Sam - Ello! X3 There is more to this... but this is just a preview! Alright I gotta shoot before Storm realises! -is looking at his baby pictures-

Syndrome - Look at the next one! It's A-D-O-R-A-B-L-E! Roll Disclaimer Mate!

DISCLAIMER - I DO NOT OWN TRANSFORMERS... BUT I OWN FIRESTORM! I OBVIOUSLY DON'T OWN THE REST OF THEM . I WISH I DID... BUT I DON'T... OTHERWISE I'D LIVE IN NEW YORK AND BE A VERY HAPPY BUNNY! .

Designation - Firestorm

Sparkling Days

'Hide! M-must hide! D-don't move... B-but Master... Master will kill me! I-I'll be in terrible trouble! O-other Masters will tell him! T-tell him I ran away!'

"Where are you hiding you glitch?!"

'M-Master... H-he's here! S-stay hidden! B-but Master will find me! I-I'm in so much trouble! M-Master isn't going to like this! Master will kill me!'

"Show yourself and I might let you live!"

'S-should do what Master says... must... m-must obay Master! B-but Master will kill me for running! Master hates cowards... M-Master kills cowards...'

"Get your sorry aft out here glitch before I blow you out of your armour!"

"Megatron! Stay where you are!"

The grey tyrant turned, his crimson optics gleaming in anger. Alarms were blaring, gunshots were heard and explosions occasionally broke the killer silence that happened when either faction pulled off a momentary retreat. All of these echoed through the many hallways in the Auto-Bot's headquarters. Three mechs stood behind the Decepticon leader, their Auto-Bot insignias shining and their weapons gleaming. One, the middle mech, stepped infront of the other two. His doorwings shone a police badge, stiffened in irritation. Blue optics kept Megatron in sight as he slowly stepped to the left, momentarily infront of the white medical bot that stood there, before shifting again to stand to the side of their target.

'M-Masters in trouble... I-I should show myself... T-try and h-help him... B-be his shield... P-perhaps M-Master will take pity on me... a-and not kill me... b-but Master doesn't take pity... pity isn't in Masters vocabulary a-as Master Rumble told me...'

Megatron raised an optic ridge, bringing his fusion cannon online once more. He turned, now facing them. His dark optics continuously swapped targets, his weapon training on each of them before stopping on the third member, a red mech. The Decepticon leader smirked, his cannon slowly lowering to the soldiers orange chestplate. He was about to fire before a squealy, static filled radio call caused him to stop.

"Megatron! The Auto-Bots are swarming us out here! We need to fall back before we're obliterated!"

Taking one look around the room, the grey Decepticon's black hands balled into fists of irritation. His optics narrowed at the three mechs still standing firm infront of him, daring one of them to make a move. None of them so much as twitched, until he saw a hint of black and white in the corner of his optic. One had moved. Quickly switching targets, the tyrant fired at the bot before he took a step back to the doors behind him. The Auto-Bot fell, clutching the wound in pain and shutting his optics tightly as his weapon clanged on the ground nearby. Megatron smirked, shouting out aloud before opening an open channel to his troops.

"I'll be back for you Glitch! Decepticons! Retreat!"

'M-Master... H-he's going? Oh no... I'll be left behind! I s-should follow him... I must follow! I m-must get back to base b-before he kills me! B-but he'll know... h-he'll be told! M-Master Starscream will tell him! A-and Master Thundercracker will clarify along with Master Skywarp! I-if I go back... H-he'll p-punish me... B-but if I stay... he'll kill me! Oh.. what have I done!? W-what am I going to do?!'

"Prowl!" The white CMO bent beside their wounded comrade as the other chased after the retreating Decepticon leader. Prowl took a deep breath through his intakes before speaking, energon seeping out of the gun wound in his plating.

"It's fine Ratchet..."

"Fine my aft! He's hit you in the chestplate! Now do as your told and let me treat it!"

