Author's note: Small amount of swearing... Phoenix and Prime have a little moment...

::denotes comm link conversation::

Chapter 188 – Stepping Up

Phoenix P.O.V

''You deserve a fucking medal Prime! Multiple medals. In fact, you deserve a public fucking holiday in your honour!'' I paced agitatedly about before Optimus, Ironhide, Jazz and Rachet. ''I don't know how you have managed to deal with the likes of Secretary Esper all these years and NOT have some sort of psychotic episode!''

''So,'' Ironhide interrupted dryly. ''I take it the meeting with the JCS went well?''

I rounded on him, glaring. ''Define ''well'' Ironhide.'' I resumed pacing, continuing in my tirade before he had a chance to respond to my rhetorical question. ''They reacted as most humans do when confronted with a life threatening, end of the world scenario. They panicked, turned on us, then each other and then almost gave up in disgust.''

Optimus, who up until now had allowed me to vent my frustrations in mild amusement, felt the need to speak up. ''Phoenix. While I agree Secretary Esper was, particularly challenging to deal with, try to understand where he is coming from.'' Prime walked over to me and reached out, grabbing me by the shoulders, forcing me to desist with my pacing. ''And they have not given up in disgust as you well know. Morshower has adjourned the meeting for the time being to allow all of us to consider our tactical options, devise possible strategies and for the JCS to inform the President of what is about to happen.''

I closed my optics and ex-vented slowly and deeply, trying to expel my anger and frustration. ''How do you do it Prime? How do you manage to stay so calm and focused and in control?'' I shook my helm in disbelief at him. ''It was all I could do NOT to burst into a fireball, tear them all a new one and then blow the monitors to smithereens for their lack of respect and gratitude towards you and the Autobots for all you have done.''

''That could have been an interestin' sight Phoenix,'' Jazz chuckled from my left. Ironhide and Rachet also looked amused at the thought. ''Almos' sad ya didn't do it.''

Prime ignored his 2IC's comment and raised a servo to gently bring my helm to his dermas, placing a kiss upon my chevron. ''Experience and time Phoenix. I have had millennia as Prime to learn to control and rein in my emotions. I also have the Wisdom of the Primes to help guide and comfort me.'' He smiled down at me with affection. ''You have neither experience in such situations, eons of time to learn to temper your reactions to such behaviour nor the Matrix to aid you Phoenix.''

He rubbed a thumb against my cheek, and I sighed into servo, his touch helping to alleviate the anger that coursed through me. ''Taking that into consideration, and the fact it was your first experience in such a meeting, and an incredibly important meeting at that, you did remarkably well and should be proud of your efforts.'' He cupped my cheek as his optics shone brightly down at me. ''I know I am.''

I smiled weakly up at him and kissed his servo before I stepped out of his grasp. ''Yeah well, if attending meetings like that is a significant part of being a Prime, then I hereby tender my resignation!'' Though I was venting my frustration and was not entirely serious, a small part of me was. I was not cut out to deal with that shit for millions of years, no fucking way. /I have no idea why Primus would even think I was capable of being like Optimus in that respect! Clearly didn't come to know me as well as he claimed to/.

Optimus watched me closely. Though he raised an optic in surprise at my comment, he refrained from saying anything. He knew I needed to rant to expel my feelings and that I tended to say things I didn't mean in these situations. Still, I couldn't help but notice the look of hurt flicker briefly in his optics and I immediately regretted saying what I did.

''Well Phoenix, I'm not entirely sure it works like that 'cuz if it did, I'm sure Prime would have possibly chucked it in back on Cybertron,'' Jazz smiled at his leader. ''And possibly numerous times since then.''

''Anyway,'' Rachet spoke up, changing the subject. ''Rude, panicky humans aside, what did come of the meeting? What decision was made about Unicron?''

''Did you tell them about the Decepticons?'' Ironhide rumbled as he placed his servos on his hips. ''How did they take that?''

