Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

A second. Such a small thing. The smallest whole measurement of time. And yet still such a powerful thing.

With another second he might have been able to escape the KSI security and not found himself being led to an office that might very well be his tomb.

With another second in that lab of nightmares he might have found something truly incriminating that could buy him and his new alien allies their freedom.

And maybe with another second, Optimus would have been able to come out of the barn cellar in time for his little girl to still be alive.

But those seconds had come and gone for Cade Yeager.

He had been captured, he had failed to find something that could truly stick in a court of law, and his little girl now lies in a grave he and her boy friend had dug for her at an abandoned gas station.

Contrary to what most might feel, he didn't blame the autobot leader for what had happened.

Cade had never believed the fear mongering propaganda that had filled his TV for the last four years. Had in fact banned any news channel that spouted such filth from his house.

And while he might have been willing to take apart a dead transformer, he refused to sell a living soul to a government that had so quickly and cruelly turned on their former allies.

It had been touch and go with the understandably wary Autobot leader for a bit, but during the three days he had treated him he had known he'd done the right thing.

And while he had been terrified when the Feds had come for the mech, he had not been able to bring himself to rat the mech out. No one deserved to die for the crime of existing, and even as the cemetery wind agent, James savoy, had threatened his daughter, the epiphany that they intended to kill them wether they told them or not burning in his mind.

Then that terrible moment; "Shoot her," a gun firing, and Optimus Prime bursting out from the barn clearly having blown his cover in an attempt to save his little girl

Everything after that had been touch and go, piling himself and his dying daughter and that traitor Lukas into a strange car that had pulled up, the young man driving it ordered them to get in. He'd been in too much shock at the time to notice, desperately trying to stem the bleeding, but nothing he did worked and all he could do was hug her close as he'd begged her not to leave him even as she breathes her last saying, "daddy, I love you. I...m so....rrry."

The rest of the chase had been a blur until he'd found himself being tugged out frantically by the young man who had saved them. As he'd climbed out of the wrecked race car, he'd looked up in time to see a haunting figure; a mech with a complicated, yet compact type of armor and what almost looked like a snipers scope for a mask.

Said mech tossed what was clearly some kind of explosive and the three of them ran, and as it hit the ground a creeping molten metal flowed over the ground towards them, but just it seemed they would escape it, Cade had turned and with eyes like hellfire he'd savagely kicked the man who had been like a brother to him, who had betrayed them for money and gotten his little girl killed, straight back into the molten metal. With a flash the man had turned into a metal statue and Cade with dry eyes and a cold mask on his face had climbed into The living big rig's cab.

After that things had been a blur, learning that the young man had been his daughter's boyfriend,(his rule now seemed so selfish, he's glad she knew love before the end.) Hacking into the system of the drone,(he Will find them) and spending a few nights with the Autobots. And during that time Optimus had asked if he blamed him for being too late. And the engineer had told no he didn't, and even now, as he was dragged to what could be his execution he still didn't. The only ones he blamed for his little girl's death was the one who pulled the trigger and the evil son of a bitch who had ordered it

As he's shoved into the chair he finds himself facing an older white haired man with a gotee and glint of madness in his eyes hiden by a veneer of nobility. He introduced himself as Harold Attinger, head of cemetery wind, an elite CIA task force. He would go on about how Cade had gotten in over his head and didn't understand what he was protecting. The engineer would continue to listen blank faced until the man would offer him the bounty money that he could use to get out of the gutter. He'd then ask with a voice as cold as ice, "and what use would that money be to me, who just lost the only family I had?"

The CIA agent would just shrug at the engineer's words as he'd state,"her death was an unfortunate casualty of our war with Them. If you had just given up Optimus Prime she would still be alive."

The engineer would stare at him for a few moments, before stating one word,"lier"

"You intended to kill us from the very start. But that doesn't matter anymore. You have no leverage over me and I refuse to betray those who have put their lives in my hands."

Harold Attinger would frown before that mad glint would grow brighter as he'd threatened, "you don't seem to understand the position you are in Mr. Yeager. I will get the location of the Autobots out of you or you are not going to like what happens next.

Again Yeager would remain quiet for a moment before asking in a low voice, "I have only one question for you, old man; who ordered my daughter shot?"

The man tried to hide it, but the quick glance at the man who had shot his daughter was enough of a tell. The engineer launched himself over the table to get at Harold's throat, the agent stopping him but only barely, Cade howling with rage and hatred, stating that not only would he not give them what they wanted but that he would find a way to kill him.

 Attinger infuriated at this person, this human who chose to defend the invaders, snarled," you have no idea what I'm willing to do to get that information out of you," before turning to the agent and ordering," Mr. Savoy take him down to the labs!"

Joshua Joyce, who had watched this interigation with increasing distaste would startle at the order and would demand,"what do you think you are doing!?"

"Getting what I need," the cold evil man would state as he'd follow the howling enraged father down, ordering Joshua to get him a vial of liquefied transformium

Confused the man would ask "why would you need....?" before his eyes would go wide and he'd begin to shake his head violently," no nonono nono, NO! That is going too far!! "

But just as he was digging his heels in, a gun would be pressed into his stomach and Harold would state with his eyes now twinkling with madness," you will or I will kill you," and with a gulp the coward would comply.

A few minutes later, Cade would be strapped down to a table in a sound proof yet monitored room, Attinger looming nearby a syringe full of a silvery substance. He'd then state as he stare at this Thorn in his side,"I'm not one for flowery words or explanations. I will make this simple; you are going to die. Wether you die quickly or in unimaginable agony is up to you."

He'd hold up the syringe,"this is one once of transformium. In a solid state its harmless, but in a liquid one it has the ability to turn organic matter into metal."

