Author's note. Written by me and the-writing-mew.

Thanks for all the reviews, they really make our day.

Enjoy and please review.

...

Later...
Autobot Optimus Prime's base...

Finally the Magnus' ship landed near the entrance of the base at the place Optimus told them to. Bulkhead waited for them and opened a hatch in where the ship entered.

Blackarachnia descended with Valour's hand in hers and Ultra Magnus reached for them. The sparkling tightened his grip on her hand at his presence. "Its ok sweetspark... I'll cocoon him again if he dare to speak to you again like that..." She said looking threateningly at the old mech.

The Magnus looked down at the sparkling and honestly couldn't see any resemblance to his sire, it was as if Optimus Prime made him all by himself. "I'm not here to cause you distress or pain, I merely want to apologise for my ill and incorrect behaviour before when we meet. I apologise and I hope that someday you can forgive me, little Valour."

The sparkling looked up at him and nodded, but before Blackarachnia could take him away he answered. "I forgive you... I know you hate the mech that...that...s-sired me..." Valour said with disgust. "..and... If it wasn't for you I would have never known of my origins or who that mech really was... He could have fooled me..." He looked down as if considering the possible situations that might have happened if the elder wouldn't have revealed the truth. "...in a certain degree... I thank you for it... Daddy would have never told me the truth because it still hurts him... I still can't understand how he can love me..." the little one trailed off and Magnus stepped closer before placing a hand on his shoulder.

"Because you were wanted... He carried you and brought you with him still knowing the consequences... He didn't leaved you behind with Megatron... You were the light he needed to escape his abuser," The elder said gaining a shocked and teary gaze from Valour and a just an impressed one from Blackarachnia. "He made you all himself, just look at yourself, you are like a little Optimus... Maybe you have something from your sire but is nothing you cannot use to your own advantage to protect the ones you love, little one."

Fat tears ran now freely from Valour's cheek. "I will protect my daddy... That mech will not lay a finger on him again!" He declared. "I owe him that at least..."

Ultra Magnus smiled softly and softly removed the tears from the little one's face. "I know you will..."

He may not be fond of halfbreeds, but even he recognized an innocent victim.
...

Optimus stared at the scene from his position in the ship's entrance with Perceptor and the others. "See? I told you..." The scientist said to the Prime before ordering Jazz and Red Alert to move some things.

"Well... At least he's on our side now." Bumblebee said to his leader holding a now sleeping Sari. Optimus just nodded to him so he continued, "I'll take her to doc Sumdac... He is sick worried about her," and with that the little yellow mech left.
...

Just before the Magnus' ship can disappear into what it looked like an entrance, a mech looked down at them from his camouflaged ship and smirked. He couldn't see them descending the ship but he now knew where they were. He smirked, it would be so easy to get that Prime... That's for sure.

"Not right now," he murmured to himself. "Nah, let them all get unpacked and settled, no sense in rushing things."

His work was best done under the cover of darkness, when bots tended to be relaxed as they let their guard down. He would chose his mods carefully, it wouldn't do to be caught by the Autobot Elite. It would be interesting to try and grab both Optimus and his son, the emphasis was on the former not the latter but he'd still give it a go. After all, credits were credits and Megatron always paid the big bucks if you'd gotten what he wanted.

He'd scout out the surrounding area and plan this carefully, he'd likely only get one chance at this. According to the information he'd received, there were likely at least two Cyber Ninjas and they where they ones he had to worry about really. Sure, the Magnus had his Hammer but he wasn't very worried about that. He just needed to be quick and confident, nothing to it.

Giving the hidden entrance one last glance, he retreated to prepare for the night's visit.

...

"Valour?" Optimus asked with a smile. "Shall we go and check on your Crystal Garden?"

Valour considered it for a moment before nodding. "Okay daddy."

Optimus smiled, he wanted to try and bring Valour back into a sense of happiness and security. Of course, with Megatron lurking in the background, it wasn't going to be easy but he was determined to make it work. With a bit of luck, they could get their lives back on track.

"We'll need to think about expanding the base soon," Optimus told his little son as they walked hand in hand. "Your mommy will need her own space, especially as her pregnancy progresses."

Valour nodded before asking hesitantly. "Did you have your own space?"

This made Optimus pause, thinking of his answer carefully. It was natural for Valour to have questions but he wanted to spare him the worst as much as possible. Finally, he said.

"I had the run of your Sire's quarters, a very large comfy berth, a luxurious wash room and a good view of space. I could watch whatever the ship was passing by, read data pads or just relax."

He gave Valour a little smile and said. "You were a very active Sparkling, I could feel you moving around inside me."

"Will I be able to feel mommy's Sparklings?" Valour asked and Optimus nodded. "When they get big enough, you will."

To his relief, Valour did smile happily at this but unfortunately, he wasn't distracted by the matter at hand.

"Did Sire want to feel me?"

"He did," Optimus admitted. "He enjoyed lying beside me, trying to feel you kicking with me. It made him very happy."

Optimus felt strange remembering those times, Megatron had almost been tender then. He'd certainly been very excited, talking about how powerful their Sparkling felt and he hoped to see their son achieve. Megatron had been very sure of a son, Optimus hadn't the faintest idea, he would have been happy with either. A small part of him had been thankful that Megatron was happy about having a Sparkling, he knew there were some that would have tried to force him to have a termination.

But Megatron wanted children far too much for that, he wanted a family. If only he'd been willing to take Optimus's feelings into consideration for even a single moment, maybe things could have worked between them. As it was, it wasn't looking likely that Megatron could even visit Valour.

But it haven't and the Decepticon lord only wanted to take and not give. Take his pleasure, his sparklings, his life...

He sighed trying to not think about all that.

Blackarachnia was busy with Ratchet and Perceptor as both mechs were looking after her pregnancy. The latter was practically overexcited about it and started studying immediately how to give her organic nutrients so the sparklings will develop faster.

She also told him that he must take Valour for a walk. The sparkling needed him more than ever and Optimus couldn't disagree.
...

Later...

Prowl sat under one of his favourite's trees on the island. The dinobots were quiet and sleeping around him on the grass as he meditated. The calm and noisy night lulled him into deep trance.

Suddenly the crickets quietened and he tensed a little before relaxing again. "Meditatin... Interestin choice; do you mind if I join ya?"

He just nodded and felt the other sit next him. "And who are they?" The white mech asked looking at the tired dinobots in their dinosaur forms soundly sleeping.

"Grimlock, Swoop and Snarl... They are young and a little impulsive," Prowl answered without onlining his optics.

"Oh... They seem nice..." Jazz answered.

In the time they were in the Magnus' ship they all get to know their names, but it was a few little time to get to know the names of the Dinobots.

The crickets quietened again and this time Prowl onlined his blue optics fully in alert.

Grimlock, Swoop and Snarl also onlined and looked around frantically ignoring the white cyberninja. "Wha's happening?" He asked worried.

"Something...someone's here...and he's not welcome..." Prowl mussed with a dark frown as the three dinobots sniffed the air in all directions.

"Who, a 'con?" Jazz said in alarm.

