Once again, Jack found himself in Shockwave's abode much too soon for his liking, though it was marginally better than the mines. He hoped that he would be returned before the matches started though. He needed both the money and the outlet the pits provided for anger release.
It was a bit odd though, that when the door opened, he found Shockwave waiting outside the building. The mech looked him over, and no doubt noticed the stains. "You were hurt?"
Jack climbed out of the trailer. "Yeah, some miners tried to beat me up. Took care of it."
Shockwave examined him a moment longer, then nodded, catching his meaning. The mech then eyed the guards, who flinched from its intensity. "And the guards?"
Jack would have loved to throw them under the bus, and even if Shockwave would have killed them with little more than a word, Jack didn't have any proof one way or the other. No matter how much he knew they were guilty of bribing those miners. The terms Shockwave laid out had been clear. "They didn't touch me."
"Good." Shockwave said simply, sending the guards off with a simple command and leading Jack back inside his gloomy building. As usual he was given a decontamination shower, then led back into his lab where he was ordered to lay upon the berth.
Jack sighed as his cuffs were released and he climbed onto the berth before lying down. "Can I ask why you brought me here so soon after last time? I'm cutting it kind of close to another round of gladiator matches I want to participate in."
"There have been new developments into my research." Shockwave answered vaguely, cryptic as per the norm.
"Is this going to be another 'cut me open' kind of operation?" Jack asked, feeling a little queasy at the thought.
"Not this time." Shockwave's answer surprised Jack more than he expected. "With your matches so close, I will only be taking more scans of your neural pattern and extracting energon samples. Since there is no set time frame for how long your healing takes, anything more invasive would inhibit your ability to fight." he explained. "And then there is the matter of these," his servo ran across the scar which ended at Jack's hip, "to discuss."
Jack suppressed a shudder at the touch. It was the closest scar he could reach, but why didn't he just point at it? "What about them?"
The talon lingered a moment longer before it was withdrawn, the sensation decidedly odd. He could still feel it but the feeling was a little off compared to his unblemished metal.
"As you belong to me, it is undue for you to remain so heavily disfigured." Shockwave informed. Jack blinked. Was he actually saying what he thought he was saying? "After your match, you will be returned here, where I will make a call to have your scarring removed."
'He's gonna...what?' Jack's thoughts were a in a whirlwind, while the thought of Shockwave only letting this happen because he didn't want his property to look ugly, Jack was more focused on the fact without the scars he wouldn't have to look and see where the killing strikes hit again and again. "That's," Jack furrowed his brow, "generous of you."
"It is only logical that your state of being reflects the caste of your owner. It would look poorly on me if you were continually in a state of seeming disrepair."
"I...uh..." Jack stammered, at a loss for words. He never expected this out of someone like Shockwave, even if it was for his own personal reasons. "Thank you?"
Either Shockwave hadn't noticed Jack's reply was more of a question, or he didn't care, as his response likely would have been the same, "Quite right. And while the medic Ratchet was busy," Jack just barely kept himself from reacting to the name, "his intern was available and is said to be quite skilled with scar removal."
Jack furrowed his brow, but his spark still pulsed at the thought of seeing Ratchet. 'Well, I would have.' he thought. "And you think they can clear everything away well enough?"
"If the positive feedback is true, then the procedure will be successful. If not," Shockwave paused, staring at Jack's scars again, "then their business will suffer a significant setback."
Jack stared at him, unsure if Shockwave was implying he'd do something to whatever hospital or business Ratchet set up shop in. "Then...this intern better do a good job." he said, managing to keep his voice neutral.
"Indeed." Shockwave said, and went to fetch a needle.
Jack winced as instead of just one, two vials were filled with his energon. "What's with the upped number? Did you use all the other energon you took from me up already?"
"Yes." Shockwave said, but didn't elaborate further. "Hold still as I scan your neural networks." He warned him, Jack holding still in return.
The mech brought out the scanner again, and held it over Jack's forehead this time. It must not have mattered at which angle the scans came from, but the beeps and shrieks from the scanner put him on edge. When the scanner was removed, Jack sighed in relief.
"Are we done yet? I need to get to the arena." Jack said. "And I'm not sure if the guards will let me leave the mines if I miss the transport."
Shockwave paused. "You think I am sending you back there?"
