TFA: Youngling
Ch.10~ Signal
"By the All Spark!" Ratchet exclaimed, I turned to him in confusion.
"Something wrong Rache?" I called, I walked over to him.
"How did they get this close already?" he muttered, I touched his pede and he turned to me.
"Who's coming?" I quizzed.
"Autobots, their signal is barely over an Earth day away, they had been at least an Earth week away yesterday." He explained, wow that was a big jump.
"Did they use a space bridge?"
"None that far out, at least as far as I know."
"Hyper-drive?"
"A what?"
"Heard about on Earth science fiction shows, it's a way for ships to move far really fast."
"Perhaps something similar, most of my ship knowledge is from during the war…"
"Who do you think it is?"
"Depends, if they detected the All-Spark's signal then I'd say it could be Ultra Magnus and his men."
"Is he nice?"
"He's a pragmatist, can be a bit rough but he does have good intentions. But as I said before he's not the real one in charge."
"Will he actually believe my story?"
"About fifty-fifty to be honest."
"Think my weapons might convince him."
"If nothing else he'll trust my word."
"So, are you two friends?"
"I wouldn't go that far, but he knows my skills and trusts me."
"Oh… Do you have friends back on Cybertron?"
"A few mechs I used to get drinks with once in a while. Why do you want to know?"
"You're a lot like my Rache, but other things are completely different."
"Was he popular?"
"He had a lot of friends, said it was because he was so old."
"Heh, sounds about right."
"Rache, what was it like before the war?"
"I was about Bumblebee's age when the war broke out fully, so I don't have many memories of what it had been like. I remember that back then flier and war frames were common. I grew up in a rather poor sector, we were surrounded by war frames and crooks. Some were both. I was lucky when the war was looming, I was able to enroll and become a medic."
"Why did the war break out?"
"Mech named Megazarack, he started a revolt, said that the War framers were the main reason we beat the Quintessons, said they should be in charge."
"Quintessons?"
"Cybertron used to be a colony of theirs, they wanted to use our resources to create armies and technology but this was not a fair thing. The only ones who lived in any stability were the few put in charge by them. Most of their descendants became the Senate, started the revolt and used this to stay in power. When I had been young, I wanted to join the Decepticons but my creators talked me out of it and I enrolled in the Autobot academy as a medic."
"Sounds like what happened in my world."
"Megazarack was a lunatic, don't get it twisted. He wanted to gain control so we could do the same as the Quintessons before us and colonize other planets. Then Megatron took over by killing that mech, he wanted the same of Megazarack but he had the intelligence to be capable of doing it. The war took a turn for the worse when he got into power."
"Oh…"
"I meant what I said, Cybertron would be far worse in the servos of the Decepticons. The Autobots have their faults, All Spark knows the Senate is worse. But at least we haven't gone around colonizing other worlds."
"Just because it isn't the worst, doesn't mean it shouldn't be better!"
"Kid, I'm too old and worn to fight another war."
"But you fight Decepticon's right now?"
"Kid, this isn't war, and I think you know that too."
"I…"
"I'll leave changing the world to the young mechs, just as you need to leave it to the older mechs. Sometimes you can be too old to do something just like you can be too young."
"My Rache was older."
"Perhaps bots live longer where you're from."
I stared up at him confused, did he really mean that? I guess Rache said he was living long before the war. They all seemed shocked how long the war had been going on… I felt tears well up in my optics, he turned to look at me and looked surprised. He crouched down and rubbed my helm soothingly.
"Hey now, don't cry." He hushed, I sniffled rubbing at my optics.
"Am I gonna outlive everyone?" I cried; his optics softened.
"Even if I'm wrong and you don't live longer, you'd still outlive most of us. You are much younger than all of us after all. But that will be a long time from now." He soothed, I guess he had a point. "Kid, life ain't fair, we both seen that firsthand. But that doesn't mean that it's all bad, something will always be unfair, life ain't perfect. Sometimes things just need to be good enough."
"And this is good enough?"
