Ignition
Chapter 7
Disclaimer: I don't own Transformers. They belong to Hasbro and Takara. I am merely taking them for a short spin.
Approaching Optimus after he was off duty was best, Prowl thought. He would be more relaxed, easier to. . .confront about his recent emotional state. A brief conversation with Jazz revealed nothing other than evasion when asked if he knew what was troubling their Prime. Jazz did know. He commended his friend for not revealing what he held in trust, but it was obviously information that could affect all of them, with the way even Sunstreaker had remarked on Optimus' behavior. If he was ill, or hurt, or troubled, it was his job as second-in-command to find out what it was, and what he could do to help rectify the matter.
He hit the chime at Optimus' door, waited. The door slid open, revealing Optimus sitting at his desk, arms crossed.
"What is it Prowl?" he asked, frowning, suggesting his subordinate had better have a good reason for bothering him when he was off duty. Not normal behavior from Optimus at all.
"I wanted to see how you're doing," Prowl said, deciding not to dally around with the issue. "You seem. . .stressed as of late, and I was wondering if there is anything I can do to help."
"Not unless you can turn back time," Optimus muttered.
"What?"
"Nothing," Optimus said. "Since you've finally decided to ask, I might as well fill you in. You'll need to know anyway. Prowl, sit down."
Prowl raised an optic ridge in question, but took a seat on the edge of Prime's berth.
"I'm sparked. Carrying. The gestation is approximately three weeks in, and progressing normally," Optimus said. "I have clearance to carry out my normal duties until closer to the emergence date, and Ratchet and I have not discussed combat, should the need arise. Jazz already knows. He guessed it. No one else knows, except for Ratchet, Jazz and now you. I'm going to discuss it with the humans soon, but I haven't yet decided how to broach the subject with them."
He watched Prowl for any signs of a reaction, up to and including one of his infamous processor melt-downs. So far, he was greeted with silence and Prowl's mouth hanging open in surprise. He recovered quickly.
"I take it you decided to do something about that attraction issue we talked about last month?" Prowl said.
"Yes," Optimus said. "Not just the one, either."
Prowl's hand flew to his mouth. "Both?" he said. It came out in a squeak. Optimus stifled a grin. A very undignified reaction from his usually cool, calm, unflappable second.
"My office. Then your office, I think. Then my berth," he said.
Prowl's head was suddenly resting in his hands.
"Oh Primus, I did not need to know that," he said. "But it does explain the sorry state of my desk on that Monday morning. The one after the party. I thought Hound and Mirage had been at it again in there. . .but it was you. . .you have no shame. . ."
"I was overcharged, not really in control of myself. . ." Optimus said.
"Apparently," Prowl said. "Well, this explains a lot. . .congratulations, by the way. I hope you're happy with this, and when the Wreckers come back, I am going to make sure you do the right thing, and talk to both of them, if that's what you want. I can't say I approve, but that's your decision."
"I don't know if either of them will have me," Optimus said.
"You won't know until you try," Prowl said. "If that's all, I'm going. You can count on Barricade and I to help you if you need it."
"Thank you, Prowl," Optimus said, relieved. That conversation went better than he could have hoped.
88888
The bridge of the Xantium was quiet. For that, Ultra Magnus was thankful. He was in charge of the watch, taking his turn. Only fair, as commander of the Wreckers. However, he currently question his logic, given the personnel he was overseeing this shift. Springer sat at navigation, beside him, sat his brother, Hot Rod, on weapons. Those two drove him nuts, as much causing as much trouble for him as Sunstreaker and Sideswipe ever did. And Springer and Hot Rod were not twins. Just normal siblings, half-sibs at that. The only explanation Springer ever offered was the same femme carrier, different sires. Almost every day Ultra Magnus cursed the Pit-spawned fraggers who sired them.
The only other Wrecker on watch with them was Blurr, at communications. The speedster looked bored. Not that he blamed him. Planetary surveys were boring. That was one of their current duties, surveying the Terran solar system for Decepticons, as well as energy sources the enemy could exploit. Tactical motives aside, the Autobots had a more personal agenda, one suggested by Magnus himself, an idea he did not think Optimus would approve, but he did-surveying the planetary system for a suitable future Autobot colony.
The number of moons surrounding the system's two largest gas giants had to have at least one satellite suitable for terraforming and colonization, with permission from the proper Earth authorities. At least that's what I keep telling myself, Magnus thought. Otherwise, the NEST base back on Earth was going to be very crowded when they got back.
Just past three weeks out, and already the crew wanted to head back to Earth. They all had their reasons. His own included missing Ironhide (already) and wanting to be planet-side again, just to get off the damn ship and walk on solid ground and have a real sky to look at. The grand tour of the Sol system, as Drift called it, was set to last at maybe six more weeks. Duty was the only thing keeping Magnus from turning the ship around and heading back to Earth, Decepticon ghosts and grand ideas of building a new Cybertron be damned. He and his Wreckers had been cooped up on the ship for far too long. The month they spent on Earth proved that.
Some of the crew, like himself and Kup, had been relieved and surprised to find familiar faces among the Autobots on Earth. The others were happy to find out they weren't the only ones surviving the exodus from Cybertron, and promptly set about getting to know the others. Some better than others, Magnus mused. A few of the crew were far too smug for their own good. And Wheeljack had even jumped ship to stay behind with Jazz. Proof his authority was slipping. He was almost ready to let Kup assume command of the Wreckers and be done with it. Or not. That would mean promotions all around, and those were coming, regardless of who was in charge. If they could survive two more months out in the black, he promised them no more roaming. It was Earth or nothing.
