Disclaimer: All Transformers stuff belongs to Hasbro. The plot line belongs to me.
Author's note: I would like to thank PrancingTiger86 for co-writing this chapter with me. ^_^
Family Way
By Yami-Yugi
Chapter 5
After a couple of cycles later, the shuttle was heading back to Earth but his time with an added passenger. "It has been a long time since I left Cybertron." Meister said as he watched the stars go by.
"I'm surprised Red let ya leave." Jazz said.
"I'm very good at persuasion." Meister said as he looked over at Ratchet "Ya sure you guys don't mind me staying with ya?"
"We have plenty of room at the plant for an extra bot." the old medic said.
Meister smiled and looked towards the back of the shuttle were Prowl was meditating. "He sure likes doing that."
"It's Prowler's way of passing time." Jazz said.
When they arrived back on Earth, Ultra Magnus was waiting for them. "Meister, it's good to see you old friend." He said as the both of them took each other's hand "I'm glad you are feeling better."
"Good to see ya too Magnus." Meister said with a smile.
"Come on dad, ya need a new alt mode for this planet." Jazz told his carrier.
"What's wrong with the one I have? It's sleek, it's fast," Meister inquired as he glanced at his creation with a frown adorning his facial plates.
"Our alt modes on Cybertron are quite different then the ones here on Earth." Prowl said "the humans become quite pedantic when they see something they aren't used to seeing."
"So that means I gotta change it?" The older black and white asked with a pout.
Jazz smiled at his spark carrier's behavior "Ya never know ya might find one better than th' one ya have, the humans have some sweet rides." He turned happily, letting his carrier see his earth alt.
Meister gave an appraising whistle as he looked over his son's new alt. mode "Ya right I might find somethin' ta ma likin'." Jazz smiled at this. A small smile even tugged the corner of Prowl's lip components; Jazz and Meister were so very alike despite the fact they were parent and child. After Meister picked out his new alt, the small group started to get ready to head to the plant.
"So let me get this straight, ya commander use ta be in the elite guard?" Meister inquired as they drove toward the warehouse.
"Yes he was, but Optimus won't tell us why though." Prowl replied.
"Must of been somethin' pretty bad, Magnus never boots one out of the elite guard unless ya did somethin' terrible." The older black and white explained.
"We believe it's something to do with Sentinel because those two are always at each others necks about one thing or another."
"Yea Sentinel kinda looks like a glitch head, I don't envy you havin' ta work wit' him Jazz."
"Don't worry. I sometimes just pretend to listen to him gripe, he don't know I turned into some human radio music station instead." Meister simply chuckled at that.
They soon arrived at the old plant.
"Here we are." said Ratchet.
"Don't look like much on the outside." The older black and white remarked as they all converted into bipedal mode.
"Trust me dad, appearances can be deceivin'." Jazz told his spark carrier. They headed inside. Bumblebee and Sari were currently sitting on the couch playing a video game "the two youngest members of the team." The younger black and white pointed out to his parent "Bumblebee an' Sari."
"Sorry?"
"No dad, Sari. That's her name."
"Oh."
"Bumblebee, Sari, would it kill ya to pause your game and say hi to our new guest?" Ratchet asked with his hands on his hips.
"Guest?" The young girl asked as she dropped her controller and glanced over the top of the concrete couch whilst Bumblebee was far too interested in completing the level.
Prowl made his way over and promptly turned off the game console "What the slag Prowl?" Bumblebee demanded.
"You have no manners." Prowl said. Bumblebee glared at him until he turned in his seat to glance at the group that stood near the entrance, his optics feel upon the strange black and white mech that stood beside Jazz.
"So who's the old mech?" Bumblebee asked which earned him several disapproving glances from his comrades. Prowl whack him in the back of his head "what? What'd I say?"
"Chill out Bee, this is my carrier." Jazz said.
"So this one's the troublesome one then?" Meister inquired as he glanced at his creation before he transferred his gaze to the small yellow bot who was still glaring at Prowl.
"You still have no manners, Bumblebee." Prowl said.
"But did ya have to hit me? I think I have a dent now," Bumblebee demanded as he rubbed a servo over the back of his helm.
