Chapter 11

Since the battle, things had been a little chaotic. Ratchet was dealing with three very grumpy Transformers, dealing with injuries from the field, dealing with frost damage from any Antarctic missions, Miko's constant question peppering, and much more. Finally the Medic 'Bot couldn't take it anymore.

"Will you all just be QUIET!"

"Ratchet, is something wrong old friend?"

Night Stalker had recently noticed his short fuse, "It's all that is going on. Especially with three expecting 'Bots and injuries from the field. Ratchet is a little… short tempered right now?"

Ratchet realized what had happened and he sat down. "I haven't recharged well recently either. I do not know why."

"Too much pressure?"

"No. I've worked harder than this before without that much of a problem… I think maybe it's because I don't have anyone to help me. I know it might sound like that's a lot of pressure, but with Knock Out currently out of commission…"

Smokescreen had been manning the ground bridge station and controls, "Well don't look now, but we have an Autobot signal coming in. It's not Wheeljack though, it's an Autobot ship crash landing."

"Autobots! Roll out!"

Optimus took Bumblebee, Wheeljack, Arcee, and Ultra Magnus, leaving Arcee behind with Smokescreen, Ratchet, and Ratchet's patients. Once to the site, Optimus began looking among the wreckage. There were no signs of any deceased Transformers. Suddenly a voice sounded behind them.

"Servos where I can see them."

Optimus turned and was staring in the face of several Autobots, one of which was very familiar. "Ironhide? Is that you?"

"Optimus?! Thank the All Spark!"

The heavy weaponed Autobot put away his canons and relaxed, "It's been too long."

"Ratchet. Good news. One of the Autobot survivors is Ironhide."

Ironhide?! Finally, some decent company. A ground bridge is coming your way.

The green portal appeared and Optimus led the four new Autobots back to the base. "Things have changed since we last saw each other. For one, Knock Out and Soundwave are now Autobots and the Decepticons turned a human into a Transformer who in turn became Knock Out's bondmate."

"Wow. Things have changed. Wasn't Soundwave just about Megatron's right hand bot? And where's old Screamer?"

"Starscream is currently in stasis. He tried to storm the base in order to rescue Soundwave, but Night Stalker had other ideas for him."

Ironhide stepped out of the portal behind Optimus, with his three companions. "This is First Aid, my bondmate, and Rapidfire, our offspring."

Ratchet looked up, "First Aid… as in Medic?"

"You are correct. Why?"

"I need a new medic now that I have three expecting 'Bots on my hands."

"Expecting?"

"Night Stalker, Knock Out, and Soundwave are all Sparked."

"Then make that four… Ironhide is Sparked as well."

Ratchet made a face, "How many Sparklings are we going to have running around here?!"

June Darby gave a laugh, "Well at least it will be good to have more Autobots don't you think? If you think about it, these Sparklings could have been from Megatron's minions instead of Optimus'. Once they grow out of their baby phase they'll find their alt modes and help protect the Autobot base. Though… I think you need a bigger base if you're going to house all these new mouths."

"Ironhide when are you due?"

"Not long. I was Sparked about a stellar cycle ago."

Ratchet threw up his hands, "Great. I don't have anything ready for a Sparkling to come into this world."

"No worries. First Aid was already prepared. He'll help you with anything you need Ratchet."

After that the new Autobots settled into their new home with much relief. Being back with Optimus and Ratchet was something that Ironhide had only dreamed about. Now he was with his old friends and he was grateful that the Matrix had decided for their paths to cross again. With that thought firmly in his processor, Ironhide closed his optics for a much needed recharge.

Two cycles later pain filled his entire body. Jerking awake the Autobot clutched his stomach.

First Aid… Ratchet… I think my Sparkling is coming.

This is Ratchet. Ironhide stay there until myself or First Aid gets there!

"Where am I going to go?" Ironhide muttered to himself. Not long afterwards Knock Out was there with Ratchet in tow.

"Knock Out I said no strenuous activities."

"Ratchet you'll need some bot to help you move Ironhide. His berth isn't the most practical place to deliver a Sparkling. Besides if you and First Aid are too busy carrying him, you'll need some bot to scan his vitals to make sure everything is going smoothly… unless you want your friend to die from delivering a Sparkling?"

Ratchet snapped, "Fine! On your processor then."

Right then First Aid rushed in. Together he and Ratchet helped Ironhide to the medical bay. While they were doing that, Knock Out was keeping an eye on the readings and offering Ironhide reassurances. The Autobots finally managed to get the Sparked Autobot into the medical bay and proceeded to deliver the Sparkling inside of him.

Meanwhile Night Stalker was talking with Rapidfire. He was nearing his first mating season and was unsure as to what to do.

