Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

It has been a few days since Drift and the mini cons joined the Bee team, and since then it has been nothing short of exciting. The day, right after deciding to stay on earth, they had their first training session with the whole team.

Slipstream enjoyed the competitive yet inviting nature of the exercise and looked forward to more times and memories shared with his now extended team.

Jetstorm however was more fascinated by everything around him. After all he had more people talk to, more sights to see, a variety of terrain and the humans, the humans were like him. They were small yet feisty. He never imagined a planet full of these creatures, that were small, just like him.

Jetstorm was truly amazed by human nature the moment he saw and spoke to Russell. A youngster, like him, was a Commander, someone who spoke freely to everyone, without fear or worry of what could happen to him. He had something Jetstorm didn't, unrivalled confidence and courage.

That experience was one Jetstorm cherished, back on Cybertron he was nothing more than property, a slave, something to be used, abused and misused for anything his master, Shadow Raker, desired. He never dwelled on those painful thoughts, trying his best to distract himself the moment they materialize, but after his failed attempt at leaving Drift after improperly polishing his sword, those horrid memories came flooding back.

He knew Drift was nothing like Shadow Raker or the Overseers, but the look of anger and disappointment in his eyes when he scolded him, just made him feel as inferior as he always saw himself. He knew he was a disgrace, a walking disaster, and yet Drift managed to deal with all his random outbursts, his on and off emotions and most importantly his inability to keep up with Slipstream.

Slipstream was always the better choice. Slipstream was great at combat and fought according to Drift's standards and instructions. He knew when to speak and when to be quiet. Slipstream is, and always will be more worthy of his masters praise and mercy, whether it is Shadow Raker or Drift. Slipstream is perfect, but he, he wasn't even close, all he does is slow him down. He slows his best friend down.

The only thing he had was his wonder, a yearning for the unknown. He always wanted to know everything, he knew that wasn't possible but his curiosity always stood firm. And often lead him into dangerous and dreadful situations that are now the source of his anguish. Unbridled thoughts that make him question the worth of his life.

These thoughts, even with the majesty of the Earth's beauty, always haunted him, no matter what he did, or how hard he tried to repress them. They were always there in the darkest corner of his mind, reminding him of his failures, of his incompetence, that he was a wash in a repulsive sink.

The missions kept coming as time went by. His new crew was amusing, friendly, and, above all, encouraging. They always offered words of encouragement and support, even if they didn't know his circumstances, but even with those words, his teammates were still unaware of the pain caused by the stereotypical remarks they made to him about being a mini con.

They started out as innocent jokes about how adorable and little they are from Sideswipe, but as time went on, they grew more provocative and offensive, seeking to elicit an outburst-like response from him and the other minicons on the team. And they only reminded Jetstorm during his time with the Overseers.

After arriving late for training with Drift once more, Jetstorm was given a lengthy and severe rebuke from him one particular day, and for the first time in a long time, he was compared to Slipstream, and almost immediately, the voices started up, bringing back the horrifying memories of his terrible past.

All the voices overwhelmed him, and he could only see his stabilizers kicking up dust in front of him. All he could do was walk without making any mistakes. His senseless walking caused him to strike a shelf, and to make matters worse, everything on the shelf fell on top of him.

Although these items were hard, further investigation revealed that they were also light on the inside. It was simple to disassemble each component. "I think Denny called this a 'Book'," Jetstorm mused to himself.
There were images and words within. Some were plain, while others were colorful. Every book was distinct, every book served a different purpose, and after reading them, Jetstorm realized that each one had a unique message to impart.

He spent hours reading each book carefully, absorbing every word and sentence. Some of the books were about joy, forms, and colors, and they discussed friendship, love, and harmony. Others, however, were about war, pain, and misery. Jetstorm completely forgot about his own misery. They gave Jetstorm a better understanding of family, animals, and human culture than Bumblebee or the humans. George Orwell's book, 'The animal Farm', was the one that piqued his interest the most.

As evening fell, he heard Denny shout his name. Everyone had gathered to hear about how the match went when Russell had come back from his game. Jetstorm hadn't realized how much time had passed.

Jetstorm tried his best to reorganize the books that layed scattered around him before anyone saw the mess.

Denny managed to get behind him during his frantic cleaning. "There you are Jetstorm!" Denny shouted, startling Jetstorm. "What are you doing here bud, you're so far from everyone else," Denny questioned, noticing the books all around Jetstorm.

"Wow, I didn't know you were a book worm. George Orwell huh, I used to read his book back in school." Danny explained to Jetstorm whose worry was replaced with curiosity.

"What's a bookworm?"Jetstorm asked, unable to hide his intrigue. "Well it's what you call someone who likes reading books or anything for that matter."

"Amazing" Jetstorm thought to himself, "perhaps Denny knows more about books."

"Where do books come from? Where can I get more? Are there even more? How many are there? Do you think I can read them all?" Jetstorm started rambling to Denny who looked jolted by the young bots sudden burst of curiosity. He had never seen Jetstorm this alive before. It made him happy to see him like this, especially after seeing how upset he was after the reprimanding he got from Drift.

The sparkle in Jetstorm's optics never faded as he listened about all the other books and literature that was out there in the world. From poems and music to articles and magazines, Jetstorm wanted to explore and experience everything about earth no matter what.

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It's been weeks since Jetstorm got into books, and since then things have only gotten better. A few days after talking to Danny about getting new books, Danny decided to get him a tablet. It was pre-owned by another book lover and was recommended to be the best for drawing, reading and writing. Jetstorm was elated by this new device. It had everything he wanted, lots of books.

He had gotten used to the tablet now and found it had many other features besides being used for reading books. The tablet could be used to watch videos on the internet, which is a global network of interconnected computers and devices which communicate via established protocols. It had fun and quizzical games like sudoku, checkers and, most liked by Jetstorm, Chess.

The chess game app had a nice premium feature that let you play real time with other players across the world. The only problem was that it needed money, and Jetstorm didn't want to be the usual burden he is to Danny.

Danny already gave him a tablet and made a promise to not tell anyone of his little safe haven, he made in the small secluded spot in the scrapyard, until he stepped up to do so himself.

And so to solve this predicament, he created a fake account using the neighbouring businesses private WiFi, which he gained access to after hacking into it to access MeTube to watch more videos after Danny forgot to pay the WiFi bill.

He made the once off 20$ purchase for the premium membership. It felt good knowing how to do all these things. He felt like the spies on Russell's action movies. To think he learned all of this in the short time of two months, really made him proud of the bot he had become.

And now he was ruling the world of human chess. At first it seemed difficult but once he figure out how the game works he got better and better. He memorized strategies and used them in his own unique way, easily climbing up the ranks of the leaderboard. It was as if this was made for him. If only his master saw it the same way. He called his game a waste of time that he should be using in training and meditation after Jetstorm tried explaining the game to him after not showing up for training that day practicing his new chess strategy that got him the top 20% ranking on the globals.

________________________________________

Hacking on the Alchemor's main computer made hacking human devices and systems almost too easy, but hacking human devices using human resources made it more challenging, more tricky and more thrilling. Jetstorm understood why Fixit was always so proud when he was able to hack into systems.

When he wasn't learning hacking and code he was learning new languages to read new books. Jetstorm had taken quite the shining to reading textbooks and articles. And wanted to read up more on the Russian Soviet Union to better understand the meaning behind all the political books he had read about capitalism and communism, but found that most Russian textbooks were in Russian and so he started learning Russian and was so fascinated by the other languages that existed and began learning them too, with the help of a particular little green bird that would send slightly frightening messages to his tablet whenever he misses a lesson. The bird was a bit scarier than Master Drift himself.

His little spot and his tablet were his comfort against the pains he faces on the daily. Sideswipe's 'jokes', Drift's expectations and Bumblebees horrible war cries (which have been getting better lately). Watching, reading and learning on his tablet was his special way of relaxing.

Tonight was especially tiring, they had captured the decepticon Pseudo, and the method used was nothing short of embarrassing and painful. Being thrown across several miles into a railway by a dinobot is something Jetstorm will never forget. It's a good thing he is a Buzzsaw minicon. Their armour is naturally thick and sturdy. A blessing and a painful curse, a painful... Painful curse. That only THEY see as a blessing.

Reading fairytales and murder mysteries was fun but listening and playing music was even better. Recently, Jetstorm had discovered the beauty of classical music. All the humans playing what was called a piano. The way they moved and played made it so captivating. To think there were even more instruments out there and many more being made.

It all started with just listening to them play and soon he was watching. And now he is learning. He loves to learn and he loves knowing. Knowledge is power. The more one knows the more powerful they are, but knowing all of this concealing such power made him more unpredictable.

Such as pretending to not know what a ghost was and watching his master of all People try to pull a prank on the humans is truly a sight worth seeing. Perhaps Earth will change his master like it did with him, maybe make him a bit softer.

It was all so fun knowing more than people think you do, but seeing his best friend live in the shadows of oblivion made him upset. What's the point of his happy safe haven of he can't share it with the very person that brings him the most joy. Perhaps he should show Slipstream his little hideout and let him in on his secret: the wonders of curiosity.

___________________________________

Chapter Text

It was a grueling mission, although their use was limited in said mission two mini cons could really feel the exhaustion in the air, even their master was too exhausted for their usual evening training. And so the two mini cons opted to spend their time doing their own thing.

"This is the perfect time to show Slipstream my hideout" Jetstorm said to himself, excitement brewing at the very thought of him sharing his hideout with his best friend or Bestie as the humans say.

He had been trying to show Slipstream the hideout for weeks now, but every time, there was a mission, training or he was just too interested in his Telenovelas. Jetstorm couldn't understand what it was about 'Amor Prohibido' that had Slipstream at the edge of his seat.

"Hey, Slipstream!" Jetstorm yelled to Slipstream who was having a disagreement with Russell on what they should watch for tonight's movie. "We aren't watching 'Amor Prohibido'! We watch it whenever it's your turn to pick a show." Russell explained with Sideswipe nodding along. " Yeah why don't you pick something different to watch tonight?" Sideswipe tried to encourage Slipstream.

"That is most definitely not happening." Slipstream said standing his ground firmly, "This is the only time I get to catch up on 'Amor Prohibido' because there is always something happening whenever I try to watch the weekly repeats." He explained as he looked at Jetstorm so he could back him up.

Jetstorm's excitement faded once more, he knew Slipstream would never miss his favourite show. They had training in the mornings, which always fell during the morning repeats and the only time he could watch the repeats was at midnight on Saturdays and Sundays.

"Well it is his turn with the TV, he did the most chores this week. That's how it works." Jetstorm explained to Sideswipe and Russell who seemed to give up, they knew Jetstorm was right. Bumblebee and Denny set up this system so they could stop fighting for the remote.

" Well you're right." Russell sighed "It's his turn to pick tonight's program."

"Yes, Esta noche por fin podré saber si echaron a Diego de la casa.(Tonight I can finally find out if Diego gets kicked out of the house.)" Slipstream exclaimed.

"What?" Sideswipe asked confused.

"Puedes hablar español?!(You can speak Spanish?!)" Jetstorm asked surprised. He never expected Slipstream to speak another earth language.

"Why of course I do ." Slipstream explained "I watch so much 'Amor Prohibido' I actually learned the language. How do you know Spanish?"

"Umm hello ---" Sideswipe interjected only to be cut off and ignored.

"He estado intentando mostrar esto desde hace mucho tiempo. (I have been trying to show you this for a long time now.)" Jetstorm explained, "Ven! y déjame mostrarte antes de que algo más nos detenga." (Come! let me show you before something else stops us)

Russell and Sideswipe looked at each as the two ran off. What had they just witnessed.

They knew those two were a rare case but this was exceptional even for them.

"These mini cons are full of surprises" Sideswipe expressed to Russell

"Yeah tell me about it"

"Tell you about what?" Bumblebee asked walking alongside Strongarm. They had just arrived back at based after a evening Patrol after the mission. The patrol was suggested by Strongarm who wanted to prove to her lieutenant that unlike the others, mostly Sideswipe, she could push through anything.

"Did anyone else know that Jetstorm and Slipstream spoke other languages?" Russell asked the bots hoping to get some answers.

"Wow, I didn't know that! That sounds amazing it's nice to see the minis taking a shine to earth culture." Bumblebee said proudly. Looking amazed at the news.

The ruckus attracted Drift, who had been meditating right after polishing his swords. "What is this I hear about my students?"

"I was complementing the fact they know other human languages. You know it's not easy learning a new language especially in an unfamiliar place with minimal contact with it's natives." Bumblebee looked at Drift, he knew Drift was a bit of a stick in the mud and was a bit too hard on his minicons in his and everyone else's opinion.

He hoped that maybe telling him how hard it is to learn new things in such environments was a real accomplishment.

"What exactly do my students gain from such. I see no reason to waste one's time in such pointless activities since it is our primary goal to not be seen by any human?" Drift asked with one optic ridge raised and his tone as firm as it always was.

Bumblebee started to see why those minis were so conscious of everything they say around him.

"Well... uhh ... you're right, but..." Bumblebee began to stutter looking for a reason to stand for the Stoic mentors students.

"Seeing as you have no available answers for me--" Drift was suddenly interrupted by Denny

"You'd be surprised by how much those two know. Heh, they might know much much more than you, their master." Denny chucked teasing the bot that toward over him with great ease. "So stop giving them crap about wanting to learn about their new home."

Drift clearly offended by the teasing stated he only wanted to know the significance of such activities if interactions with humans were forbidden, as he left to meditate once more.

"Well unlike Mr Grumpy pants there I bet you that there is something worth whatever those minis are up to." Sideswipe declared to Strongarm who sided with Drift on the matter.

"Fine if there's anything good out of this, I'll ... " Strongarm stood thinking of a good deal to bet Sideswipe. "Aha! I do all your chores, if, and only if, you can prove to all of us that knowing a bunch of useless languages benefits our mission in any way."

"It's on Strongarm!" Russell declared, the small human was just as stubborn as his father who also took the bet along with Bumblebee, who thought despite the scenic overview they had after catching Pseudo about how amazing the earth is, they still underestimated the true value of this planet.
__________________________________________

"Over here!" Jetstorm exclaimed as he walked behind two big selves. " Tadaa! What do you think?"

"Wow! Is this where you spend your time? It's amazing! Slipstream said with amazement as he looked around.

"Yes I have been wanting to show you this for so long... I just never had the right time to do so." Jetstorm said showing Slipstream everything he had.

He showed him the tablet, all the games and apps it had and most importantly the book.

The books mostly comprised of History and science textbooks in all sorts of languages, not just Spanish. Slipstream was amazed at how thick and heavy they were. He could only read the Spanish ones which spoke of The Spanish Civil war and one about relativity.

"Is this what you're always up to whenever I can't find you?" Slipstream asked looking at the books neatly packed on the shelf in front of him.

"Indeed, I enjoy reading about all sorts of human things. You'd be surprised how much there is." Jetstorm said proudly while holding one of the books.

The two sat down as Jetstorm showed Slipstream all the things he does, from the chess games to the music he listened to. "This app is called MeTube, it has EVERYTHING!" Jetstorm explained wide-eyed.
"Everything?" Slipstream asked sheepishly "Even 'Amor Prohibido'?"

"Anything you want to know, you can find on the Internet." Jetstorm explained to his friend who seemed to get more and more interested by the second. "It's where I learned to speak all sorts of languages! Like Spanish."

Slipstream seemed to not be paying any attention to Jetstorm at all as he searched 'Amor Prohibido' on the search engine and saw all the cast members, seeming to only be interested in the man who played, Alejandro his favourite character, Antonio Fernan.

"Wow, you really meant EVERYTHING!" Slipstream said as he jumped in the air look at the screen of the tablet.

"It says here the show is based on a book series, 'Falsa del corazón' by Martina Gonzalez. Hmm, I think I have some of these books. Though they're not exactly interesting as I prefer textbooks and informative books." Jetstorm said focusing his attention on the screen, until he noticed Slipstream looked at him, Eyes wide with a grin that could compete with the Cheshire Cat.

"I want them." Slipstream said his face frozen in that odd expression. Jetstorm stood up and searched for the books on the selves and passed them to Slipstream.

"Why hadn't you told me about this until now!" He said flipping through the thick Spanish novels.

"Well I wanted to tell you for weeks, but every time I am disrupted by missions and other things that happen. Even I, haven't had much time to spend in my little hideout." Jetstorm explained a glint of disappointment being visible.

"Well you could've told me anytime. And the others would love this. They would think you're extremely intelligent. This would especially impress the master"

"Need I remind you the only reason we have a chore chart is because we kept fighting over everything that had to do with TV." Jetstorm sighed and held the front of his head.

"And besides, I...I already tried telling the master time and time again, only to get punished and kept aside. I know he'll only see all of this as a distraction to my training, which I am already not even good at." Jetstorm sighed looking down with his shoulders slumped.

"All of this is the reason I don't concentrate and arrive late to training, trust me you don't know how good all of this is, it's like my own version of the meditation the master does."

"Well I promise to keep our secret hideout a secret for us two." Slipstream encouraged Jetstorm with a smile.

"Now let us go, 'Amor Prohibido' is about to begin and I am definitely not missing it."

___________________________________________

"There you two are!" Russell exclaimed as he ran towards the two minicons and pulled them by their arms.

"We've been looking everywhere for you guys. Come on we wanna show Bumblebee and prove to Strongarm that you two speak spinach" Sideswipe yelled standing with the whole team.

"It's Spanish Sideswipe and yes we both speak it, but now it's time for TV." Slipstream said with an excited smirk he couldn't hide as he walked past everyone else to sit and watch his show.

The rest of the team looked at Jetstorm waiting for him to say something. Sideswipe and Russell stood with grins and their thumbs up, encouraging Jetstorm to speak.

"это правда, я могу говорить по-испански...(It's true I can speak Spanish...)" Jetstorm hesitantly and nervously said, all eyes including his master were on him.

"Wait no that's Russian." He spoke under his breath as the embarrassment grew.

"Well that was disappointing." Strongarm said looking at Sideswipe smugly, angering the bright red bot. Jetstorm didn't know what the two were on about. The two looked ready to brawl until Bumblebee stepped in, in between them and spoke.

"Well I for one think it's impressive it wasn't Spanish, but it was sure interesting. What did you say in Russian anyway?"

"Oh...I ... umm said I can speak Spanish. I just panicked under the pressure you all put me under and accidentally spoke in Russian." Jetstorm said shyly while holding the back of his helm.

"I knew you spoke Russian and German, i never knew you spoke Spanish!" A voice said inside the diner, it was Denny. He walked out holding a large bowl of popcorn immediately drawing Russell's attention towards the snack.

"YOU SPEAK MORE THAN ONE HUMAN LANGUAGE!" Bumblebee exploded with awe as he knelt closer to Jetstorm, whose embarrassment only grew. "Where do you learn all of this?"

Jetstorm looked back for help from his friend, only to see Slipstream over engrossed in his show and he helplessly sighed "...novels"

"I mean I've been on this planet for years and even I don't really know that much about human languages." Bumblebee picked Jetstorm up as though showing him off to the others.

He was happy that someone in the team was interested in their home.

"My question from earlier still stands, what is the point of all this if we are not to engage with the natives of said language." Drift asked looking Jetstorm in the eye, as though depending an answer from him.

Jetstorm leaped out of Bumblebee's arms and stood before his master like he was pleading his case to a jury. All eyes were on him, he was the centre of attention.

"Uhh...I--" the words seemed close yet so far, his masters gaze turn from intrigue to bored as Jetstorm stuttered and fumbled. What was he to tell him? Where could he start? There was so much to say but what. "The great depression-- Roman Empire -- WWI -- WWII ..." the thoughts raced in his mind.

"Jetstorm?" His master uttered breaking his train of thought causing him to yelp. "Seeing as you have nothing to say, I will take my leave."

Sideswipe looked disappointed knowing he'd have to do his own chores Strongarms expression remained the same thought the whole time and Bumblebee and the rest were all just disappointed as they hoped for more than they got them and there.

Denny patted Jetstorm's on the back and told him, maybe next time and that he knew he was capable of great things.

Jetstorm stared at Denny with a blank expression etched on his face and walked away. "What's the point of knowing all this if I can't even apply it?"

_____________________________________________

Back at his hideout, Jetstorm sat and fidgeted with the books on the lower shelves. Recounting every moment he stood before his teacher and embarrassed himself in front of everyone.

"Hey bud." Denny said behind Jetstorm startling him as always, Jetstorm never understood how humans could walk so quietly. He looked at him and gave no response to his greeting. "Slipstream's looking for ya, says he can't watch his favourite show without his favourite bot." Denny couxed Jetstorm attempting to convince him to join the rest of the team for TV night.

"He can watch with Russell." Jetstorm groaned hoping to politely get rid of the human.

"Nah, It's Waaaay past his bedtime, and besides he's your brother! You can't just leave him hanging." Denny said in an odd tone while nudging the young bot. Although sceptical at Denny's odd persuasion he agreed to go, only because Russell wasn't there to spend time with Slipstream. He had a tendency of forgetting that humans needed sleep. And humans as young as Russell needed a lot more.

He walked alongside Denny, his head hung low. How was he to face his master after being such an embarrassment to his honour.

He looked at Denny, who looked back and said with an upset face. "It's ok to be afraid and nervous sometimes."

"What is the point of all this if i cannot apply it, Master Drift is right, what's the use of wasting my time on such pointless activities." Jetstorm spoke avoiding Denny's gaze. He couldn't bear facing anyone after what happened. The humiliation of it all was just too much.

"I don't understand why your so upset about what happened? Anyone can fumble their words sometimes."

"I don't expect you to understand…" Jetstorm knew no one would understand what he's been through, the suffocating pain he has been through even before his service to Shadow Raker.

"You're right, maybe I won't understand, but I'm here to listen. Bottling things up is never a good thing." Denny approached Jetstorm looking up at the young bot hoping to catch his optic.

"You don't know what it is like to live in constant fear of everything your whole life. Fear of speaking, moving … because you know one … one small mistake… is enough to cost you your life." Jetstorm look at Denny with sorrowful eyes. He had never shown anyone this side of him other than Slipstream.

"Where I come from, your worth as a mini con is determined by the price your master puts on you. I lived knowing my worth lies in the labour I give, not the knowledge I hone." He just couldn't stop speaking, so he kept pouring his spark out.

"Do you really see Drift in that way?"

