Poco Chapter 5 (the virus is finally found, Prime infected)

Poco sends Ratchet a text: Meet me in the Everglades

Poco begins searching. Within the week she finds evidence of the wreck of a ship in the muck and mud. She begins digging whole heartily. Then a shadow falls across her, "Need some help?" she hears. She can't help but smile up at Optimus. Before she can say anything personally revealing, Bumblebee, Ratchet, Jolt and Ironhide are all there.

She turns her sights on Ironhide, "We are looking for a cannon. A big one. Big enough to take down an Autobot.

Ironhide snorts, "Yeah, right."

They all start looking, digging and scanning. They clear out around the ship. Ironhide is clearly not happy about the muck. Ratchet has his own concerns. Bumblebee finds the tip of the cannon happily. Carefully they extract the decomposing iron. She reaches inside. She pulls out a lot of dead material. There's even a skeleton. Then she pulls out a oiled sailcloth wrapped around a wooden box with the symbols she recognizes. She manages to get it open without destroying it. Bumblebee holds his nose. Ratchet cringes, "That does have the smell of death, I agree. But not one smelled here on Earth."

Poco reads the fading symbols inside the box as Ratchet reaches for it. She pushes his hand away, "Don't touch it!"

She points to the lid. Optimus reads it, "Oh. Not good."

Ratchet turns to him, "What does it say?"

Optimus treads quietly, "It's a poison, for us. Some of the words are missing. But it makes us as vulnerable as a human."

Ratchet is amazed, "Wow, we need to run some tests on it."

Some how Poco is able to stay in scientist mode. Before Optimus can say anything, Poco is off with Ratchet talking about the find. He drops to his wheels. Poco very carefully wraps the box in a plastic bag. Then inside her jacket and into a steal case. She climbs aboard Ratchet and they continue chatting away. Optimus smirking silently takes the lead back to their temporary Ark. Quickly the team mounts up quickly falls in line

Ratchet and Poco dive into the research as soon as they hit his lab still covered in mud. They spend almost a week running tests. Jolt has to deliver Energon and food or they would forget to refuel. But sleep just wouldn't come to either one.

Finally, Ratchet brings Optimus over. She had almost forgotten about him too excited to find the answers to five years of searching. He smiles at seeing her all wrapped up in her work. "How is it going?" he asks them.

Poco just beams proudly, "Remember Mona Lisa?"

Optimus' smile nearly reflects Mona's. Poco giggles. "Yes, I know," he finally smirks.

"She wasn't who everyone thought."

Ratchet smiles as well seeing Optimus tenderly happy. Optimus hasn't smiled like this for a very long time. "She was a Decepticon spy. Her real name was Demonstra. But Leonardo Di Vinci called her Mona."

Optimus gapes, "Mona Lisa was a Decepticon? But…?"

Poco smiles grasping his wrist, "I know! That's what we are still trying to figure out. But from all the notes we have deciphered, Mona and her team were sent to investigate the current inventors. They were supposed access their abilities and then turn the inventors to help them modify Decepticon technology to blend in while harvesting the needed materials and Energon."

Optimus tilts his head, "But…?"

"She fell in love."

Ironhide snorts behind Ratchet, "Decepticons in love, yeah right."

Poco cocks an eyebrow at him, "Really? So you get to hold privileged rights over matters of the heart? I mean spark?"

"Woman," he narrows his gaze, "You have no idea what you are talking about."

The two stare each other down. Ratchet puts a hand to Ironhide's chest making him back up. Optimus carefully responds to Poco, "So what happened?"

"These vials contain their experiment. From what I have gathered, they attempted to turn her into a human so they could be together."

"Horse feathers!" Ironhide barks. Everyone is startled at his human phrase.

Poco takes the opportunity, "Really? Maybe we should try it on you first, skeptic!"

Ratchet sighs at the impending argument, "I'd like to run some tests on Prime blood to see what it will do. Some of this mystery material has degraded or mutated due to time and the elements." Optimus pulls a panel off his gauntlet and Ratchet extracts some fluid. She cringes.

He smiles at her concern, "It doesn't hurt."

