Shadowstrike enjoyed being allowed to see and touch the large bot the others called Optimus Prime. He felt sheltered with him. It was in a different way then he felt with his twins. It was not less or more- just different.

He had felt the instant the twins deemed Optimus 'safe' with him. It had been an almost-but-not-quite-audible click across their bond. It had been in the way the twins relaxed, the way their armor settled against their bodies. The way their engines went from an almost-snarl to a soft purr.

The way they allowed Optimus close to him.

He was allowed to bask in this feeling of utter safety, his wings low and relaxed as he purred softly, leaning into gentle servos.

After a few moments- kliks- Ratchet approached slowly, hands open and in view, eyes up and focused on the twins. Shadowstrike watched the medic walk over to his guardians, noticing as Optimus passively tracked the medic as well.

"Shall I bring another in to meet the little one?"

A moment of silence, a wash of feelings and words quickly exchanged over the Bonds between the twins, before they nodded once at Ratchet. When Optimus made a move to leave the room, though he appeared very reluctant to do so, Sunstreaker made a sharp low toned noise that instantly had Optimus stopping.

Shadowstrike recognized the noise through his new understanding of Cybertronian Instincts. The noise was basically a nonverbal negative noise, that meant 'Stop' or 'No' depending on the situation it was used.

"Don't go anywhere." Sunstreaker's voice was strong, and Sideswipe picked up the sentence for his twin once he fell silent.

"We…you are safe. You will help us keep Strike safe. We…know we need to introduce him to everyone, but…we don't want to. It makes us" Sideswipe paused before making a low-toned almost whine-like noise that conveyed nervous-unhappy-jittery. "So we would appreciate the back up on this- someone our subroutines don't scream about in the same room that we know is safe."

Optimus dipped his helm towards them "I will stay if you wish. I did not think it would be appreciated."

Sunstreaker nodded firmly for the both of them, before he turned to Ratchet "Bring Jazz in next."

O~O~O~

Jazz had no idea what had caused the Med Bay to go on lock down. All he knew was Protocol 9-8-3 had gone into full effect, was still in effect, and had been extended to include Optimus.

It was driving him nuts. He thrived on knowing everything everybody else wanted to know. He was head of Special Ops, it was literally in his job description to know things before everyone else. In short Jazz was irrepressibly curious.

And he couldn't go looking for answers. Protocol 9-8-3 was serious, and he hadn't been present or called in when it went into effect. He knew better than to go poking around during a Protocol before he was called in.

Even if it had to be serious to still be in effect, and pull the Big Mech in on it.

~Ratchet to Jazz~

Jazz perked up without one ounce of his sudden interest showing outwardly.

~Jazz here~ He kept his voice steady and serious, aware from the Medic's tone alone that this was a serious and important com.

~Report to Med Bay. You're being pulled into Protocol~

Jazz rose smoothly to his pedes, looking for all the world as if he had just decided to move and had no other reason for rising. No one looked twice at him. No one saw his sudden worry. As curious as he was, to be called in without Protocol going down, meant it was very, very serious. He was head of Special Ops. The things he got called in on tended to be…not pretty and generally places- to quote the humans- angels feared to tread.

Even as he casually made his way towards the Med Bay, Jazz was mentally preparing himself, his Battle Systems not engaged, but prepped, and his Battle Computer up and running. If he was about to get sent out, he would be ready.

O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~

I keep getting complaints about the chapter length, so I will say this again. This is my DRABBLE COLLECTION. I mentioned it in the summary, which means SHORT CHAPTERS. I get you want longer chapters- but that's not how I write this one. Sorry if that makes you unhappy, but its how this one works for me.

Otherwise- a little late- Happy New Years!