Optimus grunted from the shove but was able to stay on his feet to keep from falling to the floor. He glared over his shoulder as he watched the door close, sealing him in the room.
At last, I was beginning to worry," a smooth voice said, causing him to whip round.
Megatron was relaxing in a heavily built seat, a cube of Energon in his hand as he smirked at Optimus. The Autobot glared at him.
So what is all this about?" he asked softly. "Or is it still a big secret?"
Megatron chuckled lowly but remained relaxing where he sat.
All in good time little Prime," The dark mech smoothly answered.
He then lifted a hand and crooked a finger to Optimus to come closer.
Optimus eyed him suspiciously but considering Megatron could easily get up and grab him, he decided to cooperate for the time being. So carefully, he approached, ready for any wrong move. The grey Mech just smirked and grabbed his hands, releasing him from the cuffs. Optimus gasped as sensation returned to his body and he could properly move about again.
No need for that here," Megatron mused. "Besides, I need you alert and able."
Optimus narrowed his optics in suspicion.
"What are you playing at Megatron? Why did you have my carrier programming activated?" The young Prime demanded.
"Simple little Prime, you'll need it to nurse our young son," Megatron explained and Optimus gave him a disgusted look.
"You're not sparking me up," he growled, scoffing at Megatron assumed arrogance that any sparkling they had would automatically be a Mech. Not that it surprised him, he couldn't imagine the warlord with a daughter.
"Who said that's what I planned to do...yet," Megatron laughed.
Optimus glared at Megatron at the comment but was still confused to what the Con Leader was planning.
Megatron just grinned at the impression of anger and confusion. Deciding to put him out of his misery, he got to his feet and said.
"Come through to the next room and you will understand."
He strode over, not bothering to grab Optimus who, feeling very curious, did follow.
Megatron lead him to a room but didn't enter. He stood off the the side of the door to allow Optimus to enter first.
The Prime raised a brow in suspicion but stepped up to the door and watched it slide open. His optics widened when what looked like to be a nursery was revealed to him but what really caught his attention was the loud cries of a sparkling in distress crying from within the room.
"Unbelievable," he snapped at Megatron. "Keeping a sparkling locked up in here."
He rushed inside, to find the sparkling and offer them some comfort. Spotting a crib, he went straight to it but upon seeing the sparkling, gasped in shock.
"Wh...what in Allspark?!" Optimus breathed in disbelief.
There laying in the crib was a very tiny, screaming, and crying sparkling that looks exactly like his young scout Bumblebee without his armour. Sparklings couldn't fit into proper armour yet so were very vulnerable but Optimus knew it was Bumblebee by the sound of his cries, colouring, and tiny horns on top of his helm.
"Shh, shh, it's okay Bumblebee," Optimus said soothingly, his spark breaking at the sight of his young team mate in such distress.
Reaching into the crib, he lifted out the still wailing sparkling and cuddled him against his shoulder. He tried to be as gentle as possible, sparklings could injure quite easily until they were old enough to start wearing some basic armour. He rocked the crying Bumblebee, trying to get his head around the fact that he was a sparkling.
"I knew you were a good choice," a deep smug voice stated behind him.
Optimus tensed up at the sound of the voice and soon regretted it when Bumblebee started wailing again from the change. Optimus cursed under his breath and went back to comforting and soothing the upset and terrified little one.
"When the loud wails softened and weren't so loud, reduced to sparkbreaking hiccups, whines, and broken soft cries did Optimus turn to face the Con.
"What have you done?" Optimus hissed in demand.
Megatron smiled and said. "I think it should be obvious."
"Why then?" Optimus said angrily, holding Bumblebee protectively against him and wishing he could just run and keep running until his vulnerable charge was far away from this insane Con.
"I would have thought you'd appreciate it," Megatron said with a causal sweep of his hand. "I'm giving your solider a chance to live a good life, rather than being executed or forced to become a slave."
"And to be raised like a real sparkling instead of being forced into an older frame before his time," He added, his voice filled with venom and disgust.
Optimus's optics widen at such words before glaring.
"What would you know about such a thing? I bet you forced your men to do the same just to have more troops then us," Optimus snapped back.
"On the contrary," Megatron said with a dangerous growl. "I have never allowed such a thing. You forget, little Prime, that we have stronger, bigger frames than you. Autobots are the ones who had to compensate by swelling their numbers unnaturally. If any Decepticon solider was discovered to be a sparkling in an adult frame, they were instantly regressed to their true form. And the one who presented them punished."
Optimus felt tiny fingers cling tightly to him and he distractedly rubbed Bumblebee's back. A horrible thought occurred to him.
"And does Bumblebee remember being an adult?" he questioned.
Megatron hummed and tapped his chin in thought as he tried to recall Bumblebee's reaction when he had first laid optics on him right after the change.
"I believe he may have some memory from the way he reacted to seeing me. He even struggles like he trying to get away from me while I carried for him before you were ready to be brought here," The dark mech explained, walking up to Optimus to look at the tiny sparkling in the bots arms.