Noticing the recognition in the man's eyes he'd nod," yes like your past associates demise. Only this will be much different. Normally the stuff has to be heated and causes the process to be near instantaneous, completely painless, this is transfomium in a similar state, but far cooler, it won't be a quick end for you, Mr Yeager. Of course if at any time you give us what we want your suffering will end."

Yeager, who had struggled all the way down, would bare his teeth in a vicious snarl as he'd shout,"I'd rather sell my soul to the devil then help you, you demon of the Pit!!

Rolling his eyes the man would shrug and would insert the needle onto the man's arm before leaving

For a few moments Cade would feel anything different, but then the cold would come, like thick ice water going through his veins slowly but surly, creeping up his arm down his shoulder and into his heart, which would seaze for a moment before that ice cold feeling would begin to pump into the rest of his body, the metal clearly still liquid and spreading through his veins.

Then the pins and needles would come, at first just at the finger tips and more annoying then painful, but it wouldn't be long before those pins and needles would spread while becoming nails of ice being slammed into his arms and legs again again and again.

Nearly in tears from the growing agony, the man would look down to see his fingers slowly turning into solid metal, sure that the same was happening to the rest of his body.

For the next hour this continued, his pride long broken, he would scream, barely coherent in his pain, but even as he was offered an out again and again he refused, refusing to give up the bot who had shown him kindness while he had grieved, who had blamed himself when Cade had never blamed him. He would not let his daughter's death be for nothing.

Finally his crys began to petter out, his eyes having become solid metal as blood ran down his near metal face like tears.

He would begin to choke, spitting up great globs of red then silver which slowly hardened into solid metal, his body begining to seaze as his lungs become filled with solid metal, unable to scream, unable to breath. Finally after a few more twitches the engineer is turned completely into metal, even his clothes and the drone hed used to try and get evidence in a hidden pocket, his face frozen in a twisted mix of rage and agony.

 Attinger watches the whole thing dispassionatly even as he grows frustrated at the man's refusal to talk. Joshua on the other hand goes pale as a ghost, his only mercy being the fact that the room is sound proof so he and his team had been spared that much.

And at the end he would glare at Harold, shaking in fear and disgust as he'd state sharply, well that was a waste of time, before ordering some workers to take the body to one of the smelters and have it melted down, not wanting the cursed thing in his lab for one more second.

  ###Optimus POV###                                        

As Optimus drove towards the lab having heard the human being captured, the large bot found himself worrying badly for the human, a surprise to himself, as he thought he'd lost all ability to care about humans after the betrayal after betrayal. Even Sam, his first human friend had ended up abandoning them, declaring that he wasn't going to die for them again and that it was pointless to fight against the whole government. Ironic that the young man had been assassinated not long after.

But it made some sense considering how far this Cade had gone to help them; saving him despite his agression towards him at first, healing him, still offering his aid even after his daughter had died from his hesitancy, and even risking his life to get answers from that cursed lab.

And how he wanted to BREAK something for what had been done to his teammates, his family! But then the human had gotten caught and now they were trying to get there as fast as they could, but not wanting to get caught they had only sent Bumblebee into the city, and even he knew it would be suicide to go into that place without back up.

And that was how he and the others found themselves being forced to listen to the gruesome torture of the one man who had helped stoke the flame of his faith in humanity one last time, a flame that snuffed out with that final gurgling choke from the human before the drone stopped sending for some reason.

Crosshairs would state in an understandably quiet voice through comlink, :: damn, and I thought Shockwave had been a master torturer. I don't think even Megatron himself would have gone that far.::

Drift would chime in gently, :: and yet the one called Cade did not cave until the end. Truly honorable.::

And wasn't that the thing that sat on his tanks the worst as they stormed the lab, this human, this brave foolish human, who had only met them for less then a day had given up everything for them, now even his life, with the only answer to his question of why being what he had said three nights before, "no one deserves to die just for what they are, no one." And for that belief Cade had died and with him any hope Optimus had for humanity

And as the inventor who had allowed this all to happen stormed in trying to demand them to leave, speaking of how they didn't need them any more, and how all this was to better man kind, Optimus found his rage which had burned like the very fire of the pits, going ice cold as he'd ask,"was Cade's death also for the greater good?

And would begin to play the recording of the man's screams. The Inventor went bone white even after Optimus had cut the audio, and the large bot would state, you just slew that last good thing I have seen in humanity.

 "You say you do not need us? Fine."

And with that he turned to leave, swearing to never aid human kind again, unless they are found worthy of that aid.

#######

darkness

Silence

Cold

Walls

Walls all around.

Warmth! Blessed warmth!

The walls turn red, orange, white.

Freedom!

Light everywhere.

Threads of light go up, while other go down.

Down calls, can hear precious ones.

No! 

Can't go, not yet, justice not meted out.

A voice.

come my child, you have done all you can. It's time to rest. Thank you for showing my brother's children compassion, my brave star hunter.

Being pulled down.

No! Can't Go Yet!!!

Wait.

A hole?

A Black hole.

It beacons.

It goes back.

I can go back.

I'm sorry precious ones, I can't go yet.

Chapter Text

It would only be as the bots would leave his now destroyed lab that Joshua Joyce woul be able to breath once again, even as he'd drag his hand down his clay face.

When he had first started this business venture he'd only wanted to help man kind advance . He'd not had the same violent hatred of the cybertronians like that absolute wackjob, Harold Attinger, but he had agreed that humanity couldn't depend on another species to fight its battles.

He had taken the plunge and dove into disecting both the bodies and code of these creatures, desprate to find a way to give humanity even a fraction of these creature's power so as to be able to defend themselves against what ever else the universe might throw their tiny planet's way.

