been a while, hasn't it? sorry for the long wait.

Sunstreaker didn't know what to think of Ichigo's twin brother. Sideswipe thought it was cool to meet another pair of twins. Yet Sunstreaker didn't think that Ichigo and Zangetsu were actual twins like he and Sideswipe. He didn't know what to call his big brother and Zangetsu, but he would admit that they had a closeness that spoke of being twins.

The yellow mechling scowls when hearing the two flyers argue over something. He still didn't like it, he didn't like it when Zangetsu calls Ichigo King, nor the times he finds them curled up on the couch. Ichigo always seemed vulnerable around Zangetsu. Sunstreaker liked that even less. They were fine without the white and black flyer. Sideswipe however adored the other mech like he does Ichigo, Sunstreaker didn't trust him. He had a feeling that Zangetsu will cause more harm to Ichigo.

"Whatcha thinking about Sunny?" Sideswipe flops next to Sunstreaker.

Sunstreaker sighs closing his sketchbook, "Nothing."

"Ohh?" he hums around an energon goodie stick.

They were alone with Ichigo and Zangetsu today. Ratchet was doing multiple shifts at his clinic and Wheeljack recently back from his trip was helping him. Something about some accident on the skyway either way Sunstreaker didn't care.

"What are they arguing about now?" Sideswipe rolls to lay in Sunstreakers lap. "Aw Sunny I'm tired."

Sunstreaker growls, "Then go take a nap!" he shoves his twin off, "and they ben arguing about Ichigo spending time with other flyers."

"Ohhh," Sideswipe grins up at him, "Ratchet says it's a good thing that Ichigo is getting fragged."

"It's not a good thing!"

"Shut up!"

"Yer such a prude King!"

"Your no better!"

Sideswipe laughs, "I guess they overheard."

"You think?"

They look up when the door to Ichigo's room slams open.

"Why do you have a problem with this. It's not like I'm sleeping around with different mechs every night!"

Zangetsu growls storming after Ichigo, "you're fragging the trine mates of that seeker you hate. You tell me what the problem is."

Ichigo gets in Zangetsu's face, "you have no problem about me fragging around but you have a problem with the ones I'm fragging?"

"More like you're the one being fragged." Zangetsu mutters, "and yes!"

"Tch, whatever." Ichigo hops up to the highest window.

"Where do you think your going King?"

"What are you my father?" he retorts, "I have a shift."

"No, you don't! Don't run away from me you coward!"

Sunstreaker sighs, "Sometimes I wonder who's the sparklings and who's the adults?" as they watched Ichigo leave with his brother right behind him. They could hear them arguing from outside.

"Think they forgot about us?" Sideswipe asks.

Sunstreaker huffs, "maybe."

Just as he says it the door flies open and Ichigo is standing there, staring at them. With a sigh, the flyer walks over and sits with them. "Sorry about that."

"About what; the fighting or the forgetting about two younglings in your care?" Sunstreaker bites. He was only slightly satisfied when Ichigo winced. 'good the idiot knows he did something almost stupid.'

Ichigo leans back adjusting his wings, "Zangetsu and I always had different points of view. Arguing is just something we do so we don't get physical."

"You never get physical though," Sideswipe says.

A shadow passes over Ichigo's face, it drew the twin's curiosity. What could have happened to get Ichigo to make that face? Sideswipe never having learned to curve his curiosity leans in. " wh-

Sunstreaker quickly covers his twin's face and shoves, "knock it off."

"Ow! What the pit Sunny!"

"Don't call me that!"

Sideswipe tackles Sunstreaker laughing at the yellow younglings' growls. If there was one mech on Cybertron that was safe from Sunstreaker's bite it would be Sideswipe. The red mechling never feared his twin.

"Alright you two that's enough," Ichigo sighs though he's smiling. "My shift doesn't start until later."

"You have the third shift again," Sideswipe whines.

"Yeah, though that may change. Let's go out I hear there is a new gallery opening. One that has some Praxian crystal art and some interactive stuff you should like Sides."

"Cool!"

Sunstreaker rolled his optics.

When they arrived at the gallery Sunstreaker noticed that Zangetsu wasn't with them. A questioning glance at Ichigo only earned him a smile.

