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.
Epilogue – After the War.
So many came before you the prisoners of fate
A history of bloodshed a legacy of hate
But where will you be standing when the battles have been won?
Inside your lonely fortress the battle's just begun
After the war who will you be fighting for?
After the war is over
After the fire is burning to its dying embers
After the war
(…)
You thought you'd be a hero after all that you survived
If hell was meant for heroes then surely you've arrived
After the war, after the war – "After the War" Gary Moore
oOo
DBS Nemesis. Next day after the battle – Friday Morning.
Megatron groaned and opened his optics. His helm hurt but he wasn't able to tell which part exactly. He hated waking up on medical berths, it usually meant that he lost another fist fight with Prime and Starscream ordered retreat while some of the Autobots laughed at them.
Then he remembered that there was a battle but not with Autobots. They fought M.E.C.H. but everything was so blurry. In addition he felt as if someone put something cool around his helm, and it seemed like his head was lighter than usual. Something felt off but he couldn't tell what. He wanted to sit when the door whooshed open.
"Oh no My Liege!" Came Knockout's tenor. "Stay the way you are, I need to examine you first!"
Megatron growled but remained on the berth. Knockout came to his line of vision instantly with a wide grin. Too wide for Megatron's liking.
"Stay calm, My Liege, you got hit in your helm." The Medic said as he got more serious. "Quite hard actually. You lost your consciousness."
"They knocked me out? No pun intended." Megatron furrowed his opticbrows, they felt different somehow.
"Yes, they did. Now, what do you remember?"
Megatron gave Knockout a suspicious look; this wasn't what he usually heard after waking up in the infirmary. "We fought M.E.C.H. They… They managed to destroy New Kaon."
"Anything else?" Knockout asked with a very serious face. Megatron didn't like that at all.
"No. I must've been hit."
"In a way. The battle didn't end then. I don't know any details but they detonated some sort of thermo baric warhead and you were hit by a heavy piece of debris that knocked you out." Knockout explained. "The Autobot Medic was the first to examine you and only then I was able to scan you for injuries. All in all we both found the same set of injuries. Broken cheek strut that I already fixed, there isn't a single scratch anymore. Brain module concussion, which explains your memory loss of the ending of the battle… And… Well… "
Knockout smiled awkwardly and lifted Megatron's already fixed helmet for the Warmonger to see. Megatron glared at the piece of gun metal head gear with wide optics. They looked even larger now.
"What is the meaning of this?" The Warlord sounded angry but Knockout only placed the helmet on some random cart.
"Now, My Liege, you should remain calm." He spoke in a no-nonsense tone. "You were struck in your helm and the force of the hit ripped your helmet off of your head. It was damaged so I had it fixed."
Megatron glared at his helmet. It was welded to his helm so long ago that he barely remembered times when he could get it off. It was always well fitted but the surgeon that performed his final upgrade suggested welding it for better protection in mines. Ever since that time for Megatron his helmet was simply part of his anatomy. Now it was off.
"Weld it back." He decided.
"That's not so easy." Knockout took one step back. "You see, Lord Megatron, the places it was welded to can't be re-used because the welds wouldn't hold and because alloy there is now more delicate than it was. I had to fill the weld marks so they would not form scarring that would make wearing your helmet painful if not impossible. And there are no other parts of your helm that we can weld it safely…"
"What do you mean that there are no other parts?" Megatron abruptly sat and immediately regretted it as his helm began to spin.
"Your crest is too delicate. Any attempt at welding your helmet to it would be agonizing and could cause permanent damage." Knockout explained while observing the mech squeezing his optics shut for a moment. "I have spent a good part of the night reading about rare frame types and managed to find some material about crests like yours, My Liege. Damaging them was always very dangerous for the Cybertronians. It usually caused chronic helm aches, troubles with hearing and sight due to the fact that neural lines of the antennae that form the crest are connected to optic and audial arrays."
"In other words any attempt of welding it back may turn me into a cripple." Megatron said calmly.
"I'm afraid so, My Liege. But I had the weld marks inside of your helmet filled clean so they won't aggravate your helm, you can wear it without it being welded. The fit is perfect so it should hold well enough." Knockout patted the helm gently. It was a piece of good metal work.
"I received it as a gift from my sire, he made it himself." Megatron stared at the helmet with unusual fondness. "I couldn't wear standard helmet because of my crest so he made it for me. It's much shallower than the standard issue miner's helmet but it sticks to my helm very good. The surgeon welded it in place just to be sure."
"That was very nice of him but I would rip his armour off for doing it. If his servo slipped he would cripple you right then and there, the welds were this close to much more sensitive parts of your helm." Knockout pinched the air to show what he meant. "Now, you can wear it any time you like but I suggest taking it off every now and then, it will do you plenty of good, My Liege. And now I will examine you just to be sure it is safe to release you to your quarters."
"Yes, I would appreciate being able to spend recharge cycle in my own berth."
