Author's note. This chapter was written with the help of Mrs Bumblebee, thanks a lot.
Also thanks to Cutlass-Cougar for her suggestions, they were great.
I don't own the songs 'Stand by me' or 'Do they know it's Christmas time, they belond to their respective owners.'
Please support Comic Relief and Children in Need, they do good work.
Enjoy and please review.
"Oh man, what are we going to do?" Carlos cried in frustration as he paced about the room they were in.
Megatron and the others had just gone to Earth after setting a trap for the Autobots. And it was looking like it would succeed. The kids were nearly beside themselves, Megatron meant to destroy their friends and then steal their Minicons. But there was nothing they could do, they were locked in Starscream's room and had no way of warning the Autobots.
Or did they?
"Motors," Alexis cried, rushing over to the little Minicon, tears in her eyes. "You've got to warn the Autobots, please, just do this one thing for us."
As Motors looked hesitant, the boys added their pleas, until finally, he agreed. The kids watched as he contacted one of brothers in order to convey the message. They could only hope Optimus would get their message in time.
An hour or so later Megatron and his men came back covered in blast marks, scratches, and dents. Everyone was very upset but not nearly as upset as Megatron. The Decepticon leader was so angry that his clenched fist was stuck in a tight fist, his optics were bright red and as he stepped out of the Warp gate he punched the wall beside him. Rage just rolled of him affecting everyone around him to keep away or leave the room.
And that's what his men did, all of them hastily exiting the Warp Room and going to their respective quarters.
The kids looked up as Starscream entered his room, his body showing the hard sighs of battle. He started rummaging for something before he suddenly noticed they were there. It seemed he had completely forgotten about them. Rad gave a small cough.
"So," he said. "How did it go?"
Starscream frown and looked away.
"Not good. The Autobots somehow knew what was happening and beat us to a punch and to top it all off," he said before looking at the kids again.
"Megatron is slagging pissed."
"Oh," the kids all said quietly.
"You're...you're all still okay, aren't you?" Alexis asked timidly. "i mean, none of you was badly injured?"
Starscream looked at them and shook his head.
"No but that won't stop Megatron's anger for this loss."
"He's not going to hurt you is he?" Alexis cried with concern, taking a step towards him. The boys looked equally worried.
Starscream looked away and sighed.
"Hopefully if he doesn't call for me or I stay out of his line of view," Starscream said softly and resignedly.
"He shouldn't take his temper out on you," Carlos said angrily. "It's not your fault things didn't work out."
"Yeah," Rad said fiercely as Alexis said.
"Why does he do that?"
Starscream shook his head.
"None of us know. It's just the way Megatron is and always had been," Starscream explained in a sour tone.
The kids looked at him sympathetically, there was nothing to say to that. Just as Starscream looked like he was about to speak, his comm. flared to life and Megatron's rage filled voice burst from it.
"Starscream, bring those little brats here this instant,"
The kids all flinched at his tone and backed away slightly.
Starscream looked at the kids with great sympathy but did as Megatron had ordered. He scooped the kids up and started walking to the throne room. After a long and uncomfortable silent walk they reached the throne room entrance. Starscream stopped and looked down at the kids.
"I'm sorry," he said quietly and walked into the throne room.
The kids trembled as they huddled in Starscream hand, from what they could see, Megatron looked ready to spit fire. They could barely look at him as Starscream finally reached him and held out his hand.
Even though Megatron was enraged he reached up and plucked each child from Starscreams hand by pinching the back of the clothes and putting them done in his lap. Once they were in his lap and gestured for Starscream to leave and looked down at the kids.
The kids looked up at him but then quickly ducked their heads. None of them wanted to speak in case they said the wrong thing and make him even angrier.
Megatron leaned back and rested his head on his fist. He reached up and started petting their heads.
The kids glanced at each other as he did this but still didn't say anything. Megatron was very unpredictable, like Optimus had always warned them, and this time he was angry. They didn't like to think what he'd do to them if they focused his anger on them.
