Chapter 28:

Megatron knew that, regardless of Tegan losing all connection to his original race, the techno organic would still care for his own kind… Therefore, giving Megatron a weakness to exploit if the youth ever decided to defy him.

The warlord looked up, broken out of his thoughts, when the door slid open with a soft shick, revealing the black and green mech stood within the doorway before entering and making his way to stand before the warlord.

Tegan approached Megatron warily, the absence of Soundwave both disconcerting and comforting… He was afraid that Soundwave might've had had something to do with this, and he didn't want to discover that his.. Friend and mentor was a part of this arrangement.

"Paradox." Megatron's cold tone caused Tegan to stand up a little straighter, servos clenched tightly at his sides as he studied the warlord, who must've caught the gleam in his optics, the massive Decepticon letting out a chuckle. "Dear Paradox, I have given you something many humans would kill for… The power of a Titan." Megatron murmured in a calm tone. "Don't tell me that you are going to become another Starscream. I only have room for one in my ranks."

Glaring at the warlord, Tegan dipped his helm slightly in respect. "No, my lord. I do not wish to be like Starscream… I wish to become one of your finest." He stated firmly, becoming resigned to his new function, shuddering at the purring originating from Megatron's engines, keeping his red optics on the ground beneath his pedes.

"Then it is time for your first test, Paradox." Megatron stated, causing the younger mech to slowly lift his helm to look up at the warlord, a fierce light coming into his optics. "I am ready, Lord Megatron." He answered in confidence, causing the warlord to chuckle. "I have little doubt… Especially with how you took out one of your own kind so easily."

A snarl was ripped from between Tegan's lips at the mention of how he had injured Miko… Maybe even killed her, but he remained silent, armour almost rattling with his anger as the Decepticon warlord stood and approached him, pacing around Tegan as a predator would it's prey. "So much anger!" Megatron growled in an approving tone. "Put that to use when you face the Autobots… Remember, they took everything from you. They took Miko and programmed her to believe them as right… If it wasn't for them, Miko would be safe, and she wouldn't have betrayed you."

Tegan's digits twitched at the thought before they curled into a tight fist, the steel of his servo grating lightly from how tightly he clenched his fist, the warlord's optics roaming down his black frame to his servo before leaning in, faceplates so close Tegan could feel the warlord's ex-vents on his faceplates. "Show them no mercy, Paradox… Crush their sparks and get your revenge."

The black and green mech growled lowly, allowing a flash of sharpened denta show as he turned to the warlord. "Tell me where they are." He responded. "My Lord."

Megatron leaned back and returned to his throne, hydraulics hissing as he slowly lowered himself into it, smirking at the young mech before him. "Soundwave and an escort of vehicons have encountered Autobot resistance. You will go to my officer's aid. Soundwave will report your actions directly to me." The silver mech stated before he turned and gave a jerk of his helm, a vehicon appearing from where he had been in the shadows against the wall, the Vehicon moving over to the controls and typing in coordinates, a groundbridge opening.

Tegan turned to glare at the swirl of green, purple and white and began to make his way towards the groundbridge, Megatron's voice stopping him again. "The Vehicon, 3TH4N, will serve as your partner… He is bound to follow your orders, and will be a secondary report on your performance."

At that order, Tegan turned and looked at the vehicon approaching him from the controls, giving him a salute… There was something about the vehicon. From what Tegan had seen about them, the way they were treated and how there were so many that looked alike, Tegan had always assumed like the greater majority that Vehicons and Eradicons were just like clones from Star Wars. All the same, nameless, feelingless… But the way the Vehicon was looking at him was almost eerie, as if he was resigned… Defeated, perhaps?

Quickly pushing those thoughts out of his processor, Tegan turned around, blades transforming out of his arms, so similar to Arcee's, only the blade was a sickly green and hissed with Tox-N.

Feeling the boiling anger slowly build into a raging inferno, Tegan shut his red optics and felt his green spark pulsing rapidly, focusing on his anger before opening his optics again, the red slowly being overtaken by green as he slowly approached the groundbridge and vanished into it, 3TH4N following behind him.

Megatron watched the mech go and smirked. He had infused Tegan with Tox-N. Shockwave hadn't been able to do anything with it for them, but he had been able to with Tegan, most likely due to the fact that he was part human, and carried antibodies for viruses. Whenever his new warrior felt stronger emotions, the Tox-N would boost the anger and hate and make him stronger.

Paradox would be the perfect killing machine…

\*/\*/\*/\

Arcee was kicked a vehicon away from her and looked up when a groundbridge opened, admitting a black mech with glowing green markings. He was lithe and slim, with glowing green optics and green blades set into either side of his arms… Arcee frowned and studied the mech, taking him in. Frame was built for speed rather than strength, he looked young, and although a silver Decepticon insignia shone on his forehelm, she couldn't place him.

"Prime!" The femme Autobot shouted, kicking away another Vehicon and making her way to her leader's side, pointing.