"It's morning already, My Liege, you recharged here." Knockout exclaimed. "I believe the blow deregulated your chronometer. I will set it right after the examination."
"Morning!" Megatron vented sharply.
"Relax My Liege. You should rest for the rest of the day. Shockwave talked with the Autobots yesterday. The truce is intact, M.E.C.H. vanished but they will be interrogating their M.E.C.H prisoner and Shockwave requested one of ours officers to be present." Knockout began to scan the Decepticon leader. "They haven't said yes yet, but his argument was… well, logical. He also informed your… inamorata as he called her, about your state."
There was loud beeping of his scanner when Knockout mentioned June but instead of commenting the Medic only grinned lecherously. Then he took out a Cybertronian sized medical electric torch and professionally blinded his One True Lord and Master to see how his optics reacted to sharp light in order to exclude any permanent brain module damage.
"All looks well, My Liege. The scan came clean and your lenses are even and react well to light. I'd say that you're as good as possible after being hit in the helm." Knockout put his equipment back into his subspace and reached for Megatron's helmet. "But it would be good if you would avoid any taxing activities, no flying or transforming, just rest until tomorrow, My Liege." The Doctor gave the helmet to its owner.
"Fine, but I will give my instructions to Shockwave and Starscream first." Megatron grabbed his head gear and placed it in its place before he slowly rose from the medical berth.
"Of course My Liege." Knockout bowed when Megatron left his ward.
oOo
The Bridge.
Megatron entered the Bridge and as always all went quiet, except for Soundwave's steady typing at his console.
All optics centred on the Warmonger who swept the room with a crimson stare but said nothing. Every Decepticon was well aware that they probably thanked their continued existence to their Lord's orders and that Megatron himself got wounded while none of them was around.
Vehicons felt timid now in the presence of their One True Lord and Master. They witnessed him being carried away unconscious with his helmet blown off his helmet and energon sipping through few cracks in his facial plates. Not he stood there as if nothing ever happened. Many of the troopers felt for the very first time just how powerful their Leader truly was.
Starscream stood in his slightly hunched position behind the warship's steering console, turned partially to his Master. The Seeker himself had nothing to be ashamed of. He followed Megatron's direct order. And when all was said and done, he was the first to order search of his Master.
Soundwave wasn't disturbed at all by what happened. He knew Megatron back in Pits of Kaon; they both fought in the Gladiatorial Arena and were wounded more than once. Soundwave knew Megatron could take quite a blow and survive and he knew that his Leader was smart enough to know what he was doing. Soundwave trusted Megatron (and the trust was reciprocated) to be able to clear out of a danger one way or another.
Shockwave observed Megatron without any emotion. Orders were given, directions were followed and in the end Megatron lived, which meant that all was in working order.
But before the purple scientist could utter a single word, Megatron spoke. "Soundwave, contact me with Autobots."
Soundwave looked at the mech, nodded, quickly locked on the previously used frequency and transferred the transmission feed to the monitor wall of the bridge.
For few moments the image was blank, the connection had been established and now they waited for someone to actually answer the call. Something pinged, the window containing the video feed blinked brightly and formed the image of none else than Ratchet. It looked like the mech worked not only as a Medic, Science Officer and 'Bride Engineer but also a Secretary.
"What do you want?" Ratchet asked in his usual mood.
"Ah, Ratchet." Megatron sighed with fake fondness. "A Prime would work for me nicely."
"I am here Megatron." Optimus came into camera range. His finish looked freshly buffed and his optics shone with the mild yellow light of human made diodes. "What is that you need?"
"A talk, Optimus, a talk would be good for a start." Megatron allowed himself a slight smile despite his helm ache. "There are matters that require out attention."
"I am listening." The Prime said, the tone of his voice suggesting that he was preparing himself for a long and irritating exchange of hidden insults.
Megatron would have smirked if not for his aching cranium; he wasn't planning to trash talk to anyone. He honestly needed to talk.
"First of all, I wanted to tell you that the truce is still in power." The Decepticon Warmonger announced.
"For how long?" Ratchet interjected, incredulity audible in his voice.
"For as long as it will be required. We have declared this truce for a reason, it serves a purpose and this purpose hasn't been fulfilled yet, M.E.C.H. is still at large." Megatron said in a serious tone. "Besides, you are outnumbered and outgunned, I would think that you enjoyed being free of constant risk of engagement in combat with my soldiers?" He added with slight smirk.
"We managed until now." Optimus replied without taking the bait that Megatron threw him. He wasn't in a mood for any nonsensical argy – bargy with Megatron.
"A – hem. M.E.C.H." Ratchet cut in once again feeling that despite Optimus' best efforts this could end up in a rather juvenile bragging contest about who did what and caused bigger problems to the other side. Not to mention which side did more stupid things. And the Purple Griffin would surface at some point without a doubt.
