I want to thank everyone for leaving a review. I really appreciate them and I read all of them at least two times.
I really am trying to wind this series up because I want to go on and do other things. I am still working on the auction that will be held June 1st. I will be glad when it is over so that I can move on to work on other things. I am also cleaning my office and converting it to a school room since I will be home schooling my son this fall. I will be very busy this year. My husband is also working harder so that I can stay home with the children so I will be learning to utilize my energy in other ways.
Please take a moment to leave a review because they are so important to me. Enjoy!
"Kiki what are you doing on the porch?" Starscream demanded. He had been looking everywhere for the femme only to discover that she was crouched down watching something from the little pet house that she had made for a stray gato who wondered up looking for food last year. Kiki never once looked up as Starscream heard tiny mewls coming from the entrance of the tiny door that Kiki was watching.
"Star, Pansy had cubs. The babies are so beautiful and not one is the same color." Kiki said in awe and then looked at him excitedly. "Can we keep the yellow one?" She asked her eyes pleading with him to let her have her way.
Starscream sighed, the air leaving his intakes heavy with drama. She was so adorable but they already had two dogs, six funny looking fish that had come home one day when their sparkling went shopping with Kiki and Allie, two indoor gatos and one gato that patrolled their garage, four glitch mice that were brought from Cybertron, and two funny looking organics that humans called gerbils. Why Primas' name did his mate want another pet was beyond Starscream's processor but as he looked at her soft doe eyes begging him to give her what she wanted he just could not say no. It was his downfall, his waterloo, and as he tried to form the word no he knew he would not say it out loud.
"Why do we need another pet?" He finally managed hoping that she would think and realize that they didn't need another mouth to feed.
"I am a sucker for yellow gatos and Little Pansy has just one yellow gato out of three, besides look, they are much smaller than a normal gato so they will not get very big." Kiki informed them using 'puppy dog' eyes and Starscream had to tell himself to pick and choose. He loved his mate but she was a huge softy that loved anything from the awful plants that left pollen on his cockpit and wings to the annoying gatos in the house and a turbo puppy that she just had to buy from the market. Now she wanted to add another gato to the two that she fed out on the front porch and Starscream wondered who would be stuck feeding all these animals if he had to leave on a mission for an extended period. Allie had all femmes stay on base during a long mission to make sure that families were not avenged by any possible enemy and Starscream hated packing the animals with them along with sparkling care and anything else that Kiki demanded.
"Please Starscream we will keep it out on the porch. It doesn't have to stay inside." Kiki looked away as she heard the cubs begin to mewl for their mother. Pansy sat down on top of the cubs and they crawled out while smelling the milk and feeling for it so that they may suckle. Starscream watched them for a moment and then looked at his mate once again.
"If it is a male we will keep him." Starscream stated long after looking at them and her one final time. He couldn't be the cause of her tears. He couldn't do that to her.
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"Allie called a meeting in an hour." Cassie told Doc as she took a seat next to her in the dining hall. "Ratchet and I will be attending. Knockout will be there as well. I have three nurses and an intern covering the infirmary should anything happen unless there is an emergency that is more severe than minor wounds." Doc looked tired. She was working too much and Cassie worried that she was not getting enough recharge and was concerned since she was carrying.
"I am not working! You know that Ratchet would have a cow if I worked behind his back." Doc exclaimed horrified that she picked up on Cassie's CPU. "I am only in the rec room because of the meeting otherwise I would be resting in our quarters."
"Have you ever thought about getting a house outside of the Hall?" Cassie asked. "I mean you are going to need one with as many sparklings as you will have."
"I have approached the subject with Ratchet but we haven't made definite plans. We have a three berth room quarters and we will need to be close since I will not be able to carry full term." Doc smiled ruefully. "You know that if I had known you were carrying three I would have never let you out of the Hall."
"Yeah, well it worked out and I think that Soundwave liked that I had them on the Nemeses so that he could be with me and now we are all here." Cassie laughed suddenly. "I think Rumble and Frenzy is going to corrupt them. I found all five of them switching Sunstreaker's gold paint that had been requisitioned. I don't know what they were thinking because if I hadn't caught them Sunstreaker could have harmed them."
"Oh man then it was good that you caught them." Doc said laughing. "They could have started the war back up. By the way what color were they changing it to?" Cassie saw the glint in Doc's eye and laughed remembering that Doc always liked a good prank as long as it was not directed towards her infirmary.
"Green and it was the most awful putrid green that they could find." Cassie said and they both laughed.
"Well it has been a while since any pranks have been played but maybe they need to steer it toward a bot that won't do severe damage." Doc stated.
"I know. I love them so much but Frenzy and Rumble would drive anyone crazy. Frenzy's sweet though if you can look past his neurotic personality. He loves to come to work with me and I love that he can do anything on a computer console. It helps because those kids can put some crazy viruses on them at school." Cassie sighed as she looked up and spotted Chelsea. "What is Chelsea doing here? She never comes up to socialize."
"We do have a meeting Cassie." Doc reminded her.
