Unintentionally

How You Remind Me

Eight months later, Dreadwing was deep in his investigation of what had happened to his brother, where he was taken and what was being done to Skyquake's body. He'd regularly return to the Comet Chaser to help Carbine who was steadily beginning to show her pregnancy more and more. Especially with twins growing inside her it just meant her frame increased in size twice as fast. She had begun to gripe about being unable to transform and was having difficulty consistently keeping energon in her tanks.

Hotrod was working on a good recipe for energon snacks that Carbine might have a chance at keeping down.

Despite his reluctance to leave without knowing what happened to Skyquake, they had to go to keep Carbine and the unborn twins safe at least until she had given birth and was capable of fighting again. Even though Dreadwing was learning all the abilities his super soldier modifications provided him that he didn't know he had until recently, he wasn't enough to keep his family safe. He was getting quite close with Chip and Hotrod was coming around to having Dreadwing around, but Jetstorm was keeping the mech at a wing length not allowing him to get too close.

One morning as the family was getting prepared to gear up to leave Earth, Dreadwing had to return to the Nemesis before they disappeared. They weren't quite ready yet and it looked like he might need to go back one more time after this.

Unfortunately for them, someone had spotted Dreadwing leaving Carbine's ship.

Wheeljack returned to the Autobot base, kicking up an absolute stink about how Carbine was a traitor.

"I'm serious! I think Carbine is up to something with the Cons!" Wheeljack protested. "I saw Dreadwing leaving her ship and nothing happened! No yelling, no blaster fire, no exploding! Just waltzed right out all calm and collected, like he owned the place! Then Shortstop came outside all happy to play! Jetstorm came out to watch the kid lookin all cool as a cucumber. No terror or distress! Nothin!"

"Riiiight." Arcee shook her head "why would Carbine join the Decepticons? Optimus is her brother."

"It's been some time since we saw her." Ratchet mused "While it is true we have seen Hotrod, Jetstorm and Chip on a nearly daily basis we have not seen Carbine in nearly six months. If we need assistance she simply sends Hotrod and Jetstorm along. While they are a great help they are nowhere near her level of experience or combat prowess."

"See! She's hiding something!" Wheeljack insisted

Optimus sighed "She was a prisoner of the Decepticons once as many of you know. She was the only survivor of Project Paragon. The experience took a harsh toll on her, she may have had a relapse. Thus I was giving her space to breathe and do what she needed to pull herself together again, as she prefers to be left alone during such times." The Prime looked at Wheeljack "If Dreadwing has found her, we will go investigate Carbine's ship to ensure her and her family's safety."

Much later Dreadwing was back at the comet chaser, helping Jetstorm and Hotrod move crates of energon onto the storage lift at the bottom center of the ship. This was the last of the energon they needed to finally safely leave the planet.

"You two did well. I'm sure your mother is very proud of you and all the effort you've put into collecting all of this." Dreadwing praised the two teens.

Hotrod smiled while Jetstorm rolled his optics trying to hide his smirk from receiving praise from Dreadwing.

Chip was inside with Carbine. The little mech had been given a very important task to distract his mother because she wanted to help and the three mechs wouldn't let her. So Chip was busy having her watch Disney movies and eat the special snacks that Hotrod made so that she could finally keep some fuel in her. Chip had his own snack but made sure that his momma kept eating her snacks. It was important that she got enough energy in her otherwise she'd be in very bad condition when they reached Spitfire and they didn't want that to happen. And the little guy took the mission his dad gave him very seriously.