7 Prime Blood~ Magnitude: Marissa Chapter 4

{present}

Shortly after the last of the desserts had been fired, the Spark of Bots had settled down for conversations. Prime had sighed sadly stating he should go back in as the dignitary head of the Autobots. He sneered at Magnus teasing to give him the Matrix back and take over the roll for the rest of the night.

The white rifle slowly came off the blue hip and leveled itself at Rod's knee, "You can still perform the duty in a brace, Prime, but it will certainly also keep you confined to either a throne or a desk. No racing to Goren."

Rod snarls with a near Hot Rod-tone, "I think I liked you better brooding. This is too much like boot camp."

Magnus' smile broadens, "You could always replace your SIC, Sir."

Rodimus mutters a few unrepeatable words and heads back inside. Perceptor and Sideswipe decide to follow Prime in releasing the other security personnel for the night. Inferno and Firestar head in to keep an eye on the personal quarters of the younglings (hearing flits of their conversations preparing to head in soon.)

Skyfire chuckles patting Magnus' shoulder boldly, "Did you ever think you would be in this position?"

Magnus smirks, "Only in my nightmares."

Skyfire smiles, "Ah yes, very true. You know, I never had sympathy for the council until I met Optimus as Prime and now Rod as Prime. Now for once, I feel badly for this political dance and chess game they play with the nice but deadliest enemies." Magnus reclines his hip to the railing, stroking his chin looking over the shuttles of visiting dignitaries/mercenaries. Beside him, Marissa is sitting on the railing ribbon covered jacket off, shoes cast aside, hair down, dress shirt loosened, back against one of the finials, legs stretched out along the top in front of her watching the conversation between the two ex-Cybertronian Military Commanders. Skyfire had been in Commander of the Elite Seekers Squadron (air protection) whereas Ultra Magnus was Supreme General of the Army (ground forces) before this latest war had started. But there was even more these two shared; she was swiftly noticing by the white Seeker's voice and face softening.

Skyfire leans his own aft against another piece of the curved railing sharing the gaze, wings relaxing down his back. "How are you doing, Magnus?" The words had an underlying tone that only a they would recognize.

Magnus won't look at him clenching his hands into fists. "Damn-it, who doesn't know?" Marissa's interest quickly perks, but remains respectfully silent.

Skyfire has forgotten Marissa is there as he continues with that same tone from their long pasts days together, "Mags… I understand and you know I do. I'm not trying to compare our situations-"

"Sky, stop," his voice is very soft replying with the nick name. His great body seems to sag against the wall. Bringing his palms up he tries to rub away the brought up conversation. But he knows Sky better than that. They have too much of a past together.

It seemed like a life time ago they would sit back, share a high-grade, curse the council, swap illicit intel and encourage each other. Hit the range, even spar to the point of bringing one or other to their knees. Maybe even talk about Onyx and a femme Mags hadn't the cogs to pursue. Sky was constantly kicking and nudging him to get out and break away a little before he went insane. Mags reminding Sky how lucky he was, yet a fool to seal his spark behind that damned plate.

Slowly the blue helm turns to face the white one, "Don't even compare us. I-I can't even begin to image the Pit you and Rod walk. I have it easy. I'm ashamed to even have you console me, please… just don't."

Skyfire drops his chin to his chest. If the hell he lived and survived was so he could help ease another's pain… Skyfire tries another tactic, "Mags, I'm finding that I may have screwed up in sheltering Igneous away. Sure Skylynx and I have been good teachers and he is a mech worthy of his creator and sire's pride, but what have I done?" He rolls a palm out to the balcony below where his very son is curled up with a potential mate. A potential future of peace. A life he wasn't granted.

Magnus follows Skyfire's palm. He sees Hope and Firelock laughing and teasing Iron and Lilly, flicking a rock back and forth in some silly made up game. Still sweet and young innocent, carrying on. Laughing and relaxing… friendship. Much like he had tonight up here with some of his own. Fellow high-ranking officers, parents and skilled warriors just shooting the breeze….

