Disclaimer; Transformers? don't own it. Transformer characters? Don't own them. OC's? They're mine.
Chapter 24
A light at the end of the tunnel.
Optimus Prime stood in the Autobot hanger with his hands on his hips and looked out over the Autobots who were still enjoying the downtime. The novelty of not having Decepticons on earth to hunt down still hadn't worn off for the Autobots, but not for Optimus Prime. He knew that there were other Autobots in the outer reaches of universes and solar systems still fighting for freedom and they hadn't heard of the death of Megatron yet, which meant neither had the Decepticons. The time would come when they would find out and then their attention would be drawn to earth, but Optimus Prime wasn't going to think about that yet, he wanted the Autobots to enjoy the peace for a little longer.
The Autobot leader hadn't mentioned anything to the humans about the possibility of more Decepticons out there but he wanted to let them know soon before they got too complacent and caught off guard. He walked toward the entrance to the hanger and allowed his optics to wonder over the base and beyond. The day was overcast and there was the smell of rain in the air but the temperature was still warm. The human mechanics were working on the various vehicles in the forecourt while others had set up a volleyball court and they were now volleying the ball backwards and forwards over the net. Bumblebee, Sunstreaker and Sideswipe were watching the game curiously while Ratchet and Ironhide were sitting with their backs against one of the hangers chatting. Ironhide had obviously said something to Ratchet which had made him laugh and it brought a small smile to the Autobot leader's face to see the old medic smile again.
Just in front of Ironhide and Ratchet Firebird was playing happily with Orbit under the watchful optics of the weapons specialist and the medic. They were holding hands and dancing around in circles, laughing and clicking happily. She hadn't had any more incidences or thought processes like the last one and Optimus Prime could see the femme felt the happiest she'd felt for weeks. Ratchet had removed the dressing from her face and the wound had dried up and the graze on her shoulder was healing too. However, the emotional scars were a different thing altogether. They were going to take a bit more time to heal.
Nobody was quite sure why the mechling said what he had said but he did,
"You look like Livie,"
She fell to her knees in front of her brother and looked at him lovingly, "I was Livie," she replied.
Orbit looked at her confused, "Then you should go back to being Livie," he said. "Livie is dead!" the voice snarled in her head victoriously,
"No, Livie isn't dead," she replied,
"I didn't say Livie was dead," Orbit replied,
"I...err...,ohhhhh," Firebird replied and ran off.
Ironhide stood up, "Firebird," he called and then looked at Orbit who was standing alone looking confused. Ironhide picked him up "She's alright, we'll just give her some space," he said and sat back down with Ratchet.
Firebird drove to the perimeter fence where she could be away from Ratchet or anybody else and sat there in her vehicle form until the early hours of the evening. She transformed and watched the sun setting behind the mountains on the horizon with her arms folded across her chest and rocking on her toes. She looked up into the sky, vapour trails criss-crossed across the deep sapphire sky and took on the golden colours of the setting sun. Lightning burst from a storm cloud above the mountains while a Golden Eagle squawked as it flew on the thermals before swooping down for its prey.
She heard the sound of hydraulics and heavy footsteps coming up behind her and her sensors picked up Sideswipe's signature, "It's a beautiful night," he said as he came and stood beside her.
Firebird said nothing for a while; she stood in a stoical silence and continued to look at the colours change from gold to rich red. She slowly turned to Sideswipe, his sapphire optics shone from his dark face, his hands rested down by his side and then turned to look back at the ever changing scenery in front of her. She could hear the sound of more heavy footsteps and this time the gold frontline warrior stood on the other side of her,
"You know, I'd do anything to get back what I had," she said.
Sideswipe turned to her, she was still looking out toward the mountains but a bright blue tear glistened as it rolled down her face. He placed a hand around her shoulders and pulled her to himself, she rested her head on his shoulder whining and clicking sadly. Sunstreaker stroked her back and tried to offer her comfort while she whined continually,
"I have an idea," he said to his twin.
