Author's note. Written by me and the-writing-mew.
Enjoy and please review.
Red Alert's apartment
"You okay mama?" Valour asked his mother with concern as he brought her the special tea he usually made for the Consort.
"I'm fine," she said, a smile on her face when she saw what he'd brought her. "Just thinking about a patient, they've had a very hard time recently."
He nodded understandingly, offering her the cup before climbing up beside her. He then hugged her, wanting to comfort her, he knew she hated when something went wrong in the Med Bay.
"It's a very rewarding job," she murmured, sipping her tea and slipping an arm around her son. "But there are times when it can be...distressing."
"Yeah," he said with a nod, he'd heard from various nurses and medics about times they hadn't been able to help a patient. There'd been a few times when he'd seen his grandpapa looking both angry and upset and he'd known something had gone wrong during treatment.
"But you help loads of bots," he now said encouragingly. "Slipstream thought you were really good when she fainted and Hook thinks you're the best."
Now she really smiled and setting the cup aside, hugged him properly.
"Thank you," she whispered before saying. "I've got some exciting news."
"Oh?" he said, brightening. "What is it?"
"The Consort is going away on a holiday and the Emperor has asked us to accompany him," she told him. "We'll be going off-planet, what do you think of that?"
"Awesome!" he exclaimed, bouncing up and down. "When are we going?"
"In a few cycles time," she said with a smile. "We'll have to get ready to go and you'll need to tell your friends."
"You think Slipstream will be upset?" he asked and she shrugged.
"She'll miss you but she shouldn't be upset," she told him. "You're not going away forever, you could always get her a little gift."
He brightened; he could get all his friends something, especially Bee who was still a little sad.
"That sounds great," he said. "It's gonna be the best."
...
The next day...
"You're really leaving us?" Slipstream said sadly hugging Valour tightly like never wanting to let go.
"It will be just two weeks, I'll be back soon...and will bring presents for everyone," The red and blue sparkling assured and that made all the other seekerlets and Bumblebee to bounce in excitement at the prospect.
"Cool!" Bee exclaimed and hugged him creating a chain reaction that made all Slipstream's brothers to hug them too in a big group hug.
As the little group enjoyed themselves another young seeker looked at them like calculating his possibilities with the little aqua femmling now that her guardian will not be with her and he smirked.
This time he will not fail, this time Slipstream will be his.
...
Later that night...
Ratchet has returned Iacon and Red Alert has gone with her son and the Consort on holidays to a far beautiful planet to rest...
...and honestly Hook hoped that the young Prime will set up his mind and will return brave enough to confront his idiot mate and tell him how unhappy he was.
Honestly, Hook feared the day that mech will just lay on his berth and sleep his life away and possibly crying his optics out and started calling Megatron 'master' and shaking in fear while hearing the Emperor's steps coming near him again.
"No...no...that cannot happen..." The old medic shook his head and rubbed his face with his hands trying to shake off those thoughts.
He wondered how will Megatron react to that word being directed at him, after all Optimus addressed him by a similar one 'My Lord' which was practically the same; the medic could not remember when was the first, or last time he heard Optimus calling Megatron by his designation.
Hook rolled his optics in annoyance. "How is it possible that idiot hasn't realised it yet?"
Rubbing his face again with his hands he decided to focus in the task he auto assigned himself, find out who Valour's parents were; so far he knew that he was a halfbreed which means that there must be around some couple with a missing sparkling...
...or possibly a raped mech who gave away his creation not wishing to see his rapist's in the sparkling!
No, there was not a chance that such beautiful creature could have been the result of a rape, but then what was it? Why would they give him away and casually and conveniently abandon him in the morgue where there was a 100% chance of being found by his love interest?
That thought made him stop in his tracks while taking a sample of Valour's life force.
It was true that Ratchet was gone for now but so far Hook had not gained him...yet and his grumpy colleague warned him and threatened him to leave his daughter alone or so help him Primus he will come out of nowhere to finish him.
He sighed and continued with his task taking the glass recipe to examine it with the machine that will give them the possible identities of the mechs who were responsible of his creation. However the machine only had the names of those who were bonded, but what if he was a casual interface or, Primus forbid...the result of a rape.
Well, if the latter was the case he will need to investigate the filed crimes in that time. He just wished that was not the case.
He hadn't told anyone what he was doing; he wished to discover himself who Valour's creators might be. But he wanted to find out the circumstances that lead to the little Sparkling being left inside of a morgue. So after placing the vial of life force inside of the machine, he typed in some commands and sat back, waiting for a response. He was hoping against hope that Valour hadn't been the result of rape or anything like that, what a terrible thing for anyone to live with.
As he mused, he heard a ding which indicated that the machine had found a match even though it wasn't finished yet. He sighed in relief, at least he would know who one of the creators were. He grabbed a data pad, ready to start taking notes on the information the machine gave him.
"So who's the Sire?" he murmured, leaning forward to read the data.
The data pad dropped from his slack hands as he read out the name "Emperor Megatron" in a completely dumbfounded tone of voice.
He read it several more times before exclaiming. "Impossible, this can't be!"
Surely there had to be a mistake, there was no way that Megatron could be that Sparkling's Sire, he hadn't slept around with anyone, especially not since getting his mate. But as he leaned forward again, he saw the name "Consort Optimus" emblazoned next to his leader's name. His mind was in complete turmoil, he could not process what the machine was giving him.
Sure, Valour resembled Optimus and he could easily imagine the two bonded Mechs producing such a beautiful Sparkling but just how could Optimus have carried and given birth to a Sparkling without anyone being the wiser. He frowned as a thought suddenly struck him, Optimus had been in quarantine during the first few months of his bonding and had spent most of it in Iacon. And didn't Optimus end up visiting the hospital a few times, including once when his watcher was knocked out?
And both Ratchet and Red Alert had been working there, Optimus knew them from when he was young. So if he wanted to have a Sparking in secret, who better than them to deliver it and take it away? Primus, it was the only explanation he could think of, Ratchet at least had to know where Valour had come from but did Red Alert? Was it possible that she was completely innocent?
Deciding to find out more he started digging in the past of Red Alert and Valour and found something interesting...
Apparently when Optimus was in Iacon she was attacked by a patient that left her in stasis and in forced recovery but a few weeks later she was completely healed and found Valour in the morgue.
If Optimus carried then it means he conceived in his bonding night which makes Valour an early born or premature sparkling. It couldn't have been Red Alert who may have brought him into this world...
...it must have been Ratchet.
But then again, what if he told her who that sparkling was? Or...what if he hadn't?
Frowning he continued looking trying to find anything else when another thought crossed his processor. His optics widened.
Valour was found in the morgue and said places are never too...happy or inhabited which means...
"He gave birth in the morgue!" He exclaimed shivering at the simple thought of that ambient, it must not have been a very pleasant experience for a carrying, scared, or possibly terrifying for carrying without knowing or having any information about it and recently enslaved mech...
