Chapter four: Dead Metal

"Shockwave report!"

"Lord Megatron, the specimen is recuperating well, energon levels almost stabilized."

"Excellent work Shockwave, and how is the specimen's mental stability?"

"Moderate."

"Better than nothing I suppose, see to it that this specimen of yours enters training as soon as possible."

"Of course, Lord Megatron."

I heard the sound of a speaker cutting out, replaced by a very slight buzz.

"Hhhhh..."

I reactivated my optics and I felt light, the headache was gone and I could actually move again, I looked around and saw Shockwave with his hand and hand-cannon thing pressed on a table, Shockwave looked annoyed to say the least.

"Hmm?.. you're awake earlier than I had originally calculated."

Shockwave walked over to me, and to my surprise, grabbed me by the neck again.

"If you ever aim any weapon at me again, the pain you felt from the after affects from that hallucinogen will be insignificant compared to the pain I will force your mind to suffer, is that clear?.."

I quickly made sure he knew I understood.

Shockwave looked tired, I wanted to help but I didn't know how to.

"Megatron saw everything through the facility's security system... I had just spent 5.67 hours convincing him to keep you online."

I felt guilty, I didn't know what came over me in that moment, but I knew I screwed up bad.

"The moment you malfunction like that again, I will terminate you, is that understood?"

I understood.

"Good, I have many more diagnostic scans to run, so I need you to sit still."

Hours passed as he examined me servo to joint, it felt weird in some areas, but in others it hurt more than I guess it should've.

"Readings are moderate overall, needs work."

More hours passed while Shockwave continued his work on me, then out of nowhere I saw Starscream sneak in, I tried to warn Shockwave, but he shut my speech synthesizer down again.

"Do not try to speak, I disabled your speech synthesizer so I could focus more efficiently at your repairs."

Starscream paused for a second in surprise to see if Shockwave knew he was there, then kept going and walked over to a table and took his data terminal, making sure that Shockwave was too occupied to notice, he quickly made his way back to the door and left without making a sound.

"At this point it's become rather annoying."

I looked at Shockwave confused.

"I already know Starscream took my data terminal, he has been doing it for cycles now, he wants to know why you're here and why you matter so much to-"

Shockwave paused again, at this point it's become a running joke.

"-why you are alpha priority to my experiment."

I looked at him and his face showed guilt, like something inside was eating at him. Even though he was incapable of showing it, I could still feel it.

Shockwave put down his equipment and walked out of the lab, leaving me here alone and still cuffed to the table.

I heard shouting outside of the lab, the giant steel door blocked most of it though, I couldn't make out any of the lower voices, it was all just muffled noise, but one voice stood out above the rest, Megatron.

"Starscream! Shockwave! what is the meaning of this!?"

muffled noise*

"I don't care who started it first!"

muffled noise*

"Hhhhh... Shockwave, return to your lab."

muffled noise*

"Starscream... a word..."

muffled noise*

I saw the large door open and Shockwave walked back in, holding his data terminal. Shockwave looked over at me and I could see the rage in his optic.

"Megatron has ordered that your Decepticon training begins immediately."

I felt the cuffs retract back into the table and my voice return to me.

"Get up, it's time you meet the training program."

I was taken out of the lab and into a room filled with Decepticon recruits, they all stared at me with hate in their optics.

"Remember, everyone here is your enemy."

I told Shockwave I understood, then he left, leaving me here with the other recruits who really wanted me dead.

"Well well well, if it isn't Mr. Special? Now what brings such a special bot to the scrap pit with us?"

Another recruit chimed in.

"And here we though that you were too special to be grouped in with us low-class scrap piles?.."

"We've heard of the special treatment you're getting from the scientist..."

The two Decepticon recruits walked over towards me, shoving me into the wall.

"You wanna know what we do to bots like you, bots that think they're soooo important?.."

The two recruits kept trying to get a reaction out of me, but I held my ground.

"Eh, he ain't budging, no use spending energon on a scrap pile anyway..."

