Hammerhead.

Warnings: Violence, bad language, gore and possibly some sex.

"Through this doorway what's on the other side, never knowing exactly what I'll find, locked and loaded, voices screaming: let's go, come on do it, here we go!" – Hammerhead, the Offspring.

Timing: Post season 2 finale, set few weeks after Beauty of the Beast in my very own BotB Prime Timeline (due to the fact that season 3 – The Beast Hunters is about to be aired at the end of March).

Rating: M (alternative – if there will be any – or extended chapters will go MA and will be available on my Tumblr account, the address is available on my profile page).

Pairings: Megatron and June, Bumblebee and Miko, maybe some Shockwave and Arcee.

Disclaimer: Transformers Prime © Hasbro. Story's plot and OC's © me. There may be some OC's that aren't mine – they belong to their respective creators.

Rise, fall down, rise again.

You rise, you fall, you down and you rise again,

What don't kill you make you more string!

Rise, fall down, rise again.

What don't kill you make you more strong!

(…)

Broken, beaten, scarred – but we die hard! – "Broken, Beat, Scarred" Metallica

Ratchet growled unhappily – he was right, Megatron would never appreciate what he had. Optimus' optic brows rose in unspoken question but the Medic only rolled his optics.

The Prime chose not to ask, it was clear that Ratchet wouldn't say and it wouldn't take genius to guess that the Medic thought that Megatron didn't deserve all the attention he was receiving, especially from the human nurse.

Ratchet wasn't thrilled upon learning that June wanted to speak to Megatron. He was quite excited to say it subtly. In plain words he had one of his fits about Decepticons being plain evil and Megatron being the worse of them all; not deserving any special treatment other than quick and merciful decapitation for their own good, thank you very much. And Megatron especially didn't deserve June's attention for abducting her and holding her captive on his ship. The fact that he provided her with dry (and, ahem, fashionable) clothes and blanket didn't help.

It took half an hour for Ratchet to get over himself and stop sulking in a corner. Optimus and June bravely waited for their friend to talk to them again. Ratchet was still growling but he agreed, Megatron would still be too weak to move much and it would take him couple of days for the repairs to take in, especially wiring and tubing which meant that June should be safe. Ratchet only smiled as he thought about how sour Megatron will be after losing all of his hydraulic fluid – the bastard deserved it.

xXx

Megatron slowly surfaced from the pitch black of unconsciousness. He remembered that he was shot at and clearly being hit in the back. The mere fact that he felt like he drank energon previously puked by someone else was a big clue that he was in the infirmary for some time now. But something wasn't right. He managed to lift his optic lids a bit but his sight was too blurry, all he could tell was that the lights were slightly brighter than he remembered, but then again it could be just him. He moaned silently and rolled his head, he felt weak as a sparkling. Another clue that his wound was serious. But he could feel that something didn't fit. He had to be in the infirmary, he realised that he could hear steady beeping of life monitor… He wanted to lift his head and call for his vain medic… Wait an astrosecond: lift his head? Since when he had to lift his head in the infirmary? Medical berths were set on 45 degree angle… Why was his berth horizontal? And why in the Pit the monitor was beeping? Knockout never set his equipment to beep! This was… wrong! Megatron could now hear the beeping pace increase as his spark started to pulse faster in reaction to his distress.

"Easy now." This was not the voice of Knockout. Megatron recognise with dread that this was Ratchet.

He mumbled something that he wanted to sound like 'Slag' but he only got 'sssgg'.

"Now, keep calm." It was Ratchet again. "You've been shot in the back and barely made it alive."

Megatron froze, 'barely made it alive'? This was seriously wrong. He expected everything but that from Ratchet. He had to know what in the Pit happened and that meant making an effort to open his optics and stay conscious. At least for some time.

A pair of intensely red optics opened slowly and Megatron felt like this was the hardest thing he ever had to do. He blinked couple of times and tried to focus his sight, he had partial success, his sight was blurry but he could see shapes and colours. Megatron rolled his head and focused on Ratchet.

