Knockout entered the rec room quietly, his usual, standard smirk in place. He didn't even know why he was smirking but didn't really care. Looking around in the room he was satisfied to see few bots.
First was Ironhide, drinking a cube of warm energon and cleaning his huge blaster. His blue optics fixed on his job like there was nothing more important than that. Knockout was just happy he was all too busy to pay any mind to him.

Then slightly away, a yellow and black scout was chatting away with Hound. The two young bots looking very relaxed and happy, so happy Knockout almost snorted. How could bots be so carefree during a war? Sparklings in adult frames, they seemed.

The last two bots were though what he had interest in. The two doorwinged bots, especially the older, red and blue mech. With Prowl away, the resources on their way and the project going just like he wanted, this was a golden occasion. So Knockout started approaching them.
"Hey Smokes, you up for a game? ' he asked. Smokescreen didn't like him, or trust him, but would gamble with him. It was the best way he had to know him.
His question immediately had the junior tactician look up to him, his optics glinting. He was interested. Good. But before he could speak, and Knockout was sure he would agree, the youngest mech piped up.
"Smokey sir- Prowl does not want you to gamble. He'll get angry and you'll get in the brig for so long and-" he started rambling worriedly. Knockout blinked. Did he say sire? He knew Prowl was protective, had feared him to dismantle him for changing Blue in a seeker, but didn't think it was proper sire creation bond. With both, even.
If he tried something with them he was fragged.

Smokescreen's voice shook Knockout out of his really miserable thoughts on the painful, long death at the SiC's servos that was expecting him.
'Aw come on Blue. " he was saying rolling his optics ' Prowl isn't here! It's just a small game. Just don't be a snitch."
Bluestreak pouted and stood, leaving them, while Knockout sat better on the chair. Smokescreen took out his cards and smirked. There was nothing friendly in that smirk. Knockout forced himself not to mind as the game began.

Three games and sixty credits lost later Knockout was sipping some dubious looking high grade, leaning on the chair as he watched Smokescreen grin, his smile becoming more genuine at every sip.
"You're not that bad. ' the Praxian giggled softly and smiled, looking at him " but I am the king of gambling, and that's truth!"
Knockout snorted not saying anything but a derisive, muttered " you will see", though he had almost no credits left and so could not play anymore. He was distantly glad his shift was a night one and he would have time to process this high grade.
Speaking of high grade.
"Mech... Where did you even get this? It's amazing. ' he murmured softly, giving him a small grin. " didn't know you were good at brewing as well.'
Though Smokescreen shook his helm, the pleased grin on his face told him he got the reaction he wanted.
"Nah mech, this isn't mine. I won some from Sideswipe. Have been hiding it until now because Prowl has a special sensor for it, or at least it seems like that. ' he laughed " but I have no doubt that if I tried hard enough I would be even better than him.'
" No doubt at all. ' Knockout agreed, taking another sip. "you should try one day or the other.'
" Oh I will and you'll be the first to have it!"

It took another good earth hour of drinking, now in Smokescreen's quarters not to be discovered completely drunk by Optimus or, even worse, Ratchet, to push the conversation where Knockout wanted.
"I wish Ratchet did mods. ' the now totally drunk tactician purred, a longing look in his optics' I've seen the craziest stuff in Praxus before everything went down hill. One that could extend arms, one orange guy could get his armor harder than a metal wall. "
Knockout listened, a smirk on his face as he watched pieces of his  plan falling in place. Thanking mentally Starscream for the involuntary plotting lessons.
'and a flying praxian?" he asked, pleased by the excited shine in Smokescreen' s optics.
"No," he admitted "but that would be so cool! Like the ones of the legend! '
Knockout blinked curiously at that. Intrigued.
'What legend?' he asked, but the mech waved it off.
" Just a sparkling tale. I will tell you about it another time. Prowl read it to Blue when we were younger." was the only response he got "now let's drink some more. '

The scolding he got from Ratchet and the awful helmache Knockout had all next day was well worth it. So he sat really satisfied, leaning lazily on his chair as he looked at Perceptor and Wheeljack.
' I think Smokescreen could be convinced to be our first Guinea pig. " he said confidently, before rolling his optics at their completely clueless look " test subjects. Primus you should learn some human vocabulary. I find it incredibly... Expressive even though they are only squishies. '
' They were drunk. ' Wheeljack objected, and Knockout was about to reply when a voice beat him on it.
" In vino veritas*."
The red mech turned to stare at Perceptor. What did he say? By Wheeljack's silence he wasn't the only one who heard meaningless mumbling. Good. He wasn't that dumb then.
The eldest scientist huffed and Knockout was sure he himself wore the most clueless expression ever.
"When someone is overcharged says the truth. I thought you were the human specialized communicator. ' he muttered, making Knockout snort.

