I only own my OC's!


mild swearing, kidnapping, and mild abuse in this one. reader beware!


Labor Day Weekend: Monday

Labor Day morning, 7:00 AM

We're all woken up by the phone ringing. "Wake up call!"

Carrier sighs, rolls off their bed, and steps over to get my dress out of the closet. Once he's got it out of the bag, he lays it on my bed, then goes to get my hair stuff and everything else he needs. "Jazz, I need you to pack what clothes she has left in the drawers into her duffel, and pack her dirty clothes and her bedtime toys into her suitcase."

"Wanna keeps Medix."

"Medix?"

"Wasn' he a Protectobot vorns ago? One of Spot's additions?"

"Uh-huh! Named for brover."

"That is a good name, Mariposa. Now, I will allow you to keep Medix with you, but he will have to stay where he cannot be seen during the parade, okay?"

"Yes, Carrier."

"Good girl." He helps me out of my pajamas and wet pull-up—I was sleepy, all right—and into a clean pull-up—because parade and Sunstreaker—a blue dress with shoulder straps and off-the-shoulder tulle sleeves covered with butterflies, and a silver studded tulle skirt, white tights, and blue Mary Jane shoes. He takes my hair down and combs it out—it still has the new blue streaks in it—before pulling it back with a matching large blue glittery hair bow, then slips a silver tiara with a blue butterfly into my hair. "Now, try not to get dirty, and make sure you keep Medix on you."

"Binky?"

"I have a special one in my pocket, Sweetspark, but you cannot use it in the parade, okay?"

"No has blue one?"

Carrier sighs and slips a blue, light up binky over my head. "Try not to use it unless you absolutely need it?"

"I twy."

Sire steps over with a tube of some kind. "Jazz—"

"Sunscreen." He puts a little on his hand, then dabs it on my face before rubbing more on my shoulders and arms. "Las' thin' we need taday is for 'er ta ge' burned." He sighs. "Now, they've go' breakfast down in the lobby, or we can go where we did las' nigh'. They're open for some reason."

"The festival is probably a good time for them to make money, Jazz." He sighs. "We will go there, but we need to be quick. We barely have an hour before she needs to be at the starting point for the parade." He reaches up to his comm. "Team, we are leaving for breakfast in five, so you need to be ready and in the Lobby by 6:45."

"We'll be ready and waiting, Prowl."

"We hear you loud and clear, Sir."

"Will do!"


Ponderosa

I slide out of my booster and hop into Hot Spot's waiting arms. He sets me on the ground before taking my hand to lead me inside. After we get our drinks—I get apple juice—and get seated in the pre-reserved banquet section once again—Carrier pulls out an adult men's t-shirt. "Just in case, so you do not get messy." He pulls it over my hair before lifting the hair out of the collar before sending me off with Sire to get what I want. I wind up with a plate holding a small veggie omelet that has sausage and ham in it too, two sausage links, biscuits and gravy, and hash browns with gravy on them as well.

Once I'm settled in my chair, Carrier hands me a fork and watches me for a moment—just until Hot Spot returns—before going after his own plate.


Once everyone but me is finished—I'm still eating my biscuits and gravy, and my potatoes—Carrier starts in on the plan for the day. "Now, we will go over the plan again—this time with contingencies just to make sure we are ready for anything. Jazz, you have the wheel when we leave here. You will drop the four of us off by the public high school, then take everyone over to the marked lot, which is located beside the fire station here in Plymouth. You will be required to set up the folding chairs we bought last night, and get the blanket set up in case Mariposa decides to sit on the blanket instead. Meanwhile, Hot Spot, Sunstreaker, and I will be getting Mari prepared for the parade route. If something is to happen at this point, Hot Spot and Sunstreaker will simply perform their original duty as bodyguards, using their holoforms."

"That's why you chose me for her ride, right?"

"Yes, Sunstreaker. Hot Spot is only along as her new older brother. Ratchet insisted we have them with her for the next year at the least. "Code Red", during the parade, means, as usual, a security breach, no wordplay meant, Red Alert."

