Short chapter today as I'm currently very involved in saving the galaxy from the Reapers... so very, very busy...Mass Effect 3 is just far too demanding and I can't resist. I'm probably indoctrinated.
Some words of caution, but there's some torture in this chapter of the Cybertronian kind.
(c)Hasbro/Takara
Allison struggled in vain to free herself as Knock Out carried her from one dim chamber to another, all linked by long, seemingly endless halls. The one they walked through now stretched into oblivion before her. She had no idea where she was, but she could clearly feel a gentle downward slope, indicating they were traveling underground. She thought she could see what looked like a natural rock face curving up on both sides of her, but there was also piping and wires woven in. Every now and then, the shimmer of something faint caught her eyes, but it was gone before she could see it clearly.
"What's going on? Where are you taking me?" She rasped, the grip around her body constricting her airways making it hard to speak.
"Into the bowels, as former Lord Starscream liked to put it. To be perfectly honest with you, it's just a glorified basement." Knock Out's tone was disturbingly conversational, like how one might talk happily to an old friend. It was clear he was disgusted by humans, but he also harbored a frightening fascination with them. Interacting with them was one thing, but studying them was another.
"This whole place was an abandoned mine, you see. The former humans left decades ago. They thought they had mined it dry of resources. If only they'd dug just a little deeper; they'd have stumbled across something far more valuable than coal." Knock Out had stopped, and was scratching at the wall with one of his fingers. Some of the rock scraped away, leaving a small indent. The Decepticon held Allison close to the wall, and she could see what looked like some kind of sticky residue. At first she had no clue what it might be, but then she recognized the pinkish color.
"You're mining energon?" Allison asked, in disbelief. Wheeljack had never mentioned anything like that to her, though it occurred to her it was likely the Autobots didn't know about it. "How is that possible? I thought that was something unique to Cybertron..."
"Did you think that our ships were the first ones to ever visit your tiny little planet? This planet has always been a valuable outpost, and was visited by Cybertronians many times long before we ever came here. Some things inevitably get left behind, and it appears the energon stores the Decepticons hid away have flourished beneath your planet's terrain. A rather unexpected-yet extremely useful-discovery." Knock Out said, explaining exuberantly. "Besides, why else do you think there would have been a space bridge in your solar system? It wasn't entirely random that we happened to crash on your specific planet. It's just that it wasn't exactly planned either."
"Then why do you need the Pendulum...and Wheeljack? If you guys had known all along where earth was and had been here before, you should know how to get back to Cybertron," Allison ventured, feeling like all her preconceived notions were now completely false. She'd thought they'd needed the Pendulum to contact their planet, because it was the only source of the known coordinates in relation to earth currently in existence. If they'd had a space bridge in the solar system and had been to earth before, hadn't they always known?
"I'm afraid it's not quite that glamorous. When our ship crashed, our navigational systems were destroyed past the point of recovery, and I can only assume the same was true for the Autobots." Knock Out cast a gaze down at Allison, as if waiting to seen if she might confirm his thoughts. When she didn't react, he continued. "Without that, there was no way we could open up the appropriate channel to contact Cybertron, and they could not contact us without our working equipment. The Pendulum, it seems, is the first piece of earth technology that has had that ability, which is why we need it."
Knock Out ducked under a low beam, then turned a corner, walking down a steep incline. "So we will build a new navigational system," he continued. "The energon mine here is the most logical place to put it, as it provides an immediate power source."
The tunnel grew a little darker, but Allison refused to close her eyes, trying desperately for her eyes to adjust. She was struggling enough just to keep up with all the information Knock Out was throwing at her. It didn't help that, unlike Wheeljack's modest pride in his work, Knock Out was unashamedly boasting about the Decepticon's ability to wreak havoc across the cosmos.
"Let me guess, you won't tell me what that plan is?"
"On the contrary, I'm sure everything will be revealed to you before you die." Allison was again disturbed at how casually Knock Out chatted about her demise.
"Is that really all I am to you: a scientific amusement? Don't you care that I might have family or loved ones?" Allison shuddered.
