Author's Notes: I'll admit, this story is taking a different direction than what I originally thought it would. With a story like this there are so many directions it can go from sad to silly to terrifying. I thank you all for your reviews, and I hope everyone enjoys this next chapter :)

Chapter 9

Slamming Doors

Starscream glowered at his trinemates as they activated the energy bars to his cell. To be arrested by Megatron was one thing, but to have his own wing brothers go against him in support of that defective tyrant was too much!

"I will have my revenge for this…" Starscream snarled at them, "You can count on it, brothers."

His words were so full of venom that Skywarp actually flinched a little at them. His words had an effect on Thundercracker as well, but one not as pronounced.

"We had to do this, Starscream," Thundercracker explained, "Megatron would kill us if we disobeyed him, but believe me when I say I don't want this any more than you do. I'm sure this will blow over, and then we will-"

"Spare me your platitudes!" Starscream snapped viciously, "Megatron will pay for what he has done to me...and don't think I will forget what you have done as well."

Skywarp teleported away before anything more could be said, and Thundercracker gave one last sorrowful glance back at the cell before his departure. Starscream was furious with them, but even he realized that he was just using them as an easy scapegoat. Megatron was the one he really wanted to see suffer! Megatron was the one who stole his newfound power away and treated him as a mere criminal!

This would not stand! He was Starscream, the air commander and second in command of the Decepticon empire, and soon he would be their king!

Megatron watched with apprehension and morbid curiosity as Hook continued to question the Autobot. This Autobot was rather tall, though not as tall as Megatron himself. He could also see that it wore a face mask, had flashing speech indicators instead of a mouth, and had strange markings on its white chassis. Yes, this mech was definitely creepy, and most likely insane.

"You can end this pain at any moment, Wheeljack," Hook said in a mock-sympathetic tone, "All I need is the name of the spark casing element. I know our typical metals won't contain the artificial spark and it's unusual components. Just tell me, whisper it in my audio receptor, and you can rest and refuel in peace."

Wheeljack coughed energon out of his vents, but still felt like he was choking on the pooling fluids. He wouldn't last much longer if he didn't get medical care, but the only doctor in sight was the very monster who had done this to him in the first place!

"How long have you been interrogating him?" Megatron asked; it was the first time he'd spoken in hours.

"Three joors," Hook sighed.

"You must be getting tired," Megatron remarked, "Why don't you get some recharge? I'll continue the questioning."

Wheeljack thought he wasn't capable of fear after what they had done to him. He was going to die, and it had been a very slow process, so he was sure he was beyond terror. He was wrong. Hearing that he would be left alone with the Slag Maker himself terrified Wheeljack to his core!

"Oh, you shouldn't have to deal with this nuisance, my liege," Hook replied in a very subservient manner, "I can send Scrapper or Bonecrusher to keep our guest company."

"I don't mind," Megatron shrugged, "I'm sure we're close to a breakthrough. Just get some rest, old friend. I will see to it that your loyalty is rewarded in due time."

"Thank you, Lord Megatron," Hook bowed before he left the room; leaving Megatron alone with his Autobot captive.

Megatron was grateful the doctor was gone. For one thing, he had already forgotten the doctor's name and was too embarrassed to ask him. For another thing, it was obvious these methods of interrogation weren't working. So, he would have to make the engineer see reason.

"So, Autobot, I can tell that you're about ready for the scrap heap," Megatron said in a voice that was conversational yet still awkward, "You know, I have the power to send you back to your Autobot brethren. Cooperate with me, and I might yet be willing to show you mercy."

Wheeljack actually found the strength to bark out a derisive laugh at those words.

"Mercy? From you? Unlikely!" Wheeljack said before he once again choked on his own energon.

"Just answer one question, and I'll stop the interrogation," Megatron said more forcefully this time, "I'll even give you treatment for your injuries. It's up to you though. One question, and it's not even about the artificial spark. Tell me about the Dinobots. Tell me about their capabilities and their accomplishments, and I will send someone down here to treat your injuries."

Megatron hated to use such cold-sparked measures to get what he wanted, but the Decepticons would be killed by the Autobots if they left anything to chance. He tried to remember that the being lying before him was an Autobot. They starved his people and subjugated the planet Cybertron for countless vorns! Besides, these Autobots approved of building drones with a consciousness and basic reasoning ability and yet only using them only for war. This scientist was sadistic and cruel, and Megatron would use any means he had to if it meant stopping him from harming anyone else.

Wheeljack, on the other hand, took a moment to think. He knew he was going to die by Megatron's hand. There was a slim chance that if he stalled Megatron that the Autobots would save him, but he knew he probably wouldn't last long enough for that to happen. Still, everything he did in life he did with a bang! If he was going to die here, then he was going to make it as difficult for them as possible!

"So…*cough*...If I tell you about the Dinobots' capabilities...Then you'll treat my injuries and keep me alive?" Wheeljack asked for clarification.

"That is correct, Autobot," Megatron replied with a predatory smile.

