he takes the sparkling back to the base, though the sparkling is awful silent. as they get to the base, and Ironhide transforms, he holds the sparkling carefully.

"I didn't mean to scare you sparkling." Ironhide murmurs.

"scary story." Reflect mumbles.

"yeah... I know... I'm sorry. I don't know what possessed me to tell you that story. it was a stupid choice. I'm sorry little one. I never should've..." Ironhide sighs.

"but learn about Will." Reflect murmurs softly.

"yeah?" Ironhide ask.

"yes. Will very much love Ironhide. scared but not want leave him." Reflect murmurs, looking up at the mech. "Ironhide prove again and again that Ironhide love Will, but Will prove this story. Will never do before in story, but do this time." Reflect says.

"I see. so what you want is stories where Will shows he loves me back?" Ironhide ask. Reflect nods. "well trust me little one, Will loved me. he really did." he assures gently.

"but Ironhide never really tell stories that show." Reflect pouts.

"I will find more stories to share with you I promise. I will show you Will really loved me as well." Ironhide murmurs gently. he carries the sparkling to his room and sits down on the berth with him.

"Ironhide?" Reflect ask.

"yes little one?" Ironhide murmurs.

"anymore story?" Reflect ask. Ironhide snorts a little.

"uh sure... let me see. how about the time.... oh, how about the time Will and I went skating? skating is a human activity where they attach shoes with wheels onto their feet and move around at higher speeds." Ironhide says. Reflect looks a little confused, so Ironhide projects an image onto the wall. its an older memory clip file of Will, skating around the driveway, attempting to get used to the skates.

"ohh, skating." Reflect says watching. Ironhide smiles at the memory.

"well, they have buildings just for skating and Will and I went to one. its was interesting. Will made me put skates on it was awful. I didn't think it would be hard honestly, but I fell and busted my aft quiet a few times." Ironhide snorts. Reflect giggles. "but Will was a natural." he murmurs, the memory flashing onto the wall. Ironhide curses over the loud music, before the image slams towards the ground. it slowly lifts from the ground and lands on Will, whose laughing and skating towards him. he offers a hand out towards the holoform with a okay come on big guy. the projection cuts off and Ironhide smiles a little. "he fell and busted his face, almost broke his nose." he murmurs.

"ouch...?" Reflect ask.

"yes, very much for humans." Ironhide chuckles softly. Reflect nods a little, frowning.

"keep skating?" Reflect ask.

"nope. I rushed him straight to Ratchet." Ironhide chuckles softly. Reflect shivers.

"Reflect go to Ratchet? cold." he whines.

"do you want to go back to Ratchet?" Ironhide ask. Reflect nods. "then of course you can go back. come on." he murmurs, getting back up. he carries the sparkling back down to the medbay. Ratchet and Inferno both look up. "you good Inferno?" Ironhide ask.

"they're getting ready to wake Red up." Inferno murmurs. Ironhide nods a little and settles the sparkling down on a berth.

"what are you doing?" Ratchet ask.

"he doesn't want me. he wants you." Ironhide shrugs, turning and walking out.

"wh- Ironhide! did you not just hear Inferno? I'm- Ironhide!" Ratchet shouts after him. Ironhide ignores him. the sparkling wanted Ratchet. Ratchet sighs and looks over at Reflect. the sparkling looks back and immediately reaches for him. "Reflect I can't.... okay fine." Ratchet mutters when the sparkling pouts at him. he picks the sparkling up. "I guess I can have Optimus hold you while I jump start Red." Ratchet mutters.

"what about Sentinel?" Inferno asks.

"I'm going to wake Red and you'll take him to get settled. Optimus will wake Sentinel after Red leaves, I don't want to upset him anymore than waking up here already will." Ratchet frowns. "I easily jump started you others out of stasis lock, but Sentinel barely had a spark pulse. Optimus will have to do more than I can." Ratchet frowns. Inferno nods a little. "unless you wanted to be there." Ratchet says, looking up at him from the sparkling.

"no its fine. I'd rather be with Red Alert.... everythings been weird without him, I need him back." Inferno murmurs. Ratchet nods once.

