Author's Note: A King of Ash is the sequel to A Prince of Vos. If you have not read A Prince of Vos yet than do so immediately or else you will be very confused.

A King of Ash is filled with violent rapes, brothels, prostitution, suspense, gruesome/graphic torture and fighting, drinking, robot drugs, addiction, interfacing, BDSM, extreme gore, extreme torture, pedophilia, necrophilia, horrors of war, horrendous war crimes, gas attacks, intense deaths, horrifying scenes, intense scenes, and slash. You have been warned.

Have some tissues at the ready as you read for this story will be an emotional roller coaster and not an easy read at all. And please fav, leave reviews, and share!

Cybertronian Units of Time (according to IDW):

Astrosecond ≈ .273 of a second
Breem ≈ 8.3 minutes
Cycle ≈ 1 hour 15 minutes
Decacycle ≈ 3 weeks
Joor ≈ hour
Klik ≈ 1.2 minutes
Megacycle ≈ 93 hours
Orbital cycle ≈ 1 Earth day
Orn ≈ 13 days
Stellar cycle ≈ 7.5 months
Vorn ≈ 83 years

Disclaimer: The Transformers universe, names, and characters are property of Hasbro.

OCs are created by me for the sole purpose of this story and any names or scenes similar to other fanfics are simply coincidental. Any ideas or names intentionally taken from other fanfics will be noted at the beginning of any chapters to which the occurrence shall take place.

Enjoy. :)

Prologue

Silence saved for the loud clacking of his thruster heels sounded in the throne room. They watched, hundreds of them, red, yellow, and orange optics never looking away from this young turk, this small warrior, this sign of a new era for their kind.

He kept his helm high, wings raised, a red cape trailing behind him, the jingling of the jewels that adorned his now decorated body, clean and blemish free for this moment. His body was strong, but his optics were nervous, scared of what he was about to be doing.

The young Seeker scaled the steps of the dais, stopping on the final step before bowing down, his helm inclined, seeing only the floor, as his arms spread out with palms open and pointing upward. Displaying he was unarmed, and his wings lowered to show he was humble.

The elder stood on the top of the dais, before the throne, looking down at this mere sparkling, this youngling who got lucky, this mechling who he would now answer to.

"Seeker Starscream of Vos," The elder Seeker spoke, his voice reverberating so all could hear in the great hall. "You have defeated Seeker Skycutter of Vos in combat and won the honor of Alpha. We bear witness to your victory." He paused. "Seeker Starscream of Vos, do you swear to protect and lead the Seekers with honor, integrity, grace, valor, kindness, selflessness, and mercy until your spark gives out?"

"I swear to protect and lead the Seekers with honor, integrity, grace, valor, kindness, selflessness, and mercy until my spark gives out." He repeated firmly, swallowing, trying to keep from trembling as he kept his gaze on the ground before him.

"Do you swear to fight for the Seekers, kill for the Seekers, and do everything in your power to ensure the wellbeing of the Seekers even if it deactivates you?"

"I swear to fight for the Seekers, kill for the Seekers, and do everything in my power to ensure the wellbeing of the Seekers even if it deactivates me."

"And do you swear to never bow down to the threat of outsiders, to never give in to the demands of our enemies, and to tear apart those who would threaten, harm, and kill us? And to keep our kind strong, fierce, and alive?"

"I swear to never bow down to the threat of outsiders, to never give in to the demands of our enemies, and to tear apart those who would threaten, harm, and kill us. And to keep our kind strong, fierce, and alive. I will never submit, never prostrate before, never give in to the demands, the lust, the will of the outsiders. The Seekers come first, the Seekers are not their slaves, and death to those who would treat us as such."

The elder took the crown that had once been Skycutter's and held it up. "Seeker Starscream of Vos, you are worthy." He then placed the crown on Starscream's helm, it slipping some for his helm was smaller than his sire's. "Rise and rule your Seekers."

A King of Ash

A Note From the Author:

Hello, and welcome back.

I am not sure to be joyous that you would return to reading my autobiography after the hell of what that previous mess was. My life before the Great War was suck-ish, but during it… Well, that's what this "sequel" is. The continuation of my life's story written by me because only I know truly all that transpired. And since the war is now over as I write this, it means I will be free to be open about everything. No more secrets, no more hiding what happened behind closed doors, within the Decepticon bases, or the secrets Megatron and I had.

There's so much that happened to me leading up to the war, during it, and now where I am writing this. So many horrible tales, so many atrocities that took place in that forsaken war, and… Losses that will forever hurt and even now I still cry over.

And that is why I will write this. To tell all what happened, to relieve some pressure off my chestplates, to try and be at peace with what I participated in, and ensure that what you read will help you in your own journey through life. Hopefully, my previous tale has helped many of you with domestic violence and escaping your abusers. And while I pray none of you will ever be caught up in a war, this story itself still should help in times of hardship, of significant loss, of spark break, of more abuse, and saving others.

I hope some forgiveness could be offered from you as you read the crimes I committed. At the time… Things were so different. Look at it from where I was then, not where I am now. I wish I could go back and change a million things. But I can't, and I couldn't foresee what my actions, the actions of those I followed, would conceive. The consequences of this war, of the Senate, of… everything… Things have change, but I often wonder if they were truly for the better. Not just for myself, but the galaxy entirely.

I beg of you to prepare yourself. Everything I will write is the truth, of how these events actually transpired, of what I witnessed, of what I committed, of the actions and decisions I made. The evils of this war will be made bare to you, the things that were inflicted to me and my family also given graphic details. I will not hold back, no matter how hard it is for me to write it.

Before I begin, I just want to thank my beautiful, perfect trinemates, Thundercracker and Skywarp. Thank you my loves for holding me through this, helping me recall details, and this time telling me to write exactly your emotions and thoughts so the readers can have your input. You two are the best and I am so thankful beyond comprehensible words for you. Without you two I would not be here, I would not be the person I am this orbital cycle. I wouldn't have a reason to live without you two idiots here stubbornly by my side through everything we have been through. Thank you.

I also want to thank Soundwave, again, for being fabulously awesome and helping me edit this monstrosity. You and my trinemates helped me so much writing this, deciding which scenes to keep, which to leave out, and planning this whole story out so it wasn't too long nor boring. And he did it without payment! A true friend. Round of applause to Soundwave, everyone! XOXO

And a thank you to those who I love who are still with me and those who have already gone to the afterlife. You guys are my everything. I love you, I miss you, I will cherish our time together, and be with those still around more. Thank you for all you have done in my life.

I'll leave the official thanks at the end to not spoil anything. With that all being said, I shall begin the hardest part of my life, of Cybertron's life, of our species, of this universe.

The Great Civil War of the Cybertronians as told by the Decepticon Air Command, first lieutenant to his lordship, Megatron of Tarn, lead strategist of the Decepticon Armed Forces, Alpha of the Seekers of Vos, the primary of the Decepticon Air Force, and the right servo to the Slagmaker himself, Megatron of Tarn, founder of the Decepticons, tyrant of the galaxy, destroyer of monarchs, liberator of slaves, planter of ideologies, and my former idol - Seeker Starscream of Vos.

Chapter 1

My time as Alpha before the war was difficult. I was still making changes to what trineleaders could do to their submissives, as well as trying to end traditionalism, all while handling the political state of Vos. Being rich in energy resources and containing the largest space port on Cybertron, Vos was independent from the other city states. The Senate hated this and were desperate for full control of Vos and her people.

While the Clampdown (military control ordered by the Senate due to the attempted assassination of Nomus Prime) didn't effect Vos as much, the pressure from the Senate to enforce their martial law was tiresome. I would not force my Seekers to have a curfew or to work jobs they didn't want for fear of being sent off to the Institute or whatever the Senate did to people at that time. And that same rule applied to the non-Seekers of Vos. Vos was my city, and just as every Alpha before me ruled her and kept the Senate out, I would do the same.

But, times were changing… And so were the Seekers.

My hardest battle was ending the killing of unborn sparklings by trineleaders and also preventing newly emerged Seekerlets from being killed or left to die simply due to how they looked. It was so hard because as a carrier it pained me seeing other carriers holding their dead creations, screaming and wailing their misery, all while having to also suffer from a beating for not making a "proper" Seekerlet.

I made it illegal to kill these sparklings, but even then it would still occur and punishment to the trineleaders was swift and harsh. I hated using physical punishment, wanting to end it, but I often found myself needing to beat these trineleaders to follow my reign.

But ending the beatings of submissives and killing of sparklings was my biggest goal at this time, I had to also see to the other needs of my people. I held open court, allowing Seekers to come to me and speak to me about their problems, and I helped to resolve them. They could be dealing with abusive trineleaders, I even had someone come in with their dead sparkling begging for help to get away from their trineleader. Sometimes, there were just young Seekers looking to get help to go to an academy, or Seekers in a financial crisis, or someone needing a loan to help pay for medical bills. I had some come to me over feuds with neighbors, some to ask for help with a struggling relationship, and even grounders came to me for help.

The one thing that hurt me the most were the hospital visits. Seekers would ask for me to be there when a loved one was dying, and I give them a blessing before their spark faded. One of these involved a young sparkling, only 4 stellar cycles old, infected with sparkling cybercrosis. Rare disease, and no cure. He was paralyzed, going blind, and while I was there to try and support him I cried holding his servo, and watched him die in his carrier's arms. I had cried all that night in Thundercracker's comforting embrace.

But such was the way of the Alpha. My people came first, my own comfort secondary.

The one thing that was nice, but got old after a while was the constant courting. Who wouldn't want to be the willing breeding mate to an Alpha as awesome as me?

"Send them away, Asperitas." I grunted, stomping by him in my royal garb, my crown requiring me to adjust it as it was a little too big for my helm.

Asperitas raised an optical ridge from beneath his visor, his spear grasped tightly in one servo. "You sure you don't want to consider even one of them, my liege?"

I glared at him from over a shoulder, my wings flicking. "I don't want a breeding mate." I ground out with a snarl.

"The red one looks like she would give you beautiful creations. Her frame suggests she is well built for carrying and birth."

The mentioned red Seeker nodded her helm furiously with a huge smile on her attractive visage. She held her bouquet of crystal flowers firmly before her, trying not to be shoved away by the seven other Seekers there attempting to woo me.

I turned around to face my guard. "I told you a million times, I don't have time for breeding when I have Vos and her people to care for. Get the Senate out of my city and then maybe I will consider taking some breeding mates."

"You don't have to do anything but the mere act of implantation, my liege." That big idiot was smiling under his battle mask.

I flicked my wings. "Out, Asperitas. Don't let them back in. If I ever do choose to take another mate I'll make the announcement well known." I then pivoted on a thruster heel and stormed off.

"As you command." Asperitas turned to the single Seekers. "You heard them. Next time maybe you'll get him. I'll leave the door unlocked."

I entered my office and sunk onto my chair, rubbing my faceplates tiredly. This was so exasperating.

"You seem well rested."

I looked up, wings flicking. "Who the hell let you in?"

"I let myself in." Gearshift smiled as he sat in the corner of the office messing with a tablet. "I wanted to speak to my little brother."

"About?" I narrowed my optics, not wanting anymore work to do.

"Megatron of Tarn."

"Ugh…" I rolled my optics, leaning back in my chair. "Don't."

"Things are changing Starscream. I'm scared that what's happening out there will soon be happening in Vos. They say he is making some army."

"The Decepticons are not an army. They are a political movement. They will even be recognized as such if they petition for it."

"Yeah, I heard that same report." He paused, studying me a moment before continuing, his vocalizer softer now. "I also heard about the… upgrade."

I didn't speak immediately. "It's natural."

"Seekers only adapt in times of need. Why did you order for the adaption to be rushed?"

