After some procrastinating and other stuff I've finally got this one done.

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Ironhide shifts forward to rest more firmly on his knees, crested head tiled and optics pointedly watching Alpha Trion.

"Ya mind repeatin' that?"

Nodding slowly, the emerald mech gestures towards the hatchling who rests partially concealed by the warrior's thick arm and heavy chassis.

"Optimus will need his first intake of energon within the joor now his systems are clear of the depleted nutrient gel. He will not last until the transport arrives without it. It is abundantly clear that he has bonded to you, due to this his systems will no longer accept it from another."

Ironhide remains still for a moment, sharp optics scanning and scrutinizing the other. Small quiet trills draw his attention down to his arm where the little hatchling has now turned to look over the black skinned plating. Wide gold optics take in the other mech's and desolate surrounds with soft inquisitive clicks and chirrs. Carefully running a large finger down the small back he heaves a vent of atmosphere in a sigh and asks;

"What do I need to do?"

Pleased the Trion enthusiastically points and gestures as he begins his explanation.

"It is rather simple. We disconnect one of your small lesser energon lines from near your main filtering tanks and connect it into Optimus. This will supply him with the energon he needs until he is seen to by a proper medic. You will need to slow the flow as much as possible to not overwhelm him and keep filtering the energon until his own systems take over."

Tentatively Alpha moves in close pleased that the mech is quickly settling into his role. Careful hands guide the unresisting large mech to lift his left arm up, exposing the hydraulics and small armor pieces protecting the vitals within. Sending a silent request the green mech presses tapered fingers to a curved dark plate low on the mech's chest. Tilting to the right, Ironhide flexes the plating allowing it to be lightly pulled open. He can't suppress the full body twitch when those fine digits touch the silvery skin of his now exposed protoform. The touch is disturbingly cold.

:: My apologies. This may cause some discomfort but should not hurt. ::

Warming his hands Alpha guides the protoform 'ribs' open finally exposing the mech's heated innards. His small spindly frame allows him to easily slip an arm into the small gap. A combination of sonar pings, scans and highly attuned touch helping him to navigate. Sorting through thick cables, lattice of coolant and lubricant lines and webs of sensitive neural wires he quickly finds the energon line he is seeking. The line itself is only an inch in diameter, but still large in comparison to the small body it will soon be connected to. Utilizing his fine fingers he firmly pinches off the tube where it connects into a much larger arterial line. Waiting a few klicks for the main line to seal off what the body perceives as a break, he sharply twists and snaps the line away then gently extracts the line. Violet optics flicking up to the mech's blunt face plates every few kliks searching for any sign of discomfort. A blissful hum passes through the elder's spark seeing the warrior's attention focused solely on Optimus, the little one happily emitting small trills and clicks as a thick digit smoothes over the fragile back. Compressing and twisting the end of the line to narrow the diameter as much as possible to minimize spillage, Alpha briefly flicks a glance over to Theta.

"Theta, come here please. I will need your assistance with the hatchling."

Shifting to move closer the sapphire and gold mech halts mid step. Icey blue optics glare sidelong at him, seeming to bore through his thin plating.

"Please, Ironhide. I'm afraid your hands are far too large for this task. I need Theta to open the plates of Optimus' abdomen to allow for the line to be connected. It will not harm him. That I promise."

A low growl rumbles deep in the black mech's chest before he relents. Wide hands gently shift the small form from one arm to the other, laying Optimus out along a broad forearm. The small helm swivels to scrutinize one mech then the other before tiling back looking for assurance from his guardian. Delicate little fingers flex anxiously against dense plating. Seeing the blue one moving closer Optimus' whimpers body twisting as he attempts curly up. A large grey hand holds him in place as soothing warmth curls over him easing his rising panic. Using large fingers to carefully hold the hatchling in place, Ironhide gives one sharp nod to the other Trion. Steely optics watching the blue mech's every move.

Moving quickly Theta crouches low, two finger tips splitting open with fine pincers and manipulator tools fanning out. Using these he coaxes the still soft abdominal plates open as gently as possible. Feeling the intrusion the little one's first instinct is to pull away long legs kicking and his good arm flailing, but his attempts are thoroughly thwarted by Ironhide's grip. A loud startled wail splits the thin air as Theta Trion slips the line in and roughly attaches it to a main arterial line.

Ironhide runs his thumb up the side of Optimus' final stumps, down his jaw to barely plated shoulders in a soft circular pattern, as the hatchling cries and struggles. Initially his systems attempt to block the flow of the fluid, perceiving it as an unknown and potentially dangerous. A gurgling retch is their only warning before the hatchling purges the small amount of energon his system has collected. Electric blue energon splatters over already filthy blue grey plates and Ironhide's restraining hand.

"What the frag!?! Is he supposed to do that?"

