On the Fields of Freedoms Edge - Chapter 7
Title: On the Fields of Freedoms Edge
Rating: R
Pairing: Megatron/Optimus Prime
Warning: Mentions of non-con, mpreg (highlight for warnings, spoilers)
Summary: TF Prime. Optimus goes to extreme measures to stop Megatron once and for all
AN: OH MY GOODNESS GUYS IT TOOK ME FOREVER TO UPDATE. Hopefully I'm going to be quicker updating now that I've got a rough outline of how I want the rest of the fic to flow.
As always the response has been amazing and all your reviews have really motivated me to buckle down and get this chapter out. Having said that I don't know that I'm 100% happy with the chapter, it was a tough one to write for various reasons but I hope you all enjoy it and if it seems OOC or weird let me know, constructive criticism is a writers best friend.
Once again thanks for your reviews and I hope you enjoy. :D
For a mech with no face Soundwave had remarkably expressive body language.
Megatron had long ago learned to read Soundwaves moods and thoughts through the subtle tilt of his helm and the motions of his body.
The moment Soundwave arrived in his office quarters the slender black mech did a literal double take, his face screen resetting itself a number of times before he apparently convinced himself he was not experiencing a malfunction.
To Soundwaves credit he made a swift recovery and strode forward, standing before Megatron expectantly.
“As you can see, Soundwave, I am now in possession of a mechling.” Soundwaves head tilted, looking like one of the squirrels from The Pit, much to Megatrons amusement. “I am sure you have many questions. Indeed, I have questions of my own that have yet to be answered but this is neither the time nor the place. I suspect that in a very short while we will be contacted by the Autobots, no doubt wondering why I am in possession of this mechling.”
Soundwave didn’t respond, his focus entirely on Orion who was likewise intently focused on the new mech.
A single tentacle rose from Soundwaves back, making its way into Orions reach. Megatron watched the interaction with calm optics. There were perhaps only two mechs he would trust with Orions welfare, Soundwave was one of them, the other being Prime who would never hurt his own spawn. He allowed the contact between the two.
A second tentacle joined the first and Orion was gently lifted out of Megatrons servos.
The Decepticon commander watched them closely, partially out of curiosity but more out of fascination.
Orion squirmed a bit in the hold of the tentacles but took his cue from the mechs around him and was otherwise calm. Soundwave slowly brought the mechling into his waiting servos, holding the tiny bot with an ease that surprised Megatron. Soundwave was not what one would consider to be a nurturing mech and yet he moved with a great deal more confidence around the mechling than even Megatron himself; not that Megatron would consider himself to be an authority on mechling care. It was strange to see those long digits wrapped around a mechling with care instead of clicking furiously on a keyboard and Megatron began to think he may have to reevaluate his views on Soundwave. The unlikely mech was exhibiting skills that Megatron had never thought to attribute to his Third and it only impressed him further that Soundwave seemed to have no area which was beyond his ability to master.
Orion, meanwhile, seemed greatly confused by Soundwaves face or lack thereof, reaching up to touch the black screen
Soundwave tilted his helm down and allowed the mechling to touch the flat surface, allowing soft colours to filter across it much to Orions amusement.
Megatron winced slightly as Orions delight became too enthusiastic and he delivered a sharp blow to the screen. Soundwave didn’t seem to mind, flashing bright fractal patterns across his screen, Orion burst out in a delighted shriek at the increasingly vivid and complex patterns.
“You have a way with the mechling. You continue to surprise me, Soundwave.”
Soundwave-Believed-Mechlings-Exterminated-How-Have-You-Come-Into-Possession-Of-One?
“Through circumstances that were previously unknown to us. Reproduction.”
Soundwave was eerily still.
“I have obtained knowledge that could be essential to the continuation of our species.”
Tentacles once again emerged from Soundwaves back, extending until they hovered at Megatrons helm. Soundwave silently asking him permission to extract the information directly from his leaders processor.
