TFP: Youngling

Ch.45~ Hope and loss

All of us were tight with restrained rage as Megatron strode into our base. The twins were positioned by me as Orion stood at Megatron's side ready to move if need be. Everyone had a blaster trained on him, and his laugh made my tank churn.

"So, this is where the magic happens." He began, turning his gaze to me. "Quaint."

"The coordinates," Orion ordered; he began to walk toward me which made the twins push me back both growling.

"The famous terror twins, you would have made great Decepticons," Megatron stated.

"Like we'd ever work for you slag-face." Sideswipe snarled, and Megatron smirked.

"Spirited, now Doctor, wouldn't you like to input the coordinates? Or perhaps you'd like to try and punch me again?" Megatron taunted, and Sunstreaker marched forward.

"You'll give them to me." Sunstreaker stated, "The quicker I can get your filthy presence out of our base the better."

I felt myself snarl as he placed a servo onto Sunstreaker's shoulderplate as he leaned down to tell him the coordinates. Sideswipe was practically vibrating in anger in front of me but he stayed put. Megatron pulled back and I heard a bridge open, Sunstreaker turned to glare up at the larger mech.

"Megatron we leave," Orion ordered, Megatron turned his gaze to me grinning as I recoiled.

"I suppose we shall." He stated, he turned and I watched as Orion followed him through the bridge.

The bridge closed as Sideswipe raced forward tackling Sunstreaker in a tight embrace. I felt a bit of relief flood me but another part was still highly strung. Orion was going into a dangerous situation with only Megatron as backup. My spark throbbed with worry as I pushed against my bond with Orion.

Please don't shut me out. Not knowing hurts more than knowing ever could.

~I will return.~ he assured I felt our bond open a bit.

~You better.~

(Later)

The Sideswipe held me back as the others rushed through the bridge to help Orion. Our bond was closed, and I couldn't send him anything. If I can get closer than maybe I can. I reached out toward the bridge as I struggled against Sideswipe's hold.

"Orion!" I cried.

I felt Sideswipe's hold loosen and I stumbled forward but caught my stride as I ran into the bridge. Exiting the bridge, I turned my gaze up to see a portal closing. I felt a pair of arms wrap around me and I turned to see Sunstreaker scowling as he pulled me back.

"Where is he?!" I demanded; I saw the others tense.

"He didn't recognize us, he followed Megatron through a bridge," Sunstreaker stated.

He didn't recognize them… I froze as I felt a realization hit me. He used the Matrix to stop Unicron. Had he reverted back to his pre-matrix self? I felt myself begin to shake. If I had been here, I could have talked him down. He would have recognized me.

"We're going back to base." Sunstreaker huffed and I felt myself being dragged back through the bridge.

The others followed us through the bridge and once we all entered the base the bridge closed. Sunstreaker went to let me go but I couldn't keep myself up. He held me as he gently set me down onto the ground, he knelt before me.

"We'll get him back," Sunstreaker assured, I felt tears well up in my optics.

Orion. Please come back to us.

(Later)

Entering our room, I looked down to see Stargazer peeking out from under the thermal blanket she was bundled tightly in. Her helm popped out from the blanket and she shakingly crawled to the end of the berth. She looked up at me with tear-filled optics her lipplates trembling.

I walked over and scooped her up into my arms, her whole frame was trembling as she pressed herself into my plating. I began to pet her backstruts as I forced my gaze up to keep myself from crying again. It hurt, my bond with Orion was blocked and no matter what I did it never opened back up. All I could tell was that he was alive, but that was all.

I felt Stargazer attempting to suckle my plating, I felt tears fill my optics at that. She was absolutely terrified, and that made her search for the comfort of nursing. I moved to the berth and sat down, I pulled her back a bit which made her click and whine. She settled when I parted my chestplates and pulled her close again.

She latched onto my right well and began to suckle in earnest, I rubbed her helm as nursed. Her frame was still trembling but it lessened as she fueled. I tried my best to keep my field soothing, the last thing she needed was to feel my fear and sadness. I pulled her closer as I felt her suckling slow.

"It's alright, Carrier's here." I hushed, "You can stay like this as long as you need."

(Later)

It had been nearly an hour since I'd returned to our room. Stargazer was still latched onto my well but she had long stopped suckling. I didn't have the spark to try and pull her away. I could tell she was still awake from her small movements, her glossal occasionally pressing to the tip of my nozzle.

Suddenly I felt her unlatch, she moved until her faceplate was pressed over the thin cover keeping my spark chamber from being exposed. I reached up to pet her helm as she settled into her new spot. She had reverted back to sparkling behaviours in her terror. I shouldn't have left her side, and yet I had to. Had I been absent, Megatron may have suspected something.

"Ca," she said, I looked down to see her peeking up at me.

"I'm here." I hushed; she tightened her grip on the edge of my parted chestplates.

"Si?" she asked, I felt my spark sink.

"I'm sorry, your Sire can't come right now." I apologized; I felt her frame begin to tremble hard. "He'll be back, I promise."

"Si!" she cried; I pulled her closer sending out soothing pulses of love.

