In a dark room at the highest point in Darkmount, Megatron sat on his hard-won throne. Previously, the Lord of Koan had claimed this seat. Until Megatron… relieved him of his lower half. And his helm. Instead of dismantling the sign of power, the gladiator took it for himself. Since then, no mech wanted the color of the death throne. Around him stood his current Generals, the ones he still had use for, and his most trusted officers. Soundwave, a silent shadow behind him with Shockwave's face illuminated above the center of the room. Starscream and his trine stood off to his other side. Megatron rolled his optics at the continued snarky grumbles and the failed attempts at keeping the annoyingly useful seeker quiet.

The war, for it was a war despite what the fools in Iacon called it. was still fought in the back alleys and backroads. The higher elites still, very foolishly, think that all they had to do was send the Enforcers in and be done. The only one taking him seriously was the weak Prime and that little flyer. Megatron remembers the mech, Ichigo, when he was still in the Rings. Far too noble for his taste, far too much like Orion, like Optimus Prime. It came as no surprise when news reached him that the two ended up as brothers. Megatron stamped down on the betrayed feeling, of how easily he was replaced.

Megatron frowns, Orion had been naïve, yet he was fond of the dock worker. A mech who dared try to reach beyond his station, even if it was only to work for the archives. Yet that mech became Prime and Megatron felt more enraged. To become Prime, Orion had to die. Never mind that Megatron had shot the small mech before he was taken away. Yes, Megatron knew who Optimus Prime had been, the Metrix could change a mech, but it could not change a mech's spark.

"Is the report so boring to you Lord Megatron that you rather sleep?" Starscream's nasally voice grated against Megatron's audio. "Perhaps we should adjourn this trivial meeting another time."

The two seekers behind the mech sighed and stepped back. Far to use to their trine leaders' words and their consequences. Megatron spared a small thought at why they stayed with the mech.

But to everyone's surprise, Megatron only snorts, "Continue Shockwave," he rumbles.

"Of course, my Lord," the one-eyed mech nods. The reports continue with the added report of certain projects. All boring and truly something that no one mentions when stories of rebellion Leaders are told. Starscream had started a trivial meeting. Until…

"Our associates in Praxis have reported the capture of the Primes Third in Command and his Honor Sibling."

"Oh?" Megatron huffs, he knows of the slippery Third in Command. It should be surprising that they managed to keep him. Soundwave hands him a datapad with a news report and the Prime's response. How interesting. He felt a little vindictive when adding a few new orders to the datapad. The slippery little mech would have some useful information. One of his spies should be able to get something out of the mech.

Starscream scoffs, "You mean they had the little shrimp. From what I found the pest beat the slag out of them and escaped." He picks his talons smirking at the surrounding Generals, "The Primes optics have locked onto Praxis." He flicks unseen dirt, "Your trust in those land lovers has been a waste."

Megatron hums, he hates to admit it, but the seeker had a point. Praxis has of yet kept their side of the bargain. The promised influx of soldiers and test subjects has yet to arrive. He tunes out the grumbles of his minions as a plan begins to form.

Then he smirks, "Shockwave?" His sudden voice silences the room.

"Yes, my Lord?"

"You have expressed interest in that little flyer, yes?" an evil grin splits his face.

Shockwave tilts his helm, "Yes I find his spark to be interesting and the youngling twins he keeps by his side."

Megatron had also expressed curiosity at the idea of twins. Ichigo should have been offline that orn, yet he hadn't, and his twin has not been seen. Shockwave had theorized that the two had merged for Ichigo to survive. Something that should never have been possible. He could care less for the younglings but they could be used to keep Ichigo in his place. A bargaining chip for the bargaining chip. Optimus would do anything to have his dear brother returned to him.

"And as Starscream has said Praxis has lost its usefulness." The large gray body rose gracefully stalking toward the map of Cybertron. Ignoring the glare, the flyer sent him. " A useless playpiece has no value and must be taken care of before it brings the rest of the playboard down."

"And, what do you suggest we do oh Mighty Lord Megatron?" the gray mech resisted the urge to harm the seeker, he needed him…for now.

"So, what does a medic do when a part has lost its usefulness?" he clenches his fist turns it sideways, and crushes the data pad he had been holding.

As the answer caught on chuckles filled the room. " I find that we can hit three Piper Pigeons at once. Starscream prepare your armada. We will raze Praxis to the ground and send the whole of Cybertron our message. A message and a threat. Let that strutless Prime see how powerless he is when a city falls and…" he chuckles, "to feel the loss of his dear brother."