"Frag!" Hook cursed before remaining petrified. "Did you give him away so he won't become a slave like you feel you are?" He said as if asking Optimus himself and revealing a possible cause.
"Oh no...this is worse than I've thought..." He added feeling utterly pitiful for the young Consort. "It's just a matter of time indeed for him to start spiralling down without return." Sadly added Hook while shaking his head.
A ping sounded and he growled. It was one of the sparklings at the name of medic he has around there and once again, he was sure, the retarded idiot didn't know what to do.
He then got up leaving everything just like that and closed the door of his office.
Minutes later the door of his office opened again and another mech entered to give his report of the day...
However Tripwire wasn't expecting to find a file filled with the full details of Lord Megatron and his mate...
...or the file that stated that the little red and blue sparkling he met once was their creation!
His optics widened and quickly saved said files to print them later; the Emperor will be utterly pleased to find his mate lied to him and that grumpy Hook was hiding that information from him.
And what was best, Hook would not find out he was the one who'd told until it was far too late. As soon as his shift was finished, he would find the Emperor and give him what he'd found. The Emperor would then be able to confront Hook and hopefully interrogate him on what he knew.
With a small smirk, he exited the room to resume the remainder of his duties for the day.
Later
"My lord," Tripwire said with a bow as he entered Megatron's office.
"Yes?" Megatron questioned, barely looking up from a data pad he was reading.
"I have discovered something that I felt must be brought to your attention," the medic said softly, holding out a data pad which Megatron took but did not look at. "I found it in Head Medic Hook's office."
"And why did you bring it here?" Megatron asked, it sounded like this mech had been snooping.
"My lord, I think you'll understand when you read it," was all Tripwire would say. "I was very shocked but I knew it had to be brought to your attention."
"Very well, dismissed," Megatron said and the mech left smirking.
Megatron continued reading his data pad for a few breems before curiosity got the better of him and he lifted up the data pad he'd been brought. Just what was so important that this medic would sneak it out of Hook's office?
When he first read through it, he thought he had read it wrong so he reread it. After that, he felt almost annoyed; surely this was some sort of joke? But as he read it a third time, shock started to sink in as the implications of what he was reading started to become clear. Hook had not just written that he believed Valour to be the Emperor heir, he'd also written when he believed conception had happened and when he was likely to have been born and where.
Gripping the data pad so tightly it was beginning to crack, Megatron stared blindly as his mind processed everything. And as it did so, slowly rage started to build. One that needed to find someone to vent to...
Hook's office
"What am I going to do?" Hook sighed as he mulled over his earlier discoveries. He was tempted to call Ratchet and demand the truth of what happened but at the same time, he wanted to discover just how much Red Alert knew about this. If she really was innocent of knowing Valour's origins, she did not deserve to be punished, especially as she'd been an excellent mother to the youngster. But he felt he needed to talk to her about this face to face, not over any kind of video comm.
And video comms could be overheard and he didn't want this getting to Megatron before he'd had a chance to...
"HOOK!"
The road made him almost fall out of his seat in shock, he certainly dropped the data pad fast enough. Before he could recover his wits, a furious Megatron had stormed into the office and stood looming over him, dark anger pouring over him.
"M-Megatron?" he stammered, he'd never seen him like this.
...actually it was the first time ever in his ancient existence he'd seen the mech he helped bring into this universe this angry.
Correct that, furious, livid.
"Hook..." The bigger one snarled threateningly. "You will explain why you hadn't informed me before?!"
" I... Uhh...inform you...uhhh..wh- what?" The old medic stammered trying to regain some control.
"This!" The Emperor roared while throwing him the cracked datapad on his face and Hook read it, his optics widened at the sight and Megatron continued. "Tell me...Since when you know it?!"
Finally regaining some control he answered. "I... I just found out..." He didn't ask who provided him with the information, he will find out for himself.
"My son... I was denied from my son and you knew it?!" Megatron roared and Hook frowned.
"Have you even heard what I've said?! I just found out a few hours ago! Look at the date of the test!" He roared back and Megatron seemed ready to grab his neck but Hook continued. "It was obviously your mate's idea; discuss it with him when he returns!"
Megatron's optics almost turned white in utter rage at the thought of his lying mate; so, he carried but said nothing?! How dare he?!
"Ohh, he will hear me, I will go after him personally and will demand him an explanation! He owes me respect and obedience!" The lord roared so powerfully that the walls shook.
"No! Megatron, don't! If you go like this now you can make things worse! You can hurt him severely!" Hook warned and Megatron turned his irate optics towards the old medic.
"He dared to hurt ME! I've given him everything he wanted and yet he still denied me the only thing I've wanted! He deserves to hurt!"
"Listen to yourself, you love that mech, you wouldn't dare to hurt him, he's-"
"A fragging liar!" Megatron finished for the medic interrupting him. "Fragging Autobot! How dare he, HOW DARE HE?!"
"Maybe he was scared, he was afraid of what you might think or do to them, he was-" Once again Hook tried but Megatron interrupted him this time by breaking things in his anger.
"I would have given him the universe, I already gave him my utter devotion and this is how he repays me?!"
Hook nodded understanding, Megatron felt betrayed. "He was scared; I can say that at least, scared of you, scared of the consequences of conceiving in his bonding night thinking that you may hurt him since he didn't even knew you by then!"
"Scared?" Megatron snorted. "Scared? Why would he be 'scared' of me when I've already declared my feelings for him and gave him my spark?! He lied to me!"
"You have to calm down and when he returns you bring the subject calmly..." Once again Hook tried. "Besides you cannot leave now after him, you have lots of things to do and cannot abandon them in your rage against your mate...which will freak out once he sees you like this."
"He will hear me..." Megatron replied and made Hook think if the leader heard what he said. "Once he gets here...I will take my son...and that femmbot, did she knew?!"
Shaking his head Hook lied. "No, I don't think so, she just found him and when Optimus was giving birth she was in stasis."
Megatron looked at him suspiciously.
"Are you sure about?" He said coldly. "I know perfectly well how you feel about her."
"It's in her records, my lord," hook said earnestly. "She discovered your son and fell in love with him, I'm sure she didn't know who he was."
"We'll see," Megatron said grimly. "But whether or not she is innocent, I am taking my son back. She can adopt herself another sparkling if she wishes."
"Megatron," hook began. "Valour sees her as his mother..."
"Well she is not!" Snarled Megatron. "He is my son and he will accept that."
Hook did not like the sound of that at all; Valour would hate being taken away from his mother. Megatron was going to end up creating a rift between him and his son, which would only make the situation worse.
"Megatron, we don't know what happened," he said, hoping his leader would listen. "You need to ask your mate to explain his reasons."
"Oh don't worry," Megatron growled darkly. "I will be asking what the pit he was thinking when he dared to do this."
