Epilogue
Aero stepped out into the bright mid-afternoon Alterian sunshine, his optics narrowed behind his visor as he looked out over the deceivingly quiet landscape. The long grasses of his meadow moved in a gentle wind that blew down from the mountains while animals in the jungle called out and scurried about. If not for his involvement with the fiasco at Hardcore and Skyshot's residence, he would think it was just another day.
Simply thinking about the nasty mech made Aero's temper rise and he found himself grabbing the edge of the residence door to steady himself. The mech was gone and Skyshot was in the medical center in the city while Quicksilver was back aboard the Nemesis in Renegade's care. It was time for him to move on, but there were a few things left to do.
Pushing away from the wall, he vented a sigh and looked down at the pad in his servo. The results from the tests he had performed on Windsplitter had completed and he was certain of what he had suspected. Now he simply had to tell her creator and give him the alternatives.
Stepping beyond the door, he listened as it swished shut, stopping when he heard laughter echoing up from the back field. Stepping around, but keeping himself hidden well enough that his sparkling would not be able to see him, Aero watched as Fusion darted between Solstice and Luminescence, giggling wildly. The two femmes took turns trying to catch her, purposely sweeping their servos too far from her to actually capture her. Both were smiling wildly and Luminescence looked to his hiding place and nodded her helm quickly. They would keep Fusion occupied while he made his 'getaway'.
With a smirk, he turned and moved back to the front of the residence. In the last few days, he had flown more than he had in several Alterian years. While the air felt good over his vents and across his armor, he still hated the speed at which he reached his destination. There was never enough time to think about things before he reached the object of his quandary.
Landing atop the Nemesis, Aero looked about at the gathered Eradicons. None of them paid him much attention. He had come and gone from the ship on several occasions and, as long as he stayed in the designated areas, he was left alone. This cycle he was heading for the residence that Renegade and his conglomerate of a family had taken aboard the warship.
Moving through the ship's interior, he ignored the curious looks from the bots he met along the way, gripping his pad tightly and maintaining a scowl on his faceplate. More than a few of the bots stepped aside, allowing him to pass. Aero had seen this behavior before while traversing the corridors with Renegade. The mech's sheer presence made others side step him, but Aero knew it was all about attitude. If they thought you were likely to rip them in half, then they wouldn't get in your way.
His journey to the residence went smoothly and he stood before the door, considering the panel. As he lifted a servo to tap the icon that would announce his arrival, stopping when he heard the approach of another bot behind him. Turning his helm to look over his shoulder plating, he watched as the mech approached, lowering his servo from the panel.
"Ah, you must be Aero," the mech's voice was oily and sneering. Turning so that he was facing the slender flyer fully, Aero watched him but did not speak. He knew Starscream well enough from the dossiers he had collected to be wary of him.
"Such a dedicated mech to enter the flagship of the Decepticons on a regular basis in order to visit and check up on his friends," Starscream said as he moved to the side and forced Aero to follow his movements. He did not want this mech behind him or out of his line of sight at any time.
"Tell me, are you really that dedicated or is there something else you are after?" Starscream asked, his red optics gazing into Aero's visor.
Crossing his arms over his chestplate, Aero planted his pedes and returned the glare. Starscream was slightly taller than him, forcing him to look up slightly but he did not allow to bother him. There was little doubt in Aero's processor that he could take the Decepticon Second in Command by surprise and disable him before he knew what had happened. Unfortunately, that would also alert Megatron as to who Aero truly was.
"I am simply here to discuss the results of Cascade's sparklings' tests with him. After I do that, I will be on my way," Aero growled, moving to the side slightly and tapping the icon to announce his arrival, watching Starscream out of the corner of his optics.
Starscream's optics widened and Aero shuttered his optics at his realization of just how he had put that. Venting a sigh, he turned and looked at the flyer, waiting.
"What do you mean sparklings? He only has one of those vermin," Starscream growled and Aero's optics snapped open at the use of the term 'vermin'.
"Windsplitter is a twin spark," Aero snapped as the door swept aside.
An audible gasp was emitted from whoever had opened it and Aero turned to look. Cascade stood there, a strange wheezing noise coming from his vents as he openly stared at Aero. Beside him was a very triumphant looking Windsplitter, though she also looked slightly confused.
"Twin… spark?" Cascade managed to speak and Aero lifted a brow ridge, waiting for the younger mech to either comprehend the words he had just spoken or to collapse backwards onto the decking behind him.
