"Since we cannot change reality, let us change the eyes which see reality." –Nikos Kazantzakis (1885-1957)
Ch 10
000
Everything appeared to be calm and in truth nearly everything within the Ark was. Autobot's that had night shifts where all present at their designated areas whether it be partol, guard, or monitoring duty most where in recharge. The massive Autobot exploration ship was quiet like a dragon that would and always would remain dormant in its volcano.
All was not calm though.
Leaning against the wall closes to the doorframe of the medical-bays entrance Teletran had his arms crossed over his chest with a serious almost scowl on his faceplate. He wasn't upset about anything, nothing had recently slagged him off, no nothing like that but he was deeply concerned he just didn't show it like normal mech's.
And he was by far not normal.
As a mech whom liked to figure out stuff and always wanted to be able to do something when the time came of emergency came about, Teletran knew basic first aid skills. Matter a fact back before he'd joined the Autobot's and his friendship with Wheeljack was still in its infancy he'd been challenged by some 'friends' that he couldn't pass class B medical training.
It was more complicated than the basics that every solider in war times should know, but not worthy of Ratchet's lightest of praise. He'd passed with beyond flying colors and even learned all the parts of the Cybertronian autonomy plus some. Well the basic autonomy anyway because all Cybertronian are different and not just on the outside. But every Cybertronian started out the same anyway even if you were a flyer or a grounder.
Despite his 'vast knowledge' it didn't mean that Teletran was medically qualified, far from it. Yeah on some rare occasions he'd done quick battle wound repairs on mech's but he'd never had his self elbows deep in a mech who was almost dead.
Luckily that wasn't the situation any of them where in. That didn't mean it was any less serious.
Ratchet and Wheeljack both where in their 'zone' of work and no one dared interrupt, especially under the current circumstances. Optimus worryingly still laid on one of the medical berths, his vitals being monitored not only by the machines hooked up to him but by the Lancia and CMO, also.
Prowl was nowhere to be seen but Teletran could sense his spark somewhere near by, the hackers intent on what was going on inside the med-bay prevented him from homing in on the illusive Datsun. Seating on the other side of the door on a one of the many benches the lined the wall on this side of the med-bay was Jazz. He had his back pressed against the wall arms crossed lightly over his chest while he had one leg crossed over his other knee. By far the atmosphere between the hacker and saboteur was different but it was clear Jazz was keeping his cool, as always, laid back. Teletran was to, he just portrayed it in another manner.
Seating just beside Jazz was Blair legs crossed waiting patiently but the worry on her face was there clearly displayed.
It had taken a good while but the procedure, though tedious, it had been done, quickly but with only precision that Ratchet possessed. The chamber was hooked up and ready in Prime's torso.
000
This place, he didn't know where it was or what it was only that it was beautiful. He was seating on top on some sort of structure in the middle of a vast pastel green prairie. The sky above where mixed together fluently with pastel colors that reminded him of a oil painting. In the distance he saw a massive city though it looked small from the distance he was from it but he was sure it was huge.
There was actually a cool breeze and it felt wonderful against his frame.
Despite it all he felt utterly alone and the fact that he was indeed alone made the feeling hurt more. Pulling a leg up to his chest Optimus gazed out over the vast prairie lost in his thoughts. Deep within his own processor Optimus mused to himself quietly about every thing that had lead up to the now. Somehow his processor was still on that white mech he'd seen. All those days trying to figure out whom that voice had been plaguing him and who'd it belonged to where answered.
Yet he still didn't know that mech's name!
"Beautiful isn't."
Letting out a gasp Prime caught himself before he fell forward and at the height he was to the ground on the massive flat top obelisks it surely would kill him. Snapping his upper torso around he looked up. Bringing his arm up to shield his optics from the glaring sun he saw a tall mech however not as tall as himself.
Getting to his feet Optimus took a few steps away a little unnerved by the mech's sudden appearance. How'd he get up here? No, the question was how did he himself get up here? Stopping in the middle of his thoughts he realized the mech was chuckling his electric blue optics looking at the Autobot commander.
