TFP: Metamorphosis CH8

Transformers:Metamorphosis is based on a Transformers: Prime 1V1 Roleplay setting created by ♦MachinaeChild♦ & ♦Storm-Blue♦, edited into a fanfiction-like novel for viewer's delight. While Metamorphosis takes place during the Prime generation, previous generations and characters may be referred to, and/or included as the story progresses; as well including OCs that belong to either/or. We hope you enjoy the read just as much as we enjoyed making it! For more questions or concerns, please view the Author Notes below with links and bonus information! Thanks!

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Chapter Eight:

We All Wear Masks

Timing had trimmed perfectly along the edges as Soundwave arrived to his master's call, dropping off the Harrier at Megatron's quarters just moments after the tyrant himself arrived. With a silent nod, the spy was dismissed, and with his larger forearms the Decepticon leader welcomed Talon into his personal quarters, awaiting to discuss matters at bay.

Scattered along the walls and titanium desk were holographic notes and other personal mementos from Kanon and even some lesser notes of the Iacon data that Orion had defragged from the system before his retreat.

"So, what is this private matter you wish to discuss, Mercenary?" Megatron questioned outwardly, arms locked behind his slimmed down hips.

Talon winced nervously. Ever since she had arrived with Soundwave, she had her one hand grappling her side just below where Dreadwing had attacked during their encounter of the artifact's origin. The spy had thought it was a bit strange himself, but never did bother to question it- he would get his answers himself, audios already trimming down on the conversation from range down the hallway as he had done always.

Never did a compromise go unnoted by the loyalty of the underdog; unless specified by Megatron himself that he not tune in. But even then- there was on occasion he just couldn't resist updating his processor with the most up-to-date information.

Without a share of words, the femme reached into the oddly large subspace that pocketed itself at her waist. For a brief moment, her optics winced further- rather it be from injury or hesitation, Megatron couldn't tell. But that concern was easily set aside for what was now in his peripheral.

Pulled from the subspace with greatest of care, was an abnormally small sparkling. Being no older than a year, it was obviously that it was a very docile spark. First of all, its optics were blank white, giving off a minimal glow; and secondly, its response system was fragile and hardly functional. It showed no attempt to react towards its settles other than reaching towards its mother and gripping tight around her digits.

Stone faced with a protective gleam in her aged optics, Talon then decided to explain her final proposal, "This is why I need proper shelter and stable energon... at least a minimal to take care of her."

"... I am not a babysitter, Talon. How long has she been in this condition?" the ex-gladiator mused, raising a ridge above his concrete glare. In truth, he was shocked at the outcome, not expecting it to be so bold in reasoning. With this, came the unknowing of what to do next. He wasn't going to simply kill a sparkling, but he wasn't fond of keeping one in his army of battle-hungry hyenas either.

"I do not expect you to," the Harrier replied gently, carefully making signs with her fingers that the sparkling responded with. "If I can't look after her at any given moment, on duty or not, I will have my offspring take the deed. She was born blind and deaf, so she requires utmost care... but nothing that you or your men will have to assist with. I simply need a means of survival."

Taking in the femme's words, Megatron stared hauntingly at the sparkling, watching as it interacted with its' mother. "Unfortunate. Had it been on Kaon ground, she would not have the chance of day..." his voice muttered, a drifting pause before he continued, "Be grateful I am gracious to a point. I will have Soundwave take you to one of the barren rooms for you to settle, and send Dreadwing to retrieve the others... I will send supplies to your room momentarily to get the child treated with what we can supply."

His tone was gruff and in slight disgust towards the younger femme, but none the less, he still had some range of logic toward the female counterpart. "But tell me this, Talon.. Why the Decepticons? I assure you haven't forgotten the tender care of Optimus Prime. Would it not have been a more...suitable, location for such a cause?"

Talon actually had to stop and think on that for a while. She was confident on her choice to go to Megatron first, but why her mindset was so closed off towards the Autobots.. it was a mix and match situation.

