Chap 8
Chirping
You woke up from your recharge still feeling groggy. It wasn't anywhere near as deep as the sleep you'd had previously, but any sleep without the chills was great in your books.
Stretching the sleep from your limbs, a small noise flutters out of your chassis surprises you. The noise is high pitched and almost bird-like? It almost sounds like a little chrrp? Either you slept deeper than you thought and your vocal processor still isn't online, or this is just a new addition to your growing collection of 'I guess my robot body does this now'.
Your head is fuzzy and whatever thoughts you had prior to recharging are gone from your memory banks. You know there was something important that you wanted to bring up, but you can't for the life of you remember what it was, only that it was urgent.
Well, it couldn't be too important if you can't remember it. You hope it'll come back to you soon.
Your time playing with the Seekers is still fresh in your mind, however. There isn't anything in the universe that could wipe that memory from your processor. Being tossed back and forth between two giant robots and a makeshift nest should be terrifying, but instead, it had been exhilarating. It was the most fun you think you've ever had. A big part of you hopes that they'll continue to toss you around some more, as it did wonders in helping your mood.
Looking up for a sign of your flying guardians, you notice them facing each other by the door, presumably talking over comms so that they don't wake you. You open your intake to call out to them, but instead of words, all that comes out is a single piercing beep. Embarrassingly, they hear the noise (and see the mortification on your faceplate), and turn to acknowledge you.
"My my, you don't look recharged at all. You slept for so long, yet I can tell even without my sensors that your energy levels are still dreadfully low." Starscream's rasp is gentle on your audialls, your droopy face doing nothing to combat his comment. You've slept so much lately, but even though the chills have all but ceased, a different kind of tiredness is felt in your plating.
"Are you low on energy, little one?" Skywarp asks. "I haven't seen you refuel at all since you came to us." You ponder at his statement, fingers resting on your abdominal plating for that phantom feeling of hunger. You don't feel hungry, at least not in the same way you did when you were human, so you shake your helm at him.
It was weird that in the (Week? Month? How can you tell time in space?) however long you've been a robot, you didn't feel the need to eat or drink. As a human you were used to the feeling of hunger, but this long without food would have had you doubling over in pain or worse. In certain ways, being a robot was more optimal, but then again you weren't sure what robots actually ate. You hope whatever it is tastes good at least.
He puts a finger to his lips, pondering. "Still, you should try and refuel. It's not good to go so long without Energon. I'll go fetch some from the cargo hold."
You perk up, a little more awake now. Your intake and vocal processor still feel weird so you opt for a non-verbal request. Holding your arms up and making grabby hands, you mutely request to accompany him. If you had the energy to be even more embarrassed, you would be.
Skywarp moves to your side faster than you can blink. "Ooh, of course you can come with me." He coos and scoops you up to press you into his cheek. "Who could say no to that face?"
Still pretty drowsy, you clutch at his plating instinctively (the same place you held onto Starscream before) and get comfortable. One of the blankets from the nest is brought with you, whether by accident or on purpose you're unsure, but you're grateful for the extra comfort. Its residual warmth from your recharge lingers in the fibres, and the feeling of sleep beckons you back invitingly.
Skywarp and Starscream take two giant sized steps forward as the berth doors open, the three of you venturing down the corridor.
You're still pretty sleepy, so you're not paying very much attention, but you feel comfortable enough to doze a little hearing Starscream's pointed pedes follow behind you and Skywarp. The steps echo in the metal hallway, and you don't have enough energy to keep track of where you're all going. That warm, heavy frequency leaks out of both Seekers, and is met in turn by a few instinctive chrrps of your own. They flow out of you naturally, and you can't stop it, but judging from their endearing reactions it doesn't seem like a bad thing. You still find it slightly annoying though.
The hallways get progressively darker as you venture onwards, only lightly aware of the slight descent into the cargo hold. You're only aware of this by the few moments you decide to peek an optic open, but you don't see anything interesting enough to keep them open. If they ask you to try and make your way back to your shared room on your own, you're definitely screwed, but you're reassured that you don't think that they'll leave you alone down here.
You must've nodded off a little, the sound of the heavy steps lulling you back into dreamland, because Skywarp nudges you awake gently with a nuzzle of his massive chin.
"Wake up, little wing. We're here." His voice is cheerful but soft, he's speaking low so as to not startle you awake. "Let's get you some Energon."
As you wipe the sleep from your optics, you see Starscream venture over to one of the familiar looking storage containers. They look identical to the ones in the storage hangar where you built your fort. They're the same kind of containers that used to house your old room and you by extension (before it got blown up).
Tearing the roof off without any resistance, Starscream reaches in and pulls out one of the familiar looking glowing cubes. Oh. So the fort making stuff was Energon. He takes a talon and flicks the corner of the cube off, the glass piece flying somewhere in the cargo hold, but it's gone before you can figure out where it went.
