Metal Conversion

Been working on this for months now. This is more or less the intended title page for a story I want to eventually do, the basic idea of which revolves around Raf being converted into a cyborg/mini-con and his mind corrupted to serve the Decepticons by Soundwave, and the Autobots' attempt to get him back after recapturing him. (Its part of a bigger story arc so there is more to it). Credit for the design for Raf's Decepticon form goes to the very talented who did a four part commission for me back in March. I hand drew the lines for this then used Correl Painter to do the coloring, experimenting with the concept of layers and opacity as I did so to simulate glass. Originally there was going to be a small scene in the background of Decepti-Raf attacking Jack and Miko, but I thought the look of shock on the faces of the two Autobots he's closest to would do better, and of course Soundwave playing a heavy role in this earned him a spot... Not sure why Megatron is here, but I do think he'd appreciate the rather delightful irony that the human Optimus got so angry over Megatron nearly killing is now going to be helping the Decepticons in their bid to take over Earth. Motivation for this was primarily so my favorite Prime human gets to be immortalized in my gallery. I am thinking of doing a crossover pic featuring Raf facing off against Sari Sumdac in her Cybertronian form, though.

Now, since you probably all know me best as a writer, I thought I'd include a small little vignette to accompany this picture. Its nothing to special, just a little something i wanted to do, but it might get the story's mood across.

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"And how is our 'patient' faring?" Megatron asked as he entered the chambers of his dependable Third in Command, Soundwave. The Decepticon Communications Officer stood at a berth, a small soldering iron in his hand. On the berth, the body of a small, familiar human lay completely still, a small plume of smoke rising from the dark blue metal covering his chest. Soundwave's faceplate displayed a picture of the subject, vital signs all showing within acceptable parameters. From the spymaster's head three cords descended to the human's own cranium, interfacing flawlessly with the newly installed cybernetics that had been added to his brain.

Megatron smiled. The Autobots' human hacker friend had been a useful addition to Optimus's team, allowing them to make use of the humans' primitive technology to outmaneuver the Decepticons. Too useful.

But now...

Soundwave removed the cables from the subject's head, as well as his own, signalling he was done. Megatron moved in closer, examining the former human. Flesh and muscle had been stripped away, replaced with metal and machinery based on Cybertronian design. Of course bone had also had to be replaced to support the heavier weight, as had several organs, amongst which had been the inclusion of a t-cog from one of Soundwave's smaller drones.

"Wake him," Megatron commanded. Soundwave's hand hovered over the subject. The hum of flowing energon came to the Decepticons' audials. Brown eyes now tinged with red opened up as a translucent visor appeared over the upper half of the boy's face, generated from his new helm. The brown filaments that existed in place of his hair glowed slightly, dispelling the heat building in the human's new body as he came back to consciousness.

As Rafael awoke, data danced across his new visor, system checks and diagnostics detailing the condition of his body. Immediately the two Decepticons were high-lighted in his view, accompanied by identifying information. Somewhere at the back of the boy's mind a sense of apprehension appeared. Something was... off about this situation. Mechanical muscles tensed, but a sudden wave of calm broke through, easing the cyber-boy's mind. Soundwave's hand had not wavered in the least as he accessed Rafael's new mental link to him.

The newborn mini-con rose from where he lay, standing on top of the berth. He was still laughably small, but Soundwave had not "recruited" this human for combat capabilities. Still, Megatron couldn't help but be delighted as he beheld this new addition to his forces. How angry had Prime been, how furious when, just a few scant months ago, Megatron had nearly snuffed this very human's life out? And now he was a Decepticon. A part of the ancient gladiator wondered what Optimus would think once he found out about this. The gray robot stood before the berth, arms crossing his massive chest as he gazed down at the transformed human, red optics fixing on the Decepticon shield etched into the armor that made up the former organic's chest. The symbol he would wear until the day he was either no longer of use or... off-lined by the Autobots. Sharp denta displayed on the warlord's face as he pictured that thought.

"I, Megatron, Leader of the Decepticons, bid you welcome," Megatron declared in his most grandiose voice. Rafael backed up a bit, but did not run. Soundwave would not permit that. "Know that you will be a valued addition to my army, provided you are a loyal and obedient soldier." The warlord gestured to his TIC. "You will fall under the purview of Soundwave, assisting him in infiltration and retrieval. Any lingering loyalty you might feel to your former species is... understandable, but irrelevant. You are a Decepticon now, a cybertronian, and that is where your new loyalties must remain." Megatron's eyes narrowed. "Now, bow before your Master, my loyal soldier, and accept your rightful place in my new world."

For a brief moment Rafael stood still, his mind in turmoil as it processed all this new information. Something didn't feel right about this, but for the life of him he could not understand why. Soundwave had gifted him, raised him from pathetic being he was before. Megatron had now granted him purpose beyond himself. They were his friends, his allies.

And yet, even as he thought this, images of a yellow Cybertronian danced across his mind, a name coming unbidden to his lips.

"Bum-Bumblebee..." Raf spoke, his hand touching his forehead as a distressed sound escaped him. Megatron frowned as he saw this, eyes turning to Soundwave. The faceless Con nodded, turning back to his new deployer. The spymaster reached out across the void between minds, seeking out the altered human through their shared link. Soon he found the source of the boy's distress. Soundwave had spent days sifting through the boy's memories once he'd been able to access them, burying those that would be problematic while subtly altering those that would prove useful, warping Rafael's mind just enough without losing those parts that would make him a most useful ally to have. But organic brains were still alien territory, no matter how much modification they'd undergone. With skilled precision and subtle skill, the deployer commander forced the old memory of the boy's former partner down, locking it away where it could cause no problem. As Soundwave completed his task, the look of discomfort on Rafael's face disappeared, replaced with a calm clarity, then an accepting smile.

"Forgive my hesitation, Lord Megatron," Rafael said in a tone that seemed quite happy as he knelt upon the berth, bowing in Megatron's direction. "I apparently had a programming bug Master Soundwave corrected for me." Rafael's eye rose to meet his leader's gaze. "How may I serve you, my liege?"