Scent of the Future
Authors Note: Thank you to all the usual peoples, you know who you are (optimus prime 007, Litahatchee, Plenoptic), and I must give a big recommendation to a fic called 'From The Ashes' by MelancholyRose611. It is a great fanfic, nicely written, with a you-beaut storyline (which I will not spoil by giving away a big plot point) involving Sam and Mikaela. There are a great many excellent fics around right now, but this one really doesn't get as much love as it deserves, that's why I'm plugging it. Go and check it out if you'd like something nice to read! It will tug at the heartstrings though, be warned!
Chapter 21
Outside the Autobot Base medbay...
Jazz was a short bot; a very masculine, deadly, shiny, and attractive bot; but short. Still, he didn't let his size get in the way of hassling Wheeljack for information. He was up on his toes, hands on his hips, getting right into the engineers broad face, noseplates almost touching; Wheeljack's widespread plates making Jazz's perky smaller nose structure seem very sparkling-like. His visor was dropped menacingly low over his glowing optics.
"Whhheeelllljaaacck..." Jazz drawled playfully.
"Nope. Not sayin'. It's a sparkling and it's on the way. I'm not giving away if it's a mech or femme," Wheeljack protested, and tried not to back up away from Jazz's determined optic-to-optic stare. "I'm not saying anything!"
The engineer shifted uneasily on his feet while Jazz huffed noisily. Wheeljack had his back firmly planted up against the double medbay doors, keeping the interested 'crowd' at bay while Ratchet helped Elita with her sparking. He knew the Femme Commander had a little femme orb waiting inside her. Ratchet had been discrete with his 'make the protoform body a bit rounder and petite' request, but it was obvious.
"Jazz, please, just wait," Prowl put his hand gently on his berthmate's shoulder, tugging softly. "Come and stand with me."
Standing off to one side of the group, arms crossed over his chest, Ultra Magnus watched the interaction curiously. Jazz-wrestling was going to be much easier than Optimus-wrestling, if Jazz went over-the-top with annoying Wheeljack. He watched Prowl try to get Jazz to back down. His and Jazz's relationship had always seemed a mis-match to him. The quiet, logical, war-driven Prowl, with the hyper, cheeky and smart Jazz? And didn't Jazz still have a thing for femmes? He'd once had half the femme population of Cybertron swooning all over his feet. His charm was legendary. And obviously, he wanted a sparkling!
It took a bit more tugging but Prowl got Jazz to fall back from interrogating poor Wheeljack. The taller warrior glanced down at his partner worriedly. Jazz was really obsessed with sparklings. He was no longer behaving like himself, and while Prowl had cracked a few rare and very dry jokes about his over eager partner, it was now becoming a burden on his CPU. Prowl reasoned logically there must be a particular reason for Jazz to be so infatuated with sparklings.
...perhaps his own brush with death had made him fanatical with the idea of new life?
Chromia snuggled up to Ironhide's chest, rubbing her noseplates on his armor. "I never would have thought that one of the first things I'd be doing on this new planet would be waiting for Elita to spark a young one!"
"Yeah. Strange things happen." Ironhide dropped his hands to her small waist, holding her against him possessively, his optics never ceasing to sweep over her lithe but strong form over and over again. She felt so good right where she was.
Sunstreaker managed to look bored with all the hoo-ha, bracing his shoulder against the hallway wall and sighing. "How long does it take to make one of these things?"
"Not make, Sunny," Sideswipe shook his head, nudging his Twin, "produce. To spark." He looked up at the massive form of Ultra Magnus next to him. "How long does it take, Magnus?"
"Uh... not long." Magnus said as authoratively as he could manage, and slid his gaze off to the side, dropping his arms down to link his hands behind his back. How would he know? He really had to get his hands on some reproduction data, this was getting embarrassing.
Bumblebee stared at Sunstreaker, blinking. The yellow Lamborghini was one of the most voracious femme-lovers on Cybertron, and even HE didn't know what happened with sparklings? Maybe he shouldn't idolise the all-knowing-about-femmes warrior so much. He just hoped everything went the way it was supposed to (even if none of them seemed to know what that was) and that Elita and Sabre were okay. And Optimus.
