Disclaimer: I do not own transformers.

However, the plot and OCs are mine. Blah, blah, blah.

Okay . . . I promised this on New Years but hey it's only a day late. So yeah.

In other news though, I'm done! Last night I finished Secret of the Stars which is the real reason you didn't get this chapter yesterday. I refused to stop writing until I was done. It only took me way to many hours . . . no biggy right? Yeeeaaaaah, my brain hurt when I was done. Anyway, eighteen chapters and 140,000 something words! Who would have ever guessed it? So now I can start on part three! Is anybody else as happy as I am!?

Also, I once again want to thank all of you who left reviews. You are wonderful! You kept me writing last night when I though my brain turned to mush. So it's all thanks to you!

Now for this chapter.

I promised the twins and Cyber . . . well here is their nice little chat.

Also Prowl finally gets his moment in the sun . . . you may or may not need a box of tissues . . . I'll admit I got a little teary when I first wrote it.

So go forth and enjoy! Because I've been waiting to put this chapter up for soooooooo long!

They get names! They finally get names!

Who does? Well go read and find out! I'm gonna go hide from Prowl now.


Chapter 11

The medical bay doors hissed quietly closed behind Sideswipe and his brother as they left the youngling they'd spent their orn off with and headed for the mess hall to find something to eat. It was about time Ironhide and Optimus got some bonding time with the Half Pint anyway, so Sides was more than willing to leave the adorable little bundle in the mechs' care as he and his brother did some bonding of their own.

Even if Sunstreaker didn't know it yet.

The twins walked in silence until they reached the mess hall entering it in the late breems of night, figuring they would be the only ones either not on shift or not in their berths, but turns out they were wrong. Sitting in a far corner of the mess hall with two data pads laying on the table before him and a rather large cup of warm energon was Cyber.

Sides stopped in his tracks at the sight of the small pearl white mech as the words he had said echoed in the red twin's processor. The same seemed to be said for his brother because when he glanced Sunny's way he found him staring at the mech through narrowed optics. Tugging slightly on his bond with his brother in a questioning sort of way Sides was answered with a simple nod and the two strolled across the room together, finding them some energon at the bar in the back, before heading to the back corner where they plopped down rather dramatically in front of the security officer.

The table shaking from their arrival made Cyber lift his optics to the two faceplates that stared blankly back at him from across the table. For a moment they all just looked at each other before Sunny scowled and Sides smirked.

"Evening, Cyber."

Cyber just blinked in return.

Something told him this wasn't going to go well.

When he wasn't gifted with a reply Sideswipe rested his elbows on the table and his chin on his laced fingers as he stared at the pale optics across from him until they returned to the data pad they had previously been engrossed in. Sides was content to wait for the quiet mech to decide he could speak to the twins, but it seemed that as usual Sunstreaker wasn't all that big on being patient.

"So," The golden mech started. "You gonna tell us how the pit you knew, or are you just gonna sit there like a bump on a chip-tree?"

Cyber snorted without looking up. "You two are transparent. It is easy to see."

Both of them scowled at that.

"I am not transparent!" Sunny growled.

"But you are." The smaller pearl mech put his data pad back down, knowing that any work he was trying to get done was pointless now. The twins wanted answers and now he had to give them. He didn't have any other option. "I understand it. So I can see it."

"You weren't in the Rings." Sides challenged his optics glancing down to the white mech's chest. He bore no scars, that were visible at least. "How did you know?"

Cyber shrugged. "You can bury secrets as deep as you please in your spark, but to those that understand the pain and the shame that you have lived will always see it in your optics. No amount of burying can hide the truth in them."

Sideswipe let out a sad snort at that. "Thought we were the only ones that knew that."

"Please," Cyber rolled his optics. "You are not the only mechs in this army running from a life you left behind."

Sunstreaker tilted his head at the mech, his optics narrowed and judging as the other bot merely stared back. "I run from nothing."

"Sure, Sunstreaker. Keep telling yourself that."

The glare was still met with a simple stare until finally Sunstreaker huffed.

"So, what does that mean you're running from?"

"The same thing you are." Cyber admitted. "The mech that I used to be. The mech I swore I'd never be again."

For a moment Sides studied the bot before him while Sunstreaker glared, then suddenly he saw it. His past life of knowing an opponent just by their optics, knowing their weaknesses and their strengths just by the gleam in them paid off. He could see the past that was glittering in those pale optics back in that meeting room, but now he saw what it was.

Tribal.

A warrior tribe most likely. Probably one of the last few that survived after Sentinel Prime took command of Cybertron and brought a rather energon soaked end to the Tribal Wars. Those dark days in Cybertronian history that the twins had been too young to remember, and yet there wasn't much a bot that grew up in the Rings that didn't know about the origins of the energon-lust that brought the Rings to their beginning.

The war between the lost tribes of Cybertron finally ended when one mech was big enough to stand over all the rest and point the way toward order, even if he had to point over the lives of thousands that wouldn't bend to his way. Most thought the end of Tribes was a good thing, and in a lot of ways it probably was. It brought order to the chaos of lost beings looking for a purpose after the billions of vorns that had pasted since the First Primes vanished. It gave the bots of Cybertron a leader, something they needed desperately. However, Sentinel's reign came at quite a price. Every life that wouldn't fall into step to his laws was seen as a threat and exterminated.

These last stragglers that met an end by his order weren't really all that civilized of bots, they were trained assassins, they killed because it was in their culture, and because they were good at it. Assassins or not though, they were still bots, and many were slaughtered without trial or a chance for surrender when the Tribe camps were invaded.

However, that part never really made it into the history logs.

Things like that never did it seemed.

Sideswipe and Sunstreaker only knew because there had been many mechs locked away in that Pit, fighting for every breath they took, that had survived those massacres. Survived just to find they didn't know how to be or do anything else besides what they were, and what place did they have in a world at peace. They had no place to go, and no other life to live. Many tried and many failed. They survived just to die at the hands of someone stronger in a fight they were never going to win. Just like the rest of their lost people.

And yet, here sat Cyber.

Sideswipe tilted his head at the smaller pearl colored mech, with his kind faceplate, his soft pale optics, and his quiet nature. He didn't look anything like the Tribe mechs Sides had known, but somehow it was there. Shimmering in his optics was a life so similar to his and his brother's it almost made Sides wonder if the mech had come from the someplace they had, but he knew better.

He lacked the sick brand.

"And what did you use to be?" Sides finally dared asked, even though he figured Cyber probably already knew that he'd guessed.

"Not much different than you two." Cyber countered expertly.

Sunstreaker snorted. "Are we going to talk circles around each other all night, or what you little mute? We're willing to talk so get on with it!"

"Just because you're willing to talk in a dark mess hall when no other mechs are around doesn't mean I am." Finally Cyber's soft optics narrowed into harsh pale slits. "You already know what I am, the same as I know what you are, there is nothing for us to discuss. My old self, my other half, it came out to play for a little while at what happened to the youngling, but I assure you it's back in its cage where it belongs. Where it will stay until I have further use for it."

