I suggest listening to Vocaloid Kagamine Rin's Kokoro, Nightwishes Amaranth, or The Unwinding Cable Car by Anberlin when reading this chapter. :D The songs helped me out greatly when writing it.

CHAPTER 4

"Optimus Prime."

At the sound of his name being called Prime stopped and looked over his shoulder. Chromia was moving speedily toward them. "Optimus Prime, if I may have a minute."

He looked at Prowl and the two humans. "Go ahead," he told them. "I'll only be a minute." he turned back to the femme. "Yes?"

She took his hand and set something in it. "I was asked to give you this," she said.

Optimus looked down at the object in his hand. It looked like a flash drive. "What is this?" he asked her.

"I was not given that information," she replied. "I was just told to give it to you and to tell you to download the data into Teletran One as soon as you can." she turned and walked back down the hall.

Optimus looked down at the flash drive in his hands. What now? What did they want him to do now? I guess I'll find out when I get back, he thought, closing his fist. He turned around and continued up the stairs to the roof.

Once he got there he found Prowl, Sari, and Professor Sumdac waiting for him. None of them asked why he'd been detained. "Let's go," he said, crossing the roof and joining them in front of the bridge.

Cliffjumper, who had been sent up to the roof to make sure they actually left, powered up the bridge. Prowl was the very first person to walked through the orb with the others following close behind. Optimus and Cliffjumper looked at each other for a moment before Prime followed the ninja and the two humans through the bridge and back to earth.

He came out on the roof of the Sumdac System's tower. Optimus noticed the only other people there were Professor Sumdac and his daughter.

"Where's Prowl?" he asked, looking around.

Sari, who looked upset for some reason, wiped her eyes and replied. "He went back to the plant."

That piece of information should have made him feel better but it didn't. He sensed something was going on that he should have been aware of, but what, and why wasn't Sari all bubbly about the fact that she'd brought Prowl back? Hadn't things gone the way she'd wanted them to? "Sari?" he asked her. "What's wrong?"

Sari did not answer. She just sniffed and wiped her nose. Professor Sumdac put a comforting arm around her shoulders. She leaned against him. "Maybe this isn't the best time to ask her," he said.

"No," Sari said, lifting her head and meeting the robots gaze. "I should tell you now. It would be best if I did before you went back."

"Okay," he said a little uncertainly. "If that's what you want. I mean you don't have to."

"Yes, I do," she corrected. "I have to."


When Prowl arrived at the plant and entered the building he right away felt the stares of his comrades on him. He saw Bumblebee gaping at him, his lower jaw nearly touching the floor. "P-Prowl?" he said, uncertainly. "Is that you?"

The cyber ninja didn't answer. He didn't have to.

"I... uh," Bee continued, fumbling for the right words to say. "It's good to see you alive and well, you're looking good for somebody who's been dead for a week-OW!" He looked at Bulkhead who'd jabbed him with his elbow. The bigger robot gave him a look and he shut his mouth.

"Hi, buddy," Bulkhead said, walking forward. "How are you feeling?"

Prowl still didn't answer. Instead he turned away and walked out of the room. Bee and Bulkhead looked at each other. "What's wrong with him?" the yellow mecha asked.

There was no way Bulkhead could answer that question.


Ratchet didn't know how to react either. He stepped out of the infirmary just as Prowl walked past. The medic nearly had a spark attack when he saw the transformer that should have been dead look at him. He jumped, his back end slamming into the wall. "Prowl?!" he exclaimed.

Prowl just stared at him.

"Uh... Hi," he said, trying to come up with the right words but unable to think of anything. "When did you-uh.."

"Last night," Prowl said emotionlessly.

While the medic processed that the cyber ninja continued on his way, reaching the door to his room and stepping inside.

Ratchet watched him the whole time, still trying to figure out what he'd just seen. Was I imagining it?


Prowl's room hadn't changed since the day he'd left it for what should have been the final time. His other weapons still hung where he'd left them and his oriental carpet, which he'd ordered from Japan, still covered part of the dirty floor. He looked over at the wall, seeing the poster of the dog doing chin lifts still hanging there. He read the message. Keep your Chin Up.

