(It's midnight as I'm writing this, if I mess anything up, please let me know and I'll edit. Thank you!)

Knock knock

I open my golden optics and stare blurrily at the door.

Knock knock

"Who is it?" I yawn.

"It's me, Bee." Whirrs the bot on the other side.

Oh scrap! I have no armour...

"I'll be out soon Bee!" I lie.

"Okay Val." He says before leaving.

I shake my head to wake up and listen to the rustle of my pointed metal audials.

I can't go out there like this, it's not appropriate and I couldn't bare expose my brother to this, so I went with the only available option.

Grabbing a new data pad off the sidedesk, I write a letter for 'PRIME'S OPTICS ONLY'.

Placing the data pad between Winter's denta I open the door for her to leave.

I lift Axel carefully off my neck and take him to the washracks to be bathed before his morning Energon.

I stepped out of the washracks with a clean Axel just as Shadow sat up and rubbed his little purple optics.

"Hey lil'one bath time~" I sing picking him up.

"Aw Carrier..." He sulked.

"I'll make you feed yourself if you don't." I say sternly.

His optics widened as he shook his helm.

"That's what I thought." I smirked.

I placed Shadow in the basin and carefully washed between his armour, making sure to wash his faceplates.

'Gr-oof' barks Winter.

I take Shadow out of the basin and dry him off as I read the note from Optimus.

"Hello Valkyrie,
I will send for some bots to salvage what they can from your ship, including some of its armour. Is there anything I can assist you with while they are out?

~ Optimus"

I replied just asking for some low-grade Energon and normal Energon.

Sending Winter off again, I set to washing Iniko and finishing my design. Finishing the last part of the helm piece, I sat back and admired my work.

I was pulled out of my thoughts by a knock at my door.

"Who is it?" I ask.

"It's me, Optimus." Says the bot.

"Coming!" I exclaim while running to the door wearing only my most vital armour.

Punching in the code, the door opens to reveal Optimus looking up at me. I crouch to his level and hold out my servo for the cubes of Energon he is holding.

"Oh, here you go! Let me know if you need anything else!" He says before turning and leaving.

I step back into my room and lock my doors before walking to my bed.

"Who's hungry?" I asked.

It was obvious how they reacted, so I set three bowls down and poured Energon into them before sitting down with Shadow and slowly feeding him.

I burped Shadow and walked around with him until I decided to give him his data pad.

Setting him on the bed, I lay with him and did some work while listening to music.

I sat there slowly drifting to sleep when there is a knock at my door.

"Who is it-?" I yawn.

"It's Ironhide, I have everything we salvaged from the ship!" Exclaims the bot on the other side.

I walk to the door and punch in the code, stepping aside I let Ironhide bring in what was saved from the ship.

He pulls out a small cage.
"I also found this little critter amongst the wreckage, is he yours?" Ironhide asks.

"Oh scrap! That's Brawlblast's support pet! I have to call him! Thank you so much!" I shoo Ironhide from my room and quickly set to calling Brawl.

"::Hello::" answers Brawl.

"Hey Brawler, I found Zephyr, I hope you were okay without her for a bit." I say in relief.

"::Oh Primus! I have been searching everywhere for her. I need my support kitty...::" He whines.

"I just have to remake some armour, then I'll bring her to you, okay?" I ask using my motherly tone.

"::Okay, at least I know she's safe.::" he sighs.

I end the comm and set to molding my armour with the equipment Ratchet had lent me.

I started with the helm and worked my way down. Shoulders, chassis, hips, stabilizers, pedes, arms, servos.

Every piece of armour formed perfectly around my body and before I put it all on, I checked my wounds and re-wrapped my broken stabilizer.

Sliding my armour on, I checked it out in the mirror. My red wings and tail matched perfectly with the black frame and my black ears and tail complimented the look completely.

My golden optics shone brightly against the dark armour but it held the look together. Stepping out of the washracks I was met with an unsteady clapping from Shadow.

"Thanks lil'one!" I smile at him. "I'll make you some one day..."

I picked up Zephyr and pulled her out of the cage before grabbing Shadow and Axel and leaving the room with Winter and Iniko trailing behind.

Walking down the hallway, my armour made no sound against the cold metal. Stepping into the hanger there were looks of pure awe and shock.

"Like it?" I asked them.

There were unspoken yes's and nods of approval. I handed Shadow to Primage and left base. The sand blew in smokey clouds by my pedes as I flapped my enormous wings and glided through the warm air.

Searching the sky, I hold Zephyr protectively to my chassis.
"Momma gonna get you home little'n!" I say to the fretting kittin in my servos.

I spot the Nemesis in the distance and make my wings do double time to get there faster. I land lightly on the landing deck and comm Brawl to alert him of my arrival. Walking through the halls, I start to feel a tad jealous that Megatron was able to accomplish this.

I step into the throne room.

"Brother, I have bought Zephyr back for Brawl. I found him with the wreckage of the ship and decided to bring her immediately.'' I say petting the kitten's helm.

I hear Brawl enter behind me and turned around, just to be tackled into a hug.

"Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!" He cries.

I pull him in close and set him on my hip, like a Carrier would their youngling, holding Zephyr in his sight.

He grabbed the purring kit and held her close to his chassis. "I'm never letting you go... " I hear him whisper.

I look at Megatron and explain the situation and reasons for my new look before setting Brawl down, saying goodbye and leaving the Nemesis.

Flying back the base, I receive a comm from Ratchet.

"::That rouge bot Alastor, his ship is approaching Earth. I need you to check it out.::" he says.

"I can't right now! I'm busy!" I lie smoothly.

"::Alright, I'll send the others. But when you get back to base I need to check your wounds.::" he commands.

"Alright whatever, I'll be there soon..." I groan before ending the comm.

I decide to divert from my course and head to the wreckage of my ship to see if my safes were still intact.

Pulling away shattered pieces of ship, I climb through and walk to the center of the ship.

My doors rattle open to reveal two unscathed safes. I pull them into me servos and search the ship for any more valuables of mine or the others. Finding nothing I pull out the photos I had of our little crew, from them being mechlings to now fully grown mechs.

It was an hour before I left the wreckage and flew back to base. Snow melted off my frame as I re-entered the warm atmosphere.

Crashing to the roof of base, I shake off the moisture and step into the elevator.
Once the elevator hit the bottom, I stepped off the platform and back into the hanger. I sneak past Ratchet and make it to my room to put away the safes before trudging back out for the check-up.

"Just get it delt with..." I groan in irritation.

I lay on the medslab and reach into my subspace to pull out Energon sweets.

"I thought nobody made them anymore, the recipe was lost!" Ratchet exclaimed.

"I made the recipe Ratchet. I still make them. Try one, tell me if they are as good as you remember." I hold out the box and watch as he gingerly takes one and pops it between his denta.

I take in his expression as the flavours spread through his taste nodes.

"I missed them..." He whispers sadly.

"I make them, so if you ever need someone to talk to, I'm here and I have treats to make you feel better. I'm here to help bots, not myself." I smile and take a sweet for myself. "You can keep this lot, I have more. Just do this check-up so I can go please."

"Sure Val." He says grabbing his scanner.
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Hey guys! Hope you enjoyed!
Another chapter coming soon.
Comment below, what do you think?

~ Shadow
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