"Megatron, please don't do anything hasty," hook begged. "Let your son enjoy his time off world, it's his first time off the planet. We can resolve this once he gets home."
"Fine," Megatron snapped. "But mark my words, someone will pay for this. And you will not tell anyone, understand?"
As hook nodded, Megatron growled before storming away.
...
Meanwhile...
Planet Arcade...
"Mom?" Valour started while helping Red Alert to organize herself in the medbay. "Can I ask you something?"
Seeing her son's hesitation Red smiled kindly to him and caressed his head. "What is it, sweetspark?"
Valour waited a few seconds while thinking how to bring this subject now, then he started with his head casted down. "Do you know why my creators abandoned me?"
The older femme tried not to look surprised and only smiled back pitifully at him. She knew that someday he will ask this just that no one could be ready enough for it.
"Yes, I know them...your carrier is a nice and gentle mech, beautiful from the inside and the outside, always thinking in others before himself," She started and that made Valour smile before she continued. "But your sire... He's a bad mech, he took your carrier and practically enslaved him while threatening to hurt those he loved, and your poor carrier had to obey." She sighed and watched the worried look that now hunted his son's face.
"As long as your carrier pleases him everyone will be safe, but if he dares to disobey... You can have an idea...," His mother added grimly and he nodded. "He ended up carrying for his master and was afraid what he will do once he finds the truth, your carrier feared more for you than himself so that made him take a hard decision, once his master was out from the planet, he went to your grandfather and begged him to take you from him before his carrying became too evident.
After that he told your grandfather to find a good family for you and then sadly with a heavy spark, returned to his demanding master; but you must never contact him if he doesn't contacts you first, he fears your sire will just take possession of you and enslave you like he did to him, after all he's a very powerful Decepticon and with a ruthless reputation."
"Oh..." Valour said sadly. "Poor mech... I just wish that wherever he is, he's happy and that his master is not evil with him." He added remembering that as long as his carrier obeys his master will not hurt him.
"Don't worry, sweetspark, your carrier's sacrifice must serve for you to be happy and maybe one day you will be able to set him free from his bounds."
Said that he ran to her and hugged her tightly thinking in a mech that seemed to be in the same situation his carrier was...
...the unhappy Consort.
...
Meanwhile...
Optimus' quarters...
The young Prime looked at the beautiful shining stars admiring them from the apartment's balcony.
"Consort, you have mail," A servant announced and he nodded so the other will leave the datapad on the berth and with that he left.
Later when Optimus was done looking at the vast universe he reached for his berth and the datapad. It was a letter from Elita.
It chanted:
"Dear Optimus:
I hope you're doing fine and you're happier since the last time we saw you, I sincerely hope this letter cheers you up a little then.
We were chosen to go off world, and when I mean 'We' I mean me, Hot Rod and Sentinel; we were ascended and soon we hope to become elites, wouldn't that be great?
Also, there will be someone else joining us, a saddened mech who seemed to be using the Academy as a way out from something that pained him greatly, he's green and small, a minibot under the name of Wasp. He doesn't talks too much but at least he obeys me... Sometimes I
...sometimes I feel sorry for him but oddly enough I've never seen him cry.
Anyways, I hope you're happy and that now that Red Alert is there with her son they help you get better.
By the way, as your friend I think you should face that afthole mate of yours and tell him how you feel, you know what I'm talking about.
I have to go now, I will keep you on date of what is going on, after all, being in a ship with Sentinel and Hot Rod will not be easy and will make many stories to tell.
Sincerely yours,
Elita One"
Optimus sighed once he finished reading the letter; he so much wished to go with them, to still be free...
...but his freedom has a price... As in the lives of all the Cybertronians, so he just sighed and resigned himself to his fate.
"Consort, can I come in?" came a voice and Optimus quickly shook himself out of his musing. At least his friends were having a good time, living their dreams and making a difference in the universe. And so far, his son was having a really good time, Arcade was a beautiful planet.
"Of course," he called back, turning from the stars and his data pad to see Valour trotting through the room.
"Hi," his son greeted with a wide smile, making Optimus's Spark feel a little bit lighter. "You looking at the stars?"
"Yes, I was," Optimus said with a nod. "I've always loved doing that, ever since I was a little Sparkling."
"I like looking at the stars too," Valour said brightly as he stopped in front of Consort. "They're really clear here, aren't they?"
"They are," Optimus said with a nod, bending to scoop Valour up so he could get a better look at them.
"Wow," Valour gasped, the Consort had such a fantastic view.
"Like it?" Optimus murmured, loving the close feel of his beautiful Sparkling.
"I love it," Valour giggled, reaching up a hand as though he could touch them.
"Your mother used to tell me off when I snuck out to watch the stars," Optimus now told him. "Your grandpapa practically brought me up, Red was like a sister to me."
"So that makes you my uncle," Valour said brightly, making Optimus chuckle while inwardly feeling a little sad. "We're family."
"Yes," Optimus said hoarsely as Valour hugged him tightly around the neck. "I love you, little Valour."
"I love you too," Valour assured him.
They stayed there for a few moments before Valour finally said. "I was gonna ask if you wanted to go through the midnight garden with me, there's glowflies and night scented flowers. And someone said that if you can find growing crystals, you can eat them. Doesn't that sound cool?"
"It does," Optimus agreed with a smile. "Let me send a message to my lord Megatron and then we can go."
"Okay," Valour said excitedly and Optimus carried him over to his computer and he started typing a message one handed.
"Done," Optimus declared once it was sent. "Come on, let's go before all those crystals get eaten."
Valour laughed as the message shot across space to Megatron's own computer. The screen beeped a couple of times and Megatron heard it and when he saw who it was from, he instantly activated the message.
My lord
I am having a wonderful time so far, everything is going smoothly. It is a beautiful planet, I think young Valour is having the time of his life, he played all day at the beach and managed to convince nearly everyone to join him in the sea. He's convinced me to go for a night time walk, perhaps you would like to do that with me when I return.
I hope you are doing well; I won't be gone that long.
Optimus
"I'm so glad you're having a good time," Megatron growled to himself. "With our SON!"
The last word was a roar as he slammed his fist into the wall by the console, almost punching a hole through it.
"Megatron?" came the shocked voice of Starscream, he'd just entered to talk to him about one of their planets which mostly contained Seekers and other fliers, there was an issue with a developing storm in the north.
The grey Mech turned around furiously and Starscream almost recoiled.
"Starscream," Megatron growled dangerously. "What would you do if you found the mate you loved, adored, worshiped, the one you would give everything to have deceived you and spent the entire time they'd been bonded to you laughing behind your back?"
"Well...I...," Starscream stammered. "I've never been bonded but I don't suppose I would like it..."
"Damn right you wouldn't," Megatron almost half roared at him. "And just what would you do?"
Starscream stared at him before saying quietly.
