Sorry, this is kind of a slow transitionally chapter. But a necessary one. It's all Decepticons too. Sweet!
Author's notes: italic denote comlink chatter.
Starscream
Once the shuttle passed through Earth's atmosphere we headed towards the rendezvous coordinates behind the moon and waited for Megatron and the others to join us. I know he will not be happy. It was inevitable. The mech was rarely satisfied with the result of most missions, even the successful ones.
Over the many long years I have learned to ride out his rage. It's the only way to survive as a high ranking Decepticon. Not one of us can match him physically or temperamentally. If you dared oppose him it meant your termination. On the other hand, you can not blatantly ignore it either for he wouldn't hesitate to kill the first mechanism in his path if he was furious.
Unfortunately, the only way to survive Megatron's wrath was to suck it up and kiss his aft until he was in a better mood. It was humiliating but better than the alternative. Personally, I think he got off on having mechs grovel at his feet.
Still, I think he will come around and be happy with our captive once he calms down.
I turned from my co-pilots seat and gazed upon the unconscious femme on the shuttle craft's floor. Of course I noticed how Skyshadow's optics kept rover over her greedily. I knew what he wanted. My sensors indicated his interface systems were running hot. Even my two most loyal companions Rumble and Bliztwing kept glancing appreciatively at the protoform femme. The few other mechs seemed nervous as if they weren't sure if they'd be punished or not for gazing upon the femme.
I sighed.
Yes, Kaceystar has indeed grown into a beautiful femme that would make any mech lust after her and any femme jealous. She definitely inherited her mother's long slender legs and arms. Such a shame she had to inherit her father's sense of duty and had to spoil everything.
First she escapes from Soundwave's grasp. Then her actions result in two of the Decepticon's best fliers being terminated. Most importantly she was responsible for Optimus taking my life. My spark still feels the memory of the blade abruptly slicing into my armor, piercing my spark chamber, and then twisting sharply. It was a most painful and quick death.
I was surprised. The mech had never done anything so…cold before. It was often difficult to imagine that Megatron and Optimus Prime were brothers. The two were nothing alike, except for the fact that they were charismatic enough to have their own devote followers. There were a lot of mechs like that.
Yet, in my death I came to realize that they were truly brothers for Optimus had that same look I had seen everyday in Megatron's optics when he kills. Prime was just better at control the beast within than Megatron.
None the less, I will have my revenge even if I must take it out on the femme. A most painful death seemed fitting and seemed quite fair considering my life was taken. However, I must bide my time for I know Megatron will no doubt have the femme interrogated. I just hope the interrogations don't kill her first.
"What the frag are you doing?" Blitzwing hissed when Skyshadow knelt down on the floor beside young Kaceystar.
"Just having a little fun is all," he grinned, caressing the young femme's face. "She's so pretty."
"Having her in forced recharge is the only way a pretty femme like her would be near him," Rumble chuckled.
"Shut up!" Skyshadow growled.
Rumble was right. Skyshadow had no clue how to treat beautiful femmes. Most slap him in the face or kneed him in the crotch. And I suspect that any other time and he'd probably get his interface appliance yanked off by Kaceystar. She definitely has her mother's fierce desire for fighting dirty against mechs. My crotch plate was still sore.
"Leave her alone," I ordered.
"Oh, come on. She's out. She won't know."
"Soundwave will know and he will tell Megatron. Now leave her alone," I said, rising to my feet. In two strides I was near enough and slammed my foot into his chest knocking away from the femme. "Blitzwing, cover her up. I'll not have any of your interface systems overheating. And Megatron would be most displeased if our captive was damaged in any way."
"Besides, Kaceystar is more deserved of a fate crueler than anything you can dish out, Skyshadow," Thunderblast said from the pilot's seat, not even bothering to glance back at the mech. "If you harm her, I will personally see to it you never interface again."
Skyshadow growled returning to his seat, optics glaring at Thunder. I didn't like that and rushed him ramming him into the side of the shuttle. I was bigger than him so I was easily able to hold him in place with one arm and grabbed his neck with my free hand.
"You will do well to remember your place and show respect to your commanding officers," I snarled at him. "You make that look again I guarantee Thunder will make your death very unpleasant. Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes."
"What was that?"
"Yes, Sir!"
