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Beta Hangar

"Bah! It is going to be a lecture of somekind or a… A powerpoint presentation! And if it is not Shockwave is the most boring Decepticon this side of the galaxy as usual, it is us getting to be his test subjects on something.”

Brawl's thoughts were actually not too far off from Onslaught's own on this occasion.

"I'm counting on the latter," Onslaught said as he waved the other Combaticons onward and stalked off into the corridors that would eventually take them to Shockwave's private lab facility within the Predacon vessel.

"Hey boss! Why 'counting' on it, eh? You want us to be poked n' prodded?" Vortex said, working to keep pace with their commander.

"I could think of worse assignments," Blast-Off said, descending the walkway and following after the others.

Beta Hanger

Nothing like a nice recharge following repairs, Swindle thought as he extracted himself from the CR chamber. He’d completed his cycle a while back, but decided to take the time to reevaluate some of his function choices.

It wasn’t that he had second thought or doubts about his actions, just the execution of said actions. He was too used to dealing with mechs. Cybertronians were predictable and easy to navigate after eons of knowing them, but these humans were unpredictable.

He’d continue his studying of the fleshbags from intercepted satellite feeds to find the right group to do business with. Not only would it be safer, but he could chalk it up to research for security purposes if anyone asked. Not that they’d believe him, but could they disprove him?

Not in this cycle, he thought, smiling as he made his way back to the bridge.

His smile faded when her heard Brawl.

Brawl wrote: "Bah! It is going to be a lecture of somekind or a… A powerpoint presentation! And if it is not Shockwave is the most boring Decepticon this side of the galaxy as usual, it is us getting to be his test subjects on something.”

Oh scrap. I forgot about Shocky. A nervous glitch caused his energon to spike, but it quickly settled down to normal. Maybe a short term memory wipe is needed first?

Onslaught wrote:"I'm counting on the latter."

For the love of… and we call StarScream a sycophant. Swindle knew better than to voice that, and after taking a second to steel himself, his usually cocky smile reappeared as he stepped onto the bridge.

“Ah, the glory of dissection by Shockwave. Anyone calculate the odds of our personality programs remaining unchanged? I’m sure it’s around… five to one? Any takers?” he asked, looking from one Combaticon to the next.

[Beta Hangar → Shockwave’s Lab]

Blast Off wrote:>>"Coming in for a landing in the Thanatos' beta hangar, gentlemen. Prepare to disembark."<<

”Hmph. Guessss this is where I get off.” Viper hissed and followed the rest of the Combaticons out of the shuttle, but knew that he didn’t really hold too much importance in their eyes. They seemed to have moved on without him anyway. “Bah.” He wandered off elsewhere, aimlessly making his way to the mess hall for a drink.

Onslaught, on the other hand, didn’t respond to the rest of his team inquiring behind him. He knew why he had picked those words. The rest could figure it out on their own. Turning the corner to Shockwave’s laboratory, the doors slid open, exposing the Combaticon Commander to the view of the room.

“We are here, Shockwave.”

Shockwave's Laboratory

Shockwave had kept a cursory optic on the movement of the Combaticons, ensuring that none of them wandered off, as the likes of Brawl or Swindle were wont to do, though for entirely differing reasons. The presence of their unit commander, however, reduced that possibility considerably. In due course, they arrived.

“We are here, Shockwave,” Onslaught announced as he and his team stepped through the doors.

"Satisfactory. I will note your punctuality in your performance logs. Imperative: proceed to the medical berths. You will note that there are five already awaiting your presence."
___

As Shockwave directed them to the assembled berths, Blast-Off looked first at Onslaught and then the others. From Onslaught, at least, there appeared to be no hesitation. That was sufficient for him.

Grumbling loudly, Brawl followed Onslaught’s lead and walked over one of the medical berths. He didn’t like this one bit. Once again they had found themselves as test subjects to the one eyed madman. And this time there hadn’t been even an explanation. Or had there? He was pretty sure there hadn’t. Just speculations.

Still, it appeared Onslaught and Blast-Off were fine with proceeding with whatever this was. And Brawl certainly wouldn’t appear weaker than them. Which was exactly why he had lied down on his medical berth. That didn’t stop him from voicing the big question in his brain module though.

”So what the slag this is about? You could at least tell us that much.”

Shockwave's Laboratory

As the Combaticons moved into position in their respective berths, the Military Operations Commander began activating the equipment that would take in-depth scans of each Combaticon's unique design and begin the process that the Constructicons and the Stunticons had already gone through.

