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"So, where do I sle-YAH!!" Hexia screamed as a wrench flew past her helm. "Ratchet! I told you no throwing wrenches!" I scolded the medic. Ratchet shrugged,"Sorry, it's a reflex." I rubbed between my optics and groaned. Hexia picked up the wrench and made to throw it right back at the elderly mech. "Eat this, scrapheap!" she growled. "Hexia, no!" I cried, grabbing her servo the wrench was in,"Do you want to be a part of the team or not?" "Um, yes..." Hexia sighed. "Then give me the wrench," I ordered her, releasing her servo and holding mine out for the tool instead. Hexia grumbled a bit, but dropped the wrench into my open servo. I handed it back to Ratchet, feeling equally slagged off at both of them. A wolf-whistle reached my audio receptors, coming from Wheeljack. "That is a fine-looking femme you brought back," he said, winking at Hexia. Hexia crossed her arms and stuck her glossa out at him childishly. I rolled my optics, but said nothing of it. "How's the medication going?" I instead asked Ratchet. "Almost done. About half an hour left," Ratchet replied. "Is someone sick?" Hexia asked. "Our leader Optimus Prime has taken ill with a fever," Ultra Magnus replied. "Oh, I wondered why he wasn't here to greet me," Hexia said. I shook my helm slightly. Hexia usually made everything be about herself, but it still made my spark twist in an uncomfortable way in its spark-chamber at the way she said it. "What's your name?" Miko asked, getting straight into introductions,"I'm Miko. Do you like heavy metal? What do you transform into? I bet you're a race car! Ever use a Vehicon face for target practice?" "Hexia is new here so she has yet to obtain a vehicle mode," I replied over my shoulder-plate,"I will be taking her shortly so she can choose one." Hexia crossed her arms again,"I was kinda hoping Optimus could take me." "Unfortunately, as Ultra Magnus said, Optimus isn't feeling well," I said, forcing calm into my voice,"So you're stuck with me whether you like it or not." Hexia stuck out her bottom derma and pouted. "You still haven't told us your designation," Smokescreen pointed out. "It's Hexia," she replied tightly,"And I don't care who you are." "Hexia!" I scolded her,"Use manners." I could feel Smokescreen looking between the two of us. "Do you two know each other?" he asked finally. "We both have the same creator," I replied,"Of course we know each other." "You do seem a lot less agreeable than Chardirakii," Smokescreen muttered thoughtfully. I face-servoed. "WHAT!?!?" Hexia screeched, then began ranting at Smokescreen loudly. I sighed and left to check on Optimus again. "Chardirakii...who's screaming?" Optimus asked, his blue optics barely open. I knelt beside the berth and dipped a cloth in some cool water before placing the damp fabric against his fore-helm. "The new member on our team," I replied with a sigh,"My little sister Hexia. She and Smokescreen didn't really have a good first-impression on each other." "A new member?" Optimus asked,"I should've greeted them. Help me.." I pushed Optimus back down onto the berth,"No. You rest. I won't have you gallivanting around while you can barely keep your optics open." Optimus exhaled heavily and relaxed again. Outside, Hexia shouted something extremely vulgar. "Excuse me for a minute," I sighed, then got up and walked out. I marched up behind Smokescreen and Hexia, who were both glaring and screaming at the other. I grabbed them by the back of their helms and banged their helms together. "Oowwww! Chardirakii, what was that for?" Hexia whined, holding her fore-helm. "Stop shouting and watch your language," I scolded them crossly, then grabbed Hexia by the audio fin and pinched it hard,"Understood?" "Owowowowow! Okay okay. Yes!" Hexia whimpered, swatting at my servo. "The same goes for you, Smokescreen," I said to the rookie, glaring at him before releasing Hexia's audio fin and walking back to Optimus' room. "She's a pain in the tailpipe sometimes," I heard Hexia tell Smokescreen. "Can't disagree with you there," Smokescreen chuckled. My spark was heavy when I re-entered Optimus' room. I barely noticed I had a downcast expression until Optimus pointed it out to me. "I'm fine, really, I am," I said, forcing a smile. Optimus reached out and his digits brushed my hip,"Come here." I sat down on the berth beside him and Optimus rested a servo on my lower back. "What's wrong?" he asked. I took a deep breath in,"I just...don't understand why Smokescreen hates me. I never harmed a single one of his family, yet he seems to hold a grudge against me. I don't know what I did wrong." Optimus rubbed small circles on my back,"It is possibly because he despised, like others, how much power you had over others. On Cybertron, fear held many Autobots captive during the War, fear we were going to lose. Perhaps it is his fear that drives him to despise you." "Mm," I hummed thoughtfully. Ratchet was approaching and I quickly stood up. "The medicine's ready," the medic announced, setting the small vial down on the berth-side table,"Chardirakii, help me get him into a sitting position." I did, with a fair amount of difficulty. Optimus was rather large, and heavy. But, Ratchet and I managed to get him into a sitting position. Ratchet picked up the vial again and held it to Optimus' dermas, bidding him to drink it. The medicine must've tasted foul. I'd never seen Optimus make such a face. "Take this once every day, preferably at noon," Ratchet said, setting the vial down again. We helped Optimus back into a lying down position and Ratchet left. "Taste bad?" I asked. Optimus grimaced,"If it helps me regain my health then I am willing to put up with the taste." I smiled and kissed his cheek,"Sleep now. I'll be back later."
