Chapter 3
Optimus helped Maria and Orion pack up their things; and put them into his vehicle mode. Optimus noticed Orion loved to read; and it made him smile. His sparkling held a wonderful fascination with reading and learning new things. Orion watched his papa's holoform sitting at the driver's seat; and he climbed onto Optimus' lap.
"I love you, papa," Orion said as both Maria and Optimus beamed with pride; but especially Optimus.
"Thank you for coming to find me; Maria," Optimus said his voice choked with emotion.
Maria smiled at him; while her eyes lit up with love for him. She reached over her hand glided over his face.
"I never stopped loving you, Optimus; it just broke my heart that you had left without any type of warning or saying anything. I thought I had done something to make you mad at me; I wasn't sure what it could have been but..." she had started to say; until tears stopped her.
Optimus pulled over and he went to her; and held her. "Shhh, it's alright now, I have my family with me." Optimus whispered as he stroked her face.
"I love you, Maria." Optimus said kissing her.
"I love you, Optimus; I never stopped." She cried as their lips parted.
Optimus swore this time he would never let her go not ever; Primus help him he didn't care about the rules now. He was finally happy; and he just didn't care about anything else but his family.
...
The Autobot base...
Sam and Mikaela were talking to Lennox; and in the presence of Jolt Sam let it slid about Maria and Orion coming to his house. Jolt glanced at Sam his optics narrowed then; as he walked closer to the human boy.
"Optimus has a mate, a human mate?" Jolt demanded. "And a sparkling," Jolt questioned as Lennox glanced at the blue mech.
"Why is that such a problem?" Lennox asked.
"It is war;" Jolt said.
"We have wars too; but I'm married and have a daughter." Lennox said.
"Our bonds are stronger than any known creature in the universe; when we mate and spark mate it is eternal when one perishes the other will follow." Jolt said.
"I still don't get it," Sam said.
"Of course you don't, it is against the laws to be spark mated during war. He could be removed as leader and banished from the base never to come near Autobots again." Jolt said. "I must speak with Ratchet immediately." Jolt said.
They watched Jolt leave then; and Sam felt a sting of regret.
"Oh shit, I think I just got Optimus in big trouble." Sam said as Mikaela punched his arm once more.
"You are such a dumb ass, I swear to God you are!" Mikaela yelled as she walked away.
"What...?" Sam said as he looked at Lennox who merely shrugged.
"Never get your girl mad, Sam; you will sleep on the sofa for weeks." Lennox said as Sam laughed.
"Why have you had experience with that?" Sam asked.
He glared at Sam then.
"She's right," Lennox said.
"Who's right?" Sam asked.
"Mikaela," Lennox said.
"What, why," Sam asked.
"You are an ass," he said walking away.
"What...?" Sam asked watching him walk away as Ironhide watched the situation closely.
"Slag it all," Ironhide said as he walked away.
...
Ratchet's medical bay...
"Are you sure?" Ratchet asked.
"Yes sir, I am," Jolt said.
"I had gotten a commlink from Prowl; he will be here today and it's a good thing we will need him now." Ratchet said. "I cannot believe he would break such an important rule as that one and with a human no less." Ratchet said.
"What do you want me to do when he gets back?" Jolt asked.
"Send him to see me immediately," Ratchet said.
"Alright right away," Jolt said.
...
:::::::... Optimus, come in its Ironhide...::::::::
:::::::... Go ahead Ironhide...::::::::
::::::::... I need to give you a head's up, Sam let it spill about your human femme and sparkling. Jolt told Ratchet; I have a bad feeling we are going to be up to our afts in slag this time...::::::
Silence...
:::::::... I didn't think it would be that fast but alright, thank you, Ironhide...::::::::
:::::::... Sir, I told Chromia and we will go with you if worse comes to worse...::::::::
:::::::... Thank you, Ironhide...:::::::::
:::::::... I am your friend and bodyguard; I am honor and duty bond...::::::::
Optimus smiled.
:::::::... Thank you I will be there in a bit...:::::::::
::::::::... Okay sir...:::::::
::::::::... Optimus out...::::::::
Optimus was still concerned about what he would be walking into; he knew it would be like a what was the human term oh yes walking into a hornets' nest.
Optimus was quiet as he pulled into the base; and once he was transformed Ratchet had asked him to come into his office. Optimus could tell Ratchet was furious with him; because his left little doubt he was furious with Optimus about what had happened regarding Maria.
"You spark mated, you went against the one rule your mentor made and that the Counsel of planets Okayed." Ratchet said as Optimus remained silent at first. "You are our leader and prime; you're supposed to follow as well as enforce orders and install the laws." Ratchet said with such force as his tone dripped with a bitter and nasty tone.
