randomplaces | Sparkbit's 'verse. Detroit. Autobot base.

"So you're telling me the humans celebrate their new year by blowing things up." Sparkbit stared at Bulkhead with a 0_o as the larger bot carefully painted fireworks all over one wall of the living room.

"Well it's just these rocket things, 'n they don't aim 'em at anything. But yup." Bulkhead tilted his head to one side and considered his work, then pulled the brush out of the white and added some highlights.

"But... then what's the point?" Sparkbit squeaked and jumped as Kia glomped him, then patted her and transmitted reassurance as she looked at him with wide, worried optics.

"It's all for the noise. Or maybe they're tryin' to scare monsters off. I forget." Bulkhead grinned down at Kia and switched to yellow.

"Monsters? Oh now you're pulling my servo. Bumblebutt set you up for this, didn't he?" Sparkbit frowned as he hugged his little sister.

"I'm just saying what Sari told me. ...Or what I can remember of it. I was a little overloaded on oil when she was sayin' it...."

"Why didn't I find anything about monsters while I was reading up on Earth?" Sparkbit felt a chill go up his back, but quickly suppressed it and stood tall.

"I think they're invisible...."

0_o Alright, he was going to have to do something about this. There was no way he was going to let invisible monsters come and scare Kia. He'd promised to protect her!

* * *

Ratchet was deep in peaceful stasis when explosions started shaking the plant.

Gasping, the elderly medic launched himself off his berth and stuck his head out into the hall just in time to see Bumblebee race past screaming at the top of his voice processor. "What the slag??? Prime? Where are you?"

"I'm here, Ratchet," came the voice of the truck-bot from where he stood with braced legs in the doorway of his room. "But I'm not sure what's going on. I can't raise Sparkbit, Bulkhead, or Kia at all."

"For the love of...." Prowl shoved the spazzed out Bumblebee away from him and headed for the door. "It's only fireworks."

"Only fireworks?" Ratchet snorted as the plant shook again and his audio receivers rang. "Like slag!"

"Ahhhhh!" Bumblebee gripped the sides of his head and bolted again.

Ratchet scowled and lowered his head to follow the same way that Prowl had gone. He reached the door just as a rocket arched toward him.

"Incoming!" 0_0 He hit the pavement, hands over his head, then peeked out as the explosion showered him with red and green sparkles. "Grrrrrr."

He stormed to his feet and set out across the basketball court... and the next moment was dancing crazily as smaller rockets launched and went off all around him.

Optimus' grapple wrapped around his middle and pulled him back to the safety of the doorway... supposed safety. The next rocket sort of knocked it down on their heads.

The barrage continued a couple hours longer, and then silence gradually found its way out of the echoes.

Prowl wandered over and lifted a slab of concrete from the two larger mechs. "Are you alright?"

"Ask me after I offline whoever did this." Ratchet pulled himself to his feet and looked around shakily.

"Hah! Take that, you monsters!" came a triumphant shout from the roof. "See, Kia? You're safe!"

Ratchet sighed and facepalmed. "On second thought I'm going to go get drunk. Don't bother me unless it's something drastic."

"Have you heard the story that says that whatever you start the year with will be continued throughout the year?" asked Prowl, smiling slightly.

"I should be so lucky." The medic's bedroom door slammed shut behind him.