Author's note. Apologies for the delay in posting a new chapter, just lots of things going on. Hope everyone has a great Halloween next week.
Enjoy and please review.
...
"What do you mean he's dead?"
"I...he...he's dead," the aide said lamely as the large, mighty Emperor of Cybertron, blood red clock swishing from his shoulders as he raged about.
"He can't be dead!" Megatron roared, red optics flashing. "His spark is mine to extinguish!"
The aide glanced nervously at the massive sword Megatron had been preparing for the execution. He gulped, he really hoped it wasn't going to be used on him.
Well, the spark extinguished itself before the Emperor can even try to use it... and the day he was going to kill the mech! He dares to die by himself first!
Indeed must be frustrating for the Decepticon lord.
"Now how am I supposed to send a message to possible criminals like him?!"
The aide only gulped stepping discreetly back and towards the door.
"That fragger! How dares he die first!?" Roared the Emperor and the aide couldn't take it anymore and ran away from the room almost crashing against Alpha Trion's frame.
The elder entered the office his son in-law was occupying and watched...and heard him curse before quickly with a frown covering the audios of the sparkling he was holding.
Honour looked up in confusion as he continued covering her audios while her carrier cursed and swung his sword dangerously... until a loud *cling* like sound made him stop.
Alpha Trion's unamused and cold optics found him and it was his sword that stopped the Emperor's assault...
It surprised Megatron for a second, since the ancient mech was holding his daughter with one arm and with the other just stopped his sword!
Thoughts like "When did he arrive?" and "How could he stop me by using one arm only?!" Crossed the Decepticon's processor before noticing what he was holding with his other arm.
"What you want?!" He barked at the old mech in a really bad mood.
"What has you in such a bad mood?" He asked curiously as Honour groped for his tube and finally managed to get it into her mouth to her carrier's annoyance.
Great! It was as if all things that annoys him just had to show up now! Thought Megatron.
"That fragger... he dared to die before I could kill him!" In the end he roared as Alpha Trion covered once again his granddaughter's audios predicting Megatron's fit of curses.
The old mech didn't needed to ask to know who he was talking about... and speaking about shuttles, Skyfire also arrived and surprised himself to find the high councilmech there along with the Emperor.
Megatron only grunted at him before reaching for him and demanded him to tell him what he just did to make the old bastard to die... at what the scared and positively grounded by guilt shuttle said what just happened.
Alpha Trion only snorted causing Megatron and Slyfire to look at him. "What?!" Barked in demand the Emperor.
"Nothing," He started with a scowl looking to one side. "If that... mech," He refrained form cursing Skyfall in front of Honour. "...would have left Selene alone, his family wouldn't have had the need to do what they did."
"What you mean?" Once again it was Megatron demanded as Skyfire was too overwhelmed to speak.
"That Selene was a genius, not a breeder; she was working in a way to solve that particular problem of their family's extinction with a formula that she created that once a bonded pair conceived there would be a 100% of probabilities that there will be a shuttle and that the carrier survives; She'd been perfecting that formula for millennia, long before Skyfall assumed power as patriarch and he took her as a simple breeder."
His scowl continued just as his story: "She perfected it to the point of making it work, but it was utterly necessary for the couple to be bonded since both sparks would feed from each other and the codes of the formula, that would be injected in the shuttle, being this a sire or a carrier, they would produce only shuttles; she'd never proved it through, she said she didn't needed to, but when Skyfall took power, she modified it and make a formula that would made them unable to produce a shuttle without bonding... however, she had no time to perfect that and that is how there are some youngers around like Skyfire and Angelwings... she called them "accidents" that in the end might kill the carrier," He finished caressing Honour's head.
"She knew her frame-type was disappearing, so she worked on it, she'd predicted the families downfall long before that... glitch assumed or could grow worried."
Both Skyfire and Megatron stared at him with wide open mouths before finally the shuttle was able to speak:
"Councilmech... you knew that all this time?! That if we bonded... you knew and never said a word about it before now?!" In the end the carrying shuttle roared in a very out of character way for him. "You know how many lives were lost?!"
"Yes, I've known but I kept my mouth shut because Selene made me swear on my spark that I wouldn't say a word about it before Skyfall is good and dead," He said simply.
Megatron's optic twitched just as Skyfire's. Both not knowing how to react; if to beat the old fragger to pieces or to -in Megatron's case- cut him off piece by piece with his new sword.
"So... you knew and... hadn't just 'forgotten' this time?! But kept quiet?!" He started with a dark tone and in the end roared again.
"Yes," He said simply. "And that is the reason why there are many shuttle sparklings now... actually, that is what there will be only if you bond a shuttle... or someone with enough shuttle code..." He trailed off thinking about his student Slipstream and her brothers. That would be interesting to see.
"You..." Megatron made a move to go after the elders neck to strangle him but a little hand slashing at both his hands stopped him and made him freeze.
Honour stared at him with a deep and angered frown; her carrier was NOT hurting her grandsire!
"Good girl," Petted her head her grandsire as she continued looking at her carrier and Solar's sire suspiciously.
Megatron growled loudly, so when that old fossil needed a shield, then he was happy to feed her. Damn him.
