Chapter Three
Starlight knocked on Prime's office door and walked in after hearing an acknowledgement though she was not expecting someone else to already be there. "Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to interrupt."
"It is okay Starlight." Optimus reassured.
"No no, I'll come back later." Turning to go.
Optimus looked over at his companion who gave a nod. "I was just about to leave." They said.
The light yellow jet turned back, "you were?" she asked slightly confused.
"Yes."
Just as he reached the door she turned to him and said, "You're Lightning's father, aren't you?"
Surprised the mech turned back to her, "that's right, my name is Skyfire."
Starlight smiled. "Light's the kindest femme I've ever met. If it wasn't for her I'm quite sure I'd have given up long ago, same goes for Storm too. She always seems to know just how to bring a smile to our faces, reassure us when we feel…lost."
"Thank you." The white jet said amazed. "If you don't mind me asking, how did you meet?"
The happiness suddenly disappeared from the femme's face and was replaced with a deep sadness. "Perhaps you should ask her that, it is something I don't want to relive."
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to upset you." Skyfire apologised.
"Its fine, you weren't to know." She sighed sadly and looked away at the floor.
Skyfire looked worriedly over at Optimus before leaving the room.
"Was there something I could help you with, Starlight?" the semi asked gaining the femme's attention.
"Hm? Oh er…no, no nothing. Sorry to waste your time." She began to head out.
"Starlight." The femme stopped "how are you adjusting?" Optimus already knew the answer as Ironhide kept him informed, her progress was slow but steady.
"F-fine." She lied. Without Storm to reassure her that the two of them would be alright no matter what and Lightning busy with other affairs, she was starting to get nightmares. It was like she'd just found out that they were the only survivors of the attack all over again.
"Nothing troubles you." He continued.
"N-no. Nothing, I'm perfectly f-fine."
The semi stood and walked over to her placing a hand on her shoulder. The femme gave a small yelp and jumped away from him a panicked look in her optics. "I'm sorry." He apologised "I did not mean to scare you." Upon closer observation Optimus saw the jet looked like a frightened sparkling whose creator had just left them in a room with a stranger. "You have not been without Storm for this long, have you?"
"Of course I have!" Starlight said defiantly standing straighter, "you make me sound like some clingy sparkling." She was slightly offended that he would think of her as such.
Optimus smiled behind his faceplate, "but you have always known where she was, this time is different. Neither you or Lightning know where Storm is."
Starlight was about to object again when she realised he was right, they didn't know where she was and that was frightening. "No, we don't." looking down at the floor.
"And that frightens you." He continued as he took a step towards her. "You're afraid she won't come back." He took another step with each word he said.
"She will be back though, won't she?" not caring how close the mech now was.
"Yes. Jazz is out searching for her and he will not return without her." The Autobot leader reassured.
Starlight suddenly burst into tears and hugged him surprising the semi. "Thank you." She whispered. She felt the stirrings of a feeling that she hadn't felt in a very long time. She gave a small smile as she heard him reply "your welcome."
Lightning frantically searched the Ark for Starlight after dealing with Sunstreaker, hoping that she hadn't ran off like Storm had which that had both confused and surprised her. Storm was normally so strong so…'unbreakable', the one that kept Starlight together, as there was no way she would ever know what those two had been…were going through. She finally gave up and decided to go and see if Prime knew where the light yellow femme was, the white and ocean blue jet may not have noticed it but Lightning had, the way Starlight was going to Prime when the two of them were busy, though she was not expecting what she saw. Sitting at his desk as usual was the Prime a datapad in his hands but sitting in his lap was Starlight who appeared to be in recharge her head resting against the Prime's chest. All Lightning could do was stare at the two in shock, words failing her.
She did not know how long she had been standing there staring or how long the semi had been calling her name. Shaking herself out of her stupor all she could reply was "hm?"
Optimus chuckled inwardly, "was there something you wanted, Lightning?" he asked
"I...uh..." she was still having a hard time putting words together.
"If you were looking for Starlight I can assure you she is in good hands." he told her placing a hand on the femme in question even more amused by the jet's reaction
"I can see that." a slight annoyed tone in her voice which suddenly turned to confusion "how..." she began.
"It would seem that Starlight choose me to become close to."
"I'm not objecting, Prime." Lightning said "in fact I'm thrilled she has found someone she can go to and relax around rather than stay round Storm and myself. It's just...no, never mind."
"Lightning?" he questioned slightly worried.
"Well…the last time she did this, we lost someone very dear to all of us." she shook her head sadly and walked out.
Optimus looked down at the femme in his lap slightly confused, was Lightning saying that Starlight thought they had lost Storm?
