This, my friends...

Is why this fic is rated T...

In fact, you could just skip it now and you wouldn't miss anything...

Just a little warning -_-

Of The Spark And Heart

Part 1

Chapter 22

As was the duty of a Prime, if one was unavailable, then the other would take their place. Wether it be the death of the figure or their retirement, there was always one to take on their dues. Now was no different as Rethalia strained to keep her squirming sparkling in hiding as she went about her sparkmate's duties. Maybe it wasn't such a good idea to let him leave for the day and take some time off as she'd originally felt.

No, no he needed this, she thought to herself, picking up yet another compad and human document from the stacks on the table. Primus knows if that mech even recharged on a regular basis. She yawned and set one of the pads down to let her free servo sit over her abdominal slips. Liora was restless as ever, wishing just for one moment to play. Her energy was contagious, but after vorns of dealing with it, Rethalia seemed immune to her sparkling's moods. For now, everything was too risky.

Just before Rethalia had basically kicked her bonded from their room, they had decided that Liora would be presented only after she had received her second casing. After that, she would be able to be separated from Rethalia for an extended amount of time. The thought that she would be missing her young one so soon sent a sad hum through her. Signing off on yet another mundane task, she vaguely let her thoughts travel to more interesting ideals.

Rethalia, are you alright? it was Optimus, seeming to suddenly be able to break through the weak barrier Rethalia had put up.

The fembot jumped, dropping the pad in her digits. Yes, I'm alright, she sent back, hurriedly gathering the misplaced compad. It was just another supplies registration form. Rethalia sighed at her silly reaction and she signed off on the pad, then sliding it across the table with the others.

You just seem...off today, Optimus went on, genuinely concerned. This was one of the sides that Rethalia had loved about the Prime. He was so caring and gentle and...slightly over concerned at some times. Rethalia brushed off his worry and she again rubbed the spot over their sparkling. It appeared Liora was pouting in her restricted space when obviously there was enough room to play just outside her fembot creator's protective holding capsule.

Rethalia quirked a smile and she sent the content thoughts and feelings she held for that moment to her sparkmate. Just a little bored is all. I wish you could come back sooner so we may spend time with her before her second casing, Rethalia forced the sparkling to relent to recharge and the young one fell deep into a subtle rest. I am able to return any time you please Rethalia, Optimus noted. Just say when.

The thought nearly sent itself before she could stop it. It had been so long since they had seen one another and now that they were once again together, Rethalia could have him all to herself. But as both Primes, they had enormous duties to accomplish. On top of that, they were holding. There just never seemed time.

No, just stay out awhile longer. You need the time. We'll meet again at the end of the kalon, she promised. There was some kind of hint of disappointment from Optimus' side of their bond and Rethalia grinned. She needed that. Alright Rethalia, but we are still sparkmates and I plan to use that against you fairly soon, Optimus rumbled. Rethalia's intakes hitched and her frame jumped. Her optics wide, she swallowed and set the pad onto the table before she dropped that one too. What kind of threat was that?

Her surprise was mistakenly shared with her sparkmate, getting a joyful laugh from him in the process. Rethalia glared, but then realized that there was nothing to look at but piles and piles of pads. Behave! she exclaimed over their link. But he had already shut off the conversation, leaving no room for retort. What immaturity!

Before she could regain herself, the doors behind her opened, forcing her to come back to the world around her. Taking a long intake of air and then turning around, Rethalia rose. As instinct, she had protectively cupped her slips when the company had come in, but now she just brushed them as if small particles covered them. Sideswipe was in the room already, standing beside the newest arriving Autobot to their ranks. Stratis gave a respectful nod, but didn't speak out.

"Yes? It there something you need?" Rethalia asked, hiding her irritation. What she wouldn't give to just have her time to herself. She felt like handing Optimus their sparkling and shoving him out the door, but at the same time she yearned to crush her frame to his.

Sideswipe shifted on his peds and he took a straightened stance. "I just came for the compads Rethalia. But Wheeljack told me to show Stratis around here since she's been locked up." he shrugged and came closer, waiting. Rethalia went to collect the items while also keeping an optic on the fembot beside him. Stratis was not a well known figure amongst their race, so not much was known of her. For her to personally have known Optimus meant that he knew quite a many more faceplates than Rethalia did.

"Here you are." she handed the pads to Sideswipe, who thanked her and turned to leave, Stratis at his heelpeds. "Stratis, may I speak with you a moment?" she called. The black figure stopped dead and turned back, nodding. She's a quiet one, Rethalia noted mentally. Rethalia ordered Sideswipe on and within the click, the two fembots were alone.

"You are a mixed spy, are you not?" The Prime asked, coming back around to stand before Stratis. Stratis paused and then nodded, seeming confused. "I have been order a variety of multiple tasks, including that of assassin, reconnaissance, and scout." the smooth voice of the fembot was almost like that of what humans called 'silk'.

Rethalia nodded, an impressed expression crossing her faceplates. "Have you worked alongside Optimus Prime yet in your travels?" she wondered next. Stratis' helm bowed once again.

"Then you know of me I assume."

"Of course."

"And do you know of our situation here in this base?"

"I have not yet been briefed, but by the kidnaping of the small human female earlier these kalons, I will not put down little suspicions that it has relation to her."

"You would be correct."

Rethalia sat back down in the chair behind her, letting her spinal support sit straight and her legs to cross at the anklestruts. "Fera Rosalie Lennox, as it is difficult to believe, is very important to my sparkmate and his assigned group. In fact, he has mentioned her significance in the future of our race as a whole."