"I'm not rushing anything. Cybertron is changing, like you said, and we must be prepared for anything. Seekers naturally evolve, and it's been a time since we last had a drastic transformation. I think… Now is the time to make the changes."

"My forcing the changes?"

"It's been done throughout our species."

"You are preparing for war, aren't you?"

"No."

"Then why adapt for war if there is no war?"

"Because I have no idea what may happen."

He paused. "If there is a war… What will you do?"

I vented a sigh. "Join the winning side. What else can I do? Vos can't stay independent forever when we have no where else to go."

"The Senate is ordering that everyone is to be at their place of residence by 21:00. Anyone caught outside past that time will be arrested. This new curfew is being enforced due to the growing influence of the Decepticon terrorist group. Anyone with information on these Decepticons is asked to make a repor-"

Thundercracker changed the channel when I entered the room, his glare never changing as he leaned back on the couch, unmoving, emotionless. I noticed his look, knowing he was thinking hard about something upsetting.

"What is it?" I asked softly, wings lowering.

He slowly shook his helm, eyed me for a moment, then faintly smiled. "You're gorgeous."

I raised an optical ridge, suspicious. "Obviously." I grunted before walking to the closet. "What were you watching?"

"Nothing." Was the guttural reply.

"Uh huh. I know you, and I know you only act like a grump when you're upset. What was on the TV?" I removed my crown and set it aside.

"Just the news. Senate being… The Senate."

"Anything different?"

"No, just… More stuff about the Decepticons."

I looked back at him, wings perking. "Such as?"

"They are saying the Decepticons are a terrorist group."

I flicked my wings, optics narrowing. "Not true."

He shrugged. "Trust no one."

I removed my royal garb and placed it on the mannequin before approaching my mate. I sat on his lap and curled into his protective chassis, listening to the soft growling of his engine and shifting of pistons from within. He wrapped an arm around me, kissing me on the brow.

"Doing alright?"

"I'm fine."

"What's bothering you?"

"Just… Not knowing."

"What do you not know?"

"What's going to happen with all this political unrest."

"I doubt much will happen. The Senate is in too much control. The Decepticons will be crushed in no time and everything will return to how it was." Thundercracker grunted.

I looked up at him. "But I don't want it to go back to where it was. Things need to change, and I want to help make it change."

I walked down the street at night, my trinemates following me in formation. We were alone, no one on the street, only a streetlamp there to guide us. I stopped before the alleyway, wings lowering.

"Stay." I softly ordered before stepping into the darkness.

My spark was racing, but he had said to meet at these coordinates, and here I was.

"On time."

I turned to him, his face illuminated by the red, glowing visor that hid his optics. I sensed the others around me, but didn't look, not wanting to show I was scared of being here alone with him at night.

"I'm a warrior. We are well disciplined." I calmly replied, wings raised, my optics steely watching him.

"Megatron will be pleased."

"When can I meet him?"

"Not yet. I must be careful of my own comings and goings. Senator Ratbat watches me closely. It is difficult enough for me to speak to Megatron, let alone the recruits." He held out his servo, holding a dataslug. "Destroy this afterwards."

I took it and subspaced it. "I can assure you that the Senate has no spies in my palace."

"You'd be surprised." He paused as one of his birds perched itself on his shoulder. "When will you upgrade?"

"Within the orn."

"Afterwards."

"I meet Megatron?"

"Affirmative."

I eyed him. "Don't play with me, Soundwave. Seekers are not the ones you want to be your enemies."

"I know. This is why I have come to you. We want you with us. You can turn the tide if war were to break out."

"Only seeing us for our built?"

"Seeing you for what you are: Skilled warriors who hate the Senate and Functionists."

"We are more than just warriors, Soundwave."

"Cogs in the machine."

I didn't respond immediately. "I'm sure your senator master misses his little pet." I glanced at the two birds and cat. "The Alpha has a palace to return to and people to lead. I mustn't be gone too long."

"Understood. Your donation to the cause is appreciated."

"Just tell me when I can do more than lend Shanix and hand out pamphlets."

"Soon."

I inclined my helm before pivoting on a heel and returning to my mates. I led them away, leaving Soundwave in the shadows.

I plugged the dataslug into my computer in my office later that night. I was warm from interface with my trine, having left them recharging to be in private. Asperitas was still on shift and stood outside the office, but otherwise I was alone. The dataslug contained images from Megatron's newest battle, something I had already viewed a hundred times, but amongst the images was a code. It took some time, but I soon deciphered it.

Weapons.

I raised an optical ridge, then bit on my glossa. They wanted more weapons.

Further deciphering revealed Megatron was asking for more recruits, but not for Seekers. Not yet. Why I was being held back I was not sure at the time, but I imagine it was due to my status.

I would need to collect weapons, give more Shanix, and keep this secret. Illegal arms trade was not something I ever thought I would commit, but I couldn't let this become common knowledge that the Alpha was handing weapons and Shanix to a gang of criminals. I had a city to run.

Due to this, I couldn't trust Seekers. They would question my reign as Alpha and challengers was the last thing I needed at this time. So, I went to the streets, I went to the low life grounders living off Syk, the homeless, the degenerates, the ones without a family or identity. And I employed them. They smuggled weapons for me to Kaon. They procured the weapons with my Shanix from the arms dealers at the space port and transported the cargo to its final destination. All the while I could stay in my palace playing the good mech routine.

The only ones who knew were my trinemates since they followed me into those slums for protection. And I ensured they remain secretive about it.

Several Orbital Cycles Later:

I giggled as Skyfire picked me up and set me on the desk. He passionately kissed my lip plates, his wings fluttering. I wrapped my arms around his helm, my own wings fluttering as my engine purred.

"Better take a bite out of me, now, big boy, because the upgrade is coming. And who knows how I'll look then." I smirked.

"I wish you wouldn't." He grunted, pushing me down.

"Seekers upgrade every so many vorns. Quit your glitching."

"Yes, but… I like this body." He held my waist, his optics roving over my plates.

"Then do something with it before I bite off your face!"

"So violent."

"I am."

He leaned over and kissed me on the lip plates. "You ready to be loved on?" He smiled in the truly loving, genuine way he always did to me.

I quickly nodded as I grinned, and soon he was reminding me of his intense love for me.

"The CNA sequence has been singled out. It… Looks like the adaptation will be more than just bigger denta." Firefight informed as he looked at the sequencing holograms being displayed over the table.

"Let's just get it over with." I grunted. "I'll go first."

"You sure?" Thundercracker perked his wings, looking at me.

"If I watch everyone else go before me I'll get freaked out and run. I'm that kind of wimp." I sighed.

"If you're ready just sit down and I'll pop the code in." Astral spoke.

I grumbled under my breath before sitting on one of the chairs around the table and folding away my chestplates. Astral used this tool that's like… Well, think of a syringe that has the ability to release a program. Like a USB port syringe. And what you do with this tool is you insert it (stab) the spark and the spark will react to the coding.

Now, I've spoken about Seeker culture and our history before in A Prince of Vos, but let me explain it again with more info. So, Seekers were once always hunted down and we were more of a bestial race. Due to our structure and being killed for trophies our ancestors sought to make changes to help them be able to fight back and be more… Less beastie. Thus Seekers began to change, to adapt, and each new generation evolved. Most of these adaptations were forced, then encrypted and permanently fused into our CNA so that it would become our natural coding and therefore passed down to the next generation. Selective breeding, you might call it.

Well, when new strands are discovered or even constructed to better ourselves we can then go into and force these changes, to take already born Seekers and change their CNA to be this new form, this new adaptation, and force their bodies to make those changes. For example, a new type of wing design in CNA is discovered, so that coding is them programmed and fused into all Seekers' CNA and therefore our wings then make those changes. Sometimes changes may be that small, or maybe it's a huge adaptation. Usually small changes are not forced upon, but when a big improvement for our survival arises, as it has now, we all take it.

While the adaptation upgrades us to be better, it's not the most comfortable experience…

I bit my glossa as Astral injected the new sequence, then watched him remove the tool. I folded my chestplates back over, feeling my spark begin to burn slightly as it adjusted, accepting the changes, fusing with them, and soon had it fully installed into my CNA. I waited, my protoform will be the first to begin change, then my outer body.

I hissed, a burning sensation filling my chest, then moving down my limbs, staying within my protoform, but soon it expanded out. I stood up, suddenly feeling nauseous, then dizzy, then weak. I fell, landing on all fours, no one even bothering to help me or ask how I felt. This was normal. Then, I felt my body contorting. Not like transforming, more like… This painful twisting, and molding, and shifting of plates I had no control over. It was mostly in my arms and legs at first, them moved to my wings.

I soon found myself screaming in agony as my body shifted, moved, distorted, and changed. I felt my wings folding over, then growing, feeling heavier. I felt my lower legs enlarging, my frame thinning, my shoulder vents narrowing, and my cockpit flattening. I curled into myself, jerking and contorting as if I was spazzing. Then, it all stopped.

I felt exhausted, I felt strange, I felt… stronger.

I stood up, losing my balance some, the weight on my back so different. More concentrated on my shoulders, now. I panted as I looked to my trinemates and advisors.

"Well?" I panted out.

"I must say, our evolutionary path might need some fashion changes." Thundercracker grunted.

"Is it bad?"

"See for yourself." Silverstorm pointed to the mirror.

I did, and when I stood before the mirror I saw for the first time what would strike terror in the early parts of the war. My wings, almost like the folded, pointed wings of bats, more hanging from my shoulders than back. My shoulder vents sharp and pointed, my waist thinner, my legs thicker, and my body less… blocky. More defined.

"Heh." I smirked. "I wonder what the alt mode looks like.

"Oh! Yes! More!" I fluttered my wings, Skywarp having at me as I leaned over the back of the couch, wings fluttering.

Skywarp cackled in that way he always did when he was so into a frag, his arms wrapped tightly around my waist, his exhales beating down on my nape which he occasionally bit, his denta so much sharper now.

Thundercracker watched, a small grin on those handsome faceplates of his, not rushing to get into us. He knew it wouldn't be much longer before he was claiming his glitches.

"Apologies, my lord, but you have a guest." Asperitas apprised as he entered, in his royal guard armor as usual. He paused before continuing. "Would you like me to inform him it may be a while?"

"Oh, hah, ow… Negative, Asperitas. Sky is almost, hah, done with me. I'll be right over." I replied, not looking back, unable to anyway with how Skywarp kept biting me.

"He said he couldn't wait too long due to his birds and cybercat being hungry."

My optics widened. "Get out! Skywarp, dammit, you can stick it in Thundercracker! Out-out-out!" I shoved back at him until he finally did pull out, giving me a perturbed look.

"What is it, Scree?" He anxiously asked, stepping back as I hastily grabbed a towel and cleaned between my legs.

"I need to speak to my guest!" I threw the towel at my mates, closed my codpiece, and bolted out of the room.

I ran down the hallway, flew up the tunnel, and rushed into the throne room. My wings perked when I saw him, just standing near my throne, studying the massive hall. I slowed my pace, gathered myself, and approached, trying to at least look like a king in my own palace.

"Soundwave, odd seeing you within my palace. You usually prefer a more… discreet tryst." I commented, stepping up the dais until I was beside him.

He didn't speak immediately, and when he did his vocalizer was hushed. "Tomorrow, Kaon, the Rusted Tank Bar, behind it at 11:30. Bring your trinemates and weapons."

My optics widened. "Kaon? You mean… I'm meeting him?"

"Affirmative." He then turned and began to walk off.

I dumbly watched him for a nanosecond before regaining my dignity. "W-what should I say?"

He stopped, looking back at me over a shoulder. "Nothing stupid." He so sagely advised before continuing on.

I nearly collapsed, feeling my knees buckling. I quickly caught myself on my throne and sat down. I was trembling with excitement and anxiety. Finally, after all these stellar cycles, after over a vorn of reading his works… I would finally get to meet Megatron of Tarn, my idol, my hero.

