Chapter 14: Spa
Things were relaxing very slowly at the Autobot Base. Sure thing everyone was still very wary, but since no blasts had been fired, one could deduce that hostilities were been kept at a minimum. They were still a little unsettled by the presence of the Nemesis and the group of Decepticons in their base, but they had not given any sign of been a threat, and Optimus had addressed everyone through the general channel of the comm. link, assuring them that everything was alright.
After Ratchet and Knock Out had managed to bring back to consciousness Prowl and Shockwave, Optimus had invited them to their Base, and with more or less complaints, Megatron had accepted. The rest of the Autobots regarded them with a wide spectrum of glares as the strange group of Autobots and Decepticons made their way into the facilities. Some looks were fearful, some hateful, some surprised, some curious.
Now, they were all sitting in the Autobot's conference room, situated in one of the biggest hangars and equipped with many cybertronian-sized chairs, a big projector and several computers. There was also an elevated system of platforms for the human members of the base, so that they didn't have to be looking up to speak.
It was there were Eleonor was sitting, her legs dangling off the platform, and her arms leaning on the handrail. Ravage was laid beside her, his front paws also dangling and his head rested on the handrail. And Frenzy was sitting over Eleonor's shoulders, with his arms resting on the young woman's head.
"So, what are you exactly doing up there?" Eleonor asked to the tiny silver mech.
"Protecting you from Laserbeak." He chuckled. "Are you uncomfortable with me riding you?" He asked, and the young woman laughed heartily at the odd question.
"Of course not, you are very light. And many mechs had carried me around in their alt modes. I don't mind returning the favor to the only mech smaller than me." She said. "But I have noticed that you two have not left my side since this morning." She added. "Have Soundwave told you to protect me? Or am I protecting you from the bigger Autobots that would like to step on you, but would not dare to harm a human in the process?"
"Damn, girl. You are clever. Can you read minds like Soundwave?" Replied Frenzy, honestly impressed.
"Something like that." Eleonor laughed. "Fine, here's the deal. You protect me from Laserbeak and I protect you from the Autobots."
"It works for me." Frenzy agreed.
"What's with him and my hair anyway?" She asked, intrigued.
"I have no idea. It smells good."
Below them, a more or less comfortable group of Autobots and Decepticons were sitting, waiting for something to happen. The seekers were at the back of the room, their winged frames would block the view of the smallest mechs if they were put on the first line. In front of them were Shockwave, Ironhide, Breakdown and Soundwave (with Laserbeak on his shoulder). Occupying the first chairs were Ratchet, Prowl, Jazz, Knock Out, Bumblebee, Barricade, Sunstreaker and Sideswipe. The faction leaders were on the main platform, Megatron on one side, leaning on the wall, Alpha Trion on the other side, seated on a chair, and Optimus in the center, in front of the main screen.
Clearing his vocalizer, Optimus attracted the attention of everyone in the room. Megatron had preferred that the Autobot Leader did the talk, because he was better with words.
"I am here today to speak to you, not as an Autobot, or as a Prime, but as a fellow cybertronian." He started. Megatron smiled inwardly. He had to admit that Optimus had charisma. "Some days ago, the Decepticons made an interesting discovery in a planet they were exploring..."
About two hours later, Optimus had explained everything with the occasional help of the old Prime and one or two remarks from Megatron.
"Is there any clue of when will Unicron show his ugly face over this corner of the Universe?" Asked Sunstreaker, after the blue and red Leader had finished with the long explanation.
"No. It could be in a hundred years or in a thousand, but he will arrive some day. The Covenant foresees the coming of Unicron as our next crucial challenge, and I fear that if we don't cooperate between us, we won't be able to defeat him." Replied Optimus.
"And these... mythical weapons are the only way to defeat Unicron?" Asked Barricade.
"Yes. And finding them might prove to be quite a feat, that is why we were planning to start searching for them as soon as possible, so when the time comes, we will be prepared to make our final stand against Unicron, a menace that threatens Autobots and Decepticons alike. Even Earth and the rest of the Universe." Said Optimus.
"That is... a lot to think about..." Prowl murmured, his tone unusually concerned.
"I know." Optimus sighed. "But it is what we must do to ensure our own safety."
"So, you said that the first fragment of the Star Saber was in Cybertron?" Intervened Thundercracker.
"Yes, but we need the Key to Vector Sigma to retrieve it. And the Key is guarded by Omega Supreme. He had remained hidden on Cybertron during all these years."