"For someone whom has so much knowledge you don't know a whole lot do you?" the mech, various shades of blue albeit mostly light blue stated, a wide grin on his pale faceplate.
Behind his mask Optimus frowned, "What is that suppose to mean?"
Grasping his hands behind his back lightly still grinning. "You want to know how you got up here, yes?" he asked
Cocking his head to the side for some reason Optimus got the urge to glance around, which he did before his gaze fail back on the oddly constructed mech. Who was he? He wasn't as 'squared' as most Cybertronians, he had more curved edges. Was he even Cybertronian?
"Yes I would."
Optimus cocked his head back suddenly as the light blue mech stepped forward invading the Autobot commander's personal space.
Tapping one of Prime's glass chest panels. "You're dreaming lugnut." He said matterafactly amusement evident in his vocals. Stepping back. "Quite deeply if I might add but I guess I'm partly to blame for that, see."
000
Vocal indicators flickering as he murmured to himself Wheeljack looked up and over at the monitors just beside him. Almost be instinct the engineer knew what the beeping and read-out meant. Turning back around he looked over at Ratchet who appeared to not even have looked up from his work.
Narrowing his optics ridge. "Ratchet?"
The medic kept working still not looking up from his work. "Don't worry about it."
". . .Sure?" frowning behind his mask
Ratchet pulled his hand out of Prime's torso, he'd check and double-checked Optimus' insides several times already. He was anxious and unsure of himself. Nervous habit. Dropping the tool he'd been using on the tray to his right his commanders internal fluids and lubricants dripping from his red digits he looked up over at his commanders faceplate.
His chest still hurt from where he'd been scared out of his wits when Teletran had come in guiding Optimus into the med-bay. He'd suddenly let out a painful sounding groan and would have collapsed to the floor if Teletran hadn't been there to catch the falling mech. For what ever reason their commander had suddenly went off-line and into a deep stasis.
Looking into Optimus' dark optics Ratchet knew that his commander really was in comatose. Why? If only the CMO knew. He'd woken up a few moments later and gave pacific instructions to the medic before going oddly back into stasis. All of it had unnerved the medic to no end but he did as he was instructed without question. His commander, his friend needed him after all. Somewhere deep down Ratchet knew that this. . .this was it.
000
"What?!" Prime blurted dumbly before he could catch himself succeeding in getting a laugh out of this strange mech
Turning so his side was facing the Autobot the light blue mech held out his arms. "Like I said, ya don't know much."
Optimus' felt his self-bristle at the mech's comment; insulted. Quickly catching himself he took a step back and rubbed his hand over his faceplate trying to regain his lost poseur.
"Who are you exactly?" He asked turning back to the blue mech arms crossed over his broad chest plate. "More importantly if I'm dreaming how are you in it, unless you're a figment of my processor."
Grasping his hand back behind his back like before. The light blue mech, to Prime's surprise, sat down and patted the spot beside him. An obvious invite for the 'bot to take a seat beside him which he obliged a few moments later.
As Prime finally got seated he held out a white hand to the red and blue mech. "Names Oblivion."
Just as he was about to take the white offered hand Optimus Prime faltered snapping his head up to look into the mech's electric blue optics. Designation, Oblivion, busted out laughing seeing the look on Prime's faceplate moving his arm over to grasp the blue hand.
"Don't worry nothing bad is going to happen. Quite the opposite actually."
Slightly embarrassed at his self. "Sorry, just a very. . .odd name." taking back his hand after shaking the mech's hand.
Chuckling, "Yeah I get that a lot. Long story that I won't bore you with."
Nodding his head Optimus looked back out over the pastel green land processor turning.
"Oh yeah."
Seating back arms behind his back Oblivion looked up at the sky as Optimus looked back over at him with a raised optic ridge. No matter how hard he tried Optimus couldn't quite figure out what his vehicle mode was though it did seem based off an Earth vehicle, none he knew of. He almost seemed futuristic even if it seemed unlikely it might just be a possibility.