"Maybe..." Prowl said.

"You alert the others," Prowl told Jazz sharply. "I know this place better than you, I can cover the ground faster. Go."

Jazz didn't protest, he accepted Prowl's order without question and hurried off.

"Grimlock," Prowl said urgently to the Dinobots. "There is someone here who should be, help me track him down. They might be after Valour."

"Me Grimlock not let any puny bot hurt little brother," Grimlock declared as the other Dinobots roared in agreement.

"I knew I could count on you," Prowl murmured with a small smile. "Let's go."

They hurried off, trying to find the source of the disturbance. Not knowing that they were being watched.

"Damn, this place has some security," Lockdown muttered with narrowed optics. "What the hell are those things?"

He hadn't expected his presence to be detected so quickly, he hadn't even made it to the base yet. Slag it, he might have to postpone his mission for another night if these bots got themselves mobilised quickly enough. He didn't relish trying to take on the whole group of them, that was a recipe for disaster. He'd give it a try and if he failed, he'd retreat and try again.

With a frown, he melted into the darkness as Jazz charged towards the base.

"Magnus," he yelled into his comlink. "There's an intruder on the island, do yah copy?"

"We copy," Ultra Magnus replied. "What's happening?"

"Those...uh Dinobots detected something, their off with Prowl to find whoever it is," Jazz told him. "Yah need tah protect Optimus and Valour, I bet they're after them."

"On it, return to base as quickly as possible," Ultra Magnus ordered and Jazz confirmed that he would.

At the base

"He never gives up," Optimus growled low as he carefully carried a sleeping Valour into a safe room they'd constructed just in case.

"Guess not," Sentinel said coolly, he still wasn't sure how to interact with his former friend. "Uh, shouldn't we wake him up?"

"No," Optimus said shortly. "I want him to sleep through this and not lie awake in fear. So keep quiet, understand?"

"Fine," the other Mech grumbled as Optimus laid his son carefully onto a berth. "You stay here and I'll guard the door."

Optimus nodded, gently stroking his peaceful Sparkling's head, willing him to continue sleeping.

"Optimus..." Blackarachnia hurried into the room in spider form making Sentinel shiver and shruder in terror and disgust at the sight.

"I'm ok, Elita, everything will be ok... You better hide too, we must keep you a secret... It is our safe card that they don't know you're here but still can get into that ship as a Decepticon," Optimus said as she sat next him.

"I know," She caressed his face lovingly before softly kissing him on the lips.

Sentinel almost purged at the sight of the kissing lovers before turning and watched the passageway still shivering in disgust. Just how Optimus can have any kind of relationship with THAT? Well... It was Elita after all and he always had feelings towards her...but still! She was a disgusting technoorganic!

Shaking off those thoughts from his mind he started thinking about others...about how obsessed was Megatron with his former friend.

Indeed Optimus was a beautiful mech and sometimes even Sentinel fantasized with him. But the other never saw him more than just a friend...a brother, and that made things harder between them. However, Optimus never told him he had feelings for Elita. They must be quite strong for him to still wanting her in that hideous shape... Eww...

Turning around, Blackarachnia noticed the blue Prime and turned back to her lover. "I'll cheer you up..." And blinked two optics to him before transforming in her spider form and crawling to the ceiling...and towards Sentinel...

Sentinel felt a cold shiver ran by his spine and slowly turned around to see why...only to find that huge spider looking at him with her eight red optics before hissing menacingly to him...

It was more to say that Sentinel paled and fainted before any sound came out from him.

Blackarachnia grunted in disappointment and transformed back poking at the fainted mech curiously. "He always disappoints... I wanted him to screech like he always did back in the academy..." She said shaking her head.

Optimus just smiled kindly at her...it was also not the reaction she wanted to cause in him.
...

Prowl and the Dinobots patrolled the area and forests and separated at some point. Snarl was smelling around and found a trace he never smell before...it looked like the smell they were looking for. Following it, he soon reached someone he never saw before, this mech was protected by the darkness of the environment and only his silhouette could be described.

This mech turned his red optics towards him before disappearing and a rush of wind followed his disappearance.

Snarl just watched as something that looked invisible, left.

He waited for a moment in case they came back but when they did, he let rip of roar to attract the others. It wasn't long before they arrived, with Prowl saying urgently.

"Have you found them?"

Snarl nodded and Grimlock communicated with him before turning to Prowl.

"Him say that Mech with red optics here but he gone now."

"A Decepticon," Prowl said grimly. "What kind of Decepticon, was it Megatron?"

"Him no know," was Grimlock's response. "Too dark for him Snarl."

"It doesn't matter, they'll be working for Megatron if it wasn't him," Prowl told them. "You all did very well, if you detect that Mech again, come and tell one of us. And make sure he doesn't get near our base."

"Me Grimlock no let any bad robots come," the large Dinobot declared as Prowl smiled.

"I know you won't," he said firmly. "Could you patrol for a little longer in case he decides to come back? I need to report to the others."

"You go," Grimlock said with a wave of his hand before transforming and marching off with the others.

Prowl watched them go, feeling oddly proud of them. But he didn't focus on this for long, he needed to get back to base. Meanwhile, Lockdown was grumpily at his failure to get near the base.

"Damn creatures," he cursed to himself. "I'd have gotten there if it weren't for them."

It appeared he'd need to change tactics. Perhaps if he sent those things on a wild goose chase the next time he attempted the kidnap, he would have more luck. Of course, there were still the cyber ninjas to contend with, he would need a plan to deal with them as well. At least he hadn't been caught and none of them had gotten a decent look at him, that was something in his favour. Best to consider this a recon mission and possibly make it the real mission tomorrow night.

Although...they'd be expecting another attack. But what if he tried in the very early morning, when their guard was more likely to be down. Yes, that sounded much better, early dawn light could hide him better in many ways that night couldn't.

He chuckled as he headed back to his ship for a nap, things weren't looking so bad after all.

...

The morning after...

Ultra Magnus watched the screens and recordings the camera recorded from last night; one of those creatures said that it was a Decepticon, however he doubted it was Megatron; that mech liked to hire his own professionals to do his dirty underwork.

Thinking about that he frowned, he needed to take care of those spies, and according the former Elita One some of them are very powerful within the Autobots so he will need to act with care. If he's gonna catch them all, he will need to do it in one shot, with one net so they will not be warned or alerted by the others or the situation.

It sounded harder than it was thought, but not imposible; he just needed to get his better and most loyal soldiers to do so... but there was another problem...the fact that he may need to get rid of those mechs in the underground or he might need proof of his acusations, prooves that he didn't possessed and maybe only that spider femme can grant them...maybe...

He was not the kind of mech to hire bounty hunters to do his own job... but it was tempty... after all, some of them were even senators!

"Long Arm Prime, this is Ultra Magnus," He said contacting his intelligence officer...and one of the most dangerous and valued spies of Megatron. He kept his face neutral not betraying his feelings or knowleges about him. "I want to know the situation on Cybertron and the colonies, I want to know if you could find anything about the Decepticons as well."

