Author's note:I know it has been a while since Prime and Phoenix have been in a chapter together, but it IS coming! As is a surprise... 😊

Hopefully, you can hang in there a bit longer, thanks to those readers who have stuck with me so far! Anyway...grab a cold drink (or a hot one), a snack, put your feet up and let's get on with the show...

Chapter 128 - Unexpected Ally

Elita P.O.V

I leant against the wall of the ship, arms across my chest, quietly observing the discussion between Prime and Cade. I had been keeping a very close optic on Optimus since I witnessed his reaction to Jazz as he divulged the whereabouts and intentions of Phoenix regarding the Seed. I had followed him here after he had finished seeing Rachet for some repairs and, if I knew Rachet, a ''talking to''. Whether the talk had gotten through to him remained to be seen.

I was worried about him.

A small smile tugged at the corners of my dermas. /Hunh, seems like worrying about the big guy is a full time occupation lately!/. However, my smile quickly disappeared when I recalled the look of blind fury on his face, the clenched fist as it was raised to strike at Jazz, one of his closest and most trusted friends. It was as though for a moment; he was not Optimus. Not our Prime, our leader and our friend. Not the mech who had always seemed to have control over his emotions, always managed to find hope and persevere and always clung to the light. In that moment – he had no control over his emotions, there was no hope to be found in his optics – only rage and he was shrouded in darkness – his light consumed.

I felt myself shake involuntarily as I bid the image fade away, hopefully never to flash across my processor again!

The sound of Cade's quietly questioning voice drew my attention back to the moment. ''When you said you were done fighting for humans, you didn't mean that - did you?'' Cade had fixed Optimus with a pleading stare. I could tell this human had great respect for Optimus. That they had, in the short time they had known each other, gone through quite a bit. The fact Optimus was giving this human some of his valuable time told me all I needed to know about Cade Yeager. I leant forward in anticipation, eager to hear Prime's response myself.

Optimus knelt beside Cade, his right arm draped across his knee and a sullen expression on his face. He slowly shuttered his optics and his helm almost imperceptibly shook from side to side as he responded in a quiet yet strained voice, as he tried to control the anger that simmered just below the surface. ''How many more of my kind must be sacrificed,'' at this Optimus began to rise to his pedes as if trying to distance himself from the conversation, from Cade's implied request, ''to atone for your mistakes!'' He walked away; a deep scowl etched into his face.

Cade raised both his hands in supplication, replying immediately in a matter-of-fact manner that acknowledged his species' weaknesses. ''Well, what do you think being human means? That's what we do. We make mistakes.'' Prime stopped walking away and turned his helm back to acknowledge what Cade was saying. His expression was still hard and unforgiving, yet – he was listening.

/It's a start!/ I thought to myself. I pushed forward off the wall and took a tentative step towards Optimus and Cade, who had both seemed to tolerate my proximity to their private conversation.

Cade sighed and continued. ''But sometimes out of those mistakes come the most amazing things.'' For a moment Cade seemed lost in his own thoughts, as if he was calling to mind all the mistakes he had personally made over his lifetime, all the choices and decisions he had made that led him to this moment. After a moment, his voice dropped, and he spoke with regret and a small amount of shame. ''When I fixed you, it was for a reward. That was it, that was why. For money.'' Cade looked somewhat abashedly at Optimus, ''that's why that night in the desert, I did not feel comfortable with you thanking me for saving you because I knew what my motives had really been – initially anyway.''

Optimus narrowed his optics and his gears and hydraulics seemed to whine and moan as he shifted agitatedly on his pedes at Cade's admission, though he said nothing. Cade stared firmly at Optimus and continued, ''And it was me making a mistake. Without it, you wouldn't be here.'' Cade continued, ''So even if you got no faith in us, I'm asking you to do what I do. I'm asking you to look at all the junk and see the treasure. You gotta have faith, Prime, in who we can be.''

Optimus' shoulders slumped as he unwillingly acknowledged the truth in Cade's words. Yet, the expression he wore on his face as he turned towards Cade, was not one of immediate forgiveness nor acceptance. Burning within those bright azure optics was almost a sense of annoyance, of frustration and a spark deep weariness. A feeling that once again – despite his better judgement - he was being asked to take the moral high road and ignore the serious transgressions of the many, clinging instead to the decency of the few to guide his actions.

As I took note of Prime's reactions, I could tell it was a request that was becoming harder for him not only to honour, but to even entertain. Yet, despite this, as Prime stared back at Cade I recognised another emotion I thought had deserted him altogether.

Hope.

Prime continued to stare at Cade, his own emotions warring within himself, it was as though he was releasing, or at least trying to, the bitterness and deep sense of betrayal he had been harbouring towards humans. Cade did not speak, nor did he push Optimus for a response. He merely allowed him the opportunity to digest his words.

I found myself nodding in agreeance as I took one more step towards Prime and Cade. Despite my own misgivings about the species of this planet through my own interactions, Cade had made a good point. ''Well said Cade,'' I smiled brightly at him as I strode to stand beside him and turned to face Optimus. The look on my face changed as I became contemplative. ''Though I think having faith in others, in what they are able to become, in how they are able to rise above petty insecurities, fears and greed for the greater good, is applicable not only to humans, but to everyone.'' Both Prime and Cade snapped their optics and eyes in my direction seeming to notice me for the first time. I folded my arms across my chest and stared resolutely at Cade and then at Prime. A small smile once again returned as I gazed upon the one who once held my spark. ''Everyone deserves a second chance.''

