So I guess Shockwave isn't going to play nice but don't despair I have a plan and Raven will not become like Waverly, I promise. Shockwave was never one of my favorites and I suspect if you analyze his character he is one of the mechs that orchestrated the early part of the war even if Megatron was leader of the Decepticons.
Please take a moment to review. I love to read them. It is what makes my day and why I try to post at least once a week if not twice. Enjoy!
"Ruby, stop that!" Waverly yelled as she scooped her sparkling up to keep her from spilling energon all over the table that she was pulling on. Ruby laughed at her mother as she wiggled and looked for her sire to see if he would help get her free. As if sensing her sparkling's intentions, Waverly set her down in the play pin that Wheeljack had built for them as a gift. Ruby began to whimper but them Waverly placed her little stuffed petro rabbit and Ruby cooed and clicked at her favorite toy as she hugged it close to her little body.
"You are a handful my darling spark." Waverly said as she smiled. She heard the door to their quarters open and turned to look as Cliffjumper walked through from patrol. "My lord, how was your day?" She turned all the way waiting to greet him by putting her arms around his chassis.
"It was work. Inventory sucked!" Waverly had to laugh as Cliffjumper used the very human term in such a derogatory manner.
"Why is that my spark?" She asked as her arms went around him as he stepped in front of her and laid his helm against her chest.
"I had to deal with Shockwave." Cliffjumper said as he shuddered. "I didn't think I would ever have to work that close to a mech that I absolutely hate!" He informed her as she felt his shudders vibrate through her body.
"Remember darling, we are at peace now and you will have to be careful what you say so that fights don't start." She said softly.
"I don't need you to remind me." He muffled out against her and Waverly chuckled softly.
"I know that but I need you here with me and Ruby." Waverly returned as she held him against her. They swayed together for a few moments until Ruby chose to interrupt by clicking and chirping at her sire. Cliffjumper went to his daughter and picked her up as she grabbed at his helm and squealed at him.
"My sweet spark, you are a little terror." He said as he gently pried her hands from his sensitive horns. She giggled at him as he shifted Ruby so that she couldn't grab at him and Waverly nuzzled her backside as she was cuddled between them. "I bet you had a good day." Cliffjumper kissed Ruby and then leaned in and placed a kiss on Waverly's head.
"I have dinner ready if you want some energon." Waverly said as she looked up with shining eyes.
"I would like that." Cliffjumper replied as he guided her to their table and placed Ruby in her high chair.
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"Good morning my lords, you have summoned me?" Raven asked as she walked into Optimus Primes' office. Megatron sat next to Prime as they observed her and she took a seat across from them around the table next to Prime's desk.
"Yes, we need to discuss your position and who you will need to report to since Allie will not be returning to her duties." Prime said gently but firmly. He looked down at the data pad as Raven shifted while looking at the Lord High Protector. Megatron looked back at her and she could tell he was contemplating what Shockwave saw in her as shivers flitted through her system. She had not come to terms with Shockwave's actions and she did not know who she could trust since she couldn't go to Allie and confide in her.
She knew that the Lord High Protector was watching her. His steely ruby optics caught every intake of breath and she did not have to be empathic to realize that he was suspicious. Then Raven thought that maybe it was her own insecurity that made her think that he was seeing more than was actually there and that her neural net was just hyper-sensitive.
"I usually report in to Allie and give an update on the status of the scientific community that I govern. It is quite large in that we 90 percent of the population are scientists and their families. We established the colony during the peak of our conflict with the Jung Ho and what makes this community unique is that it is an underwater city. We cultivate food as well as use hydro-electric energy to run the colony and export energy to other parts of the Realm. I oversee any problems that come up and run an extensive naval port for rescue and defensive maneuvers. I have only ever reported to Allie since I sit on the council with her, Cassie, Chelsea, Aura, Saraphina, Doc, and Shayla."
"Council? I didn't know about this." Megatron stated as he looked at her with surprise and something else that Raven couldn't read from him. She looked down and took a breath before looking back up at Prime while avoiding the Lord High Protector's gaze.
