A/N: Hello everyone! Hope you are doing good! Now, we aren't quite to the next episode but we are getting there, soon, my friends, soon. But I hope you enjoy this chapter!
Chapter 22-The Depths
Nerium's POV
I walked in silence with Megatron, as we entered a seemingly empty mine. He'd asked me to accompany him to see something. I had agreed and wondered what a useless mine could offer the Decepticons. It was also a nice distraction, as the date for the meeting drew near I became more anxious as time wore on.
It was strange, but I felt a little trepidation in the face of us meeting face to face.
But that wasn't my main focus, as we walked into the tunnels, me almost having to run to keep up with his long strides, I kept my optics on Megatron. He seemed distracted, his mind working on other things. It was fascinating to watch, even when he was staring at nothing, thinking, and planning, he's always interesting to watch.
"Nerium," His voice snapped me from my staring as he suddenly stopped, "I have a question for you."
I blinked, staring at him surprised, his stare boring into my very spark, "Sure...what's up?"
"Do you enjoy pain?" He said with a straight, analyzing expression.
I was completely thrown for a loop by the question, I could feel Wendigo's confusion on the other side as she had scouted ahead. I shook my helm to reduce the shock and surprise and looked at him with utter confusion.
"W-What…?" I asked, "Where did you get that idea from?"
He frowned, searching for something before sighing, "It's...nothing."
I frowned, "Megatron," I warned, "If you don't tell me, I will meld you into the wall for all eternity."
That seemed to snap him from his hardened gaze, a flash of something crossed his face for a moment, then he regained his composure. He huffed, not in annoyance, but some hidden emotion, and began to walk again, silently signaling for me to follow.
I did if only to know what he was planning.
He was scheming something and his question from before threw me off, but where did it come from? Perhaps, it was a ruse, a way to throw me off, or...I touched the dark scar running over where my spark was, it was hidden underneath the armor I wear, and when Wendigo is there, even more. I had other scars visible on different parts that were exposed, as well as my armor was damaged from the battles across my long life.
I wonder then...how he came to such an idea.
I smiled behind his back...I loved it when he schemed because I've yet to meet a person who I could actually go toe-to-toe with. I love a good mind game, and he has the mind for a very, very beautiful mind game.
We entered a side tunnel off the main one and ended up in a large cavern. Nothing was here, no mining equipment, no soldiers, nothing. But the room was lit by pools of magma and a river of it, splitting the room in half, the heat for a human would be unbearable, for us, it was like a warm blanket.
He turned fully to me, I stowed my smile as to not give him the wrong idea, and I stopped, several feet from him and crossed my arms, waiting patiently. He seemed to think his words before he spoke, it was unusual, as before he just spoke his mind.
"Nerium, what do you want?" He asked, his hands behind his back, "I've yet to deduce your motives, I have an inkling, but that is as much as I know."
I raised a brow, "What I want? Interesting…" What is his angle? I smiled, "Tell me what you think you know."
He smiled slightly, ever so slightly, but became neutral again, "From what I have observed, which is not much, is a place to belong. Even in this, I am not sure of, and that makes me...unnerved. You offer your services willingly to us, you don't question my decisions and yet you question those around you. You are seeking to improve what is around you if I gather right. But even this explanation still doesn't sit right with me, so tell me, how far off am I?"
I stared at him, a slight impressive look on my face. I know why I am here, to gain the trust of the Decepticons and end the war, with the Cabal. But I can't tell him that. So I look to more...emotional parts. It was...hard...but as I thought, the words came out before I could think upon them.
"You are right, in some aspects. I am looking to improve the Decepticons, but I am not looking for a place to belong, for I belong nowhere. I don't deserve such grace. I do...enjoy your presence, those of the others to a degree as well. But, my true intentions, why I came to the aid of Moonfall, why I don't question you, is simple." I let my smile fall, and darkness fell, "It was my duty to do so."
"How so?" He questioned, unflinching at my darkness.
I frowned, "To be frank, Megatron, I don't like talking about this. But...before I came here before I came to the surface universe from the Countless Lands...I died..and after my death, I was given the duty of aiding you and your Decepticons by the beings known as the Platinum Knights."
Platinum Knights...the Thirteen Primes...a good name to one I could feel was approved by my Primes who I could feel smug pridefulness from the name.
His expression fell, raw emotions displayed on his face, shock, horror, pity, curiosity, and some other unknown emotion. His hands at his sides as he stared unblinkingly, he shifted and moved closer to me, he kneeled down.
