Chapter Text
Ember's p.o.v:
My body was hurting, beyond that. I have felt different levels of pain but this one is starting to take first place. I have been beaten by Starscream at an outer level, the discs on my shoulders give me pain at a inner level, but the pain that I had felt when i saw Megatron, Starscream, and Shockwave gave me a new pain. A pain that started right in my spark and left a lingering after feel.
I didn't blame Ultra Magnus for what he did... much, but I knew for a fact that if I ever got any trust or gained any feelings for the Autobots, his would never be full and mine for him would be the same.
So here I am. Sitting on a berth out in the main room with Bumblebee allowing my head to rest in his lap. Ratchet had said that if anything should happen to me that he wanted me to be closer to the med-bay. I didn't mind, and even if I did, I don't have the strength to say otherwise. But it was nice to have Bumblebee by my side.
Bumblebee has stayed with me for the most part since the incident, only leaving to go get our energon or to go on scouting missions. And if he does have to go for longer periods of time, Prime stays with me.
Everytime Prime is next to me I can see the pain in his optics at my current state. If I had to guess, Prime might think that this is all his fault. It's not though; I could never blame Prime for anything if I tried. He was the first one to trust me and in a way, Prime saved my life. Where as everyone wanted to send me away back to the Decepticons, Prime saw the good in me and allowed me to stay here.
Bee as of now, was rubbing my ear gently as he looked off in the distant; almost like he was listening to someone. "No Raf. It's not that I'm on a mission that I'm busy it's just... things here at base havent been good." I guess Bumblebee was talking to someone. If I could remember correctly, Raf was the organic being that Bumblebee was to watch over.
"Yeah, it does have to deal with Ember. But we have it under control." Bumblebee finally looked down at me and I could read it in his optics that he was sad about something. "Listen Raf, i got to go. I have to finish somethings here at base but I promise that we will hang out soon okay? Bye Raf." Bumblebee must have finished his call as he lifted my head off his lap and stood up from the berth.
"I'll be right back Ember. I have to go get you some energon." Bumblebee said slowly as he backed away, not taking his optics off me, into the hall and disappeared. Slowly shifting my body to where I had my head at the top of the berth and my tail hanging off the end, I watched as my tail seemed to swing lifelessly on its own. The red fur covering my tail had dimmed to a sickly color that matched the rest of my body. Which also matched the way I felt.
As I continued to just idly watch nothing, I heard a pair of steps coming into the room. Looking to the hall way, I saw two faces. Prime and Ultra Magnus. Prime was looking displeased with the other and Magnus seemed to be in a mix of emotions but the most noticeable were anger and regret.
For a while now, Prime has made Magnus clean the base from top to bottom. And it seemed as though this room was his last. "Once you have finished Magnus, I want to speak with you in my office." Prime said and Magnus nodded. Before Prime left, he walked over to me and slowly stroked my head and neck. "Hello Ember." He said and I nodded back in recognition.
Smiling down at me, Prime then turned to leave but not before he gave Magnus a stern and ordering look. As I was now alone with the blue shoulder pad mech, I watched as he pulled out a cloth from his subspace and started to clean the ground bridge not to far away.
As my optics followed his every move, I saw that every now and again he would peak at me before turning away. After a while, I heard Magnus sigh loudly and he turned to face me. "I... Do not even know if you can understand me but... I ask for your forgiveness as to what I did to you."
looking at the larger mech, I thought it over and over... And over again before I nodded my head. I knew that back with the Decepticons they would never forgive and if I was to not be one of them I needed to forgive... Even to a mech like Magnus.
Magnus smiled before I turned my head away and he went back to work. Magnus was a bad mech, a stern and by-the-book mech, but no one is perfect.
As I swished my tail on the berth, I thought about what Bumblebee had said to the organic named Raf. It sounded as if Bumblebee was putting most of his attention on me and away from the young one. knowing this, it pained my spark to know that I was keeping Bumblebee all to myself.
