Hey everyone!
Have a cutesy, lovely little chapter or two before stuff REALLY starts to go downhill! I figured it's nice to have some romance, friendship and a teeny bit of lore-drop at this stage in the story, so I hope you enjoy!
Also, because I was about 15/16 when I started writing on this site, I had no idea to put trigger warnings at the start of stories. I'm going to start doing it now that I know better. If I can, I'll go back through other chapters and do the same there.
TW: This chapter does feature mentions of physical abuse and experimentation on child characters.
Chapter Fourteen: Milestones
"You'd think that I always hated Shockwave from the way I talk about him now. What I wouldn't have given to send a blast of energon straight through his cyclops optic.
But in the first few weeks of my arrival there, he wasn't the cruel scientist I know him to be now. Pit, I might've even called him "nice".
"If you let me help you, it could change the tide of this war," He said.
"Progress comes at a cost." One of his favourite lines. Never at a cost to himself, by the way.
The cost was me. The "help" was scrificing my vision for his grand one.
I knew he did something to...change me. But I never really knew what.
And after what happened with...well, you know who...I think I need to know exactly what was altered."
Halo finished making her case, sitting on a medical berth opposite Ratchet as he leaned against the computer. Arms folded, he mulled over what she'd just told him.
"Sound like somethin' you can help with, Doc?" She asked hopefully.
"Well...to be completely honest, I'll need to run some tests before giving out any hope, Halo Jyn." He mused aloud. "However, I must stress this: Shockwave's "methods", if you can even call them that, are terrifyingly unconventional. The processes he could've used on you could be virtually anything as far as I'm aware."
Halo Jyn nodded lightly. "I know, Ratch. My hopes aren't exactly high for this experiment."
"Regardless, I will do my best." He accepted. "Thank you for trusting me with this."
"Trusting you?" She half-smiled a little. "What do you mean?"
Ratchet gave a slight shrug. "Halo, it has been no secret to me that you were vastly uncomfortable with my medical care ever since you arrived here. Especially that night after Airachnid caught you and Arcee. A night where you so obviously needed medical attention, and yet were so reluctant to get it."
Halo shrunk back. "Right...sorry."
"You needn't apologise. Apprehension of doctors is nothing new." He waved off her apologetic tone. "I thought it might be because you've been so used to taking care of yourself but knowing your history with Shockwave...well, it's no longer a wonder why."
Recognising the awkward stance of his patient as she turned her helm away from him, Ratchet sighed. He'd seen this all too many times before. Given the Decepticons' approaches to torture, no former prisoner was excited to be poked and prodded by another medical worker - let alone a cranky old bot like him.
But he'd learned to adjust his tone when needed. Even in this conversation with Halo, he'd tried to be more patient with her than usual.
Perhaps a part of it was seeing this different, more genuine side to her. Open and calm. Like an Autobot who just never truly had a chance to move on from the past.
At her request, he began running some tests on her physical and psychological self. While most of it was geared toward the things she asked, he still asked for the opportunity to run routine diagnostics on her as well.
After all, it wasn't every day the two got along well enough for them to be in the same space for this long - let alone for her to trust him with so many tests.
Finally, at some point in the early hours, they wrapped up the testing. Halo stretched and yawned as Ratchet walked her out of the medical bay.
Much to their surprise, on the other side was a very dozy-looking yellow scout sitting on the floor of the main room.
"Bee?" Halo tilted her helm.
Ratchet's tone wasn't nearly as soft. "Bumblebee!" The poor mech jolted awake. "What are you doing up this late?"
The scout leaped up as soon as he saw Halo Jyn's spark-warming smile. She couldn't help feel endeared whenever she felt his presence.
"H-hi, Ratch! I was just waiting for Halo." He awkwardly scratched the back of his helm. "Y'know. Make sure she got back to her room safe."
The doctor raised an optic ridge. "She lives just a few halls down from you, Bumblebee."
The yellow mech looked to Ratchet, then pointedly nodded his helm sideways towards Halo. The doctor only furrowed his ridges in further confusion as he tried to decipher his silent communication.
Halo just laughed. "Y'know what, I think I would feel safer if Bee walked me home."
