Disclaimer: I only own my OCs.
Pandimala: I am surprised. Authoress usually takes longer to put up a new story.
Chaom: I guess she just had a lot of good plot bunnies, or whatever it is that they are called.
Megatron: Yes, but couldn't that mean that she has something big planned?
Authoress: Well, you all will find out. *smirks*
All bots: *gulp*
Ch. 1: Early Surprises
Chaom's helm felt really numb when he heard his internal alarm. He was not ready to get up. The previous night, and this early morning, had been difficult and he just wanted to recharge for a few more clicks. But, when he onlined his optics and glanced at Pandimala, he knew that she needed the recharge more than he did. Slowly rising out of the berth, as not to disturb her, Chaom walked into their wash racks and washed off for the day.
As he felt the grime leave his chassis, he couldn't stop his thoughts from going to earlier. He was extremely worried for Pandimala. In the stellar cycles that he knew her, she had never once been sick and she had always gotten a decent recharge, minus a bad recharge dream once or twice. Now, now she was having consecutive bad recharge cycles and now she had a really bad recharge dream and she had purged her tanks until they were completely empty.
Once he was done washing off, he turned off the water before drying off and walking to the energon dispenser. He decided that he was going to get himself a cube of midgrade so he poured himself some before pouring out some low grade for Pandimala with a data pad note reminding her to go and see Balm.
Making sure that everything was ready for Pandimala when she woke up, Chaom grabbed a blank data pad to take notes on before walking out of the door. He smiled as it was yet another wonderful day. It almost made him forget the worries that he had. Sighing to himself, Chaom continued to the meeting.
When he arrived at Fortress Maximus, he walked up the stairs and walked through the front door. As soon as he got in the door though, he found himself on the ground.
"Oh, sorry for running into you there, I didn't see you." A voice said.
Chaom glanced up and saw a strange red mech that he had seen when he had come for yesterday's meeting. The mech was holding out a servo to him so he grabbed it and got up before saying, "That's alright. This will give me an excuse to give the council as to why I am late. Thank you for that. What is your designation?"
The mech seemed confused by Chaom's statement but said, "The name's Cliffjumper. I used to be an assistant to the head of intelligence before he was found to be Shockwave. I immediately stepped down from the post once I found out and Alpha Trion, bless his spark, he took me in and gave me a job as his assistant." He then paused and seemed to study Chaom before asking, "Who are who?"
That caught Chaom off guard. He hadn't met a bot yet, until now, that hadn't known who he was. It was actually kind of relieving. It made him feel like a normal bot again, because all of the attention that he had been receiving because of his mate made him feel like one of those Earth celebrities. But, he knew that it would be impolite not to tell Cliffjumper here who he was so he said, "I am Chaom and it is nice to meet you Cliffjumper."
Chaom was surprised when a relieved look spread on Cliffjumper's faceplate before he said, "Oh, thank Primus that I found you! Alpha Trion sent me to find you and bring you to the meeting. He had feared that something had happened to you since neither you nor Pandimala had arrived yet for the meeting."
Ah, so that is why he was relieved. He had been sent to find him. Chaom smiled and put a servo on Cliffjumper's soldier before saying, "Well then, let's not keep them waiting, shall we?"
Cliffjumper nodded before saying, "Ok, then let's get going."
Chaom nodded before following Cliffjumper to the meeting room. He felt honored that Alpha Trion had worried about them and that he had sent his own assistant to find either him or 'Mala. After a few clicks of walking, Cliffjumper opened the door for him and he nodded his thanks before he walked inside.
The meeting was boring. Chaom wasn't sure that he was going to get through this without shooting some bot in the helm. Of course, his late night last night was not helping in the slightest. And, somehow, Dragstrip seemed to be talking for even longer than he normally did. Chaom had no idea how he was doing that since he had been at the ball as well. Chaom was almost positive that Primus was doing this to torture him.
