Chapter 11
Realm of Nothingness
Megatron slowly opened his red optics. The familiar void of darkness greeted him and together with it was the haunting melodic baroque music. He gritted his teeth and put both of his servos on the sides of his helmet in an attempt to block the music from filling his brain module. Why…why won't you stop! "Damn it!" he cursed in ire.
The music had taken a toll to his processing; it was maddening and he felt his spark was dying because of it.
"Megatron…" a low voice suddenly mixed with the music. The tyrant looked to his left after he heard another voice. And then he gasped in horror. A cybertronian form loomed over him; its face was disfigured and cracked and leaking energon. Megatron stumbled back. His optics recognized the cybertronian. It was one of the gladiators that he defeated mercilessly back in the Pits of Kaon.
"Megatron…!" The tyrant quickly stood up and spun around. Cybertronians of different shapes and sizes started to emerged from the watery black depths of the void beneath him. His optics widened in trepidation; he recognized all of them. They were the victims of his cruel war, the transformers that he had slain with his own hands.
And they were all slowly enclosing around him. Megatron darted his optics around, looking for an exit. "I must transform!" he shouted and tried to do so; however, nothing happened. What-!? He tried again; and again, his body refused to transform. The group was now almost near him. "Why I can't I-my T-cog!" A quick scan revealed his insides and they were missing one of the most vital parts of his body.
"No—no!" Megatron howled in dread as he tried to get away; however, he was too late. Servos, hundreds of them, ran along his metallic body. Servos gripped hard around his chest's metal plates, which they then started to pull. The tyrant screamed in agony as the dead cybertronians detach his limbs from joint to joint and bolt to bolt. His screams echoed all over the void but again, Bach's Air on a G String had drowned out his cries of anguish.
Nemesis – Captain's Quarters – (6 mos. Later)
Megatron gasped loudly after his red optics opened from his terrible nightmare. His room was a mess. Panels were bent and broken. It was as if the tyrant had tried to crawl out of the room but wasn't successful. The lights above him flickered and the frightening music was still playing through garbled speakers, making his room look ominous and doomed.
When will this be over? Megatron lamented his state; he put both of his knees against his stomach and sat up on the corner of his metallic bed. The tyrant glanced above him and saw the clock. "I…only got thirteen minutes of sleep." And for the past six months I have never gotten a good night's sleep. I'm dying, the decepticon leader thought in resignation. Six months had passed after the Snow Globe Angel trapped him inside his room and the being had made sure of its time here being left uninterupted by sending fake messages to either Soundwave or Shockwave.
He never got a good sleep; the nightmares had made sure of it. His energon levels were now low and he needed some right now. But he couldn't go outside.
"Good morning."
Megatron didn't bother looking as Unicron and the Snow Globe Angel appeared. The Dark Lord was leaning against the door while the Snow Globe Angel ogled her eyes at the tyrant.
"Are you ready to tell me why you become corrupted?"
This again…? "I—already told you. I lost my way. I tried to give freedom and rights to my own kind…but my ambition consumed me. I craved power, I destroyed whoever wanted to defy me. I am a bad man and I don't deserve forgiveness nor will I ever ask for it," Megatron declared in a depleted tone. Fatigued had taken a toll on his brain module. The Snow Globe Angel stared, contemplative, at his optics and then a small grin formed on her porcelain face.
"No. That's not what I want to hear from you."
Megatron raised his head and growled. He snapped back: "What do you want from me then-!"
"Why didn't you listen to Orion Pax? Why didn't you take the peaceful route?"
The question stopped Megatron's fury. A dumbfounded look formed on his grey face. Why didn't I listen to him? He grunted and thought hard. The Snow Globe Angel raised her right porcelain hand; the orchestral baroque piece stopped and was replace by a gentle, mellow piano music.
"It was because he didn't completely understand my situation. I could've chosen the peaceful route but I chose not to because I deemed it to be futile. Cybertron cannot change from just using words; it must be changed by using force-!"
The Snow Globe Angel lowered her head and seemed to be thinking.