' I watch human movies, not boring stuff." he replied 'boring stuff is your field Perceptor. We'll leave it to you. Now let's just go back working on those models. I just can't wait for Jazz to bring those metals.'

---

Silence surrounded Prowl. His audials tuned out completely, his optics focused on the data pad he was reading. His doorwings were all he needed to know Sideswipe and Sunstreaker were rolling on the ground like sparklings, busy in some roughhousing. Irritation sparked inside his processor, Optimus truly wanted him to lash out, did he? Sending him to Iacon to inspect the situation on Cybertron with Jazz and the twins as escort. Not to mention he would have to deal with Ultra Magnus. The mech wasn't a bad one, a reliable and competent commander. But his involvement in the Wreckers, and the no secret he would have wanted Prowl's place just beside the Prime didn't make their relationship smooth at all.
When Ultra Magnus visited Earth it was Prowl's domain. He had no problem with it. But going back to Cybertron where the mech was in charge annoyed him to no end. And now he had to control also three of the most misbehaving mechs of the crew. "Just his luck", the most irrational part of his processor wanted to scream, but he diligently silenced it. He did not believe in luck or misfortunes. There were variables, personalities, wrong choices, but no such thing as luck.

-Bad luck is the most common cover for incompetence. - he reminded himself. This was one of his favorite, personal mottos. Nevertheless to say his subordinates hated it, and even Optimus did. Much with his eternal dismay. That mech sometimes acted like a way too grown child.
A description which fitted most of the Autobots, he noted, knowing fully well Jazz had joined the two chaos bringers instead of stopping their pointless scuffle. So much for a Third in Command, he thought as he huffed.

His pondering on the misery of the situation was interrupted by a ping coming from Skyfire.
::We are almost arrived to Pluto. The activation of the spacebridge is scheduled in five joors. :: the scientist says quietly. Prowl agreed through the comm.
::Good. Go ahead. ::

When the comm clicked shut Prowl sighed tuning up his audials and starting typing on the small portable console he had brought with him. Reactivating his audials and wincing at the ruckus those idiots were doing.
"Be quiet. ' he snapped out at the three troublemakers before the screen turned on and a blue helm appeared on it.

" Commander Prowl to Optimus Prime for the daily report. " he said seriously, trying not to think about what his doorwings told him the twins were whispering to Jazz, unaware he could hear them. He didn't want to know about any pipe stuck in odd places.
The Prime nodded at him and replied, his optics fixed in Prowl's:"Good evening Prowl. How are things there?"

"Following schedule as planned. ' was the short reply he gave, keeping his demeanor carefully, martial and perfect just like it should be. "We are going to go through the bridge in five joors."
Optimus nodded and seemed about to add something when a blur of gray suddenly replaced him. Prowl felt his spark stop, was Optimus just attacked before his very optics? He jumped up, panic rising as his battle processor started giving him horrible data on the chance of assassination of the Prime. And what would ensue. Chaos. Mutiny. Berserkers.
Then the gray mech grinned at him.
'Sire!'
Prowl felt his processor stall at that, his vision going white.

"-Sire! What happened? You okay?"

"Ah think ya glitch'd him Blue."

"Think we could paint on him? Sunny, you would have a white canvas! '

" Sideswipe! "

" Okay, okay! It was just an idea! Jeez..."

As Prowl rebooted he could hear bots talking, but really couldn't understand what they meant. His processor was so muddled up. He opened his optics slowly and found himself laying in a quite awkward position on the floor, wings flattened under his weight. He started getting up slowly with a grunt and was helped up by a black servo grasping his own. Jazz grinned at him and even before he could ask, or look around.