The white mech, finally catching on, simply rolled his optics at Bumblebee. "Very well. But do NOT over-exert your injuries! You may feel better, but you still lost a lot of energon." He pointed to Halo. "And you took quite the beating from Seaspray last week. Be careful!"
Halo nodded to the doctor as she followed Bee into the hallway. It felt like it'd been so long since the two had managed to share a single moment alone. Ratchet had barely let her out of the medical bay, and it was one of the few occasions that she hadn't argued about it.
The scout glanced at his...friend? Girlfriend? Teammate? It was difficult to know where they stood right now.
He had so many questions. After seeing her empty optics the week prior, how could he not? But he could also see her pain. Her hidden fear. Bee knew what it felt like first-hand to bring up old wounds and didn't want to put her through that.
The gold femme could practically hear his reluctance to speak his mind.
"Ask." She prompted him. Her soft tone surprised the scout. "It's okay."
He was hesitant. "I don't want to push you any more than you already have been."
She paused as they neared her room. Standing outside the door, they stood patiently opposite each other. Reaching out, she gently found the scout's right servo, taking it in her own two.
"You deserve to know everything." Halo sighed, then gave a light half-smile. "And to be honest? I deserve to finally talk about it."
Bee tilted his helm with a heavy apprehension. "Okay."
The Wrecker smiled at him again. Opening the door to her berthroom, she led him inside. He'd never really been in there before. At most, he hovered outside waiting for her so they could go racing on their days off.
She let go of his servo to tidy up the berth a little. "Sorry. Wasn't planning on a guest today."
"No worries," Bee assured her. "Need help?"
She shook her helm. "Nah, I've got it."
Bumblebee watched in awe as she took out a bow, a curved sword, a small blaster, and an audio player. He noted the name of a title Rafael had mentioned from an English assignment.
He tilted his helm. "What're you reading?"
"Some Earth audiobook." She shrugged. "All about romance and what they call 'period dramas'. It's relaxing after...well, all of this."
She jokingly nodded to the pile of weapons she just placed on the floor.
The femme couldn't help smirking a little. "It's kind of occurring to me that a weapons' rack isn't such a bad idea."
Sitting quietly on the berth she gestured to the spot next to her for Bee to sit down. He perched beside her at a comfortable distance.
"Fire away." Halo opened up the conversation. "I don't mind how deep the questions are going to be."
Bee nodded. "Well...I guess the first would be 'how are you holding up?' We haven't really talked about Seaspray yet or what him being here was doing to you."
"I'm doing way better now. Putting a fiery blast through the chassis of your problems does wonders for your confidence, y'know."
"Halo."
She chuckled a little. "Fine, fine." She tried to find the right words for it. "Y'know that feeling you get in the middle of a battle? Where you just know something is about to shoot at you but don't know from where, when, or how much it's gonna hurt? That's what it felt like living with Seaspray as a kid." She shrugged. "I thought that feeling would've left now that I'm older, but...to be honest, I was terrified of the mech. What he could do to me...All that pain he couldn't wait to cause."
The yellow mech's spark sank. He had no clue that she felt that way about him. He knew that Seaspray hadn't liked Halo, but knowing just how he'd punished her for just...existing?
It was enough to make him wish that Sea didn't have such an easy demise.
"Would you have talked to any of us? If he'd started hurting you like that again?" Bee asked, nervous of her possible answer.
She shook her helm. "If I told you...it might've made you do something that could ultimately interrupt the plan Arcee and I made."
Bee seemed to grasp what she unknowingly hinted to. "He did hurt you again. Didn't he?"
Halo paused, her mind wandering back to Seaspray's short-lived time at their base. Her digits drifted over the new scratches and dents on parts of her upper arm.
"He tried to. I think it surprised him when he didn't get the reaction he wanted." She admitted. "What else do you want to know?"
The yellow mech stared at her in disbelief. She was so nonchalant about the whole thing. Like this was so commonplace for her.
"Do you ever wanna leave?" He asked, tilting his helm with sympathy. "I found the flight plans." Halo's spark dropped. "Leaving the solar system doesn't exactly make it sound like you're happy here."
She froze. She didn't know what to say in response to his revelation. But she cursed herself for hiding it from him.
