Alright guys, this is it. The last Part…just not a happy ending for now

Within a dark and dank hold; Shadow became conscious, groaning lightly as he became aware his feet weren't touching the ground. He felt restraints around his wrists and his arms wrenched upward. He knew immediately he was a prisoner, but he wasn't entirely sure where.

He forced himself to open his one good optic. His vision was fuzzy at first but things came into focus and the optic adjusted to the dim lighting. Before him he saw two figures. One he recognized as Megatron. The spook's knee jerk reaction was to struggle and try to claw at the warlord with vicious back talons. But they were restrained and he only heard laughter rising at his feeble attempts.

"Sleep well, assassin?" Megatron goaded the beast. Shadow brought a cold optic to the fierce Decepticon leader, scowling at him as if his gaze would kill. "Why so upset? You're home now with your brethren. Only trouble is they don't want you here."

Shadow flashed his fangs, trying to whip his tail around too, but that was also restrained. He figured no less, but he couldn't help but try. He tilted his head to glare specifically at Megatron once again, but caught more details on the other figure. He couldn't believe what he saw.

"Soundwave!" he coughed, partially overjoyed that he was able to see his sibling, even if may have been his last moment alive.

But his spark fell. The Decepticon Intelligence Officer didn't react. Megatron laughed once again, finding it more amusing to break the traitor's spirit then actually kill him.

"Are that naive to believe he would remembered you? Or have your memory banks been whipped between now and the last time you ever saw him." Megatron said. He took the spook's jaw in hand and dug his claws in; drawing out a light trickle of Energon as he did.

Shadow wasn't going to take this. He tore his head away, unable to look at Megatron or his brother. "You used me!" he snarled in disbelief. All this time he had been talking to his younger brother, thinking that maybe his memory had come back. If what Megatron had said was true, then Soundwave did this to find the elusive Rogue.

"Why would you want to find me?"

"Better to know where the enemy is. The moment Soundwave detected your life signal I had him contact you and keep tabs." Megatron explained, knowing well if he didn't explain his elaborate plan then it would go unheard otherwise. "Once we arrived at Earth we tried to pinpoint your signal."

"But I was underwater and you couldn't find it until just now."

"You are smart, but certainly not smart enough to outwit your own brother!" Megatron bragged. He broke into a fit of laughter as he was more elated he caught the Rogue leader and now could do what he pleased.

"Only because I trained him!" Shadow snarled, turning his head back toward Soundwave and glaring him down. Again the officer didn't react.

"And who knew that your family would be your only downfall." Megatron wanted to cherish this moment forever. He enjoyed the emotional pain being inflicted on his once prestigious officer. "There is only one other thing you cherished more. And I want to see the look in your optic before you are forever blind!" Megatron bellowed.

He gestured to section of wall which opened promptly. Shadow could only see a silhouette at first, but the voice that followed was all he needed.

"You summoned me, my lord?" It was Knockout. He barely took three steps into the room before he locked optics with an old friend. "No" the medic gasped.

"I-I-I thought you were dead?" Shadow voiced, incredulous to the being he saw before him. Knockout took a step back, trying to believe what was before him.

But Knockout didn't respond. His mandible was held open, stupefied. Once he had come to grips with what he was seeing, he stopped his backward motion and moved forward, past Soundwave, and past Megatron. Once he was a mere few feet away from the beast he stopped.

"What are your plans for him, my lord?" Knockout responded calmly. He ripped his optics away from the spook and turned to face his master. Shadow lowered his head in defeat, knowing he would die now.

"I had plans of ripping his spark from his frame. But I know you two have a…history" he glared down Shadow to entice the creature to fight his captors. But Shadow's spirit was broken and Megatron grinned deviously. "But I suppose you could have that honor."

Knockout froze. His processors focused on this heavy decision to determine the life or death of a hated enemy to both Decepticon and Autobot. He turned, weighing the decision, and his optics caught a somber gaze from the spook. He closed that distance between him and the beast, taking the strong jaw in servo carefully. Turning Shadow's helm to have his last optic look only at him, Knockout sighed heavily.

