Woo! I love red cabbage! Red cabbage doesn't require any salt to store it, so I didn't need to be at work this weekend to measure it. More time to doodle and write more MERCY! I had three days to myself and my room is still a mess, but oh my God I really need this time off! (Rant complete… Please don't stop reading…)

This chapter bounces a little bit between Megatron with Cass, and Knockout with Cass, but it's what I have planned for the next chapter (or the chapter after that one, I haven't decided yet) that I think I'll have the most fun with. We're all going to play a little game. A gender reveal for Cass! Anyone that wants to guess what our littlest drone will deliver, please feel free to comment in the reviews. If you think Cass is carrying a mech, just say GREEN in the comments below. And if you think he's carrying a feme, just say PURPLE.

Special shout outs too: Cao dreams in books. I can always count on you and your high spirits. Keep having fun! (Pssst! No spoilers! You already took a guess…)

Remember, don't be afraid to ask question and leave comments. I love to hear from my readers!

DISCLAIMER: I don't own any stocks, trades, or licensing from the Transformers franchise. All rights are reserved for HASBRO entertainment.

MERCY

Chapter 30

Their blood is a threat,

A warning, a promise.

We are not the same,

And never will be.

-Victoria Aveyard-

The Decepticon medic dashed past each corner without concern over smacking into any walls. Sometimes he would briefly skid across the floor but wouldn't linger in one place. Knockout needed to get to Megatron's quarters as quickly as possible, and if he could help it, before Soundwave was aware Cass was gone. Also, if he didn't find him before his partner found out, Breakdown would never let him off the hook for being so neglectful, and he was just not in the mood to hear a preachy lecture.

He wasn't too far away after he reached the back storerooms and his pace didn't change for any distractions until he caught a light blue glimmer out of the corner of his optic. Knockout slowed to a stop, but at this point he had already passed what he thought looked like Energon. In his trained medical processor, he could've sworn it was cycled Energon. Cybertronian blood.

"What the Pit?" He questioned as he turned on his heals. His optics became fixated on the floor and he slowly tip-toed, trying to retrace his steps. His red optics swept over the halls from side to side, determined to find a small drop of what he now highly suspected was blood. That is if he was right about seeing anything at all. Eventually his sight did catch something that caught him off guard. It was a pair of pedes. Large pedes that were attached to wide blue calves. Following them further up the length of the struts, Knockout found himself getting excited to see them attached to a wide pelvic plating. Daring himself to go slower the red mech continued to climb further up to the broad blue chassis, then over the top of the sturdy metal revealed his lover's confused but handsome faceplate.

Automatically, Knockout's own faceplate lit up with happiness. The drop he saw on the floor was quickly forgotten and he quickly stood up right. Before his Bondmate could even ask what he was up too, the medic clung to his frame. The smile etched on his lip-plates reflecting how much he longed to be held in Breakdown's arms. A lot of this need was stemming from the mixing of his emotions and protocols, due to his current condition, but also because he loved his partner. So much that every time he saw the former wrecker, he wanted to just forget the rest of the world around him and hold him tight to his red metal, and the fact that he was carrying was the perfect excuse to get away with doing just that.

"I'll let you go in a minute." Knockout whispered. "I just want to satisfy the little voice in my tanks."

The larger mech chortled in his throat. With one servo he returned the hug and curled his arm lovingly in the crook of Knockout's back struts. With his other servo, he wrapped his digits into the smooth curve of his gorgeous mate's waist and caressed his thumb over the silver plating. For a moment, Breakdown thought he could already feel the shape of the torso begin to bend, but he knew better than that. It was still too early for Knockout to be showing yet, but the blue mech still couldn't be more excited. However, it was an excitement that would need to wait.

"I was just on my way to see you. I have info about Cass." Breakdown circled the servo on the medic's upper back. "I also have something for him from a friend of his. He's been hanging onto this for the little guy for a long time. Apparently, Cass dropped it behind a crevasse and damaged it. The drone I spoke to said he fixed it as best he could, but it's old and needs a certain part for it to work."

"Hand it here." The red mech mumbled. He was comfortable where he was, but his thoughts were still imbedded with the young model as well. "I will bring it to him… Soon as I find him."

"Wait. What?!" His partner gasped. "You lost Caspian?!"

"I didn't lose him!" Knockout pouted as he sub-spaced the device Breakdown handed him, then crossed his arms as he backed away on a pout. "I know where he is!"

"Which is where?" The larger mech huffed; not intending to sound cross. Though his patients was thoroughly tested as he watched his lover twist awkwardly.

