Unaware I'm Tearin' You Asunder

[Deleted]

Characters: Megatron, @jazz
Location: The Grand Canyon
Content Warnings: n/a
Plot Summary: It's time to break the lines. Now if the other Autobots knew? There would be no where Jazz could hide.

[Deleted]

     There was so much happening that Jazz couldn't quite take it. He had made deals in the past before, but nothing like this... not to this extent. This was something he would not be able to walk away from. This... this he could not turn back from. This particular deal would be his undoing and would end any bonds he had within the Autobots. If they knew what he was intending they would have stopped him, locked him up, shunned him from their ranks and kept him held up until he could clear his processor.

     So that was why it had to be made in secret. Why it had to be a silent betrayal. It was for the greater good. The Autobots? They didn't have a snowball's chance in hell as long as the tables were leaning the way they were. So it was time to cross that line. It was time to make a pact with the devil. The tyrant. The murder of so many Autobots that Jazz knew. Friends. Comrades. Allies.

     They were probably all short-circuiting in the Well now. They were the only ones who knew. Well, them and the one that he had contacted.

Megatron. This is Jazz. Meet me at the Grand Canyon.
I... I have something you'd be interested in. How does research on Synth-En sound to you?

     That simple moment of communication is what had brought Jazz out here to the Grand Canyon. Deep within the belly of it where they wouldn't be seen, but also where Jazz's body would never be found if Megatron just decided to end him here and now. That would mean he wouldn't get what Jazz had brought with him, but it also meant that any hopes that Jazz had for joining the 'winning team' would be gone as well. He just hoped that the history he had with Megatron would still the tyrant's hand just long enough for him to get a word in edge wise.
 
     So he stood in wait. Would he even come? Maybe. He would just have to see.

Megatron

[Megatron]

Now wasn't this an interesting turn of events?

Megatron was skeptical when he received that message from Jazz, not allowing himself to fall into what seemed to be an obvious trap.  He didn't fear for himself, and had full intention of meeting with the Autobot, but at what cost?  None to himself.  If Jazz's intentions were true, perhaps he could be of use to the Decepticon cause.

If not..?  Well, no one was going to find the answers to that question.

While the warlord knew nothing of the 'Synth-En' that Jazz spoke of in his message, he had to admit that a small fraction of himself had been curious.  It sounded to be something synthetic, and if the 'en' was for Energon.. then there was no question that this was worth looking into.  No point in making any assumptions, however.  He needed to know more.

The Decepticon leader flew to the Grand Canyon in his vehicle mode, transforming with a monstrous thud before Jazz.

"You had better not be wasting my time by summoning me, Jazz, and I promise you.. if this is some Autobot trick, you will live to regret your actions."

@jazz

[Deleted]

     "Ah, Megs. Ya outta know by now that if I'm summonin' ya then it ain't a waste of time." Jazz looked at the canyon around them and made a sweeping gesture with one servo. The walls were high, and though it provided shelter for anyone to hide behind certain formations that stuck out from the ground, the way this particular area was shaped meant that even Jazz would have a hard time keeping his steps from echoing. "I would be more worried about you trickin' me, so that's why I brought ya to this spot. I'll be able ta pick up sounds from any lil' pals of yours ya may have snuck along with ya for the ride." He turned his attention back to Megatron. "Since I know how much ya Con's love throwin' surprise parties."

     Jazz moved his left arm before him and a small panel opened just above his servo. He typed something on the keypad that lay beneath there and a hologram popped up with several rows of Cybertronian text in several difference sequences. A lot of the words Megatron would probably recognize- being their age- and Jazz as an old data collector probably would have as well. He held his arm out, allowing the Decepticon leader a view of what he was showing him.

     "Ratchet has been devisin' a new form of Energon. I don't know the details on it cause that ain't my forte, but it could prove useful. This 'synthetic' form he's got in the works I hear can bring out the full potential of the one who's got it in his system. Figured it may be somethin' ya would find interestin'." Jazz looked right at Megatron then lowered his arm, the panel shutting as the hologram shut off. "Guess you're wonderin' why I woulda decided to bring this out to ya? Easy. Neither side is gonna make it in this war long if we don't take drastic measures. Now there ain't no way Optimus is gonna kill this planet off to take what energon he can for our sake- can't blame him, cause it's kinda pretty and the organics got some killer beats. Beside the point, though." He crossed his arms and walked away, leaning against the wall. "There's only a matter if time before I can't stand the rules anymore, and lately? Optimus ain't singin' my tune. So I figure... why not see if ya'll would be interested in this lil' gem. If ya had the ability to finally get rid of Optimus? Maybe this damn war would end already."

