Author's Note: I apologize once again for the delay in this update. It may be another two weeks until I can get another post up, simply because this new week is last week for classes, immediately followed by exam week. Thanks for being patient with me!
Thanks to: buddhabread, Sotwt, shimmershadow30, X-RayDog, Elita One, FunkyFish1991, and Blood Shifter2 for the wonderful reviews!! ^_^
Chapter 6
The shields went up the nanosecond the Autobot Battleship lifted off into orbit, shooting around to the far side of the asteroid just as another meteor shower pelted the glowing blue energy field protecting the residents of the Alpha Sigma Youth Sector.
Starlight and Fireflare received the latest report from the Autobots. Little Bluestreak was recovering and would come online within the orn. The Autobots planned on returning the younglings back into their care as soon as the meteor-shower dissipated.
Meanwhile, back on the Battleship…
One set of baby-blue optics brightened, soon followed by another identical set as the twins awoke from their stasis nap, to discover that they were now in an unfamiliar room. There was no sign of Hotshot or Bluestreak anywhere.
"Sunny?" the red youngling squeaked, while subconsciously reaching out to him through their spark-bond.
"Where are we?" the yellow twin gazed around the room apprehensively, twittering occasionally from nervousness.
Before Sides could ask another question, the door slid open and a vaguely familiar mech entered the room. He stood with his hands clasped behind his back and took a couple of steps forward as the door slid shut. The tall, red and blue armored mech regarded the little ones with kind optics.
The twins remained motionless both huddled next to each other, with wide and slightly distrustful faces. They remembered Starlight instructing them, to never talk to a strange mech they didn't know. This mech radiated strength and power. When he took another step towards them, the twins curled further into themselves, reflexively shrinking down in submission in the hopes that the much larger, possible threat, would see that they were clearly in no position to fight and would therefore deem that they were not worth the effort.
The twins shared a mutual thought—they both hoped that he would just go away and leave them alone.
He didn't.
A warm, friendly chuckle greeted the tiny youngling's audio receptors and they found themselves relaxing a notch, uncurling out of their submissive postures slowly. The mech smiled and began to speak.
"You have no need to fear."
They watched him carefully, scrutinizing his every move as if trying to detect any sign of deception.
One of the twins thought he recognized him from when they were first brought in. He was standing next to the Autobot Commander, Ultra Magnus.
"My name is Optimus Prime. I am Ultra Magnus's Lieutenant and I have been assigned as your temporary guardian until the meteor shower passes."
By the end of his introduction, both younglings were more at ease. Sunny stood up on wobbly legs and craned his head to look up at the mech, even though he was standing on a recharge berth. Before he knew it, he was lying flat on his back after losing his balance and was now staring up at the amused expression of the Autobot Lieutenant.
Optimus offered the little guy, one of his hands.
He clicked nervously and glanced over at his brother who was still sitting and staring up at the towering form of Optimus Prime in clear fascination. Sunny sat back up and looked at the proffered hand, slightly hesitant. At last, five tiny digits wrapped around one of the Autobot's fingers and he was pulled gently back up to his feet.
Sunny twiddled his thumbs and cocked his head to one side, indicating his curiosity as he resumed his staring contest with the intriguing mech. Optimus crouched down so that he and the youngling were optic to optic, his massive size dwarfing the little one.
A small smile slowly crossed the yellow twin's face and he reached one tiny hand out to touch the mech's face—one sparkling behavior he had yet to grow out of. His tiny fingers ghosted over the Cybertronian symbols etched into his temporary guardian's battle armor lining the side of his face and head. Optimus remained stationary and patiently allowed the young one to get to know him a little better. The Autobot broke the silence with his calm inducing, baritone voice.
"What is your name, youngling?"
The youngling jumped, startled and looked up into his elder's smiling face.
"Sunny," he replied in his squeaky, youngling voice while puffing his little chest out with pride.
The red twin clambered awkwardly back up and regarded the Autobot with clear distrust. He reached one small hand out to his brother's back, standing a few feet shy of actually touching him, unable to move forward another step.
"Sunny…" the red twin's youngling voice squeaked rather high due to his stress.