Jack stilled, warily eyeing the one-optic mech. "Isn't that how this goes? You bring me in, get samples or experiments on something, then send me back." his spark pulsed heavily in his chest. "Un...unless you decided not to send me back at all anymore..." It was a real fear; one Jack didn't know if he wanted an answer too.
"I will be taking you to the arena." Shockwave clarified, causing confusion for Jack. "It appears you do not recall that I will be watching your match today."
"No, I didn't forget that." Jack said quietly. "It's just...I don't understand why you'd...bother to take me there." It was like walking on a high wire, one wrong move and he was sure Shockwave wouldn't take it well. "But," he lowered his optics deferentially, not matter how much it made him seethe inside, "I shouldn't presume anything about you."
"It is only logical that I take you." Shockwave said, optic tearing away from his data. Jack squirmed under his gaze. "If we are both going to the arena, then it would be illogical to take you the mines, only to be shipped back to the pits."
Jack didn't like seeing that Shockwave actually made sense, but the thought of going with him down to the arena as well as watching him there made him deeply uncomfortable. 'At least he won't be allowed out of the stands and into the back where the gladiators go.' he thought, taking some measure of comfort in that. "Yes, I can see the...logic in that, master."
"Good." Shockwave stated before gesturing for Jack to stand and follow him out. Jack did so without complaint, partially out of fear that Shockwave really would ship him out to the mines if he did and because he wanted to get there as soon as possible.
Jack wasn't grabbed by the arm until they reached the entrance to the building, where Shockwave's personal transport already was stationed outside. It was a bit of strange to dwell on; how the heck did these just seem to appear. He didn't even notice the floor being stained with energon from the last time, and he doubted Shockwave cleaned it himself.
There was also something else, and Jack was crammed into the back of the transport as Shockwave took the front. "Just...what do you transform into?" Jack asked.
"Why do you want to know?" Shockwave countered as Jack was loaded into the transport.
"I..I don't know. I've never seen you transform before." Jack wasn't sure why he was asking -boredom? Anxiety? Just to get away from the uncomfortable silences?
"There has never been significant reason for me too." Shockwave replied.
"Does it at least explain why you have a gun instead of another arm?" Jack cringed almost immediately, worried he'd might accidentally set the mech off.
Shockwave's voice never wavered as he started the transport up. "It does." he said calmly. "I transform into a tank; it is quite cumbersome and so using this does not take as much time to travel."
"Is there a reason the you uh...turn into a tank?"
Shockwave paused, saying nothing for a while as they drove. Jack almost jumped when he broke the silence. "I was assaulted vorns ago for my research. The data and finished products were stolen from my lab, while I was left with a broken optic and a missing arm."
"O-oh." Jack didn't really know what to say after hearing that. It certainly wasn't what he expected to hear, but he hadn't really known what kind of answer he was looking for. It made him feel awkward, seeing as he didn't know if he should say anything more or not.
So he decided to change the subject, as he didn't know what to expect of asking Shockwave about what was turning out to be a personal, traumatizing past.
"Where will you be in the stands?" Jack asked. "You will be in the stands, right?"
"I will be in the front row, that is where I can get better readings, and it is closer to the steps that will take me to the pit boss." Shockwave explained evenly, but the last part caused Jack to sputter.
"W-what? Why would you want to talk to him?" Jack's spark seized, panicking at the thought.
"There are things which I must discuss with him." Shockwave's optic narrowed slightly. "You do not need to know the specifics."
Jack narrowed his optics too, but was too afraid to push him right now. He still had to play up his act. "Right, I understand." It didn't stop him worrying about just what it could be though.
"We have arrived." He was informed, the vehicle lowering to the ground gently where Shockwave then stepped out, Jack following suit shortly after with a hand on his arm.
Jack didn't know what he was expecting, but a small one-story building was not it. 'Then again, since these fights are illegal, they probably don't want to provoke suspicion.' Jack thought, but once inside the building he realized why the boss seemed like he came from an office.
The place was as bland and sparse as the office down stairs, and worn down enough on the outside to make anyone pass it by. Jack glanced around, because he had only seen the actual arena, not how you got in. Jack was tugged towards an elevator, and he narrowed his optics at it, but was surprised to find it actually worked with the faint lights of the pad beside the cabin door.