With a few more odd noises, Cascade seemed to believe the latter was the better choice. Aero watched as his optics flickered and he began to fall, reaching out only to pull Windsplitter away so she was not in his path. A vibration passed through the decking as Cascade hit it full force, laying prone in the doorway on his back.
"Is dad okay?" Windsplitter's question made Aero look over at her with a small smirk.
"He'll be fine," Aero spoke softly before picking her up and standing to his full height once more, "Is there anything else you'd like to ask me, Commander?"
For a moment Starscream said nothing as he stared down at Cascade's prone form. Then he snapped out of it and looked over at Aero with a scowl.
"Nothing of importance, Aero," Starscream snapped before straightening his backstrut, placing his servos behind his back, and walking away.
Aero watched him until he heard the slight gasp from inside the residence. He turned to find Dunestar standing over Cascade, looking up at Aero with silver optics filled with a mixture of concern and good humor.
"What happened?" Dunestar asked and he noticed the corner of her lipplates were quivering as she fought to keep from smiling.
"Dad heard I has a twin and passed out," Windsplitter answered with a small shrug and Dunestar could no longer contain her smile.
Aero knew there was a reason he liked the femme, "Take her and I'll drag him inside so the doors at least close."
Dunestar reached out and took Windsplitter from his arms as he stepped over the mech's legs and into the residence. With a huff of hot air, Aero bent down and gripped Cascade beneath the arms, dragging him back far enough for the doors to close. He then unceremoniously dropped his upper half back onto the decking.
"Windy has a twin?" Dunestar asked, barely checking to make sure Cascade was okay.
"Yes, she does," Aero stated with a slight growl of annoyance, "And not a single 'medical professional' figured it out."
"Most medics don't spend as much time with sparks as you have, Aero," Dunestar pointed out and Aero looked up at her, noticed the twinkle in her optic and huffed again.
"Regardless, the anomaly is actually her sister's spark, partially absorbed by her spark," Aero waved a negligent servo and moved to take a seat without being asked.
Dunestar followed him, sitting down opposite and placing Windsplitter on her lap.
"So I'm not crazy?" Windsplitter asked and Aero looked down at her.
"You were never crazy," Aero stated firmly, "Even if your sister's spark had been an anomaly and you were hearing voices, you would not have been crazy."
"Can you split them?" Dunestar asked after giving Windsplitter a beatific smile.
Aero found himself congratulating Renegade silently. If he had not been bonded when he met Dunestar, he would have been tempted to be a little nicer to her and try to entice her into a relationship with him. The femme was smart, easy-going, and a fighter. Her personality was simply icing on the proverbial cake.
"Yes, I can, though it will be a long and difficult process. I still have a protoform available, though it is much smaller than Windsplitter's. So her twin will actually appear to be the younger sister," Aero nodded as he spoke, considering the work ahead of him.
"I'm just glad you still had one available," Dunestar vented a small sigh, "I think it will do both of them a lot of good to be separated."
"Agreed," Aero nodded again, "It is the last of my traditional protoforms, I got lucky and found it mixed it in with the junk a dealer was selling as scrap. I had to perform a few repairs, but otherwise it is wholly and completely Cybertronian. She will not have to deal with the issues of an Alterian protoform the way Fuse does."
As he has continued speaking, he had lowered his voice. Aero knew Renegade would value his privacy, as well as that of his young ones, but he did not know if the residence had been soundproofed yet or not. The last thing he wanted the warlord to know about him was that he had a viable sparkling that had been created without the sparking of a femme. That would be a bad cycle for them all.
"Thank you for all your help," Dunestar smiled sadly as she looked down at Windsplitter. The sparkling was looking at him with rapt interest.
"You're welcome… I will check on Quicksilver and Renegade before I leave. I assume he is still with her in the medical bay," Aero stated, watching the sparkling while hearing a groan from Cascade's current position on the decking.
"Yes, he is. He's not leaving her side and Knockout says that he feels as though he is working with a dangerous predator in his medical bay," Dunestar spoke calmly though a little fear did flitter across her features.
"His parental programming is making him more aggressive toward those he doesn't trust around his offspring. He'll be fine with time and the medic will be fine as well, as long as he doesn't purposely injure Quicksilver," Aero stated firmly, watching as Cascade began to get to his pedes, rubbing his helm and looking confused.
