Kacey is now a teenager. OMG! She's grown up so fast. (sniff). Lol. Ok, seriously, we start now with Kacey at just over thirteen orns now. Each age will have its own separate storyline but will still all tie together, if that makes sense to any of you. Not sure it did to me. But them I'm rambling on.
I threw in a surprise. I can't say what it is but for those who loved the mech I hope the little scene makes you happy.
On we go as Kacey's adventures continue.
Kacey
I have found humans to be such a fascinating species. They have emotions much like we do. They work and play much like we do. They have even have families much like we do. They reproduce in a similar manner, although the human female must endure a much more laborious delivery than our femmes. The infant grows to maturity much like our sparklings do.
One of the downsides of the species is that they have such a short lifespan compared to the thousands upon thousands of years a transformer can live.
And yet, for such fragile mortal beings they have an incredible inner strength that I can relate to. They're history is full of men and woman who's accomplishments are truly amazing. I find it intriguing how they've grown as a species over a short period of time. Remarkable, it was all done through mere human ingenuity that brought them from primitive man to the modern man of today.
Yet, for all the good, the humans can be capable of the worst atrocities I have ever read, some similar to my own history. It saddened me to learn of mass genocide, the wars. It reminded me of our history when I read how Megatron and the Decepticons attacked the youth sectors. So many hundreds of younglings perished that day.
Still, over all humans are a very interesting species to watch them as they interact with one another. Yes, they are very much like us. They have families, friends, and enemies. But most importantly, I have observed that most humans generally live to have fun just like I do.
"Kacey, where are you?" dad's deep voice sounded from my internal communicator.
"At the lake, watching the humans," I answered truthfully. "I'm cloaked so they can't see me."
"Time to get back to the base before Leo blows another gasket."
"On my way," I laughed.
My baby bro. My little shadow. I loved the little lugnut to death and knew I had to hurry back. He quite literally will blow a gasket. He'd done it before when he got over excited. Scared me half to death when his optics just blinked out and he fell over that first time.
Even now I could feel him anxiously calling me within my spark. So I hurried faster to the base. When I descended and found dad barely able to keep a firm grip on Leo. The little sparkling wiggled wildly about in dad's arms. His little blue optics spotted me and I could hear his rapid beeps and chirps as he clapped excitedly.
Dad let him loose the moment I was on the ground. Leo's little legs carried him as fast as they could towards me. Just before he reached me I cloaked. It was my version of peek-a-boo that I played with him, and I used to play with the twins when they were younger.
"Kacey!" he called, his optics looking for me.
"Over here," I said, uncloaking.
He turned smiled then ran for me. I cloaked again. Normally, I could get away with doing that a few more times. Apparently not today as Leo burst into tears and flung himself onto the ground in an overdramatic fashion.
"It's ok, Leo," I cooed to him, lifting him up as I uncloaked.
He scowled at me through his tears, making me laugh. I didn't hesitate to shoot up into the air knowing that'd make him happy. He loved flying as much as I did.
"Not too high, Kacey!" dad shouted up at me.
"Pfft, not too high," I snickered to Leo. "Dad doesn't know what he's missing out on. You want to go higher, don't you?"
"Up!"
"Thought so, you little lugnut."
So, of course I went higher making him giggle uncontrollably. Leo had no fear of heights whatsoever. In fact there wasn't much he was afraid of. But I didn't stay too high for too long. Dad would worry and Mom would blow a fuse.
"Momma! Momma!" Leo squealed excitedly as I neared the ground.
There was mom with Orion and Ariel, heading over towards father. Chromia was with her and Sidewinder or little Sides as we call him. Not far behind was Galen with Ratchet chasing after him as usual. Galen was surprising quick and agile thanks to his mother.
He was looking more like Moonracer every day as he had long lanky legs and arms and had a sweet disposition much like his mother. Everyone thought for sure he'd be cranky like Ratchet. But the CMO couldn't be happier that his son was more like his mother. Every day I saw Ratchet with a big grin on his face whenever Galen was with him.
Little Sides was a wrecking ball of course, every bit like his older brother Nitro and even more like his father than Nitro was. Chromia seemed delighted that her little mechs were growing up to be just like their father. But I think father was dreading the day when the mechs were fully mature as he didn't know if the base was going to be able to handle three, trigger happy mechs, that could barrel they're way through a wall when drunk on high grade.