Megatron leaves the planning to Armorail. He had another project that needed his attention. "Soundwave with me."

"Yes, Lord Megatron."

"I have a special mission for you." Megatron grins. His plan will be an effective distraction. Soundwave didn't take long to download the mission details.

"It will be done, Lord Megatron."

Leaving Soundwave, the Lord of the Decepticons reentered the war room. More details are being added to their new plan. One he signed off on himself. After all, there was more than one way to break a mech. Even those who were strong-willed.

Ichigo sat hidden among the crystal gargoyles. The old architecture of the centuries-old temple made blending in easy. High towers with jutting arches casting shadows made his choice of hideouts easy to pick as it was close to the Enforcer station that Ichigo knew held Barricade. It had been tricky to get that information. Ichigo had to rough up some other Enforcers that were of the same station as Barricade. He left them safely tucked away with their distress beacons on.

Getting into the station and getting the mech out was the great question of the hour. Ichigo still had no idea if Jazz had escaped or not. He hoped that he did in either case. Ichigo wasn't looking forward to trying to break out two mechs.

…Maybe he should try pinging the mech before trying anything.

Then again, he would never leave someone in dire straits. Even if he had only known Barricade for a short time. If he brought him back to Iacon then Prowl wouldn't be alone. At least that was his reasoning for not leaving the mech behind. Barricade is in this situation because of Ichigo in the first place. He couldn't just waltz in, not with his face plastered all over. Sneaking in wasn't off the table but being stealthy wasn't his forte.

Sounds of heavy-duty engines draw his focus back downward. Several enforcers and one large transport vehicle are parking outside the prisoner entrance/exit doors. The Transport was not sentient as two more Enforcers jumped out the front and one from the back. Either they were there to pick up Barricade or someone else. Either way, Ichigo may not have to worry about sneaking in and risking getting offline. If it wasn't Barricade, then he could use the distraction to get in and find the mech. A ping to his internal coms had him stalling. Checking who it was Ichigo sighs and lets the call through.

"Ichigo!" Sideswipe's cheerful, new, deep voice greets him.

"Sides, how is the upgrade?"

"Good; good, great even. Sunny really likes it. He has been paint shopping almost non-stop."

"Can't find the right shade?"

"Yep! Ratchet had to threaten him constantly to recharge. Ironhide took over our training. I'm glad you weren't here to see us. Too much blackmail." Ichigo grins at Sideswipe's laughter. He could imagine it, he was a bit sad that he couldn't have seen it himself.

Keeping one optic on the gathering down below Ichigo lets Sideswipe chatter on and on about the happenings of Iacon. Until near the end when he asks one simple little question.

"Sooooo, Ichigo; who is Ratchet hiding in the back rooms of his lair?" Sideswipe asks innocently.

Ichigo having expected the question, it was Sideswipe after all, just chuckles, "That's…a secret." He smiles at the audible pout from the new red mech. The happy air dampens when Ichigo is drawn back downward. A commotion was echoing upward. "Hey, I have to cut this call Sides."

"What! Ichigo why?"

"I can't explain right now but I'll be home soon, don't make Ratchet weld you to the med-berth okay. Bye."

"Wait!"

Ichigo quickly kills the call and blocks all incoming pings that weren't Ironhide or Jazz. The Enforcer caravan was dragging an unconscious Barricade towards the transport. Someone was leaking energon from the bright blue trail Ichigo could see. He sort of hoped Barricade was able to get a hit in before being knocked out. He takes to the air when the caravan pulls out and more Enforcers surround the transport. What Ichigo was thinking of doing was stupid, even for him, but he had seen done plenty of times in the movies and he was fast. It could work.

He had to wait until the transport reached max speed, then fly high enough that when he went into a dive he could slam into the top of the transport enough to make it stop or flip on its side. He was expecting to get a lot of dents but hopefully none too bad that he couldn't get him and Barricade away. Thankfully and unexpectedly, fog had been forecasted but it was heavy, and Ichigo could hardly see his hand in front of his face. His vizor was still damaged from being knocked around. He couldn't use the anti-fog function or any other sight-based functions at this time. And one of his optics has been acting funny. It wasn't focusing like it should. Yet he could still see out of it.

