-Connection Established-

Sam - Thank Primus for that! Couldn't get this thing to connect! Well I is back! And Syndrome found some more for you to read! I'm not gonna go into detail! It rolls of from the previous chapter! Roll it Syndrome!

Syndrome - Right!

-Memory File Playback Resumed-

"That glitch! He's gonna pay for this!"

"Oh stop ranting Starscream and keep still"

Starscream grumbled, his arms crossed over his chestplate as he sat quietly on a berth. Thundercracker sighed, removing a piece armour plating on the second in commands arm. He took a quick look at the circuitry underneath to make sure it hadn't been burnt, then he soldered the new armour on.

"There."

"About time!"

The blue and black jet scowled, crossing his own arms across his chestplate. Starscream scowled back as he stood, grunting in agitation before he left the room. Thundercracker rolled his optics, shaking his head as he cleaned up the mess that had been left in the seekers presence.

"You're welcome Starscream... Stubborn glitch..."

'G-gentle spark... w-where has gentle spark gone? H-has he left me? I-it's dark... M-Masters hide in the dark... wrists... hurt... everything hurt... M-Master Starscream going to be angry with me for what I did... Masters come back for me... M-Masters going to hurt me more... G-gentle spark? W-where are you?'

The room was pitch black, the only light emitting from the crack in the doorway. In the darkness, a black and white mech shifted , waking up from his recharge. A blue visor onlined, it's owner sitting up on his medical berth and taking a look around the room. Jazz rubbed a hand over his visor, his optics immeadiatly spying the other black and white mech on the bed infront of him. Prowl was still fast asleep on his front, two new doorwings hanging loosely on his back. He looked to his left. At the other end of the room sat the twins, their berths pushed a little closer together. Sideswipe twitched, his signature smile sitting on his faceplates as he quietly mumbled something in his sleep, turning over to face his brother. Jazz smiled, shaking his head as he looked to his right. His smile disappeared as he spyed a tiny mech in the light from the hallway, his optics tightly shut. Several wires were attached to the child's body, some monitoring his spark rate and intakes, others feeding him energon straight into his main circuit lines. The red child's frame was shaking as he sobbed quietly, catching the saboteurs attention. Quietly jumping off of his berth, Jazz wandered over to the sparkling.

'Gentle spark...'

"Hey... You alright lil guy?"

The sparkling gasped, optics now wide open. A wire shifted as he moved away in fear whimpering. Two damaged hands rose as he cringed, optics snapping shut again. Jazz tilted his head curiously.

'N-no! H-he hurt me before! H-he hurt me more! No want to be hurt anymore! G-gentle spark! Help me!'

"I'm not gonna hurt ya kid... The names Jazz. What's yours?"

The red sparkling opened his optics again, arms slowly coming back down to his sides. He gulped, shuffling back over slightly.

'Jazz... he no hurt me yet... doesn't look evil...'

"F-Firestorm"

Jazz smiled "Nice to meet you Firestorm!"

Firestorm sniffed, wiping his optics. Jazz held out a hand which the sparkling stared at curiously, his right arm rising again as he sucked on his thumb. The black and white chuckled as the child slowly approached his outstretched arm, poking his palm with his left hand then immeadiatly retracting it. He poked the hand again, retracting his hand seconds afterwards. Eventually, the sparkling placed his own hand in the olders, shuffling over more so he wasn't leaning. The saboteur's small smile vanished when he noticed the child was crying again, two or three pained tears falling from his lifeless grey optics.

'H-he remind me of gentle spark... W-where is gentle spark? W-why isn't he here?'

"What's the matter kid?"

Firestorm looked up at Jazz, then at the berth underneath him, speaking so quietly the black and white had to lean a little closer to hear him.

"C-can't sweep... Scared... H-hurts... W-want gentle spark please..."

"Gentle spark?"

The sparkling nodded. Jazz's visor narrowed in confusion as he tried to figure out who gentle spark was, eventually coming to a conclution and snapping his fingers in delight. He immeadiatly regreted it when he saw Prowl shift, but luckily he stayed in his recharge.

"You mean First Aid, Storm?"

