Another shout-out to octaneglow, KayDeeBlu, Taipan Kiryu. Khammar and a big thanks to those who've left a review. We are almost at the end.
Disclaimer:Transformers are the property of Hasbro and their licensees. This story is based on IDW's graphic novel Megatron: Origin by Eric Holmes and Alex Milne. I wrote this story
Dawn of War
Chapter Eleven
If there was one memory Thundercracker vividly remembered, it was the first time he took flight. Every time he went up, he reveled in the lightness of his being, the ease of acceleration, the reverberation from the boom upon breaking the sound barrier as he soared beyond. Of his wingmates, he noticed Skywarp took his abilities for granted, just as he assumed Thundercracker would always be there. Only Starscream seemed to share his passion for flight. But whereas he simply loved shooting into the sky, Starscream valued the lethal advantage his abilities gave him; the pleasure flying gave him was just a bonus. All three Seekers shared one common prejudice among their kind; they looked down on anyone who couldn't fly. As they tore across the sky to their destination, Thundercracker heard Skywarp over their comm link.
"Target acquired. Armed and ready."
"Fire on my mark." Starscream answered.
As the transport center came into view and Starscream gave the signal, Skywarp locked on to his designated target and fired his missiles. Right behind him, Thundercracker hesitated, then marked the secondary target and aimed at the adjacent warehouse. As both structures exploded, engulfed in flames, Starscream came in from their right and took out the surrounding structures, destroying the entire complex. They left nothing but rubble, the inhabitants vaporized.
"Final objective completed. We're out." Starscream relayed to Soundwave. Back in formation, all three ignited their afterburners and disappeared from sight.
As the Seekers were inbound to the Forge, Soundwave detailed Ratbat's rant about how matters had gone too far. What did he expect? Megatron brooded on hearing Soundwave's words. Ratbat expected Megatron to create chaos; that Ratbat was unprepared he had succeeded was not his fault. I'm more capable than Ratbat gives me credit for, Megatron thought.
Underestimating the former energon miner was going to cost him; unlike Ratbat, Megatron and Soundwave knew the social order was disintegrating and it was not a matter of if but when a full scale revolt would take place. Military units stationed all over the Empire were making deals, preparing to switch sides when the time came; commanders were augmenting weapons and matériel in addition to stockpiling energon supplies; alliances were being formed between warriors and warlords. Rebellion spread throughout the Empire, making the probability of war inevitable.
Yet all that concerned Ratbat was profit. The elite, blissfully unaware of their tenuous position, were unaware the gates to their existence were about to breached.
Megatron knew exactly what Rabat's plan was; Soundwave revealed everything. As Starscream grasped Megatron's vision, Soundwave also understood the inexorable truth; the Empire was collapsing under its own weight. Soundwave was faced with a choice; in war, to the victor go the spoils and in this war, he could clearly perceive who the victor would be. Together, Megatron and Soundwave sealed Senator Ratbat's fate as Soundwave made his decision.
After Soundwave departed, Starscream and his wingmates gave their report. Megatron listened and dismissed Thundercracker and Skywarp, then proceeded to inform Starscream on his next task. When he was done, Starscream, instead of leaving, started to question him.
"Is this truly necessary? You risk much by delivering us to them."
The thought of spending time in an overcrowded jail disgusted Starscream. Why Megatron insisted on doing so was beyond his understanding. Starscream preferred tactics over strategy.
"Are you questioning my judgment?" Megatron asked, his voice low, clearly annoyed as he studied Starscream carefully.
"Of course not, I apologize." Starscream knew he had had blundered again and risked Megatron's wrath. He looked down. Only Megatron could make him feel as if he was the most ignorant bot on Cybertron.
Megatron gazed at his protégé; he wished he wasn't so young and impulsive. If he only had Soundwave's stability and focus. But he delivered. Let him and his brothers loose and they wreaked terror and destruction with ease. They were birds of prey, almost feral in nature. The trine needed to be tamed; to be brought to his fist and attack only at his command. Megatron knew if he bent this one to his will, the other two would fall in line.
And he would have complete domination of the skies, his victory virtually guaranteed.
"I'm giving you a simple task to complete; if you can't handle it, tell me now." Megatron thundered, an expression of rage contorting his face.
"I can do it." Starscream insisted, looking up at Megatron with fervor in his optics as they blazed. "Just tell me exactly what you want me to do and it's done."
Holding back a smile, Megatron relaxed and went over the details with Starscream.