"Yes. Indeed, M.E.C.H." Megatron's smirk dissolved instantly. "Have you managed to locate their hiding place?"
"No. There is no trace of them. Even if we would find their base, it will be deserted. They most likely moved to another place after we caught their soldier." Optimus said while observing Megatron's face. And it wasn't a happy face.
"And speaking of which, have you interrogated the soldier yet?"
"No, not yet. He is to be released from medical ward later today." The Prime said. He knew where the conversation was going.
"Good. I was informed that Shockwave requested presence of our delegate during the questioning." The Decepticon leader spoke in a confident voice.
"He did. And since we will have one of our own present, we decided to grant him his request." Optimus answered. "Agent Fowler put only one condition, that the Decepticon in question will not be Starscream."
"Yes, I would expect that." Megatron nodded. "Who will be present on your side?"
Optimus looked somewhere outside of the camera range, and Ratchet's voice could be heard from where the Medic must've stood. "Arcee should be free at the time of interrogation."
"Then it is only logical that I should be delegated on our side." Shockwave approached Megatron and walked into camera range. "For the exact same reasons that Starscream gave for the joined scouting missions."
Megatron turned slightly and gave his top scientist one long glare. It seemed strange that Shockwave volunteered for anything but his argument was, as always, logical to no end. And on top of everything, Shockwave would ask a few very logical questions too, which was always a bonus.
"Shockwave it is then." Megatron agreed. "We will also request a copy of interrogation record that I have no doubts that will be made."
"If it will be made I believe that Agent Fowler will order preparing a copy for you." The Prime nodded. He expected that, he also requested a copy for them and Agent Fowler had no problem with that. Optimus was ready to bet, if Primes would gamble, that the human already pre-ordered making two copies, the extra one for the Decepticons.
"Then all I have left to wish for is that the interrogation will be a fruitful one and that the human will be able to provide some valuable information about those who attacked me, my forces and my base." Megatron nodded and instantly regretted it as his helm ache intensified for a second.
"Speaking of which, what of New Kaon?" Optimus asked with something strange ringing in his voice. It could have been hope, or perhaps anxiety.
"It will be rebuilt of course." There was no hesitation in Megatron's own voice. "And we will start immediately."
"I see." Optimus was now thoughtful. "I expected that. We will call you when the time of interrogation will come."
"Do that." The Warlord spoke with full confidence. "We well speak again soon, Optimus. Until then, since the truce holds, be well."
With that Megatron terminated the link and turned back to Shockwave, Starscream and Soundwave. His three highest ranking officers stood quietly awaiting his command. Shockwave closer than the two others. And while both Starscream and Soundwave seemed rather bored, both Shockwave's winglets and antennae were up at sharp angles, making him look excited. Megatron decided not to dwell on the display; it could be caused by anything starting with the rebuild and the ending with the interrogation.
"Starscream, gather a team on miners, Vehicons and Insecticons and clear the area from the debris. Keep what is salvageable. Melt and re-use everything that will be too damaged." The Warmonger ordered to his SIC. "Shockwave, after the interrogation you will prepare plans for New Kaon's rebuilt. After you're done, present them to me for acceptation." He addressed his best scientist. "Soundwave, prepare a list of materials that will be required and proceed with acquiring them, Shockwave and Starscream will tell you what they need." He instructed his TIC and received a short nod of acknowledgment. "Shockwave, Starscream, you two will cooperate with the rebuilding of the tower. Shockwave, you're relieved from all your duties on board of Nemesis, you will focus your attention on the rebuilding process."
"Yes, My Liege." Shockwave bowed his head slightly. "Do you wish any improvements?"
"Yes, work on the energy distribution, make it more efficient." Megatron turned to one of the Vehicons standing on the lower deck of the bridge. "You, what's your designation?"
"It is I, My Liege, Gavin." The Vehicon replied cheerfully.
Megatron glared at him for a moment and then carefully not rolled his optics. "You will go to June Darby's dwelling place and bring her to me."
"Yes My Liege!" Gavin said with his voice clearly indicating that if he could, he would beam at his Master and hurried out.
Megatron stared after him and sighed a heavy vent. He was willing to bet that along the way Gavin will also have time to grab his current girlfriend and bring her on board for some quality time after his shift. Ever since Shockwave finished his Size Shifter Gavin was using it frequently claiming that the results made up more than enough for the inconveniences of its use. Megatron had to agree with his soldier.
The moment the Warmonger left the bridge he dialled June's mobile phone in hope that he will be able to contact her. The signal he received told him that the line was free and that he should be able to talk to the woman.
[[Megatron?]] The voice in his comm. link asked.
"Ah, hello my dear." Megatron grinned. This was the first time he had opportunity to contact his human femme like this. "I see that the link works well."
[[Yes. It does. Shockwave said that you'd be out of the infirmary today.]] June said and her voice sounded serious. [[I was worried, Ratchet told me what happened.]]