I growled at him before I released him and returned to my seat in the co-pilots chair.
"I can fight my own battles," she seethed at me.
"You're welcome," I smiled. Then I noticed her hand trembling over the controls. "What is it?"
"It's Megatron. He's not pleased with the results of our mission only coming away with one youngling."
"As expected," I sighed. "I still don't know what you see in him, Thunder," I said leaning closer to her, caressing her audio receptor with one finger. "We used to have such a good time together. I never beat you like he has."
"And you've never had the power that his has," she said, glaring at me. I wisely pulled my hand away.
"I lead us during his absence, did I not? We killed more Autobots once he left, even forced the majority of them to flee Cybertron."
"And yet you let one little femme escape to Earth," she countered, smirking. "Do you know what kind of damage that had done for us? One little femme and the Autobots were filled with hope again. We are still fortunate enough that they do not know whose daughter it was."
"I wasn't there to prevent her escape," I growled at her. "I was on Earth doing your sparkmate's work because he got himself killed by a fleshling of all things! And where was my thanks for finding and retrieving Megatron's body, for having the Quintessons bring him back? Not one of you thanked me. Not even you after I was brought back. However, I take some consolation that you were at least there. It was such a lovely sight having you there when I came back online."
"Don't read anything into it. It was mere coincidence that I was there. You were fragging lucky to have been brought back at all."
"Ah yes, my flight expertise finally came in handy for Megatron. Venom is an exceptional student. The mech loves to fly. He has a seekers spark."
"Just don't try anything with my son. I know you. You're always conspiring against Megatron."
"My loyalties lie with Megatron while he is the strongest. However, I do what I must to survive and gain power of my own," I replied looking out the window. "You should not be so surprised. I learned my lessons well. If Megatron didn't want me to be so ambitious then he shouldn't have helped raise me and influence me."
Thunderblast blinked in surprise making me smile.
"Yes, he got a hold of me shortly after he left the Autobots. I had just lost my parents, who were against the Decepticons at the time. I think Megatron was feeling a sense of guilt for killing his brother, or at the time he thought he killed his brother. I was a convenient replacement for Optimus. So forgive me if I believe my rightful place is the Decepticon's leader once Megatron is gone. I was raised to believe it was my destiny."
A proximity alarm sounded.
"Ah, here comes your beloved now," I smirked as the sensor indicated Megatron's shuttle as well as several other Decepticon shuttles were coming to intercept us. "We should be ready. I'm sure he will be coming over to see the results of our failed mission."
Thunderblast
Yes, I was surprised. I had no idea. I just assumed Starscream was one of those arrogant seekers recruited into the Decepticon army. Suddenly so many things made sense. All those time he was insubordinate and got off with a warning only from Megatron. Perhaps I have misjudged Starscream's loyalties. He was responsible for bringing Megatron back.
"Open the door and allow our leader to enter," Starscream ordered interrupting my thoughts.
Now was not the time to dwell on such things. I stood up to face my sparkmate's wrath. He was furious and didn't bother hiding it from me. Not that he ever held back his fury. I had to often comfort Viper when she didn't understand why her father was so angry.
The shuttle door opened and the anger on his face matched what I felt within my spark. I bowed my head not knowing what else to do.
"So where are the other younglings?" he growled.
"Still with the Autobots," Starscream replied as arrogantly as ever. No doubt the mech was going to try and weasel his way out of Megatron's' wrath once again.
"I gave you a simple task! Are you so incompetent that you cannot follow an order?"
"You know I am not incompetent, Megatron," Starscream countered. "Besides, we were told there would be no resistance. And yet Kaceystar killed two of my mechs and it took three…THREE of them to take her down. How can I complete a mission successfully with mechs who cannot even hold their own against one youngling femme?"
"No, Megatron. It is not I to blame but this youngling who is just like her father. She messed up your plans. It was she who fought back forcing my mechs to retreat with something before reinforcements to arrived."
As usual, I was not disappointed in the way Starscream argued his case. I can already sense some of my loves anger diminishing when he moved to stand before me.
"Have you nothing to say, Thunder?" Megatron asked, lifting my chin up so I was forced to look into his optics.
Though his anger had lessened his gaze was still as hard cold titanium steel. My spark trembled in fear for I had seen that face so many times before I was put in my place.
