FINALLY! It is done. G-Gomen'nasai! (´;︵;`) I couldn't get myself to think properly which is why I took almost 5... 6 weeks in working on this chapter. Plus, I had some nasty writers' block and I've been hanging out with my significant other and his best friend. This is the moment you have all been waiting for. Enjoy the chapter and please don't be afraid to tell me what you think! ٩(｡•ω•｡)و
Ratchet grimly outlines the situation and speculates that Optimus has reverted to Orion Pax, his pre-prime self. Fowler wonders why they can't just track down Optimus's signal, but Ratchet says it hasn't been on their sensors since they left the Earth's core. They must find some way to track down Optimus regardless, so they can somehow restore his memory. The best bet seems to be to use the Key to Vector Sigma but there is one slight problem, Vector Sigma is on Cybertron, much to everyone's dismay.
June quickly announces that there's no way Jack is going to Cybertron, but Ratchet tells them that only Jack can use the key to access Vector Sigma. The point's moot anyway, as they don't have any way to get to Cybertron. As Raf points out to Miko that the Ground Bridge barely made orbit, though Miko wonders why Ratchet can't just "turbocharge" it. Lucy had a hard time following to the point she felt like vomiting, though, Ratchet was kind enough to explain it to her slowly. And thus, two months had passed by, and there was little to no luck in finding Optimus's whereabouts.
It was a charming afternoon around Jasper, and inside the library were a couple of people. Many of them were students and the small percentage of them were adults. Lucy was one of them. The young worker was organizing a few books around the Psychology section. A small cart was right next to her where she would arrange the books by their DDC (Dewey Decimal Classification). Since all the books were to 100 -199 she took a while to put the books back in their place. She felt light-headed which was preventing her to concentrate properly. There were nights where she would wake up in the middle of the night from recurring nightmares from the trauma of her past to the point where she had to buy antidepressant for her PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder).
A sigh escaped from her lips while placing the last book on the shelve. Lucy rubbed the bridge of her nose while her other hand was resting onto the cart. She stood there for a moment and right when she was about to push the cart forward her phone began to vibrate from her back pocket located on her right bum cheek. She took out the phone from her blue skinny jeans and answered it in a low but audible tone.
"Hello?" a familiar voice that belonged to the autobot medic spoke from the other line "Lucy?", "Ratchet, it's good hearing from you." She smiled, whilst pushing the cart and making her way towards the private study rooms. "Likewise, anyway, I'm parked outside of the Library. Whenever you are done I will take you back to base." she blinked, a surprised look on her face "You're...outside?", "Yes."
Her cheeks began to heat up, she was at a loss for words. "Oh... I didn't expect a ride today." she laughed warmly. "I just need to place a couple of books up on the shelves and then I'll be out in a jiffy!"
Lucy grabbed four encyclopedia books with ease and walked her way towards the general references or works section. She began to organize them but when she had the final book in hand her head began to swirl and her vision was blurry. Lucy was disoriented and the next thing she knew, she stumbled back and fell, dropping the book in the process. A man simply appeared around the corner and swiftly caught her in his arms before she could hit the floor.
Her head went into a frenzy and she groaned in pain. "What— Oh, God. My head is exploding."
The man set her down carefully and was now kneeled behind her. Lucy gently rubbed her forehead as the pounding slowly lessened up.
"What happened?" she mumbled to herself not expecting an answer from the man behind her. "I should be asking you the exact same notion." startled by the man's familiar voice, and with a quick yet gentle twist of the head, she stared directly into his bright turquoise colored eyes.
Lucy immediately knew that the man before her was none other than Ratchet in his holoform. The only thing that she recognized that it was Ratchet was his mesmerizing eyes and the sharp square chin beard that appeared to be tattooed in an auburn color on his strong square chin. Ratchet, being an old 'bot, his holoforms' taken an appearance of a middle-aged man, with long smooth, gleaming pearlescent white hair and a deep, copper red streak of hair which was swept over to the left where the red streak was his bangs and the other hung freely over his right ear. He also had white sideburns and copper red, bushy-like eyebrows, and some prominent wrinkles on his face. The holoform wore a white lab coat with the autobot insignia on the left side of his breast and underneath he had on a long-sleeved, gray colored, turtleneck. Finally, he wore slim jeans, in a navy-blue color, and black loafer shoes without lace.
"Earth to Lucy!" Ratchet waved his hand in front of her which finally snapped her out of her trance. She blinked a couple of times before smiling nervously. "I-uh...sorry." he simply shook his head, "Honestly, you get distracted by the simplest of things."
