Chapter 52 – Well that was unexpected!

Prime P.O.V

As the imposing naval ship ploughed its way through the dark waters of the Indian Ocean, I stood on the bow of the flight deck, alone with my thoughts. Sam, Mikaela, Lennox and my Autobots, were all taking a well-earned break and resting. Though I should have been doing the same, I could not bring myself to recharge. Instead, I stood there, servos on my hips, helm tilted back gazing at the glorious night canvass stretched out before me and wondering if OC was staring at the same stars tonight.

The journey back to base was proving to be one of the longest trips I cared to remember. Though we had made good time aboard the USS John C. Stennis, I was anxious to return and learn of OC's true condition. We had managed to contact Rachet not long after boarding, however, OC had been in recharge.

Though I felt disappointment course through me, I was also glad she was resting. Rachet, who was overjoyed at the sound of my voice, reassured me she was well but did indeed reiterate the fact she had undergone changes and was not the same as I recalled her. When pressed on the matter he had simply said, ''You will have to see for yourself.'' Since then, my processor had tried to contemplate what Rachet had said. After several hours of thinking I resolved that as long as she was alive and well and that same spirit, that same soul still dwelled within her, it did not matter what changes had occurred.

I was prepared for whatever may come my way.

Fluttering. Nervous tension. Excitement. Worry. A sense of urgency. Hesitation. Relief. A myriad of emotions and thoughts whirred about my processor and flooded my spark as I transformed from vehicle mode and prepared to walk the last few steps into the Med Bay back on Diego Garcia.

I was about to reach out a servo and open the doors when the sight of Rachet filled the doorway and blocked my progress. ''PRIME!'' the medic's optics shone brightly with strong emotion and he reached out to grasp my shoulder struts in a show of friendship and comradery. ''By Primus are you a sight for sore optics!'' His keen optics swept over my battered, dented and damaged frame. His dermas momentarily set in a thin line of annoyance. ''Is there any part of you that wasn't damaged in battle?'' though there was a tone of good humour in his voice, there was also an underlying sense of exasperation at the thought of the joors of repairs he would have to perform.

''Rachet old friend, it is good to see you too.'' I squeezed his shoulders in a returned gesture of thanks and recognition. ''I am sorry to burden you with such major repairs, though I would hope they are preferable to the alternative,'' I allowed a small smile to form on my dermas.

Rachet released my shoulder struts and gave a small ''cough.'' ''Well, yes, indeed, correct.'' He shifted the weight from one pede to another awkwardly.

I began to move forward, ''Rachet, OC, where is she?'' His servo came out once again to rest on my left shoulder.

''Prime, I must remind you that OC has undergone some – extensive - changes, since you last saw her. She is not the same being you last recall seeing.'' His optics held mine in a very serious stare.

''Rachet,'' I returned his stare with equal seriousness, ''as long as she is well and unharmed, I am not concerned as to what changes have taken place. I am quite prepared. Let me pass please, I need to see her.'' I made to move forward, and I felt Rachet remove his servo.

''Oh, I doubt you are prepared Prime but nevertheless, come this way.'' Rachet turned before me and led me through the large double doors and down a corridor towards the back of the Med Bay where the individual recovery rooms were located. He led me to the last one on the right and stood to the side in front of a large mirror. ''She is in there Prime. I'll leave you two alone.'' I nodded my thanks as Rachet discretely walked away. My spark fairly leapt out of its casing as I opened the door and began to walk in.

I froze in the doorway.

There, leaning casually against the berth within the room, was a very striking looking femme I had never met before, her arms crossed over her chest and the largest smile I have seen on a pair of dermas in my life.

At the sight of my battered frame filling the doorway, her optics shone brightly, she let out a loud shout of joy and yelled my name, ''OPTIMUS!'' In one step she had closed the distance between us and went to wrap her arms about me but stopped herself at the last moment, bringing her servos to rest on my shoulders instead. Her optics drank the sight of me in, sweeping over my faceplates as though committing me to memory. Then slowly, she raised her right servo and laid it gently and reverently against the side of my helm before closing her optics for a moment. ''You're really here, you are alive.. I… thought… I..'' She opened her optics again, cycled deeply and gently traced a digit down my faceplate. ''I thought I'd lost you too.''

The sensation burned like fire and ice. It was both unnerving and addictive at the same time. I had not managed to say a word, transfixed as I was by this femme who looked so familiar. I brought my left servo up to capture hers and still her actions, though I did not break the touch. My optics were drawn to hers. I stared into them, searching them. They were neither blue or red. They were brown with flecks of gold, a quiet fire burning within them.

The thought slammed into me like a tidal wave of realisation. /OC! YOU are my OC!/. My voice, when I managed to find it, was barely a whisper. ''OC, it's you. You…'' I was so shocked, relieved and overrun with emotions I could no longer speak. She closed her optics again and her other servo came up to capture my helm. I covered her servos with mine, let my helm fall forward slightly and closed my optics in silent awe and thanks. After what seemed forever, I opened my optics to find her gazing at me with a small smile on her dermas.