     There was a moment of silence as the light of his visor darkened slightly and a smirk came to his lips. "Now, if I'm gonna be doin' the work takin' this data from the bots, I'm gonna need some benefit outta it. Maybe a place in your Decepticon movement?"

Megatron

[Megatron]

Megatron could only grin at Jazz's accusations.  While he was correct that Decepticons loved to give surprises to the Autobots, for once he was on his own.  No one had followed him, and no one was going to interfere with this sudden arrangement.  If Jazz truly had something to offer that would aid the Decepticons, then he was going to get his claws on it.

This Synth-En had indeed been what he had theorized, a synthetic form of Energon that was being developed by the Autobot's prized medic of all mechs.  Intrigued, he continued to listen as Jazz went on about it, though furrowed his oversized brow plates once he had learned there hadn't been a sample of this concoction to go along with the information.  It had been better than nothing he supposed, but if the Autobot had actually brought the stuff with him..?  His chances of survival would have skyrocketed.

A single brow plate raised slightly as Jazz then made a request to join the true winning team.  This all seemed.. too easy.  Decepticons weren't the only masters of deception at times, and Megatron was well aware that this could be an Autobot trick.  The tyrant sneered, baring his sharpened denta.

"You would have done well to have brought physical evidence of this 'Synth-En' aside from a simple hologram.  If it is as you say, then it would indeed be a most valuable asset to the Decepticons.  The ability to manufacture an unlimited supply of Energon.. to not only fuel our troops, but unlimited fire power.. and potentially revive our lost world.."  The tall mech moved his hands behind his back, clasping them together as he stepped forward, staring down at Jazz in an intimidating manner.

"However, if you truly wish to win our favor.. if you want to prove your worth, you will do more than just give me the Synthetic Energon."

@jazz

[Deleted]

     Unlike most who would cower the moment Megatron gave that sneer of his? Jazz didn't. He had seen this look from him a long time ago, back when the two could have considered themselves to be friends. So it didn't bother him, since he regarded it as just show. Instead Jazz just stood there and smiled endearingly at Megatron as he approached. When the tyrant stopped with a few steps separating them? Well, that didn't last long. He pushed off the wall and got right up to him, daring now since Megatron had his servos behind his back. "See, when you give me that look? Kinda reminds me that there's still a handsome mech hidin' under that odd helm of yours. Still just as much of a looker as ya were when ya were showin' yourself off in the Pits." He reached up and patted Megatron on the cheek. Surprisingly, it didn't have a demeaning air about how he did so. It had more of a touch of a subordinate affectionately rubbing against its master to win favor, similar to the gesture of a wolf pack underling nuzzling under the jaws of their alpha and betas.

     After the stroke Jazz sidestepped and walked around him, close enough to almost touch, but just barely.

     "As for a sample? We've been sent out on wild goose chases to collect the materials needed to make this stuff... but we keep gettin' derailed by your silly little cons. How ya expect us to make these things if ya ain't lettin' us get what we need?" Jazz offered a shrug, now rounding from the other side to pop up in front of him.

     There was that devious look from the saboteur again. His visor darkened and he tilted his helm up towards Megatron.

     "But I can do ya one better. With the ability of your team to gather the materials needed? Well... shouldn't be hard for the creator of this data to deliver a fresh sample for ya. This is just the data. A tease, if you will, to get your interest goin'. Like foreplay, before the big show. Just wanted to see how much ya may have wanted this. The prospect of bringin' Cybertron back? Now we're gettin' somewhere." Jazz returned to his spot against the wall then, only now his servos were behind his back, which left him completely to the mercy of the tyrant before him. "I can do one better than the sample, ya see. I can bring ya Ratchet, then ensure the Autobots lose every bit of data the medic has... all before they even realize what hit'em."

