I am alive, yes, I really am. It has been a while and I have3n't had word or anything to use to write. I will finish this story; I just don't know when.
If you are new to this story, please leave a review. I love to read them and they help me to stay focused on what I am writing. Also remember to keep it tasteful. You wouldn't want someone to be mean to you so don't be to me. Enjoy!
Megatron stirred from his slumber. The air had a chilly stale scent to it and outside the rain was coming down with violent alacrity. Something wasn't right in Darkmount, but he couldn't quite place where or what was occurring. His energon curled again in his veins, the excitement of something dark and sinister churning in sadistic excitement against his chassis, and he realized that it was the dark energon stirring in his spark. He briefly glanced over to Optimus as his mate groaned in his recharge, his hand going over his spark as if trying to protect it even in slumber. Megatron ghosted his lip plates over the truck former's hand before bestowing a light kiss to Optimus' helm. He could feel the unease within Optimus' spark and knew that the sparkling was not happy. He wondered who would dare to upset the balance of order with dark energon and vowed to find out what was going on.
"Rest my love; I won't be long." Megatron whispered to him before carefully untangling himself from Optimus without waking the recharging mech. He stretched his joints hearing them creak from recent lack of use before standing up and quickly attaching his cannon to his arm. Megatron looked over his shoulder plate one last time to make sure that Optimus did not awake before walking out to search for the disruptive source that was stirring the dark energon within his spark.
As he came into the living room, he paused to watch the lightening light up the dark drizzly night sky of the desert from the huge walled window. The storm was exhilarating to watch as a deep yearning to go fly in it overtook the sinister warlord. What joy it would be to dodge the planet's bolt of energy, or feel the cold harmless water slash over his warm metal plating. Megatron almost started to walk closer before another jolt to his spark reminded him of what had woke him from his recharge.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
Knockout rushed into his quarters, optics wild with panic, and fear clearly rolling steadily through his EM field as he frantically looked for his shock stick among the cabinet that he kept by his desk, and any other weapon he might have on hand. His armor was flared for battle which made the young scientist wonder what was going on as Lancer walked out from their berth room looking at him with confusion, but before she could say anything Knockout looked up, ran to her, and grasped her hard by the shoulders.
"You, stay in here!" He snarled at her desperately. "I mean it. Megatron would have my spark if anything happened to you! I might not live through this night when he finds out what I have done." The last was said more for Knockout ah realized just how dangerous the situation was as he looked over the femme that Megatron had given him to protect.
"Knockout…! You're hurting me." She cried softly as Knockout realized he was holding her too fiercely. He let go turning abruptly before grabbing his shock stick. "Wait, you can't just leave me!" Lancer reached out to turn him back, but Knockout brushed her hand aside.
"I have to. I have to stop this before anyone gets hurt." Knockout stated, but Lancer could tell that he was afraid.
"What is it?" She asked again but he waved her off before turning back to run out the door to their quarters. Lancer shook her helm trying to figure out the crazy aft doctor before turning back toward the berthroom where she had been studying schematics for Wheeljack's invention he was working on.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
Knockout carefully crept down the corridor keeping his shock stick ready should he encounter the monstrosity that once was Silas/Breakdown looking at any and every dark corner that he came across. It didn't help that the thunder that shook Darkmount made the hallways and empty rooms more sinister and evil as he carefully checked for his unexpected creation. So far he had not seen the Terrorcon, but it was only a matter of time. It was strong, it was manic, and it was hungry after anything that it could drain energon from. He turned the corner and about jumped out of his armor as Lord Megatron stood in front of him.
"I see that you are up my dear doctor." Megatron murmured as he filled the junction of the corridor with his presence. Megatron folded his arms behind his back as he looked searchingly at the red sport car.
"Y...yes my lord." Knockout stammered knowing that it would give him away, but he was too afraid of the Terrorcon, and Megatron's searching look did not help matters as he tried to think of a suitable explanation of why he would be lurking in the hallways dressed to the nines with his weapons.
