Authors note

Wow, this is the longest chapter yet and the longest I have waited until posting. I would have made this longer but I thought it was time to start updating and not leave you hanging. Be free to comment but remember to be nice.

The techno-organics

Chapter 25

Megatron was not happy with the outcome of this mission. The knowledge of the ancients was so close, and yet they lost it to the Autobots. Who knew what kind of knowledge they acquired that could be used against the Decepticons? All they knew was that the data had been transferred to the mind of the Autobot Bulkhead. They could have a chance if he left the base, but they probably already know that and are keeping him under heavy guard. This whole situation was frustrating. Megatron heard the quite steps of Soundwave as he made his way.

"What is it Soundwave?" The warlord turned around and saw a picture of the warship.

"A dark energon signal have been spotted on the ship?" Soundwave showed a map of the ventilation with a red dot moving trough. Megatron chuckled as he looked at the moving dot, knowing exactly who hid behind it.

"That's my girl." Megatron said and smiled, showing his sharp dentas. He hoped that she would do something like this, he started to fear that he had too high expectations of her.

"Let's see how far she'll go before anyone else discovers her. I'll then take care of Freedom myself."

Freedom flew trough the maze like tunnels that stretched trough the whole ship. On her way she drew a claw along the wall in order to leave a track to follow to get back to her quarters. She had shrunk to human size thinking it would make the way there quieter. From her smaller form she started to get a new view of the situation. She felt weaker, she felt that this place was far too big and that no matter how much she flew or crawled trough this cramped space she still wouldn't find a way what she looked for. What if she found Anastasia and Valkyrie, but it would be too late and they would show to be dead all along? What if there was no way away from this warship? What would Megatron do to her if he found out she was doing this? Was he going to kill her? No, he wouldn't. She didn't have a clear reason why she she knew that, she just knew. Freedom heard a familiar voice and awoke from her thoughts. She stopped in her tracks as she listened, that voice came back and Freedom flew in its direction. She saw light and now she started to hear a second voice. Freedom stopped as she reached a ventilation panel with bars she could look trough. She held her breath as she peeked and saw Anastasia and Knock Out.

Knock Out put on the necklace with a loud click before it started to beep and buzz for a short moment. When he was sure it was on he started to remove Anastasia's handcuffs.

"Does this feel better?" Knock Out asked and hung the handcuffs on his hip. Anastasia massaged her wrists before attempting to use her powers. A sparkle appeared in her hand but died out shortly after. Sucking the power out of her just as the cuffs.

"I guess so." She answered with a sad smile, but was still grateful for getting those heavy cuffs off. Knock Out sighed relived, although he knew that Anastasia had become more dependent on him he still feared an another attack. The exhaustion he experienced after he woke up from stasis had been gone for a while, but he'd rather be on the safe side. Knock Out waited for a moment, letting Anastasia try the effects of the necklace as much as she wanted, before questioning her. Breakdown had told him about his theory about Mech being partners with the group that created the techno-organics. That had sparked Knock Out's interest but he had to get some more evidence that could strengthen their theory before presenting it to Megatron.

"Did you know that Breakdown is the original to your friend Valkyrie?" He started off.

"I had my suspicions. They look alike. How come you wanted to bring that up?"
"Well, Breakdown thought it would be good for them to have similar meetings as you and I. And he mentioned a funny thing I didn't know before, they both have an eyepatch on the same side of their faces." Anastasia chuckled almost like a child as she thought of sweet memories with Valkyrie.

"What a funny coincident."

"Indeed. Do you want to know how Breakdown lost his eye?" Anastasia shrugged her shoulders nonchalantly, thinking it would be a fun way to pass the time and make her dad stay longer. She liked to think of him that way, although she knew it would make him uncomfortable to start using that word.

"Breakdown was captured during a scouting mission by a group of humans."

"Really?" Anastasia raised her eyebrows in surprise.

"Yes, they were a terrorist group who intended to pull him apart to make weapons out of him." Knock Out hated to think about it. Hated to think about the things Breakdown was subjected to, like he was just a lab rat.

