Thanks for the reviews again, you know I appreciate it. I won't keep you long, but I do want to apologize. I got waaaay too much work all of a sudden, when my partner (?!) left for a week – and dumped all her work on my aft! 10 hours a day for six days straight doesn't do one any good, mark my words, especially when you don't really have any pauses… Okay, so I wrote this whilst working, and then re-typed it on the computer from the note-book. I ask you to appreciate it, because it stands in the rules of my working place that we shouldn't really have anything to do there except the work. So if my boss finds out, I'm out of work! Then again, it's almost the start of school, meaning no more work for this lady! ;) Gah, too much stuff here again. I'll update as soon as possible, I shouldn't be overly busy now… Enjoy!
DISCLAIMER: I own nothing, 'cept the younglings from the ship (check the earlier chaps if you, for some odd reason, don't have a clue what I'm talking about).
How to read the lines: :bond talk:, 'comm-link talk', "normal talk", thoughts
Optimus
Primus I was tired.
I could barely focus on what Prowl was telling me about how we should accommodate the new additions to our own younglings. I have to admit, none of us had seen this coming. How probable was this, anyway? A whole shipful of sparklings, over half of which were Decepticons by heritage, or 'Con-born as they called themselves, and the rest Autobots or children of the few Neutrals that still hid somewhere, land on Earth on a Decepticon vessel and alert us by using technology they shouldn't know anything about!
I briefly wondered if Prowl would be able to calculate the probability for me, but after glancing at his face, took two mental steps back in my musings. I could imagine this doing a number on Prowl's logic circuitry already, so I decided against asking for the sake of not having an overly pissed Ratchet on my case for crashing our tactician after he'd been able to take everything in stride up until this point.
Then I realized I hadn't heard Prowl talk for a few minutes. Slaaaaag. I looked at him, already knowing what I'd see.
I was right. He was scowling at me, clearly unimpressed by the fact that I hadn't paid enough attention to him.
"I'm sorry, Prowl, could you repeat the last bit?" I asked meekly, hoping to Primus above that he wouldn't ask anything.
Either Primus was on vacation or was having way too much fun watching me suffer, I'll never know which, but my prayers went unanswered.
"From where, Prime? What's the last bit you remember me telling you?" he asked, steel evident in his voice. I grimaced.
"The point where you were telling me about where we will arrange the sleeping quarters to the younglings?" It came out as a question, and Prowl's scowl darkened to an outright glare.
"That was almost ten minutes ago."
"Oh."
"Yes, oh." He then looked at me like he saw me for the first time that day. "Optimus, are you alright? You look like you could recharge standing up." I waved a hand, attempting to dismiss both the comment and my obvious exhaustion, but only managed to emphasize it with my sluggish movements. Cursing my inability to move right, I squared my shoulders and straightened my posture, trying to look like I was alert and ready for anything.
Truth be told, the only thing I was really ready for was falling to recharge. Anywhere, as long as it was now. I'd probably have started to snore even if my brother decided to shoot the ship from somewhere!
I was just about to start coming up with almost credible lies to assure Prowl that I wasn't about to fall into stasis when the inner communications of the ship saved my aft.
"Crew, prepare for landing in two breems."
"Well, we'll be home in a minute, so I suggest we start preparing the others for the initial shock. Prowl, please establish a link to the Command Center and make sure Blaster sent that other shuttle to collect the other half of our forces from the vessel and have him notify the troops that no one is to draw weapons when we come in. Some of the younglings are still more than skittish, and we don't want them to have a full-blown panic attack when we reach the base. Oh, and make sure the twins aren't there," I added as an after-thought. Sunstreaker and Sideswipe were, to be sure, a formidable force on the battlefield and good mechs, but I wouldn't entrust them with 'Con-born younglings to safe my life. Their hatred for the 'Cons could become a problem.
Before we landed, I wanted to make sure that no youngling had taken any backtracks concerning their recovery. So I made my way to Ratchet, who was still struggling with Cross's thigh. It puzzled me to notice that, since it was the thing he'd been working on the entire time we were on-board. I voiced my thoughts to him and received a snort in response, something any other officer apart from him and Ironhide, the guardians of my younglinghood, would have gotten a talking over.
"I don't have the right equipment with me, and it was more serious than I thought. Even though the energon lines in her leg, the ones that are large enough to really do damage if punctured, are fine, one of the main coolant lines is ruptured, and if that doesn't get repaired soon, she'll lose her leg or overheat her entire body, messing up her wiring big time," Ratchet grunted. I was quite surprised to hear so much from our medic. Usually he just told any questioner to frag off and let him do his job in peace.
This wasn't good, but I wouldn't be able to help him. So I acknowledged his words with a nod and made one last question before leaving.
"What about the other younglings? Nightfall and the other critical patients?"
"I don't know. Ask Sockets or First Aid and leave me alone!"
Ah, there he was. He wasn't cursing, but I supposed you couldn't have everything immediately. So I made my way to the junior medics.
"First Aid, how are the younglings?" I asked. He was currently working on a young mech with a large gash in his side. The youngling was in stasis and probably sedated, and First Aid seemed pretty engrossed in his work. It took him a few seconds to register that he'd been spoken to. He started when he did.
