(Please see all previous disclaimers)
As the group of Bots Optimus set out began to try and find Mirage, it was all Mirage could do to listen to the troubled bot who had captured him. Boltlock locked at Mirage. Mirage wasn't shiny, didn't wear a robe, and didn't appear to look like a prince, which confused Boltlock. But, focusing on other things, Boltlock continued. "Yes, I can see the confusion in your optics. You are not the only bot Queen Quartz sparked, just the only one she kept. You see, you have three older siblings, all of us rejected by our family because we weren't perfect."
Mirage listened to the bot, and when he heard last part, Mirage shed tears, as he knew deep inside that wasn't right. He knew no bot should be treated like that. He had no idea his reaction surprised Boltlock.
As for Boltlock, seeing Mirage respond by crying caught the bot a bit off guard. Boltlock wasn't sure if Mirage felt remorse for what he heard had happened or that the bot was just crying to get out of this. And not wanting to guess the answer, Boltlock decided to turn Mirage's vocal processor back on. "I'm sorry" Mirage uttered softly, feeling sad to hear what had happened.
Boltlock didn't take the apology at face value, as he had been deceived before. "What are you sorry for, you privileged brat? That I captured you and forced you to listen to me?"
Mirage shook his head. "No. I am sorry that you and the others were treated so poorly. Siblings or not, no bot deserves to be treated like that. Every bot is created for a reason and a purpose. And glitches or defects are part of every bot, some are just more visible or obvious than others" Mirage replied, in all honesty. He believed that all bots deserve the right to exist and be part of a family if they chose to, regardless of what kind of family it was.
Boltlock was still a bit stunned. "You talk a good game, but how do I know I can believe you?" Boltlock asked.
Mirage could only think of one thing. "Yes, I was sparked a royal, but my closest friends, counselors and guards are minibots. They are some of the bravest bots I know" Mirage stated, as all knew having a royal bot selecting big burly bots was the thing.
"You chose Minibots?" Boltlock asked, having lost some of his aggressive vim and vigor.
"Yes, and I continue to pick them in a spark beat" Mirage replied. "If you would kindly untie me and take me back to the Autobot base, I could make sure that you find a place and if we have any other living siblings, I would be willing to do the same." Little did Mirage know one of his unknown siblings had been a Decepticon, but now no longer wanted to live that life.
"Would you really do that?" Boltlock asked, as he was hiding the other two siblings with his powers of Illusion. He would only reveal them if this was true.
"I mean every word of it" Mirage answered, unaware of the Con presence.
Boltlock nodded and then revealed the other two bots. One was a femme with three arms who also had a con insignia and the other was a mech who only had one wing in his form because he had one arm that was Much shorter and smaller than the other. Mirage was a bit surprised, and grew a bit defensive. "Be aware, I am sparked" Mirage stated, fearing the femme.
Boltlock noticed. "Why do you fear her?"
Mirage wasn't sure if he should answer honestly but he did. "I see the con insignia, and because I am the mate of our Prime, I fear she is under direction of the destroyed Megatron to kill all Autobots" Mirage answered, shocking Boltlock as he had no idea about the war or difference in insignias. He didn't know the Prime and the mate of the Prime had been huge targets of Megatron and the Decepticons.
The femme then spoke. "Because I was ditched by my family long ago, I thought that by joining the Decepticons I would be accepted. I was in too deep before I realized I had picked the wrong side." And with that, the femme, named Nighthawk, went over to free Mirage, trusting he would not hurt her.
Once freed, Mirage rubbed his sore frame and then said one thing, "let us go back and find places for you all." And with that and a lot of hope and concern, they four headed out. Mirage just hoped his mate would accept this bots.