Negotiating the Spark, prelude

Megatron, feared warlord of Kaon, was a lonely mech. He had searched Kaon for his bond mate… He had searched Vos and Simfur. He had even obtained the right to search the ranks of the Helixian monks! There were no more places he could freely search, the rest of Cybertron's many city-states closed to him because of the wars of the past. No matter that his wars had been fought off planet and against attackers not as the attacker.

He had one choice left… the great oracle of Praxus, who had thus far been unable or unwilling to answer his question. If he knew where to find his mate-to-be he could start whatever political measures needed to get to him. That was why he stood before the frail, veiled femme for what felt like the millionth time since his search began, head held high and voice firm as he asked his questions.

The oracle never spoke to him, simply lifting slender hands in a graceful gesture that seemed to cut a piece out of the very atmosphere. Shimmering lines of power followed her fingers, creating an oval that rose up to his optics and showed an image of a young mech…

"So this is my mate?"

Megatron knew he did not sound happy. This would undoubtedly prove to be the most difficult thing he had ever had to do. It was useless to try and berate the oracle though… he had no jurisdiction here on Praxus, isle of prophesies, and it would bar him from what help the techno-magi could and would give.

The mech in the shimmering image was clearly an Iaconian, a mechling just barely out of his younglinghood and not yet adorned with the red cape of a fully fledged soldier. He was a fine young mech, tall and lithe… still a bit gangly but obviously well on his way to be a powerful warrior. Had he been anything but an Iaconian… It would be a political nightmare, first convincing his own nobles of the need for a peace treaty with Iacon and then convincing Iacon that the price for the treaty they had long wanted would be an innocent young mech.

"I thank you for your time, Oracle." Bowing his helmet in regal respect the warlord retreated from the hallowed halls of the Oracle of Praxus. His purple and crimson cape billowing out behind him he strode towards his armored skimmer and the waiting escort of elite Vosian Seekers. His intended was still young he had time to plan and woo him. Yesss… woo him! The mech was old enough that a secret admirer would be exciting and tempting, yet young enough that gifts and attention would push him in a favorable direction.

"Winglord Starscream, let us return to Kaon… I believe we have much to discuss." His Vosian counterpart tilted his head in query and joined him in the skimmer after only a moment of hesitation. Megatron knew that he was as anxious about the answer he had gained since the Winglord had known he would not find his mate before the Kaonite warlord found his…

"Steelspark! Bring me Barricade and Soundwave as soon as we land; I have a very special mission for them…" Shutting the door to the private cabin after having given his mech-servant this order, Megatron turned to Starscream and smiled with triumph and no little wonder. "Iacon… he is from Iacon…"

And the plotting began.

----

The young mech that warlord had sent them to spy on was popular, a good student and a good warrior. As yet untried but that was something that would change soon enough. All in all, their leader could have done much worse in his Intended…

The mech was named Optronix and he was an orphan from one of the noble houses and so his life was firmly controlled by his guardian, High Scholar Ratbat. As far as Soundwave and Barricade could determine, the mech had no love interests, most of his 'friends' were of the higher echelons of society… His real friends though, were a small group of misfits; a medic in training, an engineer in training and the youngest ever scientist to graduate from the Iaconian Institute of Science. It also held, to the horror of both Kaonites, two femme exchange students out of Yuss, the blasphemous femme state. Luckily the femmes were a bonded couple and so posed no threat to the warlord's Intended.

It had taken them almost half a groon to establish themselves and gather their information, but now they were ready to start the 'campaign'. Which was why Barricade was standing in Optronix' dorm room with a package… The young mech had just begun training with energy bows and as per the usual, his scholar guardian had refused him a weapon of his own. The bow Barricade was about to leave cost more than Optronix' estates earned him in an entire groon.