Here you go! Sorry for the longer wait.

Lalacute: Glad you liked it! The bullies will get their just deserts... but their rage is simmering below the surface. Arcee seeing Megatron and Soundwave... I doubt that'll happen in this fic.

Don't own TF:P.

Enjoy.

"Well, Ratchet." The old mech paused. "Your name is Ratchet, isn't it? Sift's mechling." The youngling in front of him nodded. "Firstly, I must apologize. I knew what was happening, but I ignored it. I never thought those idiots would go that far. I am glad that you interfered and brought it to my notice. I overestimated Arcee, it would seem, and didn't take into account her history as a low caste."

"Sir, why did you wait?" asked Ratchet hotly. "She was-"

"I cannot interfere whenever she has a problem. Whether she meant to or not, she brought this upon herself when she shifted to the higher castes. There is little I can do about the Enforcers' dislike, or prejudice. Even if I tried to interfere, they would not listen to me-"

"But you're the Guild Master!" Ratchet quailed under the look Yoketron gave him. "Sorry."

"Though I am the Guild Master, only time can change deep rooted attitudes like caste prejudice. I have learned this over the millennia I have been alive. You would do well to listen to me, youngling. Or I will make you run rounds on the training grounds. You might not be an Enforcer, but I still have authority over you. Do not interrupt me again."

"Yes, sir." They were sitting in Yoketron's office, in the Law Enforcement training building. He'd only gone there because he had been walking Arcee and her younger brother, Prowl, there, after school. He hadn't been expecting to be called up himself.

"In any case, I did not bring you up to discuss my reasons. I wanted to speak to you about protecting Arcee. You are around her age, and you live with her. You will be able to do it. Any objections?"

"Protect her?"

"Yes."

"I – I can't protect her! She's from law enforcement, I'm from engineering, she should be protecting me!"

"I did not mean physical protection." said Yoketron quietly. "I meant mentally, and guarding her spark. You are young... But surely you now that the spark can be violated?" Ratchet shuttered his optics. He had heard of such things, but only in passing. "I guess..."

Yoketron sighed. "No, you do not know. The spark of Cybertronian is a fragile thing. If you choose to share it with somebot, your very life essence, it is called a sparkbond. A sparkbond can be created in two ways : either by actively sharing the spark through the process of interfacing, or-" Ratchet goggled to hear the i-word being thrown around so casually. "Do not look at me like that, youngling. We are speaking about serious matters." Ratchet somehow managed to maintain a sober face.

"As I was saying, through an interface, or through physically being near the bot in question and sharing with them emotionally. Unfortunately, the former method can be forced. That is called violation of the spark. Do you understand?"

Ratchet nodded. "But what does this have to do with Arcee?"

"You know what happened yesterday."

"They were touching her winglets." The youngling muttered, clenching his fists. "Exactly. I am worried that they might take it a step further. Especially since they got caught... They left this office angry, even though they have been heavily punished, and will, no doubt, want revenge. They won't go after you, though. It is Arcee I am worried about."

Ratchet opened his vents, then closed them and looked away. Dread gathered in his tanks. "When?"

Yoketron shook his head. "I do not know. You must understand, these are only suspicions."

"But how... could I possibly protect her? I'm not a fighter, I don't have any kind of training..."

"Stay with her. Become her confidant and friend. Be patient with her. Pay attention to her schedule, and make sure that she is never alone or loitering. Keep her occupied, and don't let her become depressed. Instill some confidence in her, so that she starts asserting herself. At present, she is very submissive, because she expects to be treated badly. It is not a good thing, neither for her, nor for her brother. You can do this, correct?"

"What about her brother?" Ratchet asked quietly.

"She seems devoted to him and will do what is necessary to protect him. I don't see any problems there."

"You didn't see any problems with Arcee, either." Ratchet pointed out. Yoketron looked at him for a long moment. "While that is true, you must trust my judgment. Keep an optic on him as well, if you like. But I do not expect anything to happen."

Ratchet nodded and vented deeply. He was being entrusted with a huge responsibility, so big that his nine-vorn old processors couldn't wrap even halfway around it. "You may go. Tell Arcee she is to come up here in exactly five minutes. You will find her in the Hall of Razorfire."

He had no idea where that was, but got up and staggered to the door, feeling as though today and yesterday had been one long nightmare. "And," Yoketron added as Ratchet placed his digits on the knob. "What did you yell at my balcony yesterday? I couldn't quite hear."

Ratchet froze. "It was, thank you for helping her, wasn't it? You see," Yoketron said kindly, "Otherwise I may have to punish you. And I would rather not."

The mechling caught on. "Yes sir, it was." He stepped out and closed the door behind him.

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