Through a Younglings Optics 12

...CHAPTER 12...

It was nearing evening on the streets of Detroit and the Autobots were exhausted from hours of non-stop searching and to make matters worse, a storm was rolling in.

Bumblebee was sitting in traffic waiting for a long line of cars to start moving again. He opened his comm. link and moaned.

"Bumblebee to Prime, boss bot we've been searching for StarChaser for almost the entire day and it's getting late; can't we call it quits?"

Suddenly Ratchet's voice broke in. "Kid what's the matter with you? This isn't just Prime and StarRacer's daughter we're talking about here, this is a fellow Autobot; one of our own, and we're not going to give up until we find her! Understand?"

Bumblebee seemed to shrug even in his vehicle mode. "Okay, okay, I'm sorry…you're right! Star is one of our own and I won't stop until we find her!"

Meanwhile across the city, Optimus and StarRacer had heard Bumblebee but continued to search frantically. Optimus transformed and cuffed his hands around his mouth.

"STARCHASER WHERE ARE YOU?"

StarRacer transformed and sank to the ground in tears. Optimus turned and kneeled down next her.

"StarRacer, what is it? What's wrong?"

StarRacer looked up with tears swelling from her optics. "Optimus, we're NEVER going to find her!"

StarRacer threw herself into Optimus' arms and completely broke down. "It's all my fault! If I wouldn't have gotten mad at you and if I wouldn't have started that fight none of this would have happened!"

Optimus sat next to StarRacer and embraced her in his arms. She pushed her face plate into his chest plate and cried. He rested his chin on her head and remained silent; just letting her cry. Optimus then pulled her face up and looked at her.

"StarRacer, listen to me…that fight was not your fault, okay, it was mine. I was the one ordering you around and you had every right to get angry and… I'm sorry. And you were right about the whole 'fixing the problem rather than running from it' thing. We should have tried to work things out rather than me just calling it quits. It's like you said before…once spark mates…always spark mates."

StarRacer looked up and saw Optimus smile lovingly. She sighed and looked away. Optimus sighed and pulled her closer.

"I do love you StarRacer…more than anything. And I DO want to be with you."

StarRacer looked up and shook her head. "So what…now that you and I made up, StarChaser will come running back? Optimus, us making up isn't going to get our daughter back…you know that right?"

Optimus looked down and nodded. "I know, but I'm willing to search as long as it takes…and I won't give up until I find her, that I promise."

StarRacer looked up and smiled sheepishly before slapping Optimus lightly on the cheek plate. Optimus held his face and looked at StarRacer dumbfounded. She smiled and rubbed against Optimus.

"You better find her…or I'll—."

Optimus laughed and sighed. "I know, I know, you'll blame me."

StarRacer cringed and looked away. "No…"

Optimus looked at her both curiously and worried. StarRacer looked at him again with tears again swelling. "We better find her Optimus, or I'll never be able to forgive myself…"

Optimus watched with his spark aching as StarRacer turned away crying. Optimus moved closer and again took her into his arms.

"I promise…we WILL find her…no matter what it takes."

Back at the forest, StarChaser was throwing a fit. Megatron had her by the arm and was literally dragging her along.

StarChaser looked up and screamed and kicked. "Let me go you big dumb Decepticons, let me go! Where are you taking me?"

Megatron merely passed a glance over his massive shoulder and continued to walk toward the carbon mines. Within a few hours the Decepticons stopped by a massive iron door. Megatron stepped forward and flashed a security key and the door unlocked. Megatron then pulled the helpless sparkling along and through a long dark and purple tinted corridor into a large room with monitors and a massive throne with a Decepticon symbol. This had to be the Decepticon base!

StarChaser stopped and looked around in awe and disbelief. This was the Decepticon base…FOR REAL! But why would they bring her here? Wouldn't they be worried about her spilling the location when she went back…that is…if she went back. Megatron yanked her forward toward the throne on the other side of the room. It almost seemed like Megatron was more dragging her along than anything else.

He eventually stopped and released StarChaser from his grasp and sank into his throne. StarChaser stood alone in the center of the room facing the leader of the Decepticons…without protection…without hope.

Megatron sat upon his throne and stared down on the child coldly and motioned toward the floor in front of him. "Sit."

StarChaser glanced behind over her shoulder and saw Blitzwing and Lugnut guarding the exit…the ONLY exit. Megatron chuckled. "You are not going to escape child, so I suggest you obey what you are told. Now sit."

Again Megatron motioned the floor in front of him. StarChaser looked at the floor then glanced at Megatron through her visor. His expression remained the same and no words were said. StarChaser sighed heavily and sat down without objection.

Megatron grinned and nodded. "Now, why don't to tell me as to why I have found you within my domain."

StarChaser remained silent and looked away. Megatron sat forward and rested an arm on his knee. "Now listen child, we can proceed with this discussion the easy way…or the hard way. It's your choice."

StarChaser remained silent. Blitzwing stepped forward cracking his metallic fists. "You know my Lord, ve could alvays MAKE her talk."