The yellow twin glanced over his shoulder and saw his twin reaching out for him, frozen in fear.
Sunny jerked a thumb back to indicate his brother as he looked back into the blue optics of Optimus.
"That's Sides."
The red twin shot his brother a sour face, earning full blown laughter from the Autobot Lt.
"He's my brother."
Sides pouted and crossed his arms with a huff and turned away, ignoring Sunny and Optimus. What the little red one said did not escape the audios of the elder bot, an amused chuckle escaped his vocal capacitor in response.
"I could have said my own name!"
Optimus and Sunny continued to converse happily, the youngling recounting their daring adventure outside of the Alpha-Sigma Youth Sector that led up to the present moment. He was animated in his story telling by making big gestures and even added some improvised sound effects with gusto.
The red twin felt a growing sadness as his twin and their temporary care-taker ignored his presence. He tried to get their attention a couple of times but they were too absorbed in their conversation to take any notice of him. Sides felt slightly jealous that his twin had garnered the undivided attention of Optimus, leaving him out of the equation.
As his frustration grew, he lost his ability to form actual words and regressed back into sparkling speech…clicking, chirping, and twittering. After another breem of being completely ignored he could stand it no longer. He fell back on his aft with teary optics, his vents hitching in a clear sign he was going to cry. His vocal processor opened up, and with a big intake of air, his cries became clearly vocal.
"AHHHHHHH!!!!!"
His optics watered like a leaky faucet, before erupting into an impressive water-works display that rivaled that of the youngling Cliffjumper. His optics were so obscured by tears that he missed the guilty and worried expressions of the other two when they realized that they had forgotten all about him.
In seconds, he was dangling in the air. He didn't notice, too hurt too care. Through his spark-bond with his twin, he felt Sunny trying to reach out to him but he pushed his brother away.
The yellow twin looked up to where his twin was now being held in the arms of the Autobot and felt tears threatening to erupt from his own optics when Sides blocked their bond, rejecting his comfort. It hurt… even more so since he could also feel his brother's pain at having been ignored for so long.
Before he knew it, he was crying too. Both of the wailing younglings startled Optimus Prime. He had been confident a second ago that he could calm down the little red twin…until he heard another voice join the first. He looked down and saw Sunny standing where he had left him, tears squeezing out of his closed optics as he threw his head back and sobbed his little spark out.
There were two of them.
Two younglings were crying now.
What was he supposed to do?!
Optimus felt panic rising in his spark as he remained motionless, wondering what in the name of Primus to do with the two little ones who were doing a number on his audio receptors. Their cries unsettled him and for the first time in a long time, the warrior felt utterly terrified.
He didn't know much about younglings, or how to care for them, so this experience was rather new to him.
One thing was for sure…he had a newfound respect for the Youth Sector's caretakers who professionally handled this very problem with ease, every day.
The door slid open just then to reveal Ultra Magnus much to Optimus's relief. It was like an answer to prayer…
The Commander raised an optic ridge after assessing the situation and looked back at his second in command.
"I can see that you have your hands full at the moment, so I shall send Prowl down to oversee the supply drop for the Youth Sector."
Optimus took a step forward with one hand outstretched, while the other held one of the screaming twins against his shoulder, as if that would stop the Commander from leaving the room. If that didn't, his horrified expression must have, because Ultra Magnus paused in the doorway.
"SIR…what am I supposed to do with them?"
"You are a smart mech, I'm sure you will think of something."
"How do I get them to stop crying?"
"Use your imagination," a mischievous twinkle entered his optics.
Ultra Magnus left, Optimus Prime staring at the closed door with wide, disbelieving optics. His commander just abandoned him…
Optimus released a long suffering sigh and stood thinking for a long minute, wincing as the little one continued screaming into his audio receptor. He was almost sure he felt something short circuit…
Then he got an idea. These younglings were twins… if he was able to get one to stop crying, then maybe the other might calm down too. But how did he go about doing that?!
At last, he did what he normally did best.
He trusted his instincts.
Optimus began to gently pat the youngling's back reassuringly and spoke softly, the little one's head resting on one of his shoulders.
"Little one, I'm very sorry that I neglected you."
