Incompatible

Chapter 2: Progeny

"Tell me what you wish." It seemed so cold coming from Dinobot, but the warrior was still in a sort of shock.

"Help me to the CR chambers…I need to be scanned."

"I doubt the chamber can do anything for you." Dinobot scowled but felt such firm belief from Primal he didn't question it. "Fine." He stood and gave the ape as much space as he would need to walk upright beside him but in this form Optimus was much shorter. "Dinobot Beast Mode." The raptor transformed and stood beside him. Optimus lifted his hand over Dinobot's back and held onto him tightly; his free hand bracing against the warrior's side. "If your intent is to keep it I will not deny you." Dinobot murmured. "Though I believe it is unwise," his head turned "and your discomfort doesn't bring me pleasure I want you to know."

"Me either…" Optimus' voice was even. "Me either." He let out a low growl and shook his head. "Primus My internals are getting rearranged."

The trek to the upper bridge was a short one, but easing Optimus down into the well of the CR chamber took some doing. "Rest …I will awaken you shortly after the chamber has had a chance to scan you properly." Optimus could feel the terrified streak run through dinobot in a flash.

"I'm…" Optimus spoke softly and it caused the raptor to face him waiting for what was to be said next. "I'm a bit unsure of all this myself." He said not to damage the warrior's pride. Dinobot looked around him and found they were alone. Turning back to Optimus the warrior bent down and pressed his long snout against the ape's shoulder a show of deep affection. Optimus' hand reached up to pet below his jaw slowly. "I'm alright…go on I'm safe here."

"I'll be just outside." The dinosaur murmured before turning and reaching his clawed hand up to seal the chamber. As the door sealed, he could feel Optimus' mind and his worry but also the gratitude that he was remaining so close. "Dinobot Maximize." After his transformation his optics remained fixed on the door of the CR Chamber.

A sound alerted Dinobot that someone was coming. He turned to one of the main consoles and looked at the screen as if pretending he was working. His worry he knew Optimus would feel. "Eh Lizard Lips…Whatcha doing up so late…." It seemed to transition too quickly into; "Who's in the CR chamber?"

Rattrap entered slowly and stood on his haunches and looked at the readout. "Why is the boss monkey in tha CR chamber?" he lowered himself back to the deck. "Maximize." Transforming he stepped up to the chamber and looked inside.

Dinobot replied evenly. "He asked me to bring him to the chamber." It wasn't a complete lie.

"His levels are off tha charts….we gotta get Rhinox."

"No!" Dinobot turned as if to catch himself. "No…" He said softer "Just allow the Chamber to do what it can for him, when he immerges if he feels he needs Rhinox…we will get him." Dinobot said firmly. "He's got a whole cycle left…let him go through the motions."

"What motions?" Rattap gave the warrior a sideways glance. "Something is going on here." A long sender finger pointed at Dinobot. "Tell me what's going on."

"How astute of you vermin." Dinobot rolled his eyes and turned back to the monitor. "Go get Rhinox if you feel so inclined but do not stand here and point your filthy digits at me accusingly." Dinobot continued to monitor Optimus' read out with almost serious consideration. Then pulling up on another monitor he seemed to be pulling old cybertronian medical files.

"What are you looking up?" Rattrap asked coming closer.

"Something…important that does not concern you Rodent." Dinobot turned slowly and made a motion to the hallway. "Leave or be useful."

"Well well…" Rattrap shook his head "Aren't we testy."

Dinobot was too busy trilling over information to give him a second glance. He had to figure this out. They sparked, it hadn't happened in centuries, and usually only Primes could, but Optimus wasn't a Prime he was only named for one. This didn't make any sense to Dinobot he had to figure it out. "Computer pull internal code Matrix Optimus Primal."

"Ya haven't tha right." Rattrap said. "Only Optimus can access that."

Dinobot pressed his hand to the scanner read and a pinpoint scanner from the main console scanned his optic. "Affermative pulling Code Matrix Optimus Primal…Authorization approved Dinobot."

