Soooo, you guys have been reviewing and asking, so I wrote another chapter. The first of many, believe me. I had a vision that I need to write, so when I get there, you'll know.
Pls review! Thanks!
Saga 2
Jack tried to wrap his head around it. There was something about 'the Secret of the All Spark', and it had to do with Optimus. But, 'the Secret of the All Spark'? That was crazy, and way to sci-fi. Then again, he lived half his life with giant, free-thinking machines that transform into cars.
"Ratchet," Jack carefully asked, "What's this whole 'Secret of the Spark' thing? I mean, what's that about?"
Ratchet stopped and glanced at the human. His stare convinced Jack that he was about to be 'crushed underfoot', but the 'bot relaxed, sighing as he placed his tool on the table before him. "I guess you've heard too much by now anyway," he mumbled.
"No-no, it's really isn't that big of a deal," Jack stammered, backing away. He had seen the 'you've heard too much' movie one to many times.
"Yes, it is," Ratchet insisted, "Can't have rumors spreading. I guess Optimus should have told everybody by now anyway," turning his optics from where his long-time friend had disappeared, he looked at Jack. "The secret of the All Spark, well I thought it was only legends, make believe, bed time tales to get the little brats asleep. But after Optimus was inaugurated to become the youngest Prime, I figured out that I was wrong...
The rubble was everywhere. The battle must have been furious, Ratchet thought as he made his way to The Innermost Sanctum, the Prime HQ. His optics saw a white glow from inside, and his sensors picked up a reading. "Optimus," he breathed, recognizing his ally's signature.
Racing into the room, the glow surrounded him, but vanished milliseconds later. His optics adjusted readily, taking in the scene with horror. Bodies were scattered around the floor, dismantled, melted, stabbed, and blown apart. "By the All Spark," he muttered breathlessly, recognizing one piece of mangled armor. It was a Prime's. More specifically Heretod Prime.
Hearing a clatter, Ratchet looked up from the metal and examined the inside of the room. "Optimus!" he called when he heard the 'bot groan. Running toward him, the medic was almost taken back. A tall, fully armored 'bot rose and stood before him. But just as gracefully as the giant rose, he fell forward, only to be caught in Ratchet's arms. "Optimus?" he asked, steadying himself under the weight.
"Indeed, friend."
Ratchet gasped despite himself. That didn't sound like Optimus, not in the least. "Optimus, your voice. It's-"
"Are you doubting the accuracy of your sensors?" the Prime said, slowly standing.
"What- no! My sensors are perfectly-" he stopped when a small grin curled the lips of his friend. Ratchet sighed. "It's you." he confirmed. "B-but what in the All Spark happened here? How are you still alive?"
"The All Spark is exactly what has happened here, Ratchet." Optimus said, leaving the ruins of the Sanctum behind him as he marched away, the medic struggling to keep up.
"Well that doesn't make any sense. Optimus-"
"Please, refer to me as Prime," the 'bot said nonchalantly as he glanced over his shoulder to his friend, watching Ratchet's reaction.
"You-you actually got inaugurated? Well," Ratchet breathed, crossing his arms while pretending to be offended. "It's about time."
"No friend, it was against my request, believe me. But, the Primes thought it best-"
But Optimus' explanation was cut short by a grenade exploding about forty Earth yards away. Ratchet, though not being thrown to the side by the blast, was knocked off balance. He slammed his shoulder into the wall in his effort to regain his lost footing, but watched Optimus. The large 'bot didn't even flinch at the detonation, but merely kept striding to some unknown location. Ratchet noted this as one of the many changes in his friend.
"So, when did he tell you what happened?" Jack asked from his perch on the ledge, his elbows propped on the rail behind him.
"When did he-" Ratchet scoffed, "he didn't. I figured it out."
"How?"
"It wasn't that hard. I did some research while we were waiting for the Decepticons to attack us again. After going here and there, I finally realized that Optimus wasn't just the last Prime...
"When were you going to tell me?" Ratchet scolded Optimus in their temporary home. A multi-room, single story, half blown up, abandoned house, just on the outskirts of town.
