Prime Blood Saga: Ironbands Chapter 4
{flashback} & {end flashback} come into play here. A bit of Elita this chapter…
"Dion." The voice is calling his name. But not loud. It's like a friend calling him to a game of basketball. "Dion, come on." He rolls his head to the side. "Come on, Dion." He opens his eyes carefully. He has to look around cautiously.
Where am I, Ironhide ponders. He hears the voice again. In the light of the full moon, he sees Autobot fingers curling over the wall in front of his face. He stays still but raises his cannon.
Cannon? Where is it? What is with this black human arm? There's a moan behind him. A female human hand curls around his waist from behind. He's shocked. His heart rate picks up and about to panic.
Optimus' face appears over the wall and smiles down at him, "Hum, you found it. I knew you would."
Ironhide has to shake his head to get it cleared up. He looks behind himself and sees Chromia reaching for him in her sleep. He turns back to his friend's amused look over the wall.
"Cover her and get over here," his friend softly orders. Then backs off from the wall to give the city commander privacy. Ironhide slips out from under the blanket and his lover's arm. He does as Optimus had ordered, tugging on the pants.
Optimus has found a piece of a lower wall to stand on raising him high enough to look optic to smaller optic with Ironhide. Optimus still has that smirk. Ironhide wished for his canons at his point so he could wipe it from Prime's face. Instead he just shakes a finger.
"I take it you found the Energon?" Optimus finally says resting his chin on a fist on the wall.
Ironhide just watches his friend carefully, "You don't support Ratchet's orders?"
Optimus shrugs, "I know you. You wouldn't follow them even if I ordered." Ironhide narrows his gaze. "Let me restate that: Been there; done that. You couldn't follow those orders if you tried. And you didn't, obviously."
Ironhide firmly places his hands on the wall beside his friend's fist, "I've just continued what I started back home. You would do the same if Ariel was here, Orion." Optimus just nods in agreement. "So now what?" he yawns.
"That's what I wanted to find out from you. What do you want to do?"
"What can be done?" he sits on the wall beside the large unarmored fist. "And what's with sealing my quarters?"
"Hello City Commander, protocol? If I didn't do it, someone would suspect something. Eh, Commander Irons?" They share a good chuckle.
"I'm sorry for everything I put you through." he apologizes for the past grief he gave Optimus about Poco.
"You were protecting me. I should be thanking you. I will do like wise."
"Do not let my disability and our friendship distract you from the task at hand."
"I won't and I ask that you look at this as an experience. Research, if need be."
"Ironhide?" she croons his name. Ironhide looks between his friend and his spark.
"Duty calls, my friend," Optimus inclines his head to Chromia's voice and he turns to leave. "The present calls for you. See to it." Ironhide watches his friend walk away. She calls his name again, with a searching tone with a hint of fear. He returns to her and slides in beside her. She curls up to his side draping a thigh over his pelvis pinning him down..
"Where did you go?" she asks softly, biting back her fear.
"Just to think." he sooths her hair back from her face.
"Thinking about anything important?" she snuggles into the crook of his neck.
"Just you, My Spark. Just you." he holds her tight. She goes back to sleep.
While she sleeps, it eludes him. Continuing to sooth and feel her beneath his palms, searches the stars for a answer. He isn't finding it. Finally, the male optics close in frustrated exhaustion. These human bodies are so weak. And yet the sensations. He smiles and "recharges his batteries."
~~ The dawn comes over them. Then he hears the exterior speakers call:
"Commander Irons and Chris! Report to North Tower weapons room. Commander Irons and Commander Chris."
Chromia is already awake watching her lover at peace in stasis. She smiles as his eyes open. "What was that?" he asks groggily.
She nearly giggles, "They are calling for us at the north towers weapons room, Commander." He gives her a curious look. "Commander Irons, duty calls."
She sits up. He shutters as he watches her naked body become shielded in military fatigues. She tugs on her boots.
"You know how the weapons officer is if we dilly-dally. His plating is so thick some claim he has no spark," she loves teasing him.
He rolls onto all fours and stalks her. Her giggles increase. He gives her a hint that he is on the prowl as he comes to her and lays her back. "I know exactly where my spark is," his words pin her back to the roof. She melts at his vocal tenderness, finger tips reaching for him.
His lips start at that tender spot he found behind her ear and down her neck. Her hands guide his lips, "I don't want to go anywhere," she croons to him.
