Hi all! I know it's not Sunday (at least where I am), but I have some important things to tell you about, and I finally finished this chapter. I have some important notes at the end of the chapter, but until then, here's chapter 11.
Enjoy some Decepticons being affectionate with their little creations. Also, we learn who adopted Bumblebee and Prowl.
Ratchet stood next to Lugnut as they waited for the official speeches to end. They were here to support Strika as she left on the campaign to strike at their recent attackers.
Ratchet also wanted to say goodbye to Optimus. It was the first time Optimus would be going on campaign, and of course his friends were all worried. Prowl was on Ratchet's other side, and Bulkhead and Bumblebee were nearby.
Prowl's own creator, Deadlock, was going to be going on the campain. Optimus had admitted to Prowl that Megatron was sending him along to act as Optimus' guard, just in case. He'd also promised to keep Deadlock safe, to the best of his ability. Deadlock had protested, saying that it was his job to keep Optimus safe, not the other way around.
Prowl would be staying with Ratchet and Lugnut for the time being. He was just young enough that he couldn't stay alone.
The speeches finally ended, and most of the soldier's families began to find them to say goodbye. The scene was playing out all over Cybertron, here it was the generals and commanders that were saying goodbye.
Strika approached Lugnut first, and Ratchet tuned out their goodbyes. Even now, they were embarrassingly mushy, for two Decepticon leaders.
Ratchet glanced at Prowl, but Deadlock was speaking quietly with him. There was true caring in that relationship, as in all the adoptive relationships, even if sometimes it didn't appear to be. Right now, it was obvious.
Strika released Lugnut and turned to Ratchet. She knelt down to get face to face with him, like she often did. Ratchet appreciated it. "I will miss you, my little one," she said softly.
"Be safe," Ratchet said soberly. He was training to be a medic, he knew the damage war could cause.
She gently scruffed his helm, engulfing it in her palm. "I am always careful, my little healer," she said, a nickname she had given him back when he was much younger, and he'd started taking care of the scrapes and dents his friends got when they played.
"I don't want to lose you," he admitted.
"You won't, Ratchet," Strika said. "We have good intelligence, good plans, and are ready for whatever these organics do. And our Prince is an inspired tactician."
She released his helm and he looked up at her. She was staring at him with a strange look in her optics. Ratchet wasn't sure what it meant, but she'd had it several times as she prepared to go to war. There was worry, and also hope, but also… Ratchet shook it from his mind. He'd wonder later. "I still worry," he said. "You're my creator."
"I should worry about you, Ratchet," Strika said. "But I know you will be safe here, and I know you will study well. I will miss you, little one, and I will fight so that I can return to you."
Ratchet smiled at that. "Thank you," he said. He knew that meant that she loved him. She wasn't one to say it out loud, but her actions told him everything he needed to know.
She scruffed his helm again, and stood up. The call went out, and generals, commanders, and prince began to separate from their families. Ratchet saw Optimus pull away from Megatron, who was visibly reining in his worry. Well, he was a creator sending his creation to war for the first time.
Ratchet slid closer to Lugnut as Strika straightened and headed out. His other creator gently placed a claw on his shoulder. "She will be fine, Ratchet," Lugnut said. "She will fight well, and Prince Optimus will lead them to victory."
"I know," Ratchet said as Prowl released Deadlock and the older ninja moved to Optimus' side.
"They will be fine," Prowl said, sounding like he was trying to convince himself.
"They will," Ratchet said. "And they have several good medics with them, too."
"Someday, it will be us with Optimus," Prowl said.
Ratchet agreed. Someday, they would be standing with the Prince. Prowl would be his guard and advisor, Ratchet would be his personal medic, Bulkhead his most trusted scientist, and Bumblebee his scout and spy. They'd all known a long time ago what they wanted to do and they were going to do it.
Besides, raised by the Decepticon elite, as the Prince's companions, they'd all known they'd be important parts of Optimus' court someday. It was up to them to decide how.
Bulkhead had once asked if their former selves might have influenced them. He'd had a theory that their older selves had wanted certain things they couldn't have, or that they had gotten what they wanted, and they wanted to keep it, and their sparks knew.
Ratchet couldn't deny that theory, but they'd probably never know.
Still, he knew he loved learning to be a medic, and that he'd been a medic, so there might be some truth to the theory.
It was different without Optimus. Bumblebee sighed as he and Bulkhead headed toward their homes. Their families lived close together, so they often traveled most of the way to and from various activities together. Today, they had met up with Prowl and Ratchet to watch a new entertainment vid. Normally, Optimus would have joined them, but he was still gone.
What news they had was good- the fight was going well- but it was taking time. And Bumblebee missed their leader.
He entered the hab he shared with his creator, and smiled as he realized Shockwave was home. "Creator!" he exclaimed happily as he bounced over to hug the mech. He was starting to think he was a little old for it, but he liked knowing his creator had chosen him, and the hugs always reminded him of that.
"Hello, Bumblebee," Shockwave said as they separated. "I have some news for you."
"Is it about Optimus?"
"Yes," Shockwave's tines tilted back. "They're entering the attackers space," he said. "Due to the nature of the space in that area, they're going to be out of contact for a few decacycles. But Optimus did say they hadn't encountered any serious resistance."
Bumblebee nodded. "So we won't hear anything for a while."
"I did not want you to worry. No doubt, they will be fine until they reconnect."
Bumblebee nodded. "Thank you for telling me. I'll… try not to bug you asking about him."
Shockwave ran a claw down Bumblebee's head, a gentle gesture left over from when Bumblebee had had nightmares as a Sparkling. "I know you will try, youngling. And I also know you care, and I won't be upset if you slip up."
"But tell me once you've talked to the fleet again?"
"If I can," Shockwave said.
Bumblebee smiled, but he couldn't help but worry about Optimus. His processor said that Optimus would be fine, but his spark worried.
Alright. I hate to have to do this, but it's becoming increasingly clear that I have to. I am not abandoning this story, I promise. However, trying to keep up a posting schedule with my work hours is not good. I'm stressing out about it, and my work is already pretty stressful.
My schedule changed tremendously since I started posting back in March, and it will stay changed nearly through the end of the year. Therefore, I am putting this story on hiatus until December 12th. I will continue writing it, but I won't be posting anything until 12 December, 2021. Hopefully by then, I'll have a few more chapters ready, so you all can enjoy some uninterrupted weekly posting. I'm sorry I have to do this, but Real Life unfortunately tends to make this sort of thing happen. I will see you all in December!