"No. That's not the reason why you didn't listen to him."
A frustrated sigh escaped Megatron's lips; he couldn't think of any answer anymore. Why did he chose not to listen to him? Why hadn't he taken the peaceful route? The questions swirled violently inside his brain module.
"It was because you were angry."
The words made Megatron look at the Snow Globe Angel in surprised. "What?"
"It's because you wanted revenge against everything. You hated yourself because you were born on the lowest caste. You'd lived your life in violence and cruelty and for that you sought vengeance against your fate, which was why you resented yourself. You hated your reality."
I hated myself and my fate? The words were hard and heartless and yet Megatron didn't found them very cruel. He only stared in silence as the angel continued.
"And then you started to look for escape and Orion Pax was just the perfect pathway to that escape, so you took it. You never wanted equality for all, you just want your pathetic life to disappear. But then things didn't go to plan: Orion was chosen to have the Matrix of Leadership, which was what you needed to escape your dreadful past." The music reached a crescendo of heavy piano notes as the revelation unfolded. But Megatron didn't bother covering his ears. The words of the angel played inside of him and he couldn't brush them away because all of what the angel had said was spot on.
"And then you waged war. You killed many cybteronians, enslaved and oppressed millions of innocent lives. And why? Because you wanted to fool yourself about having a greater manifest destiny and purpose. You wanted the illusion of having power so that you could hide your true powerless form. Your mistake, Megatron, is that you waged war against me."
Megatron raised his head slightly. War against the One? "I didn't-I don't remember-"
"Other than love, hatred is one of the most powerful emotions in the entire universe. If you hated yourself, then you hated Primus, your creator and one of my sons…which means you also hated me. Now then…" the Snow Angel paused, her blue eyes looking with sadness at the tyrant. "Tell me… do you still hate me just as you hate yourself? Do you still want revenge against your fate?"
Megatron absorbed her words and a look of enlightenment formed on his face. His red optics shifted from having a regretful light into an understanding one. He realized it all now: all the cruel things that he had done, all the lives that he had taken out of lust for power- it was all just to cover his unwanted past.
"In the end…it was me. I hated myself for being born as a miner. I hated my life because I knew I was nothing but scrap. And I always put myself in danger in the gladiator arena just so I could survive everyday. I hated it all."
The tyrant face shifted into a mournful look as he asked the angel: "If you're really 'the One'…then why did you build me?"
"It was because I'd read your fate even before you were born from the well of Allsparks. And I know you're capable of great things."
The tyrant's lips curled down somberly as the words reached him.
"Megatron, even though you've sinned so greatly, even though you've lost your way, I will always forgive and love you." The words of the angel were kind and touching; the tyrant felt his spark chamber zap in shock. Sorrow filled his guts and it made him lower his head in shame and regret.
It's all my fault. I should've look for another way. I should've open my mind more. I should've listened to Orion Pax!
"I shouldn't have hated myself. I shouldn't have dwelled in hatred and revenge."
A light of realization flashed before his optics as he slowly stood up from the corner of his bed; calm and boldness had returned in his aura. "I'm done hating myself. I'm done yearning for revenge. All I want is to move forward and, someday if fate lets me cross with him again, meet Orion once more," he said with firmness in his voice and a complete resolve on his face.
A loud crack echoed through the room and Megatron's optics darted to his right. Unicron's form... cracks had appeared on his metallic surface; a low groan of pain escaped his lips before he eventually crumbled. The illusion of the Dark Lord burst into beautiful golden orbs which then flew towards the Snow Globe Angel's hands.
"Welcome back, Megatron, and well done!" the angel proudly said. "I knew you could do it; you can overcome your hatred and your desire for revenge. And, for that, I shall give you wonderful news and blessings!"
News, blessings? "What news?"
"Optimus Prime…is coming to this world."
A short gasp escaped Megatron's lips. Optimus is coming here? "Why? What is this world anyway?" he asked in strong curiosity. And just in cue, the computer console on his desk lit up. The decepticon leader moved closer to the screen. "Earth... wait, we were on earth all this time?"
