Rule of Madness

Chapter 6

Ratchet tensed when the two Enforcers pushed their way into the smaller room, the foremost looking annoyed at the worst while Barricade looked to be a cross between gleeful and sadistically amused.

Trying to speak, Ratchet found trouble finding his voice, but when he did, he was pleased that his voice remained firm and even a little annoyed. "Don't wake her." The former CMO growled, glaring up at Barricade and remained unmoving in his seat.

Barricade snorted in amusement. "Well, I guess whores always enjoy the company of those like-minded to themselves." The Enforcer leered, moving closer and giving the recharging Titanium a glance, a corner of his lips twitching into an unkind smirk before he looked back at the defiant red and white mech before him.

Trying his best to remain composed and still, Ratchet cast him a serious look. "You know, Barricade, it's better to let others think you're stupid than to open your mouth and prove it." The older mech responded.

Honestly, the startled shock on the Enforcer's faceplates was worth any retribution that could befall him, and Ratchet smirked as the shock transitioned into anger, the black and white Datsun grabbing him by the collar and jerking him from his seat. "I had considered giving you a second chance, but now it seems to be true you need a good reprogramming... Or a stronger servo to keep you in your place."

Snarling, Ratchet swung out at Barricade, striking the mech across the faceplates, the sound bring a satisfaction to the old Autobot. This mech had humiliated, abused, hurt and raped him, and the former CMO felt the anger and hatred fill him as he attempted to swing again, the collar catching up with his intentions and sending a strong voltage through his frame.

Ratchet collapsed in Barricade's grip, grinding his denta together and let out a soft keen, the scent of smoking circuitry and singed plating overwhelming his olfactory sensors.

"Serves you right." Barricade leered, jerking at the collar to get the white and red mech back to his pedes.

"What are you doing in my room?"

The question caught everyone off guard and they collectively looked up at Titanium, who was no upright and sitting on the edge of the berth, tense.

Before Barricade could respond, the second enforcer stepped forwards. "We have received a complaint about your pet." He announced, pulling out a datapad. "Aggravated assault against a civilian, disregard for the laws put in place for the Autobots, unwilling to submit and now assault against an officer." The strange mech reviewed from the pad, jotting down the last bit before looking up again. "To put it briefly, your pet is too aggressive."

There was silence as Ratchet vented heavily, still dazed from the shock, before Titanium spoke up again. Her voice was soothing to Ratchet, the old mech relaxing. He had no power here, no way to defend himself, but Titanium did... She had to. "An autobot is to fulfill the needs of their owner." The jet finally spoke in a calm tone, but Ratchet could sense her fear and see it in the way her wings stood up high against her back. "I have trained mine as a bodyguard. You cannot fault him in protecting me."

Barricade scoffed, cutting off his partner who had been about to speak. "Then why is he collared? No bodyguard needs a collar if they are designed and trained for the protection of their owner." The Enforcer gave a rough jerk on Ratchet's, choking the mech. "So if it's true that you wanted him as a bodyguard, and he's still collared, you cannot control him yourself." The Decepticon smirked smugly.

Ratchet looked at Titanium with wide optics. If there had been a way to keep him from being collared... Why had she collared him? Perhaps he didn't mean anything at all to her, and she saw him as the other Decepticons did. He averted his optics, shoulders slumping in a submissive pose.