"Ok bots, I think that covers everything for our defenses. You may take a thirty click break. When we regroup, we will be discussing energon deposits." Dragstrip stated.
Chaom smiled in relief and went out of the room and made a beeline to the energon dispenser. He really needed some because he felt like he was going to be taken offline if he didn't have something to calm his urges to strangle Dragstrip. When he reached the dispenser, he got some midgrade and chugged the thing down like there was no tomorrow. He was almost positive that he was this thirsty because of the late night he had. His body was probably trying to have him take extra nutrients to get through the day.
Refilling his cube, he was about to take a sip of it when he heard Alpha Trion say, "I see that you must be really thirsty today Chaom. I haven't ever seen you drink that much before."
Looking to his left, Chaom saw Alpha Trion, Ultra Magnus, and Megatron walking toward him. He used his free servo to scratch the back of his helm before saying, "Sorry, I just had a really long night last night."
Alpha Trion nodded and said, "Is that why you were late today? I was worried that you and Pandimala had stayed up to late and were still in recharge when I sent Cliffjumper to find you."
Chaom nodded and said, "Yeah, that was why I was late, but it wasn't by choice, much."
Ultra Magnus raised an optic ridge at that and asked, "What do you mean by that Chaom?"
Chaom sighed and answered, "Well, we did stay later to make sure that everything was cleaned up and we locked up. But, we had gotten home a few cycles before the beginning of today and we had both fallen into recharge nicely. But, Pandimala woke up really early this morning due to a really bad recharge dream."
"What was it about?" Alpha Trion asked.
Chaom shook his helm and said, "I don't think that she would want me telling you for her. But, I will say that it scared her out of her processor and I had to comfort her for a few clicks before I finally convinced her to try and get some more recharge. But, that was when it got worse."
"Do you mean the dream?" Ultra Magnus asked.
Chaom shook his helm again and said, "No, she was about to lie down when she hesitated and I knew that something was off. I asked her what was wrong and she was about to answer me when she suddenly bolted from the berth and into our personal wash racks before purging her tanks until they were empty. I stayed with her until she was done and she had drunk the low grade that I had gotten for her. When that was done, I helped her back to the berth and told her to go and see Balm when she woke up this morning."
"Is Pandimala alright?" Megatron asked.
Chaom shrugged his shoulders and said, "Honestly, I don't know. I think she might be coming down with a virus. I'll find out after she visits Balm today."
The five click warning was then announced so Chaom sighed and walked back to the meeting room. As he waited for the meeting to begin, he couldn't help but worry for Pandimala. He hoped that she would be ok.
Pandimala groaned as she came online. The previous night was still fresh in her mind. She had no idea what was wrong with her but she knew that she would find out today. There would be no more putting off that she was fine. She had done enough of that with saying that her lack of recharge was due to her body getting used to the war and peace time. But, that purging that she had gone through the previous night had definitely been the final straw. She had to find out what was wrong and fast.
After washing up for the day, Pandimala walked into the main room and went to get her energon when she saw that there was already a cube of low grade poured. Smiling, she took it and started to sip it as she read the data pad that came with it.
Sweetspark,
Hope this cheers up your solar cycle a little more. Don't forget to go and see Balm and call me when you can with the news. I'll try to survive through these meetings today and I will see you later.
Your bondmate,
Chaom 3
Pandimala smiled at the little heart at the end. He knew that she loved those little things and she was glad that he had added it. She now knew that this was going to be a good solar cycle.
Knowing that she needed to be going, Pandimala sighed before walking outside and transforming before heading to Vos. While Balm lived in Iacon like she did, Pandimala knew that Balm was helping Malice with moving the Decepticons into the city and was there to offer medical assistance just in case something happened.
Fifteen clicks later, Pandimala found herself flying above the city. She knew that Balm was in the main building near the center so she weaved her way around the buildings before she finally saw her destination. Flying lower, she finally transformed when she was close enough to the ground and she jogged a little so she could slow herself down before coming to a stop in front of the main door.
