Disclaimer: I only own my OCs.

Pandimala: *smirks* What happened to quick updating?

Authoress: *shrugs* My vacation was really nice. I relaxed too much, so I couldn't focus on typing.

Knockout: *so why aren't you doing as much now?

Authoress: *frustrated sigh* Work is testing every single point of patience I have.

Chapter 11: Consequential Enmity

Paul's 1st P.O.V.

As I sat in the medical ward, I felt anger pulsing through my veins. I should have seen it coming. Prometheus wouldn't focus all his efforts on one place, and he let us fall right into that line of thought. We knew, we fragging knew that he was going to come after the five. We knew that he could create more newsparks should he wish…and he did. He did, and we had almost let them…let him get the better of us.

If not for Pandimala and Soundwave, MECH would have retaken Lunarblaze. He had been so close. I had underestimated Prometheus, and she had almost paid the price for my fragging pride. I couldn't allow that sort of weakness again. I couldn't. I wasn't Prometheus's only target, and we had to focus more on protecting the others.

It was my fault. I knew it…deep down. The reason that they had to deal with Prometheus as their enemy was because of my actions. To make sure that I could enter this dimension seamlessly with my chosen when the time was right, I had to set up my company here before that. And I had not held back in my arrival. That had opened me up to an enemy I did not care to focus on.

Prometheus was simply a human competitor for my company. He wasn't the focus of the timeline, and I thought I had bigger enemies to deal with. At the time, I did. But, in focusing on those enemies, I allowed myself to be blinded to the enemy that Prometheus became.

I should have seen it coming. The last time I spoke to him before going to Lizzie's dimension was a moment that had stuck with me.

Flashback.

I sighed as I flipped through the pages in front of me. Contracts upon contracts were being offered to my company to complete, and I found the whole charade rather boring. However, I needed my company not only to be successful here but also to have government contracts that would give me access to resources I would need with my chosen one.

I already had a preliminary memory in the minds of those here of a right hand for me, one that I trusted implicitly. One that I would trust with anything and that they would listen to as if I was giving the order. Once I found my chosen one, I would install their information into the memories of those in this universe. It would be simple for me to do, but it would be draining. However, I was ready for this. I needed help, and whoever was destined to help me in this endeavor would need to be accepted into this world, even if they didn't know it.

The sound of yelling outside my door caused me to glance up, and I was shocked to see Fred, my head of security, along with several of my other guards, hauling in Prometheus Black. Prometheus Black was the CEO of Biotech, and it was no secret that his company had been struggling since my arrival here. He was not accepting bids unless they had an outrageous cost behind them. From what I learned, he used that excess money to work on many…questionable experiments.

Those questionable experiments, along with his high costs, caused him to fall into the decline I was witnessing. "What's going on here?" I demanded as I put the contracts I was looking at in their file.

Fred shook his head. "Caught him trying to break into the backup servers. I have the techs making sure he didn't get into anything." He then shoved Prometheus forward.

The man in question glared at me. "Muskogee. You have to be hiding something. Taking bribes is a highly punishable crime."

Instead of falling for the man's taunt, I simply raised an eyebrow before calmly answering him. "I would be careful with your words, Black. Libel is a crime in this country, and I will make sure that my reputation isn't hurt by false rumors." While pushing at the man with those questionable experiments was tempting, there wasn't any proof I could use to substantiate those claims. Oh, I had the proof. But, saying I had this information because I was a deity from another planet and had access to such information wouldn't fly well in the human court system.

"It doesn't matter." His face was almost pure hatred as he looked at me. "It doesn't matter how long it takes; I will get you back for everything you have done to me. Every sin you have committed against me will be put upon you twice as heavily."

Sins? He was speaking like some sort of god…which was ironic given what I was. "Do you hold yourself above the rest of humanity?"

The look in his eyes practically screamed superiority. "You don't even recognize how insignificant you are, Muskogee. I will make you suffer, and there will be nothing you can do about it. I have friends in high places, and I will make sure that you suffer for every single insult that you have done against me. When this is all over, you will be on your knees before me, begging for me to end your pathetic existence."

At his threat, I felt my defenses come to the top. However, I could not allow myself to act on them. "Get him out of here, Fred. And contact the police on their non-emergency number. We do not need to bother them with him, but I would like a record of his attempt."

The fury in his eyes returned as Fred started to pull the man out. "Is that it? You sit there as if you are more significant than the squirming maggot you are. I will make you rue this day, Muskogee." Before he could say more, Fred shoved the man out of the room.

Shaking my head, I pushed the memory of what just happened to the back of my head. I would have to return to it one day, but it wasn't important now. I had to prepare myself to find my chosen one. That was worth much more of my time than this scrap Black was trying to pull.

