TFP: Youngling

Ch.33~ Rache and Ja

I finished my repairs on the last mech from the battle earlier, now I had one more patient. A spy, he had been sent into the Decepticon forces to gather intel and report back. He had been undercover for a few decacycles and need a full physical now that he returned. Optimus asked me to take care of them, I grabbed a datapad from the charger and headed to the small room in the back of the medbay. I reserved it normally for surgeries or those will illnesses.

Walking into the back room I looked up from my datapad and saw a mainly black and white mech. He seemed to be looking at the wall, something about him seemed familiar. His helm was black with two audio horns, his chassis and red and blue stripes stuck together on either side of the Autobot insignia on his chassis. He wore a plain visor that covered his optics and two lines that came under the visor and down his cheekplates.

I stared at him as he still seemed lost in his own world, I had seen this mech. Where had I seen him before? I began to search my databanks for anything. Then it hit me as I stared at the mech, I remember where I had seen him. But it can't be, last time I'd seen him was when he was dragged off into the slave system. Was this really little Jazz?

"Jazz..?" I stated aloud, he turned to me his expression turning to shock.

"Starwatcher?" he replied, before I could speak, he launched off the berth hugging me tightly. "I can't believe it's you!"

"Neither can I, kid" I replied, he pulled back. "You've grown up quite a bit."

"Just a bit?" he teased, I chuckled and he pulled back. "I'm a full-grown mech now, ya know."

"I can see that," I replied, he laughed. "You seem to be doing well, well as well as any of us can be."

"Yeah, I actually didn't stay a slave all that long, maybe a few stellarcycles. I met someone and was bought and brought to Praxus lived there till well all this junk."

"Praxus…" I stated, I hadn't thought to look there…

"Ya couldn't have done anything back then, so don't look so sad." He soothed, I pulled him into a hug.

"I'm sorry, I wish I could have stopped them that's all…" I admitted, he chuckled.

"I know, but it's all alright, I wouldn't change what happened. Cuz of that I got to meet the most amazing bot and bond. So, don't beat yourself up." He replied, so he had bonded, he really wasn't a youngling anymore… "I honestly thought you'd died; I never could find you in the records."

"Not surprising, I've changed my designation since then," I admitted as we pulled apart.

"Oh, so what you go by now?"

"Ratchet."

"Like the nickname Ironhide gave you?"

"I'm surprised you remember that."

"I wasn't that young."

"I suppose not."

He smiled up at me, that infectious smile hasn't changed since he was a youngling. I spent stellarcycles searching for him after he was taken, but I could never find him. He was lost in a system that was made to abuse him. Yet here he stood, free and happy having escaped the system. I reached over and cupped his cheekplate and he leaned into it.

"I've missed you."

"Me too…"

"So, you're a spy, now?"

"Yeah, always been nimble, and ya know my vocalizer is good for it too."

I grabbed a scanner and began to scan him; it was true his vocalizer would be useful as a spy. I remember when he was small, he would perfectly mimic voices he'd heard especially when quoting someone. He also used to corral the other younglings. I was a bit curious about this bondmate of his. Were they a native Praxian? Were they both there when it fell…?

"I'm glad you're doing well."

"You look like ya got a million questions."

"Not that many."

"What's one then?"

"So, you're bonded, are they from Praxus?"

"Yep, his name's Prowl, he was the one who helped get me out of the slavery thing. He pleaded with his Sire to buy me and they brought me to Praxus. Guess you could say we were youngling sweetspark's."

"Been with him that long?"

"Yep. So what about you, ever settled down?"

"I did bond."

"Really?! What're they like?"

"He's a bit of a pushover, first time I met him he was being used as a climbing pole by the younglings at the hospital."

"Pfft, why does that sound like the perfect kinda mech for you."

"Apparently so."

"What's his name?"

"Orion."

I finished my scans, seems he was fine, a bit low on fuel and tired but that was to be expected. He had a grin plastered on his faceplate as I put away the scanner. I was still in shock to see him until he was perpetually just a youngling. A small youngling with a big heart and a bit of a jokester side. Now he was a full-grown mech…

"So, what's another one?"

"Were both there when…"

"Praxus fell, yeah it broke Prowler's spark… Right before it fell his creators were killed leaving us with his lil' brother."

"How young?"

