Holy crap! This chapter ended up being WAY long than I had planned. I sincerely hope you enjoy it.
Again, I thank everyone for your reviews. Keep them coming!
We continue on with Optimus as Ratchet's operating to repair Kacey's back.
OH! GO VOTE FOR LEO'S ALT FORM! I know it's early. But I'm outlining some of the love story between Kacey and Bee. There will be a minor plot story line for Leo, kind of like what I've done for Ratchet and Moonracer throughout Hope and Star. So go vote for Leo's alt form! Remember, it will affect his love life!
Optimus
This surgery seemed to take longer than the one to repair Kacey's spark chamber. I found myself pacing back and forth in the private room. My sparklings had all fallen into recharge in the middle of the day. I was concerned as they're usually up all day now. Elita said not to worry that it was normal after the emotional stress they'd been through this morning.
There were times I envied them. The emotional stress of worrying about my children when they were injured or sick kept me from recharging. So, I doubt I was going to tonight as I was not going to leave Kacey's side.
"Optimus, please sit down. Ratchet assured us that Kacey was going to be fine."
"That's not going to stop me from worrying, Elita."
"I know. But pacing around the room is only going to tire you out. You can sit still and worry just the same."
I came to a stop and sighed wearily, my normally proud shoulders slumped, my head dropped. She was right. The only problem was I didn't like sitting around and doing nothing. I had to do something. I felt so useless at the moment because there was nothing I could do to help Kacey.
Elita's arms wrapped around my chest from behind, pulling me into her slender frame.
"You are not useless, my love," she whispered, her hand stroking my chest affectionately.
"You know me too well, my love. You always seem to sense my thoughts."
"I've always know what's in your spark Optimus. Even before we bonded."
"Have I always been that easy to read?"
Gentle hands turned me around.
"Only by me," she smiled, caressing my face.
"I love you so much," I breathed softly, nuzzling her face with mine.
"Do you two need a moment? Might be best if your sparklings weren't in the same room with you if you're going to inter…"
"Stuff it, Ratchet," Elita warned, leaning against me. "Besides, we always make sure we are alone and the doors are locked."
"How's Kacey? Can we see her?" I anxiously asked.
"Red and Wheeljack are bringing her in," he smiled. "She's not going to wake up for a while, probably not until tomorrow. I gave her a heavy sedative."
Behind him I saw Red Alert and Wheeljack carrying Kacey. I immediately grabbed hold of Elita's hand upon seeing our youngling's vulnerable protoform. How I want to just hold my child in my arms to reassure myself that she was really ok.
"Thank you guys," Ratchet said after they gently lay Kacey on the med bay recharge bed. "Bring me a thermal blanket."
"Sure," Red replied then hurried out.
"You have one tough little femme," Wheeljack smiled at Elita and I. "I'm so glad she's going to be fine."
"We are too," Elita told him.
Wheeljack left as Red returned with the blanket. Once Ratchet was alone with us he beckoned for us to come over.
"She needs to lie on her stomach for another twenty-for hours," he started to explain. "I'm afraid she's going to have another scar. I had to get to her spark chamber and just used the open wound her armor caused to get to it. Wheeljack did his best to make it as small as possible."
"As long as she's alive," I said, glancing down and short jagged mark on her small back.
Ratchet pulled the blanket over her form, covering the injury up. I instinctively reached out to touch her but stopped and looked expectantly at Ratchet.
"You can touch her," he smiled. "Please, refrain from picking her up. She needs to remain stationary. I'll leave you alone. If you need me for anything just call me. I'll be close by."
"Thank you again Ratchet for saving my little Kacey," I told him in earnest.
"You're most welcome, Optimus."
With that said, he left. Elita and I stood for hours in silence and simply watched Kacey as she lay there. Neither of us wanted to break physical contact with our daughter. Both of us needed the reassurance that she was truly alive and well.
When the sparklings woke, we allowed each one a turn to be with Kacey. Orion asked question after question about his big sister. Talking was one of his ways with dealing with his worries. Plus, he had to know anything and everything about what was going on. For one so young, he put a lot of thought into his questions.
Ariel was quieter than her twin brother, sitting still and stroking Kacey's head. Ariel was always so quiet. Yet, we could see she was an intelligent little femme. She noticed everything. Nothing escaped her optics. Or her spark. She always seemed to know when Orion or Leo really needed a hug. And she was such a helpful little femme, especially when Leo got what she called a 'booboo'.
