Author's note: This chapter contains short snippets from the perspective of different Autobots as they receive Prime's message ''Calling all Autobots.''
Chapter 112 – He's Alive!
Hound P.O.V
''Calling all Autobots!'' I freeze, rooted to the spot high atop my rocky lookout as I carry out patrol. For a moment I almost dismiss the voice as a glitch in my processor, a corroded file perhaps or a ghost?
/Could it really be Boss Bot?/. ''Calling all Autobots!'' I feel a wave of hope and excitement sweep over me as the sound of that voice flows through my audials.
''Oh yeah,'' as I run to the edge of my lookout and slide down the side, I spy a cloud of dust billowing out from behind a familiar and much missed figure. ''Hell yeah!'' I jump across to a tall stack of rock and reach behind for my gun. ''He's back!'' I punch the air enthusiastically with my servo, ''He's Alive!'' Letting off a spray of bullets into the air I scream to the heavens…
''OPTIMUS IS HERE!''
It is a welcome to my friend and my leader, a challenge to those who hunt us and a release of the anger and concern I have been fightin' to ignore for five years. Although Phoenix has offered guidance and leadership over the past year, in a manner of speakin', nothin' compares to havin' Optimus back where he belongs. /Phoenix may be a Prime, but she is not Optimus Prime, and no one can ever take his place as far as I'm concerned/.
/Mind you I think she'd agree with ya Hound!/. As I stand on the column of rock and spy the small group of Autobots millin' about a towering familiar blue and red figure, I can't contain my happiness at seein' Boss Bot amongst the land of the Livin' again. ''Hell yeah, boom time! We got the gang back together.'' I pause a moment and take the cigar out from between my denta, tappin' the ash on the ground. ''Well, almost all the gang back together.''
As I replace my cigar, a small naggin' worry begins to settle in the pit of my tanks. ''What will Optimus think of the news Phoenix turned up after all this time and has been leadin' in his stead this past year?'' I grunt out loud, ''and just as he is restored to us, Phoenix disappears? Not to mention Jazz and the others….''
I sighed out loud and began my descent. /Optimus is back now Hound. He'll know what to do. Everything will be okay….. I hope/.
Rachet P.O.V
''Calling all Autobots.''
I snap my helm up from studying the data pad in my servos. ''Son of a glitch! It can't be, can it?'' The shock of hearing that voice clearly evident on my face and in my voice as I glance at Ironhide.
''Calling all Autobots!'' As the commanding voice rolls about my audials one more time I feel a euphoric wave of relief, happiness and excitement wash over me. I quickly stow the data pad in my subspace, and in a rare display of physical affection, I reach out and grasp 'Hide's shoulder struts and shake him. ''He's back! I don't know how he did it Ironhide and I don't care, but he is back!''
Ironhide had a small smile on his faceplates as he gently shrugged my servos off. ''It would seem to be the case Rachet. The coordinates he sent through,'' the seasoned warrior's smile grew, ''he's headed right here, heading back to the last place he saw us all.'' At this last thought Ironhide's expression changes and a look of sadness falls across his features. ''Do you think Elita and Arcee will come back now Rachet?''
I furrow my brow in consternation, ''I don't know Ironhide! Given their primary objective for the past three years has been to locate the whereabouts and status of Prime and the others, I would say there is a chance they will make their way here.'' I feel the corners of my dermas curve up into a grin, ''Elita would come back now if only to give Optimus a piece of her mind for making her abandon him back in Mexico City.''
Ironhide gave a loud grunt, ''Oh yeah, she's still pissed about that.'' A mischievous glint appeared in his optics. ''Perhaps Prime should have just continued to lay low and give her a few more years to ''cool off'', femmes hey?'' At the raised optic ridge and sardonic grin I sent him he continued, ''Yeah, I doubt there is a place he could hide from her forever anyway, probably best to get it over and done with.'' He folded his arms across his large black chest and shuffled on his pedes. ''Kind of glad Chromia didn't hear me say that last bit, she'd have gone several rounds with me..''