I they backed off and went back to whatever they were doing.

"Don't worry little bug, we'll meet again in the Scrap Pit."

That name held a bad place in my spark, I knew I visibly flinched at it because everyone saw it.

"Oh what's this? Don't like that name, little bug?"

My optics stung as he said that, the memory of being eaten alive still haunts me to this day.

"You wouldn't be able to handle being a Decepticon, you wouldn't even be good as spare parts!"

I felt something begin to boil in my spark, a cold dread I remembered feeling a very long time ago.

"Little bug gonna snap huh? Bring it."

I could feel that ice cold thought corrode it's way in my head, the feeling of dread lingered over my spark, but I still held my ground.

"Com'on do it! Hit me! Show me what you're made of!"

"Enough Longshot!"

We all turned around to see a Decepticon seeker behind us.

"Uh- Ramjet! Good to see-"

"Shut it Longshot."

Ramjet turned to me.

"And you, I haven't seen you around here, what is your name rookie?.."

I paused, I completely forgot that I didn't have a name.

"Well spit it out rookie!"

The other recruits looked at me like Scraplets waiting for a meal, I told Ramjet I didn't have one.

"What do you mean you 'don't have one'? State your designation code!"

The flame I had in my spark quickly turned into a flicker of fear, Ramjet was far to big for me to handle alone.

"Alright you're coming with me!"

Ramjet grabbed my arm and dragged me out of the training facility, I tried to resist but Ramjet practically picked me off the ground.

"Alright rookie I'll give you one last chance to give me a name, or I'll scrap you here and now."

Before I could respond however, Shockwave interrupted both of us.

"Designation code: D-340"

Ramjet quickly interjected.

"Oh look, the scientist, Starscream may be scared of you, but to me you're nothing but a wasted position in the Decepticon ranks."

Ramjet dropped me to the ground and marched over to Shockwave.

"I don't happen to actually care about the designation code, I asked for actual recruits, not some junkyard pile of scrap!"

"You're lucky then."

"Oh, how so?"

"Because if I didn't interfere when I did, the only thing that would be left of you is a stain on the floor."

Ramjet chuckled.

"Are you threatening me, scientist?"

"No I'm saving your pathetic excuse of a spark, if I didn't interfere, my specimen here would've left no trace of you, I designed him that way."

Ramjet looked startled, then regained his composure.

"Well-"

"Enough Ramjet, if you even so much as scratch my specimen outside of regulated training protocols, I can assure you that you will wish you were dead."

Ramjet retracted back, the fear in his optics were obvious, but he showed none of it.

"Now, please escort my specimen back to the training facility."

Ramjet ushered me back to the facility, both left without saying another word.

To many recruits surprise, I made it back in one piece.

"This is D-340, one of Shockwave's most recent experiments. However just because he was technically made by Shockwave, he is to be treated no different than any other recruits here, is that clear?"

The other recruits nodded in agreement, some however gave me stern looks.

"All recruits, make your way to the platform, we will be starting with a fighting rally first."

We all lined up in a row and two were randomly selected from us.

"You two, on the platform."

Two recruits stepped up to the platform, Ramjet instructed them to fight, first one to fall off the platform lost. We all watched them fight as they pummelled each other to the ground, pieces of scrap flew everywhere as punches and kicks were thrown around, after a few minutes both of them had joints and servos sticking out with plates of metal dented and broken, buzzing circuits could be heard and energon leaked from each of them, Ramjet instructed them to keep fighting until either one of them falls off or dies, Ramjet had amusement written all over his face.

"Alright enough, it's clear that this was a tie, off the platform!"

The two recruits looked like slag, each slowly limping off the platform.

"You... now that you have a visualization on what to expect, I want to see how well you would fair in a fight."

I reluctantly made my way onto the platform, then he picked another recruit off the line.

"Alright Longshot, show him what's it's like to bring pain."

Longshot stared me down the platform, my spark raced, I waited for him to make the first move.

