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Chapter 21. I can be who I want to be…

Magpie flew fast and hard, burning out nearly all of her energon supplies as she soared across the desert throwing a sandstorm up in her tracks. By now she had realised Ouzel had been captured, but she couldn’t go in alone, and she knew of only once place she could go to ask for help…

“Starscream, what happened?” Optimus asked, trying to sound indifferent, watching as the grey former seeker walked casually back through the ground bridge… Alone.
“We were on standby for your call…” Arcee scowled, looking back into the ground bridge, waiting for another familiar face to walk through it.
Ratchet kept the bridge open for a few moments before he turned back to Starscream, “where’s Ouzel?” it was the question on everyone’s processors as Starscream silently stalked through the base, pretending to be oblivious to the others talking at him; after all it was just noise.
Murmurs of disapproval.
Nothing mattered.
His sparkling had depended on him and he let him down…
Despite Starscreams lack of interest, Arcee continued her scolding; “when we finally received Ouzel’s call we turned up and didn’t see either of you anywhere, we suspected you had led us into a trap so we abandoned the mission and took the ground bridge back to base immediately. You have ruined the entire mission, so why have you shown your face again?” her scowl deepened and there was an allusion of panic building in her spark, “what went wrong?” she hissed.
Starscream eventually stopped walking, if you could have called it that- it had been more of a shuffle, and turned to look directly at Arcee, his optics glazed and his jaw firm.
“Get scrapped,” he choked before returning his gaze to the ground and continuing to his berth room.
Knockout took a step towards Starscream, partially blocking his path and getting a firm grip on the grey mechs shoulders, he whispered; “Starscream, where’s Ouzel?”
Starscream looked into Knockouts optics and held his gaze, placing a servo on the red mechs shoulder; shoving him aside with more force than was necessary.
Knockout frowned but let the formally proud mech past, never would he have thought he would witness the day of Starscreams admitted downfall.
Just as Knockout was about to return to his berth room, he heard a familiar voice echo in his helm.
“Knockout,” it was rushed and breathless.
“Magpie?” Everyone stopped staring at Starscream and looked to Knockout, he had a servo held up to his audio receiver and was struggling to hear the femme speak.
Optimus’ brow furrowed and he stepped up towards Knockout, feeling frustrated.
“Knockout, is Starscream at the base?” Magpie’s voice was more of a growl, although it was hard to tell considering she was flying which was causing wind interference through the communication link.
“Magpie, where are you?”
“Answer the fragging question Knockout!” her growl rose to a scream.
“Yes, he is… Is Ouzel with you?” Knockout regretted adding that last question immediately…
“Tell my spark mate to run like the coward he is unless if he wants my rockets aimed at his helm within the next few nano-clicks,”
Knockout ignored her threats, “you’re coming here?” The red mech, without thinking, looked to Optimus for a sign of approval. Knockout only then realised that he answered to the Prime now, but he was fine with that, it suited him for the time being.
Optimus’ brow flexed some more, although he couldn’t hear what was being said in Knockouts communication link, by the sounds of things Magpie wasn’t returning for an apology.
“Open the slagging doors,” Magpie hissed.
Ratchet could already see on screen the black and white Cybertronian jet approaching.
“It doesn’t look like shes going to ring the doorbell…” Ratchet said dryly, seeing the smoke thundering from her jets as her wings shook against the resistance, “if we don’t open the door, she will only blow it down,” Ratchet was fixated on her two rockets strapped to the underside of her wings; aimed and ready to fire.
“Starscream, I would make yourself scarce,” Knockout cringed watching Magpie on screen, although she was only in jet mode, she looked as though she were ready for a fight.
“I’m going nowhere,” Starscream croaked, turning away from the berth-rooms and walking towards the centre of the base.
“Optimus?” Ratchet’s servo hovered over the button that would open the door of the base.
Optimus looked to Starscream, he still looked the broken shadow that had walked through the ground bridge a few moments ago, but knowing it wasn’t his place to come between the former seekers family, he nodded at Ratchet.
The door opened just in time, they all watched as Magpie disappeared off screen only to be heard a few moments later thundering through their main entrance.
Starscreams brow was creased, would his spark mate really blame him for their sparklings imprisonment? Of course she would… Having second thoughts Starscream took a few steps back, not wanting to be in Magpies immediate line of sight, but he was too late.
Starscream had barely taken three steps when Magpie plummeted the nose of her jet into his back, sending him crashing to the floor.
Magpie alt-formed and landed beside Starscream, gasping for breath, she reached down and lifted Starscream up by his throat, feeling empowered by the sudden heated energon rush from her angered spark. Sand was still falling off her frame, coolant was seeping though her helm and trickling down her brow. But Starscream focused his optics on her denta that were tightly clenched and grinding together, barely silencing a growl brewing in her throat.
Starscream hissed through his teeth, feeling Magpies grip tighten.
“Magpie, cool your systems, whatever’s happened, we can fix this…” Knockout took a delicate step towards the fuming femme.
Magpie was still breathing heavily, her wild optics were locked onto the defeated optics of her spark-mate, he didn’t need to say anything, his expression was enough for Magpie to know he was begging for forgiveness… Magpies own spark sank, sadly she couldn’t be oblivious to the pain of this cowardly mech, she couldn’t ignore the love she still had for him.
Bumblebee stepped up behind Magpie and gently placed a large servo on her shoulder and feeling her body tremble, eons ago the two of them had been the closest of friends, practically partners during the war, although time had changed them both, he hoped that she could still understand him without the need to exchange words.
Magpie didn’t even notice it was Bumblebee’s servo on her shoulder, but whatever it was about the weight of it against her fragile frame, it got to her. Letting go of Starscream she collapsed to the floor, she couldn’t blame him, not when she had been just as cowardly…
She could have gone back…
She should have gone back…
Starscream loosely wrapped his arms around his sobbing spark-mate, she feebly attempted to push him away at first, but then his optics shut and he found himself weeping into her helm as he rocked her back and forth.
“We will get him back,” Starscream cooed into her audio receiver, “no matter what it takes, we will be a family…”

