Misgel: Hey, everyone! Dang, it's been a while. We had to put this story on hold because of my schedule with virtual school, but with my graduation, we hope to get more chapters out soon! Hope you enjoy!
Predaking stalked through the halls of great-wingless-stone-monster—the Nem-e-sis—Lord Megatron had called it. The Predacon's fangs ground against each other, talons balled into a fist when he had caught whiff an unpleasant scent. An Autobot scent.
One of those responsible for the destruction of his brethren. Predaking had learned that the Decepticons had captured one of the blasphemers and took it aboard the ship. Rather than executing the Autobot like he expected, it was ordered that the prisoner remained unharmed.
The fact that it still lived irked Predaking to no end. Why would the Great-One do such a thing? After everything the Autobots had done to the Predacons? To their cause? Beside him, Twinstrike and Lazerback were arguing ceaselessly back and forth, sharing the same sentiment.
"What are we waiting for?" Lazerback demanded, optics blazing with raw anger. "We should find the Two-Walker ourselves and kill it. Make it suffer for what it did."
"How would we kill it? Fast? Or slow?" Twinstrike asked. "Shall we feast upon his hide?"
"Indeed. We should take our time, brother. After all—"
"Enough!" Predaking barked, his snarl reverberating off the dark walls. The violent tone was enough to silence the both of them. "I will discuss the matter with our lord."
With that promise, Predaking continued on. He ignored how the drones gave him a wide berth, some of them eyeing the trio of beasts warily. He only had one thought in mind. The doors of the command room yawned open with a serpentine-like hiss. Colorful screens adorned the walls, each manned by a Decepticon trooper. They were so focused on their work that they did not even glance at the newcomers. At the center of it all was Megatron, claws regally tucked behind back.
"Lord Megatron," Predaking greeted as he walked forward. He waved his talons at Twinstrike and Lazerback, ordering them to stay behind their king. "I understand that you have brought an accursed Autobot aboard this warship."
"Indeed," the Great-One confirmed, merely glancing over his pauldron to regard the Predacon. His optics narrowed as Twinstrike and Lazerback bristled.
"Why is he not dead?!" Lazerback demanded heatedly. "We feast on our enemies, not invite them to live in our den!"
Predaking gave an exasperated sigh that the Predacon so blatantly spoke out, against his orders no less, but he could not deny he had the same misgivings.
"Lazerback, we do not do such things here," Megatron retorted calmly. He turned around to face the Predacons, giving them his undivided attention. "After all, this Autobot is more than just a prisoner."
"What do you mean?" Twinstrike asked, golden optics narrowed.
"We have recently discovered a way to revive Cybertron to its former glory. The Autobot has... volunteered to aid in our endeavors."
Predaking narrowed his optics in contempt. "But how can we forgive the blasphemer after what it did to our brethren?"
Twinstrike and Lazerback growled at the mention of the heinous crime, but Megatron did not flinch as he settled before his audience, asking, "You do wish for Cybertron's restoration, do you not? If not for your own kind, but of the… hatchlings under our care."
Predaking frowned, considering his lord's words. He wanted nothing more than to fly across Cybertron's great-plains-of-the-skies, a realm his people once ruled. A realm he once ruled, even if it was all but a distant memory. But one day, the Predacons will walk upon Cybertron's surface once again.
He would like to share that world with the hatchlings. They deserved a life of peace. And one not corrupted by the Autobots' twisted intentions. Predaking pitied the one hatchling trapped in their grasp. Forcing him upon the battlefield, when he was so small…
"And what of the one held captive by the Autobots?" he questioned.
"He is safe now," Megatron assured. "We managed to retrieve him when the Autobot came to us. Shockwave is tending to him."
Predaking blinked at that. They had the Tiny-One in their possession? He had been so focused on the news of the Autobot, he never considered that there was more. At least he was being cared for by the Creator. There was none more qualified than Shockwave. Still, the Tiny-One had to be terrified, especially after all he had been through.