"What is it?"Sideswipe asked,
"She goes back to the Decepticon base and we reverse what Barricade did to her,"
There was a moment's silence while Sideswipe thought about what Sunstreaker said and then he vented quietly,
"I would love to have Livie back,"
"Well why don't we try it?" Sunstreaker replied optimistically,
"She won't go back," Sideswipe replied with a heavy sadness,
"Have you asked her?" Sunstreaker asked,
Sideswipe turned and faced his brother while allowing his frustration to flow through his sibling bond, "Would you want to go back to the place where you were tortured?"
"I suppose you're right, but you should ask her, she may be considering it herself and if she isn't then she should be offered the opportunity. I only want to see you two have back what is rightfully yours and see you happy."
Ratchet stood and watched the three figures silhouetted against the aquamarine sky. The twins appeared to be in some sort of heavy conversation which left Sideswipe with a thoughtful expression. The CMO could eavesdrop the conversation but that wouldn't be right, it was bad mannered for anybody to tap into the conversation of two Cybertronians unless there was a very good reason to do so, and that was up to the spies and saboteurs at the outbreak of the war.
Optimus Prime stood beside him with his hands on his hips,
"Is there nothing we can do for her?" he asked,
"Yes there is," Ratchet replied, "I reverse the treatment done on her using the same machine that Hook used, but it will involve taking her back to the Decepticon base,"
Optimus vented quietly, "Do you know how to use the machine?" he asked,
"I more or less know how it works," he replied, he turned to the Autobot leader, "Let's discuss this."
They walked across the tarmac together quietly and into the Prime's old office. Optimus Prime invited Ratchet to sit down and sat down opposite him,
"I have been thinking about what Sunstreaker said and I believe it would be possible to replace Live's memories and get Livie back to who she was again,"
The idea of replacing Livie's memories and having her back piqued Optimus Prime's interest, "Go on," he said.
Ratchet blinked, "Well if I could get to the base and have a look at the machine I could work out how to reverse it. Once I have done that we could bring Firebird to the Decepticon base and hopefully we could have Livie back,"
"It sounds like a good idea would it work?"
"I believe it would and I know that she has memories she managed to lock away so it could also encourage her to release those as well. Optimus Prime I believe there is more of Livie within Firebird then we think it's just that Firebird may not be allowing her out."
Optimus Prime narrowed his optics as he tried to process what Ratchet was suggesting, "Are you saying Firebird is holding Livie hostage?"
"Firebird is a Decepticon, she was the result of Hook's and Barricade's interference with Livie's memory banks which leaves us with a problem because we don't know how dangerous Firebird could be if she was pushed."
"If what you're saying is true then we are fortunate that she hasn't shown her true self already. If Charlotte Mearing was to hear about this she would make things very difficult. We owe it to Livie to rescue her,"
"We do but we need to broach the subject carefully with Firebird in case we do trip any Decepticon alter ego."
"Hmmm," Optimus Prime replied thoughtfully, "You're right Ratchet, leave that one with me and in the meantime take the wreckers, Mirage and Jazz out to the Decepticon base. Hopefully nothing has been tampered with."
"Who would do that?" Ratchet asked,
"The humans, they could be clearing it out in fear of any reprisals."
Charlotte Mearing sat in the John Keller's office while they discussed what to do with the Decepticon base,
"We don't know if that place is sending signals to other Decepticons out there. I want that place dismantled and destroyed. Perhaps we could ask the Autobots to do that; it would let people see that they are actually on our side. Can you speak to Optimus Prime about it? In the meantime I will send out the police to barricade it off just in case anybody with curiosity tries to explore it or steal any of the technology. Who knows what damage some of that stuff could do in the wrong hands."
"Yes sir, Charlotte replied.
"How is that female Autobot...what's her name...?" he clicked his fingers while he tried to remember Livie's name...,
"Which one?" Charlotte asked, "There are several of them,"
"The one that came back from the Decepticons," Defence Secretary Kellar replied, "The Autobots have been very silent about her,"
"I don't know," Charlotte replied candidly, "So far she doesn't seem to be that much of a threat."
"Hm," John Kellar replied and rubbed his chin thoughtfully, "Perhaps we should have a human in there to observe her and the Autobots around her. She could be a bit of a wild card, we don't know how Decepticon she has become, after all she was born a Decepticon,"
"It is only fair to let you know that Firebird killed her mother during the battle in Chicago," Charlotte replied,
"Even so, she could still be a threat to us if she turns,"
"She was brought up as an Autobot I think it would be highly unlikely she would do something like that,"
"Yes but she had that thing done to her," he replied, "I don't like having her there,"
"We could be sending the Autobots a different message if we try and take her from them," Charlotte replied.
