A/N: Second segment. Man I confuse myself. I'm so good at it too... Did you ever stop to think... and forget to start again? I do that often :D Go ADD! \o/
May you enjoy this next part and may you be able to follow it easily! :D
Starscream purred to Barricade. "Calm, 'Cade, I'll help you through it, promise." His voice was gentle. Her Spark continued releasing its energy for the birth while Energon started building around the area.
It was then that Barricade wanted to go forward, but she found she could not, which alerted her that something wasn't right, "…'Screamer, do something!" her voice became frightened.
"Easy there, I am."
"No! Something's wrong!" she nearly screeched.
It was then that a massive bolt of energy arced from Barricade in an odd array, something Starscream was almost certain wasn't right. "No kidding," he said as he reeled back slightly to watch so he could figure out what was going on and hopefully fix it.
Starscream watched, completely puzzled as an arc grew in size. He looked, seeing if there was a trail to follow. Immediately his optics saw that it was drawn to two different areas of the bay along with all of the smaller arcs. "Okay… that's definitely new," He watched as the large bolt traveled near Ratchet's desk on one side of the room, the other was near what appeared to be a pile of sheets off in the corner off to the side. He looked between them, seeing a circuit breaker not far off, hoping it didn't hit. He randomly decided he would thump the idiot that had put it there.
Watching the arcs, Barricade was horrified. Starscream could feel her fear so easily it was interfering with him, "I need you to calm down, 'Cade. I'm right here." His voice was soothing to a point. She could feel the weirdest thing in her Spark, which still frightened her. It was different from anything she had felt previously. She looked up when Starscream gasped. The bolt arched from her, hitting Starscream through his closed off torso and into his Spark.
Starscream twitched when a strange feeling went through his Spark, thoroughly annoyed with the situation. The bolts weren't enough for him to stop helping, but it was enough to strain his systems. He knew this wasn't supposed to happen either. Emergencies flashed through Starscream's mind but he was too busy with making sure Barricade was all right so he did not see what they said.
The mech quickly glanced down to make sure the birth was coming along and that the bolt didn't harm any of them. The Seeker held to her, surprised by the amounts of energy that was going around them both. Barricade arched, feeling the first Sparkling separating from her.
Starscream was getting shocked and zapped down his body from residual bolts. He went to pull her up as he saw the telltale sign of the Sparkling, "Come on," he said gently, but her body seemed stiff for some reason, so he turned her in a way that he still had his hands free in case something happened, using his legs to support her so he could assist the first Sparkling. Energon that spattered from Barricade ran down him as he worked to help her.
The two arcs went over the beings almost as if her body was a link, dancing as they zapped and caused various items to overload and explode around them. The pile of sheets began shaking and flailing as the energy struck it repeatedly. Starscream hadn't completely noticed, his attention still on Barricade.
Outside everyone was wondering what was going on behind those doors. They saw lights come from the creases, and heard things exploding. Ratchet was jaw-slack as he stared at the door to his poor medical bay. Surely, the birth shouldn't cause explosions. He gave a worried glance toward First Aid, who was also hearing the explosions.
"What's going on in there?" Prowl asked with worry.
"Think we should find out?" First Aid quickly asked, concerned.
"If he needs help, he'll call." Ratchet replied. He had been monitoring what he could. So far, the energy present was a little much, but not dangerous in any way.
Starscream saw danger as the first Sparkling split from the femme and he reached down, putting his hand under it. Between his fingers, tendrils of pulsing light went between Barricade and the new Spark. No matter the lightning that went over his hand, he protected it from whatever was happening around it as it formed – using his hand as a conductor. He felt Barricade grab his shoulder and squeeze. As much as it hurt and he whined, he did not stop from helping the Sparkling, however he was really wishing Barricade would let him go.
Never was the mech supposed to even reach into the femme to help with the actual splitting and formation but he had no other option, hoping that nothing went wrong with the birth because of his choice. Under normal circumstances, not being a medic, he wasn't supposed to touch the chest of the femme as she expelled the Sparkling, but needless to say, these were not normal circumstances and she was by no means a normal femme – at least that what he believed.
With monitoring going full blast, he had to admit that this was nothing like recorded history in birthing. He was doing this on a whim from what he knew about it and his scientist side. Sure, he could have called one of the medics, but he figured he could do this himself, the energy was not harming anything. Maybe twins were born this way.