Stratis' optic ridges drew down at this, causing Rethalia to wonder just how much this fembot knew. She couldn't have been here long, but surely she must havebeen given some form of knowledge concerning the situation around them? Of course Rethalia had been aware of everything involving that human the sparkbeat she was able to receive information clearly again. Optimus wouldn't be able to hold this from her. The Stone of Primus was indeed attached to Fera, and by the recent waking of the Guardian Solas Kaon, Rethalia had no longer wonder as to why Fera's family unit was assigned the relic.

"As to why this is, I am unable to inform you right now." she put in, preventing Stratis from speaking. The fembot snapped her mandible shut and pressed her lip plates together. "Solas Kaon is Guardian to this female and I assume you have been told of your new peers on this premises?" she assumed. Once again, Stratis gave a brief dip of the cranial unit.

"Tell me Stratis, had you gathered any reason behind the attack from Soundwave towards the human?" Rethalia went on, pressing further. Stratis locked her servos before her and her vents hummed. "No, I do not have any idea as to why the Decepticons had been targeting the female. But by your words Rethalia Prime, I am to predict that it has affiliation with her importance to the Autobots."

Rethalia took her turn to nod, lifting her arms and tenting them near her lip plates. "That brings us back to square one. However, your efforts are appreciated Stratis, thank you. You are dismissed." Rethalia watched the spy leave and she searched her files. A spy wasn't really the same as some of the tasks Stratis had been ordered with over her decacycles. Erasing the title already placed there, Rethalia instead replaced it with the word 'ninja' for broader purposes. A human with the abilities of a silent killer was exactly what the strong fembot brought to thought in the CPU.

However, Fera's situation soon shoved itself back to the front of her processor. From what Rethalia had learned, she had been through much in her short life and time here. Not only that, but the main ones associated with those problems were still hunting her. What was to be done with her? Solas couldn't protect her at the moment, and Bumblebee had been unable to as well. Maybe Stratis would be better suited for the task until Solas was fully recuperated...

All of these decisions as well as the unspoken ones drilled through Rethalia to the point where she found her CPU to grow overcrowded and full of annoying masses. Was this what Optimus was put through as she was away? His group was so small, yet there were so many issues presented with them on such an often basis. It was so frustrating not only being responsible for the lives of your family unit, but an entire new race and your own species. The Prime grew silently shocked that her sparkmate hadn't broken decacycles ago.

Was he also frustrated? Did he feel the helplessness and uncertainty she experience? This put an almost saddened feeling to her frame. To think of the things he went through was awe-inspiring. Not only this, but he held such a calm and collected posture at all times while in the public view.

Unknown to her, she had let her processor drift, and Optimus had somehow felt her somber mood. Rethalia, are you positive you are alright? he inquired, all past humor gone from him. Rethalia vented loudly from her systems, instinctively catching herself as she almost sent back a reply. Maybe they both were stressed. Rethalia checked herself and she found a few weary parts of herself wheezing in disuse. Optimus couldn't possibly be in any better shape than she.

Slyly, Rethalia faked her depression and she sent her feeling of darkly grief towards him. He took to it rather attentively, trying to decipher the hidden smirk she hid beneath. It is rather difficult to comfort a bawling sparkling when she has longed for her creator for so long, she sent back, picking up and sending a recording she had taken once of the first cries of her new young one.

Optimus could be felt to grow concerned himself, immediately sending waves of comfort to Liora. The sparkling who had been forced into recharge earlier on didn't respond, but only stirred with the familiar presence. Hold on, I'm returning to base, he stated, his bond to hers closing as he could be felt to shift position. Rethalia broadly smiled and cut the link, dimming it only so much as to not be noticed.

The fembot jumped from her seat and came through the door, heading straight for Ratchet's quarters. As she walked, she deviously plotted about what it really was she was planning on doing.

Upon reaching the desired location, Rethalia politely knocked, then entered. Ratchet was sitting in a slumped posture on his berth, his optics blurry as he seemed to just come out of recharge. Rethalia suddenly felt guilty, and she almost left. "Rethalia, is there something wrong? Is it Liora?" he perked up, worry obvious on his faceplates. Rethalia mindlessly covered her slips and she shook her cranial unit. "No, but it does concern her. I wished to know if you had acquired the proper casing for her second form." she wondered dully.

This was actually something she wished to know. Optimus knew full well that with the corner himself and his mechs had been placed in, there was little time to allow the full term of holding of a sparkling. Liora had grown since her arrival, assisted by the closeness of her mech creator. But it was still dangerous and could possibly damage her in later upgrades.

Ratchet stood and walked over to a nearby desk, slipping a few strips into his servos. "These are designs for the armor and a few paint swatches. Take them with you and discuss it with Optimus." he said, handing her the items. Rethalia took them and glanced at a few before placing them in a space in her bracer. "There is also another favor I'd like to as of you." she added, catching the medic's optics again.

"I am needed elsewhere for business, and Liora is unable to come with me. Yourself, Solas Kaon, and Fera Lennox are the only ones who know of her, but they are unable to watch over her." before the fembot could continue, Ratchet already had his servo out and waiting. He seemed to grin warmly at this task, causing a pleasantly surprised Prime to open her slips.

Liora was carefully placed into Ratchet's more than capable care, while Rethalia was left with a disturbing hollowness inside of her slips.

Pushing this feeling aside was easy however, allowing her to focus only on getting to her point of interest. Quickly, she passed through the halls and dodged humans beneath her, coming up on her quarters in less than a breem.

The door slid open for her, unveiling a space of complete darkness. It took a few astroseconds for her optics to make the necessary adjustments before she entered, her tanks full of fluttering excitement.

She felt so young again, just waiting in jubilant nerves as she awaited her ignorant prey. Her frame rattled softly and she gave an evil grin in the dim, her optics glowing a deeper blue than they had before. She was able to calm herself just as she felt her bond grow stronger, pulling closer and closer.