"How is Skyshot?" Dunestar asked softly, her optics turned to Cascade as he joined them, plopping down beside her on the couch and leaning back.
"She will survive," Aero acknowledged. He had not been to see her since the fight. However, Luminescence had been to the medical center numerous times and filled him in on her friend's status.
"Silver said something about Skyshot's being sparked again… at least that's what Rene said it sounded like," Dunestar continued in a calm, even tone as she handed Windsplitter off to her creator.
"Yes, I heard her say it as well," Aero spoke with some reserve, glancing over at Cascade before moving forward, "Analong believes Skyshot imagined it all. That she was desperate for her sparkling back or a new one to take Silver's place. He remembered the conversation with her, vividly, about removing a new spark because of Hardcore's anger issues… he told her then that there was nothing to remove, that only her spark resided in her chamber."
"Primus," Dunestar vented heavily and ran a slender servo over her faceplate.
"It explains a lot that happened prior to your arrival here, I'm afraid," Aero said with a slight sigh before turning his attention back to Cascade, "Bring Windsplitter to my residence tomorrow morning and I will begin the procedure. You are… welcome to stay with us until it is completed."
"I feel very welcome," Cascade sneered as Aero frowned at him.
"I only extend the invitation because Lumia would rant at me if I didn't. I don't care where you stay as long as you stay out of my way," Aero snapped back, his voice back to its normal gruff state. He shoved off the couch and stood up, stretching his joints before tossing the pad with Windsplitter's test results to Cascade.
"What is this?" Cascade asked, looking at the pad in confusion.
"Your daughter's imaginary friend," Aero growled before turning and walking away, "Next time your daughter tells you something, listen to more than her words."
With this as his parting shot, Aero exited the residence, ignoring Cascade when he tried to call him back. He walked with purpose through the corridors, riding back up in the lift before getting off at the deck containing the medical bay. No one bothered him again, as he moved through the corridor silently. In fact, he did not see a single mech as he moved along.
Entering the medical bay, he squinted into the bare lighting, adjusting his visor's settings until he was able to see just as clearly here as he had inside the residence. Quicksilver's front berth was cleared of all medical supplies and the femme herself. He moved to the back and found her settled on a new berth, near the far corner. Renegade maintained his vigil over her, his green optics shuttered for the moment.
"I had to move her, Renegade was becoming agitated with so many bots walking past or even near her," Knockout commented as he approached Aero. The medic had become genial over the long hours Aero had assisted him. The feeling was not mutual.
"An intelligent decision from a 'Con for once, color me impressed," Aero responded sarcastically before continuing on his way, stopping when he reached Quicksilver's side. He perused the information displayed on the holo-screen behind her, glad to see that she was responding well to treatment.
"Aero," Renegade's deep voice drew his gaze to the side and his frown deepened.
"You are not recharging, again," Aero snarled, taking a scanner out of Knockout's servo without asking.
"You're welcome," Knockout muttered with a wave of the same servo.
Aero ignored the medic and began scanning Renegade's form, going as deep as the servo-held scanner could go. His optics narrowed as he noticed several inconsistencies and he turned back to Knockout.
"Do you still have that random couch out here?" Aero demanded and Knockout looked at him with a smirk.
"It's not so random when I was aware that Renegade would be here with a badly damaged youngling," Knockout responded before nodding, "Yes, I can have Dreadwing bring it over here."
Aero grunted and turned back to Renegade, staring down at him sternly, "You will recharge. I will force you into stasis if need be."
Renegade looked about to argue but reconsidered and nodded, "Very well."
"Rene, I know you are worried about the youngling. But Knockout seems to be an adequate medic," Aero stated, ignoring the snort and muttered words of Knockout, "She is safe now. You have made sure of it."
The big mech vented a heavy sigh and looked down at his servos contemplatively. Aero waited him out. If it had been Fusion, he knew he'd have torn the mech to shreds and anyone who dared to approach her afterwards if he didn't trust them completely. Which was very few bots. It was a feeling only another creator could possibly understand.
"I want the t-cog installed when you complete her repairs as well as an emergency beacon," Renegade stated and Aero turned so that Knockout was completely visible.
The medic, to his benefit, did not look startled when Renegade suddenly started speaking to him instead of Aero. Knockout turned and joined them, his gaze fixed on Renegade.
"She will protest when she is well enough to do so," Knockout pointed out, though he seemed uninterested in arguing.
