(Okay, finally up to date, I have had these chapters on my computer for ages, just kept forgetting to upload them, hope you have enjoyed and hope you enjoy this chapter too ^_^)
Chapter twenty-one
Optimus walks out of his office and closes the door behind him, he looks over at Kitt to see Starblast reaching for him.
"I promised him you would carry him," Kitt tells him.
"Well then I can't let you break a promise," Optimus says taking Starblast from him and holding him in his arms. "Is that okay little one?" Optimus asks softly receiving a nod from the sparkling. The three of them slowly make their way towards the officer's corridor, turning the corner they see Starscream heading in their direction.
"There you are, what is going on with..." Starscream starts only to stop when he sees the look on Kitt's face. "Warp and TC?" he finishes over his comm.
"Warp was watching Starblast when he got hurt, quite badly, nothing that me and Ratchet couldn't fix relatively easily but TC started shouting at Warp and they started arguing in front of their sparkling, so I told them that until they have sorted out their problems that I would look after Starblast," she explains.
"Okay, well in that case I will see you later little seeker," Starscream says smiling at the sparkling and walking past Optimus and Kitt.
"Come on," Kitt says pulling Optimus along after her and up towards Prowl's and Wheeljack's room where she knocks.
"Come in," Prowl says from the other side. Kitt and Optimus enter to see him sat on the floor of his quarters with Felicis and Drifter playing around his legs using them to support them. "Oh good morning sir," Prowl says moving to pick up his sparklings and stand.
"You don't need to move Prowl, its actually refreshing to see you relaxing for a change," Optimus says chuckling seeing the flustered look on his friends face.
"Yes, well. Was there something you two needed?" Prowl asks regaining his composure.
"Nope this is a social call, just brought Starblast over to see if you wouldn't mind a last klik play date," Kitt says taking Starblast from Optimus.
"Not at all come join me on the floor," Prowl says shifting slightly to make room for them. Kitt sits down first across from Prowl, quickly followed by Optimus sitting next to her. "So why do you two have Starblast? Not getting in some practice are you," Prowl says watching as Starblast crawls over to his sparklings and starts playing with them, as they babble away to each other.
"Prowl," Optimus hisses.
"He was joking Optimus, lighten up," Kitt says lightly punching his arm. "It's a long story, best not told in front Starblast," Kitt tells Prowl seriously.
"Of course. Would you two like some energon?" Prowls asks, and receives nods in response. Carefully standing up he watches Kitt change position so she laid on her front and her arms are holding up Felicis and Drifter whilst her face is near Starblast as she nuzzles the little sparkling. Walking over to the dispenser in his quarters he pours three cubes and hands one to Optimus and places the other one near Kitt on the floor.
"Thanks," Kitt and Optimus say in unison.
"So how are you finding parenthood?" Optimus asks, watching Kitt play with the sparkling and smiling at her.
"Tiring," Prowl replies sitting down next to Optimus, "but it's worth every moment, they are just so special."
"You seem a lot happy than you were before you had them," Optimus states.
"I, I was beginning to lose hope but seeing them, knowing that our friends have ones of their own on the way, it made me realise that we have something far more important to fight for now and we have to keep going, they have brought hope back for me," Prowl explains smiling at his sparklings and Kitt as she tickles them. "She is very good with them," he comments absently.
"Prowl," Optimus says looking at him seriously. "You know I, if I ever had sparklings especially with this war they would be in great danger, I couldn't do that, it wouldn't be fair," he finishes seriously.
"I know that, but do you truly think any of us would let anything happen to the child of our Prime, of our friend," Prowl says smiling sadly at the look on Optimus' face, as the doors to the room open revealing Wheeljack.
"Well what's going on here?" he asks walking over to Prowl and kissing him softly on the top of his head.
"Play date," Prowl explains as he notices Starblast crawling towards Optimus, then stopping and sitting just in front of him.
"What do you want little one?" Optimus asks looking down at the sparkling, who just reaches towards him with his hand. "Do you want picking up?" this causes Kitt to laugh and Starblast to shake his head, slowly Optimus raises his hand and Starblast grabs onto it and pulls shuffling back a little.
"I think he wants you to go play with them," Wheeljack says sitting down, smiling at Kitt when she looks in his directly and nodding his head.
"Hi," Kitt says in reply then returns her attention to the sparklings.
"Alright, alright, I will play," Optimus says defeated as he shifts and lays down next to Kitt, though he is a little more squashed than she is.
"Comfy?" Kitt asks rolling a ball to Felicis, which she stops and rolls back.
"Not really," Optimus says causing Kitt to laugh. "Right little mechs what are we playing?" Optimus asks looking at the toys in front of him.