Walking inside, it didn't take Pandimala long to locate the med area. Of course, her job had been made easier when she heard the sound of wrenches being thrown. Chuckling to herself, Pandimala followed the echoing sounds until she came to a stop in front of the door that seemed to hold the source of the wrench throwing madness.
Pandimala had to jump out of the way when Whirlwind ran out. Whirlwind glanced at her before saying, "Hey 'Mala."
Pandimala, on her part, raised an optic ridge and asked, "Do I even want to know?"
Whirlwind took a glance back into med bay before saying, "You can ask her if you want. If I don't get out of here in five nano clicks, Balm is going to have my helm." Whirlwind then ran down the hall. Shaking her helm, Pandimala opened the door and stepped inside.
"Whirlwind, I swear if you ask me one more time for a thruster upgrade I will throw this wrench so hard at you that you won't be able to fly for a stellar cycle." Balm said, her back facing Pandimala.
Pandimala let out a chuckle before saying, "Well, then it is a good thing that I am not Whirlwind."
Balm quickly turned around and smiled when she locked optics with Pandimala. "Pandimala, you should have told me that you were coming. So, why are you here?"
Pandimala sighed and said, "I need a checkup."
Balm immediately frowned and said, "Come and sit on the berth. What is wrong?"
Pandimala did as Balm instructed and sat on the berth before saying, "I have been getting less and less recharge as of late and my intake of energon is slowly increasing. I thought that it was just the change from war time to peace time but last night changed that."
"What happened?" Balm asked.
"I purged until my tanks were empty. I've been drinking low grade to stay on the safe side. Chaom and I are both really worried." Pandimala explained.
Balm seemed to think about that before saying, "Well, we had better scan you and see if you have contracted a virus. Primus only knows that you don't need that right now."
Pandimala then laid absolutely still as Balm scanned her with multiple scanners. She could see that her friend was worried for her. Scrap, she was worried for herself. To her surprise though, Balm let out a huff before saying, "This is weird."
"What is?" Pandimala asked, worried.
Balm paced a little before saying, "I can't pick up any signs of a virus."
Pandimala was now confused. How could she not have a virus with the symptoms she was showing? "But Balm, if I don't have a virus, then what the frag is wrong with me?"
Balm paced a little more before she suddenly froze in her tracks. Pandimala felt worried with the look that Balm was now giving her. It seemed as if Balm was trying to dig deep into her chassis to find the answer. Balm then ran to a supply closet before digging around.
"What are you doing Balm?" Pandimala asked.
After Balm dug around for a few clicks more, she yelled out in victory before she brought out a strange looking scanner that Pandimala hadn't seen before. "I'm testing out a theory." Balm said. She then turned on the scanner before scanning her chest plate area. What was Balm thinking?
When the scanner beeped, Pandimala jumped when Balm suddenly let out an excited shriek and started to bounce up and down. What the scrap was wrong with her? "Care to tell me what you just did?"
Balm stopped bouncing and smiled before saying, "Oh 'Mala, this is wonderful! I usually only get you when you are critically injured and this couldn't be further from it if it tried!"
Pandimala growled and stood up before grabbing Balm's shoulders and saying, "Balm what was that scan?"
Balm calmed down a little before saying, "That was a spark detector scan. Congratulations Pandimala, you are carrying your first sparkling!" Balm said.
Pandimala froze. She was going to be a carrier. That, was…well that was…
"I'M GOING TO BE A CARRIER!" Pandimala yelled out in excitement before lifting Balm up in a hug and twirling her around.
Balm let out a laugh and hugged her before saying, "I'm so happy for you 'Mala." She then got into medic mode before saying, "You need to only drink low grade if you don't want to be purging anymore. Also, no more stress full days for you Pandimala. You let Chaom go to those fragging meetings from now on. I want you getting as much recharge as you can. You need to come see me for a checkup in thirty solar cycles."
Pandimala then thought of something important and asked, "Balm, how far along am I?"