He had not agreed to having his life's work be used to torture a man to death, but here they were and he was man enough to admit that he was too much of a coward to do more then make a token protest.

A voice came over his personal Bluetooth headphone piece he used to keep in touch with his team across the labs, "get your assets ready to hunt them down, including galvatron."

Holding back a snarl, the inventor would state in a low voice, "we still haven't gotten all the bugs out of his code. I don't think he's ready for field testing..."

Attinger only interrupted,"I wasn't making a suggestion. We need to slow down prime and I know that galvatron is the only one with that kind of fire power."

Pursing his lips, the inventor would nearly growl, "fine." Before taking the petty revenge of hanging up.

He'd sweep into the construction room where they had just finished letting the nanites finish rendering the latest version of galvatron, about to start giving orders to start getting him ready for his first field test when he noticed everyone staring wide eyed at something behind him.

Joshua who had been growing increasingly uneasy with galvatron with all the little 'hiccups' and odd coding errors would turn fast, only to find himself also staring his mouth hanging open.

There hanging on the support pullies meant to hold up the frame while the nanites finished rendering the frame, would be a bot like none he had ever seen.

On a bare superficial side it looked like the galvatron before this iteration, but only in physical size. Instead of the bare wires and pipes on a slightly too thin frame which gave it a near skeletal appearance, it now had thick armor plating from head to toe, all closely interconnecting and over lapping in shining silver. If he had to describe it, he'd say it was like the full body platemail of a medieval knight. Even the unsightly hole in the chest was now covered by a thick segmented chest plate.

It's head was also completely different. Instead of the near insectoid segmentation, galvatron now had smooth finely segmented faceplates, very similar to Optimus Prime's, though it was less regal and had a more rugged edge to it. It's helm was like a simplified samuries helm, with two blades, one on either side swooping up his helm like horns, while two more frame the cheeks and go a bit past the chin. But most glorious of all, the eyes were no longer that unnerving flaming red, but a dark unlit purple that was completely vacant of that unnerving, near predatory stare he'd always seen in other iterations of the mech.

And last but not least, there seemed to be designs on its body, where before galvatron had only been bare silver with black and white detailing.

Almost absently he asked one of the other gawking techs, "what's that on his arms and legs?"

The tech would get a closer look with one of the cameras and would state, "they're wolves, sir."

Joshua would only nod even as his eyes would be drawn to the largest design on the mech; a drawn bow and arrow on the chest, the tip of the arrow pointed at a starburst at the center of his chest, right where that unnerving hole had been. Both the wolves and this bow being in a dark purple coloring.

Altogether the thing looked nothing like before, and he didn't know if he should be worried or jumping with glee.

Excited he'd demand what had happened. One of his techs would speak up having already started inspecting the code, "the bugs sir, their gone!"

Joshua, surprised, demanded,"which ones?"

"Almost all of them. It's like they've all just been deleted. Someone must have isolated the main bug and it caused the rest to unravel."

The investor's eyes would begin to shine with glee and relief, as he'd shout," alright someone find out who did it! Their getting a raise and a promotion. Get him ready to go on his first field test!" And the team would do just that as they'd cheer.

He'd then turn admiring galvatron's new form as they'd begin unhitching the mech and would boast, "see? This is what I meant by consumer friendly! What kid doesn't want to be rescued by a knight in shining armor? Though does anyone know why it didn't take Optimus' form?"

Another tech would suggest, "well if the bugs were basically feeding the appearance part of the nanites old data then maybe without them, the nanites rendering system acted like a AI image generator? You didn't really give the program much to go on in rendering Optimus Prime."

Joshua would nod as some other tech would trigger galvatron's transformation sequence, "makes sense.  I'll have to try better next time, though we might just keep this iteration as it is quite impressive."

And the inventor would barely be able to keep himself from squealing in childish glee as the tow truck would take form, revealing that it's form had mostly stayed the same, but that the designs he'd seen on its body were now much more visible on its truck chassis.

Stylized purple wolves on both its rims and and doors, that made it look like wolves were running alongside it, and the drawn bow and arrow now was on its hood, pointing down at the grill at the same purple starburst as had been on its chest.

His guilty consience forgotten in the wake of his excitement, he'd run to the control room and would state ,"start him up!"

The ex-military drone operator would nod as he would begin controlling galvatron while another would send off Stinger.

"How's the controls,"the inventor would ask breathlessly.

"Better then they've been in a while, sir," the operator would state.

And as the mech would drive closer and closer to their qwary, Joshua Joyce found himself feeling more excited then in a long time, that creeping dread he'd felt every time he'd failed to get galvatron to work right fading away as he watched his creating barrel down the road.

####Optimus Prime POV####

As he and his team would drive down the highway away from that Pitspawned lab, Optimus would find himself growing more and more frustrated and hopeless.

When they had left the building there waiting for them had been the boy, Shane, and still in a near fit of rage from before, he had tried to order the human to leave, even going so far as to threaten him.

But the young man had stood his ground using logic to remind the mech that him leaving would be an automatic death sentence. Afterall if they were willing to shoot an innocent girl and torture to death her father, then his fate wouldn't be too much better.

Then the human had answered his bitter inquiry of when he'd turn his back on them too, "I chose my side, mister and no amount of growling or snapping is going to make me change it. My girlfriend and her dad died for you, and until you're safe I'm sticking with you. I won't let their deaths be for nothing,"and without another word the human had gone and hopped into bee's alt mode.

At first he'd wanted to grab the human and throw him away, sick of fearing more betrayal, but the memory of Cade stayed his hand,'no one deserves to die for what they are.'

