Author's note. Sorry for the delay in getting this up, hope you all enjoy the nice long chapter.

Written by me and the-writing-mew.

Enjoy and please review.

Autobot flagship

"So...when are we gonna let them down?" Bumblebee asked, glancing into the room where Sentinel and Ultra Magnus were still suspended.

"When I feel like it," Blackarachnia said idly, examining her claws as Jazz tried not to smile.

"They're mean," Valour declared as he snuggled up with Sari on a couch.

"Yeah, you should leave them up there until they say sorry," Sari suggested fiercely, punching the air with her fist. "And you should wash their mouths out with soap."

"Oh, I'll give that serious consideration," the spider Femme promised as Valour giggled. It would serve those horrible Mechs right if they got a mouth washing.

"What will we do when we let them down?" Ratchet questioned, throwing Red Alert a nervous look. She was sitting at a console, ignoring them all. She didn't seem to approve of what they'd done but thankfully had not interfered. But her lack of actions was much more hurtful than her protesting against her leader's treatment.

"They're not going to be happy," the Medic added grimly. "They could make trouble."

"Megatron is still their enemy," Optimus said quietly. "Surely that counts for something."

"He don't approve of you," Jazz spoke up. "It's crazy but true."

"I know full well what he thinks of me," Optimus said grimly. "But as Ratchet says, they can't stay like that forever. And we can't stay locked away either. Somehow, we need to find a solution."

"You're not going to leave?" Sari piped up anxiously. "You guys can't all leave!"

Valour stared at his daddy with wide optics. Leave Earth, his home and go on the run? That sounded horrible, what about the Dinobots, the kids downtown, the island, his crystal garden, Sari...it was too much and he burst out.

"Please daddy, I don't want to leave, please."

Optimus sighed in sadness. He indeed was considering leaving, even if he loved this planet.
...

Later...
Optimus sat in the ship's control room alone, thinking about everything. Elita and Valour were asleep long ago, Prowl and the other cyber ninja were standing guard.

He sighed. They couldn't stay in this ship forever, they would have to return to the base eventually... But he feared Megatron following them...

Optimus shivered; the way Megatron looked at him... Those hungry optics... He couldn't help but think on what would have happened if he took him and Valour back; for sure he would have sent their son away as he raped him again and again until he grows tired and then return to do it again.

He groaned. That is exactly what he saw in those optics, after all, before Valour was conceived he was his toy... And he was not near done playing with him.

"What can I do?" Optimus groaned covering his face with his hands as he shook. "I don't want to become his toy again..."

And he didn't wanted to leave Earth either… Here was his life, his friends; no, if they run, Megatron will chase them and they will have no more chance than they already have here; besides, he was hundred percent sure that the afthole was waiting for them to do so.

Besides, they are on their own and Megatron had his whole army, the Autobots will not help him, if they don't kill him for 'treason' because he 'mated' with a Decepticon, their leader nonetheless and take Valour to experiment with him before killing him too.

This was awful...

"My recommendation would be to stand here and fight him here where you have at least a little advantage."

Optimus looked up at the mech who addressed him; the red emotionless scientist, Perceptor, who sat next to him.

"Here you can protect your mate and son," He continued as the Prime looked up at him speechless. "Besides, out there you're alone."

For a moment, Optimus just stared until he found his voice again. "What can I do? Its like... When each time I find happiness something needs to happen, like... Like I'm cursed or something..."

"In that case, your only curse will be your appealing looks, the rest is up to you and your decisions," Perceptor answered. "Besides, you're not the only one who ever mated with a Decepticon against your will and produced a sparkling."

The younger looked up at him before snorted. "Were they judged for treason?"

"You're looking at one," The scientist answered and Optimus gaped. "All I can say is that you can activate Valour's code, he can fly, just as you saw my creations do. He will be a great adversary once he's able to transform, his sire's strength plus yours... And your spark."

Before Optimus can continue, Perceptor did. "That is why Magnus wants him out of the picture, not just because he doesn't approve of you; he doesn't care as he didn't when he raised my creations."

This time, Optimus spoke. "Your creations? You... You were...?"

"I was attacked, yes, and produced sparklings. My attacker wasn't happy with my lack of reactions and left me there to die," He said, then looked up at the hanging sleeping jet twins. Blackarachnia had made them a strong web so they could climb and stay there. "The Autobots found me and I gave birth. I was interested in their code since their conception so I carried them to term. I've discovered interesting things about the Decepticon code thanks to them." Then looked up at Optimus. "I don't see them as the product of a rape, more like a generous donation of information; but unlike you and Valour, I cannot be the creator they need... And there is where Magnus enters, he saw them and somehow grew attached to them, even though they are 'bastards' as he called your son. They've earned his spark, I believe that if Magnus gives Valour a chance, somehow, he will earn his spark too.

Ultra Magnus may look ruthless and sparkless when it's about halfbreeds, but they are still sparklings, innocent victims, and the twins proves it. Maybe he isolated them in his estate, but he himself made sure they don't need for anything... And I mean, anything. You can look for yourself."

Optimus looked up at them then at Perceptor. "If it wasn't for him, they would have stayed in the lab forever..." the scientist concluded.

After everything the old Magnus said to Valour, he doubted his son wanted to get near him again.

"They do seem happy," Optimus admitted. "But Magnus should never have said those things to Valour, he's devastated him. I don't want him to think that I love him less for being Megatron's son, I don't care where he came from. He's the best thing that's ever happened to me and I want him to be happy."

"He'll understand," Perceptor told him. "It's just come as a large shock to him but as long as you keep treating him as you always have, he'll get over it. Ultra Magnus was overly harsh in his words, I believe he just hates his Autobots being raped and forced to produce Decepticon Sparklings. And he especially hates Megatron so I'm afraid he instantly dislikes anything that comes from the Decepticon leader. But as I said, if he allows himself to see that Valour is just an innocent Sparkling, he'll drop his harsh attitude towards him."

Again Optimus grimaced. He was not going to allow the Autobot leader near his son while he held such views about Valour. He could not bear to see Valour cry if Ultra Magnus said more horrible things to him. Speaking of which, they still hadn't let the two Autobots down from the ceiling.

"In your opinion, when should we release Ultra Magnus and Sentinel?" he asked softly.

"See how they are in the morning, once they've rested and had a chance to reflect," Perceptor stated after a moment's pause. "They should be less emotional by then."

Optimus gave him an odd look, prompting Perceptor to say.

"I had my emotional codes switched off quite a while ago. It's much easier for me to conduct my research without them and I do not miss them."

"I couldn't not imagine that," Optimus couldn't help but say but Perceptor didn't seem offended."

"It is not for most bots and it was my choice," he stated dispassionately.

"You can't have had everything removed," Optimus said with a frown as Perceptor nodded.

"No, I wanted to still feel satisfied over my discoveries and successes but I don't feel disappointed over failures. I merely look over the experiment again and continue. Failed experiments and research are a large part of science but many cannot handle it."

The red and blue Autobot just nodded, not fully understanding but it clearly was what Perceptor wanted. It was hard to contemplate not seeing your own offspring as anything other than interesting research. At least Perceptor had cared enough to ensure they had a good home even if it was with Ultra Magnus. It struck him that there might be another emotion that Perceptor could feel. After all, he'd been awfully excited when he'd come across Elita...

The Nemesis

"So, you finally found him," A sardonic voice said as Megatron viewed the Mech inthe view screen.

"Yes," Megatron said curtly as his contact chuckled.

"That's a shame, I was hoping I'd come across them, could have retried on the bounty you promised."

"If you succeed, you will be paid very well," Megatron told him as the bot continued to grin and leer. "I want Optimus Prime alive and in good condition. If you have an opportunity to do so, take Valour as well and you will let NO harm come to him. However, I would prefer at this stage for you to concentrate on Prime so if you cannot get to Valour, leave him."

