Ok, so I've recently acquired a small, well, fix on the song Radioactive by Imagine Dragons -_-

Currently, I have listened to it...oh, probably 100 times

The Fray and Ellie Goulding have also added to this mix

So ya

Yay for random shout-outs! :D

For later reference:

A quartex= roughly one of our months

Kalon= Around one of our 'earth days' -something I made up :P-

Decacycle= Around one year

Of The Spark And Heart

Part 1

Chapter 15

The beeping was long- the neon green of the pulse monitors going on and on in a steady beat. The room was silent otherwise, caught up in tense nerves as the four occupants of the room sit in stone quiet. A wounded Guardian lay across a gleaming silver stretch of berth, his chassis laid open with the injury he held. His spark glowed evenly, dimmer than a healthy spark, but alive. Air as heavy as if it were made of cotton sucked through whirring vents and through cold circulation fans. That thick air shifted through filters and pipes, then into the cooling systems. Blue optics of different hues watched the medic as he carefully maneuvered around the wounded warrior. Uneasiness could be felt as if it could be seen, sending even the tallest of the mechs in a twisted hardness.

Ratchet stood straight and finished a few last adjustments before turning to a shorter, yellow and orange mech. The apprentice had arrived just the previous day and was now standing off to the side patiently as he waited to take measurements. He was just recently put into his Cybertronian form and he was thus considered an adult in human perspective. But he was still just an apprentice, meaning he wouldn't be able to do just what Hawktail or Bluestring could do. However, to Solas and the others, he was their final hope. Without his armor, Sol would have a slower recovery because of the constant running of his virus programs and unrelenting firewall. Optimus shifted to stretch his numb legs, making sure to move the sore kneebolt the most. Ever since it had given, Ratchet was unable to provide the correct parts to the pivotjoint. Once they were able to get to Washington D.C, they could properly replace everything.

Ratchet laid a heavy servo on Thunderflare's shoulderbolt and reminded him of where not to put too much notice to. The mech he spoke to was nearly as short as Bumblebee, causing Ratchet to have to look down on him to lock optics. But soon enough, Thunderflare would gain new parts and inner pieces, filling out his newer frame. "And whatever you do, do not touch his wound. His spark is unstable and any unfamiliar contact could throw it off. Compute?" he raised his optic ridges at the apprentice and Thunderflare nodded confidently. "Prime, anything else?" Ratchet asked, turning to him. Optimus didn't expect to say anything, but by the nervous ticks of Thunderflare's form, he could tell the small mech needed the boost.

Walking forward, Optimus attempted to get lower by slightly slouching, but he still towered over the smaller Cybertronian. He met optics with the apprentice and filtered air through his systems as he shifted through what to say. "Do not be nervous young one." he said, lifting a servo to awkwardly pat Thunderflare on the shoulderbolt. "You are helping a warrior regain his life. He would be thankful." Optimus noticed the strange stuttering of Thunderflare's vents and he mentally kicked himself. Of course. Why put more on the young mech's plates than needed?

Ratchet moved aside with Optimus and Thunderflare sent them another last look before stepping forward. Sol rested peacefully on the berth, unknowing to what was going on around him. His optics had been shuttered and his digits sit open. Thunderflare approached slowly, as if he feared Sol might arise and take him by the jugular cable. He then set down a small device beside Sol and brought up his arm, pressing a few keys on his bracer. A few nanoclicks later he raised the arm, brace down, and a light-green gridscanner appeared from a mechanism in the back. The harmless scanner passed slowly over Sol's body, taking in every single plate or bulge in the mech's protoform.

When the scanner reached Sol's sole pads, it paused and then took one more round, stopping and flickering off at the crest of his helm. Thunderflare brought the bracer to his faceplates and pressed a few more buttons before picking up the small contraption by Sol's arm. He plugged it into the bracer and a small light flashed on towards the top. When Thunderflare moved to place the device on Sol, Ratchet started. But Optimus quickly put up his servo and grabbed his shoulderbolt, stopping the concerned mech.

"Wait." he ordered softly. Ratchet looked to Optimus and then stepped back into place, watching carefully. Thunderflare just opened the small panel at Solas' chassis holding his Autobot insignia and inserted the thing in his digits.

"I'm just uploading some information needed for the armory I'll construct for him. I can't do as much as Bluestring or Hawktail, but I should be able to make something to hold him up until Hawktail can get to him." the apprentice explained, turning and then looking down at his bracer again. His voice was no longer struck by nerves and his posture was thoughtful. He had suddenly become much more like Hawktail, focused and steady with his words. "What was his base color?" Thunderflare asked, looking up. Ratchet didn't answer, so Optimus took his place. "Galaxy Black." he answered simply. Thunderflare entered the data into his bracer and then lifted his faceplates again. "And detailing?" he inquired.

