Title: Silent Running
Disclaimer: Transformers isn't mine and the song lyrics used belong to Mike & The Mechanics.
Notes: I spent far, far too long listening to the Hits album by Mike & The Mechanics and Silent Running made a drabble bunny appear in my head and it demanded to be written so much I couldn't sleep! Some of the spoken lines are the lyrics, some are not. Not beta-ed so feel free to correct.
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"Take the younglings, and yourself, and hide out in the cellar," the mech pushed the femme towards the door, gentle but firm. "By now the fighting will be close at hand."
"I don't want you to leave Alpha, please."
"I have to Beta," Alpha Trion touched her face briefly. "You know that Megatron wants me alive."
A big, burly red mech came into the room, gun on his shoulder and motioned towards the door.
"Alright Ironhide, I'm coming."
"But the state says this war won't last!" Beta tried desperately to get the mechs to stay.
"Don't believe the church and state and everything they tell you," Ironhide shook his head.
"Who do I believe then?" Beta asked. She had seen one war. She never wanted to live through another.
"Believe in me," Ironhide smiled grimly. "I'm with Optimus Prime. I'll see your mech safe."
"There's a gun and ammunition, just inside the doorway," Alpha pressed Beta's hands between his. "Use it only in emergency."
"Better you should pray to Primus," Ironhide grunted. "One gun against Megatron's forces won't do you any good."
"If they find us?" Beta glanced over her shoulder at the younglings gathered in the room, watching the adults talk of war and guns.
"Swear allegiance to the flag, whatever flag they offer," Alpha advised. "It doesn't matter if you don't agree. It'll keep you safe. Never hint at what you really feel though."
Beta nodded, her old fighting spirit returning. She had youngsters to protect this time and she would give her all to see them safe. The older femme let go of Alpha's hands and picked up the youngest present, cuddling the green frame to her.
"Teach the children quietly," Alpha whispered. "For some day sons and daughters will rise up and fight."
Beta clutched at the youngling in her arms, refusing to answer that. Alpha smiled at them all before following Ironhide out the door, never looking back. The femme watched the door shut behind them before ushering the younglings down the stairs to the hidden cellar beneath the building. There they sat in muted silence, listening to the bombing and gunfire draw closer.
The two oldest younglings, both black and white, sat together staring at the ceiling above their heads.
"Prowl?" the smaller one whispered.
"Yes Jazz?"
"Did Alpha mean us when he said sons?"
"I think so," Prowl held his friends hand tight.
"We'll win," Jazz sounded so sure.
"You think so?"
Jazz nodded firmly and both youngsters went back to staring at the ceiling in silence.