John Kellersat there quietly and nodded his head, "You're absolutely right," he replied, "Could I ask you to keep an eye on things and keep me posted, Director Mearing?"
"Yes sir," she replied.
"Excellent, that will be all, Director Mearing, keep me posted," he said again.
Charlotte left John Keller's office and immediately started to organise the police to barricade the base off.
In the peacefulness of the late afternoon two police cars pulled up in front of the Decepticons base. A young officer stepped out of the police cruiser and looked toward the entrance to the Decepticon base. It was dark inside...totally pitch black and had a very sinister feeling about it. His hairs stood up on end and a cold chill slid down his spine. An older officer with a weathered face and grey hair stood beside him with a roll of yellow ribbon in his hand,
"I hate this place," the young officer said, "It gives me the heebie jeebies,"
"Yeah me too," the older one replied as he opened the boot to the cruiser, "Let's get this done quickly and get out of here,"
They pulled metal stakes out of the boot and banged them into the ground, the yellow ribbon with, "Police. Keep out!" printed boldly in black repetitively on it was wrapped around a stake and secured to the next one. An insect buzzed past the younger officer's ear making him jump,
"Calm down, boy!" the older man said, "It was an insect and the base is empty, you're going to see worst things than this in your time with the police force."
The young man rubbed the back of his neck with embarrassment, "Sorry sir," he replied and continued to help with the police cordon.
Firebird sat in between Sideswipe's legs leaning against the frontline warrior and enjoyed the late afternoon warmth. They had been chatting a while but now they had fallen into a comfortable silence as they watched life in the base carry on as normal. Sideswipe pondered the possibility of Firebird returning to the Decepticon base and thought about suggesting it to her as he run his fingers over her smooth crest.
He sighed with sadness; he enjoyed Firebird's company but it wasn't the same as having Livie there. It was the crystal blue and white femme he fell in love with not this midnight blue and black one. He missed her so much; her soft ruby optics, the way she would hold him and touch him, her innocence and her beauty. This femme was different even though she looked like Livie and sounded like Livie it tormented the silver frontline warrior every time he looked at her. How could he love a femme who tormented him so much? It was like the Decepticons had their last laugh in their death.
Sideswipe growled and got up, this wasn't right. She wasn't and never would be Livie and he wasn't prepared to settle for second best not when he had known the love of his first spark mate, Flare up, and the new love developing between himself and Livie. He stormed off towards the other Autobots with Firebird running behind him trying to keep up. She placed her hand on his shoulder and asked him what the problem was but he brushed it off...roughly,
"Go away!" he snarled
Firebird stood and watched him as he continued to make his way to the Autobot hanger, "Sideswipe," she called but he ignored her, "Sideswipe, what have I done?" she cried as she wrapped her arms around herself, "...please...Sideswipe," she cried as she stood in the middle of the grounds. Sideswipe turned around and looked at her for a minute before walking back to her. He held her arms,
"I'm sorry Firebird I can't love you like I love Livie."
"But...I am Livie," she cried,
"No...you're not," he replied, "You're nothing like Livie,"
Firebird stood where she was for a little while as other Autobots looked on, Jolt was about to go and help her but she turned and walked back to her family's quarters. Ironhide and Chromia weren't there and neither was Orbit and that suited Firebird just fine. She laid on her berth and fell into a recharge while still sobbing. As if her world hadn't been pulled apart enough she now had this to deal with. Sideswipe had given up on her and that broke her spark.
Mirage, the wreckers, Jazz, Ironhide, Chromia and Ratchet stood around Optimus Prime and listened to him while he told of the plan he had to get Livie back,
"Mirage, I want you to go to the Decepticon base with the wreckers, Jazz, and Ratchet and see if you can work out the machine that they used on Livie and then report back to me. Ironhide and Chromia I want you two to speak to Firebird about going back to the Decepticon base and having a reversal done on her memory banks so she can be Livie once more."
"Yes sir," they both replied.
