No time to waste! We pick up right where chapter 35 ended!

Galen

"What are they doing?" Kayla asked as we approached Ariel and her brothers and sister in an all out tickle war in the middle of the hallway.

A few mechs and femmes simply laughed, shaking their heads as the walked around the younglings. It was quite a common sight actually; the four of them often had fun and didn't care where they were.

"It's called a…whoa!"

Kacey yanked me down and started tickling me too. Her strong hands finding my weakest spots that made me giggle uncontrollably. Any of us nearby were fair game, even Kayla, who always made these high pitched squeals whenever she was tickled.

Yeah, that's my sister. She's such a femme!

"Alright, time to get up," Kacey said, getting to her feet. All of us younglings were laying on the floor on top of each other, trying to recover as we laughed. "Come on. Before Prowl throws us in the brig for disorderly conduct in the halls."

"He wouldn't do that…would he?" I asked, helping my sister to her feet.

"Oh yeah, Sunny told me Prowl threw his own sparkmate into the brig once just so no one would ever doubt him," Kacey answered with a smirk.

"Frag! Kacey, I almost forgot!" Leo exclaimed hopping up and down. Oh no, this could be bad. An over excited Leo was always bad. "I have to show you something! Come on! Let's go! Let's go!"

"Leo calm down before you…"

Sure enough! Leo fritzed and passed out! Kacey managed to catch him before he hit the floor. He did it every time he got over excited. I refrained from laughing. Last time I laughed Ariel punched me in the arm. It fragging hurt!

"Leo are you ever going to out grow this?" Kacey muttered, gently smacking his face until he came on line. "Wake up little lugnut!"

"Did I…?" he sheepishly asked as his optics came online.

"Yes, you did," I answered.

"Now, what did you want to show me?" Kacey asked, helping him steady himself on his feet.

"I don't know what it is, that's why I wanted to show you," he replied. "But it looks really cool!"

"Lead on McDuff," she said.

We all gave her a confused look.

"Never mind," she sighed, pointing for Leo to lead the way. "You need to be educated in some of Earth's literature. I'll have to talk to Trion about that."

"I have enough reading," I snorted.

"Same here," Ariel and Leo said.

"Not me," Orion cheerfully smiled. "I like reading."

"Of course you'd say that, you're such a nerd," Leo said, punching his brother in the arm.

"Grunt."

"Geek!"

"Cannon fodder!"

"Dipstick!"

"Slaghead!"

"You said a bad word!" Kayla giggled. "Daddy says bad words all the time."

"Enough with the language," Kacey ordered, separating Orion and Leo. "And you two lugnuts behave. Where are we heading, Leo?"

"Dad's office."

"Galen, hold Kayla's hand. I don't want her running off towards the command center."

"Ok, Kacey," I said, obediently taking hold of Kayla's hand.

We were all well behaved all the way to Optimus' office. Once there, Leo quickly showed Kacey what he was all excited about. I moved with the others to see the small glowing piece of what looked like metal.

Leo reached for it.

"Don't touch it!" Kacey snapped, snatching his hand back.

"What is it?" he asked.

"Something we shouldn't be near, now out all of you. Wait in the hallway. I need to talk to Prowl for a moment."

Again we all did as we were told even though we were all confused.

"Was it metal?" I asked Leo.

"It didn't look like metal," he answered as Kacey came out of Prowl's office and came towards us.

Prowl was right behind her. They both stopped at Optimus' office door, talking quietly. I recognized that Prowl punched in a security code. The door was locked now. None of us could get in.

"Am I in trouble, Kacey?" Leo asked.

"No," she smiled, rubbing the top of his head.

"What was that?" I asked.

"A piece of home and our history."

"Oh no…another history lesson," Leo moaned.

"History is important to us, Leo," Kacey said, leading us down the hall. It wasn't far to the lab.

"But it's so boring!" Leo whined.

I had to agree with him. I thought history was boring too. I didn't see how it would help my medical career. Neither did Ariel. But I had a feeling Kacey was going to show us the error of our ways. She was way smarter than any of us.

"It's important for us to remember who we are and where we came from," she explained. "You see, I was born on Cybertron. I understand why we're at war. But just because you were born on Earth doesn't make you less of a Cybertronian than me. We are all Cybertronians."

"Will we ever go back there?" I asked as we entered Wheeljack's lab.

