Early hours of the morning, Mirage did not recharge, only laying next to his slumbering mother for a few hours after the mission. The sparkling quietly snuck out of the room, into the main room where his brother was just finishing putting away all the rest of the energon.
"Twins happy." Mirage chirped bouncing over to his big brother.
"To be honest, I just didn't want to hear the bickering and whining." Soundwave chuckled through a hiss of pain, while putting away the last energon cube.
Mirage could see his brother's wounds from last night were still painful. He nodded with a shrug, agreeing with the slender mech.
"You didn't recharge did you?" The violet mech sighed as the sparkling followed him around.
"You no recharge to!" Mirage countered at the violet mech.
"No, I couldn't fall into recharge." Soundwave replied to his little brother. "I tried."
"Ow?" Mirage gestured to the bioluminescent mech's new scars.
Soundwave exhaled deeply, turning to his little brother. "Painful yes, these wounds certainly didn't help sooth me into slumber."
"What doing?" The sparkling asked changing the subject.
"I'm going on patrol with Optimus. After that I'm not sure." The violet mech replied cleaning the energon processor. "Why, what are your plans today?"
"Tracking." Mirage simply replied.
"Doing training exercises with Arcee, and our Mother?" Soundwave questioned, as those were the only two expert trackers he could think of besides him and Mirage.
"Nope." Mirage bluntly replied, walking towards the base exit.
"You're going to track down Megatron's spacebridge..." Soundwave shook his helm in disbelief. "How the hell do you expect to do that?"
"Find con, integrogate them." Mirage simply replied, carrying on towards the exit.
"In-terro-gate." Soundwave corrected his little brother. "Who are you going to interrogate? Knockout, Starscream, Megatron?!" He scoffed with a smirk.
The sparkling shrugged, getting ready to transform, before getting pulled back.
"Mirage this is ludicrous, you can't go off on your own as a one sparkling army, to interrogate Decepticons." Soundwave pulled his sparkling brother away from the exit.
"Let go!" Mirage pulled his arm out of his brother's grip.
"Look..."
"Good morning you two." Optimus greeted the arguing brothers.
"Morning sir." Soundwave and Mirage both greeted the Prime.
"I see you processed the rest of the energon, and put it in storage as well." Optimus gestured to the clutter free, clean main room.
"Yes sir." Soundwave nodded, watching Mirage out of the corner of his optic.
"You two didn't recharge last night did you?" Optimus raised an optic ridge at the young mech and sparkling.
"No sir, we did not." Soundwave replied shamefully.
"Are you ready for our patrol today?" Optimus asked the violet mech.
Soundwave nodded as Mirage made a move to escape the base.
"Mirage I would prefer you wait for an escort to accompany you on your patrol." Optimus Prime said stepping just behind his escaping sparkling.
"Okay..." Mirage squinted his optics, slowly backing out of the exit tunnel.
Optimus was skeptical about the sparkling's reply. But he knew the others would be awake soon, to monitor his mischievous son.
(Hey, if you're awake, can you please watch my brat brother. I am going on patrol with Optimus. Mirage is trying to go off on his own to chase Decepticons. I've already dealt with the energon from yesterday, so if someone could force feed him that'd be great.) Soundwave quickly sent a text to his sparkmate, while Optimus spoke with his sparkling brother.
"Soundwave if you'd be so kind, could you bridge us to the canyon? We can start from there." Optimus kindly asked the young mech.
"Of course Optimus." Soundwave replied easily creating a ground bridge.
Arcee groaned waking as she received a text message. "Oh for Primus sake Mirage..." the femme grumbled getting out of her berth.
As the bridge shut, Mirage made his move towards the exit. He sensitive audio receptors picking up the sound of someone exiting their room. In a flash he cloaked himself so he could not be seen as he made his escape.
"Nice try Mirage, but I saw you." Arcee scoffed approaching the exit tunnel.
"Damn..." Mirage cursed reappearing in front of the cobalt blue femme.
"Come on there will be plenty of time to go after the Cons, later." Arcee said escorting the sparkling back into the main room.
"But important..." Mirage argued as Ratchet entered the room.
"Good morning Arcee, Mirage." The old medic greeted the two bots in the room. "I suppose Optimus is on patrol with Soundwave?"
"He is yes." Arcee replied as the ancient medic turned on the rest of the monitors.
"All the energon is processed and put away, wow!" Ratchet said astonished by the clean tidy room.
"Soundwave didn't recharge last night. So he came out here to do maintenance, I guess he got carried away." The femme shrugged picking up the fussy sparkling.
"Well I'm not going to complain." Ratchet chuckled, handing the young femme the sparkling's bottle full of fresh energon.
"No!" Mirage immediately shoved the intruding bottle away from his face.
"It's always a fight with you, isn't it?" Arcee groaned placing the bottle in the sparkling's servos.
Ratchet narrowed his optics at the sparkling, as Mirage went to throw his bottle. "Don't you dare, sparkling!"
Mirage locked optics with the threatening old medic, quickly pulling the bottle back against his frame, with a pout. "No want..."
"Like Arcee said last night, the fact that you can go without recharge, or energon, is a backup survival system. You need to have energon and recharge, so when such an emergency accures your survival systems will be fully charged. So if you keep refusing to do any of those, when you're able to both recharge and have energon. You will be depleated of your survival systems when you actually need them." Ratchet explained to the pouting sparkling.
Mirage was quiet mulling over what the ancient mech said to him. The medic was correct, if he kept refusing to recharge or have energon. He was depleting his survival systems for no reason. With a sigh and an optic roll, Mirage reluctantly drank from the bottle.
Arcee and Ratchet both exchaged smirks, as the sparkling clumsily drank. Arcee ended up helping hold the bottle as Mirage seemed to be struggling this morning.
"Good that's a start. But you're a sparkling so you require more then just one bottle a day. You get the required amount each day, the faster your survival systems will recharge." Ratchet warned the sparkling as the bioluminescent femme entered the room.
Mirage didn't want to argue with the CMO, as he knew the medic was correct, even though he was hating ever piece of information given. Hearing footsteps behind them, Mirage rolled onto his stomach in Arcee's arms, as he locked optics on his mother.
"Good morning little one." Xanthia cooed at her adorable sparkling, before saying good morning to the adults in the room. "Good morning Arcee, Ratchet."
"Morning Xanthia." Arcee replied placing the half empty bottle down, while trying to keep a hold on the squirming sparkling in her arms.
"Wow all the energon got processed and put away, that was quick, considering how big the pile was from yesterday." Xanthia thought aloud, noticing the main room was clear from the mined energon.