"There was a point when Seaspray arrived where I thought I'd have to leave for a while. I'm wanted to run from him. You know why." She turned towards him a little. "But I couldn't have brought myself to do it. Not without making sure you were all safe first. Especially Bulk. You could smell something off about Sea from a mile away, but Bulk? He had a blind spot when it came to him specifically."
Bumblebee wasn't bringing this up to blame her for what she considered doing. He just wanted to understand her better.
He gently took her servo. "I can understand why. But, for what it's worth, I'm glad you're sticking around."
Halo breathed a sigh of relief, offering him a light smile. "Thanks, Bee." She shrugged. "So...any more questions?"
This was going to be a difficult one.
After months (or what felt like years) of waiting and anticipating, finally, he asked her the question he'd been waiting to since she'd first arrived there.
"Halo Jyn..." He began softly. "Are you free tomorrow night?"
A blue blush swept across her face. She quickly turned away, but couldn't stop herself from smiling.
"Pretty sure I'm free." She answered, leaning over to the mech and nudging his arm a little. "What did you have in mind?"
"Well, it's my understanding that humans really enjoy an energon-like drink called "coffee" to refuel themselves." He answered nervously. "If you're available, I'd like to take you to a coffee shop and a concert."
Bee was trying to conceal his nervousness, praying that the late-night planning sessions with Smokescreen were going to finally pay off.
"I'll be there." Halo agreed with a soft smile.
Her unusually shy demeanor only came back stronger she place her servo on his.
"Hey, um...I know it's getting kinda late, but..." She trailed off a little. "Is it...okay if you stay with me for a little while?" Bee was pretty sure his spark melted. "N-nothing uncomfortable! I just...I'm not sure how easy it's gonna be to sleep."
Bee just smiled and nodded.
Halo raised an optic ridge. "What's with the silence?"
The scout shrugged. "Eh, I'm just appreciating how soft you've become since being at base."
The gold femme immediately folded her arms. "Soft?! I am NOT soft! I'm a feared warrior and have killed more 'Cons than you and Smokescreen combined!"
"...do you wanna cuddle?"
"...yes, I want to cuddle. But don't make it all sappy."
The next day . . .
Wheeljack stretched as he strode down the hallway. The open road was great for distance, but even he had to admit that nothing beat a nice warm berth.
The mech paused mid-arm-stretch as he reached the energon storage unit. Up ahead, he could hear the sound of chatter from the unit. He recognised the beeps of that scout Halo seemed to be friends with, as well as the voice of the recruit that Bulkhead had briefed him on.
Bulk had more done it to save the kid in case he said the wrong thing around Wheeljack, but there was only so much warning he could do.
"I can't believe you finally did it, dude!" The rookie excitedly beamed. "Only took how long exactly?"
"Would you stop asking questions?" The scout sounded tired. "It wasn't like that. We just talked, okay?"
They continued their conversation, unaware of the Wrecker standing right outside the doorway.
"Yeah yeah, I believe you." Smokescreen winked. "You spent the night in Halo's room and NOTHING happened AT ALL."
Bumblebee was deadpan. "I'm serious. If you keep talking like that, you're gonna get me in trouble with Bulkhead. Have you ever seen an angry Wrecker?" The scout shuddered a little. "I do not need him on my case."
"Bulkhead? That who you're worried about?" The gritty, low voice of a familiar mech came from the doorway.
Both Smoke and Bee's sparks clenched as they realised who'd been listening in. Slowly turning back, the two's optics simultaneously widened to see the tall frame of the white Wrecker in question. He stood arms folded, shoulder against the doorway with his helm tilted down, covering the upper part of his face.
"Wh-Wheeljack! Heyyyyy, big fan!" Smokescreen darted to distract the mech. "Sorry I missed the big battle last week! I got stuck on Doordash duty with the kids." He beamed. "I studied every one of the Wreckers' battles back at the Elite Guard!"
"You talk that way about Haley and expect to be all 'buddy-buddy'?" Jackie snarled. "The EG must've been getting desperate."
Smoke's optic ridges furrowed, but he still tried to keep the smile as he stage-whispered to Bee. "It's too late for me. Save yourself."
The yellow mech was half-tempted to leave, but couldn't leave the rookie there to face Wheeljack on his own. Even if Smoke's big mouth was the reason they were in trouble in the first place.
"Wheeljack, nothing happened between Halo and me." He stated. "We were just talking."
