Transformers The Hatchling

A mad Fowler

Stormchaser POV

Fowler stormed out of the elevator, his steps heavy with frustration. "Seven wrecks, thirty-four fender benders, and a three-hour traffic jam!" His voice was sharp, each word clipped with irritation. "I'm getting too old for this!"

I yawned dramatically, stretching out my wings and making sure to tuck them around the three humans I was hiding. I always kept my eyes on Pink. She had that unpredictable streak in her the kind that could get anyone into trouble. That's probably why she was my favorite; she always kept things interesting.

Jack, on the other hand, tried to sneak a glance at Fowler. His eyes flicked towards the angry human, but I wasn't having it. I dragged my wing across the floor, blocking his view of the grumpy agent. It wasn't like I didn't understand Fowler's frustration, but the humans were my responsibility always.

I let out another loud yawn, making sure to draw it out for dramatic effect. Fowler growled at me from across the room, annoyed by my antics. Of course, I couldn't resist. I growled back—louder.

"I see Stormchaser still hasn't learned manners," Fowler grumbled as Optimus began yet another of his speeches. The old bot was always so serious. Optimus had this unwavering sense of duty, but sometimes it was just... a bit much. I wondered what it would be like if we had more younglings around. Maybe it'd lighten the mood a little.

"I doubt they even left," Fowler continued, half to himself. "Your planet's too valuable." He wasn't making much sense, but it didn't matter. Something about the Pentagon being involved—what good was a five-sided shape, anyway? Humans.

The conversation kept spiraling into more back and forth. Fowler's rants were like static buzzing in my mind as I zoned out, my head resting on the cold ground. My eyes fluttered shut, and just as I was about to drift off to sleep, a loud crunch snapped me back to reality.

"BULKHEAD, I NEEDED THAT!" The words escaped me without thinking. Ratchet's precious equipment had just been crushed in Bulkhead's mighty grip.

Optimus's voice cut through the chaos, angry for the first time in a while. "We are your best, your only defense against the Decepticons. Military involvement will only lead to catastrophic losses. You may condone widespread human casualties, but I cannot."

It was rare to see Optimus this upset. He always stood for the protection of life, all life. Fowler didn't argue back. He frowned, obviously realizing he was outmatched in this battle of ideals. Turning away, he grumbled one last threat. "We'll handle it under the radar, or I will."

With that, he stalked back to the elevator, leaving us to sort through the mess. The doors closed, and I let my wing fall, allowing the humans to move freely once again.

"Pretty big bearings... for a human, that is," Bulkhead said, his voice low, though I could sense the respect in it. Fowler had guts, no denying that. He never backed down, even when faced with bigger threats.

"He worries about the fate of his world, as he should," Optimus added softly, though his tone wasn't as harsh now. The humans scattered around the base, exploring their surroundings, and I had to admit having them around did make things more lively. Even if it came with its own set of chaos.

"So, how did Stormchaser come to live with you?" Small asked, his hand gently stroking the scales on my leg. His voice was warm and curious, and it made me feel a little more at ease.

Pink, of course, stopped talking immediately, her attention zeroed in on me now. I could already see the questions forming in her mind, her wide eyes gleaming with excitement.

"Yeah," she piped up, "Were dragons the Autobots' version of a dog? Or maybe a horse? I bet Arcee could ride on your back."

I growled low at that, baring a hint of my teeth. I wasn't a 'pet', and I didn't take too kindly to being compared to one. Fowler had made the mistake of likening me to a dog once. He learned the hard way when I tossed him around like a ball. It didn't end well for him.

Optimus, ever the teacher, was calm as always. "Stormchaser is a Predacon, an ancient creature that predates Cybertronians. She was discovered by the Decepticons in an Energon mine over a decade ago. We intercepted her transport and she later hatched. I am thankful every day that we found her before Megatron did."

I shuffled closer to Optimus, resting my head against his chest, nudging him lightly. It was my way of showing my affection, though I could never quite find the right words. Talking was hard for me. I could mimic the language, but it wasn't the same. I wanted my voice to be clear when I finally told him how much he meant to me.

"How big was she when she hatched?" Tall asked, his voice softer now as he stood closer to me without hesitation. It was nice, the way they'd all started to relax around me. The fear was still there, but it was lessening, day by day.

"Tiny," Bulkhead answered, smiling slightly. "The size of an Earth cat. But she could still cause a lot of damage, which is why she is never allowed in the medbay. Ever." He cast a pointed glance at Ratchet, who was quietly shaking his head in resignation.

Bulkhead continued. "She was adorable, but when she got angry... man, she could deliver a hot blast that could fry anything in its path. And when she started teething? Worst years ever. You don't even want to know how many times she tried to chew through Optimus's arm at night."

I winced at the memory, though it wasn't all bad. Those were the years I was figuring things out. Getting my new teeth, learning my strength... and yes, chewing on anything and everything in sight. But it helped with the pain, so I couldn't complain too much.

Beep... beep... whurr... beep... bop... static...

That wasn't just any noise. That was a memory. I remembered the sound well—when I had tried to dig my way out of the last base. I'd gotten bored one day and, with no one around, I decided to start digging. But my sense of direction? Terrible. I kept digging in the wrong places. I was stuck in that tunnel for hours, trying to get out. At least I'd learned to avoid that mistake... mostly.

That only happened once. Well... three times, but who was counting?

Pink, now even more excited, fired off another string of questions. "How fast can you fly? I bet you fly super high. How do you breathe fire? Can you fly through space?" Her enthusiasm was enough to make me chuckle internally. She didn't seem to need oxygen the way humans did. She was an endless fountain of curiosity.

This was going to be a long conversation. And as much as it would probably wear me out, there was a warmth in the company I hadn't felt before. The humans... they were okay.