"What's it like? Does it hurt? I don't know what to do."

"Relax Rapidfire. First you need a bondmate… don't you?"

"Not really no. For example, Rapidfire could use… say… Bumblebee as a mating partner if he hasn't bonded with a Transformer yet. Even then Transformers could become Sparked."

"Well it doesn't hurt. It's the most wonderful thing ever. You don't need to know what to do. Your body knows as does your spark. It will tell you what to do… though you'll be too much in the moment to really be making any decisions."

Night Stalker smirked.

"Why's that?"

"Because Knock Out and myself had not noticed Optimus and two of his warriors coming through the ground bridge the night we became bondmates."

"Oooohhh… A little embarrassing?"

"Not really. Transformers are not as embarrassed about sexual things unlike humans."

"T.M.I.!" Miko shrieked.

"Fact of life sweetheart. Eventually you'll be going through that stage. And why are you the one freaked out by it and not Jack or Raf?"

"Dunno. Guess it's not my thing."

Just then a grated scream. Night Stalker rubbed an audio sensor. "Is it THAT painful to have a Sparkling?"

"Yes!" Optimus and June said at the same time.

Rapidfire looked down at June curiously, "You've been Sparked?"

"Humans have different terms, but yes. Jack is my son."

Night Stalker couldn't stand it anymore, "Can I at least go topside? I do not want to hear those screams anymore… not until it's time." She was meaning herself or Knock Out.

"Very well, but be on guard. The Decepticons will probably be around."

Night Stalker took that moment to make her escape. She went up and sat down on the building's rooftop ledge. The stars were beautiful that night. Night Stalker remembered when she had been human staring up at these same stars. She had often wondered if there were aliens out there and if she would ever meet one. Never in a million years had she expected to BECOME one. Her audio sensors picked up Autobot feet.

"May I join you?"

"Of course Rapidfire. I'm sure…. hang on. Which one is your sire?"

"First Aid is. It was Ironhide's turn to be Sparked."

"You looking forward to being a big brother?"

"I am. What's it like to have siblings?"

"I wouldn't know. Never had any."

"Then how come you said you had family? Sorry the others told me."

"I was kind of adopted by a friend's family after my parents died in a car accident. They gave me a roof over my head and food and clothes until I turned eighteen and was able to move out of the house. I haven't seen or heard from them in some time. They probably forgot all about me."

"That's sad. So you and the former 'Con Medic. How'd that work out?"

"After my parents died, I took to racing. It was a way for me to move on and to figure out what to do. However, I grew to love racing and moved here… well Jasper, Nevada. A few months ago I was driving my bike and passed a sweet sports car."

"Knock Out."

"Yes. I dared him for a race and we just hit it off. A few days later he kind of told me of his feelings for me, but Jack and I explained the story of Romeo and Juliet. Two teenagers from two warring families met and fell in love. Romeo and Juliet married some time later and spent their honeymoon in Juliet's bed. Romeo and Juliet met in secret for some time, but then a fight broke out between Romeo and Juliet's cousin, Paris. Romeo ended up killing Paris and was exiled from the city. Juliet went to the Friar who had married her and Romeo and they hatched a plan that would save them both. The Friar sent a letter to Romeo, but the poor boy never got the letter. The messenger was detained for some reason. One version was due to sickness, another due to a broken down mule. Needless to say Romeo had paid an Apothecary for poison and when he saw his wife's "dead" body he poisoned himself. Not long after, Juliet awoke and saw her dead husband and stabbed herself to be with him."

"That's a sad story."

"The term for Romeo and Juliet is star-crossed lovers. When two people love each other, but something keeps them apart and they stay together, but something bad happens, is usually what the term refers to. I could tell Knock Out wasn't happy. Several days later I was kidnapped and turned into this. I had been with Megatron for some time before I came back. I had a dream from Alpha Trion."

"Alpha Trion! You mean, Optimus' mentor?"

"Optimus AND Smokescreen, but yes. He came to me in a dream and explained that I needed to remember who I was. And so here I am."

First Aid came out just then with a new Sparkling in his arms. Rapidfire quickly got to his feet and walked over.

"It's a femme. Would you like to name her?"

Rapidfire was at a loss for words. He turned to Night Stalker. "Any suggestions?"

"How about…" She looked up at the stars and at the different constellations. "How about Star Cross?"

"Star Cross. It's a good name for my sister. First Aid? What do you think?"

The Medic smiled, "That is a wonderful name. Ironhide is asking for you."

The little family left and Knock Out came out and sat next to Night Stalker. The femme laid her head on Knock Out's shoulder servos and let out a content sigh. She had a wonderful bondmate and some pretty great friends. She wondered what would happen with Soundwave when his Sparkling came into being.