End of Flashback.

I shook my head as that memory faded in my mind. I had brushed the man aside. He was a human, and I was a pinnacle god. He couldn't harm me, and his efforts against me were insignificant. I allowed myself to fall into the trap of pride, which so many stories warned against. It didn't matter if they were stories from Earth or any other planets I knew of; the stories echoed each other profoundly. Having too much pride in oneself always leads to one's downfall. And when it came to Prometheus Black, I allowed myself to believe that his threats were insignificant. He was an enemy that I had allowed to grow through my negligence and pride.

My anger burst from me in a quick release as I slammed my fist against the gurney I was sitting on. Damn it! If only I had looked into the danger that Black could become, we might not be in this mess. We had enemies here on Earth and on Cybertron, not to mention throughout the universe. Once those bounty hunters started to look for the bots, the Council no doubt put a hit on them; we would be in a clusterfuck of scrap. Slag all of this!

"Well, you seem to be alert. That's a good start." I glanced up and relaxed when I saw the nurse walking up to me. "I'm Margaret Stanton, and I'll be looking at you today." She then stepped up and started to give me a basic exam. "Seems like you got roughed up out there. Any soreness that I should be made aware of?"

I shook my head as she moved around me, checking different points. While there was some slight pain, I knew that it would fade. "I'm fine. Just a little sore from the fight on my side, and my shoulders are tense. But, it'll work out in a day or two."

She nodded and wrote some things onto her tablet before she continued. "And your hearing? Being that close to an explosion can cause damage. The sooner we catch it, the better off you will be in the future."

"Hear you just fine, ma'am," I answered back. I just wanted this over so I could go back to going after Prometheus. Once I was done here, I would, "Fuck!" The word was out of my mouth as pain flared up my leg as the nurse poked it.

An amused huff came from the nurse. "Right. 'I'm fine.' She said you would try to bluff through your pain."

Immediately, my heart fell as I heard her answer. "Pandimala?"

The nurse nodded. "Pandimala. She said you would be in a rush to get back to hunting down MECH." Fragging femme. "Despite your reaction, the pain will pass in a day or two." My face fell even more as she held up a cane. "And you can return to moving about the base and helping look for MECH if you use this."

This was going to be two very long days.

"So, am I good to go, ma'am?" I asked as I took the cane from her hand and stood.

"Good for now," She then pointed a finger at me. "But I want you coming back here if you feel any more pain than you already do!" I was walking away as she yelled at me. "I mean it!"

I wasn't blowing her off, but she already gave me the all-clear, and that was all I needed. I had to get back to work, even if it was with this damn cane. However, I would deny to my offlining solar that it was actually helping the pain. I could admit that I could use every advantage I could get. Prometheus needed to be taken down, and I would be needed for the knowledge I had.

The best way to start that would be to meet with Prowl and General Bryce. They would be coordinating our response to MECH's attack, and I wanted to make sure I could offer whatever assistance I could. Prometheus had to be stopped. He had to be. I allowed him to reach the point that he was at, and I would be fragged if I allowed him to keep going after me and the beings I care about.

"Paul, I'm glad you are doing better." I glanced up at Prowl as I entered the meeting room. He, General Bryce, and Soundwave were all looking toward me as I made my way to stand next to Bryce.

It was difficult to walk up the stairs with this blasted cane, but once I reached the end of the stairs, I felt safe to respond to him. "Much better, thank you, Prowl." Once I was standing next to Bryce, standing with both hands on my cane, I continued. "With MECH becoming more active, what is our plan moving forward?"

To my surprise, General Bryce took over at that. "We've been given the green light to start moving against the MECH bases we know of. From intel reports, we have almost all of their bases located. We'll be sending strike forces in cooperation with the other bases that have been cleared to take those down over the next week."

"We are hoping," Prowl took over, "That a sudden strike from us will push MECH into revealing where their headquarters are."

"And then we can take down Prometheus and MECH in one final strike," I realized out loud. This was it. MECH would fall, and then we could work toward building up Earth's defenses for the solar when Cybertron tracked me down here. We had to be ready. I had underestimated my enemies too many times in my existence. Never again would I make that mistake. This time, I would make sure that MECH was no more. Prometheus would fall from the shaky pinnacle he set for himself. Those who raised themselves on pinnacles never saw their ends coming until it was too late.

Prometheus's 1st P.O.V.

A growl slipped out of my mouth as I stared at the screen before me. Damn Muskogee to the deepest pit of hell for this. His files had protections that I had never even heard of, let alone come across. So far, I had gotten through only half of his files, and those files told me little that I didn't already know. So far, the only thing that was mildly interesting about the man was that he was working on battle suits for the military. But that project was in the works when I was there, and from what I saw, there wasn't much progress. However, seeing that the god still had hope in that stupid program was interesting.

