Wing Shift

author: FireCracker
(Italic copy bordered by_underscore_)
Archive? You'd better.
Warnings: None really, at least not here. My Transformers are overall less blocky than the ones in G1, shaped more humanoid but still with plates. Makes for easier sex scenes to imagine. They can also reproduce via the spark principle, among compatible individuals. More on that later. And yeah, they have sex.


Skyfire has a major falling out with Optimus Prime. He leaves the autobots and learns his true heritage as decepticon. Starscream awaits, as do many others. (Blitzwing, Astrotrain, minicon Breaker, Thundercracker, Starscream, Skywarp, Octane) H/C,Yaoi

SPECIAL NOTE: Cybertronian terms for Parenthood: Pada (parent, non-birthing) Sana (birthing parent).


Tricks and Traps


Skyfire towelled himself dry after taking a hot silicone shower. He'd shared a delightfully messy morning with his favorite seeker. Starscream decided at some point to be prudent and attend a mandatory meeting with Soundwave and Megatron. Meanwhile, the tall Razer was left to his own devices.

Skyfire paused at his reflection in a nearby mirror and smiled. While not obviously vain, he took pride in his appearance. And he _was_ handsome in a striking way, that much was undeniable. Idly, he wondered at all the attention he received since returning to the decepticons.

_Starscream was right. Partners and options are wide open here. So many decepticons have made their intent known to me. Am I confused or just stubborn? Even though I'm comfortable in my own skin, I'm not certain what to do. But if Starscream can choose, so can I. The question becomes who._

The tall jet was so lost in thought he never noticed a soft tap against his left leg.

"Can do what want."

Startled, Skyfire looked down at a polished sphere. "Breaker!"

"Good cycle to you. Enjoyable, Breaker know. Hot morning party!"

Skyfire reached down and scooped up his friend. "Is it possible for you to _not_ read minds?"

The minicon vibrated. "Think too loud! Impressions strong. Is all good."

Skyfire eyed him with suspicion. "Hmm."

"Can achieve much, big Sky. Can have what want with decepticons. _Anything."_

Blue optics widened in uncertainty. "Breaker?"

"May say too much. Said much before."

Skyfire walked his friend into the bedroom and set him gently on the bed. "I suspected we might be having this conversation again."

"Decepticons not sentimental."

Skyfire sat next to the sphere. "But?"

Breaker transformed to bot mode and looked up, visiors bright. "Have great feeling, _passion."_ a small spark chamber opened slightly.

Skyfire hitched in shock and amazement. Despite his size, Breaker had spark as powerful as any. Blue light blazed the room, casting deep shadows and blacks.

"Breaker...you can't mean..." without realizing it, Skyfire gently touched the small chestplate. His mind was immediately flooded with images, concepts and feelings.

"Slow...slow down..."

The minicon nodded. /Is new experience? Understand. Forget still young./

"I've never done this. It isn't a bond?"

/Not. Is soul link, touch./

"Can I trust you?"

"Not trick. Is temporary connection. Need physical contact to work."

Skyfire traced along the minicon slowly, sensitive fingertips exploring. "So you're saying this isn't a true bond?"

"In ancient Cyberton, common practice." Breaker instructed. "Before bond, link self to potential mate."

"We went over this before, Breaker. I'm not...in love."

A small hand gripped his wrist. "Think. Only possible with strong potential. Sensed confusion earlier."

Skyfire felt a strange tingling sensation. "My mainframe...it's shaking!" panic tinged his voice.

"Not worry." the minicon soothed, squeezing a white hand.

"What are you _doing_ to me, Breaker? Tell the truth!"

"Have deep friendship. Progression natural."

"You can't force this!"

"Breaker force nothing. Feelings exist or link impossible. Search database, self."

"N..no." Skyfire held his head. "Feel...odd." optics dimmed. "Tricked."

Breaker watched his friend collapse on the bed. "No trick. Relax, enjoy."

Skyfire lay across the bed, his limbs refusing to move. "Starscream will kill me for this."

"Already know." the happy minicon closed his spark chamber and snuggled close. "Breaker make suitable offer. Will watch babies when hatch."