"Within our ranks we have an elite group that meets about once a year. It comprises special ops, Saraphina, our spiritual leader, Chelsea, educational and sparkling caretaker, Cassie, leader of the elders, Shayla, head medic, Doc, Chief Ops, Aura, governor, myself, and our leator, Allie. We decide on political matters and govern local areas that are too small for the local governments and ask for our protection. We also decide on new security and measures that will improve our way of life and then present them at assembly for them to be voted on by the masses. It is not too difficult and very seldom have we ever had to make tricky decisions or deal with wayward political regimes that might bring trouble. The Jung Ho have been the biggest obstacle but even that has quieted somewhat." Raven looked briefly at Megatron but kept her focus on Prime.
"Thank you for your information. I think that I would prefer for you to report to me until Allie is able to take her duties over." Megatron said smoothly and Raven shivered. He made her nervous and not in the good way. Raven supposed that Megatron had her best interest at spark but she felt that he could see through her. "Optimus thank you for your help but do you mind if I talk to Raven privately?"
"No, I need to check on Allie and make sure that she is following Doc's orders." Before Raven could protest Optimus stood and walked out of the office. Raven turned back with a panicked look on her face before quickly masking it. Megatron didn't miss any of it as he carefully studied her for a moment.
"Now, do you mind telling me why you look like you are about to flee like a petro rabbit." Megatron said softly in that voice that he used before pouncing on a mech.
"I don't know what you mean." Raven replied trying not to fidget and Megatron glared more in irritation.
"Then let me rephrase the question. What has Shockwave done to make you suddenly insecure because the other day when we confronted you and him you were in control and now you act as if you are lost?" Megatron stated more than asked. Raven looked down at her hands that were neatly folded in her lap. Should she confide in him or would he trap her further in the complicated mess that Shockwave had placed upon her.
"I know my officers. I know their strengths and their weaknesses. May I guess what may be the matter?" Megatron asked quietly but still Raven did not look at him. "You informed him that you needed to leave and he panicked. He then forced you and raped you in his conflicted state but you still hope that something can be salvaged from the relationship." Raven jerked her head up in shock as she listened to Megatron guess correctly about Shockwave.
"How?" She whispered as she stared at him.
"Shockwave makes a good administrator but he has never been the most secure mech when his feelings are involved. It has been a long time since he has approached any mech or femme with a possibility of a relationship. He sees himself superior in strength and processor but lacking in looks." Megatron leaned back in the chair as he watched the femme. "How bad is it?"
"He forced a bond and it took." She whispered in reply.
"Then I order you to med bay for a medical exam before returning into the field. If Ratchet checks you out then I will approve your return to the field. You are needed in the colony since you are their governor. As for Shockwave, I will deal with him but do understand that if you choose to stay as governor then he will be with you as your bond mate. Are you sure that it took?" Megatron asked her gently as he leaned towards her.
"Yes, I am sure. Even now I can feel him." She said as she shook from relief and suppressed emotions. She had been afraid that Megatron would force her to give up her work but now she saw that he was trying to be a fair ruler and protector for not only the former cons and bots but for Allie's femmes as well. It made Raven feel better as a being and know that she could overcome this complicated mess that Shockwave had forced her into. She still felt that Shockwave was a decent mech but they would need counseling as a bonded couple and he would need help adjusting to peace and unification after a long depressing civil war. It was hard to admit that she had jumped into something infinitely complicated and Shockwave's personality was definitely complicated. He was smooth and calm on the exterior but since they had bonded Raven could feel the and feelings of inadequacy coming from him.
. "Thank you. I was afraid that I would be forced to give up my life." She said it softly, gratefully.
"You should not be punished for Shockwave's mistakes but I do have to point out that he is a part of you now." Megatron stated as he laced his fingers together on the desk and looked her directly in the eye.
"I know and I am not running. I wasn't running when I informed him I was leaving and I had every intention of pursuing the relationship but he cornered me and I didn't want to hurt him any more than was necessary." Raven told him honestly.
"You don't have to prove yourself to me. I just want you to know what you are up against." Megatron said and he turned suddenly before looking back at her. "I have the transport schedule and I will keep Shockwave busy if you can't face him just yet. Let me know."
"I understand and again thank you." Raven stood as she heard the dismissal in his tone and turned and walked out. She felt better but she also understood the hurdles that she would have to jump before her life settled back into peace.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o 0
"Oh Jazz, where are you?" Tia called as she looked for her mischief, wayward sparkling. He had a habit of playing hide-in-seek from her and Prowl when it was time to leave for daycare and it exasperated Tia to no end since he was the favorite sparkling among his little friends.