"Woah, da big guy." Whistled Jazz.
"Yes. He will not listen to the Decepticons, but he will obey me. That is why I want to go to Cybertron with Megatron. To help him with this problem without risking more lives." Explained Optimus.
"With all due respect, Sir. That is suicide." Said Prowl. "Even trusting the good will of the Decepticons here today, I don't think it is safe enough. The rest of the mechs back in Cybertron may not be so prone to listen to reasons. Or they might as well shoot first and ask questions later. No offense intended. We have the same problem with some of our own mechs, if I may recall the last incident with Warpath."
"Finally!" Exclaimed Megatron suddenly. "Someone that shares my point of view!" Prowl's doorwings twitched involuntarily. Sharing the same thoughts with the Decepticon Leader was a little unsettling, to say the least.
"Well, if anyone comes up with a better plan, I am willing to listen." Said Optimus.
The room fell in a thoughtful silence for several long minutes, processors working hard, running hundreds of different scenarios and coming up with nothing better.
Suddenly, Skywarp, who had been unusually quiet, stood up, his chair falling to the floor. Everyone tensed and looked back at him. But not for a long time, because he suddenly disappeared, warping out of sight and reappearing with a purple flash beside the Autobot leader.
"I don't know what you think, guys, but I don't want to die or to loose my home. And if I have to stick myself to Optimus' tailpipe and protect him from any potential danger to succeed at this, so be it!" Skywarp said, loud and clear, pulling the Autobot Leader into an awkward hug.
"And I am sure we won't be able to pull pranks in the Well of Sparks!" Cheered Sideswipe. "So, count us in!" And they jumped over the main platform to hug the Autobot leader too.
"Please, this is awkward, release me." Pleaded the blue and red mech.
Megatron face-palmed.
"Shockwave, please, don't you ever think about returning my fusion cannon to me until we leave this place. The urge to kill someone is too strong and keeps growing with each passing breem." The Decepticon Leader sighed slowly.
"No, Lord Megatron." Shockwave replied, efficiently.
"So, who is going with you?" Said suddenly ironhide.
"Who?" Repeated Optimus, finally free from Skywarp and the twins, but still a little distracted.
"You can complain as much as you want. You are not going alone to Cybertron. Pick up a team, I don't care who else you choose, but I'm in." Growled the weapons specialist.
"Well, that's not a bad idea." Said Prowl.
"Then I must think this through carefully, and arrange a lot of things before leaving." Said Optimus, thoughtfully rubbing his chin-plates. "I think we'll be ready to leave in a couple of days."
"For the love of Primus!" Megatron let out an aggravated sigh. "You are going to be the death of me!"
"I refuse! That's my job!" Said suddenly Starscream, stabbing an accusatory finger in the Autobot Leader's direction, making Optimus smile very briefly and Megatron face-palm, which was becoming a habit since he was on the Autobot Base.
"So, what do we do until we leave? Considering that we can't leave the Base and such..." Frenzy piped in, still seating on Eleonor's shoulders.
"Ah suppose dat gettin' along with da enemy, my little fellah!"
"I really need a vacation..." Murmured the Decepticon Leader.
Optimus and Ironhide remained in the conference room accompanied by Megatron, Shockwave and Alpha Trion. They had much to discuss and prepare until their departure. The rest of their soldiers were dismissed after the Autobot Leader had used the P.A. system to inform everyone that the group of Decepticons had came in peace and were not to be harmed. Even like that, Megatron's team would do well in been careful with were they stepped, in case they found a resentful Autobot.
"...My poor paint-job..." Whined Knock Out, back to his usual self, once they were out of the conference room. All the race competitors were still covered in white dust and salt.
"I thought that you had forgotten about it, after that unsettling news that had been revealed." Thundercracker observed.
"Yes, momentarily. But now my priorities are back." Knock Out grinned.
"Well..." Sunstreaker hummed. "I think that we may have a solution to that..."
The Decepticons turned to look warily at the golden twin.
"Of course, the spa!" Beamed Sideswipe, clasping his servos together.
"You have built a cybertronian-sized spa?" Asked Eleonor in disbelief.
"What's a 'spa'?" Asked Breakdown, between alarmed and confused.
The strange group of Autobots and Decepticons stared with wide optics at the huge hangar in front of them. Opening the heavy door, a sudden cloud of warm water vapour steamed their optic sensors.
"I am so not getting inside there..." Murmured Barricade, recoiling a step.
When the fog cleared, they could see a really big and deep pool with steaming warm water. In one corner of the hanger there were several wash racks.
