Story Co-authored by Omicron the Ice Queen and Dragon Claw
Level Workers AU. Done purely for the cute factor. Drift finally gets to see the Sparkling he's been carrying around for the first time.
The world is a very big place when you're small enough to fit inside your parents' palm. Let alone when you can't see that far away! Given a new chance of life, Koro explores her new home, but is it worth remembering your old life? Or just let it slip away?
Drifting Child
The first thing she could recall feeling was a headache. Not just a little one either. It was the sort of headache that could make a person wonder if they'd been kicked several times. Groaning faintly, she opened her eyes and looked around.
Why was it dark? This wasn't right, was it? Had someone forgotten to turn the lights on?
A faint moan of sorts escaped her, though she couldn't quite find the strength to move, or try to move, just yet. Soon though; she could feel energy slowly spreading to her limbs. Perhaps she'd be able to find the lights soon.
The world seemed hot, what should have been too hot but really just felt nice. Twitching in the limbs would click slowly that they were doing that, then that there was soft and hard things wrapped, coiled and holding her in place. Everything seemed wet, or damp and when she 'opened' her eyes truly a very faint glow was just visible.
It didn't take her too long to register the twitching, and she tried to look around to see what was holding her. She twitched a bit more as she tried to move, her gaze soon trying to focus on where the glow was coming from. The glow seemed to be a soft, almost creamsicle orange, though she had no idea where the glow was coming from. It always seemed to be in the direction she was trying to look, and that only confused her further.
Was everything glowing orange?
The cables, for a lack of a better term shifted and flexed automatically, almost like snugging down in an embraces around her. There was a soft pop and she could finally hear things, multi laired hums and one powerful pulsing that was echoed on a smaller scale in her own chest.
She twitched a fair bit more when the odd cables held her close, and when the popping sound happened she looked around a bit more, trying to find the source of the sounds she was now hearing. She made a quiet hum noise of her own, showing curiosity and confusion as she looked around, and then tried to look at herself, though she didn't get a good look because of the 'cables' that were wrapped around her.
Something hissed and there was another popping, not the same and the coils around her loosened. Lowering her a few inches from being suspended.
This new change in situation, small as it was, caused her to look around a bit more, as well as twitch a bit faster as she tried to figure out what had just happened. She hummed again in confusion, trying to wiggle a little as she did so, though whether it was a conscious action or not was anyone's guess.
Her light hum was echoed in a deeper tone, vibrating thin armor paneling on her as well as the chamber itself. There was a shifting unseen but the world lifted somehow, gravity rotating from behind to below.
She made an odd, rather cute little 'meep' sort of sound as things shifted and moved, as well at the vibrations. That was new. She looked around some more, wriggling a bit more as she did so. This was all a little too confusing for her at the present.
There was another popping sound and she sank a bit more, one of the snug cables loosen and slid off from around her middle.
That made her give a little squeak and look down where the cable slid off. It's going to drop me? She thought, seeming confused and uncertain. Twitching again, she tried to figure out what would be a good plan of action, though without being able to see very much, she didn't have anything to really go by.
It took a few minutes in between each hiss, pop and unraveling of the cables, the deeper rumbling picking back up after each time. They mostly unwound from her limbs, disconnecting from joints to let her move until she dangled with her feet just touching the 'ground' that was covered in something like and unlike water, held up by two last cables around her chest and hips.
By this point, she was able to squirm a bit more, and was now getting a feel for 'flapping' her arms a bit, as well as lightly kicking her legs. She ended up giggling a little -at least, it sort of sounded like giggling- as she did this, her eyes wide and holding curiosity as she looked around a bit more.
Her little chirps didn't quite echo but seemed like it. Where ever she was, was big and small at the same time. Another cable loosened around her hips and she sake into the fluid below, the ground apparently being deeper then thought, and she was suspended but the last cable holding her around the chest, able to spash in the 'water' that was nearly up to her waist.
Of course, not quite ready for this sudden dip into the liquid, she squeaked loudly, staring down at the fluid with wide eyes and splashing a little due to kicking. She looked at the last cable now, holding onto it and seeming a bit unsure, if not nervous. After all, she didn't really know how deep the liquid was. She shivered now, making a noise that sounded almost like she was saying 'brrr', though she paused afterwards, distracted by the sound she made, and giggled a little at it before making the noise again. Needless to say, her own self-amusement lead her to relax her hold on the last cable. She'd likely fall right off it without any trouble now that she was preoccupied with her own noises.
