Shattered Glass - Perdition

Cybertron

"The battle went well. The Decepticons retreated, no losses on our side."

"Very good. The space bridge is finished. Prime has decided he might like to take a trip out there."

A deathly silence filled the comm. Rodimus smirked as he watched the second in command falter.

"Is he dissatisfied?" He asked finally.

Rodimus laughed coldly. "Oh you know Prime... when is he ever satisfied?"

Prowl raised the orbital plating above his right optic in response, refusing to be baited. "If Prime wishes to come to Earth, then he will tell me himself and not have a grunt like you do it for him."

Rodimus growled dangerously. "Glitching SIC or not, you better watch your fraggin' mouth tactician." He leaned closer to the screen his voice low, dangerous. Prowl remained impassive, staring back at the blood red mech coldly.

"I thought that he was being pretty slaggin' courteous if you ask me." Another voice rumbled through the room. Rodimus's optics widened and he stiffened visibly.

"Indeed." A powerful voice responded. Rodimus felt his intakes increase sharply. He snapped around, unable to disguise the slight tremor in his voice. "Sir... I didn't think you..."

Prime held up his hand his optics looking over the younger mech with disdain. He walked closer stopping just short of the mech. Looking down at him Prime startled him by grabbing his collar faring with one powerful hand. Rodimus emitted a squeak of surprise as his legs kicked free of the floor. He found himself staring straight into the steady, calculating optics of his leader, gripping the hand that held him he tried to pull away only to have Prime draw him closer sharply.

"You never think it has always been an irritating failing of yours." Ironhide smirked behind his leader at the now fearful young mech. "If I had wanted you to address a senior officer, my SIC no less, I would have asked you to. You will show Prowl respect or I will give him permission to rip out your glossa. Do I make myself clear?"

Rodimus winced as he felt the grip tighten. "Yes, perfectly clear!"

He found himself flung into the far wall, sprawling on his back. Ironhide loomed over him. "I suggest you get out before he really loses patience with you."

"Slaggin'... gli..."

"Ah..." Ironhide tapped the cannon now pointed directly at Rodimus's head. "Oh you know I want you to finish that sentence..." He leered menacingly. Rodimus shot up glaring at the black mech who was roughly his size, and stormed out of the room.

"Prowl, I am disappointed to hear you haven't disposed of the Decepticons at your location." He left the unspoken threat hanging in the air. Prowl was not as easily intimidated as others, this impressed him enough to keep him as his SIC. His cool, calculating, brilliance was only matched by his ferocious, murderous temper and a deeply ingrained desire to offline every 'con he met, not always limiting his desire to 'cons. He had built up a reputation for himself and was feared almost as much as Prime himself was.

Prowl characteristically remained unfazed, if his leader's words invoked fear, he didn't show it. "In that case Sir I am pleased to report a recent victory."

Prime's optics brightened slightly.

"We have also captured the seeker Starscream and his trine."

"You captured all three seekers?" Ironhide exclaimed with shock.

"They are being brought to me as we speak by my Lieutenant Jazz."

"Lieutenant?" Prime enquired quietly.

"Yes Sir, Bluestreak was killed two days ago, I required a capable Commander to lead the men on this mission."

Prime nodded his acknowledgement.

"There's another thing Sir..." Prime frowned his SIC sounded uncertain and that was never a promising thing. "We have captured, or rather detained three other Autobots, Jazz believed it too complicated to explain over comm. and is bringing them to my attention with the 'cons."

"Really? Interesting. The space bridge has been repaired Prowl. You have done well; I shall forgo my intended visit this time." Prowl's door wings visibly relaxed. "Report back to me and bring your guests with you."

"Yes Sir."

"Prowl... I ask that you adequately restrain yourself in order to leave them sane enough to be questioned by me."

The tactician inclined his head in a slight bow of obedience and the comm. fell silent. Ironhide sniggered at the thought, remembering Prowl's last interrogation of a prisoner. The 'con in question had spectacularly offlined himself rather than be in the same room as the tactician after no more than an orn.

"You really think he can hold back? You know how he likes to get involved."

Prime cast a thin smile at his body guard. "If only all my men enjoyed their work as much." He mused, beckoning to him. "Come Ironhide, I have an impudent young glitch to deal with."

Ironhide's face broke into a wide evil grin as he followed his leader from the room.

****
SG Earth

Autobots stared at them as they passed. Their expressions a mixture of fear, suspicion and awe. Nobody smiled in their direction a few even primed their weapons at the sight of the bound trine. Prowl maintained his composure, his processor clocking over steadily as his battle computer calculated possible means of escape if it became necessary. Bumblebee was beside him, silent, afraid. One of the soldiers jabbed him in the shoulder hard causing him to stumble forward. Prowl caught his small frame, Bumblebee nodded his thanks silently as Prowl glared at the offending soldier who shrank back visibly from his gaze. His optics wide with fear.