My spark ached for my little Leo. He broke down in tears when he saw Kacey lying there. He wouldn't even touch her and screamed clinging to Elita when we tried to set him beside Kacey. Nothing reassured him no matter how many times we told him that his big sister was just recharging. I knew the only thing that would was Kacey's reassurance.
For his spark's sake, Elita took him and the twins back to our quarters. Once they were settled she would have Chromia watch the sparklings then return to sit with Kacey.
For a long while I sat alone, talking quietly to Kacey. Telling her how much she was loved. What she means to me. The entire time my spark reached to her anxiously waiting for her to reach back. I didn't feel whole unless I could feel all of my family within my spark.
When Elita returned I reluctantly left Kacey's side just to go check in with Prowl. Primus, I think every Autobot I passed by stopped me just to say how grateful they were my daughter was going to be ok. One femme actually broke down in tears. I comforted her as best as I could until she finally composed herself enough to apologize then hurried off.
"Optimus, what are you doing?" Prowl asked when I entered the open door of his office. "You should be in the Med Bay. I have everything under control."
"I just wanted to check on things, as is my right as Prime."
"Of course, I didn't mean to say you couldn't do your job."
"Or that you were taking over?" I asked, jokingly.
"I could never take over," he replied seriously. "I'm just doing what I can to help."
"Relax, Prowl. I'm joking," I smiled at him.
"Oh, right. Sorry. Is there anything I can help you with? How's Kacey doing? I've gotten requests from just about every bot on the base wanting to know if they could visit her in the Med Bay."
"Really?" I asked surprised.
"Why are you so surprised? Kacey's very kind and caring. She takes the time to visit as many Autobots as she can each week. Kind of like the Prime I see wandering the base in the morning or in the evening visiting any Autobot he can."
"Wow, I had no idea she did such a thing. I knew she was friend to most and well loved by the Autobots but I had no idea she affected everyone that much. One femme cried in my arms for a few minutes saying how relieved she was that Kacey was going to be ok."
"Well, she learned from one of the best Primes we've ever had," he smiled proudly.
"Thanks Prowl. But I'm still a young Prime. There's still time for me to really frag up."
"Not possible with me as your second in command. Now, before you do frag up, go back to the Med Bay. Stay with Kacey. That little femme is going to need you when she wakes up."
"Ok, I get the hint. I'll go. And…I'll talk with Ratchet and see what we can do about allowing Kacey some visitors. And hope he don't blow a gasket!"
"Tell him it would boost moral on the base."
"I'm sure that will go over well," I snorted heading out.
"Prime!" he called, chasing after me. I turned to see what he wanted. "Many of the patrols have heard about what happened. Sunny and Sides are wondering if they can leave their post and return to base. Magnus said they were both shaken up real bad when they heard Kacey was dying. He literally had to hold them both down to keep them from coming back right away."
"Find some replacements for them and they can come home," I smiled. "I know how much Kacey means to them. I pretend to not know what goes on behind my back so that they can have their fun."
"So you know about…"
"Yes, I know my daughter is a speed freak and loves to race. She gets it from her mother. I can't control either of those two femmes when they start racing!"
An overwhelming sense of relief filled me that my Kacey will be racing again with her mother soon enough. Never thought I'd be happy about that!
"Well, I'll let you go," Prowl smiled and turned back into his office.
I quickly made my way back to the Med Bay. Elita and I talked quietly about what we were going to do about Leo. Neither of us had the spark to discipline him too harshly because of his growth rate dilemma. Perhaps we don't have to for now. He seems to understand that what he did resulted in Kacey getting hurt. Some lessons are learned the hard way and I feel bad that Leo had to learn such a lesson the way he did for I could feel the regret and the hurt in his spark.
Time will tell us whether or not he's truly learned his lesson. Time heals most wounds, emotional and physical. I thanked Primus and Ratchet about hundred times for saving my daughter. I honestly don't know what I'd do if I lost her.
Kacey
A weak moan escaped my vocal processor as I brought my optics online. Everything hurt too much. It was through blurred tears that I saw father's concerned face near mine. His was talking. Only he sounded so far away that I could barely hear the worry in his voice.
Suddenly Ratchet appeared. I saw him inject something into my neck. I tried to tell him no but only a whimper sounded. I didn't want to go back into recharge yet. The physical pain faded. But I could still feel the pain in my spark. My optics dimmed against my will and I fell back into recharge.