"I am fine." The mech replied. "One of my Vehicons will come for you; I believe you have afternoon shifts through this entire week?"
[[Yes.]]
"Splendid, it is early so we can spend some time together. Do not worry; you will make it to your work on time."
[[All right.]] June smiled and her voice became lighter. [[See you soon.]]
"Sooner than you think." Megatron grinned as well and ended the link.
oOo
An hour later. Area 51 military base.
The hangar was empty, dirty windows allowed some light but the inside was still dark. In the middle stood a simple table and three chairs. There was a simple desk lamp creating circle of yellowish light. Despite the summer temperatures of Nevada outside, the inside of the hangar was cool.
The door opened and four men entered. One was wearing a grey jumpsuit; his hands were cuffed in front of him. He was well built, tall with his muscles well developed. His movements were stiff due to his injuries and the bandages covering his torso, well visible under thin fabric of the jumpsuit and t-shirt underneath it.
The second man wore the dark uniform of Air Force officer, he carried a black leather briefcase and it was more than clear that he was a judge advocate from the JAG headquarters.
The two remaining men were soldiers. Both took their places on both sides of the first man, slightly behind him as he sat at the table, his front turned to the entrance. The JAG officer sat next to him and opened his briefcase to take out some documents.
The judge advocate barely finished organising his documents as the entire gate of the hangar opened. The prisoner didn't react but the JAG officer lifted his head and froze with his eyes wide.
Two gigantic robots and a man entered. As soon as the exotic trio entered fully the gate closed cutting the neat and light off, leaving the interior of the hangar in cool semidarkness once again.
The judge advocate rose immediately regaining his composure. He was a slim, dark skinned man with air of great dignity and calmness around him. The prisoner didn't move but he glanced at the newcomers. He wasn't surprised at all.
"Special Agent William Fowler." The man with the robots introduced himself as he sat. "I trust you were informed of all details of this case?" Special Agent asked and not waiting for any kind or reply continued. "This is Arcee, a delegate of the Autobots." He pointed at the shorter robot. "And this is Shockwave, a delegate of the Decepticons." He indicated the heavier and much taller one. "They will probably have question of their own." The man said, then he glanced at the shorter robot. "Or perhaps not…"
"Commander Turner, JAG." The judge advocate introduced himself. 1] "Yes, I was informed of everything, signed all the documents and was repeatedly discouraged about talking of any of this with anyone, including my colleagues from the JAG, by means of variety of physical harms, including 'disappearing and re-appearing as headless corpse'."
"I see you spoke to General Brice." Fowler nodded. "And as you are familiar with the case, we may begin."
"Before we will." Commander Turner spoke in his usual low voice. "I am curious. Why there's no prosecutor with us? This is all very odd. Lt. Col. Weaver is accused of being member of a terrorist group known as M.E.C.H. but he wasn't sent to Guantanamo, instead he was given legal aid without any formal accusation."
"I was about to explain that." Fowler sighed. "You read all about M.E.C.H. that we ourselves know and you are familiar with everything they did that we know of. Lt. Col. Weaver here, also known as Ripley, was involved with illegal actions that included our extra-terrestrial friends, which complicates everything as we can't publicly accuse him of everything he'd done because the majority of his actions involved our robotic allies and enemies. At least lately. And if we'll accuse him of only non-confidential crimes, then he'll get maybe 10 years and degradation, which is absurd and won't happen."
"If he's not accused of anything, then why I am here?"
"Because if he will continue to not be accused of anything he will end up at Gitmo and rot there." Fowler answered. "Or we can accuse him of something and then you're his lawyer. But what he will be accused of depends on him and his willingness to spill out what he knows of M.E.C.H. and its plans." The Special Agent leaned back in his chair with a slight smirk. "Now, if it was just for him, I would enjoy dragging him to the first plane that would get him to the Camp Delta and forget about the whole deal. Unfortunately we need information, so we are willing to spare him Gitmo and have him some phony accusations so he can spend his time in some decent military prison and not as terrorist."
"That's your deal?" The JAG officer asked in disbelief. "You're telling me that my client will end up in prison if he will cooperate or end up in prison if he won't?"
"No, I'm telling you that I will personally drag his sorry ass to Camp Delta, lock him up with all the supposedly Al-Qaeda goons and throw away the key if he won't talk." Fowler leaned forward. "Or I will sent for prosecutor, give him some phony evidence and let him accuse our Ripley here for some non-terrorist crimes so he can have a cell, a cellmate, medical care and normal food. And his family will be able to see him. And just so it would be clear. What he will be accused of depends on what he will tell us."
The judge advocate narrowed his eyes, then opened his files and read something. Then he glared at both Cybertronians and finally at his client.
"And your leaders?" He addressed both Arcee and Shockwave. "What is their stance in this?"
"We agree to whatever deal Agent Fowler will strike." Arcee said while focusing her optics on the judge advocate for the very first time.
