Machine Wars: Negotiations
"Would you stop fidgeting! We'd probably get there a lot faster if you would just drive straight!" A Maximal officer hit the walls of the carrier with his fist on the outside.
"Tell that to our guest Under-3," The large triplechanger echoed, "he keeps scratching my insides with his cuspidated claws!"
Megatron tilted his head away from the pests below him, creating sparks on the ceiling of the vehicle.
"Urrrg! See, he keeps doing it!"
The Predacon was tempted to crush the two guards under his heel if such an action were possible. Stasis fields cuffed around his body prevented most of his movement. The Predacon was only able to shift his head a little to the sides and perhaps twitch his servos to an extent, but that wasn't enough to do any real damage. His large limbs were cramped inside, forcing the Security Force Officers to transform in vehicle mode and escort the prisoner outside the vehicle while only two Maximals were able to stand guard inside. Predacons loved to create chaos and despite Megatron's disadvantaged state, he enjoyed the show for however long it would last.
"Stop complaining and focus on the road! The faster this mythical monster is out of here, the sooner we all can be rid of him!" The guard inside looked up at the Predacon. "And you! Quit acting so smug. No amount scraping or fidgeting will help your sentence so quit it!"
The two guards turned away as the sonic boom of yet another jet outside was heard above the carrier. Megatron's optics shifted to the window as a dark object fell from the sky and exploded on the road. The triplechanger gasped and swerved away from the blast as a few more bombs were dropped around them. Large amounts of debris hit the sides of the vehicle causing it to tip over on it's side. The Security Officers crashed into the wall, their armor barely managing to protect them. A few of the guards who had been ordered to surround the triplechanger fell off the sides of road. Those outside who hadn't been completely scrapped during the attack stood up and scanned the area for their attackers.
"By the inferno!" One guard yelled.
Under-3 stood up."What the slag is going on and who was that?"
"It must have been a Predacon attack, did you see it?" Another cocked his weapon.
"No, it happened so fast!"
Megatron shook his head in frustration and focused on the two guards inside who were beginning to come out of stasis. The cuffs which surrounded his limbs felt looser and the Predacon was able to feel the energon pump through his body. Before the officers could grab their weapons, Megatron used the tipped triplechanger's body to his advantage and shifted his large shoulder into the Maximals. Not much could be said for the brave mechs of the Maximal Security Force as they were nearly crushed to scrap metal between Megatron and the wall.
Megatron looked directly into one of the guard's optics, grinning triumphantly. "Loser."
Once he could confirm that both Maximals were taken out, the Predacon lifted his arm, ignoring the cuffs as they attempted to slice through his body due to resistance. Megatron groaned in pain but his claw managed to touch the device strapped to one of the officer's waist to release his bonds. High Pitched clangs and pangs echoed throughout walls while the Predacon gasped and stretched his limbs. Megatron had been immobilized for so long he wasn't entirely used to moving around freely. Surely this hadn't been the first time he's been restrained, but combined with the time he had spent on the roof of the ancient ship and inside the triplechanger had taken a toll on his circuits. As a Predacon of course, he would take the pain and bury it within him until he could gain control of the situation. Maximals scratched the walls of the vehicle as the familiar sounds of laser fire were heard on the outside.
Megatron waited patiently until the shooting stopped, curious about his timely saviors. Suddenly, the large doors were pried open and the familiar dull lighting of Cybertron greeted his optics, along with three silhouetted flyer transformers. The Predacon rubbed his chin and straightened out as best as he could inside, wanting to maintain a stance which relfected his size but not in a threatening manner.
Megatron dimmed his optics when he noticed the Predacon symbols on the beings. As he walked closer, he was able to recognize the three by name.
"I assume Cryotek sent you." The dragon transformer spoke politely.
One flyer he knew as Dirge, crossed his arms. "Cryotek is very interested on how your mission on Earth went, especially when you neglected to bring him along."
Megatron glanced behind the three to get a better look at the opened doorway to Cybertron. Escaping right now was tempting. Certainly he was large enough to simply crush the three without the use of his auxiliary weapons, but Cryotek had many allies and spies around Cybertron while he had none. Megatron frowned. Perhaps letting all of his minions die on prehistoric Earth wasn't an excellent choice. During the spur of the moment, when he sat in the control chair of the ancient Nemesis cruiser, all thoughts of failure vanished as he let his Predacon heritage shine through by killing everything that moved on the planet. He was careless then, a mistake Megatron could not make again.
"Very well, I will come along with you to see my old mentor." Megatron nodded.