Megatron held up a hand and shook his head. "That will not be necessary Blitzwing…you see…I have a better idea."

Megatron then rose to his stabilizing servos and ventured over to a pile of barrels by the monitors. Taking two into his hands, he ventured back to his throne and reseated himself. Setting one barrel on the floor, he took the other and opened it. The aroma of oil suddenly drifted throughout the room. StarChaser froze and watched the barrel of oil. Megatron watched her optics as he moved the barrel from one hand to the other. He stopped and rested the barrel by his lips and chuckled.

"What's the matter little one has it been long since you refueled?" Megatron then rested the barrel's lid and his lips and took a drink.

StarChaser's lips trembled and her glossa ventured across her lips. The smell of that oil was so intoxicating. Megatron watched as the child struggled to keep herself from lunging at the oil in his hand.

He laughed and smiled evilly as he motioned the other barrel next to him. "Now, this is how it is going to work…I will give you this other barrel of oil if you tell me everything I wish to know…fair enough?"

StarChaser paused and thought about it. Would it really hurt her if she told him? Would it be bad if the Decepticon leader knew about her mom?

Megatron sat patiently for only a few moments before clenching his fists. "You have a limited time to decide child, so choose carefully."

StarChaser thought about it before shaking her head slightly. Her tank needed fuel and she was going to take what she could get.

She looked up at the Decepticon leader and nodded slowly. He smiled fiendishly before reaching down and picking up the barrel. "I knew you would see things my way…"

Megatron held the barrel out toward StarChaser. She stood still, watching Megatron blankly. He looked down at the barrel and then back. "I will not strike child…just take it."

StarChaser swallowed hard and began to approach. She carefully reached forward and took the barrel from Megatron's massive hand and returned to her spot on the floor. Quickly she almost seemed to rip the top off the barrel and chug it down. Megatron watched and grinned.

"Now, let's try this again. Tell me as to why I have found you within my domain."

Taking a break from her sweet and much needed oil, she looked up and shrugged. "I got lost."

Megatron tilted his head. "How did you get lost? Your father usually places a guardian with you does he not?"

StarChaser looked away and shrugged. "I didn't have a guardian because…because… I ran away."

Megatron leaned forward. "And why did you do this?"

StarChaser looked up and glared. "And why should I tell you?"

Megatron smiled and motioned toward the barrel of oil. "Do you wish to keep that in your possession?"

StarChaser glared and pulled the oil closer to her chest plate. "Okay, you made your point clear."

StarChaser sighed and looked at her stabilizing servos. "My-my mom and dad are fighting, okay, and I just couldn't take it anymore."

StarChaser became quiet and looked away thus hiding her face plate Megatron looked over to Blitzwing and Lugnut and motioning toward the door. "Leave us."

Lugnut nodded and motioned for Blitzwing to follow. With slight uncertainty Blitzwing hesitated but eventually follows. They left closing two massive steel doors behind them. StarChaser looked up and watched as both Blitzwing and Lugnut left. She then turned around and saw Megatron sitting on the edge of his seat looking at StarChaser; smiling.

He pointed to her and motioned her over with a wave of his hand. "Come closer little one."

She sat there frozen in both fear and awe. "Do I really look that stupid to you?"

Megatron growled and pointed to his feet "Come. Here"

StarChaser smirked and held up a finger. "Ah-ah-ah, what's the magic word?"

Megatron stared coldly and growled more loudly. "NOW!"

StarChaser flinched and hesitated. "Sheesh this guy's got and even shorter temper then Ratchet!"

She bowed her head down and slowly started forward " 'Kay."

She stopped right in front of the Decepticon leader and looked up. Compared to him she was nothing. He was so massive in size and strength; she was so small and weak.

Megatron then lowered his mass and extended and hand out toward her. Out of sheer instinct she flinched and covered her face but looked up in surprise when she felt a large hand rest upon her back plate. She looked up and saw Megatron looking down upon her with a poised face plate.

He looked at her and spoke. "Now child, tell me as to why your creators are fighting."

StarChaser looked away and remained quiet for a long time. How could she tell him above all bots about that…but then again… considering how long she's held it in… how could she not?

Tears began streaming from her optics as she looked back up at Megatron. "They got into a huge fight…about what exactly I'm not sure…but all I know is that my dad and mom are calling it quits and that my mom may be going back to Cybertron! Then my dad wanted my mom to pretend that they never fought at all so that I wouldn't find out…but I overheard everything! So…I ran away."

She then burst into tears and wept helplessly. Megatron just sat there in a dumbfounded daze not knowing what to say. He didn't know anything about sparklings and didn't WANT to know anything…but considering this child was his enemy's, he could use this child to his advantage. But still, a crying sparkling…not something he wants.

StarChaser was crying so hard that she couldn't even stand up and ended up falling against Megatron's massive chest plate. He flinched not knowing whether to pull away or remain still. StarChaser looked up and sniffled but suddenly pulled away thus realizing what she had done.

"Sorry, I uh—."

Megatron merely grinned and chuckled in a strange evil way. "It helps to tell someone about burning troubles within, does it not?"

