Feeling was slow to return to Miko's body. First her fingers moved, then her pedes, and finally her arms. There was warm plush underneath her and cool air pressed against her. She was... on a berth?
Sounds whispered against Miko's audios. Growls and hisses, along with heavy thumping and deep, resounding voices. She couldn't catch any of it through the static filling her hearing. With a groan, the femme onlined her optics, but her vision was unfocused. She could only see an asymmetrical blob looming over. Her lenses spiraled with a whirr, trying to unblur her vision.
Only to be greeted by an upside down image of a fanged, angular face that was a matter of inches from hers.
Lazerback.
Miko let out a shrill scream and flailed so violently she almost headbutted the hovering monster. She tried to move into a sitting position, but her body wouldn't obey her. Wires pulled and gears groaned in protest. Her processor spun, trying to recalibrate her equilibrium and her navigation systems and her battle protocols all at one. It left the femme reeling in disorientation, resulting with her rolling off the berth.
Miko grunted as she smacked painfully against the floor, falling in a heap of limbs. The metal beneath her trembled as heavy pedes neared her. Miko tried to roll away, to stand up—to do anything.
"Fool!" came a growl. "I told you to leave her alone!"
Miko squeaked as she scrambled into an upright position, vents heaving, only to find herself pinned between the berth and a colossal figure. She had to crane her helm back to see a vicious-looking silhouette, a frown angled towards her.
"There is no reason to fear, Small-One," spoke a baritone voice, "you are safe in your nest."
NEST? She was with the Autobots? No, that wasn't right. That rumbling tone wasn't like Optimus's. Miko frantically scanned her surroundings, trying to get her bearings, and reality struck her like a monster truck. She was in Shockwave's lab, back on the Nemesis. But why were the Predacons here?
She looked back to the figure, into those warm, golden optics. A wave of recognition washed over her.
"R-robodragon?" Miko breathed in disbelief.
A metal brow rose at that.
"I am Predaking." Robodragon rectified instantly, speaking in a rather dignified voice. "Not 'robodragon'."
"Preda…king?" Miko repeated the name lowly and hesitantly, like saying a new word for the first time.
She vaguely remembered he had said it before, when he confronted the pair of rampaging Predacons. Robodragon had transformed into a mech, just to protect her and—
"Jack!" Miko gasped. She twisted her helm back and forth, trying to find another small figure. "Where is Jack?"
"Do you refer to the Little-One?" Predaking asked gently. For such a gargantuan mech, his voice was surprisingly calm and quiet.
Miko wouldn't refer to Jack as "little," but considering the Predacon was nearly three times his size…
"Yes! Where is he?!"
"His Sire took him. The Great-One assured me that the Red-One will look after him."
Miko just stared blankly, not understanding a single word the Predacon was saying. Realizing she was not getting a straight answer, the femme gripped the side of the berth, using it to climb to her unsteady pedes.
"I need to find him!" she declared. "He's hurt! I have to know he's okay!"
Through the frantic babbling, Miko was aware it was only a matter of hours ago, or however long it was, that she wanted to pound the spoiled brat to a pulp. But after seeing Jack lying motionless on the ground, covered in dents and his own energon, she realized she couldn't bear the thought of losing her best friend to someone else. If anyone was going to finish off that idiotic jerk, it was going to be her. Miko tried to rush forward, only for massive talons to block her path.
"Our Creator instructed that we are to wait here," Predaking told sternly.
"Shockwave can have an Insecticon up his tailpipe," Miko retorted.
"This one has quite a fire," an unfamilar voice spoke. The femme turned to see the golden Predacon, Twinstrike, eyeing her, with an odd look of admiration in his optics.
The crimson Lazerback wore a much different expression. "I still want to eat her."
Miko's optics widened. The Predacon said it so bluntly, so casually, like he didn't just announce he wanted to kill her.
"Neither of you will lay a talon on her!" Predaking bellowed. "The hatchlings are mine!"
The youngling had no idea what a "hatchling" was, but the sentence jostled her out of her frozen state. She narrowed her optics to a glare.
"I don't belong to anyone!"
This brought out a boisterous laugh from Twinstrike. His twin voices were gone. If anything, it sounded like they had merged to form a smooth baritone.
"I like this one!" he announced gleefully, while Lazerback merely scowled.
"She's noisy!"
"You're noisy."
"You're a fool!"
"You're arrogant."
"You were dropped as an egg!"
"Your carrier forgot to tend to your flames."