"OH! Oh, sorry, Optimus, I was a bit occupied. He'll live, that's for sure, and the little femme with the bang to the head is making a nice recovery, although I imagine she'll be a bit woozy when she comes to, probably sometime next week," he added dryly.
"What happened to her, and what can we expect from her? Will she make a full recovery as well? Have her processes been damaged in any way unrepairable?" I wanted to know. Before he could answer, the shuttle touched down with a slight tremor through its frame and Ratchet stood up from where he had been working.
"Alright, I want all nine critical patients to the med ASAP! First Aid and Sockets, you take care of those not as injured, I have to go immediately with the big injuries," he ordered his subordinates and placed Cross on a stretcher. The other eight younglings were also put on portables and rushed out before anyone else, with Ratchet in the lead and yelling everyone to make a path. Sockets and First Aid woke up the few younglings who had deemed the shuttle and the situation in general safe enough to recharge and escorted them out of the ship. The rest of the Autobots took the six sparklings we saved and carried them away. At least they were quiet.
As I watched everything happen, I couldn't stifle back a yawn that had persistently tried to pry its way out for a good long while. I immediately felt my bonded reach out to me.
:Are you alright, Optimus?:
:Yes, I just need some rest. How are the children?:
:Good as ever. Now, how about you explain why you saw it fit to leave me alone with the younglings and take Kacey with when you knew that it could well have been a dangerous mission?: There was no mistaking the tone she used. I was so slagged it already hurt! I held back a groan of protest at my misfortune: I already annoyed my SIC, and now my bonded, as expected, was quite ready to chew my aft off, and not in a nice way either.
:I'll be right there to explain everything. Please wait a moment, I'll fetch Kacey. She must've gone off again, probably to see if the younglings are okay.:
:Wait what? Younglings? Optimus Prime, you are coming here this instant and filling me in on this!:
:Just a moment, love, you'll know in a minute. Please have some patience.: I pleaded her over the bond. After a moment of nothing, she sent her love to me, along with the promise of pain later on if I failed to come to her fast enough.
Primus knows I love that femme, but he also knows she's as feisty as they get! Part of why I love her so, too.
I quickly reached out to Kacey to see where she was, but I didn't get a reply through our bond.
"Right here, father. I was just showing Fast Forward around," she explained from behind me. I turned and saw the over-active little mechling perched on her shoulders, looking everywhere at once, or at least making a very good attempt of it. He reminded me of Leo when he was a bit younger.
"Hey, Hope, who's that?" he suddenly asked and pointed toward the entrance to the base. I followed his gaze and immediately knew who he was talking about.
"Oh that's Jetfire, my father's cousin and our Aerial Commander," my daughter explained readily. I felt a small surge of pride shoot through my spark at the sight of her holding the younger one. She was a true natural born leader, as far as my opinion was concerned. So ready to help, eager to explain and never one to leave anyone behind. And she'd only known this little mech for a few hours! I had a feeling she'd do anything and everything in her power to make sure that the younglings were welcomed nicely.
Fast Forward changed his position in her arms and pointed to where Sockets was desperately trying to assure some Seekers that it was safe.
"I just thought that he would be better at that than the medic, no offence intended," he said. Kacey frowned.
"Jetfire's nice and all, but I don't know if that would be such a good idea. Form what I see, you all seem to be quite timid, and Jetfire has a really powerful presence. I doubt introducing him to nearly hysteric Seekers would be such a good idea. Besides, Sockets knows what he's doing. He's one of the best medics I know," Kacey defended, but only received a nonchalant shrug from the young Bot.
"Suit yourself, but this is something that the Seekers have as a special trait, again. You see, they tend to flock to each other, and are attracted to others with wings. You don't really have to be a Seeker to earn their affections or trust; you just have to have wings. Unfortunately, that's the body part your medic, good as he is, lacks, and that Jetfire character most obviously has them," the mech explained, suddenly terribly interested in his hands. "Besides," he continued after a small pause, "this is going better than Cross said we should expect. You see, now they at least all move as a -"
A scream suddenly cut through the air like a razor, nearly knocking my audios off-line.
"AAAAH GET OFF ME!!!"
I whirled around to see what could have caused such a reaction, and was met with a rather unusual sight. Two Seeker femmes, white and blue, were almost kneeling in front of the shuttle we had just come from, and a third one, green, was hissing and clawing at anyone coming close. The blue femme stepped forth.
"Now, Wingslide, you know we're safe here, Cross said so herself, and so did the Sisters that sent us to these people…"
"They were wrong! They were so, so terribly, horribly wrong! We should never have come, we are doomed, we won't survive and we'll become their slaves and -"
"Shut up, 'Wing! They won't enslave us, they're Autobots, for Pit's sake… If they were planning that, they wouldn't have helped Cross!" the white one, obviously the leader, at least judging by her posture and the way the other two looked at her, snapped. The green one, Wingslide, remained undeterred.
"Y-Yeah? Well, she's a Bot-born, they're probably going to adopt her or something…"
The supposed leader, who was apparently starting to get more than a little frustrated with her underlings moaning, darkened her look.
"Really? Then how, pray tell, do you explain their medic zooming off to Primus knows where with both Cross and 'Fall in tow? And I swear to the Matrix and back, if you even consider spouting off another less-than-believable theory of Autobots enslaving younglings, then so help me I will tear off your wings and shove them so far up your exhaust that not even Patch would find them, were she here to do the digging required!"
