Transformers Prime: A Sparkling Issue

Friday morning...

It seemed he had only just finished the third bedtime story and drifted into recharge when alarm receptors kicked in, bringing his systems out of standby. As blue optics cracked open and awareness roused, the first thing audials heard were the whimpering cries that had caused the alert. Feeding time already?

Optimus slowly pushed himself up from the berth as his systems powered up. "I am coming," vented with a slight rattling vibration from deep inside his intake manifold (a Cybertronian version of a yawn).

He swung his treads to the floor, mind already chanting...

1/2 part low-grade energon, 1/2 part synthetic motor oil. For Ratchet: 3/4 part low-grade energon, 1/4 part synthetic motor oil. He doesn't like as much oil.

1 bottle equals 3 gal – that's 6 quarts of energon and 6 quarts synthetic motor oil; Ratchet's being 9 quarts of energon, 3 oil.

Multiplied by 4 bottles – 27 quarts energon and 21 oil. Times 2 helpings in 1 feeding makes 54 quarts of low-grade energon and 42 quarts of synthetic motor oil in total.

Ugh... He figured he would remember that formula the rest of his life it was so etched into his neural net.

Processers still in the waking process, the Prime moved mostly from cable memory; having done this same routine every night all week. It was only when he got to the doorway when the recharge grog faded enough for him to realize something didn't feel right. The whimpers still persisted, but they weren't as loud as they should have been coming from four hungry sparklings. Optimus checked his internal chronometer and learned in surprise that it was only 1:30 in the morning. No wonder the night had felt short; he literally had just gone into recharge over an hour ago.

He looked to the row of beds and found all sparklings still peacefully resting – all except one that is. Optimus came over and crouched over the little green mech who was sitting up.

"Bulkhead, you should be resting," he said in a hushed whisper, not wanting to wake the others.

Bulkhead's blue optics were drooped, tired but also sad. He sat slumped, cuddling his stuffy against him, and a melancholy coo sniveled. He looked virtually on the edge of tears. The Prime's expression turned to concern.

"Is there something the matter?" Blue orbs flickered over the little mech.

He had his stuffy, he had his night time blanket, his waste tanks had been emptied before going to bed (though Optimus still checked the bedding just to make sure), and he had eaten a hearty dinner so he shouldn't be hungry yet. Optimus couldn't think of anything else that could be troubling the little one.

He wondered if possibly it had only been a bad dream. Once Arcee had been woken from one, crying and frightened until the Prime had held her for a while before the femme dropped off again. This may have been the same. Wanting to help sooth whatever it was, Optimus went to rub the sparkling's back struts. He was instantly surprised when his digit touched an abnormally high heat. Feeling the touch, Bulkhead instantly laid himself against the cooler metal.

"You are abnormally warm," Optimus hummed in thought.

Bulkhead moaned pitifully, wrapping little arms around the digit, seeking its coolness and comfort. Gently, he was scooped into large servos.

"Come. We will find out what is wrong, and see what can be done to cure it."

Optimus carried the sparkling out to the darkened main room, heavy treadsteps resonating slightly in the hollow quiet. Scattered toys were carefully stepped around as the mech made his way to the med bay. He set the little sparkling on the medical table and seconds later monitors hummed and flickered to life as they were switched on, casting a strange green electronic glow in the dimness. Unsure little optics watched the big one's every move as he typed a moment and the computer bleeped a few times. More switches and buttons pushed and he then picked up a scanner. Bulkhead cringed back when they approached, hiding his faceplate behind Akiko, a presence of fear in the wide blue optics that peeked over the teddy's head.