While he was sure that his depth perception was not one hundred percent. Ichigo was confident that he could pull this off. Yet something niggled at the back of his mind. He had been catching himself looking above him and behind him. He was feeling uneasy as if a hollow was hunting him and he couldn't see it. He knew it was there, yet he couldn't detect what was making him so nervous. For now, Ichigo felt there was nothing he could do about it but keep checking his surroundings. He put his focus back on getting Barricade. Ichigo was ready to shoot upward when that feeling of wrongness hit again. He hesitated, for once that hesitation saved him. As something whizzed by his helm.

Then…everything exploded.

The sound of screams had Ichigo looking towards the huge crystal only to see the tallest spire fall. Crashing, screaming, like someone took a large box of glass and metal and threw it off a building. It had sent shivers over Ichigo's wings. He dove down as more things shot by his helm and frame. Someone was shooting at him! More explosions, more screams, and Ichigo warred within himself. Barricade's transport stood frozen as the city around came crashing down. They only unfroze when their caravan became the next target and the transport with Barricade in it was sent flying flipping over serval times before it landed on its roof.

That got Ichigo to move and as the Enforcers ran Ichigo ripped the doors open. He ignored the grayed frame of the Enforcer and yanked Barricade's restraints. The mech was dazed with a deep dent in his helm. Ichigo checked him quickly, if he had internal injuries, he would have to be gentler in moving him because they couldn't stay there.

"Alright, Hey Barricade I need you to wake up okay. Come on mech we need to move," Ichigo urgently. Shrills whistled as much larger things started to fall. The buildings around them broke and fell crushing any still beneath them. Ichigo tried to ignore all; it wasn't working.

Barricade looked to becoming more coherent and Ichigo didn't hesitate to lift him up throwing him over his shoulder. Once he was sure that Barricade wouldn't fall off, Ichigo ran. He could fly, he should fly them out…but he didn't know who was attacking them. How many were lying in wait hidden in the overcast sky. He tried to avoid the panicked crowds that were pushing and trampling any of those too slow to run. Then as fast and suddenly it had started it stopped.

The silence was worse than the bombing. The panicked mechs slowed down after noticing how quiet it was. It didn't last long, the air was filled with cries for help, the names of lost loved ones, and orders from the first responders. Ichigo slowly trudged towards a hastily built tirage tent. The larger mech was lifted off his shoulders before Ichigo could get a word out someone gently pushed him onto a berth.

"Hold still, you have shrapnel sticking out of ya!" a medic snarled.

"Your one to talk!" Ichigo shot back. He hadn't felt anything hit him.

"Well yeah, I like to see how you look after a building falls on ya," the medic zapped all the small wounds. "Your lucky, nothing majorly wrong with ya. You can go."

"What about my friend?" Ichigo stood trying to see beyond the medic.

The medic softens, a bit, "He was worst off. Most likely be transported out to one of the other cities for treatment. Check with his station if you want to know where." The medic left. He had other patients to see too.

Ichigo steps out of the tent watching as small open-air transport starts lifting up, the limbs of the occupants hanging over the sides. He watched as he walked until he was accidentally bumping into people. Once he found a place to stop his frame decided it was time to show him how it was feeling. Achy, alone the small wounds wouldn't have bothered him, but with so many Ichigo wanted to get home and curl under a thermal blanket and sleep.

: Yo: Ichigo calls up Ironhide.

: you…you damn piece of future scraplet droppings:

: That was a very tame thing to say: Ichigo snickers: Why such the tone down and anything from Jazz:

: Where are You: Ichigo could hear the question asked through clenched denta. Jazz wasn't mentioned but that might be good news in this situation.

: uh some destroyed park; I'm not sure right now: and he didn't, he had been wandering around helping where he could before finding a park. To the left of him was a small gathering of adults and sparklings. Most likely waiting for the parents to come find them. The sparklings all had matching yellow bands on their door wings.

:…You will be happy to know that everyone is highly upset with you and Optimus is coming on the next available ship to drag your little aft home, by your wings if he has to: and ouch, Ichigo would be lucky to be allowed to leave the Primal Estate alone after this.

: I will be happy to get home, everything hurts right now: his wings gave an unhappy twinged.

: What happened youngling: Ironhide sounded worried and in the background, Ichigo could hear Ratchet grumbling.

: What hadn't happened, I was lucky, small wounds by shrapnel. Barricade, I don't know. The medic said that he was being transported to another city: Ichigo sighed, waiting as Ironhide reported to the muttering medic. No doubt already have a berth with Ichigo's name on it. : Hey Ironhide could you find out if Barricade made it: Ichigo pleaded.

