"Yeah, but I'm not overprotective!" The two-wheeled reasoned. Bulkhead shrugged. He had become mostly mute as of late. He looked at the scanner with a frown. The magnetic field was close by, apparently anyway. He looked up, wincing as he stared into the horizon, the sun was glaring into his optics. He scanned the horizon, nope, nothing, nadda and more nothing. There were no visible signs of the field, no floating metal or things being sucked in a certain direction. He groaned, this could be so much better. They could have landed closer or driven to it. Bulkhead had begun to hate and dread missions. There was just something exhausting about them now, tiring and dreadful. He had no idea why, maybe it was the lack of his usual companion… His spark stiffened and turned cold. He touched his chest. Miko… She would love to go on missions, take point and listen to music as they walked. The last mission she went on was the one at the energon mine. He remembered how dreadful that went.
Then when she got that glass in her arm. He subconsciously cursed Megatron. It was his fault, Megatron's fault, he had taken Miko… Trapping her in that cage and he crushed the glass around her. Bulkhead clenched his servos. He grunted as he looked down, and now Megatron had convinced her to join him. He had manipulated her. Somehow convinced her that she wasn't safe with Bulkhead and the other Autobots. She was safe with him, not Buckethead. How did she convince herself that she was safer with the 'Cons?
She willingly went with Breakdown at pick-up time. A part of him wanted it to be manipulation, the more bitter and war torn part knew it all too well.
Miko, perhaps, was no better than Breakdown.
"Are you even listening!?" Arcee barked as she turned back to him. He froze and looked down at her. A groan left him as he tried to find answer, he stared at her dumb-founded. He swallowed a ball of half-digested energon that had crawled up his intake. He shook his helm.
"Yeah! Well, erm… Maybe Jack's mum just wants to protect him, ya know?" He shrugged. He gave her a timid smile. She rolled her optics and took the scanner from him. She sighed as she viewed it.
"Well I protected him first! I protected him for months before she knew about it." Arcee let her servos fall to her side in defeat. She tilted her head as she walked ahead. The past two or three months had been a mess. First that energon mine disaster, and then Miko went running off with Megatron. What, did she want to be even more of a pain? The others believed she was taken unwillingly, but… Arcee knew better. If she was unwilling, then why didn't Megatron take her to the Nemesis immediately? Why did he break into that warehouse and take such odd things? A blanket and two pillows? She had been fighting against the mech for a long time. Megatron was cruel and uncaring. He didn't get blankets or pillows for prisoners, or for lesser beings such as humans.
He never brought them back home.
Arcee crossed her arms again. Something was amiss, there was something more to those two relationship than the others suspected. She wouldn't call it a friendship, but there was certainly a fellowship among them. Perhaps them having that many human companions was just a daydream… A figment of hope. Of course one of them would have to sully it… The signs that it would be Miko were always there. From the start she felt like the odd one out, Arcee would have left her in that alley and just taken Jack. But rules were rules, and she had to comply. Arcee grunted as she looked at Bulkhead.
"The relic should be… Here." Arcee paused as she could hear the sounds of metal clashing against rock, heavy Cybertronian pedesteps. She ran to the edge of the cliff. There she saw Breakdown sprinting forward, while Airachnid loomed over Miko. Her legs poised for attack. She felt her sparkbeat still. The scene was screaming at her, a recreation of a bad memory.
Her partner was pinned by Airachnid, screaming and crying for mercy, for help. Yet she was too far. She was too far to save them. She didn't see a traitor as she stared at Miko.
She didn't feel her armour shift as she mindlessly transformed. An overwhelming feeling filled her body. The feeling to protect the young, to save a sparkling. She felt a roar rip from her throat. The wheels were screeching against the earth, dust kicking up behind her. She landed just a few metres from the two, Airachnid's legs had already pierced Miko's clothing. Miko's pupils were shrunken and even the iris seemed to disappear into the white. Arcee transformed, legs first, they slammed into the side of Airachnid. The spiderbot cried out as they both went flying. Arcee grunted as she skidded on her aft as they two splitted from each other. She was to the left of Airachnid, she took a deep breath and tried to swallow the pain from the impact. Airachnid struggled to sit up as she gasped in pain. Her spider legs retracted back into her back. She groaned as she turned towards the two-wheeler. She pounded her fist into the ground, of course she was here.
The screaming had stopped, Arcee turned to look at Miko. She was holding her stomach, no blood was clearly seen so Arcee assumed she had not been cut. Miko turned and looked back at Arcee, she had been mouthing something breathlessly and without noise. The two just peered at each other for a moment, the last time they had spoken was on the faithful night Miko had been taken by the 'Cons. The silence was deafening and painful. She had changed her outfit since they had last met.
Her hair was undone, covered in dirt and rocks now. She was wearing a slash-monkey shirt that was now torn to shreds along the stomach and sides. Miko swallowed and finally found her voice.
"Arcee! Behind you!" She shouted. Her voice cracked as she tried to remove the web. The two-wheeler ducked down as Airachnid shot past and missed her punch. The spiderbot rolled and turned to face Arcee with a snarl.
"Arcee! Everyone's here today, what next? Tailgate?" She hissed. The response to this question was a punch that made sparks fly across her jaw. Airachnid cried out as another punched then joined the other. A flurry of smites hit her again and again. Her body folded and crumbled with each new strike. The final strike was straight to the helm, it sent her body flying. The spiderbot hissed as she managed to stabilise herself. She looked to Breakdown, the mech was fighting a massive green Autobot. She frowned as she looked at Arcee.
"Mh, I'll take my leave, it's been a pleasure…" She looked at Miko, "Megatron's pet." She spat, her spider legs extended, dipping under her, they turned into a drill. Arcee roared as she ran to Airachnid, dust and rocks flew up to her. She covered her faceplate and grunted as the other was gone. She looked at Bulkhead and Breakdown, the two were punching and pushing each other. She frowned as she looked around, her optics landing on Miko. She looked down, her thoughts of earlier came to surface again. Miko had come here with Breakdown, to get the relic for Megatron most likely. She closed her optics, when she snapped them open she was already moving to Miko.
"Hey… Arcee." Miko looked down at the web. She smiled nervously as she turned back to the two-wheeler, "How's it been at the base?" Arcee knelt down and unsheathed her side-arm blades. Miko stiffened, but relaxed as Arcee worked to cut her free. Miko kept pulling as the two wheeled grunted her answer, "Hectic, how has it been with Megatron?" Miko flinched slightly at the snarky bark that escaped the other. She looked away from Arcee, her chest filled with sorrow and grief. Right… Of course the Autobots would be pissed she had headed off with the warlord and now was willingly going to the Nemesis after school and at weekends. She frowned, one of her and Megatron's conversations about people treating her shittily. He had decided the best cause of action for her was to stand her ground, and not back up when they tried to push her back.
"He's nice. Doesn't treat me like mud on his pede." Miko shrugged, Arcee turned to look at her. Her brow was furrowed, her optics portrayed concern, like she thought Miko had finally gone mad.
