Here's another chapter, hope you like it. It takes place in the episodes loose cannons and crossfire.
I don't own Transformers Prime as the show is owned by Hasbro.
Ch. 19: Drastic Changes
"What is it Soundwave?" Megatron asked casually as he approached him. Soundwave showed a signal that was emanating not too far from their location. It was a decepticon homing beckon. "Set course for that signal now." He ordered. It wasn't long before they found their fellow con and he flew up to the Nemesis. Elisa blinked in surprise as a very large seeker entered the bridge. He was a dark blue lined with gold color and his aurora made Elisa curious as it seemed broken.
"Lord Megatron I live to serve." The seeker said in a smooth voice while kneeling.
"Rise Dreadwing, loyalty such as yours is a rare commodity." Megatron said.
"Mine runs deep and true, yet it is not loyalty alone that brought me here." Dreadwing explained.
"Oh?" Megatron asked curiously.
"I seek conformation of one whom I considered a brother."
"How did you learn of his passing?"
"My twin and I shared a split spark. A metal, but two halves of the same life force. Even across the galaxy I sensed when he emerged from stasis on this planet and when his spark was no more." Dreadwing answered gravely. Elisa thought back puzzled, but she did remember when Starscream was in charge and he said he was going to look for warriors. Megatron looked at Soundwave as he played the recording of his death.
"It is true Skyquake perished at the hands of the autobots, though not in fact under my watch." Megatron explained with an image of Starscream on the screen.
"Then by the Pit every last autobot on the accursed world will pay." Dreadwing vowed.
"The autobots will be punished for their crime and many others, how and when I see fit." Megatron emphasized.
"But Master!" Dreadwing protested.
"Conflicting agendas will only result in chaos and failure." He snapped. "You will be wise to remember that Dreadwing. You are under my command now and as such you will follow my lead." Megatron stated. It was then that he finally laid his optics on Elisa. "This is my youngest daughter Elisa." Megatron said as she finally stood up on two legs with a slight flinch. He stared curiously at her brace, but didn't comment.
"Hello." Elisa said politely holding out her hand, which his shook.
"Youngest?" Dreadwing asked curiously.
"I too have a twin Dreadwing. Her name is Phoenix, but she's occupied at the moment." Elisa explained. "And I am sorry for your loss. I know of the time Carrier is talking about with your brother, but I wasn't present to help." Elisa said respectfully.
"Thank you."
"Elisa please show Dreadwing the ship and take him to guest quarters." Megatron said. Elisa nodded and guided him out of the bridge and started to show him around the ship.
"Does the wound still hurt?" Dreadwing asked cautiously.
"Not as much as it used to, but I have to wear the brace permanently." Elisa answered.
"May I…ask what happened?" He asked with hesitance.
"Magma got on board the ship somehow and he…tore out the bone in my leg." Elisa answered back.
"By the Allspark. How cruel and vile." Dreadwing said angrily. "Is he your…"
"Sire yes. I really don't know that story and I don't ask because I don't think it's any good." Elisa finished.
"My apologies if I offended you." He said sincerely.
"Oh you're fine, don't worry. My sister is a red color, hence her name." Elisa smirked. "You might want to be careful with her. She's picky about accepting Carrier's other commanding officers." She added.
"How so?"
"She never liked Starscream and she gets easily annoyed with Knockout and Breakdown. She really only likes Soundwave and Airachnid." Elisa explained.
"Hmmmm curious." He commented. Soon Elisa showed him to his room and she said goodnight to her Carrier before she too went to the berth.
The next morning she went to wake up Dreadwing, but he wasn't present in his quarters.
"Carrier! Dreadwing's not here." Elisa called out as she hurried up to him in the bridge.
"Dreadwing?" Phoenix asked curiously.
"Dreadwing where are you?" Megatron called out through the com link.
"Merely perusing my destiny Lord Megatron." He answered back.
"Did I not order you to stand down?" He nearly growled.
"Forgive me one true Master, but it is my hope that vanquishing Optimus Prime will earn your respect." Dreadwing added making Phoenix laugh and roll her eyes. Elisa knew right then that she wouldn't like him either way.
"Optimus is not so easily disposed of. As I keep trying to explain to all of those who foolishly attempt it." Megatron said with a roll of optics in aggravation.
