When All Lights Go Out II (TFP)

Chapter 23

"Uh, she just sneezed a small flame."

"Did she?" Ratchet looked at Megatron and the decepticon nodded. Azura coughed a little more and Ratchet hummed a little. "Hmm...well...I need to check her system properly anyway. I hope she didn't accidentally damage her throat with that."

Megatron was not used to the different elemental breaths Azura had. The sparkling whimpered a little as he continued to scrub her body before he was satisfied with how clean she was. He lifted her from the water and wrapped towels around her to begin drying her body. Megatron kissed her forehead and Azura giggled a little, gently placing her hand on his cheek and looking at him with wide optics.

Megatron sighed deeply and whispered gently to her. "I do wish I could stay, Azura. But...but I hope you can end up on my ship at some point." Azura whimpered and looked at him with a slight frown as Azura wasn't sure if that would happen. "If that ever happens, I'll make sure you are cared for. I just cannot feed you due to the dark energon in my system. You do not need more of it." He kissed her cheek gently and looked at Arcee who was standing beside the device Ratchet had brought over before. "I guess this must a sparkling intensive care thing, right?"

"Yeah," Arcee nodded affirmatively. "You can lay her down and Bulkhead will see you out of the base." Megatron was a little surprised and Arcee frowned. "You don't get to expect to remain here for longer than you said you would stay, Megatron. You already know that." Azura whimpered softly as she realized Megatron had to leave and looked up at him. "You have been given the opportunity to give a little care for Azura. But as you are bent on fighting us in the future, I hope you enjoy this feeble moment."

Megatron frowned at the femme briefly before his expression softened and looked down at Azura. The sparkling was looking at him with pleading optics and Megatron took a deep intake before looking at Optimus. "I guess your femme is right, Optimus. You at least will be able to recover from all of this so we can continue this fight. Especially since there will be a world to rule, just not Cybertron." Optimus just frowned in disappointment at Megatron, and Azura began to wail again. "Especially since the alignment will be happening soon."

Optimus sighed deeply and shook his head. "If that is the road you continue to choose to follow, Megatron, I fear you will find a lot more loss. Especially since this world is Azura's home. She might have been created on Cybertron, but here is where she has always known as home. I hope you know that when you take it away from her."

Megatron glanced down at the wailing sparkling and he grits his teeth before passing the sparkling to Arcee. Azura was surprised by the sudden pass to the femme and she watched Megatron turn to walk away. Bulkhead followed the decepticon to make sure to send him through the ground bridge. Azura stared at her sire's back, not knowing what was really going through Megatron's mind. It was clear that he was conflicted, but was still trying to hold up a front. And it hurt. Azura wanted him to stay, but she understood why he could not.

"Well, the damage to your knee ligaments were an easy fix, Optimus. I know they would have felt worse with the weight of Azura and the gestational chamber on your knees, but you will have no problem walking around now. But you should relax while I do a complete check up of Azura's system." Optimus looked at his daughter and he could see she was staring at the door, and she was upset about Megatron leaving the base. "After, your system should have absorbed enough energon from the drip that it would start producing the low-grade necessary to feed Azura. She is going to need it. Expect her to demand a lot of it."

Optimus smiled as he was okay with that. "I will get used to an unsettled sparkling, Ratchet. I know Azura has gone through a mental regression through this carrying, even though she has grown substantially. Now that she is here, I am surprised at how big she has grown. Before, one hand was enough to cradle here, it still is, but I know she is more comfortable in two hands or one arm." Ratchet chuckled lightly as he walked over to Arcee to take the upset sparkling from her. "It will be nice...especially since I missed that experience anyway."