Prime, Chapter 24

The Autobots got back to base but they found that Terry was not there, and after asking the others about it, found out that he'd left through the Ground Bridge but didn't come back. Meaning that he'd been the one to take the container, but to where was unknown. They'd have to ask once he gets back, IF he gets back that is. Optimus was sitting in his office while Jack was with Arcee and their daughter, Ratchet was doing work, and others were doing their own thing. Soon enough Terry had come back and the others were looking like they were upset with him.

"What?" Questioned the young man seeing the other's faces. He figured they would probably be mad about the fact that he took the container but didn't bring it to base, but it wasn't theirs to claim anyway. "I get it you're all mad. But the container was mine, I went to get it." He then stated to the others saying that he got the container because it belonged to him.

"And you didn't bother to tell us before we left, or bring it back here?" Wheeljack questioned in an obviously annoyed tone about the fact that he didn't even bother telling them about it at all before they left, and also because they didn't bring it back to the base.

"I couldn't bring it back to base, the only way to open it is too large to be moved." Terrance then explained to them about why he didn't bring it back because he had to get it open and couldn't open it here. "And I didn't know it was one of mine until I got the signal from it." He then added about the container being his.

"Well Optimus is angry, and wants to see you in his office." Ratchet stated about the fact that the Autobot Leader wants to speak with him before he started working on whatever it was that he was doing again.

With a nod Terrance then began walking off to the office belonging to the Autobot leader and pushed the communications button to ring and let him know that he was there and waiting to be allowed inside. Once Optimus gave the go ahead he walked on in to go speak to him while the others were doing their own thing and being annoyed and angry about the fact that he didn't help them while being at their base. Miko was also annoyed as well since they were talking about him without having the full story, of course she was also angry at Terry for not helping them and always working on the computer without anyone ever being able to see what he was up to. Once given the go ahead he headed on off inside.

"Let me save you some time, this is what was in the container." Terrance spoke throwing up something onto the desk of the Autobot leader for them to take a look it, it grew in size as it rolled towards them and stopped at the size of a large ball. "I took it to be opened, can't do it here in the base because of the encryption built into it."

"Still you should have told us about it." Optimus spoke taking a look at the device curious as to what exactly it was meant to be trying to work out how it's supposed to operate.

"Didn't know about it until I got the signal from it." He then answered the leader of the Autobots as to why he didn't tell them anything about the device in question. "And once I got it open I had to make sure the device still worked."

"And what exactly is this device that you have obtained from the container?" The Autobot leader questioned him wondering what exactly it is since he couldn't get it to work, through not for the lack of trying mind you.

"It's a locator." Terrance stated to Optimus about what exactly the device is. "It's used by pretenders to find certain relics of significance." He continued to explain about the item in question. "Though without the map it's basically useless."

"You mentioned that earlier, what exactly do you mean by saying Pretenders?" Optimus questioned wondering just what exactly a Pretender was and why he kept talking about them. "And what map are you referring to?"

"The map burned up years ago in a house fire, but I've been working to reconstruct it on the computer at the base, that's what I've been working on this whole time. "Without the Map the locator can't be used because all you would get is dots. and no useful information. Without the Locator, the Map would simply show an area with no indication of where to look. As for Pretenders, I think I'll keep that to myself until everyone is at the base."

"Very well then, but no more secrets, we need to know everything about what's going on." The Autobot leader spoke responding to him saying that the time for keeping secrets is over, and that they need to know everything about what exactly is going on.

"I'll explain everything that I actually know of." He answered in response to their question saying that he'd at least tell them what he did actually know about what all was going on with the current situation. "Now I need to go back and work on the map more. You can hold onto that item since it's useless at the moment."

"Very well then, you are dismissed." Optimus spoke in response letting Terry go on back off to the main room and back to working on the map that he'd been trying to piece back together on the computers that he'd been working with so that they could use it and the device together to learn more.

Terry went on back to the main area where everyone was still obviously upset with him as he began working on the computer once more, not really saying anything to anyone while he continued working on whatever it was that he was doing. The others didn't know yet, though Optimus the Autobot Leader, now did. He continued working ignoring the others and how they were giving him scowls and looking at him upset, at least until he got tired of them doing so and looked up from the computer seeing them all staring at them.

"I gave what was in the capsule to Optimus, so you all can stop now." Terrance spoke and then went back to the computer continuing to work on his little project after telling everyone he'd handed it over to the Autobot leader.

"And what exactly was it?" Wheeljack questioned The young Blond wanting to know just exactly what it was that had been in the capsule since they weren't able to see it when he came in.

"Once I'm done with this and everyone is here I'll tell you." Came the response as he continued to work on the computer trying to get it done since they needed that in order to finish what he'd been working on so that the Autobots could actually use what he was doing.

"Why can't you tell us now?" Bulkhead questioned wondering why exactly he couldn't just tell them at that moment instead of telling them later. He'd been curious about this kid since he'd been hanging around after the Decepticons had gone after him.

"Because I don't wanna repeat myself, and it'd be useless to tell you without first finishing this up first." Terrance explained to him about it while continuing to work, stating that it'd be useless to tell them without having this done first.

"Why?" Rafael questioned him next wondering just how come they couldn't know about it until he was done with the computer project since that seems to be all that he does anyway and it couldn't hurt to tell them either.

"It would do nothing but be flashing dots." He explained to them simply in response about why exactly he wasn't showing them oversimplifying it so that they would stop bothering him about the item in question.

They continued working while waiting for everyone and the others around the base were doing their own things as well. Bulkhead and Wheeljack were throwing around a metal ball made of scrap metal. Ratchet was working as usual on the synthetic energon and other needed medical items in question. Jack was with Arcee and their daughter, Miko was listening to music with headphones on and Raphael was playing a game with Bumblebee. Though eventually Ultra Magnus and the others did get back and Terrance was finishing up the final touches of piecing together the map from memory so that they would be able to actually use the locator tool that he'd let Optimus keep hold of at the moment.