Systems: Onlining

Observatory sensory output: online...Neural net online...Audios online... olfactory online... optics awaiting power.

Energon: Low. Refuel when possible.

Status: Safe...enacting subroutines.

Subroutines: Activated. Beta coding-installed.

Recharge protocols: Overriding—overriding—overridden.

Systems: Online.

I onlined slowly with the feeling of being cocooned in warmth. I was way too comfortable to online my optics as of yet, so I just snuggled further into the warmth.

Something was smoothing gentle circles over my back, massaging into the wires and thin protoform plates to leave a pleasant rippling sensation coursing through my circuits.

A purring noise reverberated through the area I lay in, the noise churning me to my core. I weakly flicked my wings and felt a surge of electricity tickle my circuits before lowering down to a pleasant tingle.

My whole frame was in a state of complete relaxation. I shivered and slowly powered on my optics begrudgingly, after all my chronometer told me that it was close to ten a.m. Earth time and I wasn't sure if Prowl was starting training today or not, so I thought it best to check... after a quick trip to the wash-wracks that is.

I shivered feeling the sticky lubricants from last lunar cycle's activities coating my inner thighs. I stifled a moan as the shifting of my legs sent pleasant tingles to my port. Primus... how was it possible to be this worked up? After all we did last lunar cycle... my fans kicked on in remembrance.

I shifted closer to the silver protoform in front of me, my spark pulsing in perfect rhythm with his. We were one, and that sent a giddy sensation through me. I felt warm air huff over my face-plates, smooth metallic lips kissing my own.

"Good morning."

I heard, the words rumbling gently like thunder next to my audio. The sound of my mate's voice was silky, a sensual purr curling my toes-well the robot equivalent that is.

"Morning." I murmured back, pressing my face-plates against his neck cables. I huffed in his scent, it was thick and spicy. It wasn't mechanical or diesel smelling like it had been as a human, there was something about it that seemed... natural. I couldn't describe it, his own natural scent that was unique to him. It was spicy and intoxicating.

"Mmm we should get up..." I mumbled tiredly, every shift of my hips brought pleasant tingles to my lower abdomen. My parts apparently were well loved last night and they were letting me know it.

"Do you wanna get up? Cause we can." He asked me seriopusly.

I smiled faintly against his neck before bending back slightly to look up at him. I grimaced at the feeling of lubricants sticking and smearing over my legs when I shifted to look up at him.

"I need a wash." I responded, and he looked confused for a moment before his optics brightened and he caught on. Thankfully he didn't laugh or I would have been even more embarrassed.

"Good thing you have a personal wash-wrack built in."

"I do?"

"Of course! You're a femme. We wouldn't make you share the same wash-wracks as us mechs. Unless you wanted too." He dimmed his optics as his last sentence caught a sultry edge.

I laughed softly and nuzzled him. "You're a shameless flirt, almost as bad as Jazz!" I could feel him grin against my shoulder as his own frame shook with laughter. His lip plates nipping at my audio antennae, they sprouted from the sides of my helm and flicked back from a rotary cylinder that was smaller and close to my helm.

In a way the antennae reminded me of feline whiskers, suppose it's fitting with how much I purr or croon. I grimaced. That sounded wrong to even my own audios! I shook my helm and pulled away from Blue to sit up. I'm turning into such a perv. He sat up with me and looped his arms around my waist.

"My aren't you a cuddle bug this morning." I said dryly. Earning myself a spark felt giggle which made me grin.

"Come on, let's get you washed up so the others don't smell it."

I blinked curiously and tilted my helm. I understood the obvious, of them seeing the lubricants that would no doubt show even with my armor considering all the seams it could slip through, but I was confused on how they would smell it.

"Smell it?" I questioned after a moment.

"Haven't you noticed? Our kind have very powerful olfactory-senses, we can pick up on arousal or other such things."

I blinked my optic shutters closed for a moment and then open in surprise. "I hadn't realized that yet."