That shut the youngling up, but she didn't budge. The white one heaved a sigh and whispered something to her friend. The blue one shrugged and went to comfort her comrade-in-hysterics while the white one sauntered off to cool down. Jetfire had most obviously heard the commotion and was on his way to us.
"Wonder how we can help…" he said, a concerned look on his face. I know for a fact that he really had a soft spot for all the younglings, and seeing a fellow winged Cybertronian, and a youngling, no less, in distress must have been hard on him.
"Maybe you can be of more help than you realize," Fast Forward said. At Jetfire's confused look, Kacey decided to elaborate.
"Fast Forward thinks that -"
"I don't think. I know," he intervened proudly. Kacey smirked.
"Okay, so Fast Forward knows that you might be more successful than Sockets when trying to calm down any anxious or somehow disturbed winglets. He says they relate better to mechs and femmes with wings."
Jetfire thought about it for a minute, and then flashed a smile.
"Sure, I think I can do it. But," his face sobered, "will they let me go near them? I'm pretty known, and I think that my doings have spread through the ranks of the 'Cons quite fast. They could very well just spook more," he said, his optics glowing a bit more dimly.
"Naw, I doubt it, really."
Jetfire looked at Fast Forward, a silent question in his optics.
"I mean, above all, Seekers are, believe it or not, extremely affectionate. If you go there and play it really cool, stay open and friendly and ready to show affection, they'll trust you. But if you hesitate one bit, they will suspect something bad. If you really want to help those younglings, you're going to have to get close. Real close." Fast Forward smirked, and Jetfire's optics narrowed in suspicion.
"How close, exactly? And what do you mean, affectionate? Not to say you are a bad judge, but I've been fighting Seekers for the better part of my life. They are NOT affectionate, unless they count launching rockets at each other affectionate."
"Aah, but you've only met Seekers that have been corrupted by Megatron. In fact, the other Seekers no longer recognize them as their kin." Another shrill scream tore through the air. Fast Forward winced and looked at Jetfire. "You should hurry. I think she's getting too scared to be helped, and that will affect the others, too."
My cousin didn't bother to answer, and instead made his way to the wailing youngling and her trine. I couldn't hold back another hefty sigh, but this one was accompanied by a yawn. Kacey glanced at me.
"Father, are you alright?"
"Yes, I'm fi-iiiiiine…" I yawned again. She made a face that clearly said 'come on, you can do better than that' and cocked her optic ridge. I chuckled and wrapped my arm around her shoulders, bowing down so I could whisper in her audio.
"Don't tell your Mom, but I'm really recharge deprived. When this is at least in control, somewhat, I'm going to go and get some recharge."
"You shouldn't be worrying about mother, father," she smirked, still holding Fast Forward close so that he heard everything we said, "She will not dismantle you if she finds out you are a little worse for wear. She's used to that, although she may not like it. The one you have to look out for is Ratchet."
"Oh, I can handle the old fragger. He'd only dismantle me, anyway. Your mother, however…" I shivered and left the end hanging. Kacey shuddered and I knew she could well imagine what my beloved – but undeniably fierce – bondmate would do.
"Point taken," she said, and the little mech in his arms tried, and failed, to suppress a giggle. She smiled, but her face turned grim again when she looked at Jetfire, who was cautiously approaching the young Seekers.
"Do you think he'll be alright?"
I pretended to think for a minute. Jetfire was as prone to getting in trouble and fights as Sunstreaker and Cliffjumper combined, but he'd managed to stay alive and well for a remarkably long time for one with his manners and lifestyle. A shiver ran down my spine as I recalled a few tight spots he'd dragged me into with him.
"Trust me, Kacey," I started, "a couple of distraught femme Seeker younglings aren't going to be his doom. If he's ever going to off-line, it's going to be because of his own screw-ups, not because of some outside force. He's too much of a slagger to go down like that," I smiled fondly.
Jetfire
"Hey, is everything okay here?" I asked as I made my way to the troubled Seekers. I got looks varying from scared to confused to annoyed for the effort of the inquiry.
Well this is starting well, I thought to myself and grimaced inwardly.
"No, everything isn't okay here. Can you please try and speak some sense into my whacked-out wing-sister here? She's convinced that you Autobots have ulterior motives in saving us, and won't take her wing-leader's word for it being a false accusation." She frowned at her friend, Wingslide, who only cowered in response. I remembered Fast Forward's advice and knelled down to look less menacing or big or whatever it was they were scared of. Then I flashed the friendliest, most non-offensive smile I could muster.
"Hiya, there, kiddo. What's your name?"
I got a whimper. I kept smiling as nicely as I could, though.
"It's okay, young wingling. I promise. What has you so scared? Did someone threaten you when you were in the shuttle?" I asked, mentally preparing to give an aft-whooping if someone really had intentionally scared the little femme. She was a youngling, for frag's sake, not an enemy 'Con preparing to fire! She was too young to be a 'Con soldier, anyway…
What about your cousin's son, then? He was a youngling when he attacked Optimus, remember?
I squashed the thought the moment it surfaced. Venom was a totally different case; these younglings had nothing what-so-ever to do with him or what he did.
I was ripped from my thoughts by her shaky answer.
