Transformers Prime: A Sparkling Issue

Chapter 3 - Prime Sitter

Now all was left was their contents. He left and came back a smaller cube of low-grade energon in his servos; with his little train of yellow, blue, green, and orange following him all the way to the store room and back again. He hesitated a moment as he began to pour. Something seemed to tell him there was something different about this part. Neural diodes worked hard, but he couldn't clearly recall what and the wails from below made it hard to process. Hoping for the best, he filled each of his bottles with the luminescent liquid and tightly screwed on the modified lids. Optimus surveyed his work. He now had four homemade baby bottles, crude but they would have to do.

He herded the sparkling away from the work area and knelt down as the whimpering little sparklings gathered around expectantly, eyeing the bottles in the Prime's arm. He handed the first one to Bulkhead, as he was closest. The green sparkling grabbed it, but didn't seem to know what to do with it. He tried to bite into the side which Optimus quickly stopped, not wanting a similar experience of the fire extinguisher happening again. He gently stuck the rubber nub into the little mouth while tilting the container up. Round optics went wide as the taste of food met his pallet and Bulkhead seized the bottle in both servos and began sucking furiously. But before the rest of the containers could be passed out, the others, seeing someone else eating, were all over the poor mech in an instant. Bulkhead lost his grip with a complaining whine as the container rolled away leaking a trail of blue. He immediately began to cry and it didn't help the others were still clamoring over him.

Quickly, Optimus retrieved the container, realizing that this simply wasn't going to work in the orderly manner he'd hoped. He freed Bulkhead, picking the others off him by their metal scruffs and setting them each a good distance from one another; then, as quickly as he could, he passed out the bottles before another dog pile could happen. Success this time. Like before, he had to help each understand how to use them, but moments later a blessed silence filled the bunker as all sparklings suckled, their little servos tightly gripping the bottles. At least it was quiet until Ratchet began choking from gulping his dinner too rapidly. It took a moment of coughing and pats on the back before the mech had it under control.

"Easy now little one," Optimus crooned and gave him the bottle back. "Slow and steady now. That's right." Having downed nearly half the contents by now, Ratchet began eating slower this time.

Bumblebee had been quietly enjoying his meal but Optimus now saw the spot of yellow crawling towards him, bottle hanging from his mouth that was clamped tightly on the rubber nub (as the vocalizer guard had been removed to allow him to eat). He plopped down and reached up towards the large mech, little servos making grabbing motions in the most adorable manner. The Prime couldn't help but get the message. He knew enough to know it was common for some sparklings to want to be held while eating. Gently he scooped up the yellow mech and placed him in the crook of his arm joint. Bumblebee wiggled down comfortably with his bottle, leaning his helm against the broad chest plates. A contented whirring bleep and he went back to his meal, optic lids drooped slightly.

Optimus looked down at the small sparkling as he waited for him to finish. He could feel the soft metal against his and the close warmth radiating from it; feel the light pattering of tiny treads bumping against his chest. In the quiet, sharp audials could hear the soft suckling sounds as the little mech filled his hungry tank. They all had an almost calming effect somehow, and Optimus was surprised how as ease he felt after the events of the day. All the while, the relaxed baby optics looked up at their caretaker, exploring the chrome faceplate with their innocent gaze. An upward curve pulled at the corner of the Autobot leader's mouth. The bottle was nearly empty and he used a digit to push it more upright so Bumblebee didn't suck air. The others were about done as well and it seemed as though the situation was going to run smoothly to the end.