How sad... I think no one had laughed at my humor at the last chapter. Loosing humor is my specialty...

I do not own Transformers.

Chapter 34: Note to Self

I think Barricade is hating his skid plates now after having done that aft wiggle because he would keep groaning and would be seen holding his claws in a tight fist whenever I see him being teased about it. Though, Miles was not so safe when he was the one to tease the mech. The blonde almost lost his hair when Barricade turned on his cannons and aimed for his crown. Milton was not amused but I was happy to have cut his hair short and clean again…

My sister now has a worthy blackmail material with Blackout as the source to provide her the image (sadly, I have no cameras on my person and it is not like my little subspace device that Barricade had given me back was of use). And really, was it me, or was she nonstop on the teasing him openly even to the edge of the black and white mech's sanity… That is far from normal since she still has slight uneasiness when with the mech… It was like her fears up and left her for her to be as brave as she is now…

Something broke… I mean, literally broke in my sister's head like she had been given some wine… (I knew that my sister was a light drinker even though she was minor. She had asked for it and tried…Blame curiosity.) She was all smiles with the energy of everlasting battery, not tiring out even as she run all over the place or do summersaults that she always wanted to try… To my horror, she had done it above us, using the metals bars of the ceiling.

I think it was time to say… 'Someone got an upgrade'. To my amusement though… Barricade stayed there and made sure that she was safe. This was something that the mech hasn't done… If Frenzy counts though…

I feel somewhat thrown off from my throne of being sister here when Barricade made her his priority… even Miles was complaining how he seemed to be invisible when Barricade is there… or when Noi is there… vice versa. Had the love-hate relationship that Noi had with Barricade banished? I can't help wonder as I observe the two of them from a distance while working on the simple rereading of Sector 7 Main HQ files…

Something told me that Noi was happier when she sees Barricade… And Barricade seemed to be tamer when the other was there… Not like it hadn't happened before. But really… please someone! Tell me what is happening here!

Then, I think Primus had heard my pleas when Blackout came out from somewhere and started having this look. It was the same look when someone reminisces of the happening in the past… It was like that… or that is what I could feel he was doing…

"It has been a long time since I had seen him like this…" He said in a soft tone, making it hushed as possible, maybe so Barricade would not hear it.

"What do you mean, Blackout?" I asked in wonder and surprise that the mech was not talking to me grouchily. For the first time, there was no hint of sarcasm, disgust, anger, or anything negative about his tone and words.

"This… reminds me of the time back when we were on Cybertron, before the war started. You knew that Barricade was Prowl's and Jazz's sparkling… but the two had not always been that present in his life since they had been busy with their own duties… I am his 'best mech friend' after all and I say this once again… This is the first time in a long time I had seen him act like this…" He finally said before disappearing.

What had Blackout revealed was something to revel about… This was something new and I just knew that something big was going to be revealed. I squealed in delight at the thought of maybe my sister is one of those that is going to be bonded to the mech. Pit… I can't help thinking of the possibility! Fangirls with an extensive fanfiction reading list… This was most likely it! Correct? Correct?!

Oh, this is going to be awesome… But first… I wonder what is really happening in my sister's head right now and has staying here been affecting her too much? I still hadn't discussed with her about the possibilities of her hands turning to pixels… and Miles hadn't been broaching that subject so it was most likely that Barricade and Blackout don't know.

First things first tomorrow, then… Know what is happening… and maybe restock and get to fix the mechs frames with my outmost capabilities… But then again. I need my equipment which is still in Nevada… I would have to resort in making them agree to go back home to get the tools I need and the available resources that I can have.

The next day, I was surprised to see that Mr. Copper was there. It was not Barricade's real frame but then, he was down here and looking at the shuttle again… And this time, there was no distractions taking him away from getting all the data and deciphering it with my sister who had calmed down and was concentrated in trying to finish the datas.

What had me curious though was the way that Mr. Copper had come out of the lab to topside, feeling a little bit off. What is happening here? First, my sister, then Miles and Blackout… Now, it was Barricade? What is the frag is going on with these guys again…?

"Barricade…" I asked the mech who had his processors wandering the clouds. But as his name crossed my lips, there was a flare of dark emotions that almost choked me. A hatred that I had felt within the Nemesis. This was deeper and I knew that something was wrong.

"What did you and Noi found out from the mainframe?" I asked. There was only so much I could see through pieces of paper that loitered around. The real statistics and data were on the cybernetic frame of numericals, symbols and other values.

Barricade did not spoke but his fist trembled at the controlled strength he wanted to let go. He was frustrated and he was angry… But I could not do anything other than wonder what had it been he was processing.