"Is there something you need to tell me?" Megatron asked, his brow ridge raised questioningly. Knockout stammered but before he could form a coherent word Megatron interrupted him. "Is there a need for your weapons in the halls, Knockout? I know you only take your shock stick on missions."
"No my lord…" He stuttered out.
"Would it be because of the disturbance I felt?" Megatron inquired again before glaring down at the doctor as he pulled him closer to his suddenly enraged face. "Do you not think that I would feel when dark energon is being used?"
"I…I…" Knockout tried to say but couldn't get the words out.
"Clean this mess up at once!" Megatron snarled before releasing Knockout, but as he started to turn back to head to his quarters he heard Knockout whimper.
"But my lord, the test subject turns any Cybertronian to a terrorcon by drinking their energon!" Knockout exclaimed. Megatron face turned murderous in his rage at that statement before he spit out, "I suggest you contact Soundwave, and hunt these monsters down in teams. If even one of these comes close to my mate or my sparkling I will personally tear you into so many pieces that your mate will never be able to put you back together!" Megatron's optics burned into Knockout reaching to his very spark as Megatron loomed over his paralyzed figure.
Knockout cowered in fear as he shook his helm in agreement with his master. He just couldn't get the words to come out, but now he knew how Starscream felt all those times that Megatron tore into the flyer as the other officers stood by and only watched helplessly hoping that Megatron's wrath would not turn on them.
Megatron glared a moment more before turning back and walking away leaving Knockout trembling in one spot.
"Well that went well!" Knockout sarcastically snarled before collapsing on trembling limbs. "Stupid, stupid, stupid!" He muttered whether to himself or because of the situation he wasn't sure yet; but he knew that he had to clean up this mess because his spark was on the line. There were two doctors now and he could easily be replaced.
Once movement returned to his legs, Knockout turned and shakily, as quickly as his legs would let him, walked down the way he had earlier came comming Soundwave to let him know of the situation and where he was. It wasn't long before Darkmount's security alarm went off and vehicons came running out to form search groups. "Well Soundwave is efficient. At least now we can end this chase." He muttered before turning and finding Soundwave organizing the search with sub commanders and surprisingly Ultra Magnus.
"Well, well, well, isn't it early for you to be back on duty?" Knockout smirked hiding his unease with arrogance.
"It is. You and I will have a talk about this after we have secured the intruder when I come on duty tomorrow." Ultra Magnus stated before turning back to help Soundwave. Once the commanders were finished discussing the situation, Ultra Magnus turned back to the wily doctor. "Wheeljack is on his way. You, Wheeljack, and I will search the south corridor and check the demolitions bunker. Shockwave is organizing the search on the north end with Ratchet and Starscream. Soundwave is taking the upper floors, command, and searching the aerial hanger."
"Oh, what about Megatron and Optimus?" Knockout couldn't help but ask knowing that it was not a good idea, but he wanted to make sure that he was as far away from the warlord as possible.
"Megatron is keeping him and the femmes up in their quarters. I have already escorted Lancer there." This was said very pointedly and Knockout looked down in anger and embarrassment. "Arcee is also there with Echo. I suggest that you don't ask any more questions since this is your mess." Ultra Magnus turned toward a group of vehicons. "ARS3V3, Wheeljack and I will lead. I want your group to cover the middle while the doctor covers our rear." Knockout grumpily listened as he took the rear and following them to the southern corridors, he looked back one last time to see Soundwave take only two vehicons with him. The sound master would need very little help and as Knockout smirked. Megatron's golden mech would do well against a terrorcon. Soundwave never failed.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
"Optimus, what is it?" Arcee asked concerned as she handed Echo to Chromia. They had been suddenly ushered into Megatron's quarters to wait with Optimus as Soundwave, Shockwave, and the others went to their posts when the alarm went sounded.
"I don't know, but my spark is hurting." Optimus groaned again in pain as Arcee and Lancer went to stand over the hunched mech in the chair. Lancer was very concerned because Shockwave had informed her of Knockout's concerns and the dark energon that flowed through their master's veins. She looked over to Megatron as he walked through the doors, his optics never leaving Optimus and concern clearly on his face plates.