Could he be from the future?
"As for your question," Oblivion began leaning back his arms holding him up. "No I'm not a figment of your imagination; I'm quite real I assure you. But I'm here because I have a task to complete."
Prime watched the light blue mech's electric blue optics flicker once before he looked over at the Autobot's own aqua blue optics. Optimus briefly thought to himself that was probably the most the mech had said that actually made since or maybe he really didn't 'know a lot' like the mech had said. Sadly he could believe that at the moment.
"Task?"
Grinning, "Yeah! Really you're not dreaming yet you are at the same time. The Matrix is a funny thing, see." Waving a digit around
"What?!" cocking his head back in surprise "This is the Matrix?!"
Again Oblivion laughed and leaned over patting Primes back roughly. "It's a different part of the Matrix than your use to but you don't need to worry about that. You need to worry about this." Patting Primes chest.
Flickering his optics Optimus looked down at where the mech had patted his chest as if just now discovering it. Looking back up Optimus watched the mech lean back a calm expression on his faceplate. For some reason he had the urge to put his hand to his chest and did so.
"I was sent here by my superior whose superior. . ." he began but quickly seemed not sure of his own words. "I'm the Angle of Mercy you can basically say by giving you what you requested you automatically have my blessing."
Behind his gray mask Optimus mouth was slightly ajar but out of confusion and realization. He watched in awed silence as the blue mech held out his hand that slowly started glowing white as white odd jagged bands ran down his arms. If it wasn't for the fact that he was so focused on the mech's presented hand he probably would have noticed the mech's optics changing.
What appeared in the mech's hand left the Prime dumbfounded.
000
For the most part the room was devoid of noise the only sound that kept the med-bay from being utterly silent as a grave was the machines working and monitoring their leaders condition.
It had been a good suspenseful, tense hour and half since Teletran had called Ratchet.
The CMO currently had his optics focused on the two monitors in front of him occasionally looking over to the still form of Optimus Prime. He'd been like that for a while now, unresponsive and still. From Ratchet's experience with war and as a Chief Medical Officer; when a Cybertronian was like that it usually wasn't a good sign by any means.
From the medics haste to get to Optimus and make sure he was all right they'd set up admittedly in the main part of the med-bay. He was completely grateful none of the other Autobot's were present from some slag headed stunt, or something akin to it, beside the ones that where apart of this.
Ratchet had all intentions of respecting his friend's wishes.
Now though with sheer caution they'd moved Optimus to one of the few back rooms, though smaller than the med-bay it worked perfectly for privacy. No one could enter without proper security codes, which only the senior staff possessed, and one or two of the few privileged mech's. After setting up all the monitors Ratchet had gotten Teletran to re-due the security code and monitor the rooms and medical bay.
So intent on his concentration the old medic didn't even jump or flinch when the doors to the private room slide open. He knew that Wheeljack was due back about now anyway. Heaving out a sigh Ratchet looked up rubbing a red hand over his faceplate as he glanced over to the other side of the room.
For the first time that night, minus a brief appearance at the beginning of this, Prowl stood quietly leaning against the wall, head inclined, and optics offline. Now though Teletran was nowhere to be found though it probably would be easy to find him. Ratchet could tell easily that the tactician wasn't in recharge though. He'd been keeping a silent vigil for a while now of the three mech's and human for a while now. Seating just beside him Jazz was seating slouched in his seat head at some point fallen against the other black and whites hip plate sometime ago. Head on the Porches lap was Blair who was also deep asleep.
Ratchet check the time as Wheeljack handed him a small warm cube on energon. "Here." The medic liked cool energon for the most part but on long shifts or is situations like this he preferred it hot laced with a tad of platinum mid-grade(1. It kept him awake. "Thanks Wheeljack." Taking a good gulp of the stuff
"Any changes?" the engineer asked quietly taking a seat just behind to the side of the ambulance
Liking the tingle as the energon went down his gullet(2. "Not really." Glancing over at Prowl who now had his head up and—normally pale, blue optics online "A few spark fluctuations but nothing really worth mentioning." He finished taking another gulp from his energon cube
Ratchet almost admittedly eat his words at the spark monitor started screaming scaring all of them.