The night was black, save for the light from the dismal city. A flash of bright magenta temporarily lit the nearby sky before it vanished as quickly as it had appeared. Left behind were three jets, tetra jets, who flew deep into the bowels of the scum infested metropolis. I loved this new alt mode, it helped hide how hard my wings were rattling. I aileron rolled, leading my trine towards the streets, avoiding the venue signs and few night traffic.

I transformed, my trinemates doing the same behind me, landing before the requested meeting location. My winged twitched, not liking this place. It smelled. I remember that stench profoundly. Frizz rats scuttled into the shadows when we got too close, their handiwork visible on all the surrounding pipes, chewed completely through. Some low tech mech was passed out in the corner, either homeless or overdosed. Garbage was littered everywhere, and rust was thick upon it all.

I heard Thundercracker's engine growling in disapproval. I didn't like it either, but this was where Soundwave told us to meet up.

I looked up when I heard the frizz rats screeching, followed by the black cybercat giving chase. He was here. The feline ceased his pursuit when noticing us. His audio receptors flattened, tail flicking, then he calmly turned and walked towards where he had come. I followed, my trinemates staying in formation behind me.

"Did anyone follow you?" He spoke from the shadows, cloaked in their protection.

"We teleported here. No one knows where we are. I didn't even tell my guards." I answered, keeping my wings raised.

He inclined his helm. "Follow me."

We did, going deeper into the pits of this wretched city, passing more overdosed, more homeless, even some that I think were dead and simply left there to rust. Rats, glitch mice, all pests scurrying around whenever the light touched them, and the insects… The stronger the stench the more of them there were.

Eventually, we crossed over a bridge and stopped before a large building. I felt my spark skip a pulse when I saw the Decepticon insignia scratched roughly over the door. Soundwave rapped his index digit's knuckle against it twice before it slid open. He entered, revealing the badge he wore on his chest to the yellow mech sitting inside the well lit hall.

This yellow mech, who I will later to learn is Swindle, gave Soundwave a look with his large, violet optics before speaking. "Word to the wise, the big guy is in a bad mood. He had a run-in tonight. Lost an arm."

"Dismemberment… Is he… Functional?" Soundwave inquired as we stood behind him.

"Yeah, yeah, he's good. Heh… Good as you can be with one arm, I guess. Scrap… was he mad. Anyway… Ech… You should see the other guy."

Soundwave led us deeper into the building, soon the smell of energon, oil, and bodily fluids reached my olfactory sensors. It was unpleasant, but I would soon get use to it. We entered a brightly lit medical bay, medberths all around in almost a circle. On each medberth was a mech, more damaged than the last. Some were obviously dead, being recycled for parts. A large, green grounder was seeing to the giant grounder seated at the center, the most care being given to him. Cabled, wired, medibots… Everything attached and attending to his needs. And I felt the neck cables in my throat tightening, my wings trembling.

I watched as the green mech removed an arm from a dead gladiator and brought it over to the one I had waited so long to meet.

"Hnnn…" He grunted, optics offline, having heard us entered. "What to you want?" He grunted.

"Your request for a flight-capable combatant?"

Megatron growled as the new arm was roughly shoved on and the green grounder began to weld it in place. "Hrm. You have one?"

"Negative. I present three." Soundwave gestured to us as he stepped aside. "Skywarp, Thundercracker, and Starscream."

I felt… I felt like… I was about to die from just the excitement, the anxiety, the… disbelief that I was finally here, finally before my idol, finally before the one I wanted to work with, to serve to make a better Cybertron, to fight for and even die for. He was my biggest idol, my hero. I spent joors an orbital cycle watching his fights on the illegal discs, memorizing every last one and every move he made. How I read his writings a thousand times over, until I could quote entire pages from memory. This, before me, was the most amazing mech I thought I would never meet. And yet, here we were.

"Mmm… Uhhh… Meg…." I blabbered like an idiot, suddenly finding it impossible to speak, then feeling this wave of submission cast over me from how he looked down at me, how those red optics bored into my spark, how he, despite being wounded, was so powerful, intimidating, and clearly a more fierce warrior than I. And in Seeker culture, it is those who lead.

I fell to my knees, bowing in submission to him when I finally managed to get my vocalizer to work. "Megatron, I pledge my allegiance undying!"

He smirked. "Heh… You can fly?"

I quickly stood, wings perked, smiling proudly. "Beyond three times the speed of sound. All three of us. Can I just say I am-we are honored by the opportunity to join you in the arena, to fight by-"

He grunted an interjection. "The arena? No, no. I have something much better in mind for you and yours."

I felt my spark dropping, dejected by my idol already. Skywarp watched me, Thundercracker raised an optical ridge.

"Don't look so disappointed." Megatron spoke up, studying his now fully attached arm. "You will wear my badge, and you will kill for me. In this time of change… We must all be flexible, hmmm?" He smiled as an energy mace folded out of his new limb, violet electricity surging all around it.

I perked my wings, getting a little excited. "Yes… My lord." I blurted it out, feeling Thundercracker's glare land on me.

"Excellent! Hook, those three, I give you the steel. Give me back the weapon." He smiled.

The green grounder turned to us, his red optics scrutinizing us from behind his visor. He grunted, then gestured us over. I signaled for my trinemates to follow, and soon Hook took us to another room filled with more medical equipment, and less dead and dying gladiators.

"Lie on the medberth." Hook instructed as he grabbed some tools.

I glanced at my brothers before hopping on, then lying down. The construction class mech returned to me, and hesitated as he stood beside me, studying my frame.

I perked my wings. "You ever worked on a Seeker before?" I inquired.

"No, I've only ever have cared for non-aerial builds." He replied.

I smirked. "Is that what you grounders call yourselves?"

"We call ourselves many things." He thought for a moment before continuing. "Seekers are combat built already. And I assume you have weapons?"

"Affirmative."

"Well, I'm going to make a few changes to you." He turned on a small buzzsaw, and I felt nervous.

"Megatron, they're ready." Hook apprised the gladiator, leading us back to where he was now recovering.

"Hmm," Megatron grunted, most of his injuries patched over now, but still connected to wires pumping energon into him. Larger mechs, such as his size, do better when they have fuel pumped directly into them after severe energon loss. "Good. Starscream, was it?"

I swallowed, feeling my spark fluttering and also clutching that he actually said my designation! I can still hear how he said it that first time…

"Y-yes, sir?" I stuttered, stepping before him so he didn't need to turn in his seat.

"Soundwave informed me that you are a Seeker. I've heard of your kind before. Warriors, correct?"

"Yes, we are a race of warriors. Since birth we are taught how to battle and kill our opponents." I stated proudly, smiling as my wings perked. "We learn to not fear death, but to inflict it."

He grinned, pleased. "And you're a king? Why would someone of wealth wish to help those who come from nothing?"

I clenched my jaw for a moment. "Because… I maybe of been born into wealth, I may have never been homeless, but I have suffered from the corruption of the Senate and ratioism. I have seen my people murdered for committing no crime, and the law overlooking them. I have struggled with finances due to inability to secure a stable job as I raised daughters. While I might of managed to find locations to work, who looked the other way, and lied about me being a mere janitor so I wouldn't be taken away by the Senate, there are many, Seeker and non-Seeker, who are not so lucky.

"Because, as a leader I serve my people, and I serve Vos and all those who call her home. That includes the grounders and other non-Seekers who dwell within her spirals. And… I went to school with grounders, I am best friends with a grounder. I know this planet is messed up, and I know you are our best bet at repairing everything the Functionists, the Senate, have destroyed."

Megatron didn't speak immediately. "Would you kill to help Cybertron."

"I will kill to help my people, to help my creations, to help my mates and friends. And helping them means ending Functionism." I answered firmly, standing resolutely, letting my strict War Academy training show.

"Have you killed to help those you care for?"

"I stabbed my own sire in the helm with a sword to procure my position as Alpha in order to help my people and protect my mates. My mate has killed to save one of our daughters from someone who had assaulted her."

"And will you do it again?"

"Without hesitation."

He only smirked for a moment before speaking. "You will be abducting a senator during a city wide assault."

My optics widened some as my wings flared. Thundercracker's engine growled, Skywarp giggled.

"Abducting which senator?"

"Decimus."

"Ah." My wings flicked. "What precisely is the plan, my lord?"

"You three will interrupt Decimus' tribute unveiling in Upper Kaon. There, you are to abduct him and bring him back here, alive. The moment you extract him, you are to comm Soundwave who will give the word to the other Decepticons. As one we will strike, taking down the security forces, the industrial sector, transport centers, all of it."

"And the goal of destroying Kaon?"

"To make change."

"I don't like this."

"You never like anything, Thundercracker." I sardonically replied, leading my trine down the streets of Kaon.

"I like your aft and fragging both of you. I don't like this Megatron creep, nor his idea of destroying an entire city."

"It's to stop the senate, my dear mate."

"All the works you showed me that he had written painted him as a very different person. One wanting peace, not war." He flicked his wings.

"Times are changing. Of how much I'd prefer no war there doesn't seem to be any other way of getting the Senate to cooperate. In all honesty, I doubt an actual war will blossom. Some dissent, some skirmishes, maybe a few senators killed, but no war. Those senators have caused millions to be murdered. I think the only way we can get rid of them is to fatally relocate them."

"You are not a war commander, Starscream. You need to be keeping Seekers at peace, not leading us into potential danger."

"I am trying to lead us out of danger!" I exclaimed, spinning around to face him, wings flared.

He flicked his wings, then lowered them. Tentatively, he took me and hugged me. I lowered my wings, hugging my mate back, resting my cheekplates on his chestplates.

He finally lifted my chin, forcing me to look him in the optics. "I will follow you into the sun. There is nowhere you will go that I will not follow you. There is no command you will give that I will not obey. You are my everything. The carrier to my beautiful daughters that you raised to be absolute perfection. The reason my spark continues to still pulse. My light in the darkness, and the wind on my wings." He kissed me on the lip plates. "But I still question your decision for trusting this… Gladiator and why you think his plan is beneficial to us or to stopping the Senate. I do not desire to upset you, my love. I only merely ask you to rethink and consider more options before finalizing your decision."

I bit my glossa, debating, then spoke. "And regardless of that final decision, will you still follow me?"

"Until my spark gives out."

I smirked. "I'll think about it, Thunder."

"Thank you, my love." He pecked a kiss to my lip plates.

"Stop being perfect. I hate you for it." I glared at him.

He only chuckled, kissing me again. "Sillyhelm."

"I think we should keep moving." Skywarp interrupted us. "Getting some unsavory looks from unsavory characters." He grunted.

"I wonder how Kaonians would react if we had a threesome in public." I snuggled into Thundercracker's chassis.

"Honestly, I bet orgies play a pivotal role in their society, here. The streets look like they have been jizzed all over…"

Skywarp giggled. "Jizz streets." He snorted.

"Let's find somewhere to refuel, then bond. It helps me think." I then took both their servos in mine and we walked servo-in-servo down the newly dubbed "jizz street."

Thundercracker panted as he thrust into me, concentrating on getting a final overload in. I lied beneath him, looking off to the side, feeling his warm exhales on my faceplates. He smiled at me, and I turned to him, offering a small smile back. He kissed me on the lip plates, wings fluttering, then pulled away as he finally climaxed. He panted over me, allowing his systems to cool as I felt his fluids gushing into my body. Finally, he kissed me one last time, pulled out, and lied beside me. Skywarp snuggled against my front as Thundercracker lied behind me, both of them wrapping their arms around me.

I listened to them both fall into recharge, but my optics remained dimply online, thinking, musing, debating on what to do. I had to help my people, my creations, my trinemates, friends. I had to do something to make Cybertron a more bearable place. I had to stop the Senate, their corruption, the callous actions of the Functionists and The Institution that was rumored to exist. I had to be part of the change.

