WARNING: This work is Rated M for physical violence, physical abuse/torture, mental abuse/torture, emotional abuse/torture, depictions of war, depictions of violence, depictions of traumatic medical scenarios, and mentions of blood and gore. There will be warnings placed at the beginnings of each chapter to give a heads-up in the event any of these are provoking.

A/N: This is a two-part work. BRAINWASHED is the book, and BATTLE CRY is the sequel. I took inspiration from an author named L.J. Smith, who wrote "A Forbidden Game" and other books. These books were technically "three" mini-books combined into one, and I wanted to try my hand at it to see if it was a better fit than just writing two separate books - therefore, making it easy to read the whole thing at once. Overall I have received a fairly neutral reception on this style, as people were more generally focused on the content than how it was presented.

CREDITS:

At the time of publishing on Wattpad, this work was heavily inspired by Misgel's "Darkness" works (Darkness of the Soul and Darkness of the Heart). With this being said I am not attempting an imitation, or writing my "take" on her original plot. Because I am a horrible human being (well, only a little bit) I greatly enjoy both Jack and Ratchet angst, and as such wanted to write a work which did both.

In addition, Bumblemus_Prime and Arya_Skye also have published works that have very similar ideas to what I've written here. When writing this I was honestly debating whether to continue this work and its direction when I saw them and realized the similarities, because I honestly don't want to be "that writer" that seems like she's ripping off other people to try and make a fanfiction. That is sincerely not my intent. I've written this work independently from all three fanfic writers, yet I still want to give credit where credit is due.

There are some ideas of from these authors that I really liked and wanted to incorporate into this work. With these ideas I opted to use their core, however when it came to how they were incorporated into the story I ensured to take a different route and have various explanations for why such phenomena were important to the overall plot. These are as follows:

1.) Dark Energon poisoning/utilization - Bumblemus_Prime was actually the first user I came across who used this theme (Without a Word), and Misgel also utilizes the properties of Dark Energon in her works. Primarily, that those infected survive, and perhaps even thrive. This makes sense to me, because though Prime has instances of some Cybertronians having issues with the substance (Arcee, Bulkhead), there are others who seem unbothered by it or enhanced with its abilities (Megatron, Bumblebee, Starscream).

2.) Mass Displacement - Misgel also used this as a plot point and I really, really wanted to use it as well. It was such a clever idea and I wanted to expand upon it with my own interpretations on how it worked. I also do this in The Bargain (shameless plug), which goes to show how much I love this idea and all the nefarious trouble which one can get into with it.

3.) The Ending - I can't give too many things away here, because, well, spoilers, but Arya_Skye has a book that starts with the ending I settled on for the first half of this work, Brainwashed (I've Forgotten You). Her book was actually what convinced me to end Brainwashed the way I did, then go into Battle Cry.

4.) The Plot - Books centered around torture and torment are nothing new, however Bumblemus_Prime did write a whole mini-series (which is currently still in the works at the time of this publishing) which centers around Optimus Prime as the poor victim (Rules of War, War Without End). I do not show any mercy to the poor Prime, but he is a secondary character in this fic.

So far, that is it for inspirations for the work. I wanted to make sure I was straightforward with you guys and not wanting to come off as using these authors but not crediting them. They are the inspirations behind this work. Thank you all so much!

BEHOLD ME

"It is divided into four basic stages: Demoralization. Destabilization. Crises. Normalization."

Though relief swept through him the moment the Groundbridge roared to life, Jack felt a weight of insufficiency settle in his stomach. Turning his head he gazed up at the communications hub, his eyes trailing from the prone Knock Out to the data drive still stuck in its port. All that had been downloaded was four sets of coordinates - Rafael had mentioned the Iacon file was most likely huge - but to leave the Autobots with nothing was worse than a little something.

"Take Fowler and go," he instructed the two younger humans, striding toward Knock Out with purpose. "Something is better than nothing - I'm not leaving without that data drive."

Miko turned her head to see the junior scaling the Decepticon medic, her suggestion dying on her tongue. It would be easier, and safer, to just take a picture. The girl had her phone on her almost 24/7, save for the one time they were trapped in the Shadowzone; but even then Jack had whipped out his own cellular device. Taking a moment to pause and snap a good shot of the screen would take only half the time it would for Jack to scale Knock Out, grab the drive, and hop back down. But by the time she thought of such a thing he was already halfway up to the hub, so instead she hoisted Fowler's arm over her shoulder and with the help of Raf carried the semi-conscious agent back to base.

The Cybertronian race had plenty of handholds thanks to their sophisticated armor plating, though the protective shell proved to be slick and even sharp around some particular edges. Jack did not waste precious time trying not to cut his hands, instead focusing on hoisting himself onto the sleek keyboard, mindful of the array of buttons he could hit on his way over to the data drive. Rafael had managed to put it in with ease, so it would only make sense that the older teen could pull it out.