The question was sudden and unexpected. He deeply honoured his master, he basically adored him, but still couldn't help but feel such a way towards anyone. That's just how he's lived his life. That's how all minicons lives their lives.

"I know the master would never do such to me, considering it was him that saved me from such torment. It's just… I've lived so long under such circumstances. It's seems I've been conditioned to think that way." He said forcing a smile. He could see the deep concern written on Denny's face and hoped to ease it.

"All that matters is that you're having fun. even if you can't preach it to a hall, what matters is your curiosity's fulfilment. What you're doing now will definitely be worth it in future."

"Thank you Denny Clay."

"If you ever want to vent about anything, all you have to do is talk if Drift and you guys are serious about this communication thing all of you would take initiative." Denny smiled at Jetstorm cheering him up "Come on it 2am, that means Slipstream's show is almost over."

" I'm sure he'll forgive us. This was truly needed." Jetstorm smiled back as they walked back to the diner.

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Chapter Text

Jetstorm sat by the diner reading a one of Russell's textbooks. The young human had been homeschooled for some time now. Both him and his father agreed schools in crown city are a bit to far, even if you have a team of robots that are more than willing to provide free transportation.

Russell got the idea from Hank, she too was homeschooled. And Denny went along with it all because of 'transport', but Jetstorm knew it had something to do with the disappearance of Russell's mother.

She had been quiet since Russell moved in with his father. Denny explained it's odd for her to be this quiet. Soon both Russell and Denny began slipping the matter under a rug. But the distress and pain was evident.

Since Russell was homeschooled, Jetstorm took it upon himself to assist him with his studies, especially history and science. Although Russell would receive occasional tutoring from a teacher at a nearby house along with his friends Hank and Butch.

Jetstorm sat going through the pages, he felt more than happy helping his 'cousin'. That's what Russell told him. That he sees everybot as his 'cousin'.

Bumblebee explained the term 'cousin' refers to the child of an uncle or aunt, who are the siblings of parents. Jetstorm, taking into account that Denny was Russell's father, a type of parent, thought his new rank as cousin, made Denny his uncle?

The expression of this realization prompted Denny to begin telling what is called, 'Uncle jokes'.

"Heya, Jet! Still helping Rusty with his work?" Denny boomed as he walked towards the two, who had their heads in the books they were holding.

"Indeed." Jetstorm stood to bow. "Wow, you've really gotten bigger since you first joined the team." Denny said looking up at the young bot "Looks like you've grown a foot, guess you'll need three socks!"

"Socks? I don't think I require such." the young minicon explain, the confusion was clearly etched on his face and it only grew as he watched the human snicker uncontrollably.

"DAAAAAADD!" Russell sighed loudly, he was clearly annoyed by his father's antics.

"Okay, okay. I'll stop, for now." Denny declared with a smug expression on his face, an indicator that he was clearly never going to stop.

"But, really jokes aside, you have gotten bigger. When you first came here you where nearly the same height as me." Denny examined Jetstorm, looking at him from front to back. "Same with Slipstream, you both tower over me."

Their conversation was short lived by Sliptream dashing towards them and grabbing Jetstorm by the arm and pulling him away.

"It's our turn for patrol. LET'S GO!" Slipstream dragged Jetstorm away not acknowledging the others around him.

"Woah there bud. Why are you in such a hurry? " Denny chuckled softly pulling the minicon away Jetstorm.

"The sooner I start patrolling, the sooner I get done so I can watch my show." Slipstream explained beaming with joy.

He had became quite the fanatic for reality TV. If it wasn't Telenovas it was Reality. And currently his running favorite was 'Celebrity survival dating' . Jetstorm knew it had something to do with Slipstream liking Chris Johnston.

" Let's go!" Slipstream pulled free from Denny and dragged his friend.

"Go on then you two." Denny giggled as the two scurried off.

The two headed out the gate and bid farewell to their master and Bumblebee. Who stood near the gate discussing Jetstorm wasn't to interested in to listen.

The two had been doing patrols since their encounter with Shadow Raker. They really enjoyed what the others saw as a boring chore.

Today they were patrolling the forest. They jumped around from tree to tree, scaring birds and watching and identifying woodland creatures.

They asked each other fun questions to pass the time. And to make the patrol a bit more exciting.

"If you could meet and talk to your past self now, What would you like to tell them." Slipstream asked Jetstorm, hanging upside down from a branch. "I would probably tell them, how amazing we are. I mean we beat Starsream. Fought alongside THE OPTIMUS PRIME. Against MEGATRONOUS PRIME. And we took down the CYBERTRONIAN HIGH COUNCIL. I would sound like I am completely insane! "

"Well, I guess I'd tell myself how happy and lucky I am to have such a caring and loving family like ours." Jetstorm explained looking down. "I probably wouldn't believe myself, back then I thought nothing good would ever happen to me. And then you showed up in my most desperate hour and delivered me from suffering."

Slipstream knew what Jetstorm was talking about, but never knew it from his Perspective.
..........

Jetstorm's head hung low, his body tense as he balanced at the edge of the railing. He had seen others doing it. He thought this was the moment he was born to live up to.

The ones who committed to this act, spoke about the bliss and paradise that awaited them, that all their sufferings would come to an end.

Although the methodology was diverse, the results were the same. Guns, poisons, drugs, all used to rid the world of your incompetence and give you a life free of abuse, a life free from... Abuse. The taunting voices in his head encouraged it.

"Jump! You have nothing to live for."
" Worthless"
" Pathetic"
" Cowardly"
They echoed nonstop.

Jetstorm closed his eyes as coolrant ran down, he was to scared to look, it was a long way down. He shifted his weight putting his right pede over the edge as he silently whispered a small wish. To be free, to be loved to be happy.

... To find eternal peace, in eternal slumber.

Just as he was about to tip forward and bid farewell to life, when he heard pedesteps rushing towards him. Intrigued he stepped back and regained his balance on the railing. He looked to his left, where the noise was coming from.

In the distance a bright red little buzzsaw that looked no younger than him, raced up the bridge. Like something was chasing them.

Something big.

And sure enough something huge was coming. A vehicle sped close behind the little red buzzsaw...but they were faster than said vehicle.

By the time the minicon made it to Jetstorm the vehicle was only reaching the bridge.

"Hold this and RUN!" The red minicon screamed as they shoved energon cubes into Jetstorms hands.

"H... Huh?" Jetstorm stared at the cubes in his hands, he had never seen or even held so many. By the second he looked up the minicon was already racing down the bridge.

"Hold it, little thieves!" The bot yelled transforming into a tall mech and running up the bridge towards Jetstorm, prompting him into frantically running in the direction of the red minicon.

"HEY!" The huge mech screamed getting closer and closer. Jetstorm had lost sight of the red minicon and just kept dashing in a straight line.

"psst! Over here" a voice pulled Jetstorm into a small alleyway and from there a hidden passage. It was the red minicon.

"That was quite a close one." the red minicon said " my name is Slipstream, I apologize profusely for the trouble I caused you. I really had to get away from that bot back there."

Slipstream slipped into a small opening leading into a warehouse. Jetstorm not knowing what to do followed along behind him.

" That bot back there, he called you a theive. Are you one? " Jetstorm asked energon cubes still in hand with his head slightly tilted.

"Technically, yes. Minicons like me are quite are unfortunate. Although it terribly wrong, stealing is the only way I can hope to stay alive." Slipstream explained looking down and ashamed.

"All is well, besides you've gotten quite the stash." Jetstorm smiled at Sliptream. He had been a while since he has seen another buzzsaw, he even found it rare that one as young as him was in a place like this.

"It's not allot, but here for your troubles." he said letting Jetstorm take some of the cubes for himself.

"My name is Jetstorm. It's nice to finally have a friend." He smiled, something he hasn't done in a very long time.

The two sat and enjoyed their refuel.

And thus, an unstoppable brotherhood was formed there and then.

Chapter Text

"Ok, next question. Who was the dictator of N*zi Germany?" Jetstorm questioned Slipstream. "I don't know... Is it not the weird man with the funny moustache?" Slipstream guessed, he knew the man but not his name.

"Yes, Ad*lf H*tler." Jetstorm exclaimed. He enjoyed asking history questions as much as Slipstream asked celebrity ones. They each had their own unique preferences, but one ways or another their likings crossed paths and made conversations even more exciting.

"Now it is my tu—" Slipstream's sentence was cut short by a rustling in the bushes. The two quickly assumed their stealth position, climbing up the trees to watch over the dense overgrown flora from above.

They remained quiet and unmoving. With Steeljaw still on the loose, it was most important to remain vigilant and unseen. This helps with avoiding humans too.

Their silence was thick. The only sound that could be heard was the rustling of the trees and the gentle forest winds scattering the leaves on the woodland plane.

The minicons knew the dangers of this world, although it may seem peaceful, Earth was the second most frequented planet by Cybertronians. One would believe with such activity the humans would be aware of the existence of Cybertronians amongst them.

Cybertronians themselves avoid all contact with humans. They understand that not all humans are kind and cooperative and they know of the method of elimination humans are capable of.

Although human technology was far outdated compared to Cybertronian technology, the 'outdated' weaponry they possessed was something all extraterrestrial life forms avoided.

Nuclear weapons

Humans have enough to destroy an entire small planet. It is only by sheer luck and outer worldly interference that humans cannot leave their own planet, unlike many dominant and sentient life forms across the galaxy.

What humans don't understand, they attack and kill. It's proven in their history on how they treat anything remotely different from them. Including different variations of their own species, which to this day are still abused.

That goes for Cybertronians as well. To this day many minicons are mistreated and abused, either for gain or just for the plain fun of it. Decepticon, Autobot, Peacekeeper, it didn't matter minicons are money. They're profit not beings.

Some scientists and 'professionals' even argue that the existence of minicons is purely to serve bigger bots. Their proof, minicons transform into parts that are only useful if attached and deployed from other bots. The believed that even their Prime, Micronous, was just a lackey for the other primes. They live on the two moons of Cybertron, proving they are reliant on larger bot, similar to how the two moons are reliant on the planet's gravitational pull to maintain their orbit.

But Jetstorm and many other minicon as well as bots knew, one small slip up, one small push could lead to a spiral of madness. Although small minicons were resilient and some possessed abilities beyond the comprehension of other bots. They were tough and could march on even with the most brutalest wounds. And that was to be demonstrated live to Jetstorm and Slipstream.

The rustling in the bushes seems to be caused by an older minicon. An Autobot. The two were thankful it was an allay and not a threat. The two jumped down and to their surprise did not even startle them. They looked weary and weathered. Their head looked as if it hung on a single string.

Jetstorm noticed the sight almost immediately, how could he be wrong but it had been ages since he had seen something like this before, could he be wrong... hopefully.

He screamed for Slipstream to get back accidentally causing the minicon to turn and pounce at his friend while he was distracted by the sudden instruction.

The minicons face was as bad as its body's condition. It was coming apart. Its body was rusting away and its voice sounded like something straight out of a horror film. Slipstream tried prying it off, but every time he even slightly grabbed the minicon, it would turn to rusting flacks.

Its eyes were wide and unclosed, it looked manic, it was...
In pain...

And the pain was clear from its screeching and groaning. It wailed not in anger but in desperation, as though it was pleading for mercy and salvation. I cried and wailed on top of Slipstream, who was pinned under the rusty and battered mess.

Jetstorm, not knowing what to do just kicked the minicon off of his friend. The kick sent the minicon flying in the other direction, hitting a tree and scaring its face. Jetstorm quickly diverted his attention towards Slipstream, who was still recovering from the suddenness of everything that had just occurred.

The minicon hurriedly gained his composher and stood up while thanking Jetstorm's assistance. And by the time they both looked over to check on the minicon that assaulted them, but to their amazement it was gone as thought it vanished and blew away in the wind.

The two knew they couldn't just dream up something like that so they both went to investigate the tree the minicon was laying against. The mini seemed to have dragged itself away. They followed the track, as they walked the track mysteriously vanished.

The minicons planned to investigate further but were stopped by a human walking around. It was setting traps for bears which frequented this section of the woods and proved a danger for children that usually play football at the neighbourhood grounds.

The two cut their investigation short and planned to inform the rest of the team, most especially Bumblebee, about their encounter.

"Base to Jetstorm and Slipstream. Do you read?" The two com units buzzed."It's been an hour since your patrol was supposed to end. Is everything alright." Fixit asked worriedly. He was requested by Drift to constantly check on his pupils. And now that it's been a whole hour since their patrol ended and none of the team had heard a word from them, he grew worried.

"Everything is well. We just... Encountered something... Strange." Jetstorm replied looking at his friend, who looked down blinking slowly and swaying his head. Jetstorm stared his eyes full of worry catching Slipstream's attention, and straightening him up.

"That's good to hear guys! Ma teamie's gettin' worried ya know!" Grimlock replied, his personality as big as him.
"Okay then, get back to base, then we'll talk about what you guys saw." The lieutenant chimed in, he was curious on what the minicons saw as strange. Last time it was a Caterpillar, the other time it was a stick insect.

He found their curiosity, especially Jetstorm's, amusing. Although they were extremely intelligent, they were still like little toddlers discovering the world for the first time.

Jetstorm and Slipstream began walking back to base. The walk was quiet and still. Jetstorm tried to spark up a conversation but only got a small grunt or murmur from his friend. He knew what was happening and he hoped he was wrong. Oh so — wrong.

Wrong, like he always was. Wrong, like he always is. Before he hoped he would do or get something right, but now he hoped, prayed to whatever deity was listening, he was terribly wrong. He knew his friend's fate and he knew his own.

They finally arrived at the base after the horribly long walk and were met by the attention and gaze of everyone. They gathered by the gate like a council at a hearing and the bombardment of questions began.

Where were you?
What took you do long?
What happened to using a com link?

They just kept coming, one after the other, non stop, not even allowing the two to speak to answer a single one. Jetstorm looked over at Slipstream his eyes were narrow during their journey but now they were wide, paranoid even like he was fighting something in his head. Something no one else could see or hear.

Soon enough the questions came to a stop with everyone breathing a sigh of relief knowing the minicons were unharmed. And their master called them both for training, as per their schedule. One of these days would be their last training sessions as master and pupils.

Drift was planning on letting Jetstorm and Slipstream go as their own unit, no longer students but as masters at their own will. His students knew about this and were extremely excited.

What Jetstorm and Slipstream believed to be a training session was actually the day of their graduation. And it took them nearly an hour of back and forth trying to figure out what their master meant by "You may train at your own will."

They only realised when Sideswipe hit his forehead and groaned " You just graduated."

"Oh" Slipstream said flatly and followed with a wide eyed and overly dramatic "OH MY GOODNESS WE JUST GRADUATED!" No one expected such a reaction from Slipstream, the overly impulsive and energetic Jetstorm, yes.

Jetstorm was practically vibrating from excitement. But that excitement died down the next morning. The two spend the whole night playing around with Russell and Sideswipe, even Strongarm joined in on the fun. Jetstorm even noticed Slipstream's demeanor changed. Maybe it was just him processing what happened.

Jetstorm was glad it was not what he expected. Until the morning. everyone was tuckered out from last night. Denny and Russell slept outside on the lawn chairs. And everyone had to endure Denny's loud and horrendous snoring.

That morning there was a team meeting, nobody liked it, even Strongarm, who groaned about having the meeting on another day. And Sideswipe loudly proposing that team meeting be banned FOREVER, waking the two humans that now had to groggily attend the meeting.

"I hope everyone is excited."Bumblebee exclaimed with a smile on his face, only getting unenthusiastic murmurs and sighs and a big boo from a sleepy Russell. "I know Jetstorm and Slipstream are!" He looked over at the two minicons now graduates.

"Indeed we are." Jetstorm said trying his best to not show he is as uninterested as the rest.

"What about you Slipstream?" Bumblebee asked the minicon who gave no response and stared off into space, his mind distant from what was happening around him.

"Slipstream?"
—Slipstream?" Bumblebee attempted to get the bot's attention.
"SLIPSTREAM!!" Drift yelled, silently snapping the young bot back to his senses. "How did i even get here..." Slipstream quietly whispered to himself.

"Wow! Even Slipstream is bored of this." Sideswipe teased Bumblebee, with a smug look on his face.

"Ugh, fine just your duties on the new roster and do what you do best." Bumblebee sighed, he had hoped for a more positive Monday morning considering the minicons graduated, but everyone's too groggy to do anything.

Jetstorm and Slipstream remained behind, wanting to spar with each other. Bumblebee and Drift hearing the idea stayed and watched.
He easily toppled Slipstream every time. It was really sad, it was as if he wasn't even trying.

Slipstream stood still his head hung and swung sideways. He looked out of breath and tumbled around. Bumblebee and Drift looked at each other with concern as they watched the young minicon cough out energon and finally fall forward.

They rushed Slipstream to the medical unit, one they had made after their fight with wing code. Their situation back then made them realise that a proper and well functioning medical unit was much needed. And so, with the assistance of bulkhead, they built the medical unit and set it up with all the necessary equipment.

Fixit was called to the med bay to assess Slipstream's situation. Upon scanning him and receiving the results, Fixit backed away worriedly and requested every one do the same.

Jetstorm hoped it wasn't true... But life is a piece of crap to him

"Slipstream has ... DISLIVARITE" Fixit gasped

His prayers aren't enough ...

They're never enough...

He stood by the doorway hearing news his friend is never coming back.

His spark ached, as he walked out of the medical unit and passed by Sideswipe, Russell and Denny, who heard the commotion and asked Jetstorm what the matter was.

He only looked up coolant welling in his optics and quietly streamed down.

The others ran in only to be stopped by Fixit stating its highly contagious and that all personnel will be test, but mostly all minicons. And that he will require Denny Clay's assistance.

Slipstream had it... He really did.

Slipstream had DISLIVARITE, and this may be his last few days alive...

Chapter Text

DISLIVARITE DISEASE
This is when a bots body rusts and degrades at an extreme rate leading to death. It is most common in minicons.

EARLY SYMPTOMS INCLUDE:
Confusion
Dizziness
Joint pains
Occasional paralysis
Migraines
Random mumbling
Stuttering
Flaky / rusty armor

LATE SYMPTOMS INCLUDE:
Mild schizoid
Occasional seizures
Bloody coughing fits
Discolored eyes
Degrading armour

Due to the disease's severity, it can cause the armour of the bot to degrade, rust off, and a main treatment is to completely remove the armour. But this treatment also has a low survival rate.

Newer studies into the diseases show that general treatment and therapy as soon as the bot is diagnosed, followed by the armour removal surgery, done periodically, increases the lifespan of the infected by a few days and if their lucky, weeks.

HISTORY OF THE DISEASE:
During the Cybertronian civil war, many mini cons were abandoned and/or killed. During these mass killings it was discovered that the armour of certain mini cons was quite resilient and strong, and could be used as extra parts in fixing and repairing machinery, weaponry and upgrading one's own armour.

Due to this new found revolution during the war many minicons were captured not just for slavery anymore but to be brutally stripped of their armour and their remains smelted for extra parts. Throughout this time more and more discoveries were made about minicon armour, such as that the most reliable and resilient mini con armour came from Buzzsaw minicons.

Their armour was thick and sturdy and one Buzzsaw's armour could be enough to build a whole railgun. And from there the massacre focused on the Buzzsaws. Camps and containment and transport ships were built to hold the captured minicons. These vessels, hated by all mini cons, had smelters, anvils and blacksmiths, everything needed for the process of removal.

With the increase in demand for their armour not seen as precious metals rather than cruelty. More and more Buzzsaws were captured.

The overseers of the vessels had no remorse, they would capture young mini cons and keep them in crowded and damp conditions locked away from society and kept away from family and friends.

They would wait till the young minicons have grown to a reasonable size before the extraction process was done, and whether they survive that process or not, they would soon be smelted for extra parts.

As time went on the Buzzsaw population depleted drastically. Minicons young and old watched as their comrades wailed in anguish and pain, many ending themselves the moment they entered the vessels, seeing it a better way to go that being operated on and smelted alive.

The conditions in the vessels were nothing short of horrible. The conditions led multiple suicides by the minicons as well as mental health compromisations.

The mini cons began developing aggressive behaviour towards each other resulting in murders and severe injuries to other surrounding minicons due to the cramped conditions they were in.

Young bots soon began developing cognitive impairments and developmental disorders such as stund growth, blindness, muteness, deafness, locomotive impairments and multiple mental disorders such as, PTSD, BPD, ADHD, Psychotic disorders such as Schizophrenia, Anxiety disorder, Depression and Bipolar disorder.

Dead bodies rusting and rotting away gave way to multiple diseases to spread throughout the vessel, diseases such as rust rot, system corruption and many others were reported amongst the minicons by the overseers.

The concentration of the minicons and the lack of sanitation and medical attention led to the spread of a new disease that infected mainly the minicons being massacred. The disease spread through all the vessels and it was carried by minicons being auctioned and sold to other vessels and slave masters.

After many reported incidents of this disease medics and scientists named it DISLIVARITE DISEASE.

The disease wiped out the already depleting Buzzsaw population reducing their numbers to the dwindling hundreds making them an endangered species. Despite these horrendous statistics the minicons were still being hunted, their value only increasing after their depletion.

And Jetstorm was one of the few that managed to escape AND survive.
________________________________________
Jetstorm sat in the corner of the quarantine room. His knees were hugged close to his chest. He sat there, alone in the empty room filled with nothing but his rhythmic sobs. Coolant dripping from his optics and pooling by his pedes.

His nanoparticles had been collected for analysis after it was discovered he had also been in contact with the disease. And so he had to be isolated from everyone, with the exception of Denny and Russell.

The malware was extremely deadly to mini cons particularly buzzsaws, and could spread from bot to minicon and minicon to minicon, but the malware cannot be spread by humans as they lack the anatomy.

The humans, particularly Russell would visit him from time to time, but his father was too busy working on Slipstream. Since he fell unconscious the day before, he had been constantly destabilising and nearing close death. Denny had been working tirelessly to stabilise him. Even opting to close the business and staying the ward with Slipstream to monitor his condition.

Russell wasn't allowed inside,for his own good his father would tell him, but he got a small peak inside the ward he saw Slipstream.

His body was so corroded, he looked like a zombie or a corpse rotting.

Until his results came out, Jetstorm was not allowed outside of the quarantine room for any reason whatsoever. Anything he needed would be brought to him by Russell.

Russell walked in with a large energon cube in his hands. Jetstorm barely touched the first one he brought, which worried Russell.