He draws back and faces her directly, "Do you want to stay as a human or should we go back to who we really are?"
"Do we have a choice?" she is wavering in decision. Very few have seen her weak side. Quiet, maybe when assessing a new situation. Aggressive: when in command or taking down an enemy… or a lover. But scared and weak, no, not many have see this Chromia. And now, that is who was rearing up again.
Ironhide is warm in his vocal and finger tips strokes, "I don't know. Optimus posed the question to me last night. What do you think?"
Her hands are trailing down his strong back reaching for his strength. Well that is where it started. Leaning closer, he gave her the strength and that look. The touches got lighter, tantalizing, "I… I don't know. I'm very much enjoying this vacation with you. We haven't had this much time together since the war started. I certainly am enjoying experiencing these sensations with you."
He raises his eyebrows at her knowing exactly what she is saying, "Mmm, if I knew being a human was this exciting, I might have pulled you into that line of fire a lot sooner."
She gives him a curious look somewhere between teasing and wanting more information. Confusing to solve a puzzle while wanting to meld your body into your mate's, "Is that why it takes a Prime to access the virus?"
He freezes at her words. His intuition has just kicked into over-drive killing his libido. He scrambles to get dressed and tie his boots in record time. "Come," he orders snapping back to Commander Mode.
She is very curious now and frustrated, a little. It is something serious for Ironhide to switch from lover to commander in a second. She doesn't argue. She knows better than that. Instead just does as ordered. She has to rush to catch up to him as he slides down the roof ladder to the hall below.
Where is he going? It certainly isn't the way to the north towers.
Following after him she can't help but ponder their relationship. When did she first find him interesting? Was it the first time he caught her checking out his…aft? Boy was that embarrassing.
{flashback} Not long after the first half-vorn of the new Prime's rein, and Chromia's town was nearly starved of Energon stores, she made her way to Iacon. Moonracer and she had been school mates before Chromia's family had been transferred from Iacon. Running into Moonracer and Elita while giving a pack of Decepticons a run for their Energon Credits, she saw first hand what the Autobots were doing. Chromia picked up a weapon from a falling 'Con and used it against one baring down on her sea-foam green friend. One carefully placed shot, and he was at the pink femme's peds turning death-grey. After the skirmish was over, Moonracer made a point of introducing Chromia to Commander Elita-One. Shy before the well known Superintendent Ariel now turned SIC of the Autobots, Chromia was welcomed to Iacon for training.
The first day of training Chromia saw Ironhide. It would forever stick to her processor of that sight. That aft. She was lined up with the rest of the recruits being prepared for weapons training. With his cannons bared and folded over his chest he strode past them, inspecting his trainees silently. She couldn't help but stare. His shoulders and chest were so broad you couldn't see where one ended and one began. With his head tucked in close almost even with his shoulders, heavily protected. No one was going to lob that one off. And who would want to? Oh yeah, 'Cons. (The one she had killed had a few colorful parting curses for Weapons Commander Ironhide before he bled out. Now she understood who he was talking about!)
The black Autobot mech's blue eyes were small compared to the massive upper torso, but do not be fooled, they saw everything. As he looked up and down the row, the light reflected off the shiny scar-welds on his face. He had the broadest feet she had ever seen. Even Prime's feet weren't that broad in relation to his shoulders. And solid, solid thighs. The chest plate just exuded a dare to shove him there, but the massive cannons crossed over the chest made it clear, no one would get close enough to touch him. And then he spoke. There was no question why he was weapons commander. The tone alone commanded attention. Oh he got her attention, but she hadn't a clue what he said. Slag. He strode past her again and her head couldn't help but follow. There didn't seem to be a weak point on the Autobot Commander, but there was a hint of red at the crease where his leg attached to his hip. What was that?
"Find something interesting, Hatch-let?" He chides her, stopping but doesn't turn around. She knows he is speaking to her even though he is five cadets down and facing a sixth. The cadet in front of him responds in the negative. He smirks, "Not you." Instead of turning to Chromic, he points to Elite. "They're your responsibility, get them in line."
Elite taps her wrist, "Sorry sir, they're yours for the rest of the day. I have a command meeting." Ironhide narrows his gaze clearly calling her a liar. Elita crosses her own arms over her female chest, "Alpha Trion is training me with Teletran III." With that, she strides away.
