The words which Jack dreaded to hear were uttered, "He's sparked" and his not-stomach dropped until he was sure he never had one to begin with. Jack just stared at Shockwave, who appeared as always uncaring, but more so in this moment Jack hated him with every fibre of his being. As if I didn't have enough reasons to hate you, he thought.
Jack refused to look at Megatron, see any smug smirks or immense satisfaction. A clawed hand gripped his chin, and his head was forcibly turned to see exactly that, along with the triumph which glinted in the mech's optics. Jack snarled at him, and jerked his head away. His wrists were tied in front of him, for once 'allowed' to sit up on the berth. Jack didn't glance down, or acknowledge what was now inside of him. Too real, this was too real.
"How far do you suspect he is?" Megaton questioned.
Shockwave consulted his scanner, tapping the small screen on the device. "I do not work in estimations, my lord." he said. "You will have to speak with Knock Out."
Megatron was silent for a moment, before he nodded shortly. "Yes, he'll need to be checked anyhow to make sure he is healthy." Jack glanced away as he was given a pointed glare. "As he refused to drink within the first days of his stay."
"Imprisonment." Jack muttered. Lately, he noticed something strange. While the big stuff was never let go; Jack was still made to drink energon, and he wasn't allowed to refuse Megatron, the small things were ignored. Like now, with his petty little dig as the silver mech didn't even look at him.
"You may leave, Shockwave." Megatron said, and the one-optic mech made for the exit. Once the door slid closed, Jack went stiff as claws traced over his stomach plates. The tips softly roamed over the seams, and Jack's back was ram-rod straight.
Jack glanced up at Megatron from the corner of his optic, but his expression was unreadable. Jack wouldn't hope the mech was feeling regret, he doubted Megatron was capable of it after going so far. So Jack wouldn't say Megatron was hard to read, just...contemplative. Which Jack didn't know if that was worse.
"I'm going to let you off your leash," Megatron said, in a low, growling voice which set Jack on edge, "and if you try to escape, that medic will suffer worse than a mere offlining."
Jack's optics flickered to the screen, where Ratchet was pacing around his cell. Grumpy and irritated but unharmed. Jack closed his optic, and his features tightened as his hands balled into fists. "Alright." he muttered. His optics snapped open when a click rang, and following was the clang of his ropes falling on his lap.
Jack shoved the energon ropes away, before his arm was grabbed and he got pulled off the berth. Jack grunted, and found his footing. "You're taking me to Knock Out now?"
"There is very little sense in waiting." Megatron replied.
"Does Knock Out even know how this works?" Jack refused to name it, or acknowledge it still. What he did acknowledge was the quickening of his spark, fear and rage towards not just Knock Out but Predaking for turning him. He wasn't looking forward to seeing either of them.
"He will learn fast." Or else, was left unsaid, but Jack didn't care about that medic. He just cared about the one being used as the carrot to keep him in line.
Without another word, Megatron pulled him out of the room, and Jack glanced around despite himself. Helm fins twitched, optics cycling as he took in all the details of this rotten ship and the sounds of the machinery whirling and thrumming throughout. Jack lost count of the days he spent trapped in that room that this bland purple coloring was a welcome change.
"Ripclaw?" Jack flinched, fury and unease coiling in his not-stomach. He glanced behind him, where Predaking was frozen in his tracks. Jack hated the look on his face, as though he was seeing the sun for the first time. The taller mech took a step forward, but Megatron jerked Jack closer to himself.
"There is no time for chatter, Predaking. He," and Megatron gave Jack a pointed look, "needs to meet with Knock Out. He is sparked."
Predaking, whose expression turned in distaste at the red mech's name, opened in surprise. "Truly?" he asked, and he vented deeply. Something odd crossed his features, before settling on neutrality. "Congratulations, my lord."
"And perhaps, in time, you may have the opportunity to propogate your species the...ah, old-fashion way." Megatron said, too casually.
Jack's hackles rose and he tensed at the gaze the dragon mech levelled at him. "Yes, in time." It was less an agreement, than a promise. Jack snarled at him, letting the anger win before he was dragged away. He turned his glare to Megatron once Predaking was no longer in sight. "You-"
"Calm yourself." Megatron drawled, uncaring as he kept his gaze ahead. "Predaking will be waiting for a long time. As will Knock Out and Shockwave." Megatron grinned at him, sharp and unpleasant. "I will relinquish you once I've grown bored, but I've also grown to enjoy the sight of you fighting with yourself."
"Bastard." Jack hissed. He chose not to believe a word the mech said, because he doubted Megaton wouldn't like humiliating him more.
The silver mech only smirked, and turned back ahead once they reached the medbay. "Doctor." he called, and Knock Out whirled around from his console. His red optics locked on Jack, who in turn scowled at him.
"Lord Megatron, what can I do for you?" The medic asked.
The tyrant jerked Jack forward, and forced him to sit on the berth. "Shockwave has done a scan to confirm it, and now you will take one for your records."
Knock Out's optics widened, and his gaze flickered to Jack's stomach. "He's sparked?"
"He is right here." Jack snapped. Well, ignoring this thing inside him was now out the window, as being treated as just the vessel disguted him to the core. "And you're not touching me unless you know what the frag you're doing."
