Chapter 16: A shitty day
I was running the race of my life, almost like an Olympic marathon, if the lights hadn't gone out for a moment, I would definitely have been caught. I couldn't help but lean against a wall, breathing heavily, which made me question just that, because my human body is not normal at all.
"I need to cut down on the amount of burgers I eat." I whispered, putting my hand to my chest. "I really need to exercise or something... WHY THE HELL IS THIS SHIP SO BIG?"
I heard several footsteps approaching my position at high speed, I jumped into the gap in the metal wall and hid, hoping not to be found. The footsteps of dozens of robots, each over six metres tall, ran down the corridor I was in, giving me a moment of anxiety. Fortunately, the Cybertronians passed by without investigating my whereabouts, perhaps the scream a few minutes ago was responsible for the additional commotion.
Leaving my hiding place, I took my time to rationalise my not-so-good situation. I knew I was lost, and there was no way I could move at high speed without a vehicle, so it was only a matter of time before I was found. I looked to my left and saw a holographic panel, some sort of Cybertronian computer with access to the ship's network.
"This computer may have the blueprints for this place, so I can find the nearest exit." I whispered to myself, taking my mobile out of my pocket. I closed my eyes and let my power flow freely through my phone and began to reshape its inner form, something similar to the ability of the Forge Master Solus Prime, one of the few original Primes that I find interesting, I dare say that she was by far one of the greatest prodigies that ever existed.
When I opened my eyes, my mobile phone had taken on a more sophisticated form, becoming a kind of high-end computer. Using this improvised method, I was able to see that my mobile phone was now synthesising with the ship's communication frequency and I was able to enter the system and access the information from the alien ship.
My fingers slid across the screen, searching as quickly as I could for the information on the diagram, and I ended up having to hide for a few minutes to avoid being found until I finally found what I wanted. The diagram showed that there were escape pods not far from my location, but given my current size, it was obvious that it would be a long journey.
By some miracle of the universe, no Cybertronian saw me running through the vast corridors, making me feel like a sewer rat. My situation was humiliating; it's ironic to think that I could be flattered to be the main source of Cybertronian life, and now I look like a prisoner escaping from Alcatraz.
After 10 or 15 minutes I reached my destination, an automatic door opened for me, finally allowing me to enter the escape pod room. The safety button that opened the door to the pods was literally 14 feet tall, well out of reach of my 5'11" frame. If I could complain to the human resources department at that location, I would: Why do the buttons have to be that high? Where is the empathy for people my size?
***
Starscream's eyes saw the world in slow motion as a clenched fist of infinite fury struck him in the face, sending him flying like a tennis ball against a wall. He tried to get up, but his thin arms didn't even have the strength to do so, and without a chance to recover, his stomach was hit by a powerful kick that sent him hurtling towards the ceiling, falling back to the ground as his Energon fell from his mouth.
"Master.... Please.... Have mercy." Starscream begged, feeling the greatest pain of his life as he felt his circuits and gears slowly being damaged.
"Don't worry, Starscream, you won't die now, not when I've completely sated my anger." Megatron made his intentions clear, intent on torturing Starscream for attempting to assassinate him and usurp his position as leader of the Decepticons.
Grabbing Starscream's head with one of his hands, Megatron lifted him up like a simple doll and used his free hand to punch him in the stomach, causing the Energon to be spat out of Starscream's mouth onto his armour once again.
Megatron, though completely enraged at Starscream, felt invigorated inside, as if he had been immersed in a pool of Energon for days. He felt that the dark Energon, the blood of Unicron, did not flow through his veins, but instead the power that resided within him was pure and powerful, as if he had received an upgrade in his basic strength, capable of rivalling or surpassing the power of the dark Energon.
Soundwave watched in silence, satisfied that the plan he had been contemplating for days had come to fruition, not only meeting but exceeding his expectations. Knock Out, like an expert doctor, held a tablet to analyse Megatron's vital signs, surprised that his master's energy readings were so high.
"This is impressive, it appears Megatron has not only been restored, but his strength has increased significantly." Knock Out didn't hide his surprise, wondering at the exact origin of so much power.