"Yes, your son is quite productive when he's bored." Ratchet said as he prepared some of his medical equipment.
"Soundwave got up early did he?" Xanthia sighed with a smile.
"No, this one took Soundwave on a little trip last night." Arcee said gesturing to the sparkling in her arms. "I don't know what happened. All I know is that Soundwave was to sore from his wounds, to fall into recharge."
"Mirage, what were you doing running around in the middle of the night?!" Xanthia gasped, she was not very happy with her sparkling.
"Megtron, get information." Mirage sheepishly smiled as he cowered in Arcee's arms.
"You found Megatron!?" Ratchet gasped as he gestured with his helm, for the young femme to bring him the sparkling.
"He make spay bridge." Mirage said as Arcee placed him down on a medical berth.
"A spacebridge?! Is that so?" Ratchet said grabbing a scanner. "Where is this spacebridge Megatron is building?" the medic continued to have a conversation with the sparkling as he scanned the tiny being.
"No, know yet." Mirage shrugged as his mother stared at him with concern.
"What's going on Ratchet?" Xanthia asked as a look of concern grew on the medic's face.
"Dammit! I should've known Shockwave would have a backup system for his backup system!" Ratchet hissed as he read his scans.
"What do you mean Ratch?" Arcee asked in confusion.
"I removed that implanted bug that was reverting Mirage further. But I noticed Mirage seems to be smaller in stature and more immature the last few days, I believe he's reverting still as we speak. My scanner picked up something in his processor but to small to confirm, I'd have to open him up to be able to look with my microscope." Ratchet explained quickly putting the sparkling in stasis before Mirage could react.
"I don't understand, how could Shockwave do anything to Mirage, when he's on Cybertron, hopefully pushing up lugnuts." Xanthia asked completely confused on what the two bots were talking about.
"Mirage was attacked by the Decepticons on Cybertron just before we left. Shockwave turned him into sparkling with a relic, that is now destroyed. But we found out everytime we reverted Mirage to his original age, he reversed back into a sparkling because of a bug implant." Arcee tried to explain to the bioluminescent femme.
"Why is he reverting still, then?" Xanthia asked still uncertain of the situation.
"I believe Shockwave had a smaller backup bug, I missed. That's why I'm doing this." Ratchet said as he opened up the sparkling's helm, using a microscope to see on the sparkling's processor. "There, my theory was correct!" Ratchet announced grabbing a tool to remove the minuscule implant. "Removing this may alter his age further, but hopefully it will happen no more. I'm going to triple check this time to make sure I didn't miss a thing this time." Ratchet thought aloud.
"Alter him further, then he'll be a barely functional sparkling?" Arcee mentioned, after the CMO mentioned the risk.
"Not greatly I am hoping, but my guess is six months old." Ratchet shrugged at the cobalt blue femme.
"Why would Shockwave do this, what good is a sparkling to him now?" Xanthia asked, frustrated with the fact that her sparkling was still suffering from Shockwave's effects.
"Long story short, when they recaptured Mirage on Cybertron, they wanted the chance to raise him into their deception, since he was the only other super soldier on Cybertron. So Shockwave's fail safe was to reset Mirage back into a sparkling again if Autobots were able to rescue and restore him." Arcee tried her best to explain in short to the bioluminescent femme.
"It's like a curse almost, Mirage has been nothing but frustrated with the fact that he keeps getting reverted, and I don't blame him." Ratchet said as he closed up the sparkling's expossed processor. "But I could find no more of Shockwave's hidden tricks. Mirage is now stuck as six month old."
"As long as he's healthy." The Mother sighed, scooping her sparkling up off the medical berth.
"He's healthy, and ready for battle." Ratchet replied to the Mother's disapproval.
"Not if I can help it. He's a sparkling, not a war tool." Xanthia scoffed as her sparkling began to wake.
"Xanthia, it's not something you, or any of us can stop. Mirage is very war driven, it's what flows through his veins. You will soon understand." Arcee sighed sadly, wishing it was different for the sparkling.
Xanthia only shook her helm continuing to deny her sparkling was a mutant killer.
Mirage tiredly yawned, his big cyan blue optics scanning the bots in the room. His heavy optics barely able to stay open. Before his systems finally kicked in, reminding him he was after the Deceptions.
Xanthia gasped in surprise as her sparkling hopped out of her arms, onto the floor. While the grey mech calmly entered the room.
Mirage was a bit wobbly, but that didn't seem to slow him down. Finding his stabilizer servos, he toddled his way towards the exit tunnel.
Hey lil red, where you off to?" Jazz scooped the grumpy sparkling up into his arms. "Did you get younger again?" he was joked half heartedly.
"You're correct." Ratchet nodded as the mech approached them. "The problem is solved now though."
"No!" Mirage squirmed in protest in the grey mech's arms.
"Mirage is definitely being the fussy sparkling that scared Hound, back on Cybertron." Ironhide scoffed entering the room with the twins.
"Ha ha, I remember that." The twins snickered as Jazz handed the now crying sparkling to Xanthia.
"Hey all then energon is gone. You didn't move all that on your own Ratch?" Sideswipe asked with genuine concern. Ironhide worked them hard yesterday, but Sideswipe would feel incredibly guilty if the elderly medic moved all the remaining energon.
"No Soundwave did." Ratchet replied, cleaning his recently used surgical tools.
"Oh that was nice of him." Sideswipe smiled as his brother handed him an energon cube.
"Yeah, we'll have to thank him." Sunstreaker added equally grateful for the kind act.
"He just let you two get an easy day." Ironhide snorted sipping his own energon. "Where is the kid anyway?"
"Patrol with Optimus." Arcee answered the weapon specialist, as the young scout finally joined the group.
"Good morning Bee." Sideswipe greeted the tired yellow youngling.
"Morning Side's. Where'd all the energon go?" Bumblebee asked trying to hide his happiness.
"It's all processed and stored." Jazz replied, handing the scout some energon.
Mirage continued to wail in frustration. Squirming frantically in his mother's arms, trying to reach for the base exit.
Bumblebee gazed over to the bioluminescent femme, noting that his brother was now even smaller and more sparkling like. "Ratch I thought you said you got rid of the reverting virus?"
"I did, but there was a back up for it. But worry not youngling. I removed the back up virus, and double checked there was nothing left." The old medic explained to the young scout.
"So now he's even younger." Sideswipe mentioned, looking over at the wailing sparkling.
"Geez Ratch you better hope you removed all of that virus. If Mirage reverts anymore he'll be nothing but a spark." Sunstreaker retorted sarcastically.
