Authors Note: Hello faithfuls and new comers! I am terribly sorry for the long wait for this and other chapters! If you wish to know why it has taken so long please view the Announcement in my profile. This would have been up an hour ago but i accidentally saved over it so had to go back and re-edit everything :P
BUT! Its up now and thats all that counts!
Please Read and Review!
This story is written by me and MissCHSparkles.
Ironhide's and Orion's hydraulics hissed tiredly from there long strenuous day of carrying injured bot to the Hospital. When the two mech's finally sat down for the first time since they met, they were outside sitting on a long flat piece of the road that had been destroyed in the first initiated blast. It had flown into the air and landed on two cubex collectors nearly flatting them, but instead it created a sort of bench, which they now sat upon.
"Here Orion, ya looks like ya could use some," Ironhide said offering him a cube from his sub-space. Orion filtered air through his intakes tiredly but nodded gratefully to his newest friend and took the cube of energon.
"Thank you Ironhide, it is much appreciated." He smiled retracting his battle mask before taking a long draw from the cube.
Ironhide chuckled, as he said, "Ah bet. Say Orion, what ya think of those pretty little Femmes back there?"
This made Orion laugh, Ironhide was always on about Femmes but for once, he knew why.
"Aside from being shot, I think they were very attractive. I think I will be doing my entire carrier through Starlight Express from now on though." Orion mused handing back the flask to Ironhide, he was glad he met this mech he had a good feeling that they would be friends for a long time.
"Say Ironhide, may I inquire as to where you work?" Orion asked shifting a little getting more comfortable on the concrete slab.
Ironhide smiled slightly, "Don't exactly work, ah'm training in the military at tha moment, Orion. Pays not great but the actual training is."
"Really?" Orion inquired with interest. "I've had a little weapons training but I've always wondered what it would be like in the military."
"It is very physical and rough, no place for tha weak of Spark, no offence. Ya know, ya look familiar now that ah have a chance ta process it, where ya from?" Ironhide inquired.
"Iacon, the Capital," Orion said instantly before adding. "And yeah, I know it's rough, I just don't want to be another soft aft that's incapable of protecting himself."
He glanced around at all the destruction, "Especially after today."
Ironhide nodded passively before adding, "Ma Instructors are great but it would be amazing honors ta train with Sentinel Prime's son under Alpha Trion."
"Really?" Orion said, hiding a small smile at this.
"Yeah, ah heard he's an impressive warrior, despite being a pretty bot," Ironhide said rather clueless, causing his companion to have to hold in his laughter.
"Have you met him?" Orion now asked slyly, knowing this wasn't the case.
"Alpha Trion or the Prime's son? Ah can't even think of his name at the moment though..." Ironhide grumbled not catching on that his new friend was nearly in fits of laughter. Though Orion wanted to burst out he was rather glad not to be being call Prince.
"Uh...I was thinking...of the Prime's son," Orion managed to bit out, still having a hard time controlling his laughter, this was really too much.
"Ah've seen Alpha Trion but never spoken with him." Ironhide said, still not noticing. "But Ah've never seen...Optaplix?"
Orion stiffened suddenly receiving an intercom after a moment he sighed heavily, "I must be returning home now. Perhaps I will see you and Ratchet again soon."
"Huh...okay," Ironhide said a little disappointed, he quite liked this Mech. "Want ma comm number?" he offered as Orion heaved himself to his feet. As Orion nodded, Ironhide glanced towards the Medical centre and mused softly.
"Wonder how the Femmes are doing?"
As the pair traded information and said there goodbyes, Ironhide began to make his way to the Hospital. He wanted to see that blue Femme Chromia again, she held his attention in a way other Femmes hadn't. Not to mention, someone would need to remind Ratchet to take a break and have some Energon. That Medic could go crazy if you didn't look after yourself but if you pointed out he wasn't doing the same, you'd get a blank look in return. Ratchet rubbed his tired optics and looked around the break room as CMO got them another cube, he decide now would be the best time to comm his friend,
"Ironhide, please tell me you are still active?" he asked wearily.
"Sure am Ratchet and heading back in," Ironhide responded, in a voice that seemed far too energetic to the tired Medic.
"Tell me where yer are, Ah'll come straight away."
Ratchet told him but now was presented with a new question.
"Ya...ya ain't seen a hot blue Femme by any chance?"
"No, but then again I have been attending to those whom were in critical need. By the way good job on getting that mech in, we were able to save him." Ratchet said oddly dry.
"That's good," Ironhide said with a real sigh of relief. "Hey Ratch, ah made a new friend while all this was going down."
