Just to let you know, the story starts out a little bit slow, but it speed up as it goes along.

Song: "Distant Memories" - Revive

(I got my chapter title from the song above. The title is one of the lyrics in the song.)

For vocab, go to Deviant Art and enter this after the domain name (deviant art .com - without spaces) because links won't work here: art/Transformers-Glossary-474872477

Ratchet is six orns old. Whiplash is eleven.

(The ages above only work for the beginning of the chapter. If, during the chapter, more orns go by, then the age will obviously change. This also counts for bots that do not show up until later in the chapter. For example, if I were to put the name and age of a bot that doesn't appear until the end, that age would be their age at the beginning of the chapter, not when they show up. I hope that made sense.)

775.03.21 (775th orn; 3rd quartex; 21st cycle of Golden Age)

Under a blanket of darkness, the Western half of Cybertron recharged. Kaon, Vos, Tarn, Blaster City, Slaughter City, and all the smaller cities in between. Stars glittered in the sky, just tiny pinpricks of light - beacons of hope to the low castes, which was mainly what filled the Western Hemisphere of the planet that sci-fi fans could only dream about.

But in Vos, the city of Seekers, one family was still awake. The carrier sat on a piece of furniture, telling stories of the thirteen Primes to her sons, who listened with interest.

"C'mon, Carrier. Just one more - please?" pleaded the Seekerlets as she looked down at them affectionately. They both resembled their sire tremendously - each had a red-orange chevron shading their bright yellow optics, which held a unique pattern (one of the reasons Firewall had fallen in love with Haywire in the first place), as well as other small features.

Her eldest, an eleven-orn-old mechling who was bright red-orange with blue-green accents like herself, was named Whiplash. Her second oldest looked more like his sire, and had nearly nothing from her side of the family. He was red-orange and white, and he was called Ratchet.

She had a youngest - or would soon - that she had been thinking of names for, but hadn't been able to pick one. There were so many great choices, it was hard to pick one that she thought would fit!

When Whiplash widened his optics and gave Firewall what we call "puppy eyes," she finally had to give in. "Oh…alright," she replied with a grin, causing her SparkMate to shake his helm bemusedly.

"Long ago, before your sire or I were even hatched, there lived great Cybertronians called Primes," she began, glancing between her sons dramatically. "There were thirteen of them, each given a task. They were created by Primus to battle Unicron and exile him from our world. Their leader was called-"

"I know this one!" cried her oldest. "It was Prima! He had the Matrix of Leadership!"

Firewall grinned and patted her son on the shoulder. "That's right, Whiplash! He also wielded the legendary Star Saber, a weapon designed by Solus Prime. The Matrix was in the hilt of the great sword. Solus was the only femme in the group, but she was far from the weakest. We'll get to her in a nanoklik.

"What about Vector Prime? Anyone?" she asked, but neither mechling stepped up. "Alright. He was the guardian of time and space. Just imagine: being able to bend time to your will! That's what Vector Prime could do. He created SpaceBridges without a port or place of origin. He could track bots anywhere.

"Alpha Prime was the archivist. It is because of him that we have information about the Primes in text. He writes down future and past events in the Covenant of Primus with the Quill-"

"What good does a quill do in battle?" asked Whiplash.

"Not all bots have to be fighters, 'Lash." His younger brother finally spoke up. "Not everyone is a warrior."

Whiplash frowned and crossed his servos. "Alright, then. Let's see how long you survive in a battle with a quill."

Ratchet put a digit to his nasal plating in exasperation, then turned back to Firewall and looked at her with hopeful yellow optics.

"Micronus Prime was the first mini-con, and his artifact was the Chimera Stone. Let's see…Alchemist Prime's artifact was the Lenses. They were part of his optics, so they cannot be acquired by any ordinary bots. Nexus Prime was the first combiner, and his artifact was the Enigma of Combination."

"What are the names of the little bots?" Ratchet asked curiously. Whiplash seized the chance to answer. "Clocker, Pinion, Cannonspring, Chaindrive, and Mainspring," he rattled off, earning a smile of approval from his sire.