Skyfire stared blearily. "Hatch? Transformers have eggs?"

Breaker nodded, edging to a sitting position. "Still need learn much. Babies form in exoshells. When birth ready, separate from sana spark. Then hatch. Break shells soon after! See small ones."

Skyfire felt a sudden surge of rage in his spark. A surge not of his own doing.

Breaker noticed his change in expression. "Worried about relationship."


Skyfire sat up angrily. "It's too late for all that-" he didn't get to finish.

An angry seeker stood at the bedroom entrance, his blazing optics revealing nothing.

()

Skywarp sighed as his bondmate dried and polished him. Purple wings flexed happily.

"Oh...there, Cracker. Left shoulder. That's _good."_

"Hold still." Thundercracker gently buffed black toe pods. Skywarp giggled.

"Stop tickling me!"

"Silly." Thundercracker grinned.

"I can't help it. You know I'm overly sensitive." Skywarp rolled over on the bed. "I'm so excited about our sparkling!"

The blue seeker sat next to him. "Me too. I've been wondering about color. What do you suppose our daughter will look like?"

Skywarp stretched out. "Oh, she's gonna be gorgeous. _That_ much I know."

Thundercracker tickled a pale nose. "That being said, do you think her color will be similar to ours?"

"I don't see why not. Although I'm not a genetic expert."

"Maybe we can find out some information on the library disks."

Skywarp sat up. "Assuming base records go back that far. Remember, we've only got recordings going back four million years from the Ark. And according to Blitzwing, transformers once sparked long before that."

Thundercracker nibbled on a proton candy. "Good point. Maybe it's best to ask him directly, then. Especially since he's had so many sparklings himself."

"Seems kind of hard to believe. I'm still not certain I totally buy his story."

"Why would he lie about something like that?"

Skywarp shrugged. "Well, the only legends I know of said transformers had a maximum of three sparklings."

"He didn't say how many he has."

"We saw the images, remember? Three daughters and Unicron knows how many sons."

"I thought you didn't believe him."

"Well, Octane claimed one daughter. Care to guess how many he's got, too?"

Thundercracker held his head. "My brainbox aches at the thought. It does seem pretty incredible in this day and age, though."

"Those images could be false, created to gain our favor."

Crimson optics narrowed. "And everyone calls _me_ paranoid. I don't know, 'Warp. But asking for information never betrayed any secrets."

"No." Skywarp was thoughtful, standing up. "Come on, let's see what we can find out."

()

Megatron lay quietly in his darkened bedroom. His mainframe pained him greatly. Optics glimmered and closed repeatedly.

Soft footsteps entered the bedroom. "Soundwave?"

A dim shape came into view. "Yes, Megatron. Are you feeling better?"

"I'm not...at all certain. I seem to be losing track of time." he sat up slowly.

Soundwave helped him. "Easy, love. Save your strength."

"I should be saying that to you. How is our sparkling?"

"It grows." Soundwave sat in a nearby chair. "I suffer periodic bouts of surges and weakness."

"You should see Hook immediately."

Soundwave shook his head. "As you know, my systems are more energy efficient than most decepticons. I can minimize the side effects."

Megatron covered his optics briefly. "Soundwave do I...seem erratic to you?"

"I...am hestitant to make hasty conclusions."

"Be straight with me." Megatron snapped. "Something is wrong. Whenever I access my backup memory, there are glitches and missing data. And I _know_ my mind isn't right. At times I do and say things and can't stop myself. Yet, I'm aware of what occurs. What's happening?"

Soundwave sighed, placing his hands in his lap. "Then, I must voice my suspicions."

"There is a cause?"

"First, let me say I'm encouraged to hear you say this. I was...concerned for your sanity."

"My sanity!" Megatron bellowed, then quieted. "My behavior was odd, yes?"

"Bizarre to say the least. The base is tense and confused. I sense a general disorder...and something else."

Crimson optics narrowed. "I _know_ you, Soundwave. What suspicions do you have?"

"I believe someone is tampering with your mind."

Megatron nearly exploded. "Who would _dare-"_

"Those who would see you ousted as leader." Soundwave replied quickly.

