Author's Note: I hope everyone is doing OK in this difficult time. I decided to write a one shot story to hopefully inspire everyone to stay safe and stay in good spirits. Remember, we are in this together.
Alpha Trion chuckled as he looked over his data pad to where Orion stood. The little spark had his face pressed up against the window. Outside the city was quiet and still. The only signs of life were the few special bots designated "Essential Bots".
A new virus had struck Cybertron. It was theorized that the new disease had come in from one of the many bots that traveled in and out of the solar system. It was just one of the many risks civilizations took when they opened up to planetary trade. A fact of life. Unfortunately, the virus was a quick mover among a planet of bots that had never been exposed.
Medical personnel and politicians had urged Cybertronians to stay indoors until the danger had passed. Many bots were reluctant to stay indoors but after multiple fine campaigns in Iacon and many other Cybertronian cities, bots started getting the message.
The first week was rough. Panic ruled the streets of Iacon. Bots seemed consumed with bulk buying every commodity. Alpha Trion had been keeping Orion home from school for a few days after breakouts were first reported. And when the Quarantine Order was announced he had to admit he felt fear too.
Where was he supposed to leave Orion? He was the child's only family and he was too little to be left at home. He could take Orion with him, but the virus would make short work of his little system. And if the virus didn't get him the senseless crowds would. That's when the jar full of energon goodies caught his optic.
That night he kept Orion up late into the night. Feeding him goodies and playing his favorite games and movies. Primus, was he exhausted. Orion fell into recharge that morning so fast, his delicate finials hadn't even touched the bed yet. Quietly, tucking his child in and drawing the curtains in as close as he could to prevent the sunlight coming in, Alpha Trion locked the door.
Taking a deep breath and a cup of energized Energon, he mentally prepped himself for the task at hand. Shopping.
The stores were packed, lines stretched from one side of the store to the other. By Unicron, if he had to wait in those long lines, then he was going to buy every single thing he could ever want from that store right then. He grabbed one of the only carts left and started. Alpha Trion lived a comfortable life as Master Archivist and knew that he could buy what they needed without putting too much of a dent in his bank. He wasn't swimming in credits but he could afford to give Orion a comfortable childhood and more. His Spark ached for his fellow peers that couldn't say the same. This surely would drain their last paychecks.
Madness, bots were getting down over disinfectants and polishes. He saw bots with carts loaded up with loads of products. At first he thought it was funny. Then he realized that they were out back home and the shelves were empty. Panic. He quickly paced the store, looking to see if someone dropped or left the product behind. Then an employee came out with a new palette.
He was driving home now, he had a couple dents and scratches and he could barely carry his treasure home. He isn't proud but he was one of the bots that mobbed the employee with the palette. He had snagged two cases and the employee had stood back in grim satisfaction while shoppers struggled with the plastic used to encase the product. The employee didn't have a chance to slice it open and wasn't going to now.
That was two weeks ago and Orion had only been getting more restless by the day.
"Alpha, when can we go outside again?" his speech slightly slurred has he continued to press his face into the glass.
"Come away from the window, Orion." He replied. He put his data pad down. He had been participating in the community forums and he knew what was going on around Iacon. And how to keep his little one busy.
Orion reluctantly moved away from the glass. He didn't understand why they had to stay inside. His grandfather had told him that it was so that he wouldn't get sick. He knew his grandfather was scared sometimes. Alpha would stand in front of the television with a concerned look on his face. Alpha would clean often and had taught him a new song to wash his hands. Alpha talked a lot to Primus and often consulted his Covenant.
Orion missed the sun. He missed his friends. At first he was happy to stay home from school. Sleeping and playing the days away. Alpha read more often to him. But now he was bored. He could halo chat with Jazz but Ratchet never could. Ratchet was super busy. He was a medical student and he was an "essential bot" now. Alpha said he was a hero now.
Alpha Trion wondered what went through the little sparks mind. The child had a little frown on his face and mind absently lifted his arms up for Alpha Trion to pick him up.
Ever since he adopted Orion as his own, it was such a joy to hold him close. It made his Spark glow with happiness as he watched him grow up.
"Now Orion," he started. " You know why we have to stay inside."
"I know. But it's so sad!" he exclaimed.
Alpha Trion checked his chronometer. Right on time. He started walking upstairs.
"It is a sad time, my child. But it's also important to remember that we are not alone. We are alone together. We are a resilient community and we will be alright. Things will get better and we will move on. Let me show you."
Alpha Trion took a seat on the top stair by a window. He unlatched the window and pushed it open. He sat Orion on his lap and held a finger up to his lips when Orion started to speak. The child fell silent and just as promised on the community forum, a voice began to sing.
Orion was in awe. One of his neighbors was standing in his balcony singing! He could see around him as more bots peaked out from their windows. The singing continued for a few more minutes. He was excited to clap along and cheer with his neighbors. Just when he thought it was over, another bot came out to play his instrument. Orion was having so much fun he forgot that he was stuck indoors.
He startled a little when Alpha Trion gently pried his fingers from the window and stood up.
"That was amazing, Alpha!"
"When disaster strikes, it's important to be there for each other. Even little things go a long way."
Alpha Trion opened the door to the roof. The sun was setting. He set the blanket down and put Orion down. He pulled a couple of energon cubes from his subspace and handed one to Orion.
"Look at the Capitol building."
Swallowing the Energon he had in his mouth, Orion looked up at the dark building. Then slowly the dark streets of Iacon began to light up as the street lights began to turn on. The Capitol building lit up too, but it wasn't the bright lighting that Orion was used to. It was red and white lights. Red and white lights alternated, lighting up the domes, illuminating the pathways and archs.
"Look!" Alpha Trion nudged Orion. All around them the glimmering, proud building of Iacon changed their lighting from the traditional light to reds and whites.
"Wow!" Orion was in awe. The skyline had never looked so beautiful.
"Iacon is saluting the medical staff of Cybertron. They are saving lives, risking their own, and sacrificing time with their families to help us move forward. The least we can do, Orion, is stay home and be grateful we are healthy, and together. Safe at home."
Orion leaned back into Alpha Trion and he wrapped his arms around the sparkling. Orion thought about all the bots that were stuck at home just like he was. They were all doing their part, they all were coming together so that one had to be home alone, because we were all alone together.
He thought about Jazz and how he got to talk to him everyday on halo chat. How Jazz spent his day with his parents and how he got to spend everyday with his grandfather. He thought about how Ratchet was out there working at Primus Iacon's Greater Area Hospital. Ratchet was a hard worker and he knew that his friend was working harder than ever to battle the virus. Ratchet was a hero, and tonight the lights were for him. For him and every medical bot on Cybertron. In fact, Orion thought, it was for all medical staff throughout the universe. All fighting to save lives, all heros.
"Alpha, I won't complain about being indoors anymore." Orion yawned.
"Oh, restless spark of mine. It's ok to complain. It's ok to be bored and it's ok to be sad about all we are missing out on. But never forget we are doing it for a good cause. Never forget we have to play our part and that we are all in this together. We will be alright. And mostly, don't forget how much I love you."
"I love you too, Alpha." Orion snuggled in. A few moments later he was recharging. Alpha Trion smiled as he pulled him in close. They were going to be ok. He stood up slowly so as to not disturb Orion, walking inside, he closed the door gently on the city and it's flashing lights.