NOTE: Thanks for The_Broken_Bird for her suggestions and help for this chapter and for the ones to come.

'Origin'

Chapter 2. Open space.

"So... Why did we need Bumblebee again?" FirstAid asked looking down through the thin openings, as three of them gabbled in the circulation system over the reck-room.

"See this panel down there," Jazz pointed at the wall in the room, "Serves as a cover to some cables that might need repairs. It is also the closest one to the energon-serving mashing but it's too narrow. We can't get through but Bee's the smallest - he can."

"That is insane..." The white-opticed whispered, "Letting him out in the open space-"

"There'll be no one here. Cameras in the reck-room still aren't functioning after the attack. The only risk is that Ah don't know how long will it take for 'Bots to come back."

"Insane, as I said..."

"Do you have better ideas?" Jazz received an annoyed look, "Ah, come on, lil' Bee's fast. Right, buddy?"

The youngest mechling gave a happy grin.

"Come on."

They started slowly making their way through the 'tunnel'. But there was a weird sound causing Bumblebee to stop and look at the oldest mechling gabbling in front of him.

"Jazz..."

"Yeh?" The silver mechling kept going and after a short moment of hesitation the younger followed, FirstAid behind him, "I think I heard someth- Ahhhh!"

There was a mixture of sounds breaking through the room full of monotonous talking. A metallic sheet broke down and collapse first on the table, shattering the cubes of energon, then on the ground. All 'Bots jolted up in alarm, attention at the table in the middle of the room.

Bumblebee groaned grabbing his arm, feeling the pressure in the joints of his peds too. He blinked several times trying to process what had just happened. He had felt ground disappearing under him and a scary feeling of a sudden fall-. The mechling's attention jolted up at his surroundings. He had landed on a table and his circulation-system trembled when he saw three mechs - one's jaw dropped, their optics widened staring at him. His helm jerked and optics stopped staring at the tallest, massive black-armored one - no 'Bot in the room making a move.

A sparkling?" Bumblebee failed to notice the confusing in the other mech's voice which made him jerk his helm again. Intakes still not working he followed the movement of the three's gazes as they all looked at the new gap in the ceiling, from where Jazz's and FirstAid's figures perked with horror written on their faceplates.

"BEE, RUN!"

And so he did.

Bumblebee moved his peds faster than ever before. He bolted from the table, older 'bots not having time to even think of any action. He ran passed towering figures who all looked the same at this level of speed and panic. He was on the ground, in the open area, in the corridors of the base - not behind the safe walls. He rushed through the door, huge figures proving his small size. His spark knocked inside of his chases, circulation system working fast.

Behind him, Jazz grabbed the edge of the opening and jumped down from the 'tunnel'.

"Warn others!" he ordered FirstAid who momently rushed for his task. They had been discovered- bots would search the base.

During his way down Jazz kicked his legs at one of the 'Bots, as they had been distracted by Bumblebee's escape, and slides between them following the youngest mechling. But as he speeded through, the movement in the room started, making him run even faster. Some servos almost grabbed him but he managed to dive away.

Bumblebee stopped at the turn seeing several figures and rushed back choosing another turn. He slowed down giving a short caught and looked around with a panicked realizing that he had no idea where to go. He needed to hide, to find a gap in a wall! Jazz!? Was he behind him?

"Bee, go!"

For a click mechling saw the figure of his friend running and that was enough to run himself again. He didn't know which way he had chosen. Was it the same again? No, that was another turn-

The mechling's head bumped hard, his optics shutting down for a moment. He felt the ground and onlined his sight again only to see a mech towering before him. He grubbed backwards on his four, turned and run even not having straightened. He rushed himself at Jazz, who stopped seeing the way blocked. The older mechling turned around to find an escape but another crowd of 'Bots made the retreat impossible.

Jazz clenched his dentals, his own spark ready to jump out of his chassis when the mechs around the two of them stopped at a short distance.

"Jazz?!"

Bumblebee whimpered pressing at the eldest' back as he faced the other direction with a fewer number of mechs. Jazz's narrowed his optics, their red light brightening with anger and warning to the huge mechs. His one servo was ready with a small knife in his grip, wild gaze proving that there will be no hesitation to use it. Another servo was grabbing Bumblebee's short form pressed behind him.

"Sparklings?! Here?!"

"That is insane!"

"Mech, he fell right from the ceiling!"

"Is he damaged?"

"Look at his optics!"

"He has a 'Con signature!"

"Silence."

Jazz's optics scanned the whispering crowd, the voice of a tall red and blue armored bot making them silent. By his side, a shorter red- armored mech stood quite with an amused smile that Jazz preferred to ignore. The third one was obviously a Praxian-

Just like Bluestreak... Jazz saw that cool emotionless faceplate and felt mech's optics scanning him. Testing him. Praxian looked away and signed to others. The crowd backed away and, giving a short glance back, Jazz saw the other mechs doing the same. But even with more space, Jazz refused to let his guard down. Having no idea what to do, with Bumblebee at his side, both of them being cornered was the worst scenario.

They have been discovered. And Jazz gripped his knife tighter.

He gave a slight jerk as the red-armored mech made a small move and slowed even more seeing the tension increase in the mechling's figure.

"Hey, there..." He smiled again stepping closer and kneeling down so to get the same optic level with the mechling,"I'm called Blaster..."

Jazz would not eat it.

"Sorry for all that chasing... You guys kind of surprised us-", but mech silenced for a click seeing youngling's expression darken even more.

"Look, mechling, we won't hurt you. Promise. How about putting that knife down so you won't mistakenly hurt yourself or your friend?.."

Once again Jazz would not eat it.

The mech started getting closer, "Come on. No need to be scared-"

And Jazz jerked.

He rushed forward when the Autobot got too close and aimed for mech's servo. 'Bot gasped as metal cut a wiring in his hand yet managed to grip young bot's servos before he could make worse. The mechling kicked hard and Blaster was frosted to land on the ground so to keep him under control.

"Jazz!" A scared and worried shout escaped the other mechling's vocalizes but when he run to his older friend's aid strong servos grabbed him from behind.

"Ahhh!"

"BEEhhh'!"

Jazz ignored everything around. He struggled under the weight and managed to bit the mech's digit making him let go of his servo. He punched hard in jaw and with the knife still in his hand fought himself free from the loosened grip rushing at the 'Bot holding his friend.

"LET GO OF HIM!"

But mech reacted fast. The knife flew away landing on the ground. Jazz attached anyway. Ruthlessly, with all strength he had left. Yet before the huge 'Bot almost left Bumblebee free, Jazz felt the strength pool him away. His peds kicked the air as he struggled and fought with rage. Roaring and threats leaving his vocalizes he refused to stop. He would never do that willingly.

"Hold still! Fool-"

"Calm down-"

"Grhaaaah!"

"Jazhh!"

"'Hide! You'll break him!"

"I'm trying to hold!"

"Let meh' go!"

"Take them to the med bay. They need to calm down."

Prime's sad optics followed Ironhide and Sideswipe leaving with the two still struggling mechlings in their grips.

"Primus..."

"This older one is just crazy..." Blaster voiced checking his damaged servo.

"He was trying to protect his friend... How is your hand?"

"Just a scratch."

"Let Ratchet have a look at it."

"Sir," Optimus looked at Prowl, "There was another youngling with them. And they also mentioned 'others'..."

Optimus nodded with a thoughtful gaze and they both looked at the panel covering the gap of the base's circulation system...

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