Chapter Three- Home

Here we start off with Optimus speaking about how he is eagerly awaiting for Friday night when he will be reunited with his sparkbond Elita and his son, Rammer. He talks about them and how life was on Cybertron. But he also shares with us some of his personal preferences about life here on earth. Optimus has been in the med bay all week and is looking forward to leaving later on this morning. Later in the chapter Ratchet rants on to Optimus about taking it easy and Ironhide meets up with him just outside the hanger before he rolls out.

Okay, you know the drill, I don't own any of the transformers blah, blah. However, the names of the sparklings Rammer, Bouncer, Beamer and Staylie- I do!

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In the med bay 0500- Optimus's Personal logs

I figured since I had been laying wide awake for the last fifteen minutes I might as well write down why I'm so excited and happier than I can even remember.

It's now early Thursday morning and no one is up and about but me. I'm usually the last down and the first up in the morning because, I never really was able to recharge for very long. Today I'm finally getting release from here; I've been ready to go since day before yesterday, but Ratchet didn't believe me until last night. I must have bugged the pit out of him about everything I could think of and yet, last night was the first time in a long while we had time to spend with each other talking about things not including war, the Decepticons and or, grief over another lost comrade.

I can't tell you whom between the three of us; Ratchet, Ironhide or I is the happiest and at the same time nervous about being reunited with family and friends, who once were thought to have perished. My son Rammer, he was so young when I made the decision to leave. But he was old enough to race, roughhouse with me and enjoy our trips to the museum of Science and Space. I wonder if he grew to enjoy any of those interests he had in space and the stars, drawing and yeah what all-young mechs duly love, racing; or sadly, did the war I fear prevent him.

The news of their arrival had been the only contact that we have had and it simply was a encrypted Autobot coded message; they were still I believe, to far out into space to risk direct commutation. But what ever I may feel, I really wonder how they feel? Did they even hear my message that I sent years ago and are now just making it to this solar system? Maybe they heard my last message I sent out while I was onboard the aircraft carrier. That was a painful trip home, I was throwing up damn nearly the entire time and it was the one time I was glad to have been sedated. My stomach ached, my ribs ached and my head ached so, I was glad to be able to shut down all of my systems and rest.

My biggest concern is how did Elita coped with it all; the war, fighting to stay alive and raising Rammer alone or at least without me there now. Magnus my dearest friend, we practically grew up together, went to grade school together, got drunk off of high grade together and our cherished friendship more than once help prop me up. In fact, we three; Magnus, Elita and I grew up together so, I have some comfort knowing that she had someone there she could depend on when I was gone.

When I got up, I noticed that Bee and Acree had sent me an email; in it they said they were ecstatic about the others finally making it here and were getting a flight back sometime this evening. Bee said,

"Now I have scheduled the wedding a month and a half from now. That it would give them time to set it up and the others to get aquatinted with earth."

I have had amble amount of time on my hands lately to think about where I wanted to settle down and begin; but now with my family arriving home, I will wait and we will decide together. Earth, it is so much like our world once was; we were once like individual states in a sense. We had several cities and smaller towns but most of us though, lived in the outer sectors near the main cities and traversed back in forth only for entertainment, supplies, work or school.

Events were held in something similar to a stadium size area and we had vendors and they were paid by the event holder so once you paid your way in, it was free drinks, supplies, souvenirs and etc. I guess I could go on and on but I don't feel as sad as I thought at first I would be when we had came here in search of the allspark. I love music especially music from the 80's; it sounds similar to what I heard growing up back on Cybertron. We had music much like the music here; different rhythms and beats for different meanings; that is the way that the musician could express him or her self. I like songs that have a good meaning, an uplifting or inspiring story behind it.

I'm rattling on but there is so much going through my mind right now; so many places and things I would like to explore and learn more about in person. Side from a few side trips to some historic sights there is more that I wish now I could visit. But we are not seen generally by the mass public in our natural form because of the humans' growing fear of us, so we still travel disguised as an earth vehicle. It's not the humans that have had us concerned for our well being, but our concern for them from the Decepticons.