"I ain't complaining," the other said with a shrug. "Don't worry, I'm good at getting bots unharmed. But what about the others?"

"I don't care about any of them," Megatron said dismissively. "You can do whatever you like to them but Prime and Valour must remain safe."

"No problem, won't take me long to get there," the Mech assured him.

"It better not," Megatron growled. "My patience is wearing thin."

"Noted," the Mech stated rather flippantly but Megatron didn't care. As long as the bounty hunter did his job, he would let his insolence slide...for now.

"Good, I hope satisfactory results. Megatron, out." The leader said before cutting the connection and rested back on his chair...

Without noticing his hidden audience.

"Do not mention any of this to your sire... Or that you don't agree with his ideals... Just be nice to him and he will forgive you," Starscream instructed his daughter and this one nodded before he started walking towards Megatron's chair.

"What is it, Starscream?" Megatron said darkly turning on his chair and facing his seeker and daughter. Lifting an optic ridge he looked down at her with a frown after.

Slipstream didn't even cower and that made him deepen his frown. "You..." He said to her. "Made me lose something very important." He said darkly.

Starscream took a step back and covered the sparkling.

"Sire... Explain to me Decepticon way?" She asked innocently with her huge red optics, "Me dun understand... Sowry?" and tilted her head to the side making her look as cute as possible.

Megatron was still angry at her, but it seemed she understood what she did and his frown vanished. Then lifted from his chair and took her from Starscream's arms and smiled at her before walking towards his throne.

"I'll retire now, my lord; call me if you need anything," Starscream said before turning and smirking at the intelligence of their daughter and left the room. She was exactly what he expected from her, Megatron's strength and his intelligence.

"Slipstream... Never dare to interfere with my plans again," He told her sternly pointing a finger at her, a finger she caught with her little hand and looked up at him with a beaming smile and nodded eagerly.

"Sire is not pleased that his mech escaped... Prime is mine..."

"Sire loves Pwrime?" She asked as innocently as she could gaining her a quizzical and puzzled look from Megatron.

"Uhh... N-no... I..." He felt uncomfortable somehow. "He's mine... And I miss him... I always want what is mine with me."

"So... Sire loves Pwrime," She concluded and let to herself the next sentence, 'why he mean if he loves him? Or wants his love and lost it by being mean to him?'

"Carrier loves sire, sire loves carrier too, right?" She said and asked.

"Well I...," Megatron mumbled, not so happy about where the conversation had gone. "I am very...fond of your carrier, we are much closer than we used to be now that I know what his intentions are. And he's given me a beautiful daughter."

Slipstream giggled as he tickled her chin.

"And I hope to have many more Sparklings with him," he continued. "He is a very good lover and perhaps I might even bond with him one cycle."

Slipstream beamed, she liked the sound of that a lot.

"Wot about pwime?" she asked curiously.

"He will be my side," Megatron said simply. "And you will have your brother back, to play with as much as you like. Wouldn't you like that?"

"Uh huh," Slipstream said honestly, she would really like to be able to play regularly with her brother. But she also didn't want her brother and his carrier to be unhappy.

"So you understand why I want to get Valour back so much?" he asked her. "Not just because I care about him but for you my daughter. If it were up to Prime, I would never see him again and I could not bear that thought."

Slipstream wished she knew what they could do, she didn't want to lose her brother but it didn't seem he could live with them. It was a shame that her Sire had hurt Prime, then they might have loved each other.

"Sire miss Valour," she said softly and he nodded.

"I do."

"I miss him too," she said, snuggling against her Sire.

"Of course you do but you'll see him again soon," Megatron promised her.

"How?" she asked curiously and he patted her head.

"You'll see my dear," he said with a smile.

Megatron hugged her against his chest and she purred processing everything. Soon, Megatron released his feeding tube and fed her until both fell on recharge.
...

Meanwhile...

Prowl sat on the roof of the Magnus' ship looking up at the starry sky thinking about everything that just passed. Megatron was back and if he wasn't wrong he wanted Optimus more than Valour; after all, Megatron never had the chance to break his spirit, besides the fact that he always wanted what he wanted and fought for him with all his might.

Unfortunately Optimus was in his most wanted objects list.

But there was something else that got his attentions, that little femme Megatron produced, that little seeker... she has something, that look in her red optics was not normal.

"Hey, everythin' alright?" The white cyberninja, Jazz came next to him.

"Yes, just thinking."

"About?"

"Megatron's daughter... Slipstream... she's something I've never seen before... way too smart for her age... that look she gives you when you talk to her... I can almost feel that it's not the first time her spark is around," Prowl said in thought.

Jazz frowned. "What'd you mean?"

"I feel that her spark is ancient... maybe, I'm not sure, but she was someone else long ago... the energy she releases..."

"And that is a good thing or a bad thing?" The white mech asked with his lead lolled to the side.

"I feel it's a good thing." Prowl smiled and looked up at the heavens again.

...

Later...

In the morning...

Ratchet looked up at his daughter and the way she ignored him, it hurt him but, it was her choice to ignore him. He sighed in defeat as he remember how she was made.

"Can you tell me the story behind her hatred?" Blackarachnia came from behind him and looked straight at his blue optics. There was another mech who needed to release his pain.

The CMO sighed in defeat and motioned her to walk with him. "It was long ago when I was young and mindless, just like you and Optimus,"

She looked at him with two optic ridges high and felt offended, but not enough to drop the subject. "Her carrier and I were medics in the same hospital, I was the best from my class and she came from a high ranking and noble family; we became friends and soon lovers, and just like you and Optimus, we couldn't stop fragging without thinking of the consequences," He sighed and learned against the wall.

"She ended up carrying, none of us were prepared mentally or financially to have a sparkling, so she went to her family for help... and it only made it worse..." He then looked up to the ceiling as if he was going to release something that hurt him greatly. "Her family went after me, beat me and made sure I left the city and told me to never go near any of them again, that they will take care of the problem..."

It was many years ago when I've found her again during the war, the camp she was working on was attacked and she was dying, she then told me that we had a daughter and that she always asked for me, and even when her family tried to get her head full with horrible stuff about me, she, her carrier, always told her how good a mech I was.

It was many more years when I could find her... Red Alert... she looked so much like her carrier that it almost shocked me... She was working near the Magnus and sometimes I could see her there when I had to deliver some things; she recognised me, of course and insisted on contacting me regularly, even when her family hated me.

Then, I travelled and Optimus came and we travelled far and far away from Cybertron, fixing all the space bridges that required us to do so; I continued contacting her, but... after we ran from Megatron, I knew I couldn't contact her anymore without being traced... I guess, that is what upsets her more, she thinks I've abandoned her and possibly started believing what her family told her about me...

She's a good femme... just like her carrier... at least I'm happy she was not sent into a colony and works for the Magnus instead. I've also made the mistake of thinking that she doesn't need me... she does... every creation needs their creator sometime...," Ratchet finished.

"I can see why she was upset," Blackarachnia said softly. "She probably thought you might have been killed and she's been worried all this time. Now she finds out you're alive and well and apparently living very happily. She might believe that you've been happy without her."

"Never," he declared. "My life these last fifty cycles has been a hell of a lot better than it was previously but I've always missed her. I just couldn't risk exposing Optimus and Valour, they're not only my friends but my patients. I took an oath to protect all those under my care. I should have thought about her, I guess I thought she had a busy, active life and would be fine without me. I was wrong."

"I know what it feels to be bitter and abandoned," the Femme said quietly. "But underneath that, I still missed my friends and wished I could be with them again. She's angry at you now but you need to explain the situation to her, tell her that an innocent Sparkling was at stake, as well as his carrier and your team. I'm not saying she'll forgive you right away but it will help her understand your actions."

