Chapter 128

=0=Diego Garcia

Sideswipe was shooting on the range with Bluestreak when the ruckus on Mars commenced. For a moment, they were smiling and talking, laughing about the targets and then they froze together as a terrible expression of rage and fury formed on their faces. Turning toward the airfield beyond, looking at the hangar nearby, they burst into speed, racing as fast as they could go. Bluestreak skid to a halt before the hangar door, turning in circles as he screamed loudly and shrilly. He balled his fists, turning slowly as he seemed to search for something.

Sideswipe racing to the airstrip turned around and around seeking something as he growled in a thunderous manner, his optics bleeding into white. He rolled toward a C-17, his threatening appearance scaring off the crews that were loading it. He rolled inside turning around and around as he struggled to understand what he was so completely compelled to do.

Emergency calls were made and from the hangar of the Autobot Embassy mechs bearing arms poured out. Bluestreak seeing the threat ran toward Sideswipe, pulled his weapon from subspace to fire. As he did, he was tackled by Mirage and Jazz, the two of them bringing him down to pull his rifle free. It skittered away as they grappled. Then Bluestreak through superhuman strength rose up and shook them loose. Staring around frantically, he pounced on Mirage and they went down.

At the plane, feeling Bluestreak over his bond, Sideswipe rolled downward rushing toward the Embassy with his swords drawn.

Bluestreak who was buried under Jazz, Mirage, Smokescreen and Prowl cried out piercingly.

Sideswipe hearing him scream hurried up and as he did he flew through the air with his swords flashing.

=0=Autobot City, Mars

It was a thundering crash, the sound of breaking furniture and falling screaming mechs. Sunstreaker with his focus on the throat of Cliffjumper landed squarely on him and they fell to the floor to roll over and over. He stood up at last, enraged as he held Cliff's neck in his servos. Then he began to toss the mini-con over the top of tables. Cliffjumper flying head over heels landed on a table and crushed it to the floor.

By the time that Sunstreaker moved to follow him he was swarmed by Kup and Springer, Ultra Magnus with fists up stepped between Sunstreaker and Cliffjumper who lay on the floor dazed. It took all three of them to drag Sunstreaker to the brig, cursing and fighting all the way. By the time they switched on the current of the bars he'd turned on them staring with murder in his optics.

Then he froze.

=0=Diego Garcia

They heard the ruckus, the screams, the shouting and by the time that Ironhide and Prime had reached the doors, Sideswipe was flashing toward the pile up in front with his swords gleaming. Moving faster than one would assume a mech as big as Prime could, he jumped the pile and rushed Sideswipe, tackling him mid body. Falling forward to landing on the Lamborghini with a crashing sound that jolted windows and shelves all around, they grappled on the ground in fury.

More mechs poured out and they watched with astonishment as Sideswipe and Prime dueled, rolling on the ground until Prime pinned him flat.

He lay on the ground growling and screaming, Bluestreak likewise as he was pinned to the ground by four mechs. For a moment it seemed that they'd continue forever, then Ratchet appeared stunned at the sight. He glanced at Ironhide who was handing his sparkling off to Wheeljack who stood frozen on the spot. Moving toward Prime and Sideswipe, Ironhide froze as he stared at Sideswipe. As abruptly as it began, it stopped. Sideswipe relaxed his struggling.

Behind him buried under mechs, Bluestreak relaxed as well.

Prime glanced over his shoulder, calling to Ratchet who hurried to him.

Ratchet knelt beside Prime. "What happened?" he asked as he glanced at the slowly calming Sideswipe lying beneath Prime.

"You tell us," Prime said looking up with the strain of exertion clear upon him.

Ratchet looked at Bluestreak behind him and Sideswipe next to him, then got it. "The programming … the protection programming. Sunny. He must be in trouble."

=0=The Brig, Autobot City, Mars

He stood silently, listening to the tumult reaching him over their bond. It was massive, a tidal wave of emotions and mindless rage. He absorbed it feeling calm almost at once. It was right what they were doing, it was good and right and he waited for them to do what they had to do. They would protect him, the sparkling and him. He'd be safe now and so he listened as outside the bars Springer, Kup and Ultra Magnus watched with loathing and dread.

=0=The Embassy, Diego Garcia

The buildings all around emptied out as people swarmed to the sound of chaos and murder. They grouped together not willing to come too close and watched as Ratchet moved between the two Autobots that were down and the mechs who were holding them.

Ratchet knelt beside Sideswipe, the mech pinned firmly by Prime. {Sideswipe!} he called out loudly. He repeated himself and finally drew the mech's attention, the streaks of blue in his optics pooling and gathering to replace the white hot rage that was bleeding away as he calmed. He stared at Ratchet for a moment without comprehension, his vents racing as he expelled the heat that had gathered over every square inch of himself during his brief moment of madness.

{Sideswipe!" Bluestreak screamed as he tugged at the servos that held him as he failed to free himself.

Sideswipe hearing Blue cry, screamed himself as he tried to break free.

Ironhide knelt to help Prime hold him as he struggled.