"Let this be the last thing you see. Ingrain it into your processors." Knockout coaxed. Shadow did as he was ordered, scanning every new dent and scratch that was delicately hidden from normal vision. Liquid started to well up when the spook looked Knockout directly in the optics. Then when he finished, he closed his optic and waited for the medic to terminate him.

Knockout raised his servo, the appendage transforming into a drill. It's piercing whirring echoed through the room. With one final burst of confidence, the medic drove the drill into the side of Shadow's face, drilling in just far enough to eliminate his last functioning optic.

Of course Shadow's vocals rose to a cry of agony, but Megatron was undaunted by the screech. His optics darkened as they looked to his medic. "You won't terminate him?" he spoke calmly, but it only masked how he really felt.

"I'm sorry my lord, but that's the one thing I can't do. Not him" Knockout begged, transforming his servo back and leaving the spook to himself. "Not after I just lost Breakdown."

"So you would betray me to protect him?" Megatron growled. He stood over Knockout as he tried to figure out the motives of his medical officer.

"No sir! But Shadow is more valuable alive then dead. With Breakdown gone, I need extra hands in the medical bay." Knockout felt his case to keep the spook alive was slowly falling apart. He had a real reason, but he didn't want to say it.

"Are you sure that's not the only reason you want him around?" Megatron saw right through Knockout. The medic's cycle hitched and it was all the warlord needed to confirm his question.

"Very well Knockout. I will be merciful to him for one last time. However, I require one more adjustment to him if he is intended to stay aboard my ship." Megatron's toothy grin returned and Knockout was bewildered. The leader only gave a single nod of his head and the Intelligence Officer finally came to life.

Soundwave moved forward and faced the black and white spook. He waited for a more specific order, and his patience paid off.

"Soundwave, remove his vocals." The warlord ordered.

The officer didn't need to be told twice. With no hesitation he found the vocal box at the base of Shadow's neck. Slipping wiry claws past all the cabling and fuel lines, he took hold of what he wanted. Once Soundwave had a good grip, he ripped his arm back and easily pulled out his older sibling's vocals.

Shadow made the motions of a screech, but was completely silent. It was surreal to all Decepticons there, but Megatron enjoyed the sight. "Well now. I think there is only thing left to take care of. But I'll let you handle the scythe, Knockout. Seeing as you are so invested on keeping this traitor." Megatron laughed. He took the vocal box he was presented and crushed it with ease in his servo.

"Enjoy his company. I will be keeping an eye on your pet." The warlord dismissed turning and leaving the room. Soundwave was quick to follow, which left Knockout standing mortified. He turned to look over his new 'pet' but didn't feel any better about his choice. With streaks of Energon flowing from both his darkened optics, the spook appeared to be crying.

But Shadow still knew what was in front of him. He could smell Knockout. He heard the footsteps begin and echo, but they moved away from him, behind. He didn't need to see to know what was happening now.

"I'm sorry, Shadow." Knockout breathed quietly as he took a fusion splicer in his servo. The tool, normally used as a torture weapon, was activated and made short work of slicing through the vertebrae that kept the deadly scythe intact.

Shadow didn't care now. He was already humiliated and defeated to a point of numbness. Instead he only sent a comlink request to Knockout, who promptly accepted.

"Why didn't you just kill me?" the voice echoed in Knockout's processors. It was a voice of a broken spirit. He just began to wonder if he had indeed made the right decision, or if it only meant bearing the pain of knowing he destroyed another Cybertronian without removing the spark.

Thank you all for reading, and for those who've left reviews, I can't tell you how much I appreciate the feedback.

But fear not, this isn't the end. With the end of this story will come another, so just hang tight and I will try to get the new story and more chapters for "Fight After Fight."

Until then, take care and keep strong!