Gripping the sides with both hands he pulled, a few choice words coming to mind when the alien USB drive refused to move. Readjusting his grip he tried again, nervous sweat making it nearly impossible for him to grasp the streamline edges.

Intuition pulled at the back of his mind, chills going down his spine as something alerted him to a problem he could not yet see. Catching movement out of the corner of his eye he turned, eyes widening when he realized he somehow missed the bright red Aston Martin waking from stasis. Knock Out greeted him with a grin, raising his servo and exchanging it for the surgical drill his frame was equipped with. Jack fell on his butt in his mad dash to escape the psychotic medic's corkscrew weapon, scrambling back until his spine hit the LED screen full of alien text.

"Say ah," Knock Out jeered, bringing his drill closer until the tip nearly brushed Jack's chin. The human opened his mouth to do . . . something, be it scream or beg for his life, when another voice interrupted him.

"I'm here to offer a second opinion!"

Knock Out turned to see just who interrupted him, his surprised alabaster face met with the unforgiving fist of a 'bot who had seen it all. Jack yelped, jerking his feet back to avoid being crushed by Knock Out's careening body. The stunned Decepticon crashed to the floor, Ratchet carefully picking up Jack first before easily unplugging the data drive from its port. The medic's plating bristled when his audio receptors picked up the sound of an oncoming jet, quickly turning back toward the Groundbridge to escape the oncoming destruction heading their way.

Jack heard the sound of transformation before his world suddenly jolted, the human unable to help the scream this time as metal scrapped across metal violently. Ratchet drew the human close to his chassis for protection, going down hard and nearly dropping both Jack and the data drive after receiving a punch straight to the helm. He grunted in intense pain, his optics re-calibrating whilst Megatron landed between them and the Groundbridge with a final slam. Jack almost expected cracks to appear beneath the titan's feet, but then remembered the warlord had touched down on Cybertronian metal. It was not nearly as fragile as dirt.

"Take another step, medic, and it will be your last; along with your human pet's."

Jack had rarely heard the Cybertronian dialect in its raw form, Ratchet occasionally swearing in it and the Autobots speaking it only amongst themselves. It had never occurred to him why the 'bots wouldn't speak English, though he supposed they did it for the kids' benefit and Agent Fowler's. The Decepticons, contrarily, had no humans to speak to and probably despised the "primitive" language.

Megatron sounded even more intimidating as he clicked and growled the individual syllables, though Jack was unsure if it was because he could not understand the tyrant or if Megatron truly was menacing in his foreign tongue. Ratchet did not seem the least bit intimidated, instead curling his digits tighter around the human as he stood back up to his full height. His EM field pulled tight, Ratchet glared up at Megatron.

"If you have any sense left in that space-sick head of yours," he spat back in English, probably just being difficult, "you would let us go. We just saved your entire ship from an eternal sleep, I believe a thank you is in order and we will be on our way."

"I will demonstrate my gratitude by allowing you to live while standing on my ship," Megatron replied harshly, his voice grating against Jack's ears. "And not invade your pathetic base while its doors are still open to me."

Ratchet was no fool - Megatron knew the moment he stepped through that bridge he was good as dead. Though an admirable fighter he was at a disadvantage while in a small space; Arcee, Bumblebee, and Optimus could easily navigate around him, and if Bulkhead could pin the brute it would be all over for him. Megatron did not refrain from a full on invasion because of a mercy, he did it because he wasn't stupid.

Nevertheless, Rafael should have closed the bridge by now. He knew the boy was most likely pleading for Ratchet to come back with Jack, but every second that Groundbridge stayed open the more likely a Decepticon would walk through. Ratchet needed to somehow signal that they were not coming back. His servo tightened around Jack ever so slightly.

"Let Jack return to base," he implored, "you can have the drive, you can have me, but keep the human out of this. This isn't his fight."

"On the contrary," Megatron sneered. "You allowed this human to venture on Cybertron to rescue Orion Pax. You allow him - and the others I'm sure - to accompany you on your little Autobot excursions. This fight is his as much as it is yours, Ratchet."

The medic felt his processor lag ever so slightly, trying to come up with another plan. Throwing Jack was out of the question, as he would be lucky to not only survive hitting the ground, but also make it through the entire Groundbridge and into the base. Humans did not skid, nor were they forgiving creatures in terms of injuries. Sound also did not travel through the Groundbridge, as the vortex actually had a near-vacuum on either end that absorbed sounds attempting to go in, or out. Therefore, shouting would not alert Rafael to the necessity to close the portal. His opposable digit stroked the data drive. There was only one solution, and he had to make it count.

The movement drew Megatron's optics to the object, his derma parting to reveal his sharp denta.

"Though if you give me the data drive, I may consider allowing him to live painlessly," he extended his clawed, predatory servo, "in exchange for the sensitive information you possess."