And Megatron… He represented that change. Him and the Decepticons. No one else had been able to rally and provoke as many people as he had. He touched me unlike anyone else had. And unlike everyone else who had spoken up against the Senate, he was still around. That had to be a sign of some kind, right?

Of how much I disliked the idea of putting myself and my amazing mates at risk of being killed in order to abduct some heavily guarded senator as Decimus, I needed to do my part.

Maybe I was a cog in the machine. But not the machine of the Functionists or Senate. No, the machine Megatron was building. The one that would repair our screwed over planet and society, and instill something better. Something that would ensure the peace, welfare, and happiness to all Cybertronians.

Maybe… This was what I was meant to do. If not for me, for those I was in charge of. Those who I loved.

I swallowed, deciding my fate for the next 48,193 vorns that very night, in the arms of my lovers, my best friends, the only ones who would be with me throughout it, for I will lose so many I care for in that time. So many that should still be here. So many… And some… No carrier should have to bury.

I decided I would do it.

I transformed and perched myself on the satellite array, the long, metal antenna of it perfect for my peds to hook onto. I crouched, wings perked, wrists rested on my knees, the typical perch for a resting Seeker in wait. Thundercracker was perched on another building across the courtyard. And Skywarp was in hiding nearby. Within the courtyard was a large gathering of the wealthy and their guards, servants carrying platters of engex and high grade energon, and much palaver about their wealth and superiority to those born in more humble families.

I saw him. Senator Decimus was on a stage nearby the statue being revealed. A statue to glorify him, despite all the wrongdoings he had committed. Despite him literally being a pile of scrap.

I hated him.

Everyone was cheering, clearly pleased with the unveiled sculpture. I perked my wings, then opened my commlink.

"Proceed."

Thundercracker leaped off his perch, transformed, and flew downward. He pulled up and passed over the crowd, barely hitting guards and noblemechs, causing drinks to spill and people ducking for cover.

As he flew off all optics were on him, stunned and confused. Skywarp teleported, materializing behind Senator Decimus and immediately opening fire on his guards.

"Ahhhh!" Decimus screamed as Skywarp grasped him then teleported before the other guards could fire back.

I transformed and dove, seeing them as targets, not as lives with families. Thundercracker flew back from the opposite direction, and we both opened fire. Our strafing tore through the ranks of guards and even noblemechs who didn't get out of the way quick enough. They were screaming. I remember them so clearly as they fell, their every shot missing us, but I almost felt everyone of my lasers striking them. And soon, only smoke remained.

Skywarp rematerialized, throwing Decimus on the ground just as Thundercracker and I transformed, landing beside him.

"We're clear." Thundercracker grunted, not pleased, but he obeyed.

I approached the senator as he sat on his aft, anxiously watching us. And I felt.. Powerful. The fear emanating from his being just… Fueled me. My trinemates stood behind me, glaring, wings flared, silent.

I smirked. "Not bad, hmm, Senator?" I leered over him. "Punch a hole in the sky and the masses are transfixed, optics wide, mouth agape, like a pack of startled primitives…" I then crouched before him, my face in his, ensuring my sharp denta were visible to him. "Including your security detail." I turned to Skywarp. "Secondary objective: Mark it."

Skywarp smiled, giggling as he turned and began to fire at the large sigil of the Senate, which would later become the insignia of the Autobots.

"Wwwwuhh…" Decimus groaned, trying to get his bearings. "Why?"

"I placed my servos on my hips as my smile grew. "Oh, Senator, if I told you," I then reached down to grasp his neck. "I'd have to kill you."

As we flew away with our prisoner, the Decepticon symbol now burnt over the Senate sigil, I opened my commlink to Soundwave. "We're out, clean and smiling."

"Confirmed. All secondary operations, you are clear to proceed. Time to make our mark."

We flew, flying over as the city was brought down. The industry sector destroyed, security forces killed, poisoning of corrupt industry owners and noblemechs, resources flow disrupted, transport centers compromised, and police officers assaulted all erupted throughout the metropolis. Soon, smoke was billowing from every quadrant, and the citizens were in a panic.

I took my trine to the secret gladiator arena, and we waited with the Senator until Soundwave came for me. I left my trinemates with Decimus and followed him to find Megatron in a back room, yelling at the minibots Rumble and Frenzy. He had forcibly reformatted them and they weren't too pleased. But his anger and punching the wall changed their processors.

"So… Soundwave it is!" One of them quickly replied, turning to the blue mech.

Megatron noticed me, his optics glowing brightly. "Almost late." He grunted. "On task?"

He began walking and I followed. "The… Ah.. Task is complete." I replied feeling a little nervous. Perhaps due to his anger, or perhaps an instinctual warning of my future life with him. "I just don't understand the 'why' of it all."

"Just remember what we agreed. You could say we're sending a message."

I bit my lip plate, recalling what the entire plan was. He had said more to me than most, which made me uncertain why he seemed to trust me so much right off. But, he had told me the main goal was to get captured. To lure in the police with Decimus' abduction, and we all be caught. Then, I would make a plea as he pretended to claim I had betrayed them and I would be taken to the Senate for an emergency hearing to tell them everything.

I guess he knew we were meant to be stuck together forever, for everything he told me so early on… It was a lot.

While I had been collecting the Senator, Megatron had summoned all the gladiators and those wanting to join the Decepticons. Hundreds came, so many I would end up being stuck with for vorns. Motormaster, Razorclaw, Runabout, Runamuck, even Grimlock. They all gathered in the arena, all watching the vid screens that displayed Megatron as he spoke.

"I want to ask each of you a question." He began, his vocalizer firm, commanding. "Why are you here? You come from Tarn, you come from Vos, Altihex, Uraya, and Kalis. We gather in Kaon, and so we bring out misery together! And we fight!" He held up an energy sword for emphasize. "We are the forgotten, trying to forget. Forgotten, until you stand with a blade in one hand, a throat in the other. Then you remember. You feel it. You are alive! We can wear badges, join teams, fight and kill… Then the badge comes off and you crawl home. Assembled here I see strength. Power. The most dangerous Cybertronians alive. So… What if the badge never came off? What if our new arena was the entire face of the planet? What if there was one badge for all of us? And instead of fighting each other we attack those that put us here… And we take what is ours!"

He paused, overlooking the crowd as they cheered and roared in approval. I glanced over at Soundwave, him sharing a cold look back.

"Would you have the bearing for that!?" Megatron continue. "Would they?!" He then gestured as Thundercracker and Skywarp dragged out Decimus, bringing him over to Megatron. Megatron snatched the Senator my the arm and roughly shoved him down. "Look at the fear. The self-interest, the loathing for us… Loathing for what they have created. Fear for what will happen. We are without fear. And we will make our mark upon this world." He then grasped Decimus' helm and yanked him up so he was on his knees, back looking up at the ceiling. "Why don't you all get started making an impression?"

And that's when hell broke loose.

"YOU ARE ALL UNDER ARREST!"

My optics widened as thick, pinkish smoke exploded from all directions, soon choking us in zero visibility. I heard shouts, screams, several pushed me around, then someone yell at me.

"Get out of here!"

"Get out where?! I can't see-" I started to shout back, suddenly terrified, and suddenly thinking about my carrier and creations.

An eruption of blasters over the roar of the panicked crowd filled my audio receptors. I bolted in the direction I had last seen my trinemates, but I was knocked down. I struggled, I fought, and I was punched a few times before being held down on my front. Manacles were fashioned to my wrists, and I knew it was over. I ceased struggling, allowing myself to be dragged out by my captures. I heard Megatron shouting. I was shoved against the wall, the smoke dissipating enough I could see. Megatron was dog piled by several Kaon police officers, struggling to put an inhibitor claw on him.

Then, I saw him. Sentinel Prime. I swallowed, looking away. The Prime new me. After all, as a politician for Vos, a representative of Seekers, I had to deal with him a few times as well as other senators. I wouldn't be able to hide what I had done. I would be shredded by the other Seekers.

"So, this is Megatron, huh?" I heard the Prime mockingly greet as he stood before the gladiator. "The big bad himself." He then crouched, his faceplates in Megatron's. "I don't see it."

Megatron snarled, his optics glowing brightly. "Keep… Looking." He growled, still trying to fight himself free.

Sentinel stood back up as the inhibitor claw was placed on Megatron by the cop who would later become the Autobot Prowl. "I thought he'd be bigger. Process him."

I swallowed as I was grabbed and forced to stand. We were all led away into transport vehicles, crammed tightly together. My claustrophobia started to creep in, my optics wide, desperately looking for my brothers. I first spotted Skywarp, forcing my way over to him. I pressed my brow against his, hearing his denta chattering as he trembled in fear.

"It's okay. We're going to be fine." I spoke softly to him. "I have Shanix. We'll pay our bails. We'll be fine."

Thundercracker forced his way over to us, wings flaring, engine growling, making it clear he would murder anyone who tried to hurt his trinemates. Skywarp and I both curled into Thundercracker's protective chassis, scared, but feeling safe so long as he was there.

I looked over, seeing Megatron… And his smirk.

As we neared the security headquarters of Kaon I heard arguing from one of the officers on the communicator.

"Look, prisoner overflow doesn't mean that we lay down tools. It means get creative! Priority ones are secured, priority two needs anything with a lock and a door. Clear it, secure it, and fill it!"

I was more nervous, not wanting to be tightly crammed into a cell all because they ran out of room for us. Over 300% capacity to be exact.

The transport ships landed and we were forced out. My trinemates stayed glued to me, and I stayed close to Megatron. We were stopped one at a time by an officer with a datapad.

"Designation?" The one officer seeing me gruffly demanded.

I swallowed. "Seeker Starscream of Vos." I didn't sound as confident as I wish I had.

He searched me, then found my file, for the Senate kept files on everyone. "Hmm, Vosian fake politician. Looks like you already have somewhat of a criminal record, here. Theft, illegal arms dealing, counterfeit…"

I felt Thundercracker's disapproving glare. I might of… possibly done more than just give the Decepticons illegal weapons… I probably should of mentioned that… I knew if we survived this Thundercracker would be beating my aft for the next eighty vorns… My carrier might join him.

He put in the info then shoved me forward.

"Designation?" He practically spat.

"S-Seeker Skywarp of Vos." Skywarp swallowed, trembling.

"Hmm… Outlier. Used to be in the outlier labs."

The face Skywarp made was… Not like any I had seen on him. His wings were so low, and he started to tremble so hard. I could hear his denta clattering, his wings rattling against his sides, and his optics almost seemed to have lost color.

"I-I-I-I-I=" He stuttered, unable to speak.

"Next!"

Skywarp was forced forward, never looking away from me as he madly blabbered.

"I-can't-go-back-I-can't-go-back-I-can't-go-back-I-can't-go-back-I-can't-go-back-I-can't-"

"You're not going back." I quickly reassured him. "I'll kill before that happens."

"Th-they hurt me…" Coolant began to pour from his optics, his entire frame quaking in absolute fear.

"Skywarp, focus on me. Sky, sweetie, calm down." I said quickly, noticing how the inhibitor claw he wore tightened on him. He was trying to either transform or active his warp generator, but the device was restricting the control he had of his body. Oddly enough, they never bothered putting one on me. I guess they ran out and since I'm so short and scrawny they assumed me the least danger. Fools.

Thundercracker was now with us, his face an enigma, being strong for us. He purred his engine, pressing his brow against Skywarp's, soothing him. Then he kissed us both on the lip plates before we were shoved away by guards with electro batons.

We were led into the building and forced into cells, much too small for all of us. They removed my manacles to place on another prisoner being unruly. I found myself seated beside Megatron, my trinemates on the other side of him. Everyone was stressed and nervous, looking towards Megatron, our leader, for guidance.