"Well do something either of you! I don't have all cycle!"

Longshot made a break for me, attempting to knock me down in a single blow, the instinct to move set in again, like when I jumped out of the way of the Insecticon, so I followed that instinct and moved. Longshot flew by me and I grabbed his arm and used his momentum to throw him off the platform, he spun out of control and landed on the edge of the platform, he got back up and we both engaged.

"Now were talking!"

Ramjet looked very amused with our little death dance.

We both fought, knocking parts off and ripping off others, I may have been created with combat preprogrammed into my brain module, but Longshot had both servo memory and experience, so for both of us it was a fair fight. I could hear the other recruits betting on who would win, while Ramjet simply just watched on, enjoying every second of it.

For a whole hour we fought on that platform, Ramjet was too amused to call the tie, so we both kept fighting until either one of us gives or dies, we're both completely soaked in eachother's fluids, energon and otherwise.

The fighting continued as we both pounded on eachother, neither one of us wanted to give. Longshot grabbed my arm and threw me over his shoulder onto the edge of the platform, but instead of throwing me off of it, he pulled me back to the center and began to beat my face in, I then knew that Longshot had no plans letting me off this platform alive, and my spark knew that as well, after a few minutes of punching, Longshot prepared one last blow to finish me off for good, I tried to shield my face, but with both arms pinned, it was no use, I deactivated my optics as I felt his fist get closer to my face, I braced for it and knew I wouldn't survive this hit.

After what felt like eons I realized that nothing happened, I reactivated my optics and saw Longshot on the ground in pain, that's when I felt something on my face, it was a metal plate that involuntary sprung out blocking Longshot's blow and breaking his hand.

"Haha! Now that's more like it!"

I felt my face and a thick metal sheet blocked both my nose and my mouth, Ramjet called for the fight to continue, Longshot got back up shouting expletives at me, but before anything could happen Megatron walked in.

"Ramjet!"

"Lord Megatron I-"

"Spare me your excuses for this, I did wonder why your little training exercise was taking longer than it should've, now I know why..."

Megatron looked over and saw both of us on the platform covered in energon and filth.

"Both of you, off the platform."

I began to make my way off the platform when suddenly Longshot grabbed me from behind and threw me back onto the platform.

"Oh no.. I'm not done with you yet, little bug..."

Even though I was practically in pieces, that name flared my spark right up in rage.

"Ramjet control your student or I will!"

"Longshot stand down now!"

"Cmon, fight back little bug, or I'll tear you apart!"

I saw Megatron standing there, many emotions washed over his face in the split second I could see him, first it was rage, then it was contemplation, then it was curiosity. Ramjet tried to finally step in until Megatron stopped him.

"Megatron you told me-"

"I know what I said and I changed my mind, I want to see how this will play out..."

"Fight back!", Longshot responded.

Longshot kept pummelling me while Megatron and Ramjet watched on waiting for a reaction.

"It's no wonder Megatron took pity on you, you can barely stand up for yourself, you call yourself a Decepticon when all you are is just a insignificant little bug!.."

My spark flared like a melting pit, that cold feeling washed over me like a vicious infection plaguing my thought and motions, I was no longer in control of my own actions. Just as Shockwave had programmed, I would leave nothing left.

*crunch*

I could see through optics that were no longer my own, a long dormant presence had control this time, and all I could do was watch as I shoved my hand into Longshot's gut and ripped out his energon infuser, screaming in pain he quickly tried to escape, I didn't let him. I could see the horror in both Ramjet and the recruits as I got back up and began to tear into Longshot, ripping out chunks of him as Megatron watched on with an expression of mild amusement.

"AHHGK!"

Longshot pleaded to me, begged me to stop, but I couldn't. Megatron chimed in saying that the fight wouldn't end until one of us dies, with a look of fear and regret washing over Longshot's face.

