Hi there everyone! So, since I'm going to be busy for the rest of November and am not sure if I will be able to update A Melody of Second Chances again after today, I thought now would be the perfect time to finally upload this. This is a companion story to A Melody of Second Chances and will be comprised of moments and escapades that I wanted to put into the main story, but couldn't for one reason or another. This story will NOT have regular updates, just warning everyone of that right now. I will update it whenever I have the time, inclination, and inspiration to write another chapter for it. Anyway, I had wanted to write the reactions of various characters when they read Optimus Prime's report on who Starwish and the others would be staying with, so that one-shot gets to be the first chapter in this story.

A nod of credit to Shadow fang the black wolf for giving me inspiration on this chapter's title. When I read your the part of your review that said, "Now sit back and watch the fireworks from the reactions to their assignments." I couldn't help but think how accurate a title the fireworks part would make. So, thanks!

Copyright Disclaimer: I do not own Transformers, Cybertronian terms, or any references made in this story. The only things I own are the plot and my OCs Starwish, Hardwire, Zipline, Fast Track, Buffer, Motioncap, and Flash Fire.

Reports and Fireworks

(Set just after chapter 6 and before chapter 7)

First Aid was calmly reorganizing a shelf of medical tools, the mindless work easing his wires and cables from a cycle of work. It had been surprisingly busy.

First, Chromia had dragged her sparkmate in, insisting he see one of the medics over his hip joint, which was giving him trouble again. Ironhide had protested the entire time First Aid worked on him, nearly swearing several times but luckily stopping before the words got out. Good thing too, I'd hate to see what would happen if the twinlings started shouting expletives at Ratchet whenever they were in trouble. That wouldn't end well.

After First Aid had seen to Ironhide, Jazz had mysteriously popped in complaining of a servo malfunction, claiming the offending appendage had a slow response time. While Ratchet had scanned the mech for what was wrong, Jazz had happily chatted with a Starwish. Of course, when Ratchet hadn't been able to find anything wrong with Jazz's servo, he had sent the saboteur packing with a wrench to the helm. First Aid privately suspected that the smaller mech had simply been looking for an excuse to visit Starwish.

Then the twinlings had disassembled one of their Energon Fusion converters and run away with the parts, setting off a long chase that had taken the combined efforts of himself, Ratchet, and Starwish to finally end. First Aid secretly wondered if someone was smuggling tools in to the little trouble makers just so they could pull stunts like that.

After Starwish had convinced Ratchet to let them out to explore or find some other outlet for their energy, Jazz had volunteered to keep an optic on them while Ironhide, Chromia and the others who knew of their existence kept watch to make sure no one entered the restricted area around the Rec Room. But then Ratchet had called all senior officers to an emergency meeting and left First Aid in charge of keeping an optic on the patients.

First Aid vented softly as he remembered Zip and Track discovering the energon dispenser in the corner of the Rec Room. Not something he wanted to ever repeat, to be sure.

His thoughts were jerked back to the present when he heard the medbay doors slide open, allowing the irate voices of Sunstreaker and Sideswipe be clearly heard. First Aid turned to face them and was not at all surprised to see that they had dents and scuffs. Sunstreaker looked very close to offlining his twin while Sideswipe made excuses over whatever it was that had started the trouble, "-Totally not my fault, Sunny! Prime must be joking, that's all!"

Sunstreaker snarled wordlessly at Sideswipe before shifting his gaze sharply to First Aid, "Need a fix."

First Aid raised an optic ridge, "I can see that. Oh well, both of you on the berths over there and I'll see what I can do."

As First Aid started to work on the two, still arguing, twins, Motioncap trotted in, "Hey Aid! Where's Ratchet? I've got a report for him from Prime."

First Aid didn't even look up from firmly pounding out a dent in Sunstreaker's armor, "In his office. Careful, he isn't in the best of moods."

Motioncap snorted, "Is he ever? I'll be quick." First Aid grunted an acknowledgment as he carefully finished his dent removal and handed the armor piece back to Sunstreaker. That meeting must have been important if it requires a follow up report. About ten kliks later, First Aid heard Motioncap trot out of the medbay again, his report delivery complete. First Aid wasn't surprised, the Autobot Runner was always fast when on the job.

Moving on to Sideswipe, First Aid was just adjusting a wire that had gotten knocked loose in the mech's shoulder when a loud, explosive shout rattled his concentration. Sideswipe yowled as the wire was tweaked incorrectly, sending a spasm of pain up his shoulder and neck while First Aid leaped away with a yelp of surprise at the static jolt the misaligned wire had sparked. What in the Allspark?

Ratchet came storming out of his office, the look on his faceplates dark enough to scare even Ironhide. Stomping past First Aid, a datapad clenched in one servo, Ratchet was snarling, "If Prime is serious about this … this mockery, I am going to offline him!" Pausing when he saw the twins, he unsubspaced a wrench and shook it threateningly at them, "And then I'll come for you two!" With that, he was gone, striding angrily out of the medbay and off, presumably, to Optimus Prime's location.