He nodded slowly, he wasn't sure how to approach his daughter. She gave off such a cold aura and he was almost afraid of making her even angrier at him. But Blackarachnia was right, Red Alert deserved at least to know the reasoning behind his prolonged disappearance and silence.

"I'll do it," he said softly. "Thank you."

"No problem," she said with a smile. "As I said, it won't be easy but I think you're tough enough to handle it."

"Hmph," he huffed slightly. "We'll see."

She gave him a smile and left to go over to Optimus and Valour. Ratchet sighed before taking a few steps towards Red Alert before stopping. Somehow, he didn't feel that he should approach her like this, not without some backup. But what could he say or show to her to demonstrate how vital his decision to stay away was.

"Hmm, I got an idea," he muttered absently to himself before marching away, looking for a computer.

Sometime later, Red Alert looked up to see her Sire standing there. She gave him a cold look, not caring how sad he looked.

"This is for you," he said quietly but firmly.

"And what is that?" she said with contempt, barely looking at the holo cube he held.

"The reason why I couldn't contact you," he stated. "Please, take a look at it."

"I have work to do," she snapped, turning around and tapping away at a console. She heard him lay the holo cube down and walk away. She huffed, she couldn't believe his nerve. Did he really think a holo cube was going to make up for everything that had happened? The red and white Femme continued to type for a while but she kept glancing at the holo cube. Eventually, her curiosity got the better of her and she picked it up with a huff.

"Just what is this?" she muttered, activating it.

Within the cube, where a series of images and a medical file. Frowning, she looked over the medical file and was disquieted to see that it contained a diagnosis of rape, abuse and birth. She shook herself before looking over the images. They began with a weary and slightly twitchy looking Optimus Prime cradling a newborn sparkling. The Sparkling appeared healthy and happy but the same couldn't be said of his carrier. However, slowly the images changed, not only did the Sparkling grow but the Prime started to look happier and more relaxed.

He smiled more, he looked healthier, less fearful of the world. He also seemed a lot more active in the pictures, bathing his child, playing with him and many more.

Ratchet had given her look of Valour's life, from birth to the present and the saga of Optimus's transformation of an abused sex slave into a competent and happy creator. She stared at the images, glancing at the report of what he's suffered and again at the images.

"Oh..." Was all she could say before looking down at the jet twins with that yellow minibot and Valour; the sparkling still didn't seemed to have regained his happiness but he tried to hide it.

She sighed, downloaded the contents of the cube in a datapad and then set it down again on her table before walking towards the room Ultra Magnus and Sentinel were held captive.

She looked up at both mechs who desperately tried to get rid from their cocoon without use and with their optics they seemed to ask for her help desperately.

"I don't care if you're Ratchet's daughter, if you release them without my permission, you will join them," Blackarachnia said darkly behind her.

The medic just turned and looked at her coldly as she looked at her sire. "I need to speak to the Magnus, please, release his mouth."

The spider looked up and down at her examining her and transformed before crawling to the ceiling and opening a gape to Magnus' cocoon so he could speak. "Be quick!" she barked.

Red Alert walked towards him and looked up. "Sir, there's something you need to know... Can you lower him a little?" she said to the spider who rolled her eight optics and lowered him to her level.

"What is it, Red? If it's not to take us out of here or imprison these traitors, it is not important," The Magnus said angrily.

"I understand your position, sir, but... You need to understand Optimus Prime's position, sir. He ran all these cycles from a mech who used and abused him until he sparked against his will and even then raised that youngling with all the love he could give him...even with his pain... Unlike others who simply terminated the sparks or abandoned their creations... Sir... They are Autobots, one of them suffered at the hands of our worst enemy himself, we should help them, not imprison them... It is not treason if its rape, look, this is the official report..."

She showed him the reports and the pictures. "See? Sir, he was not the only one and if we don't stop Megatron, won't be the last... We have an opportunity to take him down, he's here, he came for his son and Perceptor swears he wants Optimus Prime more... We can get him now, sir."

At that last statement Blackarachnia frowned and tensed. If that was true it means...

"It is not our problem, we came here to get rid of Megatron's bastard, we cannot let him recover that thing!" Magnus barked.

"He will be strong, Magnus, I know you believe that, it will be better if he's our side... Just imagine it... I know you hate Megatron but he's more Optimus Prime's son than that aft's, just look at him! He's an Autobot, just like the twins... And he dislikes his sire for what he did his carrier, he's our side... We must be in his as well."

Ultra Magnus frowned but Red Alert continued. "Or will you miss a powerful soldier just because of your misgivings?"

"He's Megatron's bastard!" He barked.

"And it's not his fault! Nor his carrier! I think they've suffered enough and you as Magnus should see it as well!" she bit back making Blackarachnia to look at her in surprise.

"And you, Sentinel Prime, you should feel ashamed! I know what Optimus Prime did for you... And this is how you pay him?! There are secret records from the ship you travelled that shows it was YOUR great idea to go to that planet in where you lost Elita One, but Optimus Prime took the blame for you, if I was him, I would have dragged you with me!"

Blackarachnia couldn't believe what she was hearing, she will ask Optimus later. Meanwhile Sentinel looked down at the medic in shock. "And you know it..." She continued looking at Magnus. "...that is why he remained a Prime... You're all in debt to him... Even for ignoring the distress calls that his team made! This is the least you both can do... Support him..." she said before looking up at the spider. "I don't know how even a Decepticon can see it but you can't!" then frowned back at the Magnus. "Don't make me lose the respect for you...you owe him..."

And with that last word she walked away.

Blackarachnia then lifted Magnus back and clamped shut his mouth again. Anyways, the old mech seemed pensive.

"For the record," Blackarachnia said softly as Sentinel stared at both her and his leader. "Elita One didn't die."

"Mpth?" Sentinel exclaimed in shock, although his words were completely muffled. As Ultra Magnus looked at her in confusion, she added.

"She was simply transformed...by those spiders!"

Sentinel's optics almost popped out of his head as he put two and two together. The Femme in front of him was a Techno organic that transformed into a spider and if Elita one had been transformed by organic spiders...there could only be one conclusion.

Without saying another word, Blackarachnia turned on her heel and marched out of the room. Let those two Mechs think on that for a while.

Red Alert found her Sire talking to Perceptor, from the sound of their conversation, the scientist appeared to be offering suggestions for a pregnancy. She was briefly interested before giving herself a shake, she could inquire about it later. Right now, she really need to speak with her Sire.

"Ratchet," she said softly and he started, looking over at her quickly with a slightly worried look.

"Red Alert," he said just as softly as her.

"I...I looked over the report you gave me and the pictures," she told him, her tone not quite as brisk as it usually was. "And I've told...Ultra Magnus that his treatment of Valour and Optimus was wrong. Valour cannot help who his Sire is and Optimus Prime is a loyal Autobot. We should be supporting him, not denouncing him for something he did not ask for."

Ratchet didn't say anything for a moment and then said gruffly. "Well, someone needed to talk some sense into those two. Think they listened?"

"I hope so," she said with a small nod. She hesitated before saying. "Optimus Prime...needed a Medic, didn't he?"

"Yeah," Ratchet agreed.

"And he needed to hide completely away from Megatron," she continued and he nodded his agreement.

"Yeah, he did," he said, his optics shining with hope.

"I...would have done the same," she stated, a slight catch in her voice.

Before she could say anything else, Ratchet had moved from his seat and was hugging his daughter tightly. As he held her, she hugged him back and whispered. "I missed you Sire."

"I missed you every day," he told her gruffly. "I wished I could have contacted you but Megatron was spying on the Autobots. If word got back to him and he tracked us down..."

"I understand, I'm sorry for doubting you," she said miserably. "I just didn't know what to think."