"Jet..." The boy searched for words, but couldn't. So he placed the cube next to Jetstorm, on top of the other one, and sat on the other side resting his head against him.

Russell closed his eyes and listened to the quiet sobs that escaped from the bot. Upon hearing them get more and more intense, Russell repositioned himself hugging the bot and nuzzled against his cold metal exterior.

Jetstorm felt the warm breath from Russell and soon felt small wet droplets. He laid his legs straight and stared up at the bright Florent lights. So bright they were blinding and so he couldn't keep his optics open for long.

He looked down at the child that cuddled next to him. He couldn't see Russell's face but he knew it was a wet slimy disaster.

Why wouldn't it be?

He knew Russell saw him as family. Even giving him the title of cousin. And seeing Slipstream slowly die in the next room really killed him inside.

"Everything was great. Everything was going so well." Russell sobbed "And now everything isn't!"

Jetstorm heard a door close. He looked over to the door of the quarantine room and realised it must have been Denny leaving the ward Slipstream was in. The steps sounding outside confirmed it.

And without thinking twice, Jetstorm stood up, causing Russell to fall over and instead of picking himself up he continued laying there.

Russell watched as Jetstorm walked towards the door. "Where are you going? " He perked up, knowing the bot had to be confined in the room they were in. Jetstorm only glanced at him and walked out.

Russell quickly followed after Jetstorm and watched as he opened the door to Slipstream's ward. Russell had not fully seen Slipstream, but even the first short glance was hard to handle. And the full picture was even harder.

Slipstream layed quiet and unmoving on the medical berth. His face was withered and he had no armour. He was unrecognisable. Just a bear frame laying on its back. Like prey mutilated by a predator.

To think it had only been two days since the disease had begun its siege on him...

Jetstorm and Russell stood by the doorway taking in the view. It hurt to see Slipstream in such agony. Jetstorm steadily walked towards his friend.

Russell tried to stop him, but what was he compared to a tall robust robot. And so Jetstorm marched against the child's efforts and finally collapsed onto his knees next to the berth.

He stared at his friend, his face was grotesque and his eyes were covered with a small black cloth.

"Jetstorm! Get away!" Russell warned the minicon. Jetstorm held Slipstream's flaky, limp hands and pressed them against his face. Coolant streamed down as he proceeded to lay his head on the berth just near his friend's leg, and held his hand above his head.

He knew Slipstream was just a living corpse and he couldn't bear seeing him in such a state.

He adored his friend and would be nothing without him. And so he made sure they would be together.
Even in death...

Russell just stood by both of them and stared at Jetstorm's impulsive decision. Now they were both going to leave him.

And he could do nothing about it...

He saw from his father's condition, as well as Slipstream's, that nothing was getting any better. They sat together, like a final goodbye to each other.

Jetstorm stood up smiling, surprising Russell, but the pain was etched on his face and constricted optics. The pain was more than evident... It was screaming.

"I would like to take a walk around the woods." Jetstorm said, it had been a while since he spoke. "A final walk before..." He paused looking over at his dying friend.

_______________________________

The two 'snuk' out of the scrapyard and into the woods. It wasn't really 'sneaking' out. The entire team was out on a mission. Steeljaw and his pack were reeking havoc as they usually did.

This time they were at the Crown City Natural History Museum. For reasons unbeknownst to the Bee team.

Russell obliged to Jetstorm's request. He knew in no time at all he would be a rusty decaying mess, just like Slipstream.

But something bothered Russell, something nobody thought of so far, is how both Jet and Slip came into contact with the infected minicon, but only Jet was fine, better even, compared to Slipstream. Russell pondered this as they walked deeper into the woods.

The forest floor was getting denser and denser as they kept walking. Jetstorm came to a sudden halt. Russell had not really noticed how far they have walked.

His mind was plagued by the thought of losing part of his only family.

They say time flies by when you're having fun...
But there was nothing fun about this.

"This is where we encountered the infected minicon." Jetstorm looked down at Russell. He had a faint smile.

He didn't want him to feel bad about the decision he took. To die with his friend is the only decision he knew was right. He saw it no other way.

His smile quickly faded and he went into high alert, scaring Russell. "We need 10 of them to reach our quota!" An unknown voice spoke. It was approaching their position.

And before they could react, the source of the voice stood before them. "Well, well, well. This gotta be ma lucky day." The blue and black mech spoke with a grin.

"Commander! RETREAT!" Jetstorm screamed at Russell who promptly took off running. He kept running fast, faster than most children his age. He was used to it. Running is all he ever did when trouble rose.

It's all he ever knew. He wished he could defend himself, but he would be torn from limb to limb by the gigantic robots.

After running, he felt his lungs burn. He looked back and realised Jetstorm wasn't behind him and neither was the con.

Back near the heart of the woods, Jetstorm ran as fast as he could. Avoiding trees and flora, he stumbled upon the infection minicon's remains that painted the forest floor a bright rusty red.

He would have not noticed the remains of he had not felt and heard a metallic crunch beneath his stabilisers. The small distribution allowed the mech to catch up on him, causing him to panic and gat tangled into the long grass.

As he tried to break free he fell forward landing on a hidden bear trap, that clamped shut on his upper leg, trapping him.

"There's ma prize!" The blue mech said looking down at Jetstorm, who was frantically trying to free himself from the trap.

"Ya got some mighty fine armour. It's nice and clean. You're a big catch too. You must be a side piece. Best deal with that." He smirked picking Jetstorm up by his neck and examining him before slashing his com unit, causing the minicon to cry in pain.

"So that's were that one went." He frowned looking at the infected minicons remains.

"Ugh. Looks like they got some dirt on them that won't be a problem. With your armour quality I might even get a bonus." He held Jetstorm up by the bear trap's chain.

The mech transformed into a Cybertronian jet and flew away.

And Jetstorm watch as the ground got less visible and watched in horror as he was taken into a small hauling vessel.

Chapter Text

Denny sat by the command center staring eagerly and tiredly at the screen, waiting for the results of the recent tests to be displayed.

He hadn't slept much since the trouble with Slipstreams Illness arose. It was really a devastating blow to everyone, but each member of the team still needed to contribute towards the mission of the team.

This meant that dispite the tragedy that faced the mini cons, the Bee team still had to go to missions regarding Steeljaw and his entire pack.

No one really knows how Steeljaw manged to reassemble his pack back on Earth. Strongarm suggested it could be foul play and corruption amongst the Cybertronian Police Department. And that suspicion isn't too far fetched, seeing as the High Council itself had been corrupt since the re-establishment of society on the planet.

Denny continued staring at the bright screen, his eyes were heavy, but he refused to close them. He knew if he did, he would not wake up for the next 3 days.

And so he kept them wide open.

He would occasionally be jolted by Fixit speaking loudly when he was addressing the rest of the team, who were on a mission at the Crown City Natural History museum.

Fixit picked up a dispatch call on the police Com units and detected multiple cybertronian life signals moving about the area.

Being seen by civilians was not a problem due to renovations taking place for a new exibit that was being constucted, meaning Grimlock could partake in this mission.

The big Dinobot was overjoyed to go on a mission with Drift, his 'teamie' and overall most favorite bot. He enjoyed spending time with the stoic bot and against Drifts better judgement the Dino made a great sidekick, even though he would be better if he could control his mouth.

Denny knew Jetstorm would have loved to see the museum. Science and history were his favorite subjects after all. Denny leaned forward against the control panels getting closer to the screen and began reminiscing on the moments he spent with the two young minicons.

Slipstream was the quiet and well mannered one. He preferred to sit still and be told what to do and spent most of his time watching and read high order literature and reality series, and could finish novels in a single sitting.

And then there was Jetstorm, the highly curious and inquisitive one, who would scour the world for an answer to a single question, even learning how to hack secret government facilities in order to acquire the desired information.
That little quirk of his had to be shut down quickly by Bumblebee, who feared Jetstorm might get caught by authorities, but everyone doubts he ever stopped hacking places in general.

Jetstorms skills were extremely good, and even then the only thing he ever dreamed of was his masters praise, which he rarely got due to his extremely impulsive behavior.
Said impulsive behavior was the reason why he he was in constant trouble with the stoic sensei.

His actions of random and unbridled rebellion, which he never intended to do, gave everyone the assumption that he was extremely young and the day he grows to adulthood or even young adulthood he would be quite the rebellious one.

But it was a supprise to everyone when Jetstorm himself announced his true estimated age. Denny remembers it clearly, it was the night of the minicons graduation, the night before shit hit the fan...

Everyone sat around the TV and listened on to Jetstorms rambling about the complexities of the propaganda of the second world war of earth.

Slipstream sat in his usual quiet position, unmoving and hipnotised by the TV program that played before him.

Sideswipe commented that Jetstorm was a bit of an annoying clever clod, that would boast about his smarts to everyone whenever he got the chance. Sideswipe took Jetstorms constant rambling as an unnecessary demand for attention, he stated he did expected such from a bot as young as him.

And that's when he spoke with an equally condescending tone that he was if fact much older than both Sideswipe and Strongarm, who were both born from the sacrifice of Optimus Prime to the well of the all spark.

And Slipstream backed this up, rising slowly and tiredly from the crate he was leaning forward and awkwardly on as though it were a table and he was laying on his arms, and stating that both him and Jetstorm were roughly the same age of 12 to 14.

Sideswipe said it's impossible for that to happen because the planet was dormant for millennia, and that someone being born from cybertron in the past 12 to 14 years was impossible.

Jetstorm simply countered that neither of them were actually born on the planet or the two moons that orbit it.

This promptly lead to the nerve wrecking question from everyone: "Then where were you born?" Slipstream simply stated he didn't know and plainly did not care wanting to return his attention back to the program.

Jetstorm however looked disturbed by that question. Denny could see it clearly, the panic that laced his. It was as if he was a moment away from sheer mania.

And then he spoke, under his breath the pupils his optics constricted, "I do not wish to speak of it, even I don't remember the short few years after my birth.". A clear lie that Denny saw right though.

It was an odd sight to see especially from someone as bubbly and as open as Jetstorm. He hoped, deep down in his heart, that this was only a small incident and that it would not grow up with the young minicon.

Denny wondered how Jetstorm would be as an adult, that had the freedom to make his own decisions. And was more than overjoyed when the two minicons graduated from Drifts rule and command, because that meant he would see such moments first hand.

His impulsive and quick-to-act nature reminded Denny of his younger self. Eager to learn and know everything and anything, forgetting the price one pays for being curious...

Denny was shaken out of his daydream by the pop up notification of the test center. The results were complete, and now for the moment of truth.

The screen read negative in bright bold letters, exciting Denny, awakening him and filling him with all the hope in the world.

"He's negative!" he boomed, spinning towards Fixit, grabbing him by the arms and spinning him round before letting go and performing a small happy dance.

"He negative, Fixit! Negative!"
Fixit was more than glad to hear such news. The probability of such happening was so rare it was practically non existent.

Since the start of the disease's history there had been no known or documented buzzsaw minicons that showed immunity to Dislivarites. And Jetstorm being immune was nothing short of a miracle.

Jetstorm was not just immune, but was actively AND aggressively immune, such that when his immune system is exposed to the malware it it fights it with such verosity that the disease barely affect Jetstorm in anyway. Hence, dispite him coming into contact with a minicon beyond the stages of recovery, he was able to leave unscathed.

If only the same could be said about Slipstream who, unfortunately, still laid in a comatose state, induced medically by Denny, as advised by Fixit, in hopes of expanding his days of survival until a solution to his predicament could be found.

And found indeed it was.

With the results they had they could prepare a sample of Jetstorm's particles and hopefully use them as a vaccine or, even better, a cure for Slipstream's current illness.

____________________________________

Russell ran non stop, not even to catch a breath. He could stop. He had to get home, he had to get help. And quickly

His lungs burned and his limbs and body ached. He could feel apart of his leg want to cramp, but even then he didn't stop.

He soldiered through the pain. And upon coming into contact with the gate to the place place he and felt a wave of relaxation hit his body, his body was starting to give up on him.

He had to find someone, his father, Fixit, anyone.
He hoped the team was back he hoped everyone was home and well enough to go on a full scale search for Jetstorm, who hopefully was still OK and most of all.. ALIVE.

He limped towards the diner, his leg full on cramping and burning in pain, looking for his father. He couldn't stand for much longer he had fully exasperated his small body and so he fell forward. He yelled for him, his voice raspy, high pitched and full of desperation. "Dad!" the poor boy yelped the pain now taking over and causing tears and inescapable sobs to leak from him.

His mouth was dry and his lungs out of air, each cry for attention and help left him needing to recover from the pain they caused in his chest.

And finally, a tall brooding figure adorning a bright red shirt appeared before him like an angel in his desperate hour.

His father, knelt down scrutinizing every inch of him and asking if he was alright and what had happened.

Out of breath, he just gasped one word, Jetstorm while hugging tight into his father's chest allowing tears to stream down.

"There there, just breath... " Denny gently spoke to his son trying to calm him down. "what is it about Jetstorm."

"He gone.... They took him." the child spoke slowly raising his head to reveal his face that was drenched with sweat and tears. And his eyes were a bright red.

Denny had not seen Russell in such a state since... "Catherine" Denny thought to himself holding Russell tighter.

"Stay here." Denny said to Russell leading him to one of the seats of the diner and leaving.

"Fixit get The team here we have a kid to rescue!"

Chapter Text

"Let me go, you crusty toaster!" Jetstorm spat furiously as the bot walked down the hall and into what seemed to be the command unit of the small ship they were currently in.

The mech began initiating the automatic landing, to save on fuel. They landed near a rocky hill side. The ship fully cloaked and facing the vibrant and lively Crown City.

Jetstorm noticed as they entered the Ship that it was extremely empty. There was no one in the whole ship. The silence was thick, even the steady drip of Jetstorm's energon leaking on to the cold hard metal floor was all that could be heard. Along with the gental creaking of the doors of cages that housed countless of minicons, who by now are long gone and dead.

Hearing those soft creaks, Jetstorm easily knew what they were and promted him to begin spitting slurs and all sorts of vulgar, both cybertronian and human.

Fucker
Shithead
Rusty
Toaster
Crapface
Motherfucker
And many more

This annoyed and infuriated the bot, causing him to stop what ever he was doing and hold Jetstorm to his eyes by the chained bear trap that held him by the leg.

"Quiet down ya midget!" the bot spat angrily into Jetstorm's face, only making the minicon angrier.

"Don't you dare tell me to be quiet! You... You... BRAIN RUSTED LUGNUT!"

"If you can't be quiet, I'll ll make ya quiet."

"TRY ME!"

And with that the bot bot dropped Jetstorm to his side and strides out of the command unit. And they began their descend down the hall.

The previous stains from Jetstorm's dipping wound from when he had first entered the damn Ship were beginning to slowly dry.

The wound on his leg was still painfull but slowly drying up as well.

Jetstorm began to ponder how long he had been away. And how long will it take for the team to find AND reach him, before... Deatg would fall upon him.

"Finally, I see lookin at what's comin for ya made your motor mouth dry." the bot said eerily calm.

Jetstorm caught the hint pride and venom from his statement. And he thought of all the innocent that suffered because of him. All the young minicons who were destined for better, the youth that could have changed the world, are now all dead.

And soon so will he...

That thought made him shudder.

He had been at the mercy of overseers for a majority of his early life. He still clearly remembered and the horrors he had seen.

Minicons been held head to pede and ripped apart.

Minicons having their optics dug out, while they were still alive and conscious.

No. He could let that happen to him. "I will NEVER give a swing like YOU the pleasure of my death!" he said as he swung closer to the bots leg and bit it hard, causing his captor to cry out a high pitched scream and anger him.

"Right!" the big bot yelled with Jetstorm's denta digging into the metal of him leg.

He walk almost perfectly to what Jetstorm knew to be an extraction unit, where the metal of the minicon would be brutally removed.

The unit was lined bottom-up with small cages that faced directly at the door, as if taunting their prisoners with freedom they'll never experience. Each cage stained with the energon of its previous inhabitant.

The right side of the unit was lined with the berths and tools that were crucial for the extraction process.

They were all in view of the cages. Who ever was inside one could perfectly see and hear the fate that awaited them.

To the left were the bodies of young minicons, some even younger than Jetstorm, staring lifelessly and in pain in the direction of the berths. Some had no eyes and others' heads laid beside them.

But one thing that they all had in common was their lack in armor...

The mech pried Jetstorm off of his legs and slammed him onto one of the berths. The metal on his back screeched as it met the metal of the berth.

"Minicons like YOU forget their place in the world." the bot scoffed in Jetstorm's ear, holding him by the chain. The entire time, careful of not even touching an inch of Jetstorm, believing him to be infected.

And with that thought he slowly realised Jetstorm was Infected. And he had bitten him well on his leg.

And the evidence of his foolishness was evident from the energon leaking dent the minicon had left on his leg.

He cursed inside at his stupidity. But he knew he was invulnerable to this disease. And breathed a sigh of annoyance at the damage the minicon had caused to his paint job.

"Now, to get this over with" He said to himself as he strapped Jetstorm to the berth, who squirmed around desperately trying not to be tied.

But his efforts were futile.

He laid there staring at the blinding lights. He couldn't move. Not his arms, not his legs and not even his head.

"I'm gonna enjoy hearing you scream!" the bot smile at Jetstorm while holding a a pair of extracting tools.

And soon the quiet halls of the ship was fill with the painfully screams of the young minicon.
________________________________
The Bee team raced around the section of the woods where Jetstorm had been taken by the bot.

The directions and location had been provided by an exhausted and Shell-shocked Russell. None of them wished to press further, they could see the distraught on the boys face.

The forest was still and lit by the hues by the sun that slowly fell below the horizon. Each teammate frantically called out the young minicon's name.

Drift was in deep panic, no one had ever seen him in such a state, but who could blame him, he loved Jetstorm and Slipstream with all his soul.

The two were a symbol of his redemption from the villain he once was. They were his very first students.

He still remembers the state they were in when he first found them under Shadow Raker's command.

They were broken, afraid... Ill-treated, and when they vowed to stay by his side, he vowed to keep them safe and healthy for as long as they needed.

He knew not the details of their torment but knew enough to know any individual that lived solely to harm minicons, is never meant to be treated as a living being at all.

As he walked around, branches and twigs crackling and snapping beneath his pedes, he thought of the very moment he had taken the two under his protection and guidence, while he was under the alias of Deadlock, the moment he went against his master.

He had been bringing the minicons rations and supplies in secret, they were always hurt and Malnourished. He never understood why the minicons where so deeply mistreated by Shadow Raker, why they were scapegoats of all His master's failures.

All this mistreating lead to constant injury and mental issues from both minicons. He was so shocked when he had first offered Jetstorm a portion of his energon, as he was staring hungrily at him as he refueled.

And when the young mini stared at him and the cube he was given with awe and joy expressing he had never had a portion THAT big, as and only consumed a small part before heading to Slipstream, who was also equally overjoyed by his meal, and began feasting as well.

He was stunned to find out these minicons that preformed so many tedious tasks barely had enough energon to refuel.

And the day he found them laying next to each other, battered and wounded by Shadow Raker. in a small compact smuggling haul, he decided to take them.

To give them a better life...
To teach them...
Protect them...
To nurture them into fierce and prosperous individuals.

But now, as if a cruel joke by fate, both his minicons are at the grasp of death, right after their graduation. Right after he, their protector and mentor, thought it was time for them to stretch their wings and fly to newer horizons.

"We'll find him Teamie and when we do, we'll save Slipstream." His Dino bot companion began motivating him. And he indeed felt the motivation corse though him. And he swore he'll find who ever had taken his Student, and give them hell.
_________________________________
" Oh minicon's, yall are always too curious, even for your own good."

Those were the last words Jetstorm heard before falling unconscious. The pain was too much to bare. And the sound of the tools ripping his armor off of his body was deafing.

He heaved energon more than twice and could not even see straight when the mech began extracting his the armor on that shielded his head.

His two massive shoulders where long gone, as was the rest of his metallic exoskeleton. He was nothing more than a weaping bleeding metallic frame that slowly inched closer to death.

He woke from consciousness and began to panic. His eye darted everywhere as flashes of memories began overloading his processor.

The day he met Slipstream
The moment he tried to take his life
When he saw Slipstream in the berth dying
The day he was almost killed by Shadow Raker...

And his mind paused at that memory. He was brutally injured both legs not working along with his right arm. He managed to get close to the towering metal door and began frantically scratching and banging on the door until Slipstream found him.

The cause of that incident, Curiosity at its finest. His curiosity made him ask Shadow Raker why he was upset.
His curiosity is what got him beat up by his former master.
His curiosity is what lead to him ever being caught by the overseers in his youth.

Jetstorm stared up at the Grey ceiling, his body aching, rusting corpses surrounding him. "What's the point of living if everything I do goes in vain. When they are always there to haunt me...."

"Why is THIS the cost of curiosity..."

He felt defeated at that moment not even wanting to try the strategy he had just thought of.
What was he going to do crawl his way back to the scrapyard.
What happens if the overseer mech sees him.

What if
What if
What if
What if

It mattered not anymore he knew even of he some how, magically made it out, he would still parish from Dislivarites.
He slowly closed his eyes and accepted his fate, when suddenly...

A small whimper rang from one of the bottom cages. It sounded scared and helpless. And just like that Jetstorm's spark began radiating with curiosity. He wanted to see what and who was making that noise.

He felt ashamed that the very thing that caused him suffering would not even let him die in peace.

He tried to drown out the sound of desperation coming from the cage. But it only got louder and louder. And his curiosity got stronger and stronger giving him the full determination to roll on his belly and begin crawling to see what was in the cage.

In the cage sat a small ball of fur with its tail between it's legs and small round ears perked up.

The small creature saw Jetstorm and slowly walked towards him trembling. It tilted it head for a moment, before sniffing the air between them and crying out out louder and louder. Its small pink tongue visible with every cry.

Jetstorm leaned on the cage and began picking it's lock.

Amd with a final click the cage door opened and its hinged let out a loud creak. The little creature leapt out of the cage and onto Jetstorm. It's cries only getting louder and louder.

The mech walked into the unit and looked at the two menacingly. He walked up and picked Jetstorm by his neck, scaring the little creature, that was with him, out of the room.

"What the motor mouth ran outta words to say." He said mockingly.

"Fuck — head" Jetstorm gasped as he spat wad of energon onto the mech.

