Wow…it's been a while since I've last posted a chapter, but Chapter Ten is finally here! I apologize for the long wait, for any of you who are interested in this particular story. Enjoy!

Several solar cycles after Halloween, at the Decepticon base…

Swordslash and Skydive were lying in bed together, wrapped up in each other's arms. They were now back at base again—they had been searching for Fireblast for solar cycles and solar cycles, but since they had become fatigued, they decided that if they didn't take a little rest, they would never be able to find her.

At this moment, Skydive and Swordslash were both in Skydive's bed. It was morning—not just any morning. It was the morning after an amazing night full of 'facing and overloads, for both parties.

"Come get some breakfast, darling!" they heard Spaceflower call from the kitchen.

"Coming, Mom!" Skydive responded, and got out of bed. "I could go for some energon."

"Me too," her husband-to-be said, following her out of the bedroom.

By the time they got there, all the other Decepticons were there, too. Swordslash started reading a copy of the Decepticon Tribune, and Skydive, searching for reading material of her own as she daintily sipped her energon, picked up a copy of her mother's favorite magazine, Decepticon Femme.

While she was reading she came across a surprising article—about accidental sparklings because couples weren't careful during their 'facing. Skydive remembered last night and found herself thinking, What if…? Well, there was only one way to find out. As inconspicuously as she could, she took her beloved out into the hallway and had him look at the article.

"You think this is what happened to you?" Swordslash asked, looking shocked.

"I think I should buy one of those tests, just to be sure," Skydive replied. "I'm not going to go to a doctor because if I do, my parents will find out."

"Well, if the test is positive, you'll have to tell them…"

"That's why I need to get tested." Skydive shrugged and led Swordslash back into the kitchen, where Starscream had picked up Swordslash's copy of the Decepticon Tribune and was flipping through the pages nonchalantly between sips of energon. This was apparently a very relaxing morning for Starscream—Swordslash didn't want to think about what the Seeker would do if the test was positive.

"Swordslash and I need to make a quick run to the store," Skydive was saying. "We just need to pick up a few grocery items."

After the store trip…

"Swordslash, just go out into the kitchen while I take this test," Skydive said, holding up the pregnancy test Swordslash had bought for her. Swordslash nodded, nervously, and went into the hallway.

"Where is my daughter?" asked Spaceflower.

"And what did you guys buy?" added Starscream.

"We just bought, um, some…some armor…and some oil…" Swordslash was feeling unusually nervous. "Nothing to be concerned about. If you're wondering where your daughter is, she's just a little tired, so she went to her room to get some recharge."

"If you say so." Starscream shrugged.

"Are you finished reading the Decepticon Tribune?" asked Swordslash. "It's my favorite newspaper, you know…"

Starscream nodded and handed it over. Swordslash started reading; there was nothing too unusual, mostly just reports on where the Elite Guard ship was stationed, or on Autobot and Decepticon activity. Apparently, there had been no major battles on Cybertron—at least, no battles that were major enough to make the news.

That is, until Swordslash turned to the "Health" section of the paper, and gasped. Of course, he knew of the deadly Cybertronian virus that was running rampant across Cybertron—everyone did…but these casualties were worse than he could have imagined.

"What's happening on Cybertron?" Megatron was carefully watching Swordslash read the newspaper. Apparently he wanted to keep up with the Decepticon news on his home planet.

"It's that horrible virus again," Swordslash replied, shaking his head. "Someone needs to do something about it before everyone on the planet goes offline."

"Let me see," said Starscream, grabbing the paper. "Listen—it says, 'Cybertron's top medics and scientists are both working on discovering a cure for this deadly virus, but whether or not any progress has been made is yet to be announced. Meanwhile, the denizens of our home planet are going offline every solar cycle."

"What terrible news!" Spaceflower cried, grabbing onto Starscream; he put his arm around her and set the Decepticon Tribune down on the kitchen table.

Swordslash picked it up and began turning through the pages again. "It doesn't look like there's anything else worth reading about. No battles or anything. There's this one stupid article—Inappropriate Decepticon Television Programs Currently Corrupting This Generation of Sparklings. I mean, honestly, who cares about that? Now they're probably going to cancel all the good Decepticon channels."

"You might be forgetting, Swordslash, that I have final jurisdiction over every Decepticon channel, and no one is allowed to cancel any channel without my approval," Megatron reminded him, sounding annoyed. "I need my horror movies."

"Then you should cancel Seeker Daily Drama," Starscream told him. "Nobody likes that show. Nobody."

"I probably will, someday," Megatron replied. "For now, though, Starscream, don't you know there's a war on?"

Before Starscream could answer, they heard Skydive call, "Swordslash!"

"Coming, Sweetie!" Swordslash jumped up from the table so fast he almost knocked his chair over. Without a moment's hesitation, he dashed out into the hallway.

"Was it just me, or was he acting a little funny?" asked Starscream.

"Oh, they're young and in love," Spaceflower told him, smiling softly. "I'm sure we acted the exact same way, when we were their age."