Optimus had stood and watched the display like a scene unfolding in slow-motion before him, he noticed every detail and felt every emotion. Each emotion he saw lingered on his spark. It made him wonder.
A Prime has to be a leader to show others the way. A Prime has to strong, logical and composed. A Prime mustn’t act in the same way as others can. Optimus’ spark grew heavy, Starscreams words circling his processor, making his helm feel cluttered… ‘We will be a family…’
‘A family’
Whatever it was about that comforting and hopeful word, ‘family’ it finally brought him to the surface.
Optimus’ helm felt heavy, both his arms came crashing onto the computer as he caught himself before falling.
“Optimus!” Ratchets alarmed voice that sounded so much like a medics; was the first one he heard.
“Optimus!” Arcee; he heard the strain caused by her constant pent-up anger.
“Optimus!” Bulkhead; sounding strangely calm and composed, he had seen many injured in the war. Panic was not how to fix things.
“*Optimus*” Bumblebee; fear and disappointment, he had always been too young for war…
Optimus could feel it all, hear it in their voices, everyone else can share these horrible burdens called feelings but he hadn’t done for a long while.
For the first time since Optimus could remember, being a Prime made him suddenly feel weaker than ever…
“Optimus,” there was a servo upon his own, he followed the arm up slowly. Ratchet. “Optimus, are you okay?”
“I’m fine Ratchet,” a simple sentence, a moment to return to his statuesque posture that everyone expects to see, and everything is back to normal, “we must devise a new plan while we still have the advantage.” Optimus reluctantly looked back to the two former seekers curled up low to the floor, “my sincerest apologies are with you both, please know we will do whatever it takes to return Ouzel back to base, however destroying the Nemesis has to remain our priority.”
Starscream raised his helm, his optics were stone and matched the rest of his features, “we understand.”
Optimus was slightly taken back by Starscreams calm response but then he remembered, he too had been in the war and understood that a salvage mission must take place after the initial battle, not before… It was the way of war.
“It could still work?” Arcee sighed, thinking back to their initial plan.
“No,” Optimus sighed, “we know now that Megatrons army is too vast for only two seekers to distract… We need allies.”
“It’s probably a good thing I’ve stopped by then.”
Everyone turned, open mouthed at the sound of his voice again, strangely relieved to see him. It was as though their cloud of tension had momentarily been lifted.
“Agent Fowler.” Optimus nodded at the human stood below him.
“You left the door open.” Agent Fowler announced with a half grin, “I send my apologies for our previous correspondence, for once I was listening to orders coming from higher-up, I won’t be making that mistake again.” There was a brief laugh before his face fell back to his usual serious nature. “So what’s the plan?”
“I’m pleased you asked,” Arcee responded with a smile, cupping her servo around Optimus’ own.

