A/N: Been a while. I been really busy. Ty for my betas for reading this :)

This update comes with a lot more Autobots to enjoy! Especially... you guessed it! Jazz!

While crazy was beginning to brew at the Decepticon base, the Autobot base was bustling with movement and excitement itself, but not of the same nature. The talk of the time was the fact Barricade had chosen the Autobot base to deliver her Sparklings and that Jazz had come back to life. Everyone was crowded around to find out what the latest news was and talking amongst themselves about recent events. Of course, it was a little crazier for Prowl because Optimus was currently not on base, leaving him to fend for himself while everyone was hounding him about what he knew. Some were even asking to see the new Sparklings; while others were after Ratchet or First Aid about Jazz and what had transpired between them.

When Jazz had been on her own 'restrictive wandering', as she liked to call it since technically she wasn't allowed to leave, everyone was following and asking questions about why all the hush, hush with Ratchet or why the secrecy in Wheeljack's lab. She was only trying to get away, because Ratchet and the others were so busy with everyone else, the silver femme had slipped away from their evil grasp. So, the saboteur decided to play a game; her own version of charades. She told them they must remain completely silent while they guessed to their Spark's content. Then, when they think they'd had it, the lieutenant would simply walk away – never telling them they looked absolutely ridiculous trying to guess things that couldn't be farther from what it really was. They were getting frustrated with no answers and she was having an absolute blast. Typical Jazz.

Prowl had to deal with not only the Jazz issue and being left with all the Autobots and their thing, but he also had to deal with the multiple questions about Barricade and Starscream. Most everyone was pestering him about his youngling sister or the newborns. He supposed it was because of many factors, one being that Sparklings were once again in their lives. The second, he wasn't too keen on, which was Barricade being his sibling, and therefore they believed he would be privy to information. He only shook his head at the thought, 'Oh, how much about you, they do not know.'

Slipping out of everyone else's radar, Jazz, who, a short time ago, had stolen a berth of someone's previously to hide, glanced at the doors in indecision. She knew she was going to have attention as soon as she stepped through them. Outwardly, she groaned to herself, knowing she would have to deal with all of them again. Standing, she realized it was annoying her now, and while she didn't usually mind the attention, it was getting to her and she was getting ready to stand on a table and tell them all just so they'd shut up – at least from shock. But then again, she didn't want another dent from Ratchet, either, which she was sure she would get when he caught her. "Slaggin' Younglin's," she muttered, deciding she had no choice in the matter.

So, thanks to what she referred to as the 'AOS', better known as the Autobot Officer Spread-link, Jazz knew where to find an outlet from all the prying questions. All she needed to do was find Prowl, which didn't take her long. Slinking by when she thought no one was looking, she snuck in the doors to Optimus' office, where Prowl was reading a data pad. The tactician glanced up with a 'what do you want?' look and her look only brightened. "I hear you're goin' ta see 'Cade in a bit, yeah?" she asked.

"After Optimus gets back." the tactician informed dryly. He furrowed an optic ridge at her and then asked in a mock sigh, "Why, oh why do I get this nagging feeling like you're asking to tag along?"

"She has Sparklin's!" the small mech-turned-femme grinned wide, "I wanna see 'em!"

Prowl paused a moment, wondering if Jazz had flipped her processor. "What?" He asked as if he hadn't heard her the first time. "What are you thinking? Are you insane?"

"No, I'm not insane." Jazz then gave a pouty face and folded her arms. "The Doc and his annoyin' tests have made sure of that." She knew Prowl was onto her already, his mind already made up. She knew that look. "Aw, come on, Prowler. Ya know how long it's been since I saw one?" Suddenly, as if her shine had been a wet painting, it was gone. Replaced by a look of sadness, her head went down as she thought about just how long it had been. "…held one," she murmured.

He saw her look, and he knew she truly missed them but maybe she was just a little slow right now because he knew Runner, and he knew how she was. "Jazz, they were just born!" Prowl tried to reason, "I don't even think she'd let me near one let alone you. And speaking of Ratchet, you still need tests done, don't you?"