"These Platinum Knights gave you this duty, but how did it come to that? How did you...die?" He hesitated when asking his last question, ever so slightly. I had a feeling that he didn't want to answer he sought but asked anyway.
I looked down, steadying myself, I breathed in and removed a part of my studded armor from my chest, where Wendigo rested and it helped keep her there. With my olive-colored protoform exposed, I could once again see the nasty scar left behind.
I could hear Megatron suck in a vent, I looked up to see him staring in worry at the scar itself. I felt my spark burst as he stared at me with such...reverence, worry, and something else, this strange emotion seemingly always out of my grasp.
"How?" He simply asked, his hands twitching at his sides like he was trying hard not to reach out and touch.
I looked away, shame filling my spark, I worried he'd see me as a coward for my act against my life.
"I...I…" Sighing, as I could feel the swelling emotions, the monster inside curling in delight at my plight. My voice became a whisper, I grabbed my scimitar, stained with my blood, and held it in front of me, "...I...ended my own existence…"
A deathly silence took the underground room.
I didn't look at him, I didn't want to see the disappointment. He and I are the same, but he isn't a coward like me, who took a coward's way out. I didn't deserve to be in his presence and I was reminded of how sometimes, these mind games of mine backfired onto me, I guess karma really is a bitch sometimes.
"...I...am sorry…" His low rumbling voice murmured, a sound I thought I would never hear.
I felt his large hand on top of my head, the claws running through my spiked hair softly. And I felt more grounded because of it, but it kept me from looking up and seeing his expression.
His voice rumbled again, "Death is something all too common in this world...but when it comes to our own death and choosing when to die...it's unbearable to think about and for you to do that...I can't even fully imagine it...for at some points I have contemplated it as well. But unlike you, I could never act upon it, for I was afraid when you were brave."
His words stilled me further than I thought possible.
"I wasn't brave, I was a coward." I stated coldly, "What I did was wrong...but I did it because I hated what I'd become and those around me were slowly becoming corrupted by the very thing I hate...the monster…"
Megatron sighed, "I think...we both hate our monsters…and we both hate what we were becoming to think that way…"
"You...hate the way you were becoming?" I asked, "Why?"
I could feel his weighted hand lift slightly off my helm, I looked up to see an understanding and pitiful expression. His hand came away from me, I missed it, and he laid it over his spark and the insignia.
"Because what I am now, is not what I was when I was born." I tilted my helm in curiosity, "I wasn't born a warframe, I was born much differently. Even now, my appearance is a lie, and I hated what I was becoming…"
I blinked, "Do you still hate what you've become?"
"Do you?" He asked, tilting his helm slightly, but I believed he knew the answer.
I looked away, "...Yes…" I placed my claws on the scar, my left hand holding the blade with a shaking hand, it felt heavier than usual.
He nodded in the corner of my eye, "Of course I still do as well...but I've learned to ignore it...until you came to remind me. I may have ignored my monster, but I still hated what it made me become in turn that becoming hatred for myself."
I squeezed my eyes shut, "I…"
"This hate for the monster, and what you've become, also is hate for yourself, don't lie about that." He said, his hand back to my helm, now cupping my face, his claws dancing lightly on my olive protoform.
Instinct let my optics open, straight into Megatron's optics, as he said, "Do you want to know how I stopped myself from falling to my own blade?"
"Yes."
"It was simple, if I died then, my people wouldn't be free. My mission granted me the resolve to push forward, even if my hatred continued. You lacked a mission such as mine, that is what you sought truthfully, and now that the Platinum Knights have granted you one, you can overtake the desire of death better than before. You have something to live for." He smiled lightly, a strange sight on his scarred face.
I stared in awe of the mech, I'd never considered that missing link, yet again, he surprises and subverts my expectations.
"A mission...it never crossed my mind." I said with amazement and adoration, "Then, at the base level, that is my truest intentions, my mission is my duty bestowed upon me so that I do not fade into the blackness of death...it is my very will to live that drives me."
"But," Then a thought crossed my mind, "Why did you think I enjoyed pain before?"
He released my head once again, his hands yet again hesitated, "...I don't know, it was just a random thought."
I could hear snickering in the back of my mind, I growled mentally as I knew the Prime Tricksters had a hand in this. But, I simply nodded and smiled before asking my next question."
"You said that your appearance was a lie, how so if you don't mind me asking?"
He blinked, then looked away bashfully, "Ah...I did say that...didn't I?" He mumbled.
I chuckled lightly, catching his attention, "It's alright if you don't want to show me, I understand."