"No, s-sir… Everyone was… was quite… nice to me… and my trine!" she added quickly.
Well, at least I got her to talk. The other two of her trine finally caught on my attempts to get their wing-sister to trust us and went to help me. The scared youngling visibly relaxed when her wing-mates starter to caress her helm, wings and back affectionately. I took it as my cue to try and coax her into following the other younglings deeper into the base.
"I'm not going to let anything bad happen to you. Will you please come with me so we can get some energon for you and your trine-mates? After that, I'll leave you for a nice, long recharge, and I'll make sure that no one uninvited will be able to come to you. Please, won't you all three come with me? Trust me?" I tried with my most persuasive tone of voice.
For a moment, nothing happened. The femmes remained unnaturally still and silent, but then their leader stirred.
"Okay, we will come with you." I looked at her shivering and shaking friend questioningly. She noticed and gave a small smile, much to my joy. "All of us."
Then she moved closer to me and stretched her arms out. I remembered Fast Forward's words again and let the young Seeker hug me. After she was done, the blue one came and did the same, a big smile on her faceplates. Finally, Wingslide took three careful steps and cautiously let me embrace her. I murmured promises of safety and protection in her audio, and she sniffed a little. When I pulled back, she reluctantly let go, and I saw there were tears in her optics, threatening to fall. I carefully wiped them away and smiled at the trio.
"Okay, let's get you all fed and to rest. I'll alert someone to --"
"NO!" the green one cried. I was surprised. Wasn't she just calming down? I got my answer when she flung herself on me and held tightly to my waist crying.
"Shh, baby, what's wrong?" I asked, totally puzzled by her sudden outburst. My only answer was more despairing wails and I could, after a few screams, make out a few words from the scream.
"Don't abandon us! Not again!" she wailed.
"Abandon? I would never --"
"But you just said so! You said you'd have someone else take care of us!"
I could tell she was nearing another one of her enslaving-Autobots –theories, so I quickly back-tracked to calm her down.
"What I meant to say was that I'd alert someone to get the energon for me so that we can avoid the more densely populated areas of the base, such as the recreation room. Does that sound good?" I asked, hoping to Primus above the femmes would buy my pathetic, make-shift excuse for my slip.
They did, and I had to suppress a big sigh of relief. I stood up and started to guide them towards Sockets and his quickly set up med station. While we walked, I was told the names of the other two trine-members. The leader's name was Suntop, and the blue one was called Dodge. Wingslide still insisted on holding on to my hand, but I managed to get them to move to where Sockets was checking the younglings for any damage the medics might have missed while performing hasty, superficial scans in the field or in the shuttle.
I was confused for a moment: wasn't Wheeljack supposed to be here, helping Sockets with the task? I approached the young medic, who was currently working on a little Seeker mech with a dented wing. The youngling was in deep recharge, and I could understand the reason as to why perfectly.
Do you have wings? No? Then let me tell you, from experience, that even banging them somewhere hurts like Pit, let alone denting them. Sockets was right to put the mech under for the check-up. He would have been screaming in agony if he were conscious.
"Hey, Sockets, where's 'Jack? Wasn't he supposed to be here too, helping you out with all these kids?" I inquired when I knew he'd hear me. He glanced up at me, and went back to work on the wing.
"He was here, but we had a little bit of a situation. After he got the sparklings checked or injuries, one of them woke up and started screaming. The others, naturally, woke up too, and joined the chorus. That made six screaming sparklings and another dozen or so skittish or recharging younglings, so Wheeljack thought it best to take the sparklings to Moony. Lucky for us," he continued, probably sensing my up-coming question about the welfare of the sparklings, "they all survived the crash with only scrapes, so they only have to be cleaned, fed and put to recharge, and I know I can't think of anyone better to do it than Moonracer, except maybe Akima. Those two femmes are naturals when it comes to sparklings and taking care of them," he smiled. I had to agree: even though femmes in general were better with sparklings than the average mech, those two almost sensed what a young one needed before the need actually hit the sparkling itself!
"Is he going to be okay?" Dodge asked from her position next to me, although in my opinion it was a miracle Sockets heard her at all, what with how quiet she was.
Meh, medics and their enhanced receptors…
"Yes, he'll make a full recovery, I think, but he's going to be sore all over for a few days," he said, and then paused for a second. "Are you three okay now? Feeling better and all?"
"Yes sir, we apologize for any inconveniences we might've caused," Suntop spoke up, casting a sharp glance at her green "sister" who was still busy clinging to my arm.
Sockets shook his head.
"No, no, you misunderstand my purpose. I didn't mean the, uh, episode just now, I meant your general well being. It is my job, so it is far from inconvenient anyway. Do you think I could give you three a few scans? We need to know if you need treatment."
"We are fine," Wingslide answered – a tad bit too quickly for it to be believable. Sockets apparently reached the same conclusion, as he raised an optic ridge that said it all.
"Really now?" he asked, and the little Seekeress managed to look sheepish. Sockets sighed and leaned back, seemingly finished with the youngling mech's wings. He took a deep breath and then nailed the three juvenile fliers on the ground with a steady look.
