Chapter Text
Soundwave, using a recording of Agent Fowler's voice, managed to get the human military base cleared as quickly as possible.
"I repeat." He sent over the humans' communicators. "We have a level five radiation leak. Evacuate immediately."
The human soldiers didn't disappoint, and cleared the area in less than a joor.
"If you want to send a message," a disgruntled CYLAS said over the Decepticons' com line, "it would have been better to massacre them."
Soundwave responded, once again using Agent Fowler's voice.
"We must not alert the humans if we want the Decepticons' mission to be successful."
"And you," Starscream said to the human terrorist over the coms, "are not in command, I am! I will make the tactical decisions. Is that clear?"
"Yes, Lord Starscream." C.Y.L.A.S. replied, obviously disgruntled.
Knowing that his "leader" and the cyborg were distracted, Soundwave sent a triply-encrypted message to Ratchet.
- - - -
"By the AllSpark." Ratchet mumbled as he finished decrypting Soundwave's message. "Even Breakdown didn't deserve such a fate."
Knock Out was silent, his gold optics staring at the floor. Bulkhead, his foot still dragging from his injury, made his way over to the ex-Decepticon and put a servo on his shoulder strut.
"I'm sorry, K.O." He muttered.
"He's really gone." The red 'Bot muttered. He looked up, determination and fury in his optics.
"Ratchet, permission to send Soundwave a message?"
"What do you want to tell him?" The doctor asked.
"I want to know the second 'C.Y.L.A.S.' appears. So I can smash his faceplate in."
Ratchet stepped away from the monitors, letting Knock Out send his message.
- - - -
The ground bridge opened up, revealing Optimus Prime, Leonidas, Elita-One, Arcee, Bumblebee, and Smokescreen's alt-modes.
They were immediately shot at by Vehicons. The others ducked for cover while Leonidas and Smokescreen charged forward. The former's hood opened up, revealing his cannon. Most of the Vehicons dodged his shots, but that allowed the others time to transform into robot mode.
Through internal coms, Optimus ordered Leonidas to find a way inside the headquarters.
With Elita-One, Bumblebee, and Arcee clearing a path, this order was easily followed.
As soon as he'd sneaked into the human building, he transformed into robot mode. The giant hole Soundwave had left in the ceiling meant he didn't need to duck his helm.
He saw the double agent almost instantly.
"Soundwave." He greeted. "I don't think I need to ask why Starscream and Shockwave would want the satellite, but what is your real plan for it?"
"This weapon must be destroyed." The faceless Cybertronian responded, using his own voice. "I plan to enter a virus. However, this is full of human encryption. I can decipher it, but I do not have the time."
"... I may know of someone who can help you..."
- - - -
Being grounded was no fun, Raf decided.
He'd never doubted that, of course, but he was almost never grounded. He wasn't allowed out of the house for anything but emergencies until the end of the week.
He could watch movies or play on his computer, but that was boring compared to driving with Bee or learning Cybertronian from Ratchet.
Rafael just wished he could help with a mission...
He heard the unmistakable sound of a ground bridge opening... and realized with horror that it was opening in his room.
"What are you doing here?" He all but hissed as Agent Fowler, Jack, and Miko walked through the bridge.
"Son, your planet needs you." Fowler answered as he handed Raf a file.
- - - -
"The Autobots have arrived?!?" Starscream shrieked.
"Starscream," C.Y.L.A.S. purred, "relax..."
He got an angry glare, and quickly corrected himself.
"Lord Starscream. Soundwave may need to download the code to remotely operate Damocles from here, on your warship. But while jacked into the mainframe, Damocles is his to command. Just watch..."
He typed a message to Soundwave, and sent it.
- - - -
"C.Y.L.A.S. wishes me to try and shoot one of the Autobots with the satellite." Soundwave reported.
"Then miss on purpose." Leonidas instructed, "and claim it was an accident."
He nodded, and entered a set of coordinates.
Seconds later, a blast of laser fire shot down at the battlefield. Soundwave had intended for the ray to just hit a patch of dirt, but he accidentally hit a Vehicon that Smokescreen had accidentally sent into the line of fire.
"At least that will convince Starscream it was an accident." Leonidas mused. "Keep firing at random spots. I'll inform Optimus of what we're doing. Rafael should be able to crack the encryption shortly."
"That is no longer the plan." Soundwave corrected. "Rafael intends to hack the satellite itself, then send it on a course that will cause it to burn up in Earth's atmosphere."