Orion was already a tall with long thick arms and legs and a wide chest for his age. He was going to have dad's build once he was full grown, that was obvious. But he had mom's gentle facial features. And he was always protective of his twin sister Ariel. She looked just like a smaller version of mother. Both didn't have the stubbornness that Leo and I inherited. But they both had an inner strength just like mom and dad.
Leo and I were alike in many ways. Both stubborn, never hesitated to speak our processors, and both of us followed our sparks desires. Although, I could tell already Leo was going to have femmes melting at his feet. He looked a lot like dad and already had a smile that made femmes fuss over him. He of course enjoyed it tremendously!
And thanks to mom's insistence, the five sparklings were the best of friends it seemed. It was funny to watch them all interact.
Orion and Sides were trying to be dominating little mechs by wrestling with each other. Galen seemingly only had optics for Ariel. He was always trying to hold her hand. Of course, she would pull away and play hard to get or sometimes go hide behind Orion for protection.
And Leo was always quick to be at his brother's or sister's side if they needed help or not. Most of the time Leo got in the way and ended up getting knocked down by Sides or Orion when those two wrestled for fun. It didn't stop the little lugnut from trying to join in.
Once I landed and Leo was bouncing toward mother. I noticed that Galen didn't hesitate to make his move. I about died laughing at seeing the shocked look on dad's face when Galen threw his arms around Ariel and kissed her on the cheek.
"Just what are you son's intentions towards my daughter, Ratchet?"
"Mechs will be mechs?" Ratchet countered, shrugging his shoulders.
"Not with my little femmes they won't."
"It's harmless, Optimus," mom chimed in. "They're still just sparklings."
"Kacey! It's my turn!" Orion cheered jumping up and down in from of me.
"Me too! Me too!" Galen said just as excitedly, forgetting about Ariel for once.
"I don't know Galen," I said, pretending to be serious. "You dad nearly overloaded his processor the last time I took you up."
"It's ok. I'll fix him!" he countered.
"Really, you're going to be a medic?"
"Yeah! Ariel too!"
I laughed, picking up my little sister.
"That's up to her. So, you ready Ariel?"
She shook her head at me.
"We won't go very high," I cooed to her, feeling her trembling. "Just like last time, ok?"
"Kacey, don't force her," mom gently chided.
"She needs to get used to the heights if she's going to fly when she gets older. Orion and Leo don't have a problem so it will be easy to teach them to fly."
"We're not all cut out to be fliers," dad said. "I prefer my two feet on the ground as does your mother."
"Alright," I sighed, feeling somewhat disappointed as I set Ariel back on the ground.
I simply wanted Ariel to feel the way my brothers and I felt when we were in the sky.
"What about you little Sides? Want to go flying?" I asked, knowing what his answer was going to be anyway.
"No fraggin way!" he grunted, making us all laugh and Chromia smile.
"Just like his father," she grinned proudly, rubbing the little mech's head.
"Frag!" Leo shouted then giggled wildly
Mom glared at Chromia. Dad just rolled his optics. Ratchet hid a smile. And I laughed which only made it worse as Leo starting chanting frag and getting louder and louder. Needless to say, I made a quick exit with Orion into the air before mom got mad at me!
Elita
I was actually gratefully Kacey took off into the air. Her departure made Leo think about something else other than 'frag'. Ariel is my only sparkling who doesn't use such words. And it's debatable as to who my little mechs learn their foul language from, Optimus or Kacey for this isn't the first time Leo has used that word before.
By the time Kacey landed with Orion, Leo had fallen into recharge in my arms. My little mechs loved to fly as much as Kacey and she never hesitated to take them for a ride into the sky. I just wish she wouldn't take them so high. As their mother I can't help but worry about my little sparklings even though Kacey would never intentionally harm them.
"Thanks for doing this, Chromia," I smiled as I gently transferred Leo into her arms. "The three of us haven't had the chance to be alone for a drive in a long while and who knows when we might again."
"It's not a problem. I love taking care of Leo. He's so adorable even if he has a glitch in his vocal processor."