"Wzz hppn?" It was as close to actual speech that Megatron could muster at the moment but Ratchet seemed to be able to understand him. Probably because he had experience with half alive patients. "Whrr mm I?"

"You have been shot by M.E.C.H. and we took you to our base." Megatron tensed as much as he could in his state. This was bad, he was weak, wounded and in the servos of enemy. He needed to escape, go back to his ship… or better to the Harbinger, summon Knockout for repairs and only then return to that nest of turbo-asps he called his flagship.

Ratchet observed Megatron, his joints stiffened though they were barely working, the hydraulic liquid level still too low for larger pistons. It was clear that the Decepticon leader felt endangered, he was at his enemy's mercy. The Medic knew that his 'patient' may panic and try to flee or do something equally stupid. There was only one thing that Ratchet could do and Megatron should be conscious enough already.

"Starscream, Soundwave and Shockwave contacted us earlier." Ratchet begun and Megatron concentrated on him again. "We have a deal. We will treat your wounds, bring you to health and when I'll clear you, we will hunt M.E.C.H. down and destroy the weapon that they shot you with. By us I mean Autobots, Decepticons and humans."

Ratchet watched as Megatron digested everything, his optics closed few times and it was obvious that while he was awake he was still weak.

"I already operated on you, your wound is sealed and all damage is repaired but there are still few things to do."

Megatron made an effort to stare at Ratchet for a moment.

"We will speak about that later. You have guests, but I'm going to give you another human hour to rest before I will allow them to speak to you."

Megatron tried to ask something but all that came out from his vocaliser was some static. Ratchet could guess what the question was about.

"Not your mechs, we won't allow them here. Now rest."

Megatron stared at Ratchet for another moment but then closed his optics, clearly still too weak to be stubborn.

Megatron heard as Ratchet walks away, he was curious who wanted to see him. Prime, but that was granted, Ratchet however mentioned about 'guests', so who was the second one, maybe third as well? And how in the name of the Fallen Shockwave and Soundwave managed to team up with Starscream? He had so many questions but the temptation of recharge was too great. For now he was safe, that much he knew, and for the moment that was all he needed to know.

xXx

Ratchet shook Megatron's arm gently, it wasn't because he wanted to be nice, he just wanted to avoid any accidents. Startling sleeping soldiers wasn't pleasant to anyone, especially to the one who was waking them.

Megatron opened his optics slowly, he felt better than last time he woke and his optic sight was better. He vented deeply and focused his attention on Ratchet. He still felt like he drank someone's puke, but he couldn't do much about that at the moment.

"Your guests are waiting, but first I must check your vitals."

Megatron watched as the Medic used his in-build scanner to check his parameters. The Medic read the results, hummed something to himself and then switched the life sign monitor off.

"You're as good as you can be at the moment, later we must talk, but now…" And he disappeared behind wall made of boxes and crates.

Only then Megatron looked around. He was in a hangar, the walls were grey and small windows near the roof allowed some light in, but not too much. It was a day, but Megatron couldn't tell what time it was, his internal chronometer couldn't help him, it only showed what humans called universal time.

Then he heard heavy steps, it was one mech and Megatron knew who it was. It could only be Prime and the Decepticon leader wondered how his personal archenemy was doing. He smiled grimly, Optimus was certainly doing better than he was, the red and blue lug was able to walk.

"Megatron" The low, deep voice cut through Megatron's musings. It wasn't hostile at the moment but it held a note of warning as always when the Prime spoke to him. The tone said that its owner is now calm, but aggression is an open option.

The Warlord moved his stare from the ceiling to his ex-friend and almost sat up. This wasn't what he expected to see. The Prime looked like something reanimated with Dark Energon and then dragged on gravel road for miles. The paintjob was almost gone, only few spots here and there to remind that once the finish was present. The chromes were scratched and called for buffing. The armour was fine, but there were few welding marks that spoke of surgery, those could be buffed and painted on, but now were clearly visible. And there was something wrong with Prime's optics. It took Megatron few moments to put a digit on it: the colour was wrong. Optimus used to have blue optics; they were bright, soft blue ever since he was Orion Pax. After he was reformed into Prime he gained some sharpness to his stare but the colour remained the same. Now it was gone. The so familiar blue light was replaced with bright, exuberant, intense yellow 1).

