I only own Mariposa!
Sick?
August 20, 7:00 am
"Mari, come on, Girly, i's time ta wake up. Ya gotta go ta school."
I stir before looking up to him. "Where Carrier?"
"'E go' called ta the base 'bou' an hour ago. 'Con attack in San Francisco. They needed 'is help."
I sit up and turn to him. "You take me to school?"
"O' course!" He grins. "Ya think Ah'd jus' leave ya with Blue?"
"Blue's not s'posed ta be in'a field righ' now. He's gotta go school. You needs ta figh', Sire! Opt need you!"
"'E's tryin' ta keep ya Carrier an' Ah ou' of the battlefield righ' now, cause ya need us. Ah don' gotta be a' the base till after ya're a' school, anyway. By tha' time, ya Carrier shoul' be done runnin' the battle, an' we'll be safe 'gain." He sighs. "Now, ah need ta get ya breakfast.
I follow him downstairs, and slide into my seat while he starts cooking. It only takes him a few minutes to have a plate with a pink butterfly pancake, scrambled eggs, hashbrowns, and sausage links ready. I look up as he hands me a fork and sets my strawberry milk in front of me. "Ea' up, Girly."
I look down at my plate before looking back up at Sire. "Carrier be okay?"
He runs a finger over my head. "'E'll be fine, Sweetspark. Trus' meh. 'E's safe a' the base, runnin' the battle over comms."
"An' you no go figh'?"
"Ah'm stayin' righ' 'ere. Ya need ta ea', Sweetspark."
"Jazz?" I look up to see Bluestreak walk in with his backpack in one hand. He walks over to get a cube from the cabinet before turning to us. "What's wrong with Mari?" He looks around. "And where'd Prowl go? He's usually up by now, unless—"
"Slow ya roll there, Blue." Sire sighs heavily. "Mari's panickin' enough withou' ya givin' 'er more ta worry 'bou'. Ya bro's a' the base, runnin' strategies for a battle in San Fransisco. Mari's scared for 'im."
"Oh…" Bluestreak steps over and runs a finger gently over my back. "He'll be okay, Mari. Prowl's good at what he does. He'll be home when we get out of school."
I slide off my chair and carry my nearly empty plate over to the sink. "Ah need ta help Mari ge' dressed for school."
"Are you coming to get her after school, or am I driving her home?"
"Ah'm gonna do mah best ta ge' there in time ta pick 'er up, bu' if ah can' make i', ah need ya ta ge' 'er home, an' help 'er with 'er homework. Prowler's gonna have ta work late 'cause of this battle, so ah'm sure 'e'll be late gettin' home, then in 'is office for mos' of the nigh'."
Sire helps me into my uniform before braiding my hair and tying the ends with my special heart-end hair ties, then slips in my school tiara. He watches me slip my LED binky over my head, and my princess scarf around my neck, then heads back downstairs. "Ah'm gonna get ya lunch packe'. Ya need ta ge' ya backpack an' mee' me downstairs."
Freedom Academy Parking Lot
I slide out of Sire's passenger seat before grabbing my backpack and lunch box. We rode in with the top down, so he's got his holoform on. "Do ya wan' meh ta walk ya in?"
I nod, and look up at him as he smoothes my hair down, then glances at my still-healing right eye. "I' looks like ya eye's 'bou' healed. Ratch'll be glad ta hear tha'."
We start for the elementary school. "You see Aid 'day?"
"O' course ah'm gonna see Aid!"
"Tell 'im too. He taked care of me las' week."
"Ah'll tell ya big bro too."
"T'anks." We stop at the door, and I turn to hug him before starting through the door.
"Have a good day, Girly."
"I'll try. Le' me know 'bout Daddy?"
"Ah'll see wha' ah can do." He smiles. "Maybe ah can take ya by the base after ya ge' ou'."
"Pease, pease, pease!" I start jumping in place. "I see Aid! Wan' see Aid!"
"We'll hafta see, Mari. I' depends on wha' we're doin' this afternoon. Ah'm no' even sure ah'm gonna ge' off in time ta come ge' ya."
"Blue take me ta base?"
"If ah can' ge' ya, 'e will. 'E's go' trainin' with 'Hide, an' then 'e's go' ta go on patrol with the twins."