Megatron nodded once, shuttering his optics as Soundwave formed a hardline connection. Though he had seen this done on other mechs Soundwave had never before initiated a connection with Megatron, both out of respect and lack of necessity. The experience wasn’t as unpleasant as he might have imagined, merely disorienting as Soundwave worked with the deft experience of a mech greatly used to finding and extracting information. The touch in his processor was delicate, almost ignorable and it was over quickly enough that he didn’t feel any lasting discomfort.
He knew Soundwave was capable of a far more deadly extraction though he didn’t advertise his abilities openly. There was a fine line between inspiring fearful respect and inspiring blind fear. Soundwave was by far the most dangerous mech in his command, paradoxically the mech he trusted the most. The one mech he would ever willingly let into his processor.
Soundwave processed the information he had received and fed back a recording containing key lines of dialogue involving slave coding, Autobots and Orion gathered from Megatrons memories.
“Yes. Do you see, Soundwave. The Autobots have unwittingly handed us the key to our revival.”
The blank faceplate of his Communications Officer tilted towards Orion then up to Megatron.
Autobot-Actions-Unforgivable.
“Perhaps. The Autobots have stooped far lower than I could ever have imagined, driven by desperation or a misguided sense of mercy I know not. Yet I find myself … conflicted in how to approach the matter. Such actions justify retaliation but I am reluctant to take a course of action that will lead to more death, be it Decepticon or Autobot.”
Soundwave was silent.
Megatron moved restlessly, pacing slowly up and down the room. He couldn’t fathom what was going on in Soundwaves processor but he knew his words must come as a surprise to the other mech. Or not. Soundwave often seemed to know his thoughts better than Megatron himself did.
“Are you surprised, Soundwave? That I would choose not to seek vengeance? I am justified as never before to exterminate those wretched Autobots. I have suffered humiliations I had long thought myself above. In some ways I was brought back to the mech I was before I choose to call myself Megatron. A humbling experience but one that has given me a perspective I believe will serve me well. You never knew the mech I was but he was a good mech, better than I am now,” he murmured, half to Soundwave and half to himself. “I believe if he could see what has become of myself and Cybertron he would be ashamed. We’ve all become that which we once vowed to fight against. Haven’t we, Soundwave?”
Soundwave played an audio filed back at him. A file of himself so long ago on Cybertron.
‘Join me, Soundwave, with you at my side I will lead Cybertron into a new Golden Age.’
Megatron grimaced. Soundwaves message was clear. He had failed in his promise.
“You have seen me stray and yet you have followed at my side. Do you still believe in our goals, Soundwave? Do you still have faith in your Master?”
“Faith: never wavered. Soundwave: loyal to Megatron.”
Megatron stared steadily at his Third, feeling gratitude so deep he would never be able to put it into words.
“Then I will do my utmost to reward your loyalty. Cybertron may never have another Golden Age but I will see to it that our race will continue, on Cybertron or this planet or another, I do not know but I will see the rebirth of the Cybertronian race. Decepticon as well as Autobot.”
Soundwave held Orion close and relayed an audio file, long buried and even longer forgotten, that sent a chill through Megatrons frame as though a ghost of the past had risen before him.
‘’Til all are one.’
***
The arrival of a mechling on board the Nemesis wasn’t kept silent for long. After his talk with Soundwave he ordered his Third to gather his lieutenants for a meeting. The plan was to inform his lieutenants of the existence of the mechling, its parentage and their new plans, in that order, and eventually make a ship-wide announcement once he was certain there would be no mutiny from those closest to him.
The realities of living on a ship was that there were no secrets and if there was a secret to be found it was quickly rooted out and spread like a plague among the crew.
Being the Leader of the Decepticon Army didn’t offer any protection from the grapevine and mere kilks after exiting his meeting with Soundwave Megatron found himself being followed through the corridors of his ship.
To the credit of his crew they were doing a passable job of not being obvious but Megatron was no fool and had a natural paranoia ingrained in him after years on the front lines of battle. He recognized spying when he saw it. As little as he cared for the petty gossip of his crew Megatron found himself becoming increasingly ill tempered as mech after mech passed him or just happened to take a wrong turn down the corridor he was walking. By the time he was half way to his destination the crew wasn’t even bothering to hide their curiosity and he found corridor after corridor being occupied by any number of Vehicons and Insecticons and even drones, all straining their neck cables for a glimpse of the sleeping mechling cradled in his servos.
