The techno-organics

Chapter 22

"I'm having a hard time swallowing this Prime." Fowler sat on the sofa and massaged his temples. The hybrids all observed the stressed human from different angels. Canary did the best she could to sit up and Rachel sat in her wheelchair. Toni hung from the wall with her claws in vice grip against the mountain. Alabaster had returned to her place on Optimus's shoulder, but the Prime planned to have a serious discussion regarding her behavior. Fowler looked up several times and observed Rock who sat in the chair next to him. He tried to hide his metallic face the best he could but it still caught the human's attention. The agent sighed one last time before continuing.

"Are you telling me that some unknown group collected material from you and used them to breed these..."
"Techno-organics." Ratchet finished for the human.

"You found them earlier today after two of them committed murder, hence your trip to London. The 'speedster' is an techno-organic made from Arcee, and now three of them are imprisoned by the Decepticons after you tried to attack the warship." That pretty much sums it up. Fowler looked up at Alabaster and pointed at her.

"And are you saying that, little miss tentacles, is your DAUGHTER, Prime." He gasped in disbelief. Alabaster didn't say anything but smiling like a kitten as Optimus confirmed.

"How many of you are there?"

"There used to be hundreds of us, but most of us died shortly after birth. Then there was the experiments going wrong and the executions of those they deemed failed. There are only twelve of us left." Alabaster answered somberly and leaned against Optimus's neck. He had a lot of machinery around his neck and shoulders and was worried that Alabaster might get stuck in something. He therefor tried to keep his movements to a minimum in order to avoid hurting her.

"But what about your human parents? There must have someone who gave birth to you."

"I have been wondering the same thing." Bulkhead admitted. Toni jumped down from the wall and retracted her claws, to which sent sent shivers down Fowler's spine.

"We used to think that too." She said as she put on her white leather glove. "Until we found out we were breed in artificial wombs and that our human parents are actually just random donors from around the world. They collected samples from those they deemed the most fit to pair with their CNA and... well, you see the result." The Autobots felt sick, they almost wished they hadn't heard that. It would take time for them to get used to it, but for now it was simply too disturbing.

"I don't want to be insensitive but I must ask what you're planning to do. What are you doing now that you've escaped your captors?"

"We just want a place to call home, and live in peace." Rock answered with a gentle smile, like a child remembering a pleasant dream. "We never intended to make contact with either the Autobots or the Decepticons. But it happened. We really just want to be free and explore the world for ourselfs, we want to live for ourselfs and not our abusers, or anybody else."

"But what happened to the psychos that created you?" This time none of the hybrids answered. It was simply too much to talk about their past. Even answering such simple questions was difficult without having shadows of knives, needles and splattering red dancing in front of their eyes. They sat still, looking into the darkness, clamping their hands on anything they could find and tensing their jaws.

Ratchet felt Rachel grab his hand and bring it closer to herself. She clung to the medic's arm like she was hugging it. But her behavior resembled an animal seeking shelter, or a child seeking comfort from her parent. He leaned forward and asked if he could answer for them and Rachel nodded in response.

"They're dead, agent Fowler."

"How can you be so sure? Even if they are, I need you to give me any knowledge you have of their base and their whole organization."

"What's the point in investigating them?" Toni asked with an inpatient edge in her voice. She ran her fingers anxiously trough her hair, messing up her pixie cut.

"What if not all of them died. What if there are other groups they worked with. The dangers are too big for the military to brush this off." Arcee tensed and opened her mouth to speak.

"But that would mean letting your government know about them." She realized as the atmosphere tensed.

"No." Alabaster whimpered and put her arms around herself. "They're dead. You don't need to report anything. We can come up with a story." She smiled nervously and whimpered as her chest started to hurt.

"The problem is bigger now. There is an potential terror group that's breeding hybrid super soldiers. We can't do nothing when there's a risk that they might try to breed another army of you." If the Autobots could change color, they would be pale or green right now. That possibility nauseated them even more and barely made them able to hold their facade.

"No, they're dead. They're dead, we're telling you."
"You have no right to dig into our history." Rock kept his voice steady with an angry edge without raising from the chair.

"Please, calm down." Optimus said to the hybrids.

"I just want to know how you're so sure."
"Because we KILLED THEM!" They screamed almost in unison and made the agent silent. He had plenty more to ask but was to afraid to say anything now. What would they do if he kept aggravating them? How far could he go before they decided to introduce him to their creators? Alabaster shook from a horrible mixture of emotions. The Autobot leader put his hand gently over her in an attempt to calm her, but she kept shaking.