"We need Frenzy…" That was all that he had said before looking straight at me. His red irises were burning with conviction and determination that warned me if ever I counter what he wanted to do, it was do die there and then without a single explanation.

"Why?" I asked… And oh, how wrong was my answer… When his optics sparked in realization.

"You know where he is!" He declared angrily which made me gulp a mouthful of saliva.

"Yes, I knew of his location but I cannot say for his function." I steadily added but before I could blink, he had his hands gripping my shoulders tightly, absolutely giving me bruises tomorrow. Before I could say another word, my sister had lunged for the man and tug him off of me.

She was soon reprimanding Mr. Copper for his assault. But what I heard made me wonder more.

"Come one, 'Cade… We'll get Frenzy. You don't have to use violence on my sister because she will tell you like I had told you earlier. You may not be able to get through into the mother files for now but what she had always said, 'Patience is a virtue'." My sister reasoned before she received a huff. She dismissed that and hugged the other to calm down.

Still, I was left to my thoughts… Why do we need Frenzy… And why now…?

First, Barricade becomes somewhat… tamed… then suddenly, after he meddled with Noi's work in deciphering the data she had acquired from the shuttle, he got worse. The only one that could handle him for the time being is would be my sister or… Blackout who I had to order never to ever go within range of the said black and white mech so the damages I could not repair remain repairable.

"This has got to stop…" I huffed, irritated at how my sister was reduced to a worrying aft. I do not like it not because my sister is paying attention more to the other but the fact that she had been skipping meals to try and deal with the mech was worrying. How many times had she fallen asleep after just getting in from a long stroll out of the airbase? And I could see the worry lines starting to make their selves permanent on her person.

"I agree with you there… Staying on this base will do worse than what I had expected." Miles murmured in defeat, relenting now on the thought I had proposed of going back to Nevada.

"But sis…" Noi was still put on the subject about leaving, not liking it mainly because Barricade refused also… But that can be rearranged. I had my fair share of wins over my sister on trying to make her obey me…. I win… Sometimes…

"No, Noname… You know well enough what staying here is doing to Barricade and I say that he needs time off this place to loosen his gears! Not only that is the issue but don't you forget that we are still humans that need proper nutrition and care. When was the last time had we gone into a proper facility where we had all the utilities at our disposal?" I stated clearly. "Not only that… But I can see that transferring our location back to Nevada where my equipment and supplies are, would give me the greater chances of repairing the mechs to what they were once. I can't say in the processors but frame-wise."

At that, she seemed to contemplate but there was a string of emotions that would mar her face. What had gotten to her for her to care this much? Pulling her into an embrace, I made her choices and chances on agreeing more favorable.

"And, it is not like we aren't going back here. You can take all the data you can decipher… once you got them all, we can come back…" I told her and that seemed to appease her.

"You are right, sis… We can always come back here… And about the data stream? Barricade had already decrypted all of it… The thing is, he wanted Frenzy because some of it are out of his profession… He told me that it would be better if Frenzy were to deal with it so that his processor wouldn't get corrupted too much… Human data is… like a virus…" She explained as a light bulb went over my head with Miles stating his own facts.

"I always theorized where do viruses, malwares and other corrupting data that could spread in a mainframe, always came from. I think… since you told me that Decepticon is the origin of the machines and it turns them Decepticon in personality… what about the AI that comes from them… yeah? Maybe they are imperfect but they are still able to infect and corrupt even their origin." Miles said thoughtfully. I always wondered that too.

"And maybe that is the reason why Frenzy is glitching too much since he interfaced with human technology in a deeper level than other Cybertronians can… Primus… What do you think about Soundwave, Blaster and other hackers like Prowl?" I gritted my teeth.

"I would say that they would like catch it and their systems would be surprised of the new… thing?" Miles said uncertainly. "But overall, it would be like us humans getting something foreign in our body that causes us to get sick and off." Miles tried to put it into simple words.

"Who knew that bots could get sick?" Noname giggled as she skipped over to Barricade who had just come from down below again with Blackout trailing him. If it wasn't Noi following, it would be the other mech, to make sure that the other wouldn't run off to somewhere. I knew Barricade knew and us much to his chagrin, he let it be.

Later that evening, we decided to travel. Blackout was not happy that he had to carry Sunstreaker again but promising him some nice long bath had appeased him. Though, that did not withhold him from begrudging Sunny's weight.

"Man, he is a fragging mammoth… Like, I expected him to be lighter than this… What has he been taking in? A fragging boulder or a pile of dirt formed rocks?" He cursed every now and then as he carried the car in the air.

The others laughed and giggled but Barricade would only let out a snort to show that he was still there. Miles reported that he was the one in control, much to his surprise that the mech trusted him to take us safely to our destination.