At this point, the femme should have been chest to the ground, so that not only would she not harm herself from the Energon, the Sparkling could drop to the ground, or in this case, his hand. If they were to fall back into the 'mother', her system could destroy it immediately, because it could fall right into her inner workings. There was no way of moving Barricade so Starscream had to catch the Sparkling as it detached.
The readings on his HUD began reading oddly and something started to draw Barricade's energy as the first Sparkling finished forming and drew away. Starscream used his hand under it when it began pulling alloy from her; the mercury like substance gravitated to it and hardened as it formed. He instinctively chirped, calling the Sparkling to him and away from imminent danger.
His optics quickly went to where one arc was and then to the other, trying to assess what was happening then back to the Sparkling that was forming. The little black pod formed rather quickly and was so very tiny, being maybe around the size of Frenzy. He felt the energy from her spark dance over his claws as the first one broke free, landing in his hand with a spatter of Energon. He lifted it from her and took a moment to look in awe at the critter. Holding the very life he helped to create was inspiring to say the least. He must have been doing something right. He looked down at Barricade in thought… then again…
He quickly warmed his system where the Sparklings were to go, placed it in a hold to protect it before it even had a chance to unfold so he could deliver the other one. Suddenly the arc vanished. He was relieved that the arc was gone and had been muttering to himself, trying to figure out what it was when something else he hadn't expected occurred. Since twins were so uncommon, Starscream had no idea what was going on when Barricade's optics flickered and her Spark went back into its chamber for no apparent reason. Her body went limp, but she was still conscious.
Her body shut down slowly as her system recharged for the second birth. She was well aware that something had most of her system offline, but she didn't have the oomph to panic about it. Besides, 'Screamer was right here with her. She looked around then up at Starscream and gave him a goofy, very happy smile. He actually cringed, "Ew," That smile made him wonder if she was actually okay. She never smiled like that. Talk about creepy.
About 1/2 an hour of a power down to recharge, Barricade's systems booted back up and prepared to birth the second one, "It's coming, 'Screamer!" Barricade warned as she felt the pressure again and her spark chamber opened, this time faster than before. She arched back from the pain and flailed her arms as a yell emitted from her when her body prepared to repeat the process.
Barricade's arms came down hard, reaching out and scraping on him or the ground and Starscream moved her, pulling her to her knees, more Energon coating the Seeker. He continued to urge her forward, getting her there quickly, watching as the Sparkling began to tether. "There ya go, 'Cade. Easy, we're almost done," he said gently. Starscream use one arm to caress her back and soother her as he used his other free hand to catch the next Sparkling.
About half an hour of excruciating pain and panting vents, the second Sparkling dropped, landing in his hand with a splash of Energon. He lightly curled his fingers around it and took the little one close to him, allowing Barricade to drop to the ground, in which she did, her body keeling over to the side as her systems went into recharge and her alloy began repairing. He had expected this as he put the second Sparkling in its hold.
In the time it was taking Barricade to recharge, Starscream soothed the twins as he waited for her to online again. His optics watched her Spark chamber as he idly realized she should have closed up. Her spark had done its job.
He was perfectly content to take care of her and the Sparklings right here right now while her alloy rebuilt some. He would need to give the twins back to her so they could connect to her and get their first Energon feeding, so now he waited for her to reboot. However, she wouldn't in the proper time allotted. She remained offline and her chest would not close, which was a cause for alarm.
Through all of the confusion, Starscream stopped and blinked at a sudden sound. His alarm was instantly no longer on her when he heard something move where the sheets were, "What… the hell… just happened?!" A sudden deep voice called. It started to move more and struggled with sheets that were placed over it.
Starscream pinpointed it and instantly went on attack mode as he set the femme down and stood. His weapons coming online immediately, he stepped over Barricade, preparing to fight off anyone who got near either of them right now at such a delicate time. He had no idea there was anyone else in the room, "Whoever you are…" he called dangerously, standing protectively over Barricade, "come out weapons offline or prepare to face me, and right now, I am so not in the mood to be fucked with,"
"Where am I?" The being struggled under the sheets more, trying to find a way out of the mess, "What's goin' on?"
"Who are you?" The Seeker kept his optics trained on the sheets and his sensors on Barricade, watching for any sign of change.