000
"This. . .how?"
Optimus hesitantly like he was being forced to put his hand to a flame that could surely melt his blue hand brought the appendage up it shaking. Seating just in front of him, Oblivion couldn't help but smile slightly seeing the look on the others optics. At first he'd been hesitant to carry out this task for his lord but now he remembered why he like his job so much.
Seeing the look just like the one of the Prime's faceplate now.
"Remember earlier, that white mech?" a light nod told him his answer "Well I'm here to deliver it to you. But there's one last step you have to take Optimus before this spark is truly yours."
Blue optics broke away from the fragile looking glass canister to Oblivions light blue ones, with confusion and almost slight worry. "What do I have to do?"
Inclining his head to the side a little. "I need pieces of your spark to implant in this one. Since you've already gotten your medic to implant copies in the protoform that step is taken care of."
Cocking his head back Optimus put his hand to his chest. Somehow he knew, just knew that would be part of what he needed to do. How, he wasn't sure. If Oblivion took out pieces of his own spark, his self, the never before used spark that he'd requested from the Matrix and implanted them the small spark would truly be his. It was said that if a spark, after it dies returns to the Matrix but if one was luckily it could be reincarnated, as some called it, into a new life.
Optimus Prime didn't want that though. It may sounded selfish but if the Matrix did do that he risked his creation suffering memories from its past. It was a rare thing for the Matrix to do but it was possible. Only he, and a small hand full of others knew that, that was a fact.
"How?"
Oblivion leaned forward with his free hand till it was just centimeters in front on Optimus Prime's chest plate. With a look that said 'May I?' without actually uttering a word, getting permission Oblivion's right hand started glowing blue and abruptly plunged into the red and blue mech's chest.
Optimus hadn't suspected it and gasped more startled than in pain. Actually it really didn't hurt though it was extremely uncomfortable. That was until he felt his spark squeeze tightly and he gasped processor screaming.
000
Dropping his cube back in his chair not caring whether it would spill or not, Ratchet shoot out of his seat admittedly getting to into action, as did Wheeljack. On the others side of the room Jazz gave out a startled gasp visor flashing; the only thing keeping him from jumping to his feet was a white hand on his shoulder.
Blair too let out a startled cry rolling, or more like falling off of the pale gray metal thigh she'd been sleeping on hitting her head on the bench underneath her. Snapping out of his surprise Jazz reached down making sure she was alright and with a 'yeah I'm good' their attention went over to two other mech's working and the one on the medical berth.
Lying on the table shifting an in-pain groan coming from somewhere deep in his chest. Optimus seemed to be in pain though the readings told the present medic nothing was wrong besides a suddenly elevated spark rate.
The large mech was shifting on the medical berth like someone whom was suffering from a nightmare one knee joint bent. Ratchet was running vigorous scans and every time coming out with nothing.
Grunting and cruising under his 'breath' displeased with the results he was getting. "Wheeljack give him a sedative!" trailing off till his voice was just a whisper talking more to himself than the engineer. "Why? If only I knew fraggit."
Nothing even giving the other mech a nod or word that he'd actually heard the medic Wheeljack hurried around the berth to the supply cabinet. "What's causing this though, Ratchet?!" glancing over his shoulder
Clenching his dental plates making his hinges to his jaw ache Ratchet turned his head away masking it as he was turning to look at the monitoring screens. He didn't know the answer to the question although he desperately wanted too. It was infuriating.
"It's the Matrix."
Three sets of blue optics of various shades glanced over at the Datsun and a set of light brown eyes that clearly showed worry and concern. The CMO frowned deeply wondering why he didn't come up with a similar conclusion. It made sense and probably was the reason for the Prime's sudden discomfort. But why couldn't he do something about it? He was a medic for Primus sake! A doctor, he was suppose to stop pain, a healer, yet he was completely useless.
