Thanks for all of the support!
Units of time as I use them:
Astrosecond= .273 seconds
Klik= 1 minute
Joor= 3 hours
Cycle= 1 day
Breem= 1 week
Groon= 1 month
Stellar cycle= year
Meta cycle= 5 years
Deca cycle= 10 years
Orn= century
Vorn= 5 centuries
:underline:- spark twins talking
:bold:- bonded mechs talking
:italics:- comm link
Don't own Transformers!
Chapter 37
BOOM!
Ratchet released a loud groan as he dropped the tool that he had been cleaning after using it to repair Ironhide's cannon after one of Sideswipe and Sunstreaker's pranks ended up completely decimating the wiring in the cannon. "For Primus' sake! I've only been back on duty for a single joor, and that maniac has already managed to blow himself up!"
Ironhide snickered, rather amused at his mate's predicament. "You know how your brother is, Ratchet. He can't go a single cycle without managing to blow himself up. The real question is how many pieces is he in."
Ratchet groaned before glaring at Ironhide. "You're close to being kicked out of the berth, Ironhide."
"What? I didn't cause my cannons to short out! That was the twins doing!" Ironhide quickly protested.
Two angered clicks were heard.
The two mechs looked over to where their creations were. Hot Rod and Solar Flare were both glaring at Ironhide.
"Geez. They have your glare down pat." Ironhide muttered.
Ratchet rolled his optics. "Ironhide, I believe that they are upset at your remark. I believe that they think you were referring to them."
Ironhide stood up from the berth and walked over to where the two sparklings were in the floor and knelt down by them. "You know I wasn't referring to you two. You're both good sparklings. I was referring to Sideswipe and Sunstreaker. They were the ones that did this to me, not you." He then picked them both up.
Hot Rod and Solar Flare started clicking at him.
:Uh, Ratchet?: Wheeljack tentatively said through their link.
Ratchet mentally groaned. Whenever Wheeljack sounded like that, it usually meant that he was still online and pretty damaged. :What did you manage to do to yourself?:
:Uh, well, let's just say my arms and legs were blown off. And it really hurts.: Wheeljack told him.
Ratchet groaned out loud this time around.
Ironhide, who had still been coddling the sparklings, looked over at Ratchet. "So, I assume you're going to help 'Jack."
"Yes." The CMO glanced over at First Aid and Hook. "Have the infirmary ready for my suicidal brother. And keep an optic on Hot Rod and Solar Flare for me."
The two medics in question only nodded in understanding.
Hook then started to get the infirmary ready for Wheeljack. "I have yet to understand how he did not destroy the entire Autobot base."
Ironhide snorted. "There's a reason the walls of Wheeljack's lab are so reinforced. To try to cut down on the causality rate." He then stood back up. "In any case, I'd better get back to my duties."
"Uh, what about them?" Hook motioned to where Sideswipe and Sunstreaker were laid out on berths, out of it.
Ironhide shrugged. "I wouldn't know. Ratchet's the CMO. It's his call." He started to leave.
Hot Rod and Solar Flare clicked out rapidly and with an upset tone, obviously not wanting the Weapon's Specialist to leave them.
Ironhide turned back to see the two sparklings crawling after him. "Sorry, little sparks, but I can't stay. I've got to go." He reached down and picked them both up. "Your carrier will be back in a few moments. You'll stay with him." The black mech then handed the two sparklings to First Aid before turning and leaving, having to ignore the cries for him.
First Aid sighed. "You two have become spoiled."
"They were far too used to having one of their creators close by whenever they wanted." Hook remarked.
"True. The only reason that Ratchet's keeping them here right now is because they do still need their creators nearby for their development. Once they get older, he'll probably leave them with some of the off-duty bots." First Aid said as he struggled with the two.
Hot Rod and Solar Flare really wanted their sire to come back.
First Aid sighed. He had really hoped that Hot Rod and Solar Flare would not become so spoiled. Then again, they were going to be spoiled considering they had been the first sparklings around in far too long.
