Last edited: June 25, 2019

Hope

"Gah!" I cried out in frustration at the itching situation that traveled down my arms and legs. Red blotches of dried out skin had appeared up and down my body, and my restraints forced me to sit and not be able to scratch anything.

I had heard about the side effects of poison ivy and poison oak, even experienced them a few times, but this was ridiculous! Blood from underneath my bindings began to roll down my arms and drip onto the floor of the cage from how tight they were tied.

"Need any help?" I heard the voice before I saw him, and I flinched. Lockdown. A blank expression was on his face as he sat there watching me, rendered helpless, to the itching sensation. But I knew he wasn't talking about the itching when he added, "I'm going to let you out of the cage, and you aren't going to fight me. Got it?"

Slightly confused, I nodded, hesitating to exit when he unlocked the cage door. He grunted, grabbing my arm and yanking me out when I didn't come out fast enough. Before I could ask what he was doing, he yanked me along behind him towards the back of the room.

Cages full of screeching creatures all around me made me wince and I tried to block out the noise as the Lockdown stopped at a metal door with several locks on it. Lifting a leg, he kicked, the bottom of his foot connecting with the door and it came crashing down.

"Where are we go-"

"They don't know we are gone yet, so I suggest you bite your glossa before they find out we are gone." That made me shut up, and I found myself biting my lip in nervousness. Every now and then, Lockdown would stop when we reached a new hallway and close his eyes, as if concentrating on something else, before opening them again and continuing on.

Every single time he would do this, the security cameras that sat perched along the walls would seem to glitch. The red light indicating they were on disappeared as we hurried down the hallway, before turning on seconds later.

A few minutes later, Lockdown turned a corner and stopped abruptly. I ran into his back with a grunt before bouncing off and landing onto my butt. We were now in a large dark room with no light. "Lockdown-" I suddenly noticed that he was nowhere in sight. "Lockdown?"

Suddenly, my body was lifted off the ground. I slammed my hands to my mouth to keep from screaming, but I still made an involuntary squeak. The being chuckled and I gulped, squirming in his grip as he began to walk farther into the dark.

The hand jerked forward with me in it as he stopped, turning and heading in the opposite direction. "Cover your head."

"What-"

I was cut off when he slammed his fist into the wall completely destroying it and sending concrete flying everywhere. I covered my face and let out a yelp of surprise as the rubble flew dangerously close to my body. Before it had time to settle, Lockdown stepped outside, and I sucked in the cool air.

It had felt like I would never see the outside again, but here I was, staring up into the night sky. Stars shined from up above, and for a split second, I felt peace. The silence was welcomed and I closed my eyes, taking in a deep breath.

It all went downhill from there.

A siren blared seconds after we had stepped outside and large search lights switched on, going back and forth while scanning the surrounding area. Lockdown shook his head and grunted before tossing me up in the air. I let out a shriek , suddenly realizing that my wings were still tied behind me, and I couldn't fly.

Gravity brought me down into a mass of changing and grinding metal, and I landed in a car seat. Breathing heavily, I felt a seat belt wrap around me tightly before the roaring engine filled my ears and we were speeding off into the night.

My breathing became labored as I struggled to get free of the seat belt, attempting to unbuckle. There was no way Lockdown would just willingly help me unless he was getting something in return, and I had nothing to give him. So someone had asked him to bring me, I realized, placing the pieces of the puzzle together. The question was, who? The only others who wanted me was the Decpticons.

My stomach dropped at the thought, and I forced myself to thrash harder, trying to wiggle out of my restraints and unbuckle my seatbelt. Of course, it wouldn't unbuckle no matter how hard I pressed on the button. The sirens from behind us grew fainter and fainter as Lockdown drove, but the sound of vehicles behind us made me gulp and twist my head to the side as much as I could to get a better view.

"Stop squirming." Lockdown finally growled, and my seat belt tightened to the point I couldn't breath. He suddenly appeared next to me, his light blue eyes now hardened as he stared at me. He cursed in Cybertronian under his breath as he also looked behind us, but that was soon covered with an evil grin.

Digging into his pocket, he pulled out a small remote and turned to me, a smirk on his face. Without saying anything, he pressed a large button at the top and I raised an eyebrow, looking for an explanation. "What was that?" I questioned.

He threw his hands in the air, remote still on one fist, and spread his fingers as he simply said, "BOOM." The second he spoke, there was an ear shattering explosion from behind and the ground shook, sending what seemed to be a shockwave through the ground.

Light leaked through the back windows and I winced at the bright light as fire flew to the sky, the flames where the M.E.C.H. facility once was. My eyes widened, and I shook my head. "Are they all-"

"Dead? Probably." Lockdown grinned as he tossed the remote into the floorboard and turned back to me.

I let out a sigh of relief, closing my eyes for a short moment and letting the feeling wash over me. The seat belt loosened from around me, and I let in a much needed deep breath before sucking in a sharp breath from a sudden pain in my arms.

My eyes shot open, and I stared down at my arms. The blotches were now a dark red, as they were before, but now the itching sensation was replaced with an intense burning. "Gah!" I cried out, shaking my tied hands to try and relieve the burning feeling.

Closing my eyes again, I felt tears running down my face. Suddenly, I felt hands on my wrists where my bindings were, and I jumped, just to hear an angry grunt.

"Hold Still."

I did as I was told and seconds later, the ropes were gone and the seat belt was off. Turning slightly, I allowed him to cut the ropes around my wings.