"I can't deal with this," muttered Skyfire, shaking his head as his hand went to his spark. "I just...can't..."
Shooting Alpha Trion a withering glare, Megatron said sharply to the young shuttle.
"Go back to Starscream, that's what you need right now. Go."
Skyfire nodded distractedly, he needed to get away from it all. This place, his grandsire's body, Alpha Trion, it was all just too much. He stumbled away, feeling his precious sparklings trying to soothe his tormented spark but he could barely keep it together. Naturally, he hadn't flown here and a small ship was waiting to take him back home. Although he honestly wasn't sure how he managed to find his way here, he was barely aware of his surroundings.
As he shakily took his seat and felt the craft rise into the air, he received a call.
"Skyfire? I called Starscream to let him know he needs you...although I'm sure he already knows," came Megatron's voice.
"T-thank you," Skyfire stammered, wanting to just curl up but unable to do so. "I...I..."
"Just let him look after you," the Emperor said sternly before muttering. "How that damn fragger ever produce my Optimus..."
The call was cut although Skyfire was sure Megatron could continue to grumble about his sire-in-law, it was a very frequent thing. He tried not to focus on what he'd witnessed, he had never imagined that was how his grandsire would go. He had been so strong, so terrifying, it was as though nothing could fell him. And yet Skyfire was the one to finally cripple him...it was simply unbelievable.
So lost in his thoughts that he didn't even notice when the ship docked and an aide was informing him that they'd arrived. Somehow, he pulled himself to his feet and made his way outside only to find Starscream and all their children were waiting for him. Instantly, they rushed to his side and he felt himself collapsing to his knees.
"What happened?" Starscream exclaimed, clutching his mate close to his chest.
"Grandsire...he died in my arms," Skyfire said, his normally smooth voice breaking.
"He did?" Slipstream asked, trying not to sound disappointed. She had thought it served her great grandsire right to be executed by Megatron but was mature enough not to voice her thoughts. It was abundantly clear how distressed her Sire was and she had no intention of adding to that. So instead, she cuddled into his armour, purring with her brothers as they tried to offer him comfort.
"He suffered a spark attack," Skyfire said miserably, feeling tears slip down his cheeks. "Because I told him I was carrying."
"I wasn't expecting that," Starscream said in bemusement, he'd really thought the old bastard would meet his end on Megatron's sword.
"I couldn't save him," his mate choked.
"Darling, there's nothing you could have done," Starscream shushed gently, kissing his cheek as he carefully wiped away the tears. "He was going to be killed anyway, he'd committed too many crimes and shown no remorse. You've a good spark but you can't feel guilt over this."
"I know...I just can't help it," Skyfire exclaimed, hugging his children closer, needing to know they were all safe.
Starscream chuckled and said. "I know dearest. You know that's one of the things that's always attracted me to you."
And now with that poisonous influence finally gone, Skyfire had nothing left to fear. Skyfall was not going to come and hurt their sparklings or another one else ever again. But he wouldn't mention that right now, all his mate needed was comfort and reassurance, there would be time for talking rationally later.
"Let's go to bed," Starscream murmured. "You need to rest love, this stress won't be good for the sparklings."
All of his children obediently detached themselves so that it was easier for him to stand and shuffle his way in the direction of their bedroom. Starscream carefully led his mate there, his poor mate was in something of a daze. He decided that was Skyfire was a bit more recovered, they'd all have a relaxing bath, the sight of all their healthy, precious sparklings playing was sure to cheer him up. And perhaps he could even give him a massage, those broad shoulders needed a good working.
When he finally had Skyfire at the berth, he made sure he lay down, slightly propped up with plump pillows and allowing their children to swam over their Sire again. He carefully lay at Skyfire's side, allowing their sparks to pulse in sync together. The seeker smiled when he heard the larger mech let out a sigh of relief, feeling much more at peace.
"Better, love?" Starscream asked.
"A little," Skyfire admitted. "The emperor was very angry."
"Of course he was," Starscream said with a snort. "He has a very strong sense of justice and he wanted a clear message sent out to all his people. That he will not tolerate the kind of abuse Skyfall ruled over and perpetrated."
Seeing how pensive Skyfire was, Starscream added.
"He isn't angry with you and even if he was, he'd have to get through me first. And believe me, he would not succeed."
This made the white shuttle smile, he could well imagine Megatron being forced to back down from the angry Seeker. It was still overwhelming what had happened but he was sure Starscream was probably right. Even though the grey Decepticon had been angry, none of his fury had been directed at him, not really anyway.
"Just relax and go to sleep," Starscream now said soothingly. "We're all here for you."
He took his hand and squeezed it, receiving a return squeeze while all around them, their sparklings purred and cuddled. Things were peaceful once more.
...
"So Skyfall is dead," Ultra Magnus murmured to himself. He sat brooding at his large desk, pondering the news. The shuttle's death had been a long time coming but no one had predicted this. He was supposed to be publicly executed, used as an example of what happened when you crossed the Emperor's power. That was ruined now and the Autobot leader wondered about the political fallout. Skyfall dying of a spark attack didn't have quite the same ring as executed for crimes against Cybertron and it's people.
"Primus, what a mess," he muttered to himself.