Ratchet approached his brother's lab only to find that the scientist's lab was still standing although there was a lot of smoke billowing out through the various holes in the structure and from the destroyed door. He released a sigh before he entered the lab. He looked around and noticed Wheeljack's legs and one of his arms. He scanned the area and soon found where the rest of his brother was. Buried under some of the rubble. The medic walked over and started to remove the rubble under he uncovered his brother's helm.
"Hi, Ratchet!" Wheeljack's headfins lit up a bright blue as he talked to his brother. His helm appeared to be in fine despite some minor dents.
"Do I want to know?" Ratchet asked.
"Uh, not sure. I was mixing some human chemicals with some of our Cybertronian ones. I was trying to create an energy source that would be beneficial to the humans that wouldn't harm their ecosystems." Wheeljack replied.
Ratchet raised an optic ridge. "And you thought that combining Cybertronian chemicals with human ones was a good idea why?"
"Seemed like a good idea at the time." Wheeljack said.
Ratchet released a growl.
Optimus and Megatron, in their holoforms, were sitting in Lennox's office with him.
"That's weird." Lennox muttered. He glanced over at Optimus. "Didn't you say Ratchet went back on duty today?"
"Yes." Optimus frowned. "I do not know why we haven't heard Ratchet yet. Unless he sent one of the other medics to deal with Wheeljack."
"YOU IDIOT! WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO LEARN TO USE THE PROCESSORS THAT YOU WERE SPARKED WITH!"
"And there it is." Megatron muttered. He shook his head. "Does Wheeljack enjoy being on the receiving end of Ratchet's anger and threats?"
"I don't know. All I do know is that I do everything in my power to stay on the opposite side of Ratchet's wrath. I don't know why Wheeljack likes to stay on the wrong end of Ratchet's anger." Optimus stated.
Lennox sighed. "Do you think Wheeljack's explosions will lessen now that the war is over? It's not like he really needs to try to invent anything now, right?"
Optimus couldn't stop the chuckle that escaped him. "I'm sorry, colonel, but we're not talking about the same Wheeljack. Wheeljack was trying to invent different things long before the war started, and I honestly believe that he will continue to invent until the day his spark extinguishes. Truthfully, his explosions might increase because it means that he can finally get back to his scientific inventions instead of weapons that can be used for the war."
Lennox groaned, slapping a hand to his face. "He'll be the death of me!"
"On a different note, where is the boy at?" Megatron asked. He still had a habit of referring to Sam as boy, much like Optimus did at times.
"Sam was due back last night. I thought for sure that he would have been here by now." Lennox muttered to himself, glancing at his watch and wondering if he needed to call Sam and make sure that he was all right.
"Back from where?" Seeing as Optimus had been on a vacation for the last week, he still wasn't entirely caught up on everything that had happened while he wasn't on duty.
Before either Megatron or Lennox could answer, the door opened, and Sam, in a wrinkled suit and looking like the walking dead, entered the office. "Sorry I'm late." Sam looked purely exhausted.
"When did you get in? Weren't you due back at nine last night?" Lennox asked, a bit surprised at Sam's appearance and grateful that it was just Optimus and Megatron that were in the office instead of high officials.
"I wish. I've been back on base all of ten minutes." Sam rubbed his eyes. "You wouldn't happen to have coffee on hand, would you?"
Lennox pointed to the side where he had a pot of coffee.
Sam walked over and poured himself a cup of back coffee that he downed quickly.
"Where have you been, Samuel?" Optimus asked.
Sam turned. "Well, as our country, as much as I hate to admit, has a habit of saying one thing to cover up something, I thought that I would go to Washington and make sure that Mearing, Barnes, and Griffin, were dead and that Galloway was dying. I didn't want to find out later it was a cover story."
Optimus hadn't even considered that and grew concerned at that. He certainly didn't want those humans roaming about and possibly planning to go after his creations again.