"We're in the middle of a war." Sunstreaker held the mech in his own narrow glare. "No matter how much that other half is hated there will always be further use for it."

"Sadly." Cyber nodded slowly returning his optics to his data pad at the warrior's words. "This is the truth."

"No matter how much we fight it, it will always be there." Sides said. "In the mayhem of battle, in the thrill of the fight, the things that were drilled into us to keep us alive always come out. The side of us that likes to kill because we are good at it always wins. Because we survive, it's what we're good at. We had to be."

"My other half was far more of a choice than either or yours was." Cyber admitted without raising his optics.

For a moment there was silence until Sides busted out laughing making both his brother and the ninja stare at him in confusion for a moment before Sunstreaker understood the amusement in his brother's optics and gave an amused snort of his own. Gathering control of himself Sideswipe rested his chin on his palms as he shook his head sadly back and forth at the smaller mech.

"Oh please," He rolled his optics. "In the end everything is a choice. Sure, we got youngling-napped, tortured half to death, and sold on the black market into living Pit and none of that was a choice, but choosing to not lie down and die was a choice. We could have done what thousands of others did. We could have just given up and accepted death, but Sunny and I ain't really ever known how to quit. So we learned to fight, to kill, and we kept on doing it because we were sickeningly good at it. Even now we do it. We're still offlineing mechs because we're good at it, now we do it for a just cause, but it's all the same. Taking life is taking life no matter what it's for. And whether you want to admit it or not Cyber that natural talent that is in all of us survivors whether we're from the Rings or a fallen Tribe will always be there swimming just under the surface. We can't control our instincts anymore than a robo-cat can change its need to chase digi-mice. It's a part of who we are now. We can't best it so all we can do is try and handle it."

Cyber shook his head to himself as he stared down at the table between them. He was well aware that Sideswipe was right. It was just kind of strange hearing something as deep as that coming out of the prankster. Then again, he should know that locked away inside the guarded parts of every bot's sparks were levels to them few got to see. For there were few that bothered to look.


Bumblebee whimpered slightly as Ratchet stuck a needle deep into the soft wires of his arm making the little youngling bite his lip as he clutched harder to Ironhide's finger. He hated all these stupid needles, and wires, and tubes, and all the rest of this medical stuff he didn't even know what was. He wanted Ratchet to stop poking him with stuff, to take all these annoying and painful things that were attached to him away, but he knew this was one time the medic wasn't going to give him what he wanted.

"Almost done, Squirt." Ratchet said as he pulled the needle back from the youngling rubbing his thumb over the place he stuck to keep the energon at bay before turning away putting the syringe back on the table to his left. Bee watched him from the corner of his optics as the tiny mech rubbed his now once again sore arm and leaned into Ironhide's hand while the massive black mech steadily pet him between his folded down antennas.

When Ratchet turned back to the youngling's berth with another dose of pain meds in his hand Bee scooted further into the safety of his guardian's hold letting out another squeak. Ironhide sighed at the youngling's pitiful attempt to keep the spark numbing drugs away from him, and even if Ironhide and the quiet Optimus who sat at the weapons specialist's side hated what the meds did to Bee as much as Ratchet did they all knew how much he needed them.

"Bumblebee," Optimus scolded him gently making Bee glance up to the Prime's kind optics with terrified little baby blue orbs before Optimus shook his head at him. With his lip still held tight between his teeth Bee turned back to Ratchet who looked down at him with dread, but leaned forward all the same tipping the little cup of energon mixed with diluted pain meds into the youngling's mouth. Bee snapped his optics shut at the bitter taste that rolled over his tongue, every part of his little self wanting to spit the liquid back out, but he knew if he did Ratchet would just make him take more. So whether he liked it or not, he forcibly swallowed.

"Blah!" He shook his head back and forth with his tongue sticking out trying to get the bitterness out of his mouth. His adorable little faceplate scrunched up in annoyance made the three mech around him laugh despite the unhappiness in their youngling as he shook his head once more as if that would get the effects and the taste to go away, and when that didn't work Bumblebee resorted to rubbing the back of his hand against his mouth until Ratchet finally lightly smacked it away giving him another cup that was small enough for the youngling to hold. Greedily snatching the drink Bee sipped at his energon quietly thankful to get the other taste to go away as the powerful meds began to quickly take affect once again and his bright spark steadily began to become clouded in a drug induced fog.

Optimus watched through narrow slits as the pain meds began to dull his youngling's optics and draw the brightness that was Bumblebee's spark back in on itself until all that even the Prime's mighty Gift could feel was a pathetic little glow of what had been a brilliant sun. And the commander fragging hated it.

He couldn't put into audible words how much he hated it.

The only true explanation of his feelings was slamming his head repeatedly into the wall, but since Ratchet had already drugged him once for that Optimus knew better than to try it again. Even if his spark wanted to crumble at being cut off from the little youngling.

Leaning forward he pulled the youngling's covers tighter around him as he snuggled down against Ironhide's hand than reaching to his side the Prime plucked the youngling's stuffed honeybee from the floor offering it to Bee who snatched Buzz holding him tightly to his chest.

Once Bumblebee was content with his blankets and his toy he clutched tight to Ironhide's fingers as the massive mech steadily rubbed circles into his youngling's back. Pretty soon those meds were going to force him into recharge whether Hide wanted it or not, so he figured it was better to just make sure his charge was happy before he slipped out of his grasp again.

"Optimus," Bee mumbled tiredly.

The Prime hummed in response watching the youngling snuggle even deeper into the safety of Ironhide's hold.

"When I have Risk back?"

Optimus flinched despite trying to hide it at the mention of the robo-cat. They all knew sooner or later Bee was going to wonder why his pet hadn't woken up yet, they just hoped it would take a little longer. Casting his bright optics up to Ratchet the commander watched the medic sigh heavily before shaking his head.

"Soon, Squirt." Ratchet went to straightening some tools on the counter not far from the youngling. "I'm working on it."

Bee yawned again his baby blue optics starting to flutter closed. "Want Risk back."

"We know, Bee. He'll be back." Hide reached out with his spark wishing for some way to be able to comfort his charge, but the drugs already had Bee locked away in a fog that not even his bound could truly feel through and as the youngling finally slipped into recharge the mech truly did feel like he couldn't reach him. Not when those brilliant little optics were closed.

He kept reminding himself that Bumblebee was going to be alright, that Ratchet was fixing him, but it was hard when almost all he was getting to see was when the tiny mech was going down again. The twins got to entertain him the whole orn, hear him laugh and smile, keep him busy while he felt good enough to play while Hide and Optimus had to be . . . well them.

They had duties to perform, and whether they liked it or not they had to do them. They were currently moving an entire military unit all because of one mech. Strategy and protocol wise Optimus was kind of breaking every rule in the book, but not a single mech in the army cared.

Not even Prowl.

And he lived by that stupid rule book. He had let bots die by that stupid rule book.

However, when it came to Bumblebee everything changed. Even Prowl turned a blind optic to what they were doing. He had voiced his opinion that their plan might be pretty fraggin' stupid, but when it came down to it he hadn't truly wanted to send Bumblebee away. That was just what his processor knew to be the best course of action, and when it all blew up in their faceplates like one of Wheeljack's experiments just like every bot onboard knew it would he might have been right.