Bluestreak grinned and lead me to my personal wash-wracks that I hadn't even noticed before. They were connected by a small door to the east wall from my berth. I chirped in surprise when I stepped in, the wash-wracks were large and spacious. It was big enough for a mech Optimus' size and then some.

"Yeah, Hound is the perfect example. His are amplified way more than the rest of us allowing him to be a tracker. He can track prints, scents and other things such as data markings."

I made a soft humming noise while I walked in further, Blue's arm snaked around my waist as he pulled me to the shower area and turned on the hot water.

I jumped being startled before completely relaxing. His servos massaged my protoform with a pink type soap that I hadn't noticed him grab from a rack when we came in. His servos meticulously delving into the wires and seems of my wings, getting grit that I hadn't gotten out yet from taking a couple of drives.

He handed me a cloth and smiled gently. I carefully started scrubbing at my thighs and hips, trying to get off mech fluid and lubricants. I could feel my face-plates heating up. Primus... how did I get his lubricants on my abdomen? I honestly didn't want to know. I shivered at the feeling of his servos gliding across my armor 'washing' my protoform.

"Bluestreak."

"Hm."

"Stop that or-"

"-or you'll what? I didn't hear you complaining last lunar cycle."

My face-plates heated up further. "I've got training!"

"At one and right now it's only ten fifteen."

"But-"

"You're too tense."

I shivered when his denta raked my shoulder, biting down as he pinned me to the wash-wrack wall. His hips grinding against my aft.

"...Blue..." I whimpered; his servos on either side of my hips while mine were braced against the wall. I knew we needed to stop, but Primus he was talented with those hips.

"Relax." The words were growled and smoldered with sexual tension. Hips pressing closer to me as his rod rubbed against my inner thigh. O-oh... I could get used to this.

XXX

I walked quickly to the rec room to grab a cube of energon before speed walking to Prowl's office. I was overheated and my cooling fans were running like crazy.

My vents were hitching sporadically as I thought back to how he had me pinned to the shower wall, my legs wrapped around his waist... I shook my helm and concentrated on where I was going, I didn't need squashed humans at the moment.

I was already ten minutes late. Ten! I quickly gulped down my energon. I was aware that it was not decent, but hey-what was a femme to do? Shoving the half drunk cube into my subspace, I stood in front of Prowl's office fearfully.

"He doesn't bite."

I jumped and whirled around to stare up at the eldest of the three mech door-wingers. He was leaning against the opposite wall with a smirk on his face-plates, and I was willing to bet he knew why I was late.

"I was-we were... I'm so dead..." I stammered.

Smokescreen started laughing; it was the booming laugh of someone who loved life. It made me relax, but only minutely.

"Still nervous around me huh?"

My optics widened as my wings flicked back. "What... how...?"

"Blue mentioned before that you were skittish. I'm not surprised you didn't understand what we were saying, you don't speak Cybertronian."

My optic twitched causing him to smirk. "What are you smirking about?"

"Nothing, I'm just glad he's finally found a mate. We need to talk later though, got some privy information for you-blackmail to be exact. Just in case he ever slags you off."

He winked and sauntered off. Somehow that mech struck me as someone to not irritate, but all in all he seemed nice... and he didn't hate me right off the bat. Sighing, I turned back around and smoothed out my ruffled armor plating. Tensing my wings I knocked.

"Enter."

I swallowed and slowly walked in once the door swished open. I offered a meek smile, but his cold optics made me wish I had Mirage's image-disruptor.

"You're late."

"I know sir. I won't make any excuses because I have none."

"Tardiness will not be tolerated."

I winced and slowly moved to stand behind the chair in front of his desk.

"Yes sir." I murmured quietly, my optics diverted.

"Sit."

I did as told quickly, not wanting to agitate the mech. I learned from experience that he would not take kindly to my 'bull-slag'. His optics were studying me, silence echoing throughout the room.