StarChaser turned away and shrugged. "I guess."

Megatron slowly rose from his throne and approached StarChaser. "You know, it is quite funny…"

StarChaser looked up and saw Megatron standing next to her. She sniffled as she looked up. "What is?"

Megatron crossed his arms and shook his head. "It is a shame that your sire and creator couldn't stop their bickering long enough to see you and your needs…"

Megatron looked down at the child who was staring at the floor. Megatron grinned and continued. "…now if you were within Decepticon ranks, that would never have happened."

StarChaser flinched and looked up. "Decepticon ranks? But I'm an Autobot!"

Megatron sighed and looked away. "True, but was that of your own choice?"

StarChaser again turned away and was silent. Megatron laughed to himself and continued. "Or were you born as an Autobot?"

Again StarChaser remained silent. Megatron knelt to the ground on one knee and raised StarChaser up onto his raised knee. She stared at Megatron timidly only to receive a mischievous smile in return.

"Child, you cannot tell me that you haven't at least CONSIDERED being a Decepticon for at least a day, have you not?"

StarChaser looked away thinking but eventually shrugged. "I guess I have…maybe…but dad always said that Decepticons were bad and that all they wanted was to rule over the entire universe."

Megatron sat back in an astonished state. "Well, then it appears that your sire knows nothing of Decepticon values! We do not wish to 'take-over' the universe, but merely make it a better place. The Autobots on the other hand think that it is fine in its present state."

StarChaser looked away and remained silent as Megatron spoke. "We also believe in the fact that every bot should get whatever it is that he or she may want."

Megatron looked at StarChaser from the corner of his optic, and then knelt down closer. "What about you my child, what is it that you want more than anything in this universe?"

StarChaser looked at Megatron with tears again beginning to form in her optics. "I want a functional family…you know…a mom and dad that love each other and don't fight."

Megatron looked away and smiled fiendishly. "Tell you what; I shall make you a proposal…"

StarChaser looked up and cocked her head. "What?"

Megatron looked down with the same fiendish grin on his face plate. "If for…oh say… a week… you join ranks with the Decepticons, I shall help you get your mother and father back together."

StarChaser looked up; confused. "How?"

Megatron smiled. "How else? By training you…"

StarChaser looked away dumbfounded. "How is training me going to get my parents back together?"

Megatron looked away chuckling. "Don't worry about that child; leave all the precious details to me."

Megatron raised StarChaser off of his knee and put her out in front of him. He sat on the ground and extended a hand. "So…do we have a bargain?"

StarChaser thought about it and looked up. "So…if I join your ranks for a week, you will help me get my mom and dad back together AND train me how to fight?"

Megatron nodded. "Those are the terms. Now do we have an accord or not?"

StarChaser stared at the large hand extended out to her. Making deals with a Decepticon was something her dad wouldn't agree with.

StarChaser passed an uneasy glance to Megatron. "But, what about the Autobots? They're my family!"

Megatron smiled while pushing his hand closer to StarChaser. "Let's just say for the next earth week, WE will be your family."

StarChaser again looked at the hand extended toward her before looking at her own palm. Dad would SO not agree with this…but then again…dad wasn't here, and this appeared to be the one and only sheer proof way to get both her mother and father together again.

She slowly extended her hand and put it into Megatron's palm. "I accept your terms…"

Megatron enclosed her hand in his and smiled evilly. "Welcome to the Decepticon ranks…friend."

Megatron released her hand and looked down upon her smiling. "What is your name child?"

She smiled sheepishly and shrugged. "It's StarChaser…sir."

Megatron started walking toward the large iron doors and opened then and motioned StarChaser to follow. "Now THAT name will have to go."

StarChaser jumped and ran to keep up. "What? What's wrong with my name?"

Megatron opened the doors and motioned her through. "It sounds much too…innocent. If you wish to make a mark in this vast universe you want a name that exhibits a sense of power."

StarChaser practically had to keep up with Megatron's large strides. "Okay Mr. High-and-Mighty, what kind of name do you think best fits me?"

Megatron stared blankly at her and continued to stray forward. 'Well it appears it will have to be a name that compliments your facetious side."

StarChaser jumped to try and keep up. "Like what?"

Megatron looked up and grinned. "Well it appears that you're now covering up an old part of your life with a new one, so would it not make sense but to call you Eclipse?"

StarChaser stopped and thought about it and looked at her stabilizing servos. Megatron stopped and waited.

StarChaser looked up with a mischievous grin. "I like it, it suits me perfectly."

Megatron grinned and chuckled. "Then from this day forward; your Decepticon name is Eclipse."

StarChaser (or should I say Eclipse) sprinted after Megaton who smiled to himself.

He looked to his side and Eclipse trotting beside him. "But we have to do something about those colors…NO Decepticon under my command will share the same colors as the Autobot leader."

Eclipse looked down at her armor then back to Megatron who merely grinned and continued. "You will have some of the designated Decepticon colors as long as you reside in THIS base."

Eclipse stopped as Megatron continued forward. She swallowed hard then sprinted after him.