Atonement

Chapter 22-Bruised

Disclaimer: I don't own the Transformers. They officially belong to Hasbro and Takara. I'm taking them for a short spin.

Ratchet stuck his head out of his office, optic ridge raised, hearing the doors open, and more than surprised at seeing his Prime enter willingly. Tilting his head, he zeroed in on the bundle in his Prime's arms. All but bounding over, Ratchet tried keeping his curiosity in check.

"What have you gone and done now?" Ratchet asked, pulling back the corner of the thermal blanket. He frowned, looking from sparkling to Prime. "Where did you get this? Prime, you can't just steal a sparkling. It's not like an orphaned turbofox kit. . ."

"His creators were killed in the attack at Polyhex. I assume you've heard what happened there?" Optimus said. "He is my responsibility now."

"You probably let somebody railroad you, didn't you? It was the council, wasn't it?" Ratchet said.

"Stow it, Ratchet," Optimus said. "I didn't come for a lecture. I need your help. Remedy onlined my feeding protocols, but I don't think it's working. Bitlet won't feed much, and when he does, his intake is very low."

"Sit. Now," Ratchet said. "Have you been refueling with medical grade energon?"

"Yes," Optimus said as Ratchet made a hard line connection. He watched as the medic's optics dimmed for several minutes, then he disconnected, coming back to himself.

"That aft-head Remedy didn't take down the firewalls to fully activate the protocols," Ratchet said. "You shouldn't have any problems now. Come see me if you do. Where did you meet Remedy anyway?"

"Iacon Medical Center," Optimus said. "He saved bitlet."

"I hope you're going to give him a decent designation," Ratchet said.

"I will," Optimus said. "That's not all. Remedy and his mate, Pharma, accompanied me on my trip. They're here, and are going to start helping out here when they get settled in."

"Thanks for asking for my input," Ratchet snapped.

"You need help," Optimus said. "You and First Aid can't handle the workload alone, and they were willing to come. If you wish to discuss this at length, we can later. Tomorrow, first thing. Except that isn't all I have to say. I brought two more of the sparklings from Polyhex, split-spark twins, mechs. I'm placing them in your care. You and Wheeljack have experience raising twins, and I have no doubt First Aid will be a wonderful caretaker."

"I don't have a choice, do I?" Ratchet asked.

"Not unless you want to defy the will of your Prime, Lord High Protector and the ruling council of Iacon as well as the High Council of Omnitron," Optimus said.

"Where are they?" Ratchet said.

"With Blaster, Pharma and Remedy in the rec room," Optimus said. "Go see them. Ratchet, they need someone, just like Sideswipe and Sunstreaker did all those vorns ago."

"No promises," Ratchet said, exiting the med bay, leaving Optimus alone.

88888

Hot Rod was finishing up a few loose ends in his office, glad to be caught up. Prowl was given permission by Ratchet to work a couple of hours a day, which helped further reduce the workload the Primes had been toiling their way through. He'd also missed Optimus' shuttle landing because of a meeting, and he wasn't surprised when the other mech showed up in his office. Nothing unusual in that occurrence, but Hot Rod was drawn up short going to greet the other Prime because of the bundle in his arms.

"You haven't talked to Ratchet, have you?" Optimus asked.

"No," Hot Rod said. "What is going on, and what is that?"

Optimus looked down the sparkling, where Hot Rod was pointing. "My latest responsibility," the Autobot leader said, pulling back the blanket, offering the bundle to Hot Rod, whose optics widened.

"One of the sparklings from Polyhex?" he asked.

"Yes," Optimus said. "He was dying, and I couldn't let that happen. The medical bonding took, and now I'm not quite sure what to do next." Hot Rod backed up until he felt his desk, sitting down on the edge.

"Talk about a complication," he said. "How are you going to handle going back and forth from Cybertron? Take him with you?"
"I haven't gotten that far," Optimus said. "I'll understand if you decide not to continue pursuing a relationship with me, as this could impede our progress."

"Stop right there," Hot Rod said. "It's a complication. We'll deal, like we always have."

88888

Ratchet was wise enough to recognize when he was being railroaded, guilted into doing something. Probably divine retribution for his recent behavior, if you believed in that sort of thing. Optimus Prime was a devious bastard, knowing he wouldn't say no to his request, more like Prime decree. He was seething over not being asked, but again, he deserved it. And once he laid eyes on the sparklings, he knew he couldn't say no.

He found them in the rec room with Blaster, Pharma and Remedy, happily whistling at each other. They looked to be about a stellar-cycle old, or about 7.5 Earth months. One was green, silver and gray; the other white, blue and black.

"Nice to see you, Hatchet," Remedy said, breaking the silence. "You remember Pharma, right? And the youngling is Silverlight, our first creation. Optimus told us the bitlets were going to be in your care. According to the records we were sent, the green one is Turbo and the white one is Strider."

The Praxian stood, handing the twins over to Ratchet, who took one in each arm, heading back toward the med bay, comming Wheeljack to meet him there. And once he saw what Ratchet was carrying, his fins flashed blue in surprise.

"Where did you get those?" Wheeljack asked.

"Two of the sparklings from the attack on Polyhex. Apparently Optimus thought we'd be a good choice as guardians," Ratchet said, handing Turbo over to Wheeljack.

"He did it without asking, too," Wheeljack, said, at once throwing his head back, howling with laughter. Turbo whistled in surprise, patting at Wheeljacks arms, and he cuddled the green twin. "Oh, this is too good. Of course we're going to keep them, and if you say no, so help me Primus. . ."

Ratchet smacked him in the head with his hand. "If I was going to say no, would I be here with them right now?"

"I don't know," Wheeljack said. "I know you owe Aid an apology. I'd start with that, or at least talking to him. Is that too much to ask?"

"No," Ratchet said. "I'll go get him. He's a part of this, too."