"Turning down our generosity, tsk tsk." Jazz lamented, his visor dimming in feigned sadness.
"Come on, filthy Decepticon, are you afraid of water?" Teased Sunstreaker.
"Breakdown." Knock Out said suddenly. His assistant and partner stood to attention. "As a medic, I can't let our fellow comrade, Barricade, to continue in this pitiful state. His gears and cogs are all clogged up with organic material that could pose a threat to his transformation sequence."
"Wait, don't you even think about it." Growled Barricade, holding up his servos defensively, and recoiling a couple of steps. He knew what the red medic had in mind.
"Seize him!" Knock Out ordered.
And Breakdown obeyed. With a speed that was unusual for his size, he grabbed the smaller Decepticon hunter and dragged him to the nearest wash rack. Barricade kept complaining and cursing in both Cybertronian and English all the way, but it was futile. The red medic let a sadistic smile cross his features for a brief second.
"You just want to use him as a test subject to check if the warm water is harmful, don't you?" Asked Thundercracker quietly.
"Of course." Knock Out replied, smugly, and made his way to where his assistant had dragged the black and white mech.
Bumblebee, for his part, was tired of been covered in dust. He wasn't as melodramatic as the other sports cars, but he didn't like been dirty either. So, transforming into his camaro alt-mode, he sped towards the pool, his tires squealing on the wet floor. Then, he made an impressive jump using a cybertronian-sized trampoline, transformed mid-air into mech form, and landed in the middle of the pool, the water splashing in every direction a considerable distance.
"Wait for us!" Exclaimed Sideswipe and Sunstreaker at the same time, also rushing into the steaming pool.
The three seekers were looking at them with hesitation. Soundwave wasn't interested at all in having a bath. He was impeccably clean already.
"Well, I have things to do and human members to warn." Said Prowl, turning to face the beige seeker. "I am leaving. Please, do not cause trouble. If you need something, my comm. frequency is open." He turned to leave. After all, he always could keep an optic on the Decepticon visitants using the security cameras' feed. "Are you coming, Jazz?"
"Nah, Ah'm stayin'. Dis sounds like tons of fun."Jazz smirked, his visor flashing in amusement.
"I am leaving too. If someone gets hurt, I will be in the med-bay, probably attending to processor meltdowns." Said Ratchet, and turned to leave too. "What are you going to do, Eleonor?" He asked to the small human.
"I'm staying too. I will be fine." She smiled. "By the way, are Mikaela and Sam at the base? I would like to say hello to them."
"Yes, I forgot. They are in the main building with the rest of the humans. I'll tell them on my way to the med-bay. Bye." Said the Autobot medic, and left, following Prowl.
Soundwave turned to look at the seekers, who were tentatively approaching the pool. Then to Laserbeak on his shoulder, who was at that moment curled, enjoying a sunbath on his privileged perch. The Communications Officer decided that standing guard outside the 'spa' and surfing the human Internet was the best form to pass his time in the current situation.
"Are you sure this is safe?" Asked Skywarp. Seekers were creatures from the sky. Their favourite place to be was high over the clouds, with the wind rushing over their frames. Standing in mech form on the ground was of course, necessary for the everyday. But the mere thought of been surrounded by water was enough to send a chill down their spinal struts. Water per se was not dangerous or harmful for cybertronians in any way. Their circuits were completely sealed. Light rain even felt nice over their frames. But letting warm water flow inside their inner workings, through their air intakes, transforming gears and cogs... well, that was another thing.
"Of course it's safe." Grinned Sunstreaker, already in the pool, although Barricade's agonizing screams were not a good omen.
"Are you taking a bath too, Ele?" Asked Frenzy, still sitting over Eleonor's shoulders."
"No, no. I am happy just to see you guys having fun." She replied.
"Well... Barricade doesn't seem to be having a lot of fun, actually." Murmured Skywarp, cringing slightly.
"That's more because Knock Out is extracting the branches out of his joints." Thundercracker pointed out, turning to look to the wash rack were Breakdown was pinning the police car down, while Knock out did his job.
"I still don't like this... hot water pool. It seems dangerous." Murmured Skywarp. "What do you think, 'Screamer?"
"The water's temperature is about 38 Celsius degrees. Even a human would survive that." Said the beige seeker, crouching beside the pool and on-lining his thermal sensors.
"Ah think we should just shove ya inside." Said Jazz, passing next to the crouched seeker and poking him with a servo.
