[Tried to spit this one out as quickly as possible]
(Chapter 28)
The cons are in slight disarray, Ven can't talk, their healing abnormally fast, and they finally got the Meg on a slab. Also, Ven is acting really weird, violent even. The cons are creeped out when they find their Autobot prisoner in slight shambles, still alive, but majorly more busted up than what they left him as after Ven paid them a visit, having never seen them act out such violence.
—--
(3rd POV)
It was quiet all throughout the ship, many of the troops having been informed that their human, their leader who showed them more kindness than they've known in their entire lives, had gotten hurt. They didn't know how, and they didn't bother asking, already knowing that the reason will be kept closely to their three Commander's chassis'.
The day cycle seemed slow, but when Megatron's frame was hauled to the med-bay, cosmic rust and ash covering him from helm to pede, a slightly excited clamor rose up. None thought he had survived the explosion and questions quickly came up on how it was possible.
Ven wasn't gonna like this, so they held off on telling them.
(Ven POV)
I had gotten another surgery some time ago, Knocks fixing up my jaw, adding in some features that I asked of him of course, and he added my mesh tongue like he said he would. Talking was slightly straining to do, my new jaw slightly stiff and my new teeth just a smidge sensitive, but I could get around it.
Other than that, I felt completely fine, my hand slightly sore and slightly throbbing, a light ache in my jaw and a very light churn in my stomach that I played off, not bothering to mention it to Knockout when he asked if everything felt in place and in order, not wanting him to worry more even after I promised I would tell him about the cut on my palm. I felt guilty for giving them such a scare, I mean, not even I was expecting it! It just happened.
Just like this moment too.
I walked down the hall, slightly staggering due to my dizzy vision and the slight churn in my stomach that felt like somebody was digging their fingers through my intestine. I had leaned against the wall a multitude of times before I got to my desired destination.
I stumbled into the Brig, taking shaky steps to the very back where my target was held. A hiss was heard coming from my vents, which was Wheeljack's only warning of incoming danger.
I punched in the code to his cell before roughly yanking open the cell door, grunting as I made some steps towards him.
Wheeljack was in stasis when I got my servos on him.
He woke with a shout, but I cut him off by socking him in his mouth then his throat, his voice box letting out a burst of static when I dragged him closer by his chassis, hunched over him as I delivered blow after blow to his faceplates.
Wheeljack tried futilely to hit me back, throwing punches to my sides and at my own faceplates, but he was too weak without Energon. I can tell the Vehicons didn't feed him as I asked them too, which made me make my blows a little heavier at the thought. He did surprise me when he raised one of his pedes and kicked me in the middle, making me take a couple staggering steps back. I grunted at the feeling of the slight pain, but immediately moved to drag him back by his kicking pedes, which he tried aiming at my helm.
He scrambled back, trying to stand and pull away from my hold, looking frazzled beyond belief, but as always, he hid it behind his cocky smile and demeanor.
"Woah! What's with the sudden change pipsqueak? Decided to finally-"
Before he continued I leaped forward and tackled him down, straddling him as I punched him anywhere I could reach or see, grunting in exertion as I put all my strength in my punches.
You could hear cracking metal from all the way at the entrance of the Brig, the sound of cockyness coming from Wheeljack now silent.
(Time skip) (Different POV)
Ven dragged the limp, passed out frame of Wheeljack behind them by his ankle guard, his body lightly scraping against the floor, his Energon creating a trail under him as Ven dragged him to the med-bay to get medical assistance.
They walked past several Vehicons, all stopping at least once to watch the spectacle Ven made out of the mech.
Ven was still slightly staggering when they turned the corner and walked into an open med-bay, Knockout looking bored while looking down as he filled away at his servos, his servos, sharpening and polishing them. He looked up when he heard the sound of light scrapes along the floor, his optics widening a large amount at the sight of the beaten Autobot being dragged in by his ankle guard.
"Wha-! Ven! My floors!"
Ven grunted as they tossed Wheeljack towards Knockout's pedes, causing Knockout to yelp and Wheeljack to groan in pain as he was woken up by the rough treatment.
Ven staggered towards one of the berths, sitting down heavily and slouching, a light wheeze coming from their voice changer as they struggled to talk with the new added weight of the jaw.
"I'll clean up later."
