I know, I know. I haven't updated this in quite some time. But here I am now! I don't own Transformers Prime, but I do own this story. This particular chapter starts off in Starscream's POV and goes from there.

Now that Soundwave has taken the little sparkling to the Nemesis, Megatron will tell the other 'Cons of Optimus's presence on the ship. How will the other Decepticons react?

I walked towards the command center of the Nemesis, wings held high as usual. Megatron called all of his higher ranking officers to the command post to discuss something he refused to speak of over the intercom. There has been some recent chatter among the troops about a 'new arrival'. Unlike most common hearsay, the word traveling among the foot soldiers is usually true. Hopefully it will be someone useful to the Decepticon cause… preferably a Seeker.

Perhaps the meeting will be in regards to this possible new arrival. I stepped into the dark room (much like the rest of the Nemesis) and leisurely moved to stand next to Knockout. The vain ground pounder and his assistant were chatting amongst themselves, while the rest of the mechs in the room stood in a tense silence. I noticed Soundwave at his monitor, ignoring all of us, as he normally does. I discreetly rolled my optics and looked away.

That mech never fails to make everyone, at the very least, slightly nervous. He is always watching the activities of everyone on the Nemesis through a surveillance system no one can see. He's more irritating than intimidating to me personally since he interferes with my plans at the worst times possible, destroying them completely. Uprooting Megatron from the throne is difficult enough, but his lapdog only makes everything many times worse. I have yet to find a successful way to get around him and pursue my goal to rule the Decepticons.

However, there is one upside to him stopping my plans. Soundwave doesn't humiliate me in front of the entire Decepticon crew, unlike Megatron, who takes great pleasure in making me lose my dignity before others.

As I looked back at Soundwave, who had stopped working at his monitor and turned around to face the rest of the mechs in the room, a revelation struck me. Soundwave seldom attended meetings. The information discussed at such occasions, Soundwave already knows. There's no need for him to be here unless this meeting has something directly to do with the mech. My wings quivered slightly as I thought to myself. If this had to do with him, what was Megatron planning on telling us? He rarely told the other officers anything about Soundwave unless something incredibly important was taking place. But, if something important was happening, what could be so significant that Soundwave would be in attendance in this assembly?

Before I could question any further, unmistakable heavy footsteps sounded. Megatron walked steadily into the room from a different door, one more hidden than the others. Every mech in the room, with the exception of Soundwave and I, straightened up and gave our leader a formal greeting. The salutations were met with a piercing predatory glance as he prowled past a few rightfully nervous mechs and stood before us. He briefly surveyed us all before speaking.

"I'm sure all of you have heard of a 'new arrival' through rumors around the ship."

Knockout boldly spoke up. "Yes, we have, Lord Megatron. But who is it, exactly?"

Megatron didn't seem to mind being cut off and gained a small, unnerving grin. He motioned for Soundwave to step forward with a thick clawed servo.

"Soundwave, bring him here." Said mech nodded once and turned to leave the room. The silence soon grew awkward and tense as we waited for Soundwave to return with this new mech. The inactivity of the room led my processor to wander and speculate on who the mech was. I didn't have long to think about that when Soundwave swiftly returned. I couldn't help but gasp along with the others once I saw who this mech was.

"Optimus Prime? How is that even possible?" Breakdown said, absolute shock written all over his faceplates as he stared wide eyed at the recharging sparkling. Knockout, however, was busy laughing his aft off.

"The second biggest bot in this galaxy was pathetic when he was a sparkling!"

The Vehicon officers mumbled amongst themselves. I heard one Vehicon, who the others had taken a liking to calling 'Steve', remark that Prime was 'kind of cute'.

Remaining rather... unimpressed by the sleeping sparkling in Soundwave's arms, I turned to our leader. "What do you plan on doing with the sparkling, Lord Megatron? Snuffing his spark, perhaps?"

Megatron sent me a heated glare which I promptly ignored. "No, you imbecile. We are going to raise him to believe in the Decepticon cause."

His response caught me off guard and I sputtered slightly in surprise. I thought that after all the millennia Optimus Prime and Megatron fought each other, our leader would take the first chance he had to terminate Prime, regardless of what state he was in. The others were just as perplexed as I was. I vocalized my first reaction.

