Later that evening, only a small number of Maximals remained in the main control centre. The lights had been dimmed to preserve energy. Optimus noticed cracks in the floor and walls, where he could see raw lava seeping through the delicate crust of the volcano floor. The others didn't seem concerned, or perhaps they had long since given up on worrying about them too much. Still, he couldn't help but appreciate the warm glow they seemed to create. Maybe that's the real reason the Maximal dimmed the lights. It was much more atmospheric and relaxing. Something that was sorely absent from their lives.
While Optimus was scanning terrain grids he accidentally came across a sub-folder that contained personnel records. He was not technically on 'duty', and so took a few moments to peruse the files. He felt it best to familiarise himself with this new crew. He swiped through them, assimilating several new faces and names. However, he noticed some names missing. After a moment scanning the screen, he saw an embedded folder, and opened it. To his dismay, it was labelled, 'Deceased'.
He scrolled through more unfamiliar names, but he attempted to memorise them all the same. These people, these Maximals had been his responsibility. Now they were gone, all because he had failed to protect them. What lives had they made for themselves here, among this current crew? What skills had they developed, friendships had they formed, before they were cruelly taken away?
Accinon … Nightshaft … Skylark … Jaggid … Rattrap … Whitefang … Tigatron … Signia …
It was a moment before he realised Airazor was looking over his shoulder, forelornly gazing at the names.
"I haven't look at this list for a while. You can access their facial images if you'd like."
"I'm not so sure I can handle that," Optimus answered truthfully. It was painful enough looking at the names of the people he had never even got to know, let alone the two whose loss panged the most. He asked at a whisper, "What happened to Rattrap? To Tigatron?" His voice sounded like thunder in the quiet chamber.
To his surprise, as he wasn't aware that anyone else was listening, Cheetor was the one who answered. Optimus reeled, as the cat had not so much as looked at him since the encounter in Dinobot's stasis chamber. "Rattrap was leading a mission to retrieve Sentinel from the ruins of the Axalon. I thought it was a stupid idea, but Rhinox insisted some of it would have survived the bombings, so we went ahead with it anyway. The Predacons had set up all kinds of traps and mines and Primus knows what else to stop anyone getting close to the site. I told Rattrap to send a scouting party ahead of him. You know what he said to me? He said Optimus wouldn't have risked the lives of others doing something he could have done himself." Cheetor paused, a flicker of grief allowing itself to be seen in his optics. He roughly shook his head and continued, "He followed your example until end. Fat lot of good it did him."
"Don't you mean fat lot of good it did you?" Optimus couldn't help but retort as he rose out of his seat and turned. Perhaps it was insensitive. Perhaps it was a mistake. But Optimus was growing weary of explaining himself, that it was never his intention to disappear! But he was also hurt.
Cheetor obviously hadn't considered this. Optimus had never seen such ferocious contempt in anyone's expression before, let alone Cheetor's. "Say that again," he whispered dangerously.
"Cheetor," Greyback said, his usual stony expression now replaced by genuine worry.
"No, no, Grey. I want to hear this motor mouth tell me - to my face - that I find Rattrap's death an inconvenience!" He strode with a strange and dangerous confidence towards Optimus, now level with him, and stared at him eye to eye. Optimus noticed immediately he had gotten taller and broader. "Well?!"
"Cheetor," the wolf said warningly, gripping the cat firmly on the forearm with a stern look.
"Greyback. Let. Go." Cheetor snarled.
"We could use the extra fire power for the next scout mission, boss cat," Greyback uttered; his grip seemed to tighten nervously.
Cheetor kept his reproachful gaze locked on Optimus. Seeming to mull it over, his expression dropped slightly and he gave a sharp, defeated sigh. "Fine. Make yourself useful and set up a perimeter with Grey. Keep an eye on him," he added to Grey as he turned to leave. "Wouldn't want him disappearing again."
"We leave in a megacycle," Greyback informed Optimus, without looking at him. Optimus was left standing, still seething, but it quickly dissipated. Soon he felt a wash of guilt and regret. His gaze wandered over to his screen, where the names of the fallen Maximals greeted him. And his spark sank even lower.