Wow, thank you so much for the wonderful feedback, I'm surprised at how popular this story has become, so here is the next chapter as promised. Sorry for the delay, school work has being rugging me riot!
Enjoy!
:Flashbacks/dream sequences:
:Normal:
::Comlink::
:thoughts:
In the Wake Of Tomorrow
Whispers
By Steph
"Memories are the key not to the past, but to the future."
Memories are said to make a person who they are, to be the present of one's soul, yet they are fallible. Always fading away and dying, being forgotten just like the beholder that is nothing but a shell. Human memories were feeble just like their life span, always forgetting and fading like the sunset taking with it the light of the passing day. The Cybertroian's capability of storage was vast in comparison, often a Cybertroian could remember every experience that had befallen them, yet even their memories were limited..
Bright green optics innocently gazed forwards, inquisitively taking in the surroundings. Ratchet watched wearily from a distant whilst waiting for the arrival of Optimus. This was impossible, reincarnation was a human concept… Ratchet stepped forward just as the doors to the medical bay swung open with a clang, uncharacteristically Optimus's metal frame tumbled forward through the door, before quickly righting himself. Optimus stood upright and turned his gaze to the small form upon the metal berth. Green optics happily blinked upwards towards the autobot leader, Optimus's spark thrummed slightly at the familiar sight.
"This is the one?"
Ratchet nodded and stepped forward, various scanning equipment once more swept across the sparkling's body, Optimus laughed quietly to himself as he watched the little form trying to follow the fan of blue light.
Ratchet's optics blinked once more analyzing the data from the scan,
"Yes, it's unmistakable Optimus, his spark signature matches that completely of Bumblebee."
Optimus's optics brightened as he watched the little sparkling gazing around the room whilst whistling and clicking quietly to itself.
"He does bear some resemblance of Bumblebee" The medic mused. Optimus gazed thoughtfully at the intricate yellow armour before turning his optics back up to the sparkling's face. Optimus shook his head and laughed.
Yes, I could never forget that younglings gaze."
Ratchet hummed thoughtfully and nodded. Optimus clasped one metal hand upon Ratchet shoulder.
"Well we best tell the others, Our little Bumblebee is back." Optimus let out a throaty chuckle, a smile stretch across the medic's face plating.
Ratchet's optics then turned to the second sparkling sat next to 'Bumblebee', Optimus's followed the medic gazed, he rumbled softly at the second sparkling before turning his gaze back to Ratchet.
"What of this one?"
Ratchet thought deeply for a moment before shaking his head in disbelief.
"I am unsure how Optimus, but this is undoubtedly Sam, reincarnation is a human concept, yet Primus has blessed us with their return. Perhaps Sam's contact with the Allspark had something to do with it, I am still detecting some Allspark energy, there is no denying it, Sam has returned to us also."
Optimus's spark brightened for the first time in over two vorns, things were beginning to look up. A disturbing thought suddenly filled the blue mech's processor as he gazed at the second sparkling that was Sam, he shook his metal head.
"What is it Optimus?"
Optimus looked at Ratchet and then back towards the two sparklings now playing together seemingly without a care in the world. A pit of sorrow thudded the leader's spark chamber.
Could fate really be so cruel? Optimus spoke hesitantly, carefully..
"What of their memories?"
Ratchet's optics dimmed as he stared back at the two new bundles of life and back to Optimus.
"I am unsure, Bumblebee may remember as he was cybertroian I believe his processor's data may have being transferred the scans look promising. Sam on the other hand was human, their memories could not be stored as data due to their organic nature."
Optimus nodded his head in understanding, he stared at the blue coloured sparkling, he hoped just this once fate played a hand in his own favour. Oh how cruel it would be, Bumblebee remembering Sam to find his charge could not remember anything about him, it would break Bumblebee's spark. Quietly the semi blue mech began to march out of the med bay, but paused and looked back.
"Ratchet, make the necessary preparations."