"Thankfully, that wasn't the case. In fact, all four of them are dead, and before you ask, I saw the bodies myself." Sam started drinking a second cup of coffee. "The story being given is that the four had committed acts of terrorism and treason and that they were being transported back to the States for trial when the plane was caught in the storm."
"At least they are dead." Megatron muttered.
"Agreed." Sam continued on his coffee. "Since I was in Washington, the President wanted to see me in person to discuss some things."
"Yeah. You said as much when we talked on the phone once. What is so important?" Lennox asked.
Sam laughed. "Well, considering what happened with the kidnapping and all, the President and those of Congress were concerned that the Autocons might consider revenge for what happened. He wanted to make sure that wouldn't happen."
"I hope you reassured him that we have no form of retaliation in mind." Optimus stated.
"I did. And did a bit more." Sam stated.
"Such as ?" Megatron was curious to see what Sam had done.
"Well, in short, the President was willing to make any concession necessary given what happened. So I discussed it with the President, and he has given the OK to build three more NEST military bases that will serve as bases for the Autocons. One will be in California, one in Texas, and one in Washington. This one will also remain a NEST base as well."
"Four NEST bases?" Lennox was impressed.
"Yeah. I figured all of the Autocons on this one base was a bit cramped for them. I was trying to get at least one more and ended up with three." Sam replied.
"That will help out a great deal." Optimus agreed. He had to admit that it was rather crowded with all of the bots on the base now. More space was pretty much a necessity.
"It'll take a bit of time to get all of the bases set up. He's already having the Washington base planned out." Sam stated.
"Just how is a base in Washington going to work? They're taller than some buildings." Lennox pointed.
"Yeah. That's why it's an underground base." Sam said.
"That makes more sense." Lennox agreed.
"I suppose we'll need to figure out how the command of the bases is going to be dealt with." Megatron mused.
Optimus nodded his agreement. "Given what the war did, I'd say that there is no way we are going to separate bonded couples."
Megatron nodded.
"The President does ask that one of you two be at the Washington base." Sam added.
Optimus nodded his helm. "That is understandable. It will make is easier for us to have face-to-face conversation should the need arise."
"His thinking." Sam agreed.
"And us?" Lennox asked.
"Pretty much the same deal. One of us living at Washington and the other can pick his base." Sam replied. He sighed. "Although the President did suggest having a liaison at the other two bases who would report to you military wise."
Lennox nodded.
"You did quite a bit for us." Megatron stated.
"I thought that it was necessary, and the President agreed. He's wondering if some of the Autob- Autcons who are construction workers would be willing to help in the construction of the bases." Sam had barely caught himself when he almost said Autobots and prayed Megatron wouldn't become too offended by it.
Neither Optimus nor Megatron paid attention to it. They themselves had slipped and said the name of the previous faction. It would take some time before they would get used to the new name, though that didn't mean that they weren't glad that the war was over.
"The Wreckers are hard to deal with, but they would be able to do it. I'll just have to get some of the others to make sure that they remain in line. The Wreckers are brash, harsh, and crude at times. They are hard for some of us to deal with. Better if we have some of the others to oversee them and keep them in line." Optimus stated.
"No kidding." Megatron agreed. He had had only been around them a short time, and he had found himself wanting to pound them into scrap at various times.
"I'm certain that Prowl will be able to help decide who leads at which base." Optimus stated.
"And divide up all the bots to go to different bases." Megatron added.
Lennox leaned back. "I've got to admit that you were right about the good news part, Sam. Now, considering you've had a long week, why don't you go back to your quarters and take a few days off?"
"Gladly." Sam set the mug he had been drinking from down before he headed out of the office and back to his quarters for some well-deserved rest.
"Well, better get ready for some changes. Something tells me that we're going to have more soldiers becoming a part of NEST if we're going to have four bases now." Lennox stated.
Megatron frowned. "Does your government plan to use us in their wars now?"
"I don't have a clue, Megatron. What I do know is that they won't force you." Lennox smiled. "Not that they could force you."
