Welcome to the final chapter of Toy Soldiers. Coming soon will be Toy Soldiers 2: Child's Play.
ANNOUNCEMENT: Windsail Zero has been changed to Stardust
I hope you've all enjoyed so far. Thank you for the few reviews and input I have received.
Enjoy.
~ Sly
Sam nor his parents were answering the phone. They must be recharging. Optimus concluded after three tries. He felt guilty about taking Alex without them knowing. He kept debating whether he should turn back and return her, or find out if something happened. She needed to be checked by Ratchet. What if being in close contact with the Allspark did something that could've damaged her health? He'd never forgive himself if that happened and he hadn't gone to see Ratchet.
"Oppi….?" Came the soft, delicate, tired question. "Yes, youngling?" Optimus replied quickly to the young girl, who gently rubbed her eyes. "Are we home..?" "No, youngling. I am taking you to see Ratchet." There was no use lying to her. She might as well know the truth.
"..Why are we going to see Watchet?" The girl yawned. "I…. want to make sure you are alright." Optimus explained. She didn't need to know anything further… right? "Oh. Okay. I twust you Oppi." She smiled tiredly, before snuggling back into the seats and going back to sleep. Optimus vented, turning into the gate to the base. Despite being the leader of the Autobots, the prime was still stopped.
"Hey woah, boss bot, who's that you got with you?" One of the men asked, shining a light onto Alex's face, making her mumble and squirm, turning away from the light. "That is not important. She needs to see Ratchet. It's quite urgent." Optimus explained, getting impatient. "Oh. Right, sorry big guy!" The soldier apologized, before signaling the gates to open. Once they were open, Optimus practically shot through them, down the road for about ten minutes before screeching to a halt in the hangar, where the other Autobots were, as the humans said, 'chilling'.
The Autobots looked up at the sudden appearance of their leader. A few humans looked up as well. "Optimus? Is something wrong?" Ratchet questioned. "I will explain in a moment, Ratchet." Optimus said.
"Alex. Youngling." Optimus cooed, using the seat belt to nudge her. "Five more minutes…?" She questioned, opening one eye. "I'm afraid not. I need to transform." Optimus murmured, popping open the door. Alexandria yawned, before slipping out, rubbing her eyes and standing back a bit as the prime transformed into his bi-pedal mode. She smiled up at him.
"Ratchet, I need you to examine the youngling. It's urgent." Optimus explained to the CMO. Ratchet's optics widened a bit and he glanced at Alex. She seemed fine. But if Optimus said so… "Very well. Optimus, youngling, come with me." Ratchet stated. The other Autobots looked at one another with both curiosity, and worry.
"Up you get, youngling." Optimus said softly, kneeling and lowering his hand for the youngster. Tiredly, she pulled herself onto his hand, leaning against his thumb as the gargantuan Autobot stood, following his CMO. "Oppi..? Is something wrong with me….?" She asked quietly, still tired. Optimus gave her a fake smile. He didn't know if there was or not. "No, youngling. I just want to make sure that the Allspark did not have an effect on you." Optimus said, petting her head gently. "Okay, Oppi." Alex yawned.
"Set her down over there," Ratchet said, gesturing to a small, human-sized medical area. "I need to speak with you in private, Prime." Ratchet said, no hint of emotion in his voice. "Very well, Ratchet." Optimus responded, letting his old friend know he was paying attention. "Stay here," The prime told Alex firmly, after placing her down near one of the cots. Alex climbed onto the cot and nodded. "I'll stay." She responded as he turned and followed Ratchet.
\/\/\/\/
"Optimus, she seems perfectly healthy to me. Why are you so concerned?" Ratchet vented in Cybertronian, pinching the bridge of his nose. "I am certain I felt a spark nearby. She was the only one nearby. I am afraid that the Allspark might have damaged her. Ratchet, please, do a quick examination. I would never forgive myself if something happened to her because of my doing." Optimus pleaded. Ratchet vented, seeing the despair in Optimus' optics.
