Yo! articmadador here freaking out because this chapter came to me in seconds and I would die if I didn't write it down. I didn't expect to get it out so quickly, but I'm satisfied. I DO NOT OWN TRANSFORMERS! Hasbro does. I only own Cliare and the squad. Please review and enjoy!


"Hold still, fraggit!"

"Go easy on her, Ratchet."

"I would if she would hold still! Stop moving that big head of yours! Illusion, stay still!"

Ratchet sat on Illusion's head to keep her still while he worked on some wires in her neck. She growled and grumbled about it, though most of it wasn't understandable. Ratchet said something in Cybertronian, and though she could not understand it, she fell silent as if that was what he had ordered.

"Try to speak now," he said.

"Off head. Get off head."

"Wait…" Ratchet took a few seconds to position some wires and reset something. "Try again."

"Can you ple—ase get o—off my head?" Illusion asked, her vocal processor glitching out.

"Hold on. Let me reset your vocal processor. There…now try to speak."

"Can you please get off my head, now?"

"Of course."

Ratchet climbed off of her head and stood up. Illusion sat up and shook her head. The only mechs in the medbay at the time were Ratchet, Wheeljack, Mirage, and Jolt who was in recharge. Everyone else was busy with other things. Some of the Autobots had been sent away to Egypt to handle a Decepticon disturbance, while others had to help clean up damaged cities. The Tiny Twins were the only other Autobots left at base.

"Where's Claire at?" Illusion asked, noticing how Mirage crossed his arms and looked away at her question.

"She is receiving treatment for minor injuries. Can you explain to us how you know her?" Ratchet asked.

"Yeah. We met on tha Decepticon ship a while back. We was stuck there together."

"She called you 727," Mirage commented, still turned away.

"That was meh name then. I forget what meh real one was."

"So," Ratchet continued, his optics lingering on Mirage before turning back to Illusion, "Although you could not speak, why didn't you show that you knew Claire. Did you not recognize her?"

Illusion vented, though it sounded like growling accompanied it. "I didn't remember her. Not 'till we was all knocked out at tha same time. Then the memories came flowin' back."

"By we, you mean Claire, the Predacon, and yourself?"

"Yep." Illusion moved a little closer to Ratchet and added in an oddly flat tone, "And her name is 724. She needs our help."

Ratchet nodded, then took a step back. "You are free to go for now. I need to repair Jolt."

Illusion got up and walked towards Mirage. She turned back, then asked: "When will we get to help 724?"

Ratchet glanced at her. "I don't know, but we'll figure something out."

Illusion, though not satisfied with that answer, turned to follow Mirage out of the medbay. Once they had left, and were headed down the hallway, she turned her attention to him. She knew something was bothering the red mech. She could tell just by looking, and she could feel it in her spark. They walked down the hall in silence, before Illusion decided to speak.

*/Ah got a voice now, so might as well use it.

"So, what's wrong wit you?" she asked.

Mirage grunted and kept walking. Shaking it off, Illusion asked again. "'Raj, what's wrong wit ya?"

This time Mirage did not respond in anyway. Illusion was not one who fancied being ignored, and she was determined to get an answer. "Imma ask you one more time. What's wrong with ya?"

No answer. What a bad move to make. Illusion dropped her head to the ground and sheathed her teeth. She bit Mirage's ankle only hard enough to get a good grip, and lifted him up. He yelped in surprise, and struggled as she dangled him in the air for a few seconds. She then swung him around, getting another yelp from him as he was thrown up into the air and landed on her back. She turned her head to face him, her optics glowing magenta. She found that quite amusing and fun to do. He just glared at her, then climbed off her back and continued to walk.

"Mirage, if ya ain't gonna talk then I'll just keep doin' that till ya do!"

He turned to glare at her. "Don't you dare."

"Then talk to me! I gotta a voice, now! I intend to use it!"

"Then go talk to Claire," he snarled.

Before the mech could react, he was laying on his back and staring into Illusion's red optics. "Don't be stupid," she growled.

Mirage, unbothered by her aggressiveness, pushed her head away. "I am not being stupid. I don't feel like talking."

"Oh, I'm sure you do. Somethin's botherin' you, but you just don't want ta say it."

"Either way, I not in the mood to talk. Let me up."

Illusion sat down and placed her talons firmly on his chest. "No," she stated calmly.