That wasn't about to stop them though.

Optimus and Ironhide were well aware they might be making a horrible mistake, but they didn't know what else to do. They couldn't live with losing the youngling, and they couldn't handle sending him somewhere that they weren't in control of the events around him.

When it got down to the bottom of it all the truth was simple. Megatron was going to come for Bee. Nothing any of them did was going to stop that, and when it did finally happen both were Pit bent on it being them that stood in his way. Them and the rest of the crew of Artemis 1.

Because Bee was their youngling—all of them—and they were going to fight tooth and claw to keep him.

"What really is wrong with the robo-cat?" Optimus quietly questioned as he rose from his chair once Bee was deep in the safety of recharge. Ironhide stayed by his charge's side watching his two friends carefully as Ratchet went to trying to busy himself with cleaning up the mess Sideswipe had left.

"Leave it to that idiot to not pick up his own damn dueling cards. I should burn them just to teach him a slagging lesson!" Ratchet frowned while he gathered the annoying things from his once clean floor. He didn't even try to answer Optimus's question which made both the weapons specialist and the Prime very nervous. The only time the medic didn't answer a question was when he didn't know the answer.

"Ratch?" Hide asked carefully. "I thought you and Jack fixed the creature."

Ratchet stuffed the dueling cards angrily into a cabinet before laying his palms flat on the table beside Bee's berth staring down at them tiredly. "So did I."

Both mechs blinked in confusion for a moment at their friend before glancing down at the recharging youngling.

"I got all of the venom and the virus out of him, but Pit he had even more of it in him then Bumblebee did. The foolish thing should have offlined before we even got there from how many times that damn thing bit him. I thought he was gone before we even got him on the surgery berth. He should have, but you guys know how stubborn Jack is. He wouldn't let the thing offline, but now we've done all we can for him. He has to wake up on his own. I just was hoping that that would have happened by now. The stupid thing is tough, but the more breems go by the less sure I am he is actually going to come out of stasis lock."

"He saved Bee's life." Ironhide whispered staring down at his youngling. "He has to wake up."

"I'm doing all I can." Ratchet sighed glancing toward the door to his office where the robo-cat was laying on a berth hooked to more things than even Bee was. Ratchet rubbed a hand down his faceplate.

Ironhide was right.

They all owed Risk their youngling's life and the medic refused to let the creature slip away. He couldn't.

"I have faith in your abilities, Ratchet. Wheeljack's as well." Optimus crossed his thick arms over his chest. "If any mechs can fix Risk it is you two."

"Hopefully before the next time he wakes up." Ratchet nodded slowly about to turn toward his office when the door to the medical bay swished open to Prowl who walked in without looking up from the data pad he was typing on. Ratchet lifted an optic ridge as the Strategist strolled all the way to the youngling's berth before even lifting his optics.

"Evening." He greeted.

"Prowl." Optimus nodded in return with a lifted optic ridge of his own as Ironhide just stared at him with narrowed optics. He was still kind of pissed that the idiot thought he could send Bumblebee away.

"Ultra Magnus has requested a conference, Prime." The second-in-command informed his commander as his optics rested on the youngling for a moment.

"Magnus?" Optimus tilted his head as worry crept up his frame. What's gone wrong now?

"He didn't sound worried." Prowl quickly calmed the Prime's panic. "Most likely just some things to work out with us being in the same place."

The Prime nodded again before wishing the mechs a good night heading for his quarters to call Magnus.

Once the commander was gone Prowl turned his light optics to Ratchet. "I'm quite sure that asking you will not yield me an answer, but I will ask nonetheless. Did you get them to talk?"

Ratchet's optics narrowed while Hide's widened a bit.

"Talk about what?" The medic crossed his arms with a huff of annoyance.

"Well, I imagine the same thing they are currently locked up in the mess hall talking to Cyber about. Their past."

Both mech's tensed in shock only to have Prowl roll his optics as he shook his head slightly.

"Oh please, Ratchet. Did any of you really think I hadn't figured out where the two fools came from by now? The scars, the attitudes, the pranks, and the overall them being them? It wasn't that hard to put together. Besides, Jazz isn't really subtle, and he's known for vorns."

"So you know?" Ironhide blinked.

"The Twins came from the Rings." Prowl bluntly stated. "Yes, I know."

"So you know why they took Bee off the ship!" Ratchet snapped. "You knew and you still threw them in the brig!"

Prowl lifted his hand to the medic to calm his anger. "They disobeyed direct orders, and risked Bumblebee's life. They had to be punished for that. Even you have to admit that Ratchet, their own stupidly is something even you punish them for. You more so than any of us most of the time. Me being aware that they had a horrible up bringing does not change that they are soldiers in this army now. Besides they made me glitch by the end of the orn anyway I think it all evened out."

Ironhide had to snort in laughter at that. "You've got to stop taking stuff so seriously, Prowl."

The white and black mech bristled as if insulted as his doorwings tensed with an unhappy flutter. "I am the way I am. I do not need to change, and I cannot help the way I am built."

"Same goes for the twins." Ratchet mumbled irritably under his breath.

Prowl leveled optics with Ratchet for a moment both staring heatedly at each other before the two-tone second-in-command nodded. "Touché."

Ratchet held his glare for a klick longer before he too nodded. As much as he hated how hard Prowl always was on his two warriors he knew that most of the time he was even harder, because it was what they needed. A firm hand pointing the way. When they needed something else it was never hard to tell, and he was always there when they needed that. He also had to admit that Bee's spark-orn party had kind of came out alright in the end, and he had to make himself recall that it was him that started tossing chairs at the fools for making Prowl glitch again as they just ran around his half-sparked tosses, snatched up Bee, and ran around the ship with Risk, Jazz, and Hide chasing them.

Ratchet could still see Optimus looked over at him with a full on smirk and a comment that had snapped him right out of his fuming fit.

"You have to admit, they are entertaining."

Yes, he did.

"Talking to Cyber, huh?" Ironhide's comment drew Ratch from his thoughts as he found both mechs staring at each other.

"Yes," Prowl confirmed. "Though I doubt there is a chance of the three trying to harm each other."

"Oh I wasn't worried." Hide snorted. "From what I can tell Cyber is perfectly capable of taking care of himself. He saved your smart mouthed aft earlier."

Prowl's optics twitched. "Excuse me?"

Ironhide smiled over to the mech before turning his full attention to his recharging youngling, leaning back in his chair to recline against the wall. "Admit it; they were going to scrap you. Much like I was. If Cyber hadn't snapped them back to this reality I don't think even Hatchet," He jammed a thumb toward the medic who snorted at the name. "Could yank them off before they gave you a few new dents. You gotta learn to keep your logical comments to yourself when it comes to my youngling."

Prowl stared on at the massive weapons specialist for a moment in silence watching him gently tuck his charge's blankets tight around him and pat him lovingly making the little creature smile in recharge.

He sighed heavily to himself.