"About three stellarcycles into his youngling stage, we took him in, he clings to his big brother like a scarplet to metal."

"What does he do?"

"Oh, he's a tactician, he's gotta pretty powerful logic processor, besides it's best he stays out of the field. Little Blue needs 'im."

I heard a knock on the other side of the door, I looked at it curiously. Probably one of my medics needing assistance, I rubbed my helm and answered the door. I saw Orion standing there, I crossed my servos over my chassis. He knew better than to bother me while I'm working.

"Jazz!" someone called, a Praxian mech pushed past Orion and ran to hug Jazz.

"I'm fine Prowler." Jazz hushed soothing the clearly upset mech, so this was his bondmate.

"He couldn't focus during our meeting, and I heard his bondmate was in here. Sorry if we interrupted." Orion stated, I waved off his apology.

"It's fine, young love and all that slag." I huffed, I watched as the Jazz calmed his bondmate down.

"Prowler ya gotta meet someone." He chimed, the mech tilted his head confused. "See that's the medic I told you about, the one that looked after me as a youngling."

"Thank you for everything you did for Jazz, he always spoke highly of you." Prowl thanked bowing his helm to me.

"So, he was one of your charges?" Orion stated, I turned to him nodding.

"Yep, he was taken when he was little, slave traders. First time seeing him since he was a bitlet." I explained, he nodded his helm.

I felt someone hug me, I saw him hugging me a big grin plastered on his faceplate. I smirked and rubbed his helm fondly, I hope that Rodian was seeing this. He leaned up and kissed my cheekplate and I scoffed turning away. He let out a laugh, I side-eyed him and he looked up at me smiling.

"You know ya love me." He chimed, I huffed patting his helm.

"Yeah, yeah," I replied, he snickered.

He let go of me and looked to his bondmate and looked around worriedly, "Where's Blue?" he quizzed.

"With a sitter, I was actually in a meeting with Optimus Prime, he kindly allowed me to come see you." Prowl explained, Jazz turned to look at Prime.

"Nice ta meet ya sir!" he chimed and saluted Orion and offered a servo.

"It's a pleasure to meet you as well," Orion replied shaking his servo.

"I take it you know him?" Jazz chimed winking at me.

"Yes, this is my idiot," I stated, he broke out into laughter and I felt a servo on my shoulderplate. "You know why you're an idiot, don't even get me started Orion."

"Again, I apologize Old Friend." He replied, I scoffed at the term he seemed to be sticking to.

"We should probably return to our meeting." Prowl stated, Orion nodded and Prowl rubbed Jazz's helm. "Ping me when you get back to the habsuite."

"I will have a good meetin' ya two." He chimed; Orion patted my shoulderplate before the duo headed out.

"Seems like he's your balance." I hummed, he chuckled and winked at me.

"I could say the same about your mech. I think bots with big personalities like us need bots like 'em." He mused; he had a point there. "I should go pick up Baby Blue when I'm done here."

"Hardly call a three stellar-cycled youngling a baby." I teased, he chuckled.

"Probably not, but he's still a baby to me."

"Fair, until now I never even thought to picture as a fully grown mech. All I thought of was the little bitlet who raced around the hospital."

"Maybe I'll feel the same way when Blue grows up."

"You have sitters for him I assume."

"Yep, a friend of mine named Blaster is a cassette bot, he's usually working in the base so usually get him to watch Blue."

"Not many of those frame types anymore."

"Nope, he's got three mini-bots, a set of twins and a mecha-animal."

"I'm sure a youngling like Blue loves to play with them."

"Yeah, keep him entertained for sure."

"I finished your assessment so you can head on out."

"Not till I get a commlink, don't plan on going off your radar again."

I turned to him and saw him with a fond smile and I couldn't help but smile back. Of course, he wasn't going to leave without that. I walked over and rubbed his helm, he leaned into it. It filled a bit of the ache in my spark seeing him. At least this one lived and grew up…

"Guess you're still my bitlet."

"You know it!"

(Jazz's POV)

I felt the base rock and I pulled Blue close as the room settled, I felt him turn to grab my platting. Was the base being attacked? I could hear yells coming from outside as the alarms began to blare. It was an attack, it had to be. I looked down at Blue feeling lost, I should answer the alarm but I can't leave him alone.

"Jazz I'm scared." He stated, I hushed him scooping him up.