Knockout huffed and rolled his optics, put his servos on his hips as he looked down at the slowly awakening Autobot on his floor, his optical ridge raised as he pointed down at the beat mech.
"What happened to him? He looks like he's been put through the ringer…"
He slowly looked at Ven again, his voice holding slightly suspicion.
Ven shook their helm roughly, resting their servos on their thighs. They rolled their jaw slowly, feeling the stiffness as they spoke, sounding out the syllables. They didn't even know their own reason, so they didn't bother saying.
"... Fix him for me, please."
Their tone was slightly low, nearly a mumble, but their words were eligible enough for Knockout to understand.
Knockout tutted and just sighed, looking back down at the now slightly aware Bot.
"Welp, can't do anything about it now. Breakdown!"
Said mech responded from another room, a room that was connected to the med-bay and was commonly used as a break room for Knockout and Breakdown.
"What is it!"
Knockout yelled back as he lightly kicked the downed mech in his side, not caring even as his now reluctant patient winced in pain.
"Ven brought in their broken toy and wants us to fix it!"
It was quiet for a moment, Breakdown most likely feeling confusion at the mention of a broken toy and how Ven brought it in.
"... What toy?"
Knockout rolled his optics bending down to roughly grab the Autobots faceplates, making him look at him as he pulled out a light from his sub-space and shone a light in Wheeljack's bleary optics to see if they were functioning properly.
"Just get in here and help me you big lug!"
Breakdown grumbles as he makes his way into the main room that made up the med-bay, about to open his intake until he sees the crumpled form of Wheeljack on the floor, Knockout already inspecting him, albeit, roughly.
"What happened to him?"
Knockout nodded his helm in the direction of Ven, in the middle of standing up after seeing that the mess of a mech's optics were at least functioning.
"Ask our esteemed leader."
Ven remained quiet throughout the whole ordeal, just staring at the mech that they beat bloody.
Breakdown looked at Ven, and when they didn't bother answering he just shrugged and moved to pick Wheeljack up, who groaned as he tried to fight against Breakdown's grip.
Breakdown dropped him down on a berth, activating a device on the side of the berth that made Wheeljack unable to get up, which he couldn't do even if he tried.
Wheeljack weakly struggled against his bonds on his wrists and ankles, his helm moving side to side as he grunted. He panted as he spoke, his voice raspy and weak after the beating he took.
"What are ya gonna do to me doc? Test on me? Give me a beating like the pipsqueak did?"
Knockout scoffed and pulled out a buffer, a welder, and some sutures just in case Ven burst an Energon line or something.
"Hardly, though a beating sounds quite satisfying right now."
Knockout looked over his shoulderplates after getting some more equipment that would be needed just in case.
"What'd he do to garner a beating from you of all beings?"
Ven grunted and turned their helm to look to the side, slightly embarrassed and ashamed with how they did things, a little confused as well since they'd never beaten someone before like that, especially not out of anger. It was too close to abuse, and they highly disliked abuse.
"... He triggered me."
That was all they could answer with and that just made their combined feelings of shame and embarrassment engulf them more. Usually they were more able to control their emotions, however strange they may be, but they did it. This was the first time they've had a break like that with their anger in years as well, having had previous problems with their outbursts when they were younger, before they were put here in this world. The responsibility they put on themselves and their sense of self preservation kept their anger at bay.
Knockout and Breakdown both glanced at each other for a quick moment before looking down at the smug mech on the medical berth, both wondering how the Bot triggered one of the most laid back beings they knew, and they hardly believed that someone like Ven could be quick to anger like this, which they felt was immensely out of their character.
"If I knew that I had such an effect on you jokers I would've kept my intake running, but this is just priceless. Triggered? Over what? Me saying you weren't qualified to lead? Ha-gurk!"
While Wheeljack was talking both Knockout and Breakdown got increasingly more upset, nearly upset enough to make him shut up, but they were interrupted by a very triggered Ven who shoved four of their digits down the mech's throat, deep enough for the mesh to strain for Wheeljack to choke.
If Ven wasn't careful they could cut the insides of Wheeljack and he might just choke on his Energon.
"Keep talking and I'll take your mandible for my own. A personal trophy…"
Ven lightly yanked on Wheeljack's jaw, the claw of their thumb digit dangerously close to the Energon lines that made up his neck.