''Yes Prime, it is me,'' she seemed to step closer to me and gently, tentatively, placed her helm against my chest above my spark, her servos moving to rest over my shattered windscreens and on my shoulder struts in a kind of ''hug'' as the humans would say. I heard her voice, so familiar yet so different, murmur against my chest plates, ''I have wanted to be able to do this to you for so long and now I can!''

At her words and her touch, I felt my spark pulse so strongly as to send a wave of energy throughout my body and cause me to shudder for a moment. /What in Primus?/. OC immediately stepped back from me, a look of fear forming on her faceplates. ''I'm sorry! Did I hurt you?''

I quickly shook my helm, as much to snap me out of my stupor as to reassure her. ''NO! No, you did not hurt me, quite the opposite.'' I blinked my optics at her. Primus she was – beautiful.

As a human, OC had been considered reasonably good looking, especially after her training with N.E.S.T intensified. But it was her; her presence, her mind, her humour, her compassion, her honesty, her sense of justice that I had been drawn to. Physical appearance was less important to me than character, morality and personality. As my optics quickly took the sight of OC's new form in, I now realised that she possessed it all!

I felt something deep within my spark catch on fire. That tiny flame that had been lit that night on the beach, when OC had told me I deserved to be held in someone's heart and not a pedestal, sprang to life and began to burn more intensely. It felt as though every nerve, wire, cable and circuit was on fire. I was being consumed from the inside out. It was both terrifying and exciting.

OC stood there unsure what to do, her arms now wrapped around herself and her optics darted over my damaged frame as if properly ''seeing'' me for the first time. Her dermas twisted in distress as she took in my battered form. One of her servos was brought up to her dermas and she covered it as if to stop herself from sobbing out loud. ''Oh Prime! Look at what they did to you…'' her voice trailed off.

I stepped towards her and somewhat hesitantly, in case I sacred her and given what had happened before, carefully pulled her towards my chest again into an embrace. My arms wrapped around her leaner frame, her helm reaching the top of my two windscreens. She once again rested her face against my chest plates, and though a warm heat radiated from her touch, there was no pulse this time.

I did not know whether to be relieved or bereft. I tried to soothe her, ''Shh.. OC. Despite my appearance, I assure you I am well,'' I allowed a smile to form on my dermas. ''All the better for knowing you are alive and well and standing right before me in my arms.'' I felt her smile against me and lean into me. I allowed my chin to gently rest atop her helm as I tightened my hold on her and I closed my optics. ''You have not lost me; I am here where I belong.''

Neither of us spoke. We simply stood there, wrapped up in each other, giving and receiving comfort and reassurance from each other's presence. Apart from my brief sojourn to what I assumed was the Well of Allsparks, I had not known such comfort and peace as I did in this moment, not since…/Elita….Chase/. A wave of guilt washed over me, all but smothering the newly kindled flame and I felt myself withdraw slightly from OC and begin to remove my arms from about her, stepping back.

OC sensed the change in me, her confusion plastered on her face as she silently regarded me, searching for the answer as to what had happened. ''Optimus? What's wrong? Are you okay?'' She went to reach out a servo to me and although I wanted to take another step away, I stilled my retreat and simply grabbed her servo in mine giving it a gentle squeeze of reassurance.

''Nothing OC, I'm fine, just… tired. Perhaps I overestimated my energy reserves. You must be feeling the same. We have both had quite an extraordinary few days between us and perhaps we should rest and take it easy to recover and adapt to… the changes in our lives.'' I sent her a smile and gave her servo a quick squeeze again before releasing it.

OC stood there, a corner of her dermas twitched up and she tilted her helm to the side in quiet consideration. My processor whirred taking in the similar mannerisms to me. In fact, upon closer inspection there were a few similarities between us. OC's paintwork was similar to mine but predominately red with yellow flames and some blue, the same colour as my optics, splashed here and there. Her forearm guards were similar in appearance to mine. She had a similar helm to me without the large audials and a feather motif curving over the top of her helm. The feather motif repeated itself at various points in her armoury and plating and I found myself curious as to its meaning as well as that of a rising sun on her abdominal plating. /Why does she seem to be modelled on a similar schema to me? Why has this happened and what does this mean?/.

Her voice brought me back to the present moment, ''Right. I don't entirely buy it Prime, but I cannot argue your comment on the whole ''extraordinary days and adapting to changes'' line of reasoning.'' She ex-vented heavily. ''I guess seeing me like this would have been a massive shock for you, something that requires processing and adapting to.'' She paused a moment, her features hardening, and her optics dimmed briefly. I felt my spark constrict at the sight of her clearly upset on my account. ''I should not have forced myself on you so quickly, I was just so happy to see you again,'' There was a slight chill to her voice as it dropped and her manner also changed, ''I missed you and I…. I'm sorry.'' OC, or this new form of OC, began to move past me to stalk out the door. As quick as lightning I grabbed her arm to stop her retreat.

