(See previous disclaimers)
Meanwhile, as Starscream enjoyed his new seekerlings, all who were strong and nasty, Optimus and Megatron did their best to help Hotshot learn his lot in life. Optimus was bedridden due to being heavily sparked while Megatron was able to move around but only in the area that Starscream had allowed for them this day. Megatron was heavily sparked as well, but wasn't carrying as many as Optimus. Megatron only carried three while Optimus carried six.
Hotshot was a quick learner, and already even as an advanced sparkling been starting to practice how to please Lord Starscream. Optimus and Megatron made sure to wipe out any rebellion in the little one and reinforce conformity to what Starscream said and decided, no matter how rational or irrational it seemed. Optimus was a bit gentler with Hotshot than Megatron was, but then Optimus had always been a gentler bot.
On this particular day, Megatron was critiquing Hotshot as Hotshot sucked and licked Optimus's member. The two older bots had no choice with the young one but to use themselves to teach just exactly how Starscream expected him to be. They had no idea that with their training, once he was old enough to be considered a "breeder bot" he would actually be lead slave over both of them, which meant little as Optimus and Megatron knew that once a slave to the emperor, always a slave to the emperor and it would never get any better, as Queen Elita had killed other slaves who had thought they could move up any higher.
Soon, Optimus was having pain. This wasn't going to be easy to deliver all six of the little ones. He sent word to the guard who commed Starscream.
"Yes, what do you want" Starscream bellowed, angry at being awoken.
"Reporting that one of your harem is starting to spark and requests assistance."
"Which oaf was it?" Starscream demanded, knowing if it was Megatron, it was because Megatron was a wuss.
"I believe it is Optimus, sir. And may I remind you, Lord Starscream, he is carrying twice the amount of sparklings from you."
Starscream growled, but he didn't want lose the whole set. "Fine, I will wake up the old fart and be down their soon" Starscream hissed, referring to Ratchet.
"Yes, my lord. Shall I tell him?"
"Yes, but only to make sure he doesn't get too stressed and kill the little ones" Starscream snarked.
"Yes my lord" the guard said and signed off to tell Optimus while Starscream commed Ratchet.
"Old fart, get your lazy aft up. Sparklings are coming"
"Yes, my lord, but didn't the Empress already deliver hers?"
"Its my breeder Optimus"
"then yes, my lord, I'll be right there." Ratchet said and raced to the harem room, accompanied by Soundwave, who would make sure Megatron and Hotshot stayed clear and behaved.
Soon, Optimus started pushing just before Starscream arrived. Soundwave kept Megatron and Hotshot away, but allowed Hotshot to watch as Megatron explained that Hotshot needed to know what his lot in life would be. Wave agreed but still kept them at a distance.
Starscream arrived just as the first grounder appeared, a femme that looked like Optimus. Starscream was not happy. The next two were flyers, but they were also femmes. Starscream frowned and slapped Optimus, as Starscream saw this as Optimus' failure. Hotshot saw this whole thing. "Starscream desires mechs, and though we have no control what we form, he shows his displeasure when we give him femmes" Megatron explained. Hotshot remembered that as he wanted to be like Optimus when that happened – taking it without a sound.
Then the next three were all mechs but all but one was a grounder. Starscream shook his helm. This was not what he had expected. But at least he had gotten his desired mechs. The tough decision now was to decide who stayed to become loyal Decepticons and who would be sent to work as enslaved bots. He decided to keep the three mechs and the grounder femme. He sent the twin femme seekerlings to be enslaved.
Megatron knew why, Starscream had sensed they would be soft like Optimus. Hotshot just watched. And as soon as all was said and done and the four saved ones had names, it was all done and all cleared out. Only then did Hotshot approach Optimus.
"This is the way it is. Starscream sparks us, we carry them, and then he decides who stays and who goes. We never get to hold them or name them. I will now get eight weeks to recover before he will try to take me again. The cycle when then continue. But consider us fortunate, as those enslaved elsewhere often times don't even get to see their little ones unless their master desires to keep one or two, which doesn't always happen. Always remember that pleasing Starscream is number one and he will be pleased with you. As Megatron can attest to, it is never wise to challenge or rebel against our master" Optimus said. Hotshot nodded. He had seen it. He had seen Megatron be gone for long periods of time only to return in worse shape than he left.
"Shall we continue our teaching of him?" Megatron asked.
"Yes, and it is time he learned how to read Starscream's moods so he knows what position ot be in.
"Yes, as we learned the hard way" Megatron said. Hotshot was ready to learn.
Meanwhile, Starscream was mostly pleased how this had turned out. This was going better than he planned and Hotshot was getting closer to when he could contribute. That thought turned the seeker on. SO much so he planned to frag Elita and then go out for a flight to see how others were doing. It truly was good to be the emperor.