TFP: Youngling
Ch.46~ Truth in his lies
I smiled down fondly at Stargazer as she nursed, she looked so calm when she was nursing. I was glad that this was a comfort for her as well as helping her frame recuperate. I stroked her helm leaning back a bit as I relaxed a bit myself. Fueling her was becoming a comfort for myself as well.
I heard a knock and I turned my gaze up to see Sunstreaker standing in the doorway. He had a cube in his servo, striding over he thrusted the cube toward me. He's taken the habit of bringing me fuel while Orion's been gone. Reaching up I gently took the cube and he nodded before walking off.
Carefully I took a sip of the cube, it was warm, I smiled fondly taking another sip. Jazz and Prowl raised those two well, strong personalities, the both of them. But both just as kind and caring as their adopted creators. I wonder what kind of feme Stargazer would have become with them?
"Carrier?" Stargazer quizzed, I looked down to see her looking up at me.
"Yes sweetspark?" I replied, she shifted her gaze a bit.
"Sire's gonna come home, right?" she asked, I set aside my cube so I could cuddle her better.
"He will." I assured, "I know he's working hard to come back as we speak."
She nodded and cuddled herself between my wells, I rubbed her helm as I held her close. She needs the comfort, this war and all it brings is too much for such a young spark. She's been hurt too much as it is. If cuddling up between my wells helps her, I'll gladly let her.
I leaned back again as I rubbed her helm soothingly.
You better return safe Orion.
You have a lot waiting for you here.
(Orion's POV)
"Brother, I thought perhaps we could have a cube together." I stated, brother turned to me with an odd expression.
"I suppose I can take small break." He mused, oh so he was busy. "Brought me a cube hm, what would you have done if I refused your offer?"
"Left it here for you." I answered, he smirked as he strode over and took the cube.
"I'd forgotten how meek you can be." He hummed.
"Perhaps that is why fate brought me to meet you and Starwatcher." I joked; he cringed his servo tightening on his cube. Right, he'd been fighting Starwatcher for so long… "I'm sorry."
"It will take you time to adjust to this… situation." He replied.
"Brother, are you sure he can not be reasoned with?" I asked, he crushed the cube in his servo.
"It is far too late for that." He muttered, "I must return to my work."
I watched him stalk back to his work. I shouldn't have pushed him. I felt a field behind me, I turned to see his second, Soundwave behind me. His field was neutral and that face shield made reading his facial expression impossible. I had no idea what the mech was thinking and that made me a bit uneasy. I was surprised when he gently patted my shoulderplate before heading off toward brother.
I do not know what to do…
What kind of world has this become?
(Later)
I stared at the screen unable to find the will to keep decoding. Each cycle the deep ache in my spark grew. I had to know more, about what happened with Starwatcher. If I can figure out why he started this war perhaps I can talk to him. He may listen to me.
I closed my work and typed Starwatchers name into the database. One result, opening it I felt my spark catch in my throat. 'Stargazer Memorial Clinic attacked by Decepticons.' It was an article from the main paper shared between Iacon and Kaon. Reading the paper, I felt my spark constrict in my chestplates.
This. This isn't what brother told me.
He said that the Senate attacked his clinic, and killed the children. Meanwhile this article, it was telling me that those cruel acts had been done by him and his group.
It made no sense. Was this the Senate trying to frame him?
"Orion." Brother stated, I spun to see him looking at me with a cold gaze. "You're meddling has always been your undoing."
"I don't understand…" I stated, I shrank back as he caged me to the desk his gaze turning dark.
"Must you always stand in my way, even in this state?" He snarled, what did he mean?
"Brother?" I quizzed; he snarled his fist slamming into the screen behind me.
"I should I have just run you through." He hissed; I felt my energon run cold at his words. "Finish decoding those files, or I will correct that error."
He pulled back and left the room, I slowly collapsed to my kneeplates. My whole frame was trembling with fear. Why? I don't understand he wasn't like this?! Sure, he could be rough around the edges and quick to anger but this. This wasn't the brother I remember. What had made him so twisted?
Grabbing onto the keypad I used to help get back to my pedes. Hunching over the keypad I felt my spark beating fast in my chestplates. This, none of this made sense.
I felt my tank churn as a realization hit me. Starwatcher hadn't gone mad? Megatronous had… That article; had been the truth.