Rubbing his optics, he once again acknowledged that being the Magnus was slagging hard at times. At least he had a family to go home to now, before he had to content himself with occasionally visiting Ratchet to see how his precious son was doing. And trying not to dwell on what it would be like simply taking him with him and declaring to the council and Alpha Trion that he had a son and was keeping him.
"There I go again," he sighed. "Wishing to go back in time and change things."
He suddenly smiled as he imagined Megatron trying to court Optimus if he'd been raised by both his creators. Now that would have been a sight to see, the large, sometimes brutish Decepticon attempting to woo a well-mannered, perhaps Senator Optimus sandwiched between disapproving fathers. Would he have been able to cope with the traditional Autobot way of courting? Goodness knows, he'd had trouble observing proper protocol when Ultra Magnus had finally claimed his son but by then, Megatron was bonded to Optimus and they'd had a son. So it wasn't fair to judge him too harshly in that respect and at least he had made the effort to fix his past mistakes.
"Now I have two sons," chuckled Ultra Magnus. "I didn't expect that to happen when I first became Magnus."
He chuckled again. Then thought that perhaps it was a good idea to visit his son in-law; he's carrying after all and Skyfall's death must have touched him hard.
As far as he knows Alpha Trion ordered for him to everyone in the prison to remain quiet about the shuttle's death and only send him an encrypted message in a datapad.
It was pretty obvious his mate had something in mind there and that Megatron was in no condition to say or do anything.
The Magnus sighed. It was what Alpha Trion did the best, move the strings behind the rulers, he was the true power of Cybertron for so long.. And he believed he was controlling Megatron now -even if the Emperor was completely in the dark about it- and Ultra was going to find what he was about to do.
Yes, he would do that.
And minutes later when he reached the prison, he found the shuttle patriarch was nowhere near his cell, but in medbay.
That surprised him, but what surprised him the most was finding, in the medbay, Perceptor and Soundwave working along with the medic there...
...and on their table was Skyfall's body, and the Autobot scientist was working on it... As if installing a device in him!
That shocked him for a moment, but immediately Soundwave approached him and delivered him a datapad.
And when he read it, his optics widened.
It seems Megatron was out of himself, enraged actually that forced him to spend sometime with the latrine as he purged... While Alpha Trion took charge, called Soundwave and made him change the memories of the guards from there, making them think that Skyfall was alive, that he hadn't died but merely fainted and now was being checked in medbay.
The telepath send the same message to Starscream ordering him to keep silence about the whole issue and that the Emperor would carry out with the execution as it was planned once Skyfall 'recovers'.
And by 'recover' it means planting a drone in him to make him look alive and ready for death, programmed to look like the real Skyfall.
Alpha Trion was an expert in handling situations indeed; he'd almost forgotten after all those passionate moments that the ancient mech was a manipulative glitch. He even somehow managed to order Soundwave around! Megatron's officer!
He nodded the present mechs and went to check on Megatron...
And said poor mech was pale, on his back on a couch with a warm pad on his belly; but there was also Alpha Trion, making calls with Honour in his arms happily suckling from him...
...and for once the ancient mech could have cared less, as if she was something else…more than just his granddaughter... Like a symbol of his power on his -now ill- son in-law.
The thought made the Magnus wince.
"...yes, I want them ready, and make sure they catch the 'real' angle, yes, I want it all to be perfect, is for tonight when the second moon is highest; yes, make sure of it. Don't worry about him, he's carrying but not unavailable, he will be better for that time, yes, it's the reason why it hadn't happened yet, but you make sure everyone gets the point with your images, yes. I trust you, Blaster, do not disappoint me."
And with that he cut the connection and faced his mate standing there.
"Come on, Ultra, help Megatron up; his tanks are more stable now and he must get ready for the execution," The ancient mech ordered him around as if he was the director of a movie, as he already ordered everyone else.
"Trion?" He tried but the other only hurried him more.
"I don't know what got into him, but he's feeling quite worse than before," He said pointing towards his son's mate. "But he have duties, and this is the consequence of getting himself spiked, he deserves to suffer!"
"Uhhhh...!" Was Megatron's only answer at that as he lifted up his hands towards the eldest trying to say he wanted his daughter back.
"Get up then!" The councilmech almost barked. "You have duties! Come on, you're the Emperor and have an execution planned for tonight!"
Megatron only groaned again and burped, causing the eldest to scowl at him and Honour to giggle. But, predicting something, he covered up his granddaughter's audios...
"Afthole fragger..." Megatron spat darkly to the old mech with dim red optics.
"You can curse all you want, but you have duties to attend, come on, up!" Alpha Trion insisted.
And Ultra Magnus could only stare how his mate handled everything as if HE was the Emperor.
...
Hours later, the 'execution' happened, Megatron was eerily quiet and carried on with the 'sacrifice' and 'killed' Skyfall in front of every mech and femme of his empire.
Next him was Alpha Trion, Ultra Magnus and Soundwave.
Everything was perfect, and when it was done, the Emperor retired without a word closely followed by his in-laws...
...but the message was clear and send.
But then again, when Megatron reached his office, he collapsed on his knees and paled again.
Soundwave and Ultra Magnus were at his side immediately.