Wheeljack grunted at the feeling of the yank, his optics slightly wide at the threat. He looked at the servo that was in his mouth and thought it wise to stay quiet for the time being. He enjoyed talking and it would be very unfortunate if he suddenly lost his mandible because he kept talking scrap.
Ven got close, close enough to feel the small border that made up Wheeljack's closed up emp field. They tilted their helm and hummed teasingly as they felt a light feeling of slight fear coming from the mech.
"At least you understand. I was beginning to worry I would really have to take your jaw … and such a pretty jaw you have. It might just look better on me."
They lightly tugged at his jaw again before pulling their digits from his intake, their digits coated in a film of lubricant. Wheeljack gagged lightly when they finally removed their intruding digits, coughing and venting as his throat was no longer straining.
Ven scoffed, looking down at the mech like he was a pathetic piece of scrap metal, but then felt a sense of confusion at the fact that they were looking down at one of their favorite characters this way, disappointment, guilt, and shame engulfing them in a tremendous amount right after. They shook their helm and took some steps back, moving to sit back down on the berth that they were sitting previously.
Both Knockout and Breakdown had watched on in mute shock, Starscream and Skyquake both pausing in the middle of the doorway. Everyone glanced at each other before awkwardly approaching things, Skyquake deciding to carefully step around things and speak first, not having been informed of the situation so far and having been kept out of the loop.
It took some time for him to hear that his reluctantly accepted leader had sustained an injury. He wasn't told how they were injured or how they came to be that way, only that they were hurt.
"We have come to admit a patient, Doctor."
Knockout, having shaken himself out of his initial surprise, shook himself out of it and had turned back to the mech on the berth, having taken out a needle filled with a sedative that would knock the Autobot right out. There should be no information to leave this ship, having had very important things happen in the span of only a few days.
"One moment. Just got to put the pile of scrap to bed."
Knockout injected the needle in the mechs neck, Wheeljack falling into recharge soon after.
He turned around once Wheeljack was incapacitated, his servos coming together over his chassis and a false pleasant smile on his faceplates.
"What can I do for you?"
His expression faltered slightly when he saw Ven get up out of the corner of his optic, confused and interested in their next move since they've essentially been at the center of attention for the last forty-eight hours, having been injured and violent in all that time.
Ven stood in front of Skyquake and got close enough to nearly have their faceplates in the mech's Energon lines.
"You've been around a light amount of Dark Energon … where is his frame?"
Skyquake made a face similar to annoyance and having a slight look of being disturbed as Ven stepped in his personal space, knowing his emp field could be easily detectable at this distance, so it was highly likely that Ven felt his mixed feelings of their action.
"Dark Energon? What makes you think I was in the presence of Dark Energon? A fabled tale?"
Ven took a couple steps back, having felt his displeasure of them being so close and not wanting to smell the rotten smell slightly coming off of him no more.
"I assure you, Dark Energon is very real and is currently in the systems of our warlord."
Ven walked around Skyquake and was met with the view of the tore up warlord on a slab, currently being pushed in by two Vehicons, who froze at the sight of Ven, their helms ducking and their shoulder plates slightly coming up. Most had never seen Ven up close, often hearing their voice and seeing them over screens, so by their reactions they found Ven intimidating, especially in their suit and their distorted sounding voice changer activated.
Ven watched as Megatron's frame was pushed into a separate room reserved just for him in these types of situations.
"I suspected he wasn't an easy mech to kill, and I stand correct."
Ven followed after the frame of Megatron, walking into the next room without a care, leaving the four mechs to look at eachother and wonder what was up with them, having never seen or heard of such behaviors before.
Starscream was the first to do something, following after Ven to offer them some company and to ask them what their malfunction was since his friend had never acted like this in all the years that he's known them.
Starscream came up from behind Ven and put his servos on their shoulder, giving them a concerned look, which prompted their silent conversation.
Through looks and helm shakes Starscream was able to convey that something was really wrong with Ven.
Starscream walked back to the group, shaking his helm. He moved to stand next to Breakdown, catching a glimpse of the sedated Autobot and doing a double take, his expression full of surprise at Wheeljack's worsened state. He hadn't made the order for any torture or interrigation sessions at the request of his friend.
"What happened to him?"