Dirged unfolded his arms and looked at his comrades in with an unsure gaze. Megatron was a renegade of the Predacon Alliance, he had a reputation to fight to the bitter end, and would rather die than bow to a Maximal. To see him so willing to follow an order made Dirge and the others a little uncomfortable. Megatron noticed the groups' hesitancy and deactivated his dragon arm-gun along with his natural weaponry.
Buzzbomb looked at Dirge and then grabbed for an object behind his back. "Your form is too conspicuous, so we brought a holo projector to disguise you with."
Megatron took the device and held it to his optics before placing it on his arm. "Pretender technology. Very rare equipment, even during the Great war."
"Only the best."
The dragon Predacon scoffed, "Of course."
"Our visors will be able to see through the holo, so don't try anything funny." Clamps spoke nervously, intimidated by the Predacon's size. "Maximal reinforcements will be here soon."
Dirge nodded. "We'll need to restrain you."
"Yes I'm aware of that. I will not resist, after all we do not wish to keep your master waiting." Megatron held out his arms as the other two flyers carefully put stasis cuffs on him while keeping a watchful eye on their actions. Predacons were naturally distrustful and the weaker ones felt fear all the time. Megatron smirked. Nothing had changed on Cybertron.
"Let's get out of here!" Buzzbomb glanced behind him.
Megatron activated the holo projector, taking on the appearance of a small, weak-looking Cybertronian. The large Predacon said nothing about the form and allowed the flyers to carry his body far away from the damaged Maximals. Megatron grinned as he finally saw the massive buildings of Cybertron.
"Your story is incredible."
The second MangaBoss councilor nodded towards his associate. "Understand Optimus Primal, we have no reason to doubt your claims, but-"
"I know Councilor," Optimus interrupted, "it seems fantastical, but if you look at our ship you'll see that it corroborates our story. The vessel we arrived in is an Autobot escape ship from the Ark in pristine condition. How else could we have come across such a unique object?"
Night Glider faced Optimus with a flat gaze. Despite the Primal's titanic size taking up almost the entire room, the Security Chief would not allow himself to seem small in comparison. Night Glider matched his gaze and faced his superiors, ready to speak.
"Antique ships such as this are often sold on the black market. You'd be surprised about the condition you'd find these things in if you are willing to pay."
Primal's brow furrowed as he grit his teeth. "Are you accusing me of lying and purchasing a ship as a cover story?"
"Is that any less unbelievable than the story you just told me?" Night Glider seethed.
The third council raised his hand to silence the two officers. "Optimus's psychiatric profile gives us no reason to believe he would behave in such a manner. Still, if Optimus's story is true then it is troubling for the future of transwarp technology."
"If the news gets out and Megatron's transwarp coordinates ever go public, it could very well spark another Great War since the Predacons would believe they could change history itself." Rhinox pointed out.
The council members holographic projections looked at one another. Two had their servos clenched while the other straightened his shoulders. The Great War was a difficult subject that no Cybertronian could ever forget. It was the deciding factor of who would rule this planet, and the Maximals would not have existed if not for the efforts of Optimus Prime and his crew. One of the councilors stared directly into Primal's optics, wishing that his unbelievable tale were not true.
"I agree," Optimus nodded at his comrade. "Although it might be restrictive to the technological advancement of our race, production of newer transwarp vessels should be halted immediately until this matter is explored further."
Night Glider's jaw slacked at the exchange. "And you think the Preds will go along with this? They will wonder why we stopped production!"
The middle council member crossed his arms and looked away at the increasingly hostile conversation.
"Security Chief Night Glider is correct. Any halting of transwarp drive production and technological advancement of any kind would cast suspicion onto us and increase public curiosity into transwarp vessels. After all, as far as anyone else on Cybertron knows it is simply the future of interstellar travel."
"Besides," The second member interjected, "the most important aspect of this is Megatron's unique coordinates to prehistoric Earth. Without those, transwarp technology used with such a purpose is greatly reduced, and we have Megatron in custody."
Primal glanced at Rhinox who looked back at him with nothing to say. Megatron was a sore subject. He had gone to far in his plans and neither Maximal were willing to allow transwarp development to continue without a fight. The Beast Wars was an uncertain war causing the death of many good Maximals and a good Predacon. Optimus off-lined his optics and shifted his gears, causing him to scratch the walls. Night Glider and Rhinox flinched at the noise created by his scraping until he turned his optics back online.
"I want to be there for his interrogation."
"Oh I'm sure you do," Night Glider looked at Primal. "To just ask the right questions so that his story conveniently matches yours."
Optimus raised his voice a little, "Believe whatever you wish Night Glider, but what we're dealing with is the future and stability of our very way of life. The amount of chaos that could erupt on Cybertron is completely unforseeable."
