the two rush to the medbay. Barricades holding his face, still sitting on the berth. Ratchet is standing directly in front of him with a wrench in his servo, pulled back and ready to hit Mudflaps and Skids as hard as he can. the medic doesn't take kindly to others hurting his patients. Frenzy's unconscious form has been moved to sit beside Barricade, probably for the little cons safety.

"what is going on here?" Ironhide demands. all four look over at him. "get your fucking acts together damn it! this is a place of fucking medicine, damn it. Frenzy, Barricade, and Reflect are in here healing. what the fuck do you think you're doing causing trouble in here!?" Ironhide damans, passing his sparkling to Ratchet.

"he's a Con-" Mudflaps starts.

"he's an ally." Ironhide snaps.

"everyone relax." Optimus says firmly, walking in. "Mudflaps, Skids, you two come witth me. you will leave Barricade and Frenzy alone." Optimus orders.

"but Prime-" Skids starts.

"and if you cannot follow my advise to leave them alone, I will leave you for Reflect to deal with when he wakes up and I assure you he will not be as kind about it as I am, however if you'd like to deal with Reflect-" Optimus starts.

"no thanks, I'd rather have brig time." Skids grumbles, following Optimus. his twin immediately follows. Ironhide scoffs.

"Reflect isn't that bad." Ironhide mutters.

"Ironhide, don't get me wrong, I love Reflect I really do. he's my sparkling. I love him, but I would literally rather face down Megatrons canon." Wheeljack frowns. Ironhide whips around and glares at the inventor.

"you're lucky you're holding my sparkling." Ironhide growls. the sparkling in Wheeljacks arm squeals angrily at him, kicking at his armor. Ironhide smirks. "you tell him baby. don't you let him insult your carrier like that." Ironhide smirks. the little mechling glares at the inventor. the sparkling smacks at Wheeljacks servo, growling.

Ratchet snorts, amused, looking down when the sparkling in his arm chirps, squirming.

"what?" Ratchet murmurs, shifting her gently. she chirps again, wiggling.

"what happened in here?" Ironhide frowns.

"I stepped out to go to the storage room. don't know why the twins were in here, but they saw Barricade and Frenzy. we're lucky Barricade got to Frenzy before they did." Ratchet frowns turning to look at the minicon. Barricade is carefully watching Frenzy, but looks up to meet the medics gaze.

"didn't hurt him did I?" Barricade frowns.

"I'm sure he's fine but I will take another look at him when I move him back to his own berth." Ratchet assures. the sparkling in his arm chirps louder, squirming again. "what? what do you want?" Ratchet frowns.

"that one is the femme, correct?" Barricade ask.

"yes it is. she's getting a little fussy." Ratchet murmurs, shifting the sparkling again. "probably because he feels Reflect nearby." Ratchet says.

"she wants Barricade." Ironhide mutters.

"and how do you know that?" Ratchet ask. Ironhide motions to his sparkling.

"she's trying to face him." Ironhide says. "she hears a lot better than we do. she can probably hear him sitting beside you." Ironhide shrugs. Ratchet frowns a little turning to face Barricade. the sparkling settles, bright green optics staring at Barricade, though all three mechs know she can't see him.

"thats fine, here, you hold her and I'll move Frenzy, look him over again." Ratchet says. Barricade nods and takes the little sparkling. she cuddles up to him immediately.

"whatever it is Reflect sees in you, she can sense it." Wheeljack says. Barricade looks down at the little sparkling watching her.

"she's very happy for a blind spakrling." Barricade murmurs.

"well thats because she and her brother aren't even two days old yet and are spoiled." Ratchet says, carefully scooping up Frenzy. Barricades optics are immediately on him, watching him carry his little partner back over to his own berth.

"I don't think those two will give you anymore trouble, Optimus is putting out a notice that a new neutral is on base. he's calling you two neutrals until Reflect wakes up." Ironhide says, walking over to his bondmates berth. he leans back against it carefully. it made the sparklings feel better in Reflects presence but it also made him feel better to be in his bondmates presence. he gently places a servo over on of Reflects laying on the berth. he looks up when his sparkling chirps. the little femme purrs, curling up in Barricades arm happily.

"don't dig yourself into my armor too hard, I've still got some sharp edges." Barricade frowns a little. the sparkling purrs quietly and yawns.

"she'll be alright." Ironhide assures. "might scratch her armor but it won't hurt her." he adds. the sparkling settles down into a light recharge for a nap. the little mechling is still wide awake in Wheeljacks arm, growling. daring the inventor to make another comment about his carrier. Wheeljack gently tickles the little mechlings chin.