Tia heard a giggle from under hers and Prowl's berth and she slowly walked over and knelt to see a pair of optics flashing in mirth at her. "So there you are my darling little one. Are you ready to leave so Mommy can go to work?"
Jazz giggled as he slowly crawled out from his hiding place. It was a tight fit since the steel berth was solid to hold their weight but Jazz's little frame was perfect for the only opening under the berth. Tia smiled as she helped him out and pulled him into her arms.
"You are just a little stinker, aren't you?" She laughed as Jazz nuzzled his face plates in her neck and smelled his mommy's wonderful citrus scent. She heard a muffled "mommy" and gasped as Jazz said his first word. She pulled him back so she could look at him and smiled tenderly as Jazz cooed and smiled at her.
"You are such a spark breaker my darling and you are well-loved." Tia told him as she pulled him back to her and hugged him. Jazz clicked and cooed back and Tia stood up so that she could take him to the stroller and walk him down to the day care unit.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o 0o0
"Optimus, are you home?" Allie called from the berth room. It had been two days since her visit with Doc and already she was fed up with berth rest. Seaway was living with them to help her with Roddy and Orion but Allie felt helpless now that Doc was not even allowing her to lift and hold the twins for fear of triggering an early sparking.
"Yes my spark, I am in the living area." Optimus replied as he poured himself a cube of low-grade energon and walked toward their berth room. "How do you feel?"
"Bored, depressed, and ready to have these little ones out so that I can return to my work." Allie replied as she huffed and Optimus had to smile at her dramatic efforts to display her wanton agitation at her predicament.
"Just a few more months and they will be here and all this effort to bring them into the world will be worth it." Optimus said gently as he handed her a cube and then sipped at his. He placed his cube on the table next to their berth as he turned and gently moved behind her so that he could rub and massage her lower back. He could feel the tension in her and knew that the feelings that the twins were emitting were taking a toll on her emotionally. Ratchet had already briefed him on how delicate split sparked twins could be and that Allie would feel emotionally close to them while carrying. He wanted to tell her about the briefing with Raven but knew she would worry. He felt that Megatron sensed more about the femme than she was telling but he trusted his brother to alleviate the situation. He still shuddered to think that a femme would pick Shockwave yet he was still a mech with needs and Optimus could tell that Raven had empathic abilities so he assumed that he must have picked up on the mech's loneliness.
"Optimus, I can tell you are not telling me something. Is it bothering you so much?" Allie asked him softly and Optimus shook his helm to bring himself back to the present.
"It isn't something that is pressing. It can wait and Megatron is dealing with it." Optimus told her as he raised her hand to his lip plates. Allie sighed as he brushed his lips across her skin in a tender kiss before pulling her into his arms. "I love you so much." He murmured in the nape of her neck and Allie shivered. She needed him, both she and the twins needed his closeness and Allie wondered if it would be okay to initiate some tender love-making as she pressed Optimus' helm closer to her. Optimus wrapped his arms around her and began to stroke her spine as Allie fiddled with the glass of his windshield. "Allie, I don't want to hurt you." He whispered as he rubbed soothing circles in her back.
"I promise you that you won't but I need to be close to you physically." She replied back as she dipped her fingers between the seams in his chest and pulled at sensitive wires. Optimus gasped against her mouth before devouring her lips and plundering her mouth with his glossa. "Optimus, we need you." She breathed it against his neck after he let her up for air and Optimus relented to her quiet demands as he carefully laid her out under him. Allie sighed contentedly as she lifted her eager arms to him and he leaned down careful not to place pressure on her abdomen or the twin sparklings.
Allie pulled him as close as she could with the bulge of her stomach in the way as Optimus carefully pulled her on her side as he continued to kiss and stroke her heating form.
"Optimus, I need to feel you so badly my love." She whispered as she arched into his caresses and Optimus very gently, tenderly returned her fervor as he carefully sent Allie to soar on a long anticipated high.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
"You okay?" Sideswipe asked his brooding twin. They were in the out skirts of the plains before heading back from patrol and Sideswipe stopped and transformed to bipedal as he walked over to Sunstreaker.