'A-Auto-Bots... T-they'll find me! T-they'll kill me! I-I'm Decepticon scum! N-nothing but dirt on a shoe! M-Master Skywarp said Auto-Bots kill Decepticons... B-but Master said t-they'd punish me! M-Master always right! M-Master tell Auto-bots t-to punish me! B-but Master said I'm not a Decepticon... A-and Auto-Bots only k-kill Decepticons... M-maybe Auto-Bots help me! N-no... Auto-Bots wouldn't help me... A-Auto-Bots k-kill... l-like Decepticons kill... O-oh no... A-Auto-Bots will give me back to Master! T-then Master... M-Master will kill me! O-or Master will do other things! T-things I don't like! B-but I have no rights! M-Master took me in... Master say I have no one... M-Master allowed to do anything to me...'

Ratchet carefully helped the SIC up as more wounded started flooding through the door. Prowl gritted his teeth as gears around the wound protested, hitting each other or grinding against loose wires. He carefully sat onto a berth, swinging his legs over the top of it and laying down as the medic started helping more and more wounded bots' to other medical berths. The red Auto-Bot from earlier limped into the room, two of his comrades helping him stay upright.

"Did he get you Blaster?"

"Nah man I got smacked by Starscream! Megatron ran away with his tailpipe between his legs!"

"Well at least he's gone! Wheeljack, First Aid, help Blaster to a free bed then give me a hand with these repairs"

The two mechs either side of Blaster nodded, slowly walking the damaged tapedeck to the other side of the room. Ratchet looked around. There wasn't many casulties, just a few damaged bots who had gotten in the way of a shot or two. Prowl had the shot wound to the chestplate, Blaster a damaged leg, Ironhide and Jazz spouting minor injuries on their chasis... and then there was the twins, obviously scraped up from a failed 'Jet Judo' stunt. He was in the far side of the room, but already the infamous sound of Sunstreaker whining about his destroyed paint job was hitting his audios. Sighing, the medbot moved towards the corner, picking up his trusty wrench from a nearby table on the way.

"Listen up! If you arn't damaged or not needed get your sorry afts outta here! This is a medbay not a chat room!"

The crowds became few as Auto-Bots departed. Several stopped to say goodbye to their comrades, before quickly dispirsing from the glare the CMO gave them.

The room slowly quietened as mechs fell into recharge after undergoing repairs. Wheeljack carefully put his tools away as he finished his work, the SIC infront of him sitting up, refusing to rest. First Aid sighed, joining both Ratchet and the inventor for a cube of energon as he cleaned his hands on a cloth.

"That everyone?"

"Yep... Prowl won't recharge though but everyone else should be ok"

"Jazz wants to stay awake for a little while too..."

"Well he can as long as he's silent. That means NO music whatsoever. They'll have to pick up on their lost sleep when they're out of here"

"Alright. I'll tell him in a minute"

First Aid took a sip from his cube, looking round the room. The battle hadn't been terrible, well, not as bad as they had been over the past few orns. He hadn't been on the battlefield, but from what he'd learnt from his paitents, Megatron hadn't been seen. Ratchet rubbed an optic, shuttering them in an attempt to stay online.

"Thing I found strange was Megatron was in here..."

"What? What would he want from the medbay?"

"That's what I'm trying to figure out..."

'W-wha... Oh no... I.. I-I fell asleep! T-they haven't found me yet... P-perhaps I should-'

"Hey fellas! There's something over here!"

'N-No! T-they've found me! W-what should I do?! T-they'll give me back to Master! C-curl up... S-stay still... D-don't move! M-move a-and die!'

The three looked over. Jazz was shifting through a pile of old crates, his visor embedded in the boxes. Blaster slowly came out of recharge from the commotion, gently jumping off his berth to assist. Ratchet's blue optics narrowed in irritation as he stomped over to the two, Wheeljack and First Aid close on his heels.

"You two shouldn't be out of bed! Get back onto your own berths now!"

"Awah com'on Ratch! I saw something in here!"

"NOW!"

"Ratchets right Jazz! You shouldn't be moving whilst those repairs are healing!"

"Hey Jazz man! This it?" Everyones attention shifted to Blaster, his hands holding a red, transformer sized ball. It was smothered in burn marks, dents, scratches and dirt. Jazz looked up from the boxes, taking the object from his comrade and holding it in one hand so he could examine it.

