War as Old as Time Itself
Summary:Three months after The Battle For Earth,a mysterious mech abducts Optimus Prime from Cybertron and so his friends find themselves needing help to find him. A strange group departs their planet for the journey, while Optimus slowly mends gaps between his own people and the gaps with their greatest enemy.
Previously...
Quickly picking one of the Omega Lock energy containers, Optimus jogged back to the medbay. The twins had put the cube down on one of the berths and Roller had helped them hook up the necessary equipment to its surface. "Here goes nothing."
Optimus adjusted the container and put it on the Cybertronian version of an IV. For a few moments, nothing happens, but then the cube started glowing suddenly and then it began extending. The Jettwins instinctively activate their battle protocols and stand in front of Optimus until the light dies down and they're all staring at a traumatised-looking sky blue mech as he tries desperately to free himself of the binds Roller had activated upon the start of the light show.
Optimus is the first to recognize him. "Blurr?!"
Now...
The Intelligence agent immediately snaps to attention. He can't salute, but he goes rigid still and answers with the Autobot Elite Guard standard of "Sir, Agent Blurr reporting in, sir!"
And that's when he really looks at Optimus and his little crew. "Optimus-Prime-is-that-you? What-happened-to-your-finish? The-space-bridge-the-Decepticons-were-building-will-lead-them-to-Cybertron-without-setbacks-because-Longarm-Prime-is-the-Decepticon-Shockwave-and-"
"Blurr!" Optimus finally has to yell for the Intelligence Agent to stop talking so Optimus could explain everything. "The space bridge is destroyed, Decepticons were defeated and Cybertron is safe. Well," Optimus mutters to himself. "It was safe the last time I was there. Anyway!" He continues before Blurr can ask anymore questions. "There was another battle after the one we last saw each other. The Decepticons cloned Omega Supreme and had three against us, but Ratchet had managed to get the Magnus Hammer from Shockwave after the creep took a shot at Ultra Magnus. I used the Hammer to even out the odds, but it was Prowl who won us the fight by sacrificing himself to bring back the shards of the Allspark back together. It's on Cybertron now, as are Megatron, Blitzwing, Lugnut and Shockwave, as prisoners. We are currently deep in Quintesson space. We found you back on Majuza, being sold like a decoration. Can you please tell me what happened?"
Blurr looks troubled by the amount of time he was gone and the information he didn't possess in detail. He was an Intelligence Agent and Optimus heard that they go crazy if they don't know something.
Had the ensuing conversation taken place when he was still a cadet, Optimus wouldn't have believed Blurr. The story was just too weird. The run across the galaxies would have been unbelievable had Optimus not been revived by the Allspark itself. The way Blurr had twisted his body so everything but his spark chamber was crushed would have been considered impossible had Optimus not done the unthinkable and defeated Megatron more than once. The story of how he just floated like the dangerous trash Shockwave has had Cliffjumper throw him out like would have been too much for the red and blue Prime had he not been botnapped just because Primal Major believed that he was good for this mission.
After Blurr finished his tale, Optimus shooed everyone else out of the medbay with the excuse that it was patient privacy and seeing as he now acted as a doctor, Optimus needed the space to work. It wasn't a complete lie, but Optimus wasn't going to mention that.
After everyone was out, Optimus let Blurr sit up but promised him that he will personally weld his aft to the berth if he moved more than necessary until Optimus made sure he is fit for duty. He remembers Ratchet saying it after every fight when he has to check them over and Optimus feels a content warmth filling him inside out at the thought of his friends.
Blurr, oddly enough, didn't argue. In fact, he looks a bit subdued and Optimus had a good, or bad depending on how you look at it, feeling of why. He has noticed the way Blurr's voice hitched when he mentioned Cybertron's 'traitor'. There was a story behind that but Optimus wasn't going to pry too much, only enough so he can know how to proceed.
"Alright, Blurr. Everything seems to be fine. Now," he says as he puts away the equipment and motions for Alpha Supreme to close the doors unless Optimus allows for them to open. It's both a precaution to no eavesdropping and to Blurr not speeding out if he doesn't want to talk. "Why don't you tell me what really happened with Shockwave, aka Longarm Prime?"
Blurr stiffens and looks the other way as the young Prime sets a medical grade energon cube in front of him. "I-don't-want-to-talk-about-it."
Optimus sighs as he sitsdown by Blurr's side. "It's eating you alive, Blurr. If you talk about it with someone, anyone, really, you might feel better."
When he's answered with only more silence, Optimus sighs and walks over to the door. "We'll be landing on a near planet soon. I'm not a trained medic, so I'd suggest you drink that and get some rest. Come by the bridge later on if you feel like it, preferably before we land. I want to discuss the plan for the planet before we go out."