"I didn't think that was intentional, Prowl."

"Good." Carrier sighs softly. "Once the parade is over, we will get lunch at a fast food place, and have a picnic in a quiet area of the park if we can find one, then we will all be going to the festival. This will more than likely be the busiest day, so we will have to be vigilant. If anything is to happen at the festival during this time, whoever Mariposa is with will be expected to sound the alarm. The term to use is "Code K". This will tell the rest of us that Mariposa is missing and presumed kidnapped. After that, we will find Mariposa a helicopter ride, then take her on the other rides if she wishes. Then we will have supper away from the festival and make our way back to South Bend for the trip home. The chairs we bought here will be checked at the gate, and will be taken home with us. "Code K" will last throughout the rest of the day."

"What is your plan for "Code K"?"

Carrier turns to Red Alert with a sigh. "The protocol around "Code K" is to alert all of the group first. That is an order, Jazz. After we are all alerted, either Red Alert or myself will contact the emergency services. Once they are on alert, our security team—that is, Red Alert, Inferno, Sideswipe, and Sunstreaker—will work with the humans, and myself, to locate the femmeling and her abductors. The park, I am sure, would report it as a "code M", which is the human's code for "Missing Person". Once Mari is located, we will continue with the previous activity. Everyone understand?" He simply watches as they nod. "Any questions?"

"What if we lose her, and she's not found before we have to leave?"

"We will alert the school, Optimus, and General Brice, rely on our bonds to locate her—Defensor will be a key part at that point—and fly out once she is found and rescued."

"All righ'." Sire sighs. "Bu'…if she isn' found…"

"We will find her, Jazz. I will not stop until she is back in my arms." He turns to me. "And that is a promise, My Little Sweetspark. I will find you, no matter what happens."

"Otay…"

"On that note, if anyone sees this person after the parade, give me a "Code A", which will stand for "Abuser"." He passes the picture of Aaron around—I hadn't even known Sire had gotten one. "Dismissed."


Plymouth High School

"This is our stop, Mariposa. Sunstreaker, Hot Spot, let's go." We climb out in the small forested area and, after checking for people, Hot Spot and Sunstreaker switch from their pretenders to their bot forms, then transform down. After a moment, Sunstreaker lowers the new hardtop addition to his vehicle mode, and allows Carrier and I inside. "Now, make sure they can't see Medix, Sweetspark."

"I will."

"And please don't leak anything in my vehicle mode."

"I twy."

"That is the best you can get, Sunstreaker. She will not do it on purpose."

"Didn't you put her in a pull-up?"

"Yes, I did." Carrier turns to Hot Spot. "Are you feeling any better?"

"Yes, Sir. Ratchet sent some medication to help, so I'll be all right."

"Good." He sighs as he tapes a poster board with "Princess Marianne" written on it in a pretty script. "It is time to start. Mariposa, sit on the back of the seat, and put your feet—right. Now, make sure to smile, and wave at the people. Otherwise they may think you are stuck-up."

"Otay." I watch as he climbs in, and Sunstreaker takes his place behind the sheriff car at the front of the parade. "Let's roll!" I giggle as Carrier sighs heavily.

It's around an hour before we reach where Sire is sitting with the others. We take the turn, and I wave over to Sire and the other pretender-bots, while Hot Spot goes straight—the crowd parts to allow him through—and parks behind the crowd.


"Come, Marianne. We need to get back to Jazz." I hop off the back of the car and watch Sunstreaker pull away. "He will catch up in a moment."

I run ahead of Carrier and tackle Uncle Smokescreen. "Unca Dusty!"

"You were very pretty out there, Kid."

"I getted be in p'rade!

"Yep!" He sits down in his blue chair and pulls me up into his lap with a smile. "Now, how's about we watch the rest of the parade?"

"Otay!" I squirm slightly—not because of the pull-up I'd had to wear to make sure I didn't potty on Sunstreaker, but because I feel someone staring at me. "Unca Dusty…"

"What's wrong, Little Miss?"

