"Some call it chaos, we call it family."

- ?

Another day, another shanix. Except, I'm not getting paid for this.

Moonracer blinked her optics and stretched out on her berth. She vented, then returned to a more relaxed position. She felt she could stay like that all day, but knew better than to fantasize such a thing.

Wordlessly, Moonracer swung her legs over the berth side and jumped onto the floor, landing perfectly on her pedes. She stretched again before leaving her room, instinctively grabbing a data pad on her way out.

The hallway lights shone dimly in the early morning hours, only making things visible enough for the ship's occupants to be able to see where they're going. Moonracer didn't mind; it's not like she was tending to a patient at the moment. Instead, her gaze was locked on the information listed in her data pad: medical reports, notes, etc. She didn't need to worry about walking into any of the mechs, either, as they are all usually still in recharge at this hour.

Usually being the key word here.

With faceplate buried in her work, Moonracer entered the galley for her first Energon cube of the day. She grabbed an empty cube and filled it a little more than halfway, being careful not to let the Energon reach the top, or better yet, overflow. Energon in one servo and data pad in the other, Moonracer was more focused on not dropping either than anything else. She wasn't worried about tripping, though; she did this every morning and her systems were used to it.

Moonracer took a sip of Energon and scrolled to the next part of the report that she was reading. Her legs carried her to her usual spot in the galley: a couch-like accommodation in front of one of the ship's windows. She was about to sit when she felt something move. Not expecting anything, Moonracer jumped and turned around, nearly dropping her Energon cube and data pad in the process.

Someone was lounging in her spot, holding a large cube of Energon in one of their clawed servos.

"Problem?" Steeljaw asked, smirking.

"By the Primes, Steeljaw," Moonracer vented. The mech tried to get up, but the femme shoved him back down. "You nearly gave me a spark-attack! Why didn't you warn me?"

"My apologies, but a part of me couldn't resist."

"Hmm… I think you've been spending a little too much time around Knockout. I would've expected something like this from him, not you."

"Should I be offended?"

Moonracer couldn't stay mad at Steeljaw. She laughed and took a seat next to him.

"I don't think so," Moonracer mused, putting her data pad down in favor of holding her Energon cube with both servos. "So, what are you doing up so early?"

"I could ask you the same thing, but I'm sure I could think of a few reasons why," Steeljaw answered. "As for me..."

It didn't take long for Moonracer to notice that Steeljaw's acting the same way he was back on Phoria. She reached over and placed her servo on top of his. Steeljaw stilled his arm and looked at Moonracer.

"Excuse me for prying, but it wouldn't happen to have anything to do with… the mech you mentioned back on Phoria, would it?"

Steeljaw didn't answer for quite a while. He stared at Moonracer for a bit before returning to his Energon cube. Moonracer quietly vented and did the same. They sat in silence for what felt like hours.

"And if it does?" Steeljaw whispers, just barely loud enough for Moonracer to hear. She stops reading, shutting the data pad off and placing it next to her empty cube.

"I guess it all depends on you," Moonracer said. "I know you don't want to talk about it, and I respect that, but I can't help wondering why you won't talk about it."

Steeljaw, once again, didn't answer immediately. He drank the rest of his Energon and set the now empty cube down.

"Nobody seems to know about that part of my life… about him… and I very much hope with all my spark to keep it that way," Steeljaw explained. "Don't ask me why; it's just how I want it to be. For now, anyway."

Moonracer's gaze did not stray from Steeljaw. Even though he wasn't looking at her, she could still see something lurking behind his yellow optics. A secret from his past, and one he was hellbent on not letting out.

"Alright, then," Moonracer vented. "I promise I won't ask again. Unless it's for medical reasons, of course."

"Of course," Steeljaw replied, taking Moonracer's words quite well.

The femme and mech smiled at each other.

Before she knew it, Moonracer curled-up against Steeljaw's chassis and closed her optics, drifting into a light recharge.

C'mon, Moony! You got this!

Breakdown, my big, handsome, conjunx-endura, as much faith as I have in our dear little Moonracer, there's no way she's going to punch that thing hard enough to break it!

Would you rather she punch your faceplate?

By the Allspark, absolutely not!

Then for both our sakes, I suggest keeping that pretty little mouth of yours shut for the time being.

What do you mean 'for both our sakes'? I'm the one who'll get damaged here!

Yeah, and who's gonna help ya get back to looking perfect?

Ah... well... you are, I suppose. However, I know you'll love every nanoklik of it!

Promisin' some pleasure on my end as well, doc?

If you want, but only if you do the best of jobs!

As always, my perfect, little red love.

Hey! Love bots! Stop making out over there and watch this!

"OW!"

A combination of her fist connecting with something solid and someone yelling forced Moonracer awake. She leaped out of Steeljaw's lap and swerved around. That's when she noticed the other mechs standing in the now brightly lit galley. Knockout was off to the side, hunched over with servos covering his faceplates. Behind him, closer to the doorway, was Starscream, laughing hysterically, and Bumblebee.

"K… Knockout, are… are you alright?" Bumblebee stammered, struggling to keep his own fit of laughter under control.

"OF COURSE I'M NOT ALRIGHT! MOONRACER PUNCHED ME IN THE FACE!" Knockout yelled.

It looked like Starscream wanted to say something, but couldn't with all his laughing. He nearly doubled-over, he was laughing so hard.

