Warnings: mentions of Sam's abuse and Sam's language
Terms: Stockholm syndrome is a term used to describe a paradoxical psychological phenomenon wherein hostages express adulation and have positive feelings towards their captors that appear irrational in light of the danger or risk endured by the victims, essentially mistaking a lack of abuse from their captors as an act of kindness
Xxxxx
(Autobot base)
Leo was not sure what to make of the hack, but the Autobots had requested that all odd things must be reported to them. Optimus watched as his men worked on the odd hacking to Leo's website. They all knew it was a long shot, but they had to try for Sam's sake.
The Autobot leader was unnerved, and his men didn't like it one bit. Optimus was always a pillar of strength, and confidence to see him torn apart mentally by this was discouraging to his troops.
Optimus was leaning against the wall, Bumblebee right beside him leaning against his leader. Ironhide was so angry with Megatron, and wanted to blast him apart really badly.
Ironhide was at the firing range blowing things apart and snarling. Lennox and Epps walked up watching him with heavy hearts.
"Hey Hide….." Lennox replied.
Ironhide regarded his human.
"Hello Lennox…..Epps." Ironhide replied. "Any word…?" he asked.
"They are still trying to pinpoint the signal from the computer, it's a new tool and hopefully either our team or the other Autobots helping with it will come up with something." Major Lennox explained.
"Sam is our main concern." Ironhide snarled. "He belongs to us more importantly Optimus." Ironhide replied.
"We know big guy, we know." Will said.
Ironhide's optics shuttered.
"No, I don't think any of you fully understand, he loves that human like a Sire father I believe the human term is with his entire spark. Why do you think he gave his life for him, so he could continue to live?" Ironhide replied as Lennox and Epps looked at each other.
Silence…..
"I'm going to go drop this off at the base apartment, and find Optimus." she said.
"Are you all settled?" Lennox asked her.
"Hardly, I have boxes galore in there." she chuckled.
Mikaela smiled, and then walked to her apartment dropping off the duffle bag. She saw the Autobot leader and scout standing away from everyone else, she jogged over to them.
"Hey guys…" Mikaela said, as both Autobots glanced down at her.
Bumblebee reached down for her first, he nuzzled her gently until he couldn't help but start leaking energon tears. Optimus pulled his scout close; she saw Optimus was fighting the tears.
"Let it out, Optimus; don't keep it bottled up inside of you." she said as she ran her hand over Bee's face first and then Optimus' face.
Optimus fought it for as long as he could, until he thought his circuits would go haywire. Until all he could do was let the pain out, the tears were like an uncontrollable ocean crashing against the rocks. His usual regal stance gone as he fell to his knees, sobbing from loss and pain caused once more from Megatron.
"We'll find him, I promise you." Mikaela whispered.
"Since when did you become so strong, Mikaela?" asked Optimus with a sad smile.
"About the time you needed a shoulder to cry on." she replied. "You will be able to do stuff with him as an adopted robotic father don't worry….Have faith." she replied running her hand over his face.
"Thank you…Mikaela." Optimus whispered.
"Optimus….!" Graham exclaimed.
"Yes…" Optimus answered.
"We have a lock on the signal; it's coming from the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean." Graham replied. "Prowl got the lock."
"Thank Primus…." both Optimus and Bumblebee said.
"That leaves how we attempt to get Sam back, Optimus?" Bumblebee said.
"We must come up with one that will not place the boy in danger; we cannot use weapons against the base. Sam would be crushed by the water and be killed." Optimus replied.
"General Morshower has some thoughts on how to rescue the boy." Graham replied.
"Very well, we hold a meeting; and find out how to proceed with the rescue." Optimus replied.
Optimus cast a quick glanced toward the heavens.
"Please let us get to him, before it's too late…Please..." Optimus said as he and Bumblebee still holding Mikaela went into the hanger to speak to General Morshower to begin making arrangements for Sam's rescue.
(Autobot base – Meeting with General Morshower and NEST)
General Morshower glanced up at Optimus Prime and Bumblebee, his concern for his alien allies clear in his own eyes.
"We will retrieve the boy, I promise you Optimus." the general replied.
Optimus nodded not trusting his own vocalizer not yet.
"We are going to send out patrols in that area, we will find Sam and bring him home."
