Chapter Co-Authored with Flyby Stardancer and Omicron the IceQueen
Notes:
"Spoken human dialogue is like this."
"Spoken Cybertronian dialogue is like this."
::Internal Cybertronian dialogue is like this.::
This is the time scale for mechs [inspired by Ultra Rodimus Prine]:
nanoklik = 1/8 second
nano – two seconds
klik = 496 nanokliks/62 seconds
bream = 8 kliks/8.27 minutes
groon = 9 breem/1.24 hours
mega cycle – 2.5 hours
joor = 6 groon/7.44 hours
tak – 18 hours
shift – 3 days
orn = 42 joor/13.02 days
decacycle – 2 months
decaorn = 32 orns/1.14 years
metacycle = 8 decaorn/9.22 years
vorn = 9metacycles/72 decaorn/83 years
Full Summery
The war is seemingly over on Cybertron, tensions between factions has eased into a fragile, but holding, peace. Even the colonies are being pulled back into active trading and communications. But what happens when the Decepticons discover an organic planet, Earth, with little mech-like beings. These humans that had learned to alter their very genetic code, but that also produced a welcome energy field, so why not make full use of them? And make a good deal of credits selling the little things that aren't bio-energetic.
Autobot Pet
Mirage picks his pet
"I'm telling you, honest to Primus below Mirage, you'll love these organics." The dark green and brown mech was saying, promising once more and had a just a slightly desperate echo in his energy field. He was well aware that if word got back to his boss, let alone Prowl and Ratchet... smelting would be preferable to having no long term clients of that caliber anymore. "This is my own personal collection, since I get to see all the shipments before they go to Swindle… and I have the discount before they're evaluated and sorted, there's some stunning ones. Personally I like the sub breeds more than the purebred and classic humans."
He was walking down a well-lit hallway, wide windows showed the small colony and the ship yards where mostly Autobot Ark class ships were currently in. The dealer mech seemed to much prefer a clean environment for his business below and apartment above instead of the normal Decepticon favored background colors.
Mirage hummed a noncommittal note. "What special care do they require?"
"Depends on the sub-breed," the dealer admitted, "Most all are air breathers, though some of the aquatic ones can breathe liquid and air, some are only air breathers and a few are strictly gill users. Most of land types need a mix of plant and proteins. Not hard to make yourself really. I prefer to do that so I can keep track, I have all of my organics on a diet that keeps them from wasting anything in their fuel. Please keep in mind my lord, when you see my tanks for some, that I've been working on them for two-three decaorns, so you don't have to be as ornate right off the blade."
"Let us see them, then," Mirage said, his very bearing that of the noble he was created as.
"Right this way," The dealer assured, tapping a code as well as transmitting one to a room, that had once been a large store room. The door swished open and a mech could take a step in before having to step over a block that was knee high. The Decepticon purred at the sight and smell of the room he took so much pride in.
One side had a very controlled garden, with a few trees that push up almost as high as the two mechs. Another two walls were set up with, honestly beautiful tanks of differing sizes, the aquatic and land based ones divided by a counter.
Mirage stepped in, curious despite himself, taking in the sights of the various enclosures.
A bright, vivid flash of gold streaked past the front of the largest aquarium, contrasting to the blue tint of the water. Mirage's attention immediately went to the flash, and the blue mech approached the aquarium, peering in.
The dealer walked over to that tank as well, standing to one side and tapping a rhythm lightly on the side and the gold turned, coming to him at a slower pace so the Autobot could see the graceful curves of several sets of fins. Another few forms also showed up from the back of the tank or other intricate hiding spots, two or three of them were less than a third of the size of the others and were staying up by the surface to gasp for air. It was the little ones that came over to Mirage first, with rounded and even softer features, they couldn't be anything other than young.
Mirage studied each one, their curiosity and relative levels of comfort and confidence. "What are the ages for the young ones?"
"They're all about... one to two decacycles old. The big old silver female should be giving birth any time now." Happy to show off, Catchloop crouched, scanning and pointed to the far back corner where there was a thick layer of moss, and the grey and silver finned creature was resting, gills working as she seem to be recharging, the middle section rounded, "I think she might be pupping two. I can't take her out as easy as the others. Silver Tip is strictly a water breather."
"Are the rest dual-breathers? Will her young require air?"
