A/N: Nothing really. Cleaning a lot while parents are out and just lazing around, trying to work on my older stories. Not going so well since I am stuck on them.

Optimus' girl: Thundercracker will take good care of Soundwave, no matter how far apart they may be.

Michelle Thornboy: It'll get much more for TC and SW.

:Sparkbond:

:Sibling/parent bond:

Com. link/flashbacks/dreams/thoughts/lyrics

Main Pairings:

Nemesis PrimexAlpha Trion

Child(s): Megatron, Orion Pax/Optimus Prime

MegatronxNightgale

Child(s): Bumblebee

Orion Pax/OptimusxAriel/Elita One

Child(s): Hot Rod

Soundwave

Child(s): Ravage, Laserbeak, Buzzaw, Rumble, Frenzy

AirwayxSolarsky

Child(s): Starscream, Thundercracker, Skywarp

future ThundercrackerxSoundwave

Child(s):

Warnings: Kissing, mentions of interfacing/rape, violence, death, graphics, and anything else I forgot.

Disclaimer: I do not own Transformers. Only Hasbro. I only own my characters.


Starscream flew in front, all three returning to Vos. Thundercracker seemed on a high, his positive emotions leaking into the bond. He felt jealous of his brother, but also happy that he found someone. Seeing any couple reminded him of Skyfire and what had happened to him afterwards. The Prince wouldn't admit it to anyone and kept it hidden.

The castle guards waved the returning Princes in, bowing respectfully when the trine transformed.

"Welcome back sirs," one guard said. "You have been requested by the Queen to speak with her in the throne room. As a warning, she doesn't seem very pleased."

"Thank you Cloudbreaker," said Starscream. "Carry on guards."

The brothers dreaded going to their carrier. She was known to follow the punishments of anyone breaking the Vosian rules, even if they were royal or her own sons. They tended to leave scars as a reminder to obey the laws upheld by the Vosians. Starscream already thought of taking any punishment for his brothers. He did not fear the Queen, given the King was so much more merciful and kind.

Two servants opened up the throne room doors. Only the Queen was present, sitting luxuriously in her throne. Her optics brightened at seeing her sons. Starscream bowed in respect, his brothers following behind him.

"Carrier, you wished to see us?" Starscream asked.

"Yes. I have heard rumors of you three leaving Vos to go to the Kaonian Gladiatorial Pits and seeing those grounder filth," the Queen said.

"It is true. I will not hide that fact," Starscream said, knowing any lie would be seen plainly.

"You will cease at once," the Queen said. "Any further contact will result in punishment."

"I must decline. We have too much outside of Vos just to leave it behind," the tri-colored seeker said. "I'm sorry."

"Thundercracker, Skywarp?"

"We must also decline," the two said.

"Then punishment will take place."

"Please carrier, let me take any punishment. Thundercracker and Skywarp do not deserve it," Starscream intervened. "I beg of you. They follow me, so it is I that will take the fault. It won't matter how many times you do, but we will remain by our choice. Just let me take this punishment and future ones."

"Very well. Thundercracker, Skywarp, you two are dismissed. And send the servants in," the Queen said.

Solarsky stood from her throne, going over to her son. The servants came in, bending in half and remaining like that.

"Light, go inform the medic to prepare for a patient. Height, you will assist me in punishing the Prince," Solarsky said. the femme on the left left to the medibay while the mech on the right took Starscream by the arm.

The trio headed down to the lower levels. Even though Starscream did not resist, fear still had him moving tensely. He hated the lower castle, having been punished as a youngling as an example. His sire never found out, nor did he have the courage to say something. He hid his scars with paint, only Skyfire knowing what happened to him.

Starscream looked up when they stopped. They had reached that dreadful room. The Prince swallowed, steeling himself for the oncoming pain. He heard Height faintly whisper that he was sorry before going to the wall. A pair of shackles hung from the wall. Starscream stood as he was bounded, preventing him from any escape.

Height moved back to the door, standing against the wall next to the door. He couldn't bear to see the seeker he watched grow up in pain. It hurt his spark each time he saw such a cruel act. Solarsky went to her son, a bladed, five-tailed whip dangling from her servo. There was no regret in her optics. Starscream kept his optics set on his carrier's, denta gritting together in preparation.

Solarsky threw her arm forward, the whip cracking against Starscream's chest. The Prince gritted his denta harder, servos fisting up as agony ripped through him. Three lashes later he finally screamed, the blades digging in deep. The loud screams echoed around and into the hallway, traveling up the castle.

Height offlined his optics and audios. He could not stand this torture. The vibrations of the screams still went through his body, up through his pedes and to his helm.

Energon squirted out and gathered around on the ground. Splatters of the violet liquid painted the walls and caked the Prince and Queen. Starscream pleaded and cried, his tears dripping and mixing with his spilt energon. His body was on fire, cockpit shattered, fuel lines split open, tanks cracked, wings torn, and spark dimming with each passing minute. The light coming from his spark, lighting the room, flickered off the femme, showing her sick pleasure in this.