Knock Out raised an optic ridge, expression offended. "You doubt my skill?" he looked to Megatron. "Is he allowed to be so brazen?"
The silver mech was smirking again, amused like Jack's anger was entertaining. "You mean you are not endeared by the the irritation he no doubt gave you before?" he drawled.
Knock Out stiffened, and glanced down for a moment. Then he looked back up and smirked too. "No, I don't miss anyone. They miss me." he said, and retrieved a scanner. Jack glared at the red mech as he approached, and Knock Out grinned at him. "I can't wait until the time comes for...well, our time."
Jack snarled at him, but Megatron's grip on his arm tightened. Despite himself, Jack clamped down on his anger. Attacking Knock Out was likely to have Ratchet suffering for it and this mech was not worth that.
The light of the scanner washed over Jack's stomach plates. It gave a long beep, before the red mech looked over the results as a rapid sucession of glyphs appeared on the other side of the scanner's holographic screen.
"I'll have to dust off the old material we have and go through Shockwave's notes, but the second spark is quite strong." Knock Out started, "Although, pardon the question my liege, but is this wise given J-Ripclaw still doesn't have a completed version of the SynthEn?"
Megatron scowled at at Knock Out so fiercely the medic took a step back. "I will deal with that particular problem." he growled. His hand tightened once more around Jack's arm, and he was tugged out of the room.
The route they took was not back to the tyrant's room, however. Jack was not accustomed to the ship's interior despite how long his captivity was. "Where are we going?" he asked grudgingly.
"To speed things along." Megatron said flatly. He stopped outside a guarded room, where the two Vehicons saluted him. They allowed their leader to unlock the door, where it slid opened with a quiet hiss. "Still uselessly looking an escape I see."
Jack's optics widened. This room was Ratchet's cell, and the familiar figure turned around. The scowl which was on his face seemed to disappear as shock replaced it, optics locking with Jack's. Beyond it...was recognition. Jack didn't understand from where or who Ratchet learned it from, but he knew who the Predacon standing before him was.
"Jack?"
That did it. Jack's spark pulsed hot in his chest, and he ran into the room. Dimly, he wondered why he'd been let go so easily, but it was a fleeting thought as he pulled Ratchet into a tight embrace. Someone who was familiar and grumpy and safe in this nightmarish hell. Jack realized the medic was shorter than him, with a lot more surprise than he wanted to admit.
The brief moment or reprieve was shattered, as that terrible voice broke the spell which Jack fell under. "How touching." Megatron said derisively, no small amount of disdain in his voice. "You see though, medic, he is unharmed."
Unharmed?! Jack's optics burned green, and he let go of Ratchet to whirl around and snarl at the tyrant. "After everything you've done to me you have the gall to say that!" he hated he still had to glare up at the silver mech. "That is such a load sh-!" His lip stung, head to the side. It took a moment, before he realized that Megatron had backhanded him.
The mech lowered his hand, a fierce scowl in place. "Such insolence," he growled, "after I've allowed you to see the Autobot."
"Yes, you've shown me so much hospitality." Ratchet spat, before he reached up to tilt Jack's head to him, likely checking the damage.
Well, the damage that could be seen, anyway.
Jack blinked hard, and enveloped the medic into another hug. For a moment, he could pretend Megatron wasn't there, staring and judging him. "I missed you, I've missed all of you so much."
"Yes, well, you are sorely missed as well." Ratchet admitted, somewhat gruffly. Then again, given the silver mech was right there, Jack couldn't blame him.
"Enough of this sappy drivel." Megatron growled, ruining the moment as he always did. "Here is your ultimatum, medic. Ripclaw's transformation was caused by an unstable form of SynthEn; if you won't work to have it ready for the Omega Lock, then perhaps you will do it to give your...comrade some relief. Such mood swings surely can't be good for him in the long term." He even had the bearings to act like he sincerely cared for Jack's well-being.
Jack's fury rose again, and he bared his teeth. "You underhanded bastard!" Using Jack as blackmail? He turned and grabbed Ratchet's shoulders, staring the mech square in the optics. "Don't listen to him, I can live with this, but he'll destroy the earth if he gets what he wants."
Megatron chuckled darkly. "Oh, I am already well into getting what I desire."
Jack stiffened, and his spark almost burned in his chest with the reminder of what was cooking in his body right now. It brought another surge of anger and disgust. "Don't. Listen. To. Him." he repeated, optics never leaving Ratchet's.
He tried to maintain the contact even when Megatron grabbed his arm, and wrenched him away. "Remember that!" Jack called, and winced when the door slammed shut as they left. He tried to jerk away from Megatron, who kept a tight grip on his arm. "As if you couldn't sink any lower."
Megatron smirked. "It's all true though, and I'm certain that the Autobot will eventually let the same sentimentality which keeps you compliant to my whims in forcing his hand to complete the SynthEn."
"It's not sentimental, it's called giving a fuck about someone-though it's not like you know what that is." Jack sneered.
For a brief moment, Megatron's expression became still and unreadable. A flicker of fear ran through Jack. Had he gone too far? But then the mech's smirk returned. "Here I thought you'd lost all your fire, but it seems that it was only simmering under the surface." he reached out with his other servo to cup Jack's cheek, who jerked away from it. "This will keep things interesting."
Jack snarled at him, and renewed his struggling even as he was dragged back to Megatron's room.