Megatron was holding a glaring contest with the little feline when Rhinox returned at the ordained time. Standing back in his beast mode and watching, he smiled as he heard Megatron grunt something. There was a clear feline howl that most from this world would have associated with a wild canine.

"I did not give you permission to howl back at me, you little glitch," the once-Lord grumbled. He stiffened and his posture changed at something that Rhinox couldn't see. There was something beyond his sensory range.

With a shriek, Starscream landed before Megatron. "My Lord! I come with news."

"You didn't even reach the Nemesis, you incompetent fool! And if you did, you clearly didn't perform your duties."

"W-what? No, my liege, my lord, my commander! I did! The sensors picked up an Autobot vessel!"

Rhinox mentally cursed, taking careful note of this conversation while rummaging through the grasses in a facsimile of a rhino rooting for some shoots to ingest. After five minutes and rather brutal beatdown of an insubordinate second-in-command who quickly fled, he wandered closer to the fuming mech. Dinobot, Rattrap and Airrazor all waited for his "need backup" signal, not that they would get it. Megatron was not a threat to him.

"Why do you abuse him?"

Whirling, ruby optics flashing with rage, Megatron snarled, "You have no right to judge me nor my leadership methods."

"I'm not questioning your leadership methods, Megatron. I'm questioning your treatment of a weaker being." Transforming in the unique way that less than two handfuls of mechs were capable of, the scientist shrugged, pulling valuable medical equipment from his subspace compartment. "I will leave it at that. Now. Let's get some of your neuro-transmitters functioning properly." He paused at the feline hatchling fearlessly walking over, having been freed from Megatron's grasp.

"She's still relatively harmless," Megatron assured his once-friend, settling himself back down again.

So Rhinox pulled out an Energon goodie and crouched down, holding it out upon the flat of his palm. The hatchling walked over, sniffed at it, then bent her helm to lick at the goodie before deftly picking it up with her teeth and settling upon her aft, raising hand-like paws up to steady the treat while the Maximal continued to walk closer to Megatron. "What is her designation going to be?"

A deadpan, exhausted look passed from the Lord's red gaze to the scientist's. "Howlback. And Primus help the mech that merges her into his system as a symbiont."

.o.

Soundwave learned more about the disgusting water-bags parading in flesh from Dylan than the human realized he did. Everything that the man did was analyzed and recorded for later use. Sleep cycles, rest states, recreation, education, everything. Lazerbeak had been protector over the man since his first young years when contact had been made with the elder (and now deceased) Gould.

However, the matter of human reproductive cycles and child-rearing fascinated the Decepticon.

Perhaps it was because of his close bonds with his symbionts, but he found that young humans were fearless of so much before they learned to fear concepts, objects, motions, even social life. Their psychology was so black and white, so pure and untainted by their world and the adults who raised them and guided their minds. He loved seeing that innocence.

It made him less of a 'Con.

But somehow, he didn't care. The humans were unfortunate pawns to be used in their war games and in the reconstruction of Cybertron. They had their purpose in the grand scheme of this war, although without the proper care, they would ultimately become a casualty of unwitting genocide.

So he learned about their life patterns in order to ensure that their care while they worked upon Cybertron would give them a long lifespan. He was charged by Megatron to see how these humans were the most productive, what the adults did to be happy and work harder.

Threats never worked.

Bribes. Rewards.

He was distracted by a moan, and swiftly adjusted his attention into the expensive hotel room where Lazerbeak was hiding in a closet, one optic peeking out and watching Dylan and his lady friend. :The moan was one of pleasure, Soundwave.:

:They truly enjoy the act of procreation, even if there is no need for offspring.:

:Nn-hm. It's a disgusting act, with fluids seeping out from everywhere, it seems. Messy and inefficient.:

:Agreed. But with the promise of their interfacing with a partner of their choosing, they will work harder.:

:Some may enjoy forcing the interface.:

Shuddering, Soundwave settled upon his tires and narrowed his consciousness into the room. He was a voyeur, it was true, but he was also studying how the humans related to one another. :Rape is intolerable; it will not be permitted.:

:There is no way to stop it without physical restrictions.:

:True. Restrictive behavioral coding would not be any help as they have no . . . What is he doing?:

Lazerbeak blinked and tilted his head to one side before muttering along the Carrier-Symbiont Bond, :I am not sure. Humans are strange. They will act as if they wish to procreate, but will play with each other and cause arousal without the fulfillment of igniting life. I find it almost heretical to have the ability to Create and yet they limit themselves, and monitor the number of offspring. This planet, though they have starving countries, can fully support many more billion than they are allowing to live. But they do not utilize it properly!:

:Lazerbeak, not all of the humans have the right temperament to be Caretaker. Think of Dylan. Imagine him as a Creator-Caretaker.:

The bird had to use all his will so as not to shudder violently at the idea of their agent, their liaison, becoming a father. He was not suited for that responsibility in the least.

:I did not need that render in my mind, Carrier.:

:Consider that a reminder why we should continue to watch his motives carefully. Were he to accidentally create a Sparkling of his own, it would cause many problems. Much as we want the humans to continue to breed for the rebuilding of our planet, we need them also to breed properly, with all the right genetic combinations that we are looking for.:

:And once Cybertron is rebuilt?: the bird asked of his Master, watching as movements became more urgent on the other side of the closet door.

:Once Cybertron is rebuilt, they will remain to be slaves and pets. Many oxygen-breathing aliens have showed interest in the sentient pet trade. But we will have to alter their genetic coding to make them long-lived and . . . unique.:

:And Lord Megatron approves of this?:

:Yes.:

:Good. I . . . need Dylan to stay until I have siblings again.:

:Then I will keep him as a pet and as a companion to you until such a time as you tire of him.:

:Thank you, Master.:

.o.

"You were watching me?" Dylan shrieked the next morning in the car as Soundwave drove them back towards Las Vegas.

Lazerbeak, in the back seat, rolled his optics and settled himself down to watch these fireworks. Soundwave was blunt. "Your mating patterns are fascinating and were she trying to get close to you to kill you, she would have been stopped and you would still be alive."

"You're both disgusting."

"We found no pleasure in watching you mate, Gould. It is a base, disgusting act of affection and lust. It was merely watching over a charge that put us in that position."

"So will you be watching me every time I have sex to make sure that no woman decides to shank me?"

"You never know if you like it until you try!" Lazerbeak couldn't help but to tease his pet.

Dylan lifted a lip, then muttered, "Just because I like the occasional man doesn't mean that I need my women to be in control and takin' me from behind. I don't need that in my life, thank you very much."

This brought about silence in the cab, leaving Soundwave to wonder abstractly why humans would be attracted to their own gender. It didn't make any sense on the reproductive level, and considering that most humans made choices based upon the hormones that led to reproduction, that only managed to confuse him further. However, until he had began to delve into that line of thought, he wanted to confirm something with Dylan.

"Do you wish for offspring of your own?"

"What? No! Gawd, can you see me as a father?"

"Negative. However, you may wish to begin the process of selecting a suitable mate if in the possibility that this situation may take another generation to complete."

Dylan huffed and shoved his hands on his hips. He knew that they didn't think in human terms of time. To them, a long time was one of their lifetimes, which were far longer than the man wanted to think about. Thousands of years and they could just be maturing from a baby into an adult? So he sighed. "Fine. I'll start looking for someone who could adjust themselves to my situation. They'll eventually have to know that they're going to deal with a crazy steel condor and an over-protective Mercedes."

:Master, are you not going to ensure his longevity?: Lazerbeak asked worriedly as he outwardly snickered with malicious glee.

Soundwave answered his symbiont truthfully. :He must learn to take commands, and he must learn to be the pet that you wish to have. Obedient. Forthcoming with honesty. Understanding of his place in this universe. Once he has chosen to become those things, I will send for nanites and he will be your pet for however long you desire.:

:Thank you.:

.o.

Megatron awoke to familiar voices from his past chuckling and talking amicably. For one moment, he wished that he wouldn't have to wake up, that he could stay in this place where he wasn't the killer he was forced to be.

"Looks like someone wants to sleep in."

His shoulder was nudged by a familiar hand. "Brother. Wake up."

