~Chapter 3~

How, in the name of Primus, is she gone? Just as frantic as Lazerbeak, Soundwave looked high and low around his quarters, hoping to find some clues of her disappearance.

"Sire, I know where she is," the minicon informed through their bond.

His faceless visor snapped toward him, making one message clear, "Where?"

The drone took off, soaring down the dimly lit hallways until he stopped in front of the medical bay.

Soundwave stepped inside the room to find a small pink frame watching Knockout on a metal berth.

The said medic was busy buffing out his dents and scratches from his previous mission. "Now this is how you shine sweetspark,"

Firespark smiled and giggled at how funny he looked while trying to get the scruffs on his backplates.

Both Cybertronians didn't see or hear the silent mech enter nor to him standing there.

"Why are you laughing? Surely trying to stay fabulous isn't a j-" he stopped mid-sentence when Soundwave made himself seen. "Ah, Soundwave, for your information, I did not take her from you. She found her way here."

The TIC didn't pay mind to him and picked up the sparkling and nuzzled her helm, causing a squeal in surprise. He was relieved at the fact that she was safe; however, upset that she wandered off.

Noticing her sire's tense stature, she whimpered an apology and laid her helm against his chassis.

His anger seemed to vanish in an instant and was replaced with tender care. The mech nodded to Knockout and left without a word.

Lazerbeak was practically bouncing with excitement in his flight patterns as they were on their way back. He had his family all together once more, for she was the liveliness to their dark lives.

~~~~

Orange optics opened and a yawn escaped her vocalizer. She looked at her asleep father and brother and carefully slide off his chassis onto the metal ground. Hopes and dreams of landing on her two pedes fled as she landed on her butt with an oof. Where was she going? She didn't know, but she wanted to explore, being as curious as she was.

Walking toward the sliding door, Firespark wondered if it would open for her. To her greatest amazement, it did slide open, allowing her freedom. Peeping her helm out the door and looked both ways down the hall. The coast was clear, and so she decided to go right to start her adventure.

The hallways were dark and unwelcoming as she peeked into every nook and cranny in every room. The further she ventured, the more uneasy she got. A small whimpered arose as the lights above flickered as the floating warship creaked. Her small pink frame huddled into a ball in the darkest corner tightly, regretting leaving the comfort of her sire.

Whistling snapped her out of her depressed state as a red mech passed by. It was the kind medic! Knockout was his name? Standing up, she followed him into the large medical area. As the doors closed, the femme hid behind a crate of blue energon cubes.

"Look at yourself Knockout, look at what those pathetic Autobots have done to your new paint job! Ahh..."

Was he talking to himself about his paint?! Her helm peeked out behind the cubes to watch the intriguing mech sorting through metal compartments.

"Aha! There you are,"

Wanting a closer look, she leaned in, causing a cascade of cubes to fall to the ground, startling the medic.

"Who's there?" Firespark arose from the shadows, which relaxed his posture, "Oh, what are you doing here doll?" No answer, only a guilty stare at the floor. "So, you decided to run away, hmm?" She nodded her helm. "Well, I can't exactly send you off on your own," he paused to think of the best solution, "Guess you'll be staying with me then," he sighed. The sparkling smiled up at him, "But I guess you're not too bad," the red medic picked her up and placed her on the medical berth. "While you're here, I can teach you the importance of self-care," picking up the polisher, he began to buff out his frame.

Firespark was confused about how this was entertaining, but as he struggled she giggled behind her servo.

This caught Knockout's attention, "What are you laughing about? Surely trying to stay fabulous isn't a j-" he stop-mid sentence as Soundwave was standing in the doorway. "Ah, Soundwave, for your information, I didn't take her from you. She found her way here."

The sparkling reached her servos toward the TIC and had the biggest smile on her faceplates.

The silent mech scooped her up and held her close, nuzzling her helm with his visor.

Knockout could only smile as they left thinking to himself how much the sparkling had changed Soundwave. As he continued on his routine, he realized that she had made his day, even though it was only 10 minutes at best. It was a shame that such a bright light was being encased in darkness.