"We've been at war a long time, Lennox. There are some of us who are not going to be too keen on going right back into that." Optimus thought about that. "Then again, there are probably some who would be all too happy to help in your wars."
"I can see that." In fact, Lennox could name a few who would want to become involved in their wars.
"Well, we'd better get to Prowl and ask about getting plans for who goes to what base prepared." Megatron stated.
Optimus nodded.
"Just keep me in the loop." Lennox told them.
"Of course, Colonel Lennox." Optimus agreed.
The two holoforms then vanished.
Lennox groaned. "I wish that they would stop suddenly disappearing like that!"
Ratchet was busy putting his brother back together. "Honestly, Wheeljack! When are you going to learn to be careful! And use your processors next time! Combining human and Cybertronian chemicals is madness! Even you should have known better!"
"Sorry, Ratch. I didn't think it would do that to me." Wheeljack stated. His legs had already been reattached and his right arm was attached as well.
Ratchet worked on reattaching the other arm. "After this, you're banned from your lab for the rest of the cycle!"
"What! Why the Pit am I banned!" Wheeljack exclaimed.
CLANK!
"Oww!" Wheeljack clutched his helm with his arm. "What was that for!"
Ratchet glared at him. "Please watch your language in front of Hot Rod and Solar Flare!" He glanced over at where his sparklings were currently playing with a few harmless tools. "I've already had to get onto Ironhide about that."
"What about you, Ratch? You've always been known for your language when dealing with injured bots." Wheeljack reminded him.
"I have curbed my use of such language." Ratchet finished replacing a wire before seeing if a cable was salvageable. "At least in front of them. And in answer to your question, I don't feel like dealing with another explosion. Go bother Skyfire in his lab for all I care. Just do not enter your lab under any circumstances."
Wheeljack groaned, but knew not to cross his brother in such a way. "Fine. I won't go into my lab." He then glanced over. "Can I at least work on schematics?"
"As long as you are not in your lab, I don't care. Just don't even consider entering your lab to work on anything or so help me you won't ever invent again." Ratchet warned.
Wheeljack nodded in understanding.
"Thought I heard your threatening voice, doc." Jazz said cheerfully as he entered the medbay with Prowl.
Ratchet glanced over at them before remembering that Prowl had a check-up scheduled for now. Unfortunately, First Aid and Hook were both out dealing with other medical emergencies. "Just sit down, and I'll be with you after I get through putting Wheeljack back together."
"Of course." Prowl glanced over and saw Sideswipe and Sunstreaker were in stasis on two medical berths. "Why are they here and in stasis?"
"Ironhide let them have it after their prank ruined the circuitry in his cannons. And I haven't bothered with them yet. They aren't in any danger at the moment." Ratchet replied.
Prowl nodded his helm. "At least I'll only have one report to deal with in regard to their behavior for today."
"Yes. It has been a much calmer day with those two in stasis." Ratchet agreed.
"From what ole Megs has said, Skywarp can be just as much of a prankster as those two can be. I guess he hasn't gotten the courage to start pranking anybot yet." Jazz remarked.
"Primus help us all if these two maniacs ever start teaming up with Skywarp. Those glitches will drive me to murder." Ratchet stated.
"And I'll probably be your accomplice." Prowl added.
Ratchet laughed. "I could believe that. I think that those two love pranking the two of us the most." He set the tool he had been using down and picked up a different one to use. "Primus knows that we seem to be the ones that have to deal with their insanity the most."
"Well, right now, I'm not sure that they're going to be willing to prank Prowler right now, though. They did earlier this groon, and he let them have it." Jazz stated.
"I heard that they were hiding from you, but I never heard what it was that you did to scare them so much." Ratchet glanced over at the tactician. "Just why were they so scared of you?"