"alright. come on sparkling, we better go get Red." Ratchet murmurs, carrying the sparkling out of the medbay. Inferno follows immediately. Reflect watches him over Ratchets shoulder, clutching his Ironhide toy.

"hey Ratchet!" Cade calls. Ratchet looks down.

"Cade Yeager?" Ratchet ask.

"um Bee said you guys were gathering in the uh, the, the N.E.S.T. base? to bring um... another Prime back to life? can I watch? Bee said I should ask you if you thought it was safe." Cade ask. Ratchet pauses a moment, thinking.

"yes. you can attend. I believe Sam is attending as well." Ratchet says, nodding. Cade grins at him and goes to follow in step.

"I can carry you if you'd like." Inferno offers. Cade glances at him warily.

"Inferno is safe, he will not drop or crush you Cade Yeager." Ratchet assures.

"uh, sure. thanks." Cade agrees hesitantly. Inferno crouches, putting his servo out for the man to step in, like he'd seen others do. he didn't want to just grab this human that was obviously unsure of this. Cade carefully steps into his servo, sitting down so he doesn't fall. he still isn't used to being carried around and had fallen from Bumblebee's grasp recently. the scout had caught him immediately and without causing injury, Cade just wasn't balanced in their servos yet like Sam had grown used to.

they continue on their way, Inferno carefully keeping an optic on Cade, but also making faces at the sparkling when he glances over Ratchets shoulder. Reflect giggles quietly.

"what are you giggling at?" Ratchet murmurs, turning his head a little to look at Reflect. the sparkling squeals some inaudible gibberish, carefully butting his head against Ratchets before nuzzling his head into the medics neck giggling. "I see." he snorts. he hears Inferno chuckle behind him, and turns his head just in time to see the other mech make a face at his sparkling. Reflect bursts into giggles again. "oh I see. Infernos making faces at you isn't he?" Ratchet chuckles.

"hey, he made faces first." Inferno smirks, scrunching his face at the sparkling. the sparkling squeals, giggling and cuddling up to Ratchet. "Ratchet can't save you from me squirt. I can keep making faces at you no matter how close you snuggle into him." Inferno teases. Reflect giggles, scrunching his face back at the bigger mech. "see, look at him making faces at me." Inferno says, pointing at the sparkling. Ratchet shakes his head.

"you probably deserved it Inferno." Ratchet snorts. Inferno huffs. Reflect shivers and cuddles closer to the medic as they get closer to the N.E.S.T. base. he's freezing. "don't worry, Wheeljack will be in here. I can hand you over to him." Ratchet murmurs gently. Reflect nods a little.

"okay." Reflect mumbles. "creator?" Reflect ask.

"yes?" Ratchet ask.

"why keep friends in separate building? why not keep in base?" Reflect asks, pulling back to look at him. Ratchet frowns a little.

"more room. if we took them into the base, they'd have to stay in the medbay until they woke up. well, if someone gets hurt I can't help them because the medbay is full." Ratchet explains.

"oh." Reflect nods. "well how come not just make bigger?" Reflect ask.

"because its a lot of work and time Reflect. its just easier to leave them in the N.E.S.T. base. you can talk to Hot Rod or Perceptor or even Inferno, it was warm in there. they were very well taken care of in there I promise." Ratchet assures. Reflect pops up over Ratchets shoulder to stare at Inferno.

"it was very warm Reflect. we didn't get cold or hot. we stayed well taken care of and protected in there. its alright." Inferno assures gently. Reflect nods a little, glancing at Cade.

"creator?" Reflect asks, not taking his optics off Cade.

"yes?" Ratchet ask.

"where did he come from?" Reflect ask, pointing at Cade.

"uh, I assume creators of his own." Ratchet says.

"no where. wake up and here." Reflect frowns.

"oh well, remember when you wanted to do nothing but sleep because Ironhide was stasis locked?" Ratchet ask. Reflect nods. "while you were doing that, Optimus got into a little bit of trouble." Ratchet explains.

"Optimus? but he Prime." Reflect frowns.

"even Primes get in trouble sometimes squirt." Inferno chuckles.

"Inferno is right. no one is perfect. Cade helped Optimus while he was in trouble." Ratchet explains. Reflect nods a little, watching Cade carefully.

"hi." Cade waves. Reflect makes a face at him and pulls back.