"Excuse me?"

"You're excused. Now tell me what's wrong. Then I'll let you up."

"Illusion, let me go. Do as I say."

"No, you do as I say. How 'bout that?"

Mirage growled, then crossed his arms. Illusion snorted then shifted into a more comfortable position. Mirage didn't speak, so Illusion didn't move. Ten minutes passed, and nothing happened. Twenty minutes passed, and a soldier walked by. Both Illusion and Mirage greeted her, but ignored each other. Thirty minutes passed, and the Twins came through, probably on their way to cause mischief. They stared at the two in confusion, and Mudflap dared to get close enough to pet Illusion. Once they left, the two sat there for fifteen more minutes before Mirage spoke.

"You're stubborn," he grumbled.

"No, I'm patient. You're stubborn."

"Whatever."

Illusion gazed at him, then touched her muzzle to his chest. He watched her, then huffed and rolled his optics. He wasn't exactly annoyed at her actions, just a little irritated that it managed to make his spark melt.

"Are you going to leave?"

Illusion moved back to look a him better. "Huh?"

"Are you going to leave me? When the other Predacon was flying off, you were about to follow it. You would've left if I hadn't called out for you."

Illusion hung her head. She was going to leave. For that moment, as much as she hated it, she had forgotten Mirage even existed. How could she do such a thing, especially after how close the two had gotten? But in those few seconds, Illusion had forgotten him, and he knew it. They both knew it. And it hurt.

"I'm so sorry, 'Raj."

"You'll do it again."

"I won't!"

"You will!"

"Is that how much faith you have in me!?"

Mirage looked away. "Maybe it is."

"Then yer a damn fool!"

"Illusion!"

"You heard me!"

"I am not!"

"You must be if you think I'm gonna let that happen again. I am sorry that I fergot ya. I really am, and I promise I will never do it again."

Mirage stared at her for a few seconds before speaking. "You promised you will never forget me, but you didn't promise that you would never leave me."

"Some things just can't be promised, no matter how bad ya wanna promise 'em."

Mirage vented, and Illusion moved her talon away. He sat up and looked at her. She didn't like that distant look in his optics. "If you do leave, I won't find another friend like you. Hound was the only other true friend I've ever had."

"Oh come on! Ya got Jazz 'n tha twins—"

"They are good friends, though Jazz was originally my mentor. I don't think I would be so close to him if it weren't for that. Still, Hound is the closest I've ever had to a true friend. One I could always count on. I'm not even sure if he's still online. He would like you. He would probably load you up with ammunition, but only with good intentions. But…he's not here, and he might never come. So that's why I need you here. Being an emotionless spy all the time takes its toll. War takes its toll."

Illusion dropped down so that she was level with Mirage. "Now, 'Raj, I want ya ta listen ta me, and listen damn well. No matter where you or I go, whether we are worlds apart or millimeters apart. Whether we are in good moods or madder than hell. Whether we are online or offline, remember this. I will always love you, and I will never forget you. I will always come back to you. I will always find you, no matter where you are. But you gotta promise me one thing."

"What is that?" Mirage asked, his voice the softest Illusion had ever heard it.

"Promise me you won't forget me."

"I promise."

Illusion sat up. "Good." She suddenly snatched Mirage up by his leg like before and planted him on her back. "Now let's go get some energon. I'm so hungry I could eat a door."

Illusion paused and stared at the door beside her. Mirage hit her helm. "Don't you dare!"


It was dead silent in the Decepticon base, probably because there weren't many of them there. There were hatchlings everywhere, though most were in sacs that hung on the pillars and walls. Sabersteel noticed they were all too dull. The hatchlings inside most likely would not survive without more energon. Speaking of energon, Sabersteel had been assigned to work on a formula for synthetic energon so it could be used to keep the hatchlings alive and help revive Shockwave when he arrived.

Just like Decepticons. Always doing too many things at once that require too much attention. Not that the Autobots are any better.

There was a clang and a startled screech. It came from a hatchling. The sac must have been too thin to support it, and it had given way. Sabersteel didn't have to look at it to know it was dead. It was not even developed enough to move. A drone moved from the corner and picked up the body. It then left, leaving Sabersteel to wonder where it was taking it.

