Hi, readers! I wanna thank all of you who review the last chapter. Well, here's the ninth chapter of Tiny! :)

I don't own Transformers, but i do own this fic. Starts in Starscream's POV.

Essentially, Soundwave puts his plans for Starscream into motion and commits an act no one will see coming.

Let's get it started!

I walked back towards my personal quarters, a slight smile on my faceplates. There is no logical explanation to support how my brilliant plan could fail.

I know for a fact that Lord Megatron was grooming the sparkling for the position of second-in-command. I couldn't let something small and insignificant compromise my opportunities to rule the Decepticons. I already have difficulty in effectively getting Megatron out of the way so I can pursue my plans for the Decepticons that are beyond this pitiful planet. I don't need a second threat.

My plot was to first get the sparkling away from his silent guardian. For once, I was lucky. I spotted Soundwave leaving his workstation. I knew the little cretin was with him; Soundwave being his guardian, it would be unacceptable to leave the sparkling unattended for an extended period of time. Because of this, I knew that once Soundwave left his workstation, I had only a few minutes (if that) to get the sparkling clear of the room.

Thankfully, I was able to successfully do this without waking the sparkling. Had the sparkling woken up, I would have been caught. I had swiftly carried the sparkling to the air hanger without an encounter with another mech in the hallways. How I despised touching the little cretin, but this was the only way to accomplish this mission.

I chose this method of termination for a number of reasons. Though it is the most straightforward way, slaughtering the sparkling was completely out of the question. There would be no explaining away the cretin's energon on my claws; that method was far too obvious. I needed to snuff the sparkling's spark in such a way that left my claws clean and didn't point in my direction.

I found that the sparkling has wandered off without adult supervision, strengthening my case should someone accuse me of the sparkling's disappearance. Because of my various attempts in the past to seize power, I already know that I will be an immediate suspect. I needed to distance myself in more ways than one from the aftermath of my plot to make myself seem less likely of a candidate. After I left the sparkling to fall to his death, I headed for my personal quarters. My quarters may seem to be the worst place to go after following through with a plan such as this, but, they are a considerable distance away for the air hanger I selected. If I am found in or around my quarters, I appear to be less likely the one who did it. I was off-duty while I took the sparkling, so no one can officially bring up what I was doing during my own time if anyone saw me.

Knowing that Soundwave would automatically tap into his surveillance system once he saw that the little cretin was gone, I had set a small device, meant to send out strong EM pulses, in the room. Sparklings have been known to send out EM pulses when they are lost or in distress so that they may be located by nearby mechs or femmes. I had adjusted the frequency of the EM pulse that emitted from the device so that it matched the sparkling distress signal. I made sure that the frequency level was just strong enough to fry the circuitry of the section of Soundwave's surveillance system that was hidden inside the air hanger. I had only a vague idea as to exactly where the system was wired into the room, but I didn't need to know where when I had an electromagnetic pulse device that could fry circuits throughout the entire room. Once I opened the hanger door, the EM device would slid with the sparkling and fall off the warship, destroying that bit of evidence a mech could potentially use against me.

Once the device sent the EM pulse, I had entered and set the still sleeping sparkling down in the center of the room. I headed over to the lever that opened the air hanger. Right after I reached the lever, I heard the sparkling wake. I had to dispatch him quickly before he started to cry. Had he cried, my entire plan would have been lost. Thankfully, he only stared at me. I pulled the lever as the sparkling made a pitiful effort to crawl towards me, and he realized too late that he was going to fall to his death. I left the room, initial threat no longer an issue.

Now in my personal quarters, I smiled to myself and pulled down the seventh volume datapad of The History of Vos. I sat down on my berth and returned to my saved page in the middle of the fourth chapter.

No one will have enough evidence to convict me.

…Soundwave's POV…

I turned as I heard the door open. Ravage held the little one in his jaws gently. He padded over to me and placed him in my waiting servos. I adjusted my hold on the sparkling and looked down at him. The little one clutched my armor and pulled himself closer to my frame. There was a distant look in his wide optics as he buried his face into my armor. Aside from the occasional movement of his arms, he was abnormally still. That experience he endured may have very well traumatized him. I looked up when I heard Ravage growling as he sent a transmission to me.