I squirm again. "Someone watchy me…" When I say that, Red Alert starts looking around as Sideswipe and the newly-returned Sunstreaker take positions on either side of Uncle Smokescreen and I.

"Red? Do we need ta leave?"

"I don't think so, Jazz, but I've got my early warning system tuned to the situation just in case."
"Marianne is safe, right?"

"For now. I'm watching the situation, Peter. Just relax and enjoy the parade. This is what I'm here for."

"Right…"

"Wivy."

"What's that, Mari?"

"Wivy. Overs there."

"Who?"

"Baby…overs—" I tremble and curl into Uncle Smokescreen, hugging Medix closely. "Wed?"

"Yes, Sweetheart?"

"Code red."

Red Alert's optics widen as he scans the parade-watching crowd urgently. "Where? I don't—there!"

Sideswipe and Sunstreaker turn to where he's pointing. "Where?"

"Right next to the woman with the blond-haired baby girl."

"Shit."

"Language, Shane."

"I'm sorry, Peter, but—"

"We are aware of the situation. Right now, it is mild, but you could make it severe if you call attention to us, so keep it down."

"I'll try…" He leans down to me. "Don't worry, Little one. Uncle Sunny's gonna keep ya safe."

"You no likes be called Sunny…an' you's not Unca Sunnystweaker yet."

"No I don't, and no I'm not, but I think I'll let you call me that if you want to."

"Otay, Unca Sunny." I look around at the holoforms. With the exception of the twins, Red, Inferno, and Fixit, everyone is wearing a shirt that speaks out for Autism awareness. It makes me feel good inside—I feel loved.

After the rather frightening sighting, we manage to get back to enjoying the parade—I like the bands the best, after the fire trucks of course—paying little to no attention to the creepy feeling of being watched while Red Alert watches them for any warning signs. When it ends, we start packing up our stuff at the same time they do.

"I'm surprised they didn't try somethin', Red."

"They still could, James. It's still early."

"I know, but they didn't get her last night, and they haven't gotten her yet today."

"They could be waiting for the right moment to strike, too."

"So, picnic time?"

"Yes, Jazz. We will drive over to get the food, then find a quiet place by the river to eat it." We load the chairs into the back of the van, then start off to find a restaurant.


river

Carrier sets my bag on the blanket we'd brought with us. "Be careful now, Little One." I nod, and take out my chicken basket and open it before smiling down at my food. I'm out of my princess dress now Now I'm wearing a white short sleeved T-shirt with a blueberry graphic and a blue gingham diamond patch on either side, a dark blue skort, white socks, and royal blue Mary Jane shoes. My hair—still with my blue streaks, because Carrier said he'd let them fade out on their own as long as nothing happens—French-braided into pigtails with blue hair ties with balls on the ends securing them.

I set Medix down and look at the chicken, then dip it into the gravy before taking a nervous bite—it's actually really, really good! I finish my chicken before moving onto the toast—which also gets dipped into the gravy—then finally, I eat the onion rings—I'm a weird kid because I prefer them over french fries.

"Ready to go to the festival now?"

"Yep!" I hop to my feet, and let Carrier take my hand.

"Okay, now remember, you cannot run off." He holds up a pink wrist strap. "I have this just in case, but I do not wish to use it. If you can be trusted to stay with us, I will not use it."

"I stays wif you. Danger's afoot."

"Where did she hear that phrase? Red Alert?"

"Not me!"

Carrier huffs, but accepts his answer, and we all start off looking through the stands, with Sire pulling a poof-it's-a-wagon for our purchases, or in case my legs get tired.

We all decide to stick together, with the sudden scare. Carrier buys me a teddy bear with a blueberry on it's T-shirt at one stand, and two flower hair ties at another—they're blue roses, and they'll look so pretty with my blue dresses. We find some games, and Uncle Smokey wins me a giant rag doll at a milk bottle game.