Ironhide snorts again, "Takes more than one of Ratchet's needles to hurt us."

Ratchet waves a syringe at him, "You're next, 'Hide."

Ironhide, covering his retreat flips a hand in the air, "Got recruits to train and weapons to load."

Once his is out of ear shot, Poco tries, "Chicken."

Ratchet softly chuckles, "You have no idea." Optimus chuckles with Ratchet.

Poco returns to the task at hand and cuts a small piece off the thing they found, dropping it into the vial. Then Ratchet looks at it under the microscope, "Very interesting."

Ratchet and Poco are about to dive back into it for the next couple of days, when Optimus points to both of them, "You need to recharge and you need to sleep." He points to the two bunks awaiting them.

"But-" they both argue at the same time. He smiles, but cocks his head daring them to defy him.

"Ratchet, how long will it take for that to run it's test?"

" A few hours." Ratchet scowls. Optimus points. They scowl. He steps closer to impose his orders; they stride away before he picks them both up. As soon as they lay down, they are both asleep/recharging. Optimus smirks. Optimus can't help but let his gaze fall on Poco tenderly.

After a few minutes, Ironhide pings him. Optimus turns to look towards Ironhide's section of base. Ironhide makes a thumb motion towards the outside. The friends meet outside the door, not drawing attention to themselves. But Ironhide doesn't talk or stop there. He leads Optimus to the edge of the tarmac far from either human or 'Bot. Both of them look up to the clear night sky.

"What's going on, Orion?"

Optimus can't help but smile at his pre-Prime name. Ironhide only uses it when they are alone and deeply personal. But he says nothing.

"You aren't even fooling Ratchet."

"Ratchet isn't a fool." Optimus doesn't look at his friend.

So Ironhide steps in front of Optimus and yanks his head down to face him by his helm tips. The friends are eye to eye now. "What are you doing, PRIME?"

Optimus pushes his hands away, "Nothing. Absolutely nothing." Sigh. "That's the problem."

Ironhide scowls, "No, that's the solution."

"I care about you Dion, but don't tell me what to do." Ironhide grabs Optimus wrist as he tries to end the conversation by walking away. Optimus scowls, "I haven't done anything you wouldn't have."

Ironhide doesn't let him go, "I'm not talking about me, I'm talking about you."

"Leave me alone, Ironhide. I have work to do."

"That's my point. There's a lot at stake. You can't be distracted."

Optimus narrows his gaze and nearly seethes, "I know slagging well what is at stake."

Ironhide drops his tone to support him, "I don't want to see you get hurt… again."

Optimus has to take a couple moments to see Ironhide's side. "I'm not a sparkling, Dion. I'll live, whatever happens."

Ironhide drops his head, "I don't know if I could live through watching you grieve again."

Optimus reaches out and clamps a hand on his shoulder silently. This conversation wasn't really for Optimus. It was for Ironhide. As tough and hardened as a warrior, his spark was pure devotion to his friends and Chromia. Optimus reaches out in in a very rare move, embraces Ironhide, "Don't give up hope. I have sent teams out for her. Ultra Magnus has promised no lead goes past him without a through research." Ironhide returns the embrace and the two friends grieve for Ironhide's mate captured by Shockwave. "If you need to go, I won't blame you."

"My place is by your side. SIC" Ironhide tries to get himself together, but Optimus won't let him go just yet.

"I don't need you that badly. I've got Sideswipe."

That made Ironhide yank away and straighten up, "That glitch head and his crazy brother? Now I know you are cracked and over the edge." Optimus just chuckles seeing the old Ironhide back in command. Ironhide sees the ploy and bonks his friend firmly (but not hard) in the center of his helm, "Primus you are a aft sometimes."

Optimus turns strides a few yards and then retort, "Yeah well, takes on to know one."

Ironhide growls and Optimus can hear him preparing to drop into alt-mode and charge, "Prime or not, you will eat those words."

Optimus whips around fist bared and drops the face shield into place. As Ironhide comes at him, Optimus slams a fist into Ironhide's grill, popping him into proto-form, and with his other hand, helps Ironhide off the ground, over Prime's head and slam him into the pavement.