"Real funny Sunstreaker." The red and white mech groaned rolling his optics.
"You should work on being able to restore Mirage back to normal." Sunstreaker rolled his optics with a sigh.
Ratchet sighed sadly. "I know I should but I don't know if the relic can be restored. And if it can Shockwave would be the one to know."
"You'll figure it out Ratchet, you always do." Arcee encouraged the old medic.
Ratchet smiled at the young femme, going back to his cleaning. "That's kind of you to say Arcee, but our first priority is to build a ground bridge."
Mirage finally slipped out of his mother's arms, after an uncoordinated landing, he quickly toddled his way to the base exit.
"He's certainly on a mission today isn't he?" Jazz chuckled, watching the moody sparkling make a hasty escape.
"I say let him go and follow him. How far could a little sparkling get." Ironhide scoffed.
"You forget that's Mirage, not a regular sparkling." Ratchet retorted as both femmes quickly followed the sparkling out.
Soundwave walked next to the Prime, keeping quiet as Optimus refreshed his memory banks with the lore of the Primes.
Optimus finished his long explanation, looking over at the young mech, he could tell Soundwave was off thinking of other things. Looking at the sore scars on the bioluminescent frame, reminded the Prime of the young mech's encounter with the warlord. "What are you feeling young mech?"
Soundwave was brought out of his deep thoughts, with the Prime's question. "I don't understand sir?"
"Your encounter with Megatron has taken a toll on you. What is it that troubles you the most?" Optimus simply replied, calm as ever, the Prime was not one to be annoyed easily.
Soundwave was quiet for a moment, before telling the Prime his thoughts. "How do you see Megatron? I just don't know how to take him anymore..."
Optimus gave a disappointing sigh. "Megatron is my brother, and your father. He was family at one point in our life. But his greed, and tyranny split us apart, I believe he became what he truly was all along."
Soundwave looked up at the red and blue mech walking beside him, he could tell the subject was quite upsetting to me Prime.
"During the war, I had a glimmer of hope that Megatron could change his mind, and realize his chaotic mistakes. But after learning that he wanted to spread his chaos and tyranny across the universe, I knew there was no changing him. While he allows this evil to corrupt him, he is no brother to me." Optimus explained staring off in the distance.
"When I was under his command, I was never his son. I thought maybe one day he would acknowledge me as his own, and not just as his most successful asset. I was wrong, very wrong. I was nothing to him then, I am nothing to him now..." the bioluminescent mech sighed, finally letting out that disappointment he held for so long.
"Unfortunately that is Megatron's own loss." Optimus Prime shook his helm with a sigh.
"Then why am I suffering for it?" Soundwave asked turning to the leader.
"Because you have a kind hopefulness in your spark. It hurts to know that someone you tried so hard for, doesn't care if you existed. You realize that now, with that Megatron will torture you, guilt you, and try his best to lure you into manipulation." Optimus warned the young saddened mech.
"I understand..." Soundwave knew Megatron was a mastermind at manipulating, although he would rather die then be under Megatron's will once more.
"You are more then just a worthy asset, you're more then just my apprentice. You have a family here, you needn't worry about searching for family exceptance." Optimus placed a comforting servo on the young mech's shoulder.
Mirage was moving quickly now, his little motivated legs carrying him to a canyon. Suddenly he activated his cloaking disappearing from the femmes sight. "Shit, that's not great!" Arcee cursed now running with Xanthia towards where the sparkling was last.
Mirage's spark was pulling him towards the eavesdropping warlord watching the Prime and apprentice below.
Listening to the antagonizing conversation between the Prime and his son boiled Megatron's blood.
Soundwave nodded with a smile, at his father figure. "Optimus I want to thank you."
"For what youngling?" Optimus replied slightly confused.
"For being there for me, for being the father I never had." Soundwave replied with a smile. Those words being the breaking point for the listening warlord.
Megatron leapt down into the canyon with a yelp of pain as he was suddenly stabbed in the neck on the way down.
"No hurt Wave!" Mirage growled as Megatron reached for him.
"You little runt!" Megatron hissed grabbing and chucking the sparkling at the Prime and Second in Command.
Mirage tumbled through the dirt, on the last roll he found his peds, sliding into his big brother.
"Mirage!" Soundwave gasped quickly scooping up his baby brother.
"I figured I would give you the other sparkling you took from me, while we're on the subject of family matters." Megatron wiped away the energon from his bleeding wound, staring his brother down.
"Mirage!" Xanthia and Arcee both slide down the canyon wall, as missles flew over the canyon just missing them, landing next to the Prime and bioluminescent mech.
Starscream flew over the canyon, transforming landing next to his master. "Look what I found my liege, it seems Shockwave is a poor assassin after all." Starscream sneered at the bioluminescent femme.
"Xanthia you live, how wonderful for your children. It's unfortunate that you will be putting them through the same trauma of dying in front of them." Megatron's voice dripped with sarcasm. "Seems everyone you've stolen from me is here, Optimus." The warlord sneered at the red and blue mech.
"I did not steal anything from you Megatron. You pushed them away." Optimus Prime replied to his venomous brother.
"And you came scampering to be the hero didn't you." Megatron challenged the Prime.
"No he chose to be there for us, unlike you!" Xanthia hissed taking a step forward.
"Optimus chose to take advantage of your weakened mind." Megatron retorted, while Starscream snickered.
"I begged you to spend time with your only son, and you did nothing but spit in my face. I gave up, and told you to stay the hell away from us. I tried to get away from your toxicity, but when Mirage was sparked you sent out your hell hounds to hunt us down for your own selfish reasons!" Xanthia argued, venting years of bottled up emotions. "Optimus was there for Soundwave and I."
"Optimus manipulated you, then abandoned you and your young. He even abandoned his own sparkling, I bet he didn't mention that! As I see it Optimus you are no different than me!" Megatron jeered at his brother as he slowly approached the Autobot group.
"I did no such thing Megatron. I lost touch when Xanthia went dark, running away from your hunters!" Optimus replied sternly, protectively stepping in front of his team.
"Really, if I recall you gave up your search for Xanthia, and got involved with another femme, that your own sparkling murdered." Megatron continued to taunt the Prime gesturing at the sparkling.
Mirage didn't have that memory bank active in his current state, but his racing spark from the near mention of the event, was enough to confirm he murdered his father's sparkmate.
Xanthia gasped at the Prime. "You never told me that! Why would Mirage do such a thing?"
Arcee quickly stepped in before the Prime could reply. "Because that evil bastard caused Mirage to murder Elita. It was an accident, Mirage would never intentionally do such a thing." She furiously glared at the warlord.