Even he hadn't wanted what he suggested, but at the time it had seemed the only reasonable action. Now he silently thanked Jazz for his sidestep train of thought. If it hadn't of been for him the youngling might be on Magnus's ship by now without any of them . . . and that secretly terrified the emotionless mech.

"I was only thinking of what might be best for him."

"Which is the only reason you're still online." Ironhide leveled his optics to Prowl again and it was their turn to stare each other down until Hide continued. "You know we're all friends Prowl, we have been since . . . well before all this slag happened, but if you try to talk Optimus into taking Bee away from me again I will put a plasma round up your aft."

"Understood." Prowl submitted. He didn't want to argue with the mech anymore than Hide wanted to be angry with him. It was just the circumstances, and above all it probably had a lot to do with both mechs' fear of history repeating itself.

For a moment the medical bay fell into a silence only disturbed by the soft breath that left Bumblebee as he recharged. The three mechs just stood there soaking up the reassuring sound before Ironhide narrowed his optics at the slight twitch that was living in Prowl's fingers, the way his bright optics were darker with a hunting tint, and the way he slouched slightly.

That alone unnerved him. Prowl never slouched.

Casting his optics to Ratchet, Hide called silently to his friend via their bond making the red and yellow medic glance his way in confusion before Ironhide tilted his head toward the workaholic.

It was Ratchet's turn to gaze with scrutiny upon the mech before his own optics narrowed and he strolled forward pulling a scanner out of subspace. Prowl didn't even noticed he'd moved until the scanner was being waved up and down his frame making the two-tone mech straighten immediately shoving the medic's hand away.

"For what absurd reason are you doing that?" Prowl huffed, stepping away when Ratchet ignored being pushed back and continued to evaluate the mech.

"You're always working your stupid aft into stasis lock, but you never slouch. Since there appears to be no external cause for alarm I'm assuming it's internal. So what's eating you Prowl?" Ratchet crossed his arms over his chest raising an optics ridge as he stared the smaller mech down.

True to form though, Prowl refused to budge an inch. His once again well constructed mask giving away nothing he didn't want it too. He merely stood up straighter, narrowed his optics, and grasped his data pad in front of him with a look of utter self-control.

"I've not the slightest idea what you are referring too."

Ratchet just snorted. "Sure you don't."

"I don't."

"Prowl." The medic warned a growl growing in his spark.

"I have an army to run. Good night." Prowl waved off Ratchet's tone, spinning on his heels and fleeing the medical bay before another word could be uttered too him.

The hissing door slammed shut behind him leaving Ironhide and Ratchet staring after the place he had been both equally confused until suddenly it clicked in the weapons specialist's processor. His optics widen before he slammed a hand into his faceplate.

Oh Primus, he felt like a selfish bastard.

Ratchet spun to face him in shock before Hide looked up to hold his best friend's optics and the medic saw the name swimming around in them.

"Oh Primus," Ratchet hissed. "Smokescreen!"

"Slag!" Ironhide pushed himself to his feet. These last orns it hadn't even accrued to him. He'd been so wrapped up in his issues with Hammerdown, with the chaos that was surrounding Bumblebee, and all the rest of it he hadn't even thought to wonder how Prowl felt. How Hammerdown being here, how the memory of Outrider hanging heavy in the air, how the pain of almost losing the youngling was affecting Prowl.

Because Prowl never complained.

He never voiced his pains or his problems. It just wasn't him. He dealt with it on his own. In silence, behind his emotionless mask.

It usually took Jazz digging around in his best friend's spark before any of the rest of the friends could find out what was on Prowl's mind.

Right now however, Jazz had been a little scattered in the processor himself and Hide doubted that even he had thought to look up and check on the Strategist. Too even wonder if he was coping with the past getting thrown in all their faceplates or not.

Ironhide wasn't the only one with a painful past connected to a friendship linked to Hammerdown, but Hide was the only one that anybot every thought about. Because of Outrider.

But he wasn't the only one who had lost a brother.

"Slag! Slag! Slag! Slag!" Ironhide spun toward the door. "I'm so fraggin' stupid! We're so fraggin' stupid! How could we have forgotten Smokey!? How could we—" He slammed a hand into his forehead. "I have to talk to him. Right now!"

"Go," Ratchet shoved him out the door. "I'll watch Bumblebee and try to get a hold of Jazz. He might be the only one able to get him to talk."


Prowl twisted his swivel chair back and forth slowly as he slid his finger across the digital picture album before him. It had been vorns since he'd touched this thing and he wasn't even all that sure why he was putting himself through the torture now. He guessed he just . . . needed to see him.

Finally he came across the photo he'd been looking for, and the sight of it made him tense to keep the old wounds in his spark from flaring up like they had been doing since Hammerdown stepped foot on the ship. He had thought he'd be able to handle it. After all it had happened a few vorns before Outrider offlined and was under completely different circumstances.

He sighed quietly to himself.

Even he knew he was fooling himself, but that had been how he figured he would cope with having the last of the trio back in his life.

Prowl stared at the picture as the memories built up in his processor. Outrider and Hammerdown were two mechs his charismatic little brother had actually trusted when so few had found a way into his spark, past Prowl's protective wall. The trio of them had been a sight to behold back at the Academy.

They had been best friends.

Three best friends getting into all kind of mischief together.

It was at the Academy the picture he was currently staring at had been taken after a milestone for the trio, and it was hauntingly like looking into the past.

Seven mechs made up the picture, most all smiles and laughs while a few looked on with annoyance. Ratchet was one of those, the red and yellow mech at the far left of the picture not even looking at the camera. He was too busy staring over with what looked to be the start of an optic roll at the blue and black—much younger frame of— Hammerdown. The still big even at that time mech had one arm thrown around the medic's shoulders as he gazed with a full on beam at the camera with his other arm thrown around the equally as built yet equally as young mech to his right. The deep red colored mech was the spitting image of Ironhide; it was scary how much the two looked like even back then.

There was absolutely no denying they were siblings.

Even attitude wise they were similar the only real difference between them being the younger and brighter colored mech was far more impulsive than Hide and he got himself and his trio of lunatics into a lot of trouble because of it. That had been Outrider though, and in that picture he had been being his normal self. One arm tossed over Hammer's shoulders, a gleaming play-mech smile, his simmering sky blue optics shining as always, and the other arm tossed around his older brother's shoulders. Ironhide had ended up squished between Prime and his little brother in that picture, the massive black mech didn't seem all that unhappy to be there though. He was half looking at the camera half looking at his brother with a grin as he kept a close grip on his younger sibling and the other strong arm around Prime.

Optimus looked as pleased as the younger mechs to be in the picture as he grinned at the camera with as much enthusiasm as Jazz was. The Prime's arm around the shorter silver mech as Jazz flipped the camera a peace sign with the hand that was wrapped around the shoulders of a younger tri-tone mech with a mostly white frame streaked here and there with blues and reds to match his personality in ways that couldn't be explained.

After all, how did paint truly match a mech's spirit?