I'm sorry for ever doubting you, my love. I will make this right; I will stop him.
Forcing myself to stand tall I quickly began to work on corrupting the files I had not already decoded. If I can do nothing else, I can make sure whatever he wanted from these files out of his grasp. Once the files were corrupted, I took a deep vent. I had to get back to the bots I had seen when I came to.
(Ratchet's POV)
I awoke with a start, an alarm?! A wail came from my arms and I looked down to see Stargazer awake and sobbing. I sat up cradling her I hushed her as I made my way to the main room. Entering the main room, I was shocked to see Orion on my work screen. It can't be?
"Orion!" I shouted racing to the console.
"Starwatcher!" he exclaimed looking relieved. "Thank Primus, I was able to get through to you."
"Orion where are you?" I pleaded, and he smiled.
"I've already sent my current location to this console; it will update if there are any changes." He explained, from behind him I could hear loud sounds.
"Sire!" Stargazer cried trying to lunge at the screen but I held her back.
I watched as Orion's optics cycled wide before he teared up, there a sad but fond smile on his faceplate. He had truly forgotten everything since he had become Optimus. Or had even more of his memories been lost? The sounds around him were getting louder, I felt my spark ache at the realization.
"I am truly sorry my stars." He apologized; I shook my helm pulling Stargazer to my chestplates.
"Orion, you aren't weak, you can fight, I swear. Please believe me, you can do this." I pleaded.
"Then I shall fight." He said with a fond smile.
"Ratchet!" voices called.
"Orion I will be sending aide, just hold out until we can get you back," I assured, he nodded just as the comm was cut off.
"Ratchet!" Sunstreaker called, I felt him turn me toward him. "Do you have coordinates?"
"He said he sent some to the console," I replied, he nodded and turned to the console as I felt Sideswipe pull me back so Sunstreaker could work.
"Sunny and I will get him." Sideswipe soothed, "You two just wait here."
"Be careful," I stated, as I heard the bridge open.
"We will." Sideswipe soothed and he and Sunstreaker raced through the bridge.
I stared at the bridge as I finally registered how Stargazer was sobbing in my arms. Carefully I bounced her a bit as I rubbed her backstruts. My gaze stayed fixed on the bridge. It felt like everything else was gone, it was just me, Stargazer and the bridge.
Please, Orion. Come back home.
My optics cycled wide as I saw movement, and then I saw Orion stumbling through the groundbridge the twins following behind firing back. The bridge! Launching forward I got ready at the bridge controls. Once the twins were safely into the base, I flipped the switch shutting down the bridge.
Before I could say a word Orion rushed over and pulled me into a warm yet firm embrace. I felt his shoudlerplates shake as he sobbed silently into my neckcables as he hugged me. I teared up too, the relief of having him back hitting me like a train.
"I am sorry for not believing in you sooner." He apologized, he pulled back and smiled down at me fondly. "I am glad to see you are alright."
"Sire!" Stargazer cried latching onto his plating.
"Yes, I am here little one." He hushed reaching down to rub her helm. "I am sorry, I do not know how but I've seemed to have forgotten so much."
"That's alright, I am just relieved to have you back," I replied, he leaned down and captured my lip components in a kiss.
I smiled into the kiss, how long has it been since he's been this open with affection in front of others? I felt him pull me closer as our kiss deepened, I wanted to relish in this kiss… But being apart and the Carrier coding will turn this heated. I pulled back and he pulled back too, I smiled up at him.
"My Star, I am sorry." He apologized; I shook my helm.
"Don't." I soothed, I felt Stargazer's weight shift off me. "Seems our little one wants you to hold her."
"It would seem so." He hummed, pulling apart I smiled as he cradled Stargazer his gaze shifting to her. "I am sorry I was gone for so long my little one."
"Don't go." She pleaded; my spark broke at her tone.
"I won't," he assured.
That look, he was being honest. Right, without the Matrix he could say those words and mean them. The burden of the knowledge of the Primes is gone, and he is free… I watched as he gently comforted Stargazer, my spark aching. He was free, and yet I know, I know he cannot remain like this…
"Starwatcher, she is beautiful," Orion stated and turned to me with a fond expression. "She has your optics."