"He likes my music! Yeah… He doesn't immediately scream at me to turn it off." Miko snapped, she winced as the webs snapped away from each other. Like when elastic sprang away from each other. She rubbed at her arm, it was tingling from numbness. She rubbed her palm, trying to return the blood flow to it. Arcee moved to face Miko fully, watching as the other turned her back to her and grabbed the dark purple tablet on the ground beside them. Miko sighed and turned to face her, she grunted and spoke.
"Miko! You can't be serious, we've been going mad back at the base trying to get you back. We all miss you," Arcee watched Miko's expression change, "Didn't you ever realise that? She held out her servo to Miko, but she didn't move near it.
Miko looked down. They had been looking for her, huh. So they did care. Her shoulders slumped as she looked at the tablet. Guilt filled her head. Megatron's words left her head as she whined. Maybe she had been manipulated by Megatron, he had lied about them not wanting her. She looked at Arcee's hand. She reached out, her hand touching the cold metal index.
"Let's go home Miko, I think this little trip of yours has lasted enough. This has been breaking Optimus and Bulkhead sparks." Arcee hummed softly. Her servo had started to curl along Miko's hand. Suddenly the human hand had been pulled away, Arcee's optics shot up to see the disgruntled and suspicious look of the other.
"... I want you to say sorry first." Miko raised her voice slightly, it was stern and clear. The hyper and giddy tone that Arcee was used to, it had vanished. This voice reminded Arcee of maybe Optimus or… Megatron.
"Say sorry? For what!?" Arcee snapped. Her patience was wearing thin now. Miko swallowed, she held the tablet close and looked Arcee dead in the optic.
"For saying all that, for letting Jack bully me. For treating me like an annoyance," Miko's voice cracked as she closed her eyes, resisting the tears that threatened to leak through, "You guys… Even when you first brought me to the base, it felt like you only wanted Jack and Raf and I was just an accident. Then you called me Megatron because of an accident!" Miko was shouting now, Arcee pulled away. Her mouth was agape and her optics shrunk back as the small human shouted with such a loud voice.
"You compared me to a man you all hated! You want him dead, you have called him so many horrible things… Then compared me to him, so what? Am I the same, horrible person?" Tears spilled from Miko's eyes. She looked away from Arcee as she wiped her tears away.
"I want you to say sorry… That's it." It felt like a weight was lifted from her shoulders. She took a deep breath, she felt better. She could almost smile, she felt so much better. Letting her release this way and this much. She looked at Arcee, her optics had shrunk back. She had sat up straighter and had curled the servo away from Miko. She narrowed her brow, her optics scanned the ground around Miko, like she was looking for an answer. Yet the human stood tall, standing her ground. A grunt of frustration left Arcee. She turned to Miko, she wasn't angry… But, she wasn't sad either. She stood as she looked down at Miko.
"This can wait till afterwards! Come on." Arcee turned but Miko stayed where she was, when the two-wheeler realised she wasn't following she turned. Miko took a breath.
"No. Now Arcee, if you want me back, I want an apology." She gripped the tablet tighter. Arcee's servos clenched. She turned to Miko, marching towards her. Yet there was no flinching from the other. Arcee snarled and knelt back down beside her, her fist hitting the ground. Spiderweb cracks covered the ground beside the other's shoe, but she stood her ground.
"Listen! This little temper tantrum has lasted long enough! Okay? You've proven your point! Okay? You've driven the others mad enough… Now! Come on!" Arcee was shouting now, her temper was running short. Miko looked at her, her expression hardened as she took steps away from the Autobot.
"... Okay… Gotcha." Miko suddenly broke into a sprint, running towards the relic. Arcee paused, her mind trying to figure out what just happened. She watched Miko as Bulkhead was thrown to the side by Breakdown. He landed beside Arcee. He rubbed at his helm and looked at the relic, his optics widened.
"... Miko?" He whispered.
Said human turned to look at Breakdown, she smiled at him. The blue Decepticon smirked. Miko jumped onto the relic, she yelped as it started to glow. Breakdown knelt beside her, he examined the relic. He pointed to what appeared to be a switch.
"Try that." She nodded and pushed it up. The relic groaned and whirred with power as it booted up. The two Autobot's stood, they were tense. Bulkhead was wide-opticed and his mouth was wide open. Arcee on the other hand had taken a defensive stance, ready to defend or attack. She eyed Miko with contempt.
Miko swiped another button, a yellow orb enveloped the two Autobots, she stared in awe as they were lifted high in the air. They grunted and struggled as they floated there helplessly. She looked back at Breakdown, he gave a thumbs up with a grin. She looked back at Arcee, Breakdown leaned forward as he whispered to her.
"Press that one to send them flying." He pointed to a button on the side. She nodded, she moved towards it, never taking her eyes off of Arcee.
Bulkhead grunted as he kept struggling.
"Miko!" He called out. She looked up at him. Her partner for months, one of her only friends. Her wrecker. She closed her eyes, pulses of anguish filled her head. The pain hit her with every heartbeat, and her heart was racing. She looked at Bulkhead, she frowned as he tried to reach for her. She stood beside the button, she looked at it and then back at him.
"Hey, Bulk?" She called. The wrecker beamed as he looked at her.
"Miko! What is it?" He called. She looked down at one of her arms, his optics followed her, both looked at the scars that covered her arm. He frowned as she looked back up at him. They looked at each other for a moment in silence.
"I'll see ya around." She slammed the scarred hand into the button. With all her might, it finally clicked and the two Autobots flew back suddenly. Miko watched as they disappeared amongst the rocks and dust.
Miko looked up at Breakdown.
"Ha! Let's go kid!" He smiled at her, scooping her and the relic up, "It's been nice Bulkhead! See ya!" Miko smiled up at Breakdown as he transformed. She grunted as she fell into the driver's seat. She looked over, the passenger seat and all the back seats had been folded down to fit the relic. The engines roared and he shot off. The rocky desert made her bounce and shaky. There was a moment of silence between the two, both catching their breaths. Miko looked in the rearview mirror, no one was following them. She sat back, a joy filled her at the feeling of the familiar seat covers. She gripped the edge of the chair and looked at the steering wheel. The Decepticon symbol was metal and grey, it held no light unlike Megatron's. She touched it gently, running her finger along the dips of the sigil. Breakdown grunted. She was reminded that while he was a vehicle, he could still feel everything. She pulled her hand away and he laughed.
"Kid! Calm down, I wasn't grunting at you, I was getting ready to call a groundbridge," He chuckled softly, his laugh nowhere near either Megatron's or Bulkhead's, "You can look at the symbol. It's fine, but er, are you feeling okay after that? Any cuts?" He slowed down every so slightly. Miko lifted up her shirt, her stomach was not marked bar some soft white lines where the top layer of skin had been breached. She carefully ran her hands along the marks. They did not sting, her back and arm did on the other hand. Large bruises had appeared on her back and upper arm already. She looked at the symbol.
