Author's note. Sorry for taking so long to update, I hope this chapter was worth the wait.

With thanks to AuroraFerreri who suggested the name Ricochet.

Suggestions are welcome.

Enjoy and please review.

Ravage Curious

Spike stared at the mechanical eagle, he just couldn't believe he'd gotten into this situation. Less than half an hour ago, he'd been having some fun with Optimus which included playing in the sand. And then there'd been an explosion and he'd been grabbed like so many other times.

Except when they'd landed, Laserbeak had started comforting him, which confused him at first. But then she had spoke to him, actually spoke. She thought he was an innocent Sparkling who needed protecting and that she was the one who'd be doing the protecting.

He couldn't believe it, Laserbeak had maternal instincts. But after how all the Autobots had been acting, he probably shouldn't be that surprised. Although if someone like Megatron or Starscream tried to cuddle him, he'd scream.

He watched as Laserbeak peered over the ledge they were hiding in, she was checking to see if any Autobots were about. He didn't know what was going to happen, he didn't want to be separated from the Autobots, they were his friends. And he certainly didn't want to be taken back to the Nemesis with all the Decepticons.

But he had a feeling that was just what Laserbeak was planning.

"Hmm, are you hungry, little one?" Laserbeak suddenly asked, startling Spike as he realised she'd hopped back over to him.

He just gave a curious chirp as she examined him.

"You'll be getting hungry soon," she mused, pecking his abdomen slightly.

"But if I leave, those awful Autobots might find and take you."

She considered the problem before brightening.

"Ah, don't worry, I can call my sister Ravage, she can help me take you to safety."

Spike gaped at her but she thought he was just being curious. She gave him another nuzzle before contacting her sister.

Ravage, I need your help, you must come

What is it?

I have just rescued a Sparkling from the Autobots but I need help taking him back to the Nemesis

Wait, a Sparkling?

Yes, those Autobots have no idea how to properly look after one but they are now searching and I can't make the trip back safely without you

I will be there, just patch through you're coordinates

As soon as Laserbeak was done calling Ravage, she hopped over the cave's entrance to make sure there weren't any Autobots nearby. There weren't any but in the distance she could make out dust clouds, which indicated the Autobots were on the move.

She scoffed softly, they'd never find her if they just rushed all over the place. But they knew that she'd need to take flight sooner or later, and that meant they'd be watching the skies. But thankfully, this meant Ravage could easily slip here and back under their radar, safely transporting the little Sparkling to safety.

She sighed and went back to examining the Sparkling, making sure he didn't have any cuts or scrapes. She had to admit, he was a lovely little thing, with beautiful colouring and fascinating optics. They weren't the typical Autobot blue, they were much darker in colour. It made her very curious as to where he'd come from, she was sure there were no Autobot Femmes here on Earth.

And this also made her wonder who his Creators were? Maybe one of the Autobots was the Sire and it was their turn to look after their son here on Earth? Or maybe he was an orphan who the Autobots had adopted, perhaps from some Neutrals? This made her Spark ache with sadness as she figured this was the most likely explanation, the poor little Spark.

"Don't worry, I'll look after you," she murmured as she absentmindedly cleaned him.

Spike just stared at her, it had been weird enough with the Dinobots but now her? What was next, Starscream offering to tuck him in while Megatron read him a bedtime story? Actually, that was quite a funny thought and Spike started giggling madly while clapping his hands in delight.

"So this is the Sparkling?" a voice suddenly said from right behind Laserbeak.

Spike gasped as the sleek, metal panther slinked into the cave, her glowing optics fixed on him. But for once, she was looking at him with gentle interest, and not as a plaything. She carefully padded over and sniffed him, making him sneeze slightly. But she just chuckled at this.

"He is a beautiful little thing," she murmured as Laserbeak nodded.

"He is, and those awful Autobots were letting him muck around in the dirt," Laserbeak said with what Spike could have sworn was a disapproving sniff.

Ravage tsked but she didn't seem quite as put out as her sister was. After examining Spike, she sat back and said softly.

"We should move, it wasn't easy getting here, the Autobots are all over the place. But what shall we do with him back at the base?"

"We shall show him to Soundwave, he won't harm him," Laserbeak said firmly, not noticing how horrified Spike was. "We can look after him much better than those Autobots, we'll teach him to be a proper Mech, not one of their pet squishes."

"Hey, I resent that," Spike thought indignantly but he didn't say it out loud. He wasn't sure if they'd be able to understand him like the Dinobots and he didn't want them finding out who he was.

Ravage was nodding her agreement as she stalked behind Spike who turned his head, trying to keep her in his sight without moving from his sitting position. However, he couldn't fully turn, his Sparkling body wasn't flexible enough. But he soon knew what Ravage was up to as he felt jaws encircle his little body.

He squeaked and then went limp, held securely in her mouth. Normally, when she grabbed him, it would be by the seat of his pants or sometimes the back of his shirt and then she'd march him over to her masters. He'd learned that it was generally better not to struggle, otherwise she was prone to giving him a few swats.