When I awoke again, the pain was still there, not as prominent as before but still a discomfort. And father was still at my side. The same concern etched in his faceplates as he looked at me.
"Better now?" he asked softly, his hand continuously stroking my head.
It took several long moments for me to get my vocal processor to work. Everything felt so groggy, presumably from the meds in my systems.
"Leo…where's Leo?" I finally rasped.
Tears filled my optics. I was so worried about Leo.
"Shh, he's fine," he replied. "Not a scratch on him thanks to you."
"Where is he? I want to see him?" I pleaded, through desperate tears.
"Your mother's bringing him now. Try to rest, Ratchet's orders."
"Why does it still hurt so much? What happened?"
A loud involuntary yelp sounded when I tried to push myself up. This of course got Ratchet's attention as he came running into the room a moment later.
"Kacey, you should be recharging still," he grumbled.
"I have to sit up for my brother," I grimaced, fighting to not cry out in pain.
My arms trembled to hold my weight. But I had to see Leo. I had to make sure he was ok. I couldn't get the terrified look on his face as he was falling out of my processor.
"I don't think…"
"I need to see him!" I shouted at him and nearly lost consciousness from the sharp pain that erupted through my back. I fell back down. Father's hands were there to catch me and gently lower me back down.
"Ratchet, can you give her something for the pain?" father asked when I howled in agony again.
"It's too soon to give her another dose. She shouldn't have even come out of recharge when she did."
"It's hard to recharge when you're worried about your little brother," I panted, blinking back the tears. "Please…"
"You're so like your father," Ratchet muttered.
I managed a weak smile.
"Since you're so determined, Leo can visit for a few minutes. But then you're to recharge for another day! After the surgery you had you shouldn't even be moving yet."
"I knew I wasn't going to be able to stop in time. But I couldn't let anything happen to Leo."
"Shh, Leo's fine," father cooed, wiping my tears away.
"You're very lucky, Kacey," Ratchet smiled. "Not everyone survives a cracked spark chamber injury."
"Not everyone has the best surgeon to fix it," father added.
Before I could question how long I was to remain in the Med Bay I saw mother walk through the doorway with Leo crying his optics out in her arms. I instantly reached out to him with my spark, giving my love, letting him know I was ok.
Dad gently took him and held him close to me.
"Shh, it's ok Leo," I smiled at him.
Leo turned away, burying his face in dad's chest armor. My spark ached. My little brother was suffering something terrible. I could feel it.
"He thinks it's his fault you got hurt," mom said to me.
"Ratchet, help me sit up."
"That's not a good idea at all."
"I don't care! Please help me! I'll do it myself if I must! But you can do it so I don't injure myself further."
"This goes against my better judgment, but I understand why," he sighed.
I did my best to not cry out in pain as he helped me to sit. Leo was already too upset as it was.
"Only for a few minutes," Ratchet reminded me as he remained there to hold me up.
"Leo," I called.
"Leo, look see, Kacey's ok," dad said, trying to encourage the little mech.
Leo was reluctant, but he turned his head to see me. I never felt such relief from anyone in my life. He tried wiggling free from dad's arms to come to me.
"No…no…that's not a good idea!" Ratchet exclaimed but it was already too late.
Dad put Leo in my lap. I whimpered in pain as my little brother hugged me as tightly as he could. My arms were weak and heavy yet somehow I managed to wrap them around his trembling form. My tears blended with his as I held him tight. I was so glad he was ok. I can't imagine my life without my baby brother.
"I don't think there's anything we can do about it, Ratchet," mom smiled.
"Love is a powerful medicine, Ratchet," father said, wrapping an arm around mother. "I'm sure now Kacey will recharge more comfortably knowing her brother is ok. As will Leo now."
"Fair enough," Ratchet frowned. "I can't argue with all three of you and hope to win. But I do want Kacey to lay down now."
I nodded. I was exhausted emotionally and physically at the moment. I lie on my side and fell back into a deep medicated recharge with Leo clinging onto me. I'd waken several hours later to see he was still there, recharging deeply, both of us covered neatly with a thermal blanket.
Father was still there. He smiled at me from his chair beside the bed, his hand reaching to stroke my face affectionately. I managed to smile back before I yawned, falling back into recharge.
Next time I woke, I was lying on my back. Leo was gone from my arms. The bright lights from the ceiling were rather annoying so I covered my optics with my hand.
