Chapter 21
Optimus fired his internal thrusters mounted onto his cometry form. He accelerated swiftly from the ship. He felt the Matrix hidden deep within his chest, its warmth almost comforting as he sped towards what he knew was almost certainly a trap. His only hope was to try and get Trailblazer and Arcee out of harm's way before Prowl carried out his order. Optimus had no intention of letting the Matrix fall into the hands of Megatron and was not going to let him attack the defenceless human planet.
He felt a sharp pain in his chest. The Matrix seemed to tug in another direction. He frowned, pausing in dead space. 'Not now, please not now.' He pleaded silently, praying the Matrix would still. Clutching at his chest and doubling over slightly Optimus caught the rumble of a moan in his throat as the Matrix caused his spark to ache painfully. The intensity of the pain was numbed as his sensor net deflected the pain signals away from his major circuitry. He exhaled rapidly as the pain faded. Continuing on his way, he was worried. That had never happened before. Something was connected to The Matrix, to him; he could feel its pull. Pushing the thoughts aside he focused on the mission at hand as he landed lightly on the largest asteroid. There were no guards, no challenges to his descent. Optimus didn't know what worried him more.
****
Sam shot up with a scream. He felt strong hands push him back down on the bed. Sweat trickled from his brow. His eyes tried to focus at the dark figure in front of him.
"Hey kid, calm down. You're safe here. Doc get over here!"
Another voice filled Sam's head.
"He is having another vision?"
Sam knew that voice.
"Yeah can you do anything for him? It's tearing him apart."
"I'm not sure, human neurology is so much different from our own. I could help reduce the effects on Prime but with a human brain I..."
"Ratchet..." Sam gasped suddenly, Epps turned to stare at him. "Hey kid, you're awake. You've been giving us one hell of a damn fright."
Ratchet moved in closer, his scans running over Sam's form.
"What is it Sam?"
"The vision, The Matrix... it's telling me something... trying to." The blue optics looked at him sadly. "I know Sam they've been affecting Optimus too."
"I saw him..."
"Who?"
"Optimus... he was in a cave... Megatron!" Sam shot up again panic rushing through his nervous system. Ratchet rested a finger gently on his chest.
"Lie down Sam you've been through a lot."
"Do we know why the 'cons attacked him?" Epps spoke up. Sam closed his eyes against the pain building in his head.
"Distraction..." He whispered.
Both mech and soldier looked at him. "What?"
"They were baiting you, wanted you to rescue us, divide your attentions. They have no idea The Matrix is giving me visions....uungghh..." He gripped his head tightly. Ratchet pressed something into his neck. A pain suppressant.
"What do you mean Sam?"
"They wanted to split you up, bait him... they knew he wouldn't let anything happen..."
"Optimus?"
Sam nodded weakly, suddenly overcome with drowsiness. "Ratchet you got to find Optimus... warn him..."
"Warn him about what Sam?"
"I saw him... his chest... so much pain... Megatron's going to... to..."
"Sam... Speak to me Sam... What's Megatron going to do?!"
Sam managed to open his eyes weakly to stare at the medic. He grasped him tightly, "Ratchet... he doesn't just want The Matrix... he needs both..."
"Both what?" Ratchet was becoming increasingly more concerned as Sam started drifting.
"Sam!"
"His spark... he needs... his spark... and Matrix... can't work... without... urrgghh..."
"Oh Primus." Ratchet buzzed his internal comm.
: Ironhide here what's up Ratchet? :
: Sam has had a vision; he told me Megatron doesn't just need the Matrix. He's baited Prime; it was all a trap, Starscream was probably in on it! :
: Slow down Ratchet! What are you telling me? :
:His spark Ironhide, he wants Prime's spark AND The Matrix, he needs both for his machine, he's going to drain his spark like a battery Ironhide, warn him!:
The comm. cut off abruptly. Epps came to stand beside the kneeling medic. "Think they can warn him in time?"
"I hope so."
"Prime's going to know he's walking into a trap though right?" Ratchet dropped his head and sighed wearily.
"We always assume that we're walking into a trap where Megatron and Starscream are concerned. This time Prime doesn't have all the information, he doesn't know exactly what Megatron is after, he thinks it's just the Matrix. He has no clearer idea of what he's walking into than we do.
****
Prowl jumped slightly at the unexpected comm. bleep.
"Ironhide what's the problem? I thought radio silence was in effect."
"No time for that Prowl, where's Prime?"
"He's not on the ship, why what's going on?"
"Sam had a vision; he says Megatron isn't just after The Matrix, something about needing Prime's spark to power his machine. He doesn't know this, you have to stop him. If he doesn't go, then the machine won't work. They've tricked him Prowl, baited him. Warn him!"
Prowl was stunned it all made sense, Arcee being kidnapped, Starscream declaring a truce, Sam being attacked, Trailblazer being taken albeit unexpectedly and much of it his own doing – he would concern himself with the logic of that one later – they were all diversionary tactics all working to bait Prime into going to Megatron. Right where he wanted him, the machine wouldn't work without the power of a Prime's spark. Prowl stared at the screen suddenly helpless. He buzzed Prime's comm. frantically. No response. He had shut it off so he wouldn't be detected. Prowl felt his capacitor plummet he stared at the screen before him.
"Prowl, PROWL!! What's going on? Have you got through to Prime?" Ironhide's ire filled the speakers; his booming voice shook Prowl back to his senses.
"I can't get through; he's shut off his comm. signal."
"Well override it then you glitch headed son of a..."
"I can't Ironhide! He will be captured if he's detected."
"Go after him then, stop him. If he doesn't go to Megatron, he can't power up the machine."
"He won't leave Arcee and Trailblazer, Ironhide, you know that." Prowl responded softly.
"Frag it Prowl! Do something your his slaggin' tactician, you must be able to think of a way round his comm. overrides!"
Prowl shuttered his optics tightly as he concentrated hard. "I may be able to bypass his basic overrides; I won't be able to send more than a klick or a bleep though." He rubbed his optics frustrated.
"What good's that going to do!!?" Ironhide was angry and just as frustrated. Another much quieter voice came onto the speakers.
"Prowl, Lennox here... could you send Morse code via the carrier signal, so that it only sounds on Optimus's comm.?"
Prowl opened his optics sharply as he scanned the information he had previously gleaned from the internet upon his arrival on Earth. "Yes! That might work. I don't have much time, there's only 15 minutes left."
Ironhide's voice returned, low rumbling. "15 minutes for what Prowl?"
He answered without thinking. "Prime ordered me to blow the asteroids if he didn't return in 30 minutes."
"You can't be fraggin' serious!"
"I gave my word Ironhide."
"Slag your word! Prime didn't know what situation he was walking into. If he doesn't get out of there in 15 minutes you better damn well go in there and get him!"
Prowl raised his brow at the tone. "Those were his orders Ironhide." He warned his voice calm, controlled. He could practically feel Ironhide seething through the speakers.
"I don't care! You're his SIC, overrule the stubborn glitching pain in the aft and take command!"
Prowl was too busy hacking into Prime's comm. system to respond to the insubordination.
"Ironhide let me work, I'll be in touch." He cut the comm. sharply.
The console bleeped at him. The corner of his mouth curled upwards with satisfaction.
"Got ya!" He transmitted the signal repeatedly. Sitting back folding his arms across his chest, all he could do now was wait and hope. Deep in his cortex, he knew Ironhide's logic, albeit emotionally fuelled logic was sound. He was in command in Prime's absence. He grimaced as he stared at the screen helplessly.
Dare he disobey his Prime, his friend?