Through a Youngling's Optics

by ScreamGurl

Two years after finding her way to earth, finding her father, and thinking she had every thing she could want. Starchaser's life gets turned upside down when old and new faces return

4. Chapter 5

CHAPTER 5

Bumblebee was well onto I-90 and was close to intercepting the pickup, but it had turned off on a turning pike and now was traveling north bound. Ratchet and Prowl had almost caught up with the driver if it wouldn't have been for the fact that the driver turned into an alley and got off onto another street. Bulkhead and Prime had both been radioed about this and had split up.

Bulkhead was now in pursuit. But with a sudden and swift turn of the clutch, the driver managed to fishtail the back end of the truck and do an entire 180 degree turn around. Thus catching Bulkhead off guard, and forcing him to spin out of control into a light pole.

Again Bumblebee tried to apprehend the out of control driver, but thus suffered the same fate Bulkhead did. He was outsmarted. Bumblebee was seconds from pulling alongside the pickup when it suddenly slammed on its breaks sending Bumblebee flying forward into a dead end. Bumblebee slammed into several caution signs until finally sliding to a stop and being completely quarantined by road stoppers and traffic cones.

So then it was Ratchet's turn, but unfortunately was caught off guard by a hair-pin turn that he sort of didn't make.

Then it was Prowl's turn, but unlike the others, he had a slightly different approach. Instead of trying to catch the driver, he was going to bring the driver to him. He set up road blocks on the road that the driver was currently traveling knowing that the driver would have to stop or otherwise be seriously injured. Prowl stood in the shadows of a nearby building and waited. Soon enough, the truck came speeding around the turn just a half a mile ahead. As soon as the driver saw the quarantine on the road, the truck came to a screeching halt. Prowl jumped out of the shadows and slowly approached.

"This is the end of the line. Step out of the vehicle and put your hands where they are visible."

Then quietly as thunder boomed across the sky, a feminine voice rang out form the cab.

"I don't think so pal."

Without warning the truck went into reverse. Prowl jumped out of the way and threw a ninja star after the out of control truck. But within seconds, the truck stopped and the front grill of the truck opened and a tow line shot out catching Prowl by the arm. The cable delivered and extremely powerful shocks through Prowl's systems thus temporarily putting him in stasis lock.

As soon as Prowl's body started to fall, the truck called the cable back and hid it under the grill once again, then with another 180 degree turn around, blazed off into the stormy night.

Optimus had been radioed from Bulkhead, Bumblebee, Ratchet and Prowl (once he woke up) about the ambushes. They all reported the same thing, that apparently this driver knew what she was doing (yes Prowl reported the encounter of the feminine voice) and that she may prove to be more difficult to stop than first anticipated. But that wasn't going to stop Optimus.

Within a few minutes of searching, and hints from recent news broadcasts, Optimus was able to locate the truck and was in hot pursuit. Optimus was closing in and was no less than ten feet away.

"Alright, we can do this the easy way, or the hard way."

Optimus then accessed the main hose line under his roof.

Suddenly a feminine laugh came from the cab. "Listen big boy, you couldn't catch me even if you tried!"

Without warning, Optimus suddenly slammed on his brakes, thus letting the truck get away. Within a few seconds, several police cars raced past the idling semi-truck. Without warning back flashes of StarRacer, and the two of them on the roof that night flooded his processor. That voice. Those colors. They seem so familiar, almost as if from a dream.

Optimus slammed his accelerator to the floor trying to catch up once again, sure enough, there the truck was again, only now it was trying to lose the cops, which it did by turning into an alley that more than one police car couldn't possible squeeze through at the same time. Optimus transformed and climbed over a nearby building and jumped down the other side transforming back into a truck and landing only yards behind the truck, with great haste, he raced after it, or should I say, after her.

"STARRACER, WAIT, STOP IT'S ME OPTIMUS!"

The truck slammed on its breaks and did a 180 fishtail to turn around just before stopping. Optimus also slammed on his brakes only five yards away. There was a long awkward silence that lasted for several minutes. The only sounds that occupied the air were the sounds of the wind howling and the rain beating against their almost lifeless cabs, with the occasional crack of thunder.

Slowly and carefully, Optimus was the first to speak. "StarRacer…is that you?"

Then the truck spoke. "O-Optimus?"