But his personnel files were under protections that would make the fucking Pentagon jealous. So, MECH's technology would be more than enough to break through. However, it was still annoying to have to fight it.

That was what I needed. And, with the failures I had faced during our two-sided plan, retrieving this data had been a boon that I was going to make the best use of. I wanted everything that I could use against the god.

A god.

The anger I felt when I first heard that news was unlike any anger I had ever felt. How brazen he was, walking among us while he had the power to change the world. Yet, he did nothing with it—such a waste. If I had the power he possessed, the universe would already be at my feet, groveling for my favor. And what did he do with it? He started a cheat company just to play around as a human. And not even a very commanding human at that.

My thoughts halted as I saw a familiar name on my screen: Lizzie Val. This was it—the file that had to have something on her. She was his Achille's Heel. The information I might find out about her would be the catalyst for his downfall. He would fall, begging for mercy at my feet. The only thing standing between me and that reality was this one file. I had to break into it.

However, as I started trying to break through it, I realized that this would be a complicated file to break into. The security around this—I had never seen files so protected. Of course, it made sense that they would be. She was his weakness, and he could not let that information get out to just anyone, least of all me. But the god was prideful, and I knew he would underestimate my abilities.

He had done so before. Back then, I thought he was a prideful human who would be swept away by the power I would soon grow. However, that task would not be so simple anymore. He was my true test of strength. Defeating the god would open doors before me that I never imagined existed, let alone could be opened before me. This was it…and now I just had to break through and,

"Prometheus, sir, you are needed to host bay one," I snarled as Dr. Arkeville's voice came over my communications. Damn that man. I needed to work on these files. The key to destroying a literal god was to be my reward, and the man thought he could interrupt me on a whim?

"What is the problem?"

"Subject Ransom is not cooperating with his checks."

A growl left me as Arkeville told me his reason. Damn, those experiments. They were almost not worth the time it took to bring them to fruition. Almost. Three was the perfect number to move my plans forward for now. Once I had my original five experiments back in my possession, I would have a formidable force that would allow MECH to take on the universe, while the few who might have the power to stand against us would be powerless to do so.

However, I needed these experiments to get in line before that could happen.

When I walked into the warehouse that served as the medical wing for these three, I frowned at the scene before me. Previously a candidate for the space program, Ransom was snubbed in favor of a 'more qualified' individual. He was happy to bring his knowledge and skill to MECH, disavowing the government as he did. He was glaring at Arkeville, who was trying to insert our analysis program into his chassis so we could monitor any fluctuations. Arkeville was supposed to have that done before the subjects woke, but it seemed he failed in this task.

And now his lack of preparedness was making my problem much more difficult.

"What is going on?" I demanded as I stopped so they could all see me. It did not miss my notice that Arx was studying me with a nervous look. Good. The control program gave me complete control over the three of them, and if they stepped out of line, I would remind them of their place beneath me.

Ransom moved his optics toward me, orange optics dilated in anger before he spoke. "Tell this fucking quack to keep that shit away from me. I don't know what's in it, and I don't want something else to get used to with this body than I already have to."

Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed that Dalnir, the third subject, was seemingly zoning out the argument. At least he was being cooperative. From the two empty vials near Arkeville, Ransom was the only one not injected with his program. Perfect. I could use logic on the bot instead of forcing him to with the program. While I could use the program and produce faster results, that might cause tension that would hurt my operation further down the road. Once I was done with them, I would take these three out before they became a problem.

For now, though, I had to be careful.

"That 'shit', as you so put it, will allow us to monitor your health even while you are on the field. So, you will allow the doctor to place that into your systems, Ransom. Arx and Dalnir have already taken theirs, and you know I don't like my plans to be held up. Right now, the only thing stopping my plans for MECH from moving forward…is you." I gave him a pointed glare at the end to remind the mech who was in charge here.

The black and white shuttle looked nervous, as he should, for a few moments before he relaxed and held out his arm. "Fine. Whatever. Just don't mess shit up in there."

As Arkeville injected the mech, rambling about the 'disrespect' he was being shown as he did, I began to plan. Each subject and their abilities would prove useful in the fights ahead. Though glancing at Arx, I realized I would have to be careful with him. The enemy had firsthand experience with his unique ability, and I could not allow them to fully understand how it worked before I got my hands on what I wanted. They were rightfully mine. Those subjects belonged to me, and I would not allow Muskogee or any of his pet followers to get in my way.

"I want each of you to keep up on your training with our specialists for the day. In three days, we begin."