"Likely not, the sire is a water breather too." Catchloop pointed to the tank beside them where only three swam, engaged in a mock fight that involved more fin flashing and chasing each other. In comparison the females had more color than the males. "The… green and purple scaled female there is just an air breather, the rest though are dual-breathers, but I must admit that its hard to tell with those young pups until their about half the size of the adults."
"What are their environmental requirements? Size of the tank, temperature, other variables?"
"This size tank seems to make them happiest, at most only have this number, or if smaller than put it somewhere where they can watch if not other pets, than you and your guests. All types of humans are very social and interactive." The mech stood and reached into the water, running a delicate touch across the young, then twitching his fingers at one of the adult swimmers, one with two legs instead of a long tail, pulling her out and grinning at the chitteirng that was directed at him, though the dealer's pet was calm and almost limp in his hands.
"Here," He offered the human to the Autobot, knowing that he would be surprised at the very soft, coppery hide, at the same time offering a general over view if the environmental requirements by transmission.
Mirage instinctively hummed a note that would have soothed a distressed sparkling as he took the human, handling her delicately. The texture was very different than the metal he was used to, but not in an unpleasant way. Slick with the water, from a life time in water, the aquatic human twitched her dorsal and stabilizer fins. The sails were so thin that they were almost transparent enough to see his fingers through it, but the organic wasn't slimy, and rolled in his hand to rest on her front, little webbed hands and fingers poking around on the digits holding her in interest.
Mirage held her up so he could get a better look at her, reassured that she seemed unafraid. She shook her head, sending little droplets here and there and pushed at the dangling locks of fur on her head to peer back up at him, chirping in greeting it seemed. "Hello, little one," he murmured, a finger coming up to gently stroke her.
She ducked her head in reflex, but after finding that he really was gentle that the sweeping dorsal fin lifted, feather light against his finer tip.
"That's the first young mermaid that survived for me," the dealer said in pride, watching as the copper colored human gathered up her limbs under her, "The aquatic humans grow physically faster than the other breeds, but only partly in the minds. She's their equivalent of a sparkling still."
"She is a beauty," Mirage praised.
"And very docile, being captive bred and raised." Catchloop stood up a little more, "The trick with the mermaids at least I found is being gentle, interacting with them and positive reinforcement. That's why I have the best luck with breeding them. If too stressed almost any of the sub breeds of humans can abort their carrying term. Would you like to see any others?"
"Yes, please," Mirage replied, handing the mermaid back to Catchloop.
The mech carefully put her back after stroking down the copper back and touching the head. He looked in and then back to Mirage, "Which one wound you like to see?" the dealer's fingers gently caged one of the mermaids with a tail instead of legs between his fingers and the front of the tank.
Mirage indicated a black and green female with an iridescent quality to her scales.
Letting go of the white one, Catchloop coaxed Mirage's choice over, not minding a few fin smacks as he lifted the mermaid out, using both hands to support body and tail before offering her, "This one does have a bit more attitude."
"That does not bother me," Mirage replied as he accepted this one with as much care as he had the previous. "She is striking."
"Watch," The other mech looked up, and the main lights dimmed, leaving most of the light coming from the heat lamps in some of the tanks. After a moment and a shiver like motion from the mermaid in Mirage's hands, there was a ripple of soft green. Bioluminescent came to life, running like moving stripes from cheeks to tail tip, some of the green 'light' shimmering on the several sets of fins as well. Mirage was stunned speechless for a moment, impressed by the display.
"Its automatic for some of them to do that," The dealer said, tilting his head as he picked up on what Mirage might like, "But only the mermaids. The other human breeds don't have that trait." He nodded at the tank with the males, two glittering while the golden female was almost glowing with her orange markings.
Mirage glanced at the others, before studying the female in his hand once more. "Is she particularly close to any of the others?"
"She came with the gold one, not long ago." The other mech shook his head. "Other than the instinct to group care for the young I don't think any bonds beyond that have formed. But she is wild caught so she might be pregnant, that's always a hazard. But most find it welcoming."
"Let us see how she interacts with the young one, then," Mirage replied.
Catchloop gave and ever so slight twitch, a ruffling of armor as he looked at the three young ones, "...which one would you like to see her with?"
A wide tail twitched and then smacked against Mirage's wrist and forearm, the mermaid human starting to get restless.
"The green with the blue highlights," Mirage replied after studying the youths.
