Cybertron's Hunter

Untitled Part 1

We were perched at a higher vantage point then the Cybertronians fighting on the ground. It was my sister Bladeswipe, my aunt Swiftkill and me; Riptide. From what I could hear it was a fight with Autobots and Decepticons but we weren't here to fight for either one. We were learning to how take down certain bots.

"Bladeswipe, do you see Thundercracker?" Swiftkill asked my sister quietly who probably nodded. "He is the eldest of the Seeker brothers, and biggest. He, unlike his siblings, uses more processor than metal to take his enemies down. I know how you like to outsmart your enemies" she said. "Riptide, hear Skywarp?"

I nod. The mech's voice was clear in my audials. "I have chosen him for an example, since you are blind you can hear him better than us. He uses slip space to warp, and only you can tell where he will end up. Listen closely, hear his structure go into the slip then come out, determine where he is" Swiftkill instructed.

I listen carefully, hearing the clash of the mech's sword on an Autobot chassis. "I hear him; his frame is clicking to an unknown sound to me. I think that's the slip" I say. My aunt's servo pressed on my back and I felt a whoosh of air speed over me. "Starscream" Bladeswipe growled. My poor sister, Starscream had nearly killed her once.

"Indeed, he will probably let his superiority get the better of him" Swiftkill said. We had a bad history with the Seekers, the village did too. The Seekers were a hard group to defeat, they all had each other's backs and Swiftkill is teaching us how to mimic their strategies and take them by surprise. Of course, being young fems who had jet alts, we used to want to be just like them.

Just think of it like this, before I was blinded by Thundercracker or even met these three, my sister and I always admired the three mechs for their skill, strength and speed. Of course we wanted to be like two different ones, my sister wanted to be like Thundercracker and I wanted to be like Skywarp. Starscream? The mech's helm was too far up his tailpipe to do anything right.

But we used to paint ourselves with their colors and tried to act like them. We were younger when the Seekers attacked; we were in the same paint too. The mechs found this amusing though since we were younger, Thundercracker didn't let Starscream kill us. Instead we were minor hurt; some of our plating ripped off or cuts on our protoform plating.

Thundercracker, from what my aunt said, didn't mean to actually blind me. She said by the time she got there the mech was left alone with us for his brothers had to fight off our warriors. But the presence of Swiftkill startled Thundercracker who turned, his melee weapon scraping across my faceplate. Though Swiftkill said the mech did feel just a twinge of guilt for blinding me.

He was still a Decepticon, following his brothers further into death. I was knocked out of my thoughts by Bladeswipe who jerked me to my pedes and started running. "What's happening?!" I ask, trying to listen for gunshots behind us. Nothing, no sounds of pursuit or barking orders from commandos. "Swiftkill, you didn't hear her? She said get to the village, she was going to stay behind" Bladeswipe said, letting me run by myself. "You didn't ask why?" I ask; my long legs letting me run. "She told me not to, just get our afts back to the village" Bladeswipe said. I heard a loud noise and tried to identify what it was before Bladeswipe yelped beside me.

I heard the next shot and sidestep it, then the sound of slip. "It's the Seekers!"

"Why are they chasing us?!"

"They must've seen us!" Bladeswipe growled then the sound of slip exited from above us. "Skywarp is right on our afts-!" I was cut off as I was shoved to the right and the pained yelp from Bladeswipe hit me.

 

I stop though someone snapped beside me, a foreign voice. "Keep moving if you want your spark intact!" it was a gruff voice, not one of the Seekers as more gunfire sounded. "Who are you?" I ask, my speed faltering a little before a sharp shove at my shoulder again. "Just shut up and run!" he growled. Before long I could hear the sound of full battle and I dig my heels into the ground.

 

"I can fight!" I snap though before I could reach for my weapons a strong grip grabbed my wrist. "If you fight you won't know who to attack! We're trying to help you" the mech spat, letting my wrist go with a small shove. "Tell me who you are!" I growled, my other servo reached for the blade on the back of my leg.

 

"Fems" the mech grunted. "Ironhide from the Autobots, and your village is being attacked by the Decepticons" Ironhide growled his explanation. "Where is my sister?" I demand as the word Autobot sinking in that they came to help us. "Barricade dropped her, not sure if she was killed but-" I cut Ironhide off, jabbing a digit to his chassis.

 

"You leave my sister with a con, then tell me that I can't do anything about it?! Who do you think you are to save one but leave the other?" I snap. Ironhide swatted my servo away with a growl. "She deliberately tried to take on Barricade, you were about to get blasted sky high!" he snarled. "But-!" I was shoved forward again as we started to run again.

 

"Look fem, you want answers then we get you to safety first. I wasn't even supposed to lead civilians to safety anyway; that was Prowl's job but you be happy that I decided to help save your aft before it was scattered across the ground!" Ironhide snapped in which I keep silent, running toward wherever I could smell my village.

 

We were actually coming upon it before gunshots sounded beside me from Ironhide and the sound of something dropping and skidding behind us. "Behind those walls, I can smell the energon from the structure" I say, pointing in the way the scent was strongest. "Smell?" Ironhide asked, "I'm blind" I say with a bit of an edge. He better not think I am helpless now.

 

We ran through the gates in which I hear the warriors charge up their weapons, pointing them at us, Ironhide in particular. "Calm! This is an Autobot!" I explain, hearing the clicks of the guns losing their charge. The Autobots were respected, seen as the guardians of Cybertron. "Where's Swiftkill and Bladeswipe?" I heard my mother ask from beside me. "Bladeswipe took on a Decepticon named Barricade to save me, Swiftkill told us to run back. This Autobot, Ironhide, helped me get here in one piece" I explain.

 

My mother sighed and hugged me, "At least you're here, I will look for your sister and aunt as soon as we can" she said then her voice got a firm tone. "Autobot, Ironhide, you must know what happened to Swiftkill" she said. "I don't know who that is but if you describe her then-" my mother cut him off. "You wont find her, she is a Nact'v; Cybertron Hunter" she said.

 

"What does that matter?" Ironhide asked, his frame making the sound of his arms moving to be crossed. "It means that she is the master of disguise, a lethal hunter. She hides where you Autobots or the filthy Decepticons will always look though never enough" my mother said. "I see, we'll see about that. In the meantime I would advise you to keep your blind in safety"

 

He did see me as weak! "Excuse me, I was trained to use my other senses to fight and I fight well enough to take you on!" I challenge. Ironhide snorted, "I don't hit fems" he said. I was about to snap something before my mother stopped me. "With all due respect, every able framed one here can and will fight. And that means Riptide" she defended me.

 

"That could put their lives in danger" Ironhide argued. My mother was silent, probably giving him a glare. "What good does a Cybertronian to their tribe to stay at the village doing nothing and has a minor setback to them?" she asked with an edged tone. Before the Autobot mech could answer she talked again.

 

"Primus did not make us weak; he put us on Cybertron to help the ones around us. Whether that is helping an elder walk or killing a threat it was our purpose. We all stop fighting sometime in our lives but to stop fighting you must start, everyone here was trained to fight and they fight. If you wish to keep arguing then go ahead, state your quarry"

 

Ironhide did speak, "What about the ones with problems in their circuitry? Do they have to fight?" he asked. "They fight, just differently. Maybe not on the battlefield but perhaps as a medi-bot or as a night watcher. You do not understand, do not try to. Its not of your concern of the moment" my mother growled.

 

"Harsh" Ironhide muttered before I heard his steps head for the gates. "The cons are advancing to here, I suggest you get your fighters in line" he said. "I appreciate the advice" my mother said as he walked away. My mother was Quickscope, named for her sniper skills. "Mother, I have to find my sister and Swiftkill!" I exclaim.

 

"You will Riptide, be patient" she said, lightly rubbing her servo on top of my helm then I heard her walk away. She was leader of the sniper class we have here, and considered very wise. Before long my father was easily heard, and before I said anything he picked me up off the ground in a metal-bending hug.

 

My father was named a single word, Fatality. His name was earned in battle and was marked in high honor. "Ah, ya miss yer father?" he asked. I could barely answer, "Yes, of course" I laugh and exhale as he let me go. My father was a great mech, very loving and always seemed light hearted. It's a surprise, says a lot of the villagers, that he actually picked Quickscope for a sparkmate.

 

Quickscope was more of the serious type, and while Fatality didn't get overcharged anymore he was still the life of the party. Probably why Quickscope seemed to dominate the relationship, though it was known they did have Bladeswipe and I pretty early. Eh, oh well. They didn't fight and when they did it was over nonsense that Quickscope always seemed to not care about.

 

I could remember what everyone looked like.

 

Mama looked really pretty; her colors were a pretty white and light gray. She was covered in design by war paint that most fems wore before a big battle. Her pretty white and light gray being covered by dark colors like black and dark gray. Her Sniper Rifle was set against the wall, having paint on it as well with a scope on it with a 10x measure on it.

