Darkness surrounded her, oppressive and cold. Anna struggled to breathe, her chest rising and falling with shallow, uneven gasps. The air reeked of energon and decay, and her head felt too heavy to lift.
She was back.
Slumped against the curved, pulsating wall of Megatron's stomach, Anna's limbs felt like lead, her body too weak to move. The hum of machinery thrummed around her, a hauntingly familiar sound that sent a chill down her spine.
"No…" she rasped, her voice barely audible. "I… got out…"
Her fingers twitched, an agonizing effort to prove she could still move, but a sharp jolt of pain shot up her arm, freezing her in place. It wasn't just weakness. Something was holding her down.
Slowly, she turned her head—or at least, she thought she did. Her vision was blurred, the dim, violet glow of the stomach walls distorted and wavering. It was then she noticed them.
Thin, metallic cables snaked out from the walls, their ends embedded in her arms, her legs, even the back of her neck. They pulsed faintly with energon, and with each pulse, she felt a sharp, biting cold spreading through her veins.
Panic surged through her, but her body refused to respond. The cables seemed to tighten, anchoring her further against the wall, as though the room itself was alive and intent on consuming her.
"You're mine now," Megatron's voice echoed, deep and resonant, as though it came from everywhere and nowhere at once. "You cannot escape me."
Anna's breathing quickened, her heart hammering in her chest as she tried to pull away from the cables, but they only seemed to burrow deeper, their cold touch sinking into her very being.
"No! Let me go!" she screamed, her voice hoarse and broken.
The walls vibrated, almost as if responding to her cries. The cables pulsed faster now, and an overwhelming sense of dread washed over her. She wasn't just trapped physically—something deeper was happening.
Images flashed before her eyes, unbidden and vivid. Memories that weren't hers. Destruction, chaos, the roar of battle, the faces of Autobots and Decepticons alike. And at the center of it all was Megatron, his crimson optics blazing with ruthless determination.
Her mind reeled as she realized the connection wasn't just physical. The cables weren't just siphoning something from her—they were giving her something, too. His thoughts, his memories, his essence.
"You're stronger this way," Megatron's voice rumbled, his tone almost mocking. "A perfect union of human and Cybertronian. You should thank me."
Tears streamed down Anna's face as she felt her sense of self slipping, the images flooding her mind growing more vivid, more real. She was losing herself, drowning in him.
"I'm… not… yours," she whispered, though her voice wavered with doubt.
The cables tightened one last time, and the violet glow of the room flared brighter, blinding her. The last thing she heard before everything went black again was Megatron's laughter, low and triumphant.
Back in the medbay, outside of Anna's nightmare, Knock Out's servos moved with a mixture of urgency and precision as he adjusted the monitor tracking Anna's vitals. Her unconscious form was still and pale, her breathing shallow but steady—barely. The faint glow of energon lines beneath her skin served as a grim reminder of the experiment that had gone horribly wrong.
He cast a wary glance toward the medbay door as the approaching footsteps grew louder. His optics narrowed, and his frame stiffened. Whoever it was, they were closing in fast. The battle raging elsewhere on the Nemesis had quieted somewhat in this section of the ship, leaving only the sharp clang of metal plating against the floor to fill the air. Not the sharp, quick pace of Starscream or the deliberate stride of Megatron, but something heavier and more... familiar. The door slid open, revealing Breakdown.
Knock Out's optics flicked to his partner, a subtle relief washing over his expression. "Breakdown, didn't expect you," he said, his voice lighter, the usual sarcasm replaced with a hint of genuine gratitude.
Breakdown's broad shoulders filled the doorway as he stepped inside, his optics scanning the room before settling on Anna. His hammer, still an extension of his servo, remained idle, though his stance suggested readiness if the need arose.
"Sorry, didn't mean to startle you," Breakdown rumbled, his tone softer than usual. "Been hearing a lot of chatter about what's going on in here. Figured I'd check in." He gestured vaguely toward Anna. "That her?"
Knock Out's optics narrowed. "The human?" He glanced at Anna, then back at Breakdown. "Yes, this is her. And before you ask, she's still alive—barely." His tone was sharp, defensive even, as though daring Breakdown to challenge him.
Breakdown raised a optic ridge, leaning slightly closer to get a better look at Anna. She was so small, her pale face barely visible amidst the tangle of wires and monitors surrounding her. "She doesn't look so good," he observed bluntly.
"Thank you for your keen observation," Knock Out replied dryly, turning back to the monitors. "I'm doing everything I can, but this little experiment of Megatron's was… ill-conceived, to say the least."
Breakdown frowned, his optics narrowing slightly. "Ill-conceived? Didn't he pull her out of himself? Thought that was supposed to fix the problem."
"Oh, it fixed one problem," Knock Out muttered, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "But the aftermath? That's on me to clean up." He gestured to Anna, his servos tightening into fists. "Her body's been through hell, Breakdown. Excessive energon exposure, damage from… well, you get the idea. And now it's up to me to keep her alive long enough for… whatever Megatron plans next."
Breakdown's optics flicked to Knock Out, his expression thoughtful. "You don't sound too thrilled about that."
Knock Out hesitated, his optics flicking to Anna. For a moment, the mask of indifference slipped, and a hint of uncertainty flashed across his face. "It's Annabelle," he said quietly, his digit giving a small twitch. "You know, the one I've crossed paths with before," he explained, his voice softening slightly. "She's not like the others. No one gets to hurt her but me."
Breakdown crossed his arms, leaning back slightly as he studied Knock Out. "You getting soft on me, doc?" he teased, though there was no malice in his tone.
Knock Out's optics snapped to him, his usual bravado returning in full force. "Don't be ridiculous. I'm a professional. I have a reputation to uphold."
Breakdown smirked. "Sure you do. But you're not denying it."
Knock Out huffed, turning back to the monitors. "Believe whatever you want. I'm just doing my job."
The room fell into a brief silence, broken only by the soft beeping of the monitors. Finally, Breakdown spoke again, his tone more serious. "You think Megatron's gonna keep her around? Or is this just another one of his crazy plans?"
Knock Out didn't answer immediately. Instead, he adjusted a dial on one of the machines, his optics never leaving Anna. "I don't know," he admitted. "But whatever his plans are, I…" He hesitated, then sighed. "I'll deal with it when the time comes."
Breakdown studied him for a long moment before nodding. "Well, if you need backup… you know where to find me."
Knock Out glanced at him, his expression softening slightly. "Thanks, Breakdown. I… I'll keep that in mind."
With that, Breakdown turned and left the medbay, leaving Knock Out alone once more. As the door slid shut, Knock Out let out a long sigh, his shoulders sagging slightly. He looked down at Anna, his optics troubled.
"Stay with me, Annabelle," he murmured. "We're not done yet."