'I-I'm dead... sssh... k-keep still... d-don't move...'

"What the heck is this? Wheeljack? Any ideas?"

"Looks like a football! Let's have a kick around!"

"NO!"

The grey inventor took the object from the sabotuers hands. He stared at the object for a few seconds, throwing it a few feet in the air before coming to a conclusion, his twin side panels lighting up as he spoke.

"I have no idea..."

"Let me see that..." Ratchet hastly took the ball, blinking a few times when he thought he felt it shudder. Rubbing over one of the burn marks gently, the medbot gasped when it shuddered again, a tiny squeak emitting from it.

'O-ow... H-hurts... Must get away! A-Auto-Bots h-hurt me more... A-Auto-Bots give me back to Master! B-but Master protects me f-from Auto-Bots... M-Master... M-Master help me!'

"Woah!"

"What is it Ratch?"

"It moved!"

"You're kidding me!"

"No! Look, hold it" The white medic shoved the object back into the tapedecks hands. He rubbed over the mark again. The object seemed to squirm, letting out a slightly louder squeal this time.

'N-No! D-don't make a noise! S-stop moving! Oow... P-please stop doing that... hurts... N-no! How dare you! T-they are y-your Masters! T-they c-can do what they want! M-Master Soundwave said so! I-I am inferior! All Masters m-may do what they please! Y-you arn't allowed to say no!'

"Woah You're right Ratch! The thing moved!"

"Where?" Jazz took the ball, rubbing over a different mark roughly. The ball gasped and shivered. Jazz's visor flashed in curiousity as he prodded another wound, emitting another squeal and more movement. Eventually, First Aid gently took the object, sitting down on an empty berth as he looked over the ball, twisting and turning it, being careful not to touch the marks like the others had. Everyone else stood behind him, watching as he felt the top of it. He gasped, looking back up at the others.

'I-It hurts... s-stop it... B-but t-this one... he.. he knows! H-he's figured it out! How?! B-but n-now they're all going to know! T-then they'll kill me! M-Master... he isn't here... h-he said he'll be back... h-he'll be back for me... t-to finish me off... t-to punish me further... t-to kill me... They... t-t-they'll give me back to Master! I-I don't want to go back t-to Master!'

"It's a-"

"BOMB!"

Everyone jumped, their attention shifting to the door. A shorter red and white mech stood in it, a datapad at his feet, a shaky index finger pointing at the object. Prowl turned to the bot, addressing him before Ratchet had a chance to grab his wrench.

"Red Alert! It's not a bomb! Infact, First Aid was about to explain what it is!"

"I-It is! It's a Decepticon Bomb I tell you! That's why Megatron was in here earlier! It's a plot! Why can't anyone else see it?! The other Decepticons kept us busy while he came in here and planted it! Why can't you see that?!"

'M-Master... N-no... D-don't give me b-back to him! P-please...'

Upon hearing the tyrants name, the object shuddered. First Aid gently rubbed the top of the ball, earning a confused yet blank look from the rest of the awake occupants in the room. Red Alert's paranoia shifted to the medic in training, his finger following.

'W-why is he being nice? W-what is that other one saying? H-he's too far away... I-I can't hear him properly... H-he talks about Master...'

"T-That isn't First Aid! He's a Decepticon spy! He's been sent to make sure we don't defuse the bomb! It's all part of their plan! It's a-"

"RED ALERT!" Ratchet was steaming. The white medic stomped over to the door, grabbing one of the smallers' red horns tightly and pulling him closer so they were both optic level.

"WHAT RIGHT DO YOU HAVE WALKING INTO MY MEDBAY, DISTURBING MY PAITENTS AND ACCUSING MY STAFF!? GET OUT AND STAY OUT BEFORE I TAKE YOU APART AND REFORMAT YOUR PARTS INTO A TOASTER OVEN!"

The security director didn't have time to speak again before he was shoved out the door roughly by the angered medic. The occupiers of the room stared, completely frozen to the spot as he sealed the door shut behind the red and white, picking up the datapad on the ground, reading the first line, then tossing it aside before returning to the group.

"You were saying Aid?"