"I wish to see him," Predaking declared.
"Perhaps now is not the best time, dear Predaking," Megatron refuted. "Rafael is still… adjusting."
Rafael? Was that his name? It was so strange. Alien. The Autobots could not even name him properly.
"I implore you, my liege. As ruler of the Predacons, I would like to personally ensure that the hatchling is in good health."
While Predaking buffed out his chest at the self-proclamation, Megatron's armor only bristled. Why? Was he too offended by the Autobots' treatment?
'Rafael is in a delicate state, Predaking," Megatron denied. "He has only recently been rescued from the Autobots clutches. He is not of… sound mind. He will require time to recuperate."
"I assure you I will not cause the hatchling any further distress," Predaking insisted, still adamant.
Lord Megatron's optics flashed brilliantly for a moment, before dulling into a calmer shade of red.
"If you must, then make your visit brief. The… hatchling does not need further distractions," Megatron relented. "No doubt his time with the Autobots has stunted the growth of his abilities."
"You have my word, Lord Megatron," Predaking vowed. "I will make the Autobots suffer for their reprehensible actions."
"Oh, rest assured, the medic's usefulness will come to an end, and when that time arrives, I assure you, he will be all yours."
"Thank you my liege," Predaking nodded in approval as his Lord returned to his work and Predaking turned around. Behind him Twinstrike and Lazerback wore disgruntled expressions, but wisely said nothing as Predaking led the way out.
"What… what is this?" Raf asked, staring at the bizarre contraption before him.
"An energon transducer," Knock Out explained, as if it was obvious.
"And you want me to do… what?"
"Before we continue the project, I must oversee the extent of your capabilities," Shockwave explained in his monotone, analytical tone. "Power it."
"And uh, how exactly is he supposed to do that?" Miko butted in, crossing her arms. "The doohickey isn't even hooked up to anything!"
"He will do it."
Raf couldn't help but shudder at the scientist's iron tone of certainty. He looked back at the alien machine. It wasn't massive, only taking up a single tabletop, but the former human couldn't begin to decipher it. It was nothing like his laptop. He knew exactly how his computer worked, from its desktop to its lines of programming. But this? Raf didn't know where to begin.
He wished Jack was here. At least the elder mutant could tell him what to do. Their conversation had been cut short when Shockwave entered the training arena. While the chief engineer curtly ordered Raf and Miko to come with him to the lab, Soundwave had escorted Jack away at Megatron's orders. But he didn't fail to notice Jack's longing stare following him, or Miko's hateful glare at the elder mutant. When Jack met her optics, his gaze darkened and promptly turned away to follow Soundwave out of sight.
It only made Raf all the more confused. What happened to Jack and Miko? Why were they so cold to each other? He was further concerned for Jack's fate. Something about "training" and Megatron didn't sound comforting. But Raf couldn't help him. Instead he was stuck here, in Shockwave's laboratory. With everyone staring at him.
Raf had never been asked to display his powers in such a way. It was always spur of the moment, a natural instant that would wash over him and he would do… whatever he could do. Now he was being told to do it on command. He certainly didn't like being the center of attention.
Then Jack's voice seemed to echo in his mind, "Just… just do as they say."
Raf sighed. He could do this. He had to. All he had to do was focus, just like all the times before. The Harbinger. Lima. Darkmount. This would be no different. It was just a transducer, right?
The former human remembered his physics class, when the teacher explained once during a lecture. It was a device that read one signal, created by pressure or light, and translated it into electricity. Energon transducer… it simply meant that energon was fed into the machine, powering it. But… what if he could trick it?
Steeling his nerves, Raf closed his optics in concentration. Like all the times he had done before, he reached out, brushing the energy he could feel weaving around him. The sensation was similar to when he was within Darkmount—an almost overwhelming influx of knowledge. He could sense the energon pumping through power relays, the data pumping through a vast network, the hum of countless machinery and devices, and the roar of the Nemesis's engines. The former human shuddered, but forced himself to stay upright. He forced himself to not crumple underneath the weight of it all.