"Yes but no. You're actually on the moon."
The answer made Megatron blink at the angel in confusion. "You're looking in a different Earth. In this universe, Earth is still in the early 20th century and it is engulfed in an endless war."
Early 20th century, got it. "I think I get it…why is Optimus here then?"
"I give him a purpose: to stop this world's endless war, which is also the purpose I will give to you."
Megatron stood still and at loss. He had never stopped a war before; this would be his first. "I understand…then the only thing I can do for him is to help, am I right?"
"Yes." The angel then raised both of her hands in the air. A pair of golden orbs shot out and hovered above Megatron. They then burst, revealing their contents. "What in Primus's name!" Megatron took a step back as his red optics stared at the two items floating in front of him. The Matrix of Leadership, just like Optimus's, moved towards his chest. He let out a startled grunt as the panels on his chest opened and the artifact attached itself in the middle.
The next object hovered down and Megatron took a closer look on it. "A scythe…wait I know this." A look recognition formed on his face as he recognized the scythe. "This is the scythe of Amalgamous Prime! One of the thirteen primes- how did you have this?"
"Creating cybtertronian artifacts is a very easy feat," the angel said with an informative voice before she continued. "These three items are what you will need in this journey: the Matrix of Leadership will grant you protection against all harm coming from the weapons of men and other lifeforms. The Scythe of Amalgamous Prime is an ancient weapon with unknown power. And last but not the least, your Nemesis. This ship is now blessed; no weapons of men or other lifeforms can bring your ship down."
The angel looked at Megatron's red optics, observing him intently.
"And finally, these items will only work if you or your compatriots know how to pray."
Pray? Megatron looked down to his scythe thoughtfully. The gold colored handle rippled like water in the pond as his servos made contact with its surface. "I don't know how to pray."
"You will know." A loud thud made Megatron look to the door and he saw it softly whisk open. The air of the Nemesis entered and wave of relief brushed over the decepticon leader.
Finally, he could get out. "Claude Debussy, Reverie. This is the music's name," he said and glanced at Snow Globe Angel.
"Yes and it means day dreaming or being lost in a dream. You do know human music, Megatron."
"Soundwave's recordings. I got curious to some so I listened," Megatron said and lifted the small Snow Globe Angel. He moved towards the door but paused in the doorway. "I have no idea what should I do next."
"Trust yourself…and it will come," the Snow globe Angel said in an enticing way and the tyrant took a mouthful of breath before he pushed his right leg outside.
Nemesis – Bridge
Shockwave removed the panel on one of the consoles and made a quick scan of the insides. No power still.
"It seems the power was being diverted into another system. The engine is fine, though my concern is the remaining energon in our tank."
He glanced behind him and saw Soundwave looking at the wide bay windows.
"It's no use. The blinds are still on." He shifted his single yellow optic on the console and put down a single bolt which he took form the panel earlier. The lieutenant observed as the bolt rolled and fell to the floor. Interesting. "The ship is tilted, five degrees to port. The ship's energon deposit would've depleted a long time, if we were still flying while turning to port."
"Which means we've landed."
A voice made the two look to the bridge's doorway. Megatron greeted them with a serene smile. Soundwave was the first to react; he moved forward and observed the warlord as he performed a simple of scan to detect damages or defect.
"Lor-Sir Megatron. It's good that you're finally out…may I ask why you stayed inside your quarters for six months?" Shockwave asked in his dull tone, though with mild curiosity.
"I was having a talk with the One." Megatron raised his left servo, showing them the Snow Globe Angel. The One, the mythical deity? Shockwave stared down, befuddled at what Megatron had said.
"It's very illogical for such a being to exist."
"And yet life is illogical and immeasurable, Shockwave," the angel spoke suddenly and it made the two jolt back. They were both surprised, for the inanimate object had cast her blue eyes at them. A smirk spread on Megatron's lips.
"This is the One and she has descended for us."
What? Impossible, the One is only a myth- "Logic is the same thing as seeing is believing and yet you still deny the reality you're in? You're a conflicting character, Shockwave."
