LOG-008.

  I stepped forward as the door closed behind me, staring down at the sorry sight otherwise known as Silas.

  The man/machine hybrid was a mess. Fastened to the wall using energon restraints, his scarred frame looked...mangled. For lack of a better term. The show really didn't do it justice. At a glance, he looked like a corpse that hadn't gotten the memo about it being dead.

  Sickly, mismatched yellow optics glanced up at me. One clearly repaired via rudimentary human technology. The other relatively pristine, if dirty.

  I imagined at least some of the damage had come about from Knockout's tender administrations. The medic had rather liked Breakdown, despite everything, and vengeance was a virtue among Decepticons.

  After a moment of silence, the marvel of science spoke.

  "Hm...you're new."

  Stepping to the side, I reached into my subspace, removing the appropriate tools. A ripscanner and a prybar to start with.

  "Correct. You can call me Shockwave."

  Silas chuckled, voice box glitching slightly.

  "I suppose you're here to torture me too then? The red one certainly seemed to get a kick out of it."

  Stepping forward (which in turn caused my subject to lean his helm back in clear apprehension), I set the prybar in place, slowly forcing open his chassis.

  The faux-mech began to panic.

  "What are you doing? Stop. Stop it!"

  I spoke over his protests, even as I continued to apply more and more pressure to the tool, wrenching open his chest plate bit by bit.

  "I have no interest in torture. There is a time and place for it. Neither of which are now. What I am interested in, is how a primitive organic managed to meld so effectively with the corpse of a cybertronian. I don't suppose you could share your thoughts on the matter?"

  Did I feel bad about this?

  "Stop! Please! We can talk about this-just let me ta-"

  Eh. Not really? Any amount of discomfort I felt was muted at best and overshadowed by my own curiosity at worst. Seriously, how had what was essentially a small terrorist organisation managed to pull something like this off?

  "Shockwave-!"

  Finally, the rusted metal gave way, ripping clean off the joints fastening it to his frame. The scarred human within really did give off the impression of some sort of parasite, wired in as he was.

  Huh. Neat.

  Grabbing the ripscanner and lowering it towards the yelling ex-soldier's head, I shook my helm.

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  "Nevermind that. I'll get my answers, one way or another."

  ---

  Two passing vehicons paused as they heard wet screaming erupt from a nearby doorway, followed by strange crunching noises. The green mech stationed outside of the brig glanced at the pair of Seekers with his lone optic, shaking his helm.

  "Creator Shockwave is examining a prisoner. Be on your way."

  The duo considered the Zaku's words, and wisely kept walking.

  ---

  Zero had been patiently examining some interesting files regarding small squad tactics Soundwave had generously provided him with when the groundbridge had activated, spitting out a clearly triumphant warlord. The rest of the bridge crew continued to work in relative silence, a trait most prevalent in the Decepticon's intelligence officer.

  The Zaku bowed his helm along with the rest of the vehicons present, lowering the datapad to his side. Soundwave glanced up, before going back to examining the strange code making up the encrypted coordinates of Iacon's many relics.

  "Lord Megatron, it is good to see you return."

  The silver mech in question glanced at the Zaku, still grinning triumphantly. Good. The creator had advised that the former gladiator's 'happy periods' were the best time to draw attention.

  "That it is! That it is...your designation, soldier?"

  The Zaku inclined his helm once more.

  "Zero, my lord. Prototype Zaku."

  Megatron stretched his arm, holding up the glowing purple blade, seemingly attempting to peer into it.

  "Yes...Zero. Today is a good day....for the tables have turned!"

  Zero stepped back as the tyrant stomped forward, glancing out the front of the Nemesis' viewscreens.

  "Fate has deemed it fit to benefit me once more. With your creator's return, my control of the forge of Solus Prime and now my Dark Star Saber's superiority a proven fact...I am pleased indeed."

  The Decepticon went silent as Zero stepped forward, holding out a datapad.

  "If it would please you my Lord, my creator has proposed a...field test of sorts while he continues to examine the hybrid creature."

  The former gladiator scowled briefly at the mention of Silas, before quirking a brow-plate.

  "Shockwave knows not to waste my time, thus I shall assume you have inherited such a trait. What does this field test entail?"

  Megatron grinned as the Zaku's next words registered in his processor.

  "My creator wishes to test the predacon's natural tracking capabilities. Namely in locating and retrieving the traitor, Starscream."

  ---

  Several vehicons had shown up to watch, alongside the Nemesis' remaining officers.

  I hadn't expected Megatron to immediately accept my proposal, otherwise I would have taken the time to wash the fresh energon, mixed with human blood, off of my servos.

  Though my lord and Knockout in particular seemed viscerally amused by my appearance even as I stepped forward with a vial of energon held in my subspace.

  Very specific energon. Knockout kept a few vials of each officer's particular energon type in storage for various medical reasons. Including our errant Seeker's life blood.

  A few of the observing vehicons backed away in fear as Predaking stomped forward with a screech. Sure he looked pissed on the outside, but I knew that to just be a particularly bad case of draconic resting bitch face.

  The predacon's helm descended, bumping against my arm.

  ...I may have gotten a bit too enthusiastic in petting the dragon's helm, considering Megatron's bemused grunt.

  Finally pulling the vial of energon out of my subspace, I held it up for Predaking to inspect, his golden eyes scanning the container for a moment before the predator let out a particularly insidious hiss.

  "It has the scent."

  No sooner than the words had escaped my vocaliser did the predacon leap into the air, powerful wings (alongside the incredibly subtle anti-grav modules running along them) propelling the sleek hunter through the sky. A few moments later, the big lizard was a mere dot upon the horizon.

  "An excellent show Shockwave! I trust your beast shall prove more than sufficient in capturing my former second in command."

  Turning around, I nodded, noticing Dreadwing standing a bit straighter. Which...yeah, fair enough. I turned my attention to Megatron.

  "I have full confidence in the predacon's hunting abilities. Additionally, it's precise homing instincts will ensure it returns to us. With it's cargo in tow. Now, unless I am needed, I will be resuming my examination."

  The former gladiator waved me off with a dark chuckle, even as Knockout started walking after me.

  "Oh! I might join you for a bit actually! Watch a real expert at work."

  Mentally rolling my optic, I nodded, striding forward.

  "Very well, though take care not to linger. You still have duties as our resident medic."

  The red racer stretched his arms behind his back, grinning.

  "Yeah yeah, work on the vehicons, of course. Cut me some slack, would you?"

  I kept walking, ignoring the feeling of Soundwave staring into my back. The silent mech had definitely noticed some minor personality changes on my part, though it seemed it wasn't quite enough to trigger any real response from him aside from observing me every now and then.

  Hopefully, it wouldn't go beyond that.