"Not really, no. The word 'family' has absolutely no meaning to us." Knock Out said dismissively.
"Maybe just to you it doesn't. The Autobots are a family. Sunstreaker and Sideswipe are a family..." Allison wished she hadn't spoken those words, regretting that she might have let something slip that the Decepticon could use against Sunstreaker. Knock Out only seemed to laugh at this, however.
"Those two are an anomaly. They're mutants, both of them, and I should very much love to crack them open someday too; take a good close look at their sparks and see what wonderful mutation caused their delirious symptoms."
"You're grotesque," Allison said, feeling disgusted, and a little bit sad for the twins. Surely they deserved more respect then that.
"So I'm told." Knock Out eyed her as he continued down the long hallway. "Besides, human, last time I checked our reports state that you have no family. You were the only offspring of those that created you, and now they are gone. There are no friends that will miss you either, so I highly doubt anyone will even notice that you're gone." Allison was surprised at how much this stung. "Even Wheeljack will eventually forget all about you and move on. Remember, he is very old, and you so very, very insignificant. I suppose that's disappointing, but if it's any consolation, you won't be around much longer to endure the painful thing you call a life."
The way he talked down about the way humans lived their lives almost made it seem like Knock Out saw them as some kind of lame animal that deserved euthanizing. Allison did not dare let the hurt show on her face, knowing far too well that weakness would only be used against her. Instead, she focused on keeping her face as neutral as possible as they rounded another corner and turned into a large, dimly lit chamber.
The first thing that was immediately noticeable was Sunstreaker, and seeing him there made her gape in horrified disbelief. At first she thought he was standing up against the far wall, but as she neared him she realized that he was actually chained to the wall; dual bounds holding his arms aloft on either side as he sagged limply against them, barely standing upright. Already he looked beaten, with fresh dents and marring scuffs on his otherwise vibrantly yellow armor. She half imagined that he'd been dragged carelessly across the stone floor to the room they were now in, the symmetrical scratches darkening his surface made all the more noticeable by the bright pink color of the fluid that was leaking from broken seams.
Beside Sunstreaker stood his interrogator, and when Allison saw the obvious size difference between the two Cybertronians it was immediately obvious that one had the unfair advantage. Sunstreaker may have been unpredictable and physically aggressive up to this point, but Breakdown was nearly two heads taller than him, and Sunstreaker was already massive enough from Allison's perspective. To make matters worse, Sunstreaker had already been wounded. The whole scene made her think of a pit bull beating down a battered chihuahua caught in a trap. In this circumstance, Sunstreaker would not have had a chance to fight off the abuse that Allison thought she was better off having missed.
Breakdown was flexing his knuckles anxiously, while he fidgeted with an eagerness that was obviously born out of a desire to inflict even more harm than he clearly had. He was standing close to the Autobot with his back turned to her and Knock Out as they entered the room. Muttered, grumbling words passed between them out of her earshot, and when it was clear Sunstreaker wasn't going to respond, the Decepticon pounded his huge, boxy fist into the Autobot's chest. There was a massive crunch as Sunstreaker convulsed, and his chest plates crumpled beneath the impact. The Autobot let out a noise that could only be described as inhuman, but there was no mistaking that it harbored a great deal of pain.
"You work fast," Knock Out chuckled brightly, and Allison could only be disgusted in knowing she was probably the only one who cared about Sunstreaker's suffering.
"Couldn't wait to get him up. Fragger mouthed off all the way down here. Thought he could use a lesson in humility." Breakdown admitted. "But he's breaking so easily, I can't see this lasting long, and I'm not in the mood to hold back on him."
"By all means, don't let us stop you," Knock Out said. "Maybe this will loosen his vocalizer a bit." Knock Out held Allison aloft. She let out an involuntary yelp as the Decepticon tossed her to the side like he was throwing away a rag. Her body hit something hard, and she rolled to a stop along a smooth surface—some sort of raised table. Probably where they put their instruments of encouragement, she thought through a hazy, pain-filled wheeze. Allison barely heard that Knock Out was still talking.