"Then I will root them out!"

"I recently went to Cybertron and discussed some options with Shockwave."

"You go behind my back, Soundwave?"

Soundwave looked away briefly. "You were incapacitated at the time."

"Oh." Megatron sobered.

"Shockwave was of the belief that he should seize command. I disagreed strongly."

"Over my broken mainframe." Megatron hissed. "His passive aggressive tactics are known to me!"

"I have a blacklist of decepticons."

"First things first." Megatron interrupted. "You know the capabilities of all decepticons, Soundwave. Who has the ability and knowledge to cause such disruption of my central processors?"

"Very few directly-"

"Answer me. You know the complexity and strength of my mind. Who would dare this intrusion and my wrath?"

A pause. "Those capable would include myself, the triplechangers and possibly the insecticons."

Megatron sat in silence and fumed. "Tell me more about this blacklist of yours. Who is on it, and why?"

"The cassettes have been about the base gathering information of suspicious activity and gatherings. There is nothing obvious occuring-"

"Then why do you have a blacklist!!"

"I was getting to that. In the background, there is subtle manuvering and sedition."

"Then that eliminates Starscream. His painful attempts at takeover often occur with every mood swing."

"A far more dangerous seeker than the one you've known, Megatron. And he has backing."

"Who! Be specific."

"By association, Skyfire and the seekers. By default I include the searchers. Also included are the triplechangers."

"You've given me no proof, Soundwave. If I'm to execute useful warriors, I need reason. And your logic at best is poor."

Soundwave stood to go. "I merely need time to expose their treachery."

()

Starscream stood in anger, fists clenched. He glared at the minicon.

_"You."_ he hissed. "I should have known, sooner or later-"

Skyfire stood to his full height. "Stop, Starscream. I know this looks bad, but you need to understand what happened here."

"Understand? I know this sneaky minicon, Skyfire. No doubt he's twisted lies under the guise of innocence."

"Breaker not lie!" the minicon shouted.

"Did you think I wouldn't notice a change in Skyfire's spark? What have you done?!"

"Is link only. Not bond! Can only occur when-"

"Spare me the details!" Starscream snapped, rounding on his bondmate. "Well?"

Skyfire stepped forward. "He's right. I don't sense him the same way I do you. It's merely a friendship link."

"How terribly convenient."

"I plan to test the truth out, Starscream. According to Breaker, the link requires physical contact to work. I repeat, it is _not_ a bond."

Starscream stalked over to the bed and poked Breaker. "Don't play me. I'm fully aware of your goals here."

Before Breaker could respond, Skyfire spoke up. "There's no harm done, Starscream. And while I admit Breaker has been less than subtle, he's been nothing but honest. In turn, I've been honest with him."

The red seeker paused, optics narrowing. "You expect me to believe you want him?"

"I was angry at first, until I understood his motives."

A screech. _"He plans to bond with you!_ Don't be an idiot."

Skyfire stared at Breaker with emphasis. "He knows I'm not in love. We've discussed this several times."

"Is so." the minicon was muted.

"What's your point, Skyfire?" Starscream wasn't convinced. "He can afford to be patient."

Skyfire was silent momentarily before turning to his friend. "Breaker, I need to speak with Starscream alone."

"Not!" Breaker slammed a small fist down. "Will listen, Starscream. Have offer!"

Starscream glared. "You have the _gall_ to say that?!"

The minicon pointed in emphasis. "Know history. Breaker asset in all things."

"You've offered enough as it is!"

"Had one for big Sky, now have one for you. Breaker experienced, know sparklings. Will watch once hatch. Help provide early care."

Starscream couldn't believe his audios. "You...what? I thought the babies were born whole!"

"Are whole in protoshells. Will hatch. Eggs! Not know, too young."

Stunned, Starscream paused in his anger. "Well _that's_ a surprise." he glanced at Skyfire. "Did you know of this?"

Massive shoulders shrugged. "Breaker told me. I had no historical data."

The seeker paced, thinking. "Very well, Breaker. This is your opportunity to prove your value to the new regime. But know I am displeased at your tactic."