Prime held his servos up to silence the rapid succession of questions being fired at us. ''Calm down, calm down!'' He flicked his optics to me, a silent request to come and join him once more. ''That is the primary reason we requested you all to meet us here, to inform you of what took place in the meeting.'' I sighed out loud and moved to stand beside Optimus.

Prime turned to face Rachet. ''Naturally, despite feeling overwhelmed and shocked, the humans will make a stand against Unicron and defend their planet. How they will do that, how we will all do that, is something we will be discussing when the meeting resumes later this evening.'' Prime moved his attention to Ironhide and Jazz. ''One thing we tried to get the humans to agree on was not using nuclear weapons.''

''Radiation won't affect us,'' Ironhide shrugged his shoulders.

''No, but it is lethal to humans Ironhide,'' Rachet fired back. ''Not so good for the earth either, so I tend to agree with you on that one.''

Prime nodded his helm. ''For the time being it seems we have a mutual understanding on that, though the Secretary for Defense has not ruled out their use entirely.''

''They're also going to try and start evacuating as many people as they can at Prime and Lennox's insistence,'' I took over the narrative from Prime. 'Though at one point there I thought they were going to just leave everyone to fend for themselves and wash their hands of it.'' I shook my helm in disbelief again and fought back the wave of anger that threatened to engulf me. I turned to face Ironhide. ''Prime did indeed tell them about the Decepticons and the cease fire.''

Ironhide growled, ''And? What did they say, how did they react?''

''They reacted as you would expect them to Ironhide,'' Prime's deep voice rumbled to life once more. ''They too are dubious that the Decepticons will honour the truce and that they will deceive us all.''

''Humph! Gotta say I side with the humans on that point,'' Rachet mumbled his opinion.

I smiled knowingly at my friend. ''Rachet I know it is hard to believe the 'Cons and Megatron in particular will keep to the truce but we must at least try to have faith that they will. As I said to the Advisor for Homeland Security, we need ALL available assets going into this fight and for the moment, like it or not, that includes the Decepticons.''

''Yeah well, I DON'T like it!'' Rachet grumbled as he shifted on his pedes.

Optimus placed his servo on his medic and friend's shoulder. ''I understand old friend. However, what Phoenix says is true and we must take the higher road and try our best to make this work. Besides, Phoenix made a very valid point.'' His optics shone brightly at me as he removed his servo from Rachet's shoulder, and a small smile tugged at the corner of his dermas.

I looked confused for a moment. ''I did? What point was that?''

''That self-preservation is a powerful motivator – and not just for humans,'' Prime looked around at those gathered. ''On that premise, there is a good chance the Decepticons WILL honour the truce, if purely to save their own skins. ''

I nodded my helm as I began to recall my own words not a joor ago and recollection dawned on me. ''Wow! That is actually a good point. Surprisingly.''

''You doubt your own abilities Phoenix?'' Prime raised his optical ridge at me in silent challenge.

I smiled sweetly at him. ''Would you like to be the kettle or the pot' as the human saying goes Optimus Prime?''

''She got you there Prime! Taste of ya own medicine I'd say,'' Jazz slapped his servo on his thigh as he laughed out loud. It felt good to hear that sound after all the tension of the meeting.

Optimus' expression shifted from mild annoyance to amusement as he nodded his helm in deference. ''Fair comment my Phoenix.''

''Well, I hate to be the one to bring the mood down here,'' Ironhide's gruff voice interrupted the conversation. ''But hadn't we better start focusing on what our next steps should be?''

''He's right.'' Rachet nodded in agreeance. ''I'm sure you're going to need to have some idea of a strategy, a plan for taking down Unicron for when your meeting reconvenes later tonight?''

Optimus ex-vented deeply, the sound very much like a sigh. ''You are both right and yes, we do need to focus on the very pressing matter at hand. How DO we take on Unicron and what weapons CAN we use against him, human and Transformer?''

