Fire.

Burning, pulsing searing, pain of an unquenchable

Fire.

It ripped, reared and roared through his servos, splintered his processor with the white-hot agony of it.

Such burn, such brightness, such…such…

Fire.

Scorching, it tore through every vein of energon without remorse, pushing, shoving him upward into awareness, out of stasis and into consciousness. The only sound he could manage, could muster was a cold rumble, a grumble of gears, a growl in his vocal processor as his optics onlined, burning, smoldering white hot, mauve fire, tongues of pure energy; dark, excessive, unnatural energy. Those optics focused exclusively, entirely upon one other figure whose deep presence dominated the sparse medical bay.

Megatron.

His facial plates twisting upwards into a tortured smile, Megatron watched, just watched as Orion's frame shuddered from the strain of the dark energon as it tainted his systems. His spark surged with joy, with undiluted bliss when Orion's optics onlined, focusing immediately upon him. With a grating growl that sent Knockout scuttling, scurrying behind Megatron, Orion lifted himself from the operating table. With no mind to the jagged edges that still marred his frame from wounds that no longer wept pure energon—but had been blistered shut by that dark substance—Orion stood. The pain from such persistent wounds focused him, hardened his will. His armor, unmistakable black and undeniable purples were trimmed in the ghoulish glow of dark energon.

My brethren…hear me…embrace our unbreakable bond I have forged for us here and now…

Megatron's voice flitted at the edge of his consciousness, it was hard to tell if his audio receptors had registered the sound of his voice or if the words had been carried straight to his spark on a tide of Dark Energon. Silver, sleek this apparition of a mech called to him and Orion's spark ached to answer, yearned for that bond, that connection with him. All was a jumble beneath the grey ghosts of pain and flames, though through it all, one certainty seared itself within the forefront of his consciousness: Megatron could end this, could make this separate and silent agony end. It was hard to know how or where such a certainty had sprang from, but Orion had no doubts that such a notion was nothing less than the truth. Seeking solace from the slow burn within him, Orion staggered forward, driven by the corroding scorch his spark begged, pleaded even as he reached for Megatron, End it now, make it stop…but all that slipped by his vocal processor was another earth-biting growl.

Had not Megatron moved forward, massive hands coming to rest atop each of Orion's shoulders, Pax would have stumbled. Even at the other mech's touch Orion winced, each panel aflame with pain, so much pain. Mutely, he looked to Megatron, gaze pleading for an end…Brother, my brother…he called, but his thoughts, all his logic processors were scrambled under the burn of Dark Energon and left him adrift in his hurt, unable to voice or form a coherent thought. Under the pressure of Megatron's grip, Orion's knees caved and with a metallic rasp, he sank to kneel before the other. A victorious snarl sprang from Megatron, a keen whip-crack of sound that Knockout flinched beneath.

"Hail!" Megatron barked, "You see, Knockout, he recognizes his one true, lord and master! Bear witness to the rise of Nemesis Prime! A Prime whose loyalty is given to me and me alone!"

Knockout cringed as his optics surveyed the scene, and a veil of dread descended upon him. Unconsciously he shook his helm in denial, in voiceless objection to the monstrosity that was Megatron's supposed Prime. His spark could only hope that Megatron indeed held irrefutable control over this Nemesis Prime through the bond of Dark Energon. Yet, Megatron saw the minute movement of objection. His mouth curled into a snarl, "Knockout! Leave us!"

Knockout was only too eager to comply and as soon as Megatron's audio receptors could no longer detect the hollow retreating steps of the medic, did the Decepticon lord deign to speak. His voice dipped down to become low and gentle, soothing, "My brother…my brother…" With great care did Megatron help Orion to his peds, recognizing, understanding the unpleasant aftermath of Dark Energon. He too had felt its searing kiss and he knew that if Orion was to be reshaped, his spark kindled anew, loyal to the Decepticon cause, Megatron would have to teach him, lead him through the flames.

"Orion, my friend, my true brother…" His words, syrup thick clung to Orion, anchored him amidst the chaos of the ache, "I know it hurts…but it is a necessary burn, a good pain…" Understanding began to dawn within Orion's optics and Megatron knew he was listening, "the Autobots did this to you—" recognition flared within Orion's Dark Energon saturated gaze, "—Yes, yes brother, know that the Autobots have put you through all of this suffering!"

Too much pain, too much chaos to perceive beyond, Orion's spark revolted, whispering a litany of denial while his processor grasped on to this notion Megatron offered, this reason for his suffering. His spark wanted to turn away from Megatron's words, but his processor, fueled by dark energon, only latched on tighter, wanting this answer, this reason and easily acceptable logic that Megatron offered. Again, Megatron called to him, brought him focus as he rattled Orion's frame with the intensity of his speech, "Embrace this pain! Descend into the burn, let it guide you, give you strength! Use it as fuel! Accept this fire within you, seize your anger for it too gives you strength!"

"My…brother" the words were choked, weak and rasping, yet Orion managed them, "My…brother Megatron…"

"Never have I led you wrong…"

"Never…led me wrong…" Orion echoed

"Never have I intentionally hurt you…"

"Never…hurt me…"

"This is the Autobot's doing!"

"The…Autobots…"

"Yes!" Megatron coached, "The Autobots are our one true enemy!"

