Disclaimer: Hasbro owns Transformers, I own the story. Any and all additional recognizable culture references, locations, songs, et cet, belong to their rightful owners.

Chapter 36: Cassetticon Accepted

The party in the animal kennel had tried everything they could to leave their room, but every time they had opened the doors, the artificial winds of the halls beyond would pin them against the wall until they managed to shut the doors again. Hence, they had decided to get some rest beside the doors with the wind roaring on the other side, waiting for it to stop or at least quiet down.

Sunstreaker slept sitting back against the wall with Scarletclaw curled up in his lap with Sideswipe resting his head on the yellow Autobot's shoulder. Amethyst powered down and slept in a huddle with Jess and Alias right up against Sideswipe's side. Suspicion and Rockpunch returned to their subspace pocket on Skynet's back and Skynet sat against the doors. The way his face was covered made it difficult to discern whether or not he was sleeping or not. Sam sat against the wall across from him, staring at Skynet long and hard. It was a welcoming time of peace and silence, even if they were trapped.

Suddenly, Sam jerked his head towards the other end of the kennel as he stood. Curious, Skynet got to his feet as Sam did and followed the red-haired human back to Scarletclaw's open and abandoned cage. Its electric flow had been dismantled when Sunstreaker kicked it open. When they were in the private shadows of the cage, Sam turned to Skynet and spoke in a whisper, not wishing to awake the others.

"From what the brown robot was bragging about earlier," Sam began. "You're looking for Cassetticons, right?"

Skynet nodded, "Affirmative."

"And you're also looking for a lost Effort, yeah?"

"Original mission with Soundwave: Recover three unknown Efforts. Found: 1/3. Name of found Effort: Alias. Efforts in hiding: 2/3. Inquiry: How did you know?"

"I pumped Alias for information the entire walk down into this hell hole," Sam said, jerking a thumb over his shoulder. "She's got something called a Universal Computer Program. It's kinda useless if what you're looking for isn't specifically in a computer, but it's got just the right amount of usefulness to tell me what I wanted to know."

"Inquiry: What did you want to know?"

"Who Soundwave Effort was, what he was doing, and where the hidden Efforts were. Other than her, there's some freak called Juggernaut that Alias calls 'dangerously unstable and fatality is higher the closer he is' or some crap like that."

"Inquiry: Location of final missing Effort."

"Yeah, he's standing in front of you."

Skynet tilted his head to the side curiously. One could just draw a question mark coming from his head.

"My mother was an incubator machine and my father was Decepticon Skywarp," Sam went on. "At age nine, I ran away from Breaker Laboratories in the Sahara Desert because I just couldn't take them any more. I ran away north and made it to Italy before the Breaker Laboratory agents were about to capture me when Decepticon Swindle, AKA: Gadgetmaker, saved my life and I became his apprentice. I've been in hiding with him ever since, waiting for my purpose in life to arise, and I've finally found it: you."

Skynet stared at Sam, apparently surprised in his own dull way at this turn of events. Sam, for the first time, removed his visor. Beneath, bloody red eyes glittered in the darkness from his shadowy silhouette as he looked at Skynet. A crafty grin crossed his face.

"What?" Sam asked, "You really think I would run with a bunch of tree-hugging softies like the Autobots or humans? Please; all their bull about honor and kindness and crud like that makes me want to vomit. Chill out and do what you want, regardless of rules, is my way of life. But that's not the only reason why I'm going Decepticon. You see, Skynet, the reason why I didn't move on was because I felt like something was meant for me, something I was destined for you, and I have complete confidence that my destiny is to be your Cassetticon."

Sam lifted a cupped palm and the air began to waver over it. A small reddish orange spark flickered and crackled to life in the middle of the wavering air and slowly grew bigger, spitting out and drawing in more miniature lightening bolts until a small, rough orb of red-orange energy had collected in his palm, lighting both Efforts' faces in the darkness. Suddenly, Sam dropped his palm and the light disappeared.