The man noticed that the smaller robot had a strong, feminine voice and only then he realised that it had to be a woman of the species. She, now he was almost sure of that, had curved shapes, delicate built and even pink elements on her armour.
"And you?" The man asked the other robot. This one also had ample chest so it also could be a female, on the other hand, this one wasn't very womanly in his general look.
"Logic dictates that spearing this one punishment he deserves is worthy of information he holds." Shockwave spoke quietly. He didn't have to shout. "The reward being adequate to his cooperation is agreeable."
The JAG officer nodded to the male robot. He read about M.E.C.H and their actions, though their soldiers wore masks so it was impossible to tell which one took active part in which action.
"And what is your decision?" Commander Turner asked his client who until now only stared at the table top. "I would suggest cooperation, but it is your call if you want to remain loyal to your group."
"I don't want to go to Camp Delta." The man finally spoke. His voice was calm but there was a note of plea in it. He clearly knew where he stood. "I don't want to go to GTMO."
"Then you know what you have to do, soldier." Fowler nodded to one of the soldiers, who disappeared in the darkness only to return with small digital camera.
"Before that happens." Commander Turner cut in. "What will you accuse my client of after he tells you what he knows?"
"Depending on how useful his testimony will be and how much of what he will tell will be the truth, and I want you to know that Shockwave is walking lie detector, it can be desertion with additional charges or treason with arm dealership." Fowler reached for the camera and set it so it would record only Ripley. "The additional charges are to be settled between you and me, and our delegates."
"I understand." The judge advocate nodded and turned to Ripley. "I suggest you speak all you know."
The man nodded and Fowler set the camera for recording. Ripley lifted his steel grey eyes and stared at some point behind the camera.
"My name is Sydney Weaver, born January 15th 1969 in Kokomo, Indiana…" He started to speak.
oOo
DBS Nemesis. Megatron's quarters.
Megatron was reclining in his chair with both pedes on his desk. His helmet was set on the desk top while his crest spread revealing the rich, deep red of his original enamelled parts that now were painted deep purple. The yellow-gold ornaments on his crest's fin-like antennae meandered in gentle arches.
On the knee cover sat June with wide grin. "Well, I never thought I would have a chance to see you without your helmet." She said unable to contain her amusement. "You said yourself that you couldn't take it off anymore. And here you are, with your helmet off."
"It was welded." Megatron answered in a much more serious tone. "And it would still be if I would not be hit in my helm. The force ripped it clean of."
"Good thing you can't remember that." The Nurse replied. "It had to hurt."
"If it did I can't remember." This time he smiled slightly.
June laughed and contemplated his face once again. Megatron had narrow, slim face with his jaw being slightly square and his cheek struts high, all of this making his face look more delicate that one could expect. His optics were large and lack of helmet only showed how large they were. Sis opticbrows didn't change that one bit, they only rested closer to his cranium and their shape fitted well with the crest.
The crest itself spread wide around his head, its angle making it look aerodynamic, the ornamentation only caused it to look more delicate.
"So, do you like what you see?" The Warmonger asked noting how June observed his antennae array. At first he felt rather self-conscious, no femme ever saw him without his helmet. Apart from his carrier but she didn't count as she was his, well, carrier. He took his helmet off and June grinned asking about his antennae. He wasn't sure if she would like it but he explained and allowed his crest to open. Then they began to talk about his helm.
"I love it, it looks to royal. Like a crown." She said. "So, you told me that it was very sensitive, right?"
"Yes, that's why I wore helm in the first place."
"So… What would happen if I would just…"
She never finished her sentence as the door to Megatron's quarters opened and spooked out Starscream ran in. His wings lowered down and closed up tightly behind his back, covering his turbine. Megatron instantly closed his crest and turned to his SIC with angry snarl on his face as he reached for June to place her on the desk when he would lower his legs to the floor. Megatron wanted to drag his SIC out by his head and throw him to the brig for entering without permission (and then bang his own helm on the nearest wall for not locking the door) but he stopped seeing the state the Seeker was in.
"Master, master!" Starscream fell on one knee, his wings unmoving and even slightly trembling. "We were digging in the debris! We wanted to secure vault first because of all the contents."
"And?" Megatron narrowed his optics; lack of helmet did little to make him look less intimidating to his second. "What's all the fuss?"
"The Insecticon Stasis Pod. It was destroyed." Starscream raised his optics to give Megatron a panicked glare. "At first we thought it was because of the destruction of the tower, we thought it was crushed by the caved in wall. But there was no body inside. Not even mangled remains, only a few drops of energon."
Megatron optics grew wide. He looked back at June.
"Megatron?" She asked seeing his expression. "Of what stasis pod he is talking about?"
"The one that we managed to salvage from remains of Autobot Base." He said and saw how June's face turned pale. "The one that contained Arachnid."
June face began to turn pale grey and she fell on her knees while she covered her mouth.