"Tell them something." I spoke up to him, but he didn't even look at me. I flicked my wings, annoyed why he wouldn't say something! "Dammit, we're all in here because of you! Tell them something!" I growled.

He opened his mouth to speak, but then tightly closed it. I was confused, then I understood, and smirked. He wanted the guards and senate to think they had won, but his plan was working. I smiled, feeling better now.

"Sir, this arrived. Senate directive. Says here this one walks away." An officer said as he handed a datapad to another officer.

"This one?" The other officer demanded loudly as they were forcing prisoners into cells.

Soundwave silently glared, not reacting at all.

"Pffft… Fine. He can walk, roll, or slide out on a trail of grease. I don't care." The officer receiving the order finally grunted after looking at the datapad. He turned to Soundwave and jabbed a thumb. "Beat it."

Soundwave didn't react still, glaring coldly at him, then calmly walking away.

"Get out." Megatron whispered to me.

I eyed him, then inclined my helm. I made my way to the energy bars, swallowing, thinking about how best to trick the guard into letting me out. I chewed my lower lip plate before leaning forward so I could whisper in his audio receptor.

"Hey… Hey!"

"What?" The guard grunted, looking back at me, his face hidden behind a helmet.

"You need to listen…" I swallowed. "We don't have much time." I had planned maybe a little speech for how I knew another wave of Decepticons would attack, anything to panic the guard, but… Megatron knew what to do.

"You!" He suddenly roared, pointing at me. "Kill him!" He commanded the Decepticons.

My trinemates looked horrified, and for a moment I believed him, letting out a horrified squawk as Decepticons charged.

"Get me out!" I freaked out, being yanked out of the cell just before the energy bars returned. It took me a moment, then I collected myself, remembering the plan. "Take me to the senate. I have something that guarantees their future and mine." I quickly blurted out.

The guards didn't seem to believe me, but they probably assumed I must of been important if Megatron had ordered me killed. So, they led me away, and I couldn't help but smirk. So easily fooled.

"Nice friends." One of the guards grunted.

"Don't worry about them. They aren't your friends anymore." The second guard replied. "You should be more worried about what you're going to say to the council."

I glanced back before they took me away. They led me through the building, going towards where an emergency session of the senate was being held in regards to the attack on Kaon and kidnapping of Decimus.

I thought about what I would say, wanting to do what Megatron commanded, but also some of my own flair to it.

I was forced out to the podium, surrounded by the senate, a large pit surrounding me with only the bridge behind me leading back through the door I had entered through.

"Let this special hearing of the Kaon Council be marked as in commencement. Prisoner Starscream, I am required to list your charges as follows…" The head senator spoke, seated before me. I kept my faceplates an enigma, not sure what they had on me. "Assault, murder, armed robbery, destruction of state property, inciting civil disobedience, extortion, kidnapping, receiving and selling stolen goods, passing counterfeit funds, firing upon a state senator, multiple counts of attacks on state officers and state property, supplying known criminals with illegal weaponry, vehicle theft, and misrepresenting yourself as a state official."

Okay, firstly, some of those aren't true. Secondly, damn, they got everything.

And yet, I smirked. "Heh, nobody's perfect." I was proud now, but when my carrier found out…

The senator gave me a look before continuing. "Prisoner, you risk much coming to us. Why did the prisoner seek an early hearing?"

I shrugged, feeling like some sass was due. "I was eager to see how the other half lived. Nice place." Not as nice as my palace, but the wealthy grounders did have nicer stuff than even the Alpha.

"This chair holds the prisoner in contempt!" Decimus shouted furiously. "I suggest a movement to expel the prisoner and return him to confinement!"

I chuckled, loving how pissed he was. "Do your empty chairs also hold me in contempt?" I paused, noticing how they were silent, debating what to say to me, but I chose to do the talking for them. "Listen up. I am here for a reason." I began, feeling excitement, eager to deploy what Hook had done to me. "I have a message for you. For all of you. From all of those in your cells. Through your own interests you created this. You brought us here. You didn't just make it possible, you made it happen. All we did was give it a badge."

"Take. Him. Away." The head senator growled as he jabbed a digit at me.

I suddenly got excited, not scared oddly enough. But… Excited. I wasn't who I had been stellar cycles ago. I was someone else now, and I could do something I never could do before now since I had the backup of the Decepticon movement behind me.

"Oh, I don't think so." I activated the new panels Hook had installed on my upper arms and folded out my arm guns. In the same movement I raised my arms, took aim, and fired.

"SECURITY! SECURITY!" I think it was Decimus who shouted it.

Soundwave was suddenly beside me, Ravage and his birds leaping out of his chest compartment, him firing his own weapon as his pets attacked.

"I don't think that's going to help." I smiled as the guards fell before me, my lasers striking them in the faceplates and chests.

I massacred them. And I felt… Turned on, proud… Pumped.

As ordered, I carved the Decepticon insignia onto the wall of the senate room, then turned to the deceased Decimus, smoke billowing from his mouth as energon oozed from his now broken body.

"Destruction of the old way starts with the self, eh senator?"

"Continue with the plan, Starscream." Soundwave snapped, recalling his pets, Rumble and Frenzy to him.

I gave a single nod before transforming, firing at the ceiling, then flying through the hole. I circled around the building, aimed my missiles, and released them. The most satisfying explosion reached my audio receptors as I dove into the newly created door to the prison cells. I transformed, walking over the corpses of the guards I had killed with the explosion.

"Starscream!" Megatron shouted at me from his cell. "Don't waste time! All levels. All crimes. Open all cells, free everyone! Not just those that came in with us. All of them walk out with us to thank for it."

I snorted out heavily from my intakes, then palmed the control panel, unleashing the prisoners. Megatron and everyone else stormed out, manacles being ripped off, inhibitor claws removed, guards slaughtered… Soundwave emerged with his minions and crates of weapons. Rumble and Frenzy gave each prisoner one weapon and one badge to wear.

I watched for a moment before noticing it. I lifted it out of the crate, feeling it, realizing what it was for I had trained with them before at the War Academy. And I knew this was perfect for him. Oh, the mistake I made…

"Megatron," I spoke, him not looking directly at me, but clearly listening. "I watched your fights and I always noticed you leading with your right. It got you into trouble on number 37 when the-"

"Starscream, your point?!" He barked, turning sharply to me.

I then gestured to it. "With this you can make that work for you."

"Hmm," He took it, feeling it, then attached it to his right arm. "Yes, there's something about this."

"Heh, something to make sure that a fair fight is the other guy's problem." I smiled.

Megatron aimed the fusion cannon and fired, blasting a hole through the outer wall of the cell. Little did I knew that I would know what it would be like to be hit by that thing…

"Megatron, we await your command." Someone spoke.

"Fall on them as predators do prey. Show no mercy." He callously ordered. Everything." He gestured towards the city we overlooked. "All of this… Burns."

I signalled my trinemates over, and we transformed and flew off. I led them through the city as chaos erupted, firefights, explosions, hell soon breaking out beneath us. I took them towards a transport ship that obviously carried the most elite, and just felt hatred for these people. Because of them… we suffered. These grounders who thought themselves better than us Seekers. Who forced us to become warriors to survive and subsequently creating traditionalism that had caused me to almost commit suicide. Because of these nobles, these wealthy grounders, these corrupt politicians, my people and so many others suffered, were tortured, unable to work the jobs we wanted, made slaves, and murdered without justice.

I hated them. All my hatred for them just… Unleashed itself. I finally could. I finally could exact revenge.

"Bring it down." I ordered my trinemates.

Thundercracker twitched, suddenly uneasy.

"You heard him." Skywarp snapped, but almost gleefully. After all, they had sent him to the lab.

"I… Uh… I'm thinking that…"

"Don't think. Just do." Skywarp then fired.

It didn't take too many missiles before the transport vessel began its final descent, crashing into the middle of the city, exploding and setting everything around it on fire. Buildings it struck toppled over, entire towers falling creating massive dust clouds, visibility now almost non-existent with the smoke, fire, ash, and dust from the destruction.

I flew my trine down and we attacked anyone who shot at us. Kaon police swarming the Decepticons, no discernable front line, just chaos. Absolute, intense, unimaginable chaos. I had never been in war before, and this… Exhilarated me.

The smell of burning metal and energon, the burn of the fires as I flew through them, the embers singeing my delicate wings. The screams of the dying and injured, the energy boost as I dodged laser shots and shrapnel. My intakes choking with the dust, the smoke, the stench of death. I never realized how… Calming a battlefield was.

I… Loved it. I never imagined I ever would. Here I am a carrier of five femmes and sire to two mechs, and grandcreator to sixteen grandcreations. A little, scrawny Seeker who cries a lot and for most of my life at this point was scared of my own shadow. And yet here I was. The Alpha, leading my trine into a warzone, and it excited me. Thrilled me. Pleasured me.

I thirsted for this. I craved the sweet fruit of this forsaken tree and never even knew it was the very thing I had always desired. I wanted more.

I don't know how long we had been battling, maybe a joor at this point. It was impossible to keep track. But, after some time there was a huge explosion coming from near the center of the city. I turned my trine around and flew in that direction, curious what was happening.

It was Sentinel Prime in Apex Armor, and he was battling Megatron. I hadn't witnessed the beginning of this fight, but I saw Megatron tearing at the armor, shooting and punching the Prime, and Sentinel ruthlessly fighting back. I had no way of getting a clear shot with Megatron so close, so I focused on just keeping other officers away. Keep them from being able to help the Prime.

During the midst of their battle, Megatron managed to yank Sentinel over the edge of the bridge they were on, and the both of them plummeted. I felt my spark stopping, terrified of Megatron's death. I circled around, transformed, and landed, my trinemates and other Decepticons gathering around. We watched as Megatron beat the Prime, punching, tearing, ripping him apart. We watched in silence, witnessing the death of a Prime and an era.

When he was finally done, Megatron turned to face his Decepticons, covered in energon, it dripping from every part of his frame. And his faceplates… The first time I saw such evil.

"One of you," He jabbed a digit at my trinemates and I. "Return Sentinel to his soldiers."

"I'll do it." Skywarp nodded at me, knowing Thundercracker would be uncomfortable, and I not the strongest.

Skywarp picked up, the body, transformed, and flew off. He found the police, where they were gathered, and released the Prime, never ceasing in his flight. He soon returned to us, and we waited.

The Kaon police pulled out. They left Kaon. We had won. The Decepticons had won their first major victory in what would soon become a true war. And we celebrated.

I couldn't stay, though. I took my trinemates and we flew back towards Vos. Skywarp opened a warp gate and we passed through it, rematerializing over Vos. Only then did I realize how absolutely exhausted I was. We had been gone all orbital cycle. I hope no one noticed…

We transformed and landed on the balcony outside my quarters. I nodded to the guards, then palmed the door open. Thundercracker pulled us both to the berth, and the moment we lied down our processors shut down. We were out, deep in recharge, covered in energon, oil, ash, dirt, the filth of the battle, and smelling awful. But, we had done it, we were home, and we were alive.

I didn't realize how much would change for me from here on out. This was only the beginning when I officially joined the cause. All this happened in only two orbital cycles since first speaking to Megatron. I couldn't even begin to fathom what would happen for the next several thousand vorns.

And I'm back. Missed me? :)

Woo! A LOT to go over in this! Okay, firstly, after you read the notes or whatever, look at this because this will help you understand a LOT in this fic and other things I've had in previous fics: w w w. watchdominion . com

Remove spaced and type that into search bar and watch it. Very informative! It'll make you understand like everything about my fics and important shit.

