Jason Duncan Presents
A Living Dreams Production Of
Loyalty: "Into Uncertain Arms"

From a deep darkness, he heard a familiar voice.
"He is ... functional?" the voice asked. Another, manical voice replied.
"He will survive. His mind, on the other hand, is entirely another matter."
The voices grew closer.
"Meaning?" the first voice inquired.
"Meaning that whatever happened to him in that cave has," a short pause ensued as the second voice searched for the correct word, "has disturbed him." The first voice uttered what only the closest to him might discern as concern.
"I ... understand."
The voices grew distant again as darkness claimed it's victim.

In a flash of renewing light, he found himself screaming. He jumped from the liquid pool onto the adjacent platform.
"What? How?" Nothing but questions filled his mind. What had happened? How was it that he was here? Was this the ... Pitt? And then he saw him, saw ..."
"Megatron?"
"I see that you are functional. Good, for I have many questions to ask of you." The imposing leader towered over his Lieutenant Commander, who was visibly shaking. As he looked into the eyes of Scorponok, Megatron saw a fear that he had never encountered in any being's eyes before. At this, he was given pause.
"However, I believe that perhaps a leave of your duties for the next few Cycles would be appropriate before the inquiries. The outline of your encounter was downloaded from your core some time ago. The details can wait for now." Scorponok almost screamed in response.
"No they can't, Megatron. If you had been there, if you had seen what that, that thing was capable of, then you would know that my rest can wait." The Predacon began shaking his Commander as he continued to speak.
"They're coming, Megatron. They're coming! And when they arrive, by Primus if they are not already here, they'll destroy us all. The first Aliens were nothing compared to these monsters. We ... are ... dead!" Megatron grabbed hold of Scorponok's shoulders and forced his Lieutenant into a calm stature.
"Perhaps. But we will deal with these aliens later, yes. But for now I am interested in a more private matter." Scorponok hesitantly looked up at Megatron, sensing the question to come.
"Ask your question."
"When you encountered the creature, you had the chance to flee. Your curiousity cost you part of your face, but you were still functional enough to transform to beast mode and flee. You did not." Megatron drew closer again to Scorponok's face.
"Why?" Scorponok returned the gaze. "Because you and the others think I'm an idiot, a clumsy idiot with no redeeming qualities. And worse, the others call me the "Yes Bot" behind my back because of my alliegance to you. This was my chance to prove to them," he looked harder into Megatron's eyes, "and to you that I am more than that. This was my chance to prove my loyalty not only to you, but to the others as well. It was my chance to prove that I am Predacon." Scorponok lowered his gaze toward the silvery floor. A long moment of silence passed between Scorponok and Megatron, as Megatron continued to gaze at his Lieutenant. It was Megatron that finally spoke.
"You are to have leave of your duties for the next 12 Cycles. We will deal with this new alien threat at the conclusion of that rest. You may go." The smaller Predacon began to exit the Stasis Pools.
"Scorponok," Megatron spoke softly." Scorponok turned to face his leader, expecting a rebuke of his leave. Megatron continued to speak softly.
"Perhaps what you may not realize," the leader positioned his command chair in front of Scorponok and placed his hands once again on his Lieutenant's shoulders, "is that you have always been Predacon in my eyes." Megatron withdrew his arms and command chair away from Scorponok. Fading into darkness, Megatron spoke one final time.
"No go. Rest so that you may prepare with me and your fellow Predacons a lesson in revenge against the Creatures that did this to you. Yes."

The End