I'll tear that Seeker apart! Nothing in this universe can justify what he tried to do.

Ravage was correct; nothing can justify what he attempted to do. However, the punishment for his actions that I have created is more suitable. I sent a transmission back to him, stating that I will handle Starscream's punishment. The cybercat's red optics grew brighter in irritation as he flexed his claws, scraping lightly on the floor.

My attention was drawn back to the little one. Had I not left, this would not have happened. The little one had begun to tremble, but it quickly subsided. There is only one reason as to why Starscream would take a sparkling with the intent to murder. He feared that the sparkling would eventually take his place as second-in-command, something I knew Lord Megatron planned on doing once the little one was old enough.

The pursuit of power was more important than recognizing morality to the Seeker. Lord Megatron greatly enjoys obtaining power, but in the vorns I have known him, I highly doubt he would go so far as to committing infanticide. He would not allow a mere child to stand in his way of ruling the Decepticons.

I rocked from side to side, soothing the tense child as I silently fumed. I must inform Lord Megatron of Starsceam's act of treachery.

…

"He did WHAT?!" Lord Megatron roared after I told him what happened to the little one in the central command room. The Vehicon officer working in the room turned to look at us. The entire time, Lord Megatron's optics blazed in a kind of fury I have not seen before. The little one whined at the sound of our leader's sudden, but expected outburst. Our leader looked as if he was going to yell again, but he did not when he looked at the still sparkling. I noticed his optics soften slightly as he gazed down at the little one. Lord Megatron turned away from me and growled, fusion cannon glowing dangerously.

"I will offline him. That is a promise." Lord Megatron walked towards the door. He is serious about terminating Starscream. However, killing the Seeker would not be an effective punishment; he must live with his crimes. It will be difficult to change our leader's mind, but I know of one way to gain his full attention. I took one step forward and spoke without using a recording.

"Lord Megatron. I know of a better method of punishing Starscream for his treachery."

Our leader stopped and turned to look at me, optics slightly widened as a tense silence fell over the entire room. None of these Vehicons have heard my voice and Lord Megatron has not heard it in a very long time. The look in our leader's optics told me that he understood that as the little one's guardian, I had a say in how Starscream will be dealt with. He understood how angry I was.

"…Come with me." Lord Megatron left the room and I followed behind. He was heading towards his office in his personal suite. The sparkling in my arms had not moved from his position, though I heard him whimper the term he used to address me over and over. The sparkling had begun to knead the armor on my chassis, something sparklings are known to do when they are trying to comfort themselves. I shifted him to rest in the crook of my arm and stroked his helm in order to soothe him as I walked a short distance behind Lord Megatron. Eventually, the little one looked up at me briefly before beginning to chew on his digits. I was relieved to see that the sparkling appeared to be recovering from the aftermath of that undoubtedly traumatizing experience. I can only hope that the event does not haunt him in his dreams.

Once we were inside Lord Megatron's office, he prompted me to voice what I wished to do. After I told him, he firmly denied it. I was thankfully able to convince our leader that this was a logical plan and that Starscream will forever regret laying eyes on the little one.

…Bumblebee's POV: Autobot Outpost Omega One – Two Hours Later…

I'm getting really worried about Ratchet. Optimus has been gone for a few weeks now, and Ratchet had barely moved from in front of that monitor. He's not refueling enough and he's not recharging enough. I took it upon myself to make sure that he doesn't offline. I stayed at the base with Ratchet twenty four-seven a few days after Optimus was taken by Soundwave. He hated it, but at this point, I couldn't care less. I'll be a nurse for as long as I have to.

Arcee and Bulkhead continued to go on patrol and search for energon. We've been doing all that we can to avoid the 'Cons when we come across activity. We're stretched too thin for that. Plus, Ratchet would worry himself to death if he knew we were putting ourselves in danger. For Ratchet's sake, we're laying low. He has enough to worry about.