**********************************************************************************

Ouzel had awoken and wished he hadn’t, the taste of dry energon was bitter in his mouth, he tried to spit but he couldn’t as his throat constricted causing him to choke on the flakes of energon that remained. He waited for his optics to come online, he kept waiting, and waiting…
And waiting...
Ouzel was blind folded. His helm darting from side to side he tried to release his arms from their restraints, shaking vigorously the chains rubbed against a metal pole propping him up and pushed hard against his back. Circling the pole, round and around like a caged animal circling the bars of their confinement, energon pulsing through his helm; thump, thump, thump. The chains hitting the bar; clang, clang, clang. Ouzels feet wading through the moisture below him; slap, slap, slap…The sound of the door opening… wait…
Click.
“Who’s there?” Ouzel froze, steadied his breathing until it nearly came to a stop.
The blindfold was removed; red optics glaring into his own, Ouzel gasped and his knees trembled…
Megatron distanced himself from the young mech, “we have met before, but allow me to formally introduce myself; I, am Megatron.” Megatron circled round the back of Ouzel who watched him from the corner of his optic, switching his gaze from side-to-side as the former gladiator circled him over and over again. “You remember when your spark-giver risked her spark to save that Doctor from my clutches?”
Ouzel frowned; he remembered all too well how Optimus Prime had had to come to the rescue after his own feeble attempt at disabling Megatron had failed… The gladiator certainly looked bigger now Ouzel was alone with him and they were face-to-face, Megatron towered above him at twice his own height, and seemed to be getting taller by the second...
Megatron slammed his fist into the bar behind Ouzel, crunching his chains until they withered to the floor, setting Ouzel free. The door had been left open, but Ouzel didn’t budge.
Megatron walked around so he was stood in front of the young mech, held his arms out to his sides, it almost looked as though he were about to embrace Ouzel…
“Now is your chance, disable me and run right out the door, the ships exit will be to your left, I’m sure the son of a great seeker such as yourself will be able to out-run my guards…” Megatron paused, watching as Ouzels optics darted to the opened door and locked on its position, “not so sure of yourself now, are you youngling?”
Ouzel frowned at the patronising tone, and the term; ’youngling’. Ouzel was an adult by any Cybertronian age standards, although right now he certainly didn’t feel like one as he trembled before Megatron, optics glazed over with tears and staring as his hope of escaping vanished.
Megatron closed the door, so now it was just them and the dim light above, casting strong highlights on the moistened metal floor below their feet.
Ouzels only thoughts were telling him to stand still and not to answer back, stand tall and proud like he used to as a sparkling, growing up with Channel…

”You look so much like your spark-giver,” the blue and yellow medic would say…
“I’m gonna be just like her one day,” young Ouzel would reply, not really knowing who his spark giver was, he only saw her through his imagination given by the tales Channel would tell…
“You keep aiming to be more like her and you’ll get there,” a pat on the helm and Channel would be back to work…Leaving young Ouzel to swoon over the courageous stories told of his spark-giver, all the time questioning who his real sire had been…