Starscream's wings stiffened.
"Do that, and I'll shoot you. Screw the Key, the Star Saber and Unicron." The seeker growled. "Besides, I'm not dirty. We seekers don't get dirty as you, ground-pounders." He added with disdain.
"OK, OK... jeez. But ya don't have ta be dirty ta take a bath. This is not only for cleanin'. This is more for relaxing." Replied Jazz, his visor flashing bright. Then, he seated on the pool's edge, and let himself slip inside. "Yeah, this feels so right." He smiled, leaning against the pool's wall in a casual manner.
Sunstreaker, Sideswipe and Bumblebee were very quiet, also enjoying the warm water flowing through their seams, expressions of content on their face-plates.
Eleonor smiled. Mighty decepticon warriors afraid of hot water.
"And you, Ravage, do you like water?" She asked.
The cybertronian panther crouched and warily crawled to the edge of the pool. Reaching a paw, he gave a tentative swipe to water's surface. He repeated the process some times more, and then he turned to come back at Eleonor's side.
"Ravage has decided that the hot water is not a threat, but he still doesn't find it pleasant. He prefers to be dry." Frenzy translated, having felt Ravage's thoughts through their symbiotic link.
"Good news everyone. The water is not dangerous at all!" Cheered Knock Out, coming back from the wash rack and stopping beside the pool. Everyone looked at him with a dumbfounded expression.
"Well, considering there are already four mechs in the big pool... yes, I already knew that. Thanks doctor." Retorted Starscream.
"Then you have tortured me with that hot steaming water shot directly at my undercarriage for nothing?" Barricade was bristling. "I'm going to kill you for that!"
"The pressure was necessary to extract the organic material that got stuck in your transforming cogs." Knock Out sighed, uninterested in the police mech's rage.
Barricade snarled and pounced on the red medic, who simply stepped aside at the right moment. The black and white mech could not change his direction or stop his momentum, so, he ended up in the pool with a dramatic splash and a thread of cybertronian curses that died gradually as he sank into the water until he reached the bottom of the pool.
"Ah knew dis was gonna be tons of fun." Jazz smirked.
"Hello, Eleonor!" Cheered suddenly a new female voice.
"Mikaela, Sam!" Exclaimed Eleonor, turning to face the entrance of the spa. Mikaela and Sam came in, accompanied by Ratchet, and rushed towards the young woman, but they stopped dead as they came closer.
"Oh my god, is that small 'Con that tried to kill us!" Exclaimed Sam, his expression changing from joy to sheer panic in less than a second when he saw the small silvery 'Con, still sitting on Eleonor. "Run for your life, Eleonor!"
"Hello, Ladiesman217." Frenzy greeted, and laughed evilly. Ravage appeared from behind the young woman, and nuzzled her. Starscream was staring at the scene with infinite amusement.
"You two! Leave Eleonor alone! If you so much as scratch her I am going to-" Said Mikaela, but she never had the chance to finish her sentence, because suddenly, a big snarling shadow emerged from the pool, splashing water in every direction.
Barricade slammed both of his servos on the edge of the pool.
"Ladiesman217!" He growled, a sadistic grin appearing on his features. "I want your soul!"
The scream that came out of the young girl and boy was inhuman as they rushed to hide behind the Autobot medic.
In an instant, Bumblebee was over Barricade, struggling to push him underwater again.
"Slag! Release me, Autobug! It was a joke!" Pleaded the black and white mech, splashing even more. Jazz, Sunstreaker and Sideswipe, for their part, were laughing their afts off. Thundercracker had a half smile, and Skywarp was grinning in amusement.
"I think that all this screaming is giving me a headache..." Eleonor murmured, with a face-palm.
"Believe me, humans, if Barricade had wanted to cause you any real damage, you would be dead by now." Said Starscream slowly, an evil smirk adorning his face-plates. "We have a deal with Optimus. We have agreed to a ceasefire and we can't damage any human either... but that doesn't necessarily mean that we have to like you."
"And the agreement doesn't say anything about not scaring the crap out of the humans either." Added Barricade, who had managed to free himself from the yellow scout.
"Why don't you do the proper presentations, Ele?" Said Frenzy, still grinning deviously.