In Iacon, a city he had avoided since having been dismissed from the Academy, Starscream walked away from the section that housed the privileged and wealthy. A sudden revelation struck him; he was far removed from the world he had once lived in. Once, Starscream had come here often; now, he felt out of place, wanting nothing more than to leave and get back to Kaon.
To be among his own kind.
Getting in to see Skyfire was easy; being around him was not. Since leaving the Academy, his life changed; he doubted he could resume his old life even if wanted to. But he convinced Skyfire of exactly the opposite; that he had seen the error of his ways and all he wanted was to return to the Academy. As they spoke, he couldn't help but compare his old mentor with his new one and wondered what he had ever seen in him. Skyfire is a fool, Starscream thought. He knows nothing about the real world.
Skyfire promised he would use whatever influence he had to have him reinstated as soon as possible. Starscream, pleased at having successfully deceived him, suddenly grasped how much he changed. Megatron is right, Starscream thought. We're superior to them in every way.
Standing on the landing pad of their building as the evening breeze cooled their engines, Skywarp and Thundercracker waited for Starscream to return. Skywarp looked at Thundercracker, worried.
"You hesitated." Skywarp gently accused his brother.
"There were civilians." Thundercracker explained. "We don't have to kill indiscriminately. There are plenty of other, more legitimate targets."
Skywarp laughed scornfully. "What do you care? They don't give a frag about us."
"Listen, they're not all bad." Thundercracker insisted. "A lot of them feel the same way we do. We risk alienating them."
"Sure, but they won't do slag about it, that's the difference." Skywarp understood Thundercracker's need to be certain about his actions but he also understood expressing doubt could have serious repercussions.
"Hey, we crossed the line; we can't go back. Ever. All of us have a price on our heads. Your friends won't lift a finger to help you, count on it."
Thundercracker sighed. Skywarp was only trying to help him "You're right." he admitted. "I just wish there was another way."
"Yeah, but it wouldn't be as much fun as this." Skywarp told him, grinning as he admired his arm-mounted laser rifle.
In the distance, Skywarp caught sight of Starscream approaching.
"Look, he's back."
Great, thought Thundercracker as he saw the familiar form angling, about to land. He's probably going to tear me a new one.
"He's still mad at me."
"Aw, he probably forgot about it by now. Just don't talk about civilians. Or anything."
Skywarp believed it was the best advice he could give him under the circumstances.
Night had fallen over Kaon; it was time to enter the arena. As Megatron walked through the tunnel into the arena floor, he listened to Frenzy complain about having been adapted to work with Soundwave. Megatron made it clear with his fist he didn't want his decision questioned. Once that issued was settled, he turned to address Thundercracker and Skywarp. As he spoke, he saw Starscream as he rushed to catch up with them.
"Get ready to bring the Senator out on my signal." Megatron instructed the two Seekers.
"We're on it." Skywarp answered as they left.
He continued to walk towards the arena as Starscream ran to catch up.
"Almost late. On task?' he asked as Starscream fell in step.
"The, uh..task is almost complete." Starscream advised him, careful to avoid any reference to detail. "I just don't understand the 'why' of it all."
Megatron decided to use a different approach with Starscream; instead of using his fists, he brought him back to reason. In Starscream, he recognized a determination not unlike his own. The difference was the Seeker lacked his maturity and the experience to understand the long-term consequences of his actions. He needed to exercise control.
"Just remember what we agreed." Megatron emphasized. "You could say we're sending a message."
They entered the arena and tonight, it was filled over capacity. Megatron had issued an open call for gladiators and they poured out of Cybertron's main cities into the Forge. Vortex and Brawl were inside, watching the crowd. The two Combaticons nodded as they recognized Razorclaw and Motormaster; as Grimlock passed through, Vortex nudged his partner.
"Look, pretty boy from Iacon is here." he sneered, pointing at Sunstreaker.
"He must really want his aft handed back to him in pieces." Brawl said.
"Not a problem." Vortex replied.
They were joined by Astrotrain, who came with Ramjet and his wingmates. Ramjet searched the arena for Skywarp, who had made a point of telling them to be here.
"I don't see him." Ramjet said.
"They're here." Astrotrain told him. "Just wait."
As Megatron launched his speech, with words and gestures designed to play on the emotions of the audience, Thundercracker and Skywarp listened to him. Declaring they were the strongest and most powerful Cybertronians alive, Megatron presented the notion that instead of fighting each other, they could fight together, under one badge, under one name, for the same goal: to hold those responsible for their misery and repression and bring about the end of the Cybertronian Empire.
