I only own Mariposa!


Back to the Base

Freedom High, Bluestreak's POV

I jump when I feel something move in my pocket. "OH!"

"Mr. Tranquilli. Is there a problem?" I look up to see Mr. Lamb glaring at me. "I know you're new, Blake, but we don't allow cell phones in class."

"I know, I'm sorry." I sigh. "Peter's got a full time job, and Jazz is on a business trip. My niece is autistic, and she's in first grade. They need to be able to reach me if something happens with her." I glance down to the red Razr. "It's Peter."

"Take it in the hall, and don't let it happen again. Next time, I'm taking the phone."

I dart into the hall before looking around. The halls are empty, and it's as quiet as my hometown was after the seekers left. I look down at my hands. Holoform or not, it's still just as real. I take a deep breath and open the phone. "Peter?"

"What took you so long?"

"I-I'm sorry. I was in art class. I had to get permission to leave. I almost got in trouble as it was. Primus, this hall is quiet."

"Bluestreak…"

"I'm fine, Peter. I'm perfectly fine."

"You had a flashback."

I can picture him with his faceplates in his hands right now. "Is it that obvious?"

"What happened to your iPod?"

"I left it in the room when I came out to answer your call. I was in the middle of class." I sigh. "What did you need?"

"Mariposa is with me. She was being tormented by one of the femmes in her class, and had a meltdown. Stop by the house if you want, but I will not be able to make it back until six at the earliest."

"I can get Mari something from the drive-in for supper."

"I would appreciate that."

"Is Mari okay?"

"She is now, though has a black eye. She claims to have walked into the playground equipment."

"Primus. Did the femme do it?"

"The femme poured paint on her uniform. The teacher showed me what she had been working on." He sighs. "I will see you in a few hours. I need to get back to work."

"'Kay."


Home, Normal POV

Carrier lets me out before starting to the house with me. "Leave your backpack in your room. You will have to do any homework after I get off."

I shake my head. "I wanna look at my new books." I shrug. "An' we don' have homework ona firs' day!"

"That much is good. Come on."

I nod and follow him upstairs. He helps me out of my maybe-ruined uniform, then turns to my closet, leaving me standing in just my Barbie panties. "Carrier! I's nakie!"

"Hold on." He pulls an outfit out and turns to me before helping me into an orange cap sleeved dress with a butterfly graphic and silver spots on the skirt, orange leggings, orange bobby socks, and silver Mary Jane shoes. He slips the new binky off my neck before slipping my yellow butterfly one over my head, then changes my tiara back to my normal butterfly one. "Get your pink bag." I run for my overnight bag. "Did you unpack it?"

I shake my head. "My games and coloring stuff is in there still. I don' got a desk."

"We will have to remedy that someday, but for now, come with me."

"Carrier…" He looks down at me. "If I'm taking my school bag, do I still getta bring a toy?"

"Yes, but be quick." He sighs as I take off running down the stairs, then turns back and picks my iPod up off the floor and slipping it into the bag in his hand.


I take my overnight bag from Carrier and tuck Rose inside before turning for the door. "Time ta go?"

He nods, and transforms as soon as we're outside. "Get in, and buckle."


We pull into the base, and Carrier lets me out before transforming. Once I'm settled on his shoulder, we start into the base.

Carrier knocks on the door to the medical bay. "Ratchet?"

A red and white bot sticks his head out. "He's down the hall, dealing with something the twins did."

Carrier reaches up to his head. "Please, tell me Sideswipe did not set up another prank."

"Sorry, Prowl. No luck. He tripped it himself, though."

Carrier sighs heavily. "Could you take a look at Mariposa's eye? She claims to have walked into the playground equipment at her school."

"Sure." He steps back and lets us in, then closes the door.

"Carrier… Who's he?"

"This is First Aid. He is one of the Protectobots."

"They like those plane guys, right?"

First Aid gives me a confused look, but Carrier nods. "They are a gestalt, yes."

"Cool…" I look up at him. "What're the others like?"

"Hot Spot's our leader. He usually leads by example, and he's always on top of things. We don't fight a lot, so he's usually running on instinct." He steps over to get something before coming back with some kind of cream. "Ratchet had Captain Lennox pick up some human supplies for younglings so we wouldn't be unprepared for another injury." He turns to me. "Close your eye, Sweetspark." I do, but flinch away when he touches me with the thingy. "Easy… It's okay. Just hold still. This isn't going to hurt." He dabs a little more, then leans back. "See? Was that so bad?"

"'s cold."

"Awh. I'm sorry, Sweetspark." He runs a hand over my head, then moves away for a moment before returning with a strawberry sucker. "Prowl? May I?"

I look up to Carrier. "Pwease?"

He checks the time. "You only have an hour until lunch, Mariposa." I whimper softly. "But you have been through a lot today." He turns to First Aid. "She can have it." He turns back to me. "But nothing more until lunch, got it?"

I nod before slipping the treat into my mouth. "Wha' 'bou' the o-ders?"