”So what the slag this is about? You could at least tell us that much,” Brawl interjected.

Rather than offer an immediate, verbal reply, Shockwave brought up visuals of Devastator in action, as well as the prototype of the Stunticons' combined form that would likely soon see action of some form, given their deployment to the surface.

"The future," Shockwave said simply.

[Shockwave’s Laboratory]

Shockwave wrote:"The future."

Shockwave spent next to no time giving his rather ominous response. Brawl had brought up a valid question, however, but it was Shockwave’s responsibility to ensure that that question was thoroughly answered. Nevertheless, they were not here to waste time if they were here on official orders.

“Then so be it, Shockwave.” The Combaticon commander was not going to waste his time. The scientist had clearly done this before, what with his displays of the Constructicons and the Stunticons up for everyone to see.

”The future."

”Well color me interested.” Brawl grunted, enthralled by the visuals of Devastator in action and so far unseen Stunticon combiner schematics. Rubbing his hands together, Brawl turned his head to look at his teammates.

”Ours’ gonna be the toughest sonova gun ever, right guys?” He added giddily, ”Those Constructicon noobs can’t hold a candle to us, nor Motormaster’s bunch, heh. What you think Swindle? Huh?”

Shockwave's Laboratory

As Shockwave continued to monitor the Combaticons alteration process, he was also looking at holovids of Devastator in action as well as simulations of what the Stunticon combiner as well as the eventual Insecticon and Seeker combiner would be able to do in a simulated combat experience.

The latter were still in the developmental stages, but now that they had working prototypes in the field, the work that he and Megatron had put into this endeavor over the vorns would tolerate no delays.

Shockwave's optic flickered as Devastator's massive fists crushed a structure on the screen.

[Shockwave’s Laboratory]

Onslaught could only watch as Shockwave displayed the impressive imagery of the Constructicon titan while his innards were being worked on. They really were going all out with this process. Excellent strategy, if it reportedly worked as well as he hoped. The Combaticon commander had his doubts and nitpicks about the process though, given the events that had unfolded previously during Megatron’s absence, and Shockwave was a difficult character to read. Still, the prospect of the operation… was not necessarily a bad one. And he doubted Megatron would change his mind at such a stage in the theatre of war.

Certainly, quite the moment.

[Shockwave’s Laboratory]

Blast-Off noticed that Onslaught's gaze was fixated on the screens that held Shockwave's attention. To be honest, they were quite intriguing: they too would join the super-warrior class here very soon.

Over the vorns, there had been talk and grumbles and rumors of Megatron's interest in this process, going all the way back to the legends of Nexus Prime and the actual creation of Monstructor. But for so long, it had been just that, rumors. Now it was quite clearly full speed ahead.

"I expected the process to be more painful, honestly," Blast-Off said as a half dozen robotic arms of various sizes systematically reassembled his inner workings. Just as he said that, one of those arms inadvertently jabbed a energon receiving conduit.

"Ow."

Shockwave’s Laboratory

”Interrogative: what will be your next objective once these repairs are completed?”

The Seeker commander pondered the inquiry for a moment, processing the various answers he could provide for the violet Cyclops currently operating on him. The various retorts he could provide might be lost on a humorless mech such as Shockwave. Best to also not try anything clever while his internals lay bare for the whole room to witness.

“I suppose a meeting with Megatron is in order.” Starscream idly responded, almost sighing as he gazes up towards the operating lights above, “I have no doubts I will be chained and taken before him to answer for my sudden departure.” He let his words sit in the air for a moment as if inviting the military commander to issue in a retort of his own. “And if I am so lucky, maybe even live to see tomorrow’s cycle.”

Soon after, the Combaticons all seemed to roll into the facility and Shockwave diverted his attention towards them as they each took up a medical berth. There was a moment where Starscream felt the need to yell out at Shockwave for leaving him with all his parts showing, instead realizing his plead would fall on hushed receptors. So be it then, let those Combatifools gaze upon the revealing spark of a true Decepticon! It didn’t matter, they were too busy to even realize he was there. Not to mention the various machinery surrounding him atm might be concealing his identity. There wasn’t much the Seeker commander could see from where he lay on his own berth, but glimpses of holographic displays of the Constructicon’s latest project flickered in the other side of the room. ”Certainly wastes no time.” He internalized as he tried to tune his audio sensors in to overhear what Shockwave might be working on.