Arcee had found a huge amount of untouched energon somewhere in the Appalachian Mountains. No humans had been up there in a very long time, so it was okay for us to go in and take it. Both of them had brought back a whole lot of unrefined energon. I had started working on some of it before Ratchet could get to it, just to take some work off his load.

Wheeljack was working pretty hard on that cure. I'm glad he's taking this seriously. Even he sees how bad it's getting for Ratchet.

I handed Ratchet his cube of energon and accepted his gruff 'thank you'. I watched as he sat at his desk he put up in front of the green monitor and drink his energon. I figured out Ratchet wasn't refueling when I noticed that he wasn't as coordinated and focused as he normally is. Ratchet's servos slipped when he was holding his tools and would occasionally tremble when they weren't moving. We all noticed a change, really. He wasn't nearly as grumpy and had started to forget where he left his tools.

We were starting to lose our Ratchet.

Still keeping an optic on Ratchet, I grabbed a wrench from a nearby table and began to clean it, doorwings twitching slightly. Arcee told Jack and Raf that it would be better if they didn't come to the base as often. Miko… Miko had stayed at the base when she said that she was getting a ride from Agent Fowler and went to the Nemesis. Arcee told me that she had seen Optimus and tried to bring him back, but he didn't want to leave. My blue friend said she didn't believe it, and neither did Bulkhead.

I didn't know what to think.

I was ripped from my thoughts when I heard the monitor beep loudly. Ratchet put the cube down and turned to the monitor. I heard Bulkhead and Arcee walk into the room as I moved to stand next to Ratchet.

"Hmmm… There appears to an unusual and powerful radio transmission coming from central Nebraska."

Bulkhead looked at Ratchet. "What do you think it could be?"

Ratchet just shook his head. It was out of character for him to answer a question like that, but he's been doing it more often since Optimus was taken. He's been talking less, too. Arcee placed a servo on her hip.

"We'll have to investigate carefully. Bee, Bulkhead, with me." She headed over towards the Ground Bridge controls and punched in the coordinates. I started to move, but stopped and looked back at Ratchet. He could use some fresh air. Yeah, maybe that'll make him feel a bit better.

"Maybe Ratchet should go instead of me." Ratchet barely looked away from the monitor when I mentioned his name. Bulkhead turned back to me and asked why. I gestured towards the red and white mech.

"Well, the transmission was weird, right? It won't do us any good if we get there and can't figure out what it is. Plus, Ratch' is better at this sort of thing than all three of us." I know Arcee knows that I'm just trying to help Ratchet by getting him out of the base, but I just hope she plays along with me.

"Bee's right. Ratchet, you coming with?" I mentally sighed in relief. She's going along with it! Ratchet silently grabbed the handheld signal tracker and stood to leave with Arcee and Bulkhead. I said bye to all of them after I opened the Ground Bridge.

I took in a deep ventilation once they left through the vortex. Hopefully Ratchet can relieve some stress while he's out there. Since they're gone, I can check these frequencies Ratchet had open. I flexed my digits and stood at Ratchet's desk.

Let's help find the Nemesis.

…Arcee's POV: Twenty Minutes Later…

We had found the source of the transmission alright.

Bulkhead and I stood with our blasters onlined and aimed at Megatron and Starscream. We were in a big open clearing in this forest, so there was nowhere Ratchet could go for cover. Bulk and I did the best we could to keep ourselves between them and Ratchet. I glared as Megatron smirked.

"Must these meetings always result in violence?"

"You're one to talk, Buckethead." Bulkhead growled loudly, glaring at the silver mech and the Seeker standing behind him. The smirk on Megatron's face only widened, angering the scrap out of me. He came out here just to mock us!

…But if he's here just to mock us, why is Starscream here? He had a nervous look in his optics. Something else is going on here, and I'm going to find out what.

"What do you want, Megatron? Was taking our leader not enough for you?" I prompted. Megatron smiled slightly, baring his shark-like denta.

"Oh believe me, having your sparkling leader under my rule is enough. For now."