"For now, I think it is, maybe when you're grown up you can go a change the world so it's better or maybe somebot will do it before you. Learn to accept things as they are, cuz if I've learned anything in all my years it's that nothing stays the same. Good or bad, everything changes in time. No one bot is to blame for things are or for changing things, so don't put that on yourself. Nothing will drive a bot more insane than shouldering the universe on their backstruts."
Like Megatron from my world, he thought he was the only one who could change things… Is that why he turned evil? Is that what happened to Megazarack and this worlds Megatron?
"I think I understand."
"Good, now try to relax and live in the moment. You might enjoy it."
"I'll try."
"That's a good feme."
(Later)
"So, the Elite Guard is coming by tomorrow," Optimus stated, Ratchet nodded and Optimus ran a servo over his faceplate. "We need to make sure we explain everything clearly."
"Just tell it how it is, no need for you to stress out." Ratchet stated, Optimus nodding looking unsure.
"Star you remember what you need to say right?" Optimus questioned; I nodded my helm.
"I do," I assured, he nodded still seeming nervous.
"Okay, I need to make sure the others are on their best behaviour," Optimus muttered; he was stressing about it…
"Primus kid, I can practically hear your cogs turning. Just relax, we ain't done anything wrong."
"The All Spark was destroyed!" Optimus exclaimed; would they be blamed for that?!
"I blew it up not you, and I will make sure they know that. There was no other option in the situation. It was let Megatron use the All Spark or risk its destruction to deprive him of its power. If they want to argue logic I will win." I argued, he looked at me confused.
"Stop talking like that, it's freaky." Ratchet chastised lightly bonking my helm.
"Talking like what?" I questioned.
"You sounded like those Earth robots." Ratchet stated; like an Earth robot?
"You were talking with almost no emotion." Optimus added, "You didn't realize that?"
Oh! I remember Rache told me I sounded like Sire when I talked while using my battle computer. Did Sire sound like an Earth robot? I mean he didn't sound like that from what I remember. Maybe a bit monotone, but not emotionless like Earth robots.
"Back home they said I sounded like my Sire when I spoke like that," I stated, Optimus looked confused as did Ratchet.
"Your Sire sounded like that?" Optimus stated, I nodded.
"But Sire wasn't that monotone, I mean at least he wasn't from what I remember." I explained.
"You mentioned a battle computer that you inherited from him, I assume that is a logical processer-based subroutine. There was a medic on Cybertron, that removed his emotional processors, which gave him a voice similar to what you did. If I had to guess using that shut those processors off temporarily or at least dulls them." Ratchet theorized.
I remember I used it to form the plan when Optimus got Cybontic Plague, I didn't feel sad when I was planning. But as soon as I finished I felt worse then I did at first… I remember I was crying but I didn't even notice till I finished. I guess it must really affect my emotional processors.
"I think you're right," I stated, Ratchet lightly bonked me.
"Doing again." He huffed, I guess I use it more than I realized. "Don't go using the program so often."
"Why?"
"You said your Sire had a bad glitch, and it got worse when he was busy with his tactical planning. Using that too much probably makes your already present glitches worse."
"Oh, so it could make me glitch."
"Overusing it will, and overusing it is going to be easier to do since your young. Emergencies only. Got it."
"Okay."
"I'm back," Prowl announced I turned to him smiling.
"Welcome back!" I greeted, he walked over to us.
"Make sure this little one doesn't use her battle computer; trust me you'll know she's using it from her voice," Ratchet ordered.
"Any specific reason?" Prowl asked.
"She'll irritate her glitch." Ratchet answered.
"I see, I'll keep a watch for it then." He assured reaching down to rub my helm.
I rarely realize I'm using it though…
(Prowl's POV)
I carried Star to our room, she was leaned against me sleepily. Stepping into the room I headed to the bed and carefully laid her down. She sleepily shuffles back and I carefully laid next to her while covering her in a blanket. Her visor was dim, seems she had really worn herself out today.
"Time to recharge." I hummed, she let out a whine. "Something wrong Star?"
"I don't want the Elite Guard to arrive." She muttered, I guess she could feel the tension in the air.
"Don't worry, I'm sure it will go fine. If we're lucky perhaps Jazz will be on the Team that arrives." I hushed; her optics brightened.
