Transformers re-Prime-d (Season 1)

Predatory

"Cybertron was still alive. You had commissioned a secret tunnel to transport troops and supplies. But, there was a traitor among us. The Autobots found out about our little project. You had sent my task group in to clear the no-longer-secret path. We faced strong opposition. You had heard of an Autobot barricade waiting on the other end of the tunnel. You wanted to personally destroy these meddling Autobots and interrogate at least one of them to discover who was the traitor among us." I smiled. "Too bad he was on Tarn's team." My smile faded. The DJD was ruthless to traitors. "My group went in," I said. "We fought. By the end, they had all perished. A plasma grenade caused a beam to trap me. It destroyed the circuiting in my ped. I could not move and was in an intense amount of pain. Why always my feet? Anyway, I called Soundwave to send in some one to help me get free, before you arrived. I remember Soundwave telling me that everyone else was dead. I gestured air quotations, "Shocker," I said. "Soundwave informed me that you, and your second wave of elite soldiers: Soundwave, Dreadwing, Skyquake, Breakdown, Airachnid and Starscream; would be the first to respond. I waited, not for long. I tried an infinite amount of times to get free. Despite my best efforts, I could not."

"...When you finally did arrive, I felt ashamed. An injured soldier never left the battlefield. We both knew that: everyone did. You and your force arrived. You personally lifted the beam and I rolled out from underneath the no-longer-enclosed area. I stood. I don't even know how it was possible, but each step was more painful than the last. I hid my injury. I claimed that I would slow down your group of soldiers, and I requested my return to the base. You would not allow it. You said that I was important, and a good fighter. You forced me to join your party. Your soldiers talked of how weak and pathetic I was: A claim proven by my getting trapped under a freaking metal beam, and a blatant inability to free myself. I did my best to conceal my injury. I walked next to Dreadwing towards the back of the pack. When we exited the tunnel, the Autobots were waiting for us. We fought valiantly -as you probably remember- the Autobots had that disintegration cannon. It had two shots. I saved you twice. Twice. The first I pushed you out of the way. We both avoided the blow. The second, I redirected it. You were fixed in your position. They aimed at you. Supposed checkmate. I moved in front of you and did my best to redirect the fire. Remember back then? When I had tried to use blasters? When I finally woke in the Med Bay, the medical officer informed me. Certain systems were destroyed. One of which, was my targeting. Another was a cut in my energon system. Even without automatic targeting, I would never be able to use a gun again. I was just no longer compatible. You got Shockwave to make me superior armor and boosters to compensate. You remember what you told me? You said that I had saved your life twice. You admitted it. You never did. You asked me why I had risked my life for your own. Starscream wouldn't have. I told you that I wouldn't let any comrade perish if I could stop it. You were stubborn. You concluded that since I would have done it, even without the life debt, neither would count. You joked. You kidded that I would be forced to stay with you forever. Looking back on it: I wouldn't mind standing by your side indefinitely." I squeezed Megatron's servo, "You just have to wake up." I felt a tear of energon roll down my face, "You just have to wake up." I caught my breath, let go of his servo, and dried my face. I told him, "I admitted that I was injured, before the battle. I asked you if you'd want a useless injured soldier... You remember what you said? You told me that you would always want me: Even if I were injured, or useless. But as long as I was by your side, neither would be true."

...

I walked into the command center. Snowstorm was talking to Soundwave. I was timid. Starscream walked up to me.

The commander asked, "Shadow, are you alright?"

Odd.

I answered, "I'm fine." Since Starscream was deciding to be nice, I thought I would as well. I asked for the commander's permission, "I have a request," I said.