Okay, the first chapter was trying to set up the Hall. I will add more in this chapter. I hope I do a good job describing everything because I have not done any of my own writing in a long time. Please leave a review. I always read them. Thanks and enjoy.
Megatron was not happy and that was an understatement. He was in a place that was unfamiliar and being forced to endure the same space as his adversary. Megatron decided that if he couldn't control the situation then he would watch and wait to see what opportunities that could come his way. He had his best mechs with him: Soundwave and his cassettes for tactical and communications, Starscream for planning and quick thinking as well as having the entire command trine, Hook was valued as well for his medical, and Knockout for ground support. Even with Optimus' crew they were evenly patched so Megatron would wait and watch.
Optimus knew that Megatron would not stay passive. It was not his style, and this concerned him greatly. His mechs were also an unstable element. Some of them had been fighting cons since they were barely younglings and to force them to have to live even for a short time with the Decepticons was not going to be a pretty sight. Megatron's mechs didn't look like they were anticipating cozying up to their enemies either so it would be very interesting to see the outcome. Of course, Optimus was hopeful. He and Allie had already discussed possibilities of approaching Megatron and seeing if they could open negotiations now that both sides were longing to take mates and settle down. After such a ling was Optimus would be willing to be open minded trusting that Megatron would be willing to bend.
Kiki could tell that they were not happy with her mistress' decision and she felt bad for them, but she was only the messenger and the guide so she hoped that they would not take it out on her. The red seeker kept glancing at her and it made her very nervous and shy because she was not interested but his gaze on her was bewildering so she kept to herself.
"Good evening Kiki." Another femme greeted in passing as they moved toward the lower area of quarters. The unbounded mechs would be placed in the guest quarters while Thundercracker, Optimus, Megatron, Ironhide, Bumblebee, and the Lamborghini twins would be shown to the upper levels. Barricade would have to wait because Kiki did not go down in the lower area of the temple without Aura or Cassie unless Chelsea was with her, but Kiki was scared of the femme and so she would make Barricade wait for her mistress.
"Good evening Emalia." Kiki returned the greeting to the femme as she looked at all the mechs that crowded them in the hallway.
"I guess we have company." She said as she stopped and looked at all of them. They returned her curious gaze and the tall brunette smiled at them.
"Good evening, Emalia. I am Optimus Prime." He said to the femme.
"Good evening. I guess that Allie is back and you have decided to join us." Emalia said. She looked over at Sunstreaker and Sideswipe and smiled shyly as they waved at her.
"We were not expecting to join you, but yes, I guess we are." Optimus replied.
"Oh, I heard that we were having problems with the gate. I am sorry that you were caught in it." She looked at the seekers curiously as Skywarp waved at her and she blushed again.
"There are eight rooms available on this level for your mechs. Allie's team of femmes usually are on the next level, and Allie and Shalon share the west wing on the third floor and Aura and Cassie share the east side although Cassie had her renovated where she would have complete privacy and two extra rooms and a private wash racks were added since she was carrying. Once your mechs have selected a room here, we will proceed to the next two levels."
"Where are your quarters?" The red seeker asked.
"All of us are scattered along the east side on this level. All the quest quarters are on the west side on the other side of the grand staircase. As you can see, there is another stair level on each end of the corridors. In addition to this the third level share an atrium that lies in between the east and west wings.
"So the hall is actually a castle type structure of some type?" This was asked by Knockout.
"No, not exactly; we are a fortress, but we are also a home for the femmes that have been here since our ships crashed. We have added to the main structure, but the essence, the temple has been here for millions of years. That structure is mainly unaltered. We only added the connecting doors and hallways to the temple. Off the main entrance is our dining hall and meeting area. Allie will have an informal meeting in the morning that you and your mechs will be allowed to sit in on. It will probably be boring, but Allie will also have a full detailed report on the progress in addition to the one she will give your leaders tonight."
She waited for the unbounded mechs to pick quarters and then she led the remaining ones to the staircase as they continued upstairs to the second level.
"The main entrance and the dining area is the first level below. From there you can down further from the east side into the temple. The west leads out into platform or runway for our vehicles and ships." Most of the fortress is laid out based on east or west directions. There is another atrium on the south just off of the dining area. We use it sometimes to gather in the evenings after everyone comes in from patrol and before the night patrols begin." She stopped in front of a set of doors. "Once you get the basic layout, it is easy to find your way around except in the temple. That is Chelsea's domain and she doesn't like people snooping down there. After I have everyone secure here, I will find Allie or Aura to take you, Barricade to Chelsea's quarters."