 

Mama looked at me with a soft smile, her dark gray optics glowing with love. She had my sister, Bladeswipe, in her arms and feeding her with the usual liquefied low grade energon. "Where are you going mama?" I ask. She reached down and rubbed her servo over the top of my helm, "Someplace. I'll be back, maybe in the morning or sooner"

 

"What about daddy?" I ask. Before mama could answer Fatality walked in and picked me up, nuzzling the top of my helm. "I'm goin' where she goin'" he said. My daddy was bigger than mama, having a bigger chassis with more metal plating him and his colors were black and maroon. His optics were a soft green though.

 

"You'll be looked after by Longsword, remember her?" mama asked. I nod, "Why not Swiftkill?" I ask, she was mama's sister after all. My mama looked up, looking at Fatality with a look in her optics then looked at me, "She is, uh, busy. She's on a very important mission" she said. Why did she sound so stiff there?

 

"Ah dont worry bout it" daddy said, putting me down as Longsword walked in. "The warriors are getting ready to move, the snipers are in position to flank or stay back" she said as mama stood up. She nodded and handed Bladeswipe over to Longsword then looked down at me. "We'll be back" she said then her and daddy walked out the door.

 

Longsword smiled at me, holding Bladeswipe. "I see you got your colors, Riptide" she commented. I nod, though I forgot what my colors were. Longsword was scarred up, most to all of her metal was cracked, dented, scratched or gone to reveal her circuitry just a bit. I follow her to the back room where we slept, passing a metal slab which I could see my reflection.  I stared back at myself, my colors and my audial fins on the sides of my helm. My colors were black and dark green, my optics a darker green. Probably from the mixed colors from daddy's light green optics and mama's darker gray optics.

 

A battle mask hid the bottom half of my faceplate, I don't think I even had a mouth because the audial fins helped me talk. My optics watched my fins as I whispered something to myself I wasn't focused enough to understand and they flashed a light green. When Longsword called me I jumped and proceeded to the back room.

 

I snap out of my thoughts as yelling was heard. I jump up, realizing I was sitting down, and listened to what was happening around me. I heard three distinct sounds, no, when I listen I can hear four. One was the sound of the all too familiar sound of Quickscope's Sniper Rifle, hearing cracks and cries of pain as the bullets connected with their helms or chassis where the spark was.

 

The second was the sound of Fatality's energon axe swinging, hearing the massive weapon's two-bit blade make a whoosh sound then a snap, scream or splat. I could hear bullets pinging off his heavily plated chassis though some made a wincing crack sound as they buried into the metal though I didn't hear any cries of pain besides his enemies.

 

The third was the irritating mech Ironhide. I could remember his voice anywhere, it had a sound to that everyone knew it was him. He was barking orders at some other Autobots, I presume, and using a heavy sounding gun. I wanted to help but there was a problem, I really couldn't tell between who was the Autobots and the warriors and the Decepticons.

 

I ran towards Quickscope's gunshot sounds and climbed up beside her. "Mother, who is the enemy?" I ask. I was used to someone being by me to help me tell who the enemy was. "You remember what Decepticons smell light right? Use your sense of smell!" Quickscope snapped, shooting and the distant scream sounded as well as a crack and thump. "Thanks mother!"

 

I jump down and scented the air. All sounds around me dulled out as I picked up the scents of the warriors and Autobots, which all had a scent of Iacon and the Decepticons the scent of Kaon. I reach back for the two swords crossed over by back, the sounds of battle raising again once I got the targets honed in on.

 

I run forward toward the smell of Kaon, using my sense of hearing to estimate where the bullets were being shot towards. When I reached my target I jumped and landed in front of the con and cut off his servo with the gun, how I knew he was mech was by scent as well. Mechs and fems always had two different scents, helpful for detecting a sparkling within a mother's chassis.

 

I stab upwards, feeling the sword in my servo try to push back as the blade went upwards into the frame and I heard gurgling from him. Quickly I pulled the blade from his frame and jump over a Decepticon Brute, quickly sheathing one of my swords and grabbed his shoulder and I was stopped and landed on his back. Before I could do any damage I had to jump off for a Decepticon shot at me and instead hit the Brute's exposed back circuitry. The Brute almost growled as he turned, bringing his hammer down. I dodged, hearing the shoulder metal grind as he swung, and I rolled before jumping to my pedes.

 

The Decepticon trying to shake me from the Brute was shot down and I heard shouting, "I'll keep them off your back!" it was a new voice, not Ironhide. I just not, I'll find out later. I hear the buzzing of the hard shield the Brute had as he swung it at me and I barely duck from it then slash my sword at his chassis though, to my surprise, the sword seemed to glance off.

 

I learned the different sounds of the frame's movements to know what limb is moving and when. From the depth of the sound when the shoulder circuits moved I guessed this Brute was bigger than most. I dodge to the side, making him swing his hammer from the side and the weight of the hammer made him turn and exposed his back.

 

I slash my sword, feeling the energon splat against my frame and I make another quick slash at the circuitry and made him a bit weaker, judging by the sound of the arm's circuitry movements he was getting more desperate to kill me. Of course when he turned I turned with him and stabbed my sword into him, twisting the blade and made sure he fell before turning and looking for the next target.

 

Then I tense up, that scream. It was Quickscope! I run back, using memory of the village, to her post and climb up. The scent of energon of energon was getting stronger as I climb and when I finally got up there I felt around for her. "Quickscope?!" I call out, listening for her, smelling for her scent that I grew up to. "Mother?!"

 

The only thing I hear is battle around me, below me or above me from aerialbots. I found something that scared me more than anything has before, a Cloaking pack. I pick it up and smell it, it smelled like Quickscope. I hook it up to my arm for when, if, I find her and tried picking up her scent. I heard someone coming up after me and I turn, sword at the ready.

 

"Whoa fem, I'm an Autobot" it was the same voice I heard earlier. "Name?" I ask, relaxing as his scent confirmed Autobot. "I'm Bumblebee, nice to meet'cha. As I would love chatting I would prefer that a sniper be up here" he said. A scout obviously, "Are you the sniper?" I ask. Bumblebee was silent but I heard the circuitry in his neck slightly buzz.

 

He was small, smaller than I was. If he was big I would be able to clearly hear the circuitry, I could barely hear it. He shook his helm, "I thought you were, but I see no Sniper Rifle on you. Get a sniper up here as fast as you can" he said before dropping back down. I couldn't snipe, being able to hear and smell very well won't help me with a long range shot.

 

I bring up the comms between my village, "If any snipers are listening and if you can spare then you need to be where Quickscope would be perched" I say, getting feedback. "Copy that, where is Quickscope?" it was Silvershot. "MIA, I can't find her. But an Autobot Bumblebee needed a sniper up here ASAP and I expect to deliver it" I explain. I heard Silvershot chuckle over the comms, "No doubt your Quickscope's daughter. On my way" I shut off the comms and jump from the perch as soon as I could smell the silvery mech running towards the perch, I have learned to tell each bot by their own scent, sometimes its a blessing and a curse.

 

Silvershot climbed up beside me and I instantly heard his Sniper Rifle shoot. "I got it from here, go help the Autobots" he said and I nodded and jumped down. How many of these cons were there? I felt bullets hit my chassis, armored part thank Primus but I cursed myself for not paying attention. This armor was important, it was the armor I got when I was in my final frame.

 

I have been blind for a couple thousand  years now, but this was exciting! I finally got my final frame's armor! Quickscope had designed it herself, using the same colors of dark green and black though she told me the armor was going to have spikes on the shoulders, knees and knuckles. Along the forearm was a barbed edge.

 

The helmet was supposed to keep my audial fins open but cover my damaged optics so with the battle mask and visor most of my faceplate was hidden besides the space where the visor and battle mask. She told me designs were carved into it, an old village symbol. The leg plating had many sheaths for hidden knives when I needed them.

 

When my old armor was removed, which I hated for it left me in only my protoform plating and circuitry; plus Fatality was there along with the village forager that forged their weapons and armor, that was a mech. I felt the surface of the armor I was about to wear, feeling all of the carved in designs and such. It seemed perfect, and strong.

 

I could hear Quickscope beside me, though couldn't tell if she was smiling or not. Facial plating was too small to hear that well. "Alright Riptide, I need you to hold still and hold your arms out to the sides" I turned when Blacksound, the forager, talked. I did as I was told, still hating not having armor on at the moment.

 

I heard Quickscope chuckle, "Don't worry Riptide, Blacksound has been working as the forager for centuries and has fitted many fems for armor. Nothing he hasn't seen" she said. It still was awkward, even more so with Fatality for he was her father so it was kind of... less awkward. "Besides, you have to rid yourself of your modesty" Quickscope said.

