"You are a fragile specimen, yet you possess resilient qualities." Shockwave spoke aloud. His deep voice filled Taylor's ears and sent shivers down her spine as she lay trapped beneath the scientist's lame paw. The gnarled claws somehow managed to avoid piercing her, forming a small cage around her instead. "However, that does little to impress me. I have seen other specimens with more interesting qualities."

While he had been talking, Taylor formed a plan of escape. She wasn't sure if it would work, but there was no harm in trying. She felt around on the ground until a sharp rock brushed up against her fingertips.

Gripping it tightly, she shifted her gaze to keep her focus on Shockwave so she could make sure he wasn't watching. When the time was right, she drove the rock into the pad of Shockwave's paw and flinched when she felt hot blood splash on her hands.

Shockwave howled in pain, his thunderous roar shaking the den. He pulled his twisted paw away from Taylor and turned his head so that he could see where he had been hurt with his one eye.

Taylor took advantage of the distraction and scrambled to her feet without him noticing. Her heart was pounding in her ears as she sprinted towards the den entrance, Shockwave's furious snarls spurring her onward.

She was out of breath fairly quickly and nearly every Decepticon in the camp knew something had happened by the time she made it outside. She dodged confused Vehicons left and right before slamming into something rock solid.

"Well well well... it seems my little test subject has escaped." Megatron sneered, his enormous frame towering over Taylor as she lay dazed at his paws. He hooked her shirt with one claw and lifted her up in front of his snout, his blazing red eyes dancing with amusement. "I see you have learned a few things from Ratchet."

"Where is he?! Put me down!" Taylor shrieked, kicking her legs uselessly at the air.

The silver warlord chuckled, watching her struggle for a moment before looking over his shoulder at the slender black dragon that was standing nearby. "Soundwave!" He called. "Bring the little human her friend."

Taylor's eyes followed the silent dragon as he disappeared into a den, her stomach twisting into a nervous knot. Was he okay? What did the Decepticons do to him while they were separated? She nearly made herself sick with worry staring at the entrance of the den, just waiting for Soundwave to appear with Ratchet.

Please be okay...

A few minutes later, Ratchet came out of the den with Soundwave at his heels. He was limping on the leg that was previously dislocated and it was clearly still bothering him. There weren't any fresh cuts or wounds that Taylor could see, which offered some relief, but she was still worried.

Upon seeing her, Ratchet gasped in surprise. A few Vehicons stepped in to block his path, but Megatron waved them aside with the flick of his tail. He was soon joined by Starscream, who was smirking like he had gotten away with something.

"Ratchet. How kind of you to finally join us." Megatron began with a smile, flexing the claw that was hooked on Taylor's shirt. He chuckled softly, amused by the medic's defensive stance. "I finally learned the name of your puny friend here. Taylor, was it?"

Ratchet released a soft growl and sunk his claws into the ground. "What did that one-eyed abomination do to her? I swear to Primus, if he hurt her—"

Megatron swiftly cut him off before he could finish. "Taylor is perfectly fine." He let his paw fall a short distance, jerking Taylor down with it, and snorted when Ratchet flinched. "Although, she has done something that will not go unpunished. And since she cannot possibly endure the punishment I have in mind, I have decided that you shall endure it for her."

"No!" Taylor blurted out much louder than she had intended to.

A few collective snickers came from Starscream and the Vehicons that had gathered around and Megatron blew smoke out of his nostrils in response. All she could think of was Ratchet having to take the punishment because she physically couldn't and it hurt her heart. She stared at him with a pained expression, meeting his fearful blue gaze.

Ratchet hesitated, then slowly mouthed "it's okay". He offered her a quick half-smile before turning his attention back to Megatron. "I'll do it." He said grimly, his eyes narrowed into a frown.

Megatron's smirk widened and he chuckled, taking a step back to allow Starscream to close the circle of dragons around Ratchet. He padded over to the massive rock that he made his throne and laid down on it's flattened surface, placing Taylor at his paws.

"Good. She shall watch you suffer until I think you've been punished enough." He said, curling his claws around Taylor so she couldn't escape. "You may begin."

Taylor bit her lip so hard that blood began to well up through the cut. She dug her fingernails into her palms when a Vehicon behind Ratchet took initiative and lunged forward, biting and slicing at the medic's haunches. When the medic whipped around to retaliate with a snarl, another Vehicon attacked him from behind.

The cycle continued until Ratchet no longer had the strength to keep fighting back. He barely had enough time to swipe at the Vehicon that had just attacked him before another was already tearing at his haunches.

He finally succumbed and sank to the ground, defeated. Blood covered his backside and gushed out of the many cuts and bite marks he had acquired. His flanks heaved with each labored breath he took.

Taylor couldn't keep her tears at bay anymore, allowing them to flow freely down her cheeks like rivers. She stared hopelessly at the medic below as the circle of snickering Decepticons slowly dissipated upon Megatron's command.

"Ratchet... why?" She whispered under her breath, covering her face with her hands.