"Hey, she's awake!"
I recognized that voice. When I removed my hand I saw Sunny and Sides leaning over me, grinning like a pair of idiots.
"It's about time!" Sunny grinned. "You've been out of it for four days now!"
"You missed all the excitement," Sides added.
"Yeah, Ratchet about blew a gasket when he found out Optimus let a few Autobots in to visit you," Bumblebee said.
I glanced to my right to see him. I was actually surprised to see him. I thought for certain he'd be gone now.
"You're still here?" I questioned him.
"I couldn't go without saying goodbye," he said, taking hold of my hand.
"I'm going to miss you," I said, bursting into tears.
"Way to go, Bee! You made her cry," Sunny chastised, reaching over me and punching Bee in the arm.
"I'll be back to visit, Kacey. I promise."
"It won't be the same," I wept, struggling to sit up.
Bee picked me up and I threw my arms around him as best as I could. I didn't want him to go. I loved having him around the base. I loved how he'd sneak me off the base with Sunny and Sides and we'd go racing. I love to sit in the recreation room and listen to him and the twins tell horrible jokes that were so bad I just had to laugh.
"Kacey, I promise, I will visit you once a month," he reassured me.
"I love you, Bee. You're more than just an uncle to me. I consider you one of my closest friends."
I felt him sigh. His arms held me a bit tighter.
"I love you too, Kacey," he whispered to me.
"What about us? We're still here to cause trouble!" Sunny chimed in.
I turned and was transfer into his arms.
"I love you both too. I guess with Bee gone that means I have to keep an optic out for both of you."
"You got that right kid," Sides added taking me into his arms.
"What in the pit? I told you three to get the frag out of here an hour ago!" Ratchet shouted storming in. "Primus, Kacey you still need to be lying down!"
"Optimus asked us to stay until he got back," Bumblebee said which made Ratchet narrow his optics.
"Where is my dad?"
"I'm right here," sounded his deep voice.
I looked over Side's shoulder to see my father. I burst into tears again. I couldn't help it. I was still exhausted and felt my recharge systems wanting to take over. But I needed to feel my father's arms around me.
"Shh, my child, I have you now," he cooed softly, holding me close, cradling me like a sparkling.
"Ok, he's back. Now the three of you…OUT!"
"We'll be back later, Kacey!" Sunny smiled.
"Not if I have anything to say about it!" Ratchet countered.
"Quick, Sunny, run!"
I grinned, watching Ratchet chasing the twins out of the room.
"When do you leave, Bee?"
"Day after tomorrow," he replied sadly. "I'll visit you as often as I can before I head out with Sam and his family. If it's alright with you, they'd like to see you before we leave."
"I'd like that," I sighed.
"Bee, you too…out!" Ratchet ordered.
"See you later, Kacey," he smiled then hurried off, ducking from Ratchet who took a swing at him.
"Optimus, can you put Kacey back down on the bed. I need to run some scans."
"Is anything wrong?" father asked as he carefully set me down.
"No, I just need to monitor her systems and her spark chamber to make sure there are no side effects from the accident. I've never repaired a spark chamber so young."
"Great, more tests," I commented rolling my optics. "Will they be daily like Trion's?"
"Only while you're here then once a week after that," he smiled. "Now, keep still. It will only take a few astroseconds to collect the data."
"I know the drill," I sighed then couldn't resist adding just to get dad all riled up. "Honestly, between yours and Trion's scans do you think you both can get an exact date when my interface systems will come online?"
Ratchet laughed heartily at the absolutely horrified look on my father's face. It hurt to laugh but I did anyway.
"I'll pretend I didn't hear that," father said, narrowing his optics at me.
He wasn't at all upset as I could feel his amusement. It was a relief to feel that instead of how worried he was for me.
"It's only natural, Optimus. But you don't have to worry for at least another seventeen years. Unless, she's one of those rare one's whose interface systems come on prematurely. It wouldn't surprise me if they did with as much as you and Elita interface."
"Primus almighty! Do you and Ironhide stand outside the door making bets?" father interrupted.
I giggled quietly.
"Not anymore," Ratchet snickered, giving me a wink. "The last bet we actually made was how many times it'd take for you to get Elita pregnant with Leo!"
Dad was lightening fast! He skillfully dove over my bed and tackled Ratchet down to the ground without even a toe touching me. I heard rumors about how fast my father could be. They didn't do him justice. And they say my reflexes were fast. I know where I get them from now.
