Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Flying through the dense asteroid field in search of the one that would be concealing a secret lab, Starscream couldn’t help the burning annoyance at being turned into an errand-bot for Scorponok and Shockwave’s long-distance “mad scientist buddy.”

Not that Starscream didn’t appreciate the pursuit of science in general. Even the questionable and unnerving experiments that his teammates pursued, both to satisfy their curiosity and to give the Decepticons a new potential advantage. And the mech that they were communicating with was supposed to be brilliant when it came to cyber-grafting and various augmentations, seeking out knowledge from other worlds in pursuit of his goal to improve all of Cybertron. He’d made himself the leading expert on the subject.

But he was also extremely secretive with his work. Mostly because his horrific and unethical body modifications were extreme enough to get his colleagues to turn against him. He was nearly locked away before he fled, hiding where he wouldn’t be found or disturbed. Technically he was considered a Decepticon because their side would turn a blind optic to more questionable morality when necessary and his research was useful, but he was mostly left alone. Only occasionally requesting shipments of strange materials or equipment as he obsessively developing his potential augmentations for the Decepticon cause.

Except he had something worth sending to Scorponok and Shockwave to attempt implementing in their forces. But his paranoia meant that he wouldn’t risk transmitting the information in case of theft, regardless of how encrypted the signal. He wanted it transported via a secure data-con, not even risking a more common datatrax.

And for reasons that Starscream still didn’t understand, Megatron had ordered him to fly out and retrieve the data-con rather than picking anyone else.

The coordinates finally led to a larger asteroid with what looked like another crater, a hologram concealing the entrance. An airlock ensured that it would maintain a stable atmosphere. A useful feature to protect more delicate experiments. Starscream transformed out of his jet mode before the second set of doors opened.

His first impression was that there was a rather excessive amount of space for a mech that spent his time alone. High ceilings at least three times his height and a wide area with minimal clutter. Only a few neatly stacked crates near another door across the room. Along the stone walls numerous computers running multiple scenarios, several machines that he didn’t immediately recognize, and trays of medical tools next to at least three exam tables. Starscream did his best to ignore the stains on them; he might be familiar with the sight of spilled energon and oil from the battlefield, but it was different in this context.

“You must be Starscream. I’ve been expecting you.”

The mech slithered out of the shadows. And slithered was the appropriate term. He was apparently a Snaketicon, a subgroup of bots like the Vehicon or Predacon, but generally more solitary and were more common on colony worlds. They tended to be long, slender, and stealthy. And as he rose up into view, Starscream had to mentally add tall to the list.

Starscream knew that while most mechs were close to his size, there were bots both much small and much larger than him. Soundwave’s Deployers like Laserbeak were a reasonable example of the former while Tidal Wave was an example of the latter. But it still gave him pause when he unexpectedly encountered someone that much bigger. Despite not being a great deal wider than Starscream, not including his wings, the mech was at least twice his height. With more of his long form still coiled on the floor.

“And I assume that I’ve found Vertebreak?” he responded.

“At least your processor isn’t slow on the uptake. That’s a promising feature.”

Vertebreak’s optics were bright yellow, matching the scattering of lights on his upper chassis and his trio of spindly arms. No pedes. Only three servos with a different number of digits on each one: five on the right, three on the left, and the middle ending in more of a clamp. His long body was white for the most part with an orange stripe on each side and yellow on the underside facing him. His face was mostly orange and yellow with a large chin, a wide head, and numerous sharp dentae. The Snaketicon’s entire length was segmented and offered obvious flexibility, demonstrated as he began slithering in a circle around him and forcing Starscream to turn to keep an optic on him.

“While you’re welcome to continue enjoying my power of observation,” said Starscream dryly, “I would much rather you hand over the data-con. Playing courier is a waste of my skills.”

“I agree. You have a great deal of potential. A prime example of a Seeker class. Strong and durable for your frame. Healthy with no current injuries from recent battles. Energy readings are promising,” he continued eagerly. “And the rest of your trine are in similarly good condition?”

Feeling increasingly uneasy and on guard, Starscream asked “Why are you asking?”

Far too much battlefield experience told him to be wary of where this conversation was going. If he could, he would be backing up towards the exit. But the large mech had encircled him with his coils. Escape plans involving firing or flying were already flashing through his processor. Shockwave could pick up his own data-con.

“If I want to build on Rossum’s research properly and also devise a method of reliably producing Point-One-Percenter-equivalent sparks without access to Cybertron’s hot spots, then I need the best potential test subject. Knowing the condition of your spark-siblings isn’t necessary, but it would be useful baseline information to compare to.”