It wasn't logical, but that had been Smokescreen. He looked similar to Prowl. Standing there in that picture with his arm thrown tightly around his big brother's shoulders holding a younger version of Prowl to his side with that brilliant free-spark smile. It was easy to see how much they were built alike in stance and size, down to the matching red arches over there optics, but personality wise they couldn't have been more different. If Prowl staring at his brother in emotionless amusement in that picture didn't show that he doubted anything ever would. Because he stood there with his brother hugging him tight not even looking at the camera while Smokey ate it up. Prowl hadn't any interest in the photo at the time, he was content watching Smokey smile, laugh, and just be his carefree little brother that never took anything seriously.

How in Pit had they been related?

Even to this orn he swore his creators adopted that lunatic.

While Prowl had been rules and guidelines, living by his processor, and learning everything he could. Smokescreen had been goof off and fun times, doing what he felt was right in his spark, and hardly ever getting his foolish aft to class. They couldn't have been more of polar opposites, but that didn't mean Prowl hadn't loved him. Smokescreen was his little brother, as vastly different as they were, they had been siblings and Prowl held in his hand now the last picture they had ever taken together.

A picture he loved with his whole spark.


"Hey, Prowler!"

The two-tone mech had been in the middle of telling Prime and Jazz about the assignment Sentinel Prime wanted to discuss, but the spark filled voice of his little brother cut him off making the mech turn to find Smokescreen practically skipping up from the Into Building of the Academy complex that stood in the center of Iacon.

Even from there he could see the grin playing of on the younger mech's faceplate as Hammerdown and Outrider pranced on behind him looking equally as pleased with themselves as Smokey did. The only thing Prowl could think was what in Primus had those three done now?

"They look like they just robbed the First Cybertronian National Bank." Ratchet snorted.

"I wouldn't put it past them." Jazz laughed.

"Well I can't say I've never thought I was going to bail at least one of them out of jail one orn." Ironhide shrugged with a grin as the three younger mechs pranced up to them. Rider was at Hide's side in an instant throwing his bulky arm around his older brother's shoulders as he waved a data pad before his faceplate. Hammer took his place on the big black mech's other side doing the same thing as they laughed while Smokey literally slid the last few feet up to Prowl grinning like a fool as he produced a data pad of his own before the mech.

Prowl raised a brow at his sibling before taking the offered pad, his optics glancing over it before they widened in surprise at the words that rolled on before him.

"You graduated Basic Classes in seven vorns?"

"That's right Prowler!" Smokey said in a sing-song type of voice as he rocked back and forth in amusement. "You should be proud of me. I actually took my stupid aft to class!"

"Oh please," Outrider snorted as Ironhide looked over the things the other two had given him with the same words as Smokescreen's. "We took your stupid aft to class."

"Yeah Smokey, don't go getting all high and mighty just yet." Hammer laughed.

"You all did?" Ironhide asked in shook as he glanced between the two younger mechs that were hanging on him. Hammer and Rider glared at the mech with frowns at the pure disbelief on his faceplate.

"What?" Hammerdown raised an optics ridge. "We told you we'd pull off Basic without a hitch."

"And we did it half the time! Just like we said we could!" Rider nodded quickly his bright sky optics flashing with mischief. "That means we get to go play with the big guns before you know it." He lightly shoved his beloved brother in the arm as Smokescreen whirled back to grin around at the circle of bots that watched the trio in proud disbelief.

They'd finished Basic Battle Classes in seven out of fourteen vorns. That was remarkable. How had they even begun to pull that off without at least Optimus knowing about it?

Prowl and Ironhide glanced to the red and blue mech as he smiled before he just gave them a shrug. He hadn't had the slightest idea that the three goof offs were doubling up on their classes. He, like all the rest of them, thought they were hardly even going to class.

Which was something that Prowl and Hide had secretly been okay with.

Because none of the younger mechs had to be trained as soldiers. They didn't have to learn the art of war. They could take civilian classes. Could become scientist, medics, researchers, artist, teachers, or anything else. They didn't have to learn to fight. They didn't have to join the Elite Guard.

They had been sparked near the end of the Tribal Wars. They had never known the horror and pain that was war. Something every mech around them was thankful for, but the younger mechs didn't care. All they knew was that the mechs they idolized were in the Guard, that they had earned a place amongst Sentinel's trusted crew, and all any of the three of them ever tried to do was make their family proud.

To prove that they could do what their brothers could.

"I don't know about that happening anytime soon." Ironhide leveled his younger sibling in a 'I'm the boss of you, you impulsive fool' type of glare that screamed if he even thought about signing up for Outplacement Lessons he'd beat him with any avoidable weapon.

"Awe come on, Hide!" Hammer playfully shook the big mech. "We did it! Can't you mechs just be happy we were actually going to class!?"

"Yeah," Smokey snorted. "I was doing something productive without you forcing me too, Prowler. Smile about it!" The tri colored mech reached forward placing his fingers in the corners of Prowl's mouth to force the other mech into a smile making Jazz burst into laughter along with every other bot.

Prowl shoved his brother away grumbling something about forcing emotions was not logical, but smiled despite all of it just to watch Smokescreen's faceplate and optics light up with his grin. They might be nothing alike, but Prowl would still do anything to make his younger brother smile.

"We're moving up in the world mechs!" Rider beamed. "Before you know it we're gonna be screwing up your plans right there beside you!"

That was when the deep red colored mech tossed a camera to a passing mech asking him to take a picture and the three had somehow wrangled the other mechs into a group shot ignoring Ratchet and Prowl complaining there was no reason for a picture too which Smokey had snapped that there was always reason to capture happiness a point neither one of them could come up with a comeback for so they fell into line as the picture got snapped. It truly was a moment that Prowl had enjoyed, his brother and those two crazy friends of his tended to bring out a grin from the older mechs no matter what the trio were doing or had gotten themselves into.

After the camera flashed Prowl leaned over to Smokescreen capturing his brother's attention looking him square in the optics. "Just promise me you won't sign up for that stupid scouting mission out in Kaon. Please, Smokey. Finish up your last credits here and then you can go out with us on recon."

Smokey laughed with a roll of his optics, but even the carefree young mech knew when to actually take his overly serious brother . . . well seriously. He nodded quickly placing a hand over his spark. "I promise, Prowler. We won't go have the adventure of a lifetime in that creepy black abyss of a place."

"Smokey, I'm serious." Prowl warned.

"That goes for me too." Ironhide put in, glaring at the two he claimed. "I'll scrap all three of you if I find out you even thought about it."

"We know," Rider waved him off with a broad grin.

"We'll stay put." Hammer nodded.

"No Kaon mission for us."Smokey finished.

But they hadn't kept their word.

Just like always, when something flashing and exciting got waved in front of Rider and Smokey they snatched it up and Hammer went along for the thrill, the laughs, the few dents and scratches they always earned, and the lecture they'd receive when they finally got back. But that adventure hadn't ended like all the rest that the trio embarked on . . . because Smokescreen never came back.


"That always was my favorite photo of all of us."

Prowl dropped the picture album to his desk sitting bolt upright in shock as he found Hammerdown in one of the three chairs across from his desk. The white and black mech blinked in shock.

When the Pit did he come in?

Prowl hadn't heard a thing.

