I have a poll on my profile page asking a question I really want to have answered. I'm trying to get as many answers as I can, and very few people visit my profile. I've gotten literally one answer in a week, and that's sad. Please answer, and be honest about it.


I only own my OC's!


Sick Minicon

October 15, 2016, 4:00 PM

I sigh as I step into the command center from the scrapyard. I had gone to check with Denny and Russel about where I could find old-but-sturdy metal cribs for the newsparks—ones we could remodel to where they'd be useable for the little minicon carrier. First thing we did after we learned of our already-present bond, the two of us got rid of his rusted old Alchemor berth, and I got a brand new full size mattress. We've torn out the old bathroom—after building a new one in, of course—and started turning the old, gutted, Alchemor bathroom into a nursery for the newsparks. There's not enough room for ten cribs, but they'll be small enough to share the ones that will fit.

Carrier spent about two weeks after the transfer, then went back home to deal with the mess back on Cybertron, leaving the two of us to handle the mess on Earth.

I slip into our room and step over to our bed, where Fixit is curently taking a nap. I sit on the side of the mattress and lay a hand on his shoulder gently. "Hey, Bitty… It's time to get up, Sweets."

He blinks up at me, and smiles slightly. "Hey…"

"Hey. It's four, Sweetspark. You need to get up, okay?" He nods, and moves to join me on the edge of the bed before laying a hand on his head. "You okay?"

"Yeah… Just a little dizzy…"

"Okay…" I smile, and pat his shoulder. "Russel's home, by the way, if you wanted to see him."

"Thanks, Mari!"

He secures his wheels—struggling a bit with the clasp—and starts for the door before glancing back to me. "You okay?"

"Yep."

I step over and put an arm around him. "Then you need to get moving before he decides to run off with Hank again."

"Right." He leaves the room, leaving me to stare after him nervously. It's not that he's been having trouble lately, but I do remember my medical training with Ratchet still, and…I'm worried he'll catch something now that it's flu season. I sigh after a moment, and shift to bot form before running down the ramp. "Hey, Russ."

"Hey, Mari. How's Fixit been?"

I smile down at him. "He's good, Russ. How's school going?"

"Pretty good." He sighs heavily. "Some of the boys we play against are sick, though… so…"

"I'm sorry about that, Russ. I know you like playing with them…"

He shrugs. "Don't be. I've been playing video games with Drift's minicons."

"That's good."

He smiles. "And Hank and I played basketball all morning, too."

"In the rain?" He nods. "Well, I'm glad you had fun, Russ." I nod toward the diner. "Fixit's waiting with your Dad in the Diner, if you want to see him."

"Sure!"


October 16, 2016, 10:00 AM

"Mari?"

I turn from where I'm helping Fixit figure out the chair we'd set up for him—it's like one of those chair rail things they use with stairs, just along the lower monitors—with a chair on the moving platform to get to the higher ones. We'd decided we'd work on them while he was still able to help out, so he didn't feel like a burden on us. "Yeah, Den?"

"Rusty's sick."

I nod, understanding what the single father means. "All right. I'll see what I can do, Den, but you may have to just let it run it's course. Kids get sick, after all. Even our kind does…" I turn and grab the medical bag I use for the humans—it hasn't changed much since before the war. "Fixit?"

"I'm coming."


I shake my head and sigh. "It's the flu—influenza. All you can do is keep him home and let him rest, Denny." I glance over to Fixit, who's already had WAY too much contact with the kid, to find him with an arm over his faceplates and a nervous look in his eyes. "Go on, Fixit. You don't have to stay." I smile gently. "And I'll clean up before I come over, all right?" He nods, and rushes out of the room.

"What was that all about?"

I sigh before turning from the sick human, who is thankfully asleep at the moment. "Aliens can still catch human viruses, Denny, and the flu is one of those that could kill a mech…"

His eyes widen in horror. "And we had Fixit in here, while he's pregnant."

I nod, not bothering to correct the almost-equivalent term. "Yeah. We did." I sigh heavily. "We should be able to get a vaccine from Ratchet, but the question is, can we get the vaccine from Ratchet before the virus gets Fixit?"