"I'm finished here. Height, take him away to the medibay to be fixed up," Solarsky ordered. She looked at her plating. "I need to get cleaned up."

"Yes my Queen," said Height, having paid attention when the vibrations ceased. He unshackled the Prince, catching him in his arms. He waited until the Queen left before taking Starscream away. "I'm sorry I couldn't do anything. If I did, then there would be no doubt that I would have been killed."

"Don't... don't be sorry," Starscream muttered. He coughed, energon spilling from his intake. "I'm... used to... it."

"Not to this extent," said Height. "Let's get you fixed up Starscream."

Height made his way up to the medibay, going slowly as not to cause more pain and bleeding. The medic stood prepared, helping get Starscream onto a berth in a private room. Height stayed nearby, making sure that the Prince was stable. He didn't like how weak the spark felt against his body. And there was more than half the energon in the body that spewed out.

The medic finished rather quickly, within a few hours. He made sure his sensors were put on the Prince's vitals in case there were any changes. The mech patted Height on the shoulder before leaving the room.

Height looked at the web of tubes and wires that kept the Prince alive. It was a horrid sight, but at least he was safe. Height secretly sent a message to the King and the other two Princes to come to the medibay. They deserved to be there with the middle triplet in case he woke up. He would also explain what had happened.

"Height, what happened to my son?" Airway asked when he sprinted into the room.

"The Queen punished him for leaving Vos and being associated with grounders," Height reported.

"Star said he would take our punishment too. We had went because, well... I fell for... Soundwave. He's a gladiator, the one that was raped and sparked by the High Council," said Thundercracker.

"Are you happy with Soundwave?" Airway asked.

"Of course I am. Soundwave is willing to give me a chance at being with me. I love him sire. I love him, no matter what happens to him," Thundercracker burst. "And look what that got us! Star is dying, or close to it. I can feel it through the bond!"

Airway pulled his distraught son to him, hugging him. Thundercracker cried into his sire's chest.

"Starscream is stronger than you think. He will pull through this," the King reassured. "You are also strong, both of you."

"Thank you sire," TC murmured against the blue plating. "We are so lucky to have you as our sire. We love you."

"I love all of you as well," Airway said. "Height, please stay with Starscream and guard him. I want to know when he is online."

Airway began coughing, intakes wheezing as he did. He spat a small amount of energon into his palm. Thundercracker motioned for Skywarp to go grab the medic. Height pulled up a chair for the King to sit in as his episode ended with ragged breathing. The medic came in, scanning the King over.

"You've been taking the medicine. You shouldn't be getting worse," the medic said.

"This could be more serious than we thought Sunstream," Airway said.

"Let's get you on a berth. I want to watch over you for tonight," said Sunstream.

"Sire, what's wrong?" Skywarp asked.

"Nothing my son. Just a simple virus," the King lied.

"Simple my aft. You're very ill and didn't tell us," said Skywarp.

"I can assure you that I am fine. Your carrier makes sure I take my medication on time," said Airway. "You two should go get some recharge."

"Will you be fine without us?" Thundercracker asked.

"Of course. I love you three. Don't forget that," said Airway. "Goodnight."

"Night," the two Princes said, kissing their sire's cheek. They did the same with Starscream before heading to their quarters.

Airway got settled down. Sunstream hooked up a machine to monitor the King's vitals. He administered a drug to help the King recharge peacefully as well as another dose of medication. The medic went to his office for a bit of recharge himself, not knowing the next time he will get any. A few minutes or at least an hour would do good on his systems.

~~~000

Starscream onlined his optics, voice box glitching slightly as his systems came online. His entire front ached, but at least he was alive. There was, however, a pain in his spark. He searched the bond, trying to figure out why he was hurting. Where his sire's presence once was, was nothing. Starscream sat up, ignoring the machines he was hooked up to.

Height tried to push the Prince back down, but Starscream was stronger. The weakened seeker tore off the wires, running out into the main part of the medibay. His brothers cried over a berth, a greyed frame laying upon it. Starscream went over, optics widening as he saw his sire... dead. Sunstream had put away the machine before turning back to the three Princes.

"I'm sorry you three. His illness progressed too much. The medicine should have cured him, but it failed," said Sunstream.

"Who gave it to him?" Starscream asked.

"The Queen, every evening with energon," the medic said. "Why?"

"That glitch! She poisoned him! Do a full autopsy Sunstream! I need proof," Starscream ordered. "I knew she was greedy and like those other royals, but this is too far."

"Of course young Prince," Sunstream said, bowing. "I will do it today. I don't have anything going on. I will get the results back to you. For now, the Queen knows that it is from the illness."

Starscream nodded, heading out of the medibay. He couldn't stand being near his sire right now. His brothers and Height followed behind him. Starscream was still seething about his carrier torturing him, but now to kill the King?! It was simply unacceptable!

"How do you know carrier did this?" TC asked.

"I know her all too well. She doesn't care who gets hurt or killed, just as long as she remains in power with her greed," said Starsceam. "Look what she has done to me since I was a youngling."

"What are we going to do if sire was poisoned?" Skywarp asked.

"I will deal with the glitch with the law. Her punishment will be death," said Starscream. "Solarsky enjoys upholding the rules, yet she broke them by murdering sire. I just know she did."