Optimus nodded, and once the meeting broke; he found Sam's parents waiting for him. He bent down allowing the parents to climb on his hand; he brought them close to his face. Optimus was never sure what to make of Sam's female creator, but she had been completely different toward them now.
She ran her hand over his face making him make a heartbreaking sound, he watched her as she caressed his face.
"I know how you feel about our son." she said, as Optimus cringed knowing now she would tell him to leave her son alone.
He made a keening sound, while his intakes whirled in chaos. They would tell him his feelings of fatherly love were perverse and wrong because he was an alien robotic being, he tried to brace himself for those words and for the hatred that would follow them. However nothing could prepare the Autobot leader for what followed next, not in a million years did he expect what happened next.
"Shhh, Optimus don't worry about it, I know Sam loves you like a father." she whispered as she made a soothing sound with her mouth, while she caressed his face plates.
"We saw our son grow from awkward teenager to a strong and courageous young man all because of you Optimus Prime." Ron Witwicky replied. "And while maybe we weren't very nice to your scout in the beginning, while trying to accept all this we understand; and believe you and your team were the best thing to ever happen to our son. He has become a man because of you, and I am so proud of him."
Optimus had been rendered speechless by Sam's creators; they caused his spark to flare with such emotion. Humans would surprise him constantly, while some humans were cold and cruel others would hold such compassion and love.
"Thank you Judy and Ron Witwicky, you are both kind." Optimus said his vocals laced with sadness.
Judy just continued to caress the Autobot leader, while her own tears fell as her heart missed her son praying he would be alive.
(Decepticon base)
Sam had been training once more and very hard, Megatron watched from the door. He glanced at Soundwave and Starscream at a loss for words; it seemed all the boy did now was train. The last flashback he had made him that much more determined to never let Sector 7 ever hurt him again. He kept vowing to protect his Cybertronian family, which consisted of both Cons and Autobots. Megatron had seriously wondered if he should contact Optimus about Sector 7's plans, but he also wondered if he would even believe him. Why would he, when he had turned his back on him? Then his anger won out, and he refused once more to humble himself before him brother. He was a Decepticon warlord, and Optimus was weak and would always be weak.
Skywarp approached Megatron slowly then, he wanted to ask Megatron a rather important question.
"Lord Megatron, I was wondering could I take Sam for a flight, he has been training so hard. He deserves a break and a little distraction." Skywarp asked.
Megatron thought for a minute, he thought maybe it would be alright as long as he didn't stray too far.
"Alright just don't go too far, Skywarp." Megatron replied as they watched him walk into the training room.
"Hey Sam….." Skywarp replied.
"Hey Skywarp, watch this." Sam replied, as he did several flips backward and kicked his legs out knocking the target down.
"You're getting very good at training, Sam." Skywarp replied as Sam grinned.
"Thanks….."
"So, would you like to go for a little flight?" he asked as the expression in Sam's eyes already told the answer.
"Of course…!"Sam said, as Skywarp bent down, and allowed Sam to climb onto his clawed hand.
"We'll be back in a bit…" Skywarp said as Sam's eyes locked with Megatron's optics.
"We'll be back, Megatron." Sam replied, as he reached out and ran his hand on Megatron's armor.
The action catching Megatron off guard and made his spark pulsate like a raging fire. The feeling made Megatron growl, mostly because it was new to him and he didn't understand it.
Skywarp took Sam to the exit and transformed into jet form, Sam climbed onto the jet and got into his cockpit. Skywarp took off doing flips and dives, until Sam couldn't take the dives and flips making his stomach queasy.
There were several Navy ships in the area patrolling for Sam, so it was no surprise when they got wind of Skywarp they investigated. They sent several jets of their own and one who was especially trigger happy fired on Skywarp. They sent a missile heading straight for Skywarp, when it made contact with him injuring the jet Sam was ejected from him.
"SAM…!" Skywarp exclaimed crashing into the ocean.
"NOOOOOOOO…. SKYWARP….!" Sam screamed, as he landed in the water and was retrieved by the Navy.
Sam was violent when he was pulled onto the ship; he fought the men cursing, and punching anyone who got in his face. Sam's only concern was for Skywarp, was his friend dead or just injured. He needed him; he knew he would need to be healed.
