Chapter 6

Megatron growled in frustration as he exited the medbay. Hook was unable to figure out why he was uncomfortable with harming his younger brother. Any other time, he would charge at him with a fury fueled by the thoughts of conquering the universe- which could only happen if Prime was dead. In the past, the thought of killing his brother never bothered him. In fact, it excited him. Megatron could only hope that a quick recharge would help his healing processors.

The Decepticon leader entered his quarters and shut and locked the door. He lay on his berth and closed his optics, trying to get a little bit of recharge to ease the processor ache that was beginning to form, as well as clear his thoughts about Optimus. But he found that he could not sleep. He tossed and turned several times before giving up. In his mind, all he could see were images of Optimus in pain, being beaten and tortured by the Fallen and it angered him to no end. Megatron was beginning to lose his processors and he knew that already, but it seemed now that he would lose them thinking about the Autobot leader. It would drive him insane eventually, the little person in the back of his processors telling him how wrong he was for ever hurting his brother. After growling again, Megatron got off his berth and left his quarters, going to the cell that housed his brother. His sworn enemy, he reminded himself.

As Megatron walked, he commed Hook and made sure to let him know not to tell anyone about his problem, especially not Starscream or the Fallen. It Starscream ever found out, it would spread around the base with the speed of wildfire. If the Fallen ever found out, he would make sure that he was rid of the problem the painful way. He snapped out of his deep thoughts when a groan sounded beside him. He looked to his left and saw Optimus in his cell, laying on the floor with painful looking injuries. He armour was dented and scratched and a large wound on his abdominal plates was gushing energon. There was also a large scratch on his face plates that almost reached his optic. Megatron nearly gasped in horror at the sight in front of him and swallowed thickly, trying to gain his composure. Optimus opened his optics and looked at his older brother, glaring harshly at the taller mech. Megatron internally cringed at the look, wishing that Optimus would look at him a lot differently.

He opened the cell door and gently picked his brother up, surprising them both. After getting him to his pedes, he brought his arm under his thighs and lifted him up bridal style. The Prime struggled, not understanding the treatment Megatron was giving him. He narrowed his optics and spoke, "Why are you being so gentle, Megatron?" His tone was as harsh as his glare, and it continued to bother Megatron. And the fact that it bothered him bothered him. "Is it another trick you want me to fall for?"

"I'm only taking you to medbay, Prime," he snapped. Prime quieted, but the harsh look in his optics remained there. Megatron could feel it and tried his best to ignore it and the pull in his spark as he went back to the medbay. When he entered, Hook was sitting on one of the berths looking at a datapad. The Decepticon medic looked up and subspaced the datapad when he saw that it was his master.

"Lord Megatron," he said as he bowed. "Is there something wrong?" The medic looked at the mech his leader was currently holding in his arms and back up at him.

"Somemech took Optimus out of his cell without permission." Megatron walked over to an empty berth and gingerly sat his younger brother down. "When I find out who it was, he'll be in here too."

"I wouldn't be surprised if it was Starscream, my lord," Hook replied as he set to work in repairing their prisoner. "He came in here to get his wing fixed last cycle, going on about getting his revenge on Prime for bending it."

Megatron frowned and growled lowly. "I'll never understand why Starscream continues trying my patience."

Hook hummed in agreement and worked in silence for the next hour. He patched up the wound in his abdomen and fixed the scratch on his faceplates. Fortunately, the scratch wasn't deep and it would go away with time.

Currently, Optimus was resting and Megatron was watching him intently. He knew he would never understand why he cared and he knew that if anyone, especially the Fallen or Starscream, found out, they would have a good reason to take away his power.

Megatron was so deep in his thoughts that he failed to notice Hook calling his name. He jolted when he felt a hand on his shoulder. "My Lord?" There was distinct worry in his voice. After the battle in Egypt, Hook began to fear for his leader's sanity, more so than before.

All mechs on base were required to have a daily systems check to make sure they were in working order. To make sure he covered every mech on base, he carried a datapad with him, checking off their names as he went. On the eve of the Prime's capture (1 week after the battle in Egypt), he went to his leader's quarters because he never showed up for his systems check. The medic brought his hand up to knock on the door, but he stopped his actions at the sound of his leader's voice. Megatron was talking, but he heard no one else talking back.

"Prime will pay… I'll make sure of it… he'll pay for doing this to me… he will, yes he will." When Megatron spoke, it was quiet and rushed as if he was worried that someone might hear him. In between each pause of his words, there was a maniacal laugh that shook Hook to the very core. "I'm coming for you, brother… you and your medic… and your human pet too!" His voice increased by a few decibels, loud enough for anyone to hear from a distance.

At the sound of approaching footsteps, Hook's helm snapped in the direction of them, hoping it wasn't anyone important. He saw that it was Soundwave, who had abandoned the satellite that he "borrowed" while in space. The communications officer looked at Hook suspiciously as if saying "what the frag are you doing?"

Hook beckoned him and Soundwave complied. "Listen to him," Hook whispered. With slight hesitance, the TIC put his audials on the door and listened.

It began with the chilling laugh, one that you would only hear from someone lacking sanity they were born with. "… they'll all turn on me if I don't… first Soundwave… then Shockwave… I'll kill them all first…"

Soundwave pulled back. His optics registered the shock and disturbance that his faceplates refused to give away. He opened his mouth to say something when Hook accidentally dropped the datapad that he held. The two 'Cons watched as it fell and cringed as it clattered to the ground. They froze when they heard cluttering behind Megatron's door and his crazed voice call out.

"What the- Who's the-? Who's there?" Hook and Soundwave scrambled off into different directions as the door to their leader's quarters swished open. Megatron looked out and turned his helm to the left and right, surveying the area. He looked down and saw the datapad, frowning. Then he snarled as he backed into his quarters, murmuring. "I'm not afraid of you… I'm not afraid of dying… not anymore…"

To this day, those five kliks of witnessing Megatron's insanity still scared him, and even Soundwave as well.

"Is it safe for me to take him back?" Megatron asked. Hook was surprised by the honest sincerity that was in his voice. It almost scared him as he thought of something else he witnessed from Megatron.

Hook went to Megatron's quarters two weeks after the first incident. He was wary of what he might find, still remembering what happened the day before the Autobot leader's capture. As he neared the door, he saw that it was slightly open. He frowned; Megatron never left his door opened. He brought his hand up to knock, but put it down and gently slid it open the rest of the way.

Oh. Hook would always remember this.

Megatron stood in the middle of the room, facing a wall. He was muttering again, the little nothings of a broken mind. Literally. His arm twitched as he glanced back at Hook. Said mech froze; he thought that he had been as quiet as what the fleshings call, a mouse. "Hook…"

The medic looked his leader in the optic and back at the wall he stared down. "Do you see it… can you?"

A harsh shove to his chest plates knocked him out of his deep thoughts again. "Wha-?"

"For the love of Primus, Hook! Can I bring him back to his cell?!" Megatron yelled.

"I can take myself, thank you," groused a new voice. The leader and the medic looked to its source and saw that Optimus was awake. The captured leader glared harshly at Megatron again, who glared back.

"What, so you can be left to try and escape again, Prime? I don't think so," he retorted.

"I know how to walk," Optimus growled. Megatron looked to Hook, who nodded.

"Send him to his cell. If he tries to escape… well… you know what to do," he said lowly. "If you'll excuse me, but I'm going to find a certain Seeker."

I borrowed a little dialogue from Outlast because I think that it would make the story a little more interesting, considering the plot. Leave lots of reviews! Nice ones at least.

Denali Prime out!