While not everything that the mech said immediately made sense, Starscream heard enough to know that he had no intention of sticking around to be a test subject. But as he powered up his jets to flee, Vertebreak lunged. Sharp dentae buried into Starscream’s arm. As he shouted in shock and pain, a foreign program abruptly flooded his systems. His sensors began to dull and motor skills grew less responsive as he tried to pry the giant mouth off.

As he released his bite, Vertebreak said, “Don’t worry. It’s a relatively weak and short-lived virus. Your automatic repair systems will have it cleaned out enough to regain consciousness in less than a joor. Until then, a short time in stasis will give me a chance to finish preparations.”

“Megatron will not tolerate betrayal,” he slurred through his weakening vocalizer, slumping to the ground as his systems slowly went out.

He didn’t want to depend on their leader’s reputation to save him. Threatening him with Megatron was a desperate ploy that made it clear that he couldn’t win on his own. But Starscream knew that it was his only option. His rank within the Decepticons and Megatron’s treatment of traitors was all that he could use as defense when his entire body was slipping into stasis.

“Do you think that my work is cheap? Temporary use of a strong and durable Seeker for my experimental work was the price that he agreed to. That is why Megatron ordered you here.”

As Vertebreak finished attaching the thin cable to the back of the test subject’s core processor, he could spare a nano-klik to appreciate his own preparations. Hacking into a bot’s systems was not an easy task without medic-specific codes for emergencies, which remained a very closely guarded secret even now, so he wouldn’t expect results until he created an opening for the computer. But the program was ready and would do the job when the time came. He’d extended the exam table to accommodate the wings while activating the mag-locks, the glowing blue restraints trapping the limbs in the splayed-out position that he required.

And there were of course the preparations that he’d made to himself. Vertebreak was not afraid to augment his own body in the pursuit of Cybertron’s improvement. And he’d made great use of what he’d learned from other worlds and the mechanical lifeforms that he encountered, sentient and not. Some of that knowledge came willingly, some less so, and some through the process of vivisection. His frame’s standard equipment would not have been effective for delivering sufficient quantities of the modified sentio metallico, improved with specialized nanobots and combining ununtrium with the more standard materials.

The rare substance was extremely useful if it could be incorporated into an endoskeleton of a bot, but most could not survive the process of altering their established protoforms with it. Hence the importance of his experiment attempting to both combine the substance into a bot’s composition sooner and produce a spark strong enough; either would be useful, but succeeding at both would be best. Ununtrium was difficult enough to obtain that he couldn’t afford multiple tests.

Vertebreak did have some minor concerns that his upgrades to accommodate the modified sentio metallico might cause some difficulties, especially with their size difference and drastically different frame designs already complicating the procedure. But after studying some schematics on standard Seeker designs, he concluded that it would technically be within the upper limits of tolerance without risking critical damage. It would not be comfortable for the test subject, but any minor damage would not be enough to threaten the results.

Despite the required mechanics to produce his intended results, the entire endeavor was solely for science and it wasn’t personal. But he had to admit that Megatron provided an ideal specimen. One that should serve his requirements better than previous attempts. Non-Seekers were not as reliable in their results and Vertebreak’s attempts at more artificial techniques only proved that his direct involvement was required.

Like all Seekers, Starscream’s alt-mode was clearly a jet. Primarily red with black for his helm, servos, and a few other pieces of armor, his wings were mostly white. The nose cone of his alt-mode folded down over his chassis rather than becoming part of the helm like some Seekers. The positioning would make access to the interface panel more difficult and yet another reason why more narrow-minded Functionalists claimed that bots should remain with their own kind, but the black tip of the nose cone appeared to be capable of retracting. Another Seeker might have an easier time positioning himself for proper access, but Vertebreak should be able to manage. Age was difficult to estimate, but the mech was younger than him; most likely he came online either a short time before the war began or at the beginning. And confirming what his sensors detected before, the computer verified that his strong electropulse and energy signature meant that Starscream was in good physical condition.

Once stasis wore off, there should be no problem proceeding as planned.

There were multiple safeguards in place to prevent exactly what Vertebreak intended. But he’d taken enough measures to overcome those obstacles. It would be a successful experiment or he would simply repeat it until it worked. Or his efforts off-lined the Seeker permanently as he took more drastic measures. But since he promised to return Starscream eventually and angering Megatron was dangerous, he would greatly prefer it not come to that.