While I was still thinking about it, I didn't notice Bumblebee walk back in with a cube of energon. "Come on Ember, you need to eat." Bumblebee said as he lifted my head near the cube. Taking a moment to latch my fangs into it, I slowly drank the bitter tasting energon. This was what Ratchet called medical grade and it tasted foul.
"Bumblebee, may I have a word with you?" A voice called out and I saw out of the corner of my optic Ratchet standing there. "Sure thing Ratchet. Hold on Ember, I won't be far." As Bumblebee walked over to Ratchet I saw how the medic looked at me with concerning blue optics. "What's up Ratchet?" Bumblebee asked and it finally pulled the medic's gaze away from me.
"Decepticons activity has gone sky high since Optimus and Ember's last encounter. Optimus thinks the humans should stay here with us for a few days until things shimmer down." Ratchet spoke and his gaze came back to me. "Sounds okay. So, what's the problem?" Bumblebee asked. "Since Ember needs to stay out here, so I can keep an optic on her, the humans will be in close contact with her." Ratchet answered and everyone present turn to me.
"Isn't that a bit unwise?" Ultra Magnus asked as he stopped his cleaning. "The organics haven't full gotten used to her and she for them." He added and Ratchet nodded. "True but in her state both Optimus and I see that she is in no shape to harm them. Plus, Bumblebee has formed a strong bond with Ember so if anything should happen he'll be here."
at hearing this, Bumblebee whirled at Ratchet with wide optics. "Me? I know that Ember trusts me but I can't even come close to holding myself up against her. I think her only match here is Optimus but she won't even attack him." Bumblebee said as I turned my head towards them. If this conversation they were having was about me, I think I have the right to listen in.
"That's my point. She trusts you and Optimus so much that she would never attack you. So when you to pick up the children you can watch over whatever they do." Ratchet said as he turned to the computers. "Wait, why can't 'Cee and Bulk go get them?" Bumblebee asked and I figured he would have preferred to stay here with me. "Arcee is out on patrol and Bulkhead is with her, they are unable to go after them." Ultra Magnus said as he started to clean up again, now on one of the computer screens. "You can go soldier... Ratchet and I can watch over the predacon."
"That's not very reassuring sir." Bumblebee said as he turned back towards me and he looked a little surprised to see me looking at them. "Why don't you go Ratchet. I think Ember still needs me to-" pushing myself up onto my front paws, which was both hard and painful, I used one of them to push Bumblebee away before I collapsed back onto the berth. From what I overheard Bumblebee saying to Raf, Bumblebee really wanted to spend time with his charge. Bumblebee cant be constantly watching over me in my sorry state if he wants to do that.
"It seems as thought Ember wants you to go get them." Ratchet said over his shoulder, "Go along Bumblebee. I'll keep watch over her." Bumblebee looked a little hesitant but as he gave me a sad look, he nodded his head before turning towards he exit. "Alright. I'll be right back Ember." giving me one last look, Bumblebee walked out and from the sound of something driving off he must have left. "That scout really cares for the predacon." Ultra Magnus said as he finished cleaning the computer. "He does ,but that is normal for Bumblebee. He cares about everyone he's around." Ratchet added as he turned to face me. "Maybe about Ember just a bit more."
Turning my head away, I closed my eyes thinking about what Ratchet said. Bumblebee did care for everyone in the base and he did for me but... what did Ratchet mean by Bumblebee caring about me a bot more? I guess I'll have to figure that out later, but for right now I think a nap sounds nice.
OoOoOoOoOo
"Wow! She looks really bad." snapping my eyes open, I looked down in surprise to see that the human that I have overheard being called Miko was staring up at me from the floor. "Miko, stay away from her! she may be injured but that doesn't mean she wont attack you." Ratchet said as he picked the human up by the scruff of her neck and carried her over to the computer area. "AW! come on Doc bot, I wanna see her close up!" Miko whined as she was none too gently dropped on the little seating thing called a couch. "The only reason you three are seeing Ember right now is because of the Decepticon activity and the fact that she is not I catch anyone of you near her I will have you help Ultra Magnus clean this base with a tooth brush." Ratchet said as he walked back over to me and scanned my body.
