I have found a flower that will strike fear into the heart of your enemies. The best part is that you don’t have to worry about taking care of it because it’s already dead.
Happy Victory Day
-Love, Steve
Has it really been…
Your gift is appreciated, Steve. Do not forget your own contribution to this momentous event.
It was just I was in the middle of having the drones repair the structural integrity of some of the tower columns, sir, but they told me I had to brace the building against something stable so they could tear the columns out and rebuild them and I saw the other building there and it was so close so I had them latch onto that and…
Okay in fairness I DID get a warning that the integrity of the brace was questionable but…
It just… I overrode it and gave it a try. And then it toppled down…. The good news is that it didn’t damage the building I was working on!
……
I… This is on me. I’m sorry… I’ll take full responsibility for my actions… Just… Could you let me be the one to break the news to the Commander?
…There are plenty of decrepit buildings on the surface of this planet already, one more can be rebuilt. However, I would prefer that there be no more delays, or more work made for the construction crews. If this happens again, or if anyone is hurt in the process, you will be put under scrutiny. Until then, your punishment will merely be the very act of informing the Commander yourself.
And so, the warrior returns to his ship. His people are safe once again.
Megatron watches Steve carry the limp frame of the Commander he’d so often ridiculed and beaten. He deserved death many times over from their history alone. Destroying the monster that would have killed the remaining Decepticons had been far from difficult decision. Even still, for the second time in a very short period, victory feels hollow.
He leaves the bridge to tread the path back to his suite, ghastly sword attached to his back. The heavy footsteps of the old gladiator linger behind him, outlined with cold energon.
The witch howls when his spinal strut is suddenly pierced by so many sharp protrusions. He has no choice but to release his prey. He uncoils and slithers backwards away from Megatron, shrieking in fury. It’s then that he orders his minions to attack. The puppet named Confidence is the first to charge forward, preparing to drive its nails right into the warlord’s plating. The others follow suit. Unfortunately, when Megatron makes his charge forward, it’s Confidence that takes the brunt of the force. The poor puppet completely breaks apart while the rest are simply knocked back into the cage walls. They all hiss angrily along with their master, who turns his body upward to track his target’s movement. And then he realizes where Megatron is heading.
He shrieks again, becoming panicked as his opponent moves nearer and nearer to his center. The puppets all chase after him at once while the phantom arms above go into a frenzy. They move about erratically, as if in conflict about what they wish to do. Some try to block him, others move aside and spread themselves as if to invite him into the void.
Merely the fact that the chase has become so frantic confirms the location of Starscream’s gem. Spinning and weaving to avoid the tangle of limbs spread above him, the warlord brushes against the chain holding the cage up. It sways and gives under his touch, something the bars of the cage hadn’t done. At this rate, the puppets would surely catch him, but not if they had something else to chase.
With a flourish of energy, Megatron transforms and swings at the chain, severing the metal strand and causing the monster in the cage to plummet. Kuketsu exerts some force of his own to keep his wielder aloft.
//I can’t keep this up much longer without harming you// warns the sword.
“Harm me if you must! But I will finish this, now!” Another burst of violet light propels Megatron upwards, to the center of the chaotic void. Sword drawn before him, the gladiator makes his final charge, into the heart of the black abyss, not knowing and not caring what to expect, so long as it puts an end to the nightmare below.
Megatron's back up 