Stupid Snippet Because Stupid Muse is Stupidly Stupid
âHow many bitlets do you have?â Jazz asked as he looked at the three mechlings babbling excitedly up at the dour Praxian. Like their procreator, they were all Praxian, all different ages. The youngest of the sparklings, correction, sparklings and newling. The youngest was close to his upgrade from newling to sparklings but the little grey and red mech was still uneasy on his peds, the second, all over blue was sure on his peds, a late first tier sparkling, and was chattering in a mix of binary and Neo Cybex, the third, grey and blue with distinct golden faceplates was speaking in proper sentences but with the sweet, innocent accent of a sparkling, from the looks of him, he had approaching his second tier upgrades, which explained why he was not in school, but the time was coming soon.
âFour,â Prowl replied, guarded, the Polihexian realized, vulnerable. âFrom youngest, to oldest, Bluestreak, Skids, and Camshaft. My eldest, Smokescreen, is at school. Mechlings, these mech is one of my colleagues, Jazz.â
âHi!â Camshaft greeted him with unbridled enthusiasms, while Skids hid behind his procreatorâs legs.
âHiya bitlets,â the saboteur said, smiling at the brave, and the shy mechings. He looked to Prowl. âEveryone talks âbout how ya work insane joors, ân are always in yer office, but ya ainât, are ya?â
âNo,â The Praxian said as he leaned down and picked up his youngest. A panel on Prowlâs chassis slid back and the mechling latched onto the feeding line. It should not have been a vulnerable moment, but Jazz realized that it was. Prowl was looking away, looking as his creations, but at the same time not. Jazz was an intruder here. âI do work âinsaneâ joors, a mix of here and on base. The majority of my work is done via telecommuting.â
âHow did I not know?â Jazz asked, more to himself than to Prowl. âItâs my business to know everythinâ âbout everyone.â
âThe nature of my family is known only to two mech, three now, I suppose,â Prowl explained. âOptimus Prime, and Ratchet.â
âThe Raid on Tyger Pax, the one were ya saved our afts ân got yerself enlisted as a strat, these bitlets were with ya in the youngling centre Prime got cornered in,â the Polihexian guessed.
âI have always thought my actions there self serving, not the selfless heroics some have painted them to be,â the tactician said. âMy life, those of my creations and other young mechanisms were in immediate, lethal danger. I saved my life, and thereâs, Optimus Prime merely got lucky.â
âDid he ever,â Jazz let out a long vent, then asked. âAnything I can help ya, with, while ya take care of this lilâ mech?â
âCamshaft, please show Jazz to the fuel storage,â Prowl instructed. âI believe you and Skids would both like a snacks. Take a cube for yourself, Jazz.â
The Polihexian followed the happy little mech as he skipped into the alcove that served as the familyâs fuelling are.  Considering the number of mechanisms living in the habsuite, it was really quite small, though painstakingly neat. Tactical Officer to Special Operations or no, wages within the Autobots officers were generally low. Prowl likely could not, or felt like he could not afford a larger suite. Considering he had  kept his young family a secret, he probably would not have wanted to draw attention to himself by renting a habsuite anyways. Why the secrecy, Jazz wondered. Other Autobots had bitlets, the tactician would not be an anomaly, but the answer, the saboteur thought would not likely be forthcoming. Camsaft led Jazz over to the fuel cabinet, and in a feat of surprising strength, he managed to pull the door opened. He looked up at the Polihexian, optics glowing with pride.
âGood job, mechlinâ,â Jazz grinned as he gave the sparkling the praise he knew Camshaft was after. âSo what would ya like? Some gels? Some energon?â
âGels! Gelsâ Camshaft squealed excitedly. âBlue ones are my favourite, Skids likes pink ones. Bluestreak likes orâginâs fuel best.â
âBet ya did at his age too,â the Polihexian said. âWhat does your origin like best, Cam?â
âMid grade with copper and zinc,â the sparkling replied. âAnd rust sticks!â
âRust stucks, hâuh?â Jazz said. âWhy donât ya help me make up a lil plate for everybot to share?â
âYah!â Camshaft cheered. He showed the saboteur where the rust sticks were kept, and help Jazz arrange them... artfully... on the plate. When the snack was ready, and the adult mech had mixed two cubes, the carefully carried the plate over to his originator, who at this point was sitting on the plush couch. Bluestreak was half dosing at this point, though Jazz could here him continue to suck. Skids was tucked in tightly to his originatorâs side, watching the intruder suspiciously. Though at the sight of the plate of treats, he perked up.
âHope this is alright,â the saboteur asked.
âIt is, thank you,â Prowl replied.
âSit with me, Skids!â Camshaft called to his brother as he sat himself, and the plate down in a makeshift nest of blankets Jazz guessed was the mechlings preferred spot to rest as they watched holovids. Lured by the streets, Skids slid off the couch and sat with his brother in their nest and helped himself to one of the pink gels. Jazz took up his vacant place on the couch, but not near so close to Prowl. He handed the Praxian the cube he had mixed for him.
âIf secrecyâs what ya want Prowl, I ainât gonna blab,â Jazz said. âKeepinâ secrets is as big a part of my job as uncoverinâem.â
âThank you,â the Praxian replied. âI do wish my family to remain a secret. I do not want my commission called into question.â
âWhy do ya think thatâs a question?â The Polihexian asked. âYâer the best tactician to join the âBots. Yâer one of the big reasons weâre holdinâ our own.â
âI am their only procreator,â Prowl explained. He paused a moment and turned on the holo-imager. In an instant the chattering of the sparklings ceased and they became entranced by the cartoom playing. âThat is enough to call into question whether it is acceptable for me to risk my life by actively serving, despite the fact I do not attend battles. Bluestreakâs young age is another matter.â
âWhat happened to their âgenitor?â Jazz asked. If the other mech did not wish to answer, he would not press, but he need not have worried.
âI left him,â the tactician explained. âPraxus is Functionalist. Artists create art, musicians create music, strategists serve the Enforcers, or government, and originators bare creations. I have hyper-fertility. If I engage in interface during a procreo cycle I kindle. My arranged mate saw fit to use me as a broadcarrier. After four cycles, each resulting in a kindling, I knew I would die in emergence before he left me in peace, so I fled in the dark-cycle shortly after Bluestreak emerged.â
âTyger Pax shouda been a safe but the âCons thought they were buildinâ a super weapon,â the saboteur said.
âI prefer Iacon, and the Autobots,â Prowl replied. âI am able to use the abilities I have trained, with some anonymity.â
âYâre afraid of being discovered?â Jazz asked, his plating prickled. It was good then that Prowl had let him into the secret. If any mech made a move on the family, they would be quietly disposed of, no better mech to take care of those sorts of problems than him.
âLess than I once was,â the Praxian said. âIacon is actively opposed to Functionalism, it would be difficult for their progenitor to build a case. I am not altogether sure he would be bothered. Burning so many creations off of me was a matter of ego to him, he was less than concerned with our creations in general. Their care was entirely left to me, it was easy to slip away with them. Prior to being paired off with him, and my first carrying I served the Enforcers for vorns. Emerging sparkling after sparkling, raising endless creations was never what I planned for myself. I always wished to work It was a relief to return to some sort of service.â
âHe ever turn up, Prowl, gimme a comm ân heâll be gone,â the Polihexian promised. âYâer an Op, sorta, ân I take care âo Ops.â
âThank you, Jazz,â Prowl replied. âI do not believe that will be necessary, but should it be, I will take you up on your offer. My creations will not be raised Functionalist, and I will never go back.â