"Megatron, has something happened with your mate?"
For a moment, it seemed the other Mech couldn't answer before he spat.
"Do you know who your daughter's fiance's creators are?"
"Not his real creators, I did not think anyone knew who they were," Starscream stated, he was starting to get a bad feeling about this.
"Well congratulations Starscream," Megatron snarled. "You've just met one of them."
Starscream gaped at him before exclaiming in complete shock. "Wait...your his Sire?"
Starscream looked at his leader and friend in utter shock. "Wait...no...how...?"
"Our bonding night!" Megatron roared and smashed his fists against his desk.
Starscream processed this with the time that sparkling have in this universe... That means Valour is a high ranking sparkling!
Without doubt his daughter have a good optic, but he doubted he can bring that now as Megatron ranted how much he felt betrayed by his mate and how much he will punish him.
"Megatron, you have to calm down... You cannot be serious, you love that mech but..." Starscream trailed off not being sure about saying this.
"But what?!" The other barked.
Hesitantly Starscream started. "Have you thought how your mate felt when you took him away so suddenly from the life he was used to?
"Of course! He was as excited as I was; I don't understand why would he do that to me?! I've given everything to him!"
Megatron continued and Starscream resisted the urge to shake his head. "Yes, you did, but you also took his life and made it yours."
"Of couse! He's my mate! How wouldn't I have taken his life and he also took mine!"
This time Starscream shook his head. Megatron was just denying the truth or plain ignoring it.
"Megatron...he hasn't taken your life," he told him with a sigh. "You are still the leader of the Decepticons, your life has pretty much continued the way it was before you were bonded. Except you now have a mate...and a son. But your mate was forced to give up his career and plans for the futures at only a moment's notice. I think that might...have addled his processor a little."
"Addled it?" Megatron exclaimed in disbelief. "How can bonding to me have done anything to him? Clearly, there was something wrong with him that Ultra Magnus did not tell me about."
"Primus, no wonder Optimus never tried to tell him how he felt," Starscream thought to himself although he was still shocked about Valour.
"Have you...ah...spoken to your mate about this? I mean, how did you find out?" Starscream now asked.
"Hook discovered it," Megatron stated grumpily. "He says he wished to find out Valour's parentage...and didn't even both to tell me. It was left to another medic to inform me about my own damn son."
"I'm sorry," Starscream said quietly. "I can't image how that must have felt."
"You better pray you never experience it," Megatron stated darkly. "The one thing I always wanted and my treacherous mate gave him away without a second thought. Maybe I should discipline him the way my ancestors used to."
"Megatron, no!" Starscream gasped in shock. "Think of Valour, he cares for his carrier and would never accept it. He would hate you if you whipped your own mate, surely you can see that?"
Megatron just growled, he wanted to do something, anything to make Optimus feel the pain he was currently experiencing. But the last thing he wanted was to turn his own son against him, maybe he would have to do things a different way.
"Megatron," Starscream began. "You are lucky that Valour at least likes both you and the Consort. My children are terrified of their own Sire for a mistake he made; I have not been able to convince them of the fact that he's really a gentle mech who is sometimes impatient. You can still have the family you've always, you and Optimus just need to talk through this and Valour can take his rightful place as your son."
"Talk to a mech who has had countless opportunities to talk to me about this?" Megatron demanded and Starscream could only nod.
"Yes Megatron, that's all I can say," he said gently. "And about his mother..."
"She is not his mother," Megatron barked furiously. "She will be lucky if I do not have her arrested and banished from this planet, as it is, I haven't decided how I can sufficiently punish her Sire."
"So Ratchet was involved?" Starscream questioned although somehow this didn't surprise him a lot.
"Yes," Megatron grumbled. "And he kept this from his Emperor."
"Possibly he was sworn to secrecy...," Starscream began reasonably but was overruled by his leader.
"Secrecy? He had a duty to inform me that my mate had birthed a healthy Sparkling!" Megatron roared.
"But anyways, Megatron, he's his adoptive grandfather and he loves him, and if you punish any of them Valour will hate you and will find the perfect reason why his carrier gave him away! Just think, for Primus' sake!"
The seeker started getting frustrated with his old friend and thought for a moment that the old idiot was that, an idiot when it came about his relationship.
"He will not! He must understand he was taken from me! They denied him his rightful place as the heir! The future emperor!"
"Megatron, maybe they did, but it must have been because your mate asked them to do so, just think! He didn't even know you then, he just came one day and the next day he was carrying! If he was afraid from you in the beginning then think how terrified he must have been when he found out about his condition! Just think!"
"I think I've thought enough, just wait until they return...just wait...," Megatron threatened and Starscream sighed in frustration.
"Maybe you're bonded but you don't know each other; you don't know how he sees you and he cannot imagine his jailer falling in love with him and not just his body!"
That made Megatron turn his irate optics sharply towards his seeker friend and barked. "Jailer? Jailer?! I've never kept him prisoner and he was always free to go wherever he pleased!"
"Yes, but not without your authorization! You didn't even courted him before just taking him to your berth, Megatron, what's wrong with you, he's unhappy and each time I see that mech I wonder how is it possible that he keeps the tears to himself all this time!" Starscream finally throw up and continued not leaving the other to continue as well. "He didn't even knew you by then and was just forced into you possibly thinking if you didn't took what you wanted from him or he didn't consent you will just destroy everything he loves and more,"
He took some air. "Come on, Megatron, open your optics and see that your mate suffers more that you can even imagine, he's more your slave than your bonded! And now you threaten to hurt him and his child's adoptive family? Come on! Are you sure you want to make him think you're indeed the brute he thinks you are?!"
"I am not a brute and they deserve punishment!" This time Megatron roared.
Starscream winced at the sound before saying.
"Megatron, I've known you since we were Sparklings, I know you're not a brute. Our people know that you are not a soft touch but you are fair and firm. And from all the reports we've received about the general Autobot population, they've come to like you and no longer worry that we're going to enslave them or some other such nonsense."
"So what are you saying about my own mate thinking I'm a brute?" Megatron demanded.
"He doesn't know you!" Starscream said in frustration. "You might be treating his people right but I can only assume he is scared you'll hurt them if he doesn't cooperate. Almost every time I see him, I see he's unhappy but it's obvious he hasn't confided to you about this. Why would he stay silent unless he was afraid?"
"I have never given him any cause to be afraid of me," Megatron stated furiously. "He really is insane if he thinks that way."
As the Seeker started to speak again, he cut him off.
"No more Starscream, I will deal with him when he gets back. If you're worried about your daughter, you needn't be, I don't disprove of the match."
"Thank you," Starscream said heavily, clearly he wasn't going to get through to his friend. Optimus would simply have to finally confess his feelings if this family were to survive. Megatron could be rather abstruse at times but at Spark, he wanted his people and those he'd brought into his empire to prosper. And he especially wanted his close friends and family to succeed, this was something that Optimus didn't seem to full realise. He saw himself as a piece of property whose only purpose was to please his master.
