A/N: So this story seems to be turning a lot darker than Fate. I'm not sure what to think about that. I thought Fate was pretty dark. I'm not ashamed to say I'm not exactly sure where this story is going completely. So, I hope you guys don't mind coming along for the ride, cause it's gonna be a bumpy one.
June sat watching Ratchet pace from her perch on one of the many catwalks in the silo. He had asked her to join him to discuss Optimus' condition but so far hadn't said anything. She was beginning to wonder if he'd changed his mind when he finally came to a stop. He turned his head to look at her, his optics full of concern.
"June, I am afraid that there is little I can do for Optimus. Well, I shouldn't say that. There is little I can do here for Optimus. I need access to a spark resonance monitor. The one I've got is very old and-well honestly I need a fully equipped medbay to properly treat him."
"Ratchet." June interrupted his worried rambling. "What exactly is wrong with him? I know he's depressed and suffering from battle lag, as you said, but what else is going on?"
"It's not just the battle lag, that's more of a symptom than anything. He has spark trauma."
June stared at Ratchet for a long moment letting the comment sink in. "Wait . . . Spark as in the very essence of your being, your soul . . . It's been traumatized?" Just saying it out loud made her shudder with the implications.
"Simplistically put . . . But yes."
"Oh." June didn't know what else to say. It reminded of her when her father had told her he had a brain tumor, that same feeling of being helpless like the world was spinning out of control assualted her. She was glad she was sitting down. Closing her eyes she took a deep breath. "What can we do for him?"
"Nothing right now. Without the proper scanning and monitoring equipment, healing him will be problematic at best and impossible at worst."
June slumped in her chair. "No wonder he's been shutting me out."
"He's blocking your bond?" Ratchet moved closer peering down at her.
"Yes, I don't know how he's doing it but it feels like a wall. I can sense he's there and he me but anymore unless I'm touching him I can't feel his emotions."
Ratchet vented forcefully, the gust of warm air fanning June. "This is not good. I don't know the implications of defying a binary bond. I really need access to Teltran or the medical archives. I'm sorry to burden you with this June but considering that very bond I felt you should know."
"Thank you Ratchet. I appreciate it and in return I will try to give you any information that might help in his recovery."
"That would be most appreciated. Now . . . Would you like to go meet our newest visitor?"
"Yes I would."
Whatever June was expecting of the new Autobot, this wasn't it. The military green mech was quietly conversing with Agent Fowler. William for his part seemed very at ease with the new mech. As she got closer she realized they were talking about the raid on Megatron's base to get Optimus back. William was smiling as he told the rapt mech about how they'd managed to get the ground bridge working and had sent in all available bots and human volunteers.
"That was a very risky mission."
"We lost three."
"We would have lost more if not for the Primes." June offered as she walked up.
The new mech angled his helm to look down at her. "Primes? As in plural?"
"Yes, Vector and Nexus both showed up to save Alpha Trion and by default Optimus."
"I see. You must be June Darby. Agent Fowler has been most effusive in his praise for you."
June smiled feeling her cheeks warming. "He would do well to keep his opinions to himself."
Willaim coughed. "Eh, I said nothing but the truth June."
"Of course." She turned back to the Autobot. "And you are?"
"Hound. Autobot scout first class, assigned to find Team Prime."
June nodded. "I see and who assigned this mission?"
"Jazz, he's in charge of the Arc while Optimus is on his mission. It was decided after nearly a hundred orn with no contact that I should be sent out to assess their condition."
"A hundred orn?" June looked to William who just shrugged.
"Ah I'm sorry, I'm going by our time frames. It's actually been 98.269 orn or 3.5 of your years."
William let out a low whistle, "Thats a long time not to hear from an advance team."
"Yes, we know, but we trusted Prime to keep him team safe."
"And he has to the best of his ability, given the circumstances."
"Yes, this is not what I was expecting but it explains a lot. I need to get word back to my commander as soon as possible. Though I think leaving orbit to send it would be best to avoid detection."
"I agree."
"You just got here Hound. If they've been waiting that long a few more hours won't hurt."
Hound narrowed his optics a pensive look crossing his face. "I suppose. It was a rather stressful journey. Maybe a chance at the wash racks and a debrief with Optimus then I will contact them."
June and William looked at each other. June spoke first. "I am afraid that Optimus is not up to having visitors at the moment. His time in Decepticon . . . Custody, was not pleasant."
Hound's optic ridges nearly met. "I see. I will write a report for him then on what has happened since he left the Arc."
"I'm sure he would appreciate that."
There was a loud bang and a frustrated yell from down the corridor. Ratchet sighed and hid his optics behind a servo for a moment.
"That bot is determined to get us all killed."
June grinned. "Go check on him Ratchet, what was he supposed to be doing?"
"Moving a desk."