"Do I believe him?" he asked, his finger softly stroking my jawline.
"What he said was true and we managed to kill one of the Autobots that came after us in the tunnels and failed to rescue the youngling from us. I even had to put her into a forced recharge as she is quite the fighter like her parents. And…if you permit me…"
Megatron nodded.
"All was not lost. Two of the youngling mechs were damaged. One was left to bleed to death. From Blitzwing's account, I do believe this particular little mech was one of the offspring of Optimus Prime and Elita One as the little one seemed intent on defending Kaceystar by firing a weapon at one of our kind. "
"And Kaceystar is more valuable than all the other younglings. You have told me yourself that your brother has a special place in his spark for his first born. Now, you have the opportunity to hurt him were it would do the most damage…his precious Kaceystar."
Megatron was silent as he looked from me to Starscream and then back to me.
"She is not to be touched and keep her sedated," he growled, glaring at several of the mechs, all of who cringed in their leaders wake. "I will see you at our base, Thunder."
And like that, he was gone. There was a collective sigh a relief as the door was shut. I even relaxed back into the pilot's seat. I made sure to keep my relief to myself and not let Megatron feel it. Times like that he could be so unpredictable and scary, even for me.
"Blitzwing, the prisoner is your responsibility. Make sure she is kept sedated as Megatron wishes."
"Yes, Ma'am," he nodded.
"Starscream, fall into formation with the others."
"As you wish," the seeker replied, taking his seat in the co-pilots chair.
As his hands played over the controls my processor drifted ahead. I was very much looking forward to seeing my own younglings again. My spark ached to not feel them within. I miss my Venom with his love for me since he has always been close to me. And of course I definitely miss Viper's energy. She's such a joy to sense and see.
I would kill anyone or anything, Decepticon or Autobot if they laid one harmful finger on my younglings. I love them more than their father will ever know.
I suddenly smirked to myself.
"What's that for?" Starscream asked.
"Optimus Prime must be going out of his processor right about now knowing we have his precious little femme," I grinned.
"I take back what I said earlier," he chuckled. "You and Megatron are perfect for each other. You're even crueler than he at times."
Megatron
For the past several years I had assumed my brother kept his daughter off the battlefield because he didn't want to risk her getting injured. I never once thought that she would be left in charge of younglings especially since she was of the age when young mechs and femmes were recruited to fight.
If I had known she was to be there then of course I would have ensured Starscream was better prepared for such resilience. It did not surprise me that she killed some of my Decepticons or that she proved to be a difficult opponent. I expect nothing less from my brother or his offspring.
"My Lord…"
I sighed, pushing aside my thoughts and turned at the sound of Soundwave's voice.
"We're on final approach to the base," he told me.
I nodded and my optics returned their focus on the barren land before us as we flew over it. The site of my base coming into full view never looked so inviting. I could even feel the pull of my daughter on my spark. I smiled. She's already waiting for me. Viper had such a calming affect on me. I could never be angry with her or around her.
"Soundwave, I apologize for not telling you sooner. My anger blinds me sometimes. We did not get all the younglings as intended nor did we kill any of the femmes as planed."
"How…oh yes, your brother."
"Yes, he told me when I gloated to him about our victory. He is too good to lie so I know his words were true. I admit I was a bit premature in claiming victory. Still, all was not a waste. We have Kaceystar."
Soundwave's optics flared as they narrowed, making me laugh.
"You will get your chance, I promise you. After we land do a complete scan of her systems. I want her functioning perfectly before you're to interrogate her. My only request is to keep her sedated until I talk with her before you may begin."
"I understand, My Lord. And thank you."
"Soundwave…"
"Yes, Megatron?"
"I want her broken," I gritted, clenching my fists tightly. "If I cannot break my brother then I will do it to his daughter. Only once she is completely broken will I send her back to my brother."
"You do know Prime will not stop searching for her."
"Yes, I am aware. Since the Autobots do not yet know where our base is located we do have the luxury of time on our side."
"They have not sent a probe in our direction for some time now," he smiled proudly.
"Yes, that little trick of destroying it with an asteroid was ingenious my friend," I said, rising to my feet as we entered the shuttle landing zone. I smiled watching my daughter race out from the shadows into the sunlight, her brother as usual chasing after her. "I will join you shortly and expect a full report with regards to the youngling."