"You think so?" she questioned eagerly; I rubbed her helm.
"It's a possibility, he does go on a lot of off-world missions," I stated, she smiled.
"I'd really like to meet him." She hummed, I nodded brushing her cheekplate soothingly.
"And he would love meeting you, he may be different much like I am compared to your versions of us," I explained, she smiled.
"I know." She assured.
"Now want story do you want to hear tonight?" I quizzed, she looked down.
"I wanna hear more about Ja in this world." She mumbled softly; I rubbed her helm soothingly.
"Of course."
(Later)
She was in recharge fully now; I had told her all about Jazz. It was nice to be able to talk about my bondmate. Seems it brought her comfort too. I wonder if Jazz will warm up to her as quickly as I did. Perhaps I warmed up to her so fast is because in another world she was our creation. No warmed-up isn't the right term. Despite knowing well that she isn't my creation I feel like she is. Or at the very least I want to be her Sire.
I brushed her cheekplate which made her chirp as she moved into my touch. I wrapped my servo around her pulling her small frame closer to my own. She instantly cuddled herself up to my plating pressing her cheekplates to my armour.
I wonder if in a subconscious way she is feeling the same way as I? She's been most comfortable with me ever since she arrived after all. Perhaps I'm reading to much into this.
I let out a sigh and looked down at her. Her plump cheekplate was squished against my armour, her mouth parted slightly oral fluid leaking from the corner of her mouth. Her visor was off leaving a faint gold glow from behind the cyan material. She looked much like Jazz does when he's recharging.
"Sleep tight little one, no matter what I'm here for you." I hushed.
(Stargazer's POV)
My optics flickered on as I awoke, I was against something warm. Looking up I saw I was cuddled up to Prowl's chestplates, I felt something over me. Peering down I saw his servo was wrapped around me. I don't why but this felt so natural, this felt right. No, remember he isn't your Sire. But this all feels so familiar, it feels like this is where I need to be. Ugh!
I tried to pull away but his servo was holding me firmly in place. Why was he holding me like this? I mean I know he's my guardian currently but now that the Elite Guard is coming… I'm going to be taken away, and I'll never see him again…
I buried my faceplate into his plating, I didn't have much longer to be with him… I don't want to lose this… I don't want to leave them; I don't want to go to Cybertron! I felt sobs rock my frame as I tried but failed to keep back the tears.
"Star?" Prowl said, I froze at his voice. "Something wrong?"
"I'm fine," I muttered; he rubbed my backstruts soothingly.
"It's obviously not, why are you crying? Did you have a nightmare?" He questioned worriedly.
"I-I don't wanna go," I admitted.
"What do you mean?" he questioned.
"They're going to take me to Cybertron aren't they!" I cried, he began to hush me.
"What made you think that?"
"I don't have creators; they'll send me back to Cybertron. Send me bots I don't know, and I'll never see you all ever again."
"Oh no, no Star. You're not going to be sent away."
"Liar! They're gonna take me away, then you won't have to deal with me anymore."
"Star, what are you talking about? I'm not having to deal with you."
"Yes you are, you'll be glad when I'm off your servos!"
"Star!"
I froze at his tone and looked up at him confused, he looked sad. I hadn't expected him to look at me like this. He was just waiting to hand me off, why did he look so sad? I don't understand, I began to sob again. I don't understand! I don't understand!
"Oh Star, I don't want to get rid of you. I won't let anyone take you away. You're staying with me, I promise." He assured.
I don't understand! He's lying!
"Stargazer, I won't them take them away, and I mean it. I want to look after you, I love you so very much. I mean it, I truly mean it."
"I don't understand!"
"You've been hurt, I know you're scared. But I promise you that I'm here for you. No one will take you from me, as long as you're here I'll be here for you."
I cried louder, I don't understand, he has to be lying! He pulled me into a warm hug, I gripped his armour tightly as I sobbed. I don't understand! Why does he care? I'm not his creation, I don't belong here. Why, why… I don't understand. He can't mean it… He's not my Sire, he's not! He's not my Sire… Why do I want him to be my Sire?!
"It's alright, cry all you need. I promise no one will take you away." He hushed.
I don't understand…