"Erm... oh yeah... this" he held the object up for the others to see. The ball was completely still, not ushering a sound. Ratchet stepped forward, brushing another wound and watching the red ball squirm. The medic in training lowered it again, stroking its surface.

"This is a sparkling..."

"What?!" the other four members of the crowd looked at one another. Jazz and Blaster looked at each other, horrified expressions on their faceplates.

"S-so when we were..."

First Aid nodded.

"A-and when it was..."

Another nod.

"Oh man... Dude we were hurtin the poor lil thing!" Blasters optics hit the floor. Wheeljack carefully took the ball from First Aid, this time being incredibly gentle with it.

'T-they know... Masters... I-I'm here to serve... B-but Master Starscream told me they're evil a-and I shouldn't! B-but if they are evil why are they being nice? W-why arn't they hurting me anymore? W-why haven't they killed me? A-all Masters said A-Auto-Bots won't spare me... s-said they'd kill me... S-so why haven't they yet? P-perhaps they want information... B-but I know nothing! M-Master never... Master... W-what if they give me back now they know!? I-I don't want to g-go back t-to them... t-to him... t-to Master...'

"I've heard about sparklings curling into balls... but this is a little extreme don't you think?"

"Alright..." Everyone focused back to Ratchet who clapped his hands together. The CMO looked at each of his comrades, coming optic to visor with Jazz first of all, Blaster not too far behind him.

"You. You and Blaster are getting your afts back into bed before I fragging weld you to them. Wheeljack, get some recharge. Prowl." He turned, focusing his attention to the stubborn tactition sitting up on his medical berth in the corner. The SIC looked up upon hearing his designation, leaning forward. Ratchet's optics narrowed.

"You are going to recharge and let your self repair systems finish off or I swear to Primus I will knock you out myself!"

Prowl bit his bottom lip, nodding. The medic's gaze shifted and softened, looking down at his assistant and the so-called sparkling.

"See if you can't get it to uncurl so we can assess the damage. Poor thing's probably petrified out of it's processors of us all now"

First Aid nodded again.

"I'll see what I can do"

"Good..." The CMO yawed, his blue optics dimming slightly. Everyone agreed to the medics terms, turning back to do their duties. Jazz and Blaster shared a few quiet words, telling each other they would have to apologize to the sparkling when it uncurled. Prowl was already drifting off into recharge, laying down properly as his optics finally offlined. Wheeljack left without another word and First Aid carefully moved so he was sitting on the berth a little better. Ratchet stayed for a little while, but eventually he had to retreat to his quarters before he collapsed from exhaustion. Once the room was silent, First Aid gently stroaked the red ball on his lap, reciving a pained squeak and a shiver from it.

"It's alright I won't hurt you... come on out so I can help you..."

'W-what... i-is he talking to me? B-but what if... ooh...'

There was a gasp from the ball as the medic in training continued to gently rub the top armour, then a shiver before the object loosened slightly. He felt the ball relax a little as he stroaked, his feather light touch tracing around the larger wounds and being ever so gentle on the lighter ones.

"That's it... Don't worry no ones going to hurt you..."

'B-but what... I-I shouldn't... B-but he said... I-I... I-I'm disobaying orders... I-I should obey...'

"Come on now... its just you and me... I'm not going to hurt you I promise..."

'F-face your end... Master would be disgraced if I s-stayed like this w-when I died... H-he's always been embarrised about m-me... a-always leaving m-me...'

There was a frightened squeak and whimper, but slowly the ball uncurled. First Aid smiled under his faceplate as two wide, glazed, light grey optics appeared from the ball, followed by two arms, a tiny chestplate, and eventually two small feet. The childs entire body was covered in the same scrapes, burns and dents, some of them looking older than others, an obvious sign of mistreatment. Every movement sounded painful, gears scraping gears and metal creaking filling the medbot's audios everytime the little one moved. There was no insignia on the child. There was no burn of the Decepticon mark, but neither was there the cherry red of an Auto-Bot one either. The sparkling cringed, its small faceplate covered in energon and tears. The childs damaged, red armoured arms came up to protect its face, a shaky whimper emitting from its vocaliser. When nothing happened, the sparkling lowered its arms, sucking on its right thumb innocently as it stared up at the medics blue visor, pain barely hidden behind the lifeless grey.