Cade smiled at me and nodded, ''Yes ma'am they do.'' He snorted and gave a small laugh, muttering almost to himself, ''unless they're Irish rally car drivers making moves on my young daughter, then they don't!'' He sighed loudly and got to his feet, slinging his newfound weapon across his back. ''Well. I've said my piece,'' he glanced between us both and noted Prime's stony expression. ''I'll leave you both alone to finish saying yours.'' Nodding briefly in both our directions, Cade took his leave off us, presumably going in search of his daughter Tessa and said boyfriend. I felt myself nodding to his retreating form before once again fixing my optics on Optimus.

Prime had said nothing to Cade but merely tipped his helm and watched him disappear. After a moment he shuttered his optics once and tilted his helm slightly as he returned my gaze. I smiled at him and folded my arms across my chest. ''What's on your processor ''Optimus? I know that look.''

He ex-vented deeply before his deep voice rolled about the space between us. ''Your comment, 'Everyone deserves a second chance'. It's not the first time I have heard that suggestion since we boarded this ship!''

I gave a small laugh, ''Yes. I noticed Rachet called you aside. No doubt he had a ''chat'' with you. How did that go? Did he manage to talk some sense into you?'' Prime shot me a withering glare, tore his gaze away from mine and began pacing about the room. /So that would be a no then/.

''While I too thought everyone deserved a second chance, actively championed it, often to my own detriment..'' I gave a snort of remembrance for the multiple times Optimus gave a 'Con a second chance only to be double crossed. Prime stopped pacing and cast me a stern look seeming to know what I thought of. After a spark beat, he continued. ''I cannot help but feel lately, and I expressed as much to Rachet, is a second chance even warranted if someone keeps making the same mistakes?'' He stopped pacing again and fixed me with an interrogative stare. ''How many chances do I give the humans to do better, be better, when the opportunity is so summarily and wilfully ignored?'' Though Prime's voice was not filled with anger and condemnation, it held an uncertainty and a challenge. It was as though his conscience was thinking out loud to determine what course of action it should take.

I stared at him for a moment in silence before I raised an optic ridge somewhat accusingly towards him. ''In your own words Prime – ''Freedom is the right of all sentient beings''. I unfolded my arms from across my chest and placed them on my hips as a sardonic smile spread languidly across my face. ''Does that freedom you once cherished so dearly not extend to one's right to make choices in how they act, or do not act, as the case may be? Or does it simply apply to the physical act of being free of oppression?''

Prime's optics narrowed threateningly for a moment, ''I've heard THAT saying earlier too!'' The sound of whining and moans coming from his gears and pistons as he once again shifted on his pedes, was the only sound as my question hung in the air. After an interminable moment, Prime's optics softened, and his dermas seemed to curve into a smug smile. ''By that logic then Elita, as a sentient being, surely, I too would be free to make a choice not to aid the humans after everything I have done for them?'' He folded his arms across his chest and raised an optic ridge in my direction.

For an astro second, I seemed lost for words which only served to turn the sneer into a triumphant grin and his optics shone brighter for a moment. Though his words were serious enough and I did not doubt his frustration and hurt, there was a playfulness that was slowly surfacing again as we verbally jousted. /How I have missed this with him!/.

I took my hands off my servos and took a few small steps towards Prime before I was standing before him. I gently paced a servo on his shoulder and smiled briefly at him. ''Indeed, you are free to make such a choice Optimus. However, you would be one of the few on this ship to do so and the Optimus Prime I once knew not so very long ago – would have found the idea of abandoning those who could not defend themselves, even from their own kind, abhorrent.''

His smile faded and his arms slowly unfolded and fell limply by his side.

I continued, ''And the Optimus Prime I once knew would have found the idea of leaving such a beautiful planet defenceless against tyrannical and destructive forces detestable, especially when he COULD have done something about it!'' Prime's optics lowered as he avoided my gaze. His shoulders slumped and he radiated sorrow and shame. I had a feeling he had heard something similar from Rachet.

I raised my other servo and placed it gently under his chin, just as he had done to me not that many vorns ago. As his optics reluctantly met mine, I allowed a warm smile to greet his gaze. ''That Optimus Prime may feel lost; he may be tired, frustrated and disillusioned but he is STILL in there!''

Prime ''sighed'' deeply as he seemed to release some of the pain he had been carrying. He raised his servos and placed them on my shoulders, clasping them firmly as he smiled at me. My digit left his chin and my servo gently cupped his face as I smiled encouragingly at him. ''That Optimus Prime will always be there – as long as you have faith and hope Prime, that tomorrow is worth fighting for. That what we can all become, is worth fighting for.''

Prime seemed to ruminate on my words, or perhaps it was Rachet's? After a moment he removed his servos from my shoulders and pulled me into an affectionate embrace, holding me tightly. I returned the gesture, trying to offer him support and encouragement. After a moment his voice, barely a whisper, found its way to my audials. ''Thank you Elita. I needed to hear that. From both of you!'' He released me and smiled brightly down at me, his voice, though stronger, held a slightly self-depreciating tone as he spoke, ''All of it!'' While I was under no false pretences that after two conversations Prime's spark held only hope, love and purity and that all of the betrayal he felt had been swept away. I knew him better than that.

I knew his demons still hovered on the periphery, perhaps now more than ever, always trying to extinguish the brightest of lights that burned within his spark. However, it was certainly not as tainted by darkness, anger and bitterness as it had been even mere hours ago before Rachet had started talking to him and for that, I was grateful. Prime's deep voice rumbled to life once more, ''Thank you Elita for being my compass.''

Despite my confusion at his comment, I laughed, ''You're welcome Prime. Glad I could help. However,'' I took a step back from him and put my hands on my hips again, looking quizzically at him as my curiosity got the better of me. ''If I am your compass, what does that make your Phoenix?''

Prime sighed and looked introspective for a moment as he deliberated what to say. After a moment's hesitation, his azure optics gazed steadily into mine and a small, wistful smile spread across his dermas. ''My True North.''