Optimus was still silent; as Ratchet crossed his servos over his chest plates.
"Are you finished?" Optimus asked as Ratchet looked at leader oddly then. "I was injured and she found me; and she saved my life. Yes, I grew to love her; I was lonely and wanted someone in my life..." Optimus started to say.
"You could have interface with any of us to relieve any frustrations..." Ratchet started to say.
Optimus growled deep within his engines.
"I did not want a meaningless fling of interfacing," was all Optimus could say as Ratchet glared at him.
This remark set off Ratchet on an even more angry fit of rage; which made Optimus silent then.
"No, you'd rather break the rules and do as you please; isn't that correct?" Ratchet snapped as Optimus turned away, his own anger was rising with every word Ratchet so carelessly said to him disrespecting him completely.
"You broke the laws of our people!" Ratchet roared in a furious tone.
Optimus looked away; as Ratchet's optics flared with fury once more.
"I have gotten in touch with Prowl; and he is on his way." Ratchet said as Optimus turned back to face his chief medical officer; Optimus' optics flared with both anger and hurt at what he was truly saying to him now.
"You are replacing me?" Optimus demanded.
"What do you think?" Ratchet snapped as Optimus stood tall and started to leave. "You could be exiled from our base as well; you do realize correct?" he snapped. "If Prowl deems it so; then you will be exiled away from the base and the other Autobots as unfit." Ratchet said.
"Oh yes, I am sure Prowl will do what he believes to be right; regardless if it's fair to me I have led the Autobots for vorns. You will know this, Ratchet; I may not be leader when this is all over. I do not for one nano klick regret my mate nor my sparkling, Ratchet." Optimus said as he turned to leave making Ratchet glare at him as he started to walk away.
"You are a fool, Optimus Prime," Ratchet snapped as Optimus turned back toward Ratchet then.
"No Ratchet, I am not the fool." Optimus retorted as he turned and left the medical bay.
Optimus was angry and hurt by Ratchet's speedy way of wanting to have him replaced by Prowl. It hurt his spark; but he was not going to feel guilty about wanting a family. He headed for where his mate and sparkling were; and found they were waiting for him.
"Optimus," Maria said as he turned his helm and looked at him.
"Where is Orion?" he asked with a sad smile.
"Major Lennox took him to the mess hall; and I think Anna is also there for them." Maria said as Optimus sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose.
Silence...
"Alright, what's wrong?" she asked him.
"I am going to be replaced now as leader; and I could possibly be exiled from the base and all other Autobots as well now." He said.
"Oh Optimus, I am so sorry this is all my fault I should never have went looking for you." She said as tears ran down her face.
Optimus knelt by her; his intakes cycling very fast.
"No sweetspark, I love you and Orion; I do not have any regrets at all." He said as she felt tears fill in her eyes.
"But you're their leader; and now you're being thrown out because of me; it's just not fair." She said as tears ran down her face.
Optimus summoned his holoform; when he did she ran into his arms crying harder.
"I am so sorry, Optimus; so very sorry." She cried as Optimus held her tightly in his servos.
Optimus sighed; he was still upset and angry about everything Ratchet had said to him. Ratchet was once one of his dearest and closest friends; but now everything seemed to have changed so quickly. It broke his spark, it really did.
Optimus was playing with his son using his holoform; they were playing catch together with a ball. It was then however Ironhide and Chromia approached Optimus; and Optimus noticed they both looked equally upset but he misunderstood why.
"Optimus, can we talk to you?" Ironhide said as Optimus hugged Orion and Maria; and watched as Orion went with Maria as Prowl, Ratchet and Jolt walked up along with the newly arrived Ultra Magnus, the commander of the Wreckers.
Ultra Magnus, who lived by the book; and was a bot that was all rules and regulations just as Prowl was and they looked at Optimus with a mixture of anger and fury.
"What have you done, Optimus Prime?" Prowl demanded.
"You are a prime!" Ultra Magnus yelled as Optimus narrowed his optics then.
"You are hereby found guilty of breaking one of Cybertron's most important laws; you are hereby discharged of leadership and will be forced into exile, is that clear?" Prowl said.
"And you are now leader correct; so you should be really proud of yourself." Optimus snapped and then added in a bitter tone. "You achieved leadership from me; your goal was it not?" Optimus snapped.
Prowl merely glared at Optimus; and his azure optics shined with brightness and fury at Optimus' remark.
"I will not dignify that with an answer, prime." Prowl growled.
"You will leave the Autobot base now," Ultra Magnus ordered as Optimus just looked at him.
"I will need to pack my things; and get my mate and sparkling ready first." Was all Optimus said to that order from Ultra Magnus.
