Warnings: this and that.
Disclaimer: I own nothing to do with Transformers.
Klik - seconds
Breem - minutes
Joor - hour
deca-cycle - weeks
Orn equal to days
cycles equal to months
Vorns- years
It was eerily quiet as a lone silver figure stalked down hushed halls. Every mech there knew to stay far away from the small Pholyhexian. He was the best spy, saboteur, and torturer. He lasted victim, was one of the rare Decepticon Praxians. Barricade. The black ex-enforcer had had his aft handed to him, which wouldn't have even sent a blip on his radar. It was the one that gave him such a beat down that had his interest. But the mech stupidly didn't want to tell him when he had demanded, so, Meister decided to take it from him. Megatron need not even know.
"Ah good orn Cade, did ya recharge well?" silence was his answer. If there was one thing that Meister could say about the mech. It was that he could take pain really well. The silver mech smirk, everyone has a breaking point. "You gonna tell me what I want to know? I promise the pain will stop and I'll take ya to a medic. One of the good ones." He pressed a button that sent waves of high voltage shocks into the others body.
Barricade only gripped the metal berth, denting it with such force that metal started to squeal. Meister chuckled, he was almost there. "Why are you trying to protect this mech; hmm. Surely, he isn't as important as your own heath." He leaned down into Barricades personal space. "It's a glaring weakness."
"N-n-not p-protect-ting him." the damage con whispered. "I-it was j-just c-c-chance tha-t I s-saw h-him and s-sparkling."
'bingo,' "Sparkling?" Meister leaned back feigning surprise. He wasn't about to let the mech go. Not just yet. He finally found the little Praxian that escaped him. it seemed their union created a sparkling. The tactician had been fun to torture, he never broke even when Meister forced his chestplates open. "Very good Cade, now…tell me more about Prowl and his little sparkling."
The damage mech whimpered as a clawed digit dug deep into one of the seams along his armor. Before it gently caresses a damage door wing. He knew that he should've kept quiet knew he shouldn't have even started ranting about his ex-partner. Swallowing his pride Barricade told the spy master everything. From who he saw Prowl with to who he suspected was with the mech. Told of what he saw of the sparkling and the comment of Prowl having more than one.
He heard laughter before those deadly servos ran down the length of his helm to just above his spark chamber. "Now Cade, you won't be telling anyone about this." Servos painfully grip his chassis yanking his up to meet the silver mechs face. "Will ya?"
Barricade no longer had anything else to lose as he whimpered, "No."
Meister smiled a sparkling chilling smile. "Good mech." He dropped Barricade and walked to the door before stopping. "Oh yes, I did promise to get you a medic." He taps his comm line. "Unfortunately, there are none available now. So, Hook will have to do." The damage shutter his optics as Meister left him in the dark to his fate.
"Now," Meister said as he lazily walked down the hall to his quarters. "how should I go about seeing you my dear tactician."
oOooOooOooOooOooOooOo
Prowl shifted cramp wings as he watched Sideswipes store. With his and Smokescreen wings being too unique they had to figure out a way to blend in. They couldn't just have the wings removed or change, and being Praxian they already stood out. So, the answer they came up with was to stuffed their long wings into small hollowed out door wings.
Prowl will be happy to throw them off once Sideswipe shows back up. They may have to wear them in public but Prowl will be just as happy without the damn things. A whistle had him looking down at Bluestreak. His sparkling was just now trying to stand on his own, but he was having trouble as is little wings, which had grown since they moved, were pulling him backwards.
With a quiet chuckle as Bluestreak gave a frustrated huff. Prowl helped him back to his pedes and placed his servo behind the sparkling. Not touching him but to catch him when he fell. Bluestreak tried again and gave a happy trill when he didn't hit the unforgiven floor when he lost his balance.
When Prowl took his servos away Bluestreak squeak as he wobbled. Once he regained his balance and stood for a few breems, he gave Prowl another happy trill. Prowl smiled down at him caressing the little wings.
Now taking serval turns standing the little sparkling was trying to walk. Prowl was quick to catch him before he fell face first. He chuckles as he swung his sparkling up and placed him in his lap.
"It is still too early for that Bluestreak," he raised the little mechling up above his helm. "Your wings are still growing and are heavier then you are use too."
Bluestreak wiggled waving his pedes and servos at his creator. Prowl, in a rare show, stood and played with the sparkling letting him feel like he was flying. His newly still growing wings flapping with each dip and turn. He squealed and trilled to show how much he was enjoying the game.
Prowl stopped when the bell above the door chimed as someone entered the store. He placed Bluestreak in his play pen, much to the sparklings dismay, and went to help the customer who came in. however, he got a shock as he found that his customer was the same black and white Pholyhexian from the last job he took.
'slag.'
: Something wrong Prowl: Smokescreen asked through the bond. Prowl mentally grimace he hadn't meant for his brother to hear that.