Prowl smirked. "Well, let's just say that I took out my blaster and threatened to shoot them right in their interfacing panels if they even dared to prank me ever again." He chuckled a bit evilly. "You should have seen the look on their faces. You would have thought that Unicron himself had appeared and threatened to end their lives then and there. Then again, it might have been more like you giving them a death glare that promised a pain that nothing would cure."
"I'd go with the Unicron analogy. My glares have not stopped them from targeting me yet, so I would say that they'd be more fearful of Unicron than they are of me." Ratchet stated. He chuckled. "That is good to know that it is possible to scare them into behaving. Or at least scaring them into hiding from the victim of their pranks."
"Ole Megs wasn't quite so thrilled." Jazz stated. He shook his helm. "'Specially since they were hiding under Prime's desk at the time, making it hard for Megs to do the work that he needed to get done."
"Megatron has not had to deal with those two as long as we have. Let them be his processor-ache for a while." Ratchet stated.
Hot Rod had made his way over to where Prowl and Jazz were and started clicking at them as he reached up for them.
Prowl smiled down at Hot Rod before he reached down and picked the orange and yellow mech up. "And just what have you been up to, Hot Rod?"
Hot Rod started clicking at Prowl, happy to have the SIC's attention.
Ratchet sighed. "He loves getting so much attention."
"Well, Hot Rod and Solar Flare are the first sparklings that we've had in far too long." Jazz walked over and picked up Solar Flare. "I think Bee was the last sparkling around until these two."
Solar Flare had a tool in her hand that she started waving around and ended up hitting Jazz in his forehelm.
"Ow!" Jazz cringed at the slight pain she had caused.
"What happened?" Ratchet immediately looked over to where his daughter was with the saboteur.
"She hit me!" Jazz's voice was full of shock as he looked down at Solar Flare who had a smile on her face as she continued waving the tool around.
Wheeljack burst out laughing. "Well, we know who she took after. She has Ratchet's tendency to whack others with tools." He continued snickering. "All she needs is to start shouting and be a medic."
Ratchet sighed. "Solar Flare." He knew she was young, but she needed to know that she couldn't hit others. "You shouldn't hit others with anything. It's not nice."
Prowl started laughing, a rarity for the SIC. "They have an excellent role model for not hitting others, Ratchet." Also rare that he made a joke.
Ratchet cast a glare at the tactician.
"That's right! Solar Flare needs the glare, too!" Wheeljack stated.
Ratchet was sorely tempted to whack Wheeljack in the helm with a wrench, but knew that would defeat the purpose of what he had just said. So he went with a different approach and tugged on a sensitive wire.
"Ow!" Wheeljack cringed. "What did you do that for?"
"Why do you think?" Ratchet retorted.
Jazz held Solar Flare in one arm while he rubbed his helm with his free hand. "Honestly, I don't think she meant to hit me, doc. I think she was just excited and started waving the tool around. It was an accident."
"I suppose so." Ratchet finished with the rewiring and replaced the rest of the arm. "Come back in a while, and I'll repair the rest of the surface damage. It's not critical, so it can be dealt with later."
"Sure thing. Sky's gotten pretty good at dealing with surface damage, so he'll probably take care of it." Wheeljack hopped off the berth before he headed out of the medbay. "Thanks, Ratch! See ya later!"
Ratchet sighed before turning his attention to Prowl. "Now I can check you over."
Prowl handed Hot Rod over to Jazz, who was all too happy to take both sparklings. The TIC figured that he could use all the practice with sparklings that he could get with his own sparkling on the way.
Ratchet did a basic examination of all of Prowl's systems and found that all of his levels were where they should be. He did notice that his energy levels were a bit low, but he had a pretty good idea of why. "Could you open your chest plates for me, Prowl?"
Prowl did as asked and sent the command for his chest plates to open.
Ratchet examined Prowl and came to the realization that he was right. "Well, you're doing just fine, Prowl, although you're further along than we originally thought. The spark has already moved into your gestation chamber."
Prowl was startled. "But that wasn't supposed to happen for another two groon!"
Jazz himself was shocked to hear that.