The red Seeker offers you the cube and brings the open corner up to your intake. The glowing liquid sloshes menacingly inside, and you get your first scent of it. It smells like battery acid and overripe fruit. Your body's instinctive reaction is to gag, but you stop yourself. To be honest, you don't know if this is good for your body, but the Seekers have no hesitation in giving it to you. They've been robots longer than you have, so you trust them, and take a small swig.
Immediately, your body rejects the substance. Coughing and sputtering, your optics fill with liquid, and you clench your blanket in an attempt to stop your violent reaction. It tastes like battery acid too! Whatever this is, you want it nowhere near you, much less inside you.
The cube of Energon is swiftly pulled away from you, a small amount dribbling down your chassis from its quick removal. The light blue colour stands out starkly on your silver plating, and you can feel it getting lodged in your delicate joints. The coughing peters off slightly and you suddenly feel more tired than ever.
Your bleary optics catch Starscream and Skywarp looking at each other, a worried expression on each of their faces. Starscream even tries to bring the cube back closer to your intake, but you push it away ferociously with every ounce of strength left in your arms, still sputtering. No more of that, thank you very much.
Starscream's metal eyebrows crease in confusion.
"Little one, you need to refuel. I can tell your energy levels are far too low." You continue sputtering, unable to stop, the lingering taste of battery acid still burning on your tongue. You shake your head ardently, outright refusing. Whatever substance you need to refuel with, it isn't that. Using the corner of your blanket as a rag, you wipe your mouth and any residual spill off the surface of your plating. Your movements are sloppy, but it gets most of the job done. For your joints you might need another bath.
Starscream gives up after a few more attempts and then he stops trying outright, his worried look increasing in its intensity. His eyebrows are so furrowed you can barely see his optics.
You can't see Skywarp's face from your angle, but you get the impression he's just as worried. "But if you won't drink Energon…" He trails off and looks at his brother, who puts a talon next to his audial without a word.
He's not comming like you anticipate, instead he turns to his purple brother with an even more severe expression oh his faceplate.
"They don't…" His intake opens and closes, as if he can't get the words out.
"What is it, what's the matter?"
"Their Energon levels…Are zero." Starscream's voice is barely a whisper, but it cuts through the room like sharp glass. Skywarp is stunned.
"But that's…" he reaches a digit and caresses the side of your helm as if the motion helps him calm down. "That's impossible. They'd be offline!"
Both brothers look at each other worriedly, as if unsure what to do next. Your coughs and sputterings have ceased at this point, but the tension in the room makes it difficult to meet their optics. Optimus' words from earlier ring in your helm; this youngling isn't the same as the ones you remember.
You had meant to tell them all about yourself, you just hadn't found the right time. Between the bathing, sleeping together, your flying lesson in space, and the games you played together, a growing anxiety has kept you from telling them about yourself. They've shown they cared by protecting you and keeping you safe and cared for, but there is a tiny part of you that is worried the moment they find out how you came to be (how you were made by accident, something weird), they'll stop caring about you. You also remember how Starscream seemed to have a negative opinion on humans, but maybe you're misremembering. Or worse, they might think you lied. That thought alone sends chills of a different sort down your spinal strut, layered in fear.
Optimus knows because he found you, Ratchet knows because he studied the Emberstone; you don't know if Bumblebee and Arcee and the rest of Autobots know, but there are some things you want to tell them yourself when the time is right. It's your body, your life. So shouldn't it be your decision to tell them?
Is that time now? Or have you already missed your chance?
The grogginess of sleep is still strong within you, but you try to fight it, and get the difficult words out. Your vocal processor still stubbornly defies your instructions and only some weak beeps and chrrps escaped your intake instead of the heavy words that are weighing on your tongue. This inability to speak is making you go from mildly annoyed to worried now. Raising an arm weakly to wave off their worries, your flagging motion only seems to make the Seekers more concerned.
"What do we—"
"The medic. We have to get the medic."
Both brothers speak over each other, worry heavy in their tone. Skywarp puts a servo up to his helm and comms Ratchet out loud, his voice reverberating off the metal containers in the cargo hold.
"Get your aft over here, you Primus damned medic. There's something wrong with the sparkling!"
It's the last thing you remember hearing.
Ratchet hadn't left his chambers since the sparkling had run from him.
The sight of their small back running from him so frantically tugged at his spark and refused to let go. They ran from him. In fear of him. Is this what war made sparkling doctors? Something that sparklings should fear?
The dark thoughts had swirled in the doctor's processor since their departure from Earth. Never in his many years had he ever experienced such a loss.