"See... that wasn't too hard was it?"

'A-actually it was... N-no! Don't answer back! I-it's rude! D-don't speak... D-don't usher a word... T-that's what Master told me! D-don't say a word!'

First Aid lifted a hand to activate his comm link, but slowly lowered it when the sparkling in his hands squealed and curled up, shaking in fright. The medic blinked under his visor. Surely he didn't think...

"Did... did you think I was going to hit you?"

The sparkling didn't reply, but the reaction had told him everything. Carefully shifting his care to his chestplate, the medic in training stood, carrying the little one towards the CMOs quarters. He had told him to wake him if there was any change with the sparkling.

'W-where is he taking me? W-whe... whats that noise? Where... Where is it coming from?'

First Aid stopped as the little one shifted. The red bundle of wires listened, it's damaged faceplate clouded with curiousity. The little one shifted to the centre of the medics plating, one audio laying on it, listening to his gentle spark beat rythemicly. The sparkling gasped, moving slightly to get a better hold on where it listened.

'W-whats that... w-why does the Auto-Bots spark sound different? I-it's... peaceful...and... re...relaxing...'

The sparklings optics dimmed as it listened. First Aid gently stroaked the red forms helm, lulling the younger into recharge. A quiet squeak emitted from the smallers vocaliser before two heavy optic lids slowly closed and a battered body gently relaxed. The sparkling continued to suck its thumb, kneeling in an awquard position on the medbot as it slept, listening to his spark pulse gently. When the medic tried to move the little red bot, it whined weakly, nuzzling closer to the sound.

Eventually giving up, First Aid walked back over to the berth he had been sitting on, laying down with the sparkling on top, still sucking its thumb, an audio firmly on his chestplate, its other tiny hand sprawled out nearby. He'd bother Ratchet in the next cycle. As if sensing it was no longer vertical, the sparkling brought its tiny legs up, curling up into a normal protective ball that all sparklings did when recharging. First Aid smiled slightly again, covering the sparklings tiny body with his hand like a blanket. The little red jumped and curled up tighter, but thankfully it didn't wake up. Instead, it nuzzled the medics chestplate again as if it was trying to shuffle closer to the gentle beating of his spark.

"Megatron failed yet again! If I were leader we'd have that glitch back here by now!"

"No we wouldn't! You wouldn't of gotten any further than Megatron did! Infact I don't even think you would've gotten THAT close!"

"Silence you dolt! Remember who called the retreat!"

"Remember who was LEADING the retreat Starscream!"

"ENOUGH!"

The Decepticons quarrel subsided as the grey tyrant stood up, his hands still balled into fists. Starscream stood firm, Thundercracker and Skywarp standing not to far behind him. Crimson optics met momentarily as Megatron stomped forward and brought up a fist, smashing the seeker round the face. Starscream wailed, falling to the ground. The Decepticon leader scowled, grabbing the fallen jet and hoisting him back up by the neck, optics meeting yet again.

"If you think you can do better Starscream, Go back to the Auto-bot base and prove it! There is no room in the Decepticon army for selfish, insobordinates like you!"

The seeker shut his optics as he was thrown accross the room, colliding with the wall nearby. Megatron's optics looked around the room.

"Anyone ELSE wish to question me?!"

The room was silent. Nobody moved. An evil smirk covered the tyrants face.

"Good. I have an idea to get that sparkling back. Repair, Recharge and Reload Decepticons! This time we shall not fail! We fly at dawn!"

First Aid's visor onlined as he slowly came out of recharge. He looked around, realising he was still in the medbay and sitting up. He froze as he felt something on his chestplate move, a squeak emitting from its vocaliser. Gently moving his arm, the medic in training managed to activate his comm. link without disturbing the little red sparkling still curled over his spark.

"Ratchet. This is First Aid. Are you awake?"

"Aid... What are you doing up this time in the morning?"

"Come into the medbay... very slowly and very quietly..."

"Why?"

First Aid smiled under his faceplate, stroking the sparkling on his chest. The little one shuffled, curling up a little tighter as it stayed in recharge.