"What?" Rattrap backed up "That's it …I'm getting Rhinox, you've hacked our systems."

"Wait wait Rattrap slow down" Rhinox yawned and sat up on his berth. Rattrap had barged in, doing everything to get inside save knock. "Say all that again this time slowly."

"Dinobot has Optimus in a CR chamber and is able to pull his personal files, I think he's hacked the system…I mean the computer accepted his optical scan ta get ta the boss monkey's files, and lest their switchin' optics er something like that I dunno what's going on."

Rhinox shook his head "That's not possible, and I think you're over reacting." He stood and motioned to the door. "Take me to Dinobot."

"He's on tha bridge with tha Boss Monkey who's still in the CR chamber." Rattrap shook his head "He's got a half cycle left but seriously who does Dinobreath think he is anyway?" Rattrap said but walked slowly forward his hands gesturing wildly.

Rhinox smirked as they walked having a good idea already as to what was going on. "It's probably nothing."

"Nothing?" he shook his head "This ain't nothing." Rattrap got silent as they stepped near the hatch to the bridge that was still open.

"Computer run the scenario again." Dinobot commanded watching the screen and shook his head "Change daily energon consumption levels to 80 percent full grade…and run again for optimal output."

"What in the name of Primus…" Rattrap looked up. "Now I'm confused working on a menu item for the computer?"

Rhinox looked down "Go to your room." Stepping inside Rhinox sealed the bridge. There was banging on the door until it went silent. "It won't take Rattrap long to over ride the door. What's happened?"

"We sparked."

"When did it happen?" Rhinox asked stepping beside Dinobot.

"Last night…it was not our intention to…"

"It never is." Rhinox shook his head. "His output is so high…I'm going to see if I can adjust the chamber for a mech who is housing two sparks…we've gotta get his output down."

"What must I do?" Dinobot asked.

"You're doing it." Rhinox said. "You'll need to stay close to him after he's out of the chamber." Looking over his own monitors he shook his head "I've never seen anything like this."

"I know I can only come to one conclusion, he's not just named for Optimus Prime." Dinobot breathed.

"He's a direct descendant." Rhinox nodded. "We'll cross that space bridge when we get there, the chamber isn't doing anything for his output we need to get him out now." He turned standing and moving to the CR chamber with Dinobot close behind him. "Computer release Chamber locks and end program."

"Complying." The doors released and steam pooled at the bottom on the deck as Dinobot stepped inside.

"Optimus?" Dinobot asked quietly. "It's me…Rhinox is here."

"I know he is." Optimus sounded drawn but didn't make an effort to move forward. "It's finished."

"What do you mean finished?" Rhinox grabbed the upper lip of the chamber ceiling and looked closer. Inside Optimus' arms was a small slivery protoform. "The chamber drew it out of my body, but it's still connected to me." He sounded weaker than before.

Dinobot crouched down beside him and blinked giving the little form a glance before turning his eyes on Optimus. "What do I do?"

Optimus shook his head "Get a scanner…. he's not protected like this…the energon radiation will be to high."

"He's right… Dinobot get a scanner go." Rhinox knelt down "Never seen anything like this." He murmured "This is all theoretical science." Dinobot looked to Optimus but turned heading out another hatch way into the medical bay for a scanner salvaged from the protoform pods.

"It's real now." Optimus said blandly and used his thumb to run over the audio finials of the small body cradled against him. "That hurt."

"I'm sure…I didn't think the CR chamber would do that."

"It was repairing me…it expelled the little one to do so…took a lot of my protoform to form this…I may have to get back in here once the infant is detached."

"And I completely agree." Rhinox nodded slowly. "I think it would be wise to call off our assault on the Predicon sector until you are on your feet."

Dinobot appeared behind him holding the scanner "Negative I will lead the team myself." He murmured.

Optimus allowed a soft smile to crest over his face "found a way to keep me home did you?"

