A Distant Memory

Chapter Four: Hot Rod

Here we go...What is up with Ironhide?

888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888

"Place him on the table." Ratchet pointed for Ironhide's benefit.

"I know what a table is." Ironhide walked up and bent at his knees letting the robot down on the table. "Can you fix him?"

"I believe so." Ratchet walked up with his scanner "At least I would hope so."

Ironhide turned to see her at the doorway, he felt bad for her a moment but would not show it. "Get in here or get out." He stated to the small robot that cautiously made her way in. She Jumped to Ironhide who recoiled at being touched by her. She then jumped up onto Hot Rod's chest.

"I cannot do this with you sitting there." Ratchet said to her petting her head.

"I am not leaving him." She stated pushing down against his chest.

"Ok I'll work around you but sit up there by his head so I can get clear readings." Ratchet pointed.

"That's fine as long as I can stay..." Hacker sighed moving up to Hot Rod's head.

Four hours had passed. Ratchet had done well. Hot Rod was ready to go. "Let's try this now." Ratchet moved a few wires around "Come on young one open up your eyes." Hacker crawled over his shoulder onto his chest again.

He opened his eyes and tired to focus. He smiled and reached to his chest picking Hacker up by her neck and dropping her off the table. "I told you not to lay on me." Came the groggy response.

"Hot Rod!" She scrambled back up onto the table, and onto his shoulder.

He sat up slowly. "Careful now, you have been inactive a while, you may be stiff." Ratchet came around. His vision came into focus. He smiled looking down at his friend.

"I'm fine thank you." He smiled. "You know better than to just sit on me like that."

"I know." She rested against his shoulder.

"Are you connected to Optimus?" He smiled putting a finger against her flames.

"Yes…until you are in full operating order." She climbed onto the top of his head.

"It's nice to not have you in my head anymore." He smiled standing.

"You don't mean that." Her voice got calm and quiet.

"You're right… I do not mean that." He jumped down off of the table and stood tall. "How is everything Ratchet?" he turned "Long time no see."

"Might have been longer, you're lucky we got your aft online." Ratchet pointed to him "What did you get yourself into?"

"You just don't want to know." Hot Rod turned to the door "Am I cleared to see Optimus?"

"Yes, but not to battle, you need to stay on Base for the time being… I am not done with you yet."

"And that Ratchet, scares me more than anything." He took a step out of the lab and blinked "I'm glad you're ok."

"I'm fine; they have taken good care of me." She slinked back to his shoulder.

"That's not what I meant." He smiled stopping his stride and lifted her down into his hands. "I didn't like the idea of Hound sending you ahead."

"I'm a big girl I can take care of myself." He smiled at that and pet her head gently. "Just look at me I am fine; Prime took good care of me."

"Ironhide didn't want you did he?" He laughed.

"No he didn't that big lug." She looked away trying not to let it show on your face.

"Ok babe, where is Prime's office?" Hacker Skittered up to Hot Rod's arm and onto his shoulder.

"Down a few more meters, third door to the left." She sunk down on his shoulder and closed her eyes. She was in heaven.

"Prime." Hot Rod Appeared in the doorway.

"Rodimus." He stood and walked over. "It's good to see you up and around."

"Thank you, and thank you for taking care of my girl here." Hot Rod took his hand.

"Not a problem, she was a nice change of Pace for my day." Prime smiled at her. "She's comfortable with you. I'll break the seal I have with her and she can go with you."

"I would like to do that when I am released for Duty. Ratchet still has much to go over with me." Hot Rod lifted her up and set her down on Prime's desk. "I want to be at 100 operation before I take her back. I cannot guarantee her safety if I am not at full operation." She looked up at Prime and remained silent.

"That's perfectly fine with me." Prime smiled looking down at her. "You may stay with him if it makes you feel better while I am in base."

"Yes." She said.

"Maggie was asking for you Hacker." Prime looked down. "Would you like to go assist her?"

She looked up and took stock of both of the bots before her. Prime was politely trying to tell her to leave. "I will be back soon." She leapt down and skittered out into the hall. She stopped momentarily, she wanted to be mad at Hot Rod for refusing to connect with her again, but she just had to deal with it; due to his reasons being valid. She turned back to the hall just in time to get stepped on again, this time with no damage. She growled at the human commander and jumped down the hall.

Prime moved around his desk and returned to his seat. "We will need to take you out to find a camouflage." He looked up at Hot Rod who was just stark and silver. "She's not use to being without you is she?"

"No…" Hot Rod looked for the door. "I found her just after the war on Cybertron; she was a young little thing. Honestly I thought she was space debris. I've never seen a one of us so small; and she had a spark that shocked me too. She's the youngest I have encountered. I took her with me with a few others, but her size makes it difficult for her to do anything herself. I kept her with me, once her full programming came on line she linked with me. We have been together ever since."