They just watched him; Ironhide and Chromia glanced at each other and decided they had to make a decision.
"We are leaving with him," they both said.
"What...?" Prowl and Ultra Magnus both demanded.
"You heard us," Ironhide said as Ratchet looked shocked by what they had both said to them and his tone to Prowl and Magnus.
"Why, he broke the law." Prowl remarked.
"So did we," Chromia snarled.
"What...?" Ratchet asked dumbfounded.
"You heard her, Optimus wasn't the only one who was lonely and wanted to find someone to love." Ironhide said as Chromia glared at Ratchet, Magnus and Prowl. "You three have no idea what Optimus Prime has had to deal with during the war." Ironhide said. "The decisions he had to make and the guilt he has had to endure over the vorns." Ironhide said. "I was his weapons specialist and his bodyguard; but I damn near raised him when his creators offlined or did you forget that, Ratchet? He is also my best friend; and I will not have you three do this to him." Ironhide said and then added. "He was Orion Pax once before the war; and he had an attraction to a femme then named Ariel." Ironhide said.
"I know that already, Ironhide." Ratchet snapped as he crossed his servos over his chest plates.
"What most don't know is Ariel later was reformed into someone else," Ironhide said.
"So, what does that prove?" Prowl demanded.
"I do not understand what this had to do with him breaking the laws now?" Magnus demanded.
"The femme in question later became commander of the femmes, and that proves mechs and femmes can have relationships and not risk lives." Chromia snapped.
"Oh right, Elita-1 I remember her feisty femme if I remember correctly." Prowl said.
"The point is mechs like Optimus need and crave companionship; and he could redo the laws if you three weren't such ridiculous old glitches." Chromia snapped out bitterly.
"I am not going to allow Optimus Prime to stay leader or stay on the base period; and that's my final word on the matter." Prowl remarked as Ironhide fumed.
"You've been eying leadership for so long you don't care how you get it from him; do you?" Ironhide growled as he grabbed Chromia's hand. "Come on, sweetspark; the air around here is getting stale." Ironhide remarked. "You won't have us either, Prowl." Ironhide added as he and Chromia left.
"Nor me," a static filled voice said as they turned to find Optimus Prime's loyal scout Bumblebee there as he left with Ironhide and Chromia to stay with Optimus Prime; who was like a creator to Bumblebee.
Optimus drove to a special place that the president had given them; and the president was kind enough to give them a credit card for family usage. Orion had fallen asleep while Optimus drove his holoform activated; Maria glanced over at Optimus' holoform. She was feeling very guilty over what had happened to Optimus; she glanced in the review mirror and saw Ironhide, Chromia and Bumblebee following. She smiled sadly; she was happy at least three of his soldiers hadn't turned their backs on Optimus.
She bit her bottom lip; and looked at him once more.
"I'm sorry, Optimus." she said softly as he glanced at her then.
"I'm not, why should you be sorry. I have my mate and son; I could not have asked for anything else more in my life." Optimus said.
"Because they were still your men; and they took your leadership away from you." she said.
He sighed then; and reached his hand out to her face.
"You are a remarkable femme; and I was so wrong leaving all those vorns ago. Perhaps, if I had not hidden this I would not have lost 6 years of my son's life." Optimus said as she smiled sadly.
"I still loved you after 6 years had passed I still loved you, Optimus." she said as he glanced at her.
"And, I you," he said. "I watched Major Lennox and various humans with their mates..." he started to say.
"Sam and Mikaela..." she said softly.
"Yes, and I felt the sting of loss and felt so alone and lonely; but I couldn't say anything because of that slagging rule." Optimus said.
Maria touched his face as gently and tenderly as she could; she loved him with all her heart. Optimus pulled into an area; which was down below and the others followed him. Optimus and Maria went into a private area as Ironhide waited until they were well out of anyone's view. Then he set up a protective spot; he wanted to monitor anything that was out of the ordinary. Bumblebee and Chromia helped him; while Optimus and Maria were having some private time. Bumblebee had also become Orion's guardian when Optimus was busy with other type things. Mostly other type things consisted of alone time between Optimus and his mate; and Bumblebee liked staying with Orion a lot.
...
Optimus held Maria tightly in his servos; he had missed her so much.
"I missed you; I am so sorry I left." he whispered as she caressed his face as gently as she could.
"It's alright I am not mad at you; well hurt yes but mad no." she said as their lips met in a blistering kiss as his holoform changed into his true form.
The kiss turned feverish as if Optimus suddenly couldn't get enough of her; but at the same time the Autobot's spark was so sad over everything that happened. He missed her, desperately.
