62- Thirst.

The Nemesis was flying through some kind of space storm with the fleet. Meanwhile, inside of the warship's lab, someone was not having a good day.

"Oh, will my torment never end? First, I have to fight for Megatron's favor against that treacherous harpy Airachnid. Now I must contend with Shockwave and his incorrigible beast."

"Oh, come on brother, look on the bright side. At least one of them is currently on ice: locked up tight in the vault of our warship." Slipstream reassured, trying to cheer him up. "Besides, I always assumed that Airachnid was only more interested in her own business than the Decepticon cause. For all female Decepticons, she is one of the most lone, arrogant and worst ones for our faction. I didn't like her from the very beginning."

Starscream sighed. "Oh, how I would love to stuff Shockwave and his mangy abomination, right into that stasis pod beside her."

"And you also missed another valuable point, Starscream." Skywarp started. "The only reason his Project Predacon is currently in full swing is because we Seekers supervise the acquisition of his dozen of Predacon bones."

"If you guys talk that loud, we can't hear our test subject's results." Thundercracker called, working on something alongside Knock Out.

Then everyone heard a faint groaning.

"Will you please keep your lab rat quiet while I'm airing my grievances?" Starscream asked.

"Talking about grievances." Skywarp said as they looked to a certain individual attacked to an operation table: Breakdown?

"Starscream…help…me." He pleaded.

But he simply chuckled. "My, my, my. Whatever have you been inflicting upon poor Grievous?"

"Ha, well anything that merits the need for a living petri dish." Knock Out said as he injected him a syringe full of green liquid.

Then Grievous groaned in pain as his eyes turned green.

"Despite your justifiable lack of regard for his cyborg side, it doesn't trouble you to watch what remains of your former partner endure your scientific endeavors?" Slipstream asked.

"Not really. Besides, Grievous once had poor Breakdown pinned to his lab table, and being dismantled by his droids. I think my former partner would be pleased to be a part." Knock Out answered.

Suddenly, he powered down.

"What just happened?" Starscream asked.

"You recall that…synthetic energon Knock Out recovered from the Autobots? Well, he and I have been reproducing the formula to test its viability as an alternative energy source." Thundercracker explained.

"However, the compound remains erratic and there have been side effects." Knock Out added.

"Such as?" Skywarp asked.

Suddenly, Grievous reawakened screaming, with his optics still green. "STARSCREAM, I HOPE YOU REPLACED YOUR T-COG, BECAUSE I'M GOING TO TEAR IT OUT ALL OVER AGAIN ALONGSIDE ALL OF YOURS AND FEED IT TO KNOCK OUT!"

"Woah, now he's really mad." Skywarp observed.

"Shear unrivaled aggression." Knock Out concluded.

"Such power and fury!" Starscream admired. "Megatron has longed desired the beast machine super soldier, and we now possess the means of delivering one to him."

Speaking of Megatron, he was in the bridge having a private talking by com-link, probably with Shockwave.

"Tell me of the Predacon protoforms. What is the status of their incubation? Mm-hm. Uh-huh."

In that moment, Starscream entered the bridge and approached him.

"Master, if I do say so myself, I have made the most intriguing discovery. It appears that…"

"Not now!" Megatron interrupted him. "Please, continue Shockwave. No, no one important."

Starscream scowled in frustration and left the bridge. In a hallway outside, the other Seekers and Knock Out were waiting for him.

"Did you speak with our liege, about our little enterprise?" Knock Out asked.

"He was…otherwise engaged." Starscream answered.

"Shockwave?" Slipstream deduced.

"Affirmative."

"Well, I understand he's that busy. After all, the last report he sent me mentions that the Predacon protoforms are reaching their last incubation stage."

"You're not helping with that, Thundercracker." Skywarp complained.

As they entered the lab, they were surprised at hearing Grievous roaring in pain so loud.

"I AM GONNA MAKE YOU SUFFER IN WAYS YOU WOULD NOT BELIEVE, JUST LIKE I PLANNED FOR THE JEDI!"