"How did you even know where to find this place?" he asked.
"I have my sources." Shockwave replied cryptically. Jack sighed, because that could have meant anything from threatening someone or bribing them; either way he could buy it.
"Right..." Jack muttered, looking around. When he didn't see a set of stairs he was forced to ask Shockwave, "Where do I go to get to the arena?"
"Through the elevator." Shockwave said flatly as it dinged, and Jack was forced to step into the small cabin, leaning as far as he could into the corner of it. Though the space was small, the ceiling was high, likely to accommodate taller mechs.
It was an incredibly awkward ride down, and he was relieved when the next ding rang out and the door opened. It gave way to the loud chattering of the crowd, which was even louder this close in the stands. Jack looked over the bots sitting in the seats, and he was pulled along to a set of stairs that led to the bottom of the stands to the front row.
Jack stiffened when Shockwave pointed to the door at the bottom of the stairs. "You go through there." The purple mech said.
Jack glanced to the front row, and grimaced. "Right." he muttered again. Jack quickly made his way to the door, with a long hall and at the other end found the assortment of gladiators he recognized from the last time he was here.
His optics scanned the room for Megatron, but there was no sign of him. Either he was currently in battle or...
'No. Megatron wouldn't die that easily.' Jack told himself, ignoring the twinge in his spark at the thought. 'Probably just fighting some unlucky mech and then he'll be back here in no time.'
Jack sifted through the other bots, deciding to check the screen that let them look out into the arena. He didn't know if a match could begin or end so quickly in the time he got here, but the arena had been empty and the hall had been thick and the shouting more muffled. 'Maybe Megatron is out there for all I know.' It was better than thinking he was dead.
Jack steeled himself as he gazed around at the fearsome mechs inhabiting the room. He was going to win todays matches, no matter what it took.
Shockwave had watched his slave scurry through the door, and he looked down at the empty arena and to the blathering crowd he would be forced to sit in. The notion still grated on him, and he set about doing his other business here first. Better to get to acquiring potential test subject out of the way first.
Which meant dealing with the unpleasant pit boss, a middle class bot by the name of Taciturn that ran the illegal matches for the sizable profits the gambling bets and entrance fees offered. Shockwave disliked him, but there were benefits to be made from his ilk.
It didn't take long to find the 'main office' with the large bulky mech standing outside the door. "I am here to speak with your boss."
The mech eyed him warily, glancing at the blaster. "Boss ain't seeing anyone."
"Perhaps I should have made myself clear." Shockwave's voice grew colder, "I am from the high caste, and have things to discuss with your boss. So unless you wish for a fortuitous business venture to slip by, I suggest you stand aside."
The mech shifted uncomfortably at the revelation, realizing that if this slipped the boss by he'd be scrapped for sure, or thrown into the pits with the rest of the low castes.
"Just don't try anything." he said gruffly, but Shockwave remained unperturbed by the threat as he was let inside.
There was a short break between the door and the office, but he remained unimpressed either way both with the room and the mech behind the desk. Though he would never admit he did feel pleased at how the mech froze upon seeing him, no doubt recognizing him.
"I will make this brief, Taciturn." Shockwave said calmly, and the mech blinked. "Yes, I know who you are, just as I am sure you know I am. And why it would be foolish to not hear what I have to say."
"And to what do I owe this...pleasure?" Taciturn asked hesitantly, giving Shockwave a worried glance. Shockwave doubted many, if any, members of the high caste had ever descended upon his abode before now. They likely just stuck to the stadiums, placing their bets and collecting their credits.
"I am undertaking a new project, one where regeneration is greatly enhanced beyond what our systems give us."
Taciturn narrowed his optics. "And you're here because...?"
"I wish to acquiesce some of your gladiators for this experiment." Shockwave replied. "It would be mutually beneficial; I will get test subjects to implant with this healing ability, and you won't need to constantly have an influx of new gladiators because of deactivation."
Taciturn's optics narrowed even further. "Wait, regener- there's already a mech like that here; are you saying he's the result of this project?"
"Yes." Shockwave answered swiftly, narrowing his gaze on the mech. "J-23 is my property- I have been sending him to the arena to test his abilities."
"Those sneaky-" Taciturn cut off, scoffing. "Then clearly you need to keep a better optic on him. He and this other gladiator came in here last time and told me to keep them from fighting each other."
