Hello one and all! I'm not going to lie; this chapter isn't my best. I had a great idea for the beginning, but the towards the end I wasn't really feeling it and kind of pushed it out. Rest assured I haven't given up, but unlike almost everyone else in the world I have not been quarantined. (Seriously, why is everyone buying so much sauerkraut? Why does anyone need that much sauerkraut? It's a goddamn condiment!)
Anyway, Cass is having trouble feeling Mercy at all, but his creator just might know what to do. Meanwhile, Antaeus and Arachnid are once again up to no good.
Special shout outs too: Cao dreams in books and Mimajo. Thank you both for reviewing and for your concern, I hope this chapter puts your minds at ease… For now. Mwa! Ha! Ha! Ha!
Remember! Don't be afraid to review and ask questions. I love to hear from my readers.
WARNINGS: If you are not into yaoi, slash, or mech preg, please do not read then try giving me a hard time in the comments and reviews. You were warned on the opening tab, and you are being warned just now. So, if I'm not your cup of tea that's perfectly alright, but please don't be shitty about it.
DISCLAIMER: I don't own any stocks, trades, or licensing from the Transformers franchise. All rights are reserved for HASBRO entertainment.
MERCY
Chapter 35
'Turns out God can't be everywhere,
But that's why he created grandparents.'
-Emma Joy
For nearly twenty minutes Cass was inconsolable. He didn't wail or scream for he didn't have the strength. All of his energy was focused on calming himself, because he couldn't stop his body from shaking. His violet plating rattled against his Creator's frame, but as Soundwave's arms tightened around him, Cass could feel himself settle easier into the embrace. No longer panicked, but still upset, the young mech pulled his helm up with tears streaking down his rounded cheek-plating.
"What do I do?" He whimpered and sought whatever guidance his Commander could provide. "I don't know what happened? What do I…?"
"Shhhh…" Soundwave hushed his youngling and wiped away the large tear droplets with his thumbs. "First, take a deep intake… Then do your best to tell me what happened before I arrived."
"I…" Cass's vocalizer crackled, but he did his best to follow the instruction. He closed his optics and sighed a deep breath over Soundwave's chassis. "I was… Recharging. I had… I had a nightmare… And when I woke up… Mercy…" The servo over his torso circled it in eager attempts to revive the life beneath it. Still, there was nothing and his spark sank. Soundwave stroked the back of Cass's helm gingerly. His other servo slid over his distraught youngling's quivering digits.
"Lie back my dear Caspian." He whispered while gently guiding Cass back onto the berth. "I might know what is wrong, and if I'm right it means I don't have to take you to Knockout. Not yet anyway."
Always trusting his Commander's word, Cass obeyed. He stretched out his leg struts and did his best not to tense with worry as Soundwave hovered over his black plating. The Third in Command curled his spindly digits over the bump and lightly tapped the sides of the engorged metal. Softly he hummed a song the Vehicon never heard before. But it seemed familiar. It was a sweet and quiet melody that could've put any worried bot in a trance, but Cass was too frightened to be completely relaxed yet.
"Hear me little one." Soundwave stopped his lullaby to gently kiss the top of Cass's servo that was still placed over the top of the curved metal. "It is time to arise… Nothing to be afraid of."
Something felt like it moved, but Cass didn't want to get his hopes up without being completely sure. Again, the slim flier hummed and tapped his digits with loving care. Once more there was movement and this time it was stronger. So strong that Cass cried with joy and smiled audio receptor to audio receptor.
"Thank Primus!" His sobbing was stronger in his jubilation. His little sparkling was alive, and his relief couldn't be measured in any quantity. "Oh my little Mercy! You scared me so!"
The Communications Officer smiled as he leaned upward to kiss the little grounder's cheeks. His free servo once again wiping away his tears. "She was just as scared as you were." He whispered when Cass started to calm himself once more. "When developing sparklings feel as if they are in danger, they can be frightened into a brief stasis. It is a natural defense mechanism." Soundwave's thin fingers warmly stroked over his youngling's helm and his memory wandered a moment. "You did the same thing to me a few times. Back on the Destiny."
"The… The ship you were assigned to when you were carrying me?" Cass tilted his helm curiously. He didn't have much time to view the diary footage his Commander provided, but he already knew how the two of them had separated. Soundwave confirmed his intel with a gentle nod.
"Yes… I was on the cargo ship with the intentions of finding a neutral settlement for me to raise you. Then hopefully, when you were old enough, I would rejoin the Decepticon cause if the war was still continuing."