I would not be the first to speak however, something told me he was looking for something. I wasn't sure what, but I knew he was, so I stayed silent.

"Have you read the data-pad that I sent you?"

"Yes sir."

"At least you can follow one order correctly and not mess it up."

I cringed inwardly, but forced myself to seem aloof on the outside. I felt a sudden flash of anger surge through me. A blast of raw emotion that was not my own.

.:.[anger, protectiveness, worry] Ignore him.:. I realized it was the new spark bond, raw and open like a wound. All my emotions circuiting to Bluestreak and his to me. I quickly clamped down on it awkwardly.

"You have learned of the history of our people, the data-pad I gave you is an in depth data-collection from Alpha Trion himself. However, there is still much to learn about culture, language, and interactions."

At the last word he gave me a steady glance as if to say 'yes, interactions, you could use that lesson well.' I huffed a soft sigh and nodded to him, his digits laced together with his jaw resting on them.

"Ratchet mentioned something about pleasure bots before; I was curious about what that meant." Prowl grimaced and spoke up calmly.

"They were a part of our culture. Unlike here on Earth, we treated interfacing as an art in a way. It was not something to be ashamed of, and if you were seeking a companion you went to a pleasure bot."

So basically they had prostitutes too... except it wasn't taboo for them like it is us... huh... I nodded carefully, thinking over this bit of information.

"What about the young, how were they treated comparatively to humans parenting skills?"

This time he actually gave a flick of his wings, his expression interested. As if I had asked a question that most would have ignored.

"Hmm, back on our home world the young were revered and treated with much respect. Almost as much as our elders. In most cases the creators did not raise the sparkling or youngling; they were raised in a youth sector mostly. They were then exposed to caregivers, guardians and others that were their own age."

"Why were they treated with such respect?"

"Sparklings were rare, they still are. Most bots worked in harsh conditions that caused their frames to malfunction, and in doing so it would not allow them to carry or sire. By the time a spark was created, it extinguished. So those who could carry, or sire, would have the young and put them in a youth sector, away from the dangers of their occupation."

"Was it just this, or was there also some form of social hierarchy that dictated that not everyone could have young."

His optics still seemed cold, but they softened slightly as if looking upon someone much younger than I.

"There was a hierarchy. The Tower bots being up there with the Prime and Senators, rulers of city-states. Most of the working bots were not allowed to have young. However, the higher in the caste system you were the more sparklings you could have."

I frowned at this bit of knowledge, my optics darkening at the idea of somebot not being allowed to have a child because they worked in a lower position. A growl escaped me unconsciously.

"When the Golden Age came though, didn't the whole caste system/hierarchy break apart?"

He dipped his helm in acknowledgment. His optics inquisitive as he watched me.

"Yes, eventually it did. Once it did there was a growth in population, it was tremendous, and our society grew. More culture flourished, sadly like all things there was some... darker aspects to the new found freedoms and cultures."

"The gladiatorial pits." I murmured softly. I had read briefly about those, and frankly I was horrified by how anyone could actually like such a thing.

"Yes. Two mechs that you have met came from that part of society."

I was confused thinking over everyone. My best guesses were Jazz and Ironhide.

"Ironhide and Jazz?"

Prowl smirked and leaned back in his chair to sit up straight. "Sideswipe and Sunstreaker actually. Ironhide was a guardian and Jazz was a cultural investigator."

I thought back to when I had first met them, their glowing predatory gazes and large powerful frames. I shuddered at the idea of them ripping another mech apart for others twisted amusement.

"That is all we have time for today. Meet your new instructor in the main hanger for fighting lessons. Ironhide may teach you about weaponry later however, he is far too rough to teach a femme servo to servo combat." He smiled faintly. Smiled! I smiled back shyly, not sure what else to do, and stood up to leave.

"Autumn."

I turned back to Prowl, his lips quirked in a knowing smirk.

"Congratulations, but I will not go easy on just because you are bonded to my youngest sibling."

I ducked my helm and nearly ran out of his office. Primus, does every bot know?

