Author's note. Well, I'm finally back and here's another chapter for you all. This would have gone up sooner, but this site won't allow me to upload anything for some reason meaning I had to retype it onto a file that already existed in Document Manager. This means I'm not sure when the next chapter will go up I'm afriad. But back to the chapter.
In to-days chapter Megatron assures himself how fair and great he is while the Autobots bemoan the situation with the kids.
Enjoy and please review.
Megatron eyed his little pets as they eagerly tucked into their food. They seemed much happier which intrigued the large Decepticon. Less than half an Earth hour ago, he had spanked them for disobeying him. Though he had been careful not to damage them, it had hurt enough to leave them in tears by the end of it. But it was almost as though it hadn't happened, though he saw they were kneeling rather than sitting, they all seemed cheerful. Obviously humans were more resilient than he had imagined.
He decided this was a good thing, he preferred them cheerful to sulking. as long as they had learned their lesson and didn't dare disobey again, everything would be fine. But as he lightly stroked one of them, he somehow doubted this, up to this point they had been as defiant as possible. Never mind, it made things more interesting, though he wouldn't hesitate to punish them again.
Seeing that they had finished, he smiled and gently picked them up. They clung to his fingers as he raised them to face level and he knew they didn't want to sit down. Well, a lasting sting would help them to remember that he wasn't to be trifled with. No doubt Optimus would say he was being overly harsh but swift discipline was the only way to ensure that his men (and now pets) knew their place. And when everyone knew their place, everything ran much more smoothly.
"I take it you enjoyed that, my little pets" Megatron asked smiling at them. The kids glanced at each other before looking into his optics.
"It was, um, very unusual" Carlos said, giving a nervous smile.
"But nice" Alexis added quickly. Her face like her friends was slightly smeared with dried tears and food.
"Good" Megatron said before frowning slightly at he sight of their messy faces. He nodded to his Minicon Leader-One who ran off to obey his master's orders. The kids watched the Minicon curiously but before they could say anything, Demolisher spoke.
"You were right about the Autobots, sir" he said as he and his two fellow Decepticons watched the kids. "That punk Hotshot showed up just before we left Earth."
"Hotshot" Rad said eagerly, earning himself a stern look from Megatron who then looked up at Demolisher and said.
"Did you engage him?"
"No, sir" Demolisher replied. "He wanted to, but we told him to back off if he didn't want these three to starve."
"Very good, Demolisher" said Megatron approvingly as Cyclonus now cackled.
"Ooh, you should have seen his face, he probably went home and cried."
The kids looked annoyed at this but at that moment Leader-One came hurrying back over, and handed Megatron aclean cloth. Megatron changed his grip on the kids so that they were now gripped in his closed fist. Carefully holding them, he started wiping Carlos's face withthe cloth. Carlos tried to resist but in the end was forced to accept it. While Megatron was doing this, he shot a glare at Cyclonus and said.
"Cyclonus, why is it that Starscream found your charge wondering around?"
Starscream sneered as Cyclonus cowered under Megatron's annoyed glare.
"I'm sorry Sir, I must have dozed off for just a moment" Cyclonus said apologetically.
"A moment" Carlos exclaimed in disbelief as his face was scrubbed. "Man, who's he kidding?"
"They need to be watched" Megatronsaid sternly, now cleaning Rad's face. "Otherwise they get into mischief. If you're going to leave them unsupervised for any length of time, you must ensure that they stay put."
"But I did, Megatron, I put him on a high shelf so he couldn't get down" Cyclonus protested.
"So how did he get down?" Starscreamm askedwith a sneer before saying sarcastically. "Or did he jump?"
Everyone looked at Carlos who gave a nervous non-committal shrug. Megatron paused in his cleaning of Rad's face to say "Well?"
"Umm" Carlos stalled, he didn't really want to get the Minicon who had helped him into trouble. Alexis and Rad looked a little nervous as well, they knew about the Minicon and didn't know how Megatron would react. Would he dismiss it or would he have the Minicon punished. Not wanting the silence to drag, Carlos said quickly.
"Does it matter, he was totally oblivious, Optimus could've walked in and gotten me down for all he would have noticed."
"Be that as it may, I would still like to know how you got down" Megatron said, now cleaning Alexis's face. When Carlos hesited, Megatron said.