The gallery was nice, in Sunstreakers opinion, though he could tell it was boring for Sideswipe and Ichigo. Watching crystals change shape and colors and sing, the awe only lasted so long. He appreciated that they lasted until they arrived at the interactive gallery. Sunstreaker would never admit but he likes this section too.

The interactive gallery had sparkling and youngling size tunnels that took them through organic exhibits, flight simulators, discarded crystals that they could play with, and a touch tank. Sunstreaker felt his artistic bubble as he felt, smell, and heard different textures. The shine of the crystals, the fell of uncut gems, and the smell of freshly carved stones. His digits itched on the way home; he couldn't wait to get his hands on his sketched book.

Sideswipe had a goofy grin, Ichigo had broken down and bought him the most idiotic souvenir. Their elder brother took them to their favorite restaurant even though he knew they were tight on credits. Sunstreaker would have scolded Ichigo for wasting credits. Yet, looking at the smile on the face of the flyer, Sunstreaker didn't have it in him. He knew, better than Sideswipe, why Ichigo was on third shift. It was a punishment, the third shift paid less. Ichigo was more useful on first and second yet they put him on the third. Ichigo hadn't wouldn't say the reason. Sunstreaker had his suspicions.

Zangetsu had yet to join them and he wasn't home when they got back. Ichigo didn't seem all that worried. Ratchet arrived home when Ichigo left for his shift. Sunstreaker would have badgered Ratchet about it but thought better of it.

Later, Zangetsu came in sometime after mid-rotation. Sunstreaker had been up tucked away in his art corner that Ichigo set up for him. He saw the dents and the trickling energon. Heard Ratchet yelling at the flyer before running out curses flying. He watched as Zangetsu slumps against the wall.

Something was wrong with the flyer.

Something was wrong, Sunstreaker can feel it.

"What happened?"

The white flyer slowly turns his helm and blinking as if realizing that Sunstreaker had just appeared. "Well?" the youngling asks impatiently.

Zangetsu slowly got up and to Sunstreaker's surprise pulled the yellow mechling into a hug. Sunstreaker squeaked and struggled against the mech holding. Then, he froze, Zangetsu was trembling.

Why?

Ever since the mech joined them he had never seen the flyer act like this.

Why?

"Wh-what happened?"

Whimpering whining, it alarmed Sunstreaker. His alarm woke Sideswipe, the red twin soon joined them shocked to see the flyer out of sorts.

"Sunny?"

"I don't know. He won't talk and Ratchet ran out of here swearing."

Sideswipe shaken scared, "Something must have happened to Ichigo."

Sunstreaker flinches, why didn't he think of that. "What happened to Ichigo?"

Just then their home rocked sending all three tumbling. It seemed to be the thing to knock Zangetsu out of his shock. With a curse, he scoops the twins up, and suddenly once Sunstreaker got hold of his flipping tank, they were in the sky. A cry from Sideswipe jerks his attention away from the stars and to the billowing smoke.

The docks…the docks were smoking.

Ichigo was at the docks.

The docks…Ichigo…Zangetsu…Ratchet rushing out cussing.

With an eruption of fire and thunder, someone was attacking the docks.

A few hours earlier…

Ichigo groans as he arrives for his shift. He could tell from just walking in that it was going to be a grueling one. His boss was already yelling at some unfortunate mech or femme then catching sight of him got on his back about something. Then he got shoved off to work the heaviest of loads.

Figures

The only bright side was that his friends from the first shift were there. color him shocked when seeing Orion's red and blue painted ass. His shock turned to anger, and his thunderous scowl sent many mech scrambling. Orion only gave him his dumb smile and he cheerfully explained that he was being punished and that Dion and Arial just decided to come along.

Ichigo gave a few choice words about that but was glad to have mechs he knew. He did ask what he was being punished for and Orion just smiled and said that he got caught out past curfew. Ichigo thunderous scowl of disapproval returned. Orion shrank and mumbled something about Megatron and rallies and going to the Senate building.

Ichigo slowly and clearly told Orion what he thought of that.

"Idiot," he hissed and drags Orion with him towards their station, "Lovesick fool."

"I know," the smaller mech mumbles.