Ratchet rose and hurried to Bluestreak to kneel beside him. {Bluestreak!} he cried out to the gunner looking at him with wild optics. For a moment, Blue struggled and growled, then he fell limp from exertion. He lay quietly with his optics shuttered as he vented heat from his body. Then he on-lined them to look with bewilderment at Ratchet. "Ratchet? What's happening?"

Ratchet arose to walk to Sideswipe who lay quietly with his optics offline. Kneeling, he touched Sideswipe's face turning it toward him.

Sideswipe looked at Ratchet, for a moment uncomprehending, then blinked his optics. "Ratchet?"

Ratchet tapped Prime nodding to the big mech who carefully climbed off.

Sideswipe lay a moment with exhaustion evident, then sat up groggily. He glanced at Bluestreak then rose quickly to stumble toward Blue as he sat dazed on the ground. He knelt and gripped Bluestreak looking him over carefully, sniffing him and measuring him with his optics. "Blue?"

"Sideswipe … where's Sunny? What's happened to Sunny?" Blue said as he rose unsteadily, gripping Sideswipe's arm as he staggered up. They looked around with confusion and fear gripping them then, they moved forward stumbling toward the airfield.

Ironhide blocked their way.

Sideswipe pushed him. "We have to find Sunny!"

"You have to stop," Ironhide said gripping Sideswipe's arms. He noted Ratchet watching them silently, evidently listening to an internal comm. They turned to him and waited

Then Ratchet nodded to himself as he signed off. He turned toward the group. "Sunstreaker is all right," Ratchet said.

The expressions of relief on Blue and Sideswipe were painful to see.

Blue hugged Sideswipe desperately. He looked at Ratchet with confusion on his face. "What's happening? We have to see Sunstreaker."

"I know," Ratchet said walking toward them. "Come to Med Bay with me. Then we'll take care of the rest." He turned to Prime. "This is programming, just like with me and Ironhide. I have to shut it down."

Prime nodded watching as Ratchet tugged on the two mechs.

As they moved away, Sideswipe looked at Prime with an expression of grief and disbelief. "Prime … I don't ..."

Prime cut him off. "Go with Ratchet, Sideswipe. We'll talk later."

Sideswipe looked around himself, then nodded as he slipped his arm around Bluestreak. The two followed Ratchet to disappear into the building.

Everyone stood quietly a moment then the mechs began to disperse.

Lennox and Epps watching nearby walked to Prowl and Prime who knelt and explained what had happened.

=0=Brig, Autobot City, Mars

Ultra Magnus logged off Ratchet's call, then looked at Sunstreaker for a moment in surprise. Of all the mechs he ever knew who would spark, he never figured this one would. It was indeed an accident for it to happen. "Sunstreaker."

The big yellow mech sat on the bunk staring at the floor, his arms crossed in front of his spark chamber. He didn't hear Magnus. His focus was on the bond.

Magnus glanced at Inferno. "Shut off the bars."

Inferno reluctantly complied as Magnus walked inside to sit beside Sunstreaker. He touched his arm gently. "Sunstreaker? Can you hear me?"

Sunny looked b at Magnus. For a moment, he didn't see him and then he did. He nodded.

"Blue and Sideswipe are fine. Do you understand?"

Sunstreaker already knew that. They'd protected him. They'd come to his rescue. He didn't know where they were at the moment but they'd come to his rescue. He nodded.

"We need to get you back to Diego. Come on," he said tugging Sunstreaker's arm.

=0=Med Bay, Diego Garcia

Bluestreak and Sideswipe sat on a med berth with numerous cords plugged into them.

Ratchet watched data flash past on the screens above them and when he found what he wanted he paused the scan. "There it is. It's so archaic it's in the basic foundation codes of our CNA."

"What can you do about it?" Prime asked as he looked at the screen to see only data that he couldn't read.

"I can write and download code that will prevent activation," Ratchet said picking up a small hand held computer.

"Can you download it into everyone? I do not want anything more to happen because of this. We have been lucky so far."

"What did happen?" Prowl asked moving to stand beside Bluestreak, squeezing his servo as he did.

"Apparently, Cliffjumper decided to run his mouth against Sunny and ended up being thrown across the rec room," Ratchet said looking up from his computer.

Prime frowned. "Were there witnesses?"

"Kup and Magnus for a couple," Ratchet said with a grin. "You know the mini-cons. Some of them don't know when to shut their pie holes."

"Sunstreaker is all right?" Bluestreak asked anxiously.

"He is. Funny thing, the moment you two went off he stopped," Ratchet said. "Interesting."

"If you say so, Ratchet," Prime said unamused. "We're sending for Sunstreaker but Sideswipe, we need you to take his shift."

Sideswipe nodded as he glanced at Bluestreak who squeezed his servo.

Prime turned to Ratchet. "Let me know what is possible. I want everyone to get the code unless that violates ethics."

"I don't see how," Ratchet said. "I'll start with Ironhide and me after these two."

Prime nodded then walked out with Prowl.

