Chapter 94 – Exiled
Prime P.O.V
A moment later we reached the hanger and I walked straight up to the catwalk where I knew Lennox would be waiting.
''Prime,'' Lennox nodded curtly in my direction. He had heard of Phoenix's departure having helped Rachet try and track her. Viewing Phoenix as kind of a ''sister'', he was no doubt angry at me that I had failed in looking after her, as I had sworn to do on the bridge that day in Chicago.
''Colonel Lennox,'' I ignored his body language. ''I would like to introduce you to Elita 1. Elita was, and I am assuming still is, Commander of the Autobot femmes back on Cybertron,'' she gave a brief nod. ''She was the occupant of the crashed pod that landed here the day before last.'' I fixed a very serious, not too subtle glare on Lennox, ''Elita 1 was also, long ago, spark bonded to me.'' Lennox's brows wrinkled in confusion and misunderstanding, I explained in terms he might understand. ''We were, as you humans would say, in a committed relationship – married.''
Lennox's mouth flew open and strange sounds came out as he struggled to take this new information in. A dark cloud momentarily descended on his features, no doubt in light of what had transpired between Phoenix and I, ''Were you now Prime?'' He crossed his arms over his chest and glared at me. ''I never would have thought that given your..''
I interjected Lennox before he could conclude his accusatory dismissal, turning to Elita as means of explanation too I continued, ''We were separated millions of years ago as I went in search of the Allspark, which we found here and was subsequently destroyed, and Elita stayed on Cybertron,'' Elita gasped again at mention of the Allspark. ''After millions of years of at first very little contact and then no contact at all, I had assumed the worst and thought Elita to be dead.''
I cast sorrowful optics towards her and then pleading optics to Lennox, ''I had not heard from her or of her and, I felt like she was lost to me.'' /Please Lennox, it is not what you think, forgive me/. I silently pleaded with him, hoping he might understand. I just hoped he took the cue I had given him and refrained from mentioning Phoenix. ''But as you can see, I was gravely mistaken on that point and she has been restored to us.''
Lennox's features softened slightly, and he nodded once. ''Right. Well, I guess that being the case, I am pleased to meet you Elita 1,'' he managed to get out as he unfolded his arms. I inclined my helm at him in silent thanks.
Elita smiled down at him, ''Thank you Colonel Lennox, the pleasure is mine.''
Lennox returned her smile though it faded rapidly, ''I welcome you to our planet although, I wish it could be under better circumstances.'' Lennox mercifully took my cue and tactfully failed to mention Phoenix. ''Unfortunately, Prime and Elita, due to our last battle, and increasing negative and distrustful views towards Transformers, N.E.S.T is being disbanded and a new faction, run by humans alone, is being formed to continue the hunt for and to eradicate Decepticons.''
''Do you know what they are to be called?'' I questioned Lennox.
He shook his head, ''Negative Prime, though I do know a former CIA agent is heading the unit. That is all the intel I have at the moment. No doubt Jazz informed you of Mearing's last call, ''requesting'' you to leave Diego Garcia indefinitely to head to mainland USA and lay low for the foreseeable future?'' his voice held a slightly acidic and dark tone.
I nodded, ''I have been informed of such Colonel Lennox and while I am deeply saddened by this turn of events, I cannot say it was unexpected. You know my stance on granting freedom of choice, we have been asked to leave and we shall honour that decision – yet again.'' The meaning of my last comment hung like a verbal weight in the air as it was only a mere week or so ago that we had been asked to leave Earth and our alliance terminated to almost disastrous consequences. Now – it would seem history was about to repeat itself. My own words came back to haunt me, ''They are a young species with much to learn.'' /Are they learning? Or are they making the same mistakes in new and dangerous ways?/.
''I'm sorry Prime, truly I am,'' Lennox sounded genuinely aggrieved by what had happened. He was a good friend. ''I wish it could be different. I tried to argue your case, but Mearing would have none of it. The orders came from POTUS himself.'' Lennox sighed in frustration.
''Colonel Lennox I appreciate your efforts. May I ask what are the transportation arrangements in place to escort my fellow Autobots off the island? When may we be expected to leave?'' I questioned him.
''I have several Globemaster III C17's at your disposal, fuelled and ready for take-off. You will be taken to Edwards Airforce Base and from there you are to make your own way to locations of your choice,'' he looked away nervously for a moment, ''I have been instructed you are to have wheels up in an hour Prime, I am so sorry.'' Lennox hung his head in sorrow and shame.
I closed my optics and let the wave of anger and sadness wash over me. /So, this is it? After all this time, this is what it has come to? First, I lose Phoenix, now we lose our home and our friends in NEST! Where would it end?/. I opened my optics and fixed them on Lennox who had since returned my gaze with sorrowful eyes. ''Colonel Lennox, I thank you for the assistance and friendship you have shown myself and my Autobots. I am truly grateful. You honour us with your bravery and friendship. I do not know when or where our paths may cross again, but I hope it will not be too long and I hope it will be under more favourable circumstances.''
I nodded respectfully at him, ''I will inform my Autobots. We will comply by the directives given to us. We shall be ready to depart in 40 minutes.'' With that I turned on my pedes and walked out the door, the sound of a human foot kicking metal echoed throughout the hanger as Lennox vented his frustrations on the railing.
As soon as we were clear of the hanger Elita spoke to me. ''He seemed nice Optimus. Are all of your human allies as nice as he?''