"Y-Yes, perhaps another time...as for now, we have somewhere to be." He said, standing to his full height, towering over me.
"Right, you wanted to show me something?" I said, looking at him with curiosity.
"Indeed, but it's quite the walk deeper in...d-do you mind if I carry you, it'll be faster…" Again, the bashfulness returned, it was quite adorable on him.
I clicked my armor back in place and stowed my sword with a smile, "I'd be honored, Lord Megatron."
He mutely nodded, before plucking me from the ground and resting me in the crook of his arm, snuggly against his chassis. I could feel his rapid sparkbeat underneath the metal that was warm to the touch, I smiled wider as we began our journey down below again, with my own sparkbeat matching his, and the metal heating to match his as well.
Starscream's POV
I stayed in the shadows, watching in the silence of all that was around me, vehicons worked tirelessly on the Space Bridge, the structure itself not complete. Many were moving the computers and extra metal in from several tunnels that converged here. I had managed to figure out where the bridge was being built, deep underground within a mountain called Mount Everest, which posed a serious problem for us. Cenotaph's lab and the ship were located across the world.
So how do we get the needed 'supplies' to the ship if this thing was all the way here, deep under the Earth's greatest mountain peak? I am sure the others who are more inclined than I could figure it out, but for now, I watched and waited. It was then that I heard the approach of Megatron, his distinct footfalls evidence enough.
He stopped momentarily, then continued on into the room, proud and strong as ever with Nerium trailing not too far behind with a relaxed smile on her usual cold-masked face. Of course, that didn't last long as Shockwave's optic glanced at them, the move from expressive to cold and uncaring was unnaturally and unnervingly fast.
"Lord Megatron, to what do I owe this visit?" Shockwave, eloquent as ever, asked as he made his way off the platform and onto the ground level.
Megatron smirked, "Oh don't mind us, Shockwave, I just came here to show Nerium what we've been working on."
Shockwave, seemed to freeze for a moment, before saying, "My Lord? I don't understand why that would be necessary."
"It's simple, Shockwave, I want her to be ingrained in everything that goes on in the Cause, that means she is privy to what we are doing here, in full. That includes Project: Predacon which I hope you can give your notes to her, she might have some interesting insights into it, given her skill set." Then, Megatron added with more weight, "After all, she is my confidant, what I know, she must know, is that understood?"
There was a moment of silence before Shockwave nodded, "That is...logical, my liege, I will send her my notes right away."
He then turned and headed back up the platform, his antenna on the sides of his helm giving away his emotions of disdain and resignation.
Megatron turned his attention to Nerium, "I suppose now you wonder what this is all about?"
She nodded, "Project: Predacon has something to do with the Space Bridge and Cybertron if I am not mistaken? You are making a weapon, of sorts."
"Indeed," He motioned to the incomplete bridge, "The resources Shockwave needs to complete it is on Cybertron. Once we obtain that, we can begin the process of creation here on Earth to use in our war against the Autobots."
I frowned, staring at Megatron. His actions and his body language was off, he was boasting almost like he was trying to impress a noble or something. I'd seen it plenty of times back on Cybertron, as not only was I a scientist but also a noble.
"Creation? That's an interesting word." Nerium commented, cocking her helm to the side like a curious child.
Megatron smirked, and turned to look at the structure, "Project: Predacon has one goal, to create a unique army division that not even the Autobots could fight against. I had once employed it long ago, but none of them survived to this day. You see, before we Cybertronians came to the surface of Cybertron, a race of beasts ruled instead, called Predacons, what we intend is to take their CNA from their fossils and clone them. That is the goal of all of this, this will be our trump card!"
Nerium seemed to think for a moment, calculating her next words, when she was deep in thought like this, I wondered, just how smart is this femme? Could she even outsmart Megatron? Most likely, after all, she has lied to his face before, like it was second nature to her...maybe it was.
"Cloned beasts you say? Now that is interesting, but how are they controlled?" She asked.
"Ah, Shockwave makes sure that they only respond to my will." Megatron smugly remarked.
She raised a brow and moved slightly forward staring at the machine. It was then that I noticed she wasn't staring at the machine, but a golden minicon sitting in the shadows of the structure. Wendigo seemed to be watching everything in the room, but more specifically the structure itself. My guess, she was looking for a weakness to exploit for future use...though I could've just told her.
Nerium turned back to Megatron, "So that's why you want my input, being a Druid I know much about life and it's creation...but why are you so adamant that I know all that you do? Why make me your confidant? And moreover, why do you trust me so much?"