The waiting in itself was torture enough. The fact that Prime seemed to want to take his merry time made it worse. If Liora really were throwing a fit as Rethalia had feigned, then the sparkling would be settled by now. We'll talk about that later, she decided irritably. It was like waiting for the unknown to happen, as if she were awaiting the arrival of an old friend who she liked a lot as of that moment.

Her vocal processor gave a deep growl of impatience as her sparkmate kept her waiting even longer. How long would he be? She had felt him coming closer, then stopping, then approaching again. What was he stalling for?

Finally, his familiar steps could be heard coming from the hallway behind the door. Rethalia gained her youthful mischief and she ducked close to it, pressing her spinal support to the wall. She knew without doubt that it was her sparkmate, just having to notice the impossibly small irregularity of his stride as his kneebolt kept him from complete normality. That was just one more thing she had to look forward to in the next few nanoclicks- taking all his pain away.

One step, two step, three step, closer, and closer. Rethalia's digits dug into the wall and she shuttered her optics, keeping the optic slips low so as to further darken their brightness. She felt him reaching out to her and she called to him, assuring him he was headed the right direction. The deep vibration he gave off when he walked intensified as he picked up pace.

The door suddenly hissed open, blinding Rethalia for a sparkbeat as its light bled in. "Rethalia?" Optimus called, seeming confused at the darkness inside their quarters. Without hesitation, Rethalia suddenly leapt from her spot on the wall and she snatched her bonded from the door, pivoting on her heelpeds to slam him into the wall.

His shocked tensity at this action gave her just enough time to slam a fist into the lock, shorting it. The door sparked once and then jammed.

"What in the name of Primus took you so long?" she murmured, holding him in place as Optimus attempted to move. His bright blue optics looked down on her own in surprise. Well it seemed he wasn't expecting something like this.

"Where is Liora?" he questioned, loosening as Rethalia ran delicate servos over his chassis. She hummed, pressing her frame to his. "She's with Ratchet." she answered, grinning suggestively. Optimus was felt to rattle beneath her touch, his frame warm against her own. His servo suddenly came to her spinal support, gently holding her in place as she continued to lightly drag her digits over his broad chassis. "This had waited for too long Prime." her voice had lowered to barely anything past a rev, vibrating from her vocal processor in a dull thrum.

Her dominate position as trapping her sparkmate to the wall didn't last long however as he easily scooped her up and skillfully set her on his hipbolts. Rethalia squeaked, but she drooped the noise as he rumbled a response. Arms wrapping around his neck, Rethalia found herself chassis to chassis with her bonded, allowing their sparks to hover dangerously close to each other.

His faceplates came closer, teasing her with a false kiss. "We have company." he noted more calmly, sharply breaking through his sparkmate's lustful haze. Rethalia felt her entire frame burn with irritation. The camera.

Before Optimus could even shutter his optics, Rethalia had her arm up, her free one clinging on to Optimus for support. She then twisted around, her bracer turning to her infamous sniper blaster she usually fought with. The plasma warmed for mere astroseconds before she shot, causing a small explosion to decimate the little bubble that held the nuisance. She then returned her weapon to its place and she lightly turned back to her mate.

"What company?" this gained a humored chuckle from the mech who held her, shaking her slightly from the motion. Rethalia grinned with his laugh, suddenly realizing her direction as she was carried somewhere. Metal hit metal as Optimus dropped her on their berth. She gasped and was about to chide her sparkmate when he quickly pressed his lip plates to hers.

Rethalia melted into the form of him, meshing herself to him as if it were the most normal thing in the universe.

She felt his servo come up her spinal support, adding to the pressure of his kiss to her own. His form doubled over her, bending to hover in a tempting closeness. In a return to this motion, Rethalia swiftly dipped her digits beneath his armor, gaining a delicious tremble from him. Thinking he was vulnerable, she wriggled from his grip and tried to hold the dominant position once more.

In a desperate attempt to control the fembot beneath him, Optimus planted his free servo beside her thigh, limiting her movement. When the squirmy Prime protested to this restriction, she could feel his accomplished feeling through their bond. Finding this amusing and slightly annoying, Rethalia fought back by yanking his chassis down harder, allowing her to have easy access to the waiting sensitive wires beneath.

Rethalia smiled with the low growl that accompanied her actions, allowing her to briefly gain the upper hand. She took this opportunity and knocked out his arm beside her, making him lose his balance. When the mech nearly fell on top of her, Rethalia lifted a sneaky leg and wrapped it around his spinal support, stopping his fall with a strong servo. His faceplates stopped right before her own, his servos moved so that both where beside her with his chassis plating trembling slightly.

His optics flashed at this attempt of power, and she knew he had taken notice to her slick move. He retaliated by using the now free servo he had to promptly pull her flush to him, allowing him to nip the wires by her lower neck. Unable to suppress the shudder, Rethalia fell into putty in his grasp. He acknowledge his win with a strong vibration of his chassis.

This shaking rocked Rethalia to her core, causing her to arch beautifully towards him, nearly begging he just finish his tease. Optimus didn't allow her one astrosecond to recover, abruptly using the tender brush of his digits to run down the length of her spinal support.

Rethalia gripped Optimus harder, an uncontrollable want for their bond consuming her. But he wouldn't allow her to win, oh no. he simply just ghosted his lip plates over her faceplates, finding niches in her armor only he knew of. She could feel his touch by her lower support and the shock that came whenever he moved past her thigh. His digit made contact with a highly sensitive patch of protoform and her vents hitched, her digits digging deep into her mate's armor.

But Rethalia was a fighter. She came back to her playful side and she pinched beneath the special spot right above his right hipbolt. A strained cry emitted from him and Rethalia found herself pinned harder to the berth. Her armor was ablaze with the passion she felt, giving her cooling systems a rough time trying to cool her down. But like Pit would she let that stop her. She could hear even Optimus' vents blow harsh winds against her.

