Author's Notes: Sorry for the long time away, life has been crazy. Then challenging finding time on the computer with two roommates who are gamers. Need Ironhide around to help organize the schedule maybe? Maybe not, he's busy with other matters shortly.

Story arc with more twists and I know you hate cliffhangers but it's up to eighteen pages! Arrggh! *gets out laser scalpel and energon dagger* working on paring it down to post with rules. Not to be confusing but Silverblade is telling modern day Ratchet (while being repaired) about meeting Starscream in her past and the narrative flips back to that time to cover the events she DIDN'T know directly then back even FURTHER via Soundwave and his memories. Plot twists and pieces moving into play. Onward to unforeseen dangers and timely interventions.

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WL Rule # 6 Transformers try to blend in with us and our customs but are not human. Their actions reflect their concern for our well being, not that they share our weaknesses.

180. Do not assume our processor motivations coincide with human motivations however similar our races may appear.

Optimus sat down gently on the sand dune, folding his massive legs upright, leaning his arms on them then resting his head on his arms. 'Peaceful and quiet,' he processed, watching the early morning sun glint off the ocean. Seagulls flew overhead calling to each other, a distant freighter's horn sounded, adding to the island atmosphere of Diego Garcia. His optics focused on a white coconut crab scuttling across the sand then returned to watching the waves. Internal timers reminded the upcoming budget meeting, NEST personnel reviews and to double check the satellite relays for the space team update. A hold was slapped on timer notes as he returned to watching the white foam riding the blue green sea waves.

'Ironhide, Sunstreaker and Sideswipe are in space checking out communication satellites to see if any have been compromised with the NASA space shuttle team. I can still see their Director's face. Though whether he was more upset his technology had been stolen from us or we were aliens and no one had told him I'm still not sure,' the large blue and red mech chuckled softly.

"Ratchet, Elita and Magnus are in Australia tracking a possible Decepticon seeker hiding there. Ratchet will ensure those two get along. And be able to repair when they don't." His processer sped up as he reviewed the current officers available. "Prowl is dependable but terrible at delegating. My other team members need more experience themselves but getting them off their afts for anything other than battle or pranks is like changing spark spires. Not like I can refuse…or can I?" His lip plates changed to a smirk, the delight reflecting in his blazing optics.

Red Alert, Autobot medical assistant and Ratchet's trainee discovered Optimus sitting on the sand, watching the sea an hour later. "Sir, sorry to interrupt but," he began transforming into his bi-pedal mode from his fire chief's car disguise.

"No." Optimus stated, a flatness to his normal regal baritone.

"But sir, I didn't finish," the red and white medic said.

"No," Optimus repeated without emotion.

Most mechs would have left or stopped there but Red Alert served under Ratchet and his temper tantrums and inflexibility were endured daily. "Sir, your review on forms and orders are needed."

"I don't care," Optimus turned only his head to face him, his optics a dull blue. "You handle it." He faced back towards the sea.

"Are you functioning properly?" He asked, trying to run diagnostic scans. Every one reflected back by a low level dampening field surrounding the sitting bot.

"I'm tired and I do not care. Leave me alone."

"Do you need to recharge?"

"I did. Go away," he ordered, his vocal tone sounding weary and odd.

"If you need to recharge I can…Arrggh!" Red Alert screamed as an energon sword suddenly slid out, slicing his direction as Optimus raised his arm up and over his shoulder. Without moving the rest of his massive frame, he retracted the sword and resumed his watching position.

"I do not care what you want. I am tired of dealing with idiot humans who want nothing but to steal our technology and harass us. I am tired of fighting my own brother in a war that has nearly destroyed our race. I am tired of winning at terrible costs and being patched up and repaired and cannot even join the matrix in peace. I am tired of every bot relying on me for their hope and looking to my spilled energon to save their afts. You do what you want, I want to be left alone."

