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

[random_xtras]

"He'll understand why I waited." Ratchet looked at the Seeklet and sighed. "And her first family bond should probably be with her uncle."

[alpha_prime]

Astra began to whimper and looked up at Ratchet like she was a kicked Turbo pup, sadness flowing through her EM field.

[random_xtras]

"Shhhh-shhh." He leaned down and kissed her gently on the helm as he sent a message to Skyfire to come see what Wheeljack had done this time. "[Drink your energon, Astra. Someone is coming to see you soon.]

And almost before he was done speaking there was the rush of a mighty engine, and then Skyfire was ducking down to come in and looking quizzically at Wheeljack.

"What did you do?" the big shuttle bot asked the engineer, looking confused.

[alpha_prime]

"I didn't do anything" Wheeljack said at that moment Astra calmed with a chirp, as she looked up at Skyfire raising her servos "[Astra up please]" she skreeked

[random_xtras]

"Astra!" Skyfire scooped the little one gently into his big hands and held her close. Then he looked at Ratchet, his chin trembling slightly. "Now I know why it felt as though Skystriker wasn't fully dead. I was feeling the family bond that he'd asked me to form with his daughter."

Ratchet sighed and nodded. "See if you can get her to finish her bottle."

[alpha_prime]

Astra took her bottle and began to drink again, flairing her EM Field with happiness. She finishes then skreeks "[Astra missed you Unca 'Fire]"

[random_xtras]

Skyfire held the the tiny close to his chest as he took the bottle and set it down. "[Are you alright, Astra?]"

His deep voice was gentle and calm, but his engine and his spark were making unhappy sounds despite himself, and the bitty would be able to hear them.

[alpha_prime]

Astra held up her right arm to show the bandage around, it whimpering a bit as she moved it.

[random_xtras]

"Ohhh." Skyfire touched it gently. "[But Ratchet has taken care of it. It will soon be well."]

[alpha_prime]

"[Go fly?]" Astra skreeked, looking from Skyfire to Ratchet and back.

[random_xtras]

Both grown bots shook their heads.

"[No]" said Skyfire, looking down at her, but also watching from the corner of his eye as Ratchet studied the ceiling. "[You mustn't fly now, Astra.]"

"[But you can sit on the light fixture,]" offered the medic, pointing up at it.

[alpha_prime]

"[Sire took me flying 'fore he leave,]" Astra skreeked