"She cares for you deeply." Prime stated and looked up at Hot Rod.

"I know…Hound should not have sent her ahead, he should have just waited and sent her with me." Hot Rod turned back to Prime's door. "Starscream ran into us just as we entered this solar system." Hot rod sighed looking down "Messed me up pretty good."

"I'd say so; I've been reading the report from Ratchet." Optimus stood and looked at Hot Rod Questioningly. "You didn't have much mechanical damage."

"No, that's the odd part, the last thing I remember is this laser cannon he had, and I haven't seen anything like it." He turned his Gaze back to Prime looking down at his body. "I would like to find local camouflage… sooner than later…I feel uncomfortable." He said. Motioning to Prime who was much more colorful than he was.

"Very well, let's get that taken care of." Prime moved to the door and motioned Hot Rod out into the hall.

The two bots walked past the human offices, just in time to see the small little bot skitter out and leap onto Optimus' back and craw up to his head. "Hacker." He smiled at her.

"Maggie is doing well Prime, you should look at her work. You would be impressed." Hacker smiled and moved to his other shoulder; closer to Hot Rod.

"I will talk to her when we return." Prime was making his way out of the Base. He turned seeing Bumblebee standing guard near the door. " Bumblebee…We will be back shortly."

"Prime," He nodded to the other Autobot "Hot Rod."

"Nice to see you Bumblebee." Hot Rod looked out.

"You too, be careful there are wild dogs around." Bumblebee waved the two off.

"This way." Prime was leading Hot rod. "There's a highway a mile from base, we are taking local transport vehicles as camouflage…Bumblebee go check that fence again!" Pime moved with him down the road through the trees.

"Yes Sir!" Bumblebee called back. Watching the two wade through the trees in the distance.

A few moments later Prime came upon the road. Hot Rod could see the high way, and a group of classic cars driving down. They were headed to a car show. Hot Rod snuck up close to the highway and took stock of all the cars. He scanned the first finding it to his liking and transformed. Prime's Semi form rolling up beside him. Hot Rod had chosen a Classic Car form; that of a 1976 Ford Grand Torino. With a red and white Paint Job; Hot Rod never looked better.

"I feel a bit better now." Hot rod pulled up and fish tailed his back end around in a turn to point him back towards the human base. He faced Optimus.

"Good, let's get back, Ratchet wanted you to stay put, and I'm sure he knows I've snuck you out, so let's head back." Optimus ordered.

"You've got it Prime." Hot Rod slipped forward a bit and allowed Optimus room to turn his Massive frame around. "Let's head back."

Prime was right about Ratchet; he was standing outside the doors to their base tapping his foot. Bumblebee shrugged as the two pulled up. Hot Rod managed his transformation slowly, Prime followed suit.

"Ratchet." Hot Rod Smiled standing tall.

"Prime…of all the things." Ratchet shook his head.

"You can complain to me later." Prime smiled. "Go on inside Hot Rod we will join you shortly." Hacker bound down onto Hot Rod's shoulder and went with him inside.

"Do you stay in Prime's quarters?" He asked her.

"No I have my own, but you are welcome to them due to the fact they are extremely large." She sighed.

Hot Rod suddenly realized he was not watching where he was going and ran right into Ironhide. "Hey sorry about that."

"You're awake." Hot rod turned to the familiar voice.

"Ironhide…" Hot rod smiled, as he stepped back . "Good to see you again you old Pistol."

"Don't call me that." He took Hot Rod's hand. "Good to see you again." Ironhide looked up to Hacker. "Happy now that your Boyfriend is back smallish one?"

"As a matter of fact, I am." She said.

"I will see you in combat training when you are cleared for active duty." Ironhide pushed past him and walked off.

"What's up with him?" Hot rod pointed.

"He's been acting funny for a few weeks now." Hacker looked back "I'm not sure what's going on." Hot Rod shook his head. "It's him, but somehow it's not…hard to explain, It's making Prime uneasy.He has a human friend; you should speak to the Lennox man." Hacker looked at him closely.

"Let's get back to the lab; we'll talk about it with Prime later." Hot Rod made his way down the hall and back to Ratchet's lab. He looked down at his body, he liked the color. He smiled and picked up Hacker putting her in his hands. She transformed and folded herself shut and began her stasis regiment. Hot rod placed her on the lab table and sat beside her and waited for Ratchet.

Part of him wanted to be reconnected to her, he felt odd without her. Part of him was happy to be free of the burden of caring for her. Maybe there would be a way to accommodate both of their needs. At least that is what he hoped.

To be continued….