"Those damn Autobots. Those fools are always getting in my way," Megatron snarled and let his fist clench tightly.
Alexis made a small choking sound as though she had suppressed something she'd about to say. The kids edged closer together, needing the comfort in such a tension filled atmosphere.
Megatron looked down at the kids.
"You have something to say?" Megatron questioned.
"No, I'm sorry," Alexis said quickly, she was determined that her smart mouth wouldn't get them into trouble.
Megatron raised his brow but didn't feel like pushing it.
Rad and Carlos smiled at Alexis and gave her hand a squeeze, they knew how much she wanted to defend their friends. Now however was not the time, unless they wanted a bad spanking. They wondered how long this awful silence would last though, it was starting to strain their nerves.
Megatron then sat up and reached down and plucked Rad up and moved him to the arm of the throne and put him there. Megatron poked his chest lightly.
"Entertain me," Megatron ordered.
Rad looked nervously at the others before looking back at Megatron. He would normally do displays of martial arts but decided that something calming was called for here. So he started to sing softly.
"When the night has come, and the land is dark, and the moon is the only light we're see,"
"No I won't...be afraid....no I won't.....be afraid,"
"Just as long as you stand.....stand by me..."
Megatron raised his brow but leaned back and listened. He didn't expect the boy to sing but wasn't complaining. This boy had a voice.
As Rad continued, Alexis and Carlos softly joined in, though Rad was still the main signer.
"If the sky....that we look upon, should tumble and fall,"
"Of the mountains should crumble to the sea...,"
"I won't cry, no I won't, shed a tear,"
"Just as long as you stand, stand by me,"
"So darling, darling, stand by me,"
"Oh whoa, stand, stand by me,"
Megatron looked at the other two and smirked before looking back at the light headed child and relaxed as he listened.
"Stand by me, stand by me,"
"And darling, darling, stand by me,"
"Oh stand by me, stand by me,"
"Whenever you're in trouble, won't you stand by me,"
The three children softly finished singing and glanced up at Megatron, wondering what his reaction would be to the song.
Megatron smirked proudly and reached down and petted Rad, then Alexis, and finally Carlos.
'Very well done, my dears. You have made me very happy," Megatron chuckled.
'You even helped lighten my mood," he added.
The kids all smiled, looking exceedingly relived.
"That's good," Carlos said, voicing what the three of them were thinking.
Megatron then smirked.
"Now do another," Megatron ordered with a wide smirk.
The kids gave each other looks that said 'should have known' but they wanted to keep Megatron in a good mood so Rad started.
"It's Christmas time, there's no need to be afraid,"
"At Christmas time, we let in light and we banish shade,"
"And in our world of plenty," Alexis added softly, her voice ringing out like Rad's. "We can spread a smile of joy. Throw your arms around the world, at Christmas time,"
"But say a prayer," Carlos now sung. "Pray for the other ones at Christmas time. it's hard but when you're having fun, there's a world outside your window and it's a world of dread and fear,"
The kids were now singing together.
"Where the only water flowing is the bitter sting of tears, and the Christmas bells that ring there are the clanging chimes of doom,"
Megatron was confused by the song but listened as the children continued their song.
"Well, tonight thank god it's them, instead of you," Carlos's voice rose slightly before Rad and Alexis continued.
"And there won't be snow in Africa this Christmas time, the greatest gift they'll get this year is life,"
"Where nothing ever grows, no rain nor rivers flow,"
"Do they know it's Christmas time at all?"
"Here's to you, raise a glass for everyone,"
"Here's to them underneath that burning sun," Rad called out before the others joined him again.
"Do they know it's Christmas time at all?"
Starscream was walking by when he overheard. He stopped and listened in. Soon Cyclonus and Demolisher came walking by and stopped to listen too.
"Feed the world,"
Their voices rose as they became more passionate in their singing.
