Chapter 180 – ARK

(MPOV)

I paced somewhat, walking around the Ark with Starscream and his trine in tow.

They were still staring at me, but I didn't mind, not anymore, they were just flabbergasted that I'd gone into space so quickly after a spark-trauma.

Idly, I continued scanning the Ark.

::. How the slag are they supposed to fix this?.:: I finally asked aloud.

::. The engines aren't too badly damaged, and the frame can be quickly welded back together.:: Skywarp shrugged, I glanced over my shoulder as the seeker strode to stand at my shoulder. ::. It's not like it needs to be airtight, like your human's ships. It never was, c'mere.::

Skywarp used a minor thrust to jump on top of the wreckage, turning to look at me. Curiously, I followed and strode over the wreckage behind him.

::. These are the gunner's turrets, here.:: he stated patiently, crawling inside one of the holes. ::. I'm actually surprised they aren't more damaged. All that really needs to be done is a bit of metal bending, here and here, so that the turret can move freely back and forth again.::

I looked in shock at the completely open area. Literally, a secondary frame to house the gunners.

::. We should probably assess the dead.:: Starscream finally called out.

I nodded and crawled into the ship proper, the four of us carrying the husks of the dead from the ship and laying them carefully along the ground. I cycled my processors and pulled out the memory chips I'd retrieved from the dead, returning them to each of the husks.

::. That's very kind of you, Auto-bot.:: Thundercracker stated in a muted tone.

::. Cracker?.:: I asked softly, turning to look at the bot.

::. That's Overdrive, he was a friend of ours.:: Skywarp stated quietly, kneeling down and patting the shoulder of one of the dead bots.

::. A Decepticon mole?.:: I asked curiously.

::. No, he was a neutral for the longest time, a smart one at that.:: Starscream stated quietly.

::. For a good reason, his creator was the Gygaxian ambassador to Vos, we played together as sparkings.:: Thundercracker murmured with a low laugh. ::. Remember all of the times we wound up flying him between the three of us?.::

::. The wingless grounder who was more comfortable in the air.:: Skywarp snorted.

::. When it finally got to the point that the neutrals were being forced to choose sides, he chose the side that wasn't forcing his hand.:: Starscream stated in a dignified tone, kneeling down beside his trine-mate. ::. Let it always be remembered that Overdrive chose his own fate, in his own time, by his own processors.::

§They wish to return, daughter§ Mico whispered in my mind.

~Who?~ I asked softly.

§Look at them closely, daughter, those whom wish to remain, do.§

::. Starscream what is this?.:: Thundercracker asked then, looking back and forth between Overdrive and another bot.

::. Corrosion.:: Skywarp shrugged.

::. Then why isn't Overdrive rusting?.::

I strode toward them and felt my optics widening. Fully half of the bots were almost half gone, their husks rusting away.

But only half of them were.

Those who wished to remain. Did.

::. Help me with this.:: I stated flatly, carefully lifting Overdrive by the shoulders and pulling him out from between two rusted husks.

::. What are you doing femme?.:: Starscream asked flatly, the three scowling as I dragged the bot they were paying their respects to away.

::. Don't hold the funeral 'till the casket is full.:: I stated with a frown, lining the mostly un-rusted bots up together. ~Now how am I supposed to do this?~

§Re-start their sparks§ Mico informed me in amusement.

~Mother~ I stated with a small frown.

§Daughter§ she stated in amusement. §You have accomplished this before§

~I followed Jazz's memories to his spark, that was one, this is eight~ I frowned.

§It is the same§

I sighed and looked at the eight. I needed to be at their heads-

§No you don't, just reach for them, daughter§

I pursed my lips in frustration, and let Mico feel that frustration, kneeling down at their heads and reaching with my hands for them.

§Does that make it easier?§

~Precisely how am I supposed to reach for them?~

I could feel Mico rolling her eyes at me before the information came to the forefront of my processors. Oh. Telepathy. I made a personal note to ask Soundwave to train me in the skill that seemed so alien to me, even as Mico lightly pushed my mind to the eight in front of me.

Their memories were a cacophony of noise, first their deaths, then backwards of their lives. Dimly, I felt two of my spare energon cells flash into plasmic state, first flooding my systems, then draining away.

Where I wasn't entirely certain. All I could see was the light that wasn't there, the darkness that wasn't dark indicative of the middle areas between life and death.

Hundreds of sparks, most of whom I could not see properly, watched with excited impassiveness as the eight caught hold of me.

~You are the ones that wish to return~ I murmured, looking at the eight surrounding me, tendrils of their own sparks tangling around the ones I had extended. They didn't speak, simply allowing their wish to return to the living, their desire to attend to unfinished business be known.

