Chapter 6: The ugly truth
"Anyone got any ideas?" Arcee asked, blaster at the ready.
No one answered the motorcycle which meant one of two things; they were either thinking of a plan or they couldn't think of anything.
Before Savage could give the signal to attack, red plasma bolts rained down from the sky, followed by several dozen Eradicons and Insecticons, the reinforcements eliminated half of the manifestations of Unicron in one clean swipe. The rest was taken by surprise and for the moment they had a small respite.
"Lord Megatron, your mate Starscream sent us," Hardshell rumbled. "The Nemesis will be here shortly."
"Excellent. Hardshell, grab Savage but do not harm him, no matter what he does to you."
"Yes, my lord."
"Reinforcements will not help you!" Savage/Unicron roared optics blazing.
Hardshell landed behind the possessed mech and knocked him out, just as the Nemesis emerged from the cloud cover. Savage slumped to the ground and his optics went dark as he offlined in stasis lock for the moment.
"Your ship awaits, my dearest Megatron." Starscream's voice called from the intercom.
"Everyone, Autobots included, to the Nemesis, now!" Megatron shouted.
No one needed to be told twice as they drove or flew to the nemesis. The Autobots were helped along by the flying decepticons and soon, before the Unicron look-alike could react, they were all safe inside the nemesis as it too altitude again.
Upon seeing his mate safe and sound, Starscream walked to him and put a hand on his shoulder with a grin on his faceplates. "Even facing Unicron himself, you're too stubborn to go down..." the seeker chuckled, and then added, more seriously. "Welcome back my Lord."
Optimus, still a little shaken by his near-death experience, finally spoke up, looking at the two. His tune was calm, and he held a good deal of concern and worry. "We need to plan for Unicron's next move. he will not let us win that easily."
However, optimus was starting to think that he may have to use the matrix to resolve this crisis, which could led to unexpected results for him. But he was willing to take the risk... The ancient relic of Primus may be their only weapon against the dark God.
Hardshell, still carrying Savage, walked to Megatron and asked. "Where do I put him, my Lord? He could wake up at any time."
Megatron looked at his younger brother and noticed that Savage looked older and more worn out. The dark energon seemed to be sucking the life out of him.
"My lord?" Hardshell pressed.
"Take him to the med bay so I can repair his injuries," Knockout put in. "I'll have to put restraints on him as well."
"Do what you think is best, Knockout." Megatron replied with a heavy sigh.
Knockout gave Megatron a small bow before leading Hardshell and Breakdown to the medbay.
Optimus could tell the Megatron with a little overwhelmed by all this and he vowed to help is old friend in any way he could.
Ratchet was completely aware of the fact that he was still in the arms of the blue and yellow seeker. His spark going a million miles an hour as it is slammed against its casing.
Dreadwing was looking down at the medic in his arms with thoughtful optics. he looked just as confused by this as ratchet, and his spark was racing in his chest. he tightened his hold on the white frame with a possessive gesture, and let out a sharp growl.
ratchet squirmed a little, not too sure about what to do, and how to take this. he said, voice soft. "You can put me down. I can walk you know?"
"I dont feel like letting go." the large seeker replied, sounding very serious, and he held him tight against his chest.
In the medbay, Knockout had Savage put on a berth, and restraints were put on him to prevent the seeker from injuring himself or others. he was still unconscious, and when he was finally secured, Hardshell left leaving Knockout and breakdown alone.
Knockout took out a scanner, and started to scan the mech for any injuries or anything else. But the readings were odd, and he frowned, they looked like he was an older bot while he knew Savage to be pretty young. But it was when he scanned over his chest that his jaw dropped.
"I knew it... I felt it was the case... i hoped i was mistaken..." He whispered, and clutched the scanner hard.
Breakdown looked at him with a tilted head, his assistant a little confused. He knew his lover well, and that expression meant that he was very scarred, and worried. That didn't bode well...
"What is it? You found something unusual?" he asked, looking over his shoulder, and gasped seeing the results. "Ho frag! Think they were there before... unicron?"
"No... I felt them before... they... are from /him/ breakdown. And... if those readings are anything good, they're already a lot bigger then they should. If they keep this up, Savage will die during childbirth..."
Silence. Then Breakdown shook his head shocked. "Frag... how do we break this to Megatron?..."