Knockout, having taken a datapad from one of the Vehicons to look over the listed damages for Megatron, looked up at Starscream and shrugged.
"Ven."
Starscream's optics widened and looked back down at the beaten mech, looking at Breakdown next to get confirmation, which Breakdown was quick to offer a nod, giving him the confirmation that Ven did indeed beat the mech on the medical berth. Starscream huffed in disbelief and raised one of his servos to run his digits along his forehelm to the back of his helm.
"They didn't happen to say why, did they?"
Knockout scoffed and shook his helm, having looked back down at the datapad and was now making notes of materials he might need for Megatron while also taking out some more materials for the crud.
"You know Ven. Their explanations don't come until later."
Starscream and Breakdown hummed at the same time, both knowing that their friend can sometimes exhibit secretive behavior, often not sharing information or plans till a later date, but they didn't hold it against them, knowing that they often planned ahead of things, which was actually good for them in the long run.
Skyquake looked at the group with a look of confusion and annoyance, feeling confused and left out, which was understandable. He wasn't a part of the crew, so he had no experience with what's happened in the past or recent events.
"Will someone inform me what this is all about?"
The three mechs turned their gazes to Skyquake all letting out collective sighs since they knew that explaining everything was going to be a taxing experience.
(Ven POV)
I was in the other room, looking down at the fat bitch with a searing anger, feeling my suit heat up due to my anger, making my increasing feelings of rage for this mech that I found so pitiful to rise.
The nanites of my helm slowly flowed down to my shoulders, revealing my sickly looking state. My hair was plastered to my sweaty forehead, the curls of my hair flat and knotted up, my under eyes dark and swollen. My dark expression sure as hell didn't make me look better at all.
My thoughts were screaming at me to take him off of life support, to dig my digits so far into his chassis that I ripped out his spark and watched as his Energon followed down under him.
I wanted to be the reason for his death, to be the reason that his very existance no longer tormented my mind and those around him, but I fucking need him, which is making me just want to kill him more.
I aggressively shook my head, trying to shake these thoughts away, these very rageful and dark thoughts which disturbed me to a different level.
I knew what was wrong with me, but I just really, really didn't want to address it.
I walked up to this fucking bitch's side, raising one of my servos to slide the sharpest points of my digits along his Energon lines, an ugly expression morphing on my face, my scowl expressing my disgust for the mech on the slab perfectly.
"You're so fucking lucky that I find you more usefull alive."
I slowly trailed my servo down so that my palm could hover over his 'empty' spark chamber. I tilted my head and kept my eyes on the closed optics of the mech that raised my ever growing ire for him.
"I could kill you right at this moment and nobody would even care, except Soundwave of course."
I snorted, an empty smile making its way onto my face.
"I believe that's the only mech alive in this world that would be able to convince me to not obliterate your frame."
I moved my servo back to my side, my facial expression smoothing out, my face now blank as I scoffed and shook my head, the nanites moving to cover my head again.
I turned and walked out of the room, the doors sliding closed behind me as I walked into the main area for the med-bay.
I see Breakdown next to Starscream, both nodding along with whatever Knockout was saying to Skyquake. All quieted down at the sight of me, all looking at me and making me feel a slight pressure on my shoulders.
"We keep this private as much as possible. We don't want the Autobots to know that we have Megatron's frame."
Knockout nodded, but mentioned something right after.
"Still want us to look after this sack of bolts?"
I glanced down at Wheeljack and looked away, closing my eyes under the safety of my helm, quietly taking in a deep breath as my guilt raised a notch. Bulkhead was going to try and kill me. I wouldn't even put it against him.
I opened my eyes again and quickly offered an answer.
"I want him to be in top health. Give him Energon, but only enough for him to function. Understood?"
Knockout nodded and I walked out, walking past the quiet Skyquake who watched my leave with an optical ridge raised.
Once the doors closed behind me I let out a heavy breath, the tension in my shoulders immediately lightening up and the smell of rot dispelling once I was no longer in the med-bay. I looked up at the ceiling, feeling relief.
I shook myself out of it and walked down the opposite way from my room, already knowing that everything is about to fall into place again, perhaps momentarily.
[As always, tell me what you think, what advice can you give me, and constructive criticism only. I'm thinking about writing another book, one of you get to pick the theme]