"Oh, that's good," Ratchet said absent mindedly.
Ironhide grinned as this reminded him of something else. He was approaching where Ratchet was but neither was in sight quite yet.
"So, ya heard anything from yer beloved yet?" he asked slyly.
Ratchets spark leaped a little at the thought of the beautiful femme, "No but I know she's here, thankfully she didn't cross under my servo's."
"We'll find her," Ironhide said smoothly, just as he spotted his friend and waved.
Ratchet waved but briefly in greeting and the two friends were soon reunited.
"At least ya know she's probably safe," Ironhide now assured his friend. "All we have tah do is find her now."
"This is true." Ratchet sighed clasping for arms with Ironhide.
At the opposite end of the building Moonracer was finally awake and sitting up, "What in the world happened?" she asked groggily.
Beside her, Ariel sighed in relief before saying, "Quite a lot Mooney but how are you feeling?"
"Yeah, you've been out all cycle," Chromia piped up; also reviled their friend had finally come round.
"What all cycle! But I'm not done with my deliveries!" She said momentarily panicked. Her processor swirled and she groaned holding her helm, her spark felt heavy and extremely tired.
Ariel placed a calming hand on her shoulder.
"It's doesn't matter," she said gently before taking letting out an intake of breath.
"Mooney, there was an attack today; there were loads of bots injured."
They proceeded to fill her in on the day's events and after getting a processor full and a dull helm ache she sighed, "I want to go home."
"We'll go soon," Ariel assured her. "We'll just get you checked out first; make sure there's nothing wrong."
Ironhide walked with ratchet as he checked on several patients.
"What are ya gonna say when you find her?" Ironhide inquired.
"Umm," Ratchet said, rubbing his face with one hand. "Hello, I guess."
Ironhide chuckled, "That's it? Shouldn't that be...Hello, ah'm Ratchet and yer Spark Mate, pleased ta meet ya."
Ratchet smack his friends shoulder lightly, "You know I'm not going to say that you big oaf!"
Ratchet then rubbed the back of his helm, "I suppose I should apologize for scaring her."
"That would be a good place to begin," Ironhide teased. "So, shall we try and see if she's about? That hot blue Femme might be with her as well."
Ratchet rolled his optics, "When it comes to femmes do you ever think without your spike?" he asked dryly.
"Nope," Ironhide stated cheerfully. "Doesn't matter Ratch, cause the kind of Femmes ah go out with have mah Spike on their mind anyway."
"Don't you want more in life then just interface?" Ratchet finally rounded on his friend, "There is more to life than that, to have a femme, to have a spark mate would be the undying devotion of your entire being to them. Never looking at another femme, never straying in thought. I would be honored beyond all the stars if I got to meet that femme from earlier. If she were to become my spark mate, I would bring her energon every morning before I left for work to ensure she was happy well fueled. If she were ever sore or in need I would do everything in my power and knowledge to ensure she got what she required. Pit if I could id give her one of Cybertron moons!" Ratchet had to cycle several time to even come near to calming down. He hadn't even been paying attention to where he was going when he had stopped to speak to his friend. He had only managed to notice that he'd stopping in a door way.
"That is the most beautiful thing I think I've ever heard." Moonracer said softly.
Ratchet froze before slowly turning on the spot, his mouth falling open as he gazed upon his intended Spark mate. The Femme his Spark had been calling for since early this cycle and she was finally here, right in front of him. Despite the little speech he'd just made, he now had no idea what to say, she was just so overwhelmingly beautiful.
She blushed slightly before saying, "Um...hello, my name's Moonracer, what's yours?"
Ironhide looked back and forth between them and finally punched his friend in the shoulder, "Ow! I mean my name is Ratchet I am a medic...How or where are you injured?" He asked awkwardly his spark racing.
Ironhide spotted 4 others in the room with Moonracer, he did have to hand it to Ratchet Moonracer was a beautiful femme.
"No, I uh...I fainted earlier and my friends couldn't revive me," Moonracer explained softly, placing a hand over her Spark. "My Spark...it felt like it was going to explode; I've never felt anything like that before in my entire life."
"Ratchet? Why are you not attending to this femme?" The CMO growled behind him making him jump "Yes sir! Sorry Sir." The CMO pushed Ironhide out of the room and pulled out his scanner and started scanning her, "Her spark is weak. Have you spark merged un-bonded?" He asked.
"No," she said softly, she seemed to be examining him as closely as he was her. "Why...is something wrong?"
"You're Sparks rather weak," he informed her gently.