"It's alright," he said, holding her closer. "I don't blame you, I haven't been the best father there is. That's one reason I stayed, to let Optimus be a good father to his son. They needed me and I had to be with them but I know...you needed me too."

"I'm a big Femme now," she chuckled weakly. "A newborn Sparkling was more important...I'm glad you could help them."

"I don't want to lose you again," Ratchet told her. "I don't know what's going to happen but if for some reason we're separated, I'm proud of you Red Alert. You're your mother's daughter and you're going to go far in this universe. You already are."

Perceptor watched as the sire and his creation make up. He turned back to Ratchet's report on Blackarachnia's progress, it was a fascinating read. He very much hoped that he could be there for the birth of her Sparklings, he would love to study them.

...

It was late in the night... A beautiful night actually...

"Ohh..." Megatron moaned feeling a delicious sensation between his legs just before releasing his spike which was half pressurised and releasing sweet lubricant.

Soon, he on-lined his optics only to find Optimus Prime kneeling in front of his thighs and caressing them softly before giving the tip of his spike a teasing lick.

"Uhhh... Yesss...," The tyrant throw his head back against his throne feeling the soft caresses the other gave his tights, then looked down at that beautiful flushed face whose owner lowered it and slowly licked the underside of the now fully pressurised and dripping spike and against each one of its sensitive ridges. "hmmmphmm... Prime..."

He bit his bottom lip and sunk deeper into the teasing sensations as the other just licked at his sweet pre-cum. "Don't tease..." He said moving up and down his hips. "Come on...take it..." gasped.

The younger just looked up at him and gave the spike a little lick before... Biting it hard...

"Aaarrhhhgghhhgh!" Megatron screamed uncharacteristically at the sudden punching and stinging pain that assaulted him successfully awaking him from what it looked like a very good and wet dream... However...

"Waaaaahhhhhh!" Slipstream lay on the floor a few feet away from him and was crying brokenly and loudly.

It took him eternal seconds to realise what was happening before rising up from his throne and take her in his arms again. "Shhhh... Is ok... Sire's here... Shhh... Don't cry... Shhh..." he tried but she continued crying.

That was not the only problem... He was still hopelessly aroused and his steel hard spike only proved it and make him difficult the task of calming his daughter.

"What happened?!" Starscream came hurriedly into the throne room and took their daughter from Megatron's arms and set her against his chassis and curled all her limbs against her and tightened her like that in an almost upside down position. In no time, she was quiet. "Good femmling...," Starscream said caringly. But something, or rather someone was molesting his wings... "M-megatron?" He stuttered before his leader took the sparkling from his arms and set her on the throne and guided the seeker against a console and stroked his panel possessively.

"L-leader...?" Starscream said before opening for the other and a wetted by saliva finger entered him. He gasped and spread his legs wider throwing his head back submitting completely to the other.

Megatron purred in approval moving his finger and pumping it as his seeker rolled his hips and rode the finger lazily feeling the tight port get wet by the second and pulse against the finger.

Starscream didn't even need to beg as Megatron lined his spike with his entrance and swiftly penetrated him making the winged creature to gasp and moan in need. "O-oooh... My lo-oord... So goooood..."

Megatron smirked and started pumping his hips fast and hard into his willing and eager lover; none of them noticing the curious sparkling who couldn't quite understand why her creators were snarling and moaning but at the same time smiling. Were they playing a game?

"Yes...yes...yes..!" Starscream chanted until he came with a loud screech pulling his leader along with him who followed him with a roar.

They panted for a moment and then Megatron pulled out and turned Starscream on his front against the console and then thrust back inside making the other gasp and mewl.

As both commanders were having their 'fun' the door suddenly opened and Lugnut entered and stood frozen for a second at the sight of the show, then noticed the confused femmling on the throne and walked towards her before taking her in arms. "Lady Slipstream, mighty Megatron's daughter should not be watching her creators mate."

"Are they playing a game? Can I play too?" She asked the big green mech.

"No, that is an adult's game, not for sparklings...," He said as he walked away from the eager couple and her in his arms.

Suddenly they came again and Starscream noticed Lugnut's presence. "Ah! My sparkling!" He cried and tried to reach for him but Megatron held him firm where he was, with his spike deeply buried in his port.

"Leave it, Starscream..." Megatron purred. "Lugnut will look after her while we have our fun..." he then reached down and bit his neck.

"Can I play too?" Slipstream suddenly asked and both creators froze before looking up at her in shock. "Maybe Valour will like it too..." She said innocently gaining a cuff from Lugnut, a loud and horrified scream from Starscream and a shocked and paled gaze from Megatron.

"NO! You will not interface your brother!" Starscream yelled at her.

"Why?" She asked innocently again.

"Because we don't interface with our siblings or creators! Is the rules!" The seeker barked. Megatron was still petrified. "Besides, you need to be an adult to do so... To be as old as your sire at least!"

"That old?" The femmling whined.

"Yes, and that tall!" Starscream added. "Besides, your sire and I will choose who you will interface with, right, Megatron?" he tried to ask the tyrant who was still shocked and petrified.

"Right, Megatron?!" Starscream tried again this time gaining a weak nod from the other.

"So you don't need to even think about it," Starscream told her as she stared at him. "Now why don't you go with Lugnut and play?"

"So you can play with Sire?" she asked and he nodded nervously. "Y-yes, that's right sweetspark. Off you go now."

When Lugnut took her away, Starscream sighed in relief.

"What happened earlier?" he asked his leader as the other started to nuzzle his neck again.

"She bit me," Megatron said with a grimace. "I don't know why but I was asleep and accidentally lashed out in pain. I will explain to her later why she shouldn't do that but we have more important things to attend to right now."

"As you wish my lord," Starscream purred, groaning as his master started to thrust back into him again.

The Autobot ship

"They've made up," Blackarachania whispered to Optimus as he noticed that Ratchet and Red Alert were talking to each other and neither of them looked upset or angry.

"They have," Optimus agreed with a happy smile, it was good to see that Ratchet had his daughter back again. He hadn't known about Red Alert and he felt guilty about Ratchet giving her up. But he was extremely grateful that Ratchet had stayed with the team, they could not have managed without the medic.

"Did she really talk with Ultra Magnus?" Optimus now asked and she nodded.

"Hmm, she even gave Sentinel a piece of her mind over Archna Seven," she said lightly and he stared at her.

"It was Sentinel's idea love," she said softly. "You did not deserve to be blamed for what happened and it's about time that Ultra Magnus and the other Autobots knew the truth."

Optimus paused, he wasn't sure what to think about that. He'd felt so guilty that he hadn't cared what happened, he just wanted to get on with his life. And then Valour had come along and he really hadn't cared about active Autobot service, he just wanted to raise his son in safety and happiness.

"I don't think it'll make much difference," he said softly. "I'm not interested in a command, I just want to protect my family. And my team if they still want to remain with me."

"I think they do," she chuckled, seeing Bumblebee eagerly showing the Jet twins video games. "I never would have thought an organic world would feel like home but I'm starting to become fond of it."

"It grows on you," he joked, lightly kissing her as she giggled.

"Prime," a voice called and he looked over at Jazz and Prowl walking over.

"Should we talk to Magnus now?" Prowl questioned. "He and Sentinel Prime have been up there for rather a long time now."

"We probably should," Optimus sighed. "But unless they can talk to Valour politely, they're not going near him."

"Agreed," Jazz said with a nod. "I'll keep an optic on them to make sure they don't go near him."

"Thank you," Optimus said gratefully as he got up with his mate and they make their way to where Magnus and Sentinel were.

Once there, the two hanging mechs looked down at them and frowned. Optimus and the others frowned too and the Prime addressed them; "You better behave, we'll let you down now." He motioned Blackarachnia who transformed and crawled up to the ceiling and everyone could watch Sentinel shaking.

