Author's note. Really sorry for not posting a new chapter sooner, somehow, I didn't have much time during last year's lockdown, then work was exceedingly busy. It's a fairly long one for everyone to enjoy.
Written by me and the-writing-mew.
Enjoy and please review.
And said old mech remained there for a few more seconds as the drone made everything immaculate again. Once he was satisfied, he left.
He couldn't help but be glad that Optimus nor his brute of a mate had come to the room while they were... Busy.
Reaching for the garden he'd found Valour cuddling Red Alert.
He was surprised to find her there. When did she arrived?
"Oh, Councilmech," She greeted him with a neutral smile and he answered back with a nod.
"Red Alert," He said politely before asking: "Where is Slipstream?"
The medic hadn't expected for the old mech to ask about that at all. However it was Valour who answered:
"She's around with Solar, Aurora and Sapphire. I stayed behind to cuddle mommy," He received a fond caress and kiss in return from her part.
"Oh," The old mech said. "And Optimus?" He directed his next question to her again.
"In medbay, Megatron fainted..." She hesitated before saying anything else. "He's still week after his first carrying and now he's carrying again so soon." But instead she said a half truth. It was up to Optimus and Megatron to say what they saw.
"Yep! I will be a big bro again!" Exclaimed Valour.
The old mech grunted. It was not safe for a mech to carry so suddenly or often... Or ever -he thought-. But in matters of spark there was not much to do. Besides, Skyfall forbid his mechs from carrying because of that. It is dangerous for a shuttle mech to carry, even more dangerous than for a grounder femme.
He shook his head. Those thoughts would lead him nowhere. Now however he needed to find that seeker femme and scold her for not controlling her brothers and not being a responsible first born.
"And Slipstream's brothers? Where are they?" He asked them again.
Once again Valour answered: "They're playing with Angel."
He frowned. Somehow he believed they would be easier to find than their sister who was possibly in silence with those other much younger sparklings, so he followed a path and soon squeaks, laughs and even screaming were heard... A mech begging someone to 'please stop'.
He then found the bunch of eight seeker brothers, all flying around Angelwings and firing him with paint balls.
"Oww, oww! Please...!" He tried as his once perfectly polished white armour was all coloured in the rainbow's colours.
The ancient mech stepped forward and boomed a loud: "Enough!" to them.
Immediately, for only a few seconds, they, and everything stopped... Then they resumed with their shootings... But to him instead!
He remained stoically quiet as they finished, he won't grant them with a reaction of his part. But when they were done, they laughed and flied away from his reach before he can even think about saying something or scold them.
"High Councilmech!" Exclaimed the young shuttle running towards him and helping him with a clean towel. "Are you ok?"
The other just grunted as an answer taking the little towel roughly and clearing some of the paint from his face.
Naughty little creatures! Once he get his hands on them, they will receive the spanking of their lives!
Without another word, he stomped back inside the palace... Not noticing a hurrying Honour that was crawling after him at top speed -as fast as a newborn sparkling can crawl- trying to reach for him since she saw him talking with her brother and aunt.
He went to his own private washracks and washed himself all the paint... And when he looked down at the water that was taking all said paint, there was Honour looking up at him with a beaming smile and big, bright blue optics... All soaked up and giggling once she was discovered.
"What?! You again?!" He barked at her.
Her only answer was a squeak of joy and giggles followed by clappings.
He grunted and rolled his optics taking her up in arms, and immediately after she cuddled his chest while mumbling nonsense.
Alpha Trion frowned but said nothing. It was pretty obvious she'd just changed her carrier for him. He wondered why.
Maybe it was because she felt her carrier was carrying again and that was not her place anymore? That was strange. He'd expected her to be all jealous about the situation and reject her new sibling while refusing to abandon her position on her carrier.
...or as both Hook and Ultra suggested... It is the energon he fed her from.
Then why Aurora wasn't acting like that?
Well, his Aurora was special.
But still! This was Aurora's place and Honour should not feel so comfortable in there!
After drying himself up and Honour as well, he decided to go to the medbay to see how his son was doing, and when he arrived...
"Oh...bphh!" Megatron, who was drinking something spitted it and purged what little he had in his tanks when devising him.
Alpha Trion scowled and Honour giggled when seeing her carrier acting funny.
"Did your creators suffer from that problem?" he asked in annoyance as Megatron roughly wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. Appalling manners.
"What problem?" Megatron demanded grumpily, why did that over-interfaced old relic have to come here?
"You are always purging, it's not normal," his father in law told him snootily. "I hope you have not passed this defect onto your children."
"I have done no such thing," Megatron said angrily, furious at the statement. "It is not my fault I am allergic to decrepit spikes fragging."
Alpha Trion blanched as judging by the glare Megatron was giving him, he had seen him interfacing with Ultra Magnus.
"Frag," Honour said intelligently, recognising the word.
Megatron grimaced as Alpha Trion looked outraged and quickly covered his granddaughter's audio, making her chirp in confusion. Adults could be strange at times, how could a little sparkling figure them out?
"Try to control yourself around the children," hissed the old Mech.
"Why don't you control yourself?" Megatron argued back. "It's bad enough doing it at all but on our berth..."
"That was not deliberate," Alpha Trion said a little shrilly. "We were heading to our rooms but those naughty seeker sparklings were bouncing all over it."
"So you chose our quarters instead," grumbled his son's mate, trying not to think about what he had seen.
"I already said it was not deliberate," Alpha Trion stated stiffly. "We went into the first room with a...hmph."
Megatron glared harder than ever.
Shifting a little uncomfortably, the high councilmech cleared his throat before saying. "The behaviour of those Seeker sparklings are unacceptable, they have been running riot all day."
"I thought you were meant to be their teacher," Megatron said testily, causing the old Mech to draw himself up.
"I am and I can assure you Megatron, I shall be giving them a very stern lesson. But for now, perhaps you could take Honour while I try to locate Slipstream."
"I don't know where she is," Megatron said instantly. "Check the gardens first."
As Alpha Trion nodded, the Decepticon Emperor held out his arms for his daughter. Alpha Trion gave her over and the little princess whined slightly at the action.
"Come now Honour, this is your carrier," her grandfather told her. "You need to spend as much time as possible with him before the new sparkling arrives."
Honour turned to her carrier with a chirp, as though she was asking whether or not this was true. He smiled at her and gently placed her against his chest, a gentle hand on her back.
"You're going to be a big sister, my little princess," he told her with a slight purr. "What do you think about that?"
Resting against his warm armour, she considered the question before clapping her hands together with a laugh. Smiling broadly, he gave her a little kiss and said. "That's my good girl."
"Well, since she seems happy, I will leave you be," Alpha Trion said, turning on his feels smartly and walking away. Megatron was extremely glad to see him go, now he could relax.
