CHAPTER 52

They could hear a pin drop.

At first, Slipstream didn't get Fixit's words. He stayed straight as a ramrod, unmoving. He stared at Fixit with the same expression. Disbelief, incomprehension…

Then, he answered.

"…Is that a joke?"

"Oh, no!" Fixit cried out, staring back at him with a serious face. "I checked! There is no question. She is carrying. And from what I could see, it's possible she is carrying more than one baby. Maybe twins…The spark is split between many individuals."

"No…Is that a joke?"

He felt like he had a glitch. Slipstream blinked, a shocked expression. Everything went blurry around him. He nearly lost his balance. Fortunately, someone caught him by his shoulders. He looked up. Jetstorm gently helped him to sit down on the floor. His brother in arms was open-mouthed as well. Then Slipstream realized it. Unfortunately, that wasn't a dream. That wasn't even a nightmare. He will not wake up from it. That's reality.

…He will have a child…or rather, children, according to Fixit…

Silence fell again.

Finally, Slipstream let his emotions out. He screamed. He screamed loud to the point Jetstorm asked him to keep it down as he deafened him.

"Slipstream! CALM DOWN!"

"I WILL HAVE A KID! I AM NOT READY FOR THIS! NOT AT ALL!"

"Please, Slipstream…" Russell softly told him. "That's not…a big deal…"

"IT IS A BIG DEAL! I ONLY KNOW BERRY FOR A FEW MONTHS! I DIDN'T EXPECT THAT…MY TRAINING ISN'T FINISHED, I COULDN'T SUPPORT HER AND…AND…"

Then, it struck him. His training wasn't finished.

"I WILL COMMIT SEPPUKU BEFORE MASTER DRIFT WILL LEARN IT!"

"SEPPUKU? ARE YOU CRAZY OR SOMETHING?" Jetstorm intervened, grabbing his arms.

"Primus! He will kill me…He will kill me…"

"Breath, Slipstream"

Slipstream took a long breath. Then he kept on.

"…He will kill me…"

"Listen!" The boy shouted, his hands on his hips, a stern look on his face. "Listen to me carefully, Slipstream. That's not the problem right now. Drift's reaction doesn't matter right now. What matters is you. What do you desire?"

The Minicon stopped. What?

"…What do you mean?"

"Do you wish keeping this kid? Deep down…do you wish it?"

Slipstream looked down. He was right. He had been worried about Drift's reaction and he had forgotten his own feelings about it…

This child was here…These children were here…Now what should he do about it? He didn't intend to ask Berry to get rid of them…He was unable to do such a thing. Yet if he accepted it, it meant he committed to it.

He committed to become a father…He committed to do his duties…

"…I don't know"

"You are advised to take a decision quickly" Fixit commented. "…Maybe you and Berry could talk about it together…alone."

Slipstream nodded. Indeed. That was the best option…Jetstorm put a comforting servo over his shoulder before leaving the hall, closely followed by Russell and Fixit. Slipstream took a long breath. If he listened to himself, he would meditate. He opened the infirmary's door.

Berry was lying on the berth. She was startled by Slipstream's entrance. For a few moments, nobody moved. Berry shared his expression. She was stunned by the news. Confusion and fear could be read on her face.

Slipstream moved closer. In the end, Berry broke the silence.

"…What am I going to say to my Master?"

"That's funny" Slipstream said, with a small smile. "I wondered the same thing. I think we won't get out of here alive."

Both burst into laughing. A dry laugh though they'd needed it. They couldn't help it. Slipstream sat at her berthside.

"…I'm sorry, Slipstream" Berry said.

"Don't be."

"Yes. We should have protected ourselves." She let out a sigh. "But…I have been exposed to Tox-En when I was younger. Many medics told me I had a high chance to be sterile. I thought I was unable to carry and…now. It hit us without warning."

Slipstream shook his head.

"I should have been more careful as well. But you know…There are taboo things, with Master Drift and Jetstorm… We never talked…about it."

He felt a servo over his own. Berry warmly smiled at him.