Megatron felt weird, as if something was remaining him that old times were gone forever.

"Optimus, you look like Knockout's worse nightmare."

That met with slight smirk and lifted optic brow as the Prime stared back. "I look much worse than I am. You however were very lucky to make it through. I have seen your wound."

"I have felt my wound. And I still feel where it was." Only then Megatron's optics wondered to Prime's right servo. He held it on his waist level and finally the Decepticon noticed why.

The small figure sat on Optimus' open palm, her legs dangled freely, the right arm held Prime's thumb for safety. Megatron felt his spark pulse increase and he tried to lift himself but felt back with silent 'huff'. He absolutely hated the weakened state he was presently in but he was grateful that Ratchet shot that damned life sign monitor off. Last thing he wanted to look ridiculously excited on top of being weak.

"June." His optics observed the small organic femme for a moment. She wore her usual garment; in Optimus servo she looked fragile and delicate.

"June wanted to speak with you. But first we must talk about the reason you're here." Optimus voice caused Megatron to snap back to reality.

"Yes. Ratchet told me about the deal. It seems that I find myself allied with you yet again."

"But this time there won't be any opportunity for you to betray us." Optimus' optics narrowed dangerously.

"You can't blame me, Optimus. We are at war. Both of us try to win."

"You are mistaken, Megatron, it is you who try to win, Autobots are trying to end the war."

"By winning it. Optimus, you may want to face the reality…"

"The reality is that M.E.C.H. developed deadly weapon, a threat to everyone and it must be destroyed. Your mechs made a deal with us, you are to remain here until you're fully functional, after that we will hunt M.E.C.H. down and destroy the weapon."

Megatron closed his optics for a moment, but could feel Prime's intense glare. "Reasonable enough… Is there anything else I should know?"

"Yes. This is human military base; you are to remain in this hangar. Our human charges are coming at times so you are to remain cautious all the time and not to harm them in any way. Also as a patient, you are to obey all commands of Ratchet." Megatron wanted to say something, but Optimus spoke before he could. "This is for your own good."

"Especially obeying Ratchet." Megatron smirked knowingly. "I remember that he was renowned for his wrench wielding berthside manner."

That comment earned him another sour glare from Optimus. Apparently the Prime left Ratchet's tender mercies too recently to appreciate the humour. Megatron knew that Ratchet was great medic and surgeon extraordinary, but the old mech had one serious flaw – his temper.

"I will leave you and June now; Ratchet will come shortly to discuss medical issues." With that the Prime left.

Megatron knew that it was but a courtesy, the crate-wall only prevented him from being seen, any louder noise could be heard clearly. This impromptu infirmary provided him with all the privacy of military camp or gladiator barracks back in Kaon… Megatron clearly remembered that he could hear, and sometimes see, everything that his fellow gladiators did, and that meant EVERYTHING.

"Not much of luxury." June smiled weakly. She didn't know what she expected from this meeting.

Megatron watched her for few seconds and she suddenly felt like an idiot. She just came to Decepticon Warlord and thought that she can have a chat with him. What was she thinking of…

"I've been in far worse places." The voice was quiet and calm, nothing like taunting tone from before few moments. Megatron sound tired, June was sure that the haughty attitude she saw when he confronted the Prime was just for show. The Decepticon was tired, drained of energy.

June took a better look of the mech and saw marks where the wound was, there was an IV hooked to his chassis that fed him with energon and currently switched off monitor. The woman could even tell that Megatron looked a bit pale, she couldn't tell how she knew that, but she did. Something in his air that usually spoke of his great strength was now gone.

"But you would prefer to be in an actual infirmary?" She took few steps closer and stopped at the edge of a grate that served as the base of the wall and was jutting out.

