Chapter 115 - Miscommunication

Optimus nodded to the soldiers as they untied he and the trailer from the moorings, and he carefully drew his Kae from the plane, checking the connections and driving back to NEST headquarters. Kae never woke.

"Kae," he murmured gently, pulling into the entrance bay. She transformed from the trailer, disconnecting from the flight deck and staggering. Optimus quickly caught her before she could fall. Her energon levels were lower, if that was possible.

"Ratchet!" Optimus rumbled worriedly.

"I told you to sleep, daughter," Ratchet grumbled, reaching to cup Kae's cheek.

"Did," she mumbled, "tried, dunno how you guys slept in your vehicle forms." she stretched and grimaced.

"It does take getting used to," Ratchet stated kindly, nodding as Optimus gently scooped her into his arms.

"I know I'm bad off when I'm not even going to argue about being carried," she murmured, resting her cheek against his shoulder. Optimus smiled at his spark-mate, cradling her a bit more closely as he carried her to their quarters, walking through the door and laying her gently on the berth. She squirmed to her side with a small, apologetic smile before her optics dimmed again. He watched her for a long moment before waving his hand and setting the lighting to night mode, walking quietly from their quarters to communications central.

"So, let's get the reports done," Will yawned as Optimus leaned down and collected the human. Will grinned and scrambled to his shoulder. "Mind if I just stay here?"

"Please," Optimus rumbled calmly, "I don't have a human Kae to continue to show such trust anymore."

"That why she was always on your shoulder?" Will asked curiously.

"And I liked having her there, it was like having... what is the word..." Optimus frowned, searching the human languages for an explanation.

Will remained silent, watching him curiously.

"The literal translation is second eyes... second mind complex... first lieutenant? one who watches through a leader's eyes but with a fresh mind. Not necessarily a mate, either, it was one of my functions before I was leader." Optimus waved a hand irritably.

"I have no idea how to parallel that," Will laughed, "but whatever the word is in Cybertronian, I want one."

"It is a relief to have such a... confidant, and a terrifying thing at times."

"How do you mean?" Will asked curiously.

"Megatron was my... brother-confidant before he betrayed us," Optimus rumbled sadly, "when I saw the weaknesses of our society, I wished to explore ways to change it, strengthen them, he saw it as a means of conquest."

"You called him brother," Will stated in a muted tone.

"He was my brother," Optimus murmured, "we were reared together, shared parental units until we entered the academy. He joined the gladiatorial ranks, and I became an archivist. Eventually, I was mentored by Sentinel to fulfil my duties as a Prime." Optimus vented a sigh as Will rested a hand on the shoulder he was sitting on.

"Betrayal by a brother never gets easier," Will murmured.

Optimus nodded and stopped before the doors to communications central hissed open. "When is your next rota off again?" he rumbled curiously.

"Week and a half," Will grinned up at him, "And you and I are going to hit the bar, drink beer, gossip about the females in our lives and bitch about the downsides of leadership."

"I'll drive," Optimus rumbled with a snort, Will began howling with laughter as they entered communication central.

Three highly annoying hours later, Optimus strode back to the housing wing, gently carrying an irritated Will to the doors of his quarters.

"I'm so sorry Prime," Will stated finally as Optimus leaned down to set him down.

"As Kae says, a smart man knows whom his allies are." Optimus rumbled quietly. "As always, I am grateful to have you as an ally, even if your superiors are..."

"Bloody dense," Will snorted. "Hopefully I don't see you in the morning this time."

"Agreed, oddly enough," Optimus chuckled. "I can not wait until Kae is back on her feet, she knows how to deal with..."

"The dumb-asses?" Will asked blandly.

"I was going to say the humans, but thought better of it," Optimus snorted, grinning down at Will.

"Oh ouch, straight to the spark Optimus," Will stated with a smirk, hitting a fist to his chest.

"Do not be absurd," Optimus laughed. "I have not gone for a spark-shot in vorns."

"Pacifist," Ironhide added, striding toward his quarters. "On second thought, take that back, you're actually capable of making spark-shots." the weapons master snorted, not even stopping or turning around.

"You're going to let him get away with that?" Will grinned up at him.

"I must admit a fondness for picking my battles," Optimus stated mildly. "Ironhide is one of the few still capable of-"

"Knocking him off of his Primely high horse," Ratchet interjected with a grin. "Just as he promised he would do when Optimus requested him to at least be his weapons master if he wouldn't be first lieutenant. Now quit hogging the corridor, there's a femme in your quarters and you're still out shooting the shit?"

"Oh! You've been told!" Will laughed. "I see Ratchet's arguments and raise you a chance for a few uninterrupted hours in the arms of said femme. The next person to call is going to be dutifully informed that you're recharging and can't be disturbed."