I briefly gave Ratchet a sideways glance. The mech looked very upset after hearing Megatron mention Optimus. Before I could move, Ratchet had gotten past Bulkhead and I, and was standing in front of us. He stepped towards the Decepticons, one step too close.

"Is he unharmed?!" Ratchet snarled, in an almost animalistic way. I boosted the power to my weapons system. This is going to lead into a fight. I know it. Starscream was getting fidgety and I know it's not because he's itchy. He seemed to be keeping an optic on Megatron and is working to keep out of arm's reach of the Decepticon leader.

"Perhaps." Megatron's answer only made Ratchet even more angry, and the warlord seemed to like that. What was he planning? He never targets Ratchet beyond commenting on how old he is. My only answer to that was that he had figured out the close bond Ratchet and sparkling Optimus had. But why was he rubbing salt on that wound? I couldn't figure it out and I was beginning to get frustrated by that.

Ratchet clenched his servo into a very tight fist and ground out, "Is… he… safe?"

Bulkhead and I glanced at each other, weapons still aimed at the two Decepticons in front of us. We had never seen Ratchet this angry before. Megatron clasped his servos behind his back and spoke in a bored tone.

"He's safe now." I gave a confused look. Safe 'now'? I hope to Primus that they didn't endanger Optimus. Otherwise, they'll have to answer to Ratchet. The medic was growling like an angry hellhound and looked like he was going to attack the warlord.

"Of course, I didn't put him in harm's way. One of my mechs did." That caught me by surprise. If he didn't do it, who did? Megatron continued talking, like he was having a normal conversation.

"Evidently, the guilty mech believes that the pursuit of power is more important than the consideration of morals."

'Pursuit of power'… My optics widened as I figured out what Megatron meant. He knew exactly who it was, but he's playing dumb so he doesn't spook the 'guilty mech'. Ratchet figured out the same instant I did. He slowly turned to Starscream, who seemed to shrink in his place behind Megatron.

"You… You tried to hurt my sparkling…" I could see him driving small dents into the palms of his servos as he kept them balled into tight fists. I was considering having Bulkhead hold him back, but after he said 'my sparkling', that was completely out of the question. Nothing can restrain the wrath of an angry parent.

Megatron continued to play dumb, though his fiery optics were glittering in sadistic anticipation. "The mech apparently intended to commit infanticide, given the circumstances. The sparkling was found in one of the air hangers."

He didn't need to say anything else. I stared in shock and disgust at the now cowering Seeker. How could a thought like that cross the processor of any Cybertronian? Killing a baby for power? Ratchet's armor started to rattle while his back was to Bulk and me.

"Ratch', are you o-" Bulkhead was cut off by the pointed look Ratchet gave him. The medic's demeanor completely changed. Both of us offlined our weapons and took a step back. This was the calm before the storm. And the storm was coming. Soon.

Ratchet had turned halfway to look at Bulk with a bright, blood red optic.

Megatron looked ecstatic in his own way as he stepped aside, clearing the way for Ratchet and giving him permission to do whatever he wanted to. Starscream had to have known that he was on his own, because he tried to explain himself while he backed away.

"N-now, i-it's not what you thi-ARGH!" Ratchet came flying at him faster than I ever thought he could move and punched him hard in the faceplate. The sound of the metal connecting was deafening. Starscream went sailing through the air and hit the ground hard, digging a small trench. Bulkhead mouthed 'Oh my Primus…' while he slowly shook his helm from side to side. Hm. Serves Starscream right.

Ratchet stood there, fist out and ventilating roughly. I already know that punching him will not be enough for Ratchet. Starscream had better prepare for another world of pain. Megatron looked down at Ratchet, a sadistic look in his optics.

"You can go slaughter him." He said growled sweetly. I'm sure that is one thing Ratchet won't mind doing at all. The medic's red optics glinted in pure fury as he rushed at Starscream again. He grabbed the Seeker by the neck and hurled him through a nearby tree at the treeline of the forest, sending wood splinters everywhere. The grey Seeker looked terrified as he scrambled up from the fallen tree. I never thought I say this but…

I hope Starscream lives to see another solar cycle. Ratchet will not go easy on him.

