CHAPTER 5

"Come, my sweet. You must refuel," Megatron purred in a sickeningly soft tone.

Fireclaw had grown to hate dark energon, but over time, he began to crave it…like a drug. He couldn't stop the trembling in his limbs when he was handed another dose, nor the selfish desire for more. He even went so far as to beg Megatron for extra. The tyrant merely chuckled and sometimes obliged his wish, especially if he obeyed his will. He couldn't help it! He couldn't stop himself from gulping the violet substance down.

It wasn't just that Fireclaw craved it. He needed it to survive.

Megatron warned him that if he were to try and switch back to regular energon…he would die.

The young Predacon hated how Megatron nearly starved him at times. He hated how the dark craving for more became like a constant aching need, one that could only be fully satisfied with another dose of the dark substance. He trembled on weak legs as Megatron gently hoisted him up on his lap.

"Drink your fill, little one…" Megatron gently commanded as he stroked the small mech's helm. The silver warlord even went so far as to help feed the predling, a task that was ordinarily reserved for his Sire. He felt ashamed as his throat released a pleased purr at the constant petting and stroking. Fireclaw finished his dark energon dose with a low whine, as though disappointed it was gone, earning a pleased chuckle from his Master.

"My, my…you do have an appetite."

Fireclaw hung his head in shame and slid off of Megatron's knee.

He tried to escape once…

–FLASHBACK–

It had been surprisingly easy. None of the crew stopped him. Neither did his Master. He flew far from the Nemesis, searching for his Sire. He couldn't locate him, leaving a hollow feeling in his spark. When that damned itch for more dark energon returned, he tried to fight it. He even went so far as to visit one of Megatron's energon mines. He tried drinking down regular energon, but it made him sick. He purged the bright blue fluid and slid down to the floor, moaning in agony as pain wracked his frame. He feared Megatron had been right…regular energon was killing him.

He was a stubborn one and felt he'd rather die than live as a slave! He spent days sitting in the mine until finally his Master came to collect him. The warlord 'tsked' him and scooped him up. One arm slid beneath his knees and the other wrapped around his shoulders, cradling him like a newspark. It was humiliating…

When Megatron took him back aboard the Nemesis and to his personal quarters, the child weakly fought against him.

"No! I don't want it! Let me go!"

As soon as Megatron pulled out a dark energon cube, the strong scent of it filled his chemoreceptors. If he'd been human, his eyes would have rolled into the back of his head. He felt his body trembling, craving it…needing it. NO!

He wasn't going to drink it anymore! Megatron couldn't make him!

When his Master tried to force feed him the dark substance, the ornery predling spat it out and snarled, turning on the bigger mech. He was quickly overpowered by the larger being and held down against the berth.

"Come, little one, open wide…"

"NEVER," Fireclaw hissed. He wiggled an arm free and raked his claws against Megatron's chassis, creating sparks and a screeching metal on metal sound. He left grooves in the warlord's armor, but the dark lord was unfazed.

"You know this will make you feel better. Why do you resist?"

"I HATE YOU! Someday… I'm going to KILL you!"

Megatron released a demented laugh, as though he'd heard a good joke, and then struck Fireclaw's helm so hard that his optical sensors flickered, stunning the child. Before the predling could resist or spit out the purple fluid, it was being forced down his throat against his will.

Fireclaw moaned as the dark energon strengthened his weak body, setting his nerve endings on fire, his spark strongly pulsating in time with Megatron's own sick, twisted one. Azure optical sensors turned a dark shade of purple and Fireclaw no longer struggled against his Master. If anything, that hunger returned and he all but took the cube from his Master's claws and guzzled down the rest himself.

When he was finished, Megatron tossed the empty cube across the room and then began to gently stroke the side of Fireclaw's faceplates with the blunt side of his claws.

"There now…all better."

"Yes, Master. You were right."

"What did I tell you? You are mine, Fireclaw…" The titan pulled the small mechling against his chest in an odd embrace, running soft claws in a stroking motion down his dorsal plating, "Mine, for all time…"

–END FLASHBACK–

"What is it, my little one?" Megatron softly questioned.

"Oh. Nothing important…"

Someday I'm going to escape you, Master.

Don't count on it, my dear.

"What?! How did you…what did you…no," Fireclaw shook his head in denial with wide optics. Not even his thoughts were private anymore! What was he going to do?

"You clearly have something on your mind. What is it? There are to be no secrets between us."

Shoulders sagging in defeat, the predling answered his Master truthfully, knowing the sterling mech would sense his deceit.

"I…I miss my Sire."

"He abandoned you. Yet who has cared for you in his absence?"

"He didn't abandon me!"

"Oh? Then why hasn't he come to rescue you yet?"

Fireclaw felt like he'd been sucker-punched. Shaking his helm in denial, the little one growled.

"He can't find your warship because it's cloaked!"

"Yet he managed to find the Nemesis and took you away from me the first time." Megatron's optics narrowed. "He has abandoned you, my dear Fireclaw. You were useless to him. A burden!"