Before Soundwave continued his reminiscing, Cass shifted on his back and scooted as best he could to the farther side of the berth. He patted his servo over the bare spot of the mesh he was previously lying on, inviting his current care giver to join him. The flier nearly cried himself, the thought of lying beside his long-lost sparkling and comforting him in his arms was overwhelmingly sweet. He cautiously slid beside the carrying mech and curled an arm strut beneath Cass's shoulders and with his free arm cradling the curved plating. The smaller mech settled into the embrace with content and sighed against what turned out to be a bare chassis. It was then Cass realized that Laserbeak was not attached to Soundwave. He tried to think back to his flux but couldn't recall if he saw her. Maybe she was resting on her ledge in the Communications Bridge and her master accidently left her there. It didn't seem like something he would do, but if Soundwave wasn't worried about it than there was no reason for Cass to be concerned.
"What was that song you were humming?" The young model asked and buried his face further into the exposed mesh. "It seemed familiar."
"It should. It is a song I used to sing to you whenever you fell into a stasis." Soundwave hummed a little more and swirled his hand tenderly up and down the swell. "The first time it happen I nearly panicked before I remembered what I learned before I left Cybertron. Destiny was a warship before she was recommissioned into a cargo ship, but some of her weapons were left intact for defense. To make sure they still functioned properly, the crew on the flight deck would randomly fire the plasma canons."
"And that's how I ended up in stasis lock?"
"The first few times, yes." The slim flier sighed through his memories. "My quarters were right underneath the rear flight deck. Every time that canon went off it made my spark sink, because I knew how much you hated it. But every time it happened, I would tap over my plating and hum until I felt you wiggle yourself awake." He suddenly felt a bump under his fingertips. So lively, he whispered in his mind and adorned Cass with more soft kisses over his brow. His youngling received every peck with adulation as he laced his digits with Soundwaves'; his sweet smile glowing from the tender comfort only his creator could provide.
"Could you sing for me once more?" Cass sighed. His optics began to feel heavy again now that his fears had subsided. "Let me hear this song again, so that my young one may know it as well."
"Yes… Close your eyes my young one and listen to my voice. Hold on to it and remember the love I always have for you…"
Soundwave's vocals started out low and vibrant, before he built himself up to a lighter tone. A slow melody swept over Cass's audios and soothed his worried spark. However, despite how soothing the song was, the lyrics told a rather sad story.
Sleep no more, rest no more, the day has now begun.
Open your eyes and rise my love, time to follow the sun.
The light shines and guides our fate, there is no escaping destiny.
Run now my love, run away. Survival is a necessity.
Sleep no more, rest no more, our world is full of woe.
But never forget; you're not alone, and I love you so.
The song repeated twice, and Cass eventually began to hum along. Such a tragic melody, but it was so soothing that Cass nearly fell into recharge once more. Soundwave stopped a moment, a question that lingered in the back of his mind began to nag him for an answer.
"Caspian? What was your dream about?"
"It was another one of my strange ones." Cass confessed through a heavy yawn. "I was able to walk all the way to the Communications Bridge and found you and Megatron there. You played a recording that sounded like a spark beat and it scared Mercy for some reason." He stopped a moment to rub his optics and shifted in place to get a little more comfortable. "I woke up when I began to beg you to stop… Did you hear me somehow?"
"No, I just had a feeling you were in trouble." Soundwave never really put much stock in Cass's recent dreams. He had explained them in depth to the Communications Officer a while back, but the logic driven mech merely chalked it all to coincidence. The one thing Soundwave had faith in was his instincts, because they had served him well throughout his existence. "Do you remember the first time we met? When I froze in front of you when you removed your mask?"
"Hm-mm…" The little drone mumbled with half his faceplate smooshed against Soundwave's chest.
"I didn't understand myself why I did such a thing at the time. I just knew I didn't hate it." The taller mech gently lifted himself out from under Cass's frame when he was confident the sweet young mech would stay in recharge if he tried. Before he left for good, Soundwave crouched down beside the berth and stroked his youngling's helm some more. "I didn't understand why, until Knockout discovered you were really mine. It is said that Bearer's develop a sixth sense about their sparklings well-being the very moment their optics lock. I guess that counts even if you won't have your Optics anymore and your sparkling is all grown up. And thank Primus for that."
He finally stood after one final kiss and quietly sauntered to the door. After having a strong panic attack like that, Soundwave was sure Cass was out like a light and would stay like that for the rest of the night. He was surprised to hear the young model's groggy voice just before he left the room. "Commander…? Where is Laserbeak?"
"I sent her on a recon mission, to collect data for Megatron." The flier whispered in return. "Go back to recharge now. You will need your rest."