"I cannot, and will not, force you to be examined, bit if something really is wrong, it could get really tricky to fix if we postpone it too much. For example," he looked up, as if he was contemplating whether he should have a normal drink or go for high grade, "if your inner workings have been damaged, it could later result to extensive, and possibly unrepairable, damage. For instance, should the minor energon lines in your wings have ruptured, or just cracked, it would, if left untreated, result in inner bleeding. Not only would you gradually start to feel weaker and less responsive, the excess energon dripping out of the lines would build pressure on your wing-joints over time, causing extreme displeasure, or down-right pain. If you still refused treatment, or didn't seek it for one reason or another, it could result to your wings malfunctioning. At worst, we might even have to amputate your wings."
He looked at the three now horrified Seekers, and gave a slight, wry smile. "Good news is, however, you'd live through it. You'd just never fly again."
I was stumped! Sockets, perhaps the most gentle medic we had, next to First Aid, was just slamming down gruesome scenarios to youngling femmes like he were talking about the weather, with no regrets or second thoughts! I was about to start consoling the little femmes when the vice-like grip on my arm suddenly loosened.
"Umm, Mr. Medic, sir, can you please check that I'm okay?" she timidly asked. Sockets just smiled warmly.
"Sure I can. Come here and sit, I'll run a few scans, and if something weird shows up, I'll let you know and then I'll fix it."
"What if you can't fix it?" she asked, clearly frightened by the idea of losing her wings. Sockets gently but firmly took her by her shoulders and turned her so he could look straight to her optics.
"If I, for some reason, can't fix it, I bet that my mentor and our CMO, Ratchet, can. He can fix anything," Sockets assured. The Seekeress turned her head to look at me for confirmation. I offered her a smile.
"He's right, Ratchet's a miracle worker when it comes to repairs. He's the best medic in the whole universe, and you can ask any Autobot that!"
This was enough to satisfy the skittish Seekeress who settled down for the scans, and let Sockets begin his work.
I was still more than a bit puzzled by his earlier behavior, especially since he returned to his usual, compassionate and friendly manner just as fast. Then it dawned on me.
The fragger really was one of Ratchet the Hatchet's pupils!
I had to force my laughter down when I realized how he had just brilliantly tricked the femmes into having their check-ups as fast as possible. By painting such a scary would-be situation of their fates should they decide not to be checked, head gotten them thinking that it might be best to at least temporarily trust an unknown Autobot mech if it meant saving their wings. In some ways, I decided, Sockets is even more dangerous than the notoriously vicious Ratchet the Hatchet, Menace of the Med Bay! Hey, at least you knew with the Hatchet when he'd toss a wrench to your head and weld your aft to the nearest vertical surface. Sockets, though? Pit, he was a loose cannon, and about as predictable as Blitzwing's personality changes. I made a big mental note to never, under any circumstances, upset Sockets if I could avoid it, at least if I knew I was going to soon end up in medical for some reason or another. The mech was scary!
'Jetfire, please come and talk for a bit. We need to discuss these younglings.'
'Okay, Optimus, I'll be right there.'
"Sockets, ladies, I'm needed with the Prime. Will you be alright here?"
I had no idea I'd raise a ruckus like that with such a simple yes-or-no question. Heads turned to look at us when three shrill screams tore through the hall. Sockets and I both cringed at the infernal sound as three small frames slammed to m mid-section, easily upsetting my equilibrium, and forcing me to flail my arms around in order to reach my balance again. After succeeding in the none-too-easy task I refocused my attention to the three Seekers now gripping me with more force I imagined they possessed. I couldn't, however, make anything sensible out of their high keens and babbling, as they all tried to drown out what the others were trying to say to get their own points across.
"Whoa, whoa, WHOA, ladies! One at a time! Now, what's the issue here?" I asked, trying my very best to remain calm and collected. Evidently the Seeker trio wasn't at its best, and needed someone sane to be there for them. Primus, if this was how raising sparklings was going to be like, then I was in no hurry whatsoever to get to that point! I'd also have to ask Optimus how he did it…
Suntop took lead. I didn't know if it was conscious or not, but the other two seemed to trust her to always make the right decisions and get them out of trouble. That's probably what it means to be a part of such a tightly knit group. It's almost like watching a mini gestalt team, I mused.
"Please don't leave us! Please! We're scared to be alone in a weird place, and there are no other fliers around, ground-bound don't understand us… But you do! You have wings! Don't leave us alone, please, please… please…?" the last bit came as a quiet question, and it was accompanied by a tug at my wing. The displeasure caused by the action was quickly swept to the very back of my mind when I realized she, as well as her trine, had tears in their optics. Without really thinking, I kneeled down and opened my arms as an invitation to an embrace, which they gladly accepted. It broke my spark to see femmes or younglings crying or otherwise distressed, and I couldn't help but do my best to comfort and protect them. I had always been that way, and I think I always would be.
"Shh, it's okay, I promise… I'll protect you, okay? Nothing bad will happen to you ever again, I promise I'll take care of that…" I cooed to them, hoping to bring them some solace and peace of spark.
"So… you'll let us come w-with you?" Dodge, the quiet blue Seekeress asked in between sniffles. My spark all but melted at the sight.
"Yes, I will, but we'll have to hurry: cousin Optimus is already waiting."
"You're the Prime's cousin?!" the trio exclaimed in perfect unison. I frowned.
