Author's Note: /denotes flashback conversation/.

Chapter – 180 – Life is All About Timing

Prime P.O.V

''Do ya think Megatron will keep his word regardin' tha truce Prime?'' Jazz asked as we stood outside Hanger 1 awaiting an important meeting with General Morshower.

''What do you slagging think Jazz?'' Ironhide growled. ''There is a reason he took the name Decepticon!''

I stood impassively between the two. ''Megatron's past actions indicate that he will keep the truce for as long as it serves his purpose.'' I folded my arms across my chest and flicked my optics from Jazz to Ironhide. ''From what Phoenix learned from her time with the Decepticons and,'' I paused a moment as I was assailed by several strong emotions, ''from what transpired when we confronted Megatron and rescued Phoenix, siding with us to defeat a common enemy is indeed in Megatron's best interests – for now.''

''I'd love to give him a taste of his own medicine Prime and hang him and all those slaggers out to rot!'' Ironhide spat, his servo clenched in anger as millennia of pain coursed through him. ''But, of course, I will follow your lead on this.''

''I gotta say Prime,'' Jazz looked imploringly towards me. ''It is no less than they deserve after all they've done.''

I sighed deeply, trying to expel some of the pent-up anger, frustration, and pain I felt. The sight of Phoenix, her face battered and broken, the gaping wound in her chest and the words of Megatron taunting me about what he would do to her echoed in my processor and spark and I felt that terrible rage building once more. Yet as the anger boiled away inside of me, I could not help but recall what Phoenix had said to me just now before she underwent repairs. /He could have killed me Prime...He had every reason to pull that trigger and end my life and yet he didn't... He chose not to... It is the choices we make Prime that determine our path/.

I closed my optics as I recalled her broken face, her beautiful optics gazing up at me, burning with such determination and love. /You said so yourself… Someone must take the first step Prime... I choose to fight alongside Megatron to end Unicron... I choose to help free him of Unicron's torturous control... It is the right thing to do./.

I physically shook my helm to rid myself of the conflicting emotions that raged inside me. ''That may be true Jazz and Ironhide, and believe me, after my last encounter with Megatron, I have reached the limit of my patience and willingness to forgive.''

''About slagging time!'' Ironide muttered.

''However, while we may not like it, we need the firepower and support of Megatron and his Decepticon followers if we are to stand the best chance of defeating Unicron.'' I sighed out loud as I recalled my conversation with Phoenix a few joors ago. ''Phoenix is adamant that part of Primus' message pertains not just to the importance of her and I making a stand together against Unicron, but Megatron and I and Autobot AND Decepticon. She feels very strongly about this and, given I have ignored her warnings in the past with disastrous consequences,'' the image of Sentinel Prime flashed through my processor, ''I feel I owe her my support.'' Both Ironhide and Jazz stood expressionless before me. ''So, for the time being, we must have faith that Megatron will honour the truce and that his desire for freedom from Unicron's control, is greater than his desire to eradicate Autobots.''

''Why did I have a feelin' you'd say somethin' like that,'' Jazz sighed out loud. Ironhide simply stared at me. ''Alright Prime. I will take ya lead on this one more time. But if Megatron double crosses us on this one, I'm done!''

I nodded my helm. ''Understood Jazz and agreed.'' I turned to face my weapon's specialist and my oldest friend. ''Ironhide? Can I count on your continued support old friend?''

Ironhide narrowed his optics. ''Prime. You know I would follow you into the pits of hell. But,'' he averted his optics. ''If Megatron breaks this truce if he betrays us – betrays you one more time.'' He fixed me with a serious stare. ''Like Jazz, I am done.''

I sent Ironhide a small, wry smile. ''Ironhide, believe me. If Megatron breaks this truce. If he seeks to hurt Phoenix or any of you again, then he is done.'' I held both Ironhide and Jazz's gaze. ''Of that you have my word.''

Both Jazz and Ironhide nodded their helms slowly. ''We'll hold ya ta that Prime,'' Jazz replied.