Miko watched the battle of insults by cocking her helm back and forth like a tennis match. With a flip of a switch, the beasts had completely forgotten her existence. Instead they were sizing each other up, inching closer with bristling armor and raised claws. Miko wondered if the lab was big enough for her to spectate the coming monster bash without getting torn to shreds.
She never got the answer to that as suddenly the doors opened and a shrill scream sounded, "What in the name of Primus is going on here?"
Miko turned at the commotion to see Starscream stomping into the laboratory, wings hiked up and crimson optics bright.
"None of your concern," Predking answered tersely. "I am watching over the Small-One. Your presence is unneeded."
The second-in-command looked severe. "She is my responsibility! Remember I am your superior!"
"You are not my superior."
The Predacon's soothing tone turned into a vicious snarl. He spun around in impossible speed and grace, stalking towards Starscream until his broad form loomed over the Seeker. Starscream visibly flinched, but managed to keep his ground.
However, his voice had lost some of its fury as he muttered, "Yes, well, I am hers. Now, would you be so kind, step aside."
The nervous Seeker tried to step around the towering Predacon, only for the beast to stomp directly in front of him.
"No," Predaking growled dangerously.
"No?!"
"My Creator told no one is to disturb her."
"Shockwave has no authority in military matters—"
"You will not have her."
Miko blinked. She was reminded of when she first met the dragon. Predaking had possessively wrapped around Miko and refused to relinquish her, even to Shockwave. Was he protecting her? From Starscream?
The second-in-command's timid expression was slowly returning to that familiar scowl. Wings raised even higher and armor bristled to make him look bigger. Yet comparing his slim frame to Predaking's bulk, the Predacon could still stomp him.
"Leave. Now," Predaking said, his one and only warning as golden optics blazed, glaring down the Seeker.
Starscream quivered with rage. "I do not take orders from you, you wretched—"
Long talons raised as if to strike the gigantic king. Although the Seeker could as much damage as a kitten to the beast's thick hide, Predaking let out a savage growl. His wicked claws darkened against the overhead light as he lifted them above his crown, as if to slice the Decepticon in half.
"Stop it!"
Miko didn't even register her body moved until she found her servos around Predaking's arm.
She felt wires tense underneath her fingers as the dragon flinched at the sudden contact. His bright, wide optics turned to her, mouth still agape from his previous snarl. Miko was painfully aware of several wide-eyed gazes boring into her, she didn't let herself be deterred.
She didn't know why she had moved—why she was stopping Predaking from killing one of her kidnappers. Her mind reeled, trying to find words to explain her actions.
"Don't," Miko said lowly, pulling the arm down with all her strength. "It'll just cause more trouble. Buckethead won't be happy if his second-in-command is killed."
It was a half-baked lie—an excuse for her absurd behavior. Miko didn't even believe it herself.
Considering the treacherous snake had tried to usurp him countless times over, Megatron would probably be overjoyed that there was no one trying to stab him in the back. But it was the only thing she could come up with to convince Predaking not to strike the second-in-command. Miko didn't either of them get hurt.
A hiss cut through the tense air as the door opened, followed by slow, heavy pedes. Shockwave paused at the scene, the lenses of his optics spiraling as he analyzed every detail and calculated what was happening.
"Starscream, why are you irritating my subjects?" the chief engineer demanded coldly.
"I was merely attempting to retrieve the femme," the Air Commander retorted.
"I have yet to monitor Warpdrive's recovery, much less clear her for active duty." Shockwave's voice was low as he came closer. Allowing him to take notice of the bristling Predacons. The antennas on his helm tilted back. "You have agitated the Predacons."
Starscream snarled and pointed an accusing talon at Predaking. "This one almost sliced me in two!"
"Because you are threatening the hatchling."
"Hatchling?!"
"Predacons share the responsibility of caretaking."
The Seeker could not form a response, merely letting out a series of sputters, his optics impossibly wide. Shockwave barged past him and Predaking stepped away from his post, exposing Miko. The femme let out a startled squeak as the Decepticon scooped her up without warning. He gently laid her back on the berth, as if mindful of her frail state.
"Remain still."
It was her only warning before a beam of light enveloped her body. When it switched off, signaling the scan was complete, Shockwave turned to the monitor and began tapping away.
"Well?" Starscream demanded impatiently. "Is she clear for combat?"
The scientist made him wait a moment. "No. Your presence here is not required. Leave."
The second-in-command blinked at that. "What do you mean?! You said the surgery was successful!"
