XXVI
It was strange, going out in public but keeping to the shadows. It was something Orion wasn't completely sure about and yet Knockout and Shockwave were not surprisingly good at weaving out of sight of people and cameras, especially when it came to getting to the rooftops. Overlooking the council building, Orion felt the awkwardness settle into unnerving paranoia. A crowd was beginning to gather outside the grand entrance, lining around the edge of the stage that had been built earlier.
"What is all this?" huffed Knockout, stretching. "It's certainly quite a show they're putting on."
"Soundwave said it had been broadcasted on all channels and announced by our mysterious councilman himself. There wasn't much on it, just that whatever he was going to announce would be life changing to the planet," Orion offered, one foot on the roof's siding rail. "I wonder what he's up to…"
"It might be the Matrix," suggested Ratchet, placing a hand on Orion's shoulder.
"So, what? He'll claim that Primus gave him the Matrix and become the rightful leader of Cybertron unopposed?" Knockout hummed, stepping over. "Lame."
"The Matrix will likely not accept him," instructed Shockwave, sitting further back from the others. "It would be easy to disprove him."
"I don't think it's the Matrix," Orion nodded. "Too obvious to show it off and way too soon after our escape. He knows we're out here…if anything this will have to do about it."
"So…it'll be our bounties?" grinned Knockout.
"Unlikely to post such things so publicly," remarked Shockwave. "This is something else."
"But what?" mumbled Orion, looking down at the stage.
The lights switched on, illuminating the figure walking onto the stage. From their distance, it was hard to see but the two large screens on either side of the stage offered a close-up on the councilman as he took the podium. He grinned, waved to the crowd that cheered him on. Since when did the population cheer for the council?
"Hello, Cybertron!" greeted the councilman with a voice that boomed even without the aid of the microphone. The crowd's cheering slowed and stopped. "I come to you, as a representative of the council, with great news for the betterment of our planet. I will ask you: what is the greatest threat to our way of life in this moment?"
"You," whispered Knockout, walking away from the ledge.
"Crime!"
"Right," chuffed Ratchet, stepping away as well.
"Crime and revolt have spread through our society and is corrupting our cities from the shadows!" the councilman continued. "Arresting these criminals just isn't enough anymore. Yes, we are removing these poisonous individuals but at what cost? Removing these people weaken us just as much as if they were still thriving in the darkness."
"Where's he going with this?" Ratchet snapped, arms crossed.
"There must be a better way," hummed the councilman, gesturing to the crowd. "And we have found it! A way that not only eliminates the criminal element but betters our society! A method that cures these individuals of their criminal ways and puts them on a better path."
"What?" gaped Shockwave, storming up to the ledge. "Impossible! To remove such tendencies would mean…mean deleting portions of the mind, memories, personality! Who would volunteer for such a process?"
"Oh no," whispered Orion, stepping down.
"Optimus?" perked Ratchet.
"You may ask," the councilman spoke up again, "how can you be sure? How can you trust this process works, that these criminals won't revert? I give not only my word but our first successful patient." The councilman gestured to the curtain behind him. "Once an agitator and full of violent fury, I give you the newly recuperated Megatronus."
The curtains parted, and Orion watched in horror as Megatronus stepped out. His arm had changed, reshaped and polished. His eyes stared forward, footsteps moving perfectly in front, stopping at the side of the councilman. The crowd cooed and murmured, discussing this revolution. Orion covered his mouth. He felt sick.
"That's…why they stopped letting you see him," Ratchet gulped, stepping up beside Orion. "They were…experimenting on him."
"How long do you think they've been doing that?" Knockout mumbled, stepping up to the other side. "Doubtful it only took these last several solar cycles to…correct him?"
"Brainwash," huffed Shockwave. "They manipulated his brain module. Erased memories no doubt. Repressed will. It's disgusting."
"That's something coming from you," proposed Ratchet.
"I give you my word!" shouted the councilman, gesturing to Megatronus. "Megatronus not only is completely rehabilitated but he is completely devoted to the law. To prove so, I have promoted him to captain of the newly created Elite Guard!"
The crowd cheered. Shockwave waved off the event, stepping up to the group with arms crossed. Orion shook his head, letting groan.
"This can't be happening," he muttered. "This cannot be happening!"
"It is," grumbled Shockwave. "It unfortunately adds a new element to our challenges."
"He did this on purpose," snarled Orion. "This was his backup plan, in case he failed to get the Matrix or offline me."
"That makes sense," nodded Shockwave.
"We should go," sighed Ratchet. "We saw what we needed to."
"Being out in the open too long," added Knockout, "we'll get caught."
"Let's go," agreed Orion, leading the way.
He still felt sick in the pit of his stomach.