Chapter Text
Scrap. Scrapscrapscrap! The Autobots had their share of bad luck, but this-
Ratchet had shouted that the newly upgraded groundbridge needed one more check when Bee was already driving into it. He found himself in a familiar dark hall staring up at a mask made of all sharp edges- Megatron.
Bee immediately charged his cannon, but a cold, unmerciful fist grabbed his arm and forced the blast to the ceiling. Bee used the crumbing embers to his advantage and clipped Megatron in the eye with his free hand. He broke free and fled, hitting his comm to try to contact Ratchet. He heard static, then the sharp intake of his own vents. He hit the ground and stuck fast, a thick web chained around him. He whipped his head back and his spark tightened in horror.
Airachnid. He thought she had left the Decepticons! And not just her, but vehicons were looming over Bee, and Knock Out was assisting Megatron to his feet.
“Careful, little spy. You may hurt yourself,” Arachnid crooned.
“This is no time for your teasing, Airachnid,” Megatron said sternly, rising to his full height again.
She chuckled, unfrightened. “My apologies.”
Megatron seemed to leave it at that, which Bee might have found strange if his mind wasn’t racing for the slightest chance to escape. But there was none, so he prayed and steeled himself as Megatron reached out. The warlord pulled him up to a sitting position. Painlessly so, but Bee still couldn’t get to his feet.
“Tell us how you found us,” Megatron said, stepping away with his arms folded, as though Bee was a sparkling caught after curfew.
“Call it an act of Primus,” Bee whirred out in a hiss.
Megatron frowned. “You sound different. Have the Autobots changed your voice box?”
Now Bee was less scared and more offended. “By all means, waste your time on me,” he snapped. “I’m not telling you any more than last time.”
“Last…?” Megatron shook his head. “Let’s try this.” He started toward Bumblebee.
Bee flinched, and Megatron halted. “No one is going to harm you,” Megatron said evenly. “We can’t allow you to tell the Autobots where we are, but no one is going to harm you.”
Bee’s optics darted between the Decepticons. They looked worried. Compassionate. He could expect mind games from Airachnid, maybe Knock Out, but all of them at once?
“What happened to your optics, Yellow?” Knock Out asked, leaning forward. Bee leaned sharply back. Megatron gave Knock Out a warning look.
“Well, I’m sorry,” Knock Out said in his arrogant way, “but his optics are different!”
Megatron studied Bee. Bee slowly registered- the same could be said of them. Megatron had dark blue optics. Knock Out had gold and Airachnid, a pale blue that was almost white. Scrap, even the vehicons looked different. More varied.
“Hm,” Megatron pondered. “Tell me, Bumblebee. Why are you fighting this war?”
Bee was still on edge, but while he wasn’t under a weapon- “Same reason as Optimus. To protect earth’s people and restore Cybertron. Actually restore it.”
Another confused, concerned glance went around the Cons.
“He might have gone insane. And I know insane,” Airachnid remarked, casually tapping the side of her head.
Bee was beginning to wonder if he had. But no. No. This could still be a trick.
“Knock Out, run a basic examination on Bumblebee,” Megatron ordered. “But if you taunt him, so help me Primus, I will send you to mine through a sandstorm.”
“Understood,” Knock Out said begrudgingly, putting a protective hand over his finish. He stepped toward Bee, who recoiled again. The Deceptions paused.
“Shall I cut his webbing?” Airachnid asked.
Megatron considered this. For the first time, his optics gleamed with a threat. “Do you intend to harm my medic, young Autobot?”
Bee could not have been more confused. But he shook his head.
“Cut him free. Let him know we are not like the Autobots,” Megatron ordered. So he was cut free.