XVIII
Orion entered the Hall of Records with the most confidence he's had for the last several days. This was one thing he was certain over, more than anything else that was happening. The doors of the Hall opened, and it felt like a wind of relief washed over him. The desk jockey perked upon Orion and Ratchet's entrance, grinning lightly at the familiar face of Orion.
"Orion Pax!" they gaped. "It's been too long!"
"Sorry," Orion chuckled, shaking the other's hand. "I've been working on a…research project."
"Really? That sounds exciting!"
"I just need a few more things for my project," nodded Orion, stepping around the desk. "You remember Ratchet? He's helping me out. I'm going to borrow a few items."
The jockey gave a concerned look, glancing between Orion and Ratchet.
"I'm not sure…how many items are you borrowing?"
"A few," Orion admitted. "My project concerns the ancients and the Matrix of Leadership."
The jockey paused, looking over at his computer. Orion felt a brief moment of pressure, but it passed as the jockey looked back up at Orion with a smile.
"Well, if it was anyone else I wouldn't be so sure but I trust you, Orion," they nodded.
"Thank you," he whispered, entering the main archive with Ratchet trailing.
The vast collection of shelves stored various weapons and devices. Orion nodded, feeling a sense of purpose wash over him again. Ratchet stepped up beside him.
"Where do we start?" Ratchet mumbled. "I don't know what we're looking for."
"Here's the list," Orion instructed, handing Ratchet a pad. "Short list but I think it's important."
"What if these items aren't here?" gulped Ratchet.
"Focus on what we can get first," Orion nodded. "First stop: Spark Extractor. Row Sigma, section Beta, level 3."
"We can grab anything else while we're walking," offered Ratchet.
Orion marched through the aisles, surveying the items. Every other item made his spark ache. What could become a weapon in the hands of the council? They stopped at an intersection as Orion looked between the signs. There was a soft whisper that seemed to echo just within listening range, making Orion twitch slightly.
"I need to check on something," Orion spoke abruptly, pointing down another aisle. "The extractor's that way, just keep an optic on the labels."
"Uh, okay," mumbled Ratchet, walking off.
Orion turned down the adjacent hall, following the faint whispers that seemed to echo through his audio receptors. It grew louder but barely made it above a hushed tone. The words were gibberish, repeating themselves, but somehow calling Orion closer. It continued down the hall, finding the closest to the docking bay. These were the items recently returned or soon to be shipped out. Most the shelves were empty, aside from a large box right beside the cargo door.
"That's odd," Orion mumbled, lifting the box. "This isn't the usual packaging procedure…"
His words trailed off as he noticed the address on the box. It was sent to him from Alpha Trion. It had arrived two days prior, no doubt placed here in anticipation for Orion's return to work. Orion looked around, feeling uneasy about receiving a package from a dead man. Carefully, he moved to open it.
"Orion!"
Orion yelped, juggling the box. Holding it close to his chest, he turned around to see Ratchet down the way, wielding the Spark Extractor and the Apex Armor. Orion sighed, walking to join him. The box could wait.
"The point of this was we can carry more as two bots rather than one," sighed Ratchet, shoving both items under his arm. "And these are the two smaller items."
"I'll grab the Requiem Blaster and the Liegian Darts. I think then we'll be set," nodded Orion.
"What's with the box?" Ratchet hummed, gesturing.
Orion raised the box.
"It was sent to me from Alpha Trion two days ag apparently. I'm not sure what it is," Orion shrugged.
"As Knockout would say…ominous," Ratchet sighed. "Let's get moving. Are these items close together?"
"Yeah, they're weapons of the Primes," Orion instructed, leading them down another hall. "Devices constructed by Solus Prime for the other Primes."
They entered a hall where the shelves were covered in glass, locked with a small pad. Orion typed on the digital pad, unlocking the collection. There was a small ding as the panels opened. The two continued down the hall.
"Look at this stuff," whispered Ratchet, glancing up and down the collection. "The original thirteen used touched these very weapons."
Weapons. Orion cringed, turning away from Ratchet. His optics fell upon the long slender blade of the Star Saber. Without thought, he slowly rested his hand upon the handle. He's always wanted to wield it, just to hold it up but even know it was heavy in his hand, beyond his strength to lift. In his mind, he'd like to think it shifted slightly, knowing what was to come.
"Orion, I think I've found them," Ratchet called out, pointing at the large canon.
"Right," Orion nodded, turning back to his medic.
Orion took the blaster with both hands, placing it upon his shoulder. It was heavy but not impossible to lift. As he turned, Ratchet had found the darts, which were houses in a small box. As Ratchet was carrying the Apex Armor and the Extractor, Orion was originally tasked with picked up the Blaster and the Darts, but the addition of Alpha Trion's box. Ratchet shoved both items under his arm as he took up the box of Darts, placing it atop Alpha Trion's box.
"Are you alright carrying all this?" Ratchet whimpered, noticing the weight of the blaster on Orion's shoulder as well as the two boxes now balancing on his one hand.
Orion grinned.
"I worked here, remember? I'm used to carrying everything like this," chuckled Orion. "Let's get going."