~~~000

All of Vos mourned for their beloved King. Starscream, Thundercracker, and Skywarp all had set the King to rest with the rest of the former rulers. The Queen hadn't shed a tear, adding to the middle Prince's suspicions. The crowned Prince wouldn't come into power until the Queen was dead.

The three brothers had all lounged around, having come back from Kaon to inform them of what had happened personally. Sunstream had said that it was indeed poison that killed the King. Soundwave did his best to comfort his lover, Ravage also doing his best to. Thundercracker accepted the attempts, but his spark was still heavy with loss.

Now after a month of no King, trouble had started. Thundercracker finished up his cube before returning to his datapad. Two heavy guards came in with the Queen. They each grabbed Thundercracker, beginning to drag him away. The other two brothers tried to follow and free their brother.

"Let me go!" Thundercracker demanded.

"You will be sent to the castle prisons to await death. You have betrayed Vos by loving a grounder," the Queen said.

"What?! How did you find out?!" Starscream asked, furious at his carrier.

"I have my ways," said Solarsky. "Take him away!"

"No! TC!"

The young seekers tried again to get to their brother. Another heavy guard came in, hitting a nerve to knock out the Princes. The Queen snorted, walking out of the room.

Thundercracker struggled the whole way, begging for mercy. He was dragged into the prisons, thrown into a cell and shackled. The blue seeker tried to get the cuffs off, the chains clinking together. He glared at his carrier.

"Let me go! You have no right to imprison me because I found love," TC said. "I don't see how anyone could love you. You're just a selfish, greedy glitch that cares about only herself."

"Yet I remain in power. I'll come by later to kill you. If you're lucky, I'll send your husk to the Pits," Solarsky said. "You have three hours."

Thundercracker let out a sob when he was alone. He was going to be killed, leaving Soundwave to raise Ravage himself. He didn't want to die, to leave his lover to suffer in grief because of his death. Soundwave wouldn't be able to handle such a tragedy. And Megatron... Megatron would be sparkbroken with a death of a friend.

"I'm so sorry Soundwave, Megatron, my brothers, sire," Thundercracker whimpered to himself. "I wasn't strong enough."

The blue seeker didn't know how long he was there. It wasn't long before two guards holding the other Princes in a vice grip came inside the cell. The Queen followed, a long, slim dagger in her servo. The guards made sure that both of the seekers were watching. Solarsky petted the eldest triplet in mock comfort before starting to cut open energon lines. Thundercracker cried out as white hot agony went through him. His pink energon glowed faintly as it dripped down his frame.

"Stop please!" Starscream begged. "Let him go please! He doesn't deserve this!"

"Silence!" Solarsky said sharply. The guards covered the brothers' intakes with a servo. "That's better."

She took the blade and drove it into Thundercracker's chest, barely missing his spark. Another inch or two to the right and it would have hit his spark. Thundercracker fell limp, optics offlining and frame greying. Starsceam and Skywarp cried, both breaking free and going to their brother. They could feel the weak spark through the bond, knowing that if the blue mech didn't get help now, he would die.

"You glitch! Fragging selfish glitch! I should kill you right now!" Starscream seethed.

"Then you will meet his same fate," Solarsky said smugly.

"You will die anyways. I know you murdered sire! With poison! You switched the medicine and killed him!" Starscream accused, knowing he was right when the Queen didn't deny the fact. "Guards, take her away now! You know the truth and what our laws say about murders, especially of a royal."

"No! Get off of me! I demand you get your servos off of me! You can't do this!"

"Star, we need to get him to Kaon. He won't be safe here if the rest of the royals find out," said Skywarp.

"Let's hurry. He doesn't have much time. At least Megatron and Soundwave can protect him better than we can," said Starscream.

~~~000

The two seekers landed, rushing to the Pits' medibay. They called for a medic to hurry. Megatron and Soundwave had been in there for repairs after a harsh team battle. Soundwave choked, not finding his voice.

"T-Thunder-cracker," Soundwave stuttered.

"What happened?" Megatron asked.

"Our so called carrier and Queen had him executed for loving a grounder. Don't take this as your fault Soundwave. Thundercracker knew the risk. He's still alive, barely. We couldn't risk him staying in Vos, not if the other royal members find out about his relationship. Protect him Megatron, for us," Starscream begged. "Please, keep him safe because we can't."

"Of course," said Megatron.

Soundwave stayed silent. He couldn't help but feel as if he was to blame. He was the one that accepted the seeker's love and wanted to have a relationship with him. And now here he was, dying on the medical berth in front of him.

'Please Thundercracker, fight. Stay with me please.'