Ratchet held out his hand, which she took a hold of, and helped her up from the floor. He picked up the book that was near his feet's and handed it over to her. Lucy timidly took the book from him and placed it in its rightful place on the shelf along with the other books. The air between them was silent for a moment before Ratchet cleared his throat and Lucy looked over her shoulder to look at him, plus hiding the fact that her cheeks were as pink as a spring rose.
"So, shall we get a move on?" Lucy managed to lessen her heated cheeks and faced him completely with a smile while responding with a hum of approval.
She told him that there was something she needed to get from one of the lockers upstairs, and in response, he gave her a curt nod. Ratchet watched her disappear from his line of sight. He patiently waited with his arms folded across his chest while his eyes were admiring the interior painting of the Library. It's mixtures of sleepy blue, pleasant valley and northern cliffs colors made the place more appealing to the eye. The place had a warm yet welcoming atmosphere to which Ratchet found quite soothing to his taste. Though being the way he usually is around his team as well as the humans, he'd kept these thoughts all to himself.
Ratchet turned his head to the right and saw Lucy standing there with her items in hand. He unfolded his arms and guided her out of the building and into his alternative mode (alt-mode or vehicle mode).
As he drove down the road, Lucy shyly asked if he could stop by a nearby restaurant. Ratchet answered to her request with a hum of approval before parking at a restaurant close by. Lucy invited him to join her, but being the grumpy medic, Ratchet was hesitant to leave the vehicle which is ironic considering he IS the vehicle. Soon enough, he gave in and exited the vehicle in his holoform as he walked with her inside the restaurant.
The decor inside was old school but with a modern twist to it. Its warm brown colors felt welcoming, there were lamps that hung down from the ceiling, and a couple of abstract paintings that were on the walls. The wooden tables were made from white oak accompanied by traditional Bentwood chairs, which were the classic type, and they had a soft cream cushion to sit on.
A young waitress took them to their table and handed them the menu. The waitress turned around to walk away but not before glancing over to Ratchet, who didn't even acknowledge the young server which made her frown and walked away. Lucy didn't notice this as she read the menu while Ratchet was being rather aloof with a sulky expression written across his face.
"Ratchet, do you need anything?" Lucy asked whilst her eyes were glued to the menu. He was caught off-guard by her question and gave her a skeptical look, "What...?"
Lucy raised her gaze to stare at him and the way he looked at her was all too much for her. "To refuel." she stifled a giggle. "Honestly, the question wasn't supposed to stump you." Embarrassed, Ratchet looked away with a reddened face. Lucy chuckled before tilting her head to the side, "Can your holoform consume organic food?"
Ratchet glanced over to her and managed to straighten his face back to normal, "Yes. I am the one who designed it where it allows us to consume your organic food where it's converted into energy."
"It's the same with energon, right?" Ratchet nodded and Lucy hummed, "That's brilliant!" she smiled before looking down at the menu that she held, "So, do you want something from the menu?"
A couple of minutes went by and they were content with their meal and both began to chat with one another about random topics. Once their meals were empty, Lucy paid the bill in which Ratchet was not too happy about before leaving the restaurant and heading straight towards the base.
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At the Autobot headquarters, only three individuals occupied the main room. Rafael was assisting Ratchet with adjusting the Ground Bridge's power level, hoping to increase its range, while Lucy was comfortably sitting on a loveseat with a book in hand. The test subject was a toy car but instead of teleporting, it exploded. Lucy was startled and hugged the book close to her chest before realizing it was only a test run over at the Ground Bridge. Raf was consoling Ratchet on the failed test run, saying that it was only the first try, but Ratchet thinks it was a doomed idea from the start.
Curiously, Lucy turned her attention towards the two and listened to their conversation. Rafael tried to cheer up the old bot by telling him a story of his slow triumph over the rope climb in gym class, but it sadly falls on oblivious ears... or audio-receptors, since Ratchet, who harshly responded to the boy, in which he doesn't understand what gym class has to do with increasing the Ground Bridge's power level.
Rafael was now on the couch looking gloomy with his head looking down at the floor. Lucy got up from the loveseat and sat next to Raf, placing her hand on his back. Almost immediately, Raf responded with a smile and Lucy asked if he wanted to play video games with her which he gladly accepted and began to play a new game with him.