 

"And why is that?" I ask, feeling the chassis piece of the armor being clamped onto me and welded into place. "Well if your armor breaks in battle, thats a reason. Second is armor is less comfortable, so when you're just sitting in your home you can get out of it. Even with a mech around, remember that mechs, especially in this village, should know not to mind"

 

"Mother!" I exclaim, feeling embarrassed now. I heard Fatality's shoulders move in a shrug, "I have gotten used to Quickscope lounging around" he said. "Father!" please, for the love of Primus, shut up. My arm and leg plating were welded on, and not the helmet was welded on last and I was allowed to lower my arms. It fit nicely, being comfortable to move in and allowed quicker movements. "Its amazing! I love it!" I say, smiling if I could. "That's  great, thank Blacksound for making such complicated armor" Quickscope said. I nodded, turning my helm where I smelled the mech. "Thanks Blacksound, your awesome!"

 

"Its nothin" he said, walking back to his workbench to sharpen swords. "C'mon, lets show off yer new armor" Fatality said, enveloping me in a strong hug. I laugh as he let go and I followed him, Quickscope following me. Swiftkill and Bladeswipe were waiting, Bladeswipe being able to stand on her own and has gotten into her second frame.

 

"Very becoming!" Swiftkill said, her voice sounding happy. I couldnt remember what Swiftkill looked like, I didn't see her enough. "Thanks Swiftkill" I said.

 

I was literally knocked out of my thoughts, being shoved back against the gates. "What are you doing?!" It was Longsword though before I could answer a loud shot sounded and I heard Longsword's scream before I caught her frame, feeling the near gap in her chassis against my forearm. I set her frame down, sighing. "Go in peace to the Allspark" I say before engaging into battle.

 

I turned, cutting off the helm of a con and ducking under some bullets being fired at me. Though I was getting weary, almost or sometimes making mistakes as the endless wave just kept coming. Before I could kill another con something raced by me, the con gone. I stood in confusion, what the Unicron? I jump as the sound came back.

 

Within a few, or more, minutes or so the cons were gone. "Decepti-creeps neutralized, Optimus Prime!" a very fast voice stated and I instantly headed for the voice. "Very good, Blurr. Ratchet," he called another name and I heard an older sounding voice. "Yes Optimus, I'm tending to the injured now" he said before Optimus could say anything.

 

I headed for the voice of Optimus Prime though I was so focused on reaching the Autobot leader something ran into me. I about fell before I was suddenly pulled back to my pedes before I could hit the ground. "Sorry, didnt see you fem" it was Blurr's voice. I nod, "Sorry, I wasnt paying attention" I say and in half a second Blurr was gone.

 

"Who is the leader of this settlement?" it was Optimus' voice this time, seemingly beside me. I turned my helm toward his direction, instinctively turning my helm upwards for I heard his voice above me. "The leader?" I ask. "Yes, I must talk to them at the moment. Can you point me in their direction?" he asked. I took a moment to pause, scenting the air.

 

"Our leader is Pointblank, he should be helping others. You will know he is leader when you see him" I say. Optimus nodded, at least I could hear it. "Thank you" he said before walking away. I smell around for Fatality, finding him among the smell of... Quickscope! I run forward though I heard Fatality sigh, it was heavy with grief and my processor went to the worst possible thing.

 

"Father?" I ask, stopping in front of his location. I heard him look up, "Riptide, your mother. She's... dead" he said, his voice heavy with sadness. No! "What happened?" I ask, kneeling beside him. I reach forward and almost jerked back when my servo touched something warm, energon. It smelled of my mother. I gasped, no way; no way would Quickscope get killed!

 

I hugged Fatality, half to give comfort and have to get. The big mech hugged me to his side, I could feel the energon from the dead frame on Fatality, he was holding her frame. I heard someone coming and I can't identify the bot, his smell unrecognizable. "I'm sorry for your loss" it was Ratchet, apparently he was going through and healing bots.

 

I felt a warm feeling spread through my circuitry and almost jump. It was familiar, it felt like the medical ray our Medi-bot used. "What happened to her?" I ask, not wanting to feel around for any wounds. "Looks like something got to her, she has a bullet wound in the helm" Ratchet stated, "Your blind aren't you?" he asked.

 

"Yes, but that changes nothing" I said. "Of course it does, it changes how you fight" Ratchet said. Before I could say anything I heard Pointblank call a meeting to the highest ranking of the warriors. Fatality got up, Quickscope would have gone with him. I listen to him go, Ratchet too. "Go in peace with the Allspark, mother. I love you" I said quietly.

 

I could still hear the zooming around of Blurr, the healing ray from Ratchet and, where was Ironhide? Optimus was gone too, maybe they were at the meeting with Pointblank. I knew the dead would be honored later, all going to be left in the catacombs of our territory. I stand up, leaving my mother's frame and trying to find something to do to help.

 

I walked toward where Pointblank stayed, the meetings were always held there. I listen through the walls, hearing the voices of the leader and his highest ranking along with Optimus and Ironhide. "We apologize for putting your village in the crossfire but your warriors did well fighting off the Decepticon forces" it was Optimus' voice.

 

"Is that all?" Fatality's voice growled, surprising me. He never growled, or from what I heard. "You bring Decepticons here, knowing full well that they would catch us off guard, and what you have to say to justify it is trying to tell us we fought well?" he snarled. "You suffered a heavy loss, all of us have. This battle wasnt meant to come here" Optimus said, keeping cool.

 

"Then why fight out here? We are well away from Iacon and Kaon" Silvershot spoke up. Looks like he was the newest lead for the snipers. "We were trying to keep the Decepticon forces from upsetting everything here, we ambushed them though the numbers were off" Ironhide said. It was quiet for a moment, Silvershot was probably considering this.

 

"Before they came to this village we fought to keep them at bay, one of our scouts spotted three Cybertronians watching" Optimus said. Was the three Bladeswipe, Swiftkill and I? "So the real question was why you didn't help" Ironhide spoke with a growl. "That fight was none of our concern until it was in the middle of the village" Pointblank said, "We tend to keep to ourselves"

"You understand you cant just do that anymore, with all due respect to your ways, the Decepticons have started to attack, starting a war. You cant ignore the war and hope to survive" Optimus said.

 

"He has a point" Silvershot said. "Are you serious Silvershot?!" Fatality said in a rather loud voice. "What he says makes sense, we cannot sit idly by and let the Decepticons take what they want. We respect the Autobots right? We should help them" the sniper reasoned. It sounded like Fatality was about to blow a gasket when Pointblank interrupted him.

 

"Nothing more shall be said, we will hold a burial of your fallen with ours as honor but you can't expect help from us, Optimus Prime" Pointblank said rather harshly. "Do you not wish to get revenge for your fallen, Pointblank?" Ironhide growled. "Revenge brings dark times, I will have none of it" Pointblank almost growled.

 

Before Ironhide could say anything, which I'm sure he would have, Optimus cut in. "I understand, we will stay and help your wounded then leave" he said. I hear a voice behind me, so focused in the argument that I didn't notice them come up behind me, and I jump and turn. "Yes?" I ask. "You know its not your place to listen in on the meeting" it was Blurr. "I think I have my standing" I said.

 

Blurr tsked, "In any case, you shouldn't eavesdrop anyway. It looks suspicious" he said. I stopped myself from listing my reasoning, it wasnt worth it. Before long the bots came out, and I could smell raw irritation from Ironhide. Cybertronians did have a smell to them when they were feeling a certain mood, and anger or sadness is the easiest to detect.

 

In my opinion, the Autobots seemed just in their explanation. It was foolish to think we could survive another Decepticon attack on our own. Following the sound of Optimus' walking, I approached. "Uh, Prime sir?" I ask. Optimus turned, his legs buzzing with the movement. "Yes fem?" he asked. "I know you're looking for all the help you can get in this war, yea?" I ask.

 

"Yes, though I do not think bad of your leader" he said. "Well what if I join you guys? I mean, I would like to help you in killing all the Decepticons and I don't want them coming anywhere near my village anymore" I say, hoping he would accept. Optimus was silent, obviously thinking before nodding. "Though it isnt my choice if I can take you along or not. Your leader may not approve"

 

"Surely he would let me fight for what I believe to be right, I mean if he doesn't accept that we need help maybe the next Decepticon raid will help him pull his helm from his aft" I scoff the last part. Optimus chuckled, "You will have to tell him you're leaving of course, wouldn't want them to think the Autobots stole one of their yearlings"

 

I nod, determined to go along with them. I turn and head for Pointblank's scent, finding him just outside of the meeting place. "Sir, I would like to talk with you" I say, hearing him turn. "Yes, Riptide?" he asked. "I would like to take leave with the Autobots. I find their cause to be just and I wish to fight alongside the protectors of Cybertron" I say. Pointblank made no movements and I almost knew he was going to deny it. "Well Riptide, if thats how you feel then I cannot stop you. You might want to run this by Fatality" he said, walking away. Well slag! Fatality, the poor mech. It didn't take long for me to scent him.