"How thoughtless of me." Eleonor gave a resigned sigh. "This are Ladie-I mean, Sam and Mikaela." The boy shot her a glare. Mikaela just chuckled. "And over here are doctor Knock Out and his assistant Breakdown." The red mech waved a servo and smiled smugly, and his assistant waved stiffly. "You already know Starscream and Skywarp, this is Thundercracker, the third member of his trine." The blue seeker made a polite nod. "You already know Barricade, the bad cop." The black and white mech rewarded the youngsters with a sadistic grin. "And this are Frenzy and Ravage, two of Soundwave's symbionts." The cybertronian panther gave a toothy grin, and Frenzy giggled in amusement.
"Oh, the one that was outside, Ratchet introduced him to us. He is a quiet mech, isn't he?" Said Mikaela.
"More like creepy... well, we came to say hello, and we are leaving now..." Sam intervened, a little unsettled by the huge Decepticons.
"So soon? why don't you stay a little longer?" Said Barricade, his voice sweet poison.
"Thank you, I like been alive." Sam replied quickly. "Besides, I've heard that Megatron is also here, and I don't want to be around just in case he forgets about that ceasefire."
"What a pity, you are funnier to scare than Eleonor." Whined Skywarp.
"We'll catch up later, 'Warp. I still have to tell you the outcome of Warpath's prank." Mikaela smirked, and Skywarp's face-plates lit up with a naughty grin. Sam looked back and forth between the two of them with concern. "Oh, before we leave, this is for you!" Exclaimed Mikaela, winking an eye and throwing a shopping bag to Eleonor. Frenzy quickly jumped off the young woman's shoulders and caught the bag mid-air before landing neatly on the floor.
"Bye!" Sam and Mikaela said, and rushed to the exit of the hangar, followed by Ratchet, and leaving a very dumbfounded Eleonor behind.
"What is this?" Murmured Frenzy, as he rummaged in the shopping bag and extracted a small piece of fabric.
"No way." Said Eleonor, her cheeks blushing instantly.
"It's called a bikini." Said Jazz, a wide grin spreading across his features.
"What's it for?" Asked Breakdown, curiosity taking hold on him.
"It's the kind of clothing that humans wear for swimming." Explained Sunstreaker, evilly.
"Eep!" Eleonor dashed off and hid under Starscream legs. The beige seeker looked down at her in amusement. "No, please."
"And what exactly makes you think that I will protect you?" Starscream smirked, his voice a malevolent purr as he slowly reached out a servo and gently grabbed her.
"Next time run in my direction, Eleonor. Now it's too late." Said Thundercracker, shaking his helm with regret.
Eleonor gave up with a resigned sigh, leaning her head against one of Starscream's claws.
Meanwhile, outside the hangar, Soundwave was bored. He was up to date with the human latest world news, the Wikipedia did not entail more mysteries to him, and he had downloaded a good supply of classical music. Ratchet entering the spa hanger with the two humans had been a brief distraction, but now, he was bored again.
'Checkmate.' He typed to somebody. He had also been playing multiple online chess games with random players across the globe, and of course, had won every single one of them.
Then, his ever-sharpened scanners picked up a slight shuffling sound coming from behind several empty supply crates, next to the hangar. There was also a small thermal reading. Spurred by curiosity and boredom, he approached to the crates.
And what he discovered there left him puzzled.
A tiny female human child. Crouched behind a crate.
"Shh, I'm playing hide'n'seek with my mum! I'm winnin'!" She smiled proudly.
Soundwave's visor dimmed and brightened again, as if he were blinking in confusion. His first impulse was to forget about the small human grub. After all, she was hardly a menace. He turned to leave, but then stopped. He checked his data banks. That tiny human was about four Earth years old, judging from her stature and proportions. She should not be alone in a base full of huge cybertronians. Not even among Autobots alone. What was she doing there?
He turned to look at her again, and zoomed on his tiny figure. She had blond hair and crystal blue eyes. And she had a very curious outfit, with colorful wings on her back and little fluffy antennas on a hairband. Soundwave categorized that outfit as a 'costume', probably mimicking some organic insect.
"Are you an angel?" She beamed, her fluffy antennas wiggling as she tilted her head to a side.
Soundwave's visor blinked again in confusion. An angel? He checked his data banks. That was a winged figure, according to human mythology.
"You have wings!" She clarified, perhaps sensing Soundwave's hesitation, and pointed at him with a tiny finger.
Ah, yes. His antenna arrays on his back, big, flat and silvery. She must had confused them with wings.
"What's your name?" She came out from behind the crate and approached to him.
What was with that human offspring? Had she never been told to be wary of giant robots that could crush her under a foot without a second thought?
"Oh... I am sorry. I guess you can't speak... Well, don't worry, I can fix you." She beamed. "Pick me please!"