''OC! Please,'' She paused, though did not look at me. ''Do not be angry or upset by my reaction just now. I do not want to overwhelm you. Yes, I will not lie to you. Seeing you like this,'' I gestured to her with my other servo, ''is indeed a surprise and wholly unexpected. But it is not an unpleasant one.'' She turned her helm up to look at me then. ''We both, indeed all of us, I imagine, will have to take some time adapting to this change, you especially. But do not for one astrosecond think I am not overjoyed to see you again and have you back in my life, to be back in your life.'' My voice, raw with emotion, lowered, ''I missed you too OC, more than you know.'' My optics shone brightly, and I tightened my grasp on her arm. ''Please believe me on this.'' She did not need to know about my feelings of guilt. Everything else was the truth.

She searched my optics for a moment. We were both essentially the same person or being we had been before and yet, as a result of our recent ''experiences'' and the deepening unspoken feelings developing between us, we were different. Our ''relationship'', our friendship was now different. A new ability to demonstrate physical gestures of affection, such as being able to properly embrace each other, brought with it a new element of intimacy that had previously not been possible.

Something was changing between us. It was perhaps inevitable.

OC, sighed softly, seeming to accept my explanation. I released her arm but did not look away from her. ''Okay Prime. I believe you.'' She smiled weakly at me. ''I think you should go and see Rachet and start the process of being repaired.'' As changeable as the wind, her expression switched to one of mirth. ''You look like shit.''

I gave a small grunt and allowed a small smile to form on my dermas, 'You dare be impertinent towards a Prime?''

OC's smile spread in recognition of a similar conversation we had in what seemed a lifetime ago. ''Dare? I just was''. Her optics shone and she let out a small laugh. My spark lurched again at the sound and sight of this beautiful, mercurial femme stood before me. ''Come on Prime, I'll go with you.''

I held up a servo, ''That won't be necessary OC, I..'' I started to argue.

OC placed her servos on her hips in a familiar posture. /There she is!/. ''Prime, I know your little secret about not being fond of visiting the doctors,'' I flinched a little, ''and besides, it's the least I can do after you stayed by my side when I was sick.'' She smiled in a sweet, yet challenging way.

I ex-vented deeply and shook my helm. ''New body or not, you are still the same OC.''

Her expression changed slightly, and a small, sad smile formed for a moment. ''Just remember that Prime.'' I nodded my helm almost imperceptibly. OC allowed another smile to grace her dermas. ''Come on. No doubt Rachet will be wondering where you are and what I have done to you.'' She gestured to the doorway and for me to follow her.

As I watched her form walk out the door, I closed my optics briefly, /What have you done to me OC? I wish I truly knew and, more to the point, wish I could tell you/. I sighed and followed her down the hallway.

Despite having fought Megatron twice, dying once, coming back to life and vanquishing ''The Fallen'' thus saving the world from annihilation, I couldn't help but feel the pit of my tanks start to churn and agitation build up inside me as we approached Rachet's form moving about the Repair room of the Med Bay.

Seeming to sense my unease, OC, turned and smiled at me, reaching out to grab my servo in hers. Immediately I felt calmer. With OC by my side I felt as though I could face anything. /Except your own true feelings/, came the snide and self-depreciating thought. I squashed it down, deep down. Now was not the time.

''Hey Doc, your two thirty appointment is here to see you,'' OC called out to Rachet as we entered the room. /How can she be so flippant?/. She released my servo as Rachet turned around.

Rachet turned to face us. ''Ahh… good. I was beginning to think you two had gotten lost back there,'' I could hear the smile in his voice. Rachet pointed to the large Transformer sized gurney. ''Come on Prime, you know the drill.''

''And the spanner and the wrench and the….'' OC had a smile on her dermas as she walked over with me to the gurney.

I couldn't help slight irritation seeping into my voice, ''You know OC, I was not so unsympathetic and flippant when you were in this position not so long ago.'' I winced inwardly at the slight ''pout'' in my voice as I settled on the gurney, laying down. OC stood beside me and once again grasped my servo with hers.

''Well, I was unconscious so I wouldn't know if you were or weren't being flippant, and I guess you missed your chance Prime,'' she smiled before she brought her other servo up to gently caress my face and her expression sobered. 'I'm sorry. Don't worry Prime. I'm not going anywhere. I'll stay right here by your side; I won't leave you.''

I tightened my grip on her servo and a wry smile formed on my dermas, ''I'll hold you to that OC.'' And I stared into her optics even as I felt Rachet jab me with his needle and my world started to blur and go dark.

Once again, OC's face was the last thing I saw as darkness claimed me. Only this time, I knew I would see her again and the thought made my spark sing.