"And she will be informed that it was a decision made for her safety," Renegade stated firmly, "I'm putting my pede down on this as her caregiver."
"Understood," Knockout canted his helm slightly and glanced over at the youngling before venting a small sigh, "As long as you are here to explain it to her."
"Unless Quicksilver has changed a great deal, I doubt she'll get violent over it or even argue very strongly," Aero stated before turning back to Renegade, "As soon as Dreadwing brings that couch over here, I want you to lie down. Knockout can put you into stasis if you argue with him. Dawn's spark needs rest and so do you."
Renegade lifted his servos in mock surrender and chuckled slightly though his optics still had a haunted look in them, "Yes sir."
Snorting, Aero turned from him and looked back to Quicksilver. Patches covered the vast majority of her frame. Her wings were gone, completely taken from her though four of the spots where they should have been looked clean and undamaged. He was glad he'd had the foresight to design them for easy removal in case an opponent focused on them. A patch had been fixed over the space where her left optic should have been, claw-like marks extending above the patch. Beneath her helm, her right shoulder ended in nothing. Knockout had removed what little had remained of her arm and tied off the reception cables and Energon lines, leaving the shoulder open. No doubt it was one of the first things he planned upon replacing. Aero would have to request the replacement arm so he could rearm the youngling.
"I must go and prepare my lab," Aero spoke to the empty air, looking over at Renegade. Green optics watched him steadily, never leaving his frame. Aero knew, should he make the wrong move toward the youngling, it would be his last. Not even his weapons systems could protect him from an assault of that magnitude.
"Cascade knows?" Renegade asked and Aero nodded his helm in confirmation.
"Good," Renegade grunted slightly.
"Knows what?" Knockout asked.
Aero looked over at him and smirked, "It's need to know and you don't need to know."
Turning to look at Renegade once more, his expression calm and serious again, Aero nodded in farewell, "Keep the youngling safe, Rene. Help her grow and mature into a strong, independent femme."
"I will," Renegade promised, standing as Dreadwing appeared with the couch firmly held in his servos, an Eradicon following him with the other end held in his servos, chatting away in a chipper fashion.
Aero watched for a short second before turning and walking away without another word. He exited the medical bay and made his way to the ship's highest level and onto the outer hull. There were a few more Eradicons up there than before, but otherwise it was still a relaxed sense. He did not know why the warship seemed to be in such a relaxed sense of habitation, nor did he care, as long as Megatron did not try anything stupid while he was visiting the planet.
The operation to split Windsplitter's spark from that of her sister took several Alterian days worth of work. By the time Aero emerged from his laboratory, he was exhausted. When he stepped into his residence and Cascade nearly jumped him, Aero lost it.
"Back off, now, if you know what is good for you!" Aero snarled, directly into the bronze and red mech's faceplate, "I am not in the mood for your antics right now."
"My antics?! Are my daughters all right?!" Cascade demanded, his optics wide with worry. Aero doubted the mech had recharged much since bringing Windsplitter to his residence for the operation. Luminescence had come down to check on Aero's progress off and on, but otherwise there had been no way of getting information to the worried mech.
Still, Aero had little sympathy for him, "Do you think I'd allow them to extinguish?"
At that, Cascade started to get angry. Aero watched as he balled his servos into fists and his arms started to shake. The younger mech did not want to do what was in his processor, not if he wanted to be a creator to his femlings.
"Enough you two," Luminescence's voice broke through the angry and Aero looked over at her, venting a sigh and rubbing his faceplate with his servos.
"Your little spark splitter is fine and so is Windsplitter," Aero stated, "They are resting right now. I'm going to send a lot of instructions with you for yourself, Renegade, Dunestar, and that pretty mech of a medic aboard that ship."
"Can I see them?" Cascade's servos were still balled into fists, but his tone had dropped to a normal level.
"Yes, simply don't wake them or jostle them. They are going to be sore for a while," Aero warned, watching as the mech barely heard him and ran for the laboratory door.
"You did a wonderful thing for him, my love," Luminescence came up to his side and slipped her slender arms around his waist as she spoke.
"I hope so," Aero responded with another vent, "According to Windsplitter, her sister is always angry. If it were not for the fact that I know Renegade is strong enough and patient enough to deal with this new sparkling, I would not have split them so early."
"Why not?" Luminescence asked, her gaze filled with worry.