Shockwave had a suspicion about who the other mech was. "Did they give a reason?"
Taciturn smirked. "They were fragging and didn't want to hurt each other."
Shockwave's optic narrowed into a pinprick, an act which greatly worried Taciturn, as it was the only way to discern any sort of emotion from the mech.
"Which gladiator is this?" Shockwave asked tensely, but he already knew the answer even as the pit boss gave it to him.
"D-16, or Megatronus as he goes by here." The mech stated very quickly, wanting to get this little business proposition done as soon as possible and get Shockwave out of there. The presence of a high caste bot in a place like this wouldn't be good for business if he was shut down over a little mishap.
"I see." Shockwave said, his voice tight. "Yes, I will have to keep an optic on my property then." His slave had broken the rules, he kept this from him. For that had would be punished. "Do we have a deal?"
Taciturn nodded, still just wanting Shockwave to leave. "Yeah, you can pick whatever gladiators you want."
"Good." Shockwave replied tersely.
"If there's nothing else, I have to get back to work." Taciturn said.
It was a spur of the moment thing, but one which Shockwave saw no immediate downside too. It would let him see just what his slave and the other mech were up too. "I will of course be going into the gladiator's waiting room, starting now and any other sol I see fit to keep tabs on my slave's progress." his optic narrowed again. "Do you have any objections?"
"As long as you're not tampering with my mechs." He conceded, eyeing the bot cautiously.
"None but my own." A nod, and Shockwave left, leaving the lesser mechs space to find his slave.
He went through another hall, coming into the waiting room where rough and worn gladiators were walking about, but Shockwave was only looking for one. His single optic narrowed when his gaze landed on his slave looking out into the arena through a view screen. Shockwave approached, but his slave didn't notice him. "J-23."
That got the other mech's attention, optics wide as he whirled around. Fear and confusion flashed across his face. "What are you doing here?" he asked. "I'm pretty sure civilians aren't allowed back here."
"An exception was made for me." His slave noticed something off, backing up a foot or so, looking rather nervous now. Shockwave lowered his voice, causing him to stiffen in fear. "You have been keeping secrets."
His slave's optics widened. "What? No, I haven't, I told you what you wanted to know."
"Apparently everything except the fact you and your friend are having intimate relations." Shockwave said, his voice tightening and his slave's optics grew even wider. "You thought you could keep that from me?"
"I-I didn't." The mech stammered. "You were clear about what you wanted to know, and I just figure t-that you wouldn't want to know who I willingly interfaced with. Your orders were only about the guards. I didn't know." his optics lowered as he clasped his hands. "Please, master; I really didn't know."
J-23 gasped as his arm was grabbed and forced up off the ground by Shockwave's singular grip, forcing him to be face to 'face' with him. J-23's face tightened in fear and pain.
"You will never keep secrets from me, even when it concerns the lowest of your activities." J-23 was panicking now, but knew better than to struggle even as they were gathering a crowd of optics.
"I-it was a lie master!" The little bot pleaded desperately. "We lied to the pit boss so we wouldn't have to kill each other, made a deal with him-!"
"For what?" Shockwave demanded.
J-23 winced as the grip on his arm tightened. "We are just friends, and I knew I could never beat him, so we decided to bribe the pit boss and only lied when he wouldn't budge." he gasped as the grip lessened a little, but wasn't let go.
Shockwave leaned in, his optic narrowing. "So you are still...sealed then?" His slave looked at him, but grimaced as he slowly nodded. An odd sort of satisfaction formed in his spark. "You are to make sure it stays as such; I will not have you tainted."
J-23 gasped as he was released, his legs wobbling before he collapsed to his knees, rubbing his arm as his head bowed. "Yes, master."
A short, curt nod from Shockwave, J-23 remaining still until he said otherwise. "I will be watching your match from the stands shortly. I expect you to have improved under the other slave's tutelage." He ordered, waving J-23 off, which he did rather quickly. Likely in fear of being reprimanded again.
Shockwave saw they had garnered a crowd, something he decided to take advantage of. "I have a proposition for any of you who wish to increase your natural healing. I can assure you the results would outweigh any possible costs."