They were both cowards. None of the stories mattered anymore.
The worst part; he was no better…
Ouzel sighed to himself, all this self loathing wasn’t helping, but the alternative would be to listen to Megatron drone on about how the war had made him the powerful mech he is today blah, blah, blah… Then he caught a bit of Megatrons speech.
“I was oppressed, expected to be a worker when I had always been a fighter, wanting more than what was handed to me…”
Ouzel perked up an optic ridge, looking at Megatron standing proudly over him.
Megatron continued, noticing the young-mechs interest had been triggered, “not that you would know about being held back by your own caste, desperately wanting to show your own limitations rather than being told what they were…”
Ouzel remembered when he first arrived on Earth, he had asked Optimus Prime to make him his second in command, the Autobot had politely refused, not even giving Ouzel the chance to prove himself…
Megatron put a servo on Ouzels shoulder, making the young mech jump out of his thoughts, “come,” Megatron forcibly led Ouzel to the door. Ouzel remembered what Megatron had said; the exit was left, but Megatron turned them right.
Ouzel found his voice; “where are we going?” feeling brave again; he didn’t see the harm in his curiosity.
“I want to show you my victory…”
Ouzel was shocked, what could Megatron possibly have to gloat about? His ship was destroyed, his ex-second in command was processor-damaged and he was a sitting duck waiting for an attack. They walked through some sliding doors, the doors sparked at the hinges as Ouzel ducked to avoid them. Megatron walked ahead, allowing Ouzel to follow willingly, the exit was an easy run behind him, there were no guards, but Megatron had sparked his curiosity; he followed the gladiator over to a platform.
Ouzel stood next to Megatron and below the platform, stood a sea of soldiers; insecticons, vehicons and eradicons; all with their servos in salute for their leader.
Megatron watched as Ouzels hungry optics lingered on each row of his army, he could practically see the mech’s imagination running wild with the longing for such power. This was good, Ouzel was falling into his trap; just like his sire had done for eons.
Megatron grinned, time to seal the deal.
“Ouzel,” Megatron leaned in close to the young mech who looked at him cautiously, he seemed unsure to lock onto his optics for a long period of time, “my ship may be destroyed, but an army is made up of solid and loyal soldiers, not a ship. Despite my losses these mechs stand before me today willing to follow my every command. They would even die for me, that is what my power has given me. It’s as near to immunity as I can get. And finally, when I do fall, I will live on forever in the memory of this future army and it’s next leader…” Megatron walked away while Ouzel remained stood at the platform, “and whoever stands beside me, shares such immunity,” Megatron waited until he was out of sight of the soldiers before he looked back to Ouzel, “see for yourself,” he gestured Ouzel to turn around.
Ouzel turned and saw all the mechs were still saluting his presence. Mouth wide open in a gaping smile, his optics lit up. Eventually he turned to leave, and as he did he heard the murmur of voices pick up casually behind him, but before that moment, not one mech spoke in his presence.
“Wow,” Ouzel breathed as he approached Megatron, “but why are you showing me this?” he shook his helm nervously.
“Because, my young mech, I am in need of a second in command after an unfortunate event left Soundwave incapable of carrying on his duties,” Megatron examined his talons close to his optics as he spoke, as if trying to distract himself from a bad memory.
Ouzel had heard from Knockout how Megatron had cracked Soundwaves visor; damaging his processor for no reason other than he was consumed by rage… But wait…
“Are you asking me to be your…” Ouzel couldn’t say it…
“My second in command and squadron leader,” Megatron said bluntly.
Ouzel lit up with excitement, remembering the salutes, the power… the Autobots? What had they given him, a regretful first relationship, the harsh truth about his useless spark giver and sire and nothing to live for. What had Megatron just given him?
Everything he’s ever wanted…
“All I ask, is one small favour,” Megatron placed his servo on Ouzels shoulder again, leading him into the command room where a map was on a flickering screen, “I apologise for the poor quality of my instruments, we have been unable to harvest the energon to repair them…”
“Right,” A distracted Ouzel didn’t catch the hint for offering his services, but Megatron overlooked this and continued.
“Do you want to become my second in command, Ouzel?”
Ouzel looked at the ex-gladiator with a cold gaze, almost indifferent, trying to hide his desire to say yes, he waited for Megatron to continue…
“Because all I ask in return is the location of the Autobot base…” Megatron trailed off in a hiss.
Ouzel looked at the map of the desert, his optics locked on to the location immediately, but he didn’t say anything right away. The offer was tempting, but something was stopping him, could he really be a traitor?
Megatron watched as the mech hesitated, concerned he was losing the deal; Megatron caught Dreadwings optic and beckoned him over.
Ouzel looked up into Dreadwings glare as he approached.
“I should warn you,” Megatron spoke clearly into Ouzels audio receiver, his warm breath forming a light condensation on Ouzels helm, “the alternative to accepting my offer would be chaining you back up and leaving you to the mercy of Dreadwing.”
A twisted smile warped Dreadwings face, Ouzel could practically see the blue mech pleading for him to refuse…
Megatron continued; “am I right in saying you held his dead brothers gun up to his helm?”
Ouzel widened his optics. His mind made up.
“I accept,” he didn’t break optic contact with Dreadwing immediately, but he saw the mechs face fall into a frown; angry and disappointed.
Ouzel then wondered how close he would have been to accepting before the threat of torture, Megatrons final effort wasn’t entirely necessary, Ouzel had been sold from the moment he saw the salutes…