"The falling walls had to damage the pod." Starscream said reclaiming Megatron's attention. "It terminated the stasis but we think it didn't open. Arachnid had to punch her way out and then crawled out of the vault. It couldn't be very hard for her. She is rather small and lean, she could fit into most crevices and opening and find her way out. She had entire night to do it."
"Have you managed to learn where she went?" Megatron asked.
"No. Her injury or injuries had to be minimal, most likely effect of her freeing herself." Starscream straightened himself slightly while remained kneeled. "After that she had to fly away, and she wasn't near the place when we reached it."
"What makes you think so?"
"Insecticons, Master, she origins from the Underground just like them. She has the ability to create telepathic network with her as the central unit and them as peripheral ones, forcing them into submission." Starscream explained. "You certainly experienced that when she attacked Nemesis. If she was in proximity she could take over the Bugs that were in our group."
"If I am correct she is able to remotely control them from far distances." Megatron turned back and sat on his chair. "And you may rise."
"She is, Master." Starscream rose but he was still startled. "But we believe that she requires direct proximity to initiate the link. At least Soundwave thinks so and he's telepath himself… Wherever his ability came from anyway…"
"All symbiont carriers are telepaths to some degree, some more powerful than others and Soundwave due to his origin is one of the most powerful." Megatron explained.
"Regardless, I don't think she knows where we are. We weren't above New Kaon at night so she doesn't know where we are." Starscream started to slowly pace around the room. "If she knew, she would come and took over our Insecticons."
June observed both mechs silently. Both looked like they've done it before. She suddenly realised that they probably often held debates and brain storms like this. Megatron would probably often sit or stood in place and Starscream paced while thinking. He seemed like the type that rarely could sit still.
"Then we must not allow her to find us." Megatron crooked his head slightly. "And hunt her down at the same time."
"Rather we should not allow her to find our Insecticons." Starscream stopped his pacing; his wings were now slightly higher and more relaxed. "Or any Insecticons at all." The Seeker's optics grew even larger than Megatron's could ever. "Do you imagine what will happen if she will lay her spidery servos on some Insecticons? Master."
"As a matter of fact I do." Megatron rolled his optics at antics of his second in command, who now had his wings clasped together again.
"When I encountered her she only had one and I barely escaped with my Spark! What will happen if she will have a hive?"
"She will attack. She will have her Insecticons fly to the Nemesis and attack." Megatron said in bored tone of someone who was attacked by Insecticon hordes weekly. "She already did that once. She lost her grip on them and the attack ended."
"It was when Arcee locked her in that pod." June said and both mechs looked at her.
Starscream blinked once as he recalled that the woman was there. Normally he would say something insulting but with Megatron around and June being who she was he didn't dare. Not even his dislike of humans intensified by his experience with M.E.C.H. and Silas was able to overcome his dislike of being beaten into scrap metal by his Master.
"Arcee, how predictable." The Seeker grumbled instead, focusing all his distaste on both femmes. "Eighth legers and two wheelers, two wheelers and eight legers! If I was to toss a Shanix coin I would hit an eight leger or a two wheeler. And none of them would give it back!"
"That would explain how she lost her control over the swarm." Megatron ignored his SIC's rant. "Though I still have no idea where she found Insecticons on this planet."
"Optimus and Ratchet often spoke that Cybertronians came to Earth often in the past." June shrugged. "They said that you guys even battled here. Maybe Insecticons came on one of your ships?"
"That's the most probable explanation. I wouldn't be surprised if they came on board of the Harbinger. The crew probably used their emergency pods to escape the falling ship while ordered Insecticons to take their pods and find a safe place to wait." Megatron shrugged. "It was common procedure for the Insecticons to lock themselves in their pods in order to wait for rescue."
"I don't know if I should tell you this, but Arcee said that there were at least one third of the pods unlocked when she fought with Airachnid." June spoke hesitantly. "Airachnid surely knows where she found her Insecticons, wouldn't she go there?"
"I do not suppose you could tell us where it was?" Starscream stopped his mumbling about how he despised spider formers and bike formers.
"No, Autobots never said and I had no reason to ask." June smiled. "Beside I'm sure I wouldn't be allowed to tell you this."
"No, you probably wouldn't. Instead I would have to contact Optimus, which I will be forced to do now." Megatron smirked.
"But why did the pods remain closed?" Starscream pondered. "Did she leave herself some back up force?"
"Possibly. Or the pods that didn't open held dead Insecticons." Megatron reached for his helmet. "If they wouldn't survive the period of hibernation due to various reasons pods would hold them until a medic would manually overrode the lock in order for medical examination and to determine cause of death." The Warlord explained. "It's in the Tyrest Accord, medical regulation section, diseases and contamination sub-section, epidemic control and prevention paragraph, unexplained demise during stasis passage. For details you'd have to ask Knockout."
"Optimus sometimes spoke of Tyres Accord, but I never thought you had it memorised." June said in awe. "The document must be massive."