Fix him? Pick her? Well, anyway. He would pick her and bring her to some Autobot. They will know what to do with her.
Soundwave complied, and offered her a servo. She climbed on it with difficulty. Then he lifted her to optic level. She was carrying a small purse adorned with a kitten. Reaching inside the small purse, she extracted several small adhesive tissues.
"My daddy is brave and strong, and he goes on missions to fight bad people. But when he comes back home, he usually says that he hurts everywhere. And it makes my mum sad. But then I come and put band-aids on him, and he always says that he feels better after that."
Soundwave was completely lost. He had managed to deduce that this girl was the daughter of some soldier at the base, but how her band-aids were capable of making someone feel better, that was a mystery.
"So, maybe I can fix your voice using my band-aids too." She smiled, her eyes bright. "Hold me closer to your face." Soundwave complied, more out of curiosity than anything. Laserbeak stirred on his shoulder, but he sent him a mental command to be calm. Then the small girl started to stick band-aids all over Soundwave's face-mask.
Soundwave was a little shocked, but didn't register anything unusual coming out from the small pieces of fabric stuck over his face-mask, even though he had tuned high the dermal sensors of that area.
"There." She smiled proudly, contemplating her work. "Oh wait, It doesn't work until I do this." Then, she approached again and planted a kiss on Soundwave's metal cheek.
Now, the Communications officer was utterly lost. With his sharpened sensors he had perfectly picked up the light pressure of the small kiss and the gentle pats over his face-mask.
"Ready. Do you feel better now?" She asked, her young features smiling fearlessly. Soundwave's expression was still unreadable. "Are you afraid to speak? Don't worry, I will take care of you."
Soundwave was surprised with the small human offspring. Not only she was not afraid of him, but she seemed to have decided to take care of him. Even fix an imaginary injury that he didn't had. So naive.
"Please don't hurt her." Said suddenly an unknown female voice from below them. Soundwave had been so engrossed with the little girl, that he had not noticed anyone approaching. Looking down he discovered a human female. Older than Eleonor, but still healthy. She also had blond hair. Soundwave deduced that she should be the female parental unit of the small girl. She was trembling, probably in fear, and her eyes shone with contained tears. "At that age human children don't know what's good or bad. They only do what they feel it's the right thing."
"Hi mommy!" Beamed the small girl, peeking from behind Soundwave's servos.
"Hello, sweetie." The woman replied, her voice trembling.
"You told me to hide, so I thought we were playing hide'n'seek." The small girl said innocently. "But I found... this robot. And he couldn't speak, so I used my band-aids to fix him." She smiled proudly. "He must be an angel, because he has beautiful wings! Do you know if there are robot angels?"
"I am sure he must be an angel then." The woman replied, taking a tentative step. Her hands were also trembling. She was terrified. But she had managed to put her fears aside for her little offspring. The Decepticon was impressed. "Why don't you come back with me to the base? I am sure that your angel has important things to do."
Soundwave saw the opportunity to get rid of the small human without further complications. Returning her to her mother was indeed, the best course of action. So, lowering his servo to the ground, he deposited the tiny girl next to her mother, the butterfly wings and antennas from her costume wiggling with the motion.
"Thank you." Said the woman, quickly reaching for her daughter and scooping her up. "Say good-bye, honey."
"Ohh... but mum... he still doesn't talk. I think my band-aids don't work on robot angels..." She murmured, pouting in a manner that could have melt the ice-caps, her lower lip trembling slightly and her eyes shining. "Good-bye..." She finally said, giving up with a sigh. The woman turned to leave, still with her daughter scooped up between her arms, the little girl's head leaning on her shoulder with a disconsolate expression.
"Good-bye." Said Soundwave unexpectedly, although his voice showed no emotions.
The woman stopped, and her daughter's face lit up with joy in a second.
"What's your name, robot angel?" She beamed.
"Designation: Soundwave."
"Designation!" The tiny girl cheered.
"Negative. Designation: Soundwave." He repeated.
"Designation Soundwave!" She repeated again, proud to have learned a name that was so long and complex to pronounce.
"Well, it seems that you managed to fix him. Let's go now to the base." Said the woman, placing a kiss on her daughter's cheek.
"Oh, and my name is Annabelle! Good-bye, Designation!"
The Communication Officer saw no point in trying to correct her again.
She waved as her mother carried her until they disappeared from his line of vision.
Soundwave was in thoughtful silence after that for a while. Speaking to the human offspring had been completely unnecessary. But he had not had the spark to let her go with that pout. Why?
