Chapter 4
After the energon transfusion, Night Stalker was not going to give up on her bondmate. He had shown himself and she had stuck with him. Because of her Knock Out had changed sides. The Medic was being more compassionate in saving lives rather than destroying them. The Matrix had known that they were meant to be together. Because of that Night Stalker had refused to give up on Knock Out, the one Transformer that she truly cared about.
Several days passed and Knock Out's condition slowly got better. On the eve of the fifth day, the sleek sports car opened his one good optic. Night Stalker had sat by his side each day in hopes he would wake up. Upon seeing her, the former 'Con struggled to sit up, but Ratchet placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Don't. You had lost a lot of energon. Night Stalker refused to let you go offline and so volunteered to give you an energon transfusion."
Knock Out groaned. "I feel like I've been hit by ten tons of trains."
"Considering you fought hard and took quite a beating, I don't blame you for thinking that. Another day or so in here and you should be fine to go about your business."
Ratchet walked away to do some calculations of a project he was working on. Apparently he was still trying to perfect synthetic energon so the Autobots didn't have to worry about going offline because of the lack of the stuff. Night Stalker leaned over Knock Out.
"Hi."
"Hi."
"You alright?"
"Thanks to you I will be. Why did you give up your energon for me?"
"Knock Out, you're more than a bondmate. You're my friend and I love you very much. You were the first one I actually enjoyed racing against and you were actually concerned about how I would react if you showed yourself to me. If that isn't something to fight for then I don't know what is."
The silver Autobot smiled at her mate. Knock Out smiled back. The door opened and two little Younglings peered in. With a squeal the two hurried over and started climbing up to get to Knock Out. Ratchet came over and gently placed the Younglings on the berth that Knock Out was lying on.
"Do not get too rough. Knock Out still needs to rest."
Nightwing and Midnight Chaser nodded and smiled at their sire. They had been worried for him and often checked with Night Stalker to see if there had been any change. Every day she had told them the same, nothing new. The Younglings always returned to Wheeljack and Rapidfire depressed. Now that Knock Out was awake, they would stay with him as long as Ratchet would allow. Night Stalker told Knock Out she had to check in with the others, but she would be back.
She left the Younglings in the care of her bondmate and the medic looking over him. Night Stalker made her way to the main area of the base where Megatron and Optimus Prime were deep in discussions about how to best avoid something like Slipstream again. Starscream saw her first. He moved from his spot where he was quietly listening to the two leaders.
"Well?"
All talking ceased and all eyes turned to her, human and Transformer.
"Knock Out pulled through. He lost an optic though."
Sighs of relief could be heard all around the room. Miko did a victory dance. Then Night Stalker noticed a new human.
"Who's this?"
"This is Sierra. She kind of followed me and found out what I was keeping a secret. She's now under Optimus' protection."
"Don't let Ratchet know. You know how he gets around you."
"Oh trust me. We know that he doesn't like us humans. However, the more humans that are in on it, the better the overall human population will come to accept them. Sierra's taking this pretty well actually."
The orange haired girl was in awe of Night Stalker. "The others told me that they have partners. After seeing you I've taken a liking."
Night Stalker shook her head, "Sorry. I already have a partner."
"Not a human one you don't."
"I was human, Sierra. Knock Out was my partner and still is. I still think human too much to take a human partner for myself. You need to find another."
Sierra looked depressed, but Jack soon cheered her up that there were some Younglings that would need a partner when they were old enough. And just like that Sierra was part of Team Prime. However, the good mood wasn't to last long. Ratchet came in at that moment and sputtered.
"We're not running a zoo Optimus!"
"I know, old friend, she found out about us and is now under our protection."
Sierra's eyes went wide.
"His bark is worse than his bite. He's just grumpy."
Sierra nodded, but didn't say anything. Night Stalker took the moment and offered to give the girl a tour. She brightened and accepted. Holding her hand out, Jack took it. The three of them left the main area and wandered through the base. Night Stalker pointed out the different areas, leaving the medical bay last. Upon entering, Nightwing and Midnight Chaser came over to greet Sierra.
"I'd come over as well, but I've kind of been detained."
Sierra nodded and found herself warming to the two Younglings, especially Nightwing. After the tour Sierra and Jack returned to Miko and Raf. Night Stalker saw Nightwing's look of sadness.
"Don't worry. She'll be back."
Nightwing was happy again. The two Younglings left to give Knock Out some peace. Night Stalker turned to follow them, but Knock Out stopped her.
"Thank you for not giving up on me. I promise that I'll do the same for you."
