Well... I missed my weekly updating on Thursday.. Ah, well, a day late is better than it could be.. :P

Disclaimer: I own nothing but my story and characters, Nightracer, Lightwave, Steeldust, and Silver.

Hope you enjoy!

Chapter Nineteen - More Trouble Brewing

Barricade sat in his alt mode not far from the school. He was hidden, but could see the track behind the building clearly.

Two younglings ran around in a circle in a seemingly casual jog.

Casual, but faster than the average youngling.

The law enforcer sent out a secure comm request.

"Yes, Barricade? Make it quick, I'm busy."

"You know that youngling you hired me to find?"

"Yes, yes. What about him?"

"I believe I've located him," said Barricade. "The description matches, not to mention his records. He is, as was expected, in Praxus."

"Perfect. I knew hiring you was a good choice. And has the youngling inherited his sire's speed?"

Chuckling, Barricade watched the navy and black. "Affirmative."

"Wonderful. We'll just keep an optic on him for now. When he's a bit older, I may just pay him a visit. Make an offer he can't refuse."

"From what I'm seeing, it won't be hard to convince him," replied Barricade. He paused a klik. "You know, I may have found another one who would be interested as well."

"Oh? Let me guess, a rival for the young racer? Is he any good?"

"You could say that. I'll look into the school's database and find more out about the youngling if you wish."

"Do that and let me know what you find out, Barricade.

"Now, what have you to report about your- Research project. My contact is getting anxious."

With a laugh, the enforcer gleefully replied, "It's only a matter of time before the plan can be set in motion."

"Splendid. I will relay your message to my contact. Keep up the good work, Barricade."

With that, the comm was disconnected.

Barricade chuckled. Things were going well. If this continued, he should be able to finish his job by the end of the jour.

Then, he could move on from Praxus.

"As long as that nosy investigator and his suspicious enforcer friend keep to their own business."

Which could be dealt with if the need arose.

Driving out of his parking space, the black and white moved off to his next task.

Completely unaware that a certain enforcer and investigator had heard almost everything.

"Whaddya think the mech means by research project? An' what would someone want with Steeldust an' Dragstrip?" Jazz asked, sitting across the desk from Prowl.

The enforcer shook his helm, rubbing his chevron in thought. "I do not know, Jazz. If we could figure out who Barricade was talking to, it might give us a clue. But we will have to keep a close optic on him."

"Can't we do anythin'?" The visored investigator threw up his hands. "We've got enough things against him, don't we?"

Prowl twitched his doorwings. "Unfortunately, it is almost our word against his."

"And what about Silver?"

"I already questioned him on that," growled Prowl. "He claims to have been elsewhere with a friend. The friend confirmed his story."

"Seriously? But it was him wasn't it?"

"We are quite certain. There's nothing we can do. Yet."

Jazz leaned back in his chair and groaned. "Dis playin' by da rules is ridiculous sometimes, ya know dat?"

"Jazz-"

"We better keep a good watch on the mech."

"Agreed."

Steeldust brought his servos up in front of his torso, blocking his opponent's strike. Dancing a few steps away, he ducked under another one.

Letting himself crumple to the ground, the navy and black rolled to the side, aiming a kick to his opponent's pedes as he went.

The other fighter jumped over the pede trying to trip him. He launched himself forwards, landing on top of Steeldust.

"Oof," grunted Steeldust. He squirmed out of the other youngling's grip and lightly kicked him in the helm.

"Ouch," came the protest.

Steeldust was grabbed by the pede and dragged backwards. He twisted, grabbing the wrist of the servo holding him. With a quick chopping motion, he used his free hand to smack the elbow joint of his opponent.

Once released, Steeldust scrambled to his pedes, the other mecha doing the same, while rubbing his wrist.

Wasting no time, Steeldust charged, aiming low for the pedes.

The other youngling surprisingly caught him by the shoulderplates, holding him back. Steeldust brought his doorwings upward, catching the youngling in the jaw with one.

"Oww."

"Sorry," muttered Steeldust, backing away. He watched his opponent carefully, stance ready to move.

He didn't have to wait long.

Charging towards him, the older youngling feigned right.

Steeldust took the bait and dodged to avoid.

He moved right where his opponent wanted him.

In astrokliks he was on his backplates, a shocked expression across his faceplate, wind knocked out of him.

Smokescreen stood above him, grinning. "I got ya."

Taking the extended hand, Steeldust let Smokescreen pull him up. Bending over he coughed a few times, recovering from the hit.

"You good, Steel?"

Waving him off, the navy and black nodded. Straightening, he grinned up at his friend. "You bet. Nice move. I did not see that one coming."

Smokescreen laughed. "Thanks, you did pretty well yourself. I've never thought of using my doorwings as a weapon."

Steeldust smirked. "They're actually quite effective as long as you don't injure them."

"Yeah, I can see that going really wrong in some cases," nodded Smokescreen. Gesturing with a digit over his shoulder, he continued. "We'd better get going though. Someone will be looking for us sooner or later."

"Right. We should spar again sometime though. It was fun."

"Yeah, it was. See if you can manage to come closer to beating me next time," Smokescreen smirked.

"Oh, so that's how it is?" laughed Steeldust, walking alongside the taller youngling. "Maybe I was just taking it easy on you."

"Well, I know you were laying off on the speed part. I doubt anything else though."