Megatron looked at his right hand, analysing the sensation of power, clenching and unclenching his hand to make sure the sensation was real. "This power is more invigorating than Unicron's." He looked at Soundwave, knowing it was the one who had saved his life. "With this power, I feel like I could kill Optimus Prime with one arm! Soundwave, what have you done to me?"
An image flashed across Soundwave's face, showing what he called the Energon Singular, the power that revived and enhanced Megatron's power.
Megatron stomped on Starscream, his huge metallic foot crushing his chest as he studied Soundwave's information. "Hmmmm... so the singular energy ultimately is a new type of Energon. Interesting, but that much power couldn't have just appeared without a source."
"(Cough, cough, cough) Master Megatron, the human's car that Soundwave dismantled to collect this power is quite interesting, and the radiation it emits is quite curious, but it is slowly dissipating as if swept away by the winds," Knock Out commented, wanting to demonstrate his curiosity as well as his competence in his work, not wanting to be beaten up or even killed by Megatron. "Through the radiation, I can deduce that this Energon flowing through your veins is of a purity far greater than the common Energons we see every day, by my calculations it exceeds the 20% purity found in the more refined deposits on this planet."
Soundwave showed a video of the human's accidental arrival on the Nemesis ship and everything he did to escape and evade the Decepticons until his car was destroyed. Megatron watched intently, irritated that so many of his army's warriors had difficulty dealing with a single human, but his anger was replaced by curiosity as he watched his loyal subordinate harvest the energy from inside the human's vehicle and use it to revive him.
"Humans have not demonstrated the technology to harness the potential of Energon, let alone one of such power. This human is not like the others, most likely he knows how to find more sources of Singular Energon for us." Megatron expressed interest, for the first time not seeing the human race as mere vermin to be enslaved. "Where is this human?"
[[Lord Megatron, one of the escape pods has been used.]] A Decepticon said over the comm.
[[Has a Decepticon decided to desert my army?]] Megatron asked seriously, increasing the pressure that crushed Starscream beneath his feet.
[[No, it appears the human who entered the ship managed to escape using the capsules, unfortunately the tracker was deactivated.]] The Decepticon replied, feeling great pressure even though he was not in the presence of his leader.
[[Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr... Find that human and bring him to me!]] Megatron commanded, gritting his razor-sharp teeth. "It is humiliating that my army was unable to capture a puny human."
"Sorry, Lord Megatron, but your long-awaited return has thrilled the troops, you can't blame them for being distracted by your triumphant return." Knock Out decided to flatter the true leader of the Decepticons.
Megatron gave Knock Out a serious look that made him cringe in fear. "Knock Out, the human came out of the portal at the same time you did. If you don't want to suffer the same fate as Starscream, start talking!" Megatron said, imposing his overwhelming presence on Knock Out.
Knock Out, much as he respected Lux's ability, could not put his life ahead of a human, that was just basic survival instinct. "I've been racing this human for a few weeks now, his name is Lux, believe me, I didn't know his car was modified or fuelled with this kind of Energon!"
Megatron brought his face closer to Knock Out, his red eyes studying every physical expression of his doctor. He pondered the spoken words, noting that they contained no trace of lies. "Very well, Knock Out, I will give you the benefit of the doubt, since you seem to know the human, bring him to me."
Knock Out nodded comically, shaking with fear, almost wanting to switch to his vehicle mode and run away, hoping Megatron wouldn't crush him like he was doing to Starscream. "Yes Master Megatron!"
Megatron looked at Starscream, who was practically unconscious beneath his feet, with disdain. "Soundwave, I need you to fill me in on the last few days I was in a coma." He put his hands behind his back and left, with Soundwave himself following at his side, leaving Knock Out and Starscream in the room.
Soundwave gave only a small, discreet nod and kept his pace, walking steadily through the halls as the Decepticons saluted Megatron.
"Soundwave, since you were investigating the newly discovered Singular Energon, I need you to research ancient legends. Look for anything that matches the Dark Energon's likeness and ability to resurrect the dead." Megatron ordered, now completely consumed by the curiosity that drove him. [Since my return, this force within me is strangely familiar, but where did I feel it before?] Megatron thought, subconsciously frowning.