Ratchet jumped slightly at the sound of Optimus's voice, the neon medic turned from tending the sparklings to gaze at his commander.
"Sir?" he questioned softly.
Optimus vented out air in a loud rumble, before turning his huge metal body towards Ratchet once more.
"I want you to transfer Bumblebee's spark into an adult protoform."
Ratchet's optics widened as he glanced down at the small form now recharging in his hand,
"But Sir.." Optimus held up on one metal hand to silence the medic's protests.
"I am well aware of the risk factors involved, but we need Bumblebee, he may be vital to restoring Sam's memories. If anyone can do this, it is you Ratchet."
The medic nodded his head, it went against everything Ratchet believed in, to transfer a spark to a new body was risky enough but to transfer a sparklings, a new spark that was vulnerable as it is was a taboo. New sparklings were cherished and to endanger one purposefully was enough to warrant immediate deactivation, but Optimus was right, Bumblebee would be needed if they had any hope in restoring Sam's memories. By transferring Bumblebee's spark, he would be put into a 'protoform' a cybertroian body with all the correct adult programming already in place, during the time of the war this method was used to quickly breed new mature warriors for the battle field but was quickly outlawed due to the suffering it could cause.
"Yes Sir, I will begin immediately"
Optimus nodded and turned to leave but not before Ratchet placed Sam within his open palm.
"I'm going to need this slagging place quiet so you can watch Sam."
Optimus's optics brightened as he stared down at the little bundle of metal, he quickly turned his gaze back up to Ratchet.
"What am I suppose to do with him!"
Ratchet laughed and what was probably the most undignified comment he had ever heard leave the wise bot's vocalizer.
"Go introduce him to Ironhide and the others, I am sure they will be pleased to see him."
Before Optimus could protest the medical bay doors swung shut and locked tight, indicating they were not to be opened. Optimus turned his optics back down to Sam who was now gazing up at the leader almost expectantly.
"Slag" he cursed silently under his breath.
Optimus turned and begun to march out of the youngling centre with Sam safely tucked up against his chest.
……………………………….....................................................................................................................
"How are the energon levels holding Cliffjumper?" Ratchet was stood beside the main berth in the centre of the medical bay, it was on this berth rested Bumblebee's new protoform body. The sleek metal shone bright silver in the low light, a metal unlike any other in the universe, just waiting to shift and spring to life, it was devoid of the familiar yellow armour that everyone associated Bumblebee with, but all in all it was the same mech. Ratchet had ensured the body was similar if not the same as Bumblebee's previous, it would help with the adjustments, spark transplantation often lead the mech in question to be disorientated anything that could help in the transition process was welcome.
"Energon levels are looking good Ratch."
Ratchet turned to look at the red mech beside him then back towards the sparkling in stasis, the one which now housed Bumblebee's reignited spark. The medic moved forward and readjusted the cables connecting the two bodies together, each lead directly to and from the spark casing.
"Stand by Cliffjumper"
Cliffjumper nodded paced over to the transfer device and waiting for Ratchet to give the signal.
"Ready and standing by"
Ratchet's spark seemed to thrum more loudly, this was it, do or die as the humans used to say, the medic blinked before nodding in Cliffjumper's direction.
"Initiate transfer sequence."
Ratchet watched as the machine beside the pair began to power up and crackle with energy, a bright blue light pulsed away from the sparkling's small body, the small yellow form lurched upwards as the machine practically sucked the bright blue orb which gave Bumblebee life out of the metal chest plating. Ratchet winced but gave the signal to Cliffjumper to increase the power output, the silver machine hummed with power and soon the free spark slowly began to make it's way down the thick black cables towards the adult protoform on the opposite end of the room.
"Keep it going Cliffjumper."