To aid their waning bodies, Rethalia simply pulled her mate as close as possible and she connected their interface units, relishing in the mere overwhelming wave that came from the motion. Their connection elated in a new level of rapture, causing both to radiate their own moans of pleasure. Data and feeling passed like breaths between the two, blurring the line between the two essences. They were soon drawing closer and closer to relief.

But Optimus surprised her when he moved to open her chassis, trying to get to her spark. Her own muddled processor controlled her as she too released the panels that dare separated her from his wonderful spark. Shaking digits clipped at the latches of both forms, desperately trying to get to each other's core. Rethalia assisted her sparkmate when he took too long for her liking and he too helped her. When their chassises opened, they clutched at one another once more.

Rethalia took this opportunity to take a long vent of appreciation for the flooding light that came from her sparkmate. All too much the same, she was brought to amazement by the sheer admiration that came with seeing his essence. His spark glowed with power and beloved intensity, showering her in the blue light while her own lit his handsome silhouette.

Whomever had created Optimus must have realized that he was to become a powerful entity, giving him the most admiral form any mech could wish for. His high shoulderbolts and broad chassis slimmed teasingly to a narrow pelvic area and then enlarged again with the thick width of his legs. His long arms easily wrapped around her and took her up close, bringing their singing sparks closer together. There was no hesitation as they pressed nearer.

There was a burst of bright blue, then a shower of fizzling sparks. Shocks of flashing light lit up the room and took up every visible inch of the optic. Their systems of vision nearly shorted, clicking and readjusting as the light turned to a warming shine. A low droning could be heard to come from the united sparks as they united mid-air. The two forms clutched frantically at one another as they experienced such ecstasy, and they held tight when their worlds turned to one. There was a complete sense of being whole that Rethalia felt absolutely overtaken by. Her whole world spun and she tensed against her sparkmate, crying loudly as both she and the mech before her reached their limit.

The blast of heat that came from their sparks sizzled the very air and caused wave of euphoria to pass through them both. Rethalia held dearly onto her bonded as he too crushed her to him, their chassis impossibly close. They were now placed inside the other, giving as close an experience as was physically able while their internal works bowed around the joined halves of sparks. Like a puzzle, they were able to fit together just as another pulse waved through them both, locking their gears and halting any movement. The universe that they shared was the only meaningful thing to them at that moment, blocking anything and everything that dare intervene.

A soft moan escaped her vocal processor, followed by a near replicable noise from Optimus. Together, they rode through their union, allowing the brightness of their joined sparks to settle to just a radiant hue. When it seemed to dim and they were left with just the near scorching feel of each other's frames, they pulled back their interface units and apprehensively tugged back on their conjoined sparks.

The joined world they found themselves lost in was sadly broken into two once more, causing their sparks to buzz in a lingering longing as they moved back to their respective cases. Rethalia pulled herself from her blurry and muddling cloud, brushing her sparkmate to see if he too had returned to the planet of the onlined. They silently pulled back their chassis plating, barely moving but only a few inches before they returned back into their comfortable closeness.

Such a wonderful calmness was felt after so much excitement, leaving only a dull CPU to lag in a blissful sense of peace. Optimus was able to climb aboard the berth with Rethalia and pull her into his lap, holding her to him as though she were nothing short of dear to him.

Feeling as though he may just disappear, Rethalia reached up and latched a hand to his armoring, dreading if he were to leave her again. Gently, he fit his cranial unit perfectly to the crook of her neck, his faceplates brushing softly against hers.

For a few breems, they just enjoyed each other's company. So much was supposed to be said and so much was supposed to be heard, but for some reason, neither spoke for those precious moments. It was almost like they were afraid everything was going to break before them with only the utter of a single word. Rethalia could sense her sparkmate through their bond and touch the warmth of his familiar frame, but she was frightened still. He had left her once and she was terrified if that were to happen again.

Her bonded's mighty essence curled over her own, washing her with love and reassurance. As if realizing her thoughts, Optimus drew his lip plates close and he briefly squeezed Rethalia. "I'm not leaving you Rethalia. Not anytime soon." he swore softly. She felt the tickle of his vents as they pulsed even strokes of air and the low hum of his basso voice as he spoke.

The fembot's servos loosened and she gave a small grin in the darkness, watching her digits as they slowly moved across his surface. "I hope that you would not, but your position keeps me from finding stability in your promise." she rested her helm to his and they silently came into rhythm with one another. Optimus' servo sat firmly on her arm, the other cupped beside her thigh. When she noticed the grim knowing from his side of their connection, she pushed more comfort towards him.

"Decacycle of separation have waned on us, and I do not provide prejudice against you for feeling as you do. I was not aware of your condition." he murmured sadly. Again, Rethalia took note to the thrum of his spark so close to hers and she stalled her digits over the scars he now held since he had departed from her. They somehow gave him a more robust look along with his already intimidating weight of experience, but it also showed a far more vulnerable side to him that Rethalia felt drawn to.

His tremble under her touch had her trailing her servo further into study of this fairly new mark on her sparkmate. "My condition is stable Optimus, do not confuse my grief for a threat to that firmness." she moved her attention from the scar to shift her cranial unit so their foreplates would touch. "Have faith that I am more than just a simple soldier amongst your ranks."

A small chuckle echoed from the mighty Prime, giving confusion to Rethalia. "A simple soldier?" he asked doubtfully. "Rethalia, you were never seen as so by me." he rubbed a servo over her arm and she pressed her grinning lip plates to his. "Is it safe to say I never truly saw you as more than a peer then? Before our bond, you were but a simple mech in the bind of a brash fembot in my processor." she noted, moving away.