"Ultra Magnus, what a surprise to see you; may I ask you why you changed the course of your travel?" The officer asked and Magnus fight hard to keep his neutral face.

"The mission is considered classified, Prime, if you already don't know, then don't ask; it is not for you to know but for the authority who send me this work. Now, I want the report I asked... don't tell me that because of my depart all your department grows lazy and didn't do their job?" He asked and watched the apparently gentle mech flinch.

"Of course not sir," Long Arm Prime said respectfully. "Forgive me, I was merely surprised but of course it is none of my business. I will gather all the necessary information and contact you again with it."

"See that you do," Ultra Magnus told him. "And do it quickly, I need it as soon as possible."

"As you wish sir," was the calm reply and the call was ended.

Ultra Magnus sighed, it was still hard to believe that he was a spy. But Elita had no reason to lie and somehow it made a lot of sense. Arresting the fake Prime would be the tricky part, the Mech might have sense guards in case he was suspected but Ultra Magnus wanted to avoid sending another innocent bot to the stockades. He wondered where the lost Autobot was, could he be saved if found?

"Elita One," he called into the comm as he thought about Wasp. "May I speak with you?"

"You may," came her soft voice, it sounded a little sleepy but that was to be expected after their interrupted night.

"Is it possible to acquire proof of Long Arm Prime's treachery?" he asked. "He's one of my most important intelligence officers, I can't arrest him without a valid reason."

"I'll see what I can do," she promised. "I understand your dilemma but once I give you the evidence, you must act without delay. I will stay undercover for as long as possible but eventually, I'm likely to be found out."

"Understood," he said with a nod, even though she couldn't see him. "I will think on this matter,"

"Good," she said as the call was ended and she rolled over to face Optimus.

"That was Magnus, wanting help with arresting the traitors," she told her mate to be.

"I don't want you risking yourself," he said softly, stroking her face gently.

She smiled and took the hand, lightly kissing it.

"I'll be fine and so will the Sparklings," she assured him, glancing over at Valour who had slept soundly through the night. "Perhaps you'd like to talk about it in a hot bath?"

He laughed, a quiet laugh so as not to disturb his son. It had been a little while since they'd interfaced, Megatron coming had driven all thought of love making from their minds until now. But he was feeling much better and it sounded like a very good idea.

"I wouldn't mind," he whispered as her optics gleamed with pleasure.

"Let's not wait then," she said, rolling to her feet and offering him her hand.

Without hesitation Optimus took it and then both together walked towards their private washracks and in no time their armours were lying on the ground and both lovers were bare to the world, to each other...

Optimus opened the shower and set it in a warm setting before entering with his love and soon he was kissing her passionately, his hands were all over her... just as her own extra legs were with him.

"Ohh... Optimus..." She moaned lifting one of her legs to wrap it around his waist as the other suckled on her neck and gently but possessively massaged her breasts. "Ohhh... please..." The femme whined humping at his leg feeling her port constrict against nothing and dripping lubricants.

Smirking, Optimus then reached down with his hand and caressed the sensitive rim of her soft and delicate port and moaned softly at he could smell her arousal. "Elita..." He whispered rolling his finger around but not yet entering her and chuckling as she gasped once he touched her external node... her very much sensitive external node..

"Ha-ah...O-O-primus!" She held out a screech with a gasp as he teased her... "Y-you do it now or... or I will do it myself!" She demanded.

He just smirked at her again with one optic ridge lifted. "What a show that would be..." And bit his lower lip... "I will love to see it...but I doubt those lovely little fingers will satisfy you as I do..."

She was about to answer to that when suddenly and without warning he entered her... but not with his finger... "OooH!" She moaned loudly at the intense feeling and exquisite stretch that only his marvellous spike can provide.

He moaned too not losing for a second her blissful and lost expression. "S-see? I bet it can't do... this!" He gave a deep and hard thrust that got her gasping and her other leg wrapping itself around his waist, joining the others.

"Feels...SO good...ahh..." She moaned thrashing against him as she tried to get used to such delicious feeling again.

"Ohh... don't tell me you're gonna come now... I just entered..." He then licked at her audio and give another powerful thrust as he supported her against the wall. "I need more... more...I love you so much..." He then started thrusting madly in and out from her, ravishing her completely one more time.

She wasn't complaining, it was just so fast...and intense...

"Mmm, I love you too," she moaned, gripping him tightly as he thoroughly satisfied her. "Oooh, I need more..."

"As well as me?" he chuckled, still thrusting into her as quickly as he could. "I'll give it to you love."

"You'd better," she warned before moaning again. "Oh yes..."

He pushed her against the wall, hoisting her up so that he could thrust harder into her. She was so soft and yet so tight, she was the best he'd ever been with. He'd always loved her but they'd both been focused on their careers before the accident so hadn't dated. But now they were together and could put all previous distractions aside to just revel in each other's passion.

The shower's temperature was staying steady but he could feel himself heat up, steam was forming all around them as their love making continued. Elita gripped him even tighter despite the water making their forms slippery and she rocked her body in time to his. She was in a daze of lust and couldn't concentrate on anything that wasn't his spike sending such wonderful sensations shooting through her body. He knew just the right spots to hit.

"I think...ah...I'm close," she gasped out, feeling her aft rubbing against the shower wall, making her feel even more aroused.

"Mmm," was all he said, he also could feel a charge building up inside of him. She made him feel so aroused, he could barely stand, his knees kept shaking but he stood strong.

"Oh...oh...AH!" she yelled as she finally overloaded, her port clenching tight around his spike, almost as though she were trying to milk it. He came a few moments later, his hot load exploding into her and making her moan in satisfaction.

"Ohh, that was so good," she groaned, kissing his cheek as he leaned against her, trying to recover himself.

"It was," he agreed, not aware that their love making had attracted someone.

Valour had woken up and at first he'd been confused why but he suddenly heard noises coming from the wash room. He yawned, blinking curiously as he saw tendrils of steam emerge, someone was having a shower or bath. But what were those sounds, they sounded very strange. Was someone in pain, it almost sounded like it.

"Shall we go again?" Optimus asked Elita as she chuckled and nodded. "I wouldn't say no."

He then restarted his thrust as his spike continued hard even if it just overloaded; she cooed softly and nuzzled his neck. "Slow, love, slow... I want to feel all from you..." She purred and bit her lower lip feeling the burning strokes the spike within her gave her.

Valour walked next to the door and the moans and groans sounded louder and more hurried. He just wondered what was happening in there... Was his daddy or mommy hurt?

"More, Optimus, more..." Elita moaned loudly as her charge grows. "Hmmmn...Aa-aahh...!"

The sparkling was worried now, that sounded like his mother and he entered the bathroom only to find a dense and thick fog. Trying to whip it out from his way, he advanced in.

"Ooohhh...mhmmmm..." Valour could hear...that sounded like his daddy... he gasped... what if they were hurt?!

But as he reached closer, another sound could be heard... a repetitive sound... like it somehow had a rhythm. "Daddy... mommy...? Where are you, are you ok?" He asked in the middle of the bathroom. "Are you hurt?!" He started getting desperate at their lack of answers and now the repetitive sound stopped as well.