Optimus had tried to reassure him that there were plenty of Autobots on board that would happily attempt to bridge the relationships between the Autobots and the sparkling. But that wasn't what Ratchet was depressed about. The sparkling was his. He had tried his utmost to keep his affection for the sparkling at bay to quell the quick-growing feelings of attachment he had for the sparkling, but that ended up hurting the sparkling.
Flight sickness. Ratchet had never heard of such a thing. It was highly possible that the Seekers were lying, as Decepticons always did, but there was something about their tone of voice that made Ratchet think differently. And there was also that odd frequency he didn't recognize. Did that have anything to do with it? Or was it just an extra add-on from the transformation from human to sparkling. Ratchet had prided himself in his knowledge of sparkling care from his many years of experience, but he had never considered that there might be biological differences between Grounder frames and Seeker frames. And Seeker specific ailments? Who knows what else the Vosians had kept secret in their lofty city.
He clenched his servos for the umpteenth time. He had never felt this way with the Terrans. Every string of code in his body screamed at him that this was a sparkling, the same as he'd always remembered. The Terrans hadn't triggered that long dormant instinct within him, but this little one did. Their creation via the Emberstone did nothing to stop the thrum of joy that had erupted within him when he had first felt their EM field. It was a sensation that he never thought he'd feel again.
And now he never would. The sparkling had chosen the Seekers over him, and Ratchet was left to pick up the pieces of his broken spark.
Ratchet wanted nothing more than to rush to the berth chamber, the chamber where he was meant to care for and treat the sparkling, to take them into his servos and go somewhere where the Seekers would never find them.
The beginnings of the Guardianship protocol were already fading like melting ice in his processor. It was different from his previous doctor protocol that he had with other sparklings back before Cybertron went dark, this one was warm and personal. It wasn't between a doctor and their patient; it was between a guardian and their charge. As close as you could get to a Creator/sparkling bond.
Ratchet had always dreamed of having a sparkling of his own, and he thought he had lost his chance when the war wiped out all the sparklings. There was a small part of him that was glad that they didn't have to experience such trauma, but the bleakness of the situation had haunted him for vorns. But that first spark of Guardianship protocols had been a balm on his broken processor. This little one, after so many years of doubt and sadness, made Ratchet feel like this one was just for him; like Primus had gifted him his fondest wish after all this time, making all his work and loss during the war worth it.
But just like that, his chance was taken away from him. Ran away from him. The Guardianship protocol snuffed before it even had a chance to grow. And there was nothing he could do about it. He was wrong. The sparkling wasn't his to hold, his to keep; they had made their decision. And Ratchet had to live in a universe, a new Cybertron, where his last chance feared and despised him.
Wallowing deeply, the medic let out a shuddering breath. If it weren't for Optimus, he would have fallen into a stasis lock from lack of Energon. He barely refuelled and the only reprieve he could get from his dark feelings was to slip into recharge as frequently as possible.
He wasn't needed on deck for any engineering calls; Wheeljack was more than capable by himself. And with the battle ending with only one fatality, most of the crew knew how to mend their own scrapes and scuffs.
Which brought him back to thinking about the sparkling. Were they damaged from the battle? He hadn't gotten a good look at them afterwards to see if they'd sustained any injuries. Last he had seen of their condition was over the monitor back on Earth was their room smoking from a blaster impact. They could be hurt and he couldn't do anything but wait impatiently, wondering if they'd even need him.
But the moment he got the comm he was out the door before he even realised he left his berth.
Starscream watched in horror as the sparkling's movements slowed to a stop, their small arm waving lazily until it rested comfortably alongside their spark chamber. After a few anxiety-inducing moments, their movements did not pick back up, and the biolights on their small form flickered, dimmed, and suddenly darkened.
He felt his spark sink alongside his brothers'.
The Seekerlet had awoken from their recharge not long ago, visibly undercharged despite how long they were unconscious. This had worried him only slightly, as it was normal for a sparkling of that size to come back to full alertness more gradually rather than all at once. Sparklings tended to rely on their caretakers less as they grew, and at this frame size they were still mostly dependent on their Creators. His worry grew more severe when their vocal processor refused to cooperate, resulting in some adorable, but somewhat concerning chirps and coos rather than the fully functioning words Starscream knew they were capable of.
Skywarp had taken the worry in stride and confidently hid his concern from the sparkling, though his energy field was laced with worry. Starscream had followed his brother's lead in hiding his growing worry in the same manner, but spoke with Thundercracker over comms in an attempt to workshop some ideas on what should be done.
The quick scan he executed while they were in the cargo hold had resulted in the worst result that could have ever crossed his processor; the sparkling was dangerously low on Energon. Their levels were almost non-existent; so low that they weren't even picking up on his scanners. It was a miracle they had even been moving at all.
