Lizard: Here we are...sorry for the delay. I've been brutally attacked by plot bunnies and not all of them are related to this story -_-

This chapter is kind of short, but it's a necessary bit. It goes over to the future 'bots POV for a klik, and is sort of a transition point.

By the way, for me Cybertronian ages go as follows: Sparkling (infant)--Youngling (child)--Fledgling (teen/young adult)--Full-grown (Fully mature)

So when I refer to the future 'bots as fledglings I'm not saying it's a ship full of teenagers, because that would be a disaster. They're young adults, and some teen-equivalents. Just clarifying.

Disclaimer: Do I really have to do this every time? I don't own Transformers! Quit rubbing it in my faceplates! *sobs*


"You are an idiot."

"Yeah, you all tell me that a lot," Topliner shot back, looking around at their surroundings like an easily distracted sparkling, not at all offended.

Clippershot snorted but dropped the conversation. They were currently arriving at their destination anyways, and a familiar black and white mech greeted them as they emerged from the ruined ship.

"Everything in order?" he thrummed, still sounding a bit ticked at not being allowed to know anything of their new guests.

Topliner, of course, was first to open his mouthplates, "Yep, all nice and snug in their berths," he chirped much too happily.

Watcher looked unamused, his face guard firmly in place, "Wonderful. Proceed to the clearing for a briefing with all the officers."

"This is really bothering you, isn't it?"

Watcher vented heavily and rolled his optics, "Only a little."

"Sorry."

The black and white mech rumbled, and waved for them to follow as he started off in the direction of their "conference room." His doorwings, decorated by old, faded decals from a planet they had never even known, were held erect and still, but Watcher had never been one to carry a grudge and the annoyance would pass soon. Passing through one of this planet's overgrown forests they avoided various obstacles with practiced ease, though Topliner tripped more than once on thin air, but for him that was pretty good.

"Ah, mechs, there you are," the Commander's voice greeted them as they emerged into a small clearing only a few kliks away from where the rest of their 'bots were preparing for the off cycle.

Ebonyshield, Shatterflash, First Aid, and the mighty Avalanche all stood around him at attention or variations of it, and all shifted their interest to the newcomers easily. Of course, Sideswipe stood in the shadows behind Ebonyshield, but no one reacted to his prescense, just like he didn't respond to theirs.

"Yes sir," Watcher said sharply, falling into position at Ebonyshield's right hand.

Avalanche chuckled softly, "Still sore, Watch? Guess we're just not special enough for them anymore, huh?"

Watcher gave the bulky mech a withering look but otherwise ignored the comment and retracted his faceguard. Avalanche shrugged his mismatched shoulder plates, one too small and a light blue color that didn't quite match the rest of his grey, white, and blue armoring. An old canon spun subconsciously on his arm, but no one commented on the action one would normally associate with being threatening.

The Commander rolled his optics, "We've explained the situation to both of you as best as we can for the moment. Now please be patient," he beseeched wearily.

Topliner gave Watcher a nudge as he walked past and grinned. Watcher at first vented, but his irritation was already fading at the others. Ebonyshield shook her helm at the distractions and stepped forward into their small circle, Sideswipe moving forward minutely as well.

"I am aware that these new developments have caused some disruption in our planning, but we can't let one small inconvenience completely take over our processors. We have enough to worry about, and it's these other worries that we are here to talk about," she reminded firmly.

The mood in the clearing instantly shifted to a sober, quiet atmosphere. Even Topliner stopped his grinning and teasing, settling to look up at their leaders in a subdued manner, while Avalanche shifted uncomfortably.

Ebonyshield continued, "Catalytic and Shiver have confirmed that they are able to continue their work with the transistor at the same time as figure out a way to solve this delay with some help from Monochrome, and if they ask any of us for assistance, we are to do as they say, within reason of course," she added at the concerned looks she was given, "But that leaves the rest to us. I need to know for certain that everyone here really wants to be here, and if they don't we have to give them a chance to leave. Clippershot, Shatterflash, do we have any idea how much time we have?"

Clippershot tilted his helm in indecision, "Not for certain. Sources are saying the 'Cons will arrive in less than three orns, but there isn't a single concrete answer for me to give you."

"Despite my father's protests I can assure you they are unaware of our planning, and we will not be impeded. Everything is going smoothly," Shatterflash added in her light accent.

"Good. I will speak to the army next cycle, and I want Watcher, Clippershot, and Topliner with me. Shatterflash I need you to keep an optic on things on board the ship, you'll report directly to Commander, and Avalanche I want to keep things in order, I don't need any more brawls," Ebonyshield gave out the orders quickly.

She did not mention her uncle, and no one expected her to, Sideswipe would follow regardless. The other officers nodded in understanding and acceptance. The only thing remaining was for the Commander's blessing to be given.

Ebonyshield turned to her own boss, "Permission to proceed in this way, sir?"

Commander Bluestreak quickly went over her plan of action and nodded once, "Granted, keep your optics online and your audios up, kids. If anyone seems even slightly unsure, tell them to leave, we don't want to force anyone to do something drastic."

His officers all nodded in agreement and he looked over them fondly, remembering when he used to watch their parents hold these meetings with a sort of awe. As the young mechs and femmes started back towards the ship he lifted his optics to the sky above them. I'm doing the best I can, guys, he thought weakly, visualizing his old comrades, May your sparks rest in the Matrix.

"Ugh, this whole thing is giving me a processor ache," Chromia growled, rubbing the sides of her helm as though that would help, "It doesn't make any sense."

She slumped backwards against the wall, sliding down to sit on the dirty old floor. Ironhide huffed slightly and sank down next to her with a groan of old hydraulics and pulled her up against his side. He dropped his helm back against the wall, optics offline. Ratchet finished the last of his scans on Prowl to ensure that no permanent damage had been done to the tactician's battle computer and turned away from the berth to observe the room. Bluestreak sat in uncharacteristic silence in the corner, carefully examining his hands. The CMO thrummed to himself thoughtfully and went to crouch by the young gunner.

"What's wrong, kid?"

Bluestreak didn't look up, and was silent so long at first Ratchet thought he wouldn't speak, but finally a small, quiet voice answered him, "If this is our future, why should we even try to go back? You're all dead, and I'm leading a bunch of fledglings in a war they can't win. Why are they even still trying, why is it like this?"

He looked up at Ratchet with such a broken look in his optics, such hopeless sorrow that the old medic felt like his spark was being stabbed through with an energy blade. What could he say to soothe the naïve young mech? Was there anything to say?

"I don't know, Blue, but if this is our future with the way things are going, then we had better fix it," the medic rumbled, with more intensity than he had meant to use, but Bluestreak's optics flashed minutely brighter.

"Y-you think we can change it?" he asked, not quite hopeful, but not quite broken either.

Ratchet paused and flashed a look over at Ironhide, who was also watching him curiously, Chromia offline against his chest. The medic wasn't sure if they could change it or not, but in that brief instant of hesitation the image of Sideswipe, dead of all emotion, then of Echoclick, barely out of younglinghood and already damaged beyond possible repair, and accepting it. No, he wouldn't let that happen.

"Yes, Bluestreak. I believe we can."


Lizard: There you have it. And...yeah, they pretty much keep Topliner there for sentimental reasons. XD, okay, so maybe he has some merit...

You were introduced to one new 'bot this chap, well two if you count Watcher, but he's been mentioned before. So now everyone....It's time for the game again! Hopefully this will be fairly easy.

Avalanche.

That's it. Who's his mom/dad/both? If you guess, you get Cyber cookies from space again!

See ya'll next time!

LIZARD OUT