Optimus Prime looked up, blue optics falling on the newcomer, a grim look overcoming his faceplates. "It seems that Megatron's plans for Tegan have been completed." He murmured, Bulkhead coming up beside them now. "What? That's the kid?" The green wrecker demanded, slamming a fist into his palm. "Good! Now I won't feel guilt about smashing him into slag!" He growled.

"Bulkhead!" Optimus tried to stop the wrecker, Bulkhead charging the mech that they had identified as Tegan.

\*/\*/\*/\

Tegan stood for a few moments as he studied the scene before him, Soundwave grappling with Wheeljack, Smokescreen and Bumblebee fighting backstrut to backstrut, and then there were the others.

Green optics narrowed as he watched an exchange go between the three remaining, and then the massive one charged at him, Tegan reacting upon instinct, not even glancing at 3TH4N while giving orders. "You keep the others away while I bring him down." Tegan ordered, crouching before he charged at Bulkhead, the ground shaking with the larger wrecker's pedesteps.

Tegan knew that Bulkhead was slow and clumsy, but incredibly powerful and much stronger than he himself was, so he used his own agility to twist out of the way of Bulkhead's first blow, landing in a crouch a few feet away. "You are slow." He murmured, Bulkhead growling and charging him again, Tegan jumping onto his arm and flipping over behind him, placing a kick to his backstrut, sending the green mech stumbling. "Slow, but powerful." The black and green mech stated almost indifferently before flipping backwards.

Standing upright as Bulkhead was distracted by a group of Vehicons, the whistle of the air behind him was his only warning, Tegan ducking and swinging a pede out in the expectation to trip his new assailant, someone as equally fast hopping over his pede, landing back on her pedes. "Orion. Stop this! You are a human, and we don't want to hurt you!" Arcee shouted, anger in her blue optics.

Tegan let out a snort as he stood back up to his full height, helm cocking slightly. "But I can hurt you." He responded in a cold, almost detached tone that sent a chill through the femme's backstrut.

Flipping away from the second attack, Arcee growled, her own blades making their appearance as she blocked the third attack, glaring into the green optics before her own. "Orion. Megatron is destroying you! You could be an Autobot!" The femme stated, Tegan letting out a laugh. "You took Miko from me… You brainwashed her into betraying me." The mech responded, swinging out with his blade, the femme twisting away and receiving a shallow laceration on her hip.

Arcee gasped and flipped away from him, looking down at the wound, optics widening at the green smoke coming from the edges of the laceration. "Tox-N.!" She cried, looking up as a pede connected with her faceplates, sending her down onto her back, Tegan standing over her. "Once you Autobots are destroyed, Megatron will have full reign." He stated, raising his blade.

Growling, Arcee glared back up at the Decepticon. "Megatron will destroy Earth! Miko!" She stated loudly.

Tegan paused, hesitating. "Miko?" He stated almost blankly, wavering… Miko was still alive? "You're lying." He growled out, glaring down at the femme. "Miko is dead."

"No. She's in the hospital!" Arcee responded, hoping that the mech might see the reasoning, but the mech looked down at her, hesitation disappearing. "Then she will die as well." He answered, a waver in his tone. "Regardless of having ties here, Earth has never shown me love. So what happens to it doesn't matter to me." He informed the Autobot beneath him, left servo transforming into a blaster. It would fire off blasts of Tox-N, something that was terrifying in itself, and he pointed it down at Arcee. "Greet my father in the allspark." He spat.

Tegan was fully prepared to take the femme's life when a large servo grasped him by the helm and he was suddenly tossed away, crashing into a nearby rock.

Growling in pain, Tegan slowly forced himself back up, turning to face the Prime that was watching him with a calm expression, although there was sadness and regret in his optics. "Orion. If you do not cease your actions, we will be forced to offline you if we are unable to take you in." He stated in an equally calm voice.

Letting out an unamused laugh, Tegan had to fight off a wave of fear, which cooled the anger in his spark and his optics shifted back to a reddish green, the glowing of the green runes and markings on his frame fading slightly. "I cannot be defeated. I am no longer Orion, I am Paradox." Tegan stated, standing upright as he looked at the Prime. "And you stand in Megatron's way." He added, charging at the Prime, who shifted into a defensive stance.

Without the anger and hatred fuelling his frame, Tegan wasn't as strong as he had expected, the Prime easily blocking his attack, pede connecting with his chassis, sending Tegan flying back into the rock with a cry of pain.

Feeling hatred and anger beginning to grow at how easily Optimus had been able to take him down again, Tegan struggled back up to his pedes, making as if he was going to attack the Prime, 3TH4N stepping up and saluting. "Paradox. Soundwave has ordered a retreat… He has taken what we have come for." The vehicon informed Tegan, the mech hesitating and glancing at the Autobots before growling. "Fine." He responded, turning to face his enemies. "Until next time." He stated, giving a mocking salute before he turned and vanished into the groundbridge.