"Thank you. For not harming them." Said suddenly a new male voice. Looking down, Soundwave discovered a human soldier, his stance wary, but not aggressive. His ID card identified him as Major W. Lennox, one of the members of the N.E.S.T., the division of human soldiers that helped the Autobots, according to Soundwave's knowledge. "You decided to pay us a visit so suddenly that I had not time to send them home."
"Soundwave: Decepticon warrior. Enemies: Autobot and human warriors. Sparklings: not enemies." The blue and silvery mech replied, showing no emotions.
"Even so, you didn't have to be nice to them. Thank you." Major Lennox saluted and left quickly, not desiring to bother the Decepticon Third in Command any longer. He didn't show it, but he had been utterly terrified when his small daughter had disappeared from his side in the worst of moments, and he almost had a heart attack when he and his wife, Sarah, had discovered the little girl between the servos of the dangerous Decepticon. Sarah had pleaded him to be quiet and let her try a peaceful approach. The Decepticons, after all, had agreed to a ceasefire.
She had been right.
Lennox had only known the Decepticons in the battle-field. For him, all of them were mindless killing machines with no emotions.
Now, he knew that he had been wrong.
Eleonor didn't like bikinis. Not even full swimsuits. Not that she didn't had a nice body. But compared with the ones of the beautifuly perfect models that appeared on television, she felt inferior. Mikaela had been right with her size, and the bikini was undeniably nice, with a funny black and grey camouflage pattern. But she still didn't feel comfortable wearing something so scarce.
Finally, she came out of the changing room, resigned to face her destiny.
And Knock Out wolf-whistling at her didn't help at all.
Her face reddened even more.
"Girl, ya give up too easily ta yer dudes." Jazz grinned. "Mikaela would have never gave in."
"Like if I could." Eleonor sighed in resignation.
Starscream chuckled. One of the things he found amusing about his human was that he hardly ever complained and never put up a fight. She was calm, obedient and resigned. Yes, she was a good pet. All the opposite of Mikaela.
"Let's get this done." She said, and seating first on the edge of the pool, she let herself slip inside. "Oh, for Primus' sake!"
"What?" Exclaimed Starscream, startled. As much as he enjoyed to embarrass his human, he didn't want her to get hurt.
"It's perfect! A little hot at first, but once you get used to it, it's perfect." She smiled. "I'm not coming out." She giggled, swimming to the center of the pool.
"You know, she's right." Added Barricade, who was at that moment leaning casually against the pool's wall and beside Bumblebee. Both with relaxed expressions on their face plates. "This is not bad at all."
"After all the drama, now you say you like it?" Huffed Knock Out, approaching to the edge of the pool, ready to get inside and check it by himself. "I just can't see the point in making such a fuss about-Oh Primus!" He exclaimed. "Breakdown, come here!"
So, after a minute, Breakdown and Knock Out were comfortably settled, enjoying the warm steaming water flowing through their inner workings.
"We must tell Motormaster about this. If he ever builds a spa in Kaon, I'm going to spend there the eighty per cent of my spare time!" Said breakdown.
"I agree." Replied the red medic.
Suddenly a small splash caught everyone's attention.
"Oh my Primus!" Exclaimed Frenzy, thrashing in the water and sinking. "Help!" Eleonor, been the nearest one, swam quickly in his direction and had to dive almost a meter to rescue him.
"What happened?"
"I-I wanted to try the spa too, b-but I'm made from metal and I started to sink, and I'm small and didn't reach the edge of the pool to get a hold, so I p-panicked." He explained very quickly.
"But you don't have to breathe. Why did you panic?" Said Eleonor, soothingly.
"I don't know, it felt weird to be surrounded by water." Said the small Decepticon.
"Shh, it's alright. Climb to my back. We are just going to float together." Frenzy did as he was told. "I know it can feel odd at first. But just relax. Shutter your optics. Just enjoy the warm water." The tiny mech complied and after a while he managed to calm down. It was true, the warm water felt good once he got used to it.
"Thanks..." Frenzy whispered, hugging closer Eleonor's neck. He was a little embarrassed by his sudden surge of panic.
"Don't worry." She whispered back. "And this is one good thing about humans. We float." She grinned.
Frenzy chuckled. Then he noticed a small mark on Eleonor's back. He placed a tiny servo over the damaged skin.
"Is this...?" He trailed off.
"Yes."
"It has not healed yet?"