The vibrations took a slightly, subtle difference in note, as if expecting what was to happen next. The world shifted a little again but not that much, not at first. Gravity leaned forward for a moment, the liquid splashing a bit before going back 'up right' as her, for now unknown carrier stood up to walk back to his own shared rooms after finding out that the sparkling, her, wouldn't need to be taken out, but small and streamlined enough to be able to find her own way out once the chamber opened.
As for the little sparkling, she just continued to puddle and splash, still making funny noises and giggling about them as her carrier moved along. She didn't know if being this easily amused was a good thing, but for the present it took her mind off of the question that had been pestering her earlier; where the heck was she? All things in their due time, she had decided, and as such kept splashing and giggling, completely unaware that she was even being carried around in something much, much bigger than she was.
Her carrier hummed softly, revving his alternate's engine almost playfully to give her a new sound. By the time he made it to his door he had the last repost of the final cable disconnecting and letting the sparkling drop into the liquid with a plop and splash, it was harmless to her. In fact very good as while she was flailing in the nanite rich fluid, automatically 'swallowing' to learn\relearn how, it seeped into joints and into her small little frame to give everything one more coating.
The girl made a quiet 'ooh!' noise when he revved, and was about to do something else before, with a splashing noise, plopped into the liquid. Squeaking, she flailed and kicked clumsily, trying to figure out what to do with herself now. In the end, she just kept giggling.
"There you are," the mech said, his voice not muffled though the words just didn't seem to fit. Yet there was something about the voice that said she knew it, having heard it for however long she'd been in this place before waking up
She paused, looking around with confusion. "Eh?" She burbled, seeming curious as she tried to locate the source of the familiar-yet-not voice.
The mech hummed as he investigated the room, looking for his mate, and after comming her to come down he moved into the berth room. Each step still had a bit of a sway in the chamber his new child was in, and jarred a little as he hopped up onto the wide berth and once more gravity inside shifted. The liquid flowing, taking the sparking with it as the mech stretched out before folding his hands over where deep under the thick armor was the chamber.
While she swayed and was sloshed around a bit, the sparkling giggled and splashed, though as gravity shifted, she squeaked and looked around, flailing a bit more as she went.
"Aaaaah!" Her cry sounded half like glee and half like surprise and fear. Despite her surprise at what was going on, she seemed to be amused by what was going on.
"Its alright," the mech purred around her, voice coming from all around and nowhere. There was a semi distant tapping sound as he rapped his armor over her. "Just me," he chuckled.
She blinked and looked up when she heard the tapping. "Eh? Wha?" She burbled loudly, reaching up and trying to figure out the source of the tapping, and the voice. "Who you?"
The mech hummed back to her, though she was understanding him, mostly, her small chirps weren't making it past the chamber let alone through the armor. Even if it did, he would only hear sparkling babble until she learned to speak.
The sparkling giggled as he hummed, trying to paddle around to figure out a way to get closer to the humming and voice that occasionally showed up. Eventually she chirped out as loud as she could. "Heyo?!"
The rumble took a deeper note at her yelp, and the mech shifted to sit up, grinning at the timing as he reached out for his mate, tugging Perceptor up on the berth and hugging tightly, "The sparkling's coming!"
The little sparkling, in the meantime, heard the talking and called out again. "Hi! Heyo! Anyone!" She started to try and find a way to get out, or at least get a look out of the area she was presently in. Splashing a bit as she explored, she giggled and kept piping out at the voice she heard, as though hoping she'd figure out which way to go by talking about it.
The chamber rocked as Drift lend back again, purring in deep satisfaction, he had his mate and a child he was going to see for the first time.
Eventually, the sparkling found something to hang onto, and was trying desperately to climb up, and out. "Heyo?!" She really had no idea where she was going, but hey, life was an adventure, right? Besides, that voice was one she desperately wanted to tack a face to.
What she could was one of the cables that held her before, now attaching to the wall. there were others that would mold into possession for her, but for now the mech had to focus on calming down and stilling as many if his systems as possible.
The sparkling peered around her as this happened, shifting and managing to catch hold on the cable, nearly slipping, but hanging on tight and giggling as she hauled herself up, slowly progressing as the cables moved into position. On occasion when one took 'too long', she's look up at the ceiling and shout "Hey mister!" before giggling again. Eventually, she was just 'bout at the 'exit'.
It was a small crack it seemed, just enough to get a hand into but not much else right now. Though slowly, very slowly it opened some more.
