Chapter Text
Megatron swung his pick at the solid wall of bedrock as he mined for energon. It was horrifically slow going and almost an act of futility at this point. The bedrock was so mottled with various raw metals it made for slow going. He very much doubted there was any energon in this area, or at least if there was it wouldn’t be enough to be worth mining.But, when a Master says to dig in an area then they had to dig.
“This is a load of slag.” Impactor snarled from beside Megatron.
Megatron just grunted in agreement, not wanting to waste the energy in speaking. Fortunately, IImpactor talked enough for the both of them.
“Everyone knows this area is piss poor for energon growth for some damned reason. But do they care, do they listen to us miners? No~! I swear they’re punishing us for something.”
Another grunt in reply.
“What for, exactly, I don’t fragging know, but then again the Masters don’t really need a reason to punish us.”
Grunt.
“Like last week Dozer was beaten half to death because a Master lost their energon cube. Dozer didn’t do anything, he wasn’t even anywhere near the master when it VaNiShEd. But the Master was angry and Dozer took his break at the wrong place at the wrong time.”
Megatron sighed, sadly he remembered. Poor mech damn near died and still walks with a pronounced limp. Megatron wasn’t the only one that wondered when Dozer would be decommissioned. He and his fellow miners were trying to support Dozer, adding some of their haul to Dozer’s, supporting him as he walked, and trying to fix his swiftly growing medical problems.
The pair minded in silence for a while after that, moods brought low by the knowledge of their friend’s looming death.
Although it didn’t take Impactor long to grow tired of the relative silence and decide to fill the tunnel with noise besides the monotonous clanging of their picks.
“Terminus says there have been some strange sightings ever since this area of the mine opened up. Says it’s most likely Sparkeaters so everyone should be careful… Do you think one of them is thieving from the Masters?”
Megatron gave a derisive snort at that. “Sparkeaters eat sparks, noy energon, Impactor. It’ literally in their name.”
“I know, I know.” Impactor waved Megatron off. “Just having some fun speculating.”
Megatron just grunted in reply.
“Others have claimed to be seeing things. Shadows that move when the lights are steady or dark mech shaped shadows that are darker than the shadows they’re hiding in. Everyone that’s been in this area swears they feel like they’re being watched by something here. Rockbiter claims he saw a sparkling running around in the tunnels.”
“Rockbiter is a fanciful lout with more inane whimsy than actual processor.”
Impactor laughed out loud at that. “With what you’ve been writing I almost thought you were talking about yourself!”
Megatron snarled at that and gave Impactor a kick to the ankle only making the other mech laugh harder. “It’s not my fault you’re a pessimistic dolt! Besides, my ‘fanciful’ writings can be realized!”
“Tch. That’s a load of slag and you know it.” Impactor bit back, “You know as well as I do that as long as the Masters above us are in power, and their Masters above them, nothing will change and even if it does we’ll still be stuck down here. Someone has to mine the energon from everyone else.”
“Not if we rise up! If we work together, spread our ideas, show people who we are-”
“You’ve been spending too much time with Terminus. He’s been to soft on you, hiding the real world from you. No matter what you say or write no one will listen to you or many or any of us disposables. It’s worthless!”
Megatron didn’t reply, choosing to solely focus on the impenetrable physical wall in front of him. Impactor was silent as well, but Megatron could feel the guilt restlessly stirring in his field.
“I… I didn’t mean that you should stop writing Megs. I’m sorry I said that, I shouldn’t have said that. It’s just…” Impactor gave a sigh, his optics going dim.
“It’s just things have been getting worse lately.” Megatron finished.
“Yeah. Less energon to mine, more demand on us. I heard the mine in Tarn has also been completely automated, and you know what that means.”
Megatron did. All the miners there decommissioned and with how things were looking the one here in Kaon was going to be next.
More silence.
“Whatever you do Megs, don’t stop writing.” Megatron looked over at his friend in surprise at hearing the soft and sad demand. “It makes you happy, something to look forward to in this damned place. Besides, you look cute when you’re all focused and writing.”
“Impactor…” Megatron groused.
“No seriously! You’re fucking adorable!” Impactor teased.
“Oh shut up!” Megatron tried to snap back but couldn’t keep the smile off his face.
“Never! You like to hear me talk!”
“And you accuse me of fanciful notions.” Megatron teased back with a grin.
“You aft!”
rumble
The friends’ laughter cut short as the tunnel around then shifted and grumbled.
“Slag!” Impactor’s panicked curse was all he could get out before the wall and ceiling before them gave out.
Megatron couldn’t even yelp before the rubbled raining down from the ceiling dragged him into the open maw in the wall and down, down, down for what seemed like miles into the darkness.