"Please, agent Fowler." Ratchet begun as he put his hands on Rachel's shoulder. She griped at the roots of her ginger hair and made clattering sounds with her teeth. "They might look like adolescents, but they're like children younger then Jack, Miko and Raphael." Unnoticed to anybody, Canary logged into the pentagons mainframe and erased any file that contained evidence of Flash's existence. She couldn't do much about the witnesses of their groundbridge, so she did what she could. She finished by adding a few codes that would make their system report it as a system failure. No evidence, no crime, and their secret would be kept. Canary's smug look was hidden behind her mask as she turned to the conversation and let the drama unfold.

"I know that this is a difficult situation." Bulkhead began. "But can't you help us keep them secret? After everything we have done for you, you owe us." Fowler rested his forehead against the palm of his hand but looked up again to see the hybrids looking at him in a way he did not like. Like they were waiting to hear his decision, and if they didn't like it, they would attack him like a pack of predators. This was a really complicated situation, he couldn't keep such a big secret for long and if his superiors found out, it could adventure his career and put him in jail for treason. On the other hand, if he didn't do something then those hybrids might get violent

"I can't promise anything." He mumbled and removed his hand. "And I won't take the fall if they find out. If they start asking, then I knew nothing about all of this." Was his final word as he eyed the techno-organics. He didn't know which one was the most unsettling, Rock for his half metallic appearance, Alabaster who acted so childlike right after she attacked him or Toni. With those claws she reminded him too much of Starscream.

"Understood." Optimus said as Fowler returned to the elevator. They all knew there was nothing to do now except trusting Fowler. They could only hope he would be on their side on this matter.

"Worthless, useless, ugly, monster, freak." The voices taunted Anastasia just as badly as it did Nikolai. Except this time they weren't just bodyless voices, they came from the bony monster in the corner. She knew it was fake, but it didn't make it any less terrifying. She could not only hear and see it, she could also feel it when it ran its sharp cold fingers over her skin and that sour smell of blood and decay. The mind, despite so helpful, can be ones worst enemy when ill. She focused all her attention on it, despite the fear she had to focus on something. They locked her in the cells again with her cuffs. Alone, completely alone. Nikolai was home though, but she knew he felt no joy in it. She was such an idiot to get caught by the Decepticons. They should never had tried to attack them. What were they thinking? This was her own fault for coming up with such an stupid plan. And what good came out of it in the end?

Her father might be hurt because of her. She didn't even know her own intentions, it was something that's been deeply in bedded in her bones that made her do that. Everyday for years she was taught to kill and fight.

The scientists would kidnap people, she didn't know from were but she later figured out they were probably homeless. They would chain the prisoners up and order the hybrids to attack them, hurt them, stab, punch and use their different powers on them. If the prisoners were strong enough, they would fight, which was hopeless. Anastasia hated it, they all hated it. They didn't want to hurt them, but they had to or they would be hurt instead.

Widow hated it the most, they thought her torture methods and the teachers always made sure to drag it out as much as they could. To make sure the prisoners wouldn't die too quickly. In the beginning they would all cry and shake and beg not to do it. And they all apologized several times over every time they even bruised their victim. But over time they stopped begging and did it without complaint. How many people did they kill before escaping? Anastasia didn't even remember her first, they all blurred together like a red fog; but she remembered when she stopped crying.

She entered the training room with her victim strapped to a chair, her trainers stood to the sides and took notes. Anastasia don't remember ever seeing them without their cold calculating expressions. It was like they saw this like any other experiment without regard of the lives they took or the mental and emotional torture they put their creations trough. And what about all the humans they kidnapped, they had names, lives, families, friends and children. Someone who would never know why their loved vanished.

Anastasia eyed her new victim, he was a dirty middle aged man who smelled foul of sweat and dirt. She waited for her order and walked towards her victim, warming up her hands. He shook and whimpered behind the gag, too paralyzed by fear to fight back. He knew he was about to die and wanted to fight back, but couldn't. Anastasia brought her hand only a few centimetres from his face and whispered, "Do svidanya". When Anastasia saw how his eyes exploded and bled from his sockets, she realized just how much she hated this place and hated those who created her.

This was meant to break their spirits but the moment they stopped crying was the moment the scientists wrote their own death sentence. It was cruel how their tormentors still affected them even from the grave. When she attacked Knock Out, it was like she was back in that cell, but this time no one told her to do anything. Her body was moving on it's own and it made her hurt her own original. She better realize that no matter what they do or where they go, those monsters will always be a part of them.

Anastasia was jerked out of her memory as the door opened. She looked up and saw her original in the door way. Knock Out walked towards her with an unreadable expression and kept a safe distance from Anastasia. Arachnid had a point, only he could fool Anastasia to serve the Decepticons, and it would greatly earn his masters favor. But, they were all too unpredictable at the moment. They all believed in the beginning that the twins would be loyal to Knock Out, but that showed to have limits. Now that Anastasia was alone and vulnerable there was a chance to make her dependent on her original, at least, for the time being. Then what would they do with her? She's basically unkillable, if she decided to riot how would they stop her? Lock her up again and hope that time will do the trick? That was a problem for another day, right now, the goal is to win her trust back. They both looked at each other in silence, one was too afraid to yet speak and one was so full of guilt that she couldn't think of anything to say. What do you say to someone you almost killed?

