#snipit

Megatron studied the two mechs in front of him. He recognized the empurata staring at him with a single yellow optic—Shockwave, the terror of the Senate. The mech hunched over next to Shockwave wasn't someone Megatron recognized. The most striking part of his appearance was that he was entirely unpainted, and Megatron wondered why. Unpainted mechs had a reason to stay unpainted, he would know.

"Shockwave, why have you requested a meeting with me?" Megatron asked.

"You are attempting to overthrow the Senate." Shockwave flatly said.

Megatron tensed. How did he figure that out? He had been careful when building his rebellion so far. Finding mechs he could trust to be left in charge of different parts of his rebellion and work towards a better Cybertron when he was done. He hadn't felt secure enough to call to the people yet, to point out the hypocrisy and corruption of the Senate and how they needed change. So how could Shockwave know about it? Did he have a leak?

He was confident in those he'd confided in. But it was possible one of them have betrayed him.

Ravage clearly didn't like the implications of Shockwave's statement because he started growling at Shockwave. "What are you talking about?"

It was normally a good scare tactic to use on others. Mechs were terrified of growls and other similar guttural noises, even when they knew Ravage was the one making them. Only, Shockwave didn't react at all to Ravage's growl. Worse than that, the noise made Shockwave's companion straighten up. Pinning Ravage with a glare he snarled

Megatron was used to Ravage and his sounds. He even enjoyed watching everyone's reactions to them. But the sound this mech made, it scared Megatron.

It scared Ravage worse. Ravage's ears pulled back as he hunched over and started backing away. A high-pitched whine left Ravage which was incongruous with the confident mech Megatron had grown to know over the last few vorns.

"Hound, we are attempting to be friendly. Not scare them." Shockwave said.

So, the other mech's name was Hound. How fitting for a mech who could imitate a mechanimal so well.

Hound huffed. "Ravage try scare Shockwave Hound. Hound show Ravage Hound dangerous."

Megatron felt his brows raise as Hound spoke. He was used to interacting with society's cast offs. But none of them spoke as brokenly as Hound did. His pronunciation was perfect, but it was as if he didn't know how to properly string words together to form a sentence. Was it something Shockwave was using as leverage to keep Hound with him? Or did he stay with Shockwave out of loyalty?

Shockwave cocked his head to the side as if processing what Hound said. "But Ravage's display did not scare me."

"No matter. Ravage try scare Shockwave. Try threaten Shockwave. Hound respond."

Shockwave paused in consideration before slowly nodding. "My death would be inconvenient. However, we are attempting to befriend these mechs."

Megatron had to gain some sort of control of the situation. It was already turning into a disaster and he needed information, not a fight. If someone was sharing their plans he needed to figure out who and if it wasn't one of his people he needed to figure out how. And he needed to figure out just what these two wanted.

"Let me ask again, why are you here?" Megatron asked.

Shockwave's attention refocused on Megatron, and he tried his best not to be unnerved by Shockwave's single optic. "As I was saying before, you are currently attempting to overthrow the Senate. We would like to help."

That was not what Megatron was expecting. "Help?"

Shockwave's head finials gave a little flick at the question. "Yes. Hound and I have information you will require to successfully attack the Senate."

That couldn't be it. There had to be more. Shockwave had a reputation from killing Senator Shockwave, but if he wanted some more senators dead, he could do it himself. There had to be something else behind this. Something else he wanted. "And your payment for your cooperation?"

"No hurt integrated mechs. Hound Shockwave want integrated mechs better." Hound said. After a moment, he added, "Proteus also dead."

Shockwave nodded. "Our main goals for joining you are ensuring the destruction of the Senate and the safety of integrated mechs. They do not have a choice in staying with their senators, and their recovery is a priority."

Integration. Megatron had never heard of it before, but knowing the Senate it couldn't be good.

If Shockwave was truly against the Senate, then he supposed the help would be appreciated. He would have to tread with caution until he was sure Shockwave could be trusted. And even if Shockwave couldn't be trusted, maybe his companion, Hound, could be turned to their side.

When fairytales turn dark in the daycare

Anyways enjoy so very rough pro-to dialogue I've scratched out as a discussion between Yoda and Anakin about what side he will choose.

Anakin is stunned. Ahsoka had died and he had brought her back to life. Those veague and disturbing memories of mortis were real.

Yoda had known about so many dark things that Anakin had done. Killing innocents and defying the natural order of death and he'd come here to help Anakin with his visions. Not to fight him. Not to arrest him or to banish him. To help.

"Are you telling me that I have the power to bring people back from the dead? Are you going to teach me? To save Padme?"

Yoda shook his head. "No. This power you do not have. Save Ahsoka, your abilities did not. The light you chose. Guide her fate it did hmm. You chose then, to trust in the light. A great destiny it gave her. Choose again you must. Offers you great powers the dark side does. Not one of them, eternal life is. Though tried for a long time, the Sith have. For you, what does the light offer? Tell me, can you?"

"The light doesn't offer anything. It's just light."

"hrmm, yes. Choose, what will you?"

"You want me to choose between the possibility of immortality or nothing? You think this is a hard choice."

“Is that how it is hm?” 

Ratchet stoked the faceplate with his thumb. “Feelin’ hot under the hood there, Drift?”

He transforms his hand back to its previous state and drags his digits down red plating, slowly, teasingly. “A little eager don’t you think?”

The speedster barks out a hoarse laugh. “When ya got me where I wanna be, it’s hard not to get riled up. Besides,” a knowing glint shined his optics. “I ain’t hearin’ a no.”

For that, Ratchet pulled some exposed wires from his chassis, earning him a groan. Sparks flew from the frame beneath him, traveling down red plating and into the open air. Some charge transferred into Ratchet’s frame, heightening his own growing arousal.

AN: Chapter 18 is almost done.