"Well. Now he is here. Or rather…they are here. After a few months of relationship…It would have been better if we had them after many millenaries of relationship though…I didn't expect them that soon.

Slipstream remembered Russell's words. He tried to calm his mind. He tried to forget about his fear…

"…We must think about what we want. Above everything…If we want to keep it…that's a decision we have to make together."

"Tell me. What do you wish?" She questioned him.

He hugged her back.

"I don't know but…We have a roof over our heads here. The scrapyard is a good place. We have everything we would need. Energon…things like that…"

Berry agreed.

"My Master also possesses things like that though…I'm not sure she will accept to help me."

"Why? Is she that strict?" He asked.

"Quite the contrary! She is very kind. Very protective, you know. A bit like a mother would be. But sometimes, I'm afraid to disappoint her. I think she'll have a spark attack."

Yeah. He knew this feeling. More he thought about Master Drift, more his spark's pulse accelerated.

But…He had to be responsible.

"However, they would go back and forth between the scrapyard and your place…It may confuse them." Slipstream pointed.

"Listen" Berry spoke up, seriously. "I don't want to saddle you with anything. If you don't want them, if you don't wish this kind of life, I would understand it. You have a training to complete. You have something else to do other than taking care of a kid. I don't want to force your teammates to take care of them either. It happened like this. I'll take them with me. My Master and I…We'll take care of them."

Yes. That was probably the easiest solution…They were shocking news. Slipstream will get terminated by Master Drift…Slipstream didn't know what kind of Sire he would be…However, he was unable to abandon his own children. If he did such a thing, he would never see them again.

They had his spark. He remembered about Denny's tale…Denny's tale about Russell's birth. When Russell had been born, Denny hadn't been ready either. He hadn't done any studies. The scrapyard had been the only one thing he'd possessed. Nobody'd wanted that scrapyard…He had also wanted to run away from it. He hadn't wanted to do anything with the baby.

Then he'd hold Russell in his arms for the very first time…He'd forgotten about his urge to leave.

He was his kid. There would be difficulties. But Denny hadn't cared about them. He had just felt determination. He would overcome these obstacles for Russell's sake. For his son's sake.

Slipstream shook his head.

If Denny had been able to do this…while he'd possessed nothing…Slipstream wasn't alone. He had a home. He had friends. He had Jetstorm. He had Master Drift. He had Berry…

Yes. That was possible. Honour dictated him to take his responsibilities but…Maybe deep down he'd always wished it…A wish he hadn't been aware of…. until now.

It wasn't the right time. It was too soon. Never mind.

"No. I'm going to help you. We'll raise them up. I'll do my best. If it's needed, you can come to live here. Or I would join you if the others refuse…But I will not abandon them."

Berry's smile widened. She leaned over to give him a soft kiss on lips. Slipstream kissed her back, Berry's arms wrapped around his neck.

"I'm glad you will not run away…Anyone else would have ran away."

"I can't do it, Berry" He replied.

They kissed again. Slipstream buried his face into Berry's stomach.

Yes. He could feel their sparks inside. They were connected…A connection he'd never felt with anyone before…He had never thought he would be that close to someone…another being…

He closed his optics, enjoying the feeling.

"So" Berry spoke up. "I'm going to warn my Master about it…do you need any help for yours?"

"No" Slipstream sat up. "I think I have still time to mentally prepare myself and—"

"WHAT THE ALLSPARK IS DRIFT DOING HERE WITH FRACTURE?" He heard Sideswipe scream from outside.

He suddenly froze. His torture will happen sooner than he expected? He will not have time to say his last words?

Berry gently sat up. She kept a servo over her stomach.

"I think I'll go with you…It'll be better."


"Drift? What did we just tell you?" Denny yelled.

The samurai remained silent. He just glared at Denny without saying anything. Fracture remained a bit apart from the group. He didn't smile. He simply shrugged, paying little to no attention to the human.

The other teammates were gathered around them. Sideswipe and Strongarm displayed the same expression. They were on alert, ready to pull their weapons out. Bumblebee, Windblade and Grimlock were distrustful as well though they reacted in a calmer manner.