"Feed the world,"
"Feed the world,"
"let them know it's Christmas time again,"
"Feed the world,"
"let them know it's Christmas time again,"
"Feed the world,"
"let them know it's Christmas time again,"
"Feed the world,"
They repeated these lyrics a couple more times before slowing finishing their song. They looked up at Megatron, wondering what he thought of it.
Megatron chuckled and clapped his hands, other clapping joining in.
The kids spun around in surprise to see the other three Decepticons hanging about the door, they had obviously been listening in. The three kids blushed but smiled and gave little bows of acknowledgment.
"So, you guys liked that?" Carlos asked with a grin.
Cyclonus chuckled.
"I've never heard anything like. How about you guys?"
Demolisher and Starscream shook their heads.
"It was sung by all these different artists in an effort to raise money for people in Africa," Alexis said proudly.
"Yeah, it kicked start a lot of those kind of charities like Children in Need and Comic Relief," Rad added. "That's where people do lots of different stuff in order to raise money to help others."
"What kind of music do you guys listen to?" Carlos asked curiously, they'd never heard Cybertrion music.
Everyone cocked their heads and looked at each other and then back at the kids.
"We don't have music," Starscream said.
The kids blinked then gaped in astonishment.
"You don't have music?" Carlos yelped in disbelief. "Seriously?"
They all shook their heads.
"We've never heard anything like until just now," Demolisher said this time.
"Whoa," Rad said quietly, that seemed pretty incredible.
"But I thought you had dancing, how can you have dancing without any kind of music?" Alexis asked, very confused.
The Cons' looked at each other and then down at the kids and shrugged. They didn't have an answer for them.
"What do you guys do for fun on Cybertron?" Rad suddenly asked, seeing that the Decepticons couldn't answer. If they didn't listen to music during downtime, then what did they do?
"Yeah, man," Carlos added. "What do you call a good time?"
They all then grinned.
"Inventions," Starscream said.
"Target shooting," Cyclonus said.
"Experiments," Demolisher said.
The kids all grinned at this that was a bit more like it. Alexis then looked up at Megatron.
"What about you, what do you do?"
Megatron shrugged.
"If I have nothing else to do I take a nap."
The kids all tried to keep straight faces but it was hard. That was just too funny for words, it sounded like the kind of thing a grandfather would say.
Megatron frowned at this and gave each of them a sharp tap on the head.
"Ow, what was that for?" Carlos cried, covering his head protectively.
"For making fun of me," Megatron said sternly.
"We weren't making fun," Rad said, wryly rubbing his head as Alexis said.
"We just....think it's nice you do other stuff apart from fighting."
Megatron just snorted and leaned back into his throne.
Starscream, Demolisher and Cyclonus all looked amused at the banter between their leader and the kids. They were all very relieved that Megatron had settled into a much better mood, they had been sure he'd go into a rampage for having his plan fail. But the kids had distracted him, and for that they were very grateful.
"Sir, do you have any orders?" Starscream asked after a moment of silence in which the kids had all relaxed against Megatron's lap.
Megatron looked up.
"Yes, start making a new plan to get rid of those accursed Autobots," Megatron said.
As the three Decepticons nodded, the kid's faces fell. They had really hoped Megatron wouldn't be doing something like that, not so soon after the last time. As the three Decepticons left, the kids remembered the horrible worry they endured while the Decepticons had been down on the planet.
They hadn't been sure whether Motors would be able to send a message or even if it would reach Optimus in time. That was one hour they did 'not' want to repeat.
"Do you really have to fight Optimus?" Alexis asked pleadingly, the memory of that hour had just been too much.
"Yes," Megatron said.
"But why?" Alexis persisted. "I don't understand."
Megatron glared down at the kids.
"None of your concern."
"It is our concern, we're part of this now," Rad said hotly.
"True but you best stop being so nosy for now or you will be punished," Megatron warned.
