Poco Chapter 3 (Prime & Poco head to Europe in search of clues, finding clues to their own past)
Poco heads back to her apartment and grabs her field pack and a light carryall. Scanning the small studio apartment for anything that should be concealed while she is gone. There really isn't much to the place in the first place and she has such few personal items, there wouldn't be any place to hide anything. She scoops up her laptop, cell and jacket. She really shouldn't be gone for long. She hears the rumbling of a deep toned diesel engine and looks out the window. She can't help but smile, she had expected an undercover military vehicle But no, he came to pick her up. Almost like a school girl, a little giddy, being on this trip with her friend. Yes, keep it that way Monique, she chides herself back to reality and not the idiotic flutterings in her belly.
She races down the steps while he pops open the driver's door. She hops in. "We must hurry, the plane is being fueled as we speak," he softly orders and hurries down the street well past the speed limit.
"Hey, don't get pulled over, I don't have my commercial license," she teases.
He chuckles lightly, "They won't ever catch me." He actually sounds a little arrogant like the rowdiest ones in his ranks.
She gasps rebuking him, "Optimus Prime!" It only causes him to pour on the steam and laugh again. They arrive quickly at the base scattering a few startled Marines and head straight for the plane with the propellers already spinning.
"Into the sleeper, quickly!" For once, she follows his orders. Sliding his back end he zips up the ramp into the plane.
Will smirks, "Geeze Prime, cutting that one a little tight, don't you think? And what's with the Sideswipe maneuver? Got contraband?" Prime chooses to remain silent.
Poco can't fly on the C130 without raising suspicion, so she hunkers down for the long flight to Italy putting on her Ipod music. She tries to take her mind off the thought that she is inside of him and all the metaphors that could imply. She has to link her hands together in order to keep from stroking the walls of the sleeping cab. She wants so badly to stroke his face. She wants to soothe his worries. But she has no idea what that would do to him. What would it do to her? She certainly knows he has to keep up the air of commander right now. He can't go soft with witnesses. He never said that out loud, but she knows it. She can feel it. She has seen it in his eyes.
Optimus softly asks her, "What are you listening to?" She turns it up so he can hear it too. Some of the music is in English, some in Italian. She tells him it's the best way she has found to reinforce her skills when she learns a new language.
He talks to her in Prime softly. She returns in kind. It is different to hear the language vs. read it. Over the next eleven hours they switch between Italian, English, Prime and French. Some of the soldiers think Optimus has lost his mind speaking in such ways. Will reminds them that Optimus is searching the Web to strengthen his language skills.
One time Will comes back to check on them, he finds they are talking about Renisaunce romance. Well, they are headed to Italy, and France…. Will can only smile to himself. Sarah had texted him the gist Ironhide and Ratchet's conversation. "You aren't so different, Prime," Will laughs to himself.
~~Many grueling hours later, Will gets them off the base with the orders that they are not to take on any opposition with out contacting him first and to call him when they are ready to return. They both agree.
A few miles out of town they find a place and both of them unfold. They stretch those muscles and servos that have been cramped up for the cross Atlantic flight hour flight and then the unloading inspection. They can't help but laugh at each other groaning about their cramped components. Carefully they decide to walk. During the flight they had planned their route. Together, Poco and Optimus watch the country side for anything that looks useful.
First they travel the Italian countryside looking for the ruins she needs. It was two days of walking and a little driving as they get closer to town. Optimus is getting very frustrated. It is moving too slow for him. She can't help but laugh at his humanness. He doesn't find it funny at all.
"I thought you said you were used to research and recon?"
He sighs heavily pinching his brow, "Yeah, but not for such tiny delicate items buried in dirt. My research was mostly through data files or damaged ships. This is tedious and grueling."
She can't help but smirk, "Yeah well, welcome to my world Prime." He scrutinizes her and instead of laughing, just shakes his head at the bad pun. She shrugs and they keep moving.
That night she is going over her notes. He's adding what he can from Cybertron history and Prime language. Then he looks down. Her long thick black hair is unbound and flows across his knee. She has fallen asleep against his thigh. He sighs content. Peace. Comfort. He has missed this so much. And there has been so much less since Elita's death. But these humans have brought some of it back. These Earth battles have their calms and down times.
"Some times I wish I was human," he says fascinated by her hair. With a lone finger he touches her hair, letting is slip over his joint and fall like a wave of silk. Even in drifting off to sleep she can feel his utter tenderness in a lone yet powerful finger.