It took a few more kliks before a pained moan and optics flickering back on announced the return of Starscream to at least a semi-conscious state. Weapon systems would be the last to restore themselves, but even his equilibrium circuits would be unreliable for a while and his motor relays would only respond weakly. Moving wouldn’t be easy even without the mag-locks holding him down.

“What… the scrap?” he mumbled blearily.

“I’m glad that you could rejoin me,” said Vertebreak. “I have always enjoyed a captive audience.”

Due to needing to accommodate the weapons extending backwards from his shoulders, Starscream’s head extended past the edge of the exam table rather than resting on the surface. Which might be for the best. His expression looked like he would rather like to bang his head against it if he could.

“That’s the kind of joke I’d expect from Cyclonus,” he muttered. “Or Skywarp.”

Letting his right servo rest on the Seeker’s cockpit, sharp tips of his digits tapping on it briefly, Vertebreak said, “Don’t be like that. After all my hard work, I deserve to amuse myself with these little puns occasionally.”

“Fine. Make your jokes, give me the data-con, and let me go.”

“Be patient. I promised Scorponok and Shockwave a way to increase the power to larger weapons and augmentations without dangerously straining someone’s spark. Which I will provide. But the problem is that no matter what techniques and upgrades that I devise, there is only so much that can be done to increase that power. I have concluded that the only way to truly advance as a species is to address the issue at the source. A stronger spark and a stronger initial protoform.”

“You’re glitched in the processor. Let me go.”

“Rossum’s technique of incorporating ununtrium into an already existing protoform is of limited use because only a Point One Percenter can survive the process. That’s a greater hinderance to wide-scale upgrades than the rarity of the metal. They have stronger sparks than normal, but they only occur in hot spots. And with those sites going dormant, that rarity will only increase. But while they won’t produce Point One Percenters, do you know what will occasionally still happen with Cold-Constructed and Spark-Spliced bots and actually has a slightly higher percentage than with standard Forged bots? Twins.” Grinning excitedly, Vertebreak said, “My working theory is that Point One Percenters and split-spark siblings are a related phenomenon. In essence, instead of remaining as a particularly powerful spark, they divide in two in any non-Forged scenario. If we want stronger bots, split-sparks are the key.”

“But you can’t predict when twins will happen.”

“True. It is not a reliable or easily replicable event. But on the other servo, Seekers almost always come in threes.”

It was one of the accepted and barely questioned facts about the universe. Except for rare occasions and unusual circumstances, Seekers almost always ended up as a trine regardless of how they were created. They would have outnumbered any other frame if they also didn’t have a higher chance of failure in the creation process, forming sparks guttering out before they could split three ways.

But before splitting, that potential spark would have to be much stronger than most. Theoretically three-times as strong as a standard spark.

Starscream’s optics widened with barely controlled horror. He was clever enough to figure out where Vertebreak was going with this conversation. Between the two of them, perhaps the sparkling or sparklings would be similarly clever.

“You can’t,” said Starscream, trying to sound angry and confident instead of scared. “You wouldn’t dare.”

“I certainly can. Interfacing is a multi-step process in order to eventually produce a sparkling, but it is certainly achievable. Even my modifications won’t complicate it too much. The only difference in the results is that the protoform should be constructed of stronger metals than standard, which should be safer than altering their composition at a later date, and potentially having a single powerful spark rather than a trine. But if the spark should split anyway, three nearly-invulnerable bots instead would not be a complete waste of time and resources.”

“Frag you,” he snarled.

Vertebreak vaguely noticed Starscream’s digits shakily closing into a fist. That was as close as he could come to resisting. He was essentially helpless. Vertebreak could suggest that Starscream would be better off not wasting his energy and save it for what came next. But he wouldn’t have managed to claw his way up to his current position in the Decepticons if he surrendered easily. There was no point offering advice that the Seeker would not heed.

“The only disadvantage regarding Spark-Spliced bots is how much longer they take to reach full size and functionality,” continued Vertebreak. “But while the compacted gestation tank will unfold to accommodate the developing preform, there is a limit. They have to finish development after removal. A full-sized protoform would never fit inside another bot.”

“You’re not putting anything inside me,” snarled Starscream. “Megatron would never agree to this.”

Tilting his head, he admitted, “I didn’t tell him in detail what the experiment entitled. Merely that it would eventually result in more powerful Decepticons in the future if it was successful and that you should survive. Of course, you are more than welcome to explain the exact scientific procedure that you experienced in my lab when you return to him and the battlefield. But since he said that he didn’t care what I do to you as long as I produce results and you’re still capable of fighting when I release you, I doubt that it will make much of a difference.”

