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The med bay of Starscream’s castle buzzed with activity, a symphony of mechanical sounds echoing off the polished metal walls. Soft, fluorescent lights cast a sterile glow over the room, illuminating rows of berths and medical equipment with clinical precision. The air hummed with energy, charged with the urgency of a new spark. Bumblebee lay on his berth, surrounded by a team of nurses clad in vibrant shades of red and blue. The air was thick with anticipation as they monitored his vital signs, their optics focused intently on the data screens that lined the walls. The atmosphere crackled with tension, a palpable sense of anticipation hanging in the air.
Suddenly, a cry rang out, cutting through the noise of the med bay like a knife. Bumblebee's voice, filled with disbelief and shock, reverberated off the walls, sending a shiver down the spines of all who heard it.
“Purple optics!?!?!” Bumblebee yelled, the sparkling that he had just spent painstakingly giving birth to had purple optics. The outburst sent a ripple of confusion through the room, catching everyone off guard. The nurses exchanged puzzled glances, their optics flickering with uncertainty as they tried to make sense of the situation.
Bumblebee didn't have purple optics, and Starscream didn't have purple optics. Bumblebee’s circuits immediately short-circulated. Wheeljack sprang into action, his sturdy frame moving with practiced efficiency as he rushed to Bumblebee's side. With a deft motion, he caught Bumblebee's falling head, his strong grip preventing any further injury.
“Bee!” Wheeljack exclaimed, his voice filled with concern. Bumblebee's reaction had taken everyone by surprise, turning what should have been a joyous moment into one fraught with tension.
As Wheeljack tended to Bumblebee, the nurses quickly assessed the situation, their diagnostic scanners whirring to life as they checked the sparkling's vitals. The bassinet beside Bumblebee's berth held the tiny form of the newborn, its golden frame bathed in the soft glow of the overhead lights.
"The sparkling and carrier have fine vitals, Wheeljack," one of the nurses reported, her voice calm and steady despite the chaos that surrounded them. "It seems like he passed out due to shock."
“Seems like it,” Wheeljack replied, gently placing Bumblebee’s head on his berth pillow.
Turning his attention to the new life which had been placed in a bassinet near Bumblebee’s berth, Wheeljack monitored the now quiet sparkling which moments ago was the reason for a loud med bay. The sparkling was dozing off but before it closed its optics, Wheeljack saw the color himself.
“Purple huh,” Wheeljacked muttered to himself, his voice tinged with curiosity.“I wonder what Starscream has to say about this.”
-
When Bumblebee finally awoke, the sight that greeted him was Starscream, the usually abrasive Decepticon, cradling the newborn sparkling in his arms. Starscream's expression was softer, his posture more relaxed, a stark contrast to the harsh, angular lines of his armor. Blue optics widened from the yellow Mini-Bot. “I-I can explain Starscream!” Bumblebee frantically spoke, attempting to leave his berth trying to reach Starscream, “The sparkling is yours, I promise! You’re the only bot I've been with Starscream but I don't know why his optics are purple.”
Starscream raised a hand to calm him. “Settle down Bumblebee, you're going to hurt yourself,” he said with gentleness. The softness in his voice was unexpected, a hint that there was more to this Decepticon than meets the eye.
Bumblebee froze in place, unsure of what to do. Bumblebee's optics darted between Starscream and the sparkling. "But... the optics. I don't understand," he said, his words tinged with anxiety. Bumblebee’s usual composure was unraveling, the fear of the unknown overwhelming him
Starscream shifted the sparkling in his arms, the tiny bot's golden frame glimmering under the medical bay's lights. “You should lay back down, we can’t have you passing out again,” Starscream instructed, Bumblebee did exactly that, now noticing how sore his lower frame was. Starscream turned his attention back to the sparkling in his arms, who was sleeping. “I know why their optics are purple,” Starscream spoke softly with a smile.
Starscream stood up and with the sparkling in his arms, he moved closer and sat next to Bumblebee’s berth. Bumblebee tilted his helm in confusion, “Then why?” he asked.
“It’s from my true form,” Starscream replied, “My fight against Vigilem showed me my true form.”
With one arm, Starscream takes out a hologram display given to him by Windblade, turning it on and displaying his true form. The colors were intense, a vibrant mix of blues and reds, with sharp angles and intricate details. There was a moment of silence as both bots admired the hologram. Bumblebee stared at the hologram, his gaze tracing the intricate lines of Starscream's form. The realization that Bumblebee’s sparkling's optics were linked to this deeper truth brought a sense of calm to his chaotic mind.
“I see,” Bumblebee whispered, the words barely audible over the hum of the medical bay. Glancing at his sparkling in Starscream’s arm who was now gently rocking the sparkling in his arms, its tiny frame shifting as it slept, “May I hold him?” Bumblebee asked.
Starscream nodded, carefully placing the sparkling on Bumblebee's chest. The tiny bot nestled into the warmth, its optics opening briefly before closing again in a peaceful slumber. Bumblebee wrapped his arms around the sparkling, a wave of relief washing over him. The fear and uncertainty melted away, replaced by a sense of profound connection. Starscream watched the tender moment, his usual arrogance subdued.
“If his optics are due to your true form,” Bumblebee said, turning to look at Starscream, “Then I’m glad I was able to give you a piece of yourself.”
Starscream's optics softened at Bumblebee's words. For a moment, the harsh lines of his armor seemed to smooth, his usual edge replaced with a gentle warmth. Starscream placed a hand on Bumblebee's shoulder, "I never thought I'd say this, but... thank you," he said, his voice uncharacteristically soft. Bumblebee felt his circuits calm, the tension draining from his body as he held the sparkling close to his chest. The tiny bot shifted slightly, its optics fluttering open, revealing those distinct purple hues. They were a striking contrast against its golden frame, a blend of both parents in a way Bumblebee hadn't anticipated. Starscream's optics met Bumblebee's, and for a moment, there was a silent understanding between them.
The sparkling’s name would be Goldstar.