"I assure you Master in but a few moments Optimus and two others will be blow to atoms."
"I will allow it Dreadwing in memory of your departed twin, but only this once." Megatron said before he shut off the com link. "I will be quite surprised if we ever set eyes on Dreadwing again." Megatron said plainly. Phoenix burst into laughter before quickly leaving the bridge.
"You can't mean that Carrier." Elisa said cautiously.
"Oh my little one, you get attached too easily at times." Megatron said with pity towards her.
"I still barely know him Carrier, but I'm just surprised at bluntly you speak about him." She explained quickly.
"Unfortunately it is the truth in most cases Elisa." Megatron said gravely.
However Dreadwing turned out to be not one of those cases as he did return with a heavy spark of defeat.
"Optimus Prime still lives." Megatron grumbled sarcastically. "As do you Dreadwing, and that is a victory however small as Skyquake so tragically discovered."
"Speak to me not of my twin Lord Megatron, for I am here on earth to obey your will and yours alone."
Xxxxxxx
The next day didn't seem to get any better as Arachnid came sulking in. She had remained low after her attempt to leave earth when Unicron was present.
"If it pleases you Lord Megatron, once Soundwave discovers a way of decoding the reminder of the Iacon database, as we know he will, I would suggest the deployment of an under-utilized asset." She said in "pretty" voice.
"And what asset would that be Arachnid?" Megatron snapped darkly.
"I believe my superior tracking skills would expedite your quest to recover the remaining relics." She said elegantly as she kneeled down. Elisa sneered at her as Megatron paid her no mind.
"Noted."
"You are a gracious audience my lord. Soundwave, Elisa." She nodded to them before leaving and Elisa growled at her absence.
"Remind me of her trustworthiness." Megatron said finally turning to Soundwave.
"I believe we consider the possibility of a future without Megatron." Her voice rang through Soundwave's screen making Elisa huff and Megatron chuckle.
"Don't worry Elisa the tables will turn now." Megatron smiled before he contacted Dreadwing. "Dreadwing."
"I am at your beck and call Lord Megatron." He answered faithfully.
"I wish to entrust you with a task I would normally reserve for myself. That is if you wish to prove yourself worthy of becoming my First Lieutenant."
"That post belongs to Arachnid."
"She will be missed."
The message was easily understood then.
"And I suggest you bring back up. She can be a handful, especially when cornered."
Xxxxxxxxx
Dreadwing, Breakdown, and Arachnid soon departed for an "energon spike." Elisa was merely walking down the hallway when a terrible scream rang. She jumped and started to tremble at the pain that came out. She shook even harder when another scream rang out. She suddenly realized it was coming from the medical bay. She ran as fast as her brace would allow before she scrambled inside. Her eyes went wide when she saw Knockout huddled on the floor crying and clutching at his spark.
"Knockout what is it?" Elisa whispered as she approached him.
"Bre-Breakdown…he..he's gone!" Knockout sobbed. Elisa froze as she suddenly realized what had happened. Tears ran down her face as she immediately started to comfort Knockout. He clutched at her tightly sobbing hard as she wrapped her wings around him like a blanket. The tears kept coming as she purred in a tender gesture.
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry." Elisa cried as she kept Knockout close.
"He called out to me. He told me he loved me! I told him I loved him back and then he..he..he" Knockout couldn't finish as he started sobbing again. Elisa shivered when she saw his aurora was not as bright as it was before. She watched in pain as the color slowly faded down to a light that was only meant for one. Elisa took a deep breath before she looked at Knockout again.
"I'll be right back Knockout. I'm going to tell Carrier." Elisa said gently. He nodded in understanding before she quickly went to find him. "Carrier!" She called out when she saw him going towards the bridge. He took one look at her and ran over to her.
"What is it Elisa? What happened?" He asked fearfully.
"Breakdown's dead." She cried quietly. Megatron's optics went wide as his body went slack for a moment. "I…I…I have to go back to Knockout. He's…He's very upset." She stammered out. He took a deep breath before looking up at her again. Knockout and Breakdown were bonded and while he was saddened at the lost he remembered how Elisa could see and feel energy. He could only imagine what she felt when energy died.