Slowly, carefully, Raf put up walls around his mind, blocking the commotion around him. So his only focus was the transducer in front of him. He could see where each pipe led, the panels that controlled the light sensitive sensors, the way the energon would be directed...
"Ah!" Raf yelped, stepping back as the machine suddenly sputtered to life.
There was a growl from the engine as it tried to start up. Screens and lights flickered, trying to display the input of energy. But it wasn't enough. With a broken hum, the machine stilled and the controls went blank, becoming lifeless once more.
Raf stumbled back from the violent event, his spark pulsing rapidly in his chest and his helm pounding. He began venting heavily, trying to cool his heating frame. He hadn't even completed a full ventilation cycle when he heard a cold voice.
"Try again," Shockwave ordered, his bright optic trained on Raf.
"Hey, give him a couple minutes," Miko instantly protested before the youngling had a chance to reply.
"Like it's going to make a difference," Knock Out muttered, rolling his optics.
"You will attempt it again," insisted Shockwave in a low growl, as if he was challenging anyone in the room to question him.
No one did. Knock Out uneasily shifted his weight while Miko flinched. Raf gritted his denta as he felt a jolt coming from his torso, but he knew it was just an echo of Miko's pain.
"I-I'll do it," he spoke quickly, before it worsened. He wasn't going to have his friend be punished for his mistake.
It took all of his willpower not to flinch as Shockwave's single optic met his gaze, demanding curtly, "Then proceed."
Raf slowly turned back to look at the transducer again. He could do this. It was just a machine—
Raf jolted as thundering footsteps echoed outside the room. Even from inside the lab he could feel the floor trembling from the weight of the one behind it. He gulped. Surely Megatron didn't expect him to get it perfectly the first time did he? How did he even find out so quickly?
Only he was surprised when the doors opened, revealing a titanic figure that was most certainly not Megatron. The figure was colossal, with razor-edge black armor and a crown of horns. Orange wings adorned his backside, while each of his steps caused the tables to shake.
"Predaking!" Miko greeted excitedly, waving the mech down. Her winglets rose, her optics lighting up some at the sight of the strange mech.
"Small-One," the Decepticon, Predaking, greeted in turn. Crooked fangs flashed in a smile.
"What are you doing here?" Shockwave demanded, the glow of his optic brightening. "I have not requested your presence."
"And if you haven't noticed, this lab is getting a bit cramped," Knock Out muttered as he eyed the Predacon apprehensively.
"Feel free to leave," Miko quipped dryly, glaring at the medic. Knock Out rolled his optics.
"So it is true, then. The Tiny-One has been brought aboard the ship."
Tiny-One? Raf thought, staring up at the giant of a mech and feeling a tad insulted. Sure the mech towered over him, but that was no reason to rub it into his face—
"This is Raf!" Miko introduced him, moving away from Shockwave and towards Predaking.
"An improper designation for a hatchling," Predaking rumbled in distaste. "He will require a proper name to one day strike fear into the sparks of his enemies."
"Why not Tiny-One? I shudder at the name," Knock Out commented, his arms crossed and a mischeavious smirk on his faceplates. Only to flinch back when Predaking glowered at him.
"That is what he is, not his designation."
"Predaking, I must insist that you make your leave," Shockwave persisted. Raf could have sworn that usually-monotone voice was laced with irritation. "There is much work to be done."
"I merely wished to ensure the health of the hatchling, my Creator, as the Autobots no doubt failed to properly care for him. It is fortunate that he was rescued from their hold, before any more harm could have befallen over him."
Rescued? Raf thought incredulously, his mouth falling agape at the statement. Who was this guy? And he called Shockwave… his Creator? But the only things Shockwave had been creating were weapons of mass destruction, such as the—
Raf's spark stalled.