"Mech, they were called. Have you heard of them?" Anastasia raised her eyebrows confused, wondering how he expected to have heard of them. "Maybe you have read about them somewhere or seen them on the news." Knock Out added when he saw her look. He didn't want to make her suspicious. Anastasia opened her mouth to say something but something clicked in her head and as she intertwined her fingers thoughtfully. She had heard that name before, but she couldn't remember from were.

"Yes, I have but..." It was a long time ago. Anastasia remembered it being mentioned in a conversation. Yes, at the old base. Anastasia didn't like thinking about that place, but that name had led to a particular conversation she had overheard a long time ago.

"Th-the... My creators-" Anastasia's started to tremble and Knock Out detected her heartbeat rising. "I overheard them saying that. They talked about transporting two of us somewhere and they mentioned something called Mech. I can't remember perfectly well. I remember overhearing when I was working, I didn't think much about it since I knew they would get mad if they found me eavesdropping." Her hands shook even more and Knock Out gently grabbed them, calming Anastasia down before she kept talking. "But I remember that the day after two of us had disappeared. Our superiors simply stated that they had been moved and we all just assumed it meant they were dead. But now, it sounds they were relocated." This were great information. Now he had evidence that pointed towards that they were in some sort of partnership or alliance with the unknown group. But, it also pointed to the possibility of two more techno-organics being under Mech's control. A grin almost crawled over his faceplates but I he held it back.

"I'm sorry," Anastasia said. "I think I told much more then you wanted to hear." On the contrary, she had told him exactly what he was looking for; but he couldn't let her know that. So he played along.

"You did nothing wrong. It makes me glad to see you have so much trust in me." Anastasia's chest swelled with an alien feeling as she fought the urge to jump forward and hug Knock Out. The red Decepticon gently placed a piece of hair behind her ear.

"I have to go, but I'll talk to Megatron and see if we can move you into a better cell."

"You'll really do that?"

"Of course." He said and playfully tapped the top of her nose with his claw.

Freedom waited until Knock Out had left before making her move. She saw what he was doing and she couldn't let Anastasia be further tricked. To see her big sister manipulated and trapped and brainwashed, it took almost all of her willpower to not torch Knock Out on the spot.

"Anastasia," Freedom whispered. Anastasia jerked before twisting side to side, trying to find out where the the familiar voice came from. That pleasant voice and that lovely accent which she haven't heard in what felt like years. She looked up and saw a small shape fly from the roof before growing and landing on the floor. They were both filled with huge joy and relief. What ever fights and disagreements they had in the past no longer mattered and all that mattered was how much they wanted to embrace each other. Freedom ran forward and crushed Anastasia against herself.

"Are you alright? They didn't hurt you, right?" Anastasia placed her hands on both sides of Freedom's face and looked after any wounds or new scars.

"I'm fine. What about you? I know your body can heal itself, but not your mind."

"Yes, I'm fine but I have been hearing and seeing things lately. I recently saw the bony monster, but we can talk about it later. Do you have any idea how we can escape?" Anastasia held Freedom's hands hopefully, but Freedom didn't have the same enthusiasm. She was so scared for what would happen if they failed. They were left behind even with the Autobots help, and she was scared of Megatron who claimed that he would personally come for them if they tried to escape.

"You know that I helped feed and bath you when you were a child." Anastasia said with a warm and comforting look on her face. "I know when you're frightened. And I also know that we'll find a way." Freedom let those words sink in as she started to think, she then saw Anastasia's necklace.

"What is that?" Freedom asked and pointed.

"The first gift my father ever given to me." Anastasia answered sadly yet she wore a faint smile. Freedom got an idea and put her hands around the collar. The first thought that came to mind was to simply destroy it, but that would be foolish. Freedom bit down on her finger and placed it on the heavy collar, dark energon flowed into the machine and it started to glow purple.

