Disclaimer: I don't own Transformers or any of the characters mentioned in the story. They are trademarks of Hasbro and the other companies responsible for their creation. So pleeez don't sue me.

Note: I know there is a series called Transformers: Headmasters, and I just want to clarify things in my story. The Headmaster in this story is not that kind of Headmaster, he is not binary bonded to any Nebulans. I'm sure you all assumed that, but I just wanted to make that clear. Also, the character Mindwipe is not binary bonded to any Nebulans either. Ok, one more thing, a couple of people suggested I use Death's Head as the caretaker for the Aerial House. So now Death's-Head will make cameo appearances as the Aerial House Caretaker. If you have any complaints about that please let me know before I post the next chapter. Now on with the story!

When We Where Young

Chapter9 – Crime and Punishment

Sharp Teeth…

Five faces…

Soundwave jolted awake…

He leaned against one of the walls of the metal cell he was being kept in until the Headmaster decided what to do with him. He leaned back as far as he could, however having his hands shackled behind his back made it difficult. After settling himself his mind wandered back to what might be in store for him.

He didn't regret trying to strangle Airstrike. Not one bit. To the contrary, he relished the feeling of his victim's throat slowly being crushed between his hands. However, he had been caught and now he had to pay the price.

Would it be mercy, death, or reprogramming?

He felt a small shudder run through his body at the last thought.

For the first time in his life, Blitzwing was truly afraid. Afraid of being brainwashed and reprogrammed, of losing himself, of walking up to Astrotrain and not knowing who his best friend was.

The door to his cell opened and two very husky and heavily armed transformers entered. They roughly hoisted Blitzwing to his feet and escorted him towards the Headmaster's office. Blitzwing might have put up more of a defiant stance, but he was still recovering from the residual effects of being electrocuted and null rayed, courtesy of Shrapnel and Starscream. So he had no choice, but to follow the guards to his fate.

I'm sorry Astro, I didn't mean to be angry with you when you left, please be safe…

Heavens War raised the perfectly balanced bladed staff above his head then brought it down, stopping when the blade was mere inches from the ground. He then swung it up and attacked the air to his left. He spun around and held the bladed staff straight out in front of him.

"Ah, a little mock sparring does wonders to relieve one's tense cranial circuits."

Heavens War sighed to himself, lowered one end of the staff to the ground and gently leaned on it, thinking…

'My visions have never been wrong before. Will it open? Are they ready? Indeed, am I ready? I don't know…'

"Heavens War!"

"Yes, what is it Mindwipe?" Heavens War straightened up.

"One of Airstrike's students attacked him. The student has been apprehended and is awaiting your judgment." For the words he was speaking, Mindwipe was quite calm.

Heavens War and Mindwipe began to walk back towards the Academy.

"What methods of punishment have been suggested already?" Heavens War's voice was low and weary.

"Well, Airstrike and I say he should be strapped down and reprogrammed, but that's neither here nor there. It's your decision." Mindwipe stated firmly.

"Yes. Tell me, do you know the student's name?"

"It's Blitzwing I believe."

"Blitzwing… Wasn't that the student I grounded for pulling that prank a week ago?"

"Hmmm… I think so." Noticing the drained tone of Heavens War's vocalizers, Mindwipe's own cold manner soften slightly and he asked with some genuine concern. "You sound dreadfully tired. Are you all right?"

"One of my visions has put me on high alert, and being in a constant state of stress tends to drain one's energon at a fearsome rate."

"I can imagine."

"So, what course should I take?" Heavens War whispered, more to himself rather than Mindwipe.

"Pardon?"

"Blitzwing…"

"Oh. Do you intend to use that on him?" Mindwipe chuckled.

"Huh?" Heaven's War looked down at the bladed staff in his right hand. "Heh. I forgot I was carrying this."

"You may need it."

"You may be right…"

"What's your name cadet?"

"Blitz…Blitzwing, sir."

The young Triple-Changer was barely able to speak. Even from behind his desk, the Headmaster was an intimidating figure. Had he been standing at full height, he would have been about a head taller than Blitzwing. He had an combination of black and white coloring, with a little bit of blue and purple thrown in every which way and a pair of wings that any any aerial Transformer would kill for.