"okay, I get it you're angry with me." Wheeljack murmurs, rubbing his cheek gently. the sparkling snaps at his finger growling. "oh yeah you are definately your carriers sparkling." Wheeljack snorts, nuzzling him.

"don't pick on him. he will bite you." Ironhide warns.

"you've found out already? Ironhide, he's only a few hours old, barely a day old." Ratchet snorts.

"no, he bit his sister." Ironhide mutters, walking over to the little femling Barricade is holding. he gently grabs her little arm and turns it. there's little gouges in her arm from her twins denta. "little bastard latched on and wouldn't let go. Reflect had to flick him. he's got a temper." Ironhide snorts. he lets her arm go gently and she immediately pulls it back to her, curling up more against Barricade. Ironhide steps away from them, back over to his bondmate. his servo goes back to rest on Reflects again silently.

"he's okay. he didn't get hurt again." Ratchet assures, looking over at Barricade.

"good. I didn't think before I grabbed him." Barricade mutters, rubbing the little sparklings leg when she twitches in her recharge.

"well, it was lucky you didn't hurt him, but he's alright. he'll be fine." Ratchet assures. Barricade nods.

"so whats the next plan of action then?" Barricade frowns, looking around. the three Autobots look between each other.

"getting you a room." Ironhide says. Barricade turns his head to look behind him. "but first, we're gotta get the target off your back. you're neutral until Reflect wakes up and makes his final choice, so lets get that fraggin' 'Con symbols off you." Ironhide says, reaching forward to flick the one on the mechs forehead. Barricade glares at him.

"Ironhides right. without the symbols the target of a Decepticon being in the Autobot base decreases." Ratchet frowns, walking over to him. "I can get them off. grind over them to remove traces of it and flatten the spots out. we'll leave you without a symbol. hopefully it'll help lessen the risks of the Decepticons attacking if you're presenting as neutral." Ratchet says. Barricade glances up at him. "course its your choice." Ratchet adds, leaning back away from him.

"I don't need them anymore." Barricade says. Ratchet nods once.

"alright, well, lets get them off you." Ratchet nods, heading to get his tools. Barricade nods a little and turns on his berth to hold the sparkling out to Ironhide.

"it was probably time I got them out of here anyway, before they wake Reflect." Ironhide mutters, swooping his sparkling up. she snuggles closer, not waking, and the mech smiles at her, before reaching for her brother. he immediately reaches for Ironhide, letting his creator take him. "come on you two." Ironhide murmurs.

he heads out of the medbay and towards the rec room. being around his friends will help drive the thoughts of Will dying away from his mind. '

Ironhides almost immediately stopped when he walks in.

"oh wht? its here? no one told me you guys had the sparkling, excuse me, sparklings." Inferno grins, just barely managing not to bump directly into Ironhide.

"yeah, they're here." Ironhide murmurs. Inferno reaches for one of the sparklings, pauses.

"may I?" Inferno ask. Ironhide nods passing his son over.

"sure, just be gentle." Ironhide murmurs. Inferno takes the little sparkling.

"hello little one." Inferno murmurs, moving to let Ironhide into the room. Ironhide craddles his daughter gently, walking into the rec room. "how's Reflect?" Inferno ask, watching him.

"Ratchet knocked him out in the medbay because he refused to sleep." Ironhide snorts. Inferno chuckles softly.

"still stubborn as ever then." Inferno murmurs. he looks down at the sparkling in his arm, who watches him curiously, before squealing at something beside him. Inferno looks over to see Sideswipe sipping a cube. "well, I think I've been veto'd out of hold him. here Sides, he wants you." Inferno snorts, holding the little mechling out. Sideswipe looks over and smiles, putting his cube down.

"of course he does, I'm awesome." Sideswipe grins, taking him gently. "hello cutie." Sideswipe smiles, nuzzling the little sparkling gently. he squeals, giggling happily. it wakes his sister, who Ironhide carefully passes to Inferno.

"she's blind, be gentle." Ironhide frowns.

"I will." Inferno assures gently. "I'm the one who figured out Red was deaf remember?" Infenro asks, smiling at the little femme. he knows she can't see it, the smile at her is just instinctive. the little femme chirps her call, which her twin immediately answers excitedly.

"aww they already do the twin search." Sideswipe grins. "I remember when Sunny and I used to do that." Sideswipe snorts.

"she does it more than he does, but it probably because she can't see." Ironhide murmurs.

"thats alright. you're so cute." Inferno chuckles softly. she chirps quietly at the new voice.

"thats inferno little one. don't worry about him." Ironhide assures gently. the sparkling chirps happily, cuddling up to Inferno quietly.

