Alpha 'verse. Iacon. Start of the story.

[random_xtras]

Ratchet had just gotten back from the bar in that nexus between realities, but even a rousing good poker game with his alternates hadn't helped him to feel better. The murder of his friends Bladewing and Skystriker was just too recent, and the uncertainty over the fate of their newly sparked Seeklet worried him so much that his energy wasn't sitting properly in his tank.

He sighed as he turned into an alley that was a shortcut back to his clinic, and then froze and scanned his surroundings as he thought he heard something. "Hello? Is someone there?"

Comments

[alpha_prime]

A navy, red, and black Seeklet peaked over the rim of a nearby trash bin and chirped at Ratchet, it was curious as to why he was there but scared of him at the same time.

[random_xtras]

Ratchet nearly jumped out of his brake shoes at the chirp, but as he looked down he realized why he hadn't sensed the other bot. It was a tiny Seeklet. One that he recognized, since he'd been the one to help her into the world.

He started to speak, but all he could do was static and then circulate air in an effort to calm down from his fright.

[alpha_prime]

The Seeklet tilted her head and chirped again, then let go of the rim to raise her hands to Ratchet only to end up falling back into the bin and landing on her back. She chirped in pain as the her wing nubs were roughly pinned beneath her, Energon tears streamed down her face as she cried.

[random_xtras]

"That's my patient," said Ratchet quietly, rubbing the tiny back and starting to baby dance slightly. "She's just new."

[alpha_prime]

//You know you could bring her with you, I was thinking about going to that new Café near your clinic.// Wheeljack said as the Seeklet chirped and nuzzled the side of her helm against Ratchet's

[alpha_prime]

The seeklet whimpered a bit as Ratchet gently pulled her away from his neck, digging her fingers into his neck cabling at the same time not wanting to move from her spot.

[random_xtras]

"Ouuuuuch," said Ratchet very softly, holding the baby close again. "She's a Seeklet alright. How about I hold her, and you clean that wound and repair it, 'Jack?"

[alpha_prime]

The seeklet whimpered some more though not as much as she would have without the pain override

[random_xtras]

Ratchet clicked softly and soothingly as he finished the cleaning, and then grabbed a bandage taken from things in Carly's bag and covered with a paste that was made to kill organic infections. Still quick and gentle, he put the past over the wound on the little arm, and then used tape to hold it in place. "There we go. That should do the trick." He hoped.

[random_xtras]

Ratchet frowned uneasily.

"I'll do that later, when Skyfire stops by to compare results on the tests we're doing on that new anti-virus. Better not put too much information over the channels."

[alpha_prime]

"Don't you think he would want to know now rather then latter" Wheeljack said,then added "She's trying to sync fields with you Ratch, are you going to ignore her?"

[random_xtras]

Skyfire managed not to wince, but his spark hiccoughed. Thought of his lost bond brother, however, inspired him to try another tack with the tiny he was holding. "[I think your sire would like you to wait right now, Astra.]"

[alpha_prime]

Astra looked up at Skyfire tears in her optics and sadness in her EM Field, then buried her faceplates in his chestplates.

[alpha_prime]

"Why must you always think that I am up to something?" Wheeljack asked

"[Can I meet her?]" Astra skreeked

[random_xtras]

"Because you're an engineer," said Ratchet absently, as he frowned thoughtfully at Astra.

"[I don't know,]" said Skyfire, even as he selected one of the most deeply encrypted channels that he knew to ping the Prime.

[alpha_prime]

//I see; tell Ratchet that I would like to see her before she leaves// Alpha said

Wheeljack asked "but who on earth are you going to choose to raise her?"

[random_xtras]

//With all due respect, Alpha. Ratchet is trying to keep from showing enemies where Astra is. That's why he wants to move her to Earth,// said Skyfire gently. //You've never visited his Cybertron clinic before, so that might make them suspicious. However, you often visit him when you're both on Earth.//

Ratchet gave Wheeljack a look like he thought his brother's processor wasn't functioning. "I'm not choosing anyone. Skyfire and Alpha Prime are her next of kin. She's theirs' now."

[alpha_prime]

"Let's go out and see who it is." Wheeljack said reaching for the control pad.

"[Unca Fire what wrong?]" Astra asked.

[random_xtras]

"Shhh," whispered Skyfire, then opened a panel near his spark and offered to tuck the little sparklet into the carrying compartment there.

Ratchet nodded and took a large wrench out of subspace.

[alpha_prime]

Starscream sighed, and said "Skywarp and Thundercracker were watching my back, and would have warned me. We are also due to go to Earth soon as well."

[random_xtras]

Skyfire shook his head. "She's safe, but I won't tell you where she is. I've let Prime know."

[alpha_prime]

Astra chirped, and drank the Energon.

Wheeljack chuckled and said "sorry about that it looked like you were"

[random_xtras]

"And you say I assume things." Ratchet shook his head, and then looked curiously at Skyfire. "You've got the Seeker feeding taps. I hadn't noticed before."

"I had First Aid install them just before Astra was born," said Skyfire, still looking ticklish.

[alpha_prime]

Astra chirped as the scanner was run over her, even though she was tired all the talking kept waking her.

[random_xtras]

Ratchet scanned twice, then scanned Skyfire's hold and chuckled. "There's nothing wrong with her, Skyfire. But you've got your hold comm set to two way. You need to change it so you can hear her, but she can't hear anyone outside the hold."

"Oh. Of course," said Skyfire, embarrassed. He absently held Astra close with one hand as he made the adjustments.

Ratchet tickled the little one's cheek with his finger, but then froze and whirled, gun in hand, as Skywarp suddenly appeared in the room.

The purple and grey Seeker held his hands up to show that they were empty except for a tiny Seeker doll of the sort that hadn't been made since before the war. "I come in peace. I've got something for the kid."

Ratchet scowled and thought unkind things about Seekers, and about Starscream in general, but nodded. "Let's see it."

Skywarp slowly lowered his right hand and held out the toy. "She cries for her mentor if you tip her upside down and rightside up."

"I would too," said Ratchet, his scowl softening as he saw the age of the little carnival toy and the scuffs on the Skywarp-coloured paint. Then he nodded and held the toy up to Astra. "Do you want a baby?"