"Another thing I hate about being with the Autobots and humans," Sam said, grimacing as he massaged his hand, "I'm weak. I have powers, but they're weak or inaccessible as long as I'm with the Autobots. Now, the way I figured it is this way: Your dad was the boss bot of my dad. Come on, we both know that Skywarp was a hopeless dope and that Soundwave totally had superiority over him on most days. If that's that, then what if you and I joined forces, just like our pops, neh? I can imagine that by doing that, not only will you gain a Cassetticon, but I'll come to my own in full power. What I'm saying, Skynet, is…"

He held a hand out to Skynet.

"I wanna be your Cassetticon."

Skynet looked at the hand, then up at Sam. A part of him was quietly warning him against accepting Sam, but a logical part of him said there was no reason to say no: Sam was fit, both mentally and physically, he was willing, and a telepathic scan showed no overly handicapping flaws in his mentality. So, again his better judgment, he accepted neutral Effort Sam.

"If you do this," he said carefully. "There is no going back."

"I'm ready," Sam said confidently, nodding as he kept eye contact with Skynet.

Skynet bobbed his head once then took Sam's hand.

The instant Skynet's gloved hand wrapped around Sam's own bare one, it squeezed hard. A jolt ran from Skynet to Sam, making the latter jerk on his feet as his brain was sent spinning with the force. He shuddered with barely suppressed energy as a change came over him, spreading from the hand that was held by Skynet, up his arm, and to his shoulder. Flesh swelled slightly, hardened, and smoothed over to become red-purple metal. The elbow became a smooth bar of metal only temporarily before breaking apart with tapping, clicking, and cracking metal, becoming a true robot joint. Sam's eyes widened as he looked down at the transformation.

"Wow," he whispered.

Suddenly, the transformation reached his inner organs and Sam's head snapped back, gritting his teeth against a shout of pain as everything with in him stiffened and cringed in pain. The change spread on across his abdomen, down his legs, and across his other arm. Finally, it crept up his neck and to his head, his most vital area. It leaped up to the left side of his face, making him close his eyes in an internal extinct of vain protection. The change covered his head, turning his hair into a smooth helmet and drying all that was wet on and with in him. There was a final mechanical shudder as the change was completed.

A red wave of energy zipped up from his new booted feet up to the top of his head, buzzing as it went, and finishing the format, refining joints and armor plating and making it harder than any metal on Earth. Nerves became wires, veins became tubes, and blood became coolants and oils. When it passed up by his chest, the energy left behind a bright red Decepticon symbol that flashed when it came to existence. His armor darkened into a dark, dark royal purple, and with the transformation complete, Skynet released the robotized Sam.

Sam collapsed, panting, onto one knee on the floor. After a moment, he looked up, opening his eyes to reveal glowing red optics beneath a translucent blood-red visor. A pair of triangular metal fins on his back spread out in a pair of long, slim wings and folded back; the only thing deviating from his other-wise Cassetticon body. He looked up at Skynet and a small smile crossed his face.

"Wow," he chuckled breathlessly, "What a trip, eh?"

"It always is the first time," Skynet agreed. "Rise up, Screech, and swear your loyalty."

Newly-named Screech stood up tall and saluted by standing tall and slapping a fist over his new Decepticon insignia. He didn't need to make the speech up: It was a natural part of being a Cassetticon.

"I swear to you, my creator, and my master, to follow you to the ends of the universe and back and serve you without hesitance or question. I will fight when you tell me to fight. I will be still when you tell me to be still. I will do when you tell me to do. In return for my undying, unquestioned loyalty and services, you will protect and care for me when I am sick, when I am injured, and when I am in danger. You will not leave me behind. This I do swear, my Cassetticon Handler, Skynet, as Cassetticon Screech."

The Autobots and rouge Scarletclaw jerked awake when they heard not one, but two metal sets of boots thunk to the floor upon jumping out of Scarletclaw's cage. The drowsy party sat up, rubbing sleep from their eyes as Skynet and Screech came over to the door.

"Skynet," Jess yawned, "Who's that with you, honey?"

"Honey?" Sideswipe asked, rubbing his optics. "What--?"

"Uh, weirdo, I mean weirdo!" Jess hastily corrected herself, blushing, "Who's the new guy, weirdo?"