Shockwave hung his head low, seemingly at loss and defeated for a mythical being such as the One was sitting on the palm of Megatron.
"I—am at a loss. The One wouldn't look like this…" And yet I can feel that this angel is something more than meets the eye. He took a step back again, in defeat, and glanced at Soundwave.
The intelligence officer was staring down at the Snow Globe Angel as if it was an interesting specimen.
"Soundwave, do you remember the time when you were still a gladiator? Remember those cybtertronians who prayed before they went into battle?"
Soundwave titled his head to the right, slightly; he was very confused at the question but he only nodded. Megatron smiled and walked towards the steering console on the middle and touched it. If I could remember…this is a prayer.
"Lord, we welcome you into our humble abode."
The consoles suddenly lit up. Holo-screens flashed and displayed the current status of the ship; they popped out on the hull of the bridge. Shockwave and Soundwave were both shocked; the two have been working on the computers for months and yet a simple bunch words called a 'prayer' had activated everything. How-? Shockwave was the most affected; the 1st lieutenant of scientific endeavors glanced around in a wild manner and walked over the console on his right.
"Lifting the blinds."
He pressed a button and the blinds began to retract. A view of the Earth greeted them all and it caused more bewilderment for the two lieutenants.
"All this time, we were on earth?" an addled tone erupted from Shockwave while Soundwave tilted his head to the left.
"Soundwave…is confused," the intelligence officer muttered in a dull tone.
Megatron made a peppy chuckle. He was enjoying the reactions of his loyal soldiers. "Yes but no. We're on its moon." He then faced the two and showed a calm, resolved look. "Soundwave, Shockwave: the deceptcon cause is gone. You're all now free…do you still want to join hands with me?" he asked with a serious voice.
The two lieutenants glanced at each other; for a moment, they were perplexed at the question. They were unsure on what to answer for they never thought that the decepticon cause would be gone in an instant. However, a conclusion emerged in their minds.
"Soundwave…wants to serve Megatron," Soundwave simply said in his typical third person narrative.
Shockwave glanced at him and lowered his shoulders in defeat. "I want to answer…but I don't what to say. Staying or not staying with you Megatron, sir, are both logical choices. I don't want to choose."
Well, this is surprising. Megatron had never seen Shockwave so confused and lost. He felt half amusement and half pity for the lieutenant's scientific endeavor.
"Just choose which you think is good for yourself, Shockwave," the former tyrant smirked in a friendly manner. Shockwave looked up to him, inquiringly.
"Mega—" he stopped his answer after an alarming holo-screen appeared on his right arm. "There's trouble again in the mess hall. The dinobots and the constructicons are at it again." A mild irate tone escaped from Shockwave.
Dinobots—Constructicons? "Wait, we have autobots here on the Nemesis?"
"I would love to tell you, Sir Megatron, but I cannot summarize it in one paragraph so I'll just submit a type writ-"
"Ok, I get it. I want to see them," Megatron said in a curious manner and the three of them immediately walked outside of the bridge towards the mess hall.
Mess Hall
Scavenger huffed and puffed and looked down at the table with his red optics widened in fear. "Oh…no!" he exclaimed in fright and gritted his dentas.
"I knew it—we shouldn't have let them have their own way!" Mixmaster grunted in fury and started down on the table together with the other constructicon.
"Heh, and yet you let us. You all get carried away." Grimlock grinned wildly; his blue optics looked down at the table with a belittling expression. "So then-do you wanna give up?" he asked again with a dark tone as his grin spread more, making the power shovel constructicon gulp down.
"Are you kidding me-!?"
Scavenger's right hand shook as he fought his fears and growled at him. "I won't give up-" *PLOK* The young constructicon then looked down on the table…and pushed the tiny square box off the middle of the towering stack of small boxes. Everyone gasped, including Grimlock, in shock as the stack of tiny metal boxes swayed slightly before it leveled again. The constructicon group had passed the next level
"Whoa-! Nice one," Sludge commented with pride as Devastator laughed loudly. "Scavenger is the lucky one, so it's really nice that he was the last one to take a turn in this game!"