As the elderly Mech walk, he contemplated how to handle the Seeker problem. Obviously, their behaviour could not be tolerated and they all needed a good spanking. The problem as he saw it was that were so many of them that by the time he'd punished half of them sufficiently, he'd probably be quite exhausted. Now that was something he could not have, they all needed to be punished at once.
"Slipstream!" He started growing frustrated and called her around. "Slipstream! Get over here now!"
"Sir?" She came from behind a bush of white crystals holding little Sapphire and looked surprised to see him there.
Behind her came Aurora and Solar, always crawling together.
The old mech grimaced at the sight of seeing his daughter with that other mechling again. However first things first. "I need you to find your brothers and bring them to me, they were naughty and must receive punishment for it!"
"Oh!" She said as Sapphire cuddled in her arms better. "Hmm.. Okay," She decided to not ask her teacher what they did, but instead passed him the little shuttle femmling and flied away to bring her brothers to the old mech.
As Slipstream left, he looked down at the shuttle femmling and said: "You're bigger than before... Just as you." and added watching with a frown at Solar cuddling his daughter.
He wasn't fond of them behaving like that, but couldn't separate them with his arms full of another big baby. Instead he addressed them: "Come, let's get with the others."
Both sparklings obeyed and crawled after him, and when they arrived there were Slipstream's brothers, all grounded and on their knees with heads and wings low... However she held a tight grip on Thundercracker's neck.
He frowned at them and nodded. "Let's begin."
"You have to take responsibility for your actions!" Slipstream said quickly when devising how her blue brother tried to move to get rid of her grasp.
"You, sister have become soft when hanging around with Valour, you're not worthy of being the first!" He barked his answer finally releasing himself from her grasp and looked at her furiously.
The other mechlings gasped and Alpha Trion stopped dead in his tracks as if feeling that something was happening... Something he shouldn't get his hands into, it was their business.
But his thread of thought was interrupted when Thundercracker launched himself towards his sister in clear rage and ready to take her privileged position as the first... But Slipstream surprised him dodging his assault with a stoic face and used his own strength to knock him back onto the ground on his front and put one of her pedes on his head while pulling roughly his wings up.
Thundercracker shrieked in pain even with the face on the ground and tried to wiggle free only for her to beat him with her elbow right in the middle of his back. He whimpered then.
The cold faced femmling then took his arms and pulled them up and locked them before roaring in his audio. "This is you place! Beneath me! I am firstborn for a reason, not you, and because of your stupid decisions, all our brothers would be punished!"
"N-never!" The other tried only gaining a punch from his sister.
"Yes! Say it!" She roared again.
"N-no!"
"Say it!"
"No!"
His final answer gained him a harsh beating and biting on his left wing that had him whimpering in humiliation.
"Say it!" She roared again as a drop of her brother's energon ran from her mouth.
"N-no...f-frag you!"
"Be it...!" She hissed before biting him harshly on the back of his neck causing him to cry and struggle, but she wasn't stopping and continued.
Her other brothers all huddled together crying and shaking; Aurora and Solar both watched in shock and Alpha Trion was literally horrified.
This is how Decepticons dominate insubordinate beings. Is in their code. He'd seen her doing it to Honour before, but she wasn't this violent!
It made him wonder if he could ever purge that aggressive code from her core...
...but it worked to make her brother behave as he stopped struggling and she lifted herself up from him, cleaning her stained mouth and awaited... And waited...
...and waited.
Thundercracker wasn't moving but trembling slightly as he cried.
He'd defied his sister, and lost.
"Up!" She barked and to Alpha Trion's surprise, he obeyed; wings and head low. "Now apologize and take your punishment like a mech!" The angered femmling ordered...
...and he obeyed submissively walking towards the old mech.
"S-sorry sir... For jumping on your furniture and...and for attacking you with paint," He stuttered.
The old mech nodded and let go his shock face for a stoic one, then he passed Sapphire to Slipstream, took a seat and placed Thundercracker onto his lap, released his golden cane and beat the youngling's read with it... A youngling that cried and whimpered in pain.
It was obvious this was the one who had all those naughty ideas and the others followed him since he is the second son. But with Slipstream's act, he might take a while to get his guts together again... and he was sure his prized student would be ready by then as well.
One by one the mechlings were spanked with the cane; they would be in so much pain for the next days that not only wouldn't be able to sit, but also would remember to not be naughty again.
"I don't want to see any such mischief again," Alpha Trion stated sternly as all of them cried, their little wings fluttering madly. "So no messing around with paint guns or going into my private quarters. There are plenty of areas for you to play in, I do not want to catch you in there."
"Y-yes sir," whimpered Sunstorm. "S-sorry sir."
"Hmph," he huffed as they all wailed, it was starting to grate upon his nerves. Well, they brought this them on their own heads.
"Children?" a voice called and he turned to see Skyfire and Starscream standing there, obviously here to visit their sparklings. Both of them looked exceedingly shocked at the scene before them.
The Seeker Mechs let out an even bigger wail and flew at their creators, clinging to their armour and crying in earnest. Since he was bigger, Skyfire gained most of them and he looked down in amazement at them. Starscream was equally surprised but looked over to his daughter for an answer. She shrugged and said."Thundercracker thought he was in charge and he's been leading the others into being naughty. They angered Alpha Trion so he punished them."
"What in Primus's name did they do?" exclaimed Skyfire, gently stroking the backs and wings of his crying sons.
"They were jumping up and down on my berth," the older Mech stated, still very annoyed over that. "And they were paint balling your cousin Angelwings."
As the two adult fliers stared at him, he added a little mulishly. "And when I ordered them to stop, they dared to fire on me!"
Slipstream tried not to giggle over that, she had to admit, it was very tempting to imitate what her brothers had done. Perhaps if her teacher was being really annoying and she set it up in such a way that he didn't know who to blame...
"They paintballed you?" gasped Skyfire, he could not believe anyone would dare. Starscream could believe it but knew the old Mech would not tolerate such naughtiness.
"That was very bad," he scolded his sons, even though he was also offering comfort to them. "I hope you will not do that again."
"We won't carrier," Skywarp wailed, burying his face into his creator's armour.
"Hmm," Starscream said thoughtfully, spotting how beaten up Thundercracker was. "Slipstream, did he challenge you?"
"Yes," she said, giving her brother a stern look. "And he wouldn't submit so I made him."
While Starscream nodded approvingly, Skyfire didn't look so happy.
"Daughter, did you have to be so rough?" he asked, gently touching the bite marks she had left, causing his son to flinch.
"I'm the first born, it is my right," she declared, wings flaring out. "He could have given in but he was stupid so he got hurt. He'd make a terrible first anyway, he just wants an excuse to be naughty but I know how to look after them all."