 

He was with some other warriors, talking. "Father?" I ask, lightly tugging on his plating to get his attention. I heard the buzzing and somewhat faint scraping as his metal ground together. "Yes little one?" he asked, rubbing the top of my helm. It took me a minute to actually tell him I wanted to go with the Autobots, and almost instantly I could smell unhappiness come off him.

 

"Are you sure? Leave your village? Riptide, thats a scary thought" Fatality said, his voice low. "Its okay father, the Autobots will look after me and watch my back in battle" I reason. "But you're all I have left, your sister and mother are gone" he said and I felt a feeling hit my spark. "I'm doing this for the village, for Bladeswipe and Quickscope. You have the village, you're not alone. not ever"

 

Fatality was about to say something when a voice cut him off. "Let the child go, traveling with the Autobots will prove good in her skills" it was Swiftkill! "Where were you in the battle?" Fatality growled. Something was tossed to me, lightly bouncing off my chassis and into my servos. "Fighting off Decepticon scouts" she said.

 

"You know your sister died right?" Fatality growled. "I know that very well and I will not use that excuse to try and hold Riptide back. Many other warriors, and Autobots, have lost someone close to them and that doesn't make you any different" Swiftkill snapped. I felt around the thing tossed to me, sort of round and cold.

 

I felt wetness against my servos and dips or edges against my digits. It was a helm! I drop it instantly, making both Fatality and Swiftkill turn their helms toward me. "Why'd you give me a helm?" I ask Swiftkill. "Figured I needed proof for your hard helmed father" Swiftkill snorted. I walk away, listening to them argue.

 

I walk back to Optimus, using scent of course, and got his attention. "I have notified everyone I need to come along with you sir" I report. "Then you're cleared to come. Thought first Pointblank wants us to stay for the burial which I'm happy to oblige" the Autobot leader said. I nod, of course she wouldn't leave without attending her mother's burial.

 

At that moment Blurr zoomed past me, the wind picking up some loose metal from the ground and a small sized sharp of metal pinged my right audial fin. I stiffen up, optic ridge twitching and a shudder passed through me.

 

"Did you know that a Cybertronian's most sensitive part is their audial fins?" I could see again and I am looking up at Quickscope from my sitting position. "That or if the Cybertronian is a Paraxon then their sensitive points would be their wings. This is useful to know in battle for you can use this against the enemy" she said.

 

"Are you sure? My audial fins aren't sensitive" I protest. Quickscope leaned down and lightly rubbed the back of my audial fin which made me shudder. "Not only are they sensitive but they have pressure points" she continued, straightening. "How does that help in battle?" I ask, wondering how she knew this. Well she did have audial fins. "It's useful because you cut off their audial fins or door wings"

 

"And that'll hurt them?" I ask. "Of course, if I were to hit your audial fin you would flinch or even yelp" Quickscope said. "Is there any other reason for the audial fins?"

"Yes, you talk with them as well. Plus some mechs like to mess with them when they flirt, sometimes they'll rub them or nip them. Either way its quite enjoyable"

 

My mother was so weird. Sometimes the things she said just, why? "Hey Blurr, watch out" I growl, rubbing my fin where the shard hit. Blurr didn't even stop and I shake my helm and muttered before Optimus spoke again. "We will leave as soon as we are permitted"  

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

 

Watching your mother leaving forever like that, it isnt easy. I could barely get through it. I heard Silvershot come up behind me, turning my helm over to his direction. "Sorry about Quickscope, I know I can't replace her as the sniper leader but I will try and live up to her" he said with a low toned voice. Sadness came off him in waves.

 

I knew Silvershot was the first to love Quickscope but accepted when Fatality chose her and she agreed. Silvershot didn't hate Fatality, just was glad the mech was taking care of her. I nod though didn't say anything, knowing I would choke up on my words. I head towards Fatality, hugging him tightly as I tried keeping my self control.

 

I have never seen any weakness from Fatality, not ever, though this showed a weakness I never thought that would happen. "I'll help make this right father, I promise" I say quietly. Fatality nodded, squeezing me in a hug.

 

"You come back, hear me? Dont you dare die, I cant lose you" he said. I nod, though not sure if I could keep that promise. I heard the transport jet start up, pulling away from Fatality I walk toward it. I could hear the other Autobots jumping into the jet, following after and got a surprise when I couldnt just walk in.

 

It was hovering a few feet off the ground or more, I realize, and I had to jump to get in. Instantly I felt a servo on my shoulder, fem bot. "I was told that you are blind. If you need help walking I-" I cut her off, jerking my shoulder from under her servo. "I dont need help from anyone for stupid reasons like walking. I got up here didn't I?" I snarl.

 

"Easy fem, the soldier was misinformed. No need to get snappy" I heard a different voice, he smelled different too. "Prowl" the mech said before I could ask. "Well, Prowl, I hate if I am looked down on as someone who needs some special treatment because I'm blind" I cross my arms. "Then politely state it, would like it if someone yelled at you for a little mistake" Prowl said back. I lean against the wall, hearing the jet start to take off. "Its a war, since when do I need to be polite?"

"Now that isnt fair, the war isn't an excuse to be a total aft to your own comrades"

 

I scoff though decide not to argue anymore. I listen to the mechs talk to each other, mostly about the battle. Ironhide was basically boasting that he had killed countless Decepticons though Blurr spoke up with a smart aft sound to his voice. "Excuse me, but who came at the last moment and basically destroyed every Decepticon on the premises?"

 

"Hey it wasn't just you, Optimus and Ratchet was there too" Bumblebee stated. "Dont forget about Sideswipe!" I was wondering who had that different scent, Sideswipe. "Who couldnt? You were bouncing around like a grenade on refined energon" Prowl said. "And who shot me? I could have sworn that one of you jerks shot me" Bumblebee said.

 

"Don't get in my way and it wont happen" Ironhide growled. "You ran right in front of the Decepti-punk I was shooting at"

"You know you can let off the trigger once in a while, Hide" the smaller Autobot said. "It didn't seem to stop you at all, I figured you were fine. Sorry you couldn't take a bullet" the bigger mech shrugged.

 

His armor was old, I could hear the squeaking from his shoulders. Either that or he himself was old. Both probably. "Oh I took it in the leg, it felt like a feather" Bumblebee shot back. "Then why are you whining?"

"Both of you shut up before I turn this jet around" Ratchet growled over the comms in the jet.

 

The two quit their arguing, falling quiet for a moment. Then Sideswipe continued talking, "I have to say that, while I was fighting, those warriors were pretty good at fighting" he commented which got my attention. "Not only did they fight good, the fem bot warriors looked as good as their weapons" that was Bumblebee's voice.

 

I heard a metal ping as someone smacked the little Autobot in the back of the helm. "Hey!" Bumblebee grumbled. "You know there is a fem bot warrior in this jet, right?" Blurr asked. "It's not like it was an insult" I could hear the little bots shoulders shrug. "Well while you were gawking at a few did you even see them cut down the cons?" Prowl asked with a snort.

 

"Yea, I saw. Why?" he asked. "Then you know how easily one could kick your aft" Sideswipe said. "Oh shut it Swipe, its not like you were paying attention to just the cons" Bumblebee stated. "Maybe, Maybe not but I don't make it known" Sideswipe argued. I heard a sigh from Ironhide. "You young bots, don't you think about anything besides fem bots?"

 

"Sure we do, we think of thousands of reasons why we can hit a target and you can't" Bumblebee said, turning and fist bumping Sideswipe. "I am about to come back there and crack some helms!" Ratchet's voice growled. Just barely I could hear him mumble something though I couldn't really make it out that well. I felt the jet starting to slow and descend, the buzzing of the wings and the engine lightly dying as the jet set itself down in Iacon. The smell was now everywhere, it had a nicer smell to it then Kaon actually. I wish I could see, looking at the buildings and city would be nice.

 

My sister and I were playing out in the field, outside of the village. Swiftkill was nowhere to be seen, probably scouting out for any other dangers. I had Skywarp's colors painted on my gray metal. Bladeswipe had Thundercracker's colors painted on her. "I am the smartest mech ever! I should be considered better than Shockwave!" Bladeswipe said in a deep tone.

 

"Oh Thundercracker, you are so arrogant!" I stated, lowering my voice as well. "And you, Skywarp, is younger and inferior! I do not expect your intellect to challenge mine" she boasted. "Now you're starting to sound like Starscream" I say. Before Bladeswipe could say anything I yelped in surprise as something heavy dropped behind me.

 

"Who sounds like Starscream?" I nasally voice growled. I start trembling, turning and looked up at the big Seeker mech Starscream. His brothers, Thundercracker and Skywarp were behind him. Skywarp chuckled, "Looks like they are fans" he said, referring to our paint. "No surprise" Starscream crossed his arms.

 

"They're much too small to bring back to Megatron to be Decepticon soldiers" Thundercracker said. "Then we dispose of them, stop future Autobots from forming" Starscream growled, quickly snatching my wing and lifting me up.