Wheeljack jerked and yelped when the medbay doors unlocked and slid back abruptly, just missing taking off a piece of his bulky aft...
...to reveal the doorway shadowed by a large, smiling, and glowing-with-happiness Optimus Prime, with a tiny protoform sparkling settled back in his arms.
The group of Autobots broke into gasps, smiles and wondrous optics at the sight.
"Primus..." Chromia covered her mouthplates with her hands, optics wide. Ironhide slid an arm around her shoulders, a stupid grin his only answer.
"Prowl; Prowl, look!" Jazz bounced on his feet. Happiness threatening to split his faceplate into shards.
"I'm looking," Prowl had a smile all his own. "Congratulations Optimus. How is Elita?"
Optimus stepped towards the group, and inclined his head at Prowl, carrying his daughter with great care, "She is well, but tired, thank you. Recharging. She will need to stay in medbay for a while longer." His optics looked back down at the little form in his arms with pride, "I wanted to introduce you to our new Autobot."
Ratchet came up silently behind Optimus, wearing an indulgent smile of his own. The others appeared so awestruck and eager. Like sparklings themselves.
"Wow! So cute! Femme or mech? What's the name!" Jazz trilled. He had crept closer, and was looking at the quiet sparkling in his Commander's arms excitedly. Prowl sighed and looked heavenwards. He and Jazz needed to talk... although their last talk hadn't gotten Prowl any closer to understanding Jazz's sudden desire for a sparkling.
"Her name, Jazz?" Optimus grinned.
"Femme! I knew it!" Jazz squeaked.
The huge red and blue flamed mech looked around at his loyal family of soldiers (and femme) with immense pride. "Her name is Safire, and yes Jazz, she is a femme. She is recharging at the moment. Please try not to disturb her."
A grinning Sideswipe offered Optimus the thumbs up, "Good going, Optimus, one of each! A femme AND a mech!"
Even Sunstreaker cracked a happy smirk on his handsome faceplates, "Yeah, I second that."
"Congratulations Optimus. She is... cute." Ultra Magnus said, and stepped closer. His optics studied the tiny protoform. The immense muscle cables and hydraulics of Prime's arms and chest really made the sparkling look small and vulnerable. Magnus looked up at his friend, "Safire is a wonderful name."
Optimus nodded and looked down at his little femling. Overwhelmed.
Safire was indeed cute. Sabre was going to have a fight on his hands in the cuteness stakes. She was still quietly recharging away, her hands and feet gracefully tucked up, unaware of the curious onlookers studying her closely. No doubt she would be the absolute charmer of the base when she woke up and began working things out.
Bumblebee approached Optimus quietly, not wanting to disturb anyone, his optics curious but glowing with happiness. The big Leader mech turned slightly to face the Camaro. He dropped his arms down fractionally lower to allow Bee to get a good look. The yellow bot blinked closely at the recharging sparkling.
"What do you think, Bumblebee? Do you like her?" Optimus asked softly.
Bumblebee's head tilted to the side, thinking. His optics moved from roving over Safire to look up at Optimus. "She's beautiful. When the humans see something wonderful, they call it 'love at first sight'." His voice was interlaced with faint static due to his emotions. "I understand what they mean. Safire fits the concept, I love her already."
Optimus felt relief flood his chest. Bumblebee's acceptance was very important to him. "Thank you, Bumblebee. I'm sure she will love you as much as Sabre does."
Ironhide and Chromia joined the throng looking at Safire. The black mech quirked an optic ridge, "Be careful with the 'fire' part of her name, Optimus. Femmes have enough of that to cause trouble with. If she chooses red for her color scheme, we'll be in for even more trouble."
"Ironhide!" Chromia hissed, elbowing him in the belly armor.
"See? See?!" Ironhide gasped, patting his abdomen to make sure his armor was intact. "She's a problem and she doesn't even like red!"