"You bastards let me go, you hurt my friend!" Sam exclaimed as his fist connected with one of the sailors.
"Calm down son, we will take you to the Autobots now. You'll be safe now." he said, as Sam's fist slammed into his face.
"I was safe with Megatron you asshole!" Sam snarled, as one of the men came over with a needle in his hand.
Sam saw it and its meaning registered with him, they weren't bringing him back to Optimus they were bringing him back to Sector 7.
"I am not going back there, I don't want to go back!" Sam yelled as the one guy held him tightly grabbing his arm.
"It's for your own good, son." the man said, as Sam screamed and tried arching his back fighting.
Sam started to see double and then things blurred.
"Mega…." Sam whispered near finishing the word as the sedative kicked in.
"Take him below and radio General Morshower we have the boy, and let them know he is in really bad shape." he ordered as two of the sailors picked him up taking him below.
(Autobot base)
General Morshower landed on the base by helicopter; Mikaela ran up to the general needing to know what was going on. Everyone was slowly forming a circle around the general wanting to know what was happening.
"The Navy has Sam and are bringing him home, but there is some disturbing news." he explained.
"Such as…?" Ironhide demanded.
"They had to sedate him he became violent very violent in fact." the general replied as Ratchet glanced at Optimus.
"That doesn't sound like Samuel at all." Ratchet remarked.
"He was calling the jet they shot down his friend." the general replied.
"WHAT…!" Optimus and Bumblebee shouted.
"That doesn't sound like our Samuel at all….." Bumblebee said sadly.
"He could have Stockholm syndrome; that would explain his behavior right now." Lennox replied.
"I will run scans, and check him over once he arrives on the base." Ratchet replied.
Optimus had been researching Lennox's term he used; he shuddered as he thought of its meaning with Sam.
"What happens if he does have this Stockholm syndrome?" Sideswipe asked.
"He will have to be deprogrammed." Ratchet replied.
"It won't be easy." Lennox remarked.
"This is our Sam we are talking about we have to try." Bumblebee said, as Sunstreaker remained silent knowing if he stepped out of line once more concerning Sam, Bumblebee and Optimus wouldn't like it.
(Decepticon base)
The Decepticons had heard the firing, and Megatron sent drones to investigate. They returned with a badly injured Skywarp, who felt angry and upset about losing Sam to the humans.
"The humans have Sam I am sorry master, they hit me with missiles and Sam was ejected from my cockpit." Skywarp said as Hook and Scalpel started in on repairing him. "He was screaming my name a….and I let him down."
Megatron snarled, and then walked toward Skywarp; and Skywarp cringed knowing what was next a nasty injury from Megatron along with his other injuries.
However he was shocked to find that wasn't what happened at all, Megatron laid a claw on his wing.
"We will get the boy back, he is a Decepticon, and we will not leave him with the humans." Megatron replied stunning everyone with his actions, which were unlike the old Megatron.
(Autobot base)
A helicopter landed and two men held Sam's arms, while the boy fought viciously.
"Let me go….!" Sam ordered, as he suddenly saw Optimus and the others. "Optimus…..They hurt my friend, please you have to help him they shot down my friend Skywarp." Sam replied urgently, as he stumbled trying to get to Optimus.
Optimus bent down picking the boy up, Optimus had sent so many prayers to Primus for bringing the boy back to him. However seeing him like this was just so upsetting speaking as if the Decepticons were his friends.
"Sam….Please you have to listen to me, you were kidnapped by Megatron and they did something to you…" Optimus tried to say.
"No, they didn't kidnap me they saved me; Frenzy saved me he helped me escape and sent word to Soundwave. They trained me to protect me from ever being hurt again. Megatron he is different now all of them are, I helped Skywarp play a prank on Starscream and Thundercracker…." Sam said as Optimus and the others didn't know what to make of Sam now.
"Sam…. Megatron can never change." Lennox replied.
"Yes he can and he did, why won't any of you believe me!" Sam shouted as Optimus bend lower to look Sam in the eyes. "Optimus you believe me, don't you?" Sam asked with a pleading tone to his voice.
"Sam….I'd like to believe you I would…but…" Optimus started to say.