"Would you do it differently?" Magnus asks the white widower & sire.

Skyfire chuckles, "Ultra Magnus, you of all people should know better than to do that." Magnus looks up to his tall comrade. The flyer leans in with a fist over his spark, "You heard my grief-cry. I am forever indebted to you for performing the task I that was my duty to perform."

"It was least I could do, Commander-" Magnus softly replies. The silence drift for a moment. Both continue to watch the young.

"I wish for so much … but it is all in the past." Skyfire points to the lower balcony. "THEY are our future! THEY are our priority. THEY come first. Everything Onyx wanted, prayed for… (sighs) everything we had planned, is his now. I live and fight for him, not for what I lost. But for what I have gained."

Skyfire leans in and lays a hand on Magnus' crossed arms, "What of you? What would she say? If she was here instead of me, what would she be telling you to do? What plans would you have made together for Hope's future? Would she…?"

Skyfire and Ultra Magnus watch the children get up. Sleeping Sun Blossom and Dauber are lifted into tender arms and carried inside. Igneous and Autoclave still oblivious to the others leaving too wrapped up in the holo-book. Skyfire's com pings.

"Yes, Prime, understood." Skyfire smiles to Magnus, "Needs an aerial view of things."

Magnus can't help but smile. Skyfire will always be an soldier of the Autobot cause, no matter what he says. With that, he leaps from the balcony, transforms in the fall and takes to the air with an acrobatic twist. Magnus notices the black helm below lift to watch is sire take flight. A gleaming smile spreads across the faceplate. Magnus follows the son's gaze and watches his fellow commander-widower-friend take flight in a move of grace and skill.

"He's beautiful." Marissa gapes. "A deep soul."

Magnus nods softly, "Yes, he is."

"He is a widower… too?" Marissa is very careful how she asks the question.

Magnus looks down to Igneous with a pained pride, "And sire. He is a wonderful sire."

Marissa reaches forward and touches a lone finger, the left one she had seen with a strange green band on it while in the med bay. "Mags…?"

He doesn't pull his hand away, but nor does he face her either. Ever so carefully he speaks so very softly, that with his deep voice, she almost missed it, "Please do not be offended, but I can not speak to you of my mate. I'm… not…," his voice fails with not wanting to offend her.

Silently she pats his hand in acceptance of his confession without being hurt. Now he does look down to her and opens his palm. She crawls into it. He holds her cupped within, just like she would like to hold his hand or embrace his body in comfort. Instead they sit quietly together keeping an eye on the shuttles and the young couple below while catching glances to the white friend above soar across the heavens.

