Nano-kilk - half of a Cybertron second

Klik - Cybertron second

Breem - Cybertron minute

Joor - Cybertron hour

Cycle/Lunar-cycle - Day or night

Meta-cycle - Cybertron week

Orn - Cybertron month

Vorn - Cybertron year

Deca-cycle - Cybertron decade

Mega-cycle - Cybertron century

And a big thanks to Steelcode for the help with the idea to help for whip shyness!

Windcharger: "Let's peel outta here, Brawn!"

Brawn: "And miss all the fun?"

Windcharger: "Remind me to discuss your definition of fun some time!"

— "Fire On the Mountain"

"There's a thin line between being a hero and being a memory."

— Optimus Prime, "More Than Meets The Eye"

If it was remotely possible, the whip hanging from inside the half door of her stable pen would have had holes burned into it. Ever since that cycle, Howler had slowly work with her to be okay with seeing the whip. Then when he was sure of this, Siren began noticing he would keep one on his person when working in the building or in her stable pen. At the times he came too close with it clipped on him, she skittered away with a low growl.

Now, after two orns of him doing these slow workings, his next step had been to have the whip be seen by her at all times and not in glimpses or for a periods of time. That had been nearly two meta-cycles ago. Even with time having passed and knowing how silly it was to have a fear of something like the whip, Siren couldn't get over how it had hurt her. Though, with his help and the exposure over time of the whip, she's been able to function enough to not glitch out each time she overworked her systems.

That didn't mean Siren wanted it to be within her vision all of. The. Fragging. Time.

There were cycles she disliked the old mech that's become like a grandsire to her. Then again, what parental figure wouldn't try to help, said child, learn to get over a fear? That was what Howler had been doing with her, and each time she came around to it, Siren could always see him give her a small smile that told her just how proud he was of her. It warmed her spark knowing that he was proud of how far she had gotten and it made her really want to try to make him even prouder.

Boltgear having been notified of her improvements with the whip, decided to get her back into training without starting from the gate. Siren was basically training back on the oval track, but she didn't care, she was running and training once more. It helped to keep her fit for when she went back to racing again and to help keep her sane from the many bored days she had gone through waiting to know her fate. Even taking studies with Howler and reading had grown a little dull without the breaks in-between.

Though, Siren couldn't think it wasn't that bad. She at least was able to learn more of Cybertron and master reading with two sets of symbols, one of them she knew as probably the oldest set of symbols. The second set could either be of Decepticon or Autobot writing. It scared Siren a little knowing that of the two fraction, Howler had been the one to teach her to read one of them. Meaning, the old mech may have already chosen a side and she had yet to know.

The worst news came the cycle Boltgear had come back from the second leg of the race series. Her brother had won one of the Master Class races, earning his own slot in the Tri-Torus and so, the mech that essentially owned her since her birth, had put her up for sell. Of the two siblings he had started out with, only one has issues that he didn't want to bother with anymore. Namely her, but because of her slot in the Tri-Torus, he had upped her price even more for those willing to take a chance and/or risk with the vixen.

When Howler had come to inform her solemnly of what was happened, Siren wanted to be human once more just so she could have balled her eyes out. She would lose Howler! Never to see him again! It was just so unfair what her life had come to be. Why was she even reborn if she was going to lose the one bot that made her feel like she mattered?

"So, this is the vixen?" Siren glanced to see a rather tall mech from her standing spot in the far corner. He stood almost as tall as Sentinel, just maybe under a foot or so, with teal green and dark green as secondary color. The other thing she noticed was the fact this mech had wings sticking out and down, making this the first time she's seen a seeker. Well, one this close for her to study better. Of the bots she's been around this one had optic color almost like the yellow Breakdown had in Prime, only darker.

"A handler of mine has been slowly getting the vixen use to seeing the whip again, but it has been time consuming and I have other turbofoxes to look after. So, you're going to have to work with the vixen to finish it up. You heard about what happened Embertron and my vixen here." the mech nodded letting Boltgear continue.

"I have told the board to keep her slot, so that the new owner of Oddity Empress may try to get the vixen into the races, if they can. Seeing as her sibling, Coreshock, had gained his slot for those races my main focus is on him now and if your willing to pay for her price, you'll be able to have a vixen with a slot." Boltgear stated selling his point hopefully to get rid of the dead weight of the vixen.

If a turbofox wasn't bringing in any kind of credit, he didn't want it in his stables. If the vixen had been older, old enough to become a breeder, than she would have had a place. With the vixen still too young, in his processor, she was booted out of his stables.

The other mech gave a hmm, studying the vixen intently. "Would it be okay to get a closer look?" he asked. Boltgear gave a nod and so Siren found the tall mech slowly walking around her, taking in every inch of her frame with critically optics. When he stopped in front of her, the mech kneeled then leaned in closer.

