*Note from me*
Hey everyone! Yes, I am alive! I can not thank everyone enough for all the reviews and favs I've gotten even in my...lets call it my hiatus. My personal life has settled down and is allowing me more time to actually write again :) So, for those wondering, yes, Should have known better will be getting updated. As well as None so Blind and Blackmail. Those are the three I'm currently working on new chapters at the moment...more will follow. :)
Thank you again, guys! *much love and hugs*
Honor thy Father Summary
A small group of neutrals is discovered, among them Prowl's father. Eager and delighted to be with his sparkling again, Dodger plants himself in Prowl's life and finds he's not happy with the decisions Prowl has made, especially Prowl's choice in mate. Dodger intends to put an end to the disgusting fling Prowl is having with Jazz, who he sees as a trashy slang talking Polyhex nobody.
Chapter One:
Discovery
The discovery of the wayward neutral group taking refuge in a fallen city, having stayed hidden for so long by going underground, was nothing short of a miracle. The fact the neutral group was made up of Praxians nearly caused Prowl to glitch on the spot. After all, he had believed for so many vorns that he, Bluestreak, and Smokescreen were the last of their kind. But it was the shock that his creator, long believed…no, no...known to be dead, was among the neutrals found had sent Prowl into full shut down.
Dodger looked on worriedly as his sparkling…well, Prowl was by far no longer a sparkling but still…was picked up and carried aboard the ship. His worry failed to be eased when it seemed no one was remotely bothered that Prowl had…had glitched. Since when had his sparkling ever glitched! And why was no one upset by this? Why were medics not being scrambled to his side this very moment?
His upset must have been outwardly noticeable as a maroon and blue mech, an Autobot Praxian, came up to him.
"No need to worry, Prowl will be just fine. He told me you were his creator and obviously you being here and, well, alive is a shock. A rather illogical and seemingly impossible one, even by my calculations, and it's situations like this that can cause his battle computer and logic center to lock right up and-"
Turning sharply toward the mech, Dodger frowned. "Battle computer? Prowl would never allow such a vile thing to be installed in him. What monster mutilated, violated, my spark…Prowl, in such a way?"
The Autobot Praxian frowned and shook his head, looking a little uncomfortable. "Prowl...Prowl wanted it installed, volunteered for it. Even went before a panel and had to under go various tests to make sure he was a proper candidate for the procedure since installing them was purely experimental."
Dodger glared. "Those experiments were disastrous failures. I thought they did away with them. How could they be brought back?"
The mech shook his head and gave a slight shrug. "We needed an upper hand against the Decepitcons. The experiments were reopened."
"You're telling me this time around the battle computers were a success?"
The mech shifted, uncomfortably and avoided optic contact, looking out past Dodger. "No. They got the same disastrous results as the experiments before and the project was closed. Permanently."
Dodger's frown deepened, anger flaring up in his optics. "Then how is it Prowl still has one?"
The mech raised a hand to rub the back of his helm in a gesture that clearly said 'I don't want to say because I know you won't like the answer'. "Prowl…made it work."
Optics the same shade as Prowl's narrowed. "What do you mean 'Prowl made it work'?"
The mech shifted uncomfortably on his feet again. "Well…."
"Smokescreen!"
The maroon and blue mech turned around at the call and Dodger watched as a large red mech, a warrior type, jogged up to them.
"Smokescreen, Sir, we got a comm from Prime. He wants us to head back to base. There's been Decepticon movement detected. We don't have the numbers for a fight so we need to get everyone on the ship and head back to base. Now."
Smokescreen nodded and Dodger would swear he looked almost relieved by the turn of events. "Right! Let's go!" Turning back to Dodger, Smokescreen gestured toward the ship. "We need to go. Now. Gather your mechs."
Dodger shook his head, torn. He wanted to stay here. He had never wanted to pick a side, never wanted to have anything to do with this war at all. But...his sparkling was alive. He wanted to see Prowl, talk to him, be with him, reach out and touch the sparkling he had believed torn from his life and left for dead. And to do that…..
Smokescreen grabbed his arm, shaking him from his thoughts. "There's no real choice here. If we know you're here, I can guarantee you the Decepticons know you're here. And if not, they soon will. And when, not if, but when they find you, there will be no mercy. Come with us."
The neural looked at Smokescreen then over to the group of about twenty Praxian mechs, all of whom watched him. Intently. Waiting to see what he'd do. He was in no way the leader of the group but he did hold influence. And if he got on that ship, others would follow. Dodger sighed. "Give me a moment."
Quickly making his way over to the group of waiting Praxians, one stepping forward as he neared. "Dodger, you're not -"
"I'm going." He paused, considering his words for a moment before looking up. "And I suggest all of you do as well."
"Dodger, none of us want to join this war. We -"
"No, none of us want to be a part of this war but...my sparkling is on that ship. The sparkling I have long thought dead. And if going with them...joining with them is what I must do to be near him...then so be it."
"There are Decepticons coming." Dodger in formed them, relaying the message Smokescreen had given him. "And if you're still here when they get here….I think you know what will happen." There was silence as they stared at one another, the reality of the situation slowly sinking in.
The mech rubbed a hand over his face, coming to grips that staying could mean a death sentence. He turned toward the group.
"What does everyone think?"
Several nodded, speaking at once.
"I'll go."
"I think we should too."
"We can't hide forever."
"I agree"
"But we've been fine for this long."
"That's true."
Dodger looked them over. "I'd never force anyone on that ship but if you stay, you're taking your life in your hands. As for me, I'm leaving." With that he turned and quickly walked toward Smokescreen, not wanting any of his determination or resolve to slip even a little bit. He could hear many mechs following him…he hoped they all would.
And they did.
It took only a few breems to get everyone on the ship, settled, and they were on their way back to the base long before the Decepticons got close.
Throughout the trip, Dodger kept his optics on his unconscious sparkling. His thoughts cluttered up by questions. What had prompted Prowl to join the Autobots? He and his mate had raised Prowl to be a proper Praxian, educated, intelligent, peace loving. How had he survived so long in this war? Did he go to battle often? Had he ever been shot? If so, where? How many times? And what had he been thinking to get a battle computer installed…and, worse, to keep it in even after the nasty results of the experiments? What had he gone through because of it? What side effects has he suffered?
Thinking about it all made him feel sick.
And this glitch... His Prowl had a glitch... Primus, what was wrong with his sparkling? And why hadn't they fixed it so he wouldn't glitch anymore? Or was that not a possibility? Was this permanent damage?
That thought left him cold and worried.
**Authors Notes**
A quick into chapter. Next chapter, Prowl gets a nice reunion with Dodger and Dodger gets a nasty shock when he sees Prowl and Jazz and reviewing is always loved! Keeps me going :) Thanks!