I nodded and fell back, dragging the sparks behind myself as I retreated back to my own body.

(OPOV)

Optimus stood patiently, waiting for his mentor to bring the bridge online.

"Are yah ready yet!?" Roadbuster demanded irritably.

Sentinel turned and glared at the wrecker.

"Sir," Roadbuster added offhandedly. "Th' point stands, yeh want yer Ark repaired and we need to get it repaired in an orn or less. Chronometers are tickin'!"

Sentinel snorted softly and turned.

"Are the humans ready?" he rumbled patiently, turning to look at the multitude of astronauts geared up and watching Sentinel expectantly.

"Ask any one of them, they've been ready to go to the moon for years," Robert Epps called up with a laugh. Optimus chuckled softly as Sentinel looked down at the space-suited man curiously.

"They have not been in their spacer gear for years..." he rumbled in confusion.

"Figure of speech," Epps snorted with a grin. "Hang on..."

The man turned and strode into the midst of the astronaut crowd.

"Alright it's rock and roll time! Final headcount ladies and gentlemen!" Epps bellowed cheerfully. Optimus concealed a smirk. Evidently you could take the human out of the military, but you couldn't take the military out of the human.

∂Robert Epps is a former NEST soldier, why is he in charge of the astronauts again?∂ Sentinel murmured curiously, reaching out and nudging Optimus' shoulder.

∂Because none of them astronauty folk could decide who was gonna be in charge o' all-a 'em,∂ Topspin snorted gleefully. ∂So Roadbuster tol' 'em that Epps'd be the leader or they wouldn'a go a'tall.∂

∂And Epps wanted to come,∂ Leadfoot shrugged with a snort. ∂Win win.∂

∂But why Epps?∂

∂Coz Epps rides with me.∂ Roadbuster put in proudly. ∂'E's mah resident Auto-bot ambassador, after-all.∂

~Who?~ his Kae's spark whispered.

::. Epps.::

::. What about him?.:: Ironhide muttered.

Optimus frowned.

~Now how am I supposed to do this?~ his Kae's voice murmured.

~Do what?~ he sent worriedly. His Kae didn't respond.

~Mother~ her voice frowned. Oh slag.

::. Sentinel you need to online the bridge.:: Optimus rumbled over the comm worriedly.

::. In due course, Optimus-.::

~I followed Jazz's memories to his spark, that was one, this is eight~

::. Sentinel you need to online the bridge right now!.:: Optimus rumbled in a horrified tone. Kae was speaking to Mico. Raising the dead.

She'd be laid low from that, he needed to be there for her, now!

~Precisely how am I supposed to reach for them?~

::. Optimus what-?.:: Ratchet began with a frown.

::. Kae!.:: Optimus choked. Immediately, the swirling, arcing portal onlined in front of him, and without hesitation, he ran toward the signal of his mate.

(StPOV)

Starscream knelt beside Overdrive's dead husk, paying his respects to the fighter alongside his trine. At least, he was until Archangel decided to drag the husk away. Indignant, Starscream looked up with a scowl, his trine matching him as they glared at the Prime.

::. What are you doing, femme?.:: he demanded flatly, as far as he'd bothered to understand, humans generally had a bit more respect for the dead. Much as the Auto-bots did. Decepticons left their dead, but that was more Megatron's insistence.

An insistence they only humoured to his face. The fliers still returned for their own.

::. Don't hold the funeral until the casket is full.:: the femme replied flatly, picking out the bodies that had remained primarily undamaged. Eight of them, to be precise.

::. Mikaela what are you doing?.:: Thundercracker asked curiously as she knelt at the heads of the dead. His question went unanswered, because at that point she died. That's what it sure as slagging Pitfire looked like, she didn't fall, but her systems stopped, the minute flickers of her spark that appeared from beneath her chestplates simply ceased!

::. We're gonna be slagged for this.:: Skywarp stated flatly.

Starscream couldn't help but agree, the femme had gone dark on the moon, away from her mate. Several units away, the sparking, spinning energies of a space-bridge appeared, Optimus Prime fairly sprinting toward them the next moment.

::. Slag.:: Thundercracker stated patiently.

But the Prime ignored them for the moment, which was a relief, opting instead to kneel down behind his mate, winding his arms around her as she began to glow.

Really glow. The space-bridge dimmed in comparison as light began emanating from her, the light then arcing and surrounding the eight in front of her.

::. Wait a second...:: Starscream frowned somewhat.