"This was not my first choice for certain." Dinobot looked at Rhinox holding out the requested object. "Scanner."

"Take it outside run to where we landed and see what the scanner picks up." Rhinox said "Bring back three or four DNA scans so that you both will have choices."

Optimus reached out a hand placing it on Dinobot's arm. "Pick what you think is best."

Dinobot nodded. "While I am away you should name it… I have to call it something other than hatchling." He turned slowly and moved to the platform to leave the ship; he gave a single glance back at the silvery proto-form in his mate's hands.

"Come on up you go." Rhinox reached around Optimus to help him to his feet.

"Apache." Optimus murmured just before Dinobot was out of audio shot.

"What?" Rhinox asked trying to lift Optimus up form the mesh floor of the CR chamber.

"I'm calling it Apache." He grunted as he pulled himself up to Rhinox's side. "Oh …Primus…" he shifted his weight unsteadily. "After my creator." He murmured.

"Dinobot will be back soon lets get you two into the medical bay…" Supporting Optimus was easy as they strode the few meters into the next room. Stopping in front of the door Rhinox pulled away. "Easy… hang loose." Stopping along the small berth he moved his hand along the base reaching for a button to lower the table down.

With the table lowered and grateful for the assistance from Rhinox; Optimus slid upon the table slowly still clutching the silver protoform against his left arm. "Thank you Rhinox."

"You two should have told me." He murmured. "I had some idea but I wasn't sure."

"Dinobot didn't want anyone to know." He murmured softly. "Besides this little part of it happened last night…I didn't think creation was this fast…"

"They're not usually, they take up to four orns. It must have something to do with your beast mode and its DNA speeding it up." Rhinox sighed "Going to be hard to hide this." Grabbing a scanner Rhinox set the table to a comfortable height and moved around to Primal's left side. "Lets see your optics little Apache." He murmured and used his thumb and foredigit to turn the protoform's head. Using the hand held scanner he scanned the small protoform. "How is it attached?" Rhinox asked rolling Primal over on his right side slightly to see.

There below Optimus' arm a long silvery cable extended out of his fur. "Well there we are." Standing he allowed Optimus to settle back. "I'll see what I can do the little one seems fine attached to your systems….it's male by the way." Rhinox sighed.

Optimus nodded "I could tell." He smirked "Dinobot found something."

Rhinox turned and eyed him closely. "You can hear him in your processor?"

"No…not quite." Optimus' eyes thinned in thought "It's like I feel him, and sense his mood."

"A bond." Rhinox said softly leaning down beside the small mechling with another type of scanner.

"That's a myth." Optimus said firmly. "But it would explain the feelings…"

"I think dinobot is right. You have to be a direct descendent of a Prime, there's no other rational reason for all of this." Rhinox said firmly. "Your animal feral instinct to breed…to find the best suiter…communicating though a bond of the spark."

"That's not why Dinobot and I did this."

Rhinox nodded slowly at the denial. "I know that Optimus but hear me out, your body would not have lashed out to reproduce unless it knew it could form viable offspring." Rhinox shook his head "We'll get him scanned and then his systems may separate from yours…rest for a little while Dinobot shouldn't be gone more than a few clicks."

"Alright." Optimus nodded slowly and closed his optics thinking about Dinobot, thinking about the many forms he might be able to find. His system was cascaded with almost joy. He smiled and tried to push the same sensation back to Dinobot and was glad when their mental link warmed.

Exiting the medical bay Rhinox locked the door. "What is goin on in there?"

"Yeah what's wrong with Optimus?" Cheetor and Rattrap were both standing outside the door waiting.

"We're not sure yet but as soon as we know you will be briefed on the situation." Rhinox said slowly.

"No way Pal Dinobot was all secretive, and now you? Huh uh…talk." Rattrap folded his arms. "I want to know what's going on with you and Choppaface, and The Boss Monkey."