: Everything is fine, just someone I hope I never saw again:
: Oh; is it that mech that took you for a ride: Prowl's wings ruffled but he quickly smooths the platelets down when the mech in question spotted him.
: I will be discussing this with you when you get home dear brother: before Smokescreen could reply Prowl cut the connection between them. he watches the other black and white mech swagger up to the counter and gave him a cocky grin.
"What's up my mech, I need to talk to the owner of this place." Jazz leaned on the counter top.
Prowl flick his wings, "He is not available, you will have to come back another time." 'now leave.'
"When will he be back then. I heard this was the place to get anything that ya wanted." Jazz leaned away arm propped on the counter. He scanned the store that word of mouth had lead him to. "And what I need isn't something ya can get just anywhere." Not entirely true, but he knew that best way to lie was to give a little bit of truth. Plus, he was surprise to find a living Praxian. He might have to tell Prime but that was not his main mission now.
Jazz was happy for his visor he could appreciate the mech in front of him without the mech knowing he was looking at him.
"He doesn't keep a timetable, if you wish to leave your name and comm. number and what you are looking for then I will make sure that it is passed on." Prowl wished the mech would leave already. Why was he wasting his time?
"Well I rather talk to the owner face to face. But I guess I could just come back." He really wanted to stay and talk with the unknown Praxian. Something about him seemed familiar and it was bugging Jazz. But he didn't want to scare the mech off so he stood up straight and walked slowly backwards. "Names Jazz and I'll be coming back." He was almost to the door when a curious whistle caught his attention.
He watched the black and white Praxian stiffen as another higher pitch echo throughout the store. Curious, Jazz acted like he hadn't heard the sound and made to leave and just as his pede left the store. He caught the mech darting to the side of the counter just out of sight of any one that would come in. He closed the door and quietly as he could, walked over to where he heard cooing and purring.
Taking out a mirror Jazz used that to see around the counter, hoping that the Praxian was too busy to notice that he was there. His jaw dropped when he saw a sparkling and not just any sparkling but a Praxian sparkling. When Praxus fell there wasn't a sparkling to be found, not even grayed frames. It was when on a mission into the heart of Decepticon territory did the Autobots found out what became of the missing bitlits.
Jazz shuttered at the memory. He didn't want to see any mech enemy or not go through what he saw. Small grayed frames littered the room as some were not far from joining the well laid on energon crusted berths. Those that survived, Jazz couldn't even say that they were better off, had their memory cores wiped and stuffed into adult frames. They were no better than drones, bound tightly by strings of code that the Autobots have yet to break. The little one's sparks acting nothing more then a power source for the frame.
Optimus, with great sadness, did not want to tell the rest of his army of the fate of the little ones. He knew his bots would have trouble defending themselves if they knew that the Decepticons that they were shooting at were innocent sparklings.
So, to see one, a normal laughing happy Praxian sparkling. Jazz couldn't tell his Commanding Officers. They may try to take the little one away from his creator and Jazz didn't want that happening. So, he figured that he wouldn't be telling anyone about the two bots. Just as quietly as he came he left the store, he was still intending to speak with the owner, but he was not about to cause the black and white door winger any more stress.
He wondered why the mech was working in a seedy part of Iacon then snorted. He knew the reason but maybe he could help out in his own way. after all some of the mechs back at base truly didn't need half of the things that found their way into their servos. Maybe he could turn it into another game for his own mechs. Something to think about.
Prowl felt the mech get further and further away. He was cursing himself for slipping up and not checking that the other mech was truly gone before bringing out Bluestreak. But unless he wanted to leave Bluestreak at one of the disappearing Youth Centers, there was nothing he could do during the times that none of the others could watch him. He would have to have Blaster monitor the frequencies to make sure that this Jazz didn't talk more then he should. He would also have to warn Sideswipe about the mech.
With quick data burst to Sideswipe, Red Alert, and his brother. Prowl returned to his spot behind the counter with Bluestreak in his lap. Several of his foundlings ask if he needed one of them to help him. it was their own way of asking him if he needed anther mech there just in case Jazz or someone new returns.
Prowl said he was fine, but it was Sunstreaker who, in his own way, told him that he was coming back early. But only to finish the painting he was having trouble with. to Prowl and Sideswipe, it translated into the yellow mech was worried and wasn't going to take any chances and no one could change his mind about it.
Prowl grin at that, the twins had come along in leaps and bounds since he found them. They had taken to Bluestreak as if he was created from the same creator. Though it took time when Prowl brought home the flyers. But he couldn't be happier about his twins. Thinking of the two, Prowl would have to come up with two adult size frames soon. maybe he could get ahold of Wheeljack. He knew that engineer would love to make something other than weapons.
