Atonement
Chapter 23—Catalyst
Disclaimer: I don't own the Transformers. They officially belong to Hasbro and Takara. I'm taking them for a short spin.
Ratchet let himself into the quarters he shared with Wheeljack and First Aid. The other medic didn't answer when Ratchet called his name, and he wasn't in the outer room, but Ratchet found him in the berth room, reading a medical journal.
"What do you want?" First Aid asked, setting down his data pad.
"We need to talk," Ratchet said. "And it's not about the transfer. This is something that requires immediate attention."
"You're not making any sense," First Aid said.
"You're getting your wish," Ratchet said. "Not quite in the way you wanted, but still, there's something you need to see. Come with me to the med bay and I'll explain."
The younger mech stood, following Ratchet in silence, entering the med bay behind his mate. Ratchet stepped aside, revealing Wheeljack playing with two mechlings.
"Meet Turbo and Strider," Ratchet said. "We've been granted custody because we're a bonded trine and Wheeljack and I have raised split-spark twins before. Optimus really didn't give me a choice, Wheeljack is threatening me with bodily harm if I refuse, and I hope you're all right with this. I know you're angry with me for always making decisions, but this, I think, was the right one."
First Aid sat down by Wheeljack, who offered him Strider.
"We get to keep them?" Aid asked.
"Yes," Ratchet said. "I know you wanted a sparkling of your own, but that can still wait, can't it?"
"We're going to discuss that," Wheeljack said. "Not negotiable. You owe both of us an apology, but it can wait a bit. We need to get to know these little guys."
Ratchet watched First Aid nuzzling the sparkling's helm, and Wheeljack handing the twin in his lap a wrench, which he stuck in his mouth. The battle was lost, and he was going to have to concede.
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Optimus Prime was in his quarters, finishing up a report to send off to Ultra Magnus, and read the latest communication from his friend. The other sparklings from the Polyhex attack were doing better, and Magnus said the recommendations for placement for the other two sparklings were approved. However, Ironhide wouldn't stop pestering about when he and Chromia would take custody of the femm, and Hound and Mirage had showed up at the medical facility quicker than expected, waiting on news of the mechling they would get. Optimus was grateful for the news both pairs were willing and ready to take on such responsibility, and that Hound and Mirage couldn't wait to bring their charge back to Autobot City.
All good news, but still no word on who was responsible for the attack, and Jazz and Kup were stepping up security to keep anything else from happening. Work done, he set down his data pad and stylus, turning his attention to Hot Rod, who was sitting on his berth, cross-legged, sparkling curled in his arms, recharging.
"He's cute," Hot Rod said, finally breaking the silence. "He got a name yet? You can't just keep calling him 'bitlet.' Hardly a fitting designation."
"I haven't yet given any thought to a name," Optimus said.
"How about Firebolt?" Hot Rod suggested.
"Did you just come up with that?" Optimus asked.
"I've been mulling it over since you got here, and you never mentioned a name," Hot Rod said.
"I like it," Optimus said. "Firebolt it is."