Author's Notes: Well, after taking way too long again I finally put up part two to Persuasion. I hope you guys like this chapter. It's one I've had planned for months but haven't had a lot of time to write until recently. Please favorite, follow, and review :)
Chapter 6
Persuasion Part II
Thrust's processor was nearly frozen in panic. Prisma had been taken to the interrogation chamber. Dirge was going to hurt Prisma. His Prisma was in danger. Prisma was probably going to die. This cruel string of thoughts played in his processor on loop, but he managed to snap out of it after a breem. He looked around and saw that Dirge was already gone. He had to follow him!
Thrust ran into the building that housed the medbay, interrogation rooms, and waste storage and disposal room. Yes, the garbage room was adjacent to the medbay. Yes, the troops complained. No, Ramjet wasn't going to do anything about it.
Thrust found Dirge in the small tool room that was adjacent to Examination Room Beta. Room was too generous a word; it was more like a walk-in closet.
Dirge was sterilizing his implements, some rather brutal and archaic looking tools, and Thrust knew he had to stop him. Still, this was his brother. He would have to play it casual rather than try to fight him.
"Hey Dirge, I've always wondered," Thrust said nonchalantly from behind Dirge's wings, "If those instruments are used to torture and kill mechs, then why do you bother to sterilize them? I mean, who cares if they're clean? You're just using them on a dead mech anyway."
"Don't you have a job to do elsewhere?" Dirge asked; annoyed, "I don't have time to talk you through another password change or whatever issue has come up tonight. I just want to do this quickly and go back to my nice warm berth."
"Say, Dirge," Thrust tried to look disinterested by leaning against the wall with his arms crossed over his cockpit, "If you're really that tired, then I could interrogate the prisoners for you. Just tell me what I'm supposed to learn from them, and I'll get that information faster than you can say holy slag!"
"You expect me to trust you with my equipment, not to mention my assignment?" Dirge asked derisively, "Please. Just because you haven't screwed up lately doesn't mean we can trust you to not blow it now. Besides, interrogation requires skill, patience, and the ability to intimidate others. You're just a schoolyard bully. This job requires a monster."
"I don't think you're a monster," Thrust replied with a shrug.
"Of course you don't," Dirge replied as he rolled his optics, "You're my brother. Besides, you're used to my fear-inducing sonic frequency. They're not. That's why I'm kept away from the prisoners, so that they can't build up an immunity to my nightmarish sounds. Now, fly along Thrust. I have work to do."
"Oh, come on! Let me do this, Dirge!" Thrust whined, "I just want to prove that I can be useful! Besides, it means you'll get to recharge faster..."
Of course Thrust, for once, didn't care about proving himself at all. He was only interested in keeping Dirge away from his femme. He could care less about the other saucer-former, but he had to save his beautiful and kind Prisma from the pits of oblivion.
"Fine," Dirge finally sighed in resignation, "The prisoner's name is Comet. He has information on the location of a large cache of energon stored somewhere in Iacon. Ramjet wants exact coordinates so that we can steal it from the Autobots. We also brought in Comet's younger sister Prisma. You will ask him questions, and every time he denies knowledge of the warehouse, lies to your face, or defies you in any way, you are to punish Prisma. Hurting Comet will yield no results. According to his psychological profile he cares more about the suffering of others than that of himself. Just remember, Comet is the enemy, and Prisma is his spark. Do whatever is necessary to get that intel. Oh, and don't wake me up unless you want one of my scalpels jammed in your optic. Any questions?"
"Won't you just have to repair the optic later?" Thrust asked with an impish smirk; feigning ignorance to tease his brother.
Dirge groaned softly and then walked out of the room/closet. Thrust was alone, and his femme was on the other side of that door; probably terrified. Thrust wanted to go in right away and take her back to her cell, but that would be foolish. He began to think about the situation and what it could mean for him.
Ramjet always said that a good Decepticon seizes every opportunity to get ahead in life. Thrust held Comet's and Prisma's lives in his servos, and all the Decepticon military wanted was a set of coordinates to a lousy warehouse. Thrust would get nothing for that. He probably wouldn't even get credit for making Comet talk! No, if he was to get his reward he would have to play his own game. A plan was forming, and soon he knew exactly how to get what he really wanted...