"Prowl, I can explain that. When in the first stage of gestation, it's impossible to tell whose frame type the sparkling will take after, the sire or the carrier. Considering that the sparkling's spark is smaller and has already moved into the gestation chamber, I would say that the sparkling has Jazz's frame type." Ratchet stated.
"Could you tell that by the size of the spark?" Jazz asked.
"In some cases. This one is one of them. Sparklings who have the larger frame type normally have larger sparks in the early stages of gestation. The same is true of sparklings who have smaller frame types. Their sparks are smaller." Ratchet replied.
"I always thought smaller sparks meant something was wrong." Jazz murmured.
"In some cases, that is true. Something like that would have shown up in other readings I took. The only problem is Prowl's energy levels are low, but that's because he's in the second stage. Once he starts taking in two cubes of medical grade, the levels will be where they should be. I'd like you to come back at the end of the breem so I can make sure your levels are right." Ratchet told him.
"Of course." Prowl agreed as he closed his chest plates.
"Hey, doc. Could you have told the type of frame Hot Rod and Solar Flare would have had in the early stages?" Jazz asked, curious.
"It would have been harder in my case, Jazz." Ratchet was making marks on Prowl's medical chart as he spoke. "The discrepancy between my frame type in comparison to Optimus and Ironhide's is much lower than the discrepancy between your frame types. It would be difficult to tell since we don't have such a wide gap in the size of our frames." Ratchet answered.
"Never knew that." Jazz murmured.
"Indeed. Most do not realize it." Ratchet finished with Prowl's medical chart and returned it to the organized files on the Autocons.
"Thank you again, Ratchet. When should I have the second cube of medical grade energon?" Prowl asked.
"Come and get it with your last regular grade cube of the day." Ratchet replied.
Prowl nodded.
Jazz then handed Solar Flare and Hot Rod back to Ratchet before he followed Prowl out the door.
Ratchet then walked back over to the area of the medbay designated for the sparklings to play. "I need to repair Sideswipe and Sunstreaker now. You two just play over here."
The two sparklings immediately went to playing with some of the toys that had been moved into medbay for them to play with.
Ratchet smiled before he got to work on Sunstreaker.
Barricade went flying through the air before he crashed into the ground on his side and then bounced up into the air once before crashing onto his abdominal plating. He went skidding across the ground before he finally came to a halt. The black and white mech released a loud groan as pain made itself known in his processors.
A loud laugh was heard. "You're getting your aft handed to you by an old-timer, 'Cade!" Smokescreen so enjoyed tormenting his older brother.
Barricade growled before getting up. "Shut up, Smokey!"
Ironhide growled before glaring at Smokescreen. "Watch who you're calling an old-timer before you end up being next on the training list after Barricade!"
Smokescreen wisely said nothing.
"Should I be worried?"
Ironhide turned toward his red and blue mate. "What?"
Optimus raised an optic ridge, clearly asking Ironhide why he was fighting since the war was over.
"Hey! He's the one who challenged me to a training match, Optimus." Ironhide said, holding up his hands.
"He did. I heard it, Prime." Smokescreen grinned. "And 'Hide's wiping the floor with my brother."
"Can it, Smokey, or I'll wipe the floor with you!" the short tempered Praxian snapped.
Realizing that it was just a somewhat friendly match, Optimus let it go and continued on. But decided to give Ironhide a little reminder. :Just remember that we are no longer at war, 'Hide.:
:No worries, Orion. Can't guarantee he won't end up scuffed, but he won't end up dead or critical.: Ironhide replied.
Knowing that that was the best he was going to get from his mate, he let it go and closed off the bond.
Ironhide then turned back to Barricade with a grin. "Ready to go again?"
The answer was Barricade charging at him.
Ironhide easily ducked under Barricade's swing before he twisted his arm and slammed it hard into Barricade's back before he grabbed the Praxian by the arm and flipped him over so that Barricade ended up on the ground once more. Only he was on his back this time.