I picked up Longshot by the head and slammed him back into the ground, I held up his head as I snapped the joints in his arm, working my way up his shoulder until I reached his neck, he turned and broke out of my grip, slamming onto the floor with a pained cry, his arm in pieces and his gut trailing energon behind him as he tried to crawl off the platform until Megatron interjected.

"You wanted to keep fighting, this is the price you pay for your arrogance!"

Megatron boot-kicked Longshot in the face, knocking him back onto the platform. I walked over to him ignoring the pain in my legs, he pleaded and begged, it reminded me of how the Insecticon must've felt when it saw me turn back around.

I grabbed him by the neck as he whimpered, I wanted to stop but I couldn't even blink, I had no control over what would happen next.

"Please..."

I felt the fresh energon leak into my servos and joints as he coughed up more of it, splattering my face.

I slammed him back into the ground. Again, and again, and again I slowly pulverized his servos and crushed his circuits into scrap metal, Ramjet and the other recruits looked on in fear as I tore apart Longshot, one bolt at a time.

After nearly 10 minutes I had completely eviscerated Longshot, all that was left was metal dust and energon mixed in with it, I looked down at my hands and they were crushed, servos stuck out and broken pistons ground against my wrists.

Megatron began to speak.

"Ramjet, I think we have found our new Decepticon, see to it that he is sent back to Shockwave's lab for repairs."

"O-Of course lord Megatron..."

Megatron walked off and to my surprise I saw Deadringer peaking from behind a corner, just like the others he had a fearful expression painted on his face as well, he left after realizing that I could see him.

After a few seconds of silence I felt my legs begin to give, and before I knew it I was back in control of my own body. I was completely drenched in energon that wasn't my own, it dripped down behind me as I made my way off the platform, the other recruits cleared the way as Ramjet very cautiously walked me back to Shockwave's laboratory, keeping his distance as he went along.

"Shockwave sir?"

"I saw everything, send him in."

Ramjet handed me over to Shockwave and quickly left the lab not saying anything else, Shockwave sat me down on his lab table, everything hurt.

"Tell me, how did you feel during that experience?"

I decided to keep my mouth shut this time, besides, I just wanted to power down.

"No matter, I will get such results in time, it would be pointless to ask any questions anyway, seeing as you are obviously not in a clear state of function."

Shockwave hooked that spike I always hated into my head and pressed a button, again everything began to go dark, then I was out all over again.

I woke up again on the table, my hands felt light again, however my head felt awful.

"I wonder how many times this same scenario will occur?.."

Shockwave was standing over me again with a ion wrench in his hand.

"Your hands should be fully functional, along with the rest of your endo-skeleton."

I moved my hands and they felt brand new, as if last cycle never happened, I looked over and saw my trophy sitting on a nearby table.

"I already know where you got it from, I read your memory core."

The head looked at me with a hint of something cold, not like dread, but something that felt even worse.

The head was rusted almost beyond recognition, the Astro cycles of Cybertronian weather and just poor maintenance on my part caused most of the outer shell to corrode away, leaving a barely intact endo-skeleton remaining.

"I saw the Insecticons eviscerate you, I was definitely curious onto how you survived so long with such wounds."

I didn't respond.

I got up and took my trophy, holding it in my hands, I saw a single drop of energon fall out and hit the floor, and I walked out of the lab with my broken prize.

Shockwave simply just went back to his work, like that question never existed.

All Decepticons had designated quarters to call their own, I didn't have one yet so I just wandered around with a severed head in my hands, I definitely got a few looks.

I wandered around and wound up in the Scrap Pit, a massive pile of metal that Decepticons would regularly dump scrap shovelled off of a battlefield, the pit was covered in rust and energon leaking from dead bodies that piled on the top, the energon slowly trickled down from the top down into a large cauldron in the middle that collected it and refined it back into a usable source of energon.

(Yeah I know it's kind of disgusting, but you humans use waste products from other animals to feed your flora so you can consume said flora later.)