I rolled over onto my side and watched my father and Ratchet wrestling on the floor. Well, it was more my father using his size to his advantage and pinning Ratchet to the floor. Ratchet didn't possess the strength to go one on one with my father.
Still, it was rather funny to watch and I was enjoying it immensely.
"WHAT THE FRAG ARE YOU DOING?" mom shouted. "We have an injured youngling here and you're fighing?!"
"I was defending my honor," dad answered, looking up from the head lock he had Ratchet in.
"I don't care. Get up and quit acting like a youngling in front of our daughter! Make sure you remember this, Kacey. Mechs, no matter how old they are, are simply big versions of younglings! You're father's the biggest one of all!"
"Now that's not fair, Elita," dad complained, getting to his feet. "I was defending your honor too."
"He really was, mom," I helpfully added. "You would have been helping him if you heard about how Ratchet and Ironhide were making bets on how many times it'd take for dad to get you pregnant with Leo."
Mom froze in mid stride, her optics narrowed, and I dare say her face plates had a hint of dark red on them.
"I'll be right back," she growled then quickly turned on her heal and left.
"I give you about two minutes to run and hide, Ratchet," dad informed him.
"You don't think she'd…"
"Oh yeah, she went to get her rifle," I answered before he finished asking his question.
Both dad and I laughed when Ratchet ran out of the room. I guess he could be fast too under the right circumstances.
A big yawn suddenly escaped me. My automatic recharge system came on. I was too tired to fight it but tried anyway.
"Go into recharge," dad smiled, picking me up and cradling me in his arms. "All the excitement wore you out."
I nodded rubbing my optics.
"You don't think mom will really hurt Ratchet, do you?"
"She'll give him a good scorch mark on his armor but nothing more than that. Now recharge, my child."
"Will you sing to me?"
"Anything for you, my beautiful star," he cooed, kissing me on the forehead.
The warmth of my father's form comforted me as he held me close. His deep voice was soft and sounded so soothing to my audio receptors. More importantly, I felt my father's love within me as I fell into recharge. No medicine in the universe could make me feel infinitely better as my father's love does for me. Nothing can ever replace it. Nothing.
Ratchet
At the end of Kacey's first week in the Med Bay she was able to sit up with no pain. As expected, she was healing faster than the rest of us. Alpha Trion truly designed her form to be the perfect soldier, the next progression in our stage of evolution.
I was there to witness how he did it when he and Wheeljack created the protoforms for Galen, Orion, Ariel, and Leo from the adamantite ore we salvaged from the Deception's ship we destroyed. They would be the only ones unless we found more of the ore as I doubt we were going to stop producing sparklings.
But the idea that my son, once mature, could take more punishment during a battle was a terrifying. At Galen's age now I just can't see him growing up and fighting Decepticons. More accurately, I don't want to imagine him doing such a thing. He's my only sparkling and I love him more than life itself.
I love Kacey just as much too. She's an enduring little femme who sneaks into your spark when you least expect it. She really has an affect on everyone on the base, some more than others. A prime example was Bumblebee.
The young mech was nearly in tears when Kacey wept in his arms during their goodbyes. In all the time I've known Bee, from the tiny sparkling Optimus rescued to the mature mech he'd become today, I have never seen him so upset. Never.
For me, I am affected not just because of her personality but because she's the daughter of Optimus, the only other mech on the base I love as much as my own son. It brings me so much joy see how happy and content he is with his family.
I've gotten to see more of him as a father this past week in the med bay as he interacted with his sparklings and Kacey. Not one of those four children was starved for attention or love.
"Papa, can I go play with them?"
I looked down to see my son's bright blue optics pleading with me. I could never say no to him. He's such a good little mech anyway and doesn't get into trouble.
"Go on," I smiled.
Galen smiled brightly then charged right in. Optimus was quick to include my son in their play. It was truly a rare and funny sight to see a Prime crawling around the floor being chased by four screaming and laughing sparklings. I laughed out loud when they all jumped on him and he fell to the floor, giving in to them.
"How long have you been standing there?" he asked, looking a bit surprised to see me.
"Long enough to see you haven't matured yet," I snickered walking across the room to Kacey.
The youngling look tired as she smiled watching them play. I activated my scans immediately.
"You feeling ok, Kacey?"