I smiled at her, ''He is indeed a nice human Elita, and yes, most of them are very decent. Though as you will learn, while humans have a great capacity for bravery, love, intelligence and sacrifice they also have a great capacity for hatred, evil, ignorance, cowardice and self-serving greed. I pray you do not meet many of them.''
We walked the remaining distance in silence, each lost in our own thoughts. After a moment we reached the Autobots quarters and, as they had been instructed to do, Jazz and Ironhide had indeed rounded up all the team and they were awaiting my orders. I stood before them, taking a moment to survey them all keenly. Such fine warriors and friends, I felt such a sense of responsibility to all of them and now – yet again – I felt I was leading them down a dangerous path.
''My Autobots, as you have no doubt heard we have been once again asked to leave,'' some grumbles broke out and I raised my servo to request silence. ''We have been asked to leave this island, our home, for the past six years, but not this planet. We have been granted asylum and immunity, but we have been asked to return to the mainland and blend in, keep a low profile while a new faction, a human run organisation, carries out hunting down Decepticons in our stead.'' Once again there was an outbreak of unrest.
''Maybe we should just leave this planet,'' Ironhide grunted. ''It is no more than they deserve. After everything they have done to us.''
I turned fierce optics on him, ''And leave everyone we have come to care about here, unprotected and at the ultimate mercy of the Decepticons? Like it or not Ironhide, this is our home, and we will stay to defend it in any way we can. Is that understood?'' I cast my optics around at everyone gathered.
Ironhide nodded silently, the true meaning of my words sinking in. ''We have been given sixty earth minutes, or an hour, to leave. I suggest you gather what personal effects you feel necessary and we shall reassemble outside Hanger 1 in forty minutes. We will break into various teams once we reach Edwards Airforce base in California. Bumblebee, Arcee you are to assist Rachet in the Med Bay once you have seen to your own belongings. Ironhide, Jazz, you are to head to the weapons hanger to arrange transport of weapons and ammunition we may need. Dismissed.'' At my final words my team went quickly about their tasks. It would not take them long as there were few personal items we needed to take with us. The main being energon and medical supplies.
''What would you have me do Optimus?'' Elita asked after everyone had disbanded.
''Perhaps you can assist Rachet in the Med Bay until the others arrive to help. I am sure he would be grateful of the help.'' She nodded and headed off immediately in the direction of the Med Bay. I headed into my own personal quarters, quickly grabbing whatever items I deemed necessary to take. After a moment I left and, once I was certain no one was watching, I headed into Phoenix's old room. As the door shut behind me. I allowed myself a moment to ''breathe'' and mourn. I looked about her room, allowing the memories to flow over and through me. My spark started to ache at the overwhelming sense of loss I felt. ''Oh Phoenix, where are you? Come back. I miss you so much. I need you.''
Out of nowhere I felt a wave of reassurance sent towards me. I gave a start as I felt its warmth wash over my spark. /Phoenix?!/ Again, a pulse of warmth and reassurance was sent to me. /No - Elita 1!/. I was both relived that we could only sense feelings through our weak bond and not thoughts or words. I was also shocked that our bond was flaring back to life so rapidly.
I tentatively sent a wave of thanks her way and then tried to shut the bond down. ''Do NOT encourage THAT. The sooner you tell her about Phoenix, as hard as it will be, as painful as it will be for you both, the better it will be in the end – for all of us!'' I glanced around the room quickly, wondering what she might like to take with her if anything. I had no idea what would become of our quarters in our absence. Seeing as it was all belongings from when she was OC, a human, I doubted there would be much need for any of it.
She had her precious ring from Chase with her at all times and Relda, her much loved green 1997 Land Rover was in safe hands with Olivia Winters on the promise she would never be sold and always looked after here on the island – like some sort of Base Mascot or something. The only thing I took with me as I walked out of the room, were precious memories and I locked them away deep in my spark and my processor.
Forty minutes later we had all gathered on the tarmac and had begun loading into the Globemaster C17's. Various N.E.S.T members had come to see us off and, I assumed, to ensure we left. Following their orders till the end. It did not take long to pack all our equipment and belongings on board and organise who was to take what craft. I would be travelling with Elita, Ironhide, and Rachet. The others were divided amongst the other planes.
As the last of my team boarded their designated plane, I took one last look around me, back towards Hanger 1, to Lennox and the remaining N.E.S.T team and nodded my helm in recognition and farewell. With that I silently transformed and drove aboard. As the door closed behind me and I came to park beside Elita, who crouched in robot mode as she had yet to scan an Earthen vehicle, I felt her servo gently rest on my cabin roof. The touch sent both comfort and a small amount of distress through me though I carefully shielded these feelings from her.
''I am truly sorry Optimus for your loss and the current circumstance you find yourselves in,'' for a moment I wondered if she had somehow found out about Phoenix. I felt her send me a warm smile, ''At least this time Optimus, we are together and for that, I am thankful.''
There was nothing else I could say in this moment other than, ''I agree Elita. I am thankful you are here.'' While it was true, I tried to ignore the painful ache in my spark as my thoughts turned to another femme, far away in a cold desolate land. /I am sorry my Phoenix. I have lost your spark and your home all in a matter of days. Please forgive me/. And with that I felt the wheels of the mighty craft leave the ground, and our home, as it propelled us towards the next uncertain chapter in our journey here.