"Can I ask you something? Before we go ho- Back to the ship?" She looked at the symbol, touching the eye of it. Her thumb sat on top of the right eye.
Breakdown drove on to the road, driving down it as he slowed to match the speed limit. She looked around again, checking for any Autobots. When none were to be found, she relaxed, the silence was soft yet not awkward. Miko took a deep breath and continued, "Why are you a Decepticon?" She pulled her hand away from the symbol. He slowed suddenly, Miko yelped as she jerked forward. He stayed silent for a moment before he answered, "Sorry kid. Just… No one really asks that anymore. You are what you are because you say so." He talked calmly. His voice was a soft hum as he continued, "But, I became a 'Con because well, everyone else was joining." He admitted, Miko paused. She perked up, sitting up a little. She was leaning forward as she stared at him, he chortled as he continued. "By everyone I mean… I have brothers, together we were called Stunticons. I was kinda a middle child. There was Motormaster, the oldest of us. Dragstrip! Ha! He'd be showing off his trophies to any guest we had… Rollercar wasn't any better, he just did anything the other two told him to do. No wonder Deadend was always so gloomy, he is the fourth oldest, then Wildrider, and then me! And then there… Er… Then there was Offroad and BlackJack. Offroad was so charismatic that he could have got away with anything. He and Wildrider had the same colours.. Er…" Breakdown went quiet for a moment.
"That doesn't matter… And then I found Knockout before the war, he was a cosmetic doctor, slash, racer kinda dude, and I just stuck by him. It just seemed natural we all joined together. The promises Megatron was giving, it sounded great to us. It sounded better." Breakdown sighed. There was sadness in his voice. Miko patted the steering wheel, he snorted and grunted, clearing his vocaliser as the comn's static came to life.
"Breakdown to base! Breakdown to base! Me and Miko got the relic, requesting a Groundbridge." He barked. Miko paused as silence was what answered. She looked at the radio confused. Breakdown gave a grunt that translated to 'I dunno'. She nodded and looked up, she shouted as two boulders rolled in front of them. Breakdown swore under his breath, he swerved to avoid it. There was no grip on the road as he skidded. Miko held on tight as they spun. She looked out of the window to see a net of webs ahead. Breakdown grunted as he braked, correcting himself but it was too late. He went front-bumper first into the webs, they wrapped around him. He grunted as he struggled. Miko was frozen with fear as she stared at the webs. Not again, no, not again. Not again! Breakdown rolled down the window for her.
"Kid, try get out and call Doc directly. I'm going to need some back up." Miko nodded. With hands shaking, she pulled herself out. She was shaky as she threw the tablet on the roof first. She twisted her body around. Grunting, she placed her foot on the steering wheel. She pushed her upper body out first, her arms were shaking from the strain. She wished she had taken Megatron up on the training offer sooner. She placed one foot on the door and jumped up. Scrambling, it was a labour to get herself up. Miko panted as she knelt there for a moment, frag she needed a drink. She looked at the tablet.
"Come on, come on." She frowned as she turned on the tablet, smiling a little at the picture of Megatron. She went to her contacts, pressing on 'K.O'.
She sat back as she watched it ring, yet no answer came,she sat back.
"Fuck! No bars." She froze as the familiar clatter of spider legs sounded from behind her. She stared at the tablet. She dared not look up, to dignify that creature's presence. Her breath shuddered, she had a horrible feeling she wasn't going to escape this time.
"Jorōgumo…" She muttered softly.
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"What do you mean Miko used the relic against you!?" Ratchet roared into the commlinks. Rafael looked at Jack. He was right beside Ratchet, he was annoyed as he leaned against the rails. Rafael was standing back as he looked at June. The Nurse had this grave expression as she held herself. She quietly stepped forward.
"But I thought Miko was your friend?" She looked at Ratchet and Jack. The medic groaned, he pinched the bridge of his non-existent nose. A habit he had picked up from the humans. He looked around,Optimus and Bumblebee were gone on a mission. He was alone. He was the highest commanding officer, he was technically Optimus's right servo mech. He drummed his index against the console as he looked at the humans. Their remaining humans.
"She was… It seems Megatron has taken full control over her," He closed his optics. June touched his index. He was in grief, that was clear to anyone. He growled as he slammed his other servo into the metal beside him, "To the pits with him! Arcee, try to bring Miko back here without harm, I'll com' Optimus and see if I can get him to return." He didn't even give her a chance to respond. He turned off the com'. He took a deep inhale, he looked at the humans.
"Boys. Go play." He gestured to the console. The two nodded as they left but June stayed. She looked up at the robotic medic. He was just staring at the console, her eyes widened when she watched something wet leak from his optics. It looked like window-wiper cleaner or something like that. He wiped it away without looking at her.
He shook his helm, he gazed down at her and sighed. He started the process of contacting Optimus. June softly stroked his index as she leaned over the bar. He looked at Miko's stuff that had been left there, one of her guitars, a jacket and some other things. He grunted, clearing his vocaliser as he looked at June.
"I'm sorry Doctor, I know it may not be my place. But, why did you all compare Miko to Megatron, if he was such a horrible man?" She moved down the platform to stand closer. He frowned as he tilted his head back. Remembering things he had been trying to block out of his processor for centuries. He nodded.
"No, it's fine… Don't tell the others this though," He leaned closer to her, she stood up straighter, "When me and Optimus were younger, we knew Megatron. We were friends with Megatron, I sometimes forget the others didn't know him like that." He righted himself. Her eyes widened, placing a hand on her mouth as she considered what he said. He tilted his head to the side as he spoke.
"Of course, we were all different, especially him… Especially Optimus, and when we were younger. He was like Miko. He was brash, eager and curious. He loved the extreme sports back home and was actually a poet. Not too different from your earth's musicians… Which also fits Miko." He looked at her guitar. He pushed it closer with his index. The strings had been used as paperweights to hold her half cooked lyrics. Of course, he couldn't read them, they were written in her native tongue. He looked at the screen, the communication device was ringing. He closed his optics and he could see the young gladiator. Jumping from pede to pede as they'd go watch races or air shows in Vos. It was all familiar, all could be seen in the young human. While he had once believed it would not matter too much, now at their current standing. As Miko was now in control of the ex-gladiator, as she broke away from her companions like he once did. Ratchet could not help but choke at the similarities. To think, he was partially responsible for Miko's turn. It made him sick. Only he had been told about what Optimus found.
Miko on the cliff, shoes off as Megatron took her away. When he researched what the purpose of taking the shoes off were. That was when he realised his grave mistake. That he realised this could be the start of something terrible. He was filled with guilt as he considered it all. He paused as the ringing stopped.
"Ratchet!? What is it?" Optimus called, his voice echoed with concern. Ratchet swallowed, he had no idea how to start. He looked at June, she gave him a thumbs up. Her hand still on his,he clenched his servo as it curled around the railing. He looked at the screen, this was a direct line to Optimus. So Bumblebee wouldn't be able to hear. He was glad, he didn't want to upset the Scout more than the scout had been from this all. Bumblebee was really the only innocent Cybertronian in this scandal.
