Author's apology: Sorry folks, I had to split that chapter in two…. You would have fallen asleep halfway through! And now we continue….
Chapter 68 – Duty before Spark
''Scrap!'' at the sound his comm going off, Prime cursed out loud, his features darkening like an approaching storm, ''I told Jazz I was not to be disturbed!''
''For frag's sake!'' I cursed in Cybertronian as I was equally irritated by this incredibly untimely interruption. /Would we EVER get a break?/.
Prime looked at me apologetically, ''I'm sorry Phoenix, I have to take this,'' and he kissed my servo as he activated his comm. I stepped back to allow for some privacy. ''Prime here, what is it?'' he barked down the line. I kind of felt sorry for whoever was on the other end.
His faceplates, only moments before relaxed and carefree, now schooled into hard lines and his optic ridges furrowed in agitation. ''Are you sure? How soon?'' He closed his optics. ''Understood. I'm on my way. Prime out.'' He placed a servo at the place where his optical ridge and nose met, pinching it in that very ''human like'' manner as he fought off what was no doubt rising anger and irritation at being summoned away at this delicate point in time.
I wrapped one servo about my waist as I tentatively asked, ''Is everything ok? What has happened?''
Prime removed his servo and vented deeply. ''Potentially no Phoenix. That was Lennox..''
''That fragging son of a glitch always has the best timing when it comes to my love life,'' I yelled, the sarcasm dripping off my words. Prime raised his optic ridge at both my choice in swear words and the use of the word ''love,'' though he did not say anything, just picked up where he was interrupted.
''Do you remember earlier this afternoon when you asked where Lennox was?'' I nodded, ''Well, he has made contact with a member from within the General Council for the ''Ukrainian Department of Energy''. He was the contact whoreached out to Mearing. She sent Lennox, on behalf of NEST, out to him to gather intel. This contact has just informed him that at one of their decommissioned facilities, a discovery was made.'' Prime paused a moment, ''a discovery the contact fears is ''alien in nature''. His dermas twisted in annoyance and concern.
''Do you think the Decepticons are behind this or somehow involved?'' I asked the question I already knew the answer to. Over the last three years since Prime's battle and subsequent victory with the Fallen and Megatron, Decepticon activity had been at an all-time low. However, Governments and people all around the world were now aware of the existence of Transformers in their world. Long range defence systems watched the skies and energon detectors protected the major cities. Much had changed. Some were ok with this; most were not and there was a growing tension between our two races.
In order to keep peace and positive relations, The Autobots had agreed to assist their allies in solving human conflicts. In fact, Bee and some of the new recruits had been out attending to another such ''potential issue'' right now, which meant that Prime himself would have to attend this new veiled threat. I felt my spark tighten at the thought of him leaving me and heading off alone.
''At this point there isn't substantial evidence that would confirm that, but my gut instinct is yes, they are indeed.'' Prime's expression changed to one of consternation. ''As to what this discovery is, I can only guess it will lead to trouble for us.''
I sighed out loud as I felt our previous closeness slipping away as Optimus once again prepared to shoulder the mantel of ''Prime''. ''Where are you headed and who is going with you?'' both my arms now came to wrap about my waist.
''The facility is called Chernobyl and I will head the team for the Autobots, perhaps Rachet will attend too. Lennox and some other members of NEST will accompany me. Though it will be a relatively small team, primary purpose recon and extraction if necessary.''
I felt myself flinch at the mention of the name, ''Chernobyl! Prime that city is radioactive after the nuclear meltdown in 1986 at the power plant there. Isn't it dangerous?'' the concern in my voice was obvious.
Prime shook his helm, ''Negative, not for Autobots but for humans, highly. I am sure proper safety equipment will be provided for Lennox and his team Phoenix; you need not worry.'' He started to move towards me again.
''I'd worry less if I was there with you?'' I asked hopefully as Prime slid his arms around my waist and drew me towards him. However, recalling our fight earlier today and Prime's adamant stance on trying to keep me secret did not bode well for my possibility of attending with him.
He shook his helm, ''I'm sorry Phoenix I cannot risk you being out in the field.'' He bent down to feather light kisses over my face, though he must have felt me tense in his arms slightly as he continued, ''Maybe soon. While your control and skill in using and manipulating your powers'', he rained more kisses down on me, ''has grown considerably, as you know, I am still hesitant to put you in harm's way and alert the Decepticons to your existence. Especially now,'' he captured my dermas and kissed me soundly before he withdrew and brushed his digits against my cheek, his gaze once again filled with love and tenderness.
''Especially now? What, because of our newly discovered feelings for each other?'' I fished around to see if I could elicit any further declarations from Prime, a hopeful smile on my face.
He seemed to sense my motives and simply gave a low chuckle, ''That is one way to put it, yes.''
''And another way would be?'' I urged him.
Prime sighed, ''My Phoenix, always so impatient.''