How could they have been so foolish? In their entire duration of time with the Seekerling, they hadn't ever offered or even thought of refuelling the small creature. They hadn't seemed to need it! Their energy levels had seemed optimal, at least externally even with the flight sickness, and they hadn't shown any signs of low fuel or Energon deficiency.
Until this very moment, when it could already be too late.
The small body he had grown to care for was lifeless in his brother's purple servos, the thrum of their sparkbeat near impossible to pick up with his audials.
What should they do? What could they do? All the worrying they had hid from the sparkling seemed so insignificant panic fuelled energy from before had chilled to a cold dread, as they could do nothing but wait for the medic to arrive.
Astroseconds felt like they went by like cycles, the sparkling's darkened still form adding a depressing, heavy weight to the cargo hold, the tension so thick and afraid that the Seekers found it difficult to tear their optics away from their charge. They refused to take their optics off their small ward, their fuel lines cold and distraught even as they coursed through their circuits. Their previously panicked state had settled into a freezing silence; with even Thundercracker silent over comms. He no longer asked for an update from his brothers, he no doubt felt the dread seep through every part of their bond.
Two red optics whipped to the door at the first sign of nearby sound. Heavy pedes, quick and uneven with hysteria approached their coordinates through the nearby hallways. The medic Ratchet burst through the doors and his frantic blue optics fell upon the unmoving sparkling in Skywarp's servos.
Without a single word he flicked out his medical scanner from its forearm panel and rushed forward. The Seekers didn't move to defend the small form, too shocked and afraid of the verdict. The only sound that filled the cargo hold was Ratchet's furious typing and the fluttering panic of three sparks.
After a few moments of typing, scanning and processing, the medic released a deep breath and offlined his optics. He opened his intake, but before he could say anything the Prime made his presence known by bursting unceremoniously through the cargo doors.
"Ratchet. What –" His voice stopped alongside his obtrusive entrance as he carefully took in the scene in front of him. Two Decepticon Seekers and his Chief Medical Officer were huddled around the small unmoving form of the sparkling who was currently resting in Skywarp's palms. The sparkling in question's biolights were so dim that he barely see them and the look of horror on both of the Seeker's faces gave him a good idea of the severity of the situation.
The Prime cleared his intake softly and spoke. "Are they…?" His question remained open ended, as if too fearful to complete his question aloud. They all knew what he was asking. Ratchet's answering sigh eased both his and the Seeker's worries only somewhat.
"They need refuelling." Was the simple answer. It was so brief that it took everyone by surprise. His optics remained off, clearly needing a moment to calm his own spark.
The Seekers burst into movement like a statue coming to life. "We tried–" "They wouldn't take Energon–" "Their levels are ZERO, how is this–?" "They were fine –" The two brothers spoke over themselves in a panic, their words and concern jumbling together in confusion and alarm.
Optimus fought his urge to raise a hand to silence them, knowing this was neither the time nor the place. Medical proceedings were Ratchet's territory, and in these scenarios, he had no choice but to concede authority.
Ratchet clearly wanted to take a closer look at the sparkling, his servos shaking the scanner panel. He was visibly restraining himself from reaching forward and grabbing the unmoving form. But he kept his wits and professionalism as he turned to address the Seekers.
"They need refuelling, but not Energon. You've successfully cleared up one of our speculations concerning the sparkling, in that it is not Energon they require to refuel. Instead it is another energy source that we have prepared for and is already on board."
Skywarp's helm ridge furrowed in visible frustration, processor working overtime. "B-but they're Cybertronian. They need Energon. You're tellin' me they don't need Energon to function?" He trailed off, the information still computing.
Starscream needed less time to process, instead getting visibly angry.
"And you thought it would be a good time to tell us when?" His anger was directed at the Prime instead of the medic, red optics blazing. "If you truly cared about the sparkling at all you would have given us all the necessary information for their optimal care. It was their choice to come to us, how dare you punish them by giving us insufficient information!"
Ratchet flinched slightly at Starscream's words, but Optimus' faceplate remained passively calm. Optimus tried to gesture mutely for Starscream to follow him outside the hangar to continue their conversation more privately, as he wished to discuss the difficult topic outside of the medic's audial range to save him from the Seeker's biting words. But the Seeker in question remained rooted to the spot, his glare sharp enough to pierce glass and aimed directly at Optimus.
In this moment, Skywarp took it upon himself to take a tentative step towards Ratchet, his unease showing in his shaky movements. His instinct was to take the sparkling back to their shared nest, where they would be more securely protected. But he didn't know how to help the little one in this state, so he and his brothers had no choice but to seek aid from a necessary professional.
In his trembling servos was the sparkling, and he brought the small body closer to the medic incrementally as if he were unsure to hand them over or tuck them closer to his armour. "Where can we find…this new energy source? You said it's on board?"