Rhinox nodded sitting down in his chair slowly "And when I am sure that I know…you will know." It was as simple as that.

"Come on Rattrap Rhinox wouldn't lie to us…I'm sure Optimus is fine…come on you can go on Patrol with me." Cheetor smiled. "Tell Optimus I hope he's doing alright okay Rhinox?"

"Of course Cheetor." Rhinox smiled "Report back to me after your patrol."

"You got it…Come on Rattrap." Cheetor waited by the exit platform.

"Yeah…fine…but don't think I'm done with you yet Nosecone." Rattrap moved with cheetor to the platform to exit the Axalon.

Rhinox smiled. "Youth…is wasted on the inexperienced." He laughed pulling up a scan of the protoform that now clung to Optimus' systems. "Basic protoform, but mostly technological…less biological." He shook his head "How is that possible?" he blinked and looked over another basic sub structure scan. "Computer highlight weapon arrays."

"Arrays highlighted." Rhinox nodded and started to do calculations on a smaller data-pad.

"That's a lot of arrays for one mechling." He murmured and selected one at the neck. "Computer analysis of selected area."

"Analysis complete, area selected main cannon array." The voice responded.

"What modes can that be used in, and will it inhibit vocal processors?"

"No…vocal processors unaffected by cannon array location, can be used in both bipedal and beast modes."

"By Primus in both modes?" Rhinox turned back to look at the door. "Computer…transfer all read outs to medical bay terminal three."

"Transfering files…file transfer complete." Rhinox stood and was about to make his way back when Dinobot appeared holding the scanner.

"Find anything good?"

"I believe it will appease Optimus." Dinobot said softly. "It's a mandrill…"

"Very well lets get to work." Rhinox reached out accepting the scanner from the Warrior and the two made their way back into the medical bay.

Optimus opened his eyes as Dinobot appeared on his left side. "That wasn't enough time to rest."

"I'm sorry Dinobot returned faster than I had anticipated." Rhinox smirked and took the scanner hooking it up to the main terminal. "Computer can the retrieved scan be integrated into the protoform?"

"Affermative…."

"Computer prep main CR Chamber in the medical bay." He shifted to the small chamber and opened it slowly hooking the scanner into a small recess on the port side. "Prepare to separate Optimus from the Protoform and scan it to this guise."

"Affermative…Awaiting Chamber Closure."

Rhinox turned to Dinobot. "Primus I hope this works."

"If one of them has to be saved it must be Optimus." Dinobot said helping Optimus up off the table. Staying on the left side Dinobot helped him to the private chamber in the medical bay. Rhinox approached and dinobot hissed.

"Easy…let him help." Optimus said and the statement seemed to calm the warrior like a wash cascading over his systems. Rhinox took up the right side assisting to get him back into a different CR chamber.

"How long will this take?" Dinobot asked agitated, but the question was on Optimus' mind, but he hadn't meant for Dinobot to ask.

"As long as it does, like I said before this is completely new to me." Rhinox said as the two settled Optimus down in the chamber.

"Can I be in there with him?" Dinobot asked firmly. There was a draw for him to be there.

"I don't think it's wise." Rhinox said firmly. "Might get systems crossed."

"I don't think it will." Optimus said softly extending his knuckles out to Dinobot who took the hand and stepped inside. "We're already synced and linked." He said bad street slang for being bonded.

"Seal us in." Dinobot said kneeling down beside Optimus on his left keeping the little one between them.

Rhinox sighed "Alright but if you come out fused together I'm going to say I told you so." He watched with awe as Dinobot coiled his tail protectively around the other two.

Dinobot smirked at that and kept his optics on the silvery protoform of the little one clutched in Optimus' dark fur. "Seal the tank." Dinobotordered.

"Closing hatch." Rhinox said "I'll be here when the timer dings." The doors sealed and the two were in the dark. Dinobot's opics cast a dark shade of red in the darkness for only a moment before the internals of the chamber shut their bodies down.

to be continued