"you're so full of energy." Sideswipe laughs, cuddling the little mechling. the sparkling is squealing and giggling happily. Ironhide watches him a moment, before narrowing his optics in confused thought. its almost as though... Will is calling for him again. like he used to when Reflect was a sparkling. but that was impossible... wasn't it? "Ironhide you okay?" Sideswipe ask. Ironhide shakes his head.

"uh... Sideswipe you and Sunstreaker keep the sparklings for a little bit. somethings wrong with Reflect." Ironhide mumbles, turning and leaving the room quickly.

"that was weird. wonder what happened." Sideswipe says, looking over at Inferno.

"doesn't matter, you heard him, until he comes back, the sparklings are ours." Sunstreaker grins, swooping in and stealing the sparkling from Infernos arms. "mine now cutie." Sunstreaker smirks. Sideswipe snorts.

Ironhide slips into his and Reflect room and lays on the berth, immediately settling into recharge.

~

he sits up confused, he's in his and Reflects room still. everything seems normal, had his recharge cycle failed?

"what in the hell?" he mutters.

"hey." Will murmurs. Ironhide turns around. they're in their holoforms, of course they are. how had Ironhide not noticed that before?

"what are we doing here? you're supposed to be resting." Ironhide frowns. "I thought this would stop when you aged up....?" Ironhide ask.

"I wanted to show you something... now this isn't a dream Hide, this is a look into the furture. the Primes decided you needed this after I did a little begging. they can't see us, but we can see them, alright? so come on." Will murmurs. he walks straight through the door and Ironhide hesitantly follows after, afraid he might slam in to it, but he passes straight through like Will.

"what is it you want to show me?" Ironhide asks, looking around. "how far into the future are we? everything looks so... different." Ironhide ask. Will smiles a little.

"the twins are midstage youngling years, so quite a few years." Will murmurs. he leads Ironhide to the rec room.

"woah, weird to... see myself sitting in a chair." Ironhide murmurs. Will smiles.

"just... just watch." Will murmurs softly. "you'll understand Hide, I promise." Will smiles a little. Ironhide nods and follows his gaze back over to his future self.

Ironhide sits in his chair sipping his cube.

"creator!" a voice shouts. he looks amused, shaking his head and lowering his cube slightly.

"there's my girl." he chuckles.

Ironhide turns to watch a bot come running straight into the rec room, missing him and Will by inches. Will probably knew where for them to stand.

the bot stops right in the middle of the rec room. Ironhide watches her a moment and whistles loudly. the bot grins and turns running towards him.

"hey kid, you better cool it on the shouting, you wake your carrier and he's going to have a fit." Ironhide snorts.

"sorry, I wanna show you something!" she grins. Ironhide chuckles. "what is it you want to show me?" Ironhide ask.

"her optics are a darker green than before..." Ironhide murmurs.

"shhhh." Will chuckles.

"look! look! Wheeljack made me a new set of optics today!" she grins.

"yeah? what can you see with these?" Ironhide ask.

"well, I have to readjust to them, you know how it works creator." she huffs, rolling her optics with all the attitude of her carrier and Ratchet. "but Wheeljack says it'll help with my abilities." she squeals, bouncing up and down excitedly.

"you're always so happy kid." Ironhide murmurs.

Ironhide stares a moment, before looking over at Will.

"you wanted me to see she was happy?" Ironhide asks softly.

"hey, you two can't be here." Reflect whispers softly.

"huh?" Ironhide ask, when he and Will turn to look at each other.

"wasn't me." Will shrugs a little.

"actually it was." Reflect frowns."

Will and Ironhide share another glance with one another, before they look up. Reflect is staring directly at them.

"don't look at me like that. just because you forget this happens Ironhide, doesn't mean I do. come on, back to the room. I'm the only one who can see you." Reflect murmurs.

they follow him back to the room and Reflect puts them on the berth. he crouches down and smiles.

"I see no amount of convincing can change the future." Reflect teases. "me, the Primes, Optimus, you're still not convinced she's happy?"

"actually I skipped the Primes and went straight to this step. seems extreme, but you know how he is." Will smiles, turning to look at Ironhides holoform.

"I'm lost." Ironhide mutters, staring up at his bondmate. he looks back and forth between Will and Reflect.

"I know. I know. just another of my abilities, though you discovered it faster than I did, wonder how that'll change things around here." Reflect chuckles softly. "look Ironhide, I know you're worried about E- uh, her but don't worry. she's happy. you saw her. she doesn't let being blind stop her and every few years or so Wheeljack upgrades her optics. she'll never see like you and me, but she does see in her way."

Ironhide nods a little.