"It was never my intention-" the Prime started to explain, but not apologize, which made Ratchet even more mad.
"So what, now you win the war single-handedly, and ascend to the throne of your new empire as some omnipotent being?" Ratchet yelled, throwing a table against the dusty wall.
"Ratchet please, I myself do not yet comprehend the true potential of these-" a groan cut Optimus' words short, and the 'bot clutched his chest, again. He had been moaning and groaning since Ratchet snapped him out of his trance.
"Of these what?" Ratchet asked tenderly, escorting Optimus to a chair. "Powers, abilities? Divine intervention gifts from some Great Being?" he sighed as he listened to Prime's moans grow louder. No matter how upset he was, he was a medic and couldn't let his friend suffer. But he didn't know any other way to help Optimus. They had tried several, but all failed. He had, however, narrowed down their problems; containment and equipment, and Ratchet felt that there wasn't a thing he could do about either of those.
All the power that Optimus was 'given' was bottled up inside. He wasn't going to explode, not any time soon anyway. Ratchet concocted some mathematical equation to figure out how long Optimus had, and how much energy he needed to loose in order to prolong those results. The medic figured that his Spark would learn to absorb some of the 'magical radiation', but that would take time. Until then, Optimus needed to loose a little bit at a time, a lot of times. But if he lost too much, it would tear at his Spark. He needed some consistent way to loose just the right amount, every time.
Equipment would have also been very nice to have. Sure Ratchet was a medic, and he was even one of the best, but his extensive skills were limited to what he had at his disposal, and there wasn't much in that old house. Or anywhere else they looked. The 'cons would destroy anything that they came across, and life-giving technology was their biggest target. And since it would take days, and tons of risk, to get back to the city before the 'cons got reached it first, the two partners were stranded.
Ratchet ducked as a purple flare busted through the only whole window that was left in the house and exploded against the wall. The medic felt the building wobble unsteadily, and heard a 'con call for back-up. "You ready to fight, Mister Prime?" Ratchet said, his words forming a 'you better be, whether you like it or not' statement more than a question.
Optimus nodded, and jerked his chin down, activating his mouth guard. Both 'bots pressed their backs against the wall that stood between them and the small army that was coming.
Battle ensued, needless to say, and the two fought bravely. Leaving their posts, Optimus and Ratchet ran through the house, hearing the 'cons behind them. In one last strategic move, the pair exited through- literally through- the nearest wall and tossed a grenade into the center of the building. It detonated, exploding the Decepticons inside, but not before one of them shot Optimus' hand, destroying it along with his weapon.
"Oh, don't worry about it," Ratchet breathed after the two of them ran up a hill and slid down the other side, "Your gun wasn't very astounding anyway."
"I liked that weapon," Optimus mourned jokingly, "I was very fond of it."
"Fine, I'll make you another one! I just can't stand to see a grown 'bot cry!" Ratchet quipped as he examined the Prime's hand. "Wouldn't take so long if, of course, those blasted 'cons hadn't mindlessly destroy every bit of salvageable material that they came across, like they always do!" he groaned.
"Well, finally I came up with an idea. Optimus needed to let some of his power loose-"
"A little at a time, but a lot of times," Jack, who was know sitting up on the rail, interjected, cutting the medic short.
"Well, yes. So after a bit of experimenting, I made Optimus a weapon that not only shot flares, but also shot out a little bit of 'All Spark' power every time he fired it," Ratchet explained.
"And since you were in a war, he let out a little bit of energy a lot of times! That's why his gun is so powerful. Ratchet, you're a genius," Jack said, peering to the side so that he could see Ratchet's proud grin.
"No," the 'bot scoffed, "it was nothing."
"So, this 'Power'," Jack began after a moment of silence, "Exactly how powerful is it?"
"He will have the ability to take life, and distribute it at will. He will obtain the power to create and destroy thousands upon thousands of his metallic enemies, with ease," Arcee quoted the fable as she walked in.
"Arcee!" Jack gasped, hopping off the rail and turning toward her.
"So it's true," Arcee asked the medic, ignoring her human.