Optimus looked at the Decepticon insignia on Sam's forehead, and anger surged through his circuits. He knew Megatron marked his boy on purpose just to spite him. Optimus gently moved his finger over Sam's face, the boy regardless of his swirling emotions moved into the touch making Optimus smile.
"Optimus let me take the boy into the medical bay; I will check him over and give you my findings." Ratchet replied, as he tenderly took Sam in his hands heading for the medical bay.
(Medical bay)
Ratchet laid Sam on a berth; Sam felt the scans on his body from Ratchet.
"I'm not crazy Ratchet….." Sam replied.
Ratchet glanced at him not sure what to make of the boy now.
"Sam, you've been tortured severely, you've healed extensively but my scans have still picked up the….."Ratchet stopped talking when his scans picked up other things.
He went to pick up Sam's shirt, and the boy whimpered suddenly shaking as the CMO not sure what to do now.
"You don't want me to look under your shirt?" he asked.
Sam shook his head; Ratchet sighed and fixed a sedative to give him.
"I need to give you a sedative okay Sam?" Ratchet asked.
Sam's mind whirled with fear suddenly, his eyes widened while only flashbacks of terror him once more.
"Please don't hurt me anymore…" Sam suddenly cried.
(Flashback begins)
Sam was strapped to a table; he struggled to get free as one of the men from Sector 7 handled a knife in his hand. Sam's eyes widened in fear, he was petrified about what they'd do next to him.
"You know, what I think is such a shame, that a human insists on being friends and sticking up for these creatures. They are the ones who brought this war here to us, they should all be destroyed and they will be. Once we can figure out a way to capture Optimus Prime, and once we have him destroyed the others will follow." the man said, as he started to use the knife on Sam's chest making the boy cry out. "Of course there is still the recapture of NBE-1 too." he added taking a puff of a cigarette, and putting it out on the boy's chest.
"STOP IT, PLEASE!" Sam screamed.
"No sorry, can't do that." he replied, as tears ran down Sam's face.
"Please….just stop." Sam whispered. "Just stop…."
(Flashback ends)
Sam still caught up in the flashback of his own painful memories turned violent against Ratchet not realizing what he was doing. He pulled against the straps that Ratchet had to use against him.
"You jerks will never hurt Optimus or Megatron; they are my family no one will ever hurt them….YOU BASTARDS…!" Sam screamed in fury.
Ratchet quickly used the sedative, and it knocked Sam out rather speedily so Ratchet could continue his exam on Sam. He lifted the boy's shirt up and gasped at what he found on his chest.
"By the Allspark, what happened to this boy?" Ratchet whispered.
(Several hours later – Medical bay)
Ratchet commed Optimus, Bumblebee, Ironhide and Lennox came with them as well; Sam was still sedated from the potent sedative Ratchet gave him. Optimus knew right away things were not good; when he saw Ratchet's expression.
"There are several things I need to point out, Sam is not human now." Ratchet said.
"What…." Bumblebee exclaimed.
"He has a spark, but not just any ordinary spark. The radiation levels are the exact same as those that were produced by the Allspark." Ratchet said.
"Are you saying the kid is the vessel for the Allspark now?" Ironhide asked.
"Indeed, but I am afraid there is more, he has been tortured severely to the point where he was killed and revived several times in fact. He has had several things removed from the inside his body. Then there is this also…." Ratchet said lifting Sam's blanket away from the boy.
Optimus, Bumblebee and Ironhide all snarled at the curved word TRAITOR on his chest. They saw the scars from all the things done to him, Optimus made a strange sound and Ironhide grabbed his leader quickly.
"By Primus, what did they do to him?" Ironhide snarled gripping Optimus tightly.
"There is more…" Ratchet said.
"Of course there is, what else did you learn Ratchet?" Lennox asked sickened at the treatment Sam received.
"He looked at me like he thought I was someone else, he stared at me oddly. He then said something very curious." Ratchet said.
"What…?" Optimus asked.
"He pulled at the straps and said you jerks will never hurt Optimus or Megatron; they are my family no one will ever hurt them….you bastards" Ratchet replied as that shocked everyone in the medical bay.
Ironhide looked at Optimus.
"I'm confused…I don't like being confused." Ironhide growled.
"Is he saying someone's trying to hurt Optimus and Megatron?" Lennox asked.
