Disclaimer: I only own my OCs.

Authoress: Hey, at least I didn't completely forget you.

Megatron: *tired of all of this scrap* I agree.

Authoress: *rambling* I mean, it has been under a year so I completely get that you are angry with me.

Megatron: *starting to get irritated* I said I agree, Authoress.

Authoress: *still rambling* So I would get if you were angry with me about this but I think I did alright with how well this turned out and,

Megatron: *frustrated at Authoress' rambling* I already said I agreed with you, Authoress!

Authoress: *in shock* ...Oh.

Chapter 9: Chance and Fear

Megatron's 1st P.O.V.

It was disconcerting how silent Dunce stayed as we traveled to the base. Honestly, a part of me was surprised that the mech had agreed to the ultimatum I had given him as quickly as he did. Even with him adding the parts about making sure that the other Autobot stayed safe. Of course, I had been amazed, given the mech's nervous nature, that he had even tried to negotiate like that in the first place. It didn't quite fit with his personality. However, since I had time to think about this on the return to the base, I realized that Dunce was close enough with Jazz, the Autobot in question, to risk negotiating for him. Since the terms were simple on Dunce's part, I agreed.

The plan couldn't have gone any better if I had etched it into the Covenant of Primus itself. We had expected to have to knock the mech out again, given how reluctant he was to come with us peacefully. I had just been maneuvering him to isolate him when fate…or Primus…or something was on my side in all of this. The Autobot that had been with him had lost his footing fighting against Soundwave and fell over the side of the waterfall. While the mech had been able to stop himself by grabbing onto a ledge, I knew that it wouldn't hold the mech for long, no matter what training he had.

So, I had taken the chance that fate had given me and had made my ultimatum to the mech. Either he came with us without ever trying to escape, or leaving if a rescue attempt is made by the Autobots, and I would have Soundwave retrieve his ally from the edge, or he could continue fighting and risk his friend not recovering from the fall that he would have been destined to take. While I was surprised that the mech had negotiated with me, given his nervous nature that we had observed, he did end up agreeing with my ultimatum as I thought he would.

Now, I could finally discover the secrets that this unusual mech was hiding. He had the skills to rival the best that the Autobots had ever put out but he refused to use them. Not only that, but his fellow Autobots seemed to be unaware of just what sort of advantage they had with the mech in the first place. Even as we landed and walked toward the room that would be Dunce's while he was here, I hoped that answers would come. Though the mech was loyal to the Autobots, he had suffered at their servos. I was sure that, with time around my troops without the haze of a fight between us, the mech would realize just how cruel the Autobots truly were.

As I landed, the Autobot continued to stay quiet. Hopefully, this would not last for the duration of Dunce's time with us. I needed the mech to see just how valuable he truly was. To see just what fools the Autobots were in keeping him from reaching his true potential. It would take time, but hopefully, we would be able to show the mech a new path. "Is the room prepared?" I asked Shockwave as we got settled.

The mech nodded. "Yes. Everything that you requested has been prepared."

I could feel Dunce tense under my servos when Shockwave answered that. What was the mech thinking? However, now was not the time to question the mech. He would be with us for the foreseeable future and he needed to be shown where he would be staying. "Thank you, Shockwave. Have the others get some energon for themselves and relax. I will join you once I see Dunce here settled."

The tension did not leave the mech as I led him through the entrance of our base and toward his room. I was hoping that, by taking him through the entrance, I was showing Dunce that I trusted his promise to me. However, the tension that had built up in the mech didn't waver. It didn't go away. Instead, as we moved closer to the room that he was going to be staying in, that tension seemed to grow. If I had to guess, I would say he was worried about what I might be planning. At least, that's what I would be thinking if I were in his position. That was especially with what we observed from the last time we hosted the mech.

Once we arrived, I barely kept the relieved look I wanted to express off of my faceplate at the surprised look on Dunce's. "I'm…I'm not staying in a cell?" The disbelief in his vocals gave me hope that we could convince the mech that what he had been taught his entire existence had been a lie.

