Author's note. It's been pointed out Blackaracnia hasn't appeared despite the fact she's listed as the second main character. Rest assured she will appear at some point but in a later chapter. Also, no, she wasn't on the Nemesis when Optimus got captured, this story is sort of set a few months before the original series.

Suggestions are welcome.

Enjoy and please review.

Ratchet now laid a hand on Optimus's shoulder who was still cradling his Sparkling to his chest. The others were looking very pensive, Optimus's capture had been just about as bad as you could get. The only good thing about it was that he had, for now at least, escaped it.

"You need to rest now," Ratchet said quietly. "We'll take care of that Shuttle and think of our next move, you need to recover your strength."

Optimus smiled weakly, he did feel exhausted but he didn't want to sleep, not when there was too much that need to be doing. However, Ratchet seeing that looked sighed in exasperation and said.

"You don't have to recharge if you're too stubborn for that but you're damn well staying right where you are. You can always feed Valour, I reckon he'll be needing a feed soon."

Optimus felt a brief pang of guilt, knowing Megatron would have made sure Valour had the best Energon suitable for Sparklings. But he reminded himself it wasn't just a case of taking care of Valour's physical needs, there were so many others things Megatron wouldn't be able to do. Or rather wouldn't want to do such as teaching their son decent morals.

"Alright," Optimus said, pretending to be indulgent in an effort to lighten the mood. "Do you have anything suitable for him?"

"I'll find something," Ratchet assured him before adding. "But you'll be able to feed him yourself once you're recovered. We've all got something called a fuel line that processes Energon so it's suitable for Sparklings."

"We do?" Optimus said, he'd never heard of such a thing. Mind you, he wasn't very knowledgeable when it came to Sparklings, apart from knowing how they came about, he didn't know anything about caring for them.

Ratchet scowled and turned away, muttering something about 'Fragging Cons, didn't even bother...teach...useless."

This made Optimus and think almost dreamily of Ratchet meeting Megatron and giving him a piece of his mind. Now that would have been funny, although he hated to think what Megatron would do in retaliation. This caused him to idle wonder what the Warlord was doing at this precise moment.

The Nemesis.

"I want him BACK!"

This was the roar that sent all the Decepticons in the room cowering in fear, even those who never cowered. But then again, they had never seen their leader in the rage that he was in now, not even when the AllSpark disappeared. Oh but he was in a rage now, so much so that all of them actually feared for their lives.

"You will look for him and bring him back," Megatron half snarled, half roared at them all.

"I am going to make him regret the day he was Sparked, I will whip the ungrateful whelp until he is bled dry. I will frag him so hard he begs for mercy and then I will frag him again. He thinks he knows pain, wait until I have him again, he will never know light or happiness again."

His minions knelt on their knees, trying to look as small as possible which wasn't easy especially for bots like Lugnut. But that didn't stop them from trying as their mighty leader ranted about his absent mate to be. They knew he was both furious at his mate's escape and grief stricken over the loss of his cycle old son.

"We will find him my lord" Lugnut spoke up, rather bravely and foolishly in his comrades' opinion.

"You'd better," Megatron growled, his tone icy cold and his soldiers knew that was even more dangerous than his hot rage.

When Megatron raged, he tended to want to destroy stuff, something most Decepticons understood and could avoid. But when he was cold and furious, then you had to watch out because it was impossible to predict what he'd do next. Hopefully, they could get out of this room with most of their parts still functioning.

Starscream was one of the ones bowing the lowest, even he knew this was not the time for smart remarks. Over the vorns, Starscream had become a very handy punching bag which meant if he managed to focus Megatron's rage on him...well, it would be a miracle if he got out of this alive this time. So that was why, his forehead was pressed to the ground, he was practically lying on the ground he was so low.

"He will not turn my son against me," Megatron now said slowly and deliberately. "He will not turn the first heir I have ever managed to have conceived into a fragging, soft Sparked Autobot!"

The Decepticons shuddered, all of them wondering what the hell that Autobot was thinking when he took Megatron's son. Didn't he know Megatron would literally flay him alive once he got his claws back on him? At least it was further proof that Autobots in general must be missing a few bolts and screws, no Decepticon would be stupid enough to pull a stunt like this.