The child nodded again. Jazz looked around the room before he carefully moved his hands, unclipping the wires that sat in the sparkling's arms and chestplate. He knew he'd get in trouble for removing the child from the medbay, but if it meant the sparkling would get a good night sleep, he'd take the risk. Firestorm watched in confusion, squeaking weakly when he felt his new friend pick him up.

"I'll take you to gentle spark... just shhh... we don't want to wake up ol' Ratch..."

"G-gentle spark?"

"Yep... but you gotta be quiet or Ratchet will tell us off for being up..."

"O-otay..."

Firestorm blinked a few times when the door hissed open, bathing the two in light. Jazz squinted as his visor covered optics ajusted to the light, looking down at the sparkling as he shifted, his hands infront of his faceplates to protect his small eyes. Thankfully, the halls of the Ark were deserted at this time of night, giving the saboteur a safe passage to his destination.

Jazz's smile returned as he walked down the hall, Firestorm gazing around curiously in his arms at everything they passed. Wall, wall, a camera, through a door, more wall, another camera, another door, some more wall... Even the strip lights that sat on the ceiling astounded the sparkling, his small mouth hanging open in awe as he kept focused on it throughout the rest of the journey.

"When we get to First Aid's room, ya gotta be quiet again ok? A few others share the same living space"

"Otay..."

The saboteur nodded once, stopping at the double doors which lead to the Protectobot common room. Shifting his care slightly, Jazz entered. Thankfully, the main common room was deserted, all the bots asleep in their dorms. The room was almost pitch black, the light running round the ceiling dimmed to its lowest setting. Quickly eyeing up the selection of doors which lay out infront of him, Jazz stepped forward towards the middle one. Firestorm squeaked, shuffling slightly in his carers grip as he made himself comfortable.

"Here we are..."

The door opened, revealing an almost spotless room. A berth sat in the corner, the white and red young medic fast asleep on it. A set of datapads lay on the ground next to the berth. Jazz quietly crept closer, setting Firestorm down on the edge of the berth. The red sparkling crawled closer to the sleeping mech, his damaged wrists reducing him to an army crawl as he clambered on top of First Aid, shuffling closer to his spark and curling up. The child sighed happily as he placed his right audio on the medbots chestplate, his grey optics slowly closing as he dozed off into recharge. First Aid's visor onlined dimly, immeadiatly looking at the red bundle on his chest, then to the smiling saboteur not too far away.

'Gentle spark...'

"He was cryin for ya..."

"He shouldn't be in here Jazz... What will the others think when I come out with him in the morning?"

"Awah come on Aid the kid likes ya! Just have him in here for ta'night and if he's a problem when you get up bring him to my room. I'm not on cycle tomorrow so I'll be sleepin in."

"Alright... but for one night only... Ratchets gonna fritz when he realises he's gone..." The younger medic sighed, stroking the sparklings helm as he slept peacefully. Firestorm squeaked, curling up tighter into First Aid's hand, sucking on his thumb happily.

"Goodnight Jazz..."

"Night Aid"

"SLAG!"

Prowl was shot out of his recharge by a loud crash as something toppled over. Turning over and sitting up, the black and white Datsun yawned, optics focusing on the white medic as he crawled along the floor in search of something. The room was light now, a few of the mechs in the room also awake from the commotion.

"Ratchet? What's going on?"

"Firestorm! He's gone!"

"What!?"

"He was here last night and now he fragging isn't!"

Prowl jumped out of bed, almost immeadiatly falling on his side. Ratchet stood back up, helping the SIC back onto his berth.

"You arn't going anywhere until I've finished your repairs! Now lay down and stay put before I weld you there!"

The Datsun flinched slightly, laying back onto his front as the medbot returned to his search.

"Jazz?"

The saboteur groaned, glancing at the time as he slowly trundled towards his door. First Aid sat in the doorway, a small red bundle still fast asleep on his chestplate, sucking its thumb happily. Jazz yawned.

"That the time already?"

"No... I thought I'd come over a little earlier just incase there was any trouble"

Firestorm whined weakly as First Aid carefully pryed his small hands from his chestplate, gently passing him over to the open arms of Jazz. The black and white held the little red sparkling for a few breems, waiting for him to settle down again before walking back into his room.

"Did you know the kids got a name for you Aid?"

"What?"

