"Hearing laughter from Darwin and Soundwave coming out of the room, they walked toward the main entrance.. Lets get outside a bit need to talk to you before the night sets in and you get too tired."
He sat down carefully and put Dawn on his lap. "What you wanted to talk to me about," Dawn asked.
"Courting, he said, it is so not done to call a mech of interest a Ferrari Puss, and knowing him, it might make him back off, he was a noble on cybertron, all right he had the same old social skill programming like you but he has changed alot since then. But usually he was the one who pursued someone and not the other way around as I remember, as soon as some tried to pursue him he backed off, he is a mech who would like to stay in control"
"I was angry at the time I knew he had been watching us but I did not know he was going to show things from us on video footage to everyone in NEST."
"He is a spy for the autobots and it was his duty to do so, you cannot blame him from doing that my little one. Soon you will be in that frame and then what."
"Who says I have an interest in him," Dawn muttered. "Come on Dawn do not think I am stupid alright, I have little spies who whisper things in my audio's."
"Okay he does look smashing, totally hot and most of all he is definitely an eye candy." " So who's the snitch?" "Hm Alpha was one of them, not the smallest one I'd say but yeah we talked a bit and he told me about your idea's of getting a mech to your berth." Dawn smirked, "I remember Alpha would help with his cannons if I could not get him down on my own, said it would me more affective as well.
But okay it is not to social I know but I only said it as a joke and now it has a life of it's own for everyone makes jokes about it now. All Look at us both as if we are a couple already but look at me am a squishy who is falling to pieces, and so very dead before the end of the week. Not someone you wanna court I'd say"
"How did he react to that, was he angry or just a bit lets say upset." "No on the contrary he said that if I got him drunk he would go down without a fight.
And I remember Ratchet made a comment to. He said "don't tell me this carrier programming is already active, I would swear they are courting each other."
"So I do think if he was angry he would let me know and not say things like. "Does it also say that said femme should drag the mech into her berth room tie him up and get her way with him, or is there also some romance there."
"Does that sound like an angry mech to you." Dawn sighed. Why do I always say the most stupid things and then it backfires."
"Dawn I have another question alright, what do you feel when mr spy bot is near."
"Hm I don't know it feels funny I wanna grab him and yes drag him to a berth and get my way with him, stupid huh like I said, look at me! Why do you ask I am not able to feel things like you people do as of yet"
"I ask this for I think the creator has activated his coding signal." "Now that is stupid, Tailwind I am still the human here how would I be able to feel that and act like a moron."
"I don't know but I do think it is active." "Ow shoot Dawn said, last night Dino asked me how the creator programming looked like and what was in it, for he was curious if he had that programming. I told him it could be found in the caretaker programming if they were a creator. Not too much later he told me he found something but could not make anything out of it for it had digits. I then told him this was the creator coding and usually hidden much deeper than the creator program."
"It only surfaces when active Tailwind said, and laughed a bit. We must have a chat with him then instead of you. I know you will be careful but the longer the coding is sending the signal the more aggressive the mech can become, before you know it you will be the one who is tied down he smirked and know, that with the sliver just in place you must be a bit careful. "How long. Dawn asked, I mean what can I expect."
"The matrix will protect it but if sparklings are drawn from it, you cannot be the one who will keep them in the spark chamber for they will stay close to the spark of the creator carrying them. And they will get energy from it as well."
" I thought only when the two loved each other, sparklings could come out and not when you were taken down by a needy mech."
"No but I do think you are to blame for his activated program my dear." " And how could I have done that."
"You must have sent him something he smirked human or not, if a femme is interested in a mech she will show that, and excuse me I have heard enough to say that you are, so yes I will inform said mech about the birds and the bees, he will become restless if it will take too long and he might even start breathing in your neck.
It is also possible the nanites in you may have had something to do with it as well. They stopped working all of a sudden too I have heard from Darwin and Ratchet, while they were getting less effective at first they all of a sudden stopped from one day to the next. Curious isn't it."
"I got nausea when I got into the ship sitting next to him at the time I did not think any of it. later it happened when I got into his alt mode and again later that night. And this morning too."
"The signals he sends may have altered the nanites and got them corrupted." Tailwind said rubbing his mouthplate.
"Please do not tell him this, I don't want him to feel bad about it. I was actually glad they stopped working, I feel like slowly falling to pieces inside as if every day a part of me rots away. I am so ready to move on. I have this disease for years let it be over and done with I wanna walk again, I wanna feel alive and not half dead."
"I will not tell him if I do not have to Dawn but if he does ask or hint at it I must but will also tell him what you said is that alright with you?"
"As long as you tell him I do not blame him at all and are glad his signals did this."
"Hm don't never deny you like more than just like him."Tailwind chuckled you just gave yourself away girl."