"Please ignore the lugnut, Optimus. He doesn't know what on Cybertron he's articulating about," Chromia murmured to her Leader, standing on her tiptoes while her optics blinked appreciatively at Safire. "She is beautiful. Elita must be very happy."
"She is," Optimus nodded, "very. And I had better be getting back to her. Thank you, everyone, for your congratulations, I will convey them to Elita." His regal head lifted to look at his Lieutenants, "Prowl? Magnus? I trust you two can handle the base by yourselves for a while? I will be staying by Elita's side until she is fit to be released by Ratchet."
Magnus inclined his head, "Of course, Sir."
"Yes, Sir," Prowl nodded.
Sunstreaker and Sideswipe looked at each other with horror and apprehension. While Optimus usually allowed them some leeway on their pranks and misbehaviour, Prowl and Ultra Magnus were not so lenient. And if those two had the Command...
As if on cue, Sunstreaker's optics met up with Magnus'. The much bigger mech smirked faintly at the yellow warrior and narrowed his optics - I'm watching you. Sunstreaker tried to look away as casually as he possible. Slag. Maybe he and Sides had better keep to themselves for a bit.
Ratchet stepped to the side to allow Optimus and his precious bundle to pass by him. He closed the medbay doors on the group with a small wave.
Jazz sighed, "Wow. Those two are so lucky."
"I agree." Ironhide was looking at the closed medbay doors with scrutinising optics. Chromia stood looking up at him. "Very lucky. Safire's arrival came at a cost though." His optics turned to lock onto Wheeljack, who had been standing in the background. "Jack, I think it's time you told us what happened in there earlier."
Wheeljack cringed as all the Autobots turned to look at him expectantly. "Me?"
Inside the medbay...
Ratchet hesitated just inside the medbay doors, watching Optimus approach his recharging mate. Sabre was sitting very quietly on his aft at Elita's side, next to her hip, while the tired femme was recharging on the medberth. His hands were clasped seriously in front of him, watching over his tired Mom while the big mech's were outside with Safire. He wasn't fidgeting. Or looking bored. Or trying to entertain himself in some way. He stayed alert and attentive to his Mom while she was offline.
Ratchet's optics softened at how self-important Sabre appeared, taking his duty as 'protector' right into his little spark. The little mech was already prepared to take responsibility onto his shoulders – so much like his Sire...
"Everything okay, Sabby?" Optimus enquired softly, coming up behind Sabre with the most soundless steps his big feet could manage. Elita didn't stir.
Sabre clicked at a low level. He nodded. His optics looked up at his sister in Optimus' arms. He was obviously curious.
"Do you want to meet her?"
Sabre nodded again, a lot more vigorously this time. Yes please!
"Ratchet, would you mind..."
The medic was already on the same wavelength, "Of course. Just a sec." Ratchet cleared an adjacent bench of his tools, making room for Sabre to sit, and lifted the mechling over to it. "There you go."
Sabre watched as Optimus carefully lowered himself into a seat so the recharging Safire was at the same level as her brother. The mechling's optics widened considerably. He leaned in to peer closer. Scanning her. What was this little thing that looked like him? He squeaked up at Optimus. The big mech seemed to know what his question was.
"This is Safire, your sister." Prime shifted his arm so the femling was at a more open angle for Sabre to see. "She has just been sparked, so don't expect her to be ready to play or talk just yet. Do you like her?"
Sabre's head bounced vigorously.
The Autobot Leader chuckled quietly. "I thought you might. Everyone else is so big, it will be nice to have a bot more your size, yes? But you have to be careful with her. Be gentle and kind."
Sabre slapped his hands over his mouth with wide optics blinking over the top of them.
Ratchet laughed, swiftly muffling himself with one hand, whispering to Optimus, "I think that means no raspberries! That's what he thinks of as behaving."
"It's a start," Optimus nodded happily. "Ratch, do you think he understands about the difference between femme's and mech's? I mean, that HE is a mech, and Safire isn't?"