As they played video games, Bulkhead arrives at the base through the Ground Bridge, which Ratchet had provided for the wrecker. Transforming into his bipedal form, Bulkhead approaches the medic. "No sign of energon spikes. Arcee or Bee found the Space Bridge?" Bulkhead asked Ratchet who became silent for a moment before replying, "They haven't yet reported back."
Bulkhead frowned noticing the medics dispirited mood, "Ratchet, you alright?", Ratchet who was lost in his thoughts raised his helm glancing over to the wrecker, "Hmm? Yes. Yes, let's just get you to the next quadrant."
Ratchet was about to send Bulkhead out on to the next search when he receives a high-frequency message of peculiar nature. The medic walks over to the main control panel as Bulkhead stood right behind the Mech. "What is it?" Bulkhead asked. "A high-frequency signal with an embedded message..." Ratchet reads further and was quite shocked, "For me?!"
"Optimus?" Bulkhead blurted out, hoping it was their leader but sadly this wasn't the case.
Ratchet opened the message and it quickly identified the individual, and it was from Starscream, much to Ratchets disappointment. "Starscream." Ratchet hissed the renegade Decepticons name with much distaste which caught Lucy's attention. He began to read aloud the message. "I have obtained information regarding your leader. Bring medical kit. Come alone."
Ratchet immediately called out Lucy's name which was perfect timing because she had just finished playing video games with Raf. She approached the railing where Ratchet instructed her to operate the Ground Bridge. Lucy gave him a curt nod before making her way towards the human-sized monitors where she tapped in the coordinates, making sure to keep the vortex open until their return.
A couple of minutes went by, Ratchet and Bulkhead returned with new information on where the Decepticons had hidden the Space Bridge. Lucy never felt delighted to hear this. Ratchet typed in the coordinates he had gained from Starscream.
Arcee and Bumblebee arrived at the base to report to Ratchet about their failed search in locating the Decepticon Space Bridge and were stunned to find out that the old field medic and Bulkhead had already located the Space Bridge. Now, every Bot and Human were present in the main room as Ratchet began to discuss a plan of action in seizing the Space Bridge.
"The Decepticon Space Bridge is located right here—" Ratchet pointing at the large screen where the Space Bridge was located before his optics drifted towards the group, "—deep within an energon mine."
"Adjacent to a raw fuel supply... clever." Arcee mused then turning her attention to the field medic and the wrecker, "What's our Intel?" they looked at each other not even wanting to disclose the information towards her.
"A... reliable source." Ratchet simply said which made Arcee eye them suspiciously but said nothing. "So, do we have a consensus?" He turned around to face the six humans who were staring at Ratchet.
"Do we know if people can even breathe your atmosphere?" June asked feeling more troubled about her son's safety in traveling to another planet.
"I'll hook Jack up." Agent Fowler spoke. June turned to face him and Jack as she furrowed her brows, "Completely state-of-the-art. I still have connections at NASA." Fowler reassured June who frowned in response, "It's too dangerous."
"Mom—" Jack stepped forward, "—I know that this is hard but Optimus risked his life to save our planet and he's not even human. We owe it to him."
"Jack may be the only one who can do this, June, but I don't want you to think for one moment that I'll allow him to travel unchaperoned," Arcee reassured June.
"Not everyone is destined for an ordinary life." Everyone's attention landed onto Ratchet, "Optimus Prime was once Orion Pax after all."
June turned to face Jack telling him that he once wanted to be an astronaut when he was young. She smiled and this made Jack smile at the thought.
Lucy smiled absentmindedly as she silently watched them exchange a brief mother and son moment before Ratchet began to discuss the plan once more.
"We will Ground Bridge directly into the energon mine and make our way to the Space Bridge chamber neutralizing any Decepticon forces we may encounter." Ratchet continued. "Once we secure the Space Bridge we'll send for Jack."
Everyone's eyes... err, optics landed onto Jack who stood in front of the railing with his mom by his side.
"Stealth must be an absolute priority. We will most certainly be outnumbered and if any Decepticon should transmit an alert to their warship." Bulkhead finished Ratchet's notion, "The odds become 401."
"Scrambling communications upon entry will certainly provide an edge, in this regard." Ratchet held a rather small device on his servo which will be utilized for their mission.
"Taking the Bridge is the easy part." Arcee said turning to face the other 'bots, "You three need to hold it long enough for Jack and me—" she pointed a single digit onto herself, " —to get to Cybertron and back."
"Rafael climb to the top of the rope in gym class. We can do this." Ratchet said with a confident smile on his faceplates.
