Sparkling Troubles

Chapter 3

"Primus... this is just awful." Bulkhead looked to his huge feet.

Arcee nodded. "I can't imagine what I'd do if I... lost two more comrades to something as simple as this."

Ratchet's helm shook in dismay. "But it's not simple. Not at all. If we were to have a Decepticon attack, the sparklings would immediately attract attention."

"Which means that we will not be attending any energon searches, no matter the gain." Optimus looked distraught at the fact that they were unable to stop the enemies acquire energon so easily.

*2 Months Later*

The Autobots had indeed not taken part in energon collection. The Decepticons had begun to wonder what their usual foes were up to; maybe planning an attack. They would've been surprised at what they were actually doing. They had been doing their best to keep the sparklings busy without letting them know of each others' diseases. Well, Smokescreen at least - they didn't want him to worry.

Breaking the older bots out of their trances, a tiny helm peeked out of the sparkling berth. Smokescreen's eyes looked worried. Ratchet and Arcee made their way over to the berth, seeing what was the matter. Smokescreen was trying to speak to the other sparkling that occupied the berth. He desperately called his name:

"Bee! Bee!"

Arcee looked at Ratchet, and after coming to a silent agreement, picked up the near-tears sparkling.

"Shh, shh, don't worry. Bee's... okay." She lied. She didn't want the little guy to fret about something other than the norm of a sparkling.

"Bee?" Smokescreen pestered. Arcee somehow got the gist of what he was asking for: an explanation. She sighed and sat him down on the floor.

"Well, little guy... the truth is, Bee's got some problems with his chassis. He can't see or hear you and me."

"No Opt?" Smokescreen asked, confused at what Arcee had said: only she and him were not heard by Bee.

"Bee can't hear or see any of us. But he's not the only one with problems..."

"Ratch?" Smokescreen guessed. Arcee shook her head and pointed her thin finger toward his spark chamber. He looked down, pointed at it, and looked back up, asking if he had the right answer. She nodded.

"Smoke have pwob?" He asked, fear entering his optics.

"You have energon going away from your vents to help your processor learn, like a big mech." She added that last part to make him feel good about how he was at the moment.

Suddenly, Wheeljack burst through the main doors to the base and shouted, "I've got it! Finally, I've got it!"

Ratchet yelled as he held his hand over his spark, "PRIMUS, WHEELJACK! You nearly gave me a spark attack!"

"Wheeljack, what is the reason of your coming to the base?" Optimus asked calmly. Wheeljack held up a device.

"This'll help Bee and Smokes get older!" He exclaimed proudly. Arcee gasped, not wanting the cute sparklings to get older. But before she could protest, Wheeljack pointed it at the sparkling sitting next to her and fired.

"WHEELJACK! YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW IF THAT-" He was cut off by a small voice.

"Why are you yelling, Ratchet?"

The bots looked in surprise at the small white, red, and blue youngling before them. He stared back, confused.

"...works," Ratchet finished, gaping. Wheeljack smirked and pointed it to the now sleeping Bumblebee.

"WAIT!" Ratchet quickly yelled, making Wheeljack hesitate. "We don't know what it could do to him..."

The inventor lowered the 'dangerous' device, but quickly shot it at the weak sparkling.

"No!" Optimus shouted, giving a rare show of emotion. A clank came from the sparkling berth.

"-H-hello?-" An even smaller voice than Smokescreen's beeped out.

"Bumblebee!" Ratchet gasped, even though he knew the youngling couldn't hear him. The little youngling was standing up in the berth. His optics were unfocused and staring at the fourth wall.

"-Excuse me, could you tell me why I can't see?-" He asked innocently.

The bots gasped again.

"C-can you hear us?" Bulkhead asked. Bumblebee tilted his head in confusion.

"-Yes, of course I can.-"

The bots sharply vented once again. Bumblebee could hear again.