"-" = speech

:italics: = telepathy

{speech} = com's

[speech] = bond

Ch. 1

"Not too far Nightfire! Ya don't want Omega 17's bots seein' ya now."

Nightpyra Prime watched her son with worried optics. The young mech wasn't even a vorn old yet, if he was caught by Omega 17's cronies, he'd be dead before she or Firebite could get to him, speedster legacy or not. The blue, black and silver drakelet turned to look at his carrier, electric blue-violet optics glinting mischievously.

"Don't 'chu worry none carrier, ah'm way too fast for 'em."

Nightfire smirked when his blue visor slid down in front of his optics as he bolted, soon becoming nothing but a blur of colour. Nightpyra watched her son with proud optics; he was very mature for such a young mech, yet like all drakelet's, he loved letting off steam. He mainly took after his sire, with his black and silver colouration definitely coming from Firebite's side of the family. The blue and the single black stripe that ran over the little mechs face, starting under one optic, crossing over his nose and finishing under the other; that was all her. His optics were a mix of both parents though, all in all he seemed to have got the best from both parents. Her musings were interrupted by a tightly encrypted com. Frowning, she activated her comlink, confused as to who would be contacting her.

{Nightpyra! Dis is CodeRed; get yer mate an' little'un an' get da slag outta dere femme! Omega's sendin' a full squad…orders are ta take all three of you's out; I'll try an' delay deploymen' bu' ya need ta skedaddle Prime; NOW!}

In her chest the Matrix of Balance pulsed, both a warning and a reminder of what the Ancient Primes had told her. She still remembered the shock of being chosen by a Matrix that everyone had believed to have disappeared with the last Prime vorns ago. Even then she had tried to tell the ancient artifact to choose another AlleyBot but the decision had already been made. Nightpyra thought about the warning: that she must keep the balance at all costs and if she was to bring a sparkling into the world while she was still Prime … there would be a hefty price to pay, such was the cost of becoming the Prime of Balance. Still she had done it, even if it was going to come at the cost of her life she would never regret bringing Nightfire into the world, he truly was the light in her darkness. Nightpyra's spark clenched in fear and rage; they were coming to kill her child! She would sooner die herself.

The young speedster slid back onto his haunches as he skidded to a stop in front of his carrier when she looked up abruptly, her headspikes flushing a deeper, angrier blue from their usual sky blue. She quickly scruffed him in her teeth, standing up as she did so.

: Wat's de problem carrier?:

Nightfire looked up to his carrier's powerful jaws, worry creasing his young face plates.

: Keep quiet, we've gotta get back ta de lean-to, Omega's bots 'ave been sent afta meh an' yer sire an' we can't let 'em see you:

Nightpyra soon became a blue blur as she bolted for the alleyway lean-to she was currently staying in with her mate and child. The streets of Kaon were not always safe territory at the best of times, but ever since Omega 17 took command of the AlleyBot's, there had been regular patrols ensuring none of the Kaonite AlleyBot's started families, the paranoid Simfurian AlleyBot fearing the more powerful, draconian Kaonite AlleyBot's; after all, they were the biggest and most unpredictable of the AlleyBot races. It didn't help that the last four AlleyBot Primes had been Kaonite's, as was the current one. Nightpyra hissed in pain as a blaster bolt clipped her side when she skidded towards the lean-to. She quickly set Nightfire down and urged him inside, quickly following.

: Hide now:

Firebite looked at his panting mate.

"Dey've found us, ain't dey"

It wasn't a question, but Nightpyra still nodded. Both parents' optics flared aggressively; their anger causing the paint nanites in their helm spikes to flush brightly, as they heard the footprints outside the lean-to. Firebite spared a glace to his still exhausted mate.

: Can ya use yer Prime legacy? :

: Don't be stupid, ah'm runnin' low, an' ya know it takes a lot outta meh; CodeRed's tried ta warn us, 'ee mus' 'ave bin overrule':

The two adults looked at each other in panic. They turned to the entrance of their home as the sound of footsteps halted outside. Firebite bared his impressive canines in a silent snarl.

"Nightpyra Prime, Tactical Officer Firebite; surrender the drakelet for processing and prepare to be submitted for questioning by order of Commander Omega 17."

Both Kaonites snarled at the thought of handing their child over to be murdered. Nightpyra nodded to Firebite, before drawing herself up to her full impressive height.

"He ain' no Commander of ours or any Kaonite! We don' answer ta da one who took control wi'out provin' 'imself!"

Both adults took up fighting positions as the lean-to was destroyed, leaving them surrounded by the much healthier looking Simfurian's.

All Nightfire could do was watch in panic as his parents were attacked. The telepathic orders from his parents to run were still not registering when the young Kaonite received a vicious kick to his back leg, the claws on the foot of the adult AlleyBot tearing through important lines and gears. Finally spurred into movement, Nightfire painfully limped his way to the end of the alley where he had been born and had spent the first 6 orns of his life. The last thing he saw before he fled was the light leaving his mother's optics as a cannon blast tore through her chest plating.

As the young AlleyBot fled, he was watched by a single Simfurian. The mech shuttered his optics and shook his head, this was not what he had signed up for; and even worse, he had failed his Prime, he didn't get the warning out in time. He wondered how he would be able to look at his little brother, who he practically raised, when he had just participated in this slaughter. Some Security Officer he was, couldn't even keep the one he was supposed to protect alive. CodeRed looked back over to where the rest of the squadron were counting their losses and ensuring the two adults were dead. His commanding officer stormed over, wings quivering in ill-concealed anger. His high pitched, grating voice caused CodeRed to give an involuntary shudder.

"Three dead and another two injured, all to deal with two upstart Kaonites and their brat. CodeRed, did you see the drakelet, we cannot find its body. Not only that … the Prime's Matrix is gone! Commander Omega 17 will not be pleased that he cannot have the Matrix."

CodeRed glowered down at his commander and spat off to one side. Wiping his mouth, he shook his head in the negative, not trusting himself to speak or even use telepathy. The other AlleyBot shrugged before turning away to gather up the remainder of the squad. CodeRed grinned darkly at his commanders back, his crest and wings flaring with anticipation. One day, they would all pay for their crimes here, he just hoped he would be there to see it.

A/N: Please review; I'd like to see what everyone thinks

A/N 2: Edit 5/4/15: Just altered the format to clean things up a bit and make the dialogue easier to read.