Ironhide with Orion in the crook of his arm sat nearby watching the show.

Ratchet glanced at them, then grinned. "Taking a break from moving your slag?"

"We're union. Its legal," Ironhide said with a smile.

"Ah. Well then, by all means," Ratchet said with a smirk. He began to download code into Sideswipe and Bluestreak, the two waiting silently as he did. When he was done he removed the plugs. "You're good to go."

Bluestreak nodded with relief then waited for Sideswipe who looked at Ironhide. "Do you think Prime's going to be mad at me?"

"Nope."

Sideswipe grinned in spite of himself, then stood up and walked out the door with Bluestreak.

Ratchet watched them go, shaking his head slightly. "Young love."

Ironhide snorted. "Mating rituals of the young and stupid?"

"Were you never young, Ironhide?" Ratchet asked, grinning at him as he walked to sit on the berth.

"Never," Ironhide said.

"Me neither," Ratchet replied with a chuckle. He plugged in Ironhide and himself, then a slender plug for Orion.

"Him, too?" Ironhide asked watching as his sparkling fussed, his little optics narrowing in displeasure.

"Don't want any scenes in pre-school," Ratchet said with a smirk.

Ironhide smirked back. "No. We don't want that."

=0=Cosmos

He landed on Earth as mechs and cargo were offloaded including Sunstreaker. He was met by Bluestreak and Sideswipe who hugged him and compared notes.

Then as Cosmos prepared to leave, Sideswipe picked up his duffel and weapons to walk up and into the shuttle. He stood at the door until it closed, then walked to the front and sat down leaning against a bulkhead to rest his helm on his knees all the way to Mars.

=0=Lennox, Epps and Graham

They drove in for the weekly meeting but they came early today. Today, they would see the infant. They'd heard only a snippet here and there but no more. Walking across the tabletop, they took their seats to wait.

Autobots were filing in and they chatted as they waited for the rest to show.

Ratchet walked in grinning broadly.

"Hi, Will, Bobby, Niall," he said affably as he settled down in his chair.

"Hey, Ratchet. What happened? Prime told us it was medical," Bobby asked.

"It was. Damned youngin's don't take their supplements," Ratchet said only half telling the truth.

"I'm sure Daniels will have a different spin on it. You might be ready for that when the hearings happen," Niall said.

"I'll be ready," Ratchet said glancing up as Ironhide, Prowl and Prime walked in at last.

Ironhide sat down, his infant firmly in place.

The soldiers seeing it rose, then walked closer.

"Hey, Ironhide," Lennox began. "He has your face. I think."

"What's that in his mouth?" Graham asked peering closely at the infant who was looking back at them with big round optics.

They were his size. Oh joy.

"That's a binky," Lennox said glancing at his partner. "You don't have kids. You'd know that those things are a godsend."

Ironhide and Ratchet grinned, then Ironhide set the infant on the tabletop.

Orion was parked, then looked at them with unblinking optics.

"He's really cute," Lennox said smiling at the two foot and a half foot tall carbon copy of Ironhide who sat looking up at them. He knelt and stroked the infant's cheek touching his finials. "Those are so cute." He looked at Ironhide. "How is it that the same thing on him looks so good, Ironhide and well, you on the other hand ..."

Everyone laughed but Ironhide who smirked. "Ha, ha, Lennox."

"That sparkling is one devilishly handsome little sparkling," Ratchet said defending Ironhide.

"He's going to break sparks some day," Ironhide said proudly. "Pretty near perfect sparkling if you ask me."

"His nose … it's so cute," Epps said squatting in front of the sparkling. "It's pug like yours. But on him it looks good."

General laughter broke out.

Ironhide smirked. "Smart afts."

"What does he look like without the binky?" Lennox asked.

Ironhide leaned forward to turn the infant around. Then he took the binky's ring and began to pull.

Orion clenching down grinned around it thinking his good ole dad was playing. He tugged himself as they tugged back and forth, neither side letting go. Then Ironhide gave it a stronger tug and it came out with a pop.

Orion looking around at the chuckling audience glared at his big old dad with the deepest expression of betrayal and disbelief he could muster. Then with a scrunching of his optics and his little face, he burst into tears. He sat limply, his arms hanging at his side and then fell face first onto his legs to lie limp and wailing.

Ironhide, his optics as large as truck tires looked at his son,, then reached down to lift his chin hoping to sit him back up.

Orion wailed and when Ironhide removed his hand he fell face first back downward.

Ratchet reached out to lift him, settled him in his arm and took the binky to insert it into Orion's mouth. He stopped crying as he sucked on it with relief. He look at his father with the most perturbed expression of disbelief possible before settling down again.

Lennox, Epps and Graham watched Orion, then Ironhide. "Well, we know who wears the pants in this family," Niall Graham said with a chuckle.

Ironhide looked at them, then reached for and took his son back, holding him up to kiss him. "Ratchet wears the pants in our family doesn't he?" Ironhide said with a smile.

Orion looking at him with teary optics smiled around his binky. It was unanimous.