Red Alert's optics spun as his processors flipped through known processer errors and spark scenarios. Nothing in his files fit a despondent Prime who refused his duties. Silently, the mech backed up a few steps, turning and transforming before zooming off. Optimus waited until he was beyond audio range then burst out laughing, rocking on his frame. "I estimate half a breem for Prowl to contact me by comm link, not believing Red Alert. Then he will have to assign the others my tasks as he cannot be spread too thinly. Oh, I should have done this vorns ago."

To the breem estimated, Prowl's signal chimed. Optimus hesitated then deliberately opened the comm signal and slammed it close, adding a note. ::Go away. I do not care. Some other bot can handle it from now on:: Optimus sent, chuckling and stretching. He considered returning to his quarters to run a light recharge. "No, the second I appear they will need me," his optics scanned the area, selecting a wider space between the palms trees that would hold his weight and size. Transforming, he rolled into the little clearing, the ocean in front of him and Annabelle's castle to the side. Automatic reactive proximity detectors were set for any Decepticon presence or attempted intrusions. 'Last thing I need is a surprise attack,' he reasoned, triggering the recharge sequence. 'Hate to miss the meteor showers tonight because I'm holed by weapons fire or taken over by a trans mode virus.'

A breem later, Prowl approached in his bi-pedal mode, all his non-essential internal systems on standby. He saw Optimus sitting in daylight in his truck mode without moving. The faintest ping told him the mech was in recharge. He exchanged a worried look with Major Will Lennox and Master Sergeant Epps. 'No closer and he will not know we were here. My systems are barely detectable this low. He always sets automatic defenses. "

"Red Alert was right. Something is wrong with Prime," Will murmured.

"Wrong, how about tired?" Epps asked. "Big Buddha there has been fighting longer than our civilization has existed. Needs a rest, probably depressed a bit. You get mental health breaks, I do and all soldiers get R & R. When does he get a break? Ever?"

Prowl considered the concept as the humans watched their Prime. "Possible. I am sending requests for assistance to Ratchet and Ironhide and will continue to do so. The situation is non-emergency but requires their input. Both teams are in complete signal silence to avoid Decepticon detection. We must wait and watch." They left the clearing, leaving strict orders no one was to disturb him and to report the minute he moved.

That evening Optimus pulled out of recharge, transforming and feeling great. He stretched, ignoring the waiting comm messages. Striding forward, he approached the sea, hands on hip plates to watch the pounding waves.

"Optimus," a soft feminine voice called his name. He half-turned, seeing Elita approaching.

"Lita," he vented softly, feeling his spark increase. Smiling, he opened his arms and waited, calculating the distance. Bounding forward, he grabbed her when she would have stopped, hugging her close. "Mine!"

"Ahem," Ratchet and Ironhide stood behind her. "You've ignored our messages. Prowl and Red Alert are frantic and the video of your conversation this morning was not reassuring. Mind explaining?" Ratchet said, optics spinning.

ALERT! Intrusion detected! Flashed across his still active defensive systems. Automatically, he pushed Elita back to get her clear, subspacing his weapons as processers went into overdrive breaking time into fragmented seconds. The silver connection cables on her wrist wriggled from their being torn out of his wrist connection. Ratchet and Ironhide reacted, charging their systems. Then his foot slid, unable to gain traction as his weight sent the small sand dune sliding. He began tilting backward, arms wind milling as the sand collapsed. Emergency fields engaged around his chest and spark to prevent saltwater contact as his frame slammed into the sea.

KAWHOOSH!

A mini tidal wave swamped the shore. Salt water covered his face, mouth plates and optics closed. Humiliation kept him prone for a moment, before he attempted to sit up. Optics opened to see them regarding him with amused and wary expressions.

"Not one word," he growled.

::I tired to link in and he ripped out the connection:: Elita sent on a tight beam, worried and mad.

::Coordination is abnormal. Systems are hyper sensitive. Try the easy way and ask him to go to med-bay? Or not:: Ratchet sent then vented as Ironhide tackled Prime, yelling about not resisting for his own good.

