I forgot to mention I'm now on tumblr, with the same name, JenKristo. I don't post much, but it's there if you're interested. Also, I drew a little picture of Soundwave and Knockout reuniting in chapter 11. It's in my DeviantArt account under the same name.

12

"Come this way," Starscream called as he led Knockout and Soundwave to a large elevator in the lower entrance deck. Skywarp, Thundercracker and a few eradicons joined them. Knockout found it interesting how casual the eradicons acted around everyone else. It was an okay change from the rigid ranks on the Nemesis.

The elevator was brightly lit and was fitted with large windows looking out on the levels they passed. He glanced at Soundwave, whose color looked exquisite in this lighting. Soundwave caught him staring and smiled.

"Soundwave," Starscream said. Soundwave turned to him. "I have been informed about the ongoings on the Nemesis over the last few months. I believe we have a lot to talk about."

Soundwave's expression fell and he glanced at Knockout nervously. What was it? What had been going on, Knockout wondered.

"No one expected Shockwave to act as he did. But it was you that led Megatron to expose himself. You were the catalyst in this revolution."

Knockout's worry increased as he watched his mate, clearly suffering from the conversation. He'd had a hand in Megatron's death? How could that be?

Starscream leaned a little closer. "He's gone. Repeat it like a mantra."

"Soundwave has been through a lot today," Knockout said to Starscream, as politely as he could. Soundwave took his servo in thanks.

"Of course," Starscream agreed.

The elevator slowed to a stop, and to Knockout's surprise, began to slide sideways. Through the windows they could see various rooms of the ship. There were large spaces where machinery was being built by a mix of seekers and other transformer models. They passed a room with giant screens displaying blueprints.

"Anyway," Starscream continued, "You should both be thinking about the future. I for one am excited to leave this organic-infested rock once more. We've found a promising little planet, with energon readings and metal ore deposits. You'll be floored when you see the coast lines! The whole planet is made of island chains. The room we just passed is where the group of architects are designing bridges to connect them."

Soundwave seemed to have relaxed as he listened to Starscream's plans. Knockout decided to keep him talking. "Is there any life on the planet?"

"There is, but only aquatic life."

Thundercracker spoke up. "There's a chemical in the air that's harmful to organics, which prevents anything from surviving above the surface of the water."

"That's right," Starscream continued, "and if it doesn't work out for whatever reason, we'll mine what we can of the energon and move on." He sighed. "Oh, the thrill of adventure."

Knockout smiled at the seeker. "So are you enjoying being Lord Starscream now?"

Starscream smiled with fake modesty, obviously pleased by that. "Oh, well I've been going by 'Captain', but I'll take the title once we arrive. Steve thought of Captain, and I find myself rather accustomed to it." The elevator stopped, doors opening to a brightly lit command station, busy with seekers and eradicons going about their work. Like the rest of the ship so far, its design reflected the Elite Guard's preference for pristine, white interiors. The screen displayed the desert like a window. "Ah, we're here. Thundercracker will show you around. I have things to attend to."

The group separated, Thundercracker bringing Soundwave and Knockout to the controls. "We're pretty glad to have you, Soundwave. I mean, we run the ship just fine, but we've got to do everything manually. Seekers aren't big on this stuff. See this whole section of buttons here? And those over there? It's a real scrapstorm when we even touch any of those. Oh and that room over there has a huge system in it, and if we so much as tug on a wire the Ferocitress' sirens start going off. ...What's so funny?"

Knockout turned to look at Soundwave, who had a big smirk on his face. He straightened his mouth, still unused to having to control his expressions. Knockout did all he could not to laugh as well. Soundwave would probably be going nuts soon, surrounded by technologically un-savvy seekers. They certainly had wanted him here for a reason.

Thundercracker spoke with an irritated tone. "By your attitude I assume you'll be able to help us out with this stuff, but it can wait. We're functional enough to manage a take off. I'm sure you two are tired. I'll bring you to suitable quarters."

"I can take care of that," Skywarp cut in as he approached.

He led them back to the elevator, which headed horizontally and turned once or twice. It trailed beside a hallway. With windows on both sides of the hall, passengers in the elevator could look through it into the various large work rooms.

"I've got the perfect quarters for you two. They've been saving it for a new medic because it's right near the med bay. And now that I think of it, it's a super short walk to the closest elevator stop. That'll be good for you to get to the command station, Soundwave." Skywarp stared at Soundwave for a moment. "Man, I just can't get used to you with that gorgeous face. Way back before we all got separated, I was scared spitless of you. With signature codes from you two, that sparkling is going to be real sweet on the optic."

Knockout smiled. "I've been hoping it picks up Soundwave's optic color code."

Skywarp nodded. "Yeah, that color is something else."