October 22, 2016, 6:00 PM, Command Center

I sigh heavily as I watch Fixit drink his second energon cube. He's already in bed, his wheels beside it. "You look tired, Little One…"

"I am…" He sets the still half-full cube on the cinder block we use as a nightstand and sighs before laying down. "I think I'm going to recharge."

I nod and run a hand over his head, giving the half-full cube a nervous glance. "You do that, Little One. I'll get supper and come back, okay?"

He simply nods and rolls onto his side. "Goodnight."

"Goodnight, Little One."


October 23, 2016, 4:00 AM

"Mari!" I look around worriedly. That sounded like Fixit, but, while his wheels are still here…he's not in bed. "MARI!"

"Hmmm…" It's coming from…the bathroom! "Shit!" I quickly clamber out of the bed and run the short distance to the new bathroom, which is still metal, but now is only human design. There I find Fixit, knelt on the floor in front of the toilet. He's shaking like a leaf, and he looks really pale. "Fixie…" I stand there in shock, only snapping out of it when the little guy purges. Within a moment, I'm by his side with a hand on his back. "Oh, Primus, Sweetspark…"

"I-I'm sick…"

"I can see that, Little One." I rub his back gently as he purges again. "It's okay, though. I'm right here." I sigh softly. "Just get it out…" I cringe slightly as he purges, this time with a violent-sounding retch. "There you go… That's it…" I sigh softly. "Want me to comm Ratchet?" He nods. "All right, I will. Want some coolant?"

"W-water please?"

I smile gently. "All right. That would probably be better for you right now anyway…" I reach up to my comm while getting the little guy some water. "Ratch. It's Mari. Fix's sick."

"Sick? Mari, it's…" He sighs. "Four in the morning. Can't this wait until, say…seven?"

"Ratchet. Russ is recovering from the flu, and Fix was there when I diagnosed it."

"Slag!" I can hear him gathering…something…over the comm. "I'm on my way. Try to keep him comfortable."

"I'll do my best, Doc."

"Don't call me Doc!"

I shake my head, smiling even with the seriousness of the situation. "That's my Ratch…he never changes…" I turn back to Fixit with a soft sigh, and hand him the cup. "Want me to get your blanket?" He nods weakly. "Okay, I'll be right back."

"N-no…"

"Fix?"

"D-don't leave me…"

I crouch to him. "We still have that empty cube…if you want to come back to bed…"

"P-please?"

I nod. "Want me to carry you, or…"

"Please?"

"Of course." I pick him up bridal style, and smile gently when he lays his head on my shoulder. I'm worried sick now—worse than I had been at first (it could have been caused by the carriage, after all)—he feels way too warm, yet he's shivering. "Easy, Little One. We're almost there." I set him on the bed and tuck him in gently. "There… Ratchet's on his way…but I still need to flush that before he gets here, okay?" I turn to walk away.

"Mari?" I glance back. "It's the flu, isn't it?"

I sigh softly. "I think so, Little One…"

"Primus no…"

I sigh softly, and run a hand over his head. "Shhhh… Just try to rest… You need that more than ever right now…" I head into the bathroom and flush the mess before getting a couple cloths wet with cool water. After wringing them out quickly, I head back out, and lay one of them on Fixit's forehead first thing, causing him to sigh softly. "That help?"

"Y-yeah…"

"Good…" I sigh gently and use the other cloth to wipe the remaining energon off his chin. "Don't try to talk, okay? You need to save what voice you have left…"

"B-but…"

"Fix…" I sigh softly. "Sweetspark, you already sound really hoarse, and it's only going to get worse if you don't rest your voice, okay?" He nods. "Good. Ratch'll be here soon, and then we'll see what we can do about this, okay?" He nods again, but this time whimpers before inching closer to me. "I know you don't feel good, but there really isn't much I can do until Ratch gets here with some medicine…"

"H-hold me?"

I smile and nod. Tired as I am, I can't leave the little guy to suffer like this—it's my fault he's sick to begin with…I never should have taken him with me to check on Russel. I sigh softly as I reach over for the red plush blanket, and wrap it around his shoulders before pulling him into my lap. "Is that better?" He nods. "Good. Now we just need to wait for Ratchet."


Thankfully, he's there within five minutes, and quickly rushes to our side. "Mari?"

