Dancing For The Optics Of The Wicked

Chapter 1: I Own You

Arcee scowled at the mech who pushed her along, Swindle. Swindle was a 'collector' and slaves had become a sudden popularity among the cybertronians who lived in Kaon. Him and his goons had just happened to stumble upon her hiding place, and a femme who served Optimus Prime would go for good credits. Swindle did some digging and had found out about her 'colourful' past. She used to be a dancer. Not just any dancer, a dancer who would perform in seedy pubs for the likes of seedy mechs. She was a good dancer, she was the favourite of some mechs. So Swindle liked to abuse this trait, he'd take her back to these seedy pubs for her to perform, so while she was under his rule, he still got credits until she would be eventually sold.

Turns out, today was that day.

It was Arcee's turn to be put on a platform for all to see, she heard gasps and murmurs between the crowd, yet she kept her head low. She glanced out of the corner of her optic, She saw obvious war veterans but no one she noticed until..

"Ten thousand credits!" It was a mech, he reminded her of Ratchet but he was a lot taller and thinner. Yellow Optics. He could have been an Autobot undercover.

"Twenty-five thousand credits!" Another mech barked, She recognised him, Barricade. A mean looking mech; a war veteran. His black paint job gleamed as he stood tall over most mechs there.

No! No No No! Barricade would only take her back to Megatron! She escaped once already!

"Going once..going twice...sold! To Mr..Barricade!" Swindle declared. Everyone dispatched from the auction, while Barricade went to collect his 'winnings'.

"Ah Barricade, Here are her details." Swindle said, swapping the datapad for his credits.

"It's going be sad to see her go, she roped in good credits for me when she performed." Swindle quipped, just as Barricade started to scan over the datapad.

"What do you mean?" He asked, his optics narrowing in confusion.

"She's used to be a dancer, Barricade. See for yourself." Swindle said, gesturing to the datapad in Barricade's servo.

"Interesting, Megatron's gonna love this." He smiled, glancing at Swindle.

"Megatron? I guess you want me to gift wrap her?" Swindle jokingly said.

"Yeah, actually. It is a gift after all." Barricade quipped, watching Swindle then walk off and drag the femme with him.

A few earth minutes passed and Swindle was back, Arcee had white ribbon tied in a bow on her winglets, while more ribbon tied her pedes and servos together.

"That's the best I could do without her ripping my helm off." Swindle shrugged.

"Pleasure doing business with you, Barricade." Swindle said, shaking the taller mech's servo lightly, before handing the femme over like a sack of bolts.

Arcee couldn't contain the growl she let loose, she hated being carried, and by a Decepticon no less! She didn't miss Barricade's smug smirk. It just annoyed her more.

"Still feisty eh? Megatron will have that sorted out, no doubt." Barricade mused, not looking away from the datapad.

"Soundwave? I need a groundbridge to Darkmount, I got somethin' for Lord Megatron." He said, pressing a digit to his commlink.

As the swirling vortex appeared, Arcee could only conjure up one word.

Scrap.

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