"Um… Lord Megatron's quarters…"

"WHAT?!"

There were no dreams this time. It appeared that whatever force (whether in his frame or in the universe) that was producing these dreams for Cass had decided to let him rest a while, but eventually the young model began to stir. He could feel something warm and large circling his abdominal plating. It roused him from his rest, and he smiled sweetly at the blurred sight of Megatron's large servo protectively caressing his rounded black plating. His optics were still tired, so Cass closed them and allowed himself to enjoy the attention. The clawed silver servo was so large it practically engulfed his bump, and it made him feel safe. He no longer feared his master, now that he has excepted Megatron as his lover, and because he relished the way his frame was being adorned, he decided to return the gesture. Cass took his smaller servos and slid them over the warlords' fondly. This persuaded Megatron to groan deeply. His voice rumbled heavily in his chassis and Cass could feel the vibrations in his shoulder.

"Mmmm…" The tiny grounder sighed, still feeling brave enough to address his master in a casual manner. It seemed appropriate enough, seeing how they had shared a berth together… More than once. "Megatron…"

"Are you ready to rise my treasure?" The silver mech's hold tightened around Cass's frame, and he lightly kissed the top of his weary helm.

"Perhaps I should." The smaller mech sighed again and inched himself closer to the comfort of Megatron's embrace. "Commander Soundwave must be awake by now. He's probably wondering where I am."

"What exactly is your relationship with him?" Megatron did his best not to sound bitter, but his possessive nature was never easy for him to hide. Cass immediately realized the tone shift in his master's voice, and nervously he sat up on his side.

"Not the kind your thinking of! Or at least what I hope you're not thinking!" His apprehensive action called for Megatron to sit up as well. He smiled as he slid his servo over the worried Vehicon's cheek plating. It was adorable the way Cass's face flushed in embarrassment. The urge to kiss him was irresistible, but the tyrant knew he needed to resist temptation… For now at least.

"Be at ease my love." He warmly stroked his thumb over the soft texture of Cass's light silver face-plating. "I am not accusing you of anything. I am merely curious. Before we left the med-bay you seemed to be very concerned for him."

"Your… Your suspicions are not unfounded M' Lord." The young model sighed in relief, then gently touched the large servo soothing him with his own. "I have been his assistant for a long time, and we have formed a closeness to each other… But please believe me when I say our relationship is purely platonic. He became my guardian in a way."

"I have no doubt in your explanation." Megatron's smile widened into an amused smirk. "Soundwave is my most trusted soldier in command. If he ever offered himself to the position of Second in Command, I would so instate him. However, he insists on staying in his current post."

"We spoke of it once." Cass rested the side of his helm on his lover's chest and closed his optics in reprieve. "I asked him why he never tried to take the position of second, and he merely replied that he was content where he was. I can see why; he is very talented as a communications officer after all."

"All the more efficient with such a lovely assistant by his side." The larger mech cradled Cass's side, but withdrew the servo when the young model winced. "Are you feeling alright?"

"Yes…" The smaller mech shivered. "Just a bit tender. I am fine though… I promise."

Megatron's optic ridges furled in concern, but his smile stayed in place. "I should bring you back to the med-bay. I'm rather eager to gather information on your development." He carefully slid his arms under his lover's leg struts, taking care not to graze his damaged ped. "I assume you didn't know that after the first month of development, there is a chance we can find out the gender of our sparkling?"

"Really?" Cass questioned with a mild enthusiastic tone in his voice. "We can find out now?"

"Most likely." Megatron chuckled. "If not now, then soon. Each gestation is a little different, and sometimes the timing can be off."

"I wish to know soon." The violet mech lit up with this new information and stroked his black plating in delight. "My goodness… What could you be? Feme? Mech?"

"Healthy and strong." The warlord stood while slowly walking to the door with his carrier tight to his chassis. "That is what I wish for the most."

"I know she will be." Cass smiled, but covered his dermas when he realized what he had said. The statement surprised his master, but he was rather intrigued with such a claim.

"She? Do you hope for a feme?"

"Just a random guess M' Lord." Again he blushed and tried to make himself appear smaller. Such a feat was not difficult in Megatron's arms. "Megatron? May I please stand? It has been so long since my pedes touched the ground."

Hesitant, but not denying his lover's wishes, Megatron slowly placed Cass on the ground. He was still a bit weak, and his booted ped was heavy for him, but the young model found his footing. With the help of his gentle giant, Cass was able to lean against the front of Megatron's strong frame. His first thought was to attempt limping over to the couch in the living area, but Megatron was not quite ready to let the sweet Con go. He pulled Cass closer to his metal once more and lifted his helm up. The large clawed digits softly fondled Cass's beautiful features and leaned in closer with the intent of offering him a brief and tender kiss. It started out as such, but his resistance to temptation gradually began to faulter. The kiss deepened and at first Cass offered no resistance, but the young model knew he could not allow himself to be seduced again.