"So will Laserbeak." Cass yawned again. "She only just returned from a mission did she not? I sent her back to you almost two hours ago… I think."
"I didn't even know she was here?" Soundwave knew it wasn't strange for his symbiote to seek out Cass on her own, but it was strange that she hadn't returned to him yet after such a long length of time. She wasn't putting out a distress signal, so she wasn't in any trouble. In fact, there was a chance she had already found her way back to the Communications Bridge and was waiting there for him now. "I'm sure she is alright, Caspian. Now close your optics and rest. This whole ordeal will be over before you know it."
No response and that was just what the Communications Officer wanted to hear. He lingered in the door jam and watched his beloved sparkling sleep with a peaceful glow emanating around his frame. He could hardly contain his adoration while he witnessed Cass mindlessly circle his servo over his black plating. Soundwave remembered that feeling. The feeling of creating life and knowing that he was going to become that little ball of light's whole world. It was an instant feeling of love for someone you had yet to physically meet, and Soundwave always regretted never having the chance to hold his newborn sparkling in his arms. One thing was certain, and he knew with all his spark, he was not going to let the same thing happen to Cass. He would be there when the time came, and Soundwave would make sure he would protect his kind sparked child's innocence. He would be there to ensure Cass would hold his sparkling in his arms, even if it meant Soundwave would have to hand Mercy to him himself.
"I love you, Caspian…" He silently sighed as he slipped away and closed the door behind him, not noticing the loving smile on Cass's lip-plates.
"Good day to you, Lady Arachnid." Antaeus greeted his mistress from the other side of the room. He intended to also bow, but his servos were full at the moment. The feme didn't pay much mind to him at first as she walked into her new living quarters and sat in her favorite seat. She pulled a data pad from under a low-end stand beside her. When she was comfortable, she finally responded in kind to the Eradicon.
"How was your afternoon, my toy?" The spider like feme thumbed through the datapad with indifference to her surroundings. She wouldn't be there for very long, since she was requested to report to the Main Bridge. Megatron made it clear that he was going to be gone from the ship for a long period of time, so Arachnid would have to be present upon his absence. A little time could linger. In her mind, it was always good to keep the troops waiting for a while. Let them sweat out the inevitable of her arrival and when they tried to sigh in relief, she would appear like a phantom. Haunting them like an unpredictable poltergeist and dashing their hopes of a reprieve. It was a small enjoyment she got from her sadistic nature, but as long as the troops still fell for it, she was still going to do it.
"Quite eventful," the tall drone replied rather gleefully, "I managed to find out more information on Megatron's secret berth-mate."
Still not paying much attention to Antaeus's presence, Arachnid gently nodded her helm absent mindedly. "I see. And how did you accomplish that?"
"I kidnapped Laserbeak."
"Very good." It took a whole five seconds for Arachnid to finally register what her servant just confessed to her. This was confirmed by the Eradicon as he counted to himself, trying to see how long it would take to get her attention. He was surprised how quickly she questioned him, but the following tone of her voice made it clear that she wasn't amused. "You did what?"
"I found Laserbeak trapped in an air vent." Antaeus continued his explanations without looking up at his mistress, mostly because he was desperately trying to cover up his snickering. "I pulled her out of the vent and sedated her with a neural sedative I had in my subspace."
"And what happens when Soundwave realizes his precious symbiote is missing and sends out a tracking signal to find her?" Arachnid's magenta optics flashed with her subtle anger, but the tall drone remained calm and shrugged indifferently.
"I have already disabled her security protocols and anything that could display an output signal. She's going to be out for a while and when she wakes up, she won't remember a thing."
The agitated feme peered over her servant shoulders and witnessed him delicately toil with the tiny flier's inner workings. With very thin forceps he gently pulled back her internal wires. Arachnid wasn't entirely sure what Antaeus was doing, but judging by the external cable he was holding in his opposite servo he was possibly searching for some place to plug it in. Closer inspection told her the other end of the cable was attached to the monitor above their helms. She hated to admit it, but sometimes she enjoyed watching the Eradicon take charge of a situation. Since she was always doing the planning and the scheming, it was refreshing not having to everything. It was nice to take a step back and let someone else do all of the work. There was one thing about all of this that bothered her a bit, but she would address it later. First, she had a few questions, starting with the obvious.
"Do you always carry syringes in your subspace?"
"No, that was actually left over from my interrogation with Bob." Antaeus reached for a second tool when he found a port for the cable. He sighed a little seemingly from boredom as he toiled with switches and wires. "I actually feel a little bad about that one. I kind of liked Bob… He was a screamer."
