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.
Geometry of Chance – Law of Probable Outcome.
He deals the cards as a meditation
And those he plays never suspect
He doesn't play for the money he wins
He doesn't play for the respect
He deals the cards to find the answer
The sacred geometry of chance
The hidden law of probable outcome
The numbers lead a dance
I know that the spades are the swords of a soldier
I know that the clubs are weapons of war
I know that diamonds mean money for this art
But that's not the shape of my heart – "Shape of My Heart" Sting
oOo
Nevada. The Military Base – Thursday. Early Afternoon.
Megatron gave Optimus a serious look. No one really expected to find the M.E.C.H. base at this point. They hoped for some tracks, maybe some equipment that the human terrorists would leave behind in hurry. There was even chance for a dead body. But not for a base, no matter if it was just some temporary camp or not, it was unexpected.
What Knockout, Bulkhead and the little organic femmeling reported, it was something more than just a few tents. They said that M.E.C.H. was camped in the ruins of some old, wooden buildings. They believed it was a stage–coach station where horses could be changed or at very least given water and food. Soundwave instantly provided Megatron with all the information he needed about the subject. Special Agent Fowler agreed but added that just as well it could've been some bolt hole for robbers. In any case, there was a well there and ruins of buildinga provided perfect conditions to lay low for a while.
"Is it just me, or does it look just too good to be true?" Wheeljack narrowed his optics. All scouting parties were summoned back; chances were they would attack instantly.
"Explain." Optimus favoured the Wrecker with attention.
"It is quite close to the scene of the attack. They didn't even left the state. And now they're just politely sitting there waiting to be found?" Wheeljack waved his hand in the direction where Bulkhead, Knockout and Miko found the M.E.C.H. base.
"Okay." Arcee put her servos on her hips. "But if they didn't expect us to just start combing the desert for them, then they wouldn't need to hide."
"Then what did they expect?" Wheeljack's doorwings went up in agitation. "That we will just leave them alone?"
"No. But this is a rather direct way of looking." Arcee's winglets repeated Wheeljack's motions. "One they could not think we would use."
"Logic dictates that analysing satellite pictures of the area would be the first step in searching for those humans." Shockwaves calm and cultivated voice made everyone to look at the mono-opticed mech.
"They had masking nets there." Miko added with enthusiasm, there would be some action and she already planned to sneak into it.
"So all we would see would be some dry shrubs." Agent Fowler said with bored tone. "And we assume they don't expect us?"
"Duh! If they would, they wouldn't be there." Miko snarled. "Like what moron would just sit around to get caught?"
"Spoken from experience, kiddo?" Wheeljack grinned as wide as his face plates allowed him.
"Hey, you know me." The girl giggled naughtily.
"And just how many times you've been detained last year?" Arcee gave the 16-year-old a disapproved look.
"I always escaped and you know it." Miko just shrugged as if her behaviour was only natural. "The M.E.C.H. dimwits think that they're smart because they masked themselves and can bolt at any time. They even have a few boneheads too looking around. They looked almost bored into coma."
"True." Bulkhead confirmed. "They had three soldiers serving as sentries, but they looked tired and sleepy."
"But should we attack?" Knockout voiced his dubiety. "What if they're waiting for us?"
"Not that you would be in the front line." Wheeljack didn't pass the opportunity to jibe at Knockout's combat experience.
"Regardless who would be at the front of our attack, or if it is a trap, we do have limited options." Optimus cut the banter. "We can attack or continue to observe."
"Yes. But if we observe, sooner or later they will figure out that we're there." Arcee pointed out. "Sooner or later they will figure out that we're there, or one of us will make a mistake."
"One way or another we will end up fighting." Bumblebee bleeped not looking worried about the prospect of combat at all.
"Well then, if it's inevitable there is no point in procrastinating." Megatron smirked. He never was the one to avoid fighting. And he felt wonderfully refreshed ever since he woke up in the morning with June sprawled across him. The size shifting sequence seemed just an unpleasant nuance upon memories of the past night and Megatron just felt like going somewhere and happily obliterate something. M.E.C.H. and their camp would do just fine.