Siren drew her helm back a little at the closeness of the mech's dark grey faceplates. It almost seemed like the mech knew something about her with the way his optics looked deep into her own. A small smile appeared on his lip components as he abruptly stood up and turned to Boltgear. "You have a deal, Boltgear. I'll take the vixen."

What?

Wait…did she just get sold?

She could feel the denial creep up in her spark. No, this can't be happening. Oh dear Solus Prime is was!

"Then, shall we get the signing done?" Boltgear asked leading the mech away before ordering Phasewing to get her ready to be shipped.

Siren could only stand stock still in shock. She didn't even register moving as Phasewing lead her to her new owner's shuttle. Once Phasewing settled the vixen, Notch having been notified of the vixen's departure had informed the mech of the vixen slight glitching when flying. Before she knew it, the vet had given her a mid-dose of sedatives for the flight to her new home. One that didn't have Howler.

Heavyglide wasn't stupid nor was he blind. Being a seeker had perks to sense the more unseen things. Something about the vixen he had bought several cycles ago was amiss. Having grown up around the care of turbofoxes since his sparklinghood, he knew all there was about them since both his creators had been in the business of dealing with them. His carrier having been a vet while his sire had been a trainer.

With being around that type of racing, Heavyglide had grown up wanting to become an owner of racing turbofoxes himself and had saved little by little over time. Then the cycle came where he had saved a good amount of credits to buy his first turbofox. It had been even better when he learned the vixen he had been looking at, thanks to some help, in the sell ad had a slot already for next vorns Tri-Torus. Then, Boltgear explained that the vixen had been traumatized in such a way while running her race that he just didn't have time to deal with her.

Even knowing the risk with getting a vixen with trauma didn't faze the mech one bit. His creators had dealt with plenty of turbofoxes that came with problems and so he had some ideas to help the vixen out. With that thought in processor, Heavyglide went and began his cycle working on his little patch of property to get the vixen ready for some races he had in mind when the third and last leg of the series started in a meta-cycle.

"Alright, lets get you a good wash and see where to go from there." Heavyglide stated softly leading her to the outside and clip the cross-leads to her halter. Then, the mech started the hose and let the oil poor over her frame to began gently scrubbing her armor. He had to with her being small next to him.

Siren hung her helm wanting Howler. For the last five cycles she's desperately missed the old mech. Her new owner smelled young and looked young also. He had a unique smell that she hasn't smelled before, could be because he was the first seeker she's been this close to. The smell was that of ozone and fresh paint with hints of what could be smelled as jet fuel on earth and wax. For a large mech, Siren found his voice rather quite while he spoke, to which seemed to relax her frame as his voice continue to give soothing words. There was another smell that was on his frame, but it had weakened for that smell to have almost vanished.

"You don't know how excited I am to have finally purchase my first turbofox. My creators would have been so proud at how far I've gotten. I told them I was going to become an owner of my own racing stock and you're my prized vixen that will help me do just that." Huh, that would explain why this place was so much smaller than Boltgear's stables. This mech was just starting out. "Primus must be smiling down on me for being able to get you. I work so hard to get where I am now and if you'll let me, I'll help you out of that whip shy you have."

Her finials laid back against her helm at those words and a low growl became audible. The scrubbing paused at that. "Don't worry, I wont push you." optics narrowed at his reply and she turned her helm to look up at the mech with suspicion. Heavyglide smiled down at the vixen like he had a secret. "Howler explained to me about you." Audial finials shot up at the name of the old bot.

"He told me all about your intellect. He was a good friend of my carrier and I've known him since I was sparked. He was the main reason for me to even know about you in the first place. If you want, I'll let you roam around…just don't run off, please? I know it's hard missing a bot you've known for so long." he asked her, his faceplates showing a little of his worry to this show trust that he was giving the vixen. There was even a hint of sadness that disappeared after a kilk.

Siren blinked up at the seeker…Was this mech really implying that she could roam this patch of metal ground as long as she didn't run off? It just didn't seem right. She's spent most of her time being surrounded by fences and pens that the thought of being given freedom was shocking to her. Quickly she gave a nod to the seeker, feeling her spark race at the promise to go anywhere she wanted as long as she stayed on his property.

"Good, I hope that helps you intergrade into my home. Now, let me finish up and if you're willing to try, I have an idea that could help with your whip problem." Siren glanced to the mech seeing him look at her. Was she willing to trust this mech with a whip near her? But, he knew Howler, and if Howler had told him about her that meant the old mech trusted this one. Should she? Wait, it was his smell that was so weak on this mech's frame. It was Howler's smell!

With a hesitant nod, Siren gave the young mech the okay to do it once done with drying her frame. A bright smile lit his face at that. "You wont regret it, Siren, it'll help you. Alright, I'll be right back and we can try it."