That was a good question, how do you tell your commander that his little brother was not only pregnant but could die during childbirth?
"Ugh." Savage groaned as he regained consciousness.
Knockout bit his bottom lip, but relaxed when he didn't sense Unicron's presents within him.
"Savage?" He said.
The flyer opened his optics, they were their normal red color, but there was also flexs of purple within them.
"So, you now know that I am carrying his offspring." He said calmly.
"How are you being so calm about it? Giving birth to them will kill you." Breakdown told him.
"I know, I accepted my fate the the second I plunged the shard into my chest."
Knockout put a hand on his shoulder, and sighed. "If there is a way to prevent this from happening, I will. I am not going to just let you die." the medic said very seriously, his tune softer and kinder than usual. "I will ask for ratchet's insight with this. he is more knowledgeable then me."
Savaged smiled at him sadly, and shook his head. "No need. Unicron would've made sure that there is no way to undo it. They will probably outgrow my frame and tear me apart at birth. It will not be a nice death, but I accepted this fate."
Breakdown shuddered at those words, and the way Savage seemed so... calm and casual about it. Talking of such a gruesome way to die... it was making his tanks churn. "How can you be so calm about this? I'll be freaking out if I were you..." the large mech finally said, his voice tense.
"I will be the one to give the diagnosis Savage. If there is a way, any way, to undo it, me and Ratchet will find it. I promise." He said seriously, and smiled at the seeker reassuringly squeezing his shoulder.
"Breakdown, can you give Savage a cube while I go talk to Megatron." Knockout said.
"Yeah, sure. Hey, what are you going to tell Megatron?" Breakdown asked.
"No idea."
**********
Optimus and Megatron hadn't come up with anything since arriving on the Nemesis. It was funny how easy it had been to drop the eon-old hatred to step into cooperation mode in the wake of Unicron's threat. It was like the two mech's friendship had never even been over.
They had turned to Dreadwing and Ratchet only to find them making out. Megatron sighed and shook his head, turning away from the pair. Stranger things had happened...
"We'll think of something, Megatron. I won't let Unicron take your brother from you." Prime vowed.
Megatron didn't say anything, he simply placed his hands on the console. If Savage died because of his quest for power... Starscream came over and wrapped his arms around his waist, laying his head on his mate's back, engine purring softly. Several minutes later, the door to the bridge opened and Knockout entered. After Starscream released him he turned it to the medic.
"How is he?"
"He's awake and himself, in a way," knockout replied then sighed. "But there is something you should know."
Worry and dread gripped the silver war lords spark. "What is it, knockout?"
"Savage is carrying twins and Unicron... he is the father."
Megatron's jaw dropped, and a expression of utter shock filled his faceplates. Then the shock was replaced by rage and he clenched his fists, hissing one word through his theeth. "What?!"
Knockout gulped and repeated what he just said. he wasn't too sure he wanted to give Megatron the full truth yet. Megatron wouldn't take well knowing his brother was going to die during childbirth. Optimus, howeer, seemed to sense there was more, and asked.
"There is more, isn't it" The wise leader looked as shocked as Megatron, and sad too. he shook his head with a deep sigh. "You should tell Megatron now. he will learn eventually anyway..."
Knockout let out a sigh of his own, and steeled himself. if he died for giving Megatron such bad news, at least he'll die doing his job... "There is more... The chances that Savage die in childbirth are high. But I will be working with Ratchet on a way to prevent this my Lord!" He quickly added when he saw Megatron's expression clouding over.
Savage was carrying the offspring of the dark God and he could die during childbirth. It sounded like a sick joke, well he wasn't laughing.
"Terminate the pregnancy." He found himself saying.
Everyone, Autobot and Decepticon looked at the silver Warlord, shock clear on their faces. Terminating a pregnancy was something that Cybertronian thought of as amoral... No one would ever do it unless there wasn't any other way. Even then... doing so was taboo. For Megatron to suggest this showed how serious the situation was.
"M-my Lord L..." Knockout started but Megatron cut him off and turned his fiery gaze on him.
"No, you listen! I didn't spend my entire life keeping Savage safe, just so he could die during childbirth! I am making the decision for you, terminate the pregnancy, Savage is far more important than the spawn he's carrying!" He practically shouted.
