Chapter Thirteen

"Optronix, we require your assistance." said a medic. The femme didn't look up from her desk work.

"Is it important?" she asked.

"We have a Case Three child abuse with internal damage." said the medic and Optronix immediately sprang up from her seat.

"Show me." she ordered.

The medic nodded, giving her Helios' diagnostics for her to briefly review

Helios was frightened the moment he was set down on the medical berth and he became squeamish when he was injected with nanites and screamed when he was connected to an IV. The youngling hiccuped in Jazz's arms as Optronix came in and her optics met Helios'. She watched him shrink in Jazz's hold as she approached them and she spoke softly, "Hey, little one, I'm the Chief Medical Officer that deals with chiropractic, child affairs, and family planning. My designation is Optronix."

He hiccuped several times before speaking with a croak, "H-Helios."

She smiled, "Helios. Now, I understand you're in pain; fortunately, there won't be as many needles as there was in the beginning. The only needles you'll see are sedatives that will put you to sleep and painkillers that will make the pain go away, okay?"

Helios looked at her and nodded.

"Jazz, could you lay him flat and exit for a brief moment? I'm going to take some x-rays and internal scans." she kept her voice calm as she gave the order to which Jazz nodded, who set down the youngling and whispered that it was going to be alright.

Once Jazz had gone, Optronix prepared the machine.

Helios' small voice captured her attention, "Are-Are you going to make me feel better?"

She looked at him with sincere and tired optics, replying, "Yes, honey. I will."

His small smile made her spark flutter and Optronix returned to the machine. She spoke again, "Helios, don't move for a moment as it scans you. It will give me a picture of what is broken and in need of repairs.

The youngling nodded and he remained still. He heard a small whirr as the machine activated and scanned his frame from his helm to his pedes. Optronix stood to the side, watching as the screenings came upon the monitor by her. She frowned, her spark aching as she looked upon all the fractures, breaks, and improper strut heals. This poor child, she thought, doesn't deserve such maltreatment so early in his life.

She gave the okay for Jazz to come back in as she quickly dismissed herself into the next room to retrieve the prints of the x-rays. Helios moved back into Jazz's arms and he nuzzled into the mech's chest. Optronix came back and placed the results on the bright panel that hung on the wall. She sighed as her spark clenched upon seeing the breaks all over again. She would keep seeing them until Helios was properly healed.

"Is that what I look like on the inside?" Helios asked.

Optronix nodded, "Yes."

Helios observed the screenings and he spoke again, "There's a bunch of cracks all over the place. I don't think that's good."

"No. it isn't, but we can fix that. The only down side to it is that you will be hospitalized in order for us to fix these cracks and the struts that haven't healed correctly." she watched him look at her wide brightening optics, clearly fearful. She assured him with a smile as she opened a comm link with Jazz, ::Transplants on a youngling isn't recommended because his frame is still growing and there have been cases where the new attachments are rejected by the frame and systems.::

::En otha words, he'll beh en ay hospital bed fer...::

::If all goes well, six groons. According to the reports, his Sire in police custody and the Carrier is incapable of caring for him. His relatives are on restraining order placed by the Carrier. He has nobody to watch over him.::

"Will I miss a lot of school?" Helios asked and received a nod.

"You'll be staying here for a while because of the injuries." she replied and watched his face drop and expression falter.

He spoke in a quiet voice, "I met some new friends and I don't want to be away for too long."

The mech rubbed his helm, "Ya ain't gotta worry 'bout dat lil mech. Ay can bring Pixeh an' Rhea ova ta see ya aftah school an' when et ain't en session. Dat lovely femme who es here wit us es Rhea's Carrier."

Helios looked up at Jazz and to Optronix before smiling, "What, really? You can do that? Just for me?"

Jazz nodded, "Ay don' have ay job so Ay'm nat ay busy mech. Ay won't have ay problem bringin' tha girls."

"Oh, thank you! So much!" Helios said with immense gratitude as he cuddled up with the mech. There was a new emotion that flared in his field and it pulsated brightly. A knock caused all helms to lift and Optronix permitted the bot behind to enter. Rhea and Pixie came through with smiles and they bound towards the medical berth.

"Ya okay, Helios?" asked Pixie as she grabbed Jazz's leg and propped herself up.

"Yeah, you okay?"

Helios blushed at the attention from the femmes and he nodded only slightly as he spoke, "I'm okay on the outside, but the pictures on the screen says I'm not doing so good on the inside."

"No matter." said Rhea with a cheeky smile, "My Carrier will fix you up. She's the best medic out there!"

Optronix smiled at her daughter, "Rhea, there are better medics than me out there."