Skynet stopped in front of the door with Screech beside him. Skynet made a parting motion with his hands and the doors slammed open, letting in a rush of artificial wind. Screech placed his palms near each other, creating a large orb of red electricity that he flung out into the tunnel. The comet streaked through the halls, crashing into a distant wall. It went into the wall, sinking down into the machinery with in and frying it.

A great rumbling noise sounded out an all over the underground base as a machine was broken. Lights and machinery turned off and shut down. The artificial lightening stopped attacking the flying Decepticons in their prison. The violent metal grinder came to a halt in the enormous funnel room the Autobots were in. The torturing zaps falling on Mextron ceased, the wind in the halls fell still, and everywhere, everyone was plunged into darkness.

For a moment, only the glowing blue and red optics of the Decepticons and Autobots lit the darkness. Suddenly, the headlights in the Lamborghini Twins flicked on, shedding everyone in light. The red emergency power lights of the laboratories came on a second later.

"What was that?" Sunstreaker exclaimed.

"Hey, who's the new dude?" Sideswipe asked.

"The way is clear, we may move on," Skynet said, exiting the room.

"Where's Sam?" Amethyst asked.

Screech raised his hand.

"Sam???" Jess exclaimed.

"What, didn't you notice something weird about me during all those months we worked together repairing the ship, Jess?" Screech chuckled as they walked through the dark halls. "The way important messages from the Autobots just conveniently made it to you late, or how I hid my red eyes behind a visor? Don't you think it's a bit weird that I had such close connections as a Transformer merchant apprentice?"

"That insignia on your chest is Decepticon," Amethyst growled, "So we should have heard a hum when you were around. Efforts of opposite faction always hear that hum when they are near each other."

"Truth to tell, I was neutral up until my flesh turned to metal," Screech admitted.

"Whose Effort are you?" Jess asked.

"Skywarp's," Screech answered, flexing his wings, "But I was a weak Effort, which is why I've proudly signed my services off to Skynet, here, and gotten quite a power boost."

"A Decepticon was among us all that time and we never even knew," Sunstreaker growled, shaking his head. "We're blinder than I thought."

"Well, it shouldn't be surprising, Sunny, considering your handicap," Sideswipe said, tapping an optic to indicate that Sunstreaker was missing one.

A second later, the twins had turned into their Lamborghini forms and Sunstreaker was chasing Sideswipe up the hall, bellowing incoherently at his brother.

"Alias, didn't you know this?" Jess asked Alias.

"Yes, but, I-I-I didn't understand," Alias whimpered, rubbing her head. "I still don't have a good grasp on this ability after all these years!"

"Wait, then that night we raided the Breaker Laboratory hide out and Max claimed you were trying to push Benjamin off the cat walk…" Jess said quietly.

"What can I say, babe?" Screech asked, shrugging casually, "A man has instincts as to what benefits him."

Jess stared at Screech for a moment. Suddenly, she grabbed Skynet's shoulder and spun him around, facing him towards her and halting the party.

"You knew this!?" she screeched.

"Negative," Skynet replied, "I am not completely sure of the incident that you are speaking of."

"This bastard tried to kill one of my best friends and wound up getting another one of my best friends flung in here!" Jess yelled. "And you hired the damn bastard? That's like making a murderer your brother while you're dating the murderer's victim! What the hell is wrong with you?"

"Uh, Jess, sweetie, maybe now is not the time—"Amethyst began.

"Stay out of it," Jess snapped at her. To Skynet, "Well, Skynet? Answer me!"

"Answer what?" Skynet asked, genuinely confused.

Jess was frustrated. Max had been kidnapped. A boy she had come to trust turned out to be a hidden Decepticon Effort and had tried killing Benjamin once. Anne had been turned into a wild Decepticon cat. She had been caged, she had been dragged around by metal claws, and now her potential boyfriend had just made a traitor one of his colleagues and didn't even know what was wrong. So she acted on her rage and slapped Skynet.

