Spiritimus Prime: Yeegods, I did it again! Oh man, uploading quickly is sure not my style... well... unless it had something to do with something really important happening tomorrow, then I'm out for it. XD! Should be only three or four more chapters to go before this finishes... (sighs) Yeah, all the cuteness had to end sometime, but with the sequel and AU version still in plan, I don't think we'll be hearing the last of the sparkling adorableness! XD I'm still thinking on who should be my next target, but I have Jetfire or Sideswipe in the wake of my plan... unless I decide to do both of them at once! Oh man that would be sweet as! But until that happens, just enjoy this chapter! XD
A/N: For those that thought that Optimus Prime had turned into Nemesis Prime in the previous chapter, I'm afraid that your guess is wrong. Nemesis Prime is not three colours with scarlet optics. Optimus Prime had changed into his powerlinx form, the one where he fought Galvatron to the finish at the end of Armada. Nemesis Prime is grey and black with blood red optics, not navy blue, white and ebony black with scarlet optics.
Chapter 12:
Only Time will Tell
When the Autobots and Starscream returned to their base, the kids rushed up to them, asking if they were alright, what had happened to Optimus Prime, and even asking if they had been too late to save Hot Shot. But, the movement from Starscream caught their attention and they saw the, still, unconscious Hot Shot, who had his head safely tucked underneath the mech's arm.
The kids breathed a sigh of relief, glad that the mission had been a success.
Red Alert got everyone's attention by clearing his throat. "I hate to rush things so suddenly," he said, "but I have to get Optimus repaired at once. From the looks of his injuries, I say that he was in a near fight for his life."
You don't even know half of it, Starscream thought bitterly.
"Well then, we better get him to the Med-Bay on the double," Sideswipe blurted enthusiastically, trying to lighten up the sore and tired moods of the other Autobots, but none of them were in any mood to say the least.
Scavenger shook his head. "You heard Red Alert!" he demanded. "Move it!" He then raced off as fast as he could while Red Alert followed in suit with Starscream close behind him. No doubt that Hot Shot would've been starving and frightened while being held captive by the Decepticons, and the dents and cracks in his armour was proof enough of him having a nearly horrible time with either Megatron or someone else.
Sideswipe and Blurr led Jetfire towards the Med-Bay, but the stubborn shuttle mech pushed them back, refusing to go any further, and he removed himself from their support and placing his back against the wall in the middle of the corridor. Energon leaked from his injured leg and onto the floor, causing him to wince from the pain. He was too tired even make another step.
"Come on, Jetfire," said Sideswipe, trying to be encouraging. "Red Alert needs to get you patched up."
Blurr's optics moved over to Jetfire. "Sideswipe's right, Jetfire, you need medical attention, and I doubt that leg of yours is going to heal on its own unless it gets the proper attention it needs."
Jetfire shook his head, surprising the two. "Optimus is the one who needs the most repairs, and plus, we need him and I'm in no good condition to even lead," he said, sighing. "Don't forget that Hot Shot was captured by the Decepticons and may also need some tender care. I'm just like Optimus. Everyone must come before me, and the big guy counts."
"Alright, Jetfire, but until we get word from Red Alert that Optimus is stable enough to survive the night, you'll be staying put," Blurr said stoically.
Sideswipe gave a worried look before he glanced in the direction of the Med-Bay. He just prayed to Primus that Optimus was going to be alright. Jetfire was right; they needed the Autobot Commander to keep their spirits high, especially when they had suffered a near defeat when they had tried to rescue Hot Shot. Whatever it was that had happened in that room where the machine was, it could not have been good.
"Just place him gently on the medical table," instructed Red Alert sternly as he rushed over to a table to get the equipment that he needed to tend to Optimus's injuries.
Scavenger obeyed as he carefully laid the unconscious Autobot Commander on the table and he stood back. All he could do was watch as the Energon from Optimus's shoulder continued to leak out at a speeding rate. If Red Alert did not close that soon, then Optimus would bleed to death right there and now.
He stepped back beside Starscream, who was carefully cradling Hot Shot in both of his arms, as Red Alert wheeled in a Spark monitor and attached it to Optimus's chest plate. He then inserted an Energon feeder into Optimus's right arm and quickly went to work, checking the Spark monitor every few minutes to see if everything was alright.
The beeps were steady and slow, but Red Alert continued to watch over it as he sealed up the leak in Optimus's shoulder. Once he was done, he then placed a steel patch over the gaping hole and turned his attention to the long crack in the abdomen. The crack was several human feet long that went from Optimus's right hip to the middle of the right side of his chest.