"Yes, is that a problem? You aren't afraid of the wuss, are you?" I snickered. "He's nothing but a big softie, really. He won't let anything bad happen to you either. He's almost exactly like me, except more responsible and not as handsome. Oh, and he lacks the wings," I winked. They looked at each other, and I could tell by their postures that they were communicating via some unknown link. Finally the leader relaxed and nodded to me.
"We'll come with you, if it isn't any trouble."
I smiled. "It isn't. Come along, then. Sockets, we'll stop by the med bay so you can finish the work later today, okay?"
"Roger."
We passed by many other Autobots who cast curious glances in my direction, and the trio of Seeker younglings trailing after me. I suddenly got a mental image of a mother duck and her young waddling along, and I shuddered at the fact that that was what we most likely resembled at the moment. If the Lambo twins witness this, I thought despairingly, I'll never be able to live it down!
Fortunately for my reputation, we didn't encounter the Disastrous Duo on our way to the high command. They were grouped together in the very back of the hangar, probably to let the younglings look around with just ordinary soldiers around, no big, famous mech wreckers the 'Cons undoubtedly tell horror stories about. After all, being around high ranking officers does tend to unnerve us all, especially if one is only half their size and already a bit apprehensive of said mechs, whether being with them is a temporary solution or not.
Optimus, perceptive as he always is, noticed us first.
Of course, some of that perceptiveness could be because we are connected by a family bond…
He smiled and opened his mouth to greet me when he noticed the "ducklings" behind me.
Slaggit I need to get rid of that image!
"Jetfire, didn't I say to come alone? And shouldn't they be under our medics' custody?"
I fidgeted, knowing full well that I was openly refusing my Prime's orders, and Prowl's immediate presence, no less! Before I could apologize or do anything else, Wingslide, the poor, timid and very much scared and shaking youngling spoke up.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Prime Commander Sir. The fault is ours. We insisted on coming with. Please don't punish Mr. Jetfire or throw him in the brig or anything. We were so scared of being alone, and Mr. Jetfire was so nice to us, and we couldn't trust anyone and he was kind and didn't shun us and… We're really sorry," she finished and bowed her head. Optimus looked at me, and I gave him a nearly invisible nod. Then I opened a comm. line to him.
'They were so scared, Optimus, it would've been too cruel to just leave them there. They begged me to take them with me. I couldn't leave them, I just couldn't. If you had heard them…'
'I know, don't worry about it,' he answered, effectively cutting my explanation short. I didn't complain. Optimus turned to the other officers.
"Now that we're all here, we should consider how we're going to house the new arrivals. Prowl?"
Said mech stepped forward, and I had to hold back a snicker. I respected the mech greatly, we'd have probably already lost the war many times over if it wasn't for him and his brilliant tactical planning and calculating, but the mech himself was a bit too easy to read sometimes, too predictable. He had probably started to calculate all the possible new expenses and other things required to sustain another twenty-something sparklings and younglings ever since he learned we'd be giving them homes, if I knew the mech at all. Which I did. He squared his shoulders and begun his lecture, which I was sure he'd gone over at least a dozen times before deeming it presentable.
"In my opinion, we have two alternatives. Either we house the new arrivals all together in a remote place where they'll be left alone in peace, or we can try and persuade them to bunk with regular Autobots or civilians, family units or otherwise. Personally, I favor the first alternative, because that way both they and we will have time to grow accustomed to the new situation without any risk of it escalating into a crisis, should something unexpected happen."
"And this was expected…?" I quietly muttered, but one glance form my cousin effectively shut me up. Prowl settled to send a mild glare in my general direction. Magnus shifted in his place.
"Don't you think it's kind of cruel to leave the younglings outside right after this apparently nasty voyage of theirs? I think we should take them in, to care for them properly. They've been without adults for far too long."
"Agreed, but if they react even half as strongly to being with strangers as these three," Bumblebee motioned to the trio of Seekers still half cowering behind me, "then don't you think it would only stress them out to be forced to be with strangers? Remember, the, umm, 'Con-born?" he asked for confirmation from the Seekers and received a careful nod from Suntop. "Yes, the 'Con-born are all slightly scared of us Autobot soldiers. I can't blame them: their families have probably more or less perished because of the war, and ultimately, us," he pointed out.
I grimaced. As irritating as it was, they truly were scared of us. I had watched the reactions of the younglings to the soldiers ever since they stepped from the shuttle. At best, the 'Con-born had only flinched. At worst, they'd run several yards to get away from the Autobot talking to them.
"That may be, but shouldn't we worry about our own families first, and only then take care of these sudden visitors?" Red Alert asked. Optimus immediately stepped forward.
"No. First of all, they are no visitors, and they will stay as long as they will, even if they want to stay with us for good. They are younglings, and they cannot be blamed for the crimes their creators may or may not have committed, so we will treat them as we'd treat any orphaned youngling: with care and devotion. Second, we are not going to leave them outside the base. It is too dangerous," he said with all the authority he had. Everyone knew not to question him on it. No one ever did when he spoke with that voice. Prowl straightened his posture before speaking up.
"So what are your orders, Prime?"
Optimus halted for a fraction of a second before addressing the youngling Seeker beside me.
"What is your name, youngling?" he asked the trine-leader. She hesitated for a second, and then took two steps forward so that everyone could see her clearly.
