Judy's in the front seat picking up trash

Living on the dole

Gotta make that cash

Won't be pretty

Won't be sweet

She's just sittin' here on her feet

Sing it

Oh, Lord, heaven knows

We belong way down below

Heaven Knows - The Pretty Reckless

Metallicar laughed as she scored another shot, Blitzwing attempting to block her. Sunstreaker and Sideswipe both went for the ball, despite being on the same team. Just before they could get to it Soundwave emerged, bolting down the court as the ball bounced from the pavement to his servo. Metallicar laughed and ran after him, managing to guard his back as he shot and scored another for their team.

"That's cheating!" Sunstreaker shouted.

"This is no-rules basketball Sunny!" The femme grinned. Her newly repaired armor shone in the sunlight as she turned, catching the ball. Dean stared in awe at his sparkmate as she expertly threw the ball over the mech's helms, the oversized ball swishing through the chain net as Blitzwing tackled her.

"Metallicar's team wins." Drift clled from the sidelines. She laughed as the others helped her up. Soundwave seemed to instinctively take a place at her left side. She brushed him off, chuckling.

"This isn't Cybertron anymore Sounds. Ya don't need to be constantly at my shoulder." She teased.

"Old habits: Hard to break." He scooped up Sierra and sat, mass-shifting behind her. Metallicar did the same with Dean as Jenny looked between the five bots. She had heard a few stories of how they had known each other on Cybertron but it wasn't much.

"It's alright Sounds. Just that... Well, you're not exactly my SIC anymore. The Rouges are kind of a thing of the past." She seemed disheartened at this. "Pit, they've been gone since the day Megatron ripped us apart." This was the last straw as Jenny stood.

"Alright that's it. I want to hear the story." Everyone looked to her.

"What?" Metallicar asked.

"The Kaonian Rouges. I want to know the story." She sighed, looking around. The ones who had yet to hear the story were looking up at her expectantly. Even her sparklings looked curious. She sighed.

"Fine. But I'm only telling it once. Gather anyone who wants to hear in the larger Rec Room." She stood, taking Silver from Dean as he adjusted Mary. She was giggling and looking at Dean while Silver played with Metallicar's coat.

The family headed for the room, Metallicar settling in to tell the long story.

-

A half hour later showed virtually everyone on base sitting in front of her, the Rouges all lined up beside her, ready to step up and help should they need to. Metallicar sighed and leaned forwards, taking a deep vent and then releasing it.

"Alright. For this story I have to go way back. Before the war, before the disagreements. Before any rebellions. This story begins with a mech, a femme, and their friend, a data clerk by the name of Orion Pax..."