"Let's get Livie back! Autobots roll out!" Prime said boldly.
Mirage and the other four Autobots left the base quickly and made their way to the Decepticon base in the heart of the Central Plains while Ironhide and Chromia went to find Firebird,
"Do you think she will agree to this?" Chromia asked her mate,
"It might take a lot of convincing," Ironhide replied.
They slowly paced through the base in their search for Firebird and came upon Sideswipe,
"Have you seen Firebird?" they asked him.
Sideswipe felt guilty, he hadn't seen Firebird since he left her standing alone on the tarmac of the base, "No," he replied and carried on with sharpening his blades,
"Well do you know where she may be?" Chromia asked.
He looked at the blue femme, "No," he simply replied again. Chromia frowned, this was unlike Sideswipe, just lately he had been with her all the time or he had some knowledge of her whereabouts, "Well when you see her could you tell her we need to speak to her." This time Sideswipe didn't even acknowledge them,
"I will," he replied as he carried on with what he was doing.
Ironhide growled quietly to himself, he knew something but he wasn't saying anything. He left with Chromia determined to get to the bottom of it.
They soon found the midnight blue and black femme recharging on her berth. Chromia frowned, what was wrong with her? Was she sick? She felt Firebird's helm but her temperature was normal so she wasn't sick,
"Sweetspark," the femme called as she gently stroked Firebird's faceplates.
The femme stirred and turned around, "Mum," she cried as she flew into Chromia's arms,
"What's the matter sweetspark? What happened?"
"Nothing," she replied.
Ironhide didn't believe the femme and stood above her with his hands on his hips, "What happened?" he asked firmly but Firebird said nothing, "Firebird, answer me!"
"Sideswipe," she cried, "He told me he couldn't love me like Livie. I told him I am Livie but he said I wasn't,"
Ironhide growled and left the quarters while Chromia consoled their daughter. Other Autobots watched as Ironhide strode angrily in search of the frontline warrior,
"Oooh, who upset the big guy?" Skids asked Mudflap,
"I don't know, but he isn't going to live long when old Hide finds him," Mudflap replied.
Sunstreaker watched as the Autobots left the base with a loud roar of engines and so was William. He scowled. Where were they off to? The soldier was on his way to speak to Optimus Prime about Charlotte's phone conversation he had just had and continued toward the main control hanger where Optimus Prime was already waiting for him,
"Optimus Prime," William said in acknowledgement of the Autobot leader while the Prime acknowledged William,
"Where are those Autobots off to?" he asked.
"They have gone on a mission to the Decepticon base, we are going to try and get back Livie by using the machine which Hook and Barricade used on her."
William's heart sank to the floor, he was aware of no such mission and he had been instructed to send the Autobots to destroy it but now Optimus Prime's mission had complicated things a little bit,
"Is there a problem William Lennox?" Prime asked,
"Well yes as a matter of fact there is," he growled, "I have just had a phone call with Charlotte Mearing who wants the Decepticon base disabled. Our government fears that any activity from the base could attract any Decepticons in space,"
"It will be destroyed, Colonel Lennox, when we have solved this problem for Firebird,"
The look of resolution and the determination in Prime's voice told William this wasn't something he was going to back down on and to argue with him would be pointless,
"We will try and keep your mission as quiet as possible, Optimus Prime but I don't kow how long I can hold the government off for." He frowned again, "Be quick!" he warned,
"Thank you Colonel Lennox," Optimus replied gratefully.
Sunstreaker overheard the conversation and went to find his brother; this was the news his brother and Firebird needed. By now Sideswipe had stopped sharpening his blades; he was now in the training room with Bumblebee fighting Decepticon holoforms. He watched them until the program ended before speaking to his brother but Sideswipe knew he was there,
"What do you want bro?" he asked,
"Mirage has gone out with other Autobots to see if the machine can be reversed to restore Livie,"
Sideswipe stopped a minute, nearly taking a hit from a Decepticon drone. Bumblebee whined at the interruption, "Just one minute," Sideswipe said.
Bumblebee disarmed and stood beside the twins,
"When?" Sideswipe asked,
"Just now," Sunstreaker replied, "Where is Firebird anyway?"