"Deactivate." She ordered. It buzzed for a moment before the lights turned off. Anastasia clapped and when she separated her hands, red lightning was caught between them. A huge relief washed over her as the electric energy spread trough once again, taking its rightful place. It was like a important piece she lost had returned home and made her whole again.

"Not yet," Freedom said. She took a moment to order the machine to give off light like it was still on before taking back her blood. "I still need to find Valkyrie. We'll find a way to escape, I promise. We just have to wait." Anastasia was quick to protest though.

"Why do we have to wait? I have my powers, I can just give the ship a huge surge and make it crash." Freedom sighed and pinched her nose.

"Yes, you can do that, but the ship is flying right above the atmosphere. You will risk that the ship might fall right into a populated area and explode. You might be fine with your healing factor but what about me and Valkyrie, what about all the humans that would die, and what about the Decepticons? I don't like them more then you do, but a few of them are the originals to some of our friends." Freedom waited for a moment until Anastasia lowered her head in defeat.

"I want to go home just as much as you but we have to be smart and not just go berserk without a plan. Can you do that, do you think you have the patience?" Anastasia nodded, but she was still frustrated. It was so annoying to have her powers back but not able to use them. Freedom took Anastasia's hands and looked into her eyes. "I have to tell you something about your original." She began. "Be careful about trusting him. Even though I'm glad for your sake, don't forget that he's a Decepticon, and don't forget who his master is." The truth had to come sooner or later. The truth was that Anastasia couldn't trust her original, even though he had been such great company since she was imprisoned.

"You're right. I just hope you follow your own advice as well." Freedom stepped backwards with a worried expression on her face.

"What are you talking about?"
"I have known that Megatron's you original since I first laid eyes on him." Freedom's breath started to get faster as she asked her next question.

"And, that's alright?"

"Of course it is. Sweetie, we are family and I don't care who your original is, no one will." Freedom sighed relived but her heart was still hot and beating. The faintest smile graced her lips before she realized that she wasn't done.

"I have to go and find Valkyrie. Be a little more patient, we will find a way to get home." Freedom was surprised with a kiss on the cheek.

"Be safe." She said before Freedom engulfed herself in purple light, shrunk and flew back to the vents. She squeezed trough the bars and took a moment to remember the way to Valkyries cell. She started to fly in that direction, filled with enthusiasm. This might just work, they might be able to escape. They might see their family soon, they might soon be back in the warehouse. Freedom's happy thoughts was abruptly interrupted though as a static sound screeched in her ears.

"Freedom." That raspy voice turned Freedom into a cold statue. How could he talk to her? The chip! Knock Out scanned her and must have found the chips in her head. They must have found it's frequency and connected to it.

'I am gonna kill you, Knock Out.'

"I'm on my way to your quarters. There is something I want to discuss with you in person." Freedom was filled with fear born adrenaline as she in a panic tried to remember the way back. In her frenzy she remembered the trail she had left on her way. She spotted the claw marks and took off like a rocket in that direction. She almost crashed into the walls as she flew, concentrating on speed and not control. Freedom had to get back she had to or she would fear his reaction.
'He knows. How can he know? I was so careful. What is he gonna do?'

She finally reached her quarters and squeezed herself trough the metal bars before growing back to her full size. Freedom ran her fingers trough her thick hair anxiously as she tried to calm herself. There was this small hope that he really didn't know what she had done. If she could act innocent when he came then he might not suspect anything. Freedom sat down on the berth and took slow deep breaths.

'Breath, breath.' She had to calm down, and she had to stop shaking. If only Wasp was here to calm her. What was going to happen? He was not going to kill her, right? The sound of the doors opening echoed suddenly trough the room and Freedom froze. A big spiky shadow came into Freedom's view, she raised her head towards the opening and saw Megatron. His entire form almost filled the opening, leaving no chance for her to run. Freedom looked up and observed his face, he looked angry but that was basically how he always looked. She might have a better chance of getting out of trouble if she acted as usual.

