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 ending of the series and because the first chapter was posted before the last season was aired).

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.

Spellcheck performed by Monstrous-hourglass of dA.

Out here in the fields.

Out here in the fields

I fight for my meals

I get my back into my living

I don't need to fight

To prove I'm right

I don't need to be forgiven (…) – "Baba O'Rilley" The Who

oOo

M.E.C.H. base, somewhere in the Nevada Desert.

Three identical canons stood in a row in the bright Monday morning sun. Two men were working on attaching a large battery-like device to the middle one; they were checking various cables and connecting them to the device. One of the canons was already wired to its own battery-like device and third man war performing some sort of system scan. His laptop connected to the canon's computer system by USB wire, emitting pings and blips as the man pushed various switches on the canon itself. The last canon was prepared to being connected to its own power source and was waiting for its turn.

Silia sat in shadow of the gas station building with fancy sun glasses on and observed as her men did their job. They've got peace and quiet ever since they shot Megatron and she suspected that sooner or later there will be some sort of retaliation attempt, but nothing happened yet. She knew that it wasn't easy to find them, but it was possible if someone would search with the use of large enough forces. She also knew that while the US Army had such forces, they wouldn't go along with such throughout search. Not with being busy with various internal terrorist threats, missions of all kinds, danger of war breaking out in Middle East and attempting to keep their PR good.

There were also the Autobots, but those things weren't numerous enough, at least not with the forces they had on Earth. And there were also Decepticons, who were more numerous, although probably not numerous enough. On top of that they weren't allied with the US Army, thus couldn't count on any help. For now all looked good.

"Silia!"

The woman turned around to see Ripley heading her way in a fast pace and he looked rather unhappy despite the mask and gear that he was wearing.

"What is it?" She asked calmly.

"We're in trouble." Ripley said. "I just got call from our informer in General Brice's office."

Silia stiffened slightly, that couldn't be good. Brice, among other things, was the handler of Special Agent Fowler who was the Autobots' liaison.

"What is going on?"

"Brice sent his agents to seek 'M.E.C.H's new leader' after our attack. They were also ordered to gather as much information about us as possible." Ripley swallowed hard. "They found more than we thought they would. They know that we're not strictly military anymore, though no report states that they know who exactly we recruited."

"They would sooner or later." Silia shrugged. She suspected that it wouldn't stay a secret much longer.

"That's not all. Fowler went to England, in person, his report states that he talked to your mother and knows that you left the country."

Silia suppressed the urge to swear. "Alright, that wouldn't remain secret forever either." She sighed. "All of this we expected to happens sooner or later."

"There's more." Ripley rubbed his forehead through his mask. "Fowler reported to Brice earlier this morning, that there's going to be search operation, they plan to look out for us. They came to conclusion that we couldn't get away very far and want to find us before we'll strike again."

"They're going to search the desert?" Silia rose from her seat, ready to act accordingly to the threat.

"Yes. I have no details but there is possibility of some Autobots taking their part in the search taken that Fowler is involved."

"We have to evacuate." Silia rushed to the old gas station store that served as their temporary headquarters.

Ripley followed her with a stare as she rushed pass him to reach the door, but didn't move. "Steady. Let them finish installing the batteries, there's no hurry. If they're not here by now, then we still have few hours."

Silia stopped with her hand on the door knob. "How long do you think it will take them to reach us?"

"Oh, I think that if they started at this moment, it still gives us six to twelve hours."

"Still, we should be as far from here as possible." Silia didn't allow herself to relax. "We will depart as soon as the batteries in cannons are installed and tested."

"I'll tell the boys to move faster." Ripley offered as he pointed at the three cannons and men moving around them.

"You do that." Silia nodded. "And inform other Lieutenants that I'm calling an emergency meeting. We need to consider all available options and decide about our next move."

oOo

The Autobot temporary base was quiet, it was still too early for the humans to arrive and Ratchet was enjoying the tranquillity of the moment. He and Optimus were alone in the hangar, the rest of the team out scouting, driving or – in case of Wheeljack – tampering with the remains of Jackhammer.

Both Autobots were enjoying this silence, each for different reasons; it didn't last long though. The console chimed signalling an incoming call, and it could only be the one source of the call: New Kaon.

Ratchet mumbled silent curse under his vent and gave Optimus questioning look. The Prime only nodded signalling his old friend to answer.

