Several weeks after the base was set up, Illusion was out and about gathering things that would be needed for the underground base. Illusion was happy for his brother and Optimus, happy for Orion and Hide and even happier for Jazz and Prowl even though he, Mirage, and Wingspan didn't know what Jazz saw in the stoic tactician. Illusion was willing to give Prowl a real chance to prove himself while Mirage was a little more skeptical. Wingspan was somewhere in the middle on it.
High in the sky, one of the seekerlings that Megatron had forced to grow up fast and become a dangerous and deadly warrior was flying overhead. His mission was simple – find and destroy the Prime and stop anyway who got in his way. This seekers name was Starscream, and thanks to a glitch in the programming, he was a bit defiant even as he tried to fulfill his given "mission."
Cybertron was now divided and civil war looked more and more like a reality and not just a possibility. And it was just Illusion's luck this day that he was spotted by the seeker. Illusion, never having seen a seeker before other than wingspan who was still small, was not quite sure what to expect from the bot, but when the bot started shooting at Illusion, Illusion ran and called for help. He hadn't bough much for weaponry as he didn't like to fight and wasn't crazy about carrying guns and such. HE tried using his illusionary powers to shield himself from fire.
"Illusion to base…. Illusion to base. I am under attack, repeat, under attack" Illusion commed over his comm.
Jazz and Mirage received the alert and informed Optimus. "Soldier, perform evasive maneuvers. We will come as soon as we can" Optimus stated. Mirage wanted to go, but Optimus forbid it. Mirage was not happy but he wasn't going to challenge his mate right now, as Marriage still wasn't feeling the best.
And so, while Optimus and several others headed out to help Illusion, who was now under the attack of not one seeker, but three, Mirage headed for the med bay.
"Ratchet, I am not feeling so well" Mirage said, now kind of glad he was told to remain though he would really have loved to help his twin.
"What symptoms are you having?" The old medic asked. Mirage explained. Ratchet didn't like the sound of it, but didn't show it. He brought out a scanner. Mirage had never seen a scanner like it before and was a little anxious. Ratchet scanned. He found what he suspected he would fine. "Congratulations, Mirage, you are sparked…. with twins" Ratchet said, and at that, Mirage passed out in shock.
Meanwhile, as Optimus and several others, including Jazz and Ironhide, headed out to help Illusion fight off the seekers, they were attacked as well by one of the seekers who had broken off from the other three.
"Target practice" Starscream said as he aimed his shots at the those coming to help their original quarry, unaware he was actually shooting at the Prime, the target of Megatron's rage and the bot Megatron wanted destroyed. Optimus didn't look like a typical Prime, thanks to the fact he had been selected from the pleasure bot group. Starscream, not caring, continued firing. It was his job.
Optimus fired back, his big weapons blasting at the seeker. The seeker was quick, but not quick enough, as the added firepower from the other Autobots soon chased off the cowardly seeker and his two other buddies.
"Illusion, are you hurt?" Optimus asked, once the three seekers were finally gone.
"Yes, sir, Optimus, I can't transform into my other mode – I think my transformation cog is damaged" Illusion stated.
"Hop in my trailer, Illusion and we will get you back to base" Optimus said and after Illusion climbed in, Optimus and the others headed back vis a hidden route to the underground base.
And while the others went back to their quarters, Optimus brought Illusion to the med bay, unaware that Optimus would be in for a surprise when they got there.
When Optimus walked into the med bay with Illusion, Mirage was just coming to. Optimus helped Illusion to a med bay berth and then rushed over to Mirage. "Love, what happened?" Optimus asked worriedly as Ratchet went to help Illusion.
"I….I…I sparked" Mirage said softly, hoping Optimus wouldn't be mad.
"Sparked?" Optimus asked, not quite sure about this.
"Yes…. I am carrying our twins" Mirage stated. He had known as a tower mech that if he was able to carry, he was set for twins, he just hadn't known he would be able to carry.
"I…I am going to be a father?" Optimus asked, joy in his optics, now that he understood. He had never had a father, but he was determined that whatever it was, he would strive to be the best.
"Yes, my beloved. And this was why I wasn't feeling so well. It is a side effect of being sparked" Mirage stated. Optimus retracted his mask and kissed his mate. This really was good news.
Meanwhile, having run away like cowards, Starscream made his report to his boss. He told of the encounter and the skirmish. He also told of the big red and blue bot that had come out to face the trine. "I am not sure, sir, but I believe he may have been the Prime" Starscream said in his screechy voice.
Megatron was as angry as he was happy to hear that the Prime had been seen. His minion had failed to execute the bot on sight, but now Megatron at least knew who and what he was looking for. "You failed me yet again, Starscream. I gave you an order and you couldn't even complete it. You know I don't tolerate failure."
"Please, lord Megatron, spare me. I will do better next time" Starscream screeched, hoping that Megatron didn't plan on destroying him on the spot.
Megatron scanned the seeker, to see if he was worth keeping. "You're lucky…I'm in mood that will allow you to continue to function today, but don't allow this to happen again. Next time, you won't be so lucky. Now get out of my sight, you pile of useless junk." Starscream ran off to his quarters with his brothers and trine mates. All three had been extremely nervous that they would be offlined. For now, they were glad that Megatron had chosen to spare them.