"Fine. I'll do an examination. But you'll wait outside until I call for you, am I clear?" Ratchet grumbled, sending a light glare. Optimus smiled and nodded. "Of course. Thank you, old friend." Optimus vented, placing a hand on Ratchet's shoulder, before walking out of his CMO's office and into the medbay. He made for the door, but a light cry of "Oppi," stopped him. He turned, and walked towards the human-sized medbay.
Alex had gotten up, and had a worried look on her face. "Oppi? Where are you going? Are you leaving me here?" She whimpered. Optimus smiled, petting her head with a digit. "Oh, no, of course not, youngling. But as the leader of the Autobots, I have duties to attend to. You have no reason to fear Ratchet, if you are afraid. He is one of my oldest friends." "…. Okay. If you say so, Opi." Alex murmured, climbing back onto the cot.
Optimus could've glitched right then and there. Opi. This word was different. It was not Oppi, which was a shortened form of his designation, no. This was the word for father. She had called him father. Weakly, the prime smiled, before making his way out the medbay door. He had a lot to think over.
\/\/\/\/
Ratchet was quick to see the youngling. He had a holoform of his own, to treat the humans easier. His sported black (but graying) hair, blue eyes, and seemed about 50. He wore a white lab coat, a red turtleneck, and black trousers. Seemed doctor-enough.
It made Alex jump when his holoform suddenly appeared beside the cot, smiling and carrying a clipboard. "Hi Watchet!" She giggled. The holoform grunted and rolled his eyes. "Now, youngling, have you been feeling strange lately at all?" Ratchet questioned, sitting on the cot beside her. "Nope!" Alex peeped, smiling.
"Have you noticed anything different about your appearance, or your behavior?"
"…Nope!"
"Have you been feeling less like doing things you would normally do?"
"Uh-uh."
"Hm… well, I'm going to run a quick scan on you, alright, youngling?" Ratchet smiled. A worried look crossed Alex's face. Ratchet put a hand on her shoulder, and leaned down a bit to look her in the eyes. "It won't hurt a bit." Alex sniffled a bit and smiled gently. "Okay."
Ratchet's bi-pedal form shot a blue beam at her, which ran up and down her body a few times, making a high pitched chirping noise. After about 10 seconds, it disappeared. "Thank you. Now was that so bad?" The doctor grinned. The human girl giggled and shook her head. "No. But can I have a lollipop?" She grinned at the thought. "Hm. Alright." Ratchet took a lollipop from his subspace, leaning down and handing it to her. "There you are, youngling." He smiled, patting her head before the holoform disappeared and his bi-pedal form started moving back to his office.
"The results of the scan will be back in a few hours, Optimus." Ratchet . Optimus was quick to respond. "Hours? Ratchet, I must tell you the truth. Her creators and her brother…. Do not know she is here." Optimus said guiltily. "Optimus! Do you mean to tell me you… stole her?" Ratchet snapped. "No—well, yes, I suppose in some terms but—I have good reason, Ratchet. If she had been damaged, and I had returned her to her family without knowing if something was wrong, she could have died." The leader pleaded. The CMO was silent for a while. "Very well. Your reason is just. You may come back in now."
Not less than 10 seconds was Optimus back in with the youngling. They were chatting, and the two of them were laughing. It made Ratchet happy to see his old friend so happy. Before meeting the earth child, Optimus had not laughed since the cycle the war began.
Optimus paused when he received a call – from Sam. He answered it, venting. "Optimus! What the hell?! Where's my sister?!" Sam practically screamed. Alex stopped laughing when she saw Optimus was quiet, looking up at the 'bot. ".. Opi?" There's that word again… "Sam, I assure you Alexandria is fine. I… cannot explain to you why, but I have brought her to see Ratchet. I was worried the Allspark may have done something to her." Optimus explained calmly. Sam sighed on the line. "Why didn't you call to tell me?!" "I did. Three times, Sam. I assumed you and your family were recharging. I was too worried something might have happened, so I just took her to see Ratchet. I am waiting for the scan results."