"Might knock some sense into that thick helm of yours." Prowl replied.
"Hey!" The yellow bot exclaimed. Prowl just glared at him.
"Guys knock it off." Sari yelled at the pair of them. Prowl looked away. Meister chuckled when he saw the black and gold ninja looked away, but felt his spark give a painful clench as memories of his Prowl performing the same action when he had been told off about something, appeared in his processor.
"You okay dad?" Jazz asked.
"Yea I'm fine, just a lil tired is all." The older black and white mech told his creation, he could see the troubled frown upon Jazz's facial plates and knew his son didn't quite believe him.
"Are you sure?"
"Yea I'm sure."
Soon Optimus came into the room to see what all the noise was about. "Bumblebee, Sari what have I told you about..." His words trailed off when he saw the other black and white mech stood beside Jazz.
"Hey OP, this is my carrier Meister." Jazz said.
"Welcome to Earth Meister." Optimus replied offering one of his hands in greeting.
"The kid's so much nicer than Sentinel." The older black and white mech said as he shook the young Prime's extended hand.
"Yea he is." Jazz replied giving Optimus a small smile.
"Well...Sentinel is just that way..." Optimus said, blushing a bit.
"But still kid, ya should be th' one servin' under Magnus not that glitch head." Meister replied "I know fer certain Jazz wouldn't switch off if he were takin' orders from ya."
"Some things are just not meant to be." Optimus said.
"It's a shame though, but ya right on that one." Meister then started to stare at him like he was thinking "ya Convoy's kid aren't ya?"
"How did you know...?" Optimus began as he glanced at the older mech with surprise written upon his facial plates.
Meister smiled "He was one of the Primes back then." He replied "one of my bosses."
The young Prime found himself speechless, unable to find the words to say but he did get his vocalizer to form the words eventually "You knew him personally?"
"Yep, had a nice mate too."
A small sad smile formed upon Optimus' lip components "I wish I could remember them." He glanced up in time to see Prowl glance off to the side looking rather forlorn about the situation.
Meister smiled as he pointed at the TV "Does that thing play holo-disks?"
"I don't know, Bumblebee?" The young Prime glanced at the small yellow bot.
"Well duh, of course it does. How else could me and Bulkhead watch our favorite Cybertron movies on it?"
"Thought I'd ask, after all the television is your specialty." Optimus grumbled as he watched Meister make his way toward the TV set up. Bumblebee showed him where the holo-disk goes before Meister took one out of his sub-space. The older black and white inspected the disk to make sure the labels were the right ones before inserting it into the player.
"Why don't ya all take a set?"
"Dad..." Jazz asked with suspicion laced in the tone of his voice "what are you planning?"
The older black and white grinned "Oh nothin'."
"When ya say nothin' like that, it generally means somethin' old bot." The elite guard ninja replied.
"Hey Bulkhead! Come in here, we're going to watch a movie!" Bumblebee shouted.
There was a clatter of objects before the sound of thundering footsteps, Meister glanced at Jazz.
"Just stay outta his way an' you'll be fine." The younger black and white told his spark carrier.
"OH? A movie?" Bulkhead shouted as he almost ran into the room. Prowl grabbed Meister's arm and bodily pulled him out of harm's way as Bulkhead quickly made his way over without regards to anything in his way. Prowl knew, try as he might to teach the bigger mech to be graceful, it was never going to happen.
The older black and white chuckled "One mech wreckin' ball alright."
"Underneath all that muscle, Bulkhead is quite a gentle mech." Prowl said "he just sometimes doesn't know his own strength."
"Sounds familiar." Meister replied "for one who was so engrossed in his cold hard logic yet knew how to love wit' all his spark."
Prowl looked at him a bit confused "You are talking about my past life?"
"Yea, sorry about that." Meister replied as he glanced down at his pedes.
"It's okay..."
"So, where's this movie?" Bulkhead asked.
"Alright already don't get your servos in a twist." Bumblebee responded as he looked under the concrete couch.
"'Bee don't tell me you've lost the remote again?" Sari asked as she reluctantly slid off the couch to aid in the search. Prowl sighed, shaking his head.