"For?" Optimus snorted.

"You're driving," Will grinned up at him unrepentantly.

"Deal," Optimus laughed, getting back up to his feet. "Sleep well, Major."

"Good recharge Prime," Will stated, throwing a friendly salute and ducking into his quarters.

Optimus vented a sigh and followed the older medic down the corridor, walking quietly into his quarters and looking down at the femme in his berth. The doors closed behind him and he laid down carefully, trying not to rouse her.

She curled in her recharge, cuddling against him and venting a contented sigh.

Optimus pulled his reliant spark-mate close, smiling gently as she buried herself into him a bit more, her spark quieting into a proper recharge.

But his thoughts, his thoughts turned to the day.

She was a Prime, even if she still wore his ring, he doubted she would when she knew just how much she outranked him. He looked around his quarters... former quarters, he corrected himself. She was Prime now.

With a sigh, he set his alarm to rouse him, and drifted into what he knew to be the last time he would be able to recharge beside her.

(MPOV)

I came online with a start.

Optimus was gone. I checked my chronometer and grimaced.

I'd slept until noon.

That would not do.

I rolled to my feet and strode out of his quarters. Hopefully our quarters...

I shook myself lightly and walked down the corridor toward the med-bay.

"I still don't think you're going to need a new berth!" Ratchet was saying angrily. I frowned in confusion, walking into the med-bay.

"I need new quarters," Optimus rumbled calmly. "I do not wish to sleep on the floor..."

That hit like a lightning bolt. I froze. He wanted new quarters, had I kicked him off of our berth in my recharge or something?

"Why the pit do you need new quarters, is she a rough sleeper or something?" Ratchet demanded, seemingly in counterpart to my thoughts.

"No," Optimus rumbled quietly. "You know why I require new quarters-"

"You-" I whimpered. Optimus turned to look at me in shock. "You-" I could barely get the words out. He'd lied, he didn't want me.

Stupid, foolish little human Kae thought he would love you? my thoughts began hissing spitefully in my mind.

"Kae?" Optimus rumbled. He'd promised.

"You LIAR!" I shrieked, I turned and ran.

He didn't love me.

Through the entrance bay, I controlled my steps precisely, never coming close to a human.

"Open the doors!" I shouted. Soldiers scrambled to obey.

"Kae!" Ratchet was shouting. "NO! Don't open the doors!"

I wasn't listening to them, I needed to get away.

He didn't want me.

The soldiers were staring in shock, trying to stop the door from opening now.

Too late, there was enough room now. I ran through them and blasted into the air.

He didn't love me.

::. KAE!.:: Optimus' voice shouted over the Primary.

::. How dare you call me that! I thought you were my friend! My beloved!.:: I shrieked at him before shutting off my link to the Primary. I blasted my engines as hard as they went, streaking through the skies, going somewhere, I didn't know.

A deserted, empty range of mountains loomed ahead, good enough, I landed on a peak and lost my balance, tumbling down the face and landing in trees.

He didn't love me.

I curled up around my broken spark and sobbed as rubble pinged down on me.

(APOV)

Arcee heard a shout, she was running down the corridor the next second, only to see Kae running out of the med-bay.

"Open the doors!" she shouted. Arcee switched to battle mode, whizzing to the entrance bay and waiting for the order to roll out.

But Ratchet and Optimus were running after her.

"Kae!" Ratchet shouted "NO! Don't open the doors!"

But that was too late, Kae got through anyway. She was blasting into the air the next moment. Arcee stood. Shocked. Why the pit would she run!?

::. KAE!.:: Optimus called after her on the primary.

::. How dare you call me that! I thought you were my friend! My beloved!.:: Kae shrieked. Arcee almost fell over. The young femme's presence on the comm vanished.

The hangar stood, dead silent.

"What did you do!?" Arcee shrieked, bringing a cannon online and aiming for the Prime.

Optimus just stood and looked shocked.

"I did nothing!" he rumbled.

"No, you asked for a new set of quarters!" Ratchet growled.

"You did WHAT!?" Arcee shrieked. Cannon nothing, now that idiot needed a pounding.

"She outranks me!" Optimus rumbled, as if that was anything close to an excuse!

Arcee jumped on him and promptly began hitting the stupid glitching Prime.

"Why the scrap would you request different quarters!?" she bellowed at him, punching everything she could reach. Optimus irritably caught hold of her and held her at arm's distance.

"She outranks me, as Prime she has a right to her own quarters," Optimus snarled.