First Aid blinked a few times before turning to Sunstreaker and Sideswipe, who were both looking terrified, "Do you have any idea what that was about?"

Sunstreaker's faceplates morphed into a scowl, "It's all Sideswipe's fault."

Ultra Magnus inserted the data-stick Motioncap had just delivered to him into a datapad and began reading its contents. Optimus had already commed him that he was sending Motioncap with a list of what the refugees new living arrangements would be after they were released from the medbay. Reading the first entry, Hardwire's, he nodded thoughtfully, it was a good idea to pair the large newcomer with the easy going ex-Wrecker.

His optic fell on the next entry, the twin younglings Zipline and Fast Track, and his frame stiffened, he cannot be serious. Giving them to Sunstreaker and Sideswipe? Ultra Magnus pressed his lip components together and did his best to puzzle out his Prime's logic. After all, it would not be in the report if Prime was not perfectly serious about it. Therefor, his leader had a logical, thought out reason for the pairing.

Taking care of younglings would cut down their time to plan and execute pranks … Ironhide and Ratchet would most assuredly make sure they actually took care of the younglings. It also would serve a stark lesson in responsibility. Ultra Magnus nodded to himself, those had to be the reasons. It would definitely be tricky in the beginning, getting the two front-liners to properly care for their charges, but in the long run, he could see the benefits it could provide.

Ultra Magnus scrolled down to the bottom of the report and instantly froze. Blinking, he reread the section, sure that he had simply misread it the first time. Much to his growing confusion and consternation, it stayed the same as before. Impossible.

Subspacing the datapad, Ultra Magnus stood up firmly and strode out of his office for Optimus Prime's. There was no possibility that the report was correct. He could not have just been assigned to be the guardian of the femling Starwish, it simply was not possible.

Prowl looked over the report he had just received from Motioncap thoroughly, going over it meticulously multiple times before accessing its coding to ensure it wasn't a forgery. It wasn't, not that Prowl really expected it to be a forgery, but it paid to be thorough.

With an exasperated flick of his doorwings, Prowl stood up and set out for Prime's office. Someone would have to be there to stop Ratchet from trying to club Optimus offline with a wrench and the chances of Ultra Magnus being able to hold off the irate medic were 0.007% against. Not that his odds 0.020% were much better…

Optimus inwardly braced himself when he heard the sound of stomping pedes and as such didn't even twitch when Ratchet burst in, shouting profanity and demanding explanations for the 'glitching Decepticon joke of a report'. The enraged CMO was quickly followed by a tense and curt Ultra Magnus and a stoically silent Prowl. Holding up his servos for silence, Optimus hid his rueful smile as he asked, "What appears to be the problem? Ratchet, Ultra Magnus, Prowl?"

Ratchet got the first word in, "What's the problem? The problem is you want to assign Sunstreaker and Sideswipe as guardians! Have you any idea what those two could do to those younglings? Both intentionally and not? Optimus!"

Ultra Magnus curtly cut in, "Sir, while I can see the logic behind assigning Sunstreaker and Sideswipe to the twin younglings-"

Ratchet interrupted, "Logic? What logic? Nothing involving those two slaggers has anything to do with logic!"

Ultra Magnus continued, shooting Ratchet a dark look as he did so, "The experience will no doubt enhance their maturity level and also cut down on the free time they constantly use for 'pranks'."

Ratchet scowled, "You are, of course, assuming that they won't just shove the mechlings onto another available Autobot and prank anyway."

Prowl stepped into the conversation, "They will be unable to do so, I will have orders issued throughout the base that as long as Sunstreaker and Sideswipe are off duty, no one else is to act as the younglings' caretaker unless the base is under attack."

Ratchet huffed, looking back and forth between the two tacticians with an expression of angered disbelief, "I can't believe this!" An argument broke out then and there, with Ratchet refusing to back down on the illegitimacy of Sideswipe and Sunstreaker's assigned guardianship, Prowl trying to reason with the medic and Ultra Magnus attempting to get a word in edgewise.

Finally, Optimus decided that his officers had argued with each other for too long and commanded sternly, "Enough." At his single word and the accompanying pulse from the Matrix of Leadership, the three arguing officers fell silent. Ratchet glared at him silently, daring the Prime to insist on Sunstreaker and Sideswipe's impending guardianship.

Optimus folded his servos behind his back and matched Ratchet's stare levelly until the medic had to avert his optics, "I am quite serious about every assignment in the report. Aside from the reasons stated by Ultra Magnus, as well as the fact that the twins could use a lesson in caring about others beside themselves, I believe that of all the mechs on base, Sunstreaker and Sideswipe are … uniquely positioned to care for Zipline and Fast Track's special needs. They are split spark twins and as such are well acquainted with the idiosyncrasies and needs of such a pair. You stated it yourself once Ratchet, split spark younglings have different needs and raising requirements than normal younglings?"