No he had not been able to do it. His faith in humanity as a whole might have been destroyed, but Cade was right. He had no right to condemn the human to execution just for being a human, and while it was far too early to say he was trustworthy, the fact he'd been willing to stick with Cade even though he could have left and easily gone into hiding as the humans hadn't gotten an ID on him yet, at least hinted at a noble character

Either way, they had quickly gotten on the road after that incident, and as they got farther and farther away from the lab without being chased, he began to hope that he'd scared them enough to hesitate on sending reinforcements, only for that thought to be blown to smithereens along with the nearby pavement as a missile barely missed his hood.

The group would begin to swerve wildly to try and avoid the on coming missiles, scanning frantically behind them to find out what was shooting at them.

Two vehicles, one a dark pink Pagani Huayra, the alt mode of the mech that had been made to emulate bumblebee, and the other a large silver tow truck with purple wolves on its doors.

Finally one missile hit Optimus in the axle and he was forced to transform or risk it breaking, and at the same moment the sound of transformation could be heard behind him as a heavy form would barrel into him while the car would zoom past them, obviously to keep hounding the others.

As Optimus would throw his opponent off him and get into a fighting stance, he'd find himself facing a mech the likes of which he'd never seen before. The closest thing he could think of was a knight of iacon, but that was impossible! They were near fantasy for his people and had dissappeared off Cybertron around a million vorns before their world was destroyed utterly.

His train of thought would be promptly broken by a punch to the face, and two would begin to brawl

For a piece of unalive junk, the thing was fast and seemed to counter his moves with little trouble.

Just as they'd gotten into a clinch, he'd get a com by wheelie:: hey boss bot, be careful! Those lazy mother fuckers built a battle computer into that tin can and filled it with every bite of data that had been in ol'buckethead's!::

As he'd grab the things arm trying to get it into a hold only for it to twist with the movement and try to break his arm strut, the prime would answer back drily,::and by that you mean this thing has downloaded into its head every fight I and Megatron ever had?::

::bingo, boss bot! Be careful out there or you might just end up scraplet food!::

He'd give and unconscious nod as he'd continue to wrestle with the thing. He might have been more worried about that information, but even with only a few minutes fighting it was clear to Optimus this thing was clearly no Megatron.

Oh, it might have the same moves, but that made it predictable, not to mention the fact that due to the battle computer having no conscious input, it's moves were painfully algorithmic and thus predictable.

The only reason he'd not brought it down yet was because it had been both fast and more agile then he had anticipated, being slightly smaller and slighter then megatron.

Though he had noticed one oddity; it continued to protect its chest area like a real cybertronian would protect its spark chamber. His best guess was that the human programmers had been unable to get rid of such a deeply ingrained tick, not to mention even without a spark, it's chest would still probably be where it's power source was.

But finally he'd brought the thing down, his rifle pointed at its chest. For a moment he'd stare into its eyes; dark unlit purple, vacant as dead glass, he could see the shadow of his brother in this thing but only that a shadow, an unliving dead shadow. Internally shaking his head he went squeeze the trigger, only for a tremendous shot to ring out behind him and something painful would slam into his back and through his chest. Causing him to stumble forward.

####general POV####

Behind the two bots another mech would be slowly walking towards them a great ship flying behind them, together they were like a living spector of death.

From the mech's helm protruded what looked like a snipers rifle that shot mortar rounds.

Another shot went off, this time hitting the prime dead in the chest as he'd turn to see what had shot him, sending him tumbling to the ground in agony, while galvatron's controllers would have him sit up, his optics sending info back to the control room, where Attinger ordered KSI to call back their equipment.

But as the giant sniper rifle was retracted to reveal a battle mask that looked like a sniper's scope,  galvatron would not move from where he had stood up, staring at the deadly mech as they came closer and closer, his unlit purple optics beginning to glow.

#### Lab POV ####

"What's happening!?" shouted Joyce, now staring bug eyed at one of the programmers who seemed to be scrambling.

"I'm not sure sir," they'd shout, "but alot of data is beginning to cascade into the mech's processors, all of them!"

"Memory storage, background and foreground processing, even subroutines!"

"Well what kind of data is it!?" The inventor would bellow.

One of the other programmers who would be trying to help would shout, "I think they're mainly memory files sir! I've scrubed enough of this type of code from Megatron's code threads to recognize it."

The first would be nodding even as they'd curse," it's all coming from the battle computer!"

"Well, why aren't you manually shutting it down!?" Joshua would continue to shout fear and dread filling his eyes and growing more terrified at the answer, "we can't sir! It's like the manual shut off code never existed!"

unseen by the panicking programmers, another set of codes would be flooding into the processor from somewhere else, the two code cascades counteracting and opposing one another.

Attinger, growing impatient would demand,"what's going on?"

Joyce would begin to histariclly laugh as he'd state,"what's going on?! What's going on is that a dead piece of metal found a way to hack our prototype. That thing is Megatron!"

The CIA agent would go pale white before he would dive for his phone calling a number he had never had need to call before. He refused to be seen as a traitor by that embodiment of the grim reaper!

#### Lockdown ####

The bounty hunter walked leisurely towards his downed bounty, ignoring the silver and purple mech who was standing nearby, a smile on his steely face as he'd stand over the fallen Prime, watching the pain and despair play over the mech's face.

He'd shake his head," you know I feel sorry for you. You gave your all to defend these maggots and yet it took so little for them to agree to aid me in the hunt. If you had just left them to their fate you might have out run me for a few more centuries. Alas you did not and the hunt must end."

The Prime with a struggle would demand, "who....sent..you?"

With a rueful smile the bounty hunter would simply state, "your creator."