Tears began to leak from the predling's optics as a pain he'd never known before stabbed at his spark. Anguish.

"No! You're lying!" Fireclaw cried dismally.

"Am I?"

If Megatron was lying to him, then why did it feel like the truth? Another question that the young one could not answer.

"Come here, little one…"

He wanted to defy Megatron but his legs were already moving him closer. The silver mech pulled the small predling close against his chassis, wrapping thick arms around him in an embrace. He whispered in his audial receptor.

"I will never abandon you, Fireclaw. You aren't a burden to me…"

"My Sire loves me…" The words came out muffled.

"If he did, you would not be here," Megatron rumbled.

The predling began to shake from sorrow and anger. Why did his lies feel like the truth?! Megatron's grip around him merely tightened, crushing him against his chest possessively. Fireclaw leaned into the embrace as sobs wracked his small frame. He wanted to tell Megatron that he was a liar and a murderer. That he hated him. That he wanted to rip out the sterling mech's spark. Try as he might, the words would not come. He felt a sense of comfort in Megatron's arms and could not stop the purr that followed as his helm was gently stroked with care.

Megatron growled softly when the intercom crackled to life in the ceiling overhead.

"Lord Megatron, the Autobots are attacking…Predaking is with them."

The Decepticon leader loosened his grip around the small mechling and gave him a stern order that was to be obeyed without question.

"Remain here."

Fireclaw felt hope surging as the news reached his audials. His Sire was here! That must mean that Megatron had been lying to him, right? When his Master ordered him to remain, he curled up on the massive recharge berth and strained his audials for any sign that his Sire was nearby. A shudder ripped through the warship, nearly knocking the small predling off of the berth. He heard the pounding of pede-falls running past Megatron's quarters and down the hall. Then the tell-tale sound of exchanging blaster fire erupting nearby. He heard a familiar sounding roar and in seconds, the predling had transformed back into predator mode.

He paced the length of the room and even pawed at the door itself. He was locked in Megatron's quarters with no possible way to escape. Even if he could escape…would he even want to? Fireclaw's optical sensors landed on the empty cube on the floor. He needed the dark energon to survive and only Megatron currently had the means of providing it for him. Fireclaw's optical sensors narrowed. Perhaps he could bring some with him?

Suddenly something hard slammed against the door and the predling heard the furious roar of his sire on the other side. Within seconds, the door was torn apart, allowing a bright light to permeate the darkness of the room. Fireclaw transformed into bipedal mode as a large shadow blocked the light in front of him.

The child screamed when Predaking, still in beast mode, stuck his massive head through the open doorway and sniffed him. His sire bared his fangs at him and the predling shrieked again, scurrying away into a far corner of his master's room. Why was his Sire so angry? Why was he snarling at him like that?

Predaking was livid and beside himself with worry. It took over a month…a MONTH to locate the Nemesis with the Autobot's help. They successfully managed to board the ship and after the first ten minutes of battle, caught wind of his son's scent.

Something about it was wrong, though…

He snarled in contempt when he once again found himself standing just outside Megatron's personal quarters. Without a second thought, he clawed the door open and stuck his massive head inside. His sharp optics landed on a small mech who screamed shrilly at him. It smelled kind of like his son… but the child reeked of Megatron and something else… something he was unable to identify.

He transformed into bipedal mode and entered the room.

"Fireclaw? Is that you?"

"Sire!" the young predacon shrieked with glee as he ran up to him. He wrapped tiny arms around one of Predaking's massive legs, earning an amused chuckle from the elder Predacon.

"My son, we must depart. Now." He grabbed one of Fireclaw's small arms and began to drag him out, but the child stopped him with one word.

"No!"

"What do you mean 'no'?" Predaking growled with narrowed optics.

"I…I-can't leave. Megatron said I will die without it…."

Predaking knelt down on one knee and gently grabbed his child's shoulders, staring him in the optical sensors.

"You will die without what?"

The child began to tremble and his optics turned a brilliant shade of purple. He screamed, clutching his head. He hissed at his sire.

"Get…. out of here…before…before I hurt you…"

Predaking wanted to laugh at the shere ludicrousness of the idea, but that strange smell that had muddled his son's scent intensified. Before he could ask what was wrong, the young child snarled at him, transforming into beast mode. With a fury unbecoming of the young one, the little predling began to savagely and aggressively attack Predaking.

"Fireclaw?! What has gotten into you?!"

He easily dodged and side-stepped the child's well executed attacks. His child's behavior was starting to scare the larger Predacon. He knew his son…his little one would never dare openly attack him like this! Something else was at work here. Something sinister, something evil.

He looked again at Fireclaw's purple tinted optics. The only other person he'd ever seen with purple optics before…was Megatron.

"Fireclaw, snap out of it!" Predaking pleaded as he dodged another lunge.

The odd scent, the purple optics…dark energon.

"Fireclaw! Answer me!"