You Primus damned two faced idiot! If you don't love her anymore say it to her face!∂ Arcee shrieked at him. ∂Better to hear it from you than for her to find out second hand! What were you planning on telling her? That oh well, you're a bot now, so I don't need to string you along anymore!?∂

(OPOV)

The hangar stood, dead silent. Archangel was gone, she had called him a liar...

"What did you do!?" Arcee shrieked, bringing a cannon online and aiming for him. That was a true shock, Arcee didn't do that.

"I did nothing!" he rumbled.

"No, you asked for a new set of quarters!" Ratchet growled beside him.

"You did WHAT!?" Arcee shrieked, her cannons receded, that was something of a relief.

"She outranks me!" Optimus rumbled. What more explanation was needed?

Except Arcee jumped on him and promptly began punching him.

"Why the scrap would you request different quarters!?" she bellowed at him, punching everything she could reach. Optimus irritably caught hold of her and held her at arm's distance.

"She outranks me, as Prime she has a right to her own quarters," Optimus snarled, he didn't know what was getting into Arcee, he needed to know what had happened to Kae.

∂You Primus damned two faced idiot! If you don't love her anymore say it to her face!∂ Arcee shrieked at him.

She said what. Optimus felt rage rising in his spark. She had best stop. But she didn't.

∂Better to hear it from you than for her to find out second hand! What were you planning on telling her? That oh well, you're a bot now, so I don't need to string you along anymore!?∂

What?

Optimus dropped her.

He went down, putting his face to her level.

∂How dare you,∂ he rumbled tightly, struggling to hold the rage in.

∂How dare I what?∂ Arcee snapped right back at him.

∂How dare you imply that I will do anythingbut love that Femme!∂ he bellowed at her, punching at the floor.

∂Then why the scrap are you rejecting her!?∂ Arcee shrieked at him.

Rejecting her!?

∂When have I ever rejected her?∂ Optimus demanded.

∂You just asked for different quarters,∂ Arcee snarled.

That is what she had heard. No explanations, simply that he wished different quarters.

He felt his strength begin to abandon him.

∂I what?∂ he demanded hoarsely, terrified.

∂You ask for quarters away from your femme? If a bot asked to sleep somewhere other than where you are, how is that not rejection?∂ Arcee snarled.

That was it. He was fragged. His motor controls abandoned him and instinct ruled. He was flat on the ground the next moment, curling up slightly.

He. Was a complete glitch, his beloved now hated him.

Fragged.

∂No...∂ he whispered, battling down the keen. Arcee flopped down somewhat in shock.

∂Optimus, why are you rejecting her?∂ Arcee asked him softly.

She outranks me, she will not want me,∂ Optimus whimpered, curling a bit more. He had hoped she would at least be his friend still.

∂Oh, scrap,∂ Ratchet stated quietly.

Arcee buried her face in her hands.

∂You're an idiot.∂ she stated flatly. Optimus couldn't help but agree.

∂You're stating the obvious,∂ Ratchet informed her calmly. ∂Now we need to figure out how to fix this!∂

∂We need to find her, bring her back and lock the two of them in their room until they've sorted out exactly how they feel about each other.∂ Arcee stated firmly. "Sideswipe, get a track on Kae, we need to find her before she gets hurt."

"Can anyone tell me what the hell is going on!?" Will bellowed.

"Romantic drama," Arcee stated perfunctorily. "Now, why the hell are you acting like this, for Primus sake you declared your intentions to her!"

Optimus shook his head mutely.

"You didn't declare your intentions!?" Arcee shrieked at him again. She looked ready to kick him. He deserved it, of course. She sat down and leaned her helm against his instead.

"You glitch," she stated irritably. "You complete glitch, we're dealing with Elita-1 all over again, aren't we? You promised her that you would love her no matter what, it's what putting that ring on her finger means in earth's cultures."

"I will always love her," Optimus whispered.

"Then get off your Primus damned aft and help us find her!" Arcee commanded him. Optimus sat up somewhat and looked around numbly.

"Now." Arcee continued sternly. "We're going to find Kae, and you're going to talk to Kae, and you're going to apologize for being a complete glitch. Sideswipe?"

"Got her..." the bot stated worriedly.

"Sideswipe?" Ratchet demanded.

"She... she just landed, on a mountain, and then she dropped like five hundred feet," Sideswipe whimpered.

"Co-ordinates!" Arcee bellowed.

Kae was hurt.

Optimus was up and transformed the next second, listening to the co-ordinates and driving as quickly as his engines could throw him.

Three hours. Three hours of driving.

He, and the bots behind him were in full panic now. Kae hadn't moved. Her signal was there, weakening, but there.

That the gorgeous femme could go that fast was exquisite.

