Chapter Text
As Knock Out examined the leg before him he cycled air. If it wasn’t for Megatrons new “pet” project he would be breaking in his new tires. While Knock Out didn’t much care for the little mud ball of a planet they were stuck on, he had to admit that the planet did provide a variety of racing location. Though because Megatron wanted as few bots as possible knowing about the project Knock Out was on call at all times. So there wasn’t much time for racing.
Internally Knock Out grumbled, ‘the things I do for the Decepticon cause.’
Feeling a bit spiteful Knock Out picked up an instrument on the table next to him and watched as it crackled with electricity. As he brought the device to his patients’ leg he asked, “does this hurt?”
The device he held sent out a small shock into the leg he had been studying. The Cybertronian leg in front of him kicked forward hitting Knock Out in the chest and scuffing his paintjob. Horrified Knock Out looked at the damaged and then to the petite femme that innocently sat on an exam table.
“Yes, quite,” the femme answered in a bored tone.
“You did that on suppose!” Knock Out shouted as his arm transformed into a buzz saw.
The femme gave no response to Knock Out outburst or his brandishing of a weapon instead she calmly asked, “was my response to your medical probing not within the acceptable level of performance?”
“Your reaction was within the standard range…” Knock Out ground out as he tried to calm himself. If he damaged her Megatron would have a fit and while he hated to admit it, it technically had been Knock Out’s own fault. With the issues that the young femme had been having Knock Out had assumed that she would feel the shock but would be unable to respond.
Putting his buzz saw away Knockout reached over and picked up a data pad and began scanning through it.
All of the test subjects were having minor difficulties but the femme who sat before Knock Out, currently named Three, is having difficulty accessing her built-in weapons.
Cycling air Knock Out explained, “you seem to be functioning fine. I can’t find any reason for your weapon system to be malfunctioning. At this point in time you’ll just have to work around it.”
“Work around it?” Three asked.
“The weapons I have already procured for you,” Knock Out explained, “will just have to do.”
“I understand,” Three said as she got up, “thank you for your time.”
“Sure sure,” Knock Out muttered as he turned around, “don’t let the door hit you on your way out.”
Knockout listened as Three left the room, he then turned to the data pads before him.
The experiment served three purposes the first was to deal a blow to the Autobots resources. With their companions missing the Autobots will waste time and resources searching for them. The second was too the Autobots psyche, the subjects where to be sent out to battle the Autobots in the hopes that they would either kill or be killed by them. Finally the experiment was being used to see if creating soldiers from organics was possible. As such it was Knock Out job to make sure that the subjects where functioning at optimum levels.
It was frustrating to say the least though because the subjects abilities, personalities and faults all varied. Which meant there was no standards of specification. Even if they had the materials to make more soldiers there was no way to know if they would turn out the same as their current test subjects or would inferior.
As it had been left to Knockout to integrate their new “comrades” into the Decepticon forces. He knew what each “comrade” was capable of. Lets just say results had varied.
Databurst and Three had been quick to pick up information assimilation. While Boom Boom, knockout cringed at mere thought of the name, had ignored almost everything that had been taught to him.
The only time Boom Boom paid attention was when Knock Out had explained weapon protocols and basic use. Actually that was all Boom Boom was good at it seemed, a savant with weapons and destroying things. Knock Out took the time to survey the right side of his lad, which lay in ruins.
Picking up one of the data pads Knock Out grimaced as he looked over a scan of Databurst. While the mech had a good head on his shoulders and seemed to excel in data retrieval and hacking, he had almost no prowess with weapons. He was of course fully functional and had use of all his weapons. But Databurst was clumsy. He often became anxious during close combat to the point he would trip over his own feet. The only weapon the mech had shown the least bit of talent with was a sniper riffle. Apparently he felt calm when there was a significant amount of distance between himself and the enemy. In truth Knock Out couldn’t see the mech surviving long. Megatron sent his troops out on the front lines almost always in close combat.
Setting down the data pad on Databurst, Knock Out picked up one for Three. Knock Out had mixed feeling about Three. Appearance wise Three would have been very popular on Cybertron. Personality wise though there was a lot to be desired. Perhaps it was because of the difficulties with chambers or the slight malfunction with their codes but Three was unable to access her built in weapons. Guns were completely useless and when Knock Out had forced the activation of her built in blades it had caused physical pain. Luckily Three excelled in close range combat showing both a resourcefulness and cunning in melee fighting. To compensate for her being unable to use her inbuilt weapon Knock Out had found some old weapons, an energon gun, shield and an energon sword. All where easily equippable either on her frame or could be held in her subspace. In truth she was in a sense better off than Databurst.
But that didn’t mean she wasn’t any less of a headache compared to the other two.