"Go to him. You are very strong do to so Elisa and for that I am proud of you." He said before he kissed her forehead. "Dreadwing has returned and has said that Breakdown went missing. I will deal with him." Megatron stated. Elisa nodded before she turned back with a gentle push from her Carrier. Once she was out of sight he took a deep breath before regaining his composure. He could mourn later, now was not the time.
"The reason for our reason for our inability to locate Breakdown's signal is all too clear, but how is it that you were unable to recover his remains!" Megatron shouted at Dreadwing who avoided his gaze. Suddenly the com signal started beeping. "What is it?"
"Heard from Breakdown lately?" Arachnid's voice teased.
"Trace the communication." He ordered Soundwave which he started to do instantly.
"Megatron truly you sent simple henchmen to terminate a high ranking officer." She said as if she was shocked. "I thought you reserved that honor for yourself."
"Is that a challenge?" Megatron asked darkly.
"An invitation, and since Soundwave is no doubt tracing this signal you know where to find me." She said before the com was gone.
"I'll be back." Megatron said before leaving.
"Allow me accompany you." Dreadwing nearly pleaded.
"You already had your chance." Megatron snapped before leaving. Oh there was so much more he wanted to say, but he restrained himself for the moment. He spent his flight fuming in anger before landing gracefully on the ground. The spider stood on a pile of rocks mocking him.
"You don't waste time."
"Your stay of execution has come to an end."
An unfamiliar roar sounded before Megatron was tackled to the ground. With a grunt he threw the insecticon off of him. It roared back at him in challenge.
"I will leave you two to get acquainted." Arachnid said before leaping up to a higher post.
"Bow before Megatron your leader." Megatron ordered, but the insecticon paid him no mind as he charged at him again. "I said bow…" Megatron growled before pointing his cannon at him. The beast grabbed him by the head and threw him across the mine. Megatron tensed as the beast charged at him yet again before pining him to the wall. Megatron snarled at it before pushing one of it's arms aside and blasting it with his cannon. The instecticon flew across the mine before transforming into it's flying mode. Megatron went to fire at it again only for webbing to come down and block his cannon. He glared up at Arachnid, who only smiled at him before he was tackled yet again. He grunted in pain when he was thrown upside and hit the wall hard before he was thrown up in the air. He shouted in pain when he was cut into his neck and energon spilled. He landed on the ground hard from a shot to his abdomen and was dazed for a brief moment, until he forced himself to get up. Making the mistake of charging again, Megatron landed a hard punch that sent the beast flying into the wall.
"You and your beast would do well to remember." He said before his blade came out. "I homed my skills in the Pits of Kaon!" He shouted with pride before the two opponents charge at each other and locked arms. The insecticon gave out first and Megatron tried to swipe at it with his blade. Each blow was blocked with a shower of sparks as Megatron hit hard in pure rage. The beast snarled before leaping over him as he swiped at it again. He let out a frustrated snarl when another swipe missed and the beast tackled him from above.
"Finish him!" Arachnid shouted from above. It made him all the more angry. He never realized how much anger he had until now. All the anger at Magma for what he did to him and Elisa. How he took from both of them without care. He was angry at how he changed Phoenix in some way. She was acting more and more like him with every passing moment and it made Megatron hate her. He was her Carrier. He shouldn't hate his own femme. She just kept pushing him and pushing him in all the right ways. She kept hurting Elisa in almost every mental way she could and he just couldn't tolerate it anymore. In his spark he knew that he loved Elisa more than anything, but Phoenix he just stopped caring. He wanted to feel terrible about it, but the more she pushed him the more he didn't care anymore. He wanted nothing more than to give Elisa everything. He would give her the world. He would give her Cybertron and it's two moons if he could. He would give his own leg if it meant she wouldn't limp and be in pain any more. That was all he wanted now for her.
He didn't want her to be in pain anymore.
The hits kept getting harder and harder and more sparks kept flying as the beast tried to strike at him with it's pincher arms. A full on punch to the face sent the beast flying back as Megatron tried to strike at it with his blade again. The blow was blocked and so was another swipe. Megatron fell back as the beast tried to slam down on him. A small kick knocked it back, but they charged at each other again and Megatron landed a much stronger kick that sent the insecticon into the wall. Taking a quick breath he looked up at the ledge where the spider was and found that she was gone. He knew that she wouldn't leave without seeing his spark ripped out by her minion, so he turned and saw the cause of her departure.