"Just tired," she yawned. "Leo woke me up early this morning."
"That's my fault, Ratchet," Optimus said, getting to his feet. "Leo had a bad dream last night. Elita and I didn't see the harm in letting him recharge with Kacey."
"That's fine as long as Kacey gets a full night of recharge," I said, helping Kacey to lie down. "I'd like her to get some quiet time now. Later today I want to get her on her feet."
"Already?" she asked looking a bit excited about the idea.
"Yup. I think you're ready now. I know you're tired of being confide to the bed."
"Pfft, got that right," she scoffed making me laugh.
"Alright little pit spawns, you heard Ratch, Kacey needs some rest."
"Ah, dad, I still want to play some more," Orion protested.
"Dad, I'll be fine for a while by myself," Kacey smiled.
"Tired of my company?"
"No, never. But I don't want to take away from my brothers and sister."
"I'll keep an optic on her," I added.
"Alright, come on, let's go," he said picking up Leo.
"Can Galen come too, daddy?" Ariel asked. "Please."
Optimus gave me a look. Of course I nodded. I knew my son would be in capable hands.
"Sure he can come."
Much to my amusement, Ariel grabbed Galen's hand or he grabbed hers. It's debatable. There's no denying they have a crush on each other. Right now it's adorable sparkling behavior. I'm curious to see if it turns out to be something more as they grow older.
"Ariel really does like Galen," Kacey said once the parade left. "She talks to me about him all the time."
"Moonracer tells me the same about Galen. How his optics seem to light up more when he talks about Ariel. He just blushes and turns shy every time I ask him about it though."
"That will change one day," she said knowingly. "So, do you think I'll be able to walk today?"
"I don't see why not," I smiled confidently to her, caressing the top of her head. "Your back has completely healed. I see no structural defects of any kind."
"Thanks to you. You truly are a great surgeon."
"I don't know about great. There are better. I simply refuse to give up on a patient. It pains my spark to lose one. I hate that feeling and do everything in my power to prevent it."
"Regardless, I thank you for saving my life."
"You're very welcome. Now get some rest. I'll wake you when it's time."
Kacey was in recharge by the time I finished covering her up with the thermal blanket. I proceeded with my daily scans. So far so good. There's no sign at all of her spark chamber weakening where it was cracked. All her systems were functionally within normal parameters. Her energy levels are a bit low. But that's expected during a long recovery period from an injury such as hers. Next week her energy levels should return to normal levels and she won't tire as quickly.
When I turned to head to my office I was surprised to see Prowl in the doorway. Checking my internal chronometer it was that time of the day when he'd drop by to visit Kacey.
"I passed by Optimus, he said Kacey was going to get on her feet today," he spoke softly.
"Yes, I'm letting her rest a while first."
"Good. It will be nice to see her on her feet again."
"Are you ok, Prowl?" I asked, noticing how much emotion he had on his face.
He sighed looking from Kacey to me.
"As a commander, you're supposed to treat everyone the same. It helps when making the big decisions to send someone, even someone you know, into battle. It also helps with the casualties. As a commander, you're not supposed to let one life affect you more than all the others."
"Ah, but Kacey isn't a soldier yet, Prowl. I know her abilities give her the means to fight like a soldier. I'm aware of how mature she can be at times. But she's still only a youngling. What you're feeling is normal."
"No it isn't, Ratchet. I love her as if she were my own child. I never felt like that about Bumblebee when he was a youngling or even the twins after I found them huddled together in ditch, frightened out of their processors."
"Well, I can tell you right now we all feel the same way about Kacey," I smiled, patting him on the shoulder. "She's a rare femme that only comes along once every few millennium. I'd give you a thorough maintenance check up if you didn't feel the way you did."
Prowl laughed softly.
"Go on," I told him, giving him a nudge. "Stay with her a bit while she's quiet. By the end of next week she'll be driving you crazing again."
Again he laughed then went in and took a seat by Kacey. I continued on my way to my office. I had just pulled up the data from the scans when Moonracer came in.
"Are you busy? I can come back later."
"No, I'm never too busy for you," I said not hesitating to move to her and take her in my arms. "There's always time for you and Galen."
"How's Kacey doing?"
"Ahead of schedule for her recovery. She'll be racing through the halls by the end of next week."
"That's good," she sighed, her face turning away from me.
I gently turned it back so I could see her lovely optics. They welled up with tears.
"Moon, what's wrong?"
