Disclaimer:I don't own Transformers, never had and certainly never will do… a shame...
A/N 2: This story's being beta-read. Chapters will be updated, rewritten and reposted. Thanks to KiaMianara for beta-reading this story. Chapters one to ten had now been reposted!^^
Rating: M for good reasons.
Chapter 10: Unexpected alliances…Orion… …Orion… "Orion Pax!"
Surprised the mech turned to face the pink femme standing next to him, her arms folded in front of her body and an amused expression on her pretty faceplates, intensified even by a wicked glint in her optics. The blue and red mech blushed and looked guilty to be caught daydreaming when he was supposed to work.
"Where were you, Orion? The second moon?" she taunted with a laugh in her voice, nudging him in the side.
"Did you see this mech whom just fly above here, Ariel?" he asked back, in the prospect also answering her question. He hadn't been looking at the sky or the celestial bodies, but watched a mech that was no flier by build fly over the warehouse that was both his and Ariel's workplace. He was fascinated by those new mechs that had the capability of flight, but until now he had never seen one up close. All he knew was that they were calling themselves Decepticons and that their leader was a mech called Megatron.
"Didn't you find it appealing to be able to fly like the seekers can? I wish I could meet this Megatron and ask him some questions…"
Ariel stayed silent and thoughtful for a breem or two, looking surprised at her long term friend. She would have thought Orion to be one of the admirers of the Decepticons, especially this Megatron character. Obviously he hadn't heard the same stories she had.
"I'm not sure you should speak so highly of them, Orion" she said, pinching her lips until they were but a thin line and then took her friend's shoulder firmly.
"I heard some very disturbing stories about this Megatron and his Decepticons. Apparently they are attacking cities and raid energy farms and warehouses like ours."
"Those are only rumours" he replied, returning her gesture, but in contrast to the femme Orion smiled encouragingly. "You have no proof that they are true, so why don't you let me daydream about what I want, hm?"
When he later heard a loud "thud" outside the warehouse Orion went out intrigued and froze.
Ariel sighed in defeat and shrugged her slim shoulders before looking up at the sky as the silver mech flew by again, apparently returning to his previous location. She didn't like these rumours, or the idea of flying, and this mech looked creepy in her optics, but Orion was right of course. She had no prove and until then there was nothing she could do about the way Orion was thinking and so they kept watching the flying mech for different reasons until he had disappeared from view. Then they went back inside to continue their work.
He was here! This mech he had been daydreaming about earlier, Megatron, he was here, and, Primus, he was handsome! Sharp silver plating, large and tall body, angular but appealing features … and he was smiling down at him.
Orion gulped and felt his cheeks blushing slightly as he looked up at the mech, unable to find his voice. Ariel came up behind him, wanting to see what had the other so awestruck this time and stopped dead in her tracks for a klick when she saw the silver mech. Red optics left the still frozen frame of the small dock worker to lock on the little pink femme. His smile seemed to broaden even more if possible, and a fire briefly lit his optics.
Finally, Orion seemed to get out of his spell and addressed the newcomer with a controlled, yet curious tone.
"Welcome, Sir! Is there something you want?"
The silver mech's attention got back to Orion and he smiled widely at him. To Ariel he looked like a predator ready to attack and unconsciously also Orion took a step backwards.
"As a matter of fact, yes I do." He motioned at the warehouse behind them and asked, calmly and in a businesslike way. "What do you store into those? Energon?"
"I can lead you to another set of warehouses not far from here…"
"Yes, we only have energon storages those days, but we also store other types of cargo. Do you wish to use our warehouses for storage? I fear you will have to look somewhere else then, we don't have any space left" he smiled at the tall silver mech and shrugged in an apologetic way.
The mech chuckled and put a hand on his shoulder, looking amused. Maybe about Orion's shyness and probably about his comment, too … the embarrassment made him blush even more. Beside him Ariel snorted annoyed.
"That won't be necessary, young mech. I have no use for a warehouse right now, but if you could show me around for ... future references?"
Ignoring the femme Orion gladly did just that, thinking nothing of it. He regretted that Megatron had to leave again soon, but then he returned just a few circles later with an army of drones.
