Ratchet had opened up the groundbridge according to the coordinates Arcee provided, and the three Sisters left the base in a flash of green light.
"It sure is nice to see Arcee in a good mood for a change." Jack spoke.
"Indeed it is." Optimus agreed. Then his optics widened and turned towards the three children.
"Miko. What is it that you wanted to ask me before?" He asked.
Miko turned to look back at him, then her face broke into a huge smile.
"Well—" Miko began.
"What? She didn't want to ask you anything!" Smokescreen interrupted.
"Hey! Yes I do!" Miko yelled. "And you guys wanna know too! When we were talking about the Sisters earlier today, the Bots told us that there were rumours about you and Elita being a couple. Are those rumours true?"
Optimus stared at her with wide optics, then turned to look at the Autobots. The Autobots and human children all looked back at him awkwardly.
"Well...Elita and I are quite close that is true, but that also includes Chromia. We all knew each other since long before the war." Optimus answered carefully. "As for me and Elita being anywhere near as close as you are suggesting...well, that may have been true at one point but—"
"Really?" Ratchet exclaimed.
"...yes." Optimus replied.
"I-I never knew that!" Ratchet continued. "Since when were Orion Pax and Ariel a couple?"
"Ariel?" Raf asked. "Like the Little Mermaid?"
"The what?" Bumblebee questioned.
"She's a cartoon fairy tale character." Raf explained.
"No. Ariel was Elita One's name before the war. Much like my previous designation was Orion Pax." Optimus replied.
"Why'd she change her name?" Miko asked.
"There were two reasons. First, she had several upgrades done when the war began. To better suit the lifestyle she was sure to pursue with the inevitable conflict, she saw fit to change her name to suit her new frame." Optimus explained.
"What was the second reason?" Bulkhead asked.
"She...actually, I don't believe I have the right to disclose that bit of information. It is quite the personal reason, and I believe that Elita wouldn't appreciate me revealing it." Optimus finished.
"Okay, fine...but to be clear you two were a couple!" Miko exclaimed.
Optimus sighed. "Yes."
"Nice!" Miko replied happily.
"I still cannot believe this! I knew both of you before the war! How is it that you two were together and I did not know?" Ratchet demanded.
"We weren't like Ironhide and Chromia. We preferred to not broadcast our relationship to all of Cybertron, and we would have preferred to keep it that way." Optimus answered, moving his optics towards Miko for a split second at the last sentence. "But I can assure you that since the beginning of the war, our relationship was strict comradely."
"Yeah. I'm sure it was." Miko retorted.
After a few more moments of awkward silence, Optimus spoke up. "I believe that I will go on patrol." He announced before walking out of the base and taking off.
"Well that wasn't awkward at all." Smokescreen said sarcastically.
"Why the hack would you ask him that Miko? Optimus' personal life past and present is just that! Personal!" Jack said.
Miko crossed her arms. "As if you weren't the tiniest bit curious."
Jack groaned. "You do not have a filter. You know that right?"
Miko smirked. "I have every right to voice my opinion and ask questions."
"Whatever. Whatever!" Jack complained.
The day continued almost as normal as it was before. Jack, Miko, and Raf got to do their Gaming Championship, and their Autobot guardians cheered them on.
Later, Ratchet received a call from Arcee.
[Ratchet. We're ready for a bridge.] she said.
When the groundbridge opened, Arcee drove through in her alt. mode. She transformed in the middle of the Hanger.
"Where are Elita and Chromia?" Bulkhead asked.
Arcee grinned and turned towards the groundbridge. Then two unfamiliar vehicles came speeding through the swirling vortex.
One was a sleek, light blue motorcycle that looked like an upgraded version of Arcee's alt. mode. It was slightly larger and had a more flashy design.
The other was a pink sports car that looked like a sort of cross between Smokescreen and Bumblebee's alt. modes.
The two vehicles revved their engines for a few seconds before transforming into the female Autobots Elita One and Chromia. Both femmes had big smiles on their faceplates.
"I'm guessing that you two are happy with the alt. modes you chose." Wheeljack said.
Chromia nodded enthusiastically. "Oh yes! They may not be from Cybertron but I think they'll suit us just fine!"
"Yes. I'm quite happy with mine as well." Elita continued. "Where did Optimus go?"
"He went on patrol." Smokescreen answered.
"Oh. I wanted to ask him about his upgrades. I feel so stupid not thinking to ask about his new robust frame...when did that happen?" Elita explained.
"Oh. That happened a few months ago. When the Decepticons destroyed our old base, Optimus stayed behind to make sure the rest of us got to safety." Bulkhead answered.
"What? Then how is he here now?" Chromia asked. Smokescreen raised a servo.
"Me. I managed to sneak back with a phase shifter when the place went kaboom. I dragged Optimus out of the wreckage, and used the Forge of Solus Prime to save him from death. It also just so happened to give him a sweet upgrade...he can fly now." Smokescreen explained,
Elita and Chromia stared at him in slight surprise.
"The Forge...of Solus Prime." Elita spoke.
"Yup." Smokescreen answered.
"You used it to save Optimus from the brink of death." Chromia continued.
"Uh huh." Smokescreen nodded.
"Well...okay then. I'm at a loss for words." Chromia finished.
"Yeah, I know how it must sound. So uh, did you wanna change the subject then?" Smokescreen offered.
"Yes, yes. I believe we would. Um...the Decepticons. Who's here?" Elita requested.
"The Decepticons are up somewhere in Earth's sky. They're HQ is the massive warship the Nemesis." Ultra Magnus began. "On it is an entire army of Vehicons and Eradicons. Along with the Insecticon Hive."
"The main Cons up there are Megatron himself, Starscream, Knockout, and Shockwave. He created the Predacon who took Magnus' hand." Wheeljack finished.
Elita's optics widened at the Decepticon Scientist's name.
"Sh-Shockwave? Emotionless, relies on logic, with one large, piercing red optic? That Shockwave? He's here?" Elita stammered.
Wheeljack nodded. "Yeah. That's the one. Why? D'you have a score to settle with him?"
Elita put her servo up to the silver streak across her helm and began to stumble backwards.
"Elita? Are you okay?" Arcee asked.
"I-I...I'm going to go for a drive. I won't go too far. Excuse me!" Elita announced quickly before running to the Hanger doors, transforming, and driving away at top speed.
"Wait! Elita come back!" Chromia shouted in vain. Elita was already on the road.
"What's wrong with her?" Arcee asked.
"Shockwave. That's what's wrong." Chromia replied. "There was an old saying about Elita that caught on quickly back on Cybertron."
"'Elita One knows no fear'" Ultra Magnus guessed.
"Yes. But that phrase couldn't be any more wrong, because Elita One knows fear like you wouldn't believe." Chromia explained. "And it's all because of Shockwave."
This was not meant to be a full fledged story! I just wanted to introduce Elita One and Chromia! Hence the name!
You guys just had to like this didn't you! Commenting and reviewing all the time!..and you couldn't make me happier! You guys are all freaking awesome!
So...just what did Shockwave do to Elita One? Hmmm?...
Tell me what you guys think! Comment and review everybody!