Chapter 183 - Who Will Stand with Me?

Elita P.O.V

I smiled at Perceptor. ''An excellent question, with no simple or short answer. Whilst I do not have time to give you all the particulars of why and how I came to be before you now, know that it is for a reason of utmost importance…''

''What, more important than reviving our dying home world, Prime's home planet?'' Wheeljack cut in, a touch of sarcasm in his voice.

I turned to face him, ignoring his tone. ''Yes Wheeljack, at this point in time, it is.''

Again, there was a murmur amongst the gathered Autobots though this time there was a hint of dissension. I raised my servos to gain their attention. ''Autobots please! While our planet is indeed dying, Earth, the planet Optimus Prime remained on and allowed him and the others to call home for some time now, is about to be threatened by an ancient evil. An evil so powerful it WILL destroy the whole planet and all upon it, which includes our friends and our leader, in a matter of lunar cycles.'' There was a collective gasp.

''What evil is this you refer to Elita One? What could be so powerful as to destroy an entire planet in one fell swoop?'' Kup turned his thoughtful expression towards me, a hint of horror shining in his optics. ''Have the Decepticons and Megatron grown so powerful as to cause such a threat?''

''Unicron, the Chaos Bringer.'' Kup's face went blank for a moment as he processed what I said.

''The what now? Unicorn? What is a unicorn Elita and why are you so afraid of it?'' Hot Rod looked confused, and I bit back a snigger despite the seriousness of the situation.

''Perhapsithasareallybighornandcangrowtomassivesizes!'' Blurr blurted his assessment out.

I closed my optics and held my servos higher. ''Please listen!'' The voices stopped and once again, I had everyone's attention. Kup was silent. ''Unicron is an ancient foe, as old as the universe itself, you see..''

''Unicron is the God like brother of Primus, the opposite to him in all ways. Where Primus brings life, Unicron seeks to destroy it.'' Kup's voice was monotone. ''I… I vaguely remember hearing stories of him back when I was but a youngling, but I thought they were just that – stories, myths.''

I smiled at the ancient warrior. ''I assure you Kup, he is very real and currently heading towards planet Earth, intent on its destruction.''

''Hold up here! Time out!'' Blaster held his servos up. ''Ya mean ta tell me you have come back here ta try and convince us ta go back ta Earth with ya ta help Prime and the others face an ancient God, a being so powerful he can destroy an entire planet on his own?''

I sighed. ''Yes, Blaster. In essence, that is exactly what I have come to do.''

''Oh well then! No problem,'' Blaster smiled at me. ''Jus' checkin''. He and Jazz had much in common and right now, I loved him for it.

''Are you slagging well kidding me Elita!'' Hot Rod erupted as he stared at Blaster. ''Do you hear how that all sounded just now?''

''Look I know what I ask seems like an insurmountable task, but we can't leave our friends, our leader, another beautiful and defenceless planet to such a fate. If we do not make a stand with Optimus and our friends on Earth, then all we have fought for, all we have bled for, all we have lost,'' I paused as I fought the wave of agony at recalling Firestar's demise, ''Will be for nothing.'' I paced about before them all. ''This is our chance to end the tyranny of Unicron and the Decepticons, to finally achieve the peace we have so desperately fought for and longed for.''

''So, on top of a God we also have the Decepticons to contend with? Yeah, this sounds like a fight we our greatly outnumbered in Elita,'' Hot Rod spoke up once more. ''I mean don't get me wrong, I love ta rumble with the 'Cons and if Prime needs help, say no more, but…'' his face reflected the doubt I knew many felt in their sparks. ''Unicron? A God? Kind of tips the scales against us don't you think?''

''In all my years as an Autobot,'' Kup began to speak.

''And there have been a good few of those, hey Kup?'' Hot Rod chuckled beside his aged mentor.

Kup narrowed his optics but chose to ignore Hot Rod's remarks, ''In all the battles I have fought in, I have never recalled going against a God AND the Decepticons and winning.'' There were mumbled words exchanged between those gathered. I was losing their support.

Behind me, the sound of heavy pedefalls making their way towards us drew my attention. My spark pulsed strongly in my chest as I knew who it was who approached. I whipped my helm around.

''Well, Kup,'' the sound of a calm, yet authoritative voice floated towards me as Ultra Magnus and Springer returned from their patrol. ''Surely experience has taught you, there is always a first time for everything.'' Magnus came to stand before me. His optics shone brightly down upon me, and a warm smile welcomed me. He inclined his helm towards me, his optics never leaving mine, as he addressed me. ''Hello, Elita One.'' His optics quickly flicked over my form, no doubt assessing if I was injured and in need of assistance. When he was satisfied I was in good health, he continued. ''Count me in.''

''But you don't know what you have just volunteered for Magnus,'' Wheeljack retorted.

Ultra Magnus shook his helm as he turned to face Wheeljack. ''It doesn't matter Wheeljack. If my Prime, my friends, need my help, then I give it freely and unquestioningly.'' His optics scanned the group before. ''As should you all.''

I beamed up towards Magnus and before I could register what was happening, I felt one of my servos reach out to grasp his massive forearm. I closed my optics for a moment, savouring how it felt to touch him. ''Thank you Magnus! I appreciate your support. It means so much to me, and to Prime.''

Magnus' smile broadened at my words and his optics glanced down to take in the sight of my servo on his arm. While he did not place his servo on mine, he did not seem opposed to having it there. He nodded before he turned to face the others. ''Well? Who else here will go to the aid of our Prime and make a stand with Elita and I?'' He cast a challenging glare at those assembled before him.

