When All Lights Go Out I (TFP)

Chapter 34

Optimus did have a good point, but Azura was still worried. "Well..." She locked her index fingers together as she thought about it. "I guess if you know what you are doing, there's not much more for me to say. But I do still think it's a bad time of year."

"You will see Bee and I again in the morning, Azura," Bulkhead said with a smile on his face. "You have nothing to worry about, youngling." She frowned a little when he called her youngling, but said nothing about it. "We will be back from the Arctic by the time you wake up tomorrow. You need to think about yourself first."

Azura smiled a little at Bulkhead before she yawned softly. "I hope that will be the case. I don't like the idea of losing someone else." She looked up at Optimus. "Alright, you win, Optimus. I'll cave in and have that bath. But I will want to watch Bee and Bulk leave."

Optimus smiled at her and understood what she wanted. Ratchet brought over a scanner and hands it to Bulkhead. "This should guide you to the location of the signal when you arrive. But remember, you will only be there until your core temperature reaches the blue zone. If that happens, you'll return to base, defrost and go back to continue searching."

"Got it, doc," Bulkhead said as he takes the scanner from Ratchet's hand and walked towards the ground bridge tunnel. He looked back at Azura and smiled at her. "And recharge well, Azura. If you have that nightmare again, just think of us and we will be there to fight off the nightmare for you."

Her smile widened at the very thought of that. "I guess I can try that." She giggled a little as she thought about it some more. "Yeah, I guess I can try that."

Bulkhead was grinning as he was glad he could offer some words of advice and encouragement. Ratchet put the coordinates into the ground bridge controls and activated it. She watched as the vortex came alive and the two bots walked towards it. Azura really hoped that the weather wasn't terrible on the other side, but she wasn't too confident given the time of year that it was. She just hoped that they will not freeze.

Once Bumblebee and Bulkhead had gone through, Optimus turned to head to Azura's room. She tensed a little as she had wanted to stay to wait for the two bots to come back, but she knew Optimus probably wouldn't allow it. "Do I have to have a bath now? Can't I wait until Bumblebee and Bulkhead return?"

"It takes an hour and a half before our systems start to feel the sub zero temperatures, Azura," Optimus said gently. "Even if you try to stay awake during that time, I have a feeling that you are going to find yourself falling into recharge regardless."

Azura grumbled a little and sighed softly. "I guess I should relax...I guess Cliffjumper is still fresh in my mind. So I worry about losing more family, that is all."

Optimus smiled and kissed her forehead gently, rubbing her back to comfort her. "I fully understand how you are feeling, Azura. But this isn't something you need to worry about. Ratchet has ensured that the bots know what to do during reconnaissance in sub zero temperatures."

"I know...I guess...maybe I'm just too tired..." She rubbed her eyes and yawned loudly and relaxed against Optimus's chassis. "I don't even know if I'll be awake through the whole bath. You will let me sleep in your chassis, right?"

Optimus nodded. "I want you to recharge peacefully, Azura, and I won't go back on my word. If you fall into recharge right now, I'll handle everything."

"That sounds good to me," Azura said as she closed her eyes. "I feel happy and I can hear your spark. It is nice."

Optimus chuckled gently as he felt Azura's body relax in his hands. She fell into recharge without realizing it, it would seem. He hoped that Azura has a good recharge, and have no nightmares tonight. He knew that she may still have her nightmare, and he hoped she would eventually tell them what she is dreaming of. Though her description earlier sounded odd to him. However, whenever Azura was ready to tell him, she will.