"Why did you do it?" Knock Out started, intending to know just how far her loyalty to him went. "Why did you try to kill me?" Anastasia observed him, trying to spot any damage she could have caused. He didn't seem to be hurt and his speech didn't slur, so maybe he went unharmed.

"I'm sorry." She said in a cracking voice as she lowered her head, too scared to meet his gaze.

"Why did you try to kill me?" Knock Out repeated, an inpatient edge creeping into his voice. How was she supposed to answer, she didn't know herself. Or she did know, she just didn't want to admit it.

"Answer me!" He yelled and she finally caved in.

"Because..." She stopped and took a breath. Trying to stop the pounding in her head. "I don't know what I intended. I don't know if I wanted to kill you or not. I just followed my training." Knock Out observed her crawled up form on the floor. She looked so strong and confident when she first arrived, now she looked scared and vulnerable.

"What do you mean you just followed your training?" The medic crouched on one knee and waited for Anastasia to answer.

"We were trained to become soldiers, remember. Mindless soldiers that followed our creators without a second thought. Their teaching is so in bedded in me that when I saw you, it was like all those hours of killing came back and controlled my body." She broke down and cried into her hands, her tears washed off the make up on her hands. It was now that Knock Out could see that Anastasia had similar scars as Nikolai. Grey branches stretching over her hands and fingers.

"You can't understand how it is being born a weapon and trained a weapon. Their teaching and evil is so deeply carved into me that I didn't even need to be ordered to hurt you. I'm so sorry, please forgive me."

She was right, he couldn't understand. Knock Out clenched his fists, a sudden anger built inside of him as he listened to her cries. But he wasn't angry with her, he didn't know where this anger was directed at. She was far more damaged then he first taught, and the chance for her to attack was still too great with her killing instincts. What could he do to earn her trust? After hearing her, Knock Out didn't want to use her like a weapon like her creators did. He might be selfish and sadistic but even he had his limits. He couldn't do anything right away, he had to establish a relationship one step at a time.

"Anastasia," Knock Out called and caught her attention. "How about I return every day and visit you?" Anastasia was quiet for a moment, questioning if she heard right.

"Aren't you mad at me?"

"Yes, I'm still angry at you for attacking me." Knock Out said as he rose up. "But I realize where it came from. I can ask to have you moved to your own quarters." He stopped and observed her handcuffs. "And maybe I can come up with a different pair of handcuffs that might give you more mobility." The faintest smile appeared on Anastasia's lips before Knock Out turned and left.

There was another matter he wanted to turn to before Knock Out turned in. He got the idea of studying the techno-organics, mainly their biology. If he was able to take just a few genetic samples and a proper scan then maybe he could find their weak spots. In nature if two different species breed then the result will most likely be born with a series of health defects. Trying to mix two species as different as humans and Cybertronians multiplied the possibility several times over. If he was able to find any defect in their biology then maybe they could use it to better control them or defeat them if they rioted. The problem was that no one of them would willingly be examined if they knew the real purpose for it. Maybe the good doctor could come up with an excuse. He remembered how Breakdown complained about how he struggled to heal Freedom after her fight with Megatron. Sure, he succeeded, but he mostly fumbled in the dark. Knock Out could use that as an excuse to convince Freedom to letting him study her. Anastasia was not in very good mental shape at the moment, Breakdown's techno-organic was far too aggressive, that only left Freedom.

Freedom groaned when the knocking woke her up. She twisted and turned, whining as she stretched her limbs. Sleeping on this berth was more uncomfortable then she first expected. Freedom's limbs cracked satisfyingly as she moved. She rose up and rolled her shoulder before the knocking started again. She lazily made her way and pressed a panel which opened the door. Whatever Knock Out intended to say left his mind as he gazed upon Freedom for the first time. Arachnid had told him that Freedom was pretty but he was still stunned when he saw her. She was also taller then he expected. Though Knock Out did expect the spawn of Megatron to be big, it was quite a contrast from being with Anastasia who was a head shorter then her father.

"Hey," Freedom started dryly. "My eyes are up here, if you haven't noticed." She raised two fingers to her face and Knock Out stuttered embarrassed.

"I'm sorry. You're just taller then I expected." Freedom accepted the apology with a roll of her eyes. She have been so used to creeps hitting on her that she just assumed. And since he was no doubt the twins original, she feared he would have twice of their unpredictable personalities.

