(COMMISSION) The Slave

by The Robotic Dragon

On Velocitron Seekers are enslaved by grounders, forced to serve them in every way. Starscream is repeatedly sold and abused by various masters until he is one day bought by Knock Out. With his newest master, he begins to learn more about the world and that there's something not right about slavery, causing him to question if he must actually serve the grounders.

1. The Young Slave

Author's Note: This is a commission piece I did with my friend (see for more info). My friend wanted this written as she struggles to write herself. She told me what she wanted, and I did give a lot of input and suggestions. Some she loved, some she didn't. In the end, this is what she wanted. Some things I might not have agreed upon, as I would have made some different choices at places, but in the end this is her story and what she wanted. I can tell you we talked a LOT about what to have happen, bounced ideas around, all of that. So if it's not as dark as you expect from me... That is why. :P

This story is filled with rape, abuse, torture, manipulation, cussing, past trauma, interface, BDSM, and real life animal cruelty. I hope you enjoy!

Cybertronian Units of Time (according to IDW):

Astrosecond ≈ .273 of a second
Breem ≈ 8.3 minutes
Cycle ≈ 1 hour 15 minutes
Decacycle ≈ 3 weeks
Joor ≈ hour
Klik ≈ 1.2 minutes
Megacycle ≈ 93 hours
Orbital cycle ≈ 1 Earth day
Orn ≈ 13 days
Stellar cycle ≈ 7.5 months
Vorn ≈ 83 years

Disclaimer: The Transformers universe, names, and characters are property of Hasbro.

OCs are created by me for the sole purpose of this story and any names or scenes similar to other fanfics are simply coincidental. Any ideas or names intentionally taken from other fanfics will be noted at the beginning of any chapters to which the occurrence shall take place.

Enjoy. :)

---

It was cold that morning in the barn when she felt her body going into labor. How many times had she done this before? Far too many. But she knew the routine.

Exhaling slowly, she shuttered her optics, trying to remain calm. The dried plant material used as bedding in her stall, her cage, was mostly covered in her own waste. Her owners, the ones who had her impregnated repeatedly, rarely cleaned. They only came by to throw energon into the cage every orbital cycle, to forcibly breed her…. And take her offspring.

The Seeker femme groaned loudly, her wings flicking. The Seeker in the stall next to hers heard her, her own wings perking.

"Borealis?" The other Seeker spoke up, a small Seekerlet beside her.

"I'm fine." Borealis exhaled, a servo grasping a metal bar as the other clutched her abdomen. "No need to fret."

The other Seeker lowered her wings, but there was nothing she could do. None of them could do anything.

The barn was filled with rows of these small stalls, all locked with a Seeker inside, some had very young Seekerlets, some were sparked, some were both. There were no windows, the air conditioning was loud and not that cold, but it was already getting cold outside so didn't matter. The air was thick with the smell of waste, dust, and other bodily fluids.

Some Seekers paced in their cages, circling so much their steps were permanently imprinted on the floor. Others stood idly by, swaying their heads and bodies, staring listlessly at nothing. Some were chewing on the metal bars, others just lied on the floor, motionless.

Some hugged and tried to entertain their sparklings, others tried to avoid them, not wanting to make that attachment, knowing what will eventually happen. It always happened.

Borealis groaned louder, wincing with gritted denta. She paced around her stall, every so often clawing at the wall, wishing the pain would just stop.

Eventually, she got on the ground, first lying on her back, then getting on all fours, then back down again. She felt the sparkling inside of her moving. He was coming.

She grasped the bars, getting on her knees now, groaning and crying out loud. An arm reached out from the stall beside her, almost reaching her. She reached her own arm out and grabbed the other servo, holding tightly.

"You got this." The other Seeker femme reassured her.

Borealis nodded, focused on her intakes, then pushed. She groaned, then cried out, squeezing the servo she held still. She repeated this several times until the pressure finally stopped, and she heard small whimpers.

The Seeker released the servo of her friend and turned around. She scooped up the tiny Seeker who was flaring his little stubby limbs, the tiniest cries escaping his vocalizer.

Borealis scooted herself to a corner, curled up, and held her son against her chestplates. Her wings lowered, having nothing to clean her sparkling with. She wiped at his faceplates best she could with her servo, then held him firmly against her chestplates, trying to keep him warm.

"Shhh, shhh," She cooed quietly. "You won't stay here. You'll get out of here. I hope you go somewhere wonderful. Far away from here."

The Seekerlet was whimpering less now, exhausted from the labor. He kicked a leg one last time before offlining, his miniscule fists clutched by his helm. Borealis nuzzled her son, savoring the time she would have with him. It never lasted.

"Recharge well, my son. It's the only escape we have here." She paused, thinking about the designations she had used before and the ones she hadn't. After a bit she turned back to the Seekerlet. "Your designation is Starscream. Never forget it. No matter what they call you, I named you first."

---

Borealis onlined the next orbital cycle holding Starscream. Her wings lowered when the stall door was opened, and two grounders entered. One held an electric prod, pointing it at her threateningly. The other grounder snatched the sparkling from her, held him up, and placed a device over one of the wing stubs. He squeezed two handles, causing a sharp, metal point to stab through the wing stub. Starscream shrieked from the pain and began to loudly wail. The device was removed, and a tag was now hanging from the wing stub with some numbers on it.

Starscream was handed back to his carrier, some energon poured into a bucket, and the grounders left, locking the door behind them.

Borealis hugged her crying son closely, kissing him on the cheekplates. "It's over. That's all they do. Shhh, shhh, they won't do anything else for some time. Shhhh."

Starscream cried until he exhausted himself and fell back into recharge. The wing stub still hurt some, but the worst of the pain was over. For now.

---

Borealis nursed her sparkling throughout the orbital cycle, drank her energon, and that was it. Nothing else to do in the stall. Starscream recharged, cried, and eventually onlined his optics for the first time. He looked around curiously, but there wasn't much to this world. Just four walls, one with bars, and a cold, icky floor. Only his carrier was the interesting thing in the stall, and she spent all her time recharging, pacing, clawing at the wall, chewing on the metal bars, and saying stuff to the Seeker in the stall next to them.

Nothing else.

It would be nearly a decacycle after she had given birth that the grounders would open the door again and enter. The one with the shock stick held it up at her, making it clear he would use it.

"Set down the Seekerlet." He ordered gruffly.

Borealis did so, knowing what was about to happen. The second Seeker then approached her, attached a chain to the collar she wore, then gave it a hard tug. Borealis stood, and the three of them walked out of the stall, leaving Starscream alone on a pile of dried plant material. The Seekerlet was confused why his carrier was leaving and began to cry, but she didn't come back.

Borealis was led through the barn and outside. Her wings perked, looking up at the sun. This walk was the only time she saw the sky, smelled the outside, and heard birds. She was brought into another barn and taken to a metal structure in the shape of a T. She was made to press her abdomen against the top bar of the T structure and lean over. Her wrists were tied to a bar attached to the wall before her, as straps wrapped around her torso, tying her to it. Some other Seekers were in the barn, all tied in the same manner, wrists tied to the wall, and torsos tied to a metal T structure welded to the floor.

She waited as a few more Seekers were brought it, all tied the same. Then, different grounders entered leading several Seeker mechs. These mechs were all loudly snorting, tugging at the chains, wings perked, looking excited. A grounder pried open Borealis' codpiece, as another grounder led one of the snorting Seeker mechs over. Borealis bit her lower lip plate, knowing what was about to happen.

---

Starscream had cried himself to recharge, but onlined when the door to the stall opened. Borealis was led inside, the chain removed, and the door closed once more. She scooped up her son and carefully sat down, wincing some from the pain. It was always too hard and fast, but the masters demanded she always be sparked and making more Seekers. Every one of these Seekers in this barn were always being sparked, even right after giving birth. That's all they were for: Breeding.

Starscream smiled up at his carrier, so happy to see her. She opened her chestplates and allowed him to nurse, smiling down at him. At least in these brief moments she could feel some happiness.

---

And that was life. Sitting in the stall, drinking energon, pacing, and growing. Starscream soon was crawling, then learning to walk. He watched as his carrier gave birth to another son, and watched as his wing was also tagged. He loved his sparkling brother and cuddled with him a lot. Then, his carrier was taken away again. Soon, she was sparked with another.

The process continued. Starscream grew and played with his little siblings. There wasn't much for them to do in this stall. They didn't have much room to run or do anything. They couldn't even avoid stepping in their own waste. They tried keeping that in the corners but… It was rare when the masters had the stalls cleaned, so they just had to get use to being covered in their own waste and recharging in it.

They were bored, they watched their carrier pace endlessly and claw at the wall every orbital cycle. She would often stand motionless and shake her helm from side to side. Sometimes doing this for joors straight. The other Seekers they could see across from them were the same. In stalls with multiple sparklings, all pacing, all chewing at the bars, all swaying from side to side.

Every. Single. Orbital Cycle.

Starscream felt himself losing it. He was pacing, he was clawing at the wall, he just wanted out!

Then, one orbital cycle…. Everything changed.

