Fortitude

Chapter 1

The second story in the CHOICE series but can stand on it's own.

Ultra Magnus X Mirage / Jazz X Blaster / Optimus Prime X Ironhide / Prowl X Wheeljack


Magnus watched with serious optics "This isn't a good idea prime." He said as his head came to the fore watching his bonded zip around the closed track at speeds that almost made him feel nervous. Mirage was always good at this and he knew his bonded could do it he was completely capable.

Their hatchings, he wasn't so sure. Slick stood beside Magnus with awe. "He's going so fast!" Slick jumped up and down until she was stilled by her creator's hand "Look at him go! NOVA LOOK!" She was so eager to get out on the track.

"It will be fine Magnus, they have to learn sometime." Prime smiled down at Slickdrift.

Ironhide was crouched down between Quill and Trasher far to their left side. "Now watch him he slows into the turns you'll have to do the same thing or the gravity you produce in the turn will force you to the outer wall..." Quill nodded slowly taking it all in as his creator stretched out his arm between the two showing them the hard points in the track.

"Drafting will be fun." Trash said leaning forward over the rail.

"You may Draft but do not tailgate one another...you both know better." Ironhide warned. "Watch the turns and be mindful of Nova he is smaller than you all."

"We know Creator." Quill said quietly arms folded as he watched Mirage slow to a stop on the track and transform standing with a stretch of his arms.

Trasher smiled "Creator last time we saw you on here you rolled over." He chuckled.

Ironhide's mouth thinned out . "Well….Trucks aren't made to race on tracks like this….I took the turn too deep and was shoved into the wall…and you saw that so let that be a lesson to you." He squared his shoulders shifting up to stand.

Mirage walked to the small pit area still turning his rotor joints in his shoulders "Haven't done that in ages."

"You looked great." Magnus smiled. "Nice to see you let go a bit." Mirage could only nod as he looked down at the small group of hatchlings.

Slick jumped up and down "OUR TURN!" She looked back "Come on Nova."

The little mech clung to Prowl's leg. "I don't want to...Sire I want to stay with you." he shook his head turning his turquoise optics into Prowl's leg.

"And you don't have to." Prowl said quietly. "Not if you really do not wish to."

"Awe come on!" Slick smiled "it'll be fun!"

"Slickdrift." The finials on her head lowered as Magnus turned to face her, his voice filled with warning. "Go on...when he is older he may join you."

"But I just want..."

"Now." Magnus intoned. A vent of defeat as she turned making her way to her sire she was upset Nova was not going to join them. Magnus looked back before turning to Prowl. "I am sorry Prowl she get excited easily."

"It's fine." Prowl groaned as he rubbed Nova's back-strut.

"How are you feeling?" A smile broke over Magnus as he stepped back.

"Feeling like doing this a second time was a mistake." He groaned "Nova didn't give me near this much...discomfort." he smiled down.

Magnus smiled and watched Prowl lean down lifting his little mechling in his arms. He was not very old, only a few earth years, but Prowl and Wheeljack had managed to Spark themselves a second time. "Hows Jack taking all this?"

"How else?" Prowl smirked "Immersing himself in his work."

Magnus smiled as he looked out to see Optimus and Mirage lining the three younglings on the track. Nova watched with one optic still buried against his Sire. "How close are you?"

"Days" Prowl smiled.

"You should be back at base." Magnus shook his head his optics turning to the Cruiser with almost concern.

"I'll be fine." Prowl said and pressed his helm to Nova's. "I wanted to watch the hatchlings."

"Would you like me to take you to the inner track Nova?" Magnus asked as he reached out for the little one.

"By myself?" He asked quietly. "They can't run me over can they?"

With a chuckle Prowl shook his head "No little one ...of course not...come on I'll go with you." He said setting Nova down grasping up his servo tightly. Magnus took up the other servo, as they walked across the main track behind Slickdrift, Trasher, and Tranquil. Making their way to the inner figure eight track where Nova could drive with relative safety.

Ironhide pointed his finger at the three vehicles lined up on the track. "I want you all to conduct yourself with honor."

"We will Ironhide." Slickdrift said her frame much larger than the boys as she pulled forward.

Mirage looked at the three "No tailgating no drifting." He looked at Slick "I mean that No Drifting."

"Yes Sire." Slick revved her engine. The little Kia Soul was Bright blue and she was itching to go. Trash and Quill were Matching Ford Fiestas they were still small mechs and would have to grow into future terrestrial guises.

The red Fiesta rolled on his wheels slightly. Ironhide turned to him "Easy there Trasher you're on the inside. To keep that position you need to be fast but you need to be aware."

The little car didn't respond he was still rolling back and forth minutely on his wheels. Ironhide turned to the little black car with a smile. "Make your Sire proud of you Quill." He said quietly.

"I will Creator." Quill responded.