The slap was hard, making Skynet turn his face as his visor fell off. Amethyst, Alias, Scarletclaw, and Screech all stared in shock at the hit. Up the hall, Sunstreaker and Sideswipe even stopped, turning into robot mode, and stared. Too frustrated and embarrassed, Jess ran on ahead, past Skynet and the Lamborghini Twins and on into the dark hall ways. Sunstreaker and Sideswipe exchanged confused, worried glances, and Sideswipe took off after Jess.

"Jess, wait!" he called.

Sunstreaker, mean while stalked over to Skynet and knelt by the boy. He slammed his hand into the floor inches from the boy as his lights blazed in fury. His one good optic flashed tinges of purple.

"What did you do!?" Sunstreaker roared.

Skynet, mean while, kept his face hidden as he retrieved his visor and placed it over his eyes again. Sunstreaker seized the boy up in a hand and shook him.

"Answer me!" Sunstreaker yelled, "What did you do to her?"

Under his visor, Skynet opened his eyes, exposing twin balls of flaming red light.

"I fell in love with her," he growled.

Skynet emitted a telepathic shockwave, knocking all but Screech back from him and into the walls. Skynet dropped down from Sunstreaker's grip and instantly entered his hover camera form.

"Screech: Return!" he ordered.

Screech hastily transformed and entered Skynet's storage slot, knowing full well that Skynet was not in a good mood. As a hover camera, Skynet zipped through the halls, right past Sideswipe as he consoled a weeping Jess, and into the dark halls. In one particularly long hall, two doors on opposite sides of the hall were suddenly blown open. From one door poured the missing Autobots and the other, the Decepticons.

"See? I told you that there was a hidden entrance!" Ironhide crowed, "You just had to shoot it up!"

"Wow that worked, Starscream?" Thundercracker asked.

"I guess all you have to do sometimes is close your eyes and shoot," Smartmouth snickered.

The two sides froze and stared at each other, finally seeing each other. Instantly, they scrambled to their feet and came face-to-face with one another, baring their weapons and fists in challenges for a fight. Starscream to Prowl, Skywarp to Jazz, Ferrofluid to Wheeljack, Smartmouth to Ironhide, and Bumblebee to Thundercracker. Before they could start fighting, how ever, Skynet appeared among them.

"Order: Cease violent encounter immediately and leave Breaker Laboratories headquarters," Skynet ordered.

"Who said you could start giving orders, punk?" Starscream snarled.

Much to everyone's surprise, the usually emotionless and taciturn Skynet turned to Starscream and shot him with a hidden weapon on his hover camera body. Starscream earned a hit to the shoulder and fell back, gripping his shoulder as it emitted smoke and energon.

"Dad!" Smartmouth exclaimed, dropping down and propping her dazed father up.

"Inquiry: Questions?" Skynet growled.

"Skynet," Ferrofluid said, "What's the matter?"

"Question: Irrelevant. Departure: Immediate," Skynet answered coldly.

Skynet floated on, leaving behind a very confused party of Transformers. An engine buzzed and suddenly, Sunstreaker sped past them in Lamborghini form. Right behind him was Amethyst in Lamborghini Diablo form, then motorcycle-Scarletclaw carrying Alias. A little after them came Sideswipe with Jess curled up in his back seat.

"Hey, you little slagger!" Sunstreaker roared, "Get back here and fight like a mech!"

"Sunstreaker, wait up!" Amethyst called out.

"Guys, what do I do with a crying human femme??" Sideswipe called. "What do I do? What do I do?!?"

"Jess?" Ironhide asked.

Ironhide took off after the party, transforming down into a van, and was soon followed by the rest of the Autobots. Thundercracker and Skywarp exchanged looks.

"Should we follow them?" Skywarp asked.

"Eh, it's not like we're doing anything here," Thundercracker answered with an apathetic shrug.

Transforming into jet mode, the two flew after the others. Ferrofluid watched them go, then walked over and knelt on the other side of Starscream from Smartmouth.

"Is he gonna be okay?" Smartmouth asked fearfully.

"He's a little fried, but a little rest and he'll be fine," Ferrofluid said, scanning Starscream. "Come on; we can't stay in one place for too long. Not in this place."

The two pulled the barely-conscious Starscream to his feet, throwing one of his arms over either of their shoulders, and thus supported him as they followed the rest of the Transformers.