"I'm prepared to conduct a full inspection of your "Autobot shuttle" the second this transmission is over." Glider pointed.
"That is enough Security Cheif," One of the members raised his hand. "I understand this matter is very important, but besides this scrutiny with transwarp technology and the loss of the Golden Disk, there are also matters in this story that are very troubling. For instance, the fate of Protoform X is ambiguous. You say he was destroyed in battle against Depth Charge, but Imperial Marshall Depth Charge and his ship are missing, so unfortunately we only have your word to go on about this."
The Security Cheif twisted his face in anger.
"X was destroyed? So you're saying that Depth Charge did what our best scientists couldn't do, so much so that we asked you to dump him on an uncharted world forever?"
Optimus softened his optics at the memory of the Imperial Officer's pieces floating in the ocean. "I don't know what happened between them exactly, but it is possible that Depth Charge may have scattered the positrons in Rampage's spark using a large amount of energon. If protoform X isn't permanently destroyed, it would still be extremely difficult for him to put his body back together. That's what I believe at least. I'm not an expert in that field."
"We must notify former project director Bump and see if we can get you to speak with him. Although I'm sure that he will be absolutely "delighted" to speak about his greatest failure again." The third council started to push a series of buttons on his wrist.
Rhinox looked away from the Security Chief, not wanting to see the predictable scowl on the Maximal's face again. The MagnaBoss council was surprisingly receptive to the story of the Beast Wars, but proof was needed to help their claim.
"There is another matter besides our word and the Autobot ship that gives us credence to our story, and it's the upgraded bodies from the quantum surge. It changed the bodies some of our friends, the first two were Cheetor and Rattrap."
"Yet this brings us to one of the most inconceivable points you've brought. These aliens with such incredible power, enough to nearly destroy an entire planet and transform a moon, why is it that we've never heard or seen them before? Surely they would have made themselves known to us at some point either now or during the Great War."
Optimus shook his head. "You're forgetting councilor, it has been shown in theory that a transwarp drive, if altered correctly, can cause a path through time. This is a point not up for debate. The fact that we found the Ark and the primitive humans just shows how far we traveled. This once powerful alien race that was so strong long ago does not mean that nothing had happened to them during the millions of years it took until Optimus Prime and Megatron went online."
"You have something to say to that Night Glider?" Rhinox challenged while holding back a smirk.
"No, that is a valid point."
The Security Chief bit his lip at the Rhino, vowing to watch him and Optimus's crew closely. Night Glider hated to admit it, but the loyalty these Maximals portrayed was impressive to an extent. The entire tale was completely nonsensical. Still, it was clear that Optimus believed it from the core of his spark. The Beast Wars may have been an intense battle (perhaps that was an understatement), but Night Glider had seen his share of betrayals and warfare, and trust was not something he was going to give so willingly. For now though, he couldn't wait to hear how the rest of the crew shared their experiences...in separate rooms.
"But these matters are trivial compared to the impact Megatron's coordinates could have on Cybertron," Optimus Primal pleaded with the council. "We should secure him and make sure he never sees the light of day. Or any other Predacons for that matter."
Night Glider scoffed, "Relax Optimus. If there is one thing my men know, it is security. That renegade will never see another face unless it's a Maximal interrogator or jailer."
Megatron had learned many things from Cryotek in rooms such as these. When interrogations were needed, Cryotek would send a few of his minions to capture the prisoner. Since Cybertronians were so powerful, it was preferable to knock the mech out and take him to an unknown location. You had to show the prisoner who was the master. Tie him down and take his weapons from him and as an added bonus, make yourself seem taller by sitting on a levitating chair. That would help intensify these emotions even more. Megatron cooled his vents and didn't even attempt to switch his optics to night vision just so he could see in the pitch black room. A single light washed over the giant transformer, leaving him vulnerable to those in the dark. Cryotek was a thorough mech, one who probably had sensors along the floors and walls trained on him, ready to shoot if he so much as raises his arms in a threatening way.
No, Megatron was not in power at the moment, but he wasn't completely out of the game just yet.
As expected, the impressive blue Cybertronian descended out of the darkness from above in a chair that had most likely been constructed from the ceiling. Cryotek had an impressive frame like himself and his eyes grew brighter, nearly blinding in the single light, while hovering closer. Megatron straightened the expression on his face. If he smirked, Cryotek's temper would get the better of him and probably end up killing Megatron instantly out of anger. Or if Megatron frowned he would be revealing his own disdain for the older mech, and anger was an intense emotion that could throw away his chances of survival. A Predacon leader had to show indifference to everything and everyone.
Megatron tightened the gears of his face,"Greetings Cryotek. How goes it with the Maximal law enforcement?"
