Chapter ten: Once upon a time...
When Savage regained consciousness, he groaned a little, not only did his entire body hurt but his face hurt as well.
'Ugh, feels like I've been punched in the face.' He thought.
He slowly sat up and saw Starscream by the artificial womb, he narrowed his optics suddenly feeling rather protective of his young ones.
Starscream must have sensed this because he turned away from them and looked in his direction.
"Relax, I would never harm a sparkling. I am many things but that's the one thing I would never do." He told him.
"Good, you maybe my brother's bondmate, but when it comes the safety of my little ones, I will not hesitate to rip yours or anyone's head off to protect them." Savage said.
Starscream chuckled. "I see being a mother hasn't changed your protective streak at all."
Savage huffed, and joined Starscream in front of the tank. He looked at his beautiful creation, whom were awake and shifting in the thick, nutritious gel while playing with each other. he pressed his hand on the glass, and Maelstrom saw him, turning his way and shiftinh closer, his tiny hand touching the glass on her side.
Starscream chuckled at the cute sight, and wished that he could have a sparkling of his own himself. So far, he and Megatron had had no luck on this part. It was making him sad, and somewhat worried. What if he was sterile? This was a secret worry fo his, that he hadn't yet shared with his bondmate.
"They are cute. They recognize you already." He commented, his wings perking a bit at the sight of the sparklings. "Maelstorm already seems bright and Sagaris is strong and will be big mech. Both are going to be great. Savage."
"I know... primus touched them..." Savage replied, his hand still on the glass and smiling at his little creations. Sagaris too, as he'd joined his sister near the glass and was mouthing her wing nub. He smiled at the warming sight. "Starscream... there is something I must ask you."
His serious tune attracted the seeker's attention and he answered with a hint of concern. "What is it Savage?"
"When I die, I want you and Megatron to take care of my sparklings. Raise them and love them the way I would..." His voice almost broke at the last words, and tears were shining in his optics. He sighed brokenly and turned away, pressing his forehead to the tank's glass, both his sparkling apparently feeling his darker mood and pressing close too.
"Savage..." Starscream started, wanting to tell him he wasn,t going to die, that they'd find a way, but Savage interrupted hm.
"No, Starscream. I know I'm going to die, there's no stopping it. just promise me to take care of them. Please?"
His broken, begging tune must've gotten hard to Starscream because he hugged him close and nuzzled his helm, whispering in his audio. "I promise. I'll raise them like they are my own."
"Thank you." Savage whispered with a quiet sniffle.
Starscream had never seen Savage so broken before, secretly he looked up to the proud, loyal, slightly cocky flyer... but seeing him like this was sparkbreaking.
The door to the medbay opened and Megatron walked in, he smirked a little when he saw Savage and Starscream standing by the sparkling's tank.
"I see you two are getting along... For once."
It was no secret that Savage and Starscream didn't get along, it didn't get any better when Megatron took Starscream as his mate. Savage would go out of his way to annoy the seeker, just to get a rise out of him. But it always playful, friendly jabs, never hurtful. He would stop of course when Megatron gave him that glare he had always use him since he was young.
Starscream turned to face his bondmate and smiled some, nodding. He let go of Savage and the younger seeker returned his attention to the sparklings tank, stroking the glass with a thoughtful expression. He still looked awfully sad and somewhat depressed, and Megatron walked to their side, concerned.
"What happened? You two looks like someone told you your cyberkitty died." megatron finally said, trying to lightens the mood.
"We were just talking about the sparklings, love. Savage is a little concerned about them." That wasn't a lie, it was true, but Starscream didn't wanted to upset Megatron by telling him the exact nature of their conversation, and Savage's request. He would learn soon enough.
"Hmmm." megatron made a sound, noncommittally, not quite convinced but deciding to drop the subject. Instead he looked at the sparklings and saw their design for the first time.
Megatron's optics narrowed when he saw Sagaris and bared his teeth in silent growl, his optics flashed angrily. His fists baled at his side and he was rudely reminded who was the Sire of those little ones.
"Unicron..." He hissed through clenched dental plates.
The mech was the spitting image of his father. As he took a step closer, Savage slipped between him and the sparklings. His protective instincts were taking over, and he would do everything to protect his offspring's.
The warning glare that Savage gave his brother, made even Starscream step away from the tank. The two brothers glared at each other in a battle of wills, neither were willing back down.
Even the sparklings were reacting, and Maelstrom had put herself between her brother and her uncle, and she curled around her twin protectively. Sagaris tiny wings flapped and his optics, a pure innocent blue, shone brightly. They were optning their mouths like they were aking sounds, but they were too small to make out anything.
Megatron's anger started to bleed out and soon, all he was feeling was spark-deep sadness and tiredness. He turned away from the tank and the sparklings inside and said, his tune dry and low.