"Soundwave seems to think so, but do try and keep her intact. It would be a shame to have all those delicate parts damaged before I can get my scalpels into her."
This comment spurred action into her, and Allison managed to sit up, her eyes traveling between the Decepticon next to her, and Sunstreaker who had so far not moved. His face was down, the weakened glow of his eyes just barely visible against the contrasting plates of his face.
All she could do was watch tragically as Knock Out sauntered over to Breakdown and pulled something out from his back. It looked like the same two-pronged spear that she knew had the ability to create some sort of electrical charge, and it became painfully obvious what it was going to be used for.
"Please... don't hurt him..." She pleaded, voice all but a whisper. The two Decepticons turned to her with equally amused faces, and Allison knew that begging was going to be pointless.
"Look, I think she wants us to stop," Breakdown said with a gruff chuckle, taking the spear from Knock Out without hesitation. "Hear that, Autobot? She wants us to stop." Breakdown tapped Sunstreaker's chest with the dull end of the weapon he was holding, and the Autobot lifted his head slowly. Sunstreaker's expression was still one of contempt, but he looked as if he was struggling to keep up the facade, his eyes pale in the darkness. The Autobot looked at her, but he did not move.
"You're wasting your time. He doesn't care about me," Allison said acidly, surprised at her own admission. She hoped that maybe it would deter them from hurting him any further, but part of her knew that was wishful thinking.
Despite everything he had done, she was finding it hard to convince herself that those words were true. He had come for her after all. Some part of him must have cared, even a little. Maybe he didn't favor humanity quite as much as Optimus Prime did, but he wouldn't have spent so much time and energy trying to protect her if he'd hated her as much as he let on. Allison was afraid that the Decepticons knew this, and she wanted to convince them otherwise.
"We shall see," Knock Out said. He directed his attention back at Sunstreaker. "Autobot, tell us where you're friends are going and you can end all of this. The human will die a quick death, I can promise you that."
"Frag off..." Sunstreaker muttered, weakly. Clearly mustering the energy for verbal slagging was not yet out of his reach.
"A shame," Knock Out frowned. He stepped back and nodded to Breakdown, who grunted in affirmation. All at once the pronged end of the spear came alive with crackling electricity as Breakdown swung it around, letting it hover near Sunstreaker's face.
"Stop it..." Allison begged, but she was ignored.
Breakdown lowered the prod and jammed it into the vulnerable cabled section just between Sunstreaker's main chassis and waist, and the most horrific light show ensued as the Autobot was overcome with electricity. He screamed, somehow finding new strength in his voice which was barely audible over the snapping arms of light that pulled at his body. Allison couldn't bear to watch Sunstreaker seize uncontrollably as the electricity ripped through him, tearing at every pain sensor he had. She buried her head in her hands in helpless frustration, not able to witness such a sight any longer. He didn't deserve that.
Finally, there was a merciful silence as Breakdown stood back to admire his handiwork. Sunstreaker shuddered and fell limp as the last remnants of living light dissipated from his beaten form, and for a moment Allison feared that he truly was dead when she dared to look up. Her fiercely beating heart lifted when Sunstreaker groaned.
"Is... that all you got... 'Con?" Sunstreaker lifted his head weakly, eyes re-ignited with internal fire as he cast a spiteful glare at the Decepticons in front of him. She found a new respect for the Autobot then that she couldn't ignore, but she silently hoped that his mouth wasn't going to end him right then and there. For only a moment Breakdown and Knock Out looked taken aback as they stared right back at their quarry, before Breakdown turned to Knock Out with an indifferent shrug.
"Guess he's not such a runt after all," Breakdown said, cracking his knuckles idly.
Knock Out folded his arms, walking around the battered form of Sunstreaker. He almost seemed to be appraising him, his eyes observing his hostage with keen interest.
"I've read your file, Sunstreaker." The Decepticon sounded so casual, almost like an employer interviewing someone for a job. "You're an interesting case. You're impudent, your brash, you don't follow orders very well, and you're so full of contempt. It's a wonder you wear that symbol so willingly. Right now, from where I'm looking, it's really the only thing that tells me where your allegiance stands, and even that's starting to look a little fuzzy from here."