"I still have objections." Optimus' opticbrows furrowed. "M.E.C.H. as vile and dangerous as they are, are still humans."
"Prime, I have been speaking with General Brice about this earlier." Agent Fowler leaned against his car's bonnet. "You, or rather Megatron, have been attacked, and any action that was taken against them was excused as self-defence. Even though 'Cons were attacked while looting our base."
"What are you saying Agent Fowler?" Optimus wasn't surprised by human's words, it was nothing new. But Government Agent clearly had something more in mind.
"I'm saying that US Government, as you know, recognises Autobots and Decepticons as two sides of a warfare which makes you and Megatron their respective leaders. And that US Government listed M.E.C.H. as a terrorist group." Fowler hit his fist into his open palm and grinned nastily. "Regardless of what the real cause was, the Government views this as an assassination attempt by a terrorist formation. I don't have to tell you what our policy after 9/11 is."
"No, we've seen what happened." Optimus shook his head.
He still remembered. In video transmission the size difference wasn't that evident and it was easy for any of the Autobots to imagine how it must've looked for humans. It was a simple change of perspective and some imagination. They had very tall buildings on Cybertron, easily comparable with those on Earth (after changing their scales of course) and it was all too easy to imagine how it had to look for humans. Especially for those who saw the fall of Crystal City.
"I didn't." Megatron interjected.
He wasn't on Earth at the time. It was before he left to seek out for new soldiers but they just had their secondary Space Bridge finished and placed near Earth so he was often visiting Shockwave, some other facilities on other planets with few other scientists. He even met the D.J.D once and was glad to see that Tarn and his mechs were in good shape but was mildly disgusted to learn that Kaon kept a Sparkeater as his pet. The mech actually named the creature'Pet'.1]
Everyone gave Megatron a funny look. One had to be blind, deaf and probably comatose to miss that, but Megatron somehow managed. And before he actually went into coma. Soundwave rolled his optics under his visor, gathered all the information he had in one nice data package and sent it to Megatron. It took the Warlord a full minute to look through it in fast forward, read a couple of news papers' titles and grasp the overall weight of the situation.
"I see." He said finally. "That would explain a lot."
"So, what do you want to tell us regarding our current situation, Agent Fowler?" Prime looked back to the human.
"I am authorised to provide you with aid. I have men ready to participate. They will be dealing with all the foot soldiers while you can take care of M.E.C.H.'s equipment." Fowler explained. "And if any of the M.E.C.H. soldiers will be hurt or die during the action, it will be regarded as 'regrettable but unavoidable men losses'."
"Isn't this a little… I don't know, ruthless?" Bulkhead asked a little worried about the whole situation. "It sounds a little, no offence, Decepticon."
"I know, Two Tons, I know, but M.E.C.H. is dangerous to everyone. Even under Silas, they didn't care what damage they caused or who they killed in the process, as long as they got what they wanted. You remember that Silas didn't hesitate to blow the DNGS knowing what it was. And his daughter is even worse." Fowler explained. "We can't let them have their way. There's too much at stake."
"You sound like Ultra Magnus." Wheeljack winced remembering the Duly Appointed Enforcer of the Tyrest Accord. 2]
"Who?" Fowler made his best confused face.
"Just a guy. He was all about duty." Wheeljack shrugged slightly, those were dark times. Then he recalled a quote perfect for this occasion. "You know, 'all work and no play makes Magnus a dull bot'." The Wrecker paraphrased Stephen King. 3]
"Come on, Jacky, he never went homicidal." Bulkhead patted his friend's shoulder; he too watched the movie, though never read the book.
"You know what I mean." Wheeljack laughed. "We had a curb hour for frag sake!"
"Agent Fowler, call your men, we will attack as soon as they're ready." Optimus ignored his Wreckers' banter.
"Who will be on our side?" Arcee looked around. "I mean, there will be Agent Fowler's people in, and all of us would be an overkill to pacify one camp."
"Three on each side?" Proposed Megatron. "It would give six in total, not creating a crowd but enough in case of an emergency."