The look of betrayal and dying hope that spread across the Seeker’s expression was so similar to the horrified despair of past test subjects. Mostly captured Autobot prisoners, bots dragged in from distant unaffiliated worlds, but also the occasional low-ranked Decepticon that failed someone in power and would not be missed. Victims of experiments to artificially boost their sparks, to find the upper limits of their ability to support various augmentations, and to see if Spark-Splicing could achieved without actually interfacing. Starscream should be grateful; his usefulness to Megatron meant the experiment could not end with his off-lined body being stripped for parts.

“Now, I would ask you to retract the nose cone a little to make accessing your interface panel simpler—”

“Frag off,” snapped Starscream, not quite as steady as he probably intended.

“—but I doubt you would cooperate,” said Vertebreak. “Thankfully, you shouldn’t have enough control back yet to resist too much. After that, base programming should handle the rest. All you’ll need to do is relax while I handle the actual work.”

He reached down to the section of armor that served as the nose cone for the Seeker’s jet mode. There was resistance as Vertebreak pushed, a grinding sound from the straining metal and a pained whine through clenched dental plates. But the black tip reluctantly slid under the rest of the red panel enough for the interface panel between his stretched limbs to come into view.

The arrangement for most bots always struck Vertebreak as impractical. Pedes were already overrated and unnecessary, but having the interface panel between them made access limited. And they had their interface panels so close to their upper body due to being so short, making their inner workings crowded in his opinion. Snaketicons were much better designed. But he was flexible enough to manage. Keeping his face low to loom over the Seeker’s, Vertebreak let more of his length rise from the floor until he was bent into a giant S-shape. Bringing his own interface panel, barely visible compared to the rest of the underside of his body unless someone knew what to look for, close enough to reach his test subject.

Starscream gasped as Vertebreak pressed their interface panels together firmly, rather pleasant signals buzzing through both of their systems as the contact triggered recognition in the relevant programs. Accessing buried protocols without conscious command or control. Vertebreak rubbed the panels against each other to encourage the process while the Seeker weakly tried and failed to shift away from the sensations.

More than mere pleasure, the signals activated various required steps. Preparing the sentio metallico stored in the gestation tanks, for both the carrier and the sire who would be transferring his supply. And as all the relevant systems came online…

With almost a sense of relief, Vertebreak’s panel slid open. The way that Starscream panted raggedly, his intake vents working hard, told him that the smaller mech was fighting it as hard as he could. Which was impressive and a sign that the paralysis of his motor relays was wearing off. But the triggered activation signals would force the matter eventually.

And Vertebreak didn’t mind. It would give him a chance to get ready before Starscream could try something clever like activating the telescoping aspect of the interfacing hardware, making the opening inaccessible.

His research on other worlds had revealed a few subgroups of bots with a more extreme dimorphism where the interfacing hardware was specialized to the point where each individual could only perform half the function. They could not switch between the two depending on what was required. When they wanted to interface, it required locating someone with missing half of the hardware design. Impractical, but it was at least educational when it was time to make alterations to his own.

Vertebreak let his uncovered hardware telescope out as he waited for the resistant Seeker. Colloquially, the format was referred to as a spike due to it tapering towards a narrower tip. But it was a complex structure with a conductive and stiff outer shell filled with sensors, circuits, and capacitors surrounding a hollow tube used to channel the sentio metallico from one bot to the waiting gestation tank of another. Vertebreak’s modified mixture of sentio metallico necessitated a wider spike to accommodate the changes that the new consistency required, but the tip should still be narrow enough.

“The more you delay, the harder that you make this on yourself,” said Vertebreak, letting his spike brush briefly against the slowly, slowly retreating interface panel.

“F-frag you,” he said, his voice strained from the effort.

Still letting his hardware touch the protective barrier, he continued, “You know, ‘valve’ is such a misnomer. There are actually two valves involved. The pinch valve where calipers can squeeze down on the flexible hose that serves as the connecting passage to the gestation tank and the iris valve that seals the gestation tank itself. The first can be overcome with force, but the second? That requires finesse.”

“Frag you and y-your glitched-filled p-processor!”

“Even then, it only opens up to a quarter of its full-size. A third, at most. There are too many mechanical and programmed safeguards in place to prevent anything further. The only time that iris valve opens fully? When the forging process is complete a stellar cycle later.”