"Stop laughing, Starscream! It's not funny!" Knockout snapped, turning his rage on the Seeker.

"Yes, it quite is!" Starscream somehow managed to choke-out.

"STARSCREAM!"

Soon, it turned into a game of Cat and Mouse, with Knockout chasing Starscream out of the galley and around the rest of the ship. Bumblebee composed himself and joined the chase, leaving a baffled Moonracer and Steeljaw behind.

silence

even more silence

silence continued

"Scrap," Moonracer said, finally breaking the silence. Steeljaw added to it with his own little bit of laughter.

"Why don't I give you a minute to recover from… that?" Steeljaw proposed. "I'll temper the beasts for you."

"Uh…"

"Ah, yes, I keep forgetting. You wouldn't know, but it's an Earth saying… at least, I think it is. Oh well. Sounds like something they would say, anyway. I'm sure you get the point, regardless."

Gathering the empty Energon cubes, Steeljaw put them away and exited the galley, leaving Moonracer alone with her thoughts.

I punched him. I punched Knockout. In the faceplates.

processor reloading

Scrap.

Moonracer, having come back to her senses, collected her data pad and headed for the bridge. She wanted to check the equipment, as well as see if they were any closer to a planet, either for exploration or Energon. When she reached the bridge, the door automatically unlocked for her.

"STEELJAW! LET US OUT!"

"TURN THAT THING OFF, WILL YOU? I'M GETTING A MAJOR PROCESSOR ACHE HERE!"

"You mean being punched in the faceplates wasn't bad enough? Ha! I knew you were overreacting!"

"I swear to Primus, Starscream, as soon as I get out of here..."

"Will you two stop arguing for just a minute, please? Steeljaw, turn your device off, now!"

"Now, now, Lieutenant. I'll let you out once you've calmed down."

"How on Cybertron do you expect me to calm down when I'm stuck listening to the disaster twins?"

"'Disaster twins'?"

"We are not disasters! Well, at least I'm not. Scream, however…"

"Don't you dare finish that sentence, Knockout!"

Well, there's always later.

Moonracer turned around and left the mechs to their squabbling.

The rest of the day was mostly spent in peaceful bliss: wandering the hallways; cleaning + organizing the med-bay; checking the news pad every so often. Moonracer found it all quite relaxing.

The mechs took off on another planetary exploration mission a few hours ago. They located a new planet and were itching to get back in the field, especially Steeljaw. After the very real living nightmare that was the planet Phoria, everyone made sure Steeljaw took it easy, even going so far as to help him around the ship or keep him company during the entirety of a mission. The whole experience, as weird and terrifying as it was at first, turned out to be a good thing; it brought the mechs closer together.

Now, Moonracer doesn't worry so much about them purposefully killing each other. Accidents are another story; she doesn't have much control over those kinds of things, especially when all four get involved.

Like this morning.

Moonracer, however, couldn't resist the lingering amusement she got out of witnessing a part of that whole debacle.

Knockout was about to tear Starscream a new one for laughing at him.

Bumblebee tried to keep the red medic from turning the Seeker into a pile of scrap metal.

Steeljaw utilized one of his sub-sonic devices and trapped Knockout and Bumblebee in an audio-distorting sound barrier, separating the Grounders from Starscream, who was unaffected due to being a Flight-Frame.

It was all harmless… somewhat.

Bumblebee and Knockout's systems were slightly damaged by the effects of Steeljaw's device, but they were minor and would recover on their own. Moonracer did spend a little extra time fixing the dent her fist left in Knockout's helm. She quickly apologized before the two of them started trading insults and jabs at one another.

More harmless yet passive-aggressive interactions.

BEEP!

Moonracer flinched. She was receiving a call from one of her teammates.

Huh. It's been so quiet around here, I nearly forgot about them. Well, time to see what they need.

Moonracer left the med-bay, data pad in-servo, and made her way to the bridge. She didn't stop and wait as the doors opened and walked on over to the communications console. She linked her communicator with that of the ship's and patched the call through.

"H..." Moonracer began, but one letter was all she could get out.

"OPEN THE DOOR!" Four sets of voices all yelled in unison.

Moonracer was stunned into silence for only a few seconds. She cut the call and activated the opening mechanism for the hangar doors, then departed the bridge, processor a complete blank. She had no idea what to expect… and once she saw it with her own optics, she couldn't believe it.

"I still can't believe it. How in the name of Velocitron…"

"Trust me, Moonracer, you're going to want to quit while you're still… OW!"

"I said it once and I'll say it again: I do not and will not take any of your scrap, Knockout! And the same goes for the rest of you!"

The mechs did the smart thing and kept their mouths shut while Moonracer efficiently, albeit aggressively, tended to their injuries.

Of all the bolt-brained things they could've done, they had to get that close to a youngling without looking for its creator first. Of course, it's just my luck that I'm stuck with a bag of bolts.

Moonracer finished treating Knockout and wandered over to her desk. She picked-up a data pad and started filling it out with information regarding her former mentor's condition. While working, Moonracer would occasionally take a gander at the row of resting mechs.

Her mechs.

Her chaotic quartet of stubborn mechs.

They may seem to lack a processor every so often, but I still love them.

Moonracer turned off the med-bay lights and left the mechs to get a good night of recharge. She returned to her quarters and immediately passed out on her berth.