"I may be old, youngling, but I can still beat you any time." Ironhide said.
Barricade snarled. "One of these days you'll be the one that ends up on the ground all the time, Ironhide!"
Ironhide grinned. "You're not the first to say that. And I highly doubt that you're going to be the last to say that."
Smokescreen laughed some more.
Barricade made a mental note to kill his brother later on for laughing at him.
Ratchet had easily finished repairing Sunstreaker and was now working on Sideswipe. He had to say that he was impressed that Ironhide had managed to knock the two offline without causing too much damage. He would have to thank his lover for not giving him too much extra work.
Sunstreaker was playing with Hot Rod and Solar Flare while he waited for his twin to be repaired. The yellow mech would never admit it, and he would murder the one who ever suggested it, but he really did love sparklings and wouldn't mind having a sparkling someday.
Ratchet chose not to comment on the fact that the vain, normally stuck-up bot was playing with the sparklings. He decided it was best left unsaid. He would have to remember to allow Sideswipe and Sunstreaker to sparkling-sit for them.
"What happened?" Sideswipe asked as he found himself staring up into Ratchet's un-amused faceplates.
"You and your brother decided to play a prank on Ironhide, who let you both have it. You've been in stasis for most of the day since I didn't have time to deal with you until now." Ratchet then stepped away from the red twin and went to update their medical charts. "You can both go. And stay out of trouble."
Sideswipe hopped off the berth to see his brother standing and waiting.
No way was Sunstreaker allowing Sideswipe to see that he loved sparklings. Not right now, anyway.
"Thanks, Ratch!" Sideswipe called as he followed his brother out of the medbay.
Ratchet sighed before working on the charts while keeping an audio tuned to the sparklings.
The sound of heavy pede steps reached the CMO's audios, and he heard the sparklings squeal in excitement.
Ratchet turned and found himself looking at Optimus, who had already knelt down by the sparklings with a smile on his face. "I'm assuming that you're not here on official business."
"Not really. I thought I would see how you were doing." Optimus stated.
"I'm fine. Nothing major except for Wheeljack, who wasn't really in any danger." Ratchet replied. He finished with the charts before putting them in their proper place.
"I noticed the twins just left." Optimus commented.
"That's from what Ironhide did to them this morning. Now was the first chance I had to get to them. They weren't in any danger, either. I'll have to commend Ironhide. He actually knocked them into stasis without causing them too much damage."
Optimus chuckled. "He doesn't want to make too much work for you now. He'll find other ways to get his frustration at the twins' antics out of his systems."
"Meaning shooting range, training, or 'facing." Ratchet mused.
"Pretty much." Optimus knew from experience that Ironhide loved the last option the best.
Ratchet nodded his helm. "Any news?"
"A good bit. Sam has done some political working for us and has secured us three new bases for NEST operatives and for the Autobots. I mean Autocons." Optimus still did that.
Ratchet smiled before turning to his lover. "That's good, though. It means we'll have more space."
"Indeed. I agree with you, Ratchet. There's a base in Washington, and the President wanted either Megatron or myself there. I figure I had better be the one there since Megatron would prefer to deal with the human government as little as possible." Optimus remarked.
"I don't blame him." Ratchet stated.
"You and Ironhide will be coming with me. We've decided that bonded couples or those in serious, committed relationships will not be split up." Optimus said.
"Bonded couples have been split up enough as it is. I think that that is a wise decision." Ratchet stated.
Optimus looked down at the sparklings for a moment before making a decision. "All I have to do is paperwork later on. I can take Hot Rod and Solar Flare with me so that you can concentrate on your work."
Ratchet glanced back at the Prime. "Are you sure?"
"Of course I am. Besides, Ironhide was training with Barricade, so I get the feeling that Barricade will be in here before long." Optimus replied.
Ratchet sighed. "Most injuries now will come from Wheeljack's explosions, training battles, or pranks." He shook his helm. "Go on and take them. I'm certain that they would love to spend time with you. Just watch them and make sure that they don't get into anything."