Orion's vision started to blur from that moment on or maybe it was just his processor refusing to process what was happening. All he could say was that the drones attacked them, killed Ariel and his best friend Dion and when he tried to help them, to defend his friends, Megatron, the same mech that he had looked up in awe not long ago, fired at him in the chest. Then Orion suddenly laid on his back, smoke rising from his torn chest plates. The silver mech kneeled beside him and…
…Optimus!...
...Optimus!...
"Optimus, wake up!"
A sharp shake on his shoulder plates finally brought Optimus Prime out of recharge, the last images of the dream fading away in his memory core. Powering up his optics with a little whine, feeling weak and pained all over, he tried to focus and after a moment the stone cave they had used as base became clearer, as did the familiar sharp faceplates so close to his. For a moment nightmare reality-turned-nightmare overlapped, but this Megatron wasn't looking down on him with an arrogant smile and pity. A look of concern and worry had replaced the usually hard features. The last week of trying to survive on this accursed planet and its harsh living conditions hadn't only affected their paintjob – the previously silver paint was smeared with dirt and other untellable things, making it dull and brownish and Optimus was sure to look even worse himself – but Megatron's optics had kept their sharp, red colour and they still burned with the same fire, but they had long since stopped to burn him.
It took more than a mere organic planet, as wild as it may be, to take down the Mighty Megatron!
Optimus chuckled at that thought, but it died down fast. Not because of the disapproving yet also a bit curious glare his bondmate gave him, but because his energy level too low to be wasted on such a meaningless activity. What was left of his reserves was directed to his sparklings and the growing protoforms, leaving the once strong and proud Autobot Leader as weak as a sparkling himself.
"What are you laughing at?" asked his counterpart as he helped his mate to sit more comfortably against the rocky wall of the cave.
"Nothing. I was just thinking, that's all."
Optimus let out a pitiful whimper as a wave of pain washed through his chest and upper abdomen. The little ones were restless. They always were and if they couldn't find a suitable energy source soon he could even without extended medical knowledge predict an early delivery. The protoforms had been growing quickly, preparing for that eventuality, and seeing the amount of pain the red and blue mech was in that the event may occur far sooner than they would like.
Megatron placed one servo on his mate's swollen chest and upper abdomen, trying to feel if it already was time, but it wasn't, thank Primus. He really didn't want to be forced to help his mate give birth to the twin sparklings without the help of a skilled medic. It just was too dangerous for all parties involved, not to mention that his mate was in desperate need of fuel, but if they weren't found within the next three or four days, they would have to go through with that alone, whether he liked it or not.
Feeling the sparkling restlessness Megatron opened the bond between them. It shocked him time and time again how weak the Autobot was and he prayed he wouldn't have to get used to that (or worse).
Sighing deeply in annoyance and concern Megatron got up and paced restlessly. Optimus' optics followed him with a worry mirroring his own.
"They'll find us. Something tells me that we won't be rotting here much longer, Megatron."
The Decepticon stopped in front of the other, briefly off-lining his optics and looking more worried than he had even thought he could, but not for himself. Megatron was actually more worried for his mate and their sparklings than for himself. It never failed to amaze the Autobot Leader, but to know that he wasn't going to be left to fetch for himself in his dire state felt incredible nice.
"Tell me, Optimus, just how can you be so sure of that? You don't know the Decepticons that well as I do. They won't waste precious energy searching for a single mech, even their leader and after Starscream's little show I find it hard to believe they'd even want to. They must have already branded me as a traitor"
"Megatron" Optimus interrupted him with a calm, but commanding tune.
"What!?"
"You're rambling."
Megatron glared at him for a moment before hanging his helm in defeat. He had taken up to rambling recently simply because it was the only thing he could do. Everything else was out of his hands and he fragging hated it!
Sighing again the former warlord sat down beside his bondmate and companion of misfortune and casually wrapped an arm around his frame. Neither said anything about that gesture, or that the once silver mech very actively sought out the Prime's company and if he left never further than he needed in order to stretch his limbs properly. They both needed the other now more than ever before, no matter if they wanted to admit it or not.