"Talking? For the whole night?" Jackie questioned.
Bee nodded, growing immediately more nervous. "Y-yeah. We started off small-talk, y'know? Just about how it'd been a while since she'd talked to someone like this, and how she didn't have a weapons rack so she had to reorganise her stuff, and then...a lot of personal stuff that I'm not sure if she'd want me to broadcast."
"Well, whatever it is, I got a bit of 'small-talk' for ya now." Wheeljack sneered a little as he stepped ever-closer to the mech. "I know what you want outta this cute crush she seems to have on ya. But if you've got any intention of going ahead without the honour, love, and respect that a Wrecker like her deserves, you better drop outta the race now. Or sign up for a world of pain if you mess it up. Understand, kid?"
Oddly enough, Bumblebee's nervousness dissipated. He stood a little taller as he tilted his helm. "Wheeljack, um, sir. All due respect, she's the most amazing person I've ever met. What did you think I was gonna do?"
The white mech blinked a little in surprise, but barely showed it. "As long as we're on the same page."
Grabbing a cube of energon from the shelf nearest to him, he shot Bee one last look to say "I'm watching you" before returning to the hallway.
As he left, the scout couldn't help breathing a sigh of relief. He snapped his helm back to glare at Smokescreen. The rookie put his servos up in defence.
"Dude, you know we're bros and everything," he said sincerely, "but if you die under mysterious circumstances, and he was the only witness, I am NOT asking questions."
They both froze as Jackie poked his helm around the doorway again. This time, his expression was a little softer.
"Did you say Haley didn't have a weapons rack yet?" He asked.
Bee glanced at Smoke, then back at Wheeljack as he responded. "Uh, yeah. She said she's been meaning to build one but didn't have the time."
Bee could've sworn he saw a glimmer of joy in the Wrecker's face.
"Right. Well, I gotta go."
With that, he left again, leaving the two young bots more confused than scared.
Smokescreen leaned over to his friend. "That was weird, right?"
Bee just shrugged as he cheerfully walked out of the room. "Probably, but I don't have time for that side quest today." He turned back, a wide smile obvious under his battle-mask. "I have a date."
Later that day . . .
Optimus marched into the main room with many questions on his processor. He'd dealt with traitors before, but this? This was a different breed.
How many Autobots had perished under his selfish gain? How did he evade detection for so long?
And his most worrisome question yet: Were there other traitors in the Autobot ranks?
When it came to questions such as these, there was only one teammate that he knew to go to.
"Ratchet?" Optimus called out to the seemingly empty medical bay. "Are you here?"
A few grumbles and murmurs preceded at the medic groggily popped out from behind the shelf of datapads at the back of the room. He raised an optic ridge at seeing his friend there.
"Optimus, what brings you to the medical bay? Are you injured?" Ratchet enquired.
"I am fine, Ratchet." The leader responded, smiling a little at his friend's concern. "Can the same be said for yourself? You look worryingly tired."
The doctor waved it off as he groggily trod towards the computer. "I've been researching for most of the night. Can't say I've reached more answers than I have more questions."
"This is regarding Halo Jyn?"
Ratch nodded. "It would appear that Shockwave's torment had an incredibly painful effect on more than just her psyche and optics." He glanced over the tests he'd performed earlier. "There are results in this tests that make me question exactly what the hope was with her experiment."
"How so, old friend?" Optimus stepped closer, looking over his shoulder at the results in intrigue.
"Well, as an example..." He pulled up a complex-looking diagram. "This is the genetic makeup of a normal Cybertronian. Having performed the same tests on other members of the team, I can say with confidence that it is accurate." He then clicked on a second file. An image of a similar, but slightly emptier diagram appeared. "This is Halo's."
The image was certainly a genetic makeup, but definitely...different. The spherical sections that made up the first image seemed more scattered on this one. Almost like they hadn't finished building it.
The leader tilted his helm. "It seems incomplete."
"Which is what I first believed as well. But look closer." Ratchet pointed to a specific part of the scattered diagram. "Here. Almost invisible." The doctor shook his helm. "A new type of cybernetic genome. Manufactured, not by a spark, but by a creator."
"Ratchet." The concern in Optimus' tone grew louder with each revelation. "What are you saying?"