Scavenger glanced over at Starscream, who had most of his attention focused on Red Alert's work. He could see that the red seeker was tired from his fight, and he looked like he was going to drop Hot Shot at any moment. He lifted both of his arms, motioning to Hot Shot. "Here," he said, "let me take him for you."
Starscream snapped out of his daze and nodded reluctantly before gently handing Hot Shot over to Scavenger. Both of their attention was diverted when they noticed Hot Shot beginning to stir.
Hot Shot's POV
Everything had all been a blur to me the moment I had witnessed the battle between Megatron and Optimus Prime. I believed that Optimus was going to win at any cost in order to get me back and return me to my normal form soon. I had screamed in fear the moment I saw Megatron use his cannon upon Optimus and even cried when Optimus landed back first against the wall, damaged and bleeding in many different places, but the worse had been yet to come.
I could only watch as sparks flew and Energon leaked from the horrible tear in his shoulder. I wanted to cry some more, I wanted to scream my rage at Megatron for hurting him… for hurting the one mech who had cared about me the most when my life had changed drastically when I had been turned into a sparkling. But I could not fight back in this small state, and I was too undeveloped in the arms and legs to even break free from my binds.
And then, the fireworks really did begin to fly right there and then.
When Megatron had announced that he was going to make Prime's life a living hell by killing me, I could only watch in fear as he advanced towards me slowly, biding his time and taunting me with his growing form.
But then he had stopped right there on the spot. He had glanced down at the one who was trying to stop him from hurting me. I could barely see who it was because of my small frame, but I knew instinctively that it was Optimus, begging Megatron to not hurt me. I would've thought of him as a fool if I was still my ordinary self, but the begging of my leader was something I had never even heard of before. I could hear his hurt, his desperation to save me, and his will to stop all of this madness.
Megatron had said something about a mate and sparkling that Optimus had been too late to save in the past. I knew very little of Optimus's past, and even Scavenger refused to talk about it. It had puzzled me to the core of my Spark, but I had left it alone, respecting the privacy of my commander.
Then, that bright light of red energy engulfed Optimus the moment Megatron picked me up by the leg and prepared to kill me by using a dagger that had been hidden in his wrist. Then I felt something swipe at Megatron's fingers and I fell, but then I was caught by a red and white arm that wrapped around my tiny frame tightly like as if I was something precious.
The last thing I had seen before I blacked out was the raging fury of a black, navy blue, and white Optimus Prime with scarlet optics that flared like a burning fire. My whole world went black after that and I knew nothing more.
When I finally opened my optics, I saw that I was being held by large, but gentle, arms. At first I thought they were Optimus's, but the moment my optics settled onto the golden ones of Scavenger, my hopes of seeing him became faint.
"Are you alright, Hot Shot?" Scavenger asked.
I ignored his question as I sensed the tension in the air and glanced in the direction where I believed that was where all the fuss was coming from.
Somehow, I felt my Spark come to a dreaded halt.
No One's POV
If Scavenger would not have believed that sparklings moved fast when they wanted to, he was certainly surprised when Hot Shot struggled frantically against his gentle grip, startling both him and Scavenger as the tired sparkling wrestled out of his arms and moved towards Red Alert as he worked desperately on Optimus's form.
Red Alert noticed the movement and he mentally cursed at Starscream for bringing in Hot Shot while he was working. But he made no movement to stop the sparkling as he climbed up his legs and onto the berth, coating his yellow armour in Optimus's Energon.
Scavenger was about to move to stop Hot Shot from doing anything when the young bot gently crawled onto Optimus's chest and curled up into a ball, feeling the warmth from his pulsing Spark and moving up and down from his rising chest from his gentle, but weak, breathing.
Red Alert sighed. He would allow Hot Shot to do this just once, but next time, he was going to give him the biggest lecture in the cosmos the moment he returned to his ordinary form.
Both Starscream and Scavenger stepped back, knowing better than to interfere with such delicate work.
Seconds turned to minutes, and minutes turned to hours, but Red Alert finally emitted a sigh of relief when he finished wrapping a steel bandage around Optimus's twisted leg. He had done what he could to make his commander more comfortable, and now, it was all up to Primus to decide whether he lived or died.
"Is he going to be alright?" Scavenger asked worriedly.
Red Alert glanced at the instructor, and then back at Optimus and Hot Shot. "Right now," he said quietly, "I can't be sure. I've done what I can to keep Optimus stabled and more comfortable while he recovers. I'm not sure if he'll survive the night, but we'll need a miracle from Primus to ensure that he does. My guess is that the rest is all up to him."