Knockout flinched a little, but nodded, and bowed to his leader. If Megatron ordered it, he will do it. He knew how much Megatron valued his brother's life. "As you command my Lord Megatron."
ratchet, coming closer and hearing the discussion, was frowning and he decided to tell his mind on this. "Terminating a pregnancy is something unheard of. Maybe there is another solution. At least, let me and Knockout look through it. If we find nothing, then we can always terminate."
Megatron turned to the Autobot medic, and his fiery optics were burning with barely contained rage, against Unicron, the spawn of Unicron contaminating his brother, and the entire situation. Ratchet didn't flinch though and stood his ground, while Dreadwing stepped closer to him just in case Megatron exploded.
"I do not want to put my brother's life in jeopardy just so you medics can poke and prod him to find a hypothetical solution! Terminate it, and this is final!" he retorted, his optics burning, and Ratchet, biting his lower lip with optics burning with his own anger, had to give for this.
Knockout and him left the bridge to go back to the medbay.
Optimus put his hand on Megatron's shoulder to try and calm him down. "I know that your only thinking about brother's wellbeing. But the sparklings he is carrying are innocent."
"They're His offspring, Optimus, they're far from innocent. Terminating them will save him from a gruesome fate. Warriors like Savage and myself should die in battle," He told Prime. "Not be torn apart during childbirth."
Optimus sighed, knowing that nothing would change his mind, not when it involved his little brother.
**********
"Those sparklings maybe Unicron's offspring but they're still innocent," Ratchet ranted as they made their way to the med Bay. "There has to be a way to save Savage without killing the Sparklings."
Knockout allowed the other medic rant, he also wanted to save the flyer, Savage was is a great guy and fun to be around. They would first try Ratchet's option before going to plan B.
He had to hand it to Ratchet to standing up to Megatron when few dared to try without peeing themselves.
In the medbay, after drinking his cube of energon, Savage rested back on the berth, one hand going to rest over his chestplates and the sparklings below. Despite who their father was, they were innocent lives. He turned his head with a sigh, and his optics fell on the recharging form of Soundwave on another berth. He frowned, and felt his chest tightens. he was responsible for his pain...
The telepath's faceplates were still uncovered, and Knockout had done a good job patching him up, but the scars would be horrible. He would probably be disfigured for the rest of his function. Savage turned away and curled on his other side. He couldn't bear the sight any longer...
Breakdown was close by and watching him with concern and slight fear. He couldn't understands much of what was happening to Savage, but Knockout, with his gift, had told him some. Sometimes, what his lover could do was frightening, but also useful... When the door opened, he turned around to see Knockout and ratchet walk inside the room.
"How are Soundwave's vitals?" Knockout asked his lover
"They're slowly improving." He replied.
Ratchet looked over at the telepath then to Knockout. "May I?"
"Yes, just let him know you're there first, so you don't startle him." Knockout told him.
Ratchet, for having been a medic for so long, had come across injuries that were similar to those of Soundwave, though not as serious or extended. Explosions, fires, cave-ins, crashes, many kind of accidents could cause injuries like that. A quick look over the telepath's ruined faceplates told him that, while he could repair the worst of the damage, there will probably be lasting issues and injuries. He placed a gentle hand on the injured mech's forearm.
He tried not to flinch when his presence in invaded his mind.
'You're the Autobot Medic.' Soundwave commented.
'Yes, I'm Ratchet.' He replied.
'What are you doing on the Nemesis?" The injured con asked curiously.
Rathet quickly explained the situation then told him that he was going to try and repair the worst of his wounds. He didn't hid the fact that he couldn't repair everything, and that the telepath would probably have lasting injuries. Could stay crippled in a way. Soundwave mental shudder didn't escape him and he felt sorry for the mech, even if he was a Decepticon, he didn't deserve that...
'Very well, do what you can.'
Ratchet squeezed his forearm reassuringly and answered with a simple 'I will. I never fail a patient.' and then he started to work. He started with Soundwave's optic sockets, and frowned at the amount of charred metal and burnt out circuitry. All the connectors, the optical nodes and wires were damaged in some way. This was truly a delicate work to do, and would take him some times only to try and fix the sockets to accommodate new optics... if it was even possible. Unicron made sure that there was nothing left for the optics to connect to and... a thought came to him. He shuddered and plugged some wires on Soundwave's cranial unit to deep-scan his processor and find his sight center.