Dear Solus Prime, what did she just get into? Did she really just agree to be with in a close distance with a whip? She's lost her processor, that's what just happened. But she had to give the mech a chance, since being here he's let her get accustom to her new home while talking. Too much she's come to notice as he worked around his home. He was really cheerful too.

"Alright, I'm coming out with the whip." he announced seeing her frame flare out at the word. Slowly he came around to face her and show her the whip. "For this next bit, I need you to trust me." Siren stood still staring at the whip. He was giving her a choice now to proceed or not and it helped her to calm down a little. For the first time, other than Howler, she was able to choice what she wanted done. Maybe being bought by this mech wasn't so bad. It made her feel, valued. More than just a turbofox but as ,well, a bot.

Heavyglide made sure to be slow as she watch him move to her side and lower the whip. Frame tensed up, spark raced, and the temptation to bolt away from it made her pede shuffle but the cross-lead held her in the area. Then she felt it feather touch her armor and she gave a bark as she stepped sided away from it. The seeker made no move, letting her calm down in her own time. Once she was, Siren glanced to the mech then to the whip.

"Do you want to continue?" he asked softly after a breem of silence. Siren thought it over but nodded once more. For the next meta-cycle, they continued with this method until Siren found of the effort Howler had done with her before this had paid off with what this mech had been doing. Yes, the whip still made her skittish, but she could learn to live with it and maybe someday, she could look back to see just how stupid it was to be scared of something like that.

Siren ran lazily throwing the ball Heavyglide had gotten her for doing so well with the whip. For some reason, she couldn't help but compare things to being more of a pet than being a racing turbofox. One was that she had the freedom to roam his land, her stable door was always open for her to come and go as she pleased. Another was that she had been allowed in his home. His home! Never has she seen the inside of a cybertronian's home before now.

It had many similar things to what a human home had. Living room, kitchen, pictures that hung on the walls, decorative things here and there to make the home feel homely. So, yeah, she felt more of that to a pet status than a racer's status. That reminded her, she hasn't done much training since being here. Now that was in processor, Siren went in search of a datapad knowing he had to have one somewhere in his home.

Heavyglide hammered at the wall of the stable pen building, fixing it. It had been one of the many things he had put on the list to fix when he bought this piece of land. The previous owner had decided to let it go and for vorns he had done much to restore it back to what it should have looked like if kept up to date. His creator's would have been proud of what all he's done. Wings perked at the bark he heard and the pedefalls coming to him as he turned to see the vixen stopping just before him with a datapad in her mouth.

Taking it he read it then looked to her. "You sure you're ready? There will be other jockeys that have whips. We would have to wait for the meta-cycle for Tarn, its too late for sign ups in Uraya." he asked handing the pad back for her to type on. It'll bring you in credits that you no doubt will be needing during the off series of the races and it will show Boltgear that he lost a good racer for not taking the time with me, like you have. But I ask you find a jockey that wont bring a whip with.

Heavyglide grinned. "I got just the minibot for this. You'll like her."

She may not be up to par for racing, but she was willing to put in the effort to at least get second. Heavyglide had given her so much since she came into his life, she could only think to repay him by putting all she had into winning for him. For once in her onlining, she felt whole, free, untroubled. She went where she wanted and the mech would at times start conversations with her and had no mind to wait until she was done and read what she typed. If she was able in this form, Siren would have been grinning, showing off all of her pointy dentas in her happiness.

Then came in Kickboom, a minibot femme that was to be her jockey for the remainder of her racing career and a friend of Heavyglide. Did she say friend, more like the two flirted without realizing it. Being friends since sparklinghood it was obvious that the two would be so oblivious to this fact. If she could, she would have face palmed herself with the on going banter that they had been doing.

"You look better, Siren." Her helm snapped up to be met with the blue optics of Howler. HE'S HERE! She quickly went over to the stable pen door and lifted her upper frame to lean against it to let her helm nuzzle into his chassis. "I made a good choice in letting Heavyglide know about you. He's young, but he knows what he's doing." he stated petting her helm with a small smile on his lip components. "Excited to be racing again?"

A soft purr came to be his answer as he chuckled. Gently pushing her back to look in her optics. "Then, beat that brother of your's. Show everybot just want kind of vixen you are, just how strong you are. Show them that nothing can keep you down for long. Just remember, you can always overcome anything if you put your processor to it, okay?" Siren tilted her helm at his words. Why did it seem like he was saying good-bye? She gave a whine, confused, but Howler only gave her a sad smile. "Remember all that I have taught you, you'll need it for the vorns to come."

Then he left letting her know that it had been his good-bye to her. But, why? Why did he have to do so? They would have been able to see each other during the times the races were happening. It, it just made no sense for him to do so.