That would prepare them without exposing my plans to the enemy. If I still had an enemy within our ranks, that little bit of information would only tell them the day I planned to attack and that I would be using our three remaining subjects to reclaim what was mine. They would have no idea the complexity and brutality I would use to have events play out exactly as I wanted them to. I would have Muskogee before me on his knees before the week was out; that was a sure thing.

As I moved through the halls of our base, I allowed my eyes to wader. Who knew the previous group who owned this building would be the backbone of what MECH would become? Taking that organization out those years ago, when he was still loyal to this flawed government, Silas built the foundation for what would become MECH. Of course, I knew about most of the buildings. Anti-government groups needed technology and weapons as much as the government did, and who better to fund them than me? It was such a pity that Circuit Crash could never fully realize what they could have become. They had a drive for destruction that one could look up to.

However, a traitor among them had ratted them out, causing their downfall.

Unlike them, I would not allow MECH to fall so easily…at least not under my rule. Silas almost crashed his organization, as the leader of Circuit Crash did with her organization. She had it all—power, respect, and anonymity. She could move among those hunting her, thinking that they knew everything about her organization and didn't know who she was. The enemy walking among them, and they would cheer her…toast her even, at the events they would raise that would soon be rubble from her attacks.

No, unlike Circuit Crash, MECH would rise, and I would see godhood as the supposed god that was my enemy cowered before me.

Unknown 1st P.O.V.

It was my fault. Our planet was in shambles, and it was all because I couldn't see the enemy that was right in front of me. I had been so blind. If only I had seen what was in front of me sooner…

No. I didn't deserve to even think about her. She had needed me…and I had brushed off the path I saw her going down. And that almost cost her more than I could have imagined. And then my friend…or who I thought was my friend, attacked my family while we were processing what happened and almost…

He wouldn't have gotten as close as he did if it wasn't for my foolishness. I knew that. Not only did I know that, but my family knew that, too. That was why I was here now. While they had not banished me, I knew that no other punishment fit the crime that I had committed…

I was such an idiot!

Pain radiated from my servo as I hit the console in front of me. Slag it all! They tried to tell me…tried to show me the evil that I was allowed to grow close to me. But I couldn't see it…didn't want to see it. I had to be honest with myself. The attitude that should have told me how far my friend had fallen was right in front of my optics. Maybe it was my pride that got in my way. Who knew? What I did know was that I was a danger to my family, and I had to remove myself.

So that was what I was doing now. One of the few friends I had left suggested an area isolated from any being who would bother looking for me. I'd have to stay hidden, but that was fine. I didn't deserve to be out and about other beings. Not after the horrors I allowed to befall us. There were hundreds dead and thousands injured in that attack, and I had been useless to help when it mattered most. I deserved to fade away into nothingness. If it wouldn't be a worse crime to just offline myself, I would do that and just get this pain over.

But I deserved this pain. I deserved everything horrid that was destined for my future. Once I arrived at this isolated planet, I would find just enough energon to survive, no more and no less, and I would resign myself to live my existence with the guilt that I deserved to carry.

The planet I traveled to now had been steeped in fighting during the final solars of the Cybertronian Civil War but had recently been vacated by both sides, leaving it to the hands of the humans who ran it. At least, that was what the data pads we had on the planet said. No one would look for a bot like me on such a planet. This planet was extremely isolated, and that fit me just well.

For the foreseeable future, Earth would be my new home.

Pandimala: *glances at gaming screen* You really enjoy that game.

Authoress: *nods as character dodges Shadow Legion Cabal* Yes, but I have to focus. I need to take them all down! *goes back to playing*

Knockout: *amused* You sure seem to struggle with jumping.

Authoress: *turns and glares* No one asked for the peanut gallery to chime in. *pouts*

AN: I'm not dead! Here is another chapter for you all. This one was harder to type up than I thought it would be, so I took longer to write it. I really did try to get it updated during my vacation, but it just wasn't meant to be. And yes, I love playing Destiny 2, just in case you all were curious. I'm not that good, but I enjoy it a lot.

Back to the story, though, it seems that Prometheus and Paul are gearing up for a final confrontation. Pieces are being set, and I swear that the action will start to unfold once everyone is set up. Information is key in this, and both are looking to get one over the other. The events to come will be interesting, to be sure.

Oh, and I can't forget that point of view at the end. Readers of my other works may know who this is, but if not, I will say that they will not actually interact with the bots on Earth until MECH is taken care of. Until then, the bot will remain a mystery.

So, until then, here are the next chapters!

Chapter 12: War Council

Chapter 13: A Battle on Two Fronts

Chapter 14: ...(find out next time!)

That's all for now! Thanks to all of you who interact with my stories in any way. I do appreciate all of you! Until next time, TTYL! *jamming to Here's To The Years by Jeris Johnson*