"I will, Ratchet." Optimus assured him. He picked up the sparklings and walked over to give his mate a kiss before leaving.
Ratchet decided to do inventory on the infirmary, despite the fact that he loathed inventory. He figured he needed to see what was needed since there were more bots on base. He didn't think that it would be soon that the new bases were ready, so he had to make sure that they had everything that they needed.
That night, Ratchet returned to his quarters to find that both of his mates were busy playing with the sparklings. He took note that Hot Rod and Solar Flare were thrilled to have their sires' full attention. Ratchet didn't need his bond with his creations to tell him they were glad to have their attention. The medic merely stood there and watched as the two sparklings played with their sires.
Optimus and Ironhide had been so engrossed in playing with their creations that they hadn't even noticed that Ratchet had returned. Instead, the two continued to play with their son and daughter.
It wasn't until their tanks started to let them know that they needed to refuel that Solar Flare and Hot Rod turned their attention to their carrier, who had remained standing in the doorway.
"When did you get here?" Ironhide asked, surprised.
"I've been here for the last fifteen kliks, Ironhide. Neither of you noticed me." Ratchet stated. He turned and headed into the kitchen to get their energon.
Solar Flare and Hot Rod followed.
Optimus and Ironhide felt a bit foolish that they had not noticed Ratchet's presence for so long. The two rose to their feet and joined the others in the kitchen.
"By the way, Optimus, I'm planning a base-wide check-up for all Autocons." Ratchet said.
"Why?" Ironhide hated check-ups.
"Because I need to know the state of all former Decepticons' systems, and I should update all former Autobots as well. The only one exempt is Prowl simply because I see him often enough as it is." Ratchet stated.
Optimus wasn't a fool. This was merely Ratchet informing him of what was to be done. As CMO, Ratchet had the authority to make this mandatory, which meant that not even Optimus and Megatron were exempt from it. "Very well. I'll announce it and let them know a schedule will be set up for when they need to see you."
"I already have a schedule made out. It's on your desk." Ratchet replied.
"All right." Optimus replied.
Ratchet had gotten the sparklings' energon first and handed it to them before he gave Ironhide and Optimus's theirs.
"I heard something interesting from Jazz today, Ratchet." Ironhide grinned. "Heard that Flare has already picked up some of your habits."
Optimus raised an optics ridge. "And just what are you talking about, Ironhide?"
"Simply put, Solar Flare hit Jazz in the face with a tool she had while he was holding her." Ironhide replied.
"What!" Optimus very early dropped his cube of energon.
"Calm down, Optimus. Jazz thinks she was just excited and was waving the tool in her hand. It was an accident that she hit him. She wasn't trying to." Ratchet assured him. The medic turned to face them, sipping at his own energon. "Besides, I got onto her about it and told her she shouldn't do that."
"That's like telling the fox to guard the henhouse." Ironhide stated.
"Do what?" Ratchet was confused.
"Human saying." Ironhide replied.
Optimus and Ratchet both looked it up.
"Ironhide, I will have you know that I have cut back on my use of language and hitting. I'm not going to teach them bad habits." Ratchet retorted.
:He has been doing better on the language end at least.: Optimus pointed out.
:Yeah, but for how long?: Ironhide replied.
Ratchet glared. "Stop. With. The. Bond."
The way he punctuated each word had the two doing as asked.
"And I'm not going to teach them bad habits, Ironhide." Ratchet stated.
Ironhide held up his hands. "Never said you would. I was just pointing out that you have a tendency to do those things."
"Well, you don't need to worry about that." Ratchet stated.
The two nodded.
The family enjoyed the rest of their quiet evening together.
Optimus and Ironhide were very happy with the way their lives had turned out since coming to Earth. They had to admit that if they hadn't come to Earth, they might not have everything they do now. It turned out to be a good thing that they ended up on Earth and that the AllSpark was destroyed.
All they had left to do was bond with Ratchet, which they would do very soon.
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