He might have ordered them away or lost his temper and demanded to know how his ship was running with no crew to keep her afloat but he didn’t.
The gossip could only serve his purposes. Let his crew speak; let them share tales of the mysterious mechling. Let them hope.
If, no, when, a means of wide spread reproduction was found he would be hailed as a hero. The savior of the Cybertronian race. Allowing them to see Orion would only serve to spark embers of an idea that he planned to fan into a great fire. The idea that hope was not lost, that their years of fighting and searching had not been in vain and an end was in sight.
Every Cybertonian lived with the fear of being the last, outliving every Decepticon and Autobot and slowly rusting away, alone on an alien planet. That fear kept them fighting even when there was nothing left to fight for because what else was a doomed race to do with their time but carry on as they always had. The mere sight of a mechling would do much to ease the way to peace, providing a way out of the fight and something new to focus their energies on.
In hindsight perhaps allowing the crew to see Orion would work in his advantage. There was nothing like pressure from the masses to make a mech see reason and if any of his lieutenants raised objections to his plans, well, nobody wanted to get on the bad side of the crew. Not after the debacle with Starscream and the tainted energon.
He smirked and held Orion ever so slightly higher. Let them look, let them set the wheels turning for his plans to come to fruition.
***
“Wait wait wait, let me get this straight. You? And Optimus Prime. The Optimus Prime. And a mechling. You guys - oh, oh Primus! No! I do not even need that thought in my processor.”
Knockout shook his helm as though trying to shake the thoughts out.
Megatron gave him a stern look that quickly had Knockout straightening up and apologizing.
His other three lieutenants gave him looks that varied from inscrutable (Soundwave), to shocked (Breakdown), to horrifyingly disgusted (Starscream). Though Megatron hadn’t revealed any details of his time on The Pit or how Orion came into being the knowledge that Optimus Prime spawned a mechling with their leader seemed to be too much for some of his lieutenants to handle.
Naturally it was Starscream who took the information and ran with it.
“Prime was the, er, carrier. Right” he asked in an obnoxiously smug way that indicated he suspected something else.
“The coding protocols are Creator and Sire. Prime is Orions designated Sire.”
Orion gurgled at the sound of his name and his optics came back online. It was enough to distract everyone momentarily from the grimace that passed over Megatron faceplates.
“If I may ask, Megatron,” said Breakdown. “How did this … union come to be?”
“That is a matter best left between myself and Prime. I will not have you three gossiping over the details of my private life, however fascinating you may find it. And let me be very clear. If I find this information has left this room I will greatly enjoy making you watch your own sparks fade before your optics. Do I make myself clear?”
Knockout, Breakdown and Starscream gave less than enthusiastic nods. Soundwave was still and silent in the background.
No one seemed very inclined to talk. Megatron could tell his lieutenants were very near to bursting with curiosity but knew well enough that the wrong question would get them a sound beating and so they simply stared until Megatron was forced to break the silence.
“As you might have already guessed the birth of a mechling is significant to the continuation of our species. The Autobots are the only ones with the knowledge to activate the coding that will allow physical birth in our species. This presents a problem as we neither know where the Autobots are hiding, nor do we possess the needed base codes to implement it within our ranks.”
“Ugh,” Knockout said, shuddering slightly. “Physical birth. That’s so organic. Not to mention what it would do to my frame.”
“Naturally as the resident medic you would be on the front lines of this new discovery,” Megatron directed at Knockout, enjoying the blatant disgust on his CMOs face. “As I was saying, we are unable to obtain the needed codes however I do believe the Autobots would be open to a truce of sorts. Prime has expressed an interest in talks of peace and I can see no better time than now to begin negotiations for a cease fire.”
He waited for that information to skin in.