~~00~~

All too soon, Ultra Magnus is walking Wroughiron on the solitary duty through the personal warp gate. The same one that had brought Rosa Pax home and into Rod's life. This gate was now taking 'Iron way from a budding love, Rosa's daughter. Magnus felt awful, but it was a duty that had to be done. War wasn't kind to relationships. As a soldier he knew this, they all did. Even 'Iron knew. It had to be done. There was so much hope if 'Iron succeeded with his mission. Magnus prayed for that as well.

~~~ Three years pass ~~~

Marissa and Magnus have found a balance of friendship and leadership. When she went home once a year for her four week leave, Magnus found himself missing her badly. As much as his missed his Wreckers. No, more than that. There were things they could discuss that he couldn't with anyone else.

Like he did with Leah.

Marissa found her time at home dull, boring, lonely. She just couldn't wait to get back to her team and the Autobots. And the general. There were things they could understand together that no one else could. It was warm, wonderful. Even if they were just sitting silently together on a long flight to assist with transport escort duty. Even something as ridiculous as replacing the windshield of a shuttle.

Then there were the nights with Kup, Springer, Sunstreaker, a couple EMC majors over a card table (modified to accommodate human and bots.). Who knew the General was a silent cunning cheat at cards. Marissa knew his tell and had even caught him muffing with the table one day.

"General!" Smack! His head cracked into the underside of the small table. Backing out, the skirt got caught on the antenna tip of his helm, "What are you doing?"

He looked sheepish with the fabric draped off the side of his face. He pushed it away from his covered optic. And then she gapes at the tools in his hand. "Yoooooouuuu…?"

He puts a finger to his lips and smirks, "Time 'Streaker got a taste of his own medicine." Marissa still couldn't figure out what to say. "I say it's time Major Katt's got a chance to win. Sunstreaker has been robbing him blind."

Marissa throws her hands up and shakes her head, "I know no-thing. Absolutely no-thing," in a very classic Sergeant Schultz response.

Magnus flicks a finger to the door, "Shut up and stand guard, will you!"

Marissa turns on a heal and strides away with those broad strong hips, head full of pride yet a shake of sassiness. "How do I let you talk me into these things!" The only response she got was a delightful chuckle. She had to admit, that was beautiful sound.

That night, amazingly, Major Katt's did win! And boy was Sunstreaker shocked. Mags and Marissa shared a glance over their glasses of intoxicating drinks. Sky (sitting in this round) couldn't help but glance to Kup and share a look of their own over their cubes.

Kup chucks a chip at Sky, "Six months."

Sky flicks two chips, "Later than that but no less than two years."

Kup just gapes, "Really? That much patience?"

Sky chuckles loudly, "This isn't that kind of frustration. This is more complicated, therefore it will take a bit more time. Call it marinating."

Magnus looks between the security chief and the chief scientist. What are these two up to? I really don't like that smirk on Kup or that knowing-tone of Sky's. Why do I feel like the experiment?

Kup toys with his cigar for a moment and ponders what Skyfire is saying without looking directly at the objects in questions. Kup leans forward narrowing his gaze at the white shuttle's optics as if he was scrutinizing Magnus & Marissa. "You sure about that, Commander?"

Skyfire smirks, "Don't change the subject by trying to piss me off," he taps the table top with one fingertip. "Oh yes, I am quite sure. Call it…," he ponders how to explain this without letting Mags (or anyone else for that matter) in on the conversation. He grazes a finger over his armor covered spark chamber. "Let's just say, I have inside knowledge."

Kup's brow cocks in a new light, "Oh really?! Is there something else in the picture?"

Skyfire laughs and waves his hands away from Kup implying that he has a new love interest, "Oh no, no, no, no!"

Kup clicks his mouth rolling his cigared-wrist, "Well, I'm just saying. Who knows, maybe there's something in the Energon."

Sunstreaker squeaks, "There something in the Energon?"Kup clamps a hand over his optics in complete horror to the thought of Sunstreaker taking a mate, "Oh Primus, no anything but that!"

