When All Lights Go Out II (TFP)

Chapter 25

“Yeah, but we can only move forward. And I think we should try and forget what Mech tried to do to you, Optimus. I know you will have a harder time, since Azura nearly perished because of them, and she is still recovering from it too. But we need to move forward. Especially since Megatron has yet to show any interest in resolving this war. Even for the sake of his daughter.” Optimus nodded in agreement and Ratchet sighed deeply. “It is a shame though. Megatron had good intentions a long ago.”

“Yes. But he became even worse than what he was trying to originally accomplish which has resulted in the loss of our planet. Unfortunately…his ideals were corrupted. And…” Optimus looked at Azura as she shifted in her recharge. She had been recharging for the last hour, and he was assuming she would wake up, as she was still refusing to recharge for too many hours. “I know a part of him wants to make things right. And I want him to change too…but I know, in my spark, it will take more than Azura for him to change his mind. After all, he wants to rule a world, not to share any of the leadership that comes with it.”

“Yeah…but there is not much we can do. And now, Megatron knows Azura has powers that are strong. Do you think he would ever try to…control her?”

“I hope not. Azura might be strong, but she is still an infant. She has limited energy, and after Starscream threw that shard at her at the time, I think we all saw a small part of her full potential. So it is possible Megatron may consider it. But even he knows she is young. But…” Optimus lowered his gaze towards the floor and shook his head. “He was the reason the last of the sparklings perished…when he ordered that attack on the refugees we had taken in to protect them from the decepticons, which included a few dozen sparklings. So it is not unreasonable to assume he might do something extreme.”

“I guess. Hopefully her being his own daughter will make him think.” Optimus nodded in agreement and Ratchet looked at Azura as the sparkling began to whimper in her recharge. Optimus sipped more of the cube and slid off the berth to walk over to her. Ratchet chuckled a little. “And I guess she senses that I am no longer doing anything. But I think we should make her day better.”

“How so?”

“Arcee, Bulkhead and Bumblebee should be back with the kids very soon. And I think June is coming as well, as she mentioned she was going to bring some food for them after school. And…” Ratchet walked over to the large cylinder containing Azura’s coverings. “We should put these on her today. And she can finally leave the med bay tonight.”

Optimus widened his optics and he smiled, glad that this was his plan. “Good idea, Ratchet. Azura has desperately needed it. And maybe…if she is allowed out of the med bay, I could take her on a drive.”

Ratchet grimaced with a low hum. “Mmmmm…no, no, no…” He shook his head and Optimus’s smile softened a little knowing that Ratchet disagreed. “While I am discharging her from the med bay, Optimus, she is not ready to just go for a drive away from the base. I still need to monitor her, even though I know that you will be very careful.”

Optimus nodded as he understood and looked down as he gently gathered Azura into his hands as she wiggled and whimpered softly with a low groan. She opened her optics slightly and grasped at the large, pink otter toy she had began recharging with just before. “It is alright, Azura. Ratchet has finished.” She smiled a little as she rubbed her optics before covering her face with the toy, making Optimus chuckle lightly while making sure the monitor lines do not tangle with the toy. He glanced at her diaper briefly and it was currently clean, which was good. “I hope you were able to have some good dreams.”