During the War for Cybertron the Leader of the Decepticons, Megatron, had met an interesting warrior. She shared his ruthlessness but was also highly skilled in most scientific fields. Her prowess earned Megatron's attention which at the time was hard to earn. Throughout the War, Megatron grew ever closer to this Femme. Appreciating her tenacity, resilience and skills on the battlefield. However, as the years of Cybertron slowly came to a close, This unlikely duo would have a spark of passion. In result of this, the Decepticons would have a Second Leader. Nightshade was her name. She outclassed Starscream without question which angered the Seeker who wished for total power in the Decepticon Ranks. However, he would be both punished and beaten by both Megatron and Nightshade.
During the final few decades of the conflict on Cybertron, Megatron would be surprised with a sparkling by Nightshade. The Sparkling shared most of Nightshade's features while they had Megatron's height and physique. The resemblance was uncanny. The sparkling was a perfect blend of the two. Showing physical traits of both Warriors. However, the existence of said Sparkling was kept a secret for very good reasons. If the Autobots discovered the existence of a Sparkling, Megatron's or not, they could attempt to "rescue" the young mech. However, the secret would get out one day and would force Nightshade to retreat with said Sparkling with the Autobots in hot pursuit. She was shot but managed to get to put her sparkling, Zettatron, into the escape pod. No matter what, she refused to let Autobot filth infect his mind with lies. After sending the pod away from Cybertron, she was killed by Autobots.
When Megatron arrived with an Army, he discovered Nightshade's corpse and let's say, he was LIVID. After seeing the outcome of his sparkmate, the Decepticons saw Megatron at his angriest point as he ordered them to eradicate any Autobots they find and capture. His rage continued for a while. Even to the Fall of Cybertron. He had lost both his sparkmate and sparkling in one day. He never saw the pod fly away from Cybertron so he suspected that the Autobots must have killed his son too. When Cybertron fell, forcing all Autobots and Decepticons to leave their home planet, the Decepticon Barricade left to track down Autobots to either capture or kill. His hunt would last a lifetime.
Meanwhile, on a far-off world, thousands of lightyears away, the pod containing Zettatron had crashed on the world. Long before the Fall of Cybertron. Zettatron had to survive on his own. His only recollection of his past was two figures who he believed were his creators. But as he was forced to fend for himself since youth, Zettatron learned many things. He taught himself how to fight and even discovered an Energon deposit on the planet that would last him years. Of course, he didn't do this all on his own. The planets native inhabitants welcomed him. They were Warriors as their planet was full of hostile fauna. Fauna that Zettatron has managed to kill many times without issue. However, one day the village of warriors that took him in would eventually fall to the deadly fauna of the planet. Zettatron didn't care at all. After all, he is the spawn of the Decepticon Leader.
Since then, he's been on his own. He's battled the dangerous fauna many times and eventually punched them into extinction. He basically wiped out all life on the planet to prove his strength. However, that means he had to kill the native habitants that remained. Meh, not like he cared. They were just a steppingstone for him to use. Nothing more nothing less. He continued to live on this planet after wiping out all life. Living off the planets supply of Energon he'd managed to find and collect for himself. He lived on just fine until he discovered The Devastator Axe. He had heard of such an Axe from the native habitants who worshiped it as a Relic from the Gods. Such primitive thoughts. But he was intrigued by his find. The Axe he found was on top of a mountain, no wonder the natives saw it as a godly relic. When he had found the Axe, he knew straight away that it has something to do with him. He didn't know how, but he had a feeling. After he acquired the axe for himself, he began using it for most things that he did daily. Which means he trained with it regularly. That was until one day, a ship arrived on the planet.
In a large open clearing, a small Decepticon ship lands. The ship lowers a ramp that touches the ground with a Mech on it. The mech in question was Barricade. He came to this planet in search for Energon. He'd been planet hopping for years now in the ship. He had stolen the ship from an Autobot Wrecker he killed. Hey, he needed a ship and an Autobot provided. He steps off the platform and walks away from the former Autobot ship while looking around his environment. As he did, he noticed a bunch of skeleton remains of large beasts. Bigger than him. He didn't dwell on it for too long as he kept looking around the area. He then looked at the Energon scanner he had brought with him and began scanning for Energon. He picked up a MASSIVE amount of Energon not far from his current location. But before he could advance towards the Energon he was looking for, he heard loud steps from the forest around him. He looked around while switching his right servo into an Energon blaster. He aimed it at the forest while he stood his ground, no signs of fear in his stance or expression.