''And won!'' I shot back at my friend much to his chagrin. After a moment the huge grin and the playful mood evaporated as another thought took seed in my processor.
''Rachet, do you think Phoenix heard that message too? Do you think..'' Ironhide had clearly shared my concerns and voiced them before I had a chance.
''I don't know!'' I snapped back more tersely than I intended. Ironhide said nothing but clamped his dermas together tightly. I ex-vented loudly, trying to expel my frustrations and fears. ''Sorry 'Hide. I am sure she did. As to whether she will – or can – return remains yet to be seen.'' A worrying feeling returned to the pits of my tanks.
Phoenix had not been seen or heard from for over two weeks and she had been acting suspiciously just before she took off on one of her ''routine patrols.'' /I am sure she just got carried away with her patrol and ventured further afield than she intended/. Still, she hadn't contacted me, or anyone, to inform us of her status or expected return which was unusual for her.
Since taking over the role of acting Prime in Optimus' stead this past year, Phoenix had tried her best to step up and lead as Prime would, taking her role very seriously. Though she kept her unique sense of humour, it was buried further and further beneath the surface as she navigated her way through unknown waters, often with a boisterous, belligerent and on some level, resentful, crew.
Most of the Autobots who had answered the call and made their way to Monument Valley accepted Phoenix's return and new position without much of an issue. If anything, they were simply grateful to have her back and have a figure of authority manning the helm. Having the support and backing of Ironhide and I did help her, /though I doubt she would have shied away from the responsibility if she did not have it!/. Others, like Crosshairs and even Drift to an extent, took less of a shine to her and the fact she was not Optimus. They challenged her but she took it in her stride and managed to keep them in line and working as part of the team– for the most part. /You would be proud Optimus/.
I ex-vented deeply once more and cast my optics down the road that Prime would hopefully soon be making his way down. ''It has been far too long since Prime and Phoenix were reunited.'' I gave a small snort, ''and Elita needs the opportunity to meet Phoenix and all three of them need to work things out for their own good – for everyone's good!''
''You know, I could take bets Rachet.'' Ironhide's voice held a mischievous tone to it as he spared a glance in my direction.
''Bets? What on earth for Ironhide?'' I had no idea what our weapon's specialist was getting at.
''Who would win if Elita and Phoe…''
''Are you serious!'' I interjected incredulously.
For a moment Ironhide looked suitably chastened at his suggestion before he shrugged his shoulders, ''I'm just saying, it's an option.''
The corners of my dermas curled up and a devious smile spread slowly across my face. ''Besides Ironhide. Phoenix would win.'' I could feel the old warrior narrow his optics at me. ''After Elita put up a damn good fight of course, but Phoenix would get her in the end.''
Ironhide gave a low chuckle and rolled his shoulders before folding his arms across his chest and staring off in the distance down the road as the small wisp of dust billowing out behind Optimus grew ever larger and nearer. ''I'll take that action Rachet.''
As the familiar and much-loved blue and red flame decaled truck approached, I felt the grin on my dermas begin to fade. ''Kind of a moot point Ironhide unless Phoenix returns. Let's hope for everyone's sake, especially Prime's, that she does.'' I honestly didn't know how Prime would take the news that Phoenix had received his distress message three years ago and made her way here, taking up leadership of the Autobots in his absence for the past year. More importantly, I did not know how he would take the news that just as he is returned to us, Phoenix goes missing. /Let's hope absence makes the spark grow fonder and he is in an understanding mood/.
As the large and powerful new form of my leader and friend comes to an abrupt stop beside Crosshairs, all morose thoughts disappear as I walk forwards to greet him, Ironhide close behind me.
''Welcome back Optimus! By Primus are you a sight for sore optics, good to see you old friend.''
Elita P.O.V
''Calling all Autobots.'' My spark skips a pulse and I almost swerve off the road at the unexpected intrusion. /Can it be? How?/.