"Mariposa, we need to get to my office. I do not have the time to fall behind."

"I can watch her for an hour or so, Prowl. It shouldn't be too hard."

"Just be careful with her. She has already had one meltdown today, and I do not wish to risk a second, or a crash. Have her back by noon."

"I will, Prowl. Go on. She's in good hands." He sighs before sitting beside me. "Well, there's Streetwise. He's one of our enforcers."

I slip my sucker out to look at him. "Like Carrier."

He nods. "Right." He smiles. "He's always willing to help others. Groove's more of a loner, but he's more of a free spirit, too."

"A what?"

"He likes to be independent."

"He no like'a be par' of you' team?"

"He's fine with being part of the team, Mari. He just likes to be alone when we're off-duty."

"Oh…" I slip my sucker back into my mouth so I can crawl onto his lap, then take it back out. "Who's left?"

"Blades. He's…" First Aid sighs. "He's a fighter. He'd rather fight than fly, which causes trouble sometimes, but he's still our brother, and he's still one of us." He shrugs. "I guess being air support could be a little annoying, after all, he's just hovering there most of the time."

I look at my silver shoes. "Aid… How do you do it?"

"Do what?"

"How can you see people hurt, an' watch people die, an'—an' no' think 'bou' i' later?"

"Oh…" He sighs. "I can't, Mari."

"But Ratch—"

"Trust me, he can't either. He just hides it better." He sighs. "What's got you so upset, Little One? Younglings your age shouldn't be thinking about dying."

I look back at my shoes. "I hadda save Sire…" I count on my fingers. "Ten days ago today. Ratch couldn' do i', so I had to." I look back up at him. "I use' ta wanna be a doc, bu' I don' know no more…"

He shifts before lifting me to where he's looking at my face. "Why not?"

I drop my sucker stick down to the metal bed. "I don' fink I can wa'ch people an' bots die, an' no' be able to help."

He lays a finger on my head. "Mari, you saved your Sire without any training, when my own mentor couldn't. You can't limit yourself because you're scared of what might happen." He smiles. "You're too young right now, but when you're older, I'll see what I can do about starting your training." I look up at him in shock. "And until then, I'll help you with school, or whatever you need." He stands before setting me on his shoulder. "But right now, I need to get you back to your Carrier."


Freedom High, Bluestreak's POV

I look up when Jason walks over. I've already started on lunch—a ham and cheese sub sandwich with lettuce, carrot sticks, blueberries, goldfish crackers, and a thermos of energon—it's so strange eating human food, but I have to keep up appearances, and my holoform uses a lot of energy.

"Hey." He sets a tray down. What I see on it makes me grateful Prowl chose to pack our lunches. He takes a bite of…whatever that is. "How's your niece?"

"Peter had to come get her. One of her classmates poured paint on her."

He gasps, almost choking. He takes a drink before sighing. "I hope it wasn't one of my sisters."

"You have sisters?"

"Three. A set of twins and one a year older. They're in first too." He shrugs. "I doubt they'd do that to her, though. They're really sweet."

"I'm sure they are."

He sighs. "Guess that's what the phone call in art was about."

"Yep." I take a drink from the thermos Prowl sent before continuing. "He had to go back to work, but they understand about her condition, and have agreed to let her stay with him."

"What's he do?"

I shrug. "Mostly military reports, but he's skilled in the field. The commander pulled him off the field because of Mari."

"What? Why!"

"He…" I sigh heavily. How can I explain that he's her "mother" without blowing cover… "He plays the maternal roll in her life. Jazz is on a business trip right now, anyway." I shrug. "He's a spy."

"You're kidding? Like James Bond?"

"Nope. Same last name and everything." I sigh softly. "But we don't want it getting out too far. He was the one to rescue Mari from the abusers who had her, so she's been having a hard time."


Carrier's Office, Normal POV

First Aid knocks on Carrier's door. Once it opens, he sets me on the desk in front of Carrier, then leaves—probably back to the medical bay, or to get some energon. "How was your talk with First Aid?"

I smile at him. "Good." He sets my backpack in front of me. "Get your lunch out and eat quickly. I have to see Optimus about a few of the reports."

I open my lunch box to find apple rings turned into peanut butter sandwiches with chocolate chips, grapes, mini ham rolls, cheese cubes, carrot rings with dip, an apple juice box, and a thermos of energon. "Yay!" I quickly start to eat. "My ol' family never though' ta make apple samwiches!"

Carrier shifts to holoform and picks my phone up before opening it. After a moment, he sets it down again. "I have added First Aid's comm to your contacts. You will be able to contact him if you cannot reach myself, Optimus, or your Sire."

"Thanks."


Medical Bay, Third POV

Ratchet looks up when the Protectobot returns. "Where were you?"

"Prowl brought Mari in with a black eye. Said she told him she ran into the playground at school. She stuck around to talk, so I had to take her back."

"Why is she not in school today?"