''Well,'' Ironhide spoke up. ''We know we have located the Star Saber, the only issue will be in getting it to us in time. We also have the Matrix and the combined firepower of both Decepticon and Autobot armies.'' Ironhide gave a small smile as he turned to acknowledge me. ''We also have Phoenix and her abilities which should come in handy.''

I returned my friend's smile though a nagging thought played on my processor. /Apart from the ability to generate and manipulate fire, move and manipulate objects with my mind and flight, I wasn't sure what else I was able to do/. A cold feeling began to descend on me, and I suddenly felt as though a great weight had been placed on my shoulders, which in a way, it had. /Everyone has such high expectations of what I could do, and I suddenly feel like it was not enough – nowhere near enough – for what were are up against/. Something akin to panic seemed to tear through me.

''Phoenix?'' Prime's concerned voice shattered my thoughts. I looked at him blankly for a moment. ''Are you okay?'' His optics flicked over my form, no doubt analysing various readings I was subconsciously giving off.

I shook my helm, ''I'm fine, just thinking – about everything. You know.'' I shrugged my shoulders.

Prime continued to look at me for a spark beat but did not say anything. I knew he would later though when we were alone. He returned his attention back to Ironhide, who looked equally concerned about my sudden ''moment''. ''You were saying something about human weapons Ironhide?''

''That's right Prime. While nuclear weapons are to be avoided, if possible, there are still some weapons the humans possess that might be of assistance in a well-coordinated attack. Though the nuclear weapons clearly pack more of a punch than conventional weapons.''

Prime shook his helm. ''While that would stand to reason Ironhide, we must explore other options over and above nuclear options.'' Prime placed a servo under his chin thoughtfully as he considered Ironhide's words. ''I confess I do not know as much about human weaponry as I possibly should. I know about their capacity for warfare which is why I made the decision to not share our weapons with them, but I am limited in my knowledge of what weapons they DO have.''

Jazz chuckled again. ''You'd be surprised just what they have in their arsenal Prime. This species, it would seem, are more interested in developing weapons for war than they are in solving their problems of world hunger and homelessness.''

I felt a wry grin spread on my dermas at the denigrating yet accurate assessment. ''Sadly, he's right Prime. As a former human myself, I can attest to the fact that every major nation of this world would have some hideous weapon of warfare locked away as a deterrent or show of power.'' I shook my helm. ''While there will be no shortage of weapons from the humans, finding weapons and aircraft that will be able to be used effectively against an enemy such as Unicron, at a vastly greater distance than most weapons are built for, will be the challenge.''

Prime listened thoughtfully, rubbing his servo under his chin in a very human like manner of contemplation. He sighed out loud yet again. ''I had thought the threat of Unicron to be an ancient myth, an impossibility that had faded into the vastness of space itself with the passing of time. Never in my wildest imaginings would I have thought I would live to see such a day.''

I smiled at the other half of my spark. No doubt a million thoughts were racing through his processor, all jostling for attention and priority. A million scenarios and a million decisions weighing heavily on his spark, knowing as Prime, those decisions and their outcome began and ended with him. Knowing what he would be going through, remembering why Primus had gifted me with the opportunity to help bear this burden, I made a decision. I stepped up to him and placed a servo on his shoulder, my voice filled with acceptance and determination as I prepared to shoulder some of the burden for him. ''And yet it is here Prime, and we must all accept that and begin to prepare as best we can.'' I squeezed his shoulder reassuringly.

I turned to face Rachet, Jazz and Ironhide, ''Ironhide and Rachet, we need you to research and compile a list of weapons the humans possess that will be most advantageous in our battle. There is bound to be something at our disposal that can give us the upper hand.''

Optimus placed his servo over mine and stared at me, an unreadable expression on his face. Ironhide grumbled at me. ''And preferably nothing nuclear so, plan B it is.''

I smiled back at him. ''Or C, D, E, F.'' I turned to face our Special Ops saboteur. ''Jazz, we need you to work with Hound to discuss and draw up possible battle plans. Liaise with Lennox if necessary to ascertain what supports the US military can offer as well as on a global level with other Nations and what their military may offer in the way of support and firepower. Prime and I will review and approve, and we can then network with the various Governments and their military to coordinate a global strike force.''