Starscream was the first to speak up, his tone mocking. “As always, Lord Megatron, a brilliant plan. What could go wrong? Are we going to invite Optimus Prime over for a nice cube of energon before or after we sign the peace treaty? Maybe we could wax each other’s chassis and laugh over old war stories while we’re at it. Or I should follow your example and frag that ‘Arcee’ of theirs, aside from Prime she’s probably the least disgusting of the Autobots. Trust you to take the best for yourself and leave the rest of us with scraps.”
The venom in his Second voice was surprising but not unexpected. The others looked at him with the expression of mechs watching a slow speed crash and burn. Pity shone through their optics and even Megatron wasn’t able to summon his usual ire at his Seconds disrespect.
“Mind your tone with me, Starscream. Your reservations are noted but I will not let the opportunity to end this war pass us by. We are an aging and dying race and old vendettas will only speed us to our demise.”
“I know that.”
“Then you will cooperate. I will not have dissention in the ranks when it comes to this. We may never have another opportunity to end this war. We may grieve for our fallen brothers and sisters but they are gone and we remain. Wallowing in memories of the dead will not bring them back. We must move forward.”
Starscreams wings had dropped low and his optics offlined. He looked small and weary. Megatron knew, even after countless vorn he still mourned the loss of Thundercracker and Skywarp. Their deaths at the servos of the Autobots weapon specialist Ironhide had twisted the seeker, damaged him in ways Megatron likely could never fathom. Though nobody spoke of them now or acknowledged their existence he knew Starscream thought of them often. His Creator protocols urged him to comfort the seeker. Instead he stood silent until Starscream activated his optics.
“Prime and his lackeys I would be willing to negotiate with. The Autobot forces at large, I would see their sparks ripped out of their chestplates before I would negotiate with them,” Starscream murmured.
There was a moment of silence until Starscream collected himself. The transformation was remarkable, the seeker changing from a haunted, serious mech into his normal self, cocky and irreverent. It was mildly unnerving but they all had to respect that every mech had their demons, even Starscream, and they all did what they had to too get through the cycles. Even if that meant taking on the role of two mechs long since dead.
Megatron gave a nod, acknowledging Starscreams choice. “That is acceptable for now. We will begin communication with the Autobots today. I wish our first dialogue to be between Prime and myself. If we reach an accord I will involve the rest of you. Until then you will go about your regular tasks. And let me once again stress the importance of secrecy. If you value your sparks you will remain silent.”
They nodded with a chorus of ‘yes, my Lord’.
“Good. Now which one of you will volunteer for the task of watching Orion while I speak with Prime?”
Megatron contained a smirk at the matching expressions of horror.
Soundwave sent him a data stream containing his perceived humour of the situation and an offer of a cube of his best high grade of Starscream volunteered first.
Before he even had a chance to respond Knockout stepped forward. “Me! I’ll do it!” Everyone stared at the medic. “What?”
“Somebody’s got their head up Megatrons tailpipe,” Starscream said under his breath.
“Oh, you’re one to talk,” Knockout shot back.
“What exactly are you implying, groundpounder?”
“I think you know exactly what I’m implying. If you had your head any further up-“
“Enough,” Megatron snarled, already tired of hearing their voices. “Breakdown. Take Orion.”
“Me, my lord?”
“Do you know of another mech called Breakdown?”
“Er, no, my lord.”
Breakdown hurried forward and Megatron carefully deposited Orion in his waiting servos.
“I trust I don’t need to mention the many ways I will make you suffer if my Creation is harmed in any way?”
Breakdown looked as though he were about to purge and quickly shook his helm. “No, my Lord. I understand.”
“Good.”
To Soundwave he sent a datafile requesting the high grade be brought to his quarters.
With one last look at his mechling who was being oogled by his three lieutenants Megatron left, secure in the knowledge that Orion was as safe as any mech could be, on the Nemesis and guarded by four of the strongest mechs he had at his command.
He almost had himself convinced that was the truth. In reality Orion was being guarded by two of the biggest backstabbers with diva complexes he had ever known, a blithering idiot and a near mute communications officer.