"Trust issues, mostly... Autobots aren't likely to hire now and days; and a handful know my origins of being a Decepticon offspring... even further to assume they know it's Starscream, it doesn't go well with an audience," she sighed, carefully tucking her youngest youth back in the subcompartment. "I know Optimus is aware, and more than likely means Magnus and Ratchet are aware as well. As for the rest of his men... At least with the Decepticons, I have the option of simply not caring if my comrades judge me."

The voiced hint was clearly directed at a certain medic. "As for Nightblind, that maybe very well the only time you'll get to see her. She'll be well out of the way and well cared for even with minimal supplies as long as I have somewhere to hide her."

While trust hadn't been at all in any mercenary's favor, Megatron's relationship with the femme was on a neutral balance, daughter of his traitorous second in command or not. At least she had some sense of loyalty, much like Dreadwing, and could be legitimately trusted unless provoked. For that, he had no worries there. As for the children and the much younger passenger, he was calmed by the notation of which Talon took, it being the only time the unlucky sparkling existence would be seen in the open.

"Worry not, Talon... my men have better jobs to do than worry over a dying Spark. As long as she is kept from view, there should be no issues... Soundwave," Megatron called out, knowing well that the scout never trailed too far out of audible range with his independent skills. "Send Dreadwing the location of the others. He is well trusted with the care of your younglings. I have some matters of my own to attend to," he motioned Talon, walking through the gated doors as he passed the visored Con.

"Of course, sir," she half bowed, but frowned slightly at 'dying' when in fact Nightblind was actually very healthy and was developing quickly despite her handicap. But that was beyond her need to point out.

Soundwave chirped a reply to Megatron before sending in the order to Dreadwing to bring Talon's offspring to the ship. With a few seconds between comlink activity, he received word from the aerial command that acknowledged his orders and well on his way to the coordinates received. Afterwards, he sat outside waiting for Talon as she and Megatron exited his chambers.

The femme gave him a small greeting before order commenced to lead her to her own personal bulk. Certainly Warsong would disapprove greatly on her choice, but it was one of the bonuses to being a mercenary - you always had a choice; and her offspring were old enough to make those decisions so they choose. But her mother instinct refused to openly voice this nature; not until she knew she had no choice of her own.

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It had taken a little less of an hour for Dreadwing to fall through his orders; at this point in time finding himself hovering over a mountain ridge in the north. In the distance, his optics zoomed in on a faint opening, a cavern along the structure where the coordinates locked with his destination. Certainly not the smartest safe zone.

As the falcon bulk grew nearer, the various clinks and chimes erupted in a sound-like aura as he fell to his bipedal form, a cloud of dust rising at his peds. Already, he could hear the faint voices that trailed inside the cave.

"Sparklings, I have been asked to evacuate you to the Decepticon base," he called down, not wanting to startle them just by barging inward. "A direct order from Megatron himself, with your Mother's approval."

The voices fell silent, and with much hesitation did footsteps head towards the entry way. Closest to the cave entrance to begin with; Poseidon was the first to cast his appearance along the fallen daylight. His primary orange hues narrowed, while his other sets carefully observed the aerial commander at bay.

"So that's where she took off to... very well," the thick voice of the trine spoke, "Please wait here."

Tracing his steps back into the cavern, Poseidon was stern to set the news to his siblings; the heeding call of the last femme in the radius making sure her voice reached the outside audios of the Decepticon.

"Oh, you've got to be kidding me! Megatron, really? Of all mechs?"

Flinching, Dreadwing couldn't help but fold into a grimace. Despite Talon's temporary stay on the ship, this was already proving to be dangerous. Knockout had it out for the golden seeker, while the sister trine had it out with anyone who wore the purple emblem.

"Trust isn't the matter, I don't think," the elder seeker spoke softly. With age came knowledge, and he knew his mother always carried a logical motive towards her decisions; not simply to get an upper hand on the battlefield. From what he could analyze thus far, it probably had something to do with the youngest member of their family and the health concerns. "It is mother's choice. If you choose not to follow it, then that's your problem."