"You're not serious Ratchet?" the older human that was called Jack asked. As Ratchet finished scanning over me, he turned back to the humans with a nodded. "Idont care if only one of you is near Ember. All of you will be cleaning if you are in ten feet of her." Ratchet said as he started to walk away. "I need to go get some supplies. Bumblebee watch over the children or you can join them in the cleaning." and with that Ratchet left the room.
Looking over to my side, I saw Bumblebee standing next to me with concerned optics. "She's going to be alright is she Bee?" the smallest human asked and from my guesses this was Raf and Bumblebee's charge. "Ratchet says with a bit of rest she will be. It's just how long she needs to rest is the question." Bumblebee answered as he patted my head lightly.
Looking back at the humans, I saw that Raf was setting something up to one of the smaller counsels and was holding a controller in his hands. "Do you want to play a game Bee? We haven't played in a long time."Raf asked and Bumblebee shook his head. "Sorry Raf but I need to keep an optic on Ember just incase she..." Bumblebee didn't finish as he looked down at me with sad optics. I could see he really wanted to spend some time with the human but he was worrying about me too much. Batting Bumblebee's paw away, I used my head to push him towards the humans and away from me.
"Ember, I really think I should-" but as soon as I let out a whine, Bumblebee stopped and nodded. "Fine. you win." As Bumblebee walked over to the area where the humans were, I could see a smile forming on the smallest face as he looked over at me. Smiling back, I turned my head away and tried to go back to sleep.
OoOoOoOoOo
"Man! How do I always loose?!" again I snapped my eyes open and I turned my head to look at the human called Miko throwing her arms into the air. "Bee's been driving longer then any of us so that might be it." Jack said as he placed his controller down. "Nice game Bee." Raf said as he looked up at the yellow Autobot who whirled at him happily. But the happy play time didn't last when Bee held his digit to his helm and listened to whoever was talking to him.
"That was Ratchet. Seems as though he needs some help in gathering that stuff but everyone else is gone or busy. You three can stay here and behave right?" Bumblebee asked and Raf nodded. "Sure Bee. We'll behave." with a quick nod, Bumblebee walked away but not before looking at me worryingly. "What did he say Raf?" Miko asked. I guess she couldn't understand him like the rest of us could. "Ratchet just needs some help and we need to behave until he comes back." Raf translated.
"Well, if he and Doc bot are gone then I say it's band practice." Miko said as she ran over to a spot in the room and pulled out a black case. "Miko really? I'm not really in the mood." Jack said as he sat there on the couch. "There is always a time for music Jack. Live a little." Miko said as she pulled out an odd looking devise and plugged it into a box that seemed to come out of nowhere. "Ratchet's going to be mad and make you clean the floors Miko." Raf said as he stepped back a bit. "Doc Bot can use a little bit of music in his life. I bet he only listens to elevator music." Miko said as she raised her hand into the air and slammed it down on the weird devise.
As soon as he hand made contact, an odd sound came out and filled the whole base. At first I didn't know what to do with the sound but as Miko continued to make more of this music I slowly started to like it. lifting my head up a bit, I nodded with the beat she was giving out and I started to tap my tail. "Looks like the predacon gal has a thing for good music." Miko said as she paused in her music making to look at me with the others. This music made my body feel great as I moved with the beat and when it stopped I became a little saddened.
