Warnings: this and that. sorry this took a while to get out but I had lots of things happening at work and couldn't find time to write, that and I sometimes came home exhausted. but my work schedule is still getting thrown out of whack so until things return to normal I will only be publishing one story one chapter a week. different story each week.

Disclaimer: I own nothing to do with Transformers.

Klik - seconds

Breem - minutes

Joor - hour

deca-cycle - weeks

Orn equal days

cycles equal months

Vorns - years

Prowl scanned the dark city out of his transports window. He still could not believe that Lazierfield had agreed to send him on a exchange program and to Kaon to all places. He should take into consideration that he wasn't sent alone. His commander had been…kind enough to send both Smokescreen and Bluestreak with some excuse that it'll be beneficial to them. Ratchet was also one of the unlucky ones that sent, the medic growling about reformatting certain Praxians the whole way.

Prowl thought that at least a few other enforcers would have joined them but it was just him and the two younger mechs. Lazierfield also seemed to decide that Prowl wouldn't have enough to deal with and sent Hot Rod and the Twins with him. the excuse, Hot Rod was still under his care and Prowl was the official twin keeper. The tactician had argued that that wasn't enough of a reason to send civilians out for Enforcer business. Lazierfield counter that with turning it into an order.

"Plus, it'll keep Blue from missing them and let's not forget about the consort has it out for the two for some reason, and someone like Hot Rod around will you from over doing it."

"The distance would be good for them and I am not a sparkling that requires constant vigilance."

Lazierfield only smiled and Prowl was instantly on guard as those dreaded words come out of his commander's mouth. So, when the orn of their departure came Prowl stubbornly had the twins sit with Smokescreen while Bluestreak sat with him. it was a bit childish but if he had to suffer then others should too. Hot Rod was sitting in the back with Ratchet trying to sink into the seats from the medics ranting.

He spent the entire trip thinking about the reason why the program reactivated after so long. He thought that the leaders of Praxus would want him to stay in the city limits while the charges against him ran through the courts. He hesitant about the story floating through the city and it seemed beyond about him protecting the Prime's Consort from an imposture. When he had been assaulted by the media, he was glad about his ability to shut down his emotions. His face had been blank the entire interview and no one, except those closest to him, could tell if he was lying or not. But it was their word against Jazz's but surprisingly, the mech hasn't said anything against the story. From what Prowl knew of the silver mech, he was suspicious.

"Um, Prowl?" Bluestreak was shaking him. he hadn't realized that he had fallen into so deep in thought. "We're getting ready to land."

"Thank you Bluestreak. Have the others been informed?" a nod of the helm. "Very well then after landing we are to meet the Kaon Enforcer representative. I would like to see the station we will be working in and then-

"hold it right there." a digit was in his face almost touching his nose. Prowl follow that digit up the arm to the face of an annoyed Ratchet. "First off everyone, you especially, need to refuel and recharge. Don't give me any slag Prowl." He growled when Prowl open his mouth, "I read the data pad itinerary and you're not to be seen in the Kaon Enforcer Headquarters until the next orn. Lazierfield had already sent details about this group ahead to Kaons Enforcer Commander. And these are his orders."

"Yeah Prowlie, let's take in the sights." Sideswipe grins.

"We've never been to Kaon before. But the paints that I order come from here and I'm low on certain colors." Sunstreaker added.

"Come on Prowl, lets rest. It's been a rough few cycles and it'll be a rough few more in the coming cycles. Let's enjoy the few times we'll have any free time." Smokescreen said as he was loaded with their luggage doing a good impression of a pack mule. Another of Prowls quiet revenge.

Hot Rod didn't voice his opinion, but it wasn't hard to see that he too wanted to see the sights. Prowl was outnumbered and out vetoed. Sighing, he accepted that he wouldn't get any work done and drown himself in numbers.

"very well." He said, the twins were half way down the road dragging a bewilder Bluestreak between them. "But I want you back at our temporary quarters before the dark joors begin." He shouted after the trio. He was quick to grab Smokescreen however, "We still have to meet the representative before you can hide yourself in the gambling pits. Hot Rod you may explore or you can go with Ratchet and keep him from causing the citizens new dents and fear of medics."

Smokescreen went limp when that servo tightened on his shoulder. Luggage still hanging off him, Hot Rod looked in the direction that the twins went then looked at Ratchet who was busy eyeing the mechs and femmes wondering the busy station.

"I'll stay with medic Ratchet. But maybe later I'll go see what's around." The young mech fidget thinking that Prowl might not let him wonder around without someone watching him.