 

I cry out, squirming in pain. It felt like he was crushing my wing when I saw Thundercracker lift his servo and punch Starscream in the side, making the mech stumble to the side and let me go. "What in Primus are you doing, Thundercracker?!" Starscream demanded. "They're sparklings!" Thundercracker snapped. "Why does that matter?"

 

"If they're going to be Autobots then we can kill them later in their life but if they do wish to become Decepticons then you would be depriving our ranks of two fighters!" Thundercracker snapped. I heard something and I look back, seeing a big frame charging in and slammed Starscream away. Skywarp warped further ahead to take on the second warrior while Starscream tousled with a big warrior.

 

Thundercracker let fire at the one fighting Starscream though I saw Swiftkill coming up behind him. His melee weapon, I couldn't identify it, was out and he turned quickly and the weapon hit me in the face. Pain shot through my helm and mostly my optics, covering my optics with my servo I lay on my back and cried.

 

Bladeswipe looked around for anyone who was free from fighting to help the little sparklings in the middle of the Seekers and a patrol of warriors. I couldn't see, not even the light from the sky through my digits came through, it was all black! "Swiftkill!" Bladeswipe called, staying beside me. The older fem must've shaken Thundercracker off for I felt someone pick me up.

 

"Primus, I hope the medi-bot can fix this" Swiftkill muttered, now running. I clung to her plating, still crying in pain and fear. My servos were away from my face, why couldn't I see?!

 

"Hey fem, c'mon! Why are you standing there?" I snap out of my thoughts and focus on the scent. It was Ratchet. "Sorry" I mutter, following him. "I have some wounded to take care of, your going to have to get Bumblebee to show you around" the medi-bot said, walking. "Alright, I cant wait to meet everyone" I say.

 

Ratchet grunted in response. I follow before I hear the word fem again. "Fem! C'mon, I gotta show ya around!" it was Bumblebee. I walk toward his voice, looking down instinctively. "Before I show you anywhere else I wanna show you where we all chill. Well most of us anyway" Bumblebee's voice faded as he walked away.

 

I follow, kind of glad I won't have to listen about room after boring room. It really didn't take long to get there, Bumblebee's steps leading me over to something that smelled warm and had a strong scent of oil. "Between battles we like to relax and hot oil really helps" Bumblebee said as I heard a splash. Not only did I smell oil but I smelled other bots.

 

Three mechs and another fem. I shrugged, why not start getting in with the soldier's ways? I hesitantly step in beside the smell of a fem and a mech. "Bumblebee, who is this?" the fem asked. "I'm a new recruit, Riptide" I say before Bumblebee could. "Nice to have you in the ranks, Riptide" one of the mechs said.

 

He sounded like he would be average size. "I'm Arcee. The one beside you is Warpath, then Sunstreaker and Wheeljack" the fem, Arcee, said. I nod, "Nice to meet you" I say politely. "Why you have your optics covered up like that? Isn't it hard to see?" the mech, from the order Arcee listed them, it was Warpath.

 

He sounded like a big mech. "I'm blind" I say. I always get that feeling of doubt of anyone thinking I can't do anything when I'm blind. "A blind soldier? Never heard of such a thing" Sunstreaker said, his voice sounded surprised. Before I could defend myself Arcee spoke up. "Oh hush Sunstreaker, she probably has been trained with advance moves that you wish you could learn"

 

I chuckle, and forget my audial fins flash when I talk and shut up. "Its alright Riptide, we always tease each other. It's all in good spark" Arcee said. I heard the mechs nod, "Yea, I was just givin ya a hard time" Sunstreaker said. This hot oil was quite soothing, feeling my stiffness melting away. I felt a light tap on my right audial fin, making me shutter.

 

It was Arcee, "Watch those fins of yours, there aren't many other fems with audial fins and mechs seem to love them" she said quietly with a light laugh. So Quickscope was right. I nod to her, wishing I could smile. "You make that statement sound like a warning" Wheeljack said. "It is a warning, I'm just protecting the fem from you fin-loving mechs"

 

"I will have you know I would never think of touching a fem's audial fins without knowing the fem and it is in my right to"

"You dont have a right to unless you're allowed by the fem" Arcee corrected. "Thats what I meant, my point is I wouldn't touch her fins without permission and in the right context"

 

"Right context, Sunstreaker? What's that supposed to mean?" Wheeljack asked. I hold in laughter, amused by this. "Well I mean that, uh" I heard the mech's arm reach up to his neck and rub the back of his neck. I couldn't hold back the laugh, my audial fins flashing. "Hey Riptide, I want to get to know you. Want to walk with me?" Arcee asked.

 

I nodded, standing up after I heard the fem stand and feel around for the edge before stepping over it. I heard laughing from the mechs, "Nice goin' Sunstreaker" Wheeljack laughed. "Hey shut up!" Sunstreaker growled. Arcee's steps led me away from the laughing of the mechs before Arcee started to talk.

 

"You know, being an Autobot isn't just about idly chatting" Arcee said as she walked. I nod, "I know, Autobots fight with the best of ability" I say. "Not only that but it means protecting the weak and innocent. Protecting Cybertron itself" Arcee stated, stopping beside what sounded like an energon fountain, the energon making a light splash sound as it hit the small pool.

 

"That's what I joined for, the Decepticons left me with only my father and a missing aunt" I say, dipping my servo into the energon. "It's painful, watching others die around you. Even if you can't see, I guess that makes it either better or worse" she sighed. I nod, "It is, I am not sure whether it actually is better to not see it. I haven't physically seen anyone die"

 

"But I bet the sounds of war echo in your audials, the sound of pained screams" Arcee said, her voice sounding sad. I nod, nobody has ever said that and now I just realize it mostly. "Enough of talking about war and death, there is enough of that in battle" Arcee said, her voice changing to change the subject. "So, a yearling huh?"

 

I nod, glad to change the subject. "Yes, I am actually 20 eons years old" I state my age with a tinge of pride. "I remember when I was that young, I got into much trouble then" Arcee laughed. I wonder how old Arcee is, but I would never ask that. "Being that age is a bit complicated, I'm not sure about how you were raised but fems like me, we got curious"

 

Curious? "I remember when I borrowed Bluestreak's gun for a while before I realized it was a bit too big for me. When I gave it back the mech was not happy that I took his gun" she chuckled. That sounds like fun, more or less. "And surely you know the feeling that comes with the age. It's weird, freaky almost" Arcee continued.

 

Either I'm not as old as I say I am or I'm clueless. "Feeling?" I ask. "Well yea, feeling. You know, huge curiosity about different things. Like you have to know more about everything Cybertron has given you. Big heavy guns, new armor," as she talked I scooped up energon from the fountain in my servos and sloshed it around. "Mechs" I could almost see the smirk on her faceplate as I stopped and turned my helm in her direction. "Excuse me?" I ask. Arcee laughed, "Mechs, Cybertron made them for a few reasons. Mainly because a whole planet of fems would end quite disastrous and in the ancient times the mechs hunted and fought, the fems stayed at home. Its a balance"

 

I shrug, yea. Never put too much thought into why Primus made two genders, then again without the other a species would disappear. "Plus some fems are too emotional, we need someone to calm us down" Arcee's shoulders buzzed as she shrugged. "Though you don't know the capabilities of a mech until it happens. Then you get surprised"

 

"I'm sorry, but what does this have to do with curiosity?" I ask. I heard enough of the weird side comments from Quickscope. "Well I am guessing you don't know much about how much your audial fins actually influence you. Just a touch or flick makes you move in small ways, other things like your fins being rubbed is another. And everyone on Cybertron knows just those special little points"

 

Wow, this was starting to sound like Quickscope when she taught me about the audial fins. "How this ties in with curiosity, you don't know what it feels like to have your fins messaged by someone else. Wouldn't you want to know? See if everything I am saying is a lie?" she asked. I thought for a minute, I never considered anyone touching my audial fins since they were so sensitive.

 

But gently? I'm not sure how curious I actually was. "Of course, you would have to find that out all on your own; maybe with company?" now the last part was teasing. Besides that, I just shrug and decide to change the subject. "Where will we be going next? I figured we'd be somewhere by now" I say, the thought actually coming to mind.

 

"I'm sure Optimus has found something worth investigating. He might take a different patrol or something to go with him" Arcee guessed. That would make sense, taking different bots out to fight differently. It may help in not letting the Decepticons learn the battle moves that easy. Speaking of the Autobot leader, his voice came up on the comms.

 

"Reports are coming in, Decepticon scouts are sniffing around Iacon. I will position a patrol of Autobots to survey the area. If you do see Decepticons then you are ordered to kill on sight. I have air support in place; Silverbolt, Air-Raid and Jetfire will be standing by if needed. I want Mirage, Riptide, Prowl and Bluestreak on the patrol. Head East of Iacon" Optimus' voice said then cut off.