"Something's wrong with him, let's take him back home," He insisted to his mate who looked down at them without an ounce of pity while holding Honour.
"My lord wants his daughter," Soundwave said to the eldest.
"Yes, he's earned her," Alpha Trion said giving her to him and immediately he grabbed her and put her against his chest, sighing in relief.
"Come on, help me lift him up, Soundwave. Trion, please call Ratchet and make sure he's ready when we went into the Estate," The Magnus tried and his mate grunted, not liking it to be ordered around, but he did it nonetheless.
And when they arrived the Estate and the medbay, there was Ratchet with his daughter, her mate and Hook all ready to attend the ill Decepticon lord...
...however there was also Windblade holding and cooing little Knock Out and praising him about his cuteness.
Megatron groaned louder when devising her. She was still around!
However she gasped when seeing him and followed him with her optics, a worried look in her tattooed face.
"What happened?! Come on, up, on the berth!" Ratchet barked and both his daughter and Hook were just as angered as he was.
"What did I said about him taking it easy?" She almost barked.
And Hook followed: "An execution is not for carrying bots!"
As all of them discussed, Windblade reached closer, moved her hand under Honour towards Megatron's chest and gasped again before saying:
"Calm down, little ones... You don't want to kill your carrier, would you?"
Silence followed, then she looked down at Megatron and added: "Your stress stressed them... And one of your twins split their spark... You're having triplets now."
"What?!" He couldn't help but roar.
"Shh... Easy Megsyling... Or you want another? Keep stressing them and you may end up having ten," She said and an eerie silence followed.
"Rest and take it easy," She added. "Your spark could barely cope with two after birthing your daughter, now with three it will tire easily. Rest, you're with family now."
"That's what I'm afraid of," he groaned, cuddling Honour close. How could this have happened to him, not only was he, the Emperor, carrying again but now he was having triplets? This was ridiculous, Optimus was the one who should be carrying while his mate lavished attention on him. His lovely queen probably made a beautiful carrier, it just wasn't fair.
Why did Optimus's spike have to be so good?
"Uh?" Honour said in confusion, why was her carrier feeling so low? She didn't understand it, she wanted him to be happy.
Leaning up, she gave his cheek a kiss and started to purr, hoping it would make him smile.
"Good femme," he sighed, lightly stroking her back. Three sparklings, he could not believe it. Maybe he'd be lucky and they'd all take after Optimus, giving him three little Valours. Yes, that sounded just perfect.
"I have to agree with Windblade," Red Alert said gently. "It might be better if you take a little break, allow Optimus to handle the more active role of running the Empire. When carrying more than one sparkling, you need to minimise stress as much as possible."
Megatron grunted, knowing she was correct. And then a thought occurred to him.
"If I am to fully relax, then I had better return to my Palace," he said slyly. "It'll be easier for my mate to conduct business there."
"I am still educating the sparklings," Alpha Trion reminded him stiffly.
"And you can continue but my children have Decepticon heritage and as such, I desire for them to learn my people's ways," Megatron retorted. "Valour was having a wonderful time with the other children before...well..."
"You discovered who he was," Ultra Magnus said wryly. "Trion, it wouldn't hurt for the children to go back to Kaon Palace for a little while, Valour will one day rule after all. He needs to experience both Autobot and Decepticon culture in order to do that."
"Hmph, well I suppose," Alpha Trion huffed.
"As long as Megsy is resting and this helps relax him, I support it," Windblade declared, making Megatron grumble under his berth but Honour just giggled before spotting Knockout. She brightened and reached for him, wanting a cuddle.
Knockout eyed her uncertainly, he'd just had a clean and didn't want any scuff marks on his frame. Hook smiled wryly before saying.
"One cuddle Princess and then you have to let him go, alright?"
She nodded eagerly, she just wanted to hold the soft sparkling even if he could be a bit squirmy. Sighing in defeat, Knockout allowed himself to be placed on Megatron so she could hold him. At least his carrier would rescue him if she was too rough. She purred happily and buried her face against him, that was much better. Windblade stroked both their heads, they made a cute little pair.
"Valour did enjoy himself there," Red Alert mused. "And he'll be able to see Bumblebee a bit more often."
"Is that the yellow sparkling?" Ratchet questioned and she nodded.
"Seemed alright...wasn't that idiot ambassador his Sire?" the medic asked, making Megatron frown. Shockwave had behaved foolishly but that was no way to speak about his loyal Mech.
"Yes...I'm just glad that Wasp found happiness after what happened," Red Alert said gravelly, Wasp seemed very happy with his sparklings and was taking good care of them and their mothers. Thinking about the Techno-Organic reminded her of Hot Rod, had he recovered his previous sense or was he still ruled by his animalistic instincts. She dearly hoped it was the latter, from all Optimus had told her of the Mech before his transformation, he had been a cheerful sometimes hot headed Mech but definitely the kind you'd want in a fight. And he had good morals, he had refused to leave Elita behind and with Wasp, had tried to stop Sentinel from simply abandoning Elita to her fate.
A good Mech...who hadn't deserved the fate bestowed on him by those flying instincts, which robbed him of his mind and morality.
"He hasn't been messing around with anyone else, has he?" Ratchet asked Hook who shook his head.