That's it! Usually I would smelt ya for scrap, but your testin ma patience." the bot hissed as he marched out of the ship and throwing Jetstorm out into the dark forest floor.

Jetstorm laid there and watched as the ship took off and became nothing but a small speck in the sky.

The stars were beautiful under the dense overgrowth of the trees. The moon was bright and the air crisp.

The were leaves rustling from the winds and the tiny woodland creatures that roamed the night.

One of those creatures just so happened to be the small creature that Jetstorm had rescued in the ship. It walked over and sniffed him before nuzzling and nesting on his chest.

He slowly closes his eyes at the slow gentle cuffs from the creature. And rested at the moons embrace.
_____________________________________
The team got a call from Fixit detailing a ship leaving the earth's atmosphere. From the information provided, it was possible to locate where the ship took off from.

That's all the team needed. They rushed to the scene. Drift racing ahead in the dense forest desperate to find his student.

And he got what he was looking for, but he was beyond recognition.

Jetstorm laid still and unresponsive on the ground with a small creature curled up on him. It hissed and let out a small growl as Drift approached the injured child.

The rest of the team stood idly in shock at the scene. Sideswipe couldn't watch he backed up and looked down kick and cursing small rocks.

Bumblebee stepped closer holding the tarp they normally used to cover Grimlock to cover the young bot. As Drift gently carried his student he held him close to his spark as he and the team walked back to base.

Chapter Text

Russell sat along side his father he had calmed down after the team came back from their mission and quickly began their search for Jetstorm.

Denny sat with his arm hugged tight around Russell. He knew his son was tough and loved him for his resilience, but he knew there was a fine line between resilience and bottling emotions.

'Catherine...' she was all Denny could think about.

Russell crying kept drawing him back to that day. That very moment he got the call the she had taken the jump.

She was in Coppenhagen, working her dream job as a successful chartered accountant. She worked hard. And Denny knew... He should've worked harder.

He didn't know how to tell such news to Russell, but it was the child's mother and he had every right to know... what happened to her.

They never attended the funeral, his in-laws refused to grant them the closure. They thought of him AND his bastard son as a ruin to their daughter's future.

'If only... I'd been there alongside her... Maybe... What if-' his mind swirled with thoughts they've plagued for months now and there's nothing he could do but pick up all the weight of being a single father now.

"How's Slipstream feeling?" Russell spoke, his voice strained, "he didn't look so good when I last saw him."

"You saw him?"
"Yeah... It was... a lot"
"I know. We're all trying our best kiddo." Denny said nuzzling his head into Russell's hair. It smelled weird, like an odd mixture of dirt and... Peanut butter...?

"Maybe, you should take a shower."
"You calling me stinky?"
"I ain't calling you 'not-stinky'"
The two shared a heartfelt laugh.

"Now, go on. I need to check on sliptre-"
Denny was intrupted by the gate rattling open and the sound of engines revving and tires screeching.

Hope and anxiety lit up in Russell's eyes as he leapt from his father's arm and ran shouting "THE BOTS ARE BACK. THEY'RE BACK DAD."

His father ran after him and stopped when he saw the energon soaked tarp laying in Drifts arms. It seemed to be covering a small limp body.

'Oh no!' Denny thought to himself pulling Russell close and kneeling down at his level trying to stop his son from seeing the gruesome sight.

Russell stared horrified at the sight before him. He looked up at Drift, he knew him for being stubborn and stoic, but his expression was one he had never seen before, he didn't look sad but he too was horrified and more importantly...

ANGRY

"Hey kiddo..." Denny began, trying to get the boys attention; but no avail.

"Russell listen..." He said his voice more stern and demanding, as he held Russell's face so the child could look him in the eye.

"Why don't you go take a bath and... Feed the strays."
"Are they gonna be alight..." Russell said hiding the pain that clawed at his throat.
"... I can't make promises... But I can try my best..." Denny said pressing his forehead against Russell's just as Fixit called him over.

And when his dad disappeared around a corner he turned around tears dripping and went to take a bath.
________________________________
Near the medbay entrance Bumblebee, Drift and Strongarms sat silently, the atmosphere so thick you could suffocate in it.

Drift was the most tense of all of them, when Bumblebee attempted to speak to him, trying to tell him every thing will be fine he he gave no response or reaction.

Sideswipe was no where in sight, he had disappeared the moment they arrived at base and was quiet the entire driveu.
Usually by now he would have made some joke or comment that might have distracted her from everything happening.

So far her strategy, recalling all the rules of the Cybertronian Police Academy by chronological order, seemed to be failing her.

And so she set out to find the family clown.
______________________________
Sideswipe sat on one of the old convertibles Denny collected. His knees were to his chest and his optics where empty and solemn.

He looked over and saw Strongarm walking towards him. 'Great' he thought to himself. Strongarm bossing him around and seeing him like... THAT, was the last thing he needed with everything going on.

"Hey..." Strongarm said sit on the ground next to him.
"...."
"Silent treatment, what did I do..."
"I'm really no in a talk mood right now."
"I hope they get better... What would we be without those two around."
Sideswipe remained quiet he could fell the pain steam down again.

He couldn't bare it. Right after they were finally free from Drift, they die. What kind of sick twisted thing is that.

And what's worse is that they're dying from to unrelated things. On one hand Slipstream is dying from THE deadliest buzzsaw disease in the history of diseases.

And out of luck, put of pure luck Jetstorm is IMMUNE and now he got brutally attacked by some con that's probably still out there!

The thought of losing two of his new found family members were overwhelming, the pain was clawing at his spark.

The two were silent for an unimaginable amount of time. And for the first time they hated it when the other wasn't annoying them out of their mind.

And then Strongarm heard it a small faint sob coming from Sideswipe. And the bot quickly turn away, causing Strongarm to jolt.

"... Sideswipe?-" she muttered but before she could finish. Sideswipe stood up and began yelling, "Ugh, WOULD YOU LEAVE ME ALONE" as he stomped away angrily, hiding his face and pushing Grimlock, who was walking towards where they were.

Grimlock didn't even flinch, everyone was on edge over what happened. Even Russell.

He had been with him before deciding to leave him, mainly because he said he wanted to feed the stray kittens that loitered the scrapyard.
____________________________________
Russell stepped out of the trailor with a large container of milk. The strays had grown to love him and even learned where his trailor was and what to do to get his attention.

And all it took for him to get their attention was a small "psst psst psst", and they would come running.

He really enjoyed this time of day. He squatted, wearing his night wear which consisted of pajama short and a large shirt with the word random on it. He had gotten it from his father, it was an old shirt of his that he would wear whenever he came over to visit him while he still lived with his mother.

His most fond memory of the shirt was, when he asked his father why he liked wearing it, and his response was that it made his mother laugh.
And right after responding, his mother gave a long and hearty laugh.

He sat on the stairs of his trailer and petted a few of the little kittens that came wobbling by.
One of the kittens looked extremely bigger than the rest.

It didn't even bother with the milk and came marching towards him. It stopped near his foot and started pulling at his shirt.

Russell could help but laugh at the ferocious little feline.

He grabbed and examined it.

"Woah! You're pretty big. And fluffy too." He stated holding the little creature by under its font legs and turning it around.

"Your kinda like a weird mix between a ball of lint and a.... Dust bunny! So I'll call you Scurffy!"
He got a loud approving yelp from his new little companion.

He placed the creature on his lap and scratched it. "You don't really sound like a cat. And you don't really look like any dog I know of either. You're ears are round kinda like a tigers or a bears. But... You're too small to be a bear cub maybe dad will know what you are."

Little Scruffy looked at Russell as though it was actually listening to him. It nuzzled closer and curled up closer to his body.

And Russell continued with his conversation with Scruffy." Dad's real busy, he's hardly slept since the trouble with Slipstream and now, Jetstorm's probably never going to come back.

And even if that con never caught him. He would still have... You know...killed himself..."

A tear slipped down his cheek, and Scruffy stood against him a licked the tear.

Saying that last part really hit him hard. The only time he had ever been made aware that suicide exists was when his own mother did it.

The very thought of his mother purposefully dying really upset him. And being next to Jetstorm when he had the thought of doing so only made things worse.

Yes Jetstorm is immune, but he never knew that. He knew he was going to get infected, just like Slipstream and he wanted it and Russell did not understand why.

"You know Scruffy, I really hope that Jetstorm and Slipstream make it out alive."
He stayed quiet for a while, processing what he had just said. When he heard footsteps.

"Son..." his father said walking towards him, "let's go see Jetstorm and Slipstream."

It had been hours since Russell had last seen him and it was late. His expression was pain striken and his body slumped from exhaustion.

"... It's time to see Jet and Slip..."

_________________________________

Chapter Text

Bright lights danced around the room blinding a small young minicon. His eyes struggled to stay open, his body fresh and new. These were his first few moments alive, and he spent them behind thick, horizontal metal bars.

"Look it's awake...," a voice said in the adjacent cage, "poor little thing, born and raised to die for resources."

"Shut it you twat, you'll scare the little one." a second more friendly femme voice spoke, from the cage in front of the adjacent one.
"Hello, dear! Don't mind him."

"Face it, the bot ain't lying, now is he. Heh, " another voice spoke from the cage next to the one the femme was in. "We're all gonna die, at least he'll die less sooner. Heh."

The young bit couldn't see clearly, the voices that spoke to and of him. His optics were still adjusting to the brightly lit environment and he was settling into his newborn body.

"It's beautiful to see new life sprout through, even in the most darkest corners. It reminds me of my old life before the war." the femme spoke once more, and now the young bot could catch a slightly blurry glimpse of her features.

They were small and round, but well hidden in the shadow of he cage.

'War...?' the little bot thought. What war? Why war? The question came flooding with no answers or end to them. Curiosity pulled at him, though he had only been awake for no less than an hour.

His eyes finally fully recalibrated, widened into two large circles of blue staring through from the dark corners of his cage.

"Oops, looks like you struck a nerve in him, with you're little pre-war remembrance... Then you call me a Twat."

"A curious one, heh. Look at those big ol' marbles for optics. Better shut them before the hauler come by. Heh."

They continued speaking and arguing, barely moving an inch in the cages that held them. Other murmurs could be heard from all round the huge room they were in.

Crying, wailing, chatting and on occasions loud painful screams bounced back and forth the walls of the room they were in.

He listened, the young bot, quiet and curious, at all the noise he heard. It was surely a lot to handle, especially after coming into existence.

But one word echoed the most,
Overseers.
What were they? Who were they? And why was everyone speaking about them?

Are they saviors?
Are they they the one that will stop the war everyone speaks of?

He looked to the direction of the femme creeping closer to the metal bars that confined him in the box.

He noticed that she quietly stared intently at him. Pondering something, as if he looked familiar.

The other two continued their bickering and she continued staring as hoping and praying she could reach him and speak to him.

The young bot crawled closer and closer towards the metal bars, and then... A sudden shock enveloped him just as held one of the bars with his small hands.

A painful yelp escaped him, and turned into a soft painful cry, as he pushed himself back into the corner of the cage.

The femme could still see the big bright eyes of the youngster. Already pain striken in his very first moments of life. None would expect any less when being a minicon in trying times such as these.

Amongst the screaming and yelling, one mini con mentally fried, tired of the pain of losing loved ones, of seeing his kind die for the sake of the greedy and undeserving, tired of the constant grieving and the anticipation of when his time would come.

He was once grateful for still being alive but as time went one and the heads kept rolling, he couldn't bare it any longer.

The guilt of surviving was killing him.

At the same time he never wish to see him self offline by the psychos called overseers, he just couldn't.

And, so he made a choice a painful decision. And within minutes fulfilled it.

The room erupted into a loud bellowing scream of anguish and devastation, as he held firmly to electric metal bars of his cage and continuously slammed his head against them.

The young bot watched in horror as the scene in the cage infront of him painfully unfolded. Energon and shards of metal flew around past him.

Energon splattered and painted the bars in a grotesque art piece of an unheard cry for help. Not a cry for him alone but of the countless mini cons, buzzsaw and all others the have suffered and been tormented.

The slamming continued till it could go on no longer. The bot that had been there was now replaced by an unmoving corpse, with no recognizable face and an exposed processor, that had been battered in the self exterminating massacre.

"oof, and another one bites the dust..." the first voice the young bot had heard spoke again, a hint of pain hidden in his remark.

"Poor, youngster, heh. Right in front o'him too," the second voice spoke his voice old and unchanged, "he couldn't go another way. Heh..."

"I know right," the first bot spewed sarcastically, "what were you expecting him to do, shot himself? With what gun ya twat? Or maybe stab himself, huh with what stabber."

"Watch it ya rust jackyard or-" the second bot tried to speak before being cut of.

"Will you two stop it! Your scaring the little one...," she said taking he gaze off of the old timer to look at the the young bot, who was a sobbing shaking mess, "don't cry all will be well ju-"

And in that moment the door flew open, it's old and tired retractors creaking at the sudden impact.
"What's all this damn rukus!" a gigantic bot with paint, as dark as his spark glistening in the bright lights of the room.

Behind him a large Behemoth, it's teeth bared, tail raised and eyes red with carnage. Strings of that solvant simmered and dripped in the light, were licked off by a huge pink tongue from its metallic teeth.

The feline walked closer a small patch of fur on its upper back and tail, snarled into the cages causing the minicons near it to tremble and gasp.

The overseer only took a single step, and the whole room went still and all the mini con went into hiding in their small cages.
He caught a glimpse on what the rukus was about, a cage with a dead bastard in it, its bars covered in energon and processor fuild.

"Hmmm...," he mumbled as he walked towards the cage and looked into the neighboring cage, which was the one the femme was occupying.
"Now little Missy, why don't you tell me WHAT HAPPENED!" he screamed into the cage terrifying the minicon.

Gasps erupted across the room, and were quickly silenced with a loud horrifying growl and roar from the beast the accompanied the overseer.

The minicon couldn't speak, she only stuttered. Annoyed the bot unlocked the cage via a mechanism located on the right side of the cage. The young bot watched curiously getting closer to the bars but avoiding any contact at the same time.

He watched as the bot violently pulled out the femme holding he tightly by her collar, "You not talking won't be a problem."He said as he ripped the head torso of the adult and threw her legs to the side, letting them be played with by the huge beast.

The femme looked up at the young bot, and with her final effort, finally admitted with a single word what she had been pondering for all this time since the younger bot had been awake..

"... Jetstorm...?"
She uttered as her optics once a bright blue, now a lifeless black.
______________________________
Jetstorm awakened with a violent gasp the room bright and blinding. No, it couldn't be. He had escaped. He swore he was under the stars. He swore he was on the forest floor.

He felt a small hand trying to restrain his already weak body. And he used the same strategy he had used before, if he couldn't fight physically he would battle verbally.
With that the minicon bagan spewing the most atrocious vulgarities he could think of in desperation, in an effort to die trying, to not remain silent, no not after the torment his race face all these years.

All the innocence that suffered from the horrors of the overseers and other oppressors. It filled him not with the fear one would expect when in such a situation, but with unbridled and uncanny anger.

A anger he had never experienced before. He was enraged, he was furious beyond explanation and he made sure his voice, his opinion and emotions were heard and felt by his oppressor.

"JETSTORM!, its.... ok.. - ud..."
The words flowed in and out of his head as his speech began to slur and his vision began to darken once more.

"... Denn-" he let out before being enveloped by unconsciousness once more.
_________________________________

Chapter Text

Russell sat in the diner his eyes heavy and body tired. In his arms he held Scruffy, who was cuffing peacefully while rolling around the boys arms.

He had left Scruffy in his trailer when he went to see Jetstorm, in a box with a small blanket to keep the small dense ball of fur warm.

He wanted to stay awake to be with the bots, to not miss any news about Jet and Slips recovery, which thankfully was going somewhat OK.

"Hey, Russell!" Sideswipe exclaimed walking towards the diner.

"Oh hey Sideswipe." Russell said yawning the tiredness was getting to him but he didn't let it win.

"Heard what happened with Jet."

"Yeah, he went nuts. He was swearing, a lot. Like, a lot - a lot."

"Yeah and I wonder where he learned it all from." Strongarm spoke, sarcastically, walking in on the twos conversation.

"Aggh, fine," Sideswipe groaned and threw his hand up in defeat, "I've may or may not have taught him a few curse word, but in my defense..." he stopped looking for an excuse.

"... That minicon isn't as innocent as you think he is."

"What do you mean by that?" Russell asked his eyes now red from how tired he was.

"I mean, Jetstorm's what?... 14 years? Dude was forged during the WAR for crying out loud! I'm sure he's seen and heard worse than a few earth curse words." Sideswipe protested with his hand up in the air and his optics wide.

"And in my defense," he continued "he was the one who wanted to know... It's not like he's some little kid. "

"Well you're not wrong, both Jetstorm and Slipstream are a very considerable age compared to us." Strongarm admitted, her arms crossed as she leaned against a wall.

"Well maybe its just hard for you guys to see them as older teenagers because of how short they are compared to all of you." Russell explained tiredly, his voice exposed his current lack of energy. "I don't see them as little kids, probably because they're, like a bare minimum 7ft tall." He chuckled.

"Well Drift did mention them still being teenagers, during their graduation, and that even he's somewhat shocked at their growth spirt." Strongarm explained looking towards Russell and noticing the huge ball of fluff in his arms.

"What's that?" she asked "A cat?"

"Nope I don't really know what it is I was hoping to ask dad."

"Good luck with that," Sideswipe stared as he walked away, "With how busy he is, you'll get your answer in the next millenia."

-------------

"Hey Drift." Denny waved as he walked out of the medical bay. His faced looked tired but his body still kept moving with the energetic passion it always did.

"My students?" the ever stoic bot simply asked. Sitting with his legs crossed and his posture excellent, he had been meditating.

"Better," Denny smiled, "A lot better, Fixit's just gave me the plans to repairing Jetstorm in the best and safest way possible, while," he added, "using the least amount of materials, seeing as there's not a lot of titanium."

"Titanium?" Drift asked. He was curious as to way titanium of all metals was being used.

"Yeah, I thought of it," Denny said getting closer and leaning with his hand against Drift's knee, "Seemed like the best choice, especially after everything that's been happening. Titanium is resilient, doesn't rust and is super durable, just what the kids need right now. And if your worried about cost, just know I don't cut corners around family."

Family, Drift tended to forget what they all were. A family. A big weird and functionally dysfunctional family.

He forgot his students saw Denny as an uncle and more importantly their 'commander' as a cousin. They've really grown since he first found them. Not only by size but as well as emotionally and mentally.

They've truly matured, although Jetstorm's impulsive nature seems like it will never change, that made him smile.

And that's why he thought it be best they lead their own way, find their own roads in life, but what Drift knew will never change is their inseparable bond.

Which many of his teammates still thought his students were twins, and doesn't ever want to correct them, because in some way the were.

Denny had been waiting for Drift's response, only to find he had gone back to meditating. And so he set off to find all the titanium needed for the mini's repair.

The items he needed for the repairs were all in the warehouse, which was right behind the diner.

It was 7:35 am and he hoped his son was awake, but slowly doubted it. Russell wasnt the type of person to be up early in the morning. Just like his mother.

He walked into the diner and saw him. His son. Dressed in his oversized shirt and pajama shirt, just as he had left him last night, when Jetstorm slur rampage began.

He had fallen asleep at one of the seat, laying on his arms on the table and resting his head.

He got closer to wake him up and saw a box with a blanket in it right next to him. The box had a small hole in the bottom corner. Whatever was inside had chewed it's way out.

"Son..." Denny whispered while slightly shaking him awake. Russell stirred in his sleep, frowning in the process of being woken up.

And finally he he opened his eyes to see his father smiling at him. "Mornin' kiddo. How'd you sleep?"

Russell rubbed his eyes  and stretched, his hand hit the box next to him and he lifted it to check if his little friend was still inside.

"Whattcha you got there buddy?" Denny asked wrapping his one arm around his son.

"It a little critter, I wanted to asked you what it was but never got the chance. And now looks like it's gone. " Russell said disappointedly while examining the box and the hole in it.

"Well maybe it will turn around eventually. Hey, why don't you help me get some stuff for Jetstorm's repairs, and then we'll have breakfast? Heh?"

Russell nodded his head and stood up still holding the box wondering where Scruffy could have gone.

They walked towards the warehouse and met up with Bumblebee and Sideswipe who were also heading to the warehouse.

It wasn't a surprise to see them, the warehouse had all their energon rations, along with medical supplies and weaponry.

Bumblebee greeted Denny and Denny return the greeting.

"Morning," Russell said still staring at his box and Sideswipe was to busy with his music to even notice anyone was talking.

"What the matter Russell? Is something wrong with that box of yours?" Bumblebee asked Russell noticing his sadness, that seemed to be linked to the box he was holding.

"I lost my little critters, you should have seen it, it was so, so fluffy. I called it Scruffy. And even after being with it for a few hours, I really liked it." the boy explained looking down.

'Oh great he named it.' Denny thought to himself. It was one thing to have a ton of strays around it was another to have a pet.

"Looks like everyone has a lot on their minds today." Bumblebee said reaching to the door of the warehouse and opening it.

And in there was a sight they'd never forget.

Chapter Text

Bumblebee stepped back, telling Denny and Russell to get behind him. Sideswipe who was dancing the pain away, noticed the sudden shift in atmosphere and soon drew his decepticon hunter.

A beast with crimson eyes stood in the dark of the warehouse, a small patch of fur on its upper back and tail, snarled as energon painted its face.

It stared intently at the individuals in front of it, letting out a low growl as it bared its teeth at them. Bumblebee stood firm and in stance, weapon bared and ready to protect his human allies.

The only thing on his mind being their safty and not how or why this thing was there.

The large beast stepped forward, it's ear laid back on it head, it eyes narrow and focus on its targets as it swished its tail and getting low. Ready to pounce.

Bumblebee and Sideswipe stood firm and still, not wanting to intimidate the large creature any further. It seemed, to Bumblebee, that it was protecting its meal.

The beast stepped closer and closer sniffing the air between them... And then

It stopped and stared at the two humans hiding behind Bumblebee. Denny held Russell close waiting for the right time to make a run for it.

Its eye widen and pupils dilated as the end it's metal tail began wagging violently, making loud clicking noises on the ground.

Russell stared back at the creature as it bounced around like a happy and overexcited puppy.

Bumblebee shocked by the odd change in demeanor only slightly lowered his weapon to throw a questioning look at Sideswipe, who was equally confused.

