Chitin peeked in on his bond, wondering why he felt so many disparate emotions from him.
Stingray sat with Dotbreak, playing with the dollies as Dotbreak chatted.
Frequency pinged Chitin, :Something wrong?:
:Yesterday, Ray's former lover drew aside Boredown. I think he did something that set Dotbreak off. Like maybe he gave an aura that reminded the sparkling of whoever killed his Ada.:
Frequency pulled Chitin closer to the oven, :I noticed that mech sent a glare my way. I thought he was upset with me. I would have walked off with Dotbreak, but you showed up. What's the mech's deal?:
:He is the leader of the gang Stingray ran with. His name is Strikeout. I know that most of the crimes Stingray is accused of were in partnership with that mech. There's something wrong in his processor. He needs help before something bad happens.: Chitin worried his servos, :I don't want any more trouble for this family. The war is over.:
:Drama knows no boundary, war or peace,: Frequency kissed Chitin's helm, :We are stronger together. If needed, we can work with the Daywatch to prevent an issue. This colony is only as strong as its firmest member.:
Chitin leaned into Frequency, :I'm afraid I'm the weakest.:
:You helped Devisplex to get back into space, protected him from the inside as you made your way here. You are stronger than you give yourself credit for, my sparkling. Strikeout will find us formidable if he presses us.: Frequency heated up his side, reminding Chitin of his younger orns when he'd hurt himself or been spark broken, curling up beside his Atar for safety and warmth.
The comfort eased Chitin's spark. He had support from his Atar, his Ada. No matter what struck, he wasn't helpless.
They finished the meal and carried it out to the three playing with the dollies.
"So, what are the dollies doing?" Chitin sat beside his bond.
"Not sure," Stingray took a bite of the meal as Dotbreak giggled to Frequency, shaking the Pointbreak dolly, "Could be a party or a fight."
Chitin snorted, "Only you would confuse the two."
Dotbreak noticed Chitin and turned, waving his arms excitedly.
"Ata! Chirp, beep," he offered the Dotter dolly.
Chitin smiled, taking the dolly, "This is your Atar's Ada. Dotter."
"Do?" Dotbreak tried.
"Dotter. I know you can do it, my sparkling," Chitin handed the dolly back.
"Dodo, dodo," Dotbreak chanted hugging the dolly.
Frequency chuckled, "Better not let Dotter know he's being called an extinct bird."
"What do you mean?" Chitin asked.
Frequency smiled, "Here, access this. It's a database for human sayings and knowledge. They have some lovely turn of phrases. Also, the senior Autobots will use the terms as a sign of respect for our allies. A dodo was a bird that went extinct due to human interference. I don't think Dotter will appreciate the comparison."
"We'll work with Dotbreak," Boredown picked up the sparkling, "Who's the good sparkling?"
"Bodo," Dotbreak hugged Boredown.
Frequency smirked, "Well, Bodo, I wonder what he'll call me and Pointbreak."
"No clue but it will be adorable," Boredown grinned, "I sent a vid of this to both Dotter and Pointbreak."
"Vid?" Chitin frowned.
Frequency sighed, "You can share a short little video from your memory with others. By the time you were old enough to start using it, they weren't teaching it, and we didn't get a chance to teach you."
Stingray rubbed his helm, "I had mine disabled due to my...criminal days. Made it harder to get at evidence in my helm."
"Get it enabled," Chitin scowled, "I had a separate recorder on me as part of being an officer. That was used for evidence not my memories. Memories were deemed unreliable by the leadership."
"They would. Someone with a spark could view a situation with compassion," Frequency sighed, "An image wouldn't."
Boredown snorted, "I'm not surprised this one," he poked Stingray, "Had it disabled. Missed out on keeping vids of your life."
Like Heltron.
Chitin slumped at the realization he could have shared the happy moments of Heltron's life with his family. The joy the sparkling had exploring their bare apartment.
Frequency slid an arm around him, "We missed out on so many teachings and family time. Let's make a pact to share everything. To be solid against any enemy to our happiness."
Boredown gave a sharp nod, "I so give my oath to defend this family's happiness. With my sword, too."
His grin made Chitin snort, resisting a full laugh, "I see where Ray got that idea. My oath to defend this family's happiness."
Stingray rolled his optics, "There you go again, making a good mech out of me."
Chitin glared until Stingray chuckled.
"I give my oath to protect this family's happiness. I can't promise I won't do it through a crime or in that grey area between law and chaos."
Frequency nodded, "I give my word to be a defender of this family's happiness."
Dotbreak cheeped, then said, "Ata, Ada!"
"We all have given oath. Let's make sure Dotbreak doesn't have to be the one to keep it," Boredown picked up the sparkling, "Play time."
Chitin learned how to make a vid and send it to his Ada. Happiness shared was better than happiness hoarded.