"M' Lord… Mm! W-Wait a moment. Please…" It pained him to push himself away. The unexplainable desire to be close to his master was still swirling in his processor, and his resolve was just as weak as his lover's. "If you continue to touch me like this… I will not be able to say stop. I can't explain why I cannot defy your touch, but my need to quench such an appetite must be… I…"

"Then do not deny yourself such hunger…" Megatron delivered multiple kisses and nips over the entirety of the tiny Vehicon's dermas. He found every corner, every crevasse, and lightly latched to each lip. Between every tease he encouraged a quiet but sweet moan from Cass's oral cavity. Each sound was swallowed by the silver mech with a hint of selfishness on his part.

But both of the Cons were stopped when they heard a strange rumbling below them. Embarrassed once again, Cass dipped his helm into his master's chassis. "S-Speaking of appetite…" He blushed a heavier blue.

"Oh… I see." The tyrant snickered and tried to stifle the clicking in his cooling vents. "We both should probably get some energon. Unfortunately I have not restocked my supply in a while. I will escort you to the med-bay and we can replenish there."

No sooner had Megatron announced his plan, the intercom on his door buzzed for his attention. "Lord Megatron?! Are you in there with Caspian?!"

"Lord Megatron?" A second intercom rang behind Cass, momentarily startling him. "If you have the time my Lord, there is something in the communications bridge you should see."

"The communications bridge?" The young model questioned. "Who is running the communications bridge?"

"It is merely temporary." His master assured him. "There is a collection of Eradicons and Vehicons that volunteered to help while Soundwave is still recovering. He rarely takes time to rest, so I'm doing my best to extend his time in the med-bay. But don't worry, I have been keeping a close optic on things for him… Well, during the times I didn't have my optics on you." Again he leaned forward with tender intentions, but Knockout seemed to be on a mission.

"My Lord?! Please, I don't mean to sound pushy or demanding in any way! But I should really see Cass now and bring him back to the med-bay!"

"Haaaa…" Megatron groaned as he slowly walked towards his main doors with Cass by his side. "Yes Knockout, I'll be right there." He opened the doors to the relief and surprise of his commanding medical officer. Before he allowed his small lover to walk over to Knockout's side, he squeezed Cass's servo and delivered one last kiss. "Go with the doctor for now my treasure. I will join you after I deal with the issue on the communications bridge."

"As you wish… M' Love." Cass replied without shame and returned all the affections given to him. With a little more confidence instilled in his processor the smaller grounder stumbled over to the seemingly stunned doctor. "Officer Knockout? Could you please escort me back to the med-bay?"

"Uh…" Knockout shook his helm so he could clear his own processor. He was actually expecting more of a fight. But now that he had time to think about it, he could probably do without any confrontation at the moment. "Yes. By all means… Feel free to take my arm and… We can go?"

He didn't know why he bothered to look up at Megatron for approval, but when the red mech met the warlord's gaze, the doors closed on his face.

"Yeah! Yeah… Okay we can go."

"You know that you are carrying!" Knockout could not contain his shock when Cass explained his reasoning for leaving the med-bay with Megatron. "How?! How the Pit do you know you're carrying?! Who told you?! Who explained this to you?!"

"It… It is difficult to explain." The young model bit his bottom derma nervously. "Is it too much to ask if we continue this conversation in the med-bay? Please?"

"For all that is holy in the universe…" The red mech pinched the space between his optics when he realized he had raised his voice box at his patient. He didn't mean to be irritable around him, but Knockout's mode swings were beginning to take a very strong hold on him. Especially after he and Breakdown separated in the halls, and it wasn't there usual loving separation. In fact, the red mech vaguely remembered throwing a handheld from his sub-space at him… For whatever reason. Eventually things went quiet for a while, and there was still a short but slow walk for them to travel.

"I… I am sorry that I have worried you, Officer Knockout." Cass stared at his pedes as he limped along side the medic. "I had intended to just go with Megatron to his quarters so we could talk. I had no intention of staying the night…"

"It is quite alright Cass," Knockout patted the shorter mech's back as he sighed heavily, "in fact, I understand perfectly. I am still not sure how you are aware of your current condition, but it is normal to feel the way you do now. A Bearer's protocols kick in almost instantly, and the first thing that registers in your mind is to be as close to your sparkling's Sire as physically as possible."