"So be it." Prime agreed. Megatron was Decepticon and enemy, but he was more than competent when it came to strategy and tactics. "Wheeljack, Arcee and I will go in. The rest will stay behind in case on an emergency."
Megatron looked at his soldiers asserting their skill and usefulness in situation they would meet.
"Starscream and Gavin will go in with me." He decided. "Soundwave will stay here and operate the Groundbridge. Knockout will remain here in case of immediate medical emergency. Shockwave will remain as a backup."
oOo
Nevada. M.E.C.H. base in the abandoned stage–coach station. Late afternoon.
The heat was almost unbearable. The desert sun fried everything into crisp. There were soldiers that fried themself some sunny side up eggs on sun heated rocks. If someone thought that noon (when Sun was the highest) was the worse time of the day, they were sadly mistaken. The afternoon was worse. The Sun was shining and heating things even more. The ground, rocks of all kinds and shapes, the air, everything was accumulating heat. The later it was the more heat was accumulated and the hotter it was. And in the night, when the sky was clear, all the heat would radiate into space. It would become cold really fast. That was desert for you: hot during a day and cold at night.
There was also silence. No one spoke much, and if they did, they whispered. There was just something in the air that made them silent. It wasn't the place though, rather their situation. They had clear order to maintain radio silence and somehow it extended into everything else they did. It was weird how grown up men were sneaking around almost tip toeing. Maybe that was what being in a conspiracy felt like?
Soldiers went about their business, some on duty and others off duty. Doing what needed to be done. No one was truly relaxed, but they did their best to minimise the stress. A sentry stretched and yawned, the lazy afternoon rendering him sleepy. He scratched his stomach leaning on a wooden wall that creaked like a coffin lead.
And then the world exploded and all hell broke loose.
There was shouting and shooting. For a moment it was raining debris. Cracking noises filled the air, someone screamed. The Sentry felt that piece of wood hit his head, he fell on the ground with soft groan and then his lights went out.
oOo
Silia jumped out of her tent hidden under the masking net as soon as she heard gun shots. She looked around while fastening her tac-vest, and cursed. The attackers were US military; they were surrounding the camp preventing any immediate escape. She and her people would have to fight their way out. But escaping wasn't part of her plan, at least not at this stage.
"Activate the cannons!" She shouted and ducked behind a car.
Somewhere near one of the cannons Ripley yelled something back to her, but she couldn't understand at first. Only after he repeated it she looked around and noticed that there were also six Transformers among US soldiers. One was almost entirely white and cut a truck in half with one swing of his sabre. She didn't know him. One was what she was told to be a female robot; she knew that one as one that her father caught once. There was one called Starscream that her father worked with once and one that had no face and was entirely purple. She spotted Optimus Prime, the one her father fought with. And then she saw Megatron, the one she hated the most. To her utter shock mixed with fear and rage, Megatron looked undamaged. So they fixed him, made him functional again. She grinned angrily, she would fix that and this time she would aim at his head.
"Silia! Silia! They are attacking one of our cannons!" It was Ripley who now sat behind other cannon controls, charging it.
"Shoot them! We must repel them!" She answered and released short series from her machine gun at the nearest group of enemy soldiers.
"I only got three shots!"
"Execute!" She cried in anger. "Then try to take off HIS head!"
oOo
Ripley didn't ask who 'he' was. With Silia it could only mean Megatron. The man only sighed. Silia was right, they couldn't allow government to lay hands on M.E.C.H. technology, he had to sacrifice one of his three shots to repel enemy. It still left him with two more tries. He has casted one glance in the direction he had to aim. There were ten US soldiers and three M.E.C.H. He couldn't warn them because that would also alarm the enemy and he couldn't wait for his men to get away. He had to shoot them too. He didn't like the idea, but he had no other choice and being part of M.E.C.H. meant that sometimes one had to make tough choices. And sometimes one had to lay their life for the cause.
