Chapter 28: The Thought of it

It had only been a cycle since the end of MoonStrider's heat cycle that she was called to Clench's office. She wasn't very happy about it, but he seemed happy to see her.

"Ah, MoonStrider, congratulations on your… shocking victory on the field last cycle." They was a deep rumble in Clench's chassis as his optics roamed over her frame, causing a disgusted sneer to cross her face.

"My cycle has ended, Clench. Don't think you can squeeze a cheap frag out of me." She bit out, causing Clench to chuckle. He leaned casually back, pulling a draw open from his desk and pulling out a credit chip. He threw it on the table. MoonStrider's wings hiked up in absolute fury, but Clench cut her off before she could say anything.

"Your earnings from your match." She glared at the mech, to which he let out a harsh laugh. "Don't think I'd barter credits for your services, femme." He grinned sinisterly, "There are other ways to get what I want, but don't mistake my interest in credits to be interest in you, MoonStrider. I am a mech who desires credits and will do anything to obtain them. Your performance in the ring last cycle has drawn in an extra 257 percent than our usual income from each match. Mechs and femmes wishing to get a show have been coming to other matches in hope to see some action, and a few have even come asking for your services." Clench held up a servo as she took a step forward, ready to shout objections. "I have denied all attempts."

MoonStrider looked at him in suspicion, why would a mech like Clench give up a chance to make a quick credit? He read her expression and was quick to clarify.

"You're more of value on the field, not in some mech's berth getting fragged. Though I assure you, if your performance lacks, I will not hesitate to throw you to them. "MoonStrider hissed, stalking forward to slam her servos onto the desk, denting the black metal.

"I will kill any mech who dare lay servo on me without consent." Her low, dangerous, and filled with dark promise, her golden optics displayed her anger clearly and the willingness to carry out her promise. Clench did fear her, she could feel it in his field, but he knew he had control over her: Megatronus.

Clench remained silent, staring at her directly in the optics. Neither moved nor blinked or flinched in any way as they stared each other down in a display of their shared dominance and stubbornness.

Clench's optics flickered first and MoonStrider sneered in triumph. She stood as Clench's expression turned from neutral to enrage at his blunder. To blink or look away at the sights of a seeker was a sign of submission.

MoonStrider picked up the chip, checking to see all of her credits were there. She blinked at the surprising amount she had gained, Clench had not lied when he said they had gained and extra 257 percent in profit. She'd be able to do something nice for herself and Megatronus with this amount.

She dismissed herself and walked out of the office, leaving the mech to stew in his anger. She walked down the hall, mechs moving out of her way as she headed back to her quarters. She reached her room and entered, spotting Megatronus sitting on the berth, flipping through a data pad. He looked up and she tossed the chip at him. He caught it and checked the amount, a surprised look coming across his face plates.

"Wow," He stated simply. The femme snorted before opening the secret compartment to grab her flute. Megatronus had made it for her and she enjoyed the challenge of playing it. Yes, his crafting skills were a far cry from perfect, but she still loved his gift. MoonStrider sat on a stack of empty energon cubes they used as a sort of stool and got comfortable. It wasn't working and she clicked at Megatronus. The mech looked over and saw her dilemma and threw her a cushion. MoonStrider caught it and placed it behind her back.

Finally comfortable, MoonStrider settled back to play.

She played a song she had written, her digits lightly pressing the buttons Megatronus had fastened to it, which covered the holes in the flute. The song she played never failed to make Megatronus stop and just listen to her play. He said it reminded him of his times in the mines, and how the combined song of the miners would echo thought out the mines and through your very spark. It was very emotional and went though many changes in notes, melodies, and tempos. It was one of her favorite to play and she had also written it for an assortment of instruments. It made her think sadly on how her electronic-piano was gone, but for a good reason so she diverted her thoughts.

The melody went down, turning legato as she reached a lower register.

She had created many alterations to this piece, even a piano duet which she was meaning to teach to Megatronus. It was truly one of her best pieces. She loved it so much.

MoonStrider loved playing for Megatronus; it always helped him to relax. Which was good, for the life of a gladiator was a hard one.

She missed her Creators… Damn she had not thought of them in a while. She wondered how they were, if they still thought of her. Did they go on with their lives? Have a few more sparklings and left her as a painful memory? She could no longer feel them in her spark; the bond have had grown faint in the vorns of her absence. She didn't even know if her bind was still there…

MoonStrider moved her digits, closing her optics as her favorite part came. A part that Megatronus would sigh at and sometimes fall asleep, too.

She thought about things. Megatronus would have to go back to Iacon soon to check in with Ratchet. Hopefully he would be put in the clear and Megatronus wouldn't have to take on the lesser beast anymore, she knew how much it irked him.

Megatronus had been studying politics in his spare time, looking at ways the cast system worked and how the counsel ruled over them. She had no clue where he was getting the data pads, but she didn't care to ask. So far Megatronus had brought up several valid points about the unjust of the cast systems, and they had many conversations on what could be changed and what should be. Megatronus was quite ambitious and wished to raise himself out of the gladiatorial cast once he bought his papers (which would state him as a citizen of Cybertron and no longer a slave of Clench). She wanted this for him, too, and told him she would help him to achieve this; even if she had to teach him proper manners.

She wondered where they both would go after they got their papers. To Iacon? Maybe. But there were many options: Helix, Slaughter City (Kaon's gladiatorial rival), Praxis, the Crystal City, the list went on. But where would she take Megatronus? What would they be after the arena? Would they still stand side-by-side or would they grow apart and go their own ways? She hoped they would stick together, she had grown very close to Megatronus, and even though she had not told him much of her past life, there was no one she trusted better.