"Breaker true decepticon. Go after what want."

"No apologies, either. Delightful."

"The spark speaks true, Starscream." Skyfire added with meaning. "You know _mine."_

A quiet look passed between them. "Yes, I do."

"Then stop wasting energy on misplaced anger. Breaker did what I expected him to do. More importantly, we have a family to consider."

"Not to mention the future." Starscream added, his mood shifting. He sat slowly on a nearby chair.

"You need rest." Skyfire observed.

"Perhaps. My meeting this morning was very odd. I'm most anxious."

Skyfire eased to his side, pulling up another chair. "How did Megatron seem?"

"Nearly normal, which has me concerned."

Breaker beeped nearby. "Not possible. Sim sticks potent! Addictive."

Starscream glanced his way. "Maybe so, but he was lucid this morning. And questioning me about possible treason on base."

Skyfire swore out loud. "What about Soundwave?"

"The old queen kept goading him on. He kept insinuating that I was concealing seditious factions among the decepticons."

"I'm more concerned with Megatron's suspicions."

"As am I. Breaker, how is this possible? I thought a steady supply of sim sticks were being sent to his private mail box."

Breaker took a thinking pose. "Is peculiar. Best know, Megatron consume. Possible supply low."

"Maybe for whatever reason he's laid off the smoking." Skyfire suggested.

"That's bad news for us, Sky-"

"Not." Breaker interrupted. "Soon forget? Can cause effect directly."

Starscream snorted. "How, without being detected by Soundwave? He'll sense any alteration in Megatron's brain patterns."

"Hasn't this already occurred when he's under the influence?" Skyfire wondered. "He needs a mental push, a nudge to get going again. And it has to be soon."

Starscream grinned evilly. "An excellent suggestion, Skyfire. Breaker, arrange it for me. After all, it's _your_ duty to take care of such matters for your supreme commander."

The minicon stared, visiors flickering. "Is done." he transformed to sphere mode and plopped down an air vent.

Skyfire likewise grinned slyly. "Such a _wicked_ seeker."

A snicker. "I do my best, Sky."

()

Thundercracker and Skywarp paid the triplechangers a visit. They sat in the living room sipping drinks laced with neutrons.

Thundercracker hiccuped. "Man, do you guys drink _anything_ that isn't spiked?"

Astrotrain rested his feet over the still unconscious insecticons. "Why be mundane in anything, dear seeker?"

Skywarp stared at the floor in disbelief. "How long are they going to lie there like that? It's been over a cycle."

"Insecticons have a terrible tolerance for narcotics."

"Sheesh." Skywarp shook his head. "Guess some bots can't handle their sim."

Blitzwing swished his drink casually. "So. You have questions regarding sparklings?"

"You seem to be the resident experts. I don't think anyone else on base knows much about them."

"The constructicons know of them, I believe. Whether they have any I couldn't say."

Astrotrain snickered. "Just wait a few breems, Blitzy. Who's to say what will pop out on base?"

"True. I'm extremely curious about Runamuck's sparkling. For obvious reasons."

"Why Runamuck?" Thundercracker asked.

"Well, his situation is somewhat...similar to one I had long ago. Or I should say 'we'. "

"I don't follow."

The tank shrugged. "Let's just say his sparkling is a group effort, if you get my drift."

Skywarp laughed out loud. "Cracker, don't you _get_ it? Remember when you accused the battlechargers of getting it on with a gestalt?!"

The blue seeker cracked up. "Yeah, I got you. Damn, Blitzwing. You're saying you did it with a gestalt?"

"Hardly. But his sparkling situation is familiar to me."

"You had a group sparkling too? Not that I'm being nosey."

Blitzwing sighed, glancing at Astrotrain. "It's a touchy subject, for reasons I won't go into."

"It was the strange one." Skywarp stated, sipping his drink.

Astrotrain frowned at him. "Strange one?"

"No offense, Astrotrain." Skywarp shrugged slightly. "I was thinking of that holo we saw earlier. The big decepticon, the one with the odd optics? My guess is that he's the group sparkling."

"You have good instincts for one with no experience."

