Disclaimer; I do not own Transformers. I have two of my own characters Live and Hornet.
A bit of a difficult chapter to write. I wanted Ironhide and Chromia to be gentle around the sparkling without losing their characters. I hope I've achieved this. Enjoy!
Chapter 2
Don't say goodbye
Chromia lay on her berth listening to the sparkling chirupping to herself. They'd both had a good recharg and the femme felt quite refreshed. She smiled as the femme sparkling continued chirupping, and then started to whine for energon. Chromia slowly got up and looked down at the femme sparkling, she stopped whining and lifted her arms up expectantly waiting for Chromia to pick her up,
"What's the matter baby, are you hungry?" she cooed as she picked up the sparkling.
Chromia walked to the shelf Ratchet had set up with the equipment the femme would need for the sparkling. She had a tin of infant energon Wheeljack had refined for the sparkling and put it into the bottle, the sparkling drank the energon slowly savoring every mouthful. Chromia noticed a tiny ridge going down her head from front to back. She absentmindedly ran her fingers over the crest while thinking about Ironhide, the ridge on her head was a ticklish area for the sparkling and she started to giggle. Chromia looked down at her and smiled; the sparkling's face was full of joy as she continued giggling.
It had been sixteen joors since Bumblebee had left and everybody was talking about how quiet he had been. Some were getting concerned about the young scout but Jazz reassured them that he and Prime had been in contact with him. That was the only information offered, as far as Jazz was concerned nobody needed to know anything else. The Autobot leader and the saboteur agreed that his whereabouts were to be kept quiet no matter what.
Chromia was about to start her shift in the communication room, she knew she wouldn't hear from Bumblebee; he would communicate through his private radio link to Prime and Jazz, but she needed to listen out for incoming Autobots who had found their way to the Ark. The blue femme picked up the sparkling and made her way to the med bay, she wanted to visit Ironhide before her shift begun and she had to take the sparkling to Arcee who was going to look after her. She opened the med bay door and was surprised to see Ironhide awake and talking with Ratchet. Sunstreaker was also out of stasis but he was very concerned for his brother who had not moved from his position on the berth where Ratchet put him after they'd fled Cybertron. Sunstreaker looked at him with great concern on that particular morning, and when Ratchet wasn't looking he got off the berth and looked his brother in the optics,
"Don't you give up on me Sideswipe. I need you. Please Sideswipe, we've been through so much together. Don't you die on me," Sunstreaker shook his brother's hand as he continued talking.
Sideswipe looked at him, the pain in his optics clearly matching the pain Sideswipe was sending Suntreaker through their bond. Sunstreaker looked down and then up at Sideswipe again, "You can get through his Sides. I'm here for you bro. We'll get through this together,"
Ratchet turned around and looked at Suntreaker's berth and then Sideswipe, "What do you think you're doing?" he asked,
Sunstreaker looked at him, "Let me stay here with my brother," Ratchet nodded and moved Sunstreaker's berth closer to Sideswipe's so that they could be together. He believed it would help the silver and gold warriors
Chromia saw Ironhide, "Hey look, little one, there's your daddy,"
Ironhide turned around and smiled at the sight of the sparkling in the arms of his spark mate. He was amazed with how much she'd grown and held out his arms to receive the tiny Decepticon. Ratchet smiled as the sparkling lay in Ironhide's massive black hand moving her arms and legs voluntarily,
"Are you two going to name her?" Sideswipe asked from his berth next to Sunstreaker.
Ironhide looked at Chromia, "You haven't named her yet?"
"No," Chromia replied, "I thought we could think of a name for her together, you haven't told us how you came across the sparkling,"
A dark expression crossed Ironhide's scarred features,
"Hornet gave her to me with the instruction to look after her," he replied.
Chromia looked at him in disbelief,
"But she was a Decepticon," Chromia exclaimed, "Why didn't she give the sparkling to another Decepticon?"
