Ratchet POV
I was in the hangar when that slagger Galloway started yelling at Autumn. He didn't get to yell very much before she started crying and took off. The thing is he chased after her, but then so did most of the base. I had to give credit to those femmes though. They were right behind Galloway, and giving him a strong run for his credits! They may not have the alt modes to keep up with that particular model, but they were sure doing a fine job of it. I wasn't able to keep up with them, but I wasn't far behind either. I caught up with everyone just in time… at least… I think it was just in time.
"Designation; Soundwave. Protection of Autobot Autumn; paramount!"
Soundwave… the one mech I did not want to face in battle. That telepathy of his meant that he could potentially know every move you were planning to make before you made it!
Galloway started backing up slowly while Soundwave kept those cannons pointed straight at him. The strange part was that the Decepticon seemed to be ignoring more than a dozen bots who were aiming their cannons at him.
"Further antagonizing of Autobot Autumn; discouraged." Soundwave stated in a monotone voice that somehow managed to convey a dangerously cold menace.
Galloway continued to back up and Soundwave continued to keep those high powered and charged cannons aimed straight at him.
I couldn't help it. I looked past the Decepticon at Autumn, only to see her stooping down to pick up Ravage! She held that large example of a Cybercat the same way a human would a house cat. She was completely ignoring everything else that was going on around her. That's when I heard it. Ravage was giving off a loud rumbling purr that was somehow soothing to Autumn.
As soon as they were a considerable distance away, Capt. Lennox grabbed Galloway and shoved him in the passenger side of a Hummer, before jumping in the driver's seat and leaving. Once Galloway had left visual range, Soundwave who had maintained his aim, put his cannons away.
That was when the Decepticon turned to face Autumn. "Unit Ravage assigned to stay with Autobot Autumn. Purpose; protection."
Autumn looked up at that. She looked Soundwave straight in his visor with disbelief on her faceplates. "You mean I can keep him?"
"Ravage; femme Cybercat. Continued possession by Autobot Autumn; affirmative." Soundwave replied before turning to Optimus.
Then I saw something I would never have thought possible. Autumn, who was surrounded by bots who were pointing charged weapons in her general direction, smiled happily.
"Designation Soundwave; reporting." The bot said as he held out his wrists.
I saw Prowl step forward and place friction cuffs on Soundwave, before looking at Autumn. I don't know what he sensed from his Guardian Bond with her, but whatever it was made him start escorting Soundwave to the brig while leaving Autumn to hold Ravage like a human femme with a kitten.
Autumn POV
I couldn't believe it! It was a giant metal kitty! It was in my arms, and purring just like I'd always imagined a kitty would. Okay, so maybe this one was a lot different from the cats I'd seen as a human. Still… this one was in my arms, not trying to get down, and not trying to run away either. So she already had a name, which is Ravage, and that means I don't get to name her, but still… I was told that I could keep her! I felt so special that I couldn't help but smile as I looked down at her.
I don't remember walking back to the base, or to my room in the quarters that I shared with Prowl. What I do know is that someone was calling my name, and I looked up from Ravage to see the three femmes and Prowl standing there watching me. I looked down at Ravage who was laying in my lap as I sat on my berth with my wings splayed against the wall, and my back resting against it, before I looked back up at them.
"Autumn, are you doing alright?" Chromia asked me.
I nodded my helm and smiled. "I've got a kitty!" I exclaimed happily.
All of the femmes looked worried, and I couldn't tell what Prowl was feeling because he looked as impassive as usual. It made me a little nervous to see all of them looking at me like that.
"Autumn, Ravage is not a 'kitty'. She is a Cybercat, and one of Soundwave's symbionts. She can be quite dangerous in combat when pitted against a fully trained bot. With your level of training, and the fact that you currently have no weapons systems, she would have no problem rendering you offline." Prowl warned me.
"But Prowl… look at her. She's cute! She's a big bot sized kitty!" I protested quickly.
"Autumn, Prowl is right you know. Ravage can be very dangerous, and I don't want to see you damaged or offlined." Arcee told me gently but in a serious tone.
That was when I knew; they didn't want me to have Ravage with me. I was spark broken. My father never let me have a cat or a dog or anything when I was human, and now I wasn't going to be allowed to keep Ravage. I was ready to start crying when Ravage raised up and used the top of her helm to bump the bottom of my chin and get my attention. I looked down at her for a moment before looking back up at the others. As soon as I did, Ravage pressed against my chin and kept pushing. She wanted me to pet her some more, so I did.
Prowl POV
Soundwave was escorted to the brig immediately. It was strange in that he didn't offer the slightest resistance. I would have expected otherwise. As the two of us passed through the main hangar, Captain Lennox was speaking in hushed hurried tones to Director Galloway. Suddenly Soundwave stopped and turned his helm to face the two humans.
"Theodore Roosevelt Galloway; residence 1255 Monument Avenue; divorced; wife age 39; two children; daughter age 12; daughter age 9; canine, male, age 4.5 years, name, Sirocco. Continued provocation of Autobot Autumn… ill advised!" Soundwave stated before walking straight towards the brig.