"don't worry Cade. he's skittish." Inferno assures.

"he smell funny. not like Epps or Sam smell, but like Jack." Reflect frowns, looking at Ratchet. the medic snorts.

"first, thats not nice Reflect. second of all, Cade is an inventor like Wheeljack. he probably smells like grease and oil." Ratchet assures.

"glue." Reflect says. "like Jack." Reflect adds.

"yeah, Jack does smell like glue a lot." Ratchet chuckles softly.

"uh, is it bad? do I really smell? I showered this morning." Cade frowns.

"Reflect has a sense of smell similar to mine. so yes you showered this morning, but Reflect hasn't learned to tune out certain smells, he can smell what you and Wheeljack were working on yesterday probably. do not worry Cade, that is just simply what you smell like. all humans have a different scent. since Sam has been here he's smelt of leather, car wax, and something else, but thats just his specific smell." Ratchet explains. Cade nods slightly.

"alright." Cade murmurs. "Reflect right? what are you going to do when you grow up?" Cade asks. Reflect looks confused.

"huh?" Reflect asks.

"what do you want to be?" Cade ask.

"Autobot." Reflect says, looking confused.

"no little one. like I'm a medic. Wheeljacks an inventor. Ironhide specializes in weapons. Jazz does communications. Prowl battle plans and logistics." Ratchet explains. Reflect pauses a moment to think.

"no know." Reflect frowns.

"he does a lot of things. he's been studying my old medical datapads and he's been helping Wheeljack in the lab," Ratchet says.

"medic, inventor, and Prime!" Reflect giggles.

"he's very smart." Inferno smiles. Reflect giggles, chewing on his servo happily. "but he is still just a sparkling." Inferno murmurs gently with a small smile on his face.

"having a kid in the middle of war... can't imagine that... raising Tessa without her mom was hard enough." Cade murmurs. "just lucky she's off at college." he murmurs.

"Jolt is at her leisure. don't worry. should she find danger, or danger find her, Jolt will alert Mirage. who is nearby. they will keep her safe and bring her to the base if need be." Ratchet assures, turning his head to look at Reflect. "you can't still be teething little one. your sparkling denta has already fallen out." Ratchet mutters. Reflect whines quietly, but doesn't pull his servo from his mouth. Ratchet shifts the sparkling to his hip gently and cuddles him as they walk over to Optimus.

"Cade Yeager? what are you doing?" Optimus asks.

"Ratchet said I could come watch." Cade says. Optimus frowns, taking his human charge from Inferno carefully. he puts the man up on his shoulder.

"while Ratchet is waking Red Alert you can stay with me, but once we go revive Sentinel Prime, you'll have to go stand with Sam and Epps." Optimus murmurs. Cade nods, settling on his shoulder happily.

"can you take the sparkling until Wheeljack gets here?" Ratchet asks, looking at Optimus. Optimus nods.

"sure, come here little one." Optimus smiles. Reflect pulls away.

"no!!!" Reflect screams, clinging onto Ratchet.

"its just Optimus, don't be like that." Ratchet murmurs, trying to pry the sparkling off him. "you were so happy to go to him before." Ratchet frowns. Reflect whines, before screaming again. "Cade will not hurt you." Ratchet assures.

"am I the problem? because I can go stand with Sam." Cade assures.

"there's no problem. he just hasn't had enough interaction with you to be comfortable. humans scare him." Ratchet mutters, prying the sparklings fingers from his armor carefully.

"I will hold you as far away from Cade as I can." Optimus assures, reaching for Reflect. Reflect seems hesitant, but reaches out for Optimus. the Prime takes him gently, settling him on his hip opposite the shoulder Cade is on. Reflect pulls his arms back, refusing to hold onto him. he doesn't want to risk touching this human he doesn't know.

"want daddy Jack." Reflect mumbles.

"I know, he will be here shortly." Optimus assures, patting his back gently. Reflect pouts.

"uh, he calls Wheeljack by human terms?" Cade asks, curious.

"we're not sure where he got it, probably Sam, but he was adamant Jack not be called his carrier since he was Allsparked not sparked." Ratchet mutters, leaning over Red Alert for one final look over. he didn't want another Hot Rod incident. "he adopted the human term for father." Ratchet adds.