"Apparently, a meltdown. I didn't get the whole story, but she seems okay now." He sighs. "She's still upset about having to save Jazz."

"She is six years old, Aid. Barely a youngling." He sighs before leaning on the wall. "Ironhide was watching her while I worked on Bumblebee's legs. I should have been more attentive. Maybe she would not be this shaken if I had."

"She wouldn't have her Sire either." Ratchet gives him a look. "She told me she wanted to be a doctor. She's had a taste of it now, and not a comforting one either, but—"

"She is talented, Aid, but that does not mean we need to pull her into the field yet. She is far too young."

"I know. That's why I asked Prowl about being a Big Brother."

"A what?"

He shrugs. "I'll train her once she's old enough, but for now, I'll just be a mentor. She's been through a lot in two weeks, and she may just need someone to talk to—or even just be there." He sighs. "Two weeks ago, she thought she was human, only to learn she's an alien, and a princess."


Optimus' Office, Normal POV

Carrier steps into Optimus' office with a small stack of data-pads and me at his feet, carrying Rose. "I am sorry I took so long. I had to speak with the girl who upset her."

Optimus kneels to me. "What happened, Princess?"

"Daniella poured paint on me. I c'ied 'gain."

"I know, Princess." He stands and turns to Carrier. "Is the girl going to be punished?"

"They will make sure she does not do it again, and I was allowed to talk to the femme myself." Carrier turns to me. "Maybe I can get a comm set up once we are done, and you can talk with your Sire."

"Thanks, Carrier."


I look at the mech on the screen. "Sire!"

"Wha' happen', Girly?"

I can feel the tears coming to my eyes just remembering. "'Ella poured paint on me in school! She ruined my uniform, an' Carrier hadta come into school, an—"

"Slow down, Sweetspark." He sighs heavily. "We can ge' a new one if i' was, ya Carrier can clean i', an' ya know ya Carrier loves ya. I doub' tha's wha' pushe' ya inta this."

"They hate me there, Sire! No one likes me, just 'cause I'm different! They make fun of me, and they like seein' me cry!"

"Ah'm sure tha's no' true, Mari. Ya're a princess. They jus'—" He glances behind him before turning back to me. "They jus' don' know ya like the res' of us do." He scowls suddenly. "Hold on." He steps away from the screen. "Hide, wha's goin' on over here!?"

"I have it under control. Don't worry."

He steps back over to the screen. "Ah'm sorry 'bou' tha', Girly." He sighs. "Bu', we go' another signal. Ah gotta go." The screen goes black. I stare up at it before looking at my feet.

"Mariposa?"

"I miss him, Carrier."

He runs a finger over my head. "Me too, Mariposa." He stands before setting me on his shoulder. "Come on. I have to get back to work."


6:00 pm

I climb out and grab my stuff before running to the house, letting Carrier transform behind me.

Bluestreak looks up from the table, in his holoform. He's surrounded by books. "How you doing, Mari?"

"Better." I climb up to where the chicken nuggets and fries Bluestreak picked up for me are sitting and start to eat.

Carrier sets a cube in front of him before sliding into another chair. "I was led to believe the school did not hand out homework on the first day."

"For elementary school." Bluestreak sighs before sliding over a small stack of papers. "I know you've been doing paperwork all day, but I need you to sign these. I have to turn them in tomorrow."

Carrier shifts to holoform and skims them before starting to sign them. "How was your day?"

Bluestreak closes a book before stacking it on top of the others, then returns to his normal form and takes a drink from the cube Carrier gave him. "Okay, I guess. This boy named Jason has been helping me find my way around, and he seems friendly enough…" He shakes his head. "But, slag—"

"Bluestreak." He nods to me. "Not around Mariposa."

"Sorry…" He sighs. "Those halls are quiet when they're empty." He shakes his head. "And Mr. Lamb wasn't happy with me for having my phone on, but until Mari settles in…"

"I understand. I will at least send a note with you about the necessity." Carrier sighs. "I need to get Mari ready for bed."

"OH!" The two turn to me suddenly. "Aid wants to me my Big Brother!"

"Big Brother?"

Carrier sighs. "I looked it up earlier. He asked to mentor her until she is old enough to train."

"Does she even want to go into medicine?"

I nod, my mouth being full of chicken. I swallow quickly. "Yes, I do! Ever since I was really little!"

"You still are."

I sigh. "I know." I look up at him. "I was scared to, Blue, but Aid talked with me today, an' he's gonna help me."


My Room, Bedtime

I change into my Belle nightgown before grabbing Blankie and Flutter. Carrier steps in then, and helps me into bed before tucking me in.

"Get some recharge, Sweetspark. You have school in the morning."

"I know." I smile. "But maybe it won' be so bad then. Leas' I know 'Ella's no' gonna be mean no more. If she does, I gots you, an' Blue, an' Opt, an' Aid ta keep me safe."

"And your Sire, once he returns."

"An Siwe…" I roll over on my side after he slips Binky in my mouth. "Love you…"