It was a miracle they ever got anything done.
Next Chapter
Rating: R
Pairing: Megatron/Optimus Prime
Warning: Mentions of non-con, mpreg (highlight for warnings, spoilers)
Summary: TF Prime. Optimus goes to extreme measures to stop Megatron once and for all
AN: OH MY GOODNESS GUYS IT TOOK ME FOREVER TO UPDATE. Hopefully I'm going to be quicker updating now that I've got a rough outline of how I want the rest of the fic to flow.
As always the response has been amazing and all your reviews have really motivated me to buckle down and get this chapter out. Having said that I don't know that I'm 100% happy with the chapter, it was a tough one to write for various reasons but I hope you all enjoy it and if it seems OOC or weird let me know, constructive criticism is a writers best friend.
Once again thanks for your reviews and I hope you enjoy. :D
For a mech with no face Soundwave had remarkably expressive body language.
Megatron had long ago learned to read Soundwaves moods and thoughts through the subtle tilt of his helm and the motions of his body.
The moment Soundwave arrived in his office quarters the slender black mech did a literal double take, his face screen resetting itself a number of times before he apparently convinced himself he was not experiencing a malfunction.
To Soundwaves credit he made a swift recovery and strode forward, standing before Megatron expectantly.
“As you can see, Soundwave, I am now in possession of a mechling.” Soundwaves head tilted, looking like one of the squirrels from The Pit, much to Megatrons amusement. “I am sure you have many questions. Indeed, I have questions of my own that have yet to be answered but this is neither the time nor the place. I suspect that in a very short while we will be contacted by the Autobots, no doubt wondering why I am in possession of this mechling.”
Soundwave didn’t respond, his focus entirely on Orion who was likewise intently focused on the new mech.
A single tentacle rose from Soundwaves back, making its way into Orions reach. Megatron watched the interaction with calm optics. There were perhaps only two mechs he would trust with Orions welfare, Soundwave was one of them, the other being Prime who would never hurt his own spawn. He allowed the contact between the two.
A second tentacle joined the first and Orion was gently lifted out of Megatrons servos.
The Decepticon commander watched them closely, partially out of curiosity but more out of fascination.
Orion squirmed a bit in the hold of the tentacles but took his cue from the mechs around him and was otherwise calm. Soundwave slowly brought the mechling into his waiting servos, holding the tiny bot with an ease that surprised Megatron. Soundwave was not what one would consider to be a nurturing mech and yet he moved with a great deal more confidence around the mechling than even Megatron himself; not that Megatron would consider himself to be an authority on mechling care. It was strange to see those long digits wrapped around a mechling with care instead of clicking furiously on a keyboard and Megatron began to think he may have to reevaluate his views on Soundwave. The unlikely mech was exhibiting skills that Megatron had never thought to attribute to his Third and it only impressed him further that Soundwave seemed to have no area which was beyond his ability to master.
Orion, meanwhile, seemed greatly confused by Soundwaves face or lack thereof, reaching up to touch the black screen
Soundwave tilted his helm down and allowed the mechling to touch the flat surface, allowing soft colours to filter across it much to Orions amusement.
Megatron winced slightly as Orions delight became too enthusiastic and he delivered a sharp blow to the screen. Soundwave didn’t seem to mind, flashing bright fractal patterns across his screen, Orion burst out in a delighted shriek at the increasingly vivid and complex patterns.
“You have a way with the mechling. You continue to surprise me, Soundwave.”
Soundwave-Believed-Mechlings-Exterminated-How-Have-You-Come-Into-Possession-Of-One?
“Through circumstances that were previously unknown to us. Reproduction.”
Soundwave was eerily still.
“I have obtained knowledge that could be essential to the continuation of our species.”
Tentacles once again emerged from Soundwaves back, extending until they hovered at Megatrons helm. Soundwave silently asking him permission to extract the information directly from his leaders processor.