"No but I don't think his relationship with his mate is the greatest," the old Medic admitted. "I think Blurr might have been more bothered by the sleeping around than he let on."
"I'm not surprised but he should have made that more clear," Ratchet began but Angelwings of all Mechs suddenly spoke up.
"Perhaps while the Emperor is resting, we could make preparation for his departure? It will be a lot less stressful for him that way."
"Good idea, we will take care of everything," Alpha Trion declared. He still wasn't happy but at least he could help take charge of the running of things.
"Yes, that sounds like a marvellous idea," agreed Windblade, linking her arm with him to the old Mech's considerable surprise. "Come along Trion, let's get started."
Ultra Magnus just sent his mate an amused grin as he was led out of the room. Megatron smirked and said. "Serves him right."
And so they prepared to go back to Kaon.
However, days later Alpha Trion also moved in with his son just to 'see how Decepticons did things' to Megatron's annoyance.
The only happy one about it was Honour who had her grandsire near to feed her all the time... To Megatron's -even bigger- annoyance.
"Again, Optimus!" Demanded his sire as he held a perfectly polished golden sword and waited as his son recovered.
They were sparring, practising, and so far the consort was unable to defeat his ancient sire!
There were onlookers around, Megatron included, who couldn't believe how well maintained and how good such old mech can fight.
Optimus got up again, his sire took posture and then attacked him.
By the end of the hour Optimus was left panting and sweating on the floor. His sire had completely defeated him, plus tired him.
However, Alpha Trion's act only gained him several opponents, huge, Decepticon opponents...
...which he all defeated one by one... And even fighting with more than one at the same time.
Now even Megatron was shocked.
That decrepit fossil just earned the respect from his people!
Honour clapped happily to her grandsire's doings on her carrier's lap. She wanted to be like him when older.
Now all Decepticons can see old Alpha Trion taking a more active role in their empire as their carrying Emperor rested.
Starscream patted his shoulder and said: "Good thing you took Optimus before he discovered he was his son... Otherwise he would have killed you by just laying a finger on him without permission."
Megatron only grunted, then devised his own little sister in-law cuddling Starscream's baby shuttle and rise an optic ridge.
"Yeah? Say that to your son," He smirked at his friend causing the seeker to flinch and look down at the little couple.
"You two! Can you be a little bit less obvious?!" He hissed at the now wide opticed sparklings...
...only for them to continue cuddling.
Starscream's face was priceless at that. "Yeah, yeah, so, don't come crying when your carrier, little lady, separates you because he may never approve anyone for you... Primus, believe me when I tell you I recognize an overprotective glitch when I see him."
He was just supremely ignored by the little pair who continued cuddling happily.
The seeker sighed and rolled his optics.
"Next," Called Alpha Trion for a next opponent.
"Would he ever tire?!" Hissed Megatron.
Starscream smirked. "Well my friend, he's far from his mate, that means he have a lot of energy... Besides, you prefer him to burn it like this or... By fragging the Magnus?"
Megatron shivered at the thought and forced back his idea of purging right there. But he still got up and roared at his people:
"What kind of Decepticons are you that you can't with an old fossil?! A hundred thousand credits for the one who defeats him!"
"Hmph!" Said the old Councilmech and waved down his sword looking around arrogantly.
Several mechs were coming towards him...
...and he can only feel a rush of energy he hadn't felt in millenniums... It made him feel... Alive... Young!
The first opponent came roaring with two maces of pure iron, ready to smash him, but the Councilmech dodged him gracefully, jumped around as if he was a flier and landed on the tip of his pedes as a professional dancer; he even landed on his opponent's weapons as gracefully as a fairy!
"Take him!" Roared Megatron, and that was enough for every warrior to go after his sire in-law.
For once in his life, Alpha Trion smirked...
...and both Megatron and Starscream noticed it.
Those mechs have no chances.
...
"Blurr, can we talk?"
The blue mech wasn't facing him but giving him his back as he refuelled from his cube in their house.
"Blurr, please?" Tried again softly the Ambassador this time taking his mate's arm to prevent him from escaping.
"We have nothing to talk about," Spoke usually the normally fast speaking bot. A sign of his unhappiness.
"Please... For Bumblebee... Our Bee... Please," Begged him his unwanted mate.
"What for?" The other's tone started rising.
"I... I want to... I wish to start over... But only if you let me... I was a fool... I am... I made a lots of mistakes... Please Blurr... Give me one more chance, I swear this time I won't screw up things."
Silence followed and Blurr sighed.
"You need a frag, right?" Almost bit back the Autobot noble causing Shockwave a wince.
"N-no... I... I mean... No... that's not what I want now... I just want us to start again... And... And if you're willing... I... I would love us to be intimate again... But its up to you!" He hurried to add the last part.
Blurr sighed again ready to yank free his arm from this mech.
Once he was a proud noble, he was still an Autobot noble, free, fast and with so much life that he had many suitors... Until one day he met a lovely mech...
Long story short, he ended up with spark and would have aborted it if it wasn't for his family that, once realised who the real sire was, demanded both mechs to bond.
His family forced him to bond this promiscuous afthole, and Megatron forced his Ambassador to take charge and set his head to see if that wouldn't help to settle things in his processor.