"Of course, my Lord."
Trusting that Soundwave would do his duty, I exited the shuttle. As always, I allowed my younglings to greet their mother first. I would never punish Thunder by depriving her of her sparklings. I know she would hold it against me. And I didn't want that.
"Viper be calm! Good Primus, here's your father," Thunder chuckled barely able to keep hold of the rambunctious little femme.
"Do as your mother commands," I told my daughter and she obediently calmed down, warbling softly at me, optic covers blinking slowly.
"Oh wow, who's the pretty femme?!" Venom asked, optics as wide as they could be. Then his expression changed to confusion. "And why do I feel her in my spark."
"Just block the sensation," Thunderblast told him as I watched Blitzwing place Kaceystar on a medical stretcher with Soundwave supervising. "You don't want your spark tainted by her."
Venom looked to me for confirmation.
"She is the daughter of our enemy, my brother," I answered, cradling Viper close. "You will do well to listen to your mother."
"Yes, father," he said but I did notice how his optics followed the Autobot femme even after they covered her back up.
It suddenly occurred to me that my son had never been exposed to mature protoform femmes. He has been training as a fighter and has yet to ask me the big question, the one I asked father once I was of age and started noticing femmes more. Perhaps later when all this business with Kaceystar is over I will have that talk.
Viper beeped at me harshly to get my attention.
"Sorry, little one," I smiled, tickling her belly and making her giggle. "My processor was distracted."
"Venom, go and get a bottle for Viper," Thunderblast asked and our son obediently trotted off.
"Let's get inside, shall we?" I cooed to Viper.
"Megatron, I know you probably ordered Soundwave to do the interrogations," Thunder said, walking with me through the base's entrance and inside. "I wish to be included in them."
"No," I said flatly. Her dissatisfaction flickered over our bond making me laugh. With one hand I reached to caress her face while cradling our daughter in my other arm. "We do not have time to indulge ourselves that way. I need her broken quickly and only Soundwave can do it."
"And if he cannot?"
Again I laughed.
"This is the daughter of Optimus Prime and Elita-One, need I remind you of how difficult it was trying to break them?" she countered.
"Hmm, your mother makes a good point, Viper," I smiled, rubbing Viper's chin, making her purr. "Very well, if his interrogation methods fail then I will let you have at her."
"Thank you," she replied barely able to contain her excitement.
Unable to resist, I took pulled her close and kissed her deeply, longingly…affectionately.
"I love it when you have such evil thoughts," I murmured, barely pulling my lips from hers. "They get my interface systems all heated up."
"I can tell," she breathed, leaning against me.
Viper's hyper giggles and clapping stopped us…for the moment. She was the only thing that could have stopped us. I almost didn't even care that we were in a hallway. Much like when I was younger and my desires needed to be satiated I did so no matter where I was. My mechs would simply leave the room and wait for me to be done with whatever femme caught my fancy.
However, Thunder was not just any femme. She deserved more than that. And I would not do such a thing in front of my younglings. So once Venom returned with a bottle he Viper was deposited into his arms and I quickly lead Thunder to our quarters.
"We do not have much time," I exhaled, pinning her on our recharge bed as my lips assaulted her neck, my hands roughly caressed her feminine curves.
"I understand," he whimpered, nibbling on my chest armor.
"Interface or spark bond?"
Thunder moaned and shuddered when I bit her shoulder. But I got my answer. I heard the faint sound of a transformation sequence starting. Lifting up slightly, I allowed my chest plates to transform back as she was doing beneath me.
"Please…Megatron," she begged, her chest arching up towards mine, her spark desperately calling to mine.
I quickly obliged, dropping my full weight upon her. Our sparks clashed and merged abruptly. The pleasurable sensation ripped through my body from my chest to my extremities making me cry out. And then I felt Thunder within me, all around me, her essence so entwined with my own that I knew not where mine ended and hers began.
Her fear of me. Her love for me. Her love for our sparklings. Her hatred of the Autobots…of Elita…of the captured femme. I felt it all so acutely. And then it all slowly faded as our sparks separated, retreating to their respective chambers.
I flopped onto my back beside my love still feeling the pleasures of our spark bond tingling through my systems. My intakes panting as my cooling systems strained against my internal heat. Which was not cooling down as it normally did. My interface systems still burned with desire. While my spark was satiated my interface systems obviously were not.