"So many surprises today." He snapped at the autobots. He reacted fast and swiped at the insecticon that tried to sneak up on him from behind, but failed miserably. The beast was dazed by the blow so he struck harder again before he quickly grabbed both pincher arms. The beast screeched in pain as Megatron pulled off the arms with a swift kick. Reacting fast he threw the arms to the ground and pulled out his blade for the last time and decapitated the beast with a final blow. It fell to the ground in pile of scrap heap leaving Megatron breathing hard.
"Let that be a warning to anyone who crosses a gladiator of Kaon!" Megatron said proudly with his fists high in the air. "Be they decepticon…" Bee landed to right and Bulkhead to his left when finally Optimus landed in front of him. "…or autobot." He started walking towards Prime when his knees gave out and he collapsed to the ground. "It would see that I am unarmed and at your mercy…so tell me Optimus. Do you intend to keep me alive or end this here and now?" Everyone stared in silence as Optimus narrowed his optics…and activated his gun. "This is why I will never trust Elisa with you." He whispered darkly. Optimus blinked in surprise and was taken back when suddenly shots rang out from above. "The surprises never cease." Megatron mumbled as Dreadwing came down and landed behind him with a squadron of troops.
"Oh scrap." Bulkhead muttered.
"Deliver Megatron to us and I will allow you to live." Dreadwing stated.
"Never trust a con, kick bucket head's bucket!" Bulkhead snapped. Nobody still made a word, but Optimus looked down at Megatron and he sneered right back.
"Dreadwing do I have your word?" Optimus asked. Finally after another tense moment Dreadwing retracted his gun and Prime did as well.
"My liege." Dreadwing said as he helped Megatron to his pedes.
"Dreadwing may have given you his word, but I did not." Megatron said bitterly. "Destroy them!" He ordered the troops. Everyone started firing as Megatron and Dreadwing flew right out of the mine and into the night sky. "You disobeyed my orders in following me here…you will make a fine first lieutenant." Megatron said to Dreadwing before speeding off back to the Nemesis. Dreadwing did catch up to Megatron in the hallway as he slowly made his way towards the med bay. "I would advise you to stay away from Knockout for the moment. He might do something rash. He was bonded to Breakdown." Megatron said in a tired tone.
"I understand Master." Dreadwing said before he left for his quarters. He let out a heavy sigh as he saw Elisa pacing in the medical bay, but no Knockout. The door opened and he all but hobbled inside.
"Carrier what happened?" Elisa gasped with wide eyes.
"It's complicated." He said with a weak smile. She hurried over to him and guided him over to the medical berth and helped him lie down. She saw the cut on his neck and hurried to get supplies to clean and treat the wound.
"Knockout is in recharge. He basically cried himself into it." Elisa said sadly.
"I told Dreadwing to stay away for the moment."
"Arachnid?'
"She got away."
"Phoenix won't like this."
"I know."
"Carrier, what do we do?" Elisa asked nervously as she wiped away the spilled energon.
"I'm not sure." He said with a heavy sigh.
"I have a few ideas." Elisa said bitterly.
"Please Elisa." He said as he grasped her wrist. "Don't do anything drastic." He pleaded.
"Fine." She said weakly. He made a mental note to speak to Soundwave about her. "I hate her." Elisa said bitterly.
"Please be careful with Phoenix. I don't want her hurting you."
"She won't hurt me…she…she's my sister." Elisa said weakly with tears in her eyes. Megatron stood up from the berth and gently wiped away a tear.
"I know she hurt you when she called a cripple." He said gently.
"It doesn't matter. I can still walk." Elisa said more strongly, but still she was very upset. These past few days had not been kind to her.
"Don't cry baby. It always hurt me to see you cry." He said before he scooped her up and held her tightly.
"I miss him." She sobbed.
"I know baby."
"It's so cold." She sobbed bitterly. He rubbed her sides and kissed her cheek in comfort. When Elisa settled down, he reluctantly let her go and she helped him off the berth. "Hey what happened to you?" She asked again.