Okay, quick update on my life as it pertains to this: Remember the cyberbullies I complained a lot in previous fics? If you've read my stuff before you might recall. Sadly, still are active, causing crimes, police won't do shit, and making it difficult for me to find work. It's really bad for me financially right now due to them. I haven't even been able to get my Masters because of them. So, if you see anything about me, especially saying my fics "glorify rape" or are "rape kink" or something just generally negative about me, it's those sociopaths. Hopefully, I can get help soon and have them answer to the law or at least get websites to step up and remove all the hate speech/polemics they have posted about me and their other victims. So, be careful everyone. Avoid these dangerous people and be cautious of others out there online. I don't want you suffering as I and others have. :(

Now, onto the fic!

The intro of Starscream being crowned is a scene in Legitimus Heres. But pay attention to the oath he took. It's going to play a crucial role throughout the entire war. His promises shall reflect what he'll do for the Seekers throughout the war and this story.

That's why it was saved for this fic rather than shown in the previous fic. The previous one had an epilogue that would fit in this fic, and this one a prologue that would fit in the previous. See what I did?! :D I so clever. :P

My fics follow the IDW G1 Transformers (2005) comics heavily since they are the best, most thought out, and have the most material. So, because of that, and these comics making me a TF fan and literally helping me keep from shooting myself in late 2014, I am making this fic VERY heavily influenced by them. Most of this chapter was the events of Megatron Origins chapters 3-4. Like, page-by-page and word-for-word influenced. Most things Starscream and Megatron said were copied exactly from the comic, especially when they first met.

Go back and read those issues to see. That's why some things may not be as clear since Starscream wasn't with Megatron through all of those events, but in the comic we follow Megatron through it so you can get the full story.

Now, there were multiple writers for these comics over the 13 years it ran. Because of that there are continuity errors. One of which making Starscream having committed so many crimes after only being with Megatron and the Decepticons for like 2 days. Another one was that Starscream recruited Shockwave before even meeting Megatron which makes no sense. Starscream would of recruited him after meeting Megatron so that time was put down wrong.

I'm going to fix the mistakes I find since the writers who tried to fix them, like John Barber, simply couldn't rewrite the entire comics. But I can write my fic!

So, for the crimes Starscream commits before meeting Megatron, let's go through those:

In the comics Starscream does pretend to be a senator for Vos. He had tried to become one through votes and all of that, but due to being a Seeker no one cared about him. So, he faked his way in in order to help. We see this spoken about in the Optimus Prime issues near the end of the series, and during the Autocracy Trilogy. Obviously in my fic he doesn't do that, but the Alpha does act as a politician, basically a senator for Vos since they own most of the city. So, the racist Senate would see that as faking being a state official.

The guns, theft, exertion, inciting civil disobedience, counterfeiting, and selling stolen goods easily could of been done when he was trying to help the Decepticons but hadn't met Megatron yet. Megatron is about a million years old by the time the events of Megatron Origins begins. And he started writing polemics and questioning the Senate thousands of years prior. So, Starscream is only about like 2 or less vorns old by the time he meets Megatron, meaning less than 150 years old. Basically, he's like 25 years old during this. Very much a baby in comparison to Megatron and most around him influencing him. He's probably more like 100 years old since the events of A Prince of Vos only span a little over a vorn (83 years) and this sequel begins not too long afterwards. Some years, but not another vorn.

That means, Starscream has been reading about Megatron's writings and ideas for a long time. Then Megatron was in the gladiator fights for decades. A long time. It wasn't overnight stuff. And Starscream has watched all his fights and came to obsess over him from the writings, the fights, etc. Starscream has had decades to become the number one fangirl. And being the biggest fan, as he was in the comics having literally memorized entire fights, almost every page of Megatron's writings, etc., he would want to help. And that means handing out Megatron's writings, spreading the info on it, and even supplying the Decepticons goods.

He helped them get weapons, illegally, obviously, and stole things, maybe weapons, and even a vehicle or more to help transport, and got other people to help him. In my fic, he mostly paid people to do his work since being Alpha he's watched by many, but how many of those guys kept their mouths shut about it?

And the assault, murder, kidnapping, etc. charges came about from him kidnapping Senator Decimus. So, entirely possible he got those charges in, just most when not having met Megatron.

Why would he not have been arrested before? In the comics it's most likely they just had trouble catching him because he's too smart. But in my fic where his location is obvious, it's his power. He's surrounded by Seekers who are feared, he controls most of a huge city, and canonly, Vos IS independent. It has the space port and is rich in natural energon reserves and energy resources. My headcannon being because it's on a mountain/mountain range and the mountains are able to provide with rivers, mines of energon, better solar energy being closer to the atmosphere, etc. In order to keep some semblance of control over Vos the senate has to play it safe. Because Vos could cut off at any moment and the entire Seeker population and their space port filled with military vessels could keep the rest of Cybertron out. And being situated on/within mountains, that's impossible to conquer and take away.

So, the Senate has to play it safe and not barge in the arrest the ruler of that powerhouse. Until at least he exposes himself when he's outside of it in Kaon. Then they could arrest him.

Now, about the adaptation:

So, in the Transformers universe evolution is a fact. Macro evolution, that is. So, that means the universe is billions of years old and allows species to change into new species over time. I don't believe in macro evolution (yes, you still can be a scientist and know all about science and facts without believing rats became whales over a ridiculous amount of time), but in order for some fictional stories, such as Transformers, to work it has to be true. So, this means they had a long ass time to adapt and change.

Now, in the comics it confirms that Cybertronians were more "bestial." They were more on four legs, more like your typical non-human animals. This is why Onyx Prime is the Prime of the beasts because he saw the Cybertronians who weren't as physically evolved still as beings, not mere objects. He actually cared for them. Of course... Fake Onyx was different, but read the comics for that. True Onyx was all for the beasts.

Cybertronians evolved over time, often through forced adaptations, as I have my Seekers do. So, original Seekers most likely were a bird-like species. In the comics we have seen them with sharp canine-like denta and even claws. Possibly kept from their primal forms.

We also know some ancient tribes of Cybertronians never evolved as much as the "typical" Cybertronian. In Spotlight: Orion Pax we see Orion and others battle "slicers," which were an ancient tribe that just stopped evolving and stayed as they were for millions of years. And they were quite "bestial."

So, very possible why Seekers still have certain quirks to them that don't align to other Cybertronians. Not just due to culture, but choosing not to adapt on those bestial traits because it game them the edge in fighting. Hissing, sharp denta, claws, horrible battle shrieks, etc. actually helps you in a fight than being a boring human-like battle. If someone had claws and spat in your face, that gives you more reason to stay away from them. Giving them the edge because they now are less likely to be hurt by you and can use that to escape or make a lunge.

So, Seekers can force themselves to adapt when enough CNA has been detected for improvement. Like, a baby Seeker is born and their CNA is for better wings, and another baby has CNA for better eye sight. They collect it all from all these adapted babies, mass together, force it into other CNA, it changes, and they make the change. Like a mixture of selective breeding and cloning.

Why did I have this happen? Because in the comics that showed Starscream before meeting Megatron he had a frame very similar to G1 cartoon Starscream. But in Megatron Origin, the Autocracy trilogy, and other flashback comics the Seekers had that very thin, bat-wing, more bestial body. So, they changed bodies before officially joining the Decepticons.

In the comics Starscream did gift Megatron the fusion canon.

Also, note how much Starscream is changing. He's been influenced by power from watching Megatron's fights, and now knowing he'll get away with killing. He's becoming free, allowing him to commit more heinous crimes.

That's a long ass author's note... I probably should stop it.

ANYWAY! Go to that first link and watch it. Also, you can go to my home page to find my other pages to talk, learn more about veganism, etc.

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Please see my headcanons BELOW! (Full list with character bios under last "chapter" of "An Attempt to Raise a Sparkling.)

Cybertronian Reproduction:

(Explanation if this is also given in chapter 5 of Illicitus. Explains more of how interface feels.)

Cybertronian reproduce similar to mammals. Mechs possess a spike (penis) and a valve (vagina). Femmes only possess a valve. The spike and valve are protected under fold away "lids" that move at either the command of the owner or when turned on. Over them is the codpiece, which can fold away at command or when turned on.

Depending on how a mech is turned on, their spike may harden or valve lubricate. Transfluid (cum) is energon and oil based, being leaked out from the valve to make it easier for the spike to move in and out of it. The spike also produces it's own transfluid (semen) to be released out of it when ejaculating.

Similar to organics, the valve has many sensory nodes inside of it to feel everything, and a "G-spot." This creates pleasure and a wonderful sensation to the Cybertronian being spiked (penetrated). The spike also contains sensory nodes on it to feel pleasure when being stroked or moving inside of a valve. Sending electrical currents into transformation seams and sensitive body parts can also turn on a Cybertronian.

The spike enters the valve, and the mech humps the other until they ejaculate, releasing nanites (sperm) into the valve's line (cervix). The nanites travel into the gestation tank (uterus) where they interact with the gestation nanites (eggs). They connect to each other and begin to form a protoform (fetus) which grows inside of the gestation tank for a stellar cycle (7.5 months).

The protoform floats inside of the gestation tank in an energon based fluid keeping it from slamming around while inside and keeping it warm. There are wires connected to the protoform acting as umbilical cords, giving it all the energon it requires to grow.

The carrier (mother) ingests carrier additives which is simply a special kind of metal ground up into a powder. Usually taken in energon, this powder is pumped from the carrier's fuel tank and into the gestation tank. It then fuses to the protoform to begin to grow, developing the inside and outside of the frame (body). If the carrier does not take the additives, then their systems will take metal from their body to make the protoform, which harms the carrier.

A protoform can only form if there is a spark bond between the two mating Cybertronians. A spark bond happens when two mating Cybertronians remove their chest plates and allow their sparks to exchange CNA (DNA) and coding between each other. Spark bonds usually happen during a shared overload (orgasm), but sometimes can be achieved without even interfacing. In order to be successful, the spark bonding and connecting of nanites must happen simultaneously in order for a protoform to begin to form. It is this reason why Cybertronians who wish to reproduce must interface quite a bit to ensure that the delicate timing of spark bonding and nanite connecting happens at the exact time. Even a few astroseconds off can lead to the carrier's spark rejecting a newly formed spark and thus ending the carrying before it even has a chance to begin.

It is possible for the nanites of one mech to form a fetus and the spark bond from another mech to form the sparkling's spark. This is very rare and can only happen under double penetration with spark bonding.

A carrying Cybertronian experiences many of the same complications as an organic. Sore backstrut (spine), peds (feet), weariness, depression, morning sickness, heat waves, helmaches (headaches), odd cravings, mood swings, and programming getting "out of wrack." Postpartum depression and other mental issues are also possible for them to develop during and after the carrying.

While carrying, the sparkling's spark grows inside of the carrier's spark chamber, feeding off the carrier's spark. It is sustained by the carrier's spark, and has a special bond with the carrier. While still inside the carrier, the sparkling will begin to recognize their carrier's vocalizer, some words, and begins the bonding process. In the first orn, the spark may split once or more times. This creates twins or however many sparklings that the spark splits into. The gestation tank with them force the protoform to split to create more so that each spark will have a body.

Just before labor begins, the spark of the protoform travels through a tube to enter the gestation tank. From there, it goes inside of the sparkling and labor begins. When giving birth, the protoform exits out of the gestation tank helm first. The wires disconnect from it as it is pushed out by the gestation tank moving the individual plates to push it along. It emerges helm first out of the valve, silver and the optics offline. Optics online three to five orbital cycles (days) after being born. The gestation tank empties itself of the fluids through the valve, during labor. The time period of labor differs, sometimes being only a breem to joors.