Optimus paused for a sparkbeat and sifted through his memory files. His own coloring swatch was designated Sunlust Red, but Sol's coloring was slightly darker. If he compared the hues right, then he could find the correct file containing that certain information. "Ruby Dwarf Star." he answered after a moment. Thunderflare entered the data, but burrowed his optic ridges as well. The apprentice paused with his digits hovering over the bracer, hesitant. Optimus grew concerned and immediately thought of Solas' condition. Ratchet must have thought the same, for he quickly walked forward. "What is it?" he asked worriedly. If the medic found that Thunderflare had somehow harmed his patient, Optimus feared even he may not be able to save him in time. The medic was quick, and his saw made him as deadly as any warrior.

As a CMO, Ratchet was trained to know every single piece and part of the Cybertronian body, including the spark. Medics like him were trained to defend the injured and forced to take part in basic defense tactics before they could graduate or take on any rank of the medical occupancy. So if Ratchet went off on a Cybertronian, he could disable them and the slit their jugular cable before the target could even shutter their optics. He was one of the few mechs Optimus would be dreaded to meet on the battlefield. Thunderflare lowered the bracer and locked optics with the medic. "Nothing, just that Ruby Dwarf Star is a limited edition shade and is almost impossible to find." he explained.

Optimus nearly sagged in relief. Ratchet huffed and looked about ready to slap the smaller mech before him. "I'll have to mix a few shades." Thunderflare muttered under his vents. He stared down hard at the bracer and continued to press a few more entries before turning to Sol. He reached over and removed the device, shutting the plate and uploading the information to his brace before setting it aside. Again, Ratchet and Optimus waited as the apprentice's expressions changed over and over. He clicked away at the bracer until a small beep sounded. Optimus watched curiously while Ratchet just crossed his arms impatiently. "Could you please explain what you're doing?" Ratchet questioned snappishly.

Thunderflare glanced up, saw the CMO, and then looked back to his wrist. Ratchet drummed his digits against the plating on his arm and he stood in quiet irritation. Optimus took a few steps forward and made sure to be ready if the medic went off on the young armory smith. "I was sending in the paint orders. Rainwing will take care of the paint while Hawktail will be sent the exact calculations of Solas Kaon's armor so he will have the most precise fitting." Thunderflare explained. "Right now I'm trying to find a simple set for his form. It's a rare frame he's built with. What was his alt form?" he asked, looking up and between the both of them. When he found them both watching him carefully, he suddenly regained his nerved atmosphere and he snapped his lip plates shut.

"A Boss Mustang. Will you be able to construct him a form capable of coinciding with his conversion shaft?" Optimus asked, seeing the many expressions form over Thunderflare's faceplates. Thunderflare left Sol's monitors drag on and the pumps fill the silence before he would speak. The lights hanging above them that the humans had provided buzzed like the organic hemipterous insect called a "fly", slightly irritating to the audio receptor. Thunderflare finally dropped his arm and looked between the both of them once more. "Yes, but he will have to scan another form just as he will have to once again after Hawktail replaces my work." he said. "Solas Kaon's form is made up of rare, intricate metals only found on Cybertron. It maybe found here on Earth, but it is considered the rarest of this planet."

Ratchet sighed through his vents and rolled his optics, glancing back at Solas. "Of course. What's the element?" he asked. Thunderflare raised his bracer to look and then he dropped the arm. "Iridium. I can make his plating out of something different, but as his CMO, I'm obligated to inform you of his protoform's current state." he stated. Optimus felt the shifting of Ratchet as he moved away and walked over to the patient on the table. "Will this affect your work?" Optimus inquired next. Thunderflare shot a darting glance at the pair by the table and then locked optics with Optimus, only to drop that contact once it was made. "The armoring around the wounds won't be affected, but any directly above them could be weakened because of the lack of support." the yellow and orange apprentice explained. Optimus nodded sadly and crossed his arms.

"Ratchet," he called, catching the mech's attention. "I would like you to try closing off Solas' protoform to the best of your abilities. However, I would like you to have an easy access to his spark at all times and to monitor his vitals." Ratchet gave a brisk nod and then looked to the apprentice, thinking the exchange was over.

"And," Optimus went on, "if you can, attempt to restart him." he added gravely.