"Slipstream will be relieved," he added. "Your son's a good Sparkling and worthy of her."
"I should hope so," Megatron said with a crooked smile. "He is my son after all."
Starscream smiled back, knowing he couldn't keep at Megatron about his mate. He just hoped that they worked something out and soon.
And so far the Consort was only good at bedding Megatron, he never did anything else for the empire!
He heard the mech was a prominent Prime and some rumours stated that Ultra Magnus saw him as a potential successor; that was a big deal, but so far he never did anything else but spread his legs for his mate once he bonded as if that was his only purpose here.
Optimus never had a chance to prove himself to the empire and Starscream had no idea why Megatron kept him that useless when he was clearly a bright mech raised to succeed before bonding!
And now he was getting ill frequently, he was losing his shine, his life, his very soul...and soon his only motivation that still kept him here, to please his master so he may not hurt others will not be enough and he will die.
If Megatron punishes him it will be the final blow and he will break, he can see it happening and that mech dying without another word.
Megatron needs to calm down and think about this; if only his processor was not so thick!
He needs to do something before it gets too late and the Emperor lose everything, his beloved mate and newly found son, because if Optimus dies because of Megatron, Valour will hate him just as his own sparklings hated/feared their own sire. Sparklings are very sensitive and the trauma they receives when at this age will follow them forever.
Starscream can only pray his friend see reason because losing his family can be too much of a hard blow to him...or the people living in the empire.
...
Planet Arcade...
Morning...
Optimus sat on the beach contemplating the calming see and rising sun.
"Can I take a seat?" Valour said at him while preparing a little table on which he set the tea he prepared for the Consort.
Said Consort only smiled kindly at him and nodded and his son sat next to him and served him some tea.
"Are you ok?" The sparkling said while delivering the little porcelain cup.
"Yes, I am," Answered the Prime noticing that there was something else. "Why you ask?"
"Well..." Valour started. "Honestly, you don't look happy...even here something is worrying you."
Optimus was startled by this but kept his gaze down and sipped his tea in silence. "I think the Emperor really cares about you to the point of love... I think you should talk to him and tell him how you feel and he will listen to you."
As the other continued silently sipping the tea as if swallowing his words, Valour continued. "You shouldn't be afraid of him, he seems like a nice mech, he will hear you, I'm sure."
That made it and this time Optimus responded. "He's my master... I was brought to his side to please him and carry for him, why would he listen to his...servant?"
He saw Valour was going to answer to that but he spoke first. "He's busy, I know that, he's the Emperor but, he has no time to listen to my complaints especially since I was brought here to do everything he wants or he might..." He trailed off and took more tea not wanting to say it.
"Or he what?" Started Valour really worried for this mech; it seems he believed he was holding something big that may crumble if he doesn't please this mech without complaining.
"Or he will...he will enslave all the Autobots, he will break the peace and will kill them all!" Exclaimed the really worried mech and Valour looked at him even more sadly. "I have to... I have to obey him... I have no choice... I've never had..."
He seemed ready to cry and in need of reassurance but also in need to figure out himself what was real and what was not.
"No one said you don't or didn't have a choice; you said that to yourself alone... Why don't you ask him if is that the only reason you're here, I think he's a nice mech and he really cares for you more than you can even imagine, talk to him, tell him how you feel," Said kindly Valour.
"What if he doesn't listen, what if he says I'm just his personal pleasurebot?" This time Optimus' voice broke and he seemed to be holding back the cries he so much longed to leave out.
"And what if he does?" His sparkling assured. "You will never know if you never try!"
Optimus stared at him before saying. "Do you really think so?"
"Uh huh," Valour said with a nod. "You think your only his mate for a certain reason but you don't know for sure. I really hope he doesn't just want you for a pleasurebot but if he does say that's what you are, at least you know. You won't be worrying about it all the time and me, mama and grandpapa will still be there for you. And if the Emperor really does love you, you can tell him how you feel and you can both work something out."
Optimus thought about this for a moment. Sometimes, Megatron seemed like an overgrown mechling, giggling over the fact his stern medic was crushing on a pretty femme. He did seem interested in continuing Cybertron's prosperity and so far, had treated Valour kindly even though the little Sparkling was only an Autobot servant. Maybe his son was right, perhaps he should talk to Megatron, find out once and for all what his mate really thought about their relationship.
If Valour was right and Megatron did love him, perhaps he would forgive him for giving away their Sparkling. He would see first what Megatron thought and if he was true, he could reveal everything to him. Together, they could tell Valour who his creators were and be a family. Of course, he didn't want to exclude Red Alert, not after everything she had done for him and his son. He knew his son could love more than one creator, as long as Megatron accepted her, they could work something out.
"I think your right," Optimus said slowly to his son. "When we get back to Cybertron, I'll talk to him, see how he truly feels. If he doesn't care, well, at least as you say, I'll know."
"I don't believe he's that cruel," Valour said, hugging the Consort as he looked close to tears. "I know it's been awful for you but we'll be there for you."
"I know," croaked Optimus, lifting him up properly as tears slipped down his face. Maybe there was hope for the future.
Message to Cybertron
My Lord
When I return to Cybertron, there's something I would like to discuss with you. It's too long to send in a message, I want to tell you in person. Things are still going well; I've even found a few gifts that I believe you'll like including a new species of 'serpent'. Valour once asked me if I've ever been to the planet the serpents reside on, I told him not yet but perhaps we will go there one day.
Your mate Optimus
Cybertron...
Kaon's palace city...
Megatron frowned as yet another message from his mate was received.
"How dare he...," The Emperor growled under his breath as he read over and over the note and just slammed his desk again in rage. "You denied me my son!"
Starscream watched his friend and only shook his head in pity.
...
Planet Arcade...
Sometime later...
"Are you ready, Valour? We don't want to leave you behind..." Optimus called the sparkling as this one continued taking pictures.
"Wait! I'm coming!" the little creature answered and quickly got inside their ship giggling.
Red Alert received him with a hug before saying: "Go now little one, fasten your seat belt before we leave." And he nodded and obeyed.
She then reached for Optimus touching his shoulder. "How are you feeling?"
He just smiled at her and answered; "Very well, thank you;" and added, "I think I'm ready to speak my feelings, I don't think my Lord is as cruel as I've been seeing him all this time."
The medic nodded and smiled. "Good to know, you need to sort that out."
"I'll tell him of Valour..." He added and she only nodded without shocking herself as he expected. "You're...not surprised?"
She smiled and just shook her head. "I cannot say I didn't feared this day coming but, is your son and clearly you need him more than me, besides, I live in the palace and I know I will always be his mother."
Optimus beamed at her and without warning hugged her tight. "Thank you so much, Red... You're truly a sister..." And some tears escaped his optics, but in happiness.
