Elita POV

We all sat around the dying fire for several hours talking softly. Mikaela stayed in Autumn's lap for the most part. There were a few times that she left to 'step behind a tree' or get something to drink, but as soon as she did, she got right back in to Autumn's lap. The strange thing is, Autumn seems to like having her there. As small as she is, Mikaela can't weigh very much, but there is a… concern for Autumn that is much larger than that small body seems like it should contain.

Chromia had suggested a topic that we could all discuss without any negative connotations. I knew that Autumn needed something to think about and talk about that had nothing to do with the numerous horrible memories locked in her processors. Naming and discussing things that we liked and enjoyed about this world should provide that break.

"Beaches… just like this one!" Mikaela said with relish.

"Why?" Arcee asked in curiosity.

"Because. I can do all kinds of things at a beach. Take now for example. I am sitting in front of a nice warm and beautiful fire, spending time in great company and getting to know more about four women who I know will be great friends. I'm not cold, I'm not wet, and I not hungry. It's a beautiful night, full of brilliant stars and I can't think of anything better." Mikaela explained with a smile.

I had to think about that for a moment before agreeing with her. This was something that Autumn might count as pleasant as well. After all, we weren't in battle, none of us had any physical damage that hadn't been treated, and the company, as Mikaela had said, was great.

"Well I happen to enjoy the very large number of cars available that I can use for an alt. mode." Arcee said happily.

"Oh yes! That is definitely something I like about this world; there are hundreds of different vehicles that I can use." Chromia said happily.

"I think that's something all three of us agree on." I added.

"Really? Then why did all three of you pick the same car with different colors?" Mikaela asked smugly.

"Because it's small, fast, maneuverable and the size fits me perfectly." Chromia replied candidly. "I don't have to place any part of my frame in subspace when I transform and that means a shorter response time when there's a call to action."

"Those were also my reasons for choosing this alt. mode. Although I will also add that it's quite stylish with just the right curves to it." I added with just a bit of vanity.

"I agree! This alt. mode puts the proper curves in the just the right places!" Arcee agreed with an almost predatory smile.

Mikaela burst out with a laugh. "Got your eye on any mech in particular?" She asked with a knowing grin.

"A certain Medic does come to my processors." Arcee returned airily.

"Is that Wedding Bells I hear?" Mikaela asked very suggestively."

I had to look up the term because it wasn't one I was familiar with. Once I finally found the meaning of it, my optics shot as wide as they could go. For Cybertronians Spark Bonding was essentially a private affair, with no one else even knowing about it until after it was done. Humans though… humans not only much such a thing into a public ceremony, but a celebration! This was simply one more thing that illustrated the differences between us. At the same time though, the human custom of this 'Wedding' ceremony was indeed a beautiful thing; a public proclamation of two individuals' love for each other. This is something I can readily support.

"Possibly." Arcee replied with a hint of smugness to her tone.

"Why Ratchet? He's scary and mean sometimes." Autumn whispered sadly.

"No Autumn, he isn't." Arcee said lightly. "You have to understand something about him. Ratchet is a lot older than you can probably imagine. In his incredibly long life, by your standards, he has had to watch countless thousands die while he personally tried to save their lives. Millions have died during his lifetime… and he was forced to watch while our entire world died and he was completely helpless to save it. He acts mean, grumpy, and grouchy because he cares. He doesn't like to see anyone injured, and he would like nothing better than to be forced to do nothing but polish his tools all cycle long because no one gets injured. He has seen so much death and destruction that he wants to save those few who are left. He cares so much that he even tries to frighten others into not getting injured, so that his skills won't be needed." She explained.

"Well he sure scares the slag out of me!" Autumn protested softly.

"He tries to do that just so you won't get hurt again. But when something does happen, you can bet anything you like that he will do whatever he possibly can to get you fully repaired and functional again." Arcee answered earnestly.

"That's Ratchet all right. That gruff demeanor is just to hide how much he really cares." I added lightly.

"That sounds like the Ratchet I've come to know." Mikaela said with a nod. "He's a character all right, but he's got a heart of gold."

"Really?" Autumn asked doubtfully.

"Yeah. Think back a minute. Tell me when he's ever done anything to hurt you. I'll bet he's scared the life out of you, and maybe even threatened you, hasn't he?" Mikaela asked as she looked up over her left shoulder at Autumn.

I could see Autumn frown as she was thinking about it. She was most likely going over every memory she had of every encounter with the medic. With the sole exception of a wrench to her helm, he's never hurt her. That is something I know for certain!

"He yells at me sometimes… but he's never even acted like he was going to hit me with that wrench. I… I even saw him hit Blue with it." Autumn answered timidly.

"He's never hit you, because he never hits someone who doesn't deserve it Autumn." Arcee said to her plainly.

"What about you Autumn? What's your favorite thing about the world?" Mikaela asked only somewhat changing the topic, but actually getting back to the topic we were discussing.

"I… I like these cliffs, the beaches here and looking at the stars. I never got to see beaches and things when I was at home, but I'd sneak out sometimes to look at the stars." Autumn answered.

It hurt to see her like this. She acted as if almost anything she said would land her in the brig or worse. No bot deserved to be rendered into such a state and certainly not a youngling.

"Well, you don't have to sneak out to look at them tonight, now do you?" Mikaela asked cheerfully.

Autumn shook her head before she looked up with a wistful expression. There seemed to be some kind of longing in her optics.

Chromia POV

When Mikaela had yawned for the second time, I laid out a tarp for Autumn to recharge on. It was near enough to the coals of the fire that she would be warmed by the heat they would generate all night long. Mikaela laid down on Autumn's right, while Ravage laid down on her left. I folded down as if to recharge in my alt. mode as did both Elita and Arcee.

I knew the other two were actually going into recharge, but I was going to keep watch. I still didn't really trust Ravage not to do something to Autumn, and I wasn't about to take any chances. There was no way that I was ever going to take a risk where a sparkling was involved.

Two human hours later Mikaela was asleep, while everyone but myself was in recharge. I couldn't have been more surprised when Autumn sat up and looked around. She stood up and walked to the edge of the cliffs and sat down looking up at the stars.

A full moon hung just a dozen degrees above the horizon. The reflected light from that moon illuminated the ocean, beaches below us, and the woods behind us. It was a very beautiful scene. Stars were twinkling brightly in the night sky, and everything looked extremely poetic.

Autumn sat there looking up into the night sky for about two hours when I heard her speaking softly.

"Mami, ich weiß dass du irgendwo da draußen bist. Ich... Ich hoffe du kannst mich hören, Mami. Ich brauche dich Mami . Ich brauche Hilfe bitte . Alle erwarten das ich glücklich bin, aber ich bin es nicht... weil ich nicht kann! Bitte, Mami bitte, hilfe mir!"

The words seemed to be some type of desperate entreaty… almost a plea of some kind. It took me a few moments to learn exactly which of Earth's many languages it was, but once I did, I also learned what she had said.

"Mommy, I know you are out there somewhere. I... I hope you can hear me, Mommy. I need you Mommy. I need help please. Everyone expects me to be happy, but I can't... because I'm not! Please Mommy, please help me!"

My spark just about froze when I realized what she was doing. She was begging her offlined Carrier for the help that she knew she needed. I don't know if she received an answer or not, but after another hour of looking up at those stars, she went back to the tarp, laid down and entered recharge.