Ch. 176

"You... watched the rest of it then?"

Optimus nodded and kept his optics focused on a computer screen, the console scanning for any anomalies that could be deemed a threat to their base.

Ratchet sighed as he came around the side of the larger mech, frowning, "... Well?"

The Prime paused in his work, glancing at his friend, "... Are you certain you wish for me to tell you what I saw?"

"No, I don't want you to-... Optimus, did it make you feel better? Did seeing him...?"

Optimus turned away from Ratchet, back to the screen, but his optics stared down at the keyboard as his clenched servos dared not to shake, "... No. It has only given me more guilt. I could not save him, Ratchet. He has been taken and he will be harmed. And I do not know if I will be able to make him whole again."

The older mech scoffed and lightly punched against the Prime's arm, "Oh, 'if, if, if'! We never deal with 'ifs', only what can be done! We've gotten this far, haven't we? Optimus, Starscream is incredible! He led us through events that should never have been predicted or even foreseeable, even with the changes! Impossible! But he did it. And IF he hadn't gone through the ordeal he dealt with to get here and tell us, we still would have made it out just fine. We've done it once apparently, and we can do it again. Starscream believed that we would win anyway. With that belief, I have to believe..." Ratchet frowned, then nodded, "I do believe that we can find and save him. But you have got to stop guilting yourself every time his name is mentioned or we begin to discuss a battle plan! What has gotten into you?"

Optimus stared down at the smaller mech, his optics dim, "Our... cortical psychic patch, Ratchet," the medic groaned softly and the red mech continued, "Though I did not pry into his thoughts and memories, his feelings were far more open than I think he realized. Had I known what I do now about the situation, I would have kept him closer... I would have sent him away from all of this..."

Ratchet glared up at his friend, "And what would that have done? Would he have agreed? Would it have saved him?"

"No, perhaps not. But it would have meant that I had tried harder-"

The medic slapped his arm again, "That, that guilt! Stop it. Alright, so you felt his feelings, probably from a multitude of memories in a handful of cortical patches... that's heavy. We should talk about this later and maybe have Soundwave help you deal with them... but you have no reason to feel this guilt. All of us could have done things differently. We didn't. Now we're here. So, what's our next move?"

Optimus shook his helm and sighed, "... We must first decide if the children and Mrs. Darby need to be removed to a safe location. We must then find a safer way to monitor and locate the Nemesis... But I am inclined to suggest we find better accommodations for ourselves as well. What Knockout, Breakdown, Soundwave and St... Starscream have done with this side of the Harbinger is astounding, but it is not suitable to fend off an assault."

Ratchet shrugged, "Knockout has been working tirelessly to add base defenses. I can't imagine he'll be pleased to find out that you're considering a second move..."

"It is not a decision I wish to make, but Megatron used a lure to draw us out. Unfortunately, this location as a makeshift base for our needs is an ideal lure for him if he truly wishes to ensure our destruction."

Ratchet groaned again, covering his optics with a servo as he leaned against a table, "Are we going to have to bring the team together for this?"

The Prime nodded, "I will need to hear their thoughts on the matter. If they disagree then we must come up with a different plan."

"After all I've done?! All the work, the dents, the burns, the fragging reconstruction?! You come at me with THIS?!"

Breakdown snickered as Knockout forcefully shoved him against the med berth, his chassis riddled with dents and scuffs, "Ooo, sorry doc. It was either hit the deck or hit the deck with that broken support beam on my back. I had to make some hard decisions there."

The red mech scoffed, pulling out a small tool to examine the brute on his table, "I swear, you do this to put me in a mood."

"I thought you were already in the mood."

Knockout's optics widened and he smirked, climbing on top of Breakdown as he pointed his medical implement at him with warning, "Oh, with talk like that, you're gonna get it."

The blue mech chuckled, "Sunset ombré number three?"

The medic purred, "Yep, all over again-" a knock at the door made him scowl and he sat up straighter, "I'm busy straddling in here!"

"Could we perhaps join you," came Optimus's voice from behind the door, "preferably without witnessing this straddling?"

Knockout groaned, mulling the thought over, but stayed where he was, "I make no promises. You can come in at your own peril."

The Prime activated the door and came through, the rest of the team following suit. He paused, staring at the shameless pair of mechs before him, his faceplates not the only set to clearly show confusion.

Knockout crossed his arms, "You have our attention. Briefly. So, what's going on? More Starscream gossip or did Smokescreen slip in the shower stalls again?" he gestured to Breakdown beneath him, "As you can see by this frag up here, I have a lot of detail work to fix."