So, I shook my helm. "There was no need. I trust your word, little Autobot. I want to show you that the Decepticons are not as evil as…some may wish for you to think." I had to make sure that I didn't outright attack the Autobots yet. The mech was still too attached to them for me to start with that yet. "Just remember, there is always more than one side to a story." That should get the mech thinking. Before he could say anything, I motioned the mech inside while laying out the base rules that he would need to know for now. "You will have free reign of the base while you are here. If you have a question, you merely need to ask one of us and we will assist you."

As the mech slowly entered, I could see that he seemed shaken by my words. I would have to leave for now. I couldn't risk panicking the mech as I did during our first conversation. That was especially since I did not have an official medic on Earth to help him through these panic attacks he had.

"Sir…I need time alone. Please?" The hesitation he had in his vocals hurt to listen to. Such a talented mech and the Autobots made sure to reduce him to…this. I wasn't upset that the mech was a pacifist…I had met many who I found I could respect. However, he was scared of his actions when he shouldn't even be thinking in those ways.

When I noticed the mech start to look panicked, I realized I needed to answer him. "Of course. Please relax and get settled." I then turned and left, shutting the door behind me. I figured that the mech was going to listen for me to leave, so I moved down the corridor and soon found myself in the meeting room. Finding an empty seat was easy and I soon claimed it before allowing my thoughts to take over.

Even from the little interaction that we just had, it was clear to me that Dunce was more accepting of his situation than even I expected him to be. What was even more apparent was that, while he was most assuredly still scared of me and what he perceived my reactions to him would be, it wasn't to the point that it was the last time. He answered me, if hesitantly. Last time, the answers seemed to come from a requirement he felt he had to accomplish. This time, it was more like a conversation…as strained as it was. Something from his last visit with us must have stuck in his thoughts. However, without knowing what that something was, I couldn't move forward.

I would need to be more involved with the mech this time. Last time, I allowed Blitzwing to take over the questioning to build Dunce's trust in us, even if it was through Blitzwing. This time, I needed him to be comfortable enough around me to answer my questions freely. And I had many questions. So many questions about this mysterious mech that seemed to be a walking contradiction.

"Megatron,"

I lifted my helm at the voice of my second-in-command as he walked up to me, two cubes of energon in his servos. "Yes?" I questioned, though I had a feeling I knew what he was wanting.

"May I join you?" He asked while holding one of the cubes out to me.

Taking the cube, I gave the mech a nod in confirmation before motioning to the seat in front of me. "What did you want to speak on?" I questioned the mech to get the conversation he wanted to have with me moving.

Starscream motioned to the hall that led to Dunce's room before he asked, "How is he doing?"

"Much better than I thought," I answered him honestly before taking a drink of the energon. "I think that we struck a chord with him during his previous stay with us. He seemed a little less nervous around me than he did in the past. He still seems hesitant about how I will react to what he does, but it is muted. Not only that, but he seemed more willing to speak for himself, and not what he thought might appease me. Even asked me to give him some time alone. Of course, I almost caused him to have a panic attack when I didn't answer him quickly."

"He must have thought he made a mistake in asking you for something." Starscream seemed to observe before he took a drink. "So, what are your plans for now?"

"If he is willing, I am hoping he will accompany me for my morning energon tomorrow. It will be a way for me to interact with the mech in a way that he will see as friendly." I needed the mech to grow some confidence in being around me. If he didn't, then showing him the wrongs that the Autobots have committed against him was going to be even more difficult.

However, instead of looking relieved, concern moved across my second's faceplate. "And what about Blitzwing? He is going to want to see Dunce as soon as he can, given how close the two of them seemed to get after their talks the last time Dunce was here."