"Hold on, boys, this will not hurt... much..." She said and without warning started rolling them at a high speed before the two blue masses touched the ground; all the time Sentinel's screams could be heard.

Finally, both mechs stopped turning at high speed and started stumbling before falling on the ground completely dizzy. They would have purged if they would have refuelled earlier.

The spider then jumped on the floor and transformed before walking towards Optimus and he held her by the waist. "Was that really necessary?" He asked softly against her audio and she chuckled. "Not really, but you have to admit that it was fun..."

Red Alert ran by the side of the Magnus and checked his vitals. "Aren't you going to check on me, medic?" Sentinel said and coughed holding back a gag reflex from his empty tanks.

"The Magnus is first!" She said before continued and looked up at him and frowned. "Remember what we talked about..."

"I remember," he agreed. "But I want to ask Optimus something."

"Yes?" Optimus said cautiously, wondering what the Autobot leader would ask.

"Is it true that it was not your idea to go to Archna Seven?" Ultra Magnus asked as Sentinel started.

Optimus hesitated but there was no point in lying when Elita had already told Ultra Magnus what had happened. He shook his head and said.

"I advised against going to the planet but...Elita and Sentinel wanted to go. There was a high Energon signature and they felt it was worth the risk so I agreed in the end. But none of us could have predicted what happened next."

"I see," Ultra Magnus said, his tone difficult to read. "But you decided to accept the blame for what happened."

"I failed to save Elita," Optimus said flatly. "She copied my grapple but it wore out and she fell before I could catch her. I was unable to go after her and when we scanned for her, there was no signal. I thought she had died because I wasn't good enough to save her so...I took the blame."

"Why did you allow him to do that?" Magnus asked of Sentinel who looked angry and guilty.

"I...I was angry at him for letting her fall," he mumbled, not adding that his ambition had driven him forward. If he'd admitted that it had been his idea, not Optimus, then his career would have been over. Like Optimus's ended up being.

"You lied to me," Ultra Magnus said coldly as Sentinel flinched but he couldn't deny it.

Ultra Magnus now looked at Blackarachnia and said flatly. "You were the Femme Elita One."

"I was," she acknowledged. "The Decepticons found me and I joined them out of bitterness. But my loyalty now is towards my mate to be and his family, especially Valour. I have no interest in hurting Autobots but I will allow no one, bot or con to threaten my family."

He nodded his understanding.

"Perhaps," he said slowly. "I was hasty in my condemnation of you Optimus Prime. Red Alert has shown me evidence that Megatron forced himself upon you and that you did well to escape from him. Which has distracted him for the past fifty cycles meaning you've done a service to the Autobot cause."

"That wasn't my intention," Optimus pointed out.

"I know but it's still something," Ultra Magnus said. "I have no desire to see Megatron reunite with his offspring but I see it's pointless to try and take him from you. Perhaps we could start again?"

"Do you really mean that?" Optimus asked, he would not risk his son being hurt again.

"Yes, I do; you may keep your son as long as this one never gets near his sire... I know he doesn't wants to go with him anyways, so you will train him to become an Autobot soldier." The Magnus declared.

"You, Elita one, will pledge your loyalty again to the Autobot cause-" Magnus continued but was interrupted by said femme.

"I will think about it, as I said my loyalty lays within my mate to be's family... Besides, Megatron hasn't seen me yet and so far I'm still a Decepticon," She said giving him a knowing look.

Ultra Magnus seemed to understand and nodded. It can be useful if she has still some access to that ship. "Good," He said.

"Ultra Magnus, sir, you cannot accept this! She can be dangerous! And what about Optimus? He can be working in secret for Megatron and attempts to be a victim so h-" Sentine started before his mouth was covered again in thick spider web.

"Shut up, Sentinel, even you know you sound pathetic!" Blackarachnia said in frustration. "Primus! How is it possible I've never seen it before?!"

Optimus lay a gentle hand on her shoulder to calm her but still she continued. "If Optimus is a Decepticon spy, then I am... I am the Magnus secretly! Besides, you have no idea who Megatron's spies are! You cannot even imagine at how clever and smart they are that they can hide in plain sight!" She barked at the now stunned Prime who looked at her in a mix of horror and disgust.

That caught Magnus' attentions. "And you know them?" he asked. "Can you give me a list?"

She lifted two of her four optic ridges as she looked at him. "What do I have in turn if I do? That is precious information... Especially the identity of Megatron's most prized and best spy... Who of course is VERY close to you and you have no idea of his real intentions," She said.

"You can ask anything you want as long it doesn't affects negatively the Autobots or our lives," The Magnus declared and Sentinel looked at him in shock before removing the gap.

"You got to be kidding! She can lie, maybe she was Elita once," He said the word 'Elita' with venom and disgust looking at her up and down. "But nothing ensures us that the information she will provides us is real! She's a disgusting organic 'con now!"

"What are you afraid of, Sentinel? Well... I can tell you this, Magnus, Megatron is not an idiot to hire HIM as a spy, that's for sure," She laughed at him who flushed in anger before continuing. "Besides, I think I like to be techno-organic, I would love to be the monster to hunt you in your nightmares, nothing can change the power I possess now... Power you cannot even imagine..." She hissed at his shaking face.

No one stopped their fight, but the Magnus asked again if she will give him the list of spies. "I will do anything in my power, and more, to ensure my family's safety, count on it... I will give you the names... But be careful, you may not believe me who they are since they seem too loyal to your cause when they are not, some of them were working as 'Autobots' even before you became Magnus..." She finished darkly and the atmosphere turned tense.

"If there are Decepticon spies, then I want to know about them," Ultra Magnus said finally. "But most importantly, are any of those with me Decepticon spies."

"Not that I'm aware of," she assured him and he sighed with relief. He remembered that message he'd received about Optimus Prime and his son, warning him not to let anyone know what had happened. So it seemed she was not lying when she said there were spies close to him.

"Good," he stated. "Now, what do you want?"

"I want you to give Optimus the help he should have been given a long time ago. I want Valour to be given his rights as an Autobot and allowed to able to visit Cybertron. I don't know what kind of status Ratchet and the others have since they disappeared but they deserve to be reinstated as proper Autobots. And also, I want you to offer this planet protection, Megatron is only focused on Optimus and his son but he may decide to target this world. Will you do this?"

Ultra Magnus hesitated for a moment before nodding.

"Very well," he said. "Now can you tell me who the spies are?"

"Well, the most important one is probably Shockwave," she stated and as he looked confused, added. "You probably know him as Longarm Prime."

"Longarm!?" Bumblebee yelped, he'd been listening in. "But...he was at bootcamp, he stuck up for me and he helped me locate that spy..."

A look of horror crossed his face as he gasped. "Wasp...he wasn't the spy."

"I don't know who Wasp is but if Longarm was with you, he probably framed this Mech," Blackarchania said gently as Ultra Magnus stood dumbfounded. He could not believe what he'd just heard, surely Longarm of all bots could not be a spy?

"What have I done?" Bumblebee moaned, falling to his knees. "I sent an innocent bot to the stockades."

"Sir, if this is true, we should have this Mech freed," Jazz said urgently. "Before it's too late."

"I...yes, yes," Ultra Magnus said distractedly. "Perhaps you could look into that."

Jazz nodded before rushing off to do just that.

"Bumblebee, it's not your fault," Optimus tried to tell his young team mate who was in a state of total shock. "You couldn't have known."

Sentinel was also looking aghast, could he really have sentenced an innocent Mech to the stockades? One that had showed so much promise as an Autobot?

"I don't think it's a good idea to release that mech so suddenly without catching Shockwave first; him, as leader of the intelligence division will suspect of something and might run. So far I know that mech can change his looks before you even know it," Blackarachnia pointed out.