Ratchet nodded, his optics flickering from Skywarp's worried expression to the still form of the sparkling, calculating. The medic swallowed, his intake rough and full of static. "We have prepared for this eventuality. If you'll follow me we can prepare a refuelling station for the little one." Skywarp nodded, not trusting his own vocalizer, and took a hesitant step to follow the medic out of the cargo hold. His red optics met Starscream's briefly as he matched pace with Ratchet leaving the cargo hold.
Before he left his brother's visual range, Skywarp commed both his brothers assurances over their trine channel that the sparkling would be fine in his care, that he'd never allow the Seekerlet to leave his sight. The assurances were for himself as well as his brothers, his Seeker protocols screaming at him to fly away with the sparkling to somewhere safe and alone. He added more assurances and calming waves through their Trine bond, wordless and full of trust, with ribbons of his own fear and hesitation leaking through. Starscream's rage was wound up tightly and did not leak through their bond, but was clear and explosive in his EM field. The anger was fiery, and that fury was aimed directly at Optimus. Skywarp left the cargo hold without another audible word, following behind Ratchet with the sparkling clutched gently but securely in his servo.
The cargo doors closed with barely a noise and Optimus Prime and Starscream were left alone.
The Prime spoke first.
"We did not keep this information from you to hurt you or the little one. We simply didn't realise that the time we had anticipated had already arisen." His tone was soft and tension free, which only added to Starscream's clear displeasure. "You may place the blame on me if you wish, but no one aboard this vessel wishes any harm upon the sparkling."
Starscream seethed but did not speak. Optimus continued.
"From this moment onward, if you have any questions concerning the sparkling, I will do my utmost to answer with all the information I have available. Ratchet may have more in-depth medical knowledge concerning the sparkling's biology and specialised needs, but he will cede it to you on my order if that is your request." His passive promise sounded empty to the Trine leader.
Starscream's talons shook as he continued to stare down the Prime. "How could you do it?" His voice, usually gravelly and low, was barely audible and thick with static.
Optimus blinked. "I'm sorry?"
The Seeker's eyes blazed. "How could you take a sparkling from their Creators. Have you no spark? You're despicable." His angular form shook with barely concealed rage.
Starscream continued, barely taking a moment between words. "Do you know how many Seekers are left? Do you know how many Vosians remain after all this?" His clawed talon waved at the surrounding Energon containers. "Do you know the lengths I would go to to ensure that my culture does not die out?" Optimus had no choice but to be silent, he could do nothing but listen.
"None of that matters to you, does it? Only the survival of your Autobots, and by extension your long-lost Aerialbots." His form bent over in a bastardization of laughter, wings high and threatening. "My people have long since passed the point of no return. And you would keep a Seekerling from us. Their people. My culture. You would reestablish a Cybertron without Vosians. No Seekers, only Aerialbots. We would be a forgotten footnote of the war in your historical archives." His words were spat out like acid.
"To make matters worse you would steal a sparkling from their Creators! A poor Seeker pair achieved this miracle and you stole them from their own culture! With some poisonous need to infect them with your own, no doubt–"
"Starscream-" Optimus was interrupted before he had a chance to continue.
"Everyone is convinced that they know me so well, aren't they Prime? It's infuriating. They assume the worst of me and the best of you. But that's not true, is it?" He leaned closer, a venomous smile on his face. "We both know the kinds of things you've done that are far worse than anything I've done."
Starscream trembled with his dark false laughter, the dark smile continuing undaunted, fangs exposed. "Don't think you're so above me that you haven't thought of it before. The only surviving members of the Cybertronian race being your Autobots and those who would defect? What a perfectly Prime utopia." He paced slowly, circling Optimus. "No bothersome Seekers to worry about, only prim and proper Autobots chosen by you and yours." His pacing stopped and his helm swivelled towards the Prime.
"But what of those who don't fit your perfect little mould? Ones that can't or won't defect? Oh, I'm sure you've thought about it. I know I would have, if I were in your place." Optimus didn't move under the scrutiny of his red stare. "Wouldn't New Cybertron be better without us? No Decepticon unsightliness tainting your vision."
Optimus did not respond for a lengthy pause, his tension only showing in his servos that were clenched at his sides. When he spoke, his voice was quiet. "It is not my intention to restrict any of Primus' creations from returning to Cybertron. I intend for our return to be as a whole, not with any restrictions. The little one is a part of that vision."
Starscream's answering hiss was just as quiet. "I demand you tell me where you took them from, we shall return them to their Creators."
Optimus's blue optics blazed into the Seeker's red ones. "Is that what the sparkling said?" His tone was sharp and biting.
"What do you mean by that?"
"You are no doubt aware of the Emberstone's location aboard this vessel. It is the source of the little one's creation."