"It's not their fault. Megatron's going to pay. I promise you that."
Savage relaxed when Megatron wasn't threatening his sparklings anymore, and he stepped closer, putting a hand on his shoulder. "You should just let go. I've already accepted my fate..."
megatron abruptly shrugged him off, anger returning to his features and he hissed some. "Well, I haven't! I have not raised you all those Vorns just to see you die so needlessly!"
"Die needlessly? I made the deal to protect you! You've done nothing but protect me my entire life, it's my turn to protect you!" Savage retorted.
"By becoming his plaything?!" The other snarled.
"My fate would have been yours if I hadn't done anything, I would rather see you die a warriors death then to see you suffer at the hands of Unicron!"
Thier argument quickly turned into a screaming match that would have turned violent had Optimus not intervened.
The Autobot Leader entered the medbay only to hear screaming coming from the back room where the sparklings and Savage were kept, and he ran there. Finding the two brothers close to jumping at each other's throat, he shoved himself between them and pressed a hand on each of their chests, pushing them further apart.
"Stop this! Your fight is meaningless! it is upsetting the sparklings!" he roared to make himself heard and they both stared at him in slight shock.
Optimus roaring in anger was quite rare, and he was pissed at the two of them for being so childish and self-centered. Both were strong headed and both were sure their opinion was the best. He gave them both a searing look, and added.
"If you want to fight, then focus your energy on the real enemy! You're brothers! You shouldn't be having this fight especially not in front of the little ones!" He chided them his wise, cool voice seeming to get through their thick heads.
The sparklings had shifted away from the arguing pair and were curled together looking worried.
At the mention of his sparklings, Savage backed down and turned his attention to his little ones immediately, managing to calm himself down. he was still angry at his brother, but his sparklings were more important to him. He wanted them happy.
"Shh, it's ok. I'm sorry." He cooed, placing a hand on the glass, running a tender claw over it.
The twins calmed at the sound of their mother's soothing voice. Maelstrom reached out and placed her tiny hand against her mothers, only the thin yet strong layer of the artificial womb separating them.
Savage smiled, love in his tired red optics. Primus, he would miss them when he was gone, he had to fight back tears at the thought of not being able to watch them grow.
He felt a hand on his shoulder only a moment later, and Optimus prime was there, beside him, looking at the sparkling, as if understanding very well what was on his processor. "It doesn't have to be this way, Savage. Unicron will be defeated, and I will do my best to make sure that you will stay alive to see them grow."
His voice was gentle, soothing, and his smile confident and calm. He squeezed the shoulder a little, and Megatron, behind him, looked rather sheepish, probably regretting his outburst already. he walked to his brother's other side, and while looking at little Sagaris still make his spark clench with repressed anger, he vowed never to hold this over the little sparkling. It was not its fault.
"You'll live, Savage. You'll get to see them grow and become good warriors like their uncle." he smirked some at this last part, teasing his brother a bit with it. "I love you Savage, that is why I can't stand the thought of seeing you die when you time has not come yet..."
He sighed and placed his larger claw beside his brother's on the thin glass of the tank, and immediately little Sagaris came forward to examine it, tiny tiny hands over his and his joyful curiosity made the old warlord smile.
As much as Savage wanted to believe them, he knew it was foolish to believe it, his spark was dying it was only a matter of time now.
He gave up on hope when he made the deal with Unicron.
"I've arranged for you and Starscream to be Maelstrom's and Sagaris' caretakers when I'm gone." Savage said, still looking at his little ones.
Megatron's optics widened some at this and he bit his lower lip, fighting the tears that wanted to slip out of his optics. He was NOT going to cry. But the resigned, too quiet and calm tune with which Savage was talking of his own death was making his spark clench so hard with pain and sadness. And an anger that again threatened to bubble out.
"Savage... I... don't know what to say." he replied in a strained whisper. "Thank you for your trust in me. It means a lot." His voice had a tremolo that showed how much he was fighting not to cry right there.
Optimus said nothing. he had nothing to say, really, but quietly he left the room, and the ship a few moments later after requesting to be bridged to a barren area on the planet's surface. He wasn,t going to stand idle while mechs were suffering. He was a prime, and he had duties to his people and his planet. It was time to settle the score with Unicron, and for that, he needed to get in touch with the matrix, and through it, Primus.
Once he reached the surface, he sat on a flat rock, and focused inward, getting into a deep meditative state. "Primus, I am listening to your Will. Talk to your faithful Servant."
When he opened his optics, Primus was standing before him, his deep blue optics filled with love, wisdom and a hint of saddess.
"I am here, my child." His god said.
"My lord," Optimus said with a small bow of his head. "I seek your wisdom."
"What is it that you wish to know?"
