TFP: Youngling
Ch.25~ Thinking ahead
"Carrier? Where is Optimus always going to with the space bridge?" I asked as I crawled into my berth.
"You've noticed that have you, a bit before you came, we had other Cybertronians reach Earth." He stated, wait, other Cybertronians. "I don't think I ever told you about the Rescue Bots, have I?"
"No, but Sunny and Sides did! Wait, were they Rescue Bots?" I questioned, he chuckled sitting on the edge of my berth.
"They were, Optimus and Fowler wanted to send them to a place to help humans. Off the coast of Maine is a small Island called Griffin Rock. This place has more advance technology development, a lot of Military work and such. They were sent there to work as a human emergency response in conjunction with the human rescue workers there. Optimus goes and makes visits. Recently they found Energon and he has been keeping closer tabs. The Decepticon's have never gone near the island but better to be careful." Carrier explained that wouldn't be good if the Decepticon's went there…
"Carrier do you think I can meet them sometime?" I asked he chuckled.
"Maybe in a bit, I'm sure Optimus would be glad to take you there. He has them working there so that when all of this is over, they can help train the next generation or Rescue Bots." He answered Sire was already planning for our future. "As a Prime, he feels he has to plan everything for when we win."
"Does this mean we're gonna win soon?" I questioned.
"Don't worry bitlet, this war will be over before you're a grown feme." He assured rubbing my helm. "Now settle down so I can tell you a story, can't have you up all night."
(Ratchet's POV)
I snarled at the comm, that fragging glitch had done something reckless. Why am I even surprised? Sometimes I swear he can be short-sighted; he saw a human in trouble and acted. We can't risk him returning base for a bit. He had to scan a form that had DNA samples, which in turn corrupted his scan.
"Carrier!" Star called, I vented as I shut down the system used to contact Griffin Rock. "I finished my work!"
"On my way bitlet," I replied leaving the room I saw her in the hall holding her datapad. "You are getting faster at these."
"Carrier you look upset…" she stated, she was perceptive just like Jazz was.
"Just a bit frustrated." I excused and walked over to grab her datapad. "Now let's check this over."
(Stargazer's POV)
Carrier has been off all day, he seems upset, did Bulk break something important? Maybe my brother's were causing trouble… Or was it the Decepticon's? I heard the sound of engines, seems like the others were dropping off their charges. I smiled as I saw Bulk pull in and Miko jumped out smiling at me.
"Hey Starry!" she chimed, I got off the crate I was sitting on.
"Hey Miko, what we gonna do today?" I asked as she raced to the stairs.
"I bought a new CD, maybe we can listen to it." She stated I knew that would not be happening. "Probably not, Ratch is such a grump about tunes."
"You look bored." Bulk stated as he transformed and rubbed my helm.
"I am, Carrier's been acting weird all day, I hope Sire comes back soon, he'll know what's wrong." I huffed, he looked away.
"Actually Star, Optimus is busy with a mission he won't be back for a few days at least." Bulk stated so that's why Carrier was upset. "Don't worry though, probably something for Fowler."
"Do you have to go on patrol?" I queried as I heard someone else returning.
"Yeah, but not for a bit." He soothed.
'We're back!' Bee buzzed I saw him pull in and Raf hopped out.
"Hey Star!" Raf greeted, I smiled at him. "I found a new show for us to watch."
"Yay!" I chimed and picked him up carrying him up to the platform.
"My brother said he used to watch this one," Raf explained jumping of my hand and set down his bag. "It's got mutant superheroes."
"Let me see!" Miko cheered taking the box set from Raf. "Let's binge it tonight."
"What do you think, Star?" Raf asked I climbed onto my crate seat.
"Cartoon time!" I cheered; I will try to talk to Carrier at bedtime.
(Ratchet's POV)
I looked at the time, it was almost time for Stargazer to head to bed, and the other to take the human children home. I peeked over to see them all still watching the show Rafael brought in. Bulkhead told her that Optimus is off on a mission. I'll explain to her that it's nothing to worry about. A few days and he would be fine to return back, at least that should be the time frame. Primus knows nothing ever seems to go by the books these cycles.
I finished the scan as I heard the others drive in calling their charges, the twins were still on patrol. They might be a pain in the aft, most times but they were good about patrols. Mostly for the chance that they can fight some. I swear those two have been roughhousing since they could walk. I waved off the humans and turned to Star who was sliding off her makeshift seat of crates.