The young Predacon continued the assault, a physical feat that would normally tire the little one out by now. It was like he was high on energy! He had yet to display a sign of weakness.

"Fireclaw! That's ENOUGH!" Predaking growled just before transforming into beast mode himself.

With a furious roar, the larger Predacon used his front paws to gently pin the struggling Fireclaw beneath him. The smaller Predacon snapped his jaws in fury, writhing and wriggling madly to get free. Predaking did not relent, and kept his child pinned. They remained locked in a stalemate until the eerie purple glow ebbed from Fireclaw's optics and the predling returned to his senses. Predaking let him up, the two beast-formers transforming in unison.

"Sire? Did…did I hurt you?" The child's voice sounded so broken and anguished.

"No. You did not."

"He…he made me. He made me do it."

"I know, son. It's alright."

"NO! It isn't alright! I…I can't stop myself! I need it to survive…" The predling stammered uncomfortably.

"Did Megatron force you to consume dark energon?" Predaking questioned, fearing the answer.

"Yes! I didn't want to…I'm sorry."

The sounds of battle drew nearer and Predaking once again attempted to flee with his child.

"We must leave. Now."

"I can't leave! Not without it…"

With a grim look of determination, Predaking uttered one word, "Fine."

He marched back into Megatron's quarters and stole three cubes of dark energon. When he returned to where he'd left his son, the child was nowhere to be found.

Fireclaw felt torn. He wanted more than anything to run far away with his Sire…but there was a part of him that was loyal to his Master. Ever since he imprinted on Megatron as a hatchling, the young Predacon felt obligated to serve only him. He could feel the dark tug on his spark and hear Megatron's sinister voice in his head.

Come to me…

Fireclaw couldn't stop himself and began to walk further down the corridor. He hesitated. What was he doing? He mentally snapped back.

No. I'm leaving. And you can't stop me!

The child turned himself around about to march back the way he'd come but stopped cold when he felt Megatron's overpowering presence fill his mind.

You will obey…

Fireclaw snarled and shook his head as though to clear it of his master's voice.

No! Leave me alone…

Before he could take another step, that overpowering presence pressed harder against his mind, making it difficult for Fireclaw to even think straight.

You will come to me… NOW.

Fireclaw couldn't stop himself from moving forward again, this time turning the corner and running right into the Decepticon leader himself. The sterling mech's optics were glowing an eerie shade of purple.

"See? That wasn't so difficult now was it."

Fireclaw recoiled as a chill raced down his spinal strut.

"Come, Fireclaw. We have work to do."

The predling followed in his master's destructive wake, watching intently as the warlord swatted Autobot's aside like the pests they were.

"Fireclaw! ATTACK!"

The young Predacon snarled in fury, transforming into bestial mode. He leaped onto the nearest Autobot, the bulky green one, and dug claws ferociously in the gaps between armored plating, drawing energon. He hesitated in his attack when he heard the screams emanating from his prey. His hesitation was costly as the green wrecker transformed an arm into a mace and bashed Fireclaw's head, knocking the young Predacon off of him. Fireclaw whimpered as pain exploded in his cranial unit. If anything, he felt more afraid than angry and could only stand on the sidelines while Megatron and his army continued their assault without him. Megatron growled in his direction.

"Fireclaw, I said attack!"

He snarled and pounced on the nearest Autobot, the yellow and black scout.

"Fireclaw! Don't listen to him!" Predaking roared over the noisy din of battle. "The Autobots are here to help you!"

He screeched in pain when an energon blast hit him like a wrecking ball. He yowled and retracted his claws, hissing in contempt. If they were here to help him, then why did they keep hurting him…treating him like an accursed enemy?

Once again, his hesitation cost him dearly as he was violently tossed aside like a ragdoll. He felt his baser instincts surging to the forefront of his processor. Soon he blocked out the annoying battle cries of the Autobots and the words of his Sire. A bloodlust he'd never felt before surfaced as he snarled, snapping jaws and clamping down on the arm of the small blue Autobot, Arcee. He felt satisfaction when he heard her shrill scream of pain. In mere minutes, the battle was already over, the Autobots nursing injuries and calling for a retreat.

When he regained his senses, he felt…numb. There was no emotion. Only an emptiness inside as he watched his Sire flee from him. Fireclaw hung his head in shame. It was then that he burned with self-hatred and sorrow, the numbness replaced by a damn of raw emotion. He ignored Megatron's words of praise.

Fireclaw wasn't entirely convinced that the Autobots were trying to help him. It gave him a small glimmer of hope, but that hope was quickly crushed when he finally understood why they fought against him with such ferocious tenacity. They feared him. He vaguely recalled the two-wheeler's wide, frightened optics when his jaws bit down on her arm. He attacked them like a savage animal.

Fireclaw began to wonder…just what had he become?

TO BE CONTINUED!

Author's Note: Thank you for reading, reviewing, and adding to alerts and favorites! Also in response to a reviewer, yes, Shockwave will be redeemed later on in the story. ;)