"I just... I want to make sure... there's so many worries I have for her, I don't for him." Ironhide murmurs.

"I know, thats why I brought you here. to see they're both happy." Will murmurs.

"he's happy too then?" Ironhide ask.

Reflect nods.

"we have two very happy, very healthy younglings. Ironhide. I promise you this. they're very happy, but both of you need to list to me okay? when he comes to you to tell you something important, listen to him. don't fight him. we did a good job, but I've gotta make sure, he's happier now than he was before." Reflect murmurs.

both look confusedly at each other before back to Reflect.

"we will. we'll listen to him. he's our sparkling." Will murmurs.

"we'll be careful." Ironhide soothes. "I just wanted to know they were happy." Ironhide says.

"don't worry about that, trust me here when I say you're both very good parents. you make very good choices and these two grow up to be great bots...." Reflect murmurs. he chuckles softly. "and we do this more than once. so trust me, I've seen further into the future. they're both very happy. in their early adult stages they find bondmates and live happily." Reflect assures.

"good!" Will grins.

"what about Cade and Sam?" Ironhide ask. "if we're this far in the future...." Ironhide trails.

Reflect frowns a little, before giving a small smile.

"they're... not dead if thats what you're asking. they're still here. though, Tessa's gone. you'll see. you two go now."

"thanks." Will smiles. he looks over at Ironhide. "go be with our sparklings baby. make sure they're happy." Will smiles.

~

Ironhide jerks up, rubbing his head.

"that was weird." he murmurs. he gets up and heads for the main room, but the twins have taken off with his sparklings.

"where are my sparklings?"

"safe and sound Hide, no worries, we're in our room. Sunny wanted to paint. she passed right out and he's half asleep."

"okay."

Ironhide heads out to the twins room quickly.

he doesn't even knock, just simply lets himself in.

"hey." Sideswipe smiles.

"hi. give me those." Ironhide says, snatching his sparklings. "thanks." he mutters, turning to leave quickly.

"okay bye." Sideswipe snorts.

Ironhide carries the sparklings down the hall.

"you two are going to be amazing... weird we weren't allowed to see you little one." Ironhide says, looking at the little mechling.

Hide..?

baby? what are you doing awake?

the best part about those dreams is they charge me up faster. I'm fully rested and ready to go.

okay, I'll come down and get you.

Ironhide heads towards the medbay.

"Ironhide-"

"I know, he commed me. something about a deal with the Primes. he's rested and ready to be up."

"alright. you're on your way to get him then?"

"yup."

Ironhide hums softly to the little mechling, walking into the medbay.

"where are my sparklings." Reflect mumbles, sitting up.

"right here. relax. I walked down here just as fast as I could." Ironhide snorts. he holds the mechling out ot Reflect, once the mech stands. Reflect takes him no question, smiling a little. Ironhide would still need a little time, but he'd learn to loosen up on their daughter eventually.

"hows Barricade and Frenzy?" Reflect ask.

"we're fine." Barricade mutters. Reflect looks over. Barricades laying on his back staring up at the ceiling of the medbay. "he'll live and your medic finished patching me up and removing unnecessary parts, so I'm good too." Barricade muttters. Reflec tlooks a little confusde, but nods. Ironhide motions his arm, where Barricades Decepticon symbol used to be. Reflect immediately nods.

"so you've swapped teams?" Reflect smiles.

"they said its not offical until you say it is." Barricade murmurs.

"its official. you're an Autobot if you want to be or an neutral if you want to stay like that." Reflect nods in reassurance. "whatever you'd like Barricade, we're just glad to have you here and in one piece." Reflect assures.

"Ratchet is Reflect awake?"

"Prime? yeah whats up?"

"Mirage has run into some trouble and I am a little busy with the Dinobots, can you send him to meet with Mirage?"

"I will try, but he just had two sparklings Optimus. I doubt he's going to want to leave."

"then Ironhide can travel with him, you as well if the sparklings have to go along, its not dangerous. just needs some settling."

"sure."

"hey, kid, you ready for a mission?" Ratchet ask. Reflect looks over, confused.

"huh?" Reflect ask.

"Optimus is sending you some coordinates to meet up with Mirage. he was afraid you were in stasis so he ask me. you, me, and Ironhide will head out to meet MIrage, he's gotten himself in trouble but isn't in danger. we'll take the sparklings and some cubes so you know they're safe. alright?" Ratchet ask. Reflect stares at him quietly for a moment.

"YOU EXPECT ME TO WHAT!?" Reflect growls, hugging his sparkling tightly.

"easy baby, easy." Ironhide soothes gently. "we're taking the sparklings with us." Ironhide assures gently.