Ratchet gazed at the servo, which was big enough to encapsulate the better half of his helm and rip it clean off his shoulders. There was no guarantee, as Megatron went back on his word more times than he kept it, and Ratchet was not about to take that risk. If Jack was staying on this Primus-forsaken warship regardless, with no guarantee that he was going to be spared from the sadism, then Ratchet knew what choice he had to make.

Jack's only warning that the medic was going to act was the sudden pressure around his ribs, yelping in surprise as he was tossed in the air.

Megatron acted with predictable surprise, the Decepticon jerking back just the tiniest bit and giving Ratchet the opening he needed. The ambidextrous Autobot threw the data drive past the warlord's helm, taking only a second to watch it soar and successfully make it into the Groundbridge before he reached back out for the screaming human. He saw Megatron's fist as it reacted to his movement, his digits closing around Jack's body just as he was hit for the second time. He managed to keep a hold of the boy, drawing him against his chest for protection as he collided with the ground.

His plan succeeded, the Groundbridge closing just as Megatron spun on his heel with a mad plan to dive in and intercept the exchange. Bellowing in rage he turned his angry wrath on Ratchet, fully intended to tear him apart. He paused when Knock Out's startled EM field brushed against his own, the medic quickly correcting his mistake and pulling it in tight. His bristled plating relaxed slowly, the hesitation giving him some time to consider other possibilities aside from ending Ratchet's life. He watched the medic unfurl his digits around the panting, and clearly distraught, human, surprised when cerulean optics gave the organic a brief assessment.

Ratchet would rather perform self-surgery than ever admit it, but he and Megatron shared striking similarities. Their pride, for one thing, was nearly unrivaled by any other living creature's. And though Orion Pax was one of the masterminds behind the Revolution, Ratchet shared the same passion as Megatronus for change. They were both sick and tired of the tragedies of Cybertron, naive Pax only having an inkling of what the gladiator and medic experienced in their day to day lives.

So it was interesting to see that the medic did not show the same disdain for humankind which Megatron felt. Though perhaps that was where they differed; Ratchet had the spark of an Autobot, a true medic that helped even the weakest of creatures. He would have made a fine Decepticon, had he set aside his friendship for Orion and his compassion.

Perhaps he could use the organic to his advantage. Of course, a cortical psychic patch was the easiest way to pry the information he wanted out of Ratchet's stubborn helm, but the process would go much more smoothly with a little . . . motivation.

"Knock Out," he said sharply, switching back to his native tongue. "Have our prisoners escorted to a holding cell to await interrogation. Optimus Prime now possesses the same four coordinates; we cannot allow the Autobots to obtain any potential weapons! Report to me the moment you have them secured."

"Prison-ers, my liege?" Knock Out asked nervously, not one to question his lord but ensuring he heard correctly. "Even the human?"

"He will be kept as insurance that dear Ratchet behaves," Megatron answered, pointing at them and snapping. "Do not delay!"

His master's patience wearing thin Knock Out immediately jumped to it, striding over to Ratchet while pinging Soundwave a request for a few Vehicon drones. He put his servos on his hips, glaring down at the medic.

"Chop chop," He said with equal impatience, knowing that the longer Ratchet took to get going the harder Megatron's hit was going to be. "I don't have all day for you to get your rusted stabilizers moving. You heard the mech - let's go!"

Ratchet stood up, keeping Jack tucked close to him. The human was tall enough that his legs dangled and his arms were free as Ratchet held him, though he no longer felt secure in the old 'bot's grip. Despite his occasional joyride on a rollercoaster, the teen did not appreciate being thrown around without warning.

"Where are we going?" He asked, his question directed at Ratchet. "What is going to happen to us?"

"Nothing yet, fleshie," Knock Out answered him, waving a dismissive servo. Three Vehicons reported to the scene, their weapons drawn and aimed at Ratchet. Even if he survived the encounter, Jack ran the risk of getting hit with the weaponized energon. "As for where you are going, I believe you humans call it the five-star hotel."

"They are putting us in a holding cell until Megatron decides on what to do with us," Ratchet reported, ever the optimistic one.

"Great," Jack grumbled. "Perfect, just how I wanted to spend my day. At the Decepticon spa and resort."

Knock Out turned to the Vehicons. "Get them to their cell. Lord Megatron wants it completely secured until he is ready to interrogate them."

"Yes sir," One of the soldiers replied, the trio nodding before they began their march to the bastille of the Nemesis. Ratchet kept a firm hold on Jack, ensuring he wasn't going to slip or otherwise be exposed to the Decepticons. They were in deep scrap, but that did not mean Ratchet would not protect the human with every fiber in his body.

Jack was only a child, though perhaps in human terms he was a young man. Regardless, that did not give Megatron any excuse to expose him to the ferocity of war. Not if Ratchet could help it.