Optimus' optics followed her intently, gripping her in their mesmerizing clarity. "Elita-one was always my more preferred company among the soldiers." he admitted, causing distant memory files to surface in Rethalia. She gave a soft laugh, pulling up a rather interesting string of encounters where she would basically kidnap her unsuspecting mech and slip him to an empty office or closet; or even once, her fembot-only restricted quarters at the barracks.

"You are quite boisterous as of late." he remarked, teasingly resting his servo against her hipbolt. Rethalia shut off the files and she lightly let the tip of her digit pull over his middle, stopping just above his interface panel. "Vorns of being apart seems to do that." she moved her servo away and instead placed it on the one taking its place by her leg.

When Optimus didn't immediately answer, Rethalia looked up in concern. He had his optics shuttered, closing off the familiar glow that Rethalia loved so much. She lifted her digits and gently took up his faceplates, causing him to snap open his optics and glance down at her.

"I apologize." he said, shifting her so that she lay right over his frame. They were once again chassis to chassis, Rethalia's servo still cupped over his mandible. Harsh realization came over her and she pressed her lip plates together, slightly irritated and saddened by the emotion in their bond. "You have to leave." she assumed, removing her digits and instead placing it on his chassis. Optimus nodded, his optics bobbing.

Rethalia sighed and made the move to exit his lap, but Optimus held her firm. "It is just Bumblebee asking permission for something, nothing of my greater concern." he assured her. Rethalia wished she could believe him, but the fact remained that he was what he was and everything seemed to want to use that against them. Such power came with far too much responsibility.

"There is more to that conversation you relayed, isn't there?" she watched him with a gloomy gaze and he silently took up to stroke her spinal support. "Yes." he didn't even try to hide the truth from the fembot, knowing that even if he attempted, she would easily be able to pick up on the fib. "What is it?" she moved her servos so that she was smashing them between his frame and hers. It gave her a better clarity of the CPU, but even then his spark's closeness made her own skip a pulse.

"There are incoming signals directed towards the base. They hadn't been recognized until only a few joors ago. They will be here within this or the next Earth solarcycle." his voice was flat and simple, showcasing the true emotion he held towards this break in their private moment. Rethalia shuttered her optics and leaned again on him, assuring him she wasn't upset. "You don't need to leave soon, do you?" she wondered, half hopeful of what his answer would be.

She was pleased to find out that he wasn't needed until the actual arrival of the approaching figures, and that they were found to all be of Autobot decent. Along with this, Rethalia was overjoyed to hear that her sparkmate had also been informed that the remaining fembot Autobots had finally and safely been brought to the base in Washington D.C where they were awaiting the return of their old friends.

This feeling of rare happiness and relief washed through Rethalia and made her quiet company with Optimus so much more enjoyable. It was a sad thought to process that the remaining of the fembots were to each be on the surface of an unknown planet, and that who came was all their race's last hopes. Except for the Stone of Primus that was.

The mass hunt for fembots unwilling to join the Decepticon cause had destroyed nearly every able life-producing form on their planet. Rethalia had joined the Autobots soon before this had happened, her caretaking skills now useless when her assigned clutch was killed.

Even when the prior leader of the Decepticons, Nexus, had been overthrown by Megatron in the gladiator games, his wishes for the destruction of the fembots, sparklings, and any too weak to be of use to him lingered. 'All in the name of The Fallen' he'd announced to demands of reason. And because of these mass killings and the death of the bonded who protect them, Cybertronians were banned from uniting their sparks. For those who were already bonded however, they where immediately discharged from whatever occupation they held and were kept guarded underground. Fembots were also banned from joining in the war. But then, that law was lifted as the war killed thousands more. Soldiers were needed. Fembots could provide that edge.

"You're thinking of Praxus again, aren't you?" Optimus asked softly, nudging their bond so that she realized she'd been sharing files. Rethalia shuttered her dazed optics and she jerked back to reality. "The past is past Optimus, and I am afraid that it seems to appear more and more in my processor than before. It is nothing to be concerned with. Just files."

They fell quiet again, Optimus' concerned grip holding her spark while her calmer, comforting one held back. It was moments like these that she appreciated her being bonded, and the fact that such primitive recording devices were broken so easily. The humans responsible for tracking Rethalia and her mate would be aggravated by her destruction. But that didn't matter much at the moment.

What would she say to Ratchet when he came for her appointment later that kalon? He was supposed to enact them ever so often, and the fact that he hadn't been exactly entertained with the sparkmates' actions the first time around, there was little suspicion that now would be any different. Just bringing up that thought had Rethalia envisioning Liora.

Grinning softly at the image in her systems, Rethalia reached up to wrap and arm around Optimus' neck. Her digits found the base of his cranial unit and she allowed the line in the tip of one to plug into the small opening behind the panel. Optimus seemed confused at this, and he gently prodded their bond questioningly. "Just watch." she cooed, gathering up any and every recovered file concerning their small sparkling.

Pushing the information forward, Optimus suddenly tensed in her grip, his optics flickering. The information was large and overwhelming, scanning from one CPU to the other in mere nanoclicks. Optimus suddenly raised a servo and held her arm, causing her to jerk. But he simply grabbed the limb and held it in place. Rethalia feared she was overloading his processor, and she tried backing away, but again he held on to her. "No, wait." he protested hurriedly. "Keep going."

Rethalia relaxed back into the plugged link, but she still slowed down the speed of the download. Just in case.

For joors upon joors, Rethalia sat with her sparkmate, sharing, then saving to file information through their bond and the connection made between the line. Optimus was quick to save each and every flicker of sent data, storing it deep inside his core so as to pull up later. Mixed emotions coursed through their bond as the memories escaped Rethalia, both happy and saddened. So many decacycles apart, but now they were here. Together. No longer alone, but one.

