Dragstrip and Motormaster were not having a good time on the Nemesis. Having misplaced three members of the team the Stunticons were almost useless on the battlefield against anything but the ordinary Autobot soldiers. Dragstrip was actively avoiding Motormaster even though he automatically denied it if anyone accused him of being afraid of the much larger truck.
At one point after too many snide comments from Astrotrain and Onslaught Motormaster stormed away from the Nemesis vowing he'd beat some sense into the other Stunticons and drag them back to their proper places. Swindle promptly started a betting pool as to whether or not he'd actually get any of them back to the Nemesis. The betting pool quickly expanded into what Prowl would do if he actually made it there.
"How's Breakdown doing?" Jazz asked holding Hot Rod on his hip as Prowl returned from his latest meeting with the designated caregivers around the Ark. Ironhide and Wheeljack were helping with instructions on the care of sparklings in various frame stages. It was a growing group and even had a few mechs joining who currently didn't have charges but wanted them. Whether they'd prove compatible with any of the sparklings and younglings remained to be seen but having those who wanted to help gave Prowl more material to work with in his planning.
"Hiding on the far side of a berth away from the door crouched against a wall," Prowl didn't quite sigh but came close. "Wildrider and Dead End both insist this is perfectly normal behavior for Breakdown."
"At least he already knew Blaster and his brood were always watching and listening anyway," Jazz said philosophically handing Prowl the sparkling as the Praxian flickered a greeting to Springer and Arcee where they were playing. The trio were still got anxious when they couldn't all see each other so they remained in the pair's nursery. "He doesn't have to guess who's keeping an optic on him besides Red Alert."
"I expect he will eventually realize that they are also watching out for him," Prowl agreed as he enjoyed the sparkling's hugs and warm field. As much as his coding wanted him to keep them all Prowl's tactical computer knew they wouldn't flourish in the instability each new temporary Seeker drop off would give; Dead End was an unusual case who had the Dinobots for stability as he spent as much time with his cousins as he did with them. Like the others the trio needed their own permanent caregivers focused on them and their specific needs. Now that he'd spent time with them and learned more about their distinct personalities he had a specific group of caregivers in mind.
Blades was the first one to spot the chase. The Protectobots had picked up the CB calls about the series of crashes along the main route toward the Ark. He immediately recognized Motormaster's distinctive trailer barreling down the highway driving other vehicles off the road. Hot Spot and First Aide weren't even close to being in range for them to merge into Defensor yet, and Blades knew better than to take on Motormaster alone. Instead he kept a running monologue about the route and damage as Streetwise and Groove fell into the police column. Hot Spot and First Aid were closing in from opposite direction.
The trio were debating defying Prowl's orders and leaping into the fray when the local cops took it out of their hands. A series of spike strips blew out Motormaster's tires and forced the large mech to crawl along the highway throwing sparks everywhere.
Fortunately Hot Spot and First Aid showed up and Defensor was able to seize the wayward Decepticon and haul him away into the Ark's brig for Prowl to deal with.
"I do not trust you around the sparklings and younglings," Prowl said looking directly at Motormaster in his cell in the brig where he'd been fuming until story time was over. "You are violent and dangerous to anyone smaller than you. However, I will not place all the blame directly on you. You had a cruel and irresponsible caregiver who encouraged your violence against your siblings and neglected your development."
Motormaster looked at him in surprise and confusion as his engine rumbled angrily. How dare this smaller mech insult Megatron and call him unworthy.
"I know a mech you can't intimidate and bully into doing what you want," Prowl continued ignoring the predictable show of anger. "Your other new caregiver is a mech strong enough to take you on in a fair fight. He does not have the Matrix which gives Optimus an advantage no common mech can overcome. I'm going to place you with them so you can learn to control your aggression and properly respond to those smaller than you."
Motormaster stopped glaring abruptly and almost laughed at the preposterous idea. The idea that there was an Autobot out there that he couldn't intimidate was ridiculous. He didn't count Dinobots; they were too stupid to properly recognize something to fear. He expected to run over both of these pathetic Autobots as soon as he saw them.
Prowl watched Motormaster impassively before speaking again, "I will take your silence as agreement to the situation. You will be escorted to your new caregivers within the next few days."
"What happened to him?" Ratchet asked as Dead End and Wildrider preceded a trio of Dinobots into the Medbay. Slag was slung over Snarl's shoulder with Swoop following closely behind holding the semiconscious mech's head to keep it from bouncing off the other Dinobot's back. The Stunticons were keeping unnaturally close to the Dinobots since Motormaster was so close by. Breakdown had latched himself onto Grimlock and refused to let go. The pair were currently outside in an open area where Motormaster couldn't sneak up on them.
"Him Sludge got mad," Swoop said as Slag was placed settled on a berth with a thump.
"Sludge did this?" Ratchet looked at Swoop briefly as he began scanning the large dent in Slag's shoulder. At least it didn't look too difficult to repair. Not that the Dinobots tended to injure each other like they did anyone else.
"Yup. Slag bumped Wildrider into Sludge's shelf and knocked over a couple of things. Sludge smacked Slag into a wall and immediately got to work straightening all the rocks and crystals up," Dead End replied.
"He seemed upset that one crystal in the middle got knocked over," Wildrider commented. "I swear his optics glowed the same reddish hue as it when it fell over."
"Him Sludge really likes his spinal crystals," Swoop said with a shrug. "Me Swoop not know where he got them."
"So who's Prowl sending us? Besides Ironhide wanting to visit Chromia for a bit?" Lancer asked as Skyfire dove into a sharp landing trying to get under some cover before the Seeker patrol caught up with him in the Cybertronian skies. His visits were dangerous but always incredibly welcome given the extra energon, gossip, and other supplies he'd bring to Cybertron.
"Someone that needs a set of strong and determined mechs to keep him in check," Kup said grimly as he joined Ultra Magnus at Skyfire's door ready to meet their new, very troubled charge.
A/N: Yes, Motormaster was taken out by cops with spike strips. The rest of the Stunticons got a good laugh about it.