"Would it be too much to ask you to knock before you come into my room." She forced herself to say as calmly and normally as possible. Megatron did not look amused though, he basically fought the urge to roll his eyes.

"You are not very gifted in the art of deception." He stated and Freedom's eyes got impossibly wide with terror. He knew, there was no way to deny it. No way to escape but wait and see what he was going to do.

"I knew you were doing something since you first used the dark energon. I just wanted to see how far you could go with your mission without anybody else noticing." The way he spoke was terrifyingly calm and mannered which scared Freedom even more. She knew he was observing her and tried to calculate how she would react.

"I must admit, I was hoping from the start that you would do something like this. You really surprised me with the way you use dark energon. I guess it only took a few drops of blood to give you access to our classified files." Freedom said nothing. She just sat still and ran trough every plan she could think of, thinking on any weaknesses Megatron had that she could use. She thought back to the time they fought, judging from the way he moved and his fighting style she could figure out that he did not like fighting in small spaces; and hopefully he hadn't yet repaired his sword. She was smaller and faster then him, and they were currently in an even smaller space then before, he would have it even more difficult to fight.

"I hope you understand that I can't just let you do whatever you want without consequences. That would create dissension among the ranks." In less of a second a picture flashed before her eyes. The place where Megatron stood was for a moment replaced with a man with a blank expression raising an electric stick to hit her with. That was all needed for Freedom to completely lose her composure and tackle Megatron to the ground. Freedom wrapped her hands around his neck and tried to strangulate him. She knew Cybertronians didn't breath but hopefully she could make some damage by doing that. Megatron did no resistance but acting like he was struggling and observing her.

"I did not escape captivity only to used by someone else." She growled as she put more pressure on his neck. This was not hurting the warlord as much as Freedom thought. He could easily break free from her grip and take her down, but not yet. "I won't let you abuse me. I won't accept abuse from anyone ever again. Not. Even. You." Megatron had heard enough. Force would not make her cooperative and he could not convince her to fight for the Decepticon cause, he had to figure out a different method, one he had never used before. He raised his left hand towards Freedom's face and gently stroke her cheek with his thumb. Freedom gasped softly at the unexpected touch and her grip loosened. She expected him to fight, to shoot at her, claw her until she was left half dead. Freedom let go and looked confused at the one she for a moment tried to kill.

"What are you doing?" Freedom rose up, not knowing what to do next. This was so unfamiliar, so confusing, she didn't know what to next but watch him and hopefully react fast enough for whatever trick he was pulling. Megatron rose up, he was not wearing his usual scowl, in fact, he was wearing a faint smile.

"Why aren't you angry?" Freedom's rich voice had shrunk down to a whisper as she feared what that smile meant.

"Don't be afraid, you will never have to fear being harmed by me again." Megatron said in an surprisingly gentle tone. Freedom did not know what to do or say, this was all too unexpected, this was all too strange. Why was he so gentle? Why wasn't he the violent and merciless warlord she had always imagined him to be?

"Come with me." Freedom didn't know what was going on, but she still followed him. She knew he was up to something, but she couldn't do much about it. If she followed him she wouldn't risk angering him or risk an army coming to his aid.

Megatron led them outside to the ships higher deck. The sky had darkened to a mixture of yellow and dark pink and the clouds had turned a darker blue. The air was so thin that as soon as the wind hit Freedom's face she started to breath heavier, trying to suck in all the oxygen. Freedom made sure though to not show it, she didn't want to look even weaker.

"You mentioned earlier today you possessed flight." He started before turning towards her. "Care to show me?" Freedom looked at Megatron before stepping closer to the edge. She looked down at the beautiful dark blue. She had no way to know what he was planning, but somehow, that didn't matter as much anymore. All she could think about right now was the illusion of freedom she could drown herself in, just for a moment. She stepped closer the the edge, just enough to let the tips of her boots hang right over the edge. It had been so long since she last flew. Ever since they moved to London they had all been careful not to fly around since they were wary about being seen. But now, it was just the two of them an infinite sky ahead. Freedom closed her eyes and leaned forward, and was soon falling; enjoying the sensation of winds freezing her skin and going trough her curly hair. But there was one moment she loved even more, the moment she cheated gravity.