Sweet Primus…it was actually working.
Sides lifted his head, watery optics meeting his own but he had stopped sobbing, although his lower lip still quivered…indicating the very real possibility that his cries could resume.
Optimus wiped some of the tears off of the red twin's face tenderly with his thumb.
"Please, forgive me."
Sunny stopped crying the instant his twin did, confirming Optimus's theory, and watched the exchange curiously.
Sides appeared as if he was going to cry again but hiccupped instead. When the youngling saw the genuine sorrow in the mech's face, he nodded his head in silent affirmation before resting his head back down on his shoulder, his vents hitching after his intense emotional episode.
A few tired clicks and chirps alerted the Autobot to the little one's exhausted condition. He moved to put him down on the recharge berth to rest but Sides clung stubbornly to him, refusing to let go. Optimus was rather amused by this and opted to hold the youngling for a while. It was rather amazing, how such a tiny, innocent creature could captivate his spark like this. He felt a growing sense of protectiveness towards the twins and vowed from that moment forth to always keep a close set of optics on them.
The soft internal hum of Optimus's internal systems, coupled with the steady pulsing of the powerful mech's spark, lulled Sides into a deep recharge. The youngling snuggled further into the warm chassis of his new guardian, feeling safer than he had in orns.
Sunny scampered over to where the Autobot was now sitting and blinked his equally tired baby-blue optics up at him. The second he had his attention, he raised both arms up in the universal 'hold me' sign. A smile tugged at the corner of his lips and Optimus reached down and with one hand, scooped up the yellow one. He now had a youngling in each arm.
The little yellow youngling appeared to be fighting recharge and blinked sleepily, unwilling to give in just yet. He looked up at Optimus and whispered, so as not to disturb his sleeping twin.
"Optimus…we stay with you?"
"Of course"
"Forever?"
This innocent question caught him off guard. He answered hesitantly.
"You will return to your designated caretakers within the orn. You miss them, don't you?"
"Yes"
A small pause until the sleepy youngling had another thought.
"You stay with us?"
Why did the little one have to do this to him now? After he vowed not to get too attached…the youngling had to make this even more difficult than it already was.
"We will stay for a little while but then we must go."
This answer seemed to satisfy Sunny for the time being for his head drooped down until he was also recharging peacefully, without a care in the world.
Optimus was rather surprised to find that he would indeed, miss the twins very much once he and his crewmates left the Alpha Sigma Youth Sector. They were so…cute. The warrior mech never once imagined that he would be here now with this 'assignment'. If someone had told him three vorns ago that he would be babysitting twin younglings for an orn in the future, he would have laughed his aft off. But here he was…and he was even using the word 'cute' to describe these younglings. He'd always imagined younglings to be hyper-active, loud, pain-in-the-diodes. But these two weren't so bad…
Not yet anyway, as Optimus would come to learn in future vorns.
Pretty soon, the Autobot Lieutenant found himself drifting off into a stasis nap himself, unaware that the three were being watched.
TFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTF
Ultra Magnus smiled to himself as he stood behind the hidden observation window. It was a spark warming sight, to see how well Optimus took to the little ones. The two had grown considerably since he had last seen them.
After a few more breems of watching the trio resting peacefully, he turned and marched back down the hallway with a purpose, heading for the bridge.
"Prowl, status report"
The tactician paused in the middle of a conversation he was having with the weapons specialist, Ironhide and turned to salute the Commander.
"The meteor shower has passed. The supplies were successfully transferred to the Youth Sector without incident."
"Very good…any word on the youngling still in the med bay?"
"Red Alert has informed me that he has just awoken out of stasis."
"Excellent."
Ultra Magnus turned preparing to address his communications officer when Prowl interrupted him.
"Sir, there is something else you should know."
The Commander turned an inquisitive gaze on his tactician, all audios.
"We have just received word that another Autobot battleship has just finished assembly and is being transported to the Beta quadrant for pick up."
"And what of the Decepticons in the neighboring sectors?"
"We have lost contact with Artemis II and the Nemesis has been sighted in quadrant three."