Airstrike and Mindwipe stood on either side of the Headmaster's desk. Airstrike looked as if he wanted to rip out Blitzwing's cranial circuits right then and there.

"Why did you attack Airstrike?" the Headmaster spoke in firm, but calm voice.

"I…I…I was angry sir."

"You were angry! What kind of reason is that? You attacked me just because you felt like it! You----"

"Silence Airstrike!" The Headmaster commanded loudly, however the calm in his voice remained. "Leave us. All of you."

"Heave---Headmaster? Are you sure that's wise?" Mindwipe looked at the Headmaster in surprise.

"Leave."

Airstrike, Mindwipe, and the two guards detaining Blitzwing swiftly exited the room.

Blitzwing stood in silence, hands still shackled, optics cast towards the ground.

What now?

As his confusion grew, so did his apprehension.

The Headmaster studied Blitzwing for a few more seconds then slowly stood up, bladed staff in hand.

Blitzwing bowed his head as the Headmaster walked up to him. Even without making optic contact, he could feel the Headmaster's gaze tearing into him. He'd never been in a one-on-one session with the Headmaster. Sure, he'd been yelled at by him for pulling school pranks, but he was almost always with either Astrotrain or his fellow prank accomplices, never alone and never for trying to murder one of his teachers.

What's the Headmaster really like?

The light in the room shimmered off the blades of the staff.

Is he really going to use that thing?

The Headmaster put the flat side of the blade under Blitzwing's chin and slowly tilted the young Decepticon's face up to his own.

The Headmaster had the most intense optics Blitzwing had ever seen.

And yet…

For all of their intensity, Blitzwing saw that there was no trace of hate or malice in them.

"Now tell me," the Headmaster spoke finally as he lifted the the blade away from Blitzwing's face. "In your own words, why did you attack Airstrike?"

"I…He…He called Astrotrain a coward!"

"I see."

"And…" Anger rose in Blitzwing's voice. "I told him to stop ordering me around! He wouldn't stop! He wouldn't listen! Nobody listens! I'm tired of it! I CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE!"

SMACK!

The Headmaster slapped Blitzwing across the face.

"You need to learn to control your temper when you are off the field of battle!" It was more of a command than a suggestion.

Blitzwing remained silent.

"Look at me." The Headmaster's voice was stern, but not angry. "You see Blitzwing, there are three kinds of transformers who make certain contributions of effort to our cause. The strong make many, the reprogrammed make few and the dead make none. To destroy or reprogram you would be a waste of a potentially strong individual who can contribute greatly to the cause. However, your "Fuellust" outside of the battlefield is a threat to your fellow Decepticons. If your temper cannot be controlled and you use on your comrades and superiors, they will be unable to make their own contributions to our cause. Do you understand?"

The memory of almost strangling Thundercracker, the most valuable player of the War Ball team, flashed through Blitzwing's memory. He nodded in response to the Headmaster's speech. "Yes I understand."

"Good." The Headmaster half smiled. "Now thinking on that, and over what you have done, what do you think is the best punishment for yourself?"

Blitzwing's optic band widened in disbelief.

"Of course it will have to meet my approval, but what do suggest for yourself, Blitzwing?"

"I…I…"

I know, I know. I'm evil and malicious to leave the chapter off like this, but I had to leave it suspenseful to make you guys want more. Don't worry my schedule is clearing up, and my goal is to have the next chapter up by Sunday. And for you Megatron and Starscream fans out there, don't worry, the spotlight is going to shift to each one them soon. Oh and Soundwave is going to play an important role as well. Remember, keep those reviews coming I want your opinion on how I'm doing. Believe me some reviews can sometimes make a great impact on this story. In the original version of this story, I didn't have Thundercracker yell at Blitzwing, or Blitzwing attempt to strangle Thundercracker and Airstrike. It was Agent A. T. who wrote a review saying I was making the Decepticons too soft, and I realized he was right, particularly for what I have in mind in later chapters. So, after a long thought process, Chapters 9 and 10 came to be as you see them now.

Also, plain excitement reviews don't hurt either.

Final Note: If anyone has any complaints about me having Death's Head make cameo appearances as the caretaker of the Aerial House, please let me know before I post the next chapter.

Vega Sailor