Ratchet snorted, leaning against the bench with one hip, "If he doesn't I'm sure he will soon enough. If he's anything like you, he'll be chasing them as soon as he matures to the interface enabling stage, which will probably happen early, going on your past history."
Optimus rolled his optics, shaking his head. "As the humans so eloquently put it, TMI, Ratchet."
"What?" Ratchet held his hands out, "if he looks like you, and acts like you, he'll have femmes falling at his feet."
Optimus looked uncomfortable, shifting his shoulders, "Life is not all about interfacing, medic."
"Try telling that to Ironhide, he'll faint. And so says the mech who has TWO; let me repeat that; TWO, sparklings. You do know how they appear, don't you?" Ratchet said with obvious glee. "You don't get them by humping a fire hydrant. Ironhide's tried that."
"Shut. Up." Prime glared at him, but it was only half-strength. He couldn't muster up a full blown Optimus comeback when he was still overcome by the joy in his spark at holding his brand new daughter.
Sabre completely ignored the bickering mech's. His small hands flexed while he inspected Safire from head to toe. Fingers reached out tentatively to touch the baby sparkling, and his optics blinked up at his Sire, waiting for permission.
Ratchet saw the gesture, "He can touch her, Optimus. I don't think she'll wake just yet."
Optimus nodded, "Touch her softly, Sabby. Just a very small touch."
One small finger reached out, wavering. It seemed to take ages to make contact with the gleaming grey metal of Safire's shoulder, and when it did, Sabre snatched it back and squeaked in wonder.
His Sire chuckled, "See, she's real. She's just like you."
Sabre's head went back and forth between Optimus and Ratchet. Then he gasped, and just about threw himself over the edge of the table he was sitting on.
"Woah! Hang on there, where are you going?!" Ratchet's reflex's caught him mid-chuck, and settled him down safely onto the floor, where upon Sabre took off at an unsteady run to the medbay exit on short legs.
Concerned, Optimus rose up from his chair, "Sabre, what are you doing?"
Sabre knocked his fist on the door, looking up at them pleadingly. He had to go! He had to go NOW!
Prime caught up with him and kneeled awkwardly, "Are you scared of something?"
Sabre shook his head, and tapped on the door again. Open up!
"I think he wants to go somewhere..." Ratchet said uncertainly. "You can't go out by yourself."
Optimus blinked his optic covers slowly, "The others might still be out there, maybe one of them can take him where he wants to go, but, I don't understand..."
Ratchet shrugged, "One thing about sparklings, they often don't make sense. Can Bumblebee look after him, perhaps?" With that, Ratchet opened the doors, and Sabre sprinted out into the hallway.
Sure enough, the other Autobots were still there, talking. They all looked up as the doors opened. Sabre saw who he wanted, and ran full tilt at Ironhide, ramming into his thick leg.
"What? Oww!" Ironhide held his arms out, staring at Sabre. "What's going on? What did I get hit for?!"
Sabre squeaked and clicked, then turned around, and began vigorously pushing on Ironhide's leg, trying to force him to get walking.
"What on Cybertron are you trying to do, Sabby?" Optimus, asked, completely bewildered by his mechlings actions.
Sabre didn't answer, he just kept on pushing, leaning in and straining mightily, but he couldn't budge Ironhide an inch. Bumblebee stared at Sabre. What was he doing?!
"Uh... I think he wants you to... go somewhere, Hide," Chromia said, looking down at the tiny thing trying to shove her sparkmate's huge mass by sheer determination. Physics were definitely not on Sabre's side. "The little bots waste room, maybe?"
Some of the other's snickered and laughed as Sabre backed up a step, then charged forwards into Ironhide's lower leg with a thunk, hoping brute force would work.
"Okay, OKAY, I get it, Primus above..." Ironhide held his hands out in surrender, "you want me to go somewhere. I'll start walking and you steer, alright? If that's okay with Optimus..."
Prime arched one optic ridge, "Fine with me. I haven't a clue what he's up to though."
