Chapter Text
As Megatron watched Sentinel's head explode as he begged for mercy, an insurmountable sentiment of joy flooded his insides.
"What would you do without me?" He joked, transported for a brief moment to a time when being who he was, wasn't a burden to his spark.
Optimus turned, and that joy vanished in an instant, seeing those frigid optics focus on him. "Time to find out." He activated his battle mask, which ended any sentiment of reconciliation.
Ah, of course.
Even after so much pain and suffering, Megatron was an example of foolishness. The worst part was seeing the confirmation of Sentinel's words in front of his very optics.
Prepared to face his fate by the servos of his former Prime, he positioned himself to battle, but tiny claws scratching from inside his armor made him hesitate. His spidery, rusted metal digits caress the spot where that fragile life beeped in worry.
Right.
Megatron closed his optics and did something he had sworn never to repeat, but it was nothing compared to the sacred vows he had broken in the past. He dropped to one knee, hearing Optimus' heavy stomps halt, and he bowed his head.
"What do you think you are doing?" Optimus's EM field bristled with waves of confusion as he ceased his upcoming onslaught.
"My Prime," Megatron said, feeling as if these aged words would choke him. "Heed my request before your judgment, and I shall surrender."
"You, you have no right to call me that or demand anything." The Prime barely contained the need to move and sink his sword in Megatron's spark chamber. "I won't fall for your act; now stand up and fight."
"I cannot." Megatron maintained his composure and let his EM field broadcast his sincerity, the best he could. "I..." He ground his teeth and wanted to purge what he was about to say. "Please, Optimus, I beg of you. I need your help."
Optimus took a step back, optics wide open and in pure disbelief. "What did you just say?"
Megatron opened a section of his chest armor, and two dots of green lights stared at his open servo. The grey mech whistled gently, and a tiny metal creature slowly climbed on top of it. Optimus let his sword fall to the ground as he saw the little one looking confused and blinking his tiny optics at the mech.
"The Allspark is gone... How did you..."
"I could only save a few hatchlings from that ship, but there is no energon left for their hunger to be satisfied." Megatron raised his arm, offering the sparkling to Optimus. "They will be safe with you, and if you agree to listen to me, I can show you the ones that survived."
"You want to bargain their lives?" Optimus frowned and did not attempt to take the sparkling from Megatron's servo. "Is that why you fought with one in this state?"
The Prime's harsh electronic field spooked the sparkling, and they quickly returned to their haven inside Megatron's armor.
"Think what you want, but if you kill me now, there is a possibility you won't find the others in time... The war is over, Optimus. I no longer desire to fight for the sake of my pride."
The Prime stared harshly at Megatron, but the mech did not raise his head; after what seemed an eternity, Optimus retracted his EM field and vented. They could hear the sounds of the battle fading, and his finials flickered. Antsy to help his surviving Autobots and the humans.
"What do you want, Megatron?" He asked wearily.
"I do not seek redemption or forgiveness, and I will accept the execution you see fit, but I wish to give at least something to our kind before my death."
"And that is?"
Megatron's spark felt so heavy as he uttered his words. "I am sparked."
The pain in his frame was still fresh, but the diagnostic reports of his gestation chamber were unmistakable. It was a dangerous gamble, but he had to try for a chance of survival for those young lives.
Megatron tried not to show his shame, but when Optimus' field blasted around them once more, causing him to flinch, it was impossible to do so. He stepped forward, staying close enough for Megatron's bruised frame to prickle unpleasantly.
"Who is it?"
The hatchling started hissing at the Prime, and Megatron tried to shush them. "Does it matter? They are dead."
The last thing he wanted was for Optimus to know the truth, but Megatron comprehended his response even with the absence of their bond. He guessed Optimus never healed from what happened with their litter back in Cybertron.
"I want these sparklings to live, and I don't care which method you choose to make that happen. If you want, you can place me in stasis as they develop if you deem it safer for your troops and fleshlings."
"You want me to make you into an incubator farm? You think I would be this cruel?" His voice became higher, anger unfiltered.
"I will do anything to make them live." Megatron raised his head, gaze unflinching. "Anything."