Fortitude

Chapter 4: Where did you go?

Optimus woke with a start as his spark clenched. Looking to the door Ironhide burst in. "He's gone."

"Who's gone?" Optimus sat up and reached back nudging Wheeljack who rolled over. "One of the little ones?"

"Nova's not here…. I- I checked everywhere." Ironhides hands fell to his sides in disbelief.

Wheeljack blinked and sat up. "Computer Locate Autobot Signature NOVA authorization Wheeljack Prowl Delta two Pulsar." He rubbed his optics.

"Autobot Nova is not aboard the Ark." Optimus looked at Ironhide and the mech could feel his terror as the computer replied to the chief scientist.

"The other children?" Optimus broached.

"All here…all accounted for." Ironhide said calmly. "It's just Nova."

"We'll find him." Optimus stood and touched his communications panel. "This is Optimus Prime, I am issuing a code green. Code green senior staff to the briefing room." He looked back. "Come on." He said right at Wheeljack who was still clutching his own torso.

"Sir …" Wheeljack was in shock.

"Wheeljack." Optimus said. "We'll find him." He turned to Ironhide. "get all the children to the care center and meet us in the briefing room." He shook his helm. "And have Jazz gather up Prowl."

"Yes of course." Ironhide said moving out of the doorway.

"Nova…" Wheeljack muttered helplessly.

Prowl sat on his lounger reading his datapad. The day had been uneventful, and he was slowly running out of things to read. He was reading over some of Wheeljack's schematics for a refit of his pistols, shame, he considered, as their current standing may not ensure the refit was completed.

His door chimed. "Enter." He said and casually dropped the datapad down to the side table.

The doors flew open. "Get up and come on." Jazz said storming in.

"Shouldn't you be in medical?" Prowl asked standing shaking his head.

"Yeah but there's something going on." He replied. "Something big and we need you."

"I heard the code green but I am remanded to quarters unfortunately. Who, might I ask, is the missing party?" Prowl's head tipped to one side.

Jazz blinked and shook his helm. "If'n ya'd open that bond o' yers you might know."

Prowl blinked. "Wheeljack is missing?"

"No you slag-headed- Nova…Nova is missing. He's not on board." Jazz said firmly. "Teletran one cannot find him…not at all…we're on lockdown."

Prowl blinked and looked down at his hands leaning like he was gonna sit. "Oh no; you can sit and wallow later. You're going with me to the briefing room." Jazz walked up grabbing his arm. "Move it soldier. "

"Jazz… stop." Prowl tried to wrench his arm free.

"No I will not…don't make me order you." Jazz released his arm. "Under Autobot Code article four subset three…"

"Yes I know, when a senior officer is remanded of duty the next officer in succession takes his place and rank temporarily. I know that. I wrote it." Prowl frowned and turned into the hallway almost stalking ahead of the intel commander.

Wheeljack sat in his chair in the conference room his head down into his hands. His elbows propped up on the table. "Settle down everyone please." Prime extended his hand to take a data pad from Ratchet as he walked in.

Ratchet stepped up beside him. "No word?"

"No but we're searching every inch of the vessel just to be sure." He insisted as the door opened and Prowl was escorted in. Prowl came up between Prime and Ratchet. "Take your seat." Prime said, and the cruiser nodded.

Everyone watched with concern as Prowl sat in his chair Between Prime's and Wheeljack's he didn't look back at the scientist.

Wheeljack looked up and Prowl turned his head to meet the scientist's face. "What happened?" Prowl asked quietly.

Wheeljack could feel enough of their bond open to know Prowl was concerned and nodded. "He was sleep…on Ironhide in Prime's quarters, we left him there to recharge…when Hide woke…Nova was gone." Wheeljack uttered and his composure began to wane.

Prowl for his pride extended his hand. Wheeljack took it and they sat there just staring at one another. It wasn't much, but it was enough.

"Alright." Prime's voice broke every small conversation around the room. Prowl and Wheeljack remained tightly joined at the hand. "Nova is missing. He looks like this. His image has been sent to every data terminal onboard." He clicked his presentor and the mechling's image appeared on the screen behind him. "We must search everywhere. Prowl, Wheeljack; while I know this is a difficult time for you both, we need to know any and all places outside of the ark Nova has been too. Those which were visted the most frequently at the top of the list so we can start there as he will be more familiar with those."

"How did he get off the ship?" Ratchet asked.

Red Alert stood. "He used Prowls command codes." He flipped his finger at the screen and the video footage of the little one moving to the doors and streaching up to punch in the code made Prowl sit back in his chair. And put a hand over his optics. "He must have learned it because you would punch it into door panels holding him." Red Alert sat back. "Command codes for you both need to be changed."

Wheeljack shook his helm. "Where would he go?" he turned to Prowl.

"I think the first places to check…are the track…where we would take the children to race, and the lake." Prowl looked up at Optimus. "Those would be the most logical starting points."

Wheeljack nodded. "The play park too."

Optimus motioned to Jazz. "Make it happen."

"Mirage Blurr…lets go." Jazz said and looked at Blaster who was sitting back weakly in his chair. "I'll be back..keep the comm lines open."

"Always." Blaster nodded.

"Bumblebee…I want you and the twins to run criss crossing patrols around the area if you find anything out of the ordinary-"

Bumblebee stood. "We'll report back in." He said calmly. "We'll find him." He looked over at Sunstreaker and Sideswipe. "Ready?"

"Yeah lets go." Sides pulled forward between the two yellow mechs and the group made their way out of the conference room behind Jazz and his team.

"For now, Prowl and Wheeljack you will change your command codes with Red Alert and can remain here."

"Can we go back to our quarters?" Prowl asked. "I think Wheeljack-" he paused. "I think we would be more comfortable to wait there."

"Yes of course. Red Alert will Escort you when he's done. Ratchet prepare the med bay, should the little one return with injuries."

"Of course Optimus." Ratchet stood and waited.

"Dismissed." Optimus said and turned to exit.

Prowl looked up as Red alert approached them with two datapads. "You know the drill." He stated calmly.

The doors sealed behind them and left them in the dark room. Wheeljack barely made it to the lounger before he collapsed against it. His body racked with sobs. "Jack." Prowl walked forward and put both hands on his shoulders opening their bond.

Prowl's body shook and he collapsed next to the scientist. "J-Jack." He gasped.

"Prowl….not again…" The inventor turned and pressed his helm to the cruiser's. They sat their rocking in the silence. Nothing else needed to be said. Their sparks thrummed with the resonate tune of loss, and they clung desperately to the only thing they had left.

Prowl shook his helm over and over. "I'm so sorry…I was… I was."

Wheeljack hand pressed over Prowl's mouth. "You're here now." The inventor said as he lowered his hand pressing his mouth to the cruiser's. Prowl reciprocated chastely and pulled Wheeljack closer. "Primus please...let him be safe..."

To be continued...