Ironhide sighs over the com: sure kid. Just stay put we'll be there to pick you up:

: And Jazz:

At this, Ironhide snorted: the little scraplet managed to get out before the bombing. He's stuck outside however and is having trouble getting back in:

Well, Ichigo groans, it would figure: I get it:

: Stay: Ironhide orders before the comm shuts off.

"What am I a dog," Ichigo grumbles in Japanese. He leans back wanting to take a small nap…

(gasps)

A small whisper of a gasp sounded near his left leg. He doesn't move his frame but tilts his helm to the side and opens one optic. Staring at the small wounds in worry was a tiny little yellow banded sparkling. Ichigo saw no reason to disturb the kid so left him alone. Until he felt little hands start to prod him.

Before Ichigo could speak, however, "Bluestreak!" a hurried frazzle-looking femme comes running up to them. "Don't wander off and don't go touching mechs you don't know without their permission," she scolds.

The little guy drooped and nodded. Ichigo sighs knowing his naptime was still long off. "It wasn't a bother. He was likely worried at seeing so many welds, right little guy?"

The sparkling blinks bright white optics at him, then smiles and nods. Ichigo tilts his helm; he has never seen someone with white optics before. Then again, now that he was looking, every sparkling that was now staring at them had white optics.

'Huh, something to ask about later,' "Really it didn't bother me. I was just trying to take a nap before trying to get back home." Ichigo gave a friendly wing flick, "Though she is right kid, don't go approaching strangers, never know what they might do."

The sparking nods before running back to his group. The femme sighs, "I'm still sorry that you were disturbed," she looks at him tilting her helm, "If you don't mind, where are you from?"

"Iacon was here on a business trip and visiting a friend. He got sent out earlier."

The femme's doors wilted, "I'm sorry."

Ichigo waved her off, "We were still lucky compared to some." He looks over at the younglings and sparklings, "Looks like you have your hands full."

The femme grimaces after looking over her shoulder, "Yes. Only a few caretakers came but most are our center's permanent residents."

"Permanent?"

The femme bobbed her helm, "Yes, we are one of Praxus' few full-time Youth Centers. We take care of any sparklings or younglings up until they reach full maturity. Some are there only for an orn while others sadly stay with us until adulthood."

"Ah," what could Ichigo say to that, Koan didn't have Youth Centers unless one counted the gladiatorial Rings.

"Thankfully all our younglings escaped uninjured, but our facility was badly damaged. We thought it was safer out here than back there. Our Headmaster is currently trying to find a place to stay."

Ichigo was hearing what she wasn't saying, and the thought was worrying. "What about the other Youth Centers?"

The femme glanced over her group before leaning in close to Ichigo. "We've only been able to contact one other before the comms went static. None of us have been able to get in contact with anyone in the city. Or even each other."

Ichigo felt cold, but he was able to get ahold of Ironhide earlier. Silently he tried his old friend again. He clamped down on his emotions when his comms spat out static. The same thing happened when he tried Jazz who was closer and had a special comm suit. "That is very concerning, Maybe the towers got damaged?"

The femme nods though the fear that flashes briefly over her face shows that she did not believe it. Ichigo knew that he could leave, he had seen most other flyers take to the air some during the attack. Though…Ichigo had been getting looks ever since the attack. The femme had looked at him with fear before they began conversing.

"Hey…

"Oh, you may call me Toner."

"Toner, who attacked us; I have been getting a lot of looks and I-

"Oh, Oh my I'm so sorry. This must be confusing, but um, from the rumors I've heard was that the Decepticons attacked us with seekers from Vos. But those are just rumors. I mean Vos is our sister city they wouldn't attack us…right?"

Ichigo didn't say anything, he knew what Optimus suspected and what he was suspecting. He wouldn't put past Megatron to use a city to make a statement. Another wave of cold hit him and a more chilling and terrifying thought.

This attack wasn't over.

Ichigo stood quickly startling Toner and a few others eavesdropping. "We need to leave." He grabs Toner by the arm and nearly drags her back to the youngling group. "Get your charges and find shelter. This attack isn't over something worse is coming."