I shift Fixit away from me so Ratchet can scan him, causing the little guy to whimper. "Shhh…" I look up with a worried smile. "Hey, Ratch. We have to stop meeting like this…"

"We really do…" He sighs heavily after reading over the results. "Mari…"

"Flu?"

Ratchet nods sadly. "Pretty bad case, but he's been healthy enough up 'til now, so he should recover…I'm only worried about the sparklings…" Fixit perks up at that—he'd been staring blearly into space up til now—and gives Ratchet a worried look. Ratchet sighs softly before laying a gentle hand on the minicon's shoulder. "They should be fine, Fixit. I'm just worried about what your fever could cause…it's really high, Little One…"

"Ratch?"

"Human equivalent would be around 104…" He sighs before turning back to me, and pulling out several bottles, then slips out a needle before injecting the contents into Fixit's arm. I can tell that Fixit has finally gotten back to recharge by the familiar weight on my shoulder. "All we can really do is treat the symptoms, and let it run it's course…hope the vaccines I gave him last week, and just now, will actually do some good…" He sighs, resting the hand that had been on Fixit's shoulder, on mine. "I can give you some medicine for the fever, something to help his tanks, and another medication in case he gets a cough… But… Mari, Sweetspark… He is really sick… HFVC's…"

"Can…can…" I shake my head. I won't cry now—I'll save that for when I'm alone—HFVC, AKA Human Fluid Virus Contamination—can kill a bot if it's bad enough. "I know…"

"Sweetspark…"

"I'll be all right… Remember? Even on my weakest days…"

He smiles. "You get a little bit stronger." He sighs. "I'll stick around until he gets over the worst of this, okay?" He lays a hand on my shoulder. "I won't leave you to go through this alone, Love. I'll be right here."

"Th-thanks, Ratch…" I finally break down crying, and Ratchet pulls me close, to where we're all but cradling Fixit between us.


6:00 AM, Third POV

Bumblebee steps out from behind a row of all-but-destroyed cars. "Ratchet? When did you get here?"

"Two hours ago." He sighs. "Your sister's going to need some help for the next couple weeks, Bumblebee. Fixit's really sick…"

"Sick?"

Ratchet closes his eyes even though he's already facing the ground. "HFVC."

"Primus…"

"Bee?" The two turn to look at Denny, who has a pale, but thankfully almost recovered Russel by his side. "What's wrong?"

"What's that mean?"

Ratchet sighs before taking the hard job of telling the preteen what's going on, so Bumblebee won't have to. "Russel, Fixit is very sick right now." He crouches to him. "You see…we are similar enough to your race that we are able to catch some of this planet's viruses, and…" Ratchet sighs softly. "He caught the same one you have…and…most of the ones we can catch…because we're still built differently…can really hurt us, or…" He sighs, really not wanting to have to say this. "Or kill us…"

Tears come to the kid's eyes as he looks up at the medic anxiously. "I-is he dying? B-because of me?"

"He shouldn't, but we can never be completely sure, and he is very sick right now."

Denny looks up at the medic worriedly. "How's Mari handling this?"

"About as good as you could expect." Ratchet sighs. "They're both recharging right now, and I'm technically on watch duty, so I need to get my energon and get back to them. Bumblebee?"

"You're sure she's okay?"

"Mari's strong, Bee. If it comes down to it… She'll handle this just like she handled losing Optimus or Defensor."

"But…Ratchet, this is Fixit… She spent vorns searching for him…"

"She'll be fine." He sighs. "Fixit's not that close to joining the well yet, Bee. He's still strong enough to fight this off, and he has been vacinated recently…"

"We all were, after we learned Russel was sick…"

"Right. I'm just trying to make sure you're ready for the worst, because Mari will need your support if it comes to that. She may be the leader between the two of you, but that doesn't mean she doesn't need you."

"Right." He sighs. "When can I see him?"

"At least give them time to wake up first."

"All right…"


9:00 AM, Berth Room

"Mari?"

I sit up with a soft sigh. "What's wrong, Little One?"

"Could you help me to the bathroom?"

I nod before slipping out of the bed and helping him out. "Want me to carry you, or do you want your wheels?"

"J-just…help me?"

