HI! Jumping ahead in time! This takes place in TFP Season 1, but is very AU. It will take place before sick mind. Oh, and Dreadwing's around. And this chapter sucks. Just saying. Will get better.

Xxx

Megatron awoke with a splitting headache. He really needed to stop getting overcharged at night. He groaned and rolled of the berth, hitting the floor hard. Primus, did he have to dream about the past again? It had gotten worse since Starscream had brought him back after the space bridge incident. The Dark Energon was the only thing keeping him alive. It still took Knockout forever to get him active again. The Autobots were sure in for a surprise.

'Lord Megatron,' Dreadwing commed.

"Yes?" Megatron growled.

'I believe we are under attack.'

"By who? Autobots?"

'No. Worse.'

xxx

Optimus watched his team from afar. There was a time when he would have joined them in their games, but not anymore. Not since his mate's betrayal. How could he? How could he do that to him? How could he sever their bond and attack Iacon, create his own army, and destroy Cybertron? What had happened? There was no way he could have planned that from the start. He would have seen it when they bonded. What changed him?

"Optimus," Ratchet called him out of his thoughts. Optimus turned to his uncle, and now CMO.

"I have my reports for the week ready," Ratchet said. Optimus nodded and left for his quarters, where the reports would be waiting. Ratchet sighed. There was a time when Optimus' eyes glowed with life. Now they were the eyes of one who had seen too much in his time. Of one who had betrayed. If only he could relieve him of his pain.

"The time is coming," a voice whispered. Ratchet stumbled.

"You okay Ratchet?" Arcee asked.

"Yes, yes, I'm fine," Ratchet mumbled. "I'm fine..."

Xxx

Rage boiled through Megatron as he watched his men fall before the red mech. One by one, till none were left. Only he and his senior officers remained, but they were either injured or unconscious. Megatron screamed as the red mech's blade tore his arm form his shoulder, before doing the same to his leg. He... he was this powerful. A painful realization hit Megatron like a storm.

He had lost.

Xxx

Optimus had to get away. He doubted anyone on the base noticed. Well, Ratchet would have. And Bumblebee. They always did. It wasn't uncommon for Optimus to leave for a drive by himself. It helped him clear his head when dark thoughts swarmed his processor.

In hindsight, Optimus wished he had stayed. He wished he had been there. He should have been there. He was supposed to protect them. That was his reason for being. His reason for living. He should have died with them.

There were no words to describe the pain that overtook Optimus' spark at the sight of the mushroom shaped cloud. Shock, horror. He knew for a fact where it had landed. No. It couldn't be happening. His men... the humans... his uncle... his...

The last thing he remembered was the sight of the MECH ship far up ahead.

Xxx

Megatron bit back a pained scream as Knockout reacted his leg. His arm was already fixed, though he wouldn't be able to complete his work until they got to proper equipment. There wasn't much in a MECH cell. They had locked them in the small room (by Cybertronian standards) and left them. No one had come. Soon, they would begin to power down due to lack of Energon. This is just like him. To slowly torture them instead of finishing it quickly. Besides Megatron and Knockout, Starscream, Dreadwing, Breakdown and Shockwave were all there, each having receiving all the medical care that Knockout could provide under the circumstances.

"What was he doing here?" Starscream grumbled.

"I heard he escaped the prison he was in shortly after the war started," Dreadwing said. "He must have found his way here."

"What is he after?" Breakdown wondered.

Megatron, he feared, knew the answer.

Xxx

Optimus awoke surrounded by the bodies of MECH soldiers, the men brutally butchered. He knew. He knew what had happened. Optimus fell to his knees and purged his tanks, tears falling down his cheeks. Why? Why did this always happen to him?

"My, my, my! What a mess?"

Optimus didn't even care enough to feel fear. His optics were dim and unfocused as he looked up. He was the one. He knew he was. They are gone because of him. But for the life of him, he couldn't bring himself to care.

Sentinel smiled gleefully at his son.

Xxx

2 weeks later

xxx

"Took you long enough," Megatron growled.

"Oh shut up," Shockwave smirked. "I'm the one doing the rescuing."

Shockwave walked over to help his brother to his feet.

"Where to?" Breakdown asked.

"The right," Shockwave said. "There's a hatch there. That leads to above ground."

The Decepticons silently made their ways through the halls, no one was in the halls, as MECH had given this section of the building to Sentinel. What had moved the two to join forces, Megatron did not know. All he knew was that they had to get out of there. Once they reached the hatch, Dreadwing climbed first in order to help pull Megatron up. Megatron hissed in pain but said nothing. The others followed them up and towards the ship a few yards away.

"Oh, I should warn you," Shockwave said. "I picked up an extra passenger."

xxx

Rage filled Sentinel as he stared at the empty room. It shouldn't be empty. There was supposed to be a mech tied to the berth. Where was he?

An angry roar rang through the base.

Xxx

Megatron sat up front with his brother. You'd think they'd have more security. Shockwave was driving the ship, his face solemn. Megatron looked back. His men looked weary and tired, on the verge of recharge. Megatron looked to the mech in the back who sat with his head rested against the wall, his optics on-lined but as though he were dead.

Megatron had never seen Optimus Prime like this and with all his spark, he wished he never had to.