"Is there anything you can do to free Savage from Unicron's grasp?" Prime asked.
Primus sighed heavily before replying. "I'm sorry, child. But there is nothing I can do for him, my brother's hold on him is to great."
Optimus's head drooped in sadness, his spark aching for the poor seeker. He was so young... How could he be sentenced to death, while he had sparklings to take care off now? A tear slid down his cheek, and he felt a gentle, warm digit wipe it away, and his chin was lifted to watch into Primus's kind, sadened face.
"Do not grieve my child. The sparklings will be well taken care of. They are a gift to your people." The Gid said, placing a hand on top of his Servant's head.
"There must be a way..." optimus's whispered, his spark breaking as more tears escaped his optics. "Please ho Lord, Tell me, there must ne /something/ that I can do. I cannot stand idle and watch another mech die so needlessly."
Primus's sadened expression didn't changed, but he had a smile, warm and encouraging, forming on his lips. "there may be something you can do. While I can do nothing for Savage, Unicron can still be beaten, and banished from this world."
Prime's optics brightened as hope filled his spark. If Unicron was banished Savage would be freed from his contract with the dark God.
"What is it that you need me to do?" Optimus asked.
"In order to banish Unicron from this world you must use The Matrix of Leadership. But by doing so... it will cost you your life." Primus told him.
Primus hated that he would possibly lose another follower. Silverus Prime, Optimus' predecessor had died of her wounds trying to keep the peace during the younger days of Cybertrons Golden age.
She had been just as loyal and wise as Optimus, it pained him greatly to see yet another one of his children fall before reaching their full potential.
"I am ready to lay down my life for the safety of this planet, and my people." Optimus replied seriously, a edge of assurance in his voice. "If this is to be my fate, then so be it, ho Lord. My life had always been yours."
Primus didn't expected another answer from his faithful follower. His predecessor had been just the same, and she laid down her life for her people too. However, it never made it easier for the kind God to see his Children sacrifice themselves. A single tear like a diamond rolled down his cheek, and he looked down at his courageous creation with pride.
"I am proud of you my child. You are a true Prime, a true Disciple of my will. Soon, I shall ask of you to use the matrix. When the time comes, you will know..." Primus said, and he was starting to fade away while speaking, becoming more and more transluscent, shining like a beacon of light. "Until then, be safe. The sparklings have my blessing..."
And then he was gone, and Optimus stood there, in the desert, silent and deep in thought. The matrix was signing in his chest at it had been in the presence of its creator, making Optimus stand taller and almost shining himself.
Optimus once again stood aboard the warship after requesting a portal. He found himself in the back room of the med bay where Savage and his little ones were resting.
the moment he put his hand on the glass, Maelstrom moved closer to inspect his hand, Prime smiled and chuckled softly.
"Inquisitive little one, aren't you?"
Maelstrom looked up at him with bright blue optics filled with innocence and curiosity.
"It's a shame that I never got a chance to truly get to know you. But something tells me that you will grow up to be someone of great importance." Maelstrom tilted her head at the sound of his voice.
* * *
Starscream nuzzled Megatron's broad chest as he was laid down on the berth in their quarters.
"Let me make love to you, my darling seeker." Megatron said with a husky purr.
Starscream chuckled and purred back at the husky tune used by his mate and lover. he spread out under him and opened his legs, inviting and ready. He wrapped his arms around Megatron's neck and pulled him closer, capturing his mouth in a fiery kiss. "I'm all yours my love..."
Stress relief was what Megatron truly needed with everything that was going on. He had to take his mind off it, and Starscream was all too willing to help out. He kissed back fiercely and one hand gripped his mate's slender hip, kneading at the sensitive joint and wires there. "Starscream... Let's try for a sparkling again, love..."
"Ho yes... I want to carry your sparkling do badly Megatron." he purred and nuzzled his neck, grinding his groin against Megatron's groin in a needy, lustful and sensual way.
He loved it when Starscream did that thier love making, it always got him fired up and ready for more.
"Open up, my beloved seeker. So I can claim what is mine." Megatron purred.
Starscream shivered at the sound of his mate's purr, his panel slid back revealing his already drenched port.
"Primus, I love that your always so eager."
Starscream purred and gave his mate's throat a long, sensual lick, then sucked on the cables there, grinding his wet valve to his groin. "Take me already... I'm so wet for your big, hard cable..."
Megatron,s engines rumbled in appreciation at the dirty talking his mate was doing. He loved it when Starscream got a dirty mouth and he immediately went to ravage his neck with his glossa and mouth, opening his own panel to free his large member. "I love your dirty talk..."
He slid inside his lover seamlessly in one swift, deep thrust, and Starscream let out a cry of pleasure, his valve clenching around the intruder. "Megatron! Ho Primus yes!"