Soundwave had enough of his father's games. Placing Mirage in between Arcee and his Mother. "Enough of this diversion. Where's the spacebridge?" He asked stepping up beside the Prime.
"Primus he speaks." Starscream scoffed with a smirk. "That information is classified, especially to traitors."
"That's funny coming from the biggest Decepticon traitor in history." Arcee retorted at the seeker.
"Pah, you don't know what you're talking about. Useless femme." Starscream scoffed denying Arcee's comments.
"Soundwave I'm sure you'll find it soon enough. As you can find anything, yet you're better at hiding things..." Megatron said, with anger from being betrayed lingering in his tone.
Soundwave took a step towards his father, standing mere inches away from him. "You lack observation skills, you've always been blind to what was in front of you the entire time."
Megatron went to strike the bioluminescent mech but balled his servo into a tight fist instead, lowering his arm with a growl of frustration.
Soundwave's spark was beating like it was about to explode out of his chest. But he didn't dare flinch or cower from the servo that had given him many years of scars.
"You're lucky I don't kill you right now. But believe me I will kill you and your brother, like I promised." the warlord hissed at the young mech that didn't even budge.
With the warlords last sentence, the young mech knew Megatron would rather torture his prey before he killed it. Soundwave's blood began to boil, he could feel Mirage's anger beginning to grow as well. He was ready to kill Megatron then and there, he and Mirage no longer wanted to waste time with talk.
"Megatron, stand down." Optimus gently pushed Soundwave back, before the situation escalated. The Prime daring to stand in front of his warlord brother. "Leave this planet and it's natives in peace. There are vacant worlds in this universe that surely have energon sources. Do not destroy this planet and it's beings for the sake of greed and power."
"You only want me to abandon the planet so you may take it over." Megatron laughed in the Prime's face.
"We would search for ways to restore our home planet, we would not over stay our welcome here." Optimus argued calmly as his brother began to circle him.
"Oh Optimus always so optimistic. I will be the one to restore and rule our dead planet!" Megatron retorted, watching as his son stood behind the Prime trying to stay composed. "You understand so little about this planet. How important it is to our history. You spent so much time in the archives, yet you know nothing!" Megatron snapped shoving the Prime into the bioluminescent mech.
Both femmes immediately pointed blasters at the warlord, while Soundwave steadied the Prime.
Starscream quickly aimed his missiles at the threatening femmes. "I wouldn't, unless you want the sparkling mangled." the seeker threatened, aiming his missiles at the tiny sparkling.
Mirage didn't seem to be phased by the missile being aimed at him, he took a wobbly stance prepared to attempt to deflect the missiles with his tiny blades.
Both femmes looked at each other then the sparkling, they continued to keep their aim, but took stances that would be able to protect Mirage if the occasion was needed.
Megatron chuckled venomously as he strode forwards. "You and your pathetic band of peacemakers will not stop the process of destiny. I am not leaving this planet any time soon. And if you dare to stop me in my conquest. Like the filthy creatures who inhabit this planet of dirt, you will die with them." Megatron threatened as he strode past his son and brother. Glaring down at Mirage and Soundwave. "I'd make sure to keep an optic on my stolen mutants, they will be quite the problem for you, when I return. If my theory is correct." the warlord venomously smirked at his brother, before transforming, flying out of the canyon.
Mirage spun around firing his dart rifle at the escaping warlord.
Starscream smirked transforming firing a missile at the sparkling before flying off after his leader.
Both femmes protectively shielded the sparkling as the missile came at them. An explosion came but the pain never arrived. Looking over, they could see Soundwave shaking the pain away on his lower arm.
"What the hell was that?" Xanthia hissed standing up straight, as Arcee went to check on her mech.
"That was Megatron personal delivering his threats." Optimus replied watching the alien jet disappear in the sky.
"Why the hell didn't we kill Megatron right then and there?!" Xanthia continued to fume at the Prime.
"Because that would not stop the Decepticon's from fulfilling Megatron's will." Optimus said to the angered femme.
"I can confirm that, especially with his current followers that are just waiting to take command. If they're truly devoted to Megatron, or are just trying to prove that they can succeed past Megatron's failed reign. It would cause an increase in Decepticon activity, desperate reckless attempts to take over the planet no matter the cost. Putting the humans and other natives of this planet at grave risk." Soundwave agreed with his Uncle's words. "Megatron may be foolish most of the time, but everything he does is sought out, calculated, and carefully planned. So that when Megatron's plans go into action they're incredibly hard to predict and halt them. Starscream... although he's not brave, he's confident enough to take risks. Making him dangerous and powerful. Starscream is all about brute strength and action. Instead of planning, using his processor, and brute strength combined like Megatron."
Xanthia calmed her nerves, understanding both the Prime and her son's words of wisdom. "I understand, but what are we going to about this mysterious spacebridge?"
"I think the better question is, what is Megatron doing with it?" Arcee scoffed as Mirage toddled over to his father.
"With Megatron it could be anything, but we must find out more information about this project. And what exactly the purpose of this bridge is for." Optimus replied picking up his sparkling. Optimus raised an optic ridge at his red sparkling that now seemed to be younger than when he left him this morning.
Mirage happily babbled smacking his tiny servos against the ones that held him, while his father stared at him with confusion.
"Long story short Ratchet found the issue and removed it. Mirage is a grumpy psycho little sparkling." Arcee sighed seeing the leader's confused gaze.
"So no real change?" Soundwave sarcastically said as he watched his little brother make a face at him. "Although he does like to contradict me, Mirage does seem more cheery than usual." the bioluminescent mech snorted cocking an optic ridge at his little brother.
"Soundwave." Optimus quickly gained the young mech's full attention. "Take your brother to the canyon near the base, you can meet Bumblebee and the twins there." the Prime ordered, handing the babbling sparkling to the violet mech.
"Sure..." Soundwave unwillingly agreed, firing up a ground bridge. He didn't want to disobey his leader, but he was not looking forward to hanging out with the twins. Who were just as bad as a room full of sparkling's and explosives. Sighing Soundwave made his way through the bridge, shutting it behind him.
"Hey Soundwave nice of you to join us." Sideswipe happily greeted the young mech.
Soundwave gave a cringeworthy smile to the silver twin. "Hey, Sideswipe..." the young mech was not in the mood to socialize.
"You know Soundwave, you won't die just because you socialized." Sunstreaker teased the antisocial mech.
"But you can offline at anytime, whether you're socializing or standing alone." Soundwave gave a morbid reply.
"Alrighty thanks for the fact check..." Sunstreaker rolled his optics, going back to playing with Bumblebee.