"It would be good, I admit. But this is far better than being left for M.E.C.H.'s mercy." June watched as Megatron vented deeply, that gave her an impression of an old tiger. "Why have you come? Is it because you wanted another round of our little 'Qui pro Quo'?"

"We never finished our conversation. But you look like you need sleep."

Megatron chuckled and then growled when a white hot stab of pain radiated from his sealed wound. It was still too fresh. "Last time it was you who looked tired and in need of rest." The Decepticons settled for sly grin. "How ironic, now I am the prisoner… at least I have a nurse."

"I'm not sure if I could help you much."

xXx

Optimus observed the monitors, both teams were doing fine and there were no signs of Decepticon activity. All looked good.

"I'm going to talk to Megatron." Ratchet rose from his seat snapping Optimus back to reality.

"He is speaking with June now."

"You left them alone?"

"She is quite safe, old friend." Prime voice was calm as ever but there was strange sadness in it. "Megatron won't harm her."

"You can't know that!"

"He is too weak to lift himself from the berth." Optimus watched as Ratchet tried to find an argument against that but failed. "And he doesn't seem to be inclined on hurting her."

"Optimus, we are talking about Megatron, he is inclined on hurting everyone." Ratchet gave the Prime almost parental glare. "He is weak now, but he is an enemy, we can't take any risks."

"And we won't. But for now Megatron is harmless."

"That state won't last very long." Ratchet sighed heavily. "I still say we should have finished him when we could. Now, I have to speak with him about his T-Cog addition."

TBC

1) It is kind of returning to the roots as G1 Optimus had yellow optics.

To Kaleia (who is a Guest and has no account so I can't answer her directly):

I may not be objective as I am a Deceptigirl (yay, I'm bad but it feels so good), but Megatron isn't actually responsible for the civil war to start. Sure he took command of the army of rejects but it would happen anyway, they would simply have different leader. You see everything started with unjust caste system that in theory was to prevent Cybertron from falling but in practice was just a tool to supress citizens. First step that led to fall of the Golden Age took Sentinel Prime by creating military-like regime, there was Senate but it was always Prime who held the military force. We can see on the example of Senator Shockwave (you should really read More than Meets the Eye: Shadowplay and Megatron Origin, Autocracy is also very helpful in understanding pre-war Cybertronian society) who was sentenced to Empurata for not being obedient to the theocratic rule.

Then Zeta Prime came and along with him long forgotten Vamparc Ribbons, Zeta Prime was the last straw, now someone had to do something.

Megatron was a mine worker by the time labelled D-16, he led hard life and then Senator Decimus came to tell miners that their mine will be closed and they will lose their jobs. It's easy to guess that no one was happy and short fight followed, one of the miners was killed by one of Decimus' bodyguards and rest of the miners took it very bad.

Megatron along few others were taken to prison but managed to escape and that's how D-16 became Megatron the Gladiator of Kaon. The rest is history.

So as you see, Megatron is merely a product of his own society. If not him, someone else would take his place, quite probably Shockwave. The true reason behind the war was that higher castes were exploiting the lower ones, slavery was something normal, we can take example of Gladiators who lived and died because someone wanted to have fun and make few bets. Megatron's true fault is that he allowed himself to get corrupted by power, but at least at the beginning Decepticon cause held merit. To many it still does. Being a Decepticon doesn't make one a villain just as being an Autobot doesn't make one a hero. It's not black and white conflict; both sides are responsible for what happened.

No, Ratchet is single mech, though he is carrier mech (he chose to keep both options after his last upgrade) and I make hints of RatchetxWheeljack, though no open pairing as it is popular pairing and I only make rare ones (or non-existent if I can, for now I made MegsxJune, MikoxBumblebee and ArceexShockwave – though the last one is rare, for Primeverse is non-existent I believe).

Yes, June told everything and they truly were surprised that Megsy was such a gentlemech (though Prime Megatron is one indeed, he has perfect manners, at least when he feels like).