A look of recognition, dread and revulsion would flood the Prime's faceplate.

Confirming the prime's thought, the bounty hunter would state carelessly," she wishes for her possessions to be returned to her, with you to be the first."

An irritated look would come into his cold green optics as he'd state," I was supposed to have two bounties but alas, your brother is far less easy to bag and I was forced to kill him, loosing my bounty, but you should still be enough for my mistress."

Flinching at the mention of his and megatron's relationship the prime would ask with dread," and...the rest of...my auto...bots?"

The bounty hunter's optics would flick up towards the other mechs who had been thrashed by stinger and were unable to come to their prime's aid, and would snort,"thinking of others even as your life hangs by a thread?"

"No I will not hunt down the others. My bounty was only for you and your brother. I only took out two or three for that human organization as payment for cooperation. Now that I have you there will be no need to hunt the rest."

A look of surprise and begrudging gratitude would flicker over the prime's faceplates and the hunter would snort; gratitude to his harbinger of doom? How absurd.

But just as he was about to stand from where he had knelt beside the prime, a ringing noise would fill his comlink and he would remember the human communication device he had connected his comlink too in case of emergencies.

He'd roll his optics with a growl as he'd answer stating in voice as shap and cold as a blade of ice, this had better be...

But he was interrupted by the frantic cry of the human he had made the deal with,"Lockdown, galvatron has been compromised! It's Megat....!"

Before the human could finish the words Lockdown would find himself ducking on a mixture of instinct and hearing the telltale sound of metal whistling through the air.

The man made bots arm blade would swipe viciously right where  Lockdown had been. One second more and he would have been decapitated!

Thinking fast, the bounty hunter would twist on the ground and kick galvatron in the chest from his near kneeling position to get some distance and a read on the situation.

The mech would snarl as they'd fly through the air, coming down on their pedes rockily, and the two mech's optics would lock.

It should have been impossible but those eyes, red as dying stars were alive! And that glare of undying hatred was unmistakable. Megatron had returned from the dead.

But then it became clear something was wrong, for even as the mech tried to come in for another attack, the bot's body would sway and stumble, clearly not used to this body, or maybe having been awakened prematurely.

Thus with a few quick moves and a strick to the neck cables the large mech went down, it's scarlet eyes dying away to unlit purple.

Fascinated the bounty hunter bent down and took a reading over it's chest plates, and yes, there! There was definitely a spark beat.

Some how, some way the mech had done it, had cheated death and nearly cheated Lockdown.

He'd chuckle as he'd shake his head,"you played those humans well, didn't you fool?"

And with that a smile would creep over the normally stoic mech's faceplate.

"Looks like I'll be getting both my bounties after all."

Chapter Text

Despair.

Fear.

Pain.

These and so many other things ran through Prime's frame and spark as he was lifted away from the ground, his bots too far away and wounded to come to his aid.

But more prominent then all the other things he was feeling was confusion. Confusion at why in the world had the man-made mech attacked the human's ally.

He knew what the bounty hunter had implied after hed knocked the mech out, but that was impossible. His brother was dead! Cade had shown them all what he'd found in that lab, including his brother's severed head.

And yet... before the bounty hunter had knocked the mech out, those purple eyes had not been purple, but a burning crimson like dying stars, burning with the same unending hatred that had fueled his brother and his madness for so many vorns.

These confusing thoughts swirled through the prime's processor so strong and potent that he'd not even notice at first that he and the other bot had been brought aboard the green-opticed mech's ship.

But as the drones would ready his wounded body for transport along with the other bot, his thoughts would be interrupted by the bounty hunter inspecting his wounds as he'd state," they're just superficial injuries. Your self-repair systems should have you fixed in a month. Until then your body will be too weak to even try and escape. Not that you could."

Optimus would twitch as if to get away from the impersonal servos of the cold mech, but his prognosis was correct; he could barely move, the pain was so great.

The bounty hunter would then stand and lead the small caravan of drones carrying the mechs off the smaller drop ship.

As he'd lead them further into the ship, he'd eye the prime speculative as he'd state, "I'd have thought you'd be a bit more... interested in my ship then this, considering your Order."

Optimus who had been trying to breath through the pain of his chest injury, would look up from the platform that was carrying him and confused would ask ,"what?"

The hunter would scoff,"don't tell me you don't recognize it! I might have repurpposed it but the basic shape is still there. I even found your sword!"

Optimus would only grow further confused until the mention of his sword.

He'd stiffen as he'd start glancing around frantically. The place might have been filled with cages and traps, it might have been millions of humans years since he'd stepped foot in this place, but the more he look the more he recognized it, old dusty memory files slowly coming up from old memory files. It was the Teminos! One of the Temple of Beginnings six defense cruisers, each holding four arm-dropships and dozens of fighter crafts in each arm ship.

With a near whine of horror he demanded,"how in the name of primus did you get your servos on this ship!?"

Lockdown would smirk down at the helpless prime, as he'd state smoothly,"a gift from my Queen. She wanted me to have best in my mission to hunt down your precious Order, though the hunt has been frustrating indeed," he'd grumble.

"Your knights of iacon are surprisingly good at hiding for such an honorable order. I've only been able to find five others besides you, cowards one and all. I'd be inclined to interrogate you about their werabouts but your desertion is quite well known among the autobots."

"Curious one who speaks so much of honor and loyalty would abandon your own Order."

A loud engine would Rev in fury, even as Optimus would scramble to rebuttal,"they are not cowards! They left to preserve our culture, history and heritage from war! Your Queen has no right to them anymore then to the rest of my people!"

The hunter would give him a sideways looks as he'd counter, "and your own desertion?"

Optimus would flinch, even as his only answer would be,"Cybertron needed me."