Scavenger nodded slightly and his golden optics settled onto his old friend. Don't go dying on us now, Optimus. The Autobots still need their leader, and Hot Shot needs you more than ever, he thought.
Red Alert washed his hands, removing the Energon that had coated his hands. "You better go tell Jetfire to get in here," he said calmly. "From his appearance, I'd say he won't be feeling very well in the morning."
Scavenger nodded and he walked past Starscream, but he stopped once and glanced over him, wondering what was on the seeker's mind. The only thing that he could see was a stoic expression. Unreadable and emotionless. Guess that's how all Decepticons were programmed to be, he thought and he shook his head, heading out the Med-Bay to go and get Jetfire.
Blurr was leaning against the wall on the opposite of the nearly exhausted Jetfire while Sideswipe was sitting next to him, keeping him company until they heard the news about Optimus Prime.
Within the hours after Optimus had been stabilised, the three mechs could only hope that their commander would be alright, but then they lifted their heads when they heard the approaching sound of heavy footsteps. It seemed obvious that this mech was not keeping silent for a good reason, and when they saw Scavenger, both Blurr and Sideswipe stood up to acknowledge his presence.
Scavenger nodded his thanks before turning to Jetfire, who looked up and nodded towards him, only body langue was all the Vice Commander could muster to due to his throat aching after sitting there on the floor for hours without having a drink of Energon to take away his aches and pains.
"Come on, Jetfire, let's get you to the Med-Bay," said the old warrior as he approached the downed mech.
"But I need to know if Optimus is going to be alright," Jetfire protested.
"You'll have to come and see for yourself," Scavenger replied before he helped Jetfire to his feet and he looked towards Blurr and Sideswipe. "You two go to your quarters. We'll let you know of Optimus's condition in the morning."
Both mechs nodded and walked away, heading in the direction of their quarters, leaving Scavenger to support Jetfire on his shoulders alone. He could only watch as Jetfire struggled to keep up on his injured leg, but the more he tried, the more painful it became for him, so Scavenger had no choice but to go on his other side and act as a proper support.
The two then continued onwards to the Med-Bay.
While Scavenger was off getting Jetfire, Red Alert decided that now was the time to get some information from Starscream on what had happened in the room and what that explosion had been. Even though he didn't see the explosion, he had heard it with his acute sensors. Duh, his sensors were much more advanced than a normal mech because of him being a CMO. If he didn't have those, then how else was he going to work in order to save lives?
Red Alert cleared his throat, catching Starscream's attention. "Starscream," he said, "do you think you can tell me about what had happened in that room and explain to me what the explosion was?"
Starscream frowned. So much for waiting until Optimus woke up, he thought sarcastically. And I know nothing of the explosion that was in the room. Jetfire must've done something to that machine to ensure that Megatron would never use it again. He shook his head, saying, "I don't about the explosion, but I'll explain about the battle between Optimus Prime and Megatron."
Red Alert nodded in satisfaction and he sat down on a chair, waiting for Starscream to speak.
Starscream sighed as he began the tale. He explained everything that he could recall, like Optimus's raging fight with Megatron, his fight with Demolisher, and when Megatron used his cannon on Optimus that had caused those nearly fatal injuries.
He even explained about Megatron's attempt to kill Hot Shot, mentioning about him killing Optimus's mate and sparkling (Red Alert frowned from beneath his visor when Starscream explained this), and then he recalled the red light that had engulfed Optimus Prime, changing his body's colours and possibly increasing his strength.
He then went into details about how Optimus viciously attacked Megatron and nearly killed him in the process and then how he had snapped Optimus out of his rage.
When he was finished after telling Red Alert about the colours removing themselves from Optimus's body and returning him to his damaged state, Red Alert's frown deepened and he stood up, taking in the story into his systems as it sunk into his CPU like a stone sinking into the bottom of a lake.
Finally, he turned back to Starscream, his face once again emotionless and stern. "Thank you for the information, Starscream," he said. "But I believe Jetfire was the one responsible for the explosion. I'll speak to him about it when Scavenger returns with him, but I think he'll be too sore to speak, so I'll let it slip for now." He glanced over at Optimus's sleeping form and the curled up Hot Shot. "Right now my main concern is Optimus's condition."
"Aren't we all concerned?" Starscream asked bitterly, earning a glare from Red Alert.