"Ready to race?" Heavyglide asked Siren, who had her finials twitch at his soft voice. Still confused over what Howler had done she gave the mech a nod, her processor already clearing for her main focus to come forth. "Just so you know, Siren, take it easy. You've been out of training for a bit with only minimal workouts for the longest time. I don't mind if you come in last, just have fun with your run, okay?"

Siren looked up into his dark yellow optics, taking in his easy smile and the warmth of presence he gave. He wanted her to have fun with her run, huh? Well, winning was her way of fun, maybe it was a good thing she couldn't smile for she would have with a thought in processor. As she thought of it, before with her races, she ran for her own enjoyment, but now, she had this mech. One that gave her the feeling of being valued and gave her the freedom she's been craving for, so now, she had the desire to race and win for him. She knew her limits and she would use them.

For the remainder of the racing series, Siren worked hard to earn what credits Heavyglide would need for the off series until the next vorns series to begin again. During her restart, she had at time come in third and many times second seeing as she had to build her limits back up from the cycles of no training. It was hard knowing that if she had been keeping up with her training she would have had many more wins under her.

Then again, she wouldn't have had the pleasure of coming into the seekers life. So, as Heavyglide said, it was Primus' will that their meeting had come about the way it did. He needed a turbofox to start his career in racing and breeding turbofoxes while Siren gained a bot that understood and accepted she was unusual to the average turbofox. Even with the places she came into, the mech had a descent amount of credits to save during the off series since it was just her and him. With the occasion of Kickboom coming over.

"Have you heard?" Kickboom asked from her spot on the couch. Back to the arm rest with pedes laying in the seekers lap while Siren laid at the other end of the two seating couch.

"The movement is getting out of hand yet the Senate is not doing a fragging thing about it." Heavyglide replied not noticing the swivel of the vixen's finials towards him while her optics remained on the holoscreen of their version of a TV. For once, she was hearing something about the war that would no doubt be starting from what she's been hearing.

Was she ready to fight in a war? One that would last for billions of years? How long to turbofoxes even live? Would she outlive the war or would she end up dieing in the first wave of it? So many questions with no answer to them.

"I don't know, this Decepticon cause does have points to it. Kaon is in such a poor state that the Senate all but blotted them out as if they weren't a concern to them. Like they were nothing to them." she stated. "Have you listened to what a gladiator designated Megatron says?"

Heavyglide looked to her. "What does a bolt helm gladiator have to say? All they do is fight and snuff each other for entertainment purposes. Some of them even do it for the fun of it from what I've heard."

Kickboom leaned over to the mech and laid a servo on his upper arm. "Just listen for a kilk. Megatron has made many points to how corrupted the Senate is. If you're not rich or have any sort of power to play their type of game you are nothing to them. Glide, we don't matter to them. They would rather see us suffer to scrounge for energon and credits just to stay online for another cycle than for them to lift a digit to help us. To them, we're like filthy robo-rats."

"How do you know that, Kick? All you're going by is the words being sprouted by some gladiator that has become sick of fighting for bots entertainment and are trying to start things for attention." Siren glanced between the two feeling the spike of emotion in their EM fields.

Kickboom scowled at the mech. "You know just how bad it can get. You've been there just like I have trying to save all of the credits I can get from my races just to keep my home and have enough energon stored incase I cant get another race is time. It's hard, harder for me being a femme with so many mechs looking at me like pleasure bot that they can pay to have for the luner cycle."

Heavyglide vented taking her servo in his. "Kick, I know. I'm just saying, we cant just go by what one mech says. He may say things that make points, but it is still too early to be picking sides. I want to stay neutral in this conflict. I do not want to choose sides for it is wrong to fight against our own bots." Kickboom vented as well laying back into the arm rest.

"I'll stay neutral as well, I'm not ready to fight." she stated looking into his optics. Optics that she's always loved about him. They held such kindness. "But, you know just as I do, sooner or later, we will have to. Maybe not this vorn or the next deca-cycle, but we will."

Heavyglide looked away knowing she was right. "I know, Kick, I know." Siren looked at the floor with unfocused optics. Just how much into the war was it already?

For the next chapter, there will be a time skip, by now as i've been hinting, the war will be starting very soon and she will have to choose a side a little while afterward. Here's a hint for something big happening in the next chapter, Till all are one.

Arcadia Island - Ahh thank you, and those were already considered for much later in the story.

silent femme - Yay, I didn't much like him either. You have your good bots and your bad bots.

Steelcode - Well, it may not have been Howler to do it but thank you very much for the idea. You really think i have good writing skills? You should have seen some of my very early on writings...very cringe worthy. I'm just trying to do a more realistic way of thinking in my writing. There are times i still have trouble with it.

3 - I will try, it's been quite a challenge that i've been aiming for. I am very much in love with this and want to do the best i can to continue it.

And now to thank those for Following and favoriting. Arcadia Island, horseg27, and ReadsToMuchALot!

R&R!