Transformers Belongs To Hasbro
Chapter 3: Parental Control
After Starscream had ran off with his tail tucked between his legs, Megatron's anger seemed to finally soothe. Soundwave had finally brought the cube and 'Stella' was hungrily slurping down the nourishment as Megatron sat on his throne. Her adoptive sire chortled as he wiped her face clean. Raising Starscream had been very different. The little monster had bit and clawed him every moment of his sparklinghood. Not that Megatron had lots of time to spend with his prodigal son.
"Mw. Megatwon? Thank you fow the enewgon but now I'm sleepy..." Stella yawned, nuzzling into his chassis with her helm into his neck.
"Shhh, it is okay. Just go to sleep. I'll be here to protect you." he soothed, a servo coming up to stroke her tiny helm. What a pretty femme she would grow up to be. The idea of her finding a mate flitted through his processor but that was something he would deal with in time.
"Yes, siw..." she mumbled, thumb finding itself back into her mouth.
"You're such a good child, Stella. I hope you remain that way and do not end up like your new brother. Also, do not call me Megatron. You will refer to me as father, understood? I will accept nothing else but a parental title." Megatron stated sternly, raising her sleepy helm to look at him.
Stella sleepily nodded her acknowledgement. The days events had taken their toll on the child. So many things had happened. She lost her mother, her father, and her old life. But in return she had earned a protective caretaker, an unruly brother, and protection from whatever wished to cause her harm. Megatron himself was not too bad. He was scary at first and violent. But he had fed her and gave her a home.
Yes, things could have been much worse for the child.
It was an odd scene for any passing Decepticon. Their tyrant of a leader cradling a small Autobot sparkling was enough to shock the system. It was obvious by her azure optics that she was an Autobot but they did not dare ask questions. That had been established with the other mech's untimely demise.
" When awe we going to find daddy? " she asked, glancing up at Megatron with sleepy optics.
"I thought we already discussed this, dear. I am your new sire. Your father abandoned both you and your mother so now it is my job to raise you correctly." he re-stated, a servo resting on her tiny back.
With that, the conversation was over for years to come.
Years had been nice to the young femme. She led a sheltered life amongst the Decepticons since the defeat of the Autobots. With Megatron's careful preening and watchful optic, she had entered femmehood with grace. All the while believing that he was her true father. That fateful day Stella had met Megatron had been washed away by the tides of time. Their was no reason for her to think any differently of the mech that raised her and ruled the planet she knew as home. Even Starscream had accepted her as his sister and not even he mentioned the day she was brought here.
But Megatron was not the only one that had kept a close optic on her. No, there were plenty others. After the victory of the Decepticons the Autobots had fled in numbers but there was also many that had stayed as a rebellion team. They had been waiting for a weakness... Megatron's soft spot to strike. Now they had found it. Stella was about 10 in human years when the Autobot spies had laid optics on her for the first time. Careful timing and years of preperation had been accumulated to set a plan in motion.
Megatron was attached to the femme and would never let anything happen to her. Not only this, but he hated being bested. Stella might not win them the war at any means but at least they could enhance their chances. Though they had discovered something odd about the femme. Her optics were that of an Autobot. They were a crystal blue that pierced the spark with unspoken kindness. They assumed she was a product of a poor Auto femme's rape.
The opportunity was upon them as Megatron had allowed an escort to take his daughter out to enjoy the outside.
The plan would be harder if it wasn't for another of Megatron's faults: his arrogance. He was so sure that no one but his closest Decepticons knew of his daughter so he would let her freely out to roam, with an escort of course. But this time he had let her out of the limits of Kaon and into the ruins of Iacon for a sort of field trip.
But one Decepticon was no match for Ironhide.
"You have your orders, Ironhide. I want the femme retrieved with minimum harm. The escort is free game. Remember how important this mission is for our survival." Optimus' voice boomed with regal authority. This mission could very likely spark an outrage against the group but if necessary he would show Megatron how serious he was, though he hoped to avoid harming the fembot.
" I got this, Prime! Stop badgering me. One Decepticon Princess and drone is no match for my strength!" Ironhide bellowed, a hearty laugh following.
"Chill, Hide. The mission is top priority. It's a accident-free zone, ya dig?" Jazz chimed in, though his thoughts mirrored those of his rambunctious counterpart.
" I understand, Ironhide. But we want Megatron to realize she's missing, not be told. He needs to worry." Optimus explained, his voice grave.
"Ha! Is Megatron really getting that soft? A kid can't be that important to that demon." Ironhide huffed in response.
" You would be surprised how much losing your child can hurt, Ironhide..." Optimus muttered, turning away to look back at the computer.
Ironhide's optics went wide as he realized the meaning to his words. Optima had meant everything to Optimus. She had been the apple of his optic but she was long since gone. Killed in the final take over of Iacon.
"Prime...I didn't...Ya know..." Ironhide grumbled, scratching the back of his helm.
"It was a long time ago, old friend. Just fulfill the mission and bring this Stella back to base." Optimus responded with a smile of melancholy.
" It's amazing what war can do to a place... Iacon looks nothing like the pictures that Father showed me. " Stella said in amazement, her optics scanning over the ruins.
"Ah, that was the days. Killing Autobots was fun back then!" her escort laughed, his voice like gravel. Stella paled at his words. How could a bot enjoy taking another's life? Even her father had told her that he killed only when necessary.
"Were Autobots really that evil to deserve to be wiped off Cybertron? Maybe we could make a deal with the few remaining ones..." Stella suggested, her voice sounding hopeful. The escort responded by spitted disdainfully at the ground.
" A deal? You think those damned Autobots have a speck of reason in their dull processors. Think again, sweetspark. They kill at any chance they have. You best be happy none are around these parts. They'd gobble a pretty thing like you right up." he laughed hoarsely.
Stella shuddered violently without his notice.
"Funny coming from a turkey!" a voice boomed, echoing around the area. The timid femme jumped as she heard the voice.
" Who's there! Show yer self, ya blasted imbecile!" her escort snarled, whipping his helm around for the source of the noise.
" If this mission wasn't important, I'd play with ya. But I don't have the time." the voice chortled. Stella screamed as a shot was fired and pierced the escort's chest. Ironhide walked out smirking smugly and twirling his gun on his digits.
Stella stumbled backwards as he turned toward her.
" Not scared of a big bad Auto are you, hun? You're really small for a Decepticon. " Ironhide chuckled, slowly walking towards the terrified femme.
" P-Please...go a-away!" Stella pleaded, optics glued to her escort's graying chassis.
"Can't do, kiddo. You're important and we need you. So you can either come along nicely or I'll make you come." he growled. Years of war and death had made his patience short-lived. Stella cowered back at his words. Too terrified to move. Ironhide sighed heavily at her reaction.
"Guess I got to make you come."
" Looky what I got, Prime! " Ironhide laughed, an unconscious Stella slung over his shoulder. A slight dent marked her helm but it was unnoticeable...well...not to Ratchet.
"This is why you should be allowed to do the delicate work! You're going to ruin everything!" Ratchet yelled, slamming his tool down angerily.
"Eh, don't get your pistons in a bunch. She's fine. Just too scared to cooperate, that's all." Ironhide retorted, shooting the medic a dirty look.
"Both of you stop. What's important is that she's here and the mission was successful. Ironhide, put her in a holding cell and I'll be there when she awakens. Good work." Optimus added, his relief quite evident.