As I waited for the music to start again, the humans stared at e with curiosity written all over their faces. When I noticed that the music was not going to start again, I decided that I would just have to get nearer to the thing that made it. Pushing myself up off the berth, I jumped down and walked over to the humans who looked a little bit startled. "I-I thought Ratchet said she wouldn't be getting up any time soon?!" Jack said as he backed away with the others. "She doesn't look to unwell to move to me!" Miko shouted as I jumped up to where my front paws rested on the railing and I was looking right into the humans' eyes.
"E-easy girl. We didn't mean any harm." Raf said as he hid behind Jack and Miko. "What is all the noise about?!" Ratchet's voice spoke out as he and Bumblebee returned into the room and were shocked to see me so close to the humans. "What is she doing?!" Ratchet hollered as he roughly set his things down on a table. "Ember!" Bumblebee shouted as came over to me and tried to pull me back. But I wouldn't budge; I wanted to hear more of the music. "What were you three doing?!" Ratchet asked as Bumblebee tried to pull me away still.
"Nothing! Miko was just playing some music and she came after us." Jack said quickly as he tried to push himself and the other humans back farther. "Ember, what has gotten into you?" Bumblebee asked. Turning back to the humans, I leaned my head in closer and just barely touched Miko's music maker and it made a soft strum.
As everyone went silent, I whined loudly hoping that Miko would play more music. "D-do you want more music?" Miko asked and at this I smiled. placing her hand over her devise, she started to play slowly and I started to wag my tail which kept bumping into Bumblebee. "I think she... likes Miko's music." Raf said in surprise and as Miko continued to play more of the music, I jumped off the railing and sat next to the area batting my tail on the floor and bobbing my head with the music. "She just wanted Miko to play." Bumblebee said and from the way he laughed in his whirls and beeps I guess he was amused.
"Just great. another crazy being who enjoys that monstrosity." Ratchet said as he shook his head and walked over to his computers. "It's not that bad Doc bot. Ember enjoys it." Miko said as she started to play louder and faster and my movements did the same. "Guess we'll be hearing some moreof that music for a while Ratchet." Bumblebee said and it only made Ratchet groan in annoyance.
OoOoOoOoOo
A few weeks have gone by. The color of my fur was back to normal, my eyes glowed brighter, and I was back to walking around the base with Bumblebee and Prime. After what Bumblebee told Prime about me and the humans, Prime saw nothing wrong with me being around them but he still had someone with me at all times.
The humans have excepted me nicely. The see me on a normal basses now and I do with them. Miko and I get along the best since we both enjoy the same music. Ratchet has said that he with break that stupid instrument sooner or later if he keeps hearing Miko play. In my opinion, I hope he doesn't.
So today is mostly quiet. Bumblebee is off scouting with Arcee and I am in the main room with Prime while he works at the computers. The Decepticon activity has gone down some and no one has seen Predaking for some time. I still wonder how he is doing and if he still remembers me. But as long as I am safe here with the Autobots, I no longer have to worry about the Decepticons.
Looking up at Prime, I saw him reading something that had a picture of Predaking on it but since I couldn't read I couldn't figure out what it was saying. Mostly whenever the Autobots deal with something about Predaking or the Decepticons, they have me wait in another room. I think they still have a bit of worry that I will go back to the Decepticons and tell them secrets. but I wont. Hopefully in the future I can show them that.
Suddenly the base went up in a full alarm, and everyone came running into the room. "What is it Optimus?" Ultra Magnus asked as Prime turned around to look at us. "There has been a Decepticon sighting... and the other Predacon was seen with them." Prime said and it made my ears stand up. Predaking was seen. What was he up too. "We are going to go investigate what it is they are after." Prime said as he activated the ground bridge.
"Ratchet, watch over Ember for us." Prime said and before Ratchet could say anything, he and the others were already gone out of the base through the portal. "Well... I guess I can get some work done." Ratchet said as he stood next to me to work at the computers. Not really wanting to stay next to the older medic, I jumped onto a berth and decided to take a nap. As I slowly slipped into recharge, I thought about what Predaking and the other Decepticons were doing and what is was they wanted.