"Then what you suggest?" The Magnus asked worryingly, she was right after all.

"Perhaps you can move that mech to another location inside the stockades or into another prison, perhaps a mental institution... Or maybe you can imprison him by a forced stasis lock. Is up to you. But if Shockwave finds out that his culprit was released before he's caught... The consequences will be dare as he has too much power inside the Autobots."

Ultra Magnus considered this carefully.

Meanwhile Bumblebee started crying and sobbing at the situations and his acts in the past. "I can't believe I was so stupid... Wasp... He... He is innocent!"

"Calm down kid, everything will get solved..." Ratchet tried to cheer up unsuccessfully the poor Bumblebee.

Near them, Sentinel was still in shock. Definitely was not his day today... First he got caught by that spider in her web, then the other medic femme discovered him in front of everyone and now this?! He condemned an innocent mech!

His mind was a mess... For a second he thought he was going to crash... And that is exactly what happened.

It was amazing to watch all those present move their heads at the same time following the path Sentinel Prime went to the floor. "He will survive, just needs to refuel." Red Alert shrugged it off and Ratchet smirked at her.

"Magnus... I got news from this mech, name: Wasp..." Jazz came into the room hurriedly holding a datapad. "He... It seems he escaped the stockades!" he exclaimed.

"What?" Bumblebee lifted his crying optics towards the white mech. "Wasp... Is he okay? I owe him an apology, I-" Suddenly he quietened and everyone could see Ratchet holding an empty syringe. Its contents were obviously downloaded in Bee's systems.

The old medic looked up at everyone sadly. "He needs to rest, too many things happened." Saying this he lifted Bumblebee's frame and carried him out of the room.

Optimus looked down at the floor grimly. Indeed, too many things happened recently, things that made them all emotional somehow.

"Good," Ultra Magnus then lifted up with Red Alert's help. "There are things we must start doing now and we don't have time to waste."

He then directed himself towards Optimus. "Optimus Prime, please be kind to show us the location of your base, we'll be moving the ship there and once there we will be able to make a proper plan against that tyrant if Megatron."

Optimus nodded and everyone then walked away and prepared as the ship will be rising once again.

Back on the Nemesis, a solider hurried to alert his leader to the new developments.

"Sir, the Autobot ship is lifting," he gasped out as Megatron sat up straight.

"Are they leaving the planet?" he barked out, sitting up on his throne.

"No lord Megatron, they haven't fired up their hyperdrive," the solider said quickly. "I think their only moving to another location."

"Hmm," Megatron said thoughtfully, wondering where they could be headed. "Very well, inform me when they have landed and where."

The solider bowed and quickly left, leaving his leader brooding. The bounty hunter he hired should not be long in arriving but he wondered if it was worth giving the Prime a call. He was interested to see what was happening with the Autobots and perhaps see if they were willing to come to an arrangement. He decided he would try it, he would lose nothing and might gain something.

Starscream was currently resting with Slipstream so he called to Blitzwing and said.

"Blitzwing, see if you can contact the Autobot ship, I wish to talk with Optimus Prime and possibly Ultra Magnus if he's available."

He had a score to settle with the Autobot leader, he would not tolerate that old Mech upsetting his son so badly.

"Mien leader, I have almost made contact," Icy informed him and Megatron nodded, standing up and heading over to the video screen which flickered for a moment before focusing.

To his mild surprise, he saw Ultra Magnus and Optimus Prime standing shoulder to shoulder. The little Prime looked a little uncomfortable at the sight of the Decepticon leader but he had a resolute expression on his face, he was clearly determined to do this.

"Magnus, so good to see you again," Megatron said slowly, giving the larger Mech a cold look. "I'm surprised to see you with Prime...particularly after your comments about my son."

This made Ultra Magnus shift uncomfortably but he said. "That was a...misunderstanding and is behind us."

"Really?" Megatron said sarcastically. "You referred to Valour as a bastard but Prime has forgiven you?"

"Who says I've forgiven him," Optimus spoke up. "Ultra Magnus has a lot to make up for but I am willing to give him a chance."

"How quaint," Megatron sneered as Optimus shifted, his calm expression almost breaking. "I would not tolerate such words towards my child...no, I will not tolerate such things."

"Then we've finally found something we agree on," Optimus stated bitterly before asking. "What do you want Megatron?"

"I want my son," hissed Megatron coldly. "And you, my wayward whore."

As Optimus flinched, Ultra Magnus stated.

"You're not having either of them. Valour is being brought up as an Autobot and it's going to stay that way."

"Oh, is that why you've changed your tune," Megatron said with contempt. "You want to use my son against me, is that it?"

"My reasons are none of your concern," Ultra Magnus said shortly. "But I will not allow you to take that Sparkling."

"Allow me?" Megatron growled. "You have no power Magnus and I will get what I want. Valour will be reunited with me and his new sister and there will be nothing you can do about it."

Giving Optimus a glare, he added. "I look forward to birthing more Sparklings from you Prime and you will not escape with them."

Optimus froze at that statement and paled. Ultra Magnus noticed his behaviour and said: "As I said before, Megatron, none of them will go with you, besides, they don't want to."

Megatron scowled showing his pointy fangs this time gaining a shudder from Optimus "I will recover what is mine, eventually that whore will be where he must be, under me with his legs spread wide on my berth!"

"My daddy is not a whore!" Valour shouted and heard their conversation to the horror of his creators. "That is a bad word! You're evil! I hate you!" He shouted.

Lately Valour checked on the internet the meanings of the words Ultra Magnus told him and the words Megatron told his daddy; his results were not to his liking... And anyone who called his daddy such words was a bad person... Or mech... And he, for the first time got a feeling he never had before... Hate.

"Stay away from me and my daddy! You're not my sire, you will not hurt him again, and you're the bastard, not me! I hate you!" The sparkling snarled surprising every adult present.

"Valour..." Optimus whispered. He was way too shocked to correct his son.

"Valour... My son... Don't misunderstand me, I just want you to be reunited with your beloved sister, Slipstream misses you greatly, you don't want her to be sad, right?" Megatron said softly.

"Don't you dare to use Slipstream to lure me back to you! It won't work! I don't want to see you or hear you, and NO! It is not my daddy's teaching what made me decide this, it is your attitude, and you're mean... You're not my sire!" The sparkling shouted.

Megatron frowned looking down at his creation who arrogantly talked back. "It is obvious that you were taught the wrong, but that will change soon... You're confused, that's all-"

"I am not confused, I am well aware what you want, and is to hurt my daddy and I don't know why...perhaps is because you're crazy!" Valour declared.

Megatron growled before shouting. "Prime, this is your fault! What have you filled our son with?!"

"Don't you dare to talk my daddy like that! If anything is YOUR fault! You're evil!" Valour roared as now tears run freely from his cheeks. "Stay away from my dad! Stay away from us! We were happy until you came into the picture, but you ruined it all! Stay away from us!"

Shaking off his shocked expression, Megatron looked at all the presents on the other side of the screen. "This... This does not ends like this... THIS WILL NOT END LIKE THIS!" He roared in rage. "You will pay for this, you will all pay for turning my son against me! Especially you, whore!" he declared, but before he can cut the call, Valour talked back again...

"No! You're the whore! Treating others like... Like toys you can break just because you can! You asshole whore! Fuck you in hell!" Valour shouted the worst human curse he learned from the internet leaving Optimus and the other adults with their mouths wide open before Ultra Magnus reacted and cut the transmission. There was nothing else to say.

Valour however stayed where he was with his head down shaking and crying in sorrow and hate. Optimus ran by his side and hugged him tightly before lifting him in his arms and ran away to any of the unoccupied rooms.

