Disclaimer: I own nothing.
AN: Sorry, what took so long was I couldn't figure out how to escalate things into a fight.
Chapter 14
Sideburn felt his spark constrict. Koji still didn't remember them? How? Cerebros said that once he separated from Koji, Koji's memories would return.
Optimus was feeling a similar constriction around his spark, but he ignored it. Koji had been conditioned for years to suppress his memories. It would take a while for him to break that conditioning even though the restrictions were gone now. Cerebros himself said that it would take time.
Time, and their help. Optimus turned to look at Cerebros. On their way here after they met up with Cerebros, the emissary had told them that he intended for them to take care of Koji until he recovered fully. It was a job better suited to one of Koji's own people. Except that the humans didn't hold Koji's past anymore. They no longer held his future either.
Cerebros smiled and nodded back at him, glad that the Autobot commander finally understood.
Optimus, ignoring Scourge completely, knelt before Koji. "We're your friends Koji. You met us several years ago when our war with the Predicons shifted to your planet," he explained.
"I remember them. The big purple guy, Megatron, he took my father," Koji said a brief look of pain flashing across his face.
"Yes he did and the night he did, you called for help. I'm the one that responded to your call that night," Optimus went on.
"I don't remember that," Koji looked disappointed.
"It was a cold night. You were very frightened. It may take you longer to remember the bad memories," Optimus said comfortingly.
"But I remember my dad dying, and that was a bad memory," Koji said ruefully, not really protesting, just pointing out a fact.
"Your father's death occurred after the initial loss of your memories Koji. You may not have been aware of who he was but you were aware that he was no longer there," Scourge spoke quietly. Optimus gave the Decepticon a startled glance, but did nothing else, deciding it best to continue with his story.
"You became our ally and our friend. You helped us fight the Predicons and the Decepticons even after your father's rescue."
"Which was more Sky-byte's doing than yours," Scourge grumbled.
"The shark with the fishing lure?" Koji asked.
"Yes," Optimus nodded. "You remember Sky-byte?"
"Yeah, he was my friend I…think," Koji's conviction on the subject was clearly only dubious at best. Optimus couldn't help but chuckle at the befuddled look on Koji's face. Trying to determine Sky-byte's true character had often led him to a similar state of confusion.
"He was your friend, though sometimes your friendship clashed with his loyalty to Megatron," Optimus continued. "He did, however, return your father to you."
"That I remember," Koji nodded, a thoughtful smile playing on his lips.
Optimus smiled under his mask. "Do you remember what happened directly after that?"
"I remember hugging Dad, but that's about it."
"We were there," Sideburn spoke up, almost desperately. "We thought Sky-byte was trying to kidnap you. We were protecting you."
"Someone picked me up," Koji said, his eyes searching their faces until they landed on Prowl. "You."
"I was concerned that Sky-byte may have injured you," if it was possible Prowl would be blushing.
"Sky-byte didn't have the stomach to harm a human," Scourge said dryly.
Koji frowned at him. "You say that like it's a bad thing."
"For Megatron's second it was," Scourge responded, shifting uncomfortably. Koji's censure reminded him that he was still on the boy's bad side for his deception. Guilt was not a common emotion for a Decepticon, especially him.
"You were Megatron's second," Sideburn scowled at Scourge.
"I was his favorite at one time, but I was never his second. That was always Sky-byte's place," Scourge denied.
"Hmph," Sideburn snorted skeptically.
"I believe you are supposed to be helping Koji with his memories rather than picking a fight amongst yourselves," Cerebros interceded before much more could come of this new argument.
Scourge and Optimus' heads both swiveled toward Cerebros, picking up the underlying meaning in his words. They implied that Cerebros intended for Scourge to play some roll in Koji's recovery. The very idea was unbelievable to both of them. Optimus could not and would not trust Scourge with Koji's well being. The past few weeks not withstanding, Scourge had never shown any interest or compassion for the humans caught up in their battles. To trust Scourge with a human so close to his own spark was unacceptable. Optimus would not allow it.
"What do you mean?" Scourge asked.
"Koji is most comfortable with you. He has full memories of who you are--"
"How does that make Scourge the one Koji's most comfortable with?" Ultra Magnus interrupted. Cerebros turned a dry look on Prime's brother. "I'm serious. No offense but didn't Scourge try kidnap and exploit him a few times back during the Earth battles?"
"And didn't he do exactly the same thing three weeks ago when he grabbed Koji on Earth?" X-brawn pointed out as well.
"I have not done Koji any harm since I found him on Earth—" Scourge began, only to be interrupted.
"Then how, may I ask, did he end up in the damn hospital?" X-brawn drawled, his accent thickened by sarcasm.