Watching as it opened, she just sat there for a bit before, half out or curiosity and half out of eagerness to get out, she shifted and stuck her hands up out of the gap, trying to hold onto the edge to pull herself out. "Anybody out here?" She asked as she tried to pull herself up, even if it was only enough to look around.
The chamber, or rather the mech moved unexpectedly so that the young sparkling dropped right back down where she started in the pool.
Of course, not expecting such a tumble when it happened frightened her, causing her to scream the whole way down and whimper as she hit the fluid below. Shivering, she looked up at the opening as though it were the source of her woes, but this pouting didn't last long. Frowning determinedly, she began her climb again, hesitating on occasion to frown up at the opening. "...meanie!"
The world vibrated as the mech chuckled again, and another voice was there, lighter and coaxing.
That new voice made her pause, tilting her head as she made a rather loud 'eh?' noise. Curiosity pushing her onwards once again, the determined little sparkling continued her second attempt to climb up and out. A bit more sure of her hold this time, she made it to the opening faster than before, hesitating a moment before, with another small pout, reaching up and lightly whacking the side of the opening to make sure it wouldn't move again. Now certain she wouldn't get dumped back into the liquid, she got on her best 'game face' -which was remarkably cute considering the circumstances- and set about hauling herself up and out again.
She made it half way out before she got a little out of balance, kicking her legs as though it would help her get up. After a moment to huff and contemplate her dilemma, she struggled a little more and got herself out before looking around. "Huh?"
Heavy plates of white armor were resting far over her, and then they lifted up to let a little more light in to the systems she was in, after a few moments of staring there was a path of sorts where things weren't moving or very slowly. The mech rumbled encouragingly for her to move and that female like voice was there again.
At first, the little sparkling just tilted her head as she took in the new scenery, but -like a moth to a lit bulb- her gaze soon fixed on the light. This added to the encouraging sounds she was hearing drove the little mech to keep moving, giggling as she crawled towards the light and the safe path. "Heyo?!" She tried again, eager to hear back from the voices that seemed to like her. "You there?!"
"I hear you," the adult femmie spoke up, clawed fingers brushing under the armor before pulling back, listening for the babbling chirps and clicks and a few trills, "A happy sparkling."
Hearing the voice speak made the little female speed up, stumbling over her hands thanks to trying to move too fast. She caught herself though and, giggling delightedly, continued up the 'road' ahead of her.
"I'm coming!" She declared gleefully before tumbling over by accident. "...Kinda!"
Giggling a bit more, she continued on, desperate to see who owned the large fingers she'd caught a glimpse of. It didn't take her too long before she was at the gap leading to freedom.
Now, however, she paused, sitting just out of sight for a moment. What if it was scary out there? What if there were monsters that wanted to be mean to her? She shrank back a little and whimpered at the thought, looking back towards the chamber's general direction. It had been warm in there, and there was stuff to splash in. But it was dark, and she couldn't figure out where the orange glow had come from. That bothered her. Whimpering again, she looked back at the gap. Freedom, or comfortable darkness with weird glowing and fun stuff to puddle in?
Soon she had made up her mind, shivering and making her adorable little 'brrr' noise before crawling closer to the gap, and timidly peeping out to take a look around. "H-hello?"
"I see you," A gentle voice said, and something a bit big was there beside her. The scale was off for her so she couldn't see right away that what was pulling her out from under the pale armor was set of slim hands. More than large enough that the new femling barely fit in the adult's palms, but she also couldn't focus her optic farther than the handspand she was sitting on. "There's the little thing," Perceptor chuckled as she held the sparkling up to get a look at the damp armor, then moved.
Even larger hands reached out, cupping around the black ones of his mate and drawing them and the sparkling up closer for him to look as well, "She's so…tiny. I made this?"
"Yes you did." The red and black femmie chuckles as she put the sparkling in Drift's hands.
The sparkling stared at the large hands as they moved closer, seeming a bit frightened, but giggling quietly all the same as she was picked up, tumbling a little as she shifted. Peering around and trying to focus on what was going on, the little fem bot perked up as soon as she heard the masculine voice, giggling gleefully as she tried to figure out who or what owned it.
"Heyo?" She flailed her little arms comically as she did so, chattering a little before making her cute little 'brr' noise again and giggling.
"Hello there little midget," Drift greeted, using one finger to touch the tiny helm that was a pale, silvery-white, and noting that she had some light red in her body, but more pink than anything. "She's colored?"