"Optimus… It's Miko. Arcee and Bulkhead have found her." He spoke softly, his breath and will left him as he spoke. There was a moment of silence.
"Where? What is her state?"
"... She attacked them with Breakdown. Well, with the relic, she had arrived with Breakdown. Er… They took the relic and fled, Arcee believes Miko has…" He could feel his spark shatter, "She has turned and joined the Decepticons." Optimus went quiet, Ratchet couldn't even hear his vents. He realised the Prime had muted himself, why? Ratchet shifted from pede to pede as he waited for Optimus to speak. The silence was almost crushing. Finally the Prime spoke.
"Me and Bumblebee are going back to base, Ratchet. Activate the Groundbridge now and explain it all to me in person."
Optimus shut off the commlink, Ratchet nodded and began powering up the groundbridge.
"Do you think Megatron will or, well, have hurt Miko?" June asked, "I mean… Do you think he's tortured her into joining him?" Her voice cracked. She had yet to meet Miko along town, it seemed that she hadn't been in Jasper for a few days. Miko was a child, not even eighteen. As a nurse, as a mandated reporter, she must make sure any child is safe. Especially safe in this case, the case that a robot alien warlord was involved. Ratchet grunted as he pulled down the lever, the Groundbridge behind him whirled to life. He looked at her as he pondered the question. He shook his helm.
"I have no idea, I'm sorry missus Darby, I don't know." His vocaliser cracked as he spoke. June held her hand over her mouth as she considered the possibilities. She looked away, trying not to shake as the Prime walked in. His optics were narrowed as he came to Ratchet.
"Ratchet. What happened?" Optimus's voice was stern and emotionless. He walked to Ratchet who shifted. Bumblebee skipped in, going over to Jack and Raf. Ratchet rambled about what had happened, the magnetic flux, the gauntlet, Airachnid almost killing Miko and Miko's use of the relic on the Autobots. He said what Bulkhead had mumbled and Arcee had ranted, he held himself as he looked at Optimus. The Prime's expression never changed. It scared Ratchet. He didn't like being unable to read the expressions or emotions of anyone. He looked at the ground. The Prime's vocaliser rumbled before he spoke.
"So, it has become that serious… She really has joined the Decepticons," He clenched and unclenched her servos, "While we will not stop our search for her, but if we are to capture her, we are to capture and hold her as a hostile enemy." He declared. Bumblebee's doorwings folded downwards, Ratchet's optics widened.
"You're not serious!? Why are you still punishing her!?" A voice cut from the silence. They all turned. Rafael stood on the bottom bar, leaning over as he looked at the Prime, he frowned but continued, "Miko didn't want to go with the 'Cons… She just wanted to feel a part of the team." His voice cracked. The two commanding Autobots watched him with a frown. Optimus walked forward. He knelt down beside Rafael, it was common knowledge Miko and him were still friends and had been talking about the state of either faction with the other. The Prime smiled at Raf who backed away with fear, but he took a deep breath.
"Rafael, please. If there is any more information on Miko, do tell us." He held out his hand, the young boy friend. He looked at Optimus and nodded.
"Okay! I lied when I said Miko was talking to the Decepticon's in general… She had been talking to Megatron specifically. He had been consoling her since the 'glass incident', over text and phone. He hasn't been tricking her… He's been nice to her…That's all they've been doing- Look!" He held up his phone, a chat log in between him and Miko. Optimus frowned as he looked at it carefully. Miko had been sending photos. Optimus and Ratchet's optics widened as they saw the photos and texts. They saw the inside of a Decepticon room, with Miko's bed and belongings in the corner of a desk. They also saw the inside of the Decepticon bridge, the messages in between were talking about her stay with the Decepticons. She seemed to have a positive outlook, but a few lines stood out.
They like my music, Raf! Megatron actually likes to hear me play and likes my music!
Wait, really?
It's a nice change from the Autobots. They'd be shouting at me to turn it off… Nice to have people like me.
The Autobots like you!
Sure… Dude, just admit it. I was just the annoying dude in the corner. At Least here, Megatron encourages my hobbies.
Optimus stood back. He looked at his hand, "Miko… Really felt like that?" He looked at Rafael and then Ratchet. The medic nodded slowly as he looked at the phone as the human put it away. The Prime took a deep intake.
"I have decided. Miko, shall be considered a neutral force. As long as she does not bear the Decepticon mark." He looked at the other Autobots. They all nodded, silently understanding. They'd just have to tell Bulkhead and Arcee now… If they came back before hurting her or capturing her. Ratchet turned back to June, they both smiled at each other. It felt good to finally confide in someone. Ratchet could see himself doing it again, it had been too long since he had someone to talk to.
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She cried out and kicked as she was pinned to the wall beside Breakdown. Her arms were pinned to her side, her bruised back was crying in pain as she looked at Airachnid. Breakdown was in a similar state, but his legs were bound together at the ankles and he was gagged. He had tired himself out, he just watched her. Airachnid hummed as she held the gauntlet. It powered up as she tilted it from side to side.
"It fits!" She cried out in joy. Breakdown had been gagged because he kept trying to make deals with her, mostly to get Miko free. She turned to Miko, kneeling down. He cupped her cheek in her servo, the human had eyes wide with fright. She was shaking in Airachnid's grasp, the size difference was unsettling to the human. She tilted her head around, examining where the neck and the head connected. Humans, such tender little things. She pulled away.
"Why has Megatron taken a sudden interest in humans?" She purred. Miko swallowed. She wanted to cry, to start screaming again. Yet she knew if she did, Airachnid would just slit her throat and leave her to bleed out. She took a deep breath, her mind registering that the question was not sarcastic or rhetorical.
"I- Not humans. Just one, just me. He just likes me…" She smiled at Airachnid. It was shaky and uneven. The falseness of it, it was clear as day. Airachnid's optics shot wide open. She cackled as she considered it all. She cocked her head from side to side. She grinned.
"So he has found himself enticed by one singular girl? How strange, has he really bonded with you?" She ran a finger along Miko's hair, lifting the locks up at the end. She purred as she looked at her. She wasn't physically unique, maybe there was something mentally special about her? Or… Airachnid took a step back, Miko was not physically impressive, no. She was timid and meek. Obviously wouldn't be able to fight against the larger mech. A hum escaped Airachnid, she slit the web and cloth in the middle of Miko's chest. She started to struggle more. The web and cloth was pushed to the side. She examined the chest, there was no signs of experimentation, damage or well, markings. She moved back, resealing the webs.
"What- Why did you? Wait! What do you mean by him bonding with me?" Miko looked at Breakdown, and was frightened by him. He was wide-opticed, his struggles had gotten even stronger. Airachnid opened her mouth to answer, but shut up when she heard something. She snarled and hid. Miko looked around confused, Breakdown groaned. He reached with his digit, he gently patted her stomach. She smiled up at him, mouthing 'I'm okay' to him. He nodded, he kept his servo there.