Jazz saluted and smiled at me. ''You got it lil' lady!''

Ironhide nodded and gave a small grunt, ''I'd say the percentages of victory are fairly slagging minimal to non-fragging existent but, we'll give it a go.''

Jazz sighed out loud. ''What I wouldn't give to have ol' Prowler here right now!'' He shook his helm and laughed fondly, ''HE'D be able to give you the EXACT percentage of success for any number of battle plans Phoenix! He could possibly even estimate how long the battle would take down to the last minute!'' He gave another laugh as he no doubt recalled his friend.

I looked to Prime for confirmation, and he nodded his helm, ''It's true Phoenix. As I am sure we have mentioned to you, Prowl is basically a walking supercomputer with a battle CPU second to none. He was my head of Security and my 2IC before Jazz took on the role after Prowl failed to arrive here on Earth.''

I sent both Prime and Jazz a small smile. ''Sounds like a regular Sir John Monash, wish we had him here with us now.'' At the quizzical glances they all sent me I rolled my optics. ''You know. John Monash? Famous Australian General in World War 1? He was well known for meticulous planning and strategy, so much so that he predicted the battle of Hamel would be over in 90 minutes following his carefully laid out plans.'' I paused for a moment, pride filling my voice. ''It was over in 93 minutes. Unheard of for the time and went down in legend as a masterpiece of military planning.''

Prime was smiling warmly at me, and Jazz made a noise of approval before he replied dead pan. ''Not bad for a human with only crude weapons at his disposal. But, if it were Prowl in charge of planning and he said it would take 90 minutes, it would have been over in 89 minutes and 59 seconds.''

Ironhide and Rachet laughed out loud, and beside me, Optimus gave a small chuckle. I glowered at Jazz before I ignited flames in the palms of my servos, raising an optic ridge at him threateningly.

Jazz started to back up towards the door to the training room, holding his servos up in mock surrender. ''Okay, Okay point made! I'm goin''' He turned and headed towards the exit, Ironhide and Rachet on his heels. I smiled at my friend as he held the door open for Rachet and Ironhide. Just before he stepped out, he turned back around and yelled out, ''You know, you used to be more fun when you were OC!'' The fireball that exploded centimetres from his helm sent him running from the room, his laughter echoing off the walls.

I laughed out loud at my friend and his antics, turning about to see Prime eyeing me with an amused expression on his face as he folded his arms across his chest. ''What happened to, ''I hereby tender my resignation as Prime?'' I dipped my helm in embarrassment at my previously petulant comment. ''For someone who less than a joor ago all bar relinquished the title of Prime, you certainly stepped it up a notch.'' There was a teasing amusement to his voice as he reached out to pull me towards him.

I smirked at him as I welcomed being drawn into his arms and the comfort they offered. ''Would you rather I did?''

Prime erupted in another chuckle as he pulled me close. ''No! On the contrary, I am very grateful you did that.'' He lowered his helm to nuzzle at my neck and I felt a delicious shiver course through me as his deep voice rumbled in my right audial. ''Now, Phoenix Prime. What task would you have me perform?''

I shivered within his arms at the tone in his voice and the feel of his dermas against my audial but at his words, I stepped away and out of his reach, dipping my helm in embarrassment. ''I'm sorry Optimus, I guess I kind of just took over there, didn't I?'' I raised my optics towards him again, a contrite look upon my face. ''I'm sorry.''

Prime shook his helm and stepped towards me again, pulling me back into his embrace. /Impending doom be damned!/. We had lost five years of being able to hold each other and any day now Unicron might show up, so I would take any opportunity that presented itself to find myself wrapped up in his arms. A rare moment of comfort and affection between us in the eye of a brewing storm.