"…one…enemy…"

Satisfaction, vicious and keen surged through Megatron's systems as he beheld Orion. "Yes my brother…this, this is what you were always meant to be…"

# # #

The cadence of Orion's ped-falls beside him pulsed in rhythm with Megatron's spark; to know, to feel that presence beside him once again was a bitter intoxication. Heady and rich with the victory he had at last achieved over his former foe, yet his triumph which should have been so complete, so unquestionable was tainted and turned sour, fouled by Starscream's warnings…

"Mark my words, Megatron you are playing with plasma…Orion may be without his memories but he is not the bot you remember or want him to be…No the spark of the Prime still pulses within him and sooner or later, Optimus will rise again to challenge you…you cannot rid yourself of the Prime as easily as you think…"

Megatron's spark clashed against the ghost of Starscream's litany, ached to throw himself against it in a titanic wave, cresting, crashing into such damming doubts. How he yearned to pummel them to dust, scatter them to the heavens in inconsequential fragments. How wrong you are, Starscream…His spark defied the doubts, pushing at the fragments willing them to shatter beneath his will, I do not wish to rid myself of the Prime… Impulsively he gave into the swell of anger that surged against Starscream, potent and powerful he let it rise, let it poison the bond he now shared with Orion. Immediately he was rewarded as Orion responded, goaded by the Dark Energon tainting his systems, Pax was overcome by the foreign feelings forced into his spark; mauve darkened his gaze, bloodied it as his vocal processor rumbled, a growl releasing emotions not his own.

So sweet it was, syrup rich the rolling waves of anger that rippled back to Megatron from Pax. You see Starscream, Megatron answered to phantoms that ran rampant through his processor, why would I ever wish to rid myself of a Prime…when I can remake him into all that he should have been…And yet…and yet…beneath that initial, reverberating tempest, Megatron could taste a latent hollowness. Certainty began to solidify, allowing the doubts to creep closer, that glorious burst of anger from Orion was only an echo, a reflection. It dawned upon the great Decepticon warlord then, Megatron could force his will, his emotions upon Orion but he could never truly rouse the self same emotions, desires and yearnings from Pax. It would seem then, Starscream's warning was not so easily put aside, and it rose defiant again, a coiling serpent undulating in steel cut ribbons of doubt.

"Orion is not your brother any more…he no longer exists…I am truly sorry Megatron…" Starscream let his gaze fall earthward, out of deference to the mech he had known for so very long, and out of regret, unable to bear the sight before him any longer, "Before long, Optimus will remember himself…will return…you know this in your spark…"

Megatron cycled air through his vents, glancing towards Orion, not for first time since they began wending through the warship's halls on their trek to the control bridge. Fear nipped at the fringes of his processor, concerned that somehow Starscream's litany may have echoed over to Orion across their bond; but if he had, Orion gave Megatron no indication. Expression concealed behind his battle mask, his stride was unfaltering, synced with Megatron's unerringly.

No longer did Orion smolder with the mauve intensity of Dark Energon, no longer did the unholy substance coat his frame, indeed the only indication of their bond lingered within Orion's optics, tinted a quiet, deep violet, matching Megatron's perfectly. Tipping his optics once again away from Orion, Megatron drank the moment in. Such sweet symbiosis…they resonated with each other, a symphony of power. Every step that Orion took, Megatron not only heard, but felt. Desperately Megatron clung to their mutuality.

My brother…my brother… Even as the thought formed, Megatron was answered; there was no distance, no reaching or any futile mental grasping for Orion's processor, there was no need, already was Megatron in near possession of it.

I am here, Megatron. The words in a familiar lilt, echoed toward him. Even-tempered and ever poised, their inflection resonated within Megatron's processor and should have not incited any cause for alarm…yet…

Brother, why do you call me such?

Orion inclined his darkened helm toward Megatron, I call you by your rightful designation, Megatron.

My brother, you never used to call me such before. Always was I Megatronus to you. Megatron slowed his gait, keeping his processor carefully neutral, devoid of the suspicions he felt welling up within his spark. You cannot rid yourself of the Prime as easily as you think, Starscream's words returned, bit and gnashed at him.

There are others who know you now as Megatron, Orion countered.

Others? Megatron couldn't keep back the growl that edged the word.

Orion shuttered his optics once as he returned Megatron's gaze, unconcerned; a bead of silence filled the space between them before he answered mildly, Such as Knockout.

Knockout…yes...of course, the reply was calm, collected but beneath it the void of uncertainties yawned wider and wider within Megatron. Ah, to be so close, so very close! Everything he had yearned for, had sacrificed for was nearly his and yet it was all so very, very fragile. Still, the mention of the Decepticon medical officer brought an entirely new set of concerns to the forefront of Megatron's processor. Through their connection Megatron could feel a new sentiment dawning, growing steadily: that of spark-deep weariness and discomfort.

"Orion…" Megatron relied upon the weight of his audible voice to capture Orion's attention, "You are weary and still in need of repairs…it would be best if you returned to Knockout for medical attention. You will join me on the bridge after, for I will require your assistance in dealing with an Autobot prisoner…"

Careful and all keen attention, Megatron scrutinized his companion for any objections, any indication of recognition. But when Orion returned his gaze, it was with optics violet and vacant. "As you wish, my Lord Megatron."

Watching Orion depart toward the medical bay, confidence began to over-ride the nagging doubts and Megatron at long last began to feel at ease as a plan began to take shape. He would have Soundwave collect Arcee, bring her to the bridge…and there, before all of the Decepticon forces, Orion would execute her at Megatron's bidding. And when her spark was extinguished, Orion would be his, wholly and irrevocably; her offlining would usher in a new era, it would anoint Megatron's unquestionable reign, a reign to which a Prime yielded and heeded his every command.

Yes, this was how it was supposed to be…

#

A/N: Yes, we fell off the face of the Earth there for quite some time, sorry about such a long hiatus! Thanks for being so patient! We're hoping to get back into the habit of weekly updates!

Please R & R!

Cheers,

Epsilon & Bumbee