 

I nod a goodbye to Arcee and walked for the East of Iacon. Soon I could smell the scent of Prowl with the other two mechs, Bluestreak and Mirage. "I want your kills to be clean and quick, make sure nobody gets away" it was a rather intermediate voice, not Prowl's though. I stop, waiting to go. "Riptide, you are a melee class so you will be posted near the location of scouts"

 

I nod, understanding. "Prowl and Bluestreak will be posted to where they can tell us who the cons are. I will head with Riptide" apparently the mech talking was Mirage. So I remember his scent, then Bluestreak's and follow Mirage. The mech led me out of Iacon and after a few yards or so he stopped. I heard the sound of a cloaking mechanism then remember I had Quickscope's. I turn it on, hearing my own cloaking before I was invisible. "Hear anything?" Mirage asked. He seemed to know I was blind or he would have asked 'see anything'. I listen closely and shake my helm before picking up the faint sound of jets, Seeker jets.

 

"Wait, I'm picking up sound. Seekers, can't tell who from here" I say, not being able to pick up scent from this far away. I was hoping and praying that they weren't Starscream and his brothers. "See anything from your angle, Prowl?" Mirage asked over the comms. "Yea, four Seekers. Wait, what in primus?" I heard Prowl's curious voice over the comm.

 

"What is it?" Mirage asked. "They split up, one is heading for you and another is heading for the air support's post. The third is flying towards us, but the fourth is staying where it is. Wait, MIRAGE-!" Prowl's yell cut off from the comms and I was thrown forward by the shockwave of a missile. I try picking up a scent though I needed to focus on the sounds.

 

"Primus, how'd they know we were here?" Mirage demanded over the comms. "I dont know, but watch your afts!" it was Bluestreak this time. I hear the sound of slip, "Mirage, its Skywarp. He's the one attacking us. And I would guess his brothers are attacking Prowl and air support" I say. I could hear another sound of slip then realized he was right above us.

 

When the slip sound got deeper I unsheathed a knife from my leg and threw it at the mech, hearing the sound of the knife burying into the metal. Skywarp yelped in pain, dropping to the ground. "Nice hit!" Mirage said, both of us going after the con. Skywarp growled at us and I could feel the bullet of his own gun barely go by my helm.

 

I start trying to avoid anywhere the sound of gunshot was, I had to get closer or the only I had to fight with was my stupid pistol and the smaller knives. Mirage reactivated his cloaking, maybe that would throw Skywarp off! I activated mine as well, moving to the side of the mech and unsheathed my sword and took a slash at his shoulder joint.

 

Skywarp yelped again, the feeling of metal clashing with my sword making a sound I rather found enjoyable. Though his armor was tough, I couldn't draw energon. I dodge to the left as he took a swing at my location, his shoulder joint clicking as he did so. Mirage was heard on the other side of him and got a couple of rounds into the mech's side.

 

Before I could deal another hit something heavy landed behind me and grabbed my arm with the sword and picked me up, grabbing my leg and I could feel the con pulling different directions, aiming to physically pull me apart. My other servo went for the second sword on my back and unsheathed it. The feeling of my circuitry being pulled from each other hurt like Unicron.

 

I had to focus on moving my other arm while the other one was clasped in the con's grip. To my surprise I could hear Mirage still fighting, hold on. Now may not be the time but I thought back and I would have heard the sound of warping before something dropped in behind me and if Skywarp was fighting Mirage and his brothers were fighting away from us, who was trying to pull me apart. I shake my helm, my arm giving a crack as the metal was stressing beyond its limits. I couldnt help to let out a pained groan and I twisted in their grip to get access to the con's frame then swiped by sword at the helm. The con hissed in pain, the sword's blade ripping through metal.

 

The con threw me though I was able to catch the ground with my servo and pushed off, half-flipping and landed on my pedes. I could feel my own energon dripping from my shoulder down my arm which was almost numb. I try to catch a scent and to my surprise, behind the strong scent of Kaon, I could smell such a familiar smell it hurt.

 

"Bladeswipe...?" I ask, my voice almost shaky. "Took ya long enough, Tide" Bladeswipe said, crossing her arms. Whoa, how big did she get? "What in Primus' name are you doing?!" I demand. "What? Can't accept that I am a Decepticon? I finally get to do what I want, plus I get to travel with the brothers, its a win-win for me"

 

"You know the Decepticons attacked our village right? They killed our mother!" I snap, furious. How could she be so stupid? "Her fault, she was too weak to survive" Bladeswipe's shoulders clicked in a shrug. My servos tightened on my swords, more or less my left, and I pointed the right sword at her. "I will kill you Bladeswipe, you have dishonored yourself and deserves the decapitation" I snarl.

 

Bladeswipe laughed. "Oh c'mon, like you could ever get the drop on me like that Riptide. I'll tear you apart before you can blink, oh wait" Bladeswipe laughed cruelly. I growl and jump forward, turning in the air and aim a high kick at her. To my surprise Bladeswipe sidestepped and grabbed my ankle and held me upside down.

 

"I know your moves, RIptide. I know how well you can hear and smell, I watched you train" Bladeswipe growled. I kick up with my other pede and felt it connect with metal. Bladeswipe growled, her grip loosening and I kick at her chassis and pull my leg from her grip. "I'm not playing around now, your scrap!" Bladeswipe snarled.

 

Before we could go at each other again Bladeswipe started to talk on a comm. "Lucky day sis, you get to live until I find you again" she spat and I heard the sound of transforming and the throttle of the engines as she sped away. I instantly scent for Mirage, smelling him  and some energon. I rush toward him though found he was standing.

 

"Its alright, Skywarp didn't get at me that bad" Mirage said. Only one shoulder clicked as he pressed a digit to his helm to contact Prowl. "Are you alright? Where's your other arm?" I ask, not really wanting to feel around to make sure he still had it. "Still intact, its just helping some energon stay inside my frame" he was probably holding a wound he had. I nod, listening to the comms.

 

"Prowl, SIlverbolt. Copy?" he asked and I heard coughing from Prowl's comm. "I'm fine though Bluestreak got the worst of it, Starscream nailed him with a few missiles. The coward hit him when he was down" Prowl growled. "Wait, so only one Seeker went at you? We had two" Mirage said, heading for the location Prowl was at. "They alternated, Silverbolt and his team kept having this second Seeker come in, as did we" Prowl reported. Another comm came through, it was Air-Raid. "How in Primus did those creeps get wind of us?" he  asked."I don't know Air-Raid but they knew somehow" Mirage growled. Meanwhile I contacted Ratchet, "Bluestreak and Mirage need medical attention"

 

Ratchet's voice responded. "Copy that Riptide, on my way. Ratchet out" the comm ended and I turned my helm toward Mirage. "Ratchet's on his way" I report. I heard his wince as he nodded, "I heard you repeating the fourth Seeker's name. Bladeswipe" he said. I nodded, "She is, was, my sister. I thought Barricade had killed her" I say with a sigh.

 

"Wars has its share of traitors" Mirage said, a touch of sympathy in his voice. I nod, "Though I never thought it'd be my sister" I mutter, not sure if he heard but even if he did he didn't respond. Soon we came upon Prowl and Bluestreak, the sound of a healing ray, as well as the smell of Ratchet and all topped off with energon.

 

I couldn't see how bad Bluestreak was though my the sound of painful groaning and the sound of spurting energon I guessed it couldn't be good. "Your lucky kid, your armor was strong enough to protect you from the first missile and took some of the second one's damage but I'm guessing a near miss of a third about blew your spark out" Ratchet said to Bluestreak.

 

Three missiles? Primus, Starscream was really aiming to kill everyone. "Riptide," Mirage's voice said from beside me. "Report to Optimus, he needs to know about the surprise attack" he said. I nod and ran for Iacon. Maybe Bladeswipe had something to do with it, maybe. I try to scent the Autobot leader, and in my haste I knock into something solid that didn't even seem to be swayed.

 

I fell on  my aft, shaking my helm and scent the air. "Watch where you're going, fem" Ironhide grumbled, pulling me up. "Sorry, I was looking for Optimus. You know where he is?" I ask. "Follow me, I was headed to him anyway" Ironhide said, I hear his steps heading away. I follow the sound easily, the bigger mech having heavy steps to follow.

 

I'd hate to fight him, he was so big. Either that or I was misjudging his size or I was just small. I almost trip over the stairs that Ironhide gave me no warning about. "You could have told me there were stairs, Hide" I growl. "I thought you didn't need help walking" Ironhide snorted. But- dammit! That mech, using my own words against me.

 

I huff, not saying anything. When we get up the stairs I felt around for a door, then hearing nothing being opened and Ironhide's steps I keep walking. Well, I just pet the building apparently. I follow, and after a few minutes, I notice Ironhide's steps stop and I yelp as I fall flat on my faceplate. "Oh, careful. Theres a platform there" I heard the late warning.

