Authors Note- Here I am back again with yet another update to Victims Of Fate. As you can gather by now I only own Joyride, Lunatic, Killshot, and Vortex. As well as one other OC which won't appear for a while. And as you can gather I don't own Transformers I am merely borrowing them for my own amusement. Now that we got that out of the way here is chapter four. I hope you enjoy.


Chapter Four: The Decepticons

The little Neutral scum had managed to slip from their fingers. Killshot thought, a dark look on his face plate as Lunatic helped him to his feet, before the grey and yellow Autobot shook him off. Anger swelling in his chest, as his optics scanned the area, denta gritted. Never before had his prey managed to escape him, sure, some had tried to escape, of course but they always failed.

But this one... This one had been extremely lucky. If it hadn't been for those Decepti-scum that Neutral would have been on his way to the Autobots by now. In one piece? Well, Killshot couldn't guarantee that no matter what he was dealing with, but as long as his prey was alive that was all that mattered to Lord Prime and those under him.

Speaking of Lord Prime, his optics settled on the prone form of Bumblebee. Casting Lunatic a look before jerking his head in Bumblebee's direction. The duo moving to help the scout up. Bumblebee's optics flickered as he looked up at them, before shrugging them off.

"You okay?" Lunatic asked.

Killshot glanced at his partner, Lunatic had always been the type to care about his comrades. Shaking his head Killshot looked to Bumblebee.

"I've been worst." Bumblebee said, optics narrowed as he looked from Lunatic to Killshot, then back to Lunatic.

Silence seemed to permeate the area, when Lunatic finally sighed. "I suppose we failed to capture the Neutral. So, I guess we should call it a day?"

As Lunatic asked this Bumblebee took a moment to look around the area, his optics lighting up when he spotted Raf sitting off to the side of the road they had been driving down then they had first stumbled across the trio. The boy, to no surprise to Bumblebee had remained nearby by during the excitement. Thanks, no doubt to the control chip in his cute little brain.

Crouching down Bumblebee held out his hand to the boy, and Raf obediently climbed into his hand. "Good boy." He whispered to the human, before addressing the other two once more. "We should report back to base," he said, optics still scanning the area. "Lord Prime will be expecting us."

Saying nothing more, Bumblebee transformed and began to drive off, only to stop in his tracks when he peered in his rearview mirror, and saw that they were not following him. Great, Bumblebee thought darkly as he reversed.

"Let me guess." He sighed, as he transformed once more. "Neither of you have vehicle modes." In all honesty Bumblebee should have foreseen this. After all, these two had just arrived on Earth only a few short hours ago.

Shaking their heads, Bumblebee suppressed the urge to sigh. "Fine." He said. "Just follow me." Placing Raf on his shoulder, and began to lead the two towards the Autobot base.

It was going to be a long walk.


Meanwhile, deep in the darkened depths of the Decepticon base. Megatron sat alone in his personal quarters. Dim red optics staring at the opposite wall. Megatron knew he should try and get some sleep as Knock Out had prescribed him. But that, Megatron thought as he got to his feet, and began to pace around his room, was easier said than done.

After all, how could he even think of sleeping when Starscream, his loyal Second In Command, was in the clutches of those devious Autobots? Megatron let out a low, animalistic growl as he remembered the day that Soundwave had delivered the news that he had lost Starscream's signal. After that Soundwave had managed to hack into one of the Autobots own cameras. That told them all they needed to know.

It had shown Megatron that Starscream had walked into a trap set up by the Autobots. Megatron remembered his fuel pump skipping a beat as he and the others watched as Starscream put up a fight against the Autobots many vehicon slaves. But he was still no match, as the seeker was soon overwhelmed. Despair gripped Megatron's chest in a vice grip as he watched as one of his dearest friends was carried away kicking and screaming by the enemy.

And though he had assured the others, and himself time and time again that Starsscream would be fine, and that they would find away to break him out of there Megatron knew that wasn't true. He knew full well how cruel his old friend Optimus Prime could be. And knowing him he would no doubt have his medic Ratchet taking care of Starscream.

A sick feeling had settled in the pit of Megatron's tank, he, like every other Decepticon, had heard the stories of mad Doctor Ratchet. Prime's oldest friend. If anyone could call Optimus a friend. Megatron himself had witnessed the horror of Ratchet's experiments, had seen the bodies. Many called Ratchet a medic, but he would call him monster. Someone who reveled in the pain and misery of others. Not like any of the others serving under Optimus Prime were any better.

Giving his head a shake Megatron pushed those thoughts from his head. No, he thought as he moved towards the door, and stepped out. I mustn't think such things. Starscream is going to be fine, if I know my old friend that crafty little seeker is already thinking up a plan to escape. He thought, frown deepening. That brought forth another question, how would they get him out? How would they get in? The Autobot base wasn't only hard to find, but according to the stories it was damn near impossible to infiltrate. The place was heavily guarded, and he had on more than one occasion lost a good soldier or several the last time they tried to infiltrate the base.

