Precipitous
Part 20-Relinquish
Disclaimer: I don't own Transformers. They belong to Hasbro and Takara. I am merely taking them for a short spin.
Hot Rod stood at attention, listening dutifully as Gen. Morshower talked about the the personnel changes coming up over the next few weeks. The humans in the NEST team currently on their way back to base were being granted two weeks' leave once they were back. Graham would be in charge of the human portion of NEST, which Hot Rod could live with. He respected Lennox, could work with him, but Graham would be easier to get along with.
"I take it everything's running smoothly there?" Morshower asked.
"Fine, sir," Hot Rod said. "And we've heard from Optimus' team. They'll be landing around 1000 hours."
"How did the hunt go?" Morshower said.
"I don't have all the details, sir," Hot Rod said.
"Contact me when they land," Morshower said.
"Will do, sir," Hot Rod said.
The human technicians cut the transmission while Graham stared up at Rodimus.
"Taking Prime lessons from Optimus?" Graham said, stifling a grin.
"No," Hot Rod said. "I don't want a lecture on protocol, so I might as well do things the way they're expected."
The young mech walked from the operations center outside, Graham following.
"So how's it feel to be *the* Prime for once?" Graham asked.
"I'm only in charge 'till Optimus gets here," Hot Rod said. "So don't go giving anyone ideas."
"Me? Ideas?" Graham said. "Look, it wasn't my idea to paintball Skids and Mudflap that time. . .blame it on Epps. And you didn't hear that from me."
"No, but I can recall a couple of incidents where you had what you called 'brilliant' ideas that backfired," Hot Rod said.
"I didn't get caught, did I?" Graham said. "No one knows you were involved, either, so I'd say they were brilliant."
"Perceptor won't let me in the lab without what he calls 'adult supervision,'" Hot Rod said. "How embarrassing is that?"
"A small price to pay," Graham said. "You could use a little more fun in your life. Jazz has told me some stories about the chaos you and Springer used to cause. . ."
"Like Jazz is so mature," Hot Rod said. "Take last night for instance."
"Still confined to quarters?"
"For now," Hot Rod said.
"Anything else I need to know before the teams return?" Graham said.
"Not really," Hot Rod said. "Wait--do you know about Arcee?"
"I know she's expecting," Graham said.
"That's all?"
Graham nodded.
"She's carrying twins," Hot Rod said. "She's been pulled off the active duty roster until she births them."
"Twins?" Graham said, stopping.
"Yes, twins," Hot Rod said.
"May I ask about the. . .father?" Graham said.
"Sunstreaker."
Graham paled but recovered quickly.
"I take it nobody's told Lennox?" Hot Rod said.
"No," Graham said.
Hot Rod grinned. He'd be sure either Ironhide or Optimus had to tell the human NEST commander. They would get to explain the nature of Cybertronian reproduction to the humans.
-----
Weariness pervaded every inch of Optimus Prime's frame. He was headed to the med bay, cradling his left arm, which was, for lack of a better word, mangled. He'd managed to transform to get on the plane and again once he was back on the ground at Diego Garcia, and now he needed medical attention. His energon reserves were low and so was his self-confidence.
They'd fought the same Decepticons Rodimus and his team had faced days before, the combat unit known as the Combaticons. His own team had fared barely better than Rodimus, although their mission had been extermination, not retrieval. No one had died, but the Decepticons had managed another retreat.
Now, the Autobot leader struggled to remain standing as he turned into the med bay. Ratchet and Kup were suddenly by his side, helping him to a berth.
"You should have called for help," Ratchet admonished, taking stock of his leader's injuries. Kup stood back, watching.
"Didn't. . .didn't need it," Optimus muttered.
"The Pit you don't," Ratchet said. "That arm's going to have to come off. And your chest is damaged. What happened--did you get stepped on by something big?"
Optimus suddenly was suddenly looking at the floor.
"..Now." Ratchet said.
"Thrown. Then stepped on," Optimus said.
Ratchet spared his leader a glance as he turned to grab instruments he needed.
"Before you do anything, I must speak with Rodimus," Optimus said.
"Like hell you will," Ratchet said. "You need repairs now. Are you feeling weak? Vision dimming?"
Optimus managed a feeble nod.
"Your spark chamber is damaged," Ratchet said.
Optimus didn't respond, as his optics dimmed momentarily as he commed Rodimus. Seconds later, the other Prime came skidding to a halt inside the med bay.
"What is it. . ." Hot Rod stopped when he saw Ratchet disconnecting Optimus' damaged arm from his body.
"Even though he doesn't look like it, he's badly damaged," Ratchet said.
"I'm putting you in charge," Optimus said.
"Prowl. . ."
"Do not argue with me Rodimus," Optimus said, scowling at the younger Prime with a mixture of pain and anger.
Ratchet then shoved Optimus back on the berth.
"I can't work on you with that. . .thing still inside you," the medic said. "It's gotta go."
"Then Rodimus will carry the Matrix temporarily," Optimus said.
Ratchet turned to Kup, who was looking more than a little confused. "Out. Now."
The ancient mech stood his ground until Ratchet grabbed him and tossed him out of the med bay. Once back inside, Ratchet watched Optimus hand the artifact called the Matrix to his counterpart. For a second, Rodimus stood, staring down at the glowing thing in his hand before parting his chest armor and nestling it inside his own body. Satisfied, Optimus settled back on the berth, ready for Ratchet to work on him.
"Get Red down here now," Ratchet said.
Hot Rod nodded, left the med bay, giving Optimus a glance as he did. Once outside, he found Kup waiting for him.
"What was that all about?" Kup asked.
"Nothing, Kup. I can't talk about it now," Hot Rod said.
"Lad. . ."
"Kup, I've gotta go. I'm sorry," Hot Rod said.
Kup watched him walk away, saddened.