"Stay away," Optimus snapped, stepping back as Bumblebee made a sharp noise of distress.
"He'll have to get used to me eventually," Megatron warned him pointedly. "However, now that you are here, you will be his main carer. Perhaps you should start by feeding him."
Optimus's optics widened.
"Wh...what? Feed him? What are you talking about?" He stuttered, fearing what the other mech meant.
With a sneer Megatron reached out, making Optimus and Bumblebee flinch from the movement before he tapped Optimus on his chest plate.
"Why else do you think I had you carrier programming activated? You are to be little Bee's new carrier," The Decepticon Leader casually said.
"Me!?" Optimus exclaimed in shock. "I...I can't be..."
"And why not?" the larger Mech wanted to know. "Clearly, you care a great deal about him, you're healthy and will produce nourishing fuel for him. I think it's perfect."
"You would," Optimus grumbled.
"If you don't know how to start, I can help," Megatron stated, reaching for him.
Optimus gasped and tried to struggle.
"No stop." He tried to stop him but Megatron was already gently pushing him towards a rocking chair off in the corned and forced him to sit in it.
Once he was seated, Megatron moved to open Optimus's chest to expose his pouches.
Optimus blushed with embarrassment, he did not feel comfortable with Megatron seeing this. The Decepticon leader didn't seem fazed, he simply smirked at the bright colour of the pouches before pushing Bumblebee gently in the direction of one.
But Bumblebee only squirmed and tried to push the pouch closest to him away but wasn't strong enough to fight the larger mech off as he was gently forced closer and the nub pushed into his mouth.
"Go on now," Megatron said patiently, not getting angry with the struggles. "You'll find it's very delicious."
That made Optimus blush even more, Primus, how did Megatron know that. Bumblebee let out a muffled wail and Optimus grunted at the tugging sensation before Bumblebee seemed to freeze. Megatron smirked as the young sparkling swallowed, having accidentally sucked on the nub.
"You see, it's not so bad. Go on now, you can have more," Megatron encouraged slowly and gently, nudging Bee to suckle again.
The young sparkling did so hesitantly but gradually begun to suck in earnest. It really did taste great. Optimus found it a very odd feeling and he wondered if the tugging was going to hurt later.
"There, I knew he'd like it," Megatron said in triumph.
Optimus shot a glare up at Megatron before he forced himself to relax and carefully moved Bee around in his arms to make him more comfortable while he fed.
At least Bumblebee was getting a good feed although he wasn't so sure about doing this on a regular basis.
"What about the others?" he wanted to know. "Ratchet, Bulkhead..."
"All doing fine. They too were reformed back to their younger selves. I believe the young green mech and ninja bot of your team were returned to their sparkling forms while your medic was deaged to his younger self. His talents and knowledge can be quiet useful," Megatron smugly answered.
Optimus sat there stunned and could feel his spark humming hard in his chest.
"And...and Sentinel and his elite?" The in shock mech gulped.
Megatron smirked.
"All now Sparklings. That loud mouth your Magnus so shamefully allowed to be a prime needed to be returned to a sparkling so he can learn some manners, respect, and loyalty. I should have excited him for betraying his own men to us," Megatron spat.
"He what!?" yelped Optimus so loudly that Bumblebee choked in shock and tears welled up in his optics.
"I'm sorry," Optimus said quickly, pulling Bumblebee away from his pouch and patting his back, trying to make sure his intakes were /Little Bee coughed a few times but didn't seem to have damaged anything. Optimus sighed in relief before placing him next to the nub and allowed Bumblebee to grab it in his mouth again. Megatron hadn't interrupted, he was pleased to see his mate handle their new son so well.
"Are you serious?" Optimus asked in a much more calm voice.
"I am," Megatron said grimly. "And I will admit little Prime, I admire the loyalty you show to your team. It is a worthy trait."
Looking right into Optimus's optics, he added. "Are you truly so surprised about your friend? From what I have learned, he was happy for you to take the blame for the supposed death of that femme when it was he who was determined to enter that cave while you advised caution."
"Yes but..."
"And was it not he who stood by and watched you get kicked out of the academy and place one a repair team, not once stepping up to defend you? Is it not he who belittles you and keep being up that loss while he flaunts his rank and lies about his so called good deeds?" Megatron added, sounding like he was dating Optimus to prove him wrong.
"But knew he wouldn't since he knew he was right.
"Face it Optimus, he deceives a lot worse then be given a second chance," He added lowly.
"Then why did you give him one?" Optimus shot back with narrowed optics, not liking how correct Megatron was.
"Because despite how cowardly and boastful he is, in the end, he is just a spoiled sparkling," Megatron replied simply. "And thus, with proper raising and discipline, he could become a lot more than he actually is. You may think us monsters but it has never been my intention to murder the entire Autobot population."