"It is. And I had to memorise it before I signed it. So did Optimus, Ultra Magnus, all members of Autobot high command and Impactor along with every Wrecker officer." Megatron rose to his pedes. "On our side it's every member of Conclave and Decepticon Justice Division."
"My helm still aches at the very thought of it." Starscream winced.
"In any case, I must contact Prime about it. He should know that Arachnid is on the loose." Megatron offered June his servo which she accepted and climbed on it. "And from now on, there will be at least one of my Vehicons in the direct proximity of you." The mech decided.
"But I work at a military base." June said. "Surely Arachnid won't attack there."
"I will take no chances and you won't be staying there permanently. You said it yourself that soon you will move to a new place, outside of the military base." The Decepticon Lord opened the door and allowed Starscream to leave first before he walked out himself and closed the door. "I will dispatch a grounder to guard you while you're in the hospital, home or anywhere outside of the Autobot base, the Nemesis, or New Kaon when it's rebuilt. He will also drive you around posing as your car."
"Isn't that overkill?" June didn't like the idea of being dependent on anyone.
"Jack has Arcee but you are unprotected." Megatron spoke calmly. "I realize that it may be inconvenient for you, so when Arachnid will be dealt with you will be free to return to your previous habits."
"Optimus won't like this."
"I am sure that he will agree with me on this." Megatron glanced at the woman in his hand. "Arachnid may want to hunt you down. She already wanted to kill you once and she will perceive you as a means to reach Jack and Arcee. You need to be protected."
June only sighed; she knew that Megatron was right. She feared Arachnid, she still remembered how the webs felt against her body and how her voice sounded when she addressed Jack.
oOo
The Area 51. Interrogation hangar.
Ripley stared at the table as his voice filled the otherwise silent hangar. "And it was in the Germany, the West Germany, when I met Silas… Leland Bishop. He was seven years older than me, just promoted to lieutenant while I was freshly made a corporal… Man, that was a crazy time, the late '80's. Everyone was scared of what will happen because of the Iron Curtain and all of that. It was 1988 when I was transferred to Rammsteinin Germany and he was in Europe for some time already, he even had a British wife and a five year old daughter. The first year went just like that; people did wild things because eyes of every big fish were directed at the East. You recall 'Buffalo Soldiers', you know, the movie? It happens in the very same base at the very same time, and you know what? Some of the thing we did, they did as well, in the movie. We didn't cook any drugs or traded military equipment on the black market but we did some things that anywhere else and at any different time we would end up disciplinary discharged. If we were lucky.
Do you remember that scene where a tank drives around? We did that. We took a tank and drove it out to pick up some girls. And we did, we picked up girls. We drove them around, wanted to impress them and it worked, they were impressed. We held illegal fights, betting pools were high. But then 1989 came and everyone was tensed. No, not because someone learned of our stunts. Even if they knew they just let it slip because some people taught it would end badly. You see, it was before the Wall came down, we didn't thought the Iron Curtain would fall that easily.
In 1989 things were hot not because of Berlin or East Germany. It was Poland. You know, their Solidarity, I don't think I will ever forget the name, they talked with the communist government and they stroke a deal. They called it Round Table, and it really was round. Who would've known? Only few years before they had martial law and curb hour and all that. And then suddenly their illegal at the time opposition forced the big fished to talk. Thing seemed fishy because how come government that answered to Moscow could agree to that? So everyone acted as their chairs were rigged with dynamite. And then Polish government agreed to have semi-democratic election. They actually said yes to that. No one believed they would live to their word but they did. It was spring, first days of June if I remember right. They were voting, and we were having shifty butts because no one knew what will happen if the opposition will win. Not really win because they would still be minority but they have some seats guaranteed if they would win.
And it happened. They won. And on our side we were ready for anything because everyone expected the communists to act. Some people expected a war, there were voices telling that Moscow would intervene, other said that they would force communists in Poland to act and that it would end up in massacre.
That was when M.E.C.H. was born. In Rammstein. Bishop said that we wouldn't have to fear any of that if there would be something to scare the bad guys with, but not the nuclear warheads. He said that there's little point in waving around with the nuclear bomb when the enemy has their own bomb to answer with. He said that we needed something that only we would have and that could be used precisely. He said that we should have something like Damocles'' Sword that we could hang over communists heads. It was then that he gathered those who agreed with him, I remember the excitement, we were to change the world…"
oOo
Area 51. Temporary Autobot Base.
The communication console gave a pleasant ping signalling an incoming connection. Optimus gave Ratchet a surprised stare and answered. To his utter surprise it was Megatron. They didn't expect the Decepticon to call them after their previous talk, what was even stranger that Megatron seemed worried and he held June in his hand.
"Optimus, it is an emergency." He spoke without any preamble. "We were holding some items retrieved from your old base. Among them was an Insecticon Stasis Pod with a prisoner inside."
"Arachnid." The Prime spoke with forced calmness.