"Soundwave, I'm going to be later than expected," I said over a private comlink while looking over at Thunderblast. Her voluptuous curves never looked so inviting. Her optic covers slowly open and she looked at me as if sensing she was being observed.
"Understood, my Lord. Soundwave out."
"What?" she asked when I smiled at her.
I retracted my battle armor in response.
"Oh, we have more time I see," she smirked, retracting her own arm and climbing on top of me.
"We have as much time as I deem necessary," I said, pulling her down for a long passionate kiss.
"Let's see what I can do for you then before you decided you've had enough."
Soundwave
It was most fortunate that Megatron decided not to come right away. I have discovered that Kaceystar's mechanics are nothing like the average transformer. Even the composition of her soft metal skin was different and much more durable than our own.
"I wonder why she's not in her armor?"
I slowly looked up, annoyed by Starscream's presence.
"Is there anything you require?" I asked when he boldly waltzed into my lab.
"I just came to see how you were doing. As is my right as Second in Command," he said, glaring at me. "Some one has to keep an optic on things since Megatron is off fragging his femme."
"Perhaps you could be useful and order the Quintessons brought to me to assist in my analysis," I said, returning to my work. "I wish to have my report ready as quickly as possible for Megatron."
With ease and experience I removed the audio receptor cover revealing the port I needed. Only I growled upon seeing it. The port was a different shape than any of the access plug-ins I had. Yet, another thing difference with Kaceystar.
"Problems?" Starscream snickered.
"A temporary set back," I answered, replacing the audio receptor cover.
Accessing her systems can be done from various ports as we all have numerous ports for medical purposes. One of the others should prove viable. I removed the restraint on her right arm and turned it over and exposed the underlying energon lines and…
"Perfect," I whispered to myself. The forearm's access port had of a common shape and I was quickly to link the computer up to her systems.
"The Quintessons, as ordered," Blitzwing said, standing in the door way.
"Where do you want them?" Starscream asked.
"Over here," I said as the computer attempted to gain access to Kaceystar's systems.
My optics widened in surprise. A firewall blocked my access. Such a thing has never happened before while the prisoner was unconscious. And Kaceystar was heavily sedated. I tried to type in several commands to bypass the block with no success.
"Ah, yes. We recognize Alpha Trion's handy work. You will not find the answers you seek that way."
"Then tell me how, Quintessons."
The alien creatures did not move. I nodded at Starscream who promptly kicked one of the five in the back sending him to the floor.
"Tell me how, or we kill one of your companions," I said calmly as he slowly got back to his feet.
"We know how to get past her internal defense systems. They are of Quintesson programming."
"How do you know this?" Starscream asked as I moved aside to allow the Quintessons access to the computer.
"As we said before, we recognized Alpha Trion's work. We Quintessons are old friends of the ancient mech," they replied, long grey fingers moving rapidly over the computer controls in turn. Where one would stop another would take over. "He has learned much from us and we from him. It was us who helped him learn how to smelt and modify the unique adamantite ore used in creating this protoform."
"The structure is four times stronger than our own," I commented.
"Now…this is strange," the Quintessons spoke softly.
"What?" I asked and was forced to listen as the Quintessons talked, each in turn which was rare for they usually always spoke as one. They almost seemed…excited.
"The original programming was altered before the protoform was given life."
"The resulting changed caused an error…a…"
"A glitch in the programming…"
"which caused a side effect."
"The youngling's transformation systems were taken offline…"
"…in an effort to stop the glitch."
"We can easily repair it and return her to her true form," they finished looking up at me.
"Her true form?" Starscream questioned.
"The glitch in her transformation systems caused her growth rate to slow. If repaired she can…"
"No, that will not be necessary," I quickly interrupted, thinking it would be better for us to not have Kaceystar's transformation systems online. This way she was more vulnerable and I needed her that way in order to break her.
"Remove them," I ordered. "If you're needed again we will call upon you and expect you to do as you're told."
As usual their grey emotionless faces merely gazed upon me before they left. I did not trust them. Megatron keeps them alive thinking they're useful. There were when they revived him, helped with Venom and brought back Starscream. Now they're dangerous and should be destroyed. But it will take some time to convince Megatron of that.