Reaching for a third data pad Knock Out brought up Boom Boom’s schematic. Personally Knockout preferred Boom Boom frame-type, in a sense Boom Boom really was the best off. He might lacked the same intelligence that Databurst had or the cunning resourcefulness that Three had displayed but he was fully functioning and able to use all of his weapons with ease. His frame-type was large and had plenty of plating and he could take a few heavy hits. On the battlefield he would have the best chance at success.
In frustration Knock Out rolled his eyes. Even if Megatron had claimed that the new recruits were just as useful if they fell at the hands of the Autobots, Knock Out wasn’t willing to bet his life on it. His best chance at survival is to make sure that Boom Boom, Databurst and Three where as ready as possible when they hit the field.
Turning back to his worktable Knock Out began to tidy things up. He was so preoccupied with his work and thoughts on the new recruits he took no notice of the med bay doors opening or the heavy footsteps behind him.
“Are there any updates on the new recruits,” a deep voice asked.
Knock Out froze and dropped the data pads in his hands. Swiftly turning around Knock Out slightly bowed and said, “lord Megatron, I didn’t hear you come in.”
“I’m not here for pointless prattle doctor,” Megatron ground out. “What I want are status updates.”
“Yes, of course,” Knock Out said as he scrambled to pick up the data pads he had dropped.
“As I’m sure you have heard, all three of the test subjects are functioning. They are currently receiving the needed information and training to serve their purpose.” Knock Out informed.
“So there are no problems?” Megatron questioned.
“Well I wouldn’t call them problems but…” Knock Out uneasily said.
“Out with it!” Megatron demanded.
“They may have some malfunctions,” Knock Out muttered.
“Can they fight!?” Megatron questioned.
Knock Out reassured, “Yes! Of course but their abilities…”
Megatron scoffed, “that doesn’t matter. As long as they can fight.”
For a moment Knock Out thought not to mention it but decided it would be dangerous not to, “though I should probably mention that Three…”
“Yes…” Megatron said.
“Her weapon systems don’t seem to be functioning properly, Knock Out explained and quickly added, “but not to worry. I’ve already given her some handheld weapons. So she does have weapons equipped.”
“I see,” Megatron mused. “Malfunction had been expected. As long as they can follow orders and fight, nothing else matters.”
“Yes my lord,” Knock Out agreed.
Knock Out watched as Megatron eyes scanned over the contents of his worktable. As the Decepticons leader reached out and lifted one of the data pads he scanned through the information inside.
“What is this?” Megatron questioned.
“That my lord?” Knock Out asked and then answered, “just a little side project. That data pad contains some alternative designations that the Decepticons newest recruits could use.”
“I believe they already name themselves,” Megatron stated.
“Yes. Well, it was only an idea…” Knock Out muttered.
Scoffing Megatron paused on one of the names, “what is this name suppose to mean?”
Knock Out looked over and eyed the name. “It’s the name of an ancient human goddess. The religion has fallen out of practice but it’s still rather popular. She was apparently the goddess of wisdom and warfare. The most interesting thing about her was that she was born when the king of the gods had an idea. When the king of the gods head was cut open she popped out fully matured. I thought it may suit Three, considering she was born from my lords own ingenious idea.”
“Is that so…” Megatron muttered, “if that is the case would that make me the king of the gods.”
After leaving the medical bay Three made her way through the Nemesis, the Decepticon base, her base. The place where she belonged… As she thought this the feeling… the feeling that Three could not identify once again bubbled up from deep within her. When she had first came online the feeling kept appearing. The feeling that something is wrong, that something is missing.
Pressing down the unpleasant feeling Three walked past a group of Vehicons and ignored their stares.
She had been told that she is an elite warrior of the Decepticon, that she had pledged her loyalty to lord Megatron long ago and that after suffering dreadful wounds she had lost her memory. That her memory may never return. Now she must continue to train to regain the power and control she had lost from her injuries…
The stares, the whispers and that unpleasant feeling, Three must ignore all of it and focus on getting stronger.
As she passed an interception Three noticed Databurst fiddling with some wires. Standing next to him is the tall form of Soundwave. She ignored her comrade and the surveillance chief.
Approaching her destination she heard the annoyingly loud laugh of Boom Boom and thanked Cybertron that he appeared to not be using the room she is headed for.
Stopping before a pair of metal doors she waited for them to opened and Three walked inside. Three took notice of the large room and the other occupants, a group of Vehicons stood.
Reaching for the blaster that was strapped to her leg Three motioned with her other hand and said, “come here.”
The Vehicons needed no more prompting as they all sprung into action, arms transforming into blasters and running at Three. Three easily dodged the first few blast of energy as she ran at the nearest Vehicon. Kicking him in the chest the Vehicon stumbled allowing Three to use his form as cover as she shot her blaster at two of the approaching Vehicons. The two Vehicons that were hit fell to the ground and Three grabbed the one she had used as a shield and threw him at a fourth. As he crashed into its identical comrade and they slid across the floor. The two that had fallen to the floor picked themselves up and once again ran at Three. Dodging their punches Three managed to get in a few good kicks. Jumping backwards she fired off her blaster at her opponents legs and smiled as she watched both Vehicons crumble to the ground.