Skyfire sighed, his daughter was a Seeker and that was how they did so. But after a lifetime of Skyfall's abuse, he loathed violence and desperately wished to shield his children form it. So instead, he turned to the high councilmech and said.
"Did you have to be so harsh? I understand they were naughty but surely you didn't need to go this far?"
"They needed bringing back into line," Alpha Trion stated, unrepentant. "I will not have them disrespecting me like this, I gave them no more than they deserved."
Skyfire frowned heavily, he still did not like it at all. Sensing his mate's distress, Starscream said tactfully. "We'll discuss this later, right now, Skyfire and I shall take our boys for a warm bath. Is Solar nearby?"
"Yes carrier, just there?" Slipstream replied, pointing to where Solar, Aurora and Sapphire were cuddled up, watching all that was going on.
"Ah yes, you can take your youngest with you," Alpha Trion declared, pleased at an excuse to separate his daughter from that shuttle.
But as he took him up to gave him to his carrier, the baby shuttle mech whinned, cried and struggled to get himself free and back with Aurora.
An action that was ignored by Alpha Trion even if his daughter almost repeated the other's actions.
Skyfire lifted an optic ridge at that... And then a little light iluminated his mind.
He gasped and then gulped.
"Councilmech.. He's-ouh!" He was interrupted by Starscream hitting his stomack softly but strong enough to surprise him and to make him quiet.
"Yes?" Asked the eldest as his daughter tried to reach her friend. However she couldn't climb like Honour did, she have no claws as she's a pure Autobot.
"N-nothing... Uhh.. I'll take him." Tried the older shuttle taking his crying son.
His other sons were too busy crying and some stroking their rears to care or say anything about their little brother being separated from his girlfriend... A girlfriend he already imprinted himself on... And vice versa.
Alpha Trion then took up Aurora before she can crawl towards the big family and walked away ignoring her distress as always.
When he was away, Skyfire dared to say:
"Star... He's-"
"Yes... I know," He said with a frown reaching for the baby and caressed his head softly. "You will see her again, baby, soon."
"Aurora~ want Aurora," The baby sniffed.
Starscream smiled sadly at him.
"Unfair that Solar was just born and already found his destined mate," Whined Sunstorm causing both Starscream and Slipstream to frown.
"Hush!" Hissed the older seeker. "If he knows, he'll forbid them from seeing each other! For your brother's welfare, all of you keep quiet about it!"
They nodded.
Skyfire also decided to keep quiet, even if the idea of his son imprinting on another so soon and when so young was a scary idea.
He'd never heard about shuttles imprinting on another at such young age, but anyways Skyfall never let them out when sparklings, only when teenagers to attend school and then their jobs or the academy.
It was a new beginning indeed for their family.
"He left Sapphire behind, how rude," Slipstream said taking up the big baby femme as she heard everything with attention. "I'll take her to her mom," She added flying away towards the palace.
Her creators looked at her leaving and then started walking towards the palace, but then...
"Star..?" Tried Skyfire feeling rather dizzy suddenly and his optics started seeing static.
"Sky?" Answered the other turning to see his lightheaded mate before this one collapsed on the ground. His sons flying away from him before he can crush them.
However, seconds later, Starscream followed his example and he too fainted. His sons on his chasis following their brother's example.
They all remained there petrified not knowing what to do at the sudden.
...
"Hello sweetspark," Red Alert cuddled her daughter as Slipstream delivered her. The baby shuttle cooed at her carrier.
Slipstream in turn kissed Valour's cheek and he giggled.
However, before he can return the gesture, Ramjet, Dirge and Thrust came flying at top speed towards them.
"Help! Help! Help!" They said with voices and optics filled in terror.
"My goodness, what's happened?" Red Alert exclaimed as the three seekerlets crash landed in front of her, their wings fluttering madly.
"Sire...carrier...collapsed," they gasped out, they were still in pain from their punishment, which is why they'd crashed.
"Collapsed?" she repeated, surging to her feet immediately. Bending to place Sapphire into Valour's arms, she said. "Sweetie, I need you to look after your sister while I go and see what has happened."
"I can take you," Slipstream declared, seeing the state her brothers were in.
Red Alert nodded before gently saying to the seekerlets. "You cuddle with Valour, he'll look after you."
They eagerly obeyed, they just wanted comfort right now.
"You take care of them?" Thrust asked with a small whimper.
"Of course," she assured him before running off after Slipstream. As she did so, she contacted the medical bay to warn them that she might be requiring their assistance if Skyfire and Starscream's condition was serious. She was gravely concerned about what could have caused them to have collapsed as they did.
"Carrier!" Slipstream gasped, seeing his fallen state, same with her Sire. Her remaining brothers were cuddled around them, trying to rouse their creators to no success.
She landed almost on top of them and flung herself onto Starscream.
"Please tell me he isn't carrying again?" she begged, terrified that was the reason he had fallen unconscious.
"We'll soon see," Red Alert said soothingly, falling to her knees beside the fallen Seeker and scanning him.
"Hmm, I can't find any evidence he's with Spark," she said slowly, after a few tense moments.
"Sire fell first," mumbled Thundercracker, feeling more cowed than ever. "Then carrier."
Red Alert looked over at the huge shuttle with a frown. Carefully, she got to her feet and moved to his side and started a thorough scan of his body. When it was finished, she gasped in complete and utter shock.
"Primus, I don't believe this!" she yelped.
"What's wrong?" Slipstream asked and when Red Alert didn't instantly answer, became frightened. "Please, tell me what's wrong?"
"I...well...he...he is carrying," the young medic finally managed to say, knowing she was not wrong but still shocked. First Megatron and now Skyfire? She couldn't help but hope her father was not going to announce Arcee had knocked him up.
"Sire is carrying?" Slipstream gasped as all the other Seekerlets looked shocked.
"He is indeed," Red Alert confirmed, pausing to contact the Med Bay again to tell them that she did indeed need assistance to bring them there. "As unbelievable as it is, he is carrying."
Slipstream felt like she might faint. While she was relieved that her carrier wasn't carrying because one more pregnancy probably would kill him, it was incredible that her previously cold Sire was pregnant. Of course, it had been a very long time since any shuttle had carried since Skyfall believed only femmes should carry and Sapphire was the first female shuttle to be born in a very long time. This news would indeed send shockwaves, probably bigger ones than Megatron's pregnancy had caused.
"I-is he gonna be okay?" she asked softly.
"He should be...I'm still learning about shuttle autonomy," Red Alert replied ruefully. "But you can rest assured that he'll be well looked after during his carrying."
Slipstream nodded, she knew that. She wondered what her grandmother would think, her shuttle son carrying. Actually, what would her grandfather think? Or Skyfall for that matter. She smirked, she hoped he took it really bad because there was absolutely nothing he could do about it.