That would be a problem. If Blitzwing interfered, then Dunce would most likely drift toward the mech. While that wasn't inherently a bad option, it would mean that Dunce might not relax around me to the point of freely speaking if he thought I was near. We needed the mech to be comfortable around the base, and that meant around everybot. It was obvious, given the mech's hesitance around officers, that I would be the one he would trust the least since I was the highest in the chain of command for the Decepticons. "I will send him an order to stay clear of Dunce until after I hopefully have this meeting with Dunce. I cannot have him interfere with this."

Tomorrow would tell me whether I could connect with the Autobot currently in our care. He was going to be the first step in opening the optics of other honest and honorable Autobots. Showing them the lies that they were being led by. Peace for all on Cybertron, free of the tyranny of the Council, was almost within our grasp. It was almost there. And I knew now that Dunce would be a key figure in converting others to my side. He would show those that would be welcomed in our ranks that they were being deceived, and we Decepticons were the way to overcome that deception.

Dunce's 1st P.O.V.

As I sat on the berth, I let out a vent. Honestly, I was surprised that I was still online. Without being in a cell, as I was the last time that I was here, I was sure that the Decepticons would use my lowered guard and drag me out of here during the night cycle when I was least expecting it.

…But as I continued to run my onlining procedures, I realized that wasn't as true as I wanted it to be. While I was here last time, the Decepticons had proven without a doubt that they weren't going to drag me off to be tortured. They were surprisingly patient with somebot like me. I couldn't give them anything, and they knew that, and yet they were still polite. Honestly, they were nicer to me than most bots on Cybertron had been.

And now, I was here. I was back. One of the reasons that I had agreed to Megatron's deal, besides the important aspect of saving Jazz, was that I needed to find out the truth. Not just the truth that had been taught to me by the Autobots since I could remember, but the actual truth. My entire existence, I had been told about how evil the Decepticons were, and how the Autobots were the only beings with enough virtue to fight against them. But, from the little I had experienced here before, I knew that wasn't the whole picture. I needed to know more.

The only way to do that, however, was to take that first step outside this door and find out how the Decepticons truly lived. But, I was scared. I wasn't used to interacting with others for long without screwing up and offending them like my useless aft usually did.

You are not worthless.

I shook my helm as those words reared themselves again. I was worthless. And during this, maybe the Decepticons would learn that too. The Autobots certainly knew that; especially the ranked bots. I would have to watch myself around them. Megatron and Starscream were the ones here that I would have to remember my rules around. Both were infamous, in their own rights, among the Autobots in their fight against us and I never wanted to learn what that power might be like. Since Sentinel was afraid of them, I was sure it was would be worse than anything I had ever experienced.

A knock at my door caused me to jump in fright. Who was that? It took me a nano to remember that I needed to respond to whoever that was. It would be worse for me if I didn't. Especially if it was who I thought it was. "Who is it?" I barely got out.

I shivered slightly as the bot who was there responded. "It is Megatron," His voice was calm, but I felt nervous. While he hadn't hurt me the last time I was here, I hadn't given him much cause to hurt me. But, if I wanted my questions answered, I was going to have to leave here. And, as terrifying as this was going to be, this was the best chance I had.

"I'm…I'm coming," I got out before I moved toward the door. Once I opened it, I was startled by just how close he was. "G…Good morning, sir."

He raised an optic ridge, though I wasn't sure why. Hopefully, I didn't offend him with my greeting. "I was wondering if you would like to join me for my morning energon?"

Suspicions immediately entered my processor when Megatron asked me that. On the outside, it seemed like an innocent enough request. If it was Random who asked me, I would only be nervous. But, this wasn't him. This was Megatron, leader of the Decepticons. Why would he want to take energon with his prisoner on the first solar that I was out? But, it would be stupid to refuse him. So, I hesitantly nodded, trying to push back my fear of taking energon with the enemy, before I spoke. "Sure,"

Sure? Why the frag did I say 'sure'? It was so disrespectful for me to not address him fully and I quickly focused on Megatron to prepare for his reaction. Frag it I had already messed up and I just left my room. Maybe I was destined to stay in that room for the rest of my existence.

