Roulette, Knockout, and Magnia came and collected their sparklings from an exhausted Chromia a few hours later.

"What's going on?" Chromia asked as the parents quickly hustled the sparklings out the door, worried expression on their faces.

Knockout shook his helm, "Prime's holding a mandatory debriefing meeting in 15. He'll explain everything."

"Right now, we've got to get the sparklings home." Magnia said. As they hurried away she called back, "Thank you for watching them, Chromia!"

"No problem!" Chromia shouted back, confused. It was a little concerning to see the former Decepticons acting so skittish.

Worriedly, she commed Ironhide, :Hey, did you hear about this mandatory meeting?:

:Yeah, why?:

:I just saw Knockout, Roulette, and Magnia, and they all looked really worried.: Chromia sighed, :Wanna meet up and head over there?:

:Tryin' to ask me on a date, Chro-mo?: Ironhide smirked

:If you count a 'date' as me shoving my ped so far up your-:

:Ah, okay, nevermind.: Ironhide laughed hastily, :Don' need that kinda date at the moment.:

:Mess hall. Five minutes.: Chromia terminated the commlink and exhaled. Sometimes that mech really didn't know when to quit.

OoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooO

They met in the mess hall a few minutes later, Ironhide looking suspicious and wary. Chromia rolled her optics, "Come on. We might as well figure out what this is about."

"What do you think it could be?" He fell in step beside her as they made their way to the central area, where Prime usually announced things.

She shook her helm thoughtfully, "I don't know. With how the former Decepticons were acting, I think it's something bad."

"When did you see them?"

"I was watching their sparklings while they talked to Optimus."

Ironhide chuckled, "Those poor sparklings, ya probably scarred 'em for life."

Chromia scowled at him, "What do you mean? We had a great time; I played games with them and stuff."

"Uh-huh." He laughed as she shoved him in an angry but slightly playful manner

"Jerk." Chromia muttered. She glanced up to find him smiling at her. It wasn't a mocking smile, or one of his usual bitter smiles, but a warm, happy smile.

He's kinda cute when he doesn't look grumpy, She thought distantly, but shook those thoughts out of her processor and said, "What are you smiling at?"

"Huh?" He blinked, "Uh, nothin'. Just thought of somethin' funny." He rubbed the back of his neck uncomfortably. Chromia pinched the bridge of her nose and sighed wearily, and Ironhide, seeing her exasperation, said, "I don' give up easy, Chro-mo."

"What will it take?" She groaned, "What do I have to do to get you off my back?"

"I wish ya wouldn't-" He started, and then shook his helm unhappily

They arrived at the central area and Chromia immediately headed for Firestar and Strongarm, walking away from Ironhide and the intense conversation they were having.

Ironhide watched her go sadly, briefly wishing she would just tell him why she refused to even consider the idea of being with him. He felt like maybe if he knew why, then it would help him push her out of his processor and spark.

Watching her with the other two femmes, he wondered if either of them knew what it was. Maybe he could convince them to tell him.

As Optimus began to speak, Ironhide shook himself slightly and tried to pay attention.

"Autobots." He began in a calm voice, "Based on recent observed Decepticon activity near Iacon, and the opinions of our former Decepticon teammates, I have reason to believe the Decepticons are planning an attack on the city and our base."

This was met with a small intake from the crowd, which was immediately followed by an eruption into nervous chatter, while Prime tried to regain their attention.

"OY!" Blaster shouted and everyone quieted down a bit, "Quit bein' rude and pay attention to what Prime's trying to say."

"...Thank you, Blaster." The Prime raised an optic ridge, "As I was saying, I believe they are only so bold right now because they have in their possession a powerful new weapon, which a few of our teammates have encountered."

And helped get up and running, Chromia thought guiltily

"We do not know what this weapon is capable of, so we must be cautious when entering this battle." Optimus pulled a datapad from his subspace, "I am dividing everyone into groups of three to patrol the city. When you see a Decepticon, or a group of them, comm for backup immediately."

He began reading off the list of groups and Chromia winced when her name was called in Ironhide's group. At least Smokescreen was also in the group, so it couldn't get too confrontational between them. She doubted Ironhide would try to ask her out again in front of his "kid brother".

"Knockout, Mirage, First Aid, and I will remain here and protect the base." Optimus finished reading the list and dismissed them to their posts.

Chromia sighed and headed towards Ironhide, who was already fist-bumping an excited Smokescreen.

"Hey Chromia." Smokescreen said, pumping his fists, "I am so ready for some real action, finally!"

She nodded and smiled at the young bot, "We should get moving."

The two mechs followed her out of the base to their patrol area, the upper east side of Iacon, joking around the whole way there.

"Shut up you two." She said when they reached the area, turning around to find Ironhide attempting to stuff Smokescreen in a trash can, and Smokescreen both laughing and protesting, "We don't want to alert any 'Cons that we're here."

They looked a little disgruntled, but they quieted down a bit. The three Autobots continued walking the patrol route in silence, broken only by the occasional bored sigh from Smokescreen.

Finally, Chromia had had it. "Smokescreen, for the love of Primus, just shut up already!" She hissed

"Seriously." Ironhide groaned, "Can ya go five minutes without makin' some sort of annoyin' noise?"

"You're agreeing with her?" Smokescreen poked his glossa out at the two of them, "Well of course. Can't disagree with the Missus."

Ironhide and Chromia both began to sputter indignantly at this and Smokescreen rolled his optics, "Whatever. There aren't even any 'Cons on this stupid patrol route to hear me anyways; we've been walking for half an hour and we haven't seen anything!"

"You don't know that-"

"You're right, I don't." Smokescreen interrupted, "But I know that we sure as Pit aren't gonna find any action if we keep walking in a circle forever. I'm gonna go off on my own route; you guys are just slowing me down anyways."

"Slowin' you down?!" Ironhide said furiously, "Well, I'd hate to cramp yer style, ya obnoxious 'lil prick! Fine, go off on yer own then. No need to wait around fer us old, slow bots; go find yer fraggin' 'destiny'!"

"Fine!" Smokescreen said sourly, "I can handle any 'Cons I come across on my own anyways." He leapt away down the alley, springing off the walls and around a corner, yelling back, "Don't bother to try and keep up, slowpokes!" as he disappeared.

"Uggh, that stuck-up 'lil afthole!" Ironhide growled, "I swear, one of these days…." He made a punching motion with his fist.

"Might not be 'one of these days'." Chromia sighed, "Come on, we better find that stupid kid before he gets himself in trouble. And not just with you."

Ironhide shook his helm wearily and clumped behind Chromia. The two followed the route Smokescreen had taken, which wasn't hard to track considering how energetic the young bot was. He left a mess wherever he went.

The pair rounded the corner of an abandoned alley and froze immediately, optics wide.

"Well if it isn't my good ol' pals, Chromia and Ironhide." Hellcat drawled, shifting the strange looking blaster that she held to Smokescreen's helm. The poor bot was kneeling on the ground, terrified and unable to move.

"Seems you two escaped after I captured you last time." The feline femme purred as the two glared at her, "I'm here to ensure that none of you walk away alive this time."