Ratchet looked away from the monitors in the med bay as the two femmes and the Prime entered the base. "Where's Soundwave and Mirage?"
"We ran into Megatron." Arcee replied to the medic.
"Scrap are you all alright? Are the brothers okay?" Ratchet gasped looking to the Prime for answers.
"Everyone is fine, for now..." Optimus replied ominously, with a clear worried look.
"What, did you find the bridge?" Ironhide asked joining the conversation.
"No, but I fear I know what Megatron intends to use it for."
"What is it Optimus, don't keep us waiting." Arcee said, beginning to get impatient.
"I believe Megatron is planing to bring an army back to Earth."
"How could he, what bots were on Cybertron were either dead or fleeing Cybertron." Xanthia mentioned in confusion to the Prime.
"I believe he may be searching for more than just bodies. Now that we're on Earth, we pose as a major threat to his Decepticon cause." Optimus replied to the confused femme.
"Since Megatron likes to constantly keep power advantages. The big M must be searching for his next powerful asset, since he lost his super soldier." Jazz said, helping Ratchet rearange the med bay.
"Hmm..." Optimus sighed in deep thought, he was more concerned about his brother's threats towards the mutant brothers.
"What's is it Optimus?" Ratchet asked noticing the Prime's deep concern.
"Megatron vowed that when he returns, Mirage and Soundwave will be threats to us." Optimus replied, still in deep thought.
"Yeah, so what?" Ironhide shrugged, receiving glares from the rest of the bots in the room.
"Please explain your careless attitude towards the said information. This should be rich." Ratchet folded his arms, glaring at the weapon specialist.
"Soundwave and Mirage have always been a constant threat to us, I don't see what the worry is." Ironhide gruffly scoffed to the medic.
"It was that Megatron used it directly that worries me." Optimus admitted to the weapon specialist.
"Plus as much as those two are threats to us. They both do a fantastic job of keeping themselves in control. So I don't know why you would even say that. I think Ratchet's more of a threat to you then Soundwave and Mirage." Arcee scoffed gesturing to the grumpy old medic.
"She's right. But if Megatron is looking for an army, and revenge on Soundwave and Mirage, we must gather the data for his plans as soon as possible. We cannot afford to let fate play with human and Autobot lives." Ratchet said looking up at the worried red and blue mech.
Arcee looked away from the bots, remembering Mirage was dead set on interrogating a Decepticon today.
"Arcee, what is it?" Ratchet asked, noticing the femme mulling over something.
Arcee sighed. "Well if you want answers I say you let Mirage loose."
"We're not doing that." Xanthia laughed at the young femme's suggestion.
"Let Mirage hunt down a worthy candidate. Then send in the big guns for interrogation. Because no Decepticon is going to take a sparkling seriously." Arcee explained why she suggested the sparkling finds the Decepticons.
Soundwave sat on a bolder, resting his helm in his servo. Bored out of his mind, while he watched the twins and Bumblebee play tag. In his other servo Soundwave held Mirage's door wings while the sparkling attempted to run off and hunt.
"Soundwave?"
Soundwave's helm perked up hearing his name being called over his comlink. "Yes Optimus?"
"Allow Mirage to find a Decepticon. I want you, or the twins to interrogate the the target. We must gain information about Megatron's upcoming plans." The baritone voice replied. "Please send Bumblebee back to base."
"Yes sir, right away." Soundwave replied ending the call. Quickly creating a bridge infront of the running youngling.
Bumblebee didn't have time to react to the suddenly appearing bridge. Nearly knocking Jazz down upon his entrance into the base. "What the... why am I back at base?" Bumblebee asked in confusion.
"The boys have an important job to do." Ratchet replied to the youngling, going back to his work.
"Why couldn't I..."
"You've got training to do. Come on now." Ironhide quickly escorted the youngling down the hallway towards the training room.
Soundwave finally released his hold on his sparkling brother. Mirage immediately ran off clearly on the search for a path. Although Soundwave figured the sparkling already had an idea of where the cons were. "Twins come on, follow Mirage."
"Why'd he bridge Bee?" Sunstreaker asked as he and his twin approached the violet mech.
"Maybe Optimus needed him." Sideswipe shrugged, skating next to Soundwave.
"What's going on anyway?" Sunstreaker asked following the sparkling.
"We're hunting for Decepticons. Catch and interrogate." Soundwave replied, sending Lazerbeak ahead of the red sparkling.
"Yes finally!" The twins cheered clearly excited to be thrown into action.
After travelling for a few hours, far away from the base, Mirage led the small team to a quarry. Where the Decepticon duo that was so easily frightened with the last encounter with Mirage. Knockout stood uselessly while Breakdown chipped away at bolders.
Mirage gasped as he was held back by his doorwings. Looking back to see his big brother crouching down.
"Easy Mirage, we need to have at least one of them conscious." Soundwave said as his visor came on to enhance his visual of the Cons below.
"I say we break Breakdown, and interrogate the doctor." Sunstreaker suggested to the bioluminescent mech.
"Agreed, it won't take much for Knockout to give up information." Soundwave agreed with the golden twin's suggestion.
"Well he gave up a whole energon mine to a sparkling. So If we scratch his paint good enough maybe he'll give us the command codes to Megatron's war ship." Sideswipe added with a snicker.
Sunstreaker sighed rolling his optics at his brother. "What's the plan Wave?"
"If we can neutralize Breakdown quickly, and quietly. We will not have a huge struggle. But Knockout is a runner, so if he takes off give chase." The bioluminescent mech instructed the twins and sparkling.
"Alright..." the twins agreed wondering how they were going in silently.
"Mirage I need you to take down Breakdown. Don't kill, just disable." Soundwave instructed his baby brother, pointing at the large dark blue mech below.
Mirage nodded quickly activating his cloaking, he made his way down below. Repelling down the rock wall, Mirage stopped just in front of the blue Decepticon. As Breakdown lent down to continue to mine, Mirage lept on him quickly pulling sensitive wiring disabling Breakdown's motor functions.
"Ow! What the frag!" Breakdown cried out as he collapsed onto his back, unable to move.
Knockout raised an optic ridge in confusion, walking towards his partner. "Exhausted already? Aren't you being a little dramatic, Breakdown?"
"We'd prefer if you spared the dramatics." Sideswipe said landing next to the downed Decepticon.
"Yeah we prefer answers first, then we have real fun." Sunstreaker taunted as he landed on the other side of Breakdown.
"Autobots!?" Knockout gasped stopping in his tracks.
Mirage decided to reveal himself, double checking Breakdown's frame was disabled.