I was almost startled when, instead of anger, he smiled at me. And not a smile that promised pain. No, that was a geniune smile. Like he was pleased with my answer. But why? Was he that happy that I was going to join him for energon? Hopefully, I wouldn't do anything else wrong that might provoke him. As we began walking, I shivered at the thought. That would be disastrous for me. So far, I had not received any beatings from the Decepticons, and it was starting to make me relax.

It was so different from my every solar experience with Sentinel. Instead of being yelled at and beaten, I was treated like I was wanted. That I was worth something. While this could all be part of some elaborate scheme to make sure that I was relaxed so they could break me, I was starting to think that maybe…no. It couldn't be. I was worthless.

You are not worthless.

The words seemed even more powerful as we turned a corner and Megatron spoke. "You seem quiet Dunce. Is there something you would like to talk about?"

What was I supposed to say to that? 'Yes, I am wondering what your real plan is with me and why you are keeping me around?'. No! I couldn't say that. But, I needed to answer him. So, it was best to keep things simple. "N…nothing much, sir. Just things." Things? That was almost asking for him to keep talking to me! Why couldn't I keep my vocals in control?

Like I just thought, that did not stop the questions from coming from the leader. "What sort of things?"

For a nano there, he reminded me of Plena Teo. I missed him so much. The mech used to ask me that same thing when I would come home in a quieter-than-normal mood and I tried that response. Of course, now that I had thought of him, I had a response that I could give Megatron. "Just my family on Cybertron." And Plena Teo was my family.

"What is your family like?"

"It's only my caretaker. My creators offlined when I was halfway through my sparkling stellars. They were in a cave-in and they never found their chassis. My caretaker is a nice mech though. he always made sure that I was taken care of." Frag it! I had just answered that without thinking! I could have just put Plena Teo in so much danger! It wouldn't take bots long to connect me to Plena Teo and then the Decepticons could use him for leverage. They could hurt him! But, even as I thought that I knew that Plena Teo would tear through anybot to make sure that I was alright. I think there was an Earth phrase that described him well. He was like….oh right! He was like a mother hen. I couldn't help but chuckle at that thought.

"He must have been quite some caretaker to make you laugh like that," Megatron stated with a smile as we arrived at the energon dispenser.

As he started to fill up two cubes, I allowed myself to smile at the compliment to Plena Teo. "That he is," I agreed with Megatron before I went silent. I had already told Megatron too much about Plena Teo, even though I didn't tell the Decepticon leader his designation. I did not want Plena Teo put in any danger because of me.

When a cube of energon appeared in front of me, I was startled slightly. No one outside of Jazz ever offered me energon. As I followed the cube to who was holding it, I felt even more surprised. Why was Megatron offering me energon? Did he put something in it? Frag it, I usually watched when other bots dispensed my energon. But, I was distracted by thoughts of Plena Teo that I had let my guard down. What if he had tampered with it? Put some sort of truth serum in it?

Before I could do more than think about asking him about it, Megatron let out a vent. Slag, I screwed up! I hesitated when I was being handed something. Maybe he just wanted me to hold it? Scrap! I braced myself for the punishment I was sure to, "This is just energon, Dunce. No more and no less. I swear upon my very spark on that fact."

My processor felt like it was reeling in shock after he said that. The energon…it was for me. My lessons told me that I should be taking it immediately and be grateful, though I shouldn't grovel. Nobot like to be groveled at. I learned that lesson the hard way. And then he swore on his spark that it was regular energon. Nothing about this was making any sense. Was he trying to…comfort me?

No, that was ridiculous. Nobot outside of Jazz did that.