Comet and Prisma were both strapped to separate tables; suspended in an upright position facing each other. They had been there for a quarter joor and yet no one had come in to interrogate them. Dirge was taking a long time, and Comet suspected it was a purposeful attempt to cause added stress to their sparks. Well, it was working. With every passing astro second both Autobots' imaginations went wild with the grim possibilities awaiting them.
The door finally opened, and Comet saw that it wasn't Dirge handling their interrogation, but their old taskmaster Thrust. He scowled at the dark red jet, but he didn't say anything. No sense exchanging snarky comments when nothing had happened yet.
"Well, it seems you two are in quite the predicament..." Thrust needled the two saucers as he walked around the berths in an almost predatory way, "From what I understand, the Autobots have been holding out on us," Thrust then turned to Comet and stared him square in the optic as he coolly said, "We know you know the location of a warehouse full of energy. A warehouse the Autobots are hiding from their old pals the Decepticons. Now, that ain't very nice, is it?"
"The Autobots in that area will starve without those reserves!" Comet shouted angrily at the seeker, "I don't care what you do to me, I will never talk!"
Thrust's grin only widened at those words, but Comet didn't allow the Decepticon to see just how afraid he actually was; instead glaring at him defiantly.
"Do you know what Dirge told me to do if you refuse to cooperate?" Thrust asked rhetorically, "He told me to hurt Prisma. He said for every refusal you give me, I make you watch as your sister is forced to suffer at my servos."
Prisma gasped, and Comet's stone-faced facade slightly crumbled as his mouth twitched. It was enough though. Thrust knew he was listening now.
"If you dare to hurt Prisma I'll…!" Comet barked, but then didn't finish his thought when he realized just how helpless he was.
"Now, now, Comet. No need to get testy," Thrust replied mockingly, "Believe it or not, I'm not a sparkless monster. I know I'm supposed to hurt, probably even kill Prisma if you defy me, but I'm willing to be generous and show both of you mercy...for a price."
"What do you want, you filthy 'Con?" Comet growled suspiciously.
"Oh, my offer isn't for you," Thrust replied; amusement clear in his tone, "My offer is for Prisma."
He then turned to where the small femme was shackled to the table and touched her chin in a way that was tender yet very intimidating. She knew that hungry look in his optic, she had seen it from other Decepticons, and she could already guess what he wanted from her.
"My offer is simple, my dear," Thrust purred in what he hoped was a seductive voice, "I will forget all about the warehouse info, and I'll let Comet go free...if you agree to be my bondmate."
"Don't do it, Prisma!" Comet shouted frantically, "Don't you dare touch her, you piece of slagging scum! Leave her alone!"
"You...you would free Comet?" Prisma asked in a small voice as she looked at Thrust with a combination of fear and hope, "You would allow him to leave this prison alive?"
"Yes, I would do that for you," Thrust assured her as he lovingly held her cheek in his servo, "Please say yes. I'll be a good bondmate to you, I promise. I can give you a good life. Enough energon, a decent shelter, and a place on my berth next to me. I'm sure my trinemates will learn to love you, too. I want to wake up every orn to your beautiful face plate next to mine. I promise I'll treat you right. You'll never have to worry about hard labor or the threat of a firing squad again. What do you say, Prisma? Will you be mine, forever?"
Prisma looked down at the ground as much as her bonds would allow her to. She took in a deep intake, and offlined her optics in thought. Thrust could tell she was still thinking, and he held his own intakes in anticipation and anxiety. If she said no he didn't know what he would do.
"Prisma, don't be fooled by that Decepticon!" Comet shouted desperately, and Thrust was tempted to shoot the mouthy mech, "Remember how seekers deal with their bondmates! If you belong to Thrust then you belong to all three of them! It's better to die than to become a mere toy for these terrorists! Please Prisma, use your common sense!"
Thrust could see Prisma visibly shake at the mention of his trinemates. He hadn't taken into consideration how fearful she might be of them. Ramjet was leader of the gulag, and Dirge was the interrogator (not counting this time). She might not want to be near them. He also wondered if perhaps they would hate him for allowing an Autobot femme into the bond. These thoughts upset Thrust, but they weren't enough to dissuade him. All he needed from her was a yes.
"Thrust..." Prisma's voice sounded so quiet and defeated as she spoke, and Thrust had to strain just to hear her, "...If you will keep your word and release Comet, then I will submit to you. Please just help him. Comet is only in here because of me. He doesn't deserve this, please. I'll bond with you just...please..."