Optimus looked down, not sure what to say. Finally, he said. "What about Ultra Magnus?"
"He is a very worthy opponent but has become weary in his eons but in respect when I confront him I shall give him a choice," Megatron respectfully answered.
Optimus's eyes widened.
"Wh...what? Then why didn't you ask any of us before doing this to us?" He demanded.
"Simple. I need to make an example out of all of you. You will show others what their fate can be and show the further is not full of pain and misery that they have been fed all this time."
"So you're not turning everyone into sparklings?" he questioned and received a shake of the head.
"No, I'd rather not," he stated. "We Decepticons have been away from Cybertron for a long time, if we turned the whole population into sparkling, that would leave a big mess. We'd have to start from scratch, no, I'd rather merge our two peoples together. There are strengths Autobots as a whole possess that do not come so easily to Decepticons."
"I see," Optimus said softly. "And why aren't I a sparkling?"
Megatron smirked at this. "Unlike that friend of yours, you don't need to be regressed, you already are a good Mech."
Optimus tried not to be embarrassed at this compliment, but it was very strange to hear from such a bot like Megatron.
I also think you'll make an excellent mate," added Megatron.
"But what if I don't want to be your mate?" Optimus protested, completely embarrassed that Megatron would say such things to him.
"I think I can convince you otherwise," was the smooth reply, even as the large grey Mech gave him a lustful look.
Optimus frowned, cupping the back of Bumblebee's head, the little one seemed to be reaching the end of his feeding. He mostly seemed to be sucking on the nub for the sake of it rather than needing to take in fuel.
"I don't agree," he said flatly and Megatron shrugged.
"We shall see," he stated.
The larger mech noticed Bee behaviour and walked over to a table across the room to grab something off it before walking back and held out his hand with the item in it to Optimus.
"Here, put this in his mouth. It will calm and relax him so he doesn't make your nub sore."
Optimus took it, he saw there was a little nub at the end but this definitely didn't contain any fuel. He thought he might have seen human sparklings with something similar. Pulling Bee away from his nub, he smiled at the noise of protest before slipping the new nub into the sparkling's mouth. Bee looked a little disappointed but was soon sucking away on his...toy? Optimus had never heard the name for this item but he was glad to have it. He rubbed at his pouch, it felt a little tender now but not too sore.
"Need a hand putting it back?" Megatron offered.
Optimus blushed and quickly shook his helm.
"No...no." You've done enough embarrassment for one cycle," Optimus snorted and tried to juggle Bumblebee and closing his chest at the same time while Megatron watched in amusement.
"It wasn't easy, he ended up fumbling a lot but eventually, his pouches were safely behind his chest plates. He sighed in relief, that had been rather exhausting and he'd barely done anything.
"I think Bee should have a nap now, he hasn't slept well," Megatron stated suddenly. "Put him back in his crib."
Optimus glanced at him, Bumblebee did look tired but Optimus was worried about what would happen once Bee was no longer in his arms.
Megatron saw Optimus concern and applause him for already being worried about his new sparkling.
"He will be fine Optimus." He reassured, reaching out and placing a gentle servo on the young Primes shoulder.
"If you're sure," Optimus murmured, going over to the crib and placing Bee inside. The little yellow sparkling made a small noise of protest but Optimus just stroked his head and pulled a blanket over him.
"It's okay Bee," he said soothingly. "I know you're tired, just try to get some rest. No one's going to hurt you here, I won't let them."
Bee made a small sound but with a full tank of fuel and exhaustion weighing heavily on him, he couldn't remain awake. Optimus lightly stroked his little head until the sparkling had slipped off into recharge.
Silently Megatron walked up behind Optimus and stood there as he watched for a few minutes before leaning down and whispered into Optimus's audio fin.
"You're a natural."
The fire truck gasped and tensed up when he realized and remembered where he was and who he was with before glaring over his shoulder up at the taller mech.
"I don't like what you've done to him," he reminded the larger mech.
"Think of it as a second childhood," Megatron said smoothly. "One where he isn't forced into an adult frame before his time."
Frowning Optimus wiped around to confront him.
"What are you talking about, how do you know if he ever was done like that or anyone?" The Autobot shouted.
Megatron only sneered.
"Why young Prime we have our scientist just like how you Autobots have yours. We can invent just like you and have scanners that can to read the age of once spark ad that is what we have done with all of your Autobots."
He pointed a finger at the smaller Mech and stated.
"We know the true age of you Autobots and our son should not have been in that frame and definitely not fighting. No matter what adjustments they must go through, it is necessary. You are now little Bee's carrier and you'd better get used to it."
"And what right do you have to do any of this?"
"You best ask your fellow Autobots that Prime. What right did they have to steal a innocent new spark life and force them to fight for a lost cause," Megatron replied as he walked around Optimus and headed to the door to walk out.
Oh Primus what does Megatron have planned for Optimus and Baby Bee. Is what he says true or is all just a trick?