I froze at his words; did he not realize? Stargazer seemed taken back too as she looked up at him confused. He looked to me his gaze turning concerned. He took a step closer and reached up to cup my cheekplate. How could he not realize?
"My Star, are you feeling unwell?" he asked his thumb brushing my cheekplate soothingly.
"Orion, please don't make me have to explain the obvious." I pleaded, and his look softened.
"I know, but I cannot help but see you in her." He soothed, and I sighed in relief. "Perhaps later you can explain how we were blessed with such a sweet feme."
"You don't remember…?" Stargazer said, I looked down to see her tearing up. "Sire, you don't remember me?"
"I am sorry, I wish I did." He apologized. "But I do know I love you my little one, and nothing will change that."
She turned from him and reached for me her teary optics pleading with me. I carefully took her from him and let her cuddle into my chestplates. I rubbed her backstruts soothingly. I felt her tremble as she silently sobbed into my plating. I held her a bit more snuggly as I wrapped my field around her.
"It's alright, your Sire has lost quite a bit of his memories, but we'll get them back." I soothed, "What is the last thing you remember?"
"I remember you calling me to come home early, that you had something you needed to tell me." He answered, my optics cycled wide.
"Primus you've forgotten that much…" I muttered, "Primus, that was even before… Nevermind…"
"So you weren't kidding," Arcee stated, I turned to see her standing by the twins. "Good to have you back."
"It is good to be back, though I apologize, it seems I have lost a considerable amount of my memories," Orion replied.
"I see, well guess I should introduce myself then, I'm Arcee," Arcee stated walking over to him and offering a servo.
"It is a pleasure to meet you Arcee," Orion replied shaking her servo.
"Guess we should introduce ourselves next." Sideswipe chimed, he pulled Sunny over to Orion. "My name's Sideswipe and the pouty on here is my twin Sunstreaker."
"It is a pleasure and thank you for rescuing me earlier." Orion greeted; Sideswipe leaned to the side looking at me.
"So, what we gonna do now, I mean we got him back but I don't think he's all Optimus-y right now," Sideswipe stated.
"I will work on getting his memories back, for now, we will continue as we have been. Arcee I'll leave the patrol management to you." I explained, Arcee nodded servos crossed over his chestplates.
"Right, perhaps this is a good excuse for both of you to take some time off." Arcee teased, and I scoffed. "You know I'm right, besides, I'm sure Stargazer will appreciate having both of your attention for a bit."
She had a point there, as much as I hate to admit it.
"Yeah, we got this, you two spend some relaxing time with sis." Sideswipe chimed.
"Sis?" Orion stated. "I see, I am sorry I was being so distant earlier."
Before I could correct him, he stepped forward and rubbed the twins' helms soothingly with a fond smile. The twins looked up at him in a mix of awe and confusion. Pulling his servos back the twins looked up at him clearly flustered.
"Orion, they are not our creations," I stated, he blushed.
"Oh, I am sorry for the misunderstanding." He apologized; Sides waved it off.
"Let him fuss over you, you are still at the least my grand-creations." I teased, and they flushed.
"They are your grand-creations?" Orion asked, I nodded.
"Yep, their Carrier was one of my younglings from my hospital," I answered, he smiled.
"I see, I am glad to hear that." Orion hummed and turned back to rub their helms.
"This is adorable." Arcee cooed, and I nodded.
'What did I miss?!' Bee called, I smirked as he drove in quickly transforming. 'He's back!'
"He is, though his memories are still missing, so go ahead and introduce yourself," I explained, he nodded and raced over to Orion.
'My name's Bumblebee!' he chimed, Optimus smiled and reached over to rub his helm.
"It is a pleasure to meet you Bumblebee, I am Orion Pax." He greeted, Bumblebee looked so much younger as Orion rubbed his helm.
Once Orion pulled back Sideswipe yanked Bee over and he and the twins had a little huddle. I smirked, those three will never change. Orion walked back over to me. I smiled at him as he gently leaned down and rubbed Stargazer's helm quickly. I felt her pull back a bit to peek at him.
"He's still your Sire." I hushed, rubbing her helm.
"Can we make some new memories together?" he asked, she nodded. "Thank you, my Star."
I want to treasure this time we get to be with Orion without the burden of Primehood lingering over us. A little time to be a family like the one we had planned to have before this all happened. Before our happy little world shattered…