I guess I could say this story is slightly AU, only because of how I have changed Prowl and Blurr.
Nothing else really to say, so enjoy, read, and review! Feel free to PM me should anything concerning or confusing come up.
"What's going on?" Bulkhead demanded once Blurr entered. "What happened back there?"
"Nothing that will concern you," the Guard snapped. He pushed past them and went out to the clearing.
"He's worse than Ratchet," Wheeljack said, twisting his sword out of its sheath and cleaning something that looked unnervingly similar to Energon from its blade.
"Optimus said not to start on bad terms with them," Bulkhead said. "I don't think we've followed his orders." Wheeljack laughed at that as he headed to the docking bay.
"We can't do that if they keep snapping at us," Arcee retorted.
"Why are they doing it?" Jack was up on the balcony, his attention fixed on them. "I mean, are you giving them a reason to?"
Wheeljack's voice echoed towards them. "I can name two."
"I dare you to," Arcee called back.
At that moment, the door to Ratchet's lab opened. The medic entered, looking as bitter and cold as ever.
"Well? What's going on?"
"That is confidential," the medic responded, heading to his computer and pressing something. "Optimus, we haven't heard anything. How is the search going?"
"My finds are scarce, Ratchet," the Prime replied. "The Decepticons are hungrier for Energon than we have realized. Prepare a Ground Bridge."
Ratchet reopened the Bridge, and Optimus entered with a chunk of Energon in his servo.
"Swiftlock found Prowl. If you wish to speak to him, he is in the medical bay," Ratchet informed the Prime. "Blurr is nearly recovered and on the clearing." He watched as Optimus entered the med-bay.
Prowl was there, on his feet. He was examining one of Ratchet's tools, his fingers tracing the object's circuitry. His broken doorwing was strapped in a brace to prevent further injury.
"Yes?" The ninja spoke without turning, and his voice was harsh and cold.
"Ratchet informed me of your whereabouts." The Prime was unfazed by the Autobot's temper.
"Did he speak to you of anything else?"
"No. If you have something you wish to tell me, you may do so whenever you desire."
Prowl faced Optimus. "There is no sense in giving you my secrets, no matter our past. The War is over. Cybertron is dead. Who do you fight for?"
"Megatron still ensures his cruel reign controls others. His tyrannical rule has reached this planet, and our quest for the Omega Keys will not be strayed."
"The Omega Keys," Prowl repeated. "They are here?"
"Alpha Trion has granted us access to the coordinates, as well as—"
"—the Starsaber." Prowl leaned against the shelf near him. "My ship picked up its signal, though I could sense its energy signature." He stared at the Prime. "I cannot sense it anymore. It was destroyed?"
"By Megatron," Optimus confirmed. "He has created his own with the Forge of Solus Prime."
"The Forge is here as well?" Beneath his visor, his optics narrowed. "How did it come to be in Megatron's hands?"
"The Decepticons uncovered it. More Iacon Relics wait to be found."
The ninja vented. "There are many secrets this planet is keeping from us."
"The planet is not the only one." The Autobot leader's gaze became stern. It was as close to a scolding glare he would do.
"You, of all people, should recognize the symptoms," Prowl retorted. "You know it would happen sooner or later." He sighed again. "Even after all these centuries, it cannot be restrained."
"It is in your knowledge on the fact of how to do so," Optimus stated. "You are capable of controlling it."
"Do you recall what happened when the squadron of Vehicons captured me?" The Praxian was staring hard into the distance.
"That is the past. Do not let it haunt you."
"Oh, but it does. It haunts me; it hunts me, waiting for the right moment."
"If you don't mind my asking, what haunts you?" Ratchet was in the doorway.
Prowl stared at the medic, his clawed hands scraping gouges into the tool he was holding.
"I would appreciate it if you did not touch my tools. They are fragile." Ratchet glared sharply at the ninja, who stared back. Optimus watched, prepared in case something would occur.
"Many things are fragile," Prowl said. "It is how you handle them that matter." He handed the object to Ratchet, who scowled slightly as he set it back on his desk.
"Have you collected yourself?" the medic questioned.
Prowl said nothing as he left the room without a sound.