"Fragging sparkling!" Breakdown growled as Miragd hopped off of him.
"Now, now, let's be reasonable here. There's no need to unleash your mutant sparkling..." Knockout nervously smiled slowly backing away from the three approaching Autobots.
The sound of a jet, followed by a sudden thud, and cloud of dust, came from behind the nervous medic.
Knockout yelped in surprise, spinning around to face the bioluminescent mech. "Soundwave?!"
"Don't worry about the sparkling. His big brother can handle things from here." Sunstreaker snickered at the nervous mech.
"Sunstreaker make sure Breakdown doesn't get up. Sideswipe come help get answers from our target." Soundwave ordered, the twins obliged his orders and did as they were told.
Mirage stayed with Sunstreaker, making sure the blue mech stayed grounded.
"Alright Knockout, you have exactly three seconds to start talking before I start peeling your paint." Sideswipe threatened, backing the medic into the quarry wall.
"I don't know what you want from me!" Knockout cried as the silver twin's servo transformed into a sword.
"Information, you idiot! What else do you think we want, tips on how to keep our paint polished?" Sideswipe hissed running his sword lightly across the medic's chestplate, just enough to cause a scratch on his paint.
"Don't tell them anything Knockout, we know nothing!" Breakdown shouted earning a hit from the golden twin.
"Shut your mouth. Before I shut it for you!" Sunstreaker bumped Breakdown with his ped, threatening the blue mech.
"Shut up, Breakdown... Information, I don't have any. You've got the wrong bot!" Knockout pressed himself tight against the wall, denying the silver mech's demand. "I just buffed that!" Pulling out his buzzsaws Knockout batted the sword away from his paint. "Now I suggested you all escape before backup comes."
"And I suggest you start giving out answers, before I rearrange your finish!" Sideswipe threatened, ignoring thd buzzsaws.
"You're wasting your time Autobots. Now back off before I preform surgery!" Knockout threatened the silver twin swinging one of his saws at the mech.
"Easy! I scratched your paint, not amputated a limb!" Sideswipe leaned away from the buzzing saw.
Soundwave had enough of the medic's games. He grabbed the medic's chest plate, slamming him against the wall. "Where's Megatron going, what are his plans!?"
Soundwave's actions made Sideswipe jump back in surprise.
"What's this Soundwave, you finally get brave enough to come near a buzzsaw, let alone a medic!?" Knockout taunted, ignoring the young mech's question.
It took everything in his frame to not shy away from the medic and his tools. Only anger fueled Soundwave as the medic was taunting him. "Answer the damn question!" Soundwave demanded beginning to tighten his grip.
"Lord Megatron is searching for extra power against you Autobots! He gave no set location, he's exploring the depths of space." Knockout hissed in pain, as the wall cracked behind him.
"Soundwave take it easy..." Sideswipe said, as Soundwave's grip tightened.
"What power source?!" Soundwave hissed ignoring Sideswipe.
"He didn't say!" Knockout yelped in pain as his metal began to groan and warp under the pressure of the young mech's grip.
"Where's the space bridge?!" Soundwave shook the medic, slamming Knockout against the wall again.
"Soundwave!" Sideswipe snapped pulling the slender mech off the Decepticon medic.
Knockout hit the ground in a heap of pain, Mirage took that as his que to guard the Con, while his brother sorted things out with Sideswipe.
"What are you doing, we were getting answers?!" Soundwave hissed pulling out of Sideswipe's grip.
"You were going to far, he's a living Cybertronian." Sideswipe replied sharply, gesturing to the injured medic.
"He's a Decepticon." Soundwave growled watching Knockout inspect his damage, while Mirage guarded him cautiously.
"And you're an Autobot, so start acting like one. We don't interrogate like that unless all efforts are exhausted. He's a whimp medic, nothing worth that much effort. Don't get overwhelmed." Sideswipe sternly spoke towards the clearly heated young mech.
Soundwave took a moment to think. The twin was right, he should not have gone that far. Especially since taking on a Prime apprenticeship, this was not a good start. "We got what we need, let's go..." The young mech sighed gesturing for the team to follow him out of the quarry.
Sideswipe and Sunstreaker didn't question the violet mech, following Soundwave out of the quarry.
Mirage groaned rolling his optics, reluctantly leaving the medic. Taking a couple off balance steps, before quickly toddling after the twins and his brother.
"Everything alright with you Wave?" Sideswipe asked after they were a good distance away from the quarry.
"I'm fine. Sorry I didn't mean to do that..." Soundwave replied, apologizing for his actions.
"It got us some answers though." Sunstreaker shrugged receiving a glare from his twin.
"Yes but it was unethical." Sideswipe glared at his twin, who rolled his optics at him.
"Sideswipe is right. I just feel betrayed, and I guess my frustration took over me." Soundwave sighed deeply, as Mirage toddled past him.
"Betrayed?" Both twins curiosly thought aloud.
"Knockout was the only Decepticon I trusted. He helped me through some tough times, risking himself, and often getting in trouble for caring for me. But as soon as I joined the Autobots, everything changed. It's like our past doesn't even matter to him, he does nothing but taunt and threaten me with everything he tried to protect me from." Soundwave sadly vented to the sympathetic twins.
"Perhaps he became who he truly was all along." Sunstreaker suggested with a shrug.
"I don't understand?" Soundwave cocked his helm at the golden mech.
"Maybe Knockout was waiting for the chance to turn on you. After getting in trouble with Megatron, sacrificing himself for you, perhaps he secretly hated you for all that he did." Sideswipe's explanation was harsh, but spoke of the truth.
"You're probably right." The violet mech sadly sighed, watching his little brother as the sun began to lower in the sky. "Can we keep what happened just between us?"
"Of course Soundwave. You're not the first bot to lose it on a Con. But nothing has to be said to Optimus, just try not to loose your cool again." Sunstreaker assured the violet mech.
"Thanks." Soundwave smiled behind hus mask.
"Primus is it just me, or does this planet have incredibly short days?" Sunstreaker complained as it became early evening.
"You're correct bro, Earth is tiny compared to Cybertron though so kinda understandable." Sideswipe agreed with his twin.
Mirage groaned tiredly, plopping his aft on the ground.
Soundwave smirked, approaching the tired sparkling. "Mother and Ratchet are going to have our heads for keeping you out this long, without caring for your sparkling needs." the violet mech sighed scooping up his baby brother. Soundwave quickly created a bridge, the twins were wondering why he didn't do that earlier.
"Geez, we were about to send out a search party for you guys." Jazz sarcastically greeted the three mechs.