I make a yucky face. "Sunny mean."
"Ah know, Girly, bu' 'e'll warm up ta ya in time." He checks the phone Carrier bought before sighing. "Ah gotta ge' movin', an' ya're 'bou' ta be late ta class."
I glance at my own phone before growling at the clock, then hug Sire before running into the room. "Loves you Papa!"
I walk over and pull out my school stuff, then stick my backpack and lunch box in my cubby. "Who's Aid?"
I turn to find Violet and her twin sisters. "He's my Big Brother men'or. 'Is name's Aiden, bu' I call 'im Aid. He's a fiel' medic at Daddy and Papa's base. I getta go sometimes, cause they don' trust jus' anyone ta watch me, an' I wanna see 'im. I haven' seen him since las' Monday, an' tha's when he 'cided ta be my men'or, and teach me medic stuffs when I's older."
"All right, girls. It's time for class to start. Everyone find your seats."
I grin and run to the front row before standing beside my seat. Like every day, we do the pledge, then sing America before sitting down. I slip my binky in the second I sit down.
"We're going to start adding bigger numbers today." Ms. Weaver walks over to the board and writes a problem on the board. "Can anyone tell me what ten plus five is?" Daniella and I both raise our hands. "Marianne?"
"Fifteen."
"That's right." She writes another problem under it. "What about thirteen plus seven, Daniella?"
"Nineteen?"
"No." She turns to me. "Marianne, do you know?"
"It's twenty."
"Right." She smiles at me before turning back to the board.
Daniella scowls at me the second her back is turned. "Teacher's pet."
I give her a confused look. I'm not an animal, so how can I be a pet? I sigh and rub my head. It's starting to hurt from all the confusing-ness around me. I groan softly and lay my head on the desk.
"Ms. Weaver, I think Mari's gonna be sick."
Ms. Weaver walks over and leans down to me. "Marianne?"
"Head ouchie…" I make a face at how loud her voice sounds. "You too loud…"
She sighs softly, and walks over to glance out the door. "Amy, can you come take Marianne down to the nurse, and see if they'll call her parents?" She walks back in with a teen girl.
She nods, then walks over before crouching in front of me, and talking softly. "Come on, Sweetheart. Let's go call Mommy."
I slide out of my chair slowly. "No gots a Mommy…" I lean heavily on my desk. I'm dizzy. "Room all 'pinny… Carry me pease?"
"Of course I will." She picks me up gently, and I lay my head on her shoulder. "Then we'll call Daddy."
She carries me out the door before rushing for the office. "Daddy run battle plan. Papa's a' works… Gotta call B'ue."
"Boo?"
"Oopsies." I just used his real name. "Unca B'akes. I calls him Bwue."
"Blake Tranquilli?"
I nod. "Wan' B'ue… I's scawed…"
"We'll call Blake." She pushes the office door open with her hip. "Ms. Osorio? I need you to call the high school, and get Blake over here, quickly."
"Why?"
I bury my face in Amy's shoulder. It's too bright, and too loud in here, and it hurts. She sighs before taking off her jacket and draping it over my head. It's too bad she can't know about our people. She'd make a great babysitter. "Marianne's dizzy, and she's acting like she's in pain. Annabelle thought she was going to throw up. Her Dad's running battle plans, and her other Dad's at work."
Ms. Osorio picks up the phone quickly before dialing. "Eliza, I need you to send Blake Tranquilli over to the Elementary school now. His niece is sick, and we won't be able to reach her parents."
Freedom High, Bluestreak's POV
Blake Tranquilli, please report to the office. Blake Tranquilli, please report to the office.
Everyone in my Geometry class turns to stare at me, and a few of them start laughing, while others start whispering. 'Slag. What did I do wrong? Did I mess up at the Elementary School on Friday? I thought I did everything right…'
"Hurry up, Blake. They won't wait all day."
"Right. Sorry, Mr. Keller. I'll be back as soon as I can." I grab my books before starting for the door, only for him to hand me a piece of paper.
"Tomorrow's assignment, just in case you don't make it back before class ends."
"Thank you."