"Me too, " she mutters. Her dreams that night leave her unable to face him directly the next morning. In her dream, they had finally stripped their souls completely bare. It felt all too real.
~~They follow the clues from Italy, Greece, to Spain, Germany and France. He learns to be a bit more patient. The clues are not always in order. They are gathering the puzzle pieces but it's like there are so many holes. Art museums seem to be Poco's primary targets. Optimus always did like art. He gave her a watch sized device so he could see all the art she did. At night they would go over all the pieces they saw and comment. Most of the conversation had nothing to do with her research. That did seem to calm him.
In Greece they see the children playing by the sea side. Optimus is very happy to see her smile. He knows she hasn't found joy in her life in a very long time. She never exactly said that, but he can sense it. He can feel it. He knows he has brought happiness to her life again. Just as she has brought it back to him. It is good to renew the feeling for him. Protection is one thing, but to be the barer of joy and good tidings? Right now he isn't the guardian warrior. He is the companion. He is the friend. It brings a smile to him.
She looks up to him and smiles, "The children are so happy."
"What do you see when you see children?" he tenderly asks her.
"Innocence. Joy."
"Was it like that for you?" He asks her. The smile drains quickly from her face.
"What about for you, Optimus? What do you see when you see children?"
He turns his gaze back to the children with a glimmer of pain behind his optics. "Renewal. A new beginning. Like you said peace, tenderness."
They remain silent as they watch a mother cuddle her baby and softly sing to her. The father comes over with the slightly older toddler on his shoulders. The father leans down and gives the mother a light kiss. He smiles at his baby and then jiggles the toddler to giggles.
Optimus asks her, "What is your plan for children?"
She turns to her gear to hide her shaking voice, "Kind of hard without a mate." She looks up to him to say she is ready to go, but his gaze holds her. It is written on his face, Then let someone into your heart. She swallows hard and turns away from him. She doesn't answer his unspoken comment. She just walks away from the scene of a family she will never have because she is too afraid.
They travel long and hard than day with very little spoken. Certainly nothing personal. The farther north they travel, the clues are dropping off.
Their last night in Germany they sit in the haunted Black Forest. "Why is this place considered haunted?" he asks her.
The cliff edge that looks out over the city lights below but the deep dark scary forest at their back. When the darkness of night truly hits, she tells him of the Grimm brothers. Their travels across Europe to collect the fairy tales. Now days they are considered children's stories. Optimus shakes his head when she tells him the Grimm version of Snow White and Cinderella vs. Disney. "That does not sound soothing for a human child. It sounds more like a nightmare."
"Well I think of it like it was the original horror stories. The thing to keep children close and in line. Certainly you have your own scary stories of places you would tell a young naive Autobot to stay close to the group."
Optimus crosses his arms over his chest and huffs, "Been there myself. Don't want to go back either." She doesn't say anything. She just watches him. He remains silent. She knows there are horrors churning in his mind he won't tell her. She knows there are horrors she has seen in her own lifetime that she wishes she could push from her own memory.
He sits down and leans his arms on his bent knees. Then he leans forward and rests his chin on his crossed arms. But he doesn't look out over the city. His chin is tilted up. He is looking out to the stars beyond.
"May I?" she asks nodding to his shoulder. He lifts her to his shoulder. She sits quietly and sees what he has sees.
Ever so softly, "Tell me…" she doesn't have to finish the statement.
"There is so much beauty in life and yet…," neither does he have to finish. She carefully centers a warm hand on the nearest Prime marking on his face.
She ever so quietly asks, "Have you loved?"
"Yes," he simply answers. Poco is sure that is all he is going to say. It surprises her when he quietly tells her more. "Her name was Elita. She was a rare commander. My second. She easily could have been Prime herself. I was very proud to know her." He turns his head slightly. Poco can see the loss written all over his face. "I was more honored that she let me into her spark." Poco understands instantly: he felt more honored to be hers than she did to be Prime's mate. Elita was like him. She was in command and couldn't allow the risk of letting everyone know her emotions. They had a sacred bond. Optimus turns back to the stars. "It has taken me a long time to get over her loss. I bare the weight of not only commander, but of mate when the base she was defending was over run. She was holding off the invasion so they could get away. The exit she left for herself got cut off as well. It… was… horrific."