She looked up, broken from her train of thought by his question. "I went on strike." Jazz stated matter-of-factly, completely fed up with the stupid testing, poking, prodding and the umpteen million questions.

Leaning forward, Prowl asked in annoyance, "Even if you do go, do you really think Runner is going to allow you near her at all? What part of this don't you get? Maybe dying and coming back screwed up your processor in some way. The answer's no."

"I'm a femme an' stuff now."

Prowl folded his arms, unmoved by her response. "Actually, I don't even think she knows you're even alive, let alone a femme. I think you forget who she was on Cybertron. You, above all, should remember how Runner was, is, and always will be."

"Yeah, but, she should understand. In fact it might make her happy ta know she isn't the only livin' femme, ya know? It's gotta be absolute pit having to be around all those mechs and being the only femme."

"If anything, it's too dangerous." The mech responded in finality.

"By the tone of your voice, I accept that challenge." The saboteur wasn't giving up without a fight. She'd magnetize herself to his bumper or threaten him with the twins. Stopping a moment, Jazz chuckled at the fact Barricade was indeed a femme, after her laugh, she became more serious, or more rather as serious as Jazz ever got with unbelievable conditions like this. "Ya know, I still can't get over that…" she then chuckled as she really thought about the Runner she knew.

"What?"

"That Barricade is Runner. That's like… wow. I got my aft handed ta me by a femme!" Jazz laughed.

"What are you talking about? You are a femme," Prowl enunciated and looked Jazz up and down pointedly with a raised optic ridge, "…now."

"But, I wasn't then!" Jazz suddenly said. "This is gonna be a new record. Fresh start for us both, ya see? This time as femmes!"

Trouble was more like it. What a silly idea. Prowl let out what could only be a sigh and sat back in his seat, going back to reading his data pad. He remembered Runner and Jazz's strange and sometimes downright catastrophic challenges well.

Seeing his disinterest, she leaned over the desk as if whispering, "Is Barricade really…" she faked a human-sounding cough, "The 'Screamer's mate?"

"She's his Star-mate, to be exact." The mech replied without even looking up.

Jazz's optic ridges shot up in surprise. "Star-mate, ya say?" What a really big surprise. "Wow, what're the chances? This I gotta hear! Ya need to catch me up on what I missed on the way."

"Fine," The white mech relented and set his data pad down, "But when Ratchet finds out you left, I am going to laugh at your demise," He stood and headed toward the doors with Jazz in tow.

Elsewhere in the desert, a strong wind blew, creating a dust devil where Optimus stood. He'd been looking at the spot where Starscream had been standing just a moment ago. And now, in a blink, he was gone and thus was their conversation – not that it was really getting anywhere anyway. Now that he thought about it… What could have happened to have Skywarp come like that? The black Seeker even possibly endangered Miles' life by not protecting him inside a cockpit during the teleport. Hoping everything was all right, the Autobot leader opened a line through the AOS. "Prowl, I fear something could be wrong with Barricade. I would like for you to check it out."

Already on the way, Prowl hit his brakes hard hearing something was wrong with his sister. Jazz, who had nearly hit him, swerved to miss, grumbling something incoherent. Worry crept into his voice as he asked, "What happened, Prime?"

"I am not sure, but Starscream teleported in the middle of our conversation." Optimus replied. "By how Skywarp sounded, it seemed like an emergency."

He felt nothing from her down their link, to be honest, but obviously something was up with her. Prowl then began to panic. He worried she was possibly still weak from the birth or something went wrong. He would go, if just to relieve his own worries.

"Ooh, sounds bad," Jazz called back over the link. "The Sparklin's okay? What luck, we're already on our way,"

"Jazz!" Optimus called, having realized the saboteur was with Prowl. ".I thought you were having tests done and weren't allowed to leave? Ratchet's orders."

"You know how Jazz is…" Ratchet's voice droned through, having been listening to the conversation. Damn her and her abilities. Sometimes he wished she wasn't as good of a spy that she was, because she wouldn't be able to get away so easily. "Just you wait! You're in deep trouble when you get back."

