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Everything was quiet when Soundwave entered Ratchet’s medbay. What was usually filled with patients, staff, and light was now darkened and quiet. There was a light at the end of the hallway, and Ratchet’s muttered voice could be heard talking to someone.
The emergency ping the medic sent spooked Soundwave. He was still on maternity leave, after giving birth to twins. Ratchet was his and the twins primary care physician, and kept their vitals on a monitor. It was a difficult emergence, and his young ones were still fragile. At the moment, both were safe in his docking station and recharging soundly.
Though the message Ratchet sent did not scare Soundwave in the sense he and his sparklings were in danger, it was in the sense that another sparkling was in danger.
“Ratchet: Soundwave has arrived,” The high guard lieutenant called out.
“Soundwave,” Ratchet said with a sigh, “Thank you for coming so quickly.” The navy blue mech walked closer to the medic, and a sliver of grey could be seen.
“Is that-“ Soundwave started to ask.
”A sparkling,” Ratchet said, “someone left him. I’m trying to find his carrier and sire.”
“Sparkling: abandoned?” Soundwave asked.
“No,” Ratchet said with a sigh, “at least I hope not. For right now, we need a temporary placement for this little guy.”
“Soundwave: can-” the blue mech started to say.
“No, you have enough on your plate as it is,” Ratchet said, “Who else is on the list of potential temporary caregivers is there?” The blue mech paused. The temporary caregiver would need at least two days, to give the rest of the high guard time to find the sparkling’s parents. There was Shockwave, but he could misplace the sparkling with a science experiment. Thundercracker was always an option, but he and Skywarp were out on patrol. Pulling up the leave schedule, there was only one mech who had that time off.
”Starscream: he and Skyfire are home and have the next two cycles off.” Soundwave said. “Starscream: spoke of wanting to settle down and raise a sparkling with Skyfire. Soundwave: believes both would make wonderful carriers.”
“Do they have the supplies to take care of a sparkling?” Ratchet asked. “Talking is one thing, having the needed supplies for one is a different story.”
“Soundwave: can spare some extra supplies.”
”Call them,” Ratchet said, “and start the search parties. We have to find this sparkling’s carriers.”
Starscream glared at the door, waiting for Soundwave. Skyfire was in the kitchen, making the both of them some caffeinated energon. The comm was unexpected, and at such an early hour it must be an emergency. The frustrating thing, the communications specialists wouldn't tell him what was going on until he got to the private hab.
The Seeker’s processer were starting to fill with horrible possibilities. The quintessions were coming back, and the world was going to be plunged into war. Something had happened to Skywarp and Thundercracker during patrol. Sentinel was back, and he had an army of Quintessions with him. Something had happened to Soundwave’s twins, and he needed someone to lean on.
“Starscream,” Skyfire said, pulling the seeker out of his spiral, “I can feel your beautiful mind going a million miles a minute. Tell me what’s going on in there?”
“I want to know what is going on, I want to know why Soundwave commed us at this hour!” Starscream said, “I don’t know if I can handle bad news right now, if I can handle the weight of another war. We were lucky this time, but what about a second time? What if it’s not about another war, but what if Soundwave lost one or both of his sparklings? What are we supposed to do for him?” The seeker looked into his mate’s optics, seeing nothing but love and reassurance looking back at him.
“If it is about another invasion, I know you can stop it. You and the high guard kept us safe once, you can keep us safe again. If Soundwave lost a sparkling, we will be here for him.”
“He doesn’t deserve to lose the dream he fought for,” Starscream said, “he wanted sparklings for so long. He just wanted a family.” Skyfire placed a servo on top of the seekers, and pulled him into a hug. Feeling the shuttle’s spark whirl in his frame had a wave of calming wash over the seeker. There was a feeling that everything was going to be okay, as long as Skyfire was by his side.
A knock at the hab door pulled the two fliers out of their moment, and Starscream looked at Skyfire. The shuttle nodded, and spoke, “come in.” Soundwave entered, a bag of sparkling supplies in one servo and a bundle in the other. The seeker gulped, perhaps the worse was about to come true.
“Sparkling, abandoned.” Soundwave said as he walked through the door, “Starscream and Skyfire: take care of him until carrier and sire are found?”
“Someone abandoned a sparkling?” Skyfire asked. Starscream said nothing, and just looked at the bundle in the communication specialist’s arms. Who would abandon a sparkling? There was so much hope going through Iacon, one that made mechs look forward to the future.
“What’s his name?” Starscream asked.
“Soundwave: doesn’t know. Ratchet: processed him under D-16.” the communication specialist said, “Soundwave: will help where he can with caring for the sparkling. Soundwave: knows that you were talking about having your own someday.” The blue mech walked over to Starscream, and gently handed the sparkling over to the seeker. The sparkling was silver, no paint at all. Starscream couldn’t help but coo at the little thing. He was so fragile.
“That’s not a name for a sparkling,” Starscream muttered under his breath.
“We were, though we didn’t know the exact timeline,” Skyfire said looking at the sparkling before turning to Soundwave, “how are your twins doing?”
“Rumble and Frenzy: still doing good. Ratchet: says twins are getting healthier. They are resting in the docking station.”
“That’s good to hear,” Starscream muttered, watching the sparkling in his arms shift closer to him. The little thing’s optics were off, he was recharging peacefully. Unaware that anything was wrong at the moment.
“Search: starts in the morning.” Soundwave said, “high guard: has been informed. Megatronus: heading the search so you can focus on the sparkling.
“We‘ll care for him,” Starscream said, “we can get sparkling supplies in the morning.”
“He’s in good servos Soundwave,” Skyfire said.
”Thank you: updates will be given to your comms.” Soundwave said before he left, leaving Starscream, Skyfire, and the sparkling alone in silence.
It was Skyfire who first broke the silence after a long while of looking at the sparkling, “He looks so peaceful.”
“For now,” Starscream said softly, “it’s our job to make sure it stays that way.”