Sideswipe shrugged his shoulders, "I don't know,"
"Yes you do!" boomed Ironhide's voice. They all turned around to see the black weapons specialist enter the training room his sapphire optics ablaze with anger, "What did you say to Firebird?"
"Yes you do! She told me! You promised me you would care for Livie,"
"She isn't Livie, she is Firebird," Sideswipe replied, "I fell in love with Livie,"
"Oops!" Sunstreaker whispered to Bumblebee, "Let's get out of here while we can, we'll pick up the pieces later."
The two yellow mechs snuck out quietly being careful not to get caught in Ironhide's line of vision and dragged into this.
"She is still my daughter and you promised me you would look after her and fight for her but what do you do instead...hurt her!" Ironhide replied as he jabbed his finger into Sidewipe's chest,
Sideswipe swiped the old mech's finger away, "I'm sorry," Sideswipe replied, "But she...,"
"You should be son." Ironhide interjected angrily, "She saved your life in Chicago and this is how you repay her. You are not worthy to be the spark mate of my daughter and when the treatment is being reversed I'm going to make sure Ratchet allows that memory to stay."
"But...Ironhide...that femme isn't Livie. She is Firebird, created by a Decepticon to be a Decepticon."
Ironhide narrowed his optics and his cannons whirred to life, "What did you say?" he growled.
"Dad!" Firebird yelled from behind the weapons specialist, "Leave him alone."
Ironhide stood there glaring at Sideswipe angrily his cannons still shining brilliantly. Firebird walked up to him and placed her hand on Ironhide's cannons, "Dad, it's okay," she said quietly, "Let's go home," Ironhide turned to her, "Please...I need you right now."
Sideswipe watched as a tear slid down the young femme's cheek and wished he could take back those words. Ironhide placed his arm around her shoulder and walked Firebird out of the training room. As they walked back through the door Firebird looked back at the frontline warrior standing there and shook her head slowly before walking out of the door.
Sunstreaker walked back into the training room where Sidewipe was still standing and clocked him in the helm, "Smooth move, Sideswipe! You upset the father of your future spark mate who also happens to be a weapons specialist and capable of beating the life out of your spark. I couldn't have done a better job if I tried." The gold frontline warrior stood back and folded his arms across his chest and slowly nodded his head, "Impressive! Not only have you got to win her back but you now have to win over Ironhide,"
"Shut up!" Sideswipe snarled and left the training room.
Mirage arrived at the Decepticon base and saw the cordon, "Humans have been here already," he said and opened his radio link,
"Optimus Prime to Mirage,"
"Go ahead Mirage,"
"The base has been cordoned off what should we do?"
"Enter. Colonel Lennox is going to hold off the government as long as possible,"
"Huh, how long will that last?"
"That's not our problem...yet!" Prime replied.
Mirage turned around to the other Autobots who were with them, "We may enter," he said.
There was a sound of whirring and clicking as the Autobots transformed and went straight into weapons mode. They slowly entered the base, mice squeaked as they ran out of the base and every now and then an Autobot would pull a spider web off which had wrapped itself around them. They found a room with Firebird's name encrypted across the door, the conversation between Ratchet and the femme rang through his processor as she described what was happening to her. There was a sound which echoed through the empty base, Mirage stopped and silently signalled that they stood back while he investigated the noise.
The bright red spy disappeared and he moved silently and slowly down the corridor past the rec room and Soundwave's office. The base held an eerie atmosphere which put Mirage on high alert as he moved through the base under cover. He found the reason for the noise. More wildlife.
He switched off his cloaking device, "All clear!" he said, "It's an animal,"
They found the med bay and the machine sitting next to the berth where Livie lay last time. Ratchet couldn't believe how antiquated it looked, he stepped forward,
"I haven't seen one of those in hundreds of vorns," Leadfoot said,
Ratchet looked at it, "Do you know how to use it?"
"Me...yes of course I do, we used it on Decepticons in the height of the war, for extracting information before we ripped them to pieces." He stepped forward and pushed a button on the machine. A holoform hang in mid air, Leadfoot swept his hands over the holoform and pushed another button, he looked at the nodes on the end of two wires which were shining a light blue colour, "Hmm, they're okay,"
"Does it work?" Ratchet asked,
"Without someone to test it on it's hard to tell but my guess is if they used it on Livie recently then it still is,"
"Well then let's get everything set up," Roadbuster replied,
"Hold on, we have to make sure Firebird is ready first," Ratchet said.