That brings everyone (but Ratchet and Poco) to the hangar doors. It's been a long time since anyone has seen a really good Prime-Hide skirmish. No weapons but no punches are held back either. It's finally called a draw when both of them are wiping fluids from their mouths, panting and more than a few dents/scratches/and torn pieces.

Optimus picks up a grill, "I think that's yours."

Ironhide hands over a smoke stack, "Yeah, well, that's gonna need more than a buffing. Prissy Aft Prime."

Optimus chuckles, "Ignorant Ironhide." And shoves him out of the way, making him first into the hangar. Ironhide fires off a few more retorts only the Cybertronians understand. Optimus only fires one back that instantly silences Ironhide's rant with a blush. Prime wins the smart-aft comment award, too.

~~After a good recharge/sleep, Poco and Ratchet are back at it: Modifying, testing, examining, pondering, noting…. Another week and finally they are ready to present their findings to the Ark team. Everyone gathers around. Ratchet holds up the syringe,

"This material breaks down our transforming capabilities. It effects the Energon. Like leukemia in humans. The next time we try to transform into a vehicle instead we become-"

One of the little-bots jumps on the table, snatches the syringe from Ratchet. Before they can catch him, he is upon Ratchet. Ironhide takes a shot and knocks him off. Ratchet scowls at his plating being singed. As the bot runs, Prime bellows, "Get him!"

Prime blocks the escape from the main hangar door. The creature quickly takes a diversion back towards Ratchet. But when he sees a bunch of Autobots charging him he decides to take his chance right at Prime and leaps upon him. Before Prime can grab him, the creature plunges the syringe into Prime's neck and vital fluid line. He growls and flings the creature to the ground, as he sinks to a knee. It runs towards Poco and flicks a small sword out, leaping to her shoulder and places the blade to her neck. She freezes. "Down with the Autobots! Long live-"

Prime flicks a blade from his ankle through the air which cuts off the creatures words and pins him to the wall behind Poco. Ironhide finishes him off with a cannon blast. Prime continues kneeling and collapses onto the floor unconscious.

Poco and Ratchet go to Optimus. It takes the whole team to get unconscious Optimus onto Ratchet's table. Ratchet hooks him up quickly and begins looking him over carefully. Slowly Optimus opens his eyes but is clearly in no mood to move. He actually heeds Ratchet's words to stay put. Ratchet goes to his computer a little ways off leaving Optimus to rest. Will and Ironhide go over how the little-bot got on base. The NEST team begins tightening down and searching everything.

Poco silently goes to Optimus sliding a hand to his temple. He opens his eyes, she smiles at him and strokes his face, "Holla."

"Holla" he returns weakly.

"How do you feel right now?" she asks him.

His eyes soften, " Weak as a human." She looks scared until he winks at her. His little joke is to set her at ease. But it also reminds her of their European confession. And the conversation they haven't finished. Their relationship hasn't changed.

Ratchet comes back, "Prime, good you are awake and not human." Optimus just twists a smile at Poco who has to walk away to hide her giggles.

Ratchet keeps Optimus on that table all day running tests. Ratchet, Will and Optimus tell Poco to just go home and get some rest. It's been a very long week. She softly protests, "I'll take a cot. Just incase you need me to do something."

Will urges her, "Do you need me to order you off the base?" She turns to Optimus with a look begging him not to order her to go. He gives her a tender grin.

It takes Optimus finally telling her, "I feel fine. Ratchet is just overly cautious. Go. Listen to the Cornel. Exhaustion doesn't do humans any good. I promise, Ratchet will call you if there is a change. Won't you, Ratchet?" Ratchet nods. She finally follows their request. One of the lieutenants takes her back to her Jeep and trailer parked just off base.

A break could be good. Time to get her head in order. She takes her trailer to a hillside over looking the ocean and hears on the radio that it's supposed to be a spectacular meteor shower tonight. Too bad it is also supposed to be a great summer thunderstorm.