"V-val-vallur...sweetspark... why don't you go and wait for us outside?" Elita said gasping as if holding up something.

"Mommy? are you ok? Where is daddy?"

"H-he's h-here...don't worry, sweetspark... go back to the room, we're okay..." She said.

"But...daddy-"

"I'm here son... don't worry, your mother and I are okay... g-go back to the room, we'll be out soon..." Optimus answered hurriedly.

"Watcha doin?" He tilted his head to the side and walked towards the shower.

"Adult things... you will understand once adult... now, go..." He said.

"Are you kissing mommy?" He continued making Optimus growl in frustration. "Yes. I am... now, can you please leave us alone?"

"Umm... ok... but... can I see-?"

"NO!" Both mech and femme screamed.

Valour squeaked and fled from the room. Optimus sighed heavily, he should have made sure that Valour couldn't hear them. But now the moment was ruined and he didn't want valour to get upset or worried.

"I'm sorry," she said softly, gently holding him close.

"No, I'm sorry," he said, gently letting her down. "I should have been better prepared, I just wanted to unwind with you."

She chuckled, stroking his face as she said. "You succeeded. Go and comfort him, we can always continue later when he's playing with the others."

This made him grin, pleased she wasn't angry with him. Kissing her, he said.

"I'll make it unforgettable."

She groaned as they separated and he quickly cleaned himself up, not wanting any evidence of their love making on his armour. As soon as he was done, he hurried out to find Valour nervously sitting on their berth.

"Valour," he said gently, striding over to him. "I'm sorry for yelling at you, your mother and I were a little...distracted."

"What where you doing?" Valour asked curiously. "Why didn't you want me to see you kissing mommy?"

"Because...we weren't just kissing," Optimus said cautiously. "We were...showing our love to each other."

As Valour stared at him, Optimus continued.

"There are things adults do with each other, things they do in private that are only for adults," Optimus explained carefully. "When two people love each other, we have special ways of showing how we love each other. You're too young to see it but one day when you find someone special, you'll be able to do it with them. As you get older, I can tell you more about it."

"You sounded like you were in pain," Valour said, causing Optimus to exclaim. "We weren't, we definitely weren't. We were crying out in...happiness because what we were doing makes us feel so good."

Valour kept staring at him as though trying to work something out. Wanting to reassure his son, Optimus said. "You can ask me anything you like about it sweetspark."

"Umm... Why can't I see it and...why only adults do it...and...why you sounded like you werein pain? What was that?" The sparkling said worryingly.

"Well... Uhh... Because the adults need privacy when doing it or it won't make us feel good... The privacy for when your mother and I are showing our love to each other is imperative." Optimus explained and Valour lowered his head. "If we were in any danger we will scream for help..." He looked down at his son who looked at him confused. "We may sound like we were in pain...but it is not... It's like when you receive a lot of pleasure and it tickles you all over your body... That's maybe the reason why we sounded like in pain when we were not...it's like... Receiving a massage."

Valour tilted his head to the side remembering that Bee once came all sore after a race and Ratchet, after yelling at him and how irresponsible he was, had to give him a special massage to his sore limbs. The yellow minibot moaned audibly now he remembered.

"I see..." Valour said and Optimus smiled kindly to him. "I hope you and mommy enjoy your massage next time...and...sorry for interrupting you..." He lowered his head.

"Its ok, son...now you know..." He hugged the sparkling.
...

Prowl was resting under a tree as the sun rose, next to him was Swoop and near them in a clair were Grimlock and Snarl sparring.

Jazz came to them and watched with interest the sparring dinobots before sitting on his legs next Prowl. By then the dark cyberninja onlined his optics. "Ah brought ya some energon," He said giving Prowl one of the two cubes he held in his hands.

"Thank you." Prowl said accepting the cube and drank it.

"Am surprised with yer concentration, last night ya surprised me... And... Ah might be wrong but...ya never finished yer ninja training, right?" Jazz asked curiously.

"Well, yes, I-" He started as Swoop suddenly awoke and looked desperate. Both cyberninjas looked at him, however Prowl has a smirk plasted on his face.

"Wha's so funny? Isn't there any enemies?" Jazz asked alerted.

"Just watch..." Prowl reassured him.

"Noo! Me Swoop late! Me Swoop late... Him Ratchet upset!" the young dinobot started growing desperate by the second and turned over himself as a dog who chases his tail before transforming and flying away towards the base and somehow stumbling in the air.

Grimlock and Snarl chuckled at their brother's desperation and stopped in their simulated fight just to watch his everyday show.

"Wha' just happened?" Jazz asked confused.

"Swoop is receiving special training as a medic from Ratchet. He showed interest and since he cannot fight like his brothers he thinks that at least like this he will be doing something." Prowl said drinking more from his cube.

"Ah see... So... Again... Why ya never finished yer ninja training?"

"Because my Master was killed," Prowl said softly. "I was helping him guard the protoforms but he sent me to get something. When I got back, they were gone and he was badly injured, someone had stripped him of his special armour and left him for dead. I did what I could to say him but I couldn't."

Prowl stared off into the sky, remembering his Master Yoketron. Before he'd met him and after his death, he'd been totally lost, not knowing what he wanted in life. It was only when Optimus was captured that he decided to pull himself together and when Optimus had found them again, he'd discovered purpose. To help a damaged team and an innocent little Sparkling to grow and prosper. He was achieving the inner peace he never thought he'd find.

"Master Yoketron?" Jazz now asked and as Prowl nodded, said grimly. "We never managed to find his attacker, I still can't understand how anyone could overpower him like that."

"Never can I," Prowl agreed. "Whoever it was must have been powerful or skilled. I always thought they must have known Yoketron, known where to strike and how to take him by surprise."

"We've thought that too but it hasn't gotten us any further," Jazz said with a heavy sigh. "Whoever it was has just disappeared, there hasn't even been any sign of those protoforms."

Prowl nodded slowly as a thought occurred to him. Was there any chance that Elita might know something about it? If Megatron for example had ordered the attack, she might have heard about it. He had no idea if she would have but it was worth a try. Although as tempting as it would be to hunt down the killer, he knew that Master Yoketron would not want that, especially when he had responsibilities on this planet.

Besides, he hoped to see Slipstream again, she was a fascinating Sparkling.

"It is a mystery," he said aloud to Jazz. "But I assume you finished your training?"

Jazz nodded, he'd finished it and then joined the Autobot Elite guard. For the most part, he enjoyed his work even if Sentinel could be a bit of an aft at times. But the twins were a lot of fun, you could always rely on Perceptor to be extremely knowledgeable and even if Red Alert was sometimes stern, she was also very caring. And he was enjoying spending some time on this planet, the Space Bridge repair team had accomplished a lot in a relatively short amount of time.

Glancing at the Dinobots, a question that had been bothering him prompted him to say. "Just where did those Dinobots come from?"

Prowl chuckled and told him the story of their accidental creation and how far they'd come since then.

"But how could her key do that?" Jazz said with a frown. "That almost sounds like the AllSpark..."