I nod. "Okay…" I hold out an arm to steady him—he's gone without his wheels before, but because his feet are curved on the bottom, he doesn't do it often. "Wheels getting too snug, or are you just too achy to really care?"

"Both, actually…"

"Oh, Little One…" I help him into the bathroom. "Want me to stay?"

"Please?"

I nod, and help him get settled before turning to glance at the shower. "Ratch?"

"What's wrong, Sweetspark?"

"Well…not really anything…" I cringe slightly at a sound. I hate the flu—whether it's me or someone else, I really hate the flu. "Would it be possible to use a cool shower to help with his fever?"

"Anything that would work for a human will work for a bot,

Mari. You don't have to ask me." He sighs. "How is he?"

"Not good, Ratch…" I sigh heavily. "Where did you put the meds for his tank?"

"Purging again?"

"Other end…"

Ratchet chuckles. "I'm on my way, and you can put him in a cool shower if you think it'll help…"

"I think we'll do that, after we get some medicine into him…" I turn to Fixit with a soft sigh. "Ratch's on his way with some medicine for you, okay?" He nods before looking up to me with tears in his eyes. I quickly step over and pull him in for a hug. "Hey. It's all right… We'll get through this, okay?"

"I-I thought…they'd be safe…after the transfer…"

"Shhhhh… Just cry it out, Little One… It'll be all right…" I lean back and sigh softly before raising his head just enough so he can see me. "We'll get through this… They'll be okay… We just have to get your fever down, okay?" He nods, and I pull him back in. "As soon as you're done—and after we get some medicine in you of course—we're going to see if a cool shower won't help for a little bit… Then we'll get you back to bed…because you really need your rest right now…"

"I know… I'm scared, Mari…"

I run a hand over his overly-warm head with a gentle sigh. "I know, Bitty, but you'll be okay…and I'll be right here…no matter what happens…" I run a gentle hand over his head one more time before hugging him. "Just hang it there, okay? That's all you can do for now—just hang in there and focus on getting better."

"B-bucket…"

I reach over and grab a garbage can before holding it for him as he purges. "Easy… Just get it out…"

"He really is sick, isn't he?"

I growl under my breath before sighing heavily. "Yes." I really don't need this right now. "Hey, Sides. What do you need?"

"Bee wanted me to see if you guys were up, and Ratchet sent some meds, and said he'd be back as soon as he could." He holds out couple tiny cubes with different colored liquids inside.

I take them from him. "Where'd he go?"

He sighs. "He went after something stronger to help with Fixit's tanks in case we need it, and said he was going to get a few other things while he was at his ship."

"All right." I sigh softly and take the trash can before handing the meds to Fixit one at a time. "Try to keep them down, Baby…" I look over my shoulder at Sideswipe. "Would you, by any chance, be able to find me a towel?"

"Sure, but… Why do you need a towel?"

I give him a look that says "duh". "Why do you think I need a towel, Dumbaft?" I shake my head. "Sorry, Sides… That was uncalled for…"

He waves me off. "You're fine, Mari. You're worried about Fixit." He sighs. "But seriously…why do you need a towel?"

"I'm sticking him in a cool shower to try and get his fever down, Sides, and I need a way to dry him off afterwards."

"Good point. I'll see what I can find."

I turn back to Fixit with a heavy sigh. "You done?" He nods slightly, causing me to help him into the shower stall before turning on the water as warm as I dare—it wouldn't do to make him shiver any more than he already is.

"Mari?"

I run a hand over his head gently as I smile down at him. "We have to start warm, because otherwise you'll start to shiver, and that'll just bring your fever up…"

He lays a hand over his "stomach" plating with a soft sigh. "And hurt my bitlets…"

"Yeah…" I sigh softly, and help him sit on the floor of the stall before checking the temperature again. "All right…we'll see how this helps…"

"Wh-where's Ratchet?"

"He went to get some things from the ship he came on, Sweets…he'll be back soon…" I sigh softly. "Just try to get some rest. I'll be right here…"


3:40 PM

"Mari?"

I turn to find Denny in the doorway. "Hey. How's Russ?"

"He's feeling better, but he's worried about Fixit…" He sighs heavily. "Is there anything you need for him?"