Mirage stepped back and faced them. "Are you ready?" he asked and their horns honked once. Ironhide stood to the other side. Mirage and Ironhide split them keeping them one single car length from one another. Mirage raised his hand and then lowered it and the three cars skidded past them.

Stepping to Ironhide's side Mirage folded his arms "How do you think this is going to turn out?"

"I hope they listen."

"Primus knows that won't happen." Mirage smiled and noticed the crew rounding the first turn. "That third turn is a smidge tight I don't think the mechlings will have issues but Slick might."

"Her size?" Ironhide asked. Mirage only nodded as they stepped low onto the track as they kept their optics on their three charges as they raced. "Worst she'll do is roll like I did."

Mirage chuckled "That was funny." He put a hand on Ironhide's arm to let him know his humor was all in good fun.

"Maybe." Ironhide grumbled and put his optics back on the little ones as they pulled into the second turn. "Easy Trash don't get that close." He murmured.

Prime smiled as he watched Nova race with half the speed of his peers around the small figure 8 track, he was having a good time and that's what mattered most to Prime and to Prowl who was playing road block trying to block the little one's turns make him thing about his directions and critical thinking.

Prime recalled something similar with Quill until he heard the squeal of tires and the crash. Everyone froze and looking up as the world seemed to still. Every optic on that third turn. "QUILL!" Ironhide yelled moving forward Mirage and Magnus broke into runs to make to the area as well. Smoke billowed up from the far corner deep into the third turn of the track. Trash had transformed and stood back with Slick.

"I'm sorry he got too close." Slick said moving to Mirage "Sire I'm so sorry I had no where to go!"

"Are you hurt?" Mirage asked. Slick shook her head as he turned to Trasher. "and you mechling?"

"No Sir." Thrash backed up with him.

"Trash, Slick ...go into the inner ring of the track and stay in your bipedal modes." Mirage commanded pointing them away.

"But Sire."

"Go to Prowl." He frowned at Slickdrift and shook his head. Turning he looked up to Prime who was walking back holding Quill in his arms. Quill's leg was badly damaged. "How is he?"

"He's fine...just need to see Ratchet is all." Prime looked at Magnus "I think we're done for the day."

Ironhide shook his head turning his anger mounting. "Trash!" The red mechling cringed and looked back turning to his Creator. "Get over here…Now." Trash vented almost scared but he gathered himself turning. He walked with strong steps and stood before Ironhide pitching his optics up to meet those of his furious creator. Prime walked up behind him holding Quill in his arms. "You were tailgating him...while he was next to Slick against the wall...you knew well he had no where to go..."

"Creator..." He tried to explain.

"No." Prime spoke up "It was careless and you will learn from this..."

Trasher turned to Prime and his brother and looked about ready to break down "Look I'm sorry."

"I warned you about it... and you persisted still." Ironhide shook his head "Know that we love you...but we put these rules in place for a reason for protection."

"But I'm fine!" Trash said.

Prime side "that may be so ...But Tranquil is not."

Quill groaned and lowered his head against Prime's chest. "Sire... my leg-strut…it really hurts."

"I know." Prime nodded as he looked down seeing purple energon running from the leg turning pink as it hit the oxygen rich air. "Ironhide he's seeping."

Ironhide moved past Trash up to quill and laced his hand around the leg to try to seal off the leak but it was just too strong. "Blasted cables damaged... lets get him to Ratch."

Prime nodded "Magnus will you make sure Trasher gets back to Base?"

Magnus nodded "Of course." A hand moved over the youth's shoulder bracket. "We'll look after him." Thrash lowered his head sadly and waited. Slick came to him and took his servo. "Come along both of you."

Slick looked up at him "I'm sorry." She said softly.

"We're done casting fault..." Magnus reached down gripping her servo. "Now we go home." He looked up to Prowl who was rubbing at his torso. "And well on time I suspect." Turning to Mirage he nodded "Have Nova come to me ...help Prowl."


Quill sat on his berth his left leg drawn up, his right stretched out over his berth. The brace ran the length of his leg-strut and he wouldn't be walking for almost a week. He held a Data-pad reading quietly.

"You are too much like your Sire." Ironhide smiled from the door.

"I'm not sorry for that." Quill said quietly looking up at his Creator.

"Nor should you be." Ironhide walked in sitting down beside the edge of the berth. "You expressed to your sire that we've been to hard on your twin brother."

"Yes...he didn't intend to harm me...I am fine... He shouldn't be punished like this...we were all to blame." He sighed his vents quietly door wings shifting.

"He didn't listen to instructions given, there are consequences to such behavior." Ironhide explained to him "Son ..." he sighed "It's not easy to be responsible...Primus knows, but we all must make amends for the things we do."

"He should be cleaning my room not his." Quill said "If it's to be punishment...if he's to make amends to me, other wise it's not making amends...he's amending your anger...and I'm still stuck in bed." Ironhide blinked.

