II

Blades sat on the deck, kicking his legs as he watched the day start. It had been a long night of talking with officers, consulting, and making the whole event seem like their fault to begin with. Cross Switch had tried his best to keep Blades away from the arguments and talk, but the younger brother, since curiosity overtook him, had snuck to the top of the stairs to listen. His guardians were dead. They had died in combat, the officers said, but Blades wasn't completely sure what that meant. Nonetheless, the officers seemed concerned about the lack of replacements for the two positions.

"What are you trying to say?" snapped Cross Switch.

"We have a low supply of enlisted soldiers, son," one officer instructed.

"What do you expect? I can't just leave my brother behind," hissed Cross Switch, motioning toward the stairs. "I'm the eldest, I have to support the family now."

"And you will support it," ordered the second officer.

"As the eldest offspring, you are required by the draft to support our troops," sighed the first. "We can arrest you for treason otherwise."

"And my brother?" yelled Cross Switch. "I'm not abandoning him! If I die, what's he got left!?"

"He'll be transported to the Youngling Center in town. Tons of sparklings and younglings are being sent their because of the war," instructed the first officer. "He'll be well cared for there…until your return."

"After the war," added the second officer.

Blades leaned in, seeing Cross Switch cross his arms and nod. The officers nodded too, leaving. They shut the door behind them, leaving Cross Switch alone in the living area. He screamed, throwing the side table across the room. Blades watched in horror as Cross Switch practically destroyed the living area before finally collapsing to the ground, sobbing. He didn't hear Blades slip down the stairs, standing in front of him.

"Are you going away?" whimpered Blades.

Cross Switch lunged forward, taking Blades up in a hug. Blades didn't move or speak, simply letting his sobbing brother continue crying. He knelt beside him, feeling the warmth of his older brother. He didn't know how long they sat like this, but it felt like the last time Blades was going to see Cross Switch for a long time.


Boulder sighed, watching his brothers take all the data pads out of their shared room. They piled them up in the hall where their father took them downstairs and outside. Bulkhead avoided eye contact with him, while Breakdown just grinned every time he passed by. Boulder was held in the arms of his mother, watching as his collection was being taken away. Eventually, they were all gone as he heard his father's engine rev, howling throughout the quiet neighborhood. Finally, Boulder was released.

"Why?" he pleaded.

"We need the money," sighed his mother. "I got let go the other day and your father has had to pick up more shifts at the plant."

"Boulder and I are gonna get some side jobs too," snapped Breakdown. "So why don't you stop being a sparkling!"

"Breakdown," shouted Bulkhead, slapping Breakdown.

The two broke into a fight, tumbling in the hall and nearly falling down the stairs if it had not been for their mother who stepped in to break up the fight. Boulder stepped into the room, shutting the door behind him. He could still hear his brothers bickering. It didn't matter. He slipped one hand under his berth, picking out the last of his collection which he had kept out of sight. It was an environmental study of different planets, with things he had never seen. Planets, animals…they were wonderful and something of a dream. He couldn't lose it. Hugging it close to him for a moment, he ducked back down and hid it under his berth.


Chase hadn't spoken in days, which was making his mother worry. He had devoted his spare time into ready some of the data pads his father once stressed him to read. There were pads on laws, ancient judgement rituals, and the workings of the government. His father had always pressured Chase into the idea of joining the military, something Chase wasn't completely sure about, especially at his young age. Now, Chase just wanted to get what had happened out of his head.

"You know it wasn't your fault," whispered his mother, sitting beside him. "It was that driver. He should've stopped."

"I shouldn't have been running," replied Chase.

"Its something natural at your age," hummed his mother, pulling him in close.

"Then why was he telling me to stop?" Chase corrected, slipping free.

"Your…father was a very strict man. He wanted nothing more than for you to follow the family line like he did and like his fathers before him," sighed his mother. "He's with them now, in the Well of All Sparks."

"He shouldn't be there. He should be here," whispered Chase, turning away.


Heatwave glared at his captors. That's what he was calling the Youth Community Center staff. They weren't exactly his type of bots, happy and friendly. He didn't want to be here and no doubt they didn't want him their either. Trapped in his little room, complete with two bunks for other 'guests'. Their had been other children in his room but apparently he had scared them away with his 'charming' personality.

"Is you keep this up, Heatwave, you'll be alone for the rest of this war!" howled one of the orderlies. "What do you want to do when you grow up?"

"Anything but this," grumbled Heatwave, curling up in the top bunk.

"Don't sass me, young man!"

Heatwave grinned. He had broken one of them. She would be taken aside and talked to. He probably wouldn't see her for a day or two until she had restocked on patients. He chuckled lightly, hearing her leave in a huff. Everyone had been busy lately. New people were coming. Heatwave's smile left. New people weren't his favorites. More bots to judge him.