'What are you doing?'

I looked up as my dad walked in. 'Building a computer,' I said. He shut the door and sat down on my bed. 'A computer? How do you know to build one?' He asked. 'I spoke to a mech who knows how it all works.' I showed him my notebook. 'Mechs of your age are supposed to play outside, not build computers,' he said. 'I know. I don't like playing with other mechs. They're mean and stupid. They don't understand me,' I muttered. 'Hey, come here.' I stopped and turned around, sliding of the chair and climbed on his lap. I leaned into his frame. 'Everything is gonna be okay,' he said.

'I miss her so much,' I whispered. 'I miss her too, Mirage. My spark cries to see you without her,' he said. I looked up. 'Why are you never there for me? Why do you leave so much?' I asked. He rubbed my helm. 'To smooth the pain. You remind me of her,' he said. I looked sadly down. 'Oh...'

He lifted my chin. 'I am sorry I wasn't there to protect her,' he whispered. 'It's not your fault,' I mumbled. He sighed and pulled me against his firm chassis again. 'I've known your mother all my life. We were neighbors, went to school together... I've been with her since I was your age,' daddy said. 'That's long,' I mumbled. He nodded and kissed my helm. 'I do like your new color, Mirage,' he said. 'Me too. I am proud because I did it all myself,' I chirped proudly. He kissed my cheek.

He let go of me and left so I could work on my computer. It took weeks to finish but it worked. I installed software and my dad had been really surprised when he figured out it actually worked. He said I am a very smart sparkling. I downloaded the info I hacked from Prime's computer on mine and looked through it. Lots of boring and basic stuff. What did the Decepticons download? What's important to them? I couldn't really figure it out and decided to stop and think about it.

I turned off the computer and laid down, playing with my teddybear. They were talking about something they wanted to keep an eye on. If things escalate, they would start a fight. I sat up, all those basic stuff isn't what they're after. They just be after something bigger. Something that gives them power. I got up and sat back down behind my computer. I read in a book about artifacts. What if they're after something like that.

I clicked on file called 'the allspark' and read it. I sat up. The Allspark is one of the fabled  sacred implements, the objects capable of creating new life. Its origins are unknown, lost to the distant past sometimes predating even  itself, but it often gives the impression that it possesses a consciousness of some kind and is either working towards a cosmic plan of its own divining or is carrying out . In truth, the physical Allspark is but a shell to contain the incredible life-giving energies within; should that shell be destroyed the energies will remain as potent as ever, merely waiting for a new vessel to inhabit. Any fragments that would remain in the event of the AllSpark's physical destruction would still possess the incredible power that the original object did.

I shivered. This could be it. This could be what the Decepticons are after but no one knows where it is. Perhaps Optimus has a lead. I scrolled through the other files and yes, indeed. There was a link towards Cybercity. I tapped with my digit on the table. The great question is, what do they want with it? Use and kill Optimus or for another purpose. It's a powerful artifact. I sat back. I am only a sparkling, I can't do anything to stop it. I looked a photo of my mother. Why did the Decepticons kill my mother? What did she know about that?

I slid off the chair and laid down with my teddybear on my red chassis. I came so far already, I can't just give up. Guess I have to travel to Cybercity as well and figure it out. I had no idea how to get there and as a sparkling, I am very vulerable. Sometimes I wish I was a big mech already. 'Mirage! Dinner!' I jolted from my dad's shout and got up. 'Yeah, I am coming!' I shouted back and headed downstairs. Windcharger gave me a nasty glare and I flinched. 'Sit down,' she snapped. I flinched and quickly obeyed. 'You didn't had to snap at him,' my dad growled. I decided to keep my mouth shut and slowly started eating my food.

'How far is it from here to Cybercity?' I asked. 'A sparkling like you can't walk around there,' Windcharger said. 'I am already six stellar-cycles big!' I stated and tilted my head. 'Yeah, still a todler,' she said. I looked down at the table again. 'Windcharger,' my dad snapped. I glanced at them both. 'Why do you want to know?' Daddy asked. 'I was curious,' I replied. '3 mega-cycles,' daddy replied. I ohh'ed and slowly started eating. 'You'd like to visit the lagoon?' he asked. 'Yeah, I do,' I replied. 'Perhaps we can visit Cybercity in the near future,' he said. Windcharger raised an optic ridge at my father. He either ignored it or didn't see it.

After dinner, daddy left for a night shift and I was alone, playing with my teddybear. A knock on the door got my attenion. Windcharger opened up and a mech strode in. Never seen him before. 'Thank you for coming, can you keep an eye on that thing?' Windcharger pointed at me. 'A sparkling, you didn't tell me I had to look after a stupid sparkling,' he snapped. 'I don't like him either, okay. He's ugly,' she scowled. I hugged my teddybear and curled up in the corner. Like I don't know they're talking about me. 'But you have to pay me more,' he said. 'Why?' Windcharger snapped. 'Because you lied to me. You never mentioned a stupid sparkling. Where is the carrier? Isn't it her job to look after her baby?' he scowled. 'She's murdered... that thing doesn't have a mother anymore.'

'Fine, but I want fifty Shanix instead of thirty,' he snapped. 'Ugh, fine... as long as I don't have to look at him tonight,' she scowled and walked off. 'Where are you going?' the mech asked. 'Out with some friends,' she replied. 'Right, and you ruined my night for that?' he snapped. 'Yes, I am looking at that thing every day. The mech shook his head and watched Windcharger leave. He glanced at me. 'What's your name?' he sulked. 'Mirage...' I whispered. 'Right, I am Brawl,' he said. I spotted the logo on his chest. A Decepticon. 'Why are Autobot sparklings so ugly?' he muttered under his breath as he passed.

'I did the paintjob myself,' I said, sitting against the wall. 'Yeah, I can see that... it looks horrible,' he snapped without glancing at me. 'Does it? I like the red color. Mommy's favorite color,' I said. 'Yeah, well... she's dead so I doubt she will ever see it,' he mocked. 'I miss my mommy.' He turned. 'Start crying and I beat the hell out of you,' he snapped. I curled up in the corner, burying my face in the teddybear. 'And your mother isn't here to protect her precious little sparkling,' he taunted. I kept staring at him, oberving him. 'What are you looking at!' he shouted. I flinched and curled away furhter in the corner, shaking.

He suddenly grabbed me and I screamed. Brawl hit me twice before dropping me on the ground. 'Spoiled little brat! Not everyone has it as good as you do. You shouldn't even be alive,' he sneered. I felt tears welling up in my optics. 'No, you should be dead... or at least you should suffer like so many Decepticons sparklings suffer,' he snapped. I was scared and tried to get away, but he grabbed me and started to beat me, ripping my armor off. I struggled and screamed and lost conciousness.