And as he expected, the distraction of Vertebreak’s educational monologue was enough for the Seeker to lose focus. Starscream’s interface panel slid out of the way to expose the opening.

“That’s my cooperative specimen,” said Vertebreak with a sharp grin, shifting his long body just enough for the narrower tip of his spike to find the outer edges of Starscream’s valve.

Naturally, Starscream still tried to resist the intrusion as Vertebreak slowly pushed his spike in. The calipers immediately squeezed the flexible passage shut. But as he said, that part could be overcome by force. And with the Seeker restrained and Vertebreak’s mass exceeding Starscream’s, there was little that he could do beyond that rather pitiful resistance that accomplished nothing. The narrow tip of his spike quickly gave way to the thicker augmented length, the sheer diameter forcing the calipers open as much as possible, stretching the connecting passage, and scraping harshly at the inflexible outer surface around the Seeker’s valve. The resulting whine from his subject’s vocalizer was a combination of frustration, distress, and pain from the larger spike than he was designed to accommodate, but Vertebreak remained confident that it should only be some minor surface damage at most.

Besides, the standard protocols for interfacing would already be producing mech fluid along his spike and within Starscream’s valve. A specialized lubricant that would ease his insertion and movements despite the tight squeeze, which admittedly was sending decent amounts of pleasure signals through his systems, but the fluid would also conduct energy very well. A necessity to open the secondary inner valve.

The gestation tank would not open until the interfacing managed result in overload.

Vertebreak shivered slightly at the small clank as the tip of his spike gently tapped the iris valve of the gestation tank. That was as far as he could go. At least for now. And even if the entire endeavor was for the advancement of knowledge and the production of superior bots, he could appreciate the sensations from burying his spike deeply into someone’s straining valve. Somehow, the Seeker’s whimpers of pained distress, his panting curses, and the way his calipers continued to squeeze in a desperate attempt to force him out only made the experience more satisfying. His programming urged Vertebreak to twist around him like he would another Snaketicon, winding together for proper stability as they interfaced, but he resisted the impulse. Resisting the urge to unleash an unprofessional moan, however, was more difficult.

Swaying side to side slightly as he straightened his upper body to loom over the restrained Seeker, those pleasure signals facing up and down his long back strut, Vertebreak said quietly, “It would be easier for you if you would expose your spark chamber. Faster, as well. I assume that you have little desire to prolong the interfacing.”

“Never.” The fury, hatred, and loathing in his strained voice could not conceal the fear and horror. “I’d rather carve it out of my own chassis first.”

“It would be far less simpler if you would be less stubborn and do as I request. Excessive stress on your systems may lower the likelihood of success. Which would mean repeating the process multiple times.”

“I’m not exposing my spark chamber to you,” he hissed viciously. “Open it yourself, you fragging psycho.”

“If you insist.”

Vertebreak did take a moment to let his thin servos explore the Seeker’s cockpit that should be covering said spark chamber. Letting clever and dexterous digits poke and pry at every seam as if he intended to tear his way inside the Seeker’s armor. But it was merely a brief intimidation display. He had far more subtle methods in mind. He toyed with him a few nano-kliks more before returning to business.

He leaned his long body back, letting his spike gradually withdraw most of the way from the smaller mech’s valve. Then, with a sharp grin, Vertebreak slammed himself forward. Hard enough for metal to screech and clang loudly despite the mech fluid, for the flexible inner passages and calipers to strain, and for a pained shout to tear its way from Starscream’s vocalizer. Repeating the withdraw and returning thrust was difficult without properly curling around an equally long partner, but Vertebreak managed to work out the required mechanics to achieve an ideal rhythm: fast, steady, and forceful.

The process of interfacing to produce a sparkling might be messy and inefficient compared to other methods of reproduction, but it was certainly designed to be clear when it was being performed correctly. The steady flow of pleasure signals was addicting. The exertion and the enjoyable sensations left his systems running warm as he vented heavily, focused on a simple goal.

It was relatively simple to understand the mechanics of this part of the multi-step process. The connecting passage between the outer opening of the valve and the inner iris valve was constructed of the same flexible material forming the lines and thin hoses that carried energon through the body or coating wires to protect them. But the inside was lined with an elaborate array of sensors and diodes. The outer surface of the spike, even Vertebreak’s augmented version, was similarly lined with sensors and capacitors. The movements of the spike within the valve’s passage would gradually build up a charge. The numerous capacitors would contain the increasing charge and the diodes would prevent the energy from going anywhere else. Not until the voltage was strong enough. That was what the pleasure signals flooding his processor was urging him to chase.