Optimus once again slipped into a troubled recharge and Megatron's posture slummed. When his mate was awake, he at least tried to sound confident and strong, but as soon as he was alone with his thoughts he couldn't keep the facade up anymore and he wrapped both arms around his offline bondmate, hugging him as close as he could.
His optics fell on the pitifully small amount of energon that he had found near the place they had first come around and he clenched his dentals. That was all Starscream let them to survive. They would have barely been enough to sustain them for a week and if there was more somewhere they had no way to find out, because the Prime was too weak for travel and Megatron didn't dare to leave him.
Fortunately Megatron knew how to ration the energon to last longer, although the way he had learned it wasn't exactly one of his favourite memories, but they still would come to their end within the next two or three days and then ...
The Decepticon would be able to survive maybe another week – two at best, if he just laid around and did nothing but recharge – but Optimus wouldn't and he already got almost every drops of the energon to sustain the growing sparklings inside of him. So far the Autobot Leader hadn't noticed what Megatron was doing, because if he would have, he probably would have tried to persuade him to refuel more and that was not acceptable in their current situation. Megatron had survived I smaller rations at times, wasn't carrying and his tanks had been comparably well filled when this mess started. He would be fine… hopefully. No, actually he wouldn't. He would perish together with Optimus and their creations and if he was to be honest, without the burden of leadership or the need to act as if he would still despite the other he didn't mind as much as he should. Of course he wanted them to survive, all of them, but right now he'd rather die with his bondmate than remain behind alone.
Unconsciously his dark servo had wandered and now traced the contours and seams of his bondmate's chest plates and upper abdomen, feeling the growing sparklings inside.
"We will be fine, I promise you" he whispered softly as he leaned down and lightly kissed the spot just above the spark chamber of his mate and then his mate's forehead. The once red and blue mech stirred, then pressed closer against the other, making Megatron feel all warm and ... fuzzy? Yes, that seemed to be the right word. Warm and fuzzy, like an overgrown teddy bear. Blessed be Primus that no one would ever learn about that. He at least wanted to keep that bit reputation if possible.
"I'll get us out of this mess. Somehow I'll get us out and make Starscream pay for his treason."
He hoped that his words may not become his epitaph, but then again: no one had heard it and he doubted anyone would ever find them who bothered to give him a tombstone, if they were ever found to begin with.
*~*Darkmount, Cybertron, six days earlier*~*
Shockwave hadn't expected the space bridge to activate; in fact, the next shipment wasn't due for another week, so when the panels and controls came to life without apparent reason the purple mech readied himself for an enemy's arrival and aimed with his canon arm strait at the cabin's doors.
There was a flash of light, a buzzing sound. The Guardian was ready to shoot at the first sign of anything, but then he felt a familiar pull in his spark and with a surprised gasp the purple gun-former lowered his weapon.
"Soundwave? What is the purpose of this visit?" he asked, sounding collected in contrast to how he really felt. Oh, he was glad to see the other. It had been too long, far too long since they had just seen each other faceplate to faceplate, and even longer since they had had been able to spend some time as bondmates, not just Lord Megatron's most trusted officers. Still, unannounced visits meant trouble and seeing that the blue mech wasn't alone affirmed his suspicion.
Following his bondmate six other mechs stepped though the doors: Skywarp, Thundercracker, Hook, Motormaster … and two Autobots, which prompted Shockwave to instantly lift his weapon again and aim it at them. As far as he was informed, and that usually was very well, although not as well as he would have liked, they were designated Prowl and Ironhide, Prime's tactician and second in command and his weapon specialist and self declared bodyguard, but what really got to him that aside from him no one seemed really fazed by it. Worse even, his own bondmate suddenly stepped in his line of fire and perfectly calm explained him that they were supposed to be here and not to be harmed.
Shockwave's single optic narrowed in on his bondmate, before shifting back to the two Autobots quietly waiting behind the blue mech, and then he lowered his weapon slowly.
"Explain this, Soundwave! Why are there Autobots with you?"
Soundwave stepped closer, just a bit more than necessary and with his always monotone voice started to list the facts, which were of far more interest to the Guardian of Cybertron and made him clench his fist.