A faint grumbling sound came from the other mech's chest. The dealer pouted as he turned back to the tank, dangling his fingers in and splashing a bit to attract the youth. Being dimmer in the tank still the one Mirage had pick was just starting to glitter like the adults. Then before Catchloop could pick any of them, the ornate golden one swept in. She curled her arms around his chosen youth and with a powerful stroke of her tail was on the other side of the tank, sound muffled by the water but she was scolding the mechs. Apparently she didn't want the black and green female and the infant outside of the tank and away from her at the same time.
"That is a powerful message to the effect of their emotional bonding," Mirage commented in a deliberately idle voice.
"The three came in the same shipment...it is possible they are related," The dealer very reluctantly admitted; he had wanted at least one of them. The young sold for so much...
"I would not like to break such close bonds," Mirage commented. "The one I am holding and the youth would cover the debt you owe me, and I would be willing to purchase the gold one to keep them together."
Catchloop regarded the Autobot before the dealer looked back to the tank, rumbling his engine, "Alright, the one you have and the little one for the debt. But I'll only sell the gold one, and I'll give you the same price I got her for, but only if you buy the supplies for them. Tank, fuel, some decorations as well as the air generators for breathing in and out of the water."
He arched up and optic ridge and tilted his head in interest while the organic in Mirage's hand was pushing herself up, looking around and seeming to humm or sing.
"That is acceptable to me," Mirage replied evenly.
"Hmm..." The darker mech looked in the tank, with a deft, swift move he had the gold female, yipping in complete but not pain, as well as the little one. Holding the squirming bundle, he stepped aside with them and slid the two humans into a much smaller cube tank he normally used for placing his aquatic pets in when cleaning the bigger tank. He filled the cub half way, and offered to put the now actively moving third one that Mirage still held in as well.
Mirage walked over, and passed the green female to him so she could go in with the other two.
"Just don't keep them in here too long. The faster you get a larger tank filled and heated the better." The Decepticon dealer said as he sealed to top, lifting the cube tank and offering to Mirage, "The rest of the things you can get and pay for in the shop below."
"Very well," Mirage said as he accepted the smaller tank. "Let us go to the shop and I will pick out the supplies."
Mirage was finishing putting the final touches on the tank. It was still heating up to the proper temperature and the water chemistry was still being adjusted by the computer controlling it. However, Mirage was happy with the tank for how quickly it had been set up. In the back of his processor, he was already designing a larger tank for them, one that would be more elaborate and would fit in with the decor better.
The former noble had messaged his lovers with a brief warning of what to expect, but no message could fully prepare them for the reality when they stepped into the room.
"What are you up to young mech?" Trailbreaker's deep voice rumbled, following that tingling sense against the energy field that always fallowed him. It was a different energy field beyond his personal one that was a constant, background hum of power that was byproduct of the black mech's force field generators. He emerged first into the slender mech's rooms, scanning around for differences than the last orn he was here, stepping aside to let the second mech in as well.
"Just finishing setting up a new tank," Mirage replied as he smiled up at the two of them.
Hound stepped up close, claiming a kiss from the blue mech before taking a closer look at the tank. "It looks good. Where are the humans?"
"In the travel case, still," Mirage replied, motioning to the small tank.
There was a soft splash and a squeal that drew attention. In the indicated cube tank the young human sparkling was slashing quite rowdily. Yet it was the expressions of the two adults (both looking rather cramped with only half the cube filled with water and had been vocal about being less than pleased with the trip to their new home, mostly the gold one), mostly the green and black female that had to be the moth that caused a rumbled laugh from Trailbreaker.
"It seems a carrier's exasperation with their sparkling is fairly universal after all." The black mech grinned, visor flashing with his amusement, His fingers traced the elegant lines of the younger Mirage once Hound had moved to investigate. "Can you handle the commitment of such a little organic?"
"Yes. The adults should handle some of it, especially since they are already closely bonded, and the rest is not excessive," Mirage replied, smiling at them. "It was quite obvious that the three of them were close, and I did not want to break that bond."
Hound hummed. "Everything seems to be set. You have their food too?"
"That's good of you Mirage," Trailbreaker praised, stroking a long line before looking over his shoulder at the tank itself for a better look. Then he stepped aside. "If these were wild caught, that might explain why they're together. Several species of organics pack when their young are involved, do they not?" He looked at Hound, and hoped the little things weren't taking from a larger group. If they were, he approved of Mirage's choice to take all three. "I'd imagine they would only be able to go so fast with a sparkling pup that had to be even smaller than it is right now... Unless it was born in transit that is."