"Greetings." Megatron's face appeared on screen. "I trust I find you ready for cooperation?"

Ratchet's scowl only deepened. "You found us too early."

"Greetings Megatron." Optimus approached the console and gently excused the Medic. "We are ready for cooperation. Do you want to meet?"

"This is why I called you." Megatron's face was surprisingly calm; the mech wasn't smirking nor scowling. "And to show our good will, I am leaving choice of time and place to you, Prime."

There was brief moment of silence, as neither Ratchet nor Optimus expected the Decepticon Warmonger to make such a gesture, though they also knew that it wasn't beyond him to act like this just to confuse others.

"Let it be the military base where you've been shot, as it is the place where we will begin our search." The Prime said cautiously. "In two hours."

"Splendid, Optimus." Megatron didn't seem to be fazed by Optimus' meeting place of choice. "We will see then. And, one last thing. How is…"

The Warmonger didn't end the sentence, he didn't know if he should start the subject at the moment. Perhaps it was better to keep it more private, but he just wanted to know. Maybe see her.

"She isn't here right now." Optimus didn't have to wait for Megatron to finish his sentence; he already knew what Megatron had in mind. "Her shift started early today."

"Thank you, Optimus." Megatron nodded in appreciation. "We will see later."

The connection ended and Ratchet closed the communicator's window. "I still don't like the idea."

"I know old friend. But we need to find and stop M.E.C.H. before something truly bad will happen." Optimus gave Ratchet serious look. "We will wait for everyone to arrive and then we will go to the meeting."

oOo

The military base. Two hours later.

The Grounbridge's green and light blue light was almost dim in the burning bright desert sun. Megatron observed as five figures left the vortex and smiled seeing who they were. Starscream was right after all.

Optimus saw Megatron and his mechs standing in the blistering sun. They were waiting for them patiently. He expected Megatron, but what was surprising was lack of Starscream. Aside of that every other officer was present, and even few Vehicons.

"Ah, Optimus, you came prepared I see." Megatron's mood seemed good. Not menacing kind of good though, only satisfied.

"You brought your officers as well." Optimus eyed the rest of Decepticons, neither seemed very happy. "I take that you are ready to set up mixed patrols."

"I am, Optimus. I figured that my officers will be the best for that task as they will set up an example for the Vehicons during this particular cooperation." Megatron gestured at his mechs. "I had Starscream analyse every possibility of mixed couples and have a proposition of how to match our 'scouts'."

"It won't be easy, Megatron." Optimus looked at his own soldiers. "We do not hold much love for each other."

'No, we don't. But with a little good will and awareness of our situation they will put maximum effort into not causing any fights." Megatron glared at his soldiers and then at the Autobots. "Am I right?"

"Hopefully yes." The Prime agreed, hoping that his old enemy was indeed right.

"Then I should present out proposition of mixed patrols."

"Please do." Optimus hoped that said propositions were agreeable.

"Starscream proposed to send Bulkhead with Knockout, due to my Medic's experience on teaming with larger partners. Bumblebee with Gavin and it would seem that both mechs should come along nicely. Then it is Wheeljack and Soundwave…"

"Is that wise?" Optimus had to cut in before Wheeljack would. "From what I know their last encounter ended badly."

"Only for Wheeljack." Megatron opticbrows rose slightly in mute amusement. "But both are professionals and will be able to, as grudgingly as they will, cooperate."

"I am unsure." Optimus looked back at the Wrecker. "Wheeljack?"

"Commander." Wheeljack looked at his Prime, then at Megatron and back to Prime. "As much as I hate the idea and doubt in ol'Screamer's competence, I see no better choice than 'Wave. At least he can act like a pro."

"If you're certain." Optimus didn't seem convinced though.

"Prime, I'm not saying it will be pleasant walk in Crystal Gardens, but we're not here for pleasure; it's business." Wheeljack looked past Megatron and gave Soundwave a hard stare. "If 'Wave can behave, so can I."

"Soundwave can behave." Megatron cocked his head and gave the primarily white mech a curious look. "That and any other match with Soundwave will be just as difficult, or worse."

"Can't deny that." Growled Arcee.