"Better than you would have," The hovering Predacon spoke calmly. "Megatron, do you know why I had you brought here, even with the Maximal authorities on me and my associates' movements more scrutinized than ever?"
"Oh, I assumed you wanted to know just how great my failure was and if you have any further use for this spark." Megatron tilted his head in fascination.
Cryotek's laugh carried through what Megatron now knew to be a rather large room. Again the Predacon refused to show any emotion and raised his head high, taking the humiliation proudly while clenching his servos. Cryotek stopped his jovial action and kept a far too obvious forced grin on his face.
"Perhaps...or perhaps I wanted to have the unique pleasure of slagging you myself."
The hovering Predacon pushed a button on his chair, turning all the lights on in the room. Various predacons crowded around Megatron, each with a unique weapon in their arms (stolen or bought by Cryotek most likely). Megatron's eyes panned the room, finding it adequately large enough to hold him, but even with the lights on, it was still very dark.
"Oh Cryotek," Megatron shook his head, "ever the jokester. Surely you want to know the invaluable knowledge that could still be of use to the Predacon cause. I know you want as badly as I the glorified future I so desperately tried to attain for our race."
"But now the Golden Disk is lost and with it our hope of changing the future." Cryotek seethed, leaning forward in his seat while Megatron kept his head high.
"You forget Cryotek, I already know what we must do to change the future. All the knowledge of the Golden Disk is in my little spark, including the transwarp coordinates to return to prehistoric Earth and finish what I started."
"Hmm..." the older mech looked around at the room seeing many eager, energon thirsty Predacons.
Cryotek was displeased at Megatron's cooled head. This wasn't like him, at least not all the time. Clearly the journey had changed the renegade both physically and mentally. Out of natural curiosity, Cryotek wanted to know of his travels, but he was through being lenient with traitors.
"You're not as foolish as I thought you would have become with so much power in your hands," He leaned back, "and yet what is stopping me from simply taking the knowledge directly from your processor before you can delete it? My marksmen, I assure you, are quite adept."
Each armed Predacon raised their guns and aimed towards the large being. Megatron felt the familiar touch of heat emanating from the laser dots pointed at his processor. He'd experienced this all before and knew he couldn't lose.
"What more could you possibly have to offer me?" Cryotek challenged.
"I know you Cryotek. You don't take risks. You calculate every possible scenario, of course, not every possible scenario," Megatron remembered when he doubled crossed his mentor the first time, "and you would never take the risk of losing priceless information. Are you sure you're willing to gamble on what is faster? My self-destruct protocols, or your own men's marksmanship?"
The Area in-between the large Predacon's joints began to flash, causing some of the minions in the room back away from the being.
"Self-destruction immanent in twelve clicks." Megatron's computer echoed for all to hear.
The many Predacons that carpeted the floor of the room didn't dare fire, glancing over at their employer with fear. Cryotek snarled at Megatron and scratched the arms of his metallic chair until he broke the surface.
"What will you go for Cryotek," Megatron smirked, "the gamble or the sure thing?"
There really wasn't a choice. The larger Predacon had trapped Cryotek again.
"Guards." Said Cryotek, with his right hand in the air and a look so stern that stone would have cracked if caught in his gaze.
"Stand Down."
All the Predacons looked at each other with shocked faces. This was not what Cryotek had originally planned, but it couldn't be helped. Grudgingly, they all lowered their arms while the older Predacon commanded the computer to release Megatron's bonds.
"Yessss..." The larger Predacon stood up while checking his wrists for damage.
"I do, however, have one stipulation to ensure that you will never betray me again," Cryotek waved. "You may have bested me now, but you still need my resources Megatron and I cannot have you ratting me out again. I'm sure you understand."
Megatron's head jerked sharply at his former mentor as he boldly lowered his seat to the ground and stepped off the platform, not caring about how close he was to Megatron's massive body. The large Predacon glared down at Cryotek, knowing that his price was high. Unfortunately, Megatron needed to work with him. He wasn't willing to admit it aloud, but he clearly didn't have much power on Cybertron. Cryotek had spent nearly all of his years building his power through both illegal and legal actions, something Megatron didn't have the patience for. Another thing the tall Predacon would have to work on during his time on Cybertron was that this was a delicate situation that required cooperation no matter how high the price was. Either way, Megatron had bested him twice, and he would do so again if need be.
Cryotek approached him slowly.
A/N: Special thanks again to RulerofFire for beta reading the story, if you haven't seen Theft of the Golden Disk you can find it on youtube. It is a video that is canon to the beast wars story about how Megatron stole the golden disk and left cybertron with it (introducing Cryotek). Watch it! Read and Review!