. . .
"Report."
"My liege, we failed to acquire the arriving Autobots." The Seeker bowed low.
The Decepticon leader growled. "Did you manage to acquire anything other than failure?"
Soundwave stepped forward. An image of shuriken flashed on his featureless face.
Megatron's eyes narrowed. "So, the spy returns."
"My lord." A blue and gold Seeker, Dreadwing, came forward. "Forgive my impudence, but what is the importance of capturing these Autobots?"
"Have you not had a history lesson?" Knock Out appeared in the shadows, his red optics blazing. There was Energon covering and dripping from his servos. "These two have a past worthy of our liege's attention."
"What have you been doing?" Starscream demanded. Knock Out's optics narrowed, but before he could snap, Breakdown intervened.
"He is in a foul mood," the massive Decepticon stated. "He nearly killed an Autobot."
"The key word is 'nearly'," Starscream retorted. "He's too much of a coward to do so."
"You want to test that theory?" the Decepticon CMO hissed. The Energon on his servos stood out. "I could kill you any day."
"I would like to see you try." A smug grin crossed the heeled Decepticon's faceplate.
Before Knock Out could respond, Megatron faced them. His red optics were glowing dangerously.
"Starscream, send out your Armada and search for them," he ordered.
"At once, my liege," the Seeker answered, bowing and leaving.
"Knock Out." The Decepticon leader spoke as the medic began to leave.
He turned. "Yes, my liege?"
"Do try and keep the blood of your victims hidden from sight. I do not desire uneasiness plaguing my army. Your varied personality, as well as your experiments, already causes troubles."
Knock Out bowed. "Yes, my lord. I will try."
Megatron did not miss the fanged grin the CMO exposed. Inwardly, he sighed in exasperation.
Some secrets are meant to be buried.
. . .
The door to the clearing. Arcee stepped out, her gaze sweeping across the land. She noticed Blurr on the cliff edge, his legs over the edge. His helm was bowed, and he did not move as she approached him.
"How long have you been out here?"
The Guard did not respond.
"Blurr, did you hear me? How long—?"
"I heard you, Arcee. My auditory receptors are not broken." His voice was low and calm.
"You still didn't answer my question."
Blurr exhaled slowly. "A few hours, if you wish to be critical."
"I wasn't—"
"Don't lie." He brought his functioning leg up to him. "You and the others, are you always this way? I would feel bad for any newcomer, whether Autobot or Decepticon." He paused, but not long enough for Arcee to speak. "Excuse me if I sound insulting, but you, it seems, are the most judgmental. I am surprised you get along with your teammates, let alone stand them, and that they get along with you."
"You have no right to say that," Arcee snapped.
"I have every right you have." He paused, and Arcee noticed the slight shaking of his servos. "So, if you are telling me I have no right to say something, you might as well tell yourself the same thing."
"I came out here to see if you were okay, not so you could chastise me."
Blurr was quiet for a moment, and then he made a noise similar to a cough. "I did not mean to offend you, as I motioned earlier. I am not in a good mood, and it is not like I have been made to feel welcome." He glanced at her, and his optics flashed white before returning to their dark blue color.
"We have been trying to make you feel so, but with your teacher nearly attacking me—"
"Would he have had the impulse to attack if someone had not had the nerve to compare him to an evil, bloodthirsty warlord?"
Arcee hesitated ever so slightly, and Blurr laughed until it turned into a harsh cough. She made to help him, but she stopped when he said, "Do not touch me."
"Are you sure you're okay?" She was concerned, as the young Guard's servos were shaking more violently now.
"Meditation slows my condition's attacks on my body. I was doing fine until I was distracted." He closed and inhaled deeply. All was silent, and when Blurr didn't speak again, she left.
Inside, Bumblebee was playing a video game with Raf and Miko; Jack was gone, most likely at work. Ratchet was speaking to Optimus while he checked Smokescreen's vitals, and Bulkhead, Prowl, and Swiftlock were nowhere to be found.
"How's he doing?" She headed over to Ratchet, who looked down at her.
"He's stabilizing, but his Energon levels will need to be raised tremendously. He should wake in a few days at least."