Prowl delicately sipped his Energon, not answering as Jazz's optics widened. In a low voice, he said.

"Do yah by any chance know where it can be found?"

"Perhaps," Prowl said evenly. "I imagine its safe enough where it is."

"That a fact?" Jazz said, whistling with amazement. "Well, well and tah think both Magnus and Megatron happen to land on this planet."

"It is rather unnerving," Prowl agreed as he fixed his fellow Cyber Ninja with a hard stare. "Can I trust you to keep that information to yourself?"

"Sure, no point in making the situation even more tense," Jazz readily agreed. "Although I'm starting to think even that would distract old Megs."

"Sadly, I think your right," Prowl sighed as they both watched Grimlock and Snarl play fight.

...
"Me swoop no late... Just late!" The pteranodon ran as if Unicron himself was after his aft once he reached the base and hurried towards the medbay.

In his way he found Ultra Magnus and would have crashed with him if he, in an impressive manoeuvre, turned on his thrusters and jumped high above him and continued running for his life.

"Huh?" The Magnus said unamused watching the young mech turn on a corner and disappear. It was not the first tine he had to deal with that, after all him alone raised a couple of hyperactive fliers.

Shrugging it off, he continued his way.
...

"Ratchet! Me Swoop no late!" The young mech shouted once he reached the medbay panting and gasping.

Two mechs and a femme turned around and watched him. However Ratchet frowned and looked at the clock on the wall before pointing it with a finger without missing Swoop's gaze. "You're late..." He said darkly.

"He's right," The femme said. "A medic should never be late, especially if he's intraining."

Swoop tilted his head to the side and looked at her curiously, then at Ratchet, then back at her before stepping closer and towards her until finally he was right in front of her. "You Ratchet?" He said.

The femme just lifted an optic ridge at his question, but he continued. "Him Ratchet," He pointed to the old mech and then to her. "You Ratchet too?"

"Uhh?" She said just before he reached for her and sniffed at her neck. Red Alert remained stoic as a statue as he continued smelling her. After all, she was in worst situations in the past with worst mechs. Then he lowered his head to sniff her chest and that was when Ratchet reacted.

"Swoop! That is not the way of treating a lady!" the elder barked taking hold of his arm roughly so he stood away from her.

"She Ratchet too?" He said looking at her again and then at Perceptor. But it was her the intriguing thing. "She smells like Ratchet, looks like Ratchet, acts like Ratchet, walks and stands like Ratchet... She Ratchet too?" he asked again.

"Impressive..." was everything Perceptor could say before adding. "He knew that somehow she's your daughter..." He said looking at the young dinobot curiously. "And where did he come from?" he added.

"Long story," Ratchet said with a wave of his hand as he turned to Swoop. "This is my daughter Swoop, she's called Red Alert. You'll treat her with respect, you hear me?"

"Me Swoop hear," the young bot said earnestly as Red Alert managed a small smile.

"I appreciate it," she told him kindly as he made an odd purring noise.

"You Red Alert nice," he stated and she chuckled.

"Thank you. Now, tell me what you've learned so far and I'll see what I can help you with."

This made Swoop perk up a lot, he wanted to learn as much as possible. Ratchet smiled proudly before noticing that Perceptor was edging in the direction of Swoop.

"Hey," he said sharply as the red microscope looked at him. "You can examine him later, we've got work to do. Elita should be coming in for a check-up in a bit."

"Very well," Perceptor said rather stiffly, why was he never allowed to give new subjects a good solid examination? Oh well, he'd just have to bide his time and wait until he could get what he wanted.

Meanwhile, Bumblebee was watching with Valour as the Jettwins preformed tricks in the air.

"That looks so cool," Valour sighed as Bumblebee nodded. "Sure does little buddy. Think you'll be able to do that someday?"

"Maybe, my Sire's a Decepticon," Valour said quietly. "But it would be good to fly like that."

"Mr Perceptor could help you unlock your code," Jetstorm called as he did a flip in mid-air. "Then you could fly with us little brother."

"Why don't we be showing him tricks, brother?" Jetfire asked, swooping down and lifting Valour up.

"Whoa," Valour whooped as they rose into the air.

"Hey watch him," Bumblebee called. "Optimus will have my aft on a sliver platter if anything happens to him."

"No to be worrying, we will not be dropping him," Jetfire assured him.

"You better not," Bumblebee warned, watching them intently. Optimus did not appreciate stunts involving his son, this the yellow Mech knew from past painful experience.

"Weeee...!" Valour squeaked in utter happiness as both twins took him to the air and threw him up and caught him again.

Bumblebee for several times felt that he would have a spark attack as the manoeuvres and tricks those two were way too dangerous for his taste.

"Be careful!" He shouted from his position on the ground.

None of them noticed in their joy that they were being watched again by the same mech of last night.

He smirked, it was just as he thought; in the day their defences were lowered, so low actually that all younglings came out together at once ignoring the danger...

...he was about to make his first move again when suddenly those two creatures from last night came hurrying towards them closely followed by the two cyberninjas.

Lockdown grimaced showing his pointy fangs. It couldn't be... Not them again!

"Valour! Get into the base, NOW!" Prowl barked and the sparkling gasped before grabbing Jetstorm and then all younglings were out of his reach. "Grimlock!"

"This way!" The dinobot leader said sniffing and pointing towards the exact location the hunter was, then went after it followed by Snarl and both cyberninjas.

"It can't be!" Lockdown hissed in frustration as he started running away.

"This time, this time you will not escape!" Prowl promised and took a shortcut as both dinobots and Jazz went after another chasing the track the intruder left.

Lockdown hide as he couldn't reach his ship and took some air before continuing with his run. "I can't believe it!" He hissed, him, the hunter, forced to flee, and now the hunted. Megatron better pay him well... It was... It must be worth every credit!

A flying shuriken rose by his nose as if almost hitting him but just as a warning. The hunter grunted before jumping away.

Prowl frowned before taking another shuriken. "I've seen you..."

Lockdown ran, there's no way he will be caught, he never was, he never will.

Prowl kept running after the mysterious stalker but his mind was whirring. He'd definitely seen that form before but he wasn't sure where. His processor was trying to match this figure to another in the past but somehow was failing to do so. Almost as though he didn't want to know...

"Me Grimlock smash," the T-Rex roared as he swung his massive tail at the intruder who dodge, scrambling up a tree before leaping into a thicket or thorns.

Grimlock roared again before stomping after him. But Prowl had a feeling that the intruder was going to get away, they'd reached the more wild part of the island. Most of the island had been sculpted and cared for the small group of robots but Prowl had wanted to leave a part completely untouched so that the wildlife could live in peace, especially if they didn't want to be near the massive robotic creature that had taken up shop on their home.

Even though he knew the island extremely well, this intruder still had a good chance of escaping by disappearing into the wilderness.

"Be careful," he warned over the comm. "He could have set up traps in this area, proceed with caution."

"I almost got a look at him," Jazz replied. "What about you Prowl?"

"I saw him and I think I may have seen him a long time ago," Prowl replied. "It doesn't matter right now, just make him leave!"

"Got it," Jazz replied as he plunged into the forest from another direction.