"Uh, Master?"

Megatron gave a miniscule grin, baring his sharp denta, apparently taking pleasure in confusing me. "Raising him as our own would have a longer lasting effect on the Autobots than killing their precious leader. He will also be a useful addition to our ranks."

Immediately after Megatron completed his statement, the sparkling in Soundwave's arms began to stir. The room grew dead silent as the little one's optics onlined and opened. His blue optics are relatively bright, despite being dimmed from recharge. All of us stared at the sparkling as he attempted to stretch in Soundwave's arms and curled back into a semi-fetal position. His tiny black servos were balled into weak fists close to his shiny faceplates. The sparkling looked around at each mech in the room, optics heavily lidded. The way he glanced sleepily at us told me that he did not recognize us as his enemies. Whatever transformed him into this vulnerable state must have affected his processor, as well as his frame.

"Keeping him is a good plan, but what about the others? They won't like having to take care of their sworn enemy." Knockout said. He had a valuable point. If we are going to raise him as our own, the sparkling's safety is a concern.

"I am well aware of the fact that not everyone will agree with my decision. But that doesn't matter. That sparkling-" Megatron waved a clawed servo towards the little one. "-is to be treated with utmost care."

Megatron lowered his voice to a deadly tone, succeeding in evoking fright in all of our sparks. "If any harm comes to him, the person at fault will be dealt with my me personally."

I mentally sighed. His words should not be mistaken for concern of the sparkling's safety. He only wishes for the little one's pure trust to be secured. If someone causes the sparkling harm, he will begin to distrust them. Our leader essentially wishes to groom him for a high rank. He's most likely preparing him for the post of second in command. I glared subtly at the sparkling as my wings twitched in aggravation.

Not if I can help it.

…Optimus's POV…

I awoke to see a multitude of sets of optics staring at me. Still partially in recharge, I stretched, feeling the tension in my joints ease. Even though I was in the heart of enemy territory, I had recharged well. I made no attempt to pull my CPU fully out of recharge as I looked around at the mechs in the room. I saw Knockout and his assistant Breakdown, as well as Starscream and a few Vehicons. I made the assumption that I was in Soundwave's arms, since the way I was being held felt familiar.

I drew my little servos closer to my faceplates and pulled my legs closer in, creating a small pocket of my own warmth. I knew Megatron was in the same room, though I did not see him in the shadows. His powerful electromagnetic field was instantly recognizable as I sensed even and rigid fluctuations meant to intimidate the other mechs in the room. I also sensed that the fluctuations were not aimed at me, but there is still the feeling of cold malice.

I know I must maintain my cover while I am here. I must behave like a normal sparkling. I looked at Megatron and he returned it, a frigid hardness in his optics that only the Decepticon warlord could successfully use. I resisted the urge to engage my battle mask, which I doubt would even work in my current condition, and gave him a warm, innocent smile. I could see his optics soften ever so slightly before swiftly solidifying. Megatron looked away, expression harder than before.

"Soudwave is his guardian and will in charge of our newest addition's well being," Megatron said. "However, his duties as surveillance officer may take much of his time. All of you must be prepared to care for the sparkling at any given moment, if that becomes the case."

The warlord turned halfway and gruffly dismissed the mechs in the room before leaving through a door I could not see. Soon after the Decepticon leader left the room, the Vehicons and Breakdown crowded around me. I am surprised that Soundwave did not move away from the attention that was undoubtedly unwanted. Looking past the chattering Decepticons, I noticed Starscream looking at me. Curious as to what would happen; I pointed at the Seeker and chirped cheerfully. The sound I made caught the mech off guard as the other mechs turned to look at the Seeker.

"That's Starscream, kid." Breakdown said lightly. "Maybe we should… give 'im a check-up." The blue mech looked at Soundwave, who silently nodded once. With that, I was passed over to Breakdown's slightly unsure servos. Careful to appear innocent, I looked up into Breakdown's yellow optic. The mech gave a small smile before walking out of the room, Knockout beside him.