"Purpose: assistance needed to reveal location of Megatron and Optimus Prime. Situation: Starscream captured and abducted Megatron and the Prime and claimed leadership."
Shockwave was, well, shocked. Starscream had managed to capture and imprisoned both Megatron and Optimus Prime? Left aside that he found that hard to believe, although he knew that Soundwave seldom lied and never to him, it still left many questions open, starting with why he should care about the fate of Optimus Prime and why in the name of all that was good and logical was Soundwave here and not on earth, searching for their leader? He could have just called to inform him of that development, so why waste precious time and recourses to come here? Surely not just to see him, or Soundwave wouldn't have brought the others along and except for the last part he asked him just that.
"Situation: complicated."
That coming from Soundwave could only meant that the situation actually was disastrous and Shockwave concentrated thoroughly on his mate's next words.
"Starscream stranded Megatron and Optimus Prime on unknown planet. Autobots needed as reinforcement. Condition: guaranteed rescue and retrieval of Optimus Prime. Exact reason for visit: need of a spaceship."
"And the exact reason as to why we needed the Autobots' help?"
Soundwave glazed at the Autobots. It wasn't as it was much of a secret anymore, but their assistance was needed and seeing that Prowl nodded agreeing Shockwave would soon see it the same way.
"Reason: Optimus Prime bearing twin sparks. Co-creator: Megatron."
The purple mech starred. If he would have had a face he would have probably gaped, too, but instead then lifted his normal servo and covered his one optic with a bit more force than necessary. The human term would have been "face palm", but having never been on earth and as a Decepticon not thinking very highly of humans in general the Guardian couldn't know that. Still the sign would have made most mechs present snicker if it weren't for the seriousness of the situation.
"Lord Megatron and Optimus Prime are bonded to each other and expecting twins?"
"Affirmative."
Shockwave just continued to stare, fighting to process the information given to him. It wasn't difficult to guess that obviously Starscream had found out about the bond and used it to take over and since Soundwave never lied to him it had to be true. Still it was lot to swallow, especially for someone as relying on logic as the purple mech.
Ever patient Soundwave didn't move from his spot and waited for Shockwave to look from one mech to the next; analyzing them and the situation they were in thoroughly, before settling again on his bondmate.
"Alright, then we need to plan our strategy very carefully" he said in a rarely used commanding tune. "Of all the things I'd like to name Starscream, an idiot he is certainly not. The longer we need to find our leaders the more time he will have reinforced his position and defences accordingly. Follow me. We have much to discuss."
He motioned to the group to follow him and they fell in steps behind him, letting Shockwave lead them out of the room and down the hallway to a nowadays very rarely to never used conference room that nonetheless was still in top shape, so every mech took a seat. The two Autobots, still uneasy, seat down at one end of the table, Shockwave at the other end with Soundwave right next to him. Hook and Motormaster just took the first seats available, while the seekers tried to stay as far away from everyone else as possible without leaving the table.
Prowl and Shockwave locked optics.
"First of all, we need to find and retrieve Lord Megatron as soon as possible. How long has it been since he was captured and abandoned?"
The navy blue mech answered immediately, without a trace of hesitation, but with notable wrath towards the treacherous seeker.
"Time since capture: four days. Expected return of Starscream: today. Hypothesis: captives must be within a two-day range location from Earth."
"And when is Prime due for delivery?"
"Based on a normal gestation circle two to three weeks tops, but taking the stress Optimus had been suspected to recently we expect to have less time to retrieve them" Prowl added calmer than he felt and ignored the glares he got. He absolutely didn't like to be so vastly outnumbered on enemy ground, but it couldn't be helped and he was here as a temporary but nonetheless equal ally, so the Decepticons better got used to it that would voice his opinion on behalf of the Autobots. Still, he hoped Ironhide wouldn't make too much use of that right. It hadn't been wise to take the trigger happy mech along, but he had insisted and so had Jazz, although rather because he knew that while the weapon specialist had a very short temper and still problems to cope with the situation as a whole he also was perfectly able to get the tactician out alive, should the need arrive.
"Much less time" Hook corrected sober. "I doubt Starscream will have given them anything but scraps to survive on whatever location he dumped them and without proper refuelling I'd say the lack of energy will force Prime's body into an early delivery very soon, not to mention that he already looked as if he'd fall apart any moment.