Warsong stared in disbelief at first, but finally gave in with a subtle pout, "We are old enough to pick our own faction..."

"Indeed, if it comes down to that. But for now, we will save it for later... we have an escort waiting outside, it is rude to keep him waiting."

"Solaris, you good to go?" the femme peered over her maroon tinted shoulders, taking a glance at her younger brother with a raised ridge.

"Uh huh; just scratches," he piped up softly, a silly smile caressing his faceplate as the plated feathers wiggled against the green illumination.

Satisfied, Poseidon waved a black casted set of digits, leading his two siblings outside as he reproached the falcon, a stern neutral expression forwarding his notations.

"I take it we are set to go then?" Dreadwing confirmed, skimming over the other two frames.

"Yes, sir. We will be right behind you," Poseidon saluted, causing Solaris to mimic the acknowledgement. Warsong on the other hand, continued to cross her arms at her chest plate, a sour tone pinched along her peachy cheeks.

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How long had she been there? It could have been minutes, hours, days even. Of several factors that affected her humanity and existence as a whole, time was certainly one of the bigger installments that could easily be distorted. She had watched friends and enemies alike, grow and progress in their life, and even in some darker cases, pass along into the afterlife while she still preserved. But what did she have to show for it? Not much of anything.

Time was something that didn't matter anymore. Be it day or night, hours or days, it was reluctantly all the same.

What was certain, however, was her frustration. Aggravation boiling in the pit of her stomach and mind, the hysteria of the unknown gnawing at her skull. She had been captive one too many times, and for years too long to be mistreated in such a fashion that she had been tossed around and treated like a mutt. Little did Silas know, he woke up something much more than just year ceased rivalry and business.

"Well, well," the voice cooed, the heavy steps of combat boots pressing into the ground as the buff man approached. With fragile chimes and digits, the gloved thumb ran across the digital lock, opening the only way in and out of the cell. With rusted bolts, the door swung open slowly, the screeching down of steel curving itself in the floor as the silhouette stared hard at its' prisoner. Already armed, a rifle hovered in the lock band strapped at his chest, and a security knife that had been a rare find among equipment, rested sheathed at his hip.

"Are you going to act your age this time, or are you going to act how you look?" the voice snapped waspishly.

Unamused by the entire situation from start to finish, the girl's golden hues narrowed, the hall lights highlighting her fierce glare. Observing from afar, it was actually laughable for the man to come armed in such a way, like he was preparing himself to take down a beast. Cunning, her frown of disapproval meshed into that of a daring smirk, her canines flashing against the halogen bulbs. "Plan to go hunting, sir?"

"Ironically, I'm not fond of that sportsmanship. However, if you decide to act hostile, I suppose I could tweak my interest temporarily," the man growled, playing along with the girl's sarcasm. "You haven't acted like this in a long while... and I've been through too many years of training to let one of the smaller ones get in my way."

The lavender headed girl let out a cackle at the mans' reply, lifting one knee back up as she rested her elbow upon the joints, the other leg stretched out on the bed. "I see, I see... No worries, sir. I have regained my sanity and apologize for the.. hostile remarks from before," she cooed in sarcasm.

A snarl snorted from the shadowed figure, "That's bullshit and you know it. In fact, you're even starting to act like that damn seeker."

Another bold snicker came from the girl as she rested her head against a set palm, the very same that was balancing off her kneecap, "Starscream, huh?" she mused, exaggerating her vowel, "Well then, in that case, I'll at least show you a bit more respect in character, Lord Silas."

"How about you just cut the shit. You know I don't take that, and you don't either. You want to punch me? Go ahead. I'll punch you right back, and we can end this right now," Silas, leader of the MECH division, growled. He knew his assistant was purposely trying to dig claws deep into his nerves. Admittedly, he was never one for mind games. But that didn't mean he didn't know how to play.