In the past vorns, they had unintentionally became leaders, and gained many followers simply because they were the strongest. They were the best, they were undefeated (Megatronus' bad match with his first beast didn't count as a loss, due to him killing the beast before he collapsed), they were the Champions of Kaon, and bots seemed drawn to them.

Megatronus would start something, she knew it, and she was concerned the outcome. Her mech had quite the temper and quite the mouth on him. His words were harsh to those who didn't know him and could easily be twisted into something bad. She hoped she could teach him to curve his words and control his temper. She'd have to start soon.

MoonStrider's song ended and she started another as she continued to think, the music aiding her thoughts.

They would need help; special bots would be needed to aid them. They already had Faber and Turboshift, but that was not nearly enough. If Megatronus was to start something, they would need all the help they could get. They'd need intelligent mechs, strong ones, loyal to them.

Megatronus was very inspirational when he wanted to be, perhaps he could inspire some to aid them. But again, she needed to teach him to curve his words.

MoonStrider hummed and set her flute down, thinking on her words. How would she teach Megatronus? The mech was stubborn at best and would probably say his words were fine and brush her off to save his pride. Maybe she could convince him through some underhanded way, like withholding interfacing. Yeah, that always got what she wanted. Or maybe she could do something similar, but reward him if he learned. A game perhaps? One in which if he won he'd be in control of it all, but if he lost he would get nothing. A smirk crossed the femme's face, yes, such a ploy would work and Megatronus would accept out of curiosity.

But that was for a later time.

"Credit for your process, Strider?" Megatronus asked, looking over at her from where he lounged on the berth. She had stopped playing and Megatronus noticed her far-off look.

"Thinking of what we shall do once we buy our papers." She stated honestly. No point in lying, he'd see right through it. Megatronus hummed.

"I have as well." He stated.

"And what have you came up with?" She asked, crossing her legs from where she sat.

"That we go to Iacon and gather information from the Iacon Hall of Records." She knew it.

"Those are closed to the public, we'll never get in." she informed, and she was right. The Iacon
Hall of Records was only opened to the highest casts who wished to research the past or the present. The Hall of Records contained the main source of all information. Everything from the mystical, distant past of the 13 Primes, to the every transmission sent over The Grid. The Grid was an invisible field that completely surrounded Cybertron. It was where transmissions were sent, videos, pictures, and audio were broadcast and saved and all of it was cataloged, sorted, and saved in the Iacon Hall of Records.

"We will have to find a way." Megatronus grumbled, clearly this had stumped him as well as her. Megatronus turned to MoonStrider, his optics almost glazed with hope and desire. "Imagine MoonStrider, a cast-free Cybertron. Where we can be free to do what we wish, be what we wish, without the Counsel hovering over us. Just imagine it, Strider. How amazing it would be…" his beautiful blue optics shone brightly in her direction, but not looking at her but looking at a picture behind his optics, one that captivated him.

"It is a beautiful thought, Megatronus. One I wish dearly to see one cycle." She whispered. Megatronus looked over to her, a determined but soft look on his face plates.

"And you will," she looked at him in surprise, "MoonStrider," he pulled himself to the edge of the berth, his peds touching the floor. His servos grabbed her's making her place her flute in her lap. "One cycle, we all will be free, I promise." The femme smiled and placed a small kiss on the mech's cheek.

"I know." Rarely did Megatronus show such emotions, even to her. She could see the flare in his beautiful blue optics, the fire lit in his spark. She knew that that fire would light the sparks of many and change many things in their world. She just hoped it would be for the better.

(AN: Yeah, yeah no smut in this chapter. Thought y'all would like a break from all the sex and stuff and actually get back to the story XD. Though this story will have more parts like it, though probably not whole chapters of it, just here and there when I'm bored.

Wow, fast update. But I did get amazing inspiration. I HAVE COME ACROSS THE HOLY GRAIL OF TRANSFORMERS! It is a book, telling of the History of the Cybertronian War, from before Orion and Megatronus meet, all the way to how they leave Cybertron (I think, haven't gotten there yet) in 347 beautiful pages. It is called Transformers: Exodus and it is going to influence this story a lot, but this is still set in Tfp so both will be presented in this story. I was so worried how I would write out the war, then the powers above sent me a gift as a way to say "Write on!" (get it?)

Smokescreen14: I have updated! Yeah, I got quiiite the imagination, that ain't even half as bad truly I try and keep it under a level that what I would do for other stories like 'The Authoress'.

Jazzy the Jazz:Lol, details are critical for a story, even for the dirty parts :3 but if you think this is dirty, you should read 'Take One for the Team', that I 13,000 words of pure 'detail' ;D Grimlock loves treats, he is so spoiled. I shall ride him into the sunset of updated chapters and long vocabulary!

Guest: Yes, there will always be more chapters for this story.

AkatsukiKittenLover: YA!

Guest: Heheheee, yep I did :3 dirty dirty meh *evil laughter* It was too good to pass up

UniCryin: (clever url) Ah, I must step up my game then! It is the sign of a good writer when we can influence the thoughts and feelings of our readers even to a sexual degree, I shall have to manipulate all of my reader's emotions to get the desired reactions to my story ;3 I am very glad you enjoyed it~

Hockeynut178:Well it isn't necessarily about how much time I have as to how inspired I am to write it. It can take me up to 5 days to write a chapter if I don't feel true inspiration towards it. But if I have a good feel of it, I can update in one sitting, like it did for this chapter and the last. I read more than anything else really, I always have a book on me or a fanfic open on my phone, so I read constantly. I've had a lot of practice XD

Till all are one~!