Megs shoved at his brother's hand and wanted to roll over, but a yowl stopped him. Sighing, he sat up and looked over at the little feline, silencing her with a glare, before turning to see who had come to visit.

"Are you out of your mind, Prime? Why are you here?" He had to duck a sudden playful swipe that Optimus aimed in his direction. "Pitfires!"

"He's here because I wanted to meet a few people," a human voice stated from where he was sitting on a boulder, surrounded by the Maximals and his Guardian. "Since you were on the way, I suggested that we check in on you and see how you're doing." Hopping down, and gaining a prehistoric shadow in the form of a raptor, he walked closer, to Megatron and stared up at him. "Technically, we're brothers. And from what Optimus has been teaching me, brothers look out for one another."

Megatron crouched, causing the lightning-quick transformation of the warrior who had trailed Samuel Prime. He hadn't even retracted his nanites, giving him a quasi-camouflaged look even as he was in his root mode, the "skin" of his beast mode still covering the points where his outward armor lay over his systems. Sam held his hand out to keep his newfound Guardian from attacking prematurely, and Megatron spoke with a half-sardonic tone. "You gather cold Sparks to yourself and warm them, Samuel Prime. How quaint."

"So it would seem," Sam countered, grinning mischievously. "How's it working for you? Warming up yet?"

Snorting, Megatron straightened himself and muttered, "Impudent bratling."

"Don't start something if you can't finish it."

The Guardian watched as the Warlord's face slowly relaxed into a smile. Shaking his head, he looked to Optimus. "He's more of a handful than Bumblebee was. And I assume he is your replacement?"

"Never a replacement, but rather a brother Prime, Megatron," Optimus replied, settling himself down to sit, gaining Howlback as a companion. He stroked light armor gently, smiling as the feline settled herself down upon his leg. "I have a question for you."

Seeing as this could be a long conversation, Megatron found himself a seat as well, another one of the hatchlings clamoring for attention and curling up on his own lap. "Very well. Ask."

"How are we going to finish this war, Megatron? How can we bring peace back to our dwindling numbers?"

"One side or the other may prevail. You know this."

"No, brother, I do not. There is a third option. We could formulate a truce."

"A truce may not happen immediately. I do not jest when I say that it could take many local years, even a decade, before fighting will cease and arrangements for a true cease-fire may fall into place." He viewed the Maximals, mechs who were to be undercover agents of the Autobots and the best spies and researchers that either side could ask for. "Your Maximals have done an amazing job keeping my location secure."

"A gesture of goodwill. They report to myself and Elita, and I in turn reassure the local government that any 'supernatural' activity is merely our research team locating our artifacts and either disposing of them or testing them. So feel free to give Starscream more Pitfire for disobeying any and all orders."

Sam looked towards the nine-foot-tall mech behind him. "If I promise to stay out of Megatron's grabbing range, will you stop hovering?"

"No," Dinobot growled.

Several chuckles sprang up from the former-'con's short answer. Sam sighed, then smiled and shook his head. "Bee, he's officially worse than you!" Grinning back up at the grey-blue face with orange-crimson optics, he added, "You're a great Guardian, and perfect for someone who might be itching to escape their watch."

"Good. Then stop trying to make me leave."

Sam chuckled with everyone else at the grouchy response, and nodded, taking up a seat upon an old oil drum. "What are you trying to plan, Megatron? Why do you put off ending the war?"

He shook his head. "I cannot merely end the war whenever I wish, little brother. I must have a reason, a purpose, and gain the motivation of my troops to sue for peace. Without their support for peace, I will merely be an ousted figurehead that will be replaced by one of three mechs: Shockwave, Soundwave, or Starscream. To bring all those factors into place may take a decade. Less, if plans I have put into place come to fruition."

Megatron was shocked when nobody called on him to explain his plans, but Prime turned to the leader of the Maximals, changing the topic of conversation. "So I hear that you have been renamed, son of my childhood brother."

Smirking, Primal nodded. "About a thousand years ago, they started to nickname me 'Optimus,' since it seems that my behaviors follow more in your patterns than they do Magnus'." Shrugging, he added, "Optimus Primal has a bit of a ring to it, compared to Magnus Primal. Either way works for me. I don't claim to be a Prime, just showing that I am affiliated with your tribe, which makes it a bit easier for most people to stomach that I seem to have taken on your name."