"Alright time for bed." I chimed, she nodded and rubbed her optic.
"Carrier you okay?" she asked, I knelt down and she walked over till I could scoop her up.
"I'm alright, sometimes I can get frustrated with how things go." I said, "Optimus has to stay with the Rescue Bots for a bit."
"Are they okay?" she piped, I smiled down at her.
"They're fine, just a precaution, he should be back in a few days." I soothed, she nodded.
"You miss him?" she asked, I chuckled.
"I always miss him when he is not around." I hummed, "Sorry if I made you worry, here's a little secret. Optimus can get on my nerves too; he has a bad habit of helping when he doesn't need to."
"He doesn't mean to do it I bet." She chimed, I nodded.
"No, he does not, if possible, he wouldn't want to upset anybot," I added, as I set her on her bed. "Alright now, what story should I tell tonight?"
You don't need to worry about me my sweetspark. Lately, I have realised my early follies. I had let her know too much, too much of the war of the bad. She was so young and I felt guilty for it all. She shouldn't have to worry, and I would fix that. It's time she is treated more like the youngling she is.
(Later)
"I'm back, didn't expect you to be still up," Optimus stated, I turned to look at him.
"Just finishing up this last scan, how were things on Griffin Rock?" I asked he chuckled.
"Good, sorry I had to be gone for a few days." He apologized, I scoffed at him.
"You had to scan a third form, one that could present bugs." I grumbled, "Considering what I was feeling, it had been a good choice."
"I had not planned to cause you to worry…" he apologized, I sighed and sat on the medical berth behind me.
"Don't you dare do something so reckless again," I ordered, he knelt before me.
"I will try my best." He replied I sighed knowing that was the best I would get.
"Star was asking if you would take her to see the Rescue Bots, she asked me about your trips the night you left," I explained.
"Once things settle down, I will be happy to take her for a visit." He stated I smiled at him.
"Primus Orion, you will never change will you…" I joked, he stood up.
"Neither of us will." He affirmed offering me a servo.
"I'm too old to change." I huffed taking his servo and he pulled me up and into his hold.
"You will always be youthful to me." He hummed as he began to lead me into a small dance.
"Primus you're incorrigible," I stated as I held his shoulder plate and hip plating as we danced. "When was the last time we did this?"
"I think it was a week after we were given this base." He mused I remember that time, it had been hectic.
"Ah yes when I was about to slag everyone is this base." I joked, he chuckled. "You were on that list too."
"Yet here I am." He teased, I scoffed. "A slow dance, it works wonders every time."
"At least I can use the Iaconian Waltz I had to learn for those blasted gala's in Iacon."
"Hopefully one day we can have more reasons to use this skill."
"Better not be at some gala, those always made my plating itch."
"Primes don't party, remember?"
"You use that excuse to hide the fact that you're a lightweight. One cube of high-grade and you're gone."
"Remember when we went out drinking the first time."
"Heh, I had to practically carry you home after your third cube. You nearly got us kicked out of the bar with your antics."
"Those bar lights made you look beautiful."
"Primus, you're a sap."
"You enjoy it."
"I couldn't have bonded with you if I didn't."
"I am so happy I get to be bonded to you."
"And I, you."
(Optimus's POV)
"Sire!" Star cheered racing down the hall and jumping up.
I caught her with ease as she clung to me her field full of excitement. When things slow down with the Decepticon's I must bring her to Griffin Rock. She will get along with young Cody, I'm sure the Rescue Bots would be excited to see a youngling. Especially Blades, I still remember when he helped watch over the twins.
"How are you doing?" I asked she pulled back grinning up at me.
"Good, Carrier taught me new more about how to do scans, and Raf found this new show, it has this turtle mutants who fight crime! It's so cool!" she rambled, I smiled at her joy.
"That sounds wonderful." I hummed, she grinned at me.
"Can I hear Rescue Bot stories tonight?" she pleaded, I chuckled.
"Of course." I hummed, she squealed excitedly. "I am working on a new way to help you with your Cybertronian."
"Really?" she quizzed, I nodded.
"I am translating some short human stories into Cybertronian for you," I informed.
