Here's chapter 10. Hope everybody had a good thanksgiving, I know I did! xD

-thought-

:bond:

flashback

cybotronian speech

Prowl ignored Jazz's cries as he raced across some landscape. He honestly had no idea where he was or where he was going. He knew this was childish, that he shouldn't be running off like this, but he couldn't forget the femme's words, the anger and resentment in which she spat them out. He should have known she'd snap if he persisted in his line of questioning. How could he forget the mercurial personality of his offspring, especially when she was backed into a corner? It was good he left when he did. If he didn't, he may have lashed out at the femme. His spark would have shattered if he had.

Prowl eventually stopped when he realized he had driven to the ocean. Transforming, Prowl knelt down at the water's edge. He thought about contacting Jazz, but knew his mate would find him soon enough. Right now he had to get his head together. His young could sense his turmoil and guilt from Barricade's memories and was quick to cut into him as soon as he questioned her motivations. It wasn't how he wanted his first conversation with his creation as himself to go. He knew it would be difficult to adjust to life among the Autobots with his creation here, but he had no idea just how hard it was going to be. But he couldn't just forget her. She was his and after spending her whole life around the sociopaths and murderers that made up the higher ranks of the Decepticons, she deserved to have a place to go and be secure. However, he knew the other Autobots wouldn't approve. Optimus would be more than willing to let her stay, Ratchet would offer his support, and from what he's heard around base Bumblebee seemed taken with her, but the others, Jazz, they would not be pleased.

The thought of Jazz rejecting her hurt Prowl like no physical wound could. Prowl had considered Jazz's feelings while he thought about his decision to see his offspring. Jazz was angry and hurt that he kept her a secret when he first confronted Prowl, but as the days went by the anger turned into regret. Regret that while Barricade was in existence, he had something they both longed for before the war happened.

They both wanted a child and before the war were trying for one, but once the fighting broke out they agreed to put their plan on hold until it was safer to raise a child, but Prowl was captured and reformatted as Barricade. Eventually the regret turned to hatred towards the mech that had dared to open Barricade's chest plates. Prowl feared that Jazz would take out that frustration on his offspring. To Jazz she was a painful reminder of what he wanted, but didn't have because Prowl was taken from him.

Prowl wasn't sure how long he kneeled at the water's edge, unresponsive to the world around him. Prowl didn't even twitch a wing at Jazz's quiet footsteps crunching in the sand. "Prowl what happened?"

: I don't want to talk about it. :

: Please love, you're hurtin'. I was worried this would happen. :

: I know, but you let me try, despite your concerns. Thank you. :

: There's nothin' to thank Prowler. :

Four days. It had been four days since Prowl came in and she was still unresponsive. Bumblebee felt his doors droop as he watched the femme. He figured out that when she didn't want to be bothered she'd play possum. He wasn't sure how she did it without anyone picking up on her systems, but he was sick of it.
He was so sure she was starting to warm up to him, then Prowl came and what little progress he made was lost. Now he was left to wallow in a slow suffocating prison.

No, he would get the femme to talk again.

Bumblebee wasn't sure why, but something inside him was saying he had to get the femme to open up. He walked up to the cell. Once there, he kneeled down so he could be at eye level with the Decepticon. There was one problem though. He didn't know how to make the femme pay attention to him. After thinking about it for a few minutes, Bumblebee began to tap the cell bars. It wasn't the smartest thing to do and the electricity from the bars was starting to sting, but what else could he do? Nothing else seemed to be working.

"Are you going into stasis or are you just determined to ignore me?" When he received no reply, Bumblebee walked away from the cell and began to plan for tomorrow's attempt to open the femme up.

Sadly, for Bee tomorrow didn't work, or the day after and the day after that. To Bumblebee's despair it had been two weeks since he had a decent conversation with the femme. With a sigh, Bee began to walk towards the cell. Today was the day, he told himself. It had to be.

"Will you ever tell me something about yourself?" Bumblebee asked, kneeling in front of the cell so he could be at eye level with the femme. He was ready to give up. For two weeks he tried to get the femme to talk to him. All he received for his efforts were curt replies, one worded answers, hours of stony silence and finally the daily 'piss off Auto-scum you annoy me', then more silence.

Again, his attempts to converse with the femme failed. With a sigh Bumblebee stood and began to walk away from the cell trying to ignore the ache in his spark.

–Am I really so lonely that my spark aches from not talking to a Decepticon?- Bumblebee thought.

"Given up, have we?"

Bumblebee's optics widened at voice. Whirling around Bumblebee saw the Decepticon stand tall behind her cell bars. Her optics bore through him with the same predatory glare she had when they first met. Bumblebee could have sworn he felt his spark throb while under her gaze. It left a sort of tingling sensation through his body. He looked over every inch of her body, her powerful legs, the curve of her hips, the arch of her wings, the tips of the clawed digits, the burning optics. Bumblebee could feel his systems heating up, but continued to look at the femme. Then his cooling system came on.