He eventually sees a tall figure step out of the forest with an Axe. It's Zettatron. He walked towards Barricade menacingly before bringing his axe up and grabbing it with two hands. Barricade tossed the scanner aside and switched his left servo into an Energon blaster.
"Let me guess, you're an Autobot?" Barricade asks.
"What's an Autobot?" Zettatron asks, curious yet cautiously.
Barricade lightly lowered his blasters in confusion. How did this guy not know what an Autobot was. Then again, he notices something on his chest. The Decepticon Emblem, or well, a smaller version of one given to.... wait. He lowers his blasters, switching them back into his servos.
"That signet."
"What about it?" Zettatron asks.
"Your designation wouldn't be Zettatron would it?" Barricade asks.
Zettatron charged him and tackled Barricade to the ground, pressing his Axe blade against the Cons neck.
"How do you know my name!?" Zettatron demands angrily.
"Your sire.... Megatron and your carrier, Nightshade. They informed everyone that they trusted about your existence. Back on Cybertron of course." Barricade explains.
Zettatron eases up on his Axe but kept a firm grip on the cons windpipe before he lifted him up into the air.
"You're saying you know who my creators are?" Zettatron asks, threateningly.
"Yes." Barricade grabs the towering bot's arm. "But Lord Megatron said you and your creator were killed by Autobots during the War. Of course, he didn't see the body, but he was so caught up in his anger that he couldn't see to reason. But if you're here.... Megatron will be pleased if I return you to him."
Zettatron brought the mech's face to his own.
"How do I know you're not lying?" Zettatron asks.
"I only lie to Autobot scum. I served lord Megatron for centuries, my loyalty is only to him and his authority. Thus, I am loyal to whoever is the next in line to take over the Decepticons, being you, Zettatron. I never lie to the one I am most loyal to; I am no coward like Starscream." Barricade said, letting go of the Mech's arm.
Zettatron remained in silence, holding Barricade up in the air. He then let's go of the mech and drops him onto the ground below. Barricade landed on his peds and grabs his windpipe before looking up at Zettatron.
"If what you are saying is true. Then prove it." Zettatron orders.
"Of course, Lord Zettatron." Barricade said, respectfully.
He stands back up and walks to his ship. He motioned for Zettatron to follow. He reluctantly followed. Barricade secured his scanner and got back onto his ship alongside Zettatron. The duo board the starship and Zettatron looks around at the technology around him. Barricade walked to his seat and sat down. Zettatron followed suit and sat in the second seat next to the Decepticon police officer. Barricade presses some buttons and gets the ship into the air before blasting off.
"Do you have any other questions, sir?" Barricade asks.
"Who are my creators? I wish for more details, that is, if you're telling the truth." Zettatron asks.
"Lord Megatron and Lady Nightshade led the Decepticons during the War. Nightshade was highly intelligent and a good warrior. Her intelligence was near Shockwave levels of intelligence, but she favored the battlefield than a laboratory. Lord Megatron was a former Gladiator of the Pits of Kaon, ascending the ranks and amassing a loyal following before the War for Cybertron. No one had expected the duo to ever get together, but when they had you, Megatron was actually genuinely happy for once in his life, as was Nightshade. But unfortunately, the Autobots wouldn't allow Megatron to have you around. The Autobots attacked the base that Nightshade was residing in with you, she was far to weak to fight at the time. All I knew after was that Megatron stumbled upon her body and became so enraged, well saying he was utterly livid would be an understatement. Megatron went on a rampage, killing any Autobot he saw. Afterwards, without Nightshade, Starscream would become the Second in Command and would continuously try to betray your sire. Still don't know why Megatron keeps that glitch around." Barricade explains.
