Chapter Text
"Excellent work Shockwave. This project is coming along nicely," Megatron exclaimed in a low yet appreciative voice. Shockwave silently thanked him with a nod. "Yes yes, very good for Shockwave," Starscream grumbled under his voice with a dismissive tone. Though, I understand you engaged Optimus Prime in the field?" Megatron inquired. "Only in order to secure the specimen, Lord Megatron," Shockwave explained.
Megatron glanced towards the newly acquired sample. Picking it up, he responds in an authoritative voice, "I've believed that you had perished once, my most prized engineer," he casts his gaze back down to said engineer, " and I doubt that Project Predakon can be completed without you."
Shockwave pause, looking away for a brief moment before knowingly responding, " I shall leave the fetching of bones to Starscream and confine myself to my laboratory in order to accelerate results." "Excellent!" Megatron proclaimed, pleased with his response. 'Finally! Someone with an ounce of basic competence other than Soundwave," He thought to himself. "For I am rather impatient to witness my army of beasts trample humankind underfoot," Megatron declared as he raised the predakon fossil to his chest, gazing upon it with a wicked smile.
Megatron placed the specimen back on its original resting place and begins to exit the laboratory with Starscream on his heel. "Though, I must request something of permission, my Lord," Shockwave prompted. Megatron halted his stride and turned his head towards the scientist. Raising and optic ridge, he asks, " Oh/ And what would that be?" he quarried, now turning his whole frame towards Shockwave once again. "I require laboratory assistance," Shockwave replied nonchalantly. "Assistance!?" Starscream loudly scoffs, "The Great Shockwave requires assistance? Why? Is your optic damaged?" Starscream continued mockingly. "Negative," Shockwave replied dismissively, choosing not to indulge Starscream in his childish game of insecurity. " I simply deduced that the advancement of Project Predakon would greatly accelerate with multiple works in progress. It would be most logical," he explained, directing I'm attention towards Megatron.
Megatron pondered for several kliks before replying, "Most logical indeed. Starscream! Tell our medic that he will be assisting with Project Predakon from now on," he commanded. "Ekpt! Um, yes, my liege," Starscream stuttered and began his way towards the exit. "That will not be necessary," Shockwave announced, causing Starscream to halt his advancement. "Come again?" he asked puzzled. "I said that will not be necessary," Shockwave repeated. "And why is that?" Questioned Megatron
"I have an assistant who is adept in the creation process of predakons. Her assistance would be more efficient than having to explain the process to an inexperienced individual," Shockwave explained. Megatron eyed him suspiciously. "How have I never never known that you had an assist until now?" he questioned. "She had had been my assistant for quite a while. We both agreed that it would be better if she continued to work low priority tasks whilst I continued to work on high priority assignments. Because of this arrangement, she has remained unknown to most," Shockwave answered him.
Megatron remained silent, searching for a proper response. "How do we know if this 'assistant' of yours is even trustworthy? How do we know that you aren't planning to stage a coup?" Even though Starscream can be arrogant, at times, he knows what words to say. "I can assure you, such a thing will not happen," Shockwave assured.
"Hmm," Megatron looked off into the distance, staring at nothing in particular. Several kliks, maybe even breams, went by before Magatron spoke once again. "Very well. However-" Megatron bellowed, "if this assistant of your's does anything to betray our cause or attempts to thwart me, I will dispose of them in short order," he clarified. "Understood, Lord Megatron," Shockwave accepted. "Um, I have some concerns about this project!" Starscream rebuked. Megatron rolled his optics and directs his attention towards his second in command.
"Is it really wise for Shockwave to spawn an army of beasts here in this laboratory or within any part of this warship?" Starscream asks presumptuously "I mean, not even the lone beast we had was compact enough to stroll these corridors without tearing them usunder," he proclaims. "Which reminds me," he raises an optic ridge and turns his torso and directs his attention at Shockwave, "I am terribly sorry for your loss," he says with speudo-empathetic smile and false fellowship. "I was referring to my off-site laboratory which we have erected expressively for the cloning procedures," Shockwave promptly responded, unaffected and unimpressed. Starscream stood there for several short kliks, dumbfounded. "Uugh! You think of everything, don't you?" Starscream replied rhetorically.
BOOM! THUD! BOOM! THUD!
The trio's attention was cast upward, focusing on what could possibly be making such a heavy noise. " WE ARE UNDER ATTACK!" Starscream declared. Autobots?" he referred. "Illogical," Shockwave declared as he careened towards the lab's data monitor, "Though, there appears to be an enormous mass on the upper hull," he concluded after a brief examination. The trio make their way toward the paper hull with Megatron leading the way. Upon arrival, the doors open automatically, revealing the presumed vanquished predakon. They continue the approach toward the beast as it saunters towards them also.
"How did it find us?!" Starscream questioned with alarm, looking at Shockwave. "Predakons process precise homing instincts," he replies. "And astonishing resilience," Megatron commented in an impressed tone raising an optic ridge. He shifts his frame and focus towards his S.I.C. and demands in an authoritative tone," Starscream! Assume command of my beast." He turns taking his leave with Shockwave.
"HUH! ME! Master! I-I mean, I wouldn't dream of seizing such and honor from its very creator," Starscream weakly argued. "Military command of the predakon is most logical since my services are required elsewhere," Shockwave replied dismissively as he strode past him following Megatron back inside the corridor. The doors close behind them leaving Starscream behind with the beast.
Megatron and Shockwave stride down the warship's corridors in a stilled silence. "So, tell me, Shockwave, exactly how trustworthy in this assistant of yours?" Megatron quarried. "We've known each other for nearly 37 cycles, including the time we were marooned on our deceased planet. I trust her with my very spark," Shockwave testified. Megatron looked down at Shockwave in surprise. Such a high form of praise coming from the usually uninterested scientist is incredibly rare. Maybe this new addition will be beneficial for us. "You will have to introduce them to their future superiors," Megatron suggested. "That is logical, my liege," Shockwave agreed.
They soon parted ways, Megatron to the command room and Shockeave to the laboratory. He opens a com line to his base on Cybertron, he presses record. "Message to base *REDACTED*, prepare to transfer sensitive materials to off-site base in one joor and 45 breems. Additional information: introductory to higher ranking officers required, non-negotiable. Date and time: tomorrow at 10:40 am Earth time, Mountain Time Zone. Look respectable and act respectably. Message Concluded."
~Back on Cybertron on base *REDACTED*
"Message Concluded," Shockwave's voice announced through the com's speaker.
I stare intently at the monitor as Shockwave's message ended. It didn't take me long to deduce what sensitive materials needed transporting. I turn my pedes and begin carefully packing materials. Essentials and fragiles first, then CNA samples, then any other non-essential equipment last, it's more efficient this way. Efficiency offers the best results. Efficiency is everything.