'Ya collapsed like nothing mech. Blue just meant ta say hi. " he said and Prowl turned to look at the screen of the console. Indeed Blue was there, looking mortified, along with a perfectly healthy Prime.
His fans kicking in for the embarrassment at his complete misunderstanding of the situation, Prowl looked away.
'I apologize.' he said quietly "I misinterpreted the scene in front of me. Don't feel guilty Bluestreak, it was my mistake."
The youngling looked at him relieved.
'I just wanted to say hi! I miss you so much sire, you have just been away for a few days and I already wish you were back here with me..." he rambled, and Prowl let his doorwings rise in reassurance. He didn't like smiling or showing affection in public, but non-Praxians had problems reading doorwings. It was an acceptable solution. Blue immediately relaxed at the movement, and Prowl replied with gentle calmness:'Do not fret over me, Bluestreak. Everything is alright. We won't stay too long. Behave, and remind Smokescreen I'll find out if he breaks my rules.'
A twitch of doorwings was all he needed to know his son was nervous. Smokescreen already took advantage of his absence. He sighed as the young mech quickly reassured everything was fine and that they were being obedient. Excusing himself way too quickly.
Not bothering to stop Bluestreak, he turned to look at Optimus with a what he knew was his typical deadpan expression:'What has Smokescreen done now.'
It wasn't a question and he didn't want to make it sound like one. Optimus gave him a look before sighing.
"Gambling. '
Prowl groaned inwardly. That mech was going to drive him crazy one day or the other.
" Understood. Please, note all the infractions he does during my absence. I want to take care of it personally when I come back.'
"... As you wish."
At least he would make sure Smokescreen regretted his childish behavior. That settled, he focused back on giving his report.

When they arrived to the spacebridge, Prowl could hear Sideswipe whistle as it was turning on, with a impressive burst of blue light. Like a small sun turning on.
"That does not look safe." he commented, and Sunstreaker huffed looking like he agreed.
"Wheeljack and Perceptor worked on the building of these bridges. ' Prowl replied without any inflection in his calm voice.

' That didn't help Prowl. We don't want to be blown up to pieces."

Prowl didn't even look up at the response, replying without taking away his gaze from the screen giving the coordinates the bridge, linked to the console, was set on. They were correct. Good.
'This is our only quick and safe way to reach Iacon. "
He deemed the snorted " Yeah safe" from Sunstreaker not worth of reply, letting Jazz do it instead as he seemed to love wasting time.
' Ah didn't know ya were cowards, mechs. '
"We are not, we aren't morons though- Wow..."
Prowl stared in silence, as they came out of the bridge and took in the view that startled Sunstreaker.

Iacon, surrounded by the forcefield dome that supposedly protected it, was gray. Skyscrapers once shining like stars embedded in the planet's surface had collapsed and rusted. Even as Skyfire flew to the docks close to the bridge itself Prowl could see the ruins of many important, rich buildings blocking streets. He felt himself frown minutely in displeasure. Up until now he had never gone back to Cybertron, the mechs and resources always coming to them. And he didn't like what he was seeing. His field tightened as he suddenly had the impulse to have Skyfire turn back and leave this mess.
-No.- he thought, stomping down that desire, - I have a work to do. -
And if this was what he saw before even landing, he knew it would be a hard one.

---

When Skyfire docked and started opening the heavy, reinforced door, lowering the ramp, Sideswipe grinned. He went to dart down it, but the dark glare he got from Prowl was too much even for him. He wanted his helm still attached to his neck when he returned to Earth. So he waited for Prowl and Jazz to start descending to follow.

~Primus he truly has a pipe up that aft.~ he snorted through the bond with his twin who was just behind him. The Praxian was so perfectly upright, it really seemed unnatural. Even if he had been magnetized to a wall he could not have achieved a better posture.
~Well I think he has found a worthy opponent. ~ was the reply from Sunny and Sideswipe whistled softly, immediately agreeing with his statement as he saw who was waiting for them.
Ultra Magnus was standing in a perfect mirror of Prowl's martial stance. As Sideswipe got down the last step he could see the way his chassis was slightly puffed out and his optics were narrowed.
~Uh bro... Are they greeting each other or waiting for a reason to bite their afts?~ he asked, actually worried as he wasn't an expert of doorwings but how Prowl's ones were flaring, held as high as possible, didn't seem to be a nice way to say hi. Sunny shrugged and stopped just beside him, a step behind Jazz. Just in time to hear Ultra Magnus start talking.

"Commander Prowl, welcome back to Iacon City." he said, his voice frosty. So much Sideswipe had to choke down a giggle. Primus what crawled up his pipe and died?
Just as he thought that Prowl replied, and his tone was just as icy.
"Thank you, lieutenant. I trust the base and city is ready for the inspection."
Sideswipe almost choked. Way to go straight to the point. As the two continued their all but friendly conversation, walking out of the docks, he snorted at Jazz.
"Is that normal? '
Jazz just shrugged  at him.
" Ah told ya. This journey'll end soon. The sooner, the better.'

* "In vino veritas", in wine (there's) truth. Latin saying.

Author's note.
Hi guys! This is the longest chapter so far. Lenght will probably increase as the plot gets going. And don't worry, the Aerialbots will return in the next chapter.