TFA: Youngling

Ch.16~ Senate Formalities

I watched as Ultra Magnus walked over to me and Sire, "Sorry to impose Princess, but I believe we have some things to discuss before we land." I explained.

"We do, I do not wish to be used by your superiors," I stated, he nodded.

"I couldn't agree more, which is why I would like to propose a plan." He explained.

"Go ahead."

"I have someone who is an expert in the mannerism of the elites of Cybertron, they have offered to walk you through your meeting the Senate. Of course, I will be there as well."

"Walk through it with me?"

"I do not what you to stress yourself again."

"Oh… And they know what to say?"

"Yes, he knows their mindsets and mannerism."

I looked to Sire, he seemed relieved, I suppose this was a way for us both to get our ways. Turning back to Magnus I nodded my helm, he smiled.

"I will gladly take their assistance," I stated.

If it does not seem to work, I can always take over. I won't be used.

(Later)

Getting off the ship I spotted a mech with a deep red, yellow and orange paint job, with a flame-like design on his chassis. Who was this? Magnus walked over to him and they smiled fondly at each other, was this his bondmate? Magnus led the mech over he smiled at me and bowed a bit.

"Pleasure to meet you, my name's Rodimus. I'll be assisting you in communicating with the Senate Princess Stargazer." He greeted.

"Thank you, I appreciate the assistance." I thanked, he smiled.

"Jazz, the twins are waiting for you in the Senate House atrium, you both can meet up with them while we handle the Senators," Rodimus explained.

"Are sure we shouldn't accompany you too?" Carrier quizzed holding me closer, but Rodimus shook his helm.

"Unfortunately not, but I assure you I'll make sure this meeting goes well Jazz," Rodimus replied.

"I'll be okay, you go meet up with brothers." I soothed; Carrier kissed my helm hugging me close.

"Stay safe." He murmured, I nodded turning to hug him.

"I will," I assured; I felt a servo rubbing my helm.

"Listen to Ultra Magnus and Rodimus." Sire stated, I nodded again.

"I will," I repeated.

Carrier pulled me back knelt down setting me on my pedes, he cupped my cheekplate looking at me sadly. I reached up to grab his wrist holding his servo in place. I wanted to stay with them, to never see the Senate. I was scared that if I do, I won't ever get to return to them and Earth. I don't want to lose them.

"You got this." Carrier soothed, I smiled nodding leaning into his palm.

Carrier pulled her hand away breaking my grip. He rose to his pedes, I wanted to run to him to cling to him. But I can't. I felt a servo pull my helm, I smiled as my cheek hit Sire's plating. I relaxed into him; he gently pets my helm before he too pulled away.

"We'll be waiting," Sire added and went to join Carrier.

I raised my servo and sadly waved to them as they left, slowly lowering my hand I felt my lipplates tremble. I heard something move behind me before a servo began to gently rub my helm. I reached up and rubbed at my faceplate. I need to get ready to face the Senate.

"Don't worry, I'll make sure you get to go back to them." Rodimus soothed, I nodded.

I felt him scoop me up, he smiled down at me and we began to head down the hall. Soon we entered a room and I saw a couch-like seat, over the back something purple was draped over it. Rodimus gently set me down on the couch and grabbed the purple cloth. He held it up and I saw it had golden clasps near the top.

"What's this?" I quizzed, he smiled.

"This is a cape; a cape is a symbol of status." He answered, he draped the cloth over my backstruts and the clasps magnetized to my plating. "It's not the perfect shade but it's close enough."

"Is the colour important?" I asked, he nodded.

"Yes, it's meant to match the highlight of a bots plating, it's not exactly the shade of your stripes but it's close enough." He answered. "Now here's a very important piece."

He rose and grabbed a box, opening it I watched as he pulled out what looked like a tiara. It was a gold band but perched in the center was an arrangement of light purple crystal that caught the light in a pretty way. He smiled at me before kneeling down and placing it on my helm where is magnetized in place. I carefully reached up to touch it as Rodimus leaned back.

"Now you look the part, next is acting the part. Inside the crown, I placed a small transceiver, with it I can coach you through your meeting. I will be watching you from an upper balcony far from the other delegates. All you have to do is do as I say, can you do that?" he explained, I nodded. "Good feme."

He gently reached over and rubbed my helm, I felt that off feeling hit me again. It felt like everything was moving and my body felt heavier, my lipplates trembled as I looked down. I felt Rodimus pull me close and he gently rubbed my backstruts. I leaned into him taking comfort in his embrace.

"Ultra, you'll have to carry her in. She looks faint." Rodimus stated, "You didn't say she was feeling this ill."

"She seemed to be getting better." Ultra Magnus stated, "Do you think we can delay this till she is seen by Triage?"

"You know how they are…" Rodimus stated, he scooped me up and held me close rubbing my backstruts soothingly. "Think we'll have to make a change of plans."

"I trust your judgement on this." Ultra Magnus stated.

"I'll be okay." I insisted.

"You're ill, I can see it in your faceplate." He insisted. "Magnus, hold her a moment, I'm going to go talk to them. Hopefully, I can get them to settle for a short introduction."