"Geez, that synthetic energon surely is unstable." Slipstream said. "Not even the real Breakdown would act like that."

"Just how much of this Synth-En have you given him?" Skywarp asked.

"Two additional doses, three at the most. But Grievous's increasingly volatile nature isn't the only wrinkle." Thundercracker said as he injected another dose to Grievous, causing him to fidget and grunt.

"It appears that the more green stuff we administer, the faster this monstrosity formerly known as Breakdown burns through his own natural energon reserves." Knock Out explained.

"But this will not do! Megatron already possess one unruly beast with that Predacon of his. What good is another freak of nature that cannot be controlled?" Slipstream expressed.

"If only there was a way to perform control over him." Thundercracker suggested.

Suddenly, an idea came to Starscream. "Wait. We are fools."

"What do you mean?" Slipstream asked confused.

"You'll see." He said exiting the room.

When Starscream returned, he came back with an energon box, but this was purple instead of blue. Knock Out already knew what he was referring to.

"Dark energon?!"

"Woah, it really exists?" Thundercracker asked surprised. "I thought it was only a dark legend."

"You are more than a fool, Starscream! I think your neural cluster has blown a massive fuse!" Knock Out objected.

"Oh, on the contrary, dear doctor. Adding dark energon to the formula should provide Lord Megatron with full control over his super soldier."

"You might wanna fill us in?" Skywarp asked.

"Okay. Truth that Lord Megatron seems to possess a symbiotic link to anyone or thing infused with the dark matter allowing him to manipulate them as if they were puppets. But…have you forgotten what the so-called blood of Unicron did to our warship?" Knock Out reminded.

"What. Are you saying that comes from the same Unicron? The Chaos Bringer?" Slipstream asked in disbelief.

"It seems you three are not so aware of all what had happened here since Lord Megatron's return." He said referring to the three Seekers.

"That was the result of a massive infusion. I am suggesting a drop or two: merely enough to allow our master to command his warrior at will." Starscream explained.

"If you say so." Skywarp supported.

"I'm not sure about this." Slipstream confessed.

"Me neither. Even so, it's too drastic a measure to undertake without Shockwave's approval. I do, after all, report to him. Me and Knock Out."

"Not on this project! Super soldiers fall under military operations. Meaning, dear Thundercracker, that you and Knock Out now report to me. Are we clear?" Starscream told him face to face.

With all settled, Knock Out processed the dark energon to liquid form, loaded it in a syringe and injected it to Grievous, who groaned in pain and let out a painful scream.

"Wait for it." Knock Out said, waiting to the assimilation.

But moments later, he simply powered down again.

Skywarp groaned in disappointment. "Organic life forms in any form cannot be relied upon! Even if they are half machine!"

And then, Grievous sprung back to life, roaring in rage, with his eyes now purple.

"It's alive!" Knock Out announced.

But suddenly, Grievous broke free from his binds on his arms and whacked Starscream aside, making him crash to the wall.

"Scrap!" He cursed.

Grievous broke the binds of his legs and stood on his feet, until he fell to one knee. Skywarp cautiously poked him, but he didn't respond.

"Oh, for the love of…Now what?!"

"We tried to tell you before: it's a side effect of the Synth-En, he's burnt through his own natural reserves." Knock Out reminded.

"Then perhaps we should withhold any infusions for a while. Might calm Grievous down a bit." Thundercracker suggested.

"Yeah. Make him a tad more manageable." Starscream supported.

Grievous struggled to lift his head.

"Need…energon." He said weakly, before his lower jaw split into monstrous mandibles with a fierce roar.

From his mouth emerged a long-bladed tongue, revealing to being turned into something they didn't expect: a monster. And not an ordinary one: a new kind of cybertronian abomination: a zombie/vampire Terrocon-like creature. That scared the Decepticons while Grievous stood up and walked toward them. Slipstream tripped back to the floor, so he went for her. Skywarp tried to intervene, but Grievous pushed him aside with his arm. Next, he grabbed Slipstream and pulled her closer.