Skywarp was smug. "I try. Besides, it's a little obvious. I've never seen any transformer with optics like that."

Thundercracker nudged his bondmate. "Easy, 'Warp. We aren't here to get into their personal buisness."

Skywarp was apologetic. "My curiosity got the better of me."

"No offense taken." Blitzwing replied. "All seekers are hopelessly curious."

"Are group sparklings common?"

"No. In fact they're...well, they were considered taboo on ancient cybertron."

Thundercracker was surprised. "But why? I don't recall any religious or political restrictions."

"It was long before your time." Astrotrain supplied. "The old overlords had their ideas of a perfect society. Before the wars, religious zealots controlled the media and politicians."

Thundercracker and Skywarp stared in shock.

"You only know the military eras." Astrotrain continued. "Anyway, the religious doctrines at the time decreed that Cybertronians only mate with their own kind."

"As opposed to what?" Thundercracker wanted to know.

"Those of different caste and classification. There was much disagreement about intruding on personal lives."

"That's dumb." Skywarp sipped his drink. "You can't tell anyone who to spark with!"

"Arguments pro and con raged for centuries. And the population grew in the meantime."

"This was before the Quintessons disrupted our society?"

Blitzwing growled. "Long before. Many civic officials were voted out. Politics were in a state of upheaval."

"I could imagine." Thundercracker nodded. "Surely there was rebellion?"

"For all the good it did. Some took their cases to the courts, citing _Universal transformum infin._ More bills were passed to restrict uncontrolled sparking."

"I still don't see the point of it."

"A prominent geneticist named Skimmer produced documentation citing damage to Cybertronian gene pools and deformation. The ruling body panicked at the thought that our race might devolve."

"So they enforced sparking restrictions." Skywarp groused. "Who says everything was better back in the day?"

Astrotrain gulped from his glass. "His evidence was questionable at best. But the scientific community ate it up anyway. They had an agenda, since research required heavy funding. You get my meaning?"

"Yeah." Thundercracker shook his head. "Frankly, that sucks."

Blitzwing waved a hand in agitation. "Promotions and notoriety followed. And those who...went against the new regulations were persecuted."

Skywarp stared. "Sounds personal, Blitzwing."

"A ruling body of aft tight Cybertronians. Conform or _get out!"_

Thundercracker paused before speaking. "Exile? Are you serious?!"

Blitzwing went silent. Astrotrain stared at the ceiling.

Thundercracker observed them. "You had an impossible situation. I don't pretend to understand it all, but we want a future free of such issues. For ourselves and our daughter."

Blitzwing didn't answer immediately, his tone odd. "You had questions, Thundercracker."

A nod. "Yes, about sparklings."

"You have favor here. Ask whatever you wish."

"As you can see, Skywarp is fairly along-"

"Are you calling me fat?" Skywarp huffed. "I'm not that big!"

Astrotrain laughed. "Seekers always fret about their shape. Your condition is temporary!"

"So what?" Skywarp complained. "I get hot and cold surges. My auxiliary power kicks out. My optics blur sometimes. Or my mainframe shakes late in the cycle-"

"Yes, I know all that." Blitzwing was amused. "Sparklings feed continuously. Your systems are attempting to compensate so you can function."

"But for how long? This weakness is strange."

"When the sparkling is ready, it will detach from your spark and close it's protoshell."

"It's born in a protoshell?"

"Yes, an egg. It will be hot to the touch and oily."

"Is that normal?"

"Yes. Your internal fluids act as a conductor for energy. The energy transfers to the protoshell to aid hatching."

Skywarp patted himself. "Will I feel my daughter detach?"

"You'll experience a burning sensation and feeling of separation."

Thundercracker was thinking. "After the sparkling hatches, what do we do? I mean, how-"

Blitzwing held up a hand for silence. "The sparkling breaks from the shell. Dry her off then give her energon from a feeder line."

"What about speech?"

"Sparklings need a few cycles to acclimate and activate their memory functions. Basic body functions are first, and motor control is second."

"Amazing." Skywarp was muted. "I don't suppose she'll be spouting advanced physics."