He hates his life; loves their little son, yes, he's such a sweetspark, but practically hates his sire because he'd never gave him a reason, a motive to love him.
"Blurr... Please... I beg you... I want this to work... I do... Please... Forgive me... Please, allow me to be part of your life again, to make a family with you, to make things right," Tried Shockwave with fear in his spark that he would be rejected.
The main reason he was doing this was Alpha Trion. In a long conversation the old mech told him that Bumblebee is an abandoned sparkling and ran the same risks his sire did in order to fill that emptiness, even if that wasn't so clear now...
...he needed both his creators and he barely see them as if he was an unwanted product from a mistake.
For Bumblebee...
"Blurr... I'm sorry. Blurr?"
"Fine," Blurr finally asked, Shockwave probably wouldn't let this go. "But if you're just doing this to make yourself feel better..."
"It's not that," Shockwave said quickly. "Please...will you take a seat?"
With a sigh, Blurr did so, crossing his legs and continuing to sip as the other also sat.
"I've always loved our son," Shockwave began. "You know that, right?"
"I suppose," the Minibot replied with a shrug, one of his legs beginning to jiggle up and down. "You seemed quite eager to have another."
Shockwave flinched at the reminder of the child he'd lost. He still mourned the loss although he did know that it never would have worked between him and Wasp. It was good that the former Minibot had found some mates and managed to have his own offspring which wasn't complicated by a bonded bot. He realised that he'd never really talked about this to Blurr, at first he'd been too devastated at the loss and then it had been too awkward to discuss the subject with his mate.
"I was stupid," he said quietly. "My lord Megatron and several others have repeatedly told me that I should have used some form of protection. But I was arrogant enough to think that nothing would happen, that I could keep enjoying Minibots."
He tried to smile at his mate but it was rather weak.
"You know how I love your frame..."
"Yes, I'm aware," Blurr said stiffly. Before he'd discovered that he was carrying, they had enjoyed several nights together and they had been very passionate. But after they'd been forced to bond, it had never been the same. Even though Shockwave was a good lover and still found his mate very attractive, his attention never stayed with long and so he drifted to a new lover. Which had angered Blurr so much that eventually, he had given in to his vindictive side and tracked down all the former lovers and sent them straight to Shockwave.
Although he hadn't been expecting one of them to be actually pregnant.
"It's much more common among Autobots," Shockwave continued with a slight mumble. "So when Megatron came here, what had previously been a rarity for me suddenly became so common and it was like...I was a sparkling who'd fallen into an energon goodie shop. I just...I just couldn't stop myself, I wanted to have it all, try every bot I could get my servos on."
He stared down, feeling ashamed. He'd become addicted to the beautiful Minibot frame and he had made no effort to solve his addiction, not even when he'd been bonded with a son soon born. It had only been recently that he'd started making attempts to fix the horrible mess he'd gotten into.
"I haven't been a great Sire to Bumblebee," he now said, changing the subject as he felt so stupid. "But I've been an even worse mate to you. We've just been leading separate lives, we barely spend any time together as a family and even less as mates. For a time, I thought it was fine, I would carry on with my duties, doing as I wished and you would be free to do the same. I...I know it wasn't your wish to bond with me or...have Bumblebee."
"I love Bee," Blurr said sharply. "I don't regret having him but you're right, if it had been my choice, I probably would have aborted. But it was not my choice."
He hadn't spoken to his family since he'd been forced to bond, too angry over being forced into a loveless bond with this straying Decepticon.
"I know you love Bee," Shockwave said hastily, he didn't want Blurr to get the wrong idea. "He's a beautiful little sparkling...he's probably going to be a racer, like you one day."
Blurr nodded, he had to admit, it had helped a lot that their son had taken after him. He had Autobot optics, a grounder frame with the clear potential to become a fast racer at some point and a very sweet personality.
"I want to do more with him," his mate now said earnestly. "Be with him more. But I want the same with you, I want to treat you the way you deserve to be treated, the way I should have all along. Please, will you give me a chance to be a good mate to you?"
The blue Minibot opposite him glanced away and Shockwave had no idea what his mate was thinking.
"Blurr?" he said softly. "Please, I know I've failed you but I truly want to make it up to you. I will never seek another ever again, I swear it."
"Are you sure about that?" Blurr said quietly. "We both know you can't get enough of Minibots."
"I want to change that," Shockwave said almost desperately. "I don't want to be that Mech anymore. I want to be someone you can be proud of and perhaps, one day love."
Blurr was silent at that, did his wandering mate really mean that?
Of course he wasn't sure, but also his mate never, ever asked for forgiveness, only distanced himself more and more from him and Bee.
Blurr wasn't so sure about granting the single opticed ambassador his wish; after all, as an ambassador, a politician, he was very good at speaking and convincing others... As he convinced him and many others to be his.
But then again, he had nothing to lose. He will give Shockwave a chance, but won't make it easy for him.
"Fine, one chance, the only one you will ever have, for Bumblebee," Answered the blue racer and felt how his faceless mate overjoyed.
"Thank you…I swear I won't screw things up, not this time, not ever," The other said reaching for his hands so he could kiss them, but Blurr quickly removed them from his grasp.