"I've made my decision, Ratch," she began, her body trembling in my arms. "I…I don't want to try and have another sparkling. I can't go through that again. It still hurts too much. My spark still longs for our daughter."
"If that's your decision then I will abide by it and not bring the issue up again," I replied, holding her close. "Come on. Galen's with Optimus having fun. Let's take advantage and have some alone time."
"I love you," she smiled.
"Love you more."
I left Red in charge of the Med Bay. He was to contact me only if there was an emergency with Kacey. It was rare that I got Moonracer alone during the middle of the day like this. We both took full advantage of it, bonding our sparks while making love. It was with some reluctance by both of us that we separated from our lovers embrace when Optimus contacted me about Galen wanting to be with his mother.
Still, Moonracer never liked our son to be too upset. And I was a bit anxious to see how well Kacey was going to do. We actually found that Optimus and Elita were already waiting and that Kacey was now wide awake. My son was recharging in Optimus' arms.
"Sorry, I think I wore him out," he smirked handing Galen over to Moonracer. "But he was asking for you before he fell into recharge."
"It's ok. As long as he had fun today," she mentioned.
"I'm sure he did," I smiled to her, kissing her on the cheek. "I'll see you in a little while."
I would have said more but I felt the prying optics of Optimus and Elita watching me. Sure enough when I turned around they were both smiling at me. I ignored them even as I smiled walking past them.
"So are you ready?" I asked Kacey.
"Yeah!"
"Don't get too excited. I don't want you to be too disappointed if it doesn't go well."
She nodded looking a bit nervous.
"You'll do fine," I smiled reassuringly at her. "Optimus, would you like to pick her up and set her on her feet for me please? Just hold her until she says to let go."
Optimus lifted Kacey up from behind, his hand under her arm pit and gently set her feet on the ground.
"Whoa…feels weird," she smiled nervously.
"Just give your self some time," I instructed her. "Some of your coordination systems were offline due to the injury and being damaged. I needed to make sure they were completely healed before letting you put your full weight on your legs."
"Ok dad, you can let go now."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
Optimus looked up at me. I nodded, continuing to scan her systems. We were about to find out whether Kacey was truly ready or not.
As expected, the newly healed systems booted up enabling her processor to regain full control of her legs. The trick would be to get them to work in unison again, relaying the necessary information back and forth. And that takes however long the patient takes to get through their therapy.
"I feel a bit wobbly," she informed me.
"That's normal. Try to lift your left leg, just a little bit."
Of course, Kacey immediately tried to just walk by taking a step forward. Both her legs buckled and she fell. Optimus was quick to grab hold of her preventing her from falling to the floor.
"Kacey, you're trying to run before you can walk. Please do as I instruct you. Optimus, continue to support her. Now, I just want you to lift your leg up as high as you can."
This time she listened. It wasn't very high but higher than I expected.
"Ok, now the other leg."
My scans revealed her systems were communicating with each other a bit out of sync as I had expected.
"Optimus, let her go. Now, I want you to take small steps, Kacey. Don't over do it. If you get too tired we're here to help you."
"Ok," she nodded, looking as determined as ever.
Kacey took a small step and collapsed. This time Optimus wasn't quick enough.
"No, father! I can do it!" she said.
I sympathized with him upon seeing the pained expression on his face. The desire to help his child was so strong.
"Optimus," Elita spoke softly. "Let her try."
He nodded, backing away. Elita took hold of his hand. I'm sure the two were talking to each other over their bond because he suddenly let out a sigh and nodded to her.
It took a bit of effort but Kacey got back on her feet. Instead of lifting her foot she slid one forward then the next. Over and over.
"I feel like a sparkling taking their first steps," she commented with a giggle.
"At least you're not screeching in protest," Elita smiled.
"Give me time, mom," she responded making us all laugh for even I have heard about Kacey's first steps as a sparkling.
Once again, Kacey tried to lift her leg and fell over when her knees buckled. Once again, she shot Optimus a defiant look like he'd better not help her.
"I can do this father," she reiterated in a serious tone.
"At least she didn't scream at you," I said jokingly.
He didn't find it amusing. I understood why. It was always in Optimus' nature to help others and not care for himself. And here's his daughter, the one femme he'd want to help the most, refusing to let him.
"It'll be ok, Optimus. You know Kacey. When she needs you most she won't hesitate to ask," I told him.