Skyfire roars with laughter. Sunstreaker shoves his cube away in fear of it being tainted. Sky glances over to Magnus and Marissa to his right. Yeah, it was going to happen. It wouldn't be bad if Kup won. Slowly he tears his optics back to Kup who once again is questioning Skyfire's timeline.

Kup places three more chips on the table, "I stick to my bet. Six months, no more."

Skyfire shoves his credits in, "No more than two years."

Marissa has a completely bemused expression, "What are you guys doing?"

Kup gathers the holo-credits and as he pushes them towards Marissa they shrink, "Ah perfect my dear. Could you hold this for us? Sky?"

Skyfire guzzles the last of his cube, "Perfect. Yup, totally agree."

Kup stands up and stretches. "Whelp! Off to duty. I'll catch you all later." He comes round the table and pats the general rather roughly on the shoulder plate. "Didn't know you had it in you General. But then again, you aren't as stoic as they all think. Just full of surprises, aren't ya." Then he winks to Marissa, "Isn't he, Cornel?"

Sky narrows his gaze to Kup then smirks seeing Magnus pull away from Marissa, "You know Kup, you play that card too much and it could backfire on you. It could have reverse effects therefore making me the winner. Let nature take it's course."

Kup slams a fist to Mag's shoulder, "Older models need a bit of a kick start."

Sky shakes his head, "Yes, but a cracked casing needs to be caresses and nurtured not shoved into action." Once again he grazes a thumb over his spark chamber. This time his voice is very low, begging Kup to back off, "Please?"

Kup leans into the white shuttle, "Alright. Because it really doesn't matter which of us wins as long as someone does." Sky nods. Kup leaves. Everyone is completely baffled and turn to Skyfire.

"What? Why are you looking at me that way?" Skyfire mocks shame. Magnus narrows his scowl to the white confidant.

~~00~~

After the game, Magnus carries Marissa upon his shoulder back towards the entry to the human quarter's wing. "What were Kup and Skyfire going on about tonight?"

"With Kup involved, it's probably some long drawn out story that I don't want to hear AGAIN!" He groans. Marissa laughs. Then Magnus turns to her concerned, "It's Sky that has me worried. It's not like Sky to place bets with Kup. Those two are up to something I really don't want to know about."

Magnus doesn't make it all the way to the wing when a flash of orange comes to them. Firelock grabs the blue wrist, "Please, you have to hurry! Dad is beside himself." Marissa leaps down waving the general to follow the younger mech. "I'm just a call away if you need me."

Magnus shoots her a smile back letting her down, then follows Firelock through the halls to the personal level, "What happened?"

"I tried to tell her not to go. I tried to tell her not to do this!"

"Who?"

Firelock stops out side the doors to A1, "Fire Lilly. She got really upset. She's been missing 'Iron bad. Real bad. She ran off to Rock Bottom and … and … they took her to Alpha Trion."

Magnus sighs, "Where is she now?"

"He sent her to Earth."

"Oh Primus!" Magnus knows if Lilly messes up 'Iron's mission it could be deadly or worse. Fire Lock taps in the code and they enter Prime's private quarters.

"What do you mean you just LET her go?!" Rodimus is bellowing to Firestar and Moonracer. "YOU are the commanders of that unit and you just LET-"

Magnus puts a hand to Rod's shoulder. Rod shoots him a glare and then turns back to the vid screen. Hope smiles weakly to her sire and then back to angry Prime, while clutching Firestar's hand.

Firestar raises her head in anger right back, "You listen to me, Rod!"

"Don't ROD me. It's Prime!" The orange flamed mech grouses.

Firestar cocks her hip, "No, this is your sire side talking, not-"

"Time out," Magnus carefully interjects. Rod steps back and paces. "Firestar, Rodimus, let me mediate. Firestar, he is right. There is a mission going on down on Earth that we can't have Fire Lilly interfering with." The red femme huffs. Magnus turns to Rod, "And you! it's Alpha Trion, not some crazy nobody or a Morgan. It's Alpha Trion, for Primus sake!" Rod snorts indignantly. "Firestar, tell me what happened."

The red officer repeats the story. Magnus optics go wide, "Hope you met Alpha Trion?" She smiles with an excited nod. "He… knows."

Magnus can't help but snort, "Of course he does, the old coot." Hope laughs at her stoic sire using such a tone about the patriarch of the Autobots.

"I like him." She tries once more.