Uncle Bluestreak buys himself a plaque about America, and gets an American flag liscense plate for his vehicle mode. When he does that, they all get one for their own—Sire gets one about music, Uncle Smokescreen one about his job as a shrink, etc. Carrier, however, asks me to pick his out, and I pick one that says "Protective Father of an Autistic Daughter" because of how careful he usually is with me.

Uncle Bluestreak, once we find a stand of Blueberry-themed souveniers, buys me a stuffed blueberry mascot like the one from the parade—he had been in front of me, Carrier, and Sunstreaker—and a tiny blueberry stringy backpack. Uncle Smokescreen buys me a panflute at a Native American stand, prompting Sire to get me a dress "to wear with it".

We finally stop for a break—it's been over an hour since we first started going through the stands. Since we had stopped near a playground, I run over to play on the playset while they all rest on a nearby bench. Little do I realize it's the worst thing I could have done.

"Sheyenne." I turn instinctively at the name—just because I know my real name doesn't make me forget the one the humans gave me—and freeze up when I see Aaron. "Come here. Daddy's been looking for you, Sweetie."

I hug Medix to my chest. I'm scared to death. "Y-you're n-not my D-dad."

He scowls at that, and grabs me. I open my mouth to scream, and he covers it with his hand, so I bite him. "Fuck!" He glares down at me. "Well, they obviously didn't care for you, or they wouldn't have sent you to me!"

With his hand off my mouth, I quickly call out: "DADDY!", but by the time they notice what's going on, I'm gone.


Prowl's POV

I snap up at the sound of my little girl's scream. 'Did she fall…no…she's—oh, Pit no!' "MARI!" I look around anxiously. "MARIANNE!"

"Pete?"

I look down at my hands—they're trembling intensely. It takes all my strength to fight back a crash long enough to get the necessary words out. "Jazz…code…K."


Jazz's POV

I can only watch as Prowl goes down. "Aiden!"

First Aid runs over in seconds, but they feel like hours. "What happened?"

"He crashe', Aid…" My eyes widen as I realize why he crashed. "Code K. RED! CODE K! CODE K!"

"Code K." I watch as Red fumbles for his phone—the government had given us all phones to use in holoform—well, besides the ones Prowl got for our family—and pretender—before dialing the emergency code.

"9-1-1, what's your emergency?"

"This is security officer Ryan with Peter Tranquilli. Princess Marianne Tranquilli was just kidnapped on Festival property. We're beside the little metal playset by the sports fields."

"I've alerted the police. They'll be there shortly."

"Thank you." Red turns to me. "How's Prowl?"

"Ou' col'. He crashe' when he realize' she was missin'."

"Do ya have his blanket?"

"Not on meh. Do ya go' Red's?"

"Nope. I's back in the van."

"Damn."

"Jazz." I turn to Aid and find Prowl coming around.

"Pete."


Prowl's POV

I sit up with a groan. "Jazz. What happened?"

"Mari's gone, Pete… Red sounde' the alarm, and the police are—" A car pulls up and blares its siren for a second as it flashes its lights. "Here."

"Thank you, Jazz." I shudder. I am feeling chilled and nauseated, as I usually do after a crash, but I have no choice but to handle this situation. "Peter Tranquilli here."

"You the father?" I do not bother trying to correct the term, as the humans would never understand. "Could you tell us what she was wearing?"

"Yes, Sir. She had on a white short sleeved T-shirt with an argyle blueberry graphic and a dark blue skort with white socks and blue Mary Janes."

"Distinguishing features?"

"She has light pink and azure blue streaks in her hair. I allowed her to get them for the festival." I sigh. "She has a blue light-up pacifier around her neck, and she's got a white stuffed ambulance with her."

"Anything else you can think of?"

I shake my head, but pull out the picture I took of her on the first day of school. "This is what she looks like."

"Thank you, Sir. We'll get back to you as soon as we can."


