A/N: Hi everyone, it's me, ScarletRacer the author here with an UPDATE! Super exciting!

Apologies for not updating sooner, but good news is that I have been working on the fic in my free time, and once exams are done in mid-December I will be rearing and ready to write, review and publish more work!

Now, you all may be wondering why I haven't been updating like I used to. My process, if I have nothing going on (like this summer when I couldn't find a job and had no coursework to finish), takes about a week in total to complete a full chapter, which is why this process has been going so slowly. Although college is completely overwhelming and different than it was before COVID. So adjusting to that, along with my new jobs (yes, plural now), has taken over all of my free time. Also, although happy with the progress that I have made so far, I realized that I needed to have more depth to my story that (in my opinion) I have had yet to achieve. o.O
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I am also making this announcement to explain what I have been doing with this fic and why exactly it took me so long to come out with an update. I wanted to figure out why exactly I decided that a pandemic was the perfect time to write a Transformers Fanfic. I believe that:

1) I am doing this as a form of escapism, hopefully both for you readers and myself. A way to escape from the harsh realities of … well, reality.

2) I believe I also have the potential to write an amazing story, and this was the best opportunity to write a story worth telling.

Reader Reviews:

Judgedg: I am so happy to hear that you enjoy my work! It definitely makes it worth it knowing that my work is appreciated! There will be much more wrench-throwing in the future, rest assured!

Guest from chapter 7: I am so happy you love it so far! I will keep the work good!

ANYways, I tried out something new and wrote this chapter from Sparkplug's POV. The events here are happening synchronously with Recon and Blaster's tour.

Remember to like, follow, read and review, it's really helpful for me as a writer!

'Til all are one!

Sparkplug's POV

Prowl and I bound after Blaster's smaller cassettes, quickly catching up to them before we lose them. Finally, free from the Hatchet! He's a good mech at spark but has a really weird habit of keeping the boss and I in that small room. Stupid Prowl, why couldn't I have had a small body…

Prowl, amused by my thoughts, replies smugly, ::If you were my size you wouldn't know what to do with yourself. You're practically joined at the hip with boss bot and I highly doubt you'd be independent enough to explore like myself. Or have the forethought to hack into the Autobots database and download data of the complex for the boss.::

I begrudgingly send an affirmative with his unnaturally accurate analysis of my nature. Stupid cat...

We turn a few corners before slowing to a walk. We end up in a secluded area of the base. It's a large storage area, with crates and miscellaneous machines scattered throughout the area. It doesn't seem to be used much by the looks of the settled dust on the ground only to be kicked up as we walk through as well as the lack of any recent scents. I stay just outside of the doorway along with Prowl Blaster's cassettes get settled. The twins, Eject and Rewind, choose to sit up on a stack of crates, speaking in low tones as they glance towards Prowl and myself. Meanwhile Ramhorn and Steeljaw lay out on the floor, seemingly unbothered by the entire situation but still take glances at Prowl and I. I allow my sensors to expand outwards into the area, and confirm that there are no Autobots. Finally I walk in and lay out in the middle of the large room, my tail curled around my body to make myself smaller as Prowl chooses to lay on my back. Comfortable, I focus my attention to Blaster's cassettes as they finally choose to address Prowl and I.

It is one of the twin cassettes, Eject I think, talks first. He comically paces back and forth as he gives his speech, "Alright new bots, let's get one thing straight." He stops pacing and turns to look at us directly before continuing, "We are in charge of your well being while Blaster and Recon are out, since you all don't know what's happening on the base and are not cassettes, we'll give you a tour and rundown of everything you need to know to survive." I look at the other cassettes, who seem to be less than interested in what he has to say.

I tilt my head at this, confused at the sudden personality switch from happy little cassette to tiny sergeant. Not waiting for my brother to respond, I choose to speak. "I appreciate your willingness to teach us how to survive here at Iacon. I am afraid that situations like this have never occurred before and we are very out of our depth." The cassettes look surprised to hear me speak, not even trying to hide the shock that I spoke to them. Unfazed by their continued silence, I continue, "I believe that formal introductions are in order. As Recon had said earlier, I am Sparkplug, and my brother here is Prowl."