Firewall chuckled, then continued with her story. "Onyx Prime was the Spirit Warrior, the first bot to transform into a beast, like a Lupin or Predacon. His artifact was the Triptych Mask, which is made up of three faces: Predator, Farsight, and Mournsong. Predator had the ability to see the insight on any creature and hunt it without flaw. Farsight could do as his name suggested: see far away into places and times real and unreal, but only Onyx could tell the difference between the two. Mournsong, the mask of the dead, was lively and vigorous when not in use, but on the front, it was dead and cold. It gave visions only the Prime could comprehend. He lives in the Well of AllSparks now, along with Micronus Prime. They maintain the Well and make sure the NewSparks get out safely.

"Amalgous Prime, the Shape-Shifter, could transform into anything at all. His artifact is the Transformation Cog, which is what our T-cogs are modeled after."

"What about Quintus Prime?" A hushed silence filled the room like a plague. Ratchet glanced around, uncertain of what he said wrong. Finally, Haywire sighed and began to speak.

"Quintus Prime was known as the 'Experimental Dreamer.' He was a scientist who liked to dabble with creation. He, Liege Maximo, and Megatronus Prime created the ancestors of the Quintessons. His artifact was the Emberstone, which allowed him to breathe life into his creations."

Ratchet was tempted to ask about the Quintessons, but he didn't want to make his creators angry with him. He had seen several things in the news lately about some kind of feud with the "Quintessons," so he knew it was a fragile subject.

Firewall persevered on, not allowing the previous question to rattle her.

"Liege Maximo was called the Manipulator. He was Prima's foe. By plotting against the Thirteen and even attempting to overthrow Prima, he sealed his fate. He influenced Megatronus to terminate Solus Prime, and he was the one who started the experiments on the creatures that he and the others created, which eventually became the Quintessons. He was finally terminated in the battle of the Primes after Solus's death.

"Megatronus Prime was a warrior of darkness. He was exiled after he murdered Solus Prime, and was known as the Fallen from that moment on. His artifact is the Requiem Blaster, a weapon forged by Solus for the battle against Unicron."

"What about the last one?" inquired Ratchet. Firewall smiled at him.

"Ah, yes, of course. We can't forget the heroic Thirteen. In the Covenant, he was never given a name, perhaps to keep his identity a secret. After all, he remained on Cybertron as a normal bot, but his memories and Prime status were removed. He was called the Visionary because of his motivational speeches and ability to keep the peace. He kept the original Thirteen together and helped resolve arguments. As far as I know, he doesn't have an artifact."

Ratchet and Whiplash smiled, but Firewall could tell that they were ready to power down. She took Ratchet's servo and walked him to his quarters, while Haywire did the same with Whiplash. After the mechlings were in their berths, the creators met in the hallway outside.

When she exited Ratchet's room, Firewall felt herself being swept into an embrace. "Haywire?"

"I have something to tell you," he whispered, keeping his voice down so the mechlings wouldn't hear.

"What?"

He held her out at servo's length and looked into her yellow optics. "Have you heard the rumors?" he asked. Firewall nodded, lubricants threatening to spill down her faceplate. "It's awful," she whispered.

"They aren't rumors anymore, Firewall. They're true," he said, earning a gasp from her. "They've begun their invasion. It started out with random bots disappearing, only to be found dead cycles later in a back alley with alien marks on their chassis. It's escalated into more. Bots are being found in their homes, terminated! Younglings are being forced to watch as their creators are destroyed before their very optics. Workers are being snatched off the walkways!"

Firewall hugged Haywire close. "It will never reach Vos, right?"

"I won't let anything happen to you, SweetSpark."

Little did they know, the Quintessons would not make the same mistake twice. This time, they would make sure they broke every bot on Cybertron's surface. They would bend them to their will, no matter what it took. Gone were the cycles of the past, when they manipulated the bots to their will. Now, they would use brute force to conquer the planet of their origins.

776.02.30

"How long is this going to take?" Whiplash groaned, wiping his servo down his faceplate in exasperation. Haywire shushed him.

"Whiplash, it takes a little bit of time for it to hatch," he whispered.

The cycle had finally come. The newest addition to the family was emerging from its containment unit (CU). Ratchet peered around Haywire and could see the hatchling's servo hanging out of the pod, but that was it. Firewall sat beside the pod, her SparkChamber opened slightly and her Spark pulsing, acting as a guiding light for the hatchling.