Lining up her blaster to finish them off Three heard the rooms metal doors open and without looking fired off three blast from her blaster at the intruder. Seeing the Vehicons stiffening Three felt a sense of dread.
Looking towards the metal doors Three found the leader of the Decepticons standing in the doorway. With his sword drawn Three noticed the burn marks on it and realized he must have blocked the shots that she had fired. As his sword detracted back into his arm Megatron took a few steps into the room.
“I see that you have put your time to good use,” Megatron stated.
“As I have been given time to adjust to the set backs of my injuries,” Three explained, “I thought it would be prudent to recover my combat abilities.”
“Well,” said Megatron as he neared Three. When he was only three steps away he lunged his sword extending and slicing through the air where Three had been standing.
Realizing his intentions Three had jumped back and leveled her blaster at lord Megatrons head. Firing off four blasts Three watched as Megatron easily avoided them and fire off his canon.
Finding one of the Vehicons on the ground next to her Three grabbed them and hauled Them to their feet where they acted as the perfect shield. As the Vehicon crumbled to the floor Three ran at Megatron. Her first kick was dodge while her second hit its mark slapping Megatron across the face and with her third kick, Three found her leg being grabbed.
Holding Three by her leg Megatron threw her to the other side of the room where she hit the far wall. Sliding down the wall Three knew that she was outclassed. She didn’t have the power or the armor to stand up to someone like Megatron the only thing she could hope for would be to somehow catch him off guard and use that chance to use the energy sword.
Standing up Three reached behind her and pulled out a piece of medal that looked like a large folding fan. Pressing down on it the metal expanded into a disk, a shield. Taking a step forward Three threw the shield and watched it sail threw the air. Grabbing what looked liked a sword hilt from her waist she watched as Megatron sidestep the shield.
With Megatron approach, a blade of energy extended from the sword hilt Three held. Three ran towards Megatron and jumped up in the air. Swinging her sword she realized her mistake. The shield that she had thrown, she had expected Megatron to dodge. Her true intention had been for the shield to pounce off the wall behind Megatron and hit the Decepticons leader in the back of the head. Allowing for Three to finish her frontal strike but lord Megatron had already deduced her intent. For as the shield headed for him he easily caught it without taking his eyes off of Three. A blade sprung out his arm Megatron smirked.
As the metal foot came down to stomp Three’s chest she gritted her teeth refusing to make a sound. The pain was overwhelming it felt like her whole being had been dented in. One of her arms is nonfunctional and she wasn’t able to properly move her left leg.
“Pathetic…” Megatron ground out. “Do you think you will be able to survive at your current level?”
Three said nothing to Megatrons insults. It was the truth after all. Her current fighting prowess is laughable. If she couldn’t become stronger then she is as good as dead.
“You must become stronger,” Megatron commanded, “to fight for the Decepticon cause, to defeat the Autobots and to reclaim Cybertron.”
Forcing out her voice Three answered, “yes lord Megatron.”
Three watched Megatrons back as he walked away. Before he exited the training room Megatron said, “Athena”
Confused Three stared at Megatron.
“Your new designation,” Megatron explained and then left the room.
With Megatron departure only Three remained in the room. The Vehicons had long since made their escape so as not to be used as shields for the two occupants that had been fighting. Three…no now Athena lay on the floor for a few more moments. Slowly she stood up. As she thought her left leg is damaged, while walking she had to drag it across the floor.
Making her way to the med bay Athena was glad that there was no one around to see her in her current state. Along the way one of her blasters fell to the ground and Athena paused staring down at it. If she knelt down to grasp it Athena feared that she wouldn’t be able to get back up. Not willing to leave her blaster behind but at the same time unable to pick it up Athena wondered what she should do. She was unwilling to call someone for help. In her mind if she couldn’t make it to the med bay by herself then she didn’t deserve to live. As she stood in silence contemplating her own worth Athena felt a weight in her functional hand. Looking down she saw the blaster that had been on the ground now held in her hand.
Continuing on her way Athena decided that she must have unknowingly picked it up. That perhaps her memory had been damaged in the fight. She would bring it up to Knock Out later.
Reaching the med bay Athena stumble through the entryway. She heard Knock Out before she saw him.
“What happened to you?” Knock Out demanded as he maneuvered Athena onto one of the exam tables.
“Lord Megatron was kind enough to assist in my training,” whatever complaints Knock Out had were silenced with Athena statement.
“Three I need you…” Knock Out began to say but was interrupted.
“Athena,” Athena stated.
“What?” Knock Out asked.
“Athena,” Athena explained, “it’s new designation lord Megatron has given me.”