"If ya knew then why…damn it Orion if they find out that your hanging around Megatron then that's it. Not even Alpha Trion will be able to help you if you get caught!"

Orion scowled back, "I know that, I've been careful."

"Not careful enough!"

Two pink arms shove their way in-between their faces, "that's enough you two. Your arguing is drawing attention."

Ichigo and Orion looked around and notice that Arial was right, everyone was watching them. "Right," Ichigo huffs and glares. It was enough the get others to look away.

"I'm going to deal with that pallet of energon think you three can deal with the cargo ships?" he nods towards the docking ships.

"Yeah, we'll have them ready for ya shortly," Dion laughs pushing Orion. "Meet up for break later?"

"Yeah sure," Ichigo waves the three off.

The rest of the shift went on like normal, though Ichigo did watch as an unknown group of flyers popped up. he didn't sense any trouble and let Orion handle it. It was when Megatron showed up sometime later that Ichigo felt a sense of danger. He only felt like this once, before being told that Orihime had been taken to Heco Mondo. He tried to keep an optic on the two, but they disappeared.

Sometime after that, there were blaster shots and the docks started to shake. The group of flyers was running with Arial and Dion towards the main docks. The same area that he saw Orion being led into by Megatron. He dropped what he was doing and race after them. But it was too late when he arrived, Arial and Dion, and Orion was down shot by the glaring ex-gladiator.

Ichigo saw red.

"Get them out of here!" he ordered the flyers.

"Who the hell are you!"

"He seems familiar."

"Shut-up and help me take them somewhere safe!"

"Air Raid grab the femme."

Ichigo was done listening as he scoops up Orion and shoves him into the larger flyers' arms. "Go!"

The flyer nods and starts ordering the others to follow him leaving Ichigo facing Megatron alone. He brought up his arms and released his blades. They were the only weapon he had on him.

"Why?" he asks after glaring at the mech, "why did you shoot him, I thought you two were friends," he spat the last word out.

Megatron gave him a bored look, "He served his purpose. I simply cut off a loose end."

"Arena rules do not apply to everyone asshole!"

"Ah but life is just another arena Ichigo; did you think I wouldn't remember you?" the silver mech stalks forward circling the younger mech. "Freedom seems to have treated you well."

"Freedom treats everyone better!" Ichigo shot back.

Megatron scowls, "not everyone." He stops behind Ichigo, "how are those younglings of yours; humm? Have they gotten better at fighting or worse? I wonder have you gone soft or has had so many lives depend on you made you stronger." Ichigo sensed the evil grin, "shall we find out?"

Before Ichigo could move a white blur slam into them. They skidded until crashing into one of the nondamaged walls. Looking up, Ichigo saw that large blade embedded in the floor where he was just standing.

"You Idiot!" Zangetsu screamed. "the old man and I haven't been wasting our time teaching you to survive only for you to die being stupid!"

"Interesting."

Both looked up when Megatron spoke, a curious expression followed by a cat canary grin. "Yeah, what of it mother-

"Shut it," Ichigo covered the mouth of the other. "You can be your annoying self later."

"Tch, fine." Zangetsu had his feral grin, "been wanting to fight this one for the longest time. Thinking that he owns my King."

"Whatever, I call dibs." Ichigo pulls out a Zangetsu replica that he had specially made. With Wheeljacks help.

Zangetsu looks at the blade, "tch I feel like I been replaced."

"As if anything can replace you," mutters Ichigo.

A whine imminently drew their attention back to the dangerous ex-gladiator. Megatron looking very annoyed had his arm cannon primed and aimed at them.

"Talk later?"

"Yeah, let's trash this reject!" Zangetsu flew at Megatron with an insane scream.

"Bastard," Ichigo mummers.

Using what he had learned and what he already knew Ichigo and Zangetsu held up against Megatron. Until…

"Arg!"

"Zangetsu!"

Ichigo tried to reach his twin until a large hand gripped his wing and threw him into a wall. "Starscream," Megatron snarls, "Where have you been?"

"Doing your bidding Lord Megatron. You're the one who had the seekers bombing the Senate building while you frolic among the peasants." The red flyer sneered.

"mind your words Seeker, you live as long as your useful."