"He calls you gentle spark..."

"Gentle spark?"

"That's what he said..." Firestorm twitched, whimpering and shivering from a cold breeze that flew by. Jazz shushed the child, rocking him back and forth to calm him. The sparkling squeaked, nuzzling further into his chestplate. First Aid sighed.

"I best get going... I'll come pick him up later if you want"

The saboteur nodded, turning and taking the child into his dim room. He said his goodbyes to First Aid before slowly moving back to his berth, carefully laying down. Bespite his best attempts, the sparkling's grey optics dimly onlined, looking up at the black and white mech in the darkness.

"Where gentle spark gone?"

Jazz smiled tiredly "He has to work lil Storm"

"Oh... o-otay... music..."

"What?"

"Music... you like..."

Jazz put a hand on the childs back, the warmth from his palm calming the colder sparkling.

"How did you know that?"

"S-spark... got wythem..."

"Wow... smart lil kid arn't ya?"

Firestorm yawned, nodding as he drifted back into recharge. The saboteur felt a small hand weakly grip his own, attempting to pull his hand further over small frame to keep warm. Jazz smiled, unspacing a small blanket and covering the child with it. The small red mech squeaked, before he nuzzled into the cloth, pulling it over his frame completely as his thumb returned to his mouth.

"N-night music man..."

Jazz chuckled "Night Stormer..."

"Ratchet? Why are you crawling around on the ground like that?"

Ratchet looked up, meeting the tired yet confused visor of First Aid. The white medic stood, his face scowled in frustration. It was difficult to see, but the younger medbot could see the slight hint of worry on the CMOs stern face expression.

"Firestorms vanished! I can't find him anywhere!"

First Aid sighed.

"He's with Jazz..."

"WHAT?!" Sideswipe shifted from the otherside of the room, snickering quietly as he pretended to be in recharge. Sunstreaker turned over, still acting like he was fast asleep.

"Jazz brought Firestorm to my quarters last night. He was crying because I'd left him on his own..."

"Why that fragging glitch! I'm gonna staple him where he stands for this!"

"Ratchet calm down... It was only for one night and I'm picking him up later so-"

"This isn't a sparkling daycare Aid! That child has multiple injuries and he needs proper medical attention! He can't be passed around like a toy!"

First Aid sighed irritably, glancing over at the smiling red tapedeck perched up on one of the berths. He nodded a good morning which the young medic returned, Ratchets mindless ranting sifting through one audio and out the other. Eventually, the medic stopped, storming off to his office. Several mechs found this a perfect oppourtinity to burst out laughing, Sideswipe and Sunstreaker falling from their berths in histerics. First Aid couldn't help but chuckle himself, moving to the centre of the room so he could address certian mechs individualy.

"Alright alright calm down before he comes back out. Prowl, We need to finish your doorwings today so that'll be first on the agenda. Sideswipe, Sunstreaker, you'll be checked up be either me or Ratchet later on today. Blaster, how you feeling this morning?"

Blaster trailed off into a set of styfled giggles before regaining some control over his vocaliser, shifting position slightly so he was sitting on the edge of the berth, his legs swinging off the side.

"I'm a'ok Aid! How you holding up?"

"I'm good thanks. You should be ok to leave later if you want"

"Sweet! How's the sparkling hanging up?"

The younger medic grabbed a seat, chuckling slightly as he watched the twins manage to pull themselves up and back onto each others berths.

"He's fine. I'm a little worried about his mental health, but so far so good I guess"

"Was he hurt from the other day?"

First Aid's attention shifted to the black and white Datsun who was sitting in a similar position to Blaster. The two doorwings on his back were leaning against the berth limply, several wires hanging out loosely where they still needed proper re-attaching.

"He managed to break both of his wrists, along with a shot from Starscreams null ray, but if you hadn't of held onto him as long as you did, I doubt he'd even be here at the moment. So erm, thank you for that"

Prowl nodded, his attention suddenly shifting to his legs as they swung to and fro. Sideswipe stood up, wandering forward a few steps, Sunstreaker joining him momentarily.

"So"

"So..."

"When do we all get to meet the little guy?"

"Erm..."