"Let me go, you blasted monster!" She yelled.

The bladed tongue launched for her neck, but she tilted her head to the sides to avoid the bites.

"Starscream, catch!" Thundercracker said throwing him something.

He passed to Starscream Knock Out's electric staff, which he used to stun Grievous, causing him to release Slipstream and allowing her to kick him back a few steps. But that didn't look to affect him much as he let out a monstrous roar and showed his tongue again.

Slipstream gashed. "Do you think he's actually trying to…?"

"Suck out our energon with that thing?" Thundercracker ended while Grievous tried to get closer.

"It seems that way." Knock Out said aiming his staff at him again, but Grievous took it and broke it in half.

"I have a better idea. Run!" Skywarp shouted.

The Decepticons ran out of the lad screaming, with Grievous stomping after them.

"See if you can hold him off." Starscream said.

"Good idea." Skywarp added.

"Yeah, we let you guys deal with this." Slipstream added.

"What?!" Thundercracker asked as they changed to their alt modes, so he did the same.

"Wait for me!" Knock Out said jumping on Thundercracker's wing as he took off.

The Cons left flying fast, leaving Grievous behind, forcing him to wander the halls looking for other preys. Once they were far enough, the Seekers slowed down and returned to robot form, and Thundercracker tossed Knock Out, making him land hard on the floor.

"We need to…sound the alarm!" Knock Out said frightened.

"Out of the question. Megatron will undoubtedly hold us responsible." Starscream objected.

"But…we are!" Thundercracker shouted.

"Well, you two are mostly." Skywarp said pointing at the scientists.

"Anyway, his lordship doesn't need to know that. Not if we handle this the right way." Starscream suggested.

"Meaning?!" Knock Out asked.

"Use your head, pals! This warship is crawling with highly Vehicon troopers and battle droids of all kinds armed for combat." Starscream started.

"Oh, now I see it. The moment Grievous attempts to feed, they will neutralize him for us, believing he escaped." Slipstream deduced.

"Exactly. Problem solved."

In another hallway, a lone Vehicon was patrolling the area, and around the corner Grievous was waiting for depredate him. Once he was close enough, Grievous lunged out and tackled him. The Decepticon screamed in pain as Grievous sucked out his energon, until he finished with a roar as the Decepticon powered down. Meanwhile, the group was starting to search carefully.

"Once we recover Grievous' body we must dispose of it quickly as possible." Starscream was explaining.

"Yeah, no trace of him can be allowed to remain. His…infected body." Thundercracker said shuddering.

When they turned a corner, they gasped as they saw the Vehicon's body. Knock Out rushed to his side and checked for an energy pulse.

"Gone. Completely drained of energon." He informed.

"Tell me something, Starscream. When you said problem solved, is this even close to what you had in mind?"

"I do not appreciate your tone, Thundercracker. This brewing catastrophe is hardly my fault."

"Well it certainly isn't mine!"

Without anyone noticing the Vehicon slowly moved up to his feet, except one.

"Huh, guys?" Slipstream said frightened.

"Oh no? You're the masterminds who chose to experiment with synthetic energon." Skywarp claimed.

"Guys?!" She called again.

"And you're the monkey wrench who thought it was a good idea to dabble in voodoo!" Knock Out argued.

"Guys?!"

"What?!" Everyone shouted.

Slipstream trembled pointing at the Vehicon, which terrorized them a lot.

"Energon." The Vehicon snarled before his mouth turned like Grievous's, which made the Cons scream.

"He's back?! I thought you said he had no spark!" Skywarp yelled.

"Dark energon, it reanimates the dead." Knock Out realized.

"So now we are in real trouble." Slipstream said.

Starscream, Slipstream and Skywarp pulled out their weapons and fired at the undead Decepticon while Knock Out pulled out his buzz saws in case. But despite the shots, the undead continued walking at them.

"Aim for the head!" Knock Out suggested.