"How long has he been like that?" Megatron asked lowly so that the femmes could hear without upsetting his mate.
"He has been like this for several moments. He woke up from recharge groaning. Chromia walked him out here so that we could keep an optic on him." Arcee said, but Megatron clearly could see that she did not agree with Optimus being out of berth. "She thought the walking might help." Arcee ended softly worried that Megatron would be angry, but he stepped closer and gently took Optimus from her arms before turning him into his chest and wrapping his arms around him. He reached deeply into the bond looking for Optimus' source of discomfort as he gently rubbed his back plates.
"Optimus, tell me. Do you need me to summon Ratchet?" Megatron asked him softly careful not to jar him. He looked over to Chromia and Arcee. "Has he answered either of you since you brought him in here?"
"He did answer me when I asked him what was wrong." Arcee told him as Chromia passed an agitated sparkling back to his carrier.
"And his reply?" Megatron said as he shifted Optimus to sit down and let his mate sit on his lap. Optimus curled into Megatron as if he was trying to warm himself, but Megatron could feel the pain in his spark, though muffled, and knew that Optimus was having spark pain. He quickly commed Ratchet to alert the medic. Megatron could feel the dark energon flowing through him, he felt the turmoil that Knockout's failed experiment was causing in Darkmount, but it angered him that Optimus was suffering. He commed the medic again demanding that he get here quickly. Ratchet sarcastically replied back that he was running at top speed and had already hit two vehicons that were unfortunate enough to get in his way, and that if he wanted him there any faster he could kindly have Knockout reinstall his T-cog.
Megatron growled in annoyance causing the femmes to shift away from him, but he didn't care about their comfort; only he wished that Optimus would talk to him through the bond, something!
"Optimus, speak to me." Megatron pleaded softly. How he would torture that damnable medic for this. Even now he had Ultra Magnus watching the medic making sure that he was taking part in the search teams to get rid of that monstrosity that he had created. He would not lose his sparkling, his heir this way, and thinking about losing Optimus was not an option.
"It hurts." Optimus finally said quietly in a wailing tone though quiet. Optimus had not once complained of pain since Megatron had taken him as his mate so the grey warlord knew that Optimus was badly in need of a medic.
"Ratchet is on his way, my love." Optimus looked up startled by his words despite the pain in his spark. Through the haze of pain he looked at Megatron searching for some truth to the words that were uttered to comfort him. Megatron bowed his helm a moment knowing that this was the first time Optimus had ever heard him use the loving endearment because he usually only saved them for when his mate was recharging.
Megatron looked up to see the questions and a feeling hope flitter through their bond regardless of the pain that they both felt, and he knew that Optimus was sending it to him. "It's true. I have never stopped loving you. I guess that is why love and hate go hand in hand together." Megatron ruefully stated quietly not wanting the femmes to overhear.
"I felt it through our bond, but I was never sure." Optimus whispered. He ruefully smiled as a thought suddenly struck him. "You would wait until I was in pain with our sparkling to tell me."
Megatron held his mate's optics, though Optimus' were dull with pain, "I won't let you leave me." He stated quietly, solemnly as he heard the door open and Ratchet enter. "It's about slagging time, medic."
"I have a name, you slagger, and I need you to lay Optimus on the berth so that I can get a clear scan." Ratchet snarled back showing no fear toward the warlord. Arcee and Chromia rushed over to greet Ratchet, but Lancer held back wisely keeping a clear path for the medic. Ratchet nodded toward the femmes but keeping his focus on Optimus. Lancer watched all of them as she worried about Wheeljack and Ultra Magnus. She had heard that both officers had been called early from their bonding period and knew that they would not be pleased.
"Ratchet, please don't make this any more difficult." Chromia stated as Arcee smirked. Ratchet was in a tizzy and he was not happy about the situation. Megatron already stood, checking to see that Optimus was not jarred from the motion, before quickly striding to their berth room.