Optimus transformed into his robot form as lightning split across the sky. The truck did the same. Optimus stepped back in horror and shock at what he saw, it WAS her. Every last beautiful inch of what he so vaguely remembered. The gentle curves of her blue and black armor, the sweet look of her face, but most of all, the mesmerizing trance of those blue optics with the hint of purple at their center.

Streams of rain washed down his face as lightning flashed, almost making her light up. Could it really be true, is StarRacer really standing here in front of him? He even rubbed his optics and did a double take. Yep, she was still there.

But StarRacer was having a somewhat similar reaction. There he was, after all this time, after all the searching; here he was right in front of her. Those large broad red shoulders, wide sleek chest plate, his gentle smile. Everything about him that she remembered and longed to have again. And now was here right in front of her.

Slowly StarRacer stepped forward reaching out a shaking servo. "Optimus, can it really be you?"

Carefully, StarRacer's hand rested on Optimus' face. Leaning into her touch, he smiled. "Yeah, it's me."

Without warning, StarRacer fell into Optimus' arms and almost started stuttering.

"Oh Optimus; thank the All-Spark I found you! You wouldn't believe that night I've had on this planet! First, I can't find a decent alt. mode on this rock, , then I start seeing these strange organic creatures, then, this weird liquid starts falling from this planet's atmosphere and THEN I start getting chased by these robots with weird flashing lights on their— wait a nano-click, what are YOU doing here?"

With a laugh Optimus sighed. "What'd ya mean?"

StarRacer put her hands on her hips. "What I mean is why are you here and not with the Elite Guard? Do you have any idea how much I gave up to make sure you got in?"

Optimus cocked his head. "What'd ya mean 'gave up'?"

Immediately StarRacer's face changed from concerned to a look of 'oh-slag-I've-said-something-I-shouldn't-have-said'. Optimus raised an optic ridge. "StarRacer, do you have something you want to tell me?"

StarRacer laughed sheepishly. "Well, uh, Optimus…see here's the thing…um…do-do you remember that night we spent together?"

Optimus stood with his arms crossed. "Yes I do. What about it?"

StarRacer smiled vaguely. "Well here's the thing…because of that night…and because of what we, uh did, I, well, we kind of ended up with something that—."

Optimus grinned. "You mean something like a, oh I don't know…a sparkling?"

StarRacer flinched and looked at Optimus dumbfounded. "Wait one nano-click! You knew, and you didn't even tell me?"

"I should say, that that's what I should say, but where would the fun be in that?" Optimus grinned even more.

StarRacer looked away thinking about it but looked back shaking her head and smiling. "Apparently, there's a lot I don't know about you Optimus."

Taking a step forward, and shrugging slightly, Optimus looked at StarRacer. "Well, maybe we both could use some time to get to know one another better. I mean after all, we DO have a child together."

Optimus then gently took StarRacer's hand in his. StarRacer looked up. Optimus smiled sheepishly. StarRacer laughed as she rested her head against his chest plate.

"I think that you're right."

A few moments of sweet silence in the rain passed before a new though came to StarRacer's mind.

"Wait, Optimus how is it you know about your daughter?"

Optimus smiled and laughed slightly. "Well, it's kind of hard NOT to know about her when she lives under the same roof as me."

StarRacer stepped back slightly embarrassed. Optimus again raised an optic ridge. "By the way, you mind telling me what her finding me was all about?"

StarRacer again looked up, still embarrassed. "I'm sorry Optimus, I told our sparkling about you when she was sold enough to understand and that if anything were to happen to me, that she should try to find you."

Optimus looked away and smiled to himself. "Yeah, I probably would have done the same thing had I been in your position."

StarRacer smiled to herself before looking back at Optimus worried. "Where is the sparkling exactly?"

Optimus smiled and laughed slightly. "Well, StarChaser is actually back at our base. I'll take you to her."

StarRacer flinched and looked up at Optimus shocked. "Star Chaser?"

Optimus laughed slightly before nodding. "We only thought that it be appropriate for her to have a name, and that was the one she chose, she said it sounded a lot like your name…that's why she liked it so much."

StarRacer looked away pondering this but soon looked back at Optimus smiling. "She may have a name that sounds like mine, but at spark, she's more like you then she is me."

Optimus smiled as he looked up toward the sky. "Hey, what'd you know, the rain is stopping and the sun is coming out."