"Funny, well we got some answers though." Sideswipe replied to the grey mech.
"That's exactly what we needed to hear." Arcee said as the three joined the rest of them in the main room.
"What information were you able to obtain?" Optimus did not waste time with small talk.
"Megatron is searching for some sort of power source to over power us, and Earth. We got no location of the spacebridge unfortunately." Soundwave reported to the Prime.
"It seems even the Cons don't even know where Megatron is off to." Sunstreaker added with a scoff.
"I know the whole point of hunting down the Cons was to gain the spacebridge location. But I believe I will be able to locate it hopefully sooner than later." Soundwave spoke optimistically, handing his tired little brother to Arcee.
Optimus nodded in understanding. "Excellent work. We may not have gained the information we wanted. But we now have an idea of what Megatron's plans are." The Prime sighed as a thought crossed his mind. "If Megatron is set on finding something specifically. It could possibly take years for him to return. During this period, the Decepticons May remain dormant until Megatron's return. But we will continue our patrols, for the sake of human safety."
"They may be inactive, unless Screamer convinces the Decepticons to act on his terms." Ironhide scoffed, folding his arms.
"Exactly why we will continue to patrol just as a precaution." Optimus agreed with the weapon specialist.
Mirage could barely keep his optics open, as the cobalt blue femme held him close to her spark.
"Here, figured since he's so exhausted he won't argue." Ratchet said, handing Arcee a warm bottle of energon.
"He shouldn't after the good talking to you and Xanthia gave him." Arcee chuckled taking the bottle.
"Where is my mother?" Soundwave asked, noticing the femme was not currently in sight.
"Your mother is at the entrance tunnel, she's going on patrol with Optimus and Bumblebee." Ratchet gestured to femme standing at the exit tunnel with the Prime.
Soundwave swiftly made his way over to his mother, in tow of Bumblebee.
"You know if you keep hiding your face, you're depriving everyone from your handsome smile." Xanthia commented on the violet mech's pitch black visor.
"Primus... and saying things like that, make me want to keep my visor on." Soundwave grumbled removing his visor.
"We can do another patrol tomorrow Soundwave. I would like to get your mother used to our patrol rounds first, so she may help us in the sky when you are preoccupied." Optimus apologized to the violet bioluminescent mech. "Bumblebee is coming along for the experience."
"I understand." Soundwave nodded as Bumblebee transformed.
Optimus and Xanthia both smiled at Soundwave, before leaving the base with the femme and youngling.
Mirage didn't protest the bottle, wrapping his little digits around the femme's as she fed him the bottle. As he finished the bottle his optics began to close, as the warm liquid soothed him into slumber.
Arcee placed the bottle down, chuckling as she wiped excess energon that Mirage drooled from the bottle. "He's sure wiped today." The young femme mentioned as the sparkling began to quietly snore.
"He's adjusting to his sparkling systems. He'll be less resistant to our care for him by tomorrow." Ratchet replied as he worked on an odd device.
"I thought you said he wouldn't revert anymore?" Jazz questioned, watching the medic work.
"He won't, but his systems are settling to the revert that happened to him. But it was Mirage's personality that usually fought our care." Ratchet explained to the grey mech.
"You're saying Mirage will be a normal sparkling?" Arcee questioned before Jazz could.
"Not at all, but with our little pep talk, and his mother and brother's presence. Mirage's systems are more focused on building spark bonds. Well, I suppose that is like a normal sparkling though..." Ratchet shrugged, as the twins grabbed some much needed energon.
"Interesting..." Soundwave thought aloud as he approached his femme. He wondered if this would make Mirage a little less defensive and more easy going.
Mirage's little peds wriggled, giving little kicks as he shifted is his recharge.
Arcee smiled at the adjusting little sparkling in her arms. "He's so cute."
"Cute little killer, yes you are." Sideswipe cooed teasingly as he walked by the femme.
"Shut up Side's." Arcee rolled her optics at the twin, as Mirage whimpered.
"Soundwave, is Mirage's crib in your mother's room?" The cobalt blue femme asked her mech.
"I believe so... not positive... Mirage never really stays in it to be honest." Soundwave replied with a shrug.
Arcee sighed heavily, plopping herself on the couch. "Never mind..."
"You're not putting him to bed?" The violet mech asked leaning over the back of the couch.
"Well if you want to call it a day, and head to our quarters I can." The femme retorted looking up into the red and blue mixed optics.
"I take it Mirage is bunking with us tonight?" Soundwave raised an optic ridge at the femme.
"I'm not leaving him alone, with our luck he'd be up and escaping the base." Arcee scoffed to her mech, as if Soundwave was crazy for asking such a question.
"Ooor, you're just coddling him..." Soundwave sighed, immediately receiving a glare from the cobalt blue femme.
Arcee groaned, getting up from the couch. Making her way towards her room, as she rolled her optics.
"Oooh you're in trouble." The twins teased Soundwave as they planted themselves on the couch.
"What?" Soundwave was confused.
"You triggered some sort of irritation in Arcee, I would tred with caution bro." Jazz chuckled, joining the twins.
Soundwave exhaled deeply, walking into his shared quarters. Where the femme was laying the sparkling down in the berth.
"I'm not coddling him, he's a sparkling Soundwave. I think you're too relaxed about his care. Just because he's highly trained, doesn't mean Mirage still isn't a sparkling." Arcee said not even looking at the young mech that entered.
Soundwave walked in trying to think of a good response to his angered femme.
"Just like you're not just a highly trained mutant super soldier. You are a young mech with emotions and needs." Arcee continued on, now looking at the violet mech.
"I understand, you're correct. I will try to be more compassionate towards Mirage. I suppose it's something I will have to adapt to." Soundwave apologized for his lack of care towards his little brother.
"Lucky for you, your mother is a full of compassion, and can help you find it." Arcee mentioned to her partner.
"What about you?" The mech raised an optic ridge at the femme.
"I already do, but it's a different kind of compassion." Arcee smirked at her naive mech.
Mirage whimpered, shifting uncomfortably in the berth.
Soundwave sat next to his brother on the berth. He could tell the sparkling was having nightmares.
"Pick him up, hold him close to your spark. It'll calm him." Arced instructed the young mech.
Soundwave scooped up his brother cradling him in his arms, he held his brother close to his spark.
Mirage squirmed uncomfortably for a moment before settling in against his big brother's spark.
"This is nothing new to you Soundwave. You're a very caring mech, especially towards your brother." Arcee smiled at the bioluminescent mech comforting his brother.
"Seems I forget how to use that function..." Soundwave sighed, his mind clearly going elsewhere.