But it didn't help when she was the one hurt. Arcee, Chromia and Flareup swerved out of his tailwind and whipped past him.

Her sisters would find her first. Bumblebee was hot on their fenders.

Into mountains, they drove as quickly and as far as they could.

In the distance, he could see Bumblebee ploughing his way up the mountainside. And even at that distance, he could hear the little scout calling Kae's name.

Pleading that she was still alive.

Optimus' spark wrenched in his chamber, it was all his fault.

The unit ran, scaling the mountain behind Bumblebee as quickly as they could. His first sight of her tore his spark out, chewed it up and threw it back in his chamber again.

Mikaela was laying, almost completely buried in rubble. Curled up around her spark, her wing torn off, and traces of energon still shining down her face.

"Mikaela," he sobbed, kneeling down beside Bumblebee as the little scout scrambled to get the stones off of his sister.

"Kae," Bumblebee was sobbing. "Big sister wake up!"

Then, the most beautiful of sights.

Mikaela's optics brightened.

She looked at him, and they darkened with anger.

"You," she growled.

"Kae," Optimus sobbed, curling up beside her.

Bad move, she lashed out the next second.

"You come to find me in guilt!?" she shrieked at him. "You liar! You promised that no matter what happened, you would love me still! Are you all lying!? Am I so hideous that you cannot stand to share your quarters with me!"

She struggled out of the rubble and threw a punch at him, collapsing the next moment, she slid down the steep slope a bit more, curled up and sobbing.

Optimus didn't know what to do.

"Mikaela," Arcee snapped out.

"My sister you said you would tell me the truth," Mikaela sobbed, she rose slightly, struggled to transform and collapsed again. Bumblebee scrambled toward her.

"=Big-sister please=," he chirped desperately. Mikaela began sobbing harder, curling into herself. Undeterred, Bumblebee laid down beside her, squirming his way into her arms. "You always said you wanted to be big enough to hug me," he whimpered.

Sobbing, Mikaela curled up around her brother, holding him tightly.

=Kae you gotta listen to me= Bumblebee whispered in her arms. =Optimus loves you, he's always gonna love you. You can see it in his spark. You outrank him =Big-sister-, I told you, our society tended to bond within our own ranks=

=And I told you it was the stupidest thing your society could do= Kae sobbed. =What does it matter? He doesn't want me.=

She thought what!? Optimus felt the rage build in his spark again.

"That is a lie!" Optimus roared. Mikaela jerked upright and staggered to her feet, glaring at him with those eyes.

"You dare to call me the liar?" she snarled at him. Infuriated, Optimus slid down the slope somewhat and put his face to hers.

"I. Will love you to the end of days and beyond." he snarled. "It is you who will reject me in the end. As it happens every single time."

Mikaela let loose a snarl of true rage and threw herself at him.

The two of them promptly began rolling down the mountain.

Terrified, Optimus wound himself around her, even as she tried to punch him.

At the bottom, he released her somewhat.

"How dare you accuse me of being so shallow!" she shrieked, throwing another punch at him. He let her get it through his defences, he deserved it, after all.

"Mikaela you outrank me," he stated firmly.

"What makes you think that I give a flying fuck about that!?" she sobbed, "I loved you! And you rejected me for an accident of birth."

She turned and started to walk away.

Not this time.

"I love you," he snarled, "nothing will ever stop me from loving you!"

"Liar," she sobbed.

"If you cannot believe my words then believe my spark!" he bellowed, spinning her around and crushing their chests together. He reached for his spark with his own, teasing her chamber open and pressing himself against her.

~Feel my love for you!~ he sobbed directly into her spark ~ But you? You will have your pick of any bot or femme in this universe. You will not love me..~

~No?~ Mikaela replied icily.

And then it was her turn, he saw her, everything that she had been, everything that she was now. And her love, her love for him, tearing her apart with his perceived rejection. Demands, directly into his spark.

~Look at me!~ she snarled ~ Have I become so hideous you cannot look at me?~

Optimus dragged her spark to his own.

~You are the most beautiful creature I have ever had the honour of laying optics on~ he whispered.

Kae began crying again, and so close, he could feel her body shutting down.

~Kae, Oh my Kae I am so sorry~ he choked, holding her tightly ~Let's get you home~

Mikaela looked at him for a moment before the damage and the grief finally won out, she shut down into automatic recharge.

Optimus looked up at his unit with shock and grief in his optics.

"Let's get her home," Ratchet stated heavily.

"How?" Bumblebee whimpered.

The medic sighed and focused for a long moment, transforming himself into a trailer.

Optimus laid his spark-mate gently within the Medic's transport and transformed, connecting and beginning the trip home.