Starscream ran back into the open and tried to transform and fly away. Ratchet beat him to the transformation. His alt-mode roared out of the foliage and slammed into Starscream. Ratchet transformed back into bi-pedal mode to land square on the fleeing Seeker's back.

Few things scare me in this war. I've seen all there is to see when it comes to that. But the demonic fury of an angered parent struck real fear into me. Ratchet shifted his servo into his surgical blade and sliced off Starscream's left wing right where it connects into his back. The Seeker howled n pain as the blade cut through numerous sensory nodes. Now he won't be able to fly away. While Ratchet was distracted with the wing, Starscream whipped around, throwing Ratchet off, and swung his claws at him.

I gasped as I watched Ratchet rear back and howl in pain, clutching his face. The howl of pain quickly turned into an enraged roar. He let go of his bleeding face and stormed off in the direction that Starscream fled. Starscream's claws cut into the left side of the forehead crest and slashed across his right optic. Energon bled down his face, but he was Pit-bent on murdering Starscream. Ratchet stumbled slightly as he grew used to the bad eye.

Megatron had an entertained smile on his scarred faceplates. "I should take more advice from Soundwave from now on."

"That's what he gets for messing with a parent and his kid." Bulkhead crossed his arms over his chassis. I looked on as Ratchet caught Starscream's arm and attempt to severe it from the exposed and sensitive cables at the elbow joint. The Seeker snatched his arm away and ran before Ratchet could bring the surgical blade down.

"I'm just glad Bumblebee isn't here." He doesn't need to see Ratchet like this. I looked up again to see that Ratchet had pinned Starscream down and shifted his servo in his frame welder. His red optics were very bright in his anger. I doubted he even knew what he was doing. He put the frame welder on high power and brought it down on the sensitive abdomen plating.

The Seeker screamed bloody murder.

Alright, I can't take this anymore. I hate Starscream, but I hate torture more. I ran towards Ratchet and Starscream. Bulkhead tried to stop me, but I was too far away. Megatron called after me, the tone in his voice clearly saying that he was enjoying watching Ratchet try to rip Starscream limb from limb.

"I wouldn't advise doing that. In this state, he's a wild animal. He could turn on you."

I ignored the warning and moved towards them. Once I was close enough, I put a servo on Ratchet's shoulder.

"Ratchet, you've got to-" I couldn't even complete the sentence before a fist came flying at me. I quickly dodged it. I looked into Ratchet's red optics, but all I saw was a wild animal. Megatron laughed behind me.

"Did I not tell you?" I ignored him once again and focused on Ratchet.

"Ratchet, you have to stop. I know he hurt your sparkling, but you can't torture him. You've already done enough!" I yelled, trying to snap him out of this. I know Starscream is the enemy, but Ratchet will never be able to live with himself if he killed out of rage. He stood there for a nanoklik, ventilating hard. I watched his blood red optics begin to soften slowly. I have to keep trying.

"Ratchet, remember, Optimus is still alive. He didn't kill him." I said, taking the fist he tried to punch me with and stroking it into relaxing. His tension began to lessen. Starscream looked up at me, a confused and still terrified look on his face. His ventilations hitched as he lay still on the ground under Ratchet's weight.

"Ratchet, get up. Optimus would not want you to do this." That one got through. The anger drained from his optics and his blood red optics returned to their normal blue. I moved with him as he slowly got off Starscream. I never let go of his servo. I never stopped stroking it. He had a really tired and sad look in his optics. Ratchet wore himself out.

"That was a spectacular show, medic! Gruesome, yet very appealing to watch. Like a gladiator of Kaon. You should have considered becoming a gladiator." Megatron smiled, optics glowing bright. I turned and glared daggers at him while the two of us walked back to Bulkhead. The green mech went ahead and commed Bumblebee so he could open the Ground Bridge. I tuned out Starscream's loud moans of pain.

After all, he deserved it.

"You have no need to worry, Autobots. The sparkling is safe. Though you won't be seeing him again for a very long time." Megatron called after us while we walked through the Bridge, making no move to follow us.

