::…::
There is the sound of pedes hurrying back to the console.
::Negatron- NEGATIVE. Negative, Smokescreen, that won’- _ell him the truth cowa_ Won’t be necessary!. Thank you. I can handle things. I can.::
::… Was that Megs in the background? Is he doing okay, there? What’s going on- did you guys get attacked? Seriously, I can help you out if you need help! Just send me your coordinates.::
::No, it was not, we are not in need of aid and- STAY THERE, DON’T YOU DARE MOVE.::
::Lord Megatron is not- _bee, don’t_ ::
A blaster shot, followed by a growl.
::Lord Megatron is not available to speak at this time, we are indisposed.::
::…::
There is the sound of pedes hurrying back to the console.
::Negatron- NEGATIVE. Negative, Smokescreen, that won’- _ell him the truth cowa_ Won’t be necessary!. Thank you. I can handle things. I can.::
[[previous]]
“…We need to talk.”
There had been a jolt at his wrist, and everything had gone black.
As Lord Megatron became aware again, he remembered that jolt with a cringe, not for the pain, but for its familiarity. Stasis cuffs, he remembered with a creeping dread. How could he have been so careless? Now he stood against the wall, held fast to it by restraints normally meant for heavy cargo. He could break through them, but it would take a few moments, and in that time, he was vulnerable. He was almost impressed. Sharp optics took stock of the room before locking onto Datastream and the weapon in her hand with a smirk. The comm channel was still open.
“I applaud you, Datastream. Soundwave had his suspicions, but even he could not prove your treachery.” The little grounder bristled, hiding fear behind that mask of determination. Determination for what, exactly? If she’d been planning on killing him, she would have done so when he was defenseless. He carried on, confident in his safety.
“You must be one of the most clever little operatives I’ve ever seen. Pity you weren’t genuine or we may have won this war much faster than we did.” That touched a nerve. Good. He was getting to the root of the issue, then. “So tell me, Captain. What exactly made you think that in order to talk to me, you needed to stage this elaborate and untimely farce of a kidnapping?” Her doorwings drooped a measure, and it was clear that the fear had come back.
Good.
Captain Datastream sets her shoulders, letting out a shuddering ventilation. This is possibly the most stupid thing she’s done in her entire function, but what else can she do? She had failed. She may have saved the lives of her crew members by throwing them all into stasis, but when they’d awoke, the war was over. Optimus Prime was dead, and Megatron had reclaimed a living Cybertron for himself. For the Decepticons. She had failed so utterly.
She’d never even planned on surviving this long. Double agents were usually found out within a few years, if not right away. Data had been careful, only sending transmissions to her handler when they were out in deep space, away from any ship that might be able to pinpoint where the signal came from. Triple encryptions. Being open about her defection. Even still, every double agent knew that they were going to be caught eventually, and that it was their job to gather as much critical information as they could before that happened.
But she’d been in stasis, for over 2 million years. She hadn’t been killed, she’d just been asleep… and death would have almost been preferable. The war was over, and the Decepticons had won and she didn’t know if her actions would have made a difference, but she had been robbed of a chance to act at all. It all happened while she was asleep.
So now, what else could she do? Go on pretending that she was someone else, someone who was ecstatic that the Prime was dead, joining along with all the late-night songs of victory? It was more than she could bear! This wasn’t how it was supposed to go. She should have either helped the Autobots to victory, or died trying. Instead, she’d been asleep.
She checked all the stasis cuffs, made certain that the drones couldn’t break free. Then, blaster in hand, she made her way to to the still form of the mighty Megatron, a terrifying behemoth even in stasis. With her free, shaking servo, she keyed in the code that would deactivate the forced condition, but not the restraints. Stepping back, she waited for him to come to, blaster aimed to fire between his eyes.
“…We need to talk.”
::I… I do know. And I wish there were more like you. More allied ‘bots that… that didn’t buy into Megatron’s change of spark.::
::Listen, with all this chatter, I’ve probably already got someone on my tail. There’s something… Something I need to do. For the good of everyone or just for my piece of mind, I don’t know… But you’re probably not going to hear from me again.::
::I’m sorry about Optimus. I should have been there.::
::… Yeah. I know what you mean::
::Someone on your- what are you doing, exactly? Seriously, what’s going on-?::
Should have been there? He doesn’t even know that that’s supposed to mean. ::Nothing would’ve changed, probably- I wish I could change it, but- ::
::The less you know the better, Smokescreen. Really. …I hope that when things are settled, you’ll stay. I have to go now, there’s not much time before they figure me out.::
::Be a good solider. Keep fighting.::
Unable to figure out how to disconnect the ship, the comm channel is left open, but much quieter as Data leaves the console.
::Fine you know what? Forget him. I care. You’re going to get hurt if you get involved anymore with this than you already are. I can’t let that happen.::
::I’m sure you could get me that cure but that’s not the point. If you help me, if you come here, you’re going to be in a lot of trouble later. I’m willing to take this on myself. No one else has to get hurt, ok?::
::How would I get hurt? And- why do you care so much? You haven’t met me face to face yet- You know I’m an Autobot, right?::
::Wait, why would I be in trouble, later? You know, I’ll probably end up in trouble somehow regardless of what I do. So I should help you. There’s no reason you have to go at this alone, right?::
::I… I do know. And I wish there were more like you. More allied ‘bots that… that didn’t buy into Megatron’s change of spark.::
::Listen, with all this chatter, I’ve probably already got someone on my tail. There’s something… Something I need to do. For the good of everyone or just for my piece of mind, I don’t know… But you’re probably not going to hear from me again.::
::I’m sorry about Optimus. I should have been there.::
::H-he knows! I’m sure he does, just… just give me a minute to think…::
::I know you’re trying to help, I understand. But I’m trying to help too… There are just some things I need to fix. I’m not bringing the shuttle back yet. I’m sorry.::
::I really doubt he actually cares, but thanks anyway. But I can give you a klik for thinking. I can be in and out of there without anyone noticing, you know. And I can navigate that ship, too.::
::Fine you know what? Forget him. I care. You’re going to get hurt if you get involved anymore with this than you already are. I can’t let that happen.::
::I’m sure you could get me that cure but that’s not the point. If you help me, if you come here, you’re going to be in a lot of trouble later. I’m willing to take this on myself. No one else has to get hurt, ok?::
::Do not get on that ship. I don’t think the drones were infected, and even if they were, I would still have a few more days to administer anything.::
::L-lord Megatron’s orders. Do not endanger yourself.::
::But wouldn’t it be best to get something in as soon as possible, just in case?::
::Oh- Megs cares about my safety now? I kinda doubt that. And he’d know better than almost anyone else how good I am at snagging things.::
Still, despite him arguing, he hasn’t actually done anything yet.
::H-he knows! I’m sure he does, just… just give me a minute to think…::
::I know you’re trying to help, I understand. But I’m trying to help too… There are just some things I need to fix. I’m not bringing the shuttle back yet. I’m sorry.::
::Because I am… I am trying to help you. Please. I’ll.. I’ll bring the shuttle back and face the consequences, but there is something I have to do before that. The drones will be fine, I promise.::
::Okay, Smokescreen?::
::Trying to help me? How? I’m trying to help you! … Consequences?::
Well, that certainly didn’t sound ominous at all.
::Mmm. I still want to get on that warship. You’re gonna have to go into more detail, I think.::
::Do not get on that ship. I don’t think the drones were infected, and even if they were, I would still have a few more days to administer anything.::
::L-lord Megatron’s orders. Do not endanger yourself.::
Megatron's back up 