"presumably because in human terms, the closest you have to bondmates, would be marriage. making Ratchet and I, his adoptive dads." Wheeljack grins, walking over. he reaches for Reflect, who immediately jumps into his arms.

"daddy Jack!" Reflect squeals, hugging his neck.

"tried to get him to call Ratchet papa, but he refused." Wheeljack chuckles. Reflect blows a raspberry.

"daddy Jack and creator." Reflect says firmly.

"okay okay you win." Wheeljack murmurs softly, nuzzling him gently. Reflect giggles, nuzzling back happily and reaching up to play with Wheeljacks headfins. the inventor chuckles softly, titling his head towards the sparkling gently to give him better reach. Cade swears he sees the faintest smile on the medics face as he stands over Red Alert. the medic casts a glance at his bonded and sparkling. he turns back to Red Alert.

"alright Prime, I'm ready." Ratchet says, looking at the Prime.

"fire away old friend." Optimus nods once. Reflect giggles happily, grabbing hold of Wheeljacks headfin. he's gentle. he knows the fins are sensitive, he'd chomped on one as a sparkling and Wheeljack had been in a lot of pain.

"don't let him take a bite of you, I'm already busy Jack." Ratchet warns.

"I won't I'm-" Wheeljack starts.

"I remember the last time you said that. kid bit into you and Ratchet spent three hours putting your headfin back together." Ironhide snorts walking over.

"Ironhide!" Reflect shouts, reaching for him. Ironhide takes the sparkling.

"me and Ratchet may be great, but Ironhide always wins." Wheeljack murmurs. Reflect giggles, headbutting Ironhide gently. its unusual behavior from the sparkling and it sends an actual shock through the mechs body. he swears he feels a pull on his spark. Wills trying to talk to him. it leaves Ironhide a little confused, and slightly dazed. the sparkling pulls back to grin into his optics. Ironhide looks confused at him, but the look is quickly gone when Red Alert sits up screaming.

"SENTINEL WE'RE-" Red Alert starts.

"hey hey, easy Red easy." Inferno murmurs, smiling at him a little. Red Alert goes quiet, looking around confused. "don't panic just relax." Inferno murmurs.

"its okay Red, we've got you, Inferno is going to take you in to the base to the medbay, I'll be in after we get Sentinel up again. alright?" Ratchet ask.

"wh-where are we?" Reflect asks, nervously.

"don't worry old friend. everything is okay. we will get you up to speed shortly." Optimus assures. Red nods hesitantly, letting Ratchet and Inferno help him up.

"get him inside and to the medbay." Ratchet says. Inferno nods, wrapping an arm around his bonded and helping him gently to the medbay. Reflect watches them go.

"who that?" Reflect asks.

"Red Alert... he's not who you were warning me about?" Ironhide ask. Reflect tilts his head in confusion, then wiggles down.

"lemme go!" Reflect pouts. Ironhide puts him down. he follows the sparkling over to Ratchet. the medic is standing beside Sentinels berth.

several of the others are standing around behind the berth. Optimus carefully places Cade with Sam and Epps.

"you three stay here alright? you'll be safe here. Sam you should stand back just a little more." Optimus murmurs gently, pushing him back gently with one finger.

"huh?" Sam asks.

"your contact with the Allspark could have adverse affects with the matrix." Ratchet frowns.

"it didn't the first time." Sam says, looking confused. Ratchet looks over.

"yes well last time we were in the middle of Egypt in the middle of the desert with nothing around. this time we are in a confined metal box, now please stand back." Ratchet snaps. Sam jumps a little, stepping back quickly. Reflect grabs hold of the berth, attempting to pull himself up and see, but Ratchet pushes him back gently. "no no little one. don't climb up there. go stand with Wheeljack." Ratchet murmurs gently, patting his head. Reflect pouts, but lets go of the berth.

they gather around once Red and Inferno are out, but Reflect stares at Ironhide. the weapons specialist wants to pay attention to Optimus, but his optics are drawn to the sparkling standing next to Ratchet. the sparkling refuses to break eye contact, Ironhide looking confused. he frowns, but feels the tug on his spark again. he remembers Wills words if the sparkling starts acting up randomly, just trust him okay? Ironhides optical ridges furrow, but he nods once at the sparkling. he trusts the sparkling. Reflects Prime mark and optics flash slightly and the sparkling nods back.

he finally turns to face the berth as Optimus tosses the Matrix from servo to servo.

