Save my heart (Sunstreaker)

* Chapter 4. Medical exam *

When I arrived at work, I walked up to Lennox. He was standing alone so I decided to have a chat with him. "Morning..." Major Lennox glanced at me. "Morning, Paige," he said. "I was hoping I could start my training this week," I said. He stopped and looked at me. "I haven't talked to Ironhide yet," he said, I gave a small nod. "Okay." he walked off. I was too early so I had 30 minutes before I had to start my work. I headed for the training room and hid behind some cargo, watching Sunny train. I rested my head against the wall. Maybe Ben was right, maybe they don't want me to join the military. It's my dream to serve my country and help the Autobots in their wall. I don't want to keep cleaning, I can do more than that. I want to be like Sunstreaker. Strong and fearless. I looked back in my sketchbook and drew him.

"Can I see the result...?"

I yelped and looked up, jumping back on my feet. Sunstreaker crossed his arms. "Sunstreaker... I wasn't spying on you," I said. He reached for my sketchbook and snitched it out of my hands. I would be insulted if you didn't get the proportions right," he mocked. "It's only a sketch not a painting or whatever," I muttered. "Have you painted me?" he asked. My entire room was filled with drawings and paintings of him, but I am not going to tell him that. "Once," I replied nonchalantly. He flipped through some pages. "You drew lots of cars... realistic portraits and weapons," he said and looked back at me again. I smiled a little, "I love to draw when I have time." I took my sketchbook back. "I better get going, otherwise I'll be late."

"You're the cleaner, right?" he asked. "Yeah... just the cleaner," I muttered and passed him. I grabbed everything I needed and started cleaning the hallway. I tried to catch up with Sunstreaker later today, but he was giving me a cold shoulder or told me to piss off. During my break, I was eating my sandwich that I made myself this morning and sitting alone like always while in the meantime I watched some female soldiers. They were gossiping and laughing until Sunny came. One of them got up and approached Sunstreaker, dragging him with her towards the table where she had been sitting previously. "Oh, Sunstreaker... you look so good today." The soldier ran her hand over his chest and I felt a wave of jealousy and anger.

"I have seen your alt-mode... looks really hot," she continued. "Can I hitch a ride with you?" she asked. Sunstreaker, without a warning, stabbed his knife through her hand into the table. The soldier uttered a scream in pain while Sunstreaker gave more pressure on the knife. "Let me get one thing straight, fleshie!" he sneered and grabbed her hair. "I will never allow a human to drive in my alt-mode! I am not a cab and I am not your toy! Am I clear?!" he shouted. I flinched. The soldier nodded. "Oh stop crying for Primus sake! So pathetic," he snarled before pulling his back back. Blood rushed out of the gap in the soldier's hand while Sunny walked off. Angrily he stormed off and I decided to leave as well.

On my way, I saw Ironhide and I thought it would be the perfect change to have a word with him. "Ironhide!" I ran up to him. He stopped walking and turned. I bumped straight into his chest. "Hey, kiddo." He raised a brow. "I am sorry. I was wondering about something... Lennox would talk to you about it but... I want to start my training. So I can be a soldier too," I said. Ironhide hummed and eyed me a little bit. "So?" he asked. "Can you... do a good word for when Lennox talks to you about it? You don't have to tell him I told you or whatever... I just wanted to mention it," I said. "But you're the cleaner," he said. "Well, yeah but... I want to be in the training program as well. I had school so I couldn't be here fulltime and I really want this. I have summer break and I don't care how early in the morning I need to get up or how late it will get. I just really want this."

Ironhide crossed his arms. "Does Sunstreaker train rookies as well? You think I can join his class?" I asked. Ironhide raised his hand to make me stop. "Paige, Sunstreaker doesn't train rookies. He doesn't train anyone but himself. He hates humans so get that out of your system and second of all, you need to pass Ratchet's medical exam," he said. "Okay, then I will find him right away. Does he need to sign something?" I asked. "A form yes... hand it in and we will see if you get into the program," he said. "Okay, great! I am going to visit Ratchet, right now," I said and ran off.

"Ratchet!" The CMO nearly dropped his files. "You need to help me with something," I said, taking his files and walking off. "Paige, what on earth––" I cut him off as I dumped the documents. "You need to give me a full medical check-up. Everything you can check... just check it, okay?" I asked. "Hold on a minute... What's the idea?" he asked. "I am going to join the military but I need a form and your signature that I am healthy," I said. "Primus, you scared the hell out of me for that?" he mocked. "Look, I am just really excited and I want to join the military so badly. Can you please do whatever you have to do?" I asked. He sighed. "Sure, I wanted to call you anyway for your arm so I can remove the stitches," he said.

"Do you think I am healthy?"

Ratchet nodded. "Yeah, you're fine," he said. "Not too skinny?" I asked. "You're on the edge but no, not too skinny," he replied. "Alright, good because I get skinny shamed sometimes and I just wanted to be sure," I said. Ratchet shook his head and sighed. , He checked me up, signed the form, removed my stitches and dismissed me. I walked straight back to Ironhide. "Ratchet signed it." I handed him the form. "You need to give this to Lennox," Ironhide said. "Uhm, alright." Ironhide called me back when I turned around. "You know that there are quite some people who want to be in the program?" he asked. "But I have been working here for a while now. "As a cleaner. You don't have a military background or followed bootcamps," he said. "No, but my dad was a soldier," I said and flashed him a smile. "You need to be a soldier, not him. It will also mean that you are the youngest. Eighteen is very young to start working here, Paige. You might not be part of the program," he said. I sighed, "Sunstreaker is a young mech too," I said. "Sunstreaker is a different story, Paige. Sunstreaker has years of experience, he was a gladiator."

"A gladiator?" He gave a small nod. "Just hand it in, Lennox will have a look at it," he said. I gave a small nod and left. Thinking about what Ironhide said. Sunstreaker is the best sword fighter and now it made sense. He's an ex-gladiator. I knocked on Lennox's door and walked in. "I have the form, Ratchet signed it," I said, placing it on his desk. "Which soldier?" he asked. "No, it's my medical exam. Ironhide said I needed one," I said. Lennox took it and briefly looked over it. "Okay, you can go," he said. I gave a small nod and turned around, leaving his office.