"IF YOU THINK FOR A SECOND MY SPARKLINGS ARE LEAVING THIS BASE-" Reflect starts.

"hush." Ironhide says firmly. Reflect glares at him. "you're bringing me and ratchet and Wheeljack will sit with Barricade and Frenzy. I'll even get the twins to sit out front and keep them safe. me and Ratchet will handle the sparklings you handle the Prime duties. don't worry." Ironhide assures. Reflect looks almost enraged.

"I haven't even seen Mirage since I was their size." Reflect growls.

"thats fine Mirage has been brought up to date on this now come on this is important." Ironhide growls. Reflect growls, but hands his daughter over.

"you keep my babies safe and secure or I'll kill both of you." Reflect growls.

"I know, I'll keep the sparklings, Ratchets just here for safety." Ironhide assures.

"fucking idiot." Reflect snaps, heading out of the medbay.

the drive shouldn't be a long one, but with Reflect being angry and the sparklings whimpering or occasionally whining, the ride seems to take forever. the 45 minute drive seems to take all day, but they eventually roll up to the abandoned warehouse Mirage had given the coordinates to.

they don't immediately transform, Mirage had alerted them the problem was human. Mirage is transformed and waiting anxiously, a young man standing nearby. Reflect frowns, transforming and skidding to a stop.

"hey, man Prime sent you?" Mirage asks.

"I am a Prime." Reflect growls, marching over to them.

"oh hell." the man mutters, lifting the metal pipe in his hands over his shoulder.

"if you swing that at me, Ironhide will kill you." Reflect warns the man.

"holy shit man! get the fuck back!" get back!" he shouts. Reflect looks amused, crouching in front of him.

"alright, what happened Mirage? how did you get discovered?" Reflect ask.

"get this shit bro, this dude, stole me from where Tessa parked me." Mirage says. Reflect looks down at the man.

"you hotwired him I'm guessing?" Reflect asks amused.

"yeah." Mirage frowns.

"alright Ratchet, you heard him, better look him over." Reflect frowns. the medic transforms on his sparklings command and walks over towards Mirage. Reflect looks back down at the man in front of him, still clutching the large metal pipe. "whats your name kid?" Reflect ask. the man just stares at him." Ironhide?" Reflect asks. the black truck rolls forwards, rolling his windows down.

"Noah Diaz." Ironhide says. Reflect nods.

"Noah then, my name is Reflect and... well this is probably a lot for you, but you kind of deserve it for trying to steal my friend here." Reflect says, motioning to Mirage.

"oh... I-I don't I..." Noah manages, chest heaving.

"easy easy. no need to hyperventilate. don't have a panic attack. just breathe a little man. we're not going to hurt you. we are, however, gonna have to take you with us. sorry." Reflect says, shrugging a little. he scoops the man up easily.

"h-hey! hey!" Noah yelps.

"alright come on, guess he's got to go back to the base with us while we figure out how Optimus and I want to handle this." Reflect says. "is Mirage good to go?" Reflect asks, turning around.

"he's good." Ratchet mutters.

"then we're heading back to the base." Reflect says.

"kidnap! hey!" Noah shouts.

"didn't you hotwire and steal Mirage?" Reflect asks. Noah snaps his mouth shut as Reflect transforms around him. the human ends up in his front passenger seat.

"why are you doing this?" Noah asks, hesitantly. Reflect throws a seatbelt around him, he doesn't want the man hurt.

"because now that you know about us, we have take you to see some people from the government." Reflect says.

"what?! oh shit, I'm dead aren't I? you're gonna kill me! the government is-" Noah starts.

"no, but nice try. lets start from the beginning okay?" Reflect ask. "and you can stop searching. I can see all over the cab and my voice is coming from the radio." Reflect snorts.

"uh..." Noah trails.

"my name is Reflection Prime, Reflect for short, and I am secondary leader of the Autobots. secondary to Optimus Prime. he's primary leader of the Autobots." Reflect says.

"whats an Autobot?" Noah asks hesitantly.

"autonomous robotic organisms." Reflect says. "from the planet Cybertron." Reflect adds.

"giant... giant robot cars?" Noah manages.

"eh whatever. we're not going to hurt you, just relax. now, why did you try to steal Mirage?" Reflect ask.

"I was going to sell him." Noah mutters. he licks his lips hesitantly. "I need the money, my brothers sick." Noah adds.

Ironhide, fact check?

Kris Diaz according to Noahs military file.

whats up with him? he actually sick?

yeah, his brother has something called Sickle Cell Disease.

a red blood cell disorder.

its painful according to the internet, kids 11.

"Sickle Cell Disease huh?" Reflect ask. Noah tenses up immediately.