"Thank you, Katarina." Ratchet said. "I know where Doc's quarters are from here. Thank you for the tour." Ratchet left the group and headed for the farthest door on the left.
"How does he know where to go?" Asked Thundercracker.
"He has been here before." Replied Kiki.
"Is that why he called you Katarina?" Asked Megatron.
"Yes, it is my full name." She said. "He was here when I was in the infirmary after being rescued. He was my doctor while Doc was on another planet working with a race of beings that the Jung ho had tried to exterminate with biologic warfare." Kiki lowered her eyes as she talked but Thundercracker saw the pain in them before she could shield them.
"Raynie's quarters are to the right of Doc's. Stargazer's on the east side on the left, Bumblebee. Mia's quarters are opposite of Star's."
The mechs thank the small femme as they went to their respective doors and Kiki motioned for Optimus, Megatron, Soundwave, and Thundercracker to follow her. She again led them back to the stairs and the followed her up another level. This level the ceiling was high and more ornate and the doors on the quarters were doubled.
"Aura's and Cassie's are on the left. Cassie's entrance was recently added that is why their doors are different from the west wing. Shalon's and Allie's are to the right." Kiki stepped aside to allow the mechs by. Megatron looked at her for a moment until he walked by Optimus and her. Kiki added as he went by, "Shalon's private quarters are to the right of the living area while Allie's is the left door." She watched the two leaders depart slowly, hesitation clearly in their steps. "Cassie's door is the one to the right of the first door." She said as Thundercracker and Soundwave walked to them. Soundwave was ready to get to their quarters because he could feel the cassettes getting restless in their tape decks. He had ordered them into recharge after they had found themselves in the Realm to protect them until he had learned more information. Now he was ready to let them out so they could explore their temporary quarters while waiting for Cassie.
As Soundwave enter the door he heard the whimpers and clicks of his sparklings as a young femme walked out of a room.
"Oh, my lord, you startled me." She said as her hand went over her spark. "I am Seaway. I am Shalon's little sister." Soundwave could see that she was a petite femme like Shalon but she had not been altered by the oracle. Her pink and grey body was sleek and of a light build and he could see her grey wings that were striped with a darker pink. "I am taking care of your sparklings while Cassie checks in with her subordinates. I asked if she would employ me as a caretaker after she had birth them. I hope that this is okay with you? I know that I am young, but I am not old enough to go on missions, but I am too old to remain in the school district. She said it was fine with her." Soundwave could hear the uncertainty in the femme's voice and he turned to her.
"If Cassie hired you, then I am fine with it." In the distance he heard Firefox cry and Soundwave quickly sprinted to his daughter and picked her carefully up to cradle her against his spark. She immediately settled as she cooed and chirped at her creator. Soundwave retracted his mask as he smiled at his daughter and sent waves of calming reassurances to her as well as love and warmth. She settled and her optics started to dim so he placed her back in her crib with her brother. Soundwave turned and looked at the youngling.
"Is Cassie on her way?" He asked.
"She will be here directly. She is still in the communications room and then she will go down into the temple for about an hour and soak in her sarcophagus. They all do it after being off world. It helps to heal their bodies. It is kind of like the energon baths that we take when we have injuries." She looked at her lord. "Is there anything else that you require of me, my lord?"
"No, you are dismissed. Thank you."
"Thank you my lord." Seaway curtsied out of politeness and swiftly exited the quarters. Soundwave walked back into the living area and opened his chest.
"Rumble, Frenzy, eject; Laserbeak, Buzzsaw eject; Ravage, Ratbat eject." All six cassettes flew out of his chest, transformer in midair and landing on their peds. The aerial team found a shelf in the corner to perch on and Soundwave walked to the couch and slumped down on it to wait for his mate. It had ended up being a long day and even though he had little to show for his work, he was tired and ready for recharge. The day had been taxing, and his leader's spark was highly agitated. It wouldn't take much to set off the war lord, but Soundwave was tired of the war, and surmised that if the two proud stubborn leaders could hack some kind of truce out then maybe his creations would have a chance to live their lives in peace.
0o0o0o0o0
Kiki was trying to find someone to assist Barricade. She hated that she was not able to take him to his mate's quarters but in truth she never went past the main doors of the temple where they met each fortnight.