Jack felt as though he had gone deaf at Shockwaves words. He would what? Increase their natural healing...there was no way it didn't have anything to do with his own ability to heal. But Shockwave couldn't have figured it out that quickly, could he?
'This isn't good, this really isn't good.' he thought, panicking at the very thought of just why Shockwave would do such a thing. Clearly, he seemed to have more in mind than just posting his findings. Jack winced as his arm still felt sore, the cables in it stretching back out, but it was not a painless process.
A flash of silver caught his attention, and Jack saw in a tunnel that led to another hall was Megatron leaning against the wall. He seemed to be talking to someone, but Jack had never been so relieved and frustrated to see him. "This is where you've been?" he asked stepping up to the tunnel. "I've been looking for you, I thought you got hurt or worse!"
Megatron paused speaking mid-sentence, and looked at him with a scoff. "Such little faith you have in my abilities." he gestured to himself. "Not a scratch on me."
"Good." Jack said, then rubbed his arm again because of nerves. "Sorry about storming over like that. I was worried about you."
"There's no need." Came the gruff reply, brushing aside his concerns as he always did. Truthfully Jack believed that Megatron did so because he wasn't used to actually having someone care about him at all. Megatron flashed a grin at him for his worrying woes. "I believe I actually found someone who may be able to help us when we get out of these Primus forsaken pits."
Jack tilted his head. "Really?"
Megatron gestured to beside him, where the other mech Jack noticed tilted forward. "His name is Soundwave."
Jack's spark seized, ever wire in his body going tense. 'W-w-what?!'
Out from the corner of the hallway stepped out a familiar, yet different mech that he knew, and was rightfully terrified of from the future. He didn't have the flat, thin arms. His body type was bulkier than what he remembered, and there was a distinctive lack of Laserbeak on his chassis.
Briefly Jack wondered where the little guy was, as he had always assumed that Laserbeak had been a part of Soundwave. Apparently that wasn't so.
Jack wasn't sure what to say, and gulped despite himself. "I...it's nice to meet you, Soundwave." he said cautiously.
The mech said nothing, merely nodding in confirmation as Jack could only assume he was being assessed from behind the visor which hid his face. 'If he even has a face.' Jack wondered, suppressing a shudder.
"I noticed Shockwave came to give you a 'visit'." Megatron's face soured into a scowl, and Jack turned, seeing the mech was staring directly at them.
Jack didn't bother suppressing his shudder this time. "Yeah, he found out about the deal we made and he wasn't...happy to say the least about the whole 'you and me' thing." he explained awkwardly. "I thought he was going to rip my arm off before I had to fess up it just a lie and he made me swear not to...you know." he muttered.
Megatron's scowl deepened, sending the purple mech a glare. "He thinks he can control even that?"
"Seeing as I'm his property he probably does." Jack spat. Then he shook his head, and looked from Megatron and nervously to Soundwave, who'd yet to say a word. "So, er, how did you two meet?"
"The arena." Jack blinked, optics shifting between the two. "Soundwave and I were pitted against each other- he nearly won to." That smug smirk had returned while Soundwave said nothing.
"I thought the matches were to the death?"
"Normally yes, but the crowd thoroughly enjoyed this one. I spared Soundwave and won my earnings- he in turn swore fealty to me."
"Fealty?" Jack asked, his thoughts of 'oh scrap, oh scrap' ran on repeat. This really wasn't good. "It...must have been quite the show."
Megatron chuckled. "Yes, energon flying, plating tearing..." he grinned, and Jack stared at him as he could guess the mech was reliving it in his head.
"So, what do you need fealty for?" Jack asked cautiously.
Megatron broke from his reverie, and narrowed his optics. "To build support and eventually abolish the caste system."
"Of course." Jack said faintly, both wanting the same thing, but terrified by the fact history was starting to repeat itself. 'From what little I know of it, anyway.'
"And...what of me?" Jack asked slowly. Cautiously. Soundwave tilted his head again. "Once I'm free," 'If I ever am,' He thought bitterly, "what role am I to play?"
"You think I would abandon you after all that's happened?" Megatron raised a brow.
Jack rubbed his arm, more out of nervousness. "It's just, I do fear that once you have achieved your dream, that...you'll forget about me."
