Hi all!

So I finally, finally got this chapter done! it took me awhile to write this out because I wanted to make sure some things were worded in a way that makes sense, and so it took awhile to do that!

I really hope you're all enjoying the story so far, and I ask that you all please review to let me know your thoughts on the story and share any ideas you have for future chapters! I love to hear all the ideas you guys come up with, it serves as great inspiration and helps me get through writer's block!

Anywho, dislcaimer's on my prof., and sorry for any spelling errors!

Enjoy and please review!

Megatron stood silently in the command bridge, watching as his soldier's went about their duties. His thoughts were miles away, however, occupied with the sprouting plans he was creating for his new-found heir.

It was the Prime's eighth day upon the warship, the first two days having been spent in a cell, the third day being when Megatron had discovered that he would make the perfect heir, and the forth, fifth, sixth and seventh days Megatron had left the young mech be, hoping to give him a small adjustment period before starting his attempts at persuading him to join the Decepticons. Today, Megatron planned to again leave the Prime be. Orion still viewed him as his mortal enemy, his presence would only cause unneeded stress on the young mech, which would be risky if the warlord didn't have a plan ready to negate the effects such stress would have on the Prime.

Besides, Megatron was patient enough. All plans were best made when one took time to construct them, after all. For the time being he could simply send vehicons to supply Orion regularly with energon cubes, and perhaps by the time Megatron did visit, the little Prime's temper would be cooled somewhat.

Megatron idly tapped a pointed digit against the plate on the side of his leg, optics distant with thought. The best place to start concerning preparing Orion to be his heir was probably by helping him become familiar with the ship. The Nemesis was not only the base of operations now for the Decepticons, but it was also home to those who lived in it. Megatron wasn't about to allow his heir to go around without the proper knowledge of the ship and its systems. Besides, simply explaining the ship's systems and such would be a good way to ease Orion into his new role. It would likely not trigger the Prime's ire as it wouldn't seem to be unrelated to the touchy subject of becoming heir to the Decepticon leader.

Going by that logic, things such as combat and tactic training and teaching Orion the rules and regulations the Decepticon's followed would come later, when the little Prime had acclimated a bit.

Still, even simply speaking with the Prime would be difficult. Orion was stubborn, and wouldn't be all too willing to listen to anything Megatron had to say. Perhaps a reward system of sorts would help earn some form of compliance? More freedom and privileges on the ship granted in small amounts if the Prime behaved and made an actual effort to listen and remember the information Megatron provided, and alternatively, privileges taken if Orion attempted to escape or acted out violently or far too rashly. He'd have to find a good balance, though, Megatron mused. He needed to ensure he didn't lose his temper and punish the Prime for every little act of resistance. It would be unreasonable, to take away privileges every time Orion acted out, as it was perfectly normal for one in the little Prime's situation to resist.

There were other things to consider too, with Orion's presence on the Nemesis. Security would need to be updated, to ensure any escape attempts that the Prime might make would be unsuccessful. Megatron would also need to speak with his soldiers about how they would be expected to act around Orion. He wouldn't have his own followers treating his new-found heir with anything less than the utmost respect. He suspected, though, that it wouldn't be much of an issue. The young were valued highly by the Decepticons -even on the battlefield, non-lethal force was to be used at all times when locked in combat with any 'bot under the age of fifty vorns. The general consensus was that, while eighteen vorns was when one was technically an adult, one wasn't really considered to be fully matured until fifty vorns, when a mech or femme got their second to last frame.

Of course, some of his less...stable, soldiers were more than happy to ignore that unspoken rule. Megatron would just need to keep a closer optic on those particular few, perhaps remind them of their place.

Megatron was roused from his thoughts when Breakdown stumbled into the bridge room, nursing a few dents in his plating and cursing under his breath.

"Fraggin' mini Prime, should'a smacked up upside the helm for giving me that attitude...Jus' trying to give him energon, make sure he doesn't starve, and this' how he repays me? It'll take ages to get these out, that son of a-"

"Breakdown."

The former wrecker gave a slight start, optic turning to his leader. Megatron raised a metal brow, and Breakdown looked sheepish, rubbing the back of his neck.

"I uh...I've taken the young Prime his third energon ration of the day, sire." He informed nervously, hoping to have not gained Megatron's ire with his complaints.