 

"You aft" I growl, standing up and walked to his voice. I punch his shoulder though I ended up the hurt one, Primus that hurt! I shake my servo and I hear Ironhide chuckle. "Was that a punch or a poke?" he asked. "Shut up" I growl, exercising my digits. "Optimus," Ironhide greeted the Autobot leader and I stood a little straighter. "Yes, what is it?" the mech's voice asked. "Blurr scouted out the perimeter you said to check out, took him about ten seconds, but he noticed a bot not too far off and said when he went to see who it was they were gone. He didn't see any detail, couldn't tell if it was a mech or fem but even he seemed a bit spooked after it" Ironhide reported first.

 

I listened closely, was it a Decepticon spy? I heard Optimus' circuitry buzz as he nodded, "Any details about the incident, did Blurr report anything else?" he asked after a minute. "He stated it was like seeing a spirit, or a shifty bot that he had never come in contact with before" Ironhide said. "I will get someone else to check in on it, if it is a Decepticon then they're starting to push their luck"

 

"Speaking of," I interrupt, though realize I did and shut up. "Go on, RIptide. I see Mirage didn't report back, what happened?" he asked. "Starscream and his brothers attacked, along with a fem, Bladeswipe. The Seekers knew exactly where we were, didn't hesitate to attack. Bluestreak was seriously injured and Mirage was hurt as well" I report.

 

"Wait, Bladeswipe. Didn't I hear that name back at your village?" Ironhide asked me. I nod, a little ashamed to say my sister was a Decepticon. "My sister, I thought she was better than that. Apparently I was wrong" I sigh. "Many of our brothers and sisters have fallen to the poisonous words of Megatron or to their own greed. Don't feel ashamed of your sister's choice, it is not your fault" Optimus said.

 

I nod. "Though, if there is a chance we face the Seekers again, I want to fight her myself; and kill her myself" I say, almost pleading. "You will have your fight" Optimus confirmed. "Thank you sir. On another note, Silverbolt and his team seemed to be fine. They didn't report any injuries" I say, glad at least three of us came out unscathed.

 

"Ratchet is tending to them now" I continue, remembering not to leave that detail that the injured are getting help. Optimus nodded again, and I heard Ironhide's steps head away. I turn to leave then I heard Optimus telling me to stay. "I have been thinking that maybe we can get Perceptor to look at your optics, maybe he can get your eyes working again"

 

Really? Can this bot get my optics online again? The medi-bot at our village said it was impossible, but maybe this Perceptor knew more. But then again, I have been so accustomed to being blind and working with sound and smell that I would be near useless on the battlefield. But perhaps I can be re-trained to work with my optics.

 

I wouldn't get my hopes up anyway, Perceptor might not even be able to get my optics working. I nod, "I will think about it, thank you for the suggestion sir" I say, grateful for the thought. Optimus nodded, getting back to what he was focusing on before as I walk out. Well another problem, where was Perceptor? Well, if he could have a possibility he could fix my optics he would be a scientist.

 

And it would make sense for scientists to work with medi-bots right? And I knew Ratchet's scent, so maybe I can find Perceptor that way. I mind the stairs, carefully walking down them and following the scent of Ratchet. Times like this I felt like some tracking device to find something, which I basically was. It was weird, just the way I am accustomed but  hearing myself say I had to catch the scent was just odd. I must be getting closer since I could smell things like energon and heard the sound of something being moved around. I approach, guessing there wasn't a door here either and walked in. I could instantly smell Bluestreak and Mirage.

 

I did smell Ratchet there too along with another scent. "Uhh, Perceptor?" I ask, hoping I wasn't just saying this to injured bots and Ratchet. Though to my relief I heard someone turn their helm, clicking. "Yes fem?" Perceptor's voice asked. "Is it possible to, er, fix my optics?" I ask hesitantly. There was silence from the mech.

 

The normal sound of equipment sounded though, Bluestreak and Mirage might be in stasis. "I am not sure if I can reconnect broken optics to the processor, but if you want me to try I can" he said, his frame buzzing as he stood straight. I nod, hesitantly heading for his voice. "Sit here" I heard a tap on metal and followed it, feeling for the flat surface to sit on.

 

I felt the part of my helmet that slides over my optics lift and I refrain from pulling away. "It will depend on if the circuitry and wires are preserved, and if their damaged beyond repair then there is no chance" Perceptor said after a minute.

 

"Can you see the wires?" I asked. "Not fully, your optics have been slashed pretty good and I dont know how deep the damage has been done. But if you can at least move your optics we would know if the wires are still attached" he said. I nod and try to move my optics, though I couldn't tell if I was or not. "Your optics barely twitched, not the best sign but its a sign"

 

"If there was a chance for fixing my optics then how would you fix them?" I ask, now curious about it. "Well I would probably have to open up your helm, find the wires and reconnect them. Though the problem with that is the procedure is a dangerous one. The processor has many different wires and circuitry to it and one wrong move could make your frame malfunction, or you could die"

 

That wasn't the best thing I heard before. On second thought, being blind was something I probably couldn't change so I just should leave it alone. "Thanks for looking though I don't think I want to risk being a walking malfunction" I say and hear him back up. "No problem, I would rather not try it anyway" he nodded. I stand up, sliding the visor down over my broken optics.

 

I wonder if anything was happening outside of Iacon right now, a battle? Maybe, probably. I walk out, heading for the place Bumblebee showed me when I first came to Iacon. I heard and smelled Arcee and I walk up to her, though hear her talking. "The Decepticons have been pushing it, they killed hundreds of Cybertronians"

 

"When?" another voice asked. It was unrecognizable. "Just before Riptide joined, the blind fem. Heard there was a slaughter and it was at a village. My bet is that it was hers, said almost everyone was killed. A few stragglers the Decepticons left, but listen to this. Once some patrols got there a mech was found. It was one of theirs, he was sitting among the frames of dead Cybertronians"

 

"SItting?" the soldier asked. Arcee nodded, her more delicate frame clicking. "They said they had never seen such an emptiness in one bot's optics. When they asked what was up he looked up and said 'I thought it was a spirit'" the last part of the story made me shudder. "How come Optimus hasn't sent anyone out there yet?"

 

"Because he hasn't heard it yet, I was about to tell him. If Ratchet already hasn't, the mech they found was sent to him and Ratchet says he was in paranoia and stress. Something scared the living Primus out of him but he won't tell what he saw. Just saying he thought it was a spirit if he is asked about it" Arcee explained. If it was my village, I had to take a look.

 

Then I realize the mech saw what Blurr saw, except now we know that it was a threat. I had to ask Blurr about it, maybe he could explain a little more. I walk off, now aiming to find the speedy Autobot. I could hear him before smell, his pedes hitting the ground almost non-stop. "Blurr!" I call out. In an instant Blurr was in front of me.

 

"What do you need, RIptide?" he asked. "I need to know more about what you saw" I said and he seemed to know what I meant. "I dont know what I saw, nothing is faster than I am but when I reached it, there was no trace" he explained. "Did it move before it left?" I asked. Blurr shook his helm, "I only saw it standing, then nothing. It was weird"

 

"Well, something similar was reported out by my village. The sight left a mech processor-malfunctioned. He won't talk about it either" I say. "Then it has to be looked into, maybe we could get Optimus to let us get out there and check it out" Blurr suggested. I nodded, Blurr was the one who would come along and maybe even that mech.

 

Blurr was gone while I was thinking and when I started walking I could hear Ratchet. He was muttering something to himself. I listen closely, though he quit after I started listening and sighed in irritation. I remember where the medi-bot base was, so I head there in hopes to find the mech. When I entered, I couldn't hear Perceptor.

 

Though I did here clicking, sharp clicking. Twitching, someone was twitching. I head toward the noise and hear a violent reaction to my approach. "Leave me alone!" the mech cried, the sound of metal scraping as he scoot backwards. "Easy, I'm not here to hurt you. I'm an Autobot" I say, hoping nobody heard him. "I dont believe you, you hide your face like It did" the mech snarled.

 

I lift the visor up, revealing my broken optics. "I couldn't have hurt you, I'm blind" this was exaggerated but I needed him to quiet down. In which he did, "Why do you come? You look like It. Where's Ratchet?" he asked. He was talking, I just needed him to talk more. "Just tell me about, er, It. What did It do?" I ask.

 

"I thought It was a spirit" he muttered, the twitching coming back. "How did you find out It wasn't a spirit?" I ask. He was quiet before his neck buzzed as he looked at me. "Because It told me" he growled. "What did it do?" I ask. "It talked, I hate its voice. It's voice was there in my audials, no matter how much I tried to make it go away It kept talking" thats weird. "Did you notice anything about it?" I ask further. "It's sword was at my throat, it said that it would have no trouble getting rid of me"

 

Why? Why were they in the village of the slaughtered? Was it a Decepticon cleaning up? "It left, I couldn't feel my servos. I look down, their gone" It took his servos off?! Arcee forgot to mention that little detail. It was clear we couldn't take him now, he couldn't hold a gun and we couldn't protect anybody, we needed to be focused on everything else.