"It would seem so, but I don't know." Ratchet replied.
"Could the Cons have programmed this into his mind to think that they protected him, when in fact they did all this to him?" Lennox asked as he sat next to sat.
"Soundwave can use mind control, it's possible." Ratchet said.
"I will kill Megatron for this…." Optimus snarled, his optics flaring with a scary look to them.
"Optimus, there still is more…." Ratchet said softly as he gently turned Sam over onto his stomach.
Sam's back was a mass of scars, but it was what was on his shoulder that confused everyone but Lennox.
"NBE-4 why does that sound familiar to me…?" Lennox asked as he left the medical bay and went to find Simmons.
Lennox found Simmons at his apartment on the base, and practically dragged the man to the medical bay.
"Soldier, you need to stop man handling me!" Simmons ordered, as Lennox pushed him into the medical bay.
Simmons stumbled almost falling, and he glared at the major.
"What is your problem?" Simmons demanded.
"What does that mean?" Lennox demanded.
"What…?" Simmons asked as Ratchet picked him up and dropped Simmons onto the berth. "Miserable aliens…." he grumbled as he glanced down at Sam.
Simmons looked closer and his eyes widened.
"No, it's not possible; we were shut down I mean they were shut down." Simmons replied.
"What are you talking about?" Optimus demanded finally.
Simmons turned toward Optimus, and gulped back a little in fear.
"The cons didn't do this to Sam; these initials mean Non Biological Extraterrestrials…This was Sector 7's handy work." Simmons said sighing as he went to touch Sam's shoulder.
"Don't you dare touch him…." Optimus snarled.
"Hey big guy, I didn't do this to him I am a friendly…remember." Simmons remarked.
"I thought they were disbanded?" Lennox demanded.
"So, did I, if they are back and have done this to the kid; they must be gunning for NBE -1 too." Simmons said as he looked up at Optimus. "I'm sorry about this, I wish I knew a head of time what they were doing." Simmons replied.
Ratchet turned Sam over gently as not to disturb him, and when Simmons saw the young man's chest he felt sick.
"Awww jeez, this kid didn't deserve this." Simmons replied. "Let me see if I can make some calls and find out what's going on?" Simmons remarked.
"Simmons….." Optimus replied firmly.
Simmons turned toward the Prime his eyes both filled with determination and fear.
"You make sure you let them know I will not tolerate this, my boy didn't deserve this done to him." Optimus growled as Simmons nodded.
Lennox tilted his head.
"The kid looks a lot taller than I remember him being…. much taller." Lennox replied.
"Yes, he has grown quite extensively in a year's time." Ratchet replied sighing.
"Optimus….." Lennox finally said.
Optimus glanced down at Major Lennox, his optics were just so heartrendingly sad now.
"Yes Major….." Optimus answered.
"What if what Sam said was true, what if the Cons helped him instead of making matters worse." Lennox asked, as Optimus touched Sam's face with a finger tracing the Con insignia with his finger.
"At this point, nothing can be ruled out if my brother helped him; then we are indeed indebted to him and his warriors." Optimus replied, as he went to carry a chair over to Sam's berth.
"Optimus, you should try and rest though…." Ratchet started to say.
"No, I will stay here with him…." Optimus replied firmly, as his optics shot to Bumblebee who nodded, and sat by his leader keeping vigil on their little human.
"We will need to let his creators and Mikaela know too." Ratchet replied.
"I'll go let them know what is going on." Lennox replied.
However it didn't take a genius to know something was happening to their human, the incredible growth spurts; they needed to find out before anything else happened.
(Autobot base – Medical bay)
Optimus and Bumblebee were both forced into recharge by Ratchet, but the CMO kept close tabs on the boy regardless. However Ratchet himself had needed recharge and found himself slipping into recharge.
Sam had slowly started to wake up finding Optimus, Bee and Ratchet in deep recharge. Sam smiled sadly. Then he pulled at the straps squeezing himself out, and headed for the back room. He felt himself being mentally guided; and pulled by something.
Sam flipped up onto a metal pole, and spun around like he was on the uneven parallel bars. He kicked the switch to turn the light on, and then landed on the one berth. He saw them lying there, and knew he could help his friends.