Miko squinted. Surgery? Shockwave didn't turn to the bristling Seeker as he said, "The femme requires time to recuperate."
Starscream glowered hatefully at the mech and Miko feared the mech was going to pounce on Shockwave. Predaking loomed over him, his fierce optics into the trespasser. Laserback and Twinstrike remained at their post in the corner of the lab, watching with curiosity and anticipation.
The human-turned-Cybertronian began to wonder if they were all going to tear each other apart, just over her. Why? Why was she so special?
Then, finally, Starscream's wings fell in resolution. The Seeker collected himself, even stepping away from Shockwave, but his optics were still filled with disdain.
"Fine," Starscream spat spitefully. "Do enjoy your time with your pets, Shockwave."
With that, the Decepticon second-in-command turned heel and left. Miko almost let out a sigh of relief. Almost.
She was still surrounded by ferocious Predacons: one that wanted to tear apart anyone that stepped close to her, one that almost killed her, and another that wanted to eat her. She tried to avoid their terrible gazes, shifting uncomfortably, but the only place left to look was at Shockwave. He wasn't a much better option.
The scientist must have noticed her nervous fidgeting, because he finally turned to Predaking, "I need to examine the hatchling to ensure there is no further damage. There is a space in the back of the lab that can accommodate all three of you."
"I wish to remain here to ensure no harm comes to the Small-One," Predaking countered.
Shockwave fixed the Predacon with his bright optic, but the great mech just stared right back. Then, to her surprise, the scientist turned his attention back to the monitor, "Very well. If you please, allow me space to work."
Miko's jaw almost dropped at the almost polite tone the scientist was using. He had always been blunt and cold to her, yet he let Predaking win the argument before it even started. Did he even know what the Predacons did to her and Jack? What were they even doing here? The world was fuzzy again as her processor raced with questions. But it was hard to speak in the suffocating tension surrounding her. Finally, the oppressive EM fields retreated.
"As you wish, my Creator," Predaking hummed, slowly stepping away.
The other two lingered as well, their stares boring into her. Shockwave's voice drew her attention from the leering Predacons.
"How do you feel, Warpdrive?" he asked, but there was no hint of concern in his voice. He didn't even look in her direction. Miko shifted, still trying to figure it out herself.
"Um... disoriented?" she decided on. "Everything feels… funky."
It was a human term, but Shockwave seemed to get the gist of her meaning as he nodded slowly.
"Unlike most Cybertronians, warpers' navigation systems is directly connected to their warpdrives," he explained. "When yours was damaged, it must have interfered with your orientation. I managed to repair your warpdrive, but it may take longer to re-install the coding."
Miko's tank rolled, realizing what that meant. Shockwave would spend more time poking around her helm. Great.
"Can I at least walk around the room?" she asked, disliking the idea of having to stay on the berth for any longer.
"Yes. It may improve your equilibrium." With an excited pulse of her spark, Miko moved to rise, but Shockwave stopped her before she could get an inch. "After I have recalibrated your systems."
With a dismayed groan, the femme limply fell back to the berth.
"Will she recover?" Predaking asked from where he stood, eyeing her curiously.
"Yes," the scientist neared her then, claws rising to her helm. "Do not resist."
Miko didn't as he reached behind her neck. There was a flicker of defiance, that she wanted to turn away from the sadist and hit him square in the optic. It took a moment to stomp down the impulse. It didn't matter what she did. Shockwave always got what he wanted. The former human bared her medical port.
Her slaver wasted no time establishing a connection, replacing the world with white noise. Miko was faintly aware of the Predacons watching with mixed disbelief and curiosity, evening shifting their weight as if they didn't know what to do with themselves.
She felt the block of logic that was Shockwave sorting through her coding, methodical and precise, patient without end as he observed each and every strand within. The scientist pressed against something, but only when he did, the world around her spun without her permission. Her grip tightened on the berth and her body seized. Had Miko still been human, she would have purged, and even as a metal being it didn't seem like a bad idea.
Then all thought vanished as suddenly a wave of foreign, yet familiar coding flooded into her processor. A soft, dry gasp ventilated from her quietly, optics widening as the warpdrive came to life with a whirr.
Then suddenly the onslaught vanished as quickly as it appeared. Shockwave uninstalled and stepped away, allowing Miko to reorient herself. It was not easy, but eventually she recognized the sinister walls of the laboratory.
The femme shuddered, her processor still reeling from the "recalibration." Miko gritted her denta as she forced herself into a sitting position. Not giving Shockwave a chance to give her another order, she dragged her pedes off the berth and slid to the floor. Only when she did, her legs quivered, nearly giving out underneath her.