I was almost done of the first one it was a translation of a 'The Sword in the stone' it was easiest to translate. It did not have concepts that could not be easily translated to Cybertronian. It was rather hard to find children stories that I could translate with having to change much. Seems like stories of knights would be the easiest.
"Yay!" she chimed.
"You should write some of the old stories we used to tell." Ratchet stated as he worked on the console.
"I will try that next," I stated, Star bounced in my hold excitedly.
"I can't wait!" she beamed, I smiled down at her.
(Later)
It was bedtime, I had shifted my patrol so that I could tuck her in and tell stories. I held her servo as we walked toward her room, she absently rubbed a servo over her optic pushing up her visor. She almost always wore it; she treasured that visor so much and took extreme caution with it. If Jazz was seeing this, I am sure he would get a chuckle, he always took care of it himself.
"Sire, will the war be over soon?" she asked, I looked down at her.
"It should end before you would need to worry about it," I answered, she held my fingers tighter.
"You will still be here after it's done, right?" she pressed, I looked down at her my spark ached at her words.
"I promise you, sweetspark, after this war, I will still be here to see you grow up into a fine feme," I assured, kneeling down in front of her. "What is worrying you?"
"It's just… Seems like you're always looking ahead… Like you're not gonna be here to work on it…" she muttered, I cupped her chinplate.
"I want your future to be as normal as can be, I want you not to have to work to clean up what happened due to the war." I soothed, she looked up at me her lip trembling.
"Ja said the same things…" she mumbled, my optics softened and I scooped her up.
"I assure you he did not plan to leave you; he was looking toward a future for you as Ratchet and I are now. All creators do this because all we want is our creations to be better off then we were." I hushed; I saw tears slip underneath her visor. "Stargazer even before you were born your real creators planned for your future. Planned for a world where you would live without the war."
"I just want a world where everyone is still here…" she muttered, hugging my chassis. "I don't wanna lose anyone else…"
"You won't…"
"It's scary when everyone is gone and busy… You were gone for a while… No one is here long anymore…"
"I know, but as I promise that no matter how long, we will always return."
"You promise?"
"I promise my dearest spark."
(Stargazer's POV)
"Bulky!" I chimed, I paused as I saw him hobbling into the base. "Bulk?"
"I'm okay…" he muttered as he went past me.
"What in Primus' name did you do?" Carried muttered as he helped Bulk onto the berth.
"Breakdown…" he stated, I bit my lip, why was he nice to me?
"You kicked his butt right!?" Miko cheered, as I watched Carrier do a scan.
"Star can you grab some sealant." Ratchet called, I nodded heading to the storage area.
Grabbing the extra sealant, I raced back, I heard a voice, I stopped it was Fowler. I stepped back into the room and I saw the others had come in. Carefully I stepped around them all and handed Ratchet the sealant he requested. He took it and motioned me out of the room, I shook my helm.
"Stargazer, go wait in your room." He ordered I looked to see the others looked serious. "Now."
"But…" I began, I felt a servo on my shoulder.
"I'll take her," Sunny stated and grabbed my servo pulling me down the hall.
"Sunny! What's going on?" I pleaded as he pulled me to my room.
"This is a big bot thing, just stay here till someone comes to get you." He stated placing me in my room.
"Sunny…" I muttered, he patted my helm and headed back to the main room.
I looked at the door, what was going on? Why can't I be out there? Did the Decepticon's do something? Were we going to be attacked? I felt tears roll down my cheeks as I stared at the doorway. I'm scared, I don't like not knowing… Why won't they let me help anymore!?
(Later)
"Star?" Miko called, I opened the door and I saw her walking toward my room.
"Miko…" I stated, she raced over to me.
"Were you scared?" she asked, I rubbed at the lubricant on my cheekplates.
"Uhuh…" I muttered, she touched my leg.
"Some human creeps kidnapped Breakdown." She informed I looked at her my optics widening. "Bulk won't go, says he won't save a Con."
"Breakdown but he wasn't all that bad," I muttered, she looked to me confused.
"Star was he the one of the Con's you met a while ago?" she questioned, I nodded.
"Yeah him and Knockout, they both were… nice… Knockout looked happy to see me, I know he was there when I arrived… I think he had been trying to help me but I was too scared to let him…" I explained and sat down looking away. "They said if I could beat them, they would join the Autobots. Maybe not all Con's are evil…"