By sunrise, we managed to get in Nevada. Thank Primus that Energon detectors are still at TF3!

Barricade was not amused when I told him that he would not be staying at his original spot and would be moved out for Sunstreaker. My workshop slash garage that has my tools would fit two but that did not mean I would want to work in a crowded space.

I had Blackout stay in the back where Mrs. Spetto's large field was. The old woman did not mind as long as we had returned home but before we could go further into our day, she stopped us.

"You know, dearies… Some people called and asked for you… Especially you, Miles…" That made our hearts drop as I looked at Miles' expression contort to uneasiness. Noi bit her lip as I scratched my head, trying to come up what I could tell the old lady.

"Uh…" But before I could really form a coherent sentence, she smiled and patted all our heads.

"Do not worry, dearies… I didn't tell them anything… Though, whatever you all did, you must be careful now… I think I saw more of them dropping by to check… They were wearing military uniforms… and I think that the brown headed boy who approached me was once your bestfriend, Miles…" She said softly.

"Thank you for telling us, Mrs. Spetto… and we will… But I think it is time for us to go… We don't want to cause you more trouble than necessary…" We told her out of worry. This was bad… They knew that we were staying here and that would be an inconvenience for Mrs. Spetto.

"Don't you worry about me… And if you must,,," Seeing that I was determined not to really put the old woman in whatever harm I can think of.

"My son would be able to help you…" She said with a mischievous smile and a wink. "After all… Running and hiding is what I do most too… What matters are the connections one must have." She giggled and went over to her drawer to pull out most likely a secured device that made out jaws drop. Is she kidding me? She literally has a secured line with her son?

One touch of a button and they were connected and already in a conversation. We stood there dumb founded until she giggled and said goodbye. When she turned to us, she had this ear splitting smile that I thought was the happiest thing I can see.

"This reminds me of my younger years… Now, dearies… When you are good to go, just go to this address and all what you would be needing are there." She smiled happily like she had not just given us a great escape plan. The woman was absolutely scary.

"Thank you so much, Mrs. Spetto…" I said with a nervous glee that we had been given such a large opportunity. My workshop would still needed to be transferred but she said that I didn't have to. The place we are going to was a place that would likely satisfy my needs in terms of machineries.

And whoah… when we got to the venue… His son gave us an old factory to ourselves! All the tools and others stuff were still functional… And to my surprise… Look who had we found here…

"Devastator… Or are you him?" I said oustanded to see him here as my sister perked up with delight.

"Oh, the lugnut's here? Hey fragging bolt head! Get your aft running… What have you been doing all this time recharging?!" Blackout asked as he was in his mech mode. Barricade was just behind us with Noi on his shoulder having a free ride.

Much to all our shock, I wanted to vomit as Blackout, Miles and Barricade cursed while Noi screamed in horror. When Blackout pulled that tarp, Devastator was not resting… He was not recharging at all! He was gone… and to our horror… The large freaking parasite that I had seen had grown larger and was consuming him!

Scorponok had already gathered me and Miles up as he lunged for Noi who Barricade had ordered to get away from there. The parasite was alive… and frag… it was trying to latch onto Blackout who struggled from all of its tentacle wires that wanted to attach itself to him.

It was not looking good though as everything went by. The thing was just formidable and Barricade was being pushed back. I needed to do something and without at all thinking, I saw a large crane there with a I beam. Swung the crane hard and yelled for the large mech to duck.

As Barricade saw it coming, the Parasite had not, making me hit it on the spot and got it off of Blackout who had his systems and platings torn… He would need new plates the most now…

"SIS!" My sister call and then I knew what she was thinking when she stood ontop of a pile of long iron scuffs. She jumped towards where I had swing my crane, catching the hook nicely and then all those wires fell down to the parasite, skewing him all the way through its malleable plating. Good things happen after hard ones…

The thing died and that was what I was thankful for. But now, Devastator was in no such condition for us to move as Barricade tried to save him by helping what was left of his spark to beat inside that chest with a hard line for medics.

"Frag it…" He cursed as the spark extinguish multiple times before I got a power generator built up to support the other.

Miles was all over the place as Noi was tending to Blackout. The mech had a large hole from the tentacles. But she was wielding it close with Blackout's help even though he was wincing and clearly not liking how his claws were digging inside his frame.

"This is a frag up thing…" After no action, this happens? I would have liked it if it were not handed to us in a silver platter full of forks.

Busy month is here again so yeah... See you guys when I can... *sighs* When will the goddess of humour come visit me... I wish it was not sarcasm though...

Review please! It motivates me at some point.

~Dreamer