Cliffjumper nodded and calibrated the central control, both watched in fascination as Bumblebee's spark flashed bright hot white before flinging forward with such force that the awaiting body convulsed upwards as the spark made contact with the chest casing. Two metal plates parted and shifted as the bright blue orb of light flashed downwards filling the opening in the chest armour, the entire room flashed bright blue as the spark made contact with the protoforms spark casing, before the metal body slammed back down on the table with an almighty bang. Both Ratchet and Cliffjumper fell silent as their own optics adjusted and came back online from the almost blinding light show, before nether could react, bright blue optics flashed to life and the silver protoform jerked to life.
In moments Ratchet leapt forward along with Cliffjumper, both mechs clasped one of the protoform's metal arms and secured them to the medical berth,
"Easy, easy Bumblebee, it's me, Ratchet, remember?" Ratchet gruff voice softly repeated. The protoform's struggles began to lessen until they stilled completely, both Ratchet and Cliffjumper slowly began to released their tenacious grip.
"That's right, easy does it."
Blue optics blinked upwards, constantly scanning, taking in the surroundings until they came to rest on the neon medic to the right of the metal berth.
"Rrrraaattccchhheett?" the bot's vocalizer crackled with static.
Ratchet's optics brightened warmly and the medic nodded his metal head with a small smile, gently he placed one hand on the silver mech's shoulder.
"That's right, it's me, good to have you back old friend"
"Iittss ggooodd tto bee bbacck"
This earned his a smile from both mech's, but quickly disappeared when Bumblebee moved slightly trying to access his motor functions but was stopped when Cliffjumper pressed a small button on the side of the mech's neck.
"Easy there, Bumblebee, I've disabled your motor functions, you have just got over a spark transplantation, you don't want to overdue it."
Bumblebee blinked up at the pair and then back down to his own body, his optics widened in shock causing the monitoring equipment to bleep loudly.
"Whhat happen? Whhere's ssam?"
Ratchet's smile faded away, the neon medic's gaze drifted towards the floor in sadness, he did not want to break this to the young bot.
"Bumblebee, don't you remember what happened to you and Sam? Whilst you were on Earth?"
Bumblebee went quiet for a moment before memories flooded his processor…
OPENING DATA FILE
ACCESS GRANTED…
How it come to this Bee?" Sam's ere voice broke the long silence.
Bumblebee's optics drooped as he too painfully stared out at the once beautiful landscape that had become as much of a home as Cybertron had to the yellow scout.
"I don't know, Sam"
Sam's eyes trailed down to the silver object encased within his hand, his grip tightened until the metal began to bore painfully into his already injured skin, the human visibly shook. Bumblebee noticed the posture of his charge, the yellow mech sank to a crouch one of his yellow hands coming up behind the human to support his now shaky body. His blue optics looking imploringly into Sam's eyes, Sam gazed up at his guardian.
"Sam." he spoke softly as his human leant back into the palm being offered to him.
"Are you sure you want to go through with this?"
……………………………….................................................................................................................
Sam's legs crumpled beneath him, a metal hand caught him before he hit the unforgiving ground, drawing his body against a warm yellow chest.
"Bee" he breathed, and all of a sudden he felt comforted.
"Shhh" the yellow bot murmured,
………………………………..............................................................................................................
"You need to go" the human ushered quietly, his heart clenching at the thought of both being alone and Bumblebee staying with him, it was selfish he knew it, but a big part of Sam just didn't want Bee to go.
"This thing can send out a large enough wave of energy to kill you"
Tears splashed against yellow armour as Bumblebee tightened his embrace, metal hands closing protectively whilst the humming echoed through the guardian's chest rippling deeply into Sam's body.
"I'm not going anywhere Sam, I'm your guardian, for better or for worse, I'm not letting you die alone."
WARNING DATA CORRUPTION.....
ERROR, ERROR....
FIREWALL INITATED.
PROCESSOR STABLEIZED…
Bumblebee's optics blinked to life in remembrance, his spark pulsed dead slowly at the horrid realization.
Sam was dead
Dead, gone, forever.