"I would like us to. It is our home world. Earth is nice…but it's not home. Your lessons with Trion are very important. Pay attention, all of you. Now come on you little pit spawns, help me with my tools. I'm hoping to take this baby for a test drive today."

Kacey pulled a cover off her work table to reveal an odd piece of equipment.

"Oh! I know what that is you're working on! We saw it in the Spiderman movie right?! The Goblin flew on it through the air!" Leo said excitedly and loudly. Primus, his optics looked like they were going to pop out of their sockets!

"Shh, Leo, not so loud," Kacey hushed. "Just announce it to the entire base!"

"Are you going to fly it?" Orion asked, obviously having seen the movie before.

"Yes, but you can't tell dad or mom," Kacey answered. "It can be dangerous because I don't have armor to protect me. Same goes for you too, Galen. I mean it. I've see that look on your face before. Your dad gets that same from time to time just before the slag hits the vents."

"Usually when I've done something wrong," I remarked.

Ariel glared at me and Leo punched me in the arm.

"Hey! Don't hit Galen!" Kayla yelled at Leo, weakling pushing at him.

I pulled her back even though I knew Leo would never raise a finger towards her, not even in play. Kayla's a bit dainty and doesn't like to rough house.

"You don't have to be here, Galen," Orion spoke. "Kacey's our sister, we'll cover for her but you can go so you don't get in trouble."

"No, I'll stay. I promise not to tell anyone. And Kayla, will do as I tell her."

"I always listen to, Galen," she smiled. "He takes good care of me."

She did too. Kayla trusted me completely. I only told her things to protect her. I love my sister too much and understand the need to protect her. Even Ariel is protective of her.

"Very well, all of you just sit tight for a few minutes," Kacey ordered. "I just need to make a couple of adjustments. Then we'll sneak out and give it a test run."

"Won't you get in trouble?" I asked as Kacey started grabbing some tools. "If you're not supposed to fly and we're not supposed to be outside today."

"Quiet, Galen," Ariel hissed. "If you keep yapping Kacey will get in trouble."

"Maybe he should go," Leo added. "He's not used to covering for Kacey."

"Leo's right," Ariel frowned at me.

"I'll be good, I promise," I said worriedly. "I won't say anything."

"What about Kayla?" Orion chimed in. "She tells Ratchet everything she sees."

I looked down at my sister who was sitting on the floor at my feet and playing with her pink toy bot, in her own world as usual. Orion had a point. Kayla saw everything and told anyone and everyone about what she saw.

"When it comes to the bad stuff, I'll make her close her optic covers and take her optics offline. Will that work?" I asked. I really wanted to stay. I'm often excluded from some of their fun because of my dad's temper or Kayla's big mouth. "And I won't tell my dad anything. I make sure Kayla doesn't talk!"

"I believe him," Ariel adamantly said, taking hold of my hand.

"Very well. Orion, take everyone to our spot outside," Kacey ordered, with the widest smile on her face. I'd never seen her smile like that before. She seemed really…happy. "I'll be out there in a few minutes."

"I'll race you!" Leo said to Orion.

"You're on," he said, shoving Leo to the floor and then taking off running.

"Yippy!" Kayla cheered and started chasing after them.

"Frag, Kayla wait!" I yelled but it was too late.

She was fast for a dainty femme. I sighed turning to Ariel.

"We'd better go after her before she gets lost," she smiled, squeezing my hand firmly.

I always had a warm tingly sensation in my spark whenever I held her hand. Even though I was so young, I knew Primus put Ariel on this planet to be with me. I just knew it.

"Get a room you two," Kacey commented, making me blush.

Ariel stuck her tongue out at Kacey as we headed out the door. Good thing we left when we did. Kayla did get lost. I swear she has no sense of direction whatsoever! And if I didn't hold her hand we would never reach out intended destination. My sister gets distracted by everything! But I can't get to mad, she's still somewhat of a sparkling to me.

"About time you two lovebirds made it," Leo teased.

"Put a socket in it," Ariel growled at her brother.

I just smiled. I didn't mind too much when they teased us. I was proud to be with Ariel.

"So have you kissed my sister yet?" Leo smugly asked.

Neither Ariel nor myself answered and our faceplates turned bright red. We were curious one time and tried kissing. I rather liked it once I got over the fear of my dad possibly walking into my room at any moment.