"It's okay, everything going to be alright." I soothed, she sobbed pressing herself as close as she could to my spark. "I'm here, I'm here, Carrier's not going anywhere."

(Stargazer's POV)

"Carrier, when's Sire coming back?" I asked, he rubbed my helm.

"I'm not sure sweetspark." He answered.

"Will he be back tomorrow?" I pressed pulling back I saw his expression it was solemn. "Carrier?"

"I don't know." He repeated, I felt tears well in my optics. "It'll be alright, he's going to come back."

"Where is he?" I pleaded; he turned his gaze away. "Carrier, please."

"I'm sorry." He apologized.

I buried myself into Carrier's plating as I fought off the urge to sob. Something bad happened and Sire was either hurt or missing… I choked back a sob as I buried my faceplate into his plating. His servos pulled me closer as he gently rubbed my backstruts. I hiccupped before sobbing.

I can't do anything…

(Ratchet's POV)

Star refused to let me go and a small part of me was happy about that. I didn't want to let her go either. Holding her was a comfort and right now I needed this as much as she did. My spark felt hollow the blocked bond making me ache. Knowing where my bondmate was only added to the pain.

Suddenly I felt a warm frame behind me and arms wrap around me, I recognized the field instantly. Sideswipe. I felt him bury his faceplate into my backstruts, his frame trembling slightly. I could feel Sunstreaker was close, his field barely brushing my extending field.

"We'll get him back," Sideswipe assured his voice shaking.

"I know," I assured, trying my best to comfort both of us.

"What are your levels at?" Sunstreaker asked and I saw him stepping closer. "Actually I'll bring you a cube."

"I'm fine," I argued, he rolled his optics.

"Your optics look dim, besides being over-fueled for once isn't going to be a bad thing," Sunstreaker muttered and I watched him walk off.

"He's right, remember to take care of yourself too," Sideswipe said his hold tightening. "We need you."

"I'm not going anywhere bratling." I soothed.

"You better not." He muttered.

(Flashback)

"Look at 'em!" Jazz cooed pointing to the twins playing on the floor. "Ain't they just precious."

"They're cute I'll give you that bratling," I replied, he turned to me pouting.

"Yer no fun, these are yer grand-creations ya know." Jazz huffed flopping himself against my side.

"I'm not going to be that over-doting grand-creator," I stated, he chuckled pressing closer to me.

"I know, but ya can let loose a bit more." He hummed, I looked back to see Sideswipe suckling on his twin's audial fin.

"Might want to stop them before Sideswipe eats his twin," I stated, Jazz looked over and smirked.

"He won't, they both do that. Can't get enough of each other." Jazz mused.

"They're twins, it comes with the territory," I stated, he chuckled.

"They've grown so much, haven't they?"

"They certainly have."

"I hope they never have to fight in the war."

"I couldn't agree more."

"Carrier, if anything ever happens ta Prowler and me, will ya take care of 'em?"

"I will, but you better not go dying on me or them."

"If I offline, want ya ta know I did everything I could ta survive. Takin' in these two, it's made me even more determined to survive this. Wanna see 'em grow into fine young mechs after all."

"Jazz, is something about to happen?"

"My next mission, I'll be behind enemy lines for longer than I ever have been... There's a chance I ain't gonna come back…"

"Jazz..."

"I know, I gotta come back, those bitties need me."

(End Flashback)

I turned to look at the sleeping trio, the twins and Stargazer were cuddled by the crates. I gave Stargazer to the twins when I began to adjust our scanners to find Orion. I hoped that he would grow curious and leave the ships cloaking. Or even that I could possibly find the ship…

I stretched my stiff cables and walked over to the medical berth and pulled the tarp from underneath. Walking back to the dozing trio I knelt down and carefully bundles them all up under the tarp. While it wasn't as warm as a thermal blanket it was better than nothing. The main room tended to get drafty this late in the day.

Stargazer murmured something pressing herself closer into the warm embrace of her brothers. The twins had their cheekplates pressed together as they had Stargazer and each other in an embrace. Leaning over I pressed a gentle kiss to each of their forehelms. Pulling back I watched them a moment before rising to my pedes.

I stifled a groan; my frame did not handle my long workdays as well as it had before. I stepped away and began to stretch my stiff joints and cabling. A few more hours than I call it a night…

Please, Orion, come back to us. I know he will not be able to fool you forever. Please see him for the monster he is and not the brother you once knew.

(Orion's POV)

I placed a servo over my spark as I entered the hab for the night. What brother told me, could that really be true? My bondmate, he couldn't have gone mad, could he? And yet, I knew how much he cared for his patients and especially the younglings in his care. Those poor younglings, they did not deserve that. They did not deserve to be slaughtered like that…

The story brother recounted to me, it had been horrible. Starwatcher must have been traumatized to see that. To have the younglings he adored so much killed and left for him to find. If I had been there could I have stopped this descent into madness? I felt hot tears fall from my optics.

Oh, Starwatcher… I am so sorry… If I had only been by your side... Please forgive me…

I collapsed to the cool floor unable to control my sobs of grief. I pressed my forehelm to the cold flooring as I wailed. My blunt servos scratched at the floor.

I am sorry my love, please forgive me…