He barely registered the pride in Predaking's voice as he continued on, "And after all, as Great-King of the Predacons, it is my sworn duty to oversee the health of all my subjects."
The youngling's processor latched onto a single word.
Predacon.
Suddenly the youngling's surroundings vanished, replaced by a much more horrible scene. Fire raging all around him. Humans running in all directions, crying out in fear or in pain. But their shouts were drowned out by the screams of the monster that descended upon them, destroying them—
Miko was oblivious to Raf's increasingly wide eyes and trembling frame. Instead, she glared at Shockwave as she spoke with increasing venom, "Raf and I are doing just fine. Well, except for the fact we're being cooped up in the lab all day, doing science stuff."
Predaking cocked an optic ridge, offering, "Then perhaps he should see the great-plains-of-the-skies and stretch his wings."
That got a response from Shockwave. The chief engineer rounded on the group, snapping, "The subject is not permitted to leave the lab."
"You don't let us have any fun," Miko complained.
"You are not here for pleasure. You are here to serve me."
"And what about Raf?"
"He is to continue training in order to channel his abilities to power the Omega Lock. There is no time for distractions."
Predaking merely tilted his helm at the exchange. "Surely it would not be harmful to his training to allow him a small reprieve, Creator?"
The Predacon stepped closer, approaching Raf. Only for the little mech recoil when the titan's black shadow fell over him, so violently he slammed into a table. Miko and Shockwave turned at the sound of a vial falling onto the floor, shattering on impact.
"Raf?" Miko asked, optics widening in concern. "What's wrong?"
The youngling didn't reply, his ventilations coming fast and shallow. He craned his neck up to stare at the monster looming over him, only to see malicious, yellow optics. The same optics that peered at him through a cocoon of energon. The same optics that looked at him as if he was prey.
"Tiny-One?"
Claws reached for Raf. Just like the ones that had cut across his plating, alongside the serrated fangs that sunk his protoform. Red flashed across his optics.
Raf screamed.
He aggressively slapped Predaking's servo away. He tried to bolt, but with nowhere to go, he dropped to the floor, curling in on himself.
"Raf!"
The mech did not respond to Miko's call. He was quivering and stared at nothing. Raf did not even react when she rushed over to him, practically barging past a stunned Predaking.
"Hey, hey, look at me!" the femme ordered gently, kneeling next to Raf and grasping his shoulders.
Only when she did, his shaking worsened, his plating audibly rattling now.
Predaking's optics went wide at the event, staring down in shock. "What is wrong—"
He was cut off as suddenly Raf's arms flailed, as if he was battling an invisible opponent. His bright-blue optics rolled into the back of his helm. Without warning, he toppled over into Miko's lap, the femme barely managing to catch him before he crashed onto the floor.
This his chassis started convulsing.
"S-Shockwave!" Miko cried.
The Decepticon scientist stepped forward, but Knock Out was faster. In the flicker of an optic, he took Raf from her arms, cradling the seizing mech with a single arm. Knock Out raised his other limb over Raf, as a beam of green light shot from his wrist. Miko tensed as it washed over the youngling, only to turn a dangerous red.
Knock Out's frown deepened as he read over the analysis on the panel of his arm. He looked more serious than Miko had ever seen him as he announced, "Scrap… there appears to be foreign metals implanted in his processor. Primus, what did the Autobots do to him? Are they sticking scrap metal in—"
"Enough," Shockwave snapped, silencing him. The scientist gestured to one of the slabs. "Bring him here."
Instantly Miko's plating flared with alarm, but before she had the chance to protest, Knock Out swiftly plucked Raf into the air. She scrambled after the medic, Predaking not far behind.
"Wait, what are you doing?!" she demanded.
Shockwave had said that he wouldn't hurt Raf. He promised! Now they were putting him on the same dissection table that he placed her on, to vivisect her!
"We need to remove the obstruction, and quickly," Shockwave only explained briskly, already collecting the same tools he used to rip his slave apart.