He was five stellar cycles old, he had four siblings in the stall with him with another inside of his carrier. Three mechlings, a sister, and who knows what in his carrier. He loved his siblings and carrier, and dreamed what it must be like outside of this stall. They could all run! And maybe there's… Like something really cool out there!

He couldn't even imagine what it looked like outside of the stall.

The door opened and two grounders entered, one with the shock stick, one with a chain. Borealis' optics filled with coolant, knowing what would happen.

Starscream was suddenly grabbed by the grounder with the chain and yanked up. He screamed, never being touched by the grounders before, not since he had the tag put on. Borealis hissed and growled, but only was shocked with the stick. It happened so fast, the grounders clearly having done this hundreds of times before. They kept the carrier at bay with ease, removed Starscream, and had the door closed quickly. Starscream screamed as the chain was tied around his neck, and then he was dragged away.

He looked back, seeing his carrier through the bars, her arms reaching out to him. She was shrieking, coolant pouring from her optics. His siblings were there, also crying, terrified of what was happening. He cried and reached back, bawling his optics out, but the grounders only yanked him away.

That was the last he ever saw of his carrier. Her face, crying, begging, shrieking…. And then it was gone.

The Seekerlet was taken out of the barn, and his optics widened. He was still crying, but what he saw was nothing he had ever imagined or dreamed of. There was…. Blue. Lots of blue. All above him! And…. Something very bright above. It hurt to even look at!

His crying ceased as he became struck with awe at the things around him. The ground was… Crumbly, and brown. There were green things on the ground, and some were… Really tall! He saw…. These weird things moving. They were…. Round things made them seemingly move. And he saw more grounders and… Seekerlets.

Him and other Seekerlets were being taken to the side of a barn. One of the grounders held his wrists as the second grabbed a hose and sprayed the Seekerlet with cold water. Starscream jumped, never feeling this before, not even sure what it was, but it was unpleasant. The grounders sprayed him, rinsing him off of all the waste and dusk that had collected on him since the orbital cycle he was born.

The other Seekerlets, all his age, were having the same thing done to them.

Once rinsed off, he was dried with a towel, and then taken to a trailer. All the Seekerlets were loaded on, being shoved, some grabbed and thrown on, and one grounder was waving a stick at them. Starscream was pushed into a corner by the scared Seekerlets, all being jammed inside. Once loaded, the trailer doors were closed. Then, they felt the trailer moving.

"What's happening?" One of the Seekerlets asked frantically.

"I want my carrier!" Another cried, coolant pouring from his optics.

"I want my carrier!" Another screamed.

Starscream also began to cry, wanting his carrier as well. Soon, every Seekerlet was bawling their optics out, terrified, and just wanting their carrier.

They were in the trailer for nearly a joor before the doors opened and those grounder mechs were yelling at them to get out. Starscream followed the other Seekerlets, not wanting to be left alone. They were at some new place, with a lot of fencing, and cages, and Seekers of other ages and sizes. The Seekerlets were led to cages outside, but under a roof. There were no walls. Starscream was placed in one with four other Seekerlets. The rest were all put in similar cages with about the same number of Seekerlets in each.

They were given some energon, and then… Left there.

Starscream and the Seekerlets he was with cuddled together, still crying over their carriers, but also curiously looking around. They saw larger Seekers being led by them, some being put into the fenced stalls, some being taken out. Grounders were talking about Seekers, looking at Seekers, and pointing. Starscream saw one grounder touching a Seeker all over as he closely inspected him.

They sat there all orbital cycle, then it became dark. The Seekerlets were amazed to see the giant, glowing thing move in the sky until it was gone, and the world was dark. Some lights were on the roof above them, but it didn't give off nearly as much light as that giant glowing thing!

They soon fell into recharge, snuggling, too tired to stay online. They onlined the next morning to the sound of grounders giving energon to all the Seekers and Seekerlets. They quickly ate their cubes, curiously looking around still.

"What do you think is happening?" One of the Seekerlets with Starscream asked.

"I don't know." Another replied.

They sat there for several joors watching grounders come and go until one grounder pointed to a Seekerlet in another cage. A different grounder grabbed that Seekerlet, handed him to the grounder who had pointed, and was handed over… Something small. The grounder who had pointed then left with the Seekerlet.

Starscream swallowed. Where did he go with that Seekerlet?

It was soon when they saw a similar thing happen with an older Seeker. A grounder pointed at him, said something to another grounder, handed him a small bag, and then walked away with the older Seeker on a chain.

And this kept happening. More and more grounders came, handed small things to other grounders, and left with a Seekerlet or older Seeker.

Night came again and the Seekerlets all cuddled as they recharged. The next morning, they were given their energon, then the strange thing happened again. Grounders coming, handing small things to other grounders, and leaving with Seekers.

Then one grounder pointed at Starscream.

Starscream's optics widened as he was picked up, lifted out of the cage, and handed to this strange grounder.

"Here you are." The grounder who had pointed at Starscream said as he handed the other grounder from the barn a small bag.

"Thank you for your business!" The other grounder smiled.

Starscream's spark raced as he was carried away, watching the other Seekerlets slowly becoming further and further away. He was taken to another trailer, a smaller one, and placed inside with six other Seekerlets all around his age. Two he recognized having come from the same place he had.

The doors were closed, and the trailer soon was moving. The Seekerlets all hugged each other, two crying for their carriers, all of them scared.

Eventually, the trailer stopped, and the doors were opened. Chains were placed around their necks, and they were led out of the trailer and taken inside a building. Starscream perked his wings, this place looking so different from the barn and the sales yards. This building had massive machines all moving, and making loud sounds, and so many Seekers of all ages were working. It wasn't anything he had ever seen before or could imagine, but he would soon learn it was called a "factory," and they would be making paint here.

He and the others were led to the back and taken to a room. Inside, the grounders documented them, writing down the tag numbers on their wings, attaching collars around their necks, and noting their age and other features.

Then, they were taken to a different room, a much larger one, and placed inside one of the many stalls. It was almost like back at the mill where his carrier and siblings were, but much cleaner, no waste, and there were some windows. They couldn't see out the windows as they were too high up, but they saw the light from that giant sphere in the sky.

A grounder gave them all energon cubes, then left them in the stall. The Seekerlets ate their energon, scared, confused, and wanting their carriers.

"What do you think is happening?" One asked.

"I don't know…" Starscream said softly.

"I want carrier…" Another replied quietly, looking at his energon.

"We all want our carriers…" Another sighed.

Starscream swallowed, wiping at the coolant leaking from his optics. Maybe he'll be returned to her soon. He hoped he would be…

---

The Seekerlets onlined the next orbital cycle when their morning energon was delivered. They ate it in silence, all huddled in the corner of the stall. It was a few breems after they had finished their fuel that the door opened and an adult Seeker stood there.

"Hey," He offered them a small smile. "I'm going to be teaching you what to do. My designation is Turbo. What's yours?"

None of the Seekerlets spoke, all nervously watching this stranger. Starscream swallowed before speaking up.

"I'm Starscream."

"Well, hello, Starscream. Want to come out and see what we're doing?"

Starscream glanced at the other Seekerlets, then stood. He slowly walked over to the Seeker, his wing stubs perking. The other Seekerlets got up and followed, encouraged by his bravery. Turbo took Starscream and another Seekerlets' servos, and led the little group out. They walked into the factory and followed him over to some machinery.

"Okay, what you guys are going to be doing every orbital cycle is helping with these machines. You're small so can get underneath and move the necessary parts. Sometimes, things get jammed and we need little servos to unjam things. You will also be in charge of keeping everything clean under the machines. Paint is made here and when it spills the dried paint can affect the gears and other parts of the machinery. You will need to crawl under and scrape paint away from those gears."

"When do we see carrier?" One of the Seekerlets piped up.

Turbo crouched to be optic level with them. "I'm afraid you're all too big for your carriers… The masters take us away from our carriers when we reach a certain age. I was taken away from my carrier at your age. You now do as the masters say. That's our purpose… To serve them."

"Serve…?" One of the little ones inquired, his optics far too large for his head.

"Yes… It's when you do everything they tell you to do."

Starscream wrung his servos. He didn't like the sound of that.

"Alright, let me show you what you will be doing." Turbo then turned to the machinery. "Now, come over and look where I point.

The Seeker showed them where to crawl under the machinery, to avoid the moving parts, and how to clean and safely remove anything that might be keeping the machines from moving. But one thing he said spooked Starscream: "If you aren't careful, you can be seriously injured. I've seen Seekers lose their entire arms or wings working on these machines."

And that was his life. Every morning Starscream and the other Seekerlets were online and given their energon. They then followed Turbo and other adult Seekers into the factory and worked. They would crawl under the heavy and loud machinery, cleaning the gears of spilled paint, removing cans that had fallen, and keeping everything clean. It involved their little servos and arms reaching deep inside the growling bowels of this massive machinery, removing something quickly before the gears had a chance to crush their tiny arms.

The adult Seekers worked alongside of them, placing cans on the conveyor, filling cans with paint, mixing paint, testing paint, sealing the paint cans, and placing labels on the cans. On the far end the cans were boxed up, and loaded onto large vehicles before being taken away.

