Chapter 9: An Incomplete Reawakening

In Shockwave's lab, The Decepticon Scientist is still stitching together the Clockwerk parts with his new assistant "Baronite". They don't speak much. Megatron comes in to check on their progress.

Megatron: How is he doing, Shockwave?

Shockwave: We are making good progress Sir. 71% of him is stitched back together.

Megatron takes a good look at his long lost close ally. Still missing several important pieces.

Megatron: Shockwave, would it be possible…. To bring him back online now?

Shockwave: Now? Like Now Now?

Megatron: Yes right now.

Shockwave: Hypothetically, yes, but we would needs some Energon and an Allsp-

Megatron shows Shockwave an Allspark fragment in his hand.

Megatron: Got one right here.

Shockwave: Alright. But there still will be problems. He is still incomplete, so if brought online in his current state, he will only be able to speak, but can't move anything in his body. On top of that, it seems even after he is completely back together, he will need regular, maybe even daily maintenance checks.

Megatron: That is a risk I am willing to take. I just want to speak with him. Tell him of everything that has happened and strongly encourage him once again to rejoin us and be a high ranking member of the Decepticon cause!

Despite his one-eyed face showing little emotion. Shockwave's body gestures give off a sense of uncertainty.

Shockwave: As you wish, my lord.

Megatron: I will help you and your assistant-

Shockwave: Their name is Baronite.

Megatron: -You and Baronite with the process if it helps to get Clockwerk back online quicker.

The three work for a while as hard as they can, but it doesn't take too long to get the Owl hooked up to a bunch of cables from a machine powered by Energon and an Allspark piece. Yeah, they're bringing him back classic Frankenstein style. Baronite throws the switch and electricity runs through the cables. Once they stop….

Clockwerk: Uhhh….yul neva win….Cooper! (Looks around) Wher…. Where am I? I can't move!

Megatron: Relax…..Old friend…..

The two stare at each other for about a half-minute.

Clockwerk: Me- Megatron?! Is that really you?

Megatron: It has been a very long time Clockwerk.

Clockwerk: Why can't I move?

Megatron: I found all your parts and we are in the process of putting you back together. In due time, you will feel movement again and we will make you stronger. That is, if you want to rejoin the Decepticons?

Clockwerk: On one condition, but I will tell you later. Now you tell me, what have you accomplished?

For a few hours, Megatron catches Clockwerk up on everything he's missed involving Cybertron, the Autobot-Decepticon wars, the Arrival on Earth, etc. Then Megatron asks the Metal Owl a question.

Megatron: How did you end up here? And for so long?

Clockwerk: I told you I was going off planet for some hunting and thieving to potentially help our cause, but in the process attempted to steal from Quintessons. They captured me, crippled me and banished me to a very primitive Earth. I had no way of contacting anyone on Cybertron. I lost my T-cog and have not transformed in a very long time. With no way home, I decided to live out the rest of my potential life doing the best I do: Thieve.

Megatron: From what I heard, you once developed the reputation of Earth's greatest thief. People even made fake rumors saying you were once organic now in a mechanical body.

Clockwerk: Correct, but throughout the Millennia, my reputation as the greatest thief started to diminish because of a certain bloodline….

Megatron: The Cooper Clan?

Clockwerk: Yes. I hunted every one of them I could throughout time until their last of their kind, Sly Cooper, put me offline for a while. My one stipulation in rejoining the Decepticons is for me to personally kill Sly Cooper and end his bloodline for GOOD!

Megatron: Consider it done. Once you're all prepared, we'll vanquish the Autobots once and for all and then you can take care of the Raccoon.

Clockwerk: But-?

Megatron: (interrupts) Despite this being a nice reunion between us, you have to remember, I am still your superior, your leader and a leader has bigger priorities than a worthless raccoon.

Clockwerk: I may have killed many Coopers, but they are sometimes smarter than you think.

Megatron: Is that so?

Just then, Starscream comes in.

Starscream: Megatron, I have some important info.

Megatron: (Yells) Where have you been!? Also, say hello to Clockwerk, your eventual replacement.

Starscream looks over and is immediately baffled that Megatron is choosing a currently motionless bird-shaped pile of scrap as his future second-in-command. Yet another sign to him why Megatron is a bad leader and should be overthrown.

Starscream: Anyways, I flew to Egypt because the Fox Inspector woman told me of a potential Allspark shard location.

Megatron: And did you find anything worthwhile?

Starscream: Oh nothing, just that the Cooper boy and his allies are working with the Autobots.

Megatron: That's very like Prime.

Starscream: He, for some reason wanted me to capture him because he wanted a piece of our prisoner foxy or whatever and I did… but there were some complications and he got away.

Clockwerk: (Yelling as loud as he can) YOU LET SLY COOPER GET AWAY!?

Megatron: Trust me, he's a complete idiot. I recently demoted him and only kept him in Second-in-command for so long because I find it amusing to torment and humiliate him. (laughs) You will take his place once you're ready.

Unbeknownst to both of them, Laserbeak spied on the conversation. He sneakily flies back to Soundwave and reports back to him.

Soundwave: That Owl….. I have been loyal to Megatron for so long, yet when Starscream is demoted, a sudden scrap pile discovery is what he sees as worthy as his most dedicated soldier? No, I should be. It is time to plan "Operation: Sabotage".

Back in the lab. Megatron slowly approaches Starcsream.

Megatron: You know, Starscream. Clockwerk will soon need a T-cog so he can finally transform again. He will require…..(devilishly smiles) a transplant…..

Starscream catches on to what his superior is saying and slowly backs out of the lab, only to bump into the big, mighty and extremely Megatron-loyal Decepticon, Lugnut. He turns around with a terrified look.

Megatron: Grab him!

Lugnut grabs Starscream with his strong arms and brings him over to Megatron, who again beats him brutally. This time tearing off part of his wing, bending the null ray on his arm and ripping off the other, all with his bare hands.

Megatron: Bring him over to the other bed over there and restrain him. The T-cog transplant shall commence immediately!

Lugnut brings the weak seeker over to the bed with him struggling to free himself.

Starscream: NO! NO! ANYTHING BUT THAT! PLEASE! STOP!

Starscream is shackled to the bed. Megatron gives him one last punch to the face, which knocks him unconscious. When he wakes up later, he realizes his restraints are free. He attempts to transform, but can't.

Megatron: Looking for this?

Megatron shows him the T-cog in his hand that was just removed from him. He is at a loss for words.

Megatron: (To Lugnut) Throw him in the cell!

Lugnut: As you command oh so great and GLORIOUS leader!

Megatron rolls his eyes as Lugnut takes the weak and untransformable Starscream and throws him in the same cell as Carmelita.

Carm: (Snickers) Looks like Papi sent you to Time-Out.

Starscream: (Enraged as approaching Carm) I swear, I will break every single-!

Megatron: STARSCREAM!

Both prisoners dart their heads at him.

Megatron: The fox inspector woman is still important to us. If you even try to kill her, I will take you out and command the entire Decepticon army to blast and beat you until your life spark is GUARANTEED EXTINGUISHED!

Megatron leaves the room. Starscream crawls up in the corner of the cell, feeling really defeated. Carmelita knows he is a terrible person, but after what just happened to him, she can't help but feel just the very tiniest amount of sympathy for him. Eventually, the former second-in-command attempts to engage in small talk with his cellmate.

Starscream: Soooooo…uuummmm…..tell me….. What is your entire deal with Cooper?