Megatron's optic raised further, but glanced at Soundwave before venting and reached out grasp Jack's shoulder. The smaller mech's optics widened. "Once you are free, you will have a place in my inner circle, so put those fears aside." he then chuckled as he sardonically touched under his optic. "Besides, I doubt I could very well forget about you with these reminders."
Jack felt a flush of embarrassment. "Right." He paused, shifting. "And I can...er...I can heal you after your matches if you want." Jack mumbled under his breath, looking to the side to avoid making eye contact with Megatron. "Not saying that you'll get hurt but-"
"Yes, yes, I'm well aware." Despite his slightly chiding tone, Jack could tell when Megatron's expression lightened a little.
"Oh uh...both of you then, I guess." Jack added when Soundwaves visor was directed pointedly at him.
The silent mech tilted his head once more, but said nothing.
Jack wasn't sure if he was accepting or not, but froze when he heard his stage name being called, along with an unfamiliar name. Jack breathed in deep, but it only just barely managed to settle his nerves. "Well, guess I'm up next." he glanced over, and saw Shockwave was making his way out. 'Well, now I'm feeling nervous again.'
"And what do you intend to do?" Megatron questioned, optics narrowed.
Jack squared his shoulders. "Not die."
"Fight well." Megatron encouraged. Jack rolled his optics.
"I was taught by the best, remember? If I don't 'fight well' then I'm pretty sure I'm going to end up embarrassing the scrap out of him." He joked before moving to the entrance, which opened slowly. The muffled roar of the crow grew steadily louder until it was nearly deafening.
Jack made his way into the center of the arena, but slowly felt dread forming in his tank when he began to realize just how much taller his opponent was, reaching just taller than Megatron. 'Oh, this is so not fair.' he thought. Jack warily eyed the other bot, who the announcer had called Colossus, as they both walked to the weapon selection.
There was no dagger for Jack to use in this round, so he was forced to grab the sharpest thing he could see-a long, thin needle like sword that was almost long as his arm. It looked similar enough to a rapier, but with a simple handle, yet Jack had no idea how to handle those either.
The other mech picked up a long sword, and laughed darkly at Jack's selection. "You think that's gonna help you?" he snorted. "I'll snap you in two before you can even put up a decent fight."
"We'll see about that." Jack retorted, but it was lacking his usual confidence.
They took their places on either side and waited. It was tense for Jack, the other mech waiting eagerly for the countdown.
When the buzz came, Jack moved first, rolling out of the way as he anticipated the downward stroke of his opponent's sword, jabbing out with his own into much larger mech's wrist.
It pierced the cable, but Jack had to pull back to avoid the sword swinging for his head. He gritted his denta as he skittered back, the other mech laughing mockingly at him.
"You call that a stab? I barely felt anything!"
Jack narrowed his optics, looking for any possible weakness. He had to think fast, rolling to avoid another slash at him, but didn't take the shot to the wrist again, only took note of the lag time it took to remove the sword from the ground. 'Okay, remix of my first match, but this time don't get cut almost in half!' he admonished himself.
When Colossus swung at him again, Jack ducked to dodge it, and managed to get behind the mech. He snarled. "You think staying back there's gonna save you?"
Jack had no witty comeback, just focusing on what move to make next. The mech may have been Megatron's size, but he didn't have his reflexes. Jack reached down to the ground and picked up a metal shard which had been kicked up in likely an earlier fight. Jack tossed it to the left, and when Colossus swung there, Jack lunged to the right, swinging his sword at the mech's leg, and felt it slice through the line behind his cable.
"Nng!" He heard the mech groan, his massive weight collapsing onto a knee, where it caused spider cracks in the metal. It was far from over though as the mech forced himself up, slashing at Jack again.
"You're gonna pay for that, runt!" He roared, swinging the blade so hard and fast that Jack could hear it whistling.
Jack just barely managed to avoid getting sliced, but grunted as the blade managed to nick him in the shoulder. He switched the sword to his other servo, bringing up the former to grip the shoulder and felt it stitch back together. Energon hid the wound, but it wasn't like it mattered. Jack just narrowed his optics, more determined than ever to win this. "You're gonna have to catch me, rustbucket!"
The other mech snarled as he stabbed his sword forward, and Jack crouched down to avoid it-only for the blade to abruptly start coming down. Jack's optics widened, and he managed to avoid getting slice down the middle by rolling to the side. He wasn't out of the woods yet, as he just stopped only to see a pede coming down to him. Jack grunted as he rolled, hearing the clang of the metal foot that just missed him.