"The two of you are transferring onto me," Mirage teased with a smile.
"Social species do," Hound confirmed. "And from what I heard, humans are a social species."
"Catchloop admitted that they came together in the same shipment, so they likely are from the same family group," Mirage added. "Ah, there. Temperature and chemistry have finished adjusting. They can be transfered into the tank now."
"Do you need any aid?" Trailbreaker asked, looking at the transport cube by Hound, attracted be a squeal from inside and some splashing, "That youngling seems upset, and if they are social species, and related, I bet those females will be close to aggressive..." He hoped any overprotective aggression wouldn't inadvertently hurt the little organic.
"If one or both of you could hold the cube near the tank while I make the transfer," Mirage replied. "I would expect them to be compliant when they see the larger tank waiting for them. I was thinking of transferring one of the adults first, and then the young one, so that she does not panic at being separated from the adults," Mirage replied.
"And the final adult will likely be eager to join her companions," Hound added with a smile, carrying the travel tank over to the new one, and opening the top fully.
There was a sudden movement and the green mech was splashed right in the face as he peered in. A golden tail waved in the air as the mermaid human struggled to right herself under the weight of her own muscled tail. The green one reached out a webbed hand to poke the twitching tail before pushing it.
Mirage chuckled. "Catchloop also mentioned that these adults are a bit feisty." Noting that the gold did not have the young one in her arms, he carefully reached in and scooped her up, just as delicate as he had handled the mermaids back in Catchloop's lair.
The aquatic human twisted, soft golden hid sliding over Mirage's palm as she gave a started squeal herself at being picked. Even with the mech being careful having been upside down to start with she was disoriented, clutching at his wrist.
Mirage chuckled softly, careful as he lifted her into the tank and slowly lowered his hand so that she could swim away once she had re-oriented herself.
Ruffled fins flared, flushing with colored as the gold one glared back up at him from under the water's surface.
"Have you been thinking of names?" Trailbreaker asked, admiring the changing colors, glancing back to the cube Hound hand, noting how the green female was pressed against the side to watch intently what Mirage had done, with the sparkling loosely hanging onto the back of her shoulders. "Hound, that might be the best chance at getting the youngling. If you don't mind Mirage, you seem to be distracting her."
Hound nodded, using his experience with organics to carefully stay out of sight until the last moment as he gently tried to pick up the youngling from its mother's back.
"I have been, but so far nothing has quite seemed to fit. Perhaps in the next couple of orns, something will strike me as appropriate as I observe them," Mirage replied to his larger lover.
The sense of movement and the lack of little hands on her shoulder had the green female turning around. She blink, looked underwater before the youngling's squeaking attracted her attention upwards. Alarmed she lunched up, and almost cleared the to the top of the cube from her standstill.
"Now that's impressive," Trailbreaker said, watching the human crumple back down in the cube as she met gravity again, but the youngling was clinging to Hound's fingers holding it (but also hanging onto him but the joints, meaning she could be stuck for a klik), "Good thing the big tank has a domed field lid."
"Quite impressive," Mirage agreed, quickly moving to take the final adult to complete the transfer as quickly as possible.
Hound lowered his hands just into the water, next to the golden adult. He kept his joints frozen in place, so as not to get the young one caught in moving gears and plating. The youngling was squeaking, but not wanting to let go, confused at the whole thing. The golden mermaid had reflexively dived away from the giant metallic hand, guiding back over after spotting the sparkling. She hesitated before having to pretty much pull herself up into Hound's hand. It let him fell the soft hide in his palm as she coax the youngling off, twitching stabilizer and pectoral fins.
"I think she's biting you," The back mech leaned down to peer at the green shaded human doing her best to gnaw on blue fingers.
"She does appear to be," Mirage replied with amusement, quickly moving her to the tank as well so that she could slip into the water and assist with her creation.
"At least they're not too afraid of us," Trailbreaker said as he slid his thick arms around Mirage's slender form, watching over his shoulder. "What do they feel like?"
Mirage leaned back against Trailbreaker, humming contentedly. "Soft and smooth, and very different than metal. They do have their own electro-magnetic fields, though at a much lower level than a mech's."
Hound smiled as the youngling was freed from his hand and he pulled away, activating the force shield bubble at the top of the tank and joining his mates in watching them.