"That kind of anger? It can be dangerous," Aero answered, leaning down and kissing her temple gently, "But Renegade can help her control herself."
Venting an exhausted sigh, Renegade moved to stand and stretch his joints out. He stood near Quicksilver's helm, her frame shivering slightly off and on. With little thought, he reached out and pulled a blanket from the couch he'd been forced to use as a berth and settled it over the small frame before him. With all the medical paraphernalia around the youngling, she seemed even smaller. His spark hurt looking at her, seeing the patches and breaks in her armor. The patch over the place where her left optic could not erase the memory of her Energon soaked faceplate as he had seen it the cycle he tore her mech creator apart.
"Renegade," Megatron's voice was deep and resonant. Renegade looked up, barely registering his shock at the Decepticon leader's presence.
He tried not to show that he did not trust him near the injured youngling. Checking that the blanket did not pull on any of the lines running to and into Quicksilver's frame, Renegade moved around the berth and joined the warlord.
With a small bow, his right servo on his chestplate over his spark, Renegade greeted Megatron respectfully, "My lord."
"Tell me, were you aware that your friend, Aero was the mech I was seeking?" Megatron's question did not surprise Renegade in the least. Aero had sent word that he and his family were leaving Altera on business and would not return for several Alterian months.
"No, I was not. To my knowledge Aero is a merchant who has worked with cyberbiology in the past," Renegade answered smoothly, watching as the warlord shifted his considerable weight to his other leg. The movement brought a wince of pain that flickered across his features as fast as it had appeared.
"It would seem he was not completely honest with you," Megatron said, his optics boring into Renegade's.
"So it would seem," Renegade acknowledged, barely moving his helm in a nod of agreement.
"Did he inform you that he was leaving this planet?" Megatron asked, shifting again. Renegade wondered just what Aero had done to keep those he did not invite away from his residence.
"Yes, he said he was taking his family off world for a few months due to work obligations," Renegade stated.
"I will find him again," Megatron stated with a low growl. If Renegade had not been so near, he never would have heard it, but the flash of sharp dentals was enough to warn whoever was nearby that this was not an idle threat. Renegade would have to send Aero a warning.
A groan rose from behind Renegade and he turned slightly to find that Quicksilver was shifting. She was coming out of stasis and clearly in pain.
"If you hear from him again Renegade," Megatron spoke, barely glancing up as Knockout walked past him to the youngling's side and Renegade turned back to him, "I expect you to inform me of any communications you receive from him."
Before Renegade could respond, Knockout touched his shoulder plating.
"Lord Megatron, my apologies, however I require Renegade's assistance before the youngling injures herself," Knockout interrupted. The urgency in his tone had Renegade turning, his brows lowered as he looked over to the youngling.
She was pulled at the lines, crying hard. Renegade turned to Megatron, receiving a small wave of his digits in dismissal. He did not wait for anything further as he turned and approached the youngling, lightly gripping her digging servos to stop her from tearing any more lines free.
"Youngling," Renegade's voice was gentle but firm as he pulled her closer to his chestplate, rubbing the small space on her back where there was no damage.
"It hurts," Quicksilver's voice barely came out of her vocodor as she started to make a choking noise in her vents.
"I know it hurts," Renegade assured her, looking over at Knockout and nodding. He hated having to have the medic pump her full of anything to stop the pain, but until they were certain all the damage had been found and repaired, the medic could not disconnect her pain receptors.
The moment the medicine was in her system, Quicksilver slumped forward, her faceplate pushed into his chest as she sobbed.
"Primus," Knockout muttered before turning and walking away. Renegade turned and watched him go, noticing that Megatron had left at some point.
A wave of relief passed through his spark. He tightened his grip on Quicksilver's shoulders and began to hum as he considered the best course of action to get Aero a communication to warn him of Megatron's displeasure and interest in finding him again. Slowly the youngling's sobs calmed and she began to relax further. Not until he was certain she was in recharge did Renegade lay her back down and pull the blanket across her form once more.
Quicksilver sat on the berth, her optic slightly unfocused as she stared at the drawing in her servos. It was not perfectly proportionate but the bots in the image were clear. Duskwalker's servo had been steady as she drew Renegade, Dunestar, Dawnstrider, herself, and Wildcharger. At the top, it had the words "to my big sister" written in neat Cybertronian script. Each time she looked at it, her spark would beat a little faster. Duskwalker considered her to be her sister. The feeling was mutual but she did not know how to show it.