Yeah, like that would certainly make her quickly turn for base… What was the crazy medic thinking, anyway? "Gimme a break, Doc Bot! There's no way I'd miss the chance ta see Sparklin's again!" Deliberately ignoring the ominous threat from Ratchet, Jazz continued on her way. She moved back behind Prowl

"Yes, as it seems Jazz is under the mistaken notion that Barricade is actually going to let…" Prowl hesitated, still not sure he would ever get used to calling Jazz a she, "her see them."

"Jazz obviously has a lot to learn," Ratchet grumbled, annoyed he was being ignored.

The Police SUV and Solstice buzzed by traffic quickly, but not fast enough to be noticed, "So lemme get this straight an' ta make sure I'm processin' what I am tryin' ta process…" Jazz started, making sure she understood everything that had been told to her so far. "First, the 'Con Barricade is the notorious leader of 'ole Race Track, Runner, right?"

"Yeah." Prowl replied nonchalantly.

"Wonderin' why ya never told me that one before…" Jazz muttered before continuing, "An' Runner, aka Barricade is a femme…"

"Yup,"

"With Sparklin's…?"

"Yes,"

"By 'Screamer…?"

"None other,"

"…An' she's your younger siblin'? I got this all right so far?"

"Hard to imagine, huh?"

"Yeah… Wonderin' why ya never told me that either…" Came a dejected moan from the Solstice."

"She was hidden from everyone. Even Optimus himself,"

"An' she's Star-mated ta none other than that bolt-brained 'Screamer himself…?"

"You got it,"

"Primus," Jazz laughed, "That's even harder to imagine. You have no idea how crazy all this sounds…" she stated quietly, then continued, "The Autobots and Decepticons are no longer at war? Ya mean everyone actually gets along?"

"Well I wouldn't go that far, however hostilities have been at a minimum."

"An' where's Megs in all of this, again?"

"He's dead. Starscream is the Decepticon Commander-in-Chief now. Apparently they like him. A lot."

There was a chortle, "Ha! They like him? Really?" Just what reality had she woken to anyway? How long had it been? "So 'Screamer's ambition has been fulfilled, huh? That's some scary stuff."

"Stranger than fiction," Prowl replied.

"No kiddin'! So… who was the lucky mech ta take Megs down finally?"

"It wasn't a mech at all, actually. Sam killed Megatron with the Allspark, and destroyed it with him."

"Ooh, harsh…" The femme added. "So, Sam huh? The one that's been hangin' around wit' Bee, right? Sounds interestin'. I gotta ask 'im about that." Jazz kept driving, following the tactician to where they were headed. Noticing a hole and the Allspark thing, she asked with a bit of confusion, "But, how did it bring me back ta life if Sam killed Megs wit' it?"

"There was a shard of it left. I am assuming by the way Ratchet and Wheeljack explained it, that the birth of the Sparklings gave it the power to bring you back and… apparently alter your gender."

Yeah, way too weird. "Come ta think of it, I really don' think I came back ta life, Prowler," Jazz stated casually, "in light of everythin' I've found out, I am convinced that it only appears that I 'came back' as ya all say and that this is a completely twisted reality. Its way too messed up to be from my reality. Rock on."

Back at the Decepticon base, Soundwave had been busily working with a distorted incoming transmission she had picked up, so all of her attention really wasn't on her surroundings or the Mustang headed for her. She was headed outside to see if that helped any, since it was a recurring recording. See, the telepath was busy with 'borrowing' a satellite or two that would assist her in signal reception, since no, she could not get signal reception if she's on the other side of a planet and relied on repeated recordings sometimes. The dark blue femme continued with deciphering the transmission for further analysis as she headed to the back of the building, unaware of the imminent danger.