And of course any spies Megatron had sent there were never heard from again. Makeshift being the last one to try and infiltrate said base months ago. And no one has heard from him since. But if Megatron was one thing it was determined, and he had promised himself that he would get his friend back by any means necessary. After all, Megatron mused as he walked down the hall, hand on his chin, clearly lost in thought, Starscream had more than once saved Megatron's sorry hide time and time again over the years. So, he owed it to the seeker.

"You should be resting." A stern voice spoke up, startling Megatron from his thoughts.

The Decepticon leader looked up as Knock Out emerged from the shadows, arms crossed over his chest plate. Knock Out chuckled, a faint smile on his face plate as he walked up to Megatron.

"You should be a little more attentive, Lord Megatron. I could have been an Autobot assassin." Knock Out said.

"True," Megatron said. "But I'm not one to fall so easily. After all, more than one assassin has found that out the hard way." Megatron said. A frown forming on his face plate, optics narrowing slightly. "And how many times must I tell you to never call me Lord Megatron. Unlike Optimus I have no use for titles. Especially pretentious ones like that."

Knock Out chuckled. "I do apologize, Megatron." He said.

"Was there something you required?" Megatron asked, as the silence fell over the two, Knock Out moving to walk beside his leader.

Shaking his head Knock Out sighed. "No, I'm just well...I'm just worried as well...I guess..." He said, a faraway look in his optics. "I just never thought Screamer of all 'Cons would have gotten nabbed by the 'Bots, let alone fall into one of their traps." He told Megatron.

Megatron looked to Knock Out before looking away. "The Autobots are crafty." He told him as they continued to walk, until they finally reached the command room. Where the ever silent Soundwave was typing nonstop at the controls.

The Comms officer looked up as they stepped into the room. Megatron's optics holding an unspoken question in which Soundwave only shook his head before turning back to the console. Then perhaps Starscream is a lost cause? A voice whispered in the back of Megatron's mind, one Megatron quickly pushed away.

No, he thought harshly. We will get Starscream back no matter what. His optics narrowing as he peered up at the bank of screens, his optics settling on one when he caught movement in the screen. Moving closer his optics widened when he saw the warp gate open before looking to Soundwave.

"Dreadwing and Vortex?" He inquired in which Soundwave nodded.

Relief washed over both Megatron and Knock Out. Ever since he had sent Dreadwing and Vortex out he hadn't heard a word from either of them. And in all honesty, given how things were going as of late? Megatron had assumed the worst. Something he was now kicking himself for, he knew he should have more faith in his men. Megatron watched as Dreadwing limped through the portal, being supported by an equally damaged Vortex.

Releasing the breath he hadn't realized he had been holding Megatron turned away from the bank of monitors, and moved to greet the duo. Perhaps they would have some information for them.


Today, Vortex mused, as pain lanced through various parts of his chassis, had not been a good day. It seemed to start out fine, things had seemed quiet, peaceful even. Then it all seemed to go downhill when Dreadwing had caught sight of Bumblebee and that crashed ship with the Neutral in it. Followed by those hunters. And from there on out things just seemed to hit the fan. And when it did Vortex froze.

All of his confidence draining out of him when the blaster fire started, and he just froze. And though he and Dreadwing had made it out alive they were far from unscathed. As Dreadwing continued to glare at him as Vortex kept his gaze fixed on his feet as they made it through the ground bridge and back into base. And as they did so they were not only greeted by Skyquake but Megatron and Knock Out had also arrived.

Vortex watched as Knock Out rushed to Dreadwing's side along with Skyquake. Megatron's optics fixing on Vortex. And though Vortex knew he had nothing to fear from the leader of the Decepticon's he still flinched back as Megatron approached him, hand resting on his shoulder.

"Tell me," Megatron said, guiding the young Decepticon along as they followed the others to the med bay. "Tell me everything that happened out there."

Swallowing thickly Vortex met his leaders gentle gaze, and told him everything.


Meanwhile, in the darkened depths of the Autobot base in one of the bases many cells, a lone silver seeker lay on a tattered and dirty cot. Red optics staring up at the ceiling. His hands were bound in front of him, and the ruined remains of his wings were restrained behind him. Not that it would have really mattered with the state they were in there would be no way for him to fly out of here if he could.

And as a extra precaution Lord Prime had ordered that butcher Ratchet to remove his T-Cog. Starscream let out a groan as he tried to move onto his side. Pain lancing through him as he did so. Those Autobots had really done a number on him when they had captured him. Not that Starscream didn't put up a fight of his own. And as he thought back to that time he wondered just how was Arcee dealing with her own injuries, or even Wheeljack?