It got down one the ground by it front legs and stared at Russell with adorable wide eyes. The boy let go of his father and uttered a single word, "Scruffy?"

And upon hearing that, the gigantic creature leapt towards the small boy, knocking Sideswipe over easily.

Bumblebee pulled at the beast, trying to get it off of the young boy, but it was extremely strong.

Screams could be heard from Russell and Bumblebee made even more effort to get that thing of Russell.

What he thought were screams of joy, turned to be cries of happiness, confirmed by the loud giggles and laughter that soon followed.

"Ewww! Ewww," Russell exclaimed smiling and wiping saliva off his face, "your getting spit all over me with your huge tongue!"

Scruffy only got more excited and got closer sniffing Russell, before calming down and loudly cuffing and puffing as it laid down and lifted it headto Russell.

Denny and Bumblebee just watched as this happened." This, " Denny said gesturing overdramatically at the creature, "is 'Scruffy'!"

"Yeah, isn't it cool." Russell said while scratching the creature's head. "it's a bit bigger than last night though."

"A bit?" Sideswipe said as he raised from the ground "That thing totaled me with one strike. Now I need another paint job."

"Denny Clay, what could be taking you so lo-" Fixit rolled in not expecting to a giant behemoth just casually getting head scratches from Russell, "SWEET SOLUS PRIME, WHAT'S GOING ON!"

"I wish I knew, I really do." Denny sighed looking down, his hand on his hips shaking his head with and uncomfortable smile on his face.

"Can I keep if dad, PLEEEEEAAAAAASSSSEE!" Russell looked at his father with pleading eyes, his new behemoth companion coping him making a face that Denny would possibly consider adorable, if it wasn't a giant metal space creature with teeth that could shred him in a split second.

" I don't even know where we're going to put that thing." Denny sighed hold his forehead defeatedly.

"How, may I ask,  did young Russell aquire a Behemoth, especially one of this size." Fixit asked still in shock at what was before him.

"Is that what that thing is?" Sideswipe asked raising and eye ridge.

"I-indeed," Fixit stuttered as he rolled closer to exam the large creature, "A female it seems."
He stated looking intently at it, it seemed unbothered by him, it's only interests being Russell.

It purred and let out a small howl of pleasure. Its tail wagging calmly.

"Woah, it a girl, cool. Who's my precious princess," Russell said in a baby voice as he brushed her faster, earning him a loud bellow as Scruffy flipped onto her back and pressed her paws on her snout, "Yes, you are!"

"There not stopping this huh." Bumblebee looked at Denny, know we'll they will never be able to separate the boy from his new pet.

"Doesn't look like it."  Denny simply replied.

"Fixit what's the story on this thing, maybe we can figure out how it got here."  Bumblebee asked, intrigued to get answers.

They followed Fixit to the command centre where he gave them all the info on Behemoth.

"There we are. It says here:
Behemoths are large felines that were found on a colony planet during the war. Before that they were organic natives to the planet and were fierce apex predators. They were cyberneticly modified and in enhanced, turning them into brutal hunting machines during the war. Eventually they became a symbol of power and wealth, often used by high ranking haulers. "

" Haulers? What's that? " Bumblebee paused Fixit.

" Haulers also known as Overseers, lieutenant, are individuals that capture minicons, particularly buzzsaws given their history, and extract their armor for other purposes." Fixit frightfully explain.

" So, this... Behemoth must belong to an overseer that might have taken Jetstorm." Bumblebee said putting the pieces together.

Just then Drift walked in with Strongarm and Girmlock and they two stunned to see Russell riding a giant creature.

Drift was especially shocked, he knew about behemoths, he's worked with and against countless criminals during his days as a decepticon. And knows well about these creatures.

Only the powerfull of minicon auctioners and capturers had them. They showed off their power and wealth. The beast where extremely loyal to their handlers/owners listening to only a word they command.

It's said that only one who is as equally as powerful and influential as the might behemoth, could tame and handle it with emmence grace and ease.

The creature would imprint on it chosen figure and rumors even speculated that once one was imprinted with a behemoth, their bond would allow them to speak and understand each other.

Drift stared no longer in shock but in amazement. He couldn't possibly comprehend the amount of power someone as young as Russell could have to have been chosen by a Behemoth.

"What exactly did we miss?" Grimlock asked his mouth a gape from the surprise.

"Isn't she cool, I named her Scruffy!" Russell exclaimed barely containing his excitement. He was riding Scruffy like a horse. a really really big horse with fangs and claws and looked like a weird cross between a bear, a probale tiger and a robot.

'Scruffy? What an irrational and misleading name.' Strongarm thought to herself.

"So kiddo," Denny turned with one eyebrow raised and crossed his arms and asked, "How do you plan on taking care of that thing?"

"Well Dad, we can't just let HER go wonder around," Russell made sure to emphasize his new friends gender and importance, "She is a giant alien monster after all."

Russell mad a good point, there was no other place to keep Scruffy, she was far too big to hide in the wild, and far to... Metallic to call her another creature, like a bear or something. The only reasonable option was to keep and train her.

And seeing as she has already imprinted on Russell he would be the one in charge of that.

And Denny knew with Jetstorm and Slipstreams recovery taking up all his time, he  couldn't possibly be there to help in any way, other than to give shelter.

"Doesn't really answer my question on HOW your gonna train it," Denny explained, "and I'm not talking about teaching it how to sit and stay, no no no, I'm talking about
Walks
Bathing
Feeding
Potty training
Learning how to stay hidden from civilians!
I won't be there, and the last thing we need is trouble while im busy with Jet and Slips recovery."

He already had to prospone all of his business activities for some time now to deal with the whole thing. It's been a week since, the scrapyard has been closed and with the work that would be required for Jetstorm and Slipstream, it wouldn't be open soon.

"I promise I'll do all of that, and the bot will help me." Russell said looking innocent and pointing at the bots who were just standing there and thinking to themselves as to how exactly they're gonna do that.

Sideswipe stepped in and agreed to help Russell train his behemoth, wanting to get on the better side of the huge creature and hopefully use it to prank Strongarm.

Strongarm also agreed to help, suspicious of Sideswipes random helpful attitude, which almost always lead to trouble.

The team laughed and welcomed their newest addition, the family pet, the commander's Behemoth,

Scruffy.
_________________________________

"This is the Cybertronian Police Department! Come out with your hand out." a young police officer yelled, gun in hand pointed at a black and blue mech.

"No thanks, I'd rather use my hands for something... A bit different." the mech replied and within seconds maneuvered around the young officer getting around him and slitting his throat clean with a laser sword made from fine quality buzzsaw armor.

"Like my new weapon sonny," he whispered tauntingly into the bots audio receptor. "tell the minicon I got from to learn to watch his motor mouth."

Energon spilled onto his hands as the young bit stared in pain at his commander as he died away.

Gun fire quickly erupted, and the criminal used the corpse of the young officer as a shield avoiding the gunshots.

Trained and seasoned police officers where there fighting with only a few being cadets and rookies.

The constant throwing and thrashing caused the head of the dead bot to snap off and roll by the pedes of his commander.

Dropforge stared down at the head of his student. Anger boiling over him. And as soon as the battle had begun it was over.

They were on a small field patrol with the students and they spotted the vessel. They had the numbers and the gun power to take him down. But even with that, the student were only still in their training and weren't experienced enough to handle such a high profile criminal, who has been around since the early days of the war.

The criminal, alias 'Deadnight' a well know and highly dangerous minicon hauler was wanted for obvious reasons by the newest high council.

And Dropforge was in charge of bringing him in.

Deadnigt a well feared hauler with no alliance with any side. He wasn't a decepticon or an autobot, or any other thing in between, but was feared by all.

Minicon or not he was known to kill all those that crossed him in the slightest. And enjoyed the suffering of other and their pain.

Dropforge watched as the ship took off with Deadnigt piloting it, and he swears he saw that devil smile down at him like they'd just finshed playing a game.

Deadnigt stared at the duel laser swords he held and ran his digit on it wiping the energon off before locking it.

The weapon was a masterpiece, a new signature of his brutality. Crafted from a special minicon he found on earth.

And its specialty doesn't come from the fact that it was made from excellent materials, no it's because it will serve as a reminder of how he held back from killing something.

It was a reminder to remain a danger to any and every minicon in the universe. And the only reassurance he always gives himself is that his is the number one cause of that little minicons death.

And that alone lifted his spirits.

Just then his communication center rang and  someone spoke

"Deadnigt! My favourite customer, do I have a deal for you... Why don't we meet in the Altionain Star cluster for a small exchange. "
_____________________________

Chapter Text

"What a splendid haul, look at these metals!" A tall slender femme spoke, admiring the weaponry and resources Deadnight had brought her.

"Only the best, for my best." he smirked playing with a cage that held a little minicon. "Please," It cried out, "I wanna go home."

Deadnight only grunted before opening the cage and yanking out the small child. He stared at it intensely, examining its features and scratching its metals.

The minicon began feeling overwhelming pressure on its head as Deadnight began squeezing it with his hand. It gradually increased and the young bit couldn't take it any longer and cried out in pain.

"PLEASE, STOP!" It yelled out, but to no avail. Deadnight continued his eyes lifeless and still as the optics of the young minicon popped out and its head gave a satisfying crunch.

And with that the painful cries stopped. And the slander began.
A minicon much older and out spoken started cursing out Deadnight. Clearly they didn't know much about him and his criminal ways.

"How dare ya! Ya rusty bucket of bolts!" The old mech screamed from his cage.

And that set off a nerve in him, the same one that little minicon down on earth set off all those days ago. "Who do you think you're running your mouth at?" He hissed angrily, getting close to the cage and staring daggers at the speaking minicon.

"You ya worthless piece o' scrap!" It yelled back, getting closer to the bars to meet the eye of his captor. And that was his biggest mistake yet.

Fueled by rage from the disrespect he was facing he marched to all the cages and started violently pulling out all the mini cons.

One by one he stood by the old mechs cage and began brutal ripping the heads of the minicon. Tearing their neck cables as they cried out and begged for mercy.

The old mech watched helplessly as the young minicons slowly died, the last thing he saw in their eyes, a cry for salvation.

He panicked and soon, he was begging that the youngin's be left alone and that he should take the fall, not them. He begged and pleaded as the cages got emptier and emptier. The little children from his village, who dreamed of reaching the stars, soon met a fatal end none of them deserved.

He stared as the last of the minicons, and an extremely young child, who had been forged no less than two days ago, watched frightfully from the hands of Deadnight.

Deadnight looked from the old mech to the child and to the old mech again and with a smirk licked the energon from his hand and prepared to bite the head of the young minicon.

Just as the head reached his mouth, he was stopped.

"Wait, wait, wait! Not that one!" The slender femme yelled, getting close to Deadnight and grabbing the minicon from him. "This here's a rare one, part of my collection."

"Darn, Razermist," Deadnight yelled frustrated with his denta gritted, "you always gotta spoil ma fun DON'T YA!"

"Although I always enjoy watching your little murder sprees," Razermist caressed Deadnight's cheek with her digit, "I have a small feeling you're not your usual self. So tell me dear, spark to spark, what seems to be the matter?"

Deadnight sighed "Leave me be will ya. I ain't in the mood for ya sentiments."

Razermist put the little minicon in the same cage as the old mech. And almost instantly the old mech pulled the young one close to him.

"Worry not wee one, and dry yer eyes." He whispered to the child.
"I'm here... It'll all be okay...
I'm here... I'm here Little Starlight"
______________________________
"I say we begin a full scale search for this perpetrator." Drift declared, his optics filled with rage and determination.

"I understand Drift but all our resources are currently stretched thin," Bumblebee explained, "right now our immediate threat is Steeljaw. There's been constant decepticon activity, and you know how dangerous Steeljaw can be."

"And you think I will sit idle by as my student suffers from that tyrant, that might still be out there reeking more havoc to all other minicons."
Drift got close to Bumblebee staring him down to intimidate him.

"Your constant gripes aren't making this any easier, I called Optimus and got no response." Bumblebee protested nudging drift away from him. "I am pulling my weight in terms of this matter. I. Am. Trying. My. Best!"

"Come on you Bee...Teamie, let's not fight." Grimlock said pulling Drift away. "I'm sure Jet and Slip are doing fine."

And then a loud guy wrenching, pain filled screech echoed from medbay. And their argument stopped immediately, their attention directed to the source of the sound. Drift spark dropped, and a hole filled the space in his chest.

Inside the medbay Denny was working tirelessly on Jetstorm's repairs. It had been a couple of days since repairs had begun. Jetstorm's condition made him beyond recognition.

Despite this, Particle samples are regularly taken from Jetstorm to be processed and given to Slipstream, who had been making a miraculous recovery, but his condition was still somewhat worse than that of Jetstorm's.

Denny had just finished the repairs on Jetstorm's legs and the young boy had just awoken deliriously, in pain and confusion. He was restless. He kept struggling and trying to run from something, from someone.

Denny knew it could be whoever was responsible for Jetstorm's current condition. Denny watched as the child's eyes darted all around the room, panicked and afraid. All he could do was at least try to calm him down.

"It's okay kiddo," he said wiping the never ending stream of coolant from Jetstorm's optics, "I'm here..."

The young bit only responded with tired painful sobs that ached his whole body.

"Hurt... Hurts ...." He cried out his voice was raspy. Denny still found it painfully hard to look at the poor child, whose faceplate had been completely removed. Leaving a grotesque scar and exposed underlying.

"I know, and I do everything I can to make it better... I promise...

"Den...?" Jetstorm spoke looking at Denny in his tired eyes.

"Yess! Yes it's me," He exclaimed, "It's Denny!"
"DENNY! DENNY! " Jetstorm began violently crying, even attempting to reach for Denny, almost falling off the medical berth.

Denny stood and pinned Jetstorm down stopping him from hurting himself. Jetstorm grabbed at Denny needingly and embraced him in a hug.

"Shhh shhh, I'm here. I'll always be here..." Jetstorm calmed down, just enough for Denny to free himself and put Jetstorm in a temporary shut down. "I'll see ya in the morning, okay bud." He said brushing his patchwork head.

"Hmm, that head of yours doesn't look awfully good." He thought to himself. And then he had an idea.

He dressed Jetstorm's head in a knitted hat that covered the sides of his head. The ear flaps had a long knitted chain that connected to two small balls by their ends.

It wasn't much but it was enough.

Denny trotted tiredly towards the diner where he began making dinner for him and his son.

"So," Russell began while chewing a large piece of salmon, "how are jet and ...slip"

"Don't speak while chewing," Denny reprimanded, "but they're doing as best as they can."

Russell swallowed his meal and stood up putting his hands on the tablet almost knocking over his father's plate, "Can I see them. Please please please!" He said with a twinkle in his eye.

"I know you really want to see them but in the state they're in..." Denny paused looking back at what happened that day,"... I don't think you're ready..."

"Awww, come on dad!" Russell protested getting closer out of his chair and standing before his father, "I'm totally ready... I even taught Scruffy a few tricks."

Russell ran out the door and in front of the diner and  whistled Very loudly "Here Girl!"

Scruffy who had been with Sideswipe and Strongarm, getting belly rubs from both as they argued who, besides Russell did Scruffy like the most.

They both knelt some distance from Scruffy and began calling out to her. And at that moment Scruffy heard the whistle from Russell and charged straight between the two much to their disappointment.

"Hey, where're you going" Sideswipe yelled to Scruffy, who didn't even bother to look back. Strongarm had a different approach and began chasing after her. " Here, Scruffy, Scruffy, Scruffy. Who wants a tummy tickle?" She began coaxing the gentle giant.

Denny stood by the door and watched in absolute amazement as this giant creature practically flew towards his son, and only stopped inches in front of him.

"THIS IS WHERE YOU WENT," Sideswipe yelled running towards Scruffy, behind Strongarm, "SERIOUSLY!"

"LOOK DAD," Russell yelled as he gave different commands that the behemoth obliged to.

The typical sit, stay and roll over. Denny was impressed.
But then they became weirder and weirder.
Stride and jump seemed very expected of a horse. And the one that took the cake, was a scary and somewhat aggressive command Russell said in fluent Cybertronian.

And the beast lounged in front of Russell, bared its teeth, unsheathed its claws before letting out a deafening roar that made the windows rattle.

"At ease." Russell simply commanded. Scruffy simply sat posture straight and head held high, concluding their little show. And gaining a small applause from Strongarm and Sideswipe while bow and thanking them.

Denny just stood there frozen in amazement. "See dad," Russell exclaimed, "now can I go see Jet and Slip!"

"Wait we can see them!" Strongarms eyes twinkled

"I don't see why not," Denny said setting his plate aside, "but I do have to warn you... They're not in the bestest state."
_____________________________________
The team gathered around Jetstorm's ward. And near the edge of the room he laid there still and almost lifeless. They're happy curious little tyke was a damaged and bruised husk, balancing between pain and death.

All but Drift hesitated to go to him. Grimlock stood by the door with Scruffy. Sideswipe stood behind the corner near Strongarm by the end of the berth and Bumblebee followed closely behind Drift. Fixit, Denny and Russell were by the very front.

Jetstorm was covered by Denny with a large blanket. The only thing that could be seen was the small hat he had adorned him with. And after a small speech about his steady recovery.

And after a moment's hesitation they lifted the blanket and saw the healing massacre that had hit Jetstorm. The scars on his naked body were more visible now that the energon had been cleaned and washed off.

His legs only recently repaired, still had the painful welding marks visible. And the rest of his upper body was still bare. Especially his faceless face.

The team erupted in a mixture of emotion driven reactions having seen the condition the young boy was in. Sideswipe involuntarily gagged at the sight. Strongarm hid her face between her hands and Bumblebee just looked back and saw Grimlock squint his optics and walk away.

The only ones who didn't react, whereas Denny and Fixit, who had grown somewhat used to seeing Jetstorm like this, and Drift, who simply was too stunned to react at all.

His student laid there motionless. His smile, painfully ripped off with the rest of his body.

The thought that the very swine that did this to his student, filled him with an uncanny rage and lust for blood.
_________________________

Chapter Text

"Okay one last time, explain to me how exactly you can't work on him?" Denny was trying his best to figure out the works of Cybertronian virology and it was just not sticking in his brain.

"Well Danny clay, the malware itself does not affect me or any other species of mini corn the same as it would affect buzz saw minicons." Fixit explained for the third time, he was practically getting tired of watching Denny wrap his tiny human brain on something like Dislivarites. It was truly a confusing disease and because of that not much research has gone into it, despite it having a high mortality rate.

So far any doctor or cybertronian medic that even attempted to research on the disease be it a minicon or any other normal bot they would all end up being sick but not as sick as a buzzsaw would be. The disease is fatal for buzzsaws, as the disease causes their systems nanites to start attacking the body leading to symptoms like severe rusting and various forms of mental degradation.

The symptoms were milder for others, slight cranial ache and on rare cases joint pain sometimes that be out for weeks on end. Perhaps it really depends on the variation of the malware as well as they type of bot or minicon.

"Okay so you can't work on slipstream because you might also get ill from the malware. And said illness will not typically kill you but might make you feel a bit off, understandable." Danny finally admitted grasping the somewhat complexities of the disease. "Now that we're past that, I just want to know... if jetstorm and slipstream are twins, then how is it possible that only one of them is immune."

Now this part really perplexed him even more, " When I went over their individual CNA, they both have the small 'mutation' that causes the fight back to the disease. And this 'mutation' is what causes their nanites to respond to the disease in a different way, such that they are able to detect the disease and neutralise it."

"Indeed Denny, this mutation causes a deformity in the system allowing for the early detection and wording off of the malware."

"But why wasn't Slipstream systems able to fight off the malware?" Denny finally confessed, the topic of Cybertronian sibling hood was one that could really make a guy question the ways of the society and their methods of reproduction, which are even more confusing!

"It's quite simple, they're most definitely protoformic twins, given their near identical genetic makeup but different sparks."

Denny's face contorted into a look of severe confusion. Hand was placed on his forehead, as he looked up in disbelief, " you're not answering my question..." He sighed to himself. Fixit couldn't understand what was confusing him, there were different kinds of twins on Cybertron similar to how they are different kinds of twins for humans, like identical and fraternal twins.

Jetstorm and Slipstream were a much less rarity of twins. They were protoformic twins, which ment a single protoform was infused with two different sparks resulting in the protoform splitting to accommodate the two separate sparks, and thus giving birth to two separate being.

The second variation was the split spark twins a single protoform with a single spark that splits and thus leads to the protoform to split resultsing and two separate bodies with a split spark. Split spark twins are much rare than protoformic twins as the chances of a spark splitting is very low. Even the connection between the two variations of twins is different, split spark twins often share deeper bonds with each other that are not understood by others, such as sensing the other twin's distress, both mentally and emotionally.

But one thing both variations have in common is genetic similarities as they are both a product of one protoform.

In Jetstorm and Slipstreams case, the only logical explanation for slipstream being susceptible to the disease and not Jetstorm is because when analyzing their CNA it was noted that the slight mutation or deformity in Jetstorm was much more developed or severe then in Slipstream. This severity or development is what's causing their aggressive and active immune response against the malware. The only way such developments can occur within the deformity is if Jetstorm was constantly prematurely exposed to the disease in small and weak various.

"I. Under. Stand. The. Twin. Thing." Denny said in between claps, "I know Jet and Slip are twins. Everyone knows that. What I was trying to understand is how the malware works and I think I got it."

"Really?" Fixit sounded doubtful. Judgemental almost at the fact that Denny finally grasped the whole thing.

"Yeah, Dislivarites to buzzsaws and other bots is like... Chocolate to dogs and humans."

Fixit looked absolutely distraught hearing Denny compare a lethal disease to a sweet treat. "...Denny...", his voice shook, laced with udder disappointment and bewilderment. "What are you saying? Do you hear yourself right now?"

"Yes! Chocolate is deadly to dog but only bad for humans if they eat it too much. That's the only way I can explain this without causing my brain to explode."

Russell just watched the two argue in the kitchen. They did it so often, it was basically his routine. Scruffy just stood outside bellowing and scratching the door wanting to be let in. Which was impossible given her size. To think she was a small furball a week or so ago. She was basically Clifford the big red dog except more metallic and was an apex predator that imprinted on him. When Fixit said their growth was exponential when consuming large amounts of energon, it wasn't an understatement. It was a good thing their growth was limited or capped as Fixit described it. His dad would go bonkers having to watch over something as big as a normal bot.
There wasn't much to look after though. Behemoths are Cybernetic, so they don't poop or pee. They're really smart such that Scruffy basically understands Russell without any complaints. Which is why training was going so well.