Shockwave seemed a little hurt, but he let go of that feeling fast, he knows his mate was even more than just hurt and that is what made his temper like that.
"I swear, on my spark and Primus' name I won't screw things again... That I will be the mate you deserve."
"Hmph!" Blurr still didn't seemed convinced.
...
"Bee?" Tried Valour when finally finding his little yellow friend sitting against a fountain with a piece of metal paper. He looked gloomy.
The yellow mechling hadn't answered, so the prince tried again, only gaining his friend giving him the filmsi to read.
When Valour finished he looked down at him with a tilted head.
"Your grandcreators want to meet you? Why so sad?"
Bumblebee only grunted and covered his head between his knees. That worried Valour more.
"Want me to bring you something?" He tried seeing that his friend was in no talking mood.
The other just shook his head. "Just...need to be alone."
"Oh... Okay," The prince said softly before getting up and started walking away... Only to crash against a bigger sparkling's torso. "Oh.. Uhh.. Sorr-y?"
But when he looked up, there was a very good known mechling for the prince...
...the one who tried to dominate Slipstream several times...
...and now was pinning him against the ground!
The movement was so fast that he had no time to react... And not even move now as the other held him down securely!
"Let go of me!" He tried struggling. "Dreadwing! Release me at once!"
The other mechling only smirked at him before licking at his face. "I couldn't get to Slipstream... But you are a much better price... You will be mine now..."
Valour frowned in rage and struggled harder screaming.
"Yesss... Scream and struggle all you want, soon, little prince, soon you will be mine..." Then licked again at his face and Valour took a chance to bite at his glossa hard enough so the other released his arms and beat him hard on the face, causing Valour to bite him harder and pull his glossa roughly while reaching for that little weak spot on every mech's body...
However, as Dreadwing beat him again, his face was turned to the side and accidentally ripped off the other's glossa...
Dreadwing screamed louder, and straddling the prince, beat him in a frenzied attack harder on his chest and abdomen making Valour to fall unconscious and bleed from his mouth, but the other wasn't stopping in his assaults...
"NO!" A feminine voice roared in horror before jumping the bigger seeker and tore out his main energon line with her claws from his neck causing an endless waterfall of life force to come out and bathe her in the fluids.
Dreadwing now lay on the ground motionless as his red optics focused on her before offlining.
"Valour!" Slipstream screamed reaching for his unconscious -bleeding and badly beaten- frame. "Help!" She screamed, but no one came; they were in a faraway spot in the gardens, so she better improvise.
Taking his arms she placed him on her back, and giving one last hateful glare to Dreadwing's bleeding out form she said darkly: "I hope you die." Then ignited her thrusters and hurried towards the medbay.
"Help!" She screamed once reached the medbay startling many medics and nurses that were working hard after Alpha Trion's display of supremacy on several -now beaten- warriors.
"What happened?!" Exclaimed a horrified Hook when devising her and her charge. "Berth, now!"
Luckily the prince was still alive, but will require a lot of rest to recover. Slipstream brought him just in time.
"That fragger Dreadwing attacked him," she snarled. "I hope he dies."
Hook was sure she'd done something to the mechling and while his Decepticon heritage was tempted to wash his hands of that mechling his medical instincts were stronger. Besides, he knew that Optimus and the other Autobots would be horrified at the idea of a young Mech being left to die like that so he sent out an alert to general staff and his aides to find the mechling and stabilise him. The foolish mechling was picking the wrong bots to try and betroth, he was too focused on what he could gain rather than analysing his chances.
It made him grimly wonder if the creators were encouraging this.
"Alright, let's see the damage," he murmured, taking what he needed over.
After setting up an IV, he set to work fixing up the damage done. As he did this, he received word that they'd recovered the mechling and he was only just alive. His chances were a lot lower than Valour's and thus, the potential recovery time would be a lot longer. In the meantime, someone needed to make it clear to the foolish mechling that he was going to die if he kept trying to dominant the likes of Slipstream and her intended.
It was an important part of the whole betrothal process, don't take on someone you can't handle. And it wasn't always about physical strength, Valour, if he wanted, could completely destroy the betrothal just by stating that it was over. And the little mechling would resist any attempt to force him to remain with everything he had.
"He'll be fine," he said gently to Slipstream who was hovering anxiously. "Go and clean up, I'll call his creators."
Primus, he wondered who'd be more angry, the Emperor or his Consort.
...
"How is he, Valour?!" Optimus cried as he charged into the Med Bay, skidding to a halt at the sight of his beloved son hooked up to beeping equipment.
"Sleeping," Hook said calmly. "Rest assured Consort, he's been given the best treatment available."
Optimus's worried optics scanned his son's form before demanding. "What happened?"
"A mechling named Dreadwing tried to dominate him," explained Hook softly. "Slipstream managed to pull him off and incapacitate him but he had unfortunately already done some damage."
"What do you mean, incapacitate?" Optimus asked rather suspiciously.
"She torn his main fuel line but he still lives," Hook said as the young Autobot's fists clenched.
"That's not right," he growled. "Sparklings should not be almost killing each other."
Hook didn't say anything, he knew this was going to be an issue of contention between the Consort and the Emperor. There was no point in him getting involved at this stage, he had to focus on his patient.
