Chapter 41 – In a Sparkbeat
Optimus Prime P.O.V
One sparkbeat. One heartbeat.
That's how quickly your life can be turned upside down. Just as mine had been when I heard Bumblebee's frantic transmission. My spark stopped.
Something had happened to OC and she was in great pain, great danger and she was on the other side of the world! The fear lasted a moment before millennia of leadership kicked in and I felt myself move to manage the ''situation.'' Lennox had been stood beside me when the transmission had come through and he was equally shaken, though he too began to move. We had luckily been in Hanger 1 finishing some meetings with JCS.
Lennox had yelled at one of the communications team to get a secure line to Edwards Air Force Base immediately, specifically the Brigadier. As he did that, I contacted Rachet and informed him of what had transpired and told him to prep the Medical Bay for any eventuality.
''Prime!'' Lennox had called out, ''I have Brigadier General Teichert online, he's the Commander of Edwards.''
I turned to face Lennox and begin my audience with the Brigadier. Lennox had already informed the Brigadier of security regarding my identity, so I launched into my greeting and my request. ''Brigadier, I am Optimus Prime, leader of the Autobots and a member of N.E.S.T. I apologise for this intrusion and the haste with which I make this request.''
''Optimus Prime, to what do I owe this honour?'' the Brigadier queried.
I fought back mild irritation as such cordial small talk stole precious moments from achieving my goal. ''Brigadier we have a N.E.S.T team member who has taken gravely ill and is currently en-route to your base as we speak. She and another of our team, an Autobot named Bumblebee, were scheduled to leave your base at approximately 19:00 hours this evening. I am urgently requesting you clear it with the necessary powers to not only move that flight forward to an immediate departure for Diego Garcia, but I would be indebted to you if you could arrange for a medical team to be on site and to help transport this team member to our facility safely.''
There was a moment's hesitation as the Brigadier digested this information. ''I imagine I shall be able to honour your request Optimus Prime. Leave it to me.'' The Brigadier continued, ''However, if I am unable to organise a medical team…'' he began to explain.
I broke into his reply with a grave warning, ''Then a life will likely be lost. Brigadier forgive my blunt response, but failure to procure a medical team is not an option. Please see to it. I look forward to hearing from either yourself or the relevant chain of command within the next 15 minutes for confirmation of this request.'' My tone brooked no argument, and while a part of me felt embarrassed to be so rude and demanding, the greater part of me steeled myself to be even more demanding or threatening should the need arise.
''Understood. We will be in touch shortly,'' the Brigadier, though somewhat annoyed by my curt request, seemed to understand the severity of the situation and my own personal interest in this case and deigned to help us.
''My sincere thanks Brigadier, it is an honour to work with you,'' I inclined my helm towards the screen even though he could not see me, I wanted to pay due respect. With that the screen went blank.
''Lennox!'' I barked at him. ''If we do not receive a transmission from Edwards within 15 minutes, I want to know about it!''
''Of course, Prime!'' Lennox had looked at me with some concern. Walking up to me and leaning on the rail of the catwalk he leaned in towards my helm in a somewhat conspiratorial manner. I leant forward to listen to what he had to say, clearly for my audials only. ''Prime,'' he whispered, ''Do not think you are alone in caring for OC, there are many others here on base who are fond of her, myself included.''
I felt myself look away in slight frustration and embarrassment. Embarrassment to think that I alone cared for her and frustration that I could not, and was not able, to tell Lennox just how deeply I cared for OC, mainly because I was struggling to understand it and accept it myself. I turned my helm back to face Lennox. ''I understand Lennox, my apologies if I gave that impression. I know OC is well liked and respected. I shall take what you have said under advisement. Thank you for your help.''
''It's okay Prime, any time.'' Lennox fixed me with a steady stare. ''I am sure she will be okay. If there is one thing I have learned about OC it's that she is tough. She is a fighter, she doesn't back down. I am sure there will be nothing to worry about.'' Whilst Lennox's words were no doubt intended to comfort me, it almost sounded as though he was trying to convince himself of this fact.
I nodded at him and walked towards the hanger door. I needed to get outside for a moment, I felt oppressed.
As I stood outside Hanger 1, I cast my optics to the sky. /Please, Primus let her be okay/. I knew I would not get an answer, but I had to offer the thought up, for my own mollification if nothing else. Though it felt like an age while I awaited that call from the Brigadier, it was in truth perhaps 10 minutes later the call came through.
Lennox had called out to me and as I walked in, he raised both his thumbs in the air and shouted out, ''DONE! Medical team scrambled as we speak, plane being prepped for take-off. Wheels up in 15 minutes. Bumblebee just contacted us. He and OC are 5 minutes from the base, I have informed him of the situation. She is unconscious but seems to be stable.'' Lennox closed his eyes briefly in silent relief.
I mirrored his actions closing my optics for a moment. Emotions of every kind assailed me, though the most prominent remained fear. /What has happened to her? Why is she suddenly so sick?/. My old friend ''self-recrimination'' crept upon me. /I should never have let her go over there by herself. I should have gone with her!/. Trying to ignore the growing anger towards myself, I called out to Lennox, ''Thank you Lennox. I am heading over to Rachet to check on his progress in preparing the Med Bay and organising a team of human doctors and nurses to assist him. Please, keep me informed of any developments.'' Lennox had simply nodded his acknowledgment.
As I drove towards the Medical Bay I was sorely tempted to turn off and drive to ''our'' beach instead. Even as my spark turned off the road and headed towards the beach, I physically kept driving forward. First, I had to check on Rachet and see if there was anything I could do to assist. I had a feeling it would be the longest 22 hours of my life as the plane winged its way from the Edwards Air Force Base to Diego Garcia. I felt my dermas twist into a wry grin. I could withstand the heat of battle, the pain of severe wounds inflicted upon me, the struggles of leadership and the burden it bestows upon you, even the soul-destroying loss of a spark mate did not break me.
But this.
This interminable waiting. Useless, helpless waiting while OC's life hung in the balance. This I could not stand. /What cannot be helped must be endured/, I thought to myself for what seemed the hundredth time in the past six months.
I only hoped I could endure what was to surely come.