"My name is Suntop, wing-leader of the Suntop-trine. My right wing is Dodge, and my left wing is Wingslide," she introduced herself and her trine. I almost winced at the tone she used: it was clipped and cold, like she was expecting to be struck on the spot if she said, or even so much as implied with her tone, something that the mechs wouldn't like. Optimus frowned at her choice of words.
"You don't need to speak so formally." Suntop immediately shrunk a bit.
"My apologies. I'm used to addressing the high command with respect and humility. My purpose wasn't to offend you in any way."
"That wasn't what I meant," Optimus sighed. He then smiled at the Seekeress. "You are safe. No need to be alarmed at every little thing going around you. No one here blames you for anything. Everything has been forgiven long ago."
Apparently he knew something I didn't, because Suntop immediately bowed her head in a silent thank-you, and I could feel the tenseness of the air around her wing-mates lessen severely.
'Optimus…?'
'Later, Jetfire.'
I knew better than to retort anything, although my hunger for knowledge on the situation was great. Suntop lifted her head back up, and even though I couldn't see her face, I knew that she was looking more like the happy youngling she should have been all along.
"Thank you, sir. I imagine you had something to ask, though? I find it unlikely that you'd just ask my name randomly in the middle of an important conversation," she asked. Her words were still formal, perhaps more so than Optimus would have wanted, but the tone was different. She wasn't scared anymore, and she didn't use that cold voice that had made shivers run down my spine.
Her words got a few smiles, and Optimus nodded. "You are right. I was going to ask your opinion on the matter. I believe you should be heard, and your opinion considered, as you are a part of the new-comers. You have a much better insight to the psyche of the younglings than any one of us does," he explained. Suntop was humbled.
"Thank you, sir. I will try to give a good perspective on things. And to do just that…" she turned to her wing-mates. "Dodge, Wingslide. I need you both to go and speak with the younglings that are still awake, get their opinions on it. Don't let them panic, just ask what they'd think of the idea. Be quick! And don't bother coming back to explain, use our bond instead," she instructed.
I was astonished by her sudden transformation from a timid little youngling to the obvious commander of the three. Being the wing-leader is almost like being the commanding officer of a small team, I thought to myself and marveled at how much the trio looked like a set of warriors ready for a dangerous recon mission. It was both amusing and sad.
"Yeas, Ma'am!" the two wing-sisters saluted and bolted off to get on their task. Suntop turned back to the officers now wearing mixed looks of shock, amusement and wonder. She smiled modestly. "We had time to watch the older Seekers in action back when we were at the refugee hide-out. We had some free time on our hands, and the future seemed bleak to us, so we started to practice discipline and simple battle maneuvers."
WHAT?!? I screamed in my head as I felt my jaw drop open. Discipline? Battle maneuvers? These femmes were 14, 17 years old, tops! Had they been with the Autobots, they'd have started their training for battle only after they turned 20, and even then it was just some basic theory of battle, physical exercise cam only later! What were they thinking?
Optimus was thinking along the same lines.
"Why would you practice something like that? Didn't anyone teach you mathematics, scientific facts or history when you were there?" he asked, clrearly as surprised – and displeased – at the fact that the only thing happening at the refugees was battle routines. Suntop shook her head.
"No, but don't get me wrong. It was not because they didn't want to teach us. I heard them curse over it quite a few times, in fact. It's just that it was such a chore to keep us under cover, out of the 'Con optics, that they simply didn't have the time nor the personnel to give us a proper education. We younglings were only given food and shelter for recharging, nothing else, but only because they didn't have anything better.
Fact is, the refugee soldiers had it worse. They slept whenever and wherever they could, because no one knew when the 'Cons would launch a siege, should they find us. That's also why we were sent away. The higher ups were suspecting that someone inside had tipped the 'Cons off, and that they were coming for us. So the leading officer of our out-post decided to send us away and prepare a distraction to the 'Cons so we could get away. They hi-jacked a 'Con vessel and put us onboard, gave us the coordinates we needed and the technical know-how to get your attention and then launched us to space. That's how we got here," she finished. Optimus had a deep scowl on his face. I knew he wasn't happy with the way the younglings had lived, but that wasn't the cause of his expression. I'd seen that face many times before, and so had the other officers, usually after a mission gone wrong, or a big battle. He always wore that face when he was worried over missing Autobot soldiers.
"What happened to them, then?" he asked. Suntop shrugged.
"I don't know. They are all probably dead, if the Captain was right. We refugees have been bugging the Decepticons ever since the destruction of the youngling sectors at the beginning of the war. I don't think that Megatron would let anyone of that group survive. If the accusation was false, they have contacted the High Command by now and told them that the first younglings have been sent to the Autobots. That will mean that the High Command will more than likely send other younglings after us, if they get any indication from you at all that you will accept and protect us."
There was silence after her story. After a couple of minutes Optimus spoke quietly.
"Prowl, how much do we have room?"
"I'm not exactly sure, but after housing these younglings, if they are given their own rooms and they don't go to Autobot families to live, we will have room for another additional thirty or so younglings."
"How many of you younglings are there, Suntop?" Optimus asked. Suntop bit her lip.