"Uh whoops sorry my bad." Bulkhead told them as he shifted slightly and pulled out the remote he had been sitting on, Bumblebee snatched it out of his grasp and started up the player.
"Meister, are you sure this is okay by Prowl? I know you took this vid-cam from the twins..." Came a young mech's voice upon the screen, the bot was colored a distinct grey and black color with a pair of wings on his back.
A much younger Meister appeared looking rather tired "Yea he'll be fine, not that he has much choice in the matter."
"Do you want me to hold the vid-cam?" The mech asked again.
"It's okay Blue, I got it." The camera angles tilted as it was passed from one mech to the other.
"Think I'm gonna purge." Bumblebee said as his optics tracked the disorientating moves. Ratchet however showed him no sympathy as he clipped the young mech round the back of the helm "ow!"
"Say, why is Prowl's name being mentioned?" Bulkhead asked, confused.
"Yea I'm curious too." Bumblebee replied as they both glanced across to the ninja standing beside Meister, Prowl simply met their gaze but refused to give them any details.
"Be quiet you two, I want to hear." Sari said.
"Besides, our little sparkling would want to see how its life will be once it comes into the world." The younger Meister said.
"But Prowl hates video cameras, he'll tell you how illogical it is and all that stuff, don't you remember last week when the twins were trying to get a clip of him working so they could show the bitlet how boring his father is." The grey mech rambled on, Meister chuckled.
"But this will be much different, Blue."
"If you say so."
"Come on, lets show the little spark the rest of his soon to be home."
"Okay."
"Wait, is that Uncle Bluestreak, dad?" Jazz asked.
"Yea it is bitlet." Meister replied as he glanced at his son, a small smile formed on Jazz's lip components at the mention of the endearing nickname his spark carrier would sometimes use.
"I say he talks too much." Bumblebee said.
"You should meet his son then." Meister said with a smile. The little yellow bot glanced at him but the older black and white refused to elaborate.
Images of the familiar Autobot base on Cybertron was shown. "Hey, there's Convoy." Bluestreak was heard to say.
"About fraggin' time." Meister mumbled.
Optimus stiffened at the mention of his sire's designation and his spark pounded within its chamber in anticipation.
"Bluestreak, Meister." Came a deep voice, the camera fell upon a tall red and blue mech who looked a bit like Optimus, but he had an elite guard symbol upon one of his shoulders "what are you two doing with that vid-cam?"
"Well you see sir..." Meister started until two sparklings ran into the picture, the taller one carrying a robot like toy.
"Give it back Sentinel!" The smaller one shouted as he chased the bigger one "Daddy! Sentinel took my toy!"
"Sentinel what have I told you about taking your brother's toy without asking." Convoy rumbled, the older sparkling shuffled uneasily on his feet "give it back to Optimus."
Everyone looked over at Optimus. "I didn't know SP was yer brother." said Jazz.
"That explains why you two always fight." Prowl said.
"Well since Sentinel is such a glitch head I don't want to be broadcasting that we're actually related." The young Prime explained.
"I didn't know you made such a cute sparkling, boss bot." Bumblebee said with a smirk. All Optimus did was blush a bit.
"Now Sentinel!" The sparkling Sentinel pouted as he gave the toy back "Meister, I pray to Primus your sparkling is more well behaved." Convoy said.
"I very much doubt it Sir with Meister being his carrier." A new voice said off camera.
Suddenly the camera turned to a mech with the same frame as Bluestreak, but in the black and white pattern. "Oh, hey there Prowler! We were just looking for ya."
"Meister... how many times I told you not to call me Prowl? And were did you get at vid-cam?"
"Several times but th' request hasn't quite sunk in yet." The other black and white replied "an this I borrowed off Sunny 'n' Sides."
"No wonder it looks so familiar..." the taller black and white said with a sigh.
"Come on Prowler don't be such a tight aft, I'm makin' this fer our sparklin'." Meister told his bond-mate.
"Our sparkling will probably be scarred for life once it sees it."
"At least say hi."
The bigger black and white sighed "Do I have to? Our sparkling will know who I am."
'Please Prowler?"
"Primus, Meister, not the face..."