"I'm afraid so. As much as I hate to admit it, the legends are- were- true," he replied.
"They still are if the Power really is inside Optimus. What I don't get is-"
"Is what, Arcee?" Optimus asked, walking into the large room.
"Oh, ah- Optimus," Ratchet stammered.
"Easy old friend, I do not come to make war," somehow the Prime's deep voice was actually relaxing. "Arcee, I-"
"No, Prime. I don't want to hear your excuses. I want to no why you didn't save Cliffjumper, or Tailgate!" Arcee growled, her tone demanding recognition, "If you're really so good and powerful, then how could you be so selfish and let your fellow Autobots die all around you! How can you not do anything about it!"
"Arcee, the Power one obtains from the Secret of the All Spark, it is not something to be taken lightly. The Powers themselves are immense, and I do not know, nor can I comprehend, what will happen if I attempt to use them," Optimus explained, inwardly fighting to keep his cool.
"So what, you're scared you might make a sonic boom! Optimus, millions upon millions of Autobots have died, our entire planet is gone! We are five Autobots away from becoming extinct! How do you think the other Primes would have appreciated you not doing anything about it!"
"Arcee! Believe me, it was not the wish on my Primes to receive the Power. They-" Optimus turned and looked at the alarm as it sounded. Then at Ratchet to see what the alert was about. "Ratchet, what is it?"
"What else?" the medic asked, dread clipped to his voice.
"Decepticons," Jack guessed sarcastically, and judged by Ratchet's scowl that he was either right on or way off.
"Autobots," Optimus said as the others ran in. "Roll out!"
Starting the ground bridge, Ratchet watched as the Autobots transformed and road into the tunnel. Glancing over his shoulder, he watched as the other two children walked in. His blue optics then shifted as Optimus walked over.
"Ratchet, you will come assist us," he informed.
"What? But what about the-"
"The base will be watched by the children," Optimus changed the direction of Ratchet's worries, keeping the secret between the two of them. "They are more than capable having been taught how to operate the Ground Bridge."
Miko let out a small 'whoop!' when she heard that they would be running the place. Jack and Raf looked at her questionably. "Oh com'on! Just the three of us in an unoccupied, retired military base! Is anyone else thinking party!" she attempted to rally her troops, but they fell back awkwardly. "What is wrong with you guys?" she asked as the Ground Bridge closed behind them.
"Miko, didn't you hear what Optimus told you?" Raf hesitantly asked, forced to fill the void of conversation that was left by Jack's quietness.
"You guys are still on that? So Optimus has monumental Powers that no one knew even existed, much less that he had them till now. So what?" she paused, considering what she just said.
"Monumental Powers that could have ended the war eons ago, saved the planet- and their entire race," Raf said, pointing about the obvious.
"Well yeah, they could have. But they didn't," Miko mildly protested.
"But why didn't they?" Jack spoke up, studying the giant monitors with eyes that were glazed over in thought. "Why didn't Optimus stop the war, why didn't he save their planet or their race?" he asked the screens.
Raf and Miko looked at each other. The girl then burst forward laughing, wrapping her thin arm around a startled and confused Raf's shoulders. "Com'on you guys! You're taking this way too seriously! So he didn't, so what? He probably didn't even know that he had them till recently."
"Miko, he did. A-according to Ratchet anyway," Jack said, still watching the monitors.
"And Bumblebee said that Optimus knew exactly what he was doing when he... you know," Raf shrugged. "Took the Secrets."
"So he's self-aware, good for him! It was in the past guys, you got to get your heads out of the clouds and embrace the present," she scolded, poking Jack in the back of his head in time with her stern words.
"Ow- Miko," he grabbed for her hand to stop the relentless jabbing.
"Optimus to base," the Autobots leader's voice came over the comlink.
"We're here Optimus," Raf replied since Miko and Jack were kind of busy.
"You mean you actually have the com up and running?" Ratchet scoffed, "I'm almost impressed."
Bee's buzzes replied for Raf, who chuckled in agreement. "Yeah Bee, thanks," the child replied.
"Are you guys gonna flirt with each other or pay attention?" Arcee asked, her voice was not amused.