''Calling all Autobots!'' The sound of that voice sends waves of relief, joy, love and anger rolling over me. I want to scream, I want to yell, I want to…. /You don't know what you want to do, what you should do – do you?/.
::Elita, are you okay? Was that, did he just….:: the concerned voice of Arcee jolts me out of my thoughts.
::Yes, and Yes Arcee. I am okay, shocked, overwhelmed, happy and a whole range of other things, but I am okay. And yes, that was indeed Optimus. He has come back to us!:: I feel my optics close tightly within my vehicle mode as I ride out another wave of strong emotion.
I thought he was lost to us. To me. To her.
A white-hot flash of anger tears through me, though it quickly abates as I force myself to calm down and release those feelings. /Easy 'Lita/, I reassure myself, /remember what 'Hide said that day. You love Prime, always will, but are you IN love with him?/. Ever since that horrible day I have carried Ironhide's words with me, and while I have yet to come to a final decision, to truly let go and move forward, I know it has helped me survive. It has helped me to start to forgive – not just Prime and her but myself – for what happened in Mexico City. A shudder runs through my frame as I recall that fateful day.
::Elita? What are your orders? Shouldn't we head back to the others? We can stop looking for Prime now can't we?:: I can sense the urgency in Arcee's voice to abandon our course of action and return to our friends – to our leader. ::and maybe now we have Prime back, we can all try and find Sideswipe and the others?::
I feel a small, sad smile spread across my dermas as I hear the concern Arcee tries to hide for a certain silver devil of a twin. I know well what she feels and I wish I could send her a wave of comfort and reassurance but instead I simply reply, :: Perhaps Arcee:: and continue along our path.
For the past three years, ever since we scattered to the winds to try and avoid capture, Arcee and I have been on a mission to locate our missing friends; Jazz, Sideswipe, Dino, Roadbuster and Topspin and of course Prime. We have retraced our last trip to Mexico City and numerous routes out of there, trying to determine which way Prime might have taken. All the while on high alert for any sign of the mysterious and lethal Government agency that hunts us. We have visited countless towns and states, focusing mainly on Texas and the other southern states reasoning Prime could not have gone much further in his condition.
One such town looms ahead – Paris, Texas. /So many weird place names these humans have/. I feel myself ex-vent deeply as I gather the necessary strength and resolve needed for whatever chain of events comes next because of my decision.
After a moment's hesitation, and seeing no oncoming traffic, I reef the steering wheel around, lock my wheels up and feel the rubber of my tyres grip at the road. The angry screeching sound giving voice to my mixed emotions as I carry out a massive handbrake turn in a cloud of smoke and head back in the direction we had just been travelling from.
::I'll take that as a ''yes'':: I could hear the taunting tone in Arcee's voice as she immediately followed suit and sped up behind me.
Choosing to ignore the bait, I commed back to her ::Affirmative Arcee:: There was nothing else to say as my thoughts once again consumed me as we raced towards our destination a good fifteen earth hours away.
When I heard the distress call she put through a year ago on the Autobot emergency frequency, I almost made my way to the town mentioned in the brief communique for two reasons. Primarily, I was anxious for Rachet and fearful for his life and I wanted to be there for my friend but, a part of me also wanted to confront her. To come face to face with her so I could finally put a face to the name that had torn my spark in two.
But I couldn't. Something stopped me.
A few days after that transmission was sent, she sent another to let all Autobots know Rachet had survived and they were regrouping back at Monument Valley to begin a systematic search and reconnaissance for our lost leader and friends as well as the villains that hunted us and any Auotbots would be welcomed to join them.
While a few of them answered the call happily, I could not bring myself to go – even though I knew it was her that saved Rachet's life. I did not know how I would react. I did not know what I would do. I did not know what I would think. I did not know! Arcee had remained by my side out of loyalty. Although I knew she liked Phoenix and was friends with her, her history with me was longer and so she stayed. A choice I was grateful for.