Optimus was right, the rain was finally subsiding and the evening sun shined its rays through the dark clouds. Optimus then turned back to StarRacer smiling.

"Come on, I'm sure it's getting close to five, and the others will be curious about where I am."

As Optimus started to walk away, StarRacer soon caught up. "Others? What'd you mean 'others'?"

Taking StarRacer's arm in his, he led the way. "I mean my crew; we're all stationed here on Earth."

StarRacer looked up smiling. "So you did become a Prime after all."

Optimus blushed slightly before letting go of StarRacer's arm and transformed. "Come on, it's not far from here, and I'll explain everything on the way."

With that notion, StarRacer also transformed and pulled out slightly in front of him. "Then what are we waiting for, lead the way."

Meanwhile, everyone but Prime was back at the base recuperating from their…'minor' setbacks. StarChaser on the other hand was beaming with pride and was happier than anyone had ever seen her, but whenever they asked her why she was so happy, she would just say that they'd have to wait until Optimus got back, and then they could see. StarChaser sat patiently in front of the TV but then disappeared into her room, which was weird timing because as soon as she disappeared into her room, Optimus showed up just coming into the base parking lot with the same truck from today's earlier high speed chase fallowing him in.

Ratchet was the first to say something. "Prime, have you cracked a processor? You can't bring outside humans to our new base, it's not safe!"

With a huff, the truck talked back. "And just who are you calling a human, old timer?"

Without warning, the truck transformed to reveal a beautiful young femme with black and blue armor who had crossed her arms and was looking Ratchet up and down.

"Besides, last time I checked, I was Cybertronian."

Optimus quickly transformed too and looked at all the open jawed expressions he received. All mechs looked at Optimus who in turn just shrugged. "What?"

Bumblebee pointed to the femme standing beside Optimus. "Uh, boss 'bot, who's that?"

Casually, Optimus placed his arm around the femme's waist. "Would you guys believe; my spark mate?"

Every mech (excluding Optimus of course) took a double take at the femme, and then looked back to Optimus for answers. He just sighed and motioned toward the femme. "Guys, this is StarRacer…my spark mate…and…the mother of my child." Then motioning to the guys Optimus looked at StarRacer. "StarRacer this is Ratchet, our field medic, Prowl, Bulkhead and of course Bumblebee."

Bashfully, StarRacer nodded. Optimus smiled still watching her. "We also have a techno-organic that's half human, and half Cybertronian that periodically comes here from time to time, her name is Sari Sumdac."

StarRacer turned to Optimus and asked just as impatiently as worried. "But Optimus, where is my child, where's StarChaser?"

Just then StarChaser ran out of the base like her tail pipe was on fire. "Dad! Dad! You HAVE to see what I learned how to do! I finally learned how to—."

But before StarChaser could tell Optimus about here newly found talent, she stopped abruptly in shock, horror, but most of all disbelief. It was…her mother, standing right next to Optimus. StarChaser froze in fear and slowly stepped back. Optimus looked at StarRacer who at first was overjoyed but now after seeing he daughter's reaction, looked like her spark was about ready to break. Optimus turned back to StarChaser and slowly approached.

"StarChaser it's okay, I know what you're probably thinking; but you're not imagining this. Your mother IS alive."

StarChaser slowly started to shake her head as she continued to step back. She was whispering something, but no one could quite hear her. Then without warning StarChaser wheeled around and streaked back into the base. Optimus tried to reach out and grab her by the arm but missed.

"STARCHASER COME BACK! IT'S OKAY!"

Sighing, Optimus turned back to StarRacer who stared at the ground; spark broken. "I don't understand it. I thought she would have been overjoyed to find out you're still online, but instead turns and runs."

StarRacer continues to look down. Optimus tilts his head slightly only to see a small stream of tears washing down from her optics. Optimus puts a hand on her shoulder.

"Don't worry, she's just shocked. That's all. I'll go talk to her and see if I can work this out."

Turning away Optimus rushed into the base, knowing very well were StarChaser goes when she wants to hide. Quietly Optimus entered Prowl's room. Gently closing the door behind him he looked forward to the giant tree the occupied most of Prowl's floor space. Optimus' optics then wandered up the long steady trunk of the tree until his optics rested on a small red and blue sparkling sitting on one of the top limbs. Again Optimus quietly approached the tree and started climbing its long steady trunk until finally resting his stabilizing servos on a lower branch and his arms on the limb that StarChaser was on.