Toner was justifiably frightened by this stranger just suddenly saying that the attack wasn't finished. But Ichigo was amazed when the femme nodded raced out of his grip and started rounding up her charges. Those who had been hanging around started to run away in fear. Ichigo hoped he hadn't accidentally started a stampede. He was thinking about how this could get worse when the mech helping Toner fell. No sound just fell to the ground. Everyone stood frozen at the down mech, even the younglings watched on in fear. Ichigo kneeled to check on the mech but he stood back up once seeing the hole in the mech's helm. Looking up to see Toner the femme's optics were bright.

"We need to move now!" Ichigo snatched up Bluestreak and another sparkling while the other adults grabbed the smaller sparklings and ran for it. the younglings grabbed on the closest mechs as the park became a killing field. "MOVE!"

Ichigo threw a youngling on his back so they could move faster. Bluestreak was the only one not screaming and if they weren't running for their lives. More gunfire and something heavier stirred more panic and dust clouds. Ichigo ducked into an ally when he lost sight of Toner when a bomb landed between them. The yellow youngling was hiccupping holding back his tears while Bluestreak stood quietly with the red and gold sparkling clung to him. Ichigo leans against the wall of the alley, his shoulder and wing stinging.

Thankfully the dark alley and the debris cloud hid them. It wouldn't last for long, however after that Ichigo would have to find somewhere to hide the kids. He didn't know the part of the city they ended up in. If they were on the other side where he had scouted, he would have them heading towards one of the exits. Here, however, he didn't know if there was an exit close by or if it wasn't guarded or blocked. He let them rest longer before he was forced to move again. He looks up as more seekers fill the sky.

"I could really use the backup now."

Optimus storms out of the Senate Hall his field lashing out at everyone. For once he did not care who saw him. Ratchet and Ironhide were the only ones who dared to approach him. Those who were new to his entourage stayed well behind the two older bots. One young mech with door wings was looking particularly nervous as he followed Ratchet. Optimus threw his doors open and hadn't waited for them to shut before he started shouting.

"How dare they!" he threw a datapad into the wall. The force of the throw and the sound of a breaking datapad startled the young mech and for a moment Optimus regretted scaring him before remembering what had happened.

"What exactly did they say?" Ironhide asks.

"The Senate refuses to help Praxus in their time of need, stating that they brought this on themselves."

"In short, Praxus is the sacrificial lamb. And since Ichigo is there it's killing two dymetal ducks with one shot," Ratchet growls.

"They have blocked my attempts to send the Primal Guard and the Autobot army," Optimus growls glaring out the window and slamming his fist into the wall. "As if they didn't know my brother was in the middle of a Decepticon attack!"

"There are bunkers!" the voice startled the bots, "Praxus…it has bunkers from before the Golden Age. They are still operational."

Optimus looks from under his arm at the small door-winged mech. "Would the civilians know of them?" he asks quietly.

The mech, Prowl, dipped his doors and helm, "Not all," he looked sadly away, "Mostly nobles and those considered Elites, But there were some that we told the Youth Centers about. Barricade said that they did drills with the younglings. But they're not on any maps."

The Prime turns towards the once Enforcer, "And why is that?"

Prowl shrunk under those blue optics freezing in fear. Ironhide smacked the Prime ignoring the scandalized look of Prowl and the other mechs in the room. "Ya scaring the youngling!"

Optimus slumps his shoulders, "My apologies Prowl. I let my emotions get the best of me."

Prowl wouldn't meet the Primes optics and he scooted closer to Ratchet, "I understand sir." He didn't see the sad look the Prime gave him but thankfully it wasn't remarked on. "Those unknown bunkers were used by smugglers sir. Only a few Enforcers know of them, and we try to let the Youth Centers know. If Ichigo manages to find them, he would be somewhat unharmed."

Ratchet tilts his helm, "Somewhat?"

"Ah, the bunkers are old sir, there hasn't been much maintenance for them." He sounded apologetic about it.

"It's something and knowing Ichigo," Ironhide snickers.

Optimus sighs, "Knowing Ichigo…Jazz is still in the area, correct?"

"Yes sir?"

"Have him use any means necessary to get back in Praxus and get Ichigo out. I don't care if he must knock him unconscious."

Prowl watches as the red mech leaves the room before finding those deep blue optics on him. "Now Prowl, tell me what has been happening in Praxus."

Prowl straighten hearing and feeling the order, "Yes sir!"

"Ultra Magnus, have all the Primal Guard and our Autobots on Standby," the Prime ordered.

The larger blue and white mech hesitates, "but the Senate?"