Optimus blinked, "... I may have a plan prepared that I would like to set in motion, but I would like to hear everyone's thoughts on the matter, most of all your's and Breakdown's."

Breakdown leered softly, "My opinion is usually ignored. The fact that you wanna hear it... scares me."

Knockout rolled his optics and patted the blue mech's helm, "Shh, shh, you just sit there and pretend you look gorgeous. Let me do the thinking."

Arcee frowned, "Mechs, this is serious."

The red mech scoffed, pouting, "I know! Why do you think I'm taking this so seriously? Can't you see I'm shaking with anticipation?"

Breakdown blinked, "What kind?"

"Breakdown!" Ultra Magnus glared, his posture straight and his servos tight at his back, "Knockout! This is no way to behave! I have been ordered to endure most of your immature acts and conduct, but now is not the time!"

Both mechs silenced. The heaviness in the room was far more evident now that they weren't trying to lighten the mood.

Knockout grimaced and sighed, "Great, my mood's ruined. Fine, what's up?"

Optimus gently patted Magnus's arm and stepped forward to address the whole of his team, "Autobots, I have a proposal for you all. Megatron's recent plans drew us out into the open, causing significant losses, and though we have just managed to reunite and reestablish a base, I believe it is in our best interest to use this location as our own lure to draw his forces out to us."

Knockout's optics widened but it was Soundwave's angry, static-filled voice that spoke up first, "Location: ours. Harbinger: all we have left."

Bumblebee buzzed that it seemed a rash decision and Wheeljack huffed gruffly, "It ain't the prettiest, but at least it's a roof over our helms. Why would we want to sacrifice it now? It's not like we have anywhere else to go."

"... Well... but think about it," Breakdown's voice quietly came up, "This early on? Just defeated in a big battle, seemingly out for the count? The longer we wait, the less chance a plan like that could work."

Optimus nodded, "My thinking exactly. And no, we would not simply reveal ourselves without a new location waiting for us. But we should begin looking soon... if this is something all of you agree with...?"

Bulkhead shrugged, "I don't know, Optimus. Why can't we get Megatron to go to a different location?"

"This place could eventually become damaged goods," Smokescreen pointed out, "You said it yourself, Optimus, you told me. At some point, Starscream could lose his will to keep fighting. If they get a patch on him and it works, this place will be the first they go to. Plus, if we make the first move without Scream knowing, his reaction will definitely make Megatron come running."

Ratchet sighed, "That's even if he believes us to still be alive or if he's even being made privy to the information the Decepticons are gathering..."

Knockout pouted more, "But we put so much into this place. Not just me and Soundwave and Breakdown, but Starscream too."

Breakdown smirked, "And don't you think he'd love it if we used it to ruin Megatron's day?"

The red mech stared at the blue Wrecker still beneath him and sneered, "Oh, he'd get a good kick out of it."

"Then what is the general consensus?" Optimus asked, looking around the room, "Has everyone come to their own decision?"

Arcee nodded, "I think Megatron should come here and choke on the place."

"I second that!" Knockout smiled, raising a servo, "I want to make this a hard swallow!"

Ultra Magnus glared and grumbled, but nodded, "This place is an optimal advantage. Tactically, it's better to lose in a controlled assault than a surprise attack. We should draw them in."

Bulkhead and Soundwave looked to each other, the green mech feeling a bit meek as he coughed lightly, "Ah, well... I'm not sure it's the best idea. If we had a place to go to, somewhere else that we would be safe, I'd be ready for this but right now? Not so much..."

"Soundwave: agrees. Secondary location: required."

Bumblebee bubbled and whirled, saying he thought the plan was a good one, but that he had similar concerns like Bulkhead and Soundwave's. They needed another base of operations, quickly, before they could enact any bait tactics.

Smokescreen nodded, "True, 'Bee. That's why it's better to have more servos on this. Some of us can do recon; pair teams that can scout potential locations."

"Soundwave," Optimus rumbled, "you are in possession of a large array of coordinates?"

"Optimus Prime's assumption: correct."

The Prime smiled gently, "Then before we make a decision, may I see a show of servos?" he asked, "All those in favor of turning what is left of this base into a trap for Megatron?"

Optimus's servo was the first to rise, followed quickly by each member of his team, and for the first time in a long time the Prime felt the tides beginning to turn in their favor.