Cybertronian time references similar but not equal to our own: astrosecond ~ second, klick ~ minute, joor ~ hour, cycle ~ day, deca-cycle ~ week, orn ~ month, vorn ~ year

Day 10: "Prowl used to be a what?"

"Prowl used to be a what?"

The question hung heavily in the air.

Some mechs lashed out angrily while others were still oblivious to the truth that'd some how leaked out. A few mechs disregarded the accusation claiming it was bullslag while a few others didn't care. Surprisingly, the twins were very vocal in defending him. He didn't think they cared that much about him with all the processor aches they'd given him.

Prowl stood there in the middle of the recreation room unable to meet anyone's optics while Optimus and Ironhide standing there to protect him. He couldn't even speak a word to defend himself from the accusations of his fellow Autobots for fear of getting attacked. When he had it didn't turn out so well for him or his doorwings.

But what really made his tank churn was the devastated look in Bluestreak's face before he turned away, refusing to look at Prowl. He never wanted to hurt blue in any way. Then when Jazz gave Prowl an equally solemn expression it was almost too much for Prowl's spark to bear.

These were the two most important mechs in his life. He loved them more than anything. Blue was the closest thing to a son he'd ever hope to have and Jazz was the only mech he ever considered bonding to and had even contemplated asking.

Now it seemed that it was all lost. His career. His friends. His loved ones. His battle computer couldn't even come up with a way out of this. Never in so many long vorns had he thought that a part of his past life would be so detrimental.

Two joors earlier…

"I can't believe you got it!" Sideswipe exclaimed clutching the datapad his brother Sunstreaker just handed him as he sat down.

"Believe it, bro!"

"Got what?" Bluestreak asked curiously as he sat down at the same table.

"You know you're going to have to tell him," Cliffjumper remarked joining them. "He might let it slip about who it was that put the dye in Prowl's shower system.

"That was you guys!" Bluestreak gasped in utter disbelief. "Prowl was so mad!"

"Thanks, Cliffjumper," Sideswipe growled.

"No problem. I just wanted to know what has you twins so excited too," Cliffjumper grinned devilishly.

"Well, we were going to have to share with someone eventually," Sunstreaker smirked, shrugging his shoulder. "The stuff in those files is too good to keep to ourselves!"

"You mean…"

"Yeah bro, I already looked a few up. There some good stuff in these files," Sunny answered his brother's unasked question as he retrieved the datapad. "Ok, so which officer do you want to look up first?"

"Optimus!" Bluestreak said, not really knowing what the brothers were talking about.

"Can't look up Optimus," Sunny frowned. "All his records are sealed by the High Council. You have to be a Council member to even know where to look for them."

"How about Ratchet?" Cliffjumper suggested. "I bet he was some criminal or something. He's too violent to be a medic."

"Ok, lets see what we've got on ole Ratchet the Hatchet," Sunny grinned, activating the search on the datapad. "Here we go. Pfft, sorry to disappoint you Cliffjumper but Ratchet is clean. Graduated at the top of his class at Medical & Science Academy in Iacon. He worked his way up to Chief of Staff at the youngling's hospital until he was ask to be Sentinel Prime's personal physician. Within two orns he was the Chief Medical Officer on the base. A position he still holds to this day."

"Wow, that's impressive," Bluestreak gaped. "Hey, what about Jazz?"

"Good one, Blue!" Sunny exclaimed.

"Let me do it," Sides said, snatching the datapad from his brother's hands. In a matter of moments he pulled up Jazz's personal data file. "Pfft, figures, Jazz used to sing and dance professionally since he was four vorns old! Oh look there's even a vid-pic!"

"Holy slag, look at how little he was!" Sunny laughed.

"He volunteered to become an Autobot after his creators were killed during the party after what had become his last musical performance," Sides added sadly.

"Yeah, it was so sad," Bluestreak said solemnly. "That was the night the Polyhex invasion started. Jazz didn't know a thing about fighting but did what he could against the Decepticons. He joined the Autobots after they successfully forced the 'Cons out of Polyhex."

"I wonder if he sings and dances for Prowl," Sunstreaker joked, making his brother and Cliffjumper laugh.

"He still dances but he'll never perform again," Bluestreak seriously said. "I asked him once why he still dances if he doesn't perform. He told me it keeps his joints limber for more flexibly for various activities professional and private."

"Ak Blue! We didn't need to hear that!" Sides exclaimed, covering his audio receptor.

"Yeah, its bad Jazz and Prowl and trading paint on the berth we don't need any images like that!" Sunny added.