"What?! How do you know?!" Starscream asked.

"I've seen native horror films." Knock Out replied, which made the Seekers to look at him in disbelief.

"What?" Skywarp asked.

"Seriously?" Slipstream followed.

"At drive-in theaters!" Knock Out defended.

"Slipstream, you have the best aim of all of us." Starscream instructed.

Slipstream retrieved her weapons, aimed one of her arms to the zombie's head and fired the missile. That cause an explosion, but when the smoke cleared, they saw the body still moving with the tongue still active.

"With the head gone and it still can move?!" She asked in disbelief.

"Forget the head! Go for the spark!" Thundercracker declared as he fired.

The four Seekers continued until their shots burned through the zombie's spark chamber, terminating it for good.

"At last it's dead, right?" Skywarp asked.

"We severed its link to the dark energon. Native horror films, waste of time." Knock Out nodded.

Grievous wandered aimlessly down another hall looking for more preys.

"Energon." He snarled.

At the same time, the Decepticons were trying to know what happened.

"If the mutation can be passed along with a single bite, the entire crew is at risk. Well, maybe not the droids." Knock Out realized.

Skywarp squealed in fear. "You're saying Grievous could beget more Terrorcons?"

"Mmm, could happen. And the ensuing feeding frenzy can turn this entire warship into a scrapheap." Thundercracker added.

"So now can we sound the alarm?!" Knock Out asked.

Before they continued debating, they came across four long-range Decepticon soldiers.

"You there, have you noticed any unusual activity…" Slipstream called while the Decepticons turned at them, and revealed that they were infected. "In…this…vector?"

The zombies marched toward them, so the Decepticons have no choice but to turn around and run while they screamed. They reached to a wall with a fork at the end. Knock Out ran to the left while the Seekers ran to the right, until the red Decepticon turned around and followed them. They continued running until they found more zombies in their way, infected engineers and tanks. So they ran the opposite direction. Then Starscream noticed they were going to pass near a room.

"In here!"

Everyone jumped inside before the door closed and hid in a corner.

"Fellas, this situation might be a bit more direr than no one of us ever imagined." Starscream said.

"Mmm, I find it rather ironic that after battling Autobots all these years, getting smacked down, shot at, blown up, this is how our lights go out?" Skywarp said.

"Drained of our precious fluids." Thundercracker imagined.

"If this is indeed the end, if we are to become Terrorcon chow, it has been an honor serving Lord Megatron with all of you." Starscream confessed.

"I cannot imagine falling alongside anyone better than you, brother."

"At least, we managed to reunite a part of our family." Slipstream added smiling.

"And if we are going to fall, at least let's fall fighting." Skywarp added, trying to encourage them.

"You're no Breakdown. Though I must confess, I have always admired your lustrous finish. And I admit that I envy your family touch. And so, I also regret not being able to ask you for a date before, Slipstream."

"What? What's with that now?"

"Well, since we're confessing our most personal feelings, I have to say it now or never. You have been one of the most splendid Decepticon girls that I've ever met, and one of the prettiest. So, if I had asked before, you would have given it a try?"

"This is so embarrassing." Slipstream said as she sighed. "Not a chance, besides, you're not my type."

"Well, I had to try."

That made the other Seekers laugh. Next, there was a long pause.

"Mm-hmm. Well, then." Starscream started.

"Should be going." Thundercracker added.

The group exited the room and walked carefully looking for any possible zombies around, but when they turned to the left, they bumped into someone. Fortunately, it was not a zombie, but it wasn't something good either: Megatron. And he didn't look happy, the reason they gasped in fear.

"Would either of you like to tell what exactly is going on?" He demanded.

"Yes, absolutely nothing, my liege." Starscream started.

"All is quiet, too quiet." Knock Out added.

"One could even say dull." Slipstream expressed.

"Funny. Because the dark energon within my spark has been pulsing." Megatron said.

"Allow me to handle this." Skywarp offered. "It's Knock Out and Thundercracker's fault!"