Ironhide shrugged his shoulders. He couldn't answer that one, all he knew was that the sparkling was put in his care and he was going to do exactly what Hornet requested of him. Take care of her. He held out his hands to Chromia and signalled for her to pass the sparkling over. Chromia gingerly handed the sparkling over to her spark mate. He took her and wrapped his huge hands around her tiny body. She sat down next to the weapons specialist on the berth and started to play with the sparkling.
Ratchet looked her over, he ran his fingers over her head and noticed the ridge,
"She's going to have a crest," he said, "It's starting to grow now," he continued to run his fingers over her head making the sparkling chirrup happily, the medic chuckled,
"It's been hundreds of joors since we've heard that sound. Have you thought of a name for her,"
"Livie," Ironhide replied,
Ironhide looked at Chromia, she had a puzzled look on her faceplates. It wasn't a regular Cybertronian name,
"I heard it from somewhere, it means peace," he continued
Chromia smiled, "Then that's what we'll name her," she replied, "Livie, hello Livie," she called.
They sat there for a while and played with her before Chromia looked at Ironhide,
"I have to go," she said, "I'm on duty in communications,"
"Who's looking after Livie?" Ironhide asked,
"Arcee is,"
She took Livie back from Irohide and kissed him goodbye,
"You're doing well. You look good holding her, Chromia. Hopefully I can be out of here soon and then I can be with you both,"
"You just concentrate on getting better Ironhide, the time is coming when you will be released from here," Ratchet said as he helped Chromia off the berth.
She left the med bay and Ironhide and went to find Arcee. The pink femme was laying on her berth feeling just a little delicate, she'd recently found out she was pregnant but couldn't tell Springer yet. The green mech was still in the med bay and Arcee wanted to tell him in the privacy of their quarters. A gentle knock at the door drew her out of her wonderings,
"Come in," she called.
Chromia walked in and was worried when she saw the femme laying on her berth,
"Are you alright?" she asked,
"Yes, I'm fine," Arcee replied,
"Are you sure, I can leave Livie with Ironhide,"
Arcee took Livie from her arms, "He's still in the med bay, isn't he? Ratchet wouldn't like that,"
"Don't you believe it," Chromia smiled, "Everytime I go near him with Livie he becomes a big softy,"
Arcee giggled, "Ratchet…a softy? Now that I will have to see,"
The two femme laughed together, "Oh and we've named our sparkling Livie,"
"Well it's about time she had a name, Livie is quite an unusual name though," Arcee said as she looked down at the sparkling who was examining her fingers,
"Ironhide chose it, apparently it means peace,"
"That's beautiful," Arcee replied,
Chromia's radio link pinged and Prowl's stern voice spoke to her, "Chromia, you're late for your shift,"
The tactician had thought about calling her publicly through the ship's communication but the repurcussions he'd get from her and Ironhide made it non viable,
"I'd better go, I'm being called," Chromia said and walked out of Arcee's quarters and towards the communictions room,
"You're late!" Prowl snapped,
"Sorry," the femme replied as she took her position in front of the screen,
"Hmm, make sure it doesn't happen again," Prowl snapped again,
"Yes sir," she snarled at the tatician.
Jazz was in his office filling out data pads and wondering what had happened to Bumblebee. The scout had been quiet for a while and the saboteur was getting a bit concerned for him. He wanted to communicate with Bumblebee but before he'd left they'd decided that he would make first contact at all times due to the nature of the mission and the possibility of Decepticons listening in or being around. Finally his radio pinged and the scout broke his silence.
"Bumblebee, how are you? We haven't heard from you for a while. What have you found out?"
The saboteur waited patiently as glyphs scrawled across his screen. Bumblebee had become quite adept at finding new ways to communicate since Megatron destroyed his ability to speak. On earth he'd been practising using the radio communications systems the humans had but translating Cybertronian to English and vice versa was quite difficult,
"I know, I have found the location of the Allspark but they are engraved on some glasses which are being sold. I'm tring to find Ladiesman217 aka Sam Witwicky,"
"Good work Bumblebee,"
"A base was also attacked but not by humans. From what I've worked out the Decepticons were involved and they were looking for information about an Archibald Witwicky, who is a descendant of Sam Witwicky,"
"Okay, Bumblebee. I'll notify Prime. Let me know of any developments as soon as you hear…Oh just one more thing, who attacked the base,"
"I believe it was Blackout sir, he disabled all their communications, the humans are quite spooked,"
"Why doesn't that surprise me?" Jazz muttered to himself, "Alright Bumblebee, be careful it is obvious you have company,"
"I will Jazz. Bumblebee out," The black and yellow mech closed his link and made his way to Bobby Bolivios.