Description
Chapter 21. I can be who I want to be…

Magpie flew fast and hard, burning out nearly all of her energon supplies as she soared across the desert throwing a sandstorm up in her tracks. By now she had realised Ouzel had been captured, but she couldn’t go in alone, and she knew of only once place she could go to ask for help…

“Starscream, what happened?” Optimus asked, trying to sound indifferent, watching as the grey former seeker walked casually back through the ground bridge… Alone.
“We were on standby for your call…” Arcee scowled, looking back into the ground bridge, waiting for another familiar face to walk through it.
Ratchet kept the bridge open for a few moments before he turned back to Starscream, “where’s Ouzel?” it was the question on everyone’s processors as Starscream silently stalked through the base, pretending to be oblivious to the others talking at him; after all it was just noise.
Murmurs of disapproval.
Nothing mattered.
His sparkling had depended on him and he let him down…
Despite Starscreams lack of interest, Arcee continued her scolding; “when we finally received Ouzel’s call we turned up and didn’t see either of you anywhere, we suspected you had led us into a trap so we abandoned the mission and took the ground bridge back to base immediately. You have ruined the entire mission, so why have you shown your face again?” her scowl deepened and there was an allusion of panic building in her spark, “what went wrong?” she hissed.
Starscream eventually stopped walking, if you could have called it that- it had been more of a shuffle, and turned to look directly at Arcee, his optics glazed and his jaw firm.
“Get scrapped,” he choked before returning his gaze to the ground and continuing to his berth room.
Knockout took a step towards Starscream, partially blocking his path and getting a firm grip on the grey mechs shoulders, he whispered; “Starscream, where’s Ouzel?”
Starscream looked into Knockouts optics and held his gaze, placing a servo on the red mechs shoulder; shoving him aside with more force than was necessary.
Knockout frowned but let the formally proud mech past, never would he have thought he would witness the day of Starscreams admitted downfall.
Just as Knockout was about to return to his berth room, he heard a familiar voice echo in his helm.
“Knockout,” it was rushed and breathless.
“Magpie?” Everyone stopped staring at Starscream and looked to Knockout, he had a servo held up to his audio receiver and was struggling to hear the femme speak.
Optimus’ brow furrowed and he stepped up towards Knockout, feeling frustrated.
“Knockout, is Starscream at the base?” Magpie’s voice was more of a growl, although it was hard to tell considering she was flying which was causing wind interference through the communication link.
“Magpie, where are you?”
“Answer the fragging question Knockout!” her growl rose to a scream.
“Yes, he is… Is Ouzel with you?” Knockout regretted adding that last question immediately…
“Tell my spark mate to run like the coward he is unless if he wants my rockets aimed at his helm within the next few nano-clicks,”
Knockout ignored her threats, “you’re coming here?” The red mech, without thinking, looked to Optimus for a sign of approval. Knockout only then realised that he answered to the Prime now, but he was fine with that, it suited him for the time being.
Optimus’ brow flexed some more, although he couldn’t hear what was being said in Knockouts communication link, by the sounds of things Magpie wasn’t returning for an apology.
“Open the slagging doors,” Magpie hissed.
Ratchet could already see on screen the black and white Cybertronian jet approaching.
“It doesn’t look like shes going to ring the doorbell…” Ratchet said dryly, seeing the smoke thundering from her jets as her wings shook against the resistance, “if we don’t open the door, she will only blow it down,” Ratchet was fixated on her two rockets strapped to the underside of her wings; aimed and ready to fire.
“Starscream, I would make yourself scarce,” Knockout cringed watching Magpie on screen, although she was only in jet mode, she looked as though she were ready for a fight.
“I’m going nowhere,” Starscream croaked, turning away from the berth-rooms and walking towards the centre of the base.
“Optimus?” Ratchet’s servo hovered over the button that would open the door of the base.
Optimus looked to Starscream, he still looked the broken shadow that had walked through the ground bridge a few moments ago, but knowing it wasn’t his place to come between the former seekers family, he nodded at Ratchet.
The door opened just in time, they all watched as Magpie disappeared off screen only to be heard a few moments later thundering through their main entrance.
Starscreams brow was creased, would his spark mate really blame him for their sparklings imprisonment? Of course she would… Having second thoughts Starscream took a few steps back, not wanting to be in Magpies immediate line of sight, but he was too late.
Starscream had barely taken three steps when Magpie plummeted the nose of her jet into his back, sending him crashing to the floor.
Magpie alt-formed and landed beside Starscream, gasping for breath, she reached down and lifted Starscream up by his throat, feeling empowered by the sudden heated energon rush from her angered spark. Sand was still falling off her frame, coolant was seeping though her helm and trickling down her brow. But Starscream focused his optics on her denta that were tightly clenched and grinding together, barely silencing a growl brewing in her throat.
Starscream hissed through his teeth, feeling Magpies grip tighten.
“Magpie, cool your systems, whatever’s happened, we can fix this…” Knockout took a delicate step towards the fuming femme.
Magpie was still breathing heavily, her wild optics were locked onto the defeated optics of her spark-mate, he didn’t need to say anything, his expression was enough for Magpie to know he was begging for forgiveness… Magpies own spark sank, sadly she couldn’t be oblivious to the pain of this cowardly mech, she couldn’t ignore the love she still had for him.
Bumblebee stepped up behind Magpie and gently placed a large servo on her shoulder and feeling her body tremble, eons ago the two of them had been the closest of friends, practically partners during the war, although time had changed them both, he hoped that she could still understand him without the need to exchange words.
Magpie didn’t even notice it was Bumblebee’s servo on her shoulder, but whatever it was about the weight of it against her fragile frame, it got to her. Letting go of Starscream she collapsed to the floor, she couldn’t blame him, not when she had been just as cowardly…
She could have gone back…
She should have gone back…
Starscream loosely wrapped his arms around his sobbing spark-mate, she feebly attempted to push him away at first, but then his optics shut and he found himself weeping into her helm as he rocked her back and forth.
“We will get him back,” Starscream cooed into her audio receiver, “no matter what it takes, we will be a family…”