At the very moment Ripley wasn't sure if he believed in the cause anymore.
oOo
Megatron heard the familiar cracking sound, one that companied thunders, the one just before the roar of splitting air and electric charge. He felt cold spreading around his frame, just under his armour. His first thought was 'not again'. But as he looked around, he saw that the device making the sound was pointed away from him. It looked like some sort of cannon but the barrel wasn't an actual barrel, it was projector.
It was the first time that Megatron ever saw the device working. The charge was generated and deceivingly slowly detached itself from the projector. Then it just flew, just like blaster shot, but it was different. It was very bright and had no actual colour, just white light and electric arches.
The charge hit its target – human soldiers, both army and M.E.C.H. Megatron observed in awe as their bodies just evaporated, there were many wounded. Even direct vicinity of the charge burned them badly. There was a man with half of his torso missing, he wheezed and then died on the spot. It looked like massacre.
Megatron was a mech that saw many things, too many things in fact. Ever since he started his first work he faced death more than once. There were mine accidents of all sorts. One of his colleagues was ripped in half lengthways, he remembered spilled internal workings. He saw Cybertronians being beaten to death by law enforcers, they faces punched into their craniums, their spark casings in-dented by series of punches. He finally saw death during gladiatorial fights. He personally beaten Sentinel Prime to death, with his own firsts. He saw Zeta Prime using Vamparc Ribbons. And all of that before the war even started. Then it was just slaughter. Just like now, only this time it was an organic version. Strangely looking even gorier than what he saw with his own brethren.
Suddenly he made a decision, capable of thinking clear again. He had to do something quickly. He pointed with his fusion cannon and then noted that the massacred soldiers lay next to other cannon like the one that just fired. He felt his armour going cold again – there were more of the damn things. He quickly aimed at the cannon that human soldiers tried to take over. His reasoning clear, the one that just fired had used energy, he wasn't sure just how many times it could shoot but it couldn't be too many. It had to consume tremendous amounts of energy; its batteries had to run dry at some point. But the other one, the one that human soldiers tried to take over was unused, it was fresh, it had one shot more than the one that was already in use. He shot and took the unused cannon out.
The cannon tumbled back and Megatron realized that he had to get the batteries because it exploded. The fire spread around and began to consume to masking net. The masking net itself had to be done with polymer material because it started to burn and melt.
oOo
Arcee jumped out of the way of some debris, she saw people being killed by the weapon's charge and then shot that could only belong to Megatron. Then something exploded and various parts of the destroyed device just flew her way. There was some shouting, it was woman's voice. The femme looked around and saw the one who screamed.
It could only be Silas' daughter. The woman had long, blonde curls and dark eyes, the eyes of Silas. Arcee watched her mesmerised for a moment. She moved and sounded just like her father, there was even the same air around them.
Then someone called to the woman, called her 'Silia', she barked some orders and it took Arcee a moment to recognise words. There were two more cannons like the one that Megatron was shot with, like the one that Megatron just destroyed. She looked around. Wheeljack was just next one of them.
"Wheeljack!" The femme yelled. "On your left! The cannon!"
oOo
Wheeljack was watched as Megatron destroyed a cannon, a copy of what just shot at humans and what shot Megatron once. There were more of the slaggers, it was to be expected. Then he heard Arcee shouting, he looked to his left and saw a small man climbing to the weapon's seat and pressing few buttons. He darted in that direction, he had to reach the thing before it could shoot.
It was just few steps for him. Long steps but he could do it. He prepared his sword and jumped up. It was a nice, clean cut through the device. It separated the entire front section from the rest, and he even managed not to cut the human. The man just squeaked and took off. Wheeljack blinked in confusion but then he saw what was happening. Few cables were sparking and there was some liquid sipping, it smelled weird but something told the Wrecker that with his luck, the stuff was flammable. And who would've guess – it was. He managed to put some distance between himself and the device when the fire reached battery and the damned thing turned into fireworks knocking Wheeljack off his pedes. Fortunately he was okay, minus some peeled off paint. Easy to fix.
oOo
Silia howled in futile anger. It was a perfect situation, all they had to do was to wait for those accursed robots to show and then just shoot them. They had nine shots in total but it was plenty for her needs. How come it ended like this?