"Ignore the Senate, they forget that I have the authority here, go."

"Yes sir."

"Ratchet-

"I know I know, this ain't my first show kid." He pats Prowl on the shoulder when the younger bot looks at him pleadingly, "I'll send the twins to pick up their new sibling."

"That's fine we won't be long, Prowl you will be joining us on this operation."

"I…understood sir."

Ichigo's whole frame hurt and not the slight ache of a pulled muscle or the ache of sleeping in weird positions or from fighting. But a building-fell-on-me pain that sent his entire sensor net to shut down. His frame was overheating due to clogged vents from dust, and he had to bully his systems to purge the dust before he was sent to shut down again. A whimper drew him to the three younglings under him. All were dusty and covered in scratches. Lucky them.

It had happened so fast; Ichigo hadn't realized what he was doing until he heard his own plating crunch under the weight of a building. He used his frame to shield the three younglings. Ratchet is not going to be happy with him after this. They had been heading towards a safe zone, that the older youngling, Bumble Bee, had said was where they were supposed to go. A place underground that the caretakers told them to hide in, they had had drills for it. Now they were trapped, Ichigo might be able to lift the slab off them, but he didn't know if it was just a wall on him or more debris on top of said slab.

But first, he had to fight through the pain to think clearly.

"Ar-are we go-going *hic* o-okay?" Bumble Bee asks. Bluestreak and the other sparkling huddled into Ichigo's plating and he had to stop the flinch the action caused.

"Yeah," Ichigo grimaced at the pulling sensation near his abdominal plating. Something was wrong down there. Moving was going to be a bitch. "Just need to lift this up-

Yet when he tried to move up his abdominal plating screamed at him forcing him to drop back down. He bit his glossia forcing the scream back down his throat.

"Ichigo?"

"M'fine." He vented heavily. Not good, something must have impaled him and now he was freely bleeding energon. "Bumble Bee?"

"Um, yes?"

"Can…can you squeeze through that opening…" he grunted, "I need to know if there is more on top of us."

"I-I…I can do it!" Blue determines optics stare back before the youngling used his small size to push into a small hole. Ichigo hoped that it would go up and not down.

It felt like hours before a small horned helm popped back in. In that time Ichigo nudged Bluestreak and the other sparkling closer to the hole. Then he tried to staunch the bleeding, but not much luck with that, he only had his hand to cover the wound. He wasn't impaled which was good, but the wound was deep.

From the look Bumble Bee was giving him, Ichigo might be in trouble. "There's a lot on top, and your hurt!"

"Take Blue and-

"Hot Rod," the yellow youngling supplied.

"Right, take Blue and Rod up with you and go hide."

"But!"

"I can't move with all of you around." Ichigo calmly explained, "I don't want any of ya'll getting hurt, more."

"Okay," Ichigo watches Bumble Bee help the younger sparklings out of the pocket Ichigo had created.

Once he was sure he had given them enough time, he tried pushing upwards doing his best to ignore the screaming pain building up inside him. To his relief and surprise the weight shifted just enough for him to drag himself out. Now in the light, he could see how bad off he was. He didn't want to see his wings, the fear of never flying again hit him before being squashed. He was alive and the kids were alive was all that mattered.

"Ichigo," someone whimpers.

"M'fine, just give me a minute." He was going to need more than a minute. He hadn't been this injured in a long time. "I need something to stop the bleeding."

"I got it!" Bumble Bee disappeared before a dirty white something was dangled in his face.

"Thanks," Ichigo mutters taking the metal cloth, "I want all of you to turn away for me."

"But-

"No, you will turn away and don't turn around until I say," Ichigo said firmly.

Bumble Bee nods and turns the two younger mechlings. Ichigo scooted back leaning against something stable. He stuffed a piece of metal in his mouth, he didn't want his scream to cause more distress. He first picked out any debris he could find and once he was sure that the wound was clean enough, his father would be horrified at the result, he jammed the cloth into the wound. The sudden pain had him biting the gag hard to hear something crack. Ichigo hoped that it wasn't his jaw. He remains sitting there until he got his vents under control, and he could move without freezing in pain. Unfortunately, the bombing started up again and one landed uncomforting close. Ichigo rose quickly nearly falling again but stubbornly moving and herding the younglings.

"Let's go!"

"But your hurt."

"Can't stay here. We need to find another shelter."