"Oh," she said softly, staring into his bright blue optics. "Uh, is there anything that can be done about it?"
"Yeah ya can bond with 'im." Ironhide chuckled from the door way.
"And who made you match maker" Chromia challenged from the corner, UpDraft's arms wrapped around her.
"He's been chasing after her all cycle?" Ironhide said hotly, eyeing up UpDraft with dislike. "And it makes sense, his Spark matches hers, a Spark merge will help her weak Spark."
"She is not going to bond with a stranger!" Ariel interjected grabbing Ratchet by a door wing pulling him away from Moonracer and shoving him into Ironhide. "You two can leave now!" She ordered. "I think its best." Said Ratchets CMO.
Ratchet shot Moonracer a very miserable look which nearly broke her Spark but he was professional enough not to protest. He left with Ironhide who shot the other Femmes and UpDraft dark looks for making his friend unhappy.
"I'm sorry about that, I had no idea about Ratchet," the CMO now apologized to Moonracer.
"It's...it's alright," she said softly, staring after him.
"Mech's," Chromia said with a snort, staring after where the two had retreated. "I can't believe he was chasing you like that Mooney, imagine wanting to Bond with you just like that."
Moonracer blushed, she had a feeling it wasn't a simple as that but she felt too tired to protest. Instead, she looked at the CMO and said.
"What can I do about my weak Spark?"
"A modification will help..." he trailed off, "Can you excuse us?" He said looking at the friends of his patient.
They glanced at each, after everything that had happened; they were a little leery of leaving her. But, this was matter between her and a doctor, they would wait outside.
"We'll just be outside if you need us," Ariel assured her friend gently before they all trooped out.
After the door sealed shut the CMO sat back with a tired groan, fearing the worst she did not look at him.
He started to chuckle before scanning here again, "The only modification you need is to fix a broken valve and a strong cube of energon." He smiles his optics twinkling.
She sighed in relief.
"Thank Primus," she said seriously. "I was worried for a moment there."
She squirmed for a moment before asking.
"What...what do you know about that Mech...Ratchet?"
"He's an exceptional medic and I noticed that he's had quite a bit of modifications done, one even to his spark." He commented looking over at her placing his servos around his helm.
"What kind of modifications?" she asked curiously. Normally she wouldn't ask but as this Mech had declared himself to be her future Spark mate, well...she was naturally curious about him. She really had no idea how she should feel about him and thus wanted more information about him.
"It appears his entire frame has been made to complement his career as a medic." He said looking back at her; she appeared confused so he went on, "What I mean is he is better equipped. He is virtually a walking Clinic."
"Oh," she said softly as he nodded and added.
"His Alt mode is a medical Carrier and his Sub Space is crammed full of first aid equipment. He is capable of performing just about any operation in the field that doesn't require specialist equipment. He is utterly dedicated to the health and welfare of his fellow Cybertronains."
"He sounds like he has an amazing spark." She smiled warmly. "What is he like outside his professional?"
The CMO chuckled.
"That's the thing, it can be hard at time to separate him from his profession. It's only because of his friends that he doesn't sleep here, they make sure he doesn't over tax himself. He gets so caught up with trying to treat everyone. But, when he's not working, he likes to enjoy himself with his friends."
"May I treat you now?" He asked politely gesturing to her spark casing.
"Yes, thank you," she said with a smile, opening up her chest plates so the CMO could get a look at her Spark. She thought over what he'd just told her about Ratchet, he sounded like a hard worker who still liked to have a good time with his friends. Those in themselves were good credentials but the fact he was a healer only added to that.
Orion held fast to steel rail as it raced him back to Iacon on the high over head rail cars that went from every major city and town. His father Sentinel Prime was working toward expanding them out to the farther city's and town so everyone was equally able to make it to the markets. He looked down at the damage from the bombings in Praxus and knew the scars would be there for very long time.
All that devastation, all those lives lost...
He could only hope he'd made a small difference by helping to transport the injured to the hospital although he still felt it wasn't enough. The only good thing about that cycle was he had made some new friends, including a very pretty Femme. He sighed, would he have the opportunity to see her again or would she just become a happy little day dream.
He suddenly chuckled as he remembered the others he'd met, that Ironhide probably still had no idea that he was Sentinel's son. But in all seriousness, it had been nice to talk to someone who honestly wasn't sucking up to him because of who he was. It had been refreshing to say the least to talk with something Mech to Mech.
He was so lost in thought that nearly fell when he received a comm from his father, " Orion we have been searching for you everywhere in Iacon, where havs you been?" The rumbling baritone of his father question.