Ratchet had told him of the idea of what he planned when concerning the program, including the risks. But it very may well wake the warrior from his comatose state. His CPU was being blocked in an attempt to repair the systems, but the wounds were too severe to aid himself. Along with these factors, the mech's CPU was infected with a possibility of sparkshock if he is to wake before he is capable of supporting his systems and basic functions. It was simple knowledge to even Optimus, yet devastating to think about. Solas could either lay in shutdown until he was completely recovered -which could very well take quartexes-, he could be temporarily patched up and risk loosing memory files, malfunction a major function or program, or suffer through sparkshock. It was a 50-50 chance to take, but if Ratchet saw fit for Solas' overall health would be for Sol's restart program, then so be it. Ratchet was one of Optimus' most trusted comrades, and because of that Optimus was able to relax over wounded warriors or soldiers.

"Alright Optimus, I will. But only when he has his armoring. His firewalls and virusware are overwhelming him and would definitely send him into sparkshock if he was to be put through restart." Ratchet agreed. Optimus glanced at the still form behind Ratchet and a sad pang echoed in his spark. Such a young mech deserved more. Solas and Bumblebee were estimated to be the most recent and last of the created cyberlings of the Cybertronian race. However, since Liora was much younger than both mechs, she is by no doubt -and as far as he knew- the last of the sparklings.

This thought almost sent Optimus trekking back through the halls of the base to take his sparkmate and sparkling close. He would do anything to make sure his sparkling outlived him, even if that meant sacrificing his life for it. If Liora really was the last sparkling, that just meant a far higher and complex danger involved with the Decepticons. If Arachnid got her hands on little Liora...

"Optimus."

He couldn't even process this possibility, so he sent it away. Rethalia was just as, if not more, protective of their sparkling than he was. And if anyone could protect their young, it would be Rethalia. She was a Prime, a creator fembot, had experience with fighting; leadership, and caretaking...

"Optimus."

Optimus' exhaust pipes blew a hot burst of air as his imaginative CPU created the images of both his sparkmate and sparkling deadspark before him and Arachnid's accomplished smile as she stood triumphantly above them...

"Optimus Prime." Ratchet gently tapped the taller mech's arm and Optimus nearly jumped. The medic was trying to get his attention while Thunderflare was watching them with his digit by his brace.

"Yes, Ratchet? I was merely lost in process." he lifted a servo and rubbed the plates just by his optics, trying to loosen the tense wiring beneath. "You're awfully distracted today Prime. When was your last recharge?" Ratchet asked, removing his arm. Optimus looked up from his servo and avoided Ratchet's gaze. "A few kalons I think." he guessed. His CPU was so overrun with whining circuits that he wasn't computing anything clearly. Ratchet started and his optics widened. "Kalons? Are you kidding me? Optimus, I'm surprised you haven't shorted out your CPU yet. You going to go rest after this, that's an order." he commanded.

Optimus felt confusion in his sensors and he furrowed his optic ridges. "Ratchet, I cannot just be ordered by-"

"No Optimus, I'm not one of your soldiers like Bumblebee or Sideswipe. I'm a medical officer with the ability to make orders beneficial to the health of my unit. And that includes forcing my leader to collect a few joors of recharge to make sure he doesn't collapse anytime soon." he narrowed his optics, daring Optimus to argue.

There was a nanoclick when Optimus thought about insisting on the conversation, but then Ratchet snapped around to the apprentice and Optimus came to realize that it was not up for discussion. "Thunderflare, start as soon as possible on Solas' armor and make sure you keep me updated. And if you want to come back here at any time, you must inform me first." he waited for the mech's response, which was only a nod.

Before Ratchet could go on, the door opened and everyone looked towards the noise. It was the small form of a female human, taking only a step through the entrance before stopping in her tracks. She appeared dressed in the same military uniform as many of the soldiers in the base, but she wore no disciplined stature or ranking embroidered patches. The sparkbeat she looked up, Optimus knew who she was and he couldn't help noticing her surprised expression. Fera looked between the three mechs of the room and she backed up slightly.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt anything..." she made a move to leave, but Optimus came forward, happy for a distraction from the issues in discussion. "No need to apologize Fera." he reassured. He knew his size intimidated a lot of humans, so he always made the motion to try getting as low as possible.

When he'd gotten on one kneebolt and leaned his servo on the floor, he shuttered his optics. "You have come here to see your Guardian." he assumed. Why else would she have come? She nodded and grabbed the Stone of Primus by her throat. It seemed like it somehow comforted her, and she visibly relaxed when she held it. When the Stone of Primus had been taken into the custody of the Autobots, Sentinel Prime was still Prime of Cybertron. He had given protection to the artifact and then it was passed to Optimus when he became Prime. A close friend named Ironhide was entrusted with it after Optimus had found it best to keep it with another mech. But then the weapons specialist had perished by the hands of Optimus Prime's own brother...