"Mia, let it go. Both of them are not ones to criticize." Arcee said as she pulled her sister back out of both mech's way. Echo suddenly focused sharply on his carrier wondering what had distracted her as he then looked over at Chromia. "He is just angry at the predicament. It's nothing against you or Megatron personally." Mia stepped back and braced Arcee as Echo reach over to pat his aunt's face plates. Both femmes smiled as Ratchet walked by not paying either any attention. Echo chirped at Chromia and she smiled at the little mech as he graced her with a brilliant dazzling smile of his own.
"I wonder what this is all about." Mia asked worried for her Prime and friend.
"I don't know, but I have a bad feeling that Knockout is somehow involved in this." Lancer finally spoke out voicing her concerns to the other two femmes. Chromia turned from Arcee to look at Lancer.
"Why do you say that?" She asked suddenly very concerned for her friend as she sat down on the plush couch. Arcee turned and sat with Chromia before settling a fussing Echo on her lap. She gently tilted her son back before pulling a feeding line from her wrist and giving him what he was demanding. Arcee sighed as she listened to the two femmes. Having the feeding line installed in her wrist was nice, but she like how the humans fed their babies. It seemed more intimate and caring than just handing over a line from a wrist. She wonder what it would be like to cuddle Echo close as he fed from her chassis like how the human mothers did with their own little ones, but at least she would not have to worry about her chassis and abdomen becoming stretched and bloated like some humans had to worry about.
"He ran in our quarters before the alarm went off. He was frantic and weird." Lancer stated as she remembered the crazed look in Knockout's optics. "He kept saying something about a monster under his breath. He didn't think I could hear him, but I did."
"What monster could possibly cause a Cybertronian to go into a panic that's here on this planet, and how is it affecting Optimus?" Chromia asked. She looked up at Lancer who had started to pace back in forth in front of the window before turning back to look at Arcee. Arcee shrugged at her sister as she was more concerned with feeding Echo and getting him into recharge than trying to figure out the mystery that was Knockout. She had never cared for the medic, but then she had many recent encounters that reinforced that feeling. After all, he was the reason she was captured and forced to bond with Soundwave. She would not regret the bond because she had a beautiful mechling that loved her with no restrictions, but she still had negative feeling towards Knockout, and Arcee did not easily let go of past hurts.
"Lancer, try not to worry. Megatron is here with us, and besides, what could Knockout do that would cause a base wide alarm?" Chromia said grimly. She was worried too for Shockwave, though why she could not fathom. Shockwave was always tough and extremely skilled as a fighter, but Mia still worried for her mate as strange as that sounded. In the short time she had come to love the large tank as well as admire his skill as a scientist, and though she would not always agree with his methods, she had come to understand his bitterness and choice to side with the Decepticons. As for tonight, she was glad that they had placed them together. At least she had seen a side of Megatron that she never dreamed could be possible. He loved Optimus and that made her feel better about the rebuilding of Cybertron, about their forced inclusion into the Decepticon ranks, and the outcome of their lives with their bond mates.
"Chromia, it's not your bond mate that ran in frantic and scared." Lancer stated back as she continued to pace.
"Lancer has reason to worry. Chromia." Megatron stated from the door. All three femmes looked up sharply as Megatron and Ratchet walked out.
"How is Optimus?" Chromia asked as Arcee shook her helm in affirmation to her sister's question.
"He is as well as expected. I have to go get a spark monitor for both him and the sparkling." Ratchet said heavily.
"Ratchet, is he…?" Arcee asked upset at the possibility of Optimus losing the sparkling.
"I don't know. It's not good, and he is in terrible pain." Ratchet stated heavily.
"Ratchet, I will go get the spark monitor. You stay here." Lancer said.
"No! I will go get it." Megatron snarled. "You will stay here."
"Why? Lancer is perfectly capable of getting a piece of equipment." Chromia stated angry that Megatron was keeping them prisoner here in his quarters.
"Because it is not safe right now." Ratchet answered for Megatron knowing that he would not tell them what was going on.
"But why?" Arcee softly asked as she settled the air out of Echo's tiny tank before wrapping him in the only blanket that she had time to grab before Soundwave ushered her out of their quarters. Ratchet had finally been given permission to let Arcee have access to her subspace so that she could carry blankets and anything else that Echo might need. Megatron only allowed her a small percentage of her subspace, but she happily agreed so that she could carry toys and blankets for her sparkling.