Rafael smiled, "What does gym class have to do with anything?" Miko blurted out as she stepped forward placing both hands on to the railing, "And if Ratchet gets to go on a commando raid I'm going to."
Ratchet stepped forward as he now stood in front of the railing Miko stood, "Miko, you will help Rafael operate our Ground Bridge and manage the communications hub." he instructed her with a simple, and non-dangerous task in which she groaned rather angrily.
"Can't go to Cybertron, can't storm the Decepticon Space Bridge..." Miko grumbled as she walked away with her arms folded onto her chest in a grumpy manner.
Ratchet proceeded to speak and give the last task. His optics landed on June, "Nurse Darby and Lucy will stand by, in case of emergency." Ratchets' optics drifted towards Lucy's way who was now standing next to June.
"Son." Agent Fowler called out to Jack who turned to face him, "It's time to suit up."
Lucy looked up to face Ratchet who was staring back at her, "Be careful out there." she said in a quiet yet gentle voice.
Ratchet gave her a curt nod to which she responded with a small smile. Soon the Ground Bridge opens and team Prime enters to proceed with their plan. Lucy hoped they all come back in one piece, and with Optimus alongside them.
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How much time had passed since the team left on their mission... almost an hour. It was nerve-wracking when you don't have a single clue on what's happening out there. Lucy has been pacing back and forth as the minutes flew by. June was able to ease Lucy up a little, although not so much as she hoped but it was enough to make her stop pacing.
The room was silent and they still haven't heard from Ratchet since he briefly explained what an Insecticon was. All of them stared at the monitors eagerly but patiently for any signs of the Autobots reporting in on their mission. Then a couple of minutes went by and the screen lit up, showing five Autobot life signals. Agent Fowler quickly noticed it as he proceeded to contact Arcee.
"Base to Arcee, we're reading five Autobot life signals down there! Is Prime with you?" Agent Fowler asked to which he received a quick reply from the femme, "And Jack."
"Yes!" Miko exclaimed triumphantly, "Thank goodness." Lucy said quietly in relief.
They were all relieved to hear the news, especially June, who was more than happy to know that her son was unharmed.
Rafael activated the Ground Bridge and they now waited for the 'bots to arrive with Jack, and the first ones to appear were Jack along with Arcee. Jack removed his helmet with a smile written on his face.
"Jack!" June ran over to him and gave him a tight hug.
Bumblebee, Ratchet, and Bulkhead appeared from the vortex as they now huddled around the humans. Lucy approached Ratchets pedes and stood a couple of inches so that she is able to look up at him. He looked down at her and received a smile from her to which he returned the same gesture, and making sure no one else saw him doing this. Typical shy Ratchet which Lucy found quite adorable in her opinion.
Loud footsteps can be heard from the still open vortex. They turned their heads... and helms towards the Ground Bridge and the last one to appear was none other than Optimus Prime. The vortex shuts off behind him, and his battle mask retracts as his optics drifted down at Rafael.
"Optimus?" Raf gazed up at the Prime, feeling uncertain if he even remembers him, but to his surprise, Optimus does indeed remember him, "Hello Rafael." Optimus greeted the boy with a gentle smile on his face-plates.
"The big guy remembers us!" Miko said as she jumped in pure joy, "Woohoo!"
Optimus turns his helm to the left noticing a Decepticon symbol on his shoulder, "Although it seems there is much I do not remember."
"Optimus," Ratchet approached the Prime who was now staring down at him, " it has truly been our darkest hour, but know this: from every indication, your spark never ceased being that of an Autobot." Ratchet placed his left servo onto the Primes arm.
Optimus looks up and takes a few steps forward and stops right in front of the humans. His optics drifted down at the Autobot insignia that is imprinted on the main floor of the base, then his optics landed on a familiar girl with long knee-length hair: Lucy. She had a huge smile plastered on her face and it looked like her cheek were about to explode at any moment. Optimus knelt in front of her and held out his right servo to her. Lucy then approached his servo placing her hand on his index finger while the other was pressed lightly against her chest.
Lucy was overwhelmed with emotion that her eyes began to water, but those weren't tears of sorrow, they were tears of joy. Optimus was concerned at first but was relieved to see her smile brightly at him and he smiled warmly at her. Nobody said a word and instead watched Optimus and Lucy exchange a blissful moment together.
Team Prime had done an excellent job on their mission and successfully came back with their leader yet a new problem will emerge.