"Haha. Rub it in will ya?"

The two younglings snickered as they left the empty room and travelled to their next classes.

"See you later, Steel."

"Bye, Smokescreen."

Truth be told, Steeldust may just have been holding back a little bit. Jazz had been teaching him some self defence lately. Steeldust in turn had showed Smokescreen some of the things he'd been taught, but not everything.

Smokescreen was already better than him, he didn't need to know all Steel's moves.

"Someone's been looking for Steeldust?" Silver asked, looking up in concern.

"Apparently," nodded Jazz, leaning a hand on the teacher's desk. "Prowl and Ah overheard the mecha talkin' earlier. Prowl's working ta get some more security 'round here."

"I see." Silver crossed her servos, resting them in front of her on the desk. Frowning, she continued. "Who do you think is looking for him? And why? He's just a youngling."

Jazz shrugged. "Somethin' ta do with racin' it seemed like. Ah dunno. It's weird."

"I'll say."

Getting to her pedes, Silver began gathering the things she was taking home with her.

"I assume you've already talked to the headmaster?"

"Yep."

"Good."

The two mecha left the classroom and made their way to the building's entrance.

Once they reached the sidewalk, Silver turned to Jazz, giving him a questioning look.

"Was there something else you wanted to talk to me about, Jazz?"

"No, Ah'm just yer escort home," replied the investigator with a grin.

The femme gave him a pointed look.

"Enforcer's orders," he added.

Sighing, Silver rolled her optics. "Really. You two don't need to worry so much. I can take care of myself you know. And if not, I know who to call."

Jazz shrugged. "Prowler's just lookin' out fo' ya, Silv."

"I know. And it's awfully sweet of him to. You as well."

"So, dis mean yer not gonna argue bout it anymore?" Jazz asked, grinning mischievously.

"No, it just means I appreciate the thought," remarked Silver, smiling as she lifted her chin.

Jazz chuckled. "Ah guess we'll have ta settle fo' dat. Shall we?" Extending a hand, the investigator stepped onto the road.

Rolling her optics again, Silver let him take her hand and help her off the sidewalk. "You are ridiculous, you know that?"

"Yeah, Ah know," Jazz replied. "Prowl's told me lots. Ya must be hangin' round him too much."

Silver laughed and transformed into her alt form, driving away from the school. Jazz followed after, keeping watch for anyone suspicious.

He'd already taken Steeldust home, but had come back for Silver. Prowl would have come himself, but was otherwise occupied and was unable to.

Steeldust laid on the couch upside down, pedes propped up over the back. His blue-green optics took in every detail of the race he was watching on the holovid screen.

The upside-down racers zipped around the track, some pulling ahead, some falling behind.

Steeldust took it all in.

He was so absorbed in watching, that he didn't hear Jazz come through the front door.

The investigator wandered into the living room, smirking at the sight. Leaning against the couch beside the pedes, he glanced down at the youngling.

"More fun ta watch the race dat way, Steel?"

Jazz ducked as two pedes came flying off the back of the furniture.

Steeldust sat up quickly, relaxing when he saw it was only Jazz.

"Oh. Hi, Jazz. I didn't hear you come back."

"Ah guess not," nodded the mech. Tilting his helm, he continued. "Good race so far?"

Turning his attention back to the screen, Steeldust nodded rapidly. "Yeah, there's three mecha who are holding their ground for first. I think it'll be one of them, but I'm not sure who will finish first. Probably Lightwave."

"Huh." "That's the racer who was lookin' for Steel that one time."

Jazz wondered temporarily if he was somehow connected to the dilemma with Barricade.

"Probably not. Think he was friends wit' the younglings' sire."

After watching for a few kliks, Jazz picked up a datapad and walked around to sit on the couch next to Steeldust.

He had some researching to do. Silver had given him an idea about what to do to keep Steeldust safe.

Jazz didn't like it, Silver didn't either really. Prowl probably wouldn't be a fan.

But it was something Jazz was good at and it would be very effective.

Hopefully Steeldust would be okay with it if Jazz decided to go ahead with the idea.

"You told Jazz that?"

Silver nodded. She placed a hand over Prowl's. "I don't particularly like the idea either, but you know it would work. And it wouldn't have to be forever."

"I suppose you're right," replied Prowl, thinking it over. "We will still keep surveillance for Drag Strip's sake though. In addition, for you."

"Prowl, stop worrying about me," Silver said firmly. "You're already wearing yourself out because you're trying to do too much. You're exhausted."

"I am not taking on too many things if that is what you are implying."

Silver gave him a pointed look, crossing her servos. "The fact you just said that? I think that says you know you are. Find someone else to help you deal with Barricade. Please. Jazz told me that Nightracer has already offered."

"Of course, he did," Prowl sighed. "Alright, I will talk to him next solarcycle."

"Thank you, Prowl. You know I just don't want to see you overwork yourself, right?"

Prowl nodded, taking his courted's hand. "I know, Silver. Thank you."

"I worry because I love you, Prowl."

"I love you too, Silver." The enforcer paused, then smiled, quirking an optic ridge. "Now who is worrying?"

Sending him a look, Silver smiled. "Really, Prowl. I suppose if you're allowed to, then so am I."

Thanks for reading!

Credit Song: Born Ready - Dove Cameron