Still holding the feline curved smirk, Len raised a brow at the offer. Oh surely she would punch him any other day, as she had taken her fair share of abuse in the labs, and even upon the Con's protection, which was never guaranteed safety unlike the Autobots. But the case of loaded bullets made her choice hesitant. She may have had unusual abilities, but she wasn't stupid- nor immortal.

"Fine. Let us get it over with then, and maybe it'll allow you to progress and move forward from this, hm?" she inquired harshly, sliding off the bed. Casually, she walked up to the commander, arms hanging limp at her sides. When she was only but a few inches away standing as close to eye-to-eye her height could get, she halted, golden eyes staring back at his browns.

Silas wrinkled his nose at the comment, causing his scarred face to twitch. Though, once the girl had made it close enough to endure the first motion of attack, he could only smirk at the hesitation she provided. "What? Upset that I came armed?"

There was a clear silence as Len narrowed her eyes to slits, a small snarl escaping her lips as he voiced her disadvantage. But before she even had an attempt to counter his assumption, she felt her body clash towards the ground, a faint pinch of pain searing from her skull.

That was another trait that years after years had held an advantage and disadvantage all the same. Her inability to really feel pain- her nerves and emotional beliefs ripped before her from the constant melancholy of test tube experiments and various chemical reactions. She could still feel- but barely. Practically painless- but nowhere near immortality.

Standing up with a stumble, she then hazily looked back to Silas, a small smile against her bitten lip, "My turn?"

"Take it, and take it quick. I've got work to do but I did intend on fair game," he grinned jaggedly, a haunting crave of power lingering in the back of his eye sockets.

Allowing Silas to finish his sentence, Len balled up her fist and had already prepped the strength in her upper arm. As soon as that snarky grin came to view, it was free ball. Square in the cheek, she delivered a full punch. She may have lacked in her utmost strength for not training in awhile, a habit she had with Cyclonus and Warmonger, but her precision was still clear.

Silas took the solid punch with a laugh, the pain exciting him to the point of grinning even harder. Damn it, that kid had a good punch, but he was sure he could punch a lot better.

"Good! Good... now come on, make this a real fight!" Practically roaring, the tall man charged and grabbed her, throwing the much lighter body into the wall then backed off, eagerly awaiting her next move.

Back upon the bedspread once more from where she first woken, Len stirred as she got back on all fours, giving a small glance in Silas's direction only to find him closing the door behind his tracks. He was going to drag this out- the beast had tasted blood, and now was craving more. Glaring, she eagerly jumped forth, canines glimmering off the lights of the hallway that intruded into the dark room, causing a parade of shadows and dust to dance in the atmosphere. With much more force from her momentum, she first threw another punch near the man's' face, then a low kick below his knees.

Silas managed to halfway block the punch, but felt the bruising kick to his shins with a slight grunt. Quick as lightning, he returned the kick, this time to her stomach; then grabbed her by the arm and yanked her to the ground. Once again he backed off, grinning and bleeding from his split lip and cheek. "Not bad at all..."

The gut-crushing kick to her lower abdomen left Len stunned, the bruising grapple to her arm numb-compelling as her face met the floor for the second time. An uncomforting grunt came from her figure, a swelling distortion captivating her body as she pulled herself back up on fours, shaking. Before she was able to get up on her feet, she looked up at her commander, her right cheek swollen and her nose bleeding faint. "What are you up to... Silas..." she muttered, wincing mid sentence as she grasped the side of her ribcage, "Trying to purposely give an excuse to use that gun?"

Cracking his neck, the older man looked down at her with something between a scowl and a smirk. "Only if you're stupid enough, which I know you aren't.. I suppose you can just say I'm enjoying our little fanisco. Now, are you going to get up, or do I have to yank you back up to your feet?"