"I was in Praxus, the off world vendors were here and I was hoping to get something for mother's spark day." He answered truthfully, the royal ball would soon be held in her honor and many gifts would be bestowed upon her but he wanted his to be special. He heard a deep sigh on the other side of the communication and wondered how badly in trouble he was in.
"Where you at the very least safe when the bombing happened?" Sentinel Prime inquired in slight relief when his son assured him he had been.
"I help carry many of the wounded and...The bodies of those who passed, to the main hospital. I met a good sparked mech father, he was helping everywhere and quite often found those who where missed. I have never met a soldier like him. I believe he would be an excellent student for Alpha Tron. " Orion rushed hoping he had not taxed his luck. The comm to his father was quiet for what seemed like a long time and Orion began to worry he'd asked for too much or went too far, after all it was an extremely select few who were chosen to be mentored under Alpha Tron that were not royal class. Finally his father's deep rumbling baritone broke the silence, " Designation?" Orion stood dumb founded for a moment before regaining himself, "Ironhide Sir, he never realized I who I was either, and I only told him my name was Orion and lived in Iacon, nothing more."
"Good, now report to me an hour after you get back and have a full report ready to debrief me. I need to attend a few things; the personal guard is awaiting you at the end of the carriage line."
"Yes father," Orion said softly, relived he wasn't in any deep trouble.
Sentinel paused again and then said softly, "Stay safe son, you know how much you mean to me and your mother..."
"I know father, I will take the necessary precautions," Orion assured him softly.
"Good Mech," Sentinel said before the comm went off.
Orion sighed as he watched the buildings race by, soon he'd be back among the guard and politicians. That was another reason why he'd gone to Praxus, so he could forget, just for a short while that he was the son of the Prime. He did want his mother to be happy with her gift, he wanted to please her but he'd jumped at the chance to get away from it all for a while. Another reason why he'd enjoyed being with Ironhide so much, he was just a normal Mech who treated him like another normal Mech. By now he could see the off loading ramp ahead and a small crowd of people who had been pushed back by a pack of guardsmen stood curiously awaiting no doubt who was on the incoming rail. He groaned, in a few minutes he'd once again be surrounded by hard face guards, not allowed to go anywhere without an escort. He knew that this was the price he paid for having such a privileged position and he understood that but that didn't mean he couldn't wish things were different. But with this bomb attack, he'd probably be watched even more and it would become wearing very quickly. What a shame he couldn't have that Mech Ironhide guarding him, at least they could probably chat. Then he smiled what if Ironhide did get chosen by Alpha Tron? What if he was appointed to his personal guard? Would Ironhide like living in Iacon? Surly he would move closer, but at the same time he knew a lot of this was farfetched wishful thinking. The rail car came to a gentle stop and he composed himself to look the proper way of being a Prince. He wanted to groan when he seen the tell-tail white and blue stripped reporter bots wanting to interview him.
"Orion, was it true you were involved in the bombing?"
"Orion what was it like, were you scared?" A mech asked, and then another asked, "How has this affected you personally?"
"Alright, enough of that," growled the Head of the guard, pushing the reporter bots out of the way so that Orion could step into the circle of guards.
"No comment," another guard snarled, glaring at a lithe Femme who was trying to sneak closer to Orion.
Orion put his servos up motioning for silence, "Do you all see the blood on my hands?"
As one the crowd nodded but remained silent fearing his guard.
"This blood is of a mech with two younglings and one on the way, " he let that sit for a moment as he looked at his servos and quietly yet loud enough that they all could hear continued, "He will not be coming home to them tonight. You see he died in my arms as I ran trying to get him to the clinic fast enough, but we were too far out and he was bleeding to badly.. He died an innocent death." He was silent for a moment as he let everyone take in what he had said his fists slowly closed as a single tear rolled down his cheek, "No innocent bot should die that way...anyone." He then moved forward but the lithe femme was the only one to speak, " What will you do now to prevent another attack?"
He stopped, his body stiffening as he half turned towards her. No one else spoke as he regarded her.
"Everything in my power," he said softly before heading away again.
The Femme looked like she wanted to ask more but the menacing guards closed ranks and she wisely closed her mouth. Orion was thankful no one else threw questions at him, he had nothing more to say. He meant what he said, he'd do everything he could to make sure such a tragedy didn't occur again.
The only question was...what.
Orion was lead to a transport vehicle that took the guard and him the rest of the way to home. Orion knew that he would have to face the reports again soon but first he wanted a hot shower.