She knew that her only option now was to run. Then she could think about what went wrong and who was to blame. Why cannon operators weren't at ready as she ordered?
"Evacuation!" She cried to everyone who could hear her. "I repeat evacuation! Ripley! You know what to do!"
And with that she darted to some sort of barn that had only half collapsed walls and masking net serving as a roof.
oOo
Ripley didn't say a single word when he heard Silia ordering evacuation. He just set his cannon to self-destruct and make his way to the same barn that Silia went into. He saw her pulling the net off, it wasn't hard, they arranged it so all it took was to pull one rope and the thing would just slide inside. Then there was some clanging when Silia moved few pipes. The barn was just big enough to hide a helicopter in it. There was enough room in it to fit eight people including the pilot. The remaining four would have to run in a car. But three of them were killed when Ripley shot US soldiers with his own cannon. Five others were shot by enemy soldiers during the initial shooting before Silia ordered using cannons. Two more were killed by flying debris after Megatron used his own cannon to total the one that Ripley cleared from the US men of war. That left himself and Silia.
He never made it to the barn. The explosion swept him off his feet; his last thought before his lights went off was that perhaps he should have given himself more time when he set the timer.
oOo
Optimus saw the last cannon exploding. It had to be self-destruct mechanism because none of his, or Megatron warriors were close to it as it went off. Starscream used his missiles to blow two wooden buildings that might have been used as inventory places. Gavin shot few tents with his own guns but it seemed that they were empty. The attack went fast, faster than he thought it would.
Then he saw the helicopter. It had to be the woman he saw earlier and that the other man called Silia. The name she used sounded too similar to Silas' to belong to anyone else but his daughter.
The machine hovered for a second and then went off. Megatron pointed his cannon but missed, or rather the woman piloting it evaded the shot.
Optimus decided to not comment on that. After being shot at on this one's order he had the right to hold a grudge.
"Is everyone all right?" The Autobot leader asked.
"Sir, four men dead. Five wounded." It was one of the humans. The soldier saluted as he reported.
"At ease soldier." Optimus crouched to better see the man. It was a sergeant, still young with bright eyes and dark skin, tall and muscular but the Prime could say that he barely grew out of his youngling hood. "There's not much here for us. Can you contact Agent Fowler?"
"Yessir!" The soldier beamed with bright smile that made him look even younger than before.
Optimus rose to his pedes and saw Megatron smirking at him. "I see you're in a good mood."
"Oh, I already was in a good mood, Optimus." Megatron purred in pleased tone. "I just find it funny."
"And what do you mean?"
"Oh, just the way you automatically assumed command of these humans." Megatron raised one opticbrow. "It is fascinating because when we still were friends you never displayed any sign of leadership skills."
"People change, you should know, you did." Optimus wanted the discussion to end. He wasn't in a mood for argument.
"And that's where you're mistaken. I didn't change, I was changed. The harsh, brutal reality forced me to open my optics and see things the way they were." Megatron shrugged. "And they were bad, worse than I imagined. And they took you away, forced to be their puppet. How ironic, Optimus, that when you took over you set out end to the evil but provided safe harbour for the evil doers. The same ones that created the reality that we both wanted to change."
"You should know that many of them had no other choice. The functionists and the caste system left them bound. Not every one of them could fight back like you did. Not all of them had the strength you did." The Prime suddenly felt tired. "Those who did ended like Shockwave, and he was lucky."
"I know Shockwave's story. He's a Decepticon and it was me who gave him hands back, though he chose to replace one of them with his cannon." Megatron growled remembering the bad old times. "And I'm not sure if you realize that, but some of those who voted for him to be sent to the Institute are in your ranks. Along with those who actually performed the procedures on him."
"You and I both know that the Senate voted under Proteus command. Who he couldn't intimidate he usually bought, like he bought Ratbat and a few others. Only Shockwave and Dai Atlas resisted. The only thing that saved Dai Atlas was his status of a war hero, one that even Proteus wouldn't dare to touch." Optimus vended deeply, he really wanted to avoid having this conversation. It would end up in a fist fight. "Shockwave had some political back up, but it wasn't enough. He was too vulnerable. And the people in the Institute were only following their orders. Did you know what happened to those who refused?"