Prowl nodded and watched the medic and the younger mech walk away after making sure that they had the direction to their new living arrangements. He would have to have a talk to Hot Rod about him doing things more on his own. He did not strike Prowl as the shy type, well not all the time shy type.

It wasn't long before he spotted the mech that was to meet them. There should have been three Praxus Enforcers but their sniper had been taken hostage by the twin miscreants. He said as much when they were asked where the rest of their group was. Prowl had to ping Smokescreen to silence before they made their guild hopelessly confused.

"are your three lovers going to come sweep you off your pedes?" Smokescreen whispered as they enter the transforming lane.

Prowl did not answer as they followed their guild. He hadn't truly thought about the Lead Trine but he did suspect that they had a servo of him ending up in Kaon. it shouldn't surprise him the he was exchanged in the city under the care of one of their friends. Again, why couldn't he had stayed in Praxus and deal with his troubles instead of being hidden away in another city. If the Prime wanted him, it was going to take more than him being in another place.

: You been in deep thought a lot lately: Smokescreen said over the Praxus Enforcer only comm.s.: Everything alright:

: Nothing that can wait: Prowl responded with a weary sigh. He would perform his best so not to bring shame to his home city.: we are here:

One look at the Kaon Enforcer station that was to be their home for the next few cycles. One thought described it all.

: what a scrap heap slag hole:

: I would have to agree:

oOooOooOooOooOooOooOo

the Vosian council rarely needed to meet. That was usually due to Starscream having little patients and time for a group of grown mechs acting like sparklings over a bag of energon treats. He and his trine would ignore them and do what they were planning any way. the council was just a formality. But when they did have to have actual meetings, they usually ended up in fists fights and trips to the nearest medic that hadn't treated them yet. most others warned to never darken their clinics again.

"So…it's true that you have found your fourth Lord Starscream?" one of the older council members asks. He had been part of the council since before Starscream's grandsire. He also drove the current Lord nuts. Poking his nose in where he wasn't wanted nor needed. But he was one of his supporters when he needed him and one of his nay sayers when he didn't. "Word and optics say it's a Praxian Enforcer that has caught the Primes interest after saving his consort."

That caught every bots attention and all focus on the lead trine. Thundercracker sat impassive to those around him, Skywarp had his usual grin plastered on his face pretending to be playing some virtual game, and Starscream glowered at all of them. He had not wanted to discuss what had happen in Praxus for some time. Not all of his council members were behind him when it came to the idea of being against the Prime. They might try to get him to cave about letting Prowl join the Prime in Iacon. None of them had no intention of letting their spark mate anywhere near the city of Iacon.

"We have check the credibility of that claim and have found some residence between him and us. though the rumors of him being our fourth have yet to be true." Not quite true but he wasn't about to tell these old rust buckets anything. "the story of the Enforcer saving the consort is true. We were witnesses to that." Another half-truth they were witnesses to the fight, after all.

"isn't it a little of a coincident that you were there when this happen and that this Enforcer is the same one that is rumor to be your sparkmate?" a purple and white seeker said with a bored tone. The mech was neutral when it came to the royals of Vos and their policies. But he was one that Starscream hated since he tended to be more of a fence sitter then anything.

Mummers of agreement met his question and Starscream narrowed his optics at the mech. The fence sitter was beng bold this orn. Normally he be sitting quite waiting for a winning side to emerge. Someone must be pulling his strings this time.

"is that a problem? The Praxian is an Enforcer and he has a right to defend himself and another when in danger." Starscream leaned back in his chair digits' steeple. He gave off a relaxed air both in his body language and in his field. His trine mates copied him with their own added touches.

"We are not saying that your potential mate was doing anything less, Lord Starscream." A gold and blue femme spoke before one of the troublemakers could. "it's just being pointed out that it is kind of a coincident is all. Whether it is someone else trying to cause more tension between us the Iacon and this Praxian just got in the way or he is another potential assassin aiming at you or yours." The Lord of Vos did have to admit, the femme did have a point.

"Or a mech trying to raise through the social latter." Another old timer grumbles, he was more of the stereotypical seeker with the stereotypical views about non-seekers. "Though your fourth has at least wings, even if he is still a grounder."

Beside him, Starscream felt Skywarp bristle and mentally calmed him through the trine bond before the younger seeker did something foolish.

"He is actually the opposite of that, councilmech Couldbreak. And as to him being anything more than a loyal Enforcer, we had every little detail of his past and present scrutinized by not only us but others including those not of Vos. nothing has been found and we have had him under consent surveillance since his discovery. But thank you for your concern Councilfemme Staticburst." Starscream nodded towards the gold and blue femme. She was one whose votes matter since she didn't take sides until she had heard all the arguments.