Meanwhile, there was the sound of loud, pissed off engines just as Starscream and Skywarp appeared. Making an attempt to intervene, the leader quickly handed a shivering and disoriented Miles to Skywarp, nearly dropping the teen in the black Seeker's hand in his hurry. He started running when he saw Barricade went sideways around the building as she headed for Soundwave. "Runner! Stop!" he cried as he got closer.

The telepath had just stepped outside when the sound of Starscream's call got her attention. Soon after, the sound of a growling engine barreled toward her incredibly fast, catching her by surprise. Cursing as she lost the signal to the satellite because sensors she needed for that were immediately redirected, she turned to see the one Starscream had yelled for in her Mustang form too fast and too close to avoid. Because of her position at the time, there was no way she could deflect Barricade, either. Imbecile.

Before anyone could stop the hunter, Barricade broke apart and kicked off the ground. Flying at the telepath full force and attempting to use her momentum and weight to drop the larger femme to the ground, the two collided in a massive clash of metal, sparks and other sounds. Blacklight, who had been playing, froze and turned to the crash of metal against metal, he screeched loudly from the collision, moving. All of those who were already curious of what was going on, looked in time to see the impact while those that hadn't made it to see, heard the conflict. Someone had just gotten seriously plowed.

Both femmes began to fall. After the initial crash to the ground, there was another loud crash and a scream that seemed to come from under Soundwave meaning someone had just been fallen on. Rumble had nearly been landed on as well, dodging Soundwave by mere inches. He looked up to what may have happened, searching for the scream from under her. He already knew who it was by the scream. "Ravage!" he screeched, realizing his brother hadn't been so lucky. Skittering around the flailing femmes, he ran to see if he could find a way to get to him.

Other mechs slid to a stop when they decided they had gotten close enough to where the noise and excitement was taking place, some looking to see Starscream moving at wicked speed toward the two femmes, "What do you think spawned all this?" Cyclonus asked.

"Dunno. Saw her barreling through, so I followed. But, judging by Barricade's reaction, I'm gonna go with the 'Barricade found out about Soundwave being a femme' thing…" Astrotrain replied with a nod at the two. "What'cha think, 'Blitz?"

"I'm thinking you're probably right," Blitzwing nodded as he got in view to watch.

Just by the sound of it, Soundwave knew she had landed on Ravage and she quickly went to roll, but Barricade stopped her by kneeling on her in such a way, rolling was impossible. Truth be told, she didn't think Barricade had that much strength. The telepath put up an arm to shield herself from the fists that flew at her while trying to figure a way off of him. When she went to lean up a second time, she nearly cried out, when, hell bent for Energon, Barricade came down on her abdomen with a knee and ground it into her midsection. Normally, Soundwave would have been able to get rid of Barricade, but the hunter was being relentless and she was worried for Ravage. "Get off of me! I'm on Ravage!"

Everyone else within listening distance froze at the sound of Soundwave's voice, which was surprisingly angry and raised… and that… just… didn't happen.

In her rage, Barricade hadn't even heard the scream from Ravage, nor Soundwave yelling at her that she was on him. In blind fury, Barricade's fist connected with Soundwave's face plates time and again as Soundwave only tried to get her to stop, far more worried for Ravage than damage to herself.

Mikaela got outside, trailing three still clumsy Sparklings behind her. When Barricade went for another hit, Mikaela yelled, trying to get her attention. However, she wasn't loud enough over all of the crashing.

Barricade brought out her flail, "Fucking low life slarg!" she yelled, preparing to use it on the telepath. "How dare you!"

"Ravage!" Rumble called again, ignoring the femmes, looking for his brother. "Get up, get up, get up!" He even got closer to try to push Soundwave and realized he would only get squished himself so he resorted to running back and forth, trying to find his brother while trying to stay out of the fray. Laserbeak and Buzzsaw did their best to keep an optic on the cat and find a way to him, who was still squealing.

Before Barricade could make her swing, a rarely seen fury overcame Soundwave. Hearing the cat-like 'Con scream again, the CO growled deeply and her visor flashed in warning – a warning that went unheeded unfortunately by the hunter. She sent a low-pitched tone that snapped and clicked, disorienting Barricade enough for her to pause, giving the telepath the moment she needed to get a hold of the hunter.