The Quintessons
We were silent as we were escorted back to our prison cell. Only once we were alone did we dare speak. And we spoke in our language so that no Decepticon could understand us.
"It seems the opportunity we've been patiently waiting for has finally arrived."
"Yes. The youngling has the skill and the desire to be of use to us. It was she who escaped from Mechanar through the wormhole."
"Yes. But will she help us?"
"Perhaps, more importantly, will she survive the interrogation to help us?"
"It seems we must be patient a bit longer. Only time will tell if this youngling will be our savior or just another dead Autobot."
"Yes. Only time will tell."
Kacey
Slowly coming out of the forced recharge, the first thing I became aware of was the sound of muffled voices. Two I easily recognized and could never forget. Megatron and Soundwave. The next I thing was this emptiness I felt in my spark where my family always was. I couldn't feel my father, mother, sister or brothers.
Not that I expected to sense them. From over hearing conversations between Prowl and my father I knew the Decepticon base was not on Earth. It was something that troubled my father greatly and forced the Autobots to always be on alert. And I knew that being a prisoner of the Decepticons meant that I was probably on their base.
The more alert I became the more aware of the cold presence of my uncle I felt within me. I blocked it and forced my spark rate to slow, fending off the rising fear. No point in panicking. I'm a captive and must deal with what comes next as I was trained to do.
"She is coming online," Soundwave said as I opened my optics.
From Prowl's detailed descriptions I knew I was in an interrogation room as they liked to call it. Every Autobot knew it meant torture. The blank walls, bright lights, a table with tools strung across it. As expected, I was bound by restraints on my legs chest and arms. I even turned my head slight to see the tight restraint on my wrist and tested it.
"You don't seem afraid, Kaceystar," Megatron commented coming into view.
"I wouldn't want to give you the satisfaction," I said, keeping my voice steady and showing no emotions.
"You are truly brother and Elita's youngling. They too was arrogant and foolish when my prisoner."
I chuckled in response, making his red optics flare brightly.
"What do you find amusing?" he growled.
"The odds are in my favor of being rescued or escaping," I smirked at him. "You could never keep my parents. And as you so wittingly pointed out, I am very much like them."
"We shall see young one. I am curious about one thing. Why are your transformation systems offline? Is it true they were taken offline?"
"Yes. They proved to be hazardous to my health and were taken offline so that they could come on naturally as I matured," I answered honestly, seeing no harm in telling him. "May I ask a question of you uncle?"
"Do not call me that!"
"Why? Are you that ashamed to be related to my father? You're his older brother and therefore my uncle. You used to love him…"
"SHUT UP!" he roared grabbing hold of my face tightly. I remained calm even though I could feel his fury deep within. It was primal, so pure. I had never felt anything like it before. Nor did I ever want to again. "I warned you once long ago to never cross my path again…that I would not be so kind! You should know that like my brother I am a mech of my word." He released his grip on me and walked over to where Soundwave was standing. "Let's just see how much like your father you truly are, young Kaceystar. You may begin the interrogation, Soundwave."
I swallowed hard. I would be lying if I said I wasn't scared out of my processor as I watched Soundwave collect instruments I had become familiar with. I was terrified. It took a lot of will power to keep my spark from racing out of control.
'Focus, remember your training,' I told myself. 'You're ready for this.'
Looking at the ceiling I found a spot and focused solely on it. My training kicked in and I was able to gain better control over my sparkrate. I was even able to keep it steady when Soundwave's cold hands applied the devices on my chest and head. I felt the familiar tickling sensation when they were activated.
Then the angle of the table I was laying on was changed. I was more upright now and I found a new focal point.
Megatron.
He smirked at me. My optics narrowed, I resisted the urge to growl. I was not going to give the fragger the satisfaction of hearing me scream.
Up next: We head back to the Autobot base and see how the recoveries are going.
Forgive me if I made a lot of errors towards the end. It was late, I was tired but I really wanted to get this posted. Hope you all liked it. For those that suggested names for Optimus and Elita's little femme, I will be starting a poll in the next day or so to let you all decide on the final name for the little femme. Also, on more note, plenoptic wrote another au Kacey fic! Woohoo! Read it, you'll laugh your aft off. It's called Coveted.