Circle Backwards: Part 6
I was convinced, as I stood there and watched them tear what was left of the city apart, that some one on the Decepticons had finally lost their mind once and for all. They had either lost their minds or they had a decided death wish. That was the conclusion I came to as I followed Optimus out of Alpha Trion's lab and back into the city. The kids followed us back out into the city intent on helping Optimus and my self see why in the name of God they had decided that this would be a good idea.
For his part, poor Optimus was fuming. But like he almost always is he was doing his best to keep his emotions in check and do what was needed of him. Personally? I wouldn't think any less of him in any way if he rearranged Megatron's face with his fists. Still there was a time and a place for every thing and we had to find out what the big bad was up to before we could do any thing to get rid of him.
We rounded the corner just in time to see him waste what was left of the park and then turn on the group and smile.
"I was wondering if this would get your attention Prime," He smirked again, "It's nice to know that you are so very predictable where your emotions are concerned."
"What," Optimus ground out, "In the name of Primus do you think you are doing?"
"As I said, I was trying to get your attention." He stopped and crossed his arms, "Now then, I believe that you and I have a matter to discuss."
"I don't have any thing to discuss with you Megatron. So for once why don't you just let me be?" I literally heard Prime's hands ball into fists as he stood there. "Or is that just not possible for you?"
"Now now," Megatron held up his hands, "There is no need to make this so very personal. You merely have one of my men held prisoner and I wish to get his release."
"THEN why didn't you just ask while they were on earth?" This came from the red and orange kid before.
"Ahh yes," Megatron's frowns literally dropped about two feet as he looked at him, "The young and oh so very brash Hotrod, what a delight to finally meet you in person."
"Oh it's all mine," The kid continued, "Now why don't you take your attitude and leave. Before some one does something that they might end up regretting."
"So now you have children fighting your battles for you Prime," he made a face then turned back to Optimus, "Its as simple as this Prime either call your ark and have them release Motormaster immediately or I will continue to tear what is left of this miserable city of yours apart at the seams until you agree to do so."
That turned out to be the wrong thing to say to Optimus. To this day I am not even sure I saw him move to where Megatron was standing. He just seemed to materialize there one second and the next was in the process of trying to tear the Decepticon leader apart.
"HOW DARE YOU!" Prime growled, "HOW dare you come here and involve this city and the few innocents that still live here!"
"Don't fool your self Optimus," Megatron shot back, "This is a war, and you know as well as I do that there are no innocents."
Optimus' face suddenly contorted and he proceeded to first back hand Megatron and then slammed his head back down against the ground.
"The ONLY reason there are no innocents in this war is because you never let them be. YOU just keep pushing and destroying until every thing around you is wasted! YOU just can't let it go!"
Right then it occurred to Megs that he had crossed the line. There were things that Prime was willing to put up with but there were things the he held absolutely sacred. One of those things was the home that he had been willing to leave to try and save, then had come back and found out that there was almost nothing left to save. What little remained Megatron had willingly gone and put in danger and now had the audacity to be shocked at what was happening to him.
"You… what's wrong with you?" He demanded as he stared up at Optimus, "I've never… You never act like this!"
Optimus contorted his face again and slammed him once more, "You've never pushed me this far. Everything that has happened, the war, the fighting, the death, every thing is your fault!"
"You were the one that chose to fight me!" Megatron shot back.
Optimus narrowed his eyes and looked down at him, "You were the one that decided to KILL ME!"
Some thing some where in Megatron's mind finally clicked. He realized exactly what was looking down at him and that for the first real time in this long war he was in danger of loosing his life. That he had done all of this and now it was time for the devil to have his due.
"You wouldn't!" Megatron managed.
"Why not?" Prime looked at him, "That's what you want isn't it?"
I opened my mouth to say some thing but it wasn't me that was there to call Optimus back to reason. It was the kid, Hotrod.
"Because he's not worth it," Hotrod shook his head, "Not now."
Now I stepped up and looked at him, "He's right. I know he's hurt you, so much, but this isn't you Optimus."
He looked down at Megatron for a second, and then looked back at me and at the kid. Seconds passed and finally he let the Decepticon leader drop back on to the ground. Then stood up and walked over to where Hotrod was standing next to me.
"They're right." He narrowed his eyes, "I hate you, and I hate what I've had to become because of you. But you AREN'T worth it."
Megatron climbed to his feet and stared at him, looked behind himself at his stunned men, and then back to us.
"Get the hell out of my city." Prime told him.
For once, Megatron didn't argue. His troops gathered around him and they just vanished into the darkness of the ruined city. This left me standing there next to Optimus with Hotrod watching us. My opinion of the kid suddenly sky rocketed when he turned to the other kids that had followed us and were standing there gaping in shock.
"Come on," he nodded in the direction of the lab, "Let's get back and tell Alpha what happened. These two will be along when they make sure the area is secure."
Then I was alone with Prime, who was standing there in the ruins of the park that we had been grateful that was spared less than two hours ago. He just stood there for a long time and stared at it. I had no idea what to say so just walked over to him and put my hand on him.
"Optimus?"
He looked down at me for a second and then fell to his knees some how remembering to change size, or simply wanting to not be seen in this condition as he put his face into his hands and cried. I walked over to him and put my arms around him and once again, for my sake he tried to reign in his emotions.
"Angel ... I ..."
I held my hand up for him to stop and looked right in to his face, "Don't, okay? I understand." I felt my own face bunch up as I wanted to shed tears for his sake, "Go on Love."
He looked at me for a few second and then put his arms around me and cried. It wasn't the type of crying I do, but just quite sad tears for all that had been lost.
"I'm so sorry." I hugged him.
He must have heard some thing in my voice because he looked up at me, "For what?"
"I'm sorry for feeling the way I do Optimus." I shook my head, "I know you would rather be what you were when you were young, but I love you like this. Please don't hate what you are, because that's the man I love."
He looked at me for a second and then hugged me again, "Thank you."
I sat there for a long time just being there for him and allowing him to let the emotions that he was so often required keep inside, out. No one ever saw us, no one came to see if we were okay or to make sure that we were safe, and eventually he was able to calm down enough for us to head back to the base.
Hotrod was there waiting for us finally ready to make sure that both Optimus and I had come out of the whole incident.
"Hey are you two okay?" He managed.
"No," Optimus told him honestly, "But we will be. Thank you for your help while ago."
"Hey you're welcome," the young man smiled, "I know you'd do the same for me, and it's nice to know…" He stopped.
"To know what," I prompted.
"To know that some one still cares about Iacon," He looked out at the city, "It's nice to know that some one besides me wants to some day put it back the way it was."
Optimus looked at the young Autobot and finally smiled behind his mask, "Yes I do, and when I do promise me something?"
"What?"
Optimus put his hand on the young man's shoulder, "that you'll be there to help me."
"I promise." Hotrod agreed.
I stood there and watched the two of them. For some reason they struck me as being a lot a like. Maybe Hotrod was what Optimus had been when he was Orion, what ever it was it was nice to see that he could help put the life back into Prime's eyes.