"This brings us to our last match." This time Megatron smirked. He was curious how the fierce femme will react. "Arcee, according to Starscream, was the hardest to match. It appears that when it comes to my army, there's not a single mech or femme that Arcee doesn't want to see dead or be seen dead by." That only earned him an unimpressed stare from the femme. "Thus Starscream chose, what he claims to be, lesser evil and suggested to put her on one team with Shockwave…"

Megatron silenced but he was waiting for the reaction. Arcee looked like she was about to explode, but he wasn't sure if the reason was what he said or Shockwave.

"If there's no other choice." Arcee sent Shockwave a stare colder than liquid nitrogen.

"Would suggest Shivington here." Megatron pointed at ground based Vehicon that stood next to Gavin. "But firstly, you're on the Vehicons' 'Hit List' 1], and secondly, I doubt that you would accept such a match."

Arcee gave Shivington closer look and then regretted it. The mech had no code piece, and the spike cover was spray painted in what seemed like tartan in some odd attempt to make it look like underwear. Arcee rebooted her optics but the sight remained, it didn't help that the Vehicon was completely unaffected by missing part of armour.

"Is he…" The dark blue femme pulled disgusted face.

"Yes. But it is his choice." Megatron suppressed the urge to look back. "And before you'll ask, I do not know why he thought it would be a good idea but I'm not going to waste resources and shoot him as long as he's competent."

"Then I will take Shockwave." Arcee vented deeply and didn't say anything else.

"We have an agreement then, Megatron." Optimus wouldn't bet on smooth cooperation between two factions, he had weird feelings about the entire endeavour. He wouldn't say that he thought it would end badly, but he wasn't sure just how well it may end.

"Then, we should begin." Megatron pointed at the desert. "M.E.C.H. is there somewhere."

"I propose that each pair took away in one direction and search the area for next 6 hours." Optimus suggested. "It would be a trial to see how well the cooperation is going."

"Agreed." Megatron nodded. This was good idea, it was better to check for sure if these little teams could cooperate. "They should start now."

Optimus hummed in agreement and addressed Autobots. "You've heard, pick your partners and go." He said. It wasn't an order, but it didn't have to be.

"My Decepticons." Megatron in turn spoke to his soldiers. "Follow your Autobot partners. Remember, we have a truce, so no in-fighting."

There was hum of agreement and mixed matches went away, each in one direction.

TBC

1] A list with people to kill, not to hit on.

Jazz vs. Mirage poll!

All right my darlings. I asked you who would you prefer to see in the future in Autobot ranks and gave you two options: Jazz or Mirage. You could vote in two ways: by taking the poll on dA or leaving me a message.

I have results, not very surprising though, giving which character is better known. But since I asked, I will give you detailed results.

Jazz won with the vote ratio 7:1.

Jazz got 14 votes on both FF and dA, while Mirage 2.

This mean that in my next fic following Autobots will make their appearance: Jazz, Rodimus (called Hot Rod by everyone) and Blaster (complete with Rewind and Steeljaw).

New Autobots' alt modes will be:

- TV van for Blaster (due to Prime specification, with my own little add)

- Ford GT for Rodimus.

- Bugatti Veyrona Super Sport for Jazz (because Jazz is so super cool that he has to have super sweet alt mode… Knockout will be SOOOOO jealous).

Now it is the time for another poll:

I ask you to choose three Decepticons that you want me to add to Barricade (cop car) and Motormaster (articulated lorry, like Optimus). You can do it on dA (go to my profile page and take the poll), or on FF by messaging me. And please note that you can only vote on one Decepticon, three most popular 'Cons will win. Please, play fair and don't vote twice (on FF and dA) or by messaging me on FF more than once as guests.

And the Decepticons you can vote on are:

1. Astrotrain (USSR Buran space shuttle/X2 tilt train);

2. Blitzwing (Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II/Israeli Merkava tank);

3. Hook (crane);

4. Octane (Bartini Berier VVA-14/tanker ship);

5. Skywarp (Saab JAS 39 Gripen);

6. Strika – the only femme (GTK Boxer Armoured Personell Carrier);

7. Swindle (Jeep Cheerokee);

8. Thundercracker (Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet).

Also Rumble, Frenzy and Ravage will make their appearance, I will reveal coloration of Soundwave's twin deployers next week (expect small lecture about colouration and influence of colour on conscious and subconscious mind – it may be interesting for those of you who are like me – graphic artists).