"Why are you so reluctant to tell us? Are you planning on using the same trick to disobey in future?" Megatron paused and then said, optics boring into Carlos's eyes. "Or are you protecting someone?"
Carlos couldn't meet his optics, his gaze dropped ground wards as Megatron smirked.
"I thought so" he said knowingly. "Well, which Minicon was it?"
"Aw, you're not going to punish him, are you? He didn't know he was doing anything wrong" Carlos pleaded looking back into Megatron's optics. Rad and Alexis also shot pleading looks in Megatron's direction. Megatron considered them as he finished cleaning Alexis'sface. Dropping the cloth into Leader-One's hands, he paused and then.
"You are worried I will punish this Minicon and so wish to protect him?" he asked slowly to which Carlos nodded earnestly. "And if I decided you would receive punishment in the Minicon's stead. Remember, all three of you will be punished."
The kids all involuntarily winced, they were still sore from their last punishment. However, they weren't about to let an innocent Minicon be punished, especially as Megatronwasn't as likely to hold back as much as he did with them. So squaring his shoulders, after a nod from his friends, Carlos said firmly.
"We'd take it."
There was silence for a moment as Megatron regarded them, then he threw back his head and started laughing. Changing his grip on them so that they now rested on his open palm once again, he said.
"I think I now see why the Autobots keep you, Optimus would be proud of your spirit" he said stroking them generously. This made the kids grin, they loved pleasing the brave Autobots they admired so.
To the kids amazement, the other Decepticons were looking somewhat impressed at the fact they were willing to take more punishment, just for a Minicon? Megatron's Minicon looked as he always did, serious, but the kids could've sworn they saw a very small smile appear on Leader-One's face. Megatron placed the kids back onto his knee, still lightly chuckling.
"Thank your guardians for making you such nice food before they go about their duties" he commanded, resting both hands on the armrests of his throne. The three Decepticons looked smug as the kids chorused.
"Thank you, Starscream." Thank you, Demoilsher." "Thank you, Cyclonus."
"I made the milk and fish paste" Cyclonus anouched proudly, causing Carlos's face to almost crack as he struggled to keep smiling.
"Yeah and i did the dried stuff" Demolisher said off-handedly as he nodded to his leader before turning to Cyclonus. "Come on, lets get some shooting practice."
"Oh goody" cackled Cyclonus as he and Demolisher made their way out of the throne room. Starscream, however lingered.
"So your sweet was adequate?" he asked in his raspy voice.
"Oh yeah, it was great" said Rad as Alexis and Carlos nodded enthusiastically. Starscream smirked.
"I thought you'd enjoy it, I made sure to add sugar as Alexis said" he said before turning and following Demolisher and Cyclonus out of the room.
Carlos and Rad gave Alexis one-armed hugs, whispering.
"Way to go Amiga." "That was brilliant."
"What's this about sugar?" Megatron asked, sounding like a stern teacher. It was Alexis who answered, giving her most innocent look, she said.
"Something essential for kids."
Shooting a grin at her friends, she added.
"Especially boys."
They all laughed as Megatron regarded them suspiciously. Lifting his hand form the armrest, he lowered it and made them lie down, saying.
"I think it's time for another nap" he said firmly, running his finger across their backs as they lay on their fronts. "When you've had your nap, you can have some free time which I expect you to use to practice your tricks. And no mischief this time" he warned, waggling a finger at them.
The kids settled down, but were still a little uncomfortable. Not only were they still smarting after their spanking but the hard cold surface of Megatron's knee wasn't the best place for a sleep. They could feel Megatron lightly stroking their backs as they lay there.
"Milk and fish paste" Carlos hissed, making a face as he squirmed, trying to get comfy. "Why'd you tell them to get fish oil?"
"I told you, it's very important" Alexis hissed back. Rad shook his head, a small smile on his lips.
"It wasn't that bad, besides our 'sweet' more than made up for it. Think we can convince them to give us chocolate?"
Before either Carlos or Alexis could answer, they felt a tap on their behinds. Wincing and grabbing their sore bottoms protectively, they craned around to see Megatron looking stern.
"I think I have already mentioned what happens during a nap."
"Sorry" the kids murmured as they snuggled against one another to rest. Megatron watched them for a few minutes before he decided they had settled down and relaxed. He wondered the next Minicon was going to appear, he hated being inactive. At least his pets provided a distraction.