Finally, half of the mechling's frame appeared. Ratchet could tell that he was red-orange and a dark silver color, kind of a mix of their creators. The red-orange came from Firewall, who was red-orange and yellow; and the silver came from Haywire, who had blue-green, silver, and white armor.

Getting impatient, Firewall finally reached over and grabbed the Seekerlet under his servos, lifting him out of the pod and onto her lap, where she smiled down at him warmly. Haywire slowly approached and knelt beside her, looking into the yellow optics of his son.

Whiplash rolled his own optics and sat down wearily. He had already gone through this waiting game with Ratchet, and he hadn't rejoiced when he found that he had to do it again. Haywire had told him to stay the whole time, saying it would be a "fine educational experience."

Ratchet, however, found it very interesting. The whole process the NewSpark being collected, and then the Spark energy being meshed with the young Spark before being placed into a pod - it was just amazing!

Eventually, they had decided on a name: Flatline. Personally, Ratchet thought it was kind of a bad name. What if the youngling was put in the science caste? Worse, what if he became a medic? No one would trust a doctor with the name "Flatline."

Of course, it would be a great name if he was placed in the military caste. Most creators named their sparklings after they were given a caste, which was about an orn after their hatching, but Firewall and Haywire didn't like that tradition, so they named their hatchlings as soon as they emerged.

"Ratch', 'Lash, c'mere!" called Haywire. Whiplash stood up and trotted over to his creators, Ratchet on his heels. Firewall held Flatline up, inviting her other sons to come see him.

Whiplash approached first and scrutinized Flatline critically, before his expression softened and he smiled at his new brother. Ratchet, on the other servo, approached tentatively, before extending his servo towards the mechling, jumping slightly when the Seekerlet grabbed his digit in a strong fist before grinning up at him and chittering softly in Seeket. Ratchet chittered back, before retreating and standing next to Whiplash.

Life would be interesting for the family of five, especially with what was soon to come.

779.09.03

Ratchet ran up to Whiplash and hugged his strut. "C'mon 'Lash, we have to hurry!" he urged. The night cycle was just beginning as Cybertron's star sank below the horizon, painting the sky a brilliant spectrum of pastels. The twin moons arose, reflecting a pale glow onto the surface.

"Wait up!" called Flatline as he chased after the two. He was only three orns old, but was extremely smart for his age. Many bots underestimated him because of his height, but that would become a grave mistake later on.

Ratchet rolled his optics, but Whiplash waited patiently for the little Seekerlet to catch up. Together the brothers climbed up to the roof of their home. Their particular spot in Vos was great for watching stars.

"Look at that one, 'Lash!" called Ratchet as he pointed to a constellation. Whiplash chuckled, then turned his brother's helm a little to the left. "Look at that," he said, pointing. "The NewSparks are coming out."

Far to the west, billions of NewSparks were swimming through the air, making their way from the Well to SparkMates expecting hatchlings. They were all ranges of colors, from bright orange to dark blue.

Suddenly Whiplash reached up and caught a bright scarlet one in his servos, then brought it down and presented it to his brothers, who gazed at it in awe.

"Woah," Flatline breathed, reaching out and poking it softly. Wisps of radiance stuck to his digit as he withdrew it, and he giggled a bit. Ratchet smiled and cupped it in his servos, then gently tossed it back into the air, where it continued on its way.

Flatline waved his servo, a bright smile on his faceplate. "Be safe!" he called cheerily. Whiplash laughed and rubbed Flatline's helm playfully.

"Whiplash! Bring your brothers in - it's time to power down!"

Whiplash groaned, then raised his servo to Haywire in understanding.

"Come on you two, it's time to go inside."

Together they went inside and got ready to power down. As Ratchet climbed onto his berth, Whiplash entered. "G'night cycle, bro," he said quietly.

"I don't wanna recharge, 'Lash!" complained Ratchet with a yawn. Whiplash rubbed his helm comfortingly. "I know," he said.

"I…don't…want…"

The door slowly shut as Whiplash left the room.

Two glowing yellow orbs blinked open in the darkness. They were dim and weary, but online nonetheless. "I don't wanna power down," he said playfully.