In the end, Optimus was sedated and dragged onto the shore with sand crammed in his lower systems and seaweed wound around his left audio rotator. Ironhide's shields protected his chest and spark but not his left cannon. It had become detached and both had rolled over it, warping the metal encasement rings. Elita needed her leg welded after kicking both their afts and Ratchet thoroughly enjoyed chewing Optimus out about acting like a youngling then ordered him to take a few days off with Elita, after attending to the wash racks to remove the dead fish smell.

WL Rule # 7 Transformers look like cars but their parts are not available at the local parts store so don't assume those parts are easy to replace or adjust.

181. Do not become frustrated with human misunderstanding regarding our complex mechanical nature. They do not understand all the buttons on their TV remotes that they use daily, why would they understand interlinked internal alien systems?

Mikeala grinned up at her Autobot teacher and friend. "Want to wager five hundred credits?" She swung her dark hair into a ponytail, letting it fall onto her white lab coat. When she appeared with Ratchet, she wore the outfit over her jeans and t-shirt per his request. He didn't care how she dressed but the professional appearance restrained human injuries from thrown wrenches. Mikeala belonged with Sam and Ratchet let no other male near her, eager to demonstrate his aim and restraint in only 'bruising' potential admirers. "Five hundred credits on the blonde communications tech asking another gender based question."

Ratchet blinked his optics at her before leaning closer. "What would you do with Cybertronian credits? And no bet, that is all he processes."

"True," she tilted her head to the side. "This war can't last forever. Sam was on Cybertron and I hope to in my lifetime," she said wistfully. "Pick up a souvenir or two."

They were interrupted by a slamming door. The wood creaked in the frame, the pictures on the wall knocked askew with the echoing force. Cliffjumper stood there, his head almost retracted onto his shoulders. "Weak hinges," he explained, taking the auditorium two steps at a time before standing normally, on the stage side. The medic ignored him, gesturing for the recruits to read the screens embedded in their desks.

"Lessons for this week plus off duty assignments. Quizzes at random. First questions?" Ratchet asked. Predictably, three familiar recruit hands went up, including the one belonging to the blonde communications tech.

"I have a personal question," he blushed, looking over at Mikeala then back towards the mech center stage. "The interfacing between Transformers, has to… that is… must…?"

"Require a mech and femme?" Ratchet anticipated, while texting a 'congratulations' and 'you win 500 credits' message to Mikeala's cell phone.

"Any way two mechs could?" he trailed off as the medic focused his spinning optics.

"Mechs have the interface rod and the femmes the matching port. A previous lecture covered there are no exceptions."

"Ever?"

"Were my teachings not clear?" he half growled, optics narrowing together. Mikeala stepped forward and addressed the man herself.

"Alien yes, different possibilities yes but their spark determines their gender. Their protoform is built on that spark recognition without variance or mistake. And before you ask, yes a mech could add an interface port or interchange the two sections however," she frowned, folding her arms. "Previous lectures have stated repeatedly the Transformers are not simple machines but complex interconnected sentient beings. Low level mechanical parts can be changed or replaced but,"

Ratchet took back over. "Transformer technology" he displayed two very different holograms of internal circuitry, "contains specific connections. The programming to register, control and transfer stimulus are gender specific and baseline coded from sparkling onlining. Each frame upgrade adds to the systems complexity. An interface port could be exchanged but unable to link directly."

"They would be a femme body with a mech spark," Cliffjumper interrupted. "Primus! What a mess that would be! System conflicts all over the parts. Glitchy and unstable."

"Mechs are mechs and femmes are femmes. At ease!" Major Lennox ordered, entering the auditorium. "For the thousandth time the Transformers are not human!"

"Humans age from children to teenagers via hormones to full adults. Transformers are not driven by hormones but programming," Mikeala stressed. "They don't dominate partners for control and have the sex crimes human do."