Hammerdown smiled a sad sort of grin. "Prowl I've been sitting here for a good four klicks. You were kinda lost in the past I guess."

Prowl stared at him for a moment longer in a weary sort of way before slowly picking up the photo album and stuffing it back in the cabinet where it belonged. When he returned his attention to the giant mech sitting across from him every part of Prowl wanted to deny everything and send the mech that he had once known so well on his way. He didn't want to have to face the apology that he could see brewing in Hammer's optics. Not again.

"I was fine." Prowl denied, picking up a stack of unfinished schedules from the corner of his desk hoping the other mech would get the hint and go find something else to do with himself.

It didn't work.

"Yeah," Hammer lifted an optic ridge. "I can tell."

Slamming the data pads back down to his desk Prowl suddenly pinned the other mech in a hot glare. "What is it that you want, Hammerdown? I'm busy. I don't have time to sit here and chat."

Hammer leaned back in his seat looking a little startled before he played it off with a snort. Slouching down he rested his elbows on the arms of the chair using them to hold up his weight as he laced his fingers over his chest and rested his chin on his own armor.

"I'm sorry." He stated making Prowl flinch, all the anger rushing right out of him. "But you already knew that. So I know you don't see the point in me saying it. I have too though. I was going to come sooner, but to be quite honest I didn't know how to face you after all this time. I had the whole issue with Ironhide on top of that, but that has gotten better. Magically. I just . . . I wanted you to know that I haven't forgotten him. Neither of us ever did. And I needed you to know that we really did try to save him. That night in—"

"Stop!"

Hammer looked up to find Prowl staring down at his desk his hands shaking just the slightest bit before he curled them into fist to get a grip on his emotions.

"Just . . . stop. Please." Prowl sighed not lifting his optics. "I know all of that. I know you two would have never left him on purpose. I know you refused to go and that Crosshairs had to drag your sorry frames out of that slaughter. I know you all did everything you could, but that Smokescreen was still lost. I am aware of all that. But Hammerdown I do not hate you, nor did I hate Outrider. It was neither of your faults he was offlined. It was all of you who decided to go against the only thing Hide and I asked of you and go to Kaon. His own foolishness got him killed. Nothing you or Rider could have done would have changed the ambush. Staying to try and find him would have only led to the two of you getting offlined, and I didn't and still don't wish that."

Hammerdown stared in silence at the mech before him as Prowl slowly lifted his optics to hold the darker ones of the younger mech.

The night the Outplacement Student Scouts got ambushed on the outskirts of Kaon by, what at the time it was thought to be a group of surviving Tribe mechs, but had actually been the beginning of Megatron's forces had ended in a full on slaughter. Only seven mechs of the twenty-eight that went on the mission came back to the Academy. Sentinel had called it an unfortunate outcome, and had used it to mistakenly fuel the mech that had caused it.

Prowl called it the night his spark broke.

The soldiers in training hadn't stood a chance against the forces that attacked them that night. The only reason the seven that made it back did was because Crosshairs—the Targetmaster—had been leading the party. He was the only reason Hammerdown and Outrider made it home in somewhat of one piece. They had almost been offlined as well, because they wouldn't leave. From what Prowl had been told by Crosshairs after it was all over was that Smokescreen had been ahead of the whole group being his usual self with Hammer and Rider following close behind when the first bomb went off. After that the tri colored mech was lost in the chaos. Crosshairs never saw him again. He assumed the first blast killed him, but Outrider and Hammerdown had refused to leave him there. The two fought like demons against odds they couldn't possibly conquer trying to find their friend, their brother. They hadn't been able to though and they almost got offlined because of it. Crosshairs had literally drug them out by their scruff bars kicking and screaming the whole way even if both of them were almost in stasis lock from the injuries they had sustained.

Prowl knew the two had done everything that was possibly in their power to bring Smokescreen home, but he also knew that it was logical to assume that there was nothing left of him for them to find. From all Crosshairs had told him he knew his little brother was gone when that first bomb went off and it was no mech's fault, but Smokey's and those glitches of Megatron's.

He'd only been the equivalent of a human nineteen year old when he died. He had been a youngling as far as Prowl or any of the rest of their strange little family was concerned just as they viewed Hammerdown and Outrider the same. Smokey was the youngling Prowl had promised his dying carrier and sire he would protect.

He was the first and last reason Prowl let his spark get shattered.

A mech he'd forced to the back of his memory for his own sanity's sake.

He knew it was illogical to put so much blame on himself, to let the empty place in his spark where Smokey had once been rule him in such way, but it did. It had taken him vorns to get over the loss of his brother. Something only his friends knew because only they could see through his mask. He had only broken down and cried once, and Jazz had been the only witness. After that Prowl knew he had to move on though. Knowing that Smokey would hate him if the crazy idiot knew that he let it dictate who he was and what he did. So he went on with his life. He held nothing against Hammer and Rider when they had finally been released from intensive care.

They had changed though, just like everything else did.

The attack on the Scouts was only the first of many strikes against the Guard and within ten vorns Megatron's truth came out. He murdered Sentinel, declaring war against Optimus and his right to the thrown within that tenth vorn, and the Golden Age of Cybertron came to an energon soaked end. Sides were declared and war was once again very real.

And the two young mechs that hadn't known anything but peace in their short lives were suddenly thrown into choosing what to do with themselves, but they weren't the same. Smokescreen's death shattered their lives and even if it made them lean heavier on each other, made the two best friends closer, in the end it was the first nail in the coffin for Outrider. It made him even more impulsive and reckless. Ironhide had done everything in his power to talk the young mech down, to make him realize it wasn't his fault, and that he had a chance to make a difference, but when Elita One, Arcee, Chromia and Whiteout were killed and Prime's, Ratchet's, and Ironhide's world came undone that was what really shoved Rider off the deep end. When he didn't have his ever strong and constant brother there to pick him up, when Outrider lost the last family they had, he was done for.

Prowl had seen it coming.

He had tried to stop it, just like Prime, Ratchet, Ironhide, and Jazz. They had all tried to save the last two younglings they had left to protect.

But they failed just like they did with Smokescreen.

Outrider signed with bounty hunters no matter how hard Hammer tried to keep him from doing it and he picked a fight he couldn't win knowing it when he went in. His reckless nature got him offlined just like Smokescreen.

And suddenly Hammerdown was alone and spark-broken without—as far as he was concerned—a friend in the universe. He took the pain out on Ironhide and any of the rest of them that tried to get through to him. Then suddenly he vanished.

Right off the face of the freaking planet.

One orn he'd been there with Ratchet and Prime keeping an optic on him after the fight he'd had with Ironhide and the next he wasn't.

None of them knew what happened to the blue and black mech. They feared he would pull something like Outrider did now that he'd thought he'd lost the only family he had left, but a few vorns later he reappeared as suddenly as he'd vanished. With some insanely skilled, short, pearl white mech in tow and signed onto Hot Rod's crew without speaking a word to any of them.

That had been it.

The group of friends that had had each other's backs from the very beginning had lost every youngling they'd ever cared about, their family was broken, and then there was the war that was shattering everything around them and steadily destroying every spark on Cybertron. Especially after the Sectors fell.