"The Mechling in question is in another ward," he said simply. "I didn't think they should be near each other."
Optimus nodded shortly, kneeling beside his son and gently stroking his hand.
"My sweet son," he said softly. "I didn't know this would happen to you."
"No one did or Slipstream would have been shadowing him," Hook couldn't help but say. "This Mechling is overambitious, there has never been problems with any of the others sparklings."
Most Decepticons sparklings were taught to be a bit more selective in their pursuits. Basically, don't go for someone you can't handle but there was more to that. After all, not every Decepticon could be dominate, there were ones who would be dominated and they needed to learn what to do about it. For instance, some could court a more dominate sparkling to protect them from less desirable suitors. There was also how to deal with being dominated, after all, the best unions involved a united front. The dominant protected and provided while the more submissive looked after them both. On the face of it, the submissive seemed to get the raw end of the deal but it wasn't like that.
For starters, a submissive could still be very powerful, they just weren't quite as dominant as their partner. They both worked together as they explored their boundaries, working out what was and what wasn't acceptable. There were some couples who appeared to be both dominant while there were others were the more submissive was happy to be known as such.
"This is what I don't like," Optimss exclaimed in frustration. "Sparklings shouldn't be concerning themselves with this. They should be learning and playing, not seeking out a partner."
He growled and Hook tried not to nod, yes, this was going to cause a big argument.
"Where is the Emperor?" he questioned.
"In a meeting, he won't be long," Optimus said, a little distractedly. "My poor little sparkling, how could anyone do this to you?"
"A fool," Hook said firmly. "Consort, I know you disapprove of this tradition but let me assure you, most courtships are not like this. Any Decepticon who beats their potential mate the way Valour was beaten is looked down upon. It's one things to spar and defeat, like your Sire can do, but it's another to batter a bot like this."
"But it does happen," the red and blue Mech said grimly.
"Unfortunately yes," Hook agreed. "But we both know that arranged bondings are not always good either. And even what you'd call a normal courtship can end in abuse. I'm sure Megatron will talk to this sparkling's creators about what's been happening."
"Will that make a difference?" Optimus wanted to know.
"I don't know," Hook said honestly. "But it is an option."
"Hmm," the other mumbled, he did feel Dreadwing needed to be severely discouraged from trying to betroth himself to either Slipstream or Valour. He hated how the two had been hurt by the more aggressive sparkling but he did not wish a death to result from this.
The door suddenly banged open and in strode an extremely angry Alpha Trion.
"What has been going on here?" he boomed out, his cape swishing furiously.
"Sire," Optimus exclaimed, he hadn't been expecting him. "What are you...?"
"What is this I hear about my grandson being attacked by some common con?" the old Mech interrupted with a snap. "I thought being betrothed to Slipstream prevented all that?"
"Some will try to break those betrothals," Hook offered, his poor leader was going to get an audiofull from this one. "Thankfully, Lady Slipstream was able to put a stop to it."
"Utterly barbaric," Alpha Trion declared although he looked rather pleased that his prize pupil had won. "This just proves that our ways are better, a sparkling should be courted in a civilised manner, none of this domination nonsense."
"You agree, don't you son?" he shot at Optimus who frowned.
"I personally prefer sparklings not to concern themselves with such things until they are older," he said firmly to his Sire.
"But you don't approve of this, do you?" his Sire demanded, gesturing at Valour's still form.
"No, of course not," sighed Optimus as the door opened again and one of Hook's medic's poked their head in.
"Sir, another sparkling had an accident and has just been brought in?"
"Fighting?" Hook questioned and the medic shook their head.
"No sir, they just had a bad crash while flying," he stated. "They landed in some machinery and will probably have to remain here for a few cycles."
"Very well, I'll be there shortly," Hook stated before turning to Optimus and Alpha Trion.
"Valour is stable, he will just need to remain in the med bay for a few cycles, we can set him up in the sparkling ward. He should sleep for a while longer but just call for me if anything changes."
"We will," Optimus agreed, he knew Hook wouldn't leave unless he was confident in his diagnosis. "Thank you Hook."
The old Medic nodded, he knew that if his beloved sparkling was injured, he would be in a furious state but he was glad Optimus was keeping a fairly level head. Some creators would demand he remain and keep questioning his authority but then again, the Consort had been raised by a doctor so this probably explained why he was being much more sensible.
"Alright, what do we have?" he asked.
"This is Taser," his medic Flatline explained, gesturing to the sparkling who like Valour, was hooked up to various devices. He looked like he had been badly beaten but to Hook's trained optic, he could tell the difference between a beaten sparkling and one who had just been involved in a bad crash. This sparkling wasn't a seeker but he had flight capabilities like Valour did.
"Don't believe I've met this one before," mused Hook, checking the sparkling's status.
"I think his creators have just moved here from offworld," Flatline explained.
"Well, perhaps he'll be a new friend for the Prince, they'll be spending some time together in the sparkling ward," Hook mused before directing Flatline to help him treat the young would-be flier further.
He just hoped the royal family doesn't makes a scandal in his medbay.
Author's note. Valour makes a new friend and Knockout gets into unexpected trouble. Find out how in the next chapter, until then.