Starscream's wings dropped from their high position, the information clearly catching him off-guard. The honesty that rang with Optimus' EM field solidified his statement. Confusion rang through Starscream's energy field, filling the cargo space with smouldering intensity.
"They…they have no Creators? No Sire nor Carrier?"
Optimus shook his helm.
Starscream touched a talon to his helm, his expression oddly vulnerable. "Then…How is this possible? This Emberstone can do such a thing?"
"The Emberstone is meant to act as a seed, with its purpose to alter the biological essence of foreign planets into substances that are more beneficial to Cybertronian kind. Quintus Prime had intended it to be a cultivation key; that if Cybertron were ever destroyed, it would be the catalyst in our survival on different planets."
Starscream was silent, so Optimus continued.
"The Emberstone's contact with Earth's biosphere resulted in changes beyond what we had originally expected from its purpose. It has already created other beings similar to Cybertronian kind, but they are decidedly different from the little sparkling aboard this vessel."
Starscream's optics squinted suspiciously. "Different how? Were there others? Clutch-mates?"
"Before the creation of this sparkling, other beings we have come to know as Terrans were created. They were forged with a symbiotic link to some of Earth's inhabitants, making them unable to leave the planet."
"They are different from the Terrans. As evidenced by their presence here aboard the ship, they are more than capable of leaving Earth. You and I both know that at their core they are a sparkling; our code does not lie. They are as much Primus' creation as any of those sparked on Cybertron."
Optimus lowered his helm without breaking his stare. "I am bequeathing this information to you for the betterment of your care for the little one. They know very little about our species, and it would be beneficial for them to have a well-rounded understanding of our culture; Vosian, Kaonian, Iaconian, every part we can teach them. They are a youngling of our species, and I believe they should have every opportunity to learn as one of us would have."
Starscream's talons came up in a somewhat threatening manner. "You will not take them from us. They are ours." He hissed. "And if they have no Sire nor Carrier as you say, then it's clear that they claimed us before you claimed them. They will play no part in your Autobot plan."
Optimus took a step forward, but his posture wasn't aggressive. "I haven't deceived you, Starscream. Ratchet's medical exam on the sparkling as well as your own coding can attest to the information I have given you. I agree that they belong with Cybertronian kind. I am only suggesting that we work together in the upbringing of the sparkling. For their betterment, not any restrictive claim."
"Restrictive? You assume much, Prime, to make such a statement. They will want for nothing under our care."
"I'm not–"
"Don't try to deceive me, Prime. I know that look. You have plans for the sparkling that require my cooperation." He growled. "But your plans thus far have already led to their harm! So you'll have to forgive me if I don't plan on leaving them in your care anytime soon."
Optimus could do nothing but stare at the Seeker, neither able to agree nor disagree. So he opted for silence.
"The sparkling is in our care now, and they will remain that way. We will be the ones to decide whether your Autobots are worth imparting any of their so-called wisdom." He rasped. "The medic may be useful in this instance, but don't think we've forgotten the state in which we found them. You are all hypocrites to me."
And with that, he left the cargo hold and Optimus to his thoughts. The leader of the Autobots stared at the few drops of Energon that had been spilled on the floor, wondering how they had gotten to this state. He hoped Ratchet was having more luck.
"-sparkling must be immersed in the waters in order for the refuelling to be fully effective. Any liquid can be charged by the Emberstone, and they hold their charge for an indeterminate duration of time. We have only begun experimenting on efficiency and substitutions, but we're fortunate to have an ample supply on board for the little one. We had prepared for this eventuality in advance, but their cybernetic structure is slightly different from ours." Ratchet paused his musings, clearly lost in his own thoughts. Skywap wasn't the most attentive Decepticon, but Ratchet noticed that whenever it came to the sparkling he was more motivated. "Our biology requires us to intake Energon directly into our fuel lines via either an external patch or by drinking it. This sparkling needs to be immersed in the refuelling liquid in order for their recharge to take place."
Ratchet had lost his own inner battle a few times during the brief period of time the Seekers had possession of the sparkling, and accessed the ship's security system in monitoring the sparkling's well-being whenever they were outside of their designated chambers. Ratchet had noticed the attention that the Seekers, even surprisingly Skywarp, had shown to their young charge, and was lightly relieved to see the care that the purple Seeker gave looked genuine. If nothing, the expression on Skywarp's faceplate after the sparkling entered a low power state had told Ratchet everything he needed to know. It burned him to know that the sparkling had shown more affection to the Seekers than they ever did to him, but Ratchet shook that grim thought away. Once the sparkling refuelled and came back online they would see that it was Ratchet who brought them back, and he would be seen differently. That small part of Ratchet prayed to Primus for some small change in the sparkling's feelings once they awoke, but he shot those thoughts down just as quickly.