Optimus had stood and watched the display like a scene unfolding in slow-motion before him, he noticed every detail and felt every emotion. Each emotion he saw lingered on his spark. It made him wonder.
A Prime has to be a leader to show others the way. A Prime has to strong, logical and composed. A Prime mustn’t act in the same way as others can. Optimus’ spark grew heavy, Starscreams words circling his processor, making his helm feel cluttered… ‘We will be a family…’
‘A family’
Whatever it was about that comforting and hopeful word, ‘family’ it finally brought him to the surface.
Optimus’ helm felt heavy, both his arms came crashing onto the computer as he caught himself before falling.
“Optimus!” Ratchets alarmed voice that sounded so much like a medics; was the first one he heard.
“Optimus!” Arcee; he heard the strain caused by her constant pent-up anger.
“Optimus!” Bulkhead; sounding strangely calm and composed, he had seen many injured in the war. Panic was not how to fix things.
“*Optimus*” Bumblebee; fear and disappointment, he had always been too young for war…
Optimus could feel it all, hear it in their voices, everyone else can share these horrible burdens called feelings but he hadn’t done for a long while.
For the first time since Optimus could remember, being a Prime made him suddenly feel weaker than ever…
“Optimus,” there was a servo upon his own, he followed the arm up slowly. Ratchet. “Optimus, are you okay?”
“I’m fine Ratchet,” a simple sentence, a moment to return to his statuesque posture that everyone expects to see, and everything is back to normal, “we must devise a new plan while we still have the advantage.” Optimus reluctantly looked back to the two former seekers curled up low to the floor, “my sincerest apologies are with you both, please know we will do whatever it takes to return Ouzel back to base, however destroying the Nemesis has to remain our priority.”
Starscream raised his helm, his optics were stone and matched the rest of his features, “we understand.”
Optimus was slightly taken back by Starscreams calm response but then he remembered, he too had been in the war and understood that a salvage mission must take place after the initial battle, not before… It was the way of war.
“It could still work?” Arcee sighed, thinking back to their initial plan.
“No,” Optimus sighed, “we know now that Megatrons army is too vast for only two seekers to distract… We need allies.”
“It’s probably a good thing I’ve stopped by then.”
Everyone turned, open mouthed at the sound of his voice again, strangely relieved to see him. It was as though their cloud of tension had momentarily been lifted.
“Agent Fowler.” Optimus nodded at the human stood below him.
“You left the door open.” Agent Fowler announced with a half grin, “I send my apologies for our previous correspondence, for once I was listening to orders coming from higher-up, I won’t be making that mistake again.” There was a brief laugh before his face fell back to his usual serious nature. “So what’s the plan?”
“I’m pleased you asked,” Arcee responded with a smile, cupping her servo around Optimus’ own.