"Holy frag! You have kissed!" Leo laughed. "Don't let dad see, Ariel. He'll blow a gasket! Then Ratchet might have to put Galen back together."

"Ariel, you're too young for that stuff," Orion chided. "You both are."

"Hey Kacey…guess what?!" Leo shouted as the femme approached.

Ariel clamped her hand over Leo's mouth, wrestling around with him.

"Please, don't tell anyone else," she begged him. "Kacey will lecture us as bad as mom or dad will."

Leo nodded his head. Kacey looked at us suspiciously as we tried to appear innocent. Of course, Leo, Orion, and Ariel could always pull it off. I still didn't have enough experience. Mom and dad could always tell when I was up to no good. Kacey's very perceptive so I'm sure she'll spot my uneasiness.

"You know what, I don't want to even know," she said, shaking her head much to my relief.

My relief was temporary!

"Ariel and Galen kissed!" Leo announced.

My spark froze! I didn't think I could get any redder!

"Oh really? Who kissed who?" Kacey asked, kneeling before Ariel and myself.

"It was my idea," I admitted, staring at the ground. I felt so humiliated that I couldn't bear to meet her optics with my own. "I was curious about it that was all. But it was only one time."

"Well, it was only a matter of time," she said, patting the top of my head. "You used to kiss Ariel on the cheek all the time when you were sparklings. Just don't make this kissing on the lips a habit until you two are older. Ok?"

I nodded looking up at Kacey. She turned and smacked Leo lightly on top of his head.

"Stop picking on Galen and Ariel," she warned. "For if you don't, when you have a femme of your own you're only begging for them to tease you right back. Understand?"

"Will there be femmes my size?" he asked.

"Of course," Kacey answered confidently. "We Cybertronians come in all shapes and sizes. Now enough talk. I want to give this thing a test run before mom and dad get back."

"How is that going to fly?" I asked. I never saw the movie Leo referenced. Dad wouldn't let me what violent movies and had a knack for walking in just as one started to take me away.

"It will fly," she replied, stepping onto the device and locking her feet into place. She pressed some buttons on a small device that was strapped to her wrist. "I'm worried about the power consumption versus weight ratio. Wheeljack won't tell me how he makes his power supply units for the shuttles or for Roller so I'm improvising."

"What's that mean?" Orion asked.

"It means this will be a success or I'll end up in the med bay for a day," she snorted. "Galen, make sure Kayla doesn't watch, just in case. All of you stay near the tree line. If I get in an accident you high tail it inside the base to our quarters. I'm sure Teletran will pick up any disturbance which means I'll get busted."

"I'll stay with you," Leo said, holding his head up high.

"No, I don't want any of you to get into trouble. Now get over there. I mean it Leo. I appreciate you wanting to help me but not this time. Ok?"

It took Orion and Ariel to pull Leo back. I understood why he wanted to be at Kacey's side. I didn't like someone taking all the blame either when I was a participant. It didn't seem right.

"Kayla close your optic covers and take your optics offline," I instructed my little sister as Kacey activated the device.

"Why?"

"It's just for a few minutes. Then well go in a play a game, ok?"

"Ok," she smiled and did as I told her, hugging her toy closely.

"Wow! I can't wait until I can fly!" Leo gasped after Kacey lifted into the air and flew off out of sight. "To be up there with the air blasting past your audio receptors."

"Doesn't sound like fun to me," Ariel commented.

"That's because you're afraid to fly," Orion told her.

"I have to agree with Leo, it does look like fun," I smiled. "I remember Kacey giving us rides in the air."

"Yeah, Leo puked after his first time," Orion laughed, making Leo scowl. "Right on dad's foot too."

"Lay off, I was only a sparkling!"

"That doesn't sound right, does it?" Ariel asked.

We listened. It sounded like an engine sputtering. Kacey came back into view and we could see she was struggling with something.

"We have to go, Galen," Ariel suddenly said.

"Why?"

"Because Kacey said so…now!" Orion answered. "Don't let Kayla see. Leo! Slag it!"

"I got Kayla, help Orion get Leo," Ariel told me.

Orion and I chased Leo down, tackling him to the ground. The three of us looked up when we heard an explosion. Kacey hit the ground hard and skidded several yards before coming to a stop.

My spark was hammering within its chamber. Frag I was terrified! Kacey wasn't moving.