"I just don't want him to feel rotten about it okay that is all." "Sure it is sweet spark just compassion," he said and smirked.
Dino stood behind the door and had listened to the conversation, using his cameo and spark damper no one would suspect him standing there, listening to other mechs conversations did not feel right at this time but something had told him to keep on listening anyway.
He cursed himself for knowing he might be the one to blame for Dawns turn for the worse, no matter what the girl said. He also had heard of what Tailwind had said, his creator coding was active, he looked into the programming right away and there it was a little green light which was lighting up, if she felt it, she would know he was there he wasn't sure. He slowly backed away and walked back to the medbay, disabling his camouflage program he just stood in the doorway. He heaved some air through is vents and sighed,. Slag how did this happen and how did he get out of this mess.
Tailwind brought Dawn back and lay her on the berth he took a blanket from a chair and covered her in it. She quickly dozed off so Tailwind turned around to look at Dino.
He gestured to Dino to follow him, the mech sighed again and started to follow Tailwind outside, he figured it was gonna be a difficult conversation.
Once outside Tailwind transformed so Dino did the same and drove behind the mech, thinking the worse might happen now, Tailwind might have said to Dawn he would not make it difficult on him, you'd never know, after all he was Dawns caretaker and not the easiest one as well. It was obvious this one cared a great deal about the girl. Right now he feared the worst he did not wanted to fight.
About five miles further Tailwind stopped and transformed back to his bipedal mode waiting for Dino to do the same.
He sat down and got two cubes of high grade out of his subspace and offered Dino one cube.
You don't really think I came here to beat the slag out of you, he said, chuckling a bit, no way my friend I really just wanna talk, so ease up will you.
Dino sat down and accepted the offered high grade slowly peeling of the lid he waited for Tailwind to start talking.
"I think you know why I brought you here, Tailwind said, I usually come here to think a bit and enjoy the scenery.
Dawn might be talking easy about going into that frame but Soundwave and I both are very nervous. Vector did not bring Soundwave back only to let him die again at Ratchets hands so that is not the reason we are nervous, we are worried we will lose her no matter what, that she will change into someone else, we both have a caretaker bond with her and you might know how it feels if you lose the bond because of a death or in this case her becoming Enigma, I can only pray she will be the same."
Dino took a sip from his high grade and nodded, "why would you think she will be different, she seems very confident about it and is strong willed as well I don't think she will change I got to know her a bit those last two days and I must say she does know what she wants."
"Tailwind laughed a bit, "I know, that is why I want you to know a bit more about her past. While in custody of Shockwave, she was determined not to go down by what Shockwave did to her, fought to stay alive throughout the three years she has been here, it was my intention to get her back home, but during our trip to the Nevada base she showed me the scars, I knew they were there for I had taken care
of the wounds Shockwave inflicted on her but she showed them . And then asked me what would happen if she would go back, what if they want to examine me, she asked and see all this, I have a damn road map written all over me. I cannot stand being silent for long I might wanna scream what happened to me and then what, they might sent the army in and more people might die.
So she convinced me not to bring her back, she was fifteen in human years at the time, tiny but strong I had to argue with Soundwave too but he gave in and helped us to settle in the other base.
For years I had no idea why she did not wanted to go back to her family but after she discovered I was not a drone, she and I had a honest talk I was angry at her first felt invaded but she kept saying her curiosity wanted a peace of mind and therefore had peeked inside. She promised she would never do that again after I explained to her the spark was just like the human heart.
In return she told me her father and her mother had been lovers at the University, her father had to return to Italy because his father had died, his girlfriend Dawns mother had wanted to come along but her father had said he would return as soon as possible.
He did write her but she did not answer his letters, so after about a year he gave up. Helped his younger brother with the company until he was confident enough he could manage on his own. Carlos, Dawn's father returned to America after about three years, and started working for Nasa for his love was space engineering and not the winery. About a year after his return he ran into Dawn's mother and also
the little Dawn who was about three at the time, apparently his ex girlfriend was pregnant with Dawn and had not told him, angry for not taking her with him she had not answered his letters. Carlos wanted to get to know his daughter and she agreed. This agreement went fine until her mother met Charles Gallagher a rich man and interested in Dawn's mother but not the child.
So she went to Carlos and asked him if he wanted to have her, it would cost him though and knowing Carlos wanted his girl with him agreed to the settlement. Dawn found out just before she was kidnapped by Barricade. Her stepfather had not wanted her and her mother had sold her to her father, because she was not convenient only the money she got for the girl was good enough."
"Sometimes I really do not like humans Dino growled how could anyone sell his own sparkling, you must be a cold glitch if you do such a thing."