"Arcee, it's complicated. I don't even know all the details, but I agree with Megatron. You need to stay here. If anything you could be our last line of defense should whatever is out there gets through." Megatron tried to hide his snort, but the femmes heard it as they glared at him.
"Now do you understand why it is not safe for us to not be armed?" Chromia growled at the warlord.
"You do not need weapons now that the war is over. I have soldiers that will handle this." Megatron turned his glance toward Ratchet. "Was it necessary to rile them up?"
"They are capable soldiers as well as the mechs you have out there so yes. I agree with Chromia. They need some kind of weapon even if it is not as powerful as the weapons they used to carry." Ratchet firmly insisted. Megatron looked at him before processing his statement. The femmes would not be able to harm anyone if he should allow them light weapons, and other than Lancer, the two more dangerous ones were bonded so escaping was no longer a factor. He thought about Optimus, and how he would feel if his mate was weaponless, helpless against a foe.
"Your request has a valid argument to it. I will consider it after this emergency. "Megatron finally replied to the relief of the four others in the room. "Lancer, you are right in that Knockout had something to do with this. It is his failed experiment that has caused this uproar. I told Knockout that if it comes near Optimus or any of you for that matter, that he would be in pieces. You are correct in worrying about him." He turned back to Ratchet. "I will go and retrieve the equipment. Chromia may go with me since she has medical knowledge. I am assuming that you taught her and Arcee basic medical since you are their guardian."
"Yes, she knows what a spark monitor looks like. Also, Chromia get four cubes of medical grade energon as well as my emergency kit. It has back up equipment that I might need." Ratchet said before turning back to check on Optimus. He was very worried for the sparkling, and he couldn't show it for fear of upsetting both Optimus and Megatron.
He walked back into the dimly lit berth room. Optimus had winced earlier at the light and so Megatron had dimmed them down so they would not cause further pain. "How do you feel Optimus?" He asked softly, but Optimus did not reply. Ratchet swiftly came around to check his vitals and found his spark to be pulsing at a steady rate, though not quite as high as he would like it to be. He then scanned for the sparklet. It took a moment, but he found it. The energy from the scan hitting it softly, but causing the sparkling to pulse erratically. Optimus moaned in his recharge and Ratchet immediately cut the scanner off once he was sure that the sparkling was not going to terminate.
The sparkling should have never reacted negatively to his scan as Ratchet check over Optimus' vitals once again to make sure that whatever was affecting the sparkling was not affecting Optimus other than the pain he was feeling.
"How is he?" Megatron asked very concerned. He had felt the sparkling panic and rushed Chromia back with the equipment and medical kit.
"He is resting. That is all I can tell you." Ratchet stated quietly. "What am I looking for Megatron? He seems fine for a moment, but then the sparklet becomes erratic. The flickering against Optimus' spark is what is causing the pain." Ratchet wiped his hands over his face before looking up at the grey aerial transformer before gathering a rag from his kit to wipe his face and hands.
Megatron looked at the medic debating with himself whether to reveal the truth of the situation. He turned looking directly at Optimus though he was very aware of Ratchet hovering close by. "It is dark energon. The sparkling is feeling the disturbance that Knockout has caused when he injected his test subject with it. I have already informed Knockout of the consequences if Optimus should lose the sparkling, or Primus forbid die from this."
Ratchet looked up at the warlord. The anguish clearly present on his face plates, and Ratchet sympathized with him. He had been with Optimus since the beginning of his Prime-ship, and felt that he was one of the greatest, despite a millennia long civil war, but to see his once adversary clearly distraught over his mate made Ratchet angry at Knockout. What was the vain medic thinking that he would try something so dangerous?
"You didn't think to inform me of this when I first starting over seeing his condition? No, never mind, I don't want to know what you were thinking." Ratchet stated heavily as he turned back to Optimus. "I will make him comfortable. Hopefully Soundwave and Magnus will put an end to all this unfortunate nonsense." Ratchet wearily said. "I am going to sedate him with a gentle sedative hoping that it will ease the sparkling's turmoil as well. I can't give him anything strong because it could cause both of them to go into spark arrest." Ratchet turned to the emergency medical supply kit that Chromia had brought for him. He brought out the injection gun and loaded it with the mild sedative before pulling back a plate to expose a direct line into his system.