Prowl frowned, the reactions of these Autobots to him was unsettling, what kind of Autobots were they? Why were they so afraid of him? Even Jazz for all his authority over the others kept glancing back at him when he thought it went unnoticed and kept his distance.

They reached what could only be described as a metallic fortress. Prowl and the others noticed humans in shackles being led in chains by different Autobots. Some carried electrical stingers and Bumblebee gasped in shock as he saw one being used on one of the human captives. Sunstreaker held him back firmly, his optics glancing over at Prowl who remained impassive, hiding his shock and now his worry about what sort of world they had been dropped into.

He motioned carefully over to Jazz as they continued on their way into the large metallic structure ahead of them. None of the other soldiers dared hold him back.

"Jazz... why do you keep the humans captive?"

Jazz looked around at the humans that scuttled around near their feet. "They're good workers. They know their planet better than we do, makes perfect sense to use them for mining resources. Surely you understand the logic of that?" He glanced back at him slyly his visor hiding his optics as his mouth curled in a not so pleasant smirk. Prowl nodded. "Of course." He dropped back slightly. "It is perfectly logical..." He added quietly as he watched yet more humans get dragged from their path.

They were led through a darkened interior. The bulkheads were grey, cold, metallic. Autobots walked quietly by them; there was very little idle chatter. Jazz was the only one who appeared even close to cheerful, greeting many a 'bot as they passed. The corridors narrowed and many of the soldiers dropped back when they were taken up a flight of stairs. Jazz gave them a nod and a thin smile, sending them on their way; they saluted and dashed off, eager to get away from whatever, whoever was up this flight of stairs.

Prowl felt a strange sensation tugging at his spark chamber as they neared the next floor. Jazz pushed open a twin set of reinforced doors revealing a large room on the other side. Sunstreaker's air intake valves rattled as he gasped loudly at the sight. Lining the walls were trophies from other worlds, artefacts, emblems, artwork and curiously by the largest window stood a tall green plant. It's colour contrasting the grey and steel bulkheads. The room was elegant and yet sparsely decorated, the walls were uncluttered and it was incredibly neat and clinical. Prowl was intrigued, his own interest in other cultures, their art and the nature of organic life was peaked with curiosity. He resisted the urge to inspect the artefacts and artwork.

The room had another quality; a blank wall was free of any kind of furnishings. Jazz pressed a small switch allowing heavy chains to fall from the ceiling. He motioned to the one soldier who had remained with them silently to grab the seekers. Starscream winced as Jazz grabbed him roughly, dragging him over to the chains. He struggled weakly, his body having lost too much energon to put up much of a fight.

Sunstreaker leaned close to Prowl. "Why isn't screamer... you know... screaming...?"

Prowl was tense as Starscream was turned to face him. His arms were shackled high above his head and his feet were fastened to the floor. The other two seekers were restrained in the same way. Jazz pressed the switch once more. The seekers twitched and jerked as they were raised up off the floor, their bodies stretched to their full length, arms and legs strained painfully as they hung suspended in the air by the chains. Prowl held Starscream's red optics that were screaming at him. Prowl clenched his fists, this was not the Autobot way; this was humiliating, degrading and wrong.

"Prowl?" Sunstreaker nudged him lightly.

"Their vocal processors have been deactivated... they are screaming..." His voice trailed off, unable to keep the sympathy from his tone Sunstreaker glanced up at the twitching, jerking seekers.

"What are you doing to them?" Bumblebee asked innocently enough. Jazz looked at him a dark look on his face. "They're being restrained; the chains pass a small electrical current through their bodies at regular intervals, just to deter them from any thoughts of escaping. Reminding them of our mercy."

"How is that merciful?" Prowl asked careful to keep his voice in check as he felt his anger build up.

Another voice sounded through the room. Bumblebee and Sunstreaker both stared at Prowl incredulously, mistaking the voice for his own.

"It is merciful as the chains are only pulsing at 5% of their full capacity. Reminding them of the pain we could quite easily inflict. If it is deemed necessary." The deep voice was calm, unfeeling and completely indiscernible from his own.

All three pairs of optics widened in shock as the almost completely black and chrome mech approached them, the only colour on his frame was in the form of a blood red narrow chevron on his forehead. His movements were fluid, graceful and unthreatening. His hands clasped behind his back he eyed them all carefully.

"Who decides what to inflict...?" Bumblebee asked quietly.

The newcomer curled the corner of his mouth in a distinct contemptible sneer as he looked down at the small yellow 'bot.

"I do. Of course."

His optics returned to the stunned Prowl who stared, his mouth slightly parted in shock, as his CPU tried to frantically process what was happening. The tug in his spark chamber was strong, almost painful as if he had a bond mate present. That was not possible, he had no bond mate. His two companions glanced between them in fearful surprise as the darker Prowl smiled coldly.

The realisation hit him. Hard.

"Jazz, what delightful treats have you brought me?" The black mech purred deeply. His optics widened in amusement as the black and white mech before him crumpled to the ground in a heap.

****