Megatron nodded once, shuttering his optics as Soundwave formed a hardline connection. Though he had seen this done on other mechs Soundwave had never before initiated a connection with Megatron, both out of respect and lack of necessity. The experience wasn’t as unpleasant as he might have imagined, merely disorienting as Soundwave worked with the deft experience of a mech greatly used to finding and extracting information. The touch in his processor was delicate, almost ignorable and it was over quickly enough that he didn’t feel any lasting discomfort.
He knew Soundwave was capable of a far more deadly extraction though he didn’t advertise his abilities openly. There was a fine line between inspiring fearful respect and inspiring blind fear. Soundwave was by far the most dangerous mech in his command, paradoxically the mech he trusted the most. The one mech he would ever willingly let into his processor.
Soundwave processed the information he had received and fed back a recording containing key lines of dialogue involving slave coding, Autobots and Orion gathered from Megatrons memories.
“Yes. Do you see, Soundwave. The Autobots have unwittingly handed us the key to our revival.”
The blank faceplate of his Communications Officer tilted towards Orion then up to Megatron.
Autobot-Actions-Unforgivable.
“Perhaps. The Autobots have stooped far lower than I could ever have imagined, driven by desperation or a misguided sense of mercy I know not. Yet I find myself … conflicted in how to approach the matter. Such actions justify retaliation but I am reluctant to take a course of action that will lead to more death, be it Decepticon or Autobot.”
Soundwave was silent.
Megatron moved restlessly, pacing slowly up and down the room. He couldn’t fathom what was going on in Soundwaves processor but he knew his words must come as a surprise to the other mech. Or not. Soundwave often seemed to know his thoughts better than Megatron himself did.
“Are you surprised, Soundwave? That I would choose not to seek vengeance? I am justified as never before to exterminate those wretched Autobots. I have suffered humiliations I had long thought myself above. In some ways I was brought back to the mech I was before I choose to call myself Megatron. A humbling experience but one that has given me a perspective I believe will serve me well. You never knew the mech I was but he was a good mech, better than I am now,” he murmured, half to Soundwave and half to himself. “I believe if he could see what has become of myself and Cybertron he would be ashamed. We’ve all become that which we once vowed to fight against. Haven’t we, Soundwave?”
Soundwave played an audio filed back at him. A file of himself so long ago on Cybertron.
‘Join me, Soundwave, with you at my side I will lead Cybertron into a new Golden Age.’
Megatron grimaced. Soundwaves message was clear. He had failed in his promise.
“You have seen me stray and yet you have followed at my side. Do you still believe in our goals, Soundwave? Do you still have faith in your Master?”
“Faith: never wavered. Soundwave: loyal to Megatron.”
Megatron stared steadily at his Third, feeling gratitude so deep he would never be able to put it into words.
“Then I will do my utmost to reward your loyalty. Cybertron may never have another Golden Age but I will see to it that our race will continue, on Cybertron or this planet or another, I do not know but I will see the rebirth of the Cybertronian race. Decepticon as well as Autobot.”
Soundwave held Orion close and relayed an audio file, long buried and even longer forgotten, that sent a chill through Megatrons frame as though a ghost of the past had risen before him.
‘’Til all are one.’
***
The arrival of a mechling on board the Nemesis wasn’t kept silent for long. After his talk with Soundwave he ordered his Third to gather his lieutenants for a meeting. The plan was to inform his lieutenants of the existence of the mechling, its parentage and their new plans, in that order, and eventually make a ship-wide announcement once he was certain there would be no mutiny from those closest to him.
The realities of living on a ship was that there were no secrets and if there was a secret to be found it was quickly rooted out and spread like a plague among the crew.
Being the Leader of the Decepticon Army didn’t offer any protection from the grapevine and mere kilks after exiting his meeting with Soundwave Megatron found himself being followed through the corridors of his ship.
To the credit of his crew they were doing a passable job of not being obvious but Megatron was no fool and had a natural paranoia ingrained in him after years on the front lines of battle. He recognized spying when he saw it. As little as he cared for the petty gossip of his crew Megatron found himself becoming increasingly ill tempered as mech after mech passed him or just happened to take a wrong turn down the corridor he was walking. By the time he was half way to his destination the crew wasn’t even bothering to hide their curiosity and he found corridor after corridor being occupied by any number of Vehicons and Insecticons and even drones, all straining their neck cables for a glimpse of the sleeping mechling cradled in his servos.