"Did my father send you to fetch me?"
"No. I'm Knock Out, the ships doctor and lead scientist." Freedom raised an eyebrow half surprised.
'Lead scientist, huh. That might be were Nikolai gets his engineering skills.'

"I came to ask you a favor."

"Yeah, just keep it quick. Because you just woke me up and my patience gets very thin when I'm tired." She complained and massaged the back of her neck. So far so good, compared to her father Freedom had the patience of an angel. But what she just said almost sounded like a threat.

"I'm wondering if I can run a few tests on you." Freedom's eyes turned blood red which Knock Out gasped at.

"You want to experiment on me?" She said threatening and leaned closer over him. Knock Out moved startled backwards as her fiery eyes came closer.

"No. That's not what I meant." Freedom straightened herself again and let him explain.

"My colleague had a hard time treating you when you were injured, I figured that knowing more about your biology could be proved useful if you get hurt again." The curly haired girl did not like the idea of being studied like a lab rat again. And she did not like the thought of what they might find or use the information for.

"Why me, why not Anastasia?"
"She's not in a good state at the moment. Aren't you going to ask about you other friend?"
"Valkyrie?" She stepped out of her quarters and closed the doors closed behind her. "I know why you wouldn't consider her, she would bite your finger off if you tried to touch her." Knock Out stood silent for a moment, not understanding what she meant by leaving her room. He was just about to ask when she sighed.

"I don't like this but I will undoubtedly be hurt again, and I'd rather be treated by a doctor who knows what he's doing. So, lead the way." Knock Out put on his usual smug smile before making their way to the lab. Though, Freedom didn't like the idea that Knock Out might be fooling her. If that ever came to light, she would make sure to make him regret ever lying to her.

"My partner told me about you." Knock Out said as he sent Freedom trough the scanner. He kept talking but Freedom didn't care to listen closely. "He told me you headbutted him and then tried to burn him to a crisp right in front Megatron." Red lights walked over her body several times at a time. Even with her eyes closed the light still burned her retinas and made her cringe. The small space made her think about Toni and her claustrophobia.

Freedom remembered that time she, Toni and Canary broke into a mall to steal necessities. In order to avoid a security guard they hid in a small room, and almost five minutes later Toni started to freak out and claw at the walls like an animal.

'I hope the others are alright. And I hope none of these buffoons have dared touching Valkyrie or Anastasia.'

"Are you even listening?" Knock Out pulled Freedom's mind back to the present.

"No." She answered nonchalantly before sighing. For a race with advanced technology this should take longer. "Are you done yet?" The lid of the machine opened and Freedom wasted no time getting up.

"Just one thing then you can leave." The red robot took out what looked like a syringe and grabbed Freedom's hand. The girl quickly pulled her hand back and glared at the doctor.

"What are you doing?"

"I'm not going to inject you with anything," He quickly defended. "I'm just taking a blood sample."

"For what purpose?" Freedom grabbed Knock Out by the wrist of the hand that held the syringe. He started to try and struggle out of her grasp, but her arm wouldn't even budge. Like it was locked into place. Knock Out feared of what she would do if he didn't come up with an excuse. Before he could come up with anything Freedom took the syringe and let Knock Out go.

"Have I made myself clear?" Her tone became dangerously low and cold. She sounded too much like Megatron for him to ask again. He just took a step backwards and nodded, telling Freedom could leave; but she didn't go right away. If she was going to survive on this warship, she had to establish dominance, making sure that every one of them knew she was no one to mess with. And she started with the good doctor. She took a few quiet steps and placed herself behind Knock Out, making him feel vulnerable. The red Decepticon stood completely still, fearing what would happen if he tried to run.

"You told me that you wanted to collect data in order to treat me better." She chuckled and put and an arm around his waist, pulling him closer. "You better keep that promise, or make sure that I never find out your true intentions." She chuckled darkly and put her other hand on the side of his face. Her arm was no longer covered in soft skin, it was sharp silvery metal with knife like fingers that grazed his cheek and the corner of his eye. She leaned in and whispered so softly and velvety into his ear. "Because if I find out you lied to me, I'll hunt you down and examine what color your blood is." Knock Out was now shaking with no way to escape. She had already shown how much stronger she is, he had no chance if she ever decided to terminate him. He simply stood still without resisting as she loosened her grip.

"You won't need to show me to my quarters. I have already learned the way." She said with an innocent smile on her face, like nothing had just happened seconds ago.

"Have a good night, doctor." She flashed her red eyes before leaving the lab. Knock Out finally lost strength in his legs and fell to his knees. She was just as terrifying as her father and seemed to have inherited his strength as well. No wonder Breakdown lost to her. But he couldn't let some half breed scare him, whatever information he could gather from them would earn his masters approval. Just too bad he wasn't able to get an blood sample. He had hoped to examine it along with the blood that was left in Nikolai's severed arm. One out of two is better then nothing.