're alive?"
I weakly told the traitor, "Starscream, send me a bridge out of here."
"I don't understand how this is possible!" The traitor cried, "How are you still alive? I aimed at both your head and your spark chamber!"
"You missed, twice." Or I dodged twice. "Can you please put someone else on?"
"Someone else?" Starscream thought for a moment and almost wept, "Lord Megatron is going to extinguish my spark when he finds out!"
I could feel my life signal fading, I faintly called out, "Starscream, please—"
Silence. And in the silence, he thought. Once he was done, the commander smiled deviously and said, "Lord Megatron isn't here at the moment. I'm sorry Shadow, but you're going to have to speak up."
I pleaded with Starscream, "If you get me out of here, No one will ever hear of this. I will not take action against you. I will not seek revenge, I promise."
"Lord Megatron isn't here right now. No one will know of this call, Shadow. No one will care."
Starscream wasn't going to help. He was too power hungry to think of ways his plan could backfire. I executed a last resort. Earlier, I had set up a way for this call to be saved onto Soundwave's computer, the one connected to the monitor Starscream was currently using. I input a code and it was done, I just had to stall. I decided if I were going down, I'd take Starscream with me.
I begged, "Please Starscream. I won't be able to last until nightfall in this cold."
Starscream looked at my frost bitten armor, he laughed, "You are worried about lasting? You would never have lasted, here or there. Haven't you gotten the memo Shadow? You've been replaced. We don't need you any more."
I felt energon well up in my optics. I knew he was just being mean. Trying to get to me. But, some part of me believed him. I knew that he was telling the truth. I brushed the energon away. I did not want it to freeze and blind me.
The human screen alerted me that my maneuver had been completed. As soon as Soundwave would return from his mission and sign in to his workstation monitor, he would see the recording of this call. It would start at the beginning and end when this ends. I just wanted to make sure that I didn't say anything stupid, and milk this glitch for the worst he could say.
I begged once more, "Starscream please. You don't have to do this."
Starscream cackled. He proclaimed, "Shadow, this is what you get for trying to take power away from me! Just think, with you gone, I'll be Megatron's undisputed second in command, and... ooh, do you know how lucky you are? You are currently speaking to the future Lord of the Decepticons."
"Starscream," I said, "I never wanted your power. You can kill me, just leave Megatron alone."
"Goodbye Shadow. Have fun freezing to death!"
The commander hung up. I smiled. He was doomed. All that needed to happen was for Soundwave to sign in. That was it. I imagined what that would look like. Soundwave would find this video. He would watch it and then alert Lord Megatron. Starscream would walk over and join them. The look on Starscream's face would be priceless. My smirk widened. Ghost would be around, she always was. She'd see it too. Then, then she'd tell Tarn, by then Scrmy wld b n de dth lst nd...
Everything around me started to go dark. I fell over with exhaustion. I could feel nothing but the cold. It was so cold: So very cold. I stared out of the hole I had made in the wall. The snow looked peaceful. I closed my optics and blacked out.
Yesterday:
It took a while for the dust to settle. I could barely feel my frame. All my metal felt like magma turned to stone. On fire, yet heavy, stable, compact in its pain. The only thing not my own was a large metal obstruction lying atop me. I transformed and sent it flying... right through an Autobot. Odd. A dream? I'm in pain... a nightmare, perhaps?
I slowly rose to my feet. My head felt light. My vision seemed different. Clearer. Like every particle in the air was mine to grasp, like every object in existence was tangible, not just there, but there for me. I took another step and examined the Autobot group. I could see them, through them: the metal that made them up, the material they were, the matter that existed. I felt that, if I were to reach out to touch them, my hand would rip them apart.
But, but something was off. Why hadn't they noticed me? Why couldn't they see me? The five walked towards my position. My spark beat faster. My vision faded. Everything turned a dull gray. I felt myself fade... fade through them. Or, maybe I was the object, and they the ghosts. Motionless, I felt myself nothing as they passed.
My hearing returned. The three meat-sacked specks from before were yelling, yelling, yelling at the Autobots behind me. I turned around to face a giant. This must have been the "Skyquake" that Starscream had mentioned earlier. He was a large green flier with dark energon revived veins. My vision returned. His entire essence gave off dark energon. He was clearer than before, but not as much as the Autobots. I could see best things that were not, not the same material. Not the same as me. This one was.
Skyquake took a few swipes at the Autobot-scum. His arms swooshed right through his targets. He stood dumbfounded. The Autobots left through a ground bridge. I noticed the screaming again from behind me. Those tiny flesh-creatures grew increasingly annoying. I think they denoted the word "zombie" to the re-animated warrior. And then he turned around. Slowly, steadily, with no fear, no caution, no spark, just bottomless purple optics and violence-hungry claws.
