Authors Notes- And here I am back again with yet another chapter to My Life As I Knew It. As you can gather by now I don't own Transformers that belongs to Hasbro. I do however own Marley and the plot. Now that we got that out of the way here it Chapter Seven. I hope you enjoy!
Chapter Seven: Training.
Dreadwing growled as he dodged another blast from Optimus Prime. The Autobot leaders blast hitting the tree that had been behind Dreadwing. Causing the massive tree to come crashing down. Growling Dreadwing go to his feet, and returned fire, and managed to hit Optimus, making him cry out, smoke billowing from the hole in his shoulder.
"Give up, Dreadwing." Optimus called out to him, his voice ringing through the area, igniting Dreadwing's rage further, as he slipped through the shadows. Denta gritted.
This was supposed to be a simple mission Lord Megatron had tasked him with. And from the moment he had arrived he had been greeted by the sight of Optimus Prime and another Autobot he had only seen once before only briefly when he had been tasked with helping to find those relics. Before he had been distracted by the wrecker, Bulkhead, and had returned to his master empty-handed. And now he had been tasked with investigating Autobot activity near one of the Decepticon mines. And when he had arrived he was not disappointed as the moment he did he was greeted by the sight of Optimus Prime and another Autobot.
Speaking of the other Autobot, Dreadwing cried out as a blast struck him, causing him to stumble. Whirling around he glared at the young Autobot, who stood before him looking rather proud of himself. Well, Dreadwing thought, turning his attention fully to the young Autobot who didn't look like he had a lick of common sense in that empty head of his. Enjoy your little victory while it lasts. Because today, kid. Will be your last. As he thought that he aimed his cannon at him, and fired.
And it would seem that luck on the young Autobots side as he leaped out of the way. Or so it would seem, as the moment the blast hit a large tree causing it to come tumbling down, right on the unnamed Autobot. Pinning him down. Dreadwing chuckled as he strapped his cannon his back as he advanced on the struggling Autobot. A thrill running through his body as he saw fear shining in blue optics as he looked down at his prey. And to think, while he may not extinguish Optimus Prime's spark but he would return to base knowing he hurt Prime by killing one of his men. After all, what better way to hurt Optimus then to kill one of his beloved Autobots. Since Optimus was such a bleeding spark for his men.
Dreadwing chuckled, drawing his sword he raised it above his head, ready to pierce the young Autobots spark chamber when-
"Dreadwing!" Optimus called out, appearing behind the seeker, blue optics narrowed. "Let him go!"
Dreadwing looked over his shoulder at him, before glancing back at his prey. Then without a word he spun around, and lunged at Optimus, his blade slamming against Optimus'. Dreadwing's arms straining as he fought against the Autobot leader. With an enraged snarl Dreadwing broke away from him before lunging at him once again. His blade catching Optimus in the side, making him cry and clutch at his side before slashing at Dreadwing. The Decepticon was far quicker as he blocked the blow before swinging at Optimus again, nearly missing Optimus' faceplate. The tip of the blade scraping against his battle mask as Optimus took a step back.
He's tiring. Dreadwing thought, as he watched Optimus' every move. They had been at this for hours now, neither Dreadwing nor Optimus and his inexperienced little rookie were yielding. And now, Dreadwing noted with a hint of satisfaction, the corner of his mouth turning upwards. It was showing, all it would take was one quick move, and he would remove Optimus' head from his shoulders. What a prize that would be for Lord Megatron, with a yell Dreadwing tightening his grip on his sword, and lunged at him. His scream turning into a cry of pain, as a shot struck him in the back once more, knocking Dreadwing down.
He had forgot about the young Autobot. Anger radiating off of Dreadwing in waves as he turning to glare at him, while he had been busy with Prime, the trapped Autobot had managed to get himself free. And was now running towards him, blaster firing all the while. This odd grin on his faceplate as he rushed towards him. Dreadwing's optics darkened as he lunged at the Autobot.
"Smokescreen, no!" He heard Optimus shout.
So, the young Autobot's name was Smokescreen, huh? Well, Smokescreen was about to be one with the Allspark. And it was all because he felt the need to interfere with his and Optimus' fight. And obviously Smokescreen realized his mistake as Dreadwing saw the fear shining in his optics as Dreadwing swung his sword at him.
Just as Optimus leaped in to save him, optics narrowed as he glared at Dreadwing.
"That is enough, Dreadwing." Optimus growled, kicking Dreadwing back, the Decepticon grunting as he hit the ground. Optimus looming over him, blaster trained on him, daring him to make one wrong move and it would be him that would be one with the Allspark.