It had been a horrible way to join the Matrix, but Ironhide had gone with a fight, just as he had always said he would. Chromia joined him soon after in a burial beside her sparkmate, her spark unable to bear being only half of herself. The ceremony had been made for the farewell of a mighty warrior and a part of family, nothing less even remotely allowed as substitute. It still pained anyone, even after 12 decacycles. But to any mech or fembot, it was a mere shutter of the optic. No one suffered however as much as Bumblebee had after both his adoptive Guardian and his sparkmate had passed. The small scout went through a depressive state for decacycles and hadn't fully pulled out of it until Fera's arrival. Something about this small female had brightened the small mech's attitude and even more so since Samuel's absence in his life.

"I haven't actually come here since...well a month ago. I was starting to feel bad." she admitted. Optimus saw the hesitance in the female's posture and he backed off slightly to give her more room. "Yes Thunderflare, she is one." Ratchet explained in an almost annoyed tone. Optimus looked behind him to see the apprentice looking at Fera in wonder. When Optimus turned back to Fera, he saw her craning her neck to see who had spoken. Standing, Optimus gestured at Thunderflare. "This is Thunderflare. He is an apprentice in the skill of armory." he explained. Thunderflare shot a darting glance at Optimus and then to Fera. "Thunderflare, this is Fera Lennox, a female human."

Thunderflare seemed anxious and his optics danced between Fera and Optimus. He was obviously curious about the small human and he couldn't hide his interest. "Thunderflare, would you like to introduce yourself?" Ratchet pressed, his knowledge of the mech's eagerness clear. Thunderflare turned his cranial unit towards the medic, but then he looked back to Fera uncertainly. "Are you sure? Becau-"

"Oh come on, she's not going to bite!" he exclaimed in exasperation. Optimus hid the smirk threatening to form. "How about I go first?" Fera called. The three Cybertronians looked down at her and she walked forward. "My name is Fera Rosalie Lennox, I'm 5-foot-9, I have dirty blonde hair and blue eyes, my father is dead, and I am a total social reject." she stopped mid-floor and locked her hands behind her. Something about the coolness of her statement made Optimus shift uncomfortably.

Thunderflare just studied her for a few nanoclicks before slowly leaning down. "You're a human? I thought you would be bigger. I've heard a lot of stories about your kind and they just seem...out of proportion." he stated, cocking his helm to the side. Ratchet immediately took a step back and Optimus followed. He'd already had an encounter with Sarah Lennox, Fera's female creator, and if Fera were anything like her creator, Optimus was apprehensive to anger her. Fera could be seen to gain an irritated expression.

"I'm sorry to disappoint." she retorted sharply.

"Maybe if you come a little closer I'll show you why we have our stories..." she trailed off with a growl at the end of her words. Thunderflare straightened and looked back at Ratchet. The greenish-yellow mech shrugged and leaned against Sol's berth.

"Ok, she might bite a little." he admitted.

Thunderflare squatted down beside Fera and studied her closely. "We have come to respect the humans, for they possess more power than they first let off." Optimus put in, trying to defuse the situation. Fera gave a short nod and crossed her arms. "And Solas Kaon is your Guardian?" Thunderflare asked, getting a brief 'yes' from the female. With the disapproving glare on her face and a uniform on her back, she could be a seasoned military officer.

"Yes. He is a friend as well." she said curtly.

So far, this conversation was not going well. "And you're aware of his condition?" Thunderflare inquired, seeming more curious than concerned. Fera slowly dropped her arms and her annoyed facial features turned to a confused look. "No, I'm not. Is there something I should know?" she began to circle around the mech and he stood, watching after her. Ratchet blocked her way and she tried getting around him. But the CMO kept preventing her view of the patient on the table. "Ratchet move." she commanded firmly. He shook his cranial unit and she stared up at him. "What is wrong with him? What are you hiding?" she demanded, her voice more worried.

Ratchet kept up the shield between Sol and Fera and Optimus nearly jumped when Ratchet spoke. "Thunderflare, please leave. Go to Optimus' office and I'll meet you there." he instructed. Thunderflare began to argue, but Optimus said the same and he left immediately. "Fera, listen to me very carefully," Ratchet began, catching Optimus' attention again, "Sol is not in a good condition at the moment and your presence here may not be the best." he raised placating hands, but Fera didn't calm down. She continued to move around Ratchet's peds, but he kept blocking her way. Fera suddenly stopped and threw up her hands. "Ratchet stop it! Let me see him." her voice had risen to a point that made the spark in Optimus' chassis twitch.

