Chapter 17

"This is the stasis hall," Optimus pointed at the map, obviously missing her distress, "and your stasis pod is right over here, number 1311-2394."

"Hold it," Isis objected, raising her hand. "I thought all protoforms got their memories partially erased."

"All except for you," he assured her. "Believe me, Isis, I don't want you to go up against X blind folded and without your military training."

"What about my personal memories?" she demanded.

"You have nothing to worry about," he placed a hand on her shoulder. "In the worst possible situation, the pod will store at least some information for you."

"Alright," but she was far from happy with the arrangement.

"In that case you have everything you need. I'm sorry, but you'll have to excuse me; I have some last minute preparations to see to."

"Isis nodded, and Optimus departed. With a megacycle left before launch, she decided to walk around. She made half a lap around the Axalon when she heard a familiar voice calling her name. Isis turned and her optics widened in amazement.

"Anárion!"

The silver transformer stood only a few feet away from her. He looked just as surprised as she was, but his golden optics shined. Isis was overcome with joy and ran for him. Anárion caught her in a warm embrace, and they were lost in each other's arms.

"What are you doing here?" Isis finally drew back and searched his eyes.

"I could ask you the very same question. I thought you were supposed to be on your assignment?"

"This is my assignment," Isis explained. "I whish I could tell you more, but Commander Prowl swore me to secrecy."

"There is no need for apologies. I completely understand."

"So this is your exploration mission?" she pointed at the ship. "what a coincidence."

"Yes. Quiet fortunate, is it not?" Anárion smiled.

"Attention, attention," sounded the speaker, "all passengers traveling on the Axalon. The ship will depart within the next half a megacycle. At this time we ask that all passengers board the ship. Thank you."

"I guess that's our cue," she took his hand. "Come on."

They entered the ship and walked past the bridge and crew quarters towards the stasis hall. Isis' spirit was lightened, and she nearly forgot about the stasis pod she'd be entering in only a few minutes.

"So give me your opinion as an expert pilot," she addressed Anárion. "What do you think of this…ship?"

"It is certainly nothing like the jets I am used to," he replied, "but I suppose it should serve its purpose well enough."

"Personally, I think it's a scrap heap," she comminuted. "It'll be a miracle if we don't crash."

"Do not say that," Anárion scolded her.

"What?" Isis was confused.

"It is bad luck to talk about crashes on a ship," he explained. "It was one of the first things our commanders told us in flight training." She snorted. "I'm very serious, Isis."

By that time, they had reached the stasis hall, and suddenly Isis' mech fluid froze in her veins. She became pale, and Anárion immediately noticed the sudden change in her demeanor.

"What is it?" he asked in concern.

"The stasis pods," she breathed, her optics fixed on the rows of pods positioned vertically against the walls. "They…unnerve me. I mean, you never know what you'll wake up as."

Anárion gave her a sympathetic and understanding look, and came up behind her, rubbing her upper arms for comfort. "It'll be alright," he whispered. "I'll be right there when you wake up."

"Promise?" she turned around and met his golden gaze.

"On my spark, I swear it," he replied and kissed her lightly on the lips. He let her go and guided her to her stasis pod. Once Isis strapped herself in, and the glass lid closed above her, Anárion headed for his pod on the opposite side of the stasis hall, facing Isis. The she saw Anárion in his stasis pod smiling at her. She placed her hand against the cold glass, and he did the same, as if they could reach each other through the space between them. Then Isis' body went numb, and she slipped into stasis lock.