She was shivering. Time was blurred. Hours, minutes, she has no idea which ones passed since she made the deal. A true deal with a real-life devil in metal skin. Her mother always said 'if you ever make a deal better prepare for any consequences.' At the time it was meant to mean take responsibility, now the saying took a twisted turn.
A deal to save her son. The very deal that can hurt Jack like no other.
Her finger subconsciously tightens in Jack's shirt, Energon stinging her trembling hands. She was unable to let him go. How could she? She had doomed her son to save him.
Shaking her head, June choked another sob from rising.
She breathed. In and out. The slow rhythmic breathing halted the panic and guilt. Furrowing her brows she pushes all the worry and emotions away, locking them down tight.
She was June Darby, a nurse, mother, and critical thinker. She has faced landslides, motherhood, and giant metal aliens. Panicking now will not save Jack.
Breathing in once more, June closed her eyes and just listened. Noise flooded her senses. The sounds carried from behind the sealed doors. Jack's labored breathing reassured her briefly. Metal footsteps rushed past their door. Static-like voices spoke briefly until they no longer carried the distance. The thrumming hum of what June could assume was the engines vibrated her body slightly.
June just sat there, on the metal berth with her broken son in her arms, Energon burning her skin, listening for anything.
All she had the power to do was wait until Jack was healed then make a break. The room they were in held nothing of use. It was sterile and clean, similar to Jasper's hospital. June knew what this room was. An operating room, most likely used for torture.
She silently grimaced, attempting to swallow with her dry mouth. It felt like hours since she closed her eyes. In that time she listened to many conversations, the only constant was Jack slower breathing. The conversations varied from day to day, to orders from above.
June knew what was happening now. They had found the cavern that she so painstakingly attempted to hide. She never told anyone where it was, she never planned to either, that secret was going to die with her. At least until Jack was ten.
Everything changed when the school called about an explosion on their field trip. The whole power station overloaded and exploded. June expected to pick up a shell-shocked and teary-eyed Jack. what she got was a guilt-ridden ten-year-old hysterically saying it was his fault.
Even then Jack cared too much and took every small mistake to heart. A smile overtook her grimace as memories filled her strength. June was an adult and she will do anything to protect her child. That was why when those thunderous metallic footsteps came into their cell she didn't feel fear but determination. Whatever was to come she will protect her son. June will protect Jack like only a mother can, with everything they have.
Soundwave knew the moment the Autobots entered the mine. The signature energy of ground bridging was hard to miss. He simply looked on with interest, his frame giving away none of his emotions. Megatron was already contacted about the breach, but there wasn't much the Autobots could do. They had gotten what they came for. Troops were already retreating before they even arrived. Lord Megatron's plan was far too swift for them to catch up.
Turning away from the monitors, he allows others to deal with them. He had more pressing orders to take care of. Those orders were currently scrolling across the screen as the information downloads. The Mechlings frame wasn't the only interesting thing to come from the pod. Locations, hundreds of locations all over the galaxy were listed. Solar systems, planets, and uncharted moons had precise locations attached. All were different and no patterns were observed.
The peculiar thing was no information was provided on why these locations were marked.
Scrolling through, he found one location within reach. One on Earth. His servos tapped quickly locating the area. The map popped up, two dots blinking on top of each other.
The Earth's location was on the same spot they flew above. The same one they dragged the neutral cybertronian pod from.
Soundwave filed the information away, scanning through the countless other files.
The Autobots were below wasting their energy looking for his captive. The very captives above in the sky. Megatron smiled, all sharp and gleaming as he examined the screen. He watched them valiantly struggle through his waves of soldiers. They were there to slow them down. Everyone they took down two popped up cornering them even more. They were trapped and heavily outnumbered but not giving up. 'What fools' he scoffed to himself.
Turning from the screen he walked from the command center. The long metallic clang and soldiers saluting was left in his wake. He spotted the door he wanted. The two soldiers moved aside with respectful fear that filled the warlord with glee. They knew if they didn't behave second chances weren't given, even Starscream lost his long ago.
The door slides open to reveal a containment room. A simple berth at the center reveals a human insect. Minimal light was shown on the scene, gleaming off the metal in the room. A pair of dual blue human optics glared with the fury of a full-size Autobot.
"Glaring does little by wear out my goodwill, ... and I have very little of that." He scoffed. 'Like this insect could intimidate him.' The mere thought was laughable.
He simply heard a huff and saw her grimace intensify. It has been less than a groon since her sparkling was taken. Knockout had been particularly eager to see how the device fully functioned. The human had been even more reluctant till he reminded her what would happen to her precious sparkling. 'Ah, carriers, it was wonderful to know that manipulating them is the same on both planets.' He let his grin increase, the human flinched as he approached her huddled form on the berth.
Cuffs were once more securing her wrist and her clothes were soaked in dried Energon, stinging her fragile skin. Humans were so weak.
Megatron leaned in till his faceplates were a few feet in front of hers. The terror hidden in her eyes made him satisfied. Gently he reached his servo out to trace across her delicate jaw. The material was identical to the boy he crushed. It gave no protection. Slowly his feather-light touch turned hard as his sharp service cut into the skin. The human whimpered. Red poured slowly down the cut on her jaw. The tang of iron covered the human stank in the room.
The human's breathing was increasing with the longer he watched the liquid trail down her cheek.
Abruptly he released her gently and turned around sharply. He examined his servo that cut her, red was glistening in the light on the tip.
'Interesting.'
"You will be glad to know the procedure should be complete soon. Your son will finally be of use to the Decepticon cause... as a prisoner of course. The Mechling's processor holds many treasures, some I don't even know he holds. What a find, and it is all thanks to you." He snapped his servos flinging the red liquid off. It splayed finely across the metallic walls. It reminded the warlord of Energon painted from successful interrogations.
"The Autobots will rescue us."
The hope in the voice grated. His mouth pressed firmly together, optics considering.
"Oh, I know that. They are currently trying below us as we speak." He scoffed. "Such a futile effort, we will be long gone before their efforts pay off." He sighs out.
"They will never give up, not Optimus." The steel and hope were still there, it was a truth this insignificant insect wholly believed.
The pacing of his steps echoed in the dimly lit room. He then stopped to meet the eyes that never left him from the moment he walked in.
"Optimus. Hmmm, he will never stop trying so I might as well give you back." The shock on her face pleased him. "Sadly, when you're reunited it will be one-sided, Him cradling your mangled corpse."
Turning abruptly he ignored her yelling human and Cybertronian curses to his metal back. The door slide blocked her mid-sentence. He strides back to the command center. Nothing could break his gleeful mood.
"Sir, we have lost sight of Optimus Prime."
The vehicon was dead and sparking the next click.
"FIND ME PRIME!"