"Arcee, a little conversation is never prohibited," Optimus corrected her.
"I'm not sure why I'm here, Optimus. The threat was small, insignificant even," Ratchet drove over beside the Prime as they turned off the highway.
"Let us rest the subject with my gut feeling," Optimus replied, signaling another turn.
Bee laughed at his Prime using such simple Earth terms.
"Optimus, permission?" Arcee asked as she swerved into Optimus' line if view.
"Permission granted," he told her, unsure that why she was being so formal.
"We need to talk. Well, I do- to apologize," she pieced together.
"And is there any particular reason that this must be done in privacy?" he asked, watching her keenly in his rear views.
"Yeah," Bulkhead agreed, "We're all family."
Bee blipped in agreement, then mentioned that, though it was definitely different, it was the best one that he had ever had.
"What do you mean BB?" Bulk asked with Ratchet asking the young 'bot to explain as well. "Didn't you have folks on Cybertron?"
Bee informed that he didn't really have much of a family, aside from his two friends; Horsefly and Hornet.
"You've never mentioned them," the medic noted.
The small 'bot reasoned that the other 'bots never asked, but he was asked to explain further by Bulk. Bee sighed, then started his tale.
It was a very large house. Heck, it was huge. Well, at least compared to those around it. It sat on the border between the rich and the poor, and had an exterior that camouflaged it perfectly between the poles.
The occupants were pretty well rounded also. Young Bumblebee was a free-thinker like those in the slums, but was respectful enough to disguise with the snobby rich kids any day. He was just that. Young. Only a cycle or so, still in his first years of school, before the inevitable day when the army would decide fate, and whisk him away to be trained.
Hearing a clink on the window, he poked his head out curiously.
"Hey dumb kid!" another 'bot called from down below.
Bee's large, innocent blue optics focused on the ground and recognized the familiar sketch that was always left in the dirt by his friend. It was smaller than any other that Horsefly left before, and the young 'bot knew that his friend was testing his remarkable eyesight. Bee perked up at his subtle beckoning and quickly fell in suit, running toward the door. He glanced at the clock and swore that it was way too early for Horse to be out.
Running into the streets, Bee dodged to the side and grabbed the back of a truck as it entered the gate that led to the dignified slums. Walking around the side, the guard checked around the back of the vehicle, but didn't find anything suspicious. Signaling that the transport had the right of way, he opened the large, barb wired fence and let the truck roll through.
Bee, who was sitting on the truck's roof, examined the gate as it closed behind him. It was normal. Barb wire gates between towns, and guards stationed between houses. The young 'bot knew it as normal, he never tasted the freedom that the 'bots before him had.
Looking up, he saw his chance, and prepared to jump. With all his might, he leaped into the air and hooked a metal rod that stuck out of a house with his hands. Pulling himself onto it, he shimmied across and rolled onto the opposite roof. Bounding, and flipping down from window sill to crate to ground, he agility was to be reckoned with. He had the stiff security to thank for that.
Disappearing into the shadows, he picked his way to Horsefly's house.
"Hey, look who decided to show up!" the 'bot greeted Bee when he appeared. Horsefly was waiting at their usual spot, and old concrete slab that was surrounded with rubble on one side and buildings on the other. Tossing Bee a ball, the 'bot caught it as it slammed against his chest.
"Where's Hornet?" the yellow bug asked, bouncing the ball up and down modestly.
Horse shrugged, then confirmed that he did invite the missing friend when Bee gave him a knowing scowl. "Hornet's missed too much lately, and he can't miss this," Horse said catching the ball that Bee bounced back to him. Performing stunts that would make the top basketball players on earth fall over and die, Horse showed off his handling skills, rekindling the promise that Bee, Hornet, and himself had made some time ago.
They were going to go into the army. Well, they were going to volunteer, not wait for the officers to pluck them from their homes. They were going to enlist together, and make their own troop of three. Bee was the eyes and the quick one, Hornet was the muscle and brains, and Horse was the strategist and the sure-shot. Together the three of them were going to take down Megatron, win the war, and become heroes. Such dreams of the young, unprotected minds.