"Sentinel Prime, we-" Optimus starts bringing the Matrix closer. Reflect immediately screams as loud as he can, gripping the sides of his helm. his Prime mark is flashing a bright light and he drops to the floor. he's kicking and screaming rolling in the floor.

"Prime! stop! you're hurting Reflect!" Ironhide shouts, running towards the sparkling. Optimus pauses immediately to look over. Ratchet and Wheeljack are already knelt next to the screaming sparkling.

"Ratchet whats going on?" Optimus asks.

"no idea. his Allspark energy readings are off the chart, he's obviously in pain." Ratchet says. "Reflect, Reflect little one. please. listen its okay. its okay little one. you have to calm down. let me see. let me see." Ratchet murmurs. the sparkling is still screaming, gripping the sides of his head and flailing.

"SSSSTTTOOOOOPPPP!!!!" Reflect screams, finally curling up. "HURTING!! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!" Reflect screams as loud as he can. there's an awful scraping sound. he's digging his digits into the sides of his head. the sparkling is sobbing and screaming.

"its okay little one." Wheeljack murmurs gently. "its okay." Wheeljack soothes gently.

"don't touch Sentinel. we've got to get him to the medbay now." Ratchet says, scooping Reflect up.

"what?" Sam asks, watching.

"the further from the Matrix the better!" Wheeljack shouts, running out after Ratchet. Ironhide immediately follows them.

when he gets to the medbay the sparklings screams have quieted down to whimpers and Ratchets looking his helm over. he's sitting on Wheeljacks lap, the inventor cuddling him gently.

"what happened in there?" Ironhide ask.

"no idea." Ratchet murmurs. "but whatever it was caused him to dig gouges into his head." Ratchet mutters, motioning to the sparkling. they're not deep, but when Ironhide looks over he can see five gouges on the side of the sparklings head. he's positive there are five more identical marks on his other side. the sparkling snuffles, wiping at his cheeks.

"oh its okay little one. I know Ratchet will get you fixed up." Wheeljack assures nuzzling him gently.

"his little mark was flashing." Ironhide murmurs, walking over to the sparkling.

"probably an adverse reaction to the Matrix. we were expecting a reaction from Sam because Will had had one previously, but I never expected..." Wheeljack frowns, cuddling the sparkling.

"no one did Jack." Ratchet mutters. he crouches gently in front of the sparkling rubbing his cheek gently. "okay baby, I'm gonna get you all fixed up alright? its not gonna be fun or comfortable, but I'll get you fixed up." Ratchet murmurs. Reflect whines quietly.

the medic is quick, and careful, as always. he stands, replacing the sparklings helm and kissing his forehead gently.

"you're done." Ratchet murmurs gently, rubbing his cheek carefully. Reflect sniffles and reaches for him gently. "okay." Ratchet murmurs, taking him. he rubs the little sparklings back gently. he's trembling and whimpering quietly.

"now what? he can't be there for this." Wheeljack frowns.

"one of us can stay with him." Ratchet says.

"I think we should wait a few days before we wake Sentinel." Ironhide murmurs.

"no. no. I'll stay with him." Wheeljack says. Reflect screams, hanging tightly to Ratchet.

"I don't think he likes that idea." Ironhide murmurs. Reflect whines and looks over at Ironhide. "I'll keep him." Ironhide says, reaching for Reflect the sparkling seems hesitant, but goes to him after a minute. "go on, we'll be in my room." Ironhide murmurs, carrying him off quickly.

he shuts and locks his door immediately upon entry, before setting the sparkling on the berth.

"Reflect. Reflect is that the bot Will was warning you about?" Ironhide ask. Reflect whines quietly. Ironhide nods a little. "okay, okay can you... I need to..." Ironhide trails.

"take a nap." Reflect murmurs, in a tone almost like Wills.

"yeah. yeah." Ironhide murmurs. Reflect nods a little.

"I curl up too." Reflect murmurs. Ironhide nods a little and lays with him.