Luckily, Megatron was more amused then anything. A slight smirk twitched at his lip plates.

"I see that our young guest gave you some trouble, hm?"

Breakdown sighed, looking suddenly weary.

"I've had 'bots attack me with swords, blasters, even the occasional grenade...Today, the little Prime's weapon choice was several untouched energon cubes that were left laying around. I'll give him one thing, that Prime's got wicked aim."

Megatron almost chuckled, but then he realized what Breakdown had said fully and frowned.

"'Several untouched energon cubes'? How long has it been since he last fueled?"

Breakdown grimaced, shoulder's lifting in a shrug.

"He hasn't even touched any of the energon that has been brought to him. I'm honestly surprised that he was able to chuck those cubes at me- he almost looks dead on his pedes."

Megatron's frown deepened, the large mech's gaze turning away as he rubbed at his chin in thought. He honestly hadn't believed that Orion would refuse to fuel. He had forgotten that the Autobots, paranoid when it concerned the Decepticons, likely taught those in their ranks to never accept any energon from the enemy in case the offered energon was poisoned.

It was unlikely the Prime would suddenly change his mind and accept the energon he was offered, Megatron mused with a grimace. Some form of incentive would be required.

"Sire, if you don't require anything else, may I head to the medbay to have these dents pounded out?" Breakdown asked.

Megatron grunted, optics flicking to Breakdown momentarily.

"Very well. You have finished your duties for the day."

Breakdown, looking relieved, bowed.

"Thank you, sire."

Megatron didn't reply, not even sparing a glance as the former wrecker left.

It seemed he'd be needing to visit Orion a bit sooner then expected.

Optimus knew that, at this rate, he wouldn't be able to keep awake. His energon levels were dangerously low, and it was a wonder that his body hadn't shut down into emergency recharge yet. Eight human days without fuel was ill-advised, Cybertronians needed at least one cube every two human days to function. Given he hadn't accepted any energon in the past eight days, combined with the fact that his team was on limited rations and he hadn't had any energon two days prior to his capture, Optimus was pushing his luck. It wouldn't kill him- his body would shut down to preserve what little energy it had left, but that would leave him completely vulnerable to the Decepticons.

That thought was less then thrilling.

Still, he wasn't about to risk getting poisoned. He had seen first hand the horror that was a Cybertronian contracting a deadly virus from poisoned energon, and Optimus refused to let that happen to him. Starving or not, he needed to remain vigilant.

The sound of the door being unlocked and opened made the exhausted Prime give a jolt, and he looked up, surprised to find Megatron in the doorway. He hadn't seen the warlord in the past few days, so his sudden appearance here was a bit bewildering.

Stepping into the room fully, Megatron allowed the door to slide shut behind him, sending a databurst to lock the door. The warlord then took a moment to simply inspect Optimus, amused when Optimus almost immediately jumped to his pedes. The young mech's bright blue optics inspected Megatron warily, and he knew that his posture was obviously defensive, his shoulders hiked up high and tense.

Megatron's gaze slid to the rest of the room. He took in the sight of a couple of untouched energon cubes that sat on a metal counter, and then to the floor by the entrance where energon stains, along with the shattered remains of cubes that had been used as projectile weapons lay. Megatron's optics returned to Optimus, and he raised a metal brow.

"You have not been regularly ingesting the energon that has been brought to you. Why?"

Optimus' optics narrowed, his digits curling into fists.

"Seriously? You have to ask?"

Megatron's expression remained carefully blank as he folded his servos behind his back.

"I would like to hear your reasoning."

Optimus grit his denta, hesitating for a moment as he tried to determine if Megatron had any ulterior motive. Finally, he answered, voicing his reply carefully.

"I've seen plenty of mech's and femme's poisoned through energon, I don't plan on being like them."

Megatron hummed, striding over to stand at the large window that overlooked the earth below, paying no mind even as Optimus tensed up even further.

"I see." He cast Optimus a sidelong glance. "I suppose that would be a common occurrence, living in the lower docks of Tyger Pax. Others will often do nearly anything to survive, even disposing of those who risk their chance of finding or keeping a job that allows them to survive."