He might have ordered them away or lost his temper and demanded to know how his ship was running with no crew to keep her afloat but he didn’t.
The gossip could only serve his purposes. Let his crew speak; let them share tales of the mysterious mechling. Let them hope.
If, no, when, a means of wide spread reproduction was found he would be hailed as a hero. The savior of the Cybertronian race. Allowing them to see Orion would only serve to spark embers of an idea that he planned to fan into a great fire. The idea that hope was not lost, that their years of fighting and searching had not been in vain and an end was in sight.
Every Cybertonian lived with the fear of being the last, outliving every Decepticon and Autobot and slowly rusting away, alone on an alien planet. That fear kept them fighting even when there was nothing left to fight for because what else was a doomed race to do with their time but carry on as they always had. The mere sight of a mechling would do much to ease the way to peace, providing a way out of the fight and something new to focus their energies on.
In hindsight perhaps allowing the crew to see Orion would work in his advantage. There was nothing like pressure from the masses to make a mech see reason and if any of his lieutenants raised objections to his plans, well, nobody wanted to get on the bad side of the crew. Not after the debacle with Starscream and the tainted energon.
He smirked and held Orion ever so slightly higher. Let them look, let them set the wheels turning for his plans to come to fruition.
***
“Wait wait wait, let me get this straight. You? And Optimus Prime. The Optimus Prime. And a mechling. You guys - oh, oh Primus! No! I do not even need that thought in my processor.”
Knockout shook his helm as though trying to shake the thoughts out.
Megatron gave him a stern look that quickly had Knockout straightening up and apologizing.
His other three lieutenants gave him looks that varied from inscrutable (Soundwave), to shocked (Breakdown), to horrifyingly disgusted (Starscream). Though Megatron hadn’t revealed any details of his time on The Pit or how Orion came into being the knowledge that Optimus Prime spawned a mechling with their leader seemed to be too much for some of his lieutenants to handle.
Naturally it was Starscream who took the information and ran with it.
“Prime was the, er, carrier. Right” he asked in an obnoxiously smug way that indicated he suspected something else.
“The coding protocols are Creator and Sire. Prime is Orions designated Sire.”
Orion gurgled at the sound of his name and his optics came back online. It was enough to distract everyone momentarily from the grimace that passed over Megatron faceplates.
“If I may ask, Megatron,” said Breakdown. “How did this … union come to be?”
“That is a matter best left between myself and Prime. I will not have you three gossiping over the details of my private life, however fascinating you may find it. And let me be very clear. If I find this information has left this room I will greatly enjoy making you watch your own sparks fade before your optics. Do I make myself clear?”
Knockout, Breakdown and Starscream gave less than enthusiastic nods. Soundwave was still and silent in the background.
No one seemed very inclined to talk. Megatron could tell his lieutenants were very near to bursting with curiosity but knew well enough that the wrong question would get them a sound beating and so they simply stared until Megatron was forced to break the silence.
“As you might have already guessed the birth of a mechling is significant to the continuation of our species. The Autobots are the only ones with the knowledge to activate the coding that will allow physical birth in our species. This presents a problem as we neither know where the Autobots are hiding, nor do we possess the needed base codes to implement it within our ranks.”
“Ugh,” Knockout said, shuddering slightly. “Physical birth. That’s so organic. Not to mention what it would do to my frame.”
“Naturally as the resident medic you would be on the front lines of this new discovery,” Megatron directed at Knockout, enjoying the blatant disgust on his CMOs face. “As I was saying, we are unable to obtain the needed codes however I do believe the Autobots would be open to a truce of sorts. Prime has expressed an interest in talks of peace and I can see no better time than now to begin negotiations for a cease fire.”
He waited for that information to skin in.