"Red?" Came hurrying her own shuttle mate to help along with the young medic who seemed ready to cry. -his first day, Laser was not there and everyone seemed to faint on him!- "What happened?!" He couldn't help but ask while seeing his cousin and mate on the ground... And both mechs were big for him to carry them alone.
"Skyfire's carrying... I don't know why Starscream collapsed through," She answered quickly.
Instead of reacting in shock, Angelwings only frowned in thought as his optics moved around as if looking the right file.
Noticing this, she asked: "Angel, what's wrong? What do you know?"
Only silence answered her as the poor young -and little- medic tried to lift both collapsed mechs onto berths to take them back into the medbay.
"Angel?" She tried again.
"I... I don't know... I... Shuttle mechs were forbidden to carry by grandsire's law... Many thought it was just because he wanted mechs being dominant and that but... I can remember there was something else... But can't remember what it was..." He started carefully before something clicked back in him. "He's CARRYING?!"
Red Alert gave him a plain look. Lately he reacted really slow and she wondered if it was the aftereffects of being a sire. She had to deal with two sparklings... Sapphire and Angelwings; and doubted that somehow their daughter was more mature than her sire.
Well, at least he's obedient.
"Yes, he is." She answered flatly watching his wings flutter and shiver in terror. "Why are you so scared? Skyfall is in prison and his sparkling is safe."
"I... I... I don't know... I... A mech should never carry...uhh.. Especially a pure shuttle... Its wrong... Its wrong!" He started as if ready to collapse from the nerves.
The other young medic begged he doesn't.
"What's wrong with a mech carrying?" She asked. "Sure, their bodies are not precisely designed for that but, they can, if they wish so."
"N-no... Its... Its just wrong... I... I know... But... Skyfire is special... But still! A mech shouldn't be carrying!" He started again.
Red Alert by now rolled her optics and said. "Ok, shut up and get those two onto the berths and we will take them to medbay."
He obeyed, however he was still plagued by his own ideals about it that were fed by something he couldn't quite remember.
...and that continued plaguing him as they arrived the medbay and found a struggling Megatron and a crying Honour. He was trying to feed her but -as strange as it sounded- she was refusing to take any from him... And Optimus was not around.
"What happened?!" He exclaimed when seeing the state his friend was in, for a moment ignoring his crying daughter.
"I don't know why Starscream fainted but Skyfire is carrying. I suppose that is why he fainted," Answered Red Alert to a shocked Megatron.
It was then when Angelwings couldn't take it anymore, he needed answers and to fill that lake his memory had, he ran away. There was only one mech who can answer his questions.
"Angel! Angel, come back here!" She roared at him to no use, he was already flying away.
"What's wrong with him?" Asked an annoyed Megatron. He already had a bad opinion about that shuttle, but leaving like that without explanation?
"I don't know!" Red huffed.
"Idiot," He cursed lowly completely forgetting-
"Idyot~" Honour's little voice repeated.
His optics widened and he tried to force his tube in her mouth... But she clamped shut her mouth and moved her head side to side.
Red Alert sighed. There was another curse to the collections of words the princess learned from her own carrier. And without Angel near, she focused in attending the two unconscious mechs alone...with that other shy little medic.
...
"Uncle Blackwing! Uncle Blackwing!" Angelwings ran through the hallways of the luxurious shuttle palace estate looking for the only one who may answer his questions. "Uncle Blackwing!" He screamed again until he received an answer.
"Angelwings! What is the meaning of all that noise! You've just awaken the sparklings and they are crying! You have no idea how long it took us to make them all sleep!" Scolded him Skystrike -Skyfire's sire- while stomping towards him angrily...
...but when seeing the distress in his optics, he started worrying.
"What happened?! Answer me, kid!"
"I... I... Where is uncle Blackwing?!" He tried again desperately.
"Why you want to know? What happened?!"
"What is all that noise?!" Suddenly a loud, booming voice filled the halls and both shuttles turned around to face a big, black and old shuttle. He then looked down at Angelwings and said: "What is it? Why are you so noisy? What did you do this time?"
Blackwing, Skyfall's brother and the one who took Angel away from many...situations in the past.
"Uncle Blackwing... We have a situation... I... Skyfire... He's carrying! And he just collapsed and made his mate collapse... I remember you told me something about it in the past but can't remember what it was, but-"
The old, black shuttle covered the youngest's mouth to shut him and his ramblings and his optics widened in horror.
Most shuttles ignored why Skyfall forbid them from carrying...except this old mech...and a lost memory deep inside Angelwing's banks.
...but he knew well why.
"Carrying?" Repeated Skystrike almost happy... Almost, because his uncle's reactions was not a good one, but a bad, if not a terrible one.
"If he collapsed... And his mate as well... It means he's carrying more than one shuttle... And since both are bonded..." He trailed off.
"Take me with them!" He demanded the youngest who nodded quickly. "You," He pointed at Skystrike. "Quieten those sparklings, when I return I want silence." And with that he left, following Angel.
"Uncle Blackwing-?" Tried the young doctor.
"No shuttle mech is prepared to carry, it wasn't just an obsession from that brother of mine, it is a death sentence, our sparks are not prepared to resist such stress... Even less more than one as is the case of your cousin!" He said darkly as they flied at top speed towards the Magnus' estate.
"What?! I knew it was bad, but couldn't remember that part., Said Angel worryingly.
"Be prepared... We all must be prepared, if those sparks are not terminated, your cousin and his mate WILL die," He assured.
"T-terminated?" Angelwings replied with wide optics.
"Yes, terminated," Blackwing said grimly, not reducing his speed one iota. "It's the only way."
"But...?" Angelwings began, thinking about how Starscream would not terminate his pregnancy with a shuttle, even though he'd almost died.
"No buts," his uncle said sternly. "Quiet now, we must get there as soon as possible."
"Yes uncle," he said meekly, not knowing what else to say. Blackwing was a dangerous and powerful Mech and while Angel did see him as more of a protector, he still didn't really feel he could stand up to him.
A few minutes later, they reached the landing pad set above the estate and transformed in an instant. Blackwing folded his wings back neatly before striding towards the door which had a guard in front of it.
"Sir," the guard said, giving them a nod.
Blackwing nodded at him as well before hurrying through the door and down the stairs, Angelwings following nervously. It was not long until they had reached the med bay where Red Alert was assisting the young Medic to stabilise Skyfire and Starscream's condition.
"...and more a highly concentrated mineral...Angel!" she exclaimed upon seeing him and a large black shuttle.
Placing her hands on her hips, she demanded. "What was all that about earlier?"
"I...I needed to ask my uncle about this," he mumbled as Blackwing walked right over and peered down at them.
"How many shuttles is he carrying?" he wanted to know.
"It's hard to say," she replied, looking at him curiously. "I keep getting strange readings but I believe he has at least four shuttle sparklings within him."
"Four?" her mate croaked out, he felt like he might faint from shock.