Once we got back into the base, Bumblebee panicked. He saw that slash across Ratchet's face. At this point Ratchet's knees had buckled and he collapsed. Bumblebee panicked even more as we got Ratchet to the medical berth. I know he's fine; he's just really tired.

"Bee, calm down. He just pushed himself too far. I'll explain everything later. Right now, Ratchet needs to rest." I said quietly. Bulkhead had already left for his room, and Bee and I stood over Ratchet, who lay sleeping on the medical berth. We did the best we could for his face, but there's going to be a permanent scar over his eye.

I told Bee to head for his room to get some recharge and he went, leaving me with Ratchet. I stood there looking at him for a nanoklik. Sighing, I pulled up a chair next to his berth.

I'll keep an optic on him.

…Optimus's POV: One Hour Later…

I did not understand. Soundwave has never left the Nemesis with me before. He was holding me close as we walked through the Ground Bridge. I gazed up at him. Before we left, he had taken me to see Breakdown, Knockout and the Vehicons. I played with all of them for a short while before Soundwave took me and activated a Ground Bridge vortex.

I shifted and chirped at Soundwave as we exited the other end of the vortex. We stood in the middle of a forest at night. The moon was high in the sky as clouds drifted slowly by. It was the same forest that Soundwave found me in. What are we doing here?

I looked to Soundwave for an answer, receiving none. Instead, he started to play a recording of a young man and woman singing together.

"So long! Farewell!
To you my friend!
Goodbye! For now!
Until we meet again.
I said, so long! Farewell!
To you my friend!
Goodbye! For now!
Until we meet again.
It's been great
to play and sing together in the box!
And now it's time to say goodbyeee!
(*shuffle shuffle snap clap*)
So long! Farewell!
To you my friend!
Goodbye! For now!
Until we meet ahhh-gaaaaaaaaaiiinnn!"

Before I could I respond to the song he played, another Ground Bridge opened a short distance away. I turned to look at the Bridge and my optics widened.

"Optimus!" Ratchet ran through the Ground Bridge and towards Soundwave. A warm feeling washed over be as Soundwave handed me over to Ratchet. I cannot describe how happy I am to see the medic. Ratchet hugged me close and I purred and chirped in delight. Suddenly, I remembered one thing I could not forget again. I shifted frantically in Ratchet's arms so I could face Soundwave. My silent guardian had turned away to transform and fly off.

"Greelo, Seytas!" I called. Soundwave stopped and turned to lift a servo in farewell before transforming and flying back towards the Nemesis. I had told him goodbye in the Decepticons' language.

"…Oh, Primus…" Ratchet muttered shakily, I looked back up at him to see that he had tightly shut his optics. I blinked and buzzed at him. I looked closer and was shocked by what I saw. As long I have known him, I have never experienced this with Ratchet.

Blue tinted tears fell from his optics and streaked down his faceplates, despite his efforts to hold them back.

I leaned into Ratchet's chassis in the moonlight, letting the mech release his emotions. He was more worried than I initially predicted. The child within me was very happy to be with Ratchet again, but was also sad that I may not see the 'Cons I have built bonds with for a very long time. I will miss them dearly. I listened to Ratchet's breathing hitch occasionally. But, as of now, I am glad to be home. Home with my family.

Home with my father.

Wow, long chappy… aw well. Starscream had better be glad that Arcee was there, otherwise, he'd be very dead.

Case you're wondering, the song Soundwave played was the end theme from an old TV show called Out of the Box. I watched it a lot when I was little.

IBrokeThe4thWall, I applaud you. You figured out my plan for this chap before I even wrote it. You are one smart cookie! :)

Needless to say, Sparkling Prime has A LOT of stories to tell back at the base. We will see Cliff again, though probably not in the next chapter. Sparkling Prime will be meeting the one human that the Autobots are associated with that was not mentioned in this fic yet. Can you guess who?

If you have ideas, let me know. Till next time and tell me what you think! See ya! :D

P. S. Right now, Megatron doesn't know Soundwave gave Optimus back to the 'Bots, but he's going to. And he won't be a happy camper.
Anyway, have a Happy New Year!