Poco lays her head against his neck. Even though his exoskeleton is metal, his throbbing pulse is warmed by her small touch. He hears her voice softly reach out to her God for peace and comfort for him. When her prayer becomes silent, she feels a drop of liquid on her arm. Though her hand is tiny, it turns his whole head buy the touch to his chin, she can see it. "Oh Mas…no…"
Closes his optics, "Yes, the child did not survive either." He takes a shuttering breath. "The Autobots lost a miracle of a new life that day." He turns his head back to the stars and lets the tears flow silently. "Our race can't procreate. And yet…. And then… they were both gone in an instant."
Poco knows he had turned to a third-party statement to keep himself in check. Nothing more is said that night. She sleeps in the crook of his neck. He sleeps comforted by her touch letting his silent tears flow. Tears he hadn't shed for his mate and miracle in eons. In the morning, without a word about the night before, but a comforting smile of reassurance, they head out.
Today they finally they take a break on a rare warm day near the beach in France. She comes out of the water pulling her hair to the side and squeezing out the salt water. He marvels at the human form. He hadn't really paid attention before, but he now he is noticing. The delicate yet incredible way the human form comes together. Just as complex is their nature, so is their hearts.
Neither one had noticed that they have picked up a couple of tails. A red Audi and a yellow Lotus. They have been there for the last couple of countries. Today she has finally noticed. As she is brushing out her hair she says quietly, "Optimus, I don't know how many Red Audis and Yellow Lotus travel together, but these two seem to be following us. Who would be tailing us? Who knows we are here?"
"Ahhh…" is all he can say for the moment distracted by her long black hair.
She can't see that in camouflage mode, he has been staring at her. She laughs, "Did you hear me, Mas?" He shutters and she laughs harder. She quickly puts on her cover and tosses her bag inside and hops in.
They leave quickly. But this time they watch for the tails. He decides to head to Paris to blend in and for her to see the Louvre. They escape during the night and head back to Italy quickly.
This time they talk on light matters and laugh. She learns he is very devoted. But he has a very tender soft side. He is careful not to let it out to the others and let it be a weakness that can be exploited. Very few Autobots know this side of him that enjoys art, music, and nature. She respects his request to keep this side of him to herself. Poco knows she has gotten under his armor and possibly into his spark. A place only Elita, Jazz and Ironhide have known.
He learns that she is very strong natured. She has been almost on her own since she was 15. She had to mature very quickly. She doesn't let people know her soft side either. She doesn't have close friends. In fact, she is still keeping a part of her life from him. He ponders if anyone else knows this hidden part of her life. He respects her privacy.
Finally they return back to the Italian countryside. He unfolds. They try to go over the clues, but keep coming back to the same problem. There is a key missing.
Weak as a human. What does that all mean?
As the sun is setting, he sighs at the beauty of it. She quietly smiles, "Thank you, Mas. This has been a wonderful adventure. It has been nice touring Europe with a friend. I never thought I would get the chance. I'm sorry we didn't find the answer."
He shrugs, "Like you said, maybe it doesn't exist." They watch the sun set over the grapevines. She sees him reach under his breast plate.
"Hold out your hands," he tells her softly. She does so. He drops something. She looks down in her palms. It's a ring with the Autobot insignia with blue topaz drops for the eyes made of Cybertronian metal. She doesn't know what to say.
"Gracias, " she whispers.
"No," he returns so softly, "gracias." It was like he had implied before, he was more grateful for her gift of… friendship?
The silence falls over them as the sun dips below the horizon. He sees her slip the ring onto her right hand, friendship. Over in the villa they are celebrating a wedding. The music drifts their way. A smirk comes over her. A strange feeling burns in his chest.
"Tell me this, Poco, why do you study these old ways? Why are you an archeologist? Don't tell me because of the ones who rescued you. I know that is a lie," he probes.
She quickly looks up to him. Oh Lord, he really does know me. She swallows tightly. "So much has been lost. I don't want to see anymore families or towns destroyed like mine was. I hope to … I'm trying to save…"
He leans in closer, "Do you really think you can save this world from it's greed and power struggles?"
"You you really think you can stop and destroy all these Decepticons?" she challenges him back, tenderly not in anger.
"I have to try saving what is left of my race," he says in his guardian voice.
"I have to do what I can to save the lessons our past generations have learned."
He drops to a knee in front of her, "Poco, we aren't so very different."