To Bee's embarrassment, the femme began to chuckle. "See something you like, little Bumblebee?" She purred at him.

"I-It's not like that!" Bee sputtered. "Wait a sec, you remember my name?"

"I wouldn't have lasted long if I couldn't remember a bot's name."

"It doesn't seem fair that you know my name and I have nothing to call you by."

"Life's not fair."

"I'll keep asking you until you tell me." The femme ignored him. –Fine if she wants it that way-

"What's your name? What's your name? What's your name? What's your name? What's your name? What's your name? What's your name? What's your name? What's your name?"

"Shut up!" The femme snapped. Bee took a step away from the cell as the femme's voice turned venomous. "You're always asking questions and begging for answers!"

"Tell me this, tell me that. What was it like? Did you have codes on everything?" She mocked. Why did this mech pester her so? If he wanted to sit and play his music that was fine, but she wouldn't tolerate him being nosey.

But perhaps she could gain more insight of the Autobots by playing a game with the little bee. Oh yes, if he was so eager to hear about her exploits, she would give it to him. For a price.

"Ask a question, you'll receive a question. Give an answer and you'll receive an answer. Do you accept these conditions?" The femme asked.

Weary, Bumblebee considered his options. Play the femme's game, or go back to the quiet depression that settled over him, it wasn't a hard choice to make.

"What do you want to know?"

"Depends on how much you want to know."

"Everything."

The femme smirked. "Then tell me everything."

"You're proud?" He questioned a churning feeling in his tanks. The Decepticon just twitched her wings in a shrug.

"Why not?" she replied. "I had my job and I did it well. I was able to move as I pleased, most of the time, and I only had to answer to three people. I had many reasons to feel proud of my accomplishments."

"You did well because you were afraid of what Megatron" he snapped, instantly regretting the words and wishing he could take them back. He watched as the femme flared her wings. He briefly wondered if she wasn't in the cell if she would strike him, but dismissed it.

"Maybe I did fear Megatron, but at least I'm not hiding what I am" the femme hissed.

"I'm not hiding anything" he defended.

A cruel smile twisted her face. "Oh yes you are my creator" she crooned, venom dripping from the words. "Tell me, does your pretty little mate know about your nights spent with Blackout?"

He flinched. He should have expected this, he backed her into a corner and now she would do anything to get out of it. All he could do was pretend that the words she was spewing were not tearing him to shreds. He was pretending and failing. She was describing the pain filled nights, of the fights, his losses, Blackout's smug face as he took what he wanted, and the screams. He tried to ignore her, but she wouldn't stop. It was too much. He gasped out an 'I'm sorry' before turning and running out the room as fast as he could.

Prowl jolted up in the berth. He brought a hand to his face as he thought about the memory replay. It had been two weeks since he had gone to see his creation. His mind replayed the memory of their conversation before he panicked and ran away from base. Jazz had eventually caught up into him and brought him back to Diego Garcia.

Checking his chronometer, the tactician was surprised to find out it was midday. Getting up, Prowl noticed a data pad by the berth he turned it on to see that the duty roster had been changed. Jazz had taken his shift so he could have the entire day off. That brought a small smile to Prowl's face. He would have to find a way to thank Jazz.

Scrolling down, Prowl noticed that there was a small note asking him to see Optimus when he had the time. Well he was awake now and had nothing else to do, Prowl set the pad down and walked out of his quarters to go talk to the commander.

Optimus watched Prowl from across his desk as he considered how to approach the subject. He had wanted to wait until Prowl had said come to him, but something had to be done now. The simple fact was they couldn't keep the Decepticon femme imprisoned forever. She would either have to defect from the Decepticons and remain here with the Autobots, be or executed.

"Prowl, I assume you know why you're here" Optimus started.

Prowl nodded. "You want to discuss my creation and her position among us."

"Yes. I don't expect her to willingly join us, but I would like to give her sanctuary with the Autobots."

"And as your tactician you want my opinion on the matter" Prowl replied apprehensive.

Optimus took note of the rigid posture being displayed by the black and white mech. If he wanted this conversation to end well, he would have to reassure Prowl that no harm would come to the young femme. "I want your opinion as her creator Prowl. Your duty should have no say in this" Optimus said soothingly, hoping to have given the mech some reassurance.

Prowl considered his answer carefully. His battle computer was already coming up with the risks and danger she posed, but if he was honest with himself he couldn't bear to let the Autobots do as they wished with her. His young one had already been through more than a sparkling should. "She has nowhere else to go and I... I do not wish for her to die. She's still so young...I.." Prowl stopped unsure of how to convey his wish, no his need to have the femme here where he can watch her.

