I feel like Megatron x Kiloton doesn’t get enough love.
Like a lot of the MegaOp fanfics could have Kilo easily replace Optimus.
For example, keep Optimus as the boyish youth who faced up against the older Megatron and grew to become the supreme leader of the Autobots, at times dignified and heroic and other times the laidback almost father like playful figure that can be approached for both wisdom and fun.
Kiloton, meanwhile, was with Megatron when he first became an athlete in the Gladiator rings. Not only did he help him grow his athletic career, but also developed Megatron’s Decepticon philosophy.
Kiloton originally worked as an assistant maintenance medic (sports focused medic). He was more a scholar type but he greatly admired gladiators, who combined both brawn and intellect in battle, like the warriors of old in war mech stories and histories. The young Megatron, despite his lack of experience, had the potential to be the greatest. Kilo was the first to recognize it and immediately attached to him, only wanting to see this mech reach his full glorious potential.
Love hadn’t been the goal, but it developed between them both. For Megatron, Kilo was the first to believe in him outside of his family unit. And he not only stuck with him through successes and defeats, Kiloton genuinely helped him grow and rise. Kilo also listened to Megatron’s grander ambitions, still ephemeral. He didnt scoff or treat it as fantasies that while good would never see the light of day. Kilo actively helped him bring it to fruition.
And Kilo adored the strong and strategic warrior who had the makings of a true leader. Who had a caring heart for his fellows and was assertive enough to do something about it.
(Side note: Kiloton’s backstory needs more fleshing out, like a real person instead of a mere support prop.
Also, perhaps Kiloton and Megatron were the names they took as part of their Conjuxing. Like a tradition where the couple took similar sounding or names that shared a character or syllable.)
Only Megatron started going down a more brutal path. He became less interested in establishing peace between the different polities and races, and more interested in establishing himself and the Decepticons as the dominant power.
Kiloton was feeling doubts, especially regarding the direction Megatron took the concept of meritocracy. One in which internal competition was allowed to an extreme degree, allowing for not one political group to have domination within the Decepticons besides Megatron’s own standing. One that he himself maintains. Kilo was the only one Megatron could completely trust as even his most loyal subordinates had their own agendas.
Kiloton’s place as Megatron’s most trusted advisor made him a thorn in the eyes for others - and an opportunity for the most crafty.
Indeed, Starscream had crafted a most ingenious plan - one involving Kiloton going to negotiate a surrender from a rival group, only to end up killed. Starscream would then bravely retrieve his body to present to a heartbroken and enraged Megatron, successfully upping his rank within the forces.
What the prince of Vos did not foresee, what his spy around Kiloton reported, was something that Kiloton was trying very hard to hide: Kiloton was carrying.
Starscream was many things, but he had a slight flaw that he was rather unwilling to make public: he had a soft spot for sparklings. And considering the current rapid decrease in offspring due to the civil unrest creating an environment where mecha won’t enter a receptive period necessary for carriage, it is a BIG DEAL.
So Starscream did the only thing he could that would preserve his shot of getting up the ranks: he approached Kiloton. Using the other’s suppressed doubts that he had only voiced to Megatron and a trusted confidante (that Starscream’s spy made sure to overhear and report), Starscream managed to persuade Kiloton to fake his death and go somewhere far from the escalating situation so that he can safely deliver and raise the child in safety and anonymity.
Starscream even threw in a promise of having Megatron’s back (with every intention of breaking this promise should Megatron get in the way of Starscream’s rise to power).
Kiloton agreed. And by combining both of their intelligence, came up with the perfect plan (quite frankly Starscream was a little relieved Kilo was going into “retirement”. Otherwise he would never get the drop on Megatron.)
The plan succeeds, and a young work mech named “Range” fled with others off-planet. Meanwhile, a heartbroken Megatron descended further into darkness and tyranny. (In the years that followed, after Starscream became the official second in command & in closer reach of Megatron’s fists, the Seeker commander would half-wish Kiloton was there to calm that crazy fragger and get that thuggish brute to see reason! The warlord is vastly intelligent, but somehow his IQ goes down the drain when it comes to one-upping his greatest rival, Optimus Prime!)
For some time, under his pseudonym Range, Kiloton would live on a colony planet, deep within seclusion. He had enough medical skills both from his previous profession and taught by his closest friend Glit. One day, after the Cybertronian Civil War had officially started, a vessel crashed into the are around Range’s small farm. It was a small vessel, but what made the carrying mech pause was the insignia on it: the Autobot symbol.
Still, the mech was tired of death and fighting. So he helped the Autobot. Unfortunately, it turned out to be one of the legendary Autobot commanders, second only to The Supreme Commander, Optimus Prime himself. Each one led their own Autobot army and acted with independence from their leader. Each one also wielded an artifact that had only been known by legend for eons, bringing the mystical to reality.
And this particular commander was well-known for wandering around on his own and seemingly always lands exactly where Justice is needed: Star Saber
When the other finally awakens, Kiloton is not met by a stoic and noble warrior similar to the Primes of old.
Instead a bright, optimistic soul cheerfully greets and thanks him and does his utmost to befriend his rescuer. Kiloton finds out the other was actually called Wing Saber. The artifact was called Star Saber but the commander was often called by that due to the fact his artifact was so famous and that it was like he and the legendary sword were one.
Honestly, Saber was refreshing mech who somehow keeps a firm hold on his ideals despite the horrors he faced. “Range” couldn’t help but feel closer to the mech, especially when the two discovered that the other was well-versed in the old legends and histories of their people.
Their friendship grew to the point that Saber actually invited him to join the Autobots.
That opened quite the can of scraplets. Saber was rather sympathetic and reassured Kilo that he wasn’t the only former Decepticon who left due to no longer agreeing with their philosophy. Kiloton was still hesitant.
After a certain incident involving some less than ideal houseguests, Kiloton joined Saber’s Autobots.
Under the identity of Wayfinder, he traveled to different Autobot bases, offering both military consulting and negotiation mediation. While traveling, he’d often find himself in situations where a friendly hand, quick thinking, and sometimes a quicker draw are needed.
Back at base, Kindle was growing well with his friends. The moments with his calm and loving carrier were always special though.
When Kindle took the name Hot Spot, Wayfinder looked so proud.
… But then he found out the Protectobots were needed on Earth aka Area 0, where the Autobots under Optimus Prime keep Megatron occupied and separated from his other forces.
Wayfinder suddenly glitching scared the spark out of everyone present. When he finally rebooted, he, with his fellow parent Drift’s assistance, gave the young Protectobots an intense crash course on each Earth assigned Decepticon - their appearance, fighting styles, habits, quirks, favorite tricks and underhanded moves, main allies, main rivalries, and where they ranked on the “Run the hell away” scale.
The last thing: Wayfinder insisted Hot Spot must NEVER take off face mask. Not even when he is sleeping or eating or thinks he’s alone.
When his son’s kind ruby eyes looked at him with confusion, from a face that seemed a perfect mix of his two parents, Wayfinder could only say that, back in the day, he might have ticked off a few too many Cons that were now high rankers on Earth.
… He did not appreciate Drift’s judgemental look from where he was helping a frustrated Blade memorize Seeker wing flicks.
His son knew his parents separated because his father became part of the Decepticons. What he didn’t know was that Wayfinder did indeed know where he was and just how hale and hearty he was despite the best efforts of Autobots and Decepticons alike.
… Primus alive let Magnus and Prime be right about the Decepticons not bothering with Search and Rescue bots.
(Primus alive don’t let Father and Son hurt each other.)