Note: There's a lot that goes on in this chapter and we hope everyone enjoys this chapter. It's still a work in progress, but we wanted to post it anyways. Keep an eye out for the updated chapter. A special shoutout to: Axel363402, Beastdragons2187, BethxAngel, Defender54, NuthetesA, RobJValenzuela, draculaura12041998, jackprime2024, melodymery7. :)

Crunch was asleep in his berth. He was halfway hanging off the berth with his top half laying face down on the floor, mouth agape, and optics dark. Hotshot stood in the doorway, watching his charge sleep with a thoughtful look on his face. His faceplate and visor wrapped in one hand and an energon cube in the other. He took a sip before looking to his left. Mirage was looking in past him. Hotshot couldn't see his face, but he's known his team enough to know something was on the sniper's mind.

"How do you think he sleeps like that," Mirage whispered. "If we tried that, we'd be out of commission for a week." Hotshot couldn't help the chuckle that left him. He watched Mirage gently lay the mechling back on the berth the proper way and tuck his story pad back on the shelf to the side. Mirage took one more glance before making his way out to the hall.

Hotshot took another sip of his energon and followed his teammate away from the doorway. The mechling had taken moving in with them better than they had thought. X-Brawn had mentioned that he and his brothers were having some trouble helping Terrorwave adjust to being alone. She ended up sleeping beside Sideburn most nights. Hotshot wasn't able to check with Team Bullet Train and the Build Team to see how Shockline and Axewing were doing. Although, it's not hard to tell when the volatile mechling had a meltdown.

"Have the others gone to bed?" Mirage paused. He knew this was his leader's way of asking him if he needed to talk about whatever was on his processor, but he wasn't quite sure what was wrong in the first place.

"Listen," Mirage took a second. Hotshot waited; uncovered optics locked onto his sniper's visor. Hotshot had mastered many things in his lifetime. Thankfully patience was one of them. Mirage was never easy to read, but Hotshot lead his men long enough to know when they needed him. "What's the plan when we find the kids' families?"

Hotshot paused. He'd just been thinking about that himself. On one hand, the kids wouldn't be able to return to their human lives. The Predacons had managed to screw that up. Plus, the Autobots would be devastated to lose their charges. Ironhide has already helped Crunch and Shockline sucker Crosswise into helping redecorate their rooms next week.

On the other, it'd be selfish to prevent the kids from ever seeing their families again. The spychangers, despite their best efforts, haven't been able to find anything about the children. There were no missing child reports, no school records, nothing. Of course, it'd be easier if the kids talked more about their past lives, but the kids shut down anytime they're asked. They won't even tell the Autobots their human names.

"I wish I knew. I really wish I could offer you a straight answer." The two mechs moved in silence before stopping in front of their respective doors. "I talked Optimus into letting us take the kids out tomorrow. I'm thinking new paint jobs and possibly a lesson or two on self-maintenance."

"Can't wait."

"We get to go outside?" Terrorwave looked up at Prowl with round optics. Her little helm flaps wiggled in delight and her servos gripped his hand. "Do we get to go offroad?"

Prowl groaned internally. He could just fight X-Brawn for showing the little femme those off-roading videos. It's all she could talk about for days. Just when she would start to get distracted by something else, Sideburn would sneak something into a conversation to start her up again. He supposed he should also be thankful that she's just as obsessed with the rules as he is. Primus knows what he would do with two Sideburns that have no respect for the rules.

"Yes," Prowl said. "Now we're not going to be with you, but there's going to be some important rules. It's absolutely imperative to follow these to the letter."

W.A.R.S. walked past, smacking Prowl on the shoulder, "Come on, Prowl. It's just a simple repainting and carwash. She couldn't be in safer hands."

Crosswise sauntered past with a mischievous glint, "Unless, of course, you don't trust us?"

Prowl sputtered as he tried to explain while Terrorwave looked between the group of mechs. The spychangers, Crunch, and Prowl were all there. They were just waiting on Shockline and Axewing.

"Are X-Brawn and Sideburn coming," Crunch was holding onto Crosswise's leg armor as he watched the red and teal mech type on the main computer.

"They've got patrol, but Prowl gets to come," Terrorwave shouted. "It's gonna be so cool!"

"He's just gonna boss us around!"

"Nuh-uh"

"Yes, he will. He's no fun!"

"He's tons of fun! You just don't like following the rules!"

Grimlock had entered the room with Axewing on his shoulders and Shockline wrapped around his leg. He stared in shock at the arguing kids before looking over at Hotshot. The flame colored mech just made an 'ask later' with his servos.

"I guess I've heard it's good for their development," Grimlock muttered as he removed the kids and pushed them towards the other two. "Is this everybody?"

The four kids, Prowl, Hotshot, Crosswise, himself, and W.A.R.S. were all gathered by the main door. It seemed like overkill to the tall green mech for a simple outing, but he supposed the safety of the kids were on everybody's' minds at this point.