There were many conveyors as many colors of paints were being made. Starscream and the Seekerlets had to run around between these many machines and crawl under them all. Spilled paint would drip onto the Seekerlets, or they would crawl over puddles of it, resulting in the Seekerlets being an array of various colors blotched all over them.

While the Seekerlets and adults worked, there would be large grounders walking around watching them, carrying whips. The Seekerlets were mostly ignored, but once in a while Starscream would hear a crack of the energy whip followed by one of the adult Seekers crying out in pain. He and the other Seekerlets would crawl back under the machines and remain there until the grounder left.

They would work like this all orbital cycle before being returned to the stalls where grounders gave them their evening energon. Then, the Seekerlets cuddled together, and recharged on their dried plant bedding.

One thing Starscream liked was that during the orbital cycle he could go into this small room and there was this thing Turbo had showed them called a "waste dispenser." He could sit on it and release his waste tank into it. Then, he didn't have to go in the stall! He loved it! His favorite part was pulling the lever and watching it swirl down the hole.

It took him a few times to get comfortable with it, but Turbo was patient with all of the Seekerlets.

There were a few other Seekerlets already at the factory, but they were a little older than him. They were starting to get too big to crawl under the machines, and the adult Seekers were now teaching them how to work alongside them.

Starscream missed his carrier, but at least now he was moving around, had a clean stall, and was making friends. No longer was he bored inside a stall never to be let out.

He was exhausted by the end of every orbital cycle, but still better than living in his own waste.

And that was his life. Every orbital cycle. This same routine. Online, refuel, crawl under machinery all orbital cycle, return to stall, recharge. The same thing. Every single orbital cycle for the next four stellar cycles.

As he grew it was becoming harder to crawl under the machinery, but he kept at it. He was good at getting jammed gears moving again, and being under the machines meant the grounders with the whips never saw him. They never did anything to him over the stellar cycles, and he wanted to keep it that way. They scared him.

Then, one orbital cycle, everything changed. He was crawling under a machine and reached into a hole. A gear was jammed, part of a broken can lid had fallen inside. As he felt around his wings perked. He found the piece and began to remove it, but due to how far he had to reach he couldn't bend him arm out. He had to back up his whole body to get it out. So, he started to do so, when his perked wings snagged on something. His optics widened, realizing his arm was not moving out fast enough as he was stuck… And he had just removed the metal that had jammed the gear.

He felt the gear moving before it crushed down onto his arm. With it being free, other gears also moved, and his left wing was grasped by part of the conveyor and brutally bent and nearly snapped off.

He screamed, unable to move, feeling the gear trying its best to keep moving despite the object blocking it. He heard the other Seekers rushing over, heard the emergency shut off and alarm system sounding. Someone grabbed his legs and he was yanked on, but the gears weren't releasing him.

"Starscream, where are you caught?" One of the Seekers called to him.

Starscream was crying now from the pain. "M-my arm a-and wing!" He managed to blurt out between sobs.

"Hang on, we're going to get you out!"

It took them some time, but the Seekers did manage to move parts of the machinery, and a younger Seekerlet was able to crawl under and get Starscream's wing free. Starscream's arm was finally removed from the crushing weight of the gear, and he was dragged out.

Still crying, he was carried away back to the stall. A couple of the adult Seekers tended to his injuries as energon oozed out, but he couldn't move his arm. It just hung there… Limp and crushed.

"It's okay. We're here." One of the adult Seekers tried to calm him down. "This isn't a death sentence."

Starscream could only continue to sob, wishing the pain would stop.

The Seekers did what they could, then returned to work. Starscream stayed in the stall, the worst of the pain was over, but it still hurt. Eventually, his friends returned to him and they all cuddled together and helped him with his evening energon. There was nothing else they could do.

The next orbital cycle a grounder came to the stall. He inspected Starscream's arm, then left. Starscream remained in the stall while his friends went to work. The next orbital cycle Starscream was still in the stall, his friends all leaving him to work. That's when two grounders walked in. They tied a chain to his neck, yanked it until he stood, and led him out.

Starscream swallowed, not sure what was happening. They never led him anywhere. His wings perked when they took him not to the factory, but out a different door. He was outside now. Why was he outside?

He was taken to a trailer where a couple of older Seekers were also being led to. They loaded him and the other two inside, then closed the doors. Starscream noticed that the other two Seekers also had injuries. One had a leg that looked like a heavy crate of paint fell on it, crushing it. The other was missing an entire arm, probably from the machine that cut the metal to make the cans.

Starscream swallowed when the trailer began to move. "Where are we going…?" He asked softly.

"To be sold…" The Seeker with the crushed leg said defeatedly. "We cost more to repair than to replace."

"Let us hope our new masters are kind." The other Seeker sighed.

Starscream's optics widened. "Sold? But… But I didn't get to say bye to my friends!" Coolant began to pool in his optics. "W-what about Turbo? Nightshade? Hypersonic?"

"You'll never see them again. This is life. We are sold and sold again. It's what the masters do." The first Seeker said.

Starscream shook his helm before breaking down crying. He didn't want to lose his friends! He wanted them to come with him! Why were the masters like this?

He was still softly sobbing when the trailer stopped, and the grounders led them out. He was taken to some pens where other Seekers stood in the cages. Many were Seekerlets, some were adults. Some had injuries, some looked fine. But they all were standing in their pens anxiously waiting for who would buy them.

Starscream was put into a pen with a couple of other Seekerlets his age. He glanced at them, noticing how defeated they looked, sitting in the corner, not wanting to engage with anyone. He swallowed and sat in the opposite corner.

Night came and passed, and he got his energon for the morning. Many speedsters and trucks walked by some other Seekers were bought, but Starscream remained. Another orbital cycle passed and nothing. On the third orbital cycle a green speedster stopped and studied the Seekerlet.

"How much for this injured one?" The speedster inquired of the grounder working the lot.

"That one is injured so it's only fifty."

"Fifty? Because of the injury?"

"Cost more to fix."

The speedster looked back at Starscream, studying those large, sad optics. "Where did he come from?"

"That one came from a factory."

"No, like… His breeder."

"I don't know."

The green speedster rubbed his chin as he thought some more. "Know what… I'll give him a chance. He looks like he could use some help." He unsubspaced a bag of Shanix and counted it. "Fifty for the injured Seekerlet."

The other grounder took the Shanix, then opened the pen. He approached Starscream, tied a chain around his neck, and forced him to stand. He yanked him out of the pen and handed the chain to the green speedster.

"Good luck."

"Thank you." The green speedster turned to Starscream. "Hey, what's your designation?"

Starscream looked up at him, beginning to tremble slightly. He was scared of being taken to yet another new place. "Starscream…" He answered softly.

"Well, Starscream, I'm your new master. Wait until you meet Chandelle. She's going to love you."

The new master gave the chain a tug and Starscream followed him. He was led out of the sale yard and towards an area with a lot of posts with rods between them. Tied to these horizontal rods were Seekers. Lots and lots of Seekers. Some were standing, some sitting. But all were tethered to these posts by ropes that were attached to… straps on their faces. Starscream perked his wings, noticing all of these Seekers had these strange straps on their faces, and things were on their backs. As they started to walk by them, Starscream saw that there was… something in their mouths. What was going on here?

The grounder stopped by a white and silver Seeker femme who was also tied to a post.

"Look what I got you, Chandelle." The speedster smirked.

Chandelle's optics widened, her majestic wings perking. Starscream's optics also widened, taken back by the beauty of this Seeker. She looked a lot like his carrier, only… Clean, and her paint was perfect, and she was… Incredible.

"You didn't say you were buying a Seeker." She spoke, but it sounded off.

The speedster shrugged. "I like to surprise you. His designation is Starscream. Look, I couldn't leave him behind. Not with an injury like that. A kill buyer would have him."

Chandelle crouched to be optic level with the Seekerlet. Starscream studied her, seeing how the straps were securely fastened to her face, and they were keeping… A metal bar in her mouth..? What was that? And from the metal circles attached to this metal bar, the ropes that tether her to the post also were connected. He reached up and touched the straps, not understanding why they were there.

Chandelle smiled at him, cupping his faceplates, her wings fluttering. "Never seen a bridle before?"

Starscream shook his helm, still touching this bridle, his optics so wide with curiosity. He touched the metal rings, then pushed back at her lip plates to see the metal inside her mouth. She carefully removed his servos.

"This," She opened her mouth so he could see the metal in her mouth for a moment before closing it again. "Is a bit. It's how the masters control us when they ride us."

"Ride?" He perked his wings.

"As you're about to see." The speedster replied as he untied the reins from the post.

He gave the reins a shake and Chandelle stepped back. She immediately transformed, which caused Starscream to jump back. His optics wide, never having seen anyone transform before.

The master messed with the thing on Chandelle's back, adjusting a strap around her body, and checking the stirrups. He then picked up Starscream and placed him onto the saddle. The speedster climbed on behind him, and using straps, tied their legs securely to the saddle.

"Hold onto this." The speedster ordered Starscream as he patted a handlebar at the front of the saddle. Starscream did so with his good arm.