"Alright then, I'll tell you...But you have to…*cough*...Clear the energon from my vents first," Wheeljack conceded.

Megatron nodded and called for Mixmaster. The chemist was hoping to use some of his latest chemical concoctions to torture the engineer, and was disappointed when he was merely asked to clean the Autobot's intakes. After he was done, Mixmaster left in a huff and Megatron scooted his chair closer to listen to Wheeljack divulge the information on the Dinobot's fighting capabilities. He hoped this information would give him insight into their weaknesses. He was surprised by what Wheeljack actually said…

"I taught Grimlock how to dance a while back," Wheeljack said casually, "He's not that bad actually, but he still needs practice."

"What?" Megatron asked before Wheeljack could say anything else.

"Yeah, you asked what the Dinobots are capable of, and I'm telling you," Wheeljack's reply was haggard yet still sounded smugly victorious, "Grimlock can dance, and Swoop has been following Ratchet around in an effort to learn how to assist him in the medbay. He still doesn't quite know what he's doing...but he tries his best. Sludge is learning the human alphabet, but Spike says it'll be a while before he knows how to spell or tell time. Snarl has been taking art lessons from the other 'Bots. The only one with any real talent is Sunstreaker, so he gets stuck doing the lessons most of the time. He hates that, but he isn't about to say no to a Dinobot! Slag gets into a lot of trouble, but he's very loyal...well, to his brothers, anyway. I put a special energon dispenser in their sector of the Ark. The other Autobots get nervous around them, but I'm sure that'll get better with time...They just need more social interaction…"

Wheeljack was getting tired of talking. He continued to speak in an effort to stall Megatron with idle talk. He was surprised the old warlord hadn't screamed at him to shut up by now, but he would keep talking for as long as he was allowed to and hope the Autobots had a plan to rescue him.

"Grimlock also likes stories," Wheeljack continued; his breath becoming labored with the effort, "You know, it's weird to think about...We almost didn't have them. When I first went to Ratchet with helping with the Dinobot components, he thought I'd blown a fuse! Even after they were done, they were very difficult to control. Optimus once ordered me to terminate the project and keep them in stasis forever, but I couldn't do it. The first sign of danger, and I took my chance to free them. I'm so glad I did…"

"So, the Dinobots...They're like your sparklings?" Megatron asked in a surprisingly soft tone of voice.

"I never thought of it like that before, but...yeah," Wheeljack realized it was true.

Then Megatron said the unexpected...

"After your treatment is over, I will send you away," Megatron informed him, "You will be allowed to return to the Autobots."

"Oh, really?" Wheeljack asked skeptically.

Megatron nodded and said "Yes, really. I'm calling Mixmaster to repair you. Don't fight him. You'll be good as new in no time."

Wheeljack couldn't believe his audios! In fact, he still didn't believe it. He knew it had to be some sort of trap. Maybe Megatron would plant a tracer on him, or a recording device. Maybe he was playing mind games with the injured Autobot in an effort to break his spirit. Whatever the reason, Wheeljack would just have to be strong.

Megatron sighed as he watched Mixmaster work on the engineer. He knew the horror stories of Wheeljack and his laboratory of death. He knew this mech was dangerous to Decepticons everywhere. He knew he should hate Wheeljack, but he couldn't. The metal overlord could no longer see a faceless enemy when he looked at Wheeljack. The Dinobots weren't monsters; they were Wheeljack's creations, and he was willing to die for them! He wasn't just their inventor; he was their father.

Mixmaster finished in less than an hour. He likely rushed to get away from an assignment he didn't want, but they couldn't argue with results. Wheeljack, while in a bit of pain, was nearly as good as new! Megatron was ready to ask for an escort to lead Wheeljack away when the engineer asked him something…

"Um, Megatron...Where's Chip? Wheeljack asked.

"That's none of your concern," was Megatron's defensive reply.

"Megatron, I'm not leaving here without Chip!" Wheeljack insisted, "Just give me the human and I'll be on my way. I can't let you Decepticons keep him here! He needs to be returned to his family."

Wheeljack instantly began to regret not thinking his words through more carefully. Megatron's face became darker in that moment, and his optics shone a bright and furious red! He looked like he wanted to kill Wheeljack!

"Autobot...I've rescinded my offer," Megatron growled bitterly, "Mixmaster! Call the security forces! I want this Autobot thrown in the brig! Oh, and put him in the same cell as Starscream…" He said this last part with a sneer and a dark chuckle.

Wheeljack was getting sick of these sudden mood changes. Megatron was never a sane mech, but lately it seemed even worse! At least now with him showing his true colors Wheeljack knew where he stood.

Megatron was not about to allow that Autobot to take away his human friend Chip! He needed the boy to stay there with him! Megatron didn't remember his team, and therefore felt like he didn't know anyone on board the Nemesis except for Hook, Soundwave, and unfortunately Starscream. Chip felt familiar, and was his friend. He needed that reassurance in his hour of uncertainty. It was selfish, but Megatron was beyond caring about that. No one would take his human...