He looked away. Right now that form of advise was useless. Maybe he would take that poster down.

His attention focused on the tree growing in the center of the room. It was summer now so the tree was in full bloom, the leafy foliage hiding the upper branches. He remembered sitting in that tree to do his meditation's. It always made him feel better. He walked forward and touched the bark, running his hand up and down over it's rough surface. Even that felt the same. Nothing had changed. Life had gone on, everyone else had moved on. Like they should have.

Like Sari should have, he thought. Suddenly he punched the tree, hard, releasing some pent up frustration. He repeated the action several times, until the trunk began to crack then sighed and leaned his head against the tree. She should have left me where I was. I shouldn't be here. I shouldn't have been brought back. This is not right. Everything about this is not right!

He stood still a moment, his bitter thoughts swirling in his mind. The more he thought about it the worse he felt, Punching his tree hadn't helped at all. He needed to vent his frustration to somebody.

But who? Not the others. They wouldn't understand. They would just try to explain the girl's foolish actions. There was nothing to explain. He didn't want to hear any excuses for her either. She didn't deserve it.

Such thoughts, Prowl. Such thoughts. a voice in his head said. Since when have you ever been so bitter at somebody?

A long time ago. At my master. Yes, he'd been bitter than. He'd brought Yoketron back to life just to get another lecture before the mecha died again. Prowl had been angry. He'd gone through so much trouble to bring his sensei back and look what happened!

Sound familiar?

He shook his head. What she did is not the same thing, he argued. What I attempted to do was much different.

No... no it's not. Not really.


Optimus left the tower feeling even worse. Sari had explained the whole thing to him from her impulsive decision to Prowl's reaction. Before he'd left she'd asked him. "Why was he so angry? What did I do that was so wrong?"

Optimus didn't know. Sari had brought him back to life once and his reaction had been much different than Prowl's had been. He'd been grateful, Prowl had not. But why? He did not understand. When I get back to the plant I'll ask him myself. I hope he's got a good answer.

Bumblebee and Bulkhead greeted him when he arrived back at the plant. Both had the same looks on their faces that the council had had when they'd seen Prowl walk into the Conferance room, fresh out of the crypt.

"Prime!" Bumblebee exclaimed, flailing his arms around. "Prowl's alive! He came into the plant a few hours ago. How did he come back? What happened?"

Optimus avoided the question for now. "Where is Prowl?" he asked.

"He went to his room," Bulkhead replied. "He's been in there for hours.I thought I heard him yelling a little bit ago, though."

Optimus thanked him and started for the room. "Boss bot," Bumblebee said, making him stop. "How did this happen?"

"I'll explain later," he replied.

Optimus found Prowl tugging off the armor he'd taken from Lockdown's ship. "Prowl?" he said.

The cyber ninja stopped and looked up at him.

"Can I talk to you?"

Prowl turned away from him, tugging off his left shoulder armor. "I don't care."

Optimus figured that would be as much as a go ahead than Prowl would be willing to give him. "Why are you so angry at Sari?" he began with.

"It's none of your business." was the curt reply.

Optimus didn't back down. In a way it was, especially if Prowl was going to be with them. "She went through to much to bring you back-"

"I didn't ask to be brought back!" he snapped at Optimus, flinging his master's armor at his friend. The other Autobot dodged the flying projectile. "Sari never should have done this. Now I don't even feel worthy to wear Yoketrons armor!"

Optimus looked down at the armor already littering the floor. "She wasn't trying to hurt you," he tried again.

"But she did!" the cyber ninja shouted. "She hurt me more than she realizes! I was happy where I was. I didn't want to come back!"

"Have you explained this to her?"

Prowl turned away. "She wouldn't understand if I did."

"How do you know that?"

"I just do."

Optimus sighed, shaking his head. That wans't good enough. how did he know anyway? Had he already tried? "I think you should explain it to her, if you haven't," he continued. "We tried our best to make her understand why you did what you did but she wasn't satisfied. We don't know everything about what happened, not even Jazz, but you do. If you told her maybe she would finally understand."

Prowl didn't comment. He just took off Yoketron's helmet and added it to the pile. He looked up at Optimus and said. "If I tell her she won't understand it either. I don't feel like talking to her right now. Not so soon.... maybe not ever."