Jazz got up and walked to Prime's office but he wasn't there. He eventually found Optimus in Prowl's office,"
"Optimus I need to speak to you privately,"
"Coming Jazz, we'll go to my office,"
Optimus Prime's office was always a good place for a private conversation, nobody could read body language or ask questions when the two mechs having the private conversation had finished. Especially when it was of such a sensitive nature as this. Optimus waited for the door to shut before asking Jazz to speak. The soboteur wasted no time,
"Sir, I've heard from Bumblebee. He has found an artefact that belongs to a human, the species of the planet earth…organic species. The artefact has an incryption on it which would suggest the whereabouts of the Allspark. The Decepticons have attacked an army base on earth and it has spooked the humans,"
"Hmmm," Prime said thoughtfully, "We need to act on this quickly and set up a small team of mechs to go to earth. I wouldn't put it past the Decepticons to destroy their planet especially if it's rich in resources,"
"I have done quite a bit of research on the planet Prime. It looks beautiful and it is certainly a richly resourced planet," Jazz replied, "Who will go?"
"I don't know yet, possibly Ironhide and Ratchet. I'll go and leave Prowl in charge of this ship and I want you to come too, you have already gained an understanding of the planet,"
"Okay sir," Jazz replied,
The silver mech left the office and Prime who sat at his desk. He really didn't really want to be the one to start another war on another planet. They had destroyed Cybertron how many more planets were they going to destroy? Elita came into his office, she noticed the heavy expression on Prime's faceplates,
"Bad news?" she asked as she went around the back of him, placed her hands on his shoulders and massaged them. She could feel the tention in them but knew her spark mate couldn't say anything to him for the sake of Bumblebee and the mission…whatever it was. What she didn't realise was the magnitude of the decision he was about to make and that he was going to leave her behind, as well as ask Iornhide to leave Chromia and his sparkling he has adopted.
Optimus looked up at her and met her blue optics, they were soft and smiling as she moved around gracefully to face him,
"Whatever decision you have to make my darling I will be beside you,"
He cycled air through his system and groaned as he released it through his vents. How did he end up with such a beautiful, strong femme as Elita? She was always so supportive and understanding, the Autobot leader made a mental note to find a way to honour her for the way she always stood beside him no matter what was about to happen.
Ironhide was beginning to get restless in the med bay and Ratchet was beginning to get frustrated with the mech. He was going to do one last scan and then release the weapons specialist as long as he visited the med bay everyday for a check up. He just wanted to make sure that his leg struts were strong enough to take his weight and his body had properly healed.
Ironhide lay patiently as he waited for Ratchet to complete his scan,
"You're well enough for me to release you but you must come back everyday so I can make sure everything is still healing properly," Ironhide rolled his optics,
"I mean it Hide!" Ratchet scolded,
"Yeah, yeah, I know, I know," he said as he walked out of the door, "I'll see you tomorrow Ratchet. I'm going to go and see my sparkling,"
Ironhide didn't have to try hard to find his sparkling. He could hear the chiruping as he walked down the corridor toward the rec room. Arcee was playing hide and seek with her, she'd burst into fits of giggles every time the pink femme appeared from her hiding place. Several other mechs and femme were in there laughing along with the pair as they continued their game. Ironhide stood in the doorway watching for a while until Arcee saw him,
"Oh look Livie. Here's you're daddy,"
Ironhide walked toward his adopted daughter and crouched in front of her. Livie stopped laughing and turned her ruby optics towards him. She reconised him instantly and smiled at the huge black mech,
"Hello beautiful," Ironhide cooed.