I run into the office and set my books on the desk, but before I get the chance to ask what I did wrong, Ms. Kingston looks up at me with a worried look. 'Oh, Primus. Did someone get hurt? Is it Prowl? Or Jazz? Maybe one of the twins got hurt… Prowl knows how much I care about them…'
"Blake, you need to get over to the Elementary school. Your niece isn't feeling well, and—"
"Peter's running tactics for a NEST battle, and Jazz is head of Special Ops, and unable to leave." I sigh softly and lean on the counter. At least no one's dying. "Did they say what's wrong with her?"
"No, but it was obvious the adults over there care a great deal about her."
I sigh heavily. If she really is sick, I can't leave her at the base with Prowl, and Jazz can't watch her while he's working—he'd focus on her instead of finishing the paperwork he has to handle for Ops. "I may have to call off for the rest of the day so I can take her home."
"We know, and you're fine. Just…let us know how she is."
"Yes, Ma'am."
Freedom Elementary, bluestreak's pov
I run into the office and get directed into a small room off to the side. "She's in there."
"Why are the lights off?"
"According to Amy, the lights were bothering her."
"Ah…" I step inside and sit on the edge of the little bed before resting a hand on my niece's tiny shoulder. "Mari?"
"Bwue?"
"I'm here, Sweetspark." I pull her into my lap before sliding back so I'm leaning against the wall.
"Bwue… Head ouchie… Eyes ouchie… Dizzy… Tummy 'ucky… Wan' Daddy."
"He's busy, Sweetheart… Peter's—" I blink before looking up to my classmate. "Amy?"
"Yeah?"
I sigh heavily. "Do you know what happened right before she started feeling like this?"
She shakes her head. "I was in the hall. I'd just gotten back from taking attendance to the office."
I sigh before looking down to my niece. "Mari, can you tell me what happened?"
"Ella call me a pet… But I not a pet… It comfusing… I no get… Then I get ouchies… an' dizzies… an' feels sick…" She gags suddenly, and I quickly grab a trash can before she purges on me, and holds it under her chin until she's done. "Amy, tell Ms. Osorio she threw up, so I'm taking her home." I sigh heavily. "Can you stay with her? I need to go get my assignments from Mrs. Kingston."
"Sure. She's a sweetheart, Blue."
"Blue?" I raise an eyebrow and look down at Mari.
Amy gives me a nervous look. "She said it was your nickname… I'm sorry if I said something wrong…"
I shake my head. "You're fine, Amy. I was just a little confused. Not many people call me Blue anymore."
I run across the lot and into the high school before almost running into Jason. He holds out a sheet of notebook paper. "I figured if Mari was sick, you'd need someone to get your homework for you, so…"
I take the list of assignments before skimming over it, then rush to my locker and gather my books. "I'll see you tomorrow, Jase. She should be okay by then."
"You too…"
I pull out my cell the second I'm out of the high school, and hit Ratchet's speed-dial.
"This had better be important, Bluestreak! I'm still dealing with casualties from San Francisco, and I don't have time for silliness."
"I wouldn't be comming you in the middle of school if it wasn't important, Ratchet! Mari's near a crash. I'll be on the road in less than five minutes. I need you to tell Prowl. She's scared, and asking for him."
"I will see what I can do. Get here as fast as you can, and do not let her recharge. I do not want to risk her processors any more than necessary, and until she is able to return to her true form…" Ratchet sighs heavily. "I will have General Morshower handle any tickets you get." He sighs. "Primus, Blue. We need to get you an emergency light if you are going to panic like this every time—"
"Thanks, Rick. I'll have her there ASAP." I duck silently into her classroom. Thankfully, they're working on a worksheet, so I can talk with Ms. Weaver in peace. "I'm taking Mari to her pediatrician, and then we're going home. I need to get her homework so she won't get behind. I don't think Peter would be happy if…" I have to force myself to calm down before I start rambling. Now is not the time to panic, even if I already am.
Ms. Weaver hands me a stack of paper with a hand-written sheet on top. "Here you go. This should be everything she'll need. I hope she feels better soon."
"I do too." I walk over and get her things from her desk, then tuck everything into her backpack before starting back for the office. "Mari?"
"Blue's back, Sweets…"
I hook the strap to her backpack over my shoulder before smiling to Amy. "Thanks for taking care of her for me." I step over and pick her up. "Come on, Mari. Let's get you to Doctor Rick."