**********************************************************************************

Ouzel had awoken and wished he hadn’t, the taste of dry energon was bitter in his mouth, he tried to spit but he couldn’t as his throat constricted causing him to choke on the flakes of energon that remained. He waited for his optics to come online, he kept waiting, and waiting…
And waiting...
Ouzel was blind folded. His helm darting from side to side he tried to release his arms from their restraints, shaking vigorously the chains rubbed against a metal pole propping him up and pushed hard against his back. Circling the pole, round and around like a caged animal circling the bars of their confinement, energon pulsing through his helm; thump, thump, thump. The chains hitting the bar; clang, clang, clang. Ouzels feet wading through the moisture below him; slap, slap, slap…The sound of the door opening… wait…
Click.
“Who’s there?” Ouzel froze, steadied his breathing until it nearly came to a stop.
The blindfold was removed; red optics glaring into his own, Ouzel gasped and his knees trembled…
Megatron distanced himself from the young mech, “we have met before, but allow me to formally introduce myself; I, am Megatron.” Megatron circled round the back of Ouzel who watched him from the corner of his optic, switching his gaze from side-to-side as the former gladiator circled him over and over again. “You remember when your spark-giver risked her spark to save that Doctor from my clutches?”
Ouzel frowned; he remembered all too well how Optimus Prime had had to come to the rescue after his own feeble attempt at disabling Megatron had failed… The gladiator certainly looked bigger now Ouzel was alone with him and they were face-to-face, Megatron towered above him at twice his own height, and seemed to be getting taller by the second...
Megatron slammed his fist into the bar behind Ouzel, crunching his chains until they withered to the floor, setting Ouzel free. The door had been left open, but Ouzel didn’t budge.
Megatron walked around so he was stood in front of the young mech, held his arms out to his sides, it almost looked as though he were about to embrace Ouzel…
“Now is your chance, disable me and run right out the door, the ships exit will be to your left, I’m sure the son of a great seeker such as yourself will be able to out-run my guards…” Megatron paused, watching as Ouzels optics darted to the opened door and locked on its position, “not so sure of yourself now, are you youngling?”
Ouzel frowned at the patronising tone, and the term; ’youngling’. Ouzel was an adult by any Cybertronian age standards, although right now he certainly didn’t feel like one as he trembled before Megatron, optics glazed over with tears and staring as his hope of escaping vanished.
Megatron closed the door, so now it was just them and the dim light above, casting strong highlights on the moistened metal floor below their feet.
Ouzels only thoughts were telling him to stand still and not to answer back, stand tall and proud like he used to as a sparkling, growing up with Channel…

”You look so much like your spark-giver,” the blue and yellow medic would say…
“I’m gonna be just like her one day,” young Ouzel would reply, not really knowing who his spark giver was, he only saw her through his imagination given by the tales Channel would tell…
“You keep aiming to be more like her and you’ll get there,” a pat on the helm and Channel would be back to work…Leaving young Ouzel to swoon over the courageous stories told of his spark-giver, all the time questioning who his real sire had been…

