ITI- Irregular Temperature Inflammation: Optronix has this illness where her frame's systems burn at high temperatures. She, herself, is not harmed in any way, but if another bot touches her while the ITI is rampant, then he or she will be likely to suffer a serious burn. Her daughter, Rhea, has ITI as well. According to the author Optronix Prime, the ITI gene is horribly dominant.
If you have further questions about this, please PM myself or Optronix Prime.
R&R and enjoy!
Chapter Ten
"Carrier, why they here?" asked Rhea with bright blue optics as Bumblebee opened the door to permit Prowl, Jazz, and Pixie.
Optronix smiled as she stroked her helm, "They're visiting us. Be polite, Rhea."
Rhea blinked at her Carrier before hiding behind her leg. She had seen them before-Prowl and Jazz, anyway-but they were vague memories.
"Jazz, Prowl. Thanks for dropping by." said Bumblebee as he shut the door behind them. "It's been a while since you've visited."
"We needed ta git out some more, 'specially since Prowl es gittin' more vacation days. An' plus, Pixeh es gittin' ay lil tired of wanderin' en da house." said Jazz as he set down Pixie; she attached himself to his leg, unfamiliar with her surroundings.
Rhea spotted Pixie and she perked up in interest before hiding further. Her Carrier nudged her forward, "Go on, Rhea. She won't bite."
The little youngling looked up and Optronix offered a smile. "You sure, Carrier?"
Optronix nodded.
Rhea looked at Pixie who was more shy than she and she stepped forward as the adults went to the couches and sat down to talk. Rhea watched Pixie latch firmly onto Jazz's leg and the older femme almost felt hurt.
"Dada..." Pixie cheeped, uncertain about the other.
Jazz knelt down and kissed Pixie's helm, "Pixeh, dis es Rhea. She's really nice," he looked towards the blue femme, "Ain't dat right, Rhea?"
Rhea gave a small nod. She hardly had any friends-or any her age, unless relatives didn't count-and thus, friend making was difficult.
"See? Rhea, dis es Pixeh. She's kinda shy b'cause she hasn't been around those her age. Could ya play wit 'er ta maker 'er feel comfortable?" asked Jazz with a soft smile.
She nodded again. Pixie looked at Rhea before taking a step forward, Jazz nudging her encouragingly. "Say hi, Pixeh."
The sparkling looked down shyly, fumbling her servos around as she said quietly, "Hi."
"H-Hello." said Rhea, slightly louder than her. There was a slightly awkward pause before Rhea spoke again, "Do you wanna play?"
Pixie nodded, her gaze down. Rhea motioned for her to follow and began to head off. Pixie looked back at her Sire who showed her a soft smile and nodded; Pixie smiled back and headed for Rhea who had almost disappeared. Jazz chuckled as he stood up and seated himself next to his mate.
"Are the girls getting along alright?" asked Optronix.
Jazz nodded, "They seem ta beh on da right foot. Ya know how kiddies are when dey first meet: shy." he smiled at the femme in assurance.
Optronix returned the smile, "Rhea needs a friend. The younglings at the IMF tend to bully her because of her ITI and it lowers her self-esteem." she looked down sadly.
Bumblebee rubbed her shoulder gently, [[The ITI was not your fault, honey.]] consoled the bug as he heard his mate's mutterings of her own ITI through their bond.
[[I gave it to her, Bee. It's horribly dominant and I believe all of our children-if we ever come to have anymore-will have it.]] she said.
Bumblebee passed a loving pulse, [[It was not your fault, Nix. Remember that.]]
She said nothing in return.
"But hey, hopefully our lil bits will beh friends an' create all kinds of mischief wit' each other." Jazz said in attempt to lighten the drifting mood.
"Friendship is new to Pixie and it will be no doubt she will like being with Rhea. After all, Rhea is around her age by a vorn or two." added Prowl, "And let us hope the mischief won't be too great of matter."
Optronix smiled, "Thanks guys. Rhea really needs someone she can confide in other than us and Blue. We're adults and sometimes we can be ignorant of what the little ones need and who else can understand but the others around their frame?"
Pixie sat down on the fluffy rug as Rhea pulled along the large bucket of toys; she picked at the little frays, looking at it curiously before several boats, stuffed animals, and other toys were set down.
"What do you play with?" asked Rhea quietly as she grabbed her favorite boat and pushed it along the rug, her imagination going adrift; she was picturing calm seas, the water so blue and the wind gentle.