"Pretty please Prowl." Meister pleaded, Prowl sighed deeply through his intakes.
"Very well..." Prowl glanced up and met the camera fully "Hello little one."
Meister looked over at Jazz and Prowl sitting next to him. Prowl sat rigidly in his seat as he was confronted with his past self whilst Jazz kept his gaze upon his father, his expression full of sorrow. The older black and white knew that it would be hard for three of the mechs in this room to be confronted with elements from their past, but for them it was a necessary reminder of what they had lost.
"See Prowler, that wasn't so bad." The larger black and white grumbled something unintelligibly under his breath as he stepped out of the view of the camera "aww Prowler baby."
"It's Prowl, Meister."
"Never let it be said, that ya father doesn't sulk bitlet." The smaller black and white said as he turned the camera briefly to look at him before settling it on a young Sentinel "an if ya come across Sentinel later in life, ya gotta show 'im this." The camera zoomed in to show the small blue mech sat on the floor with one digit stuck up his nasal passage.
Bumblebee started to laugh. "Eww that's just nasty." Sari said pulling a face of disgust whilst the others all chuckled around her.
Convoy sighed "Sentinel, you know better then that."
The younger Meister chuckled at the little blue mech's antics "Looks like we've got all that to look forward too." Convoy just sighed again.
"I suppose mechs will be mechs." The large blue and red mech said as he glanced down at his eldest and gave him a disapproving look, but he was simply ignored.
"I wonder where he gets it from." The young Meister said. Convoy snapped his head round to glare lightly at the smaller black and white whilst the Prime's bond-mate chuckled "anyway I gotta go and show our soon to be sparkling more of it's new home."
"Meister you don't need to, he will see it all once he arrives in the world." Prowl told his bonded.
"There ya go again, callin' it a he, we might have a femme." The smaller black and white responded as he glanced back at his mate.
"Meister, my processors tell me our sparkling is going to be a mech."
"Ya not Ratch so how could you know."
"I... just know." Prowl replied as he glanced away, Meister frowned at his mate. It wasn't like his bonded to make wild guesses like the one he had just made.
"Prowler, where ya going?"
"I just remembered that I have to train a new group of Autobots."
"I'll come with."
"You're not going to record the class."
"Yes I am."
"Meister."
"What? There's no harm in it." The smaller black and white replied.
"Fine," The taller black and white said with a sigh.
"You won't regret it Prowler."
"Hmm." The larger black and white hummed knowing nothing good would come of his mate following him to one of his classes.
When they arrived at the room, many young Autobots were waiting for them but standing off to the side was a familiar looking bot, granted looking younger.
"M-Master Yoketron?" Prowl said in shock.
The larger black and white walked into the middle of the room "Okay class today we have a special guest with us, he's going to help me demonstrate some cyber ninja techniques. Everyone, this is Master Yoketron."
The young students all bowed to the circuit su master in respect and were surprised when the older bot responded in kind.
"We'll start with some stretching techniques then we'll move onto Metallikato moves." Prowl told his class, from the corner of his optics he could see Meister give him a thumbs up.
Everyone watched the screen as the class started.
The Prowl on screen instructed his students into some stretching moves before showing them a few cyber ninja techniques. He called for some volunteers to try them out and was surprised to have so many step forward. But as it was he could only instruct a few at a time.
"I guess it was fate that WarPath brought you to Master Yoketron, huh?" Jazz asked his fellow cyber ninja.
"Yeah..." Prowl said as he watched the screen.
"Now the last move we will show you is called Diffusion." The taller black and white spoke "It's quite useful when you face an enemy with no weapons." The class' interest piqued when they heard that.
"I'd never heard of Diffusion..." Prowl said.
"Yer old self was a master at it." Meister told him with a small smile.
"I wish I could have learned it from Master Yoketron." The black and gold ninja replied.
"Watch and ya might learn somethin."
The two mechs went into position, neither of them was holding any weapons. Each scanned the other critically looking for any signs of weakness. It happened so quick that the pair of them were barely seen as one went on the offensive and the other on the defensive, combating one each others moves.
"Wow, who ever that mech that had your name Prowl, he's good." Bumblebee said.
