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CHAPTER 25: THE BIRTH
At the Autobot base ...
The days went by. It was almost time for Arcee to give birth to her and Optimus' son. Everyone was happy and excited for the arrival of the little Prime.
Ratchet was no longer in front of the monitor. He was engaged in the construction of the frame for the future newborn. And while he was working almost all day and well into the night on that little body, printed on his face was always a happy smile. It was really strange to see the doctor who usually was surly and grumpy, laughing the time and interact with lightness with others.
Even when Miko accidentally broke one of his favorite tools, he caressed the girl on the head, gently, with his huge finger and he said "It doesn't matter ... I will build another one".
Miko was now willing to ask Optimus and Arcee to do at least half a dozen other children to keep the good mood of red and white mech. Jack fortunately managed to persuade her in making the embarrassing request.
The Autobot leader was divided between helping the good doctor in his work and satisfying the needs of his sparkmate ... strange as it might be. Despite all that they had passed, even on the Prime's face, in the last few days there was always a smile. His eyes expressed love and happiness. The whole team, including humans, were delighted by his attitude.
Ratchet had ordered Arcee a complete rest. The femme didn't like this medical indication, but the pressure from the doctor, and especially by Optimus, left no choice to her. She was most of the day in her quarters to rest. She occasionally made a few laps in the main hangar to talk to someone or in the med bay to check the progress of the protoform of the sparkling ... or simply she made her appearance and then disappear with Optimus somewhere. The rest of the team and their human allies that remained was to get the laughs. It was nice to see such a being not yet born would bring so much joy to everyone.
Even Special Agent Fowler looked different. Despite his obvious concern, he smiled more, especially with June. Jack watched the interaction between the two with suspicious eyes.
Nurse Darby, for her part, was excited for the arrival of the little mech. She loved children and she was curious to relive the experience of standing next to a newborn again, although alien race.
Bulkhead, Bumblebee and Smokescreen often discussed on who would be the little Prime's favorite uncle. And often the discussions ended with the three who staged a mock fight, he rolled on the ground and they stood on her butt on the floor while laughing like crazy, along with the three boys.
Jack was nervous about the impending birth. His immediate family had always been composed by him and his mother, he had never had a father next door, a male figure reference. But this was changed when he met the members of Team Prime.
Jack had always looked up to Optimus as a kind of big brother, a father figure to inspire and to make proud. And Optimus had never lived up to the expectations of the young human. Ratchet was a sort of "grumpy grandfather" with a tender heart. Arcee was the older sister he never had. The other Autobots were a sort of "cousins " as Miko and Raf. The teenager could not believe that a creature not yet born, could already receive so much love and could bring so much joy and happiness.
Raf, however, just asked if he had ever been able to keep the small mechin his arms. The young hacker was the smallest member of his family, as Bumblebee. With the arrival of the little sparkling things would change and finally Raf would have had someone to look after, instead of being always cared for him.
Miko was just curious to know what would the little mech look like. Ratchet hadn't allowed her to see the protoform he was building, for "matters of hygiene and sterility", said the good doctor. Miko as usual hadn't taken it well and she had tried, in all ways, to peek into the med bay without success.
Wheeljack and Ariel spent most of the time inside the Jackhammer. The few times that they were seen by others, the former Decepticon never left Arcee's side, while the former wrecker chatted for a drink with the mechs.
And Knockout? Well ... the prisoner wasn't staying longer in the med bay. Since Arcee spent all the time in Optimus' quarter, her room had been transformed into a kind of prison.
The red mech could also be their mortal enemy, but it wasn't in the Autobots style torturing war prisoners.
So Knockout, aside loneliness and the chains that held him imprisoned, couldn't be said to be a life of hardship: he had enough energon to survive, a comfortable berth, a table and a desk, he could consult datapads and, an hour a day, the doctor or one of the other Autobots accompanied him out for a "breath of fresh air."
And above all, he had much time to think. His only thought was to find a way to escape from the Autobot base and complete the mission that Megatron had given him: bring Arcee and the small mech on the Nemesis.