Prowl didn't manage to get another look at the Mech although occasionally he saw movement up ahead and the Dinobots roared as they almost caught him. But in the end, he was able to evade them and exit the island. Seeing no point in pursuing, especially as he could jump into the middle of the human city and use the innocent bystanders as shields, Prowl called off the hunt.

"You did very well," he complimented the Dinobots. "Once again, you've stopped him coming near."

As the Dinobots preened, Jazz shook his head.

"Mech's clearly not gonna give up," he observed. "What we gonna do?"

"Rethink the situation," Prowl said grimly. "I think Valour might have to remain indoors for now, that bot is waiting for an opportunity to snatch him and he almost succeeded."

"I hear yah," Jazz agreed. "We'd better go and break it to them."

Prowl nodded and they headed back into base where they received an interrogation by Sentinel.

"Are you sure you don't know who it is?" the large Autobot demanded, chin in the air.

"No," Prowl said in frustration. "If you let me check the databases, I might be able to ascertain who he is."

"Very well..." Sentinel hesitated before Jazz stood next Prowl. "I'll be there investigating as well, Prime."

Sentinel nodded and both Cyberninjas went to the console to investigate.
...

Meanwhile...
Blackarachnia's ship...

Ultra Magnus, Optimus and Blackarachnia checked on the Decepticon files she could access from her console; she can practically access the information from the main computer in the Nemesis and all the data that they were finding will even help them to finish the war once and for all.

Information about weapons, soldiers, officers, spies, hideouts, energon, slaves, deals, traders and even bounty hunters were what they were getting. For once, Ultra Magnus didn't know from where to start first and look.

"If you don't know where to start, I'll recommend you the info about the spies," Blackarachnia said before walking away. "I have an appointment with Ratchet, his daughter and that little annoying scientist, so, if you excuse me I must go now; remember, be discreet when you look into those files."

Ultra Magnus looked at her and nodded. "Congratulations Elita One," He said and she turned on her heel just to find his stoic look.

Optimus tensed. "For the sparkling you and Optimus Prime are waiting." He finished.

The spider femme frowned. "Perceptor informed me... And I suspect it sired them Optimus, right?" She didn't answer just looked at him coldly not losing her posture or calm, so Magnus continued. "I approve, you're both Autobots and your creations will be proper bots one day. Do not worry about me." He finished turning back to the console.

Blackarachnia hummed and turned before leaving without another word.

Optimus however tried to concentrate on his job again. "I've never knew you could spark a femme so fast, Optimus." Magnus said silkily and the other didn't seem to have found his voice yet. "Besides, she's very powerful, skilled, strong willed and...beautiful for a technoorganic. Cannot blame you, good choice." The elder finished continuing with his job leaving a very much thoughtful Optimus.
...

"Stupid big, loudmouth little red afthole, who gave you permission to speak about my condition?!" Blackarachnia walked, or stomped fast towards the medbay before hearing sobs and cries and some other voices trying to soothe the crying one.

She walked towards the noise and saw Valour crying in Bumblebee's arms. Next to them were those young jets and Sari.

"He...he... I want him to die! He's evil... We were ha-happy until he came!" The sparkling cried as Bee hugged him tighter. "He...h-he ruined a per...per-fect day... Ag-again..."

Valour spoke between sobs...she hated to see the once happy and cheerful sparkling in so much pain and resisted the urge to get in there and hug his sorrow out.

"It's okay ma friend, me and ma bro will not let ya be hurt by him...nor yer daddy," the young blue mech reassured him, Jetstorm she thought was his name.

Something happened without doubt and somehow they 'forgot' to tell Optimus and her... But there was someone who will tell her. Valour was in good hands now so she left him with the other younglings...besides, Ratchet can wait.

Walking towards the monitor room, she found Sentinel. "Excuse me?" She addressed him who turned around and fixed her with a face of utter disgust.

"I need to find Prowl, do you know where he is?"

"He's with Jazz, they're in the back," he said shortly. "Why do you want them?"

"Someone forgot to tell us there had been an attack," she snapped, turning on her heel and marching away.

"Hey, they're busy," he yelped at her but she ignored him. They could spare her a few breems.

She found them at a console, they appeared to be trying to construct an image of a Mech. With most reconstructions, he didn't look quite right, parts of him were ridiculously exaggerated but he did seem vaguely familiar.

"What happened?" she demanded as they turned. "Valour's in a complete state, why wasn't Optimus or I informed?"

"I'm sorry, I assumed someone had," Prowl said apologetically. "The intruder tried to strike earlier, we got a look at him but that's all. We're trying to find him."

She eyed their image with scepticism.

"You won't get far with that," she said bluntly. "Tell me what he looks like, maybe I've heard of him."

The two Mechs glanced at each other before Prowl said. "Very well."

He began to describe who he'd seen, leaving out no details. He'd meditated briefly earlier so that he could recall as many details as possible so that he and Jazz could start profiling the Mech. As he talked, he was dawning recognition blossom on Blackarachnia's optics.

"I've heard of him," she said, nodding slowly. "And he's just the kind of bounty hunter that Megatron would use."

"Who is it?" Jazz asked and she replied. "He's called Lockdown, Mech for hire by anyone for the right price."

"Lockdown," Prowl repeated before turning and typing the name into the Autobot database.

"He specialises in captures," she added as he worked. "He supposedly can bring in anyone, as long as you can pay him. And he's not likely to give up, especially if Megatron's hired him."

"Is this him?" Prowl asked, revealing a picture of a dark Mech wearing a ragged poncho and sneering at them.

"That's him," she said with a nod.

"Looks a nasty sort," Jazz said mildly. "We'd better show everyone this, make sure they know not to go near him."

"Indeed," Prowl said as he stared intently at the clear image. The feeling that he'd seen this Mech before was growing but frustratingly, he still couldn't remember where.

"Huh... You Autobots are so outdated." She said and both mechs looked up at her in surprise. "If you want a better image of him and even some more info, you better go to my ship; Optimus and Magnus are already working there."

Prowl and Jazz looked confused but she continued. "Now if you excuse me, I have a meeting to attend." Said that she transformed into her spider form and walked out.

Soon the mech could hear a loud and panicked scream nearly followed by an evil laugh. Once there they found Sentinel against the wall shaking like a leaf.

"It seems da spider came this way." Jazz said with a grinn. Prowl grinned too. Sentinel was a big grown mech...with fear of spiders...
...

Medbay...

"Sorry I'm late..." Blackarachnia entered in spider form and Ratchet frowned at her.

"What is wrong with the people today?! Everybody gets late! I wonder what would you think when I get late when you're about to give birth!" The medic barked at her.

"Ouch...calm down medic, I was just checking on something. It seems there was an attack and Megatron hired a bounty hunter to catch Valour, but he failed." She said and everyone looked at her.

Transforming back into her bipedal form she continued. "His name is Lockdown, and he will not stop until he gets what he wants."

Ratchet grimaced and she looked at him in surprise. "I can swear, Ratchet, that you saw him before...personally."