Finally, a door on one of the nearby buildings opened and Hornet walked through, proud and stiff as ever.
"Well it's about time!" Horse said, chucking the ball to the arriving 'bot.
"Well I apologize if I choose to travel in a civilized fashion," he replied, bouncing the sphere to Bee with the intent of his words.
"What can I say? I'm a natural," Bee scoffed, performing a low, exaggerated bow. Horse's muscular frame vibrated with his modest chuckles. He was taller than Bee, but shorter than Hornet. He was purple, and hated having the resemblance of a Decepticon. Big, crafty blue eyes named him a perfect Autobot though, a title that he was much more comfortable with.
Hornet, the eldest and from the rich sector, was the most... cultured. He was more educated than the others, despite Horse's taunting grades. Hornet was what would be considered a 'bad boy' on Earth, and his two friends were constantly drug into trouble with him and his crazy stunts.
Together, the three of them would make the most unstoppable military force that the galaxy had ever seen! Of course if they could actually stay together.
"Horse was quite the Jokester, but Hornet was the trouble. Well, we were young, so we were all trouble. We went through a lot together, and were convinced that we were going to end the war, despite the fact that we had no training, nor any idea how to govern a planet," Bee's voice echoed in the large room as it was fed through the translator that Raf was making.
"Sounds like you guys were close," Jack said, assuming that the 'bots story was over.
"We were," Bee replied.
"So then what?" Miko asked.
"Yeah, I mean obviously you didn't destroy Megatron. So what, did you enlist together?" Jack specified Miko's request.
"Not really. The government had its own ideas."
"Sounds familiar," Miko mouthed to Raf, who was on the rail next to her.
"That's what Horse wanted to tell us that day. He was drafted, and leaving the next morning. After that, Hornet was called. I was alone, but determined to get them back, so I volunteered. My commanding general told me that I would do the army a lot of good if I was a scout, and made me believe that I was meant to be one. I'm not sure if I was or not, but I was pretty good at it.
Several years later, I finally caught up with Horse and Hornet. I was sent to give word to this base, and Hornet was the commanding chief there. Horse was his right hand.
Well, the 'cons came, and Hornet told me to go to a tower that was nearby and tell the snipers that were stationed there that they were under attack. I did, but Hornet shot the tower down as soon as I signaled that I had made it."
"What? Why?" Raf asked, joining Jack at the computer.
"He went 'con. He started attacking the troop from the inside, and about killed Horse before the advancement even got there. I managed to save him though, and we made our way to the next squad to alert them. But Hornet got there first, and told us that I was one that betrayed them. Horse and I were taken into custody to be examined by the Primes, since it was a case of betrayal," Bee said, sadness twined in his tone.
"Bumblebee, though I was aware that the Primes were interrogating a presumably treacherous scout, I did not know that it was you," Optimus sympathized with the 'bot.
Bee replied saying that there was no way that the Prime could have known, and told his leader not to worry about it.
"So then what? Were you cleared?" Miko asked, turning the subject back to the story.
"Well, kind of. I don't know what they did with Horse, but my questioning never came. The Prime that was supposed to interrogate me never came, and eventually the guards that were guarding me were called away to guard the Sanctum. So, I kind of... left."
"You broke out of jail? Rock on!" Miko cheered.
Bee chuckled at her, then continued. "When I was getting out, I passed a bunch of 'bots that were being taken to the dungeons. I didn't know why, but they were all injured. By the time I reached the surface, the Sanctum was under attack by 'cons. I thought I heard Horse, so I went in to investigate."
"Wait a minute. You were there when the Primes were being attacked?" Bulk asked.
"Yeah. I watched it. I even tried to take some down, but they were too strong," Bee admitted to the rest of the listeners.
"I'll assume for the moment that you were trying to take down 'cons," Ratchet spoke up.
"Of course!" Bee fired back. "But, there was too many of them, and the Primes..."
"Bumblebee, I have to ask. Where you there when-" Optimus began.
"Yeah, I was," Bee answered, emotionally cutting the leader short. "I saw the Secrets."