"I am so sorry that you are forced to wait, but I promise to find someone to help you very soon." Kiki told the infiltrator. He made her nervous because of what he did for his master. It reminded her of the ones who had violated her when she had been captured, and she knew that he sensed her fear but couldn't help it. As they waited back in the main entrance, Chelsea came rushing out from the double archway.
"Cade, I am so sorry. I had to take care of a situation concerning our gate here in the temple. Are you alright?" Chelsea checked him over as he looked at her pale face. He could tell that she had been sick again, and he hated that he wasn't there to hold her head as she had purged, but he was also glad that she was with him now. He pulled her closer and kissed her softly. Kiki turned red in the face as she lowered her eyes away from the lovers.
"I am fine." He softly said, glad that she was back with him.
"I am not going to be able to stay long. I need to recharge in my sarcophagus so that my systems will reset themselves, but I'll take you to our quarters first." She told him. He led him away as Kiki watched through her lashes as the couple.
0o0o0o0o0o
Thundercracker looked around Aura's quarters. They were simple except the berth room. In there she had an elaborate four poster berth with the sheer drapes tied to the poles of it. He had never seen a berth that looked so decorative or ornate and the sheets were a soft cotton like quality. He smirked as he ran his hands over the beautiful quilted spread on it and as he pushed down he marveled at how soft the berth was. It was certainly different from anything he had seen on earth and Cybertron. He walked back out to the living area and noticed the flat screen on the wall over a fire like structure. These quarters were certainly different from anything that he had ever seen and as he sat down on the couch he wondered for the first time if he really wanted to remain with Megatron and the Decepticon faction or if he wanted to remain with his mate, his love.
0o0o0o0o0o
"I am not going to stay in the berth room the entire time we are here." Megatron stated emphatically to Prime.
"Well neither am I." He countered as the two of them stood on each side of the couch glaring at the other.
Finally Prime sighed air out of his vents and said, "Look we can glare at each other and make this very difficult for our mates or we can call a truce and keep it until we get back to earth. We have been known to agree on terms and conditions in the past. What would make this so different?" Optimus looked at his long time brother who once had served beside him as the Lord High Protector as he had been to an apprentice to Sentinel Prime.
Megatron looked at Prime. He thought about the situation he was in and knew that there would be no reward, no opportunity if he antagonized Optimus. He was mated to the commander who at this moment held the all the cards and Prime was right. There would be no point in making this any more difficult than it was already.
"Alright, I can concede to your point. I agree to a truce, but only until we are back on earth." Megatron took a seat in the chair next to the couch. Optimus walked around and sat on the couch. Both mechs continued to stare at the other while they mulled things over in their CPU.
"So, you and Shalon?" Prime finally asked. Megatron just looked at Prime wondering his intent from his question.
"Yes, me and Shalon." After a long hesitation.
"She seems awfully young." Prime said after a few more moments.
"She is, but she seems to be happy with me." Megatron said challengingly.
"Good." Prime returned.
"Thank you." Megatron said sarcastically. They looked at each other some more.
"So, Shalon says that Allie likes it rough." Megatron said after the silences became too stressful.
"Maybe, that's between us." Prime replied.
"Don't you worry that you will be too nice and docile for her tastes?" Megatron continued.
"Like I said, that is none of your business." Prime defended. It was nothing against Megatron, but he just didn't feel comfortable sharing berth stories.
"Well, don't be surprised if Shalon and I keep you up tonight." He smirked at Prime as he reclined back in the chair and placed his hands behind his head. Optimus just smirked back as he watched the war lord try and intimidate him. They continued to watch the other.
"Do you think that it will take them a while to get back to us?" Optimus finally asked.
"I don't know. I do know that I overheard them talking about some kind of sarcophagus. They use it to recharge and to fix any problems with their systems." Megatron said.
"I think I remember Allie mentioning it to me. They always use them after being off world. Allie compared it to an energon bath that we used to use on Cybertron." Prime stated.
"I would love to have one of those. Remember when we used to use the baths in Iacon?" Megatron reflected about.
"Yes, they were wonderful. It is one of the few things that I really miss about our home planet." Prime said quietly. He was wondering if Megatron was thinking the same thing, about how weary this war was, and how it was affecting their soldiers.
They looked at each other again and Prime wondered if they would ever get past this awkward feeling. It sat heavily with his spark but there would be nothing unless Megatron wanted peace and would be willing to negotiate for it.