He winks at her with a hidden grin, "Of course you do." Then he takes a beat. "Alright, Alpha Trion would not subject Lilly to danger and that message is pretty encryptic, don't you think, Prime?" Rod just snorts still upset. Magnus kicks him in the ankle, "Oh bearer and interferer of the Matrix of Leadership?" Rod turns at the mockery of his leadership. Magnus leans in further, "Oh one who communicates with the Matrix with insight and foresight, don't you think that message is a bit encryptic coming from the archivist and keeper of the book?"

The lights are coming on in the orange flamed processor. Still, he has pride, "Maybe."

Magnus scowls ready to beat the living Matrix out of the stubborn punk. Instead he turns to the femmes. "Firestar, Moonracer, we will take it from here. Thank you for informing us. And," he drops his tone to a personal level, "Thank you for introducing Hope to Alpha Trion."

Firestar beams recognizing the tone. "Of course. Be well, be safe."

He grins, "You too. Out." Magnus gives Firelock a pointed look and a jut of his helm. Swiftly and silently, the younger flamed mech bolts from the room. Magnus crosses his arms and leans back against the console. "Out with it."

"Oh Primus, this is really happening, isn't it?" Rod covers his face and leans back against the opposite wall.

Magnus has to chuckle, "Sorry Rod, you'll have to be a bit more specific. What is really happening?"

"She ran off." He huffs with worry.

"She may succeed." The older sire tries to ease.

"She's run off." He tries more forcefully to get his point across.

"No, she followed her destiny." He leans in a pokes Rod in the Matrix, "Like father like daughter. Hot heads the both of you." Rodimus grumbles. "Excuse me?"

Slowly Rod raises his head to the taller mech, "You're next."

Magnus waves the thought aside, "Don't try changing the subject. No, stick to the point. What do we do when or if they find him? How much do we tell the med staff?"

Rod huffs again, this time in the roll of Prime though. "Alright, we need to take a rotation between you, me, Fairborn, and Kup. One of us always has to be in the command center. It's going to be a long hard shift. But we can't risk any information accidentally being leaked. I'll take-"

"No. You will take first shift in the berth. You are not thinking clearly. Go take Firelock for a race. I've got this and will inform the others. Go."

Rod leans in and grips Magnus's shoulder, "You're a good mech, Magnus. I never would have stayed sane with out you."

The blue helm shakes, "Well don't let it get out what a great softy I am. I have a reputation to keep with my troops." Rod chuckles. Magnus escapes heading down to the command deck.

To his surprise, Kup is leaning on the human sector telling Marissa a tall tale of one of Magnus' magnificent battles. How he directed the troops while holding the line while Hell and Pit rained down. And true to Kup's story telling, made Magnus sound like a super hero or a god. One mech against millions. Magnus was ready to tell Kup to stow it when he caught the look on Marissa's face watching him enter the room.

It was a warm awe. She knew how to weed through Kup's bullslag to find the truth of the story. Magnus had held his own, directed his troops to victory and carried the injured from the field only to stand guard that night, making sure the enemy didn't try round two so quickly. More than that came across Marissa's face. It was one he never thought he would see again directed at him: honest tender desire. Magnus' spark stilled.

No, I can't do this. I can't walk that road again. It hurt too much. She's a human, I'm Cybertronian. It will end with nothing but pain, tears and unfulfilled … I can't survive this. Never again! I will never love again. NEVER! He turned to leave.

"Ultra Magnus. Speak of the devil himself!" Kup beamed across the room.

The blue mech frozen. There was no way he could turn and face either of them. Not the one embellishing the truth or the one who pulls at his spark tendrils with those eyes of sweet chocolate.

/Stow it Kup./ Magnus replied and left the command center.

/Mags?/ It was Marissa this time using their private officer to officer com link. He did not respond. /Magnus, what is going on?/ This time he severed the link and physically pulled his helm off. Reaching inside, yanked the wire. Marissa saw him do it through the glassed wall as he continued to walk away. He was cutting her off, and it hurt her heart.