My dermas parted in shock and I felt a scowl form on my face. ''Impatient!? I waited three bloody years, not to mention the year or two before I met Chase, human years which I reckon are each equivalent to a million transformer years anyway, to be able to share how I feel with you''. I could feel a pout form on my dermas, but I didn't care.
Again, Prime laughed, bending to kiss my pout away. ''Forgive me, my ever patient, always understanding Phoenix but I really must be leaving. I am already late to rendezvous with the remainder of the NEST team at Hanger 1. I also must alert Rachet to his involvement, which no doubt he will be thrilled about. We fly out now, we cannot delay.'' His optics reflected the sadness and regret that I felt.
I gave a small whimper as he pulled me close, the warmth of his body and his strong arms wrapped protectively and possessively around me once again ignited the flame in my spark. ''Well you be safe, and you better come back to me in one piece and alive – or I'll kill you myself!'' though there was humour in my tone, there was also an underlying fear and worry.
Prime rubbed my back struts and kissed my helm. ''While I have learned not to promise that I will never leave you, I promise to do my utmost to come back to you safe and sound and as quickly as possible so we can resume our - discussion.'' His optics held a glint of desire and affection.
I sighed for the millionth time tonight and lay my helm against his chest. ''I'll hold you to that Prime.'' A thought flickered through my processor. ''About that discussion and well ''us''. Do we tell the others about us? About what has happened between us? Are we common knowledge now?'' I raised my helm to look at him for his response on the matter.
Prime thought for a moment, ''Phoenix, as much as I would love to shout from the highest mountains and inform everyone that you are mine, I think it would be wise for us to keep ''this'', he gestured to us both, ''between us for now. However, I feel I should mention that there a some who already know about our feelings for each other.''
I pulled away for a moment and smiled at him, ''Let me guess, Rachet, Jazz and possibly Ironhide?''
Prime looked at me blinking, ''Well. Yes, as a matter of fact they do. How did you know that?'' He was stunned that I had somehow known there were others aware of our deepening feelings.
''Well to be honest Prime, Rachet has been bugging me to talk to you about my feelings for a while now.'' Prime made a loud grunt as if he too had experienced some ''pressure''. ''He was the one who first broached the subject back when I first became a transformer. Jazz… well I figured something was going on with him when he kept stirring you by making comments to me. I know Jazz does not see me that way, so I guessed he must be trying to stir you up which means he must have thought you had feelings for me. As for Ironhide,'' I shrugged my shoulders, ''he is your oldest friend and your weapons specialist. The dude's gotta notice stuff.''
Prime stared at me for a moment, ''Well, you are far savvier than I about this Phoenix. I thought I had everyone, bar Rachet, fooled.'' He shook his helm, ''turns out the only mech I have been fooling is myself.'' Besides,'' he pressed on returning to my previous question, ''we are best to keep what has transpired between us here to ourselves as we are yet to fully discuss our own feelings for each other and explore what ''this'' truly is. Call me greedy, but I would very much like the pleasure of savouring the knowledge that you are mine, and I am yours before sharing that news with everyone. You are not the only one who has waited a long time for this wonderful moment between us.'' He gave a gentle smile.
I slowly nodded my helm in agreement, he made a very good point, several actually. ''Okay Prime, as far as others are concerned, this never happened. Now go, hurry up, and come back to me already. I miss you.'' I felt his broad chest shake with laughter and his arms tighten momentarily around me.
''As you wish my Phoenix, believe me, I'll miss you too.'' He looked down at me and tapped the place above his spark twice. My ''breath'' hitched as the gesture now took on a whole new meaning. ''You are always in my spark. Always have been, always will be.'' He stared into my optics as he gently touched my face and then bent down to capture my dermas in a very sweet kiss that promised so much more to come.
I felt myself melt into his arms and his kiss. /How does a spark hold such love and joy and happiness without surely exploding?/ I thought to myself.
All too soon, I felt the contact between us break and Prime stepped away. ''See you soon my Phoenix''. With that he transformed and sped off in the direction of Hanger 1.
As I watched him go, I felt my spark go with him and a cold, hollow emptiness settled in my chest. I cast my optics to the night sky above me and our silent stars. /PLEASE, watch over him and bring him back to me, keep him safe from harm and guide him home to me/.
I sank to the ground, drawing my knees up under my chin and wrapping my arms about them, trying to comfort myself. As my processor began to replay the events of this evening once again, I felt a warmth burn in my chest and spread throughout my body. /Surreal. It had been surreal/. Only in my wildest dreams did I imagine I would be able to tell Optimus Prime how I felt. But to have him return those feelings in equal strength and measure? I felt the smile spread across my face as I could not contain the happiness inside me.
The saying that not so long ago, brought sadness and pain, now brought sheer joy as it echoed through my processor, ''Good things come to those who wait.'' I hugged myself tighter as I thought to myself, /How did I get lucky enough to have such good things walk into my life, twice?/.
I didn't want to examine the thought too closely lest I somehow lost favour with the universe.