Knock Out walked over to where a drone was standing guard, and sneered at it. "Look at them. No sense of pride, no sense of self-worth, no style. They're happy to remain where they are; nameless and expendable. But you..."
"Get... to the point. I'm getting...bored here," Sunstreaker managed between gasps.
Knock Out smiled evilly at him. "You came from a place not so different. Alone, discarded, unwanted. And look at you now. Well, now might be a bad example, but you've proved to be thus far about as plain and indistinguishable as a firecracker. I'm really rather envious." His expression took one of confusion as he tapped his chin with a finger. "But I can't help but wonder why someone like you would choose them over us when we're so very much alike."
Sunstreaker coughed. "…Nothing alike. Not… interested in bots like me. You want them..." Sunstreaker's gaze turned weakly to the silent Decepticon soldier standing near Knock Out. "…Tear down others. That's what you do best."
Knock Out laughed loudly, stepping forward again towards the beaten Autobot. "And you don't? Sunstreaker, you've pushed away everyone who's ever tried to help you. You stepped on everyone around you just to survive, and you've put others in danger just to satisfy your own warped perspective on life. You are a Decepticon, at least inside that twisted little spark of yours." Knock Out idly tapped his fingers against his folded arms. "You know, I could spare you all this pointless agony."
"Why would we want to do that?" Breakdown asked, humorously.
"I'm just giving him an option, Breakdown. It's an offer I'm not willing to offer more than once, but I do believe it's in our prospective brother's best interest. He has information that could be of great use to us. It'd be a shame if we had to pry it out of him when he could simply tell us and join in the game."
"He better, for his sake," Breakdown grunted in disbelief. "I'm not sure how much of this he can handle."
There was a pregnant pause as if they were waiting for Sunstreaker's answer. Allison couldn't believe what she was hearing, and that they were actually asking Sunstreaker to join their side. Part of her, admittedly, wasn't entirely sure that he wouldn't... She was already of little use, and if Sunstreaker decided to join them they'd have even less of an incentive to keep her alive.
"Already told you...frag off..." Sunstreaker choked, finally breaking the expectant silence. Allison bowed her head and let out a silent, but long, sigh of relief. The Decepticons, however, seemed unsurprised, and Knock Out gave an exuberant shrug.
"Well, you can't say I didn't try. This would be so much easier if Soundwave would just do what's needed and be done with it, I'll give you that, Breakdown," Knock Out said dismissively, and Allison knew all too well what he was referring too. Part of her wondered too, why Soundwave didn't just take the information from Sunstreaker psychically... if anything it would have saved them the trouble.
"Sometimes I think you have something against fun, Knock Out," Breakdown said with a sarcastic frown.
They both simultaneously turned their heads in Allison's direction, eyes aglow with sinister pleasure as if just remembering that she had been there in the first place. She took a step back, not liking where this was headed.
"Maybe this one just needs a little encouragement." Breakdown advanced towards Allison, but all she could do was take more useless steps in the opposite direction. There was nothing for her to hide behind; she was in the open and vulnerable, and she doubted she'd survive any sort of physical beating from such a massive robot, even if he did hold back. Even less she knew she wouldn't live through an electrocution from the spear Breakdown was swinging so casually.
"Nooo..." The whispered gasp had come from Sunstreaker, and this made Breakdown stop with a wry smirk on his face. Allison exhaled, finding it hard to be relieved over a temporary distraction considering the faces of the Decepticons in the room. This must have been the desired effect, as both of them seemed smugly pleased at the reaction, but it wasn't enough. Sunstreaker didn't even have the strength to lift his head.
"She...doesn't know anything. She's just a...stupid human."
"Stupid isn't the word," Knock Out muttered to Breakdown. "These humans really are incredibly dense."
"I think it's cute," Breakdown joked. "I think he's protecting her."
