So sorry that I haven't updated this story for a very long time. I dedicate this chapter to my own father, who loved his family and lost his battle with liver cancer in February of 2021.

Chapter 21

Reunions

Jolt stood with Ironhide, and Ratchet. They were going to revive Sentinel Prime first. Lena watched from an upper deck. Three new autobots, all from the royal line of Prime.

Sentinel was Jolt's grandfather. A mech he didn't know, and who would not know him. Crosshairs, Sideswipe, and Dino were also present. They were Jolt's friends, who had made the pact to serve the next Prime.

Optimus pushed the matrix into Sentinel's spark, and it reignited violently. Sentinel attacked Jolt, and pinned him to the floor, his energon blade at his neck. "Sentinel. Stop. The young mech is Joltus." Ironhide snapped, putting himself between the blade and Jolt.

"Ironhide?" Sentinel asked as his grip on his grandson loosened. "It's me. You're safe here. Now, release him." Ironhide snapped, hoping Sentinel wouldn't kill Jolt. The energon blade was withdrawn, and the old autobot examined his grandson.

"You are older than I remember." He said slowly. Jolt was sore from the attack, and got up slow. Sentinel looked Jolt over, looking at the cuts from his energon blade. "Ratchet. Tend to these wounds on my grandson."

Sentinel then looked to Optimus. "You must revive Thunderbolt and Tesla. They know where the pillars are." Sentinel said.

"Jolt, are you feeling alright?" Ratchet asked him as he tended the cuts. "Yeah, Ratch. It's all a shock." "Yes. They are quite a shocker. It's also a joy to know that the royal line lives." Ratchet replied.

"I don't think I'm cut out for being a Prime, Ratch. I hate battle." Jolt said. "So does Optimus. The war changed us all. And you are the future of it. We all were excited about the birth of the young Prime. Ironhide especially. He was going to be your Primusfather anyway. And in an odd twist of fate, he ended up raising you. Ironhide loves you as his own son. Even though Thunder is your father."

"Ratch, tell me what my father was like." Jolt said. Ratchet sat next to Jolt. "First, and understand this Jolt because it's very important. Your mother and father loved you. Your mother wanted a sparkling. Your father didn't. His love for your mother led to your creation. He was loud and obnoxious. Quite like old Hound. The three. Thunder, Ironhide, and Hound. Ironhide especially was his partner in crime. He forced Ironhide into the service of the Prime family. Ironhide swore his oath not to Thunder or Optimus. He swore it to you."

Ratchet thought for a moment. "It was Ironhide who convinced your father to have you. To fulfill a Prime duty, and to make Tesla very happy. As all of this went on, the war raged on. Iacon was defended by the autobots. You parents and Sentinel decided to save the pillars, and Thunderbolt made the biggest mistake of his life. He discussed with Ironhide and Chromia, your future. You were left in the care of Ironhide and his spark mate, against your mother's wishes. Tessa loved you so very much, she refused to give you up. Thunderbolt forced her."

Ratchet sat silent. "My father. My father is Ironhide." "He may as well be. He loved you from the moment he held you as a sparkling. Go on now. Lena is asking questions and they are reviving your father. Optimus will need your help."

Jolt watched as Sentinel stood nearby. Optimus pressed the matrix into the chest of Thunderbolt. He awoke disoriented. He attacked Optimus with force, shaking the hangar. "Thunder, it's me, your brother, Optimus."

Thunder looked around, and saw Ironhide standing next to Jolt and Hound. Thunderbolt froze. "Ironhide? You look old." Ironhide didn't move. "You have explaining to do Thunder. You asked me to look after your boy for a time. I raised him. You abandoned the autobots, Iacon, your friends, and your own son."

To make his point clear, Ironhide spun up the cannon on his left arm.

Thunderbolt moved to attack Ironhide, and Jolt stepped between them. "You may not think you owe him an explanation. But you do owe it to me." Jolt snapped, his scythe like hands already emitting an electrical current. "Boy, I'll beat the blue off you." Thunderbolt snapped. Before Jolt could respond, Sentinel stepped between them. "Interesting turn this has taken. Thunder, do you not recognize him? He is Joltus."

Jolt spent the next few hours alone. In the wake of the day's goings on, Lena had been distant, just as he had asked of her. She discovered him on the roof.

"You wanna talk?" She asked him as she climbed along his bipedal form. "My father forced my mother to give me up. He doesn't even know who I am."

"Ratchet told me this awful story about how I was abandoned." Lena was sitting on his leg. "Hmmm. Talk to Ironhide. And Sentinel. Maybe they can confirm it or deny it. But you have to give him a chance." She said.

The next day, Tesla had not yet been revived. Ratchet, Firestar, and Stiletta were making extensive repairs to her spark chamber. It had been hanging out of her chest.

Jolt was uneasy. He didn't hear the footsteps. "I sense that you have many many questions." Sentinel said. "Let us speak as a family. I have contacted Thunder, Ironhide, and Optimus."

Jolt followed his grandfather to a field. Thunderbolt and Optimus stood next to each other. "Mechs. We are gathered here to answer and ask questions as a family. Ironhide has earned the right to be here since he raised Joltus." Sentinel said.

The old mech looked at Jolt. "Begin."

"What happened aboard the ark?" He asked them. Sentinel remained silent, waiting for Thunderbolt to speak. "Your son asked you a question." Ironhide snapped. "My son. The son I didn't want? Your mother insisted on going back for you. She was willing to leave me on the ark. I ripped out her spark. Femmes have no rights, and neither do you, boy."

"What happened to you, Thunder? You are a monster." Ironhide said. "And you went soft in your old age "

"There was a reason I never gave you my oath. I pledged my life to your son. You always felt entitled, and above reproach." Ironhide said.

Jolt, watching the exchange, walked away. "Where is he going?" Sentinel asked Optimus. "I believe that he is disappointed in Thunderbolt. Jolt hates battle and conflict. Much like the rest of the Primes."

"That's exactly what it is." Ironhide said to Optimus. "He's going to be alone and to think. He is sad. Jolt was always told his parents loved him. Which I assumed was the case. But it is not. Ratchet told me about the situation yesterday. Sentinel. You care for the boy. Perhaps you should speak with him."

Sentinel found Jolt sitting near a lake. "I am sorry, Jolt." He said, seating himself on Jolt's left. "Why did he agree to have me if he didn't want me?"

"I can't answer that for you. I do know my own feelings about it. I am very proud of the mech you have become. You have empathy and sympathy. Soon, you will have to step up for the role you were born to do. Keep your friends close. Now Optimus and I must talk alone."

Jolt returned to NEST with Ironhide. Sam was there talking to the blonde woman.