"Should I call my dad?" I worriedly asked.

"She's ok," Orion said, restraining Leo.

Sure enough Kacey started slowly moving.

"GET YOU AFTS OUT OF HERE!" she bellowed at us as she got to her feet.

The three of us got up and ran. I was to frightened to do anything else.

"This way!" Orion suddenly said, yanking us towards the tree line. "Ariel says Prowl and a few others are already near the entrance of the base."

"Is Kayla ok?" I asked as we hid behind some trees.

"She's fine," Leo answered a moment later. "Ariel says she didn't see anything."

Prowl, Magnus, and a few others raced where the explosion was, weapons drawn.

"Let's go," Leo whispered. "She'll keep them occupied so we can get back into the base."

As we ran, I glanced over to see Prowl wasn't very happy as the mechs who accompanied him and Magnus put out the small fire. I could tell by the way he was talking to Kacey he was pissed. Unfortunately for us, Magnus happened to turn his head and spotted us.

"Get back here!" he shouted.

"Frag! RUN!" Leo yelped, shoving me in the back to make me run faster. "SLAG! We're so in trouble!"

"Why not just say it was Kacey's idea," I suggested. "She was willing to take the blame."

"Don't you ever say anything like that again!" Leo yelled shoving me to the ground once we were inside the base. "You guys do what you want, but I'm going to tell them I snuck out there to see what Kacey was doing. I'm not going to get her into anymore trouble than she already is."

Orion helped me to my feet as Leo continued running down the hall.

"It's up to you, Galen. But I'm with Leo. I'll do whatever I can to protect my sister."

I nodded that I understood and watched as he ran after Leo. I ran to find Kayla before mom or dad found her. I just knew no matter what I did, I was going to be in deep slag!

Ratchet

Moonracer walked into my office right when I needed a break. I swear she has a sixth sense because she always has a knack for knowing when I need a distraction. And what a lovely distraction she is.

"You are not going to believe what your son asked me today," I smiled, leaning back, giving her room to sit on my lap.

"I'm not sure I want to know," she responded, making herself comfortable. "Red told me datapads went flying and Galen went running off shortly after that."

"He asked me what interfacing was and how to do it?!"

My bonded sparkmate simply laughed at me.

"You wouldn't be laughing if you saw how serious he was," I retorted. "And he had Ariel with him. She wanted to know too!"

"What happened? Galen usually doesn't ask such a question unless something happened."

"Leo threatened him basically, saying that Galen better treat Ariel right or else. I think Optimus needs to restrict Leo's time with the twins."

"Oh, I don't know. Kacey hasn't been totally corrupted by them," she said softly, her hands caressing my audio receptors.

Primus that felt good. My love always knew how to get me to relax.

"At least Galen came to you to ask the question."

"That's true," I agreed, my optics dimming, my spark feeling the passionate urges of my sparkmate. I pulled her close, nuzzling her neck. "I just wasn't ready for him to ask me that question. He's only eight!"

"Eight and he's already planned out his future," she sighed.

I chuckled, "I think Optimus has finally accepted the fact that Galen loves Ariel. He doesn't threaten me anymore."

"Still, it's up to us to make sure Galen does treat her as a femme should be treated. For I have no doubt Leo will follow through on his threats. He loves his sisters and brother very much. They're all very protective of one another." She pulled back and smiled. "They take after their father…just as Galen takes after you."

"Except Galen doesn't get cranky," I smirked, pulling her face closer for a kiss. "He has your calmness."

"Ratchet! You're needed outside the base, immediately!" Prowl's voice sounded from the intercom on my desk.

I growled with irritation and glared at the intercom. He had that urgent tone of his which meant I couldn't send Red Alert in my place. And my sparkmate was looking so tempting at this very moment.

"You'd better go," she smiled brightly, kissing my on the lips briefly before getting off my lap. "We'll continue this later."

"My mood might change between now and then," I grunted, getting to me feet.

"Oh, I've been bonded with you long enough to know how to get you in the right mood."

My spark fluttered with excitement at that possibility. Primus how I love her.

"Ratchet…"

"I'm on my way!" I snapped into my comlink, interrupting Prowl.

I sent Moonracer my affections for her through our bond as I left the Med Bay. Looking back upon my life I can't believe I had waited so long to find a femme and bond with one. Perhaps it was fate that I didn't find one until Moonracer. Regardless, I thank Primus regularly for her and my two children.