Which brings my mind to that thought, it's really over finally and yet it wasn't how I think really any of us wanted it to go. What had to be done was done, but a part of me had hope that Megatron would see the error of his ways, eventually. After all, we were once a peaceful race at one time; we had worked together for the common good. I don't think Megatron really wanted it to end this way or at least the Megatron I once knew.

No one may ever read this; well may never read it until after I'm already dead and gone for good. But it feels somewhat therapeutic to write down some thoughts. Ratchet suggested it to me a couple days ago; he said,

"If you can't talk to some one, write down what your thinking on the pad. Like keeping a diary or personal logs."

I never kept a journal of my thoughts before; I would give my advice to someone if ask or I felt it would help them but never thought for myself that way. There are a lot of things I gave up personally that before this week, I had forgotten. I'm sure, as the coming weeks and months pass by we all will be able to share more openly maybe by doing so we can move on with our new beginning.

End of Optimus logs

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0700 hours in Ratchet's office

Ratchet had just walked in after only being able to recharge for about six hours. He just like Ironhide and the others were anxiously awaiting for Friday to hurry up and come. He sat down at his desk with his cup of hot engeron and picked up the data pad he had kept. On it he had several videos and pictures he took of his boys and his beloved Moony. They were so young when he left with Optimus and the others and now he was wondering if after all this time they would even remember him. He sat there skimming through the pictures then stopped at one of Moony standing in front of the school where she taught. She was a school teacher and the school nurse's assistant.

"She is going to learn to love this world much as I have, I just know it."

Ratchet said aloud to himself as he wiped a tear from his face. It was a mix of happiness and too regrets that filled his mind at the moment. He picked up his cup and took another swallow of his drink then he sat the data pad down and turned on his computer screen. He's screen showed the readings from the machine that was monitoring Optimus.

"Pfft," he mumbled.

He knew though that Optimus would be up and ready to get out of here. Optimus had been cooped up in here for the last week and out of the last three days; Optimus was just chopping at the bit to break free. Even though the read outs have been stable for the last three days and his strength returning, Ratchet was still concern and so was Ironhide. He and Ironhide had every right though, they had been with him even before the war broke out.

The reason why was that Optimus' systems were still integrating with the systems from their friend, Jetfire and too they both experienced watching their leader and best friend nearly perish. It had taken it's toll on Optimus, Ratchet had noticed that more than anyone else because, he read the vital signs and listened for the first time in a long while Optimus breakdown and weep on his shoulder. Ratchet knew it was going to happen, he encouraged Optimus to let it go. Being a doctor he was able to read the stress in his body and sense too the enormous relief of it all that was physically affecting him. Optimus had built up that wall around him; he had taken on the responsibility of keep hope afloat amongst the death and lost of their home world.

"Ratchet, this is hide, has Prime left the med bay yet?"

Ironhide asked over the comm link. The question had jolted Ratchet out of his wondering thoughts and back to what was going on.

"No, but I'll call you when he does, now quit! As long as he is in my med bay, I can take care of him."

That was Ratchet's snappy response but one Ironhide was use to though. Ironhide just made low grunting noise as he ended the link. Ratchet smiled as he had just taken the last swallow of his drink. He knew old ironsides was just worried and wanted to see Optimus.

Optimus was sitting up and watching the morning news waiting patiently for Ratchet to come and remove the cables that read his vitals and other lines. He too had kept a personal data pad that was full of videos and pictures of his family. Ratchet had made it down the hall and was looking through the glass pane on the door when he saw Optimus too reminiscing about the old days.

Then as usual, Ratchet knocked on the door before entering. It was a show of respect that Optimus so rightfully dissevered.

"Come," Optimus answered after subspacing his data pad.

"Good morning Optimus," Ratchet said as he went over to the side of Optimus's bed.

"That it is Ratchet," Optimus said in return as he pick up the remote and turned the TV off.

Ratchet just sighed as he busied himself with removing some lines and cables that were connected to Optimus. Optimus had been able to now for the last four days take in energon normally and without throwing it back up.