Knock Out smiled at his mate and closed his good optic. Night Stalker left the medical bay and found the Younglings waiting for her. She picked them up and headed to their berth. Once there, Pyro and Grand Slam were there. Rapidfire looked up and saw Night Stalker. He quickly stood.
"How's-"
"Knock Out's fine. He'll be back on his feet in a day or so per Ratchet's orders."
Rapidfire was relieved.
"I never got to ask. When are you due?"
"In about a stellar cycle, seven or eight months. Why?"
"Iron Stalker or Sound Out? Some pretty good names. What does Wheeljack think?"
"He's thrown in some names, but when I mentioned why I wanted those two names he changed his mind. He seems to do whatever I want… within reason though."
Night Stalker grinned, "I've seen that with Knock Out. When I defected from the Decepticons, after they did this to me, I found I could not stay away from Knock Out. We bondmated that very night and here is the result. However, when I was human I saw his reactions to what I said and did. I wasn't scared that he could transform and I hoped in the car that next night. I'm pretty sure I was a surprise to him."
Rapidfire laughed, "I can definitely see Knock Out being surprised with you. I'm sad that Megatron did that to you, but I'm not sad that you rejoined the Autobots. If you hadn't we wouldn't have been able to meet."
"That is most definitely true. You're a good friend Rapidfire."
"Same with you, Night Stalker."
He started to head to the door, "I was wondering. What was your human name?"
"It was Brittany Sanderson. I still dream of being a human once in awhile. It was all I knew before I was turned into a Transformer. However, I do not regret being bondmates with Knock Out."
Rapidfire nodded and left. Night Stalker turned to Grand Slam. She remembered the day he had tried to release Starscream… before the Slipstream incident. She narrowed her eyes.
"What are we going to do with you?"
Grand Slam shrugged. "Don't know, don't care."
"Grand Slam!"
Night Stalker watched as Pyro berated his brother. Grand Slam was so indifferent. After spending several hours with the Younglings, she began to get a bad feeling about Grand Slam. Calling Rapidfire she waited for the Sparked Autobot to show up. A few minutes later, he did. Night Stalker asked if he was willing to watch the Younglings for a little bit. She wanted to go talk to Soundwave for a bit, in private. Rapidfire was more than willing.
Leaving her berth she found Soundwave doing some calculations on the device he had come up with.
"Want some company?"
"I'm used to working alone."
"I'm not really asking… I'm more like demanding."
Soundwave looked up. His green optics bored into her face. "What is it?"
"I-I have a bad feeling about Grand Slam. I asked what we were going to do with him… he didn't seem to care. He had shrugged and it was almost like if we slagged him he wouldn't do anything to retaliate."
Soundwave smiled, "I'm sure it's nothing."
"Soundwave this is serious. As a human I got feelings of something wrong. I told my parents not to leave and they ignored me. Not long afterwards, they died in a car accident. I don't get premonitions, but I get these feelings that are almost always right."
"Almost always? Night Stalker if your feelings aren't always accurate then couldn't you be wrong about Grand Slam?"
"Yes I could, but Soundwave… what if I'm right? What will you do then?"
Soundwave pondered, "I'll keep an eye on him. It's really all I can do. We can't just lock a Youngling up on the basis that he MIGHT become something completely different."
Night Stalker was furious, "You don't understand." She stormed off leaving a bewildered communications officer behind.
She found Optimus and put forward her feelings to him, but he was of the same agreement as Soundwave.
"I get that there is really nothing you can do! Why can't you take my feelings seriously? If I'm right I will not be held responsible… I'll leave the Autobots!"
Night Stalker was furious and Optimus tried to calm her. She shrugged him off. First her parents, now possibly Grand Slam? Night Stalker didn't want her feelings to be right. She would gather evidence of the Youngling on her own. She would MAKE them see reason. With that in mind, she went topside to stare at the stars. Miko, Jack, and Sierra joined her.
"You're worried that Grand Slam might change and not for the better huh?"
"Yes. No one wants to take me seriously. I don't have premonitions, but these little itchy feelings. I'm not asking them to take drastic measures, but… as I said. If I am right then I will not be held responsible for the outcome. I voiced my opinion and once, and if, Grand Slam changes, then I will leave the Autobots."
"You can't! You're a part of this team!"
"I told my parents not to leave. I felt something bad was going to happen, they didn't take my feelings seriously. That was when they died in the car accident. Since then I've been really careful about my feelings. I just really hope that I'm wrong about Grand Slam."