Once the sparkling is born, they begin to nurse and develop a bond with their carrier. A tube from the inside of the carrier's chest is given to the sparkling to nurse from. This small tube is located near the spark chamber and is connected to a small tank that produces weakened energon. Each Cybertronian possesses two of these tubes. The carrier continues to take the carrier additives, which are pumped into the tank for the weakened energon. This allows the sparkling to take in the metal to grow, while also refueling on energon that won't over energize their weak engines. They nurse multiple times an orbital cycle for the first few orns, gradually decreasing. When they are about five decacycles old they may begin to try regular energon, but will continue to nurse for almost two stellar cycles before being completely weaned.

Once weaned, they continue to retrieve their carrier addictives by adding it to their regular energon, while the carrier can cease taking it. The sparklings keep taking the additives until they stop growing at about seventeen to twenty stellar cycles.

Between one orbital cycle old to two stellar cycles old, creations are referred to as sparklings. Three stellar cycles to four they are toddlers. Five to twelve stellar cycles they are younglings. Thirteen to twenty-five stellar cycles they are adolescent. Older they are adults.

Overloads are the release of built up energy from interface. They can sometimes hurt, but usually if the Cybertronian is being forced to interface or not enjoying it. Overloads always occur. Unlike with organics who reach organism if they are turned on, overloads are simply from the surge of energy that always builds up. Some may take longer to build up enough excess energy to overload, such as larger Cybertronians. Some Cybertronians can't overload too many times in a single interface session due to the risk of overheating.

Cybertronians use protection by either disconnecting nanite wires from under a panel just above a mech's codpiece, or using a grounding. Disconnecting the nanite wires prevents an electrical surge from "onlining" the nanites, thus making them infertile. When activated with the electrical surge, they are active and can connect to gestation nanites. If self repairs activates around the nanite wires, they may reconnect, so constant checking of them before interface is necessary.

A grounding is a small device placed inside of a Cybertronian that pinches close the tube connecting the valve to the gestation tank, thus keeping nanites from going through it. They are easy to put in and remove.

Another method is simply not to sparkbond, but it is safer to use the above methods just in case.

Cybertronians can pass on ITVs (Interface Transmitted Virus) to each other through interface or energon mixing. Some ITVs may be minor, but many are deadly and can cause the spark to cease pulsating.

Sparklings can sometimes be born with mental or physical defects or mutations. Most physical mutations can be repaired. Sparks can die when inside of the carrier's spark chamber, thus killing the sparkling. Miscarriages and other complications can also occur. Cybertronians do have abortion methods, and can also perform C-sections.

Mates and Culture About Interface:

(Examples of Cybertronians joining can be found in chapter 17 of Ancillam, and chapters 13 and 15 of Invictus.)

Cybertronians will get mech-friends or femme-friends, dating them and getting to know them. When Cybertronians are betrothed, they are referred to as "mates." Mates usually have regular interface and may even begin to reproduce. When they join (marry) they become Conjunx Endura for life, unless they divorce.

The ceremony for joining usually has family members and friends of those joining gathered to watch. Someone that is an official or in some type of office tends to proceed the ceremony, but it can be anyone. They will address the crowd, then ask for the two joining to recite their vows to each other. After doing so, the two joining will use laser scalpels to write their designations on each other's sparkcasings, sealing that they belong to each other. They kiss and then there is partying afterwards to celebrate.

To grounders and most Cybertronians, interface is something to be kept behind closed doors. To Seekers, it can be done anywhere at anytime because it's a natural act. Schools have classes on interface to educate younglings regarding interface, protection, and sparkling development.

Brothels, prostitutes, porn, and other uses of interface is common with Cybertronians. Even rape. Cybertronians also make use of interface toys from dildos, string balls, vibrators, and other such items. Fetishes of all sorts are common in Cybertronian culture, from bondage, BDSM, gagging, blindfolding, pain play, energon play, emetophilia, rape play, and many others.

Seeker Culture

Seekers originally lived in trines that were used for the purpose of breeding. Over time, Seekers had to alter their CNA to adapt in the changing world. Seekers were seen as "low life" creatures and were often attacked. They changed their bodies to be more aerodynamic, altering their CNA to naturally pass the traits along. They become built for combat, speed, and the trine evolved to be a fighting unit.

Originally, the trine would be composed of one dominant mech and either two femmes, or a submissive mech and femme, or two submissive mechs. The submissive would be sparked by the dominant mech, and they would raise families like this. There was always the Alpha Seeker who ruled all Seekers, and in later years would be the one to lead them into battle.

Despite Seekers changing their frames and becoming centered around battle, there are many things that never changed for their culture. It is referred to as "traditionalism," and there are still many traditional Seekers and those who practice the old ways.

Trining:

(More information regarding trining in Spurius. Starscream explains in detail in chapter 2 and courting happens throughout story with trining in chapter 4.)

Seekers will trine other Seekers, first by courting. Courting is done when one Seeker approaches another and offers the second Seeker gifts, such as crystal flowers, energon treats, or other items. The courting Seeker will also touch the wings and frame of the Seeker being courted, even kissing them on the lip plates or offering themselves for interface, which is a more desperate approach. pinching wings, slapping afts, and groping codpieces is all natural. Courting Seekers will also stalk their potential trinemates, following them everywhere. They keep their wings spread, showing them off, and will often show off their skills in the sky or strength by flying around or doing difficult activities.

The Seeker being courted often rejects the other Seeker by punching them, chasing them off, or ignoring them. Tolerating and accepting gifts is a sign of interest, and allowing the courting Seeker to get bolder means they are heavily leaning on accepting them as a trinemate. Courting can take stellar cycles before a seeker accepts the other, and almost nothing can be said during it, just using body language to communicate, and maybe say a few things as to why they would make for a perfect trinemate.

A Seeker accepts a trinemate based on their looks, strength, flying skills , and if they are dominant or submissive. A trine should always have one dominant Seeker as trineleader and two submissives. This keeps the trine at peace when triinemates are not fighting their leader for dominance. If the Seekers are compatible flyers and meet all other requirements, they will trine.

Trining is often done by first dancing in the skies. They do this by flying wingtip to wingtip, making a triangle between them, if there are three. If two are trining to make a half trine, then they fly undercarriage to undercarriage, pressed against each other. The Seekers then spiral around, flying vertically, then diving down, then horizontally, never breaking formation of the spiral.

Once the dance is completed, the Seekers then interface with each other. After bonding, they recite their trine vows to each other. Then, they fight for dominance. The Seeker who defeats and dominates the other two is the trineleader, and remains unless challenged and defeated by a trinemate. The two trinemates then fight to see who will be second in command of the trine, the victor dominating the other.

A trine vow contains promises of staying faithful, true, kind, caring, courageous, loyal, and other endearing sentiments about how they will treat their trinemates. Every vow ends with the same closing words, "This I swear to you, my new part. My completed spark. Together we are, forever unseparated, united through hell, we are one... Trine till the bitter end. This I swear to you, my trinemate, my brother/sister, my friend. My life, my spark, we are one, till we are none."

Seekers refer to trinemates as "brothers" or "sisters," since a trinemate is sort of like a sibling, as well as a best friend, lover, and Conjunx Endura. It is the strongest relationship a Seeker can have with anyone, and is rarely ever broken. There are rare cases that a trine has broken up for being incompatible, often due to trining too quickly, or from unfaithful trinemates. When such instances happen, the trinemates who cannot fit in the trine leave to find new trinemates that they work better with.

Trines will stay in a set formation that shows their rank, and makes them a stronger fighting force on the battlefield. The trineleader walks/flies in front while the trinemate who is in second command of the trine follows just behind and to the right of the trineleader. The third trinemate is just behind and to the left of the trineleader. And other mates that may have been accepted into the trine follow behind and to the right of the second trinemate, and one to the left and behind of the third trinemate, if there is more than one. The pattern continues, looking much like birds flying in the V formation.

Trineleader:

The trineleader is in charge of protecting the trine, making all the decisions for the trine, and discipline the trine. Only the Alpha can discipline the trineleader. Discipline is usually physical and done in public to humiliate the troublemaker. Physical punishment could include beating trinemates on the aft with a metal cable, flogging with an energon whip, or tearing wings. Dominating is used often. After any physical punishment, the punished Seeker is then kissed and bonded with to remind them that they are loved, they just made a mistake and had to be punished for it. The trineleader also tells them that their punishment is over and they are forgiven, and that they won't be punished for the crime again, unless they commit the same offense and have to be punished for that time.

Trineleaders will assert dominance often if needed. They flare their wings, dominate disobedient trinemates, bite trinemates on neck during interface, bend their wings, or pin them down until they submit.

Trineleaders will protect their trinemates and any creations or mates that are in their trine. They guard them from any outside threat, keep the peace in the trine, and see to that the sparklings are raised right. Trineleaders are the ones to ensure that the trine is always fueled, has a safe place to live, kept away from danger, and see to their every need. They are the primary role models of their creations, and are looked up to by the entire trine for protection, leadership, and advice.

Breeding:

Traditional trineleaders never are spiked, only doing that to their trinemates. Trineleaders spark their trinemates, sometimes without even telling them that they are trying to spark them. They choose when they want to have a sparkling, and if the trineleader is a femme she decides when her mech trinemate(s) can spark her. Femme trineleaders will either choose a trinemate to spark her, or make them fight and the victor is the one to breed with her.

Traditional trineleaders often have six or more sparklings with their trinemates, the more sparklings showing that they are strong and capable of breeding the next generation. A sparkling is never to be struck, physical punishment reserved only for adults. Learning how to fight starts young, including how to use weapons, servo-to-servo combat, and how to battle in the skies. Traditional trineleaders will kill sparklings that are born with defects, mutations, or are bastards from the trinemate cheating. Sometimes they might even tear the sparkling out of the gestation tank if they find out it is not theirs.

Traditional trineleaders will select one trinemate as a preferred breeding partner based on that they are a better frag, make creations who are healthier and stronger, less still-borns or miscarriages, or none at all, able to give birth easier with no complications, and are better at raising and caring for their creations. Usually, a trineleader will interface with only the trinemate they wish to procreate with for an orn straight. If the one to be sparked still isn't afterwards, the other trinemate will then be interfaced for an orn, and the patterned continued until someone is sparked. If no one is sparked within a stellar cycle's time, then it is concluded on you is infertile and they are simply never used for breeding.

If a carrier rejects their offspring, they will be raised by another trinemate as theirs and the trineleader simply will not breed with that trinemate.

Seekers carrying more than one sparklings are better for breeding. If the Alpha doesn't have multiple sparklings at once from their trinemates, but another Seeker does, they can be challenged and possibly lose their position for not being a good leader. Or, the Alpha can go and kill the sparklings before they are even born.

Outside Mating:

Trined Seekers are not to interface or take a mate outside of the trine unless the entire trine approves. If a trinemate does not get the trine's permission they can be brutally punished and the one they cheated with killed by the trineleader, and any sparklings murdered as well.

The outsider must prove to the trine that they are worthy to be accepted into the trine and to be with the Seeker. If the trine accepts them, they will be made a new member of the trine and allowed to live with them, breed with them, and bond with all trinemates.

If a Seeker is proposed to by an outsider who has been accepted into the trine, then the Seeker cannot interface with their mate until after they have become Conjuges Endurae. Once they are officially joined, they consummate that night and may continue to interface as they so desire.

Raising Seekerlets:

Seekerlets are never to be struck or physically disciplined. They are taught how to fight in the air and on the ground at a young age, and to be wary of grounders. Seekerlets are to stay in the trine until age of twenty-five stellar cycles. While in the trine, they are under the protection and guidance of the trineleader. They are part of his/her trine, and are raised by everyone in the trine.

Once they are old enough, they are kicked out of the trine to find their own trinemates. Kicking the youngling out is done by the trineleader, who either chases them out or may grab them and throw them out the door.

Seekerlets learn about interface when ten stellar cycles old, their thrusters activating when they are twelve to fourteen stellar cycles of age, and able to transform at about seventeen to eighteen stellar cycles. When they are very young, they copy the wing movements of their creators and other Seekers as they learn how to use their wings.