This was going to be a good cycle.
...
Sometime later they reached Cybertron and Optimus couldn't wait to meet his mate. It was nightfall and when he entered their quarters he left the presents he brought on their berth, then went to the balcony finding his lord there...
He was giving his back to him and a strange aura surrounded him but still ignoring it, Optimus stepped towards him.
"My lord...?"
"So, you've returned," was the cold response.
Optimus hesitated, he'd been expecting his mate to be happy to see him. Actually, he'd almost been expecting to be scooped up and taken to the berth, Megatron never like to go long without an interface. And they'd gone a whole two weeks without interfacing with each other.
"Yes my lord," he said cautiously, perhaps Megatron had had a hard day. He did run an Empire after all, there were times when he came back to their apartments tired and a little stressed. "I...I missed you."
"Is that so?" Megatron said, still not turning around but the strange aura seemed to get worse.
"Of course," Optimus exclaimed, he actually had missed sleeping next to his mate, more than he'd thought funnily enough. "You're my mate."
"My mate," Megatron said in such a soft voice that Optimus thought everything was alright. "Yes, we are, aren't we?"
"Yes," Optimus said, taking a few more steps towards him. "And...there's something we need to talk about, you got my message?"
"Yes I did," Megatron said pleasantly. "But tell me...would this have anything to do..."
He started to turn as he said this and Optimus was startled to his optics were blazing scarlet red. Before he could process this, Megatron continued.
"...with the fact you had a son and did not EVEN TELL ME!?"
"I...," Optimus stammered, optics wide with shock as Megatron loomed over him.
"You carried him, you birthed him and you gave him away?" Megatron roared at him. "What gave you the right to do such a thing?"
"My lord, I can...," Optimus started to say but Megatron seized his smaller mate by the arms and shook him hard.
"How dare you keep this from me!" Megatron practically screamed at his now terrified mate. "My own son, my heir, my Sparkling, you abandoned him in a fragging morgue without a slagging thought."
"No, please," Optimus begged, trying to struggle free but he was utterly helpless.
"Did you find it amusing?" Megatron now demanded. "When I hired my own son to work here? When I told you how special he was, did you laugh behind my back?"
"I never did," Optimus said tearfully, feeling his arms dent under the pressure. "I swear..."
"Liar," Megatron spat. "I am going to make you suffer for this and my son is going to get the position he deserved and those slagging medics are going to wish they never covered for you. Maybe I should reinstate public whippings..."
Optimus felt ice take hold of his whole being and he whispered. "You can't..."
"We'll see what I can and can't do," Megatron said grimly. "You will learn never to cross me again."
"No, please, I beg you, they raised our son with love and care, you cannot punish them!" Optimus tried but that only infuriated Megatron more; bad choice of words indeed.
"Love?! Care?! I would have given him that but YOU denied me that right! You acoursed autobot!" Megatron continued shaking him roughly giving every ounce of wrath he had to the other. "You will pay for this! Everyone will! You autobots are filthy liars that deserves to be chained and treated like slaves!"
Optimus' optics widened in horror as he processed what the other's words meant. "No! Please don't I beg you Master, please don't, please! I'll do anything you want but please don't break the threaty, please!" Miserabily the youger tried in desperation as he tried to kneel but the other continued holding him tight from his shoulders.
"You all earned the right of being enslaved!" Megatron roared once again this time pushing Optimus to the room and this one fell on his back at the force of it before lifting himself up again and reached for his infuriated Lord.
"Please Master, please don't... I'll do anyth-"
Before Optimus could continue Megatron backhanded him so hard that it sent him spiralling backwards and fell on the ground on his front. From there he remained in silence without moving.
Without glancing once to his fallen mate, Megatron stomped away without noticing a petrified Ultra Magnus who witnessed everything...
...and his only concern was his now unresponsive Prime.
"Optimus!" He ran towards him and turned him around before taking him in arms. "Optimus, don't worry son, everything will be ok...!" The elder promised watching his own creation cry silently before turning his empty optics towards him.
"I'm sorry... I've failed..."
"Optimus...you have not failed, you hear me? You have not failed...if someone has failed it was me for not protecting you when that moment...you...my own and only son..." He cried but the other wasn't responding anymore. "Optimus? ...Optimus...!"
No matter how much the Magnus shook him or cried his name, he seemed to be dead...
...after all, he failed...there was no reason to continue existing.
...
Meanwhile...
Starscream paced the medbay in worry, something bad must have happened, he can feel it! And not just him but Hook as well.
"He's not calmed... I know, fragger!" Starscream cursed before Red Alert entered closely followed by Valour who was helping her with her stuff.
"What is going on?" She asked noticing the tense aura, but before she was answered Slipstream entered too folloed by her brothers at high speed.
"He's coming! And is furious!" She said in worry before looking at Valour and Red. "You two, hide!"
"What?!" The medic femme said Slipstream said:
"His anger is towards you..."
And Starscream said, "He knows about your son...that he is HIS son and is not happy with the fact that you and Optimus hid that from him all this time! He will punish you both if he haven't punished Optimus yet!"
Red Alert's optics widened and Valour shook his head in denial putting two and two together...
The evil mech and his poor servant...
This cannot be... The unhappy Consort and the Emperor?!
The doors of the medbay opened and Megatron stomped inside like a stampede before locating the two bots he needed to find...
...that medic and HIS son!
Valour flinched when he devised the Emperor's irate optics and covered behind his mother; he'd never seen anything like it before!
"Where is he?" Megatron stated in a commanding voice, optics taking in all the frozen bots. "Where is my son?"
Red Alert took a few steps backwards, she couldn't possibly allow Valour to go with this insane looking Mech. Meanwhile, Hook took a step forward and asked.
"Megatron, where is Optimus?"
The grey Mech ignored him, his optics had fixed on the little blue and red Sparkling that was hiding from him. He shoved Starscream aside when the Seeker tried to place a hand on his arm and started to reach for Valour.
"Wait, Megatron," Red Alert exclaimed, almost stumbling over her son who was virtually hugging her legs in fear. "Don't..."
"Get out of my way," he snarled, large hand grabbing the Femme's neck and throwing her to one side violently.
"Mama!" Valour exclaimed, trying to reach for her but found himself being grabbed and lifted up.
"Do not call her that," Megatron told him furiously as his son stared at him with wide fearful optics. "That Femme is not your mother, she is a criminal who kidnapped you and held you prisoner from me."
"No!" Valour protested, squirming in the tight grip. "She didn't, she's my mama, I love her."
"You Do Not Love Her!" Megatron spat, giving him a shake. "Never say such a thing again."
"Megatron, you're going to hurt him!" Hook said in shock and horror as Starscream's Sparklings stared, trembling with fear. "Stop this madness before you do something you regret."