The master held the reins in his left servo, keeping them taunt. His right servo opened a subspace pocket and he removed a riding crop. Starscream wasn't sure what it was, having never seen it before. The left arm of the speedster hugged Starscream as it also grasped the handlebar. Starscream curiously watched as his new master raised his right arm, swung it back, and lashed the whip across Chandelle's backside with a loud thwat!

Immediately, her engine screamed to life as she took off. Starscream screamed, his optics wide as they flew higher and higher. He clung to the handlebar, terrified of falling. His legs were tied tightly to the saddle, and master's arms were wrapped around him, but he was still scared he would fall.

The speedster gave the reins a small yank and Chandelle evened out, flying steadily along. Starscream finally began to calm down, his spark still racing, but the wind wasn't as loud or as intense as before. He dared to look over master's arm and see the small world below.

"Wow…" He gasped, flabbergasted by how everything looked.

He saw tall structures all around them, so many colors from plants and signs, and so much! He wasn't sure what any of this stuff was, but he liked it. It was so new, and weird, and amazing. But what shocked him most was how… vast it all was. No walls. No cages. It just… Kept going and going… Forever.

He looked up at the speedster, who looked down at him. He smiled, happy that this speedster was showing him this. The grounder patted Starscream on the helm which Starscream liked. He leaned back into the speedster's chest, enjoying how… fresh the air was. It felt amazing in his vents. He kept looking from side to side, wanting to see everything that he could.

"Hang on, we're going to go faster." The speedster informed the Seekerlet.

Starscream watched as he raised his arm, then lashed Chandelle on her rear end again. With a soft yelp Chandelle powered her thrusters and went even faster. Starscream's optics widened, being pushed back into the speedster's torso by the force. The grounder held onto the handlebar with both servos, but didn't seem concerned about the speed at all. Starscream didn't like this faster gait, clinging to his master best he could.

Eventually, the speedster pulled on the reins while making clicking sounds with his mouth. Chandelle began to descend, slowing down greatly. She kept circling down, the ground nearing, and the master navigating her with tugs of the reins. Eventually, she landed in front of some townhouses.

The speedster dismounted after removing the straps, then grabbed Starscream and placed him on the ground. He subspaced the crop, grabbed the reins, and gave them a tug. Chandelle transformed, her wings perking as she watched Starscream. The master tugged her reins as he began to walk towards one of the houses. Chandelle quickly grabbed Starscream's good arm and pulled him along. They followed their master inside and waited as he locked the door behind them. Then, he turned to Chandelle and removed the saddle. He hung it on a hook on the wall, then unbuckled the bridle. Chandelle eagerly pulled her face away, removing the bit. She took a moment to rub her cheekplates and rotate her jaw, easing how sore it was from having the bit pressed against her lip corners for so many joors.

"Get him settled in." The master ordered as he placed the bridle on another hook. "I'll set up an appointment for the vet to get him repaired within the next few orbital cycles."

"Yes, master." Chandelle took Starscream's servo. "Want to see where you'll be recharging?"

Starscream nodded, his wings perking.

Chandelle smiled at him, her wings fluttering. "This way." She led him up the stairs, which he never had been on stairs before so almost tripped a couple of times, but Chandelle held onto him firmly. They got to the top and Chandelle took him into a room with a berth, a desk, some shelves, a closet, and a window. "This is my room. You'll stay here. Not sure if master is going to get another berth for you…"

"Berth?"

"Yes, a berth." She paused. "Do you not know what a berth is?"

He shook his helm.

"Where have you lived?"

"A factory. And… With carrier."

"Where did you recharge?"

"On the floor."

"Well, you're not recharging on the floor anymore. This is a berth." She patted it. "We recharge on these. And do other things on them, but mostly recharge."

"What other things?"

"I'll tell you some other time. So, here is the closet where I keep my things. You can put your things in it. I don't have much. Master sometimes gives me gifts. Over here is my desk. Master lets me play games here when I'm not cleaning or… serving him. Master's room is over here." She led him out of the room and to another. "This is master's berth. It's larger than mine. He has his own closet, and his own washroom. And this is his desk, and his vidscreen, and his windows you can see the front of the house. People walk by all the time."

Starscream was fascinated by all of it. He had never seen anything like this before. He walked around, touching everything, studying it, his optics wide and curious.

"What's that?" He pointed to an open drawer of the nightstand.

"Oh, um," Chandelle quickly closed the drawer filled with dildos, chains, and other questionable nighttime items. "That's nothing." She smiled at Starscream. "Want to see the living room?"

Starscream nodded and took her servo. He liked her holding his servo. Chandelle led him back down the stairs and to the living room. She showed him the couch, and large vidscreen, and then showed him the dining table, and the energon room, and another washroom.

Starscream drank some energon before being taken to the washroom. Chandelle turned on the shower and helped him inside the tub. The Seeker femme washed the Seekerlet in the warm water, scrubbing him clean of all the grime, paint, dirt, and everything else that had collected on him over the stellar cycles. Starscream closed his optics, enjoying the warm water. He had never felt warm water before. He had never showered before. And he had never seen soap before!

It took her nearly a joor to get him all cleaned. She dried him with a towel, then showed him how to clean his denta. After that, he was allowed to roam the house. He stayed close to Chandelle, watching her as she served energon to their master while he watched TV. Starscream was fascinated by the TV, staring with wide optics as the screen showed people, new worlds, and so many things on it. How was this possible?!

Eventually, his exhaustion overtook his curiosity and Chandelle took him upstairs to her room. She helped him climb onto the berth, covered him with a blanket, and kissed him on the cheekplates.

"Recharge well, Starscream." She smiled at him.

He faintly smiled before falling into the best recharge he ever had so far in his life.

---

Starscream onlined the next orbital cycle, startled at first, but then remembered he had been sold. His optics widened, then quickly sat up. He looked around but there was no Chandelle. He slid off the berth, feeling better than he had in a long time, and opened the door. He looked down the short hallway, then walked over to the master's room. The door was slightly ajar, so he pushed it open and walked in.

Chandelle was recharging in berth with their master, who had an arm wrapped around her waist. Starscream approached and poked Chandelle on the arm. The Seeker femme slowly online her optics, faintly smiling at him.

"Hey," She whispered. "Go get yourself some energon. I'll be down with you in a bit."

Starscream glanced at their master, then back at her. He nodded before leaving the room and going down the stairs. He had to push a chair to the counter and climb on it to reach the cabinet where the energon was, but he managed despite the still broken arm. He grabbed his energon, walked to the couch, and sat down on it. His little legs kicked as he ate his energon, curiously looking around at all the pictures, shelves, and items on the shelves. So much was going on in this space and he had to look at it all.

He finished his energon, then went to the window and watched everything happening outside. He saw Seekers walking by, and grounders, and he saw vehicles driving around, and things he never seen before such as cyberdogs. His optics widened and wings perked at those dogs. What were they?

He looked up when he heard noise upstairs. Chandelle must be up! He quickly made his way up the stairs and to the door, but when he tried to open it, it wouldn't. It was locked like the stalls he had lived in. He perked his wings as he listened to the sounds coming from inside. They were… Weird. He heard Chandelle, but she kept making weird… Moans. And he heard clanging of metal, and he also heard master grunting a lot.

He didn't understand any of this. He went back in Chandelle's room and looked out the window there. A breem later the door to the master's room opened and the pair walked out.

"Woo! Good start to my morning!" Master laughed as he gave Chandelle's aft a hard smack.

She jumped a little, but otherwise didn't react. "Yes, master. What should I make you for your morning refuel?"

"Eh, surprise me." He gave her a dismissive wave as he walked to the stairs.

Chandelle looked over at Starscream before waving him over. The Seekerlet quickly ran over to her, his arm outstretched for a hug. Chandelle smiled, crouching down with both her arms out. She hugged the Seekerlet, her wings fluttering.

"Did you refuel?" She asked him, cupping his faceplates lovingly.

He nodded.

"Good. I need to give master his energon, then I will show you how we clean the house." She gave him a kiss on the cheekplates. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm… Okay…" He said softly.

"I know being in a new place is scary… I'm going to take good care of you. And don't worry about master. He's much kinder than other masters." She stood up and took his servo in hers.

Starscream followed her downstairs and into the energon room. Master was in the living room with the TV on and looking at a datapad. Chandelle prepared some energon and took it to him. He didn't even look at her as he reached for the tray, optics glued to the datapad he held.

Chandelle then drank her own energon, smiling as Starscream eagerly watched her. Once she finished, she took him to a closet, showed him the cleaning supplies, and then started to teach him how to dust the house, sweep, and wipe down countertops.

Starscream didn't mind this. Seemed simple enough. Nothing like the machines in the factory! And it was so quiet here. At the factory there was so much noise from the machines, and other Seekers, and masters yelling at them. Here it was… Silent other than the TV and when Chandelle spoke. He could hear sounds outside, but those were muffled.

The orbital cycle was spent with Chandelle teaching him how to clean, giving master energon, and then Chandelle snuggled him as they watched TV with master. Starscream liked the TV. He liked this. Would this be his life forever?

That night, Chandelle tucked him into berth, kissed him on the cheekplates, and left him to recharge. He smiled, eager to see what tomorrow brought.

---

He onlined the next morning snuggling against Chandelle. His grin grew seeing her in berth with him, her arm wrapped around him. He nuzzled his olfactory sensor against hers until she onlined. The femme smiled at him and kissed his cheekplates.

"Ready to get up?" She inquired.

He nodded. "Yeah."

"Alright, let's go."

Starscream hopped out of berth and waited for Chandelle to get up. He then followed her downstairs and their routine began. Master eventually came down and sat on the couch, his energon already there for him.

It was a few joors later when master went into Chandelle's room where she was showing Starscream how to play a board game.

"Hey, time to take the new recruit to the vet to get fixed up." He held up the bridle.

Chandelle stood up and approached him. "Will this be quick or…?"

"I have no idea." He held the bridle up so the bit was exposed.

Chandelle opened her mouth and allowed the speedster to place the bit inside. Starscream watched as the bridle was buckled to her face, her denta scraping against the rude metal pressing into the corners of her mouth. He got up and walked over, never looking away from this strange thing the master had done to her. Chandelle noticed his wide optics, faintly smiling at him.

"It's alright." She reassured him, holding her servo out to him.

He grabbed it, still never looking away.

Their master grabbed the reins just under her chin and led her down the stairs and to the front door. He grabbed the saddle from off the hook and pressed it to her backplates. Electric magnets powered on, securing the saddle to her plates, as the speedster also tightened a strap around her torso. Starscream watched with absolute fascination.

The grounder led her outside, Starscream following, and locked the door behind them. He took her to the street, then gave the reins a shake. Chandelle released Starscream before transforming. This time, Starscream watched as the saddle itself was triggered to also transform, moving with her plates, allowing her body to change without being heeded. The saddle also unfolded as it changed, the stirrups dropping, the saddle seat expanding, and the handlebar folding out.

Master picked up Starscream and placed him onto the saddle before mounting himself. He tied their legs down, securing them to the saddle, then unsubspaced the riding whip. Starscream grabbed the handlebar, watching master raise his arm. Chandelle yelped when her rear was lashed hard by the whip, and quickly took off. Starscream was thrown back into master's torso, his optics widening as Chandelle hastily ascended.

The speedster eventually gave the reins a tug, then leveled out the Seeker. Starscream looked over the grounder's arm, amazed by the small world below. He also noticed other Seekers flying around, all with speedsters riding them.

Would he have to carry a master?

He looked in front of him, watching his master's servos as they held the reins and the whip. He didn't want to be hit by that… Would he be hit by it? The Seekerlet swallowed.

After about a breem of flying, master tugged on the reins, a little hard, and made Chandelle descend. She circled as she flew down, finally landing in front of a building. Master dismounted, then picked Starscream up and placed him on the ground. He shook the reins, and Chandelle quickly transformed. Master led her to a tethering post just outside of the door, and tied her to it. Without a word, the speedster grabbed Starscream by the good servo and pulled him inside, leaving Chandelle all alone.

Starscream never looked away from her, not sure why she was being left outside. She smiled at him, gesturing for him to keep going. She didn't seem nervous at all.

Starscream finally looked ahead when they walked into the building, his wings perking. It was so different here. He saw many chairs along the wall, a counter with grounders working at it, and other grounders with Seekers. Some of the Seekers were adults, some young, some younger than him. A few had injuries, a few appeared to be ill, and the rest seemed okay. Nothing visibly wrong with them at least.

Master took him to the counter, never releasing his servo.

"I have Starscream here. My designation is Vertex." Master said to the receptionist.

Starscream watched as Vertex talked to the other grounder, signed something, then led the Seekerlet to a chair. Starscream sat on the chair, Vertex sitting on another beside him. They were there for a couple of kliks before another speedster walked over and called them. Vertex stood and pulled the Seekerlet along. They walked into a small room, and Starscream made to stand on a scale. The other speedster took his weight, height, and some other measurements, writing them all down. She left, leaving Vertex with Starscream in the room.

"What is this place?" Starscream asked his master.

"It's a Seeker vet office. This is where they fix Seekers who are broken or sick." Vertex explained, sitting on a chair.

"They will fix my arm?"

"Mhmm."

"How?"

"Well, they'll show us."

Starscream looked around the room some more, opening cabinets to look inside, and studying the pictures on the walls. He couldn't read any of the words, nor even knew they could be read, but he thought they looked cool.

Eventually, the door opened and the vet technician and veterinarian walked in.

"Hello, you must be Starscream." The speedster greeted, holding a datapad. "So, you are here for a new arm, wing repair, and general checkup."

"And to get this tag removed." Vertex tugged the tag still in the Seekerlet's wing.

"Let's take a look at you." The speedster transformed his servo into several tools, which startled the Seekerlet.

The vet tech got behind Starscream and held his arms behind his back as the vet scanned the Seekerlet, used a flashlight to check the inside of his mouth and chestplates, and looked at his optics.

"He appears to be in good health. Spark readings are strong, he's about the right size for a Seekerlet his age, and there's no viruses. If there are no firewall records I recommend getting all of his shots. Since his spark is strong, we can take him into surgery and repair the arm this afternoon. While he's offline we will also repair the wing and remove the tag, give him a dental cleaning, and if you want him neutered, we can also do that."

Vertex thought. "I do have a Seeker femme… How much is neutering?"

"For Seekerlets it's 400. It can't be reversed, like the spays which remove the gestation tanks entirely. If you want it to be reversible, that's a vasectomy, and it simply removes the tubes that connect the nanite production units to the spike. The neuter will remove the nanite production units for the spike and it makes them less aggressive. I recommend neutering for Seeker mechs if they live inside your home as it's a safety issue. If he lives in a barn it's not as important because he's less likely to attack you."

"I might breed them…" Vertex hesitated. "Go ahead and do the vasectomy. If I need anything more removed I'll just bring him back."

"Sounds good." The vet turned to his assistant. "Go ahead and put him in a kennel."

The speedster femme tied a chain around Starscream's neck and led him out of the room. Starscream nervously followed her into the back, passing other grounders, Seekers, and so many weird things. Eventually, they came to a room with many cages, some with Seekers in them. Starscream was pushed inside an empty one and the door closed.

He swallowed, not sure what was happening. He sat on the floor, a blanket already there for him to have some comfort. He wasn't sure how long he sat there, listening to Seekers calling out, grounders talking, and things happening in the other room, but eventually the cage door was opened.

The chain was put back on and he was led out. He was taken to another room where several grounders were, wearing masks now. His optics widened, not sure what was happening. They placed him on a berth, tied his wrists and ankles down, then started to mess with the top of his helm. He felt himself panicking, his spark pulsating faster, coolant pooling in his optics… Then everything went dark.

---

Starscream onlined, feeling so tired, and weak… And sore. He rubbed his faceplates, his wings perking. Then, he realized he was using both his servos. His optics widened, seeing his newly repaired arm. It looked… Different, and yet the same. He glanced back and saw that his wing was also like new. The other wing didn't have the tag anymore, only the hole it had left behind.

He looked down, feeling soreness in his lower body. Why did it feel sore inside of him? He noticed a line over his lower torso, just above his codpiece. What was that line? It hurt… It looked like… The metal was… melted together?

He looked up, still feeling so tired and just off.

"He's online." Someone said. "Go ahead and call the owner. He can pick him up now."

Starscream felt himself falling back into recharge, which he soon did.

When he onlined again he was feeling better, but still tired. Not as tired as before. A speedster was opening the cage door and tied a chain around his neck. He was led out of the cage and taken to the front where the waiting room was. His wings perked when he saw Vertex.

"He did very well." The other speedster said, handing Vertex some items. "He'll need the pain dampeners for the next orn, twice every orbital cycle. Call us if you have any concerns."

"Will do!" Vertex subspaced the pain dampeners, then picked up Starscream. "Come on, little guy. You've had a long orbital cycle."

"Where's my tag?" Starscream asked, pointing to his wing.

"They removed it."

"Can I have it?"

"You want the tag?" Vertex shrugged when Starscream nodded. "Hey, you still have the tag that you removed?"

"Yeah, I can grab it." The other speedster replied.

"Go ahead and grab it. He wants it." Vertex moved Starscream to his hip.

The other speedster soon came back and handed Vertex the tag. Master handed the tag to the Seekerlet who held it close. This was all he had from when he was with his carrier.

Vertex walked out of the clinic and over to where Chandelle was tethered. Her wings perked then fluttered, seeing the Seekerlet.

"How are you feeling, Starscream?" She asked, reaching for him.

"Okay…" He replied quietly, wrapping his arms around her neck as she took him from Vertex.

Chandelle kissed him best she could with the bit, her wings still fluttering and her engine loudly purring. Starscream snuggled into her, feeling safe with her.

Vertex untied the reins from the post and tugged them. Chandelle followed, still holding Starscream.

"Why don't I take you guys for a treat since Starscream did so well. Then we get back and he recharge off the drugs he's on."

Chandelle nodded. "Yes, master. I think he does deserve a treat."

Vertex shook the reins and the Seeker femme set down the Seekerlet. She transformed, and Vertex placed Starscream onto the saddle. He mounted, tied them both down, then unsubspaced the riding whip. Starscream grabbed the handlebars, not liking this part of it.

Chandelle yelped as she was lashed, quickly taking off and flying high into the sky. She growled her engine softly as the reins were pulled too hard, turning her around and flying in another direction. Vertex kept the reins taunt, his other servo holding the whip as it also held onto the handlebar. Starscream looked at it, his curiosity finally getting the better of him. He reached out and touched the whip, wondering what it felt like.

"Never seen one before?" Vertex inquired of the Seekerlet.

Starscream shook his helm, still studying the cruel tool.

"It's called a crop, or riding whip. There's some whips much bigger than this one. But this one is used for when we ride a Seeker. It's an aid to help us teach and control our mounts. When you are big enough I'll train you and ride you just like we are riding Chandelle. And then this little buddy," He gave the whip a little shake. "Will be telling your aft to move faster and not fight me."

Starscream looked back at him. "You'll hit me with it?" His optics widened.

"Encourage you, nudge you, correct you…" Vertex patted the Seekerlet's helm. "It's not painful. Chandelle is always excited when she sees the whip and bridle brought out. It just means she's going on an adventure!"

Starscream wasn't sure about that. He heard Chandelle yelp every time she was "encouraged." He really didn't want to be hit by anything. Carrying a master didn't seem bad. Chandelle wasn't making sounds like she was in pain when just flying. But to be hit...?

He swallowed, looking down at the tag he still held. He hoped no one was "encouraging" his carrier or siblings.

He flinched when Vertex lashed Chandelle again causing her to fly faster. He would pull and tug the reins every so often, making her move one way or another until finally he pulled them back, signaling for her to land. She spiraled in her descent, landing in front of a small shop. Vertex dismounted, then lifted Starscream off. Chandelle transformed, giving her wings a little shake as she chewed the bit, obviously in discomfort.

Vertex grabbed the reins just under her chin and tugged them, leading her over to a tethering post where some other Seekers were tied. He tied the reins to the post, then grabbed Starscream's servo, taking him inside the shop. Starscream's wings perked, his optics round and large as he looked around.

The shop had little tables with chairs, and people were in a line waiting to speak to someone behind the counter. There was a sign with those strange markings on it above and people were looking at it while talking.

When they got to the counter Vertex spoke to the speedster behind it. "One small sundae, two large, all to go."

Starscream watched as master handed the same thing to this speedster that he had seen grounders use when getting Seekers at those sell yards. He saw Seekers in the back working, one placing energon in various forms on another counter and the people who were in line before them picking it up. Eventually, master grabbed his order from this same counter and took Starscream outside.

Chandelle fluttered her wings, stepping forward, but unable to move far due to being tethered. Vertex smirked at her.

"Happy to see me?" He chuckled, handing her one of the larger sundaes.

Chandelle took the sundae, and without hesitation, began to eagerly enjoy the sweet energon. It was difficult with the bit in her mouth, but she rarely got this treat so wasn't wasting time getting it into her mouth.

Vertex then handed Starscream the smaller sundae. Starscream looked at it, confused why energon looked so… Different. It smelled like energon but didn't look like it with the different colors and texture. He cautiously stuck his glossa out and barely touched it to the energon. His wings perked, and he licked the energon. It was sweet. It wasn't like anything he had ever tasted before. It was AMAZING.

His wings fluttered as he licked some more, soon inhaling the sundae, unable to stop consuming it. He wanted to eat this every single orbital cycle!

"Is it good?" Vertex laughed, watching the Seekerlet.

Starscream nodded, never ceasing his licking.

"I can tell." Vertex used a spoon for his sundae, eating it much slower than his Seekers.

The Seeker tethered next to Chandelle watched her closely as she ate her treat. His wings flicked, snorted loudly through his intakes, and stomped a ped. Chandelle noticed, flicking her own wings. The other Seeker reached for her sundae, eliciting an angry shriek from Chandelle who immediately slapped him across the faceplates, cutting him with her claws.

Starscream was startled by the horrible shriek and attack, jumping back and staring with fear. Vertex unsubspaced the riding whip and gave Chandelle a very brutal lash across her aft. She jumped, spinning around and lowering her wings.

"Knock it off, you dumb Seekers." Vertex grunted.

"Yes, master." Chandelle replied quickly and softly, coolant pooling in her optics as she dared to rub a servo over her aft where she had been struck.

Vertex turned to Starscream. "Never a dull moment with you Seekers… Always starting some sort of drama because you're too dumb to reason." He vented an annoyed sigh.

Starscream wasn't sure what "dumb" meant, but he had heard it used a lot about Seekers. He walked over to Chandelle and held her servo. She didn't need to be hit. That other Seeker tried to take her energon!

Chandelle crouched and Starscream pressed himself against her. She purred her engine, letting him know she was okay. The Seekerlet then held up what was left of his sundae to her. She shook her helm and pushed it back to him.

"That's yours. Enjoy it." She said softly.

Starscream wished she would take it. She was the one who was hurt. But, he finished it, licking the bowl clean. It was sad seeing it clean…

"Throw it away in that trash can." Vertex pointed the Seekerlet over to said can.

Starscream did so, his wings fluttering. He was doing so many new things! Chandelle and Vertex finished their sundaes and Starscream threw away their bowls for them. He then watched as Vertex unsubspaced a cloth and wiped Chandelle's face clean from energon.

"You're such a dirty femme." He chuckled, holding the reins firmly so she couldn't move. He then got his face closer to hers. "Tonight, you'll be wiping my cum off your face."

She whined softly, obviously not thrilled about that.

Vertex finished cleaning her and subspaced the cloth. He untied her from the post, made her transform, and placed Starscream on the saddle. As usual, he mounted, tied their legs down, and raised the whip. Starscream flinched when he heard it lash across Chandelle's rear. The femme quickly took off, flying high into the sky before being made to level. Starscream held his tag close, the other servo grasping the handlebar. He had been at that vet office for a long time as the sun was already beginning its descent.

"Want to have some fun?" Vertex asked the Seekerlet.

"Yeah." Starscream nodded. He wanted to know what this fun was!

"Hold on tightly." Vertex grasped the handlebar with the servo holding the reins. His other arm raised, and he lashed Chandelle hard with the whip. She whimpered, her engine screaming as she flew faster. Vertex lashed her again, and again, and yet again. "Get! Come on!" He shouted as he whipped her.

Chandelle flew as fast as she could, internally wincing from every lash. Starscream's optics were wide as he clung to the handlebar, being pushed down as Vertex leaned forward. Master pulled the right rein and Chandelle banked to the right. Another lash, she tried to push herself harder but couldn't go any faster. They flew down and between skyscrapers, avoiding other Seekers flying around. Master pulled the reins and forced her to ascend, giving her another lash. Starscream flinched every time he heard the whip strike the Seeker femme.

Master made Chandelle perform a few maneuvers, barrel rolling, spinning, and diving for a brief moment. He was having fun, but Chandelle wasn't. Vertex kept lashing her between tricks, ensuring she never slowed down.

Vertex laughed, yanking the reins so that Chandelle turned back towards home. "Come on!" He lashed her.

Chandelle yelped, but obeyed, flying as fast as she could back towards home. Master gave her another lash, and yet another after a klik. He kept her going at high speed until they reached their destination. He yanked the reins hard, ignoring her whine of pain. She quickly slowed down as she descended, Starscream clutching the handlebar, feeling like he would fly off from how fast she was still going.

Chandelle landed, her intakes loud and fast. Vertex dismounted then removed Starscream. Chandelle transformed, panting, her glossa hanging out, gasping for cooler air. Starscream noticed that her right thigh had several dents from the crop. He bit his lower lip plate, feeling so bad for her.

Vertex didn't even seem to notice. He pulled the reins and led her to the front door. They all entered, and he closed the door behind them.

"You did good." Vertex patted her on the helm. "You're such a good mount, both ways." He chuckled. "We'll see if Starscream is better than you once he's trained."

"Will he replace me?" Chandelle asked as she watched her master remove the saddle.

"Just for riding. He'll be bigger than you so can handle more weight. The vet said you're not bred for being ridden, remember? You were meant for nighttime fun." He set the saddle on the hook, then began to remove the bridle. "Starscream is clearly bred for more manual labor. He'll be a better ride. That way I don't break your spinal strut." He set the bridle on another hook.

"But why get a Seekerlet? Why not an adult?"

"I rather train myself. I trained you and you're perfect. I don't trust Seekers trained by others." He got behind her and rubbed her aft with his servos, making sure to touch over the dents on her thigh. "Go cool off and relax. I'll call you when I want you."

"Yes, master." Chandelle grabbed Starscream's wrist and pulled him up the stairs, glad to finally have time away from their master. She vented a sigh an she closed the door to her room, and turned to Starscream. "You alright?"

Starscream was still holding his tag. "I'm okay…" His wings perked. "He is going to make me… Go up and carry him?"

"Yes, ride you. And it's called 'flying' when we go into the sky. The masters ride us everywhere. It's faster for them than driving themselves… And they don't have to work… It's not bad…. Other than the whip… And bit… It's not bad. He doesn't use spurs or some of the other things I've been told about from other Seekers."

"Why does he use the…" He gestured his arm like he was master lashing Chandelle.

"The whip? It's… How the masters command us... And punish us. We must obey the whip and the masters." She crouched to be optic level with him. "Everything we do is for the masters' benefit. We do as they command, and they are happy and enjoy their lives. It's our purpose."

Starscream had coolant pooling in his optics. "I-I don't want to be hurt. I-I don't want master to hit me w-with the whip."

Chandelle held her arms out and Starscream walked into her embrace. She held him close. "I know… If you obey them and don't act up you won't be hit by the whip. Master doesn't use it much. There's no reason to be scared." She kissed him on the cheekplates. "You should rest. You had surgery and your body needs rest to recover. I'll bring you some energon."

"Okay…" Starscream wiped at his optics.

Chandelle nuzzled his face with hers. "I'm always here for you." Her wings perked. "You need anything, have any questions, whatever it may be you come to me. Okay?"

Starscream nodded.

She kissed his cheekplates once more before standing and giving him a gentle push towards the berth. "Go rest, now. I'll be back in a moment."

Starscream walked to the berth as she stepped out. He climbed up and lied down, still holding his tag. He swallowed, scared what his future would be. He didn't want to be hurt…

---

The next morning Starscream onlined feeling so much better. He didn't feel as tired, and his soreness was mostly gone. Chandelle gave him his medicine with his energon, and the Seekerlet sat on the couch next to Vertex. He wasn't sure what master was doing as he messed with a datapad, but he was very into it.

"Are we going to watch TV?" Starscream asked so innocently.

"Hmm? Oh, yeah, you can watch TV. Here you go." Master then handed him the TV remote.

Starscream took it, confused. He had watched Vertex use it before but he wasn't sure which button did what.

"Master…?"

"Hmmm?"

"What do I do?"

"Here, this one turns it on. This one changes the channel. This one is the volume."

"Volume?"

"Makes it louder or quieter. Don't make it too loud."

Starscream pressed the on button, his wings fluttering when it turned on. He then pressed the channel button until he saw something he had watched with Chandelle before. It was a cartoon, and while he didn't know what it was called, he remembered he liked it.

Chandelle soon approached, handing Vertex a glass of engex. "How are things?"

Vertex took the glass from her. "Well, MyFatCarrier came in second so I made about 5,000 from her."

"You seriously placed a bet on a race Seeker designated that…?" Chandelle gave him a look.

He smirked. "Don't tell my carrier." He sipped his engex. "Raider Red needs to win his next race so that I can win 10,000."

"Well, let's hope they keep winning for you, master."

"I'll move us to a mansion and buy more Seekers. Maybe a ship so we can go to the moon and vacation there."

"Your carrier wants sparklings, remember? I think you should be looking for a mate." She smirked, sitting beside Starscream.

"I am good. I have you for those needs and as for sparklings… No thank you." He sipped his engex. "We already have this one." He pointed at Starscream.

Chandelle hugged the Seekerlet. "He is adorable." She kissed his cheekplates. "I am fine if you got more of these."

"When I get that mansion, I will certainly buy some more."

Chandelle kissed Starscream several times on the cheekplates in rapid succession. He giggled, his wings fluttering. He reached up and hugged her. He really liked Chandelle. She was so nice and loving towards him, just like his carrier. He hoped he would never be separated from her.

---

The orbital cycles passed and Starscream fully healed from his surgery. The Seekerlet started to help Chandelle around the house, cleaning the washrooms, sweeping the floors, wiping down counters, and even taking energon to master.

He liked it here. He liked cleaning. He liked watching TV when not helping Chandelle. He was happy.

"Starscream, please take this to master." Chandelle said as she held out a bowl of energon goodies.

"Okie dokie, carrier!" Starscream beamed, taking the bowl and twirling around.

Chandelle perked her wings. "What did you say?"

Starscream paused, looking back at her. "Um… Okie dokie?"

"Yes, but what did you call me?"

Starscream hesitated. "… Carrier?"

Chandelle bit her lower lip plate, coolant beginning to pool in her optics as a servo covered her mouth. Starscream lowered his wings.

"Did I do bad…?" He innocently asked, worry filling his bright optics.

Chandelle shook her helm before quickly crouching. She held out her arms and gestured the Seekerlet over. He approached, and she hugged him tightly.

"You just make me very happy." She said softly. "I like being called carrier. You can keep calling me that."

Starscream smiled. "Okay!"

She kissed him on the cheekplates before standing back up. "Go on. Master is waiting for you."

Starscream trotted off, feeling happy that he made Chandelle happy. He approached Vertex who was on the couch watching jets go round in circles on a racetrack. Starscream didn't care about that!

"Here you go, master!" He loudly proclaimed, holding out the bowl.

"Thank you." Vertex took the bowl, only sparing the Seekerlet a quick glance.

Starscream glanced at the TV, not sure why master always was watching this stuff. It seemed boring. Jets going round in circles…. And he would sometimes yell at the TV… They couldn't hear him!

The Seekerlet climbed up onto the couch and sat beside the speedster. He looked over at the datapad master held, not sure what was on it. Bunch of weird markings he had seen many other places before. But master was looking at it and the TV as if they were connected somehow.

Vertex held the bowl out to the Seekerlet, allowing him to grab a servoful of the treats before returning it to his lap. Starscream giggled, eating the goodies as he leaned against the speedster. Vertex finally looked at him, smirking. Silly creature cuddling against his owner. They were certainly adorable at this age. Too bad they didn't stay adorable…

Vertex stroked Starscream's helm before turning back to his datapad. Starscream purred his engine, something he had never done since being taken away from his carrier. He watched the TV, not really paying too much attention to it as speedsters were talking to each other about something he didn't understand.

His wings perked when the TV showed a very odd creature being led off the track. This beast looked very much like a Seeker, only much larger, thinner, the wings massive, the limbs long, very sharp claws, and the face was more pronounced. It was like a Seeker that had been… Mutated or something. This creature had a bridle on with two Seekers leading it, and the weird being was exhaling loudly as if he had been flying for a long time. They led the beast to a speedster who was talking to another speedster while holding a speedster sparkling on his hip.

"So, tell us more about what it took to get you here with War Prince being this undefeated champion." The reporter asked the speedster with the sparkling, moving his microphone over.

The other speedster smile, adjusting the sparkling on his hip. "A lot of training!" He chuckled. "And breeding. You have to be very knowledgeable when breeding race Seekers to ensure you get the best." He paused as the strange creature was stopped next to him, chewing at the bit with mouth lubricant dripping down his chin, his intakes loud, claws twitching. "War Prince here is a descendant of many champions. His sire is Raised for Speed, his grandcarrier is Yes She's Unusual, and he's related to my family's most famous champion, My Rainbow Sundae."

"My Rainbow Sundae is not a designation the racing community will ever forget. She is still living with your family, correct?" The reporter inquired.

"Yes, the old femme is still going strong. We have a few of our retired champions still at the ranch, but she's the eldest one and the most active. Almost every race Seeker on the ranch we breed is descended from her. You can't beat good genes! Other breeders pay millions just to have one of my studs cover their brooding Seekers."

"Breeding the best race Seekers has been in your family for generations. Is this little guy ready to carry on the family tradition of breeding the greatest racing champions in Seeker racing history?"

The speedster smiled as he turned to the sparkling he held, the little one chewing on his tiny fist, watching War Prince closely. "Absolutely. Knock Out is already being taught how to handle the race Seekers. He'll be helping to train then direct breeding in no time. He loves going to the stables and watching them work."

"Bah bah!" Knock Out pointed at War Prince, then resumed eating his own servo.

"Yes, War Prince just won you three million. You're getting whatever your little spark desires." The speedster then kissed his son on the cheekplates.

War Prince snorted before making an animalistic call, almost like a neigh but sounding so angry. His wings flicked, and he tugged at the reigns that the two Seekers still held.

"Looks like he's ready for more action!" The reporter exclaimed, stepping back from the massive race Seeker. "Thank you so much for your time, Opulentus, and look forward to seeing your other racer, Chiffy, compete in just a little bit."

"Thank you." Opulentus smiled at the reporter, then the camera, holding Knock Out a bit closer as War Prince began to snarl at the Seekers holding him in place.

The camera changed to show two speedsters in a booth talking about other racers.

Starscream didn't care anymore now since that massive beast was no longer on screen. He snuggled against Vertex and offlined his optics, tired from helping Chandelle clean all morning. Not like these racing people would ever be part of his life. He was here with Vertex and Chandelle forever.

---

Chandelle grabbed some bags and then approached Vertex. "Master, I am heading to the store. Besides the usual is there anything else I should get you?"

"Hmm?" Vertex looked up at her from the project he was working on. "Oh, um…. Nah, I don't need anything. Do you have enough Shanix?"

"I took your card from the desk."

"Oh, okay, use that. Don't take too long."

"I won't, master." She paused. "May I take Starscream?"

"Yeah, that's fine." He squeezed some glue onto the piece he was trying to put into place, creating a model of some animal on the table.

Chandelle smiled. "Thank you, master. I'll have the communicator so you can call me should you remember anything."

She then walked over to the living room where Starscream was watching cartoons from the couch. He was giggling, enjoying his new favorite past time.

