"English"

::Comm. link::

{Cybertronian}

[HUD notifications/scans]

::Bond conversations::

:Speaker speech:

"Intercom"

Memories/flashbacks/stasis

{:Ghost/apparition speech:}

(Disclaimer: I do not own Transformers; just Filly and my other OC's)

(Authors Note: Hello dear readers, I am so sorry for not posting a new chapter sooner but I have been busy working on other projects as well as dealing with an emotional family crisis. Sadly, said crisis has kept me from focusing my attention on my writing. We recently had to put our baby girl (dog) to sleep. She was diagnosed with congestive heart failure that had also rapidly spread to her lungs, liver and kidneys. I've been on an emotional cyclone these last few days and it's been difficult to adjust to the emptiness that now plagues my heart and our household. She gave my family 11 years of joy, laughter and love and she will be terribly missed. This chapter is for you, little Molly. You now walk along the Rainbow Bridge and though we will miss your happy face, your cute liver nose, your trusting, soulful eyes, your night night nibbles/kisses on our fingers and the WoOoo, woOoo, WoOoo's of your disgruntled growling/barking directed at your brothers when they annoy you, we know you're no longer in pain or suffering with the ailments that plagued your little body. Rest in peace my little Molly. Know that you were deeply loved and will be greatly missed.)

Chapter 11

-A week later-

Following the surprise attack from the Decepticon Seekers, Jazz and Prowl had decided to keep their youngling within the safety of the base until she received some upgrades or training that could further protect her from harm. While she would always have a guardian to accompany her outside, they knew she'd need another form of defense should she find herself separated from everyone else.

While Filly was too young to activate her weapons systems, Prowl and Jazz had agreed to allow her to learn basic servo-to-servo (hand-to-hand) combat from the twins. Their swift reflexes and fighting skills had saved them on multiple occasions during their combatant days in the gladiatorial pits of Kaon and they were happy to be passing their knowledge onto Filly.

At the moment, said femme was in the Lab with them, her Creators, Smokescreen, Optimus, Ironhide and Ratchet while Wheeljack was working on a device that would provide her with an added layer of protection from Decpeticons. In an adorably cute voice, Filly asked, "Whatcha makin' Wheeljack?"

He peered up from his work table and smiled underneath his faceguard, "Well sparklet, I'm making you something that'll keep you safe from those nasty Cons. I hope you'll like it."

"Oh I'm sure I will if it's anything like your holoprojector. I know whatever you make will be amazing."

The scientist couldn't help the 'aww' sound that emitted from his vocalizer. He then looked over at the mechs standing nearby and huffed, "At least someone appreciates my inventions and doesn't assume everything I make will explode."

That remark got most of them to smirk and laugh a little. It's true that many of his inventions had a tendency to explode while some, thankfully, weren't so dangerous. Regardless, Wheeljack was often referred to as a 'mad scientist', but it was always in good humor. "Aw Jack, you know we all appreciate your work," Smokescreen assured with a smile before picking his niece up and setting her on his shoulder so she could better see what Wheeljack was working on.

Within seconds, he finished his project and revealed it to the group. "Autobots, I give you the Gauntlet. With it, Filly will be able to activate a personal shield and block out any sort of frontal attacks made against her. Now, in order for her to activate it, she merely has to hold up her arm like so," he then attached the Gauntlet to his own arm and demonstrated it for the group. Upon doing so, a bright pinkish light appeared and formed a large shield in front of him. "Now, in order to test its full function, I'll need us to step outside and head over to the shooting range. But before we do, I have something I'd like to say," his optics curved into a smile as he looked over at the CMO, "Ratchet, I was the one who took your soldering iron and misplaced it."

His face turned into a scowl as he suddenly pulled a wrench from his subspace, "YOU…" At his obvious response, Wheeljack activated the Gauntlet, to which the light shield immediately appeared and deflected the projectiled wrench, causing it to bounce off and land on the floor with a *CLANG*.

"And that, everyone, is how the Gauntlet is supposed to work, but I still need to test it out on the shooting range. I need to make sure it can withstand heavier firepower."

"Surely we can place it on a test dummy or a drone," Prowl stated. "There's no need to put yourself in danger."

"Ah, but it won't work on a non sentient being or object. I understand your concern, Prowl, but I need to test it. Of course, I do not wish to be on the receiving end of Ironhide's cannons when they're loaded with lethal ammunition, so I'll merely have him fire blanks at me for the time being. With luck, it'll work perfectly and then I can further test it out on heavier firepower. Once I determine that no further testing is needed, I'll get to work making one that will better accommodate Filly's smaller frame."