"I'm not letting you die alone."
"I'm not letting you die alone."
Bumblebee's emotional core exploded with rings of new data, everyone of his guardian protocols coming online one by one, all of them all but demanding he go and search for his lost charge, no matter how futile it may be. He began to once more try and activate his motor functions, but they were still offline.
"Sam! NO! He can't be, I have to go.." he was cut off by a loud gruff voice.
"Easy Bumblebee, Sam's not dead!"
Bumblebee spark ignited at this, new hope flooded his systems despite what the mech's logic system was telling him. Dare he let himself hope?
Sam was alive! Alive not gone, gone,
Slowly Bumblebee's optics blinked up to Ratchet with a fierce determined light,
"Where is he?"
Ratchet sighed and smoothed one hand down the side of Bumblebee's metal head comfortingly as he calibrated some of the monitoring equipment.
"Cliffjumper get Optimus, tell him it was a success, Bumblebee is awake and to bring Sam, back here alert the others also."
Cliffjumper nodded and left the med bay silently, Ratchet silently turned his gaze back towards Bumblebee.
"Frag it Ratchet! Tell me where Sam is!" Bumblebee all but shouted.
Ratchet sighed loudly through his vents as he faced to look at Bumblebee, he was pretty sure that if the mech's motor function were online, the protective guardian would not hesitate to throttle him.
"Sam is with Optimus, but before you see him, there are some things you must understand."
Bumblebee nodded best he could and waited for Ratchet to continue speaking.
"Sam and you supposedly went offline as Earth died, that you remember, what you don't know is an entire vorn has passed since you were online."
Bumblebee optics widened in shock, he should be dead, they both should be and yet, here they were alive..
" An entire Vorn! Then how are we here?" Bumblebee questioned softly.
Ratchet whirred softly to himself before shaking his metal head.
" How we do not know, you and Sam were found as sparklings hatched at the same time, you have being transferred into an adult body, Sam on the other hand is still in a sparkling's body. We belive it will best to leave him this way as we have a better chance of understanding why this has happened. Hoewver we believe unlike you, Sam has no memory of his previous life."
Bumblebee's spark fell, Sam his Sam. How could his dear charge could not remember him?
Ratchet frowned sympethicly, he gently moved around to Bumblebee's side and spoke as he examined some of the dents in the protoform's metal where Bumblebee had struggled eariler.
"Don't give up Bumblebee, We can still hope to restore Sam's memories, there was traces of Allspark energy within him, perhaps there is still a chance. I understand this is a lot for you to take in, I will put you in a medical induced recharge so you can process it all."
Bumblebee remained silent as Ratchet tapped his offline button just above his spark casing, immediately Bumblebee's optics dimmed and his body abruptly stilled. Ratchet sighed before turning on his com link.
::Ratchet to Optimus:: there was static before a deep voice replayed over the channel.
::Prime here.::
::Bumblebee has being briefed, the operation was a success. He is currectly in recharge::
::Good work Ratchet, the others have being made aware of the current situation, I am enroute with Sam.::
::Very well I will be ready, Ratchet out.:: the line went dead.
Ratchet turned his gaze to look at Bumblebee's face, the mech looked peaceful for the first time since awaking. Sighing Ratchet turned and begun to work on repairing some of the damage from Bumblebee's struggle, he didn't notice the small blip on the monitoring equipment…
::Dream sequence::
"Bee" a floating voice gently whispered….
"Don't give up on me Bee, I'm still here, I promise, I'm not leaving you again…" the voice echoed quietly in the mists of the blackness, almost silently whispering as though caught in a breeze.
"A Part of me is with you always, you just need to look and find it…"
"Don't give up" the voice whispered
"Sam?" he asked it.
A familiar loving laugh was his heartfelt reply….
Phew! Hope you guys have enjoyed that, this chapter nearly killed me, cookies to all those who review!
Thanks
Wb xx