At this I choose to look down at the smaller cassette expectantly. He doesn't choose to look at me, instead flicks his tail in annoyance before saying in his smooth yet strong voice, "Hello." I send a mental poke at the black cassette with a reminder to be nice to the other cassettes.

Rewind is the first to speak, saying "Well… this is weird."

I tilt my head in confusion as I ask, "How so? We are the same as you, cassettes."

Rewind replies with, "Sure ya definitely. Except for that usually when a bot can speak they speak the first time they meet another bot and not megacycles after they meet!"

I lower my head in apology and say, "I apologize for that. We have only just recently been transferred into these frames and are still getting accustomed to them. Furthermore, we are still getting used to our new size."

At this the other cassettes look at each other before the other bipedal cassette, Eject steps forward and begins by saying, "Well yes… but also no. We might have a better understanding of just how large you were before your reformat."

I look down at the cassettes, unwilling to say that I was smaller than them in my previous life. I take some creative liberty to say, "About the same size as Steeljaw."

He takes a slight pause before continuing, "This is surprising to say the least! Large symbiotes are nearly unheard of, and associated with such a small bot have never been recorded in the databases that I know of, much less the dichotomy you share with Recon. This suggests that what you all share is more than the symbiotic relationship that Blaster and us have. It's something new and unheard of…" After this, I stop listening as he continues on with his musings. I focus back on the other cassettes, all of them having the same look of mild confusion on their faceplates.

"Do you all think this?" They just nod their heads at my question. It is worrisome, for if they choose to start questioning our origins it could turn disastrous not just for Prowl and I, but Recon as well.

I look down at Prowl for help, who glances back at me before focusing back on the cassettes, before giving out a bored sigh, already done with the conversation "Whatever conclusion you have made about myself, my brother and Recon are unfounded and more than likely wrong. If you so choose, continue hypothesizing about our origins, but amongst yourselves."

Silence reigned, no bot willing to argue with the serious and deadly looking feline, or the unspoken threat lingering in the air. I try to back up Prowl or at least mildly diffuse the situation, "Whatever we are, we are here. We are alive. And we will fight for the Autobots. We are just foot soldiers. And that is all that should matter." This seems to at least satisfy some of the bots, but the lion one, Steeljaw, had remained unphased throughout this. I choose to stand, disturbing Prowl off his place on my back. "Please, lead us on a tour of the base. I look forward to see all that it has to offer." I wag my tail, hoping to show the others that everything is fine.

Without hesitation, the smaller bipedal cassettes climb onto my back and they begin the tour of the base. We didn't talk with many bots on the tour, most of them either too busy to look at us or trying (unsuccessfully) to subtly glowering in suspicion. We ignore them regardless, not wanting to draw more attention then we already had. The cassettes take us on a comprehensive tour of all the major locations of the Iacon base, including the rec room, higher-ups offices, and war room to mention a few.

Throughout the tour they tell us about themselves. Eject, I found, thoroughly enjoys competition of any kind, and is an avid sports fan, willing to bet on fights or just as soon jump in. Rewind apparently enjoys being, as Prowl put it, a "receptacle of useless information." Ramhorn is bad tempered and keeps trying to pick a fight with me, but also cares deeply for his fellow cassettes. Steeljaw, in the entire time that the tour went on, was stoic and followed along silently, sticking close to Prowl.

Finally we end up at the surveillance room. Rewind is hesitant to even be here for some reason, fidgeting on my back as we walk closer. Stopping at the door, the small mech says, "Well here it is, the surveillance room. Now, onto the next part of the tour…"

Confused about his hesitancy to be here, I extend my neck out and sniff at the door and ask teasingly, "Why does it seem like you are trying to avoid this place? Blaster works here, you guys practically live here from what I understand."

Eject and Rewind get down and block the doorway, with little effectiveness given how small they are as Eject hurriedly says, "Oh, well, you know… I might not be exactly… welcomed in there at the moment."

I tilt my head down at the smaller bot, more serious about this new information and ask in a hard voice, "...who in the Pit did you frag off?"