I felt myself being passed and I watched as Rodimus grabbed what looked like a cape and slipped it on before striding out of the room. I felt Magnus' large servo pat my backstruts, I smiled and turned my gaze up to him. He and Rodimus were doing what they could to help me, and with this sick feeling, I know I need their aide. I couldn't do this by myself this time.

"Thank you." I thanked, he smiled down at me.

"There is no need to thank me." He replied, I shook my helm.

"You didn't need to help me, I'm not from this world. Though I'm curious, did you actually believe I was royalty? I mean my story is far-fetched, to say the least?" I inquired.

"I'd like to say over the cycles I've become adept at reading the facial expressions of bots fairly well. I could see your sincerity when you said you were a Princess. Also despite you not knowing the customs, I am familiar with I could tell you had been raised with high-class manners." He explained.

"All I did was mimic my Uncle, he was always well-spoken," I stated.

"Your Uncle?"

"After my creators passed I was taken in by my Uncles, they raised me as best they could given the circumstances… The Uncle I mimicked was in a similar position to you, he was the leader of the Autobots."

"I see, I imagine he is a great mech."

"He is… A Cybertron like this, he wouldn't have stood for it. He always told me that freedom was the right of all sentient beings. He wanted nothing more than to come to a peaceful solution, he wanted to forgive even his worst enemy… I wonder what he would have done had he been here…"

"I will make things right; I won't let this be the Cybertron of the future."

(Later)

The door swished open and Rodimus strode in, he looked exhausted but still relieved. He smiled at us as he walked over, he gently reached up to rub my helm. Seems it went well, that was a relief.

"I told them she fainted and that we should keep this meeting brief. Let's get this over so we can get you seen to. Ultra, hold her so she is sitting up properly, but make sure to support her." Rodimus explained, "Now Star I want you to introduce yourself when I prompt you. Bow your helm when you do. I'll try to take over most of the conversation."

"Thank you." I thanked, bowing my helm to him.

"I am glad to be able to help, now let's get this over so I can get you back to your family." He hummed, I nodded.

We exited the room and began to head down a long hall, soon we reached a grand-looking door. Rodimus stepped forward and punched in a code and the door slide open. He straightened his posture and strode into the room gracefully. We followed behind and I had to reset my optics under the bright lights.

"My lords, I have returned. I would like you to meet our esteemed guest." He began he turned and bowed gesturing to me.

I bowed my helm, "It's pleasure to meet you all, my name is Stargazer Princess of Praxus, I apologize for the delay, my health seems to be failing me at the moment." I greeted, I rose my helm and looked up at the Senators all sat in their own private balcony looking down at us.

"Ultra Magnus, what is your opinion of our guest's authenticity." One asked.

"Given the information presented to me, I believe that she is indeed royalty from another world. She has impeccable manners despite her young age, and I can only attribute such skills to a high-class upbringing." Magnus explained, I heard muffled voices above us, could they control what we heard?

"Stargazer, what were your creators' designations?" One asked, I bowed my helm.

"My Sire is King Prowl of Praxus, my Carrier is Consort Jazz of Iacon," I answered.

"And your grand creators?" Another quizzed.

"My Sire was created from the former King Swiftwind of Praxus, and Consort Bluesong of Vos while my Carrier was created from Lord Orion Pax of Iacon and Consort Starwatcher of Kaon," I answered, as I bowed my helm again.

They began to whisper again; I had not technically been lying. I was glad Uncle Ratchet and Optimus told me about my grand creators. All I had to do was use them in place of Carrier's creators. Please let this be all they ask about my family.

"Are you the only creation of your creators?" one inquired.

"I am," I affirmed.

"We shall make arrangements for your accommodations on Cybertron." One stated I tried my best not to make a face at the implication of their statement.

"Honored Senate, if I may interject," Magnus spoke up, was he going to fight for me? "I believe I have the perfect guardians for the young Princess in mind. And as for accommodations on Cybertron, I believe it is best she be allowed to return to Earth after she is seen by a medic."

"Explain yourself." One demanded.

"Her creators must be looking for a way to find her and return her home. If they are able to find her, they will most likely search there first as it was her arrival point into our world." Magnus explained.

"And what is your opinion Princess Stargazer?" another questioned, I bowed my helm.

"I do not wish to cause my creators undue stress or worry. I'm sure they are looking for me as we speak. I would like to remain as close as I can to my arrival point." I answered.

"Ultra Magnus, who would you suggest for guardians?" one quizzed.

"I would suggest my officer Jazz, accompanied with Jazz and Jet-twins I am certain she would be perfectly safe and cared for as she awaits her creators." Ultra Magnus answered.

"And what of the All Spark, you reported it had been destroyed and remained at the planet with Decepticon hostiles. Even with those protections is it not an unsafe place for a young Princess to be?" one questioned.

"On that note my Lords, I can assure you that none of your so-called Decepticons could cause me no harm. My plating is much stronger than the plating in this world. I was informed of this by the medic Ratchet upon my arrival in the world. Along with that, it is customary in Praxus for royal heirs to be trained in self-defence along with lessons in etiquette, arts and history." I explained with my helm bowed.