"No, you acted worse," said Megatron. "I thought Starscream couldn't get more annoying, but—"

"Now, now, let's not start a fight, my liege," Spaceflower said sweetly, her vocal weapon kicking in. Starscream had always been entranced by the sound of her voice, and now was no exception. Almost subconsciously, he stretched one arm across the table and reached for her servo.

"I love you, Spaceflower," he told her, grabbing her other servo.

"I love you too, Starscream," she whispered back, staring into his optics; he felt his spark beating faster as he remembered their wedding day, and their spark-bonding, and how much they had 'faced on their honeymoon (using best mech Blitzwing's gift of extra-large condoms). They hadn't really been 'facing much lately, but…why not? They were still in love!

In a sudden fit of lust, Starscream grasped his beloved in his arms and kissed her passionately on the lips, just like in the old days, the days they thought would never end. Spaceflower squealed with delight and soon glossa became involved, and then servos, and then…well…something that probably should have been confined to the bedroom, until finally they separated from each other, gasping for air—but, after a moment, began making out again. They both needed it.

Meanwhile…

"Well, Swordslash, not that I don't like sparklings, but I don't consider it good news that my test was positive," whispered Skydive, as soon as Swordslash stepped into the hallway. "I just don't think I'm ready yet."

"So what are we going to do?" Swordslash hissed.

"We have to tell my parents about it," Skydive replied fearfully. "Dad will probably shoot you when he finds out, but they're going to find out one way or another and when they do, I want it to be from us."

"No sense in putting it off, then," said Swordslash, and pulled her into the kitchen, where they were surprised to find…STARSCREAM AND SPACEFLOWER MAKING OUT?

"Mom! Dad! Seriously!" cried Skydive.

"Oh…sorry, honey," said Spaceflower, separating from her husband and looking embarrassed.

"We came here because we have news that you might not be too happy about," Skydive told her parents, nervously.

"You two are probably going to take turns killing me after you hear it," Swordslash added.

"Oh, I'm sure it can't be that bad." Spaceflower smiled warmly.

"It is that bad," said Skydive. "We figured we should tell you, though…I just found out I'm pregnant."

"WHAT?" Spaceflower cried.

Starscream, who had just taken a huge gulp of energon, spit it out all over the table in shock. "Is this some kind of joke?"

"I'm afraid not," Swordslash replied. "I mean, we both love sparklings, and we would love to be parents someday, but…we're not ready yet. That's why it's not really good news."

"We had this discussion, Swordslash," said Starscream angrily. "I told you. I do not want or expect to become a grandparent until my own son—" (he gestured to his youngest sparkling, who was screaming away, like usual) "—is old enough for the branding ceremony. Did you not hear a word I was telling you?"

"It…it was an accident," Skydive told him, looking a little ashamed.

"Yeah, we kind of guessed that." Starscream was looking furious at both his daughter and his future son-in-law, and so was Spaceflower.

"Skydive, I never would have expected this out of you!" Spaceflower cried. "I can't believe my own daughter would become pregnant at such a young age!"

"We all knew you were 'facing, but could you at least have been more careful?" Starscream agreed.

"Oh, like you're one to talk," said Megatron. "Might I remind you of how responsible you were in your relationship, Starscream?"

"That is beside the point, Megatron," Starscream told his leader through clenched teeth. "I'm trying to scold my irresponsible daughter and her irresponsible husband-to-be!"

"No need for that!" Skydive cried, looking more upset by the second. "Swordslash and I will take care of it all!"

"Yes, we will do whatever we can!" Swordslash added.

"You'd better, Swordslash," said Starscream, rather menacingly. "Because from now on, this sparkling is your responsibility."

"I-I won't let you down, sir," Swordslash replied, looking terrified.

"Oh, great," they heard Megatron mutter. "Another weird sparkling to add to the collection."

Back on the Elite Guard ship, in Percy's science lab…

"So, tell me what you were working on," said Microdigit, a little shyly, as he approached his potential girlfriend from behind.

"Just trying to find the cure for that pesky virus," Fireblast told him. "After doing some research I found out that even if viruses start in only one part of the body, they spread until the entire body is consumed with the virus. It really is a death sentence."

"Have you found out anything yet?" asked Microdigit, fascinated.

"Not exactly," Fireblast replied. "I've been experimenting with different chemicals and such to find out how the cause of the virus reacts to them—because you yourself found out what causes it, remember? I need to do some more research, too—I need to research the cause of the virus itself."

"It seems to me like you're making an awful lot of scientific progress," Microdigit told her. "I think science might be your specialty."

"Oh, don't be silly," Fireblast laughed. "I don't have a specialty. I just like doing this—and, of course, I like the fact that we're doing something to help literally millions of innocent Cybertronian denizens who are going offline because of this virus."

"I think you're the one being silly," Microdigit replied, and timidly kissed her cheek. "Everyone has a specialty—and I think you've found yours. Now keep experimenting and researching, and I'll try to do the same. If we do, and if we get Percy to help us too, we might just find what we're looking for."

Fireblast smiled. "I sure hope so."

When Microdigit was at another lab table, though, and grabbing test tubes and chemicals out of a cabinet, Fireblast was watching him. Could he be right? Had the study of science been her specialty all along—and she just didn't know it?

In that case, thought Fireblast, I need to work even harder.