"Couldn't...care...less," Sunstreaker murmured. "Just... let her go..." Sunstreaker had looked at her before, but this time when his eyes hit her it was perhaps the first time that there appeared to be any conscious realization on his part that she was there. His expression may have been indecipherable to the Decepticons surrounding them, and he probably even thought he was hiding it from her, but he was failing at it. He looked ashamed, maybe even felt guilty but none of that really mattered more than the fact that Allison knew he was trying to save her.
Now, it felt like being angry over being put in that train car was just petty and wrong. It seemed so pointless compared to the defeat she now saw in front of her. Sunstreaker was trying to appear emotionless, but he wasn't very good at it. Pain tended to do that to a person.
It was too bad it would be in vain, because she knew Knock Out was going to kill her anyway as soon as he got her alone.
"No," Allison interrupted. "Let him go. You can do what you want with me. He's right... I'm just a human, but you need me if it's Wheeljack you want... You don't need him. He's a Cybertronian, one of yours; A proud, ancient warrior. He deserves some dignity."
Knock Out laughed loudly. "Oh, this is rich indeed. That's very noble of you, Allison, but you know nothing of our race." He walked towards Sunstreaker and took the Autobot's face in his hand, pulling it towards him roughly. Sunstreaker's eyes narrowed, but he made no effort to pull away, perhaps not having the strength to.
"This one is but a spoiled adolescent." Knock Out looked sideways at Allison, letting Sunstreaker's face go as the Autobot's head went limp. "Now that I think about it, he's very much like you. Once he's gone, no one will mourn his passing. How fitting that the two of you are destined to die together. Maybe it's fate, if you believe in that sort of thing. Personally I think it's all one happy coincidence."
"Happy isn't the term I would use," Allison said.
"Knock Out..." Sunstreaker coughed, which changed into strained laughter as a weak smile appeared on his face. "You talk too much..."
Knock Out turned to Sunstreaker with an infuriated snarl, lifting his hand to strike him across the face. He stopped as high-pitched droning began to wail over unseen speakers, and it took a moment for Allison to realize that she was hearing some kind of alarm. It took the Decepticons the same amount of time to react to what was happening, more likely not expecting it at all, but they both stopped in their tracks. A nearby monitor buzzed to life, and the faceless visage of Soundwave appeared. The two Decepticons looked at it, and Knock Out acknowledged the call with a frown.
"Soundwave. Let me guess, you've decided to come spoil our fun yet again?"
"Priority One. Proximity alarm engaged. Perimeter has been breached." The monitor turned off abruptly as Soundwave cut the signal.
Breakdown looked at Knock Out. "More Autobots?" he asked.
"Who else would it be?" Knock Out replied. He turned to Allison and sighed, before immediately reaching out and plucking her off her perch without giving her time to prepare for his approach. The startled yelp that left her throat was the only sound she could manage as his hand tightened around her, taking her away.
One last look at Sunstreaker told her that he had finally lost consciousness, or intentionally shut himself down. His eyes were closed and darkened, and Allison hoped he had found some kind of escape from his turmoil. At least for the moment, he was free, and that was her only uplifting thought as she was carried from the room.
No amount of struggling over the continued blare of the alarm amounted to anything as they hurried down the corridor, Breakdown just ahead of Knock Out as they traveled closer to what Allison had assumed was some sort of communication center and infirmary mixed into one given the decor. They were passed by small groups of the same, almost faceless drones who turned and looked at their superiors with detached interest. Allison would have felt sorry for them, the way they seemed to be regarded as disposable troops, if she didn't currently fear her own death. She knew with conviction that Knock Out intended to take her somewhere and kill her, so all she could do was struggle, useless as it was proving to be.
Breakdown continued down the corridor with a small group of drone troops when Knock Out veered sharply to the right, taking Allison exactly where she expected to go. She intensified her struggles as they entered the communication chamber, and Knock Out walked in with devious purpose as he made a beeline straight for the raised table she had been so carelessly dumped on before.
Allison was surprised to find that they were not alone in the room, as the familiar silhouette of Soundwave stood in front of the monitor against the far wall that Knock Out had been standing at when she had first been brought in. He turned when they approached, and his glowing visor regarded them with what might have been surprise as Allison found herself slammed down against the metal surface of the table.