"More than that, to be sure. But I'm not certain of the exact number. No one, except the top chain, knows everything about the refugees. It's safer that way. You can't tell what you don't know, even under pain of death. That's what we were taught as the first thing at the refugees. But from what I've heard, there are hundreds of out-posts scattered across this galaxy alone.
The very newest ones, like our old one, are situated near this solar system, within a week's travel on your average spacecraft, I think. The older, bigger bases are closer to Cybertron. But, the younglings are gradually being transported closer to the Autobots. That's been the goal of the original refugees ever since they established themselves – to get all sparklings away from the 'Cons, because they seem to be incapable of taking care of them. Also, the youngling sectors –incident may have something to do with it," Suntop said. Her macabre humor was lost on us, but there were good news, too. The next generation of younglings was on their way to us, and they were safe, at least for now.
Suntop started, then gave a nervous laugh.
"Sorry, that was Dodge. She said that the general opinion amongst the younglings was that as long as no one moves to hurt them in any way or form, they are willing to live with Autobot families, if they accept us in return. The only thing the Seekers in particular would like to ask if they could be housed in trines, or close to others of the same trine. In addition to my own, there are two other trines. Other than that, they don't really care where they'll be. Oh, and they promise not to cause any trouble, either," she informed us. Optimus visibly relaxed, and his face softened to a half-smile.
"That is good. Prowl, please inform suitable families or soldiers that they have incoming younglings they must care for, at least for the time being. I imagine Ratchet will want to have the sparklings under his own nose for now, as well as the ones too damaged to live normally, but the ones capable of going about should immediately be put under custody by suitable families," he ordered, and Prowl turned around, already issuing orders via his comm.. link. Optimus was about to give out more orders when Suntop carefully stepped to him and tugged on his arm.
"Excuse me, Prime, sir. I have a request."
"You only need to ask," Optimus smiled. Suntop… blushed?
"If I may be so rude, this also concerns Mr. Jetfire," she admitted, and I took the few steps required to get next to Optimus and her, in order to give her some privacy in whatever had her acting so weirdly. Her mood-swings were truly unpredictable, but then again, she was a femme, and you never knew what they'd do. Her face turned an even deeper shade of lavender, and she muttered something so fast and so quietly that I couldn't hear her, and Optimus couldn't either.
"I'm sorry, could you please repeat that?" he requested, and Suntop heaved a great sigh, almost coming out as a huff. Then she squared her shoulders and looked straight into the azure optics of my Commander.
"Our request – that of my trine and I – is that we be housed with Jetfire, if he accepts our proposal," she declared proudly. I found my mouth gaping again, but I couldn't bring myself to close it. Amusement flickered from my cousin through the family bond we share. I latched on to the bond and sent my irritation at him through.
:This isn't funny, Optimus!:
:Like Pit it isn't! You, with younglings? The twins will have a field day with this when they find out!:
:You'll find yourself missing two front-liners, then.: I growled back. I felt him apologize over the bond for his reaction, and I immediately forgave him. I did have to admit that the proposal was more than I anticipated.
:But will you accept it? Hurry, I think she's growing impatient… and nervous.: Optimus whispered over the bond.
I looked down to check on Suntop, and true enough, her head was bowed and her lower lip was trembling. I suddenly realized how terrified she must have been for even asking, and now we had stayed quiet for too long. Suddenly, like a river breaking down a dam, she started to panic.
"I'm so sorry for asking, I'll stay outside, I'll be no trouble, I promise I'll --"
"Oh, hush," I suggested and hugged her so that she wouldn't flee in her absurd state of panic. "I never thought Seekers were so skittish! No wonder ole 'Screamer is always the first to run from battle," I joked in an attempt to lighten the mood. Suntop was confused.
"Starscream, the Aerial Commander and Second in Command of the Decepticreeps," I explained. Suntop frowned.
"Oh, him I know. But that isn't important," she added quickly, and turned her desperate, red optics to seek mine. "Will you have us?" she whispered. My expression softened and I bowed down to place a light kiss on her fore-head.
"Yes, I will."
"All three of us?"
"Of course," I smiled. Then I looked at Optimus, who was smiling widely. "If you don't object…?"
"Wouldn't dream of it," he replied.
I heard two shrieks of undeniable joy and shortly after I felt two small frames slam to my side, hugging me and squishing Suntop to my chest. I embraced the whole trine and, for some reason, I felt like the day had brightened, and the future seemed better.
We had thought that the only younglings alive were either with us or the 'Cons, since the large ship with the Neutral families had arrived. But somehow, some way, others had managed to survive as well, and they were already on their way to us.
First: apologies again for the delay. If you want to know why this thing took so FRICKIN' long to write, you may want to check the very top of the chapter. It should explain everything. I still have one week of work but then it starts: FREEDOM! Because the ice cream booth is taken away.
Second…
OHMYGOSH I had the greatest typo of all times when I was writing that scene where Wingslide starts to profusely apologize their presence with Jetfire, and I got the mech's name SO wrong! Okay, so I had a long day working around the house and it was past midnight, but to mis-spell JETfire to FATfire is just unforgivable! I mean, I was re-reading the whole thing, comparing it to the stuff I wrote in my note-book at work, and suddenly there's this all-new character called FATFIRE! My expression screamed WTFH?!? while I myself was laughing so hard that my MOM, from the other side of the house, came to check if I was okay. Note to self: no writing after twelve o'clock at night!