''I would hope that you would Jazz.'' I ex-vented deeply. Now we had all reached an understanding on that, we needed to work out the next important issue. Finding the Star Saber! Phoenix had relayed to us the importance Megatron placed on this weapon in helping to defeat Unicron. In the hands of a Prime the sword could be wielded with devastating effect. Coupled with the Matrix, it may just give us the advantage we so desperately needed. However, it was all a moot point unless we could find its location.

I shifted on my pedes and placed my servos on my hips. ''Any word yet from Sideswipe regarding the mission to find the Saber?'' Earlier today I had tasked Ironhide with forming a small search party to try and work with some Decepticons Megatron had offered to help locate the Saber. My eager scout Bumblebee had volunteered along with my formidable frontliner Sideswipe, to continue searching for the weapon. I had heard how Sunstreaker had been, ''motivated'' to join, and although I initially held concerns for Ironhide's decision, I trusted my weapon's specialist's motives and believed the irascible yellow frontliner would rise to the challenge. /Please Primus!/.

Ironhide shook his helm. ''Negative Prime. Nothing as yet.''

I tilted my helm in cautious consideration as I continued with my next question. ''No other communiques regarding the status of both Autobot and Decepticons involved in the search for the Saber?'' Megatron had ordered Knockout, following his own repairs, and one of his Seekers, Dirge, to assist my Autobots in the continued search for the Saber. I had half expected a comm from Sideswipe or Bumblebee by now to say that one of the Twins, likely Sunstreaker, had taken matters into their own servos and broken the truce by eradicating one of the Decepticons tasked with helping them.

Ironhide shook his helm. ''Also, negative Prime.'' There was a small smile on his dermas. ''It would seem Sunstreaker is on his best behaviour – so far.''

''Ha! Miracles DO happen!'' Jazz burst out laughing as he slapped his servos together.

Ironhide ignored his flippant comment. ''It has also been less than 24 hours so things may change.'' Ironhide shifted on his pedes. ''I still don't see what the point of this exercise is though Prime. If Megatron himself and Phoenix failed to find the Star Saber, I think we must accept that it simply does not exist!''

''It does Ironhide,'' I growled at him, my own desperation rising to the fore again. ''I know it does….''

''Well, it doesn't seem to exist anywhere on this planet!'' Ironhide growled back in frustration.

Jazz called out to me. ''Well Prime, it might help if we knew what it looked like. I don't know about you 'Hide, but I ain't never seen it. Is it like Excalibur or somethin'?''

I snorted out loud. ''Hardly Jazz, though to find an equivalent Earthen comparison in terms of its prophetic powers, perhaps you are right in that assessment.'' I fired up my hologram projector and displayed an image of the Star Saber from my databanks.

At that moment, Lennox, bellowed out to us from his position on the catwalk. ''Prime! I have Cade Yeager on the line. Says he wants to thank you for helping clear his family's name. Wants to see how you guys are doing.'' Lennox notices the hologram of the Sabre and the thunderous look on Ironhide's face. Sensing the tense he offers, ''I ah, I can tell him now is not a good time.''

''Oh, you think!'' Ironhide barked. ''You do that Lenn…''

''That will not be necessary Colonel Lennox.'' I feel a smile spread on my dermas at hearing the name of my friend, though the timing was not the best. I send my weapon's specialist a warning look. ''Cade saved my life Ironhide, as you well know, and helped us in our battle against Galvatron. I think we can spare a few moments to acknowledge our friend and ally.'' Ironhide merely grunted and folded his arms over his chest.

Stifling my own small groan of irritation at the untimely interruption, I shut off my hologram as I walk towards the catwalk and Lennox. Cade's face looms into view as I approach, a broad smile greeting me. Smiling in return, I nod my helm. ''Cade Yeager, it is good to see you again.''

''Prime.'' Cade nods his head in acknowledgement too. Glad to see you are still in one piece and looking better than when I first met you.'' A smirk tugs at the corners of his lips.