Megatron watched the medic with intense optics as he opened the bond the widest he had ever done before. He worried that Optimus would lose the sparkling and he knew that Optimus would not deal well with it. It also ate at him that this was somehow indirectly his fault because dark energon was behind this unfortunate accident.
"He will probably feel safer if you stay with him." Ratchet said as he turned from administering the sedative to look at Megatron directly. "He will feel insecure about the sparkling and you need to reassure him that everything will be alright. It is still too early on whether the sparkling will make it. I have a feeling that the sooner they get rid of this abomination, the sooner that Optimus and this sparkling will be safe."
"I agree."
"Ratchet!" Something is wrong with Arcee!" Chromia yelled from the living quarters. Ratchet and Megatron both turned. "No, stay with Optimus. I will handle this."
"Medic, I take orders from no one!" Megatron snarled back before reaching the medic.
"I know you give the orders, but your mate needs you. I can take care of the femmes." Ratchet snarled back and Megatron had to admit that he grudgingly liked the old medic because he was one of the few Autobots that had ever stood up to him without showing any fear.
"Alright, but I will not take orders, not even from you." Megatron finally replied before turning back to see Optimus moan in recharge and grab at his chest plates. Megatron reached over to smooth out the frown that marred his mate's face plates before looking up to see that Ratchet had left. He sat down and carefully arranged Optimus so that he could watch over him while he recharged.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
"Arcee, what's wrong?" Chromia grabbed her as Echo started to wail from the abrupt jolt that woke him from recharge. Arcee slumped over shakily handing Echo to Chromia before gasping from the images that Soundwave was sending to her. The anger was incredible, but what angered Arcee more was that she was seeing Arachnid charge after Soundwave with an army of insecticons.
"I thought the insecticons were under control!" She snapped out as Chromia yelled for Ratchet. Megatron had stated that he had control of them. Why were they attacking and who let Arachnid out of her prison? Arcee focused on her mate as he sent commands to power the space bride. She shuddered as Arachnid growled with determination which had Soundwave bristling inwardly, but outwardly he never once lost his calm.
"Arcee, tell me! What does the insecticons have to do with your sudden pain?" Chromia asked trying to keep calm so that Echo would quit crying. She handed the upset infant to Lancer who looked at him helplessly. She was a scientist, not a doting aunt which made her feel uncomfortable and uneasy along with the child.
"It's not pain, just intense anger from Soundwave. I have never felt anything like it before." Arcee said as she continued to see the bitch queen insect come barreling toward Soundwave before he opened a space bridge and dumped her aft on some far away moon. She suddenly laughed at his ingeniousness, and Arcee would never doubt Soundwave's strength or ability to protect her or their family ever again. She knew that his anger was because of her own past dealings with the insect queen, and his own helpless feelings of losing past symbiots. It fueled his rage and focus to protect her and Echo, and Arcee would never question him again.
Chromia reached out to her sister as Arcee looked up with a smile on her face as Ratchet walked out. "He got rid of her. It was so simple that I can't help but laugh at his ingeniousness." Chromia opened her sister bond and felt the emotions that flowed through her sister. Vengeance was strong but so was joy that her family would not be harmed. "Soundwave says that it is safe. Despite Arachnid's taste for revenge, she did manage to stop the Terrorcon." Arcee said as she listened to Soundwave's voice through their bond. "Ratchet, what is a Terrorcon?" She suddenly asked as Ratchet quickly scanned over her to make sure that she was alright.
"Believe me, you don't want to know." Ratchet emphatically stated as he was relieved that Arcee was okay. He felt more than saw a shadow looming and looked up to see Megatron walk out of the berth room to stand behind him causing the medic to shiver.
"Is Arcee alright?" Megatron asked surprising everyone in the living room.