As soon as I was completely free, I grabbed the door handle and attempted to open it. There was an amused chuckle before the seat belt shot out and wrapped around me again. I yelped as it brushed across my arms for a short moment.

Lockdown's holoform was no longer next to me, so that left me alone, sitting uncomfortably as thoughts coursed through my brain as Lockdown drove, the large mass of fire behind us getting smaller and smaller. Where are we going? What's going to happen to me? Why do the Decepticons want me, anyway? Do the Autobots know where I am?

I gently rubbed my arms as the intense burning continued. I poked one red blotch on my skin, and as a result, the pressure broke the skin almost immediately, and blood ran down my arm. I grimaced and shook my head. Was this the result of that stuff Silas gave me? He said my DNA and cells would basically die.

How long did I have?

I glanced up and noticed the rear view mirror turn to look at me. Lockdown didn't say anything, and I didn't bother to ask any questions. I knew I was being handed over to the Decepticons. And I didn't feel like making a fifty-foot robot on the bad guys side mad at me any more than I already had on the way here.

Silently, I watched the bumpy ground ahead of us and listened to the slight hum of his engine. What felt like forever passed before I felt Lockdown slow down, and then come to an abrupt stop. I glanced at the clock and suddenly realized that three hours had passed. I didn't realize how much time slipped by.

Ahead of us, a large figure was standing silently. Lockdown stopped completely and the familiar sound of grinding metal followed, and suddenly I was in a hand. He had a hold on my waist, thank goodness, and not my arms, which only seemed to be getting worse.

Lockdown approached the other Cybertronian slowly, as if he had all the time in the world. The other bot spoke up. "Took you long enough."

My eyes widened and I squinted, trying to get a better look at the bot. Lockdown shrugged as he took a few steps closer. "Would have been easier with a groundbridge. But it doesn't matter. I brought the femme, as your master has requested."

"We need a groundbridge." The Decepticon said to nobody, but I knew he was comm linking another Decepticon, as the Autobots often did with each other. Seconds later, the bright light coming from the green and blue swirling portal gave me enough light to see the new Decepticon.

"Come." I recognized the voice, and I shook my head in confusion. Wait, why was he helping Lockdown capture me? Why didn't he save me himself?

He took notice to my confusion, and turned in my direction, a slight grin on his face. Lockdown said nothing as he stopped next to the bot.

I bit my lip, staring at the so-called Decepticon with confusion. "W-Wheeljack?" I asked just above a whisper. If I talked any louder I knew my voice would crack.

I felt betrayed and used. But it couldn't be true, could it? He was my friend. My best friend and guardian! He wouldn't help the Decepticons!

Tears welled in my eyes as Lockdown followed Wheeljack into the groundbridge, loosening his grip around me as I stopped my useless attempts to get free. Something wasn't right. How could Wheeljack just betray me like this? What would Optimus say? Or Bulkhead? They have been good friends since before the war, surely he wouldn't do this.

My head started pounding as thoughts swirled through my mind. The portal behind us closed soon after we stepped through and I gulped at the sight that greeted us.

The large silver Decepticon that I had seen before, Megatron, stood at what seemed to be his throne, an evil grin on his face. To my surprise, Wheeljack bowed slightly, acknowledging the presence of the bot in higher authority, before stepping aside and letting Lockdown step forward.

I trembled under Megatron's stare, but at first, his attention was to Lockdown.

"Bow to me." He demanded through grit teeth. Lockdown made a noise somewhat like a growl before shaking his head in annoyance.

"I may do as you ask now, but you are not my master. I am not a mindless servant as the others that bow before you."

"Unless you do not wish to receive payment, you will bow." Megatron stepped forward. Lockdown was really big, bigger than any other bot I've seen, yet Megatron was still bigger.

Lockdown narrowed his eyes before bending over slightly, bowing for no more than a second. Megatron nodded in approval before looking down at me.

"Human. You have proven difficult to find." My gaze fell on Wheeljack. He leaned against the wall, his arms crossed and eyes lazily looking anywhere but me.

"I see you have found out the truth." Megatron had followed my gaze and nodded towards Wheeljack. "You see, Wheeljack has been working for me all along." He grinned, cocking his head to one side. His amused look making me want to cry harder.

But I wouldn't cry. Not in front of Megatron. Not in front of Lockdown. And certainly not around Wheeljack. I had cried on his shoulder already multiple times before, but it was all an act.My heart told me no, but my mind told me yes. In a way, it all made sense. Macen told me before. No one cares for me. If they do, it's fake. I know that now. Wheeljack never really cared.

Did the Autobots care? No, or they would have saved me by now. Megatron grinned, somehow knowing what was going on through my mind.

"You belong to no one other than me. A weapon used for me and me alone; for war." He stated rather bluntly. I shook my head.

"I-I'm not a weapon." I said softly.

"That is illogical." A new voice sounded from the entrance of the throne room. "It is what you were created for. I created you. You hold my CNA. You were made specifically for this."

"W-what?" I stuttered. He created me? But what about my mom and dad? Surely I had one? I wasn't just some wacky lab experiment! "You're lying!" I yelled before yelping, suddenly aware of the burning sensation that was still on my arms.

Lockdown noticed and turned to the warlord. "Megatron, there is something I must speak with you about. And you will not be pleased."

Megatron merely nodded, his attention now directed towards Wheeljack. "Take her, Wheeljack."

With that, the Decepticon I once thought to be my best friend took hold of me and walked me away. Tears were now flowing down my face, and I forced myself not to look at him, the same question running through my mind.

How could he?