Two groons later the four adults are sat on the sofas with Felicis and Drifter recharging in Prowl's arms, whilst Starblast has fallen asleep in Optimus'.
"We should do this more often," Prowl says smiling at his two little exhausted sparklings, Kitt nods in agreements.
"Yes it is nice to escape from everything once in a while," Optimus agrees. Just as they hear shouting coming from the hallway. "Who is that?"
"Warp and TC," Kitt says standing and heading for the door, "Optimus stay in here with him please," Optimus nods at her as she exits the room. "What are you two doing? This is not sorting out your problems," Kitt tells the firmly.
"I don't think we can work out our problem, I am going for flight to clear my head," Thundercracker shouts as he storms off down the corridor.
"Don't you dare walk away from me," Skywarp shouts after him.
"Please, both..." but before she can finish her sentence they have already stormed away from her. "This isn't good," Kitt mumbles to herself.
"You can say that again," Starscream says as he comes to stand behind her, just as they hear an alarm go off.
"What is that for?" Kitt asks.
"Shockwave has broken out of the brig," Ironhide's voice says over the intercom system.
"Slag," Kitt says as Optimus comes out of the room. "Where's..."
"I have left him with Prowl, now come one we have to deal with Shockwave," Kitt and Starscream nod at him as Kitt activates her armour and takes off running down the corridor.
"Well, well, well, what do we have here a pair of traitors?" Shockwaves laughs as he corners Skywarp and Thundercracker.
"Warp, stay behind me, please," Thundercracker says as he stands protectively in front of him.
"You don't have to protect me," Skywarp snaps.
"Awe, trouble in paradise, let me fix that," Shockwaves says grabbing Thundercracker by the throat and spearing his other hand straight through his chest.
"NOOOO!" Skywarp screams, feeling Thundercracker die through their bond and dropping to his knees as Shockwave drops Thundercracker's body in front of him.
"Guess your sparkling will have to grow up without its creators, but then again its probably so young that it will die when you do," Shockwave taunts with a menacing laugh.
"Don't threaten my sparkling," Skywarp growls as he lunges at Shockwave.
Rounding the corner Kitt and Starscream freeze at the scene in front of them.
"No, he can't be!" Starscream shouts running forward and scooping Thundercracker up in his arms.
"Star, Skywarp was with TC we have to find him," Kitt begs trying to keep the tears from running down her face.
"Right," Starscream says getting up and carrying on down the corridor.
"Optimus, please call someone to take care of this," Kitt says turning around, to see Optimus nod at her.
"Now, now Skywarp, why keep fighting? You know you are going to lose," Shockwave says as he has Skywarp pinned to a wall by his throat.
"Put him down Shockwave," Starscream says as he and Kitt round the corner onto the corridor where Skywarp and Soundwave are.
"Aaw look, another traitor for me to take care of, but first," Shockwave returns his attention to Skywarp and smirks as he drives his hand into his chest cavity.
"No!" Starscream shrieks as he flies forward and collides into Shockwave as Kitt runs forward and catches Skywarp.
"Hang on Skywarp," Kitt pleads.
"T... too late, please take care of Starblast," Skywarp whimpers as his optics shut off for good. Kitt deactivates her armour and allows the tears to flow down her face. Optimus, Ironhide and Mirage around the corner to see Kitt and Skywarp, along with Starscream and Shockwave grappling a little further down the corridor.
"I can't get a clean shot Optimus I might hit Starscream," Ironhide says watching the fight.
Optimus watches on helplessly as they come to stand behind Kitt and Skywarp as she gently lays him down and stands up.
"Hey Shockwave, if you are looking for a fight, I will give you one, I took you down once and I will do it again," Kitt says reactivating her armour.
Shockwave laughs as he throws Starscream over towards them. "Not likely femme, but I am not going to kill you, Megatron wants you for himself, so I guess I will bring you too him."
"Try it," Kitt growl as Brix, Smid and Kito come to stand beside her.
"Haha, big words for such a little femme," Shockwaves snarls charging down the corridor towards them.
"Kitt don't," Optimus says and reaches to grab her, a fraction to late as she and the dog run towards Shockwave.
Kito is the first to reach him and sinks his teeth into Shockwave left leg, Brix's teeth find his right arm and Smid's clamp down on his right leg as Kitt lands a kick to his chest. Knocking him down to the floor.
"You know these dogs are normally quite harmless but not always. Kackree," Kitt snarls as the dog pull harshly on their respective limbs tarring them straight from Shockwave's body. "Three, two, one," Kitt counts as Shockwave quickly bleeds to death and his optics dim to black. "Shirea," Kitt says softly as the dog return to their normal stance. "Good boys," Kitt starts only to deactivate her armour. "Starblast," she shouts as she runs back down the corridor the way she came.