"Enough about your forced conquests." Arachnid also sighed as she sauntered to the other end of the worktable. "What are you even looking for anyway?"
"Security feed, video logs, memory logs, anything she might have stored in her personal drives. I don't plan to go deep enough to entice anything she has connected to the Communications Bridge. Trying anything like that right now would be too risky." Not a moment later, the monitor flickered with static and alerted the feme up right. "Oh! Looks like I've got something. Just give me a moment to adjust the imagery."
As the tall Eradicon slowly twisted his tools the screen would occasionally clear with a brief picture. Between the black and white fuzz there would be an image of what look like water. It appeared the little symbiote was swimming. Both fliers assumed she was on a recon mission in a body of water such as a lake, or more likely the ocean. Another image flashed, but with more length. There was something in front of her as Laserbeak splashed around what was now clearly a tub.
"Was that a leg strut?" Arachnid asked.
"One moment my Lady," Antaeus replied casually, "I might be able to get some audio to… Ah! I think I've got it."
"It's okay Laserbeak!" A light giggling voice emerged through the static, and the image slowly started to clear better. A young model's face emerged from a haze of steam with a bright blush highlighting his smile. Even without his mask it was obvious he was a Vehicon, but what was generally confusing was the roundness of his waist plating. There must have been something wrong with this drone. Like a medical problem, or a framing defect, but the theory was immediately dismissed when the small mech's dialogue confirmed their disbelief.
"There's a tiny life in there… Growing. And she knows you're here and is trying to say hello."
"I'll be damned…" The Eradicon shrugged. "So this is what Bob was refusing to give up. Not only is Megatron's lover a drone, but he is also carrying his sparkling."
"How is that possible?" The feme lightly gritted her dental plates, a little irritated that there was just no logic to this discovery, and just brought up more questions than answers.
"Does it matter?" Antaeus maneuvered around the unconscious symbiote, meticulously removing the cable and replacing all of the wires and nobs he moved out of place. "We now know what Megatron has been trying to keep hidden for the past few months. So now we can plan to use this against him."
"I had my suspicions of a lover in the mix, but a sparkling? This changes a lot of what I had already planned." Arachnid pondered while she waited for the drone to finish cleaning up his mess.
"There," he whispered after replacing Laserbeak's access panel, "that should do it. Give her about a half hour, maybe longer to reboot and wake up. When she does, I'll make up some story about finding her out cold and bring her back to Soundwave. I might even get on the Third in Command's good side."
"And you are certain she won't recall anything about her time here?" The spider like feme curled her arm around Antaeus's waist, coaxing him to turn and face her. She was wearing a smirk that was very familiar to the Eradicon and it meant either one of two things. Either she had something very good planned for him, or something very painful. Usually it was both, but the Eradicon never complained.
"Not a single second will reflect her memories, my Lady."
The feme growled as she pushed her servant into the seat she was once in. "Open…" She hissed with venom and dragged her claws down to his pelvic plating. Antaeus smirked wickedly behind his mask and obeyed his mistress with very lewd actions. Once his paneling slid back, his spike pressurized as quickly as Arachnid went to on to give it desired attention. First her servos grasped the base as she kneeled down. Then slowly stroked it in a quick rhythm she knew the drone liked. She licked her lips greedily before she engulfed the rock-hard member and devoured it without hesitation. The Eradicon groaned in satisfaction, glad that her intentions were that of gratitude, not wrath.
"Oh my mistress…" He clutched the armrests in earnest, doing his best not to reach up and push her helm downward. He knew better than that. "I am glad my forwardness has met your favor—OW!"
A rush of fluid dripped down Arachnid's chin, but it wasn't the result of an overload. She found it impressive that Antaeus was still erect despite her teeth sunken into his spike. She too counted to five before releasing her steel lock jawed grip, then ran her digits over the wound. Lightly at first.
"You did well… This time." She smiled as she watched the lowly drone squirm. "But don't you ever bring such high risk… Things back to my living quarters again without consulting me first… Ever! Again! Am I clear?"
"Ah… Hah… C-Crystal… My Lady…" Antaeus was very familiar with mixing pain with pleasure. Sometimes he would deliver it, but he wasn't against receiving it. "Ah… I am… Nearly there… Mistress Arachnid…"
"Good." She announced and stepped away from her servant. She licked her dermas clean of the cycled energon practically flowing down the corners of her oral cavity. "Now finish yourself off like a good little expendable and clean your mess."
Disappointed but not surprised, Antaeus watched the wicked feme walk out of the room. At least she appeared to be satisfied.
-END-
