This fragment is an AU story. Playing around with a different play on an existing character.

Not the easiest of contracts, Death's Head thought, but then a challenge just meant a bigger fee. But for the Autobots to go to the trouble of hiring him, it would have to be a significant problem, yes?

On the surface it was a simple thing; eliminate a Decepticon sniper. Easy, yes? Except this sniper was impossible to detect until it was too late, and then, after the telling shot would ring out, the sniper was impossible to find. A fifty Shanix bribe turned up an abandoned sniper rifle that he had abandoned on one of his first hits. Of course that and all other expenses would be added to his employer's bill.

The rifle had been an old hunter's rifle, high quality, the sort that hadn't been made since before the Cybertronian war had begun, and even then it wouldn't have been cheap.

The easiest solution was to wait until the target struck again, easier still to guess where the next hit would likely be. Fighting had bogged down during the Autobots defense of the city Carditron; the Autobot leading the defense of the city was a flamboyant leader named Spark who was trying to stand out and make himself out to be the next Optimus Prime. He couldn't ask for a bigger target, yes?

Death's Head positioned himself outside the city to give himself a view of the surrounding terrain. He didn't need a view of the Autobot, he knew where Spark would be- its what made him such a good bait. He positioned himself where he could see the areas the shot would likely come from. It did not happen the first night.

As the stale mate continued, Death's Head knew it would not be long before the Decepticons unleashed their master sharpshooter to put an end to it. Skyquake was making the big push in this area of Cybertron, and he was not the type to allow such resistance, especially not someone who wanted to make themselves out as a hero.

On the third night the sniper who could appear and vanish like a mirage made his move. Death's Head's well trained eyes spotted the laser shot, even with the flash dimmer mounted on the rifle. He ignored the explosion, the cries for medical attention, and shouts of alarm. He focused instead on his target.

Not far away, but not close enough. He removed the Mace hand attatchment and replaced it with a fragmentary missile.

His target was a youngish cybertronian, blue with white accents; most likely one of the upper class before the war, as his face had an impassive snobbish expression. The transformer jumped down from his vantage point, ran a few mechanometers, then stood still and completely vanished.

Death's Head fired his missile. He didn't need to hit the target, just get close enough.

The explosion did provide a satisfactory sound, and gave direction to the Autobots who were only then beginning their search for the sniper. This group of Autobots were truly green, he was surprised they had given Skyquake as much trouble as they had.

The Fragmentation missile had done its work, the Decepticon had tried to run, but had been cut down by the shrapnel. He lay, damaged and sparking, but functional.

Calmly and slowly Death's Head reattached his mace hand, and raised it over his head to finish the job. Contract specified dead, and Death's Head was nothing more than a business man.

*****

Before the start of the civil war, Mirage made his way through the back stage areas of the Gladitorial Arena. He had purchased an all-access pass to the evenings events, and it had been well worth it. There amid the throng of gladiators and their attendants, stood Megatron. Mirage rushed up to him, his full height only coming up to Megatron's shoulder, looking up at the powerful mechanoid with admiration.

"Well fought, Megatron," Mirage said. "You won me a hundred Shanix with that fight."

Megatron instantly detected the old money behind the mannerisms and speech patterns of the latest well wisher. There was no doubt in Megatron's mind that the mechanoid had only come out to the games as an act of rebellion; he was slumming it. He was a bug barely worth his noticing, but he still had to play the gracious winner.

"Why thank you, young warrior. I wouldn't be able to do anything without the support of fans such as yourself," Megatron said with a friendly grin on his face.

"Please, let me take you out for a drink to celebrate," Mirage said, then noticing the two female bots on either side of Megatron, "Your friends too."
That was how it began, a rich young rebellious youth going against his family and making friends with people his parents didn't find worthy of attention. And in return, Megatron used the young Mirage to travel in social circles he wouldn't otherwise have had access to, making new contacts to support his own personal army. Megatron continued to support Mirages feelings of superiority, while at the same time pointing out the ironies of his upper class life style, further estranging Mirage from his family.

They went hunting; Megatron thought it would be decent sport and good for target practice, but it was ultimately too dull for his tastes- but it did show him how good a shot Mirage was. As much as Megatron secretly wanted to kill the obnoxious Mirage as soon as he was no longer useful, he came to realize that he would be far more useful than he had originally expected, especially with his ability to turn invisible and alter the appearance of the surrounding area.

When the war came, Mirage found himself among Megatron's high level warriors, fighting along side Starscream and Skywarp. But his true skill lay in his ability to turn invisible and shoot targets at distance.

Megatron and Mirage both lost count of the number of Autobots who had died, never even seeing a mirage of their killer.