June noted that Hound seemed to relax, the ramrod straight back and shoulders shifting into a more comfortable position.
"Wheeljack is here? You're lucky he hasn't destroyed something yet."
Ratchet turn back to Hound, "I'll have you know that he's only blown up Decepticons."
"Must be a new record."
Ratchet huffed, but June saw the smile as he turned to go check on the engineer. Once he had gone Hound looked at her.
"So when did Wheeljack join Prime's team?"
"It's not official yet, but he helped me save Optimus after their base was destroyed. He's been sticking around ever since."
"Unusual. He's not known for being very . . ."
"Stationary?" William prompted.
"Something like that. Ultra Magnus was very upset when he took off, but Wheeljack's always done his own thing, even among a group like the Wreckers."
"That's the second time someone has mentioned Ultra Magnus. Who is he?" William pulled out a chair for June and one for himself. Hound took the cue and settled him self on a low concrete wall.
"He's the leader of the Wreckers. As far as any of us know he's still on Cybertron fighting the Decepticons."
"So why didn't Prime contact him when they went back with the keys to restore Cybertron?"
"Optimus was on Cybertron?"
William sighed. "He'll have to tell you himself. It was . . . Not a good day."
Hounded nodded. "I see. As far as who Ultra Magnus is . . . Ask Wheeljack. I've never met the mech."
"I see, different divisions."
"Something like that." Hound looked between the two of them, optics bright. "You are a very interesting species. I would very much like to learn more about you. It seems there are a lot of similarities between our societies."
June smiled. "You are kind to say so, but I'm afraid you are more right than you know."
William nodded, shifting around in his chair then finally shooting to his feet. June and Hound watched him pace for a moment.
"I hate to admit it Hound, but we've got our own version of Decepticons here on Earth."
Hound nodded lips pressed into a thin line for a moment. "Every society does. Of all the races we've come across in our travels, every one has elements of fear, hatred and aggression."
"As much as I wish it weren't true, it's not very surprising." June murmured.
William grunted. "Here we always thought aliens would be more advanced, not just technologically, but culturally and intellectually."
"Sorry to disappoint." Hound grinned ruefully.
"Oh, he didn't mean it like that Hound." June shot William a reproving glare. "We are still getting used to the idea that we aren't alone in this universe as it is."
"I understand." Hound's smile softened into something more genuine. "Do you mind if I go wash up, feeling decidedly gritty after that trip."
"Oh my gosh! Where are my manners? I'm so sorry!"
"It's fine, I was enjoying our conversation." Hound waved her back down. "Ratchet told me where they are. Thank you though."
Once he'd left June turned to William. "So . . . Are you going to tell General Bryson we might have a whole shipload of Autobots on their way?"
William sighed. "I don't want to get his hopes up."
###
Knockout glared at the readout. Flatline had given him a whole stack of datapads to sort and collate. It was beneath him and they both knew it, but that hadn't stopped Flatline from ordering him to do it. He wasn't used to taking orders from anyone except Megatron. Being forced into basically being the sick glitch's assistant was almost more than Knockout could stand. He endured it, mostly because he didn't want Megatron ripping him apart just to let Flatline play build-a-mech with his parts.
He shuddered, gripping the pad tighter. He didn't dare go back in the lab until Flatline was done. He'd seen some pretty horrible things, but to experiment on their own kind like that was just . . . Wrong. And Flatline wasn't anywhere as bad as Shockwave. Just the mention of that mech had the Eradicons and Vehicons scrambling.
His comm pinged, startling him. "Yes? What is it?"
"Lord Megatron requires your presence in the throne room."
"I'll be right there."
What could he want now? Setting the pad aside he headed out of the small office. Megatron hadn't called for him in a while and he had no idea what their illustrious leader might want now. Megatron was pacing in front of his dais when Knockout walked in.
"There you are. I need you to go do something for me."
"Eh . . . Alright? What is it?"
"Soundwave has been picking up interesting communiques from the humans regarding Cybertronians of unknown affiliation."
"And you think they could be some of ours?"
"Or Autobots. I want you to go check on it and report back."
"Surely there are others more capable-"
"Knockout. Go."
Reining in the outburst threatening, he nodded. "Yes, My Liege. Where am I going?"
"Soundwave has the coordinates."
Tracking down Soundwave was as easy as going to the central communications room. He relayed the request, got directions and several sound-bytes of human origin. Soundwave was even so accommodating as to open him a ground bridge to the location. Though it felt more like the mech was just trying to get rid of him. Which was the more likely scenario.
Sitting in his altmode Knockout watched the warehouse complex. A few trucks had dropped off and picked up deliveries while he'd been parked, but nothing else seemed to be happening. Was it just a way to get rid of him? Send him out to meet potential enemies and get him killed? He wouldn't put it passed Megatron. Though the mech was more likely to kill Knockout himself.
