He recognized the signs: the increased Decepticon activity, the decreased signal relays. And then all around silence that penetrated the atmosphere as planetary communication devices were cut off. Before a state of emergency could even be attempted at being broadcasted, the attack commenced that Barricade had predicted.
It was glorious in all its might. A one-sided war that swept across the land, Decepticon soldiers in numbers he hadn't expected, destruction and precision of conquest that had Megatron's signature all over it. The warrior clan of the human race barely managed to take a stand before they quickly changed to different tactics as they took to cowardly hiding.
Watching at a distance, he took it all in. Barricade felt a tremendous regard for those that were causing such chaos and creating such disarray, destroying everything in their path, humans and constructs alike. The earth was soon covered in fog, a murky smoke that clung to the air as explosions rocked the lands, grounds tore apart and buildings destroyed. Humans scattered, their bodies littering the organic ground, liquid red coloring the landscape.
And then it was quiet again. Twilight pushed back as the sun filtered through the particle filled air, warmth spreading on the new day as it outlined and made apparent what had just occurred.
Driving slowly while passing through, careful not to be discovered, Barricade made his way to the Autobot base. He had curiosity so strong that some precautions were thrown asunder as he quickened his pace.
Transforming, he climbed up a hill that he had used many times before to survey the area below. Activity was still present, but was fading quickly. Not much time passed before he found he was alone.
He knew just by observation that Megatron had been there personally. The destruction of the Autobot base had been clean and precise. Nothing left but dust and cinders, an obvious statement being made to Optimus, cold malice in every single particle that was leftover. Drawing a weapon, Barricade made his way slowly down. Walking over the torn yet intact fence, he went inside the compound. Sensors came alive as he scanned the area with zero life forms present. No human remains either and no activity except for some dissipating at the edge of the perimeter.
Barricade should have been a part of it all. He knew that. However, there was something else inside him, a freedom of self that was dominating his programming. He knew he would go back eventually, maybe even soon, just not yet. But that didn't mean he couldn't join in some of the fun, and whether he remained covert or not there seemed a great deal to go around.
Mikaela was nauseous with a queasiness that had her world spinning in narrowed ovals over and over, eyes unable to focus on anything as her head thumped viciously inside her skull.
To say they were in a predicament would have been more than an understatement, yet that was what they were in and what was blocking them as oppression was slowly given to them brick by brick as it kept them away from their freedom.
From what Alexis and Bumblebee had told her, freedom wasn't outside where they happened to be. They were deep within the Decepticon territory and the world, such as it was now, wasn't something she was sure she wanted to enter, not that she was going anywhere without Sam.
The dizziness deepened. She stopped her pacing, steps that she shouldn't have taken in the first place. But she was nervous, extremely anxious and full of thoughts that kept her wanting to move, if only to make her feel like she was getting somewhere. Leaning against the wall, the cold metal pushing against Mikaela, she closed her eyes, eyelids springing back open as her feet gave out. Falling to the ground, misery joining her as she wallowed in self-pity and sorrow. She felt Alexis coming. Her friend said something that twirled and shot into the discernible as soon as the words were spoken. Mikaela's mind was on other things. What she was informed of, after she woke up an hour earlier, took precedence over everything.
"Come with me."
Lifting her head, she saw a Decepticon standing before her. Hard focused eyes were on Alexis, Bumblebee and then shifted to her.
Alexis started to open her mouth, ready to say something to the Con. But Mikaela shook her head. She pushed herself up, body swaying as she forced herself to stand straight. No way was she going to let them see her like this. She was stronger than that. She had dealt with crap before and would again. Sam. She needed to see Sam. And Mikaela had an inkling that was exactly where the Decepticon was about to take her.
It started with a step, a simple uplifting of a foot that was preceded by another. She followed the pointed finger of the Decepticon and walked slowly out into a long hallway that was dimly lit and barren. Going too slow, she was poked and pushed forward as she crashed onto the floor. Lights shot before her eyes, stomach protesting as she tried as hard as possible not to throw up right then and there. But then something happened as she forced herself to stand back up, a numbness that started in her fingers and spread rapidly until the world stopped spinning. She continued forward once more, steps heavy yet more sure. The hallway was long and unending until a light suddenly appeared ahead. Sounds drifted and echoed past her.
The room she finally entered was large and ornate, decorated with deep colors of purple and blue. Carvings lined the wall in Cybertronian, equipment, monitors and other unidentifiable things spread throughout. A golden walkway led to a large chair that was empty at the moment, but no less impressive.
Her eyes inevitably led upwards. A cage swaying back and forth filled her vision as she fought hard to reign in her emotions that wanted her to scream, cry, yell and most definitely kill someone. She bit down on her tongue, the taste of blood spreading.
Megatron arrived. Looking behind her, Mikaela saw she was all alone with him and probably had been alone in the room for some time. There was an opportunity that she could have taken earlier, but even if Mikaela had been aware of it, she knew it was one she still wouldn't have. She was rooted to the spot directly under Sam's cage.
The Decepticon was staring at her, and she let him. Eyes remaining downcast, she focused on the glittery floor.
"Starscream tells me you are this creature's mate."
Mikaela's eyebrows bunched up as she felt unquenchable hatred. She lifted her head for a moment and then brought it back down.
"Answer me."
"Gossiping with Starscream? I would have thought you Decepticons have more important things to do." She didn't know that was her speaking until the words were past gone. Her mouth closed once more. Cursing at herself, she held her breath as her eyes widened.
"Evasive and condescending. You Autobot humans have forgotten your place. I see we will have to reeducate you. I wonder how long it will take before you cower along with the rest of your race."