Trying to strike up a conversation, Optimus looked at StarChaser smiling.

"Hey, what're you doing way up here?"

StarChaser didn't speak; she only stared blankly off into the leaves that swayed back and forth in the gentle breeze from the open ceiling. Optimus sighed looking away.

"StarChaser I know this may be hard for you, but your mother IS alive and she's here right now waiting for you."

StarChaser remained quiet. Optimus then looked at her as he put a hand on hers.

"StarChaser, your mother came all this way looking for YOU, and this is how you repay her? By running off and hiding?"

StarChaser looked away with tears streaming from her optics. "That's what Sentinel Prime told you about, isn't it?"

StarChaser looked back at Optimus still crying. "He told you that mom was still alive and that she was here on Earth didn't he?"

Slowly Optimus looked down and away, more ashamed than anything else. "Yes, that is what he told me."

StarChaser looked up, hurt. "And you didn't tell me?"

Optimus looked up pleading. "StarChaser please try to understand, there was only a small chance that she was on Earth, and I didn't want you getting your hopes up, because if your mother didn't show, then you would have gotten hurt. I didn't want that to happen to you. Not again."

StarChaser looked away, still hurt. Optimus sighed as he pulled StarChaser closer to him and wrapped her in his arms.

"But none of that is important now. Your mother is here, right now, right out there on the pavement crying because she thinks that you don't care about her anymore and thinks that you think she's a ghost… but she's not little one. She's really there, and she's waiting… just for you."

StarChaser stared at her stabilizing servos before finally sliding down the trunk of the tree and waited for Optimus at the bottom. Optimus on the other hand, used his grappler hook to lower himself to ground level. Then, picking StarChaser up in his arms, Optimus proceeded to walk out of Prowl's room.

Still on the pavement, StarRacer stood there confused and hurt wondering what she had done wrong, but then Optimus emerged from the base with StarChaser in his arms. StarRacer stood still as Optimus gently put StarChaser down. StarChaser held on to Optimus, still unsure whether this was real, or just a very realistic dream. StarChaser looked at Optimus unsettlingly but Optimus nodded and motioned her to go to her mother. StarRacer kneeled down and smiled that same loving smile that she so vaguely remembered.

"There's my little girl."

Slowly a smile creped over StarChaser's face and tears started to overfill her optics. It was her! It really was her mom after all! StarChaser ran forward throwing herself into her mother's arms crying and saying over and over that she was sorry and she missed her so much.

StarChaser dug her face into her mother's chest plate and held on as tight as she could. StarRacer held her in her arms and gently rocked her and whispered sweet, comforting nothings into StarChaser's audio receptors. Streams of tears ran down both of their faces, but only StarRacer's was leaking onto StarChaser's face plate. Each one held each other, not wanting to let go.

A short distance away, Optimus stood watching the two; happy to see his child reunited with her mother. But yet, a small piece of him was envious of the fact that he would never share a kind of relationship with StarChaser that StarRacer currently shares, but then again, he had a relationship with StarChaser that StarRacer could never have. He watched quietly as StarRacer and her child as well as his sat silently just holding one another, thanking the All-Spark that the other was online.

StarChaser lay silently with her optics shut against her mother, just listening to the slow and steady beat of that oh so familiar spark. StarRacer also was silent, but sat still gently caressing her child's head. StarRacer looked up and saw that Optimus was admiring them from a distance. Slowly StarRacer raised both herself as well as the child off the ground and walked over to Optimus who didn't move, only stood there, watching. Stopping just inches in front of him, StarRacer looked down at StarChaser, then back to Optimus smiling. Optimus gently stroked StarChaser's cheek plate before looking back at StarRacer, him smiling as well. StarChaser sat in her mother's arms, watching as both her mother and father made 'goo-goo' optics at each other. StarChaser slouched in her mother's arms and sighed with a mix of relief and disgust. Both Optimus and StarRacer looked down in sync to each other to see a small sparkling staring up at them sheepishly. Optimus and StarRacer looked up at each other… laughing.

"So, I guess we're spark mates…huh?" StarRacer looked up at Optimus sheepishly.

Optimus laughed slightly while shrugging him massive shoulders. "I guess it would appear that way, considering we DO have a child together."

StarChaser hit Optimus slightly on the chest plate. "Hey! I'm sitting right here!"

