Author's note. Thanks to all those who suggested Autobot Sparklings, I will now reveal who they are in this chapter.
Enjoy and please review.
"Oh, this is so exciting I can't wait," Skywarp whispered eagerly to Thundercracker as they crouched behind a large boulder. Thundercracker calmly shushed his wing mate, they couldn't give away their positions, not just yet.
They, along with the other Decepticons, were waiting in ambush for the Autobots to drive past them, coming from some sort of convention with the humans. Once they went past, the Decepticons would leap out and engage them, long enough for Starscream to hit the 'targets' with a special gun he and the Constructicons had designed. It was just a matter of waiting now.
Presnently there was a distant rumble of engines and in the distance, Thundercracker could just make out the Autobot convey with the Shuttle Skyfire flying above him.
"Decepticons," Megatron suddenly roared. "Attack."
The Decepticons didn't hesitate, they leapt up from their hiding places and lunged at the surprised Autobots. Skyfire did an abrupt U-turn in mid air so that he could land and join the battle. He immediately was surrounded by the Construticons who tried to force him to the ground but he managed to hold them off. Megatron, as always, went straight for Optimus Prime and the two started grappling.
"Is there any particular point to this, Megatron?" Optimus asked his nemesis, as all around them, their men clashed.
"This, Prime," Megatron snarled as he aimed a punch at the red and blue Mech's head. "Is for that pathetic trick you played on us."
"No worse than anything you've ever played on us," Optimus Prime grunted as he dodged the punch and aimed at Megatron's mid section.
Chormia with Moonracer were trying to deal with Rumble and Frenzy who were heckling them. Ironhide couldn't help them as he was engaged with Soundwave while Bumblebee was being chased by Ravage. Eilta One, meanwhile was holding her own against Astrotrain who was trying to pin her against a rock face.
"Where's Screamer?" asked Jazz as he wrestled with Thundercracker. "Don't tell me he got slagged again by Megatron."
"Sorry to disappoint you Autobot," came a voice from above.
Everyone looked up to see Starscream standing over them, holding a strange looking gun. As they watched, he jumped and landed squarely in the centre of the battling robots. Aiming the gun right at Skyfire he fired, and the Shuttle cried out as a purple beam hit him. Starscream spun on the spot and shot at Ratchet, Ironhide, Chromia, and Elita One in quick succession, and they all were hit and flung to the ground.
There was a pause as everyone held their breath, waiting to see what would happen. Nothing did.
"You idiot, Starscream," Megatron snarled and whacked the back of his SIC's head. For good measure he repeated this, sending the Seeker to his knees.
"It should have worked," Starscream protested as the Autobots started laughing.
"Hah, that the best you can do?" Ironhide jeered, as he picked himself and then Chromia off the ground.
"You know," Jazz called out as the other Autbots hit got to their feet. "It helps if you test these things first."
Scowling, Megatron grabbed Starscream by a wing and hauled him to his feet. With a contemptuous look at Optimus Prime who was helping Elita One, he marched off, dragging the seemingly hapless Seeker. None of the Autobots noticed the smug smiles on both the Decepticon leader and his Second.
The other Decepticons turned and marched after their leader, their heads tossed back as though they didn't have a care in the world. The Autobots jeered after them until a stern look from Optimus Prime and Prowl silenced them and the Autobots headed off home. It was strange how none of the Autobots noticed how Skywarp was practically skipping, and whispering to Thundercracker how he couldn't wait to get his Sparkings.
It had taken a while to decide which Autobots they were going to take, as several candidates had to be eliminated. The Lamborghini twins were out of the question, they wreaked enough havoc as adults without throwing a Sparkling's natural naughtiness into the mix. Skywarp didn't want Prowl as he thought him too 'boring' and no one wanted Wheeljack as that bot was too prone to blowing stuff up. Bumblebee might have been a choice but Ravage enjoyed chasing him too much, and the temptation would've been too much for the robotic cat is the yellow bot was turned into a Sparkling.
There had been no arguments over the two Femmes chosen, or even a lot of protest over Ironhide being chosen, many Decepticons were looking forward to seeing him as a child. And despite the Autobots Medic reputation of having a nasty temper and tendency to throw things, Megatron thought he'd make a perfect Sparkling. Not to mention, the Optimus Prime would be deprived of his best Medic.
Finally there was Skyfire. Skywarp had been insisted, he wanted a flyer for a Sparkling, just one flyer. And though Starscream had at first kicked up a fuss, in the end he grudgingly conceded that Skyfire was the best choice, most of the Arielbots behaved like brats and their leader was scared of heights. And as for Powerglide, he annoyed the hell out of most of the Decepticons. Besides, the shuttle's placid nature made him very suitable as he was unlikely to be as rebellious as the others.
All in all, everything had gone quite nicely, with the right Autobots being hit with the ray and no slip-ups. Those pathetic Autobots had no idea that anything was wrong. Which was why the Decepticons were calmly walking along, they wanted to experience the full sensation of utter smugness and to engage in a little self patting on the back.
"How long will it take for the transformation to take place, Starscream?" Megatron asked, turning to the red Seeker as they walked.
"Not long, Megatron," Starscream said with a smirk. "By morning's light, they will all be.....Sparklings."
Author's note. Next chapter, the Autobot Sparklings wake up and are introduced to their new 'caretaker'. Till next time.