Chapter 26

"Come on, momma, wake up!" Sundance said, gliding down from her perch on top of her father's shelf of tools. She spread her wings to land gently on her femme creator's chest, then tucked them in close to her body. She settled slowly, staring at Demona with soft red optics, "Please? There's a place I found with Jetfire. I want you to see it."

Demona stirred. Sundance wiggled around, trying to make her wake up faster. She blinked when Jolt's optics onlined instead. Disbelief coursed through her, "Daddy? You're awake?"

Her mech creator was never up this early, unless he had a mission or morning lesson with Ratchet. Her momma was the one that woke up with her and played with her in the mornings. But it seemed like she was recharging deeper than Jolt.

Jolt blinked slowly at her, lifting a hand to drag down his face, "Sundance, what are you...?"

"Mommas not waking up. I think she's sick," Sundance proceeded to climb over Demona's armor until she was sitting on her throat cables and leaning over her face. She squinted like she was searching for something out of place, "she's always up now..."

"Sundance."

She tilted her head and leaned closer. Jolt tried again, "Sundance, let her rest."

Sundance looked at him, "What? Aren't you worried about her?"

His optics were soft, "She's fine, she just needs to recharge longer than usual now."

"So...she's not sick?"

He shook his head. Sundance vented sharply, "Fine, I'll leave her alone..."

"You should go see what Ironhides up to," Jolt suggested, "he should be awake."

Sundance grinned at him, "I haven't visited him in a while!"

She slid down to the berth and jumped off the edge, spreading her wings to slow her landing. She ran out the door as soon as it was open and went bounding down the hall. She was making her way to his work space when a flash of white at the end of the hall caught her attention. Sundance paused, tilting her head curiously as she tried to think of anyone here that had plain, white armor. No one. The weapons specialist was forgotten as this new mystery presented itself. She changed course and made her way, as fast as she could, towards the hangar.

She darted through Sideswipe's feet and turned sharply to avoid crashing into Skidz. Both mechs called after her but she ignored them. She entered the hangar, stopping to scan her optics over the structure. Optimus was standing nearby, talking to Ironhide. In the corner, the mech called Wheeljack was sorting through some spare parts. Sunstreaker and Sideswipe came in behind her and stepped around her form, the latter swinging an arm down to pat her on the head as he passed.

"Good morning, Sundance," Optimus said when he noticed her. Sundance sent him a smile, "Hi Optimus!"

He turned completely towards her when Ironhide started yelling at the smaller twins, "Where's your creators?"

"I couldn't get momma to wake up this morning, so daddy told me to go bug 'Hide." She saw the concerned look on his face and stood up on her back legs so she was taller, "he said she's not sick, though. Just that she needs more rest than usual now."

"Do you know why?"

"Nope." Sundance saw that same flash of white and turned. Her optics widened as she saw the tall, lean femme. She had never seen this one before, but she was graceful and quiet and so beautiful, the second prettiest femme she'd ever seen. Her mother was first, of course. Before her processor could catch up, her feet carried her away from the big mech and towards the stranger.

"Um, hello?" She called.

The femme stopped and turned, scarlet optics falling upon her. Sundance took a step back when she realized just how vivid the color of her optics were, and how cold they seemed to be. But the coldness faded away, and she knelt before her, and greeted, "Hello, little one."

"I'm Sundance," she moved closer, pulling her wings in, "what's your designation?"

"I am Paradox."

"Wow, your optics are like ours," Sundance said softly, "you're very pretty."

Paradox's optics softened, "Who are your creators, Sundance?"

"Demona and Jolt." Sundance sat down and tilted her head, "do you know them?"

Something strange passed through the femmes gaze when Sundance said her mother's designation, something like a shocked disbelief. She even repeated, "Demona?"

"Yeah. She's really strong. Her armor is red, like mine."

"I didn't know she had a sparkling..."

"So you do know her."

"We're..." She trailed off like she was searching for the right word, "...good friends."

"Are you a momma, too?"

When she spoke, her voice was very quiet, and her optics changed again, "Yes."

Sundance stood up and walked over, standing up on her back legs to place her front claws on Paradox's knee, "Really? Where's your sparkling?"

"She doesn't need me anymore."

Sundance squinted at her, "That's a lie. I'm always going to need my momma. Your sparkling will always need you, even if shes grown up. A mommas supposed to always be there for her daughter."

"I was not always there for her, Sundance, I couldn't care for her like I needed to."

"Then care for her now. I bet she loves and misses you, and wants you to come back."

A small, almost pained smile pulled at the femme's lip plates, "You're a wise one, aren't you? Speaking words of faith and peace and hope, just like your creator."

They both turned their heads when Optimus called for her. Sunstreaker and Sideswipe were compacted into their fast alternates and idled not-so-quietly near the hangar entrance. Paradox looked back down at Sundance, "I must go."

Sundance frowned, "But you'll be back, won't you?"

"I'll come back."

The dragon dropped down to all fours and stepped back, watching as the femme straightened. She took a step. Her armor split and shifted soundlessly, her frame folding down. In one motion she took another step, shifted forms into a white Dodge Viper, and sped out of the hangar.

Sundance watched her go. She smiled at 'Hide when he grunted a greeting at her, and turned around to head towards Jetfire's quarters. She couldn't wait to tell him all about Paradox.

:3

I sense the beginnings of a friendship there.

Sorry for a late update. Hope you guys enjoyed it...Love to you all. Apologies for any mistakes.

Demona and her family, Paradox, and the story belongs to me. Transformers does not.