Russell finished the last bite of his breakfast and went to clean his plate. Seeing this, Denny decided bickering was over and it's best him and Fixit get back to working on Jet and Slip.
Jetstorm was doing extremely well his repairs were complete —thanks to Fixits speedy work— and all that was left was the healing of the welding. His face plate was a different story, hard to repair or replace and so the best that could be done was a minor repair which ment Jet could only have half an upper face. His mandible would be visible and his denta would be too. In general he just looked like a skull with eyebrows.

Slipstream was the same, his mandible rusted off and had to be completely replaced. They modelled it off of Jetstorm's and if they didn't look similar then, they sure did now.
All that work was tiring Denny, who unlike Fixit needed sleep or he would lose his everlasting mind from sleep deprivation.

At some point Denny was so tired, he swore he could hear the angels calling him. This distressed Russell so much, that he had to beg his father to stop and take a break.
And since then for the rest of the week Fixit handled Jetstorm's repairs and did so rather speedy. He didn't need sleep or breaks and he practically had the tools embedded in him. So it was no wonder when Denny went to go check up on Jetstorm's and Slipstream's condition, he found Fixit nearly done with the repairs.

But his absence lead to a small draw back in Slipstreams recovery as Fixit couldn't administer the particles from Jetstorm without him getting sick himself. But with Denny rested and energised, all focus can be shifted back to Slipstream, to allow Jetstorm to rest.
________________
He walked into the ward, suited up in his blue overalls and saw Bumblebee and Drift discussing something. Drift was angry and confused, but was extremely good at hiding it. Only displaying a stoic look —often seen as apathic by most— while jetstorm was awake, delirious and feisty(for some reason).

A procedure involving the replacement of a bots entire body of armour, done in the short span of a week or so was extremely painful. Thus Jetstorm was flying high on pain medication, leaving him in a state a human would be in if they were on anesthesia —or weed.
As if Jetstorm wasn't an uncontrollable chatter box then, now he was uncontrollable AND unhinged. So it wasn't a suprise to Denny when Jetstorm yelled "SUP BITCH!" In a slurred way.

Drift was on the floor next to Jetstorm. So immediately when he heard such profanities leave his former student's mouth he instantly covered it like he would when jetstorm was still under his tutelage. He was used to Jetstorm randomly running his mouth and saying unnecessary things, but swearing is something he has never heard him do.

Jetstorm frustrated by the sudden silencing, began pulling away from Drifts hand with no luck and then started biting him. His bites were weak and felt like he was just resting his denta against Drift digit.

"Woah tiger, your feisty today aren't ya." Denny walked over next to Jetstorm.

"You seem accustomed to such behaviour from him." Drift was suspicious, he had a feeling that Denny was somewhat a bad influence to his student, but couldn't prove it...

"Well, I'm not really surprised that Jet knows such phrases. I mean he does listen to 'Snoop Dogg' and 'Gorrilaz' so... Kinda expected for such 'profanities' to leave his lips... mouth.... Denta? Whatever" Denny helped Jetstorm sit up. Checked his scars and fixed his hat.

"I don't know what that is..." Drift admitted looking at Bumblebee as if he had the answer.

"Don't know either... But apart from the obscenities," Bumblebee sighed, "he seems a lot better."

"FUCK YEAH!" Jetstorm yelled loudly, much to Drift's dismay. Denny only snickered. If Jetstorm could smirk he would be doing just that. He had no lower face plating and therefore a smile or any other expressions involving his mouth would be impossible. So every time he tries to smile, he ends up squinting his eyes, hard. A hilarious sight to see.

"Well I'm glad hes okay, the team can't be at a hundred percent if it's members aren't at a hundred percent." Bumblebee smiled looking at Jetstorm.
He wasn't the same anymore. His injuries must've been excruciatingly painful. He couldn't imagine how difficult it must have been for him. And what about Slipstream, they hadn't seen him the longest. And then there was Steeljaw, he was definitely planning something, but what. Not knowing made Bumblebee go insane. There's been an increase in activity and half of Steeljaws pack is with him. Every time they send him away he always comes back. Either by Soundwave, or Megatronous Prime... he always bounces back meaner than ever
And with the minis sick, Fixit or Denny can't manage the comand center and as a cherry on top Optimus isn't answering his calls.

Bumblebee sighed and snapped out of his thought and from the corner of his optic saw Jetstorm staring at him. His pupils were constricted and his face neutral. He looked... Manic. Like he was a second away from snapping someones neck. It made Bumblebee shudder. He had never seen Jetstorm this ... angry before.
He couldn't help but look him in the optic and it's as if he could see the pain and the angry cry for help.

"...cur dii nostri nos deseruerunt?" (why have our gods forsaken us?) Jetstorm tilted his head slowly, not breaking his gaze on Bumblebee. His words were soft but laced with distain and malice. And in his optics the pain and devastation could be seen, once he got past the mania that flashed first.

"Well that was weird..." Denny said with his hands in his pockets, was just about to leave when he saw the change in demeanor from Jetstorm and then the odd display of what he could only describe as some sort of psychosis.

Drift clenched his jaw and fist. He believed in honour. In second chances. He too was a low life, a thief that took away the lively hoods of others, but he was given a second chance to be better than good, to change and he helped others change. Others like his students that now lay broken and disgruntled because of the hands OF A PERPETRATOR THATS OUT THERE DOING THE SAME UNTHINKABLE .... UNSPEAKABLE.... ATROCIOUS ACTS TO HUNDREDS MORE MINICONS
JUST
LIKE
HIS
STUDENTS.....

Murder and malice rang in his head, he could think of a reason some to spare this... This absolutely nightmare to light, a disgrace to the word of primus.
"May suffering be your life, may the pain you cause be the only thing you feel and death be the escape."
These are the only words that finally rang in Drift head.

Chapter Text

"Now tell me," Razermist placed a small cube of high grade down, "what's the matter? Why are you so upset?"

Deadnight took a huge swig at his drink, finishing it in a single go. They were in Razermist's ship. It was a large star hauler, with an equally large crew, ranging from scientists to cleaners and maintainance workers. They were in a briefing room with a large table and data screen, which was still on with the statistics from labs they run.

Razermist was a breeder, catching and editing the genes of minicons to clone and breed them for extraction and hauling. Her squad not only dealt with genetics, but drugs and boosters as well. So far she was ranked the highest drug manufacturer in all of cybertron and took pride in that title. But with the decrease in the minicon species, particularly their most profitable one — buzzsaws— she now works more on breeding than on drug management.
Especially ever since Flameblade's take over on the hauling organization.

"Why wouldn't I be upset!?" Deadnight slammed the empty cube on the table, shattering it in his hand. "These minis are gettin' harder and harder to catch and all Flameblade's doin' is demanding more and more from us."

"I know." Razermist rolled her eyes, pushing away the high grade stained shards that landed near her. "I was just a casual breeder. Collecting minis for my own pleasure. And now...," she said sipping on her high grade, "I can't even go to an auction without Flameblade screaming for more production on the cloning."

" And what's worse is that he won't take no for an answer! My whole drug manufacturing line is going down badly."  Razermist pinched the bridge between her optics. "urgh! How did things come to this?"

"I'm just glad you were able to get me those minis from earlier. Without you I wouldn't have met my quota" Deadnight loosened up and bowed his head.

"I do not think you will ever meet your quotas, while you're still hoarding your own weapon stash." she said pointing at the crimson laser blades on his sides.

"whoops," he said taking both blades and retracting them into their handles, "Forgot to sheath these. Got into a bit of a showdown with a patrol squad. Had to uhhh... Deal with them."
"And besides, you also have a few stashes of your own... Huh." Deadnight said, referring to the small minicon Razermist refused to have killed.

"Well of course! I still do enjoy collecting the little things, they come in all shapes and sorts," Razermist beamed with pride and excitement, "The one I've got now is actually a small shifter. Very rare especially from the planet I found them in."

"And judging by this," she grabbed the weapon from Deadnight and examined it, "I wasn't the only one that stuck gold!"

"Got that from a little mini on earth," he explained proudly, letting Razermist hold and give the weapon a swing while he played around with the other blade, "Bit of a motor mouth."

He frowned at the memory of the small minicon telling him he was a Brain Rusted Lugnut. "it seemed to be a native there, caught it walking with a small squashy one. The small creatures there are nice play things. Give a nice satisfyin crunch when you squeeze their heads." He gave a light chuckle.

"Well now that spirits have been lifted," Razermist drank the last of her high grade and setting the cube on the shards that Deadnight left behind, like a coaster, "Heard we had a meeting with the others to discuss the recent logistics and as you can see on the screen things aren't looking that good for us right now."

"Where is this going?" Deadnight questioned sensing the odd shift in Razermist's urbane demeanor.

"Listen, we're business oriented individuals," she began as she clasped her hands and gave him a sly look, "all those minicons were not easy to catch..."

"Get. To. The. Point." Deadnight hissed, standing up and slamming his hands on the table near Razermist. She was used to tactics and wasn't intimidated at all. And that's why they were so close; she saw right through him.

"No need to get upset my tempered dear," she said stoking his chin, "my request is quite simple AND very personal. All I'm asking you is to hold my little shifter for me."

Deadnights frown fell and a look of bland awe crossed his face. "Seriously?" he asked perplexed at how the offer was delivered, "all that tension and what you wanted was for me to babysit your minis for ya?"

"Yes."

"Okay, well ya didn't need to make it all weird and awkward. Like damn! Thought you're bouta double cross me."

"How could you accuse me of such!" Razermist wailed dramatically, throwing herself back, clutching her neck and holding her hand to her head.

"I'll keep that critter on ma ship." He said standing up and heading to the door. "Now gotta go start the extraction process."
———————————————————————————
He didn't deserve it. It was supposed to be a small patrol trip. One young cadets take a week before they choose the field they want to venture in. And just like Dropforge, the young mech aspired to be a detective. To help others, even if it meant his life would be on the line.

And on the line it was. Especially with the predicament he got himself into. He managed to slip a small tracker on that big leadhead called Deadnight. And because of his large size, the tracker could not be seen or detected.

He had demanded to be left alone on the high grounds where they had fought Deadnight. Told them he just needed some time to think. But in reality he needed to be alone so he could follow the perp.
It was risky following Deadnights ship in a small highly cloaked cruiser, usually meant for quick and unnoticed escapes during heated escapades.
The cruiser was small, making it undetectable.

Once he saw Deadnight exit his vessel and meet a tall slender femme, he knew it was his chance. He snuck onto the femmes ship avoiding the personal conducting maintenance on the ship. So every one was too busy painting and decorating to even notice him.
The shock in his face as he watched multiple helpless minicons get slaughtered in seconds, was incomprehensible. All of them young and destined for the better.

He rested in the vent, calming himself down. And breathed a sigh of relief when the young protoform was spared.

He heard the words from the old minicon and he felt... Proud that there were still people out there doing good for the name of their own kind. For minicon kind.

Some time had passed both bots had left and Dropforge was ready to rescue both the young protoform and the old mech. Before he could drop out of the vent and get to the cages, sounds of pedes approaching, were echoing. He was glad he was small because primus knew how much weight the vent could handle.

He felt proud of how useful his small statue can be sometimes, but that pride was drowned out when he saw one of his graduates, talking to the preps. He couldn't believe it. He didn't want to believe it.

He had seen the most of corruption face to face. And now he was seeing it again, but in the student HE trained. The air was thick, not because he was conducting a risky unauthorized or planned spur of the moment undercover mission — alone— in the most dangerous place to be as a minicon, but because it was a high ranking officer. This bot had control of major traffic routes in high risk areas and managed the overseeing of certain high profile criminals.

Dropforge didn't let his emotions get to him. He was an officer of the law. A detective, who pledged to bring down the corrupt... even if it was his own prodigy.

He looked carefully at her. Resentment was unconsciously building up. And then he saw it. The regret in her optics.
Regret that screamed: turn away and run.
Dropforge could see and feel that the bot didn't want to be there.

He didn't understand why she would be in such a place.
The officer was Redstone, she had a minicon conjux endura by the name Highguide a loving youth mentor and teacher.
Highguide was a buzzsaw. It wouldn't make sense for Redstone to side with preps that would want her conjux dead.

Highguide went missing around 3 months ago and since then, Redstone's morale had dropped significantly. Many thought it was the pain of losing her conjux, but now things seemed to look different.

Dropforge stared while hidden in the shadows he crept closer and he heard their conversation in bits and pieces. All he heard was a promise from Redstone to alleviate the patrol routes for their next drug heist and a soft but firm "Where is she?"

"It all makes sense," Dropforge thought to himself. The anger and resentment fading into remorse, "They must have taken Highguide, and are holding her for ransom— said ransom being police protection."

"Awe, you don't gotta know." a tall blue and black mech said marching in with big and proud strides.

He walked towards the cage and pulled out the old minicon and said a single, chill sentence, "keep asking and she'll be..." He said as he snapped the head of the old minicon.

"ya wanna be useful, why don't ya take that little thing to ma ship for me, huh." Deadnight said getting close to her ear, "or else it'll be her head rolling."

Redstone dropped to her knees shaking as the bots she was speaking to left. She stood up, shook her head and walked towards the cage and saw the little bot small, eyes bearly open and shaking. "We were gonna have a family together." she mumbled to herself. "What I have done." she said as she took out the small minicon from its cage.

Dropforge climbed down from the vent and spoke softly, "Redstone..."

Redstone turned around frightened, looked all around her till she heard a small "psst, down here." Dropforge hidden under a small table in the room, whispered over to her.

She walked over to the table, fell to her knees before Dropforge, clasping the minicon protoform in her servos.

"I'm sorry," she mumbled to Dropforge. Ashamed and defeated. "All I ever wanted was to get her back."

"I know" Dropforge said getting closer.

"You know, they say when a protoform opens its eyes for the first time," Redstone said, her voice trembling, "it imprints on the first thing it sees or hears."

"I know how much you must've wanted to have a family with her."

"I don't deserve it. Not anymore." Redstone said pushing the small protoform into Dropforges arms, "and when this protoform opens her eyes... I need to be the last thing she sees. I'm a traitor. A filthy, disgusting, corrupt that deserves nothing but the big slammer."

"Listen, we can fix this," Dropforge slightly raised his voice at her scolding her as if she were a child, "I came here by cruiser. Let's sneak out and go. We'll tell the council everything you know about their operations. "

"You're right, I CAN fix this. I'll fix everything." she smiled at Dropforge and stomped out of the room.

"Redstone. Where are you going?" Dropforge whisper-shouted at her as dread filled his spark. "Get to the cruiser. Don't worry about me."

"Oi, Deadnight." she yelled barging into the extracting unit, catching the bot off guard and attracting the attention of other personnel.
Dropforge was in a dead end, he could stop Redstone without drawing attention to himself and threatening the life of the young protoform.

He thought all hope was lost until his systems received a notification. It was a list of all the files Redstone had collected over the time she had been forced as a part of the operation.
Dropforge obliged to the young bots request. And used the distraction to get to the cruiser.

"Watch your mouth when ya near me ya HEAR!" Deadnight yelled, his voice reverbing in the room and spilling into the hallways. He was feared and he knew it. And he knew didn't need captive leverage to strike fear to even the most high ranking officers. Redstone was playing with the devil.

" You don't want little miss Highguide to end up like every other minicon that crosses my path."

"Ha, you're funny when you bluff." Redstone snorted. She knew deep down in her spark—evidence or not —for far too long that the chances of Highguide dying were high and enviable. And by the sheer luck that she was alive, Redstone knew her conjux didn't deserve to return to someone as traitorous as her. She didn't see value in her life anymore. She was a disappointment, so a suicide mission to redeem her honor to the only person who know about her secret, didn't seem like much to her.

Deadnights temper rose quicker than hot air. And before Redstone knew it, she had a blade sticking through her head.
"You wanna know where your conjux is?" Deadnight hissed as he walked slowly to Redstones collapsed body, that lays soaking in her own energon and processor fluid. "Tell her I said hi!"

That was the last thing Redstone heard before the blade that was stuck in her head was violently ripped out, splitting her head in two.
————————————————————

Dropforge rode back to Cybertron, the small protofrom hugged close. His mind paced. "Redstone, those minicons that died and this... This poor kid..." He said to himself. And as he looked at the young child, she yawned and her small sapphire eyes opened and stared deeply into his own.

———————————————————————

Chapter Text

Denny laid sound asleep. He had worked on Slipstream for hours on end and then had to accompany the team on a mission to a small warehouse of the outskirts of the city where there were humans, luckily for him the con fleed and moved to an unmanned storage facility. Meaning he could leave them early. He deserved the well needed nap. He couldn't remember the last time he had a full night of sleep. And tonight might have been the night. He was adorned in a simple white vest, that hugged his chest and long pajama trousers. His bed felt like a cloud gifted to him from the heavens. And the sleep that enveloped him was equally as blissful.

Slipstream was finally— after a full month of battling the disease — cleared of dislivarites. And that made Denny rest easy. Fixit would have  begun on repairing his injuries and body, but he was caught up in the command center. Steeljaws purge was getting worse and worse. And his presence in the command center was really needed. Russell would help occasionally, although he mostly focused on training Scruffy and his studies.

Denny snored and snorted in his sleep. And then there was a small click followed by a heavy creek. Cold midnight air seeped into Denny's small trailer house, causing him to shiver and stir in his sleep. He thought in his sleep that it could be his son, he had been having some nightmares from time to time and would come to him for comfort— being sleeping in bed with him.

But the cold air kept streaming in, waking him fully. He drawed a long heafty breath and slowly opened his eyes.

And the sight he saw was truly eerie. Before him stood a tall dark figure. Its bright neon blue eyes staring into his soul. Its teeth were bared, mouth missing, as it stood there, still and haunting. Like a monstrous analog horror.

"I require sustenance." it spoke. Its voice a raspy whisper.

"JESUS CHRIST!" Denny screamed in terror. Scaring the tall figure too. It groaned and let out small sobs.

"Jetstorm!?"  Denny asked bewildered. He was not expecting to be woken in such a frightening manner.

"It's okay. What do you need buddy." Denny got up and sat on his bed. "You know you're not supposed to be here."  He soluted the young bots strength and recovery , but was not happy that he was sneaking out.

"energon~" he responded tiredly. He was still woozy from the meds he was on and clearly some what confused.

"Come on," Denny said as he tiredly stood up and stretched, "let's go back to medbay."

"mmmmmm..." Jetstorm mumbled incoherently before falling unconscious onto Dennys floor. Denny tried his best to catch him but reacted to slow from the lack of sleep.

He sighed, collected himself and carried Jetstorm out of the trailer, only for him to frightfully jolt back into consciousness, scared and confused. Panic settled into the young bots mind as he squirmed in Denny's grasp. It was not until Denny spoke, his voice low deep and full of fatherly love that he relaxed and calmed down. The sound of Denny's heartbeat provided a soothing noise that drowned out the ringing in his audials.

Denny walked over to the diner and settled Jetstorm onto one of the seats and turned on the TV. Jetstorm hugged himself close, still trembling like a wet kitten pulled from a storm drain.

"You all right? Still want that energon?" Denny asked patting Jetstorms back. "looks like the meds are wearing off..." He thought to himself as he got up to fetch a small cube for the bot.

Jetstorm watched as Denny walked out of the door. He looked around at the brightly lit diner. And settled his optics on the TV that was playing an old comedy soap opera from the early 2000s.

It was quiet with the exception of the TV and the low hums of the old vintage refrigerator that Denny kept in the diner. The breeze was crisp and the night was still.

He didn't remember much about what happened, just that it did and he somehow survived.

His chest was tight, his legs felt distant. His head rang with a thousand incoherent screams of agony. He couldn't think straight. His thoughts were a whirlpool and he was drowning in the center. He tried to stand up, but meet with the floor the moment he rose. The TV that was once a collection of cliché laughing audio, sounded like a deafing static that scratched at his audio receptors. Making them ring like screeching nails against a blackboard.

He laid under the table, his face in a puddle of his streaming tears, on the cold floor as he clutching his chest as the small space enclosed him even further. Suffocating him, drowning out his voice. Pain ached all across his shuddering body as his vision began tunneling.

Denny truged in yawning with a cube with a straw, in his hand. His walked slowly while he scratched his eyes with his thumb and index finger and noticed Jetstorm wasn't there. He walked further and subbed his small toe against something on the floor. He looked down and saw Jetstorm.
Shivering, crying and deep in a panic enduced trance.
Clawing at his face and gripping his chest.

He placed the cube on the table and calmly lifted the bot onto the seat. "Jetstorm..." He whispered, with no response coming from the panic stricken child. And seeing this Denny just took a deep breath, sat next to the trembling child and hugged him close.

"Its okay bud, shh." He said, slowly but surely calming. "Here." Denny grabbed the energon cube, placed the straw and held it up Jetstorm, who obligingly drank. Drops of the energon lack from the sides of his denta and spilled onto Denny's white vest. "Well that's not coming off." He chuckled to himself.

His vision came too and the tight feeling his his chest slowly subsided. The laughing was playing cheerfully on the bright and colourful TV and his body felt whole again.

"You doing good now?" he asked Jetstorm who seemed to come too.

After a thin silence he finally spoke, "I... Suppose"

"What happened back there, huh?"

"I do not know..." He bowed his head and began enveloped himself into a hugged. Holding tightly onto his arms. "all was well, until it wasn't"

"D'you know what triggered it?" Denny asked putting his hand on Jetstorms shoulder.

"No..." He said as he slowly realized the disproportionalities of his body.

It was... Smaller.

His shoulders— which would usually tower to his head— were practically not there. It was just a joint between his arm and the rest of his body — which too, was extremely different.

His legs were thinner. And so where his arms. He was more slender than his old self. And... Lighter too.

Denny noticed Jetstorms shift of attention from him to his body. "Yeah... Not sure how you must feel about what happened to ya... But Fixit and I tried our best... "

His body was covered on welding scars and his pedes where long slants. He looked and felt like a weird robotic manican. And didn't know whether to be greatful or to hate it.

On one hand he was like this because of that stupid hauler, but also because of the tireless efforts of Denny and Fixit. And by the looks of Denny's face he could tell that it must have been a great effort indeed. And he felt horrible that even after all he put them through, he was still bothering Denny with is panicking and knew body dismorphia from him is the last thing Denny needed.