"Then why are we still wasting time rambling slag" Ironhide exploded, leaving a notable dent in the table with his fist, but sat down again when Prowl told him to. The tactician had this look that said he meant business.
"Gathering necessary information can hardly be called 'rambling slag' " Shockwave argued calmly, but was interrupted by Prowl's icy and cutting voice.
"May I remind you that it was you who came to us for help? So I kindly suggest that we got to work and stop stalling! Any objections? No? Alright, then what are our options?"
The cold glare in his direction didn't stop Skywarp from chuckling lowly and he leant to his bondmate and whispered into his audios: "Well, looks like old Prowl isn't as level-headed as he lets everybody believe."
Thundercracker nodded, not less amused, but also a little impressed, but then prompted his mate to stay quiet. Funny as it may be, they still had a serious problem at hands and were already in enough potential trouble without openly provoking the ire of others. Still, he had to admit that the following days could prove to be amusing.
It took everyone a while to soothe their tempers, especially since Shockwave insisted to be informed of everything that had let to their current situation. Prowl wasn't a happy mech, to say the least, neither was Ironhide, who ran out of patience even fast, but the purple Decepticon had a point when he said that they needed to know all possible variables in order to formulate an actually working plan.
Submitting to his fate Prowl revealed as much as he knew about how Megatron and Optimus had accidently bonded and created twins. Then Soundwave explain how Megatron got the idea to kidnap Prime and keep him on the moon. It had admittedly not been his best idea, but Starscream had obviously found a way to make the best of it. He had kidnapped Prime, made Megatron run head first into a trap and used the knowledge about their bond to humiliate Megatron and claim leadership through planting doubt in the Decepticons' CPUs. Granted, said doubts were justified seeing that Megatron could hardly be expected to seriously injury or even kill his own bondmate, but that didn't change that a fight had broken out among the Decepticons and those still loyal to Megatron had more or less directly asked the Autobots for help to find Megatron and reinstall him in his rightful position and seeing that finding one most likely meant also finding the other the Autobots had agreed to the collaboration, which finally had led to them to coming here.
Now, that they needed a space ship was agreed on fast. Prowl suggest that their scientists, namely Perceptor, Wheeljack, Shockwave and Soundwave, should work together and try to locate the missing leaders. Ratchet was accepted into the rescue team without objections. He was the best medic they had, that was something even Hook couldn't deny, and no one knew Optimus' internals like he did.
A message was send and shortly after the medic joined them, but not alone. Coming with him were of course Wheeljack and Perceptor, but also the twins. They said they were being punished and had to play Ratchet's packhorses, Wheeljack tried to inform them Sunstreaker and Sideswipe had refused to leave the red and white mech's side and Ratchet hadn't had the spark to actually refuse them, but the inventor didn't get much out before a wrench hit him square the head. Prowl didn't care much and was actually relieved that now the odds were at least somewhat evened and that now someone able to keep Ironhide down was with them. Of course it took a lot persuading, but in the end their partaking was grumping accepted and the search could begin. At least they only had to check the planets and moons within a two-day range from earth, but it was still like searching a needle in a haystack and time was running out quickly.
*~*
It was the sixth day after the beginning of the search that the team found a clue at least. There were faint traces of Cybertronian energy on one of Proxima Centauri's planets, a jungle-like orb with a very humid and hot climate and through and through organic. Not the kind of planet that could sustain Cybertronian life forms very well. In fact, it could prove to damage one's circuits after a time, but the traces were there, although faint, and considering the age of the track it did fit.
It took them a day to get there and another to find the place Megatron and Optimus Prime were hiding in to shield themselves from the dire conditions. It was a cave, hidden by dense vegetation and dry enough to be safe. It was also cooler because it was underground and had a running stream inside of its main tunnel.