Suddenly a servo moved towards her, but Miko flinched back, growling, "I'm fine!"
"You still need to recuperate," Shockwave argued.
"You said I could walk!"
"Even with the coding, it will take time for your body to realign itself."
Miko didn't understand why Shockwave was suddenly being so cautious. He had sent her on a mission joors after an invasive surgery, had her fight her friends when she was still reeling with pain, had her train until she almost fell into stasis. Now the scientist was trying to usher her back to the berth, his bulk shielding her from the Predacons sight.
Why? What was Shockwave plotting? Miko realized that was what she hated the most about her slaver. She never knew what he was thinking.
"Why did you even bother? You couldn't stand to lose another pet?"
Shockwave's optics brightened, and the femme braced for the wave of pain to crash over her. Instead the Decepticon growled lowly, "Tell me something, Warpdrive, if I was so indifferent to your condition, why did I spend nearly a solar cycle reconstructing your frame?"
The statement made her flinch. It was then she because aware of the state of her frame. The gaping wounds she received from the Predacons' claws had been welded shut, dented armor was put back into place, and torn wires were sewn back together. The human-turned-Cybertronian looked almost as good as new.
Miko didn't let herself be fooled. Shockwave loved stitching back together almost as he loved tearing her apart. She would wake up from stasis, sore from surgery, but her frame would be almost completely repaired. The femme realized this was no different.
"Because… because I'm your tool!" Miko snapped hotly, her optics blazing.
"Even so, it was Lord Megatron himself that went to fetch you. I wonder if the Autobots would share the same courtesy."
That wasn't what Miko was expecting to hear. Whatever smart retort on her glossa died at those words. "W-why would Buckethead come to get us?"
"Lord Megatron," Shockwave corrected sternly. "Logically he sees more value in you than Optimus Prime did."
Miko just stared. She had to remind herself she wasn't talking to Starscream or King 'Con. Shockwave, didn't lie—sometimes she wondered if he knew how to lie. He merely made theories, only when he had the evidence to back them up.
Megatron saw value in her? Well, of course he did. She was a slave bound in his web of lunacy. It was his fault she was here in the first place.
But Optimus Prime never saw anything special in her, either. No one did. The Autobots were quicker to scold her than to reward her. She just wanted to help, fight the bad guys, yet everyone got so angry with her. It was so unfair! Being a Decepticon prisoner was unfair.
Her gaze turned away, unable to look into that singular red optic any longer. Her fists curled and uncurled, the anxiety building up in her chest. She caught sight of the Predacons, who had been been quietly watching the exchange.
What were they, then? Were they slaves? Did they even know what they were?
Miko lowered her voice so only Shockwave could hear, demanding, "And what about them? Do they have an 'value?'"
"They are my creations," Shockwave stated simply.
"Then what does that make me?"
The Deceticon finally looked up from the computer console, fixing her with an intense singular optic
"You are mine."
oOo
Something was wrong. That was the first thought that went through Jack's processor as his online protocols activated. Instead of being greeted by a rush of sensations, his body felt numb and his surroundings were muted. He struggled to open his optic shutters. Where... was he?
All he could see was darkness, unable to open his eyes. Unable to feel anything around him. Panic stirred in his chest as the void surrounded him, blocking off any escape.
There was a noise against Jack's audio, but it was muffled and distorted.
"Que—aw?"
"Nng..." the mech could only moan.
Jack became aware of something was stroking the top of his helm, light and careful. He tried to reach out with a servo, but it wouldn't respond to his command. Instead, reaching out to Megatron through their bond.
He was greeted with that familiar dark presence, pressing against him and wrapping around his mind possessively. It was almost comforting, and Jack released an ex-vent as the panic that filled his processor was pushed away. He blinked several times, slowly, allowing his optics to focus on the blurry world above him. The alien, glaring light was replaced by a black blob, which took a sharp, deadly shape. His violet optics met bright crimson ones.
"M...meg...gatron..?" Jack wheezed, his voice horribly staticky.
The Decepticon lord's lips pulled back in a smile, claws stroking the side of the mech's face. "I have you, my little one."
The mech could only let out a broken sigh. He was only faintly aware he was leaning into the touch, taking comfort in the soothing strokes. His thoughts were spinning in confusion. What was Megatron doing here? How did he get here? What was going on—
Then Jack remembered.