"I'm... sorry..." He stuttered, holding back tears of guilt.

"For what...?" Denny asked worriedly and confused, as he patted Jetstorms back. "Its not your fault for getting hurt."

Jetstorm recounted the memory that lead to him being caught by the hauler.

All he wanted was a moment with the beautiful nature of the planet he called home, before he... Died.

"It is..." He uttered under his breath, "it is my fault...". Coolrant streamed from his optics as he recounted the reason he wished to take his own life... "Slipstream ~" he said sobbing.

"Its okay, Slipstreams fine, he's all better now!" Denny attempted to console the child.

"I— I tried... To kill.... My—self... Because I thought... Slipstream was... Gonna... Die.." He said in between sobs as he cupped his face into his hands.

Denny had been trying to stay clam and controlled, but almost lost all composure when he heard him admit to a suicide attempt and that he had been suicidal since Slipstreams diagnosis.
He grabbed Jetstorm into a tight bear hug; holding the child's head against his chest as he breathed heavily and patted his back, which hicked constantly from the sobbing. He held him tight and wasn't planning on letting him go. He had already lost a loved one from suicide and wasn't planning on losing another.

"If anything... And I mean ANYTHING like that ever crosses your mind." He said stern but lovingly. His voice etched with deep concern. " you come running to me you hear." He let lose his grip and held Jetstorm by the shoulders and looked him in the eye.

"Just know I'll always be there.." He said worry lining his face. "Okay...?"

And in response Jetstorm threw himself at him. And embraced him further.
"... Okay."
——————————————————————————

Chapter Text

Dropforge scrolled through the files. There were a lot of them and they each took ages to analyse. From lost case files to missing evidence. Redstone seemed to have collected a bountiful amount of information during her forced service to the group.

A notable number of case files involved cases of corruption and cases that were abruptly stopped due to lack of support and evidence— said evidence being the one stolen or destroyed. Some files listed numerous witnesses that were to give factual testimonials against sectors that seemed to branch from the organisation. And said witnesses were ones who were deemed either:
mentally unfit and sent to mental institutions
Or
Murdered or reported missing

A vast majority of those deemed mentally incapable, were sent to one high ranking institution —The Cybertronian Asylum For the Mentally Problematic and Ill or CAMPI for short.
This institution was known for its violent and psychotic criminals, who were deemed ill in the mind and unfit for society. But instead of execution —due to its barbaric and I'll natured manner— they were rehabilitated; their minds altered or change via a minor form of Empurata — the equivalent of a lobotomy.

The notes Dropforge gathered seemed to point at one possible outcome: A Criminal Organisation. An extremely Organised one as well. The stats and data suggested a large number of corrupted individuals within both the police and the elite force, but no names were mentioned within the info Redstone gathered.

This includes evidence on narcotics trafficking, kidnapping, and murder. The evidence gathered from Dropforge from his unauthorized undercover sting was crucial for identifying, arresting, and convicting high-level gang members involved in these operations.

Pieces of physical evidence includes pictures taken by both Dropforge during his sting operation and Redstone during her service to them. As well as a list of orders from a higher up that seems to be controlling the vast majority of the organisation and transactions of several drug schemes within the District that Redstone operated, but no info on the recipients.
And one of the most devastating pieces of information were multiple communication messages or better names threats to Redstone, which included multiple ultimatums accompanied with disturbing photographs of Highguide depicting her as battered extremely malnutrition and on the verge of insanity. She was hurt and shellshocked. Her armour looked rusted and one of her optics was missing.

Who ever was in charge of overseeing Redstone must have not been very strict or was just very stupid because such information would have been seriously difficult to obtain unless someone had high level clearance to the systems. Redstone definitely didn't have that, and that deduction was an easy one to make by Dropforge. Redstone was just a lackey baited into this nightmarish whirlwind. No one, other than an absolute idiot would let her near the main systems, because she was just a low level baited lackey.
But such idiocy was making Dropforge's job easier.

But his current home life was nothing close to easy. The little buddle of joy ran around in loud , energetic circles in his apartment while he worked. Screaming, giggling and the occasional gasping and questioning as she also tried her best to grab and reach Dropforge's notes, ultimately leading to Dropforge having to temporarily leave his work to try and tire her down.

"Listen here you little bugger." He stood from his seat and ran at her playfully, resulting in a loud long screaming laugh."No no no" she giggled as Dropforge grabbed and tickled her.

Being a detective was difficult work but being a caretaker was something entirely different. Dropforge deeply contemplated taking in the little bot, but knew he couldn't just give the child away. He felt responsible for her. He was the one that saved her. He felt obliged to take care of her. There was just something wrong about going as far as infiltrating enemy territory, coming out with a child that imprinted on him and just giving them away.

The little tyke was now his responsibility and a big one. The hyperactive minicon basically bounced off the walls when Dropforge didn't give her an ounce of his attention. She had only been with him for a week and that brought its own problems.

He never mentioned to the council, his escapade to the haulers and the recovery of multiple documents containing hardcore evidence on the doings of the organisation OR the fact he still has the live coordinates of the lead head in his grasp. With the corruption present amongst the Elite Force and the Police Department,it was crucial that all evidence being secure and analysed down to the last pixel. And for his safety and the safety of his child he needed to make sure that when he topples the organisation no one will be left to hurt another soul.
*
She ran around and jumped around Dropforge when he finally let her go."Again! Again!" She screamed raising her arms at him.
"No no. That's enough for now."  Dropforge sighed as he got up from his knees and started walking back to his desk."I have work to finish."

He felt a tug at his leg when he looked done he saw her hanging onto his leg,mouth pouted and eyes wide, "Why?" She asked in a sweet and innocent tone.
"Well, Mercury, I'm having... My own fun." Dropforge smiled at her as he picked her up and walked off to his work desk. He showed him all his notes.

"See," he said as he sat on the chair and placed her on his lap, "I'm investigating."

"Investigate?" She tilted her head and stared at him with a spark of curiosity and interest in her optics.

"Mhm." Dropforge nodded. "I gotta catch these perps and put em in the big slammer."

"Why you put perps in the slam."

"To make the world a better place for little rascals like you." He said booping her." I have to investigate them."

"Why you investigate?" She asked, confusion lining her face.

"Cause I'm a detective," he smiled feeling a sense of pride as he shared his profession with his child, "it's what I do."
"Detective!" She looked in dramatic awe. She was truly fascinated by the concept of her caregiver being some sort of hero.
"Yeah." Dropforge chuckled as he explained— euphemistically and enthusiastically — the notes he had.

Mercury simply sat and stared. She was quiet and intent. Not moving a fraction of an inch as she listened to Dropforge explain what was happening.

This was the most quiet she's been since her arrival. For the first few days she just crawled around. Occasionally yawning and screaming at uncertain intervals. Dropforge had never known true fear until he saw her climb a table and had to catch her as she fell.

He was a great detective and a good professor, but a caretaker... That was a whole different story. And he was absolutely thrilled to take on the role, even if there was a slight hesitance in him.

The two continued their talk when there was a call on the other side of the apartment door. "Yo, Dropforge!" the bot said as he banged on the door. "It's Jazz!"

Dropforge got up to answer the door while Mercury remained behind at the desk.

"Nice seeing you here Jazz." Dropforge said opening the door and letting the large mech in.

"Council's not happy about your sudden silence." Jazz said as he followed Dropforge in, "What have you been doing. Heard you got into a bit of a pickle during one of the cadet patrols."

"You could say that, but it's a bit different."  Dropforge explained, "follow me, I got something to show ya..."

Dropforge led Jazz to his office desk and showed him the notes he had been making and the information he had gathered.

"Dang, Forge!" Jazz exclaimed as he looked at the large board full of leads and the desk scattered with notes and documents. He went through a few photos awestruck at their quality and definition. And next the communication messages between Redstone and the suspects. Jazz was amazed at what he was looking at. This was more than enough to catch and arrest the suspects.

"DROPFORGE.... HOW!?" He stood up and exclaimed holding his helm in disbelief. "What spy did you hire to get this? Not even the elite force was able to get ahead of this and we've been working on this for months."

Dropforge was the overseeing detective in Operation Crackdown— a structured section of the elite and high police force involving the greatest and most 'loyal to the Cybertronian cause' individuals with great prominence, that aims at the abolishment of crime, corruption and 'peacebreaking' ( a term meaning the intentional act of disruption of peace on cybertron by spreading ideologies of the goodness war and colonization).

The unit was established by the newly elected high council. One that was democratically elected by the people of Cybertron following the events of the corrupt high council that took over Cybertron with mind control.

After the council consisting of members from prime force one stepped down, the new council saw fit that the current minicon genocide be put an end to it.

The operation started small, relieving enslaved minicons and rescuing them from their masters as well as establishing new laws that benefited minicon.

One of the laws included the Victims Battery Act: an act passed to aid minicons with proven evidence of severe battery leading to emotional and mentally wellness infringements, which in turn led to their violent crimes. Or acts of forced crime under the command of their deployer.
The act focused mainly on the rehabilitation of minicons who have had their futures tarnished by the acts of their abusers.
Such an act was suggested and created by the newest minicon Council member, that used to be a council member of the Council of Sages on the independent minicon colonies on one of Cybertrons moons.

It wasn't a big surprise to many that Dropforge of all bots would be the one selected to investigate the issue of the disappearings of minicons and the increase of hauler activity on both Cybertron and Luna 1 and 2.

But when no one heard from Dropforge since the encounter with one of the high profile suspects they were after and the news of a young cadet dying during a patrol, concern grew high. And with Jazz being the closest to Dropforge was asked to check on him and see if he was still around.
It hadn't occurred — and maybe would have never— that Dropforge was now a caretaker.

It was when he saw two sapphire orbs staring at him from below the desk and a little minicon tod/sparkling rushing to cling to Dropforge's side, did his mind full on explode.

"Who is that?" Jazz asked shock still lingering in the air around him.

"Oh... Right." Dropforge soon realized. He had never told anyone about Mercury. " That would be my Sparkling, Mercury." He said in the most calmest way.

Jazz just looked at him like he just grew a second head.
"YOU HAD A KID! NO WONDER YOU WERE GONE!"

"Um, Jazz." Dropforge saw Mercury getting slightly more uncomfortable at the loud mouth in front of her.

"What are you made of?!"

"JAZZ!" Dropforge yelled finally getting the bot to stop. He looked down and saw the little sparkling hiding behind Dropforge.

"I'm sorry little dude. That wasn't cool of me." Jazz apologise getting down closer to see her. "My name is Jazz. How's it shaking little Forge." He said as she got closer and grabbed his hand, giggling and squealing about.

"Listen, Forge, I understand a lot's happened, but the council still needs you to show up." Jazz explained, still kneeled and playing around with little Mercury. "Even the academy's worried. You've been couped up for ages."

"It's only been a week..." Dropforge sighed, "Fine I'll go to the council then check in on the Academy, but I obviously can't bring her with me."

Jazz was a close friend of Dropforge's, ever since the abolishment of the corrupt council. He and the rest of the  Prime force members like Ratchet and Bulkhead, who were apart of the temporary council.
So it felt reasonable to let Jazz watch over Mercury while he was away.

"Watch her?" Jazz was perplexed as he held Mercury in one hand and watched Dropforge organise and collect his notes.

"You said it yourself,  the council's worried about my unexplained absence. So I'll give em an explanation." Dropforge replied smugly as he bid farewell to his little tyke.

"I'll see ya in a couple of hours okay Mercury. Keep an eye on him will ya." He said pointing to Jazz.

"Ha ha real funny..." Jazz said sarcastically as Mercury laughed, "And why Mercury of all names?"

Dropforge just chuckled as he walked out the door, "Just wait and see."

"Your pops' a real Jokester ain't he." Jazz smiled at the little bit in his hand.

"POP!" Mercury exclaimed with joy.

"Yeahhhh..." Jazzes excitement slowly turn to shocked confusion as he watch Mercury's face slowly contorted into a uncanny version of his own.

"WHAT THE!"
__________________________________

Chapter Text

"Sup Bitches," the video played on the screen. Jetstorm watched himself with horror and embarrassment clawing at his spark. He turned to Sideswipe who was rolling on the ground with laughter, clutching his abdomen and annoying Strongarm who was that victim of his constant kicking and thrashing. Although even she found the video amusing as well.

"That is filth and not representative of me as a person," Jetstorm stood up, hands raised in defence as he explained his actions, "I'm sorry. Please delete that."

"No. This is awesome," Bumblebee smirked, a small giggle he desperately tries to hold, escaping."I'm keeping this." He said as he ended the video and the holographic screen projected from his hand vanished.

"I'm glad your doing alright." Bumblebee confessed
"It is good to be alright..." Jetstorm sighed tilting his head, an action he used to signal to the others he was smiling.

"But..." He began his head lowering as he rubbed his arm, "it would have been nicer is Slipstream were here with us..."

"Slipstream's fine and getting better." Denny smiled comforting Jetstorm and rubbing his back."I mean...you were there when we finished off replacing his legs, huh."

"I don't remember that..." Jetstorm admitted. He leaned back on the leather diner seats, trying to remember the memory Denny described, but nothing, not even a small glimpse came to mind.

"You don't remember...really..." Grimlock chimed in, sticking his large head through the huge opening on the diner wall and stared at Jet bewildered.
"I mean you even threw up..." Grimlock bluntly said only to receive a smack on the back of his head and an unamused glared from his Teamie.

"I threw up...?" Jetstorm looked distraught, he was shocked at his unconscious and highly medicated actions. He didn't understand why he would throw up. Was it because of the medication or did he just do it for the sake of it? He didn't know, but he knew well enough that it was extremely unbecoming of him.

"Yeah right when Denny pulled the covers,"Sideswipe explained, having gained his composure, "first you just... Just stood there. We were all worried and then you just bend over and let everything out. And walked away like it was nothing."

"We found you some time later, watching a documentary about lobotomies on your tablet... Which was concerning to say the least..." Strongarm stated, looking uneasy when she mentioned lobotomy.
She was the one that saw and heard the steps to the procedure when she found Jetstorm. And she hasn't been the same since.

Jetstorm looked embarrassed and concerned, which Sideswipe saw and quickly began apologising for. "Nah it okay to feel a bit queasy when you see something like that... I mean I gagged when I saw you so..." The words seemed to run dry when he saw the absolute horror in Jetstorm's eyes.

"Do I really look THAT hideous..." Jetstorm exclaimed. His optics darting from one bot to another, searching for an expression that told him truth of his appearance.

Everyone looked down and away from him. All but Denny, who still gave him a comforting look that made him cast his worries aside. And Drift, who still wore the stoic expression he's always had, the calm collected stoicism that Jetstorm has come to call safety and security. The things Drift provided him and Slipstream when he saved them from a life on dirty streets and painful beatings. Though his look can be cold and shut away, Drift was the only sense of security Jetstorm has ever known. Followed closely by Denny.
Both were his providers, and both showed him care and nurturing compassion in totally different ways.

"You're not ugly." Denny simply said, wanting to avoid the contradictive mannerisms that came with motivational quotes and speeches. "Your scars will disappear with time."

"And what if they don't ...?" Jetstorm sighed as he fell back down to the seat and slouched, letting a wave of dimorphism and self hatred consume the remaining sanity in his mind. He hated himself, he hated his body.

It was no longer a matter of the effort that was put in to make him look close to decent, but the fact that this happened because of the selfish, vindictive, psychotic and malicing greed of a self serving, minicon despising, creature that Jetstorm believe didn't deserve to see the light of day.

He hated his body, not because of the way it looked, not because of how different it was compared to his old self, but why it was so. He felt a distastefull malice growing in him. He wanted to see the Rusthead begging for mercy, he wanted make his head roll in front of an audience of minicons who have suffered at the hands of haulers just like that disgrace of a being and wished he could watch as his very soul was tortured by those he had wronged. And that the treatment he made them face be delivered back to him ten fold.

But even though such violent malice stained his very core, another feeling... a light of justice burned in him. The very flame that guided his morals, the morals he swore to follow since joining Drift's tutelage. To be the bigger bot. To guide and forgive others like he was forgiven as well. To give them a second or third or even fourth chance to redeem themselves, because everyone is capable of redemption... Even the most atrocious villains like Megatron, found their way to redemption...

The emotions he felt were... Conflicting. He knew everyone could be redeemed but didn't have it in him to forgive. To... Forget. The years of suffering. The years of torture and torment he had faced. That left him broken, disgruntled and hopeless in life.

He couldn't count the number of times he had thought or even tried to end himself, just because of what they did to him.

He couldn't count the number of innocent lives he had seen, brutally taken in front of him.

The scars they left him with. And the wounds that never healed because they always made sure to open them back up again in painful and depressing ways.

And now those scars and wounds laid scattered permanently on his body, his mind and ... His brother. He could feel his emotions welling into tears and made an effort to not be seen in such an emotional state. He found it embarrassing and degrading to be seen crying by anyone, even Slipstream.

"May I be excused..."Jetstorm said in a low, raspy and hushed voice as he walked out of the diner and passed the worried glances that looked at him. Denny sighed and declared he needed to go and work on Slipstreams repairs, and that perhaps Jetstorm still needed some time to himself to process everything that has been happening.

Drift agreed, solidifing the decision that Jetstorm be left to his own devices for a moment. Drift, somewhat, understood the relationship both his student had with Denny. And since his extreme involvement in their everyday lives besides being the sole provider for the entire team and the father to their closest human companion, he knows Denny is a pivotal role model to them. And Drift prefers it.

He knew from the moment he decided his students should graduate that they would need a suitable role model besides him. He wanted them to venture on and make their own roads based on the positive and inspiring influences of others. And what better an influence would that be other than Denny Clay himself.

Despite his odd and... Quirky nature, Denny was a man of many talents and skills and Drift found that admirable. Denny was the father to an extremely young adolescent commander, who managed to tame and train a Behemoth with minimal effort and issue. He was the sole provider of the entire team and made sure everyone had everything they needed, whether it was for their own personal comfort or for the sake of the mission. He always provided with no fuss and for nothing but protection in exchange. Denny learned the ways of Cybertronian medicine and technology for the sake of his student and the team. And if curing an incurable disease wasn't enough to declare Denny a medic, then nothing was.

In conclusion:
Drift saw fit that his students somewhat take after Denny's polymathic ways. And so once the team dispersed Drift took it upon himself to praise Denny for his efforts and show a deep admiration to his ways.

Denny who at the time was running on three and a half hours of sleep, coffee and energy drinks, Could not begin to understand Drift's criss-cross rambling. And after he said "huh?" For the fifth time in a row, drift knew that being his usual poetic self was going to be an issue so he went straight to the point.

"Seeing as my student have grown close to you," he sighed, holding his helm defeatedly in one hand, "I see it is necessary that you be the caretaker they see you as."

"Well of course." Denny said smiling slightly, "I'll always be there for those two. I mean They're my nephews for crying out loud. I take pride in being able to be there for any child. Whether they're mine or not. Even if the they're alien."

Drift just nodded at Denny's response. He watched as Denny walked away but suddenly came to a stop.

"Where's this even coming from?" Denny confessed, turning around on his heels with his eyes narrowed and lips puckered.

"Jetstorm and Slipstream are no longer my students and I have come to accept that. But ... It doesn't mean I don't want to watch over them." Drift confessed, his voice feeling tight. He cleared his throat and continued speaking. "I won't always be there to guide my students, especially if Earth is now our home and they seem to be more curious about the nature and ways of humans. So I see it as reasonable that someone like you be that guide for them."

"Why me? I'm not complaining or anything but don't you think they could use a Cybertronian mentor or something..."

"No. You are enough. There aren't many well known minicon or diminutive role models on Cybertron." Drift said standing up and looking into Denny's caffinated and tired eyes. "As their master, I know what is best for my students, and you, Denny Clay, are that best. That is final." He said walking away before Denny could get a word in.

Denny shrugged, sighed and walked away at Drift's dramatic nature, to the medbay where Slipstream was comatose and waiting for him.
________________________________________

Sideswipe walked around the scrapyard searching for Jetstorm. He wanted to apologize for what he said earlier that morning. He can get ahead of himself and forget others have feelings too. Especially Jetstorm and Slipstream.

He really tried to make him feel better about his appearance and didn't know how to approach the situation. He felt awful for making Jet feel less of himself and wanted to make things right. He had a small bouquet of flowers and a somewhat decent "poem".

He found Jetstorm standing on a on the top of a large sign written "World top Oil Rig". And Scruffy bouncing and chuffing at the bottom; calling out for Jet to play with her.
Russell was out for tutoring and football practice. He mentioned not being back til late evening, perhaps 5 or 6. But would drop by for lunch.

"Sho Scruffy shoo." Sideswipe whispered gently at the large creature. "Jetstorm doesn't really like you all that much. Don't really know why..."

Scruffy just laid down and took a nap, ignoring Sideswipe request for privacy. The large beast plopped down to the ground and shut her eyes. Sideswipe patted her underside and looked up to see Jetstorm who was staring the two down. His eyes focused on Sideswipe and the hand that was on the beast.

He stood up and leapt from the sign to a large platform shelf. Sideswipe followed closely apology flowers still in hand and stopped in front of the small bot.
"Stop following me." Jetstorm spoke his voice dripping with anger.

"Look, I just want it apologize for what I said back there..." Sideswipe spoke, his eyes stained with sorrow and the air around him lingering with the regret he felt in his spark. He always forgot the consequences of his words and seemed to never learn from them.

" There's no need-" Jetstorm said before Sideswipe interrupted him.

"Yes there is!" he erupted "And I'm sorry for what happened... You don't have to pretend that you don't mind when you actually do...
Here." He said placing the hand of flowers in front of Jetstorm and watched as the minicon took the offering with no words.

Sideswipe cleared his throat and began reciting his poem.

" To say I'm sorry isn't enough
I know I hurt you, so don't act tough
I tend to forget that words can be rough
So I hope this poem, and these flowers are enough."

Jetstorm just stared at him and blinked a few times, "Are you done... May I speak now."

Sideswipe nodded, put away the poem and leaned forward against the large self. Placing his head on it near Jetstorms pedes. He looked, from Jetstorms perspective, like a small puppy thats acting sweet after its owner caught it chewing their slipper or shoe.