The medic sighed. "I am saying, Optimus...that Halo Jyn wasn't simply 'experimented' on in that laboratory. She was remade. Her frame may still be recognisable as Halo to those who knew her before, but there's no telling what changes it may be bringing to her now."
"Surely that is not possible." The Prime almost refused to believe it.
"It shouldn't be. But we should know better than to underestimate Shockwave. Perhaps this was the reason he wanted a young test subject. It must've been easier to rewrite her genetic build that way."
Optimus couldn't help but worry for Halo's mind once she found out about yet another discovery. "Is there a way to alleviate this...remaking?"
Ratchet shrugged, pinching the bridge of his face. "Optimus, I only found this technology to be possible three hours ago. If there is a cure for her condition, it could take orns for me to develop it." He glanced over towards the stack of datapads on his desk. "But...I can at least make a start..." He turned to Optimus. "Where is she now?"
"With Bumblebee." The Prime solemnly reminded him. "I believe this is called a 'date', in human context."
"Of course..." The doctor shook his helm. "Well, allow her to enjoy this time. At least until I have something concrete to reference from. This style work...it's almost reminiscent of an old age of Cybertron..."
Meanwhile . . .
"I'm sure you're wondering why I've gathered you all here today." Wheeljack spoke formally, compared to his usual abrasive tone.
Standing in front of him were Bulkhead and...no one.
"Uhhh...It's just me here Jackie. What do you mean 'all'?" Bulk tilted his helm.
The white mech shrugged. "Eh, sounds more official. Anyways." He started beaming. "Ya know what the scout kid told me earlier?"
Bulkhead raised an optic ridge. "I haven't seen ya this happy in a while and it's scaring me."
"He was in Halo's room last night and-" Jackie began.
"HE WAS WHERE?!" Bulk cut him off almost immediately.
Wheeljack waved Bulkhead's remark off. "Eh, I already put the fear of Primus into the kid, calm down." He went back to explaining. "Back to it. He told me that she didn't have a weapons rack."
Bulkhead's optics widened. "You mean..."
"Weapons. Without organisation. Everywhere." Jackie beamed.
The green mech grinned. "Does this mean what I think it means?!"
"You bet it does, ya big lug!"
The two mechs aggressively fist-bumped in their excitement, both barely able to contain how happy they were for their new discovery.
"Okay..." A third voice chimed in. They both turned towards the doorway to see the familiar serious face of Arcee. "I'm usually good at eavesdropping and deciphering these things, but I need to ask: Why are you two so happy about this?"
Wheeljack blinked. "Why are we so happy?! You're kiddin', right?"
"'Cee...we kinda had this whole thing planned for each of Halo's milestone Creation Days." Bulk began to explain. "It got interrupted for...a lotta reasons. But it was supposed to be us getting her the very first vehicle mode, then her first gun, weapons rack, and her first ship."
The blue sharpshooter could see where this was going, but let them continue.
"Sure, it might sound a little dumb now, all things considered." Jackie shrugged. "But I couldn't be there for any of those other milestones. I can do this for her now. Even if it seems small." He smiled a little softer. "Kinda makes me want to stay at the base for longer."
Arcee met his optics for a second. Aside from when he was causing havoc and putting the team in danger they couldn't keep up with, Arcee had to admit she kind of enjoyed his company. It was nice seeing this softer side of him when he talked about those he cared about.
"Well...I wouldn't have a problem with that." She returned his smile.
Wheeljack wasn't sure what he recognised in her optics. But he would've been honoured to believe it was admiration. The Wrecker grinned and gestured to the pile of scrap metal in the center of the room.
"All hands on deck. We got as long as Bumblebee can distract her on their day out."
The blue femme raised an optic ridge. "You mean their date?"
Jackie shot a joking glare. "I mean their platonic day out."
I hope you all enjoyed the chapter!
Next chapter, we get to see Halo and Bee's cute little date. I can't wait to write something cheesy and cute again
And yes, this is the beginning of a budding ship between Arcee and Wheeljack because these two lone wolves with sparks of gold gotta stick together!
As always, if you have any ideas for the next chapter or characters that could be added, let me know! I'm always open to ideas, even if they don't end up in the story itself.
Thanks for reading!
'Til All Are One,
GreyroseLegacy