Tailwind shrugged his shoulders, Dawns words too, so yes I understood she would not ever go back. When the illness set in she was angry at first and said 'Tailwind I fought Shockwave my own way by not dying when he tried to but it feels now he won anyway for this is a fight I cannot win. He took my reproductive parts, a kidney and my spleen but it wasn't enough he had to kill me on a distance as well, I feel so screwed right now'. It was the only time I saw her cry and after that never again.
I helped her as much as I could we got closer by the years because she wanted to learn about our people wanted to understand that not all of us were like Shockwave and forgive those who were not like us.
The only people she did not forgive were her mother and stepfather, I understand that for they are of her own kind.
But slowly she also changed never talked to humans that much and stayed away from them and distant her self from them, she did go to town to get some groceries and such but that was the only contact she made.
I later found out she was being visited by the old primes, she asked me if I would still like her if she would become one of us. She knew there was a frame, they had told her about and had told her I knew where it was.
So I brought the drones and the frame to our base and we started working on them. The rest you know, she is very close to all of them and they to carry a secret with them I even don't know about nor does Dawn but she kept saying all six of them should be together again."
"I wanted you to know this Tailwind said, and yes I am protective of her but understood you and her are a bit more than just acquaintances he said looking sideways waiting for Dino's response.
"I must say she is quit a lady, Dino replied, still have not figured out what I feel though, it also seems I am a creator and noticed a green light beeping off and on, he said lowering his shoulders."
I was truly happy when I did find it though."
It explains your contentment Tailwind said, smirking about it,Dawn did not understand but I did, I saw you following her like a shadow even when I took her out, Soundwave told me and I will use his words. "The Ferrari puss is following the both of you," he snickered. I just wanted you to know how she felt hoping to make a break and knew you would hear it and make your own conclusion".
"But one advice do, try to control that creator program, she will be having a sliver and not a complete spark yet, that may take maybe six months for it to be strong enough. Can you shut it down or not, I mean is there a manual about it."
"I did found something about the signal he said but I think it got jammed a bit for I cannot shut it down."
"Maybe Soundwave can help, it might give you a problem if it continues too long without a response. And I do know from what Alpha told me that it should be possible to manually activate it or shut it down, so if that does not work right like in your case you can ask Soundwave to look into it "
" I will do that Dino replied, I heard you say it could give problems for myself and I don't want to hurt her even if it is unintentionally."
The next morning Soundwave corrected the corrupted coding and Dino managed to shut it down, he wasn't sure if it would change something for Dawn's nanites.
He still felt guilty about it even though he did not activate the creator signal. Soundwave kept telling him not to worry that Dawn would never take that against him. Dawn was outside she sat in her wheelchair enjoying the morning sun, august was nice she watched the birds fly over and knew not to long from now they would fly away to warmer territory, she heard a noise behind her and even without looking she knew it was Dino.
he brought her a soda and sat down on his aft, leaning to the rock formation behind him he watched her.
"How do you feel today, any better? He asked curiously " "yeah a bit, she replied, did Soundwave manage to help you?"
"Know that too huh, he said, I am sorry for that I had no idea that it would cause so much problems for your nanites, "
"Don't be sorry alright, none of us knew that these nanites would be shut down by the signal, Darwin and Ratchet are investigating it right now, it is an interesting development too, you know. Before this they did not know that nanites which are used for all kinds of things where sensitive for certain signals, so if they can learn from this it can help later in other situations."
"But to answer your question, Dino said, yes Soundwave managed to help out, the coding got a bit corrupted so I could not shut it down manually all though he did not find out why it got activated as of yet. Your nanites and the coding program may have interacted so I do agree let them figure it out am just glad I could shut it down."
"Are you up to a little trip, he asked or do you feel not well enough."
" We are in the mountains Dino, she chuckled, go where?"
"Well hm Tailwind showed me a nice place am sure you have not been there."
I can carry you there if you don't mind, it is about five miles from here and you will arrive much later than I will if I would drive to it I could tie a rope to the wheelchair and race towards the place but I doubt you will let me." "Not a good idea, Dawn said, and laughed, if I could walk I would have gotten a skateboard and have tried, and probably would have broken a lot of bones including my neck so you may carry me no objections at all.
They arrived on the spot where Dino and Tailwind had sat down the night before. When I looked around last night, not being beaten to pulp by a angry caretaker, Tailwind said that maybe I could bring you here for a little picnic."
"Great and we did not bring anything to picnic with,"Sure we did, he smirked just watch," he transformed and told her to look in the trunk of his alt mode.
She found a little basked in there and when she looked inside she found some sandwiches, a water,bottle, energon, energon goodies and some candy. Even an apple.
She laughed a bit, "I bet Darwin put this together right."
"He did, Dino rumbled still in his alt mode, since I had to court you in a proper way Darwin told me that a picnic was a nice start."