The medic felt awkward at the statement but it was true. "We meet before once, he was trying to catch an officer for the information she possessed and I had to help her... He caught us... And gave me this..." He pointed at his helmet and arm. "He always takes something from his victims, so be careful."

Red Alert looked at her sire in worry. "Sire..." She said softly, her tone worried and Ratchet smiled at her kindly. "Its ok, sweetspark, I'm still here... By pure luck..."

"What did he took from you?" Blackarachnia asked interested and worried.

"A special and unique device I used to take pain from my patients...but... In the wrong hands it can paralyse the other..." His optics widened and look at her in shock. "He might use it! Be careful, even if you're not his bounty he can still catch you and rob you from whatever he thinks he can use to his benefit!"

"I know... I better go and inform the others..." Blackarachnia said before a hand took hold of her wrist. Looking down she saw Perceptor frowning at her.

"Not now, you need to be checked and this time you will not escape me." He declared. "You will inform them later; now, lay back onto that berth."

She stared at him before muttering. "At least Optimus gave me Energon sweets."

Perceptor stared at her in confusion as Ratchet chuckled, he understood the joke. Blackarachnia draped herself onto the base, saying out loud.

"Well get on with it."

If Prowl and Jazz hadn't been heading to the Autobot ship, she wouldn't have given inso easily but she knew her Sparklings needed a check up. Even if it meant that red pervert was helping to check her out as he was eagerly preparing to do so.

The Nemesis

"You failed!?"

Lockdown grunted as the Decepticon leader glared at him, Megatron had called him a few breems ago to ask about his progress and he'd been forced to admit he hadn't been successful so far. And of course, Megatron wasn't happy.

"Hey, it ain't easy," he retorted. "They've got a trio of guard beasts that keep detecting me. Not to mention some Cyber Ninjas that can keep up with me."

"I do not want excuses, I want results," Megatron snarled. "If you are not capable of completing your mission, I'll hire someone else."

Lockdown's optics narrowed, he was tempted to tell Megatron to do just that but the reward was too good to pass up. So instead he said.

"I will complete it, I just need some more time. But when I do get him, you'd better be prepared to receive him, there's a chance I might not be able to get all the way to the Nemesis with him."

"If you capture him, comm me and I can meet you in a safe place," Megatron said dismissively.

"Good," Lockdown said, his hook fingering a nearby mod that allowed him to operate underwater. He didn't need to use it often but it did come in handy. He was debating whether to use it for this mission, his targets were on an island after all.

...

Weeks later...
The Nemesis...

Starscream felt like slag, even if the sparkling barely started developing and a little bump appeared in his abdomen, which was growing very quickly, he couldn't help but feel like his entire system was being ripped apart and moved somewhere else.

Of course in this condition he was unable to interface or satisfy in any way to his master, who, with the passing days became more and more frustrated at the lack of success from Lockdown.

From his report, the Prime possessed a very good security that not even spy drones could trespass. That was intriguing...

"Uhhhh..." He moaned in pain, it didn't mattered how many painkillers or whatever was needed to stabilize his tanks it still hurt and he still purgued. "Primus..." He groaned clutching his tanks rolling onto the berth patethically.

"What kind of sparkling I'm bringing into this universe...? uhhh...bleh!" Starscream purgued again. But the worst was not the pain, but that his leader and lover was not there to comfort him with his presence... Instead, he was fumming around because he couldn't get that Prime back...

...well, screw Prime, he was carrying now and needed the sire of his sparkling here and now! "Megatron..." He whinned and almost cried... He was alone...so alone...

"Carrier?"

A little voice answered him, not the voice he expected or so desperately wished to come.

"You ok?" Slipstream said worryingly climbing to the berth and touched his wetted by sweat face. He was pale, his optics dim, felt cold and hot at the same time... It was horrible!

"Mega...tr-tron..." Was all he whispered for his worrying creation and continued shaking violently.

"Me bring sire!" She said before kissing her carrier on the cold and wet cheek and climbing off the berth and leave the room.

"Sire!" Slipstream screamed as she tried to run and fell on hands and knees before getting up again and repeated the process. "Sire!"

She couldn't find him and the desperation wasn't helping either, her optics started watering, "Sire!" she cried. "Where are you? Sire!"

"Little princess?"

She turned tearful optics onto Blitzwing who had just poked his head out of a room. Shuffling towards him, she raised her arms and cried. "Want Sire! Where Sire!?"

"I will try to locate him for you," Blitzwing promised, lifting the shaking Sparkling and gently laying her against his shoulder. As she snuggled into his warm armour, he opened a comm and tried calling for his leader.

"Mien leader?"

"What is it Blitzwing?" Megatron replied irritably.

"I found your daughter wondering the corridors looking for you," the triple changer quickly explained, rubbing the Seekerling's back. "She is very upset."

"I'm busy," Megatron said curtly as Slipstream whimpered. "Want Sire. Carrier need Sire. Carrier ill."

"She says Starscream is ill and needs you," Blitzwing said quietly as Megatron made a frustrated noise and snapped.

"Fine, I will be there, take her back to my quarters."

"Very good Megatron," Blitzwing said softly, disconnecting the comm and starting to walk with Slipstream.

"Sire?" she said weakly and he said. "Megatron is coming, I will take you back to your carrier."

She nodded, relieved that her Sire was finally returning. She wasn't feeling happy, her Sire hadn't been spending much time with her, her carrier was ill and she really missed her brother. Even though she'd only met him once, she'd really liked him and wanted so badly to see him again. Maybe this time even get a chance to play with him, goodness knows she didn't really have anyone else to play with here.

"Megatron?" Starscream croaked when they entered, his face falling as he saw it wasn't his lover.

"He is coming," Blitzwing assured the stricken Seeker before frowning. "You don't look so good, I should call the Medic."

"No," Starscream said, shaking his head. "I just need...Megatron."

"If you're sure," Blitzwing said doubtfully as he laid Slipstream down on the berth.

"I am, now go," Starscream commanded, waving his hand and the triple changer left. Slipstream snuggled against her carrier, staring with awe at his swelling abdomen.

"Carrier okay?" Slipstream asked softly and he swallowed heavily, resisting the urge to purge.

"I'm fine," he panted. "I just need your Sire and...I'll be fine."

"Sire being funny," she sighed and Starscream could not argue with that.

He didn't know how long they lay there until Megatron finally came stomping in.

"What is it?" he demanded as the two Seekers looked up at him.

"Carrier need Sire," Slipstream declared, her tiny wings drooping. "Why Sire no here?"

"I was engaged elsewhere," Megatron told her as Starscream groaned in pain.

"M-megatron," he whimpered, raising a helpless hand.

"Yes?" Megatron asked impatiently as Starscream felt sharp pains shoot through his body and a stab of fear gripped his spark. They felt eerily similar to the pain he'd felt before he delivered Slipstream but it was far too soon to have his Sparkling.

"Megatron!" he shrieked, startling both Slipstream and Megatron. "A medic...I need to see a Medic NOW!"

"Why?" Megatron asked but in a different tone, coming closer.

"I think...I think I might be losing the Sparkling," Starscream whimpered brokenly as Megatron's optics widened in alarm.

