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This chapter needed a bit of work to be presentation ready. I also apologize that I've let the dourness of current events to drag me backwards, slowing writing time and quantity. Hopefully this will improve as we get toward warmer days and lighter skies.
May laughter fill your days as we continue the journey.
Thundercracker considered her gravely as Jazz held her. She sprayed the oil around Thundercracker's optics carefully, avoiding sensors easily.
Starscream barely got his optics oiled when the mission to recover the hatchlings and secure the Decepticons received go ahead. He left along with a freshly visored Soundwave to give the mission it's best chance of success.
She leaned back, "Give that a shot."
Thundercracker blinked, rolled his optics then focused on her, "Viable."
"Just viable?" Sarah scowled at him, "What isn't working at optimum?"
He looked to Skywarp who sat watching.
She got it, "We'll let the oil do it's work. You let me know when you're ready for more. Jazz, would you take me over to Skywarp?"
"Sure thing, chief."
She started on Skywarp, losing herself in making him feel better. Time slowly crept by,
while at the back of her mind she tried to think of ways to help Bumblebee and Mark.
She couldn't believe two deities were so stupid and inconsiderate to force this on them both.
She'd have done it far more in keeping with free will.
Sitting back, she hit upon what she hoped would be a solution.
"Jazz, how's Bumblebee?"
"Ratchet says he may come around soon," Jazz replied.
"Okay, I'll finish up Skywarp then take a break from oil."
She throughly finished Skywarp's optics, asked him his feelings on it.
She got a beautiful grin and sigh.
"Thundercracker, if we need to apply more oil, you contact me. I don't want any of you to go without," Sarah stared at him.
"I understand," he replied before moving closer to Skywarp, hugging him to his side, both Seekers mirroring how they'd been found.
Hopefully Starscream would be back to break that image into a more pleasant one.
"Jazz, I think Medbay would be best," Sarah yawned, "I want to head off as much confusion as possible."
They arrived to Bumblebee slowly opening his optics, dazedly observing the room.
Turning from Ballast who sat beside a berth with a small figure, Ratchet walked over, leaned in, gently gesturing to Bumblebee.
Bumblebee made a querying and disbelieving noise, his optics getting huge. He started venting fast as his optics twirled.
Ratchet braced a servo on Bumblebee, making more gestures, speaking in a private line.
She could see it wasn't helping as Bumblebee flapped his doorwings violently.
"Bumblebee," Sarah called as Jazz carried her closer.
His optics jerked to her, panic evident.
One she'd felt deep in herself too often.
"Bumblebee, we are here," Sarah noted no ebb of the panic, so she added, "Mark is okay."
Ratchet glared at her as Bumblebee surged up.
The panic had changed to concern.
"You collapsed forward," she continued, "Which prevented harm to Mark."
He slumped, the vents slowing.
Ratchet sent her a surprised look, then returned to gesturing to Bumblebee.
Jazz moved so he stood near Bumblebee and Ratchet, holding Sarah gently.
Bumblebee whined, looking from Ratchet to Jazz to her.
"I wanted to give you some time to absorb what happened before calling Mark in," Sarah softly stated, "Do you want me to call Mark now, or do you need a breem?"
Bumblebee shivered, his optics shifting expressions rapidly.
He lifted his gaze to Sarah, (Now, please.)
(Mark, please come to Medbay. Bumblebee is awake.)
(Coming,) Mark replied.
Ratchet helped Bumblebee sit up, but stopped him from standing.
Mantra carried Mark in, setting him down on the side table next to Bumblebee's berth.
He stepped back, secured the door.
Mark looked nervously at Bumblebee then sputtered, "I..I'm sor-rry, Bee," he took a deep breath, "I didn't mean this when I thought about finding a girl like you. I would never hurt you like this, or disrespect you."
Bumblebee's optics watered, he gestured.
Mark chuckled lightly, "We kinda pushed fate thinking the same sort of things at the same moment."
Sarah folded her arms and corrected, "Neither of you incurred this. This was malicious mischief of two deities who should be treating us better. Put the idea of you being responsible for this from your minds."
"How?" Mark asked.