I didn't inform Soundwave of the route to the brig, but then I didn't need to either. No doubt he had scanned the information for some bot's mind. We had entered the brig facility but I had not yet placed the mech in a cell, when Optimus called us to halt.
"I would like to know why you are here, Soundwave." Optimus said politely.
"Autobot Autumn, final creation of now destroyed Allspark. Protection of said creation; ensured safety; paramount. Autobot Tactician Prowl possessed of Guardian Bond with Autobot Autumn; emotional stabilization capabilities, inadequate." Soundwave stated.
I felt my doorwings sink to a low position on my back. I knew with absolute certainty that he was correct. Autumn tended to function according to her emotions which were varied, mixed, and often a very confusing tangle; where I greatly preferred to function according to absolute logic. In most situations responding logically would be of immense benefit… but not with Autumn. I had discovered that utilizing pure logic would only frighten her, and eliciting that particular emotional response from her was not desirable. I am reluctant to make the admission, but I can see no other alternative… I am not a suitable Guardian for Autumn. That it has taken Soundwave, a Decepticon, to illustrate this to me is painful to admit. However, I must not allow my personal limitations to affect the processor stability of others.
"Sir, I must inform you that Soundwave is correct in this instance. I am not capable of providing proper emotional stability for Autumn." I told Optimus.
"Ideally, this task should befall either Jazz or Chromia. Both are logical choices. Jazz because of his command experience, rather exuberant nature, and because of his friendship with Autumn. Chromia would also be a logical choice because she is a femme as is Autumn, and therefore both would be able to relate to each other on those terms, plus the vast prior experience that Chromia possesses with sparklings would be a distinct advantage in her dealings with Autumn." I supplied factually.
"Prowl, I don't think it's…" Optimus began before he was interrupted.
"Negative! Maintenance of current Guardian Bond; required. Symbiont Ravage currently providing emotional distraction for Autobot Autumn. Secondary instructions; provide protection." Soundwave stated.
"What?" I demanded as I turned to Soundwave. "Do you honestly expect me to believe that Ravage is going to distract Autumn from what she is feeling?"
"Affirmative. Autobot Autumn; feels insecure, isolated, and despondent. Symbiont Ravage provide distraction from such feelings of inadequacy. Physical intervention used when necessary." Soundwave told me.
"You believe that Ravage is capable of distracting Autumn from her fear?" I asked intently.
I was reluctant to admit that such a thing was possible. Although I was also forced to admit that if any bot was able to perceive the emotional state of another bot, it would be Soundwave. Taking his telepathic abilities into account, along with his rather blatant threats to Director Galloway in Autumn's defense, plus his restoration of Autumn's mental faculties was a strong indication that he actually intended to help her. The probability that he was concerned and wanted to help Autumn was more than ninety-nine percent, with the decimal having so many places that my battle computer didn't bother to finish the calculations. Had he intended to have her used as an unwilling sparkling factory for the Decepticons, he would not have removed the slave gestalt programming, nor would he have restored her memories.
"Affirmative. Autobot Autumn; previously human femme. Many human femmes; emotionally intrigued by Terrestrial felines. Symbiont Ravage; resembles Terrestrial feline. Immediate emotional attachment confirmed." Soundwave told me.
That statement was far too logical to be denied, however, there was a qualifier. That one word did not necessarily mean that the term 'many' would apply to Autumn. As I concentrated on my bond with her, I sensed a form of contentment and even happiness that I had not previously felt from her. That alone was encouraging, but concerning as well. Ravage was well known to be fully sentient, and therefore capable of independent thoughts and actions. It was possible that Ravage might have some objections to Autumn's affectionate attitude towards her.
Arcee POV
I watched in stunned silence as Autumn picked up none other than Ravage. I knew that Autumn had the frame of an adult, but she was merely a sparkling in an adult's frame. Ravage had a well deserved reputation for being very deadly in battle. She never took prisoners, and unfortunately, she rarely left her victims alive.
Then, I just about blew my processors when Ravage started purring! I couldn't believe what I was seeing. Ravage of all bots seemed to be deliberately keeping Autumn's attention. Although at the moment, I have to say that it's a good thing too. There were enough cannons pointed at the mech in front of Autumn to make any bot stiff with fear! When you consider that Autumn is in fact a sparkling, she would be paralyzed and probably worsen the rather tense situation by screaming hysterically. Any sparkling would be screaming in terror in that situation, but not Autumn. Oh no… she was ignoring everything that was going on around her, because she was far too preoccupied with cooing at Ravage like that Cybercat was the cutest thing she'd ever set optics on.
The next thing I heard was something I could not believe! Soundwave turned to Autumn and told her that Ravage was going to stay with her. The excitement displayed by Autumn was surprising. She was thrilled when Soundwave confirmed that she was to keep the Cybercat. She looked down at Ravage and didn't look up for any reason. Even when she walked all the way back to base, and to her quarters, she never looked up from Ravage.