"I'll help," Ultra Magnus volunteered, placing a hand on Ironhide's back and effortlessly getting an unprepared Ironhide to stumble forwards a few steps.
While Ironhide snarled and tried to threaten retaliation against the bigger mech (and Chromia laughed herself stupid), Sabre shrieked with glee, and kept Ironhide going with the hardest shoves and slaps he could manage.
"ALRIGHT! We're going, we're going!" Ironhide jogged ahead to stop Sabre slapping him. "I'll get you back later, slagger!" He called over his shoulder to Ultra Magnus.
Magnus shrugged, unconcerned. Ironhide was good, but not as good as him... there wasn't anything the black mech could threaten him with that would make him worry. He'd get his aft handed to him in front of his femme.
"I'll wait here, sweetie!" Chromia called after her abducted mate, still laughing. She hadn't thought ANYONE could shove her mech around except her – well, now she'd found someone; a sparkling named Sabre!
While the others started discussing Sabre's weird behaviour, a confused Optimus and a confounded Ratchet retreated inside the medbay.
Sabre and Ironhide weren't gone for long. Ironhide's thick footsteps signalled his return only a few Earth minutes later. Sabre had marched the black mech all the way to his quarters and made him open the door while he retrieved something, handed the 'item' to Ironhide to carry, and started pushing the mech all the way back to the medbay, squealing and raspberrying him to hurry up.
Bumblebee squinted at the bundle in Ironhide's hands, "Is that a...?"
"I think it is," Wheeljack nodded.
Magnus stared at Ironhide with a smirk, "I do believe that is Sabre's toy."
Sunstreaker broke down and sagged against the wall while a just-as-incoherent-with-laughter Sideswipe tried to hold him up.
"Fraggers, shut it." Ironhide glared at all of them, holding the teddy bear none-too-gently in one stiff hand.
Chromia could only force her mouthplates closed for so long before she lost it. "Ironhide... phhhttt! Why, WHY, are you carrying a stuffed fake organic?"
"Ask Sabre," Ironhide growled, glowering.
Sabre banged on the medbay doors and Ratchet opened them quickly enough. The mechling held his hands out to Ironhide, who obligingly dropped the bear (that was almost as big as Sabre himself), into the mechlings eager hands. The botling then marched inside the medbay with the teddy stuffed under one arm. Ratchet blinked, shook his head, and closed the doors again.
Bumblebee raised an optic ridge at Ironhide, "All of that because he wanted his teddy?"
"Yeah, will you go get mine too, Ironhidey?" Sideswipe sniggered.
The red Lamborghini managed to avoid the punch that came his way from the disgruntled black mech, but Chromia's follow-thru on behalf of her mate's ego scored a hit.
Inside the medbay...
Still holding Safire – he was loathe to put her down – Optimus looked down at Sabre. "He wanted his teddy bear?"
Ratchet and Optimus watched in surprise at Sabre's antics. He chucked the teddy up onto the table he had been sitting on earlier, then clambered up onto it himself. He huffed and picked up the teddy, looking up at Optimus with hopeful optics.
...then shyly held out the teddy like an offering.
"What?" Ratchet's optic ridges furrowed.
"I think... I think he wants Safire to have it," Optimus murmured, feeling his spark swell with love and pride. "It's his bear, but he wants to give it away to her."
Sabre nodded shyly and clicked. He kept the teddy held out. Wanting Optimus to take it.
Prime walked over slowly and once again lowered himself into his chair. Sabre crept forwards. Still shy. Optimus shuffled Safire gently into one arm and accepted the teddy graciously with the other. He bowed his head at his son.
"Sabre, you are wonderful brother to want to give away your only teddy. On behalf of Safire, I say thank you." Prime's fingers clasped the teddy softly. He looked down at his little femling, "I do believe you just received your first present, Safire."
Prime jerked in surprise when his daughters optics began to flicker. Her tiny feet moved restlessly. Her head rotated back and forth in small movements, her arms began to unfold from being tucked up to her chest... and her optics turned on.
"Primus..." Optimus felt like his spark would break. "Ratchet."