Livie held out her arms signalling for Ironhide to pick her up. He stretched out his hands and the femme sparkling jumped into them, he drew her into a hug as Livie squirmed and wriggled in his huge hands until she was comfortable. As other Cybertronians looked on they couldn't believe how soft the huge gruff weapons specialist was with the small Cybertronian,
"Wanna go home?" he said to Livie.
Ever so slowly Ironhide got up and thew her over his shoulder, she giggled as one of the mechs stuck his tongue out at her. Arcee waved to her, Livie smiled and waved back.
Back in his quarters the weapons specialist saw the mesh mat on the floor with all her toys spread everywhere. He'd longed for this for joors and joors and at last it had happened. Livie saw her favourite toy on the floor. She squeaked as she opened and close her fingers,
"What do you want?" Ironhide asked her and looked in the direction of the toy she was looking at with longing.
Ironhide picked up the toy and gave it to Livie and then sat down with her in a chair. He started humming a tune to a song his mother sang to him while Livie played happily.
Jazz had been working on a roster for the mission to earth when Bumblebee called them. Ironhide was amongst those who were going, he didn't want to send the weapons specialist but he was one of their best warrios and would be an asset to the team. All he had to do was go and get Prime's approval on the roster who would then call a meeting with those involved. Jazz found the Autobot leader leaving his office and walking to the bridge of the ship,
"Optimus," Jazz called as he trotted down the corridor to catch up with him.
The Prime turned around when he was called, "What is it Jazz?" he asked,
"I've devised a roster," he said as he handed Optimus Prime the data pad.
Prime looked at it, "Hmmm, good choices here Jazz," he said,
"Yeah but I don't know how Ironhide is going to take this. He has just come out of the med bay and just getting to know Livie,"
"Leave Ironhide to me, I'll deal with him,"
"Yes sir," Jazz said.
Ironhide had been with Livie all day and he was looking forward to meeting Chromia after her shift. He didn't often meet her but she didn't know he was out of the med bay, and she did like the surprise of seing him there. Sideswipe had already arrived for his shift; the medic decided that now Sunstreaker was online it would be better for the silver frontline warrior to take on easy duties. Ratchet was pleased with his progress since Suntreaker was out of stasis even though he was still deeply grieved over the death of Flare up. The yellow medic knew Sidswipe wouldn't forget this easily and that one day the frontine warrior would want to avenge her death.
The silver mech placed a hand on Chromia's shoulder. She looked up to see who it was and smiled up at him,
"Hello Sideswipe, it didn't take them long to get you back into the routine,"
Sideswipe made no comment to Chromia's greeting, he just sat down and looked at the screen. The blue femme felt sad for the mech and patted him on the shoulder. Sideswipe appreciated the gesture, he took her hand and squeezed it.
Chromia left the silver frontline warrior watching the screen. As she walked through the door she was greeted by the shining blue optics of Ironhide. She smiled and hugged him, he wrapped his arm around her waist and kissed her. Livie was sleeping in the crook of his arm, she stirred sightly as Chromia was pressed into her spark mate's side. They walked back to their quarters where Livie was placed in her cot. Ironhide turned around and pulled Chromia into a hug, the blue femme leaned into his embrace.
Bumblebee had made contact with Sam Witwicky and was now under instruction to be guardian for the teenager. Sam was not yet aware of who Bumblebee really was and right now the scout was happy with that. Besides the Decepticons already on earth hadn't found Sam yet and they weren't going to if the scout had anything to do with it, although he was sure they were closing in. His thoughts were confirmed when he picked up the signature of Barricade.
Later that night when the Witwicky household were peacefully sleeping he made his way to a building site to send a signal to the Autobots. Jazz picked up the signal and raced to Prime's office. The Autobot leader was clearing up his desk, he'd decided to tell Elita his departure was imminent. The femme at least deserved that. He was stunned when his 3IC burst into his office,
"Sir, Bumblebee has sent an urgent message. Barricade is on the trail,"
"Okay Jazz call those who are rostered on the mission," Prime said as he made his way to the ops room.