A sharp pain pierced her side and Quicksilver vented, gasping for air to return into her vents as she set her left servo on the place that was painful. She clenched her dentals against the pain, not wanting to draw Knockout's attention, not wanting him to decide that she should stay in the medical bay longer. Already she had been there for months, missing her opportunity to see either Aero or her femme creator. Though, she had not spoken of Skyshot to any of the adults that had been near her over the course of her recovery. She knew that Renegade and Dunestar had to despise the purple femme. She doubted they would approve of her desire to see Skyshot again or to have a relationship of some kind with her.
As the pain ebbed away, Quicksilver sat up, pulling a little more air into her vents. Reaching down with her left servo, she picked up the drawing and carefully rolled it. It was no easy task with only one servo, but she managed it. The sound of Renegade's pedes on the medical bay's decking made her look up. He approached her with a gentle smile.
"Are you ready to go, youngling?" Renegade asked in a deep voice.
"Yes," Quicksilver smiled, hiding the pain that was still digging at her side and empty shoulder.
"Come along then," Renegade held out his servo, waiting for her to join him.
Gripping the vellum tightly, she slid off of the berth slowly. Renegade helped her by steadying her frame. As soon as she was standing on her own, he moved his servos away and turned to gather the things that had appeared in her little area. He folded the blanket and picked up the pads and chips, setting them in a small crate that had been set at the end of the berth. She watched, never relinquishing control of the picture from Duskwalker; Renegade never asked her to.
When he was finished collecting the odds and ends of her 'home away from home', Renegade set the crate on the berth's top and smiled at her, concern in his gaze.
"Is there any pain?" Renegade's question caught her off guard and she winced involuntarily.
She didn't want to lie but she also didn't want to stay in the medical bay any longer. When he reached out to her, to set his servo on her shoulder, she flinched and curl in on herself slightly. A small sound came from his vents as he slowly lowered the servo.
"It's all right, Knockout and I have agreed it is best if you complete your recovery in the residence, however you will have to let us know if you are in pain," Renegade spoke softly, "I do not have the resources Knockout does to discover your pain."
Quicksilver nodded, venting another sigh, "I am, slightly."
"Thank you," Renegade turned and beckoned to Knockout.
Quicksilver nodded and looked away, barely noticing when Knockout came up beside her and slipped a needle into the main Energon line that ran through her remaining arm and injected her with a pain killer. He smiled at her, patted her shoulder, and stepped away.
Renegade moved and she flinched again, but watched as he lifted the crate and tucked it beneath his right arm.
Before he told her to follow him, she moved closer, setting a shaking servo against his hip armor, the vellum scratching against his armor slightly. The crate was shifted to his left side to give her more room. Renegade gave her a gentle, supportive smile and nodded before indicating that they were leaving.
The corridors were empty. Not a single Eradicon could be seen. Quicksilver walked as close to Renegade as she could, keeping her digits in contact with his armor. Fear continued to rise in the back of her processor, sending prickles along her backstrut. She would turn her helm to the left to see if anyone was behind them, fearing what she may see. There was never anything there but deep shadows.
In the lift, she stayed close to Renegade, venting unsteadily as the walls felt too close for comfort. At one point, she scooted so close to Renegade that he looked down at her and set a calming, steady servo to her shoulderplating. Embarrassed, she moved back a little bit, but found herself returning to the same spot before the lift reached the deck that contained the residence.
As soon as the doors were open, she wanted to dash through them. However, she did not want to leave Renegade's side. He must have seen her urgency because he stepped forward and through the doors. Again the corridor was empty of all bots. Curiosity overshadowed some of her fear and she looked about, nearly losing the contact with his armor until she realized what she was doing.
"Rene?" Quicksilver knew her voice was too soft. The big mech most likely couldn't hear her.
"Yes, youngling?" Renegade asked and she looked up in surprise, "I'm not so old as to be deaf."
Embarrassed, she vented slightly before speaking again, "Where is everyone?"
"Lord Megatron has cleared the decks where the sparklings and yourself are likely to wander," Renegade stated, "The only mechs you will see are the ones that Dunestar and I trust impeccably."
Quicksilver was surprised that Megatron would be bothered with such niceties. Looking up at Renegade, she wondered if there wasn't more to it than that. However, she didn't want to ask. Instead she continued to walk beside him, focusing on the doors of the residence. A deep sense of relief and longing settled in her spark. It was a sensation she was unaccustomed to, it was the feeling of home.