"I… I know." she staggers. She knows the connection they have. "But haven't you wanted anything more? Haven't you wanted the Autobot legacy to grow and increase? What about the Prime lineage?"
"What about your lineage? The Lennox's have Grace. Don't you want offspring of your own? Don't you want all your knowledge past on to your own children? Forget saving the past if you have no one to give it to. Why not your own children?"
"I think we are back to that same question: What about you?"
"I'm not talking about me. I'm talking about you."
"Why aren't we talking about you?" They have come to another stale mate. But this time it is a matter of the heart. It is the craziness of reality. They both take a step back. They take turns looking at the stars of the past and then each other of the present. What are they asking each other? What are they feeling? What are they doing?
The next morning they head out. The rain begins to fall in sheets. Then out of nowhere the Red and Yellow cars are back.
"Where are you going with the female, Prime?" the Red Audi challenges with a heavy Italian accent flanking him on the left.
Yellow asserts, "You are trespassing. Don't you know?" coming up behind Red and nudging Prime to the edge of the road.
Prime tries to charge ahead, but is blocked by civilian cars. When the pass is clear, Red and Yellow try to run him off the road. Their tires stick to the wet pavement like only Italian sports car can. His big wide tires slide on the narrow road. Poco clings to the steering wheel.
"Grab the computer!" he orders her. She quickly shoves it into the backpack and straps it on tight.
"Ready!" she confirms.
Her timing couldn't be closer, because Yellow tailgates Red and as one they try again to run him off the road on a hairpin turn. His rear slides off the cliff and he unfolds to grip the edge. Poco clings to his back by grasping his collar. "Poco!" he cries out.
"Here!" she shakily returns with her eyes tightly shut against the plunge below. With a lunge, he hoists himself back up and takes a battle stance. "It's time to split up," she whispers to him. He nods. He extends his left arm to the ground and keeps Red and Yellow focused on his left wrist twirling his sword. She flits to the ground down the back of his arm. His body language challenges and distracts Yellow and Red.
Yellow fires at him. Prime blocks it with his hand. Poco dashes into the brush far way from the battle scene. She can't help but watch. She's amazed yet horrified at what she sees. She's never seen him in battle-action. She never heard of his specific battles mentioned at the games or at the Ark. It had always been implied by the honor and respect his subordinates gave him.
As the clash of metal begins, two against one. Yellow and Red are agile as Italian Sports cars on a slick road. But Prime has brute strength, size, and skill to ancipate their moves. They thrust, he counters with a blow to the arm. They kick at his knee, he elbows them in the face with all his weight behind it.. They strike at his face with a blade, he bends his back to duck under the swing. One tries to take a driving spike at his back while the other one thrusts to his chest. Prime strikes a kick back into the chest of one while clenching the wrist of the other and throwing him off his balance to the ground.
"Is that all you've got?" Prime's smirk can be felt behind the face shield as he challenges them. He glances over and sees her still hidden behind a boulder.
Red and Yellow draw their cannons and guns to begin firing at Prime again.
At one point Prime flips Red to the ground pinning him with his foot and grabs Yellow into a headlock bend over his knee. Yellow continues to fire into his arm until Prime finally growls with pain and damage. He shakes his hand to a sword and slices Yellow's head off drawing his sword arm back across the neck. Fluids pour onto the ground. Red tries to fire up into Prime's torso. Prime blocks it with his sword. Then it glows red and he drives it into Red's chest and twists. Red stops moving. He touches his communicator, "Cornel, I had no choice. But we have a problem. I'm transmitting the co-ordinates. I can't transform." He grips his severely damaged arm. Wires and servos are dangling. Sparks are emitting from his arm. Then he looks for Poco. He calls for her.
She is horrified. She shakes her head and runs in terror. Then he spots her running. He tries to take a couple steps towards her, but the civilian traffic blocks his moves. He has to drag the enemy carcasses behind the rocks and hide himself. He sees her run. She is safe. But… She is gone.
They make their way separately back to the USA. He sulking by C130 military transport. She cowering and curled up in a ball on a coach flight. She looks down at her right hand. She takes the ring off her hand and soothes it in the light. Then she notices the inscription inside the band. Pulling out her notes, she translates it "My Spark."
The ring came from his chest. It came from his life source. It's a piece of him. She doesn't know what to say. Worse, she can't believe her own feelings. Her feeling are so conflicted. She is horrified. She is awed. She is filled with something. She is filled with….. no.