Traditional trines often have many sparklings, sometimes up to fourteen or even twenty. They are spaced out, often four to five stellar cycles between each one, and each trinemate bearing the same number. Unless one trinemate is the better breeder.

Seekerlets are allowed to watch the trineleader punish the trinemates, even if it is with whips or some other physical discipline. Once the Seekerlets are ten stellar cycles, they may also watch the trineleader dominating the trinemates, or the trine bonding in general, since interface is not considered something to hide in Seeker culture.

Trine Bonding:

A Seeker is to stay virgin until they find a trinemate. They lose their virginity when they trine. Trines bond in public to claim each other and show that they are together. Bonding can be done anywhere at anytime, regardless of audience. Bonding is done to strengthen the relationship of the trine, since it puts them in a vulnerable position. Trust is key for a trine to last.

Seekers are very possessive of each other, and will often bond to simply claim each other, or dry hump a trinemate or kiss them when they feel like someone may want them.

If a trinemate had been raped, they are reclaimed by bonding them excessively in public. New trines also bond a lot in public to make it clear that they are a new trine and for everyone to stop courting them. Seekers will also reclaim/claim a trinemate by painting on their wings and/or aft that they are the "property" of their trinemates.

If a trinemate has cheated, then after they are punished they are reclaimed as well, only being allowed to interface with trinemates and any mates who have been accepted into the trine.

If a Seeker is raped or dominated by the Alpha before losing their virginity to their trinemates, then they are labeled as "Impure Virgins." They are considered virgins for their trining and are not frowned upon for having been forced into fragging prior to

trining, since they did not consent to it or had been punished.

Seekers who purposefully have intercourse prior to trining are frowned upon and often have a harder time finding a trine because of it. They are to stay "pure" and "clean" to their future trine, showing that they belong to each other since only trinemates can take virginities away.

Dominance, Submission, and Discipline:

As mentioned above, Seekers fight for dominance. Alpha Seekers, who lead all Seekers, will sometimes kill for the position. Trines fight for it when trining, and the battles can be brutal with torn off limbs and badly battered frames. Signs of being dominant are flared wings, flicking wings, narrowed/glowing optics, and a growling engine.

Seekers show submission by lowering their wings, looking away, stepping back, and not fighting back.

Discipline can be physical punishment with whips, cables, switches, and other items for causing pain, or it could be getting locked away, forced to clean something, completing boring tasks, public humiliation, or losing privileges, such as items or not allowed to interface for a time.

Dominating is the most common punishment for Seekers. Dominating is when a trineleader or Alpha penetrates a misbehaving trinemate or Seeker and thrust painfully into them, almost as if they are raping them. The act is not to bring pleasure, but only pain and humiliation. It is usually done in public, and as the trineleader dominates, they often tear and bend the other Seeker's wings, bite their neck cables until they leak, and sometimes hit them.

Femmes dominate by either making a mech penetrate them and then thrust so it hurt the mech's spike, or they force as many digits as they can into a mech's or femme's valve and pump so it brought only pain.

Dominating usually lasts for half a breem to a breem (4-8 minutes). There are no overloads or pleasure during the act. After it, the Seeker is told they are forgiven and allowed to go on. Usually they are kissed, and bonded with at a later time if they are in too much pain. Many trineleaders do the bonding the immediate next morning.

Seekers show dominance when flying in their alt. mode by flying just above a trinemate and pressing their undercarriage down on the other Seeker. They pull away and then press down, repeating the pattern almost as if they were humping them. The trinemates shows submission by descending slightly and allowing the dominant Seeker to continue.

Seekers, being very prideful, are hurt most when humiliated. Public humiliation is used as often as dominating. Dominating, whipping, or punishing in front of a crowd happens more often then punishing a trinemate behind closed doors.

Sometimes if a trinemate is unfaithful, they are made to touch themselves in public, or the trine bonds in public and leaves the cheater out of it. If a Seeker cheated or did something else bad, the trine may bond in public, but the naughty Seeker is dominated while the other trinemate is loved on.

Alpha:

Alpha Seekers can be mech or femme. They are the ones who lead all of the Seekers, the one who can dominate anyone, trineleader or not, and are the ones to ensure the Seekers are safe.

Alphas can take anyone as a mate, even if they are already trined, without question. They are the ones who can punish a trineleader if they are being cruel to their trinemates or disrespectful to them. Sometimes, they may take more than one breeding mate.

If a Seeker has a problem about their trineleader or their trineleader can't help them, they go to the Alpha. The Alpha will only get involved in other trine's business if a Seeker from that trine asks the Alpha to, or it affects the Alpha and/or other Seekers.

Alphas often kill for leadership, ending the life of the previous Alpha and taking their place. Alphas are the strongest and smartest of all Seekers, and are expected to breed the most sparklings, take on mates for the sole purpose of breeding, and handle all non-Seeker matters.

If an Alpha dies unexpectedly, a new one is claimed by Seekers fighting for the position. The fighting is furious, sometimes death being involved, until there is a victor. Those fighting are usually trineleaders from various trines.

Fighting and Body Language:

When Seekers fight it's all about speed. they are not heavily armored, so when they attack, they fly as fast as they can at their enemy, transform, and grab an arm or some limb and tear it off. They may even land at speed on their target, crushing them.

Seekers will grab their prey, carry it up into the sky, and as a group, all grab the limbs and pull until they tear off. Then tearing the torso and helm off their victim.

They are ruthless in their attacks, moving too fast for their enemies to fight back. they fly and strike by shooting or tearing something off before flying off, circling around,a nd coming back.

When fighting in a large group, bombers fly over the battlefield first, dropping their load. Then, the other seekers come in just as the bombs finish exploding, landing and attacking those who didn't get hit by the bombs. Shooting, tearing off limbs, and flying away before the enemy has time to react.

Seekers mostly communicate via body language, their wings showing off their moods, the sounds their engines make, and optic-contact. Flared wings often a sign of aggression or to make the Seeker look larger to intimidate a threat. Flicking wings is done to show dominance, growing anger, aggression, warning about them potentially attacking, and annoyance. Perked wings show curiosity, eagerness, and excitement. Fluttering wings are a sign of happiness, joy, excitement, love, and contentment. Lowered wings are for when the Seeker is nervous, scared, being submissive, or trying to not seem threatening. Wings in a resting position are for when the Seeker is calm and comfortable. Folded back wings are for annoyance or to move them away from someone. Twitching wings are usually for when the Seeker is thinking, stimulated during interface, or slightly bothered. Growling engines are for when the Seeker is annoyed, pissed off, or warning about potentially attacking. Narrowed and glowing optics are another sign of aggression. Breaking optic-contact to look away is done when being submissive.

Seekers also lick each others faceplates as a sign of playful affection. They cuddle often, always needing physical contact for comfort, support, and love. Seekers are extremely physical, whether with bonding, snuggling, or even punishment. Everything involves some form of physical contact.

What Seekers Find as Attractive and "Turns Them On."

Seekers are a warrior culture, so what they find as attractive and pleasing in a mate or trinemate is unique. Giving the helms of enemies to a lover, efficient combat skills, exceptional skill at killing, tearing off limbs and killing quickly are all smiled upon and make a watching Seeker feel turned on. Fast fliers, impressive aerial combat, ruthless in battle, and strength are favorable.

Seekers also like it when a trinemate has great "berth skills," is stubborn, brutal, has large wings, and no fear when killing or facing death. Killing many quickly and tearing them apart savagely is a bonus as well. Simply watching others be killed by another Seeker can put a Seeker in the mood for interface.

A trineleader is even more attractive when they keep their trinemates in strict formation, and the trinemates follow orders perfectly without flaw or hesitation. Even able to take numerous commands without the trineleader needing to speak, simply snapping digits or making certain gestures with their body. Trinemates who can take punishment with little to no screaming or crying are viewed as better and stronger Seekers than others. And trineleaders who have many creations are seen as stronger, better at interface, and superior.

Seeker Genetics and More Facts:

Seeker coding is very dominant due to the fact that their coding has been altered purposely for many vorns. Seekers once mated in groups of three, with a dominant and two submissives. But, as Seekers were continuously killed and mistreated by other Cybertronians, the once humble fliers had to begin to change themselves in order to survive. They had to adapt.

It took vorns, but the Seekers modified their very CNA and coding to make their current frametype be natural. To be what they are now. They augmented their bodies to be faster, more aerial dynamic, stronger, tougher armor, and able to kill proficiently as well as quickly. The mating of three became trines for combat. To not only fight off outsiders, but to better safeguard their young. Many of the old traditions stayed the same, just with new bodies.

As their bodies changed so did their culture in certain ways. Seekers became a warrior culture, growing up to learn how to fight from a young age, and accepting violence and death as natural. It is so embedded into their coding and who they are that it is natural for a Seeker to even feel sexually attracted to someone based solely on that person's efficiency at killing. They are exceptional aerial warriors, able to rip off the limbs of their enemies fluently. Their optics are capable of seeing distant enemies far below them, they can reach speeds of over Mach 3, and reach top speed in astroseconds. Their maneuverability in the skies is unmatched, and so is their ferocity in battle. They are so brutal in combat that the Functionists labeled them as only being capable of being soldiers and deny them any other kind of work. Seekers were only allowed in the War Academy to hone their natural ability, and viewed as interface crazed murderers by most. Seekers are so hated that they can be often times murdered, raped, or beaten in public and no one, not even police, bother to help them.

Seeker coding is so dominant from the manipulation that it is rare for one to have anything but a Seeker even if they breed with a non-Seeker. Every Seeker has about a 94% chance of having another Seeker. A Seeker who is half Seeker and half non-Seeker still has a 70.5% chance of having a Seeker with another Seeker. If both Seeker creators are half Seeker, then the chance of having a Seeker is about 47%.

It is best that Seeker coding is so dominant for traditional trineleaders will kill sparklings who are anything but a Seekerlet.

With the structure of a Seeker's frame, their very powerful jet engine, strong limbs, resilient, but light armor, and fast fuel processing, they can often times overheat. It is this reason that Seekers cannot interface for too long or have too many overloads in a short period of time. And why after flying for joors, Seekers will find themselves sitting down panting, cooling fans overworking, trying to get back to safe temperature levels.

Their engines are very efficient when it comes to fuel. They take in a fair amount of energon, but their fuel tank can quickly process it and get it into their engine so that they can return to combat. A Seeker running at 10% energy level can consume a single cube of energon, and be back into the battle at nearly 30% in just a couple of kliks.

Seekers are quite prone to claustrophobia. They grow up in towers, far from the ground or anywhere enclosed. Being inside for too long or locked away quickly gets to them. They can begin to have hallucinations in only an orbital cycle or too. Sometimes they may tear at their own plates, scream, or show other signs of insanity.

Seekers usually write their trine vows when adolescent, but not always. Some may wait until after they leave the trine.

With the resilience of Seekers' armor, they tend to have a higher pain tolerance, thus making them even superior for combat and being warriors. It is also frowned upon in their culture to be too sensitive regarding physical pain. Their stronger frames also allow them to handle great falls and landing on their peds at speed. Their leg hydraulics are designed to take the brutal landings, and crashes that they may have to endure.

Seekers are very physical, requiring the touch of their trinemates or creators often. They are always cuddling, hugging, and being near to each other. Interface is a regular activity to build these bonds, especially since it is very touch oriented. When a trinemate is injured, the other two trinemates will lie on either side of the injured one and try to cover as much of the injured Seeker's frame as they can. They will then keep everyone else away, guarding the hurt trinemate until they are better.

Seeker wings are very sensitive, allowing them to better navigate and respond to changes in the air around them. They also have much more going on in regards to their HUD for flying, battling, scanning for enemies, and other attributes for aerial combat.