A few barrels of Emberstone-infused earth water had been stored aboard the Ark II, and were currently being transported to the sparkling's berth chamber. Being the only place aboard the ship with its own private wash rack, not including the public one that was used and scheduled for the other residents of the ship, it was the best place to fashion a basin where the sparkling could be submerged. The brief walk to what should have been his own berth room was only mildly agonising; with the well-being of the sparkling taking precedence over his dark musings. The closer they got to the room, however, the stronger the thoughts took hold.
Skywarp must have noticed when the doctor suddenly went silent, caught up in his own thoughts. The medical knowledge had droned on like an automatic response; similar to a coping mechanism. While he wasn't the brains of his trine, Skywarp was far from stupid. So he focused on the most important aspect; the small Seekerlet clutched in his servos. Every move the doctor made towards the sparkling was calculated for its danger and proximity, Skywarp wouldn't leave them for an instant.
When the berth room came into view after a short walk through the winding hallways, both mechs had similar emotions coursing through their respective energy fields. Eagerness and hesitation were both at the forefront, fused with wariness and suspicion. Neither trusted one another, but both were needed for the wellbeing of the sparkling.
As they entered the room, Ratchet made a brief curious mental note of the pile of blankets on the floor in a vague circular shape. Upon entering they immediately turned towards the washracks, and both mechs turned to face each other.
"Wheeljack is on his way with the Emberstone charged water. I will prepare a basin in the drainage portion of the wash racks for the little one to be submerged in." Ratchet listed off his tasks as he completed them.
Skywarp nodded his agreement, and clutched the sparkling closer incrementally while Ratchet completed his preparation. Ratched idly noticed that the sparkling gleamed brighter than last he'd seen them, clearly washed and polished at some point. Ratchet clenched his servo in jealousy, obscured from Skywarp's vision, but bitterly knew he could do nothing about it. While they were under fuelled, it was easier to get a good look at the sparkling; still so small, yet so much anxiety riddling through their frame. The Guardianship protocols were still screaming within him, but this was as much a waiting game as it was a tense situation. He could do nothing until the sparkling awoke. He hoped he'd get a chance to apologise.
The tension of the situation made Wheeljack's arrival quick and appreciated. He brought two metal barrels full of the liquid into the berth room, dropped them close to the washracks and paused to stare at the sparkling for a few moments. Ratchet noticed that Skywarp immediately tensed when he saw who had entered the room; his wings raised in a threatening manner and the tips of his fangs peeking out from behind his lip plates. He didn't hiss, but Ratchet could tell he was holding himself back.
Wheeljack took a few moments to stare at the sparkling, closer in this moment than he'd ever been previously, and made no move to take a step forward or leave. (For some reason, Ratchet mused, the sparkling had been immediately wary of the inventor. Ratchet was unsure how to feel about this, because it meant less competition for the sparkling's favour, but currently Ratchet was also one of the bots that the sparkling had been less than fond of recently. He quietly hoped for both their sakes that the sparkling's displeasure was short-lived.)
The green Autobot looked worriedly at the sparkling, glancing only once at Ratchet for assurance of their well-being. Ratchet had known in advance that the separation between Wheeljack and one of the Terrans, Twitch, had been difficult for him, but there was nothing that could be done. The Terrans had requested a life more secluded and out of Autobot affairs. The Autobots themselves had been unsure what had caused this change, but they had assented nonetheless. Wheeljack had been close with Twitch, but not close enough to be privy to their confidential location. Ratchet could only imagine how much that affected him.
Giving Wheeljack a brief nod in assurance, and a brief flicker of confidence through his EM field, Wheeljack left the berth room without glaring at the Seeker even once. Ratchet thought that after all this time maybe Wheeljack's explosive personality had finally mellowed slightly, but maybe he was overreaching.
Taking one of the barrels in his servo, he popped the plug from the container and started draining the contents into the container he had prepared. It was a spare storage container that had been used for storing extra toys and medical materials in the room, which had been hastily dispatched onto the floor in urgency of the situation. A mellow glowing liquid poured out of the barrel's spout, teal coloured and familiar looking. The colour was remarkably similar to the colour of the sparkling's biolights. (Ratchet's medical processor piqued at the observation, would all sparklings that were created this way have the same coloured biolights? It may be a thought for study.)
The second barrel followed the first, and the previously empty storage container now had a thin layer of glowing liquid sloshing at the bottom. Ratchet motioned for Skywarp to lower the sparkling into the liquid, and stepped back to create a more comfortable space for them.
Ratchet observed as the Seeker brought the sparkling close to his face plate, rubbing his chin on the sparkling's helm affectionately, and proceeded to lower the sparkling into the basin.