It made Miko's spark pulse rapidly in anxiety, but Knock Out ignored her as he gently placed Raf onto the slab. By now, the mech's seizure had lessened to mere twitches and gasps. It was apparently enough for Knock Out.
"Inducing stasis," he announced, attaching a wire to the medical port at the back of Raf's neck.
Then as suddenly as his fit began, the mechling stilled completely, appearing almost lifeless.
But Miko was still panicking. She asked questions in a rapid fire, "W-what's going to happen to him? Is Raf going to be okay? You can help him, right—"
"Be silent and allow me to work," Shockwave snapped at her, making Miko flinch.
But she did as told, quickly clipping her mouth shut and stepping out of the way. Only for her body to go rigid when a sharp, deadly scalpel appeared in Shockwave's claws. Raising it to Raf's helm.
Miko lunged forward before her body registered the movement. But before she could stop the scientist from cutting into her best friend, a clawed servo caught her shoulder, halting her. The femme twisted around, only to see Predaking staring down at her.
"Do not despair, Small-One. If anyone is capable of curing the Tiny-One's sickness, it is the Creator."
"But—" Miko tried to refute, but she knew it was helpless. She was helpless.
So she could only watch in horror as Shockwave sliced into the gap on top of Raf's helm with a terrible tearing sound. With strange tenderness, the mech pulled off protective plating and peeled back the protoform, exposing Raf's delicate processor. Miko wanted to throw up, but her Cybertronian biology prevented her from purging any precious energon.
There were several long, agonizing moments until Shockwave described, "Inferior metals have been used to replace crucial parts of his memory cells and wires. The incompatibility of the metals with his natural Cybernite is the cause of the subject's seizure. Replacing them should fix the issue."
He spoke as though it were so simple. As if he did robot-brain surgery on an everyday basis. Seeing Raf so motionless, so vulnerable... Miko could feel coolant escaping her optics.
Predaking must have noticed her tears as he assured softly, "It is alright, Small-One. He is strong."
But Raf wasn't strong. He wasn't a fighter. He was timid and small. Miko and Jack always had to look after him to protect him. But Miko couldn't bring herself to explain that to the mighty Predacon, so she merely observed as Shockwave and Knock Out operated on the little mech.
The chief engineer did most of the work, cutting out faulty wires and replacing them with a single servo. Knock Out assisted him, handing various utensils. Occasionally the crimson medic offered an extra servo, should Shockwave require it. It felt like an eternity passed before they were satisfied with their work.
Shockwave began stitching the protoform and replaced the metal casing around the processor. Knock Out came in behind him, welding the plating back together seamlessly and buffering it out. When he was done, he typed in a sequence to remove Raf from stasis lock. He gently shook the mechling to wake him, murmuring almost soothingly.
He was rewarded when Raf stirred with a groan. Cerulean optics flickered online, dull with disorientation.
"Ugh… wha… what happened?" the mutant slurred as he scanned his surroundings, only to see several gazes boring into him, wearing varying expressions.
It only seemed to make Raf more confused until he suddenly winced in pain, a servo rising to his helm. The mech shifted as if to sit up. Only for a clawed hand to fall on his chest, carefully pushing him back down.
"Easy now," Knock Out cooed. "The effects of stasis are still wearing off."
"Stasis?" Raf echoed. "Wha—ah!"
His question was cut off as suddenly Miko rushed forward, slamming into Raf. Before he had the chance to react, she pulled him into a tight hug, nearly crushing his vents. He grunted, but after a moment of hesitance, he slowly returned the embrace.
Miko's face was buried in his shoulder. Raf thought he could hear quiet whines from her vocalizer. Was she crying? Why?
"H-hey, it's okay," Raf assured softly, though he still wasn't sure what was going on. "I'm okay—"
"You had a seizure!" Miko wailed, wiping furiously at her tears. "You're not okay!"
Raf froze, confused as he stared at his friend.
"A... a seizure?"