"I will not lose my child," he declared, scooping Starscream up as Slipstream attached herself to his armour.

"Hurry," Starscream cried, yelping in pain as his insides seemed to be trying to crawl their way out of him.

It took hours to the medics to stabilise Starscream and save the sparkling and now he lay resting on a medical berth as lots of wires connected to his body monitoring his life and feeding him.

Megatron watched with a frown, he wasn't happy but very upset. Starscream almost lost his child!

With a grunt the warlord turned on his feet and walked away ignoring the medic's advices that he should be close Starscream, that the seeker needed him more than ever, needed the proximity of his spark.

"Sire..." Slipstream tried as he took her and dropped her in his quarters alone.

"You stay here, sire has things to do!" Having said that he gave her his back and left leaving her even more alone than before...now not even Starscream was with her and Megatron considered her mature enough to have a caretaker or a sparklingsitter.

"Sire..." She whimpered and lay down onto the berth where she cried for hours to sleep.

Hours later she awoke again only to find herself alone in the immense quarters.

She was going to start crying again when an idea formed in her processor.
...

That night...

Prowl was once again meditating, feeling the energies that surrounded him and every being in the island; the dinobots near him, Jazz, the grass, the insects, the trees and even the rocks.

Suddenly he onlined his optics and slowly turned his head to a side.

"Man... Ah wonder how you do it? Ah mean... Ah cannot feel the hunter near this time..." Jazz said rubbing his tired optics.

Prowl didn't answer, just stood up and walked to a certain place. The dinobots didn't seemed to be disturbed, that was weird.

Soon the dark cyberninja entered the forest and disappeared from sight just to appear minutes later with something in his arms...

"Wha you got there?"

He then showed a little sparkling seeker femme sleeping quietly in his arms, it seemed she cried because her face was stained with tears.

"Slipstream..." Prowl said to Jazz

"That Meg's daughter?" Jazz said in amazement, for the past few weeks he and the other Autobots had been brought up to date on all important issues.

"The one and only," Prowl murmured, gently tucking a blanket around her he'd brought from sub space. Living with a growing Sparkling for fifty cycles had taught him to always have some essentials stored in sub space just in case. "The poor thing looks like she's been here for a while."

"But we haven't detected any Decepticons," Jazz stated with a frown.

Prowl nodded, from the evidence, it seemed that either she'd been abandoned or run away. Somehow he thought it would be the latter, Megatron would not tolerate losing another Sparkling. However, they could question her later once she'd recovered.

"Grimlock, can you keep watch?" Prowl asked and the large Dinobot nodded, they wouldn't leave their silent vigil of the island.

"Let's go," Prowl said quietly and they hurried back to base.

The base

"Valour, it'll be time for bed soon," Optimus said softly as Valour, the jettwins and Bumblebee watched a late night movie.

"Can't I see the end?" Valour begged, he was really into it and wanted to see it through.

His face silently pleaded as Optimus sighed and said. "Alright, you can stay up a little longer but you're going straight to bed afterwards."

"Okay daddy," Valour said brightly before turning back to the film.

"I'm too soft," Optimus murmured as he sat back down with Blackarachnia, they'd been relaxing together.

"It's hard when he's shut up," she said sympathetically.

"If this continues, we're going to have to drive Lockdown away," Optimus said grimly. "It's not good for Valour to be inside all the time."

"I know," Blackarachnia said gently. "But as Ultra Magnus said, if he ever travels to Cybertron, that will involve being locked away in a ship."

"At least there's a chance of seeing new things out of the view screen," Optimus sighed, wrapping an arm around her. "But he's right, at least Valour can get used to being inside before we travel."

Just as she was about to rest her head against his shoulder, they heard Prowl said.

"Prime, we found someone outside."

"What?" Optimus said in confusion, pulling his arm off his mate to be and standing up. His optics widened as he beheld the sleeping Slipstream.

"We found her sleeping outside," Prowl explained as he came over with Jazz. "We have no idea how she got here but we haven't detected anyone else."

"Unbelievable," Blackarachnia murmured as she too stood up.

"We'd better take her to see Ratchet," Optimus said distractedly as he glanced over at Valour, the young bots hadn't noticed the new arrival. "Make sure she isn't ill or injured."

Just as Prowl was about to do just that, Slipstream stirred and make a sneezing sound.

"Uh...uh...," she whimpered, making little chirping noises that got the young bots attention.

"Hey, what's that?" Bumblebee asked as Valour looked up and spotted her.

"Slipstream," he gasped, pushing himself to his feet and running over.

"Brudder?" a small voice asked and red optics blinked open.

"Yeah, it's me," he said, standing on tip toe to peer up at her. "What are you doing here?"

"Want brudder," she said pitifully, reaching for him and he did the same. Knowing that Valour was good with holding babies, Prowl lent down and allowed him to take her. Slipstream snuggled into him, purring and crying slightly at the same time.

"Valour," she whimpered as he hugged.

"It's okay," he assured her, rubbing her back. "I'll look after you."

"Mmm," she mumbled, burying her face against his shoulder.

"Let's take her to Ratchet and Red Alert," Optimus said gently, placing a hand against his son's back.

Looking at Prowl and Jazz, he said. "You'd better prepare for a call from Megatron, once he gets wind of this, he's going to be calling."

"I think she should stay with us," Valour declared as he started walking with his father and Blackarachnia. "We can look after her."

"We don't know how she came here," Optimus said gently. "Her Creators will want her back."

"Carrier sick," Slipstream murmured. "Sire won't play with me. Sire not with Carrier."

Optimus grimaced, wondering what Megatron was playing at. Was this some sort of ploy to get hold of him and Valour? He didn't think Slipstream was being deceitful but she might have been tricked by her father. Only time would tell whether or not that was true.

"Ratchet?" Optimus entered closely followed by Blackarachnia and Valour.

"Yes?" The old medic seemed to be reading a datapad. In the back of the medbay was Swoop with Red Alert. The younger seemed to be incredibly interested in everything she had to say. Perceptor was nowhere there.

"Can you look at her, please?" Valour said holding...

Ratchet's optics widened at the sight of a femme seeker sparkling. "Is that...?"

"Slipstream, is her name." Valour answered and she looked up at the old mech right into his optics; that surprised him.

"I can check on her... And then bathe her, she's filthy." Ratchet said and she looked down at herself and at her hands and toes grimacing.

The CMO lifted an optic ridge at that. He heard of this sparkling and her unusual behaviour. "Slipstream?" He said and she looked up at him. "Would you let me check on you?"

She hugged Valour tighter. "I want to stay with brudder..."

Ratchet's optics widened... She talks! And not just that, but she understand what is been said! A sparkling her age was not supposed to. He can already imagine Perceptor testing her.

"Its okay," Valour reassured her. "I'll stay with you, Ratchet is a good doctor," he said with a sweet smile that made her smile too. "You will let him examine you, right? You're brave, right?" The mechling continued and she nodded.

She was indeed.

Author's note. How does Slipstream get on in the Autobot base? How long until Megatron realises that she's gone? Find out next time, until then.