The rest of the group chuckled in delight as Scavenger's face reddened in embarrassment.
"Are you all playing domino stacks?"
The cold and unfeeling voice of Shockwave made everyone gasp and jump in line away from the 1st lieutenant.
"Sir—Sirs Shockwave and Soundwave, we're just taking our break- Holy scrap is that Lord Megatron-"
"Language, soldier."
Scrapper and the rest of the constructicons gasped in awe and fright after their optics landed on Megatron. The frame of the decepticon leader had made them all gulp down in trepidation. The Devastators knelt on the floor and their leader croaked and stammered. "We—we're sorry if we caused a ruckus!"
"No need to kneel. In fact, I'm actually gladdened that you were all coexisting in peace."
Gladdened? Grimlock and the rest of dinobots stood at the back of the constructicons space. Their optics were at alert for possible attack from the newcomer; however, the former decepticon leader shifted his optics and directed a friendly smile at them.
"You can rest easy, Grimlock. No one will attack you and your dinobots. It would be a waste of resources and time," Megatron said invitingly and it made the dinobot leader blink, perplexed. What in Primus's name? The Megatron that Grimlock knew was a master of fear and terror but the way he smiled at him and the way he assured them was very puzzling and suspicious.
He was right though. "Stand down everyone," he commanded to his group. The former tyrant made a sigh of relief and raised his right servo, showing the Snow Globe Angel to everyone. Grimlock and Scrapper exclaimed in recognition after they saw the toy.
"Oh, so that's where it is," Longhaul commented followed by Swoop
"Here I thought Slug ate the One."
"Et tu, Swoop!?"
"I'm glad that all of you are now getting along," the Snow globe Angel said and the group only nodded in solemn agreement. "I already had a session with all of them earlier; they all just need to find a common ground to agreed on," the angel explained to Megatron and the former decepticon leader cleared his throat.
"The decepticon cause is no more. You're all welcome to follow me or live freely in your own will. I have found a new purpose in this life and that is to help Optimus Prime."
Everyone gasped in shock at the words of Megatron. The Constructicons looked at each other, bewildered and puzzled, while Grimlock took a step forward after he heard the name of Optimus Prime. A joyful smile appeared on his grey face.
"He's coming here? But why?" the dinobot leader asked. Megatron answered:
"The One has given him a mission and I'm going to help him finish it."
A mission? Grimlock's questions continued. Optimus Prime, the leader of the autobots and a man that he looked up to as his role model, was coming to this world? Finally, he can meet him and probably join with him.
"Tell us then, Megatron. What can we do to help him?" the dinobot leader insisted in an excited manner as the former decepticon leader grinned.
"The One shall tell us. But for now, we will prepare for his arrival."
Holding cells deck – Corridor
"Sir Megatron. Why are we going to help Optimus Prime? It isn't logical," Shockwave asked, perturbed, as the three of them walked along the silent corridor of the Holding Cell Deck. Shockwave was still mystified with the attitude of Megatron. It was as if the Decepticon leader had flipped.
Megatron stopped and made an apologetic smile at him. "I'm sorry, Shockwave, but my reason is also illogical. I want to help him…because I chose to help him," he reasoned in a calm manner and it made the 1st lieutenant more flustered. Soundwave glanced at him, observing Megatron's optics and the tone of his voice before he looked down.
"Soundwave trusts Megatron," he said again in his third person narrative but in a muddled way. That means he believed in me. Megatron smiled at the response of Soundwave. He turned back to the door and gulped down, tense. And now for the last person... The tyrant knew that the last person would be tricky; however, since he now believe all sentient life ought to have the freedom to choose, then the cybertronian inside the holding cell also deserve to be freed.
The holding cell's door whisked opened silently. The decepticon leader's red optics focused immediately at the figure of his former second in command, Starscream. The cybertronian was sitting in a crouched position, leaning against the wall. A dead tired look was etched on his grey face; it seemed the seeker commander hadn't had a good night sleep either, just like Megatron.