The crowd reacted enthusiastically, the dream of vengeance taking hold immediately, just as Megatron knew it would.
Inside the room where they kept their prisoner, Senator Decimus was huddled in a corner, beyond caring.
What do you think he's going to do with him? Thundercracker asked Skywarp through their private channel.
I heard he's gonna execute him.
Really?
Yeah. Why? Does that bother you?
No, Thundercracker answered. I can't think of anyone who deserves it more.
As Skywarp laughed, they heard the signal.
"It's on." Skywarp said. They picked the Senator up by his arms and dragged his limp form into the arena.
"He's practically dead already." Thundercracker said.
"Hey, Senator, wake up. Your constituents are here to give you a send-off." Skywarp jeered.
As they appeared on cue behind Megatron, there was a loud commotion. Initially, Thundercracker and Skywarp thought the crowd was reacting to the Senator's presence, but the arena suddenly filled with smoke. An unfamiliar jumble of commands and the sound of fists crashing against metal resounded in their audio processors as they realized it was not part of the program. Something had gone horribly wrong.
Prowl and Sentinel Prime, leading the security forces, descended upon the arena in perfect coordination, took Megatron down and anyone else they could grab. Inhibitor claws were swiftly tossed over them, making their weapons useless. As they were restrained, Thundercracker and Skywarp looked at each other as they heard Starscream trying to fight his way out.
"Busted" Skywarp said miserably.
Inside the Security Center, Thundercracker listlessly went through the motions as they were being processed. Suddenly, a large red hand yanked him out of the line, taking him by surprise.
"Ah want a word with this one." he heard a familiar voice say. He looked up and saw Ironhide's angry face.
"Go ahead." said the guard. "They ain't going anywhere."
Pushing him into a storage unit, Ironhide secured the door.
"Ah never expected you to do somethin' this stupid." Ironhide said angrily as he turned to face his former friend.
Thundercracker, still restrained, managed to straighten himself up.
"Just get your private beat-down over with."
Ironhide was shocked by the change in Thundercracker.
"You think Ah brought you in here for that?" he asked him.
"You're a cop, aren't you?" Thundercracker spat out.
Just at Starscream made his break with his former life, so had Thundercracker. While he examined his actions more carefully, he was no less convinced Megatron was right. Yet he knew there were others, like Ironhide, who understood that the Empire was in serious need of reform and tried to change it from within.
"Listen, it ain't too late, TC. Ah can help you get outta this." Ironhide pleaded. He couldn't reconcile the figure before him, angry and full of hatred, with the Thundercracker he had known and worked with.
Thundercracker remembered Skywarp's words: "…We all have a price on our heads. Your friends won't lift a finger to help you, count on it." But Ironhide was offering to help him. Now, everything became clear and Thundercracker, despite his doubts, made his choice; his place was with his trine. Knowing Ironhide wouldn't understand, he decided to make the break final. Thundercracker stared at him; everything was different now. Like Skywarp had pointed out, they had crossed a line and there was no going back.
"Get me out? I don't want to get out. Just take me back."
Ironhide reached out to Thundercracker and had his offer thrown back in his face. He stared at the obstinate Seeker and his temper flared. Let him rot in this hole, he thought, he deserves it.
"Alright, have it your way. But understand this; you and your friends are goin' down." Ironhide grabbed Thundercracker's arm and thrust him towards the door, activating its sensor. As it opened, Thundercracker began walking out and then stopped. Turning to face Ironhide with a defiant look, he had the last word.
"No, you and your friends are going down. The next time we meet, you better watch your back, because I'm coming straight for you."
As a guard shoved him back into the processing line, he took his place next to Skywarp.
"What was that all about?"
"Nothing." Thundercracker told him.
The facility was already overcrowded and with the addition of the newest prisoners, the place was in disarray, the racket deafening. Despite the confusion, Skywarp turned suddenly, having detected Starscream in close proximity. Thundercracker also felt his presence. At least we'll be together, he thought. As he turned to Skywarp, he noticed his optics widen and focus on the figure of Starscream being escorted out, promising to disclose everything in exchange for leniency. Skywarp couldn't believe his audio processor; was Starscream malfunctioning? he wondered. Thundercracker, also having heard everything, was stunned. As he heard Megatron issue the order that several others rushed to fulfill, he experienced a sinking feeling of confusion and despair.
"Kill him!" Megatron shouted as he pointed to Starscream.
A/N I try not to use any dialog from the comic but the exchange between Megatron and Starscream right before they enter the arena couldn't be avoided, it's essential to the story itself.
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