It was no mindset of humor, but more of a flashback in his nerves, Len could assume. Shaking herself loose, she stood back upon her feet, running a wrist across her mouth to track any loose blood, then positioning herself in what she had trained in long ago- modern boxing, mixed with martial arts. Something she had picked up from her younger stages back on the Nemesis when it had crashed on the Moon. Cyclonus and Sideways always had a habit of rigging old human foreign films, and were determined to learn some means of fighting style. Though, their bulk bodies wouldn't allow it. Len on the other hand, picked it up just fine.

A thin smirk crossed her lips as she balanced herself on the balls of her feet, "Just remember, you asked for it."

"Damn right," he snorted again, and soon enough the two of them were knees deep in their own personal battle royal.

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Entering from the bay port, Dreadwing nodded to a few Drones at work as he maneuvered himself throughout the walls, leading the silent children to their mother who was already set in her own homely bunker. Poseidon and Solaris seem to have held their composure along the eerie hallways just fine, but Warsong had trailed in a more caution fashion, emerald optics daring any and each drone to even take a step towards her and she'll blow off their faceplates.

It didn't take long, the bunker being near the bay as the falcon halted two paces before a particular door, unlabeled. Turning in opposite direction to face the trine, he gave a gentle nod, motioning them to address said door.

Taking a breath, Poseidon walked forward, his hand balling up into a soft fist as he knocked once, twice along the steel. A few moments later, the silver harrier stuck her head out, her face guilty of treason as she faced her children.

"Sorry... I would have told you sooner, but time was pressed..." her attention turning to Dreadwing briefly, she then followed up with, "Thank you, for escorting them here."

Acknowledging the harrier with a small nod, Dreadwing awaited for the last of the two seekers to wiggle their way into the spacious room, their parture inevitable to the others aboard the ship until spoke of elsewise. Just coming toward the conclusion that he would finally get some rest around the place, the light pitter-patter of the racer was heard from the corner walls, a grimace prowling at the Con's lips as he awaited the flame to ignite.

"Eh? You're back already, huh," Knockout spat, wiggling his pallid fingers in annoyance as he approached the midnight blue seeker. "Guess that means -they're- already on board... I swear, if I get my hands on that insubordinate pair of wings, I'll have him strapped to the medical bed with a loose cable drifting above his head," he growled, head lowered upon his torso as he loomed over towards the more bulkier comrade.

Twitching the corners of his mouth, Dreadwing could only sign, placing a fair of fingers along his temple, "How about you just give them a break. They're on our side now, they won't cause you any more issues. Even I had to take a run in with the harrier, you don't see me slaggin' all over the place."

"You didn't have to push out dents all over and buffer back your paint job, either, tough shot," the medic snarled back, waving a hand as he continued to walk the halls, looking for some means of entertainment.

Unlike his behavior when Dreadwing first arrived, the doctor had noticeably become more and more irrational after the lost of his partner. While he was at first sympathetic, being placed on this journey in particular to avenge his brother, Skyquake, it had reached its limits to being unnecessarily pusive. Disgruntled, the aerial commander pressed further along his temple before walking it off, retreating back to his own quarters.

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Standing in the command quadrant, Megatron locked his arms behind his bold torso as he always did, observing the screens and all so occasionally looking over the shoulders' of his loyal scout. One screen was on the training room division as he watched Poseidon and took note of his skills, while the others stuck upon the average hallways, one in particular capturing Solaris in the mix, doing a bit of dirty work himself.

A pleasing smile graced the tyrant's lips as he watched the seeker offspring. He found Solaris, out of the four, the most... unique. And his abilities and overall persona interested him. He knew from the beginning that the golden mech had an indecency loyalty to his grandfather, but with Starscream in absence of the ship, Solaris's calmness was concerning.

"...Soundwave, retrieve Solaris for me," he ordered huffly with a swing of his hand. He was not going to give the timebomb any time to consider detonating, and felt the need to get to the core before someone else did.