Optimus felt his spark twist violently. Just how much did Megatron know about him? It made no sense, any and all files concerning his sparklinghood and other personal details had been locked up tight, buried deep in the Autobot personnel file archives...

Megatron didn't seem at all off-put by his lack of response, optics returning to the window.

"You should realize, however, that it would be foolhardy of me to poison your energon, when I plan to make you my heir."

The word 'heir' made Optimus' tanks churn, but he didn't give any outward sign of this, instead glaring at the warlord challengingly.

"For all I know, you're trying to lull me into a false sense of security. You could be saying you wish to make me your...'heir'," He all but choked on the word, "But in actuality plan to offline me. That's not too far from the realm of possibility, you seem like the kind of mech who'd enjoy watching another offline in a slow, agonizing way. Tricking me into drinking poison would provide that."

A slight smirk tilted at Megatron's lip plates.

"Orion, if I planned to offline you, I would not waste time with poisoning you with a virus. You are by far one of the most dangerous Autobots I have ever met. If I were going to offline you I would've done so the moment you were knocked unconscious in battle and unable to escape." Megatron turned to Optimus, and the Prime froze, pinned under the vibrant red optics. "One's most dangerous enemies should be dealt with as quickly as possible, lest you risk their allies rescuing them, or them escaping. Remember that, Orion."

Optimus' gaze became incredulous. Was Megatron...Was Megatron seriously trying to teach him something here? Now, of all times?

The Prime didn't have much time to muse over this, as Megatron turned and strode to the nearby counter, where the untouched energon cubes innocently sat. Picking one up, Megatron went to Optimus, who immediately shuffled back a step. Stopping a couple paces away, Megatron held out the cube to the young Prime.

Optimus blinked, taken aback. His eyes turned from Megatron to the cube, and then back again. Megatron didn't move, waiting.

Slowly, Optimus accepted the cube, keeping his wary gaze on Megatron in case the mech tried anything.

Yet Megatron didn't. Once Optimus had hold of the energon cube, the warlord folded his servos behind his back again.

"Believe what you will concerning the energon. Just remember, even if you do not drink it now, once you crash from exhaustion and hunger you'll end up in the medbay being fueled through an I.V. Either way you will end up ingesting the energon we provide you with, you merely get to decide whether you go about it the easy way, or the hard way."

Optimus watched as Megatron headed for the door.

"I will be back tomorrow. I would suggest you get some rest, going so long without recharge is highly inadvisable."

And then the warlord was gone.

Optimus' processor was reeling, trying to understand what had just happened. All of his encounters with Megatron before now, barring the last one they'd had, had all involved physically fighting, pain, not to mention anger. Yet just now Megatron had showed no inclination towards violence. He'd spoken to Optimus almost as an equal, as if they weren't fighting on opposing sides of a war. Megatron had spoken to him, and had actually listened to Optimus. He hadn't even resorted to threats when they spoke about why Optimus hadn't consumed any energon brought to him, he'd merely handed him a cube, told him the facts, and then left...

Optimus could feel the nagging twisting in his tanks still, though, after Megatron had mentioned the lower docks of Tyger Pax, and used his birth designation. No one was supposed to know either of those things. Frag, not even his team knew about his birth place or his designation. It was more than a little unsettling that his greatest enemy seemed to know more about him than his friends did.

Optimus stared at the cube in his hand as he slid down the wall to sit again, his cobalt optics inspecting the glowing liquid as it sloshed around in the container, as if he could see if it was poisoned if he stared long enough.

As much as he loathed to admit it, Megatron's arguments were sound. If Megatron wanted him offlined, then Optimus would've been long gone by now. Optimus would never say it aloud, but Megatron was a more than competent warrior and leader, the large mech would never be so foolish as to leave an enemy alive any longer than necessary unless he wanted to interrogate him or had something completely different planned.

If Megatron wanted to interrogate him, he would've kept him in a cell and left him to starve, not given him a room and leave him alone for a few days (Optimus had noticed quickly that the warlord had been, oddly, giving him space the past few days and had others bring him energon -if Megatron wanted to coerce information from him, it would make more sense that he try to be a constant presence, become someone for Optimus to depend on, not take a step back to give him room to adjust).

With great hesitance, Optimus lifted the energon cube to his lips.