"No wan' Doc'or Rick. Wan' Daddy."
"I know, Sweetheart. Daddy's gonna meet us there."
"I thought—"
"Rick's a field medic at the base. Peter can't come here, but he'll be able to go to the medbay for a few minutes to check on her before we go home."
Amy follows me out, so I simply set her into her booster seat before tossing our backpacks into the trunk on my vehicle mode, then slip back in so I can buckle her. Once she's secure, I climb in and start off down the road before deactivating my holoform a safe distance from the school.
Base, Bluestreak's POV
"Mari? You still online?"
"Uh-huh… Wan' nigh'-nigh', Bwue… No feels goo'…"
I transform and cup her in my hand before starting for the medical bay. "I know, but you have to stay awake a little longer."
"Wan' b'anky, an' F'utter, go nigh'-nigh'."
"I'll go get them, and some clothes, just as soon as you're with Ratchet."
"No wan' Rat'et. Wan' Cawiew."
I step into the medbay. "Ratchet?"
"Bluestreak—" He turns and glares at Prowl before he has a chance to take more than two steps. "Prowl, sit down. You can't do anything for her right now." He turns back to me. "Set her on the berth. Prowl has a list of things he wants you to get from the house."
"I'm on it."
"Bluestreak." I turn to my brother. "Leave her backpack at home. She is not doing anything involving schoolwork until she has recovered."
Prowl's POV
"Cawiew…"
"I am right here, Sweetspark." I look up to Ratchet from my place beside her berth. "Ratchet…"
"I know this is not easy, Prowl, but she will be completely fine in a few minutes."
"Wan' nigh'-nigh'."
"I know, Sweetspark. Ratchet will let you recharge as soon as he is sure you are okay."
"Head ouchie… Eyes ouchie… Tummy 'ucky… Gotted dizzy… Puked in Bwue arms… Cawiew hold pwease?"
"Ratchet? Can I…"
He glances over from his computer. "It will not hurt for you to hold her, and you can let her recharge as soon as Bluestreak returns with her things. I will, of course, have to check for damage to her processor once she finally reaches her true form, but until then, just keep a close optic on her."
Normal POV
I look up when I hear the door open, and smile at Bluestreak as he hands my base backpack to Carrier. "This will work fine, Bluestreak. Thank you." He sighs. "The twins are in the rec room, if you do not wish to return home."
"Thanks, Prowl."
"What triggered this episode?"
Bluestreak rubs the back of his neck. "Ella called her either a pet, or teacher's pet." I hold up two fingers. "Teacher's pet. She didn't understand what it means."
"What means?"
"It means the teacher really likes you, usually because you're a good student. Most kids don't like the teacher's pet, because they seem to get special treatment."
"Oh…" I watch him walk out before turning to Carrier. "Wan' nigh'-nigh'."
"You can recharge as soon as I can get you out of your uniform, Sweetspark." He helps me into black sweatpants before starting to pull my shirt off.
"Prowl?" I look up at the same time Carrier does, and find Aid.
"Yes, First Aid? Is something wrong?"
He shakes his head. "No, everything's fine. Everything's taken care of, and the human casualties have been moved to proper facilities." He sets a large-to-a-human, small-to-a-bot bag on the ground. "Ratchet commed me about Mari's near-crash… I hope you don't mind that Spot and I got her something on the way back…"
"Of course not. That was very kind of you, First Aid."
Once Carrier pulls my sweatshirt down over my head, I turn to look in the bag. Inside is a stuffed ambulance and a really soft fire truck blankie. "Fanks, Aid. Loves…" I hug the ambulance to my chest and hook the blankie over my arm before curling into Carrier's chest and hand and drifting off.
Third POV
Prowl steps into his office and lays the recharging femme on a butterfly print nap mat. She's still holding tightly to her new fire truck blanket, and the stuffed ambulance. He then lays her stuffed butterfly and fleece blanket beside her before returning to his desk.
Jazz steps in a few minutes later. "Blue tol' meh wha' happened. How is she?"
"It is hard to tell while she is recharging, but she seems okay. Ratchet wishes to check her processor once she reaches her true form, but there is not much he can do until then."