"Precisely our…WHAT?!" Thundercracker exclaimed surprised.

"They infused Grievous with a cocktail comprised of dark and synthetic energon, creating a monstrous mutation which is now on the verge of turning your entire crew into mindless energon sucking Terrorcons!"

"I do not know from what madness your yarn spraying, Skywarp. But if I learn that Starscream has been dabbling with my dark energon stores again, attempting to infuse himself with its formidable power…" Megatron was saying while another zombie was approaching him from behind.

"Uh, my liege." Starscream called, noticing the zombie.

"Let me just say, you have been awarded more chances for redemption than anyone in Decepticon history." Megatron continued, until the snarls of the zombie finally got his attention.

"Energon!"

"Hey, you there, what are you doing? I order you, stand down!" Megatron ordered, but the zombie charged at him, but Megatron killed him with a single shot of his cannon before looking back at the group.

"We did try to tell you." Slipstream said.

"Mm-hmm." Knock Out followed.

The Decepticons were now in the bridge explaining everything to their leader while Soundwave and the droids were trying to locate Grievous.

"Then why can I not command the monster to follow my bidding?" Megatron asked.

"While the trace of dark energon should have granted you control over these ghouls, I believe the synthetic component may be corrupting your link to them." Thundercracker explained.

"Lord Megatron, we have lost contact to sectors 6 to 9." One of the droids reported.

"Initiate high alert! Instruct all troops to keep their distance from the mutations and terminate them on sight!" Megatron instructed to Soundwave so he transmitted the commands before facing the group again. "Your fate, however, remains to be seen." He told them, who looked at each other nervously. "Why are you still here?! Find this…creation of yours and eradicate it, immediately!"

The Decepticons left the bridge and started looking for Grievous.

"I realize Lord Megatron is only doing this to punish us, but how are we the best choice to hunt down Grievous?" Knock Out asked.

"Yeah, why not deploy his beloved beast machine super soldier, hmm? After all it is supposed to be the ultimate hunter." Skywarp added.

"Out of the question! Can you imagine if the Predacon became infected?" Slipstream suggested.

"Nothing could stop it." Starscream agreed.

In other parts of the ship, the Decepticon troops and battle droids were engaging the zombie horde, supported by the Insecticons which crawled on the ceiling, helping each other in destroying all the undead Decepticons: the Decepticons and droids used their weapons while the Insecticons eliminated the zombies with their claws. Soundwave was the one who was supervising the cleaning.

"Sir, our recent reports say that we're advancing to the center of the outbreak." One droid reported, making Soundwave to nod at him before continuing the cleaning.

As for Grievous, he continued wandering until he noticed a locked door on his left. He smashed the screen pad with his fist, forcing the door to open. Once he entered, he saw inside a lot of pods that contained the recovered relics from the Autobots, and a familiar stasis pod. He sensed an energon presence inside.

"Energon." He snarled before he slammed the glass and started to rid the stasis pod apart.

That caused Airachnid's reawakening. Of course, she looked surprised for what she saw first.

"Breakdown?! Did I not exterminate you once already?"

Grievous's mandibles sprang open as he closed to suck Airachnid's energon. She managed to dodge the tongue before she climbed on top of the wrecked pod and kicked Grievous's face. He brushed it off and grabbed her before pulling her closer to try sucking again. But Airachnid grabbed the bladed tongue before it got too close and punched him in the face, causing him to lose his grip. Grievous tried to crush her, but Airachnid quickly jumped back. Grievous tried to stomp her again while she was down, but Airachnid slithered her way out and tried to crawl away, but Grievous caught her and swung her to the wall, disorienting her. Before she could get up, Grievous grabbed her and approached his tongue to suck her energon, but she quickly changed to her spider mode as she shot webs, allowing her to crawl to the wall.

That made Grievous groan in frustration. "Energon!"

Airachnid shot multiple webs at him, pinning him to the ground and a few more to ensure he couldn't get up. Next, she jumped down on him and stabbed him in the throat with one of her claws, neutralizing him finally.