I felt myself sigh out loud. /It was a wise decision ''Lita. It wasn't the time. I wasn't ready to see them all again – see her/. I felt my denta clench together and my dermas tightened determinedly, /But now - it IS/. One way or another I am meeting this Phoenix.
No more hiding.
No more running.
No more ignoring.
It's time to face my past hurts and wounds – so I might embrace the future. A future free from anger, regret, spite and sorrow.
As this new resolve settled in my spark, I felt surprisingly lighter, stronger. A sense of peace wrapped itself about me and urged me on ever closer to my destination.
/I'm coming Optimus and Phoenix – ready or not!/.
Phoenix P.O.V
''Calling all Autobots,'' the energon in my lines ceases to flow and my spark lurches painfully in my casing so much so I must raise a servo to my chest to try and contain it.
/Not again! I can't take this again! If he is hurt again…/.
''Calling all Autobots!'' that beloved and much missed baritone voice flows like honey over my audials and sinks into my soul. /Optimus! You're back!/. The rest of the message contains coordinates to…. A massive, derisive smile breaks out on my dermas as I realise where he is headed. /Bloody typical! I hang around there for over a year and nothing. I leave not two weeks ago on my mission and now he shows up! Fuck sake!/. I let a low, frustrated growl escape my dermas and it takes every ounce of restraint to fight the urge to launch from my hidden position, take to the skies and wing my way back to him.
I close my optics tightly as my body feels as though it is trying to go in every direction at once. I ex-vent as quietly and calmly as I can to try and regain some control over my emotions. ''At least he IS alive Phoenix and with the others,'' I whisper to myself to placate my own irritation and anger at the incredibly poor timing Prime and I seem to be plagued by. /Which would include Elita/, the teasing thought mocks me and threatens to tear at my mental and emotional scars.
Before I allow myself to get swept away in a torrent of sadness, I recall Rachet's words. /Phoenix, you have a habit of - assuming - far too much when it comes to matters concerning Prime and yourself/. I physically shake myself to banish the negative thoughts and allow the wave to wash over me and fade away into obscurity.
/It doesn't matter who he is with Phoenix! The point is he is alive and well. That is the main thing. And, provided all goes well here in the next few days, you will see him again. I swear it/.
As I feel my focus returning, I once again resume my lonely vigil high above the bustling facility, its workers, and their secrets. My task is to watch. To wait. To listen. To prepare and, should the worst come to pass, do everything in my power to stop a nightmare from becoming a catastrophic reality.
Though I am tempted to send Optimus a private comm to welcome him back and let him know I am safe and well – for the moment – I manage to resist. /You have not spoken to him for five years, surely you can last a few more days?/. Besides, at the moment there is only one mech it is of grave importance to be talking to and he, should be waiting in Chicago to meet up with Prime and the others to give them some very important information.
A wry smile forms on my dermas at this thought. /It's just that Prime and the others don't know he is. In fact, they don't even know if he is alive/. I give a small chuckle as I huddle down further against my hiding spot in the darkness. ''Should be an interesting reunion.''
Jazz P.O.V
''Calling all Autobots, calling all Autobots!''
I feel a massive smile spread across ma dermas at tha sound of Prime's unmistakeable voice and I almos' give a loud yell of joy. I have not heard that voice for three long years and tha last time I did hear it, I thought it would be tha last! /This is Prime you're talkin' 'bout Jazz, the dude's 'bout as tough as they come. Take more than a ambush from Cemetery Wind and Lockdown ta stop him!/.
At tha thought of Cemetery Wind and Lockdown, I felt ma spark twist painfully in its casin' as I realised Prime was nearly killed because of me, Sideswipe, Dino, Roadbuster and Topspin. He only went ta Mexico City because somehow Bumblebee got intel ta suggest we were seen down there.
I give a loud, angry snort disguised by a rev of my engine. ''Sith spawned Cemetery Wind and that asshole Attinger layin' bait for Prime to trap him!'' I feel tha energon in ma lines boil at tha treachery and deceit that self servin' prick has used ta hunt, hurt and kill ma friends all for money from that other self servin', arrogant scientist prick Joyce.