First he went to Arcee and Flare up placing his hands on them, he felt the energy in his body fuse up and charge. It entered the two sisters, and their blue optics suddenly onlined.
"That was easy now for Jazz…" Sam replied as, he flipped over to Jazz.
Sam stared at the sparkless body of Jazz, everyone missed Jazz and he remembered how sad the Autobots were at his death. He remembered Bee telling him how one Autobot especially would be completely spark broken by Jazz's death. Sam wanted to do something; he had done it for his other family why couldn't he do it for his other family?
"It's time you returned to the land of the living Jazz – man." Sam said, as he placed his hands on Jazz's chest plates.
Ratchet had fixed Jazz's body, so all Sam had to basically do was bring him back to life.
"Come on Jazz – man…..NOW!" Sam yelled.
The energy came from Sam in such a powerful surge, lightning crackled from Sam's hands. Sam hissed back in pain and collapsed just as Jazz's blue optics powered on.
"What the….." Jazz mumbled, as he gazed at the offline boy on his chest plates.
He glanced over at Arcee and Flare up who were groaning and rubbing their helms.
"We were offline I don't understand." Arcee replied.
Jazz gently picked up Sam seeing his hands glowing, he didn't understand what was going on, but knew this little human was the cause of it.
"Sam…? We need to find, Optimus…." Jazz said, as he started to get up.
He was a little shaky on his legs at first, but slowly found he was able to walk after. He helped Arcee and Flare-up; and they rolled following Optimus' Saboteur and first Lieutenant into the main part of the medical bay.
They came out of the back room only to find Ratchet, Optimus and Bumblebee in deep recharge.
"Oh come on seriously, you're recharging now?" Jazz mumbled. "Lazy slaggers…" Jazz mumbled. "GET UP….!" Jazz yelled with a slight snicker.
The three were so startled at Jazz's voice; they nearly fell off their chairs. Optimus looked up seeing Jazz, Arcee and Flare up and didn't understand what had happened.
"Jazz, Arcee and Flare up…How are you online?" They asked in a shocked tone.
Jazz raised his hand showing them, what appeared to be a lifeless body of their human Sam.
"Samuel…No….." Ratchet whispered as he took Sam gently from Jazz running scans finding no life in his body at all.
Sam suddenly came back to life. It was then that Ratchet realized what was going on; Sam was a healer a true healer.
"Optimus….. Samuel is a healer a true healer; that must be why Sector 7 was performing all those tests." Ratchet replied, as Optimus and Bumblebee growled angrily.
"I do not understand how the humans could do this to Samuel." Optimus demanded.
"We will do everything in our power to protect him, Prime." Jazz replied, as Optimus glanced up at Jazz with a smile.
"I have missed you, dear friend." Optimus said.
"You will have a pleasant surprise after….." Ratchet replied.
"Why…?" Jazz asked.
"Prowl is here now." was all Optimus had to say.
Jazz lit up like a Christmas tree at those words.
"Where is he?" Jazz asked.
"I think he is in the Rec room and I know someone else who will be glad to see her two sisters." Optimus remarked with a smile.
Arcee and Flare up quickly bowed their heads, with a smile as Optimus excused them both.
Jazz stayed behind at first looking down at Sam.
"I owe this little human my life…." Jazz replied.
"As do I dear friend, as do I." Optimus replied, as Jazz embraced his leader.
Optimus glanced down at the boy in his hand, the little organic who he had come to love with his entire spark.
"He looks bigger than I last remembered." Jazz replied.
"Yes, he has endured much since you've last seen him, Jazz." Optimus answered running a finger over Sam's body. "He saved my life twice, and now his own kind has tortured him. It would also seem that Megatron and the Decepticons have changed because of Sam."
"Changed…..How?" Jazz asked in a disbelieving tone.
"We are not entirely sure yet, Sam claims Megatron and the others have changed. We will fill you in on everything that has happened, but I suggest you go see your sparkmate first." Optimus said as Ratchet finished his scans on Jazz.
"Jazz, Arcee and Flare up are one hundred percent healed." Ratchet replied stunned.
"This is amazing…" Bumblebee replied.
"Indeed, it is." Optimus replied.
Silence…
"What is it, Ratchet?" Optimus asked.