The older youngling looks like he wanted to argue but a scowl from Ichigo silences him. Slowly Ichigo moved through the maze of alleyways with the sparkling Hot Rod on his hip and Bluestreak magnetized to between his wings. Bumble Bee stayed right in his shadow never straying too far and watching over the sparklings when Ichigo left them to scout the open streets. The city wasn't silent, yells and screams were overshadowed but the sound of blaster fire and bombs. Bumble Bee wished that they were back at the Youth Center with Caretaker Toner and Caretaker Underscore.

"It's going to be fine," Ichigo suddenly says. "I won't let anything happen to you."

The yellow youngling looked at the flyer in awe, his words sounded like a vow, "you promise?" he whispered.

Ichigo kneels and looks into scared optics, "Yes."

And Bumble Bee believes him.

"It getting dark, lets find and place to rest for the night." Ichigo looks around at the smoking buildings, "It'll be too dangerous to be out in the dark."

Bumble Bee looked around, he didn't know where they were, and that made him hug the flyer's leg. Hot Rod whimpers burying his face into Ichigo's neck. Bluestreak surprisingly was the only one to speak up, "We can go home."

"What?"

"Home," the gray and red sparkling pointed further down the road. Ichigo looks and grimaces, the area he was pointing at looked to be one of the hard-hit areas. It was also near the towering crystal that made up the Helix Gardens. "Want."

Ichigo sighed, looking around again, they didn't have much choice. Buildings here were too unstable and prime for looting. If anything, they could take shelter in the Gardens, the crystals would give some protection from being sense. Mind made up he turned their little groups towards the crystals. One problem was that they were now in the open. Ichigo was confident that he could protect them, but the main problem was fuel. Being a flyer, he needed more energon than the average mech and from experience, he knew that the sparklings needed specialized energon. None of which were readily available.

"Alright, Bee keeps an optic out for energon carts."

The youngling nods, little wings hiked up.

"Hey Blue, mind guiding me to your home?" the sparkling nods and keeps his little digit pointing forward. Hot Rod being the youngest clings tighter to Ichigo's side.

Their trek through the ruined city was tense, several times Ichigo had them darting into dark alleys as roving bands of mechs stormed past. What Ichigo could tell was that the Decepticon had taken over the city and the help was not happening anytime soon. But from what Ichigo could tell, the invaders were heading outward away from the main Gardens. Ichigo felt his wings twitch, He rather be finding a way out of Praxis but seeing how it was turning into a siege finding a place to hide for the long term would have to do.

A short walk felt like hours and to Ichigo, it had only been half a day since he tried to rescue Barricade. Sadly, he can't say that it didn't feel familiar. Running for his life to protect another reminded him of saving Rukia, Heuco Mundo, and Aizen. Only this time he was alone and fully aware of what awaited him. Ichigo is a flyer with three sparklings, he is a sibling bonded to the Prime. Ichigo was no fool, he was a target. While he knew that the city wasn't bombed because of him he had no doubt that Megatron knew he was in the city. So, he was not ashamed when Bluestreak indicated that they arrived at his home Ichigo let out a sigh of relief.

It wasn't in the best condition; burnt, windows missing, and looked like it would fall on top of them. Bluestreak's home happens to be an apartment near the center of the building. The creaking it was making wasn't making the idea of it pancaking on them.

"Ah," Bluestreak's near whisper of gasp had Ichigo miss-stepping. "Up up."

Ichigo nods and leads his trio of sparklings inside. "Up up up," the flyer was a little happy that the sparkling was talking again. Due to the condition of the building, he had them wait at the entrance while he scouted out the stairs. He might have heard somewhere that the stairs were one of the safe areas in case of a building collapse.

He thinks.

"Alright for the night we'll camp out in one of the offices," Ichigo told Bumble Bee and Bluestreak. Hot Rod was already halfway asleep. "Tomorrow we'll check out your apartment Bluestreak. I rather check it out with more light in case we must make a quick escape; okay?"

Bluestreak nods, "okay," he whispers.

Ichigo stayed online well into the night; he was glad that the sparklings were sleeping instead of hearing the echoing sounds of dying mechs and gunfire. He even tried to wrap their door wings to muffle any sounds that might have been picked up. Hot Rod might have been the luckier one, being the only one not to have doorwings though now that Ichigo looked he did have some kind of winglets. Ichigo had to admit that they were cute on the little mechling. Shaking his helm Ichigo kept watch throughout the night hoping that Jazz or someone not trying to kill them would find them.