"Woah woah woah, scan? What scan?! Why does she need to be scanned?!" Sam pestered. Optimus vented again. "Do you wish to speak with her?" he finally said. "YES!" Sam yelled. Optimus winced a bit at the yell, before activating his holoform and handing a 'cell phone' to Alex. It wasn't really a cell phone. It was his communications link, but with its own holoform. "Hi Sammy!" His sister chirped as soon as she took the phone. "Oh my god.. thank god, Lex, you're alright. You are alright, aren't you? Did they hurt you?" Sam was way over the top, and she knew it. "Sammy, I'm fine. Watchet –" "RATCHET!" Came the yell from his office. Alex paused to giggle. "Didn't hurt me at all. It actually tickled a little!" "Okay, where are you?" Sam sighed, exasperated. "Ummm…." The seven year old girl looked up to Optimus. "We are at Diego Garcia, Samuel." The holoform explained.
"Augh… jesus- o—okay. Optimus, I trust you, okay, but, just… don't do that again—please?" Sam pleaded. "You have my word." The prime responded. "Okay. Just… bring her home when you're done, okay?" "If that is your wish, Sam." Optimus said, dipping his head. "Alright. See you later, Alex. I hope…" Sam murmured. "Okay Sammy. Bye bye! Love you!" Alex chimed. "Love y' too, Lex." Sam responded. By the tone he responded, he sounded like he was smiling. After a half a second, the line clicked, and the holoform and 'cell phone' fizzled out.
"Watchet?" The young girl called after a moment. Both she and the prime winced at the sound of someone dropping something. "Sowwy." She mumbled, kicking her feet idly. "What?" Ratchet vented, stepping out of his office.
"Um… can …. Um… Oppi show me around the bass… or.. whatever he said it was?" She asked innocently, looking up. "No." Alex gave an expression of surprise, before snapping her fingers and thinking for a moment. After two seconds, she grinned and looked up. "….Pleaaaaaaaaaaaase?" Alex whined, giving the medic a pitiful expression. Ratchet seemed to hesitate, glancing at her before at the prime a few times before venting loudly. "Fine."
"Yaay!" Alex cheered, leaping onto her Oppi's outstretched hand. "Oh, I almost forgot, young one, the human at the front gate of the 'zoo' wanted me to give you this," Optimus hummed, taking a stuffed, floppy giraffe from his subspace and pinching one of the arms between two digits, lowering it down to her. "Oh!" She said in surprise, taking it gently from him and hugging it. The way she hugged it, the long neck and head of the oddly proportioned creature flopped backwards.
Optimus smiled as he left the medbay, his hand close to his chest. Being so close to the girl, he swore he could feel the thrumming of a spark. A familiar pulse pattern. Pulse… pulse pulse…. Pulse…. Pulse pulse…. He shook it off, stopping outside a door and lowering her down. After a moment or two, his holoform appeared.
"Up!" The youngling chirped, outstretching her arms. The prime sighed, but picked her up, using one hand to hold her on his hip, and the other to open the door to the mess hall. "This is the mess hall, youngling. This is where the humans consume their energy," He explained, motioning to the room. "Ohhhh…" Came the amazed reply. Alexandria had never heard anyone describe eating so…. Detailed….ly.. Was that a word?
"Oh hey, big guy. What're you doing in here?" Lennox said. He had finished eating and was chatting with a few soldiers. But seeing the prime's holoform peaked his interest. He stood up and moved over to the boss' side, leaning against the wall. "Hey squirt," He smiled, ruffling the girl's hair. Once Alex had started school, she insisted she didn't want to wear the plastic crown. For one, it was pretty much ruined, and two, she had insisted she'd outgrown it.
"The youngling wished me to show her around the base, William," The prime explained. "I got a giraffe!" Alex interrupted, shoving the floppy creature in the human's face. Both her hands were gripping the oddly fat stomach of the giraffe, leaving no support for the head. After a moment, the head and neck sagged forward. William laughed, and patted the giraffe's head. "You sure do, kiddo!" He chuckled.