Starscream knew how most Autobots felt about Ratchet, and there was a good chance they either decided to suffer with their injuries. Or had opted to fix themselves. Though Starscream wondered if those rumors about how Autobots who failed one mission too many had often ended up as science experiments for the doctor were true. Or if this was just some rumor someone had spread to make the old medic seem far more sinister than he was.

But something told Starscream that was not the case, in his short time Starscream had spent in the medics presence he had seen proof that those rumors were true. Including the one about his love of causing his patients pain. That one had been proven true when Optimus had ordered Ratchet to patch Starscream up in order to prevent the seeker from dying on them before anyone got a chance to interrogate him.

How fortunate for him. Rolling onto his uninjured side Starscream jerked his head up when he heard the door to his cell unlock. And who could be visiting me now? Starscream thought, as he sat up with some difficulty. Narrowed gaze fixed on the heavy metal door. The only one who had bothered to visit him was Ratchet to take care of his wounds. If he could call his shoddy work fixing. After all, the only reason Optimus was making the 'good' doctor check up on his constantly was to make sure Starscream didn't die before they could get any information from him.

Aside from Ratchet, Ultra Magnus' dogs were the only others to drag him or any other prisoner to the interrogation rooms. Though by now, Starscream was certain that he was the only prisoner now. Not since Makeshift had somehow infiltrated the base in hopes of breaking him out. Only to end up getting caught himself. Starscream feared the worst when it came to his fellow Decepticon, he hadn't heard anything since Makeshift was dragged off. And it had been days since the screams had stopped, leaving Starscream alone once more.

However, before he could dwell on that train of thought for much longer the door swung open. Bright light spilled into the darkened room, Starscream blinked a few times, holding his bound hands in front of him as a silhouette stood in the door way.

As his optics adjusted Starscream let out a gasp at who stood in the doorway. Someone he never thought he would see, hoped he wouldn't see. Lord Optimus Prime himself...


Weeks had passed since Joyride had somehow managed to escape the Autobots. And since then the Neutral had been trying to make head or tails of this strange new world he had crash landed on. And in those short few weeks he had been here, he had discovered that this planet. If you could still call it one, as it was obvious to Joyride as he walked down the streets of what might have been a city. That the Autobots had claimed this planet as their own, as he looked up at burned out husks of grand buildings stood on either side of him.

Strange vehicles lay to waste on the road he traversed, after all who else would be responsible for so much destruction? Another indication that it was the Autobots had done this? Joyride looked up. Painted on one of the ruined building was the all too familiar, all too hated Autobot symbol. Joyride recalled seeing it back on Cybertron seeing it plastered on buildings there too. Normally after an attack on any resistance that dare defy the Autobots.

Had the natives of this planet tried to rise up against their attackers? And if so were there any left? Joyride sincerely doubted it. Back on Cybertron there had hardly been any survivors left, be it Decepticon or Neutral. So, he had a pretty good idea as he lurked in the shadows of one of the crumbling buildings. That whoever called this planet home were long gone. Creatures, from what little information he had uncovered had been called humans, and the planet he was one was called Earth.

Joyride sighed sadly, and he sunk down to the ground, arms crossed over his chest. They were yet more victims of Lord Prime's tyranny. How many more planets would suffer before he was finally satisfied? Joyride pondered this. And more to the point what would happen to him now? His ship was ruined, he could no longer go home, and now he was roaming around this ruined planet swarming with Autobot forces. Hearing foot steps Joyride gasped as he ducked behind the building.

Peering out he saw several vehicons coming from around the corner. More of Prime's forces. Joyride thought as he glared at the faceless foot soldiers. Obviously they had been sent to track down any survivors, and to bring them back to the Autobot base. Joyride continued to watch as they searched around, lifting up the charred husks of the vehicles, before dropping them unceremoniously back down. When suddenly one of the called out, causing the others to turn around. As the first Vehicon moved to join them. Clutched tightly in its hands were two struggling humans.

Joyride blinked as he looked at them. Those are the inhabitants of this planet? They're tiny and they look fragile they have no protective coverings. He thought as the two humans continued to struggle and yell at the vehicon that held them.

"Look at what I found." The one that held them said, as the two other vehicons chuckled. "Two more bodies for the camps." The first one continued, as he handed them off to another vehicon, and transformed. Allowing the two humans to be loaded into him before the humans captives could utter a word. Not saying anything more the vehicons drove off, leaving Joyride alone.

Camps? Joyride blinked, as he watched as they disappeared down the road they had come from. What cruel fate do the humans of this planet have to suffer at the hands of the Autobots? He thought. However, before Joyride could dwell on that train of thought for much longer his audios picked up a faint noise and slowly turned around. At first Joyride saw nothing until he finally looked down, blinking a few times when he came face to face with a lone human...


Authors Note- And at last here is chapter four. I think I spent the better part of last night and today working on this story. Sorry it seems kind of meh, but despite that I hoped you like it. And I have nothing to say other than this is The Exhausted Writer signing off. Have a good day!