"Haha!" Thrust pumped his fist in victory, and quickly flipped the switch to allow Prisma out of her bonds so that he could twirl her around the room, "Oh, Prisma! You've made me so happy! I'll be the best bondmate ever! I promise, I promise, I promise!" He then excitedly pressed her into a tight embrace, "Oh, sweet spark! We will be so happy! We'll make passionate love every night and grow old together when the war is over. Oh Prisma, Prisma! I'm the luckiest mech in the world!"
Thrust pulled her back to look at her as he grinned like a sparkling with energon goodies. He noticed however that she wasn't looking back at him, and she wasn't smiling. Her optics were downcast in shame and her expression was one of miserable resignation.
Suddenly the room was very quiet, and Thrust could just barely make out the sounds of Comet's dental plates grinding in barely repressed anger. This no longer felt like the victory it had a moment ago. Prisma didn't love him. She was merely using her own freedom as payment for Comet's. Thrust knew he should be angry that she was ruining his victory (as any good Decepticon would feel) but at the moment all he could feel was hurt.
"Prisma?" Thrust said softly as he turned her chin to force her to look at him, "Do you think you could ever learn to love me? Really?"
Prisma shut her optics tight, as though it would somehow magically make the situation go away. She took a deep intake before she spoke.
"I...I will try," Prisma managed to say without breaking down, "Please don't hurt Comet. I promise I won't run away. I will be a good bondmate and show respect for you and your trine. I beg you to keep your word and release my brother, please."
"...No," Thrust said stonily, and Prisma look up at him in horror.
"No, wait!" Prisma pleaded, "I don't know what I've done wrong, but I'll fix it! Thrust, sir, please don't take back your word! You mustn't!"
"Prisma...I can't do this," Thrust shook his helm sadly, "I can't go through with this deal."
Thrust then walked over to Comet's berth, and Prisma tried to physically stop him by pulling on his wings. She wasn't strong enough to even slow him down however, and he made it to Comet's berthside in three long quick strides. Comet glared at Thrust while Prisma wrapped herself around Thrust's waist in a last ditch effort to keep him away from her brother. Prisma was screaming at him to stop and Comet was struggling to get free, but much to their surprise Thrust merely flipped the switch that released the shackles and Comet fell to the floor in a heap.
Comet stood up and looked at the larger Decepticon in bewilderment. Prisma let go of his waist and likewise stared up at him in confusion. Thrust then pulled a gun out of his subspace, and both prisoners cringed to ready themselves for the fatal shots, but instead Thrust handed the gun to Comet!
"It's a stun gun," Thrust explained, "Make it look convincing."
Comet just stared down at the gun like he had never seen one before, and Prisma looked up at Thrust with a renewed softness and astonishment in her optics.
"You're allowing both of us to go free?" Prisma asked in awe, "But why? You had us trapped and at your mercy. You got everything you wanted, so why are you doing this?"
"I didn't get what I wanted," Thrust shook his helm ruefully, "I wanted you to love me. Even if I had forced you to bond with me, you still wouldn't have loved me. You would've been mine, but you would've been unhappy. I don't want you to be unhappy. If letting you go is the only thing that will make you happy, then I'll do it. I just wish you weren't on the wrong end of this slagging war. Then maybe we could've had something together."
"Maybe," Prisma nodded.
She then gently hugged Thrust, and he thought his spark would stop in his chassis. She was actually hugging him! He returned the hug with a contented smile, and was beginning to feel less bad about the decision he had made.
"Just so you know, I think you're a good mech deep down," Prisma told Thrust, "And you're not unattractive. You are right about one thing though, I can't be happy being forced to bond with a Decepticon. Maybe someday when the war is over we will meet again. For now though, I am grateful for what you are doing for us. Thank you so much."
"Alright Prisma, back up!" Comet abruptly shouted, "I need a clear shot!"
Thrust grumbled under his vocalizer. He was happy that Prisma and her brother would have a chance at a new life, but he hated it that he had to get shot in order to give it to them. Comet took aim and then fired at Thrust's helm; knocking him out. Thrust would later wake up to his brothers yelling at him for botching his interrogation; unaware of the sabotage that had been committed.