Not even Starscream, although this was possibly because he just hadn't had a chance to do it.

Megatron was pacing slightly, and his Mechs were just waiting for him to start smashing stuff, probably them. He was so angry, so enraged at his slave's bold yet insolent nerve of escaping that he couldn't make up his mind just what he was going to do when he got his hands on him.

Obviously the first thing he'd do was take Valour away, he had everything needed for a Sparkling's care, and he'd give his son enough affection and attention that he wouldn't need his Carrier. He'd ensure that brat of a Prime never laid optics on his son again, never. No matter how much he pleaded or begged, it just wouldn't happen.

But who knows, maybe after Prime had given him his fifth or so Sparkling, he might feel generous enough to allow Prime to do some Sparkling rearing. Because when he got Prime back, there would be only two things he'd be good for, fragging and Sparklign bearing, nothing else. He wouldn't be allowed to see or help raise their children, he wouldn't be allowed his own quarters, nothing. Everything, including the Prime himself would belong to Megatron, he would simply allow Prime some use of it.

After all, he needed the little Prime in good enough condition to keep him satisfied.

But oh, he was going to cause that little Prime so much pain and misery. He'd force him to watch any and all torture of Autobot prisoners, he'd force him to watch as he laid waste to different worlds, he'd make him perform interface games the lowest paid whore wouldn't lower themselves to do. He'd frag him every cycle, whether it was at the beginning, middle or end, or even in-between, just because he could, just because the little Prime couldn't do anything about it.

Oh yes, that Prime would be completely unrecognisably to all who'd know him, even himself by the time Megatron was through with him. Maybe he'd see how much that Autobot whore enjoyed being passed around his men...no...no, he wouldn't do that. Prime was his and his alone, he'd allow no one else to touch him in such a fashion.

He wasn't that Prime's first but he'd make damn sure he was his last...and the only one he ended up remembering. Any sexual pleasure that Prime received from now on would only be from him and only if he wanted his little whore to feel any. In the end, Prime would beg for his attention, he would not shy away from it.

But all these thoughts almost caused him to groan out loud as desire started to pool within his cod piece, how he wanted that delicious little Autobot right now. If he had him right now, he'd be screaming in a very different but satisfying way, for Megatron that is.

"Find him," he bit out, trying to think of something other than his desire. "I don't care how long it takes or how it happens, as long as I have both of them, alive and intact."

His red optics boring into them, he said softly.

"I don't believe I need to point out just what'll happen if either of them is damaged in any way."

There was a collective series of gulps as all the Mechs in the room shook their head, they knew what would happen. If they dared do such a thing, they'd be luck, extremely lucky if Megatron only tortured them and then ripped their Sparks out. His wrath could truly know no limits.

There was a moment of silence and then.

"What are you waiting for?" Megatron demanded coldly. "Go...NOW!"

His lip curled in disgust as they all fled from the room, he could see Starscream jumping over everyone else in his haste to get away fast. Such a shame, he could have done with working out some of his frustration on that worthless Seeker but no matter. There would be time for that later, when his temper had cooled to the point where he wasn't likely to kill anyone.

Just seriously maim.

He stamped over to his throne, collapsing heavily onto it. Now that he was alone, he could slip a hand between his legs to rub at the burning cod piece, trying to soothe the ache within. He dully wondered if that Primus cursed Autobot knew just how much of a hold he had over him, how much he desired to have him writhing between his thighs once more.

Maybe it was only because he'd had that Autobot a short time, he still seemed novel and therefore, very enjoyable. They hadn't interfaced for the last while, if you cared for your offspring, you didn't risk it, not unless some very gentle love making was involved. But since the treacherous fought him at every turn, that had also been out of the question.

If they didn't find him pretty soon, he'd have to go hunting for other pretty Autobots or Neutrals, to satisfy his hunger until he could get what he wanted. Not that he was totally reliant on interface, only a weak fool would allow such a thing to happen but he was a Mech, a Decepticon Mech at that and as such, had needs.

And those needs would be sated, one way or another.

Optimus's POV.

"What's happening now?" Optimus questioned tiredly as Valour happily sucked on a bottle of Sparkling grade Energon.