''And what of Cybertron?'' Springer spoke up a tone of frustration permeating his words. ''We just abandon it after millions of years fighting, of sacrificing, to keep an Autobot presence here?'' He folded his arms across his chest and stared almost accusingly at myself and Magnus. ''If we leave now, Cybertron is as good as dead.''

I felt a sad smile form on my dermas as I released Magnus' arm and stepped towards Springer and placed a servo imploringly on his arm. ''Springer, if we don't leave now, then Optimus Prime, many of our friends on Earth,'' I felt a small smirk form on my dermas, ''Jazz, Rachet, Ironhide and Arcee to name a few,'' at the mention of the pretty pink and white femme Springer's arms unfolded and he stood taller, ''a beautiful planet and billions of its inhabitants, WILL DIE - and soon!''

Around me I watched as the gravity of the situation sunk into those gathered. Kup spoke up once more, his voice filled with determination. ''Well, no one lives forever..''

'''Ha! I don't know old timer; you're giving it a good ol' crack!'' Hot Rod sniggered as he patted Kup on the shoulder. ''You're turning into the bot that Primus forgot!''

I bit back peals of laughter at the cheeky jibe as Kup glowered at the young mech. /How I had missed my friends here/. ''I'd be careful Hot Rod,'' Chromia chuckled in her husky voice. ''If you keep pushin' Kup, you certainly won't live for much longer!'' Beside her, Moonracer tried to stifle a laugh and failed. Hot Rod's smug smile faded.

Several bots burst out laughing and beside me Magnus smiled in amusement before he grew serious yet again. I could not help but notice there were many similarities between Optimus Prime and the mech beside me, /they could almost pass for brothers at times/. ''Besides Springer,'' Magnus addressed his 2IC, ''IF we are victorious, then we stand the best chance of restoring Cybertron to its former glory with the threat of both the Decepticons and Unicron eliminated forever.''

''Well,'' Springer sighed out loud. ''when you put it like that. Sign me up!''

There was a loud cheer, and I felt a wave of happiness and relief engulf me before a sense of urgency raced to take its place. ''We must hurry. Time is of the essence. Unicron will make Earth fall in two lunar cycles or less. There is no time to waste!''

Magnus nodded solemnly. ''Understood Elita. Springer!'' The green, silver and yellow bot stepped forward. ''Take Hot Rod and Kup and gather all the munitions you can find in our arsenal and arrange to take it aboard Elita's ship to the armoury. I shall join you there shortly.''

''Of course Magnus.'' Springer turned on his pedes and made for the secret bunker in which whatever precious weapons we had at our disposal lay in wait.

I turned to Chromia and Moonracer. ''I want you pair to assist Perceptor, Wheeljack and Blurr in transporting what energon supplies we have as well as medical supplies.'' My dermas curved into a grim expression. ''We will need every available resource at our disposal.''

Chromia nodded, ''Yes Elita, consider it done.'' I felt a smile spread across my dermas as I recalled Ironhide saying the same thing to Prime from time to time. Though she had not had a chance to really say anything yet, I knew Chromia was anxious to ask about Ironhide and how he was. I smiled to myself. I could not wait to help reunite both my friends with the one their spark quietly yearned for.

''What about my inventions?'' Wheeljack piped up.

I cringed internally. ''Only the ones that may actually be of help and not a hinderance as in will NOT to explode in our faces!'' Wheeljack looked contrite though he saluted and took off in the direction of his lab.

''Blaster!'' Magnus barked.

The red, grey and yellow bot stepped forwards, ''Whadda ya need Magnus?''

''I need you to try to get a message to Optimus Prime on Earth to let him know reinforcements are on their way and to request coordinates for a rendezvous.''

''Gotcha! I'm onta it Magnus!'' Blaster turned to headed off towards the cargo transport but Magnus reached out and grabbed his shoulder.

''And I want you to scan the emergency frequency and any other frequency in case Prime is trying to get a message through to us! Send receive, send, receive; that is your sole task for the time being!'' Magnus released Blaster's shoulder. ''Now go!'' With a casual salute and a smile, the bot took off at pace.

In just a few moments, everyone had dispersed to attend to their assigned tasks. It was just Magnus and I left standing together. I gave him a quick smile of thanks and recognition before I moved to head off towards the cargo transport. As I turned to walk off, I felt a large servo shoot out to grab my own, engulfing it.

I halted and turned to look at our servos entwined together, blue and white. My optics slowly, almost disbelievingly travelled up to rest upon Magnus' face. His optics were the bluest I had recalled seeing them and a small, half smile played on his dermas as he stared down at me. ''Elita. I did not expect to see you again so soon.'' He shuttered his optics and looked away as his smile turned wistful. ''I did not think you would come back, at least - not alone.''

I brought my other servo up to place it over his. ''I could not leave my femmes indefinitely Magnus, you know that.'' He nodded knowingly. A small, sad smile of my own formed on my dermas in reply. ''Besides, things change. Some things, as it turns out, were not meant to be.'' Magnus' expression looked shocked for a moment as the weight of my words sunk in. I gently patted his servo and laughed softly. ''And I'm surprisingly okay with that Magnus, as it turns out.''

Ultra Magnus regarded me for a moment, an unreadable expression on his face. I almost gasped out loud at the unexpected sensation of his digits as they gently caressed my servo. ''As am I Elita. As am I.''