::. No slagging way...::

::. No slagging way!.:: Thundercracker screeched, echoing Skywarp and dragging them both back from the eight suddenly less than dead husks beginning to repair themselves.

On his HUD, without preamble, the helm recognition and names of the eight began appearing. Overdrive, Carbine, Trigger, Tread, Turbine, and Throttle.

More Auto-bots were striding through the space-bridge now, Ironhide, the Hatchet, the two bonded technicians close behind them. Sentinel, the Wreckers, another wrecker... Starscream rolled his optics. They were being inundated with Wreckers.

::. What the slag happened?.:: Overdrive's voice grumbled on the open frequency.

::. We were dead, now we're alive.:: Throttle replied with a groan.

::. Besides that. I wasn't this badly damaged before...:: Carbine muttered.

::. What the slag happened to our ship!?.:: Turbine howled. The engineer was on his pedes the next second, ignoring the bots around him as he circled the Ark.

::. I would appreciate an explanation, femme.:: Starscream stated flatly.

::. Uh... Sentinel's going to need some more crew members to fly the Ark?.::

::. That was a question, not an explanation, Kae.:: Sentinel Prime's voice snorted.

::. Who are yeh, and how'd yeh find us?.:: Trigger demanded, gingerly sitting up and turning to look at the femme curiously.

::. All I received was one side of your communications with Mico, my mate.:: Optimus rumbled gently then, nuzzling his helm against Archangel's.

::. Oh riiight... I didn't do it, I blame Mico. She has a weird sense of timing when it comes to me learning how to do this stuff.:: Archangel stated innocently.

::. Like raising the dead.:: Starscream stated flatly. He reached up and buried his faceplates into his hands. ::. What the slag have we gotten ourselves into now?.::

::. Well she hasn't hit us yet, and she's supposed to raise several thousand from stasis on Cybertron. Baby steps.:: Thundercracker stated cheerfully, patting Starscream's shoulder plating.

::. It could be worse, Megatron could have wound up being the host bearer of the All-spark.::

Collectively, Starscream and his trine shuddered.

::. Don' even sugges' it!.:: Topspin grumbled.

(SePOV)

Sentinel shuddered, and noted even the ex-Decepticon fliers shuddering.

::. Don' even sugges' it!.:: Topspin grumbled.

::. Righ', we're here, now le's ge' finished wi' th' dilly dallyin' an get off this gravity deficient rock!.:: Roadbuster added with a growl. ::. We got Decepticons incoming in two orn and a slag-unit of work what needs doin'! Now where'd Epps go?.::

Sentinel started somewhat, in the midst of chasing after his young friend, he'd forgotten the humans.

::. Lieutenant Jazz calling up to moon base, are the humans clear for bridging?.:: Jazz called up the next moment. Sentinel nodded.

::. The humans are cleared to enter the bridge.:: Optimus rumbled patiently.

::. Humans? What the slag are those?.:: Overdrive grumbled.

::. Humans are the sentient creatures populating the planet this satellite has been captured by; designation Earth.:: Sentinel rumbled patiently, looking at his remarkably un-dead crew members. ::. They are not to be harmed.:: Out of the corner of his optic, he noted Kae shooting him an approving glance.

His space-bridge rippled somewhat, and humans began marching through the gate.

::. Holy crap that's intense!.:: Epps' voice called out cheerfully as he wobbled and bounced his way toward Optimus' knee. ::. Does it leave your metals jiggly and vibrating like it is my bones? Or is that just a human thing? Hey Kae! How's it going?.::

::. Yeh get used ta it.:: Roadbuster called out with a snort. ::. Now are yeh sightseein' or are yeh gonna come get intae these tight spaces fer me?.::

::. Dude I'm on the moon!.::

::. Sightseein' it is.:: Roadbuster snorted, turning back to his scans on the Ark.

::. I'll be back in a bit, I totally gotta go look around holy crap I'm on the moon!.::

::. Epps Epps you should come with me and Jolt! We're gonna go see the earth from space!.:: Lena squealed excitedly.

::. Lena you're an Auto-bot!.:: Epps howled right back at her, promptly scrambling over the surface of the moon toward her. A flying leap and the man was laughing as he landed face first against her leg. Roadbuster was chuckling.

::. If yeh wan' tae see the earth I c'n take you in a bit.:: the mech snorted. Epps grinned and ran back to his Auto-bot partner again.

::. Work first, tour after?.::

::. You got it.::

Sentinel shook his head and chuckled softly as the human groups fanned out, taking pictures and collecting samples, and earning several surprised looks from his crew.

::. Are they hatchlings on field exploration?.:: Tread asked cautiously.