They had lost everything, their hope, their families, and themselves.

That is until Bumblebee came along.

Prowl reasoned out that that was probably the cause of why these last few orns he'd been hurting so bad in his spark about Smokescreen. Almost losing the tiny yellow mech had brought back all the times he'd failed and all the pain he'd overcome vorns ago. He was handling it on his own though, he didn't need Ratchet's worry, Jazz trying to make him talk about it, and he especially didn't need Hammerdown sitting across his office trying to apologize for something that wasn't his fault.

Because none of it was going to change anything. Nothing anybot said was going to bring his little brother back. So why not just leave the past in the past?

"It's the past, Hammerdown." Prowl said quietly. "Nothing will change it so it is better to leave it behind us. Each of us has learned all we can. It's time to move forward."

"That doesn't mean you can't remember them. Him." Hammer offered.

"I do remember. I remember the good. Sometimes the bad just stings a little worse."

"That I understand." The other sighed heavily as he pushed himself up in the chair to sit properly for a moment only to slouch down again as he tried to get the words out. "I just . . . needed you to know . . . that I was sorry. For everything . . . you know?"

"Yes, Hammerdown." Prowl nodded. "I know. We always knew."

Hammer nodded in return as a slow smile crept up his faceplate forcing a small smile from Prowl as well as the big blue and black mech crossed his arms behind his head.

"You know," He shrugged. "I do kinda like that little mech. He's tough stuff."

Prowl had to laugh a little under his breath as he began going through his schedules again. "He has to be, but yes you are right he is something else."

"He's good for all you."

Prowl optics widened ever so slightly as he slowly glanced back up to find Hammer still in the same position only now his grin was a full of beam. Shaking his head slightly to keep the laughter at bay the Strategist returned his focus to his work, but not before he mumbled. "He is good for everybot."

Hammerdown nodded with his grin still in place content to just sit quietly then and watch the other mech work just like all those times before, but the silence that snuggled in around them for a moment was broken when the door to Prowl's office slid open with a loud, annoying, hiss and Ironhide and Jazz stepped in only to stop abruptly at what they saw.

Prowl didn't even lift his optics.

He knew who it was, but Hammer twisted from his comfortable slouch to find the slightly shocked optics of the big black mech and the other silver one staring back at his grin in shock.

"Well, well." He laughed. "Seems great processors think alike."

"Hammerdown?" Ironhide questioned in shock. "What in Pit are you doing here?"

Prowl and Hammer glanced at each other for a klick before Hammer rolled his head back to grin up at Hide.

"Nothin'" He assured the massive mech. Quickly pushing himself to his feet, his tired hydraulics groaning at the action then Hammerdown nodded to Prowl before giving Jazz and Hide a smirk and a nod as well before he shoved them both aside from the door heading out in search of his best friend. "See you later mechs. Love to stay and chat, but unlike some special high ranks on this ship I have shift in the morning. You know the life a grunt and all." He was still going on about the joys of being at the bottom of the pecking order and such until his voice could no longer be heard as he disappeared down the halls of Artemis 1.

Hide and Jazz glanced at each other before turning equally confused optics to Prowl who merely shrugged and went back to reading his schedules.

For a moment all was silent until Jazz crossed his arms over his chest. "So you going to tell us what the Pit was going on and whether or not you're alright, or you just going to play it off?"

Prowl smiled just a bit looking back to his friends. "Everything is fine."

And for once when Prowl spoke those words, Hide and Jazz believed him.


"So," Magnus's quiet yet commanding voice echoed through the video chat link in Prime's office. "Are you taking care of my ship?"

Optimus snorted. Leave it to Magnus that at a time like this those were the first words he uttered when the screen came online. He must be in a surprising good mood.

"If I remember correctly," Optimus smiled despite the situation. "You gave this ship to me many, many, vorns ago."

"Yes," Magnus nodded, his light optics sparkling. "But it is still named for my late sparkmate and I intend to keep tabs on how you are treating her name sake."

"You Artemis 1 is fine, Ultra Magnus." Optimus assured him. "And she will be sitting alongside you in a few orns."

"Good. It's been too long."

Optimus laughed. "Well at least one of us feels like joking."

"Blame Hot Rod." Magnus shrugged on the other side of the screen. "His moods tend to rub off and I've been in a video conference with him for two breems."

"That usually puts you in a worse mood." The Prime pointed out.

"He is unnaturally chipper." Magnus explained. "Seems we have a few less Terrorcons to worry about."

"Really?" Optimus optic ridges rose in surprise.

"Yes. Blot and Sinnertwin are offline. However, the real news I wanted to inform you of is where you dear older brother is at the moment."

"Oh, and where is the slagging glitch?"

"Currently getting his aft chased around Tyger Pax by Hot Rod's bunch of lunatics." Magnus smirked.

Optimus couldn't stop the full on laugh. It was sparked from Magnus's silly grin and fueled by the relief that flooded the mech's systems. So Megatron wasn't chasing him down in search of the youngling. He was busy trying to outsmart Roddy.

Good luck with that one, Megatron.

Hot Rod could handle whatever the Decepticon Lord threw at him. However, Optimus figured he'd be hearing from the brightly painted commander about how he had to deal with the glitch without two of his best warriors pretty soon.

"Is he fairing well?" Optimus questioned.

"Oh please, Optimus." Magnus answered. "Hot Rod is more than capable of taking care of himself and his crew. He will keep the glitch busy long enough for you to get here and for us to have the youngling safely behind both of us."

"I do thank you for this, Ultra Magnus." Optimus added quietly.

"Optimus you are the Prime. Remember?" Magnus lifted an optic ridge. "You are the High Commander of this army."

"That isn't wh—"

"I know, old friend. Just thought I should point out that you didn't have to ask us if we were willing. You give the orders."

Optimus shook his head sadly. "I'm aware, my friend. Just as of late I've been wondering if my judgment has been . . . sound."

"Megatron would have discovered him sooner or later, Optimus and the viper on your ship was not your fault. There was nothing you could have done that would have changed present events." Magnus tried to assure him.

"No, Magnus." Optimus lifted his optics to hold his friend's gaze. "I'm afraid that's where you're wrong."

"What are you talking about?"

"I fear something might have come to light. Something about Bumblebee that I have not yet shared with even Ironhide and Ratchet."

Magnus's optics widened. "And what is that?"

"Magnus," Optimus sighed. "Do you remember Trickster?"

Magnus stared at him for a long moment his blue optics calculating before he blinked in shock. "You mean that . . . that . . . ."

"Yes," Prime nodded slowly staring down at his laced fingers. "That one."


Long, powerful, strides carried the massive black mech over the vast empty planes that stretched on between Tyger Pax and Iacon. His sharp ice blue optics missing nothing amongst the ancient ruble as his tall ear like audio receptors tracked the roar of engines that thundered somewhere overhead as he raced through the pouring acid rain to keep up. He'd been tracking the battleship ever since it took flight from its stationary post, having to leave his previous entertainment to follow the Prime and his foolish plan.

Trickster rolled his optics as his paws slammed repeatedly into the hard, wet ground.