"Where'd she ge' the new blanke', an' the ambulance?"
Prowl smiles slightly. "First Aid and Hot Spot bought them for her on their way back from helping in rescue efforts."
"How are ya handlin' this?"
"As well as I can, Jazz. I have work to do, and—"
"Ah know, Prowler." Jazz sighs heavily. "Ah'm jus' makin' sure ya're okay."
"She did not actually crash this time."
"This time. Nex' time migh' be much worse for 'er."
"I am trying not to think about it. You remember what I went through as a youngling. I doubt I could handle it in your Carrier's position."
"Ah dou' ah coul' handle i' 'gain, you or 'er."
12:35 pm, Normal POV
"Ah'll be righ' back, Prowler. Ah'm gettin' us some 'gon and checkin' on Blue."
"Get some low grade for when Mariposa wakes up. Bluestreak brought an empty water bottle from home when he brought her lunch." I shift slightly, quickly realizing I'm in the travel bed Carrier keeps in his office for me. I whimper softly at a pain in my back, calling Carrier's attention. He stands before walking over, then kneels to me. "Mariposa? How are you feeling?"
"Cawiew?" I sit up and rub my eyes. "I better now." I whimper. "Bu' back hur's!"
We both turn when the door opens. "Prowler, ah'm—" Sire smiles when he sees me. "Heya, Mari! How ya feelin'?"
"Better. No more ouchie head." I squirm and whimper again. "Carrier!"
Sire sets the cubes and my cup on the desk before turning back to us. "Wha's wrong, Prowler? 'S this from the crash?"
Carrier steps away before returning with my energon. "I doubt it." He steps back over to his desk before sitting down and starting to drink his own cube. Now they're talking to where I can barely hear them.
Third POV
Prowl sighs before turning back to Jazz. "It more than likely has to deal with her true form."
"Ya mean she's gonna transform back soon?"
Prowl lets out an exhausted-sounding sigh. "Her frame has been severely overstressed over the last two weeks. It could be that something is damaged, but it is far more likely that she will return to her true form before nightfall—98.72%, to be exact." He drains the cube, then slides his chair back and moves to stand.
Jazz raises an eyebrow ridge. "Prowler…"
"I need to talk with Red Alert. Keep an optic on Mariposa."
"Ya're supposed ta be—"
"I am going to ask him about what we spoke about at the church yesterday."
"Security for Mari. Ah remember, bu' ya need ta—"
"My energy levels are acceptable, Jazz."
"Would Ratch say the same thin'?"
Normal POV
Carrier huffs before walking out, leaving Sire and I staring at each other.
"Ya wan' meh ta ge' ya lunch together?"
I nod, and watch him set it out before starting to eat, still clinging to my stuffed ambulance and the fire truck blanket. I gots cupcake-shaped lasagnas today, with a banana, oranges, and cookies. "Carrier okay?"
"'E will be. Ah thin' 'e's jus' tired. 'E's been real busy with the team an' at home."
"Carrier's crabby like Ratch."
Sire shakes his head. "'E's worried 'bou' ya, Mar."
"I scare' Blue… I scare' Ratch… I scare' Carrier…" I blink up at him. "I scare' you?"
"Yep." He sighs softly. "Bu' ya'll be okay. Trus' meh. Ratch won' le' anythin' bad happen ta ya."
"Where Carrier go, then?"
"'E's talkin' ta Red 'bou' gettin' a better security system than wha' the humans can create. 'E's gotta ge' the supplies from Red, so 'e's gonna ask 'bou' more security here, too."
"Wan' Carrier…"
"Ah know ya do, Sweets. E'll be back."
"Back ouchie…"
"Still?" I nod. "Wan' meh ta comm Ratch, see if 'e can ge' ya somethin'?"
"That will not be necessary. Mariposa, get your things. I am taking you home."
"Prowler—"
"You need to finish your work."
"Bu' Prowler—"
"Red Alert has agreed to provide the equipment necessary to set up security for Mariposa. I stopped by to update Optimus on Mariposa's condition, and now I am taking Mariposa home. She will be more comfortable in her own berth than she will be on the floor of my office."
"Ah though' ya sai' ya woul' be late gettin' home because of ya reports."
"I am taking them with me. I need to get Mariposa home."
