Transformers Until one

Chapter Two - Part Twenty one

As the heated conversations of the slave traders continued with bitterness, heavy footsteps sounded from a dark corner at the back street.

Clank... Clank... Clank...

The sound of metal hitting concrete was steady, cold, calm—but powerful. It was not the sound of any official they were familiar with; it carried a far more terrifying presence.

The old traders immediately turned sharply. Conversation fell silent in an instant. A power cup dropped to the floor with a loud crash.

Every eye widened; some instinctively began to pack up hurriedly.

"Officials!? We need to run—"

"No... no, that's..."

A tall, dark purple figure stepped silently out of the shadows. His single red optic glowed sharp and piercing like a laser, staring directly at them.

Shockwave, the Decepticon's top scientist—

Even his voice was like a cold blade slicing through the air. His plasma cannon arm moved slowly but steadily.

No words came from him.

No emotion.

No clear intention.

His mere presence was enough to chill the entire district as if all the energy had been drained away.

"W-why are you here..." one trader whispered, voice trembling with fear.

Shockwave stood still, analyzing, scanning, detecting... his red eye sweeping over them as if searching for something.

Or someone...

"If you are here to purge us... then we are finished..." another whispered hoarsely.

But Shockwave did not answer. He simply turned and walked away with the same steady pace, neither slower nor faster, as if each step left a shadow of fear lingering long after him.

When the footsteps faded, the slave traders dared to breathe again, but no one spoke further... because even among those who profited from misery, they knew well that Shockwave's presence never meant anything good.

Shockwave paused before a small, rundown slave shop that seemed deserted by customers. The red glow of his single eye flickered faintly as he stared into the darkness behind the stall.

The processing systems inside him beeped quietly before he spoke in a cold, emotionless voice, firm and resolute.

"I... want a slave. Do you have one for me?"

His tone was completely flat, without threat or intimidation, yet in that icy silence, immense pressure radiated throughout the area.

The small slave trader behind the stall gasped, metal scraps slipping from his hands onto the floor. He quickly pressed his hands together and bowed anxiously.

"Y-yes, sir! I do! I—I'm not sure what type you want..."

"Labor? Service? Or... modified..."

Shockwave did not respond immediately. He only slightly raised his head, as if calculating, analyzing something within his processing unit.

"I want a being... with potential."

"Not weak. Not trembling with fear. Not blindly loyal."

He looked down at the trader, his expression unreadable, yet the atmosphere grew colder still.

"Do you have such a one?"

The trader swallowed hard, mechanical joints softly whirring nervously. He knew this was not a simple sale... but a chance, or perhaps a sentence.

"I... I have one. In the back room... but he is stubborn, not easily tamed!"

Shockwave was silent for a moment, then turned toward the back door of the shop. "Stubborn, huh?" His eye flared briefly, as if pleased. "Interesting."

Then he stepped into the dark inside, leaving only silence and a trader trembling with a mix of fear and strange greed.

Outside, thunder rumbled softly as the slave trader slowly opened the creaking iron door. He struggled to lift something and placed it before Shockwave with shaking hands.

"Here... the stubborn one... but he's in stasis lock."

It was a Minicon in stasis lock mode, its slender body bound by faintly glowing black energy chains. Its pink eyes glowed dimly. Though externally battered like any other slave, those eyes reflected exhaustion but never surrender.

Shockwave narrowed his eye, scanning data streaming through his system.

He scanned the structure, joints, energy... then a signal clearly returned.

Energy code matched... C-372...

Secondary code: Blacklaser

Original status: Adopted by Alpha Trion

Shockwave froze for a split second—enough for the trader to feel the shifting pressure. The cold Decepticon scientist lowered his gaze slowly.

"I... will take this one."

The trader's eyes widened. "Huh? This one?" He looked at the small Minicon staring silently.

"This one's quiet but stubborn. I don't take returns if it causes trouble..."

Shockwave didn't even glance back at the trader. He merely extended his metal hand, effortlessly removing the energy chains as if they weren't the trader's technology at all.

"You have no right to impose conditions on me."

"I... will pay with my own currency."

He pulled out a small glowing purple energy orb—an extremely rare gem, enough to buy the entire slave shop.

Shockwave looked again at the Minicon, gazing deeply into the fading pink optic. Within those eyes, there was still a flame of determination.

"I remember you... Blacklaser," he said quietly but still coldly.

"Once... you were their hope."

"Now... I will turn you into my answer instead."

He stepped out of the shop holding the Minicon, leaving the slave traders in silence, confusion, and fear of what was to come...