'I will never forgive Megatron for tearing up my son's innocence... Nor Ultra Magnus...,' Optimus thought as he reached a room and now was free to release his tears, never stopping in his hug.

"Dun cry daddy... I'll protect you...," Valour said hoarsely which made Optimus to release a broken sob. "I'm sorry for dirtying my mouth... Mom can clean me up later..." the sparkling cried in his carrier's embrace as the other cried too. "I'll protect you..."

Optimus' spark was in agony like never before and Valour's words only saddened him more... Was he so weak that his own sparkling had to stand up and protect him? To him, the creator?

'I'll protect you...' Those words repeated over and over again in Optimus' mind.

"You don't need to protect me," Optimus said hoarsely. "It's my job to protect you, my sweet Sparkling. I'm sorry for being so weak, your sire...has that accept on me."

"He's not my sire," Valour declared hotly. "I hate him, he's a horrible Mech. You're my daddy and Elita's my mommy. I really like Slipstream and she's my little sister but I'll never accept Megatron as my dad."

"I'm sorry," was all Optimus could say as he tried to comfort his Sparkling and wishing he could turn back time to when Valour was innocent and happy.

The Nemesis

Megatron stormed and raged, he was so furious over the situation with Valour. How could his own son speak like that to him like that, how did this happen? No, he knew how, that damn Magnus had showed up and destroyed the Sparkling's innocence about his conception and of course Prime couldn't pretend it hadn't happened. If Magnus had never appeared, then he could have studied his son's life before finally introducing himself, Valour wouldn't have been scared and would have been delighted to meet his sister. Prime probably wouldn't have been able to bare shattering his son's happiness so would have kept quiet and everything would have gone smoothly.

But no, Magnus had to come and ruin everything and now his son hated him!

"If I ever find out who told him about this planet, I will rip him to pieces," Megatron snarled as Starscream listened from behind a door and winced. He dearly hoped that Megatron never did discover it was him or he'd be in real trouble. And it wouldn't matter that he was the carrier of Megatron's own daughter, he would carry out his threat.

As he thought this, Megatron continued to fume. He had already promised himself that Ultra Magnus would pay but now he was even more furious. For a moment, he was tempted to call Lockdown and ask him to pay Magnus a visit but that wouldn't be satisfying enough. The Magnus had made his personal and he would treat it as such. Eventually, the old Autobot would have to come out into the open and then Megatron would strike him down. In the meantime, he had to work out how to solve the situation with Prime and his son. Could he ever convince Valour to accept him or was it a lost cause?

No, he could not believe that his son was totally lost to him, he would keep fighting until finally Valour was his again.

Because he was his son, he was his, and one else's... just like that Prime... Prime was his! And he WIIL recover what was taken from him, soon.

Starscream heard everything from his hiding place and even the way Valour directed himself to his sire. He had to admit, that creature had the guts to speak his sire like that... Megatron from all mechs!

He couldn't help but smirk at that thought. Also, he was glad that Slipstream haven't heard the fight and was busy playing with Lugnut. If she have heard him without doubt would have tried to correct her sire and Megatron would have beaten her for sure.

Stascream shuddered at that thought... His poor little daughter being slaughtered by her sire... No... He cannot allow that. And if he wanted to prevent it Slipstream will need to learn how to get to Megatron's spark without being rude... To manipulate him to her own benefit. Besides, she have a card to her favour, she's his only daughter.

Her lessons will start ASAP.

"Megatron...?" Starscream decided to take a risk and stepped towards him before placing a hand on his shoulder.

Blazing crimson optics meet his own red ones making him flinch and step back. The aura of rage Megatron sent was so strong that somehow it was making him ill.

"Don't worry, master... He's just a sparkling and is confused... Everything came like a wave of bad emotions to him at the same time... It is normal he wants to find someone guilty for it all..." Starscream said silkily.

Megatron growled at his lieutenant and walked towards him with a threatening glare. "M-megatron?" Starscream gave a step back, then another and another, all the times Megatron followed him with that threatening glare.

Suddenly, Megatron trapped him against the wall and Starscream supressed a gag reflex at the intense and choking aura the other emanated. "Starscream..." Megatron started... However it was too much stress for the seeker who couldn't hold back this time and...

...purged all over his leader.

"Starscream!" Megatron exclaimed furiously, this was becoming a ridiculously common occurrence that someone purged on him.

"M-master," Starscream gagged, coughing as the half-digested Energon burned his throat. "I'm sorry, I don't know what came over me."

Megatron glared at him before a thought suddenly came to him. Did not Starscream purge badly when he discovered he was expecting Slipstream? It was not inconceivable that he might be carrying again and perhaps this time, it would be a son.

"Starscream," Megatron repeated but a little softer this time. "You're going to have a check-up with our Medic."

"I am?" Starscream asked, looking up at Megatron with slight confusion.

"Yes, to see what's the matter with you," Megatron told him as it suddenly clicked with Starscream.

"You don't think...?" he said breathlessly, clutching his lover tightly. "That I might be...carrying?"

"There is a chance," the grey Mech mused as his Seeker looked exceedingly excited.

"If I am, I promise it's a son this time," he said earnestly, dearly wishing that he was carrying and it would be a son. "You will have what you want my lord."

Megatron nodded, wondering if he could tempt Valour with the promise of more siblings, hopefully brothers. After all, didn't all little Mechs desire sparkling brothers? He was sure Valour liked his little sister but a little brother would be even better. Yes, he could salvage this situation.

A while later, Starscream was indeed proved to be carrying and the Seeker almost wept with happiness. He was so overjoyed to have provided Megatron with more sparklings that he almost couldn't speak. Megatron himself informed Slipstream that she was soon to be a big sister to a new sibling.

"Sparkling?" she asked eagerly as he nodded with a smile.

"Yes little one, your carrier's going to have another Sparkling," he told her. "Won't that be good?"

She nodded sagely before asking. "Big brudder?"

"I will tell him at some point," he assured her. "And hopefully, you can all be together soon."

The little femme beamed at him and gigged. "More brudders!" She said happily.

Yes... More brothers indeed, was what Megatron thought. But what he really wanted... The mech he really desired for him to carry and warm his berth was not there...

...that beautiful Prime...

...thinking about him made his temperature to rise and a wave of arousal ran by his whole body. His optics became hazy and considered leaving his daughter there to meet his berth warmer...

However...

"Sire wants to play with carrier again?" That snapped him out of his fog of lust, but she continued. "Unfair me can't play too! I wanna play! I wanna play with Valour the way carrier and sire plays!"

That killed his libido totally and absolutely and looked at her in shock. "Me can't wait to be as old as sire... Carrier isn't that old! Me wanna play with Valour!" She demanded.

Megatron was utterly worried at that declaration. Maybe it was not a good idea to interface in front of her all this time.

"Uhh... Darling... Sweetspark..." Megatron didn't have an idea to explain to her what she wanted was wrong... She couldn't do that with her brother... She was too young to understand anyways...

"It is decided... I will never interface in front of you again...," Megatron said and the femmling looked up at him.

"I think Valour will like it...," She insisted and Megatron started walking... Or running towards his quarters where Starscream was resting and once there...

"Starscream!" The warlord shouted and hurried towards their berth. The seeker looked up at him surprised as Slipstream was placed on his lap. "Explain your daughter... The talk..."

Starscream frowned in confusion and gaped as Megatron hurried towards the exit, but for a carrying mech Starscream was fast and stopped him. "First of all, mighty Megatron... Is OUR daughter...And second, WE will give her the TALK, not just me..." he hissed gaining a hateful frown from Megatron...and for the first time Starscream didn't even flinched.

"I am busy, I have things to do!" He tried to pass the seeker again but once again he was stopped... He was about to kick the carrying seeker out of his way when this one gave him an even more and intense glare that petrified him...