Starscream… a wave pity erupted in his spark chamber. All those years of being humiliated and degraded by him and the others had left the seeker consumed and tortured by his own pent up fury. I caused this for him, I am one of the reasons why he was like this. Megatron took a step inside and immediately Starscream looked up. A dark malicious grin spread on his lips.
"Oh, so are you going to kill me, Megatron?"
Megatron observed him more before he spoke. "I don't want to pity you anymore, Starscream. You don't deserve it. I caused your grief and your sadness. I should've acknowledged your ambitious attitude. Though there are times that you tried to kill me and the others…I forgive you for them."
Starscream blinked at him. The words entered his brain module and he was startled and maddened in confusion.
"What are you saying?" he rasped, furiously, as he stood up from the floor.
Megatron looked at him with hope. "I am sorry for not being good to you."
As soon as Megatron said those words, Starscream roared in rage and charged towards him. The tyrant grunted after he was pushed by the seeker, pinning him on the wall. Soundwave summoned his tentacles and Shockwave raised his left cannon in response. But Megatron waved them off.
"You—you-!"
"If you want to kill me, then do it! I already said what I want to say to you-!" Megatron struggled to the vice like grip of Starscream. He looked through his optics. The fury, madness and despair were showing evidently. All those years of staying in his shadow and enduring the harsh treatment of him poured out of the Seeker's servos as they tightened more around his neck.
More force and it will cripple my spine! "Just—let me tell you one more thing-Starscream-!"
"I don't want to listen to you anymore! I just want to end you now!" the seeker howled vengefully but the former tyrant only stood still and endured his attack.
"You-have done enough-and you were a good decepticon!" The words poured out with nothing but honesty. Starscream had heard it all but he didn't believe it, he doesn't believe it. Megatron wouldn't say this to him. He would never praise him unless he was planning something bad for him later.
"Megatron isn't lying. He's telling the truth. Let him go."
Starscream darted his optics to his right. Soundwave stood beside him; his thin right servo held around his right forearm. His touch was soft as if he was begging him to believe in Megatron's words. The seeker was taken aback; Soundwave had never begged him. This was new and all too suspicious.
"Let him go…please," Soundwave repeated again and his tone wasn't a warning one but a pleading one. Anger became frustration and Starscream, after letting out a long growl filled with enmity, let go of Megatron's neck. He stumbled to the floor and heaved his breath.
"Damn you…you're the one who's bad here. Don't make me the villain of this story," Starscream rasped the words in chagrin and huffed. The former dececpticon leader heaved his own breath and rubbed his neck. The power of rage... oh Starscream. He curled his lips down and slowly approached him.
"Starscream."
"What." The seeker casted a hateful glare at him.
"You're free to leave me and all of this behind. I've found a new purpose." Megatron raised his right servo and brandished the Snow Globe Angel for the seeker.
Starscream snorted weakly and looked away; now he knew why Megatron's attitude had changed.
"I won't forgive you," Starscream growled mildly and Megatron only nodded.
"I accept that, and you're free not to. I just want to say: you're a good seeker," he praised him again and it sent an agonizing ache at Starscream's spark chamber because he couldn't detect any lies nor malice behind it. Megatron was telling the truth the whole time and it caught him off guard.
The seeker commander stared down at the floor and asked in low tempered voice. "What's your new purpose now…Megatron?"
"To help Optimus Prime in his mission. My friend, Orion Pax, will be sent here to stop a war. I need to help and you're free to join me or not," Megatron explained and opened his left servo. Starscream shifted his red optics up and saw his inviting left servo. His brows twitch in ire for he wasn't still used to the former tyrant's new attitude. He didn't take the offered hand.
"I will decide…let me decide." He stood up and walked back inside his cell. "I don't trust you yet Megatron but if the words that you told me earlier were true then I thank you for them," Starscream said in a dead tone and rested his back on the wall again. He made a side glance at the tyrant, whose face showed a satisfied smile, and the Snow Globe Angel, whose frozen smile and gentle blue eyes looked at him with kindness.
