“All right. I believe you.” He straightens slowly, rolling his shoulders. “I forgot how powerful that little bastard is…”

Megatron tilts his head, surprised. “Does it?” he asks. “Most people find it insulting, or think that I’m lying.”

“Amp of The Endless Retaliation,” Megatron says. “Yet another misguided, traumatized bot I manipulated.”

“I don’t—can’t—blame you,” Megatron says flatly. “If I were you, I would do the same thing. All I can do is assure you I’m being genuine, and hopefully prove it to you through my actions.”

“The ‘cause’ is a sham. A non-entity I created to manipulate millions into following me, believing that they were fighting for something greater than themselves.” Megatron sighs. “But you didn’t come here for another self-pitying tirade.”

Megatron crouches slowly, crimson optics following Ricky across the garage. “Are you injured?”

“Maybe. I don’t know. Quite a bit of blame rests with me, though—I’d be wrong not to carry it.”

An amused smile. “I was already uptight.”

“Er, no thank you. He’s assaulted me enough times.”

“…You make this choice exceedingly difficult.”

"KAON!"

"Release him," Megatron snarls, prowling forward. "Or I will tear you limb from limb."

"You have one chance at walking away from this intact," Megatron snarls, stopping a few feet away from Kaon. "Release him, and I will allow you to leave."

Megatron essentially scruffs Rodimus and drags him away to safety!

Megatron drags him close, tilting his head this way and that as he examines his wounds. "Are you all right? What the hell happened?"

"Rodimus," Megatron barks, forcing him to face him head on even as he's pinging Velocity's comm. "Speak to me. Are you coherent?"

He’s tired, as always, and stressed about Rodimus, but happy to see her. He’s always happy to see her. “Hello.”

He sighs and nods, leaning to rest his shoulder against hers. Without words, he tells her that there’s so much he wants to say. So much he holds back from her and Rodimus—and she can feel it, if she pushes. She can feel the almost painful adoration he holds for the two of them.