"She's fine. How's Optimus? Ratchet returned before standing straight to face the Decepticon leader.
"The pain has diminished and Soundwave just reported. He is sending Starscream and Wheeljack to escort the femmes back to their quarters." Megatron informed everyone as he took a moment to look each of them in the optics.
"I'll go and check on Optimus just to make sure that the sparkling is resting." Ratchet said as he glanced over Arcee before letting Chromia take over for him and turning to walk into the berth room once again. "Nest time let's all go to the med bay so that if there are emergencies I have everything that I need." Ratchet stated as he entered into the other room. Lancer laughed softly while holding a calming Echo. She bounced him gently while he reached up to pat her face. It had taken her a few moments to soothe him, but once Arcee settled Echo quit keening for her. His little blue/green optics started to droop and before Lancer realized it, he was in recharge. His little blue/grey face peaceful and fulfilled that his parents were okay and happy.
"He is so sweet." Lancer murmured as she watched the sparkling sigh contentedly knowing that he was safe in her arms.
"He is a very good sparkling despite being very inquisitive." Arcee said as Chromia walked her over. Arcee was still shaking from relief and she smiled tenderly at Lancer and Echo. "Do you mind walking him back with me? I still feel somewhat shaky from experiencing Soundwave's battle with Arachnid.
"I don't mind at all. What is it like having a sparkling?" Lancer said as she watched Echo recharge.
"It's wonderful." Arcee replied as they met Wheeljack and Starscream at the door.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
"I can't believe the audacity of him!" Starscream said meeting Ultra Magnus in the hallway before joining him to walk back to their quarters. "Are you angry?" He said lowly knowing that Ultra Magnus would know that he was referring to their last night being interrupted.
"Yes, but I will counsel him in the morning when I can think clearly. Right now if that medic was standing in front of me I would probably want to slag him." Magnus said smirking at his lovely flyer. Starscream turned suddenly to see Ultra Magnus' heated gaze on him before turning back with a smirk of his own.
"Right now, all I can think about is what this episode interrupted." Ultra Magnus said low, his engine revving softly in the quiet hallway. Starscream quickened his pace wanting desperately to get to their quarters. He was not embarrassed, but Ultra Magnus obvious display of passion, quite the opposite, but he knew that the commander would not appreciate a public display for soldiers to walk upon. Starscream reached the door to their quarters first. As he sent the command for the lock he turned back thoughtfully.
"You know that Knockout and I are friends." He said suddenly. Ultra Magnus stilled, his engine revving again, but not in passion.
"Let's talk about this later." The truck former said flatly.
"No. He only does thing like this when he feels insecure." Starscream paused as the door opened. He walked in and turned back to face Ultra Magnus. "He is not a bad officer, Magnus. He just hasn't been happy since Breakdown's demise."
"That does not justify him disregarding safety procedures during an experiment." Ultra Magnus stated and Starscream sighed through his intakes.
"I know and he should be punished, but I just wanted you to know that he hasn't been the most stable since Breakdown's death." Starscream returned before going over and sitting on their berth. Although their quarters were spacious, he was hoping that now since they were bonded that Megatron would give him apartment sized quarters. He rubbed the heel of his thrusters a moment glancing occasionally at Ultra Magnus as he sat down at their desk. The grounder commander quickly filled out data involving the incident which Starscream knew would mirror Soundwave's report in the morning, but Magnus would also include disciplinary action toward Knockout. It was shame that this happened, and Starscream knew that Megatron was not happy. He had been summoned to take Ratchet's place when the doctor had been called to tend to Optimus.
In that moment Starscream had felt real fear. Not the fear of being beaten, but the fear that no one would escape Megatron's rage if something happened to Optimus. He had resisted at first his bonding, but now that he had felt the first tentative moment of happiness, nothing could happen to the Prime. Even Starscream would have given his life to keep Prime from pain. Megatron's insanity would survive no one. He was sure of that.
