Family Matters

She wanted to ignore the voice in her head. Not Jazz and not really a voice more of an itch that told her something was wrong. That the soda machine should not be glowing, that there was no power to it. She just wanted to ignore it and pretend nothing was wrong.

:Amanda.: His voice whispered as if the soda machine could hear him.

"Yeah I got it Jazz." She growled low. Every muscle she had hurt as she rose from her crouch near Glyph. Sliding a foot around in front of the small mech she forced him back, away from the machine. He chirped at her curious as to what she was exactly doing. Slipping in to the best defensive stance she could muster from her aching body Amanda locked her eyes on the machine she was sure was a mech. A few weeks ago she would have thought that anyone talking to a machine was crazy. Now she was suspicious of most.

"I know you're there." She said clear.

Nothing moved.

"You were at the fight tonight, right?" More silence. "You know I'm exhausted and in a great deal of pain."

Glyph chirped and looked at her noticing that the red that ran through a human's lines was smeared across her face and clothes. Dark discolored marks were appearing across her skin. He chirped and hugged her leg trying to get her to understand. For once she didn't react to his touch. Her attention was focused on the green glowing machine.

"I don't want to have to fight you." She snorted a laugh. "Fuck, don't know if I could but if you are here to take Glyph than we have a problem."

A low chuckle rumble from the machine as a mechanical whirl started. Amanda recognized the sound from when Glyph transformed and in a moment she twisted grabbing the little bot. She moved as fast as sensitive muscles would allow towards the old mat. With a flick she slid Glyph half way across the ring. Turning back she froze as the barrel in her face hummed and the magazine whirled putting at least one in the chamber.

"My brother." The bot spoke in clear English a superior grin crossing his face.

Amanda gritted her teeth and leaned around the weapon looking at the mech. He was maybe a foot taller than her with a black stocky frame and green splashed on his forearms and shins. He had sort of a green under glow in parts of his armor. Green head fins flickered like ears of a cat high on his head.

"My charge." She ground out raising her eyes to his visored optics. Something in her chest pained as she looked at the taller intimidating mech. He lowered his weapon and tipped his head to the side. He stepped closer and the pain intensified. Amanda wanted to back away but her legs wouldn't work. It was the same as before with Glyph.

"Jazz I said don't do that again." She hissed as the mech grabbed her wrist.

:I'm not, kid.:

His voice sounded distant as a flare of warm ran up from her wrist to her heart. The darkness enclosed and another warm blue light flared up. As the mech let go of her she stumbled back landing on her butt. Her hand went to her chest clutching at it. She let out a keening sound. "Damn it that hurt."

:Amanda?: Jazz asked his voice missing that playful tone but his presence was there leaning over her. She swore she felt hands on her shoulders steadying her.

There was a steadying breath drawn as her body screamed out in pain before she said; "Jazz, be glad you can't feel this."

There was a whirl and she felt warm metal against her forehead. Lifting her eyes Amanda fought back a sigh. This mech was pointing his weapon at her again. Yet this time there was no act of superiority just a trembling of the barrel. She couldn't see his optics but she could feel the way he was staring at her; fearful but in awe. She went to reach out but the chamber whirled on his weapon and she stopped. The room fell silent as time passed. Amanda stayed on the floor, watching waiting for something to happen. And when it did she was surprised.

Glyph pulled himself up to stand on her shoulder and sounded off several angry trills and clicks at the larger bot. She twisted her head to look as the little mech as the lager one seemed to take a step back then Jazz's laughter filled her head and Amanda was confused. Glyph patted her head in a sort of proud way and his trill switched to happy. Something about that sound sounded like laughter. They were laughing at her.

"What the fuck is so funny!?" She snapped and startled Glyph. The little mech trilled sadly. She recognized it as his sorry. Amanda groaned at the feeling of calm coming from Jazz mixed with a guilty feeling. Gathering him up in her arms she patted his head slightly. "It's okay Glyph. It's been a bad day."

Getting her feet under her she looked at the less than angry bot. Weapons away with his head down and ears back he seemed interested in his feet. Amanda groaned when she recognized the look.

"Jazz can you tell how old he is?" She grumbled trying her best not to sound annoyed. There was a pause and something light up in her chest again. The pain low and dull, bearable then it was gone.

:Same as Glyph.: He sounded disappointed.

Amanda sighed and stepped up to the mech. His head picked up and his ears flicked. He played with his finger twisting them together. She couldn't help the smile that slipped he looked like a very big, very armed scolded child but still a child.

"Hey It's okay, big guy. No one was hurt." She said trying to sound friendly with a wider than necessary smile while patting his shoulder. The mech scrunched his nose and she dropped her act when Jazz chuckled. "Alright. Yeah, that was bad. Look…"She started before pinching her nose trying to think. "I guess you're staying here too. So do you have a name?"

"No but brother said you gave him his." There was such a hopeful tone to the deep voice of the mech that she knew she had to think of something. She looked at him as trying to find his name. His ears twitched and he moved his feet but they made almost no noise. He had that air of superiority when he first shown himself.

"Like a cat." She murmured. She didn't know any cats that were green but she had heard of a blue one. "Does Manx sound good?"

"Yes!" He said excited. "Now sister needs one too."

"Sister but Glyph is a mech?" Amanda said looking confused at the little bot.

Manx smiled and his ears flicked quickly before he grabbed her wrist. She tightened her grip on Glyph as the bigger mech pulled her out the front door. Amanda stopped them quick by digging in her heels. His metal hand grated against her wrist and he stopped to look at her confused but she had her eyes locked on the black femme sitting on the curb playing with the broken gravel in the road.

"Sister!" Manx shouted cheerfully.

The black femme turned her head to look at them. Blue optics scanned over Amanda before the femme stood up. Her servos her short and rounded like a mech's but they flickered with new paint. She wore a dark battle mask hiding her face. She was slightly boxy but her slight curves pegged her clearly a female.

:Whoa!:

"Agree with you there." Amanda said to her inner troublemaker as the mech looked over the femme. "She's only as old as Glyph?" She asked looking up at the nearly 18 foot tall bot. Jazz nodded still in amazement. "I take back what I said."

:About what?:

"You're short Jazz." The mech in her head pouted.

Her fun was interrupted when Manx held up her hand nearly lifting her off the ground shouting; "Carrier will give you a name!"

"Wait what?" She asked staring at Manx who just smiled happily.

:Hello Carrier.:

"Shut up Jazz."

A/N: No excuses. No apologies. Nothing would be acceptable for the time I've been away. Hope you'll forgive me and review or at the least continue to read.

Thanks to the following reviewers:

Bliss123

Simmer Mare

Bee4ever

redsparrow1060

Autobot Princess Arcee

ShiftFrame

icanhascamaro

shaddowdarkcloud

Luna Uchiha666

Dark Cat Food Lover

Spirit Kiss

Tracon (I don't plan on it but if she does seem that way I hope someone smacks me)

ThePegasusDevice

roxasmay (I was considering following the sequels but it depends how everyone take the ending of this.)

Decepticon is Decepticon (Really I've never read a Daredevil fic. Cool)

Lioness32

angel897

Book-AddictFF

messieb1

RogueReaper

imjaysong

adelphe24

just me