"Quick lets look up someone else like Ironhide," Cliffjumper suggested.

"Can't," Sunny frowned looking disappointed. "His file was too big. I had no idea he was so old. I mean he makes Ratchet look like a sparkling. Besides, we all know Ironhide was made for war. From what I read he won his first plasma rifle contest when he was only six vorns. If I went back further I'd probably find that he was born with a gun in his hand."

"What about Prowl?" Bluestreak asked excitedly.

"No he was sparked fully mature!" Sides joked.

"No, no, he was a drone and was converted to an Autobot when his battle computer was installed," Cliffjumper laughed.

"Guys, he's not that bad once you get to know him," Bluestreak said. "He is my mentor after all. Raised me since I was five vorns old. He's the closest thing I have to family."

"Let's see what we have about the prick then," Sunny winked at Blue.

Blue rolled his optics. It took him a long time but he finally learned to not let what Sunny and Sides say hurt his feelings.

"Holy Primus!" Sunny gasped. "Check this out! Unbelievable. Prowl our SIC, CTO, pain in the aft, stick up the tailpipe, who loves tossing us in the brig for the slightest transgression used to be a juvenile delinquent! First arrest at seven vorns - theft. Same vorn, second offense - assault on a youngling that was twice his age! Theft, assault, breaking and entering, assault on an Enforcer! There's more but its removed."

"Probably some higher end crime like murder or attempted murder," Sides added.

"That…that can't be right," Bluestreak said worriedly. "You're joking right, Sunny?"

"I knew he was too perfect," Cliffjumper growled, slamming his fist on the table making Bluestreak flinch. "No wonder he doesn't like you guys pulling pranks on him in his quarters. He probably hides all those hidden files there."

"No!"

"Face it, Blue! Prowl's a criminal! A filthy criminal who doesn't server to be an Autobot," Cliffjumper continued. "We have to warn others! Frag, he could be after Optimus. He's smart could make it look like an accident! Our Prime's in danger!"

"Whoa, this is still Prowl we're talking about," Sunny said, noticing how others in the recreation room were curious about what was going on. Especially after Cliffjumper damn near shouted that Optimus' life might be in danger. "He's a glitch not a murderer."

"Yeah, if he's as smart as we all think he is, he would have already taken out Optimus," Sides tried to helpfully add.

"No, no, he can't be a criminal," Bluestreak wept and that's when all pit broke loose in the recreation room.

Some ten klicks later, an unsuspecting Prowl had entered to room to get control of the situation and was immediately attacked by Cliffjumper and several other mechs. He barely managed to call for help before his communicator was destroyed. But that damage was minor compared the rest. During the scuffle both of his door wings were dislocated and his armor dented badly. It took Optimus and Ironhide, along with a few others to calm everyone down and get to the spark of the matter.

And now, here Prowl stood in pain with Ratchet tending to his injuries while Optimus worked on crowd control.

"Is it true, Sir? Is he a murderer?" someone in the back of the room asked.

"No," Optimus replied with full conviction.

"But you can't deny he was a fraggin criminal!" Cliffjumper shouted with a few mechs mumbling angrily in agreement with him.

"Shut your fragging mouth Cliffjumper I'm sick of your narrow-minded views!" Smokescreen shouted, punching the minibot square in the face. "Did you even read Prow's entire file? Did any of you dare to discover how a young mech who had nothing turned his life around?"

Silence followed. Some bots still looked confused about what exactly was going on. Bluestreak was being comforted by Jazz but both looked eager to hear what Smokey had to say.

"Let me tell you what's not in the file. While most of you lived with the comforts of a family unit or a the care of a youth center Prowl didn't. His own creators dumped him on the streets of southern Kaon when he was barely six vorns old. All because he had a glitch. A glitch that he didn't' know how to control and so ended up having these strong emotional outburst, almost like fits. He became wild. He stole to feed himself. At age ten a local gang of thugs picked him up and took advantage of him. The told him what to steal and who to beat up. So yes, he became a juvenile delinquent."

"Blow it out your tailpipe, Smokey!" Cliffjumper growled. "No one wants to hear your bullslag."

"Shut the slag up or I'll ram my fist up your tailpipe and rip out your spark!" Sunstreaker growled, menacingly standing over the minibot.

"Smokey, how do you know so much?" Jazz asked, one around still comforting Blue.