"then why isn't he here Lord Starscream. Even potential mates to the Lords of Vos were brought to the place until it was determined if they were or were not said mate. Or is this a stunt of yours of political suicide and this so called Praxus Enforcer is a cheap pleasure bot and the fight was just an act to get into Primes good graces."

Helms turned to the mech that had spoken. This Councilmech, Ratbat, Starscream loath with everything he had. he wasn't a seeker nor was he even part of Vos. Ratbat was just someone that was appointed by Prime as a liaison between Vos and Iacon. He wasn't supposed to be on the Vosian council yet he had somehow found his way there. Starscream had been trying to get rid of him since he came into power.

The feeling was mutual though and the Councilmech would use anything to bait the Leader of Vos or his trine mates. He was supposed to insure Vos cooperation to the Prime but the seekers were stubborn and liked to take care of their own problems without outside interference. Ratbat had been stopped at every turn by the Leader of Vos. but he had crossed a line when talking about something as sacred as mates in Vosians society.

"Since you are not Vosian Councilmech Ratbat, let us enlighten you on our traditions." Starscream said slowly. No one was fooled though; his wings were up his armor flared and his talons were digging farrows in the table.

His trine mates kept their own tempers in check but while it was expected of Skywarp to act like this it was another matter when someone was dumb enough to get Thundercracker angry. "it is true that in the past potential mates were brought to the place until such time but that ended when one Royal Trine was nearly wiped out when said mate was killed. It was shown that no one had known that they had a fourth mate until said mate was brought to the place. Since then any intendants were to be left alone until the time of bonding and even that was done behind closed doors. The populace wouldn't know until the third or fourth mate was settled and able to defend themselves or that a bodyguard was found. It was for the safety of all that the first practice was done away with and it is why the Enforcer is staying in his city under his co-worker's optics. An assassin would have a hard time differentiating him from the other Praxian Enforcers." Starscream ended with a smirk.

The older seekers, nodded in agreement. Some of them remembered the once use practice and one could vouch for the why it was stopped. But Ratbat, unlike the Prime didn't know who the Praxian was and was determine to find out.

"so, your saying that in light of your so-called abilities you cannot defend your intendant? It is questionable if you are fit to rule if you can't defend one mech and your trine."

Many of the council members hid their faces and some even mutter idiot. It was not the first time the Ratbat had said such things and it wouldn't be that last. They quickly mapped out the safest routes out of the chamber. Getting other mechs fluids out of armor was not enjoyable. And form the look of their leader they would be surprise if there any of the liaison left after this meeting.

"This…meeting is adjourned until farther notice, everyone out except you my dear Ratbat." Starscream hissed. Skywarp and Thundercracker were already behind the mech servos holding him in his seat as the other Council members flew or ran out of the chamber.

oOooOooOooOooOooOooOooOo

Prowl looked over the five mechs in front of him. he excepted this from Sunstreaker and Sideswipe, but not from Bluestreak, nor Ratchet. He would have thought that Hot Rod would be too shy to even go along with it. In fact, he was sure that the medic and the young mech went in the other direction when they parted earlier. Beside him Smokescreen was trying to keep his snickers contained and the Kaon Enforcers watched on some amused others confused.

Somehow, the twins had taken a energon food cart and turned it into a rolling ball of colorful paint. For three blocks, everything from buildings to mechs and femmes were not a glowing new color. Bluestreak now did have specks of blue on him. Ratchet was a primus awful orange and Hot Rod looked someone traded Sideswipes paint scheme with his. Sunstreaker was the only one to leave the scene his original color.

What was even more mortifying, was that they got the Leader of Kaon as well. The tall gun metal gray Lord didn't join them at the station. Though it was clear that he wanted too if only because he had shown interest in Hot Rod and watching the mech, Prowl could see that it was mutual if Hot Rod seemed somewhat confused about it. Prowl added that to the list of things to talk about to the mech.

"Is there a reason why you…thought that this was a good idea?" the two younger mechs flinched at his tone. Ratchet crossed his arms and the twins reacted like they always do. He looked over to Ratchet and Hot Rod. "How did you two even get involved in the first place?"

The medic snorted and glared down at the twins. But it was Hot Rod's reaction that confirmed somethings. He wasn't looking Prowl in the optic when he turned his own questioning optics on him.