She opened her eyes and let her purple light engulf her. Freedom thrust herself upwards towards the spaceship again. She flew past it and instead aimed for the sky, going even higher. Thin air hit her lungs as she laughed for the first time in a long time. But it was short lived as she saw Megatron waiting on the deck. It brought her back to reality and she descended back down.

When Megatron first heard of Freedom, he despised her with all his spark, now he somewhat liked her. She had come to be one of the very few who didn't irritate or anger him. Whether she liked it or not, he saw much of himself in her. She was a chance for the warlord to make someone worthy of his title. She was his creation, a being made from his energon. But her will was almost as strong as his and she was just as stubborn. Manipulating her would be hard, but it would be worth it.

"I guess being locked up inside the warship has been hard on you." Megatron said as she landed.

"It has been a while actually since I last flew."

Megatron nodded before turning around.

"Come." He commanded and transformed. Megatron flew into the air and Freedom followed him. She didn't know where they were heading or what all of this was about, but right now, she wanted to enjoy this flight as much as she could since there might be time until she could go out and fly again.

They landed in a valley in the middle of a dessert. Nothing but rocks and sand, and no one to find them. Warning bells started to shout in Freedom's head, this was a perfect place for him to kill her and not let anyone find her body. Like she expected, Megatron unsheathed his fixed sword and swung it right at her. Freedom reacted quickly and jumped out of the way.

"What the hell are you doing? Was this your plan all along?" Freedom yelled and transformed her right arm.

"I told you I was going to make you my apprentice, so I better start teaching you." He said and shot at her. She evaded his shots, moving towards him before unsheathing her own sword. Freedom attacked, aiming for his head but he blocked her attack.

"I see it in the way you fight, you're holding back." Megatron pushed her back and pointed the sword at her throat. "Never hold back. In a real fight you're fighting with your life at stake. Don't hold back for anyone."

"I have been in enough fights to learn that on my own." Freedom said irritated. She attacked again. Their swords were clashing against each other, making high pitched metallic noises as they hit each other. Megatron fought even better now then he did before on the warship, to which Freedom welcomed as a challenged. This terrain was also giving Freedom an edge. Freedom jumped up on one of the mountain walls och then kicked herself of the wall, aiming a punch at Megatron's head. But he reacted quickly and evaded her attack and caught her midair before throwing her into the ground.

"That was a good attack, but you're still holding back." He said as Freedom rose back up. "You don't even use your fires. I want you to use all your strength. Show me what you're truly capable of."

Freedom bared her metallic teeth before cocooning herself in her purple light. Megatron stood unmoving and watched what happened to her. She grew somewhat bigger and her silhouette changed, became sharper, spikier. When she emerged from the light she wore an armor greatly resembling Megatron's. An armor in silvery and purple metal, making her look like an warrior; or a gladiator. Freedom threw a punch at Megatron, but he jumped out of the way and she hit the wall instead, leaving a huge spiderweb pattern.

"That's more like it." Megatron complimented and Freedom turned around, grabbed the cape on her back and it rolled together into a purple glowing whip. Megatron looked at the whip with a mixture of envy and surprise before skillfully evading her attack. The whip seemed to elongate itself as Freedom attacked leaving no options for Megatron then to catch it and pulling her towards him. Freedom tried to fight back but in the end Megatron had superior strength. She yelled as she flew forward, but got her footing back to throw a ball of fire at Megatron.

Megatron slashed his sword at it, making it disappear; but while he was distracted Freedom ran forward and hit him in the gut. Megatron screamed in pain as he fell backwards. Freedom gasped, regaining her senses as she saw Megatron struggle to get back up. She held her distance, not knowing how he would react.

"Are you alright?" Freedom asked.