Arcee nodded. "Where did Bulkhead and Swiftlock go to?"
Ratchet answered, "Swiftlock is in the forest. Bulkhead is searching for more Energon, since our scout is currently occupied."
At this, Bumblebee whirred, his optics shifting as he motioned wildly with his hands.
Optimus raised a servo to calm the scout. "All is well, Bumblebee. You have already executed your time."
Bumblebee whirred at Ratchet, making a noise similar to a mocking laugh.
"Were you outside with Blurr?" Ratchet questioned.
Arcee nodded. "He told me he was fine until I came out. he started seizing again, but not that much." She looked around. "Where is Prowl?"
"He had been here, but he vanished after our conversation with him," Ratchet explained.
"How are we going to have a good new member if he keeps disappearing?" Arcee demanded.
"Arcee," Optimus rumbled. "I have expressed the matter of trust, as well as the importance of it. We will not touch it again."
"With all due respect, Optimus—"
"Arcee." Ratchet was glaring at her now, and the female warrior sighed angrily and turned away, transforming and speeding off.
"Observe all frequencies. Keep them open if Prowl desires to contact us," Optimus ordered Ratchet, who turned his back and fulfilled the order, watching as the Prime went out to the clearing.
"With all due respect, Optimus," Blurr began, his voice quiet and somewhat hoarse, "I have already spoken with Arcee, and it did not go well."
"The fact is recognizable," the Prime stated. "But I did not come here to speak about you."
Blurr coughed. "You wish to know more about Prowl." He twisted around and looked up at the massive Prime. "Am I correct?"
Optimus nodded, ever so slightly.
"I should make myself more presentable, then." The Guard attempted to stand, but his weak leg would not allow him to do so.
"You do not have to." The Autobot leader moved closer to him. After a moment of silence, he spoke.
"Do you know of your teacher's condition?"
"If you are referring to his processor effect, then yes. But I know that is not what you mean." He paused and began to cough harshly.
"I do not require medical attention," Blurr said, voicing the Prime's thoughts. "The attacks are getting worse, that is all." He faced the Autobot leader. "You were speaking of Prowl's condition. What do you want to know?"
"I have known Prowl for millennia. Most likely I will know what you will and more in addition." He fixed his gaze on the Guard. "What is in your knowledge of the Decepticon Squadron that captured your teacher?"
Blurr shrugged. "He had left Yoketron's training about half a century ago. They had interrogated him, and he wouldn't tell anything. In the end, he attacked them and killed all of them." He let out a deep vent, his servos shaking slightly. "There were more than five hundred of them there. That is what I know. Is that your version?" He was looking at Optimus now.
"I was there," the Prime stated. His gravelly voice lowered a few octaves. "No rendezvous signals were given, and his signal was out of reach."
"Who rescued—" Blurr faltered, clenching his hands into fists. "—who brought him back?"
"Team Prime was not established, as the War was not over. Your teacher was trapped in the Pits of Kaon, and the Autobot and Decepticon factions had already formed. Megatron meant to extract the Autobots' intentions with their scientist Shockwave's Cortical Psychic Patch. Prowl is able to resist the mind search, no matter his age or current position." The Prime looked down at Blurr. "It was Arcee who led Prowl out of Kaon. She was accompanied by her first partner, Tailgate." The Prime watched as the Guard jerked back in surprise.
"This was the event before Tailgate was murdered, was it not?" The Guard was trembling now as he stared out into the distance.
"Yes, it was." Optimus's voice did not waver. "Airachnid captured him soon after."
"Is that why she dislikes Prowl?" Blurr's voice lowered, filled with a sudden anger. "Is that why she compared him to a tyrannical lunatic who is nowhere near as insane as him?"
"That is the reason. She will never forget."
"This happened nearly seven centuries ago and she still holds a grudge." Blurr was on his feet now, limping to the door. Optimus followed him inside.
"Blurr, are you—?" Ratchet was cut off as the young Guard transformed and sped off at a speed too dizzying to watch.
"Sir?" Bulkhead was staring in the direction Blurr had gone in. "Is everything okay?"
"All is well, Bulkhead. Blurr is young. He will calm down in due course."
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