Mariposa's POV, 1 hour later

Aaron continues to drag me by one arm toward one of the many distant parking lots for the festival as I continue to try and fight him off while still holding onto Medix. He had none-too-gently changed me out of my pretty blueberry outfit before changing me into a white cap sleeved T-shirt with an Elmo graphic and a black Sesame Street print skort with a red and white bow at the waist and trim on the hem. He then replaces my shoes with pink Elmo sandals, and uses Elmo hair ties and plain ones to put my hair into two ponytail braids. I love the outfit I had on before, and I want to keep it, so I made sure to stick the pieces of it into the backpack from Uncle Bluestreak—even the hair ties and my socks and shoes. "NO! HELP! I'M BEING KIDNABBED!"

He whirls around and slaps me across the face. "Stop that!" He stuffs a dirty handkerchief into my mouth, then ties a dirty sock around my mouth so I can't spit it out. "There. Try screaming now, Bitch." I mumble, but it makes no sense, even to me, which causes me to huff. "Thought you could get away from me, didn't you?"

"MMHHHMMFF."

"Well, I got ya back, and you won't get away this time."

"MMMMMDDDMF."

I turn to see two police officers climbing out of a black and blue car with its red and blue lights flashing. "POLICE! DON'T MOVE!"

Aaron tugs me a little further, causing the second officer to pull a gun out of its holster. "STOP RIGHT THERE! HANDS WHERE I CAN SEE THEM!"

Aaron lets me go and starts running, leaving me behind. While the first officer runs after him, the second crouches to me. "Are you okay, Little One?"

"MMMMHHHHMMMMFF."

He sighs and unties the makeshift—and smelly—gag. "Say again, Sweetheart?"

"I's 'kay now. Wan' Daddy…"

"We'll get you back to Daddy." He pulls out his radio. "Child has been recovered. Perp got away."


Prowl's POV

"Child has been recovered. Perp got away."

My legs go weak, and I sink to the ground. "Thank God…"

"Pete?"

"I'm… I'm okay, Jazz."

"Are ya sure?"

"Mari's safe."

"They go' her?"

"They got her. She's safe again."

"Easy, Pete. They're back now. Ya don' wanna collapse in fron' o' Mari."


Normal POV

The officer looks down at me with a smile. "Go on, Little One. Go get him."

I drop Medix and run over to Carrier with a grin, "Daddy!" I jump into his arms and cling to him. "Daddy… Safe…"

"Yes, Little One. You are safe now." He looks up at the officer, who is now holding Medix out to him. Carrier takes him before nodding. "Thank you, Sir."

"You're welcome. I hope everything goes well for you."

"Me too…"

Carrier watches him until he's gone, then turns to me. "What are you wearing, Little One?"

I whimper. "Ewmo…he scawes me, Daddy."

"I have different clothes with me, Sweetheart."

"I saves outfit, too!"

"Good job, Little One, but it is probably dirty from being on the ground, so we will change you into something new, okay?"

"Otay…"

"Still want to look around?"

"Uh-huh…" He nods, and takes me into one of the port-a-potties, using himself to block people from seeing me as he changes me into a light pink short sleeved T-shirt with a blueberry graphic, azure blue leggings, a light pink, azure blue, and lavender tutu, white socks, and a pair of light pink twinkle toes with flowers on the sides. He takes out the red Elmo puff hair ties—I know they've got more of them at their house, though, because I'd had four of them—and replaces them with plain light pink hair ties and pink, purple, and blue butterfly clips set where they are facing each other. Then he replaces the bottom red hair ties with azure blue hair ties.

"I has snack?"

"Are you hungry?"

I nod. "Need'a ge' 'ucky taste ou'."

"Yucky taste?"

"He stuff 'ucky hanky an' 'ucky sock in mouth."

"Ew." Sire and Aid make faces, Fixit claps a hand over his mouth, and Spot and Red run to the nearest trash cans—thankfully there are two nearby—and purge into them. Immediately, Aid's by Spot, and Inferno's by Red. Sire turns his attention back to me. "Wha' else happene'?"

