A/N OMIGOSHNESS we move a little bit along the plot.

Ch 10: Decisions, Decisions

Smiling, I walk out the door first. I quickly ran into a road block though. "Home, now." Starscream growls. Rolling my optics I do as I'm told but as I'm walking away I hear "Thanks for doing this. She needed the paint. And tell your painter he does amazing work." Oh Blacklight would LOVE to hear that.

He falls in step next to me. "You know, you don't have to suffer with me and walk." I tell him.

"I like walking. Flying isn't everything you know."

Rather than pretend to be surprised I just smile. "Oh, interesting tidbit for you sir, Optimus is so crashing for you." More seeker slang meaning the bot in question would do anything, including crash into the ground, to impress the bot they desired.

"Jazz?"

"Jazz."

"Anyway, I'm glad you decided to get painted today. Soundwave just cleared customs as well as Backfire. Being the verified bond mate of Decepticon leader does have it's perks." Starscream sighs and I look closely at his frame. He didn't seem damaged. "Don't explode, they brought Threeway with them."

My plates crawl with revulsion. If there was any bot I couldn't stand it was that pompous low tier triple changer. "Please say that sorry excuse for spare parts isn't staying. I know Strut cares about him but seriously, Strut could do way better than what he's got." Starscream pats my helm and glances around.

"Tell you what, if we keep it our little secret I'll let you abuse your thrusters to fly a bit off the ground." He says with a grin. Immediately I feel better.

Just as I start to lift off the ground I cut my thrusters again. "I don't want you to get in more trouble. Besides, my Decacycle will be up soon. I can wait." He stops abruptly and begins glancing around frantically.

"Hold on, I think Cybertron just stopped it's rotation! Time will start collapsing on itself, half the planet will freeze over, the fourth wall will vanish! My audios deceive me, Skyseam just said the words 'I can wait' in that order."

"Way to be over the top boss bot." I say, shaking my helm. "Flying isn't everything." Turning the corner backwards I stick out my glosa at him and run right into someone.

"Watch where you're going you stupid glitch." Without turning around I immediately knew it was Threeway.

"Threeway, still jealous I see?" I say with a small smirk. Turning I look up at the purple and green triple changer. "And your colors are still clashing." I ducked as the servo flew at me and launch a well aimed ped into his midriff. He grabs my leg and prepares to swing me right into the ground when a null ray straight from my guns hits him right in that stupid helm of his.

He drops me, entering a frozen like state, and I flip backwards and ignite my thrusters, skimming over the ground in a fluid motion before cutting their flow. "Come to think of it, I'm surprised you aren't trying to suck off Strut's face components. Oh wait, are you still cheating on him?"

He comes out of his frozen state and chartges. I dart to the side and ram my place m ped on his back as he passes, giving him an extra push.

He gets up and runs at me again. Too bad he didn't know back up stood right behind me. Just as he came close to me I ignite my thrusters and spring over his head, doing a flip. As he turned he got talked by my favorite casseticons.

"Hey, don't forget you're permitted to be here because our boss said so!" Rumble shouts. Frenzy lands a hit to the triple changer's backside to get the point across. Picking up the casseticons I set them on my shoulder plates and start gliding on my thrusters which the twin casseticons enjoyed.

"Exasperated: Enough of that. Starscream: I am thankful you trained her so well. I understand the previous damage had to have occurred in an enclosed space. Confused: No greetings for me Skyseam?" Turning I see Soundwave standing next to Starscream. Setting down Frenzy and Rumble I cut my thrusters and run over.

"Elation: It is so good to see you Soundwave. Declaration: I missed you so much!" He encases me in a hug and I return it, squeezing as hard as I could.

-Optimus' POV-

"There's a human term for it, give me a moment. Ah, I believe the phrase is you look like the cat that ate the canary." I say as Jazz lounges in one of my chairs, wide smirk on his face. "Do I want to know?"

"Maybe, maybe not." He teases. Rolling my optics I decide to ignore him, he'd tell me soon enough. "Ah, come on. Fine, a little seeker told me that a certain seeker has optics set on you for all the good reasons. First seeker being Skyseam and second seeker, well, I'll leave it up to you."

Not knowing if he was playing with my processor I stare at him, waiting for him to shrink away. Since the grin got wider and he relaxed a bit more I could tell he wasn't making things up. "Are you one hundred percent sure that's what Skyseam told you."

"One hundred and fifteen. And she really didn't say it more like she accidentally let it slip."

I turn in my chair, thinking over the info when my communications screen comes to life.

"Optimus Prime are you currently busy on anything important?" One of the councilors asks, his face appearing on screen.

"Not really. Is there something you need?"

"Yes, you are needed in the blue council chamber."

Getting up I switch off the screen and head out the door. "Come on Jazz, clear out."

"Right behind you boss bot." He says before passing me to talk to Bluestreak. Since it was the blue council chamber then I knew I hadn't done anything wrong, they reserved that for either the red chamber or the yellow chamber.

Composing myself before the door I step through to see the council mechs, only four of them, as per the Decepticon terms, ranged around the half table. There were minor ones like Starscream who would be considered a councilor for Vos as well as an ambassador. "Optimus Prime reporting in."

"Ah, Optimus, take a seat." Ultra Magnus invites with a sweep of his hand. Sitting down I wait for them to get to their point. "We have gone over your report on one of the seeker apprentice's predicament. I understand the young femme is up and back into almost perfect condition?"

"Yes, have you crossed referenced my report with Ambassador Starscream's?" I ask.

"We have. And it has also come to my attention that all the attackers have been apprehended and will be dealt with as is seen fit. But this is not why I called you here. The attack on the young seeker might still provoke another war. At this point we will be slaughtered if this was to occur. Thankfully Soundwave has agreed to work to find a solution to this. Listen, it is not an option I would want but right at this moment I can think of no other. So I'm asking you, if it comes down to it, would you do a spark bond?"

I was way more than willing to tell him no, that it wasn't fair to me or to whoever they had planned as my would be partner, that someone else could have the duty but his optics were pleading and his servos gripped the desk. "Of course. Although I do hope another solution can be reached."

"Thank you. That is all."