Ratchet stood in the lobby, gaining the permission code necessary to enter the base. The code was then sent to Optimus Prime, who in turn accepted it. Now, a few joors later, Ratchet stood with the Autobots of the base, as well as many of the more important of the human officials. The space was large enough for comfortable room between each of the Cybertronians and their earth-born allies, but there was still the heavy weight of the unknown. No one truly knew the designations of the supposed Autobots, so everyone was on edge.

Solas Kaon stood near the back of the group, Bumblebee by his side. Fera sat perched upon the smaller yellow scout's shoulderbolt, her legs hanging over the edge. She seemed fairly relaxed, and so did the cyberling who held her. However, the Guardian beside them was not so easily unwound. Just the normal, the CMO assumed.

Thunderflare was by Mirage, helping the mech to fix a small problem with the shifting of the blades in his bracers, as if nothing important was about to transpire. Hound had Fera's female creator, Sarah, in one servo, the other set on the ledge he leaned on. Sideswipe stood nearby, shifting from ped to ped, his arms crossed.

Ratchet once again messaged the Primes of the base, suggesting they move their afts a little faster. Earlier on when Rethalia had come to his office, he'd known what her intentions were. The way she suddenly handed over her sparkling and held that excited and impatient look to her optics; nothing could hide her true goal. But he couldn't blame the fembot. It had been quite some time since she had come into close contact with her sparkmate. He was actually surprised she'd lasted this long.

But now little Liora was being held in a cramped space he held on the side of his hipbolt. It was a removable object used mostly for tools and other small objects of medical nature. But this time, there was just nothing else he could have used to carry the small one in until her creators returned for her. He often had to lay one servo over the lid of the device just so Liora couldn't poke her cranial unit through and look around her. Couldn't have a sparkling suddenly appearing from nowhere in a hanging side-spacer.

"Ratchet, they're here." Sideswipe called. He had suddenly appeared beside the form of Stratis, her arms now crossed. She didn't seem amused by the apparent attempts at flirting by the older, silver mech who now turned back to her. "And then I shot that 'Con right in the optic!" he boasted, bringing up the very digits as they curled to a fist. Ratchet rolled his optics with the mixed spy. Not that story again, Ratchet moaned silently. That tale was so old that it happened to Sideswipe in his soldier training.

But just as the warrior had said, the two Primes came walking in. Optimus trailed slightly behind his sparkmate, allowing the fembot to quickly make her way across the floor to where Ratchet stood. Ratchet himself walked the way as well, meeting her halfway. "What the frag too you two so long?" he hissed, gently holding the top of the sub-spacer at his hipbolt. Liora clicked unhappily and she kicked out, catching Ratchet in the thigh.

Wincing, Ratchet took in a sharp intake of air through his systems and he turned an accusing glare on the fembot. Rethalia had acquired a concerned look to her faceplates as she heard the loud clang from Liora's attack and the rather loud protest along with it. A few helms and heads turned, hearing the noise.

Ratchet led the fembot back into the hall, managing to hook the bonded mech before he could slip away. "I could dismantle you both, but I won't, only because your reasoning behind your behavior is understandable." he stared down the Primes with a scorching glare. Even with his irritation in full notice at the front of his CPU, he could dully notice the slight humor at finding himself talking down two of the most powerful beings on his planet.

"Ratchet, I apologize for leaving Liora with you for so long." Rethalia said, coming closer. Ratchet glanced over her shoulderbolt, seeing that Optimus had managed to block most of the doorway. "She behaved?" Optimus asked, obviously trying to change the topic. Ratchet snorted at the attempt and he opened the flap of the sub-spacer, gently removing the sparkling from inside. "I'm sure if being created by two Primes has anything to do with genetic personality, then yes. She was fine." he handed the precious creature to her fembot creator.

Liora whistled happily, squirming in Ratchet's grasp and reaching with grabbing, tiny digits towards her fembot creator. Rethalia's faceplates broke into a beaming grin and she took the sparkling, cradling it close to her chassis. Optimus came closer as well, bowing over his smaller sparkmate so he would be able to see the young one. His own smile appeared and he tenderly touched a digit to the sparkling's frame.

Ratchet paused for a few sparkbeats, taking in the sight of the family unit. They were the picture of perfection for any mech or fembot. It was such a rare and unfamiliar scene to see, yet it was so wonderful at the same time. The CMO allowed them to have their last few moments of time before he would disturb them.

Not so long ago, Ratchet had felt he too would wish for a sparkling and a fembot to call his own. Of course, this has not yet happened, and Ratchet had thrown it to the back of his CPU as an unreachable dream. But now...

Maybe settling would be good for he spark. Optimus and Rethalia seemed happy. And the war didn't appear ready to end soon. Not if the last Decepticon stay standing. As sad as that realization may be for him, he was still willing to risk everything just to have such happiness. What would it be like, he wondered, to have such a feeling of wholeness and pride in knowing you've created something so magnificent as life?

This thought was sharply snapped as Rethalia moved to place the sparkling back into her holding capsule, shutting Liora off from view. Optimus straightened again and he nodded to Ratchet. "Thank you for watching over her." he said appreciatively. Ratchet quickly nodded in surprise. "Of course." why wouldn't he? "However, I think it would be best if Rethalia were to stay behind in the halls or in one of the rooms until we have met the arrivals. We still do not have a clear idea of just who is coming yet." he suggested.

Rethalia didn't protest at this, just gave a brief goodbye to her sparkmate, a word of gratitude to Ratchet, and then she was off. Whoever said that Rethalia had developed Chromia's personality was highly mistaken. Rethalia was far more cooperative and less stubborn by miles.

"Ratchet, I believe they are arriving." Optimus said, removing the medic from his own CPU. The CMO nodded and walked inside the lobby again with his leader. When someone asked of Rethalia's departure, Optimus simply put it off as her need of recharge and a safer distance if the arrivals turned out hostile.

