(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.

9. The Derby and the Rescue

The orbital cycles passed and Starscream spent every one of them with Shamelessly Rich. He recharged with him every night, he stayed with him all evening, and he brought over some things from the barn to show Shamelessly Rich. The racer lost his mind over the movies Starscream showed him on a datapad, talking through every one of them, mostly to ask Starscream what a word meant.

Starscream could feel himself falling for this gentle giant. He was so perfect, so kind, so amazing, so… everything he could have dreamed of in a partner. Cuddling on the berth watching a movie together was something he craved all orbital cycle. Just to be held by this mech and be with him.

Was this what it meant when they said, "head over heels for someone?"

"Starscream."

"Yes?" The Seeker turned to face Whirlwind.

"Grab War Politics. He's being loaded onto a trailer."

"Okay!" Starscream nodded before trotting off to do that.

He grabbed the halter for War Politics before stepping into the racer's stall. War Politics was a black race Seeker with red markings, and bright red optics. He was very intimidating and Starscream had to pause before approaching him.

"Hey, just gonna put this on you."

War Politics snorted and stomped a ped, his wings flicking. He snarled as Starscream neared. The smaller Seeker swallowed, then carefully placed the halter onto the massive jet. He clamped the manacles on him, then led him out of the stall and outside. War Politics easily loaded onto the trailer, and Starscream tethered him in place.

The grunt Seeker stepped off the trailer and started to head back to the stables when Shamelessly Rich was led out by a different grunt. Starscream perked his wings, watching as the amber racer was led to the trailer. Shamelessly Rich stopped, whined loudly and flicked his wings. The grunt Seeker yanked the lead, trying to force him into the trailer, but Shamelessly Rich only jumped back and made an awful shriek.

"Get in there, Shameless!" Grit angrily shouted from where he stood by.

But Shamelessly Rich didn't want to go onto the trailer. He whined louder, glancing pitifully back at Starscream. Offroad stomped over with his whip out.

"Finally, I can get back at you, you dumb beast." Offroad growled before lashing Shamelessly Rich on the aft.

Shamelessly Rich jumped and yelped, still not going onto the ramp. Two other grunts grabbed the lead and now the three small Seekers were pulling hard, trying to get him inside. Offroad kept lashing the racer, but Shamelessly Rich continued fighting them all, jumping to the side of the trailer and dragging the grunt Seekers along. Offroad shouted and lashed the racer, soon snatching the lead from the grunts and holding Shamelessly Rich in place as he mercilessly lashed the terrified Seeker over and over again.

Starscream ran over, unable to watch it anymore.

"Stop! STOP!" He screamed grabbing at the lead and hitting Offroad's servo.

"Frag off." Offroad shoved at him.

That set off Shamelessly Rich, who immediately shrieked angrily and snarled, lunging forward and getting between Offroad and Starscream. Offroad paused, nervous now about this beast attacking him once again.

Starscream stepped out from behind Shamelessly Rich and grabbed the lead.

"Please, let go. I-I got him."

Offroad released the lead and Starscream quickly pulled it, leading Shamelessly Rich over to the trailer ramp. He started up it, but Shamelessly Rich whined loudly.

"Hey, it's okay. I'm right here." Starscream held out his servo. "Come on. I'm not leaving."

Shamelessly Rich whined again, his optics filled with so much fear and confusion. He stomped a ped, wings low, looking between Starscream and the inside of the trailer.

"Take my servo. Come on." Starscream said softly, offering him a small smile.

Shamelessly Rich swallowed, then reached his chained servos out. He carefully took Starscream's tiny servo in his, and then placed one ped on the ramp.

"That's it. Good job. Keep going." Starscream encouraged him, his smile a little larger.

Shamelessly Rich glanced back at the other Seekers who had tried to pull him in, then at Offroad.

"They aren't going to get you. Come on. Just you and me, big guy."

Shamelessly Rich turned back to Starscream, took another step onto the ramp, paused, then another step. Starscream kept backing up, slowly leading the massive Seeker into the trailer. Grit raised an optical ridge as he watched the entire thing.

Starscream tethered Shamelessly Rich to the trailer wall, then turned back to him. "You did well. Good job."

Shamelessly Rich whined loudly, his wings low, obviously anxious about being in the trailer, knowing it was going to a racetrack. Starscream bit his lower lip plate.

"You'll be okay. I-I'll see you when you get back. Stay safe."

He turned and started to exit the trailer when Grit stepped in front of him.

"No, you're coming with us. Stay by Shameless." He ordered.

Starscream perked his wings. "Really?"

"Yes. Stay on the trailer." He pointed before walking away.

Starscream's optics widened, then he ran back over to Shamelessly Rich. "Nevermind! I'm coming with you." He grinned.

Shamelessly Rich nodded, still looking so anxious. Starscream pulled his arm and made him sit on the floor before sitting beside him.

"Just pretend we're on the berth." He said softly.

Shamelessly Rich looped his arm around Starscream and held him tight. Starscream smiled, snuggling against him.

"There you go. I'm right here."

Two other racers were loaded onto the trailer, and three more grunts, including Whirlwind, joined them. The trailer was closed and locked up, and soon it was moving. The grunts never looked away from Starscream snuggling against the racer.

"I think I know where you go at night…" Whirlwind grunted.

Starscream ignored him, focusing on Shamelessly Rich. The racer was calming down, but still not happy about being on the trailer. The other racers eventually sat down as well, the grunts staying together talking about something – most likely about Starscream and Shamelessly Rich. But Starscream paid them no heed. He was with Shamelessly Rich, and he was going to an actual racetrack! This was exciting!

After a while he stood up to look out the window. They were on a highway with many other vehicles, some grounders in their alt forms also were driving beside and all around them. Starscream saw a city nearing them, he saw trees and fields, and so many strange buildings. He saw factories and rivers, and he could see ships flying in the sky.

They drove through the city and kept going. Starscream spent most of the four joor trip staring out the window watching everything. So much he had never seen before. It was amazing and beautiful. He couldn't believe some of the other Seekers got to do this every orn with different racers. It was so amazing!

Eventually, they arrived at their destination and the trailer parked. The trailer door was opened and the grunts all untied their racers. Starscream got Shamelessly Rich up and walked off the trailer with him. He followed the other Seekers into a single level stable. As he walked towards it he could see a massive racetrack above them with a grandstand. That must be where they will be racing.

A speedster who was working there pointed them to their designated stalls and each grunt pulled their racer inside. Starscream stepped into the stall, his wings lowering. It was not nice at all. It was old, there was almost no bedding, no berth, and zero energon dispenser.

He removed the halter and manacles from Shamelessly Rich and walked to the door.

"So, um… Where is the energon?"

"The stable Seekers will bring some soon." The speedster grunted.

Grit walked over to Starscream. "Do you want to recharge in the trailer or the grunt stalls?"

"Can I say with Shameless?"

"I mean… Sure, I guess. Don't let him out."

"I won't."

"This is your first racetrack, right?"

Starscream nodded.

"It's a little different here than at the ranch. Whirlwind and Breeze have been to a thousand racetracks so ask them questions and follow their lead. I'm going to be too busy to teach you anything."

"Yes, sir." Starscream nodded.

"Tomorrow we will practice Shameless and the others on the track. They will be qualifying soon. The actual race is a few orbital cycles away. We always arrive early at the tracks to get the racers used to the new track and get comfortable before they actually race. There will be a lot of other Seekers coming and going."

Starscream nodded. "I understand."

"The grunt stalls are at the end." He pointed in the direction. "Go there to find Whirlwind or Breeze if you need help."

"Where will you be?"

"I have a hotel room."

Starscream nodded.

Grit turned and walked away, leaving Starscream with Shamelessly Rich. Soon, a couple of other grunt Seekers came by and gave the new arrivals energon in buckets. Starscream handed a bucket to Shamelessly Rich.

"You first." The racer said softly, pushing the bucket back.

Starscream drank his fill then gave the bucket to the larger jet, who finished it off. Starscream perked his wings as he looked around the stall.

"Is this what it's always like? Going to racetracks?"

"Yes."

"The stalls always this… Icky?"

"Not always. Sometimes… Stall is nice. Not as nice as… Home."

"How many races have you been to?"

"Um… I… Never counted."

"It's okay. I imagine quite a few then."

"Yes, lots."

"How many have you won?"

"All. I have not lost. I am faster."

"That's very impressive."

"I am."

Starscream smiled at him. "I bet you will win again."

"They all bet. That why they race us… To bet." Shamelessly Rich sat on the floor. "They… Party. They scream and they drink. We are whipped."

Starscream sat on Shamelessly Rich's lap and curled into his broad chassis. "I know… But you still will do amazing. I know you will."

The racer hugged the grunt. "I try."

The two soon lied down and fell into recharge, holding each other close.

---

They were onlined early the next morning by grunts giving all the racers their energon. Starscream and Shamelessly Rich shared a bucket of energon, and soon Whirlwind and other grunts arrived to start leading racers out of their stalls. Starscream bridled Shamelessly Rich and led him out of the stall and followed the other Seekers from Opulentus' ranch.

"They need to be taken to be tested." Whirlwind explained to Starscream as he led War Politics.

"Tested?"

"To make sure they aren't drugged. They do it all the time before big races."

"What about small races?"

"That depends on the track…"

They walked the racers inside a building and tethered them to metal rings along the wall. Starscream held Shamelessly Rich's cuffed servos, smiling up at him. Shamelessly Rich didn't smile back, looking so upset. Starscream wasn't sure what was wrong, surely this testing wasn't an issue, right?

Some speedsters started with a racer not from Opulentus, forcing his lower plates apart and getting him to release his waste into a bowl that a grunt Seeker held. Another speedster used a syringe to collect energon from the racer's arm. Starscream swallowed, beginning to see why Shamelessly Rich wasn't happy.

The speedsters moved down the line, collecting the waste and energon from the racers until they got to Shamelessly Rich. He whined as his intimacy was handled and looked away in embarrassment when his waste started to pour out. Starscream stroked his arm, trying to comfort him. Shamelessly Rich yelped when the needle was stabbed into his arm and energon extracted. Starscream reached up and wiped away the coolant that began to leak from Shamelessly Rich's optics.

"It's over. It's okay." Starscream gently comforted him. "I'm here."

"Bring him with me." Whirlwind instructed Starscream as he started to lead War Politics away.

Starscream untied Shamelessly Rich and followed Whirlwind. They walked to an elevator and with all four of Opulentus' racers ascended. The elevator brought them to a massive platform that was attached to the grand stand. Starscream's optics widened seeing it all up close, the immensity of it all. It was larger than the practice track, and the stands so large they could hold thousands easily.

"They're going to do training on the track to get use to it." Whirlwind explained to Starscream as they all led their race Seekers along the platform. "Nothing intensive, just so they get a feel for the turns and surroundings."

Starscream perked his wings when he saw another racer fly down the racetrack, breaking the sound barrier with ease. Many other racers, speedsters, trucks, and grunt Seekers were there. He noticed that on posts that lined the track were mount Seekers, very similar to the Blazer Seekers back on the ranch. They had the clawed peds, they were massive, and very bestial, but they didn't quite look the same. They had the weird saddles that moved to keep the rider always parallel with the ground, and mounted on each of them was a speedster.

"What are they doing?" Starscream pointed to one.

"Those are the outriders." Whirlwind explained. "If a racer escapes, flies the wrong way, or needs to be brought back in they go and grab them."

"Why don't we have that at the ranch?"

"Because here things are very different."

Grit approached them. "Let's get Shameless on the track first."

"Where is the saddle?" Starscream perked his wings.

"The gear is this way." He gestured him over.

Starscream led Shamelessly Rich to a tack room where saddles and other gear was.

"You'll have to adjust it to fit him." Whirlwind explained. "We can't bring our own saddles to ensure no cheating. Apparently, drones can be modified to do various things to cheat. I don't know how, but…" He shrugged.

Starscream grabbed a saddle and placed it on Shamelessly Rich. He adjusted the girth and tightened it, then checked over the bridle and bit to make sure it was comfortable on the racer. He bit his lower lip plate as he grabbed a whip off the wall, then led Shamelessly Rich out of the tack room.

"Load him into the starting gate just like at the practice track." Grit directed.

Starscream did so, taking Shamelessly Rich over to the platform. He pulled the reins to make Shamelessly Rich lower his helm, then pecked a kiss to his lip plates.

"Be safe."

Shamelessly Rich nodded, purring his engine. He transformed, Starscream attached the reins and whip to the drone, then clamped the claws onto the wings. He walked away and stood with the others, watching Shamelessly Rich shoot out of the starting gate and race around the track as Wheelfire controlled him from his chair. He vented a sigh, loving seeing that mech fly.

That night they watched a movie in the stall using the datapad Starscream kept in his subspace. They were onlined early the next morning and Shamelessly Rich taken to the track. Starscream watched him race around, being timed now by some officials. The other racers were also all being timed as they sped around the track one after another.

"Well?" Grit raised an optical ridge as he approached an official.

"Shamelessly Rich qualifies for the Speedia Derby, as well as War Politics." The official replied as he looked at his datapad.

Opulentus, who had arrived earlier that orbital cycle, looked at Grit before turning to the official. "Shamelessly Rich will be racing in the derby."

---

The next couple of orbital cycles were practice for the racers. Then, the orbital cycle of the derby came.

Starscream was onlined early and given energon alongside Shamelessly Rich. He watched as other grunts took racers out of the stalls one by one. They were mostly alone, only a few racers in their stalls, when Opulentus, Grit, another speedster who worked for Opulentus, and Whirlwind came in. Shamelessly Rich whined, stepping back until he was against the far wall of the stall. Starscream wasn't sure why he was nervous.

"Stand guard." Grit ordered Whirlwind who went to do so at the entrance of the stables.

Everyone else entered Shamelessly Rich's stall. Opulentus bridled the racer, making sure it was tight on him before he handed the reins to Starscream.

"Keep him in place." He instructed.

Starscream nodded, one servo holding the reins as the other held Shamelessly Rich's servo.

The racer whined and flicked his wings as he was grabbed, the speedster who worked for Opulentus unsubspacing a syringe with a long needle. Shamelessly Rich tried to jump back, but couldn't get away. The needle was inserted into his neck cable, and whatever was inside slowly injected into him.

He kicked and whined some more as the speedster gently welded the tiny needle hole, hiding the evidence. He subspaced everything and then walked away. Opulentus pulled the reins so that he could stroke Shamelessly Rich on the helm, then held the bridle's cheek straps to make the racer look at him.

"You're going to win for me." Opulentus said calmly, but also sternly. "You're going to go out there, you're going to do everything Wheelfire tells you to do, and you will win. You win and you will be rewarded. I'll bring dams to your stall and let you breed them all night long. Sound good? And whatever else you want. You just need to win. Understand?"

Shamelessly Rich snorted and opened his mouth to try and relieve pressure from the bit. Opulentus didn't release him.

"If you don't win… I'm not going to be happy." Opulentus growled at him, causing Shamelessly Rich to flinch back. Opulentus released the racer and turned to Starscream. "If you mention to anyone what you just saw here I will shoot you. Understand?"

Starscream quickly nodded. "Y-yes, sir."

Opulentus gave him a hard glare before leaving the stall. Grit did a last minute check over of Shamelessly Rich before also walking out. Whirlwind soon walked over.

"Okay, let's get him ready."

Starscream led Shamelessly Rich out of the stall and to the elevator. He could hear shouting, really loud shouting. As they neared the main elevator, he could see past the fence that blocked off the racetrack's property a large group of speedsters, grounders, and even Seekers. They were holding signs and shouting in unison after a speaker.

"You bet!" The lead would shout into a megaphone followed by the group immediately shouting into their own megaphones. "They die!"

He stopped, perking his wings, looking at those signs. Being a Seeker, he could see things at a distance very well, something any flier needed. He zoomed his optics in and saw the signs had words on them he couldn't read, but the pictures… There were images of race Seekers crashing, tumbling with broken limbs barely hanging onto their bodies, Seekers with the painful bits and stud chains, racers in disgusting stalls, and racers… Hanging upside down with their necks cut open and energon pouring out. His optics widened, his spark pulsating faster.

"Snapped necks and broken backs!"

"Seekers die on racing tracks!"

"Their pain!"

"Your fault!"

"Their fear!"

"Your fault!"

"Their suffering!"

"Your fault!"

"Delta has energon on its servos!"

Were some of the chants Starscream heard. Many speedsters and trucks were walking past the protestors dressed in jewels and funny hats and other garments, obviously rich and ready to party. They had their own grunt Seekers carrying their property or their sparklings, serving their masters.

"Starscream, let's go." Whirlwind snapped.

"W-what do they mean?" Starscream couldn't look away from the protestors.

"They're protestors. We're supposed to ignore them."

"W-why are there pictures of racers dying?"

Whirlwind grabbed his arm and pulled him along. Shamelessly Rich followed as Starscream held the reins tighter. They got onto the main elevator and started to ascend.

"What-"

"No, you can't talk about them." Whirlwind interjected. "The masters hate the protestors and what they say. Keep quiet. You're going to get a whipping."

Starscream swallowed. Shamelessly Rich nudged him, and Starscream held the racer's servo. They arrived at the main platform and Whirlwind led Starscream to the tack room.

"This is yours." A speedster pointed to a drone with a number painted on either side of it.

Starscream grabbed it and placed it onto Shamelessly Rich. As he tightened the girth he noticed Shamelessly Rich's optics were brighter than usual, his intakes quickening. But this wasn't anxiety. Starscream swallowed, not sure what it was that the masters had injected into the racer.

Shamelessly Rich was chewing at the bit more, the white foam already beginning to appear. Starscream checked the glossa tie, making sure it wasn't too tight, then adjusted the bit.

"You're okay." Starscream whispered to him.

He snorted, whined, his optics shuttered. Starscream bit his lower lip plate.

"Get him out there." Whirlwind gestured for Starscream to get moving.

Starscream led him out of the room and towards the starting gate. His optics widened, seeing the stands full of spectators. The massive screen in the middle of the racetrack was on and displaying racers as they were getting ready. He heard the voices of two grounders commenting on the racers and talking about the derby.

Starscream smelled engex and saw so many speedsters drinking it. There was loud music playing from a live band, there were so many people laughing and talking, and taking pictures of themselves and all that was around them. Starscream saw long lines of people placing bets, and he saw so many race Seeker owners talking about their racers in front of cameras.

"Bring him over here." Whirlwind gestured.

Starscream stepped over seeing Opulentus, Pulchra, Knock Out, Grit, the grandsire and grandcarrier, and even Nacreous there. Nacreous was carrying items for the family and looked exhausted already. Knock Out was texting on his phone not paying attention to anyone.

"Give me him." Grit ordered, grabbing the bridle and pulling Shamelessly Rich's face down.

The grounder worked on placing blinders and audio receptor covers on the racer, making him unable to hear or see much. Wheelfire worked on connecting his gear to the saddle, nodding when it was working.

Shamelessly Rich stuck out his glossa, trying to relieve the pressure. Starscream held his servo, comforting him.

"Hey." Nacreous whispered to Starscream as he managed a platter of engex, scarves, and other property of the family that owned him.

"Hey." Starscream perked his wings. "Didn't expect you here."

"They bring me to the big races. Someone has to be at their beck and call." He shrugged.

"Where's my drink, slave?!" The grandsire snapped.

"Right here, Master Melius!" Nacreous quickly handed it over.

Whirlwind stood beside Starscream. "They are going to do a couple of more races before the actual derby race."

"Why does it take so long?"

"They need to gamble everything away." He rolled his optics.

Starscream looked around, seeing so much happening. He swallowed, nervous about this all. He heard the starting gates open and twelve race Seekers shot out, breaking the sound barrier. He saw one of Opulentus' racers in the pack, speeding down the straightway. He looked up at the massive screen which showed the racers as they flew around the track, one of the announcers rapidly saying the designations of the racers and their positions. They passed by the grandstand, taking another lap. Opulentus' racer was in the middle of the pack, trying to make his way to the front. One of the other jockeys Opulentus employed was sitting on a chair nearby controlling this racer.

They passed by again, going into the final lap, people were cheering, some people screaming orders at the racer they wanted to win, but many were just drinking and ignoring the race.

The racers crossed over the finish line with the announcer shouting the winner's designation.

"Third isn't bad." Pulchra commented, seeing where their racer finished.

"War Politics will win the next one." Opulentus reassured her.

"I'm more concerned about Shamelessly Rich winning his." She replied.

Nacreous made his way back to Starscream. "Don't you love it? Surrounded by drunks all screaming? I hate it." He rolled his optics.

"Is it like this at every race?"

"Yes. But these big races are even worse…"

"You should get me something." Knock Out whispered to Nacreous.

"You're underage."

"So?"

"I'm not getting punished for you."

"You're no fun." Knock Out reached up and patted Shamelessly Rich. "How are you doing?"

"He's nervous." Starscream answered for him.

"They always are. Come here." He gently pulled the reins to make Shamelessly Rich lower his head. "It's okay. Look, I have goodies." He unsubspaced some and started to sneak them to the racer. "Don't tell my sire. That's a good Seeker."

"You should come to the race stables and see him more." Starscream commented when he heard Shamelessly Rich purr his engine.

"I have school. I do love the big guys, I'm just busy." Knock Out stroked Shamelessly Rich's chin, which earned him a louder purr. "I used to work constantly at the stables, but highschool has been a lot. Maybe during my break I can hang out more with these guys."

"They might like that."

"Oh, I know they would. I'm nicer than those afts." He gestured at his brother and sire. "I'm all for abolishing the whip. Or at least lower the number of allowed lashes. Maybe a couple to get them going fast but then no more."

"You should take over the ranch, then."

Knock Out chuckled. "I don't know if I ever could unless the rest of the family died. But that would be nice."

Shamelessly Rich continued to purr his engine as he received attention from Knock Out. Starscream watched, surprised how gentle and caring a speedster was being to a Seeker, especially a racer who seemed less cared about than others. Knock Out was definitely different from the rest of his family, and Shamelessly Rich certainly sensed that.

Another group of racers, including War Politics, were loaded into the starting gate. They were released and soon racing down the track. Starscream watched them on the large screen, listening to people screaming and shouting all around him. He bit his lip plate, able to clearly see every time the drone lashed a racer. War Politics was making his way to the front, staying in second place. Him and the lead Seeker broke away from the rest of the pack and soon made it a two Seeker race as they entered the third lap.

"Come on." Opulentus said almost like ordering the Seeker as he watched.

Starscream hated seeing how the drones were lashing these two Seekers like mad as they went down the back stretch, then entered the third turn. War Politics couldn't quite pass the other Seeker as they crossed the finish line, but it was extremely close.

"Okay, good luck." Knock Out gave Shamelessly Rich a final pat.

Whirlwind gestured for Starscream to follow him. Starscream swallowed and led Shamelessly Rich over to the starting gate. He could see racers being led off the track by the outriders, then startled when he noticed him and the other Seekers on the starting gate platform were suddenly on the huge screen.

"Here, this is his gate." Whirlwind instructed. "Just like at home. We get him loaded in and walk away."

Shamelessly Rich loudly whined, stepping back, looking out over that massive track. Racers around him were being forced to transform and loaded into the starting gate, some of the grunt Seekers were really rough with them. Starscream flinched when he saw a grunt Seeker actually use a whip on a racer.

"Look, listen," Starscream pulled the reins and made Shamelessly Rich lower his head. "I'm going to be here the whole time. You can do this. I-it's like the practice track. You just… Go fast. You're very fast."

He whined louder, and Starscream noticed his optics were shuttering a lot, his servos trembling. He wasn't sure if this was fear or whatever it was that was injected into him earlier.

"You got this." He then lowered his vocalizer so only Shamelessly Rich could hear. "I love you."

Shamelessly Rich looked up at him, his wings perking. He nodded before transforming. Starscream quickly attached the reins to the drone, adjusted the whip, and then lowered the claws down to clamp over his wings. Whirlwind grabbed Starscream and led him back to their owners who were now all invested in the race, including Knock Out. Wheelfire vented loudly, getting himself into the zone, his headset over his optics and the controllers in his servos.

"Hold him back and then unleash him during the final lap." Opulentus spoke into Wheelfire's audio receptor.

The jockey nodded, obviously getting nervous.

"And now ladies and gentlemechs!" The announcer spoke over the speakers. "For the race that stops a planet! The most exciting two kliks in sports! The Speedia Derby!"

The starting gate opened, and the racers shot out, almost immediately breaking the sound barrier. The crowd screamed and hollered, and Starscream felt his neck cables tightening.

"Quiet Spring leads the pack down the straightway! Usual Suspect follows closely in second with Data Force taking up third!" The announcer spoke quickly as the camera followed the racers.

Shamelessly Rich was in eighth place in the pack of fifteen, flying closely to the inside edge. He was surrounded by other racers, the pack slowly beginning to spread out. Wheelfire bit his lip plate, seeing what Shamelessly Rich saw, the pack all around him. He kept the reins taunt, keeping Shamelessly Rich back, closely monitoring the racer's readings.

Starscream clenched the railing when the racers sped by him, completing the first lap. The pack was spreading out more, the leaders getting further away. Shamelessly Rich broke away from the pack and started to move ahead of them. They entered the back stretch, Shamelessly Rich now in fifth, the four in front of him stretched out. Starscream lowered his wings, watching as the racers ahead began to pass by him, then Shamelessly Rich finally lapped by.

Wheelfire loosened the reins and began to press the button to lash Shamelessly Rich. Starscream flinched, seeing on the massive screen the drone beginning to mercilessly lash Shamelessly Rich, and the other racers also getting lashed more. Shamelessly Rich powered his thrusters to their full power and began to push ahead. He caught up with the racer in fourth and easily passed him, then caught up to the one in third. He flew down the back stretch, nearing the two leaders who were battling it out neck and neck. He pushed himself as hard as he could, soon beside them in turn three.

"Come on! Come on!" Opulentus raised his clenched fists.

"Whip him more!" Grit shouted at Wheelfire.

Knock Out snuck in some engex while his family were focused on the racing.

"Shamelessly Rich is passing on the outside! Quiet Spring is falling back to second place as Data Force takes the lead! Shamelessly Rich has just taken second place with Quiet Spring falling back to third! Shamelessly Rich and Data Force are neck and neck coming out of turn four!" The announcer continued.

Starscream perked his wings, watching closely, his spark pulsating faster.

Shamelessly Rich and Data Force were flying side by side, the drones lashing them non stop, their engines shrieking loudly, they pushed themselves so hard they felt like their sparks were going to give out. They neared the finish line, Shamelessly Rich whining from the horrible pain of the whip, his engine screaming, his thrusters burning, giving it everything he had to just stop the pain!

"Shamelessly Rich wins!"

"YES!" Opulentus grabbed his mate and kissed her on the lip plates. "We are having interface tonight!"

"EWWWWWWW!" Knock Out made a disgusted face.

"Frag yeah!" Grit fist pumped, watching the screen.

"Alright, I was wrong." Melius shrugged.

Starscream glanced back at the cheering crowd, so many cursing that the racer they betted on didn't win. He saw angry race Seeker owners grumbling and shouting, some even shoving their grunts around. One even lashed a poor grunt with a whip.

Whirlwind grabbed Starscream and started to lead him down the platform.

"When they bring the racers in they tend to be aggressive. Flying in a pack like that while getting the slag beaten out of them really amps them up." He warned the younger Seeker. "I know you and Shameless are close, but be ready for him potentially attacking you."

Starscream swallowed. "O-okay."

Racers were being led in by outriders and Starscream watched as one led Shamelessly Rich in. The speedster on the mount held onto Shamelessly Rich's reins rather tightly, yanking him over. The mount transformed and landed, followed by Shamelessly Rich. The amber Seeker shrieked and jumped back, fighting against the reins tugging him. He lashed his claws out, and the mount Seeker shrieked and clawed back at him.

Shamelessly Rich snarled and flicked his wings, but was too tired to do much else. Mouth lubricant covered his chin and all around his lips, oozing down. His intakes were loud and rapid, cooling fans whirling loudly, and he panted with his glossa hanging out. Several grunts were running around with hoses spraying the racers down. One got to Shamelessly Rich and began to hose him just as Starscream grabbed his reins. Shamelessly Rich screeched and snapped his jaws, calming down when he saw Starscream.

"Hey, it's me. It's alright." Starscream pulled the reins to make the larger being lower himself. "You did it!" He smiled.

Whirlwind unsubspaced a towel and began to quickly, and roughly, wipe Shamelessly Rich's face clean of all the mouth lubricant.

"Remove the glossa tie." He ordered Starscream who quickly did so. "We need to get him ready for the winner's circle." He pushed the towel inside Shamelessly Rich's mouth to remove more of the lubricant. "Take this and handle the wound."

Starscream took the towel that was handed to him, noticing that the towel that was just inside Shamelessly Rich's mouth had some energon on it. Starscream looked where Whirlwind pointed and saw that Shamelessly Rich's thigh was severely dented from the whip and leaking some energon. He swallowed, then carefully began to wipe the injuries clean.

"Take him." Whirlwind handed him one of the reins. "Hold him very securely and don't go easy on him."

Starscream wrapped the rein around his servo as he followed Whirlwind. Shamelessly Rich snorted, still panting so hard and loud, still overheating and worked up from the race. Whirlwind took them over to the winner's circle where Opulentus and his family already were surrounded by reporters and cameras. Whirlwind yanked Shamelessly Rich's face down and removed the blinders and audio receptor covers before making him step up to the small stage.

"Stand here." Whirlwind pushed Starscream to stand so he hid the beaten thigh on the racer. "Don't say anything. Just hold him in place and cover up the injury."

Starscream nodded.

Opulentus approached and took the other rein from Whirlwind who walked away. Opulentus forced Shamelessly Rich to lower his head and stroked him, all while smiling at the flashing cameras. The rest of the family posed around the racer, including Wheelfire who was now holding a large trophy and being congratulated like it was him who had just competed in the race.

Knock Out kept making peace signs as he was photographed with his family, which his grandsire did not like. A couple of grunts placed a large garland of crystal flowers around Shamelessly Rich's shoulders, the only thing he received from all his effort.

"Opulentus, you must feel so proud to win the biggest race in Seeker racing." A reporter asked him as a grunt Seeker with a film camera pointed it at them both, making sure Shamelessly Rich was visible. "When was the last time your racers had made this accomplishment?"

"It's been almost 20 stellar cycles since we last won a Speedia Derby, but our goal is to now win the entire triple crown." He smiled, holding Shamelessly Rich close as if he was some beloved pet.

"Do you think Shamelessly Rich has it in him to win the next two races?"

"Absolutely! He loves racing, loves competing, and he was well bred. This is his dream as much as it is ours."

"How do you plan on celebrating this victory?"

"Spend time with my family, probably have a few drinks. And then get Shamelessly Rich ready for the next leg of the triple crown."

"He looked amazing out there and, in the zone, here. A well cared for Seeker."

"Yes, we love our racers. They're like our family. They are spoiled rotten. Everyone wishes they could live such an easy-going life as they do! They wouldn't be out here winning races for us if they didn't love to race and weren't treated like royalty!"

Starscream made a face, listening to this propaganda. He was pretty sure Shamelessly Rich had told him before he hated racing… And the damaged thigh from the whip certainly told a different story…

More interviews, more pictures, and they were presented with a check worth 10 million. Starscream stayed there, holding Shamelessly Rich in place, the racer beginning to cool down, but still obviously not wanting to be there.

It felt like forever before they finally were told to go back to the stables. Starscream led Shamelessly Rich to their stall and removed the gear. The racer immediately lied on the ground, exhausted both physically and mentally from the entire long orbital cycle. The sun was already beginning to set by the time they got back.

"You okay?" Starscream asked softly as he sat beside the racer.

"No."

"What's wrong?"

"It hurts." He gestured to his dented thigh.

Starscream bit his lip plate, not sure what to do to help him. He leaned over and kissed him on the lip plates. "I'm sorry… What can I do to help?"

Shamelessly Rich gestured for him to come closer, which he did before the racer pulled him into a hug. "Stay."

"I'm staying. I'm not going anywhere."

"This hurts." He pressed a servo against his chestplates.

"Why does that hurt?"

"Needle."

"I-I don't know what they did… I wish I knew."

Shamelessly Rich whined softly, but the exhaustion finally caught up with him and he soon fell into recharge. Starscream stroked his helm, then snuggled against the racer, going into recharge himself.

---

The next orbital cycle the racers were loaded onto the trailer. Starscream stood by holding Shamelessly Rich's lead as he waited for their turn. Opulentus and his entire family were there, and so were several of the mounts.

"Sure, you don't want to fly home?" Pulchra asked her eldest.

"Nah, I don't mind the drive. I'll see you guys in a few joors." Grit gave his carrier a hug.

"Be safe. I love you."

"Love you, too, carrier."

Nacreous trotted over to Starscream holding the reins of Marshall. "Hey." He smiled.

"Hey." Starscream smiled back.

"Sorry you gotta take the long way home. I'm going to just sit on this guy for a joor and get a sore aft." He gestured at Marshall who impatiently chewed the bit.

"I'm glad I don't have to worry about that."

"Does it smell in the trailer?"

"A little."

"Probably all comes from you." Nacreous giggled.

"That's rude."

Nacreous shrugged. "I'm mean, I grew up with him." He pointed at Knock Out.

"You talking about me?" Knock Out didn't even look up from his communicator as he kept texting, while also holding the reins of Reckless.

"Yes, we're saying you stink!"

Knock Out glared at him. "You're a bully."

"I am." Nacreous smirked.

"Reckless, he's bullying me! You should go bite him!"

Reckless snorted and nudged Knock Out, his wings fluttering. Knock Out rolled his optics.

"Useless Seeker…."

"He likes you." Starscream said softly.

"I know he does. He's a good Seeker. Useless, but good." Knock Out smiled as he gave Reckless chin scratches.

"Marshall hates me. Don't you?" Nacreous looked up at his mount.

Marshall snorted, stepping close to Shamelessly Rich and perking his wings. Shamelessly Rich snarled and hissed at the mount, but Marshall ignored him.

Starscream looked at them, he a grunt, a racer, a mount, and a hybrid all getting along, and even this grounder Knock Out was being nice to them. If they all could be friends and care about each other why didn't everyone else get along? It didn't make sense to him.

Shamelessly Rich nudged Starscream, not sure about these mounts. He was never around them, so it made him anxious. Starscream held his servo, reassuring him. The racer purred his engine, but flared his wings at Marshall who kept stepping into his space. Marshall didn't understand the hostility. He and the other mounts loved to be together and snuggle. These racers were weird.

"Here, take some goodies for the road." Knock Out unsubspaced some and handed them to Starscream.

"How many do you keep on yourself?" Starscream raised an optical ridge.

"A lot." Knock Out snickered. "You never know when you need to spoil a Seeker."

Shamelessly Rich, Marshall, and Reckless all perked their wings and watched Knock Out closely, wanting their own goodies. Knock Out giggled as he started to give them all some.

"Stop fattening my racers…" Opulentus grunted, noticing his youngest.

"It's fine, sire. Look how cute he is." Knock Out said as he kept giving Shamelessly Rich more.

Opulentus rolled his optics, holding the reins of his own mount.

"Let him be, love." Pulchra pulled her mate away. "At least he's not on his communicator…"

"Starscream, get Shamless on the trailer!" Grit called out.

"Coming!" Starscream turned to Nacreous. "I'll see you later."

"Yup! See ya, wouldn't want ta be ya!" Nacreous giggled.

"Be safe!" Knock Out waved him off.

Starscream led Shamelessly Rich inside the trailer and tethered him. He watched through the window as the grounders all mounted their Seekers and took off. Then, the trailer began to move. Shamelessly Rich said something in his language, and the other three racers in the trailer also began to make noise. Starscream kept looking out the window, watching the world go by.

---

"You're cute."

"You're cute."

"No, you're cute." Starscream kissed Shamelessly Rich on the lip plates as they lied on the berth together.

"We both cute." Shamelessly Rich purred his engine, holding Starscream firmly against him.

"You're cuter." Starscream poked the racer's olfactory sensor.

"You." Shamelessly Rich nuzzled him.

They had returned to the ranch yesterday and spent the entire time since cuddling in the stall and being sappy with each other. Starscream never had felt so happy. Just being here with this mech saying dumb things to each other filled him with such joy. He never wanted it to end.

Their wings perked when they heard people approaching. Shamelessly Rich quickly got up and walked to the bars to look out. Starscream sat up, perking his wings. The stall door was opened and Opulentus walked in leading a race Seeker femme. Two other Seeker grunts each led another race Seeker femme, bringing them all into the stall.

"Shamelessly Rich, my beautiful champion." Opulentus smiled at him. "As I promised, your reward for winning, three dams to spark."

Shamelessly Rich perked his wings and snorted, feeling himself becoming excited.

Opulentus led the femme he had over to the corner and tethered her to the bars. He then cuffed her wrists to the bars, ensuring she wouldn't be able to go anywhere. The other two dams were also chained to the bars, lining them up for Shamelessly Rich.

"I expect them all to be sparked." Opulentus ordered, then smirked. "Enjoy, my champion."

With that, he and the other grunt Seekers left the stall. Shamelessly Rich looked back at Starscream, then shrugged.

"I enjoy reward for win. If you… Not want be here…. I understand."

Starscream bit his lip plate. "What if they don't want this?" He gestured to the femmes who were pulling at the chains.

"I have to breed." Shamelessly Rich walked over to the femme that Opulentus had led in. "Not take long. I enjoy." He started to grab the femme's hips, his codpiece opening.

Starscream swallowed, then slid off the berth. "I-I'll let you be then."

He unlocked the stall door and stepped out before locking it behind him. He heard Shamelessly Rich beginning to hump the femme, and the femme growl and hiss at him. Starscream quickly exited the stables and walked towards the barn, hugging himself with his wings drooping. Why did it feel like Shamelessly Rich didn't want him? He was just doing what the masters wanted, but it still felt… Hurtful.

He made his way to the pond, then decided to go to the horse barn. He needed some cuddles from the animals. It was getting dark, so he hoped he didn't disturb them when they were trying to recharge. The equinoids were sometimes so grouchy…

He climbed over the fence and walked to the barn. There were a few of the zap ponies and equinoids inside, hanging out in their open stalls, not quite ready to go to recharge. He approached them and started to pet the four legged beings, appreciating their simple wants. Just wanting attention, energon, and a safe place to recharge, nothing more. And he wished he could be more like them.

He walked to the back to pet more of the zap ponies when he heard a noise. He perked his wings, not sure what he heard. He walked out of the barn and towards the back of it, not sure if he heard an animal in pain or something else. He stepped around the corner, perking his wings, then his optics widened.

Silverstorm was there, grasping onto a tethering post, moaning loudly as Offroad stood behind him thrusting madly into the Seeker. The truck had one arm wrapped around Silverstorm's waist as his other servo held the jet's throat.

Starscream wasn't sure if Silverstorm was being assaulted or not, confused and in shock. He just stood there, optics in perfect circles, wings now low, his servos wringing. Should he run over and push Offroad away? Should he run and tell Opulentus? Should he leave them be? What if Silverstorm was being hurt?!

"Oh, harder, master." Silverstorm moaned, not sounding in distress at all. "Give it to me!"

"Shut up, Seeker." Offroad growled. "Do you need another beating?"

"I'll take whatever you give me." Silverstorm fluttered his wings.

Starscream slowly backed away, then ran. He climbed over the fence and kept running, not sure where he was even going. He found himself at the side door of the mansion, where he stood for a moment before opening and walking inside. He didn't know why he went inside, he just felt like he was better off here. He didn't know where else to go.

He climbed the back staircase, figuring he'd go to the third or fourth floor and just hide there in the empty rooms. As he was going up the stairs he was stopped.

"What are you doing inside?"

Starscream lowered his wings, not looking at Nacreous. "I… Don't know… I was going to… I guess hide on the fourth floor…."

"Nacreous looked over the pile of dishes he carried. "Why are you hiding?"

Starscream bit his lip plate. "I… It's… He… I saw… I don't know…"

Nacreous perked his wings. "Here, follow me."

Starscream swallowed, but did so. Nacreous carried the dishes to the energon room and put them on the counter.

"You know how to work this?" He pointed to a dishwasher.

Starscream nodded. "Yes, it's been a while…"

"Get those loaded for me, I need to sweep the dining room."

Starscream nodded. He went to work putting the dishes in the dishwasher and turning it on. He then cleaned off the counter, remembering the routine he had with Chandelle. Nacreous eventually came back into the energon room and put away the broom he had been using.

"Okay, I can take a break now." Nacreous perked his wings. "What's bothering you?"

"I… I don't know how to… talk about it."

"Is it illegal?"

"No… I don't think so…"

"Did you kill someone?"

"What? No!"

"Then don't be afraid to talk about it."

"It's…. About… Interface…." Starscream drooped his wings.

"Oh… Like…. Doing it…?"

"I… Haven't done it."

"I am also a virgin. Um, why not talk to a Seeker who like has experience? Like… Nebula?"

"I… I just… I don't want to go to the barn…"

"I know someone who does have experience." He then grabbed Starscream by the servo before leading him to the stairs.

They went to the second floor, down a hallway, and then stopped in front of Knock Out's room. Nacreous knocked on the door before opening it.

"What do you want?" Knock Out grunted as he lied on his berth texting on his communicator, his TV on but muted.

"Hey, Knock Out!" Nacreous smiled, closing the door behind them. "You busy?"

"Meh." Knock Out shrugged, still texting.

"Who you texting?"

"Friends."

Nacreous pulled the futon that was in the room over to be next to the berth before sitting on it. Starscream sat beside the hybrid, his wings low.

"You have time to talk about naughty stuff?"

Knock Out finally looked away from his communicator. "What kind of naughty stuff?"

"Starscream has questions about interface." Nacreous pointed at the Seeker.

"What kind of questions?"

"Tell him, Starscream."

"Um, well…" Starscream wrung his servos, not looking at either of them. "I-I… I have… a mechfriend now. A-and he…. He likes interface a lot. A-and he's talk about… Having it… With me. But I'm… I'm scared of it. I-I've never had interface before and I grew up… Seeing my carrier have it with a former master. And I guess that made me scared of it because she… She didn't like it. But my mechfriend… He like… Really likes interface and he… He's…. I-I want to make him happy, but I'm scared… A-and I just saw one of my friends interfacing and I… Everyone around me is interfacing and I feel pressured I need to too, but I'm… I'm just scared."

"Sounds like you're in highschool." Knock Out grunted. "I felt similar when I was a virgin." He paused. "I'm the youngest here and the only one who has fragged? Mech, you guys…" He scooted to sit up. "Don't feel pressured into interface. Interface pressure is the worst. I have friends who were pressured into it, and they did it with the wrong people and are bullied for it, cry over it, one even got arrested… Don't ask." He waved a dismissive servo. "I lost my virginity to my mechfriend, who you guys never talk about because if my creators knew I was sexually active they'd kill me. But Tapout, my mechfriend, like really wanted to interface. And I was nervous, too. I kept putting it off until I decided I needed to stop being scared of something that's natural, and if I wanted to have my sparklings I gotta do this. Like, I want to be a carrier at some point. So, we talked, set boundaries, and went very slow at it."

"Did it hurt?"

"Yes and no. Like…" Knock Out looked up as he thought of how to explain it. "So, I have never penetrated, I've only been penetrated. I'm just… That's my programming I guess you can say. So, it like… It's a pressure and when it, the spike, first goes in and you don't know what to expect, it kinda… does hurt some. But it's not like painful pain. It's like… Squeeze your servo with your other servo and you know it hurts some, but it's not so bad you want to cry or anything. Now, imagine that pain but instead of squeezing it's pushing… Between your legs. And when it first goes in the pressure is worse because your body is still adjusting to it. But the more your partner thrusts the looser, or I guess, more adjusted you become to it. If that makes sense?"

"No… I-I think I get it." Starscream nodded.

"Yeah, so… Starting out it will always be a little painful. But once you get a few thrusts in it's a lot better. And also, how turned on you are makes a difference. If you're not prepared and you're dry and not stimulated, it's gonna hurt. But when you're turned on the body opens up the valve and secretes the necessary fluids. Trying not to sound gross here but let's face it, interface is gross. I like it, but it's gross." He giggled. "So, yeah, the more turned on the less pain. And so thrusting obviously turns you on more so less pain.

"Now the sparkbonding… That's different. Sparkbonding always hurts a little because it's an energy surge. You can frag and not sparkbond, but if you want to make sparklings, or experience the full act of interface, you gotta spark bond. It like… The pain doesn't last long. It's super quick. So, it's not bad. But that's why everyone makes so much noise when they spark bond is because of the pain and the… Um, energy release."

"How often have you interfaced?" Nacreous raised an optical ridge.

"Enough that if my creators found out I'd be stuffed next to those Seekers…" Knock Out grunted. "I'd have so many sparklings."

"Only 16 stellar cycles old and already a whore."

"Just with one guy!" Knock Out rolled his optics.

"You doing this at school?"

"Well, yeah, and also in the woods. Poor Reckless… He's seen me fragged so often." Knock Out giggled.

Starscream was silent a moment before speaking. "Is interface… Necessary for a relationship?"

"If you want sparklings with the guy, yes. But like…" Knock Out shrugged. "There are people out there in relationships and they don't frag. Majority do frag, even if rarely."

"Your creators frag like five times an orn." Nacreous grunted.

"NAH NAH! Didn't hear that!" Knock Out quickly covered his audio receptors.

Nacreous turned to Starscream. "Opulentus and Pulchra get loud. But they aren't as bad as Grit with Princess."

"Can we not talk about my family fragging." Knock Out rolled his optics. "I'm too sweet and innocent to traumatize here."

"You're neither of those."

"I so am!"

"I bet you get it in the aft."

"Oh my gosh, no! I have only ever done valve."

"I'm sure you've done other things…"

Knock Out paused. "I've given him a servo job. I have never done oral! I'm not a slut."

"Mhmmm, sure."

"Anyway! Back to the beginning." Knock Out made a circular gesture. "I would say that if you really like this guy, and you feel safe with him, and maybe want to be with him forever, then go for it. Interface him. But don't rush into it. Talk to him, set boundaries, and if he doesn't respect your boundaries run away. Remember you'll never forget the one who took your virginity. If Tapout and I have a bad fight, I'll sadly always remember the guy…"

"Makes you feel awful for whoever loses their virginity to Grit."

"I pray for the sparks."

"I-I'll think about it. Thanks. It helps." Starscream nodded.

"Just don't mention anything to my creators."

"I won't."

"Hey," Nacreous piped up. "You should bring Starscream with us, tomorrow."

"Bring me where?" Starscream perked his wings.

"Oh, I'm going to the Seeker rescue, the one Gearshift runs. He's the guy who goes with my sire to buy sick Seekers from the auction. Where they got you. I go to the rescue every once in a while, to give Seekers paint jobs. Get some practice in and do my community service. Volunteer work looks great on a resume!" Knock Out smiled.

"Yeah, I-I'll come. Is it okay…? Will Opulentus-"

"Sire won't care." Knock Out waved dismissively. "If anyone asks you just tell them I took you."

"The rescue is fun. You'll like it." Nacreous smiled, his wings fluttering.

"Oh my gosh."

"What?"

"It's on again." Knock Out pointed to the muted TV.

Starscream looked up and saw the footage of the family in the winning circle with Shamelessly Rich standing there and him holding the racer in place. He perked his wings, amazed to see himself on the TV, even if he was in the background and partly hidden behind Opulentus.

"Look at me. I'm so cute." Knock Out giggled pointing himself out.

"Ugh, I hate this. Okay, wait for it. I pop out of the corner looking lost." Nacreous grunted. "Wait, there!" He pointed just as he appeared for a brief moment in the corner. "Look at my face! I was like all confused looking. I don't even remember making that face."

Knock Out giggled. "You probably were doing something for grandsire and were trying to process what he said."

"He was in such a bad mood. He was yelling at me a lot."

"I heard it. He's a glitch."

Starscream swallowed, watching Shamelessly rich on the TV, thinking about what the racer was doing back in his stall right now. He didn't want to go back there… And he didn't want to face Silverstorm after what he just saw.

"Can I stay here for a while?" He asked, perking his wings.

"Why?" Knock Out asked, rolling over to reach the bowl of energon goodies on his nightstand.

"I… Don't feel like seeing my mechfriend right now."

"That's understandable. Yeah, you can stay for a while."

"You can recharge in the basement if you want." Nacreous commented. "There's a lot of extra rooms down there already furnished."

"No one will get mad?"

"No one goes down there but the slaves, and sometimes me." Knock Out replied, sitting up with his bowl of goodies. "You're fine."

"Um, okay, yeah. I-I'll recharge in the basement."

"It's a recharge over!" Nacreous giggled.

Starscream faintly smiled.

---

Starscream spent the night in an empty room in the basement. It was nice having a room to himself, but he also missed being held by Shamelessly Rich. He needed more time to think about their relationship before he would go back.

He helped Nacreous and Stardust serve the masters their morning energon before he and the other slaves in the house could have their own energon. Rain appeared to grab energon, then disappeared without a word, or even looking at anyone else. Why was she so talkative sometimes and other times like a ghost?

Once everyone had refueled, Knock Out and Nacreous left the mansion with Starscream in tow. They ran to the horse barn, spent some time playing with the animals, then grabbed the gear for their mounts.

"You gonna fly or do you want to ride?" Nacreous asked Starscream as he picked up a saddle.

"I-I can fly. Why would I ride?" Starscream gave him a confused look.

Nacreous shrugged. "I don't know. It's fun. You can just enjoy stuff to enjoy it."

"I'm fine."

"Suit yourself." Nacreous followed Knock Out down the steps.

Starscream followed the two outside and down a path into the woods behind the horse barn. They eventually came to the generator, the sound of the river reaching Starscream's audio receptors before he even saw it. It was a dam over the river, the generator wasn't massive, but the size of a barn. He saw the grunt Seekers who worked on it every orbital cycle getting started, checking over the machine and loading the energon that was produced over night into the back of a vehicle.

In the lake made by the damn were several of the Blazer Seekers, with more just below the damn playing in the waterfall and the large rocks all around.

"There he is." Knock Out said when he spotted Reckless.

They approached the bottom of the dam, the Blazer Seekers on the shore glancing at them but otherwise not reacting.

"What are you doing!?" Knock Out called out.

Reckless looked up, sitting on his aft as the water from the damn poured onto his head and shoulders. He fluttered his wings when he saw Knock Out, then proceeded to roll onto his back.

"He's such a menance…" Knock Out grunted. "Reckless! Get over here!"

Reckless stood up, shook himself as he still stood in the waterfall, then walked over. He stopped on the shoreline, sat down, then rolled around in the mud and sand, fluttering his wings the entire time.

"Thank you, I appreciate that." Knock Out grumble sarcastically. "Can you please wash yourself off?"

Reckless stood up, shook himself, splattering mud in every direction, then approached Knock Out, his wings fluttering. He nuzzled Knock Out, smearing mud all over the grounder.

"Ewww…" Knock Out pushed him away. "No, you are filthy. Go rinse yourself off." He snapped his claws as he pointed at the river.

Reckless snorted then nuzzled Knock Out again. Knock Out looked like he wanted to punch someone.

"Okay, no, come here." He grabbed Reckless' servo and pulled him back to the river. "Rinse yourself off!"

Reckless pushed Knock Out into the river, eliciting a startled scream from the speedster. Starscream couldn't help but laugh as Nacreous began to guffaw.

"Good job, Reckless!" Nacreous cheered him on. "I love you!"

Reckless fluttered his wings as he smiled, glad someone else liked his joke. Knock Out emerged from the river with murder in his optics. He clenched his fists, working on calming himself down before speaking.

"Get. In. The. River. Reckless." He growled while snarling.

Reckless lowered his wings, then did as told, stepping into the river. He hesitated, then sat down and began to clean himself off of all the mud.

"Don't be mad at him! He's precious!" Nacreous laughed. "This is why I love Reckless." He elbowed Starscream. "I'm gonna find Marshall."

Starscream watched him climb up the hill to go to the lake. Knock Out stood on the grass unsubspacing a towel and beginning to dry himself. The other mounts acted like nothing unusual was happening and continued with their orbital cycle. A couple were bothering the grunt Seekers at the generator, wanting energon, to which they finally were given some.

"Do they not have shelter?" Starscream perked his wings.

"Huh?" Knock Out continued drying himself.

"The mounts. Where do they go?"

"Oh, they have the top level of the breeding stables. That whole top floor is closed off for them. They have a deck they land on and then they can go inside. All their energon, bedding, everything is there."

"They just prefer to be outside all the time?"

"Yeah, so they can be a menace and push innocent people like me into rivers." Knock Out grunted.

"It seems like a good life."

"Oh, they live the best life. Never have to worry about Shanix, taxes, energon, romance, nothing. Just chill all orbital cycle, get their energon whenever they feel like it, and once in a while are ridden. Half of them haven't been ridden in vorns."

"I'd like their life."

"I'm sure you do. We might eventually breed them. There used to be a lot more long ago. But over the vorns they died of old age or were sold, or moved with a family member. The horse barn, when it was originally built, was meant for Seeker mounts. And there was another stables for mounts. It's in ruins, most of it was reused to make the practice track, but you can see the foundation of it near the graveyard where all the racers are buried. A lot of the woods here is new growth. When my family originally got the land and hundreds of people lived here it was like a town. That's why there's so many remains of buildings throughout the property. There's another graveyard near the far end of the property. That's where they would bury the bodies of racers and mounts who didn't perform well. Shot them and tossed them in a mass grave. I know it's there, but I haven't found it yet."

"How many people are buried here?"

"A lot. Some of the structures are people."

"What?"

"They melt down dead Seekers and reuse their metal. Much of the generator is actually metal from slaughtered race Seekers. Long ago, like my great-great-great-great whatever grandsire. Nothing recent so don't worry about being slaughtered for parts. You're fine." Knock Out gave him a dismissive wave.

Starscream swallowed, his wings lowering as he looked at the generator. It was… Made from Seekers?

Reckless walked over, clean from all the mud, and nudged Knock Out in the back. The speedster turned around and examined the mount.

"Good. Let me see." He clicked his glossa as he gestured for Reckless to lower his helm.

The Blazer did so, and Knock Out unsubspaced the bridle. He gently placed it onto the mount, pushing the bit far back into the mouth. Reckless snorted, but didn't fight or even act bothered by it. Knock Out finished bridling him, then unsubspaced the saddle. Reckless crouched down, making it easier for Knock Out to reach, and patiently waited as he was saddled and the girth tightened. Knock Out patted the Blazer on the helm before giving him goodies.

"Good job. See, you can be a good mechling." Knock Out smiled, scratching the mount on the chin.

Nacreous walked over leading Marshall by the reins. "I got mine ready to go."

"Yup, just got this stinker's gear on." Knock Out grunted.

"Pretty sure you're the stinky one."

"Rude!" Knock Out glared at the hybrid. "Reckless, you should bite him! Go bite!"

Reckless only nuzzled his face against Knock Out, purring his engine loudly as his wings fluttered. Starscream didn't understand it. Why did he love a master so much? Knock Out was nice and all, but he still was a master…

"Reckless loves me." Nacreous grinned.

"Uh huh." Knock Out clicked his glossa as he snapped his digits, pointing at the ground.

Reckless obeyed the command and lowered himself on all fours, allowing Knock Out to walk up onto him and then sit in the saddle. He tied his legs into the stirrups, then unsubspaced a riding whip and datapad. He clicked his glossa as he pulled the reins and Reckless stood up, flicking his wings.

Nacreous gave the reins a tug and Marshall lowered himself, but not as much as Reckless. Nacreous had to still climb some to get into the saddle. He tied his own legs in and produced a crop of his own.

"Let's see… Where are you…" Knock Out scrolled through the datapad, ignoring Reckless kicking at the ground. "Ah, Starscream. There you are." He messed with the datapad some. "And we're good to go." He subspaced the datapad.

"Why were you looking for me?"

"Oh, I was deactivating your collar so you won't get zapped when leaving the property line. Have to do it whenever we ride out of the property. Because we don't want Reckless getting zapped, right?" He reached over and patted the Blazer's helm.

Reckless fluttered his wings as he began to slowly spin in a circle.

"Alright, let's go. Reckless," He then clicked his glossa.

Reckless leaped up, transformed, and took off. Marshall followed, and Starscream also transformed and flew behind them. Starscream soon was flying between the much larger Seekers, his wings just over theirs. Knock Out sat so rigid in the saddle, holding the reins and crop in one servo, as if he did this every orbital cycle and was so comfortable with it. Nacreous slouched some and held onto the handlebars, not as comfortable as Knock Out was. Both of them kept the reins loose, allowing the Blazers to fly at their own pace without their mouths being destroyed.

Starscream wasn't use to that. Vertex always rode Chandelle with taunt reins, and when he was ridden by Rocket, or anyone, it was also taunt, his mouth in so much pain the entire time.

"Okay, truth or dare?" Knock Out said suddenly.

"Oh, gosh." Nacreous thought for a moment. "Truth."

"Have you ever pissed in Grit's energon and not told him?"

"No! I'm not trying to get killed." Nacreous glared at him.

"Knock Out giggled.

"Okay, fine, truth or dare?"

"Dare, always." Knock Out smirked.

"Dare you to tell your sire you're not a virgin."

"Nah uh! Can't dare someone to commit suicide! That's against the rules."

"Fine… I dare you… To kiss Reckless on the lip plates when we land."

"Oh my gosh, I hate you. Fine. But no pictures!"

"I'm confused what's happening?" Starscream asked.

"Oh, it's a game." Knock Out explained. "So, someone says 'truth or dare' and the other person picks which one. If they pick truth they must answer truthfully whatever they are asked next. If they pick dare they must do the dare they are told to do. So, if I ask truth or dare and you say dare, I then can dare you to like… Slap Nacreous on the aft and you have to do it."

"What is the point of this game?"

"Basically, to be mean to each other." Nacreous grunted.

"Nah, it's fine."

"I rather play something else."

"What do you want to play?"

Nacreous shrugged. "I can do tricks with Marshall."

"Tricks that will amaze me?"

"Totally amaze."

"Alright, let's see them." Knock Out gestured for him to do so.

"Okay, prepare to be amazed!" Nacreous kicked his heels into Marshall's sides, making the Seeker fly faster.

Starscream watched as Marshall sped forward, then dove into a spiral as Nacreous pulled and tugged the reins. Marshall barrel rolled then looped de looped before chandelling back over to them.

"Ta-da!" Nacreous gestured his arm out, pulling the reins to slow Marshall down so he got back inline with Reckless.

"Not bad. But I can do better." Knock Out smirked.

"Let's see it then!" Nacreous waved his arm for Knock Out to do so.

Knock Out tied the ends of the reins to the handlebars before holding them taunt. "Reckless, let's go!" He kicked Reckless. Reckless snorted but didn't go any faster. Knock Out rolled his optics. "Reckless!" He clicked his glossa as he kicked again.

"Reckless has other plans." Nacreous giggled.

"Reckless, move your aft or else." Knock Out threatened, but Reckless still didn't speed up. Knock Out vented a sigh as he moved the reins to his left servo and raised the whip in his right. "Last chance."

Reckless didn't pay attention, too busy watching animals in the field below them. Knock Out swung his arm and gave Reckless a lash on the rear end, not terribly hard but enough to hurt. Reckless immediately shot forward, and Knock Out held onto the handlebars as he lowered himself in the saddle, keeping himself as flushed against the Seeker's body as he could.

He pulled the reins and forced Reckless to fly perfectly vertical. Then, he pulled on the neck strap while also kicking Reckless' sides. The Blazer immediately dove down, reaching speeds over Mach 1. Knock Out pulled the reins and Reckless immediately leveled out, barely avoiding crashing into the field. He flew over the ground, his undercarriage so close to touching it. Knock Out then pulled the right rein and neck strap, making Reckless turn to his side, flying between two trees. He leveled out, then flipped over as they flew over a large lake. Knock Out reached down, touching the water to show how close he was to it before pulling the reins and making Reckless ascend again. The Blazer aileron rolled upwards, then flew back over to the others, snorting loudly as he was reined back inline.

"I could do more if there were some better obstacles than trees."

"Whatever." Nacreous rolled his optics. "You and your excuses." He then turned to Starscream. "Your turn!"

"My turn?" Starscream swallowed.

"Yeah, show us what you got. Go do tricks."

Starscream felt his spark dropping, remembering Rocket and all the tricks he had been forced to do for stellar cycles… Being whipped brutally through it all, the bit tearing into his mouth, the fear… The crash, the pain, the beatings…. He trembled feeling a panic attack coming.

"You okay?"

"I-I… I can't."

"It's okay, you don't have to."

Starscream was trembling harder now, coolant filling his optics, remembering that horrible crash and the beatings that came after it. He began to falter, having trouble staying between the two larger Seekers.

Nacreous reached his servo out. "Here, come over. Just transform and get on."

"I-I'm fine."

"You're not. Come, before you crash."

Starscream felt more coolant coming out now, the ground beginning to look further than it was, and he was starting to feel dizzy. He wobbled, but managed to hover over Marshall before transforming. Nacreous reached back and held his arm, holding him in place until he could finish transforming and sit.

"Here, scoot onto the saddle. Move your legs over his wings. There you go." Nacreous instructed. "You can wrap your arms around me, I won't think anything of it."

Starscream swallowed before hugging him from behind, feeling embarrassed that he had actually almost lost his balance. He was a Seeker! Flying was supposed to be the one thing he was good at.

"It's okay, I remember bad stuff too sometimes." Nacreous said softly, noticing the coolant leaking from Starscream's optics.

Starscream didn't say anything, just focused on their surroundings, trying to forget. He could feel Marshall's powerful engine vibrating, the sheer force of it radiating through the two riders. Starscream remembered when he was little and would ride with Vertex on Chandelle, feeling how strong she was until he eventually grew to be stronger. He missed her…

Knock Out clicked his glossa as he guided Reckless into a descent, Marshall following. Starscream perked his wings, seeing the rescue below them. There were several barns and a few energy fences, like the one outside the breeding stables at the ranch. The Blazers transformed and landed outside the house, which was huge but not as big as the mansion at the ranch. Seekers were everywhere, all breeds, sizes, both mechs and femmes. There were also speedsters and trucks working and looking around.

Starscream dismounted before Nacreous, curiously looking around. Knock Out tossed Reckless' reins at Nacreous, not even looking at the hybrid as he did so, the reins hitting Nacreous in the face. The hybrid fumbled some until he got a grip on the reins, rolled his optics, then led the mounts towards a tethering post.

Knock Out went inside the house, not even saying where he was going or waiting for them. Starscream stayed beside Nacreous, watching as he tied the Blazers to the post.

"So… What now?" Starscream inquired.

"Let's find Gearshift. He'll tell us what we should do."

"Not Knock Out?"

"Knock Out is going to be painting new rescues." Nacreous walked into the house, Starscream following.

The house opened into a large living room that had been refurbished to be a welcome room with a desk, couches, large posters with images of before and after of rescued Seekers, and a lot of words Starscream couldn't read. Speedsters were talking to other grounders, and a few grunt Seekers were there talking to grounders.

"Hey, where's Gearshift?" Nacreous asked the speedster who sat behind the desk.

"He's in the nursery upstairs."

"Thanks."

Nacreous led Starscream up the stairs and down the hallway. They passed several rooms, all with bunk beds and clearly being lived in. They stopped at what appeared to be the master berthroom, now a nursery. Seekerlets who were just orns or decacycles old were crawling around the floor or in cribs as speedsters and a few grunt Seekers tended to them. Starscream recognized the speedster who had been with Opulentus at the auction when he and Flare were bought.

"Hey, Gearshift." Nacreous smiled as he waved.

Gearshift's face lit up as he quickly walked over. "Nacreous, so good to see my rescues again!" He gave the hybrid a hug.

Nacreous fluttered his wings, hugging him back tightly. "So good to see the one who saved me again."

"It's what I do." Gearshift squeezed him again before turning to Starscream. "You're one of mine, I remember you. Come here." He then hugged Starscream, which the Seeker did not expect. After all, grounders believed Seekers were filthy and beneath them. "I'm sorry, I never caught your designation."

"Starscream, sir."

"Not sir. Just Gearshift."

"Starscream has been having a hard time, so he came with us to feel better. I thought showing him what you do might bolster his mood." Nacreous commented.

"What's wrong? Is Opie being mean?"

"I think it's more past trauma than anything else."

"I'm sorry, everyone here has come from terrible places like you have. It's why I started my rescue, to save Seekers from abusive owners and adopt them to people who actually care." He paused. "You were dumped with another Seeker, right?"

"Yes." Starscream nodded.

"Let's go outside. Come." Gearshift gestured for them to follow him through the house. "This house and the land it sits on has been in my family a few generations. It used to be a breeding farm for race Seekers, like Opie's ranch! That's how Opie and I know each other because our families have been involved in the race industry. But, when I inherited the farm I didn't want to stay in the industry after seeing racers my sire had bred end up in a slaughterhouse. I started researching and found out so much about how Seekers are being abused, slaughtered, and abandoned, so knew I had to do something.

"Opie has helped me so much ensuring my farm is self-sufficient like his, so I can focus on building more barns, buying more Seekers, and even hiring a full time vet. Most rescues don't have the resources I have, so I'm working with Opie to start funding grant programs for smaller rescue. My rescue is one of the larger Seeker rescues, and I plan on making it even bigger!

"While I try to convince Opie to turn his ranch into a rescue, I am close to buying another race Seeker farm that's on the other side of town. A good friend of mine who operates a tiny rescue from her house is planning to move onto that property once we manage to buy it. I'm so excited about our future!" He was broadly grinning as they stepped outside.

"What do you do?" Starscream asked as he looked around, shocked he wasn't seeing Seekers being led around on chains. Instead, everyone was walking around freely with grounders.

"I buy Seekers from the sellyards where the kill buyers try to get them and bring them here. I also take in abandoned Seekers, Seekers who are dumped at shelters, and work with police on hoarding and other severe abuse situations. Seekers I take in, from grunts, to mounts, to the specialty breeds, are then treated by vets, spayed and neutered, rehabilitated, trained, and then adopted into loving forever homes. Most Seekers I get are bred in mills, or were used for hard labor, like factory or farm work. They don't know what it's like to live in a house and do normal work.

"So, my rescue teaches them how to cook, clean, care for sparklings, run errands, work in a store, etc. This allows them to be adopted into homes where they can be house Seekers keeping the house clean, helping care for infants, or helping their owner manage a business. No more working in cruel factories or farms that can be operated by machines instead.

"Most Seekers here have had such brutal pasts they need a lot of rehabilitation to be able to succeed. They get therapy, training, and are encouraged with positive reinforcement. There are cases that I sadly cannot rehabilitate, so I keep them here forever. That's what the force fields are for. The aggressive Seekers stay in there where they can live out their lives in peace and safety.

"I also operate a TNR program for feral Seekers. We aren't native to this planet, and the feral Seekers have damaged much of the native life on this planet. No fault of their own, they don't understand what they are doing. So, we catch them, spay and neuter them, and release them in areas that are safer for them to live in with feeding stations. Some stay here as they are unable to be released. I have one feral who has a spark condition that if he lived in the wild he would die from. So, he's in one of the force field fences with other ferals.

"All of these stables are filled with feral Seekers, mounts, ex racers, and fighting Seekers. The grunts and some specialty breeds live in the mansion with me. Almost everyone here is a volunteer. I only have five full time employees, one being the vet. It's a lot of work, but saving lives is always worth it." He smiled.

"Why are they… Spayed?" Starscream asked.

"Sadly, Seekers are very overpopulated because of these industries that demand young Seekers, like the racing industry, and the mills mass breeding Seekers, and Seekers being bred solely to be killed. There's so many Seekers and not enough homes for them. So, lowering their population humanely by simply sterilizing them is the best option. I wish I didn't have to, but thousands of Seekers are killed every single orbital cycle because everyone is breeding them and buying from breeders. If we stopped the overpopulation Seekers would all have homes.

"There are some places that have outlawed owning Seekers, but it's difficult for these Seekers to live on their own when much of the planet still views them as property. So, until we actually have laws that protect Seekers and not see them as objects, ensuring they have a grounder who can properly care for them is best."

Starscream perked his wings as they walked by an energy field fence, seeing race Seekers and some of the more bestial mounts within. Another energy field he saw some of the feral Seekers, looking scarier than the stuffed ones in the basement of the mansion. Despite how ferocious they appeared, they were contently perching themselves on the metal "trees" made for them, and a few caring for Seekerlets they had.

The energy of this place compared to the ranch was certainly different. No one seemed scared of getting in trouble, no one was in chains, and he didn't hear the awful cries of a Seeker calling out for her stolen Seekerlet like he heard whenever he passed by the breeding stables.

Gearshift walked into a barn where race Seekers and a couple of breeds of mounts were being given energon and allowed out of their stalls. Starscream noticed how these race Seekers all were smiling, purring their engines, and acted nothing like the racers Opulentus had who were always hissing, snarling, lashing their claws, flicking wings, and trying to get away from everyone.

"Starscream?"

Starscream looked back, seeing a red grunt Seeker looking at him with wide optics. It took a moment before he started to recognize who this newly painted being was.

"Flare?"

"Oh my gosh, it is you!" Flare ran over and hugged Starscream.

Starscream hugged him back, never expecting to see any of his friends again from the farm. His wings fluttered, so happy to see he wasn't the only one who had made it out of that hell hole.

"Y-you look amazing." Starscream stuttered, looking over Flare's paint.

"You do as well. W-where are you? Like, who owns you?"

"I-I live on a ranch that breeds race Seekers. I exercise them and take care of them. Like the mounts, Warpaint and all of them, only… They are race Seekers."

"Sounds so much better than that fragging farm." Flare hugged him again. "I missed you. I miss everyone else…"

"I do too."

"Flare has told me about this farm you two came from." Gearshift said. "I'm working with the police to investigate, but given the lack of laws for Seekers… It could be some time before anything is done. But my guy at the auction is aware and will call me if he sees anymore Seekers dumped by those people."

"Need to burn the damn place down." Flare growled as he started to mess with Starscream's wing, still hugging him.

"At least you two are safe now. And with Opie's help I can continue saving more Seekers. If I can get him to just turn his place into a rescue… But at least he's not as bad as most in the racing industry. He doesn't send his Seekers to slaughter or abandons them." Gearshift paused, thinking. "He can help us with this farm and all the other Seeker abusers, and finally stop them. He's a good guy."

---

"What's her problem?" Opulentus asked as he stood in the breeding barn, a race Seeker femme standing before him as she was held in place by two speedsters.

"She's no longer sparking." Conduit grunted, looking at a datapad he held. "Last few carryings ended in miscarriage, and now she won't spark at all. She's been bred a few times already."

"Not breeding, too slow to race…"

"Want to call Gearshift?"

"Nah, he's saving enough Seekers." Opulentus looked back at the entrance just as a trailer was backed up to it, then the ramp lowered. He then started to screw on the silencer onto a pistol he held. "And I'm not sending my Seekers to slaughter. Better to die at home quick and painless than to be scared in some abattoir and be processed while still alive."

The race Seeker femme didn't know what he was talking about, her wings perking as the speedsters who held the two leads pulled down, forcing her head to lower.

"No one around?" Opulentus asked.

"Nope! No grunts or Knock Out around to see anything." A truck replied just as he looked past the trailer.

"Hey, look at me." Opulentus clicked his glossa, pressing the end of the silencer against her brow.

The femme looked up at him, her optics making direct contact with his just as he pulled the trigger. Her body instantly dropped to the floor, energon gushing out of the bullet hole that was now between her optics. Slowly, the light faded from them, and her body began to go limp. Opulentus pressed the silencer against her chest, right over the spark chamber, and shot it again.

The two speedsters removed the halter from the Seeker, then dragged her body into the trailer.

"Who's next?" Opulentus asked, his vocalizer calm as if he was just talking about the weather.

"We have a few adolescents who are not fast enough to race, sell, or bother breeding." Conduit grunted.

"How many?"

"Eh, seven."

"Okay, bring them in one at a time."

And so, they did. A speedster would lead one of the adolescents in, no older than 15 stellar cycles, and Opulentus lured them close to him with a bowl of energon goodies. They would start to eat as he pressed the silencer against their brows, and then they would instantly drop to the floor and be dragged into the trailer. One was only 12 stellar cycles old. All seven of the Seekerlets were shot and loaded onto the trailer, their cold, limp bodies thrown on top of each other.

"That all?" Opulentus asked, wiping splattered energon off his body with a cloth.

"One more. Seekerlet with a spark condition."

Opulentus rolled his optics. "I'm so tired of these spark conditions… Bring it in."

A speedster walked in leading a Seekerlet who was only 3 stellar cycles old by her wrist. She held a yellow ball in her free servo, mouthing it as her sparkling denta were still coming in. She wobbled beside the speedster, her wings too large for her, and her optics so bright and curious.

Opulentus crouched down as she was led over to him. He didn't even pause as he pressed the barrel of the silencer against her brow.

"Hey, look at me." He clicked his glossa.

The sparkling giggled, reaching her now free servo up to touch the silencer, her little smile so innocent, and her tiny denta just peeking out from her gums.

Boom.

The ball rolled across the room, energon splattered on it. The speedster who had led her in grabbed her limp body by the ankle, carried her to the trailer, and tossed it inside. They closed up the trailer.

"Need to get anything from them?" Opulentus asked Conduit as he wiped the energon from the little Seekerlet off his plates.

"I have enough spare parts for now. You can just scrap all of them." Conduit answered, no emotion in his vocalizer either.

"Bring up the dams we need to spark again. Shamelessly Rich, War Prince, Notability, and… Could Be A Rumor can sire. Which dam had the last one? The one with the bad spark?"

"That was…" He looked at the datapad. "Magnificent Moon."

"Has she had others with the spark condition?"

"Nope."

"Okay, breed her with Shamelessly Rich. And… The dam I bought, she's of age now, correct?"

"Yes, she is breeding age now."

"We'll give her to Shameless, too." He subspaced his pistol. "Well, I'm hungry. What do you feel like?"

Conduit shrugged. "Eh, I'm not picky."

Opulentus chuckled as they walked out of the breeding barn, energon still splattered on the floor and walls.

---

Don't hate me, hate the real life animal abusers this fic is copying.

The Speedia Derby is a mixture of the Speedia 500 that is canon on Velocitron, and the Kentucky Derby which is the "fastest 2 minutes in sports," blah blah blah... And triple crown is of course the biggest horse races in the US, with the Kentucky Derby being the first race. the second is The Preakness, and last is the Belmont Stakes. I have protested The Preakness like... 4 times? At this point, yeah. That's coming up again... Hate driving to Baltimore, but gotta tell those animal abusers to go fuck themselves. Last year while protesting the Preakness a horse was killed while we were there. Not even during horseracing's biggest, most televised races can they prevent horses from breaking legs, suffering heart attacks, or being killed. It shows you how integral killing is for this "sport."

The propaganda from Opulentus of course is the same shit these animal abusers say all the time... Horses love to race... Cows love to be milked... Bulls love bucking... It's all lies. And of course the most common lie, "we treat them like family!" Yeah, call CPS. Raping, beating, and enslaving is not how family should be treated... Something my evil parents certainly don't get...

Doping (drugging) is also normal in the horse and dog racing industries. They are CONSTANTLY being caught drugging the animals, but serve little to no time, or are fined a small amount. A recent famous case is the famous Bob Baffert horse fucker who had a horse, Medina Spirit, win the Kentucky Derby a couple of years ago. Found out the horse was drugged. Baffert was suspended from ONE track for like a year, but still was racing horses everywhere else. He is now able to race at that one track again. IT was one of his horses that died at the Preakness last year, Havnameltdown. It's just normal for them to drug and not be punished. PETA has a really good mini documentary you can watch on Youtube of them doing a big undercover investigation in US horseracing in 2013 exposing the drugging and how normal it is. And recently, like just this month (December 2023), 60 minutes did a documentary about doping in horseracing. The horseracing industry of course reacted with a "we are against this and will stop the bad people!" But ALL of you are bad people... Horses die even without being pumped full of drugs.

So, yeah, Shamelessly Rich being pumped with drugs before a race is normal. They also rarely even test horses for the drugs so... Yeah, most goes unnoticed. And the amount that IS noticed is super high so that really tells you something. even the horseracing news sites report it and try to act like it's so rare, but every week they publish a new article about another trainer being caught drugging horses. EVERY. SINGLE. WEEK. They fail to report how many times jockeys are fined for "over whipping" a horse or that the horses are sometimes whipped so hard their skin breaks (bleeding). You have to go to the animal rights groups for those reports.

As I said before, 95% of horses are bleeding in their lungs right after a race. Some will drown in their own blood in the stalls. It's so common that horses with blood gushing from their mouths will frequently be published in news articles from the horseracing news sites, or on the social media pages of racetracks. They are so fine with horses bleeding they happily share the images. I have saved so many articles from the horseracing news sites with images of horses running or walking with bloody mouths that it's beyond sickening how normal this is. I have images of horses from racing with so much blood coming from their mouths and nostrils it looks like something dumped a bucket of red paint on them... You can find those on my website in the gallery folders.

So, the stuff about what happens at a track I can assure you is how it really is. Everyone drunk, half aren't even paying attention to the racing as they are partying, live bands, etc. I've been to these tracks a LOT, I have been there for HUGE race days, like the Preakness. It's just a party for getting drunk and gambling as baby horses are whipped and killed...

That being said, Gearshift talking about Seeker overpopulation is of course a reflection of what's happening to dogs, cats, and horses in the real world. Too many bred out of greed, not enough homes, they are killed. In the US about 8,000 dogs are killed DAILY in shelters with over 10,000 cats killed DAILY. Horses, well, in the horseracing industry alone in the US about 10,000 are shipped to slaughter every year. Currently, foal crop is about 18,000, so only 8,000 of those will be used in racing with about 2,000 dying on tracks every year. Horses from dressage, carriages, and the wild are also sent to slaughter in high numbers as there's simply not enough homes for them. Not that the wild horses should be rounded up... Their homes are taken away to make room for cattle ranching. Eating meat and dairy is killing wild horses.

Gearshift is also the name of Starscream's friend from A Prince of Vos for those of you who read that.

Oh, and Reckless is named after Sargent Reckless. Sargent Reckless was a horse mare who was forced to serve during the Korean war. For her bravery, she was promoted to Sargent and given many awards. She did return to the US and lived out the rest of her days in peace. But many animals forced into war don't survive... Another famous non-human animals who was promoted to Sargent is Sargent Stubby who served in WWI. He was a pitbull and is the most decorated military dog. Google both of these animals. Animals have no place in war and I hope the stories of these two innocent animals help more people realize how awful it is... If anyone of you have seen Warhorse you know...

And Opulentus shooting Seekers... Many breeders of greyhounds and thoroughbreds, even standardbreds, have been found to have mass graves on their properties... And the animals with bullet holes in their heads. It is normal for these monsters to kill the animals themselves rather than send to kill pens or dump at shelters. No, they are never prosecuted as it's legal to do this to these animals.

If I don't raise an army of vegans, or the very least people who hate horseracing, by the end of this fic... I have so many of you mad at this evil industry already and this is only chapter 9!