"You're too much like your sire...but that stubborn flare you get from me." He shook his head this must be what punishment is really like; when your children are far too like yourself. "Besides...your room is always spotless...wouldn't be a point to him cleaning in here."

"How's Slick?" Quill broached the question quietly changing the subject.

"She's worried about you but she'll be alright, we see them off tomorrow."

"That sucks." Quill looked up, the vernacular of his statement causing Ironhide to flinch slightly. Though much like Prime he could be at times just like himself.

"Indeed...they return to Alexia." He stood and smiled down "It's time for recharge." Ironhide reached to the light beside the berth and it faded, the room was dark. "I'll see you in the morning."

"Goodnight Ironhide." Quill lay back on his berth with a yawn of his manifold. Taking the Datapad from his son Ironhide nodded and walked to the door pulling it behind him.

"Night Tranquil." He said and the door came to close.


Trash sat up on his heels and sighed lifting up the small data-pad he pitched it into one of his many bins. "I hate this," he murmured grabbing up a rubix cube and moving it into another bin.

"It will teach you to listen to your Creator next time." Prime said softly from the door.

"I wasn't that close!" Trash stood shaking his head "I was at best a half length!"

"You may have been far enough back for you..." Prime said "But did you think about what distance Quill would be comfortable with? You boxed him in along Slickdrift...and had Nova been on the track..."

"I ..." Trash seemed to loose his words "I'm sorry."

Prime walked up to him and knelt down on the floor turning the mechling to face him. "Trash." he said softly. "Trasher..." Trash shook his head and pressed against Prime clinging tightly. Trash was always the emotional one, the one who took risks but was so easily hurt.

"I'm sorry." his door wings sank and he shook his head.

"Easy." Prime pulled him closer never to deny his own son the closeness. "I'm here. I know in your spark you didn't mean to harm him." Moving his servos about the youth's face prime pitched up the feline helm to look at him. "We must work on obeying what we are told." A nod from the trembling hatchling that already had energon pooling in his optics.

"Yes Sire." Prime embraced him again and smiled softly. "I love you."

"I love you too." Prime nodded and motioned him up into his bed. "It's late."

"I've still got more to clean." Trash reached up rubbing the liquid from his optics.

"You can work on more tomorrow." Prime nodded and allowed him to gather up a small device and climb into bed. Prime moved to him and took the device activating it and attaching it to his port side manifold. "If you need help you know how to call us." Prime always worried about Trasher's undersized manifold but there was little they could do.

"Yes Sire thank you." Trash turned onto his right side and closed his optics quietly as Optimus left the room meeting Ironhide just as he was closing Quill's door.

Ironhide reached out taking Prime's waiting servo and pulled him closer. "Primus." Ironhide breathed softly.

Prime could only hum his acknowledgment of the statement pulling Ironhide close they smiled at one another the bond open and bright and as they leaned to kiss Ironhide's servo reached for his neck pulling him down

A chime broke their kiss. Prime groaned and reached for the panel on the wall. "This is Prime."

"Good news." Ratchet's over chipper voice.

"That is?"

"I have Prowl inside Medical, his labor has started." Ratchet smiled. "Thought you might wish to know."

Prime nodded. "Thank you Ratchet I'm on my way." Turning to Ironhide he smiled.

"We should have another."

Prime looked at him in disbelief. "You don't mean that."

"Primus I don't" Ironhide chuckled and motioned him away. "Go on I'll hold down the fort..." he smiled.

"Once Wheeljack arrives I'll come back." Prime promised.

"Better." Ironhide said and turned to their private Berth-room.

Prowl stood in the medical bay pacing quietly as he swallowed his groans. "Sire?" Nova watched him from a nearby berth.

"I'm alright Nova I'm fine." Prowl turned putting on his best smile. "I promise...your sibling just persists." he moved to the beside "In kicking my manifold." He reached down wrapping his arms around the little mech. "Oh Nova." He smiled. "When Optimus gets here, he's going to take you back to his quarters to recharge alright?"

"Where will you be sire?" Nova's optics blinked quietly.

"They are about to remove the hatchling." Prowl smiled.

"Oh..." He blinked "But I don't want to go, I want to stay with you until my Creator arrives."

"He will be far too busy with me at that point I'm afraid child." Prowl keeled down slightly.

"Prowl..." Ratchet emerged from his office. "Primus mech lay down."

"No I'm fine." He regained his composure. "How long?"

"A few more hours I'm afraid it's nested in tightly... it's working itself to the fore of your torso that takes time." Prowl nodded again. "Are you sure you won't lay down?"

"Yes Ratchet thank you...I'm alright." Prowl smiled looking up at the clock hoping the space bridge command would go over the intercoms announcing the return of Wheeljack from Alexia.