"As you know, Windsplitter had two sparks in her chamber," Renegade started to speak and Quicksilver looked up, startled.
"Dunestar explained," Quicksilver said, watching him in curiosity.
Renegade nodded, "Sparksplitter is very angry."
"Sparksplitter?" this was the first time she had heard the new sparkling's designation. It sent chills through her spark.
A deep chuckle met the question, "Aero inadvertently named her when he told Cascade that his 'little spark splitter' was here."
Quicksilver nodded, still not caring for the designation. It sounded too dangerous for a sparkling.
"The reason I am warning you is that she often strikes out for no visible or obvious reason," Renegade continued. His serious tone drew her attention and she nodded.
"Is she… dangerous when she gets like that?" Quicksilver asked, looking down at the audacity of her question. She hadn't meant to voice it.
"So far, no," Renegade stated, "However she has only been in her shell for a few months. Both she and Windsplitter are still weak from the surgery."
Quicksilver did not comment, instead she focused on how much closer the door was, desperate to be inside and safe. She wanted to speed up and run to the door, entering that safe place. But she didn't want to leave Renegade's side either.
It took too long to reach the door, but when they did, Renegade tapped the panel to get inside. The moment the doors opened, they were assaulted by a high pitched scream that made Quicksilver jump and flee, hiding behind Renegade, her digits gripping his armor tightly as she squeezed her optic shut and vented harshly. The picture in her servo was getting crushed and she had to forcefully relax her servo to save it from being completely destroyed.
"Windsplitter!" Cascade scolded and Quicksilver shivered.
"But DAD!" Windsplitter's whine had not changed and Quicksilver began to relax.
As she stepped out from behind Renegade, he looked down at her and gave her a smile, setting his servo on her shoulder. She startled, but didn't move. Cascade walked past with Windsplitter in his arms, speaking to her in a low voice. He looked up and stopped at the sight of Quicksilver and her crumpled vellum holding onto Renegade like a frightened sparkling. She looked away from his faceplate and let go of Renegade, feeling foolish.
"Quicksilver!" Wildcharger's shout surprised her and she looked over at him. At the sound of her designation, the residence went quiet before everyone smiled and said hello. Renegade stopped the influx of sparklings with a raised servo and stern look.
"I know you're all excited to see Quicksilver, but she needs a chance to readjust, please let her in," Renegade spoke in the voice that warned there would be no arguing.
With a disappointed look, Wildcharger backed off and Duskwalker ran back to the couch. Sitting between the two couches on top of the table was a sparkling Quicksilver had never seen. As she moved to the couch where Dunestar sat, waiting on her, the sparkling watched her. Red optics followed her movements as the helm swiveled. Sparksplitter looked a great deal like Windsplitter, but their designs were not identical. She was smaller and her armor a lighter style in a blue green color.
"Quicksilver!" Duskwalker drew her attention, quivering with excitement. Quicksilver smiled at her and sat down on Dunestar's far side.
As soon as she was seated, Duskwalker looked at Renegade and, with a chuckle, he nodded at her.
"I'm glad you're home," Duskwalker said as she trotted over to her and dropped down between Quicksilver and Dunestar. Her yellow optics were drawn to the missing arm but Quicksilver drew it away by speaking.
"So am I," Quicksilver chuckled, smiling at the little femling and then up to Dunestar. A pang of guilt passed through her spark, but the smile Dunestar gave her made her feel better. She looked over at the others and stopped on Cascade.
"And to see everyone," Quicksilver said softly.
A giggle drew her attention and she had to catch Wildcharger. The mechling was talking so fast she couldn't understand him and her wounds flared to life at the hit from his body. Dunestar took him and set him on her lap with a stern look but that did not stem the flow of his words.
As the mechling continued to fill her in on everything that had happened since she had been in the medical bay, Quicksilver leaned against Dunestar's shoulder. Duskwalker climbed into her lap carefully and sat down, releasing a purr-like sound when Quicksilver set her remaining servo on her back. Dunestar wrapped an arm around her shoulders, stroking her left arm. Warmth crept into her spark and throughout her frame. It was a sense of belonging that she had never had before and she slowly relaxed.
She may not always feel so happy, but for now, she was happy to have that sense of peace.