"Yes, it has healed. But the skin will never be the same again in that area. It is called a scar." Eleonor sighed.
A sudden purple flash and a huge splash pulled everyone out of their thoughts and relaxed states. Skywarp had decided to give the hot pool a try, and had warped just over it to let himself drop, causing a huge wave that swept away Eleonor and Frenzy.
"Skywaaaarp!" Exclaimed almost everymech in the pool.
"Where am I?" Coughed Eleonor, who had ended up inexplicably over Breakdown's shoulder. And the small silver mech was no-where to be seen. "Frenzy!"
"I am here!" Replied Frenzy, from Breakdown's opposite shoulder. "Are you alright?"
"Yes." She replied. "Sorry Breakdown."
"It's nothing." The blue and grey mech chuckled.
"SKYWARP!" Starscream roared. "Are you fragging insane? You could have hurt someone!" But the black seeker didn't reply. He was very quiet and unmoving, with a blank expression on his face-plates. "Skywarp?" Everyone looked at the motionless seeker.
"Oh Primus... it's in my air-intakes." He muttered. "And it's getting in my transformation seams and my wings are sending me odd turbulence reports."
"That's because your wings are shaking, you idiot." Starscream replied.
"I don't like it." Skywarp whined. "TC... Star... Help me..."
"Just teleport out of there, 'Warp." Thundercracker intervened, his tone as soothingly as he could manage.
"I can't. I panicked. And if I move the water will get deeper into my seams..." That was when Skywarp lowered his firewalls in the trine-bond, sharing with his mates what he was feeling. The other two seekers stiffened instantly. It was not the water per se what had made Skywarp panic. Been surrounded by water had made him remember that one time when he had been shot down, ending up in the ocean, holding Thundercracker to prevent them from sinking, while Starscream had been captured by the Autobots. And that memory had triggered his panic attack.
Starscream and Thundercracker looked back at each other and nodded in agreement. In an instant, they jumped to the water and approached their unmoving trine-mate, each one grabbing an arm. The water also invaded their systems, making them feel uncomfortable, but they didn't panic as the black seeker. After some agonizing minutes, they managed to drag Skywarp out of the pool.
"I-I'm sorry..." Skywarp muttered, standing on all fours by the pool, water dripping from his frame and coming out of his air-intakes in a small fountain.
"Hey, 'Warp. Are ya alright?" Asked Jazz, although everyone was looking with concern at the black seeker. Starscream and Thundercracker were beside him. The blue seeker patting his brother on a wing in a soothing manner.
"Transform into jet mode. You will feel better after a while." Starscream suggested, and Skywarp complied, his frame shaking and bailing out the water excess in his systems.
"I think we seekers are not made for water after all, uh, 'Warp?" Asked Thundercracker, trying to distract his brother's thoughts with some conversation.
"Can we do something for you, Skywarp?" Asked Eleonor with concern. She had never seen the usually cheerful seeker so panicked.
"I-It's OK. I'll be f-fine." Skywarp muttered. "I just need to calm down."
Starscream sighed. He should be reprimanding his foolish brother right now for doing that kind of things without a second thought. He should have gotten slowly inside the water, there was a ramp at the other side of the pool. That way it would have been easier for him to come out if he decided to back off. But he didn't had the spark to reprimand him right now.
Skywarp had never told them before how he had felt that day. Starscream's end of the bond going in stasis, far away from him. Thundercracker also in stasis. He had been alone, injured, holding to his blue brother, preventing both of them from sinking into the ocean. So alone. So helpless.
"Hello?" Said suddenly a female voice from the entrance of the spa. "May I come in?"
"Mikaela?" Asked Eleonor in disbelief.
"Hi." The younger girl waved, coming closer, and taking in all the mechs in front of her. "Bumblebee sent me a text message, telling me that Skywarp was upset. And I thought about passing by and telling him about that last prank we pulled on Warpath. It might cheer him up."
Starscream looked at the yellow scout in disbelief. Trusting one of his human charges with one of his brothers was difficult. Alter all, they were technically enemies still.
"I would really appreciate that, Mikaela." Said the black jet, his voice a little more cheerful.
[A/N]: Poor Megatron. He really needs a vacation. And OMG Soundwave, you are the cutest thing ever! Don't deny it! (And you still have your face-mask all covered in band-aids). Anyway, I'm still not very sure about how this chapter came out. I don't like working with many characters on scene, because there are always some of them that don't say anything. Let me know what you think and if you have any suggestion. There are still more funny things to come!