Megatron

[Megatron]

If Jazz was trying to get on his bad side, he was doing a good job of it.

Megatron snarled as the other mech touched him, patting him on the cheek.  He himself was not a touchy mech, and would decide when and if he wanted someone to touch him like that.  There was a strange vulnerability to it, and Megatron wasn't having it.  He swatted away Jazz's hand, glowering down upon upon the Autobot.

"ENOUGH!  You try my patience."

At least he was smart enough to move, even if he stayed close to his personal bubble.

The lack of physical evidence in regards to the Synthetic Energon angered him.  He felt that it had been an excuse that Jazz had come without it.  Sure, the Decepticons had fought against the Autobots numerous times, but how did that hamper their ability to search for materials to be used in this science project?  Certainly there had to be some kind of sample already devised, even if not a successful one.  "That excuse is by no means good enough for me.  If Ratchet is working on an alternate source of Energon, then certainly he has some sort of sample lying around that you could have delivered to me in person."

However, Jazz claimed he could deliver something far greater than a sample.

The creator himself!

At this, Megatron only grinned.  "A boastful claim if I ever heard one.  You would go as far as sabotaging the Autobots chances of survival?  You have tasked yourself with a difficult task."  It was Megatron's task to circle around Jazz, his optics never leaving the Autobot's blue visor.  "Bring me the Autobot medic and all data relevant to Synthetic Energon.. and I will grant your request.  However, should you fail.. I trust you know what will happen to you."

And he wasn't even talking about what the Autobots would do to him.

@jazz

[Deleted]

     As Megatron circled him Jazz would shift ever so slightly just to make sure he kept at least his side to the Decepticon leader. It was his own little thing that he never turned his back entirely to anyone- especially not a con, but not an Autobot either. Even Prowl, who had his utmost trust, was never allowed to be out of Jazz's line of vision. Call it paranoia at the beginning, but now hit was simply habit.

     "I hope ya ain't doubtin' my skills, Megatron, cause that would reflect poorly on your troops. Ya know, considerin' how many of your bases and ships I've sabotaged. I think that'd make them feel pretty inadequate."

     This means of stepping around kept up until they were both back to their original positions. Once Megatron was fully front face to him again he looked straight up at him. There was no denial that Jazz would be one of those that wouldn't back down from the looks that Megatron relied on so much to keep his troops in line. Honestly, he'd seen worse, so this didn't really bug him. If anything it just got a sort of frown out of him whenever Megatron would try to scowl at him. 

     "Yeah, yeah. I ain't forgot your colorful ways of dealin' with failure, Megs." Jazz paused for a moment as he thought about something and smirked. "Or should I say, 'Lord Megatron'? Not really sure since I'm not used to that whole 'high and mighty leader'. Lets not talk about the bowin', though, cause ya ain't gonna get that outta me. I'll deal with learnin' the title."

Megatron

[Megatron]

Ironically, Jazz probably wouldn't have even known how right he was.  Megatron indeed doubted his troops on a regular basis, especially if their name was Starscream or Moonwing.  However, Dreadwing was already beginning to slip into that role as well.  There was only so much failure he could tolerate, and it wouldn't take a whole lot more for the tyrant to completely lash out on one of them.

Or someone else.

And yet, there was that moment of doubt.  Jazz bringing up the number of times he'd sabotaged the Decepticons.  It wasn't as though Megatron hadn't had his own set of saboteurs, some of which had proven to be useful to a point.  Overload had been one of those.  Wonderful.. until he was captured.  Megatron never did go back for him, and why should he?  From those mistakes, he knew that there was a chance that Jazz was setting them all up.  The promise of the Autobot's greatest medic, as well as research on an artificial Energon source, was too great to turn away.

"If you are to indeed join my ranks, you will refer to me as 'Lord', is that understood?  I will not accept no for an answer."

Once more he began to pace, keeping his optics on the Autobot who supposedly wished to turn traitor.  "You do realize that by doing this, you will be passing the point of no return.  There will be no looking back whatsoever.  In fact.. you haven't a choice in the matter now.  When next we meet, if you do not have what I desire, I will personally terminate you."

@jazz