"Arachnid indeed." Megatron nodded. "Starscream just discovered that when the tower collapsed the walls of the vault that she was held in caved in damaging the pod. The stasis had to be terminated because Arachnid clearly survived and managed to free herself. Currently she is on the loose."
"I will inform my team and Agent Fowler." Optimus' opticbrows furrowed, this was bad news. "Can you anticipate her next moves? Have you taken any precautions?"
"My guess is that she will try to obtain some Insecticons. She may try to re-capture those that are now under my command or find others." Megatron omitted the information that June gave him. "If there was one hive on Earth, there may be others as well."
"Not all pods were opened when Arachnid woke the Insecticons." Optimus informed his adversary. "We never examined them, some of them are certainly dead, but some of them may be alive still."
"It may be so but I cannon check it myself. Regardless to Arachnid's next actions I decided to assign a Vehicon for June to protect her in case my former interrogator would decide to come out and attack. He will accompany her every time she will be out of your base or my ship."
"Good call. We will examine the cave Arachnid found her Insecticons in." The Prime offered. "Do you wish to send your own team to accompany us?"
"I will send Soundwave and Knockout."
"We will meet on the spot I am transmitting you coordinates." Optimus sent short data pack.
"Receiving them." Megatron saved the transmitted data. "We will speak again soon."
The call was cut and Optimus called his team. They needed to know and he wanted to gather them for the cave examination.
"I will prepare my scanner." Ratchet offered. "Though I don't like the idea of Knockout or Soundwave there with us. Nor Megatron knowing the spot."
"I doubt there will be anything for Megatron to gather from there. If Arachnid went there, she's gone by now and brought any living Insecticons with her. If she wasn't there then the Insecticons are probably dead and thus of no use to Megatron."
"Hmm. I still don't like it." Ratchet started to pack his mid-kit.
oOo
Area 51, interrogation hangar.
Ripley smiled bitterly and looked at the Special Agent and then at the two Cybertronians to finally rest his eyes on the camera.
"And you know what? It's so depressing. We had everything. We had phony papers, passports of two dozens of countries. In every country we were someone else, we had all we wanted. We travelled to fun places, did everything we so pleased. The only rule was not to get in too much of trouble. God, it was life! Did you know that Russia was such a fun place? Not every part, but Moscow or other large city. And Japan. China even. We were to Philippines couple of times. Southern America. We were at the Carnival and I'm telling you its heaven, all the women covered in some glitter and couple of feathers. And Mardi Gras in New Orleans. I threw beads to pretty girls.
Now it's all over. It's over. Just over. What I did get in the end? Burned back. That's all I have now. The dream about changing the world? There's no dream anymore, there's no changing the world anymore. Silia won't be changing anything. She won't win; she doesn't have the vision Silas had. She will only change M.E.C.H. into some crime syndicate. At best she will pull some strings from shadows. Silas wanted to establish new world order; Silia wants to tell everyone what to do. That and she want revenge but you already know that.
I will miss the old life. The adventure. The adrenaline. The rush of blood when you're in action, when you can feel every second passing by.
That's the hardest part. To know that your old life is over and nothing will be the same again. It was over twenty years of my life you know. Over twenty years. It's more than half of my life! Now it's just gone. Like it was never there."
The End
1] I just couldn't resist. For those who didn't catch it: Commander Peter Ulysses "Sturgis" Turner of the JAG, from the TV series. I needed to use a military advocate, and in the USA it's the JAG Corps job to defend and accuse any soldier in active duty. Thus I needed a judge advocate and decided to go JAG (the TV series).
Ripley's testimony was inspired by Henry's testimony in Martin Scorsese's 'Goodfellas'.
Now, I was top write a Stargate Atlantis Fic (as promised at the end of BotB) but it is cancelled, I think that what was showed in my comic is enough about the subject. I don't want to ruin the feel of that.
This fic will be continued of course, but between this and the next long plot there will be few short stories, one shots and such just for fun and comic relief. There will be a Miko and Bumblebee centered fic. One June and Megatron and one Arcee and Shockwave (it may have two or three chapters because their romance is only developing). There may be a fic showing Starscream's struggles during New Kaon's rebuilt but I haven't decided yet. Also I am tempted to write something of Silent Hill (the movie, not game) with Pyramid Head as the main character.
Oh, and the poll. I was contacted by people about June and Megatron having a baby. Some of you want it and some of you hate the idea. So, as they say: Vox Populi – Vox Dei! I will let you decide. But be warned/rest assured – if you will grant them an offspring, it will be far from a banal "we have a baby, yay" situation. So, you may use the poll on my profile page or contact me directly if for some reason you can't use the poll, just please don't cheat by taking the poll and sending me a PM, or PMing me anonymously a couple of time.
And in the end – Thank you all for faving, for watching, for following and for commenting and reviewing (depending on where you found this). You guys are great.
See you soon in another fic. 3