"Give it up." Smokescreen said, moving to stand beside Optimus, looking triumphant, though why Dreadwing had no idea. All this Smokescreen was in his optics was a reckless liability.
One had had hoped would work in his favor, but here he was on his back before the Autobots. That being said, Dreadwing fought the smile that threatened to creep up to his faceplate as he reached behind him, optics fixed on the two Autobots looming over him. He may have lost this battle, Dreadwing thought as he pressed the button, detonating the bombs he had managed to plant during the fight.
Watching as Optimus and Smokescreen looked on in shock, giving the defeated Dreadwing enough time to break away, and transform before taking to the sky. Dreadwing flew above the scene, watching as Optimus and Smokescreen transformed, and drove through their ground bridge as the area went up in flames, including the energon mine. Lord Megatron would not be pleased. Dreadwing thought as he took to the skies, and returned to the Nemesis to report to Megatron.
Silence was what greeted her when she finished her story. And by now Breakdown had a few empty cubes sitting before him, his single optic fixed on her, as were Knock Out's, both of them looking disgusted as they continued to look in her direction.
"So, let me get this straight." Breakdown said, breaking the silence, optic narrowing. " You used to be human, and now thanks to MECH you're...you're this?" he asked, gesturing to her form. Marley nodded.
God, why didn't I just keep my big mouth shut? Marley just wanted to disappear, she was beginning to regret telling Knock Out and Breakdown this. But as the night went on she had grown more and more comfortable with them for some odd reason. Knock Out was looking her up and down, his lip curled in disgust while Breakdown looked angry. Now Marley was regretting her decision to open her big mouth. What had she been thinking?! They were strangers to her, not friends despite how nicer they had been to her, well, Breakdown had been. Knock Out seemed rather indifferent until now. But never less she was still an outsider.
And as time continued on the silence growing more and more unbearable, until Breakdown sighed, and placed his head in his hands. A look of concern on Knock Out's face now as he moved to Breakdown's side, placing a clawed hand on his shoulder. Marley looked on until Knock Out looked to her again. He had been about to say something, when the doors slid open, and everyone seemed to stop in their tracks as they looked to the door, Marley included.
Her optics widening as she saw a rather angry looking Dreadwing step into the room. So much for him being gone for a while...She thought glumly. Dreadwing stepped into the room, his red optics seeming to stand out against the darkness of the room. Dreadwing was silent as he grabbed an energon cube, and downing it in one gulp, before looking around the room.
"Welcome back, Commander Dreadwing." Knock Out was the first to break the silence. Seeming to forget their previous conversation. "How was your mission?"
Dreadwing said nothing, as he moved to where Marley and the others were sitting.
"Marley." Dreadwing spoke, ignoring Knock Out's question. Wow, he actually knows my name. Amazing.
"Yes?" Marley spoke, her voice tinting with uncertainty, before adding. "Sir?"
"Tomorrow morning your training will commence. I will not tolerate you being late. Training is at 0700, understand?"
Marley was silent. So, she was going to start her training? So soon? So much for getting her used to things around here. And Marley wasn't going to lie, she hoped she would have more time to get used to how things were around here. But alas, that didn't seem to be the case, suppressing the urge to groan she merely nodded as Dreadwing continued to watch her, before grabbing her untouched energon and walking away, leaving Marley, Knock Out, and Breakdown alone once more.
Chewing on her bottom lip she looked down at her hands, before looking up at Knock Out and Breakdown. "I, uh,..." she started, and stopped before getting to her feet, and turning her back to them. "Should go."
And with that she made her away across the room, towards the door. Before either Knock Out or Breakdown could utter another word regarding what she had just told them. So, much for making friends around here. She thought, as she headed towards her quarters.
"You lost one of our energon mines?!" Megatron roared, as he turned to face Dreadwing, watching as the seeker flinched.
"I had no choice, Lord Megatron." Dreadwing said, as Megatron continued to glare at him. Dreadwing kept his gaze even, his back straight.
"Oh?" Megatron growled. "Do tell, Dreadwing."
"If I had not the Autobots would have taken it." Dreadwing said.
A low growl escaped Megatron's throat as he turned away from Dreadwing, and heaved a sigh. "No matter," he said. "We have countless mines scattered all over this planet. So the loss of one isn't a big deal. However," he continued, looking over his shoulder at Dreadwing. "We do have far more pressing matters."
At this Dreadwing met his masters gaze once more. "What do you mean, my Lord?"
"Marley." Megatron said.