His pedes moved in my direction. He was shambling toward me. There was something about it, something that wasn't alive, no emotion, no sympathy, just an black hole, a vacant, dead vacuum. I couldn't move. He was a few paces away. I fell. A few steps. I backed up. Metal spine struck by jagged stone. His arm, his claw, sharp edges swung down at my head. Eyes closed. Spark beating. Nothing. I felt my metal go through his. Relief. I opened my eyes. My vision was lessened. He swung again. Hit. I was thrown across the valley, crashed against slate, and fell to the ground. He came at me again. My arms shook. My stomach quivered. My legs were as the stone. I could not move. The ground thundered. I covered my face with what arm I could muster to hold. My sight was clear. I could see how they shook, how the particles parted, how invisible we all were. His claw came again. I clenched my eyes shut.
Again, nothing. I kept them shut. Nothing. Nothing. Nothing. Just swooshes. Eyes open. Swoosh. Spark beat slowed, vision returned to normal. Clang! I could feel the energon dripping down my chest. The puddle wetted my legs. Arms energized, claws activated, I slashed back... hit. It hit. I hit. He swung again. I rolled out of the way, rose, and kicked the "zombie" to the ground.
Weak. I was growing weak. My head hurt. My morale lessened. I no longer felt like fighting. A few hits in, and I was already done. Although it was odd, I was too fatigued to question it. I created a COM link to Soundwave. Static. Nothing. Gone. Anger. I stared into the eyes of the beast as he lunged. Clear vision. COM.
"Coordinates... defective signal... fading in and out," I heard. I had only caught a portion of what he said. I was too tired to hear, and not motivated enough to try. With this vision, this impermeableness to shadows of matter, came a drainage too much for me to bear.
I no longer cared to hear the voice of the chief communications officer. My vision left me, and his words turned back to static. I no longer cared for any of them. I had no empathy. I had no feeling. No feelings other than pain and fatigue. I was done with them. All of them. Three swift hits. The zombie lost its right arm, collapsed under his weight, and would be unable to rise. He bled. Bled. Bled purple sludge. I felt nothing.
The arm was gone. I heard screams. The screams of the fleshlings. I gave no mind. No part of my cared. The deceased reached out for my 'foot'. I kicked it. It grabbed on. I shook, nothing. I frowned. I didn't care enough to think. I grabbed Starscream's fallen arm and hit the "zombie" with it. I was freed. I glared. Frowned.
Starscream was back again. Nothing. I felt nothing. Another green swirling vortex appeared. The "zombie" reached again for my foot. I fired the missile at it. The explosion caused it to tumble out of the portal. Movement behind me. Three insects and a fallen arm, using its fingers to propel itself like an animal. My vision returned. Starscream's arm fell through my hand. It was of a material I could not grasp. I saw my reflection in the armor of the zombie that lay atop the commander. I walked through the portal. I was no longer seen. The humans followed. The arm flew right through me and crashed into its cadaver. The "zombie" re-attached the limb. The vortex collapsed.
A second ground bridge appeared.
The Autobot leader spoke, "Jack, Miko, Rafael," I assumed to the meat-sacks.
Starscream struggled under the cadaver, "Autobots! Again?" he yelled. "Requesting emergency ground bridge now!"
I remember walking through the portal. I got somewhere in a long, metal hallway, before my vision faded again. But, this time, it really faded... to black.
Two days ahead:
I regained consciousness, but kept my optics closed. It was no longer cold. I was no longer cold; aside for the metal berth I lay on. I heard loud clunks and light chatter. I recognized the voices. I turned my head towards the noise and opened my optics.
Miko screamed, "Shadow! You're awake!"
Human. Human? Warm? Metal? I put it all together. I'm in the Autobot base.
My head was ringing. I softly said, "Miko, you're really loud."
I could hear more movement. I moved my servos. I noticed I could move. I wasn't restrained. I sat up, and then pushed off the berth's surface. I landed on my peds. My legs felt weak. I fell to the ground. I was on my servos and knees. I pushed to get up. I got to a position of one knee and a straight back. I slowly pushed up again. I stood for an instant, I felt as if I were to fall again. I grabbed the berth for support.
During this procedure I had ignored my surroundings. But, my surroundings hadn't ignored me. On my ground level: Optimus, Ratchet, Bulkhead, Striker, Arcee, and Bumblebee had me surrounded. Next to me on the [catwalk] human walking platform, Miko, Jack, and Raf stood by the railing.