Soundwave looked uncomfortable, and Knockout could only assume it was the attention.

The elevator began to slide past a very large window, looking out on a circular room. Soundwave became transfixed on it. He grabbed Knockout's wrist and dragged him to the window. Knockout couldn't believe what he was seeing. There were at least a dozen miniature fighter jets flying around the room.

"Oh, you guys wanna see the sparkling playroom?" Skywarp said, hitting a button to slow the elevator. It turned back and stopped at an entry-way to the hall.

"I can't believe it," Knockout said as they crossed the hall and looked into the room. "I thought there weren't any."

"Sure, there weren't any being born around the war zone. But we haven't been around the same kind of stress, being separated all this time. The theory is that the farther away from the war, the earlier the sparklings were being born. About three cycles ago the first seeker started carrying, and then soon after eleven more did. I was number six." Skywarp pointed to a little black and purple jet, which was chasing a few others around the dome, firing at them mercilessly. "That one there is my little mechlet."

"Unbelievable. Who's the alpha?" Knockout asked.

Skywarp laughed. "I have no idea. Little Warp got my full color plating code, so he looks just like me."

Knockout thought for a moment. "That's right... seekers have a universal spark connection which enables carrying without bonding."

"You got it, Doc."

"But you really don't know who it might be?"

"Nah. The alpha could be like, half the seekers on this ship." Skywarp said it shamelessly.

Soundwave touched Knockout's shoulder.

"Do you want to go in?"

Soundwave nodded and Skywarp led them inside. The room was loud with the high pitch whistling of tiny jet engines. Skywarp put two digits in his mouth and whistled back at them, the sound overpowering their own. The seekerlets slipped into a line, curved around the room and landed in a row, transforming as they hit the ground. They stood at attention like a miniature army. But it only lasted for a second before they began to fidget, digging their stubby heels against the floor or leaning on their fellows. They watched Soundwave and Knockout curiously, their optics especially drawn to Soundwave's carrying chamber.

"Who are they?" asked a green one. Knockout couldn't remember the last time he'd heard the sound of a sparkling's vocals. It was soft and musical, and he was embarrassed for liking it so much. He told himself it was the alpha instincts again.

"This is Knockout and Soundwave," Skywarp introduced. "They're joining us today, along with lots of other new friends."

"Are they staying?" a blue one asked.

"Yes."

A lavender seeker burst out excitedly. "Does this mean we're going to have a new friend?"

"It sure does!"

The row of seekerlets lit up with excitement.

"Can we come say hi?"

"Yes, but don't run. Hey! I said don't run!"

The seekerlets stampeded over to them. A silver and yellow one latched onto Knockout's leg. "Can you guys fly? You don't have any wings."

Knockout was about to answer when another sparkling tapped his other leg. He looked down at it and it looked up at him shyly and said, "You're pretty. I like red."

Meanwhile, Soundwave was being bombarded with questions about his carrying chamber, some clinging to his legs and others reaching to hold his servos. They struggled against each other to be closer, whining and pushing. Knockout watched affectionately at his mate's response. He was obviously overwhelmed by it all, questions and physical contact being two things rarely bestowed upon him by strangers.

To his surprise, Soundwave slowly knelt down, careful not crush any tiny peds. Not knowing what to do, he just stayed there and smiled as the seekerlets examined him.

Skywarp's little sparkling shoved forward, pushing the others aside as he made his way to the front. He placed his servos on his hips. "You're not a seeker, so your sparking won't be a seeker, right?"

"Affirmative."

Little Warp studied him. "Good cause I'm bored of seekers. Everyone is a seeker." He put his servos on the spark chamber and spoke directly to it. "You're gonna play with me most, okay? I'll show you how to be cool."

Skywarp came forward and lifted Warp into his arms. "I'm sure the sparkling will be everyone's friend." He turned to the pair. "Are you two ready to go?" They headed back to the elevator. "I got to say, I had another motive when I chose these quarters," Skywarp admitted. "You'll be pretty close to us, and I'm thinking it'll be good for Warp to have another sparkling around. He has trouble making friends, though I can't see why." Warp hung over his carrier's shoulder, watching Knockout with a mischievous smirk.

Soon they reached their new quarters, and Skywarp parted ways with them. They went inside, surprised at the size of the area. There was a large berth and a second, smaller room as well as a private wash rack.

"This ship really is old," Knockout said as he turned on the light in the smaller room. "No one has created family-compatible quarters since before the war. This is a sparkling's room."

He heard the sound of a mechanical whirr and turned to look. Soundwave had found a set of controls that slid the ceiling open to expose a window. The Ferocitress had ascended out of Earth's atmosphere so smoothly that they hadn't noticed. They looked out on the endless number of stars.

To be continued.

Tell me all of your feels.