Poco's in the little kitchen of the trailer making spaghetti to eat while listening to the radio. Beside her cooling is a dish of fudge. The thunder clouds are coming in. The thumping of the music from the little radio keeps her bouncing. She isn't going to deal with her future plans right at this moment. She is just going to enjoy the music, the summer rain and the fudge in this pan. And pray that Ratchet is right. She saw something in Di Vinci's notes that haunted her. Peace seems to come to her in her prayers.

She's bouncing along to "Funky Town" when she hears a voice that doesn't come from the song. She shoves the thought aside. It couldn't be. She hears it again. Slowly Poco turns around and even slower opens the door. There are the blue and red legs.

She steps down the steps and looks up at him. He smiles. "Will you talk to me now?"

She stares up at him, "Does Ratchet know you are here?"

He crosses his arms over his chest, "Ratchet doesn't tell me what to do."

In turn she crosses her arms over her chest, "Ironhide already hates me. Don't get Ratchet mad at me, too. I can't have the whole Autobot team mad at me. I don't want to be more hated than the Decpeticons."

He laughs. His laugh always makes her feel better, "I promise you won't be to blame." She's silent for a moment. He tries again, "Why were you leaving?"

She drops her head, "You know why."

He leans down pushing the issue, "No, I don't. Fill me in." But he doesn't say is, "Don't shut me out."

The radio changes to the "hanging 10 feet of the ground….. It's too late to apologize, too late…"

"Poco" he says in that soft tenders voice that could melt the moon. She still won't answer. The summer rain begins to fall. Those big fat rain drops. "Monique," he tries again.

She can feel the heat of his eyes on her back. She looks out over the ocean. "Have you noticed how materialistic the Americans are?"

"Poco….?" he's warning her against changing the subject.

"I saw you in battle. I'd never seen anything like that before." He steps ever so close to her. She turns to face him, "It frightened me. There's a whole other side to your world I knew was there, but I had never seen it. It was too close to the life that was ripped from me."

"I'm sorry," he gently tells her.

She steps back so she can look up to him, "It was a shock that I really didn't know you. I had talked to the ambassador, searcher, the art lover, the friend." She looks away, "Now I've see your leadership. I see your comrades. I… I don't think my heart can standby knowing that your life is in constant danger."

"You are in just as much danger just driving that." He flicks a finger at her little Jeep. It does cause her to smile a little. He leans over and pokes a finger at her, "You would rather die alone and than to take a chance at happiness. That sounds very lonely and sad." She doesn't answer him. He reminds her of their European conversation. "What about your legacy? What about your future?"

"I don't know. I'm just so confused right now. I'm just trying to… I don't know what I am doing." She shakes her head to him.

"So you are just going to run away from the only friend you have?"

She swallows hard, "Is that what you are?" Now it is his turn to be silent. She waves a hand between them, "What is this?" In reference to their growing relationship.

"I have learned to take solace in the present time. I know that time is short." He takes a heavy sigh. He doesn't tell her that he will probably be around a lot longer than her mere human life span. War or no war.

She tries again. "I can't bear any more death, alright? I have watched my parents, brother and a my childhood love all die by a civil war. I have watched my mentor die by the hands of governments and their powerful uprising. I will not risk my trust and my heart with any more loss."

"I understand." he sympathizes.

"Do you really? You are very strong spirited," she retorts. "You look like you have it all together." She stares back out at the ocean.

His voice was so soft that she didn't hear him say, "But I don't. But you help."

What can she say to him? She remembers the stories he told her. She raises her tear streaked face up at him, "I don't think I could survive any more loss!"

"You won't know unless you take a chance."

"With who?" she challenges. "With you?"

He begins to lower himself as he says, "I did. With you." They stand in silence staring at each other. Who will bend first? She starts to turn away from him again.

And then there's streak of light from the sky that slams him in the back and a bolt of blue comes from his chest and rolls across the ground. She cries out in horror as he continues to fall and then crashes to the ground. He doesn't get up. He doesn't flinch. He doesn't move. He doesn't open his eyes.

The song on the radio has to change right then to "please, please don't leave me…."

She runs to his head and cries out again in horror, "Mas!" The wind begins to blow and the rain turns to a torment. The blue light from the ground continues to glow. And then her sobbing begins, "Oh Mas….." Then she says her prayer and drops her head against his metal face.