She grinned, making Mark back up, and Bumblebee's optics whirl uneasily.
"We are going to make a ceremony so this can't happen randomly or without consent again," she knew someone else had joined them when she made the declaration, someone who'd see to it.
"Um, how?" Mark nervously chuckled.
Sarah spoke gently, grateful she'd listened to Skywarp earlier. He'd seen Bumblebee and Mark playing an approved game, and asked if he and Thundercracker could submit a request to play it, too, "Put yourselves back to playing Racetrack Six."
Mark got it immediately, "Yeah, Bumblebee won by knocking my car off the track. You've gotten really good, Bee."
Bumblebee looked confused, so Sarah prompted, "You like hanging out with Mark, especially when you two can play games or watch movies together?"
He nodded, looking between the two of them.
"Go back to that moment, relive it," Sarah gently requested, glad to see his optics light with understanding.
He turned to Mark, doing a private conversation which Mark responded to on the same line, both gesturing.
Watching the slowly lightening gestures and postures, she let them air out their thoughts now that they admitted they loved each other.
They wound down, a tense expression creeping up as they thought on what happened today.
"Now that you have spoken from your heart and spark to shared affection," she spoke soothingly, "do you wish to deepen your bond, knowing love will light your way in the darkness of an unknown future?"
Grateful they both paused, actually thought on the words, they looked at each other, nodded, then looked at her. They affirmed with words at her smile.
"With this confirmation of mutual respect and love," she worried over this next bit so she did it gently, "A new generation may come from your bond. Will you cherish this continuation of your love, either planned or not, and raise the sparkling as part of a family?"
Bumblebee twitched, making her wish she could grip his servo.
Instead, a large servo reached past her, covered Bumblebee's shoulder.
Ratchet's breathed, "Primus," confirming the identity of the servo's owner.
Mark stared up at Bumblebee, gently gripping the side of his servo, "We'll get through this, Bee."
Dropping his gaze from his deity, Bumblebee whined.
Mark patted Bumblebee's servo, "I'm sure Ratchet will clip us both with footballs if we mess up."
"Don't disrespect Primus," Ratchet muttered.
"I would argue that we disrespected these younglings unfairly," Primus replied gently, "Yet I see you rising to the occasion. You are the first forging this path, though hopefully the only ones to be driven into it without pleasure."
Sarah turned her head, looked at Primus curiously.
"We are of a mind to ease this to an acceptable form," Primus nodded to her, "including normal relationship moments done in privacy," he grinned lightly, "For most partners. With this ceremony, we are prepared for more couples between our lovely peoples."
Ratchet put his servo to his faceplates, sighing in resignation.
"Come now, Ratchet," Primus chuckled, "New life is always welcomed."
Sarah thought about Galloway and those like him who could be trouble, then shouldered the burden, "If those in power don't easily, I will shame them into it. We'll have a whole bunch of hatchlings here shortly, so hiding it is not feasible. On the other side, a few more sparklings in the mix will blend with a crowd."
"Humans already have a hard time with us after the Decepticon attack in Egypt," Ratchet growled, "When they find out we reproduce and have sparklings or hatchlings, they'll freak out, maybe worse."
"Then we do a preemptive action. Assuming Optimus approves the plan, I can speak with the UN Security Council about the upcoming arrival of refugee children. I don't want to infringe on the children's rights to privacy, but sometimes a picture can turn blindness into sympathy and empathy," Sarah turned to Primus, "We'll make it work so they stay safe."
"Optimus' team has arrived at the ship and secured it," Primus smiled at everyone, "You will be one people again. Until all are one."
"Until all are one," many replied as Primus vanished, his servo the last to fade out from Bumblebee's shoulder.
Bumblebee looked at Mark, played a clip, "I'll stand by you."
Mark nodded, "Same to you, Bee. We'll make this work. I'll ask for forgiveness ahead of time for any blunders, though."
They relaxed slightly.
Ballast spoke softly, "Is there something I can do to help?"
Sarah looked at him, "What do you want to do?"
"I was a secretary on Cybertron. Is there a position here I can do that again?"
Sarah grinned, "I may have a few places where you can help."
The groups separated, going to do what they did best. Work together.