Ultra Magnus frowned. This was most troubling news. Quadrant three was only two light-years away from their current location. If the Decepticons used their interstellar warp drive at top speed, they would be here in half an orn. Of course, the Commander knew that there was no need to cause panic amongst the inhabitants of Youth Sector Alpha Sigma, unnecessarily. However, he felt it was essential that they make sure that the Youth Sector was well protected.
"Prowl, is it possible to set up a cloaking device to shield the Youth Sector?"
"Sir, it is possible. However, it will be nearly impossible to hide the energy output of the facility. A cloaking device would merely buy the residents' time to evacuate."
Ultra Magnus stood deliberating the possibilities and then came to a decision.
"I need a team to set up the cloaking device immediately. Contact the Autobots stationed at Eltaris-Major and have them transmit an encoded message to the skeleton crew aboard the new battleship. Have them transport it directly here… "
He turned away from Prowl and glanced outside of the view port while the tactician relayed his orders. He had a growing sense of dread, a feeling that the Decepticons were about to make their move. There was nothing they would enjoy more than to eradicate the weak and the helpless…the innocent civilians that stood in their way. That was already proven when they utterly decimated and pulverized the last two Youth Sectors. He turned away from the viewport and locked optics with Prowl.
"…we are running out of time."
TFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTF
Wake up little one…
Sides heard a voice calling to him.
Youngling…it's time to wake up.
His optics brightened as he came online and he curled further into the protective embrace he found himself in.
The red youngling recognized the owner of the voice.
"It is time for you to return to the Youth Sector."
"What?"
Sides, was a little confused. They were going back so soon?
Optimus looked a little sad as he stood up carefully with the yellow twin curled up in the Autobot's other arm, across from him. Sunny had tears in his baby-blue optics and he looked about ready to cry.
"Why do we have to go back now?"
Optimus was already taking long strides across the room and was out the door in seconds.
"The meteor shower is over and your caretakers miss you."
The twins fell silent, fidgeting every now and then in discomfort, the prospect of parting with their temporary guardian a little stressful. They were still young enough to form attachments to others they admired. Optimus Prime was no exception.
Suddenly a panicked expression crossed Sunny's features and the youngling squirmed in an effort to get down. Fortunately, the Autobot had a good grip on the little one.
"We forgot about Blue and Hotshot!"
"Easy, youngling. You will see them soon enough."
True to his word, they saw Bluestreak and Hotshot at the bottom of the ramp as they exited the ship. Optimus set them down and watched the eager younglings run towards their friends in a joyful reunion. Once Bluestreak and Hotshot recounted their own experiences aboard the Autobot vessel, the twins turned as one to look back at Optimus. They ran back and craned their heads back to look up at him and their young faces mirrored their worry.
"You'll come back again someday…right?"
"I don't know. It is possible."
Just then Ultra Magnus strode into view, catching the last part of their conversation.
"As a matter of fact, it is very probable."
Optimus turned when he heard the voice of his Commander and briskly saluted with respect. He returned his Lieutenant's salute with one of his own and smiled.
By now a crowd had assembled, consisting of Prowl, Starlight, Fireflare, Bluestreak, Hotshot, the twins, Optimus, Ironhide, Ratchet, Mirage, Red Alert, Hound, Wheeljack, and Jazz. A duty roster was handed to Ultra Magnus, courtesy of the tactician and he glanced down at the data-pad with interest.
"Starlight, I have much to discuss with you…" He began cautiously, his optics glancing down at the younglings as a silent hint that they were not to hear what he was about to say.
Fireflare took the hint immediately and began to usher the four younglings back into the building but Sunny had latched himself on to one of Optimus's legs, startling half a century out of the red and blue bot who looked down in surprise.
Starlight frowned at the yellow youngling's behavior but Optimus did not seem to mind much. The youngling slowly began to relax once he felt gentle fingers massaging his sensitive head. Optimus attempted to dislodge him a few minutes later.
"NO!" Sunny squeaked, his grip tightening.
"Youngling, please…"
Optimus glanced up to look at his commander who gave him a subtle nod. He looked at Sunny and bent down on his other knee. If it wasn't for the fact that Fireflare was currently holding a squirming Sides the little red twin would probably be latched on to the red and blue Autobot as well.