The Seekerlet clambered out of his berth and tiptoed to his window. A simple push of a button made the glass flicker out of existence, and he carefully climbed out of the hatch. He kicked his pedes together, activating the thrusters on his heels. They shot him into the sky, where he guided himself to the rooftop and landed, optics on the blanketed darkness all around him, glittering with tiny pinpricks of light.

The NewSparks were still out and about, flitting around. There were thousands all around him, sticking to his plating and making him twirl around, giggling cheerfully.

The entranced Seekerlet slowly let his pedes guide him to a supporting beam in the roof Whiplash had set.

From a window beneath the roof, Whiplash watched with love in his optics. As soon as he was sure his brother was truly in power down, he flew up to the roof and gathered him in his servos. Funny, he thought, Kup can barely lift his little brother off the ground. But then again, Ratchet was quite small for his age (a trait he no doubt received from his carrier). Whiplash was pretty tall, but he suspected Flatline would follow in Ratchet's pedesteps.

Slowly, he made his way back inside and lowered Ratchet onto his berth. "G'night cycle, li'l bro," the Wrecker-in-training said affectionately.

Ratchet mumbled and rolled onto his side as Whiplash left the room, then opened his tired optics and looked down at his clasped servos. Upon opening them, an indigo NewSpark floated out and flitted around, casting a dim purple light around the room. The Seekerlet watched as it finally zipped out the open window, and wondered if he would ever meet whatever bot grew from that NewSpark.

781.03.24

"Hurry up, 'Lash, you slowpoke!" Ratchet howled over his shoulder as he whizzed through the city of Vos. Whiplash was on his heels, and gaining ground.

Just like Whiplash and his sire, Ratchet was able to access a visor and wheeled pedes whenever he wished. Frankly, he didn't know if it was an upgrade or genetic, but he didn't care too much.

"Look ahead!" Whiplash suddenly yelled, and Ratchet heard him put on the breaks. He turned his helm and shouted as the edge of the bridge he had been rolling on began to converge on him. With a cry of fear, he vaulted off the bridge and flew right towards a building. Blindly, he grabbed a windowsill as his frame crashed against the wall. Looking down, he got a staggering view of the city below.

"Scrap," he cursed.

"Stay there!" Whiplash called, causing Ratchet to roll his optics, "I'll get someone!"

About five kliks passed before Whiplash was back, but with their carrier. She gave Ratchet a deadpan look as she hovered over to him and pulled him off the building.

"What have I told you two about racing around the city, especially in higher places?" she chastised on their way back.

"Well, we are Seekers, Carrier," Whiplash said, grinning, but she frowned at him. "It was Ratchet's idea, anyway!"

"Was not!" came the answering cry of protest.

"Was too!"

"Not!"

"Too!"

"Not!"

"Enough!" Firewall roared, slamming the door behind her as they entered their house. "I don't care whose fault it was. You're both in trouble! Whiplash, your punishment is to warm the Energon for Flatline and make sure it's low grade enough for him. Ratchet, your job is to keep an optic on Flatline while I go make sure your sire is alright. He just came back from a particularly taxing match in the stadium."

Ratchet and Flatline glared at each other as Firewall left, but finally turned and went their separate ways to do their chores. Ratchet was not new to sparkling-sitting, but he didn't enjoy it either.

"Boo!" Flatline giggled as he dumped a box of bulkheads onto Ratchet's helm, and he scowled and yanked the box out of the mechling's servos.

"No! Bad, Flatline!" he growled before gathering up the bulkheads and securing the container. "Go play with something else and leave me alone!"

Flatline frowned, then walked over to his berth (the brothers shared a room) and began to play with whatever miscellaneous items he had stored over there.

"Time to refuel!"

Flatline and Ratchet immediately perked up and ran down to where Whiplash was waiting with three Energon cubes.

"One cube extra warm for the little sparkling, one medium for the older sparkling, and one for the nearly-grown almost fully-matured-"

"We get it, 'Lash," Ratchet huffed, and the mech grinned.

"Enjoy!"

Firewall and Haywire didn't return until later, and by that time all three mechlings were deep in power down.

A bit of fluff before the story really gets rolling. Yes, Ratchet is a Seeker in this story, but it still works with canon because...I don't want to give away anything. ;)

I only own my OCs. Everything else belongs to Hasbro.