"We exist for thousands of years, would you let a monster roam among your kind that long? That is why our penalties are severe for certain offenses. A damaged mech or femme, within certain limitations, can transfer data and program patches or entire system relays from a fellow mech or femme. Would you want to transfer that into your systems? Neither do we," Ratchet finished. "Enough questions. Your turn. Ten responses required, you could miss one to pass. Two or more and you will review every medical alert and file there is," he quirked the edges of his lip plates up as they groaned, accepting the tests Mikeala handed out.

Cliffjumper read his, optic ridges rising up. His jaw gear dropped by the second page. 'Not %*& again!" the medic swore internally, scanning the test and recognizing the twins work. Every odd numbered question was the ones he and Mikeala had created. The even numbered ones were not.

2. Can a Transformer get lost?

a. Only when a human is driving.

b. With GWPS, Galaxy wide positioning system, radar, targeting sensors, fifty-four ways to scan from x-ray to infrared to molecular - never going to happen.

c. Every time we try to understand human thinking, actions, or behavior.

d. Better be more concerned if you can when a Transformer finds you and they are not happy.

e. None of the above.

4. Major Lennox is a long distance runner and often gets heat sick or hypothermic. In an emergency you,

a. Notify Ratchet to tackle the Major and drag him to med bay.

b. If overheated, watch Ratchet dump a dump truck load of cool water on the Major.

c. If cold, Ratchet will grab him and wrap in a heated blanket like a sparkling and hold close.

d. When lost, send Grimlock the Dinobot to retrieve then listen to Ratchet lecture on safety.

e. All of the above as stored videos for your viewing pleasure on the NEST mainframe.

6. When Prime got mad (yes, a Prime gets mad) he once:

a. Ripped the face off a Decepticon before punching through its worthless spark.

b. Welded Ironhide's hands and feet together and welded his arm cannon to his back, firing end pointing at Ironhide.

c. Used his pulse rifle to blast a wall, not realizing it was a major support for nearby structure and had to be rescued from the rubble.

d. Took a jet pack and tried to follow an ascending spaceship to chase Megatron.

e. All of the above but do not remind him of any of these or you will be answer # f.

8. Best way to take down a Transformer:

a. There is no best way to take down anything but your own short life span squishy.

b. If there is, we ain't telling.

c. A magnetic pulse touch and beating spark by a femme.

d. Ironhide in a bad mood, need we say more?

e. Ratchet on a bad day, good day or any day in between when you are caught skipping a physical.

"Mikeala, did the twins help with this quiz?" Ratchet quietly asked.

"No, not that I know of why?"

"Those 500 credits you won, did you know they can be used to bail yourself out of the brig?" he said, holding the copy in front of her.

"Now why would I need to?" she trailed off reading the quiz. "How many do I need for offlining two mechs that deserve it?"

"That's free and I'll help," Cliffjumper volunteered, his red battle mask snapping into place before transforming into a red Camaro with black stripes. Lennox sighed, pulling out his cell phone, keying in the alarm code for twin trouble to alert all Autobots. Beyond that, it was up to them to escape Mikeala.

Story Arc – "Finding who you are" (part three) Starscream and Silverblade

On the moon bases command center, the standoff continued. Surprisingly, the silver seeker seemed excited by her threat. "Your name femme?" His red optics filtered up her entire frame, from foot pads to the silver chevron on her front helm.

"Lead technician Silverblade and the last bot your optics will discern. Now, where is the proof?" The hum of her weapon charge increased. Teasingly, she deliberately flipped her shoulder inner link several times, making it sound like the safeties were disengaging and the targeting locks setting. 'Thinks he is Primus gift to femmes and invincible? Darkstrength is right, all seekers are vain,' she thought.

He vented rapidly, faceplates flipping through half a dozen expression variations before tossing a data chip her direction. The console data port confirmed the orders that a mech named Soundwave would arrive and need mainframe access without being recorded. 'How nice the seeker's name is not mentioned or his supposed rank,' she thought. Her shoulder cannon returned to its storage in subspace.

He started forward then hesitated as her wrist blasters hummed. "The orders clear Soundwave, not you messenger mech. Why are you here?"