He nodded but his optics never left Kacey. She managed to get back on her feet again. Her determination paid off. She was finally able to take a few wobbly steps. Then she was able to walk more normally, very slowly, but she didn't fall and her legs looked strong.
"See, I told you I could do it, father," she beamed proudly, reaching up to him.
"I never doubted that you couldn't," he responded, lifting her up and holding her close. "I only wanted to help."
"I know. And you did help. Just by being here for me."
It was such a tender moment between father and daughter. You could see the love they had for each other as he held her close and as she wrapped her arms around his neck.
"Why don't you take her to your quarters tonight," I suggested, shocking the three of them. "Yes, I know. It goes against my better judgment. But I want Kacey back here first thing in the morning. And I want her in bed early."
"Thanks, Ratchet! You're the best," she smiled at me.
"Just go, before I change my mind!"
The happy family left quickly. Mother and father overjoyed to be taking their youngling with them.
I headed to my office to finish what I started earlier. The data from my scans were still there on my monitor. I started analyzing them, comparing them to my previous scans.
"Whoa, that can't be right," I muttered, my optics not believing what I'm seeing.
A frown fell across my faceplates. Only I had to be certain my readings were correct before I brought them to the only other mech on the base who'd understand them and would know what to do about them.
Alpha Trion
"Ratchet, what brings you here? I trust Kacey's injuries have completely healed."
"Yes, they have."
"Excellent. You really are a skilled surgeon."
"Yes, I take pride in my work. In fact, if I wasn't so good at my job I wouldn't have discovered this. I triple checked my data and even went as far back to compare them with my first exams of Kacey."
I reached up and took the data-pad from his hand. My spark sank as I read the test results. They seemed to confirm my own.
"You don't look so surprise," Ratchet commented.
"Yes, I noticed these results a few weeks ago."
"You noticed!" he roared, laying his hands on my desk and leaning close to me. "You noticed and failed to mention it to anyone! This isn't one of your experiments! This is a precious life we're dealing with!"
"I am fully aware of the ramifications when dealing with Kacey," I replied calmly, holding my ground. "I too love that child. I was there when she was born. I watched her grow before my very optics. And, since my discovery, I have been trying to find away to fix this unforeseen side effect."
I paused. My normally proud posture waning. I was….ashamed.
"I have yet to find away to reverse what's happened and only see one solution."
Tears filled my optics and I turned away from Ratchet's threatening gaze.
"I had hoped and prayed that my program modifications were perfect and that no harm would ever come to Kacey as she grew from sparkling to mature. It pains my spark to know that I've failed. I've failed her and her family."
"But you said there was only one solution you could see. What is it?" he demanded.
"It will not reverse the damage done. But it will permanently stop this side effect and should allow Kacey to continue to develop normally."
"Should allow? You need to come up with a better solution than that, Trion!"
"We're dealing with so many unknown variables here because of what I did to Kacey's programming. But I'm confident my plan will work."
"Anything to help Kacey. Just tell me what I need to do."
"We need Elita's and Optimus' permission first as the procedure will require taking Kacey offline."
Fear filled Ratchet's face.
The same fear that filled my spark. Taking a transformer offline for program modifications was a dangerous procedure. I have only successfully done so three times in my long life and have failed more times than I care to admit to anyone.
Ratchet angrily yanked me to my feet, slamming me into the wall and holding me there. I did nothing. I deserved his wrath. I was angry with myself for not foreseeing my error.
"For your sake, Trion, you'd better not frag this up! I didn't save that child's life so you could take it away!"
He released his hold on me and stepped away. Tears filled his optics. The anger was still present in his threatening tone.
"If little Kacey dies as a result…I swear on my son's spark I will make you suffer for what you've done." He paused, wiping his tears, composing himself. "Meet me in my office in ten minutes and you will explain to Optimus and Elita what needs to be done."
With that Ratchet abruptly left.
I slid down the wall, pulled my legs into my chest and wept. I have witnessed many atrocities, mourned many friends during my long life. Nothing has ever affected me as much as this little femme.
She is the grandchild I never had. And I deeply love her as such.
For the family's sake…for the sake every Autobot on this base…for my own sake, no…for Kacey's I cannot fail.
Ok, to me offline is not death. It's like turning a computer off. It will be more explained in the next chapter.
Up next: Optimus and Elita's reactions to the side affect of Kacey's program modifications. And we'll see how Kacey reacts to the shocking news.