"At least but I believe he might have one or two more," Red Alert told them all.
"Primus," Megatron muttered, rocking Honour in his arms as she sucked on an Energon sweet. He was beginning to suspect that the reason she would not feed from him was that she'd become addicted to ancient fossil fuel. The very thought made him burn with annoyance and he swore he'd find some way of breaking her habit.
"That settles it, they must all be terminated," Blackwing said gravely. "Immediately."
"What?" yelped Red Alert. "You cannot be serious!"
"I am perfectly serious," the massive dark shuttle said coldly. "You have no idea how dangerous it is for a shuttle Mech to carry, especially if that sparkling is a shuttle."
As she gaped at him, he added. "Shuttle femmes are a different story and one day, your daughter will be able to bare children with no foreseeable issues. But it is far too dangerous for Skyfire to continue his pregnancy."
"Then you can explain the situation to him when he awakens," Red Alert stated. "However, I am not going to terminate while he is unconscious and not able to make a decision."
"Foolish femme, termination must happen as soon as possible," Blackwing said angrily. "I know my nephew wouldn't let his mate terminate those seeker mechs or that shuttle, despite the risk. The two of them will dither until it is too late and my nephew offlines from the stress and takes that Seeker with him."
Megatron froze in horror at the idea of his best friend dying. How ironic it would be that after surviving the birth of all those children, he perished because of his mate's pregnancy. Honour chirped in concern, seeing how agitated her carrier looked. He lifted her up and cuddled her close, glad that his carrying was not dangerous. She purred and nuzzled him, trying to cheer him up.
"Nevertheless, we are doing nothing until they are awake," she argued back.
Blackwing glared at her before shooting one at her assistant who shrunk back. So, he was going to get no back up from that quarter, that Mech would never perform a termination under these conditions. Focusing his attention back on Red Alert, he said grimly.
"You are making a big mistake if you do not terminate those now."
"I'd be making an even bigger mistake if I did this without their permission," she said forcefully. "I understand your concerns but we must wait."
He clenched his fist, he was not happy. A little worried for his mate, Angelwings moved forward and said hesitantly. "M-maybe we should wait uncle, I mean...the shock could badly hurt Skyfire and Starscream."
Blackwings looked even less pleased but he was currently outnumbered.
"Fine," he ground out. "But as soon as they are awake, you will summon me. I know more about this than any other being still functioning..."
He turned to go, walking away and pausing at the door.
"Unless you wish to question my brother on the subject," he said, his tone dripping with sarcasm. Without another word, he left.
There was a heavy silence at his departure. Angelwings came to Red Alert's side and asked. "Are you alright?"
"I guess so," she sighed, that had been rather tense but she was glad he was gone. "I'm going to contact my Sire and Hook about this, I need back up."
"He...he wouldn't suggest such a thing if he didn't believe it was vital," her mate said softly. "He just doesn't want to see Sky perish."
"I know but we still cannot do anything until they are conscious," she said tiredly, rubbing her face.
"Starscream would not want any sparklings to be terminated without his say," Megatron now spoke up. "You were right to refuse that Mech."
"Yes but if it's true, I've only delayed the inevitable," she said gravely, letting Angelwings wrap an arm around her.
Megatron grimaced, knowing that there was a strong chance she was right. His poor friend was going to be devastated when he found out.
And the worst was that he started giving his sire in-law the reason: this shuttles are special.
"That mech looks bitter, he needs to get laid." He growled as everyone's blue optics stared at him.
"Uncle Blackwing is single.. He never had a mate before." Answered to that Angelwings.
"Hm!" Megatron grunted. "That explains his behaviour and confirms my theory that he urgently needs someone to take those frustrations from him, with hard bangings."
The young shuttle gasped and Red Alert followed her brother's example with a frown; "Megatron!"
That mech and his vulgar comments.
The Emperor just chuckled... Just as his daughter giggled.
...
The old, black shuttle reached the Magnus' gardens. A spectacular place indeed. Beautiful. He knew he will be called back soon so he stayed near.
In that, he saw Skyfire's brood of seekers all together on the ground on their fronts and some even rubbing at their rears. It seemed they received a massive spanking season; he'd heard how naughty they were and was sure it was because of their Decepticon code.
He frowned. They carried shuttle code too.
Then he devised the firstborn, Slipstream and the youngest, Solar with the prince and Angel's daughter. He was about to go to that group when..
"Ah, Blackwing, what a pleasant surprise to see you here." Alpha Trion said while walking towards him with his staring daughter.
"Good to see you again, Alpha Tron," He answered lowly then looking back down at the creature in the red mech's arms... And she was staring back at him as if looking straight into his soul.
"What do we owe the pleasure of your visit today?" The other asked as both him and Aurora shared looks.
That broke his concentration and looked up at her carrier again. "I came to see my nephew Skyfire, I just found out he's carrying several shuttles."
"Oh..." The eldest gasped remembering -for once- what that means. "My condolences for the sparks." He said. "But I believe that family have already too much members to bring more, perhaps they should consider sterilization to avoid more accidents."
The shuttle grunted and nodded. "Is exactly what I am going to recommend them once they awaken. Now both are unconscious."
"Oh, what a shame; if Skyfire would have been a femme there wouldn't have been a problem, but as a mech..." The other tried when noticing the looks both he and his daughter were sharing. "Allow me to invite you some tea. It may help you to relax."
"Appreciated," The shuttle answered finding himself unable to unlock his optics from the strange femmling. He'd seen her before, but this was the first time they were face to face.
Alpha Trion guided him towards the gazebo and both took a seat. And Aurora continued staring at Blackwing making him feel uncomfortable for once.
Noticing this, the eldest said to his daughter: "Aurora, is rude to stare others, so stop."
"Him want to kill Solar's siblings." She said causing the shuttle to tense.
How did she know?!
And... She speaks?!
"Its none of your business, is that or his creators' lives. Once you're an adult you will understand." Tried her carrier.
"They jus' need luv 'nd support," She said looking back at the black shuttle who frowned at her.
"Aurora! Enough!" Scolded her carrier.
But Blackwing was more surprised about her and asked her carrier instead: "She's been around before, isn't it?"
Alpha Trion seemed taken aback, but the old shuttle's look was firm. Then a nod was his answer.
"Nothing can be done, young lady, its sad, but true. It's how things are," He said softly to her as she tilted her head to the side.
But, before she can answer...
"What? You again?!" Her carrier barked at the white little shuttle that tried to climb his leg to reach his friend.
"Solar!" Aurora exclaimed happily trying to reach him distracting herself from the previous conversation.
"Aurora!" Happily the other called back.
Blackwing lifted an optic ridge at that; then somehow understood what was happening and took the baby shuttle away from the annoyed councilmech. Both babies tried to reach for each other.