Starscream was the first to speak up, his tone mocking. “As always, Lord Megatron, a brilliant plan. What could go wrong? Are we going to invite Optimus Prime over for a nice cube of energon before or after we sign the peace treaty? Maybe we could wax each other’s chassis and laugh over old war stories while we’re at it. Or I should follow your example and frag that ‘Arcee’ of theirs, aside from Prime she’s probably the least disgusting of the Autobots. Trust you to take the best for yourself and leave the rest of us with scraps.”
The venom in his Second voice was surprising but not unexpected. The others looked at him with the expression of mechs watching a slow speed crash and burn. Pity shone through their optics and even Megatron wasn’t able to summon his usual ire at his Seconds disrespect.
“Mind your tone with me, Starscream. Your reservations are noted but I will not let the opportunity to end this war pass us by. We are an aging and dying race and old vendettas will only speed us to our demise.”
“I know that.”
“Then you will cooperate. I will not have dissention in the ranks when it comes to this. We may never have another opportunity to end this war. We may grieve for our fallen brothers and sisters but they are gone and we remain. Wallowing in memories of the dead will not bring them back. We must move forward.”
Starscreams wings had dropped low and his optics offlined. He looked small and weary. Megatron knew, even after countless vorn he still mourned the loss of Thundercracker and Skywarp. Their deaths at the servos of the Autobots weapon specialist Ironhide had twisted the seeker, damaged him in ways Megatron likely could never fathom. Though nobody spoke of them now or acknowledged their existence he knew Starscream thought of them often. His Creator protocols urged him to comfort the seeker. Instead he stood silent until Starscream activated his optics.
“Prime and his lackeys I would be willing to negotiate with. The Autobot forces at large, I would see their sparks ripped out of their chestplates before I would negotiate with them,” Starscream murmured.
There was a moment of silence until Starscream collected himself. The transformation was remarkable, the seeker changing from a haunted, serious mech into his normal self, cocky and irreverent. It was mildly unnerving but they all had to respect that every mech had their demons, even Starscream, and they all did what they had to too get through the cycles. Even if that meant taking on the role of two mechs long since dead.
Megatron gave a nod, acknowledging Starscreams choice. “That is acceptable for now. We will begin communication with the Autobots today. I wish our first dialogue to be between Prime and myself. If we reach an accord I will involve the rest of you. Until then you will go about your regular tasks. And let me once again stress the importance of secrecy. If you value your sparks you will remain silent.”
They nodded with a chorus of ‘yes, my Lord’.
“Good. Now which one of you will volunteer for the task of watching Orion while I speak with Prime?”
Megatron contained a smirk at the matching expressions of horror.
Soundwave sent him a data stream containing his perceived humour of the situation and an offer of a cube of his best high grade of Starscream volunteered first.
Before he even had a chance to respond Knockout stepped forward. “Me! I’ll do it!” Everyone stared at the medic. “What?”
“Somebody’s got their head up Megatrons tailpipe,” Starscream said under his breath.
“Oh, you’re one to talk,” Knockout shot back.
“What exactly are you implying, groundpounder?”
“I think you know exactly what I’m implying. If you had your head any further up-“
“Enough,” Megatron snarled, already tired of hearing their voices. “Breakdown. Take Orion.”
“Me, my lord?”
“Do you know of another mech called Breakdown?”
“Er, no, my lord.”
Breakdown hurried forward and Megatron carefully deposited Orion in his waiting servos.
“I trust I don’t need to mention the many ways I will make you suffer if my Creation is harmed in any way?”
Breakdown looked as though he were about to purge and quickly shook his helm. “No, my Lord. I understand.”
“Good.”
To Soundwave he sent a datafile requesting the high grade be brought to his quarters.
With one last look at his mechling who was being oogled by his three lieutenants Megatron left, secure in the knowledge that Orion was as safe as any mech could be, on the Nemesis and guarded by four of the strongest mechs he had at his command.
He almost had himself convinced that was the truth. In reality Orion was being guarded by two of the biggest backstabbers with diva complexes he had ever known, a blithering idiot and a near mute communications officer.
It was a miracle they ever got anything done.
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