Amalthea sat idly on her bunk, her legs hanging off the side lazily. She had nothing to do today, for there hadn't been many tasks when she started her day. All the things she needed to get done had been finished hours ago. Searching for work to do was hard in the base, since wandering led to being in the way of Cybertronians or military agents trying to get things of their own done. "I'm so bored... When mum offered to let me stay in her bunk, I was expecting adventure! Excitement!" Ama ranted to herself, standing up for dramatic effect. "This is the opposite of both those things!" Just as she was about to go on, her mother stormed into the room with a rushed and panicked air to her.
"Mum!" Amalthea ran to go give her mother a hug, but was stopped by a raised hand. "Not now, Ama. I'm in a huge hurry. Have you seen my utility belt? Not the one with my taser, but the one with my grenades." Amelia looked around the room frantically, her usually-neat bun messed up and coming undone. "Yeah, it's in the closet next to your coat." Amalthea pointed over to the opposite side of the room, and Amelia immediately ran over to the closet. "What's the big occasion?" Ama asked, sitting back down on her bed while watching her mother run around like a frightened deer.
"An attack was reported about twenty miles from here, and it's bad. A few of the Autobots have already headed out, but they're sending a lot of us as reinforcement." Amelia explained breathlessly as she grabbed a few more things before heading to the door. "Wait! I wanna come with y-" "Absolutely not! I don't want you getting mixed up in this mess and risking your life. Stay here with Ratchet, keep him company." Ama frowned and crossed her arms. "I'm an adult, mother! I want to witness the things that go on in this world like you do!" She exclaimed. Amelia shot a glare at her daughter. "No. You are not coming with me and that is final." There was a pause. "I love you, Amalthea. Please stay safe. You know what to do if the base is attacked. I'll be home in awhile." Ama sighed and got up, giving her mother a tight hug. "I love you too, Mom. Please come back safely."
Amelia left shortly after bidding her daughter goodbye, and Amalthea sighed. Her heart raced with worry as she headed down to the medbay to harass Ratchet. It was quite a walk, but she didn't have anything better to do now that her mother was gone for the night. When she got to the medbay, Ama popped her head inside the door. "Ratchet?" She asked carefully. "Who is it?" The Cybertronian walked to the entrance, and looked down. "... Oh, it's just you. What do you want?" He asked with an edge of irritation in his voice. "Do you mind if I stay in here with you? I would ask to hang out with Crosshairs, but I think he's gone too." The medicbot grunted and motioned for her to come inside.
"When I get news of them heading back to base, you're gonna have to book it out of here. There will likely be casualties, and I don't need you being in the way." Amalthea nodded and sighed. "Do you need anything done while I'm in here?" Ratchet shook his helm. "Not right now." He didn't seem interested in talking to her, which would be fine if there was someone else to keep her company on the base. "Do you know the details of what's going on?" "Not particularly. I'm sure we'll hear more when they hea- hang on, getting a comm." Ama groaned and flopped into a waiting chair in the corner. She pulled out her phone and started to check Facebook when Ratchet suddenly began to set up a medical berth.
Amalthea stayed silent and prayed he would forget she was in the medbay. "Amalthea, you need to leave. Sunstreaker is hurt badly, apparently, and we all know how he get-" Suddenly, a couple of Autobots practically bursted through the doors, carrying a small golden bot. A military agent located Amalthea, and threw the small girl over his shoulder to carry her out. "Come on, your mother told me you'd be in here." Ama kicked in protest as she looked up at the bot on the medical berth. It wasn't Sunstreaker... was it? It couldn't be, the bot had the form of a femme, and wasn't nearly as bulky as Sunstreaker. Ama tried to wiggle out of the solider's grasp, but to no use.
"This isn't Sunstreaker, is this some kind of joke!?" "No, sir. Agent Fern found her injured before..." The voices got indistinguishable as Amalthea was carried further down the corridor. "Let me down! They're talking about my mom!" The solider tightened his grasp on Ama, and kept walking. "We just passed my room! Put me down!" The man shook his head. He led Ama into a big officelike room with a large desk in the middle, and set her down in a chair. "Sir, this is Agent Fern's daughter." The older man standing by the window turned and smiled kindly, but it had a sad edge to it.
"Thank you, Agent Daniels. You may go." The solider nodded once, and closed the door behind him. "Miss Fern, how are you doing?" The man asked. Amalthea huffed. "I was doing fine until I was hauled in here, sir." She tried to be polite, but she wasn't too happy about being picked up. He nodded. "That's good." There was an uncomfortable silence between the two for a few seconds, before the man spoke again after clearing his throat. "Miss Fern, your mother was involved in an accident while trying to rescue a fellow Autobot. She was announced dead before the paramedics got to her. I'm so sorry."
Amalthea stared at him and started to laugh. He seemed taken aback. "Haha, you're funny! Nice one. Who set you up?" The older man shook his head sadly. "I'm afraid I'm being completely serious, Miss Fern. If you don't believe me, you may ask Agent Lennox when he returns. I am sorry for your loss, my door is always open if you need to talk." Lennox. It wasn't a joke. Ama excused herself and rushed out of the room. She sprinted back to the medical station for the humans, her heart full of disbelief.
A nurse stood stationed at the entrance. "Move you useless clod! I have to see my mom!" Amalthea tried to push past her, but was restrained. "I can't let you in right now, strict orders." The woman wasn't much bigger than Amalthea, but she was much stronger. "Amalthea, stop! You're not getting in. It's too graphic in there right now. Please try to relax!" Catherine pleaded. Ama pitched a fit, and started to have a mental breakdown. "I need to see my mom! I have to see her!" Cathy called for backup, and the panicked young woman screamed.
"MOTHER!" Her screams could be heard throughout the base as she was restrained, and soon sedated. Amalthea broke down into heavy sobs as the sedative began to kick in. After about thirty seconds, she was out cold, and carried back to her room. Catherine called for Crosshairs to keep the girl company.
"Why do I have to guard her?" Crosshairs asked, agitated. Catherine glared up at him as she carried Ama. "Because she actually likes you. Don't be an ass. Just stay with her until she wakes up and try to keep her occupied until we can get things sorted out." The mech shook his helm in dismay, but complied regardless. He didn't want to be caught up in the drama that the new, injured femme had brought with her, anyway.