The Predacons. The monsters were alive, tearing apart human soldiers. Jack and Miko had fought them, trying to stop them, trying to protect—
The former human's spark seized.
Raf.
Jack went to jump off the berth, only to groan as pain radiated across his frame, paralyzing him.. He hissed as his back fell onto the berth. It was then he became aware that his wings felt off—they were numb and tingly at the same time.
"Wh-wha… the…?"
Megatron must have sensed his puzzlement over their link, explaining, "You were brought to the warship to treat your extensive wounds. It required the reconfiguration of your wings."
"My w-wings?"
Jack twisted his spinal strut in an odd position to view his wings behind him. They looked exactly the same as before, but as he twitched them experimentally, the sensation felt odd. Like trying to force a numb limb to move. It was then he realized why he woke up so disoriented. He could feel nothing.
Jack's sensitive wings detected his surroundings, monitoring the air for the most ideal conditions for flight. Now the sensations were horribly muted.
"I... I can't feel anything," he gasped, optics going wide with horror.
"It is only temporary," Megatron assured. "Seeker wings possess a high concentration of sensory receptor. It may take time for all of them to activate."
Jack didn't like that. At all. It was like being blind, unable to fully be aware of the area around him. He reached for the appendages with a clawed hand, but he shuddered with horror when he found he was unable to feel his own touch.
"I-I can't fly like this!"
"You can, it will merely take time to recuperate," Megatron explained. "We will resume your flying lessons. Once I tame those savages."
He ended his sentence with a dark, vicious growl. It took a moment for Jack to realize what he was talking about.
"The Predacons," the human-turned-Cybertronian recalled. "Where are they?"
"Within Shockwave's laboratory."
"Are they...?"
Jack trailed off, not knowing how to finish that sentence.
Megatron must have gotten his meaning, reporting curtly, "Alive."
"O-oh."
He wasn't sure how he felt that. The dragon—no, Predaking—had come to the younglings' rescue. He...was good, Jack supposed. But the other two had nearly killed him, and they killed dozens of soldiers. They hurt Raf.
Megatron must have sensed his misgivings or saw it on his face. "Rest assured, my dear, Shockwave can contain them. Soon, you will not have to interact with them at all."
He said the words like it was a dark promise, but Jack hardly saw that assuring. Instead, he glared accusingly at the tyrant.
"You said all of them were dead," he stated.
Megatron's optics ridge furrowed in warning at Jack's tone, retorting, "So we believed. We had no way of knowing any of the Predacon clones had survived."
"They think you left them. That you didn't bother to contact them after they drove out the Autobots."
"Because communicating with beasts would be like communicating with a stone."
"You still could have sent someone. Anyone!"
Megatron's optics narrowed. After a long moment of silence, he realized, "You are upset with me."
Jack bared his fangs in anger. "You ignored me."
Megatron cocked an optic ridge, gaze glowing intensely. "And if I did?"
"You said you would never abandon me, that—"
"If you recognize where you are, little one, you would realize I kept my word."
Jack's mouth clipped shut then, recognizing he was in the medbay. Knock Out was strangely absent, leaving him alone with Megatron, the warlord perched on the side of the mutant's berth. If he was here, then that meant... Megatron came for him. But... why was the bond sealed Jack tried to contact him?
"Then... why?" Jack demanded lowly, shifting his glare back to the warlord.
"As I told you before, war is not taught," Megatron lectured, having the gall to roll his eyes at the fuming youngling. "And sometimes, oneself is the best teacher."
The human-turned-Cybertronian's optics narrowed as he digested the tyrant's words. "So... that was a test? To see how quickly I could catch a bone and then get beat up?"
"To see how you would react, no longer standing in the shadow of your master."
Jack froze then, knowing what Megatron meant. He wasn't testing his slave's skills. He was testing the mech's loyalty.
Ever since Jack had awakened on the Nemesis, he had been scrutinized and under control. He had longed to escape, to have his freedom. Then he had been sent on his own—unbound, unchained. He could have run. Once again he had his opportunity to escape—and the thought hadn't even occurred to him.
What did that mean for him, then?
Would he have fought the Autobots, of his own free will? Jack remembered the soldier, the human that had attacked him in Africa. He knew the logical choice was to return the favor, instead his body moved on its own. He had saved the commander and protected him. Enemy of the Decepticons, yet he had spared him. The Autobot's allies—
No. Jack didn't do it because of the Autobots. He did it because he was once human. He was merely fighting for his former race, nothing more.