"I've made some progress with the sparkling..."

"I'll be right there"

A few seconds after the comm. link had closed, the door to Ratchets close quarters hissed open. Slowly, the white medic emerged from the darkness of the room, his optics lighting up as he quietly crept out into the large medical facility. He spied First Aid immeadiatly, his blue optics shifting to the sleeping bundle on his chestplate.

"Is that..."

"Yeah..."

The white medic crossed his arms over his chestplate as he looked at the damaged child suspiciously. The sparkling was recharging in a perculiar way, its ankles and wrists overlapping each other like someone had tied them together. Pain was showing obviously on its faceplate, its legs twitching occasionally but staying together firmly. It didn't seem to be taking in air through its intakes properly either, every twitch causing a hiccup or hitch in its breathing pattern.

"Why is it recharging like that?"

"I was wondering that myself... but everytime I move its arms or legs, it moves them back a few clicks later. I can't move with it on me like this, but I don't want to wake the poor thing up... I don't think its recharged in a while"

"Here. I'll take it"

The child shivered underneath the younger medics hand, nuzzling its audio still sitting firmly on top of his spark. The red bundle of wires whimpered weakly as it felt someone gently pry away the thing it was resting on, its thumb leaving its mouth as two tiny hands tried to hold onto the metal.

'N-no... W-where... D-did I...'

Ratchet picked the sparkling up so First Aid could move, not noticing as its lifeless grey optics powered up dimly. Unlike the CMO however, First Aid had noticed, pointing it out to his comrade. The child gasped, optics powering up brightly as it sqeaked and looked around. Ratchet gently parted the childs wrists, carefully examining the damage on the sparklings frame before activating an internal scan to check its circuitry.

'I-I fell asleep... O-on... N-no... I was bad! I-I'm not allowed to recharge on berths! O-only under them! T-they'll tell Master! M-Master punish me! T-this... H-he hurt me before! H-he'll hurt me again! T-then Master will hurt me! Q-quick! Run! Hide! No! G-get in trouble! Already in trouble! G-get in more trouble! N-no! Must run! M-must g-get a-away!'

The sparkling screamed, jumping out of the white medics grip and onto the ground. It emitted a weak yelp when its legs seemed to buckle under its weight, reducing it to a crawl as it shot underneath the berth. First Aid jumped up, bending down next to the berth to try and see the child, Ratchet joining him momentarily.

"Well its a mech thats for sure. Thing is, how the heck are we going to get him out of there?"

"I have an idea, but you need to back away"

"What? Why?"

First Aid sat back up, resting on his knees.

"Last night, he wouldn't uncurl or recharge until the room was empty and dead silent. So if he thinks the rooms quiet again, perhaps he'll come out..."

"Might work. Alright" Ratchet stood back up, walking back over to the door leading to his quarters. The sparkling underneath the berth squeaked, watching as the medics large shadow faded, then disappeared out of his view. The other shadow remained, growing darker as the figure casting it bent down again, blocking out the natural light.

"Hey... do you remember me little guy? Don't worry... it's just you and me again..."

'N-no... w-was bad... slept on berth... h-hurt me...'

The damaged red sparkling shuffled away into the far corner, whimpering as its frame brushed the top of the berth. First Aid sighed, shifting so he was laying flat on his stomach. Ratchet watched on from the corner of the room in silence. He wasn't convinced the younger medics plan would work, but at the moment he didn't have any alternative than to ask someone to lift the bed up whilst he grabbed the child. That would result on frightening the sparkling further, turning its hopes of forgetting its probably traumatic past to slim to none. So instead he watched, unable to do anything else.

"I won't hurt you... nobody here will hurt you... Don't worry... I'll protect you... Nobody will harm you or touch you if you don't want them to..."

'F-friends? W-what are friends? W-will he protect me? F-from Master? But Master isn't here... M-Master left m-me... W-will he let me hear sound again? S-spark... gentle... N-not like Masters... N-not like other Masters...'