Normally purging energon was a sign of severe internal damage or that there was a dangerous contamination in the lines. He barely manages to resists the urge to grab the green mech by his skinny neck and shaking them senseless. Instead he shifts his weight off his stiff knees and adjusts his grip on the squirming wailing Optimus. Fumbling with a thigh compartment, Alpha Trion fishes out for a small dull grey rag. He carefully wipes up the worst of spilled energon being mindful of the silver line still tentatively attached in the hatchlings abdomen.

"Calm yourself warrior, give the little one a moment. This is not the normal method for giving a hatchling its first energon intake, but it is all we have available to us. His systems should recognize your signature momentarily."

"WHAT?!!?! You said– "

"I know what I said warrior! This is the best we can do. Please calm yourself, this is not helping. The more agitated you are the longer it will take Optimus to settle."

Reeling in his rage and anxiety, Ironhide carefully pets the small chest with a thumb as Optimus' distressed cries gradually quiet. Systems finally matching the latent spark signature within the energon with the one radiating from the large body of his guardian the internal blocks finally release. Optimus' body having previously been sustained by slowly processing energy from the nutrient gel is overwhelmed by the sudden rich energy source as it forcibly floods through his lines. The new energy blazing through his weak systems sends his developing processor reeling with mild euphoria.

:: Ironhide, everything alright? ::

:: It's fine Hardtop. Alpha Trion just did an energon transfer on Optimus and he ain't likin' it too much. ::

Optimus gradually settles going limp in Ironhide's warm grasp as the large mech does his best to moderate the flow continuing his gentle ministrations over the little chest.

:: Optimus? As in the hatchling? Ha, so the little bitlet has a name. One of those scholars pull that one outta his aft? ::

Watching as the hatchling promptly slips into recharge his continuous scans showing various dormant systems slowly powering online for the first time, Ironhide snorts a dismissive laugh.

:: Nah, Theta Trion recons it's what's written inside the hatchling's chest plates. Says it's an old language or some slag like that. Smart aft talks too much. ::

Internally he quietly muses to himself how ridiculous he must look fussing over a hatchling, not to mention that by now his reputation amongst his fellow warriors is utterly shot to slag. Knowing Alloy and Livewire those mech's will have already made an attempt to send some form of message or data packet to the nearest guard post in Tyger Pax.

Patiently stepping back and waiting for the hatchlings energon levels to reach optimal, Alpha Trion neatly folds the soiled rag and slips it back into the narrow compartment in his thigh. Glancing over an ornate shoulder the emerald green mech sends a questioning ping through the other Trion's comm. line.

:: This is on your head Alpha. I have done as asked, but I will not be dragged into this debacle any further by you. Know that I will be putting in a protest against this to the council when we reach Tyger Pax. ::

The sapphire blue Trion regards the other with the barest fleeting look before shutting off the comm. link signal of the other Trion. Picking himself up and dusting off lingering rust powder, Theta curtly nods to Alpha Trion, pointedly ignoring Ironhide, before hastily stalking off to join with the mech's of the science team.

"That… that ain't gonna happen again is it? The purgin' I mean?"

Starting Alpha quickly looks to the large mech, seeing his form hunched, optics averted.

He'd never admit it, but the scene earlier had made his spark twist in its casing. He'd seen mech's purge before. In one of those cases the mech died from massive internal bleeding after a very simple, but very stupid sparing accident.

The mech had been sparing with a friend who far out classed him in not only size but sheer weight and skill. A stumbled counter saw the larger strike the smaller with more force than intended. Soon after the mech missed his shift and Ironhide was sent to collect him from the main barracks where he had been last seen after the incident. The sight he found in the mech's quarters still chills him all these vorns later. On the floor in a splattered pool of energon and coolant lay the young mech. Body curled in on himself arms clamped tightly around his damaged abdomen, quaking with violent spasms as glowing energon and clear coolant gushed from his mouth in another brutal purge. In a panic he sent out an emergency message for help, gathering the mech in his arms and running as fast as he could to the nearest med bay. He was notified later that orn that the mech's spark had guttered out despite the medics best efforts. An autopsy found the mech had shut off most of his pain receptors within the abdominal zone. In the end this error cost him his life. It was confirmed the mech had cracked one of his main energon pumps and damaged several energon and coolant lines, injuries that would have been easily repaired. Instead the lines split, mingling the energon with the coolant creating a violate mix that seeped into the pump and poisoned him. Put simply in Ironhide's mind the mech had died through his own stupidity, but it was still something he never wanted to witness again.

Alpha blinks, violet optics watching the large mech carefully noting the slight brightening of the blue optics as they flick back to him.

"No, no it should not happen again. It was caused by his body's natural reaction to what it perceived as a foreign and potentially dangerous fluid. Ah, good his levels are optimal now, we can remove the line."