XXX

I glanced at Blue and snickered, but how could I not laugh? Primus... I can't believe he did those things! It was the fifth time that night that I glanced at him and giggled, when he finally huffed a sigh and stood up to come up behind me.

"What are you giggling about?" He asked calmly, a small hint of curiosity in his voice. The data-pad he was working on for Prowl now forgotten.

I let a slow grin stretch across my lips, my optics glinting in mirth. Confusion glinted in his optics as he tilted his helm, much like the turbo fox's that Hound told me about would.

"Tell me Bluestreak, when did putting your data-jack in a wall socket seem like a good idea? Was it before or after you got electrocuted?" I grinned evilly at his horrified expression.

"What-who-Smokescreen!"

Laughter bubbled up in my vocal processors as I fell back clutching my abdomen. Oh Primus, this is too good! I grinned thinking back to when I went to speak to Smokescreen the lunar cycle before.

I finally finished my training session with Jazz. He was a lot more gentle than Mirage and 'Hide had been, but just as, if not more, scary when angered. I panted lying on the ground; my muscle cords were aching and felt over stretched.

That wide grin was on his face-plates as he laughed. I glared up at him irritably.

"Yeah, yeah... laugh it up."

"Autumn Sweetspark. Dere's a difference. Ahm laughin' with ya, not at ya!"

I simply shot him my best disgruntled look as I stood up.

"Yeah, sure." Even being irritated at him, I couldn't help the soft laughter and smile. His attitude was infectious. So happy and carefree. I grinned and waved a hand at him tiredly

"Gotta meet up with Smokescreen, so I'll see ya later kay?" Jazz grinned and offered me a nod. Turning, I walked out of the main hanger on wobbly leg struts. My whole body was aching, but luckily for me Jazz knew better than to touch my wings or my discomfort levels would have been much worse.

I groaned and rolled my shoulders, my wing joints aching horribly from the tense cords and struts that attached to them. I shivered as the evening air swept over my overheated circuits. Living on an island may be hot usually, but when it was nighttime and there was no sun to alleviate the sea breeze it could get really cold.

I looked around and didn't see Smokescreen anywhere, so walking out farther I stepped off the tarmac and slowly ambled to the oceans edge. Every joint screamed at me to stop moving, but I kept walking until I was further along the shore.

With a great heaving sigh I sat down in the golden sand, illuminated by the last rays of the sun. My optics zeroing in on the dolphins that jumped among the waves. I smiled softly, relaxing at the peaceful scenery.

"So you did come."

I jumped and looked back, a painful groan erupting from my neck struts from all the abuse. I winced and touched my neck cables, looking up at Smokescreen.

His gleaming gold chevron shimmering in the last rays of the light, while his blue, red, and white armor seemed to glow.

"Yes. I came." He smirked and plopped down in the sand beside me; the movement was ungraceful, but the landing was the opposite. Not a single grain of sand was disturbed. I glared at him in jealousy, he merely laughed.

"What did you want to tell me? Something about blackmail and Bluestreak?" I couldn't help but to grin at the idea. Smokescreen smirked and chuckled.

"Yes, you see... I figured you would be quite... interested in knowing some details belonging to Bluestreak's past. You could use them as blackmail against him if the need should ever arise."

I raised an optic ridge and studied the oldest of the Datsuns. Something was telling me that maybe I shouldn't go along with this, but my insatiable curiosity won over.

"Spill."

Smokescreen laughed loudly, his optics bright with mischief. Smokescreen leaned back on his hands, wings spread out to catch the quickly dying warmth. The 38's on his wings and chassis were highlighted by the dimming glow.

"When we were younger we were quite the pair. I was always the troublemaker, getting into trouble for illegal gambling."

I raised an optic ridge in amusement. Somehow that just seemed like something he'd do. I thought with mirth.