"Ratchet isn't youngling friendly. He doesn't-"

"What? Count, Rhea?" Ratchet's voice came from behind her and she froze.

Rhea slowly turned around, seeing her Carrier secretly smiling behind her servo and the older CMO entering the room. His old and worn optics looked upon his Grandcreation; Rhea smiled, "Eh-heh, hi, Ratchet."

Ratchet allowed himself to smile briefly, "Rhea, nice to see you." his gaze went to Helios, "I am youngling friendly. I am just an old veteran medic who is tired."

"Then why don't you stay home and rest, mister?" Helios asked.

Ratchet chuckled, "I'm alone at home. So I come here to help other mechs and femmes; I've seen your scans and quite frankly, you are in a grave condition. Now, for us to bring you to full health, you must listen to us at all times and do what you are told. Alright, Helios?"

The youngling nodded, "Yes, sir."

Optronix smiled as she gave Helios a small medical grade cube, speaking softly, "Feeling a bit better, honey?"

Helios accepted the cube into his servos, glossa flicking out to taste the liquid before drinking it down; he paused several swallows in, "Much better, thank you."

He continued to drink down the contents of the cube until it ran empty and he gave back the cube, settling back into the medical berth he was assigned to. Drugged up on medicines and light sedatives, the youngling yawned as he pulled up the covers. Optronix smiled softly, reaching forward and tucking him in, much to his surprise.

"Rest. Okay, honey?"

Helios nodded.

"If you need me, just press this button," she touched the red icon on a remote that sat next to him, "It's directly connected to my HUD and I'll be with you in short moments."

"Okay."

Optronix leaned forward and pressed a soft kiss to his forehelm before leaving the youngling to recharge. As soon as she stepped out, she contacted her mate, [[Honey, I've found the youngling I want to adopt.]]

Bumblebee's reply came, a chuckle lingering in his words, [[Did you go to an adoption center without me? I thought we were going together.]]

[[Jazz came in with a little mechling. Primus, Bee, I haven't seen a youngling in such... a bad shape. I could see the abuse in him, cheeks sunken in from hunger and the dents in his armor. It looked like he hadn't properly showered in ages from the grit and grim underneath his armor; his internal scans and x-rays... he's going to need some massive surgery to fix what has been done to him.]] her spark sunk and Bumblebee could feel it, sending her assuring pulses, [[And he's such a sweet child, Bee. From what I've been told from him, his Sire abuses him on a daily basis and when he is with his Carrier, she's out getting laid and completely forgets about him. She doesn't come home at times and the poor thing is left to starve.]]

[[That is cruel and harsh treatment of a child. I can't believe his own Creators would do that to such a young and innocent spark.]] It was her mate's spark that clenched and there was a brief flash of anger that flitted through their bond, [[How did Jazz find him?]]

[[He started talking to Pixie who took him to Rhea. They were playing outside for recess and his collar strut-being healed in the wrong way-pinched at his tissue and caused him to be in pain. He spilled it all out to the girls and they brought him to Jazz. According to Jazz, his Sire came by to take him back, but the threat of killing came up when Jazz refused and the Enforcers came. The Sire's designation is Que and he is currently in custody for being out in public with a high intake of high grade and expresso.]]

[[Huh. So that slagger is most likely going to have his property searched and a further investigation will arise to look under the Carrier.]] Bumblebee huffed.

Optronix knew the Carrier would have a fit, if she was anything Helios had explained to her. The youngling could barely remember, but the screaming was embedded into his memory banks.

"She used to be nice," said Helios, "and I remember when it was my Creation day last vorn, she would buy me what I wanted. I wish it was like that all the time like it was before they split up. She gave me treats and fueled me until I was full, gave me a warm oil bath every orn. She tucked me in and kissed me good night, whispering that she loved me. Then, Sire went further inside Iacon and Carrier started crying a lot and drinking some. It was like that for a while until she... left. I was a little young and I was scared. I remember when she came home that first time, it was late at night and I ran up to her, crying. She apologized, but she kept leaving me alone again and again. When it was my Creation day last vorn, though, she was back to her old self with me and happy. I love her, but... I don't know if she loves me anymore..."

Optronix held in her tears, [[I want him, Bee. Someone so fragile shouldn't go through that pain.]]

[[Then, we will have him. With help from Prowl, hopefully the paperwork can be arranged and the judge can grant us his custody.]] said Bumblebee in a firm voice. [[Unless he had immediate family to go to, it shouldn't be that much of a hassle.]]

[[His extended family are on restraining orders by the Sire until he is in his adult frame.]] she stated almost immediately.

[[In that case, the judge may grant us his custody.]]

Optronix certainly hoped so.