"Don't remind me about that," I groaned. "Kacey and Optimus have avoided my questions every time I try to determine who he heard it from."
"Would you expect Leo to be different from them? He looks so much like Optimus with that kind smile and cute aft."
"Chromia!"
"Just stating the obvious," Chromia smirked at me. "Haven't you noticed how the young mechs keep their optics on Kacey when she's not looking at them? We're so lucky their interface systems aren't developed, they'd be overloading everyday!"
Ok, I had to laugh at that. Chromia was right and I'm not being arrogant, but Kacey is a rare beauty, a seemingly perfect blend of Optimus' and mine physical features. Yet, she was still so innocent and naïve about them. I'm starting to wonder when I should sit down and have a serious mother to daughter talk with her. I'm even considering having Optimus make sure she knows how to defend herself from groping mechs.
"Are we ready?" he asked, his hand discreetly caressing my back.
"I think so," I smiled up at him.
"Go on you three, I've got them under control," Chromia smiled. "Come on you little pit spawns lets go inside now."
"Ratchet, are you going to do something about your son?" Optimus questioned.
I turned to see Galen, clutching Ariel's hand again while she was trying to pull away. I knew better. I knew she had a crush on him too. She was just being like me and playing hard to get.
"Hush," I told my mech giving him a look. "It's a phase. They'll grow out of it. Come on, let's get rolling. You ready, Kacey?"
"Yeah!" she said with her usual enthusiasm.
Primus, she loved to drive as much as she loved to fly. I couldn't blame her. I loved to drive too. But I loved the powerful sound of my mech's rumbling engine when I drove beside him. It got my interface system in an uproar almost every time. Even just thinking…
"Save those thoughts for later," he suddenly whispered into my audio receptor then moved away all too quickly. "Come on Kacey, let's roll out."
"Can we race? I'll give you both a head start!"
"Another time," he laughed, caressing the top of her head.
"Let's just get moving," I suggested anxious to get going and get back for 'later'.
"Femmes first," Optimus smirked, slightly bowing his head at me.
I obliged by transforming first. I waited for Kacey to transform next always enjoying the powerful purr of her engine. She always sounded happy to me.
"Kacey, what's wrong?" Optimus asked, his deep voice full of concern.
I was nearly overwhelmed by the fear from Kacey's spark.
"I can't transform! Why can't I transform?" she frantically begged.
I quickly changed back to my robot form. Kacey's was in near hysterics, visibly shaking, and looked absolutely terrified.
"Father, why can't I transform?"
"Shhh, I don't know," he cooed, quickly picking her up and hold her close.
"Kacey, honey you need to calm down," I gently suggested to her sensing her systems were about to fritz on her.
Too late! Kacey's optics suddenly went offline and she powered down. I would have laughed because it was funny whenever Leo did it now when he gets over excited. Only, Kacey was petrified that she couldn't transform. To be honest, I was a little frightened myself as a transformer can usually transform even if they're damaged.
"Let's get her to Ratchet," Optimus said even as he was walking fast.
I nearly had to run to keep up with his long strides. Ratchet was already coming out of the base towards us so I assumed Optimus already called him.
"Did she pull a Leo?" he asked with a bemused smile. The smile quickly faded when he saw how concerned we were though. "Sorry, what happened?"
"She couldn't transform," Optimus answered.
"Odd, I detect nothing wrong with her systems. Let's get her to the Med Bay where I can run diagnostics on her systems and see what the problem is."
Kacey was conscious before we reached the Med Bay. This time we were able to keep her calm enough that she didn't pass out again. However, it tore up my spark to see her tears as she clung tightly to Optimus chest. Just about every Autobot we passed was concerned resulting in Prowl and Ironhide having to usher them away from us so we could be alone with Kacey and Ratchet in the Med Bay.
"I'm stumped," Ratchet said quietly to Optimus and me. "I don't get it. All her systems are functioning within normal parameters. I've called Alpha Trion. Only he knows her systems better than I do."
"I hope he finds out what's wrong with her," Optimus frowned. "She lives to transform."
"Most of us do," Ratchet commented.
"But Kacey is a youngling, Ratchet," I told him. "She has a youngling's enthusiasm when it comes to transforming. She loves to transform. Pfft, she loves to show off too, like some mech I know."