Shockwave's Laboratory

“I suppose a meeting with Megatron is in order. I have no doubts I will be chained and taken before him to answer for my sudden departure. And if I am so lucky, maybe even live to see tomorrow’s cycle.”

Starscream's answer prompted a momentary deviation of the Military Operations Commander's attention. He shifted in his seated position from the set of holoscreens that were controlling and overseeing the Combaticons' various procedures and began examining Starscream's. He entered a few new commands and two additional arms arose from the table and began new work on the Seeker's internal circuitry.

"Declarative: it is fortunate then that your meeting with Megatron has already occurred. Megatron's apparent blind spot where you are concerned is the reason you are here and not, as you say, in chains. Once I have finished with your repairs, you are free to do as you wish. Your apparent lapse is concerning; however, it is not uncommon for there to be certain blank spots in both short-term and long-term memories, given the injuries you sustained. I am attempting to restore them now."

"How much longer will this whole process take?" Blast-Off chimed in.

"Declarative: as long as is necessary to build on the work accomplished by the Constructicons."

Several soft chimes indicated that the additional repairs on some of the finer circuitry connecting the Seeker's spark and his brain module were completed. With that done, Shockwave initiated the commands that would bring the Seeker upright once more.

"Your repairs are complete."

Shockwave’s Lab

Gaps? In *my* memory?! Internalized Starscream as he looked on at his repairs while the cycloptic scientist diagnosed his damages. How was that possible? Sure, the damaged he sustained prior to returning was extensive but memory lapses like he didn’t think were a possibility at all.

“You know, I’m surprised.” Starscream began to lament, turning his optics back forward and staring off into space, “If it were anyone else, the stunt I pulled would have had put a mech on the chopping block, disposed of immediately...” He paused for a moment to let his works sink in with the mobile computer of a Decepticon. “And yet, here I am, still (somewhat) standing and functional. After vorns of undermining and power grabs for his throne, Megatron continues to let me walk.” If he had lungs, Starscream would have let out a sigh. Even if Shockwave could not answer his questions directly, he still felt it was one he had continually asked himself cycle after cycle. What did he gain from this? How many attempts had the Seeker commander made at Megatron and his throne at this point?

”And yet, here I *still* stand...”

“Tell me, did you receive some sort of secret order to rewrite my behavioral matrix? Finally fix the mechanoid whose been a constant thorn in his treads?” He inquired looking back down to Shockwave from his medical restraints, “Why do I bother asking... Even if there were any you wouldn’t tell me.” The restraints soon released and the Seeker commander stepped back to the floor, rubbing at the armor along his forearms where he had been clasped in. It felt good to finally have some energon back in him again, proper energon this time. He hate to admit it but after the damages he had sustained, stepping off that berth had him feeling like the day he walked off the assembly line.

“Your work here is gratuitously appreciated, Shockwave.” The red and white seeker stated, “Are you aware if my presence is needed anywhere or am I free to see what’s changed around the ship?”

Shockwave's Laboratory

“You know, I’m surprised. If it were anyone else, the stunt I pulled would have had put a mech on the chopping block, disposed of immediately...And yet, here I am, still (somewhat) standing and functional. After vorns of undermining and power grabs for his throne, Megatron continues to let me walk.”

If Shockwave had set aside any of his vast computational resources for the purposes of understanding humor, he would have laughed at Starscream's remark.

"Declarative: those of us within the command ranks of the empire have long been aware that Megatron possesses some sort of strategic blind spot insofar you are concerned, as I said earlier. Perhaps now that you yourself realize it, there will be some benefit to the movement."

“Tell me, did you receive some sort of secret order to rewrite my behavioral matrix? Finally fix the mechanoid whose been a constant thorn in his treads? Why do I bother asking... Even if there were any you wouldn’t tell me.”

Shockwave's optic flickered.

"That is correct," Shockwave said, specifically answering only Starscream's last query and leaving it up to the Seeker's own innate paranoia to puzzle over what exactly he might have meant.

“Your work here is gratuitously appreciated, Shockwave. Are you aware if my presence is needed anywhere or am I free to see what’s changed around the ship?”

Shockwave had no need for gratitude. He simply turned and resumed his work on the Combaticons. But not before addressing the Seeker's parting question.

"Declarative: your movements are your own. There have been no orders to the contrary. Were it otherwise, I would ensure you were being escorted to the brig."