Soundwave bowed slightly, silently dismissing himself from the centre as he prowled the halls. From what the video had showed, Solaris was within the B4 bay, near the storage. Having viewed the time-lapsed footage of the seeker assisting the drones was one thing, but to see it in person was... at the least, off. Following like a brainwashed puppy, Solaris followed the pace of two of the Eradicons, sorting out weaponry and spare ship parts.

"Retrieve Solaris for me," the distorted audios greeted, catching the attention of the three, but the Eradicons making quick note not to get distracted. Startled, Solaris approached Soundwave, a brink of curiosity over his faceplate as if to ask 'me?'.

Without a nod of any sort, the visored mech held optic contact for a few moments before turning in his tracks, leading the way towards the command. With little effort, the stratoliner followed; puzzled but  sensible. More so it was the caution of why he had been requested; and rather or not the other siblings had gone through the routine as well. It wasn't the first time for him meeting Megatron face to face, but definitely the rare occassion. Slightly worried, the feathers along his head crest rustled, his thin grey digits tapping along the hilt of his plated leggings that stretched to his waist.

A few minutes more past before the doors greeted the spy and scout. Amazed at the lack of retaliation, Megatron gave a charismatic smile, gesturing a hand forth that the seeker make himself comfortable.

"Solaris, was it? Mind if I... have a word?" the deep voice prowled, lacking that of a harsh tone but leaving no room for arguing against.

"Yes, of course sir," Solaris said softly and with some enthusiasm. "What do you want to know?"

"Mannerable... that's a good start," Megatron hissed victoriously as he patrolled around the polygon shaped room, keeping himself upon the commander platform. "You had a fascination over Commander Starscream, did you not? Surely at this rate, you are aware he is no longer with us."

"Yes, indeed," Solaris nodded slightly, tracking the commander with red violet optics. "Mama told us he... more or less disobeyed you one too many times and you...banished him, correct, sir?"

"Your mother is wise..." the tyrant chuckled, continuing to looking over in the direct direction of the seeker ever so often, "Starscream has tendencies where he does not seem to learn his place. And I am curious that if that trait flows with your veins, and whose side you will bow for... He has already tried once before to make his own army against me... which, was not very wise, either..." he growled, his tone becoming more and more vicious.

Solaris had to think on that for a moment. Now he was fully aware of why he was requested, and while they may have not been intended to be trick questions, he had to be sure to answer them as carefully as possible, regardless.

"A tendency towards affection for him, yes... loyalty, no," he answered directly, voice still quiet but much more serious now. "I follow mama and whomever hires her. I may listen to grandpa, but I do not work for him."

Pausing in his tracks, Megatron looked over his shoulder, crimson optics narrowing at the clouded individual. "Very well... it is, nice to see that his core did not spread to you, leaving your decisions well worthwhile. You are dismissed."

That was it? Fidgeting nervously as he tried his best to restrain the sensitive head garment, Solaris bowed slightly. "Thank you, sir." While it was discomforting at how little Megatron continued to press the matter after such a vague response, the golden seeker was not settled on staying in the room any longer.

Walking out, Soundwave watched behind the security of his digital visor, allowing the doors to completely shut before turning to his master; his verbal voice breaking into contact.

"Do we even trust Talon after all these years, My Lord? Her bondmate is Autobot... as was her mentor. Do we even want to assure that her symptoms have been cured?"

Of all the Decepticons, Megatron, Shockwave, and the three main Eradicons that held the command centre stable, were probably the only ones who knew of the mute's true colors and processed vocals. To the drones, it was a treat kept amongst only the three of them and lack of knowledge of the rest who worked outside the cockpit. To Megatron and Shockwave, it was a neutral respect of privacy and integrity.

"For now. I have stationed guards along her room, keeping an eye of every movement she partakes. I still do not trust her ethic of bringing a sparkling aboard my ship, and her lack of reasoning for not harboring the Autobots intrigues me. Her daughter is of little concern, as is her older son, but Solaris... I want him monitored at all cost... As for her distress... I think I have someone set just for the task of testing that theory...."

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(To Be Continued)