Some Lucky Decepticon
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Chapter 1: Surging
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"It's surging, isn't it?" moaned Gears.
Ratchet looked up from the console, the results of the spark scan displayed upon it.. "Yep."
"Great..." Gears moaned again.
"It's nothing to be worried about or ashamed of. We're just not used to seeing it happen these days. And besides, it will eventually cycle though and you'll be back to normal soon enough."
"At least I have that to look forward to. Now if only that creak in my hip would cycle through. Or that stickiness in the third servo of my lower right arm. It's never worked right since First Aid repaired it after that battle in Southeast Asia. Hoist says it's just fine but it's obviously not because it continues to stick."
Ratchet laughed. "Do you know how many mechs here would be all too happy to be surging right now? It's a shame that you don't have a sparkmate or even a lover to share it with."
"Who says I don't have a lover," snapped Gears.
Ratchet just shot him a look that explained it all.
Gears sighed. "You're right. I don't."
Ratchet smirked, not caring whether Gears saw his amusement or not. "Plenty of options out there for you right now. We've got three times as many carriers with us than sires. But, if you're so against it, there's nothing wrong with celibacy."
"Of course there isn't!"
"Of course not. So anyway, just let it take it's course. Just don't be surprised if you get a few offers from some of the carriers around here. It's been a long time since one of our sires was surging. You might just change your mind."
"What makes you think that I'd even want to kindle a newspark," huffed the minibot angrily.
"Because you're surging. It's normal to want to procreate at this point. Maybe you're not feeling that way yet, but just wait two or three weeks from now when the cycle peaks, and I guarantee you'll barely think twice about taking up someone's offer."
"I'll think once and unhesitatingly say 'no'," he grouched.
"Of course you will. Though you do have an unusually strong spark for a minibot. A shame to let that go to waste with so many carriers among us here on Earth. You know the last time Trailbreaker was surging we ended up with four new Autobots."
"May I go or are you going to keep giving me a hard time?"
Ratchet pulled back the scanner arm. "You can leave, and unless there's a problem you won't have to see me again."
"Good. I hate coming down here to the medbay," he said as he hopped off of the examining table. "It smells funny in here. And the closest elevator is the one that makes that weird lurch that upsets my gyros."
Ratchet held his tongue, although he really wanted to say how much he hated Gears coming down to the medbay as well. At least this time the cantankerous mech's visit was blessedly short, but he did have one more thing to say as the minibot headed for the door. "Though if you do change your mind and do spark someone, I want to see you both back here within 40 cycles of it happening."
"And when that happens I'll bring Primus and Unicron and Santa Claus in here with us," came the snarled response from the hallway.
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Gears' surge cycle was the subject of much discussion, especially when the surges grew so intense that he had difficulty containing his EM field. Most of the time he just let it spread as it wished, containing it only when around the others. But it was difficult and it often slipped out of control, especially after he hit the one-week mark and he could barely restrain it's eager reach. It wasn't long before everyone knew what was up with the little curmudgeon. And he knew he was in for some misery when one day Sunstreaker and Sideswipe approached the minibots' table in the rec room and sat down across from him. "So, Gears. Who've you chosen?" asked the red twin.
"What do you mean, 'who've I chosen?' I've not chosen anyone."
"C'mon. You've got one heck of a spark. We're all feeling it. We know what's up."
"So what. It's just going to pass, and nothing's going to change."
"Not going to spark anyone? Such a shame," sighed Sunstreaker melodramatically.
"He's not going to spark anyone because no one wants to breed with him," laughed Huffer, sitting a few seats down.
Gears glared at the fellow minibot. "It's because I don't want to breed with any of you," he retorted.
"Hmmm... mutual disgust," sighed Sideswipe.
"Look!" snapped Gears. "Just because I'm surging it doesn't mean I have to or should or even want to go through the motions of kindling any sparklings."
"Yeah, well, your choice."
"It's because he can't find a sparkmate," laughed Huffer again.
"Shut your spout! I could find a sparkmate if I wanted to," Gears denied. "I'm sure there are plenty of mechs here who would be all too happy to bond with me if I were interested in it.
Sunstreaker coughed. "Yeah. I'm sure of that."
"Just leave me alone. You're all just teasing me because... well because..."
"Yes?" Sideswipe prompted. "Because why?"
Gears just growled and stomped out of the rec-room, taking his half-empty cube of energon with him.
"You two shouldn't be so hard on him," said Tracks, who'd been eavesdropping from the next table over. "We all know that no one here is... well... all that fond of him."
"He brings it upon himself," countered Sunstreaker.
"Well yes," agreed Prowl, sitting at the same table. "But he's a good Autobot and loyal to the faction. Sure he whines almost constantly these days, but he gets his work done, volunteers for missions, and even faces the Decepticons fearlessly in battle."
"At least he's got that going for him," said Jazz with a smirk. "And he's surging—the first of us since coming to Earth. You know we're able to overlook a lot of faults in the quest for a newspark."
"And I'm sure he'll change his mind after a while when the cycle peaks. I'm sure then he'll swallow his pride and choose a mate," added Prowl.
"I hope so," sighed Jazz wistfully, leaning forward and propping his head up in one hand.
Prowl twitched, doorwings tensing. "Don't tell me you're going to try courting him as well."
Jazz flashed his mate a wicked grin that revealed nothing.
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As Ratchet had predicted, several carriers did present themselves and hoped to curry his favor—helping him with his work or sending the minibot small gifts. Some sent him breeding resumes or blatant invitations to their berths. But Gears rebuffed them all, angrily denying any interest in kindling any sparks.
Cliffjumper blew it off easily. Skids sighed in quiet defeat, figuring he'd not stood much of a chance anyway. Brawn was disappointed. Streetwise was particularly disappointed. Tracks was simply astounded that he'd actually been turned down. Hoist locked himself in his office in the medbay and refused to see anyone, until Ratchet coaxed him out with a cube of high-grade and promises that there would be other opportunities.
Bluestreak, the next to try, was in for a particularly unpleasant turn-down.
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"Some Lucky Decepticon" continues in Chapter 2: "A Bridge Too Far"
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Thank you for reading! Commentary, constructive criticism, and kudos are welcome.
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Transformers and all related concepts, characters, worlds, and events are property of Hasbro and Takara Tomy. Original characters and story elements are property of E. Potter, writing under the pen name of Miratete.
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Author Notes:
Gears – In the G1 episode "Changing Gears," the previously rather generic, rather unattractive minibot was introduced to us as an annoying complainer without anything positive to say. In fact at the end of the episode, most of the Autobots are in favor of not restoring his old personality to him. That made him the best candidate for this story—the guy no one loves, but he likes it that way, at least until he finds himself desperate for a mate, which he will in the next chapter.
Sires vs. Carriers – I went with a bit of a twist here. In most TF fics where there's a population imbalance between carriers and sires, the carriers are usually the ones in short supply. In this story, I've gone with the sires being in short supply, and their ability to procreate doesn't come often. When their spark does start surging, that milkshake brings all the boys to the yard. While breeding between sparkmates is considered ideal, it's not necessary, particularly in difficult times or circumstances.
40 cycles – 50 hours, about two days
Primus, Unicron, and Santa Claus – Merry Christmas! Enjoy the coming sticky.
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