Behind me I hear the pedefalls of Jazz and Ironhide as they too walk up to greet our friend. ''Hunh, give him time Cade. Ol' Prime's bound ta end up puttin' himself in harm's way again soon.''

I raised an optic ridge at my 2IC. Ironhide grunted. ''Sooner than you think Jazz given..''

''So, Cade,'' I interrupt Ironhide and cast him a deliberate glare. ''How are Tessa and Shane doing?''

Cade groans out loud and laughs. ''Yeah, Lucky Charms is still around – he's not such a bad kid as it turns out. Tessa is doing well.'' I notice how his face lights up and his eyes shine with pride as he mentions his only child. ''She's still taking care of not only herself but her old man as we moved into the new house Joyce arranged for us.''

''I am glad to hear he kept his word on that matter Cade and provided you with a home.'' To be honest, I had my doubts he would, but it would seem once again my faith in humanity is restored.

''Yeah, after he was exonerated for his actions given his role in stopping Galvatron from detonating the Seed in Hong Kong, he even offered me a job within his company within the RnD department.'' At the narrowing of my optics, Cade held his hands up in defence. 'Don't worry Prime, we are branching out from Transformium into other fields, and I assure you,'' Cade held my gaze with an unwavering stare, ''while ever I am involved in that company, no Transformer – Autobot or Decepticon, shall ever be hunted down and subjected to that treatment again! I give you my word.''

I held his gaze for a moment as I discerned the truth within his words and the sincerity of his promise. After a moment I nodded my helm again. ''Very well Cade Yeager, let us hope you lead the company – and Joshua – down more honourable paths of scientific advancement and discovery.''

There was a coughing sound off to my right. ''Prime,'' I glanced towards Ironhide who was shifting on his pedes in agitation. ''We are running out of time to - locate the object.''

''Yeah, ol' Hide is right Prime, we kinda on a tight timeframe here,'' Jazz waved at Cade on the screen. ''Nothin' personal Cade, we jus' have somethin' we gotta take care of like, yestaday.''

I ex-vented softly and shuttered my optics. ''Unfortunately, Cade, Jazz and Ironhide are right. We must get back to what we were doing prior to your call. Time is of the essence.''

''Well, what is it you're trying to locate? Maybe I can be of some help? I mean, it's the least I can do after what you guys did to help keep my family safe and clear our names.'' Cade stared expectantly at me through the screen.

I smiled fondly at my friend. ''I wish you could help us Cade, but sadly I do not think there is anything you can do to be of assistance.''

''Yeah, unless you happen ta know where a certain sword called tha Star Saber is located!'' Jazz shouted out. ''Cause if ya did, that'd be mighty helpful!''

''As if he..'' Ironhide began to bark out in annoyance.

''Well, what does it look like this Star Saber sword? I know I saw quite a few swords amongst all those other weapons and shit when we were aboard Lockdown's ship.'' Cade folded his arms across his chest and seemed to lean into the screen as if searching for the sword itself.

I felt my spark skip a pulse. Following Phoenix's intel from Megatron, we had been so focused on locating the Star Saber on Earth, we did not even entertain the idea it could be anywhere else. /Could it be?/. I looked at Jazz and then at Ironhide, who shrugged his shoulders. Without a word I fired up my hologram once more, the Star Saber flickered to life before us all.

Above me Lennox whistled appreciatively, ''Now that is a sword!''

All optics and eyes focused on the screen and the man that peered back at us. ''Cade. Did you see this sword on Lockdown's ship? We must know.'' There was a tone of desperation in my voice that was not lost on Cade as his face seemed to crumple in concentration, his eyes sweeping over the grainy image before him.

After a few moments of silence that seemed to stretch on forever, Cade's eyes widened, and he shouted out in recognition. ''Yeah! I've seen that sword! I recognise the handle and the intricate golden metalwork, not ta mention the size of that blade.'' Cade shook his head in silent wonder. ''I have never seen a sword like it before. Trust me, if that is what your Star Saber looks like,'' Cade nodded to the hologram that spun silently above us, ''then it is on Lockdown's ship in the armoury.''