Prime nodded. "All right," he said. "You don't have to right now but you will eventually."

Prowl nodded. He knew he would have to since she came over pretty often. He coudln't exactly avoid her. Optimus took one last look at the pile of armor then left the room. Prowl watched him go then turned his attention back to his tree. He walked over to it and sat down at the base, taking the lotus position.

Maybe he could try and commune with the All Spark. Maybe something would come to him if he tried. He might even feel better. It couldn't hurt.


When Optimus stepped into the hall he found Bumblebee crouched down on the floor, leaning toward the door of Prowl's room, obviously listening.. Prime looked down at him. "What are you doing?"

Bee jumped. He looked up at Optimus. Caught. "Uh...," he stammered. "Hi?"

Optimus crossed his arms. "Were you listening in?"

"Uh yeah," Bee said. "I just wanted to know what was wrong with him. I mean if I got brought me back to life I'd be having a party." he looked at the door. "Prowl almost seems angry."

Optimus looked at the closed door. "He has his reasons."

"Yeah and what are they and how did he even come back to life anyway?"

"I thought you were listening in."

"I was but I uh just got here." Bee laughed nervously. "So how did it happen?"

Optimus remembered he still had to go back to Cybertron. He also remembered the flash drive but he figured he could look at that later. "Look I don't have time to explain it right now," he said. "I'm wanted back on Cybertron."

"Again?"

"Well it has something to do with how Prowl came back to life."

"And how would that be?"

"If you want to know you can come with me until we reach the Tower," Optimus said, already walking down the hall. "Sari can explain it better than I can."

Sari? What does Sari have to do with this? Bee ran after him. "Wait up!"


Sari didn't feeling like talking to anyone. After telling Optimus the whole story she'd gone into her room and refused to come out. She lay on her stomach on her bed, her arms under her pillow and her eyes half open. She replayed the whole incident in her mind over and over, trying to figure out what exactly she'd done wrong. Nothing was coming to her.

I don't get why he's so angry. I was just trying to bring him back. It wasn't his time, I know it wasn't his time. She turned on her back and looked up at the pink canopy. Most people would be grateful if they were resurrected. I mean nobody got mad at Jesus when he brought people back to life. I can't see why Prowl has to be mad at me. She sighed. "Right. I'm no Jesus. I'm just a half organic girl who doesn't want to lose her only friends so soon."

"Sari?"

She looked toward the door. "Hi dad."

"How are you feeling?"

"All right I guess," she said, looking away.

He stood in the doorway a moment before saying. "I'm sorry about Prowl."

She sat up and looked at him with sad blue eyes. "I can't do anything right can I?"

Isaac met her gaze. "You didn't do anything wrong," he told her.

"Then why is Prowl so mad at me?" she demanded. "Why won't he talk to me?"

"I don't know."

"I don't either!" she jumped off the bed and spread her arms out. "All I did was bring him back to life. I didn't want him to be gone forever. I missed him! He was my friend! Why does he have to act as if I committed the one sin that can't be forgiven!?"

"I don't know."

"That just makes it worse! He knows but he won't tell me!" she went on. "When I revived him he asked me what I did and I told him and he told me I should have left him dead but he didn't say why I should have! He refused to explain himself and now.." she turned around lowering her gaze to the floor. "Now I will never know. Doesn't he know how much he hurt me?"

"I'm sure he didn't mean to."

She shook her head. "What does it matter?" she asked. "If he did or didn't I will never know. I'll probably never be able to see him again."


Prowl wasn't accomplishing anything. Even though his room was totally silent except for the whisper of leaves in the wind he could not clear his mind. Something was preventing him from getting it done. Eventually he gave up, sighing with annoyance and stood, his gaze once again focusing on the armor. He longed to put it back on.

I cannot wear it anymore, he reminded himself. I've been dishonored and no longer have the right to. he looked away from it and headed out of his room. Maybe he should spend some time with the others and put the problem behind him for awhile. He didn't really want to but he knew he couldn't be rude to them.

The plant was quiet which was unusual. In the past it had been full of noise, most of it caused by Bumblebee and his many video game consoles and MTV. It would be out of character for Bumblebee to not be playing them right now.