Both Optimus and StarRacer laughed, but StarChaser wasn't so amused. Optimus gently took StarChaser into his arms and smiled. StarRacer rested on Optimus' shoulders just watching their little StarChaser. StarChaser on the other hand lay in her father's arms, dumbfounded as to why they were both looking at her they way they were. Not that she really minded; she kind of liked getting the attention. StarRacer looked up at Optimus smiling.

"She's always looked more like you then she has me."

Optimus looked over to StarRacer. "I wouldn't say that, after all, she has your optics."

Carefully Optimus lowered StarChaser to the ground and onto her stabilizing servos. As soon as she met ground level, she ran to her mother, thus taking her by the hand.

"Come on mom, I'll show you around."

StarChaser drug StarRacer forward a few steps before letting go and running ahead of her and shouting back from the main door of the base.

"COME ON MOM!"

StarRacer looked at Optimus who stood there shaking his head laughing. StarRacer then reached out a servo and took Optimus by the hand. Optimus looked up unsure, but soon smiled and nodded in agreement and then tightened his grip on her hand. StarChaser ran back outside and yelled again.

"COOOMMMMMEE OOOONNNNN! YOU GUYS ARE SO SLOW!"

Optimus laughed again as he lead StarRacer into the base, right by his side, with little StarChaser leading the way.

StarRacer was shown every square inch of cement, brick, lumber and metal that made up what had come to be known as the Autobot base here on the planet Earth. She'd also been shown what T.V, videogames and music were. She'd also been 'de-briefed' on their current mission on Earth by Optimus but wasn't told about Megatron until StarChaser had blurted something out about how a few years ago Optimus had saved her from the clutches of Megatron and that he's fought him on more than one occasion. That was StarChaser's first mistake, her second was telling her mother about the time she was actually KIDNAPPED by Megatron himself and that it was Optimus who came to her rescue and that her right stabilizing servo was badly damaged but Ratchet fixed it up and then Chromia chewed Optimus' aft for letting her get hurt like that.

StarRacer was speechless. Optimus passed a 'DON'T-TELL-YOUR-MOTHER-ABOUT-THAT!' look, but soon he received a 'Optimus-we-need-to-have-a-long-talk' look from StarRacer. StarRacer sat there, arms crossed and fingers tapping on her arm. Her optics were defiantly sending a non-pleased message.

Optimus glared at StarChaser who was sitting worry-free on the floor. StarChaser looked behind her then back at Optimus. "What? What did I do?"

Optimus shook his head. "You just HAD to tell her, didn't you?"

StarChaser smiled sheepishly. "My bad, dad, it just kinda sorta slipped out."

Optimus shook his head and was about to say something when StarRacer grabbed his antenna and pulled. That being his weak spot, he bent over trying to relive the tension of StarRacer pulling on it. StarRacer pulled his antenna until his entire mass was down to her level.

"Now you listen here 'Prime' it's a good thing she told me now rather than later otherwise I'd be even more angry then I already am!"

Bumblebee leaned over to Bulkhead who was standing next to him and whispered. "Wow, I've never seen the boss 'bot get mech-handled like that, it's actually kind of funny."

StarRacer turned to Bumblebee and glared. "It's Bumblebee, right?"

Bumblebee slowly swallowed hard and nodded. StarRacer pointed to him and continued to hold Optimus by the antenna. "Unless you want a piece of this too…" she motioned toward Optimus. "I suggest you keep your audio possessor shut."

With no more delay, StarRacer literally pulled the complaining and whining Prime into a more, private room as to discuss other things she not yet knows about.

As soon as she and Optimus were gone, everyone looked at StarChaser dumbfounded. StarChaser looked at them and then did a quick double take at their expressions.

She cocked her head to the side. "What?"

Prowl looked at her, then to the room that Optimus and StarRacer were currently in. "How is it, you can co-exist with THAT?"

StarChaser turned around and looked at the door, then back at Prowl. "Actually, she's really easy to live with; you just never want to make her mad."

Suddenly and almost feminine/mechly scream rained through the base catching everyone off guard. Bumblebee jumped and looked at the door that Optimus and StarRacer were behind.

Looking at Ratchet, Bumblebee gasped. "Was that StarRacer?"

Almost half laughing, and half worried; Ratchet looked at the door horrified. "Actually…I-I think…that…that was Prime."

