That house was beautiful and huge, perfect for a family, and Tailgate knew it.
The life of the small minibot was not easy, since it was a Carrier in these times. Fortunately it was considered a "Prize" and was awarded to the owner of Cybertron's largest casino, Cyclonus, a former warrior who served the government a few millennia before retiring. Tailgate was delivered to him when he barely reached adulthood, Tailgate was not afraid, he was raised for this, and he believed he was the luckiest mech on the planet, since Cyclonus was different from the other mechs, he saw it as a mech more, as if the same, and did not try to abuse or humiliate the minibot. Both even went so far to the point of truly falling in love, and his slave coding had nothing to do with it, Tailgate felt those feelings for himself, he felt true love for him, and Cyclonus was not far behind in returning his affection. The purple mech did not hesitate to move to a quiet place in a more humble house when Tailgate needed him, and the minibot was happy to have someone like Cyclonus by his side.
"Energon's candy is over, honey"
The minibot looked at the blankets on his arm, a pair of huge red optics stared back at him. Tailgate smiled widely before kissing the little head of his Sparkling.
"I think we should go to the mini-supermarket for sweets" commented the minibot smiling.
The little fruit of their love was called Vitae, the force that keeps them together and alive. Little Sparkling had a frame similar to Cyclonus, but his colors were those of Tailgate, except for his red optics. Also the little boy's wings turned out to be bigger than normal, Cyclonus commented then of his shuttles ancestors, and that Vitae may have inherited something from them, maybe one day he will grow bigger than Cyclonus, but for now it was a sweet and small Sparkling .
He put Vitae in a blue Sparkling cart that floated inches from the ground, but that Tailgate was pushing. He had gone out into the outside world very little since Vitae had reached the world, Cyclonus insisted on keeping him locked up while Vitae remained so small. Tailgate understood, since the world was a dangerous place, but they were just walking towards the corner mini-supermarket, nothing bad could happen.
When the mini-supermarket doors opened, Tailgate came in humming happily, until he almost tripped when he found something.
Near the entrance, there were two mech and a femme tied in a position lying on a table where they had their legs open and their panels uncovered, with fluids in the valves. Tailgate instantly felt panic and discomfort, the minisuper had not had the public Carrier when he had visited the place for the last time. The minibot looked at his Sparkling, who was still fortunately asleep, so he calmed down briefly before pushing the cart to get the candy and get out of there as quickly as possible.
He quickly reached the candy section, watching some of the customers walk without caring about the exposed Carriers, and quickly denied. Tailgate then lit up at the sight of his favorite Energon candy box, and reached out to reach it-
Then he heard a weak groan
Tailgate shuddered and retracted his hand, realizing that someone was using the attached Carriers.
"This one is too lazy"
Then he heard a disgusting gliding sound, followed by another weak groan, and Tailgate quickly picked up the bag and went to the counter.
There he passed the bag through the scanner and then his card. While the machine calculated the price, Tailgate looked sideways like four mech, with bored expressions, hovering around the Carriers, until one looked up and looked at him. Tailgate quickly looked away with a shudder, and looked at his Sparkling, who was still sleeping. When the machine clicked it recognized, Tailgate pushed the cart out.
Upon reaching outside, a hand appeared on his shoulder.
Tailgate squealed and turned quickly to see who was stopping him. It was one of the mechs that was in the mini-supermarket, a large and red one, then his friends appeared in sight.
"It's a beautiful Sparkling that you have there" said the red
Tailgate tensed and pulled away from the other's grip.
"Y-Yes, He is v-very cute, but s-sorry, I'm in a hurry," he said hurriedly.
Before he could push the cart, he was stopped again, this time it was the medium orange mech.
"Where are you going?" He asked, mockingly "We only admire his work as a fertile Carrier"
Tailgate trembled "T-Thanks..." stuttered more nervous and scared.
He heard a low moan, and realized that Vitae had woken up.
"Aww, look how cute it is," said the voluminous gray. "But you know? Together we could make more beautiful Sparklings."
Tailgate then decided to push the cart at full speed, heard footsteps behind him, and his spark was trembling with fear not wanting to know what would happen if he was caught. Before he could cross the street, the vehicle form of an officer made him stop.
"Woah, what's up?" The policeman asked, transforming into a tall blue and white mech "You were going too fast, Carrier" The policeman growled when he saw what the minibot cart contained "And risking the life of a Sparkling"
Tailgate trembled, and looked sideways at his back, noticed that the group following him was close, but they had stopped to see the policeman appear. The policeman followed the minibot's gaze and noticed the group behind it, understanding the situation.
"Be careful next time," said the policeman and then nodded "Continue your way"
"Thank you," Tailgate said before quickly pushing the cart, looking sideways as the group of mechs had stopped to talk to the policeman, but he looked at them with an illegible expression.
Tailgate thanked him mentally before arriving at his house and entering.
"Tailgate?"
Cyclonus appeared in the house
"Cyclonus ..." Tailgate whispered. Fortunately Vitae now seemed calm in the cart.
"What happened? Where did you go? I told you not to leave the house," said the purple mech, approaching with a half worried and annoyed expression.
The minibot cringed, and he felt tears accumulate in his optics.
"S-Sorry, but I wanted some candy and ... and ..." he choked, he didn't know why it was hard to say "I saw s-some Carriers in t-the mini-supermarket"
Cyclonus's stern gaze loosened, then he walked to the minibot.
"Oh, Tailgate" He got up and hugged him, Tailgate returned the hug tightly, crying on his shoulder "That's why I told you not to go out. With the incident in Nyon, some Carriers were transported to this area"
Tailgate denied
"You are not like them Tailgate, you are more than a cattle for the survival of our species," Cyclonus said, watching little Sparkling, who looked at him curiously as he shook his hands.
"I am Cyclonus, I am just like t-them, and that is why it h-hurts ... It hurts that t-they are used like that, that all of us are u-used like that, so humiliating and h-horrible" Tailgate muttered "I hate Cybertron"
"You hate me?" Cyclonus asked
"No! Never, never, never! I love you ..!" Shouted Tailgate, making Vitae open her optics more "But it hurts,Cyclonus, it hurts ..."
Cyclonus just hugged him. He couldn't change world, but he could change Tailgate's, and it would keep him and Vitae safe.