The humans took to this news without much question, which Ratchet was happy about. It was the strange looks he received from the other Cybertronians that worried him. He would have to start on that youngling shell soon if he was going to keep the secret much longer. This new task looped back on top of Solas, adding yet another being to be in need of the materials Ratchet did not possess. As soon as Thunderflare was finished with Sol's armoring, this base was being left.

It didn't take long for the inhabitants of the room to have to wait. The incoming signals neared closer to the base until they came to the main entrance. There was a silent pause in the air as Wheeljack suddenly answered the call from the arrivals, his faceplates aimed at the bracer on his arm. "They're being scanned now." he reported.

A deathly silence took up the already tense air, giving a new edge of uneasiness to surface. Not one set of eyes or optics were away from the door, every one just waiting anxiously. Optimus himself seemed ready to leap at any moment from the look of his stiff frame and the sight of his mask over the bottom half of his faceplates. Ratchet could just feel the scorching fire that was Sol's dead stare at the door. If anyone was attacking first, it would be him. Funny, Ratchet thought, giving a huff. The injured one would be the first to launch into danger. I need to remind myself to immobilize his weapons.

He still needed to check out the young warrior's spark, just to figure out what the strange mass was that seemed to dwell directly in the core. Already, the mech had gone on an anger-fueled spat that had ended up with a few of the constructions in the eastern wing to completely be destroyed. Earlier that morning, it'd been announced that attempts at rebuilding the wing were to be dropped and all occupants of the base would abandon just as soon as their allies were ready to move out. There really was no question who the culprit had been.

"Allow access Optimus Prime?" Wheeljack called from his spot, looking up. Everyone turned to peer at the Prime, patiently awaiting his next decision. A blanket of unreadable emotion cloaked his deeper thoughts as he nodded. "Access granted." he said steadily. Wheeljack pressed a few more controls and then he walked to the door, using the manual input to remove the door.

Distant revs of throaty engines roared down the halls and echoed eerily around the room. Such quiet was disturbing when in the presence of the far unknown. Would Decepticons make such noise when trying to infiltrate a base? Would they even care?

Ratchet narrowed his optics at the door, his shoulderbolts stiffening and his servos curling to cool iron fists. His saws vibrated in thir bracers while his internal battle programming sat on-edge of being put on the defensive. Looking at him now, a mech would think he was a warrior, not a medical officer. The thought that he had become so distrustful was slightly unnerving.

The sounds of the arrivals came nearer, causing everyone in the room to take position. Wheeljack stayed by the door with Mirage, Sideswipe, and Optimus. Ratchet was in the center ring with Stratis, Solas, and Hound. In the back was Bumblebee and the scaffolds of human representatives, with a few soldiers beside the officials.

Lights dipped into view and then grew brighter, clicking off as they became unneeded in the light of the base. Granted, it wasn't the best light, but one could easily see in the dim.

Paint colors flashed before the optics of the Cybertronians in the room, causing a few to flinch in preparation. Was this friend? Or foe?

Suddenly, a deep golden flash sped into the room, its wheels smoking as it spun to a stop. Before anyone could recognize the form, they transformed and launched into the air. The Cybertronian tackled Sideswipe to the ground, causing a flurry of concerned and surprised action to arise around the bustling two. Sideswipe still had no knowing of who it was who held him, so the warrior kicked out, fighting like his spark was on the line while feral growls and snarls came from him. The gold melded to silver as the two rolled, fighting for dominance. It was only when the golden adversary laughed that the Autobots sagged in relief. Sideswipe, coming to terms with the one who now wrestled with him, quit fighting so violently and he bellowed in irritation.

"Sunstreaker you circuit-busting spawn of Pit! You nearly gave me a sparkattack!" the silver twin exclaimed.

Sunstreaker jumped from his brother and clapped a servo over his wrist, heaving him to his peds once more. He laughed heartily and punched the mech beside him in the arm. "Nice timing huh? I heard you got some action in this last quartex, you lucky vexpa!" he smiled and looked around.

Finding the two where speaking Cybertronian, Ratchet looked to the humans and assured them that this new mech wasn't hostile. They wound down at his words, relaxing under the unfamiliar words of the reunited brothers. "Speak in English you two, we don't need to be interrogated again." Wheeljack called, catching their attentions. "We promised none of that in one of these meetings."

Mirage came forward and greeted the warrior along with a few other of his comrades. "There were supposed to be more of you en su camino, where are they?" he asked. As if to answer him, other sounds could be heard traveling down the entrance hall. Soon, two other vehicles entered the room, one a Lotus Elan while the other signed as a Jaguar Convertible by the small silver letters decorating the lower side of the body.

Ratchet walked up to join Optimus as the two forms put in place their conversion shafts to begin their reformation. After the now familiar clanks and scrapes of metal and parts meeting to collide started up, it was only a few more nanoclicks before two Cybertronians stood before them. Ratchet shifted through his files for the profiles of the brown and bright green Cybertronians. Upon seeing the Prime's approach, the brown mech turned to them, showing his full picture.

Immediately, Ratchet recognized his as Hawktail by the distinct coloring of his paint and the smooth curve in the unique shape of his helm. The light-green Cybertronian also turned, seen as being a fembot the moment after she'd finished transforming. Her designation had been Greenlight, the shy fembot that carried the title of technician beside her close relationship with Wheeljack. She only went unnoticed for barely half a click before she was taken up in a strong and sudden embrace by Wheeljack. The two happily reunited and went off to chat.

"Greetings Optimus Prime, it's pleasurable to see you again." Hawktail greeted, giving a nod of respect. Optimus acknowledged the hello with his own welcome and the two exchanged a quick word before coming to business. "You are stationed in the city of Washington D.C, so why have you come?" Optimus asked, just as surprised as Ratchet to find the master armor smith suddenly before them.

