The story didn't really turn out like I planned. I wanted to make it a one-shot, but it mutated... and actually, it makes more sense than the draft.
This and tie-in "Shades of Grey" is set in a slightly alternate version of the Aligned Universe. It consists of War for Cybertron, Fall of Cybertron, the novels, and Transformers: Prime. At the time I began writing this, Prime wasn't even close to finishing and Robots in Disguise was apparently some god awful show nobody spoke of. Some things will show up, some won't. It'll be slow at first, but will pick up.
2015 Warning: suffers from First Fic Syndrome, otherwise known as "OC-centric with somewhat OOC major canon characters." There are also children (most nameless, a few named OCs and canon) being raised (as a group) by characters that probably wouldn't under normal circumstances. This will also be revised randomly.
Units of Time*
Klik = 2 seconds; Cybertronian second
Breem = 8 minutes; Cybertronian minute
Groon = 2 hours; Cybertronian hour
Orn = 14 days; Cybertronian day
Deca-orn = 10 orns (140 days); Cybertronian week
Quartex = 6 deca-orns; Cybertronian month
Vorn = 83 years; Cybertronian year
*all approximated; I constantly failed math during school...
How to Save a Life
Chapter 1: Silverbolt
Freefall clicks as he is deposited into the playpen on his belly. He tilts his head upwards to chirp at his Sire questioningly after seeing the pen devoid of toys to play with. The large red and black mech smiles sadly and gently rubs his tiny wings, causing them to flutter slightly. His Sire says something in big mech talk, which Freefall can't understand, but the tone is soft and comforting. Freefall loves hearing Sire speak; his voice is smooth and deep and very soothing to his young audials.
There is a whoosh noise, then big mech footsteps coming towards them. Freefall tries to angle his helm to see who this mech was, but only manages to roll himself on his side, his arm becoming pinned under his body. The little mech tries to wiggle it out to no avail. He tries to roll back over. No luck. Only one thing to do.
He opens his mouth wide and wails.
Immediately, large, familiar hands pick him up and cradle him to equally familiar chestplates. The tiny sparkling nuzzles the spot over where Sire's Spark was as waves of concern and comfort wash over him. A deep rumbling noise told him his Sire is laughing. Or at least that's what he thinks until he looks up.
A white mech he had never seen before is standing next to his Sire. He's smaller than Sire even though he has wings too, which really doesn't surprise him. Sire's huge, even bigger than that meanie mech whose voice makes Freefall's helm ache. One hand stuffed in his mouth, Freefall reaches out the remaining tiny hand to try to touch the other mech's wings, mumbling around his fist. Sire shifts him so he could face the mech and not have to reach around his arms.
The mech graciously allows the sparkling to paw at his wings, smiling at him with genuine warmth. The sparkling squeals with delight and looks at Sire, who grins back. Freefall happily plays with his wings while Sire and White Mech say stuff in big mech talk, not noticing them look at him every so often.
[-]-[-]-[-]
"Are you sure you wanna do this, Cross? You're probably gonna never see him again; he'll grow up without you."
"Rather he grows up without me than not at all. Besides, he'll have you to watch out for him." Silverbolt fidgets a little.
"Uh, not really. I have my crew to deal with; he'll be placed in a compound with the other sparklings. I don't have a choice in the matter," He adds quickly. "Prime wants the sparklings somewhere where they'll be safe."
"By grouping them up in a single place? How is that safe?!" Freefall glances up, startled at the shout. Neither mech notice. The white mech holds up his hands in mock surrender.
"Don't ask me, okay? I don't agree with it either, but that's what Prime wants."
"Your leader is an idiot. He's going to get them all killed!"
"Crossfire, the kids'll have Autobots guarding them, day and night. There'll be caretakers for them, too. Besides, it'll be a Pit of a lot safer for Air-sorry, Freefall there than with you. That's why I'm here, remember?" Crossfire turns his helm slightly.
"Yeah...but..."
"Do you want to save this kid's life or not?" Silverbolt demands, knowing that comment would either provoke the larger flier or help him come to the same conclusion he had. Which, after a long moment, he seems to.
"I'll let you know if and when Megaprick finds out about the compound. Make sure the right people know so you can protect my sparkling." Crossfire says as he hands the tiny mech to his new caretaker. "I'm going to close the bond, so if he starts crying, just rub his wing tips. That should calm him down after a few klicks." He turns and begins walking out of the room.
Freefall had started whimpering when he was handed to the white mech, but he let loose an audial-piercing squeal then begins bawling his little Spark out when Crossfire leaves his sight. Silverbolt guesses the red mech had shut out the sparkling and he doesn't know how to deal with it. So the flier was left to comfort a kid who couldn't even talk yet.
Fantastic.
Silverbolt rubs the wing tips for several minutes before Freefall is calm enough to utter only an occasional hiccup. He lifts the small flier so they were staring straight at each other. The sparkling looks back at him with mournful optics, as if he knew he wouldn't see his remaining parent again for many vorns to come. Silverbolt knows how that feels, to an extent.
"C'mon, kid," the mech says as he too exits the room. "Let's see what you're made of."