After a few moment, he let out a curse and Knockout came to him, worried. He had been talking with his lover, while Knockout was recharging, mumbling and moving a lot. he was not resting well, obviously. He stood at the medic's side, and asked, concerned. "What is it? Something bad?"
"Yes, definitely. I scanned Soundwave's processor to see how his sight center was doing and, look at what I found instead of the visual imput decoding center." He pointed to a particular set of lines from the scan, and knockout, after examining it, let out a curse of his own.
The visual imput center was gone, and in its place was a set of corrupt, carefully encased rogue infectious cades. if they try to unlock the zone, they'll infect Soundwave with a deadly illness, and he would die. Any attempt to go into this center will result in the death of the telepath, either way. Fearing what he might see next, he scanned for the input/output audio center and his curse only grew louder. it was the same. They could probably put new optics and new audios on Soundwave, but it would be totally useless without the visual and audio centers to m ake them work.
"How are we going to tell Megatron that his best soldier is going to be crippled for life? That his Communication Officer is very well deaf and Mute for good? He'll not be pleased." Knockout said darkly, his tune holding anger and rage for the dark God for doing this to Soundwave.
"I have no fragging idea, and apart from repairing the physical wounds, there is nothing I can do. The optics and audios will be functioning, but useless." he sighed and clenched his fists on the edge of the table, trying to figure out a way to tell SOundwave this... forgetting he'd been listening in telepathically the whole time.
The shudder in the telepath's frame was an indication of how distressed he was, and his hands had clenched into tight fists. His mind was however too disciplined to break easily, and he said, his mental voice letting a bit of his distress and rage filter. 'Unicron will pay for this. I will make sure of it. I will not be a cripple for the rest of my life! He will undo this... He have to!'
Savage, although asleep heard the whole thing and shame gripped his spark, he never wanted this to happen. Everything was going to the pit because of him and the deal he had made with Unicron.
"So what are we going to do?" Knockout asked.
"I don't know." Ratchet grumbled.
'You can't come up with a plan while in the same room as Savage otherwise He will know. As long as he and the chaos bringer are fused together, Savage is the ultimate spy.' Soundwave informed both the medics.
That actually made a whole lot of sense, whatever Savage know so did Unicron. Maybe they would be able to restore his vision and hearing completely without Savage or Unicron hearing about it first...
Soundwave was right of course. they couldn't decide of anything while in the same room as Savage. However, maybe there was a way around this... If Unicron could only hear them when they were talking aloud through Savage, then if they used Soundwave's telepathy, maybe they could come up with something. Ratchet was pondering this when the voice of Soundwave sounded in his head again, making him wince a bit. That was going to take some getting used to...
'I do not recommend it. Even telepathically, I am sure that the Chaos Bringer can overhear a conversation in the same room.' he explained to both medics, and they shared a look.
'Well, he IS a God. It would make sense that he have this kind of omniscience.' Knockout finally said sounding annoyed. 'But we still needs to find a solution. For you, and for the sparklings he's carrying.'
'Yes we do but not here.' Soundwave stated sounding stern even in their heads.
They were cut short by a scream coming from Savage. Knockout and ratchet were both on him in a moment and the mech was trashing and flailing wildly on the berth, pain wracking his frame coming from his spark and gestation chamber. To their utter shock and horro, the chamber looked like it got a growth spurt, and it expanded under their very optics, slowly but surely, like the sparklings inside were having a sudden burst of growing.
"Hold his legs! He's going to hurt himself!" ratchet ordered, all business, pushing his shock and horror to the sideline as he worked on retraining the seeker's arms to the berth.
Knockout was a little slower to react and got a foot in the chest for his trouble, sending him into the berth behind him, but he was quick to recover and take a hold of the smaller mech's flailing limbs to restrain them. After a few more moments, the sekeer was immobile and he stopped trashing whatsoever as the growth seemed to stop, as last. He now looked like he was in the final stage of gestation, or close to it, and the two medics looked at each other's.
"We're screwed. We can't abort the sparklings now, they're too far along! Primus..." Ratchet swore, at a complete loss of what to do.
-TBC-