"Why don't we let our own soldiers train Sam a little, I mean if Megatron saw fit to train him. It might not hurt to give him, that extra edge especially where Sector 7 is concerned." Ratchet replied.
"You are right, but first I would like to talk to him in private first." Optimus replied as he saw Sam's creators and Mikaela coming.
Optimus gently sat Sam down on the ground, his parents watching as the huge robot made sure Sam was steady on his feet.
"Mom, Dad….Hey Mikaela….." Sam said in a tired voice.
"You're so tall since the last time we saw you." Judy replied as she touched her son's face.
Sam tried to pull his shirt down to hide the scars from his parents, but nothing escaped Judy's eyes.
"Oh my God, did Megatron do this to you?" she asked her son.
"No mom, Megatron and the Cons protected me, and trained me so this wouldn't happen again." Sam replied.
Silence….
"Then who did this to you?" Ron demanded.
Silence….
"Sector 7 did this to me." Sam whispered.
"Simmons…He did this to you?" Judy shrieked.
"No mom Simmons isn't a part of that group anymore…." Sam explained as he held his parents.
Ron and Judy saw the Decepticon symbol on his forehead, and both a stunned by the insignia.
"Why do you have this on your forehead?" Judy asked.
"Megatron did it to protect me to make me one of them, I have three families now. I have you and Dad, The Autobots and now the Decepticons are now my family too." Sam said, as Ron and Judy glanced up at Optimus Prime.
"We need to speak to you separately." Ratchet said to Ron and Judy as Mikaela and Leo stayed with Sam.
"Hey bro, how do you feel?" Leo asked.
Sam glanced at Leo.
"Not sure, but I know one thing I have to protect my family Optimus and Megatron are in danger from Sector 7." Sam said.
"What do you mean, Sam?" Mikaela asked.
"I keep remembering things off and on, they said they were going to capture Optimus and torture him finding out his weaknesses. They were going to kill him slowly, and then recapture Megatron. They don't like any Cybertronians at all, and they said I was a freak and a traitor. T…they did things to me; they killed me over and over again. I died and would come back, they never left me alone. I was treated worse than an animal. I was put into a cell with no light; I was given food and water barely. I was forced to use my cell as a bathroom, it was awful." Sam whispered.
Leo looked horrified; Mikaela just looked shocked and terrified for Sam. Sam slowly lifted his shirt up, and off his body. Mikaela looked like she was going to pass out, when she saw everything that had been done to him.
"I'm sorry, so sorry Sam." she whispered, as she slid her fingers into his.
Sam lowered his gaze to the ground; Sam had never witnessed the Autobot leader cry. He had seen him sad, but never cry.
He remembered so clearly, the day Bumblebee took him to see Optimus in the cemetery. He had refused to help Optimus, the look in his optics so haunted and sad, when he refused to help them. Then despite everything he had done and said to him, Optimus was there fighting and protecting him. He gave his life for him; he gave up his life willingly just so he could life.
(The Decepticon base)
Megatron paced back and forth, his spark tightened in its chamber. Hook came into the throne room with Scalpel on his shoulder.
"Skywarp is fine, and feels terrible about not being able to save the boy." Hook replied. "He said he is ready for whatever punishment you deem necessary for his failure." Hook replied.
"It is not his fault; I do not plan on punishing him. We must find out where the boy is, if the Navy brought him back to the Autobots, or if they brought him somewhere else." Megatron replied adding. "I will not rest until I have my boy safely home at the base." Megatron replied, as Hook managed a slight smile.
Megatron saw the smile, and narrowed his optics.
"What is so slagging humorous, Hook?" Megatron demanded.
"You truly care for the boy, don't you?" Hook asked.
"There is no shame in that, master; everyone cares for him." Scalpel replied.
The medics knew it was hard for their leader and master to admit feelings, he had never encountered before. It was probably outright confusing to the warlord, because he never cared about anyone before; much less an annoying flesh creature and especially THAT flesh creature named Samuel James Witwicky. However both medics knew somehow it happened, the boy had found a place in their leader's spark no matter how hard he tried to hide it.
Megatron remained silent at that question glancing at the medics; then he stilled and looked into his own spark for the answer. Megatron was stunned with his own findings; when had that happened? He did care more then he wanted to really admit to anyone; Sam had become special to him – was that truly even possible?