A/N: I know what you're probably thinking. Crystal, you've done a 100 topic challenge before and never finished it. Well, here's the problem with that. I started it and then fell into a writing funk and that one was in the world of Skyrim, a world my muse has not taken an interest in again thus far. I also pushed myself too hard on it, I believe and when I went a long time without updating it and then did and none of the older reviewers appeared, or any reviewer, for a long time, I lost motivation.
You may also be thinking, Crystal, you have multiple stories going and have only been updating one of them, why are you starting another one? Well, here's the thing...this isn't really a new story. I mean, it could be, but honestly, this is a way of getting things my muse comes up with out of the way so I can focus on Your War, Our Battle, which is the story I am mainly motivated for right now and thus the one I am mainly focused on. The topics in this will not all necessarily be unrelated to YWOB and they will not all necessarily be connected to even each other. They won't even necessarily be connected to a story that I am or will actually be writing. This particular one is related to an Alternate Reality of Your War, Our Battle, one of many that have floated around in my head for some time. Others might be set in other Alternate Realities to it. Others might be in it. Others might be in realities so very disconnected from my main story you wouldn't be able to find any similar backgrounds, it's hard to know. The only thing I know for sure is that all the ones I will posting in this thread will be set in a Transformers reality and/or a reality where they exist as works of fiction. I do not know how often this will be updated or I will get through all of the topics I have. I thought about not posting this at all, but then I decided, you know, why not? Maybe someone will enjoy it. And maybe a new story might spring up from this. Who knows?
Anyways, about this one specifically: This one is set in an alternate timeline to the official YWOB-verse. In this reality there are several things different from the official one. First different is that instead of meeting Optimus and team first, Shadebreaker ran into Megatron, who took her trinemates hostage in order to force her to work for him. Why her and not Shadow', who is bigger and more heavily armored? Because she seemed the easiest to control in this manner, and she was also the one up and about searching for energon so it was in part circumstances and what was easiest. Soundwave had also detected the energies from her portals, which he deemed would be quite useful for them. Another difference here is that the Breaker Trine(a name that honestly doesn't seem to fit anymore since Shadow's name change, but I haven't exactly come up with anything better) arrived in this reality much, much earlier. I picture the war still being on Cybertron at this point. This also takes place a great long time since their arrival. I picture Shadebreaker having had to work for Megatron for several vorns by now, though they are still on Cybertron. Long enough for her to lament having adapted into the ranks even though she hates it and it kills her to do so. She's become an effective fighter on her own by now and has killed more Autobots than she cares to count and has developed a rougher exterior than we are used to seeing in her official YWOB-verse self. Conversely, revelations she has learned thus far in YWOB have not been made yet for this Shade'. I haven't decided on the reasons behind that, however, as it would be something I'd have to iron out if this became a full story. I haven't ironed out many other differences between the official reality and this one, however. It's kinda a fledgling reality my muse periodically plays with and this scene was begging to be written, so I found an excuse. It at least keeps me writing, right?
Anyways, I hope you guys enjoy!
053 - Keeping a Secret
I stared at the mech before me as I handed him the report he asked for, wings taking on a knowing tilt. We were alone in the room, which I was grateful for. This mech was perhaps the only one on the whole ship I felt comfortable being alone with. Because I knew his secret. I didn't think he knew that I knew, but I knew. After all, you didn't really see Praxians among the Decepticons.
The mech, Freezer, gave me a hard to read look, wings held at a neutral position. He moved closer to me. "You think you know something, hm?" he asked.
"You do not really see Praxians in the 'Cons," I replied quietly. "Though that doesn't give you away so much as I tend to be more observant than even Soundwave….one kind of has to be in my position, you know." I looked at his visor from behind my own. "That being said, you might want to be careful about those small acts of kindness no one notices. If he notices, you'll be officially compromised and whatever you need to learn won't reach you. Provided this file doesn't have it."
"So why give me the file if you know?" Freezer asked curiously.
"I could give a few reasons," I replied. "But telling you would go against some of them. I won't rat you out, I know when to keep a secret, but I can't make your job easier."
"How do I know I can trust you? Why shouldn't I simply….remove you from the equation?" Freezer asked.