"Okay, you're free to go but with restrictions, you still need to rest and take it easy and now that the war is finally over, you have no excuse not to. Secondly, it's the hottest time of the year here at Diego Garcia, I don't think I have to remind you that we are currently station in a tropical region. Now lastly, the supplies you requested for will be on the next supply plane out here, I was told that would be tomorrow morning some time."

Ratchet said as was putting away the cables in the drawer. Optimus sat up and moved his legs over to the side of the bed so he could get up. He's butt was sore from laying down most of the time and immediately he realized just how stiff he was going to be for awhile.

"Thank you Ratchet, for everything. I ugh, didn't see all that coming you know I."

"Hey, youngling none of us do. Those emotions are not predictable for either human or cybertroian. In time those regrets will soften; look don't beat yourself up about it any more, you had made a decision at the time that was the most logic. Like I said the other day, Sentinel would have been proud, you had brought us safely through it."

Ratchet said quietly to him.

Optimus then slowly started to stretched out his arms and moved his shoulders left to right trying to get the stiffness out.

But not without some pain, "Ouch" he mumbled.

"See here, down the hatch. This should help with the pain and ease the tension in your joints and cables."

Ratchet said as he hand Optimus a glass of energon and a pain pill.

For Ratchet it was a rare side of the cranky old medic that was rarely seen but much appreciated. Optimus just nodded his head and then looked down for a brief moment, he had spent the majority of his adult life tending to and grieving for the lost of others under his command and never really any time for himself. About that time Ratchet just reached out and embraced him in a brotherly hug then gave him a friendly push towards the door.

"Go on, Ironhide is waiting outside with Lennox to see you," Ratchet said.

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Ironhide had been sitting out there for the last hour in his truck form with Lennox waiting to see Optimus before he and Lennox went to the range to blow up stuff for the hell of it.

"Good to see you finally out of there Prime," Ironhide said to Optimus as he exited the hanger.

Lennox got out so that Ironhide could transform and greet him.

"I seconded that Optimus, good to see you up and on your feet again"

Lennox said as he approached Optimus.

"That it is my friend. Hide, old friend how are you?"

Optimus said greeting both Lennox and then his old friend as he stood by them. Ironhide then stepped forward and extended his hand to Optimus and they shook hands and at the same time gave each other a friendly hug.

It was an very rare gesture from Ironhide, he is not a softy when it comes to emotions but he was too happy now; something he hasn't felt for centuries.

"Actually Prime, Optimus, I'm relieved to know your fine youngling and that our families are coming home, I wouldn't ask for any thing more."

Ironhide said to him in a rare show of affection, he has not referred to Optimus by his first name in centuries out of respect for the mech and the duty that fell upon the young mech so long ago.

"I am too looking forward to their arrival, now if you three would excuse me, I need to roll out!"

Optimus said and without further a dew he transformed and took off for his favorite spot along the beach.

Lennox just shook his head at seeing Optimus quickly transform and book out of there; he knew that Optimus was itching to get out of the med bay and be able to relax. He had been a leader for the majority of his life and as a leader he didn't have the luxury to relax. It's something now that's going to be the best thing for him. Well, that and the fact that he's family is coming home.

"Don't you over do it Optimus," Ratchet hollered at him but it was to late, Optimus had done took off like a rocket.

"Ironhide, would I be right in saying by the way he took off that he has a bad case of cabin fever?"

Lennox said as he walked on back over to Ironhide who just then let out a hearty chuckle just as he was transforming back into truck mode.

"That is correct Colonel Lennox and I can promise you that we want see him until way after the sun goes down, but he ain't the only one."

Lennox just shook his head as he climbed in the passenger seat. He knew that Ironhide loves to blow things up for fun and had a good feeling that was just what was about to happen. Thank goodness I brought plenty of ear protection, I think I'm going to need it; Lennox thought to himself as Ironhide bee-lined for the firing range.

"Are we going to have another Fourth of July before the month of July?" Lennox asked as Ironhide hulled ass down the road.

"Oh yeah," was all that Lennox heard him say.

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Okay, this was going on and on so I'll stop here. Next chapter we will read from Ratchet's personal logs he wrote later that night and then the big day. General Moreshower comes the next morning and then the reunion that night.