Dawn rolled back to make sure he could transform. "You were ordered to court me in a proper way, or must you show me the proper way," she said looking up.
"I guess it is a bit of both but I must ask you to let me do it and do not try to take control alright.
"Sure, Dawn said, so em you do like me."
"Let say I wanna get to know you, he smirked, I do want to know you as Dawn, because I am sure will have plenty of time to get to know you as Enigma."
He sat down on his aft again and heaved some fresh air into his vents. He looked around and enjoyed the view, Dawn watched him silently.
"She closed her eyes a bit and listened to her surroundings.
"I will tell you about my world Dino said, if you get to tired we could recharge here a bit, the weather is going to be alright here not too warm and not to cold, is that alright with you,"
"Dawn nodded, I would like to know about your life on Cybertron she said, you already know a lot about mine, so yeah am a bit curious how that was like before the war started, if it is not too painful for you."
Dino looked at her and got himself in a comfortable position and started telling about his life. He did not spare himself for he knew he had been an aft back then.
At noon they opened the basket and enjoyed the goodies inside. Only to be disturbed by Darwin who came over to give Dawn her pain reliever and take the empty basket with him and left again.
Dawn wished this day would last longer and refused to go back yet. He told her it was alright, he would lift her and walk back carrying her again.
He then showed her footage of Cybertron his home and people he had met or had been with in a romantic way.
And Dawn curious as she was wanted to know everything about courting and how they would know they liked each other if they met but not had spoken to each other.
"Would that work for us, Dawn asked, I mean your coding already responded."
"We are not sure if they responded to your nanites or because I am interested, he smirked lets wait for that, but yes since we have been a bit more honest I think we can skip a few chapters and move to the get to know each other part."
"And how does that work, Dawn replied." "Well then you exchange your liking of things and see if that matches too, your view of things your personal interest. If it is too far apart it might be a problem, I mean it is not that you cannot overcome that but if it is way too far you may start getting cracks in the relationship later on."
To be honest I was not so good at it, all of my relationships stranded."
"I think I know why that happened, Dawn said, I think you gave yourself too much, wanted to be wanted and gave up a lot to please the other. I know you cannot lie behind the firewall so I do think you would have known if they wanted to use you but you're like a chameleon adapting yourself to the other even if you portray yourself to be the dominant one. I doubt any of your relationships have been on an equal base. "
"And why do you think so," Dino asked curious. "You are doing it now she said, I know you are not too fond of humans, never even allowed them inside you and yet you make a huge exception for me. I do not doubt your intentions, but you do set aside your personal feelings."
"You wanna know why, Dino said. Because when I saw you roll into our base, you were not afraid, you challenged Director Mearing and showed so much knowledge and guts I had not seen before. Even when you called me Ferrari Puss I was not upset, okay a bit ticked off but not angry. The way you spoke to us and told us things, made me believe we dealt with someone that was not equal to any human, you were
lifted to a higher plan, you were honest and let us get into your lives without being afraid of being judged, it was a set and done deal for you. I admire that very much of course I asked myself can I love her when she moves into her frame, she was a human once will that be a problem, how much difference will there be. But the way you talked about things made me believe and a specially after telling us about the soul and the essence I thought to myself wait for this one to get into her frame and make a move then, for now will not be wise. We are not on the same eye level, you are still a small human and I want to drive around be with you where the others are not if you know what I mean. I wanna protect you take care of you but also wanna feel that you care about me and not as eye candy he smirked yes it makes me feel good am still good looking and that makes me grow and feel proud."
"Does that sound sane enough he smirked Oh my I had a mouth plate full here."
"I understand you perfectly, Dawn said, that is why I was glad those stupid nanites did stop all of a sudden. This might be my last day out you know, tomorrow might be different, but can also be like this one, I do not know but I hope when I wake up I will see you." Dawn started yawning, so Dino stood up and lifted the wheelchair and held it in his Servo's close to his spark. Lets get back he said it is still a few miles before we get back to base.
I am glad we had this day here, Dawn said. Turn around a bit please and see a very beautiful sunset.
They both saw the sun go down behind the mountains so Dino activated his headlights to show them the way back. Tired but content they arrived at the base, Dawn had dozed of the last minutes before arriving at the base.
It puzzled Dino a bit, she had not needed any painkillers she had dozed off without them.
Ratchet scanned her immediately, "How is she Dino asked, she was fine all day but it worried me she did not portray to be in any pain at all."
"For now she is fine so let us not make any conclusions yet but I will ask Soundwave to be around she looks like she is a sleep but it is deeper than normal."
"So she was right, she said that this might have been her last day out. I will stay here with her, she asked me if she woke I would be there, so I will do just that."