At the mere mention of her name Dreadwing bristled. He knew he would be working with her in the morning. But he had hoped he wouldn't have to hear her name for a good long while. Obviously Lord Megatron thought that she could be molded into something resembling a soldier for the Decepticon cause. And perhaps she would succeed, or Dreadwing thought, she would be destined for the scrapyard. Dreadwing hoped it would be the latter, something told him that she wasn't meant for the Decepticons.
"Are you listening to me?" Megatron snapped, jerking Dreadwing from his thoughts.
"I-I apologize, Lord Megatron." Dreadwing said, mentally kicking himself for zoning out while his leader was talking.
"I said," Megatron growled. "I want you to do everything in your power to train her to become an perfect Decepticon warrior."
Dreadwing blinked, optics wide. "Lord Megatron?" Dreadwing questioned. "Please forgive me, but she is nothing more than than a mistake. A human made abomination."
"That may be, Dreadwing." Megatron said, turning his back on him, hands clasped behind her back. "But a human made Cybertronian or not I have a feeling things can work in our favor. That she will make an excellent soldier."
Dreadwing was silent for a moment, his optics fixed on the ground. "Very well, my Lord." He said, after a while. "I will not fail you."
"See that you don't." Megatron growled.
Realizing that the conversation was over Dreadwing got to his feet, bowed, and turned away from him. His bad mood seeming to worsen with every passing moment as he headed towards the washracks, intent to wash the grime off of him self,. And hopefully it would allow him to calm down. Marley, Deadwing thought, gritting his denta so hard they would have cracked. He couldn't pit his finger on it, but there was just something about her that got on his nerves. As he stepped into the washracks Dreadwing sighed as the solvent cascaded down his chassis. Relaxing muscle cables, and helping lightening his mood.
Sure, he was still upset about his current task but Dreadwing never dared question his masters wishes. If Megatron saw that Marley had some potential to be of use to the Decepticon cause then who was he to question him? But, Dreadwing thought with a scowl as he stepped out of the washracks, shaking off the stray drops of solvent off of his chassis before heading to his quarters. As far as I'm concerned she's nothing but a liability. And he hoped, as he reached his quarters, typing in the code for the door he stepped into the room. That she would somehow prove him wrong...
Well, Marley would admit it as she lay here staring up at the ceiling as she woke up. Giant ass robot or not she still wasn't a morning person. Stifling a yawn she swung her legs over the side of her berth, and got to her feet, stretching before heading towards the door. Walking down the hall Marley wondered what her first day of training with Dreadwing would be like?
I have no idea. She thought. But if he calls me abomination one more time I'm going to punch him square in the jaw. Might get my ass kicked but it would be worth it.
"Hey!" Marley tensed when she heard someone call out to her. Turning around she saw Breakdown racing to catch up with her.
"Oh, good morning." Marley greeted, when he finally caught up to her.
"Is it? I would have no idea. Knock Out and I were up all night." He said.
"Had something to do in the medbay?" Marley asked, as the two of them walked down the hall.
"Nope." Breakdown said. Marley watched Breakdown from the corner of her optic, waiting for him to divulge only to realize he wasn't going to. "Anyway," Breakdown spoke after a while. "I wanted to apologize for how I acted last night after you told us everything."
"It's okay." Marley said. "I'm still trying to wrap my head around it all myself. One minute I'm just a normal human woman, next this..." Marley sighed.
"No, that's not what I meant." Breakdown said, causing Marley to look at him.
"Oh?"
Breakdown was silent as he rubbed at the back of his head. "Um, this is going to sound weird. But it was because of me that you exist in that body." At those words Marley stopped in her tracks, and looked to him, optics wide. At her expression Breakdown chuckled. "It's true. Though hard to believe. Me, a Decepticon captured by those weaker than me and...and..." Breakdown trailed off, smile gone, and was replaced with haunted look on his faceplate.
"Hey," Marley said, placing a hand on his shoulder, a faint smile on her lips. "It's okay if you don't want to talk about it. I think I understand what you're getting at, and it's okay."
Offering a faint smile of his own before realizing they had reached Marley's destination. "Welp here we are." Breakdown commented, looking to her. "I wish you the best luck with Dreadwing. And hey," Breakdown added, his tone lighter. "If you manage to survive your first day of training I'll treat you to some energon. How does that sound?"
"That sounds like a good idea." Marley said. "After all, something tells me I'll need it after this."
After that Breakdown wished her good luck as the femme stepped through the door, and was greeted by the sight if Dreadwing. The seeker had his back to her, his attention was focused on the sword he had in his hands.
"You're late." Dreadwing said, as the doors slid closed behind Marley.
