Hidden Spark on Earth (TFP)

Chapter 58

Saphira sat on Optimus's shoulder as they walk through the vortex back to the base. They saw everyone was in the lobby, and that Bee had the lob in his hands, waiting eagerly to play. Saphira looked around and saw what looked like a basketball hoop that had been built recently and Miko was as standing at the top with a whistle around her neck. This definitely was not expected when they had returned.

"What is all of this?" Saphira asked curiously, looking at Bulkhead and Bee, Arcee was sitting next to Jack and Raf, and Ratchet seemed to be tense and irritated from where he was standing by the ground bridge controls.

"We are playing basketball, Cybertron style!" Bulkhead responded enthusiastically and glanced at Optimus. "You should join in, Prime! It'll be a lot of fun!"

"Ep, ep, ep! No!" Ratchet snapped, making Saphira and Optimus grin at each other as they knew what Ratchet was going to say. "He can't be doing anything strenuous today! He's already gone with Saphira to pay tribute to her mother, and that's enough for today!" Ratchet exhaled and softened his expression as Optimus walked towards the hallway. "How was it, anyway?"

Optimus stopped and Saphira looked back at Ratchet with a sad smile. "It was beautiful! The pod of orcas my mother and I used to swim and play with were in the bay, and they swam up to the pier to see me. I saw Sasha and Momo, two of the orcas that we used to really spend time with. I don't think they remember me, but they and their pod listened to my song to my mother."

Optimus nodded. "It was incredible." The bots look at Optimus with a curious expression. "It was the first time I have ever met these whales, and the sounds they made were beautiful, and they seemed to enjoy Saphira's music and company. I counted ten orcas around the pier."

Saphira nodded and kissed his cheek gently. "I've never seen so many orcas swim up to a person, it is usually just one or a couple. I guess it really was a special moment, I'll never forget it. Maybe next time I go there, I will take a bathing suit and swim with them."

"That sounds like an awesome plan," Miko comments as she listened intently to the conversation. "I'd love to swim with orcas too. They're amazing animals! You had such a sweet moment, Saphira. Too bad you didn't record it."

Saphira smiled, glancing at Optimus as she knew he could replay the moment if she asked him too. "I think the memory of today will be enough, Miko. Especially since I may just do it again next year." She looked at Optimus. "I would like to go put these things away and get changed."

Optimus nodded and took a step forward before Ratchet placed a hand on his shoulder to stop him. "If you wish to go for a drive, feel free to. With no threat of Ronan anymore, it will no longer be a strenuous matter for you."

"I think we will just hang around in the base for the rest of the day, Ratchet," Saphira said with a smile. "I kind of want some lunch...and just a slow afternoon."

"A slow afternoon certainly sounds perfect. But..." He glanced at Bulkhead and Bumblebee who were preparing to play. "I hope this lot won't bother us. I will be in the med bay doing some work so I don't have to be around all of this."

Saphira giggled and Optimus smiled at him. "At least we both have somewhere to take shelter, old friend," Optimus said in a sympathetic tone. "Our friends do deserve time to relax and enjoy a bit of entertainment."

"So do you, Prime," Bulkead said, twirling the ball in his hands playfully. "Though I imagine now you want entertainment that involves spending it with Saphira." He winks at Optimus playfully.

Optimus raised an eyebrow at Bulkhead while Saphira giggled, and Ratchet rolled his optics. "If it involves assisting her with her self defence training, her garden and her allowing me to observe her cooking or dancing to Zumba, then yes, that would be correct."