The next evening…

"Microdigit?" Ultra Magnus called through the door of the science lab. "Come out of there already, you're going to make yourself ill!"

"I'll be fine, Ultra Magnus, sir!" Ever since this morning, he had been hanging around in the science lab, refusing to come out, even for meals or recharge. After all, he couldn't say he was that thirsty, and he could fall into stasis alongside all the science equipment and it would be more comfy than his bed.

"You haven't been out of the lab in nearly twelve megacycles," Ultra Magnus insisted. "What in Primus are you doing in there?"

"Experimenting!" Microdigit called out, even though this might not have been entirely true. Mostly, he was pondering. If Fireblast really was flirting with him, then that meant she liked him, right?

Or…not. Maybe Perceptor's theory was wrong, and she wasn't flirting! Besides, Microdigit didn't recall her ever telling him she was single. What if she had a boyfriend back home? And what if the way she acted around Microdigit was purely friendly? What if she didn't care for him at all?

This wouldn't be good. Microdigit now finally knew that his strange feelings did have a name—hopeless infatuation (otherwise known as the "crush"). He had developed romantic feelings for Fireblast, against his will, and he had no idea what to do about it.

If only he had the courage to do something about it, that is. He knew it had been done—asking a femme out, going on a date with her, having a good time…and—oh dear Primus, was he supposed to kiss her on the first date? He didn't even know how to give a good first kiss! What if she had kissed many mechs before and was expecting too much of him?

Of course, this was assuming that she wanted him to ask her out at all.

Part of the reason Microdigit didn't want to ask her out, of course, was because she might say no. She would probably say no. Better safe than sorry, right? He didn't want to risk it.

Then again, though, Microdigit had risked everything when he ran away from the energon farm—if he hadn't, he never would have become an Elite Guard intern, which was a job he loved. If he risked everything again by asking out Fireblast—put everything on the line— maybe he would have a girlfriend he loved, too.

Although the only reason he was able to keep this internship was because of his specialty, science. Last time he checked, romance was not his specialty. Knowing him, he would probably mess EVERYTHING up.

Fireblast: Hello, Microdigit. How goes it?

Microdigit: Well, I was wondering if you would like to—GAAAHHH!

(Microdigit trips over his own feet embarrassingly, thus getting cut off midsentence. Fireblast laughs.)

Fireblast: If I would like to what?

Microdigit: Never mind.

Or, even worse, he would ask her out for real but she would say no—

Microdigit (stuttering): Well, um, I was just wondering, if…um…you would like to go on a date with me tomorrow night?

Fireblast: You mean like a friendly date or a romantic date?

Microdigit: Erm, a romantic date.

Fireblast: What? I thought we were just friends! I'm going to have to turn down that offer. Thanks anyway, though.

But what if she said YES? If he didn't ask her out, then how would he know? If he didn't ask her out, he might be missing out on a relationship that could have lasted a lifetime!

But if he did ask her out, then maybe she would say NO! And if she said that, his spark would probably never completely recover. After all, weapons can physically harm you, but words leave psychological wounds that will never heal.

And NOTHING was worse than having your spark broken—if you get your spark broken, there is, like, no medic-bot you can call. Microdigit put his servos over his faceplates and pictured the lovely Fireblast, smiling at him and telling him sparklessly that she thought he was a great friend, but nothing more than that. Great friend! Who the frag cared about that? He didn't want to be a "great friend". He wanted to be a "great boyfriend"!

"This is a load of scrap metal!" Microdigit hollered, banging his fist on the lab table, then put his head down and dissolved into bitter tears, right among the test tubes and petri dishes.

…

Fireblast was sitting at the Elite Guard ship's kitchen table and sipping some Autobot motor oil. I think Dad is right. Decepticon motor oil IS better.

Dinner was almost over, and Microdigit still hadn't shown up. Fireblast finished the last of her motor oil, then set it down on the table. "Mm…good stuff."

(Of course, Autobot motor oil wasn't good stuff, not according to Fireblast, anyway, but she wanted to be polite.)

"Thank you," said Ultra Magnus, smiling.

"Anyway, I haven't seen Microdigit in a while…" Fireblast stood up and started to leave the kitchen table. "I better go find him. He's probably in the science lab again."

