Chapter 44 – The choices we make…
Jazz had been able to convince Lennox of readying one of the Globemaster C17's to transport us to Washington DC and now, about 21 hours later, we had disembarked and were headed towards Philadelphia and Sam. I had sent Bumblebee ahead to locate Sam at his University, ordering the rest of the team to fall back to our predesignated meeting point, Laurel Hill Cemetery. I knew how ''agitated'' Sam could become if we all descended upon him and he felt rushed or stressed. I did not want Sam offside as my conversation with him was of great importance.
Now, as the early morning light bathed the various monuments and tombstones in golden light, I could hear Bumblebee's engine as it wend its way up the hill towards us and came to a stop. Sam got out and walked towards where I stood waiting.
Though it was good to see him, I could tell by his posture and manner this feeling was not reciprocated at present. He also appeared to be unharmed by the effects of the shard. /I wish I could say the same for OC/, though I quickly banished all thoughts of her as I had to focus.
Sam let out a slightly annoyed snort as he climbed up off the road to where I stood waiting for him. 'Hunh? You won't give me a day hunh? You won't give me one day in college?''
''I'm sorry Sam but the last fragment of the Allspark was stolen,'' I intoned to him.
''What, like Decepticon stolen?'' Sam asked with a little bit nervous tension. /Perhaps he will tell me what happened to him and OC?/.
I strode towards him, ''We placed it under human protection at your Government's request. But I'm here for your help Sam. Because your leaders believe we brought vengeance on upon their planet. Perhaps they are right. That is why they must be reminded by another human of the trust we share.'' I turned beseeching optics upon him only to be met with indifference.
''This is not my war,'' Sam rebuffed my plea.
Though I was somewhat taken aback by his curt dismissal of my request I continued in my reasoning with him, ''Not yet,'' I looked away. ''Though I fear it may soon be. Your world must not share the same fate as Cybertron.'' I cast my optics to the ground as pain and sadness threatened to overwhelm my spark. ''Whole generations lost.'' The memories came flooding back and I had to turn away for a moment as they consumed me.
Sam spoke up, his voice softer this time, ''I know. And I wanna help you, I do. But I am not some alien ambassador. I am a normal kid with normal problems. I am where I am supposed to be.'' Sam lowered his gaze from me towards the ground as though he could not bring himself to look me in the optic as he flatly refused my request. ''I'm sorry. I really am,'' and he turned to walk back to Bumblebee indicating that for him, the meeting was at an end.
I began to turn away, frustration and disappointment seeping into me though I made one last attempt to reach him, ''Sam, fate rarely calls upon us at a moment of our choosing,'' I turned my optics back to look at his retreating form.
Turning briefly in his retreat Sam called out in a voice thick with self-depreciation, ''You're Optimus Prime! You don't need me,'' as though he could not believe someone such as I would have need of human help – especially his.
This dismissal of my request after all we had gone through hurt and I turned away from him shuttering my optics as regret, concern and a small amount of anger coursed through me and I whispered my concerns into the brisk morning air, ''We do, more than you know.'' I was about to call out to him about the shard but he had already climbed into Bumblebee and I felt any further interrogation may only damage our relationship further and, at this point, we needed all the human allies we could get. I let them leave.
As I stood there watching Bumblebee and Sam drive away, Ironhide and Jazz approached me and I heard Ironhide's gruff voice, ''Well that was a slagging waste of time and effort! Ungrateful punk!'' and I heard his cannons whir to life.
''Easy Ironhide,'' I warned, though a small part of me also felt let down by Sam's refusal to help us at our time of need. However, my own steadfast belief in the notion of freedom being every sentient being's right prevented me from feeling truly angry. Though it may be disappointing and hurtful, it was indeed his right to say no and I would not hold it against him.
Jazz addressed me, ''What do we do now Optimus? What are ya orders?''
I paused a moment in consideration. I had not heard anything from Rachet regarding OC's condition, a fact I was grateful for as the Earthen saying, ''No news is good news'' provided some comfort. With Sam now heading back to University to start his lessons there was nothing much to do for the time being except wait and watch as events unfolded. I turned my optics on him, ''At this point in time Jazz, I believe all we can do is patrol the area and maintain vigilance. I feel that Megatron will act soon, and swiftly, and we need to be ready to respond. I have a feeling that Sam may be in danger, so it is imperative that we remain in the area.''
''With all due respect Prime, I think Sam just made it very clear he wants nothing to do with us,'' Ironhide ground out.
''Yeah, he nothin' but a pussy,'' Mudflap yelled out as he too joined us.
''Yeah, a little girl back'n down when things get too hot to handle,'' Skids supported.