The two paused, Bulkhead circled over. He stared at them, "Miko! There you are!" He frowned as he looked at Breakdown. Miko heard the metal rattling as Airachnid appeared above them, scaling the roof of the abandoned petrol station. Bulkhead took steps back, he snarled at her.
"I assume Arcee isn't far behind?" Airachnid hummed, she crawled down, standing in front of her two captives, she gestured with the gauntlet. Bulkhead shrugged, while he appeared to be looking at her, Miko could feel his gaze burning into her. Airachnid pointed the relic at the wrecker.
"Blasters up! No tricks." She shouted. Bulkhead had this glint in his optic as she said this. He smiled, "Gotcha." He turned slowly. The spiderbot frowned and readied herself for any tricks. But no preparation could have prepared her for a two-wheeler stuck to the wreckers back. The spiderbot dove to the side as a blaster shot towards her. The spider snarled as she kept diving and dodging. One of the blaster shots hit the gauntlet. Sending it flying. It landed an inch from Breakdown and Miko. The gauntlets glowing made her heart beat against her chest. How many metallic items did she have on her? Her tablet? Maybe… Her belt buckles? Did she have any implants? Any crowns? Oh don't let her teeth be ripped out. Please no…
Breakdown was the only one being dragged by the gauntlet, him and the other Cybertronians. Miko was left alone. She frowned, the belt was supposed to have a real metal buckle!? That scammer! Breakdown was the first to grab the relic. He grunted as he looked at Airachnid, and then back to Miko. He took a deep breath.
"Now! Let's do this the proper way." First, he broke Miko's webbing. She yelped as he took her and placed her a distance from the soon-to-be-battlefield. Then, with a smirk he aimed the gauntlet at the combined duo. Miko watched with some thrill as the battle commenced. Airachnid vs Arce- Bulkhead. Airachnid vs Bulkhead and Breakdown vs Arcee… Neither doing exceptionally well against the other. Turns out, if it's not your sworn nemesis, you suck at fighting them. The want to go running into the battle didn't seem to take a hold on her anymore. Maybe she was tired of it, she had enough for today. Maybe she was calmer since she got with Megatron. He did keep her active and engaged, using the energy that would usually be pent up and expelled when she would run into battle. She just watched in awe as the battle continued, the nemesis turning to face each other. There we go, A vs A and B vs B. Miko frowned, she needed to somehow get the relic to Megatron. She watched as Arcee and Airachnid were hand to hand, both gripping the relic. They continued their dance, while Breakdown and Bulkhead were punching each other. Yet they never seem to make contact. Miko looked at some of the webs, an idea sprang to mind. She crawled down from her perch, she held her breath as she skidded down. She smiled as she landed on both feet. She paused as she looked at the distance she climbed down from.
Huh, maybe… Maybe Megatron could use that to help with her training. She shrugged and continued to sneak over. Breakdown's webs had been stretched thin and long. Miko poked it, frowning as it stuck to her hand. She pulled it away. She smiled as she spat on her hand and grabbed the web. Yep, spit stopped the stickiness. She spat on both hands and started to drag the web with her. She looked over as Breakdown shot a missile at Bulkhead. She winced as he tried to grab it, yet an invisible force field stopped it. She watched as it went flying towards Breakdown, who was also protected by the same force field. The projectile flew into the sky and exploded.
"We're magnetised!" Bulkhead shouted. Miko shrugged, whatever that meant! She kept dragging the web up the small hill. Okay, hopefully this will rock. Miko threw the web against a small rock. Something easy for her to push down. She then ran back down, grabbing the other end of the web. She spat on her hands again and started to drag the web up towards a hill opposite the first. She smiled, as she took a step back to admire her work. The web was hanging just above the Cybertronions head height. She looked back to see Airachnid flying away in her helicopter alt mode. Bulkhead was running after her. Miko watched, stuck to her place as Bulkhead jumped and grabbed her. They started to spin rapidly, Breakdown swore and tried to run away. Instead Airachnid was thrown into him. Miko winced as they disappeared amongst rubble and dust. Arcee grabbed the relic, and the human realised this was her chance. With a huff, she dropped the rock. Arcee paused as she looked up, the rock landed on the other side of her. The web circled around her. She cried out as it stuck to her, she tried to bat it away and struggled, just getting more wrapped up. Arcee cried out in frustration, Miko laughed as she slid down. She was careful to keep a distance from the two-wheeler. She stayed quiet as Arcee swore in Cybertronian, she placed her hands on the thrown relic. She tried to remember how Breakdown or Airachnid used it.
She pushed the button and it started up, she did it again and Arcee was in a golden ball. The Autobot flew into the air, she hissed and shouted, trying to escape, to grab Miko. She kicked and struggled. The human took deep breaths as she looked at Bulkhead. He was getting up and steady from his stunt a few moments ago.
Miko pushed the relic, aiming Arcee towards Bulkhead.
"Don't you dare." Arcee snarled, Miko stuck her tongue out. She flipped a switch and the ball disappeared and its captive went flying. Bulkhead turned, yet it was too late, Arcee hit him in his head. They collapsed. Groaning, but not getting up. Miko took a moment. Silence soon descended on them.
The silence was graceful as it swept across the landscape. Not a cricket, or car or breath. It was deafening, the bright light accompanying it, it almost felt like the shadowzone. The dust wisped around her shoes, the sun was beating against her back and her wrists. Her arms and legs burned, her shoulders and knees felt weak. Her body felt heavy and her head felt light. She looked at her hands, white lines of broken skin decorated her palms. In-between the lines, her skin had been dyed by dust. The skin was an unnatural reddish orange. She took a deep breath, no adrenaline coursed through her. No, she was still. Even her blood felt still. Her breathing just seemed to come out of her, as easy as the breeze came through her hair. So this was what it was like… To be the last one standing after a battle. She thought, she imagined it would feel different, that it'd be this feeling of joy, full of adrenaline and pride. Yet, that never came. Instead, she felt this odd exhaustion. Like she had just done a full workout, she felt oddly lonely.
Unclenching and clenching her fists, the victory felt oddly hollow. Of course there was the joy and excitement she had, in a way, won over them all. Yet there was an underlying feeling there. She looked at the relic. She thought about the battle, oh… She had just fought her friends. Bulkhead and Arcee, she had fought them. She had thrown one at the other, hurting them. She had hurt them… She sighed. She supposed this confirmed her position in the war. She was a Decepticon, now she was anyway. She had fought for, beside and won for the 'Cons. She then remembered. Shit! Breakdown! She grabbed the relic, and started the long haul. She groaned and kept pushing or dragging it. This sucked, her arms were starting to burn.
"Breakdown!?" Miko shouted, "You okay!?" With a grunt, the relic landed beside his pede. Miko left it there as she crawled up the rocks. She bit her lip, the rock edges were digging into her skin. She reached his helm.