Ratchet growled, irritated that his own words from a long ago conversation were being used against him now, "Yes. The systems of split spark twins do not take kindly to being separated for any lengthy period of time, their energy consumption is also unusual. There is a host of…" His vocalization trailed off when he realized he was only proving Optimus's point.

Optimus hammered the point home by calmly adding, "In short, a normal mech would often be at a loss on how to care for them. Sunstreaker and Sideswipe however, would not be baffled when it came to the needs of split spark twins. Am I not correct Ratchet?"

Ratchet remained silent for a few breems, his mouth components parted in a silent protest before he finally flung his servos in the air and snarled disgustedly, "Fine! But when those two younglings come into my medbay needing repairs because Sideswipe tried to roughhouse with them or Sunstreaker found them in his art stash, it is not my fault!" Ratchet stormed out of the office, muttering something darkly about 'preparing the medbay for the impending cataclysm', leaving Ultra Magnus, Optimus, and Prowl in the office alone.

After waiting until the CMO was well out of audio range, Prowl turned to Optimus and said, "I understand the report and shall make the necessary preparations, sir."

Optimus nodded, "Understood, Prowl. Dismissed." Prowl nodded curtly and left the office, his doorwings bobbing slightly to his clipped stride.

The leader of all Autobots looked over patiently at his subtly fidgeting SiC, "Is there another matter you wish to discuss, Ultra Magnus?"

Ultra Magnus stiffened to rigid attention and said, "Sir, I came to report an error in the report file Motioncap delivered to my office and request a correct copy."

Optimus tilted his helm slightly to one side, "An error? Explain."

Ultra Magnus nodded and slid into an 'at-ease' pose, folding his servos neatly behind his back as he continued, "The report file I received indicated that I would be the guardian of the recently arrived femme, Starwish."

Optimus withheld the simultaneous urge to sigh sadly or chuckle at his SiC's discomfort, "That was not an error in the report copy, Magnus. Upon searching through the profiles of all mechs currently on base, I determined it most prudent to assign her to your care. She will be moving into your quarters once Ratchet releases her from the medbay."

Ultra Magnus went stiff again and Optimus spotted his servos clenching quietly behind his tall back, "B-but, sir! I … not to question your judgement, but I have no prior experience in guardianship. Much less the guardianship of a young femling, surely Ironhide and Chromia would be better candidates."

Optimus shook his helm, "No, Ultra Magnus, they would not. For one, they have both made it clear that they still have their servos full with Bumblebee. For another, even if they believed that they had enough time for Starwish, I doubt the wisdom in placing the femling under the care of the femme who shot her brother."

The Prime watched patiently as Ultra Magnus wrestled with the undeniable information, struggling to come up with a solution that did not involve him. Is he truly so convinced of his inadequacies? Ultra Magnus tried a different tactic, "Sir, would it not be seen as highly improper among the other mechs for a femme to reside in my quarters with me-"

Optimus already had an answer ready for that, "Is there not a spare berth room in your quarters?" Ultra Magnus nodded reluctantly, "Then she can stay there. Also, you are a highly respected officer and a former sparkmate, they would not see it as improper at all given the circumstances." The look of pain that flashed over Ultra Magnus's faceplates made Optimus want to snatch his words back, the death of his SiC's sparkmate was still a sensitive subject, even after all the vorns that had passed.

Optimus felt a realization dawn on him, perhaps that is why … of course. He fears to grow attached to a femme again, even in a Guardian-Ward relationship. Ultra Magnus was still protesting, though his attempts were growing more and more half-sparked, "Sir, I must protest this assignment as ill-advised. I would not … I am not suited to be a guardian, let alone house a young traumatized femling in my quarters as a ward."

Optimus calmly began to steer Ultra Magnus towards the door, "It is only until Elita-One and the other femmes return and a more suitable solution can be arranged. Besides, I am confidant that you will adapt to the situation in the meantime."

Before any more protests could be voiced by Ultra Magnus, Optimus had dismissed him and shut the door firmly in his faceplates. Wearily striding back to his desk, Optimus Prime sat down and mused to himself. Ultra Magnus has yet to heal from the loss of his sparkmate … if such an act is possible given the circumstances of her offlining. Still, perhaps assigning Ultra Magnus as Starwish's guardian will serve more then one purpose. Thinking back on the reports he had received on Starwish's temperament and behavior as well as his own brief meeting with the femling, Optimus nodded to himself, yes … this might just work… as long as nothing goes irrevocably wrong of course.

Receiving a sudden panicked com from Red Alert asking for backup in stopping Ratchet from chasing Sunstreaker and Sideswipe around the base with a wrench and a datapad, yelling something about 'teaching them proper youngling care before the debacle begins', Optimus heaved a tired sigh, such as that. ::I am on my way, Red Alert.:: Not that I will be of much help.

Author's Note: There you go! My very first attempt at one-shot. I hope everyone likes it. Until next time, this is SecretEnigma signing off!