Perhaps the most propitious moment would have been just the little one would be born. He was sure that somehow the Autobots, sentimental and weak at the sight of the newborn creäture, would let their guard down and somehow he could have acted to fulfill his goal.
An evil grin appeared on the face of the doctor Decepticon: yes, this time she would not fail.
LATE NITE ... Arcee POV ...
I just couldn't get to sleep that night. I stood there, motionless, on the berth staring at the ceiling. Near me was Optimus. I looked at him: his face relaxed, turned to me, his hand remained at the center of his chest, while the other was lying along his side. The upper part of his body rose and fell rhythmically. I smiled. It was so rare to see Optimus sleep peacefully without his rest was interrupted by nightmares.
I never would have imagined that the great Optimus Prime, powerful leader of the Autobots, a mech who didn't know the fear ... suffering from nightmares. At first I found it kind of fun. Then I realized that all of his concerns, the weight of the command, the choices that had to face, the challenges he had to overcome had tormented him for millennia during the long nights. I explained that he slept very little, fell from the surveys always late at night and always got up first of all to those of the morning.
But now the situation had improved. There was only one, and only reason, Optimus couldn't rest at night. And that reason was me. I speak not only of the long and passionate nights interfacing. Very often they were just hugged him and caressed me, made me feel protected, loved.
That night wasn't different. We kissed, caressed and pampered. Until the fatigue prevailed on the Prime's systems. And now I stood there, motionless, staring at him with a silly grin on my lips.
Or at least it was so until I felt a sharp pain, right under my spark.
Maybe it was just me, but I felt like my chest plates you were going to open, so strong was the pain. At first I didn't understand, but suddenly it was all clear.
And I woke Optimus!
OPTIMUS POV ...
The day had been very hard. The alarm was very early, but the breakfast with Arcee was really nice and ... intense. The reconnaissance with Bulkhead instead wasn't. And much less the processing and storage of the energon we found.
As soon as I tried to get closer to my sparkmate, she told me that she was tired and would retreat into our quarter to rest. I stood there, with an expression on my face undecided, until Ratchet called me in the med bay.
My favorite thing to do in those days, as well as stay with Arcee, was to help my old friend in the construction of the frame of my little mech. I still couldn't believe it: I, Optimus Prime, was about to become a father! The thing was great, but absolutely appalling.
I would have been a good father? I would have been up to the task? How would I split between the small and Arcee? I had a thousand questions that spin in my head, but gaze upon what would have been the body of our Sparkling, mine and Arcee's, it was enough to make me forget all my insecurities and fears.
I spent the afternoon with Ratchet. And finally the evening came. I went in our quarter and I found Arcee lying on the berth staring at me with happy eyes. I went in and I lay down beside her. We began to kiss, gently at first, then passionately. We spent almost an hour with our mouths on each other and our hands that explored our bodies. Then Arcee began to stroke my antennas and after a while for me it was oblivion. I must have fallen asleep.
I was awakened with so a start that I ended up falling off the berth. It took a while before I realized what was happening. I looked up and saw Arcee bent forward, her hands clutching her stomach. Everything became clear to me in an instant... and I did the only thing that made sense: I contacted Ratchet, took Arcee in my arms and we went like lightning towards the medbay.
RATCHET POV ...
Finally, I could relax! After making sure that our guest had consumed his ration of energon and he was well shackled, I went towards my quarter with one goal in mind: sleep.
But I had just the time to put my aft on the berth, I received a call on my com link from a worried Optimus. If I didn't know him better, he'd be almost scared. It took a little to understand what was happening. Smiling, I got up and walked quickly towards the med bay. There was an important job to do …
GENERAL POV ...
At that hour of the evening the base was calm. The kids had already gone to sleep, as well as their Autobots guardians. The only ones left awake were June and Special Agent Fowler. The two were chatting about this and that at the kitchen table when they saw a hasty Optimus Prime running towards the med bay while Arcee was carrying in his arms. Immediately after Ratchet, he also ran for the same room.
