Hidden Spark on Earth (TFP)

Chapter 17

Hello readers! I am off on a well-deserved holiday for a week. Do not worry, I will return to post more chapters. Please, feel free to reread what has been written so far and comment. I enjoy seeing what my readers post.

Saphira played on the harmonica some more before walked over to her project, smiling at the large information board she had created for her project to speak on orcas. It was a beautiful board with printed pictures of the animals, and other pictures helping to explain a few things about the mammal that she would be talking about. It was just very exciting and she grabbed out her notepad to write more notes down.

She heard the door open suddenly and she looked up, widening her eyes in surprise when she saw an irritated Arcee walking in. "This is a surprise. For some reason, I was expecting Ratchet," Saphira said, looking back down at her notes.

"Ugh! I couldn't take it anymore...I know Jack is a little upset, but the old, rusty, medic happened to remove his motorcycle and has begun building something else." Arcee rubbed her forehead as she approached the board and dropped to one knee, gazing at it. "Orca, huh? Also known as killer whale? That doesn't sound like a nice creature."

"It's the name that makes it sound like that, Arcee," Saphira said without looking up as she focuses on her notes. "On the contrary, they are one of the most intelligent animals in the ocean. They work together in their family groups to hunt other whales, sharks, penguins and seals, and other animals such as otters and fish. But, no wild orca has ever killed a human."

Arcee was intrigued by what was on the board and she read it quietly. "Fascinating...I know very little about the animals of this world. You have put a lot of thought into this."

"Love actually." The bot turned her head to look at Saphira in surprise. "Orcas are my favorite whale, I used to go to a particular spot up north with my mother at a certain time of the year where a pod passes through. We used to swim with them, sing to them and, occasionally, give them a nice salmon or trout."

"I see..." Arcee looked back at the board and smiled. "I hope Ratchet will understand if he tries to help you like he is the other three."

"He will. I will make sure he will...otherwise..." Saphira took a deep breath and looked up from her notes to look at Arcee. "He's going to have one angry and hurt human hanging around the base for a while."

The femme chuckled softly. "I think the lug needs a little wake up to realize that it is a project you put time and energy into without any help."

"Yep. You helping the kids is one thing, taking over completely and rebuilding is another." Saphira gazed at the board and looked back up at Arcee. "I could tell you more about the other whales of the ocean. I think you would be surprised at how big the blue whale is, for example."

The bot chuckled softly. "Maybe some other time. You play that instrument really nice too, Saphira." Saphira glanced at the harmonica and shrugged. "I think everyone stopped to listen to you play...it was almost like hearing your soul. And that is very special."

Saphira shrugged. "I do like instruments. I have a guitar...or...had a guitar my mother gifted me."

"You don't have it anymore?"

Saphira pressed her lips together thoughtfully. "Actually...my guitar is still in my old bedroom at my father's house. I had no idea I would be kicked out that day...so I was not able to go back and retrieve it."

Arcee rubbed her chin thoughtfully. "Do you think it would still be there?"

"I do not know. I would like to know...even if it means being hurt to know it had been thrown out." Saphira did want her guitar, but she knew she would have to wait. "Along with the last picture I ever have of my mother. At least...the way I remember her...not when she passed away..."