When All Lights Go Out I (TFP)

Chapter 24

Azura just chuckled without commenting. She was still feeling shy about feeding from Optimus in front of others. She didn't know if she would ever outgrow the shyness as the other autobots have not made fun of her at all. In fact, they seemed to think it was adorable that she was behaving this way. She guessed it was just a sparkling trait, and she would outgrow it eventually. Especially when she can have high-grade energon for the first time.

As Optimus walked into the lobby, he gazed over at Ratchet. He had fully use of his arm again and he was still working on figuring out what Miko had found. He overheard Ratchet mutter something to himself before the medic shouted at him. "Optimus!" Azura turned her head slightly as Optimus and Arcee walked closer to Ratchet. She glanced over at the platform briefly to see the agent still in the gurney, hoping he would recover, before glancing back at Ratchet. The medic turned to face them. "These are engineering specs for a space-time vortex generator."

Azura did not know if that was good or not, but she was worried. "Megatron's building a space bridge. If he hasn't already."

"The sooner he leaves, the better," Arcee commented bluntly as she listened to the two speak.

Optimus turned to Arcee with a concerned expression. "Arcee, a space bridge runs in two directions. Megatron may not be using it to leave Earth, but to bring through his conquering army."

Azura shivered at the thought and she tensed, feeling Optimus's hand tighten slightly around her protectively. "The main event Megatron referred to...but the only place Megatron could possibly recruit that many fallen warriors." Ratchet's voice was filled with fear as soon as he realized what Optimus was saying.

She did not want to hear it, because it would be playing on her mind all day. Optimus just nodded affirmatively. "Precisely." He glanced down at Azura who was looking at him fearfully and he intakes heavily. "Cybertron."

"What a way to make the day heavy for the sparkling, Optimus," Arcee commented in an amused tone. Optimus glanced at the femme who was smirking slightly. "Surely this could have waited until you took Azura to school."

"I suppose it could...but you know this thing had to be told regardless," Ratchet responded gently and glanced at Azura who was still drinking the low-grade. "I forgot to say good morning to you, Azura. You seem to have recharged well. Are you feeling any discomfort?" She shakes her head before freezing and gesturing to the specs on the screen. "Aside from fearful discomfort, of course, but that is fantastic news. This means your body's recovered and you'll likely start noticing a growth spurt. I am not sure how quickly you'll grow, but expect to outgrow your clothes this year."

Azura didn't like that. While she was still small, about Miko's height, she didn't really want to outgrow her clothes so quickly. "Um...I hope I can remain small enough to keep wearing clothes until...my...skin fades or something..."

"I would say it will when you reach a certain height. And Optimus will get the honor of building your first, official plates that we can put on your body. That will be your new clothing." Azura still did not know how to feel about it and she looked away from Ratchet. "You will be fine, Azura. It is another thing you'll just have to get used to. I still need to do a proper scan over your body."

"What do you mean by that?" Optimus asked curiously.

"I mean no disrespect, Optimus, but Azura could lack systems that should have gotten from you. You know when a sparkling forms within a mech or femme, parts from their bodies get delivered to the sparkling through the amniotic lines, and these form the important systems our bodies need. And while Azura is alive, I would hope that not having these systems will not be detrimental in the future." Azura was surprised as she listened to how sparklings grow within a Cybertronian. It was very interesting, and not the same as how humans form. Ratchet smiled as Optimus seemed worried again. "I doubt it will be a huge concern, Optimus...unless it does become an emergency...mostly because the only way for her to receive her systems would require a delicate procedure. One I don't think she would accept right now."