"I will keep that in mind, but I have to follow Megatron's orders. Besides, I saw the rage and panic on Megatron face. He was swift in hiding it from me, but I still saw just a glimpse. I don't know what is wrong with Optimus, but I will not let anyone put Prime in harm's way." Ultra Magnus stated very coldly. Starscream shivered at the anger and resolve he felt in the bond. He had said his piece and tried to defend Knockout to an extent that would not get him in trouble with Magnus, but even he knew that this was closed for now.
Ultra Magnus optics suddenly gleamed with a predatory look in them and Starscream shivered for an entirely different reason as heat started to climb through his systems. He smiled ruefully at himself. You would think after three days of being together without any interruptions with the exception of tonight that he would be used to that look.
Ultra Magnus stalked up to him before leaning over into his EM field. Starscream slowly scooted back on the berth to allow more room for his mate, but Magnus stopped him.
"We were in the middle of something earlier." He said softly. Starscream remember vividly what they were doing when the alarm went off. His mate was thrusting into him and he was experiencing ultimate bliss until he heard vivid curses and promises of bodily harm. He never did hear the alarm until his audios quit ringing from Ultra Magnus' string of curses.
"What were we doing?" Starscream asked teasingly. He reached up to grasp Magnus by his waist before pulling him down over him.
"You know very well what we were doing. I seem to remember you were begging for me to go faster, harder." The last was softly snarled as Magnus nipped at Starscream's neck.
"I don't know." Starscream teased. He placed his hands behind his helm as he smirked up at his mate. "It was rather loud when we were disturbed. You will have to refresh my memory."
The smile that Ultra Magnus gave him reminded him of the predatory smile that Warp used to bestow on a hunted enemy of when planning a prank and Starscream couldn't stop the thrill that ran through his spark.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
Optimus woke from the forced recharge that Ratchet had placed him under. His limbs felt heavy from the drug and his processor felt lethargic, but he could tell by the feel of arms around him that he was taken care of. He did remember Megatron admitting his feelings for him, and he remembered the panic and fear that had flooded the bond when Optimus was in great pain.
He reached up to his chest and searched his bond with his precious little one to make sure that he was still there. The pulse was weak but the sparkling seemed fine even though he was in recharge. Optimus felt the tension of the moment leave his frame as he placed his hand back down before turning to look at Megatron.
His mate seemed so different in slumber. All the harsh lines that marred his frame seemed not as intimidating, and Megatron even seemed approachable. Optimus reach up to very gently cup his face, not wanting to wake him, because Optimus wanted to remember him this way.
His luck did not hold as Megatron's optics came on. They looked at each other for a long time before Optimus finally spoke.
"The sparkling seems fine." Optimus whispered. Megatron looked at him intensely before pulling him closer and resting Optimus' helm under his chin plates.
"You scared me." He finally stated. "I don't like that." Optimus could feel the tension and worry in his mate's frame. His EM field was withdrawn and the armor flat against his protoform.
"I didn't mean to."
"I know." Megatron expelled air from his vents and intakes and Optimus smiled briefly as tension finally eased from the massive war build frame lying so close to his.
Nothing moved around the two as they just laid in each other's arms and held each other.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o
"Are you okay?" Soundwave asked late in the evening. Arcee was still awake which surprised him greatly. She pushed herself up to sit against the pillows as he walked towards her.
"Don't forget to set your perimeter alarms." She told him. Soundwave looked at her tilting his helm in that cute way of his as he studied his mate. She smiled lovingly at him causing his spark to stall momentarily before speeding up to double time it in his chest. He quickly turned and set his computer before turning back to study her more.
"What's changed?" He finally asked out of respect for her rather than read her processor.
She looked down a moment before looking back up and giving him a brilliant smile. "I realized tonight that you would do anything within reason to make me happy." She finally said as she slid back and opened her arms invitingly to him.
"Echo?" He asked hesitating to look at her luscious face and the love shining from her optics. His engine stalled momentarily as he captured her breath taking form to memory.
"He is fast in recharge and probably won't wake since he had an exciting late night." She replied. "Come to berth darling. I have been waiting for you." Arcee informed him with love and passion and Soundwave obliged.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
I am saving Ultra Magnus' disciplinary hearing between him and Knockout for the next chapter. Hope you enjoy.