Marley blinked, surely she and Breakdown hadn't taken too long getting here, did they? "No I'm not." She protested, as she stepped further into the room. And somehow when Dreadwing leveled a glare at her she managed to continue until both she and Dreadwing stood in the middle of the room. "I'm here at 0700 like you told me."
A low growl was her only answer as Dreadwing put the sword away. There was no point in arguing with her, Dreadwing thought, he had been ordered to train her and train her he would. And if she got hurt because of her insolence, then so be it.
"For our first training session we will be learning hand to hand combat. I hope you are prepared." Dreadwing said.
Marley tensed as he glared at her. She would be lying if she said she was ready. But that being said she wasn't going to let him know that. Swallowing thickly Marley tensed as Dreadwing lunged at her. So much for a warning. She thought, as she leaped out of the way. His fist barely missing her faceplate. Obviously Dreadwing wasn't messing around Marley thought as the larger Decepticon advanced on her.
Balling her fists she swung at him, only for him to catch her fist easily, and squeeze. Gasping in pain Marley kicked at Dreadwing in hope of getting Dreadwing to let her go, and was rewarded with a grunt.
"So you can fight." Dreadwing commented. A cold smile creeping up his faceplate, something unreadable shining in his optics. As he pulled her closer until their faces were inches apart. "Good. Means this won't be a complete waste of my time." As he said this he drove his fist into her face, sending her flying.
Hitting the ground with a thud Marley struggled to pick herself up, energon trickling from her busted lip. Glaring at Dreadwing from over her shoulder as she wiped it off with the back of her hand as she got to her feet. Just as Dreadwing advanced on her once more, that same strange look in his optics. Taking a couple steps back Marley braced herself. Something told her that this training session was going to be a tough one. With a roar Dreadwing charged at her, fist raised. And without thinking Marley felt her right arm transform as she raised it. And as she off-lined her optics, and fired.
The blast hitting poor Dreadwing square in the chest, sending him crashing into the wall behind him. And at that moment everything seemed to go still, as Marley looked down at her blaster with wide optics, a blaster that had once been her right arm. Before looking to the equally shocked Dreadwing. She had hurt him! Transforming her arm back she rushed towards him.
"Oh my god! I'm so sorry, are you all right?" She asked.
However, the moment she was within reach Dreadwing wrapped his hand around her throat, and lifted her up off the ground. "You let your guard down..." he growled, his voice low, dangerous.
"I was just-" Marley began to protest, but Dreadwing only squeezed her neck harder.
"A word of advice. Never let your guard down near an enemy." Dreadwing told her, before tossing her to the ground, smirking as she grunted. Looking down at his chestplate he saw the scorch mark on it before looking to her once more. "Though it would seem that those fools at MECH didn't make you completely useless." He loomed over her. "Let's see what you can do with that information."
Marley looked up at him, dread forming in the pit of her tank. Now things were getting serious. Pulling Marley to her feet he drove his fist into her face once more, knocking her down again.
"Attack!" He ordered, as she backed away from him.
Gritting her denta she lunged at him. Intent on giving her all.
Hours had passed since her training had first begun, and Marley was exhausted as she lay sprawled on the floor of the training room. Dreadwing standing over her, and in those countless hours Marley had managed to learn so much, well, mainly everything to do with close quarters combat. And now she lay battered and exhausted. But on the plus side? She had managed to land a couple of good hits on Dreadwing. Not as many as he got on her, at least she could tell herself she had tried.
"You did..." Dreadwing trailed off, as he dragged her to her feet. "Well for your first training session."
Well, that certainly was something. Marley thought as he guided her to the door, the femme hissing through her denta as pain lanced through her leg. "Uh, thanks?" She muttered, as he guided her to the medbay where Knock Out waited.
The red Decepticon hissed through his denta as he looked her over. "Oh my," he said, as Dreadwing dumped Marley unceremoniously onto the table. "You certainly didn't go easy on her, did you?"
Dreadwing looked to him, a frown etched on his faceplate. "Do I look like the type to do so?"
At that Knock Out shook his head before turning to Marley once more, as Dreadwing headed to the door after casting Marley one final glance. Perhaps I was wrong. He thought, wincing slightly as pain lanced through his shoulder from where she had struck him. Perhaps she wasn't as useless as I had initially thought. Maybe I will be able to train her into a fine Decepticon warrior. And with that thought he headed down to the command room to report to Lord Megatron.
As he did thoughts of Marley flashing through his mind.
Authors Notes- And thus concludes Chapter Seven of My Life As I Knew It. I really hoped you enjoyed it. And I also hope you have a wonderful Halloween, stay safe if you're going out and have fun! And this is The Exhausted Writer signing off, have a good day.