"Everybody who's not on duty," Prowl confirmed. Hotshot and he did one last headcount before deciding it was time to head out. The kids cheered as the Autobots rounded them up and set out.

"What's that?"

"Woah!"

"No way!"

The Autobot mechs stood back a bit as the kids stared at the track in front of them. It was extremely flat with nothing exciting, but they figured it was a good place for the kids to learn how to transform and it'd be nice to do it outside instead of in the training room. Seeing as how the kids weren't properly trained by the Predacons, the Autobots had seen it fit to get them proper vehicle modes and used the training room to help them learn to transform in a much safer way.

Crosswise was watching the kids talk excitedly together as he and Prowl set up the cones at the end. We should've done this ages ago. Maybe they'll recharge earlier. He and the others had decided that they'd let the kids practice their driving skills. Once everything was set up, they made their way back to the group.

"Alright," W.A.R.S. motioned to the track. "You guys go have fun. We're all gonna be right here." One by one they all made their way to the track. All except Shockline was a bit on the wary side. She was holding tightly to Grimlock's hand as she watched the other kids transform.

"Go on," Prowl coaxed. Shockline didn't move at all. "Well, alright."

After a few hours, the mechs were still watching the younglings race around the track. Terrorwave had somehow convinced Prowl and Shockline to join them and turned it into a game of "traffic school". The police mech was oddly giddy at the idea of someone finally wanting to listen to him prattle on about the laws.

W.A.R.S. and Hotshot were quietly discussing the new patrol routes, Grimlock was looking over a set of blueprints for an update to the base's command center. Crosswise was seated next to the other mechs, leaning against the rock face, enjoying the last warmth of the sun on his teal and red armor. Feeling something poking his arm, he onlined his optics, only to be greeted by the red optics of Axewing.

"Yes?"

"How old are you?"

"Pardon?" The other mechs had stopped what they were doing before to listen in. Amusement very obvious in each of them.

Without missing a beat, the mechling narrowed his optics in annoyance and asked again, "How old are you?" Crosswise paused to truly think about it.

"Do you want to know how old I am on Cybertron or in human years?"

"Both. Are you as old as the dinosaurs?"

"..." Crosswise had never truly thought about it. "On Cybertron, I'd be the human equivalent of 29 years old. On Earth, I'm 23 million Earth years old."

"Daaaannnngg. You're old," Crunch crowed, turning his vehicle mode around to face the sitting group. "Did you get to see the dinosaurs?" Hotshot and the others chuckled.

Grimlock dismissed the question with a wave. "Nah. We weren't here then. We were back home on Cybertron." The rest of the kids had wandered over at this point, catching the attention of .

"We'd better head back. It's getting dark," Prowl had been watching the sky and it was beginning to get darker than he liked. "We should be getting the kids home."

"Well, that's really a shame."

Terrorwave felt fear wash through her circuits. Sky-Byte was standing behind the group with his three goons staring at the younglings. She felt Crunch tug her and Axewing towards Grimlock, placing himself in front of the younger two, while Grimlock moved to cover all of the younglings at this time.

"Why don't you return the younglings over to us and we'll be on our way," Slapper asked. "We wouldn't want the kids to be confused about where they belong, do we?"

"Fat chance." W.A.R.S. had his weapon ready and pointed at the Predacons. Hotshot already had a plan in his mind and was just waiting for the right opportunity to put it into place. The other Crosswise was slowly slinking away with the kids as Grimlock blocked the Predacons view. "These kids are right where they belong."

"Autobots, why don't we show these Predacons what happens when they mess with one of us," Prowl suggested. Attempting to draw the rest of the Predacons attention to his side and further away from the kids.

"Crosswise, Grimlock, take the kids back to the base. We'll take care of the creeps," Hotshot ordered. Just like that, the battle had started and the Spychanger scientist and the Builder had started to move quickly.

"T-ai!"

"We need an emergency spacebridge on the double!"

"Roger. Spacebridge opening now."

The kids were waiting in the command center for the rest of the Autobots to return home. Shockline was being held by X-brawn as she sobbed, worried that the others had been hurt. Terrowave was holding Wedge's hand as he explained that the Autobots were the best there was and that they'd be home in no time. Crunch and Axewing had huddled themselves in the corner under one of the control panels and absolutely refused to come out. Optimus had gone to join the fight.

"That was fun," Grimlock stated as he and the others came through the newly opened spacebridge. The kids perked up as they watched the spacebridge close.

"Hotshot!" Crunch shouted, throwing himself around the mechs legs. The spychanger leader and Crosswise kneeled down and threw their arms around the crying mechling.

Optimus looked at his men and watched as each one comforted their respective youngling. To his surprise Prowl had scooped up a sobbing Terrorwave and held her tight. He couldn't hear what he was saying, but he could hear the whispering and shooshing noises the normally stern mech was saying. The leader of the Autobots was worried about how the younglings were going to affect his men, but he had come to the realization that these kids are just what they needed.