"You'll need to coat their body with the liquid. Splashing them works. And the liquid will not harm your circuits at all." Ratchet added blithely. He could no longer see the sparkling through the opaque walls of the storage container as they were lowered down. From his perspective he could only see the back of the Seeker's spinal strut, black wings trembling slightly. He had never seen the purple Seeker look so vulnerable to him. He couldn't remember a time when any Decepticon had purposefully shown their back to him.
Ratchet prayed to Primus for the sparkling's revival, every astrosecond making him question his own medical verdict. Both mechs were tense, with Skywarp's digits curled around the lip of the container, making the metal creak in pressure from his grip.
Then, a sputter was heard, and both mechs let out a sigh of relief.
"Little Screamer! How are you feeling?" Skywarp's wings were pointed high and alert, his voice straining.
A small groan was heard from the container. Purple servos reached in and the small form was lifted into Ratchet's vision.
The sparkling was rubbing their optics, biolights slowly activating, signifying their successful recharge. They didn't see Ratchet at first, Skywarp's digits stroking their helm affectionately and eagerly, as if trying to memorise the shape.
The sparkling seemed used to these attentions, which caused Ratchet's spark to ache. The movements seemed practised and well received, and he felt that every caress the Seeker gave rubbed away any memory of the affection he had given the sparkling. They hadn't had much time together, but the few moments they had shared Ratchet kept close to his spark. He wanted so badly to hold them, but he kept his servos clenched at his sides and waited for the sparkling to notice his presence.
It felt like a bolt of electricity when the sparkling locked optics with him, green meeting blue. Their immediate reaction was opposite to what Ratchet had hoped for; the sparkling turned to tuck themself closer into Skywarp's palm, hiding from Ratchet. His spark plummeted.
"Glad you're feeling better. You had us worried! How's that vocalizer treatin' you now?" Skywarp brought the sparkling's attention back to him, making Ratchet both jealous and relieved. The sparkling's finials turned up at the question, optics tearing away from Ratchet's like a rotten weld.
"Mmm, fine now I think. Thank you." How long had it been since he'd heard their bright voice? And to hear their vocalizer had malfunctioned? Ratchet made a note in his sparkling file. In any case, it could be related to their low-fuel state.
"Glad to hear it. Let us know in advance next time if you're feelin' low on energy. The doc here filled me in on your specifics for refuelling. It's a bit different to how we like to refuel." Ratchet perked up at his mention, the sparkling glancing at him with huge wary optics.
A wave of unease rolled off the sparkling's EM field, clearly directed at Ratchet. They were obviously uncomfortable with his presence, and the thought made him feel sick. He didn't stop his instinctive answering flux of calm and relief in his returning EM field response.
"What did you…" The sparkling's voice was soft, wary. "What did you talk about?" Their optics were huge and full of fear.
"Just the specifics on how to refuel you going forward. Why, is there something you want to tell me?" Skywarp's tone was mirthful, still lightly pinged with worry, but his question made the sparkling visibly wince.
"A-actually, I have something I need to ask Ratchet." Their big green optics looked pleadingly at Skywarp, but their field pulsed with anxiety. Ratchet couldn't believe what he was hearing. Skywarp clutched them a little tighter. "Alone, please."
This shocked Ratchet more than anyone. Hope filled his chassis. Maybe he was getting a second chance? Had Primus heard his pleas? All of a sudden he felt like luck was on his side.
Skywarp was equally shocked, and it showed in his body language. His wings, which had ceased their trembling once the sparkling had awoken, had begun to flick in annoyance. His expression showed how displeased he was with the request.
"B-but-"
"Please. It won't take long. I promise." Their small digits squeezed Skywarp's purple digits, tiny talons barely making a mark in the paint.
"Little wing, I promised Starscream that I wouldn't leave you." His voice was as shaky as his wingtips. "Please don't make me–"
"I'll comm you if there's a problem."
"That's not-"
"Please." The sparkling's voice sounded desperate, slightly louder this time. The longer they pleaded the more their energy field screamed fear. While Ratchet could understand Skywarp's hesitancy in leaving the sparkling in such a state with him, he wasn't going to let this opportunity pass him by.
"On my honour as a medical officer I promise that they will not come to any harm while they are with me." Both sets of optics looked his way, one red, one green. Skywarp's red optics were unhappy. The sparkling's looked just as afraid as their energy field felt.
The Seeker and the sparkling looked at each other, and finally Skywarp sighed heavily. Ratchet knew that he'd given in. He tried to stop his spark from leaping with excitement.
"Comm me as soon as you need me. I'll come back right away." He stroked the sparkling's helm fondly, and moved to place them gently on the ground. He turned to face the berth room doors, but before he left he hissed directly in the doctor's audial.
"Try anything and I'll make sure that you'll be the one needing a medic." And with one last lingering look at the tiny being on the floor, he closed the doors behind him.
Ratchet and the sparkling were alone now.