"Dude!? Wake up!" She tossed a stone onto his forehead. He winced, turning his helm. His optics shuddered as they slowly opened, the yellow was first dim but they soon glowed brightly. He grinned, tired and slightly forced.
"Hey kid." He reached up, cupping his servo around her. She smiled as she patted his digits and looked at the relic. He groaned as he looked over, lifting his helm. He grinned as he saw the relic. He looked back at her, a proud, wide grin was across his faceplate. He laughed as he sat up.
"Well done kid! Haha- Er, where are the Autobots?" He looked around confused. Miko gestured to the general area of where they were. He looked, he could only see Bulkhead's chest and feet. He blinked in surprise, he looked at her.
"You do that?"
"... Yeah!"
"Nice! Now… Where is the spiderbot?" He sat up more. He rubbed at the back of his helm, grunting as a few rocks fell out from the wedges between plating. That was Miko when saw the black pede, it dangled lazily as its owner turned her head. She looked at Miko and then Breakdown.
"Er… Lets just say, you may wanna watch your back." Breakdown paused. He started to spin around, trying to see behind himself. Miko took a step back and watched as the spiderbot was thrown about. Her spider legs were pinned between their backs. Breakdown kept spinning for a while, when he did finally stop, Airachnid looked ill.
"I'm stuck to you! You idiot! Like Arcee was with the green idiot!" She roared, pounding her fists against him. He paused as he looked at her. He frowned as he looked at Miko, she shrugged. Airachnid hissed as she started to push and struggle. The two attempts at escape and freedom were weak and futile. The human just stood back and watched with second hand embarrassment. She bit her lip as she placed her hand on mouth. The two grunted and stopped, Airachnid frowned as she crossed her arms.
"Well, isn't this a predicament!" Airachnid shouted. Miko circled them as she tried to figure out what to do. She stepped forward, but cringed and took a step back. She looked at Airachnid who just watched her silently, she closed her eyes and then walked forward. She grabbed the spiderbot by the pede and tried to pull it. There was no movement, but she kept pulling. She finally gave up and sighed.
"We're gonna need Doc Knock." Miko finally announced. Breakdown frowned, he looked at Airachnid who had gone completely silent. They watched as the human walked a distance, scooping up her datapad. She started to text and type. The two Decepticons watched, Breakdown kept looking back at where the Autobots laid.
"I suppose it won't be too bad now there is another girl, you've been with them long?" Airachnid smiled down at her. It took a moment for the human to realise the spiderbot was A, talking to her and B, was making small talk. Miko shifted, she put down the datapad as she waited for the Doctor to answer. She shrugged.
"Erm, early or midway through January. I got my arm full of glass for it." She lifted up the scarred arm. Airachnid paused, nodding slowly as a noise of curiosity left her. She tilted her head as he gazed down at the human. She watched the human shuffle, her eyes never exactly meeting the cybertronians. Miko looked at her arm, the scars had calmed by now. They were still, very much visible, yet they weren't as bad. She looked at Breakdown who was getting antsier and antsier.
"Was that Megatron's doing or Starscreams?" Airachnid hummed. Miko paused as she looked up. Damn, even Megatron's own dudes thought he was violent with a capital 'V'. She shook her head, "No! I was hanging with him, and Bulkhead tackled him, shattering the glass I was in." She picked up the datapad, looking at her messages. Knockout had yet to respond. Breakdown turned, Airachnid was almost flung to the side as he looked at Miko.
"Come on, we should get some distance." He scooped up Miko, with some hesitation, he placed her on his shoulder. She took the chance and sat as close as he could to Airachnid.
Breakdown scooped up the relic and put it away into his subspace.
"So, what is life like for a little human?" Airachnid smiled. Miko snorted as she looked at her.
"Since meeting you guys, where do I start!?"
.
.
.
.
"And I just slammed the volleyball into Vincent's face. I got to claim it was an accident and just got a night of detention. But, Vince!? Ha, dude got stuck with a bruised nose for like a month and a half… Never called me Panda express again though." Miko finished the story. Airachnid cackled as she clapped her hands, Breakdown was smiling as he nodded to himself. They had walked a good distance now. Well, Breakdown walked, the two girls just sat back and chatted. They were following coordinates that had been sent to Miko by Soundwave and Knockout, hopefully no Autobots would interpret them. Miko found that Airachnid, well clever and cunning, was pleasant once she got to chat. She had been asking Miko about her swap from Autobots to Decepticons, while Miko kept some parts vague, yet was happy to delve into small rants and stories. The conversation had slowly veered away from the war, to Miko's life as a civilian in Jasper.
Turns out a small desert town in a conservative state was not friendly towards foreign exchange students.
"Ha! A girl with some bite! Did you fight like that with the Autobots?" She gestured to Miko. The human paused and shook her head, she looked back at the distance they had come from. There was no one coming from there, no one following them.
"No, they never let me fight. Megatron's going to let me fight though! We're supposed to do our first training session after this… I think that might be delayed though." She giggled. Breakdown paused as a groundbridge opened in front of them.
"That for us?" He turned to look at Miko. She took out the datapad.
"Er, yeah! That's it…" She showed Airachnid the datapad for confirmation, when she got a nod from the spiderbot she turned to Breakdown, "Yep! That's it!" He smiled as he walked through. Miko closed her eyes, the lights flashing around her. When she opened them, she was surrounded by the swirling vortex. Staring in wonder she leaned back, watching the blue and green and white twist and turn. The other two, it was normal for them. Yet this was a miracle to Miko, something her world's technology could only reach in a thousand years, maybe more. She wondered what would happen if she jumped through the walls of the vortex, would they take her somewhere else? She reached her hand out, her finger tips fizzled and felt all fuzzy when she touched the edge. She yelped as Breakdown suddenly jerked his shoulder to the side, she fell away from the side. She looked up at him, he shook his head with a frown.
"No, let's not do that." He warned, he lifted his servo to push her away, "What happens to Cybertronians when they do it is messy, don't know, and don't wanna know what will happen if it's a human." She looked at him with a pout, but nodded. Her body being splattered across the world wasn't a pleasant thought. She looked at Airachnid who snickered.
"I once pushed someone into the sides, some of him ended up in Vos, some in Kaon and most on the second moon." She gestured. Miko's eyes widened as she pressed herself into Breakdown. He tutted and kept his hand around her, holding her close. She smiled as she looked at his servo, well worn and scratched. It was round, large and round. The servos were chunky and blunt. It reminded Miko of the Autobots, the Decepticons all seemed to share the same sharp claws. Well, everyone bar Soundwave and Breakdown. She looked up at him, his orange faceplate was smooth and unmarked. A detail most likely caused by Knockout's obsession with looks and that. His big yellow optic was pupilless, yet she knew it was looking back at her.
Miko smiled, she placed her hand on his grey armour. His smile was so soft it was barely noticeable. Airachnid sighed as she rolled her optics. They exited the groundbridge, Soundwave was there to meet them. He tilted his head as he examined the two stuck together.