::. No, they're fully grown humans.:: Kae murmured with a chuckle.

::. But they're acting...:: Overdrive rumbled with a frown.

::. They are a young species, their bodies do not live for much longer than a vorn.:: Sentinel rumbled patiently. ::. However after spending time among them, one learns to not be fooled by this youngling-like enthusiasm. Many are trained warriors, many more highly intelligent.::

::. They're just excited because this is the first space-bridge they've encountered, and now they're walking on our moon.:: Kae murmured fondly. :::. Previous to this day, every child remembered the names of the first two men to walk on the moon, because there have only been three to make landfall here.::

Overdrive nodded, even as Ratchet continued to fuss over the newly living crew.

::. Wha did yeh do wi' her!?.:: Turbine bellowed. Sentinel winced.

(LPOV)

Jolt was holding her hand, the two of them jumping from crater to crater.

The sheer magnitude had finally caught her. She was jumping on the moon, and over it's horizon the earth shone.

Sort of.

She could see a little bit of it... anyway...

The night side.

::. I wanted to get good seats...:: Jolt murmured.

What?

::. For what?.:: she asked curiously.

::. The sunrise.:: Jolt murmured with a grin. Lena froze, then sat down hard, watching as the moon's orbit slowly brought them into the perfect spot to watch the sun crest over the earth's horizon.

::. It... it's...:: she whispered, cuddling against her mate as he sat beside her.

::. Welcome to the moon, my mate.:: Jolt murmured softly, winding his arms around her.

(OPOV)

Optimus rose and helped his femme to her feet.

::. Let's get the old femme back to base!.:: Lugnut called out patiently. Beside him, his Kae smiled and pulled out a few grav-clamps beside the flier trine.

Optimus checked his flight deck and gave his boosters an experimental fire.

::. Careful with that, Prime, too hard a thrust and we might have to come pull you back down!.:: Starscream called out cheerfully.

::. Grounders!.:: Skywarp snorted cheerfully.

::. Grounder with borrowed wings, but at least he's trying to improve.:: Thundercracker chuckled.

::. My Kae is the better skilled at flying.:: Optimus shrugged. Sentinel was scowling somewhat.

::. What?.:: Kae asked him in amusement.

::. The disrespect.:: Sentinel growled softly.

::. Pay it no heed, Sentinel, it's just how fliers are.:: Kae stated comfortably.

::. Point stands, don't blast yourself off the moon, those thrusters of yours are for air-pushing, not space travel.:: Thundercracker stated cheerfully. ::. Getting teased by fliers is one thing, what's the Emperor Prime gonna say about having to get towed back?.::

::. I shall simply have to shrug and state that for a born grounder, at least I did not blow up when I onlined my thrusters.:: Optimus rumbled, borrowing the airy 'whatever' tone from his Kae.

::. Why weren't we Auto-bots before again?.:: Skywarp asked cheerfully.

::. The Emperor wasn't bonded to a flier before.:: Starscream stated airily. ::. Grounders are notorious for not understanding flier humour.::

::. Oh riiigght...:: Thundercracker snorted.

::. Archangel set.:: Kae announced patiently. Optimus turned to see her watching them from her station on the Ark, her grav-clamps set and waiting for them.

Not even bothering to hide the mischief in her optics

::. Cheeky femme!.:: Starscream snorted, striding over and taking his position. Optimus couldn't help but chuckle as he took his own position. The Wreckers had come to assess the damage, and find every part they could for the Ark.

But the fliers were here to transport her through the bridge.

::. Starscream set!.::

::. Lugnut Set.:: the massive wrecker grunted, sitting on top of the Ark and transforming into his chopper mode.

::. Thundercracker set!.::

::. Skywarp set!.::

::. Optimus set.:: he rumbled, bringing his own clamps online. Slowly, always carefully controlled, the ark lifted from her resting place in the hole she had dug upon landing.

::. Lift her up more! We got leaks!.:: Roadbuster shouted.

Patiently, Optimus stretched upward somewhat along with the fliers and his mate, holding the massive ship aloft with the grav-clamps while the wreckers scrambled to retain what was left of the Ark's fuel.

::. How'd this not wind up in the moon-dust?.:: Epps called out, riding around on Roadbuster's shoulder and pulling himself up amid the framework to inspect the smaller hoses.

::. By the look of it, the emergency seals held until we moved 'er again.:: Roadbuster stated flatly. ::. If we can get her to hold the fuel we'll drain it out and salvage it once we're back at base.::

::. Hopefully it ain't crystallized!.:: Topspin added.

