Ricochet watch as his new pupil exit the med bay from Ratchet's office. The old medic was less than thrilled to see him and grouse quite a lot. The truth ever since Jazz decided to call in a favor train his student/adopted sparkling Ricochet had been quietly observing him. For Ricochet it is important to know what kind of personality his student has. Ratchet's office is not without decoration few personal souvenirs from some old friends. Wheel jack failed invention is used now as decoration is on a shelf. As long with some certifications that meant something before the war, but Ricochet is more focus on the monitor. Truth is he is rather impressed that Mirage was able to discern his existence.

"Well?" demanded Ratchet as he walked into his office.

"Impressive mechling." Spoke Ricochet

"You were reading some of Mirage's medical files." Spoke Ratchet annoyed.

"His psychological profile, only." Spoke Ricochet

"I don't understand why that is important." Spoke Ratchet

"For Nobles it is important." Spoke Ricochet calmly. "Mirage is first sparked creation even that does not guarantee rite of inheritance. If your personality is not desirable in an heir it would be used for to negotiate with another family as bond mate to an heir."

"That sucks slag." Spoke Ratchet. "His own creators were going cast him off."

"Most likely." Nodded Ricochet "Mirage's temperament is passive by nature and he would have some sort of compliance code place in him at this age if the Towers are still around or even his creators have another sparkling."

"I did not see any aggressive tendencies in Mirage." Nodded Ratchet irritated. "Mirage is calm and quiet as they come never loud or draw attention to him in a social situation."

"It is all about social situations." Spoke Ricochet

"Why does this matter to the Towers?" ask Ratchet

"A family can be challenge for a position or standing in Towers." Answer Ricochet "As leader of the Family it is up to that person to defend family honor both in a political or an actual fight. Loss of standing means disgrace that could be in form of influence or the destruction of that family. If the Heir is un-bonded of the family who have won has the right to claim the other family who had been defeated as a mate. "

"Mirage, if the Towers were still here, perceive as weak." Spoke Ratchet

"That is if his creators have no other sparklings than him." Spoke Ricochet "Mirage, was listed as undesirable. From the notes the medic gave his creators were looking for a bond match that is why he was in that school. If the he was third creation or even forth creation he would had been sold to a brothel."

"Does Jazz know this?" ask Ratchet slowly digesting this bit of information.

"My brother saw something else in Mirage that the Towers missed." Spoke Ricochet. Ricochet hated the Towers for the beauty it had on the surface but underneath there was a corrupt spark. In the past he work the streets as special-ops on his off time he pleasure mechs get out of the business. Some of the high price pleasure mechs were from the Towers ex-nobles and sold in that service. Commoners would come to brag of interfacing with a noble. To Ricochet it is a form of slavery that was practice by the Tower nobles. These ex-nobles always carried hurt and deep sense of betrayal from their caste. "How is the frame?"

"It is sound the bonding had been completed to the proto-form." Answered Ratchet

"Thank you Ratchet." Spoke Ricochet getting up to leave the medic

The training room

Mirage walk into this room he is quite familiar with it. Jazz used to train him here. Mirage sensed another presence in the room it wasn't Skids. Skids is in charge of overseeing all aspects of his training. Just as Kup is for Sunstreaker and SideSwipe, Perceptor told him that Ratchet is in charge his training. No time to dwell on thoughts Mirage needed ascertain the presence is hostile or friendly. The presence is cloaked in the shadows moved quietly with same skill as his previous mentor. Mirage kept to edge of the training move and waiting to see what the first move is. If the presence is hostile he would severely injured or dead by now. It did not mean that is friendly either.

Ricochet almost smirk in the shadow his newest student detected him and assessing his presence. Mirage is using the shadows to cloak his presence but not the sigma ability meaning he is conserving energy to determine what is the best course of action. Ricochet chose to attack his student to test his reflexes. Mirage was able to dodge but not make a counter attack. Ricochet watches his student dodge by jumping back and taking a defensive stance. By judging the student's countenance Mirage is not rattled nor is he scared.

"Well done." Spoke Ricochet coming out of the shadows into the light of the training room"I am Ricochet."

Mirage did not relax one bit. Ricochet is definitely more colorful version of Jazz with that flame on his chest.

Ricochet merely grin as his golden visor lock optics with Mirage. "You can call me Uncle Ric."

"I would prefer not to." Responded Mirage coolly

"Spirited response now that was an unexpected." Spoke Ricochet folding his arms. "I beginning to see why Jazz took a shine to you."

"I heard that you and Jazz were twins." Spoke Mirage

"We are not Twins." Spoke Ricochet in a grin. "Many mechs and femmes perceived as such perhaps we are close as brothers. As you can see I am much cooler."

"I see the resemblance when it comes to modesty." Spoke Mirage drily

Mirage is using the air of nobility as a defense noted Ricochet. He is much as an introvert as Jazz is an extravert.

"I admit I am impressed." Spoke Ricochet to Mirage. The other shifted uneasily at the praise. "I wasn't sure what I was getting from my brother. You are going be a spark breaker when you grow up."

"Meaning?" spoke Mirage

"Yer a mechling." Spoke Ricochet "Right now you are not hard on the optics."

"Why do you not speak like Jazz." Spoke Mirage perplex

"Ah deflecting now." Spoke Ricochet "Information for information. Who do you take after in appearance your sire or carrier?"

"In appearance I look like my sire and personality I am more like my carrier." Answer Mirage "That is two bits of information."

"Yes it is." Nodded Ricochet "Well prefer proper language skills not the Polihexian accent as my brother does. I do not possess his social chameleon skill to intermingle and charm people."

Mirage canted his helm and nodded.

"My turn, how did your sire and carrier met?" ask Ricochet

"My carrier seem sad about that." Answer Mirage. "His family lost a challenge and my carrier was bonded to my sire. Your family social rank because you seem to know a lot about the Towers?"

Ricochet nodded he is getting a clearer picture of Mirage heritage. Challenge bonds are rare in the Towers because they rarely produce more than two offspring. Although the offspring is stronger since it is not inbred as most the Nobles and probably why Mirage has the sigma ability.

"Jazz is first creation and I second." Spoke Ricochet "We are both equal and different in our own way. Like Jazz I was born a commoner. I did not mean to test you."

Author note:

Happy Easter! I must admit that the chapters now more mature in nature because Mirage is maturing.