"I will do what I please," Megatron said in contempt, holding Valour against his chest with one hand. "Starscream, arrest the Femme and her Sire, I will decide what to do with the rest of her kind later."
"My kind?" Red Alert exclaimed. "You mean the Autobots?"
"That's exactly what I mean," Megatron said grimly, making her cry. "Then Optimus was right all along, you're a sparkless brute who takes whoever he pleases, you raped my brother and now you're going to destroy everything he's sacrificed for."
"Silence," Megatron roared, taking a menacing step in her direction. "One more lie out of you and I will whip you myself."
"NO!" Valour half screamed. "Stop it, why are you doing this?"
"No one messes with me," Megatron stated as Valour shook his head unhappily. "The consort didn't mean to lie, he was scared of you, he didn't want to let everyone down. He was going to tell you what happened; he was going to tell you about me."
"He should have told me when he first knew he was carrying," Megatron said darkly. "Now it is far too late."
"No," Valour argued back. "It's not too late, if you want us to be a proper family, then you can make it happen. Don't hurt the Autobots, don't hurt my mama, don't hurt my dad and don't hurt yourself."
"Your precious carrier has already hurt me," Megatron said angrily at him but Valour wasn't going to back down.
"He made a mistake, he was sad and alone, he doesn't even know if you love him."
"I did love him," Megatron spat.
"You DO love him," Valour said loudly. "But he thought you only wanted him around as a pleasurebot, he was scared you'd tell him that was all he was good for."
"That is ridiculous," Megatron roared. "I took him to be my mate, my equal; do you think I would share my spark with a whore?"
"Then you should have told him that," Valour shot back. "You never talked to each other, he didn't know if you loved him and you didn't know he was sad. That's what he wanted to do, talk to you and learn to love you."
"That's right!" Slipstream then took a step forwards even if her brothers tried to stop her and exclaimed. "He was all the time sad and YOU refused to look at the truth even if it hit you on the face!"
Megatron's face twisted in an even more enraged one and took a step towards her. "I always knew you were a problem, Stascream should have send such uneducated thing like you with your sire!" He said trying to take her but she dodged him fast.
"Even now you refuse to see the truth!? What is wrong with you? The past is the past, the only thing that matters is the present and at the present your mate went to say the truth and you...you...what did you do?!" The femmling continued making all others gasp.
"Optimus!" Red Alert cried lifting herself up from the floor and run away from the medbay. Valour started struggling against Megatron's grasp obviously trying to go after her as this :
"Starscream, what did I told you?! Stop that femme!"
"But... Megatron..." The seeker hesitated and the Emperor roared;
"NOW!" Then looked down at Valour who continued struggling. "Calm down son, everything will be as it must be..."
"No! Let go of me...mama, let me go with mama...what did you do with the Consort?!"
Megatron frowned. "She's not your mother! Do you understand?!" He said this roaring while shaking him again.
However this time something jumped him and bit him hard followed by many other little bites. It worked to let Valour down and away from his grasp as Megatron tried to shake the seeker sparklings off him.
"Come on," Slipstream hurried taking him from the arms and flied away.
"Valour! Starscream! You useless piece of scrap! Do I have to do all the work myself?!" The Emperor roared and went after his runaway heir leaving behind said seeker and his eight shaking, crying and battered sparklings.
"Go!" He ordered Hook who gave one nod and went after the enraged leader.
...
"Optimus!" Red Alert cried when found his unresponsive frame in the arms of a bulky autobot who followed Ultra Magnus. "What happened?!"
They continued walking and Magnus answered. "This has gone too far, I will not allow Megatron to abuse this mech another day no matter what; he has done so much for our cause... I will repay him for everything I owe him."
His look was powerful and determined, his blue optics shines in a mix of hate and determination.
She was about to answer when hear her son and that seeker femmling landing and running towards them. "Mama!" Then looked at the still unresponsive mech in that big mech's arms; he looked like a broken rag doll. "What happened to the Consort?!" He exclaimed before Slipstream took him from the arm and took him away from the landing path of...
...an enraged Megatron.
"Just where you think you take MY mate, Ultra Magnus?!"
But said Magnus stopped him as his hammer lightened and throws some lighting bolts towards him making him step back.
Magnus kept his posture and frowned at the Emperor. "He's my son first!" Exclaimed. "And today I was witness of the abuse he suffered in your hands; I should have stopped this when you first set your optics in him and decided to take him without even consulting it with him or even courting him properly!
But no more! He's my son, my only creation given away to you because I was a coward fearing the possible consequences of your people enslaving my own! So I will use your own law against you, I know this is a one sided bond and plus the abuse of today I have my rigths to take him back!" The elder roared.
"Don't you dare! He belongs to me!" Megatron utter enraged now roared ready to charge against the older mech but once again his hammer stopped him.
"He comes with me, as his carrier I have my rights, you don't." Many gasps sounded around them and now even Megatron looked taken aback.
He then started walking away with his escort and Valour followed them before Megatron once again stopped him by taking his arm...and Slipstream pulled the other to the other side. "No! Mama, help!" He cried trying to get rid of Megatron's iron grasp.
"Valour!" She tried but Magnus stopped her.
"Unless you want to be enslaved, leave him."
"But... He's my son! I cannot leave him!" She cried and he shook his head.
"He will be ok, he belongs here...besides your brother needs you more." Magnus asured and she looked sadly at him before turning and started walking with the Magnus.
"Mama! Don't leave me!" Valour cried desperate before Megatron took him roughly by said arm and shook him just as roughly.
"She's not your mother!" He roared out of himself...but something else happened...something that left every mech petrified...
...he shook him off so hard that he tore off his arm!
Valour screamed out of himself in pain until his vocalizers turned in static...
...life force ran freely like a waterfall from the wound and tore arm.
Red Alert screamed in horror at the sight of her beautiful and once happy son in such macabre state. Slipstream could only look in pale and petrified horror as her fiancee squirmed and cried for the first time in his life.
As Megatron stared in shock at what he did, at what his rage did holding the little mangled arm in his massive hand, Ultra Magnus and his escorts walked away with his newly claimed and unresponsive creation leaving behind those who hadn't followed.
"I...," stammered Megatron as Red Alert moved faster than she ever had before to scoop up her crying son.
"It's okay baby, it's okay," she soothed just as Hook arrived to stared briefly aghast before leaping into action.
"Give me that," he snapped at Megatron who dumbly gave him the tiny arm and Hook brought out something that looked like a gun and he used it to seal up the end of the arm and the stump on Valour's shaking body.
"There, that'll stop the bleeding," Hook said soothingly to Red Alert who was cuddling Valour to her breast. "Come on, if we get him back to the Med Nay fast, we can reattach the arm."
Standing up, he rounded on Megatron, pointing a harsh finger.
"Don't you dare try to stop us Megatron!" he said in his most angry but commanding tone.
Still staring at the arm in Hook's arm, Megatron just nodded, he couldn't move.