''Oh, Phoenix do not be sorry for that! You handled it well.'' He kissed my helm. ''To be honest, I am relieved there is someone else to do it! Millions of years of being the one to give orders does become rather tiresome.'' He smiled mischievously down at me, a playful mood suddenly descending upon him after all the seriousness of our previous conversations. ''But now, I have you, I can delegate all the boring bits of being a Prime to you! Primus knows I could do with the holiday!''

I gasped in mock indignation and gave him a gentle shove in his right shoulder. ''So, the truth comes out now hey Prime? You just want me around to take care of your dirty work!''

His optics darkened as he lowered his voice and brought his helm down, so it was mere inches away from mine. ''On the contrary, it is my dirty work I would especially like you to be involved in Phoenix!'' Before I could say anything in reply, I felt his dermas on mine as he kissed me soundly.

When he pulled away from me, I looked at him aghast for a spark beat, torn between shock and mirth. I smirked at him. ''You know. Perhaps it is appropriate that the end of the world is upon us, as I never thought I would live to see the day when I would hear YOU, Optimus Prime, make such suggestive comments!''

He laughed out loud, and my spark skipped a pulse at the wonderful sound. Wrapping his arms about me tightly, he kissed the chevron on my helm. ''Perhaps that is why I said it, no point holding back now is there my Phoenix?''

I threw my arms about his neck and stood up on the tips of my pedes. ''Well, you make a fair point Prime.'' I leaned in so I was almost touching his dermas with mine, my optics flicking between his dermas and his beautiful azure optics. I felt that familiar heat building between us and my spark pulsed erratically for a moment. ''Very well Optimus, when this is all over,'' I stroked the digits of my right servo lightly along the side of his face, running them down his neck, over his broad chest. His frame shivered under my ministrations, and I smiled wickedly at him as my digits danced teasingly around his waist and down over his aft.

He closed his optics and groaned, pressing his body into mine, desperate to feel as much of me against him as possible. My voice was low and sultry as I whispered in his audial. ''I challenge you to make good on your suggestions and innuendos.'' My optics locked onto his dermas as he slowly leaned forward closing the distance between us. ''Do you accept?''

He gave a low, guttural growl of desire as he tilted my helm back slightly to grant access to my dermas and neck. ''With pleasure my Phoenix!'' He placed a kiss at the base of my neck and began to move along my throat.

I let out small moans of delight as he trailed kisses along my neck, pausing as he reached my dermas. I could sense his spark rate beating as rapidly as my own, his body was deliciously heated with an intense need that matched my own. I closed my optics, savouring every sensation that coursed through my body at his touch, my dermas slightly parted in anticipation. ''With absolute pleasure,'' he murmured, as he moved to cover my dermas with his own.

''PRIME!'' Ironhide's voice erupted from the other side of the door. ''PHOENIX! The large metal door was slammed open, almost ripping it from its hinges as the weapon's specialist barrelled into the room, clearly alarmed at something.

::What NOW?:: I growled through our comms to Prime. ::This constant interruption is wearing thin fast!:: I hated to sound like some spoiled brat, but fuck sake! We NEVER seemed to be able to catch a break.

He sent me a small, knowing but apologetic smile. ::I am sorry my Phoenix. To be continued..:: his voice carried with it a seductive promise as he brushed his digit quickly along my cheek, leaving a trial of warmth in its wake.

Though the intimate moment between us had been shattered, and we had immediately moved to extricate ourselves from each other's embrace, Ironhide had the grace to look somewhat embarrassed and contrite for clearly interrupting a private moment between us and he silently averted his gaze for a moment. The feeling was fleeting however, as his face turned thunderous once again.

Before Ironhide could open his dermas, the sound of Jazz's concerned voice burst through our comms simultaneously. ::Prime, Phoenix. You might wanna get out here. We have a potential... situation... brewin'::

Both Prime and I made for the door at once. I could feel a cold, heavy weight settle in the pit of my tank. Something was indeed wrong. Beside me Prime questioned his friend. ''What is it Ironhide? What on earth could...''

He spat out one word as we approached the door. 'MEGATRON.''