StarChaser almost burst into tears laughing. "I never knew my dad screamed like a girl!"

Shortly after StarChaser's laughter subsided, the door opened and StarRacer came out with a smug grin of satisfaction on her face plate. She looked down at StarChaser who was on the floor and smiled and rubbed her head before walking out of the base. Then Optimus came out with a look of defeat and humiliation. That and he had a slight limp to his step. Ratchet watched as he hobbled across the room and sank onto the couch. Ratchet then walked over and sat beside him with the others (including StarChaser) crowding around. Optimus looked up then down, still humiliated. Ratchet looked at him and as seriously as possible asked.

"Prime, what happened?"

He was silent for a long time before the heat sensors in his face plates started to heat up. "Ratchet, I learned a valuable lesson this evening."

Ratchet cocked his head. "Oh, and what's that?"

Optimus looked up to face all pairs of optics watching him. "Never, make a femme with an electrically charged whip angry, especially if your aft is in the line of fire."

For a moment everyone was quiet, mostly because they all (except Optimus, who now slouched further down on the couch) were fighting the urge to burst out laughing. Ratchet cleared his vocalize before trying to speak.

"So I'm guessing you two aren't hiding any more secrets?" Ratchet was starting to crack.

Optimus looked up, annoyed with his crew's need to laugh. "No, not unless I want my aft electrocuted again."

That one sentence did it. None of them could hold it in any longer, and all five bots standing around him burst into an uproar of laughter. Optimus put his head down into his hands and groaned.

"Go ahead guys; laugh it up while you still can. But remember this, when one of you makes her angry, and you get whipped in the aft, don't blame me if I start laughing."

Prowl looked at Optimus, still laughing. "Hey Prime, she's not our spark mate…she's yours."

Bumblebee looked at Prowl, he too still laughing. "Hey Prowl, I don't know that you can even call him Prime anymore, because it seems to me that it's not going to be the boss bot anymore…you know considering he's got someone bossing HIM around now!"

Everyone continued to laugh until Optimus abruptly rose to his stabilizing servos and stared down everyone who had been laughing.

"No one is taking my place…not even StarRacer, and if she thinks she can boss me around, she's got another thing coming."

Optimus then stormed out of the room and down the hall to the monitor room. Everyone else sat in a daze wondering if they had said the wrong things. StarChaser (being the only one who was NOT laughing) only sat there looking at Bumblebee with a disapproving glance, and shaking her head. Optimus then again stormed through the recreation room and then outside. Suddenly StarChaser got an extremely sick feeling roll through her fuel tank. Dad was mad, and when he's mad; no telling what will happen.

StarRacer stood at the edge of the pavement watching the sun set. Optimus stormed out of the base, enraged and heading straight for StarRacer. She turned to see Optimus approaching, but kept a steady look of triumph on her face plate.

"Well hello Optimus, what can I do for you?"

Optimus glared and jabbed a finger into her chest plate. "Don't you 'well hello Optimus' me! You openly mocked me in front of my crew and made me a laughing stock!"

StarRacer smiled. "Well, technically you weren't in front of them; you were behind a closed door. And you made a fool out of yourself by screaming like a femme."

Optimus cringed and grinded his teeth angrily. "First of all, being behind a closed door makes no difference what's so ever and second, I DO NOT SCREAM LIKE A FEMME!"

StarRacer smiled looking away. "You do too scream like a femme, and your own daughter would agree with me."

Optimus looks down rubbing his optics and sighing. "Look we're getting off subject here, StarRacer…I don't want you openly humiliating me in front of my crew, it then causes them to think that they don't have to take orders, and as Prime I have earned that right!"

StarRacer looks away rolling her optics. "Okay Mr. Macho Mech, I won't openly hit you on the aft in front of your team; happy?"

Optimus crosses his arms glaring at StarRacer. "Not quite. You see StarRacer, here's the thing…we need to establish some ground rules."

StarRacer looks up with her hands on her hips. "Ground rules?"

Optimus continues. "Rule number one: no more mocking me in front of my crew."

Again StarRacer openly rolls her optics. "I think we've already established that one big boy."

Optimus glares blankly but soon continues again. "Rule number two: You have no more rights than any of the other bots in this base, therefore, you will be taking orders for the designated Prime, A.K.A; me."

StarRacer glares. "WHAT?"