"Whomever do you mean, Elita?" Optimus playfully asked me, then turned serious. "I hope for Kacey's sake Trion finds out what's wrong."
I silently agreed as I watched Optimus return to Kacey's side. She climbed up into his arms holding on to him like a little sparkling. My mech the aft ripping wrecker was always so tender and affectionate with his sparklings. I never got tired of watching him interact with our children. It made all the labor, the cries, the tears, and messes all worth it.
"What appears to be the problem?" Trion asked as he rushed in.
"Kacey can't transform," Ratchet answered handing Trion a data-pad. "These are the test results. I can't find anything wrong with any of her systems."
I watched anxiously as Trion read of the results. He handed the data-pad back to Ratchet then headed over towards my little Kacey.
"Kacey, I need you to stand up for me, please," he smiled warmly, caressing her head.
"Ok," she sniffled.
Optimus gently set her on the ground. He didn't have to look to me; I could feel he needed me close. So I moved to him, allowing him to hold my hand.
Optimus
I feared the worst when Ratchet said he called for Alpha Trion. My medical officer was always able to diagnose a malfunction. I was nervous, needed support from my beloved so I held her hand. Elita smiled up me, giving my hand a reassuring squeeze.
Deep within I could feel she was nervous too as we watched Trion use his special scanning device I've seen him use on my daughter once before. We both didn't understand what was wrong with Kacey and were desperate to find out.
After a few anxious minutes, a big smile spread across the ancient mech's face as he examined the results of his scan.
"There is nothing wrong, Kacey," he told her as he caressed the top of her head. "You've simply outgrown this alt form."
Primus almighty! I've never felt such a rapid transition of emotion before! Kacey had gone from the pit of despair to nearly overloading with joy and excitement in a mere fraction of an astrosecond. Same for me too, I was never so relieved in all my life!
"You mean I get to pick a new alt form?" she exclaimed, her optics as wide as they could be.
"Yes," he laughed.
"Cool!" she cheered running towards the door. She abruptly came to a stop and turned, looking anxiously at Elita and me. "You coming? This is a big decision. I can't frag it up."
"Kacey, language," Elita chided gently.
"Sorry, mom. After I pick a new form can we still go a drive, dad? Please!"
"Ok," I chuckled, enjoying the giddy feeling within my spark from my daughter.
I continued to hold Elita's hand as we followed Kacey through the halls towards the command center. It was the only public show of affection she would allow me to have with her. Oh, and the occasional kiss I manage to sneak in when she wasn't expecting it.
"Optimus," she growled softly at me after I kissed her cheek.
"Oh, be quiet, I'm too happy to contain it. Besides, look at Kacey, she's literally bouncing off the walls she so excited."
"I would expect our younglings to be unable to control their emotions. You are a grown mech and know better."
"Pfft, believe me Elita, I am in total control at the moment. If I wasn't I'd be groping your aft with my tongue in your mouth," I commented then hurried away from her before she could respond.
"Hey Prowl! Guess what? I get to pick a new alt form!" she announced to my second in command.
"That's wonderful news!" he responded, kneeling before her. "You had us worried there for a bit."
"Sorry. Can I use one of the terminals to look for my new form?"
"Of course," he smiled, taking hold of her hand. "Here this station is free."
"Thank you, Prowl."
"Thanks," I told him as he passed by.
"Don't mention it."
Kacey slender fingers quickly worked the computer's panel to pull up Earth transport vehicles for her size. Her optics stared intently at the view screen. Elita and I waited patiently, watching as the vehicles rapidly changed on the screen. Every so often Kacey would pause the picture, rotate it around, Elita or I would comment, and then the picture would change.
"Primus, Kacey, it's been twenty minutes already," Elita muttered.
Kacey turned around, her faceplates and tone as serious as ever.
"Mom, I have to pick a form that's me."
Elita rolled her optics when Kacey turned back around. I laughed quietly to myself. I couldn't help it. I loved how my femmes interacted.
"What about that one?" Elita quickly asked when Kacey paused an image.
"I can't pick that one," Kacey sighed. "That was Jazz's alt form."
"Oh," my sparkmate said, looking apologetically up at me.