...it was the first time Starscream EVER looked at him like that...and he didn't know if he liked it or not.

Without wasting another second, Starscream dragged Megatron onto the berth where Slipstream was waiting patiently... Starscream's gaze softened as he looked at her. "Sweetspark... Your sire and I need to speak about something with you..."

Megatron was uncomfortable, but Starscream held him firm by the wrist. Somehow he was sure that if he tried to pull it, he will lose it. That was strange, in other times he would have beaten Starscream to scraps but now... What was happening?!

"What about? Can I go and play with Valour the way you and Sire do? I dun wanna wait to be as old as sire..." She said.

"Interfacing is not for Sparklings," Starscream told her firmly. "You're too small, both of you for it to begin with. Secondly, interfacing is only for grown up who are not related to each other."

"Why?" she demanded and Starscream gave Megatron a pointed nudge. The grey Mech grimaced before saying.

"Slipstream, bots interface with each other to produce Sparklings. As a Sparkling yourself, you can't have any Sparklings, your body can't cope with that."

"Why's that?" she asked and Megatron explained that her body was too small and underdeveloped for carrying Sparklings."

"But you were playing," she insisted staring at them.

"Well," Megatron said, wondering how to explain it. "Grownups also do it for fun but its grownup fun. We do it because we're attracted to each other and desire to 'play' with each other."

"I wanna play like you do," Slipstream told them as Megatron groaned, how could he get this through to his daughter?

"Dearest, it hurts the first time you do it," Starscream cut in as she stared at him. "It does?"

"Yes, because you have a seal in your special place," he explained. "You have a Port and no one is allowed to touch it except you. When you're grown up, you can let your partner touch it but only if you want it. The seal protects it but if you 'played' with someone, their spike would break it and it would hurt. That's why grownups only do it when their ready for it and want it."

"Did you break carrier's seal?" Slipstream asked curiously but Megatron shook his head.

"No, we only got together to play fairly recently little one."

"What about Pwime?" she then asked but again, his answer was a negative.

"I was not his first," he said shortly causing her to ask. "So it didn't hurt?"

Both Mechs froze, how to explain that if both partners wanted it, it wouldn't hurt unless that was the desired intention. However, if one partner was unwilling it could hurt a lot. Starscream glanced at Megatron, wondering how they could talk to their daughter about this particular part of interfacing. For Decepticons, domination was a huge part of their culture and this all too often drifted into rape. But passion was also a big part of their culture as well, the best interfaces involved two bots filled with lust for each other. It was the case for Starscream and Megatron, however only Megatron had been passionate about his partnering with that Prime.

"When you find the right partner," Starscream said gently. "It never hurts."

"So...sire was not the right pawrtner for Pwime?" she asked innocently and continued. "Then why sire insisted if he was the wrong partner for him?"

"Well... Sweetspark...there is where the Decepticon way starts... I am a powerful mech and I wanted Prime, Prime refused to give me what I've wanted from him... So I took it...," He looked down as if thinking in something else.

"You rwaped him," She said and Megatron choked. "W-wwhat?" Honestly he wasn't waiting that word to come from his young daughter's mouth. He was so shocked that he couldn't even look at Starscream for an explanation.

The seeker however looked down in pity, not in worry.

"You hurt him...he didn't wanted your spike and you touched him against his will in his special place... Carrier says that hurts the first time... But...it hurts if you don't want it to be touched, right?" The femmling deduced all of this by herself. "If you're the wrong parwther."

"I am the Decepticon leader, I am the perfect partner for everyone! He should have submitted to me and my desires but he didn't...and it hurt him, he allowed himself to get hurt... If he would have submitted and obeyed this wouldn't have happened!" He barked.

Slipstream frowned at him in anger but one caring touch from her carrier to her head calmed her. She looked up and meet his optics... His pitied optics... He felt sorry for Prime too...as if somehow he knew the pain of being taken by force.

"But... Sire..." She decided to speak again. "Wouldn't have been better if you tried something else before going straight to his special place? To convince him? To...to be nice to him so it wouldn't hurt him? To ask him if you can touch him?"

Megatron froze and looked down at her. He was about to answer that he didn't needed the permission of anyone before she speak again...

"Besides... You would allow a mech...would you like any mech to dominate you the Decepticon way against your will? ...or...would you like it to happen to me?" She said softly with a hint of sadness.

The leader was so shocked that it seemed he lost control of his vocals... He didn't know how to answer that... Never actually considered it... Or cared how the others felt about it.

But it was a good question... The answer was not pleasant for himself.

"I dun want people suffering and being rwaped... I wanna everybody to be happy...," She said with a sob and started crying.

"Sire must say sowry to Pwrime...sire was bad...he must ask permission...," she sobbed.

"It's alright," Starscream said, lifting his daughter up and laying her against his shoulder. "Don't cry sweetspark."

"I don't want bad bot to hurt me," she cried, clinging to his shoulder tightly.

"No one is going to hurt you," Megatron exclaimed. "I would kill any bot who touched you in such a way."

"Weally?" she asked tearfully and he nodded his assurance. "Of course my darling."

"So why do you want to hurt Valour's daddy?" she asked and he found he had a lot of trouble answering her.

"I...," he stammered, he really never thought he'd be asked such a question. "I...really want Prime. He arouses me in so many ways and I very much enjoy being with him."

"Why can't he enjoy it?" she exclaimed as Starscream rubbed her wings gently, trying to comfort her.

"Because he's a damn stubborn Mech," Megatron said furiously, getting to his feet. "I would have given him all the pleasure he desired but he insisted on fighting me at every turn. He never gave me a chance, he just turned away and now I don't care about making him happy. He stole my own child from me and now that child hates me!"

Without another word, he stormed from the room, slamming the door after that. Starscream sighed, Megatron still wanted Prime and nothing was going to convince him otherwise it seemed. At least their daughter had tried.

"Relationships are very complicated for grownups," he told Slipstream as she sniffed against him. "That's one reason Sparklings don't interface, it's too confusing. Your Sire would be very happy if Prime wanted to be with him but he doesn't. And I'm afraid Megatron is not likely to play nice with him."

"He should," Slipstream declared. "Maybe Pwime would forgive him if he said sowwy,"

"I'm not sure if he would," Starscream couldn't help but say doubtfully. "He's very upset with your Sire and it would take a lot for him to forgive him. And a miracle for him to ever agree to play with your Sire. Which of course upsets your Sire as he dearly wants him."

Starscream said this last bit a little bitterly. Even though he pleased Megatron in the berth and bore him Sparklings, Megatron still desired that Prime.

Noticing her carrier's behaviour she reached up and touched his face. "It's not Valour's daddy's fault that sire is so... so... he wants him... Sire cares for carrier..." She hugged him and he hugged her back.

"I know, sweetspark... is just that I can't help but feel jealous..." He said, and feeling his daughter's confusions he explained, "I want to be the only mech your sire desires to play with..." and sighed sadly.

Slipstream looked up at her carrier with wide optics and hugged him as tightly as she could. Somehow she now understood that interfacing was something else...something deeper and indeed complicated...a certain kind of love that can hurt a lot if the one you love deep inside your spark didn't give you what you needed. It was a different kind of love she felt towards her brother...

...it was like giving your spark to the beloved hoping that this one will care and love it back and of course give you his spark back...like her carrier was doing it with her sire...

...it was also so very different than taking it or trying to... It was the case with Prime; Megatron tried to take his spark by force...not gain it and in the end he lost him forever, lost his chance at ever wining it.

Indeed relationships are complicated, Slipstream thought as she continued holding her carrier.

Author's note. Starscream's pregnancy becomes difficult and Lockdown attempts to take Optimus but does he succeed? Find out next time, until then.