He could feel his own spark chamber trying to open up from behind his chest plate, part of him attempting to fulfill that part of the interfacing process despite Starscream still resisting as much as he could. Of course, his futile attempt to clamp his valve closed with Vertebreak buried inside him was worse than useless; there were theories that the increased friction from calipers attempting to seal the pinch valve might even assist in building up the charge.

He didn’t have the capacity to speak any more. Base programming was in control of his actions. His audio receptors were filled with the sounds of rapid clanging, the Seeker’s pained gasps and fragmented threats, and his own heavy venting. He kept pistoning in and out as the mech fluid tried to ease his rough and desperate movements. The tip of his tail thrashed slightly in anticipation. He was getting close. He could practically feel the gathering energy buzzing and the modified sentio metallico churning in his gestation tank, waiting for—

The surge of energy as they reached the limit that the diodes could hold back, completing the circuit between them, erupted through them. The intense and overwhelming experience of an overload.

Pleasure spiked to the point of blocking out every other sensation. Distantly, he was aware of a loud and enthusiastic moan that might have been himself enjoying the experience in a very unscientific way, but static covered up most of the sound. Systems were knocked offline or triggered to higher levels. Both of their inner valves for the gestation tanks dilated to a third of the way open as Vertebreak’s spike slammed forward a final time, the tip forced inside and locking into Starscream’s inner valve just in time for Vertebreak’s supply of sentio metallico to begin pumping in. He felt his spark flare with the intensity of the power flooding them both.

Overloads were the best part about interfacing. No one would ever claim otherwise.

It took almost half a klik for the intensity to dim and some of his systems to come back online. Everything was overheating and their heavy venting was deafening. Vertebreak’s spark still felt overcharged and would probably take a joor to return to normal. Starscream undoubtedly felt the same. But Vertebreak also knew that when the Seeker’s systems were temporarily knocked out by the overload, his hacking program would have finally had an opening. A necessity for the next phase due to his test subject’s stubbornness.

Vertebreak took the opportunity to glance down at the Seeker, still firmly restrained by the mag-locks. His threat and pointless words had gone silent in the aftermath. His optics were turned towards the side rather than looking up at the towering Snaketicon. Most of the fury and fear in his expression had been replaced with disgust and shame.

“Do not blame yourself for experiencing pleasure from an involuntary overload,” he said shortly. “That was merely the result of base programming, not a flaw or weakness in yourself. You could not prevent it anymore than you could halt the flow of energon in your lines.”

Still not looking at Vertebreak, Starscream muttered, “You got what you wanted. Let me go.”

And Vertebreak decided that confirmed his suspicions that the younger mech had never interfaced before. Not surprising. He would have come online during a very distrustful time frame when casual encounters were too risky. Because if he did have experience, Starscream’s first question would be why the spike was still locked into place in his gestation tank. Normally that phase would only last a klik at most. In fact, Vertebreak could feel the iris valve trying and failing to close back around him. The gestation tank was not meant to remain open for long during the required transfer of materials.

But that was why he’d augmented his spike. The modified sentio metallico was too thick to transfer as quickly and easily as it should. He’d filled the fluid metal with ununtrium and specialized additional nanobots that should encourage the developing protoform or protoforms to ignore certain forging specifications and restrictions. Specifically, those that were focused on the carrier’s wellbeing rather than ensuring the protoforms reached their full potential. It would take longer and require more active measures to transfer the thicker sentio metallico, but he found suitable upgrades in other species. Luponoids, for example, required prolonged connections as well during interfacing and relied on an extended locking time frame.

And a longer time frame for material transfer offered the opportunity to complete the most crucial step in a successful interfacing session.

“Oh, you know better than that,” said Vertebreak. “I have yet to achieve my purpose. I already explained the goal of my little experiment.”

Starscream gave a harsh laugh at his description. He was still subdued compared to before. He didn’t appear to see any point in trying to resist when he believed it was already over, but remained bitter about what happened.

“Currently all that has been achieved is an admittedly enjoyable overload and a relatively small deposit of sentio metallico into your gestation tank,” he continued. “Which, if there is no corresponding spark-melding within a solar cycle or two, will be broken down for raw material by your systems and mostly like be used for basic repairs at a later point. Unless a spark is produced, this entire attempt would be considered a pointless waste.”

“Good,” he snarled, regaining a little of that fire.