He pauses, hesitant to reveal just exactly what happened before continuing, "Red Alert, the Security Director of the Iacon base. He also directs and controls the security for the other major Autobot bases on Cybertron. I might have had a minor part to play in a… prank involving paint…ya good times, gooood times. ANYways, let's get a move on before the paranoid mech -." Suddenly the door swishes open, with an angry looking, short red and white bot staring up at my faceplates. So this must be Red Alert… He looks down at the cassettes, who choose to duck behind my clawed peds.

Red Alert, in all his glowering presence, asks in "Well if it isn't Blaster's trouble maker. What's next, tamper with the cameras? Or the security systems? Maybe you have your overly large friends here to assist in one of your schemes?" He chooses to address me and Prowl, and say, "You know, I knew you all were bad news the moment you waltzed in. I should have gone with my gut, locked you all in the brig after that run amok with Recon! It's always the new mechs that start things. What, trying to make a name for yourself in the Decepticons? Maybe planting bugs in the system? Sabotage? Hmmm?" He glowers at me, probably not expecting me to say or do anything. The way he says Recon's name makes my plating crawl, as if he sees her as nothing more than an inconvenience.

Prowl, in all of his knowledge, only mumbles, "You've done it now…"

Instead, I stand straighter and flare my plating in anger at the mere thought at the accusation. I growl out, "What authority do you have to even think that you can accuse Recon, Prowl and myself of doing anything of the sort?" He is startled by this, although I can't tell if it is from my act of speech or what I said. I continue, "What authority do you have to accuse us without any evidence? You have no control over any of this, you- you slagging vacuum cleaner."

Stunned into silence, the mech sputters and fumbles for words. Instead of saying more, I huff a hot breath onto the mech, turn, and walk away, accidentally having my long tail whip the mech across the head. Prowl, in his smug way, tells me ::You know we just got ourselves into deep, deep slag with the Autobots? Not to mention Recon is gonna be really upset.::

::I know, I know. I fraged up. Sue me.::

Before I can berate myself any further, Prowl interjects, ::Good job for standing up for Recon. You were definitely nicer than what I have planned for the fragger later.:: I chuckle at this, knowing that Prowl has every intention for repaying the mech in the near future.

Already knowing that this isn't going to end well, I speed up and allow the cassettes and Prowl jog quickly after me. I allow Eject and Rewind to climb on as Steeljaw, Ramhorn and Prowl bound ahead to guide the way. I can hear Eject on my back repeatedly saying frag as I hear multiple peds and shouts to stop behind me. I speed up, knowing this isn't a good time to contact Recon but also knowing that we are in way over our helms.

I follow Prowl, Steeljaw and Ramhorn closely, trusting that they know where they are going. We stop ahead of a set of familiar, very heavily fortified doors. Prowl, before I can even knock down the door, has already hacked the entrance and opened it before slashing the controls, making it impossible for them to close us out. It's a main courtyard. Plenty of space to maneuver, ahead is a wall, nearly impregnable by the looks of it. Only megacycles ago we had been welcomed through with open servos. How fast things change.

The area around us is empty save for a few bots that look at us with confusion. I bound out before swiftly turning to face our opponents, my chest heating up ready for a fight. Three mechs come out behind us, Red Alert and two larger, yet unfamiliar bots. I can hear the cassettes on my back say their names as Inferno and Bulkhead.

I growl, frustrated that we have to fight against bots that we are supposed to trust, but not knowing what else to do. ::Prowl this is getting way outta hand, we gotta do something before we cause more trouble!:: Prowl growls, probably trying to think about the next move.

Rewind speaks in a low tone and says, "Fighting would not be the best option, could cause more trouble for you all then it's worth. Our best bet would be to get Recon, Blaster and Ratchet to diffuse the situation before they try to manually get us to the brigg."

Prowl finally speaks, "Agreed, especially seeing as how we are new arrivals to this base. Alright, new plan. Blaster's cassettes, go find them and bring them to the brigg. Sparkplug and I will distract them for as long as we can before meeting you there. As it is, we are in deep, deep slag cuz of block head over there," and he drills his eyes into me. He means me. I know he means me. I definitely deserved that, but it still hurts.

It's Eject that objected to the plan the most vehemently, "No, we aren't leaving you here! We told Blaster and Recon we would protect you and fraggit we are gonna do it!"

I reply gently, "And you will be, by going with the others and getting the bots. This is the safest way to go about this."