Prowl headed into the living-room and found it empty. The tv was silent, a blank black eye staring at him. Where is everybody?

"If you're looking for the others they're not here," said a voice behind him.

He turned around and spotted Ratchet standing in the doorway. "Where are they?"

"Optimus and Bumblebee went to Sumdac tower and Bulkhead went to Dinobot Island." the medic smirked. "He wanted to tell the Dinobots that you're back on-line."

"Oh." he looked away. "I see."

Ratachet could tell something was wrong. "Prowl, I don't mean to pry, but I've noticed that you don't seem very happy to be on-line," he said.

"To be honest...I'm not."

"Why? Most transformers would be happy to be brought back on-line."

Are you saying I'm being ungrateful? "If it had happened any other way than it have I might be."

The way it did? "What do you mean? How did you come back on-line."

"Sari."

"Sari?"

"She did it. She is responsible."

Ratchet noticed the tone Prowl used when mentioning the girl wasn't exactly a nice one. "Are you mad at her about it?"

"Yes!"

The medic stared at him.

Prowl knew he wasn't acting like himself but he was too upset to care. He continued. "She had no right to bring me back! She should have just accepted that I was gone."

"Now hold it right there, Prowl! Sari isn't like the rest of us. She has human emotions as well as ones programed into her. She's still young even with her new body and does things impulsively. I'm sure you did the same thing when you were younger. You're not perfect either."

Prowl started to protest then found he couldn't. Ratchet was right. He had done the same thing. He should have known better. But that was different. "So you're siding with her."

"I'm not siding with anyone." the medic corrected. "I'm simply stating fact. Everyone makes mistakes. I know you're not happy with what she did but you'll have to get over it eventually. It's not like you can do anything about it now."

No. I can't.


Optimus and Bumblebee parted ways when they reached the tower. Prime headed to the roof to use the space bridge for his return trip to Cybertron and Bumblebee went looking for Sari. He met Professor Sumdac in the hall. "Hi," he said.

"Hello, Bumblebee, what brings you here?" the inventor returned the greeting.

"I was wondering if I could talk to Sari," he explained. "Optimus told me if I wanted to know how Prowl came back to life I would have to ask her."

"You can but she might not want to talk about it."

That didn't sound like Sari. "Why? What's wrong?"

"She's a little upset right now. I don't know if she'll want to talk to you."

Why is Sari upset? What happened? "Maybe I can help her feel better." he suggested. When Sari felt down Bee usually could make her feel better.

"You can try," Sumdac said looking uncertain. "She's in her room."

Bumblebee found Sari sitting on her bed with her head turned toward the window. She sat, hugging a pillow to her chest with her legs folded under her.

"Uh, Sari?"

She turned her head. "Hello, Bumblebee."

"How are you doing?"

"Not very well," she said, honestly.

"Oh," he walked over to the bed and sat down on it, the springs whined in protest and Sari slid down into him. "Want to talk about it?"

Honestly she didn't but she felt she should tell Bumblebee. Maybe he could try to explain to Prowl what was wrong since Bee had the knack for it. "It's Prowl."

"Prowl? What about him?"

"He's mad at me," she explained then started talking rapidly. "I don't understand why. All I did was bring him back to life! I wasn't hurting anyone. I don't see why he has to be so sore about it. He won't even tell me why!"

Bee stared at her. "You brought him back to life?"

She nodded.

"How?"

"My key. I know it's been dead since I upgraded myself but when I put it in his spark chamber it came back on-line and resurrected him," she smiled slightly. "It was like it knew what I was feeling and was trying to make me feel better." she sighed. "Too bad it didn't do much good. Prowl got mad at me and now." she sniffed, holding in her tears. "Now he won't even talk to me. Whenever I say something to him he just glares at me coldly and looks away."

That didn't sound like Prowl. He never treated Sari that way. "Maybe he was just trying to get his barings..."

"No," she said. "That's not it at all. When he spoke to me he sounded like he didn't want me to bring him back." she put her hands over her eyes. "But why? Was it so wrong? Why won't he tell me what was so wrong?"

Bee felt bad for her. "I have an idea!" he said suddenly.