"My program upgrades will allow us to create the army we need. We can conquer Cybertron for the glorious Decepticon cause and see the Primes crushed underfoot." He gloated, raising one fist towards the ceiling.

Silverblade pretended to appear bored."Upgrades work when tested then fail when the next patch is added. You tangle with Primes and you lose. I want power and command authority. Not obtainable if you are in pieces or tied up with energon supply reports for your great army seeker. Now leave. I have a base to run. Unless you want to tell Lord Megatron why the shifts were delayed?" She pretended to glare, letting red seep into her optics. He half bowed, his full red optics never leaving her as he turned and left. She burst out laughing the moment the lift closed. 'Thank you Lightwind for teaching me to change optic color and appear so arrogant. Better hide this,' her Decepticon symbol rotated back inside.

"I was in the command center," Silverblade told Ratchet, pulling herself out of the past. "I was telling Darkstrength and Lightwind, not realizing it was Starscream. A request for my presence on the flight deck, high priority override required by maintenance flashed across our systems. I told them I would be right back."

"What happened?" Ratchet asked, pulling back from welding her main spine. Her story fascinated him but his processer had already correlated the time and location and he knew the disaster that was coming. It was the event that first made him realize the war was growing and threatening to involve their entire world.

"From what I could piece together, Decepticons boarded the station, an Autobot assault force close behind. I only knew I was needed on the flight deck, not an unusual request." Her optics closed as she relived the events, never knowing the movements beyond her knowledge.

Decks below the command center, Starscream leaned on the bulkhead, listening to the thrumming of his spark. 'Never has a femme caused me to feel like this,' he vented. 'Arrogant, power hungry and perhaps worthy of my attentions.' His internal comm flashed its highest priority incoming alert.

::Starscream you fool. You're late. Is the moon base ready?:: Megatron

::Lord Megatron a thousand pardons. I…was delayed. It is as you command:: Starscream

"Do not fail me," Megatron's voice deepened and sounded ahead of Starscream.

'Oh pit,' the seeker realized as the Decepticon commander appeared in his bi-pedal mode, Soundwave and two of his cassette warriors following close behind.

"I watched that little scene via Soundwave's monitoring," the Decepticon leader sneered.

"That femme handed you your aft right quick," Rumble snickered, staying out of reach behind Soundwave's legs.

"That femme is none of your concern," Starscream snarled.

"Maybe she should be mine. A fiery spark can be broken and made to serve," Megatron growled.

Soundwave watched the two of them verbally clash before Starscream retreated towards the shuttle. "Rumble, Ravage attend Megatron." The mechs left as his processors reviewed her file. His optics flared and spun wildly for an astro second. "Decision made. Secrecy required. Signal request sent."

Silverblade exited the main lift, stopping as a large silver blue square mech faced her. "Can I help you?" He never moved as the flash threw her into stasis shutdown. She floated in darkness, hearing the faintest sounds and feeling a gently rise and fall like floating. Optics opened slowly, discerning the hallway stripe for the private shuttle areas. Rotating her head up, the silver blue mech's face filled her vision. 'Red eyes, not familiar,' she processed fuzzily, systems still disabled. Silverblade struggled weakly, barely moving.

"Be at peace little one, the stars shine long for us," Soundwave quoted in a deep monotone, nearly sending her back under in shock by using the clan greeting. He carried her to a private shuttle lock, before setting her down gently inside.

"Why?" She asked, her vocals barely audible.

"Parameters indicate insufficient cognitive indicators for relative battle conditions," he stated. Her confusion must have been evident. "Translated too nice. Continual inhabitation of moon base detrimental. Megatron demonstrates dangerous interest."

"In me?" she realized the danger that meant. "You're sending me away to protect, why?"

"Irrelevant," he stated, optics focused on the wall. They cycled in tight as though in pain before refocusing. The door hissed open, revealing a short docking tube. He carried her inside, before raising his hand to her optics. A flash and she was out in full recharge. He set the shuttle controls for a neutral mining base and watched the ship depart under AI control. A massive orange ship approached from the other direction.