"Aww come on Aid!" Blaster smiled. There were a few more pleas from other members of the room before the young medic finally gave in, standing up so he could veiw everyone.

"Alright knock it off! I'm picking him up in a few cycles you can see him then"

The room burst into a seris of cheers, which was immeadiatly silenced as the white medic finally emerged from his office. The twins quickly rushed to their own berths, offlining their optics to pretend to be asleep. Several other soldiers did the same before Ratchet checked up on them. Prowl stayed as he was as First Aid walked over, several tools laid out on a tray nearby laying clean and ready for use. Ratchet rolled his optics, tidying some equipment away as he scanned the room.

"What time you picking Firestorm up?"

"Erm... in a little while"

"You ok to start without me? I still have to repair Mirages invisibility cloak and it's going to take a while"

"I should be able to manage. I'll call you over if I have any trouble"

The medic nodded, returning to his work.

"Lil Storm... I gotta get up now..."

Firestorm squeaked, his wide, lifeless grey optics onlining dimly as he slowly came out of recharge. The sparkling jumped, a hand gently resting on top of the small white blanket that was keeping him warm, slowly rubbing his back. Jazz chuckled as the mechling practically purred from the contact, shuffling closer.

"I know I know. The worst part of the day is always the morning..." Firestorm gasped as the saboteur moved, holding onto him whilst he sat up and leant over the berth. The black and white mech gently put the sparkling on the berth beside him as he stood up, stretching out fully. Firestorm watched on curiously before he stretched himself, squeaking loudly as he pulled his stiff wrist and ankle joints.

"You alright Storm?"

"Y-yeah..."

Jazz smiled, wandering over to the corner of his room and switching on the light. The sparkling whined weakly, scrambling underneath his blanket and curling up. Jazz walked back over, gently tickling the small bundle under the white cloth.

"Come on now if I have to get up now then so do you. Gentle sparks poppin' by later ta pick you up"

The blanket squirmed and giggled as Jazz continued to tickle the cloth, a small red helm popping out from the side as the mechling tried to crawl away.

"O-otay! I gets up!"

"That's the spirit! Ya mind if I stick a lil music on?"

Firestorm shook his head as he sat up, bringing the blanket over his shoulders like a cape. Jazz smirked, grabbing a remote from the floor and pressing a button. A machine in the corner lit up, the words 'Track 17' appearing on the display. The song started and the saboteur danced to it as he cleared up the small pile of cubes sitting on the floor. The sparkling watched and giggled, clapping his hands together gently as Jazz spun in the middle of the room in time with the song.

"You good dancer music man!"

Jazz chuckled, kicking the last cube into the bin. It went in, the top swinging round several times on it's hinges before it calmed down. The small red sparkling cheered as it went in, giggling happily as he watched the black and white mech approach him. His giggles died down as he was picked up, the small white blanket falling from his shoulders and onto the floor below.

"Time for a shower I think"

Firestorm's ridges furrowed in confusion. He cowered, nuzzling into the saboteurs chest as Jazz approached another door on the otherside of the room.

'Shower? B-but... a-acid... N-no... music man no hurt me! W-would he?'

The door opened, reveiling a private washrack. The rooms walls were a pale blue and tiled, the floor slightly darker. A two showerheads stood on the wall infront of them. They were connected to a silver pipeline which ran down the wall to the ground where they disappeared. A few drains littered the floor to catch the excess water. Firestorm whimpered, shuffling back further as Jazz approached the wall, twisting a tap. The sparkling screamed at the water came gushing out, pushing himself away as much as he could before the water touched his fragile frame.

'A-acid! He's gonna burn me! N-no! No burn! No more hurt!'

"It's only water Storm! See!" Jazz cupped his free hand, placing it under the water and allowing it to flow into it. Firestorm squealed as he gently tipped the fluid over his helm, shrinking further into the saboteurs frame. He looked up and blinked, feeling his helm. The water trickled down into the small side ridges, sitting there for a little while before it slowly rolled away onto the ground.

'No burn...'

"See? It won't harm ya!"

"N-no acid?"

"Acid!? Why would I put you under a shower of acid?!"