"It'll be okay baby Blue." I soothed, I need to get him somewhere safe…

'Ratch, what's happening?' I commed, please respond.

'An attack; are you okay?' he replied, I nodded before realizing he wouldn't see it.

'I'm fine, but I got Blue, I need to get him somewhere safe.' I explained.

'Med-bay now.' He ordered, I nodded and headed out into the halls.

As I raced through the halls, I would see mechs and femes popping out of every door and rushing out as I ran. The whole base was in a state of emergency now, I could hear announcements calling for all available Autobots were to head out. Soon I reached the med-bay and I punched the code in and I saw med staff racing to get ready for injuries.

"Over here!" Ratchet called, I turned to see him standing at the back of the room.

Maneuvering through the organized chaos around me I made my way over to him. Blue had now buried his faceplate into my chassis shaking in fear. I gently rubbed his backstruts between his quivering doorwings, my field was erratic so I began to calm down. I felt his shaking lessened as I relaxed a bit. I felt servos land of my shoulderplates and I looked up at Ratchet who looked at me soothingly.

"Sorry." I apologized, he cupped my cheekplate.

"It's okay kid, just relax." He soothed, I nodded leaning into his servo. "You and the bitlet are fine."

"I need to get out there." I began, he hushed me.

"You're staying here and keeping that little thing safe." He ordered, I nodded and he pulled away. "Go wait in my office."

He pointed to a door to the side I nodded and he led me to the door and opened it for me. I stepped in and turned to him he smiled and the door swooshed shut. Now I could hear his voice as he called out to his medical crew. I looked down to Blue who now peeked up at me his big blue optics full of tears.

"It's all okay little spark." I hushed, he nodded and I kissed his helm crest. "Sorry for all that, aren't you such a brave little mech."

"Where's brother?" he quizzed, I rubbed his backstruts.

"He's out working hard." I hummed, he nodded and reached out to my bondmate.

~You alright love?~ I quizzed, as I gently began to rock Blue in my arms.

~Yes, with Prime, you and Blue?~ he replied, I sent him love.

~With Ratch in the med-bay.~ I soothed, he sent me love.

~Stay there, I'll be there as soon we deal with this.~

~We'll be waiting.~

I looked around the small office, it was small, there was space for a few mechs then a desk. It was stacked messily with datapads with shelves behind stacked with even more. His monitor was one and I peeked at it curiously it was full of medical reports. Seems he was the same workaholic from when I was young.

"Hey Blue, let's clean up this room." I chimed, he nodded and I set him down.

"That bot, you know him." He asked, as I began to gather the messily stacked datapads.

"That was caretaker when I was a youngling," I answered, he crawled onto the chair and began to stack datapads neatly.

"So, he's your creator?" he quizzed, I smiled as I began to organize the shelves.

"Closest thing I have," I replied, he hummed in acknowledgement. "Once everything settles down I'm sure he'll be happy to meet you."

"I'd like that." He chimed, I reached over to rub his helm. "How come I never met him before?"

"I was lost when I was little, your creators and big brother saved me and brought me to Praxus. I haven't seen him for a long time, but now that I've found him again, I don't plan on getting lost again." I explained, he nodded his helm and I kissed his plump cheekplate. "Don't you ever get lost."

"I won't."

"Love ya baby Blue."

"Love you too!"

(Later)

I saw the door open and Ratchet stood in the doorway, I smiled as I held Bluestreak to my chassis as he sleeps. I could hear the sound of the medbay coming from behind him. Getting off the chair I walked over and he stepped in and the room. He walked over and reached up to rub my helm, I smiled leaning into it.

I always wanted to find him again, and now that I did, I couldn't be happier. I spent a long time searching for him in the records, I was hoping to find him. After the war broke out, I gave up, I thought he must be gone. I am so glad I was wrong… He was the only bot who felt like a creator to me.

"So, this Bluestreak?" he stated, I smiled nodding.

"Yep, wore himself out, we tidied up your office a bit. Still a workaholic." I replied, he chuckled.

"I enjoy my work." He replied, he gently reached down to rub Bluestreak's helm. "Looks a lot like his brother."

"I know, makes it really cute when he trots after his brother." I chimed, he chuckled. "Thanks for letting us come here."

"I know what it's like to worry over a little one." He stated, he reached over to rub my helm. "I'll be here whenever you need me."

"Thanks, creator."