First Aid moved back a little when the little mech squeaked, then a shuffling as the sparkling moved. Hesitantly, a small dented red helm popped out from under the berth, followed by two damaged arms. The younger whimpered, crawling out of his hiding spot and towards the medic. Ratchet watched on as he moved, his two lifeless grey optics suddenly spotting the CMO standing in the corner. When the white mech didn't move, the little mech's optics looked away and back to the other medic infront of him.

First Aid kept still as the sparkling approached shakily, stopping for a few seconds before edging closer. Sitting up on his knees, the little red mech gently touched the medics chestplate, feeling around for something. Lifting an arm up slowly so he didn't frighten the sparkling, First Aid carefully took the childs wandering hand, placing it over his spark. The red mech gasped, looking from his hand to the visor of the medbot. Ratchet watched, astounded as the young medic nodded to the sparkling. The child edged slowly closer, his head moving forwards, eventually resting his right audio on top of his damaged hand.

'I-I can feel it... a-and hear it... gentle spark... n-no bad... n-no evil... pure... sweet gentle spark...'

"No one's going to hurt you..."

'T-truth... n-no change in spark... i-in gentle spark... peaceful...'

"I promise..."

'Gentle spark will protect me... F-from evil Masters...'

The sparklings optics dimmed as he listened to First Aids spark pulse, his small hand falling back to his side as he nuzzled in closer. Stroking the back of the little mechs helm, First Aid gently lifted the child from the ground, turning to face the CMO still standing in the corner as his care sighed, relaxing as he listened to the beat inside the younger medics chestplate. Ratchet pushed himself off the wall, quietly walking over. He looked at the sparkling, running two of his fingers down the little mechs side, watching as he shivered and shuffled closer to the other medbot for warmth.

"Where did you learn that?"

First Aid shrugged, stroking the little one as he drifted into a light recharge. Ratchet eyed up the childs wrists and ankles. They were firmly together again, but the way he was resting, black marks and old cuts could be seen around the other burns and scrapes. Carefully, the older medic lifted one of the sparklings arms, his index finger feeling around the little ones wrists. Having sensative hands meant he could feel all the tiny scrapes and chapes where the child had been bound together forcefully and tightly, his binds cutting into the metal and wiring that surrounded his wrist armour. Looking back up, the medic came optics to optics with the said sparkling, his wide greys watching what the CMO was doing cautiously.

'I-Is he going to... N-no... gentle spark wouldn't allow it... gentle spark promised... s-show him... s-show him wounds M-Masters did... l-let him look... let gentle spark look... t-they won't hurt...'

Ratchet watched on as the sparkling hesitated, before retreating his arm back slightly and pressing down the armour. It clicked, loosening for easy access. The armour around his wrists and ankles were different to the rest of it, the metal a lighter shade of red and cylinder shaped. It didn't match his frame at all. The little red mech carefully pulled the armour open slightly then gulped, looking up at the younger medic before moving the open armoured area forward again. First Aid looked on as the little red mech handed his arm back to the CMO slowly, his optics only leaving his to open the panel. Ratchet blinked, looking from the open panel to the sparkling before finally remeeting the childs optics.

"Can I?"

The sparkling nodded slowly, wincing slightly when Ratchet carefully removed the armour. The two medics gasped at what they saw. The childs wrist circuitry was black, all the way up to his elbow where a secondary plating of armour was attached. Wires burnt or damaged, nothing looking intact at all. The systems stank of decay and burnt metal, pieces of black crumbling off with the armour like charcoal. The child looked down at it, his optics glazed in pain and fear. He whimpered, shuffling into his caretaker a little more for reassurance. Ratchet brushed the top of the circuits, black powder rubbing off onto his fingers. The sparkling cringed, pulling his arm away slightly.

"Sorry... Who did this to you? A-and why?"

'S-should I-I... T-tell him... T-tell nice man a-and gentle spark... s-speak... M-Master isn't here now... Master won't know...'

"P-punishment..."

Sam - Und zat is a rap! -turns the page- AWWAH! wook he's sucking his thumb!

Syndrome - I told ya! He was so cute as a tyke!

Firestorm - What are you two up to? ¬¬

Both - -hides pictures- Nothin... 3

-Transmission Interrupted-

-Airstrike.The.Careful.Risk.Taker-