Firestorm slowly crept out from his hiding spot, reaching out under the showerhead. He felt the water hit his hand, trickling into the small dents, cleaning the dirt out from underneath his spoilt armour. Jazz smiled, moving further under the water. Firestorm giggled as the water gently tapped against his chestplate, muck and grime running away with the liquid as it dripped onto the ground and down a drain. The sparkling rolled over in the black and whites hands, waving at the dirt as it disappeared down the dark holes in the floor.

"Bye bye!"

Jazz rolled his neck as the water hit his own helm, covering every nook and cranny. Firestorm blinked, then copied the movement, chirping happily when water splashed his neck. He giggled as he watched the brown water run down his arm, dripping off the end and slipping away. Jazz laughed, turning the water off. Firestorm sighed happily, curling back up into his carers frame as they slowly left the room.

"All clean!" The little red sparkling chirped, shivering as a gust of wind hit him the minute he exited the washracks. Jazz sat the sparkling back down on the berth, picking up his blanket and wrapping it round the small mechs frame. Firestorm gasped as he accidently rubbed over a wound, squeaking and recoiling away in pain.

"Sorry lil Storm! I didn' mean ta hurt ya!"

Firestorm nodded, wincing as the burn pulsed slightly before it settled back down. The red mechling covered the wound, shivering into his blanket as he lent onto the saboteurs side.

'A-all clean... M-Masters never let me be clean... Masters say I dirt... a-and that I should live in dirt because thats what I am... B-but Auto-bot Masters are nice... N-no punish for sleeping on berth... Nice... Why?'

"Why you be nice to me? M-Masters never let me be clean..."

Jazz was about to speak, but he was cut off by a knock on the door. Firestorm squeaked happily.

"Gentle spark!"

The door opened, reveiling the said white and red medic. Firestorm's faceplates lit up as he giggled, swinging his legs off the side of the berth, the white blanket still wrapped warmly around his shoulders. Jazz stood, walking over to First Aid as Firestorm giggled, crawling around on the berth then curling up. The saboteur bit his bottom lip, pushing the medbot out of the room so the sparkling couldn't hear their convorsation.

"Jazz? What's wrong?"

"The Decepticons have screwed with that kids mind..."

"What?"

Jazz looked back at the sparkling. He'd fallen into a light recharge on the berth, hugging his blanket like a teddy bear. First Aid took a glimpse, smiling under his faceplates before returning to the worried saboteur. He sighed, the smile disappearing.

"Jazz, I'm well aware that the Decepticons have done things to him. I can't work miracles, thats Ratchets job. They're will be things he won't understand at first, questions he'll ask. He needs to learn that we won't hurt him"

The black and white opened his mouth to speak, but quickly closed it. First Aid was right. There would be things Firestorm wouldn't know or understand, like what water was, and why he hadn't hurt him on purpose. With no more questions, Jazz stepped aside, allowing the medic into his living quarters to collect the sparkling.

"Firestorm..."

Firestorm squeaked, waking up. His wide optics onlined dimly at first, but lightened when they looked up at the young medic standing by the berth. The mechling smiled, grabbing hold of his blanket as First Aid gently picked him up.

"All clean now gentle spark!"

"Really?"

"Yeah..." Jazz smiled "I er... sorta gave him a shower"

The sparkling giggled, covering himself in his blanket and cuddling up to his carer.

"Well you saved me a job later" First Aid looked down at Firestorm "Come on. Ratchet almost blew a fuse this morning looking for you"

"Really?"

"Mhmm..." The medic turned to leave, looking back at Jazz "Thanks for watching him for me"

"Ey no problem! Anytime!"

"So how do you think he'll react?"

"Why are you asking me?! I don't act like a sparkling!"

"Sure fooled me Sunny!"

"Shut up Sides..."

"Well First Aid said he might not understand some stuff. What do you think he meant by that?"

"He mean's he'll think some of our actions are confusing or illogical, meaning it might frighten him because he doesn't understand"

"How badly do you think the Decepticons roughed him up?"

The medbay was full of chatter. Everyone able to move were huddled together in convorsation. Ratchet shook his head, tightening a bolt holding the newly attached doorwings in place.

"Sheesh... with the amount they're rambling on about it you'd think we've never had a sparkling in the base before" The mech sitting infront of him smiled, shaking his head.