Crouching down under Ironhide's watchful optics, Alpha moves slowly and very carefully in removing the energon line. Nimble finger tips split and fan open with fine tools similar to Theta's, before dipping into the small opening in the slumbering hatchlings abdomen. Pinching off the thin tube where it had been forcibly connected to an arterial line, he waits for Optimus' now fully functional repair systems to seal the breach. Running continuous scans over the small body Alpha very carefully he extracts the line pinching the end shut with fine pincer tools. Optimus' only response is a slight jerk of his limbs and a brief stutter of his system. Carefully placing the line back within the large mech's frame, allowing his repair systems to gradually pull the line back into place, he assists in shutting the inner and outer plates before gently doing the same with the hatchling.

Resting back on his haunches, old hydraulics softly hissing in the back of his legs, hands resting flat against thigh plating the slender scholar looks over the heavy frame of the much larger warrior with a sharp scrutinizing gaze. He watches the mech for a full breem before speaking, harmonics flat and direct allowing no form of misunderstanding.

"I will be blunt with you warrior. Your type was never suited for the role of guardian. You are bred to be strong in body, thick plated, tactical minded and brutishly violent. You are simply the last type of mech I would ever allow to be guardian to such a vulnerable and impressionable hatchling."

Icy blue optics lock with violet, black armor plates subtly tightening. The large mech hunches forwards, crested head lowered, his left arm slowly shifting to tuck the limp body of the recharging hatchling securely against heavy chest plates. Calmly raising a placating hand, Alpha Trion continues.

"However… You have demonstrated a capacity for compassion, self control and shown you can curb your more violent tendencies in his presence."

Gesturing to the almost completely hidden form of Optimus tucked firmly under protruding armor layers.

"I must commend you for this. I honestly never expected for you to settle into this role so well. But know this…I am giving you fair warning Ironhide, so please listen and listen well."

Sitting back, watching as the mech gradually settles Alpha continues, tone more quiet and understanding.

"There will be questions to be answered by all here this orn, but you will be singled out for the most pressing of these. Many you will find unpleasant and intrusive and you will have your character and profession thoroughly dissected. Keeping a level head and a reign on your tempter will be of the upmost importance for yourself and Optimus during this time. It will be difficult for you, I know. I have been a guardian under strained circumstances myself once before. I understand what you may be about to face and… I would like to assist you in this however I can… if you will allow it…"

Ironhide critically assesses the small scholar, optics roving over his form, noting how he held himself, his facial expression and the emotions swirling in his energy field. He is a mech who finds trusting others difficult in the best of circumstances and these were far from the best or the most normal of circumstances. The mech had helped him a great deal this orn and he understands what the older mech is offering, but also knows it is a decision he cannot take lightly. There is another besides himself he must take into account in this. One who cannot yet voice his opinion on the matter. Rolling back onto his feet and pushing his heavy form up to standing, he looks down at the smaller mech, body and facial plating betraying nothing.

"I'll think on it."

That said, the large mech turns and stalks off, leaving the smaller to stare after him in disappointment. He makes a point to stay within the small area his team mates have set as their guard perimeter, but still keeps his distance from them.

It was all hitting home now. He thought he'd had a relatively good grasp on what would be coming before, but now he wasn't so sure. Could he honestly do this? Could he be a good enough guardian for this hatchling? Can he handle the questioning Alpha Trion warned him about? What about the questions of where the hatchling came from and his age? Optimus has been born a full vorn after the last hatchling birth cycle. Was the Trion right, that he was the wrong type of mech for this? Would it be better for the both of them if he found a way to sever the bond and give Optimus to a proper guardian? Or would it just be the easy way out?

All these questions and more boil through his over active processor as he absent mindedly runs blunt rough fingers gently over the warm little body cradled in his arm. Optimus wriggles as he begins to surface from recharge, disturbed by the torrid of emotions rolling through Ironhide's energy field. He smothers the turmoil by pushing warmth and reassurance though his energy as he looks down at the fragile form shifting to press his head again Ironhide's side. Delicate little hands rub against armor plates, in an eerily similar pattern to Ironhide's own careful petting, as recharge slowly reclaims the hatchling. If he didn't know better he'd swear the little one was trying to comfort him.

Stopping in his aimless wandering, he tilts his head back optics staring up at the dark sky, watching one of Cybertons 2 moons as it lazily follows its gravitational path, his raging processor finally slowing. This has been an orn he can't forget and this is a decision he will never regret. A genuine smile breaks across the mech's harsh features as he slowly tilts his head back down to regard the hatchling in his arm.

"We'll guess we're stuck with each other kid."

:: Livewire to team. Emergency evac transport ETA one joor. They request all parties to be gathered at these coordinates for fast pick up and dust off. ::

Stealing himself, the large warrior slowly makes his way back to the main camp. What ever was coming he'd be ready for it… with some help.

:: Ironhide to Alpha Trion. ::

:: Yes, Ironhide? ::

Came the stunned yet hopeful response.

:: Made my decision. We got a lot to discuss. ::

TBC

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Despite how it ends up there is more I'm not stopping here!

Sorry about the wait, I blame it on a combination of BF and World of Warcraft. Its my man's fault! He has been pestering me for 3 months to get back onto to play with him…. Damn you and your addictiveness WoW!