Around dusk activity became more pronounced as workers wrapped up for the day. Once the last of them had left, closing and locking the gate behind him, Knockout resumed his protoform. Hoping the low fence he ran his scanners over the first building. Nothing but Earth tech. The second one was more of the same. Had Soundwave sent him to the right place?
A prickling unease settled in the back of his processor. Wasn't this what Megatron had done to Airachnid when Breakdown had been killed. The three of them had been sent out on a pseudo-mission, whose true purpose had been to kill the conniving femme. What if Megatron was doing the same to him? What if he was just target practice for a squad of Vehicons or Eradicons? He shook his head. Megatron wouldn't do that. No. Actually, he would. Kneeling down behind one of the buildings Knockout tried to calm down. If this was a real mission and he messed it up because of his paranoia then Megatron really would snuff his spark. On the other hand . . .
Drawing out his energon staff he crouched, twitching at the slightest noise. After a few breem he shook himself.
"This is ridiculous. There isn't anyone here."
Standing he turned to go and found himself face-to-face with a mech he'd never seen before.
###
June sat on her bed, papers spread all around her. Taking another sip of her room temperature coffee she tried to come to grips with what she was reading. How could the government think this was a good idea or even conscionable? It made her wonder why William had given her the reports in the first place. It was disturbing how detailed the reports were about Cybertronian physiology. M.E.C.H. had been very, very thorough. There was even a whole report solely on theories of how Cybertronians reproduced. She'd barely skimmed through it before tossing it aside. The other reports on their body structure, genetic coding and chemical make-up were even more disturbing on a totally different level.
Where had they gotten all this information? What Cybertronian had died so that they could find all of this out? She found herself not caring if they were Autobot or Decepticon, to do something like that to a living, breathing, sentient being with complex emotions was sickening to her. Though she wasn't surprised. Just horribly disappointed in her own race. It seemed all those sci-fi movies Jack loved were right. When given the opportunity to meet another race of beings, humans would rather dissect and disassemble it than engage in meaningful conversation. After reading through all of this she was surprised the government hadn't taken the Autobots into custody.
As soon as the thought crossed her mind, she recoiled. Closing her eyes she rubbed her face. Just the thought of her friends at the mercy of the world's governments brought her close to panicking. Even as horrible as the thought was, she knew it could still end up being a possibility. If the Decepticons became too agressive and the Autobots lost too much ground . . .
She couldn't think on it. There was a knock at her door. Quickly gathering the papers she stuffed them back into the folder.
"Come in."
The door opened Jack poking his head in. "Hey, Ratchet wanted to let you know that Optimus is awake."
"Oh! Thank you."
"Sure. Are you okay?"
"Yes. Why?"
Jack frowned, then shrugged. "You just seem . . . Depressed."
June tried to smile. "I suppose I am, a little bit. Some of Optimus' feelings bleed through the link."
"Oh. He's depressed?"
June paused before answering, tentatively touching their bond. He was awake but not happy about it. "Yes. Yes he is. From the feel of it he's going to be giving Ratchet trouble. I better go."
"Alright, I'm going to go see what Raf is doing. Bumblebee and the others are back. They were really happy to see Hound."
June closed the door to her room and turned to Jack. "I bet they were. He seems like a very good person."
"He is. Apparently, he was almost killed. Ratchet's been telling us the story of what happened on the Arc before they came to earth. With some of the stuff they've been through I'm surprised they are still alive."
June sighed and started walking. "Me too, Jack. Me too. But if there is anything I've learned about them it's that they are very resilient both in body and mind."
"I've seen that with Arcee."
"Jack . . ." June paused unsure if she should say anything or not. "If anything happens in the future and I'm not here, please make sure you stay with Arcee, she needs you."
Jack reached out pulling her to a stop. "Mom, what's this about?"
"I don't know. I just . . . Forget it. I need to go see Optimus. He's getting more and more agitated."
Jack held on for a moment longer, his gaze finally dropping away. "They really hurt him didn't they."
"More than any of us know. I saw some of it-some of the torture . . . It wasn't all physical. Megatron taunted him, used his kind nature against him, made him feel responsible for the war and everything that's happened. It was horrible, Jack. I couldn't do anything. I couldn't help him at all. All I could do was hide and watch them strip him of every last shred of confidence."
June didn't realize she was crying until Jack hugged her. His arms wrapping tight around her.
"I am so sorry, Mom. I can't even imagine . . . I know you did everything you could. You kept him company, kept his hope alive."
June gripped him, the devastation she'd felt when she'd thought she'd lost him for good finally breaking through. Somewhere in the back of her mind she could feel Optimus reaching his own breaking point. She pulled away smiling through the tears.
"I have to go, Optimus needs me."
"Yes, he does. I love you, Mom."
"Love you too, hun."