Then there was Raf. They had found the youngling on the ground, bleeding. Dying. The Decepticons had entire laboratories, filled with state-of-the-art medical equipment, while Ratchet only had a few spare tools he had salvaged. If they could have restore Miko and Jack, they could have repair Raf as well. Jack remembered how Megatron had twisted him before, ordered him to capture the mutant. Yet... he didn't.
He couldn't. Bringing Raf here would mean subjecting him to a way of life that Jack wasn't certain he could endure. Life under Megatron's cruel claws was not easy.
Raf was so... fragile.
Jack wouldn't do that to him. Even if it meant leaving him with the Autobots.
Quickly squashing down his guilt over leaving the mech behind, he glared back at Megatron, hoping he hadn't noticed the conflict in his spark.
"And if the Autobots had shown up, you would have let us fight them alone?"
"Perhaps," Megatron replied without missing a beat. "It would have been a good way to observe how your skills have improved, would it not?"
"What if they took me back?"
"It would have not come to that."
"You don't know that, though. They could have taken us while the Predacons were fighting each other. And then where would you have been without your hostages?"
"Then tell me, little one," Megatron ordered, "what would you do, if you were to awaken in their clutches?"
Jack winced at that, not expecting the dictator to turn the conversation towards him. His processor stalled as he stumbled for a retort, "I... that's not—"
"Surely, if you have so many ideas of what 'could' happen, you have a few of those answers yourself."
Megatron was still holding his delicate wings, but he had stopped his soothing strokes. Jack realized that the warlord's patience was thin—dangerously so. His red optics were bright and his voice was as harsh as a predator's. Megatron was angry about something. Was the Decepticon lord angry at him, or something else? Jack wasn't sure. But one thing was clear, he was sailing into uncharted waters.
This time the thought about his answer.
If Megatron didn't assume direct control over him once he was captured... what would he do? After everything he had done—he had fought against the Autobots, hurt them, and when he couldn't, he destroyed innocent lives. Jack had saved their most hated enemy not once, but twice. As long as dark energon was in his veins, his destiny was intertwined with Megatron's.
Jack remembered down in the tunnels, how Miko admitted she didn't want to go back to the Autobots, despite her hatred of the Decepticons. Because the Autobots hated them. Even before the humans were converted, the guardians always pushed their charges out of the way. And now, they did nothing to save the captive younglings. No, it was quite clear the Autobots didn't care about him.
Being one of them was out of the question.
Jack curled his servos into fight fists, clenching his jaw as he looked down at his lap.
"I... wouldn't want to stay," he muttered lowly.
Even as he said the words he could feel the tendrils of dark, possessive energy wrapping around his spark. His very soul.
"I see," Megatron hummed, a single digit stroking down his wing. The mental hold on Jack did not yield, yet it did not push any further into the recesses of his mind. "Remember that you are mine, Quickclaw. No Autobot, no beast, will take you away from me."
It was then Jack heard that dangerous growl again. Then he finally realized why Megatron was in such an odd mood.
"So you are mad about the Predacons."
Megatron's response to that was a short, aggravated grunt, before tugging Jack back by his wings while his other arm wrapped around him possessively. Jack's vents hitched in surprise at the tight embrace.
"I'll take that as a yes," he wheezed, feeling the titan's chin resting on top of his helm.
Megatron didn't reply. Knowing he effectively trapped, Jack sighed and eased into the hold as best he could. He forced his tight plating to relax, releasing air from his vents. He leaned against the broad chest, pressing his audio against the bright and bold Decepticon insignia—hearing the twisted, melodic sparkpulse underneath the thick armor. He offlined his optics.
Megatron was quiet for several long moments, then, "They almost took you from me."
Jack blinked his gaze open. Did… Megatron sound almost concerned? Or was he imagining it? Who was he talking about? The Autobots? Or the Predacons?
"That big black dragon protected us," the mech spoke quietly, vividly remembering how the massive Predacon tore his so-called brethren apart. Just because of Jack and Miko.
Megatron's grip tightened a fraction, and Jack suppressed the urge to wince at the pressure. "And how much longer until he attempts to steal you for himself?"
"But why would he—"
"He will."
It was filled with certainty, lined with a rage that Jack had learned not to test. Instead, he asked quietly, "Then... what are you going to do?"
It was not the same question as before, speculating possibilities and determining which one was the most likely to occur. It was a direct question, that demanded a direct answer. But like always, Megatron did not give him one.
"Do not fret, my Quickclaw. Soon our troubles with the Predacons will be no more."