This was not how he wanted to see his mate just after she'd woken up. He was gone for what? Half an hour – an hour? Really? Starscream stared in horror when Soundwave suddenly grabbed Barricade's arms, picked her up rather effortlessly and threw her back and off of her, using a leg to send her further, now uncaring if Barricade had gotten hurt. Immediately the telepath moved off of Ravage and turned to tend him, ignoring everyone else – including Barricade.

Barricade let out a cry as she felt the pressure just before she felt herself flung through the air. It wouldn't have been so bad if Soundwave's foot hadn't been planted in her chest. She hit the ground hard on her back and went to get up to go after Soundwave again. Just as she launched herself into a run, she felt someone grab her from behind and wrap their arms around her and then slid down her own. Painfully, her arms were pulled around her back and up, straining the joints and struts and caused her shoulder mounts to knock into each other. The femme bellowed as her body was tugged her back hard and lifted off the ground.

"Stop this!" she heard a hissed voice say. Much to the dislike of the one who had restrained her, and too enraged to care who was telling her to stop, she kicked at her assailant's legs and body that she could reach with her feet, hoping to get free so she could get at Soundwave.

Behind her, the silver Seeker, having been the one to grab her, tightened his hold on her, doing his best to get her to come to her senses. "I said stop! Now!" Before she knew it, there was another crash and Barricade found herself chest down on the ground, and this time Starscream was almost kneeling on her, pinning her so he didn't get hurt until she came to her senses.

Her anger was directed fully on the one on her. Barricade grunted, trying to wriggle herself free. "Let me up! I'm gonna maim that sorry excuse for a radio to Charr and back!" A few seconds later, when she realized that Starscream wasn't going to release her, she began relenting.

When he was satisfied his mate wouldn't leap at Soundwave again, he let up his hold. Barricade took that split second to stand up, transformed and left without a word.

Starscream stood up, looked around, his optics stopping on Soundwave's back. He now understood the femme's desire to care for her Sparkling and for a moment, was torn between going after his mate and making sure everything was all right with Ravage. After a questioning gaze to the scene, he turned and took off for his lunatic mate. "This is ridiculous!" the Seeker's voice was heard.

Soundwave continued to tend to Ravage, who wasn't as hurt as he could have been. His leg was a bit injured but otherwise he went unscathed, luckily. She let him rest with her as she looked around, fairly angry about what had happened. The fact she had lost that very important transmission pissed her off about as much as the fact Barricade had caused her to fall on Ravage. She really didn't care all that much how flustered Starscream was at the time.

Meanwhile, back near the main doors, Thundercracker's attention was suddenly taken from her Trine Mate to down beside her where Mikaela was struggling to keep a hold on the triplets Barricade had charged her with unexpectedly as they went berserk because their creators' Sparks were becoming faint. Knowing they were too young to be away from either creator for any length of time, she grabbed them all in one scoop. What were those two thinking, leaving the triplets alone like that? "Younglings…" she muttered, placing them in her own holds so they would be more still for transport.

The blue Seeker nodded to Mikaela who gave her a thankful smile. She watched a large black hand come into her view and spotted Miles in Skywarp's hand. "You know, that was the first time had teleported with an exposed human," the black Seeker muttered. "I didn't know if it would turn you into mush or not," He set Miles down beside the girl.

Miles looked back up to Skywarp, "You're joking, right?"

"Nope," was the simple reply. There was no telling if the Seeker was lying or not.

"What the hell is wrong with you!" the teen called out sharply, a bit upset that Skywarp had done something like that.

"My first guess… A lot," Thundercracker noted. She looked up toward Skywarp. "Come on, idiot,"

"You could of at least warned me first!" Miles interrupted.

"Pit, no! Where's the fun in that?"

"Who you calling idiot, Thunderhead…" Skywarp's voice was heard as the two prepared to go to their Trine mate with the three newborns they had left behind.

Jazz you certainly are something else...!