"Genius." Leonidas nodded. "Keep firing randomly until he's got it."
Soundwave nodded.
- - - -
A red warning popped up on Shockwave's data screen.
"There is a breach in the system." He informed Starscream. "We have an intruder attempting to override the satellite."
"Where is it coming from?" The leader growled.
"Locating."
The computer pinpointed the location.
"Jasper, Nevada." C.Y.L.A.S. muttered. "It could only be the Autobots' human allies."
"Then why don't you attend to the matter?" Starscream retorted.
"Surely, one of your subordinates is more suitable--"
"I'm ordering you." Starscream growled. "If your so convinced that the 'human factor' is such an asset, then get out there and prove it!"
Within seconds, a bridge opened up. Knowing he had no other choice, C.Y.L.A.S. transformed and drove through.
- - - -
He'd dreamed about seeing Breakdown again.
Learning there'd been a mistake, that he'd just gone into hiding. That they'd find each other again.
But this wasn't those dreams.
This was one of Knock Out's worst nightmares.
There was the face of his Conjunx.
Scarred, corrupted, ugly.
And being worn by someone else.
He didn't hesitate. The second Ratchet saw that C.Y.L.A.S. was in the field, Knock Out had called up the bridge himself and charged through. He didn't stop running until he'd rammed into the imposter's side, leaving a hideous dent in the process.
He scratched his paint, leaving behind numerous nicks that would take a while to touch up. But he didn't care. He wanted this monster to pay.
"C.Y.L.A.S., is it?" He growled, his usual haughtiness nowhere to be found.
"In the flesh." The impostor transformed into robot mode. "In a manner of speaking."
"Do you know who I am?" The red ex-Con growled.
"Knock Out." C.Y.L.A.S. smirked. "A traitor. Maybe I can further earn my place with the Decepticons by throwing you at Starscream's feet."
"I'm also the lover of the mech you desecrated." He retorted. Then he chuckled. "Do you really think that Starscream will allow a human into his ranks?"
"The Autobots did." C.Y.L.A.S. fired back.
"In case you haven't noticed, the factions couldn't be more different. Optimus Prime is willing to see and treat humans as equals. Starscream, on the other servo..."
"I'm not a human any longer." C.Y.L.A.S argued. "I will prove myself to Starscream by handing him your head!"
He shot a missile at Knock Out, who effortlessly dodged it.
"You wanted to see the true power of a Cybertronian?" Knock Out snarled. "Then you'll get your wish!"
C.Y.L.A.S. hadn't had enough time to learn all that his new form could do, and Knock Out was filled with the purest rage over what had happened to his beloved.
It wasn't even a fight. The human-in-a-Decepticon was thoroughly beaten.
It was all C.Y.L.A.S. could do to turn tail and run when Starscream called him back to the Nemesis.
Knock Out stood for a moment before remembering he couldn't be seen by humans, and transformed into his alt-mode before speeding back to base.
En route, he looked into the sky and saw the satellite burning up in re-entry.
If he'd been in his robot mode, he'd have grinned.
- - - -
"Your plan failed." Starscream sneered at C.Y.L.A.S.
"I may have underestimated the Autobots." The abomination apologized. "But rest assured, I will begin right away on a plan to--"
"No need." Starscream purred. "You didn't make a mistake. I did."
"What?" C.Y.L.A.S. sounded hopeful.
"Yes. To quote something you said when we first met, my biggest mistake was not shooting you on sight."
Moving faster than the cyborg likely thought possible, Starscream used his claws to deliver a long scratch across C.Y.L.A.S.' face plate. He groaned, putting a servo over the scratch.
"But don't worry." The Decepticon continued. "I believe you've earned your place at the table."
"Really?" The monster looked up... only to be stung in the back by Shockwave's spear.
"Shockwave's dissection table." Starscream elaborated, grinning wickedly.
Eyes widening in panic, C.Y.L.A.S. began screaming as two Vehicons began dragging him back to Shockwave's lab.
"Do whatever you like with him." Starscream informed Shockwave. "I'll give you, as the humans say, 'complete creative freedom'."
"Understood." Shockwave nodded. "But before I begin, I must inform you of something I discovered. In the last cycle, three triply-encrypted messages have been sent from this ship. To the Autobots."
"What?" Starscream growled. "We have a spy aboard?"
"Affirmative."
"Who is it?" He bared his dente.
"I am uncertain. But I will find them."