Hawktail nodded towards Ratchet as well, just to give a short salutation. Ratchet returned the dip of the cranial unit and waited for the mech's answer. "You have received my apprentice Thunderflare, have you not?" he guessed. Ratchet nodded. "The Cybertronian is working fairly well with the task you have given him. Solas Kaon should be able to relocate soon because of his efforts." the medic reported.

The smith seemed to become relieved at this, looking back at the smaller mech as he conversed with Stratis. Suddenly, the fembot glanced up to lock optics with Hawktail. Ratchet noted the small expression that crossed both their faceplates before they both looked away.

It was rumored that Hawktail appeared interested in the fembot, but she knew nothing of this. She was mostly concerned with her work and seemed to pay no mech attention but that of who she was speaking with or assigned to meet. "That is good, considering I was only able to provide the minor sets of tools for him when he came here." Hawktail went on.

"Is this assuming you came here for the warrior's armoring as well?" Optimus inquired, getting a confirming gesture as response. "We do not have the necessary materials here for Solas, otherwise we wouldn't have lounged this long." Ratchet put in, confused. Hawktail opened a servo towards the door, saying, "Yes, I know. I have brought enough from Washington to complete his armor, including spare. We received the message of your injured kneebolt Prime, so I have brought the correct medical supplies for that as well."

Ratchet found himself impressed by the preparedness of the mech. He had made sure that everything that needed was brought, including such a minor necessity such as a spare kneebolt and pivotjoint gearing. "Everything is outside in wait for whenever they are of use. However, the entrance was not large enough to fit the cargo." Hawktail stated.

Optimus would of course be the one to haul such a heavy load, but just how much was out there? Ratchet found himself amused by the fact that the smaller door of entry for the base had become a problem after all, echoing a past discussion between himself and the Prime. Now the fact of the matter was that Ratchet had been right all along and he could stake his claim that some of the features of the base were flawed, as he had originally mentioned.

Optimus opted to collect the supplies outside, insuring that he was to use the southern entrance instead. Hound appeared behind the Prime and offered to help, his alt mode more than capable to handle a heavier load. Ratchet suggested they leave to carry out that task and they agreed, leaving in their own alt modes just a few clicks later.

Ratchet brought Hawktail over to where his apprentice was standing beside the mixed spy, their conversation cutting off as the two approached. "Thunderflare, Hawktail would like to speak with you." Ratchet said, watching the exchange between them.

"You have gotten the correct information for Solas Kaon's frame?" the mentor asked. Thunderflare touched his bracer and handed over the necessary datachip. "I will need to take some time with Solas to take more precise measurements, if he is cleared with you that is?" Hawktail had inserted the chip and looked up to Ratchet, who gave his permission. "Thunderflare, I want you to take this scanner and acquire some more information concerning Solas' shell. I have already begun his armoring, but the remaining pieces will have to be nothing less than perfect if he will be able to retain his original form."

Thunderflare soon left the three of them alone and Ratchet followed not long after. Hawktail and Stratis would have much to catch up on, and he doubted that it was best to interrupt them. Instead, he decided to move on to more important and lesser-enjoyable tasks at the moment.

Bumblebee was still seen lounging by the back wall with Fera on his shoulderbolt. Solas was leaning back on the surface with his arms crossed over his chassis. He seemed comfortable, with only slight agitation.

Slowly starting forward, Ratchet stalled for as long as possible. How would he take to the news? Fera probably wouldn't digest it any better than her mech counterpart. But it had to be said, and things would have to be accepted. Keeping things at bay would only make them worse. Time was a real pain in the aft.

Ratchet came upon his intended targets and he stopped just as Bumblebee turned away to take Fera somewhere. "Bumblebee," he called. The small 'Bot twisted back and grew alert. "I want you to tell her." ~I will tell Solas Kaon myself~ he added through their comlink. Bee paused, then nodded, seemingly nervous. ~Do you think she'll take it well?~ he asked through the same silent connection. Ratchet cracked a smirk and shot a darting glance at the human. ~Did she take his temporary comatose very well?~ this caused the mech to simply turn and walk out of the room.

"Tell her what?" Solas walked up to Ratchet and watched Bee exit with his charge. As an answer, Ratchet jerked his cranial unit towards the hall. ~Optimus, I think it's best we tell Sol. Time won't dull the facts of the matter.~ he sent to the Prime. Optimus could be felt to briefly grow concerned, but that faded to absolute focus. ~I will tell him myself. Meet me in my office.~ Ratchet cut the link and they started down the hall.

"I swear Ratchet if it's Decepticons again, I'm locking her in a box." the Guardian swore. Ratchet actually smiled at this, unable to help but see the humor in a serious threat. "Good luck getting her to cooperate." he retorted over his shoulderbolt. Sol snorted at this, but stayed quiet as they came to Optimus' office.

He quietly decided that after this, he would put the human and her Guardian together to share their opinions on the situation. It wouldn't be a pretty picture to suddenly find the human in a feral cloud while her target sat in the corner with his circuits sparking. She would be angry with all of them, including Solas. However, it would be that mech's duty to make sure she knew it wasn't his fault. No one knew of the news except Optimus, Ratchet, and of course Rethalia. Everything felt like a bomb waiting to explode in their faceplates, just ticking away while they stood, nervously awaiting the explosion.

It was actually quite close to that. They were so unpredictable in both their actions and emotions, and that often more than not clouded their judgment. How would the two react? They had such alike personalities that they were almost like... He paused mid-step and his hand hovered over the access keys. Almost like...

They were almost like Ironhide and Chromia.

Seriously, this is just my opinion. -_-

Truly, no one will ever be like our favorite gun-slinging, dirty-glossa, aft-kicking, Primus-have-mercy-on-them couple.

Ever

Simple as that.

But I just can't help seeing the simlarities in their personalities...I don't know if it's just me or what-

Oh well :D