"He was attacked by a sea nettle! I didn't have the supplies to treat him on board so I took him to the hospital. I left him there because he was still too ill to travel when I got word that you idiots were on your way!" Scourge growled.
"And how did he get attacked by this 'sea nettle'?"
"He went swimming when we stopped for supplies. I didn't realize there was any danger when I let him go," said Scourge not really defensive, but sounding somewhat …guilty?
"Well obviously you were wrong," X-brawn sniped.
"I did the best I could—"
"Well it wasn't good enough."
"X-brawn," Cerebros warned deciding the verbal sparring had gone to far.
The warning came too late. No one actually saw who threw the first punch but a second later Scourge and X-brawn were having at each other, X-brawn going for Scourge's throat and Scourge pummeling X-brawn with a few wild punches.
Optimus felt rather than saw Sideburn start to move. The younger 'Bot was too far away for him to be able to just throw out an arm pull him back before he reached the brawling pair on the floor. To his surprise though, it seemed that joining the fray wasn't Sideburn's intent.
Sideburn didn't know when he started moving. The only thing that was on his mind was that his big brother was an idiot. Why else would he provoke Scourge into a fight when Koji was right there? Didn't he realize Koji could be caught in the crossfire?
He dove, hands gently wrapping around Koji, then twisting in mid air, he landed on his back cradling Koji to his chest. For good measure, he kicked out his foot, striking one of the brawling idiots when they rolled too close to where Koji had been standing. He didn't care which he hit. His actions were rewarded with a pained grunt from his brother.
Feeling somewhat satisfied, he turned his attention toward making sure Koji was alright. He was greeted by a slightly befuddled looking Koji, staring up at him with something akin to shock.
Sideburn frowned. This wasn't a typical Koji reaction. His friend, who always saw the best in people, shouldn't be surprised that someone was acting in the best interests of his safety.
"Are you ok buddy?" Sideburn asked. He watched Koji's head drop as the boy attempted to bury his face in Sideburn's chestplate. Maybe he was processing what had just happened. Or maybe he was frightened to find himself in some stranger's grasp while the only familiar face in the room was being pummeled a few yards away.
Sideburn's anxiety increased tenfold when Koji's shoulders started to shake. "Hey buddy, don't cry. You're ok," he comforted not sure what else to do or say. It would probably be best if he put Koji down, but he wasn't ready to let him go right now; even though he was peripherally aware of Ultra Magnus and Optimus putting an end to the brawl by pulling X-brawn and Scourge apart.
"Buddy?" he queried again when Koji's whole body began to shake. Suddenly Koji's head shot back up to reveal a grin.
"Koji? You didn't hit your head did you?" Sideburn asked, his unease growing exponentially.
"No," Koji shook his head, still chuckling. "I just--Pie humor," he dissolved back into laughter.
Sideburn couldn't believe his audios at first. It was unbelievable. Koji remembered that conversation they'd had on their way to the Pyuma Ruins so long ago. "Pie humor," he agreed, beginning to chuckle himself. "My favorite."
"Did it not occur to you that there was a reason for my 'no violence' rule?" Cerebros queried.
"Well, maybe once or twice," X-brawn admitted sheepishly.
The group, with the exception of Sideburn, Koji, and Scourge, had relocated to another room. The room, judging by the recharge berths covering two of the walls, had at one time served as a dormitory of sorts.
Ultra Magnus, making himself at home, was reclining on one of the lower berths. He absently picked at the scuff mark on his arm from where Scourge had clawed him while attempting to get free when Magnus had helped break up the dispute. His attention was on the show taking place in the center of the room, where Cerebros was dressing down X-brawn.
Prowl was sitting on the same berth as Ultra Magnus, nervously wringing his hands. His mind was clearly elsewhere, probably with Sideburn who was alone with Scourge and Koji a few doors down.
Optimus stood against the far wall, watching as Cerebros disciplined his soldier. He'd said nothing in defense or condemnation of X-brawn's actions towards Scourge, but due to his lack support it was assumed that he agreed with Cerebros's tirade.
"Close Quarters Combat is dangerous under normal circumstances," Cerebros ranted. "It damages property, increases the risk of friendly fire fatalities and civilian casualties, and is just plain stupid when you haven't done any pre-planning," Cerebros continued. "In conclusion, you jumped headlong into a Close Quarters Combat situation with all the risks and none of the advantages."
"That sounds about right I guess," X-brawn reluctantly admitted.
"Thereby putting a human boy in danger. You do realize that without Sideburn's quick thinking Koji might have been crushed?" Cerebros demanded.
"Go Sideburn," Ultra Magnus muttered.
"And you did not help the situation," said Cerebros, rounding on Magnus.