"Yet it is I who saved your aft from these two fakes," he hissed yanking Zangetsu up by his helm.

"Ass-hole," the white flyer grounds out.

"I think that we should help you and your twin become the grounders you wish to be," he slowly reaches for one white and gold wing. "Don't worry it will be very painf-

Starscream taunt is cut off as Ichigo fires his thrusters and slams into him. They careen around before shooting straight up. Starscream yelling obscenities struggle to get Ichigo to release him. Ichigo held on tight and wouldn't have let go if he remembered that Starscream had trine mates. Ichigo felt sheering pain as something rip into his left-wing and another stabbed his right side. The shock had him letting go and falling towards the ground. He manages to slow himself down, but it left him vulnerable as something whiz by his helm. Looking up Skywarp the flyer had a stoic expression and a blaster pointed at Ichigo's hovering form.

Luckily, Zangetsu snatched him before the next shot could connect. However, while Ichigo had been struggling with Starscream, Zangetsu had gone back to fighting Megatron. Ichigo felt how exhausted Zangetsu is.

"We need to disengage." He shouted, "we need to find Orion and the others. They were hurt badly."

Zangetsu grunted, "think you can fly; I think he dented one of my wings."

"Then land over ther-

Time seemed to slow as hot shearing pine rippled through his back. Through the pain, he watched as Zangetsu slowly grew farther and farther away. There was no sound, at least to him, and all he felt was pain. until he crashed into one of the warehouses, then he knew a new kind of pain as error messages scrolled across his optics. Sound returned to him and he winched at the loudness. Warm energon was pooling behind him under destroyed wings.

"King, King!" Zangetsu landed panic in his field and on his face. "Hang on King!"

Ichigo was confused, why was Zangetsu wearing that expression. He had never seen his zanpakuto wear that before. He should get up, he should…what was he doing again?

"H-h-hey don't get up King, Ichigo!" Zangetsu holds him down. "Just wait; uh Ratchet yeah let me get that grouchy medic, he'll know what to do." He tries to comm the mech, "shit; why ain't the comms working! Ichigo I said don't move!"

Looking franticly around, they couldn't fly out, not with a busted wing. And with his energy running low he didn't think he could carry Ichigo all way back to the warehouse. Yet, he couldn't leave his King alone and injured. He might not be here when he returned.

"Don't just stand there fools; Shoot Him!"

Megatron's voice roared over the flames and mini explosions. Another voice deeper and younger answered back but Zangetsu couldn't hear what had been said.

"Alright King, we can't stay here," he gently picks up Ichigo. "I'm going to put ya over here okay; then I'll go get Ratchet. Ya just stay here don't move!"

Without waiting for an answer Zangetsu runs as fast as his frame would allow. Ichigo's head lolled to the side watching him leave.

"who was that?" he dazedly wondered. His frame felt heavy and his processor was foggy. "Must have got into another fight, Yuzu is going to worry." He tries to get up only managing to get half-way up against a crate. "I need-I need to call and let them know…who am I calling? Yuzu, Karin, who are they? Sunstreaker; Sideswipe are they-what?" Everything was drifting through his mind he couldn't keep hold of thought.

Everything around him was rumbling and loud, "tired," he mumbles before being forced into shut down. Before the last of his consciousness fades a figure appears. Their calm field soothes the chaos around him.

Optimus Prime looks over the battered and dying flyer, he recognizes the mech though vaguely. He knew that mech was a good friend and that was enough. He settles his aching frame down, there was truly little he could do. His new frame felt too big and bulky and he was afraid that he would make things worse.

"I should get you to Alpha Trion," Optimus picks up the seeker.

"What are you doing Idiot!" Optimus looked up at a red and white medic, "don't move him, you could have caused more damage!"

Optimus meekly put the young flyer down, "I am sorry. I was taking him to someone who can help."

The medic huff, "you can move him after I know that he isn't going to die." He bends over the flyer, "Names Ratchet, and you are?"

The large convey hesitates, "Optimus…Prime."

Ratchet sputters in shock, "A Prime!" he doesn't stop trying to keep Ichigo from bleeding out to express his disbelief, "no don't tell me." He quickly adds before opening Ichigo's chest, "slag crystals been cracked, we need to get him spark support now before his gutters."