"Ratchet, over here!"

I turned at the sound of Magnus' voice and was surprised to see Kacey kneeling down. Then I saw some debris of some kind smoldering behind where Prowl and Magnus stood with her.

"What did she do now?" I asked myself as I hurried over, activating my medical scans once I was close enough. "What happened?"

"Failed experiment," Kacey chuckled.

"Sit down, Kacey," I ordered, kneeling beside her.

I gently grabbed her face by the chin to do a deep medical scan of the cranium. She had markings on the side of her head consistent with a possible concussion. Plus, having been Kacey's doctor for a long time now I noticed how she was straining to keep her focused. She looked just like Optimus when he was trying to avoid a trip to the med bay.

"You still haven't answered my question," Prowl said to her.

"They had nothing to do with this, all the blame is on me," she adamantly, staring squarely up at Prowl.

"Can we continue this inside?" I requested, not liking her energy levels. "Did you crash into the ground or something?"

"I fell some seventy feet to the ground…from the cliff wall," she answered, not taking her optics from Prowl's stern gaze.

I stared suspiciously at her. I've never known Kacey to outright lie. But her injuries were inconsistent with that kind of a fall.

"Care to elaborate on that," Prowl remarked, not looking very happy.

"And why Orion, Leo, and Galen were running from the scene," Magnus added.

"What?!" I yelled.

"Just don't punish them, Prowl. Throw me in the brig if you want. But leave them alone. They don't know any better."

"They know enough to run," Magnus said.

"Galen was out here near this mess!" I yelled at her.

"I'd never do that! They were at a safe distance. I may do an idiotic stunt from time to time but I'm not stupid!"

"You still haven't said why you were out here," Prowl pressed on.

Kacey shut up after that. Not by choice. She passed out. Her energy levels dropped to low as her repair systems worked overtime.

"Magnus, round them up," Prowl ordered. "I want to talk to them. Optimus is returning soon and he's going to want answers. And Kacey is obviously not going to tell us."

"I'll use their tracking devices to locate them. You want them in your office?" Magnus asked.

"Put Galen in my office, Orion in Optimus and put Leo in yours. I want to keep them separated for now. Don't say anything to them."

"Understood," Magnus nodded then quickly walked off.

"Have Wheeljack look at the wreckage, he might be able to ascertain what that was," I suggested, lifting up Kacey.

"Thanks. I'll do that," Prowl frowned, rising up with me. "Can you tell me anything of Kacey's injuries? Did she fall?"

"Yes, but at a high velocity not consistent with your normal fall, more like a crash," I said without hesitation. "She has contusions on her arms and legs. Jarred her processor really good. I'm surprised she was still conscious."

"Ratchet, I don't want you to interfere with this interrogation," Prowl said. "Allow me to talk to Galen first before you punish him."

I nodded, making sure to keep my anger to myself. I wanted to find out what was going on as much as Prowl did. Yet, I didn't want to frighten my son or my sparkmate. Both would hinder Prowl's investigation. I learned my lesson to not interfere with any of Prowl's investigations the hard way long ago earning myself a day in the brig.

"Keep me apprised of Kacey's recovery," he ordered as we headed to the base. "I want to talk to her again before Optimus and Elita return."

"She'll probably regain consciousness by the time you're done with the…interrogations," I grumbled. "Do you have to say interrogations? It sounds like you're assuming Galen did something terrible. He never would."

"Relax," Prowl smiled. "I'll go easy on him…I've got to go. Magnus has them all rounded up."

"That was fast."

"Apparently, they came to him," Prowl said raising an optic ridge. "See you shortly."

I chuckled to myself after Prowl walked away, recalling something similar happening when Optimus was young. He snuck off the base to go exploring, got hurt, and called me. Several of us covered for him while he recovered so he wouldn't get in trouble for disobeying Sentinel's orders.

I suppose I can't get too mad at Galen if he does what I think he's about to do.

I hope everyone understood that Kacey was talking about the All Spark shard (a piece of home and history) Optimus pulled from Megatron's corpse in the movie. If it's unclear let me know and I'll fix it.

Up next: Elita, Optimus, Chromia, Ironhide, and Firestar return. Ironhide opens his big mouth. Nitro and Kacey get smacked in the face by an angry Firestar. And Kacey gets punished for the little stunt she pulled.