I smile. "Russ looking for some way to help out?" He nods, causing me to sigh. "Um…" I glance back to where Fixit is currently recharging, not only under the blankets we have on the bed, but wrapped in the red blanket as well. "We could use a few more throw blankets and obviously coolant…and…" I rub the back of my neck. "We really need to start getting baby blankets and toys for the little ones…"

"Gender-netural, I assume?"

"As many colors as we can possibly get, Den." He gives me a look. "Trust me, Dude. We're gonna need a lot. There's ten sparklings."

"Which is why you needed so many cribs…"

"Yep…" I sigh softly. "We need the throw blankets and coolant as soon as possible…his temp's steady, thank Primus, but way too high to be safe…"

"We'll be back soon…anything else?"

I smirk. "Something that could keep him entertained, because once the nausea goes away, he's going to be bored, and I already know that a bored Fixit is a cranky Fixit, so…"

"We'll get him something—it might not be as high-tech as he's used to, but we'll see what we can do…"

"Mari?"

I turn back to the bed nervously. "You need to go. I'll come in as soon as we're back."

"Thank you for this, Denny… You're a good man."

He shakes his head. "Thank you for being here for us…"

I shrug. "It's just who I am, Denny…" I turn and rush over to the bed. "What's wrong, Little One?" He whimpers softly. "What do you need, Sweetspark? I may be able to read minds, but I'm not going to, so you need to tell me."

"I'm hungry…"

I nod, and sit beside him on the bed. "It'll have to be med-grade for now, Little One, because you're so sick…"

"Yuck…"

I smile softly. "I know it's gross, Bitty, but you need to get better, and that—with the meds from Ratch—is the only way…"

"I know…" I step over to where several pinkish-purple cubes are waiting, and take one back to him. "Th-thanks…"

"Just try to keep it down, okay? The sparklings need it…"

"I know…" He looks up at me nervously. "H-how are they?"

"Fix…"

"C-check on them? P-please?"

I nod before using the inferno, rather than my scanner, to scan him—it's a lot less invasive on the sick little mech than the scanner would be. "They're doing just fine, Little One."

"E-even though I-I'm s-sick?"

I nod. "They're fine, okay? They're right on track, and they look really good, but they need fuel to keep growing…"

"I-I know…" He glares at the cube before taking a drink from it. "Yuck…"

"I know, Little One… But you need to drink that, okay?"

"…okay…"

"That's my little guy…" I smile gently. "Denny's seeing about getting us some more coolant and some extra blankets for you…"

"Good…" He sets the—thankfully empty—cube down and rubs his eyes tiredly.

"Get some rest, Little One. You need it…"


Denny steps inside with an armload of plush throw blankets and a gift bag, and Russel behind him with another armload. "Knock knock!"

I look up. "Hey." I nudge Fixit lightly. "Wake up, Little One. Denny's got something for you…"

"Hmmm?" He blinks up at Denny before smiling. "Hi…" Denny and Russel dump their armloads of blankets on the bed—none of them are for the babies that I can tell—I know those are still in Denny's camper for now I'm sure—before Denny sets the gift bag in front of Fixit. "What's this for?"

"It's for you, Silly." I smile up at Denny. "Thank you." I unroll one of the throw blankets before laying it over his shoulders.

"Thank you."

"Don't mention it, Little One." I move the bag closer to him. "Why don't you open the present?"

"Why did I get a present?"

"Because you're not feeling good. He wanted to get you a "get well soon" present."

"Oh…" He turns to Denny. "Thank you…"

"You're welcome…"

"Do you like it?"

Fixit sighs before looking into the gift bag. He pulls out the usual gifts I'd get from my human mom when I was sick—coloring book, crayons, a puzzle book, a pack of pens, and a stuffed toy.

"I know it's not what you're used to, but…"

"It's fine… I really do like it, Russel…" He looks at the stuffed animal—it's a bear—with a watery smile. "No one's ever done this for me before…"

"Oh, Little One…" I sigh gently before pulling him closer. "You'll have this happen a lot more often, Bitty. You've got someone who loves you caring for you now, and you'll never be alone again."

He runs an arm over his eyes before looking back at the small selection of activities, the bear still in his arms. "Thank you…"