"You think it's over?" Prowl asked, leaning to where he thought he heard voices. He leaned closer. For sure, he heard something, "They're talking, I think."
"Who's he talking to? Barricade?"
The mech continued to lean, listening for different voices. He paused a long moment, "Actually, no. He's talking to someone else?" he stated in question. To his knowledge, no one else was in there.
The being under the sheets stopped after hearing the Seeker's voice, "Dude, who are ya? Ya sound a lot like that annoyin' Second in Command, Starscream,"
"Either you tell me who are or you are going to be wearing a forever Null Ray up your aft! I will shove it there myself!"
Wait a damned minute… Null Ray? That was Starscream! "Hey, calm it down, okay? Chill. It's me, Jazz." The smaller mech figured Starscream wasn't going to kill him, or he would have already – instead he was warning the small 'Bot off. How odd.
Starscream only stared as he now recognized the voice. Perhaps it was one of the Decepticons playing a stupid joke at a very bad time. Jazz was as dead as a doornail, "I warn you, I will fire on you, whoever you are,"
"It's me, Jazzman, ya know… Optimus Prime's 1st Lieutenant, don' fire!" Hands flew up and he pulled the sheets from over his head to uncover himself quickly so Starscream could see, "I don' want a fight! I wanna know what's going on!"
Starscream stopped with a confused expression, lowering his weapon as he stared at the Autobot. "You're supposed to be dead."
"I sure as pit don' feel dead," Jazz said in thought as he looked down at himself. He didn't look dead either.
"You… you were lying on that berth, no spark, gone, a pile of metal!" Starscream said with bewilderment.
"Nice way to put it there, 'Screamer," the Lieutenant muttered sourly.
Starscream shook his head and sub-spaced his weapons. The young mech stepped back beside Barricade, taking precedence in caring for her than who was in the room with them, "Megatron killed you." He muttered. "There's no way you could have survived being torn in half."
"Well, I ain'…" Jazz stopped, looked down at himself as he registered the torn in half thing. "You say torn in half?"
Starscream, annoyed that he couldn't figure any of this out and that his mate hadn't come around growled, "Yes. Torn in half… Ripped in two…" his voice took on a hiss, "Split. Down. The middle… However you want to take it, pick one and shut up!"
Jazz stared at Starscream. "Snappy…" he muttered. He paused, realizing that the 'Con was nearly covered in drying Energon. He tilted his head and watched Starscream move, watching in curiosity. Leaning forward, he stared at what was in front of him, another Decepticon was lying there, "Whoa, maybe I am dead. Is that Barricade?" He was still wondering what two 'Cons were doing in what appeared to be Ratchet's medical bay – or what was left of it.
Starscream ignored the Autobot and lifted the offline femme into his arms, cradling her as he monitored her Spark, "Come on… work with me here, 'Cade."
Jazz saw the strange behavior and cocked his head, "He dyin' or somethin'?"
"Or something," The Seeker held her close, trying to coax her back online, worry filled his voice, "her Sparklings need her to feed, and her chest won't close. I think I need Ratchet." He would give her a few more minutes.
Jazz sat unmoving at the news, looking from the femme back to Starscream, then back again. It hadn't even registered in his mind with all of the Energon about. He did not just call Barricade a femme did he? Wait, did he say Sparklings? "Huh?"
"She just gave birth, you idiot," Starscream glared at Jazz as he moved, his hands holding the femme ever so gently, "Surely you would know a birth when you see one,"
Jazz thought a moment as he took in the situation. The Energon, the ruins, the flames and such and came to his own conclusion, "Looks more like one o' 'Jack's inventions exploded if ya ask me."
Just then, Starscream groaned and got up and grabbed Jazz by the arm, unable to deal with him at the time. He held him out as he knocked on the door. Everyone thinking all was good in the life of birthing, opened the door from the outside. What they had not expected was a supposedly very dead silver mech to be shoved out, "You're not helping!" the door slammed shut with a click, locking from the inside.
No one knew what to say or do who were outside of the med bay. They just stared at the silver mech before them.
Jazz stared back at them all, confused about everything, "…What'd I do?"
"Well…" Wheeljack put his hands on his hips, "that answers who he was talking to, at least."
The stares were broken by a yell from the medical bay, "RATCHET!" Starscream hovered over Barricade as bolts suddenly started from her again. He had no idea what to do now and began to panic.