'Not good, not good!' Jack thought, panicking as everything now was focused on not getting stomped to death. Thinking fast, Jack rolled as the foot came down, but completed the roll and sliced the line through the mech's ankle. It was on the same leg he got him before, and the mech roared once again as he collapsed to his knee. Jack didn't hesitate to take advantage of it.
He took his rapier-like sword, and with everything he had, stabbed it through the mechs optic and into his processor. There was a stutter, a choking sound, before the light dulled in the remaining optic. Colossus fell to the ground, dead.
Jack wheezed heavily, exasperated. That had been too close.
On the other hand, it proved that Megatrons training hadn't been a complete loss on him either. So he counted it as a win-win situation, but something like disgust still churned inside of him.
Adrenaline rushed through him, fading soon enough that it left him feeling heavy as he staggered back to the waiting room, dropping his sword and ignoring the crowd's roars around the arena. He paused when he was about to enter the tunnel, as though feeling the stare and his optics found Shockwave's single one, but Jack closed his optics and went inside.
He let himself shudder as the door closed behind him, muffling everything as he used the wall for support as his body felt like it was going to collapse. 'I got through another one, that's all that matters.' It just meant more credits to free himself.
He had to keep telling himself that. The killing was necessary, if he wanted to get out of here. Everyone else was doing the same, and it was the only way out. Even if a lot of people had to die to make it happen.
With that in mind, Jack gathered his wits and continued on to the waiting room. He found Megatron leaning against the viewing screen, likely having watched the match too, with Soundwave standing like a shadow beside him. Jack wasn't quite sure what to make of Soundwave, other than he was freaking terrifying in Jack's time. "You were watching?"
"Yes, I wanted to make sure your teacher's lessons had not gone to waste." Megatron retorted.
"And?" Jack pressed.
Megatron smiled crookedly. "I think he would be impressed, don't you think?"
"I sure hope so." Jack replied cheekily, grinning to ear to ear, so to speak. He played along, even if he was tired and done with everything.
Soon enough though, they would have to go back to the mines. Jack's grin faded a little, and he sighed. "I just wish we didn't have to go back to the mines; it's like here is the only way we can cut loose."
"Yes, having to constantly go back grows tiresome. I would much rather remain here and continue honing my skill." Megatron said, and looked around surreptitiously. "And this does seem like a good place to start my campaign."
"Right." Jack muttered, before looking at Soundwave. "So, are you a miner too?"
"Negative." Soundwave spoke, shocking Jack more than anything else in this world had thus far.
"Y...you're not?" Jack stammered, at a loss for words.
'Is that even possible?' Jack thought, genuinely astonished by the concept. 'Someone outside the low caste wants to fight here?'
"Soundwave: contracted gladiator." Soundwave said, which Jack still couldn't quite get over.
"A what?" he asked.
"It means he works as a gladiator here exclusively, along with getting his own board and charge rate." Megatron explained. "To get such a thing would certainly upgrade my platform; not to mention I'd have time to get things done than work my servos until they ache." he said with a scowl. "And getting away from the mines is just a bonus."
"'Just a bonus' my aft." Jack snorted at the phrase. "I'd do almost anything to never have to go back there again. But uh...upgrade your platform?"
"My body." The two looked at him strangely.
'Whoops.' Jack winced. Something like that must have been common knowledge.
"I could finally get a T-cog if I upgrade. Same for you too." Megatron added.
Jack touched just under his chest, right where the deceptively large cog resided. "About that...I, uh, still have my T-cog."
Megatron looked at him incredulously. "And you have not scanned an alt-mode yet?"
"Well it's not like there's anything I can scan in the mines." Jack retorted. "Plus, it's also not like I could have gotten one whenever I pleased; I was locked up in my home for most of my life. Doesn't exactly give you much opportunity to find an alt-mode."
"And when you are with Shockwave?"
"Trying anything like that would get me vivisected without my pain receptors shut down faster than you could shutter an optic." Jack all but hissed. "But I think I might have an idea..." His claws raked against where his T-cog was located, then he looked to Soundwave. "...are you any good with biotech? Or is there medic in the arena?"