Balm smiled and said, "I would say that you are about thirty solar cycles in already. If this little spark stays on schedule, then it should be ready to be put in a protoform in four human months."
Pandimala nodded and was about to say more when she remembered that she needed to get to Chaom pronto and tell him the good news. So, she smiled and said, "Thanks Balm. I have to go and tell Chaom now!" She then gave Balm a quick hug before running out of the door.
Once she was in the air, Pandimala felt like she couldn't get to Chaom fast enough. But, the winds were against her and she was making worse time then she thought that she could. Going over the different flight patterns she could take in her helm, she saw that if she detoured to the old warehouse district of Iacon, which was on the other side of the city as Chaom was, she would actually cut down her arrival time by ten clicks. So, she quickly changed her course and started on the new one.
As she flew, Pandimala couldn't stop thinking about it. She was going to have a creation. Her and Chaom were finally going to be starting the family that they always wanted. This would definitely make his solar cycle. She knew that he was probably worried out of his processor for her and she knew that she should probably call in to tell him the news, but she felt like telling him in the metal would be a better way to do it. That way, she could celebrate with him.
When she finally arrived at the warehouse district, Pandimala couldn't help but think back to all those stellar cycles ago when she had first met Ultra Magnus. She had hid in a warehouse very similar to these after he had deflected her sire and he had made her feel so safe that she had hated it when he had to leave after he dropped her off at the housing. It was ironic now that her start as an Autobot, one of the happiest moments in her life before today, had started at a warehouse and she was now flying over warehouses to deliver the best news in the universe to her bondmate.
Pandimala suddenly cried out in pain when she felt a blaster shot hit her right thruster. Feeling herself start to fall toward one of the warehouses, Pandimala felt the strong urge to protect her sparkling so she forced herself to stay in control as she landed on the ground below. Once she was there, she panicked when she noticed that she was in a secluded place that would be very hard for her to escape from. This was not good.
"Well, it is an honor that you could join us Pandimala."
Pandimala turned around at the sound of the mech voice and became very nervous when she saw six bots in black cloaks blocking the entrance, and exit, to the ally that she was in.
"Who are you and why did you shoot me down?" Pandimala stated while backing up. She had a very bad feeling that she was in danger.
The same mech who had talked before chuckled, showing that he was the one in the front of the five other cloaked figures behind him, before he said, "We are the Virons. Why we shot you down, now, that is an easy answer."
Pandimala let out a low growl when she noticed that they were closing her in. She felt trapped and that there was no way out. "Well, what is this answer?" She demanded. Pandimala suddenly panicked when she felt her back hit the wall at the end of the ally. Frag, this wasn't good.
The situation felt even worse when the mech took out a black dagger and said, "Why, we shot you down so we could offline you and frame the Autobots for it, causing the war to begin again with us as the faction that tips the scales."
Pandimala let out a snarl at that and said, "It won't work. They will know that it wasn't an Autobot that attacked me."
The same mech let out an evil chuckle before saying, "Well, let's test out that theory, shall we?"
Pandimala then felt her optics open in fear as all six of the bots lunged at her, daggers out and ready to kill.
Chaom: Authoress, you had better not hurt Pandimala or I swear I will throw you in the deepest part of the pit myself.
Balm: No kidding. You just had to have the most wonderful thing followed by something evil.
Authoress: Well, I do have at least 75 percent of Decepticon coding.
Megatron: Don't put the blame on our coding. We wouldn't do anything this evil.
Starscream: Yeah, this is more evil then Unicron.
AN: I'm back everybot (and everybody)! I wanted you all to see what was coming up next so I got this up quickly. But, I just couldn't help but leave you all off on a cliffhanger. (Yes, I know that I am evil). Oh, I can't wait to see what happens. Both with if Pandimala gets out of this and how Chaom will react. It should be very, very interesting. Well, until the next chapter, this is DragonScouter, shuffling their feet into their berth for some nice recharge. Please read and review. But no flames.