"My Lord?" One of the mech asked, "Yes?" Orion turned to look at the young soldier in question.
"You might want to take a look at this." He said handing a data pad to the Prime in training.
The guy that showed of the day is bombings; it went on to talk about how many lives were lost that day. He was about to hand it back when he saw his own face looking back at him. He listened to himself in shock at how truly somber he sounded and the stunned silence that followed as he started to move away. Though he could not see her he heard the Femme's voice that dared to break the silence, "What will you do now to prevent another attack?"
It was only now that he noticed that her voice had nervous edge to it. He watched as his body stiffened and he half turned to speak to her. It was mesmerizing how he could tell that everyone had held their breath,
"Everything in my power."
As the news feed changed to the femme he was surprised at what she had to say,
"Well there you have it," she said in a soft tone that actually held a note of respect which surprised Orion. These reporters tended to be very cynical and he supposed that interviewing so many politicians and business-bots could do that to you.
"Our future Prime intends to do everything in his power to help the situation and you know what...I believe him."
Orion's optics almost popped at this, he couldn't believe it. But there was more.
"This young Mech could have taken off when the Bombings started," she continued. "But he didn't, he stayed and helped just like a decent, ordinary Cybertronain would...if nothing else, at least we know that Cybertron will be in very good hands some cycle."
Orion handed the data pad back then sat back in silence. He was humbled by the words of the reporter yet he knew that the words bare a heavy weight that he was unsure of that he could burden.
People would now, more than they had before, expect great things from him. Although he wanted to do everything he could for Cybertron, the question was, would his efforts be enough? Could he match up to his father and all the other great Primes of the past?
"Primus," he muttered under his breath, he could feel a processor ache coming on. He rested his helm in his tired servos; he felt rather then heard the transport enter the palace terminal. He closed his optics tiredly knowing that he still needed to do the report yet.
"We're here," one of the guards murmured to him, knowing that Orion could hear.
Orion sighed heavily but opened his optics and got to his feet. He trooped out with all his guards, barely taking note of his surroundings. It had been a stressful enough day without the reporters words added to it. All he wanted to do was relax in his berth and doze but he had to do his duty.
-mean while-
Ratchet lay on in his couch snoring, he hadn't even showered he was so exhausted from the long day and Cybertron's largest moon was starting to rise signaling that the day was ending. Cybertron had a strange day and night cycle as there was no sun. Cybertron did have however two moons the larger was seen at night and the smaller which reflected the nearest sun's rays was day. His dreams were reflections of the cycles events, his mad pursuit of that beautiful Femme Moonracer, the bombings, everything. They weren't pleasant dreams, one moment he'd lost sight of Moonracer, the next moment he was desperately trying to save a dying bot. He could smell their blood, the bitter scent of blaster fire and broken rubble. Ironhide sat close by keeping an optic on his friend; he wasn't planning on staying long. He just wanted to make sure his friend was okay before he left. Ratchet mumbled and groaned in his sleep, making Ironhide sigh.
"Ah still can't believe all that happened," he said softly. "First, ya find yer Spark partner, then those bombings...ah made a new friend today, seemed a real nice fellow. Ah told him a bit about ma self, ah think you'll really like him Ratch."
"What?" Ratchet groused his optic fluttering on, "Who'd you meet?" He asked groggily.
"Ya awake?" Ironhide teased and got a growling groan in response.
"Yeah, I met this Mech called Orion, real nice he was. We were chatting and...ah enjoyed it."
"I am glad you made another friend Hide, what is he like?" Ratchet asked sleepily with a yawn, "Perhaps *yawn* I will meet him some day."
Ironhide chuckled, "Ah'll tell ya about him tomorrow. Ya get ta yer berth and rest."
Ironhide gestured walking over and helping his friend to his pede's and into his room. Ratchet sat down on his berth gratefully and lay down, in moments he was out again and Ironhide chuckling silently covered him up again.
"Sweet dreams, ma friend."
"Thanks," Ratchet said, his voice drifting off as he suddenly fell into recharge. Ironhide chuckled before making sure that Ratchet for comfortable before heading off home. He knew his friend would sleep in late tomorrow but he wasn't bothered, he needed a good sleep too. He wasn't as tired as his friend but he was tired, he definitely needed his berth. But just as he was leaving, he turned and with a smile added softly.
"Ah hope ya can see yer Femme again Ratch, if anyone can woo her, it's ya."
Authors Note: Will Orion see IronHide again soon? Is Moonracer interested in Ratchet? So many Questions so little time!