"We didn't do anything, but Lord Megatron wanted to talk to us and that's when that, uh, cart came by and crashed into the wall next to us." the now red and black mech frame fans kicked on to cool his increasing heated frame. Everyone choose to ignore that for now but Prowl knew that the twins might tease him later for it.

"That's all?" Prowl didn't think it was so simple. He had yet to hear from the twins and Bluestreak.

"Oh, come on Prowlie, it was just a bit of fun." Sideswipe said dramatically. It brightened everyone's day anyway.

"that optic sore deserved it too." Sunstreaker mutter so low Prow knew that if it wasn't for his door wings he wouldn't have heard it. He knew he wasn't supposed to hear it when the three flinched when his helm whip around to the yellow twin and his optics zeroed in on him.

"What do you mean he deserved it. Who deserved what and why did you feel it was your responsibility respond like that."

The twins went tight lip with after that so Prowl turned to the one bot that couldn't keep quiet. Whether it was a because he was alone for so long or due to Bluestreaks past of surviving on the streets, the small Praxian hated the quiet. And he hated to disappoint Prowl so it did take long for the little sniper to spill though normally the little chatter box was acting more subdue now that Prowl gave him his entire focus.

Prowl decided that it would be best to take Bluestreak aside and he commandeer one of the interrogation rooms. He figured that whatever had set the twins off, Bluestreak was somehow involved and that only would be if the twins felt slighted on the Praxians behalf.

"Bluestreak, what happen?" Prowl's tone was gentle as he leads the small Praxian to the chair. He didn't lift his servo from Bluestreaks shoulder.

"I…I…" his doors were twitching erratically as he stutters out his reply. "I told them that to stop. That I had heard worse but they didn't listen and what he said did hurt but I had been called worse then that before and-and I didn't mean for Sideswipe and Sunstreaker to go off and do all that. I thought I hid it better."

Prowl was at first confused until Bluestreak said that he had been called worse or had heard worse. "Bluestreak did the cart mech call you something?" a low keen that Bluestreak did when he didn't want to tell Prowl something. "What did he say Bluestreak?"

"its fine Prowl, I mean he was just being a scrap head and I rather forget about it." Prowl just cocked a optic ridge at that and waited. He was a very patient mech but so was Bluestreak. Prowl was prepared to out wait the smaller Praxian. Thankfully he didn't have to wait long before Bluestreak gave another whine. "Find, he said that…that I must be a good frag if I was being toted around by two mechs and that they should share me. That he heard Praxians were excellent pleasure bots and that and that…please don't make me repeat it."

Prowl stood frozen, true he had heard almost the same from tourist to Praxus. Most other Praxians had at one point or another heard something similar. But hearing others say that about him is one thing, when said to Bluestreak…it was something entirely different. Though, Prowl would never had involved anyone else besides the mech that had said those words.

"Its alright Bluestreak you do not have to tell me." Prowl mummer as he pulled the younger bot into his arms. He rubbed between his door wings as Bluestreak let out everything that he had been holding on to. his anger his sadness, how humiliated he felt, his happiness at seeing others come to his aid.

Once he calmed down Prowl gave him time to compose himself before they rejoined the others outside. "I will not deal out punishment for going after the one who started all this…but I cannot say if the Kaon Enforcers will fill the same. Now please go and tell Sideswipe and Sunstreaker I wish to talk to them before we face the Commander of this station."

Bluestreak nodded and left. Prowl saw him get swarmed by the twin terrors before they stiffen then looked in his direction. Prowl frowned at them and flicked one wing indicating that they were to join him, now.

When they scramble inside the twins started talking at once, defending their actions from earlier. Prowl stood calmly and waited for them to reach a stopping point before raising a servo up stopping them. "I am aware of why you did what you did, and I will not hand out punishment for it. But can you please explain to me why you had to turn a fuel cart into a out of control paint bomb?"

When the twins started to relax and Sideswipe open his mouth to explain his prank. But Sunstreaker was suspicious of not being punished and as if he had heard that Prowl gave them a rare smirk. "Do not think that you will be getting off completely, you caused property damage and colored the Leader of a city. So once its cleared with the local Enforcers both of you will be scrubbing the three city blocks that were painted."

Prowl hummed when twin moans and protest follow him out the door. As he reached Ratchet he shouted back to the twins. "And you'll be helping Ratchet out with any who were injured during your revenge prank."

Smokescreen and Bluestreak sent pitying glances at the twins as Prowl strolled on to the Commander's office. He still had damage control to do and would leave the twins to the medic's tender care. While it would not stop the prankers for long it would at least give him a few orns before he would have to deal with another Sideswipe special.

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Chapter End.

Thank you for reading.