"Second time's the charm." She laughed. "But to be certain, I shall remove your very spark." She started to rip apart his chest, until she gasped when she found who was inside. "Grievous. Whatever have they done to you? Oh, but more importantly, thank you for freeing me."

"No…thank you. At last…I can finally…reunite with you…my dear Kummar." He said agonizing before he truly became expired. Finally, General Grievous was no more.

"Whatever." Airachnid simply said as she started summoning her servants. "Insecticons, heed me."

Airachnid's words were listened by all the Insecticons as they were finishing with the last zombies.

"Your queen has returned."

As response, all the Insecticons changed to their flying form and flew off to her location. Soundwave saw that, so he knew something was not going well.

"Uh, they were supposed to act that way, sir?" One of the droids asked, making Soundwave look at him.

The group of Decepticons was entering the same room, and it didn't take them too much to find Grievous's lifeless body.

"Our ordeal is finally over." Starscream said relieved.

"Or not." Thundercracker said pointing at the wrecked pod.

"Scrap." Slipstream cursed. "She's free now."

"Starscream! Have you made contact with the plague bringer?!" Megatron asked by com-link.

"Actually, my liege, I have good news, and bad news."

"Lord Megatron, we are receiving new reports. All the infected have been neutralized. However, the Insecticons seems to be leaving their posts without explanation." One droid informed.

That made Megatron roar in anger. Meanwhile, all Insecticons were regrouping with Airachnid.

"Loyal servants, the time is now! Lay waste to all Decepticons. Leave no trace of them in your wake." Airachnid instructed as she marched down the hall.

At the end of the hall she saw a very recognizable Decepticon alongside crab, spider and Octutarra droids.

"Soundwave!"

Airachnid ordered the Insecticon hive to stop, while Soundwave simply remained his ground. The droids aimed their weapons at them, but Soundwave signaled them to not open fire.

"I vow that on this day, the world will hear the sound of your screams." Airachnid swore before she charged alongside the entire Insecticon hive.

Soundwave locked the space bridge coordinates onto one of Cybertron's moons, and activated the portal in front of her. But it was already too late for Airachnid and her Insecticons, who passed through the portal and reached the moon. Once the entire hive crossed, the portal closed, leaving Airachnid and her Insecticons banished on Cybertron's moon, forever.

"NOOOOOOOOO!"

With all done, Soundwave returned back to his post, with the droids following him. Everything returned back to normal in the ship, but of course Megatron discussed that with Shockwave.

"Yes, the containment protocol you recommended to prevent any further outbreak is now underway. Oh, and Shockwave, having just lost an important portion of our original military might I cannot stress enough the importance of Project Predacon. See if you can speed things along, will you?" Megatron said before he hung up and turned at the other Decepticons. "Knock Out, Thundercracker, need I remind you that as the ship's medic and secondary scientist, you both report directly to Shockwave, not Starscream."

"Understood, master." Thundercracker replied.

"Just to be sure, you will hand over all of your projects to him… immediately. Including the synthetic energon." Megatron declared.

"As you wish, my liege." Knock Out nodded.

"And as for you." Megatron said looking at Starscream.

"Lord Megatron, if you will just allow me to explain things."

"No. Allow me to explain things. In a manner which I know you'll understand." Megatron said advancing toward him.

"What do you think it will happen to Starscream?" Slipstream asked worried.

"No idea, but one thing for sure: I don't wanna be him right now." Skywarp answered.

As for Airachnid, she was sitting on a boulder on Cybertron's moon as the Insecticon hive stood before her.

"Your majesty, we await your command." One of the Insecticons announced.

"Approach me. Serve your queen." She said, not aware that she had two bite marks in her neck.

One of the Insecticons approached her, and once it was close enough Airachnid grabbed its head. And suddenly her lower jaw divided into monstrous mandibles and a long, bladed tongue emerged from her mouth, the same as Grievous. She sucked the Insecticon's energon, which shrieked in pain as the rest lined up to be next.