Tendrils patted the parts stuck together, diagrams and pictures were appearing on his screen. The two Decepticons seem to know what they meant, they were nodding and glancing at each other. Finally his screen turned blank, he gestured to the door and started to walk. Breakdown groaned.
"Wanna walk the rest of the way?" Breakdown looked at Miko, she smiled and nodded, "Walk!? Dude! I'm gonna sprint, wait till Megatron hears about this." She started to climb down herself. But he caught her as she fell to his elbow, with a chuckle he set her down, and true to her word she started to dash off. Soundwave watched as she cut ahead of him, she stumbled and almost fell as she turned the corner too sharply. She smiled as she corrected herself and continued running.
Her chest rose and fell, her feet pounded against the ground. She smiled, a feeling of thrill and joy filled her. She had her first mission, her first proper mission. A mission where she actually was a part of it, where she had fought and assisted. She had scouted, fought and won the mission! She had gotten the relic! She had won the relic! Was this…? Was this what it was like when they let her loose? When someone actually believes in her? She felt like a kid, rushing to get to their parents, excited to show them the finger painting they made. It wasn't a feeling she was too familiar with, yet it was a thrill to feel it now. Especially when that person who was proud of her, was… Well, the leader of an entire army. Optimus's standards were high, so she wondered what his standards were? She hoped he'd be proud. She was proud! Fuck she was proud of herself!
The large doors hissed as they opened for her, she flew into the Bridge. Her tiny footsteps sounded louder then they were, echoing around the large room. The noise made Megatron turn, he examined her for a moment and then a large grin covered his faceplate. He knelt down, his servo splayed out, palm facing the ceiling. She was quick to clamber on.
"Dude! Dude! You won't believe what just happened! I got the relic!" She shouted. He stood, holding her up to his optic level. Miko crawled to the side of his palm, he knew what to do. Slowly, his servo tilted and she crawled from the side of his palm to the back. She moved from his knuckles to sit on his index, her usual perch. He grinned as he took in the information.
"Oh? What do you mean you required the relic? Where was Breakdown at the time?" He used his other arm to lean against the terminal. She shrugged as she looked at her shirt, her fingers poking through the holes in her shirt. He frowned as he looked at the holes.
"Er… He was kinda busy!" The door hissed open. Breakdown and Soundwave entered, Megatron arched an eyebrow. He lowered Miko and looked at the blue mech. He kept his gaze away from the warlord as he bowed slightly.
"Lord Megatron! Me and Miko have collected the gauntlet!" He raised himself upright. Megatron growled as he looked at said human, she was beaming with pride. Yet he could see the damage. Her bruised body, the scratches along her body and the torn clothing. Her hair was full of rocks and dust. He turned to Breakdown and the other mech flinched.
"I have heard, now. Why is Miko so beaten up? What happened?" He barked. Miko blinked, she ran her hands through her hair, cringing as rocks and other such things fell amongst her fingers. She looked at the dirt, frowning. She finally felt how dirty and sweaty she was. She shuddered at the feeling, in disgust mostly. She felt so gross, and then the tiredness hit her.
"Well, erm…" Breakdown sighed and he turned. He revealed Airachnid, who didn't look too pleased to be there. Megatron's body tensed and his pupils widened. Yet only for a moment, he was soon leaning down slightly, eyes narrowed.
"Airachnid… It's been some time…" His voice was a husky growl, he didn't seem pleased to see her. Miko yelped as he pulled his hand closer to his chest. He was aware of her tendencies then, the human swallowed and decided it was best to stay close to the larger mech. She had decided that a long time ago, it really felt like it at this point. That staying close to him was the best choice for her.
Airachnid placed a servo on her chest and bowed as she spoke, "Lord Megatron. What can I say?" She pulled her hand away to gesture. A sly smirk covered her face as her optics turned to Miko, but quickly snapped back to the mech as she continued with a shrug, "It's good to be back." Megatron's chestplate rumbled as she grinned at them. She looked back at Miko.
"I'm impressed with your pet, defeated the wrecker and Arcee all by her-little-self." Airachnid hummed. Breakdown was quick to turn back to face Megatron, he cleared his throat.
"Don't worry sir! I didn't leave Miko all by herself… I just got caught up with things. Erm…" He paused. He looked at the ground, his hands fumbling together. Megatron groaned as his other servo tightened into a fist and yet he released it as he spoke, "Report to Knockout at the med-bay, I'll be reading your report carefully." He barked. Breakdown took a step back and nodded quickly.
"Of course Lord Megatron!" He was quick to leave. Megatron groaned as he looked at Miko. He lifted her up to his optics. She found herself shuddering as he scrutinised her, her hair and her clothing. With his index digit, he lifted her bruised arm. She hissed in pain. He stopped when she did so. She stiffened as he hooked the tip of his claw under her shirt and lifted up the side. He turned her to look at her bruised back. Her shirt fell and then he turned her suddenly. His optics had caught something, he looked at her chest. The torn cloth and the small white marks. He pulled away snarling.
"What. Happened?" He growled. Miko swallowed as she looked at her ruined shirt. She took a deep breath as her palm cupped her forehead. She looked at him, Airachnid's words were rattling in her head. She gripped the two torn parts, she pulled them close together.
"She… She thought you had experimented with me and that's why I was special to you." She half-lied. The whole truth, it was a lot. She had an idea of what Airachnid was implying when she did what she did and said what she said.
Megatron's expression settled as he sighed. He started to walk, heading out of the bridge. She swallowed. She didn't want to tell him the whole truth, not yet. It made her feel sick, the idea made her feel so uncomfortable and… She shook her head. She yelped as he lifted her up again, he was smiling softly.
"Now, tell me, how did you defeat the Autobots?" His voice was a husky hum, it always made Miko feel safe and it made her smile. She beamed up at him. She tilted her head as she started to remember.
"Okay! First! When Breakdown first got the relic, that spiderbot attacked us! She had pinned me down and was punching him! Then Arcee and Bulkhead came, and Arcee cut me out…" Miko paused, she remembered the conversation. She looked down at her legs as she spoke.
"She… She wanted me to come back to the Autobots." She choked up. He frowned as he tilted his helm. He cocked his head to the side.
"And what did you say?" His voice was a soft hum. He was interested to see, had his indoctrination worked? Was she loyal? Well, indoctrination was a strong word. Truely, he hoped that she wasn't going to leave, not because he wanted to indoctrinate her, but because he cared for her. She was a wonderful little fighter, a spark that was capable of becoming a great flame. He had found himself letting his walls down, a strenuous and tiring task for him. He had kept them up for so long, he had been so closed off for so long. He didn't want it all to be for none, he wanted her to stay. He wanted to keep her close. He wanted her close, he needed her close at this point.
He couldn't lose that opening, the ability to be weak, to be open. He watched her, tears started to spill. Miko shook, she wanted to appear strong. Yet she couldn't.
