Chapter 60: Megatron's Headache
While Starscream was enduring this inexplicable ordeal in a faraway galaxy, Megatron, high above Cybertron, wasn't having a good time either.
On the surface, the Autobot dominion had completely fallen, and the Decepticons now roamed freely across the planet. However, when a series of financial data was presented to him, the once-arrogant Decepticon leader was left utterly stunned.
"Soundwave, are you joking with me? How is it possible that we have so little energy stored up there? Haven't we already destroyed all of the Autobots' defenses? Is someone pocketing resources? I demand a list! I want to see who dares to steal from Megatron! Whoever's doing this is asking for trouble!"
As the leader of the Decepticons, Megatron knew his troops all too well. Whenever they obtained something valuable, they hoarded it immediately. They started by stealing equipment and energy, and gradually escalated to stealing the AllSpark itself. What wouldn't these scoundrels do?
"Lord Megatron, this is difficult to quantify. Our current reserves are only enough to keep the planet functioning for about 150 years...excluding unnecessary expenditures. We urgently need to locate new energy deposits. Furthermore, I personally recommend we implement fire-control systems immediately; otherwise, our best warriors could be wiped out."
These Decepticons had always been used to plundering...it was a habit they would never lose. In fact, it was Megatron himself who had led the looting of the Autobots' treasures, a clear example of how a common cause can turn into corruption.
Now that the time for accountability had come, Megatron was completely dumbfounded. For these mechanical lifeforms, concepts like "money" or "wealth" didn't truly exist; their purpose in survival and combat was simply to acquire as much powerful equipment and energy as possible.
What Commander Megatron had never imagined was that, after countless massive expenditures and a prolonged civil war between the Decepticons and Autobots, Cybertron's energy resources had nearly been exhausted. As for the so-called colonies, though reports had come in about energy extraction bases, most were under the control of local tyrants.
Take, for instance, that giant dinosaur Salas. He claimed that the total energy reserves of his territory surpassed the combined treasures of ten of Megatron's empires...but getting him to yield even a single drop was nearly impossible. When it came to feigning poverty, he was far better at it than Megatron himself.
"Damn brats! Soundwave, quickly summon all Decepticon commanders and tell them that I, Megatron, am calling for a meeting! Whoever fails to attend...without a very good reason...will regret it deeply! And why haven't I seen Starscream these past few days? Where's that brat hiding?"
Ah, right...Starscream had been missing from Cybertron for years. The mighty Decepticon leader had only just remembered. Fortunately, Starscream had previously informed him that he was leaving for another galaxy to hunt down the remaining Autobots.
But for Transformers, a few years was equivalent to just minutes for humans. If not for this urgent situation, Megatron likely wouldn't have remembered his "little brother" for a very long time.
"Commander Starscream previously reported that he might have discovered a message from Optimus Prime, so he went to that region to investigate. For some reason, we've heard nothing from him since. The area he's in might be outside Cybertron's signal range."
Soundwave merely reported the facts...it was up to Megatron to decide how to interpret them.
"Heh… I didn't expect that brat Starscream to not cause me trouble at such a critical moment. I wonder if he's secretly hoarding energy. Never mind...let's ignore him for now and deal with that dinosaur Sachs first. That guy's swimming in wealth!"
It seemed clear that Megatron didn't think very highly of Starscream. The Decepticon leader was clearly the kind who used people and discarded them afterward.
"Megatron, speaking of that giant dinosaur Salas...although he didn't send us Energon cubes, this time he did send us a gift. He said it's something you'll definitely love! The Saxons also sent the same kind of gift. When would you like to see it, my lord?"
As Megatron's second-in-command, Soundwave appeared to have no personal desires. He never accepted bribes or gifts...a truly exceptional administrator.
"Those two are so annoying. Why don't they send more Energon instead of this junk? What kind of gift is it this time? Bring it in! If I'm not satisfied, they'll both regret it!"
At that moment, Megatron was like a desperate rich man...his mind filled only with thoughts of Energon. But sometimes, what one desires most is exactly what one doesn't get.
Creak!
Perhaps responding to a subtle cue from Soundwave...or maybe just following Megatron's command...the door to the command hall slowly opened, and several graceful Decepticon warrior women entered with strange, deliberate steps.
From a Transformer's aesthetic point of view, these females were stunning, each bearing the Decepticon insignia proudly upon their chests...a rare and precious sight!
Due to the ferocity of Decepticon nature, the number of female warriors among them was naturally small, and most were rough, destructive types that looked like mere slabs of circuitry.
But these beautiful Decepticon warriors were completely different. Even Soundwave, usually so rigid and emotionless, had a green glimmer in his optic sensors as he gazed upon them...almost as if he were longing for something.
"Great Megatron, we are a gift from Scorponok and the dinosaur Salas! We're willing to do anything for you!"
These Decepticon women might have been enhanced versions of pure Decepticon warriors...or perhaps reconstructed from the sparks of former Autobot females. Either way, their addition would undoubtedly make the Decepticon army far more… colorful.
Yet for some reason, Megatron's expression darkened even further.
The mighty Decepticon leader even raised his laser cannon…
(End of Chapter)