Fireblast started walking, when she felt someone gently grab her arm. She turned, and it was Ultra Magnus.

"It would be in your best interest to stay out of the science lab for now," he told her.

"Why?" asked Fireblast, confused.

"Well, he's been cooped up in there all day and we don't know what in Primus he's doing, so we figured he's best left alone," Ultra Magnus replied.

"Um…okay, whatever." Fireblast shrugged. "I'm going to go relax in my room then."

Fireblast made her way to her room (the guest room) and laid down on her bed. It was just like Microdigit to lock himself into the science lab and not come out no matter what, but she still wondered what he was doing in there.

Probably working on the cure for that robo-virus, thought Fireblast admiringly. If anyone's going to come up with the cure, it's Microdigit.

More and more, Fireblast found her thoughts wandering back to the Autobot game console. Ever since the solar cycle they met she had been teasing him flirtatiously—nothing too serious, mostly just brushing his cheek with her fingers, holding his servo, things like that…she hadn't been trying to lead him on or anything, but she hadn't really had any further intentions.

But recently, she realized she wasn't just doing it to tease—she was doing it because…well…she liked holding his servo. Her spark raced when she looked into his optics. Touching him gave her a strange sensation in her oil tubes; she felt a little empty inside when their lab hours were finished.

Against her will, her sister's words ran through her CPU over and over again: When you do find true love, it won't be because you were looking for it…but it will come.

When Fireblast had run away from home, she hadn't been looking for true love. She had been looking for a place to go where people would accept her—or at least a change of pace from the Decepticon lair. And yet…

After all those solar cycles in the science lab…working together…having fun…flirting away…Fireblast was now feeling something totally different and totally new, and she knew what that feeling was.

Now, even though she didn't quite know how she was going to do this, she needed to make sure Microdigit felt the same way.

Oh, if she only knew.

…

Microdigit normally didn't cry—hadn't really done it since he was a sparkling—but he was still sobbing, face-down, on the lab table, lost in confusion and sadness. If only he was less awkward, less nerdy, less innocent. Then maybe Fireblast would like him back. Microdigit only realized now that the art of dealing with femmes was something he had very little experience with, if any.

"Microdigit? What are you doing in here?" asked a confused-sounding voice.

Perceptor was in the lab again, standing right behind Microdigit, who replied, "C-Crying my optics out!"

"Why?"

"It d-doesn't matter!" sobbed Microdigit. "Just—just l-leave me alone, will you?"

"Well, actually I was sent to come find you by Ultra Magnus," said Perceptor. "He was starting to get worried."

"How did you even get in here?" Microdigit asked, sniffling and lifting his head up. "The door was locked."

"It's my lab," Perceptor reminded him. "I can override the codes."

"Oh…oh yeah," said the nerd-bot, feeling stupid. "I knew that."

Microdigit had been momentarily distracted from the reason for his desolation, until Perceptor asked, again, "So will you please tell me what happened?"

This brought on a fresh wave of tears as Microdigit cried, "W-Who d'you think? Fireblast!"

"You asked her out and she said no?" asked Perceptor, looking pained.

"No, I didn't ask her out at all!" Microdigit told him, then wept, "Sometimes I think the whole universe is against me."

"Yes…everyone feels that way." Perceptor nodded.

"What's wrong with me?" Microdigit howled.

"Nothing's wrong with you," Percy replied gently. "It's just that…growing up really stinks."

"T-Truest thing I-I've h-heard all s-solar cycle."

Perceptor waited for Microdigit to calm down a little, then added, "Trust me, you are not alone. My years in Autobot School were very painful, emotionally and physically."

"Yeah, you weren't popular as a sparkling, were you?" asked Microdigit.

"No," Percy told him. "No I wasn't…but anyway, that's beside the point. Why didn't you ask her out yet?"

"B-Because I'm afraid that if I do, I'll get my spark broken beyond repair."

"Do you love Fireblast?" asked Perceptor.

Microdigit nodded. "With all my spark."

"Well, then," said Perceptor pensively, putting one servo on his intern's shoulder, "if you love her enough, don't you think it's worth the risk?"

…

TO BE CONTINUED—TUNE IN SOON FOR CHAPTER 8!