Optimus ignores her and continues. "The only thing on this base that you will have half control of is StarChaser, everything else involving local crime, searches for fragments, and ongoing battles with the Decepticons will be MY responsibility. In other words, when it comes to StarChaser we are equals, anything else; I am in charge. Understand?"

StarRacer looked up glaring. "FINE. But as long as we're laying out the ground rules, I'd like to throw in a few myself."

Optimus cocked his head. "What?"

StarRacer jabbed a finger into Optimus' chest plate. "Rule number three: as long as we live on this rock together, we work together for StarChaser's sake. She's still as much my daughter as she is yours and because of that we have to at least try to make things work between us."

Again Optimus cocked his head. "Meaning?"

StarRacer crossed her arms. "Meaning the whole works. You know being together on decisions for StarChaser, doing things together with her; basic stuff that a FAMILY would do."

Optimus crossed his arms and rolled his optics sarcastically. "Anything else?"

StarRacer glared. "Yeah, and it wouldn't kill you to try and make time for me once and I while considering WE ARE spark mates! That means you'll have to put aside those male pride lines of code and maybe…oh I don't know, cuddle or possibly other things."

Optimus again rolled his optics. "Like what?"

StarRacer immediately grabbed Optimus by the chest plate and pulled him in close, so close that his lips were merely centimeters away from hers. Then StarRacer whispered as she looked up into a shocked pair of optics.

"Oh, I don't know maybe something like this."

Slowly StarRacer rested her lips among his making Optimus' optics widen suddenly. But soon they drifted shut and Optimus embraced StarRacer in his arms and lifted her off the ground. She squealed slightly, with her optics flying open. But soon, hers too drifted shut, and she embraced Optimus in her arms.

StarChaser had been watching the whole argument from the window with Bumblebee and Bulkhead right behind her. She was afraid that by her parents fighting, one of two things would happen. Either the fight would get so bad and her mother would leave again, leaving her alone with her dad or her dad would get mad and MAKE her mother leave, and her mother would take her with her and she would never see her dad again. But when her mother and father started kissing and holding each other out on the pavement, both the sense of relief and disgust overwhelmed her. She couldn't help but turn away holding her hands over her own optics and sticking out her glossa in disgust. In her mind that had to have been the most disgusting thing she had ever seen! Bumblebee and Bulkhead on the other hand just laughed and pointed at both the sight of Optimus kissing StarRacer and the sight of StarChaser cringing at the sight of seeing Optimus and StarRacer kiss. To them, it was hilarious. With the loud laughter coming from the rec. room, Ratchet and Prowl were forced to investigate only to see the sight of Optimus and StarRacer. Prowl laughed slightly, but Ratchet looked down shaking his head.

"Young bots, they never know when to find a more private time and place to show affection."

Bumblebee, Bulkhead and yes even Prowl started laughing harder. But poor StarChaser was starting to turn red in the face plate from all the embarrassment. Ratchet noticed her sudden change in color and smiled as he put a hand on her shoulder.

"You feel like you're embarrassed? Wait until both your mother and father find out that we were all watching…then we'll see how many shades of red their faceplates will turn."

StarChaser turned away smiling and giggling to herself. Ratchet was right and she could just see the look on her sire's face now. That alone was enough to make her burst out laughing hysterically. But StarChaser couldn't wait for them to stop; she wanted to see their faces now. StarChaser raced out of the base and immediately started laughing. Optimus Immediately turned his head and let go of StarRacer with a slight push. StarRacer looked at him; hurt, but soon realized why he let go. StarRacer smiled sheepishly turning away with embarrassment and Optimus stood there shocked, horrified and also embarrassed. StarChaser stood there, arms crossed, with an evil 'HA-I-caught-you-two-doing-something-naughty' look. StarChaser shook her head laughing. Optimus and StarRacer stood there dumfounded until StarRacer looked up and nudged Optimus in the side. Optimus looked up to see all of his troops standing in the door way of the base with the same evil expressions on their face plates. Optimus looked down and away with his face plate turning bright red, almost the same shade as his armor. StarRacer watched him, almost laughing herself, until finally slinking past StarChaser and then pass the guys into the base. Watching StarRacer leave, all the guys and StarChaser turned their attention back to Optimus who stood there with a dumbfounded expression. Optimus stood there rubbing the back of his neck plate.

Optimus smiled sheepishly and shrugged his shoulders.

"What?"