Chapter 9

Sundance twitched as little feet ran across her body. She tensed slightly, fighting the urge to just roll over and squash whatever it was that was bothering her while she was trying to recharge. She'd been flying for three days, slaggit! She'd had to deal with Grimlock being an aft and Swoop being an annoying flirt. Not to mention that she was weak from the energon she'd lost when the big mech stumbled over her.

She shifted her wings as a second set landed on her neck. She felt the weight shift as the little one leaned down to look at her face. Sundance lit an optic, finding herself staring into bright, curious little blue optics.

Warhammer jumped when he suddenly found himself staring at Sundance's burning red optics. He nearly fell off, but Solaris was right beside him, standing on the berth. His friend pushed him back up with a hissed, "I told you to leave her alone!"

"Ah, who cares!" Flashback called from his perch on Sundance's exposed side, "she can get over it!"

Sundance didn't say anything, only watched as Warhammer lifted a finger and pointed at her, "She's online."

All three sparklings froze when she chose that moment to let a dark, rumbling growl roll deep in her chest. In an instant, both of the little mechs were off her body and circled around her face. Flashback gave her a big, innocent smile, "Hi, sissy!"

Sundance vented softly, "What are you three up to?"

"Sorry to bother you," Solaris quickly said, "we'll leave you alone if-"

"Tell us a story," Flashback cut in.

Sundance stared blankly at him. Primus. Now, of all times? Again, she vented, "Flash, I'm really tired."

He snorted, "And I'm really bored."

She struggled for some kind of answer to her problem. The three youngsters stayed clustered around her, staring without blinking like they were waiting for something. Finally, she said, "Go find Jetfire, he's got tons of stories you haven't heard yet."

All three tensed up. It was Warhammer that almost whined, "That crazy old bot? He scares the pit out of me."

"Yeah, he's slaggin' insane!" Flashback snapped, "freakin' psychotic old man..."

Sundance blinked, "What...He is not!"

"Yes he is!"

Sundance narrowed her optics at him, "Jetfire is my best friend, Flash."

He gave her a look, "You have friends?"

"Ha, ha," She grumbled, pushing herself up slowly. She fixed her optics on the three, tone turning serious, "why are you afraid of him?"

Solaris shrugged, "He's just...scary. His optics..."

"Are no different than mine," Sundance said softly, lowering her head. She nudged the red sparkling carefully with her nose. His optics widened, surprised at the sudden touch, but he reached out and spread his fingers over her snout carefully like he was touching some sacred object. She added, "Jetfire fought Galvatron, too. He nearly gave his life in that battle. I trust him with my whole spark."

"Can we please talk about something else?" Warhammer pushed cautiously, "that mech gives me the creeps."

I can't believe this, Sundance huffed mentally. She pulled back, rolling carefully to lay on her belly. Cold shock squeezed her spark when she glanced back and saw that her entire leg was missing. A brief moment of panic seized her until she remembered what had happened. She cast a quick look over the med bay.

Her father was gone, but a small pull on her spark let her know exactly where he was, and that was with Ironhide discussing the build of her new leg. Ratchet was locked away in his quarters, getting some much needed recharge.

"You gonna tell us a story, or not?" Flashback poked at her chest, "Hey, I'm talking to you."

Sundance vented, pausing to think of a story. She had none of her own yet, none worth telling, anyway. So every story she'd told them was based off of human beliefs and histories. She tried to come up with one that she hadn't told in a while. She crossed her arms in front of her. Flashback immediately invited himself to sit there, back leaning against her chest.

Sundance hummed softly as Flashback motioned for the other two to join him. Warhammer cautiously made his way over, while Solaris just stared. Flashback snorted, "Come on, Solar, she's not gonna bite!"

Solaris glanced up at Sundance like he was looking for her permission, but she was looking away. He started forward, squeezing in on the other side of Flashback. It was a close fit, but comfortable, and all three settled. Flashback smacked his palm on Sundance's chest, "'Dance! They haven't heard the one about that monster and the wolf guy-"

"Beowulf," Sundance said, "the hero of the Geats."

"Yeah, that one," Flashback grinned at Warhammer, "you're gonna love this, War."

Sundance tilted her head, eying them, "Just one, then you leave me alone and let me rest."

"Yeah, yeah. Just tell the story!"

Sundance vented sharply. She moved, curling her thick red claws, "When Hrothgar became king of the Danes, he built a great mead hall for his people, the greatest of it's time. He named it Herot, and every night the king and the queen and their greatest soldiers would gather there and celebrate with song, dance, and drink. The sound of their laughter would carry on, far into the night, where it was heard by the monster Grendel-"

Sundance paused when the door to Ratchet's quarters slid open with a hiss. The medic almost stormed out, "Primus, youngling! Why are you not recharging?"

Before she could answer, his optics fell on the sparklings. He vented sharply and the three scattered like chickens, gone so fast neither of them could react.

Sundance sent him a grateful look, "Next time I want to clear the room, I'll call for you."

He snorted, walking over to check her injuries, "You should be resting."

"I was," Sundance slowly laid her head down. Already, she could feel her systems slowing down in preparation for recharge. Ratchet stopped moving, watching her as her optics dimmed. Sundance hummed softly for a moment more before she faded.


Kinda short, boring chapter...oops. Next one will probably be better.

Sundance, her family, the sparklings, and the story belongs to me. Transformers does not.