Maria maneuvered him into what appeared to be their bedroom; when he was in holoform. The two ended up on the bed just kissing; mostly because Optimus' mind worried about way too many things. Maria was human; and his son would live longer he was a techno organic. However, Maria she was human; and Optimus didn't want to lose her again not again he couldn't handle that. So, he wanted to come up with an idea; he just wasn't sure how to pull it off without his medic.
Ratchet had been furious with him; so angry for what had happened. What was he supposed to do; he was lonely and hated it. He was a mech who craved love; and couldn't stand being alone and away from others.
He pulled Maria close, his spark had wanted her and he had no intentions of letting her go not now not ever.
"I love you," he whispered as his chest plates had opened.
"I love you too," she said softly as without any urging on anyone's part; Optimus' spark simply moved into Maria's chest and went around her heart.
The lonely prime started to purr and nuzzle against her face; he loved her so much so very much. He would lose her ever; he would find a way to make her Cybertronian and keep her forever with him.
Megatron stared at his men from throne room; he felt different and why not. He was brought back to life by his second in command with an Allspark shard. However what stunned the warlord the most was what his soldiers had learned about his brother.
"Are you certain?" Megatron asked.
"Yes, my Lord; Soundwave learn the information earlier today," Starscream said.
Megatron narrowed his blood red optics then; and glanced at his second in command.
"They replaced Optimus as leader; why in Primus did they do that?" Megatron demanded.
"Apparently, Optimus has a mate a human man; and now has a son, a future prime in fact. He is a techno organic, my Lord." Starscream said.
"Is that right?" Megatron asked.
"What is it, Megatron?" Barricade asked.
"You injured him 6 years ago; and it was then he found that human." Megatron said thinking rather fast.
"Yes, I must apologize for not finishing him off..." Barricade said.
"No, do not concern yourself about that; perhaps that was not why I was brought back." Megatron said.
Starscream looked uncomfortable then; and he glanced over at Barricade as well.
"What is it?" Starscream asked.
"Perhaps I can sway him to join us; if I can get him to join our side along with Ironhide, Chromia and Bumblebee; we can get Cybertron back. I will speak with the Counsel of planets as well; perhaps they will listen to me if I give them something interesting to ponder." Megatron said as he transformed and shot up into the air. "Are you coming, Starscream?" Megatron asked as Starscream looked dumbfounded but transformed and went with his leader.
Barricade glanced over at Sideways and the Dreads; they were just as confused as Starscream was if not more so. They couldn't understand what Megatron was thinking of; but then again no one dared to challenge Megatron when he spoke it would be a death sentence if they did.
"What is he thinking of?" one of the Dreads asked.
"I don't know, but if we did have Optimus on our side and Cybertron back; it would be a wonderful think to be able to go home again." Barricade said.
...
Maria was making breakfast for her and Orion; she was pondering something Optimus had asked her. He wanted her to think about something, he had asked her about becoming Cybertronian. He wanted to know if he could find a way; would she agree to it. She made a mistake and hesitated and made a strange expression. Optimus had made a sad sound; and went outside for awhile with Ironhide. It would just be her luck he would take it the wrong way; naturally; she was making breakfast and figured she would go see him after.
However Optimus was outside blowing things up with Ironhide; Chromia was watching and listening off handedly.
"She doesn't want to be Cybertronian; which means I will lose her no matter what." Optimus said.
"Well, Optimus just give her time; you just asked her perhaps she just needs some time." Ironhide said as Chromia got up and rolled away.
Optimus looked away, "I love her so much," Optimus whispered as he sighed.
"Maybe you should tell her again; and just explain it a little better how important it is too you." Ironhide said.
Optimus glanced away; his spark hurt him so badly. He nodded; Ironhide was right he would speak with Maria right now and try to explain things to her. He blew up one of the targets and grinned at Ironhide. " I won," Optimus said as he watched Ironhide face palm at the blown up targets.
Chromia transformed and then let her holoform appear; and she went to talk with Maria. Orion had gone into the other room to watch cartoons when Chromia came in.
"Maria, can we talk?" Chromia asked.
"Chromia hello, of course," Maria said as Chromia sat down at the table.
"Maria, he loves you so much; he wants you to be with him forever. You know, that can only happen if you're Cybertronian like us." Chromia said as Maria sighed.
"I know, Chromia," Maria said. "I just am not sure I am ready to give up so much for him; he left me 6 years ago; how do I know he won't just pick up and leave again." she pointed out. "And then where would I be?" she asked softly. "I would never have a normal life then; I wouldn't belong here anymore either, then what? Why should I give up so much for him; when he could leave again?" Maria demanded as Optimus listened in not sure what to make of what he had just heard.
"Daddy, what's wrong?" Orion said worried about his daddy as Maria heard her son's voice and froze.
Optimus had heard everything...
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxx