Starscream was cleaning one of the stuffed racers in the hallway when Grit walked by dragging Princess by her arm. The interface Seeker followed him, her wings low, not looking excited at all. In Grit's free servo he held a very nasty looking whip, and he looked eager to use it.
"Grit!" Melius called after him. "You can't just snatch her from my room! Wait your damn turn!"
Grit looked back. "You can have her when I'm done with her!"
"She's practically dead every time you're done with her! Give her back right now!"
"Buy your own interface slave!"
"I did! That's her! I bought her!"
"Then buy another!" Grit turned and yanked Princess as he continued walking away.
Melius stomped a ped and followed after his grandson. "Grit! You want your own?! Go buy one! You can afford one! Release her, Grit!"
But Grit pulled Princess into his room and locked the door behind them. Melius banged his fist against the door, shouted angrily for a bit, then stomped away, furious with the young grounder. Starscream swallowed, not liking how they fought over the single femme like she was some object.
He was still cleaning the stuffed Seekers in the hallway a joor later when Princess was released from Grit's room. She had her wings low and was limping as she slowly walked down the hallway. She didn't even look at Starscream, her facial paint and optic liner smeared and looking like she had been crying. She had visible dents, cuts, and whip marks all over her, and her wrists were damaged from being chained too tightly. She kept her helm high, trying to act unfazed as she passed the grunt, and returned to Melius' room. It wasn't long before Starscream heard Melius doing things to the femme.
She didn't even get time to recover from Grit before being made to serve another master.
Starscream was serving the masters their dinner a few orbital cycles later when Opulentus got a call. He answered the communicator with a sigh.
"Yes, Gearshift?" He paused, then rolled his optics. "Right now? Alright, alright, I'll be there! It's going to be alright. Just give me some time to get over there. Okay, bye." He hung up.
"What is it?" Knock Out asked as he held his sparkling brother, helping his carrier so she could eat in peace.
"A race Seeker I bred is at the auction about to be bought by kill buyers. Gearshift wants me to come buy it so it won't be killed."
"You will buy him, right?"
"Of course. I'll see which one it is." He messed with his communicator. "Hey, Nebula, have someone prepare Flightline and bring him to the front door. Make sure he refuels, it will be a while before we get home." He then hung up on her.
"You need to finish fueling." Pulchra ordered him.
"I am, I am."
Opulentus finished his energon, then went out the front door where Snowstorm waited with a geared up Flightline. Opulentus mounted the massive beast and flew off on him. Starscream didn't understand how one of Opulentus' Seekers ended up at the auction. Did the people he sell Seekers to not retire them?
It would be a few joors later when Opulentus returned.
"Oh, my beautiful maaaaaaaate!" He called to her as he stood in the doorway.
"What?" Pulchra grunted, seemingly knowing her mate did something she wouldn't approve of.
"Come see." He gestured for her to come see.
Pulchra, Knock Out, Starscream, and Nacreous walked over from the living room and onto the front porch. Opulentus stood there with Flightline who was tethered to a tethering post, and beside him was another Blazer Seeker. This Blazer was not one from the ranch and looked younger than the others.
Pulchra gave her mate a hard look. "You impulsively bought another Seeker without even asking me?" She grunted, handing Knock Out Sledge so her servos could be free to hit her mate if need be.
"He is an unaltered Blazer! I will stud him."
"And will you sell the Seekerlets?"
"We need some young mounts…"
"Who are you going to breed?!"
"We have plenty of options."
"You frustrate me so much…" She turned and stormed back inside.
Knock Out walked over and patted the new Blazer. "I think he's cute. Oh my gosh! You should breed Reckless! He would have the cutest sparkling!"
"At least you appreciate my ideas." Opulentus grunted. "What do you want to designate him?"
"Does he not have one?"
"They only gave me a number."
"Let's call him… Mr Jiggles!" He snickered, knowing it annoyed his sire.
Opulentus rolled his optics. "Can you be serious?"
"No." Knock Out laughed.
"Call someone to take him to the breeding stables. I want to quarantine him before introducing him to the others."
"Was his vocalizer changed?"
"I don't know. They're stupid so I doubt he talks."
"Aw, be nice. He's a cootie patootie! Reckless will like him."
The new Blazer lowered his wings, looking around nervously. He already seemed to understand that Opulentus was a jerk, but Knock Out meant good things as he stepped closer to the young speedster.
"He just needs goodies!" Knock Out began to unsubspaced some and give them to the Blazer.
"You and fattening up Seekers…." Opulentus grunted with a roll of his optics.
Starscream spent the next few orns keeping the house clean, giving energon to the masters, and plotting how he'd kill Opulentus without getting caught. He couldn't think of anything… Everything seemed traceable back to him…
He was sweeping the floor in the hallway when Grit walked over. The master paused, looking over at Starscream.
"I still think my sire should have had you beaten for trying to kill him."
Starscream turned to him. "I never tried to kill him."
"You went into the barn the night before. It's on camera."
"I never touched the saddle. Why would I kill my master?"
"Why wouldn't you? You little slagheaps are all ungrateful and think you could be free. You would die if you weren't being cared for by us."
Starscream flared his wings. "I would never kill a master. I know my place."
"Do you?"
"Yes. It's here, cleaning the floor."
"It is. And it's also speaking the truth. You tried to kill my sire."
"No, I didn't!"
"Do not raise your voice at me!"
Starscream lowered his wings. "I would not lie to you."
"You lied to sire about you fragging that stupid glitch, Shameless. Where is he again…? Right, dead and stuffed, now forever stuck watching my creators fragging." He smirked.
Starscream narrowed his optics, shaking with rage. "You have no right to speak about him."
"I owned him."
"Opulentus owned him."
"He certainly does now, with it stuffed in his room. Did you smell it? Smells worse than when it was alive. Probably from the corpse rusting some."
"I'm not engaging with you."
"Oh, but you must! I own you!"
"Opulentus owns me! You don't own any of us!" Starscream flicked his wings.
"You want to bet?" Grit grabbed the Seeker's wrist. "I can do whatever I want to you, you ungrateful slave."
Starscream pushed back at Grit and struggled to get away, but Grit held on tight.
"And now you assault your master?!" Grit yanked him hard. "I think you need to be reminded who is in charge!"
"Let go of me!" Starscream pulled back, dragging Grit some, but still not quite strong enough to get away.
"You are the worst behaved Seeker to have been bought from that auction! Should had left you to die!"
"Leave me alone!"
Starscream struggled, and in his struggle he slapped Grit across the faceplates, cutting him. The speedster became furious and punched the Seeker in the faceplates. He pulled Starscream down the hallway, the jet still fighting back, but not able to get away from the grounder claws now tearing into his arm plating. It was not easy, but Grit managed to drag Starscream to his room. He struggled against the jet, managing to pull him to a wall with shackles and many chains.
Starscream began to panic when a shackle was finally clamped on a wrist, far too tight, clearly meant for another Seeker who had thinner wrists. Grit got the other wrist tied, then stepped away as Starscream continued to struggle.
"You need a serious lesson in obedience." Grit grumbled as he locked the door to the berthroom, then opened a drawer. "I am so close to taking you out back and shooting you…" He grabbed a metal cable from the drawer and walked over. "Have you ever been punished with one of these? No? It stings. You think the whip is bad…" He smirked. "Oh, don't start crying now. I haven't even started!" He laughed as he doubled the cable over.
Starscream was beginning to tremble as coolant filled his optics. His wings low, he continued pulling at the chains, just wanting to get away.
"Please, master! I-I'm sorry! I didn't mean-!"
"Shut up!" Grit snapped before swinging his arm.
"AH!" Starscream leaped forward, the absolute worst pain searing across his aft. "PLEASE!"
But Grit didn't listen. He continued lashing Starscream's aft, thighs, and lower back with the cable, leaving dents. Starscream screamed from every lash, jumping and bawling his optics out. It hurt so much, just the most evil, vile pain, more so than a riding whip or even some of the other whips used on him before.
Grit enjoyed it, laughing as he kept beating the poor slave. He gave him nearly forty lashes before ceasing. "What do we say?"
Starscream was bawling and trembling, flinching away from the speedster. "I-I-I-"
"You say, 'thank you, master.' Say it!"
Starscream sobbed loudly. "Th-thank you, m-master…!"
"If you weren't a miserable brat, I wouldn't need to punish you, now would I?" Grit tossed the cable aside. He then untied Starscream's wrists. "No, no, you're not free. Step back. Keep stepping back."
Starscream did so, slowly stepping back until he bumped against the berth. He swallowed, still trembling, his wings low, and servos wringing.
"Turn around." Grit spun a digit around to signal him to do so.
Starscream slowly did so and was surprised when he felt Grit's servos on his back. He was pushed down until his front rested on the berth, his peds still on the floor. He began to cry all over again, not wanting to be hit anymore.
"Calm down." Grit grunted as he used his peds to push Starscream's heeled ones apart. "Beating you Seekers makes me hard, and Princess is being used by someone else…" He grumbled. "Open."
Starscream's optics widened and he looked back. "Master, I-I-I'm not a-a-an interface S-Seeker! I-I don't know-"
"You don't need to know anything. And you clearly are a mix of an interface Seeker. This is what you're meant to be doing. Now, open, before I give you another beating." He snapped.
Starscream looked ahead, coolant filling his optics once again. He slowly removed his codpiece, and felt Grit touching him down there and all over his aft and thighs. He softly sobbed when he heard his master's codpiece fold away, then felt it. It was nothing like Shamelessly Rich's member, but he didn't want this one. He wanted his mate…
He bit his lip plate when he felt Grit enter him, then he trembled as the thrusting began. Nothing like Shamelessly Rich, he was far smaller and not nearly as powerful, but it… Just felt so wrong. He was not slow at all, already thrusting madly, his claws digging into the Seeker's sides, and those groans he was making…
Starscream didn't make a sound, other than his soft crying. He didn't feel turned on at all, he didn't feel anything but the physical movement in his body. But Grit seemed to be enjoying himself.
The speedster grabbed a thin chain that was on the berth and wrapped it around Starscream's neck. He pulled it back, forcing the Seeker's head up. Starscream swallowed, the chain squeezing around his neck, but he knew better than to try and stop it. If he just stayed still and behaved it would be over quicker. He just needed to be a good, obedient slave. That's all he needed to do… Be good and obedient…
He continued to cry, being a good, obedient slave.
Grit overloaded, panted over him, then started up again. And again, and then again. Starscream remained silent and still throughout all of it.
Grit finally pulled out and closed his plates. He laughed as he gave Starscream's dented aft a hard slap, loving the yelp that came out of the Seeker.
"That wasn't half bad!" The master chuckled. "Little more to pound into than what Princess has on her!" He squeezed Starscream's aft, gave it another smack, then pulled a wing far too hard. "You're free to go, stupid."
Starscream slowly stood up and turned to walk away. He stopped when Grit spoke again.
"What do you say?"
Starscream swallowed, then looked back. "Thank you, master." He managed to say before coolant tears began to leak down his cheekplates all over again.
"See? That isn't so difficult! Now, get out of here."
Starscream opened the door and walked out. He hugged himself as he cried, quickly going down the stairs and to his room. He locked himself inside and began to bawl, feeling so disgusting and unloved. He was just a piece of property, and anything could be done to him. The masters didn't care… No one cared about him… Why were Seekers meant to suffer?
He wanted Chandelle and Shamelessly Rich to hold him… They were the only ones to ever love him, and they were both gone….
He sobbed harder, shaking so hard, wanting them back in his life more than anything.
Starscream paused outside the berthroom, his wings low. He swallowed, then palmed the door open. No one was inside. He stepped in, trembling, feeling the coolant already beginning to pool in his optics. He approached, then looked up into that face that once smiled so lovingly at him.
"Hey… Skycutter…." He wiped at his optics as he stood before Shamelessly Rich's stuffed body. "I-I… I really miss you. I'm trying to… To go on… But it's really hard." He started to sob. "W-why should I bother when you're not here? I-I have no future… I'm stuck on this miserable ranch forever serving Opulentus and… I hate it here… You were the only good thing I had and now…" He swallowed and wiped at his optics again. "I don't know if I should move back to the barn or stay inside…. I wish I could leave this hell…"
He reached up and gently held Shamelessly Rich's servo, feeling how cold it was. He bit his lip plate, silent as he thought.
"I miss you…. I-I wish you were here to protect me… Hold me… I just… Why didn't they retire you sooner?! Why did you have to keep racing?!"
He broke down crying, his wings low, holding onto all he had left of his lover.
"Hey," Nacreous nudged Starscream. "I think you want to come out."
"What for?" Starscream grumbled as he lied on his berth.
"Something to do with that racer you loved."
Starscream looked at him. "What do you mean?"
"Just come."
Starscream reluctantly got up and followed the hybrid upstairs. They went out the front door and walked over to the vehicle port where Knock Out was sitting on a brick fence. Nacreous sat beside the speedster, and Starscream leaned against the fence. His wings perked then lowered when he saw some of the other grunt Seekers. Soon, a trailer was backed up and Opulentus stepped out of the vehicle with Melius. The two were smiling audio receptor to audio receptor.
Pulchra arrived from the house, looking annoyed with her mate once more.
"How much?" She demanded.
"Why are you bitter?" Opulentus inquired as he and his sire began to open the trailer door.
"I want to know how much." She snapped.
Opulentus ignored her as he stepped inside the trailer. He soon stepped out leading a magnificent, almost black, race Seeker femme with red optics, massive wings, and was about the same size as most of the racer mechs. Starscream's optics widened some, impressed by her size and elegance.
"Tada!" Opulentus presented her as she stepped down the ramp. "Meet champion femme Ruffian! Said to be the fastest femme to ever race, undefeated, and has only given birth to other graded winners!"
Pulchra glared at him with narrowed optics. "How. MUCH?"
"She is currently sparked with twins from Shamelessly Rich!" He practically bounced on his heels.
Starscream's wings perked, his optics widening more.
"Look at her! She'll be giving birth in a couple of decacycles!"
"If you do not tell me how much you spent on her I am making you recharge with the Seekers!" Pulchra shouted furiously.
Opulentus made a sound as if to clear his vocalizer. "Thirty…"
"Thirty what?"
"Thirty million… And an additional five million for each of the sparklings."
"YOU PAID FORTY MILLION FOR A SINGLE SEEKER?!" Pulchra shrieked, causing everyone else to jump.
"No, I paid forty million for THREE Seekers. No, Pulchra, my love! She's a champion! She was bred by one of our greatest champions! These sparklings in her will be champions themselves and make us hundreds of millions! And I can breed her with Show No Mercy, War Prince, Super Rich, Propulsion-"
"There are plenty of good brood Seekers in that barn! Why did you go buy the most expensive one?!"
"Because it's a good investment!"
"I can't… You're not recharging in berth with me…" She spun around on a ped and stormed off.
Opulentus rolled his optics. "Femmes…" He turned to Ruffian and smiled up at her. "You are going to make me so much Shanix. Look at you. Absolutely stunning! More so than my mate." He chuckled, petting the anxious racer femme. He then put a collar around her neck and handed her over to Scramjet and Breeze. "Treat her like royalty. Give her the biggest stall, new bedding, fresh energon, and sheet metal." He pulled Ruffian's face down and kissed her, which she did not appreciate. "You are my everything!"
"What about me?" Knock Out raised an optical ridge.
"Oh, I didn't notice you. Shouldn't you be doing school?"
"Oh my gosh! I GRADUATED! Decacycles ago!" Knock Out stared at his own sire in disbelief.
"Right…" He released Ruffian and allowed the grunts to lead her away. "Why are you here then?"
"You are such a terrible sire…" Knock Out hopped off the wall. "The slaves know more about my life than you…" He grumbled, snapping his claws for Nacreous and Starscream to follow him.
Starscream did so, looking back at Ruffian, a little more of Shamelessly Rich brought back to him.
"Thank you." Knock Out smiled as Starscream refilled his glass.
Starscream smiled and inclined his head, only ever being thanked for his work by Knock Out and sometimes Pulchra. He continued to serve the rest of the family and residents of the house as they all ate at the massive table.
"So," Knock Out said slowly as he looked over at his sire. "I've been thinking about my new living arrangement."
"What about it?" Opulentus looked up at his middle creation.
"I am moving into a small townhouse, and I'm going to need a Seeker to help me keep it clean and someone to ride when I come visit."
"You're taking Reckless, right?"
"I was thinking about that and I… I love Reckless, he's such a good mechling, but he isn't house broken, he can't clean a house, and he's too big for the new place."
"Just take him and a grunt."
"But I don't want to take Reckless away from his family. He's lived on this ranch all his life with his carrier and siblings. You know how close he is with his carrier. If I took him away, he would be really sad. I can't do that to him. I think I should just take a grunt and have them clean and be ridden."
"Riding a grunt?"
"Most people ride grunts. Not everyone can afford Blazers or other mount breeds. Or they don't have the housing for them. I won't have a barn for Reckless at the new place. If I take a grunt they can do all the cleaning, they aren't too big, and I can ride them as needed."
"You'd have to train them. None of the grunts here are trained to be mounts."
"I don't mind training. I taught Reckless a lot of tricks and I used to help train the racers."
"Well," Opulentus leaned back in his chair. "Which grunt are you thinking about buying?"
"Buying?"
"I can buy you one. A brand new one. Young, fresh, well bred…"
"I'll take one of the grunts we have here. They're good."
"You don't want a purebred?"
"Nah."
"Well…. Which grunt here do you want?"
"I'm still thinking about it. I have a few in mind, just narrowing it down."
"When you decide on the one you want let me know."
"I will." Knock Out smiled.
Starscream perked his wings, having heard the whole conversation. He bit his lip plate as he thought.
Starscream walked down the dark hallway of the third level and stopped by Rain's door. He paused, then palmed it open. He was surprised to see the old femme inside the room, usually she wasn't.
"Hello, my sparkling." She smiled at him as she was in the middle of cleaning the urns of her creations. "What brings you to my room?"
Starscream noticed the old racer mech sitting on her berth, and swallowed. "I-is this a bad time?"
She noticed him looking at the other mech. "Have you met Defiance? He's almost as old as me and has been on this ranch shortly after its conception. We've been close friends since we were still being raced… And bred. He's the sire to three of my creations."
"Oh!" Starscream lowered his wings. "Um, hi. I-I thought you were like… The only super old one on the ranch…"
Rain giggled when she noticed how embarrassed Starscream became immediately after saying that. "I am the oldest, but some other very old racers still remain. Defiance was bought by the masters to breed with me and some others all those vorns ago. He's the only one who bred me that is still alive on the ranch. I do not know if any of the other studs who sparked me are still alive out there."
"Some aren't." Defiance grunted, which surprised Starscream how his vocalizer wasn't as deep as Shamelessly Rich's.
"Yes, sadly many are gone." Rain set the urn she was dusting back onto the shelf, then turned to Starscream. "What do you need, my sparkling?"
"Um… I-I was going to ask you a question… Or two… If that's okay…?"
"Of course, it is, lovely. What do you have questions about?"
"Um," Starscream sat on the chair by the desk, a cybercat immediately hopping onto his lap. "I-I… Knock Out is moving out because he's… Going to college? I-I don't know what that is… But he told Opulentus that he was going to take a grunt with him to keep his new house clean… A-and I don't know if I should ask if I could be that grunt."
"Why do you think you want to go with him?" Rain asked as she crouched before him to be optic level with the much smaller jet, her giant wings perking.
"Because…" He stroked the helm of the cybercat. "H-he's not like the other masters… He's been kind to me… He stopped Offroad from beating me… He actually shows kindness to not just me but the other Seekers. Reckless loves him, and I have never seen a mount love their rider so much. I feel… Safe around him."
"He is still a master."
"Yes, but… He's not like his sire o-or Grit…" Coolant began to pool in his optics. "Opulentus stuffed Shameless… H-he's in his room… M-my lover is a trophy for him…. A-and Grit…. H-he…." The coolant began leak down his cheekplates as he hugged the cat against his chestplates. "He…" His vocalizer lowered so only Rain could hear. "He used me…."
"Interface?" Rain asked gently.
He nodded, feeling embarrassed by it. He started to sob, his wings low and trembling.
Rain flicked her wings. "Grit is a monster. You should go with Knock Out. Leave this miserable place and get away from Opulentus and Grit."
"I-I don't know if I'll see you again…"
"You will, little one. But you must do what's best for you. If you can get away from the more… evil masters and be with one who gives you even a little respect, that is better."
Starscream was silent a moment before speaking. "I tried to kill Opulentus… I wanted to stab him and I almost did… I sabotaged his saddle and he almost fell to his death… I hate him… I want him dead…"
"I do as well. But you must be careful. If the masters find out your thoughts or your actions, you will be shot, tortured to death. Be careful, trust no master."
Starscream nodded. "C-can I get a hug?"
"Always, my sparkling." She said it so lovingly, as if he was her sparkling, before giving him the best hug he had had in so very long.
Knock Out sat on his berth watching TV with several cybercats and cyberdogs all snuggled against him. Starscream knocked on the door, then slowly opened it.
"Hello, Knock Out. Um… C-could I speak to you?"
"Yeah, sure." Knock Out muted the TV. "What's up?"
Starscream closed the door behind him before walking over and sitting on the futon. "I-I heard you speaking to Opulentus about taking a grunt with you to your new home… I-I was wondering if… I could be that grunt…?"
"You want to come live with me?"
"Yes, sir."
"You don't have to call me sir." Knock Out scooted himself up so he sat straighter, which annoyed the cats on his lap. "Why do you want to come with me?"
Starscream swallowed. "I… am struggling after losing Shamelessly Rich… We were close… Grit has… Hurt me… I don't think Opulentus likes me… I… I like you. I feel safe with you. I want to help you."
"Would you be okay if I rode you? I'm going to need to ride whoever I take to and from school, and to come home to the ranch for holidays."
"Yes, I-I actually used to be ridden a lot. I am trained."
"Oh? Okay, how much do you remember?"
"A lot."
"Why don't we go test it?"
"Right now?"
"Why not? I'm not doing anything. Help me move these guys off me."
Starscream did so, scooting the angry cats and dogs off their warm energon dispenser of a speedster. Knock Out left the animals on the berth and gestured for Starscream to follow him. Starscream did so, going down the stairs, out the back door, and all the way to the horse barn. They went into the loft and Knock Out began to dig around all the gear.
"Let's see if this fits." He said as he picked up a saddle.
Starscream swallowed, his wings lowering. He allowed Knock Out to press it against his back and check it.
"Looks like it will work." The speedster set it on a stand and plugged it in with a super charger, so it could charge quickly. "What kind of bridle have you been trained with?"
"Um… I don't know… I wore several types before…" He answered softly.
Knock Out looked through a bunch of bridles, most were for Blazers and other large Seeker breeds. He found one that was grunt size and placed it on Starscream's head. He adjusted until it fit, then removed it. Starscream watched as Knock Out looked through bits next.
"I'm guessing you had a snaffle used on you before?" The speedster asked.
"Yes…"
"I don't like them… Let me see if we have a happy mouth in your size…"
"Happy mouth?"
"Yeah, it's made of rubber instead of metal. It's not as painful. It's the same one I use on Reckless." He walked over and lifted up Reckless' bridle where it hung on a hook. "See? It's still hard, but it's not as bad as the metal ones. And it doesn't have any ports or joints like the snaffle. It's just a curb. Also helps with his drooling."
Starscream nodded, watching as the speedster returned to rummaging around in a box. "Have you… Ever ridden a grunt before?"
"Long time ago. I have pretty much only ever ridden Reckless. Him, a racer mix, an Ardennais, and an Eastern Pacer. I have never ridden a fight breed."
"How long have you been riding?"
"Since I could walk. My family has a weird tradition that once we can walk, we are then taken over to the Blazers. The Blazer who first comes and interacts with us will become our mount. It's like a mount chooses their rider ceremony. My family isn't the only one that does it. Old tradition for many. Makes me glad Reckless chose me. I've been riding him since before I can even remember. I hope he can handle me being gone. He's such a sweet guy. Nothing in his head, but I love him." He lifted up a bit. "Ah, perfect. I'll have to buy new stuff. All this gear is so old and dusty."
He cleaned off the bit and bridle, attached the bit to the bridle, then approached Starscream. "Open your mouth."
Starscream began to tremble as he slowly did so. Knock Out gently placed the bit inside, then buckled the bridle on. Starscream bit down on it, it definitely feeling different from bits he had in the past.
"You still have all your denta, correct?"
Starscream nodded. "Yes, why?"
"Some mounts, and racers, have certain molars pulled so the bit can rest on their gums. So, they feel the bit pressure more so. All the Blazers have had it done. I think most of the racers. I know sire still does it, but not sure about all the retired ones."
Starscream shook his helm. "No, that was never done to me."
"Alright, so I'll have to keep you over the bit." He then removed the saddle from the charger and powered it on. He placed it onto Starscream's back, activated the magnets, then tied the girth. Starscream gasped softly as the girth was tightened, Knock Out making it much tighter than Rocket ever had. "You good?"
Starscream nodded, trembling still.
"Why are you scared? There's no need to tremble."
"I-I just… Everyone who has ridden me has hurt me…"
"I'm not going to hurt you. You've seen me ride Reckless. Have you ever seen me hurt him?"
Starscream shook his helm.
"Exactly. Let's go flying!" He grabbed some extra reins, then trotted out of the loft.
Starscream followed him outside, his wings low, servos winging. He didn't look at the other Seekers they passed as Knock Out took him towards the pond.
"Okay, let me get these on." Knock Out began to attach the reins to the bit cheeks. "Okay, transform."
Starscream swallowed, shaking harder now. He slowly transformed and sat on his landing gear. Knock Out tossed the reins over, climbed up, and sat on the saddle. He tied his legs into the stirrups, took the reins in his left servo, and unsubspaced his riding whip. Starscream trembled more once seeing the whip.
"Okay, take off." Knock Out clicked his glossa.
Starscream activated his thruster and did so, gently taking off. He quickly noticed how loose the reins were, not taunt at all, and Knock Out had amazing posture. He sat so straight in the saddle and only leaned forward during take off. It made it feel like he wasn't wobbling or going to slide off, or anything. He actually felt like he was supposed to be there.
Knock Out very gently pulled the reins, evening Starscream out, and he was surprised it wasn't a hard yank. He was still nervous, but so far it was so much better than what he was use to.
"If you don't know what a command is it's okay. I won't punish you for it." Knock Out spoke. "I'm going to find out what you do know."
Starscream bit down on the bit, his pistons tensing, preparing for the whip, but the sting never came. He felt the bit being pulled to the left, and he banked. He obeyed as he banked left and right, ascended and descended, and performed a barrel roll and an aileron roll. The other pulls, verbal commands, and touches he didn't understand, and Knock Out simply noted to himself what these commands were.
"Let's see your top speed." Knock Out kicked his heels into the Seeker's sides.
Starscream flew faster, expecting to be lashed, but Knock Out only kicked his heels and verbally commanded him. Starscream flew faster and faster until he broke the sound barrier. He held it for a while before the reins were pulled and he slowed down. Knock Out turned him around and rode him back towards the mansion.
He startled when he felt Knock Out stroking his fuselage, leaning forward to pet him on the underside. He never was petted like this before. Rarely on the top by Rocket, but he was getting some real petting and… praise!
"That's a good, Seeker. You did good." Knock Out patted him. "See? Wasn't so bad!"
Starscream internally nodded. It actually wasn't. He had never been ridden before and not been struck by a whip, kicked with spurs, or lashed with the reins. Was this a normal ride? Or was Knock Out just a very rare kind of master?
Even when Knock Out pulled the reins to force him to land he was gentle. It hurt, of course, as the bit always hurt, but it didn't feel like his jaw was going to be ripped off, nor were the reins yanked. It was gently eased a little bit harder until he finally safely landed. Knock Out untied his legs, hopped off, and waited as Starscream transformed.
"You definitely need some work, but… I think you will do just fine."
Starscream perked his wings. "Really?"
"Mhmm." Knock Out untied the girth. "You did well."
Starscream fluttered his wings. "Thank you, master."
"Don't need to call me that." He removed the saddle.
"Right, sorry. Thank you, Knock Out."
"Of course." He unbuckled the bridle and removed the bit. "You should go take a break. I'm sure I tired you out."
"Y-yes, sir. I mean, yes, Knock Out! Um, thank you."
Knock Out gestured him away as he walked off to return the gear to the barn. Starscream fluttered his wings, smiling to himself. He was getting away from the ranch!
Starscream was excited that he impressed Knock Out so and would definitely be leaving the ranch! He hoped. He wasn't sure what else he should be doing to make sure of it. Oh, he was finally feeling somewhat hopeful for the future!
"Let's play some more, you dumb slagheap."
Starscream startled when Grit suddenly grabbed him and began to pull him down the hallway. He pulled back, trying not to go back to that room, but Grit wouldn't release his hold.
"Master, please!" Starscream begged, scraping his peds along the floor.
Grit managed to drag him to his room and close the door. Starscream whined as Grit grabbed a crop and then sat on his sofa. He pulled Starscream down hard, forcing him over his lap.
"Don't move, or else I'll tie you down and use the cable on you." Grit grunted, pushing Starscream's head to make him look away.
"Please, master, I-I didn't do anything!" Starscream began to cry, coolant already in his optics.
"I know. This is just for fun!" Grit chuckled before lashing the crop over Starscream's aft hard.
"Ah!" Starscream cried out, grasping the sofa before him. "Please! AH! Master, don't! Ah!"
He kept crying out from every lash, doing his best to not jump up and run away, knowing he would get worse if he did. He began to bawl between his screams, begging Grit to stop.
The door opened.
"What's going on here?" Princess asked as she approached, her wings perking.
"Having some fun." Grit giggled, never ceasing in lashing Starscream's aft as hard as he could.
Princess looked down at the bawling mess of a Seeker, her wings lowering. She then raised them and smiled.
"Why have fun with him when you could have me?" She purred, lifting Grit's chin up with her long, thin claws. "I'm sure his shrieking is such a turn off."
"I like hearing him suffer." Grit grunted, finally ceasing his beating on the grunt to look up at the femme.
"But he doesn't know how to please you like I do." She reached down and pushed Starscream, making him slowly remove himself off Grit's lap. She grasped Grit's codpiece before he could say anything. "Let the professional handle all of your needs and desires." She sat on his lap, managing to open his codpiece and stroke his spike.
Grit lustfully smiled up at her, his free servo grasping her neck. She kept her salacious smirk, soon having him hard and removing her own codpiece. She positioned herself and quickly sat on his spike, allowing him to penetrate her.
"Now," She gestured for Starscream to leave as she had Grit distracted. "Let me pleasure you, master."
Starscream quickly left the room and ran down the hallway. He didn't stop until he was in his room, where he closed the door, then curled on his berth and cried.
It was a joor later when someone softly knocked on the door before opening it.
"Starscream?" The gentle vocalizer asked as Princess entered the room.
Starscream looked up at her, exhausted from all his crying. "H-hey, Princess."
She closed the door behind her before approaching. "Hey, darling. Are you alright?"
Starscream shook his helm.
Princess sat on the berth beside him, her wings lowering. "I already figured as much, but Grit said he fragged you the other orbital cycle." She paused, noticing more coolant pooling in Starscream's optics. "I'm sorry that happened." She stroked his helm. "He is only supposed to use me. I'll inform Opulentus and he'll stop it."
"Why did he have to do it…?" Starscream asked softly, not looking at her.
"Grit is insatiable. He'd frag a wall socket if his spike fit." She grunted. "And it almost does…" She made the gesture of something being small.
"How do you even handle it?"
"It's something I've been doing since I was a sparkling. I have always been pleasuring the masters. It's what I was bred for… I had my gestation tank removed, and my pain tolerance raised so I could handle the worst BDSM, the cruelest beatings, the most insane sexual desires. So masters could watch their fake porn and perform it for real on me… I was augmented, bred, trained for this. You were not. That's why it's worse for you."
"Surely, you don't like it…?"
"I don't… I just… It's all I know. The race Seekers only know how to race, the Blazers only know how to be ridden, and I only know how to be fragged. Us Seekers all have our purpose to serve the masters. We are bred for it, trained since birth for it. I remember when I was first penetrated by a master, but I can't even remember when they first started to touch my body… It has always been that way. I do what I must."
"I hate it here… I hate how the masters treat us…"
"How else are we supposed to live? We can't live on our own. We depend on them for energon, a house, everything."
"The feral Seekers survive just fine."
"They are also hunted by the masters for fun." She stroked his wing. "I know you're upset, sweetspark. Just… Avoid Grit."
Starscream was silent a moment. "I want to move out with Knock Out. H-he said he wants to take a grunt with him."
She perked her wings. "Knock Out is a kind master. I've been around here a long time. I watched Opulentus, Grit, Knock Out.. All of them be born and raised. And Knock Out has always been different. He's the only grounder mech I've ever met who didn't frag me or asked to frag me. He's the only one who goes out of his way to be kind to us."
"I want him to take me with him. I-I even told him I am trained to be ridden and he took me for a test flight."
"That's good. Keep up with that. Stay by him. Show your obedience to him. Be a loyal cyberdog to him."
"How do I do that?"
"Have you seen how Reckless behaves with him? Be like that. The masters love it when you snuggle up to them and behave like you would die without them. They don't like us acting independent at all."
Starscream was silent a moment before speaking. "He won't… Frag me, right?"
"I doubt it. If he has never shown interest in me I don't think he's attracted to Seekers."
Starscream swallowed. "When should I start? Do I never leave his side?"
"Start tonight. Stay close to him. Eat from his servo, do whatever you must to make it clear to him that you will serve him faithfully. And don't let up."
Starscream slowly nodded.
Starscream walked to Knock Out's room that night. He hesitated, then opened the door. Knock Out looked up at him from his berth where he was watching TV.
"Oh, hey, Starscream. What's up?" Knock Out asked, not paying much attention to the Seeker.
Starscream approached him, anxious about sucking up to a master like this, but if it got him away from Grit and Opulentus…
The Seeker got onto the berth, then snuggled against the master, purring his engine loudly. Knock Out raised an optical ridge, surprised by this.
"Um, hey. I hope you're clean…"
Starscream nuzzled his faceplates into Knock Out's neck, which elicited a giggle from the speedster. Starscream fluttered his wings, making sure to purr his engine extra loud.
"You're being silly. Here, have some goodies." Knock Out handed him the bowl.
Starscream took them, nuzzled Knock Out some more, and fluttered his engine.
"You are acting just like Reckless. Why do all the weird Seekers like me?" Knock Out patted the grunt's helm. "If you want to spend the night that's fine. But not on the berth. This is reserved for cats and dogs."
"Yes, sir. I really appreciate you." He fluttered his wings even more.
"Mhmm," Knock Out patted his helm again. "Lower your engine, I'm trying to watch TV. Silly Seeker…"
Starscream did so, staying pressed up against Knock Out. He did feel happy about being with this speedster. He just felt… Calming to be around. Safe. Grit and Opulentus couldn't get him when he was here with Knock Out.
And that feeling was amazing.
"Oh, following me outside, now. Alright." Knock Out rolled his optics while smiling as Starscream trotted behind him. "You are a bit of an obsessive stalker, you know? Following me into the washroom is bad enough, but I guess I can't even escape you out here."
Starscream nodded, nudging him. Oh, he would never escape him!
Knock Out walked to the breeding barn where Opulentus and his brother, Locuplētis, were. Starscream rarely saw Locuplētis as he managed the operations at the breeding stables, and when in the mansion mostly kept to himself in his room. He was not outgoing like his brother, more shy and avoided crowds. He would sometimes take racers to tracks, but mostly just hung around the ranch or locked himself in his room.
"Hey, sire." Knock Out grunted, then smiled at his uncle. "Hey, uncle!"
"Hey, Knock Out." Locuplētis winked at his nephew.
"Where's Reckless?" Knock Out looked around.
"The grunts are bringing him and Valiant over as we speak." Opulentus apprised.
"Oh, that's what we agreed on designating him? I wanted him to be called Mr Snookums." He snickered, which earned him a judgmental glare from his sire.
Soon, Reckless and the new Blazer were led into the barn by Lightning and Stratus. Lighting perked his wings when he saw Starscream, but remained silent.
Reckless cried out with such joy when he saw Knock Out, dragging Lightning over and snuggling against his favorite grounder.
"Hey, big guy! I know, I'm happy to see you, too!" Knock Out unsubspaced energon goodies and began to give them to Reckless. "We got a surprise for you. You know I'll be leaving soon and can't take you with me, right? Yeah, I told you before. Well, I didn't want you to get lonely so you are getting a sparkling! Yeah? Like the sound of that?"
Reckless gave him a confused look, not sure what he meant. He whined, stomping a ped down and then shoving his face into Knock Out's chest plates.
Knock Out took the lead from Lightning. "You know how yesterday you were taken to Conduit and he removed the clamp? That's so that today you can be bred, get a sparkling, and not be so sad about my absence. Come here. I'll be right here for you."
Knock Out gently led Reckless over to one of the rape racks. Starscream lowered his wings as he watched, noticing that Lightning was suddenly beside him. He didn't look over at his friend, positive he hated him for moving into the house without even telling him.
"This is to make sure you don't get hurt. Come forward." Knock Out led Reckless so that he finally pressed his hips against the T shaped structure. "Good job!" He gave him some energon goodies. "Okay, now lean down. Good job!"
Reckless jumped when Opulentus and Locuplētis suddenly tied his waist to the T post, then his wrists were shackled. His wings lowered, beginning to tremble. He looked at Knock Out with scared, pleading optics, wanting to be reassured.
"It's okay. This is just for your safety." Knock Out petted his Blazer. "I don't want you getting hurt."
Reckless whined louder and tried to kick when his codpiece was opened by Locuplētis, the grounder putting on gloves before working on stimulating the Blazer. He pulled back at the chains, pleadingly looking to Knock Out for help. Knock Out simply petted him and spoke soothingly to him, doing nothing to stop the assault.
Valiant was being prepared by Stratus, the Blazer also whining and being uncomfortable about this. He was then led forward and forced to mount Reckless. Reckless kicked and whined, his wings flicking as he was thrust into. He said something to Knock Out, obviously asking for it to stop, but Knock Out simply kept petting him.
Starscream didn't want to watch anymore. He walked into the breeding stables, Lightning following him. He walked down the corridor, stopping when he saw Ruffian in her stall, looking very sparked and ready to give birth any orbital cycle now.
"Are you avoiding me?" Lightning finally broke the silence.
Starscream looked back at him. "No." He shook his helm.
"Well, kinda feels like it. We were separated for stellar cycles, I finally see you again and we are actually owned by the same master, and you just… Right away move inside the house without even telling me. And you don't come out to just say hi."
"I'm not avoiding you, Lightning. I just… I-I needed to get away from the racers. Losing Shameless…" Coolant began to pool in his optics. "It hurts so much… I-I need time away from everyone."
"I understand, but… You should have told me. I want to support you, Stars. You've been my best friend for so long. We grew up together. Talk to me. I'm here for you."
Starscream wrung his servos. "I-I might be moving away with Knock Out. He's leaving to go to… College. And he wants to take a grunt with him. I asked him to take me. H-he'd come back to visit, so I can still see you." He quickly added the last part.
Lightning slowly nodded. "I understand. I get it. You need to get away from these afts. Are you sure Knock Out is the best option?"
"He's the only one who hasn't hurt me…"
"I hope that continues. You be careful and don't get close to him or any master. We can't trust them."
Starscream nodded. "I won't. I don't trust them."
Lightning nodded, then turned to Ruffian. "Will you be here to see her give birth to his sparklings?"
Starscream looked over at the racer femme. "I should be. When will she go into labor?"
"Soon. You'd have to ask Hypersonic."
"Is he here now?"
"Probably, let's look."
They walked into the outdoor enclosure and looked around. Hypersonic was indeed there with several of the other grunts who cared for the brood Seekers and their young. They made their way through all the sparklings and carriers until they got to Hypersonic.
"Hey!" Lightning waved at him.
"Hello," Hypersonic grunted as he picked up a racer toddler and helped him climb onto a playset. "What are you two up to?"
"Starscream had some questions about the brood Seekers."
"Oh, right, um," Starscream stuttered. "I-I was just wondering when Ruffian was due. I-I would like to be there for when she gives birth."
"Right, because she carries Shamelessly Rich's creations. Should be a couple of orns. They tend to go into labor earlier with twins. You know she's not the only one sparked by him. We have a few others carrying his spawn."
"How many?"
"Eleven others. Including the last brood Seeker he ever bred with. She'll be due in four decacycles."
"C-can I meet her?"
"Sure." Hypersonic gestured for them to follow him. They walked around some until they came to a racer femme who was relaxing in the sunlight. "This is Wild Kiss." He gestured at her. "She's the last one to have been covered by Shamelessly Rich. Once she gives birth there will be no more offspring from him. Unless they are artificially inseminated, which I think Opulentus wants to do with Ruffian."
Starscream swallowed, looking at the pink and red racer femme. She was beautiful, and he was glad at least Shamelessly Rich's last partner would ensure his creations would be pretty.
"W-when she goes into labor… C-can I be there?" He asked, coolant filling his optics.
"Yeah, I'll talk to the masters. We'll make sure you are here for the births."
"Thank you." Starscream drooped his wings, watching Wild Kiss. He looked over and saw Winter with a tiny sparkling, even from the distance he noticed those golden optics. So many of his creations were here, so much of his presence still thriving.
"Help clean!"
"Oof!" Hypersonic grunted when Hurricane suddenly shoved a muddy sparkling into his arms. "Thanks… I appreciate it." He grunted.
Hurricane snickered, also covered in mud. "I-I-I-I-I-I got him o-out of mud!"
"And looks like you got into the mud yourself."
Hurricane nodded, knowing it was true. "I clean, n-now!"
"Okay, go get yourself cleaned. Can you also bathe this sparkling? Who is this?"
"Lil Morning…. Star!"
"Oh, Lil Morning Star's creation. Where is she? Did you steal a sparkling from their carrier?"
"Nooooooooooooooooooooo…" Hurricane shook his head as he smiled.
"Dammit, Hurricane…. She's going to attack someone. We need to find her before she murders anyone." He lifted the Seekerlet to his hip. "I'm sorry, I need to get back to work. You guys can hang around with the brood Seekers."
"Thanks, Hypersonic. We'll probably be leaving soon." Lightning replied.
Hypersonic nodded as he started to walk away, Hurricane following him as he blabbered off about something.
Starscream vented a sigh. He probably would be summoned back to the mansion soon. He started to walk away and Lightning followed him. The two returned to the breeding barn where Reckless was having a third round with Valiant. Starscream felt weird being here where he had to see Shamelessly Rich getting it on with hundreds of racers. It was nothing but weird memories. The discomfort of seeing him doing that, but also missing him so much and remembering how he was when they were waiting together.
He missed that racer so much…
Reckless was forced through a fourth round before finally the masters decided he had to been sparked. He whined as he was unchained, quickly stepping away from the rape rack and flicking his wings.
"Hey, it's okay." Knock Out tried calming him down, but he would have none of it. "Reckless! It's over. You're probably sparked so stay calm. You don't want to kill it."
Reckless whined, looking so betrayed. He hissed at Valiant, backing himself towards the open door. Knock Out held onto the lead, trying to keep him in place, but he was easily dragging the speedster along.
"Knock Out, let him go. He needs to cool off after all of that." Opulentus grunted.
"But he's scared."
"It was his first time being bred. He'll be fine. Let him go before he hurts you."
Knock Out vented as he pulled Reckless' face closer. "Don't do anything crazy. You need to take care of yourself so that the sparkling makes it to term." He then smiled. "I can't wait to see your sparkling!"
He removed the halter and Reckless wasted no time scrambling out of the barn, transforming, and flying away. Valiant was released next, and he took his time to walk out and fly off.
"Is he mad at me?" Knock Out looked at his sire.
"Nah, he'll be fine. They're always worked up after their first time." He gave a dismissive wave. "When that Blazer is born he's all yours. If you ever want to take Reckless with you and his sparkling, you can do so."
"When I get a place with land I'll take him. Or I'll inherit the ranch and just breed more Blazers. ALL the Blazers!" He giggled.
"At least you're finally showing interest in Seekers…" Opulentus grunted.
"Starscream! Let's go back inside." Knock Out snapped his claws for Starscream to follow.
Starscream turned to Lightning. "I'll see you later."
Lightning hugged him. "Stay safe, Stars. I love you."
"Love you, too."
Starscream continued to stay close to Knock Out, nuzzling him, recharging in his room, and never leaving his side. He kept Knock Out's room and washroom clean, gave Knock Out every meal on a platter, and never once questioned him when given an order. Grit thankfully stayed away, and Starscream felt more at ease being all snuggly with Knock Out.
And all of this worked.
"Yo, sire!"
"Yes?" Opulentus didn't look up from his computer monitor as he sat at his desk.
Knock Out trotted over, poked the olfactory sensor of a stuffed racer, then sat on the chair across from his sire. "I am ready to make a purchase."
Opulentus looked up at him. "What are you buying…?"
"A Seeker."
"You don't have to buy any from me. Just take whichever one you want. Unless it's one of my champions… Or Princess."
"Ew. No, I am buying a grunt, and I'm gonna pay!"
"Why do you want to pay?"
"Because this is my first official Seeker! I want it to be all official with a deed and everything." He smiled, leaning his elbows on the desk.
"Reckless is yours. He's been yours since you were a toddler."
"But he's like… Family property. Passed down the generations. I want to be official with my first non family/passed down the generations Seeker. So, I will pay and you will take my Shanix."
"You drive a hard bargain. Fine." Opulentus turned his chair so he fully faced his son. "Which Seeker are you buying?"
"Starscream."
"You sure you want him?" He raised an optical ridge.
"Yes. He's well behaved, he's house broken, he is good at cleaning, he is somewhat trained to be ridden, he's sweet, and I think he's a perfect fit for what I need. He's also not super tied to the ranch so won't feel homesick. I want 'im!" He smiled.
"Fine, Starscream it is." Opulentus pulled out a datapad and began to type in it. "The amount is zero Shanix."
"No, I'm paying."
"You're not paying me."
"I want to. This is an official purchase. I need to pay."
"One Shanix."
"A thousand."
"One Shanix."
"A hundred." Knock Out unsubspaced a bag and dropped it onto the desk.
Opulentus looked at it, then at his son. "Fine, but I'm giving it back to you on your emergence cycle."
"Yay!" Knock Out's smile grew, his peds bouncing some.
Opulentus continued to mess with his datapad before holding it up to Knock Out. "Sign here, write the date."
Knock Out did so and handed the datapad back to his sire.
Opulentus messed with it some more, signed it himself, then forwarded a copy of the deed to his son. "Congratulations, Knock Out. You have just purchased a grunt Seeker, number 7709, designated Starscream, from Winstar Ranch."
Knock Out smiled broadly. "Thanks, sire!" He leaned over the desk and pecked a kiss to his sire's cheekplates. "Love you!"
"Love you, too."
Knock Out trotted out of the office, unsubspaced his datapad, and opened his Email. He smiled, seeing the signed deed. It was official. Starscream was now his property.
He quickly went into his room where that Seeker was cleaning.
"Guess what, Starscream?" He paused for dramatics. "I just bought you!" He held up the deed. "You're mine. See this? This says that I own you, no one can take you away from me, and not even Grit can touch you. You're going to move with me to college!"
Starscream's wings perked, his optics widened, then he smiled. "R-really?"
"Yup! Oh, I should get you a new collar! A-and new saddle and bridle, and we should give you a new paintjob." He suddenly hugged Starscream. "You're my first Seeker purchase! ARGH! I'm adulting so hard lately! Come, come, let's look at collars and paint job ideas! I want to make you match! You're gonna be so CUTE!"
Starscream was not expecting this kind of a reaction, but he felt so relieved. He wasn't going to stay on the ranch! Grit and Opulentus can't hurt him now! He was safe…. Knock Out owned him!
Starscream walked towards the breeding stables, his wings low, anxious about being seen, but he needed to be there. He walked inside, stopping when Lightning saw him.
"Whoa."
Starscream swallowed. "Is it bad…?"
"Um, no, just… Wow."
Starscream wrung his servos. He looked down at the new paint job Knock Out had given him the other orbital cycle. He was now mostly red with silver as the secondary color. He looked more like Knock Out, with even the same designs painted on his arms that Knock Out had. His optic liner was very… thick and obvious, and designs were painted all over his wings, similar to the ones Princess had adorning her body.
His entire body had been buffed and waxed, and covered in a shiny, protective coating. His claws sharpened, denta work done, and everything looked so new and pristine. He was like a completely different Seeker.
"Um, she's this way." Lightning gestured for him to follow.
They walked down the corridor to the stall where Ruffian was. The femme was lying on the floor, heavily intaking air, in obvious discomfort. Beside her was Conduit, monitoring her vitals, Hypersonic who had everything ready for the sparklings, Hurricane, who was prepared to help, and Snowstorm.
Starscream stepped into the stall and sat on the ground nearby the femme who carried his lover's creations. He reached over and stroked her arm, giving her support in this stressful moment. She moaned softly, wings flicking, then relaxed again.
They waited for nearly a joor before the first twin began to make their way out. Starscream anxiously watched as Ruffian moved about, trying to find the best position to deliver her sparkling. She finally settled on leaning against the berth while on her knees.
Conduit didn't do too much, simply monitored her, but allowed her to do all the work on her own. Eventually, the helm of the first twin appeared, and Hypersonic grabbed a towel. He helped her deliver the first one, a mechling. Conduit immediately checked over the sparkling, then allowed Snowstorm and Hurricane to clean off the little one.
"Isn't he adorable?" Snowstorm asked Hurricane.
"Y-y-yeah!" He nodded with a grin.
Ruffian looked over at her sparkling, wanting to take him back, but she felt more pain. She groaned as the second one began to make their exit.
"You got this." Hypersonic patted her shoulder.
Snowstorm handed Starscream the newborn, now wrapped in a clean blanket. Starscream looked down at the little one, who was softly crying. He swallowed, this sparkling not old enough to identify the creators too well, as the features were still developing, but he knew this was Shamelessly Rich's son, and that alone… Made it difficult.
He swallowed as the coolant pooled in his optics. This could have been their son…
"Good job!" Hypersonic congratulated Ruffian when the second sparkling, a femmling, emerged.
Conduit checked over the sparkling before Hurricane cleaned her off. Ruffian stood up, a little wobbly on her legs, but eager to see her creations. She snorted, and reached for her son. Starscream handed him over, and the exhausted femme sat on the berth, smiling down at her newborn. Snowstorm handed Starscream the femmling.
"Hey," Starscream greeted the little one, who unlike her brother, decided to fall into recharge.
"They're fine." Conduit grunted as he brushed off the bedding from his legs. "Monitor them as needed."
The grounder left, and Hypersonic and Snowstorm began to remove the soiled bedding and put new bedding down. Hurricane got his face in Starscream's, which Starscream didn't appreciate.
"I-I-I-I-Is tiny!" He pointed to the sparkling Starscream held. "Th-they-they grow fast! A-a-and eat a-a-a lot. L-look, see?" He gestured to the sparkling. "This becomes th-that!" He then pointed to Ruffian.
"Yeah, I know…" Starscream grunted, but Hurricane giggled at his own brilliance.
"You need to lie down and rest now." Hypersonic old Ruffian. "Just relax. We'll bring you everything you need."
Ruffian looked over at her daughter, then reached out. Starscream stood up and brought the little one over to her carrier. He waited until Ruffian had lied down to place the newborn on the berth beside her. Ruffian pulled them close, holding her sparklings against her warm chassis.
Starscream swallowed, wishing he was the one who had just delivered Shamelessly Rich's twins. He wanted to be the carrier holding them close… He wanted to be a carrier…
He stroked the sparklings' on their helms, staying with them as long as possible until he was finally shooed away by Hypersonic. The stall was locked up, and Ruffian was left alone to rest and bond with her twins. Starscream walked past Lightning, coolant streaming down his cheekplates. Despite how much it hurt, he was still glad he had been there to witness Shamelessly Rich's twins be born.
It would be the closest thing to him ever having a living sparkling with his lover.
"Be safe out there." Silverstorm said as he hugged Starscream. "Don't talk to strangers, look both ways before crossing the street, and don't eat anything weird."
"I'll try to remember all of that." Starscream rolled his optics as he hugged his friend.
"Please, don't die." Lightning hugged Starscream once Silverstorm released him. "I love you too much for that to happen."
"I won't die. You better not die." Starscream squeezed him.
"I won't. I promise."
Starscream continued hugging his friends goodbye as Knock Out and his family prepared to leave. Knock Out had packed his belongings, leaving his furniture and some other items behind in his room, not wanting to lug it with him. He subspaced what he could and tied the rest onto a Blazer's back.
Flightline, Eclipse, Warrior, Reckless, and Marshall were all geared and waiting to leave, Reckless feeling a little uneasy now since he was sparked. He had vomited that morning, but despite this he was still being forced to work.
"Ready, Starscream?" Knock Out called over to him as he grabbed Reckless' reins.
"Yes, coming!" Starscream turned back to all his friends and gave them one final hug. "I'll see you guys when he visits."
"And you better come to the barn to see us!" Silverstorm poked him with a claw. "No more hiding inside."
"I promise. I will come straight to you guys the moment I'm allowed to."
"Good."
"Be safe, sweetie." Nebula kissed him on the cheekplates. "Have wonderful adventures out there." She smiled.
"I will." Starscream smiled back at her. "Bye, guys! And thanks for being the best."
"Heesh, enough with the sloppy slag! Go on!" Silverstorm waved him away. "Go see what this college slag is all about!"
Starscream nodded, smiling but also feeling anxious and sad. He was leaving his friends and the world he knew behind, but he would be getting away from Grit, bad memories, and Opulentus. He waved goodbye as he trotted over to Knock Out. The speedster attached the end of a chain to his collar, the other end tethered to Reckless' saddle.
Knock Out mounted the Blazer, the rest of his family and Nacreous already on theirs. The Blazers and Starscream all transformed and took off, flying off towards the city.
Starscream stayed close to Reckless, the chain plenty long for him to keep a distance, but he didn't want to be too far from Knock Out. It wasn't a terribly long flight to the city, only a little less than a joor, at an easy-going pace. Starscream could see one of the racetracks he had been to in the distance, amongst the skyscrapers that filled the city like barren trees in a forest. He had never flown over the city before, not this one at least, so seeing it from this view was amazing. He was going to live here!
They began to descend, and soon landed before several townhouses. Starscream transformed and swallowed, remembering the one he had last lived in with Chandelle and Vertex. The Blazers were all tethered to a tethering post and Starscream released from his chain. Knock Out skipped over to one of the houses, unlocked the door, and gestured his family and Starscream inside.
"Tada! Welcome to my house!" Knock Out smiled, flaring his arms out.
"Nice." Nacreous nodded as he looked around.
"It's tiny." Grit grunted.
"That's because it's not a mansion, dipslag." Knock Out deadpanned.
"Be nice to your brother." Pulchra chastised.
Starscream looked around. It was larger than the townhouse that Vertex had owned. When walking in there was a Seeker room to the right, somewhere Seeker mounts could remain tethered so they didn't have to be outside. The left had an energon room, with an open floor plan so you could see into the living room over an island counter. The living room had a couple of couches and a large vid screen, as well as a small table. There was no dining table, something Knock Out still needed to buy. From the living room there were stairs to the second floor, as well as a staircase to the basement. The walls were barren, and it seemed pretty sterile. Starscream wasn't use to such an empty space.
"Do you need help decorating it?" Pulchra asked her middle creation.
"I'll do it. I'm thinking a little bit at a time as I'm still deciding what I want."
"Don't forget resale value…" Opulentus grunted.
"I'm gonna be living here a while, sire. It's fine."
"Yes, but still. When you do move you don't want it to be hard to sale."
"Oh, let him have fun. He's the first one to go to college in your family in several generations." Pulchra gave her mate a look.
"Because we have done fine with racing and breeding race Seekers. No college education needed!" Opulentus threw his servos up. "If this college endeavor fails-"
"It won't fail." Knock Out replied sternly. "I'm going to become a doctor and have my own practice. I won't need to jack off Seekers to provide for my family."
"Alright, but when it does fail…"
"Opie, that's enough." Pulchra snapped at him. "Help your son get his property inside."
Knock Out turned to Starscream and grabbed his wrist. "Come on, I want to show you your room!"
Starscream was pulled along as Nacreous followed them. The three went upstairs where they were greeted by a small hallway. One door was to the master berthroom, two more doors to other berthrooms, and a washroom in the middle. Knock Out led Starscream into the berthroom closest to the master berthroom.
"This is your room!" He gestured as he released the Seeker. "And you can decorate it however you like." He smiled.
Starscream perked his wings, looking over the room that only had a berth and a desk, nothing else. "I-I can decorate it?"
"Yup! Let me know what you want and I'll buy it for you. If you want a vidscreen, some shelves, a rug, whatever. Just can't be too expensive. We can also paint the walls whatever you want. But it's all yours! Go wild!"
"Should cover it with pictures of strippers." Nacreous smirked.
"Don't give him ideas." Knock Out rolled his optics.
"You guys are gonna have so much fun… Meanwhile I'm stuck with Grit." Nacreous vented a sigh.
"Maybe I can buy you next." Knock Out shrugged. "Now since Wraith is there maybe sire won't be so eager to keep his hybrid."
"Being a hybrid in the city is pretty scary…"
"Well, let me know. I totally would be fine with moving you in with us." Knock Out then trotted out the door. "Come see my room!"
They followed him into the master berthroom where a large berth, desk, chair, and several boxes on the berth were. It was pretty empty as well.
"What's all of that?"
"Oh, I had stuff delivered here already." Knock Out replied as he looked at them, "Some of this stuff is for you!" He smiled at Starscream. "We'll go through it later."
"What's the rest?"
"Oh, I got myself a rug for this room. I should have my new lamps in here. This is a bookcase I'll have to assemble… Um, oh, this is paint. Just slag I need to survive."
"Uh huh."
Starscream watched as more things were brought inside, and Knock Out and his family helped get items to where they belonged. Dishes and energon placed in the energon room, Knock Out's cleaning and beauty products put in his washroom, his property from his room put into this new master berthroom, etc. Starscream unsubspaced some of his few belongings and put it in his room. He paused when he unsubspaced the tag he once wore on his wing from the Seeker mill, then pictures of him with Chandelle. The coolant dripped from his optics as he held the urn of his miscarried sparkling. He subspaced them again, never wanting any master to take these things, and more, away from him.
It was several joors later when everything was unloaded and put away that Knock Out's family prepared to leave.
"You be safe, my beautiful, sweet, perfect son." Pulchra kissed Knock Out all over his faceplates as she hugged him tightly, coolant in her optics. "I'm going to call you every orbital cycle, understand? And you have to answer."
"I will, carrier." Knock Out dutifully nodded. "Don't cry. You're going to make me cry."
"You're all grown up and taking the next big step in your life. I'm just very proud of you and I'm going to miss you."
"I'm going to visit you every chance I get, carrier."
"But for how long? You'll get yourself a mate and have sparklings and then I will probably not see you much!"
"I'll always visit. I promise."
"Stay away from drugs." Opulentus piped up. "Don't go to parties, don't take anything anyone offers you, don't agree to be in anyone's film…"
"I'm not a whore, sire. I'm going to focus on school, and studying, and calling carrier." Knock Out squeaked when his carrier squeezed him a little too tight.
"You better." Opulentus grunted before he managed to pry Knock Out away from his carrier and hug him. "Stay safe. And call me if you need anything. Shanix, a lawyer, a hitmech…"
"Oh my gosh…."
"I'll be his lawyer." Grit chuckled before embracing his younger brother. "I'll miss beating the slag out of you! Until the holidays. Guess I just gotta beat Nacreous more!"
"Be nice to him." Knock Out glared at his brother as he was squeezed. "If you hurt Nacreous I'll burn down everything you love. You will never know peace…"
"Mhmm." Grit roughed up Knock Out's head after releasing him.
"Thanks for that." Nacreous hugged Knock Out. "I'll miss you! Call me, too?"
"Absolutely!" Knock Out hugged him back.
The red speedster then trotted over to Reckless. "And you, big guy, you better be good!"
Reckless fluttered his wings and nuzzled against Knock Out. He purred his engine, pausing to touch over his abdomen where his insides felt off.
"Eat all your supplements, okay? You need to take care of not just yourself but that sparkling. I'll be there when you deliver. I promise." He kissed Reckless on the cheekplates. "I'll see you during break! Bye, my perfect Seeker!" He hugged the Blazer tightly before releasing him and stepping back.
Pulchra hugged him again, then they all mounted their Blazers. Reckless was confused when Opulentus took his reins and pulled him to follow Flightline. The sparked Seeker kept looking back, not sure why he had to leave his favorite master behind.
Knock Out waved his family off as they flew away on their Blazers. He waited until they were out of sight before spinning on a tire and smiling at Starscream.
"Just you and I, now! Come on!" He grabbed Starscream's wrist and pulled him inside.
He took Starscream to his room and began to open the boxes. He set aside items he would need to put together or decorate with for later, finally squealing when he opened the box he was searching for.
"Come here." He gestured Starscream over.
The Seeker did so, and Knock Out unsubspaced a welder. He removed Starscream's collar, then took out a new collar from the box. Starscream's optics widened some. This collar was red and covered in jewels and bedazzled. It had a large bow as well, and silver designs he couldn't read.
"What does it say…?" He asked slowly.
"That's your designation, silly. Here, lower your head."
Starscream obeyed and Knock Out clamped the collar on. He adjusted it until it fit perfectly. He messed with the remote for a moment, turning it on so that the collar could now be used to zap the Seeker if necessary.
"Gah! You look so cute!" Knock Out clapped excitedly. He subspaced the remote, then tore through more boxes. "Yas! Come here!"
Starscream found himself covered in jewelry on his wings, wrists, and a tiara on his helm. All with silver chains and red jewels. Next, Knock Out opened up a red bridle with silver bedazzle. He attached a new bit to it, and put it on the Seeker, adjusting it until it fit.
Lastly, he removed a new saddle from its box, this also being red, covered in silver bedazzle, and had Knock Out's designation on it. He put it on the Seeker, adjusted it, and squealed as he excitedly clapped.
"You look so amazinnnnnngggg!" He repeatedly small jumped as he stood by the Seeker looking in the large mirror in the washroom. "I have more things on the way that should be getting delivered soon."
Starscream's optics widened, but he remained silent while he internally panicked.
"You're the cutest Seeker there is. Like, people are gonna be so jealous of you." Knock Out nodded sagely before trotting back into his room.
Starscream vented a sigh, scratching at the new collar. He followed Knock Out back into the room, biting down on the bit he still wore. He swallowed when he saw what Knock Out had just removed from another box.
"Isn't it cute?!" Knock Out smiled as he held up a red, bedazzled riding whip. He tapped the end across his palm, making that awful sound that Starscream knew meant pain. "It matches all your other gear." He set it on the desk, then tore into another box. "I got some stuff for me, too."
Starscream swallowed. "Um, c-could I rest?"
"Oh, right." Knock Out walked over and began to remove the saddle, then he took off the bridle. "Yeah, go rest. We have my first class tomorrow. Make sure to fuel plenty!"
Starscream nodded, handing him the tiara. "I will, sir."
"No need to call me that."
"Yes, sorry. Thank you, Knock Out."
"Mhmm!" Knock Out smiled at him.
Starscream walked into his room and lied down on the berth. He swallowed, anxious about his future with Knock Out. It surely would be nothing like with his previous masters, right?
He could only hope.
The most expensive racehorse ever sold was for 70 MILLION. A stallion meant to be studded to make champions... Some Saudi Arabian racehorse... Imagine if that money went to charity instead... So, 40 million on Ruffian still isn't the most.
Which, Ruffian was a real mare who was said to be the fastest mare ever. She was raced around the same time as Secretariat, and many believed she might have been able to beat him. Secretariat is the fastest horse ever to be recorded. They separate mares from stallions, but Ruffian was the size of a stallion and so fast they did race her with the males. Her final race was at Belmont (the track where they have the final leg of the triple crown and the same track that the New York government gave HALF A BILLION to in 2023 instead of to schools), and she broke her ankle in the middle of it. The jockey claimed he "couldn't stop her," but I say bullshit. She was being forced to run so hard because he wanted money. She was taken to surgery to fix her ankle so they could breed her, but when she woke from surgery she was in so much pain and panicking she broke that ankle again and another bone. They euthanized her, without knocking her out, so she died screaming in pain. To further mock her, they buried her at the racetrack she was enslaved at and ultimately died at.
In 2023 her body was removed and buried at a breeding slave ranch in Kentucky as they are doing construction at Belmont to make it even deadlier. Belmont, on average, kills the most horses in the US every year.
Also, don't you guys love Grit?
Again, Knock Out may seem out of character because he is a child still. He's 19 right now, he hasn't lived through war, he hasn't met Breakdown, etc. So, yeah, he's not acting the way he does in comics or the Prime Cartoon. Like Starscream, he is still becoming the person we know them as. Starscream is slowly becoming more sassy, and he slowly is becoming less spoiled bratty. But I also want you to notice that despite how much he loves Reckless he still exploited him. That might be foreshadowing for what will happen to Starscream.
But, yay! Knock Out finally owns Starscream! Just took 510 pages to get there! We are now in act four! Starscream will be all dressed up, and treated like a doll!
Are you guys anxious about Starscream's new owner? What shenanigans do you thing will transpire at the college? Will Knock Out stay away from drugs? Will Starscream finally be happy? Will a certain blue truck that cracks dad jokes make an appearance?! Will Seekers ever be freed?!
Guess you just gotta keep reading to find out!