"I'll tell you in the morning."
"Promise?"
"Promise."
"Are you limping?" She asked surprised.
"A little."
"Why?"
"I'm old Elisa." He chuckled before he started to leave.
"I'm going to stay with Knockout for the night."
"I thought as much." He said with a smile before he left.
Xxxxxxxxxxx
Knockout woke up the next morning tired and exhausted. Recharge was bitter that night and dreamt of nothing but Breakdown's final moments of pain. He grumbled as he turned towards the door and blinked in surprise. At the edge of his berth on the floor was Elisa curled up in a ball and sleeping. He smiled at her caring nature as he realized that she was there for his support. He knew Breakdown meant a lot to her as well as she often played with him as a sparkling. He smiled at the fond memories.
"Hey pretty girl." Knockout said quietly. She slowly blinked her eyes open and she smiled up at him. She stood up on four legs and did a quick stretch before she went over to him and nuzzled his face while purring. "Thanks." He said as he hugged her.
"Knockout I need to tell you something." She said quietly.
"He told me you saved him."
"He said he wouldn't. I guess I should have known better." She giggled.
"He told me not to say anything so you wouldn't get in trouble." Knockout added. "Thank you for saving him Elisa." He said sincerely before he hugged her again. She kissed his neck cables in comfort before he finally let go of her.
"Are you going to be ok?"
"For now I guess."
"I'll check up on you later. I have to talk to Carrier."
"Fair deal." He smiled weakly before Elisa slowly left his room and wandered into the bridge. Only to see Phoenix arguing with Megatron yet again.
"You never even let me work with her! We could have been a good team!" Phoenix argued.
"She committed treason. She had to be dealt with." Megatron said calmly. Phoenix took one look at Elisa bared her teeth.
"You had something to do this didn't you!? Didn't you!?" Phoenix snapped angrily at Elisa.
"She had no influence in my decision Phoenix." Megatron answered quickly.
"I didn't ask you." She snapped at him.
"She deserves everything that's coming to her." Elisa stated firmly.
"You're only saying that because you hated her."
"Yes, I did hate her and hate her even more now."
"Aww poor Breakdown boo hoo." Phoenix said sarcastically. "He deserved to die."
"Nobody deserves to die!" Elisa shouted back.
"Awww what's the matter? Are you going to cry like you always do?" Phoenix snapped. Elisa gritted her teeth but didn't move as she did her best not to fall for the bait. So she took a deep breath before speaking.
"You know the planet's humans have a word for something like you. I believe the term is you bitch." Elisa said darkly. Megatron's jaw dropped as Phoenix snarled in pure rage. Before he could recover Phoenix charged at Elisa, but this time she was ready. With one swipe of her claws Elisa knocked Phoenix to the ground and she landed hard on her side. Phoenix groaned in pain before she stood up and shook her head. She looked at Elisa before she stalked out of the bridge without another word.
"Watch out for the quiet ones." Knockout's voice rang out from Soundwave's visor. Elisa smiled at the compliment before he returned to his monitor and she looked up at him as if nothing had happened. Megatron blinked a few times in shock before he shook his helm to clear his thoughts.
"Wow." Megatron gasped as Elisa limped up to him.
"I was prepared this time." Elisa said. Soundwave came up to him and showed the footage of when Elisa tackled Starscream to the ground when he went "braindead."
"You did that?" Megatron asked confused pointing to Soundwave. "Who are you?" He asked playfully touching her forehead as if to check her temperature.
"I was angry. I thought you were going to die." Elisa explained.
"Hmmmm I see." He said before Soundwave walked away again.
"So what happened last night?" Elisa asked again.
"I thought I was going to defeat Arachnid, but instead she had an insecticon pet." Megatron explained.
"What's an Insecticon?" Elisa asked confused. He brought up an image on the monitor and Elisa stared at it curiously. "Oh I see it." She added getting the name instantly.
"I defeated the beast, but Arachnid got away."
"So that's why you were limping yesterday." Elisa concluded.
"I'm not as young as I used to be back on Cybertron." Megatron added. "I am not that young gladiator anymore." He finished. She wasn't sure what to say to that. "Don't get old Elisa." He winked at her making her giggle.