He glares at the Prime just standing there, "well?"

"Right," Optimus jumps, "the one who fixed me is not far. He was trying to help others before I was brought to him."

"Alright, let's see this back ally hack then. What is his name."

"Alpha Trion."

Ratchet stumbles staring in open mouth shock, "ya know what I'm too old for this slag."

As they reached the warehouse that Optimus emerged from an explosion rocked the area. The warehouse dock that Orion once worked in went up in flames.

The door opens before Ratchet gets done telling Wheeljack to come find them. "Back so soon Optimus Prime?" the ancient mech asks before looking over Ratchet and the injured Ichigo. "come inside and see if we can save your friend."

As instructed, Optimus lays Ichigo out on an energon crusted table. He steps back as Ratchet takes over hooking tubes and wires. Alpha Trion hums in the background only appearing to give a took before Ratchet asks for it.

The unsettling quiet is only interrupted when alarms start blaring, "Slag it. Come on Kid fight, you ain't dying today!"

Feeling helpless Optimus could only watch as the hands of the medics fly over the damaged frame. Gray starts to creep at the edges as Ichigo gasps as systems shut down. Optimus barely notices the pounding at the door or the white blur that bowls him and Ratchet over to get to the table.

"No King!" it says. "Ya can't give up that easy, you live through too much to die like this!"

Optimus thought that he would have to pull the other mech off. A maroon hand however stops him, "Watch," Alpha Trion says.

Optimus watches, he sees Ratchet trying to remove the mech, he hears others crying in the background, and he sees the white flyer do something with his chest. Then there is a bright light the blinds him as the two flyers sparks meet. For an instant, Optimus sees beautiful colors swirling around like being in the center of a kaleidoscope. He sees that colors take an unknown shape, it hovers over Ichigo before slamming into the frame causing it to arch from impact.

When the light is gone and he can see fully, everything is quiet. The other flyer is gone, the alarms are quiet, and Ichigo's chest plates are closed. Optimus turns to Alpha Trion curious at what he has just seen but the old mech hums before turning away. Ratchet gasps earning Optimus's full attention.

"His spark case is healed," the medic whips out a scanner, "what did you do you little pit spawn," though there was no heat.

Optimus noticed that the medic's hands were shaking, "Ratchet?"

"that idiot, I don't know what he did but that fool healed Ichigo," sadness filled his tone. "how am I to explain this to him huh little fragger."

"Ratchet!"

"Ichigo!"

Optimus turns just in time as three more mechs entered the warehouse. A mech and two mechlings and he manage to move before the two younglings knock him over.

"Now now you two back off, I haven't finished fixing him yet!" Ratchet gently scolds.

"But Zangetsu came in a panic and then you left, and he wouldn't tell us anything. not even when Wheeljack came in-

"then he races out like his afts on fire and he tried to keep up, but he outran us-

"Where is Zangetsu anyway; shouldn't he be here with his twin?" the yellow mechling asks.

Silence was the young one's answer, Optimus saw Ratchet struggle to answer. Frankly, he didn't have one either.

Wheeljack hesitantly steps up the table, "Ratchet; did-did something happened?"

Ratchet gives the mech a helpless look before a groan had everyone looking back down at the flyer. Ichigo whines as he onlines, everything hurt and he felt so…so…empty. That brought him fully online and trying to move.

"Ichigo!"

"Where…Zangetsu; he…where?"

"Calm down before you undo whatever the pit, he did to save ya."

"What?" Ichigo struggles to find the being he shared a soul with and only relaxes when he got the barest poke. Zangetsu was fine, he was still there, but, looking around, where?

"You had a crack spark casing," Ratchet starts explaining, "and your twin did something and just vanished. Now lie back and let me work."

Ichigo complies sighing as some of the pain disappears. It was then that he saw someone that looks familiar.

"Orion?"

"No, I'm Optimus Prime."

Alpha Trion comes up chuckling, "well your both right…in a sense."

Ichigo scowls before sighing, "cryptic old mech." He drifts off listening to that old mech chuckle some more.

Sunstreaker once making sure that Ichigo was recharging and not dying turns to the adults in the room and crosses his arms, "What the frag is going on here?"

"Language!"