Ironhide growled impatiently when he heard the call from Jazz, "I'll be back soon," he said to Chromia before he left their quarters.
Optimus Prime waited for Jazz to arrive before he told the four mechs what was going on. Once the saboteur was seated Prime looked at them all gravely,
"As you know Bumblebee went out before any of us to find the Allspark," they all nodded now beginning to understand why they were there, "Well he has found an artefact on a planet called earth which has the coordinates for where it is. Unfortunately the artefact is in the hands of an organic, possibly about the same age as one of our younglings would be and the Decepticons are also on the trail,"
"So how do we come into this?" Ironhide asked,
"Four of us are going to this planet," Jazz looked at Ironhide, "You, Ratchet, Optimus Prime and myself,"
"Prowl I want you to stay and be in command of this ship in my absence," Optimus said to his 2IC, "Jazz while we are on planet earth I will promote you to 2IC," Jazz nodded courteously,
"Thank you sir,"
Optimus Prime looked at all of them seriously, "This mission is going to be dangerous, we have to enter earth's atmosphere correctly or we could burn up as we go through the atmosphere and if we get our trajectories wrong we could bounce off the atmosphere and fly off into space. It is inhabited and some of the humans can be hostile so be careful. Bluestreak and Wheeljack are getting us as close as possible after which we have to go in our pods. You are dismissed to prepare for the journey and to spend time with your loved ones. We will leave in 15 breems, I will address the rest of the Autobots. Primus be with us all!" Optimus said sadly, knowing that he wouldn't get time to be with Elita one.
Prowl looked at him, "Prime, you go and get ready and spend some time with Elita One. I will address the Autobots,"
"Thank you Prowl," Optmus said and left to spend time with Elita.
Skywarp watched the Ark speed away from them,
"Starscream the Autobots are leaving,"
"Follow them," Starscream snarled,
The Decepticon ship slid silently through space in her chase after the Autobot ship. Starscream punched in the coordinates they were heading and found out they were the exact same coordinates as those Barricade had given them from Earth,
"They're going after the Allspark, we have to stop them," Starscream snarled,
"What do you plan to do?" Thundercracker asked,
"Attack them,"
He opened the ships communication and told the Decepticons to prepare to board the Ark. The ship became a hive of activity as the Decepticons got ready to board the Ark and try to stop OPtimus and his Autobots getting to earth,
"What about you're mission to earth," Dirge asked,
"When we've destroyed the Autobots we will carry on to earth," Starscream replied sarcastically.
The Ark slowed down and stopped, Dirge watched carefully to see what it was going to do next all the time keeping the speed on their ship so they could reach the Autobots in time. What they didn't bank on was that Optimus Prime was already about to leave with Ironhide, Jazz and Ratchet.
Ironhide walked back into his quarters to find Chromia getting ready to leave. She had Livie and a cannister with her, just as she picked up the rapidly growing sparkling the door swished open,
"Where are you going?" Ironhide asked,
"I have to go to the conference room," Chromia replied,
"No Chromia…you don't," she turned around. The sound of Ironhide's voice suggested something was going on and he was involved in it.
She sat down and looked up at him, the blue femme was not silly. She knew this day would come she just wasn't expecting it to be so soon,
"Where are you going and when do you leave?" she asked the weapons specialist,
"In a few breems and to planet earth. Bumblebee has found the artefact that will lead us to the Allspark and so have the Decepticons,"
"Earth…where's that?"
"A long way from here, they've set the ship on Bee's coordinates to get as close as we can and then we have to make the rest of the way there in pods. Chromia I'm not going to lie to you, entering Earth's atmosphere makes this mission dangerous on its own without the Decepticons,"
Chromia stood up and put the cannister down before rushing into Ironhide's arms, "Don't go," she pleaded her spark mate
"I have to darling," he replied as he stroked her back.