"Any word from Dion? Or is he keeping you in the dark for his whereabouts as well?" Optimus asked with a smile.

"You always call him by a name he doesn't answer to any more. Ultra Magnus is still keeping dark, even from me. He's dampened the Creator Bond as far as it can go to protect us both." The younger mech shrugged, then looked at Megatron. "We all know why he insists upon keeping everyone safe."

"Yes, yes, blame me for all that my followers do upon their own volition." Megatron settled back, his mood soured.

Rattrap began to take offense to what the Decepticon said. "I should—"

"Silence, vermin. Megatron speaks truthfully; the Decepticons and the orders he gives to them are his responsibility, but the actions that they take upon their own volition are the responsibility of the individual." Dinobot snorted and eyed the child whom he felt responsible for while he walked the Serengeti. The boy understood that principle. "There is a difference."

This child's mind was deep, Megatron noted, and grasped an understanding of various philosophical problems with an unfaltering iron grip. "Tell me, little Predacon, why did you defect to Optimus' cause?"

"It is a personal decision, Megatron, and not one that I feel will benefit your understanding of the situation," came the swift retort.

Primal chuckled and slid down to walk back towards his base, transforming smoothly as he did so. "Rhinox, I'll leave you to your work. Dinobot, you're with me. Cheetor, take a long patrol around the perimeter. Rattrap, stay with Rhinox." He smiled to his other two scouts. "To your sectors. Optimus, until we meet again." Nodding to the brother of his Caretaker, the ape began a leisurely walk towards his base.

Optimus smiled, watching as Dinobot huffed in vague irritation and looked to the boy. No words were spoken, but the mech clearly felt that Guarding was his calling. Gently clapping one hand to a breakable shoulder, he turned and followed his leader. Sam smiled after him, shaking his head while Bumblebee settled down where the Maximals had once surrounded the human Prime. He spoke no words, not while Megatron was around, but his action was clear.

Once it was only Rattrap and Rhinox around, Sam asked, "So Dinobot, huh?"

Chuckling, Optimus nodded. "Yes, yes indeed."

Holding his arm out for the Maximal medic to begin repairs upon, the Decepticon Lord felt clearly out of the loop. Finally, after watching the two Primes exchange amused glances and then allowed themselves to laugh openly with Rattrap and Rhinox grinning at their amusement, Megatron finally asked, "What, precisely, is so funny?"

It was Sam who answered him. "That Dinobot? I was warned about him and his parentage on the trip here."

"Oh?" Megatron hissed.

"Well . . . I'll be able to tell Ironhide and Chromia that at least on e of their Sparklings has turned out all right."

The shocked look and the stare after the slowly-retreating form of the mech truly was worth outing the hardened once-Predacon's secret.

.o.

Author's Note: Sorry that this took so long to get out, but I gave you four chapters in two weeks not too long ago, so I'm sure that it makes up for it. King Richard's Faire wrapped up, and I'm looking forward to working it again next year. I took a week off to rest, recuperate, and to get myself ready for my final stretch of schooling, which starts on November 7.

I don't have much else to write for this Arc, so this is it for now. There are other ideas that are starting to bounce around in my mind for the humans and for Sam. Read the Author's Note at the beginning of that chapter, because I will be doing another time-skip and it will tell you where we are. Be warned, I'm making a hefty time-skip to get me to where I want to be.

New story of a sort will also be going up as soon as I post this chapter. I'm going to be uploading "Outtakes" of TWDTH which are along the lines of "Deleted Scenes." It will be listed as TWDTH Outtakes, and is also going to have a T rating to stay on the safe side, since I have no idea what the muses demand that I'll be throwing in there.

Song is:"Fandangu Los Llobos" by Hevia, an instrumental/experimental track that incorporates the howls of wolves (Howlback and the Maximals) with quick, precise electronic beats (Cybertronians) and with wind instruments from the British Isles (humans and their flexibility towards change). Another great song by Hevia is Busindre Reel.