War against time

Nothing You Can Do

"I don't need your help!"

Perceptor refused to answer any questions. His answer alone was I don't need your help. This began to raise Hot Shot's temper. Prowl tried hard to be rational with the two but everything seemed to be useless. Optimus tried to catch himself after the sudden rush and fall of pain across him. In the meantime, arguments were rising in volume.

"I don't need your help!" repeated Perceptor. "I know exactly what I'm doing!"

"You're going to break the dimension things!" howled Hot Shot.

"I've done all the calculations myself," huffed Perceptor. "Nothing should go wrong."

"What if you miscalculated?" questioned Prowl asked.

"I don't miscalculate!" hissed Perceptor.

"Well something is going on to which you are involved in," Optimus explained. "Vector doesn't lie."

"How sure of him, are we?" Perceptor countered. "After all, he could be just another DJ or Opposite."

"But he returned us home," replied Optimus. "And has shown us past and present."

"When he can show the future, I'll be impressed," snapped Perceptor.

"Percy, don't be foolish," begged Prowl. "You must know how…irrational all this is!"

"I know but I've corrected it. If I could just fix the outcome of that day…" Perceptor mumbled, lifting a data pad off the desk.

"You could disarray the present," countered Optimus.

"What would you know!" snapped Perceptor, marching for the door.

"What's that supposed to mean?" hissed Hot Shot.

"Please," groaned Perceptor, stopping. "I don't think such a thing should be explained. It simply is!"

"You think you're the only one who lost some friends!" howled Hot Shot. "My leader died too ya know!"

"But did your best friends die alongside?" countered Perceptor.

"Well…" Hot Shot murmured, his temper cooling.

"Perceptor, we're here to help," Prowl offered.

"I don't need you three," Perceptor replied.

Perceptor turned away from them and finished his march for the door. He opened it up but something made him hesitate before leaving. The calculations for the machine ran through his mind. He'd planned it all out thoroughly. Everything should work. The door closed after the delay.

"You know we're not going to leave until we fix the problem we were sent to fix."

Perceptor looked back. it was Optimus. The young leader didn't bother to look over at the scientist. He stared into space while looking up at the ceiling. Perceptor looked over to Hot Shot and Prowl. The former gave a thick glare while the latter held his arms crossed. They both seemed to be concerned about this problem.

"What do you know?" whispered Perceptor, opening the door again.

"Everything alright?"

Perceptor jumped at the sound of Rodimus. The leader marched in, closing the door behind him. The other three merged into a ground which accidently prevented Perceptor from moving any further into the bay. Rodimus offered a smile but the moment seemed too serious for the others.

"Everything's fine," lied Perceptor.

"Perceptor," mumbled Rodimus. "You sure?"

"I'm fine," repeated Perceptor.

"Well," sighed Rodimus. "I came to give some news quickly."

"What's wrong sir?" hummed Perceptor.

"You'll be going to Cybertron this afternoon on a shuttle," explained Rodimus. "Your friends are welcomed to come."

"Yes!" shouted Optimus, luckily over Perceptor's no.

"It leaves around two so…" nodded Rodimus. "Don't miss it. It's the last one for the next two days."

"Thank you," nodded Optimus, pushing Perceptor back before he could counter the idea of bringing the three.

"Hmmm," hummed Rodimus, leaving.

"Did you feel the pain that time?" questioned Hot Shot.

"Only minor, why?" Optimus snapped.

"What pain?" Perceptor gasped.

"It's nothing," Optimus assured. "Most times it's really quick."

"How many times, two right?" Hot Shot hummed.

"Three, actually," correct Optimus, sitting down. "It's not serious I'm sure."

"You shouldn't be sure," snapped Prowl. "It could be circuit damage!"

"Ratchet checked me before I left. He said I was perfectly health," Optimus offered.

"When have these surges occurred?" questioned Perceptor.

"Once outside the city," answered Optimus, leaning back, "the other two were around Rodimus."

"The matrix," whispered Perceptor.

"That is the second time I've heard that used," Optimus groaned. "What is that?"

"You've never heard of the matrix, correct?" Perceptor asked. "The matrix of leadership?"

"No, I haven't," snapped Optimus. "So what is it that I've heard it twice on this mission already?"

"The matrix is supposed to be held by the Autobot commander," Hot Shot explained.

"Which in most cases is Optimus Prime," added Prowl.

"But seeing as you are not in charge in your world, it makes sense that your world doesn't have it," hummed Perceptor.

"Is it possible the matrix in this world knows that this is Optimus?" Prowl offered. "At least an Optimus."

"Improbable," shrugged Perceptor, leaving. "Beside, Rodimus doesn't seem to be complaining about the matrix acting up at all."

"So we'll see you on the shuttle?" Prowl called after.

"Perhaps," shrugged Perceptor. "If you three are so determined to stop me."

Perceptor left, leaving the three alone. Hot Shot smiled brightly as if he'd won some award. Prowl sighed, practically rolling his eyes. Optimus sat thinking. He'd never heard of a Matrix of Leadership but perhaps such a thing could exist in his world. Just maybe though. he thought about the sharp pains for a moment. Even fighting Starscream didn't lead to such a sharp pain through the spark.