"Oh my…" Cass commented under a light blush. "That explains a lot."

The red mech chortled. "I'm sorry I got a little snippy with you. I'm sure you still have a lot of questions floating around in that mind of yours, and when we finally get back to the med-bay you can ask as many as you need. Oh! Before I forget, there's one thing I want to get out of the way first." Reaching into his sub-space, Knockout pulled out the old data-pad Breakdown handed him, then gave it to the smaller mech. Cass was puzzled at first, but when he took a closer look at the devise, he noticed how old the devise really was.

"Wait…" He gasped. "This… This is my old story pad! The one my first brothers catalogued for me when we first arrived on the Nemesis! Where did you find this?"

"Breakdown had a conversation with your friend Bob sometime ago. He said he found it stuck in a crevasse near the maintenance area." The higher officer smiled at the way Cass became so excited. It was a side of the young model he hadn't seen. His colorful optics spun curiously, and his face lit up like he saw the world for the first time. "Because it's a very old model you're going to need and external port-jack to charge it. I haven't checked any of the old storage or stock rooms yet, but I'm sure we still have one or two lying around somewhere."

"I know there's a small storage room up ahead." Cass nearly bounced on his building glee. "Is it alright if we quickly check on our way? Please?"

"Oh… I don't see why not." The doctor's smile widened as he easily gave in to the sweet mech's pleas. "Real quick though. I don't want us to linger too long and get back after Soundwave comes too."

Turning around a corner after their agreement, the two grounders found the storage room almost right away. Cass opened the doors and waited patiently for Knockout to walk in before him. Knockout crooked his head a moment until he recognized that the Vehicon was still acting like a drone and was waiting to follow his higher officer. Old habits apparently die hard.

"You go ahead." Knockout gestured. "I can wait for you here. It will be a great way to test your mobility. Just holler if you have any trouble."

"Alright, I'll be as quick as I can—Oh!" The doors shut behind the small mech, making him jolt. This was rather strange since most storage units required a hand shutter to close, but Cass decided not to worry about it. According to the light on the door switch it was still unlocked anyway. Knockout also found this to be peculiar but shrugged it off as he made himself comfortable against the wall.

Meanwhile, Cass began to explore the small confines of the old and possibly forgotten storage room. He coughed a little; a combination of his intakes still a bit sandy from the cave-in and the obscure amount of dust blanketing everything in sight.

"Are you still okay in there?" Knockout lightly shouted. He was able to hear the young mech through the door frame.

"I'm fine." The violet mech replied with a servo over his oral vent. "It's just a little stuffy in here… Ah! I think I might have found what I am looking for! One minute please!" In the far corner, Cass spotted a shelf with a small box full of cables and jacks. He needed to maneuver around a few things, and even with his booted ped he was able to reach the shelf without incident. Cass quickly became excited, and he dumped the box all over the lower portion of the shelf. He felt like he was two thousand years old again, because he rifled through the materials with little regard for the mess he was creating.

It was rare for the little grounder to become so chaotic, and Knockout could hear every moment of it. The older mech even laughed when he listened to Cass's moment of triumph.

"I found one!" The delighted Vehicon lightly squealed.

"Good." Knockout nodded in satisfaction. "Come out now, and when we get back to the med-bay, we can hook it up to a charging—."

"AHHHHHHHHH!" Cass screamed bloody murder out of nowhere; startling the medic so much he kicked in the door. He ran inside with his buzz saw drawn at the ready.

"Cass?! What happened—?!" He barely made it to the back of the room before the terrified young model intercepted him. He clung to the red mech's frame, sobbing hysterically. "What is it?!" Knockout questioned as he turned to his side, making sure Cass was mostly behind his frame so he could shield him from any oncoming danger.

Knockout's optics darted around every inch of the room. No shelves were knocked over, no crates were disheveled (aside from the one Cass turned over), and there were no breaches in the walls or ceiling. So what was going on? What happened just now that spooked Cass so badly into shaking like a busted-up generator? "Cass? I don't see anything. What are you so scared of?"

The smaller grounder lifted his servo as if he was trying to lift a large steel garter with one arm. But he had enough clarity to point at the ground, where the red mech neglected the large pool of, what appeared to be, cycled energon on the floor. There was a turn off in the corner Cass was exploring, and just off to the side of the pool was an extended, but lifeless servo. A drone's servo.

"T-T-Tristan…" The distraught Vehicon currently in the medic's hold stammered. "It's… It's Tristan… His Spark Chamber… Oh Primus! His Spark Chamber!"

-END-