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When you went missing out of the blue, Aster panicked.
You were the freshest recruit to the Interstellar Program set up by the Cybertronians after their war had been resolved on Earth as a way to set humanity on the galactic stage. You didn’t know Cybertronians existed yet. Primus, you didn’t even have a translator implant yet!
Luckily, even the freshest of recruits were tagged with a tracker in case they decided that the ships in the hangar were too appealing. It happened often enough that it was almost a rite of passage. Aster themself was equally guilty of hijacking a ship in their first week and doing a loop of the solar system.
They didn’t think that you’d ran off like that. You were quiet and thoughtful and you knew better than to run off without at least a manual. And, upon checking the cameras in the hanger, there was no sign of you.
That definitely conflicted with the fact you were currently being flown away from Earth.
So, like any superior who was concerned for their kidnapped subordinate, Aster broke into the hanger. There was only one ship that would catch up to you in time at the speed you were going at.
Hijacking the experimental ship was easy. They’d done it before.
Even the complex controls to put it at a speed humanity had only dreamt of was easy when panic was running their own systems. They’d seen the blueprints and now they came to mind with a sharp clarity.
Levers were pulled, systems were calibrated and they were soon soaring through space.
Stars blurred and everything became a mass of swirling colour, vibrant and magnificent. Even with their pulse roaring through their ears, enraged and terrified at the same time, they couldn’t help admiring it.
Beneath their hands, the console trembled with the force of a ship being pushed to limits it wasn’t yet tested for. They had no regrets in their irrational actions, but their hands were sore from their grip on the controls.
It didn’t take long for the ship to come into view.
This wasn’t surprising considering just how vast it was. Almost immediately, Aster knew something was familiar about the ship and as they sped towards it, the realisation hit them.
It was Cybertronian. Aster had only ever seen a few but Cybertronian ships were iconic in their construction, sleek and powerful in a way humans still couldn’t replicate.
The thought that a Cybertronian was responsible for their missing coworker made Aster’s eyelid twitch. They’d be having words with Optimus and Megatron when they saw them again about keeping their mechs under control.
Bringing the rattling ship to a more reasonable speed, they hailed the other vessel, face set into a stony expression.
The screen lit up as they were patched through. Surprisingly, they recognised the mech who answered.
“Megatron?”
No- not quite. This wasn’t the Megatron Aster knew. This mech’s optics didn’t have pupils and the shape of his faceplate was different.
“A human? Who are you?” he replied and that solidified it. Megatron knew who and what they were and he wouldn’t pretend otherwise.
“I am Aster and I am here to retrieve my subordinate.” There was the slightest brightening of his optics that was obvious to a human and it was all the confirmation they needed. Aster bared their teeth in a knowing smile. “Do I have permission to board?”
The unspoken question was whether this was going to be done the easy way or was the infamous human tenacity necessary?
“Granted.”
Aster docked their ship and was met with this strange version of Megatron. He had the manners to offer to carry them, which they accepted only out of convenience, not too eager to be trusting one of the mechs who’d taken you.
Making a point to keep checking the tracker’s location, they barely managed to keep themself from pacing. The trackers worked no matter the state of the person and it would’ve been so easy for a single accident around Cybertronians to end poorly.
They came to a control room and there was another bot. He must have been the one holding you, but Aster didn’t see you on first glance.
“Rodmius,” Megatron called to the other, the orange and gold mech tilting his helm over his shoulder, a strangely careful movement. He grinned.
“Heya Megs, what’re you doing here?” His optics swept down and when they set on Aster, Rodimus pouted, “Kinda hypocritical saying I can’t have a human when you’ve been hiding one.”
“Those are incredibly bold words from the mech responsible for kidnapping my friend.” Aster glared pointedly at the other mech.
“How do you even know we have them?” He crossed his arms as he turned to fully face them.
Megatron joined them in deadpanning, awed by the ignorance of that question.
“How do you think I came here? They’re wearing a tracker.” They glared at the audacity to try and deny that he’d taken you.
“Well, they like it here, so you can’t have them.” Rodimus said, bringing a servo up to his neck. The slightest of movements from between his neck cabling and plating drew Aster’s eye and they locked eyes with you. You looked equally excited and terrified to see them.
Aster grit their teeth at the way he talked about you like you were some object to be kept.
“I brought another translator with me. How about we see what they have to say?” they said with a faux smile. He seemed so confident in your admiration for him and if they could just get you away from him…
“I can talk to them?” Rodimus immediately snatched you from your perch, dropping you on the console. Aster winced, glad for Megatron’s more gentle movements, setting down his servo and letting them step off. They nodded up at him in thanks.
Turning their attention to you, Aster immediately wanted to punch something. Your appearance was haggard and you looked exhausted, eyes bleary and breathing laboured.
“Are you alright?” They asked, making a show of looking at your ear as if seeing if the translator would fit.
“Y-yeah. Just bruised,” you said.
“Don’t worry, I’ll have you back home soon. This should translate what they’re saying and you just need to focus to respond.” Aster explained as they pulled out the translator. It looked like a regular hearing aid and they set it in your ear, tucking the wire out of the way. “Comfortable?”
You nodded, “Yeah.” You blinked, likely confused at the strange feeling of your mouth forming words you weren’t familiar with.
“You can understand us now?” Rodimus grinned as he loomed over the pair of them. The only thing keeping him from grabbing you was Megatron, who moved to block his reach. It was subtle but appreciated.
“Y-yeah, I can,” you mumbled, moving to hide slightly behind Aster. They straightened, subtly grabbing your hand, rubbing reassuring circles into your knuckles.
“Awww. You sound so cute,” Rodimus cooed. “Now you can explain to your friend that you like being here!”
Your eyes went wide and you shook your head frantically, pressing even closer to Aster’s side. “N-no. I don’t,” you took a deep breath, wincing in pain, “I-I want to go home.”
As if those words were some sort of trigger, you buried your face into their shoulder, weak sobs shaking your entire body. They held you, the whimpering cries you muffled breaking their heart.
Glaring at Rodimus, Aster’s rage wasn’t quelled by the surprised look on his faceplate. There were other methods to communicate other than speaking and they’d be damned if they forgave outright kidnapping.
“But… I thought-”
“You thought wrong.” Aster cut in, their words sharp. “You can’t just pick up someone, take them from their planet and decide you know what’s best for them when you can’t even handle them without hurting them.”
“Wait, what?” The mech’s expression twisted into one of remorse, “I was hurting you?”
You nodded, still not looking up. Rodimus’ face dropped and he took a step away.
“Oh Primus, I’m so sorry.” He really did look it and Aster huffed through their nose, not quite satisfied. At least he knew that kidnapping you was wrong.
“If you’re really sorry, you’ll let us go home.” They silently dared him to argue as you peeked up at him, clearly preparing for his possessive nature to take hold yet again. Megatron also watched him with sharp optics, frame tense.
Sullen, the mech nodded. “Yeah, of course you can go home. I shouldn’t have- yeah.” he shrugged, giving up on trying to explain.
You relaxed in Aster’s hold and they managed a small, if terse smile.