::. Don't even think it!.:: Leadfoot groaned.

::. Her engines'll take 'er!.:: Turbine grunted.

::. What happens when energon crystallizes?.:: Epps asked curiously.

::. Think of it as that TNT of yours sweatin' off Nitro. Except the Energon don't sweat, it crystallizes. The crystals are the most flammable aspects of the stuff. Run that through the engines-.::

::. And you get either a backfire from the Pit itself, or a handy little bit of extra thrust to push you out of a solar gravity well.:: Turbine snorted gleefully. ::. Remember when we did that Sentinel? She held up to that but now you've gone and crashed her!.::

::. In my defence, you were dead, and I was stuck in the crash vault with my chronometer ticking away and my energon levels burning down to naught.:: Sentinel rumbled irritably.

::. Aye aye, remind me tae put an emergency exit lever intae that crash vault fer next time-.:: Turbine snorted.

::. There will not be a next time, and had that gravity well not been there, those crystals would have launched us into uncontrollable trans-dimensional travel.::

::. But the gravity well was there, and we were escapin' it!.:: Turbine grinned.

::. Engineers are a terrifying entity, Epps, always remember that.:: Roadbuster muttered.

::. That's Mr. Engineer Sir to you youngling!.::

Optimus grinned and crouched down somewhat, holding the Ark aloft and watching the wreckers scrambling beneath the ship.

::. Righ'! Tha's the las' of em!.:: Roadbuster called out. ::. Let's get the old Femme home!.::

::. Sentinel?.:: Optimus rumbled patiently.

::. Bringing the space-bridge power ratios up to full levels!.:: Sentinel called out. ::. Stand clear!.::

Optimus smiled and re-adjusted his grip on the grav-clamps, watching as the space-bridge increased it's size, large enough now to easily carry the ark and her bearers back to the earth.

::. Are the humans required to return?.:: Epps called out worriedly.

::. Not yet, no, it's better that we don't transport you at this power ratio unless you're ridin' in the ship.:: Roadbuster stated flatly. ::. It's gonna drop 'em right over that Mexican Gulf of yours, and the fliers are gonna tow her into the docking bays. Safer, but if you run through that now you're gonna drop a thousand feet straight into the water.::

::. If you run through it now you will be disintegrated.:: Sentinel rumbled sternly. Optimus turned and watched his mentor begin performing the artistry of mathematics that stabilized the bridge; the maelstrom of energies, seemingly angry that they were being forced to comply began to smooth, the arcs of stray electricity beginning to conform into the circular vortex.

One of the pillars flashed, and Sentinel nodded to himself, directing the control pillar to sync to the flashing one. Slowly, although it took no more than a breem, the bridge's energies smoothed.

::. The bridge is stabilized.:: Sentinel sent a moment later. ::. Report when you have made landing and I shall revert it to transport the humans.::

::. Let's roll.:: Optimus rumbled immediately, beginning to stride to the bridge.

::. Roll nothing-.:: Skywarp stated cheerfully.

::. Let's fly!.:: Thundercracker stated gleefully.

Optimus chuckled as the lot of them marched into the bridge.

(EPOV)

Roadbuster was driving top speed across the surface of the moon, launching himself over the craters and getting an easy ten foot height. Leadfoot and Topspin were close behind, they'd fan out in a few minutes to start rounding up the multitude of groups that were gleefully wandering around the moon.

Ahead, Lena and Jolt were walking hand in hand back toward them, slowly making their way back toward the bridge already.

::. That doesn't mean we have to go back, does it?.:: Epps asked worriedly over his suit comm.

::. Nah, they're jus' meandering, we'll get there and back in time.:: Roadbuster grinned at him, launching over another crater edge.

Epps grinned then gasped.

Because as they drove, the earth appeared over the horizon.

He sat in awe as his home planet grew before his eyes, rich blues, greens and puffy whites decorating her face in a way that he couldn't not find exquisitely beautiful.

::. It really is a gorgeous planet in her own right.:: Leadfoot stated musingly. ::. Colourful.::

::. Thank you.:: Epps stated quietly, just sitting and staring at his home planet. Suddenly, so far from his home, he was hit with a massive bout of homesickness. ::. I suddenly understand.:: he murmured.

::. What?.::

::. Why you guys are so adamant about getting back to Cybertron.::

::. It ain't that you and your men ain't all that welcoming, Epps.:: Topspin stated quietly.

::. You just can't replace your home.:: Leadfoot murmured softly.

::. Only try to find a way to heal her.:: Epps stated quietly.

::. And pray to Primus, the original seven and whomever else is listening that it's gonna work.::