Hidden Spark on Earth (TFP)

Chapter 16

The week passes by quite quickly, Saphira went to work each afternoon after school with Jack and she quickly learned several other things while she worked, including using the registers and working the drive thru. She was very happy about her progress and everyone has noticed a huge change in her. They really could not thank Fowler enough for telling her his story and how she can pull herself out. And those words have seemed to have lingered with Saphira.

Saphira worked on her project each night after school. She had made up a large poster for her report on the orca, mostly going over the differences each pod seems to have from the research marine biologists have discovered while observing the mammal. It was a fascinating subject because the mammals are the same, but each pod had a different communication sound based on their location in the world. Of course that wasn't the only thing she would talk about, but she was excited to present it.

And she was thankful that tonight she didn't have to work as it gave her time to polish it. She had not shown anyone. A few times Optimus and Bumblebee have tried asking about it, she was slowly trying to understand Bee. She wished she had Raf's gift in understanding him naturally.

As for Optimus, he has been glum during the week. His thoughts lingered on Megatron, more specifically the regret of not being able to change his mind. Saphira understood, especially since Optimus and Megatron used to be friends many years ago. It hasn't gone unnoticed by the other autobots, they haven't said anything to Optimus yet. Though it had been very quiet since they haven't used the ground bridge much, and the autobots have enjoyed spending time with the kids.

Saphira stretched her arms, she needed to take a break from her project. She was pretty much finished and she decided to see what the others were doing. She knew they were finishing off their projects, so she figured she could go and see how far they were and if she could help them with it. She hummed softly as she walked down the hall with a light skip in her step to the lobby. As she walked through the large doorway, she noticed Optimus standing off to the side quietly, he was staring down at the ground in deep though. He had a gloomy expression on his face, and Saphira already knew what he was thinking about.

She approached him to speak, just as Ratchet did the same. "Optimus, why so glum?" The medic asked curiously. He seemed to know what Optimus was thinking about. "This planet, all planets, are finally free from Megatron's tyranny."

Saphira glanced at Optimus, she could see him grimace slightly as Ratchet's questioning about how he was feeling. "I do not disagree, Ratchet. It's just a small part of me hoped to change Megatron's mind, not extinguish his spark."

Ratchet shakes his head slightly as he heard that. Saphira walked around the bots and climbed the stairs to get onto the first level platform as she listened. "Optimus, his vileness was not slain by your hand, but by his own twisted arrogance." Optimus hummed a groan in response. Ratchet exhaled a little, softening his expression. "I'm sorry, I know the two of you had quite a history."

"But the Megatron whom I once fought beside perished eons ago, the day he chose to become a decepticon." Optimus turned to face Ratchet, glancing slightly as he noticed Saphira. "Even so, after seeing what we had done with Saphira...it brings me sadness to know we could not do the same for him."

Ratchet turned slightly to see Saphira standing on the platform and listening quietly. "You and I both know it was Fowler's words, not ours that saved her. We are just having to help with the rest. However..." He looked back at Optimus with a smile. "I can completely understand what you mean."

Saphira smiled at the two bots. "He's been saying that all week."

The medic looked at her in surprise. "I am surprised he would come to you with that. He usually talks to me when he has something on his mind."