"We all should be," the CMO growled. "But I cannot guarantee Optimus will survive the night. He's lost a lot of Energon and has suffered a lot of damage at the hands of Megatron's cannon."
"Mind if I ask you a question?" Starscream asked.
"What is it?" Red Alert hissed.
"Exactly who are Optimus's mate and sparkling? Megatron mentioned something about them, but I never witnessed it. I believe it happened before I joined up with the Decepticons."
Red Alert sighed quietly. "That is not for me to answer, Starscream," he replied softly, his voice sad.
Starscream nodded slightly. Somehow he respected the privacy of Optimus Prime. He had no idea why he did, but he reckoned he was getting too soft. He shook his head and decided to move towards the back of the room, folding his arms across his chest.
"I suppose while you're in here," said Red Alert. "Why don't you work on the machine?"
Starscream gave a look of surprise, but it was quickly hidden by his annoyance. "Normally I would do something right away," he said in a slightly cool manner. "But since I'm tired, I'll do it when I'm refreshed enough."
Red Alert shrugged and pointed to the half-finished machine and Starscream lifted an optic ridge. "And it's been almost a month since that incident and you still haven't finished it?" he asked. "I'm disappointed in you for once, Red Alert."
Red Alert ignored the comment. "You figure out how long it takes to finish something so complicated. No doubt that you were the one who designed it from scratch," he hissed.
Starscream rolled his optics. "Whatever," he grumbled.
Red Alert sighed and he looked up when he heard the doors, which led into the Med-Bay, opened up and Scavenger walked in with an exhausted Jetfire. The CMO could only huff in annoyance at the state of Jetfire's injuries, but he was even more annoyed when he saw his leg. "Damn it, Jetfire!" he snarled. "I should've fixed you up first the moment you came out of the Space Bridge!"
Jetfire sniggered beneath his golden mask as Scavenger set him onto the medical table next to the sleeping Optimus Prime. "Optimus had more serious injuries than I did," he said softly. "Besides, my injuries could wait and they won't get… OW!"
Red Alert rolled his optics from behind his visor as he cleaned Jetfire's leg. "Serves you right for sitting on the floor for the past five hours," he growled. "No doubt that the kids had gone home due to their creators worrying sick about them."
Scavenger smirked as Starscream stood up. "I'm heading off to get some recharge," he said simply.
Scavenger lifted an optic ridge. "Then I suppose I'll show you to your room," he said. "Not that I don't trust you because Optimus does, but you know very little of our base and I think a guide would probably do you some help."
"Fine," Starscream growled. "But after that, I expect to be left alone."
"Whichever you prefer, Starscream," said Scavenger. He cast his golden optics onto Red Alert and Jetfire, and then they flew onto Optimus and Hot Shot. It seemed like things were going to be alright for now.
Without a hesitation, Scavenger escorted Starscream to his quarters.
After the two had left, Red Alert looked up at Jetfire. "So you care to tell me about what that explosion was about?" he asked.
"It's simple, Reddy," Jetfire replied jokingly. "I used my blaster to destroy that machine so that Megatron couldn't use it again. Quite a show it was, but I'm pleased with my success."
"Well let's hope that it doesn't end in vain," Red Alert replied stoically. He finished cleaning up Jetfire's leg and wrapped it up in a metallic bandage like he did with Optimus's leg. He sighed heavily and said, "Might I suggest that you stay here for the night to see if anything else happens."
Jetfire knew that wasn't a request. It was an order. "Yeah," he answered. "Might as well. I think I'd like to keep those two company and keep an optic on Optimus." He then pointed at the two sleeping forms that lay on the medical table on his right. "I'll call you if something happens."
Red Alert nodded. "Thanks, Jetfire. We're all exhausted and a goodnight's sleep will do us all good." He yawned a little and bade Jetfire goodnight before heading for the doors and switching the light off. But before he departed to his quarters, he glanced over at the three once, but Jetfire's calm aura seemed to sink in, assuring him that everything was fine.
Without another word, Red Alert left, but his spirits were slightly dim due to Optimus's condition. If he didn't survive the night, then everything would shatter in everyone's faces like delicate glass breaking from a rock's force. Primus, he mentally prayed, just don't let Optimus go dying on us. We need him more than anything in the world.
Spiritimus Prime: Well, now that that's out of the bag, I'm afraid that I probably won't update in a while, but it will be soon, but not sooner than you think. If you think I'm killing off Optimus that easily... then you'll have to think again! XD Nope, I'm not saying anymore until then next chapter comes up. XD Till the next chapter guys, stay tunned! :P