I can tell that he is conflicted and nervous by how tense his frame is before finally saying, "Fine."

It's the mech, Inferno, who speaks first, both his blaster and Bulkhead's drawn and pointed at me as he says, "Alright cassettes and … whatever the frag they are," his tone is less than welcoming as he gestures at me and Prowl with his large blaster before he continues on, "You know the drill, down to the brig before Red Alert's processor crashes … again."

Still wired by the chase, and ready for a fight, I don't relax but do allow a slight tilt to my head before asking in a flat tone, "So this happens often then?"

Both mechs look startled, Bulkhead saying nothing, just looks at my faceplates as Inferno says, "Well I'll be… but yes, this does. He's got a good spark but he's a bit paranoid. All comes with the programming of the Security Director I suppose."

Red Alert sputters at this as he says, "I am not paranoid, just cautious! If I had it my way, we would've shut down the already with you miscreants running amok!" Inferno just raises an eye ridge and looks at me practically radiating the words 'see what I have to deal with?'

Inferno, not moving his blaster off of us, addresses Red Alert. "Regardless of your claims Red, we need to take them all to the brig. The Prime can make a decision on what to do with them, that's not your or my job. Now, are you mechs gonna come with us the easy way or hard way?"

I can't stop myself from looking back and forth from his blaster to his faceplates, still pointed at Prowl and I. The cassettes have already scurried inside of the base, following through with the plan. "Will you put the blaster down at least? We mean you no harm."

Inferno gives a smile, and I see a feral spark in his optics. Bulkhead looks less excited than Inferno at the prospects of a fight, but him being the bigger of the two makes me nervous. Inferno says, "No can do Sparkplug, you may have the protection of the CMO, but I still don't trust you, your little buddy over there or that new femme. And for causing all the trouble with Red Alert, you might end up being a little...banged up before you get to the brigg."

This probably won't end well for us… Knowing that the cassettes are already on their way to the brigg and are at least safe, I tell Prowl, ::Brother, I know you said to not make a scene, but this mech… he wants a fight, and he'll either pick it with us now or with Recon later.:: The unspoken words between us were and we can't always protect Recon.

Prowl flares his plating, coming to the same conclusion. ::Well then brother, let's oblige him then shall we? All we have to do is beat him enough to deter him and haul aft to the brigg. I'll take the green one.::

With the mutual agreement reached, Prowl unsubspaces his missile launchers, and I flare my plating as I prepare to attack Inferno. I lose track of Prowl as I leap at Inferno, biting his blaster arm as I activate the heating element in my chest, spewing fire breath and having a concentrated blast on his arm plating. Before I can do more, Inferno grabs the plating at the base of my head and tosses me away. He looks at his arm, watches as the flames race harmlessly across his plating before shaking his arm, quashing the flames. My optics widen in surprise as I think to myself, Suddenly his name makes sense now. Inferno, fireproof mech. Wonderful, my job just got ten times harder.

Inferno smiles as he looks at me, before he says, "Well that's cute. What else ya got?" I notice we already had a substantial gathering of bots, but none of them were doing anything beyond watching. What the frag is wrong with this place?!

We trade blows for a little longer, testing each other's strength until I rush forward, claws out and take two swipes at his chest plating, causing him to take a few steps back while leaving a shallow "x" scratch leaking drips of energon. ::Prowl, we need to wrap up and head to the brigg. What's your status?::

::Pinned down, can't get to you. You have a chance, get to the brigg. I'll catch up later.:: I look back, and it's not looking good for the small feline. The hulking green brute was doing a good job of keeping Prowl moving, not giving him the chance to attack. Distracted, I don't notice my opponent leap at me, tackling me to the ground and pinning me beneath his weight. Quickly I get my claws in between us and throw the mech a fair distance onto his back before scrambling towards Prowl, seeing in slow motion a stray blaster bolt from Bulkhead on a direct collision course with the smaller mech's spark chamber. Panic grips my spark as mentally I scream, NO NOT AGAIN! After that thought, I can feel something change within me, and a notification flashes across my HUD.