"Erm, my lords?" Optimus was interrupted by Gavin's voice. "I mean, My Lord? Prime?"
"What is it?" Megatron turned to face his soldier.
"I think we may have one of them here, and he looks alive." The Vehicon pointed single digit to a figure sprawled on the ground. "I think he's unconscious."
That caused some soldiers to come closer and gently check out the fallen M.E.C.H. agent's vitals.
"Yeah, he's alive. But the blast had to knock him down." One of them spoke. "He probably needs medical attention."
"The woman, the one that they called Silia, she was calling him Ripley." Another soldier said. "It looked like he was one of her officers or something like that. She seemed to be in charge, maybe she was Silas' daughter?"
"She looked like she could be." Arcee confirmed. "I saw Silas up close, she had his eyes."
"That was definitely Silas' brat." Starscream spat the M.E.C.H. leader's name with venom. "She even moved like him."
"Then it seems that we won't leave empty handed." Wheeljack grinned under his facemask. "Now, I wonder what this little birdy here can tell us."
"No matter." Megatron looked around. "We lost our main prize. The human woman is still on the loose and still poses a threat. The hunt is far from over. This was just a small camp, a surprisingly well equipped one, but still only a camp."
"Do you think it was a trap?" Prime asked. He considered such possibility, but there was no way of checking.
"It looks like a trap. There was only bunch of foot soldiers here and none of the scientists that Agent Fowler said that the woman recruited." Megatron ripped the remnants of masking nets and walked closer to where the man laid. "This one will tell us more. But for now we must remain cautious. It is not over yet."
TBC
1] In my fic Shockwave wasn't presumed to be dead/missing.
2] In here, Ultra Magnus is not a regular Wrecker Commander. Wrecker's Leader was Impactor and later Springer (like in Last Stand of the Wreckers). If I will introduce other Wreckers or Magnus to my fics, he will be noted to take temporary command of Wreckers in between Impactor and Springer (to honour both G1 and Prime verses).
3] Stephen King's The Shining from 1977, turned movie twice. First time in 1980 by Stanley Kubrick, with Jack Nickolson, Shelley Duvall and Danny Lloyd (it's the one Wheeljack and Bulkhead saw), and mini series directed by Mick Garris. I saw the Stanley Kubrick film, but wasn't scared, probably because I never fear horror movies.
MEET THE DECEPTICONS!
Just like last week, it's introductions time! This time Decepticons. The same way as with the Autobots. And here we go!
BARRICADE – The Bad Cop. Mouthy by nature, also usually right. Likes to crush Autobot roadblocks. Thinks that Knockout is a pansy. Poor looser.
MOTORMASTER – The Sadist. Breakdown's ex-commander. He won't suffer failure in his underlings but no-one is allowed to torture them except for him. Takes his responsibilities seriously. Hates pranks.
BLITZWING – Walking Identity Crisis. Tripplechanger in both body and soul. His moods change faster than his alt-form, you never know which you're dealing with.
ASTROTRAIN – The Designated Driver. Not very happy with his role as the transport guy. He would like to participate in battles as something more than just the getaway "car" whether he's train or shuttle.
SKYWARP – Teleporting Prankster. Starscream's younger brother. Skilled fighter. Loves pranking. Has his own cell in the brig with his name above the door.
FRENZY – Crazy Puppy. Rumble's twin. Lives for violence and havoc. First to get into a fight and first to be carried to the med-bay after the fight. Not that it even stops him. Twists words.
RUMBLE – The Street Punk. The dominant twin, Frenzy's brother. Calmer than his bro, but just as deadly if not more. He'll swipe you off your feet. Literally.
RAVAGE – Bad Kitty. One of the first Decepticons. Soundwave's very first deployer. Stealthy and competent, good sense of smell, photophobic. Deadly to everyone. to Soundwave.