Pixie looked at the toys presented and she saw a little white, stuffed bear, "I like bears. The fluffy ones, my favorite." she went to reach for it, pausing as she looked at Rhea for permission.
Rhea nodded, allowing her to take it and hold it.
"I have a bear. His name Boo. Dada got Boo for me." said Pixie as she set the bear down onto its feet and made it dance.
"That's cool. Sire bought me this boat. I like it too because it's mine and it's my favorite." Rhea said as she remained focused on her red and white boat, now seeing the waves become furious.
Pixie looked at the bought, tilting her helm slightly, wings perking in curious interest before looking back at the bear. "Do you have more friends?"
Rhea stopped her imaginary play, servos folding in her lap as she looked down; he shook her helm, "I can't make new friends. They think I'm a freak and I am. No one likes me 'cept Creators and uncle Blue."
"But... you no freak." Pixie failed to see this and understand what 'freak' was.
Rhea looked up to see Pixie's confused gaze before standing and digging into a box of old toys she didn't want. She pulled out a doll that she found ugly since she was given it. It was a sick green metal doll-it was really an action figure- and Rhea looked at it as her servo brightened, the doll began to loose its figure as it melted.
Her servo cooled down, yet the doll remained hot. This, however, had no effect on Rhea; she could handle extremely hot temperatures. Instead of the terrified expression Rhea expected, Pixie was staring in awe.
"That cool!"
Rhea shook her helm, "It is not. I hate it."
Pixie nodded, "Is too."
Rhea looked rather confused at Pixie. Pixie was young and she didn't understand what there was to fear about that cool power; she could melt things! That was enough to fascinate her.
"How you do that?" the sparkling asked.
Rhea shrugged, "Carrier has it too. She gave it to me."
Pixie smiled, "I wish I had a power. Like, like, like, read minds or, or, or, um, fly!"
The small youngling smiled; she knew mechs that could do that. Rhea had been around her Carrier plenty of times in the IMF to know that telepaths, seekers, and warpers existed. Nonetheless, she was glad she didn't scare off Pixie. Perhaps she could be her friend?
"Wanna be my friend?" she asked, hopeful.
This excited Pixie and the sparkling nodded, "Yes! I have first friend!"
By the time Jazz and Prowl came to take Pixie, they found the small femmes asleep on top of each other inside of their little tent. Smiling at the cute sight, Jazz pivoted to the side and motioned for Rhea's Creators to hurry over. Optronix melted as soon as she saw Pixie curled on Rhea's backplating, her spark lifting slightly. Bumblebee and Jazz crept forward, Jazz removing Pixie first before Bumblebee lifted Rhea. Pixie whimpered before she recognized the familiar thrum of her Sire's spark and settled down. Rhea, however, gasped awake, her optical shutters snapped wide open before drooping, "Is Pixie leaving?"
"Yes, honey. Did you two have fun?" nodded the yellow mech.
Rhea yawned, nuzzling into her Sire's chest, "Yeah. She said yes to being my friend... so that's good. I like her..."
Bumblebee smiled, "That is good. Now, let's get you to bed, sweetspark."
The yellow bug released a sigh as he plopped down onto their berth, snuggling next to his mate. Optronix smiled softly as she pulled up the covers above them and nestled into her mate's chest, listening to the thrum of his spark. "I'm glad Rhea found a friend."
Bumblebee agreed, nodding his helm, "I know. She had the benefit of Pixie being so young and fascinated by new things. Otherwise, who knows."
"Yet, it brings me consolation that she found someone to give her company when we can't." added Optronix. "Now the only thing that worries me... is whether or not we can give her a sibling. We've tried since my... miscarriage. Nothing has been showing up."
She felt her spark sink within her chamber, burrowing further into Bumblebee's side.
"I know, honey. I know." he said quietly, wishing things weren't as they were. It was cruel to him, his mate, and their only child.
"And... I've been thinking... can we adopt?' asked the blue and yellow femme.
Bumblebee gave it some brief thought; at least Rhea would have company at home other than them alone. "Of course we can. It'll take time to find the one we want though."
"Yes, I know. I just want to fill some of the emptiness that creations can only fill." she said.
Bumblebee smiled as he turned to his side, facing his mate and giving her a gentle kiss. He passed an affectionate pulse and caused his mate to shiver. "We'll adopt as many as we can unless Primus grants us having sparklings."
Optronix smiled, "I'm talking one or two, not an entire adoption center." she returned the pulse and the kiss.
The yellow mech chuckled, "We'll visit a center, let us just find the time."
His mate nodded.