They could hear engines coming in from a distance, it sounded like rotary blades, "What's that?" Jazz asked,
"Humans," Mirage replied as he disappeared and raced to the entrance of the Decepticon base. He watched as a police chopper circled a couple of times and then flew off before he disappeared back into the base. The wreckers turned around at the sound of the Ferrari's powerful engines and watched him transform, "Humans were patrolling," he said, "But they have gone,"
"Then let's call Optimus Prime," Ratchet replied.
Meanwhile Ironhide and Chromia were talking to Firebird about having everything reversed, she listened to them suspiciously while they told her where Mirage, Ratchet and the wreckers had gone and why,
"You want me to go back to the Decepticon base and go through it all again?"
"Sweetspark, they want to reverse the effect so you can get everything back again," Chromia replied,
"We will be with you darling," Ironhide said,
Firebird looked at them both and screwed up her faceplates, "I can't believe you'd suggest that," she said, "Do you know the pain that thing caused me?"
"Honey, Ratchet and the wreckers will be helping you,"
Firebird folded her arms across the chest, she felt physically sick about the thought of going back to the Decepticon base and it was even worst that her parents were suggesting it. She shuddered as a cold wave rose through her systems. Chromia stepped forward,
"Sweetspark, please," she said.
Firebird pushed her away and left their quarters. No way was she going to allow herself to be convinced to go back to the Decepticon base and be attached to the machine again. She left the quarters and raced through the base in her vehicle mode towards the gate. Sideswipe saw her and followed her, Chromia went to go too but Ironhide stopped his spark mate,
"Leave it to Sideswipe," he said.
Chromia scowled at him, "Ironhide what makes you think she'll listen to Sideswipe after what he did to her,"
"She probably won't but let's give them a chance," he replied.
Sideswipe followed her all the time keeping two cars back from her, she knew he was there but chose to ignore him, "After all he was in love with Livie," They kept driving until they were on the edge of the peninsula where she transformed and looked out toward the Atlantic Ocean.
The sound of the waves crushing on the beach was loud but she could still hear Sideswipe's engine as he approached quietly. Seagulls screeched as they floated on the thermals and dive bombed the steel blue sea,
"What do you want?" Firebird snarled,
"To talk to you," Sideswipe replied as he slowly approached her.
She chuckled, "I see, and tell me what...," she turned around and glared at him with fiery optics, "You're sorry? I love you? Maybe a comment about how I'm not like Livie,"
She stood there staring at him, wishing he would at least apologise, but an apology never came. She looked to the left at the spray as the waves hit rocks and then back at Sideswipe,
"They want me to go back to the Decepticon base to reverse what Barricade did to me,"
"Are you going to go?" Sideswipe asked,
She looked at him a moment, he hoped her answer would be yes but he was disappointed, "No!" she replied, "I'm never going back there," Sideswipe saw the fear written all over the femme's face. Ironhide's engine rumbled through the air, the silver frontline warrior turned around and watched him with relief when he decided to hang back a bit, "So don't try to persuade me," Sideswipe stepped forward a bit more, "Don't you come any closer," she said, "Or I'll do what Hornet wanted me to do in Chicago,"
"No you wouldn't," he replied, "Because you would have done it then and you love me,"
"Excuse me?" she replied indignantly,
"It's true," he said.
Firebird folded her arms across her chest, scowled and looked away. He was right. She did still love him, "Firebird, Livie is still part of you somewhere, it's time for her to come out," Sideswipe said,
"No," Firebird snapped, "Livie is gone, you just can't accept that.," she glared at him angrily and then her expression changed to one of hatred, "Poor lonely Sidewipe pinning for his lost love." She said sarcastically as she circled him, Sideswipe never once took his optics off her in case she would try anything. She spied Ironhide's truck, "What's he doing here?"
"He's your father; he wants to see you healed,"
"No he isn't, he's Livie's father, I'm Firebird, the Decepticon, daughter of Barricade," she flashed her optics at Sideswipe, "I was just playing his game,"
Ironhide narrowed his optics and growled as the pain of those words shot him right through the spark,
No, you're not, you're Firebird who desperately wants to have back everything she has lost," Sideswipe replied.