"Alright, well, have fun you two," William smiled, giving a small salute before exiting. "He likes my giraffe." Alex said in a mocking tone, sticking her tongue out at Optimus. The prime chuckled. "Indeed, youngling." He smiled, letting her down. The holoform fizzled out, and the prime's robotic body held out his hand, which the youngling gladly jumped on.
\/\/\/\/
An hour or so, Optimus had shown her the whole base, meeting various soldiers along the way. When he had walked past the door to target practice, the youngling questioned what was behind the door. He couldn't deny her curiosity, so he had shown her. It made Optimus nervous when she talked to Ironhide, wanting to know what he was doing, and if she could do it too. "It looks fun!" She had said. Ironhide, being the trigger-happy weapons specialist he was, was perfectly happy to explain, and give her some tips sometime. "Not now, Ironhide." Optimus had said quickly. "We have things to attend to." He hadn't wanted to disappoint him.
But now, the two were on their way back to the medbay. Ratchet had informed Optimus that the results had come in. Ratchet didn't want to look without Optimus.
"HEY!" Came a human's shout. Optimus stopped, and looked down. Director Galloway… He vented mentally. "Yes, Director Galloway?" Optimus droned, turning. Alex peeked over his hand to see. "What do you think you're doing?" The director probed. "I am travelling to the medbay, Director." Optimus assured him calmly. "Why? You look perfectly fine! What's that in your hand?"
Optimus vented, using his opposite hand to pinch the bridge of his nose, before letting Alex down. "Director Galloway, this is Alexandria Witwicky," The prime explained. The Director was furious. "What the hell is a kid doing on military grounds?!" He screeched. Alexandria glared. She didn't like this man. He wasn't going to be nice. So why should she be? The girl predicted she couldn't do much without getting in trouble, so she settled for sticking her tongue out at him and making a 'mnnnn!' sound, before turning her back and pouting.
"Director Galloway, this is the young girl who saved Mission City, and most likely your entire planet from total destruction…" The prime said lowly, his optics narrowing. Galloway swallowed, and glared at the girl's back. "She's just a kid! You can't be fucking serious." He argued. The prime immediately recognized the word, as what the humans considered 'vile language'. Alex gasped at the word, and the prime used a hand to move her backwards, away from the Director.
Prime's optics were furious. No one would speak that way around Alex. He poked the Director with a digit roughly, knocking the man over. Galloway gulped, his expression turning fearful when the Autobot leader got in his face. "I would advise you watch your language, Director," He warned, before picking the girl up and continuing on his way.
The prime's face remained angered, and he seemed to walk faster. That was, until a small voice said… "Oppi?" The prime stopped, and his expression changed to a gentle one. "Yes, little one?" He cooed, petting her head. "Are you okay?" "I'm fine, youngling." He assured her, smiling before continuing to the medbay.
"….Opi?" Again, that word. Optimus vented. "Yes?" "What's fucking?" Optimus hesitated in his stride. "I… perhaps you should ask that question to someone else…" The prime said awkwardly. "Okay." Alex hummed, hugging the giraffe.
\/\/\/\/
"What are the results, Ratchet?" Optimus said in Cybertronian, slowly. He was worried. For the sake of not getting Alexandria worried, Optimus and Ratchet left her in the medbay while they reviewed the results in Ratchet's office.
The CMO had to admit that it was a bit distracting, hearing the youngling speak of her 'giraffe' and brag about it to another doctor.
Ratchet pulled up the results, and Optimus saw his expression change to shock. "Optimus…." He said slowly. "Ratchet, what is the news?" Optimus pleaded. "Optimus… Starblazer is alive, and functioning well." Ratchet stated, looking up at Optimus.
However, Optimus, too shocked with the news, had glitched out, and was currently on the floor. Ratchet vented. "Oppi?" Came the call from the medbay.
Thank you all for reading this fanfiction. I appreciate it very much. I promise that Child's Play will be out soon.
Catch y' later!
~ Sly