"Bulkhead and Bumblebee are retrieving that Shuttle, we're going to store it in the cargo hold," Ratchet replied as he took stock of all their medical supplies. "Prowl's going to ensure that no trace of it remains, we're going to have to cover our tracks completely, Youngling."

Optimus ignored Ratchet's last comment, instead asking softly.

"Any idea where we can hide? Or should we just constantly travel?"

"They both have their risks and benefits," Ratchet grumbled. "If we travel, there's a good chance we'll run into Cons sooner or later, not to mention the fact he have to keep restocking. But if we go stationary, and they find us, they can just swoop down on us in one big force, running will be much harder."

"I think we should just find a planet and stay there," Optimus mused. "It'll solve the problem of supplies if we pick the right one and I think we have a better chance of hiding. I don't want to be constantly running into Decepticons, I want us to disappear."

He looked down at Valour and sighed.

"And I want to give Valour some sort of childhood," he said very softly. "I don't think he'll get that while on the run."

"No, he probably won't," Ratchet said gruffly. "But the question is where, we can't land on just any old backwater planet, we need somewhere we can actually get what we need. But if we go to a place that's too inhabited, bounty hunters will likely catch up to us."

Optimus closed his optics, he knew there were going to be a lot of problems finding a place to hide, they couldn't simply stay on this ship, in this area and hope no one found them. From what he'd managed to glean from his time on the Nemesis, Megatron had Autobot spies who would be on the lookout for any information about him.

They would have to choose carefully indeed.

Optimus felt himself drifting away, he was still exhausted from birthing Valour and now he was safe with his team, he felt he could let his guard down enough for recharge. Ratchet didn't stop him as he finally succumbed to his exhaustion, merely made sure Valour was comfortable.

The little Sparkling was still drinking but had notably slowed down and looked like he'd soon join his Carrier. Ratchet smiled, the kid was a real cute Sparkling, you'd honestly never image that he had a cruel, sadistic Mech for a Sire. And they'd be sure to raise him right, to teach him about truth, compassion and many other Autobot ideals.

They'd help him grow to be a credit to his Carrier and hopefully be the complete opposite of his Sire.

By the time he was finished taking stock, Bumblebee had called to say they wouldn't be much longer getting back. He thanked them, reminding them to keep an optic out for Decepticons, you never knew when they were going to appear. Hopefully, they were far enough out of the way, that this wasn't very likely.

As far as he could tell, they had enough supplies to last them for several lunar cycles, maybe even for as much as twelve. They needed to find a safe planet before that time or they'd be forced to venture into civilisation and risk possible detection by Decepticon spies.

It actually wasn't just Decepticons he was worried about, Optimus's son was the heir to the Decepticon throne. Many Autobots would want to take advantage of this fact, perhaps even try to use Valour against Megatron. But this would only tell Megatron just where his son was, meaning he'd come and attack.

Even Ultra Magnus couldn't be fully trusted, they couldn't chance that someone would overhear his communications. No, their only option was to completely shut themselves off from all other Transformers, be they Neutral, Autobot or Decepticon. It wasn't going to be easy, it would probably get lonely as hell but they'd manage.

They'd have each other, and though they'd likely drive each other up the wall, in the end they were a team. And a team stayed and worked together no matter what. Ratchet sighed slightly, it was a shame they didn't have any Femmes in their group, it would be better for Valour to have a rounded education.

Not to mention it would be nice if Optimus could meet someone new. Ratchet had found that victims of rape often became attracted to the opposite gender of their attacker, even if they hadn't been into that gender before. He suspected that Optimus would be a lot more comfortable with Femme after his experiences.

Plus there would come a time when he desired a life partner, someone to help him raise Valour. Ratchet knew he and the team would help but they could never really be another parent to Valour, only...crazy uncles. Ah well, you never knew what the future held, perhaps Primus would look upon them mercifully and grant them help.

His comm. suddenly started to beep and he answered it with a frown.

"Yeah?"

"Ratchet, Prowl here, I've found something extraordinary."

"Really, what's that?"

"I think...it's the AllSpark."

To be continued

Author's note. The Autobots have found the AllSpark but what happens now? Can they use it to their advantage? And what about Megatron? Find out next time, until then.