It was a few minutes later when both Marissa and Kup received orders via text to the new command rotation the General had discussed with Prime. Magnus had make it so Marissa did not relieve him or vice versa. To that, Kup had to bite his lip, Skyfire had been right. Pushed too hard and it backfired. Marissa was no fool, she noticed it too.

Marissa looks up to worried Kup, "Hey, Kup… what's wrong with him? What have I done to piss him off."

Kup turns really really soft and stroke a single finger down her cheek, "Nothing lass, nothing. It's not your fault. Just… be patient. He'll come round."

Marissa leans into the touch and whispers, "Good, because I sure miss my friend."

Kup gives her a weak smile, "I know you do. Just… hang in." Marissa nods. With the arrival of her next team, she straightens up into Cornel-mode.

On Rod's rotation, the call came in through the deep space link, ::Mission Accomplished.:: Instantly Rod slammed the com to Magnus, "Bridge. Now. He's got it!"

Magnus hadn't run so fast in his life. His spark was racing in joy and fear at the same time. Optimus, they found Optimus' body when all others had been lost. Thundering down the hall, he saw Roller at top speed racing for the control room as well with Marissa onboard. Not breaking his gate, Magnus scooped the beloved drone up from behind with an eep!, palming him to his chest and kept running. Ignoring Marissa first, Magnus beamed a grin to Roller, "Guess who is coming home, buddy?" The drone gave him a confused signal.

Marissa was pleased to see a smile on his friend's face. "Are you sure this is a good thing Mags?"

Magnus presses a hand to his spark tightly, "Primus better not fail my prayers this time or he and I are going to have a rather ugly talk." The rest of the dash was silent each praying to their Gods deeply.

Magnus met Rod, Bee and Kup at the open and waiting warp gate. With a wink, Magnus sets Roller down, "Hold the fort, Cornel." The command team dashes away.

Bursting through the gate, he was stunned to see a pristine Optimus Prime in full battle mode fighting… er differently. And then Rod snapped at the elder Prime as if he was a subordinate. Something was off here, but he let Rod lead.

The next thing he knew, there were two Optimus' (one upright, one not) and they were retreating through the gate. Back home, following the away team to the med bay, he was utterly shocked to see pristine Optimus become a new mech: Ironfire. If that wasn't enough, it separate into Lilly and Wroughtiron. Swift as can be, Iron, Wheeljack and team got to work reviving the elder Prime.

It took hours, but then Optimus was upright and active. Magnus held back letting the med team and current Prime update the reactivated one. And then the family lines came out showing Optimus his grandchildren. At this point he couldn't resist pointing out Iron was bonded to Lilly. To which they enjoyed teasing him about his own daughter being pursued. Growling at that, he bit back a few more words.

Instead he turned to his dear friend back from the grave… one he launched in a tomb, "Why don't you get acquainted with your family. I'll take this watch," Optimus watched him for a moment. They were going to have a serious talk later. He could see there was a lot that had gone on after handing the Matrix to his SIC. A slight nod from both Primes, it was agreed. Deep in thought, Magnus headed to the command deck.

Striding into the room, Marissa beamed, "So is it true?"

Magnus took Marissa to the Bot-deck officer's podium and sank down to the seat, "Yes, Optimus Prime is alive. Currently getting introduced to his family." His voice was far away. His own daughter was on her way back with Firelock, (much to his disappointment). Optimus who thought he had lost it all when he poured it all in at that last battle, revived to find not only had his daughter survived, but had bonded with the next Prime. Not only that, children. Autobot children.

The blue mech sighed and buried his face into this white ungloved hands. Marissa noticed the band on his left hand. Trimmed with silver and blue, splotched with army green and tawny brown stones? How had she not noticed it before?

Marissa reaches up and brushes a hand over the band, "Mags?"

Slowly he lowers the hand being very careful not to turn the hand over. He just could not reveal that to her and knows quite well she can read Cybertronian. Marissa examines the band carefully. Magnus watches her.

"You were bonded?" Her voice is very soft.

"The only way for us to beget sparklings," a jab at her knowing about Hope's sire. Hell everyone knows. Galavtron probably even knows!