\*/\*/\*/\

Tegan was irritated over how things had gone down with the Autobots… The thought, hope that Miko was still alive niggled at the back of his processor as he attempted to figure out how to block of memories and feelings like he had read Cybertronians had the ability to do, but had no such luck.

Venting, Tegan wandered the halls in isolation. He had requested to be left alone, Soundwave respecting his decision and leaving him to his devices. He had heard talk that the Vehicon 3TH4N, because he had shown unnatural intelligence and had fought well, was being promoted up the ranks… Which was all and good for the Vehicon, but even just thinking about him was enough to unsettle Tegan as he wandered the halls.

There had been something so different in the vehicon that he had met… He had sensed a defeated, resigned air around the mech, but when 3TH4N had reported to Megatron about his performance, Tegan had detected a sense of… Pride. The Vehicon had seemed to be more expressive and intelligent.

"Tegan."

Tegan froze at the sound of the strange voice and he slowly turned around, optics falling on 3TH4N, the Vehicon standing behind him, and he tensed up. "How do you know my name? I am Paradox." Tegan stated as calmly as he could, taking a step back… The way the visored optics were watching him was creepy.

3TH4N looked Tegan up and down, a soft ex-vent passing from behind his mask. "You've grown."

Registering those words, Tegan stepped backwards, optics widening. "Who are you?" He demanded in a near whisper, voice weaker than he would have liked it to be.

"I know you will have a lot of questions, Tegan… I am Ethan…" 3TH4N stated before turning his visor onto the black and green mech before him. "I was called aimé… By your carrier."

Tegan stood frozen, attempting to process the words spoken by the Vehicon in front of him, before he felt the energon in his lines run cold like nitro in his lines. "Sire…"

\*/\*/\*/\

Ethan stared at his son sadly, feeling his spark sink as Tegan's expression shifted from shock, to fear and sadness, then to bitter anger.

"You left me… Y-You abandoned me!"

Shutting his hidden optics at the words, Ethan vented softly, shoulder struts slumping as he looked on at his son, feeling as if someone had knifed him through the spark and he had to hold back from attempting to touch his creation. "Tegan… I didn't want to… But I was part of the reason why your carrier offlined… And your grandcreator didn't want me to be around after that… I had no choice." Ethan tried to explain, reaching for Tegan, pain and grief filling his EM when his son pulled away. "Tegan… You were of your mother's kind… I couldn't separate you from them."

Tegan growled and rounded on his sire, bringing his faceplates close to the other's. "LOOK AT ME NOW!" He shouted, fury burning in his optics, but Ethan knew that the fury was just a coverup for the pain… Pain he couldn't have helped to prevent.

Staring at his son, Ethan deflated and shook his helm. "Even if you had been of my kind when you were delivered… I would've had you raised by the Autobots… This isn't the life I wanted for you." He murmured in a near whisper, Tegan jerking back as if struck. "You would've handed me over to them?" He cried in disbelief.

Turning to look from the ground back up at his son, Ethan vented. "I would've. This isn't the life I wanted for you." He stated in a saddened tone.

"You never wanted me… Why fight for the Decepticons, when you would've put me on the opposite side? Fought against me?" Tegan demanded in anger and hurt, and Ethan wished he could've rephrased the way he had said that.

"Tegan… I have no choice but to fight for the Decepticons… None of my comrades do. We are helpless. We were deceived." Ethan attempted to explain. "On Cybertron, we were the lowest of the low and considered drones… That we didn't have feelings, and anything could be done to us without consequences." The Vehicon explained slowly. "When Megatron rose up, promising equality, I joined, along with my peers… Now, we can't do anything but fight for Megatron. The Autobots wouldn't accept drones, and they do not have the means to fuel us."

Tegan let out a bark of laughter, disbelief on his faceplates. "You-... I can't believe this." He shook his helm, Ethan reaching to put a servo on his shoulder, but Tegan pulled away again. "Don't touch me… You left me alone for years, and now you take an interest in me." The black and green mech glared at the Vehicon that claimed to be his sire. "I will stand by Megatron and bring the Autobots down." He stated before turning and walking away.

Ethan watched his creation go, spark pulsating painfully as he reached up for his comm. Link, sending a ping to Optimus Prime. 'This is not the life I want for my creation… I will help you capture my son.'

(A/N: OK. So this is PARTLY based off of Season 3, Episodes 12&13, there will be familiar scenes/dialogue, but not completely the same. Also, with the absence of Dreadwing being mentioned, as well as Airachnid and Starscream being kicked out of the Decepticons, you can just imagine what went down, or just say that they never appeared/it never happened lol. Also, this is the final chapter before the two separate endings (Bittersweet and Happy), so please enjoy and review! ALSO NOTE** Because Miko is weakened and hasn't appeared, it was due to being hospitalized and the Autobots deeming it too dangerous for her to be near Paradox/Tegan. So she will not appear in this chapter with Jack, which also means no shadowzone for Soundwave! XD)