"Hey, I was just asking an honest question," Ultra Magnus said with a careless shrug.
"Which escalated an already tense situation into a volatile one," Cerebros reminded him.
Ultra Magnus frowned, sitting up and throwing his legs over the side of the berth. Far from being a willing victim like the repentant X-brawn, Magnus met Cerebros head on. "I still don't see why the kid would feel safer with Scourge than us. Scourge was allied with Megatron. Hell, you can't tell me Koji didn't have nightmares about some of the stuff Scourge did."
"He did," Prowl spoke up. "He used to tell Sideburn about them. I overheard them talking a few times. They didn't sound pleasant in the least."
Magnus nodded. "Exactly. Now care to explain why the slag you think the kid would be better off with Scourge than with us?"
"I never said he'd be better off with Scourge. I simply said Koji was more comfortable with him. They've already established a bond between them. Koji trusts Scourge despite Scourge's action in the past, something that can not be said for the rest of you."
"What about Sideburn?" Optimus spoke up. "Koji remembers him now. He always trusted Sideburn. He'd tell him things he'd never talk to the rest of us about." There wasn't the slightest tinge of jealousy in Optimus's voice, he hid it too well.
"Koji remembers one conversation he had with Sideburn over five years ago. That is not the basis for a trusting friendship. While I admit he will probably regain his memories of Sideburn faster now, it will still be good for him to have another familiar face present--" Cerebros was cut off.
"You said that before." Optimus said. "And to some extent I understand it, but there's something else you're not telling us, isn't there?"
"Everything I'm doing is in the best interests of Koji's wellbeing Prime... but," Cerebros paused. "…I'm not adverse to 'killing two birds with one stone' as they say."
"Which means what exactly?" Magnus asked.
"It means that while Scourge's continued presence will benefit Koji greatly, it will benefit Scourge as well," Cerebros acknowledged the other part of his plan.
"How?"
Cerebros pinched the bridge of his nose. This wasn't how he'd intended to tell them, but it would have to do. "After Scourge's initial contact with Koji a few weeks ago I noticed that he began acting differently toward Koji. At first I believed it to be part of the revenge he was planning, but as time went on…Scourge began to show genuine care and concern for Koji."
"What do you mean?" Optimus asked. He didn't like where this was going.
"Scourge is reverting to his Autobot programming. The process began when he found Koji on Earth."
"What?!" Ultra Magnus demanded. "I mean, I know the kid's special, but reforming a Decepticon? The Decepticon? That's a little hard for me to believe."
"I believe that the process started as a result of Scourge accessing the Autobot programming so that he could earn Koji's trust. As we all know Scourge's typical behavior would have done him little good in that respect. The problem for Scourge was, that once accessed, the Autobot programming started to take over," Cerebros informed them.
"And so if it's already done, why do we need to keep them together?" Ultra Magnus asked.
"Other than the fact that, however indirectly, Koji is the cause of Scourge's change of heart and removing him from Scourge's company might reverse the process?" Cerebros's voice laced with a liberal amount of sarcasm. "How about this then? Koji needs Scourge and Scourge needs Koji. It's as simple as that."
The cemetery was deserted at this hour. Bereaved relatives didn't venture in to visit their departed loved ones after dark. Whether that was out superstition or inconvenience, Maro Onishi didn't know. He rather enjoyed the solitude that allowed him to speak freely to his brother. He often came here after sunset just for that reason. It was nice to be able to speak his mind after so many years of forced silence between them.
He sat curled up by the headstone, the same way he and his brother had sat under their favorite tree when they were children. That had been before Kenneth had left for college and to chase his dreams. Before Kenneth had gone on that twelve month dig in Central America and brought home an illegitimate son.
That dig had been the end of their talks. Their father, largely tolerant of Kenneth's wanderings because he'd thought that his youngest would tire of them eventually and come home for good. Maybe to settle down with the girl he'd chosen for Kenneth. Koji's existence had shattered those illusions.
Thus their father had issued his ultimatum, either Kenneth was to get rid of the boy or he'd never be welcome in their childhood home again. Kenneth had responded by taking his newborn son and leaving for the city.
Kenneth was never spoken of again by their father until the funeral. Even then he'd only said that Kenneth's death was a pity. Though Maro knew his father grieved the loss of his youngest son, and to some extent the loss of his only grandchild as well, his father kept his grief private.
Maro's own grief was somewhat eclipsed by his desire to find his nephew. Even if Koji was dead, he wanted his brother to have his son by his side instead of just a few of the child's favorite possessions. And if Koji was alive, like recent evidence suggested, he would to bring Koji home. It was the least he could for Kenneth, and for Koji.
AN: This was the chapter that would not be written. Merry Christmas. Next chapter of Matches will be up shortly.