"Kitt where are you going?" Optimus asks.
"Follow her Optimus, we will take care of this," Ratchet says as he looks over Skywarp, moving quickly onto Starscream, Optimus nods at his CMO and runs after Kitt.
Kitt runs as fast as she can towards Prowl's quarters, barging through the door without knocking as she looks at Prowl trying to calm down a very distressed Starblast.
"I don't know what happened one klik he was sleeping peacefully the next he was like this," Prowl explains to her as she takes Starblast from him.
"Shockwave just killed TC and Warp," she tells him as she starts swaying slightly with Starblast securely held to her chest.
"Oh no," Prowl whispers, looking over at his own sparkling who are being held by Wheeljack, who is trying to keep them calm.
"Shh, Starblast it's okay, I promise, you're going to be fine, you just have to stay with me and don't give up," Kitt whispers to the sparkling only to feel his spark beginning to fade. "Don't give up on me little one," Kitt continues as Optimus walks into the room.
"Kitt," Optimus says stepping up to the two of them.
"I don't know what to do, he is giving up and I can't stop it," Kitt mumbles as she holds Starblast tighter to her. Optimus steps closer to the two and wraps his arms around them so Starblast is sandwiched between the two of them. Then moving one of his hands he gently strokes the top of the sparkling's head.
"Come on, little one, stat here, stay with us, we will take care of you but you have fight we can't do that for you," Optimus says softly hopping it will get through.
"Starblast everything will be okay, we promise," Kitt continues as she feels his spark strengthening. "That's it, just stay with us," Kitt says as she watches his optics flicker off and he falls back into recharge.
"Will he be okay?" Prowl asks, as he and Wheeljack look over the three stood in their quarters.
"I, I think so," Kitt says bowing her head and letting it rest on Optimus' chest, "but I need to get him to the med bay to check him over," she says standing back upright. "Thank you," she whispers to Optimus, who nods at her in return.
"I will go with you," Optimus says walking out with her.
"How did Shockwave get out?" Kitt asks as they slowly walk towards the med bay.
"I don't know, I have sent Red Alert down to investigate," Optimus tells her.
"This shouldn't have happened," Kitt whispers looking down at Starblast.
"I know but war always costs lives," Optimus replies solemnly.
"Not like this," Kitt returns as she wakes into the med bay to see Starscream struggling against Ratchet.
"Will you stay still Starscream so I can help you," Ratchet says trying to calm him down.
"No, help Warp and TC," Starscream shouts.
"Star," Kitt says handing Starblast over to Optimus and walking towards him. "Ratchet can you look over Starblast for me please," Ratchet nods and walks over to Optimus leading him to another berth, "Star, you need to settle down so I can patch you up okay."
"Kitt, they can't... they can't be gone," Starscream whispers as Kitt begins to fix the damage that Shockwave inflicted. "Oh Primus, is Starblast okay?" he suddenly asks looking up at Kitt.
"I think so, Ratchet is looking him over right now," Kitt explains.
"How?" Starscream asks.
"Me and Optimus talked to him. Don't worry about that now, for now you need to rest," Kitt tells him as they turn their heads towards the door and see Bumblebee enter.
"Star!" he shouts as he runs to the other side of the berth and hugs him tightly. "I am so sorry, I was out on patrol otherwise I would have come straight to you."
"It's okay Bee, just stay here for awhile," Starscream says as he moves over to make room for Bumblebee on his berth.
"Rest, I will see you later," Kitt says leaning over and gently kissing Starscream's forehead. She then turns around and heads over to Ratchet and Optimus. "How is he?"
"Don't worry he is fine, but he may have bonded to you and Optimus," Ratchet informs her.
"I thought he had, that's what I wanted to check," Kitt says sitting down next to Optimus and smiling at the still recharging sparking.
"What does that mean exactly?" Optimus asks.
"It means we have, no he has accepted us to take the place of Warp and TC in his life, in essence he has adopted us, rather than us adopting him," Kitt explains carefully taking Starblast from Optimus.
"I can't take care of him," Optimus says as Starblast slowly wakes up and stares at him. "I am sorry little one," he says standing and walking out of the med bay.
Kitt looks down and sees tears in Starblast's optics. "Don't worry, everything will work out I promise," she reassures him as she walks over to the energon dispenser pouring a small cube of formulated energon, designed for sparklings. "Here you go little mech," Kitt says feeding him. "Ratchet I need to go talk to Optimus, can you watch for awhile?"
"Of course. Come here let's see if I can find you something to do," Ratchet says smiling at Starblast.