Optimus came by later, holding a whip. He took Megatron's baby away (was this how Orion felt getting that abortion?) and whipped him around his belly, hips, and panels. Megatron cried out for him to stop, and then he was rewarded a gag. Optimus was crying as well, wanting to stop, but unable to.

The mech's crying got worse. He was beginning to feel less like himself and more like Orion Pax.

Optimus felt less like him and more like Megatron. So for several days, he did not appear. He stayed in his quarters, caring for his sparklings. The femme he called Mercy, and the mech was Vengeance. He looked down at them. They were complete opposites.

He had expected his child to be gentle and loving, but Vengeance was dark with red optics and red streaks down his silvery armor. There was no hint of blue on him.

Mercy was the opposite. She was tender, gentle. She never bit her brother, or her sire, unlike Vengeance who bit his carrier every chance he got.

He sighed, lifting Mercy and Vengeance up. He walked down to visit Megatron.

ooo

How was it possible for it to hurt so much? He was curled up on his side, staring at a wall. He had only seen his daughter for a couple hours, and then she was gone, but it hurt. How could it hurt so much?

Optimus walked in, holding two sparklings. He laid the femme on his chest when Megatron rolled over to see them and he cried out in relief, hugging her tight. She giggled and purred, recognizing her carrier as she wrapped her little arms around him. He kissed her face, her helm, rubbing her body, rubbing her all over until he had her learned.

"Her name is Mercy." Optimus held his struggling mechling, growling lowly for him to settle. "This is Vengeance."

Megatron offered to take the mechling, holding out his servo, but instead of grabbing the mechling, he grabbed Optimus' wrist and pulled the Prime down into his arms as well.

Optimus struggled, pinging his distress, but then he was silent as Megatron's lips found his.

"Shh," the warlord whispered. He stroked his helm, petted his cheeks. "I love you."

His blue optics widened and then they softened, and then they darkened in sorrow. "Liar..."

"No, I do..." He kissed him repeatedly, pulling him into a deeper kiss than the last each time. "I really do. Look at us! We have a family."

Vengeance had settled down, blinking at his sire as if he had never seen the mech, which was true up till this point. Mercy was purring, content to nestle up to her carrier's side and fall asleep peacefully for the first time since she was taken.

Optimus pulled away, staring at the creations. "Look at them... They had never fallen asleep like this, not with me. And your creation..." He looked at Mercy. "She has never slept, never stopped crying for the one who carried her. I have torn you apart. I am no better than you." He bared his denta. "Get out."

"Optimus," Megatron pleaded.

"Get out!" He grabbed the warlord and pushed him out of the room and into the hall. "Bulkhead, escort him out!"

Bulkhead did, making sure the warlord was pushed out into the desert. "Sorry for this," he muttered. He pulled out a pouch of spoiled Energon, shoving it at Megatron along with soft blankets. "Make sure they don't get too exposed."

Megatron blinked and took the stolen gifts, wrapping his creations up and nodding his thanks. Then he ran, calling an emergency GroundBridge.

Starscream ran to him, stopping when he saw the sparklings. "What are those?"

"Let them imprint on you." He shoved the sparklings into his second's arms. "They have imprinted on me and the sire of one, but they have lost the sire. Let them imprint on you."

Starscream gazed down at the sparklings, caught up in Mercy's beauty and Vengeance's startling contrast. Mercy purred and giggled softly, hugging his neck and pressing her face into the plating there. Vengeance warmed up to him slower.

"Am I the carrier or the sire?"

"I carried Mercy, but I sired Vengeance."

Starscream nodded. "Who was the sire?"

Megatron went silent, refusing to answer.

ooo

How could those sparklings prefer Megatron over him? Optimus held himself while he sat on his berth. Ratchet was watching him.

"Optimus?"

"They liked him more than I."

"He was the victim in that case, and ou were not an appealing creator during the time. Mercy had imprinted on Megatron and Vengeance knew his voice."

Optimus buried his face in his servos. "I have become like Megatron!"

"But you can change, Optimus." Ratchet wrapped his arms around his friend. "Shhhh, Optimus, shhh..."

The Prime cried for his creations, cried for the mech that he had at one point in time adored with all his spark...but he had ruined his chance. Could he get a second chance? He didn't know...He prayed to Primus, tears burning tracks down his cheeks.

But Primus remained silent and he didn't know if his prayers were being answered or not.