"There's enough time for that, patience!" Loudly boomed Blackwing at the two who looked up at him with wide optics. But it worked to calm them.
He was sure Alpha Trion hadn't approved their union.
"Thank you for that, Blackwing," Started the eldest. "They are like this all the time, I don't know what else to do!"
The old shuttle nodded. It seems that luckily the carrier hadn't noticed that they were... Destined for each other. He smiled down at his great-grand nephew and caressed his head. It is the first time he'd seen a shuttle imprint on someone at such young age...
...not even himself had and he was almost as old as Alpha Trion... Well, perhaps not THAT old.
An aide brought them tea and they talked for a while before the same aide returned to tell them that both Skyfire and Starscream were awake.
The two old mechs went towards the medbay only to find it slightly more populated than before.
Honour was about to take a drink from her sire's fuel when devising her grandsire... And then jumped at him without a warning to everyone's surprise -and Megatron's anger-
"What?! You!" Started the ancient mech but to everyone's surprise, Aurora passed her carrier's tube to her nephew so she could feed. "Aurora!" He exclaimed annoyed as Honour attached herself to him and began drinking.
Blackwing for once stared in mild amusement to a situation and to the poor councilmech struggling with two sparklings in his arms since Honour seemed to have gotten bigger; so Aurora started raising her arms towards him to be next Solar as her carrier was busy.
Cleaver little femme, he thought taking her from her creator.
She instantly hugged Solar who purred with pleasure at being with her again. Blackwing tried not to smile at their actions as Alpha Trion scolded his granddaughter while she happily fed from him. Optimus had a hand on his glowering mate's shoulder, trying to calm him down. Megatron was not taking his daughter's rejection of him very well.
"You have two perfectly good creators who can feed you!" Alpha Trion was saying angrily while Honour completely ignored him.
Blackwing almost chuckled but then remembered why he had come here. His expression turning grim, he carefully placed the sparklings onto a chair before walking over to Skyfire's berth.
"Nephew," he began in an extremely serious tone.
"Uncle," Skyfire greeted, instantly worried at the expression on Blackwing's face. "I uh...what is wrong?"
"Have you been informed about your pregnancy?" Blackwing wanted to know.
"Y-yes, we have," Skyfire nodded, turning to smile at Starscream who took his hand with a beam. "I can't believe it but we're delighted of course."
The black shuttle shot a look at Red Alert who had been conversing with Hook, her father had not yet arrived yet. She merely gave him a 'I wasn't going to spring it on them' look in return. His lips twisted before he turned back to Skyfire.
"Very well then, what do you know about shuttles carrying?"
Skyfire glanced at his mate before looking back at his uncle with a frown. "Only that no shuttle has carried in a very long time, not since the last shuttle femme died. Grandfather would not allow any of us to bare our own sparklings, it had to be femmes which carried."
"Yes, he was obsessed with only femmes baring young," Blackwing acknowledged. "But there was in fact, a more legitimate reason why male shuttles should not carry sparklings, especially shuttle ones."
"What...what are you saying?" Starscream demanded, he did not like where this was going.
"I am saying that the risk to Skyfire is too great," Blackwing said without preamble. "The stress that is going to be put on his spark will be too much and he will not survive it. And there is a good chance that you shall not either, winglord."
"How can that be?" Hook wanted to know. "Femmes are more suited to carrying but it is well known that larger Mechs have an easier time of it."
"For other frame types yes but not for shuttles," Blackwing informed him. "Call it an anomaly of our coding but that's how it is. Skyfire must terminate those sparks and frankly, I would recommend he sterilise himself so this doesn't happen again."
"I agree, you have more than enough heirs," Alpha Trion cut in, making Optimus sigh, that was not the most tactful thing to say right now.
He received a few glares but the high councilmech ignored them.
"Your mate almost perished carrying a single shuttle," Blackwing said fiercely, looming over his nephew. "And you are carrying several, it is impossible for you to survive. You must terminate now."
Skyfire trembled violently.
"I...I can't," he whispered. "So many of my brothers...dead...you can't ask me to terminate."
"Unless you wish to orphan your living children," Blackwing growled, throwing out a hand in Solar's direction. "You will!"
"Don't pressure him," Red Alert said sharply. "Give them time to think..."
"There is no time, it must be done NOW!" he half roared.
"No," a voice suddenly spoke up and everyone turned to see Aurora. She wore a ridiculously serious expression for such a little sparkling.
"Dey can survive," she stated. "All of dem."
Blackwing seemed out of place. He'd almost answered her, but then remembered she's just a newspark... But then again, she was around before.
So he barked at her in the end: "And what you know? You're not a shuttle and I'm sure you'd never dealt with this in the past!"
Silence followed. Most of the present bots knew about Aurora's spark, but that didn't changed the fact that he was talking like that to a sparkling.
"'dey want to live, 'dey need support 'nd love, they came here 'bcause of the luv 'n the family, is all 'dey ask... Nut 'deir carrier's 'nd sire's sparks," She said still as seriously.
And Solar nodded at her and them.
"Sweetspark," Tried Alpha Trion seeing Blackwing ready to retort. "Its in their coding, their spark would extinguish if they don't abort. Its natural."
She shook her head wildly. "Nuh! Luv, 'dey need luv! All your and our luv, is what feeds 'dem!"
Getting tired of this, Blackwing then took the little femme from her friend and looked at her straight into her optics to see if he could make her understand.
Many gasped add startled ready to stop the old shuttle if he tried something.
"I know you've been around before, but this is critical, stop trying to give them hope when the situation is hopeless!"
She just looked back with a deep and ancient look, straight and deep into his spark... Like no one else did before.
It made him feel, for once, vulnerable, as if he was the sparkling and she was Primus himself... Or herself perhaps?
He was frozen, paralyzed. Everything stopped as his soul was stripped from its protective layers... He wanted to cry and didn't know why.
She then spread her little arms to him and he automatically obeyed, hugging her to his chest. He let out a gasp as a wave of deep... Love? Support? Hope?- invaded his spark and it embraced it fully.
'What kind of being are you?' He asked himself in his mind as she only cuddled him.
Silence. Thick and tense silence covered the entire medbay. It was so tense the energy that even Honour felt it and stopped feeding to watch her aunt 'attack' that mech with love.
Solar then jumped -having learned that from Honour- the old shuttle and followed his dear friend's example once he reached his shoulder.
A single tear escaped Blackwing's optic and he fell onto his knees at the feeling of those energies. It was too much, but somehow couldn't let go.
"There you are, my little Starling!" A loud and annoying feminine voice broke into the place.
Starscream flinched and Megatron groaned when hearing it as the tall, proud but beautiful blue opticed and red plated seeker femme entering the medbay and hurried to hug the magenta seeker next his shuttle mate.