"Because I was the arresting enforcer on many occasions and had gotten to know him very well. It wasn't uncommon to find younglings or even sparklings of different ethnic backgrounds abandoned and near death in Southern Kaon. The sector had the highest crime rate. Too often did I arrive on a scene to find an empty shell of a sparkling or youngling. With as old as Prowl was when he was dumped there, left with no means to fend for himself, he should have been one of those empty shells."

"Looking back all I could say was it stubbornness or determination…he was driven by some force deep within his spark. It's what enabled him to survive. It's what made him realize one cycle that he wanted to do more with his life. And when this youngling of fourteen vorns, scared out of his processor for leaving his gang without permission, arrived at my domicile, I did what his own creators refused to do. I gave him a chance."

"I wasn't the greatest of mentors and why he chose me I still don't quite know," he smiled, winking at Prowl who nodded his head. "But it was a proud cycle when I saw a young mech, who literally started at the bottom, who worked hard to earn his academic education and who worked even harder to be accepted in the career of his choosing, receive his Enforcer's insignia. I was proud then to call him brother. I'm prouder this cycle to call him my brother and our Second in Command."

"So yeah, Prowl was a juvenile delinquent when he was a youngling but he's more of a mech than anyone in this room, except Optimus of course, because of the courage it took him to be where he is this cycle. Think about that…do any of you have that type of courage within you?" Smokescreen asked, glaring hard at Cliffjumper. The red minibot looked away. "I thought not."

Without being told, many mechs, especially those who'd actually caused the physical damage to Prowl, came over to him and apologized. And those same mech gave Cliffjumper the cold shoulder until the minibot gathered his courage and swallowed his pride and apologized to the SIC.

"Your apologies are accepted. Optimus I want it on record that I will not press charges against any mech here," Prowl stoically said despite the pain he was in.

"Very well. I put it in my report," Optimus said and nodded dismissing his officers. "Ratchet give me your report on Prowl's injuries as soon as you can."

"Understood Prime," Ratchet replied. "Ok, let's get you to the medbay Prowl."

"One moment," Prowl pleaded softly as Jazz and Bluestreak rushed over, both apologizing for having any doubts. "It's ok. Blue please, stop crying. I'm fine."

"He'll be ok," Jazz smiled, rubbing Blue's helm.

"Sorry, I didn't tell you. It's a part of my life I'm not proud of and yet it's what's made me the mech I am today."

"Don't worry about it. I got over bein' hurt when I realized yar past isn't important. It's what we have now that's important."

"And our future…together."

"Of course," Jazz grinned, gently hugging Prowl.

"No," Prowl said, grabbing Jazz's hand and holding it close to his spark. "Together…as one."

Jazz's face went from bewilderment, to astonishment, and to pure, exhilarated joy all in a matter of astroseconds.

"Did ya just…?"

Prowl nodded his head.

"What do you say, Jazz?"

"He says yes!" Bluestreak exclaimed, making the black and white mechs laugh.

"What he said," Jazz grinned before Prowl gave him a chaste kiss. "Hmm, most definitely yes."

"Good," Prowl sighed in content and in relief.

"Guess what everyone! Prowl just asked Jazz to bond with him and he said yes!" Bluestreak shouted.

"Oh Primus," Prowl groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose.

"I'll coral 'im. Ya get fixed up an' I'll stop by the medbay later."

Prowl smiled and nodded but kissed Jazz one more time before scanning the room, looking for Smokescreen. He wanted to thank the mech but alas he was nowhere to be found.

"Ready?"

"Yes, Ratchet, I'm ready," Prowl nodded and limped after Ratchet.

It was along the way that Prowl spotted Smokescreen. It appeared the mech had been waiting for Prowl.

"I'll see to he gets to the medbay," Smokey spoke softly.

"Five klicks, any longer and the pain reliever wears off."

"Sure thing, Ratch."

"How's the leg and wings?"

"I can't feel the wings right now, thankfully. The knee joint had only minor damage. I will recover just fine."

"Good."

"Smokey, I just wanted to say thanks for all the things you said back there. I know you don't like the spotlight like that."

"Well, someone had to say something and I was more than happy to do it," he smiled at the younger Praxian. "Will you one question for me? Why did you choose me? There were more honorable mechs at the precinct you could have chosen."

"True, but you were always honest with me. You never handed me any bullslag and gave it to me straight. You didn't try to change me but you warned me who to keep my optics out for and avoid if I wanted to stay alive. I respected that even though you were an Enforcer and I was a 'criminal'. So when you said you believed me after I told you I wanted off the streets and a chance at a better life…I knew you were telling me the truth. For that, I'm forever grateful to call you my brother."

The End.