I stood waiting outside the quarters shared by Prowl and Autumn with Elita and Chromia right beside me. Both of them were very concerned about the fact that Ravage was with Autumn… alone! It was several minutes before Prowl arrived, and we went inside. Prowl headed straight for Autumn's room, and there I saw something I never wanted to see in my entire function. Although she had her adult frame, Autumn was a sparkling, and that sparkling was sitting propped against the wall with Ravage in her lap stroking and petting that Cybercat as if there was no danger at all.
Chromia asked if she was alright, and Autumn simply nodded in response. Then Prowl warned her that Ravage was potentially dangerous, and Autumn actually protested. That was when I voiced my warning although I tried to be gentle about it, because I didn't want her damaged. I wasn't at all surprised to see her looking very hurt because she wouldn't be allowed to keep Ravage with her. You could have knocked me over with a venting of air when Ravage actually distracted her from her sadness!
Prowl POV
It seems that Soundwave is correct in his assessment of Autumn's mental status. Not only does she seem to be entranced by the Cybercat currently in her possession, but Ravage also seems to be responding to her emotional state, and fully capable of ensuring that she does not remain in a fearful or depressed condition.
"Autumn…" I began, and waited until she looked up at me. "Ravage will not be removed from your possession at this time. However… Ravage is not only to remain with you at all times, but you must also have another bot with you at all times as well. Is that understood?" I might need to accept the Cybercat's presence, but that did not mean that I was going to place Autumn at any risk while doing so.
"I'll stay with her. Until I have to recharge at least." Arcee volunteered.
"You and I can relieve each other. I will also stand watch for her." Chromia said as she looked at Arcee.
"Then it seems that the three of us will be working together on this once again. One of us will be with Autumn at all times. Ravage will simply have to deal with us if she wishes to cause any type of trouble." Elita added quickly.
:Excitement, hope, happiness.:
Those were the emotions that I could feel coming from Autumn as she heard those statements. Suddenly, I was postulating the possibility that Soundwave was telepathically monitoring Autumn's emotional state, and instructing Ravage to act as needed to prevent unwanted emotions from affecting Autumn's behavior. It seemed a likely possibility, but I didn't have enough information for my battle computer to calculate the odds.
"Very well, since this seems to have become a femme issue… are there any arrangements or accommodations that need to be made?" I asked Elita.
"I don't believe so. But Autumn might not appreciate being watched while she is recharging." Elita said after thinking about it.
"That is a distinct possibility. There are few sparklings of Autumn's development who are willing to have their privacy taken from them." I replied to Elita before turning to Autumn.
"Autumn, I am giving you a choice. You may keep Ravage with you during recharge, but if you choose to do so, then you will be observed by a bot who is not in recharge. I will ensure that it is one of these femmes who are with you while you recharge, but you will not be left alone while in Ravage's company. So, the question is, do you wish to keep Ravage with you during recharge?" I asked her.
Autumn POV
I stopped petting Ravage and looked up at Prowl. He looked so serious, but then, he always looked like that. The three femmes looked a bit worried and concerned and I could tell that they didn't want me to have Ravage at all. I knew that Ravage wasn't going to do anything to me, because she liked me. I looked down at Ravage and started to scratch around her audials as I thought about what I was being asked. I really didn't like the thought of someone watching me while I recharged… but then, something told me that Ravage would make sure that they didn't do anything to me. She would protect me.
"I… I'd like to keep Ravage with me." I stammered.
Prowl nodded his helm. "Very well Autumn. Ravage will remain in your care. You have had a rather eventful day cycle, therefore I am suggesting that you prepare to recharge."
"If she has to stay with me all the time, does that mean I have to take her into the wash rack with me too? Cats don't like getting wet." I told them without taking my optics off Ravage.
"No Autumn. You will not be taking Ravage into the wash rack with you. However, you will need to utilize the wash rack in your former quarters, which have now been assigned to Arcee, so that an optic may be kept on Ravage while you attend to cleaning your frame." Prowl answered.
I nodded my helm as firmly as I could. I didn't want them to take Ravage away from me, and it seemed like they were ready to do that.
"Then I'll go take a shower right now."
Arcee nodded and smiled at me. The other two femmes stayed behind with Prowl. I carried Ravage with me the whole way to my old quarters. When I got there I put Ravage on the bed, and stepped into the room with the private wash rack. I got clean as fast as I could, and when I stepped into the main room, Ravage and Arcee were giving each other dirty looks. Without saying anything I picked up Ravage and went back to my room in Prowl's quarters.
When I got there Prowl, Chromia, and Elita were sitting in the living room talking. I didn't say anything to interrupt them and went and lay on my berth. Ravage adjusted so that she was lying with her back legs straddling my pelvis, while her front paws were on the berth just under my armpits. That's when Arcee dimmed the lights.
I tried to sit up but Ravage had magnetized her front paws to the metal in my berth. I couldn't break that bond, so I was stuck where I was. I scratched Ravage around her audials and slowly slid into recharge.