Lockdown would simply scoff at his words as he'd state coldly, "what ever helps you recharge at night, Prime."

Before bringing him and the other mech to one of the largest areas of the ship, bragging,"and here is the main stockade and trophy case, where I keep the most dangerous and clever of all my bounties until I deliver then to my employers. Get used to it, as you're going to be here for several  decaorns."

He'd then drag the Prime to one of the cages, revealing another cage's occupant to the Prime, an enormous green-eyed mech he'd recognize. One that would set the prime's processor racing. Those weren't knights, they were Squires, which meant that the hunter had yet to find a true Knight and despite his current predicament he couldn't help but be relieved.

The bounty hunter would shackle the prime's pedes and would pull a winch causing him to be hung upside down in his cell. It would errily remind him of the stories of humans who had once executed each other in a similar stance.

It was as his arms wer being shakled to either side of him, further reminding him of those human executions, that he'd realize the cage wasn't just meant for one, a mirror  of his own restraints on the other side of the cage, and as the bounty hunter would begin stringing up the other bot he'd realize that lockdown had not been lying. He had intended to grab both him and Megatron which only worried him further. Why did the Deciever desiring to capture him and his brother first and not just take the entire planet? It wasn't like he could truly defend the planet from Her, even if he would defend his people to his last breath.

The offline mech didn't stir as it too was chained up, it's optics an unlit, unregistering purple. It was erriy even as the bounty hunter finished chaining them up, stating,"forgive me for not being here for the tearful family reunion, but I have business to attend to else where." And with that the two of them were left alone.

Optimus struggled for a bit, but not even accounting for the odd angle that made it nearly impossible to get a good angle or grip on his restraints the chains themselves were made of titan steel, something that could hold even Megatron. He wouldn't be escaping anytime soon.

He found his attention inevitably falling on his cell mate, doubt and slight hesitancy rearing its ugly helm.

Was this thing his brother, or some AI his brother had cooked up to be able to have the last laugh on whoever would be able to kill him.

He didn't think Lockdown would find it suitable if it wasn't the real Megatron, but it was hard to tell with that enigmatic bounty hunter.

But still...what if....?

Slowly, hesitantly he reached out with his EM field, something no soulless abomination would be able replicate, at least not well.

His field brushed something and the prime, startled, wrenched it back, startled. He reached out again and there it was again, another EM field, silent muddled with unconsciousness but there.

tears once again came to the stoic Prime's face. He knew he shouldn't be glad, that he should be distraught, angry, even disturbed, but he couldn't help it. He was so desperately happy that his brother wasn't dead. They might fight each other, they might tear and maim one another but he was still his brother.

Hopefully Megatron still had enough reason in his helm to realize they needed each other to escape.

He could only hope.

####Lockdown's pov####

The bounty hunter strode to the main hanger, more self satisfied then he'd been in a long time. His constant failure to find the knights had been a growing irritation for both himself and his Queen, but not only had he found one of said knights, but finally had a worthy bounty to bring before Her.

Now all he had to do was finish his business with the humans and he would be off.

He'd sneer at the helicopter as it would come into the hanger and out would come Savoy and a few of his lakey's. Lockdown couldn't help but be greatful. Savoy he could actually tolerate, as the human was much like himself in many respects, an unashamed killer, who hunted because it was his nature and didn't try to hide behind some cause or justification. It was his job to kill so he killed, period.

The self righteousness of Attingar on the other hand was grating, especially with how hypocritical the human was. Hiring a cybertronian bounty hunter to hunt cybertronians? how absurd.

The hunter would give the human the barest hint of a nod, the only respect he would give to a human of this planet as he'd state,"I have enjoyed the hunt, but I will not miss your wretched planet."

"But a deal is a deal; one seed for one prime." And he would motion for the drones to bring forth the seed witch the lackeys began to pack away, even as the agent would ask,"and the prototype you snatched?"

At the mention of his unexpected regain of his bounty he'd smirk,"it seems you weren't as careful with your prototype as you should have been, human. I know a living bot when I see one, and those optics are unforgettable. He is Megatron my second bounty and I will be taking him."

The agent would purse his lips in frustration," the boss isn't going to be happy about this."

The hunter would scoff, "then you should tell him to make sure his pet inventor doesn't do something so foolish again. He's lucky I picked him up for them as he might have done significant damage before your kind stopped him."

"But that is neither here or there; he is my bounty, and therefore I will be taking him. There is no room for negotiation." And he'd flex his main shooting arm for emphasis.

The agent would eye him warily, a predator recognizing another before nodding, as he'd turn back to the chopper ordering his men to hurry even as he went to call his employer.

Lockdown would watch the humans leave with a hint of relieved satisfaction on his face. He had honored his deal. He could finally leave.

He'd quickly begin the launch sequence of the dark matter drives at the cockpit, brushing a hand over the skulls of his steeljaws, both worthy hunter and his only true companions.

He'd then order the shadow walkers drones to engage and the ship would vanish in burst of darkness and folding space.

Down on earth, a family would howl with grief.

A green flier cursing his torn wing as a stoic samurai helps him stand, even though his own flight blades were damaged.

A golden scout howling his grief even as a human and an old soldier desperately try to save his life, energon falling to the ground with his tear fluid.

The human barely able to mask his panic as he uses everything he'd ever learned about fixing cars to save a life even as he whispers in his heart, I'm sorry Prime.

Chapter Text

Darkness.

Silence.

Existence.

Thought.

For what could have been an eternity or a single second, a soul would float in darkness.