"Prowl was the middle youngling, always a tight-aft and abiding by the rules. Then we had sparkling Blue. Prowl was... is... trying to influence him to be well behaved. I always encouraged the... mischievous side of him. I probably shouldn't have now that I think about it, but it's over and done with."

I nodded quietly, watching his expressions with anticipation. I hadn't heard about Blue's past, none of the bots really, so I was cherishing this time with every bit of my spark.

"Well one day our creators, Tripleshift and Sureshot, got him upgraded into his youngling frame. I thought it would be funny to tell him he could talk to the wall if he plugged up to it. Of course the little fragger believed me."

I blinked and tilted my helm curiously. Flicking my wings in silent question for him to tell me what happened. Smokescreen grinned and snickered softly.

"He walked up to the wall one night, and right in front of our creators, he opened up his arm panel and plugged up to the wall socket! Needless to say he electrocuted himself. Our creators were slagged off at me, they always knew it was me. Luckily for little Blue however, the medics could fix his fried systems."

I shook my head and laughed, fully laughed like I hadn't in awhile. I could imagin the whole scenario of Bluestreak stalking up, smiling at his creators, and then doing that. It was too good. I laughed for awhile, Smokescreen chortling beside me.

"I knew I shouldn't have trusted him. Honestly, brothers never tell the truth! They're always up to something! How could I be so stupid as to believe him?"

I tilted my helm, watching Bluestreak pace as he ranted.

"What do you mean?"

"I shouldn't have made that deal! I knew he'd rig the bet!" My optics narrowed in confusion. I knew how Bluestreak was when he got like this; he would ramble and tell me everything, if I asked, without thinking.

"What bet?"

"He bet me that if I bonded with you he would take over your training! But he didn't take over your training and he still told you about my stupid mistakes. He's such a-" That's when he froze; his mouth plates opening and closing like a fish.

I was frozen, unable to comprehend what I had just heard. He bet Bluestreak to bond with me... Everything seemed to swirl and flux. Pain exploding in my chassis, and by the look on Bluestreak's face I knew that he could feel it too.

"You... you... how... I... why would you...?" I couldn't get the words out. I couldn't decide if I should be horrified at the realization or furious. I was stuck somewhere in the middle. I suddenly stood up from the berth and backed away from him. I stumbled and placed a servo over my spark, the familiar feeling of being used shot me clean through.

"Autumn... I didn't bond with you because of the bet, I-"

"You what? You what Bluestreak? Bonded with me because of pity! I thought you loved me, but apparently I put my love and trust in the wrong bot... the worst part is... I can't take it back." I whispered the last parts, my spark clenching in agony.

Bluestreak took a step forward, reaching out to me.

His servo paused at my expression; backing away from him I turned and palmed the door open. When it opened I raced out slamming past a mech, but I didn't pause to check who it was. I could only hear Bluestreak's words in my audio. See his angered expression towards his brother, but somehow it translated to him being angry at me.

I couldn't get his words out of my helm. They bounced around and cluttered my processors. I couldn't compute anything, I couldn't think or vent. After a while found myself outside, my processors realizing that I had somehow gotten to the cliff where the four mechs had landed.

My vents hitched and I fell to my knees and curled in on myself. Betrayal, pain, and fear were the only things I could understand. They were the only things my processors were dealing with. I looked up at the stars and tried to vent, warning signs were entering my field of vision.

Warning: Systems overheating.

Warning: Systems overheating.

Warning: Stasis lock activated in 10 seconds.

I felt my cooling fans hitching whining with the stress, coolant pumping through my systems painfully, while my spark was beating erratically. I could feel Bluestreak trying to figure out where I was, but I just clamped down on the bond and shoved him out.

Primus... I just wish I could offline... how many mechs let this happen and knew? The countdown finally ended and I found myself shutting down. A cold feeling sweeping through my systems as I fell forward, off my knees and on my chassis.

Who else knew? The distant thought wondered through my processors, but I didn't have time to come up with an answer as Stasis Lock drug me into its cool unfeeling clutches.