"Don't worry about me. I have been trough worse." His voice started off strained but soon got its usual tone. "That's how I want you to fight from now on. Don't hold back for anyone, not even me." He straightened himself before lifting one of his eyebrows. "But, why are you holding back? I would have expected you to go even harder on me." Freedom's armor started glow faintly and seemed to sink back into her skin. Leaving her as she was before in her blue jeans and black blouse. She swallowed a few times, gathering her words before answering.

"Whether you and I like it or not, we are family. And I don't want you to die, because of that."

It was fascinating how strong blood bonds were to organic beings. Despite everything he has put her trough, she still wouldn't want to kill him. How sweet. This made it all easier.

"But I also know you don't feel the same about me." Freedom suddenly added, regaining her boldness. "Why are you suddenly so patient with me? Why didn't you beat me up when I attacked you? Why did you bring me here? And why do you want me as your apprentice?"

"I didn't punish you because I see a lot of myself in you. I emphasize with you." Freedom was quite. She didn't know what to say, but she started to question herself if there was more to him then she first thought.

"Just like you I was born to serve others. I was born in the lowest casts of my home world, a miner, before becoming a gladiator. Everyday I risked my life to entertain the upper casts of our society. I had nothing, not even a name. " Freedom looked in shock. Her mouth was slightly open ready to say something but for a while she couldn't muster anything to say except, "You were a slave?". The look he gave her now was not fake, he looked at her with more gentleness then he had ever given anyone.

"Yes. I didn't start the war because I wanted to, I did it because I thought it was the only way to free the lower casts and change Cybertron for the better."

"But, what about all the planets you destroyed?" Good intentions or not, it didn't excuse massacre.

"Casualties of war." He said matter of factly. "War is brutal and there will always be something caught in the crossfires."

"Will this planet be one of them?"

"Maybe."

Well, what was Freedom expecting from her original? There was no way to fix that, not right now anyway.

"I didn't have a name either." Freedom said and Megatron slightly tilted his helm, listening to her. "I had a serial number before naming myself. I was called MT-14." Megatron reached forward and took her hands in his, holding them in front of her as he looked her in the eyes.

"That is why I treat you differently from the rest of my crew. You know how it feels to have a life that doesn't belong to you. That's why I want you to not accept abuse from anyone." Megatron stretched out his hand and drew it trough her thick black locks. Instead of leaning away from it she leaned into it. Freedom knew she should have had a voice screaming in her head, telling her not to trust him, not to be deceived. But right now, she felt warm despite the cold claws on her cheek.

"I hope we can agree upon keeping this a secret. It wouldn't sit well with the crew if they knew I was giving you privileges."

"I think we can both agree that I'm more trustworthy then you." Freedom joked and raised one of her eyebrows. The smile on Megatron's face quickly vanished as he heard the comm link beep.

"Lord Megatron,we've detected a familiar energy profile." Knock Out spoke trough the link.

"The data?"

"Bulkhead must have left the shielded radius of their base."

"Breakdown and I will..."

"Fail me again?" Megatron hissed before contacting Soundwave.

"I have to go. A groundbridge will show momentarily to bring you back to the warship." Megatron transformed and flew into the air, leaving Freedom alone.

'He really has nerve to leave me in the middle of nowhere unsupervised.' Freedom thought and couldn't help but smile. She then remembered the advice she had given Anastasia and quickly shook her head and drew her fingers over her face. What was she doing? Her original was a masterful liar and manipulator, she shouldn't be so easily fooled. She couldn't described the feeling she had then, but she guessed it was the feeling of being complete. All her life she had known about her human half, their history, their people and found a home there; but never on her cybertronian side. To know more about Cybertron, her original and seem to be accepted by him. But was it actually real or was he only using her? A mechanical sound emitted, accompanied with green and blue lights. Freedom looked ahead of her, pondering for a moment if she should go back or run away. She thought about Anastasia and how she was tricked by her original, she couldn't leave her, she couldn't betray them like that. Couldn't just run away and leave them.