I turned an icy glare in their direction and roared, ''That is ENOUGH!'' There was immediate silence on all fronts. ''I will not have you talk about Sam in such a manner. Sam has fought bravely for us in the past and been a true friend. While he may be focused on other aspects of his life at the moment and not truly realise the gravity of the situation we face, I have no doubt in my spark that if it were to come to it, Sam would be there for us – all of us. We will not abandon him, or any of the other humans, at this first test of friendship it is not the Autobot way. It is not my way. Is that understood?'' I levelled a fierce glare at all of my comrades.
Though there was some awkward shifting of pedes and downcast optics for a moment, all helms turned towards me once more and either nodded their understanding and apology or a faint, ''Yes Prime,'' was heard. Satisfied there would be no further argument or dissension on the matter I ordered my men to, ''Transform and roll out''.
As we left the cemetery, I couldn't help but realise the macabre symbolism of our meeting place. I hoped that the alliance between Autobots and humans was not ''dead'' and that we could continue to work together. It would seem that now, more than ever, a combined show of strength and trust was needed to face whatever evil was about to confront us. /The Fallen shall rise again/. The warning Demolisher had given during that fateful skirmish in Shanghai came flooding back in my processor. Something indeed was coming. Every fibre of my being warned me. What that was exactly, I was uncertain. I only hoped we Autobots would not have to face it alone.
We had not been patrolling for more than a joor when my energon signature warning alarm sounded, indicating Decepticon presence in the area. There appeared to be a concentration of them in a disused Power Plant not far from the University where Bumblebee had returned Sam, and some were headed for New York.
/So. This is it. It begins/. I sent a communique to N.E.S.T base of operations in Diego Garcia to inform Lennox and, in turn, Morshower of what had transpired and request backup. /Though by the time they would make landfall here, who knows what will have happened/, the negative thought skittered across my processor, and I dismissed it as quickly as it had raised its ugly head.
''Autobots!'' I messaged my team, ''we will split into two teams to deal with the Decepticon threat. ''Sideswipe, Jolt, Arcee. Head towards New York and contain any threats you see there. Jazz, Ironhide, Bumblebee, twins you come with me to the powerplant. Move it!'' I gunned my engine and roared along the highway towards our destination. /Please, don't be too late!/.
As we approached the Power Plant, I could hear the screams and cries of Mikaela and Sam. Without another thought, I quickly scaled the side of the building and crashed through the ceiling, blaster drawn. Bumblebee crashed through the wall opposite, madly looking about for Sam and preparing to take on Starscream.
At the distraction my entrance caused, I could see Mikaela and another boy run for the exit amid the gunfire and shattering glass. /Sam, where was Sam?/ I thought as I began to launch my attack. My optics rested on Megatron below who was glowering up at me. I flipped through the air firing my blaster at him while I reached behind my back and drew a second cannon. As I landed, I let a volley of shots off towards Megatron who leapt aside and fired a few shots back at me. One connected with my left shoulder, sending me back towards Starscream.
I gave a low growl of pain. /BUMBLEBEE! GET MIKAELA AND THE OTHER BOY! I'LL GET SAM!/, I urgently commed my scout.
I pivoted and slammed my blaster into Starscream, sending him across the room before I sent several shots towards the arrogant seeker. As they found their mark, he tore off through the large windows. I then turned and aimed my blaster at Megatron. Squeezing the trigger, I sent the bullet flying towards him. It slammed into his chest and sent him hurtling towards the windows behind him and out into the grounds beyond, narrowly missing Bumblebee as he fell. I did not have time to enjoy the sense of satisfaction that swept over me.
I cast my optics about frantically trying to find Sam and noticed him heading for the large hole in the wall I had just sent Megatron through. I ran over there, calling his name as I bent down to scoop him up. He seemed relieved though we did not have much time to talk as I leaped from the building onto the ground, momentarily placing Sam on the ground as I transformed. Climbing aboard, we took off at high speed out of the city to avoid further damage and casualties. Bumblebee commed me to let me know he had Mikaela and the other boy, and he was going to try and catch up to us along with Ironhide who had been guarding the perimeter.
We both travelled in silence. Neither sure what to say to the other and both focused on the task ahead. As we made our way into a wooded area outside of town, Sam shouted in terror, ''Here he comes!''
At that I heard, and then felt, a blast from Megatron's cannon slam into the ground and skim my left side. I started my transformation sequence as I prepared to engage Megatron in hand-to-hand combat. I had enough time to grab Sam from inside my cabin and get him close enough to the ground that he could roll relatively harmlessly along the ground towards the cover of trees before Megatron was upon me, tackling me to the ground in a loud, crunching and scrapping of metal. ''HIDE SAM!'' I shouted as I turned in mid tumble to connect my fist to Megatron's jaw. Here, among trees and grass instead of buildings and streets filled with cars and people, I felt I could unleash on Megatron.
This had to end – one way or another.