When the rescue party, composed of Ratchet, Prowl, Soundwave and Thundercracker, entered the cave, they were greeted by an odd sound and an even odder sight…
*~*unknown planet, earlier the same day*~*
Optimus onlined with a start. He felt a little dizzy, like always and confused about the reason why he was already online again. Next to him he found Megatron resting against the cave wall, deeply recharging, but still holding him close. That gave him a good, warm feeling, but it wasn't the reason he had onlined so abruptly and he couldn't see anything out of the ordinary in their hideout either. He cursed lowly as he knew he couldn't get up to walk around and see if he can find what had awoken him. He was too weak and strained to do even that simple task, now … well, and too entangled, but that was off the point.
Sighing he settled on watching the entrance of the cave and laid a hand on his chest as a little ping of pain rose up, or more precisely more pain than he was in anyway. He lowered his hand a little and rested it on his swollen upper abdomen, still a little irritated by that development. Self-growing protoforms weren't unheard of, but it was rare and, if what he had heard was true, they were painful and dangerous to deliver when the time came. He couldn't deny the fact that he was afraid of what would happen when that moment came and for the millionth time he hoped Ratchet would be here. The medic would have known for sure what to do in such a situation. Well, of course he would; he was after all Cybertron's most skilled medic, but …
Suddenly a sharper, more intense wave of pain washed through the Autobot and he wailed in surprise as he wrapped his arms around his chest and upper abdomen. It felt like his spark was torn into pieces and for the record: that was absolutely not pleasant! Next to him, Megatron awoken with a surprised yelp at the loud keening sound and then rose to his knees to see what was wrong with his mate.
"What's happening?"
Optimus couldn't answer right away because he was busy trying not to scream his vocalizer out as the pain increased until he was unable to think or even move. He faintly heard Megatron talking to him, but was unable to understand what he was saying. After what felt like an eternity, the pain subsided and he felt like something glided along his spark casing and into the chamber where the protoforms were developing.
And he understood what happened.
The sparklings had now completely detached from his spark and fixed themselves into the protoforms. They were mature enough to survive outside of his spark casing now and that meant they would have to be removed from his systems not later, but soon, much sooner.
Optimus keened in despair, hugging himself tightly.
No! He didn't want to deliver his sparkling, not here, not in this pit-spawned cave, on this primus-forsaken planet and certainly not without an at least semi proper medic to help him out!
"OPTIMUS! Primus damn it, talk to me! What's happening to you?"
Megatron's voice cut his thought short and he locked optics with him. The once silver mech had a deeply worried frown on his faceplates and was shaking his bondmate's slightly to snap him out of his trance.
"I… I think it's time… the sparklings, they're coming!" answered Optimus finally, and he whimpered as another wave of pain hit him.
This time, it was his upper abdomen that felt like it was about to rip in two and burst open. Megatron's expression turned from worried to downright terrified and he starred at him wide-eyed, mouth agape.
"You … are you sure?"
Optimus nodded barely so and when the pain slowly subsiding again he relaxed and managed to sit up against the wall, looking at his bondmate in deep fear and despair. Their situation had suddenly turned from bad to absolutely catastrophic and the silver warlord knew absolutely nothing about how to deliver a sparkling.
Sadly enough the little ones had no intention to wait any longer, although they took their time. Optimus had no qualms to blame Megatron and Megatron alone for that part, but he also had a new level of respect for human mothers. If giving birth was as painful for them as for him the involuntarily splitting of the plates covering his abdomen after two hours of what probably could be compared to labour pains then he couldn't see why they weren't carried on hands and worshipped like gods to go through something like this for the preservation of their race and it wasn't even over yet. Two hours after it had started was leaking lubricant and energon out of his wound and panted heavily while trying to push the little protoforms out of his body. It was an absolutely unnatural behaviour, but the red and blue mech was in pain, overheating and in the most unnatural situation he would have been able to make up even without the other factors.
Megatron for his part had run to the stream and collected water into an empty energon cube to help cooling him down, but there was little else he could do and he wanted to see the mech who wasn't too scared to do something wrong to actually reach into their respective bondmate and just get the sparkling out. Primus, he felt utterly useless just sitting here and watching Optimus suffer through this ordeal.
"Are you alright?" he asked panicked after a particularly straining and audio-piercing scream. Oh, Megatron knew it was a stupid question and Optimus knew it, too, but he didn't say anything on this regard.