“This is your last chance to expose your spark chamber willingly,” said Vertebreak. “I will have a successful interfacing session before I return you to your leader. The only question is if you make it easier for yourself or more difficult.”

Turning his gaze back to glare at him, Starscream hissed, “I can’t keep you out of my body, but I can deny you that victory.”

Vertebreak raised his head slightly. Looking towards the thin cable attached to the Seeker’s central processor. He knew that it would come to this. The younger mech had no one to blame except himself.

“Computer,” he commanded, “run the TCSC hacking program, command one-nine-eight-four.”

With a yelp of shock and abruptly attempting to fight the mag-lock restraints, most signs of his earlier paralysis already gone, the cockpit slid open and the rest of Starscream’s chestplate slid open. Exposing the round shape containing his spark. The chamber itself wasn’t open yet, but the blue-white glow of the vulnerable and intimate piece of him was easily accessible. Just as easy to extinguish in that state as it would be to meld with it. His fear and desperation were reignited.

“You can’t,” said Starscream, not even trying to hide his horror and dread now. “You can’t do this. Please, don’t do this.”

With his limbs thoroughly trapped in place, the mech could only weakly thrash his torso. But even that barely jostled their joined bodies. Vertebreak took the opportunity to bend his long serpentine form into the mildly ridiculous position again. He needed to bring his own chestplate close to the Seeker’s exposed spark chamber.

“I am not exactly eager to participate in spark-melding with my test subjects,” he said. “Unfortunately, previous attempts to artificially manipulate the spark into a high enough state of excess energy to force splitting of a new spark ended… poorly. Trust me when I say that spark destabilization is not a pleasant way to go. It takes joors.” Quietly accessing the new programs to activate his modifications, Vertebreak said, “Spark-melding remains the most reliable method, so I shall simply have to make sacrifices for science.”

There was a reason why his augmented spike was thicker than the more standard models. There were more layers to the design. Not merely the stronger locking mechanism in the tip. The hollow inner cylinder came equipped with a piston, ready to start pumping in the rest of the sentio metallico into Starscream’s waiting gestation tank from Vertebreak’s own. But there was another cylinder around it serving as the outer layer of his spike, the layer with the actual sensors and capacitors. The dual layer system was vital because the outer layer connected at the base of the inner piston pump.

When he was locked into the Seeker’s gestation tank, he could no longer thrust his spike in and out. But as he slowly activated the piston…

Starscream jolted at the strange sensation of movement while Vertebreak grinned at the pleasure signals returning. The rest of him didn’t need to move. He didn’t have to draw himself in and out. Pumping the thick fluid could produce the same pleasant feedback. Building back up the energy for another overload.

“Stop,” begged the Seeker, trying and failing to twist his exposed spark chamber away as Vertebreak lazily opened his own chestplate. “Please stop. You can’t do this. What kind of fragging Pit-spawned bot are you?”

The mixture of begging and insults gave way to a stuttering gasp as the piston abruptly picked up the pace. There was a great deal of sentio metallico to pump in and he needed to overload the smaller mech again. The hacking program couldn’t force open the spark chamber itself and Starscream wouldn’t do it willing. But the same base programming that forced his interface panel to open to the right stimuli and activated the production of mech fluid would trigger the chamber to open as he approached overload. No amount of fighting could prevent it now.

Knowledge of his experiment proceeding as planned was almost as arousing as the constant and rapid flood of pleasure signals from the actual act. Another unprofessional moan slipped from his vocalizer. He could feel the energy building, but also the thick and heavy sentio metallico pumping into the smaller mech. Providing the material to forge the perfect bots that would be the start of a new era for Cybertron and all other worlds. Stronger, more durable, and better in every way. His perfect creations. A living example of his genius.

Of course, his spike was still at the limit in size in what the Seeker could endure, even without the aggressive force of being thrust into him. And his inner valve was straining to close despite the lock. Starscream clearly was not taking the same enjoyment from those pleasure signals undoubtedly flooding his systems because they couldn’t balance out his distress and pain. While Vertebreak combated aroused moans, the sounds from the smaller mech were more pained, tense, and terrified. He was venting too hard to even plead any longer. Or perhaps he was trying to save his strength to try keeping his spark from the larger Snaketicon.

Vertebreak could feel his own gestation tank growing empty. But if anything, he sped up the pumping. Every slide of his spike along Starscream’s inner passage sent almost overwhelming pleasure through every system. His spark, still overcharged from the first time, flashed and flared and pulsed. Vertebreak opened his spark chamber and leaned closer to the Seeker until their open chests were flush. They were so close.