Firebird stopped circling him, "Why are you doing this anyway? You told me you couldn't love me as you loved Livie,"
"Yes I do love Livie, and Livie is you," he held out his hand, "Come with me, we'll go together,"
"No!" Firebird bellowed, "Livie is dead,"
"No, she isn't, Firebird you need to let her go," Sideswipe insisted, "It's time for her to come back," he said as he held out his hand once more, "Come on Firebird,"
Ironhide heard a ping on his comm. Link, "Optimus Prime to Ironhide,"
"Ironhide here,"
"Ratchet is waiting, what is taking so long?"
"We have a problem, Prime. Firebird is refusing to go,"
There was a pause over the comm. Link before Prime spoke again, "Is everything alright?"
"No, she appears to be showing her true colours. Sideswipe is trying to talk her into going,"
"Alright, be careful, Ironhide. I'm sending back up,"
Ironhide watched them a bit longer as Sideswipe continued to convince Firebird to back down, "Come on, baby, please," Sideswipe pleaded, "Be Livie once more that is who you really are,"
Firebird stopped and stared at him, her ruby optics softening as a tear rolled down her cheeks, "I can't, I'm scared," she replied,
"You can, baby." He held his hand out once more hopeful that the femme in front of him was finally softening, "I'll come with you,"
Slowly she raised her hand and slid it into Sideswipe's, she looked at him, "Promise?"
"I promise," he replied as he tightened his grip around Firebird's's claw and gently pulled her towards him,
"That won't be necessary, Optimus. She is going to go,"
Prime vented loudly with relief, "I'll let Ratchet know you're on your way with her. Prime out,"
Ironhide's comm. Link pinged again, the weapons specialist transformed and walked over to Firebird, "It will be okay darling. Well done, Sideswipe,"
"Thank you," he replied.
The Decepticon base loomed darkly on the horizon and the two mechs noticed she was starting to lag behind them. Sideswipe moved behind her while Ironhide stayed in front, Firebird felt his soothing presence through their bond. There was the sound of a high powered motorcycle engine speeding up behind them and fell into formation beside Firebird,
"Chromia, what are you doing here?" Ironhide asked,
"I wanted to be here for Firebird. Don't worry Elita has Orbit, she's the one who sent me,"
"Well it's good you're here, Firebird could do with some extra support,"
The midnight blue Celica picked up three Autobots anxiously awaiting their arrival on her sensors and gave a soft moan. Chromia and Ironhide continued to soothe her through their bond as they pulled up in front of the base and transformed. Roadbuster stepped toward her,
"We thought you weren't going to come," he said,
"She nearly didn't," Sideswipe replied. Firebird shot him a glare, "It's true," he replied,
"Come," Leadfoot said, "Ratchet is nearly ready,"
Firebird stood at the door and refused to move, "I can't," she cried.
Chromia took her by the arm, "Come sweetspark, it's okay,"
"No," she cried, "I c-can't g-go in th-there, he's waiting for me."
Firebird went to turn around and run away but Sideswipe was right behind her caught her in his arms, "It's okay, Firebird, only Autobots are in there. You can do this. I'm here,"
"Och come on now missy, you don't want to be stuck being Firebird all your life," Leadfoot said.
Finally she relented and slowly walked in clinging closely to Ironhide. Ratchet heard them and poked his head out of the med bay door,
"Come in here, Firebird," he gently crooned.
By now the femme's systems were in a shambles and Sideswipe was holding her up, "I think I'm going to purge," she said, "I'm sorry, I am going to purge,"
A bowl appeared from nowhere as energon bubbled and made its way up through her systems, "I'm sorry," she cried.
"You're okay," Ironhide crooned as he guided her to the berth waiting for her.
She lay on the berth and squeezed Ironhide's hand. She looked around the med bay, "Where is Sideswipe? He promised he'd be here,"
"I'm right beside you," he replied in a dulcet tone and took Firebird's other hand while Chromia stroked her head.