He wondered, was this why Optimus and the other Autobots really kept these kids, they were something to focus on apart form fighting? They certainly were somewhat endearing, they didn't cry and cower and if there was one thing he hated it was sniveling cowards. Funnily enough it was something he and Optimus had in common, though Prime would never put it like that.
Megatron smirked, it was amusing how there were certain parts of his nature Prime liked to deny. Megatron never pretended to be anything he wasn't, not that he was saying Prime wasn't honest, he was, the soft Spark. it was just that Prime liked to suppress certain parts of his nature and that's why he was an Autobot and he Megatron was a Decepticon.
What was Prime up to now? Undoubtedly, he would be trying to think of ways to get these kids back. When they next met, Prime would demand they be returned and no doubt accuse the Decepticon leader of mistreating them. Which was nonsense, he was treating just fine. As he watched the dark skinned boy rub at his neck, he thought, yes he had made them wear collars to show they were his pets. But these collars were essential, not only did they allow them to breathe, they provided freedom of movement.
Also he had made sure they were well feed and rested. And what did he ask for in return? Just their total obedience, which wasn't unreasonable was it? Of course not. They may have been severely punished but they knew exactly why, he wasn't just lashing out. As the female shifted uncomfortably, he recalled how they had been willing to take another spanking to spare a Minicon punishment. And he found that utterly incredible, why would they do such a thing? Was it the Autobots influence or were they honestly just that selfless?
As he pondered that question, thinking about the kids and Minicons, made him think of another problem. What was he going to do with his pets when he and his men went hunting Minicons. Obviously taking them was out of the question but he didn't want to leave any of his men behind, he liked to have all three of them with him on missions. He could leash his pets, but he didn't really want to do that unless they were really disobedient. Besides it would make them very resentful which could led to disobedience. some sort of cage perhaps?
But looking up and glancing around the room, he decided this was unnecessary. They were after all in the remains of a large spaceship, he could easily deposit them in one of the secure rooms where they would have plenty of Space to run about but not be able to escape. Yes, that sounded like a good plan.
Megatron smirked to himself as he continued to caress his little pets, even Otpimus couldn't deny the fairness of that idea. Everything was going just fine.
At the Autobot Base.
"Every-thing's gone so horribly wrong" Hotshot declared, punching the wall in his frustration. Across the room Optimus stood bowed over the Computer Console, hands gripping the sides. Red Alert was a gloomily sitting at a table.
"Demolisher referred to them as Megatron's pets" Optimusaskedslowly, not raising his head. Hotshot just stood there with his fists clenched as he answered, he had only just got back. After running into the Decpeticons, he had gone for a long drive after Warping back into the local area.
"Yeah, that's what he called them" he said, shoulders slumped. Optimus sighed heavily.
"But they were getting food for them, which is something" Red Alert pointed out.
"But we don't know what he's doing to them in the menatime" Hotshot said frustrated. "He could be torturing them or.."
"Hotshot, that's enough" Optimus said sternly standing up straight to turn around and face his two men. Hotshot bowed his head.
"I'm sorry sir."
"There's no ponit in quessing waht Megatronmayormay not be doing with the kids" Red Alert said standing up now. "We know he's feeding them and that's good enough for now."
There was silence for a moment, as each Autobot was absorbed in thier own thoughts. Then Optimus spoke.
"Megatron maybe at times creul and merciless" he begun slowly causing Hotshot's face to twist. "But's he not sadistic, he won't hurt them for the sake of hurting them."
He puased as both Hotshot and Red Alert looked at him hopefully. The few Minicons in the room were also listening.
"The kids are smart" continued Optimus. "As long as they don't annoy him or do anything foolish, thet should be fine."
"You're right Optimus" said Red Alert. "But thier still prisoners."
"I know" replied Optimus heavily before sighing. "If I could only talk to Megatron, convince him that the kids are not part of this."
"Trouble is" said Red Alert. "We can't contact the Decpeticons and they only show up when a Minicon has appeared."
Before Optimus could say anything to this, Hotshot suddenly spoke.
"I think I have an idea about how we can talk to Megatron."
Author's note. Next chapter, the kids think long and hard about their situation and their captors. Till next time.