Inside the med bay, something strange was taking place. Ratchet had gotten to the doors and opened them with his own access code and ran in, Wheeljack was hot on his heels as the doors slammed shut and locked them behind them. When they got close, they heard Barricade scream. The cry was one of confusion and fear, "It… it feels like… like there's another!"
This was not supposed to happen. Not at all. Starscream was frantic, he flinched when Barricade made that strange announcement, "Another? Another what, 'Cade?" He looked to Ratchet in worry, "What's going on?"
Ratchet stared a long moment, taking readings of the femme.
Her voice was strained from pain as her Spark started throwing energy as it prepared to deliver again. The femme's back arched up from the pain, "Another… Sparkling!" She began panting as she drew in air to cool her systems off. Ratchet frowned as he assessed the femme. Her Spark was doing all right, but the strangest readings came from her.
Again the femme screamed, making Starscream wince just hearing his mate cry out like that. He saw the smoke, but his protocols told him she was still good to go with whatever was going on.
"What is happening, why is she saying there's another?" Starscream asked the Medic a second time. He frowned when he noticed Wheeljack as well, but the Engineer had saved Blacklight's life, thus earning Starscream's respect.
Ratchet couldn't believe what his scans had told him as he instantly knelt down next to Starscream and took Barricade by the shoulder mount from underneath, prepared to assist her to get into position, "Are you sure she delivered her twins?" he asked.
Starscream gave an uncertain frown. What kind of question was that? "Of course I am sure, you idiot, I was here!"
"Then listen and listen well, Starscream, she is birthing again,"
"Uh… I… Ah…" Starscream muttered stupidly as he glanced down at the femme, "Yeah, okay. Whatever." Being at a complete loss for words, surely nothing would surprise him anymore. "Are you sure?" he asked.
Ratchet went to reply but was cut off by Barricade, "It's coming!" She arched from the pain, her arms flailed, frantically finding a way move herself. Wheeljack got knocked back as she reached for grip, instantly bringing herself to her hands and knees once again and she panted heavily. She just knew what she was doing, not paying attention to her surroundings or her HUD.
Her systems were screaming an overheat and threatened Stasis Lock as Energon flowed freely down her body, another cry of pain emitted from her as her Spark began to emerge painfully from its chamber for a third time. Immediately Scientist, Engineer and Medic saw the Sparkling separate from her and tether from her. Ratchet instantly leaned up to look at Starscream and Wheeljack in question, then glanced at Starscream and the Sparkling, "There it is, Starscream," he pointed.
Starscream shook his head from his stupor, "You've got to be shitting me," he reached under her and leaned down. Sure enough, there it was. Starscream was speechless and stunned as he stared, watching with interest.
The Sparkling formed slowly, its little body taking on the strangest colors. If Starscream had looked away, he may not have even seen it. He heard Barricade squeak in pain, but his attention was on the emerging Sparkling. The Seeker looked away a quick second as he cocked his head and looked at each of the other mechs present then back when the Sparkling dropped away from Barricade and into his hand. The femme, having spent all of her energy, as they thought, instantly went offline again, her body dropping right into the Energon below her as soon as she registered that the Sparkling had been taken away. Starscream watched, momentarily hoping it was the last surprise Sparkling.
"This isn't normal," Wheeljack stated as he watched, prepared to assist if he needed to.
"Gee, what was your first clue of 'not normal', 'Jack?" Starscream lifted the Sparkling to his optics, getting a better look while he spoke, "The fact Jazz is alive and walking around outside, or the fact that she delivered a completely unexpected Sparkling!" he snapped.
He made sure it was fine before putting it in his hold. Suddenly what could only be described as a 'chill' went from his Spark and down his body, making him shudder. He stopped when the rush went over him again, trying to figure it out. Instantly he looked to Barricade, who was starting to twitch erratically.
Starscream's optics went wide and instant panic set over him as he felt horrible, horrible dread unlike ever before. "No…" he whispered in disbelief. If he could have paled, he would have been whiter than white, "BARRICADE! NO!" He dove for her, realizing in that very moment, that she was dying.
*gasp* Another Sparkling!
*double gasp* Yes, it's JAZZ!!! I love Jazz!
Bet none of ya saw that one coming ;)
One more chapter left :D (And one more surprise to go ;))
Think a sequel should be in order? There's a poll on my profile page :D