At first it would not even know that it was a person or even what a person was, but as light would begin to filter into that endless darkness it, he, would begin to realize that he was a person that existed and that his name... was Cade Yeager

Memories of what had happened and who he was would continue to trickle into his mind, even as more light would fill the darkness until he found himself mostly able to think clearly, standing in what appeared to be a dimly lit cave.

Confused, Cade would turn to look around, only gasp in astonishment at the sight before him.

He was in what appeared to be an enormous stone sink hole, the walls going for miles all around, and the entrance so far away that all that could be seen was a bright circle above the size of a dime.

The walls themselves were strange in and of themselves, both rugged yet unnaturally smooth, several places appearing to have been hewn out, though exactly why or by what was lost on the inventor, though when he bent down to see what kind of stone the cavern was made of, he for the first time would be able to see that he was as naked as the day he was born.

A strange disconnect would happen for a moment, as he would be both violently embarrassed and absolutely unconcerned, causing him to freeze until deciding to go with the thought process that didn't have him panicking or running around trying to find something to cover himself.

Turning back to the stone after his disconcerting discovery, the human would come to the shocking conclusion that the 'stone' he was standing on was in fact some kind of solid metal. Infact it seemed very similar to transfo....

He'd freeze. Just thinking about the Word made him freeze up like a terrified child. Taking a deep breath he decided that he'd call the stuff cybersteel to avoid anymore unpleasant thoughts even as he'd continue to examine to strange ground with no small amount of curiosity. Was the whole cavern made of the stuff?

Seeing an open ledge in front of him, the human would step forward only gap at the sight before him; he'd thought the cavern looked big from the little nook he'd been standing in, but here on the edge of the now apparent cliff, it's true size could truly not be understated.

It seemed to go down even further if that was at all possible, the walls dark and forbidding but everywhere the inventor could see what almost looked like shining stars nestled into the stone walls in clusters, and down below in the endless dark he could see a faint blue glow that both made him incredibly unease and yet unfathomably soothed.

Just as Cade was about to try and find a path towards one of those clusters, curiosity peeked, a cracking sound would go off beside him.

Startled the inventor would turn see a small opening in the cybersteel to the side of his nook and unable to stop himself he would peek into the hole.

Inside, nestled close enough to the wall to be secure, yet out in the open enough to access the cliff, would be an enormous egg. It was big enough to come to Cade's waist and was like no egg he'd ever seen before. It seemed to have a metal frame work in the shape of a lattice, while the 'shell' of the egg seemed to be some kind of clear plastic like substance. And inside this strange metal and plastic egg was some kind of bright glowing blue liquid as well as what looked like some kind of..body.

Cade was fascinated at the sight, even as he'd realize that the cracking sound seemed to have come from the frame work having been busted from the inside as a part of the frame was now poking outward from the egg. Inside the little body seemed to be struggling, weakly punching and kicking at the frame and Cade found himself quietly encouraging the little thing just as he had once done for the chickens he'd watched his father hatch in an incubator,"that's it, you got it little guy, you've almost broke through."

Weather his words helped or not he didn't know, but even as he spoke the little body seemed to find it's strength and began to kick at the shell viciously until with a great Crack the metal lattice would break away and taking with it a huge bunch of the plastic shell, and out would tumble the little fighter.

At first all Cade could see was a pile of metal spikes and wires heaving, but after a moment the little thing would begin to move and carefully it would stand on wobbly legs revealing a tiny mechanical being. It barely came up to his hip, and as it turned to examine it's surroundings, the inventor would find himself staring at a pair of the biggest cutest red eyes he had ever seen in a face that oddly made him think of bumblebee's if a bit more rudimentary and over sized for it's spindly body.

But even as Cade tried to control his reaction to the surprisingly adorable little creature, the little thing would begin to grow distressed as if it was missing something which in turn distressed Cade. Was it looking for it's parents?

Just as Cade really began to panic the little thing would turn back to the egg and begin to tare into it,  breaking away more of the lattice revealing a second smaller chamber of the egg, and within an even small version of the adorable red eyed pile of wires and metal. With a surprising amount of gentleness for something just born the little one would carefully pull its..brother? Twin? From the shell, even as it would Twitter and beep softly.

Slowly the smaller spindly creature would stir in it's twin's arms and would Twitter back even as it's eyes would also open, this time reveling a pair of bright blue eyes instead. The red eyed one would chirp with delight and triumph even as it would help it's kin stand and taking its hand would rush over to the edge of the cliff with an assertive chirp.

Cade both startled and a bit worried would follow, watching as the little ones, just like he had earlier, would look out at the cavern with awe, though as he himself looked out again at those clusters of lights, he would have a feeling that they too must be eggs which unnerved the inventor just a bit. How many eggs were down here? Was it some kind of hive?

But just as his thoughts were beginning to spiral the two little ones would begin to point upwards and before he could say a word to the contrary the little ones began to climb up the wall towards the light above and at the same time an overwhelming desire to go up would fill the human to the point that before he knew what had happened he too would be climbing up the wall beside the two tiny constructs.

Surprisingly the climb wasn't all that hard. There were plenty of hand holds and ledges and for some reason he just didn't seem to tire even as he climbed beside the tiny ones. It was almost unfairly adorable to watch them help each other up to a ledge or chirping encouragement at each other. He didn't know why he knew that was what they were doing, he just did,  which along with other things like the fact that he had yet to tire or cut himself on the sharp edges of the metal rocks and slabs was beginning to make a part of his mind grow more and more uneasy, as if he was missing something quite obvious, but he found himself too distracted by the climb to pay it much notice.

Finally the little group found themselves on the top of the ledge, the red eyed construct helping it's twin that last little bit over the ledge and Cade following close behind,  only to nearly fall right back as he gasped at the sight before him.