Ratchet approached her with a large syringe and poked it into a port in her arm panel while the wreckers attached a wire to her. She could hear the rapid beat of her spark pulse slowing down while the serum ran through her systems. Darkness folded in on her as her father, mother and Sideswipe faded into a blissful peacefulness,
"You have to leave now," Ratchet said, "She'll be safe with me,"
He watched as the three Autobots closest to Firebird left the base and sat in the rec room with Jazz and Mirage. The wreckers clicked the probes into place on her helm while Ratchet programmed the machine to reverse the interference with the femme's memory banks,
"Ready?" he asked Roadbuster,"
"Ready," he replied.
Ratchet pushed the button on the holoform suspended in the air and watched as the figures flashed across the screen while the machine downloaded Livie's memory and looked at the femme lying silently on the berth,
"When will we know if it has worked?" Leadfoot asked,
"Not until she wakes up," Ratchet replied.
The machine bleeped signalling it's completion of the download, Ratchet worked his fingers across the screen and pushed another button to reformat Livie's memory banks so everything would be chronological.
The wait was too much for Ironhide who was slowly pacing the floor with hands locked behind his back. Just up from the corridor was his little girl who was undergoing life changing surgery and he wanted to be in there. Chromia walked up to him and stood in his way; he stopped and looked at her with weary optics. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him into a hug; he unlocked his arms and wrapped them around her slender waist. They stood there together. Waiting! Seeking comfort from each other!
Mirage went outside to make sure they were still alone, Jazz and Sideswipe followed them to offer Ironhide and Chromia privacy. They sat idly in the entrance to the base with their scanners on in case of unwelcome visitors.
On the air was a deep rumble from a truck engine which was gradually getting louder as it raced toward the Decepticon base. None of the Autobots seemed to be particularly bothered at the sound or seemed to be paying any attention as they sat on the ground in their bi pedal modes laughing and joking carelessly. Jazz had his knees bent and his claws hang lazily in the air supported by his knees while Sideswipe was leaned back with his hands behind him and his legs outstretched in front of him. Mirage on the other hand was standing up behind him looking around for potential danger,
"Settle down Rage, the Decepticons are gone," Jazz snipped,
"I know but I don't like it so close to the con base,"
"I know what you mean," Sideswipe replied, "I keep expecting one of the seekers to appear or Barricade to roll up,"
"It's very strange not having them around," Jazz said,
"It's the end of an era," Mirage replied,
"Yes, it is about time we have some peace,"
"Make the most of it, it won't be long before news gets around that Megatron and the Decepticons based on earth are gone," Jazz reminded them
"Hopefully that won't happen," Sideswipe said,
"It will...in good time...it will," Jazz snarled.
The wheels of the truck bumped and rolled over the ground leaving a long trail in the long grass as it edged ever closer to its target, and the Autobots blissfully unaware of its approach.
Back in the med bay the machine bleeped again, "It's finished," Ratchet said as he disconnected her, "Leadfoot go and get her parents," he said.
The wrecker walked into the rec room and up to the couple who were now sitting on the floor leaned up against the wall arm in arm,
"Ratchet is finished," he said.
Ironhide and Chromia jumped up and left the rec room and went to the med bay. It was dark in the med bay apart from a light which was shining over Ratchet and the femme on the berth. The green medic was standing over her and looked up when they walked in,
"I'm bringing her out of stasis," he said, "I'll need to run some tests on her to make sure her systems are working properly because I have been working on her processor,"
Slowly the femme's systems came online, she could hear familiar voices around them but that was all. Slowly her optics brightened and she could just make out the piercing sapphire optics of Ratchet through her blurry vision. He took her hand,
"If you can hear me squeeze my hand," he said. Her claw flinched as she squeezed Ratchet's hands, "Good," he said, "Let your optics fade and brighten if you can see me," he said. She did that, "Good," he replied, "Who am I?"
"Raaaaatcheeeeeet," she slurred,
"Excellent,"
She looked around the med bay and saw Ironhide, she moved her claw to reach his hand but she was still under the influence of the anaesthetic and it fell to the berth with a clang. Ironhide picked her claw up and held it in his hand. He looked at Ratchet hopefully,
"Who is she?"
Who is the femme lying on the berth?
What truck is driving to the Decepticon base?
More coming soon?