…

Once we arrived in the medbay, I was put on a berth and given the standard physical for a sparkling. Knockout was rough in handling me and Breakdown could see that I was uncomfortable with the red mech. He stepped in and volunteered to finish my physical. Knockout huffed and walked over to check on a monitor near the medical berth I was sitting on.

"You're a quiet little mech, aren't ya?" Breakdown observed before giving me an energon treat on a short metal stick. Having always had a weak spot for sweets, I promptly put the treat in my mouth, sending Breakdown a thankful look.

"I wonder what caused him to turn into a sparkling." Knockout wondered from across the room. Breakdown shrugged.

"Who knows? I don't even think the Autobots know how this happened." The blue mech turned to his friend. Still sucking on the delicious treat, I looked around. There was a shelf near the back of the medical berth. Many of the items on it were low enough for me to reach. Then I noticed the partially opened can of paint.

Letting my child like curiosity get the better of me, I crawled over to the can and opened the lid.

…Knockout's POV…

I never really liked children. The older ones were fine but it's the little ones I don't like. I like them even less now that I have such a wonderful frame and paintjob to maintain. A long time ago I found out the hard way that children are little monsters. They get into everything and are a sure-fire way to mess up a good paintjob like mine.

So even if this sparkling is well behaved, I'm going to steer clear of him.

I looked over at my friend while he gave the little twerp his check up. Breakdown seems to like the little guy. I don't see how, beyond him being cute. But then again, that's probably why.

"I wonder what caused him to turn into a sparkling." I thought aloud.

Breakdown turned to me and shrugged. "Who knows? I don't even think the Autobots know how this happened."

I leaned on an elevated medical berth. "Maybe."

"So, you think he'll get his memory back?" My blue friend asked. I arched an optic ridge as I shifted my weight.

"Even if he does, what can he do? He's just a sparkling, trapped in the massive Decepticon warship. I doubt he could even find a secure escape route." Breakdown couldn't say anything in response as the medbay door opened. I furrowed my optic ridges as I stood up straight. Starscream? What was he doing here? I could tell from how he looked at the sparkling that he wanted nothing to do with him. The Second in Command walked in leisurely with his servo behind his back, like he was merely coming in for a report.

"Knockout, Breakdown, I would like for you two to- ACK!" I blinked and there was a giant splat of red paint all over his faceplates. I tried (and failed miserably) to not laugh at Starscream as he started frantically wiping the paint from his face, wings halfway lowered in anger.

I already know who threw it at Screamer. Normally I'd be really pissed off if somebody messed with my top quality paint, but that was hilarious!

"What in the Pit?! That little cretin! How dare he throw paint at me!" Starscream exclaimed. I looked over to see the little sparkling doing a lot of giggling, hand dripping paint on the medical berth he was sitting on.

"I don't know, I thought it was kinda funny." Breakdown snorted, trying to not laugh. Starscream snarled in response and swung his claws at him, which Breakdown easily dodged. Starscream turned and stomped out of the medbay.

"Primus fragging, Pit spawned, glitch-headed..." Geez. He listed off a number of colorful curses as he went down the hall... I glanced over at the sparkling, who gave me an innocent look, as if to say 'What? I couldn't help it'. I smiled at him.

"You're not bad for a little kid."

...Optimus's POV...

I am not the type of mech to do such things, but I found surprisingly great humor in throwing paint at Starscream. I allowed the child in me to react, letting myself laugh to my spark's content. Knockout and Breakdown found humor in my little paint slinging moment as well. My laughing subsided a bit and I gave Knockout an innocent, child like look. So long as they believe I do not remember them, I am safe from harm. Knockout even approved of me throwing paint at the now angry Seeker.

I am going to enjoy being here with Starscream.

Ooh, Now Optimus is going to start messing with our favorite Seeker! What do you think he going to do to Starscream next?

I want to thank all of you who waited patiently for this update. I'll make sure the next chapter comes soon than this one did.

I plan on there being some more direct contact between Megatron and Sparkling Prime in the next chapter and on visiting the Autobot Base. Primus knows how Ratchet is feeling right now.

Got any ideas for future chapters? Drop a review and I may use them! See you in the next chap! ;D