A great plain of metal spread out in all directions, with jutting spikes and swelling hills of metal breaking up the monotony in a dizzying array shapes that reflected the almost unfair amount of starlight from above in breathtaking ways. Here and there he'd laso see tiny crystals of every hue poking out of the fine almost sand like metal and in the distance against what he could only describe as a mountain made of steel would be what looked like some kind of building of a make so alien it was nearly impossible to tell what it's purpose might be.

Looking back at the hole they had just come from the human would find himself even further shocked as the true size of the sink hole would be made apparent. It was more then large, more then enormous. He didn't think there was a single hole in the entire world that could match this thing. In near histarics Cade found himself guessing that the hole was definitely over a hundred miles in diameter.

Just as that thought began to truly unerve the inventor he'd hear something coming from behind him. Turning fast afraid for the little ones, he would find himself dumbstruck at the sight of an enormous bot with a red and silver paint job. The mech looked to be bigger then even prime! And in his enormous servos were the little ones who were staring up at the mech in awe and curiosity, but even as the little ones would curiously poke at the larger bot's hands, Cade would find himself growing uneasy.

While he wouldn't call himself an expert at any means, he had a decent guess at what a bots facial movements meant and there was something off about this bot's. Where was the wonder, the joy at finding new life? Cade knew some jaded bastards but he didn't think anyone of them would be this...apathetic about finding two newborns.

The mech continued to scrutinize the two as if searching for something, and Cade's unease would continue to grow. Finally the mech would start and would look closely at something on the smaller little one's helm, with Cade wondering what it was the cold fucker had found.

Then with no warning or fanfare the red bot would toss Red Eyes back over the cliff before turn to leave, Blue Eyes wailing in fear and confusion as it was taken from it's twin.

"NOooooooo!!" Cade would bellow as he'd dive for the falling little one trying to catch it, only for it to fall straight through his hands.

despair and confusion would flood the human as he'd scramble to the edge of the cliff and look down it. Why had they done that!? Why couldn't he catch them? Were they dead?! 

For a moment relief would fill the human at the sight of the little one dangling from one of the jutting rocks, but then their eyes would meet and for a single moment, rage like nothing he had ever felt would flood the human, alien in both its shape and intensity.

But before the human could question it darkness would fall upon him and the terrible scene before him until nothing remained but darkness.

"What in the name of the sun and moon was that?!" He'd ask incredulously to no one in particular.

"That was my first memory, as well as my first hatred human," answered a cold deadly voice.

Startled Cade would turn fast in the endless dark only to find himself staring at a mech with both a familiar head and familiar optics.

His eyes buging out, the human would blurt," you're megatron!"

Said mech would roll his optics ,"obviously, human. I would think that would be obvious now don't you think."

Cade would continue to splutter," you you're supposed to be dead!"

And then a thought would acure to the human as those eyes would continue to nag at him,"Wait....you were that little red eyed mech?!"

Smirking the mech would nod, "correct human. Looks like you've mastered facial recognition. Would you like a treat?"

Ignoring the mocking tone, the human would demand," what was that?! What is all of this?! I'm supposed to be dead! You're supposed to be dead! Is this some kind of sick afterlife?!"

Growling the mech would state," no, you're not dead, though I truly wish were considering the complications you've brought to my plans."

Cade growing frustrated would demand," What plans?"

"Plans to make humanity pay for having tried to have me put down like a rust plague victim, but considering our little Problem, that does not seem likely to happen soon."

The mech would then look the human up and down a look of disgusted interest in his optics as he'd state,"though I do have to admit it is fascinating that you furless monkey's seemed to have figured out how to commit one of our greatest enemies greatest sins."

Nervous Cade would ask,"and what would that be?"

"Soul harvesting," the mech would state with a cruel cheerfulness.

"Not that they've done it in a long time according to history, but then such knowledge is rarely accurate."

"Wait! Wait wait, what do you mean soul harvesting!?"

Giving him a fake pitying look megatron would state, "did youthink it's coincidence you ended up in my new, empty frame? Some miracle of whatever God you worship?"

"No, the reason you're here is simply due to my frame being an empty vessel and your speck of a soul being strengthened into a spark by the Proto metal you must have been consumed by. Though how exactly you got in I'm not sure, as it's supposed to take specialized equipment to place a soul inside a new frame, at least according to the old texts my brother used to be fascinated with."

Cade would by then be trembling even as he'd demand," so what, your saying all transformers were originally something else?"

A look of revulsion would come over the mechs facial plates," oh, no, little human, not at all. That way of creating slaves grew to be too tedious for our lazy masters so they turned to other methods of getting what they wanted. But that is neither your business nor something I have to time to discuss. Your untimely arrival might have thrown a rench in my plans, but never let it be said I can't roll with  the punches."

Cade feeling a sense of dread going up his spine would take a step back, even as he'd glance around the endless darkness for a way out, would ask with trepidation,"What do you mean?"

"Simple, human, you have a spark and I wish to aquire it."

Cade would snarl," my soul isn't yours to take you fucking creep!"

"And who says you get a say in this?" The mech would sneer." I have lived for millions of years human, my experience and pain far out weighs any kind of resistance or defiance you could muster. It will be easy to overwrite your consciousness with my own." The mech would take a step forward, implacable and seemingly unstoppable.

Cade, his anger and fear overwhelming but refusing to back down, would stand his ground his eyes near glowing with fury,"you wanna bet tin can?! All I see is an AI ghost that doesn't know when it's time to pass on!"

"And all I see is a pitiful human spirit that I could crush like a twig," the mech would sneer even as the world around them would begin to warp as he'd state with cruel amusement," but very well, let's see what's stronger, your will or my experience."