My arms felt weak. They were shaking. I fell to the ground. I didn't try to get up this time. I leant against the berth/medical table I had woken on.
Jack asked, "Shadow, are you alright?"
"I have never felt this weak in my life," I said. I kept my sight to the ground. I could tell everyone was looking at me. I didn't like it.
Raf comforted me, "Everything will be fine," he said. But, he didn't feel as weak.
Ratchet agreed with the boy, "Hmm, yes. Rafael is right. You are simply low on energon."
My gaze did not shift. I was fed up, mainly with myself. I leant my head back against the wall of the berth. My optics were closed, if they were not, I would be staring at the ceiling.
"Shadow," Jack requested, "promise you won't be angry at me for what I'm about to say."
I sighed, "I won't be angry. I'm too tired to be angry."
Jack continued, "Good. Because we told the Autobots everything."
Wait, everything? How much is everything? Bah, too many words. F*ck. I'm too tired to think.
"Fine."
Miko questioned, "Don't you have anything to say? Anything to display at all! Any 'how dare you!' or 'Thank you'?"
"I just survived an assassination attempt, am extremely weak, and I am having a hard time processing the current situation. Please have patience."
I was silent. No one moved or made a noise. This went on for a while.
"Well we survived a zombie!" Miko yelled, "I don't care what! Just say something!"
"I'm sorry Miko." I said. "In the Arctic, I burnt your picture for warmth."
Mental warmth. It really didn't do much.
Bulkhead asked, "What happened out there? I saw Starscream fire at you, but nothing else."
"It was cold," I answered, "Starscream destroyed my COM and clipped my wing. He left me to die. No one will care though. I was replaced. I was demoted."
Optimus asked, "Demoted? Given Megatron's past and yours, that does not seem likely."
Jack added on, "Yeah Shadow, what Optimus said. What happened?"
I stated lowly, "Commander: Starscream's wretched title. That's what happened."
"I hate to be the barer of bad news," Bulkhead said, "But, that isn't a demotion, that's a promotion."
I opened my optics. I looked at the Wrecker with sad eyes, "Trust me, it's not. I know more about the inner-workings of the Decepticons than you. Take my word for it."
Arcee asked sassily, "Could you tell us of these inner-workings?"
I turned my head to look at Arcee. I questioned, "An interrogation?" I thought back to Wheeljack and to his funny banter. I then thought back to how the Decepticons dealt with interrogations. Starscream was cruel. They were all so cruel. I was nothing to them, to him. Megatron didn't even want me. I told the Autobots, "I'll answer anything you want. Just don't send me back there. I don't want to go back."
Bad choice of words. Unless it wasn't. It might have been.
Miko jumped up and down and fist pumped the air. Raf cheered and high fived Jack. Some of the Autobots did not believe me, or if they did, they did not understand why.
"Why?" Bumblebee asked, "Commander is a good rank. Why don't you want to go back?"
"Megatron." I answered, "The dark energon is affecting him in a bad way. It changed him more than I thought possible."
It seemed as if Optimus cared about this subject. He inquired, "How did the dark energon change Megatron?"
I rested my head again and looked at the ceiling, "Megatron's different. Before he would consider peace. He had a supposed moral conscience. Now, he—" I took a deep breath, "It is hard to explain, but he's more cruel, more evil."
Ratchet agreed with Bumblebee. He asked again, "What other reason keeps you from returning? We've all known Megatron to be evil, regardless of dark energon. Besides, Commander does seem like a good position to keep. Plenty of respect."
The humans glared at the doctor.
"I don't need another reason. Megatron was the reason I joined."
Bulkhead asked, "So you're one of those cons who joined with Megatron's revolution, you followed his power."
I denied the allegation, "No. I was an Autobot from the beginning. Megatron saved my life in battle. This was before Megatron led the Decepticons. Before Prime led the Autobots."
Arcee asked, "That was your life debt?"
I answered, "Yes." I felt sad. I didn't know why; I had just beaten death.
Optimus offered, "You can still join the Autobots."
"We wouldn't fight in battle," Striker said, "Unless we're on the same side, or sparing." The other creatures expressed their disgust for Striker's failed joke.
I felt too tired to do anything. I couldn't even move my arms. I could no longer sit back against the berth. I fell over. I did not bother trying to move again. I could see the Autobot's feet.
I weakly stated, "Then, I'll join."
The human children ran down to my head. Miko caught how dim my eyes had become.
Raf pointed out, "Ratchet, Shadow doesn't look so good."
Ratchet stated, "She just needs some rest and energon. She'll be fine tomorrow."
I powered down.