"What?"

"Why don't we go back to the plant and find out," he suggested. "Maybe if we both ask he'll tell us."

Sari didn't look too sure about that. "I don't know..." she began.

"Come on," he encouraged. "We'll get this all out in the open."

"I guess," she said, giving in.


"I don't think this is a good idea," Ratchet said when Bumblebee explained it to him. Bee had just arrived with Sari riding in the front seat. He looked down at Sari now. "He's not exactly feeling very friendly at the moment. He's in the living room just staring at the TV. When Bulkhead came back and tried to turn it on Prowl snapped at him. I think he just wants to be by himself. Besides bringing Sari here right now will only make things worse."

'But come on," Bee insisted. "This could be their only chance to get things out in the open. If we get it all said now they can go on being friends."

"It's not that simple." Ratchet tried to argue. "These things take time. They can't be resolved after one discussion."

Bee was insistent. "Come on. At least let them try."

Ratchet saw the hopeful look on Sari's face and sighed. "All right.," he agreed. "You can try it but don't blame me if it ends badly."


Prowl was sitting in the living area, staring at the blank tv screen. He hadn't really felt like watching anything but he couldn't get anything done in his own room, too many memories. "Hey, Prowl!" Bumblebee called when he and Sari came into the room. Ratchet was close behind, there to make sure things didn't get out of hand.

At the sound of the yellow mech's voice Prowl turned around and spotted Bumblebee but his gaze didn't stay on him for very long. It went down to Sari. "What's she doing here?" he demanded in a not so nice tone.

"I brought her here," Bumblebee replied. "I figured you two could talk about what happened and, well, be honest with each other."

Prowl looked away. "I have nothing to say to her."

Bee wasn't going to give up that easily.. "Oh come on," he said, walking over to him. "Why don't you tell her what's wrong. I'm sure it will do you both good."

Prowl stood and looked down his nose at him. "There is nothing to explain," he said coldly. "She should already know."

"But you didn't tell her," Bee insisted. "She told me you didn't tell her."

"She just chose not to listen."

'That's not true." Sari said quietly. "I did listen. You didn't tell me."

Bumblebee was starting to get irritated. "Just tell her," he insisted. "It couldn't hurt."

"Couldn't hurt? She's hurt me enough," Prowl snapped. "Why should I explain anything to her anyway? She wouldn't understand. She'd just argue with me about it. If she hadn't been so selfish-"

"Selfish!?" Bee exploded. "She was being selfish just because she wanted to bring you back to life?"

"Why else?"

"Maybe because she missed you? Maybe because it hurt not having you around? Maybe she figured you'd be happy to be back! I mean there isn't really any of that slagging nature crap in the Well of Allsparks!"

The look he gave Bee could have frozen Hell. "How would you know that?" Prowl demanded, also losing his temper. Usually he'd try to control it but not this time."You weren't there! You don't have any experience! I have! I was there for a week! I know what's there and what's not there!" he looked back at Sari who took a step back when she saw his hard gaze. "As for her: She should have given this whole thing a lot more thought then just doing it impulsively. That's all you younger bots ever do things by. Impulse only gets you in trouble. It doesn't make things better. It just makes things worse." he glared at her. "I hope you're happy."

Bee took a step toward the cyber ninja as if to hit him."Don't talk to her like that!"

"And you shut up!" Prowl's voice rose to such a high pitch it shook the room from sheer volume. "You're only making it worse! Why don't you just get out of my sight?"

Bee sputtered a moment, trying to come up with a good come back. "Why don't you-"

Prowl cut him off. "Why don't I what?" he demanded. "Get over it? Why don't you just take your words and the techno-organic and just shove them up your ass!"

Sari stared at him in horror. Prowl only used earth language when he was extremely ticked off. She looked like she would burst into tears.

Ratchet noticed.

Things had gone too far. "That will be enough, Prowl!" he cut in. The cyber ninja turned his cold gaze on the medic. Ratchet had more experience with gazes like that and returned it without flinching. "They weren't trying to hurt you," he informed him. "Bumblebee figured you might want to explain to Sari why you are so upset but it's obvious you're not ready to be civil about it." Ratchet pointed into the cyber ninaj's face. "But even so that, doesn't give you any right to talk to either of them the way you did. What would your master say if he heard you now?"