"Poor things going to be petrified when he comes through the door. I calculate a 60.5 percent chance that he doesn't like crowds"

"You never know Prowl. Perhaps the attention will do him some good"

"Perhaps" The Datsun shifted his new doorwings, testing them for movement. Ratchet stepped back to avoid being hit, placing his tools down beside him on a tray. He looked back at the group of mechs, still in mid convorsation, and scowled.

"Listen up you lot! As soon as that sparkling comes through the door none of you move! I don't want you frightening him out of his processors before he's spent a full proper day here!"

There was a sea of nods before the room burst back into chatter. The white medic sighed in irritation, his attention shifting back to the SIC infront of him.

"How do they feel?"

"A little tight..."

"They will for a few cycles, but the new bolts will soon wear in"

Prowl nodded, jumping from his berth. He wobbled sideways, immeadiatly regaining his posture and walking a few steps around the room. Ratchet picked up the tray of tools beside the berth, walking over to a clear side table and placing it down.

"Alright. There's a couple of people still healing from the battle the other day and they wish to meet you"

"H-huh?"

Firestorm stared down the hallways ahead of him and cowered, hugging First Aid closer in fear. First Aid gently stroked the mechlings helm in an attempt to calm him down. He didn't want the child to short circuit the minute he entered the room by the bombardment of mechs, so he'd commed ahead to Ratchet so no one would approach immeadiatly. The child in his arms whimpered, his optics glazed over in fright.

"Don't worry Firestorm. None of them will hurt you, or even approach you if you don't want them to"

"I-is Pwotector still der?"

"Protector?"

The red sparkling nodded, looking up at the young medic, awaiting for an answer. First Aid's visor narrowed slightly in confusion.

"I... don't know who Protector is Storm..."

"Pwotector... h-he have wings... g-get wipped off in last meet with Masters..."

"Oh Prowl!"

"Yeah!" Firestorm chirped "Pwotector! He pwotect me!"

"Last time I looked he was. He asked how you were earlier"

"Really?"

There was a noise from inside a nearby room. Firestorm cowered, hiding underneath his blanket in his carers arms. First Aid moved the sparkling so he was resting on his chestplate, chuckling when he nuzzled closer.

"No going to sleep now Storm... I need you awake so I can look at those cuts"

"O-otay..."

The two wandered further down the hall, eventually reaching the two recently fixed double doors that lead to the medbay. Firestorm squeaked as they entered, sucking his thumb innocently, the white blanket covering his back. Heads turned as the two entered, heading towards the nearest berth. First Aid looked up at the small crowd on the other end of the room, their chatter now died down.

"Everyone, this is Firestorm"

Firestorm squeaked again, meeting the optics of several members of the group. They smiled back at him. the white blanket completely covered his body so no one could see the wounds he had. First Aid shifted him slightly, sitting the sparkling down on the berth. Firestorm almost immeadiatly curled up, wrapping his white blanked around himself like a prized posession. He giggled when the young medic tried to uncurl him, shuffling around. The sparkling gasped when a second pair of hands joined the first, successfully unwrapping him from the cloth.

"Hello again Firestorm"

Firestorm looked up and into the blue eyes of Prowl. He smiled widely, uncurling and latching onto the SICs chest.

"Pwotector!"

"Wha?"

First Aid chuckled "He calls you Protecter..."

Firestorm looked back up, his wide grey optics blinking cutely at the Datsun.

"You pwotect me from Masters..."

"Ah..."

"Can we see him now?"

First Aid and Prowl turned, meeting the curious optics of Sunstreaker and Sideswipe. Both of them smiled slightly. Firestorm whimpered, hugging the black and white SIC tighter slightly as a couple more mechs approached. Prowl had been right about the child and crowds. The sparkling grabbed his blanket, using it to cover his damaged body so the other members of the room couldn't see. Ratchet poked his head out from his office, looking at the small scene not too far away. Spying the child and his carer, he sighed, walking out of the room slightly.

"First Aid" The younger medic turned "I need to talk with you"

-Connection Paused-

Sam - O.o I didn't tell it to stop! Where's the rest! SYNDROME! HUNT IT DOWN!! . ; bare with me alright?

-Connection Interrupted-

-Airstrike.The.Careful.Risk.Taker-