"Aww Starling, I've missed you so much, why hadn't you come to visit your old aunt Windblade?" She pouted at him in the hug. "You hadn't invited me to your bonding ceremony, still so shy?" Somehow she didn't seemed offended at all that he hadn't invited her, but worried at his 'shyness'.
"Old?" Optimus whispered to his mate not really believing she was. She looked like his age!
"There's someone who may compete with your sire in ages... Millenniums," Was his grunted answer.
However, to his annoyance, the femme's wings flinched and she turned her tattooed face towards him. She heard him.
"And you Megsyling," She started walking towards him looking between him and Optimus. "I've heard what you did... And... Oh... You're carrying again... Twins," The femme informed and the Emperor, and everyone gasped.
How she knew?! -was what everyone thought.
She only smirked at him. "Still with your lil spike in hand while running around roaring like a conqueror? I think you discovered something else..." She added by giving him a knowing look.
Megatron in turn flushed and looked away with a hmph! like sound.
"I remember you and Starling running around the castle with your bare little spikes when sparklings, and even used them like swords as you two 'sparred'" Added the femme causing many chuckles...
Except from Megatron and Starscream who were so mortified that couldn't even order her to shut up.
"Windblade, so long no see," Alpha Trion recognized her to everyone's surprise.
She smirked at him before walking towards him.
"Too bad you had to inform us that said brute is carrying twice what he carried before," He added annoyingly looking towards his son in-law.
Megatron was about to roar at him when she said: "And you Trion... You discovered the benefits of spikes too, admit it, if you weren't so old, you would be carrying again," She chuckled then looking down at the princess attached to his armour who fed happily from him.
She frowned with a smile and a knowing look before caressing her head.
"You know each other?" This time Optimus couldn't help but ask.
"We're cousins," She said causing everyone there to gasp.
"Told you she's ancient, do not fool yourself with her looks," Megatron whispered to his shocked mate.
"We both descend from the first thirteen," She added before looking at the sparklings on the black shuttle and nodded at them as they beamed at her, happy to see her here...
Then her blue optics found the surprised/shocked ones of the old mech still on his knees.
She only smiled at him and looked back at Starscream. "My dear Starling," -she said again the nick she gave her great grandnephew that combined the words 'star' for his name and 'ling' for darling- "I've had a vision that you may need my assistance, so I hurried up as fast as I could to reach you... And I wasn't wrong... Your poor mate carrying six... On his first time... It would be worse than when you carried those eight."
Everyone gulped at the exact number she gave with so much security.
"Six?" Skyfire repeated faintly. "Six shuttles?"
"Oh no, only five I think," Windblade said with confidence, peering at him. "The last is probably a seeker. But this will still be a big task for you, my dear."
Skyfire nodded dumbly, it certainly would be.
"How can you know this?" Starscream demanded of her, holding Skyfire's hand tightly.
"It is my gift," she said softly. "Now, what were you all talking about?"
"My...my uncle said that male shuttles can't carry," Skyfire said, glancing over at Blackwing who still held Aurora. "But Aurora...and Solar, said that we all could survive with...love and support."
"I believe she is right," Windblade agreed thoughtfully. "It won't be easy but it is possible."
The white shuttle was silent before looking into his mate's optics. Starscream returned his look with a serious one of his own, they seemed to be communicating through their bond. Finally, Skyfire looked back at them all and said.
"I can't bear to lose any children...if there is a chance we can all survive, then I want to take it."
Blackwing grimaced, he was still decidedly unsure about this but after what he'd experienced with Aurora, he didn't seem to have the energy to protest. He still thought it was too risky but what could be do?
"I think Skyfire should get some rest now," Hook now declared, seeing that the atmosphere was rather fraught at the moment. "We should plan this pregnancy out carefully, starting with a comfortable, relaxed room with everything he might need."
"And a schedule to keep him as healthy as possible," Red Alert added approvingly. "It might help if his children spend some time with him each day, strengthen the bond."
"That sounds like an excellent idea, both of them," Windblade complimented. "We'd best leave and let the medics do their jobs."
The others nodded and prepared to go. Optimus however could not resist going over to Hook and Red Alert to ask. "Was Megatron really like that?"
"Oh yes, I'd almost forgotten," chuckled Hook. "Little pair of menaces, him and Starscream were."
Trying not to grin, Optimus looked at his sister and asked. "Did Valour ever do anything like that?"
"No, of course not," she laughed. "He explored his body like all sparklings do and sometimes ran around naked in our apartment after a bath but nothing like Megatron."
"No ones like that spike obsessed slagger," Hook scoffed. "Don't worry Optimus, Valour's a perfectly well adjusted sparkling, unlike his Sire."
Optimus chuckled before musing. "I wonder if our twins will be Mechs."
"If they are, you'd better hope they take after their big brother and not their carrier," warned Hook, thinking of how outrageous Megatron had been as a little Mech.
"I'd better," agreed Optimus solemnly, sharing a look with his sister and smiling. He made a note to ask her and Ratchet later about some of the things Valour did when he was younger.
Going outside, he found his sire handing over Honour to Megatron.
"You need to get her feeding from you again," Alpha Trion was telling the displeased Emperor. "My fuel is for Aurora only."
"I'll bare that in mind," growled Megatron as Optimus came to his side.
"It's alright love," he said soothingly, stroking his arm. "We'll sort something out."
Megatron only grunted as Honour singed happily in his arms and Windblade came towards him.
"Hello darling," She said saluting Honour who giggled and cuddled her hand. "She's so cute," The femme praised then looked up at Megatron. "It suits you being the carrier, Megsyling, now you will know what your creators went through."
He frowned at her but decided to not speak a word at her, after all, everything he says it may and would be used against him. The Emperor learned that the hard way with her.
She then looked at Optimus and stroked his face to his surprise and his mate's. "You're so cute too... But still, Megsyling should have courted you before. Your carrier made a good job."
He just stared at her wide opticed.
The seeker femme then looked at Alpha Trion but said nothing, instead she walked away towards the room she saw Starscream and Skyfire going.
Behind them was Blackwing holding still the two sparklings and couldn't help but look at her perfect winged back, the way she walked and that glorious aft...
His optics widened at the thought... And both Solar and Aurora giggled at him, knowing what he was thinking.
But soon came Alpha Trion and took his daughter to feed her, and he surprised himself to find that he still had plenity of fuel to feed her with.
"I didn't know I had an aunt," Said Optimus to his sire.
"I didn't expected her to continue living after she left with the decepticons when they left. Her twin bonded and the seekers descend from him, she however decided to remain single; honestly, no one can with her and her ways," Answered the councilmech.
"Hn, says the mech," Megatron mussed gaining him a dark glare from his sire in-law.
Optimus only smiled and kissed his mate's cheek.
None of them noticing -with his soft steps- that Blackwing was following Windblade towards his nephew's quarters. It seems him and his mate would stay in the Magnus' estate to recover their energies before returning their own palace.