The very mention of Prowl's Sensei caused the cyber ninja to simmer down. He looked away. He knew his master wouldn't be happy with how he was acting. He would give him a lecture. What's the matter with me?

"He would tell you to stop being so irrational," Ratchet continued. "I know you're feeling bitter right now but that's not an excuse and you know it. There's absolutely no logical reason for what you just said and did. None. This isn't even like you. You're usually so serene. Now, unless you want to explain why you're so ticked off I don't want to hear anything else come out of your vocabulizer! "

Prowl didn't answer. Without a word he left the room.

That was that. He wasn't going to say anything.

The others watched him go. "What's his damage?" Bumblebee asked once he was gone.

Ratchet focused his stern gaze on Bumblebee. "I told you this wasn't a good idea now he's even more angry at her."

"Hey, I was just trying to help," he said defensively. "How was I supposed to know this would happen?"

"By taking your head out of your exhaust pipe and letting your processor do some thinking for once," Ratchet snapped. "These things can't be rushed. You should have just let it proceed on it's own. When they were both ready for it.."

Bee thought about that a moment. He realized the medic was right. "I..." he looked over at Sari. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have-"

But Sari was gone..

"Sari?"


Sari had left the room during Ratchet's lecture with Bumblebee. She sat out in the hallway, her legs tucked against her chest and her arms wrapped around them. She had her head buried in knees. I should have known this wouldn't work. Now Prowl hates me. she thought, weeping bitterly. He's never going to speak to me again. This isn't what I wanted at all. I just wanted everything to be normal again. The way it used to be. But now she knew that would never happen, not with how things were going. Maybe I should have just left him alone. Maybe I should have....


You should be ashamed of yourself! the words pounded into his processor over and over. You call that self control? Shame. Shame. SHAME!

Prowl rested his forearms against the trunk of his tree and set his head down on them, his optics dimming.. I made a fool of myself. he realized, grinding his teeth together. Anger washed over him. Anger at himself. What is wrong with me? Ratchet is right. I had no right to act that way. I should be ashamed of myself. Master Yoketron would never approve. But he didn't have to deal with this kind of thing when he died. He willed his spark to go out. I can't do that. I can't even try. I'm not brave enough to try it. I know where I'd go but.... It made no difference. He couldn't do it. Suicide was not the logical answer for anything.

He raised his head and yelled at the sky. "Why did you let this happen to me? Why won't you talk to me? Why can't I talk to you? Why?"

No answers.

He coudln't stay here. He had to get away from them, from everything. He needed solace. Maybe...

The forest. He'd go to the forest for a few days. He'd go there and try again to return to his former level. Maybe it would work if he didn't have any distractions. Maybe this is what they wanted. He might just get some answers.


Sari decided to go home. She didn't tell anybody she was going. She didn't want them to know. She'd brought her jet pack just in-case things went bad. She'd just gotten outside and taken to the air when she saw Prowl in vehicle mode shoot out of the plant. She recognized his older mode, without the sidecar. She hadn't noticed he'd taken off his armor until then. "Prowl?" she said, hovering in the air and watching him shoot down the street. "Where's he going in such a hurry?"

Follow him.

The thought had not been hers. It had come from another Voice. She hesitated. I can't do that. she argued. If he sees me following him he'll just get mad at me. I don't want to be yelled at again.

Follow him. The voice was commanding. She realized it was a male voice. If you do you'll find out everything you need to know.

She still wasn't sure but she decided to trust the Voice. Turning her body she activated the thrusters and shot forward in hot pursuit of the cyber ninja. I hope I'm not making another mistake.

A/N

I used Jesus as an example because he was the only person I know of who did things like that. I mean no disrespect to Him at all.

Yess there was some OOCness. I dont' care. For what I'm doing it was kind of necessary.

I am NOT rushing things. I just refuse to drag it out. and yes Sari had brought her jet pack with her. You'll find out who the Voice is later but I bet you can guess. Whoever can guess correctly will be mentioned in the next chapter.

HEHEHE LOOOOOONG chapter. I'll get back to Optimus subplot in the next chapter.