"Yea he was awesome" Meister uttered to himself, Jazz glanced at his spark carrier and offered him a small sad smile. Prowl looked over at the two mechs setting near him. It made him sad to see his fellow cyber ninja and his spark carrier so upset and it was his fault. He just wished he could remember more of his past life, he just wished that whatever had happened to him had never occurred. Sure the holo vid Meister brought with him did help a bit but he still couldn't remember. He sighed deeply through his intakes as he returned his gaze to the tv screen, he truly envied his past self.
The two mechs upon the screen were combating each others moves so smoothly that they were flawless, no punch or kick scored a hit and every grappling move failed. Well the one of the grappling moves worked as Prowl was distracted momentarily by a gasp from his mate and was neatly flipped over onto his back and pinned.
The older Meister chuckled "He never did forgive me for that, but I blame you, ya had ta start bouncin' on ma spark."
"Dad!" Jazz said as he started to blush.
"He was sulky fer ages proclaimin' he coulda won that match fair an' square." Meister replied ignoring his creation's indignant response at being blamed for his sire losing.
"Sounds like someone we know." Bumblebee said as he glanced at the two black and whites and his fellow team-mate, Prowl simply glared at the small yellow bot.
It wasn't long until the halo-vid was finished.
"Awww is that all?" Sari asked.
"Nope, got more." Meister said with a smile.
Jazz glared at his spark carrier "Don't you dare." The older black and white grinned at his creation as he removed a few more holo-disks from sub-space.
"Maybe Jazz is right." Optimus said "It's getting late."
"Maybe tomorrow then?" Meister asked as he stored them away whilst ignoring the glare his creation was still shooting him.
"We will see." The young Prime stepped out of the room, the others watched him leave knowing that seeing his creators again had possibly brought some painful memories to the forefront.
Silence fell over the room before Bumblebee broke it with a loud yawn "Think I'm gonna follow the boss bot's example an' hit the berth too."
The small yellow bot held out his hands for Sari to clamber up on them before he carried her to her room on the base. Bulkhead was the next leaving Ratchet, Prowl, Jazz and Meister in the room.
"Well, come on Meister," Ratchet said "I got a spare berth in the medical bay we can move into a room for ya."
"I'm comin' old bot." The older black and white replied as he followed after the medic.
Jazz and Prowl watched them leave. "I guess . . . you have to get back to Ultra Magnus..." Prowl asked.
"Yea I oughta, keep an' optic on ma dad ok."
Prowl nodded "Sure..."
"Night Prowl." The younger black and white made his way to the entrance of the base before disappearing into the shadows. Prowl sighed before he decided to check up on Ratchet and Meister.
He could hear the pair of them bicker good naturedly at one another as they moved one of the berths from the med-bay to one of the spare rooms. "I told you, tilt your side to my left." Ratchet grumbled.
"I was!" Meister replied.
"You could have fooled me!"
"I could leave ya to do it old mech." Meister said loosening his grip slightly.
"Don't you slaggin' dare." Ratchet hissed at him as he glared at the black and white who was grinning at him.
"I could."
"You try it youngling and I will weld your aft to this berth an' don't think I won't."
"Okay, okay I get ya." Silence fell between the two of them for a few moments before Meister spoke up again "do ya think I did th' right thing in showin' Optimus an' Prowl that holo vid?"
"Well... who knows."
"It's just that I kinda feel guilty for showin' Optimus a much happier time in his life." Meister replied "an' Prowl's gonna have questions about what happened ta him."
Ratchet sighed "This is the reason I didn't tell Prowl about his past when I put his spark in that body."
"I..I just wish my Prowl was still here." Meister replied sadly.
"Only in spark, Meister." Ratchet said "only in spark."
"I know." They soon got the berth in the spare room.
"Right youngling I'll let you get some rest an' see ya in the morning." Ratchet told the black and white mech as he helped maneuver the berth into place before making his way to the door.
"Thanks Ratch." The medic offered him a small smile before stepping out of the room, Meister glanced around the sparse room before making his way to the berth and perching on the edge of it. He sighed. Meister swung his legs up onto the berth and laid down upon his back, he was beginning to miss Cybertron a little. But he was curious to find out what Earth had to offer since it had attracted the attention of his creation and Prowl.