"Yeah, I was wondering though; do you think Raynie is happy with us?" Sunstreaker looked at his brother as he said this and Sideswipe blinked his optics twice in surprise that Sunstreaker would even ask a question such as that when they were bonded to her.
"Why would you ask a question such as that?" Sideswipe asked him punching him in the arm as he looked at his twin expecting an answer.
"I don't know. I just get the feeling that Sunshine wears her down at times and we are not there enough to help her." Sunstreaker said looking at the sun setting over the horizon. He pulled at his face plates before turning directly to look at his brother. "She is so wonderful and I feel that we are not good enough for her but she never says no to us even if our schemes seem crazy."
"You think she will tire of us?" Sideswipe asked him though he knew Sunny's answer.
"Yes, she puts up with so much and never complains." Sunstreaker said.
"You don't need to worry. She loves you very much and I know we can be difficult but Raynie would voice her concern if she was unhappy and we would also feel it through our bond. Why do you doubt yourself?" Sideswipe asked him as he stood next to him looking toward the sunset.
"I just want to make sure that she is happy with her choices." Sunstreaker replied. "I worry about her and Sunshine."
"I know, I also worry but I don't let it cloud my own happiness and you shouldn't either." Sideswipe said as he turned and transformed so that he could return to the hall.
"Come on Sunny, Raynie is waiting for us." With that Sideswipe revved his engine and sped forward to throw dust at Sunstreaker.
"Hey, watch it!" Sunstreaker yelled transforming to catch his brother.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
"I have always seen her as stable, Megatron." Optimus said much later as he left Allie to rest. They were enjoying a cube of high grade in Megatron quarters and just talking about the day's work as they heard Shalon singing in the nursery to Galvatron. "She seems so helpless now that Doc has placed her on berth rest."
"I went through it with Shalon when Galvatron took up so much of her form and carrying became difficult. It will pass and Allie will be back to running the day to day operations with Aura." Megatron took a gulp of high grade and then turned back to Prime. "I don't think Shalon will ever return to duty. She likes being a 'mom' and mate to me and it seems that I don't mind as weird as that seems. I always thought I would prefer a mate that liked to fight on the frontlines but she seems to want to please me in every way."
"You love and you know it. It feeds your ego." Prime said with a smirk. He remembered how Megatron ate up being treated with special attention from their carrier even if he would never admit it. Shalon was good for him even if he was too proud to own up to it. "How is Storm?"
"She is adjusting to having a demanding little brother. Besides, you know how much she likes being with me. She is a feminine version of me and I like that. Maybe she will be the feisty little fighter in the family." Megatron laughed at his own dry humor and Optimus chuckled.
"She may have a run of it. You know that Allie is carrying a femme." Optimus informed him.
"No, she didn't say anything to me or Shalon. How is that possible?" Megatron asked as he looked at his brother over his cube.
"Ratchet explained it to me. He said that it is very rare for split sparks to be different genders but not impossible. There is only one other recorded sparking in history and because of the dire consequences of it is why Doc is being so careful." Optimus took another drink feeling his CPU become light and giddy from the effects of the highly refined high grade. Both brothers heard a ping from the door chime and Megatron gave the silent command to open his door. Ratchet stood on the other side as Megatron slowly rose to meet the medic.
"Good evening Prime," Ratchet said to Optimus and then looked at Megatron, "Lord High Protector." He finished as he nodded to both brothers before taking a seat as Megatron resumed his seat. Ratchet palmed his face. "What a day!" He sighed as he leaned back and Optimus handed him a cube of high grade.
"What is troubling you old friend?" Optimus asked gently careful to make sure his words were not slurred. He had only drunk one previously and was currently working on his second cube but Wheeljack's brew was heady in both flavor and potency.
"Perceptor made a break through today." Ratchet said as he sipped his cube.
"Really? Will Stargazer recover?" Megatron asked sitting up and forgetting his cube for the moment.
"We were looking for a virus but what we didn't take into account was that it may have been in her programming from the beginning." Ratchet paused to take a long gulp of his cube before continuing. "Stargazer for the most part is a healthy femme but unfortunately she has a program within her that attacks her system during carrying a spark."
Optimus looked at Ratchet with concern. He had never heard of this before and it seemed dangerous. "Ratchet, will lose her and the sparkling?" He asked with great difficulty.