"Explanation required. Priority One: Secure space bridge." Soundwave's voice was the same passionless monotone that Allison remembered well. To her dismay, Knock Out did not so much as look at Soundwave, all of his attention focused solely on her.
"Yes, yes, I know all about that. The space bridge is secure." Knock Out said with detachment. Allison could not have found any of this interesting even if she'd wanted to. She was too busy trying to peel robotic fingers off of her body and breathe at the same time. It was hard to focus with glowing red eyes looking her up and down, like they were examining a piece of meat for the right place to cut. Allison was finding that she was quickly losing, her body starting to go slack with the injuries she had sustained and exhaustive attempts to struggle against impossible strength.
It had to be the Autobots... there was nobody else it could be. Surely Fowler wouldn't send human military after her... She thought she had seen Knock Out talking to Optimus Prime and Wheeljack on the monitor Soundwave now stood at, but the image had disappeared so quickly for her to be sure. They couldn't possible have arrived yet, unless it was someone else…
Her useless flailing had the opposite of its desired effect, and Knock Out's face erupted into one of delicious enthusiasm as his other hand hovered dangerously close to her face. There was a soft clicking of moving parts as pieces of his arm shifted and unfolded, followed by the delicate shink of a needle emerging from his arm as it traveled mere inches from her neck. An exhausted whimper was all she could manage as her strength gave out, and she went limp against the table.
"I was hoping to not have to do this the easy way... but I guess time is a factor now, and I need you to be still..." Knock Out crooned, bringing the needle ever closer as Allison cried in defeat. It was all over.
Something made Allison jump, and it took her a moment to realize that Knock Out's arm had been forced backwards with a loud clack of metal hitting metal. She only barely recognized that Soundwave had silently moved next to them, pulling Knock Out away by grabbing his arm with a clear expression of command in his single, visor-like eye.
"No."
"Soundwave, please! I'm about to perform delicate surgery here. These humans are so small and they break so easily."
Soundwave did not remove his hand from Knock Out's arm, remaining stoic and emotionless. He stared at Knock Out for a good few seconds as Allison looked between them in her own startled confusion, and eventually Knock Out's gaze broke.
"Alright, fine. If you really think this must wait..." Knock Out said with a deep huff, turning to gaze down at Allison with a lop-sided smile. "I'm stepping out of the room for a moment. Don't go anywhere."
Knock Out pressed a button somewhere underneath the table, and Allison felt the metal around her shift. The slab seemed to almost mold around her, and she sank into the metal, solid straps slinking their way over her to keep her wedged in place. She couldn't move her arms or her legs as they were pinned to the surface. Even as Knock Out leered close to her face, she couldn't react more than simply stare back.
"I know, the wait must be killing you." Knock Out hissed, then spun around and walked towards the door, stopping only long enough to give Soundwave an irritated glare before leaving. Allison saw Soundwave stare at her for a few seconds, his expressionless face unreadable before he too left.
Allison tried to control her breathing as she allowed herself a brief moment to comprehend what had just happened. She knew Soundwave wasn't being benevolent, as there was clearly something very important going on that she wasn't aware of; something needed to be defended. His timing was just rather merciful. Regardless, it meant nothing to her, because if she died on this table any information that she had that could potentially help the Autobots would be useless.
Instead, she set to work on trying to find a way to wriggle her way out of the metal straps, trying to find a way to slide her body out from under them or find a way to get one of her arms free. It didn't matter how hard she tried, as the straps only seemed to tighten around her as she moved. In a way they seemed malleable, as she assumed they were probably meant for larger bodies of varying types; able to adapt to whatever frame and shape they needed seeing as not every Cybertronian was the same size with the same build. The fact that they could also adjust small enough to hold a human down was just the terrible icing on the terrible, terrible cake.
Despite any malleability they may have had, they were solid, and if they were solid enough to keep a full-grown Cybertronian down then she had no possible way of breaking them. This didn't deter her, and as she stared up at the ceiling she continued her frustrated attempts to squeeze her way out. Only the repetitive, crying alarm kept her company. If she gave up, she was going to die.