"We haven't decided about it! Remember!" Denny went on.

"I know" Drift answered. "But…Fracture accepted to help us. I think the least thing we could do is provide him asylum. He is alone now."

"Whatever you say!" Strongarm replied. "I think Fracture is a big boy now. He can look after himself."

Drift took a darker expression.

"No. Quite the contrary."

"You aren't the one who decide, Drift" Sideswipe retorted.

"Sideswipe! Shut up!" Windblade glared at him.

Bumblebee stared at Fracture, an unsure look on his face. Drift was waiting for his reply. If Bumblebee gave him the green light, the others would follow him.

"Listen" Drift solemnly declared. "I can vouch for him. He'll be my responsibility."

"What if he backstabs us?" Denny pointed. "Yeah? Dirty moves…he is able to do everything!"

Bumblebee nodded.

"Yes. Denny is right, Drift."

"Oh, please" Fracture let out an irritated sigh. He hadn't spoken since his arrival. "Don't you think I have other things to do? I will not attack the only allies I have left now. Junior will not risk anything with me." He added, glancing back at Denny.

"Whatever you say! That's MY scrapyard!"

The leader sighed. He ordered everyone to calm down. Of course. He understood Drift's point of view though he wasn't ready to welcome Fracture into the scrapyard. His teammates lived there…as well as humans…

Yet Drift sounded confident. Maybe he could give him the benefit of the doubt.

"…He will stay with us" He said.

"WHAT?" The other Autobots shouted.

"Drift is right. We need some help…"

"But Bumblebee!" Strongarm objected. "The Code…Fracture remains a…"

"Criminal. I know it. I didn't forget it. That's why I'm doing this."

He could split the difference. Before Fracture could react, Bumblebee jumped and handcuffed him. Fracture's optics widened. He just stared at his wrists.

"Are you serious?" The Decepticon whispered.

"If you will remain in the scrapyard, there are security measures to apply." The leader said. "Either you obey, either you leave. And if you ever do anything to backstab us, there will be no mercy. You'll be put into a stasis pod right away. We will not use your help."

"We should already do this!" Strongarm yelled.

Drift didn't agree. In his mind, Fracture was destroyed enough. Why kicking someone while they were down?

"Is it so necessary to handcuff him? I can keep an optic on him." Drift protested.

"Drift. That's the rule."

"Sheesh. As if simple handcuffs will ever stop me…" Fracture shrugged.

"WHAT DID YOU SAY?" Denny stepped ahead. "I swear! I don't care if you are much, much taller than me! If you ever lay one digit on Russell, I will—"

"Remind me to be terrified"

Yet there was no malice in the Decepticon's optics. If anything, he sounded exhausted. Not malevolent. Tired.

"Bumblebee! I think that's a bad idea!" Strongarm said.

"That's a bad idea but I'm ready to trust Drift."

"That's completely insane!" Sideswipe facepalmed.

"No! Quite the contrary!" Drift retorted. "That's the best decision to take!"

"BUT PRIMUS! WE ARE TALKING ABOUT FRACTURE!"

"Master Drift, Master Drift!" Slipstream called.

Drift didn't pay attention to him.

"Fracture is a Decepticon! And so, what? I was a Decepticon once! I committed atrocious crimes too! I think I was even worse than him! Yet, I'm here!"

"What do you think? Do you think he'll wait here?"

"He stays here. He can't stay outside! Lockdown and Shadow Raker are able to attack anyone! For crying out loud, we are going in circles!"

"MASTER DRIFT!"

"WHAT?"

Drift glared at his pupil. Slipstream froze. He was afraid again.

"I think you HAVE A GOOD REASON TO INTERRUPT ME!"

"…Berry is carrying…"

Everyone stopped. Every optics focused on the couple of Minicons. Everyone was completely astonished.

"…What?" Drift's tone was low.

Finally, Fracture burst out into laughing though nobody paid attention to him.

"Definitely worth the trip!"