When he reached the room, there were already onto the big berth the couple and all the seeker sparklings next their sire hugging and cuddling him, supporting him.
"I'm ok aunt Windblade... Just a little tired," Answered Starscream with dimmed optics to the red femme.
"Aww my poor Starling; tell me what you would like me to prepare for you and I'll bring it immediately," She said treating him as if he was an ill sparkling.
"I'm fine, really, just need to rest..." He finally said as he suddenly entered recharge just as his mate.
"Will they be ok, aunt?" Asked Slipstream a little worried.
"They will be, Slipstream dear." She said reaching for her and kissed her helm. "As long as you all love him and stay near him and your new siblings, everything will be ok."
They all nodded and cuddled better next the adults and soon recharge surprised them too.
She then turned around only to find that big, black shuttle holding little Solar, so, deciding to help, she took it from him and placed him on top his carrier's chest. Immediately after, the baby entered recharge as well.
Blackwing couldn't understand what was happening. It escaped his imagination.
But soon that femme was pushing him to leave the quarters...and he obeyed her.
"You have to believe more in love," Was all her feminine voice said to him before leaving him again. She hoped to finally meet the mech who dominated 'Trion.
But to his surprise, Blackwing found himself following her again... Something she noticed.
"May I help you?" She asked turning her white tattooed face to his now surprised one.
"I-..." He found himself unable to answer. But once again, to his surprise she said:
"Aww, poor youngling," Windblade treated him as if he was a sparkling. Well, obviously she was older than him if she was Alpha Trion's cousin. "Don't worry about your family, soon you will meet five new little shuttles... And I hope the last one is a seeker. I wonder if their optics would be blue like their carrier?" She stated dreamily.
Blackwing only blinked down at her not knowing what to think.
But then again the femme was walking away and he followed her again.
"Ohh! What a cute little fella!" She gasped when devising Valour, who's big, blue optics widened when she hurried towards him, took him up and squeezed him in a hug.
"Uhmmm... Hi?" The mechling tried as she babbled about how cute and adorably huggable he is.
"Valour, right?" She started before looking into his huge innocent optics... And noticed something.
"Yes ma-am," He said as she stared but then hugged him again before saying:
"You will be a good Emperor someday, you were made for it... And will have plenty of friends that will support you."
"Enough, Windblade, you're scaring my grandson," Mussed Alpha Trion with a growl looking down at them...
...but she wasn't done.
"Aww Trion, always so jealous; come here and I'll hug you too," She said placing down Valour and spreading her arms before going for him.
"Forget it!" He almost barked with wide optics as Aurora fed from him happily and he took several steps back.
"Why she had to come here?" Grumbled Megatron with a hard face.
Optimus chuckled. "I like her."
"Bah! You don't know her, she's a nightmare!" Answered with a huff his mate.
"Why? What did she do?" Tried Optimus... But his mate decided to keep silent and instead look at how childish she acted while chasing Alpha Trion for a hug.
...'maybe that's why she never ages.' Thought the Emperor, after all, she still possessed the exact same face and perfectly young body she had since he was a sparkling.
"Who's that nice lady?" Came Valour asking his creators about the chasing winged femme. "I've hadn't seen a blue opticed seeker before," He added in interest.
"She's a mummy, that's why she have those optics." Megatron grumbled causing his son's optics to widen as Sapphire giggled in her big brother's arms.
Optimus rolled his optics.
He thinks Megatron dislikes her presence here because she can vent everything about when he was a sparkling, things that even Hook forgot.
He grinned, he personally hoped that she hung around for a bit.
"Really?" Valour asked in awe.
"Your Sire is just joking," Optimus said quickly before bending down so he was more level with his son. "Valour, we've got some exciting news to tell you."
"What is it?" Valour asked with wide optics, his sister Sapphire also looking very interested.
Smiling up at his mate and taking his hand despite his kneeling position, Optimus said.
"Your Sire is expecting twins, you're going to be a big brother again."
"He is?" Valour gasped in delight. "Wow, that's amazing."
"It is," agreed Optimus as he hugged his excited son. "Are you pleased?"
"Yeah!" Valour exclaimed before pausing with a frown and asking. "You're not gonna have loads like Starscream and Skyfire, are you?"
"Primus, no!" Megatron said in horror, the very idea of that many sparklings filled him with dread. "We might have one or two more but there is going to be a firm limit."
Wrapping an arm around Optimus, he said with a purr. "I can't wait to see your carrier having a sparkling."
"We'll see," Optimus chuckled, thinking that he'd have to use protection if Megatron didn't want to carry again.
"Are they gonna be Mechs?" Valour now wanted to know. "I want a little brother."
"You'll have to wait and see," his father said teasingly, making his son pout.
"I've already got two sisters, I should get two brothers," the young Sparkling reasoned.
Megatron laughed and bent to kiss his son.
"My little prince knows what he wants," he said fondly. "Just keep your fingers crossed son and with a bit of luck, you'll get your wish."
Valour smiled, resolving to do just that. He loved his little sisters but he really did want a little brother. But...probably not the number Slipstream had, he didn't think he could manage that many little brothers. But a couple would suit him just fine.
"Daddy, Sire, can we visit the Temple of Prima?" he asked eagerly, as an idea hit him.
"The what?" Megatron said, confused as Optimus stared before chuckling.
"A beautiful temple in Praxus, where bots go to be blessed," he explained to his mate. "They can ask for sparklings, for their expected sparkling to be healthy and even the gender. Valour wants to make sure he's going to get some little brothers."
"I see," Megatron said thoughtfully. "How have I not heard of this before?"
"Not everyone feels the need to visit it," Optimus said with a shrug. "It's more of a good luck ritual but it is a beautiful place and you can learn a little bit of history."
"And they serve really nice tea," Valour added. "Mama took me when I was little, I really liked it."
"Well then, if you enjoyed it so much, we should go," declared Megatron with a smile before musing. "I wonder if it would do Skyfire any good."
"Perhaps, if he's safely transported," Optimus said. "It is meant to be a very relaxing place, it might help him."
"Then it's settled, I'll tell Starscream about it later," his mate stated, adding with a small grimace. "Don't tell Wingblade about this or she'll probably insist on coming?"
"Why can't she come?" Valour asked curiously, he thought she was nice.
"Just trust me on this," Megatron said as Optimus tried not to smile. "Come, I'm getting hungry."
Sapphire purred making her big brother giggle.
"She's hungry too," he laughed.
"Maybe she'd enjoy a feed from that old fossil," Megatron said dryly.
"Very funny," Optimus said, rolling his optics as they set off for some food.
Author's note. The little family visit the Temple in the next chapter, meanwhile how does Skyfire's carrying progress? What else happens? Find out next time, until then.