"What's bothering you, you seem defeated?" Arcee asked with concern, sitting next to her mech.
"I went to far with the interrogation today. If it wasn't for Sideswipe, I don't know if I would still be considered an Autobot." Soundwave couldn't bear to look the femme in the optic.
"I thought you said it went well, what happened?" The femme asked continuing to use her concerned tone.
"I was very violent, I was like a Decepticon, in a blind rage. I would of honestly probably killed Knockout if Sideswipe hadn't pull me off of him." The violet mech sadly explained to his femme.
"On Knockout? He's not much to battle, although he likes to put up a fight. But he's just a medic trying to protect his paint." Arcee thought aloud mulling over Soundwave's explanation.
"I know..."
Arcee gave her mech a sympathetic smile. "I'm sure regardless of Sideswipe being their, you would have stopped realizing your actions."
"Perhaps, but I worry when I am in fight mode it's difficult to stop it..." Soundwave sighed deeply, watching his little brother snuggle closer to his chest plate.
"I don't think your systems are the problem Soundwave. I think you're there's a reason why you lost it on Knockout." Arcee said, gaining her partners attention. "You told me Knockout was the only Con you trusted, when you were with them. But now that you've joined us, Knockout has completely stabbed you in the back, he's begun to dig at your weaknesses just for an advantage in battle. Now you feel betrayed."
"Sideswipe also made that same point, but in a different way. He said he thinks Knockout became who he was all along. A part of me doesn't want to believe it. But with all the trouble I caused Knockout in my upbringing, he must've been waiting for the opportunity to turn on me. And repay me for all the punishment Megatron gave him." Soundwave replied, looking back down at his brother.
"I agree with Sideswipe, it's hard to take in but I believe what you say is correct. Knockout personally wants to torture you, just as Megatron did with him, when he got in trouble because of you. But Knockout also knows damn well that you have had more abuse from Megatron then any other Decepticon." The cobalt femme told the saddened young mech.
"Maybe I should give up the apprenticeship. What Prime would loose his cool like that?" The violet mech looked away from the femme.
"Tell Optimus about this, I don't think he will revoke your apprenticeship because of this. I think he can help you. No bot is perfect, not even a Prime." Arcee placed a comforting servo on the slender mech's shoulder.
"I will let him know tomorrow. Thanks for talking with me." Soundwave thanked his femme, gently laying himself back on the berth, careful not to wake his baby brother.
"I will always be here for you." Arcee replied crawling into the berth with her mech.
Soundwave smiled, carefully sliding Mirage down on the berth in between him and Arcee.
Arcee placed an arm over the violet mech's torso, while he gently pulled her closer to him without crushing the sparkling that was between them.
"What a peaceful place this planet is." Xanthia thought aloud as she entered the base with the Prime and youngling scout.
"This planet isn't perfect everywhere. But there's a tranquility here, much like Cybertron before the wars." Optimus said to the bioluminescent femme.
"Nothing is perfect Optimus." The femme smiled at the Prime.
"Indeed." Optimus smiled back, noticing only the medic and weapon specialist were still in the main room.
"Alright Ratch I've organized what I could. I'm going to call it a night." Ironhide yawned shutting the medical supply storage.
"Thank you, I will join you. You guys have a good patrol?" Ratchet said as they walked past the three bots.
"Yes we did, it was quiet, no activity. Just a beautiful night." Xanthia replied to the medic.
"That's great, glad you enjoyed it. Have a good night." Ratchet nodded in response. Before heading down the hallway to his quarters.
"We should do the same." Optimus said glaring at his youngling.
"Alright..." Bumblebee groaned, trudging towards his bedroom.
"Well I should be powering down to, I suppose. You and Soundwave have another patrol in the morning?" Xanthia said walking down the hallway with the red and blue mech.
"Yes our encounter with Megatron today interrupted further training. Although there isn't much to teach the young mech." Optimus replied as he halted in front of the bioluminescent femme's quarters.
"I'm glad Soundwave gets to spend time with you again." The femme smiled, looking into the royal blue optics. "That was Soundwave's number one complaint when we were on the run from Shockwave. He was quite the resentful youngling, when I cut off all communication with you." Xanthia chuckled with sigh.
Optimus gave a barely visible smile to the mother. "I'm sorry Xanthia, I should've done more for you in that situation."
"Optimus you had just become a Prime, and were dealing with the terrorist attacks from Megatron's reign. I was the naive one that decided to run and hide, instead of seeking out help and protection from you and the Autobots." The femme refused the Prime's apology. "I should've done more to protect my children. And now they suffer for my mistakes."
"That's not true. Don't beat yourself down. Now get some rest." Optimus Prime sighed gesturing for the femme to go into her room.
"Of course... where's Mirage?" Xanthia quickly noted the sparkling was not in the room.
"He must be in his bedroom with Bumblebee." Optimus said, leading the femme to the youngling's room.
"I'm in my berth, I was just reading!" Bumblebee quickly placed a data pad down beside him on the berth.
"I'm glad you're reading, but rest is also good." Optimus raised an optic ridge at his youngling.
"Mirage isn't here." Xanthia mentioned while looking in the vacant crib, with slight panic in her tone.
"Bumblebee?"
"He wasn't in here when I entered, and he's not cloaked." Bumblebee shrugged innocently at his father.
"Optimus?" Xanthia's concern was now growing further.
"Bumblebee recharge." Optimus ordered his son, while escorting the femme out of the room.
Bumblebee groaned rolling his optics as he laid down turning his back to his data pad.
"Xanthia do not worry, Ratchet or Ironhide would've mentioned if Mirage made an escape. I think I know where he is anyway." Optimus reassuringly told the femme as they approached the couples room.
Optimus slowly opening the door as quiet as possible, the light from the hallway illuminating the room.
Soundwave's helm was already up, staring at the door before it even opened. Seeing his mother and Uncle staring into the room. "He's with us, recharging."
"Thank you, good night." Optimus nodded, slowly shutting the door. Turning to the now eased mother. "Usually if Soundwave or I are not available, Mirage is usually attached to Arcee's hip."
Xanthia smiled warmly, walking back to her room. "I'm glad he can find comfort in others, since he's usually such a closed off sparkling."
"They've always been close. Arcee's always had a soft spot for sparklings, or difficult bots that are often afraid to get close to others." The red and blue mech said to the deep blue femme.
"She's got the magic touch, that's for sure. My sons are very lucky to have her." Xanthia complimented the young femme.
"Arcee can be assertive at times. But she is indeed a special femme." Optimus agreed with the bioluminescent femme.