Jazz was one of my closest friends. I still felt his loss deep within my spark. Still, I wonder how Kacey found out about him. I never told her about his him. Even if Elita had, how did Kacey know this vehicle was Jazz's alt form? I distinctly remember removing it from the data base.
"Kacey, I know for a fact Jazz wouldn't mind if you used his alt form," Prowl spoke softly. I turned to see the sadness in his optics, my spark clenched. "And I can't think of a better way to honor him then having the daughter of Optimus Prime riding around in his alt form."
"Are you sure?" she asked him.
The tenderness in her voice made me realize that somehow, somewhere, Kacey found out who Jazz was and what he meant to Prowl. I had been so wrapped up in with my worries for Elita when Prowl arrived on Earth that I left the task to Ratchet and Ironhide to inform Prowl that his bonded sparkmate had been killed in battle.
Once Prowl was settled in I did go to him and apologize. I ended up staying with him for a few hours, comforting him as best as I could through the first tears he shed for his loss. It was a rare display of emotions from him. I felt honored he chose to do so before me.
"I'm positive," my second in command smiled proudly.
"I'll pick a different color though," she stated pressing a few buttons on the terminal panel. "Ok, there. I've download the specs to my transformation systems."
"Let's go outside then," I smiled. "Prowl, will you come with us please?"
"I wouldn't miss."
The three of us had to quicken our pace to keep up with Kacey. It took a strong will for her to not transform right in the hallway and go racing off. I could sense she wanted to do it. But I'm so glad I finally broke her of that habit. She left tire marks all over the hallways which were no fun to clean I gathered from one report Prowl gave me.
Outside, we stood and watched as Kacey's retracted her current battle armor. A huge smirk was plastered all over her faceplates before she began transforming into her new alt form. My little femme didn't just love to transform, she loved it!
There before us purred the powerful engine of the hardtop Pontiac Solstice GXP. I smiled proudly. It was the same blue as her prior alt form and same blue as mine. Kacey revved the engine then hit the gas. Her back tires squealed. Smoked spewed from them as she spun around in place…showing off.
Elita quickly transformed into her elegant vehicle form. I watched happily as my two femmes raced side by side up the road.
"You'd better go after them," Prowl smiled.
"Prowl, I had removed Jazz's alt form from the computer," I told him gently. "I didn't want anyone to choose that vehicle form…I didn't want you to be upset."
"I know and I'm grateful for that Optimus. But it was my decision to put it back. I knew one day an Autobot would be worthy of it. I'm glad it was Kacey. He would have been very proud."
"Yes, he would have."
"I'll see you in a few hours, Prime," he smiled.
Prowl quietly left as I transformed. My engine rumbled as I raced after my femmes. It didn't take long to catch up with them as Elita managed to keep Kacey corralled enough to slow her down. I could feel Kacey wanted to let it all 'hang out' as she's told me before.
We had been driving for over an hour on the freeway when I felt the sadness from my daughter's spark. Her pace had slowed before me as she pulled along side another vehicle that had a family in it. I noticed there were children laughing within.
"Kacey, what's wrong?"
"Them…the humans," she sighed. "So many of them are unaware of the danger they're in. How can we hope to save them all from the Decepticons, father?"
Her question spoke so much of her maturity. It was serious and well thought out. And whenever discussing something significant she would always refer to me as father.
"We do what we can and pray to Primus. We are responsible for them because the Allspark had landed here. It isn't their fault our war has invaded their world."
"Do they understand that? I've seen and read their news reports. They don't know anything about us. Most only see us as monsters."
"It is the many Governments of this world that have decided to keep who we are secret. We must respect their wishes as best as we can."
"But the Decepticons don't respect them. They don't respect anything."
"Remember that, Kacey," Elita chimed in. "For that is what makes us better than the Decepticons."
"Yes, mother. I just see the humans as having the potential to grow as a species, to be better than they are now. It'd be a shame if the Decepticons ruined it for them."
"It is our duty to see it doesn't happen, my daughter."
"I understand, father. I look forward to the day when I can help too."
I smiled to myself. Kacey was so proud to be an Autobot and my daughter. I was so proud of her. Deep in my spark I knew that one day she was going to be a formidable warrior just like her mother and myself. But as her father, it was a day I could wait an eternity for as I didn't want my little femme to grow up too fast.