Chapter 2: Connections
Optimus Prime awoke in a panic as he quickly looked around his berth room. His breaths were ragged and uneven. 'Again with these dreams?' He asked himself as he swung his legs to the side and held his helm in his hands. After a while he stood and exited his room and made his way out to the main area of the base. A few lights illuminated the medical bay as well as the area for the groundbridge. The team was still recharging after a very hectic battle with the Decepticons over a small amount of energon.
He made it to the exit before stretching and transforming and driving out of the base. Perhaps some fresh air would allow him to rest better when he returned. Nightmares had been plaguing the Prime's recharge time as of late, they all showed the same thing. A femme standing in front of him with tears coming down her cheeks as she whispered some ancient words alongside him and then her screaming and begging for help and then darkness. Optimus couldn't tell if this was just some nightmare coming from the deep subconscious of his mind or something the Matrix of Leadership was trying to tell him.
Prime made it to a cliff overlooking the desert, he transformed and looked out over the barren landscape. He came to this spot often due to it reminding him of the open metal areas on Cybertron or him looking out over the cities on Cybertron. Optimus sat down and hung his legs over the ledge and allowed his stoic form to relax due to being alone. When he wasn't alone he had to hold up the title of being a Prime, the ideal of someone chosen by Primus, and the weight of being the leader of the Autobots. Though when he was alone all of these burdens vanished as he could be in a much calmer state as he was when he was called Orion Pax. Before he betrayed his brother in arms. Before he had to deal with so many dying for him standing up for what he believed in. Before he had the blood of his enemies and his comrades on his hands.
On the Nemesis
Zagreus awoke with a scream before glancing quickly around her small quarters on the Nemesis. 'That same damn nightmare? Why am I having them again?' She asked herself before standing up from her small berth. She stretched her back struts and left the small room before walking around the Nemesis. Vehicons walked past her and bowed politely before going about their usual business. Zagreus simply made her way to the flight deck of the ship and glanced up at the stars above. The star systems were so different from that of Cybertron but she still found comfort in seeing a clear night sky. "Soundwave, I am going for a fly, do not alert Megatron about me leaving, nor track my signal, please. I simply want some fresh air after traveling for so long," she said calmly over her comm.
She made her way to the edge of the flight deck before spinning around and falling backward off of it. As she fell her mind drifted to the nightmare she had, it wasn't just about her but a species of this planet getting hurt as well. Falling through the cold night air for a few moments before quickly spinning around and transforming into a Cybertronian jet that resembled closer to that of an Earth one than to the one her sire transformed into. She flew fast through the air and just out of most of the planet's sonar. She made sure to block her communication signal to escape the restraints and strict ideals of her sire. Zagreus flew through the sky as it started to storm and decided to transform before landing near a cave beside a nearby town. The town was a couple of clicks away but probably didn't notice she was close due to it being quite late in the night.
Zagreus made her way into the cave and heard some crying deep in the cave. She activated her blaster as she walked closer. Perhaps this was an Autobot trick or a human on this planet. The human could have ran here to escape the impending storm. Her red optics illuminated the dark cave ever so slightly before she ventured deeper and saw a small human cowering against the wall alongside a small lantern to provide him with some light, she also noticed that his glasses were broken, hair messy, and him trying to reach someone. "Come on, Bumblebee answer please," he said as he cried. The boy soon noticed Zagreus and jumped up and went against the wall before dropping his phone. "Please don't hurt me, I am friends with the Autobots," his voice was shaky.
Zagreus retracted her plaster and made her way closer to the human before crouching down and looking at him. Her stern and unemotional expression softened slightly to put him at ease. She transformed and allowed her vehicle mode to sit there as she made a holoform appear, she was a curvy lady that was in her early twenties, her eyes still had a red tint to them yet presented more brown, her hair was shaved on the sides and long on the top with hints of grey going through it along with some blue and purple on the tuft on top otherwise her hair was a dark brown. She wore black high-waisted jeans and a black tank top and boots. She walked closer and kneeled down in front of the boy.
"Who are you? Are you going to hurt me? Please say something," he said as he shook more and moved to hug himself causing his shirt to move and reveal a bruise and a small cut. Zagreus moved and ripped some cloth off of her tank tip and motioned to the boy to show her his arm.
"I am Zagreus, I do not plan on hurting you young one," she said calmly as she offered her hand. Her skin was pale and also covered in bruises and cuts. Some cuts lining her forearm looked more recent than anything. "You must be a comrade of the Autobots on this planet? Especially the scout of Optimus Prime? Also, what is your name?" she asked as she assumed talking would cause him to be more at ease.
The boy moved his arm towards her after seeing her own scars being apparent on her holoform. Ratchet had explained to the kids that a holoform that Cybertronians used on this planet had characteristics of the Cybertronian they represented. Scars on one form formed on the other to fully unite them. Since being on this planet both Autobots and Decepticons had created them to blend in more. "My name is Raf, and yeah um.. Bumblebee is my guardian or protector from the Decepticons," he gulped. Zagreus wrapped the cloth around the wounded arm. "Are you a Decepticon?" he asked.
"I am, but I do not like seeing any life form in pain. Especially with wounds that resemble that of mine," she says calmly before moving her hand away from the small teenage boy. "Not all Decepticons are heartless, much like all Autobots do not have the purest sparks." Zagreus made her holoform stand before glancing to the entrance of the cave. "I will stay with you until the storm passes and Bumblebee can come and get you. I would have the medic check you over and tell them who did this to you," Zagreus said as she glanced down at the boy as he sat down on the ground. Raf nodded before Zagreus came over and sat down and carefully placed an arm around him. Raf rested against her even with how uncomfortable she appeared to be.