Megatron look the door chime panel in deep aggravation. Clench is a greedy bastard at best times and even he could be bought. Megatron as a gladiator has to service in all areas for rich, famous, and the nobles. Which brings to question this client is a both rich and noble, and since Megatron set his price high it meant very few can afford. Clench certainly eager to accept the credits from this noble and even said bit different form his ilk.

Megatron punched the chime. The door open to a table set with the finest setting for two. Megatron must admit he felt awe and good amount of disgust for the setting how many lower castes suffer for this setting. It was well used a closer inspection and not newly minted. Megatron have not yet seen his host but the door to berth room open.

Megatron watch as blue and white mech walk in such grace a dancer will be envious. It is not a simple white and blue frame the mech spare no expense. This noble face is neither excite nor confident about tonight. It is clear the noble wanted something. If anything Megatron seen this expression before of many gladiator battles where the warrior going into difficult battle.

"I am impress to the lengths you went to get me here my Lord." The other mech flinched and look unsure. "Whom do I have the honor?" Megatron did mock bow. "To grace with my presence."

"I am called Lord Mirage." Spoke the mech calmly. "I bought the night so we can have a discourse."

"Discourse?"

"It means to talk."

"I know what it means." Spoke Megatron aggravated. "I am not sure my willingness increase due to a talk. "

"Willingness to do a speech." Spoke Mirage cock his head towards the Gladiator.

"Come again." Spoke Megatron not sure his audios working correctly. "I mean do you want me to Interface."

"I bought the night so you can do a speech." Spoke Mirage quickly. Then his mouth went open in unbecoming way for a noble to reveal his shock and horror at his social gaph. "This is what they mean by to buy a night?"

Megatron merely chuckle at the other mech shock. "You are young. I willing bet you never interface, before. In general yes this is what they meant to do when they buy a night."

"I see." Spoke Mirage his face downcast. "I am sorry."

Megatron study the noble in assessing red optics. Mirage, he heard that designation before somewhere. Taking a seat on the sofa and Mirage just stood there, Megatron, concluded that this mech sheltered life must be close to a gilded cage. Nobles are hedonistic and their narcissism is legend amongst the gladiators.

"It seems that you are trap by your own circumstances."

"Pardon me, I do not understand."

Megatron looked around the posh hotel room. "Mirage, is that your designation."

"Yes." Answer the other briefly

"You wanted a speech and nobles are not allowed to listen to common rabble." Spoke Megatron

"You are not common by any stretch of the imagination." Spoke Mirage looking at his guest.

"Heh, I will give you that." Smirk Megatron "Sit down, Mirage, I am tired craning my neck to look at your pretty gold optics."

Mirage did as he bade and sat across from the sofa. "My optics are gold and they are not pretty."

Megatron mere smile and thought to himself. Mirage's optics are different from most nobles he seen or heard about. Mirage own aloof and reserved manner Is not born from the Tower's arrogance but it is more defense mechanism. All that polite society hides even more viscous truth that it is one of status and image. Mirage is alone in midst sea of peers.

"You wanted a speech, Mirage."

"If you do not have one, I will not be upset."

"Mirage, how did you know about me giving speeches?"

Mirage lowered his optics from Megatron piercing gaze. "I was following a Lord's errant servants. The Lord has grown suspicious of them and he was try to find a reason to fire them. I followed them to lower sections where a crowd was gathered. It was there I listened to you there."

"You only got bits and pieces of the speech." Guessed Megatron

"That is correct." Spoke Mirage helm lowered "I arrange this night with Clench to listen to a speech entirety."

"Why not ask your servants for a transmission?" ask Megatron

"I am noble but even I am not above Tower etiquette and most nobles ruled against your speeches."

"So asking your servants for the transmission will get them in trouble."

"That is correct."

Megatron when he first came to this room was furious at Mirage and Clench. Mirage had no real course but to buy night with him. Mirage is to gentle and kind to be a noble more Megatron thought about it was almost like he wanted to get away from the Towers. Despite being beautiful on the outside on the inside the Towers was far more corrupt and uglier than the Senate. Megatron gave Mirage the speech as he wanted.

"You are truly powerful, Megatron, and many mechas will follow you. It will have the power save us or damned us. I wonder which path it will be."

Megatron watch Mirage took a position on a couch and his optics half powered. "Take the berth I will recharge on the couch here."

Megatron did as he was told and recharge until early next morning. Mirage is still in recharge when Megatron came out and he places his hand on the other mech's cheek.

4 Million years later

Megatron found Mirage clutching his rifle and is in recharge. Megatron is able to observe the other mech's face the innocence is gone but not the hope. Mirage been fighting a nightmare and finally the enemy is gone and exhaustion crept in. Megatron stroke his cheek like he did four million years ago in that posh hotel.

Megatron, seen the beautiful gold optics are now lace in fear. Mirage had his own demons to deal with and started with Ratbat betrayal in collusion with Soundwave.

"When we spent time together, I stroke your cheek like this." Spoke Megatron

"I….I….I" stuttered Mirage "They thought I meant something to you."

Megatron merely took his hand away. Look at Nightbeat, Getaway, and Nautica who hang back and guarded them. "Where are the others?"

"The shuttles started disappear and we found ourselves at the Lost Light or nightmare version of it."

"See I told you this is where the shuttles are." Spoke Nightbeat

"Nightbeat."

"I decided to scout the area to see if we can get extra supplies." Spoke Mirage trying to stand. Clutching his side to show Energon bleeding and damage from claw marks and passsed out from the exertion.

Megatron caught him and carried Mirage back to the group.

"These wounds were done by mechs." Spoke Nautica

"Megatron, does he mean something to you." Spoke Nightbeat

"Mirage, is one of the mechs who was harmed by me greatly." Answered Megatron

"You have taste, Bucket head." Spoke Getaway "Mirage, is beautiful but I bet under the reserve nature he is passionate in the berth."

"Boss, I want to make a scratching post out of him." Snarled Ravage

Megatron glared at Getaway. "Unfortunately, we do need him."

Nautica finally welded the claw marks shut. "You are perv, Getaway."

"Boss, let me scout the area." Spoke Ravage

"Go ahead, Ravage, be careful."

"Is it wise to let ,Ravage, scout the area." Spoke Getaway

"Mirage did not tell what he was fighting." Spoke Megatron

"I have to agree with the Captain here." Spoke Nightbeat "Ravage is on our side because well we are facing the same enemy."

"Keep on guard though." Spoke Megatron sitting near Mirage.