Epilogue

Megatron sat patiently as the Constructicons repaired him, Soundwave standing silently by his side. Rumble and Frenzy were around the arena somewhere, probably irritating Long Haul. Clench was dead - murdered - and the silver heavyweight had been working on staging some spectacular matches, letting a natural showmanship he'd never even realized he'd had before shine through. Unlike the previous ring leader of the gladiators, these matches were designed to bring in crowds, and with them, credits - not for Megatron's luxury, but to begin purchasing weapons. Badges. Soldiers. Armies.

"Soundwave," he drawled leisurely as Hook repaired his arm, "what cycle is it? My chronometer was smashed up in that last brawl."

"Afternoon Cycle Three," droned the blue mech. Megatron nodded, satisfied. One more cycle until he could expect the familiar question in his spark. Starscream was always on time, he'd give his bondmate that - always exactly on the first nanoklik of cycle four, the words would echo around his spark in a sing-song tone, and every time, he would answer it the same way.

Soon.

Some days, it would annoy him, and he wouldn't reply at all. But today, today was different. It was time. He allowed himself a small smile, though inwardly he was giddy with excitement and couldn't wait to see what Starscream's reaction would be.

The nanokliks rolled by. Hook cursed, Mixmaster moaned, Scrapper yelled, and between them eventually Megatron was repaired. Last came his chronometer, being inessential to his health, and Scavenger toyed with various parts he'd collected, trying to match the parts on the silver mech's chronometer to the parts he had. The young constructicon at last pulled out the relevant nuts and bolts from his extensive collection of junk, and the device was repaired in minutes. The gladiator checked his newly fixed chronometer, just as it changed to cycle four.

When? it whispered.

Today, Megatron replied. A large warmth spread through his chest, Starscream's happiness mirrored in himself. He beckoned for Soundwave to come over, and the silent mech did so without hesitation.

"Soundwave. I have a task for you," he said in a low voice. "I need a flight capable combatant."

"Affirmative," came the bland reply, and Soundwave made to leave.

"Soundwave," Megatron repeated, and the blue mech turned and looked at the gladiator. The silver titan tapped his helmet, indicating Soundwave should use telepathy rather than allow the constructicons to hear their plans.

The tendrils of the other's consciousness batted at Megatron's processor. His name is Starscream. Give him these - tell him they are a gift from Megatron, and he will come with you. Soundwave nodded and walked towards the gladiator. Stealthily, he passed the communications expert a small package, and with that, the blue mech turned to leave.

He flicked out a few waves of telepathy as he walked through the streets of underground Kaon, hoping for a few pointers - a flier named Starscream. Logically, a flier shouldn't be too difficult to find, since they were few and far between in a dump like Kaon. But Megatron's thoughts had indicated that Starscream was in hiding. He looked down at the small package, curious as to whether the gift would give him a clue as to the whereabouts of the coveted flier.

Inside the wrappings were two cubes of medicine.

Megatron did not really need to ask Soundwave, since the link between his and his bondmate's spark was so strong and vibrant now, in much closer proximity than they'd been used to, but the gladiator was not willing to allow his underlings the knowledge that he had a bondmate. With his newfound showmanship, he set upon the display of acting that he'd rehearsed to himself a thousand times. Soundwave entered the room as Megatron sat, once again under the repair tools of Hook, and announced that he had brought Megatron a flight capable combatant.

"You found one?" he grunted.

"Negative," Soundwave droned, and Megatron looked over sharply for a moment. "I present three."

Starscream stepped forward, with Thundercracker and Skywarp at his wingtips. The two elder brothers looked towards the gladiator, knowing enough about the situation to not say anything about their previous connections with Megatron, but flickers of gratitude passed over their faces. Starscream, of course, already knew his lines for the little play Megatron had composed.

"M-Megatron," he stuttered, and inwardly the gladiator had to laugh at his bondmate's over the top acting. To add to it, he kneeled down dramatically. "I pledge my undying allegiance to you!" declared Starscream melodramatically.

Megatron kept a poker face, turning away from them with an ambiguous "hnn", but the gladiator was sure Starscream knew how happy he was to see him by the way his spark was screaming for the other's.

Nice acting, he chuckled inwardly.

Like yours was any better, Starscream replied cockily.

The gladiator slipped out a small grin, gone as quickly as it came, but he knew that the flier had seen it. Yes, tonight their sparks would truly be reunited, quietly and dignified, in stark contrast to the frantic, desperate first bonding they had achieved. Tonight, they would lose themselves in their bond again.