The two already knew what would be his answer, then. Starscream knew it and it only made him grin.
Nov. 24 1926 – Imperial Air Force Field – Interrogation Room no. 1
Megatron finished his story and the other three were silent for a moment. Lt. Col. Rerugen fixed his bottom rimmed glasses over his irritated eyes. Tanya stared at Megatron more, looking for any signs that the tyrant could be telling lies. The story had ended and it left the three in shock or disbelief.
Optimus's blue eyes were wide open. Mixed emotions of sadness and relief showed in his face. Tanya, however, still displayed her cold and frowning face. Being X tortured him…heh what a dirt-shit face! She smiled slightly and crossed her right leg over her left. "Lt. Col. Rerugen, may I ask a question to Megatron?"
"You may."
"So you mean to tell me, Megatron, that you and your kind stayed on the moon for a year and then after that you came down to Earth?" Tanya asked and took a huge gulp of her hot chocolate.
"Yes," Megatron answered without a hint of lie.
Tanya stood up and paced around the room with her eyes closed, deep in thought. "So…why did you choose the Russy Feds?"
"Because it's the largest country, the one we noticed first. For one year, we studied your world and we found out that your country is in constant war against the Russy Feds and other countries; we focused in on carbon emission rates that we'd located in your borders and we found out that your eastern border produces more carbon, coming from weapons discharge, than your other fronts. I guessed the Eastern Front was the one that was truly working hard on defending your country."
Hmm, clever. Tanya hummed in amusement and then stopped beside him.
"And what did you do during those two years in the Russy Fed?"
"I live as Joel Miller, a traitor of the Unified States who 'fell in love' with the communist regime of Russy…" A disgusted frown spread on Megatron's face. "By Primus-those words taste disgusting." Amen to that. Tanya thought with a mental grin and sat down back on her chair as Megatron continued. "For two years, I worked along the ranks of the military. I provided intel and data regarding the Unified States, which earned me a seat close to Loria and eventually Comrade Josef. I deceived them by running their errands and their chores." He stopped and an evil grin showed on his face. "I deceived them, major. But my deception brought good and honest result."
Of course…guess you're a good spy. Tanya smiled wickedly at him but then a loud clearing of throat resounded beside her. "No, Megatron, it didn't bring 'good' results. Not yet anyways," Lt. Col. Rerugen said with uncaring voice and Megatron shifted his red eyes to him, questioning his sullen mood.
"What makes you think that the Empire would believe you and your 'amazing conversion' story?" the decorated soldier challenged the tyrant. Megatron rested his back on the chair, a straight and analyzing look stared at the two contemplatively.
"Well then, if you really wanted proof, maybe perhaps this would be suffice." Megatron put his right hand on his pocket and took out a small sugar cube size box. He put it on the middle of the table and pressed on it. The room was immediately engulfed with blue light and several holo-graphic screens that displayed reports.
"My—By Jove!" Lt. Col. Rerugen darted his eyes around, startled with the strange alien tech, while Tanya whistled in amazement. Look at all the powerpoints that I could present with this baby! Tanya thought and asked: "And what are all these?"
Megatron smirked and proudly answered. "This is my spy report, those things that I discovered in Russy and within their alliance. You would be so very shocked with what I found."
"Well, what did you find? What did you discover that my spy ring didn't?" Rerugen asked in a hardened tone as he went back to his chair and sat.
Megatron leaned in closer and spoke in a warning tone. "The allies that you have right now in this war…aren't actually your allies. Many of them are backstabbing scraplets. It seems the Allied Kingdom of Albion and the Unified States are the ones pulling the strings of your allied countries. I think it's time for the Empire to look for other potential allies."
We were surrounded by enemies…then, if that is so, the Empire's defeat will be certain. Rerugen gritted his teeth and looked the floating report. He recognized some names displayed on it and it rattled him more, for the names that are written in Megatron's report…could be the Empire's next enemy.
"If you're still not convinced…perhaps this one will help, Lt. Col. Rerugen."