Once again, ma spark lurches painfully in ma casin' as I recall Leadfoot and his demise. I give a low groan of loss and frustration as I maintain vehicle mode not far from Joyce's KSI base of operations here in Chicago. /Chicago! Man, what is it with this place!? Seems like a bad luck magnet for us Autobots, not ta mention tha innocent humans who live here/. For a moment I distract myself with tha thought before a wave of anger sweeps over me. ''These greedy bastards have no idea what and who they are messin' with and they are goin' ta bring nothin' but death and destruction ta not only my kind, but theirs as well!''
I continue ta watch tha comin's and goin's of various crew as they go about their jobs ''scannin'' vehicles and shipments of ''parts'' arrive. However, those shipments seem ta have, pardon tha pun, ''died down'' as there are fewer Decepticons ta hunt and we Autobots have taken ta hidin'. I feel a sneer form on ma dermas. /Not long now Leadfoot, Rachet and Prime. It will be our turn ta turn tha tables on these pit-spawned bastards an' hopefully shut 'em down for good!/. Nearly four years of Secret Ops surveillance, of bein' separated from most of ma friends and family and of havin' ta restrain myself from tearin' these fuckers ta pieces with ma bare servos for what they have done…..
Tha rev of a high-performance sports car engine and a flash of silver lets me know I am about ta be relieved for patrol tonight. It also allows me ta ex-vent deeply and try ta calm myself down and chill the hell out.
::Hey Jazz, s'up Bro?:: Sideswipe's voice held concern as he pulled up beside me in the darkness. ::Thought you'd be happy to hear Boss Bot's back again, instead you givin' off vibes like someone's pissed all over ya paintwork. What gives?::
I can't help but smile at the silver twin. 'Sides always had a way of cheerin' me up.
I allow a small chuckle down the comm line ::Hey 'Sides. I'm sorry man. Jus' stewin' over these bastards and all they have done. Leadfoot, Rachet, Prime and the Yeager's. I'm almos' at tha end of ma rope with dealin' with these assholes::
Sideswipe also gives a small chuckle ::Oh THAT all! I thought it was something serious:: Though he was in his car mode, I could almos' see the smile on his faceplates.
::You lucky we have ta maintain some form of stealth mode ya dick or I'd give ya a serious arse whoppin':: Though ma words sounded threatening, there was humour in 'em too and 'Sides knew this. In some small way, an' almos' unbelievable ta think it, but ''Sides had helped me stay sane these past few years givin' me a laugh when I needed it mos'.
::Could always take a rain check? I might be free on the 12th:: ''Sides was lovin' shit stirrin' me right now. Bastard!
:: 12th of never more like it:: I sighed out loud, tryin' ta bring an air of seriousness back ta our conversation. ::Now shut up and focus on tha job ya bloody idiot. With Prime back, and I'm guessin' he's seriously pissed, it won't be long before he finds his way here lookin' for Twiddledick and Tweedledufus and we gotta be ready ta find him and give him our intel which has ta be spot on. So, optics peeled, pay attention and keep a low profile 'Sides, we're nearly there:: I started ma engine and prepared ta pull away from tha kerb and back ta our base of operations, an abandoned Church nearby.
::Sir, Yes Sir! I'll be all that I can be:: Sideswipe yelled down tha comm.
I almos' transformed a servo free ta slap him but thought better of it. /Jus' be thankful Sunny hasn't shown up yet, could be worse! Then again maybe if Arcee shows up soon he might grow up a lil' tryin' ta impress her/. I can't help tha huge smile formin' on ma dermas as I pull away from tha kerb and roll towards ma destination.
Jus' as I turn off ma headlights and start ta roll into tha abandoned building, I hear ma comms go off. ::Jazz here:: A huge grin breaks out across ma faceplates as I recognise tha voice. ::Phoenix!::