To William, all seemed strange and he threw a questioning look at June. The nurse, however, was immediately clarify the situation. Without saying anything, she got up, patted the man's right shoulder and said "Wait here ...". Then she walked like the other towards the med bay.
Special Agent Fowler did as June told him. He stood at the kitchen table, sipping his cold coffee and waiting for the return of the woman.
In the med bay ...
Optimus leaned gently his sparkmate on the berth. Ratchet was there in a moment.
"Are you ready, Arcee?" ask the doctor, as already analyzed the femme with a red beam "I need a few minutes to prepare the frame for the reception of the new spark," he added as he prepared his instruments.
Arcee said nothing. The pain was so intense that not even allow her to answer. She didn't complain though, because she knew that before long she held in arms her little mech and that was enough to smile.
JUNE POV ...
When I entered the med bay, I saw that Arcee was smiling, strangely. I could see from her non-verbal communication that she was suffering: after years working in the hospital, I had only very little to tell when a patient was in pain.
Ratchet was busy in the preparation of the toolkit, while Optimus was close to the mother of his child and gently stroked her top of the head.
"It 's time" I heard the good doctor "Optimus I need your help!"
"M-m-m-my help?" asked, stuttering, the powerful leader Autobot. He was almost scared.
"Yes, your help! It was you combine all of this! Arcee is facing the most difficult part ... you can at least give her a hand with the transposition of the new spark inside the frame ... "Ratchet said, raising an eyebrow and crossing his arms on the chest "Or is it too much to ask? ".
Optimus's eyes widened and he shook his head. I watched the scene with amusement. I took advantage of the moment to add a little spice to the situation.
"You know Optimus ..." I began, putting a hand under my chin "There are femmes who tried to kill their partner at the time of childbirth, because the feel responsible for the suffering they are going through!" I concluded very seriously.
prime opened his eyes again and moved, repeatedly and quickly, his gaze from me to Arcee several times.
"I believe that June was joking!" The doctor assured him.
Optimus stood, staring at me. A smile exploded on my face and I saw Prime visibly relaxed.
"Arghhh" Arcee's cry of pain brought us to reality.
"Well, well ..." he murmured while Ratchet analyzed la femme "Optimus! Bring the frame... Now ".
I saw Optimus run into the other room and returned with a small metal body in his hands. My eyes filled with tears without me noticing.
Then at one point I was blinded by a bright light, I had to cover my eyes with my hands ... and for a few seconds I didn't see anything …
Arcee POV ...
I just wanted the pain to end. And suddenly it was like this: my chest plates opened automatically. The result was a very strong light: my little mech.
I saw Ratchet approach and stretch out his delicate hands inside my chest. He pulled that ball of bright light and headed for Optimus. My sparkmate was open-mouthed, petrified. Then I watched my trusty friend while inserted the spark inside the small body. Now all that remained was to wait.
OPTIMUS POV ...
My hands were shaking in supporting the small frame. I walked over to Ratchet and Arcee with insecure pace. I saw my oldest friend approached me with a broad smile, his hands holding the new spark, my son. He deposited the ball of light in the frame and whispered "Look" …
GENERAL POV ...
The Autobot leader's eyes widened for the umpteenth time in the day's. A few moments passed. The chest plates of the small mech closed automatically after the doctor had inserted into the small cavity the new spark. And yet after a few moments, the small frame came to life: his eyes were opened, and they began to glow with a cerulean blue, just like his father. His small hands began to move quickly in search of a secure foothold, they found the thick fingers of his father. He didn't cry, didn't utter any groan. He stared intently at the big mech who held him in arms and a smile broke out on the little face. The bond between father and son was created.
Optimus was crying. It was the most beautiful and important day of his life.
He walked over to Arcee, knelt and handed the sparkling to the femme. Even the tough Autobot femme started to cry.
Prime approached Arcee and took his family in his arms, he kissed on the head before his sparkmate and then his son. Now his life was complete ... or almost ...