"Is Praxus at war?" one questioned.

"In my world, Cybertron was split into City-states after the war with the Quintessons. Praxus is but one of the many independent city-states on Cybertron. While most live in harmony, war is an unfortunately common occurrence." I explained, thanks Uncle Optimus for the history lessons.

"We shall deliberate over this, Ultra Magnus, Rodimus please escort the Princess to be seen by a medic." One stated, we all bowed and left the room.

As we exited the hall, I felt a pain shoot through me and everything looked blurry. No, not again!

(Rodimus' POV)

I watched in shock as Stargazer seized up before almost falling out of Ultra's hold. Thankfully he caught her and leaned her limp frame back into his hold. Quickly I grabbed her from his hold and cradled her close. I was right she was far too ill to have lasted for a normal length meeting. She needs to be seen by Triage now.

"I'll take her Triage; you go get her family and meet us there," I stated, he nodded and I began to race out of the hall.

I weaved through the maze-like halls I exited the entrance closest to his practice. Hopefully, he can figure out what's wrong with her. Magnus said that she was not built like us. Triage was the best medic I know; I trust him with our twins. If he doesn't know, then no one will.

Soon I reached his office, I'm even more glad than ever that his office is so close to the Senate house. The door swished open for me and I strode into the entrance, one of his nurses raced to my side. I gently passed them the out cold femeling. I followed them into the office as they called for Triage.

"What happened Rodimus?" Triage questioned and he entered the room and began to examine Stargazer.

"She passed out once we left the council room," I answered, he moved her onto a berth.

"What of her guardians?"

"Ultra went to get them, I rushed her here."

"It appears to be a processor glitch."

"Ultra mentioned she had a glitch, but she was feeling ill besides that. He said that a field medic he respected suggested she be seen by someone on Cybertron."

"I will give her a full examination. How old is she?"

"He said she was only a stellarcycle into her youngling stage."

I saw her visor light up, Triage looked at her worriedly as her visor fully onlined and she sat up. Her vents were fast as she looked around, when her gaze met mine, she seemed to calm a bit. Triage motioned me over, so I approached. I leaned down and rubbed her helm, she looked ill still.

"Where am I?" she asked.

"We're at the medic Triage's office, I rushed you here after you passed out. Ultra is going to bring your family here soon." I answered, she nodded and turned to Triage.

"I am under your care, and I will try my best to answer any questions you have to the best of my ability. I have some training in medical practices in my homeworld." She replied and bowed her helm to him.

"You speak rather well for your age." He complimented reaching over to rub her helm.

"I'm only imitating someone I knew in my world." She admitted with a sad expression.

"Rodimus said you were feeling ill besides your glitch, mind telling me what your symptoms are?" he asked as he began to grab his tools.

"Sudden bouts of weakness and the draw to be held close to some bots spark. Along with some general aches, increase in nightmares and flashbacks." She listed, her voice sounding hollow.

Flashbacks? She was so young, what kind of trauma has she already gone through. Ultra did not tell me much about her story aside from some basic points. She was the same age as our boys and that made me feel outraged at the things she'd been forced to go through. She was far too young to deal with something like flashbacks.

"I assume you've experienced trauma." He stated, she nodded. "Do you know what the field medic said about your condition?"

"I was told that my spark is about the size of a new spark, I assume it has to do with the fact I spent all but three decacycles of my sparklinghood in stasis." She answered I cover my mouth with my servos, stasis at that age and for that long?!

"That does sound like it could be the cause of your issues, can I take a look at your spark?" he asked, she hesitated but nodded. "We can wait for your caretakers to arrive if that makes you more comfortable."

She reached up touching her chestplates before tightening her servo into a fist her helm held down. Soon she nodded her helm, he reached over and gently rubbed her helm. Poor thing, it seemed that she was trying her best to be strong but she was still so young. Of course, she'd want her caretakers here while her spark is examined.

"Star!" Jazz exclaimed I turned to see him race into the room.

I backed out his way as he raced over to Stargazer and scooped her up into a tight embrace. It was relieving to see her cuddle into his embrace. At least she was able to find comfort in him. Please let the Senate approve him as her caretaker. I doubt she would do well taken in by any of the Senate's families.

"Stargazer, how are you feeling?" Prowl asked walking over to stand by Jazz.

I could hear her murmur something but it was too soft to make out from where I stood. I felt a servo rest on my shoulderplate and I turned to see Ultra there looking at them in concern. I reached up to place my servo on his as I turned back to look at Jazz and Prowl fuss over the small feme.

"You must be her caretakers; I'm Triage and I'll be examining her today." Triage greeted; Jazz turned to him with a smile.

"Thank ya, hopefully, you'll be able ta figure out how ta help her." Jazz replied.

He motioned Jazz to the berth and he sat down and Star turned around in his lap to face the medic. Prowl stood by his bondmates side placing a comforting servo on his shoulderplate much like Ultra was going with me. She would do well with them. Please let the council listen to us. Fighting them is a lengthy process, and I don't think she'd be able to handle that kind of time apart from them.