"I see her," the CMO peered over Optimus' shoulder. "Hello little one."
Round little optics blinked up at Optimus Prime. A small smile graced her mouthplates.
"She likes smiling.." Optimus whispered. He kept her held against his chest, up close to the warmth of his spark, but managed to lift her more upright. He followed what she was looking at with his optics. The teddy.
"Do you want this?" he murmured, "Your brother gave this to you."
"...Optimus...?"
All of the mech's (big and small) turned their heads at Elita's soft call.
"Elita..." Optimus placed the teddy on the bench and rose from his chair while Ratchet scooped up Sabre. "Safire just woke up." His armor creaked when he used his strength to turn around slowly on firm feet so as not to upset Safire.
"I know," Elita's voice was soft. Not weak, but not her normal tone, "I felt her. She was.. reaching out to me. Prodding me, with her spark." Her optics shone up at her sparkmate, "May I have her?"
"Of course," Optimus smiled.
He waited while Ratchet once again levered up the head of the medberth so Elita was sitting up, then transferred Safire over to her mother. The femling's optics shifted from staring at Optimus to lock onto Elita's face. Her smile never faltered. Optimus moved around to stand behind Elita so he could watch too. His hands rested without weight on Elita's shoulders as he bent over closer, looking over her shoulder.
"She is beautiful, is she not?" he asked.
"Yes." Elita lowered her head to touch noseplates with her daughter. Safire closed her optics at the touch and clicked. Her small hand patted Elita's cheek. "How sweet! Thank you, Safire." The Femme Commander looked up at her mate, "Thank you, Optimus."
"Thank you?" Optimus appeared taken back, confused, "What did I do?"
Elita laughed, getting a bigger smile out of Safire, "You sparked half of her! Without you, we wouldn't have any Safire at all! Silly!"
"Oh. In that case," Prime brushed his mouthplates over Elita's cheek, "I must also thank you too. You were the other half to mine. And..." his optics dimmed, "I almost lost you."
Ratchet felt like he was intruding. He took a step back to give them space, but Sabre squeaked in dismay, "Lita!", he wanted to get closer, not further away. "Oh! Sorry Sabre." The medic shuffled forwards again.
Elita's head lifted, "Sabby? Have you met Safire?" Her son's optics blinked brightly at her from within the bright shine of Ratchet's armor under the lights.
"Lita! Lita!" Sabre clicked and whistled, bouncing in Ratchet's hold. He was close enough to the bench he had just been picked up from that he was able to stretch out and grab his forgotten teddy. He lifted it up with a grunt of effort and held it out again. "Lita!"
Optimus smiled at him, "Sabre gave his teddy up for Safire. He marched Ironhide all the way back to his quarters where he left it, just to get it for her. We didn't have a clue what he was doing," The Commander smiled wryly, "I don't think Hide was all that impressed about being a teddy bear courier."
Elita laughed, her voice becoming stronger. Safire clicked up at her curiously. "Optimus, she's clicking! Safire, you have a very kind brother," she cooed down at her daughter. "Bring him over here, Ratchet please."
The medic obeyed and took Sabre right up close. The mechling promptly held out his teddy again. Elita took it, thanking Sabre.
Safire looked up curiously at the huge brown thing hovering over her head. There was something dangling from it... a small hand reached up and grasped the teddy bears leg. Elita slowly lowered the bear down so it lay beside Safire against her chest. Not wanting to scare her. Safire blinked at it, then gave a little sigh and rested her forehead against it with a click. She liked it. It was soft. Tiny hands grasped the fur and hung on.
Everyone except Safire looked up at a muffled choking sound.
It was Ratchet. Embarrassed, he was covering his optics with one hand. "One word and I set Ironhide on your afts," he spoke in a barely audible choked tone, keeping his face covered.
"Well, that's enough blackmail to cover one millennia, at least," Optimus grinned.
Author again: Few! That was one loooong chapter! I might give this one a break for a few weeks, and go work on 'Birds and Bumblebees'. Hope no one minds too much...