"Caused by significant trauma to the processor, followed by incompetent medical treatment," Knock Out explained nonchalantly, rolling his optics.
Raf recoiled at the information. He… he had a seizure? Because of the damage to his processor? But when…
Without warning, a red image flashed across his mind. Pain erupted behind Raf's optics, making him grip his helm with a cringe. He was barely aware of a clawed servo on his shoulder, as if in comfort. Instead, he was trapped in his own memories.
He remembered.
He remembered being down in caverns filled with energon. He was with Bumblebee. And there was a Predacon. They had fought it… but then… then…
The soldiers.
"They're dead," he realized.
The Predacon had burned them all. Mutilated them with its vicious fangs and claws.
And Raf had watched them die.
His voice suddenly cracked, filling with static as he repeated, "They're dead…"
Several puzzled gazes bore into him. It was only Miko that dared to step forward.
"Who, Raf?" Miko asked quietly, gently, as if she was approaching a terrified animal. "Who are you talking about?"
Coolant trailed down from the corner of his optics. Raf didn't even bother to wipe them away. He had tried. He had tried so hard to save them... but he did nothing.
"The soldiers," he muttered so lowly Miko barely heard him. "They're all dead!"
He raised his voice to a distraught shout, making his audience flinch at his sudden violence. The grip on his shoulder tightened. Raf turned, only to wince when he was greeted with a flash of red. But this enemy did not attack.
"It's war, kiddo," Knock Out told, as if it explained everything. As though it absolved the guilt he felt. "Things happen. People die. It's not your fault."
"But it is."
Raf ended with a broken sob. Suddenly he twisted around, lunging at the medic. Before Knock Out could react, the mutant wrapped his arms around him in a tight embrace. The Decepticon instinctively stiffened, obviously not knowing how to register the action. Raf didn't care.
He let out painful, spark-wrenching wails. His faceplates in the crimson mech's chest, the awful sounds were muffled. Knock Out looked to the others for help, but the rest of them only watched like frozen statues. Realizing he was on his own, the medic did the only thing he could: slowly, cautiously, he brought his arms around Raf's shoulders. Knock Out could only offer a lame pat to his helm in comfort.
Not surprisingly, the youngling didn't react, but no one interrupted him as he continued to cry.
Ratchet let out a heavy sigh as he carefully took a vial of the modified synthetic energon. The former scientist lost count of how many samples he had procured. How many tests he had taken. At least the Decepticons were generous enough to give him full access to their laboratories, including all their materials and chemicals. But the Nemesis could only hold so much, and its stores were thinning.
It put Ratchet's knowledge of chemistry to the test. He had not practiced the science in the Golden Days before the war. Since then, his focus had shifted to medicine and biology and combat, and his mind was not as sharp as it used to be. The medic expected Shockwave, or at the very least, Knock Out to assist him, as both had ample experience with pharmacology. But instead, he had been locked in this little lab, alone.
Ratchet tried several times to leave, but he was greeted with an unmoving door each time. He wouldn't be surprised that there were guards posted outside, waiting to pounce on him if dared wandered outside. And, no matter where the Autobot walked, he could feel unblinking optics watching him.
Typical Megatron. The warlord was too paranoid to allow him any contact or free range. He gave the medic only a limited amount of materials, yet he expected Ratchet to succeed. The ex-gladiator was never on the scholarly side.
But realizing he had no choice to continue, Ratchet took a drop of the newly produced synthetic energon, placing it on a clear slide. Now it was time to see if this batch would bear any success. He inserted the sample in the spectrometer. After typing in a quick sequence, the machine hummed to life and a series of lights blinked on. He listened to the clicks and whirrs of the mass spectrometer with half an audio and hardly paid attention to the line that danced across the screen. He was much more concerned with another subject on his mind.
Raf.
Ratchet didn't know where the youngling was, or if he was alright. He had not seen Raf since Soundwave showed the footage of him. What was Megatron doing to him? The warmonger made his intentions clear for Ratchet, but what of Raf? Did Megatron merely want a complete set of mutants? Or… did he know about Raf's abilities?