 

I leave, no other words, and see Blurr. I could hear his pede tapping rapidly on the ground. "We're clear" he nodded. "Good, we're leaving now"

 

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I step out of the jet, Blurr powering it down. So Blurr told me that Optimus was going to send a patrol out here but we needed to find out without the noise of a whole patrol. So, we just left. The big guy can chew us out later, we had a 'ghost' to find. It didn't look like anything major happened, but as he got closer I could smell dead frames lying about.

 

Death didn't smell very good, it actually just sent chills down my metallic spine. I draw my servo across the buildings, no damage except a few dents here and there. I keep clear of tripping over dead frames, they had the strong smell of energon, I guess energon that wasn't inside a frame smelled like death. I dont know, maybe because. Now is not the time to think about it right now.

 

"Looks like nobody was here to protect mothers or the older bots that couldn't fight" Blurr said. I nod, the warriors always were here though, what happened? I hear something move and I jump, servo reaching for my sword. I creep toward the sound, feeling around and pushed on a slightly cracked button and the door let out a screech as it slid up.

 

"Make enough noise, Riptide?" Blurr snapped. "Sorry" I apologize, walking in. I dont hear anything now, dead silent, but I do smell another frame. I walk closer and kneel down, barely reaching forward and feeling who it was. Not that I could fully tell who it was, but to see if this was a warrior or some other class.

 

It was a mother, I could tell by the sparkling in her grip. Primus, who would kill a mother and her sparkling like that? I feel around the mother's helm, noticing a large gash in it as the helm had gotten split open. Obviously something had to come down to fully split a helm that deep, had to be an axe maybe. A sword could do that though I wasn't so sure about this one.

 

A sword would cut cleaner, this was just slightly jagged. What Decepticon had an axe? The sparkling was gone, I found, for I heard not one cry from it. Though it seemed to have no damage, maybe the killer wouldn't kill the sparkling. Though something killed it, maybe it's spark was diminished when the mother was killed. I back off, hearing Blurr. "See any spirit, or Decepticon?" he asked. I shook my helm, "Nothing so far, just frames" Blurr reported. "We have to find who it is" I say then notice there was something by my pede and stooped down and picked it up. It was a spark, and by the smell of it; it was still glowing.

 

I feel around with my digits and I heard the startled exclamation from Blurr. "What are you doing?!" he asked. I ignore him, focusing. Maybe if I can access this spark's core, I can see what happened. My digit buried into a space and I felt the core of it. Now all I have to do is, there. Instantly the thoughts came to me, fear and pain.

 

"An axe, wielded by a mighty  Cybertronian who betrayed. Warrior..." I stop and drop the spark. "Fatality" I whisper. "Fatality?" Blurr asked. "My father, he is the one who helped kill" I growled. I was in disbelief, my loving and gentle father, murderer of his own people? "But I doubt he was the spirit" I say. "Nobody can stay out of sight this long"

 

"Maybe they already moved on, wouldnt surprise me" Blurr said, shoulders clicking in a shrug. "Maybe so, but this is irritating" I growl. I hear a surprise yelp from Blurr and a thump, then a dragging sound and the pain calls for help from Blurr. I turned and sprinted for the mech and lunge, grabbing his servo. "What the Unicron Blurr?! What's happening?!" I ask.

 

I kept pulling to keep him from being dragged away by the unknown threat. "A trap, its a cord but bladed. Primus this hurts!" he groaned, his grip tightening a little. I heard the metal slowly cracking and circuitry buzzing as the bladed cord tightened as he was being pulled. "Can you see what's at the end?" I ask, wincing at the sound.

 

"No, its-" he cut off with a pained growl. I unsheathe by sword and draw the blade over where I think the cord is and stabbed down. I heard the sound of the metal sliding across the cord, "What is this thing made out of?!" I growl. Then my audials picked up sound, Seeker engines. Though not as loud, only one. Probably Bladeswipe.

 

My suspicions were confirmed as the Decepticon fem dropped down behind me. "Thought I'd find you here, looks like you guys are in a bind" she laughed. I hear Blurr hissing in extreme pain, and we had Bladeswipe to deal with. "This'll be two easy kills then" Bladeswipe laughed. I grip my sword's handle, "This might hurt a little Blurr" I said.

 

"Huh?" Blurr asked then, in one swipe, cut Blurr's leg off. Blurr let out a pained yell, I heard energon spurting from his leg. "I said it might hurt, sorry" I say, listening as the dragging of Blurr's amputated leg. I turn my attention on Bladeswipe, listening to her movement. I don't hear her walking so I hesitantly help Blurr up.

 

"Primus this hurts, guess its better then being dragged away" Blurr winced. "maybe a patrol wouldn't have been too bad" I say, having to help him stand by ducking under his arm and but it around my shoulders. I then turn my attention to Bladeswipe, I could smell her though couldn't hear her. "What's she doing?" I ask Blurr. "She's just standing there, I don't think she's looking at us" he said. I was about to say something when I hear the sound of a quick movement and Bladeswipe yelped in pain. "Get back!" Blurr said, so I back away from the sound. "What's happening?!" I ask. "I don't know, Bladeswipe is bleeding from her neck and struggling with something around her neck" Blurr said.

 

I scent the air but to my surprise I couldn't smell any other scents beside Bladeswipe, Blurr and energon. I felt Blurr wince, "It's the cord that was around my leg" he said. I flinch at the thought, the same bladed cord around Bladeswipe's neck and slowly killing her. I heard the choking sounds of Bladeswipe while she struggled with the cord.

 

The image of energon spurting, Bladeswipe's horrified look on her faceplate as the bladed cord tightened. I couldn't help but keep backing up from the sounds and sighed as everything went silent and the thud of her frame. "C'mon, lets see if whatever left your leg" I sigh, knowing the way since it was opposite from Bladeswipe.

 

"See it, Blurr?" I ask. "Wow, they left it. Maybe Ratchet can weld it back on" he said and I heard him pick it up, the limp leg making a squeak sound. "Let's get back to the jet" I say.

 

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After we had gotten back, Blurr got to Ratchet and Optimus was not happy about us going by ourselves. He said he had gotten reports from the patrol he sent that they had found a Decepticon with a bladed cord around her throat and neither of us were there. Of course that was when we had left, so he was about to either think us dead or MIA.

 

I had just stood there while he yelled at me, almost not caring. Afterward I had gone to somewhere to calm down, a cup of refined energon in my servo and sitting on one of the fountains in Iacon. It wasn't long before I heard uneven steps coming toward me. I wait for who it was, Blurr, to sit beside me. "Hey, Ratchet got my leg fixed" he said.

 

"Awesome" I say, trying to sound enthusiastic. "Still hurt by your sister's death?" he asked. I nod, "Yea, even though she was a Decepticon she was my sister and I loved her" I say. "It's hard to lose some people thats close to you" he sounded sympathetic. I nod, not saying anything more and taking a drink of my energon.

 

"Y'know, I was talking with Arcee a few minutes ago. She really thinks your cool, a bot to have a drink with. She also mentioned that you might need a distraction, and you're audial fins sure are nice" Blurr said the last part a little quieter. That caught me by surprise, then I straighten as I felt his digit run across the top of my fin.

 

It sent shudders down me, my processor told me to move away but my frame wouldn't. "See, Arcee wasn't kidding about the audial fins being one of the most sensitive parts on a Cybertronian" Blurr said, a light laugh in his voice. I felt my frame lean closer to him as his digit got closer to my helm as he traced it along my fin. I sound I never heard before in my life came from my frame, it sounded like the purr of my engine. Blurr chuckled though didn't say anything. I felt him lean over and he nuzzled my fiin though I felt a slight nip here and there that made my engine purr louder. This was weird in my processor though my frame seemed to know what it was.

 

Truthfully I didn't think Blurr was capable of this, maybe even the rest of the Autobots as well. The feeling of slightly warm metal against my audial fins sent me in shudders, maybe this was just natural. "This is probably the weirdest thing ever to you huh?" Blurr asked as he leaned back, lightly stroking my fins.

 

I nod, "Though it is something that does feel better than sitting here feeling sad" I say, shrugging. "A real distraction" I was getting a little tired with the feeling of his digit lightly running across my audial fins. I was still leaned against his side as I slowly go into stasis.

 

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I don't remember when I woke up, or how long I was out. But I was where I had fell into stasis, Blurr was there as well and also in stasis. We were where we had left off, and a sound was in my audials. I turn my head to the right and I couldn't smell or hear anything, perking my curiosity. I slowly stand up, making sure Blurr's arm didn't roughly hit the fountain as I did.

 

He was still asleep, and I was headed for the noise that sounded before the silence. I had to walk out of Iacon, and as soon as I did I didn't have a chance to hear the steps behind me as a servo clenched around my throat and slammed me against Iacon's wall. I couldn't cry out before my helm was slammed into the wall and I was falling slowly under nothing.

"You have to continue your training, Riptide. You are the next Cybertron Hunter" It was Swiftkill's voice.