She looked at Megatron, her brows rising to stand to a straight line on her face, mouth setting firmly into a disgusted scowl. Yet this time Mikaela said nothing.
"Tell me where the Autobot's are. What is their location?"
He was standing before her, close, too close. What passed for his feet were just inches away from her body. She felt a sick feeling trying to rise up in her as she felt his heat.
"I don't know." Her voice was low and hollow, a whisper of words that were barely breathed.
"All the time you humans spent with the Autobots and yet none of you know where they are? I find this hard to believe."
"What you believe is not up to me." Before Mikaela could blink, she found herself lying flat on her back, hard metal pushing her down onto the ground as fierce sharp fingers surrounded her. Mikaela's head twisting up, two red beams shone brightly as her burns screamed out in a renewal of pain.
"You would be best to think before you speak. Talk to me in such a manner again and I will show you why even my own soldiers fear me."
She felt her skin being torn as he continued to touch her. Mikaela's focus drifted away from the dominant figure, another taking its place. Her view was assaulted by bars of metal, a flat gleaming surface that above it held Sam. For a moment, she thought of yelling his name.
"I. Don't. Know," she repeated again, her permanent gaze unaltered even when she felt the liquid warmth escaping her flesh and moving down her skin, stinging as it flowed freely.
"And they did not give you the means to contact them?"
She blinked at that, thinking he would have found the device on Sam already. Perhaps, because he hadn't meant that... "It was destroyed when you attacked the base," she lied, voice even yet strained. She lifted her head slightly, eyes drifting back to Megatron. The pressure faded off her body. Sitting up slowly, Mikaela found she was shaking. Shock tried to take hold, but she fought it.
"Then tell me, human. What. Is. This?"
Something small came crashing down nearby. Even at the force of the throw it remained intact, a testament to the Autobot's workmanship. The phone clattered farther, passing through some droplets of her own blood to rest against her leg.
He didn't give her chance to answer, didn't give her a chance to say a thing. All she saw next was a flash of movement as something impacted her body. Mikaela found herself fading in a darkness that was growing, one that was tinted in crimson.
"You wanted to see me?" Starscream's words came out impatient and hurried, not to mention displeased, to be summoned in such a manner always left him feeling agitated. Megatron didn't seem to notice as he moved himself further back on his thrown, optics darkening momentarily as if he was lost in his processor.
"Yes, I do."
The Seeker waited for whatever it was, thinking that it was going to be more plans, or perhaps an updated schedule of all that Megatron expected to accomplish.
"I am giving you a reward, Starscream."
For a moment, he didn't believe his audio receptors. The look of doubt must have been written on his facial features, for Megatron chuckled. "You did help me destroy the Autobot base, and you have been rather enthusiastic with helping me expand our territory. So, I have decided to give you a little, shall we say, gift."
There was a rather amused edge to the way Megatron spoke that Starscream couldn't help but feel ill at ease. The room brightened and projections shone clearly. Video was relayed for a moment as scenes filled the area. Starscream knew what it was and watched the several hours old replay of him speaking to Alexis.
"You seem... most interested in this human."
"She was once one of my prisoners before the Autobots rescued her. And she was taken in by them before I arrived, so I did get some time to... study her," Starscream answered guardedly. Optics evenly placed on Megatron, he wondered why he had to repeat such information again. He had already informed the Decepticon leader of much more than that. Of course, even he would admit things got rather vague in their retelling when the girl was brought up.
"Yes, well, that may be so. Scanning her brought up some rather interesting results. Did you know that she has Energon in her? If I didn't know better, I would say the human was getting a little more comfortable with one of the Autobots that deems even necessary for them. Perhaps the yellow scout?"
Starscream remained silent while working on exuding disinterest, even with his Energon surging with outrage. He knew Megatron well enough to see that he was probing. Obviously more aware of things then he was willing to say as he tried in his not so subtle manner to glean further information.
"How does this concern me?" He shot back with complete calm, knowing his signature from his Energon sharing with the human was past the time of being traceable. As for the nanites, those hadn't even been discovered yet, and even if they were, finding the original owner would prove a difficult task.
Megatron didn't answer that, just went on as if he didn't hear the question. "I have designs for the humans. As for that one, Slicor seems to believe that..." The Decepticon leader continued, his overly enthusiastic voice filling the area with plans, which while remained rather clouded, reveled just enough that not only did they leave Starscream in disbelief but filled him with a prevalent concern, for once for someone else besides himself.
"...but before I allow Slicor to... test her, I have decided you may take her. Do with her whatever you want. Punish her, beat her, force her into submission in any which way you can." A rather jarring leer broke out on Megatron that hinted at some of the things Starscream had actually thought of before. "I know you well enough that I believe you desire to dominate the creature fully. Do whatever you want to the thing. She is yours, for now. Just make sure she is... more pliable when you are done with her. It will make what I have in store for her much easier."
A grin broke out on Megatron's face, and all Starscream could do was stare blankly, wondering what he had managed to walk into now and how the slag he was going to get out of it. It didn't take him even a nano-click, what with the focused look of Megatron still upon him, to know there was no way out. And in some manner or another, he was being tested, which was never a good thing.
Bowing just slightly and agreeing with a bend of his neck piece, Megatron dismissed the Seeker with a wave of the hand. Turning, walking quickly out of the room, he felt a bit clearer after he exited. He found himself automatically heading back to his own room. Thought after thought flashed through him, too many wanting to take dominance as he tried with desperation to figure out what he was going to do. What he needed to do. There were far too many complications and much to consider. Things were no longer simple and straightforward as they had been when all he cared about was increasing his own power and furthering his stronghold in the Decepticon army. However, no matter what he came up with, one thing was clear, he needed to prepare his quarters. He was going to have company.