"No, but … I'll survive … I think" the Autobot stammered between two waves of pain. If he could he would have corrected that statement just a few second later. He was sure he screamed like never before ... and suddenly Megatron was carefully pushing something incredible small and slippery into his arms. To stunned to further register pain Optimus starred at something that was mainly red and blue with silver stripes on his limbs and crying as if the world had come to an end. Well, the world it had known so far had actually come to an end, since it was no longer safe within its creator.
Megatron didn't look up when his mate grew still, too busy carefully placing one servo under a second body and supported by the contradictions pulled out the second twin. He was a just a bit bigger than his twin, but only slightly, and the same shade of silver as Megatron, but with red and blue stripes on his limbs and helmet, but he could cry just as good as his twin brother. Not less stunned than his mate Megatron cradled the sparkling close and pulled himself up to his mate. The little ones stopped crying as soon as they were close to each other and weakly clicked and chirped at each other.
"They are beautiful."
"I would have killed you if you'd say otherwise" Optimus admitted weakly, but actually quite honest seeing how his protection protocols already started to spring into action, and cradled the sparklings closer after Megatron had also given the second twin to him. They were so painfully tiny, premature by about two weeks, and so fragile and innocent, unable to survive for a long time on this Primus-forsaken planet, but for now neither of the creators thought about that.
"What do we call them?" the silver mech asked awe filled, hesitatingly petting the sparkling. They looked at him irritated, but then something akin to recognition lit up on the tiny faceplates and they attempted to hold onto his talons, unaware that they should be feared, but Megatron decided then and there that they would never ever learn that, period.
"This" Optimus said firmly and nodded to the sparkling resembling Megatron, "Is Silverstar and the other Crimsonlight."
His tone, albeit weak, left no room for arguments and actually the Decepticon found he had none. The names, in his opinion, were fitting. Silverstar had bright, purple optics, resembling stars, and Crimsonlight seemed to glow red and warm ... just as warm as the first peaceful smile he had seem on his mate in what seemed forever.
"Well, hello, my sons. Welcome to life" he said, leaning closer and his head against his mate's. He didn't want to, really. Right now, if he ignored the outer circumstances, life was perfect, but thoughts about what they were supposed to do now started to enter his mind. How were they supposed to care for their little ones? They needed treatment and special energon in order to survive because of their premature state and Optimus needed medical treatment. If they weren't found in the next couple of hours, maybe a day if he allowed himself to be really optimistic, the twins would die and after so much trouble he somehow doubted Optimus would survive the loss.
Suddenly the cave was flooded in a blinding light. The twins started to cry yet again when their tiny, immature optics were so carelessly assaulted by the intense light and in the blink of an eye Megatron was on his pedes and shielded his bondmate and their creations from whatever danger had just arrived. He feared Starscream had in a surge of pity returned to finish them off and if the insolent little fool believed he would get them without a fight …
"Situation: found them!" a very familiar, monotone voice shouted. The light was dimed and relieved beyond description Megatron recognised Soundwave. The navy blue mech looked about ready to voice his own relieve when he noticed Prime and the wailing, tiny bundles he tried to hide from view, obviously not sure what to make of this.
"Sparklings: already delivered. Medical attention instantly needed."
"I'm already on it, you big oaf!" came the rude reply from Optimus' side.
Ratchet had wasted no time in blabbering and contemplation and had gotten to his leader as soon as they were in sight. How he had gotten past Soundwave and Megatron unnoticed would forever remain a mystery, but it wasn't as if anyone cared right now.
Just as expected, although they secretly still had hoped for the better, had the lack of energy forced Optimus into an early delivery. The sparklings were about two weeks premature and even someone without medical knowledge could say that that wasn't good, but fortunately the birth had been very recent, so they hadn't weakened any further yet.
"Okay, Thundercracker, Ironhide, you take Optimus and don't even think about removing the infants from him. Soundwave, help me with Megatron. We need to get them to the med bay ASAP!" the medic shouted all business and leaving absolutely no room for protest, so the mechs just swallowed whatever they had to say and did as they were told.
Soon enough Optimus, Megatron and the twins were safely secured in the ship and they were on their way to Cybertron.
-TBC-