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GHOST had overstepped. Mandroid had come back, evidently supported by Executive Agent Croft, and built them new tech. He had told them about The Terrans, finding them via some means. The house was destroyed and the family was missing, only the animals left behind to now wonder the wilds. It didn’t take a genius to know where the family was taken.
They had tried to be peaceful, they really did. Executive Agent Croft hadn’t been happy with their attempt, using her authority to not only lock up the other Autobots, but threatening to mind control them. He didn’t even know where she got the tech for such a thing. Naturally, the Decepticons took the chance to break out of their containment. He couldn’t blame them anymore; if Croft could be this cruel to children, he dreaded to know what she was willing to do to his former Soldiers.
Still… Such crimes could not go unpunished. Beings like her were exactly why he had started the Decepticons; beings who want nothing more than to control and abuse any ounce of power they get. The Decepticons hadn’t gone far after breaking out, going to a ruined train yard in a derelict part of town.
There were no guards, no lookouts, no defenses set up, nothing. The glow from a dilapidated building was the only indication of where the former army was. Megatron’s spark burned; he had taught them better. They knew they were still being hunted, and yet they were cowering in such an obvious spot, all together, and with no way to protect themselves. It was an insult.
Optimus and Megatron walked into the building, Optimus in the lead. The former soldiers were scattered around the area; Hardtop and Swindle were sitting on top of a train car, backs together, Swindle staring at the two leaders as the entered, yet neither moved from their post; Breakdown was laying inside the train car the previous two were perched on, arm hanging out, brushing against the concrete; Shockwave and Tarantulus were huddled together, scratching something in the concrete, completely ignoring everyone else; Shrapnel, Skullcruncher, and Bombshell were huddled in a little pile, recharging in a slim sunbeam that came through a hole in the roof; Soundwave, Laserbeak, Frenzy, and Ravage were also sitting in a pile, Ravage in the large bot’s lap while the other two were at his side, Soundwave appeared to be slumped in recharge; Nova Storm and Skywarp were in the rafters, Skywarp laying on her back while Nova Storm rested on top of her, both seekers staring at the two leaders.
Then there was Starscream. He stood in the middle of the vast space, arms crossed as he stared at Megatron, eyes dull. He turned away from them, instead looking around at the former Decepticon army. “You were a fool to come here. Whatever you want, we can’t give you.”
Optimus sighed; “You’ve fought us for years now, and only this time do you give up? The children need your help, and you abandon them?”
“They’re not our responsibility.” Starscream stated, walking away. Megatron watched as his former second-in-command climbed on top of a train car before hauling himself into the rafters, perching himself in such a way as to not fall.
That wasn’t right… Starscream always flew when given the chance. Megatron looked closer at the bots surrounding him.
Hardtop hadn’t moved since they arrived, arm still missing, and no light coming from his optics. He wasn’t recharging, he was in energy conservation mode. Swindle was covered in scratched, and his own optics flickered; he was standing guard for his brother, clearly hopeful to find energon before he fell into energy conservation mode himself. Breakdown wasn’t moving his arm, it was just hanging there, limp; a small puddle of energon forming under the limb, the source from somewhere closer to his body. Tarantulus and Shockwave were equally damaged, Shockwave’s finials missing and some of Tarantulus’s eyes blown out; they were writing to each other in cybertronian, something about how Shockwave would have loved to meet Nightshade and how the three of them would have made great scientific progress together. Then there was the insecticons and Skullcruncher, all of their optics dull; all of them in energy conservation mode; all of them injured beyond repair. All three seekers were in slightly better shape, but still not great; wings torn, glass broken, optics flickering.
Megatron walked deeper into the building, pushing past Optimus. Soundwave didn’t move… neither did any of the cassettes. Megatron knelt down in front of the small family, optics wide. Soundwave had discarded his mask and visor, optics shut and dull. Slowly, Megatron lifted Ravage’s head, her optics were also dark. Frenzy was the same, as was Laserbeak. Optimus was still arguing at Starscream, who ignored the Prime. Megatron sighed, standing up and turning to his companion; “Optimus, we should go.”
Optimus looked at Megatron in shock, clearly not expecting the former Decepticon leader to side with his former army; “What?! But we need the soldiers! We-”
“No.” Megatron glared at Optimus; “These bots… they’re tired. They’d be nothing more than slag for the grinder.” Desperation crept into his voice. He knew the Terrans were important, knew they needed help, but these bots… This wasn’t the army he raised.
“You’re the reason we’re like this!” Swindle suddenly hissed, glaring at Megatron.
Starscream waved a hand dismissively; “You want those kids back, go get them yourselves. You’re Megatron and Optimus Prime. The two strongest cybertronians in the known galaxy. You’ll figure this out.”
“Starscream, you-”
“Optimus.” Megatron’s voice rang out through the space, silencing the Prime. Every bot conscious or capable of hearing stiffened, looking to Megatron. "The Decepticons. have had. Enough." He walked out of the building, casting one last glance over his shoulder at his former army and his former friend; “We’ve lost. You won. Grant us the dignity to die free.” With that, he transformed and took off, flying away from his mistakes. He would surrender to Croft, he would let GHOST experiment on him. It was the fate he deserved.