“Come on,” he panted. “Come on.”

“N-n-no.”

His processor could barely function through the pleasure. He was on the verge of overheating, his vents working hard to compensate. He half-expected to spontaneously combust. There was so much building energy. A second attempt so soon now seemed dangerously ambitious, but an amazing way to permanently offline one’s self. But that didn’t distract him completely from noticing the despairing gasp as Starscream lost the struggle with his base programming and his spark chamber opened with a faint click.

Pressed together that tightly, he couldn’t see it. But he could feel the warmth and intensity as the flaring and pulsing energy from their sparks met. Echoes of emotions, sensations, and thoughts that didn’t belong to Vertebreak crossed the divide. Fear, horror, disgust, despair, fury, and shame that only intensified with every pulse. Somehow even those negative emotions increased his excitement as their sparks melded together, the pulsing synchronizing and increasing in both speed and intensity. He nearly lost track of his own body in the rush of it all.

And mere non-kliks later, the second overload hit. More intense than the first. Both sparks flared from the sudden flood of power. Someone shouted from the sheer rush, but he couldn’t tell which. He was too swept up in the experience. Nearly every system and sensor were overwhelmed and knocked offline. His central processor filled with static. It was too much. He couldn’t think. He couldn’t sense anything except his spark nearly turning into a supernova as pure ecstasy engulfed him. Time lost meaning. A nano-klik or a mega-cycle; there was no difference. Every circuit was lit up for an eternity.

It took longer for him to return to full awareness afterwards. He could practically still feel the excessive energy burning through him and his central processor remained slow to respond, but in a rather pleasant way. He vaguely noticed that his spike had unlocked from the now-sealed gestation tank and his spark chamber had closed again. Vertebreak lazily pulled away enough to slide his chestplate shut.

Even enclosed in its chamber once more, Starscream’s spark was nearly blinding. Pulsing as it radiated from all of that shared excessive energy between them. It would stabilize soon enough.

There was a chance that the excess would eventually dissipate instead of condensing into a new spark; Seekers did have a higher-than-average fail rate due to their tendency to produce trines, the dividing process required for split-sparks not always successful. The first few solar cycles were crucial and a loss within the first three orbital cycles was not uncommon. But he was confident that his alterations and preparations would result in a particularly powerful spark-splicing equivalent of a Point One Percenter. Or at least three future Decepticons with nearly invulnerable sparklings. With that much obvious energy, he was certain that the process would prove successful.

Vertebreak pulled his spike from the Seeker’s body, dripping mech fluid until he retracted it into his body and his interface panel covered the opening once more. Starscream’s closed nearly as quickly and the nose of his jet alt-mode slid back down to its normal position. Other than the stains on the exam table, there were few signs on the mech of what just occurred.

With a quiet groan as he worked out some stiffness, Vertebreak settled down into a far more comfortable and relaxed position than before. Raising himself up and properly positioning himself to align correctly with the Seeker had been rather awkward. If he ever decided to interface for pure pleasure instead of science, Vertebreak decided it might be best to choose another Snaketicon or at least a taller bot. It would be easier on the backstrut.

“Computer,” he said finally. “Deactivate the TCSC hacking program, command one-nine-eight-four.”

The instant that he regained control, Starscream practically slammed his chestplate shut. He didn’t say anything or try fighting his restraints again. But Vertebreak could see some slight trembling.

“I will be monitoring you for a little while before returning you to Megatron,” said Vertebreak. “Most spark-melding failures are within the first solar cycle or so. If I catch it early enough, I might be able to make another attempt without needing another batch of sentio metallico. With my special additives, I would prefer not to waste the material.”

He halfway expected the mech to start threatening or cursing him again at the suggestion of another attempt at spark-melding. But there wasn’t much of a reaction to his words. The entire process and the required violations to both body and spark might have left him too shocked and emotionally-shattered for proper responses. He’d seen that result before in his test subjects from a variety of experiments.

Starscream would get over it enough to function properly soon enough. Or he would turn out to be mentally broken by the experience and Vertebreak would simply convince Megatron to allow him to keep the now-useless-as-a-warrior Seeker, continuing to use him to produce more and more invulnerable bots under his close supervision instead. Either way, he wasn’t overly concerned.

“I will return to check on the readings on your state in a few joors. Try to rest and calm down. Stress is not beneficial when it comes to the creation of new sparks.”