Megatron fished out another object and showed it to Rerugen. The lt. col's face formed into a shocked expression; his black eyes widened in recognition at the small pocket notebook that the tyrant was holding. Its cover was made of jade green leather; its sides were designed with gold trim lining along the edge. A small insignia of the two little letters 'C and R.' was written on the bottom part. The initials of a person's name.
"Whe—where did you get this-?"
"Your spy ring was exposed, Rerugen, and I helped Loria get rid of them. I'm the one who discovered the properties of Tox-En gas, which was found together with the cube." Megatron put down the notebook and pushed it towards Rerugen, a sad disdained frown forming on his lips as the tyrant recalled a dreadful memory. "When they were gassed, I discovered someone had survived and I helped him escape and cross the border. I was in too deep, Rerugen, and I couldn't risk being exposed when I was so close to bringing down Russy."
Megatron cast an apologetic look and watched as the lt. col. took the notebook with a shaking left hand.
"I'm sorry. Maybe I should've done better."
"There's nothing for you to say sorry for."
Tanya glanced at Rerugen; she heard a distinct animosity in the lt. col.'s voice. "They knew what they signed up for so they knew that, at anytime, they could die."
He put the notebook on his left breast pocket and stood up. "This ends our interrogation. Major, call off your squad and the rest."
"Yes sir!" Major Tanya locked her blue eyes and watched as the lt. col. exited the room with an angry but sad frown on his face, which puzzled her. What's up with him?
The Berun General Hospital
Rerugen entered the silent lobby of Berun General Hospital. It was a public hospital that housed hundreds of patients. Most of them were soldiers who were injured from the war. The time was now past midnight. He saw a nurse at the front desk, yawning in front of her paper work, who he approached.
"Excuse me."
"Oh, good morning sir." The nurse stood up right after she saw him and recognized his ranking by the buttons of his uniform.
"I'm here to visit the patient in room 404," Rerugen said with a dead tired look as the nurse worked around the desk.
"Visitation is still ok sir but regarding the patient inside-"
"I know. The doctor told me."
Rerugen walked away with his eyes closed as a heavy pang of sadness weight heavily on his chest. I know that he will be forever in a coma.
He closed the door behind him, the room enveloping him with warm, glowing light, that came from the desk beside a hospital bed where a man was sleeping. The patient was slim built with a badly bruised face, a sign that he was beaten almost to death likely in torture. A sharp sigh escaped the lt. colonel's face after he saw the other's current state.
"Good morning," he said and sat down on a chair beside the bed. "I got it…your notebook." Ruregen slowly took out the notebook from his breast pocket and opened the first page. The first page was blank except at the portion on the bottom. A message, written in a beautiful calligraphy, scrawled all over at the bottom and the decorated soldier read it.
"To my new and intelligent adopted brother: Welcome to my family, Clarence Rhude, Happy 10th Birthday – From E. Von Rerugen."
Rerugen reread the message for a moment before a heavy, depressing sigh escaped his lips and he closed the notebook.
"I don't feel like going home today," he said to his adopted brother but he received no response. A grimacing frown formed on his lips.
Rerugen knew why he would never speak again. When the soldiers in the Eastern Front found him, he was already closed to death. The nerve agent gas had did numbers on his body, including to his brain. Megatron said that he helped him escape… "I cannot be angry to him," Rerugen whispered in frustration and rested his head on the side of the bed.
I wish this war would be over soon, he thought hard and with sorrow as he closed his eyes and entered to the world of slumber.
Yay! New chapter! And thus this concludes Megatron's conversion arch! What will happen now, only time could tell. However, it looks like, more enemies are brewing in! Which allies that the Empire needs? Which country should they trust? Will the whole world declare war against them or will everyone eventually acknowledge the Empire's power and atrocity!? Stay Tuned for more!
special thanks to drop-out ninja for beta-reading
Disclaimer: I do not own the character of Transformer Prime and the anime Saga of Tanya the Evil. Names and places in this chapter is fictional, if some exist in real life then it purely coincidence.