Transformers One: Reason For Hate

Disclaimer: This is a short one-shot fanfiction based on Transfomers One. This is what I feel could have happened soon after the end of the film's second post-credit scene. Also, it has my personal head-canons of course, there will be spoilers of the film.

Not long after the Decepticons had branded themselves with the symbol of Megatronus Prime, Shockwave, Soundwave and Starscream approached Megatron who was currently brooding on his throne. Seeing the approach of his three highest-raking lieutenants, Megatron asked, "What do you three want?"

Shockwave stepped forward and explained, "Lord Megatron, I wish to discuss with you about our newest enemy, Optimus Prime."

Megatron's optics narrowed as he growled at the still-fresh reminder of his former brother becoming his enemy, "Choose your words wisely, Shockwave."

Intimidated by Megatron's tone alone, Shockwave made a mental note to see if he could, at the very least, suppress his emotion-circuits as he replied after a moment of hesitation, "While I understand that you see him as an enemy to take down, I also think that it its important to bring to your attention the fact that he was also the one responsible for leading the counter-attack to save you, Starscream and many others from getting executed by Sentinel Prime and his pawns. In addition, your claims that he is a 'false prophet' aside, his claim of the Matrix of Leadership is apparently legitimate if the flow of energon on the surface of Cybertron is anything to go by. As such, it would be… logical to at least have a better understanding as to why you still wish to oppose Optimus Prime so as to prevent any… potential complications."

Soundwave nodded and said, "Shockwave is correct." He then played a memory-recording that showed Optimus Prime, who was still Orion Pax at the time, rallying the surviving members of the High Guard who had survived an attack led by Airachnid to not only save their captured comrades but also somehow put an end to Sentinel Prime's rule as a traitorous tyrant.

For a single moment, Megatron's optics softened as its red shine shifted to an orange glow. However the moment quickly passed as he regained his hardened glare with red-glowing optics and growled, "You two raise a good point. Very well, I shall answer your questions." He then turned his attention to Soundwave and said, "Soundwave, record this conversation. I do not wish to have to repeat myself to any new recruit we gain."

Soundwave bowed and said, "As you command, Lord Megatron."

Starscream hummed as he thought to himself, "This ought to be an enlightening dialogue."

"Optimus Prime may have led the attack to save me and stop Sentinel Prime, but do not forget that he also refused to let me kill him and even went so far as to put his own spark on the line to stop me," said Megatron who then narrowed his eyes and asked rhetorically, "Do any of you question the possibility that he will spare or even defend another hated enemy that has already lost or surrendered, including the Quintessons?"

All three Decepticon lieutenants felt their circuits starting to sizzle in anger at the mere possibility of Optimus Prime showing mercy to the Quintessons, the same race of invaders that had not only been stealing energon from the people of Cybertron but also killed the Original Thirteen Primes. Shockwave then replied, "We were there when Optimus Prime tried to stop you from killing Sentinel Prime so denying the possibility would be… exceedingly illogical."

"While I agree with Shockwave, it does not change the fact that Optimus Prime has the Matrix of Leadership," said Starscream who then added, "Say what you will of Optimus Prime, but he is undoubtedly more legitimate as a leader than Sentinel Prime."

"Oh, I do not question the legitimacy of Optimus Prime's title as a Prime," said Megatron who then growled, "However, it does not make him any less of a false prophet."

"What make you say that?" asked Shockwave.

"My reason is simple," replied Megatron who then gave his anwer, "Primus."

A moment of confused silence passed before Starscream's optics widened as he asked, "Are you implying that you… oppose Primus as well?"

"Yes," confirmed Megatron.

Shocked by the response, Soundwave asked, "Why oppose Primus?"

Megatron huffed as he explained, "Think about it: Fifty cycles of silence after Sentinel Prime had betrayed the Original Thirteen Primes and declared himself as the 'new prime'. Fifty cycles doing basically NOTHING while that false prophet plundered Cybertron's dwindling supply of energon to be given the Quintessons through the use of miners whose T-Cogs had been removed before they were even on-line. Fifty cycles of letting that traitorous liar live in luxury as a 'beloved prime' while a whole population of 'cog-less miners' are forced to toil in the mines every day and be mocked by the rest of Cybertron's population because of a condition… no, a mutilation that they had never asked for." His face then contorted in rage as he yelled so loudly that some Decepticons would later swear that even the citizens of Iacon City must have heard it, "FIFTY CYCLES OF POINTLESS SUFFERING THAT COULD HAVE BEEN AVERTED IF PRIMUS HAD BOTHERED TO GIVE EVEN A SINGLE RUSTED SCRAP OF MOLTEN SLAG ABOUT IT!"

While Megatron calmed down his overheated circuits, Shockwave, Soundwave and Starscream took a moment to calm their own jumpy circuits. After Megatron had calmed down, he glared at them and growled, "Before I came to learn the truth of Sentinel Prime's betrayal, I actually believed in his lies and even idolised him as a 'prime'. In that time, I spent every day working in the mines, risking my own spark to mine for energon, thinking that better days will come one day and I will somehow be rewarded for my hard work… but we all know what really happened in the end, don't we?"

"And you blame Primus for all of that?" asked Starscream.

"Considering that the first thing Primus did after doing nothing for fifty cycles is rewarding Optimus Prime for his 'great act' of trying to stop me from killing Sentinel Prime, what do YOU think?" asked Megatron.

A moment of uncomfortable silence passed before Shockwave said, "While gathering further data on Primus would be optimal, Lord Megatron's statements are… logical."

Starscream nodded and said, "Lack of understanding Primus' circumstances aside, there's no denying that little was done to stop Sentinel Prime's corrupt rule other than denying him the Matrix of Leadership."

"The worst part is the fact that Optimus Prime has clearly accepted the role that Primus has granted him with open arms," said Megatron who then added with a snarl, "Sooner or later, he will fail and fall, just like the Original Thirteen Primes who failed to protect Cybertron after falling to betrayal all those cycles ago. If we are to truly rise up as a species, we must sever our dependence on Primus and his 'false prophets' even if we must. BURN. IT. ALL. DOWN."

Megatron's three lieutenants pondered over his words and, after glancing at one other, finally came to one common agreement.

"We submit to your will, Lord Megatron," said Soundwave as he, Shockwave and Starscream knelt down to their leader.

Megatron nodded at his three kneeling lieutenants before he asked, "Before we end this discussion, I must know this: Why did you three try to help me take down Optimus Prime back at Iacon City?"

"I was there when you stood up to Sentinel Prime even as he tortured you and beat you down," replied Starscream who then admitted, "My bitter feelings of losing my authority as a leader to you aside, even I must respect both your strength and your refusal to bow down to anyone, including a true prime."

"Optimus Prime may be a true prime and the one responsible for revealing Sentinel Prime's treachery to all of Cybertron, but it was you who gave the latter the execution he deserved," said Shockwave who then added, "Also, it is only logical to assume that Optimus Prime was empowered by the Matrix of Leadership, and Primus by extension, when he fought you back at Iacon City."

"Megatron, superior. Optimus Prime, inferior," said Soundwave.

Starscream almost rolled his eyes as he glanced at Soundwave and thought, "Suck-up."

Seemingly satisfied by his three lieutenants' responses, Megatron smirked and said, "Serve me well, and the glory of freedom from the deception of Primus and the primes will be ours for the taking!"

Little did Megatron and his three lieutenants realise that the coming "War of Cybertron" will have a far greater cost than they could ever realise.

However, that was a story for another time…

STORY END