"So, that one isn't for Filly?" Sideswipe curiously asked.

He shook his helm, "Oh Primus no, this is just the prototype. I intend to make one for every Autobot, but before I do, I need to make sure it'll properly work. I wouldn't send her out equipped with something that was only in the early stages of testing. However, I do have one other gizmo, I had made a while ago, that will provide her with an added layer of protection. If nothing else, it'll help her escape should she find herself separated and in danger." He then pulled out a small, metallic ring and approached Smokescreen (who still had Filly perched on his shoulder), "Would you mind setting her down for me, please?"

He gave a nod and gently placed her on the floor, to which Wheeljack knelt before her and gave a kind smile from under his faceguard, "May I see your wrist for a moment, little one?"

Filly happily smiled and held out her arm, to which he then gently slipped the metal bangle over her servo and lightly tapped the side of it, allowing it to constrict in order to fit her smaller appendage. It was chrome colored and resembled one of those jewelry items human femmes (and some males) wore on their wrists. Bracelets are what they're called. "Oh, it's so pretty Wheeljack. What does it do?"

"Well my dear, why don't you tap the top of it and find out. I think you'll be surprised."

She did as instructed and tapped the top of the bangle, to which she suddenly became invisible. "I can't see my servos anymore, but I can still see all of you."

"Exactly as expected. You are now completely invisible to the naked optic. I was inspired to make this little device after studying Mirage's cloaking ability. I understand some Cybertronians naturally have this ability, but with you being the most vulnerable of our race, you needed something similar in order to give you a fighting chance of survival. Also, as an added bonus, it has a tiny yet powerful tracking device inside it, so if you ever get lost or Primus forbid, captured by the Decepticons, we can pinpoint your exact location from anywhere on Earth and rescue you."

"Wouldn't her energy signature be enough for us to find her?" Sunstreaker noted with a slight tilt of his helm.

Wheeljack shook his helm and glanced over at the yellow frontliner, "Sometimes our signatures can be masked by large influxes of outside interference or covered up if we're in a highly secure location or too far underground. If she were somehow captured, the Decepticons would likely keep her confined within their base so her signature would be completely hidden from us." He then looked over at her creators, "I made this device with the two of you in mind. I figured you both would recharge easier knowing your little femme would be found no matter where she was being held."

"Thanks, Wheeljack. You've certainly put our processors at ease knowin' our baby girl is safer than she already is."

"Agreed," the SIC relaxed his doorwings, indicating his relief. "I now feel confident enough to allow her to freely wander the base without worrying about where she may have stumbled into," he gave Filly a knowing wink which made her happily smile and flutter her winglets as she sent him and Jazz an array of loving vibes through their bond.

Said youngling looked up at the scientist and hugged his leg, "Thank you for making these things for me, Wheeljack. I really appreciate all the hard work and thought you put into them."

"Aww, anytime sparklet," he gently rubbed the top of her helm, making her purr slightly.

Optimus stepped forward and stated, "Your inventions will certainly prove useful to our young femme and our fellow Autobots, Wheeljack. If there's any materials or supplies you require, please feel free to inform me and I will do what I can to provide them to you."

"That's mighty dandy of ya, Optimus, but at the moment I've got what I need. It'll take some time to craft a Gauntlet for each Autobot, but I believe I can finish the project within a few months or so, provided the tests meet all of my expectations and yours."

"I have faith in your abilities, but I will gladly oversee further demonstrations."

"As will I," Prowl noted with a tip of his helm and straightened out his doorwings.

"Me too," Jazz chimed in while sending a loving pulse to his sparkmate, which caused the SIC to faintly smile even though he was trying to remain professional.

"Alright then. Shall we continue this demonstration outside? I'm sure Ironhide is itching to fire some blank rounds at me considering how horribly I beat him at cards the other night."

"You bet your aft, er, I mean, backside…," the weapons specialist then looked over at Filly, "Don't say that word, sparklet."

She smiled and made a zipping motion over her mouth with her digits, "My lip plates are sealed, Uncle Hide."

He emitted a chuckle at the new title she gave him. It was sparkwarming to know she thought so highly of him. While Prowl and Jazz were not fond of his use of profound language in front of their daughter, they appreciated that he pointed out his mistake. Honestly, he was a great role model for any Autobot to follow, but his language was a bit colorful at times. Though he was a tough and intimidating mech, Filly brought out his tender side. What a softie he pretended not to be.