Successfully injecting the sedative into one of Optimus Prime's lines Wheeljack leaned back looking up and over at Ratchet. He could see it in the medics pale blue optics that he was frustrated about the situation, not being able to do anything.
000
Pain is a really mysterious thing when you think about it yet at the same time there really isn't much you need to know about it. Sometimes it takes the processor or brain a few moments to really register that the body is injured. Then there are other times where the brain or processor acts out so fast sending signals to he mind it's un-comprehendible.
Some people can go through a long time knowing pain they learn to live with it and don't understand what it feels like when pain is no longer there. While others never know what pain is really like.
The thing is though Optimus knew what pain was like both mental and physical, he'd lived with it, he knew what it was like, and loathed it. Yet now as he tried to catch himself with shaking arms he never knew that one could be in pain yet at the same time it wasn't pain, but something else.
He didn't remember blacking out; well now that he looked back it was more of a white out. He didn't dwell on it much. Watching the best he could throw unfocused optics Optimus watched as the blue mech who had just stuck his hand in his chest without even opening his chest panels inserted little glowing shards or. . .'my very essence' into the smaller spark held within his palm.
It was such a beautiful site.
"You. . .you could have warned me, ya know." Seating up the best he could
"Sorry." Giving the Prime a sheepish smile "Not every day I do this ya know. The Well(3 doesn't pop out sparks just like that, see."
Hesitation in his movements Optimus sat back up straight trying to regain his poseur despite the throbbing inside his chest. He didn't want to stand anytime soon because he knew he'd probably tip straight over. Focus returning to his processor and optics a little more now did he really grasp what the strange mech had done to him.
Oblivion's optics where glowing as the small spark now seating in his hand glowed more brightly and seemed to be shuddering in the light gray hand.
"Ready?"
"Ratchet!"
Wheeljack yelled something akin to fear, vocal indicators flashing madly, jumping into his processor as the now still Autobot commanders chest plate started glowing from its seems. Ratchet had been watching with an open mouth processor not comprehending what was going on. On the other side of the room, Jazz now standing with Blair on his shoulder, the two mech's and human watched on gapping too.
Ratchet went around the side of the berth only to jump back as something let out a hiss then Prime's chest plates unlocking themselves.
"Yes. . .yes I am."
The little spark in the palm it was resting in seemed to sense what was going on now flickering as if with anticipation.
"Then it's yours."
As Ratchet helped the red and plexiglass panels open more the glow seemed to stay the same until the gray guard covering the relic within their Prime's chest lifted up. The CMO and engineer had seen the Matrix before, a rare privilege for mech's like themselves. Nevertheless they had only seen it a small handful in the past, and its mysteries.
It was as if the Matrix had come alive.
Like before Optimus didn't even have to open his chest, the different shaded blue mech just stuck his hand right through his chest, spark too. This time though it didn't hurt. On the contrary it was amazing. For a fleeting moment it reminded him of the night when him and Elita-1 had finally become one, become sparkmates. It felt absolutely beautiful.
000
Platinum mid-grade: something I came up with, something close to high-grade but not quite.
Gullet: sub for 'throat'
Well: nickname I designated for the Allspark, or 'Well of Sparks.' What have you.
A/N:
Nine and half freaking pages! That's a lot for me. Wanted to add some more to this toward the end but I started running on empty so I left it as it was. I don't know how many more chapters this story will be but not many, with a possible epilogue. Oh and listen to 'With Arms Wide Open' by Creed while reading this chapter and probably the next chapter too. It fits perfectly.
Please review; constructive crit. welcomed.
This is kindly created and dedicated to MyBlueOblivion.
TF's and all related char(s) belong to Has/Tak and associated co.
Except for Teletran, Blair, Oblivion, and the plot, which are mine
Names and/of char(s) are entirely coincidental