"I am quite sure that we will meet again, little one," he continued gently.
Sunny shook his head stubbornly, refusing to budge.
"STAY!"
Then the Autobot got an idea…
He reached down and began to tickle the little one's sensitive sides, immediately loosening his grip. Optimus was then able to pry the youngling from his shin plating and handed him back to Fireflare.
Once Sunny had recovered from his giggle fit and realized that he was no longer anywhere near Optimus…he pouted, sending a glare in the tall mech's general direction.
After the younglings and Fireflare returned inside, Ultra Magnus continued.
"The Decepticon flagship Nemesis, commanded by none other than Megatron himself, has been sighted in a nearby sector. We have installed a cloaking device to hide the complex, although the energy output of the facility can not be masked. We have also managed to upgrade your shielding to protect the facility from small arms fire. Since this does not guarantee your complete safety, I have opted to leave a team behind with you."
Starlight nodded her head slowly, understanding the severity of the situation.
"I understand and I am most grateful. Especially after what happened at…"
She trailed off, glancing down at the ground as a pang of sorrow assaulted her spark. Ultra Magnus, perceptive as always, nodded his head in understanding.
"You have no need to fear. If the Decepticons do try anything foolish, my soldiers will assist in the evacuation of this Youth Sector."
"Thank you, Magnus. We are forever in your debt."
He smiled warmly at her before Starlight returned into the complex to check on the younglings.
The Autobot Commander turned to look at his second in command.
"Optimus, please step forward."
He did as he was told and stood at attention.
"Optimus Prime, you are hereby foresworn as the newly appointed leader of a special contingent of Autobots whose sole purpose is to protect and defend the lives of these innocents. I believe congratulations are in order…Captain."
Those standing around him began to applaud while others cheered or whistled.
Optimus blinked a couple of times, wondering if his audio receptors were malfunctioning…perhaps those younglings had done more damage to them than he had originally thought. Did he really just get promoted?
"Thank you, Ultra Magnus. I vow to perform my duties to the best of my abilities, to uphold justice, and will do everything within my power to defend the weak and the innocent."
"Very well, Captain. I believe your ship is due to arrive within the next couple of days."
Wait…he had a ship?
The Commander handed him the data-pad with the duty roster.
"If you would please read this aloud"
Optimus hesitated at first but then did as he was instructed.
"Listed here are the Autobots that have been chosen with much deliberation, to follow the leadership of Optimus Prime, on the newly assembled battleship, designation: ARK"
The red and blue armored mech paused in his reading and he struggled to maintain his composure when he skimmed ahead and saw the list of names. Was Ultra Magnus glitched in the head to be giving him some of his best crewmen?
He resumed reading the list of names, their specialized departments also noted.
"Prowl—Tactician…Ratchet—CMO…Jazz—Saboteur…Ironhide—Weapons Specialist…Mirage—Espionage…and Wheeljack—Science Division."
Optimus looked up to see that the Autobots he had just called had already stepped forward upon reading their names.
"Those that do not wish to voluntarily serve under my command, please take one step back."
The six Autobots remained stationary.
Prowl looked at the newly appointed Captain with respect.
"Sir, I believe that I speak on behalf of everyone here when I say, that we are honored to serve with you."
The others nodded their heads, some smiling in silent agreement.
Ultra Magnus was rather pleased himself, half expecting at least one of them to object. He turned to address everyone present.
"Then it has been decided. Assemble your team and stockpile the supplies you will need. We will have them transferred to the ARK once it arrives. You are dismissed."
They saluted the Commander and then went their separate ways to prepare for their imminent transfer to the new ship.
A faint pin-point of light up in the starry night sky caught Optimus's attention as he prepared to walk back up the boarding ramp.
A cold, icy fear squeezed at his spark.
It could only be one of two things.
The ARK…
…or the Decepticons.
TO BE CONTINUED!!
A/N: The way I imagine this, the twins are still relatively sparkling size even though they have grown a little. They are considered 'younglings' now that they can speak but are still very young.
PLEASE REVIEW!! I will give you an energon cookie if you do! ^_^