Not waiting around for an answer, he walks out of the medbay, only hearing the beginnings of a muffled keen coming from the room and quietly asking Alpha to lock the door for anyone who isn't allowed in by Blurr or Optimus.
The Intelligence Agent needs time to mourn if Optimus is right.
00000
"The situation couldn't be worse." Hot Rod reports. "The Intelligence Agency sent a report stating that the Quintesson forces at the ridge of our galaxy have been getting more and more reinforcements. Some of the commanders at the space bridge stations still refuse to leave with their forces because they suspect Decepticons taking the bridges as soon as they leave, making our defence weak. Cliffjumper and Shockwave are finally working together to remedy as much of the in rank problems so that the Intelligence Agency back on Cybertron can deal with the Quintessons at our proverbial doorstep. However, among the bad news, I have some great news I can give." The Prime went on when Ultra Magnus nodded, still trying to figure out Megatron's last move and plan for yet another war-sim. It's their tenth by now and although Megatron had been getting as much reports from his generals, he never faltered. The fragger even made moves while he was reading a report!
"Go on."
Hot Rod nodded. "We have questioned the locals, and although it took Alpha Trion to come out and talk to them in their own language because they don't sell information, we have confirmed that Alpha Supreme had landed here. They stayed in Noticas, played games and drank oil before going to the market, which they swiftly left for unknown reasons. The merchant they traded with refused to talk with us. And Bulkhead managed to catch the trail of warp energy, so we know where to go next, but that quarter of Quintesson space is filled with seven planets, all close to the coordinates we got, and each planet has at least one inhabited moon. The search will have to be manual, but at least we got a lead at all. Bulkhead says that we might not be so lucky next time they trans-warp."
Ultra Magnus sighed and made a few adjustments to his formation before looking up at his soldier. "Very well. Good job, Hot Rod Prime. Make sure we depart for the new coordinates as soon as we are fueled. Dismissed."
Hot Rod saluted and marched out of the room.
Megatron looked up from his datapad and just moved one ship, effectively neutralizing the Magnus's previous effort to get the upper servo.
The white and blue bot glared at the tyrant. "Frag you, Megatron."
The grey Decepticon just smirked." I'm afraid that you are not my type, Magnus."
Ultra scowled.
00000
"No, Alpha. Teletran-1 is not like you. He was an interference programme meant to make flying the ship easier. He didn't have a spark like you do." Blurr walked in on the conversation between mentor and Omega Sentinel as he sped down to the bridge. They were all informed that they will be landing on Helens, a peaceful moon on the third planet that they passed since warping to this quadrant. They will be staying until the end of their recharge cycle, seeing as it was already getting close to that time and everyone was a bit tired.
When Blurr had gottenback together enough to leave the medbay, which he found to be in privacy mode which he was immensely grateful for, he was surprised that he was the last one to enter the bridge. Jetfire and Jetstorm were at counsels, looking up data for landing and getting permission for it. Blurr felt irritated that they hadn't called him to monitor that but then he remembers that Optimus Prime had tried to help him deal with his sorrow, and when Blurr had coldly rejected the offer, he has given him space to deal with it how he saw fit.
The Minicon, which Blurr had been surprised to see in the first place because everyone knows that the Minicons are neutral, was flitting back and forth, bringing in cubes of energon, rust sticks or oil and occasionally beeping something at the other occupants of the bridge.
The captain of the ship was sitting in his chair, reading Primal's instructions for this planet and checking the permission to land or the location of the space port they're meant to land in, all the while explaining AIs to the sentient ship he's in charge of.
The Prime looks up when he senses Blurr's stare and smiles at him. "Just in time, Blurr. We're landing in a few breems, so I wanted to brief you all about our visit. The market is right next to the space port and the prices are rather low this time of the solar cycle, so we'll take extra here because the next stopping point is known for getting ridiculously high prices at any given time. Now's the time to state what you want or need. Of course, you can get off here, if you'd like. No one is making you stay, but you should know that you're always welcome aboard this ship."
"Can-I-think-aboutit?" Blurr asks after a second.
Optimus smiles gently at him and nods. "Of course. Anyway, we're getting more jet fuel for Jetfire and Jetstorm and Roller brought it to my attention that we need more coolants. We're already planning on buying more rust sticks. Anything you want? Don't worry about it if you decide to leave. You can always take it with you." He assures when he notices that Blurr is going to object.
"I... I-would-need-jet-fuel-as-well-becauae-my-whole-frame-and-all-my-systems-work-on-greater-speed-than-normal-energon-can-be-processed."