It was weird but when she held him like this, he didn't think he actually could struggle. This must be how kittens felt when their elders carried them and Spike felt a lot of sympathy. It wasn't painful but he just felt helpless like this, though he could move his head a little and look at things.

Like at Laserbeak who was hopping over to the cave's entrance and peering out.

"I shall go first, they will see and chase me," she announced as she prepared to fly.

"They'll see you don't have him," Ravage just managed to mumble, his mouth full of Sparkling. "I'll pick up a large stone, they won't know the difference until it's too late."

Ravage nodded and waited for her sister to disappear out of the cave, before she moved. She lightly leapt onto the edge and watched the distant peck that was her sister as it dodged the pursuing Autobots. She grinned before leaping out of the cave completely and charging down the hill.

Spike squealed as the wind whipped his body but Ravage carried on running. He knew where she was heading but it was still weird to be taken like this. He kept thinking he was going to be smashed against sun kissed rocks but he was always yanked out of the way in time.

But then it occurred to him that Ravage couldn't fly, she always relied on her master to transport her and occasionally one of her other siblings. How was she planning to take him back to the Nemesis?

"Hey, Ravage, where'd ya run off to?"

"Oh damn," Spike thought gloomily, she was taking him to Rumble and Frenzy, his second pair of robot twins. Not.

"What ya got there?" Frenzy asked lazily as their sister leapt over a large series of boulders.

Ravage gently laid Spike down before looking up at her brothers.

"Laserbeak rescued him from the Autobots, she wants us to take him to Soundwave," she explained as the two Minicons gaped at Spike who blinked up at them with his turquoise optics.

"The Autobots have a Sparkling?" Rumble said in disbelief, as Spike stuck a hand in his mouth.

"Yes, but we do not think they are suitable guardians for him, he needs to be raised by Mechs with a bit more class and dignity," Ravage said, giving Spike a little lick which made him giggle.

"So eh, what do you want us to do?" Frenzy asked, thankfully not touching Spike.

"I can't take him home by myself and Beaky's distracting the Autobots," Ravage explained. "You two must help carry him back."

They stared for a very long moment but when Ravage gave a small, pointed growl, they quickly nodded. Frenzy bent down and gingerly picked up Spike who cling to the small Mech tightly. Ravage then transformed so that Rumble could easily carry her in his hands.

"Watch him," Rumble advised. "Ravage and Beaky will tear us apart if ya drop him."

"I won't drop him," Frenzy said grumpily before taking off into the air, his brother following close behind.

Spike squeaked as they went higher and higher, but there was nothing he could do. And with no Autobots in sight, he was officially a prisoner of the Decepticons.

Sometime later

Spike was almost shaking with nerves as he stared up into the merciless red optics of the Decepticons currently staring down at him. When the Cassettes twins arrived at the Nemesis, Ravage transformed and took Spike from them, and straight to her master.

The silent Mech had simply stared down at Spike for a long moment before pronouncing that they all follow him. And so Spike had been taken to the Decepticon's Control Room where Megatron, Starscream and the other members of the Elite Trine were waiting. The Sparkling was lifted and placed on the table so they could all examine them.

"Where did he come from?" Starscream demanded the first to speak. "There has been no recent Space Bridge activity, Sparklings do not pop out of nowhere."

"Maybe they got a Femme hidden in their base," suggested Skywarp with a lecherous grin. "They could all be at it and have an army of hidden Sparklings."

"Don't be ridiculous," Starscream snapped.

"Enough," Megatron said quietly as at that moment, Laserbeak came flying in, looking very tired.

She landed on Megatron's waiting arm and he petted her lightly.

"What can you tell us about this Sparkling?" he murmured and she quickly told Soundwave all that she knew.

"The Sparkling's Creators do not appear to be at the Ark, there was talk about who was looking after this Sparkling and when, in a rota," Soundwave said in his deep voice when Laserbeak finished talking.

"In all probability, this Sparkling is an orphan," he concluded.

"Interesting," Megatron said thoughtfully, his free hand lightly touching Spike's head.

Spike made a small whimpering noise, he didn't like all these big Mechs staring at him like that. But now Skywarp spoke.

"So uh, what are we going to do with him?"

"Laserbeak believes the Autobots are bad role models," Soundwave explained softly. "She desires that we take care of him."

"Take care of a Sparkling?" Starscream said contemptuously but Megatron looked thoughtful.

At the very least, a Sparkling would make a good hostage and at the most...a future Decepticon warrior.

"We will hang onto this Sparkling for now," he now declared. "I want to know more about it, like why it has that strange shade of optics."

Starscream scoffed but didn't protest.

"But whose going to take care of him," Rumble asked and surprisingly, it was Thundercracker who spoke.

"I shall," he said softly, picking Spike up and cradling him to his chest.

"For now, I shall call him...Ricochet."

Author's note. In the next chapter, the Autobots find out what's happened, but what can they do? And how does Thundercracker treat his new charge? Find out next time, until then.