He thought about intervening, but there was nothing really that he could say that would aid anything. "Fera, understand that it is in your best interest if you don't know of his condition at the moment..." Ratchet trailed off as Fera seemed to catch a glimpse of her Guardian.

"What the hell did you do to him?" she breathed.

Ratchet froze and realized what she had seen. Optimus could barely hear her words, but he watched in concern as Ratchet slowly moved to the side and allowed Fera to finally take in what lay before her. She studied his form and Optimus could just feel the shock and horror bleeding off her. Her hand came up and covered her mouth, her eyes flicking over Sol's form. She must not see much, but her expression was clear.

Silence gripped the room once more and only the monitors of Sol's systems and the kicking in of the air conditioner made a noise. Fera took one step and then looked down at the floor, her pain evident. Ratchet was standing with a bowed helm at the front of Sol's berth, not saying anything. No words, Cybertronian or human, could describe the feel of the space. Tense and uncomfortable would be a good start though.

Fera suddenly moved and the room filled with her soft voice. "Please bring me up." it was almost inaudible, but Ratchet seemed to compute her words and he moved forward. Sensing her reason, Optimus didn't interrupt. Fera was lifted through the air by Ratchet and then slowly placed on the berth. Her feelings were immediate upon seeing the mech. She took a few steps forward and placed a small hand on his protoform. "What happened to him?" she asked again, looking around. Fera's expression was that of a broken heart, which caused the feeling of the space to darken. Optimus had seen far too many of these to not feel the cold familiarity of it. Soldiers had looked this way in the war. He himself had felt this way more times than possible to count. Put simply: Fera blamed herself.

By the way she acted and the new sadness she projected, she was by no doubt in grief. Solas gladly gave himself to protect her, yet she, like many others, felt at fault. It was a sad, sparkbreaking knowing that such a young human could experience such a feeling. Humans created bonds that could not go unnoticed by any creature. It was a formidable force made by a species far more complex and fascinating than most would seem to care. And to add to similarities, they were not so different from Cybertronians themselves. "He is simply in his protoform state. He has been stripped of his armor until Thunderflare can create him a new set." Ratchet explained.

Fera just nodded, not looking at either of them as she walked forward, trailing her hand behind her across the smooth surface. She came to a stop by his servo, her feet just before his digits. "Will he be ok?" she asked next, peering over at the medic. He nodded and she visibly relaxed. "Fera, we are hoping to revive him soon. However, this maybe a dangerous task and could permanently alter him. I feel you should know." Optimus responded simply. Fera showed no sign that she had heard, her form lowering to her knees. She crawled forward on all fours, across his digits until she reached his palm. "Thank you. Both of you." she said shakily.

She then just laid down, right on his palm. Her knees drew close and Optimus felt his spark twist at the sight. Ratchet made a move to say something, but Optimus took a step forward and laid a servo on his shoulderbolt. Ratchet stopped and looked up to see Optimus shake his cranial unit sadly. "She must be left alone Ratchet." he looked back to the small female and saw her lay her hand against her makeshift resting place. "Let her have her time until we make the best decision for Solas Kaon's life cycle." giving the medic one last fleeting look, he pressed his lip plates in a hard line and turned to walk out of the room.

When Ratchet followed shortly behind, they didn't say anything until they reached the hall. Ratchet gave a comforting squeeze of Optimus' shoulderbolt and they parted ways. It was a bitter-sweet moment as Optimus started for his shared room with Rethalia. He would be replaying that scene with Fera for a long, long time. The wisdom of Primes never seemed to prepare him for anything on this planet. It was just one more thing to add to his plethora of file-worthy moments of his life cycle.

I'm not trying to kill the mood, I swear... Just making it more interesting :D

Here's some tidbits of info for future writings just so I won't have to explain later:

*All Soldier and lower ranking classes of the Autobot military party are stationed on Cybertron. This does not however include Apprentices

*All sparklings are apparently dead concerning the mass genocide by Decepticon forces and the banning of sparkbonds almost 5,000 earth years ago. The law against fembots in the war was also lifted after the AllSpark was found to be capable of producing life in a constructed spark casing and form.

*Elita-One was protecting the shelters when the prolicide in Praxus took place and almost every single one of the created sparklings were killed. -This was before the discovery of AllSpark sparklings- And thus Elita joined the Autobots

*Apprentices are judged by both age and experience, their positions being placed on an A-F scale. A will be the more experienced and soon-to-be masters of their occupation, while F are those who have just been assigned to their mentors