"Autobots detected, Prime Mechner and assault force. Decepticon victory assured. Clan symbol remains secret," the Decepticon tactician stated, his memory processor bringing up the image of his spark sister. Her image was almost identical to that of Silverblade. Soundwave knew he should be combat ready but his long dormant pain flared to life. He closed his optics, accessing a data file kept with his tightest firewalls and fragmented among his spark settings to hide its existence. In astro seconds, it reassembled, allowing him to relieve a history only two knew.

Her apartment in the city of Trypticon was small but colorful. He never tired of its light and celebration of the diversity of Cybertronic culture. But its cheerfulness failed as their argument continued.

"The clan elders have worked hard and long on this arrangement. The mech is a politician, scientist and no one speaks ill of him," the young silver femme stated, as though trying to convince herself.

"Join the Decepticons," he offered, holding out both armored hands. She vented softly, moving forward to let him embrace her.

"I'm not a warrior 'Wave. I want a simple existence. A loving mech sparkmate, sparklings and a home. This bond ceremony units two powerful clans." Her quiet spark beat was barely detectable to his sensors, a reminder of her delicate nature.

"Negative. Arrangement unsuitable. Happiness low probability," he challenged, wanting to hold her and never let go.

"Win this war. Change our history. Until then, stay safe my brother. I am going to bond with Alpha Trion. Will you be there?" Her optics locked onto his as she stepped back.

"Uncertain. The Fallen commands, I obey," he avoided a direct answer, locking the emotional pain down. They talked a short time then he left, the closing of her door a pain through his spark. He never contacted their parental unit, missing the bonding ceremony to research sparklings and spark splitting. Private comm links confirmed his sister well and happy. He always left the location of the next Decepticon meeting and an offer to attend. She refused, wanting to give the relationship time as the orns passed. His emotions became more locked, his words fewer as her life slowly became less and less. Then the comm call that changed everything.

"Soundwave acknowledges," he answered, not reading the signal coding.

"We have two mech sparklings 'Wave! You have to see them!" Her voice transmitted her sheer joy.

"Affirmative." Soundwave received the coordinates to meet at. She waited for him in the gardens outside the Temple Proper, both sparklings in a carrying lift. The younger sparkling, with his blue markings was quiet, sipping his energon bottle slowly. The older silver sparkling caught his interest. He drained his bottle, then stole the other bottle, slapping at his brother.

"Now now. Don't be a fussy little mech," she encouraged, before gently wrestling the stolen one away. Both were given a second bottle. "He is strong willed."

"Alpha Trion's standing?" Soundwave asked.

"No, they are orphans from the disaster. We never bonded. He wants their origins kept a secret. He's at the Senate then scheduled for research in the labs, like always," her expression saddened, revealing her loneliness. Then the little blue mech kicked, reaching for her.

"Orion is sweet and loves to be cuddled," she stroked his little blue helm plates tenderly. "Megatron prefers Alpha and has to be watched or gets into mischief, grabbing everything to his side. It's all I can do to take care of them and keep my processors from tripping."

Soundwave's optics glittered. Emotion stirred his processors. Pure unadulterated hate. Hate for a mech that denied his sister a fulfilled life then burdened her with orphaned mechs like a nurse bot. He would wait for them to age then one or both would meet his leader, the Fallen. And they would turn on Alpha Trion and he would lose his spark and his dreams of a perfect society before the Decepticons. And Soundwave would find the mate worthy of his sister as Cybertron became the conquerors of the universe.

To be continued…

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Author's Notes: Yes, Soundwave's sister is the femme who was arranged bonded with Alpha Trion and became the femme who would raise the orphaned Optimus (then know as Orion) and Megatron. That is why he helped Silverblade because they are the same clan but she is NOT his sister or direct relation. Their clan had hundreds of mechs and femmes, small but powerful. Larger clans had over a million mechs and femmes before the war.