Livie woke up hungry and started to squeal, "You feed her,this could be the last time you ever hold her,"
Ironhide walked over to Livie's cot and picked her up, he sat down with her and took in everything about her; her shining ruby optics, the small crest now growing on her head, her tiny claws and feet and the crystal blue colouring that was now appearing. She finished her energon and smiled up at him contentedly, blissfully unaware of the events about to transpire. He could feel his eyes misting over as he smiled back down at her, he was going to miss his daughter and his beautiful spark mate.
Ironhide lifted her over his shoulder and hugged her gently, "See you soon sweetspark," he whispered.
The weapons specialist couldn't bring himself to say goodbye even though he knew how dangerous the mission was going to be. Ironhide got up and looked at Chromia, she wasn't normally one for letting her emotions get the better off her when he was going, but this mission was unique and dangerous. They heard the ship's engines power down and the call for the four mechs to come to the loading bay.
Ironhide and Chromia slowly made their way to the loading bay. On the way they saw Elita and Prime, the said femme was equally as upset. On the bridge Mirage noticed a blip advancing toward them quickly with a Decepticon symbol,
"Prime you've got to go…Decepticons are coming,"
"Thank you, Mirage," Optimus said,
"Okay Autobots we have to depart now. The Decepticons have followed us here,"
"Hurry Prime," Prowl said as he waited for the four Autobots to enter the tube,
The loading bay suddenly became a flurry of activity as the four Autobots made their way down to the tube to eject them into space. Wheeljack turned the ship around so that it would be between the four mechs leaving and the Decepticons ship. Ironhide gave Livie and Chromia one last hug before entering the tube,
"Daddy," Livie said,
Ironhide looked at her and smiled, he filed this precious memory away and looked at Chromia, "She just said "Daddy, did you hear it? Not mummy but daddy,"
"Ironhide move it!" Prowl bellowed.
"Coming!" Ironhide growled.
Ironhide left Chromia and Livie standing on a platform on the back wall of the loading bay while he went into the tube. The door hissed shut and there were four individual whooshes as the mechs left. As Ironhide left the security of the ship he sent a surge of love and comfort through his bond to Chromia, she sent one back as she looked out of the window and watched him disppear into space,
"Stay safe my love," she whispered,
"Daddy," Livie said again happily not understanding the gravity of the situation.
A sudden explosion rocked the ship causing those on the bridge to tumble from the platform. The sirens went off and fire broke out as the Decepticons boarded,
The Autobots scrambled through the ship to stop the Decepticons getting any further but they had already got to the bridge and the fire was rapidly spreading,
"Starscream, they've left already," Dirge said through his radio link, "I've just seen them enter the atmosphere,"
"Then we'll kill those remaining," Starscream replied as he onlined his cannon and marched through the ship shooting indiscriminately.
"Prowl the ship has been compromised we have to evacuate," Mirage yelled through his private comm. Link to Prowl,
"Autobots evacuate," Prowl yelled through the Ark's communication. Shuttles and mechs evacuated the ship wherever there was an escape route,
Chromia twisted her body to land without harming Livie as she fell off the platform. The sparkling screamed with fright as the femme landed in front of a Decepticon.
"Die Autobot," he growled.
She fell as a shot rang out, the Decepticon stumbled and fell,"Chromia, get up," a voice growled at her,
The femme got up still dazed from the fall, she felt somebody take Livie as a pair of blue hands picked her up,
"No I have to get Livie," Chromia argued,
"No you don't femme. Get in!" Jolt growled as he pushed her into the tube, shut the door and pushed the button to eject her off the ship, closely followed by himself. Chromia's audio sensors adjusted quickly from the sudden change in the noise of the attack to the eerie silence of space. Somewhere nearby she could hear Livie screaming for her and Ironhide, and she was frustrated by the inability to reach her daughter,
"No, Livie. Nooooo! Ironhide I'm so sorry," she cried.
Jolt watched as the ship blew up into a fireball silhouetting those who'd managed to escape in time against the bright yellow blaze. He then looked down to see four Decepticons follow Prime into the earth's atmosphere and hoped that the four Autobots would be able to rendezvous with Bumblebee.