"Yes but she usually is the last to arrive for a meeting. Why is she here early?" Cassie wondered out loud. She knew that Chelsea and Allie did not always get along and the only time they ever agreed was when they were on the ceremony floor but that happened due to the oracle's influence.
"Cassie you worry too much. Chelsea is quite calm now that her mate is here and they have their sparkling." Doc assured her as she patted Cassie's hand.
"A sparkling never replaces what you have lost…"
"But it helps bring closure that you can move your life on." Chelsea stated quietly but firmly. "I appreciate you caution Cassie since you have been caught in mine and Allie's fire in the past but I assure you that I am not here to cause trouble. Allie asked for me specifically." Chelsea told the femmes as she sat down in her chair around the table that Allie used for meetings.
"Cassie, how is Nocturne?" Chelsea asked as she looked at both femmes calmly steering the conversation away from her.
"I haven't heard from her but Hound checked in and stayed last night with her. I know that her sire is not easy to take care of." Cassie said and Doc agreed silently with her. She had been making house calls on the old mech but with her being placed on berth rest Knockout had taken her place. "How is First Aid taking all of the changes?"
"He is a good sparkling and he loves to rub my stomach. I think he is already connected with his siblings. It is so strange. I can't explain it. There is no logical scientific explanation for having four sparklings within one gestation period and yet many of us are having two or more at one time. Our bodies can't handle it and yet we haven't had any fatalities yet. Shalon came close but so far we have been very fortunate." Doc stopped a moment and looked down at her hands.
"Doc, how does Ratchet feel about all of this?" Cassie asked after a moment.
"He feels like I do. There is no scientific explanation and yet there is an explosion of sparklings. Even Comm. is expecting. Ultra Magnus is scared for her health and I don't know what to say that will calm his concerns." Doc looked haggard suddenly.
"Doc, you have to let Ratchet care for her. You can't worry because it could do more harm to your body and besides, Comm. will be okay. She is in good hands." Cassie said the last softly reassuring Doc mentally with her confidence. Doc smiled at her friend realizing that she had missed her. They had both been so busy with their families and work. It was nice to sit down and just talk.
"Cassie, can we do this more often?" Doc asked her with a smile. Her curly honey brown hair gleamed in the mid-morning light coming from the glass window overlooking the dining hall that they were sitting in. Cassie knew it was from all the nutrients that Ratchet was having her consume for the sparklings and it suited the doctor.
"I will make more time for us. Why don't we start scheduling time for ourselves so that we are not so stressed with our families" Cassie suggested sharing Doc's smile. "Chelsea you should schedule some time with us. We do miss you even if we sound suspicious of your motives at times."
"I will think about it. It is tempting to have some femme time and I know that Allie, Shalon, and Mia do it at times just to get away from their sparklings when the mechs are working." Chelsea murmured while watching the other two femmes. "Optimus makes her because if she doesn't she becomes a bitch."
"Then we must do it." Doc stated. "Before I am committed permanently to a berth would be preferable." All three femmes laughed at that.
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"Sir, the morning patrol arrived a few minutes ago." Prowl stated as he looked stoically ahead watching the mid patrol leave and Starscream directing the air patrol.
"Good. Have there been any problems?" The Lord High Protector asked following Prowl's gaze over the tarmac from the observation window.
"No sir though there is still activity being monitored from the southern region and Ultra Magnus has reported that the Jung Ho have deployed two of their war ships to the eastern quadrant of the Realm." Prowl still felt some unease being in Megatron's presence without Prime but he hid it very well as he stood to the right of the gun mech.
Megatron secretly liked the black and white mech standing to his right. He was the equivalent of Soundwave in deeds and loyalty and Megatron respected one that was so efficient. The war would have been quick had Prowl had been in the service of the Decepticons but few enforcers joined the ranks of the Decepticons preferring to preserve their ways and laws. It was unfortunate because many had been strong despite their small size, and Megatron admired any who could overcome their limitations to become the strongest and best of their kind. It was on that principal and the growing unrest that he had initially built his army and yet late in war he had lost the sight which became the Autobots greatest asset. Now here they were in another system learning to grow in peace after eons of war and strife. It was processor boggling and humbling all at once.
"Run a diagnostic and bring Soundwave in on the results. He is good at seeing any flaws in the information and with your tactical analysis we should have a strong plan should the Jung Ho decide to do anything such as launch an attack." Megatron commanded softly as the next ground and air patrol left the tarmac.
"Yes sir. Do you want me to inform Prime sire?" Prowl dutifully asked.
"No, I am headed to his office in a moment and I will alert him of the situation. Also, see if Soundwave will deploy Laserbeak to monitor communications and see if Ravage can gather any Intel that could be helpful to us."
"Soundwave hasn't sent any of his cassettes out in the field since we arrived here in the Realm. I am not questioning your judgment sir but if he should refuse do you want to send Bumblebee? He is well liked by the locals and he and Sara can work as a team since she is very knowledgeable about the Jung Ho." Prowl never wavered physically from his calm demeanor but Megatron smirked because he could sense Prowl's sudden nervousness in regarding his suggestion.