Realizing that I was holding Megatron back from enjoying his energon, I carefully took the cube from him. Of course, I was extra careful to make sure that I didn't spill any on him. Primus have mercy on my spark if I did that. Sentinel would punish me severely for getting energon on him. I couldn't risk Megatron's wrath if I did the same. So, I raised the cube, hesitating slightly just in case this was a trick to get me to let my guard down before I tilted the energon into my mouth.

Immediately, my optics widened in surprise at the taste and I almost let the energon go down the wrong line. This had to be premium mid-grade to taste this good. It had to be. It was everything that I imagined it would be. And the Decepticons just had this in a regular energon dispenser? I had only seen this kind of quality in Sentinel's private stores. One of the few times I had to bring him some, I spilled a couple of drops in front of Sentinel. He then proceeded to take reparations out of my chassis for that.

A flinch traveled through me as that memory came to my processor. I needed to treat this energon very carefully. This had to be a test. That was the only reason I would see him allowing me to drink it.

"Thank you," I whispered before I took another sip. While this was probably a test, I was not going to waste this rare opportunity to intake some of this energon. It would be worth the lesson I might have to do if I failed. I had always wondered what this quality of energon tasted like and now I was getting that wish fulfilled.

The leader of the Decepticon did not hesitate to respond. "You are most welcome, Dunce."

Something was different during this stay with the Decepticons. Maybe it was the fact that I wasn't going to be leaving that allowed me to see this. I wasn't sure. I almost felt like I could…relax. It was such a strange concept that I wasn't sure what to do. I always needed to be aware of what was around me, just in case I was needed. But here, I didn't feel any of those worries…and that scared me. I should be worried. I should be terrified. It was obvious that Megatron had some sort of endgame planned with me playing some part. But, right now, I couldn't see how. I didn't have any sort of value…so why did he seem to think that I was worth something?

You are not worthless.

Before I could even think about hearing those words again, my instincts went on alert as I felt vibrations traveling through the floor. Somebot was running in our direction. But, with how this base was constructed, I wasn't sure where they were coming from. Was this it? Did I fail whatever test this was?

"Make a hole!" Random's vocals pierced the air behind me.

I went to look over my left shoulder, where Blitzwing's voice had come from. However, when I started to, I felt something larger than me run into my right shoulder. In that instant, everything seemed to slow down around me. Against my will, my chassis was forced forward, leading me to doom. In what seemed like an even slower time, I felt my chassis make contact with the Decepticon leader. He in turn stumbled back. However, that wasn't the end of this nightmare coming to life. From the force of Blitzwing running into me, my arm was jerked forward and my grip on my energon failed me.

My chassis felt petrified with fear as that energon drenched Megatron, leader of the Decepticons. Oh no. Oh no no no! I…I…

What had I done?

Authoress: So, since we aren't killing me for the late update, can I just say that I think this is going rather well?

Megatron: *already regretting agreeing with her* Your definition of alright and my own are rather different from each other.

Authoress: Oh.

Megatron: *annoyed* Is that how you are going to keep answering my observations?

Authoress: Meh, maybe. I haven't decided yet. It seems the safest right now.

AN: And here is the next (very late) chapter! I hope you all enjoyed this. Sorry that it took so long to update this but between Glad you Called and my Of One universe, it was hard to find time and inspiration for this one. But, it is here now and I had a lot of fun with it! Our dear Dunce is still so nervous about what Megatron could be planning. All of that past abuse is keeping him from seeing that Megatron only wants to help him. And now, Dunce is probably thinking he is going to offline after what just happened. If you read the original of this story, I will say that I plan on changing how this next interaction is going to play out. Hopefully, it will be for the better.

With that out of the way, here are the names of the next chapters!

Chapter 10: Spark

Chapter 11: Something There

Chapter 12:...(find out next time...which hopefully won't take as long this time)

Now, this is my last note! Thank you everyone for taking the time to read through all of this and for those who enjoy my work. I do enjoy going into the stats here and seeing just how many people I touch with this. Until next time, TTYL! *listening to The Chemical Worker's Song by Colm R. McGuinness*