ch 15

The meeting room of the Autobot base was usually reserved for the highest priorities. It was soundproofed, protected by Jazz's anti-hacking codes, and the only place on base where Red Alert did not have any cameras installed. In this room stood Optimus Prime. He was flanked by Jazz, Ironhide, and Ratchet. Across from them stood the Twins, Prowl, and Barricade. Optimus sighed.

"Explain everything." he ordered Prowl. "From the very beginning."

"That's a very long story." Prowl replied softly.

"Then tell me what's important."

Prowl nodded. "I was sparked under the designation Meister." he began, voice quiet as he stared blankly at his leader. "I was originally created with a protoform much like Jazz's. It was an asset growing up in the darker parts of Kaon. I was an orphan – I still don't know who my creators were. I stole to survive at first. Then I found out I was good at it."

Optimus nodded. "Continue."

"I became a thief. When the Enforcers found me, I became a killer." Prowl's optics flickered to Jazz, then quickly back to Optimus. "Galvatron found me not too long after that. I became his spy, and sometimes his assassin. I was good."

"So why go 'Bot?" Ironhide asked curiously.

"The Twins." Prowl said without hesitation. "Not too long before I defected, Galvatron found them as younglings. He had his scientists go in and mess with their programming. It almost drove them insane. When I realized what the programming did, I knew it was time to leave."

Ratchet's optics narrowed. "The programming?"

"It made me need to fight." Sunstreaker said suddenly. "It's this insane itch that never goes away. If I can have regular fights, then it's not too bad – I can control it. But if I can't, then it doesn't take much to make me completely lose it."

Optimus glanced at Ratchet. Ratchet nodded. "Huh. Makes sense, actually. It doesn't explain Sides's tendency to slag himself to the pit."

"We're twins." Sideswipe pointed out. "His need reflects back on me. Besides, they screwed with my programming too."

"How so?" Ratchet demanded.

"I'm Sunny's balance, Ratch." Sides said quietly. "The best way to keep a sadist entertained is to provide him with a masochist. They made me provide him with someone to fight – and usually it was me." Sunny shivered slightly, optics pale.

For a long moment, no one spoke. Barricade glanced at Prowl. His faceplates were calm, but his fists were clenched and his optics were black. "I found them both on the brink of death one day where Galvatron's men got bored and used them as entertainment." Prowl practically bit out the word. "I patched them up as best as I could and left."

"That was when we found Ratchet." Sunstreaker said, picking up the tale. "He wasn't your CMO then – at least, I don't think he was."

"I wasn't." Ratchet confirmed.

"Anyway, Prowl had gotten slagged cuz we couldn't help him fight his way out." Sideswipe continued. "So Ratchet fixed all of us. Then Prowl left us with Ratchet, and he and Wheeljack took care of us. When we got old enough, we joined the Autobots."

Sunstreaker snickered. "Cracked me up when I realized Prowl had already beaten us to it." he said with a small grin. "Ratchet told us it was all a secret, so we kept our mouths shut. But Prowl's been helping us out with the glitches ever since. Barricade, too."

Ratchet gave Prowl a hard look. "You do realize if you'd told me about that when you first gave them to me – "

"Hindsight, Ratch." Prowl said with a crooked smile.

Jazz chuckled. "Man, this don' sound a thing like ya, Prowler." he teased, an approving glint in his visor. "Ah think I'm gonna be needin' lessons from ya."

Optimus shook his helm. "Ratchet, Prowl – stay. The rest of you may leave. What you have heard does not leave this room. Understand?" He was met by a chorus of 'yes sir's. "Good." Jazz, the Twins, and Ironhide left. Ironhide gripped Prowl's shoulder briefly as he passed by. Prowl watched them go. Optimus turned his attention to Barricade. "I said leave."

Barricade lifted his chin. "I'm not an Autobot. I only listen to my mate."

Prime clenched his fists. "Barricade – "

"He says." Prowl said softly. He reached out and wrapped his arm around Barricade's waist, drawing the Decepticon closer to himself. Barricade fitted himself snugly into his mate's side, staring at Optimus as if daring the Prime to do something about it. Optimus glared back.

"Ratchet will dissolve your bond first thing." he ordered.

"Optimus, I can't do that." Ratchet protested. "For one, Prowl and Barricade would likely kill me if I tried. For another, even if they did agree to the procedure, I'd likely kill them! Their bond is too well-established for risk-free dissolving!"

"Is it low risk?"

"Possibly. I'd have to do an analysis to be sure." Ratchet almost pouted.

"Then do it. Then, if the risks are low enough, dissolve their bond. I will not have my SIC bonded to a potential security risk."

"Optimus."

Prime turned his attention to Prowl. "Yes?"

Black optics met with blue. "Don't presume that just because I have lived as an Autobot means I am going to blindly follow your rules." Prowl said softly. "If you force Ratchet to do this, I will leave. You will be short the best tactical advisor you've ever had, and Megatron will gain a spy who actually knows what he's doing."

Barricade pressed tighter against Prowl. /You mean it?/

/If he pushes this, yes./ Prowl murmured. /I am prepared to leave if that's what it takes to protect our union. Let's see if Optimus is prepared to lose me./

Optimus considered him for a moment. Ratchet's optics darted from one mech to the other, unsure. Finally, Optimus spoke again.

"Go back to your quarters. Ratchet, follow me."

Prowl sighed as the two older mechs left the room. Barricade pulled back enough to look Prowl in the optics. "Now that's what I call a gamble." he remarked. "We can't be sure Megatron would be willing to accept us after everything we've done."

His mate smirked. "Oh, I'll bet we could spin a good story for it." he said genially. "However, I don't think it will be a problem. Optimus just has to get used to the idea that you're not going anywhere, and you're not defecting anytime soon."

Barricade nodded. "So long as you're a 'Bot, I'm a 'Bot. But if you go 'Con, I'll be more than happy to go 'Con with you." he said flatly. "You're mine now."

Prowl smiled and kissed him soundly. /As you are mine./

/-/

AN: Up next – Optimus discovers Ratchet's keeping secrets, Sunstreaker tries to kill Cliffjumper (no surprise there), and Mirage and Barricade have a talk. Review, please!