Soundwave seemed to stare at him for a long moment. "Query: purpose?"
Jack looked at Megatron seriously. "I'm going to give you a T-cog."
Megatron raised a brow, but his optics dropped to where Jack's hand was and he narrowed his gaze. "And what are you going to use?"
"Shockwave wanted to see if I could regrow a T-cog." Jack replied bitterly. "I did." his lips quirked into a small smile. "What's one more for my friend?"
Megatron's face twisted into one of disgust at the thought of Jack being cut up like dead metal, but it fell into a grimace as he nodded.
"If you're sure..." Both mechs turned to Soundwave, visor blank as always. "Are you capable of medical operations or do I need to purchase the service of a medic?"
"Soundwave: only have minimal knowledge. Solution: find medic."
Jack rubbed his brow, but remembered what Shockwave had told him before they left his tower. "I think I may have the answer. Shockwave said he wanted these scars to be removed, and so Ratchet's intern is supposed to do it. Do you think I'd be able to bribe him to perform the operation?" Jack's spark froze as both mechs stared at him. "Did I say something wrong?"
"Shockwave is spending credits on a mech taught by Ratchet for cosmetic surgery?" Megatron questioned, looking both incredulous and disgusted by such a frivolous thing.
Jack sighed. "Yes, he doesn't want my appearance to lower his standing." his lips twisted bitterly. "Nothing but the best for the high caste." he spat.
"It is still unusual." Megatron scowled, glowering at the thought of a high caste wanting to, even in the most selfish way, help a member of the low caste in any way.
Jack felt his tanks churn. "Is it really that strange? I figured he'd didn't want my ugly plates showing whenever someone else was around."
"That implies he intends to show you to others." Megatron replied. "And whether it's just other scientists or the public, he's clearly planning on making this a regular occurrence, given you'd likely end up wounded here again."
Jack sighed, because he knew the other mech was right. "This would be so much easier if I knew what Shockwave was trying to do. He's been...acting weird lately, and its making me nervous that he's planning something." he sighed, crossing his arms as he scratched the dried energon on his shoulder away. "And I don't know what it is."
"Keep your guard up at all times." Megatron advised. He didn't trust Shockwave an inch- reminded Megatron too much of a ravenous scraplet.
"Yeah." Jack muttered, keeping quiet on the fact that sometimes he had to grovel to Shockwave and even called him 'master'.
Jack wished he could punch Shockwave's optic out every time he'd had to say that word, just so the mech wouldn't vivisect him without turning off his receptors. It ignited his anger, and during his next match he'd taken down the other mech his size with his fury still burning. He came away with a cut along his abdomen, but it had let him shove his sword through the mech's spark.
Jack drank down his energon ration, closing his optics as he listened to the gladiators around him, and just barely hearing the roar of the crowd above. He finished the cube off, and set about scrubbing the energon stains away with a cloth and solvent; the last round was underway, and so that was it for the matches today. 'And now it's back to the mines for more endless hours of thankless work and sadistic guards.' he thought coldly.
"It's time to head back Wayward." Megatron said as though he didn't already know. Wearily, he placed down the cloth and solvent, finishing the last dregs of energon and savored the taste, as horrible as it was. For all he knew the guards next move would be to starve him to death.
'And that is one way I do not want to go.' Jack thought grimly.
Though before he could move towards the transport, a cold voice called out, "J-23" and Jack froze, looking incredulously over his shoulder as Shockwave walked in.
"W-what are you doing here again? I thought things were done for now?" Jack asked.
"Have you forgotten so easily?" Shockwave replied, completely ignoring Megatron in favor of looking at Jack. "There is still the matter of removing your scars, and more to be done before I'll let you return to the mines."
Jack resisted groaning. "You meant to have that done this sol? I'd think even an intern would be busy."
"He will come as called." Shockwave answered drolly. "Now follow. I do not have all sol to wait on you."
'Could have fooled me. You've just been watching me fight all day." But Jack didn't voice his thoughts aloud, knowing there would be consequences if he did. "I guess I'll see you later then." He said to Megatron, but stiffened when Shockwave clasped his wrist and forcibly pulled him away.
"Yes, you will." Megatron called out before he got out of ear shot, mouth curling into a small snarl as he glared at Shockwave, optics narrowed angrily.