How? The Autobots kept the youngling under careful observation, and kept him from the field whenever they could. The only times Raf had left the safety of the base was during the Battle of Darkmount and when he accompanied Lennox's men only to be ambushed by the Predacons. And then there was his reckless excursion to retrieve a Predacon fossil with Ms. Darby.
Ratchet could vividly recall that day, where Raf had overused his abilities to the point of locking himself into stasis. The Autobots had been lucky June called when she did. The nurse had frantically explained they had been ambushed by Knock Out, leading to a high-speed chase and then a violent battle. Raf had only barely won.
Could… could the Decepticons have witnessed his powers? As much as Ratchet wanted to deny it, it wasn't unfathomable. It certainly explained Megatron's sudden obsession over him. It only filled the war veteran with further dread. The Decepticons were planning to rebuild the Omega Lock, Ratchet knew that much. But what did Raf have to do with it?
His brief conversations with Shockwave revealed nothing. The Decepticon scientist would come and visit him, usually to check up on his progress. It had been some time since the engineer's last visit. Shockwave had only muttered that he had other duties that required his attention. Ratchet could only hope it didn't involve Raf.
The Autobot was torn from his thoughts when the mass spectrometer gave a shrill ring, alerting him that its analysis was complete. With a heavy sigh, Ratchet neared the screen and observed the results. Everything looked the same. The same peaks and valley danced across the monitors, until it was interrupted by—
Ratchet's optics went wide, gasping, "By the Allspark…"
There was a peak that wasn't there before. Representing a completely new branch of the molecule. The missing branch.
The formula was complete.
Ratchet could only stare for several long moments. Part of him was in disbelief, that the project that had taken years, ever since he copied the formula from Bulkhead's processor, was finally complete. Another part of him was filled with zeal that he finally found the key to Cybertron's restoration. And then he was terrified.
If the Decepticons found this, they alone would control not only the fate of their species, but mankind as well. There would be no telling what horrors they would unleash. It was then Ratchet realized.
He had to destroy it.
The former scientist eyed the vial filled with the Synth-En. Imitating a bright gold glow, it looked so unassuming. Certainly not a product of eradicating worlds.
Steeling his nerves, Ratchet reached out with a trembling servo, wrapping his fingers around the glass tube. So lost in his trance, the Autobot did not hear the doors parting, nor the heavy falls of pedes across the room.
"The Synthetic energon formula is stabilized," Shockwave purred.
Ratchet jumped, violently. He whirled around to face the newcomer, so fast he almost dropped the vial onto the floor. He wished he had, as the Decepticon swiped it from his grip before he could react. Shockwave examined the vial, his lone optic gleaming with greed.
"Finally, we can proceed with the project," the scientist announced.
Ignoring Ratchet's existence, Shockwave made his way over to another monitor. The Autobot's thoughts were wild, trying to think of a way to stop the chief engineer, to keep the formula out of the Decepticon clutches! Instead, his heels were rooted to the floor as Shockwave sent a hail.
Almost immediately, the screen flickered to life, filled with Megatron's stern visage. He must have been in his quarters, as Ratchet noticed a berth behind him. Jack was curled upon it, a datapad in servo.
The mutant glanced up from his readings when the warlord demanded curtly, "What is it?"
"The erratic variable within the synthetic energon has been corrected," Shockwave explained swiftly.
Ratchet's spark went cold when a glint of excitement appeared in the Decepticon leader's optics. On the berth, Jack straightened, though his countenance still looked puzzled. However, his tone was professional as always, "Your time table for production?"
"With the aid of hyper acceleration technology, not long," Shockwave informed, holding up the vial of the substance for Megatron to see. "But I will require the Autobot's assistance."
"Then see to it that the Cybermatter is completed." The Decepticon's lips curled in a wide, nasty smile, as he purred, "for I am impatient to see the fruits of our labor."