Silence (TFP)

chapter 13

(A/N---This is a caution for those of you with a weak stomach. There is a bit of gore at the end of the chapter. I don't want you to get sick, so please be careful!)

Chapter 13

I loved to hang out with Ironhide. As much as I loved Ratchet, Ironhide was way more fun. Since the day Megatron found out that Ironhide was here, Ironhide and I did everything together. We went for rides, built computers (Ratchet wouldn't let us build guns. He was afraid one might explode accidentally.), and sometimes we had sleep overs. We were best friends.

Today, Ironhide and I decided to go for a ride down one of the many desert roads in Nevada.

"Oh my Primus!" I exclaimed as we reached the adrenaline pumping speed of 120 mph.

His amused voice came through the speakers as I clutched the seat so tightly that my knuckles turned white. "Too fast for ya?"

"I think I'm gonna throw up!"

He slammed on the breaks and I flew forward, but I let out a pained yelp as I was jerked back by the seatbelt. "Not in me, you're not."

I rubbed my neck while I climbed out of the truck to solid ground. I lowered onto my hands and knees and hung my head, trying to find my stomach from where we had left it behind a couple of miles ago.

"Ugh." I groaned after gagging a couple of times. I turned and sat down as Ironhide transformed. He was tensed up and looking up at the sky. "What is it?"

"I'm picking up a con nearby. Approaching fast. We're not going to have time to escape without him gunning us down."

I stiffened. "What do we do?"

He looked at me for a short moment. "You need to get out of here. Depending on who he is, I might be able to hold him off. The real problem is that there's nowhere for you to hide. We're both out in the middle of nowhere, and I'm pretty sure he's not after my vast knowledge of weapons. Ratchet told me what happened before. They want you, Jessica. They've come to take you back."

I grimaced as his words sunk in. "Soundwave acts like a father to me. And they need me, so they won't hurt me." I paused. "I hope."

The Con came into view, and it was easy to see who it was. It was nearly impossible to miss the silver mech. He transformed in the air and landed in front of us. He came out of his crouch and stood up straight. That unmistakable smirk rested on his face.

I looked to Ironhide for instruction, but found that he was frozen. Megatron's presence had probably triggered a flashback from that time I refused to talk about for Ironhide's sake.

Thankfully, the warlord paid my still friend no attention. He really had come for me. "Just the one I was looking for."

Time passed, and I found myself back on the Nemesis. It was only to be expected. What I didn't expect was the Decepticon leader taking me to a dark room in the brig and chaining me to a table. Lit by only one light above me, the room gave off bad vibes. It didn't take a genius to figure that out.

Megatron walked out of view to turn on the rest of the lights in the room. I blinked rapidly at the sudden brightness as I let my eyes adjust. When they finally did, I didn't like what I saw.

Instruments of torture littered several tables. Most of them were bloodied with the energon of those who were previously chained exactly where I was now. I gulped.

"You're wondering why you're in your current position," Megatron stated.

"Something like that." I looked down at the table and saw long dried energon splattered all over it. This was not good.

"I've allowed adequate time for the Autobots to share their secrets with you. You know the location of their base. You know their future plans. You know their strengths and weaknesses. You know everything that goes on in that base. You are going to tell me what I want to know or I will enjoy the pleasure of using each of these tools on you."

Realization dawned on me. "You never did want me for my knowledge and skills, did you? You just took me then to establish a connection. You knew that after Decepticon contact, the Autobots would keep me with them for protection. Everything that's happened has led up to this."

"How right you are, puny human. I made you repair Knockout to see if you were even worth the Autobots sharing their secrets with. Soundwave could have easily repaired him. Once I saw that you were actually worth something, I used your period of incorrect functioning as an excuse to get you off of the ship and back to the Autobots. That time in the mine, I planned it all out to make sure that you were still with the Autobots. I waited for the perfect moment to take you back, and that moment was today. Why do you think I haven't threatened you before today? I needed you to believe you were safe among the Decepticon ranks and would come willingly if need be." He laughed darkly to himself for a moment. "Let's begin. First question. What is the location of their base?"

"I'm not telling you." I glared at him even though I knew I would certainly suffer the consequences.

"Very well. Just know that we are past doing this the easy way." He walked to the tables that held the objects I dreaded even thinking about. He quickly picked out what he wanted. He turned around and held the drill-like object up for me to see as he turned it on and it began spinning rapidly. What was supposed to be silver seemed blue from the dried energon that coated the torture device.

He held the tool next to my leg. It was then that I knew that he would really go through with it. "It is a pity that we can't use the cortical psychic patch on you since you're a human. But I'll ask you once more so you can't say I didn't give you a chance. What is the location of the Autobot base?"

I couldn't betray my friends, no, my family no matter how annoying some of them may be. Giving up the location of the base would put them all at the mercy of the Decepticons. "I'll never tell you! You must have lost your processor if you think I would ever betray the Autobots!" I would not doom my friends to the same horrors I was about to face. His expression darkened as he brought the object closer to my leg. Time was up. I braced for the pain.

Nothingcould have prepared me for what I felt next. The pain was absolutely indescribable. No one should ever have to go through this. I screamed at the top of my lungs as thedrill pierced my skin and the muscles that lied beneath. I felt fresh blood pour down the side of myleg. Looking down after he finished andmy screaming had reduced to whimpers and heavy breathing, I saw that blood wassplattered all over the table and a part of a muscle was hanging out of my leg. Already I was starting to loseconsciousness. I looked up to my handsand saw that they were trembling. Notonly that, the face on my disguised communicator was pushed in. Megatron must have pushed it accidentallywhen he was chaining me up. The Autobotsheard my screams. I could only imaginethe thoughts running through the heads of two of those Autobots. Poor Ratchet and Ironhide.

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Yay! New chapter! Cliffhanger! The next chapter is written, but I think I'll wait until Wednesday or Thursday to post it. ;) I also have chapter 15 halfway done! I'd like to thank @sapphirewolf97 and @lovethelaw for giving me the ideas for chapters 13 and 14! Lovethelaw's dedication will be next chapter.

What'd you guys think of what Megatron did? What a jerk! Why didn't Soundwave stop Megatron from hurting her? Ooooh a mystery! Stay tuned and stay jazzy! :P