"I ask her to say sorry… And she said… She said that this… This was just to get their attention and to upset them," She cried as she looked at him, "She said I was throwing a temper tantrum! I- I… She… She doesn't! She doesn't care! None of them actually give a shit, they're not sorry…" She held her head in her hands as she cried. He stopped walking, he lifted her up. He frowned, he had a feeling that Miko always hoped that the Autobots did care for her, and she could go to them in some great reunion. But now that had been crushed, now her heart had been crushed. She cried as she looked at him. He sighed, the warm exhale covered her. She stared into his massive red optics, his hum made her entire body vibrate as she touched where his nose should be. A claw reached up and started to rubber her back, she shuddered yet relaxed into his touch.
"Hush… Hush dear pet. Do not waste tears on them, do not cry…" He softly spoke. His voice was so soft, an unusual tone for him. He started to walk again, slow and steady. Miko nodded as she tried to calm herself. Yet her chest and shoulders still shuddered and shook. He hummed as he watched her.
"I just wanted them to say sorry… I thought they were my friends, she said they were still looking for me, do… Do they..?" She wasn't able to finish her sentence as she cried, her voice cracking up too much.
"They are fools, idiots! You are worth more than they know, are you not?" He tilted his helm, his clever smirk was covering his faceplate. Miko tilted her head to copy, giggling when his smile widened. He then tilted his helm the other way and she copied. He chortled as he looked at her. She smiled as she moved her head back up.
"I guess… You do make me feel like I'm worth a lot." She admitted softly. His engines purred as he smiled at her. He held her close to his insignia, he lowered his helm to gaze down at her. She brushed her hair back, she smiled softly at him. His chest rose and the servo that leaned against it moved with it. So Miko was giggling as she swayed up and down with the two.
"Because you are. Which is why I convinced Knockout to collect some items to be equipped, if requested, to give you a 'haircut', if so desired." He iterated the point of it being her choice, for it was. He smiled as Miko's eyes widened with glee.
"Really!?" She was bouncing up and down, she moved to look ahead. She forgot her previous sadness. He petted her head some more, he enjoyed the softness and the way it moved. She looked at him, glancing back with a smile. He watched her shoulders quiver still, and her chest shuddered unevenly. She still had tears to cry, she still held some grief. He watched her for a moment, he was tempted to diverge his path. Back to the bedroom, where they could be alone, where he could let his walls fall and he could fully comfort her. He didn't diverge though. He knew the damage Airachnid could cause. Miko could be dying by internal bleeding as they walked.
He didn't want to take the chance of her being even more hurt by his neglect to take her to the medic first. Yet he would comfort her in the most discreet way he could. He tilted his servo back ever so slightly. She fell back, sitting against his insignia. What she did not seem to realise was that his insignia was right above his spark chamber. She sat above his spark chamber. His spark pulsed and ebbed. The infected, dark energon filled light was somehow still beating. It was beating, it was alive and it was reaching.
Sparks could do that, they had tendrils made of spark matter which could reach and touch things. He could feel his spark ebb and reach. Reaching to touch her. Sparks would only do that with someone who was important to them, so he wasn't surprised when his spark reached for Miko.
The door hissed open as they entered the med-bay, Knockout was doing scans on the two stuck Decepticons. Breakdown had laid the relic down on the table beside them. Megatron walked towards it, he placed Miko down and then picked it up. He chuckled as he tilted it, examining the gauntlet as he activated it and deactivated it. The other Decepticon's watched cautiously. He activated it and tilted it towards a wench. A yellow orb surrounded it. The wench started to float, it followed the way the gauntlet tilted and when he moved the gauntlet to the left, the wench tilted to the left. The wench came towards him and then away at his command with the gauntlet. He deactivated the gauntlet and the wench started its fall to the ground. He reactivated it and the golden orb consumed it and it stopped its fall. It just floated there above the fall by a few metres. The room was filled with laughter as the golden orb shot into his free servo and he deactivated the gauntlet. His laughter subsided as he set both things down beside Miko.
"Excellent! This will be put to good use… I am very pleased Miko, your performance has been extraordinary today." He turned to look at her and grinned as she jumped up and down in excitement. She had her fists punching into the air above her head. She laughed as she spun around on one foot.
"Woop! Hahaha! Dude, you should have seen me! I managed to grab Arcee with the relic! And she went flying!" Miko wildly gestured. He chuckled as he watched her. So, his little pet was now fighting the Autobots and won. He couldn't keep the grin off his face as he petted her head.
"So! Do I get to keep the relic? To fight again!" She smiled. He paused and looked at her. He frowned, he bit his bottom derma. His sharp denta almost grinding into it. He looked at Knockout, who had a look of delight and curiosity. Deconstructing the device would not be difficult. The idea of reusing the mechanics to make something suitable for Miko in a combat sense was intriguing, perhaps reconstructing it for transport reasons would also be a factor. He smiled and looked at her.
"We'll see, we'll see." He hummed. Knockout walked from Airachnid and Breakdown who had been told just to wait it out. He started to do a check-up on Miko, scanning her and flashing lights into her eyes. When he turned away, Megatron leaned down. Miko smiled up at him, patting his cheek.
"I'm okay, big dude. I'm okay- Pft, I forgot… Baketsusame." Miko hummed the last word in her native tongue. Megatron's eyebrow arched eye as he looked at her.
"What does that mean?"
"Your new nickname, it means bucket shark in Japanese." She laughed as she watched his eyebrow, smile and shoulders drop. He growled as he stood up straight, rolling his optics as he looked away from her. Yet Miko's little giggles continued. She smiled as she called up to him, "Lord Baketsusame? You okay?" She teased in a sing-song voice. He looked back at her, sighing as Knockout returned. Miko had to take off her shirt, shoes and socks, showing off the bruising and scrapes covering her back and arm. Small red lines dotted the back of her calf and thigh. She frowned as Knockout tutted and looked through his special, new, human medical box. Miko shifted uncomfortably, horribly bare in front of them all. She could feel all optics on her. She felt vulnerable and almost naked. She also was very cold. She could feel her cheeks heating up and embarrassment filled her head. She shivered and then yelped as Megatron scooped her up. He placed her in the crook of his neck, her usual seat. She paused as she heard his engines purr. His metal started to warm around her. She smiled, leaning against the warm mesh. His large neck and spiked shoulder plates acted like shields, obscuring the others' view of her. Even he couldn't properly see her.
"Are you feeling better here?" He said softly. His voice was quiet and low, it made the plating around Miko lightly vibrate. She nodded as Knockout placed the box in front of them and started to sort through it.
"Yeah, thanks Baketsusame." She teased, he huffed. But then a quiet came over him. His servo reached up and gently patted her head.
"I'm proud of you Pet, I wish for you to know that," His voice was a soft hum, "I am so very proud of you, for fighting and for getting the relic." Miko's eyes widened. She looked at Knockout who was muttering to himself. She looked at the purple stripe of armour she sat on. Her feet patterned against it in glee. She did make him proud! She had someone proud of her.
Megatron was proud of her.
He held her, warming her up with his engine. She smiled as she leaned against him. He was proud of her, and it seemed. He cared for her.
He cared for her greatly.