Prowl headed back to his room and his tree granted he was a bit sad. He heard everything that Ratchet and Meister was talking about. He couldn't help but think about seeing his past self upon that holo-vid recording, he desperately wanted to know more about what he had been like before fate had dealt him a poor hand and snatched him from his life, his family. He sat under his tree, trying to cycle into recharge. However he quickly found that his systems refused to settle down for recharge and knew he had to get the answers he sought before he would be able to get some rest. He stood up and headed off to the one that could help him.
The black and gold ninja crept quietly through the hallways, making sure not to disturb his comrades before he finally reached the spare room Meister was held up in. He sighed deep in order to calm his systems. Meister lay there awake in his quarters. The elder Elite Guard just couldn't sleep tonight. At that moment he could hear the door to his quarters open slowly. Slowly looking over he saw the smaller and slimmer form of the black and gold ninja bot. It was hard to tell from the visor but Meister noticed the unsure frown on his faceplate. He slowly raised up to support his frame with one arm. "Sorry to bother you . .." Prowl spoke shyly "did I wake you?"
Meister shook his head "Nah, ya didn't, is something wrong?" Prowl nervously shifted from one foot to the other, he wasn't sure how exactly to approach the subject with the older mech. Meister noticed.
"I just..." Prowl began.
"Ya wanna know more about yer past self." The black and white mech replied as he sat up fully. Prowl nodded "come, sit by me." The black and gold ninja hesitantly crossed the room before perching on the edge of the berth. "Okay what do ya wanna know?"
"What was I... What was he like?" Prowl inquired not quite meeting the other's gaze.
"Well..."
"I understand if do not wish to talk about it." The black and gold ninja said looking a little crest fallen.
"No, it's not just that." Meister said. Prowl saw the saddened look on the others facial plates and tentatively reached out with a hand to rest upon one of the others forearms in a gesture of reassurance. Meister glanced at him surprised that the ninja had initiated any sort of contact. Prowl had a small smile on his face "ya really wanna know about him?"
"Yes, if you can. I have all these unanswered questions..."
Meister sighed "He was very much like you in fact, ya have much of his personality quirks. He devoted himself to everythin', his work, his martial arts . . . me." He glanced away from the other "an' when Jazz came along that devotion extended to him as well, in fact I was surprised to see him drop everythin' when Jazz wanted his attention."
"So... what did happen?"
"A nasty virus got into his systems destroyin' and wipin' everythin' it came into contact with, we had no choice but ta remove ya spark before it was too late." Meister replied "I was hopin' that even a small part of him would have still been there when you on-lined."
"I'm sorry..."
The black and white mech frowned "What for, it wasn't ya fault."
"I know... but..."
"Prowl what happened, happened." Meister replied "can't change the past."
"I wish we could..."
"What?" The black and white inquired curious as to what the other wanted to say. Prowl looked down at the floor "Prowler?"
"I wish... we could go back... I'm hurting you and Jazz like this..."
"So do I but... you can't change things that have already happened Prowl, I learned to except that 'he' was gone an' Jazz will do the same eventually." Prowl looked a bit saddened.
"I wish I could remember my past life." The black and gold ninja said.
"Ya never know, if ya watch the holo-vids ya might recall somethin'." Meister replied.
"Maybe..."
"I should be gettin' some rest an' so should you." The black and white told the ninja.
"Yeah..." Prowl said with a sigh as he stood up from the berth.
"I promise ya Prowl, things will work out in the end."
"I hope so... Goodnight then..."
"Night Prowl." Meister replied. The black and gold ninja offered the other a small smile before making his way across to the door, he glanced back at the black and white before stepping outside, the doors closing behind him. Meister sighed sadly. He wished he could have offered Prowl more in terms of answers, but it simply dredged up too much of the past. Meister sighed again as he tried to lie on the berth and try to fall into recharge. He knew he wouldn't be the only one who would have problems falling into recharge tonight, in fact he was still concerned about Jazz but he would check up on his creation in the morning.