"Come along," Hook murmured to Slipstream and the three of them started hurrying towards the Med Bay. But not before Slipstream gave Megatron a dark look, how could he have done that to Valour, the sweetest bot she knew?
"I...I didn't mean to do that," Megatron finally whispered as his family left him in two opposite directions. He didn't know who to go after first but finally he turned around and slowly walked back to the Med Bay.
When he got there, he found Starscream trying to comfort all of his son, helped by a young Femme nurse. As soon as they saw him, all the little Sparklings yelped and huddled together, shivering. Starscream gave him a frown, saying.
"What did you do?"
Megatron didn't answer, just continued to the next room. Some of the staff there gave him scared looks but he ignored them and went straight into the operating room. He found Hook working to reattach Valour's arms, there were IVs and other wires attached to the small, vulnerable looking form. Red Alert was also working but she kept pausing to soothe the young Sparkling who was remarkably still awake.
"Don't say anything," Hook barked before Megatron could speak. "Just let us work."
He actually obeyed, simply standing there as they worked. Finally, it was all done and Hook was about to let Valour sleep when Megatron spoke.
"Wait."
He received glares for his trouble but he had to say something before his son went to sleep. So he walked over and bent down slightly, looking into Valour's dim optics and said.
"I'm sorry son; I didn't mean to hurt you like that."
"Hurts," croaked Valour and Megatron's spark felt like it might break.
"I know," he said softly. "Please forgive me."
There was a pause and Valour said in a whisper. "I will...if you...don't break treaty..."
"I won't," Megatron instantly promised but Valour wasn't finished.
"And...forgive...Consort...," Valour said hoarsely before slipping into status lock.
"Valour?" Megatron said in slight alarm but Hook said. "I gave him a sedative, he'll sleep."
"Will he heal?" Megatron questioned and Hook said. "He's young and we got it back on almost straight away, as long as he doesn't suffer any more injuries, it'll be as good as new."
Megatron just nodded and now Red Alert came but Hook stopped her.
"I need to speak with him!" She hissed lowly but the elder shook his head.
"Now is not the moment...," Whispered Hook.
"Then when?! He will hear me now!" She hissed with decision and went towards him. "Are you happy now? Is this what you wanted?"
But Megatron continued without responding so she sighed and say; "Look, I know you like Valout and will love him as a creator, but I love him too and want the best for him... Are you gonna hurt him each time his opinions differs from yours? Just know that because that it was one of the reasons Optimus never said anything to you...fearing you will hurt him if he one day denied your wishes... And feared that too for his son, he wanted Valour to be free, to choose by himself once he's able to recognise good from evil..."
She sighed again. "Optimus felt bad all this time for that decision, believe me... Plus his unhappiness here...what you think were those blackouts? He didn't even react after whatever you did to him when his son cried! He was going to tell you the truth, all of it because he allowed himself to believe that your words were true and that you do love him and will forgive him for believing all this time you were nothing but a brute who just enslaved him and will do the same to his son."
Megatron continued without responding and giving her his back. "Just think, please...when was the last time you saw him happy and you will understand...oh...and by the way I am not taking Valour from you, I do love him but also want him to feel loved and happy as he always was," Said that she turned and left the Emperor to think, honestly believing her words never reached his processor and that she will need to give him another piece of her mind soon.
But she will surprise herself when knowing that her words did pierced his spark and he started remembering everything...
...his Optimus...
He hadn't seemed excited at all for their bonding, more like terrified; when they finally bonded and started interfacing, he couldn't stop crying...and the way he begged him to stop...
...or the way he felt relieved when Hook gave them the quarantine...
...even when he went to Iacon to his Optimus and he was unresponsive and crying his spark out...!
Megatron's optics widened. "...what have I done...?" He whispered in horror now that he saw things clearly from the other's point of view.
"Primus, could I really have been so blind?" He whispered to himself.
For a moment, he just stood there before going to find Starscream. When he found him, he was still tending to his sparklings who seemed to be doing much better. Quietly, he asked the seeker if they could speak alone. Starscream didn't look best pleased but he agreed.
"Did you know that Optimus was unhappy?" Megatron questioned once they were in a private room together.
"Everyone knew," Starscream said bluntly. "You only had to spend some time with him to see it."
"Then why didn't I see it?" Megatron said hoarsely, he just couldn't understand it.
"Because you didn't want to," Starscream replied. "You wanted him so much that you moved too fast and then couldn't imagine him being unhappy."
"He always seemed to enjoy our time in the berth," Megatron said miserably. "Are you saying that was all a lie?"
"I have no idea," starscream stated honestly. "That's something you'll have to talk to him about, if you're willing to listen."
"I...I want my mate back," the grey mech said softly. "But Ultra Magnus has reclaimed him?"
"Reclaimed him?" Starscream said in astonishment. "But he could only do that if he was..."
"One of his creators," Megatron finished for him. "It seems Magnus gave up Optimus when he was a sparkling... Just like Optimus did with valour."
"Like carrier, like son," Starscream murmured before saying. "Any idea why Ultra Magnus gave Optimus up?"
"I don't know, I wasn't aware that he was bonded," murmured Megatron. "I suppose we'll find out the reason soon."
Just as Starscream was about to speak, a voice spoke up.
"So are you going to hurt Valour again?"
"Slipstream," Starscream exclaimed as Megatron stared at the little Sparkling.
Said young Femme was frowning up at the much larger grey mech.
"You hurt Valour," she accused harshly.
"Slipstream, it was an accident, calm down..." Her carrier tried but she continued glaring daggers at the emperor.
"How could you?! He never did anything to you!" She accused and he just looked away.
"Slipstream!" This time Starscream stood in front of his friend. "He knows, he's sorry, okay?"
That calmed her if only a little but she continued looking hatefully at Megatron.
In other circumstances he would have found it amusing that she worries so much for his son, the mechling she wants for a mate... It seemed she will protect him with her life if necessary.
"What about the Consort?" She continued. "Magnus took him away, he was not the same, he didn't even react when Valour screamed and he was online!"
That called the attention of the two older mechs as she continued. "I saw he was crying and his optics were like empty; what did you do to him?!" She returned her anger once again to Megatron who now seemed as much shocked as Starscream.
"I... I don't know..." Megatron said completely lost and wondered the same. "What did I do...?"
Slipstream rolled her optics in annoyance and was about to bite him when her carrier covered her mouth fast and whispered in her audio. "Your brothers need you...go... Remember they follow you..."
Once again she shook her wings in annoyance at the Emperor and with a last glare at him she left.
When she was out from hearing range Megatron said; "He called me 'Master'"
That only made Starscream to lift an optic ridge and answer. "If you haven't noticed the term 'My Lord' means the same."
Megatron groaned at his own idiocy.
Author's note. Can Megatron make up for his mistake? How does Optimus react when he discovers his real creators? Find out next time, until then.