I analyzed his visor, expression carefully neutral. "Simply my word," I replied. "I have nothing else to offer, I'm afraid. I'd be risking too much to do anything more than to keep quiet. I'm sure you understand that to some degree….Jazz."
The use of his real name made the mech's doorwings tense for a very brief moment—you blink and you miss it kind of moment. He gave me the most unreadable look I'd ever seen on a mech.
"As I said, I won't tell," I said. "Besides, whatever information you give your superiors could turn out beneficial to me. Whatever small chance of that is there, I'd be a fool not to take it." I lowered my helm just slightly. "Think of it as my way of rebelling against where my life has taken me. In the safest way possible."
I backed up from him pointedly. "Now, if you excuse me, if I stay any longer, I'll be late to drills and that would be suspicious on the both of us."
I felt the mech's optics on me as I saluted him smartly and then departed. There was a reason, I suspected, that he always had me turn in my reports to him in this room. Separated from every other Decepticon on the ship and in just such a position that prevented the security cameras from properly making out any words passed between us. I paused at the doorway to let a vehicon pass as he conversed with his fellow and then disappeared out the door, leaving behind a no doubt contemplative Autobot spy in the room I had just vacated.
"Hmm, these reports are interesting," Megatron said as he stood before Freezer and myself two days later. "Tell me, Shadebreaker, what do you think of the movements of the Autobots that Freezer reports?"
I was careful not to fidget. "I think it seems like they are desperate for resources," I told him, sincerity in my tone. It wasn't hard to fake it as Freezer's report, whether true or not, did make it sound like it. "If we were to, say, prevent them from gaining this cache, it would take their morale down and, thus, make it easier to pick them off. It would be dangerous and near suicidal, but with the right bots on the mission, we could do it."
"Hm, yes, I agree," Megatron said. "Soundwave?"
"Seeker's words: Correct. Right bots: Present on ship," Soundwave replied. "Suggestion: Shadebreaker, Freezer, Skyquake and Dreadwing."
I placed my hands behind my back to hide how my fists clenched. I hated the twin jets and would certainly prefer not to work with them. They were decent to me, unlike some of the other Decepticon fliers, but their loyalty to Megatron was absolute. Sending them on a mission with Freezer and I….I couldn't help but feel they were being sent to deal with one of us, or potentially both of us. Megatron knew my loyalty only lied with him because of his imprisonment of my trinemates. Maybe he grew tired and was starting to doubt how much of a stranglehold that he really had on me.
"Very well," Megatron said, waving a hand. "Freezer, tell the mentioned mechs to meet you by the Space Bridge in one hour. In the meantime you are dismissed. Not you, Shadebreaker, I need a word."
Freezer was the only one to catch the quiet hiss of displeasure and fear as I stayed rooted to the spot as he gave a Praxian bow to the Decepticon leader. He didn't glance at me, however, as that would break character and Decepticons never showed worry for each other in public. It just didn't happen, even between those few sparkmates that existed among the ranks.
"So, Shadebreaker," Megatron said once he, Soundwave and I were the only ones left on the bridge. "What do you think about Freezer? Do you like him?"
"Do I like anyone?" I inquired, raising an optic ridge. "Honestly, Megatron, that's like asking Soundwave to go a day without his precious mask." I motioned at the mech.
"Request: Unlikely." Soundwave said.
Megatron actually chuckled. "Yes, of course," he said, giving a toothy grin. "You've become a fine Decepticon. No attachments, no friends, only means to your ends. I daresay, if you were only to lose those remnants of softness in you, you'd make a fine addition to the officer pool. Just as fine as Freezer."
I refused to show how his words made my spark ache. I hated the fact they were true. My forced alliance to him had brought out the worst sides of me and I hated myself more with each mean or cruel thing I said or did, with each Autobot that I offlined, I died just a little bit more inside. He found it a weakness that I didn't prolong my victims' suffering, but I found it the only thing allowing me to not feel like I had completely lost myself. I was considered by all of my fellow Decepticons to be much too soft. I considered myself, however, much too hardened.
"Actually," Megatron said, pacing a couple steps and putting his servo to his chin. "You may be a better officer than Freezer is."
I shifted a wing uncertainly. "Certainly not," I replied offhandedly. "His battle strategies far out class my own. I have no qualms admitting that. He's efficient in ways I am not."