"Wow, really?" Jetfire asked.
"How you live like taht?" Jetstorm adds.
Blurr shrugged. "You-get-used-it-like-you-get-used-to-everything-else. It's-not-like-I-need-the-whole-ration-to-be-jet-fuel, just-40-%-of it-so-my-frame-can-function-how-it-was-meant-to. I-usually-have-to-be-careful-about-how-fast-I-do-anything-and-that-includes-refueling. I-would-get-really-really-really-really-sick-if-I-constantly-drank-normal-fuel-or-mid-grade-energon. High-grade-wouldn't-be-too-much-of-a-problem-and-I-can't-get-overcharged."
The twins reset their optics a few times while their processors deciphered what has been said at such a speed, but Optimus Prime didn't seem to have such a problem. He nodded and added more jet fuel to their shopping list before starting to talk about the planet and its locals.
When they landed, Blurr was stillsurprised that the majority of the citizens have come to greet them. It was a custom on Helens, something about judging the newcomers's worth and how they should be treated. Luckily for them, Primal Major has visited the planet in the past and has left clear instructions.
"Puko, stranger." The leader of the citizens, a mayot as they called them outside of Cybertronian space, said as he raised an open palm in greeting, locking optics with Optimus, who he easily recognised as the leader.
Optimus raised a fist and placed it over his intake, breathing air on it and then spreading it as if he was blowing it to the mayor. "Puko, friend."
The instant smile on all their metalic faces showed that Optimus passed the test and they were welcomed with great honour, already being dragged for a big meal.
00000
Aboard thecombined ship that is Omega Supreme and the Steelhaven, the Autobots got the scrap scared out of them when their Magnus stormed out of the room he has holed himself in with the Decepticon warlord, whose laughter could be heard, echoing through both ships.
00000
The locals of Helensweren't as prone to partying all the time like on Majuza, but party they did. It is rare for anyone to pass their test and thus they hardly ever have welcomed guests.
And when they do get welcomed guests, they throw big fiestas in the joys of getting new friends.
They were robotic organisms similar to Cybertronians but they, like the rest of the universe, couldn't transform like Cybertronians can. However, they are a lovely, friendly sort, even if they are picky as to whom they act as such.
So when Optimus and his group were brought to a big feast, they could only stare before they were swept into a group dance. Now, Primal had noted that these people lived in rhythms and thus their dances were filled with changing rhythms, from fast to slow to even faster then the slowest possible before speeding up again. The Jettwins were laughing even when they made mistakes, Roller had had to quit because he wasn't built for such things and Optimus was traded from partner to partner. He was, once again, the centre of attention, that is until the group-dance came along.
It was their national dance. Everyone formed a long line, mechs and femmes mixed all together and all were holding servos. It was like a game. The music stars of slow so everyone can get the hang of it, then it slowly starts to speed up. Anyone who makes a mistake has to exist the line and it goes on and on. The line moves more around the room as it gets shorter, twisting and turning around grand pillars or the long tables. Everyone who falls out of the game stands off to the side, clapping with the music and whistling every time someone does a daring move
The Jettwins are one of the first to make a mistake, but they just laugh it off and cheer the others on.
Optimus falls out when the rhythm suddenly changes from medium fast to really fast.
Another half losses when it gets even faster.
And not long after that, only Blurr is still dancing, everyone cheering him on as he is the first in their history to see the dance to the end. The room is trembling as they all clap for the speedster, who is at first confused, then slowly starts smiling and then giggling when they rush in and pick him up, easily tossing the light mech into the air three times before letting him down.
Soon after, they find themselves sitting at one of the long tables, drinking oil and high grade, munching on candies or rust sticks as they all joke around and talk for hours. The twins have to sit with bots their own age so that they don't try any of the stronger stuff but they don't seem to mind. They're the centre of attention in their little group with other younglings, probably because of Roller, who has been sent to look after them.
And as the night wears on, Blurr considers his future.
Watching Optuimus Prime work a crowd without even meaning to is fascinating and optic-opening. The red and blue bot is truly kind and caring and that draws people to him. The fact that he's always ready to extend a helping or friendly servo only adds more to the charm. Blurr could do a lot worse than to serve under this mech.
"Longarm Prime asked me to bond him." Blurr blurts out as soon as they are left somewhat alone. Optimus immediately turns to him, focusing all of his attention on the flustered and sad Blurr. "He said I made his spark sing and that he's never met a bot like me. And I don't know how much of that, if anything, is true."
Optumus nods but doesn't say anything, letting Blurr let it all out. It is obvious that the sky-blue bot needs it if he slowed down his talking just for this.