"Magnus-"

"Your shift is over, I'll take over from here." He tries to push the authority tone, but she grips harder the band. His next words are sharp and bite. It hurt her but it hurt him more if he said anything else, "Marissa, you just don't understand. I can't talk to you about her."

Marissa looks up to him quickly. There was anger and pain in that look. More than that, guilt? He swiftly looks away. "She died because of me." The huff comes out. "Please, just go."

With a last pat, Marissa follows his orders not wanting to damage the fragile friendship-bond they have. Making the long walk back to her quarters alone, she tries to ponder what has gone wrong. There has always been a strange tension between them. At times they are so close and so tight spilling their fears and hears/sparks to each other. And then there's time like now that is the cold wall of steel and stone. He just pushes and blocks her away. He can finally talk to her a little about Hope, but not her mother. What is going on about that?

Kup comes in with the next shift to relieve the General. "Any word on the Prime Family?" Silently the General shakes his head. "Mags about-"

Ultra Magnus stands up and hands a data pad to the oncoming duty officer, "Get a crew on the south tower. A camera is out. I want extra air patrols and get Skyfire to make a loop around the outer rim of the system. I want Sunstreaker, Springer and two more headed out to the Lushun System. I want to know what the word is about Optimus' return. The 'Cons won't stay silent for long."

With that he relieves his post to Kup. The older mech tries in his best sirely tone, "Look about-"

Magnus leans in, "I'm done being the butt of your joke Kup. First Rodimus and now Skyfire," he huffs. Then turns his full anger with a snarl, "Stay the Pit out of my personal life. Got it?" Kup can see that temper of Magnus' is on a hair trigger. Wisely he just nods. Maybe Skyfire was right.

Magnus pulling back, he returns as General, "I will see to this next briefing on Earth in two weeks. It is far more important that the Primes figure out what they are going to do about a command structure here."

"Yes, sir." Kup wisely remains as Security officer. The general curtly nods and heads out of the room.

Making his way down to his private quarters, he is waylaid. Optimus calls him to his private room. Magnus really just wanted to sleep, but he knew Optimus needed an up date from his side. After all, Rod didn't know everything that had gone on while he was Supreme Commander.

Chiming the door, it opens pretty quick. Optimus waves to the bottle of high grade with the bow on it. Obviously the med team wasn't going to let the newly revived Prime have any. Optimus was still getting adjusted to the reality of having a family alive and here. Rod was his son now. It brought a comfort and warmness to his spark.

Pouring himself a huge glass (to the rim) he guzzles one down, instantly pouring another. The reawakened Prime's optics go wide. "Ultra Magnus…?"

"Stow it Optimus." Mags the third finally uncoils his tension. Pouring the forth, he sets the glass down, for when he needs it. Optimus remains silent just watching his ex-military trainer. He knows him well enough, he will spill when he is ready.

Magnus snorts, "So now that Rod got to tell you all the fluff, I get to tell you all the shit that went down after you nearly died in my arms. Figures, the punk gets to tell you the good stuff, I get to tell you the Pit."

Optimus reaches out and grips the wrist. "Magnus, who was she?"

Magnus shakes his head buzzing from the three high-grades on no other fuel and a body in need of stasis, "No! No you too. Just leave me alone-"

Optimus grips the second wrist, "Primus no Magnus! You were more than the Autobot General or my SIC. Slag, Magnus, you were my friend. There will be time for procedures and policies later but right now-"

"FINE!" Magnus downs the forth glass and leans in now becoming intoxicated, "Let me tell you what happened after I launched that doomed mausoleum. The world blew up in my face. Literally. I found your damned orb. THE HARD WAY!"

Optimus swallows hard. "Nooooo…" It comes out as a slowly expelled breath. Magnus retracts his glove and shows Optimus his palm. Reading, he recognized the human SIC's name instantly. "Hope's mother is a human?"

"Was." Magnus whispers. The fellow widower's palm comes back to the white wrist. "It wasn't all bad…."

Updated Marissa drunk coming up soon. But now, it's time for more flash back.