He picked up a data pad and read the formula on it. It was a good thing Sabersteel knew how to read many versions of Cybertronian. He thought about translating it for a moment, then realized it would be best to leave it as it is. If any Decepticon in the base could read it, they might steal it, though they would not be able to do much with this part of the formula alone.

Another clang. Another sparkling had fallen. That was the fourth one today. The other two had fallen earlier. Sabersteel grabbed some supplies to begin a test run on processing the energon. He had the formulas, as well as the materials, so all he needed to do was apply them. He looked at the shelf of supplies before him. They could have only come from Cybertron, and Shockwave probably sent them himself. He may have even processed them from raw materials. Sabersteel cursed the other scientist.

How could one live a life purely dictated by logic? Even Sabersteel found that…unnecessary. Of course, he let too much emotion control him. The old mech was losing his touch, and he knew it. His processor, great as it was, was becoming useless. It was practically frying itself as the days went by. Sabersteel could tell. He could almost feel it.

Another clang, and this time Sabersteel looked up. The sparkling pods were so thin he could see the hatchling bodies pressing against the sides. Not only were they thin, but they were not growing large enough to give the hatchlings room to develop. This whole bunch was already offline. They never had a chance. Besides, Decepticon hatchlings needed fresh air and a bit of light to develop correctly. These were shut off from both, as well as a gentle touch and a kind spark nearby that would aid in their growth. How did Megatron expect for these hatchlings to survive if no one cared for them?

Honestly, the whole idea of a hatchling seemed to be more trouble than it was worth. Cybertronians had many ways to reproduce, though some were better than others. Unfortunately, with the war, it was too difficult to bring young into the world. Of course, it was still done, usually in two methods. The Autobots had sparklings, which they carried and gave birth to like organics did. As difficult and time consuming as it was, it was better for both the carrier and the sparkling.

Decepticons did it a different way. They had hatchlings. It was their way of keeping as many fighters on the battlefield as they could without worrying about losing the young should the carrier be offlined. Hatchlings did not have bonds to their creators as sparklings did, and sometimes it seemed as if they were drones despite being born instead of built. The Fallen had liked it this way, and Megatron had adopted it, seemingly liking it as well. With no family bonds, the less fighters were lost.

Now that Sabersteel thought about it, he realized that he did not like this method. He hated it. It was unfair and unethical! Cybertronian young needed bonds with their parental units. It kept them happier and healthier. They came out with personalities and aspirations! They didn't come out like sparkless drones who cared for no one and about nothing else but war. As soon as hatchlings came out of the sac, they did one of two things. They either cried and reached for the nearest spark signature, or struggled to reach it and began to aggressively attack it. Sabersteel knew this. He had been a hatchling himself, and he could not forget it.

He remembered being born to kill. Being confused without anyone to reassure him that everything would be fine. But it wouldn't be, and it never would be. He was a defect. They were going to offline him if he had cried. He had not attacked, but he had not cried either. He had communicated better than any hatchling could, and it just so happened that a scientist had been present. Had it not been for that scientist, he would have been offlined that day. Part of him wished he had…

Sabersteel had heard countless stories of scientists becoming soft, or realized that their line of work was barbaric and had a change of spark. He had always assured himself that it would not happen to him. But unfortunately, it already had. There was no explanation for why other than it just…happened. Sabersteel ignored it at first, but now he could not. Now he was considering accepting it. He was considering accepting that he was no longer the cold sparked scientist. Maybe he was getting old, but he did have one wish. A wish that if fulfilled, he could die a happy mech. Of course, it wouldn't be fulfilled if he just sat around here doing what Megatron ordered.

Another clang. The final clang. Sabersteel had enough. He was done. His career had ended. He gathered all of the files on synthetic energon and stored it away in his personal files and subspace. He would make sure they got into good servos. This was a human facility, so it was not hard for him to pull up the layout of the building. As soon as he did, he scanned out four possible escape routes, and selected the best one. With so few Decepticons in this new base, he expected escape to be easy, though he may need cover. What better than the raw materials his dear friend Shockwave had sent?


Well, ain't that a caution. I sorta made up the whole sparkling-hatchling thing because I don't like the idea of everyone coming from the Allspark. Plus it helps with some charactor development, eh? Hope you enjoyed! Have a good'n!

...Oh slag. It's rainin'...I gotta walk in this...ugh life!