Zettatron sat there taking this all in. Was he actually telling the truth? Granted, he had been on this planet for a long time and certainly missed a lot of events. But his curiosity has yet to be quelled.
{Decepticon Warship, Earth's Orbit, Some Time Later}
Megatron had just recently tested Dark Energon as well as teased Optimus Prime for the Main event he had planned. When he returned to his ship, he punished Starscream who stupidly disobeyed orders and tried to snuff out Optimus Prime's spark by locating the Autobot base through his human captive, Agent Fowler, who escaped with help from the Autobots. He was furious about his Second in Command's incompetence and inability to follow simple orders. He believed his plans to raise the dead on Cybertron was foiled but before Starscream would explain himself, Soundwave makes his presence known to Megatron. Distracting the Decepticon war lord. He looked at Soundwave who shows him that a Decepticon ship is trying to contact them and is currently enroute to the warship.
"A Decepticon ship? Are you certain?" Megatron asks.
Soundwave nods silently. Megatron glared down at Starscream once last time before walking away from the seeker who sighed in relief that his torment was over. The war lord walked over to the main console and pressed a button.
"This is Lord Megatron, identify yourself immediately." Megatron orders calmly.
"Lord Megatron, this is Barricade." Barricade replied over comms.
"Barricade." Megatron exclaims in surprise. "I haven't heard from you since Cybertron fell."
"I apologize for my silence, my liege. But I have something of value on board that is guaranteed to please you, my lord." Barricade said.
"Really?" Megatron asks, a little intrigued. "Then by all means, I will be waiting for you on the bridge."
"Thank your lord Megatron." Barricade said before ending the transmission.
Megatron turned to Soundwave.
"Ensure that our comrade reaches the ship safely. I want to see just what Barricade has brought me with my own optics." Megatron commands.
Soundwave nods and helps guide Barricade's ship to the warship. After some time of waiting, Barricade lands on the flight deck of the Warship and disembarks, Megatron waits in the bridge. As they did, Starscream had crossed his arms, doubting whatever Barricade brought was of value. The War lord hears the doors to the bridge open, so he turns around. His eyes widen immediately when he sees the frame of a new figure beside Barricade. Soundwave is even stunned. Starscream is a little bit but doesn't know who the imposing figure is. Megatron walks forward with wide optics at the mech he sees. Barricade bowed lightly before stepping aside to give the lord a good view of Zettatron who is the same height as Megatron. The Decepticon leader stood in front of his son. Zettatron just stared at his supposed Sire.
"Never in a million years would I expect to see you again." Megatron said, sounding stunned.
Zettatron said nothing. Megatron then looked into his heir's optics and was surprised to see the gaze of a fighter. Though, seeing it makes him chuckle lightly knowing 100% that this is indeed his heir. Only his descendant would have such a gaze at such a young age.
"Lord Megatron, do you know this mech?" Starscream asks, glaring at the mech, having a deep hatred for some reason.
"Of Course, Starscream, and "this mech" deserves more respect from you." Megatron scolds.
"W-why? My liege?"
"Because he is your superior!" Megatron shouts at Starscream, not happy with the seeker's denseness.
This made the seeker flinch in terror at his Lord's words. But the more his processed it, he was even more curious.
"And you will do well to continue to treat him as such! I will not tolerate your mischievous actions towards my Heir." Megatron declared.
"What!? H-He's your son!?" Starscream asks in total shock.
"Indeed, and you are to show him the same amount of respect that you do to me! Do you understand!" Megatron orders loudly.
"Y-yes master." Starscream agrees cowardly. "B-but... what about the chain of command?" he asks.
"Zettatron is your superior, thus he is the Second in Command. Not you." Megatron declares.
Zettatron stared on in surprise. What the hell just happened? Starscream reluctantly nods in acknowledgement holding his great hidden anger at these events. Megatron turned to Zettatron.
"I'm sure you have a great many questions." Megatron starts. "But in all due do time, they will be answered. Come, I believe I should inform you on what you have missed."
Zettatron stood there in silence before nodding towards his Sire.