Megatron walks onto the bridge and heads towards the monitors to answer the call from Optimus, "Optimus, to what do I owe this pleasure?" Megatron asked sarcastically.
"You know what. Starscream, and no doubt Soundwave, have captured one of my soldiers."
"The femme, yes. We have her in a prison quarter."
"I demand that she be released."
"You're in no place to be making demands. Besides, I have no intention of letting her go."
Optimus narrowed his optics as he glared at him. He figured that he wouldn't release her just like that, Megatron is always willing to take any opportunity he can to get the upper hand, but it was worth a shot. So the only choice he has is to bargain with the warlord but first, he needs to see how Arcee is doing, "Can I at least see her?"
Megatron just looked at Optimus for a moment as he debated on it. After a minute he looks over to a couple of the drones standing nearby, "Fetch the femme!"
The drones nodded then left.
Arcee still hung limp, pain still shooting through her entire body from the beating she got, I wonder what they're discussing out there. She keeps glancing at the door in expectation and slight dread, she knows that at any moment Megatron will return but she's not sure with what kind of news.
After a few minutes, the door opens and two drones walk in, "Lord Megatron requests your presence." One of the drones told her. Arcee just sneered as they unchained her, then they grabbed her by the arms and walked her out. No matter how hard Arcee tried to stay up and walk her knees were too weak and she kept stumbling. When the three reach the bridge the first thing Arcee sees is Optimus on the monitor. She then saw Ratchet, Bulkhead and Bumblebee come into view.
Anger and sadness filled the four 'Bots when they saw her and saw all the dents and Energon stains all over her body, "Arcee!"
Arcee gives them a small smile as she tries to keep herself standing, "Hey guys."
Optimus looks back at Megatron, "What do you want for her release?"
Megatron stayed silent and looked at him for a moment before speaking, "I want nothing."
"Nothing? There has to be something, you never want nothing."
"I think she would be of some use to me so I'm gonna keep her." He then ends the transmission.
Optimus looks at the screen for a moment in shock. Did he hear that right? Surely he heard wrong. But he knows he heard right, "Did he really just say what I think he said?" Ratchet asked.
"Yes, he did." Optimus replied.
"Never thought I'd hear him say that." Bulkhead added.
"Neither did I." Optimus said as he turned to face them, "I don't want to see what he has in mind for her."
"Knowing Megatron it won't be pleasant." Ratchet added.
"No, it won't. We need to come up with a way to rescue her."
Arcee looked at Megatron as he stood at the monitor, questions running through her processor as she wondered exactly what he had planned for her. She can feel dread pierce her spark once more when he turns to face her, "Let's get you fixed and cleaned up." He says as he walks past her. With shaky legs, Arcee follows him off the bridge with the two drones walking beside her, she refused to let them hold her up while she was in front of her team and she refuses to let them help her walk.
They get to med-bay and Megatron tells her to lay down on the berth, she reluctantly obliges since she feels like she's gonna fall at any moment. Once she's settled on the berth Megatron turns to Knockout and orders him to fix her up. Knockout gives him a respectful bow then gets to work. Arcee can feel her spark pick up pace as she watches the medic to make sure he doesn't try anything.
While Knockout works on Arcee Megatron turns his attentions to Starscream who is laying on a medical berth next to them, "Lesson learned Starscream?"
"Yes... My lord... I won't ever cross you again." Starscream manages to reply between coughs and splutters.
"Good. Next time the punishment will be much worse. But you did do one good thing in taking the Autobot femme prisoner. Even though it was Soundwave who did it I'm sure you had a hand in it."
"Yes my lord..."
Megatron just lets out a slight grunt as he turns his attentions back to Knockout and Arcee, "What exactly do you plan on doing with me?" Arcee asked him.
"Simple, you're gonna do my bidding."
"Never, I'll never do anything for you!" She responded with a scowl.
"We'll see about that." He then turns to face Knockout, "Knockout, do we still have any chips?"
"Not sure, I'll have to check."
"Check once you finish fixing her up."
"Chip? What chip?" Arcee asked.
"We have a chip that can reprogram a bot's processor and make them do whatever Lord Megatron wants them to do." Knockout explained to her. Her optics widened as fear set in, there is no way she was gonna allow that to happen. She needs to find a way to escape.
"Call me if you find a chip." Megatron says as he walks out of med-bay.
"Yes, my liege."
Once Knockout was done fixing the injuries and cleaning and buffing out her armor he went to check and see if they had the chip. After a bit of searching he did find one, he informed Megatron who came with Soundwave and they programmed the chip to make her follow him and do everything he orders.
Arcee watched them get the chip ready as her spark started pulsing even faster than before. She wanted to escape before the chip was ready but Knockout had her firmly strapped to the medical berth so she can't get up, she can't even move. She could only watch with panic as Knockout walked over and injected some medicine into her which knocked her out.
Back at Autobot base, the Autobots had just finished telling the kids what happened, "So Megatron's not letting her go?" Jack asked with concern for his guardian and friend.
"No, he said he wants to use her." Optimus replies.
"For what?"
"Not sure."
"We're gonna get her back, right?"
"Better believe we will." Bulkhead replied.
"Yeah, we'll get her back, no sweat!" Miko says trying to cheer him up.
"Optimus, we have con activity!" Ratchet announces.
"Open up a groundbridge to the location." Optimus says as he transforms. Bumblebee and Bulkhead transform as well while Ratchet opens up the groundbridge, "Autobots, let's roll out." The three then drive off into the groundbridge and it closes behind them.
When they come out on the other side they find themselves in a mine, :: Optimus, come in! :: Ratchet calls over the comm.
:: I'm here Ratchet. What is it? ::
:: Be careful in them mines, it's reported to be very unstable. It says it was abandoned years ago because it was considered unsafe. Watch what you do, one wrong move can cause the whole mine to collapse in on you guys. ::
:: Affirmative Ratchet. :: Optimus said before he hung up the comm, "Let's watch it while we're in here."
"Sure thing." Bulkhead said as he looked around.
It didn't take too long for them to come across some Vehicons carefully digging out some Energon. The Autobots transformed their hands into blasters, "Watch your firing." Optimus said as he got ready to fight. Bulkhead and Bumblebee just nodded as they got ready to fight as well.
Upon hearing movement the Vehicons looked and saw the 'Bots coming towards them and they started firing. The three fired back and started taking them out one by one. Just when they were getting the upper hand a groundbridge opened up and Megatron and Soundwave walked through, followed by Arcee. The 'Bots looked at her as Megatron told the Vehicons to step back and Arcee stepped forward, "Optimus, look at her optics, they're different." Bulkhead says as he watches her move towards them.
Optimus looks into her optics and saw the bright blue and purple colors that were in her optics gone. Her optics were darkened and it looked like there was nothing but a dark void. On her winglets were the Decepticon insignia where the Autobot insignia used to be. Optimus glared at Megatron, "What did you do to her!?"
"I made her follow me and obey my every command!"
"How? I know you did something because she wouldn't just follow you!"
"Are you sure Optimus?"
Optimus looked at him then looked over at Arcee, "Take them down Arcee!" Megatron then ordered. Arcee walked closer to the 'Bots and brought out her blades, then she stood in front of them and looked them over to calculate her attack.
The three watched her as they unwillingly prepared to defend themselves. They don't want to fight their own teammate but they see they have no choice. They looked at her as she stared them down with no feeling, no sign of regret for what she's about to do, nothing.