"Hey, my sweetspark." She kissed him on the cheekplates. "I'm going to the store. Want to come with me?"

"The store?" He looked up at her completely confused.

"Yes, it's where you buy things."

"Buy…. Where I was bought?"

"No, sweetie, that's the saleyard. Or auction… Where I'm going is where you get energon, and toys, and everything you see in the house. It comes from the store. Want to go see?"

"Yes!" He leaped to his peds and excitedly jumped up and down, his wings fluttering.

Chandelle took his servo and led him out of the house. He skipped alongside her as they walked down the sidewalk. It was a bit of a walk, but Starscream didn't mind. Chandelle liked walking the distance because it gave her more time to be out of that house and enjoy what little freedom she had. Vertex wasn't the worst master, but he could be strict at times.

Eventually, they were out of the neighborhood and arrived at the store. Starscream's optics widened when he saw all the tether posts with so many Seekers tied to them. Some Seekers were similar to Chandelle, the average Seekers. Others were much larger, some skinnier, some… He wasn't sure if they truly were Seekers.

Chandelle brought him into the store and allowed him to push a cart around as she filled it with their usual grocery list. Energon, goodies, Vertex's favorite engex, cleaning supplies, all the usual. She had to get extra energon now since they had Starscream and sheet metal for him to eat as growing sparklings needed to obtain their metal from somewhere.

Starscream was fascinated by everything. How items were set up on shelves, how people could just walk in and touch everything, all the grounders walking around and other Seekers. He saw speedsters, trucks, really small grounders, grounders who were very large but weren't trucks…

But what made him stop and drop his jaw was when he found a cybercat recharging on a countertop. He had never seen one in person before. Chandelle didn't let him touch the cat, saying something about being bitten… He had to be pulled away because he was too dumbfounded to even move.

"Starscream, come here." Chandelle instructed him as she unloaded all the items onto the counter where another Seekers was checking them out.

"Yes?" He perked his wings as he stood beside her.

"See this?" She held up a card. "This has master's Shanix on it. We can use this to buy things at the store." She handed it to him. "Slide it into this machine. Here, like this." She held his servo and helped show him. He giggled, his wings flickering when the machine flashed a green light.

"Okay, now hit this button. Then hit this button two times followed by this one once. That's master's code. And that is how you buy things at the store!"

Starscream giggled excitedly, jumping up and down. "I did it!"

"Yes, you did!" Chandelle hugged him. "I'm so proud of you." She kissed him on the cheekplates. "Want to help me get all of this in my subspace?"

"What's subspace?"

"I'll show you." She took the card back. "Subspace is something we all have. Masters and Seekers. You're a bit young to access it, but when you get a little older we can open a pocket to store things. Only we can access our own subspace pockets. Meaning if you put something in your subspace pocket no master can get to it." She held up the card, then flicked her wrist, causing a purple light to glow, an almost oval shape in that color flashed, and then the card was gone. "And now that's in my subspace."

Starscream's jaw dropped, his optics as round as they could get. "WHOA! HOW YOU DO THAT?!"

"I opened my subspace pocket. I can make it bigger for bigger items. Here," She then flicked her wrist again, creating a larger oval. "Put the energon in here."

Starscream grabbed the energon they had just bought and stuffed it inside. He snickered, grabbing the rest of the items and shoving it all in, becoming more excited with each thing he dropped in. Once everything was stored, Chandelle closed the pocket.

"Good job." She kissed the Seekerlet on the cheekplates. "Put the cart back with the others and we'll head home."

Starscream did so, jumping and skipping as he pushed the cart along. He placed it with the other carts, then took Chandelle's servo. The Seeker femme walked out of the store, leading the Seekerlet by all the tethered Seekers. He looked at all of them, some looking so tired, some annoyed, others just accepting of their place. Some looked in better shape than others.

Was he going to be like them?

The Seekerlet bit his lower lip plate, anxious about being tied outside a store in the hot sun. He didn't want that life.

Chandelle brought him back to the house and began to put away everything they had bought. Starscream helped her, feeling so pleased with himself when he managed to get energon into a shelf that was a little hard to reach.

"Chandelle, come upstairs! I want some fun time with my favorite Seeker!" Vertex then laughed from the top of the stairs.

Chandelle vented a sigh. "Go watch TV, Starscream. And turn the volume up really high."

"Why so high?" He perked his little wing stubs.

"Because… It's best this way." Chandelle pecked a kiss to his brow before walking to the stairs.

He watched her leave, then went to the couch. He turned on the TV and began to look for something to watch.

Chandelle followed Vertex into his room and locked the door behind them.

"Middle of the orbital cycle?" She perked her wings, approaching him as he stood by the berth.

"I won big time, sparkling femme." He chuckled. "Placed a bet on Brainfreeze and he pulled off an upset. I know, shouldn't bet on the ones less likely to win, but I'm a gambler." He pushed her onto the berth. "And you know how winning big makes me hard." He smiled as he rolled her onto her front and grabbed her codpiece.

Chandelle folded away her codpiece and stayed in position. She knew what Vertex expected of her. He had been fragging her since the orbital cycle he got her… Many stellar cycles ago…

Vertex opened his own codpiece, his spike already hard. He wasted no time in entering her and thrusting. Not even preparing her or offering any kind of foreplay. Chandelle winced, moaning some in pain, some in the slight pleasure she was receiving. As he thrust her body soon began to adjust, allowing her to actually tolerate it.

"Oh, oh… Ha… Mmmm…." She bit her lower lip plate, claws grasping at the berth.

Vertex was groaning and grunting above her, thrusting hard and fast, enjoying himself. Chandelle obeyed, as always, never wanting it but this was her purpose.

Starscream perked his wings when he heard the creaking of the berth above him and their muffled moans. He didn't understand what was happening. He had heard these sounds before. He raised the volume on the TV some more, ignoring the adults best he could.

A couple of breems later Chandelle returned and sat beside the Seekerlet on the couch. Starscream immediately snuggled against her, surprised by how warm her chassis was. Her cooling fans were humming as if she had been made to fly at full speed.

"What happened?" Starscream asked, looking up at the Seeker femme with those large, innocent optics.

"Oh, nothing, sweetie." Chandelle pecked a kiss to his brow. "I simply serve master in his room sometimes. What are you watching?"

"Oh! They're fighting bad guys! See, that guy is leading a team, and they are breaking into a place that has evil people! And they are gonna stop them!" His wings fluttered in excitement.

Chandelle smiled at him. "I'm glad you're enjoying it." She gently hugged him.

Starscream hugged her back, purring his little engine. How amazing was life here?

---

Yes, this is ANOTHER commission I'm doing with my friend. If you want to commission me I MIGHT do your fic, depending on what it entails, how busy I am, etc. I can reject any idea I want and when I do them. I probably won't do much until my stalker is dealt with as that's still an issue... I know, I'm sick of stalking about it... About to be 6 years...

Also, I have a Tumblr now that I ignore so if you want to follow me in hopes I'll be more productive on it one day you can find me here.

So, this fic is going to VERY closely follow REAL LIFE animal cruelty, primarily what "equestrians" (AKA, horse fuckers) do to horses. This closely will follow actual practices, rules, etc. for horseracing, horse shows, horse breeding, and equipment used to control and enslave horses. Again, this is ALL based on real life cruelty and I will provide sources you can look at to see I'm not bullshitting you.

For example, you can see these papers about Horse shows and racing and one about bits, whips, and spurs on my website, TheVeganDragon dot com.

Now, the very beginning Starscream is born in a place similar to puppymills, kittens mills, and other small animal mills. These places, as you can see on my website (TheVeganDragon .com) or just Googling about them, keep animals in tiny, filthy cages without any sunlight or love. They breeding animals like this for meat, dairy, eggs, dogs, cats, parrots, lizards, mice, rats, rabbits, etc. The females are repeatedly impregnated (raped), and males are either forced onto them or have their semen collected to be used on the females. The males are also being raped for this. The babies of these animals will either go to good homes as pets, or for animals like pigs and bovines are sent to brutal deaths while still babies (pigs at 6 months, bovines at 18 months, chickens a 42 days). Puppymills and others will often separate the babies way too young. Puppies, for example, are often separated as young as 5 weeks, when they should stay with their mothers a minimum of 10 weeks.

While puppy, kitten, rabbit, and even guinea pig mills are being banned in many counties, cities, states, and even entire countries, there's still thousands globally pumping out millions of animals each year, half of which will end up in kill shelters. ALWAYS adopt, spay and neuter, and NEVER get from a breeder. They are the lowest scum on Earth and they rape the dogs. Even the ones who claim to be "responsible" have to sexually assault animals to force them to breed.

The saleyards and auction are similar to what happens to horses, mules, and donkeys in the US, Canada, Mexico, and Australia. Same practices applied.

The tagging when hours old is what animal agriculture does to animals. Stabbing painful tags into babies' ears when they are mere hours or days old.

The factory of course was inspired from the factories in the early 1900s where children worked in. But human and animal rights are closely connected. Enslaving anyone, regardless of species is wrong.

I will be showing a lot more with the bit and whip abuse so... Prepare for that!

Keep reading. The first 4 chapters are all like... One big introduction so... Keep going!