His chestplates atarted to part a few moments later, and he bared his blue pulsing spark for his lover to take.
-Primus, your spark is so beautiful, Star.- Megatron purred over the bond.
Starscream smiled before reaching up and placing his hand on his mate's chest. -Now it's your turn, my dearest Megatron.-
A few seconds later, Megatron's chest plates opened revealing red wine colored spark.
Starscream purred and smiled, the red and blue lights of their sparks casting them in purple light. Megatron had sank deep into his lover's valve and lowered his chest so their sparks will join together. Starscream arched and moaned beautifully, his cheeks burning and valve clenching with waves of pleasure.
"Hoooo Megatron! More..." he begged, his voice lower and deeper with lust.
"My Star..." megatron replied huskily and bit lovingly at hia lover,s throat, licking uthe small beads of energon he drew.
Their sparks whirled and danced together, singing in joy of being joined and soon a tiny speck detached, a sparkling having formed. After vorns of trying, they finally managed to create a life... Starscream cried out in pure bliss and grinded hard into his mate, valve spasming as overload came hard.
Strscream always looked so beautiful when he climaxed, after a few more deep thrusts, Megatron overloaded as well, roaring hi mates name in the process.
They held each other basking in the after glow of thier love making. Megatron slowly pulled out of his mates port pulled him close to his now closed chest plates.
Starscream didn't want to ruin the mood by bringing up Savage or thier plans to try and save him from Unicron, so he simply laid his head on his left upper arm and traced the Con symbol on his chest.
He smiled when Megatron shivered under his touch as he always did every time he traced it with his claw.
Somewhere else in the ship, Ratchet woke up with a start, gasping and looking fearful. He was having an awful nightmare, but couldn't remember anything of it upon waking. He pressed a trembling hand to his chestplates and shuddered.
At his side, Dreadwing groaned and slowly woke up, feeling his new mate's emotions through their fresh bond. he sat up and his hands slowly caressed his back, soothingly. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing... I had a bad dream, that's all." He replied and turned so he could kis his mate. He still had a hand pressed to his chest, and added. "I think I'll give myself a scan. Just to make sure..."
Dreadwing waited patiently as his mate scanned himself, he narrowed his optics when he felt his mates confusion over the bond.
Ratchet was confused by the results.
'This can't be right,' Ratchet thought. 'Maybe is second scan will be different.'
Dreadwing was rather startled when Ratchet suddenly bolted for the bathroom. That was soon followed by loud, surprised, and colorful cursing.
The blue and yellow flyer practically fell out of bed trying to get to the closed bathroom door.
"Ratchet! Ratchet, love, are you alright?!" Dreadwing knocked at the door with a very worried expression, once he managed to scramble out of the berth. "What is it?! Tell me!"
Ratchet was silent for a few more moments, and the seeker was just about to bash the door open, when it finally slid open and a pair of arms wrapped around his neck, a smaller, lither mech literally throwing himself at him and hanging on his thick neck. He was shaking a little, and said, his tune tense and disbelieving. "I'm carrying a sparkling... I can't believe it... I shouldn't be able to..."
Dreadwing was at a loss of words, and gaped a little dumbly. "Carrying? How is it possible?..." He felt a wave of joy and protectiveness cross his spark and held his mate closer, his red optics shining brightly. "I'll protect you... I'll make sure nothing happens to you both. I swear it."
Ratchet believe him when he made that promise. Seekers, all flyers are very protective of their offspring and would even attack thier commander to protect them.
Dreadwing continued to hold his mate close, he still didn't understand how it was possible for a flyer and non-flyer to conceive a sparkling but he chose not to question it.
'I'm carrying... Again...' Ratchet thought.
Dreadwing was feeling ratchet still tense and he rubbed his back soothingly, frowning some. "I can feel something's still bothering you Ratchet. You can't hide it through the bond..." The large flier wasn't used to this yet, but he could tell that there was pain, aorrow and fear leaking through the bond,along with hope and wary joy.
"I..." he started, unsure if he should tell him about that last time, when he lost the sparkling he was carrying. His system rejected it after only a few weeks... He would do everything to make sure it won't happens this time! "I lost a sparkling once... My systems rejected the newspark, and it extinguished within a month of gestation." ratchet finally explained and pulled away from Dreadwing to look him in the optics. "I won't let it happen this time. I'll do everyting to make sure this little one lives..."
Dreadwing optics softened and he pulled his bond mate into a tender kiss, sending comfort over the bond.
-We both will.- Dreadwing vowed.
They made love again, this time Ratchet was on top making love to Dreadwing.
Dreadwing had always wanted to be a father now they had been with blessed with one. Now all they had to do was keep the little one alive.
'We will not lose this sparkling, I swear it.' Dreadwing told himself.
-TBC-