Did the commander really think he could cheat fate?

That wasn't like the Prime. He had always been brutally honest even with himself. So running away from the inevitable wasn't really his style. Then again when the youngling was involved, the watcher had learned all previous rules no longer applied.

Even for himself and his siblings.

After all he was currently running through an acid rain storm tracking a ship that was easily leaving him in the dust. That really wasn't like him either.

He smiled slightly to himself with a shake of his huge head trying to get the stinging green liquid from his optics. There truly was something about that little yellow mech that was steadily changing the very world around him, and he didn't even know it.

Suddenly out before him, Trick caught sight of a rocky outcropping that looked to be what was left of a once mighty tower that now lay crumbed and dead against a cliff creating an oasis against the torture. Pushing his tired frame the last few hundred yards the mech slid in out of the rain shaking his form to get the burning substance off of him.

Primus, I hate acid rain. He hissed to himself. It is vial and it makes me rust.

He paused for a moment thinking that last thought over before he gave himself another good shake to chase it away. "Oh Master help me, I'm starting to sound like Impulse."

"And what's so bad about that, brother?" Trick turned to his left to find two sets of optics glowing in the darkness under the cliff staring back at him. One set, a fiery red that burned with clever ruthlessness, and the other mystical green that swam with the brilliance of a thousand galaxies and the knowledge to go along with them.

He couldn't help his smile.

"I thought you two were going to meet me in Iacon?" He laughed before he once again gave himself a good shake only this time the action was followed by his transformation. Hissing hydraulics, clanking armor, and whirling systems echoed around the darkness as the massive black bot shifted out of one of his many forms to take up another. This time, his bi-ped form.

For a creature that could take on the appearance of any biomechanical organism he came across his preferred form really was the one that summed him up the best. Probably because it was his true frame, the one he was sparked with. He was made up of sleek, black, rounded armor that in some places held a few harsh angles along his bulky shoulders and legs, but was mostly clean angles and straight lines. His proud faceplate and helmet were the only other places on the mech that was made up of shaper points simply because of the pointed tips of his helmet that most of the time resembled tall ears and the angles of his faceplate that could charm or convince almost anybot into anything. He had a way of bending the truth to fit his moods that was so amazing it even still surprised his siblings sometimes.

However, this time it was he that had been surprised by his dear siblings.

What were they doing out here?

"Change of plans." The fire like optics walked from the shadows giving shape to their owner. Trickster's older brother.

Impulse.

Where Trickster was soft lines Impulse was anything but. He was made of jaggedly pointed silver armor and massive flyer wings flexing powerfully under his gigantic sharp shoulders. His thick arms were built much like the rest of him with harsh angles and hidden blades creating a being that was better suited for stealth and battle than he was at using his voice. He was, in every way, built for war even down to his calculating faceplate that seldom showed what was truly going on in that clever processor of his.

He was not the diplomat.

No that was Trickster.

Impulse was much more his namesake.

"Oh?" Trickster crossed his arms over his thickly armored chest. He was well aware how much his fellow watcher didn't want anything to do with their current quest. He didn't believe the . . . oh how did he put it? 'Worthless Runt'. Yes, that was it. He didn't believe the worthless runt could possibly be one of them. While Trickster had fell spark first into that brilliant warmth that was that tiny one, but he knew his more ruthless counterpart needed a little more convincing. He just wondered if he had finally decide to believe what Trick had been saying or if this was about something else.

He doubted it.

Evermore was here.

That was proof enough.

"Yes, Trick." A feather like voice drifted to the black mech's audio receptors making both mechs turn to the shadows to watch as a beautiful femme emerged from the darkness. She was larger than most femmes, coming up to about the height of Trickster's shoulders in his bi-ped form and Impulse's chest, but it wasn't her size that made her striking. It was her mystical green optics, the softest in her voice, and the kindness in her spark. Unlike her two siblings she was brightly painted, a rich sky blue with dark purple highlighting her calves and arms. A bright green 'v' like arch stood tall on her forehead quivering like flower petals as she moved making her dark green optics shimmer even more. The soft way she was built with easy angles and curvy armor completed the almost dainty package the femme gave off. At first glimpse she looked to be nothing other than a pretty faceplate, but her siblings knew better.

Beneath that layer of soft words and kind actions was a warrior that rivaled the fiercest Gladiators the Rings ever knew. She was absolutely lethal when crossed. Something many bots learned at the cost of their sparks.

She was one of them. Through and through.

"You might be right." Impulse grumbled irritably as he tapped a claw against his jagged silver arm.

"Might I?" The black mech couldn't stop his chuckle at the tangible annoyance that rolled from the other mech. Impulse hated it when Trick was right.

He always had.

Evermore smiled a spark melting smirk as she rested a hand on her hip giving the huge silver mech an optic roll before she turned her pretty grin to the other bot. "We felt it."

Trick's optic ridges rose in surprise before he tilted his head. "Really?"

Impulse grumbled something both his siblings were pretty sure weren't real words before Evermore nodded.

"How could anybot miss it?"

"You were eighteen galaxies away when I called for you, Ever." Trick pointed out. "How could you have possibly felt his spark cry out from way out there?"

"I was hoping you could tell me that." Ever answered.

Actually a little shocked Trickster turned his gaze to Impulse.

"Pulse?" He baited. "Are you going to deny you felt the youngling's pain?"

"I don't know what I felt." Impulse growled back.

"Yeah, that's what I figured you'd say." Tick snickered before he turned from his beloved siblings to stare out at the pouring rain, his highly sensitive audio receptors tracking the progress of the battleship that currently held the object of his overwhelming curiosity.

He was going to have his proof.

Very soon.

That much he was sure of, the only thing that was left to figure out was what was going to become of the tiny one when the truth came to light. He belonged to the three of them, but Trick knew that Prime wasn't going to let him go so easily.

Smiling to himself he spoke as his siblings came to stand on each side of him. "This should prove to be quite amusing."

"Interesting if nothing else." Impulse admitted.

"Wonderful." Evermore added. "Absolutely wonderful."


And they have names!

Finally!

Anybody remember the two 'watchers' from the last chapter of the first part? Well here they are along with their sister. We have Trickster, Impulse, and Evermore.

Quite interesting aren't they? I mean, what could they possibly want with Bumblebee?

Well have no fear it gets even more complicated.

So, what did you think?

Cyber, Sunny, and Sides have a scary lot in common don't they?

Then there's Prowl and Hammerdown. Come on. Emotion! Prowl has emotion! I'm sorry I couldn't help it, it just happened. I'm placing all the fault on Prowl though. He told me it. So its his own fault he now gets to hop on the war destroys everything train.

It's not a fun train.

Though it does make some great stuff to work with!

And yes in my crazy tale Smokescreen and Prowl are brothers . . . just roll with it. There are methods to my madness. I promise.

Anyway, next chapter might be up Saturday if you guys are kind enough to leave me your thoughts, but for now have a hint about what's coming up next.

Never leave Jazz to get desperate. He does really stupid things when he gets desperate. But it is soooo funny.

Chat with ya later

-Jay