"No, Soundwave has never turned down an assignment and I am only asking for reconnaissance. He won't let me down." Megatron stated confidently as he turned and looked Prowl in the optics.
"Yes sir, I have sent him the mission information and Soundwave has already complied.
Megatron smirked again. He knew his mechs well.
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Chelsea wondered through the corridors towards Prime and Allie's quarters. It was rare for her to come to Allie. She preferred Allie coming below into the temple chambers but Chelsea was curious to Allie's mental facilities. The oracle had been calling since the dead had come to rest in the catacombs below the crystal chambers and Chelsea had only experienced that once before when they had nearly lost a femme to death.
It was rare that the sparks of the dead called from the Well of Allsparks but Chelsea had a feeling that one was not at rest. If that was so then Allies would be dreaming and not recharging well. She quietly walked along the corridor and up the hall that housed the Prime's and Lord High Protector's quarters. The constructicons had done well and Chelsea was glad that all were one again. Grapple's designs and Hoist's ingenuity were seen as well as they added more floors and quarters to the Hall. Many were expanding out into the suburbs of the nearest city but many still kept quarters here so that if they were ever attacked by an outside hostel they would have sanctuary within the walls of the Hall. It was also convenient for check-ups and mechs that chose to work long shifts so that they could have extra time off between those shifts.
Chelsea knocked softly but firmly. If the sparklings were napping she didn't want to wake them but she also sent a telepathical message to let Allie know that she was the one waiting to be let in. Chelsea enjoyed being with Cassie and the others in the dining hall but even they knew she was on a mission to see Allie since it was so rare for her to walk up into the upper part of the Hall. Barricade enjoyed the solitude of being below as well as accessing the secret entrances of the temple for patrols.
"Chelsea, it is an honor for you to visit." Allie said it at the same time she opened the door motioning for Chelsea to walk past.
"I am glad that it is an honor but I am afraid that I have come on behalf of the oracle." Chelsea heard the sigh and saw Allie's shoulders momentarily hunch negatively and Chelsea instantly knew that she was dreaming as Allie confirmed it with her next words.
"You came," was said softly but firmly.
"Yes, how long?" Chelsea didn't mince words. That was Sara's specialty.
"Since the bodies arrived, and I thought it was stress; you do know that Jazz's was one of the dead among the bodies." Allie said quietly. She led Chelsea to the couch and they both sat down with their knees barely touching. Chelsea was not one to offer comfort unless others reached for her first. It wasn't her style; only Barricade saw that part of her personality.
"The oracle is singing; calling to us. It wants something from us." Chelsea stated softly. She rested her hands in her lap quietly waiting for Allie's response to her statement.
"I know. I feel it too. I am just afraid. It generates its energy for healing channeling ours into the body. The last time it was terrible for me." Allie said quietly.
"I know. You have the strongest EM field on the chamber floor and the oracle is drawn to it." Chelsea turned suddenly and faced Allie directly. "Have you ever told Prime? He has a right to know that you have spiritual healing capabilities."
"No I haven't told him and those abilities are not mine alone. Primus uses me through the oracle. It is not my ability alone. I am not a super natural being and I block that from my memories when we merge." Allis looked down at her hands. Chelsea smiled ruefully. Allie always played with her hands when discussing difficult subjects. She was good at hiding it in the presence of others but in her own home she never concealed this weakness since she trusted those within these walls.
"Why don't you tell him? He has abilities too. The Matrix gives him the knowledge and I think he may know more than you allow him to see." Chelsea told her. "Hiding things from each other is not a good basis and Optimus is your other half. He deserves to know." Chelsea paused a moment to let her words sink in and then continued. "He needs to know that a full bond will also extend those abilities to him as well as give you insight into his abilities. The oracle did give us the knowledge to pass it to others."
"Have you passed your knowledge to Barricade?" Allie interjected.
"Yes I have." Chelsea stated and Allie looked at her astonished.
"You mean…"
Chelsea laughed suddenly. "…yes and he curses the day that I taught him to use his telepathy. He doesn't want anyone to know and the other night I thought I would die trying not laugh as he suddenly started glowing from the residue energy from the oracle. He wouldn't even come to berth because he was so mad at me for not telling him about the initial changes."
"How will it affect Prime? Will they change like we did?" Allie shuddered remembering how painful their changes took place.
"No, they are not meant to be like us but they are still a part of us and there will be benefits to them." Chelsea said softly. "I see changes in Prowl and he doesn't even realize it yet but he was picking up on Soundwave's mental processes in the meeting last week. They work well together and even Megatron has calmed considerably since Shalon bonded with him." Chelsea stated. "He was never like this even before the war."
"I know. We still clash at times but he understands me. It is so strange. Optimus soothes me and Megatron uplifts me." Allie murmured. She smiled. "I think I like the changes."
"I know you do. You like that you don't have to solely carry the burdens. You now have a whole network of commanders and a mate to share that burden." Chelsea said with a smile. "We do need to answer the oracle's call."
"I know. I will call everyone together." Allie smiled at Chelsea. "We have been here two years now since you came back from earth."
Chelsea looked at her wondering about the sudden change in conversation.
"We haven't had one fight in that time."