"He slappy me for yells for helps." I touch the red mark lightly. I can still feel the sting on my cheek.

"He slappe' ya?"

"Uh-huh…"

"On the cheek?"

"…Uh-huh…"

"Oh, he's gonna pay for tha'."

"Jazz." Carrier huffs. "We will get you a snack, My Marianne. What do you want?"

"'Lephany ear."

"Lephany?"

"I think she means "Elephant", Pete."

He nods in acknowledgement. "Elephant ear. Of course, Little One. Anything else?"

"Lemonade pease?"

"Of course." He steps over to a stand and orders the cinnamon and sugar elephant ear while Sire steps over to another and gets me a lemon shake-up. I smile when the elephant ear is placed in my hands, while Sire holds the cup down so I can get a drink. "Better now?"

"I no' tastes snot an' sweaty sock now…"

"Good." We turn toward the two carrying mechs at the trash cans when we hear purging, and I look down for a moment before smiling up at Carrier and Sire. Gestalt bonds aren't fun sometimes. "Fixie? You 'kays?"

"I'll manage." He sighs, and shows me a white paper bag. "Peter made sure I was set in case I needed it."


Helicopter Ride

"It doesn't seem like they're doing them anymore, Prowl."

"I can see that, Blades. Go ahead." I watch as Blades transforms to bot form, plops a pink helmet on my head, then promptly transforms. "Go on, Mariposa. Personal, private helicopter ride, just for you. Blades?"

"Yes, Sir?"

"Be careful. She is very young. I want nothing fancy this time."

"He'll save that for when you're not watching, Prowl."

"I know."

I giggle as Blades flies straight up before taking me around the park, giving me an overhead view of the festival grounds before landing where we had taken off.

Carrier steps over. "Now, how would you like to go on some rides?"

"Yes! Yay!"

He leads me over to the little kid rides first, and I go on the spinny dragons and a mini roller coaster, then we go over to the bigger kids rides. Since someone has to ride with me on these, Uncle Bluestreak rides with me. We go on a flying beetle ride that takes us around, up, and down, which makes me squeal.

Then we go on the tilt-o-whirl, which makes me laugh and Uncle Bluestreak sick. When we get off, he staggers over to a trash can to purge while I run over to Carrier excitedly. "What next?"

He sighs. "We have to get our luggage and get on the plane soon, Sweetspark."

"Oh…"

"Bluestreak, are you all right?"

"Yeah." He sighs. "I've never gotten motion sick before…"

"He spinnied too much, Daddy."

"I can imagine, Mari." He sighs. "Sometimes it will happen in holoform, Bluestreak, especially without our doorwings. All right, come on Sweetspark."


We get supper at Castaway's—I got beef with potatoes and green beans, and strawberry Jell-O for desert—and stop at the motel for our bags. Carrier takes me inside to get me changed before we leave. He helps me into a blue cap sleeved dress and blue sandals with my new rose hair ties at the ends of my braids.

We get through the airport security with little trouble, and pre-board as we had before. This time, though, Hot Spot doesn't purge on the plane—no one does—and we arrive home in record time.

As soon as we get there, we head over to the base for the fireworks, the bots all in their normal forms by this point, while I ride on Carrier's shoulder. At this point, I'm wearing a sleeveless dress with a red top with a blue and white polka-dot heart, blue and white polka-dot waistband, light blue skirt with an American flag print, and blue and white polka-dot hem, white cropped leggings, and red sandals. Carrier had redone my braids to where I have a star on the back of my head, and put blue bows with an American flag and fireworks print and red centers at the bottom two points. The rest of my hair is down in two ponytails.

Once again, Carrier has sound-proof headphones for me, and he slips them on before setting me on the quilt from yesterday. "Are you glad to be safe at home now?"

I nod. "He can'ts get me here in 'Vada." I turn and lay on my back so I can look up at the stars and watch the explosions of color above me.


Third POV, within visual distance

"That's what you think. You little Bitch. You think you're safe around those big robots? You've got another thing coming."