The kids all scowled at this, why did Megatron have to be such a grouch all the time? He really needed to learn to chill, why couldn't they ask questions? Especially as this was a matter that affected them all, they had a right to know.
"Why won't you tell us?" Alexis demanded. "Do you even know yourself anymore?"
Megatron snarled and slammed his fist on the arm of the thrown.
"Prime and I didn't agree on things back on Cybertron so it was war. There now you know and if you say another word of anything of this matter now, you will be punished."
"You mean this is all due to a squabble you and Optimus had?" Alexis burst out in disbelief.
"That's enough," Megatron roared, making the kids jump away.
"You've been warned twice, you won't be warned a third."
Alexis fell silent and neither of the boys said a word. They knew Megatron had been pushed too far, he was still clearly fuming over the battle and would punish them if they said any more. They looked away from his furious expression, their hearts still beating rapidly after his loud roar.
Megatron sat back and breathed heavily through his vents to calm and cool himself. The kids slowly settled down, not wanting to speak. Self preservation had taken over curiosity and so they remained silent.
After a long silence Megatron finally started to calm and his body started to relax into the throne. The kids saw this and breathed a sigh of thankfulness. It wasn't nice being next to a powerful and very angry robot. Alexis glanced at her friends and then said softly but clearly.
"I'm sorry for making you angry, I didn't meant to,"
Megatron glanced down at her and then snorted and rested his head on his fist and reached out and started stroking his pets. They lay down so he could stroke their backs, they were suddenly feeling very tired. The day had so far been very stressful, and they didn't want anything else to happen.
Megatron smirked down at them when they lay down and kept stroking their backs until one by one they fell asleep.
A short time after they'd fallen asleep, Starscream came back into the room. He raised an optic brow at the sight of the sleeping kids but didn't comment on it. Instead, he said.
"Sir, I've been speaking with Demolisher and Cyclonus about the....battle,"
Megatron looked up.
"Yes?"
"I had quite a good vantage point sir," Starscream continued. "And I could see the Autobots driving full speed, straight towards us. But then Prime suddenly swerved and then so did the others. That's when they run for it and Warped away. But I'm sure we were not detected or spotted, your plan was a good one."
"Yes but I'm still curious on how they knew we were there in the first place and turned and warped away?" Megatro said.
"That's what we were wondering Megatron," Starscream said quietly. "How could they have known we were there?"
Megatron leaned back and started to really think.
Starscream stood there politely, letting his leader think. He really was baffled by what had happened and hoped Megatron could think of an answer. After all, he knew Prime the best.
His optics drifted downwards to where the kids were sleeping peacefully on Megatron's lap. It made him smile a little to see them, he was starting to grow quite fond of them. They were so happy and so quick to bounce back from any misfortune, it made him feel almost jealous.
Megatron noticed Starscream looking down at the children and followed his gaze. He looked at them for a while before something clicked.
"Starscream, who all knew of the plan?"
"Only us, the Minicons who came with us and.....the kids," Starscream said slowly, suddenly realising where Megatron was going with this.
Megatron frowned as he looked down at the kids.
"I Think I know just how those fools found out," Megatron said.
"Surely not sir," Starscream protested. "They were locked up in my room all this time, and there's no access to any communication in there. Besides, I doubt they'd know how to use it anyway."
Megatron started to think gain.
'Maybe not but it's still very suspicious."
There was a long pause.
"What are we going to do?" Starscream asked quietly as Alexis shifted slightly on Megatron's lap.
Megatron looked up and said over their com link.
"Make another plan and wait for the bait to be taken and we will see who the culprit is," Megatron said.
Starscream nodded his agreement and after bowing, exited the throne room. He really hoped Megatron's hunch was wrong, otherwise those kids were going to be in for the punishment of their lives.
Author's note. The kids are now suspected but will they be caught out? Also, what is Scavenger up to? Find out in the next chapter, until then.