"First of all, your poetry skills are getting better. Secondly, You're not the reason I'm upset. Believe it or not, you did nothing wrong." Jetstorm said crossing his legs to sit in front of the bots head.

"But you seemed so upset after I told you about what happened in the medbay."

"You only spoke truth. And still you had nothing to do with my mood. It's just..." He began rocking back and forth, "I felt awful knowing I acted in such a profound manner when seeing Slipstream... I should have acted better, especially in the circumstances he is in. "

And there Sideswipe saw the exact same look in Jetstorm's eyes as earlier when they were speaking in the diner. And knowing Jetstorm was upset at the thought of losing his twin brother. And he of all people knew exactly how devastating that loss could be.

"I know what it feels like to lose someone you're close to. You know..." He hesitated bowing his head lower such that Jetstorm could nearly see his eyes, "I had... A brother... A twin... Just like you with Slipstream."

"We were Split-spark... And his name was....

... Sunstreaker..."

Chapter Text

"Him and I..." Sideswipe trailed along with his finger on the hard wooden surface of the shelf. "We were inseparable. He was literally my other half. And we knew each other like no one else.

Sunny was a bit of a... Showboat. He was popular and had a ton of friends. He was an amazing racer, won three cups in a small drag race competition they ran on the outskirts of Kaon. A few off them were busts, cause the cops caught us.

Between the two of us he was the most proud, the most mature— as everyone yapped about— and the best at almost everything.  He was practically the better one.

Then... There was me, clumsy, talkative and impulsive. Every time I even spoke everyone would have that awkward look in their face that would instantly make you stop talking. Don't remember having anything in common with anyone, cause they always preferred Sunny.
The only reason I stuck around was... Well... He was the only one who understood me, who knew me inside out, you know.
He was my twin, my life, I had no one else other than him.

Then, one day... I met someone. He wasn't Sunny but he was the second closest thing I had that treated me with a bit of decency. His name was Therma. He was the one that suggested I make my own road, a-and not base my personality on being a twin.

So...
I did
I tried out for the biggest race in the RavageRings. The try outs were on the exact small day Sunny's finals in the Tailbreakers clash, everyone was so proud of him that they barely noticed— maybe they didn't even care— until Sunny was the one that announced it for me. And again I was out shun be the best.
Everyone thought I would be jealous of my brother,
That when we split I got all the bad aspects, whereas Sunny was nothing but a gift.
But really, I was glad to have him do these great things. I was always proud and happy for him, more than anything else.

On the day of the trails, no one came to cheer, everyone was with Sunny. They went to cheer for the one that would win. At first I thought of ditching so I could see him win, but I was already on the line up being pushed by other bots to get moving.

And when the light flashed green and the engines started running, I felt... I felt
What's that fancy word again... Right!
EXHILARATED

And boy was it amazing. The wind on your windshield. The roughness of the road.

Freedom is something to die for.

I won second place that day but...
The celebration was cut short when police came raging through. Started pinning down and cuffing everyone. I tried calling out for Therma but the fragger just push past me and I was on the ground with cops tying my servos.

The dragged me to a station and locked me in a cold cell. And they only took me out for questioning.

And that's when I felt it...

The pain
The suffocation
It hurt... I could feel him crying, not able to move.

I didn't waste any time ran but before I could even reach the door they'd already pressed me against the ground.

I wouldn't stop resisting and fighting so...
They did the only thing they thought was necessary.

"To teach me a lesson" they said.

And so the locked me in a
Small
Cold
Cramped
Room.
It was more like a small cramped passage with a short dead end.

No light, no room to move, no room to transform. And they left me there for hours. To the point we're I thought screaming for help was my only option.

The feeling in my spark never went away. I needed to get to Sunny. I had to help him. But when I told those cops, I only heard them laugh and call me a liar.

Every moment that passed in that small room, the pain only kept getting worse and worse.
It felt like 'I' was being torn apart and crushed at the same time.
I couldn't see my own servos and the only thing I could feel were the walls pressing against me. Scraping my paint like scraplets grazing on me and crushing my head.
I couldn't see straight. I couldn't think right.
And then after what felt like an eternity, I felt a awful sharp pain in my chest and then a cold emptiness. There was something missing. He was gone.

I just wanted to curl into a ball and just... Just die right then and there. But I couldn't, not with those damn walls holding me up. And they only let me out after the heard me screaming in pain.

They let me off the hook after they told me off and told me they won't just put me in a cold cell next time they caught me.

When I finally got to the rest of the gang, they told me what happened.

During the race, there was some weird religious lunatic that jumped on the track with an explosive.

They set it off and caused the track to collapse. Cops were attracted by the huge explosion. And they swarmed the place in minutes.

Sunny was in the lead when the sicko set off the bomb and he couldn't maneuver out or away. And so he was the first one to get caught in the explosion. And he was buried deep in the rubble.

By the time medics got him out he was already a charred lifeless husk.

I was upset, really upset. So... I left to stretch and think things through. I was driving around in a construction site, when three cops pulled me to the side. At first I thought it was cause they wanted me to scram, but it turned out they were arresting me as a suspect to the terrorist attack.

The said I had affiliations with one of the main members of the cult ring. And it was none other than Therma.

They suspected me of joining in on it to "get rid" of my brother because they heard from rumors that I was always jealous of his social status and talents.

I tried to tell them that I would never do anything like that, but just like the cops they were they stuck a paralytic patch on my voice module and told me to shut up. Fraggers took me to a whole different station half way across town.

When they finally let me speak I told them I had an alibi. I told them to call my friends. But when they had to identify me they all without fail said they didn't know who I was.

They all looked me in the optic and pretended to not know me.

Even after everything that happen.

And then they left. No goodbye and they even looked me in the optic when they left.
No guilt.
No regrets.

They wanted to update my record, but one of the cops noticed I was arrested during the RavageRings trails and suggested that they should call the station I was in before. They got the records that they needed. But it didn't tie the lose strings of my small connection with Therma.

It wasn't until a while month later when they caught Therma and pressured him to confess by means of identifying me did he crack.

He told them he didn't know who I was and that there are thousands of "sorry excuses like me" that think they could make it in life so they can find will through their twisted faith. And so that's why he became my "Friend" and a friend to other racers so his cult could gain a following. He just wasn't expecting for me to be that easy to catch or even be that close to anyone at all.

He said the loser set the bomb of at the wrong race. And that whether or not it was wrong he was only spreading the word of the divines and showing everyone the good of death and it's gift of eternal life.

Cops let me go, but nothing was really the same. No one wanted me around. Called me bad luck. And still believed I was the reason Sunny died. They kept blaming me for it. They really believed that I of all people, would be jealous of my other half. And they didn't seem to be reasoned with.
So I left. To start a new. To be just Sideswipe and not Sideswipe and Sunstreaker.

And after a long time of bouncing from gang to gang and home to home.
I finally landed here on Earth, of all places. With all of you.
And every time I see you and Slipstream. It just reminded me of me and my twin.

I lost my brother
My 'friends'
And my livelihood.

But I found it again....
In all of you... "

Sideswipe opened his optics finally looked up from where his head was and saw Jetstorm's mouth ajar and in emotional shock.

"... I-I don't know what to say... " Jetstorm stuttered, "I never knew something so atrocious happened to you. I extremely sorry for your loss."

"Don't act all mushy, you're getting dust into my optics, shorty." Sideswipe teased with a small fake smile. He quickly contorted though, realizing he again, unknowingly, mocked Jetstorm. And so he pulled back and began apologizing.

"Sorry. Didn't mean to poke fun at your height. I know you hate it."

"All is well. I know you mean no harm." Jetstorm bowed his head and shook it ever so slowly. "I see them as... Playful profanities. Similarly to how humans also insult one another as jokes to bond with one another."

Sideswipe chuckled at the formality of Jetstorm's tone when he said playful profanities. "You always come up with the weirdest phrases." Playful Profanity" who would think of that. "

" I would... " Jetstorm said before pausing and sheepishly whispering, "bitch..."

Causing Sideswipe to gasp in a surprised and overdramatic manner, "you swine."

Jetstorm giggled and countered with "motherfucker."

"Dick"

"You hoe"

"Rust head" Jetstorm said kicking his pede and furrowing his optic ridges.

"piss head" Sideswipe laughed loudly.

Jetstorm jumped to his feet and loudly yelled

"PUSSY!"

Sideswipe crouched down laughing his optics out. He could feel coolant leak from his optic. His abdomen crumpled in pain from how hard he was laughing.

Jetstorm felt overjoyed knowing his weird antics made someone as emotionally wounded as Sideswipe smile even after sharing a tragic story. He wanted to keep going to make him forget his pain.

And just as he puffed out his chest and was about to yell another slur he caught a small figure below him at the corner of his optic.

The small human boy stared standing atop the head of his mighty Behemoth steed. Chewing on a sandwich.

"Commander, how long have you been standing there." Jetstorm turned and straightened his face and posture. And spoke instantly in a smooth monotone voice.

Sideswipe picked himself up still laughing. It was as though he didn't just share the most devastating information about his life.
And that was the power of a loving family.

"All I heard was the p word."

The behemoth bellowed and chirped as though it agrees that all it heard was what Russell heard as well.

Sideswipe instantly fell to his knees and began laughing once more.

"If I may ask, when did you arrive from your training."

"About half an hour ago. My dad and I were gonna make some chicken mayo sandwiches, but we're out of mayo.... And chicken so he's going out to get groceries."

"Are you planning on going with him? It would be nice if we caught up with our sparring lessons. Although I'm currently not in a condition to participate."

"Nah! It's cool." Russell said waving his hand at Jetstorm. "I won't be leaving with dad, but I'm going out to play with hank and the others by the creek."

"Ahh, yes! Navigating the forest terrain." Jetstorm bowed his head and folded his arms behind his back. "An excellent way to train form, balance and stealth. Be sure to utilize the skills me and Slipstream taught you during our practice runs in the woods playing hide and seek."

"Sure I'll..." Before Russell couldn't respond the alarms sounded and Fixit called everyone to the command center. Russell gulped down his sandwich and rode on Scruffy to the command center.

While Jetstorm got in Sideswipe and drove to where they were being called.

They arrived at the command center and the same news they heard Yesterday and the days before, and the days before those: Decepticon signals at large. This time near the dock at Crown City boat storage yard.

The bots left for their mission and Russell left with his friends. Fixit was left to his own devices once more. Standing alone in the center of the scrap yard.

"Hey bud, you seem lonely..." Denny buttoned the top of his shirt. "Say why don't you and I have some Uncle - nephew bonding."
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Chapter Text

"Go Murry!"
"Go Murry! No worry! No hurry!"
Jazz chanted dancing and playing with Mercury. The two had grown fond of each other, even though Dropforge had only been gone for what felt like a whole day.

But that was no problem for the great, the magnificent, the coolest smoothest grooviest Uncle in the galaxy. JAZZ

Mercury giggled and bounced around to the energizing beat that played from Jazz's speakers. His shades were on and so were his moves.

The hype was drown by a sudden interruption from Jazz's Com unit. He received the call and began dreading the conversation that was to follow. It was Ratchet, and he sounded as irritated as he always did. He had been especially upset since... The incident.

"Jazz where are you? I need you here!" Ratchet practically screamed through Jazz's Com link.

"Sorry, Ratch. Can't..." Jazz simply replied still dancing along, as to not upset the small child he was watching over.

"I'm not asking." Ratchet counted, "This is more serious than your little gigs and club outings!"

"I'm not clubbing!" Jazz argued, only to be cut of by Ratchet's scolding.
"Up up up. Nope. I can hear the music from here buster. I may be rusty but my audio receptors are in perfect condition."

"Listen I'll be there after some time, I'm jus-" Jazz spoke only to be interrupted by a loud bang coming from the other side. Followed by Ratchet demanding, not asking, DEMANDING he come.

Jazz sighed, having already stopped dancing and looked at Mercury who was already wide eyed with curiosity. Ratchet cut of the Com and would respond to any calls.

"Welp little buddy... Guess we're gonna have to visit your papa." Jazz slumped as he rubbed the back of his head.

"Papa?" Mercury asked with her head slightly tilted and her eyes bright and twinkling like the element she was named after.  She perked her mouth in a small confused pout, earning a coo from Jazz who was completely stolen and swept away by her adorable nature.

"Yes, little melody, your papa.... You know Dropforge." Jazz smiled as he picked the little bit and walked out of the door.

"PAPA!" The little bot yelled in excitement happy to be seeing her caretaker soon.

On the drive, Mercury was strapped in by a seat belt and plastered on the window looking out at the bright city.

The light of different hues and shades shone from the high rising buildings and skyscrapers of different lengths and shapes.
Multiple poles carrying long strands of wires stood parallel from each other, like tall slender figures lined across the overpass, zipping through as Jazz speed by them.
The neon lights stripped speedily across the ground with the rest of the vehicles that skidded down the road with them.

"Wow..." Mercury sighed, amazed by the sights she was seeing.

On the Com Jazz attempted for the third time to reach Dropforge, and finally got through to him.
"Sorry I couldn't pickup Jazz... was a bit busy with a short lecture here at the academy."

"It's cool..." Jazz sighed stopping at an intersection.

"Something popped off... Ratchet's on my case about something." He groaned, "And by the sounds of it... It does NOT seem kid friendly..."

"So you were suggesting..?"

"I'll drop mini forge with you... Sorry I could pitch longer."

"it's all cool Jazz, where are you anyways?" Dropforge asked walking out of the lecturing hall.

"The reception.... Just got here." Jazz stood by the reception desk tapping his pede as he muted the call coming from Ratchet, knowing a wrench was going to be flying in his direction the moment he'll step foot near Ratchet.

"Well, I'll be there now."

Dropforge weaved through the busy halls, doing pedes and slipping between bots legs, while giving quick hellos and nods to passersby.
And after the long quick walk across campus that felt like an eternity to Jazz, who was thinking of the best ways to evade Ratchets wrath, he finally made it to the front desk.

"PAPA!" Mercury yelped with joy upon seeing Dropforge stride in.

"Here's your kid!" Jazz knelt down to deliver a smiling Mercury into Dropforges arms, "I'm already late. Ratchets gonna kill me."

"Don't worry, I'll make sure to come to your funeral." Dropforge smirked as Jazz speed out the doors.

He looked down at Mercury in his arms and asked ever so playfully, "Did you have fun with Jazz?"
And got an overexcited nod from his daughter.

The two walked off Dropforge's office leaving the poor confused receptionist, that just randomly met THE Jazz and watch the oddest exchange where Dropforge, a POLICE Officer, found humor in the death of another. And as well to silently question when Dropforge, the hard-boiled detective, had a kid.

Dropforge strolled down the large halls of the Cybertronian Police Academy. And then a he saw it. He'd seen it multiple times throughout the day on his return to the academy. And was first shown it by one of his rookies on the day of his return.

Silverstar, a light lost too soon' read the words on the plaque.
Dropforge sighed as rememberance flowers decorated the memorial of his former student, now a young lifeless husk.

It had been only a four days since his memorial. He was a well know and loved student. Excelling in all his training and assessments— it reminded him of Scoot.
But Scoot wasn't there to help him with the predicament he got himself into.... The council to say the least was pissed at his escapade. Did it yield bountiful evidence and trails. Yes.
Was it Unorganized risky and dangerous, also yes. But deep down Dropforge knew, whether the council liked it or not, police work was a danger meant for the loyal, trustworthy, honest and compassionate.

Police work is dangerous, yes, but seeing someone as young as Silverstar dead and gone really puts into perspective how dangerous

Dropforge walked into his office. He wasn't in the mood for anything that day. He still had to go through the list of qualifing cadets, so they can assess which fields are best for them to venture in— based on grades, physical training, knowledge and social capabilities.

He looked at Mercury and whispered to himself, "I hope you grow up to be as Great as Scoot..."

He went through the assortment of qualifiers and wrote detailed reports for each. The were 149 of them and each report was at least a page long or 200 words. And. It. Was. Hell.
Especially after the hell he already had to crawl from in the elite force command unit, having been criticized for his unsolicited risky behavior which could get him in all sorts of trouble. They said it with such concern as they were worried at losing one of the best and competent investigators on Cybertron. He didn't, or better yet wasn't able to, mention the fact he randomly acquired a child in the midst of all the chaos... So that would be a surprise for another day.

As he finished his 6th report and analysis, one of his student, whom he had nicknamed Scratch for his rather clumsy behavior, as well as one of his colleagues, Scatterhawk, walked in, in a hurry.

"Hey prof..." Scratch said shyly, making a pointing gun gesture at Dropforge.

"What now," Dropforge groaned as he looked up from his work and saw Scratch's dislocated arm.

"The bot fell from a fragging chair." Scatterhawk yelled in disbelief as she slammed her hands on Dropforges desk causing the items on it to rattle.
The sudden bang caused Mercury to peak out from under the desk.
"Huh?" Scatterhawk gasped in confused disbelief as the little minicon sparkling emerged from the desk.

But before she could even utter a word. Patchup, the sweet academy nurse, ran in, medkit in servo and looking for Scatterhawk and Scratch.

"There you two are." She sighed with relief. "You can't just call for help, then disappe— OH MY PRIMUS WHO'S SPARKLING IS THAT!" She yelled pointing wide mouth at the little bot that clung close to Dropforge.

"That would be mine..." Dropforge said looking at Mercury with a proud smile.
Patchup crouching and waving around like a madbot, completely flabbergasted by the concept of Dropforge disappearing and randomly coming back with a child. She looked out into the hallway, and having seen two other Professors on break, called out.

"Guys! Come in here!" she yelled softly while gesturing her hand for them to come closer. "DROPFORGE HAS A SPARKLING!!"

Dropforge let out a deep tired sigh as the two professors walked into his office and gasped at the sight of his beautiful daughter.

"Woah, cool sparkling Dropforge."

"Umm... Thank you, Toughgear. This," he said carrying Mercury onto his lap... "is Mercury. She was forged sometime ago, weighing several units and multiple pounds..."

"Why didn't you tell us you were having a kid." Breakchain asked worriedly, "Now I regret making you take over my lectures for me..."

"I was actually about to ask him for that just now..." Scatterhawk laughed nervously, as she rubbed the back of her head.

"So THAT'S why you were always so grumpy..." Patchup sighed hitting her forehead.

Dropforge sat quietly letting the bunch concoct all these theories about his well being and disappearances.
In reality they didn't know he was living a double life. They all assumed he was just retired and that he doesn't deal with any big cases like he used to, but instead teaches the next Generation of top notch detectives. And they couldn't be more wrong.

All those groggy, angry days where he dished out more assignments he felt even more upset about marking afterwards, we're all because he was twisting his head over the cases of multiple disappearances, missing case files, increase in criminal activity and prison breakouts, all linked to one possible organized crime ring.... Which might be the syndicate for a large portion of corrupted individuals within high and controlling ranks amongst Cybertronian society.

And now...
He had a kid.

The professors stood admiring and debating over who was the most unfair to Dropforge, when a cough sounded and broke the tension.

"U-umm, m-my arm is still... Dislocated..." Scratch stuttered.
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"Yo, Ratch!" Jazz yelled, making his presence known by all who can hear, "I'm here!"

"Get down!" a voice whispered dragging him down to the ground.

"Hey!" Jazz protested to Knockout as a wrench flew past him.

"WHERE WERE YOU!?" Ratchet spat out fuming with unbridled rage. Undertone stood silently by his side, looking at both victims of his wrath.
He sipped on a cube of energon as Jazz yelled, "Undertone, control him! Please ma dude."

Undertone sighed, he was enjoying the drama, but Ratchet looked like he was out for death. He took away the tools that were lined on the table Ratchet was working on. Ratchet sighed and turned squinting his eyes at Undertone, who in turn raised an optic ridge.

"Phew! Finally..." Knockout groaned dramatically standing from behind the cover they took to hide from Ratchet's fury.

The bot has been angry at both Jazz Bulkhead and Knockout, mostly Knockout, after the bunch took Prime force one out for a fly and got the ship absolutely totaled by crashing it into a small meteorite, ruining the communications logs of the ship and then as if things couldn't get worse they were attacked by The Cybertronian Planetary Defense Systems.

Luckily for all of them, it was easy to explain the mishap to Optimus and the ship was arranged to be fixed in no time, as compensation for something that was clearly the fault of the pilot. But even with the generous offer, both Optimus and Jazz shared concerns with the corruption enrooted government system and offered that the ships main and communication systems be strictly repaired by Ratchet, who always found the need to remind everyone that he was a Medic and not an INVENTOR or a MECHANIC of some sort. But even with such complaints he was a great repairman.

"Jazz where have you been!" Ratchet spoke anger tensing in his throat.

"I was babysitting Dropforge's kid" Jazz argued raising his arms up in dramatic defense.

"Like I'm supposed to believe that..." Ratchet scoffed while rolling his eyes. "There's a lot of serious stuff to get along to. So we don't have time for your jokes."

The reason Ratchet was so stressed about Jazz coming over as soon as possible was because he had recently fully repaired the communication unit of the ship and had gone through the all missed logs.

Most of which comprised of detailed logs and reports from Rescue Bots Sigma-17's, Chase to Optimus in regards to every event that has been happening on Griffin Rock.
And then... There was the message from Bumblebee, detailing what Steeljaw has been doing as well as the wellbeing of his teammate, which in simplified terms was nothing short of horrendous.

"Dropforge... Has a child..." Knockout said in utter shock. He was completely perplexed by the sheer imagining of Dropforge having a child as well as Jazz being the Babysitter.

"Yes! Her name is Mercury and she's the sweetest little bitty bit you'll ever see." Jazz said his eye closed in dramatic awe as he pulled out a photo of Mercury.
Knockout, Undertone and Ratchet stood shocked mouths agape as the looked in overwhelming disappointment at the photo.

" Jazz... That's just a poorly edited photo of your face on a little minicon..." Knockout sighed and grunted trying his best to hide his laughter. But turned around snorting with Undertone.
Jazz looked through his photos and realized all the pictures he took of Mercury are of when she shapeshifted into him because he wanted to show Dropforge later on.

"I swear it's her! She's a SHIFTER." Jazz tried to defend himself as he frantically went through the photos.
"Did you hit your head or... Have too much high grade while out." Knockout snorted and mocked Jazz, who just gave up and frowned in defeat. "Ugh!"

"I don't know what wrong with you But... You'll hear from Optimus what's the initiative in regards to Bumblebee's situation." Ratchet said pulling up one of Bumblebee's messages leaving the two stunned.
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