When All Lights Go Out I (TFP)

Chapter 45

"I would not expect anything different," Optimus said with a smile. He could see that Azura wanted to be held, but she was keeping herself controlled while she waited for Ratchet to free her from the lines. "Should I put her inside my chassis now?"

"Well, that depends on her. She does not look like she wants to recharge anytime soon, so I think it would be a bit unreasonable to ask her to be inside your chassis." Ratchet removed the last line and smiled at Azura. "There we go. I am terribly sorry about how the day goes, but I hope you will be okay for the rest of the day."

"Thank you, Ratchet..." She shuffled closer to him and held out her arms to him. The medic picked her up and hugged her gently. "Thank you...and I'm sorry for making you worry..."

"Sorry? Oh, Azura..." Ratchet chuckled gently at the girl as he looked at her. "You were only doing what you needed to so you could escape from a terrible situation. And unfortunately, we did not think that Makeshift would have been the one who came through the vortex and not Wheeljack." He glanced at Optimus who was nodding in agreement. "Hopefully, the grenade that Wheeljack planted on Makeshift killed him, so he will no longer be a problem."

Azura knew that, but Makeshift also said some things too. She looked at Optimus sadly for a moment before hiding her face in Ratchet's shoulder. "But...Makeshift...he...he said...well..."

Optimus and Ratchet glance at each other as they knew she had heard Makeshift say it. Optimus sighed deeply and he took the girl from Ratchet gently to hug her against him. Azura whimpered softly and sniffled, looking up at him with sad optics. "Azura, it is not a secret that a decepticon was used to create the habloid sparks within us. The weapon would have had to in order for the sparks to even exist." She just looked away and hid her face. "And if Megatron was your sire, which I am afraid is to be likely, his only role was to create you. He has never been in your life, and he would only want you for your connection the Matrix. He might have a love for you if he were still alive, but I can only assure you that it would not be the same as the love we show you."

Azura did believe him on that, but she didn't know if she could believe that Megatron would be that bad. But she didn't know him, Optimus and the other bots did. But she was still upset. "It...doesn't bother you?" She looked up at him curiously with a sniffle as tears roll from her optics. "I just...it hurts..." Optimus softened his expression as he listened to her. "I...I am not like him...am I?"

Optimus shook his head immediately. "No. But believe me when I say that Megatron was not born evil. I guess we should have been honest about the decepticon part of you, but we did not have confirmation of who your sire could be. And now Makeshift pretty much answered...even though your protoform did give away a bit." She glanced down at herself with a frown. "You have some of Megatron's build."

"Oh."

"Optimus is right, Azura. You should not feel as though you should be ashamed about it. We all know decepticon is just a name that Megatron picked. We are all Cybertronians, and a name should not change your perspective of yourself." She didn't really react as she looked down. "Hmm, I think you should take it easy. Maybe you should show her some Cybertronian stuff."

"I will consider that. But I want her to be warm." Optimus kept his hand around her. "How long will it take for the serum to start helping her system?"

"It should be already. But she might not notice it for a while. Keep your hand around her, and close to your spark. That will be the warmest area of your body for her." Ratchet watched as Optimus moved Azura to the middle of his chassis as he held her against him. She relaxed as she could hear the mech's spark pulse within. "Hopefully Miko is also okay."

"I think she is. She's a strong, young, human. She was not the one Makeshift was really after anyway." Optimus turned to walk out of the med bay. "I should go and see if Wheeljack's shift is brought in."