"Indeed, but it's come to my attention that he is not as loyal as he seems," Megatron said, starting to circle around me and I could feel his optics watching my every reaction.
"Sir?" I asked, putting on my best oblivious mannerisms. It wasn't hard, since I had once been the most oblivious femme in the multiverse. It was like stepping into old shoes, as the humans say. Not that anyone here would understand that reference.
"You've been reporting to him for some time now," Megatron said thoughtfully. "Tell me, have you noticed any signs of treachery from him?"
"No sir, I haven't," I replied easily. "Nothing he has had me do has had any potential to be a traitorous act and I have not witnessed him doing anything...un-Decepticonly."
Megatron narrowed his optics at me as he came around in front of me. I saw his optics dart to my wings as he continued his circle and said appendages shifted curiously.
"Has someone else said otherwise?" I inquired, keeping my tone carefully neutral.
"It's come to my attention that we have a spy in our midst and Soundwave believes our newest officer is a likely candidate," Megatron replied. "I'm merely getting a feel for how deep this infiltration goes."
"May I ask why Soundwave thinks this? Is it merely his status as Probie?" I asked.
"Inquiry: Probie?" Soundwave asked.
"Apologies, term from where I originally came from," I said, shifting on my pedes a little bit as my knees protested the way I was standing. It was a common enough shift from me that no one really batted an optic at it. "It just means he's the new guy, compared to everyone else. The new guy is always the easiest option for suspicion when the existence of a spy is discovered. But I've found a lot of things aren't so straightforward and it is not my experience for someone like you, Soundwave, to go with the straightforward answer without more evidence."
"Assumption: correct. Evidence: exists. Need to know: you do not." Soundwave said and I frowned at him with a tilt of my helm with my chin up in a way that made Megatron chuckle.
"If I didn't know any better," Megatron said, leaning down so that his lips were right next to my audio. "I'd say you were protecting Freezer. And, you know," he ran his fingers threateningly along my wing's edge, causing me to shiver in discomfort. "It's not a good idea to protect a spy. You know what the consequences are if you betray me." He gripped the top edge of my wing in a painful grasp that threatened their wellbeing.
"And knowing those consequences, why would I?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.
"As you've already mentioned," Megatron said, turning me around to face him, but keeping his hand painfully on my wing as he got in my face. "You don't like anyone. How am I to believe your connection to your trine is still enough to ensure your loyalty?"
"By knowing that not liking anyone is slightly exaggerated," I replied simply. "I like two people in existence and that's it. I don't like anyone else. That said, why would I protect Freezer if I don't like him? As you said, I know the consequences of betrayal. There'd be no benefit for me to protect him. If he really is the spy, then his traitorous acts have gone unnoticed by myself. I do not exactly have the same resources as Soundwave to keep tabs on the bots I come into contact with all the time. I get my orders from him and I give him my reports. That's it. And, as I said earlier, he has not asked me to do anything that seemed even remotely traitorous. If he's got plans, he has not included me."
"Hmm," Megatron said and then shoved me back as he released my wing. "Very well, then. I will accept your answer for now. You are dismissed. Do whatever you need to in order to prepare before meeting with the others for this mission."
I nodded and gave him a smooth Seeker bow before heading for the door.
"Oh, and Shadebreaker," Megatron called after me. "I trust you to do what needs to be done when the time comes."
I paused, glancing back at the warlord with a neutral expression. "Yes sir," I told him before walking briskly off the bridge. I didn't allow my relief to show, not even once I'd reached my quarters. That had been tense, but somehow I had still managed to keep Freezer's secret. For how long, I didn't know, since it seemed as if he was already under suspicion. What had that mech done to tip them off? I didn't know. But I had kept my word, not that it'd been that difficult. Freezer really hadn't given me enough of a reason to suspect him that it would warrant telling Megatron even if I had been loyal to the warlord. Beyond not giving me evidence that he wasn't a spy when I had revealed that I knew.
Now the question was: How to let Freezer know his identity may be compromised without tipping Megatron off that I had known and had not told him and actively omitted the fact I knew it was him in my interrogation? If Megatron found out that I knew and didn't tell him, the consequences would be severe, not only on me, but on my trinemates. I couldn't let them suffer because I blundered like that.
