Chapter Fourteen

Optimus lay on the berth in his quarters an arm over his optics. Megatron had won, his own sparkling hated him and it devastated him. He sighed removing his arm and looking over at his desk where that picture he'd used to care dearly about now seemed to mock him, he stared at it a moment longer before going over and picking it up. He looked at the picture's occupants one by one, Aireier was smiling happily one hand resting on Hot Rod's shoulder while the other was around his waist, as his was around hers, the youngling himself having a cheeky mischievous look about him and Silverlight was standing in front of him a chuckling smile upon her face. "Silverlight." He whispered out sadly. He went to touch the pictured youngling only for his fingers to recoil back and his hand becoming a fist, which started to shake as he remembered the femme's words to him. "Megatron maybe a tyrannical manic but at least he was a better father than you were." Optimus suddenly cried out in anger throwing the picture across the room.

"Whoa, easy there Prime. I would prefer my head connected ta rest of my body." A cheeky voice said.

The semi didn't need to look at the mech to see who it was, he could tell just by the voice. "I would like to be alone, Jazz." He said trying hard not to lash out at the Porsche, he knew he was only trying to help.

"Uh huh." Jazz said unbelievingly. "You know that ain't happenin', right?"

The Autobot leader resisted the urge to sigh though he couldn't help but growl inwardly at the saboteur's refusal to leave.

"I am fine."

"That picture ya threw tells meh otherwise."

"Am I going to have to order you out of my quarters?" Optimus said his annoyance starting to show in his voice as he looked at the mech.

"Ya could, but we both know I ain't gonna follow it." Jazz told him. "Ya called off the search for Silverlight, I wanna know why."

"That is none of your concern, Jazz."

"Oh but I think it is." The saboteur disagreed. "Ya've been searchin' for her a long time and I've never seen ya happier than when she was here creatin' mischief with Hot Rod or telling him when he was being an aft. Now ya've suddenly decided that ya don' care if she's here or not and we all wanna know why. Ya know as well as we do that if she stays out there with nowhere to go the cons can easily pick her off."

"It was her choice, Jazz."

"I can't believe I'm hearin' this. Ya don' care if ya sparklin' is tracked down by the cons in killed?!" Jazz saw his leader flinch and look away "she might as well have been in that house with Aireier for all ya seem ta care." he knew it was a harsh thing to say but he needed to make Optimus realise what he was…suggesting.

"Megatron maybe a tyrannical manic but at least he was a better father than you were."
"ENOUGH!" Optimus suddenly bellowed glaring at Jazz. "You do not know what I have been through when Megatron stole Silverlight and killed Aireier, no-one here does! No-one ever will! And don't you dare tell me how I should be caring for my sparkling when you have no idea yourself how to raise one!" He said angrily. "How Silverlight now hates the sight of me and blames everything on me." He revealed his voice now sad and weary.

"Prime," Jazz began walking over and placing a reassuring hand on his arm. "If ya keep on this way ya've let Megatron win, don't let him."

The semi looked down at the Porsche for a moment before looking away. "It's too late for that I'm afraid, Jazz."

The white and black mech sighed and began to head out, he saw the family picture laying on the floor by the door and stopped to pick it up while he looked at it he said "Ya the one that's kept us all goin' and whenever things looked impossible ya helped us see they weren't. It was the same for them, I may never have had a sparkling but I know this. Aireier didn't die to save her sparklin', she died for ya knowin' how ya kept us all goin' and that ya would help us win this war." He walked out without another word taking the picture with him.

Optimus sighed and walked back to his berth, taking a seat as he looked sadly at the floor. You will win this war, Jazz, even without me. He thought.

Prowl, Magnus, things are bad man. Jazz commed the Datsun and car transporter as he walked down the corridor picture still in his hand Prime's given up all hope.

Do you mean with Silverlight? Ultra Magnus asked.

I mean with everything. Jazz replied. Please tell meh ya've found the femme and are bring her back, like now.

We have found her, Jazz. Prowl answered though she refuses to return. She believes that Prime will not want her after the things she said to him.

Then tell her she's wrong! Jazz told them, his hand starting to grip the picture tighter and his free hand clenching into a fist.

We have tried. Ultra Magnus told him she refuses to believe us.

I'ma smack that femme next time I see her. Jazz commented annoyed.

Jazz, you dare lay a finger on her and…

He is joking, Magnus. Jazz would not do a thing like that, I have known him too long to know when he is really mad.

Jazz guessed that the blue and white mech was giving the Datsun a curiously annoyed look for him to explain his comment like that. Prowl, is Sideswipe still with ya?

He is, and so is Hot Rod and Sunstreaker.

That's the reason she's refusing ta… the Porsche began only to be interrupted.

No Jazz. It turns out that Sideswipe actually has feelings for Silverlight and was pretending to hate her so she would fall for Sunstreaker instead of him. Prowl explained.

The saboteur stopped dead in his tracks a surprised look on his face. Say what?!

You heard right, Jazz. Ultra Magnus said.

The white and black mech growled surprising a passer-by who looked at him in surprise before moving on. Ya need ta get back here so I can smack 'em.

I certainly hope that wasn't a joke, Jazz, because they certainly need it. The car transporter commented.

Ya included in that list, Magnus. If ya had just told Silverlight in the first place we wouldn't be in this mess. Silence on the other end told the Porsche that the blue and white mech was probably standing there shocked and surprised. I don't care how ya both get her here, just do it! He said closing the communication.