They were both cowards. None of the stories mattered anymore.
The worst part; he was no better…
Ouzel sighed to himself, all this self loathing wasn’t helping, but the alternative would be to listen to Megatron drone on about how the war had made him the powerful mech he is today blah, blah, blah… Then he caught a bit of Megatrons speech.
“I was oppressed, expected to be a worker when I had always been a fighter, wanting more than what was handed to me…”
Ouzel perked up an optic ridge, looking at Megatron standing proudly over him.
Megatron continued, noticing the young-mechs interest had been triggered, “not that you would know about being held back by your own caste, desperately wanting to show your own limitations rather than being told what they were…”
Ouzel remembered when he first arrived on Earth, he had asked Optimus Prime to make him his second in command, the Autobot had politely refused, not even giving Ouzel the chance to prove himself…
Megatron put a servo on Ouzels shoulder, making the young mech jump out of his thoughts, “come,” Megatron forcibly led Ouzel to the door. Ouzel remembered what Megatron had said; the exit was left, but Megatron turned them right.
Ouzel found his voice; “where are we going?” feeling brave again; he didn’t see the harm in his curiosity.
“I want to show you my victory…”
Ouzel was shocked, what could Megatron possibly have to gloat about? His ship was destroyed, his ex-second in command was processor-damaged and he was a sitting duck waiting for an attack. They walked through some sliding doors, the doors sparked at the hinges as Ouzel ducked to avoid them. Megatron walked ahead, allowing Ouzel to follow willingly, the exit was an easy run behind him, there were no guards, but Megatron had sparked his curiosity; he followed the gladiator over to a platform.
Ouzel stood next to Megatron and below the platform, stood a sea of soldiers; insecticons, vehicons and eradicons; all with their servos in salute for their leader.
Megatron watched as Ouzels hungry optics lingered on each row of his army, he could practically see the mech’s imagination running wild with the longing for such power. This was good, Ouzel was falling into his trap; just like his sire had done for eons.
Megatron grinned, time to seal the deal.
“Ouzel,” Megatron leaned in close to the young mech who looked at him cautiously, he seemed unsure to lock onto his optics for a long period of time, “my ship may be destroyed, but an army is made up of solid and loyal soldiers, not a ship. Despite my losses these mechs stand before me today willing to follow my every command. They would even die for me, that is what my power has given me. It’s as near to immunity as I can get. And finally, when I do fall, I will live on forever in the memory of this future army and it’s next leader…” Megatron walked away while Ouzel remained stood at the platform, “and whoever stands beside me, shares such immunity,” Megatron waited until he was out of sight of the soldiers before he looked back to Ouzel, “see for yourself,” he gestured Ouzel to turn around.
Ouzel turned and saw all the mechs were still saluting his presence. Mouth wide open in a gaping smile, his optics lit up. Eventually he turned to leave, and as he did he heard the murmur of voices pick up casually behind him, but before that moment, not one mech spoke in his presence.
“Wow,” Ouzel breathed as he approached Megatron, “but why are you showing me this?” he shook his helm nervously.
“Because, my young mech, I am in need of a second in command after an unfortunate event left Soundwave incapable of carrying on his duties,” Megatron examined his talons close to his optics as he spoke, as if trying to distract himself from a bad memory.
Ouzel had heard from Knockout how Megatron had cracked Soundwaves visor; damaging his processor for no reason other than he was consumed by rage… But wait…
“Are you asking me to be your…” Ouzel couldn’t say it…
“My second in command and squadron leader,” Megatron said bluntly.
Ouzel lit up with excitement, remembering the salutes, the power… the Autobots? What had they given him, a regretful first relationship, the harsh truth about his useless spark giver and sire and nothing to live for. What had Megatron just given him?
Everything he’s ever wanted…
“All I ask, is one small favour,” Megatron placed his servo on Ouzels shoulder again, leading him into the command room where a map was on a flickering screen, “I apologise for the poor quality of my instruments, we have been unable to harvest the energon to repair them…”
“Right,” A distracted Ouzel didn’t catch the hint for offering his services, but Megatron overlooked this and continued.
“Do you want to become my second in command, Ouzel?”
Ouzel looked at the ex-gladiator with a cold gaze, almost indifferent, trying to hide his desire to say yes, he waited for Megatron to continue…
“Because all I ask in return is the location of the Autobot base…” Megatron trailed off in a hiss.
Ouzel looked at the map of the desert, his optics locked on to the location immediately, but he didn’t say anything right away. The offer was tempting, but something was stopping him, could he really be a traitor?
Megatron watched as the mech hesitated, concerned he was losing the deal; Megatron caught Dreadwings optic and beckoned him over.
Ouzel looked up into Dreadwings glare as he approached.
“I should warn you,” Megatron spoke clearly into Ouzels audio receiver, his warm breath forming a light condensation on Ouzels helm, “the alternative to accepting my offer would be chaining you back up and leaving you to the mercy of Dreadwing.”
A twisted smile warped Dreadwings face, Ouzel could practically see the blue mech pleading for him to refuse…
Megatron continued; “am I right in saying you held his dead brothers gun up to his helm?”
Ouzel widened his optics. His mind made up.
“I accept,” he didn’t break optic contact with Dreadwing immediately, but he saw the mechs face fall into a frown; angry and disappointed.
Ouzel then wondered how close he would have been to accepting before the threat of torture, Megatrons final effort wasn’t entirely necessary, Ouzel had been sold from the moment he saw the salutes…