I saw many Decepticon recruits and even Decepticon sentries picking out pieces of scrap like weapons and ammunition. I looked over to a large pile and saw Deadringer pulling out a large piece of metal, I walked down over and I saw him look over then mutter something, he greeted me and asked what I was doing down here, I told him that I was getting a feel of the Decepticon facility so I don't get lost.

"Smart I suppose, it is quite easy to get lost here if you don't know the place."

Deadringer had a look of fear in his optics, I could feel his spark quiver.

"So uh... wanna help me out here? I found a Quarter Cannon fuel injector, I figured I could use it for a broken relay up above, but it's buried under a bunch of scrap."

I got up behind him and grabbed tight on a large pipe.

"Alright ready? Aaannnd... lift!"

We managed to topple the pipe over and knock the fuel injector loose.

"Ahh.. finally, I've been at this for hours..."

I questioned him on his position, asking why he was repairing a relay even though he was a sentry.

"Sentry, me?"

Deadringer laughed.

"Nah not me, I was just put on guard duty because the rest of Megatron's goons were off drunk or something, I'm actually a maintenance bot, not easy work though, most of the parts I need are either rusted to slag, being used as plate-scratchers by the seekers, or both."

Deadringer walked into the pile and pulled out the part.

"Thank god it's still usable, we have Decepticon outposts scattered about and I really need to fix that relay."

I looked around to see if anything caught me optics.

"So what is the story of that thing? Looks like slag."

I looked at him confused until he pointed out the head on my back."

"Insecticon right? I've never seen one up close, nasty things aren't they?"

I nodded in agreement.

"Damn that looks so creepy, what is it a trophy?"

Again I nodded in agreement.

"Wait you're serious? you hoist that rusted hunk of metal around as sentiment?"

Deadringer looked confused, then regretful.

"Hey um... I'm sorry about earlier, I guess I was just jealous of your specialness or whatever-"

I listened on until something caught my optic, I looked over him and saw something familiar.

"Well your attention span is small, anyway what-"

Deadringer looked over and concern washed over him.

"A kill switch? What in Primus is a kill switch doing here?"

Deadringer carefully dug it out of the pit, making sure to not make any contact with the broken wires that stuck out.

"No one has seen this tech since before the golden age, these were used to terminate any unwilling workers, a single shock from one of these wires could deactivate you completely, that's why I'm avoiding them, cause you never know if it still might have power, and if it does, we should probably scrap it just to be safe."

Deadringer walked over to a conveyer belt and attempted to put the kill switch on the belt until I intervened, grabbing it out of his hand.

"Wh-AHHHH!"

Deadringer leaped back in fear.

"You idiot what were you thinking?! If those wires were live, you wouldn't be standing you Scraplet!"

I looked over and around the switch, I had a feeling like I should find something, then I found it.

"Wait is that a designation code?"

I stared at it, my servos glitched and I felt heavy, Deadringer looked puzzled until he saw what I was seeing.

"Wait isn't that... why is your designation code on here?"

I dropped the device, my servos jolted and my optics went narrow.

"Woah hey take it easy."

Deadringer followed me to the ground as my servos gave, catching me before I fell completely.

"I don't know what type of experiments Shockwave was forcing on you, but at least that isn't in you, otherwise this conversation might've never happened."

Deadringer picked up the device and threw it into a nearby smelting pit, and came back to pick me up.

"I mean it's just a switch, but it must have some bad memories behind it if this is your reaction, I'm guessing you don't want to talk yet."

Deadringer stood me back up and consoled me.

"Alright alright enough, come on you're a Decepticon now, put that slag behind you."

Deadringer gave a warm expression, I felt something new around him, something safe.

"Hey you know what, I know the perfect spot to scout for some good parts, it's just over the pipes, come on I'll show you."

As Deadringer and I began to walk down the pipes, I looked over and saw a hatch open up, glowing metal sludge poured out of it.

"Yeah I saw that, you did a real number on him, guy was a jerk anyway."

I looked at the sludge pile, I could smell the energon from here, to think that this pile used to be a Decepticon, now...

Now it's just nothing but dead metal.

End of chapter four