When All Lights Go Out I (TFP)

Chapter 43

She looked at Wheeljack as he was looking around the base curiously while Bulkhead walked beside him. "Jackie, come here, meet my other best buddy..." He gestured to the stairs as Miko walked down a few flights with a smile on her. "Miko. She can wreck with the best of us."

The girl gave Wheeljack a polite wave. "Hi yah."

Wheeljack stepped closer with a smile on his face. "You keeping Bulkhead out of trouble?" He asked as he playfully gestured to the green bot.

Miko chuckled lightly in response to his question. "I try, but trouble finds us anyway."

That satisfied the wrecker's question, Wheeljack looked at Bulkhead in amusement. "We're gonna get along just fine." He turned to face Optimus as he had noticed him upon walking into the base and approached him. "Optimus Prime, it's a privilege."

Optimus nodded in acknowledge of the bot's respect to his presence. "Likewise, soldier. What have you to report from your long journey?" Azura was curious as well, as she was sure he had a lot of stories to tell. And she hoped that he would tell them to her.

"Been bouncing from rock to rock, searching for signs of friend or foe..." He glanced behind his shoulder to glance at Bulkhead briefly as a responded before looking back at Optimus. "Now I find both." Azura was not really sure how she felt about his rhyming, it sounded a little strange to her, but she said nothing as she listened.

Optimus seemed satisfied with the response though. "We are few, but strong. We have suffered losses..." He glanced at Arcee who looked away from Optimus with a sad expression as she remembered Cliffjumper. "But we grown..." He glanced towards Jack and Raf as he spoke about the growth in the base. "And reunited with family..." Azura flinched as Wheeljack looked down and his optics light up when he saw her thanks to Optimus gesturing to her by him. "We all would relish welcoming a new into our fold."

"I would be honoured," Wheeljack responded politely before leaning down slightly to look at Azura. "And here is the little sparkling you told me about. Wow, she's so cute!" Azura smiled and shrugged at him. "She's so small! To think she was just a spark the last time I knew of her."

"It seems destiny made sure that the two of us would meet again on this planet. And I am very happy to say that Azura has settled into her life learning about Cybertron and Cybertronian ways well..." She could not help but feel a bit shy as Optimus spoke to Wheeljack about her. She could tell Optimus was proud as spoke about her, and she did not mind at all. "She did not have a great time during the first years of her life, but she is home with us."

Wheeljack's smile widened as he listened to Optimus. "Well, I have no doubt she is already so strong. Nice to meet you, Azura..." She looked at his optics before looking away. "There's no need to be afraid of me, youngling, I love sparklings. I used to babysit so many back on Cybertron, and so many of them were just like you. Always so shy when they first meet me. Well, you are in for a wild ride...so long as your carrier allows it of course."

"You will have to run activities and games by me before you proceed, Wheeljack," Optimus said in a gentle, firm tone, getting the bot's attention. "Azura is still an infant, and she is recovering from a scraplet incident that occurred a week ago..." This seemed to surprise Wheeljack and there was a hint of amusement as well in his expression, though Azura thought she was seeing things. "Bulkhead has already intended on entertaining her too."

"I am well aware, Optimus, and you have my word, that I will be extra careful with Azura." Wheeljack crouches down and opened his arms to her. "How about a hug for your uncle Wheeljack, hmm? And that toy of yours looks really nice too. I wouldn't mind a closer look at it."

Azura tightened her grip on the Stitch toy as she listened to him. She took a couple steps forward, looking at him curiously for a moment. She wanted to hear more about his adventures and spend time with him. But as she stepped closer, she suddenly had a gut feeling that something was wrong. And it immediately made her nervous. She didn't know if this was due to Wheeljack himself, but she whimpered and ran behind Optimus's leg suddenly. She peered from behind Optimus's leg to see Bulkhead looking at her in amusement.