Prowl was brought out of his thoughts when he felt a large hand land on his shoulder. "It's okay Prowl." Optimus said kindly. "I never planned to follow through with an execution. There's too few of us for that. My concern is if I grant her sanctuary, how can I be assured she won't turn on us."

"I'll watch her."

Optimus chuckled. "I know you will and I believe Bumblebee will happy to assist you. If I didn't know better I'd say he's fallen head over heels."

Prowl chuckled. Optimus knew how to make any bot feel better. "Thank you, sir."

"Anytime my friend." Optimus replied with a final squeeze to Prowl's shoulder before pushing Prowl out of his office. "Now go talk to your child."

"Yes sir!"

Prowl knew he had to convince his mercurial offspring to accept Prime's offer of sanctuary. He had to. He may have raised her as a Decepticon but he couldn't let her be terminated. It would break him.

Jazz was currently with Bumblebee. That meant it was Jolt's turn as the guard. Knowing Jolt he would be somewhere fragging Sideswipe instead of being at his post. If Prowl was going to move, this was the time to do it. He had purposely waited until nightfall so he wouldn't have to deal with any of the other Autobots. He already heard some of the comments about the femme being on base, he didn't want to deal with their attitudes if they saw him heading to the brig. Besides, they'd find out about his relationship with the Decepticon soon enough, he didn't need to start the fire that was going to come.

The night air was cool as Prowl crossed the base. He was grateful that very few soldiers outside. When he finally reached the doors of the brig he hesitated.

-No I will do this-

With his new resolve, Prowl entered the brig to talk with his daughter. If he had to grovel, so be it. When he entered the holding area, Prow wasn't surprised that Jolt wasn't at his post. Instead he saw the femme standing with her back to the bars.

"You've come back" she stated.

"Yes."

"You're not surprised that my guard isn't around." Another statement.

"Everyone on base is aware of their behavior."

"But you're not here to discuss their behavior, are you?"

"No" Prowl answered.

"Then why are you here?"

Prowl took a deep breath to steady himself. This had to work. "Prime is more than willing to offer you sanctuary among the Autobots."

"So?"

"So… You wouldn't have to stay in that cage. You'd be able to have a chance for a real life here."

"Maybe I like it in my cage."

"You don't. We still have the parental bond between us, I can feel your desire to be let out."

"What if I decided that I wanted to be somewhere else?"

Prowl felt his insides freeze. She was testing him, his sincerity. "Where would you go? Don't you dare tell me you're going back there. Mer…"

"Stop" she hissed, easily slipping into the ancient language. She would not hear it, refused to hear the name only her creator would whisper to her as he held her close to his spark as a sparkling. The name only he was allowed to call her in privacy, away from the presence of others. Few knew it and only two mechs spoke it. It was silly to guard her name the way she did, but it was hers. If the wrong person knew it, they could easily bend her to their will.

"Why, why should I stay?"

"You'd be safe here."

"Safe?" the femme laughed. "Safe from whom? Sideways; he's dead. Blackout; dead. Grinder; dead. Who's left on the list; Starscream, Megatron? Would your Autobots keep me safe from them?"

"I…" How was he supposed to answer that?

"And who knows what your Autobots would do? Not all of them will be happy to see me walking around, you know. What's going to happen if they all attack me?"

"I'll protect you."

"Really?" the femme laughed again, only bitter this time. "Even if my enemy was your pretty little mate?"

"I…" How could he answer that? Jazz was his bondmate, his other half, but this femme was his daughter. She came straight from his spark. How could he choose?

"I…" Prowl tried again. He brought his hand to his head as he felt a processor crash coming. However, something stopped his hand. Looking up, Prowl saw his femme in front of him, the only thing keeping him from wrapping his arms around her and bringing her close to his spark were the bars of the cell. The femme had reached out to grab his wrist as he was distracted by his thoughts.

"Don't answer that" the femme murmured as she began to send small pulses to soothe her creator. They stayed like that for what seemed like forever, both unsure of what to say next. Prowl felt his body relax as the pulses eased his processor ache.

The femme just stood there comforting her creator. She wanted to be angry with this mech, she wanted to hate him, but Prowl was Barricade. Barricade was Prowl. As much as she wanted to deny it the truth was that no matter what name he took or what personality he was operating on, he was still her creator. And without fresh energon, she wouldn't last long, but she needed someone…familiar. She still needed Prowl.

"Do you really want me to stay?"

"Yes" Prowl replied, placing his other hand on top of the hand holding him. "I really do."

"

Then I'll stay."

Ok, here's chapter 10, re-edited.