Astrotrain laughed. "Hardly. She'll inherit primal memories and base language from both of you. Her processors will take awhile to determine proper usage of words and expressions."

Thundercracker drank from his mug. "Thanks for this information. We really didn't know what to expect."

Astrotrain was nonchalant. "It's not so bad. The more you have, the easier it is!"

"Ah...we'll stick with _one_ for now."

"Speaking of which." Skywarp started up. "TC and I discussed that holo you showed us..."

"Skywarp!" the blue seeker hissed.

"Don't shush me, Thundercracker. You expect us to believe that mob of decepticons is yours?"

"Not _all_ of them." Blitzwing replied.

"Come on!"

Astrotrain appeared confused. "Why would we lie about that?"

"To gain our trust. What if that holo is fake?"

"Ha! You'll find the truth on Kaos 3. Couldn't you see the resemblance by looking at them?"

"I've seen sophisticated imagery before."

"Stubborn seeker! Some of the mechs you saw were Octane's."

Skywarp appeared triumphant as he nudged Thundercracker. "See? Backtracking already!"

"We don't need tricks." Astrotrain huffed. "The images you saw were real."

"The minicons were a nice touch. Very cute!"

"Ask Breaker about those. You're being ridiculous, Skywarp."

"Good suggestion. I'll see if Breaker's story matches yours."

Thundercracker covered his optics. "You're being impossible!"

Blitzwing tapped his fingers impatiently. "It appears you aren't convinced, Skywarp."

Skywarp stirred his drink. "Well, you say you trust us, but won't reveal legit information."

"And what do you consider 'legit' information?"

"Names to go with those descriptions. After all, you know our secrets. But we really don't know any of yours."

"We've accumulated too many to keep track of."

"Sounds liike another cop out."

"You know about Kaos 3." Astrotrain interrupted. "Virtually no one else does."

Skywarp folded his arms. "It's clear you have experience with sparklings."

"More than I care to remember, seeker." Blitzwing sank back in his seat.

"You said we have favor here. So answer the question! Who are all those mechs?"

Astrotrain glanced at his bondmate. "Cooperation is doomed without trust, Blitzwing."

The decepticon tank brooded. "You have a point. I don't see Octane having objection."

"No."

"Well?" Thundercracker pressed. "I'm pretty curious myself!"

Blitzwing sighed. "Astrotrain and I have three daughters, the ones you saw together. Octane has two daughters and two sons, not including Shrapnel's sparkling."

"Oh."

"The rest are our sons. Satisfied?"

The seekers could only stare in disbelief.

Astrotrain laughed. "Well, well. I think they're speechless, Blitzy."

Blitzwing was smug. "We _do_ get a lot of that."

Skywarp found his voice. "Wait, you said the rest of them are your sons?"

"What part don't you understand?"

The seeker paused in thought. "I was trying to remember how many I saw in the holo. Was it two?"

"Hardly." Astrotrain said.

"No, it was more than that, they stood in a row." Thundercracker stated. "Four, I think it was. Right?"

The decepticon train laughed loudly. "Only six that I take credit for."

Blitzwing wasn't amused. _"Seven,_ Astrotrain!"

Astrotrain grinned. "Oops. My bad."

_"Idiot!!"_

"Well, we have so many. I kind of forgot."

Thundercracker blinked. "So wait, that's...three daughters and seven sons?!"

Skywarp stammered. "TEN? That's _crazy."_

Blitzwing swigged his drink with a smirk. "Oh, it's even crazier than you think."

()

Two decepticons met secretly in the sublevels on base. Shadowy forms spoke quietly in conspiracy.

"I see the need for urgency."

"Is so. Plan procceed! Now implement."

"I'll inform the others of my progress."

"Excellent. Will maintain contact. Minimize suspicion."

"Congratulations on your new status, by the way."

"Appreciate with thanks. Good prize!"

"Candy is sweetest when eaten carefully."

"Many treats in future for all."

"Agreed. But first things first."

"Meet Megatron at first convenience. Avoid cassettes. Soundwave deploy."

"Understood. You'll have to block all interference while I work."

"Will monitor."

"Perfect. I do my best work in the shadows."


To be continued