"Some have pigments yes." Perceptor nodded, "Not much, but she seems to take after you," She chuckled and reached out to stroke down the femling's back with more confidence than the warrior had.
The sparkling squeaked when he did this, but giggled and reached up, trying to catch hold of his finger. She smiled happily as she tried to grip the larger appendage, creamcicle orange eyes wide and delighted as she burbled and chirped at him. "You're huge!"
"How long until she can talk?" Drift wondered, twitching his finger that she held the tip of ever so slightly, in turn nudging the sparkling. He smiled and tweaked a delicate audio finnal on her helm, not much more than a small fan yet to take a solid shape.
"It will take a little while. But she'll learn." he mate assured.
She squeaked again as he did this, giggling and holding on as tight as her little frame would let her. "You're funny too!" She piped with delight. She tilted her head a little after a moment and looking around, trying to focus on Perceptor. "Huh?"
Perceptor shifted, rising up and then settling on the mech's hips in order to lean over and prop her elbows on the mech's front to come closer to the sparkling's line of sight as her carrier and sire put her on his chest, cupping his hands around Perceptor's and her.
The sparkling cooed as this happened, eyes wide as she was moved around, and instinctively huddling against Drift's frame once she was set down. Even with that though, she giggled and timidly waved up at Perceptor. "Heyo?"
The adult femmie smiled, "You are cute aren't you," she used a back side of a claw to tip up the child's chin to get a look at the optics, than tapped her nose. "Might have red optics."
Drift made a face, "I like that color better, or gold."
"We can always change them once she's a little bigger."
The girl squeaked and giggled a bit more as she was moved, grinning up at the blurry faces that were her parents. "Hi!" Her bright eyes betrayed the bubbliness that was doing a very good job of showing off on its own, and as she just sat there, she tried to hold onto Perceptor's finger instead of clinging to Drift. There were just too many fun things to try and hold onto or explore now, and her inquisitive side was insisting she do everything possible to achieve her goal.
The black and white both digits stoked over her form, petting and playing with her for a little bit. Bonding with their child and committing every miniature detail to memory while Drift's and Perceptor's sparks pulsed near. Though his was almost under her, the strong, rhyme energy that she listened to for who knew how long before waking, would soon put the femling into recharge once she wore herself out in a little bit.
While she sat there, the sparkling just giggled and smiling as she reveled in the attention that was being poured out on her. "Who are you?" She burbled after a little while, yawning cutely afterwards and letting go of Perceptor's hand as she curled up in a ball on her daddy's chest. Resting her head against his frame, she listened to the pulsing beneath her. She giggled as she put her little hands flat against his armor, trying to find where she could feel it the strongest before pulling herself right over top of it and lying on her back, giggling up at her parents and smiling sweetly.
The armor under her vibrated as Drift purred deeply, looking down at the girl and grinned as another sound came. Not as subtle as a background sound but the femling wouldn't be aware of it for a while.
"Yes big girl, that's your sister," The mech grinned wider as he glanced up at the ceiling and then back down, "Welcome to the Xianthum..."
"What are you going to name her?" Perceptor asked, tilted her head.
Drift gave his mate a blank look, startled, "Name?"
"Her first name, until or if she wants to pick a new one."
"I...get to name my sparkling?" His blue optics widen and then looked back down. Then a slow smile formed as he sat up, lifting the sparkling up to his face with one hand so she could really see him.
The little sparkling giggled happily, holding onto him as he moved her. Once she was able to focus on his face, she squealed with glee and reached forward, trying to touch his cheek. "Heyo!" She piped gleefully, her bright eyes holding interest as she looked his face over before finally just staring at his eyes. "Pretty!"
The larger optics softened as he leaned just that much closer to press his lips against the femling in a kiss. "Sweet little scraplet... little Koro."
The sparkling giggled happily as she leaned against his face, squirming a little and giggling even more as she hummed and made her little 'brr' noise. She wasn't really sure about what she was just named, but hey, she'd learn in time.
The mech nuzzled against her, giving her another kiss and set her back down over his spark with another purr, both adult mecha waiting for her to wear herself out and crash. Then the 'fun' part of trying to get her to take energon for the first time.
Koro burbled cutely as she curled up again, trying to hold onto his hand as she lay there, giggling before yawning again. It didn't take long until she was out like a light.
Drift laid his hand over top her, rumbling contentedly as both adults watched the sparkling. Koro, in the meantime, just burbled in her sleep, giggling and quivering now and then while she rested.