"Ma chère fleur, I thought it was obvious?" Did he question almost...playfully? This was really weird, "Ever since I met you, you've been different, and I like different. So, let's call this a new deal, separate from our first one. You become my confidant, you keep my secrets, you aid in running this cause, and in return, I'll let you do as you wish, within reason of course."
Now, this was even stranger.
First off, I wonder what the first deal was, but that's for later. This 'new deal' of his, it almost sounds like he wants to have her with him, 24/7. To keep an optic on her, and to make sure she never leaves him for something better. It's like he's slowly becoming possessive of her, placing her on the pedestal above the others like a Queen or….wait...no...no, no, no it can't be.
Is he...prepping her to become his mate? His Lady or Queen if you will?! It's basically the same duties of someone that rules beside a powerful leader...but...that could be to our advantage.
Nerium seemed slightly taken aback by the proposition, thinking quietly to herself. I just hoped she saw what I saw or this could get messy.
She smiled softly, "That's...a lot that you are giving up, Megatron….it sounds like a lovely deal, but let me think about it. I am never one to rush into things after all. I'll let you know in...a week's time. Alright?"
He seemed to deflate slightly, a harder expression taking his face, "Of course, of course, just don't think too long, that is all I ask."
She smiled reassuringly, "Don't worry, I am sure by the end of this we'll both be happy about it, one way or another."
Nerium patted his leg before turning and walking up the platform to speak to Shockwave. Most likely about the notes he was going to send over, it was too far away for me to hear. But I didn't pay attention to Nerium as I stared at Megatron.
He was frowning at himself, his servo's clenching and unclenching, but he became resolute, looking up at Nerium speaking to Shockwave. I have seen that look in his optics before, many times before.
When Megatron desired something so deeply it didn't matter what was in his way, he always got it.
And I had the feeling that that mindset was now locked onto Nerium and that could pose a problem for the Cabal in the future.
Megatron's POV
I shut the door to my room, locking it behind me. It was a long journey back through the tunnels and then through the bridge to get back here. All along the way silent as Nerium simply fell into deep thought as we walked. Now, alone with my thoughts, I sighed deeply.
Things went better than I first thought they would today.
But there were things that wished could've gone differently than they did.
I walked to my private wash rack and bath, I could feel the dirt of this planet in every surface and scratching at my protoform underneath. Slowly, one by one I took the pieces of armor off, my silhouette changed from that of a proud and strong and menacing mech to that of a small, frail, and battered frame.
I don't think I could ever let anyone know this deepest secret I carry, the fact that I wasn't born a strong, miner mech, but a frail and weak one instead. Add on top of that the strange metal tendrils under my helmet. I was a freak among freaks, and for a long time, that's all I was until I stopped being that and became what I am today.
No one knows this, not Soundwave, not Optimus, not even Knockout. Which is a feat in and of itself. As the warm oil filled the bath, I stared at my reflection, hatred boiling in my veins. I hated it, I hated my armor, I hated everything I stared at. And I knew, deep down, that everyone else would too if they knew.
So, I lie, I deceive and I keep them close to me. If they are close, if they are mine, then I won't be alone. Because when I am alone, all I feel is hate and overwhelming sorrow.
I sunk into the bath, balking at my reflection. It was refreshing, warm, comforting, opposite of my armor, and my frame. My thoughts drifted again, back to Nerium, the one I desired closest to me, the one who'd captured the attention of my spark.
When she told me she died by her own hand, I froze, because I couldn't handle it. I knew how she felt, and yes, I did stop myself due to my determination, but that wasn't all of the reasons. I stopped not only because of my determination but because I didn't want to die all at the same time. She called herself a coward, HA, I am the coward.
Even now, as I wage war, I fear death.
I don't want to die, not by my own hand, not by the enemies or my 'allies', not anyone.
And when she told me she actually did it, that she went through with it, I became more determined to keep her close. My fear of death, it was transferring to her now, and I cannot live with myself if she ends up dead under my command. I wanted to do this for some time now, it was a sprout of an idea before but now I was resolved even more.
She says she doesn't deserve a place, well, I think that's a scrapload right there.
She says she is a coward, but all I see is someone braver than I.
And there is one thing I keep close to my spark, a single promise.
Nerium, ma chère fleur, I will not allow anything to take you from me, that I promise.
You are mine, and no one will take you from me, not unless they wish death upon themselves. I will kill anyone who stands between me and her, including my own. My resolve has never failed me once, and this time, it will surely never waiver.
I may be weak, a liar, and a monster, but by all of Primus's power, I will keep you safe.
No matter what the cost.