Authorizing...Alpha Program... Level 1

More lines of code fly across my HUD but I ignore them, instead suddenly gaining an extra awareness of myself. I feel appendages sprout from my back, pump twice and my peds have left the ground at incredible speeds. I don't question, instead embrace the burst of speed and wrap my body around Prowl, allowing the bolt to hit my back. I plow into the ground, creating even more damage to my plating. We slide to a halt and I look down at Prowl, his optics pale yellow optics wide, showing just how scared and young he is. His frame is damaged from blaster fire, but thankfully still conscious. I get up slowly, suddenly aware of the extra weight on my back, shaking my body before flaring my dragon wings to check for damage. l look out to the courtyard, seeing the observers have decided to become participants, their weapons primed and pointed at me. I try to stay as intimidating-looking as possible, with my wings flared and I keep hissing at any bots that get too close. ::Prowler, how ya doing bro? We need to get to the brig before this gets more out of control. Getting thrown in the brigg would be the least of our problems.::

Prowl replies ::I function, but you are right about that. Get in the brig then contact Recon for backup. Why, have a plan to get us out of here?::

Knowing that Prowl isn't going to like this, I only send feelings of regret before bursting into action, sending an energon-curdling roar at the bots, then a wave of fire as cover, Prowl following my lead and firing off two rockets into the fray. Autobots distracted, I quickly grab Prowl in one claw, who lets out a surprised yelp by the manhandling, and jump high into the air. I flap my wings twice to get enough distance between us and the Autobot ground pounders. Maneuvering my body mid-air, I pull my wings tight against my body and angle towards the still open entrance of the base. Before we can crash into the ground, I unfurl my wings, catching the air and allowing my hind legs to hit the ground before placing Prowl on his peds. Stand on all four peds before I tuck my wings against my body, making myself as small as possible as I quickly dart after Prowl.

I notice we are both leaking energon, but at this point I don't care. We choose to travel in silence, too drained from our disastrous end of our tour of the base. I just keep following Prowl until we arrive at a large, heavily fortified door. Two bots greet us there and say nothing, merely open the door and usher us towards the largest cell. One of them accesses a simple computer, deactivating the forcefield meant to keep us in. We quickly rush in before the force field can be activated again.

I lay down, tired, but not ready to let recharge takeover just yet. Removing the block from the bond, I brush against Recon, already feeling her worry at how tired we feel as well as relief that we are safe. We try to keep our feelings neutral but I know it doesn't work. Finally she asks, ::How's your respective tours of base going?:: We don't answer, letting the silence stretch before finally ::You two got into trouble.:: It wasn't a question.

We send feelings of affirmation, before Prowl says, ::Just saying, but this wasn't our fault. Some crazy mech named Red Alert wanted us in the brig, especially Blasters cassettes. Something about a prank. Oh and cuz Sparkplug was flying in the halls.:: With my tail, I gently swat the know it all cat across the back of his head before getting washed by feelings of surprise, fear, pride and nervousness all at once.

I stay calm and reassure the Boss with, ::We are fine. Don't panic, but maybe get down here sooner than later? Feels kinda cramped.:: With one last brush of comfort, I let the bond fade into my subconscious. I look around the small cage one last time before closing my optics to the world, trying to recover from what has happened and not focus on the energon leaking from my frame.

Bonus material: Sparkplug's dream

Without prompt, the memory of being thrown in a cage so long ago washes over me. Dogs barking and the scent of more dogs than I care to remember washes over me. I cower and shake in the corner of my cage, nothing more than a pup taken by an angry man, feeling the walls close in on me slowly being caged in again. I lay down, trying to calm myself, not knowing what is happening or where I am.

A young woman suddenly opens the door. I sit up, startled and back myself into the corner, not knowing what she will do to me. She crouches down and offers her hand to me. I look between her and her hand before sniffing it. She smells of sunshine, flowers and, strangely enough, machine grease. I chomp down on the offered appendage, hoping she'll just go away. Instead of jerking her hand back, she lets me bite into her flesh for a few seconds. Surprised by her reaction, I slowly released my grip on her hand, before licking the angry red marks I left on her skin as an apology. She smiles down at me and gently she pets my head. She gets up and talks with another human before she comes back, a leash in her hand. That was the day that Sasha - No, the day that Recon saved me from the bad place.