Blurr sighs,leaning back in his seat. "I was onlined functioning as fast as I do now. All through the Academy, I had to record all the speeches I'm supposed to deliver verbally and play them in slow motion. I was made fun of, my ability was called a glitch and no one wanted to talk to me, but that was okay. I got used to it. I graduated with flying colours and was sent to the Intelligence Agency, where they couldn't understand me when I tried applying. I repeated myself twenty four times, but nobot knew what I was saying. Just as they were going to quick me out of the building, Longarm Prime walked through and heard me repeat for the twenty fifth time my CV and he was not only impressed, but he understood what I said! Instantly! I couldn't believe it, I was so happy! He took me into his division and we soon became friends. He was my very first friend."
Optimus felt his spark constructing in sadness for the other bot.
"I... I soon realized that I have fallen for him and I did my best, because I thought his dream was to become the Head of Intelligence, that's what he told everyone and we all believed him, it was a reasonable dream." Blurr stopped when he realized he was rambling and speeding his speech up again. "But to be of any real help to him, I had to go and deliver reports to other divisions and other officers, but with my speech it would be inadvisable. I tried to make him take a different main agent, but he told me he won't work with anyone less competent than himself and that so far, I was the only one who fits the bill for his ideal agent. I was so flattered and happy that I didn't even think about it when I asked him, on the spot, to help me slow down my speech. He accepted but told me to always speak normally with him. That made me even happier and my spark sang with pleasure and love. It took some time but I managed to master slowing my speaking, as you can hear now, and just in time, too. Longarm Prime became the Head of Intelligence and he invited me to celebrate. We had high grade and some fancy energon and Longarm... kissed me. We started seeing each other after we got over the awkward phase and realized that it was mutual. I was the happiest I could be... Then Longarm asked me to become sparkmates a few mefacycles before I was sent to Earth and the rest... Well, you know the rest."
Optimus placed a gentle servo on Blurr's shoulder. "I know that it won't really help, but I'm sorry that it turned out that way."
Blurr whipped his right optic, where a drop of coolant had started appearing. "The time I spent as that cube... I was aware in the beginning and I was preying to Primus that it was all a nightmare. After that run through galaxies and being stuck with two Decepticons and then there was the whole thing with that insane organic who played around with me as if I were a mere toy... After all of that I had only wanted to be held in his strong arms and rest, even if just for a moment... And it pains me so much that even now, when I know that he's not really Longarm but Shockwave, even though I now doubt everything I ever thought that we had... I still want to be held by him."
Optimus tightens his grip and smiles at the distraught agent when the mech looks up at him. "I know that this will probably sound like I'm bribing you or something, but know that if you stay with us on Alpha Supreme, not only will you be considered family but you'll also have the freedom to seek whoever you choose for a lover. I don't care if you love a Decepticon. Pit, I'd be a hypocrite if I condemned you for it... Anyway, as long as you're happy. And even if you decide to go your own way, you must remember that you're always welcome to visit or call or come back and we'll welcome you with open servos."
Blurr beams at the red and blue Prime, already feeling immensely better. Here is someone who won't judge him for his feeble spark for loving a Decepticon, someone who from the sound of it understands his situation and someone who is willing, no HAPPY to become his friend! Blurr would truly be an idiot if he refused this mech."Actually i have already decided to stay, if it's not an inconvenience."
The smile he got in turn was answer enough. "Not at all."
They sat in relative silence for a moment, just observing the room and watching the Jettwins have fun with others of their age.
"You know, you never did answer my first question." Blurr comments after a while.
"Hmm?" The Prime looks back to his companion after observing, rather intently, the far back corner of the big room. He could have sworn that he saw teal and purple plating, shades he could have sworn he had seen somewhere before.
"I had asked you what happened to your finish. It hadn't been this... flamboyant, " and here he snickered and giggled like Sari does when someone says something really hilarious. "The last time I've seen you."
Optimus felt his cheek components heating, although he was happy to note that Blurr was finally relaxed and somewhat content and happy. "I... can't explain the flames." He mumbled, earning himself more giggling. "Really! I woke up like this! Primal Major didn't even bother telling me that he changed my finish until I screamed bloody murder when I caught sight of my reflection three hours later. Roller had still been in stasis then. He explained that it was to better cover me or something. It was just paint at first, so he could change it if I didn't like the patrn, but it kind of grew on me and so it stayed. He just added a code to my nanites so that this is how I will always look after getting repairs..."
Blurr stopped giggling long enough to take a good look at the night blue flames now covering Optimus's chassis and servos from the elbow joints to the shoulder plating. On anyone else, it would look tacky, but on Optimus Prime, it made him look regal. "It suits you."
Optimus's snort effectively ended that conversation.