Getting the twins to help would take some of the pressure off so Wheeljack can focus on his job. Or that was the official story, truth was the engineer wouldn't find it any trouble. If he doesn't blow the frames to sky high that is.
oOooOooOooOooOooOo
The base was quiet for once, no explosion from either the resident engineer nor Decepticon attacks which meant no patients beyond the normal idiocy. Just how Ratchet liked it. He sent his apprentice away for the evening and was about to enjoy some time alone with a cube of his favorite high grade.
That was his plan then two little mechs dropped from the ceiling and onto the berth that was underneath it.
"See I told you we went too high. We needed to go down in order to find him. this place is too organized to be his." the black and white one scolded his twin.
"there still time in the quarter and the ball is in our court." The blue and white one posed.
"Eject, can't you talk normally for once."
"What wrong with the way I talk?" Eject tilted his helm but the other just sighed and walked away. "Rewind what's wrong with the way I talk?"
"Hold it right there you little slaggers." Ratchet scruff them. they dangled legs kicking in the air. "What are you two doing here?"
The two cassettes stopped struggling and turn as much as they could to the medic. "Oh, it's you, the one who fixed Prowl."
"And the one who knows where Wheeljack is. He's the VIP we're scouting for our team." Eject said.
Ratchet stared at the two running several on Eject before looking at Rewind. "I found nothing wrong with him so why is he talking like that."
Rewind just shrug. "he thinks he found a way to end the war has something to do with some off-planet sports."
"Hey it's a good idea!" the blue and white squawked.
"Kid I can guarantee that none of the mechs would go for it." Ratchet set the two small mechs back down. "Now why are you two here; I was lead to believe that you be in hiding somewhere…is the whole group here?"
"Yep!"
"Yes sir, you might have seen some of us around. But we need to see Wheeljack. We're on a deadline and Blaster will worry if we don't report back soon."
"dare I ask why you need him?" Ratchet was getting a particular feeling that he might regret knowing.
"The twins need to grow up!" Eject shouted only to get smack by his twin.
"while somewhat true…it is not entirely accurate. Their ready for their final upgrades and Prowl wanted to ask Wheeljack if he wouldn't mind helping building the frames."
"Oh…well, didn't expect that." Ratchet wondered if the Praxian remember how explosive his friend could be. But shrug it off, he might as well help them get there before some steps on them. "I was about to head down there, why don't I take you."
"Awesome!"
"We appreciated it."
Ratchet took the less use hallways. They weren't as monitored as the main halls, Ratchet had had many words with Prime the lack of security. He was joined in those arguments by the Primes bodyguard Ironhide. Optimus had told them that unless they could find someone better then he would replace their laxed Security Director.
He lost count on how many times he had to repair Irionhide and other mechs after some con's manage to sneak in. they now had some ops mechs patrolling around Prime at all times. Ratchet was ready to take a wrench to the SD's helm.
A thought enter his processor, but it wouldn't work unless he could convince the group of mechs to come to the Autobot base. It was something to talk over with Wheeljack at a later time.
: Jack, you have company:
: Really!? Who is it: the engineer sounded happy and eager. Ratchet almost felt bad for that. With his positon as CMO he didn't have and nearly as much time to visit his old friend. Most other mechs avoided Wheeljack due to the explosions.
"Uh Coach sir, you alright?" Eject asks tapping the medics shoulder.
Ratchet blinked when he saw the little mech clinging to his arm. He had to stop and think of how the cassette climb up on him with him noticing.
: Ratchet? You still there:
: y-yeah, we are on our way down now. So for pit sakes don't do any experiments until after we leave. Primus knows if I'll have any extra parts left: Wheeljack chuckle before cutting the connection. He knew that his old friend was just being his usual mother hen self.
Ratchet picked up his paced down to the elevator that would take them to the labs. Then they had to take two hallways over to find the section the housed Wheeljacks quarters and Labs. Ratchet made a reminder to himself to see about getting the mech back up where everyone else was. Staying down there alone wasn't healthy for anyone.
Further behind them a tall silhouette watched them go. He was curious but would let his CMO be for now. Unlike what most of his officers were saying Optimus knew that Ratchet wasn't the one who was leaking information.
A black and white lithe figure dropped down beside him. "yo boss bot."
"Jazz what have you been told about just dropping in unannounced." Optimus tiredly sighed.
"Only do to mechs you want to scare." The saboteur grinned. "should we be letting him take the littles down there?"
"I see no problem with it. Since you're here I am guessing that you found something." The giant mech started for one of the debriefing rooms that was one hundred percent secured.
"Or something. I think I got our mech or mechs. However, one we are going to have be careful with." Jazz said in a serious tone. He wouldn't oust the Praxian he met earlier to his other Commanding officers. But Optimus was different.
"Oh."
"Yep and trust me you're going to love it." The black and white mech bounced into the room checking and doubling check everything before claiming a chair pedes prop up on the table. "So I found something very rare now a days and I couldn't trust anyone with this."
Opitmus raised an optic ridge.
"Prime I found a Praxian and his sparkling."
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Chapter End.
Thank you for reading.