Shockwave’s Laboratory

Starscream’s usual incoherent banter was something that Onslaught merely observed passively, having given him enough of a ragging earlier. The fact that he had forgotten so quickly was rather amusing, however. Shockwave’s lack of emotion in his rather sarcastic replies only added to the fire.

Onslaught looked toward Shockwave, and asked the one question that was on his mind. “Any updates on our… current situation, Shockwave?” Blast Off had earlier mentioned how painless the process was, and it was rather well executed in the combaticon commander’s optics. Efficient.

Shockwave’s Laboratory

Shockwave had ignored Onslaught's most recent query. It had not been done out of any particular spite; quite the opposite. Though Onslaught was something of a rival in the command ranks of the Decepticons, he was also a colleague with whom Shockwave could effectively dialogue and had done so many times in the past. In truth, he had simply been so engrossed in his work that external queries were irrelevant. When he had something useful to provide in the way of updates he would do so.

Such as now.

"Declarative: surgical procedures completed," Shockwave stated simply as the assorted mechanical arms and tools that were buried deep inside the vital components of all the Combaticons began to process of closing up their points of entry and restoring the polysteel coverings.

Shockwave’s Laboratory

"Declarative: surgical procedures completed," Shockwave said, after what felt like an eternity.

Blast-off reached out with limbs that ached from inactivity and carefully touched some of the areas that that been critically exposed only a few moments before.

"Th-that's it?"

Maybe the whole process wasn't as bad as he'd been expecting.

Brawl too began to stretch his limbs out. Not that it really did anything for him. Stretching after all was something organic lifeforms benefited from. Autonomous robotic organisms? Not so much. Not with bodies of metal and polymers at least.

”I don’t feel like anything changed.” He groaned. ”How’s this supposed to work, huh? We pile up on each other and grunt some magic code word?”

Shockwave’s Laboratory

The procedure had been quick. Although a somewhat unexpected timeframe, there was no doubt that the mech behind the operation was perhaps the best intellectual genius amongst their ranks. Onslaught was somewhat pleased with the efficiency.

Once the mechanical arms had completely retracted, Onslaught positioned himself upright, looking around at his team. Brawl’s question had been a valid one - it would be crucial, especially for Onslaught himself, to know the method of operation. He awaited Shockwave’s response.

Shockwave's Laboratory

”I don’t feel like anything changed. How’s this supposed to work, huh? We pile up on each other and grunt some magic code word?”

Shockwave entered Brawl's initial assessment into the datalog regarding this latest gestalt.

"Satisfactory. Declarative: the physical changes should not be felt in either robot or alternate modes; however, this can not be guaranteed in transformation to the gestalt. It is an encouraging sign as this process continues with future units."

Shockwave then processed Brawl's secondary statement, a query as to the initiation of such a transformation.

"Declarative: Special team commanders can access the underlying programming that will initiate the process in all members. In some teams, there is also a deeper pull--such as what we originally saw in the Monstercons--that is still in the process of being fully understood. Regardless, the transformation is essentially in Scrapper's hands. Or Motormaster's. Or...now...Onslaught's."

Shockwave then turned his lone optic in Onslaught's direction.

"Interrogative: what shall this new unit be called?"

Shockwave's Laboratory

Onslaught appeareed to ruminate on Shockwave's question for a few moments, but in truth, it had been one among many things he had been considering since the idea of this combination process had first been given to them.

The Constructicons in their combined form were now called Devastator. The original Monstercons had been collectively known as Monstructor. The Combaticons dealt brutally with all whom they were tasked to destroy. They would be known as...

"Bruticus," Onslaught said calmly, looking to the others for their reactions.

"'Bruticus'?" Swindle asked, rubbing his chin nodule. "Niiiiiice," he added, giving a metallic thumbs up sign.

"Indeed," Blast-Off agreed. "I like it. Right to the point. If the Constructicons can 'devastate', we can certainly 'brutalize'."

Brawl slammed his right fist into the open palm of his left hand and grinned viciously behind his face plate.

”That’s my kind of a name!” He bellowed, enthusiastic about the chance of getting back to action. ”We get to test ’im out already or what?!”

Shockwave’s Laboratory

“I would say so,” Onslaught said, stroking his chin structure as his glance shifted from Brawl to Shockwave. “Surely there is somewhere else our talents can once again be put to use, for the glory of the Decepticon empire?”

”I bet Megatron has something planned for us.” Vortex shared his opinion, ”It isn’t like he’d go through all this trouble without a plan. A strategist like you should know, eh? Heh heh.”