"No, as we speak Wheeljack is setting the protocols on the sparkling chamber that he had built for Shalon and Comm. should they ever need assistance of it. If you remember we would have used it for Galvatron but Shalon went into labor before we had the chance. We will be extracting the sparkling tomorrow morning. If we let Star carry any longer she could die. Perceptor seems to think that Stargazer's condition will improve greatly and with additional help and proper nutrition she will have a full recovery."
"What does this mean in the long run? I mean you are basically saying that Stargazer's body reacts negatively to carrying." Megatron said carefully to make sure he understood what the medic was saying.
"It means that this will be the only sparkling that Bumblebee and Stargazer will have unless they find a femme willing to carry for them. Unfortunately we all can't have perfect bodies and Star's will always react to a spark negatively. It is a wonder that the spark survived the first couple of weeks. It must be strong willed even at infancy or Stargazer or Bee would have never known about it. I am amazed that both have survived this long though personally I am glad because poor Bee would have been devastated." Ratchet took another swig as he smiled while riding the feeling that was buzzing through his helm. He hated having to tell Prime and the Lord High Protector that one of the youngest adults in their army would be challenged to have sparklings with his mate. Ratchet finished his high grade as the brothers continue to sip theirs. He briefly wondered if it was polite to ask for another but chose instead to stay quiet.
"Has Bumblebee been informed?" Optimus said after the quiet became uncomfortable.
"He has and he will be with her in the morning. The quarantine has been lifted now that we know it is not viral or infectious. Doc is letting Bee stay with her through the night. She feels that Stargazer needs their bond right now since she has deteriorated from being quarantined." Ratchet told them as he started to stand. "I need to go back. Doc has the night and I will need to take First Aid for her."
"Thank you for the update. I am sure that your report will be on my desk in the morning." Optimus told him as he stood swaying on his peds as Ratchet let himself out. He turned to Megatron who smirked evilly at him. "I think that I will go now. Seaway will need help with Roddy and Orion and I can feel Allie is looking for me now that she has awakened." Optimus took a tentative step making sure that he wasn't too overcharged as Megatron laughed out right.
"You used to hold your high grade better brother." He snickered and Optimus rolled his optics at him.
"I used to do a lot things better when I didn't have so much responsibility." He told Megatron but then stood tall and walked to the door. "I will see you tomorrow."
"Good recharge." Megatron called out as he heard Optimus walk out and the door swish shut after him.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
"Bee?" Star weakly called to him. She tried to look for him but didn't have the energy to turn.
"I'm right here my spark." He told her softly and Stargazer sighed as she felt him spoon against her backside. "Doc says that I can stay the night with you but they are planning to remove the sparkling in the morning and let him finish his gestation in the chamber."
"I know. She and Ratchet explained the procedure to me while you were on patrol." Her voice was so weak and Bumblebee partially closed the bond so as not to alert her to his fears. He sent love and reassurance as well as pulse his spark toward hers so that she would know that he supported her. He was recharging fitfully while juggling his patrols with visitations to her while she could not leave the infirmary and it had taken a toll on him physically. Even now Ratchet had been barking orders for him to slow down or he would be having a talk to Prowl and Prime.
"What else did they tell you?" Bumblebee asked softly as he pressed his olfactory sensors into her neck and hair. He felt deep sadness flood their bond and he knew that Doc had informed her of her status as a carrier. "Don't, I already have been told and I can't bear to see you cry when you are already so weak." It didn't help as he saw silent tears start to fall and Star began quietly shake. "Star, we are so blessed by Primus. Can't you see? We will still have a sparkling and you will get better." He softly said and started whispering endearments into her ear as he felt her stop shaking. She was so fragile and it broke his spark to see his dear sweet spark so broken and depressed.
"There won't be any others." She finally whispered.
"We don't need others when we will still have this one." Bee retaliated as he pressed closer to her.
"He will be alone; no siblings." She whispered.
"He will have Orion and Roddy as well as other sparklings. Allie is carrying right now and she is going to have split sparked twins." Bee informed her wishing with his entire spark that she would settle.
"But we won't have any others." She cried softly as she pulled his hand to her face and nuzzled it gently.
"We won't need others as long as I have you." Bee said as static started to clog his vocals. It was then that he felt through the bond that she was starting to understand what he was trying to tell her. He could live without a house full of sparklings. He couldn't live without her.