He doesn't follow the pink SIC with his head. Instead, he turns swiftly and a blast goes off a washer-width from Chromia's toe. She jumps back. "My aft won't kill you, but your focus will," he draws a serious face. Chromia quickly gets back into position, and stares straight ahead. Just to bring insult to injury. He strides back across the group and stands directly in front of her, aft facing her while he gives his next set of instructions. Chromia was completely humiliated now. Somebody starts laughing. That one actually gets his ped-toe hit. Ironhide barks to the whole group, "At least Blue Hatchlet was focused on me. Where is your focus? Because I'm not assigning weapons release to anyone who can't follow my instructions." Chromia forced her gaze to look past his eyes and over his shoulder. Broad, broad, delectable ….. Focus! Slag.
Or was it the second time he caught her looking at his aft. Chromia was at the tables alone trying to go over the notes for exams in a few days. And then a shadow came over her shoulder and data pad. "So take any notes on afts?"
Chromia knew that voice and it made her cringe. She was on her off time, she didn't have to be polite. Commander Elita wouldn't be brushed off so easily, though. She slid onto the bench right next to her. "Come on Chromia, it's not that bad." Now Chromia did look at her and scowl. She leans in, "Ironhide's aft isn't bad. But if you want to see a really nice one, check out that blue one."
Chromia couldn't help but look at who catches Elita One's attention. Striding only a few paces from them is Optimus Prime conversing with his command core, white Jazz, Ratchet and black Ironhide. But Ironhide is the only one to turn. Chromia's gaze drops to the red spot right next to his oh Primus, his aft. And he saw me. Ironhide smirks and then draws the team to stop, aft facing the females. Again.
Chromia covers her face blushing badly, "Primus please kill me now."
Elita chuckles quietly, "So, what did you so find interesting?" Chromia tries to focus on her data pad, but the words just blur to picture of a black aft with a spot of red. Elita leans in closer, "Could be worse. Could've caught you staring at the other side."
Chromia whips her head to Elita who has her eye on a red one. Optimus sees Elita and gives her and optic brow raise of curiosity. Elita leans over to Chromia again making it clear to Optimus that she is talking about them, "Come on Chromia, they're only 'Bots."
Chromia narrows her gaze, "Commanders, that's the difference."
Elita smirks, "Just gives them a bigger ego."
Chromia gasps, "Prime an ego? You are kidding!"
Elita turns soft, "He just hides it under his humility. Deeply."
Chromia can see an unspoken sentence across Elita's face she tries to hide. There's a lot more to Elita and Optimus' relationship than command structure. Chromia turns her attention back to Ironhide. Who does he confide in? Does he have a….
Elita asks again, "So what is it about his aft that has your attention?"
"The red spot," instantly she clamps shut. Where did that come from? Once again humiliated that she revealed the Weapons Commander has her attention.
Elita now looks closer at Ironhide, "You know, I never noticed that before."
Chromia lets her temper slip, "That's because you like Prime's -." She clamps a hand over her mouth again and then another over her eyes. "Please, please Primus kill me now. I'm dying of humiliation here." Elita can see Chromia is about to cry. Chromia is no fool to command structure and elite counsil protocol. Yes, this may be a new army in the mist of a civil war, but that still doesn't give the new bot authorization to talk so freely and openly about physical attributes and flirt officers.
Elita can't help laughing at the retort the new bot had hit that right on the head. This poor new femme recruit had no idea what the other femmes talked about quietly behind the officers backs. And this new blue one would have to find out eventually, the highest ranking officer wasn't just Prime, he was all mech. The pink one's mate.
Elita's laugher triggered Ironhide into a response. Turning, fires of a smart one, "Like what you see, Elita?"
Chromia knows her blue-silver face has got to be melting in humiliation and she was sure she would die when Elita spoke, "Somebody's big black aft is in my way." Ironhide chuckles loudly. Optimus blushes. Elita decides to put Ironhide in his place, "By the way, Iron-butt, what's with the red spot?"
Ironhide, not to be embarrassed, chortles, "Why don't you come over and find out?" Elita tips her head to the side clearly letting him know, he isn't worth her time. Then sends a wicked look over his shoulder to the taller mech behind him. Optimus grins back receiving her send.
Elita smirks back to Ironhide, "How about I send one of my cadets?"
Ironhide starts with a wild smirk and then turns to look at a totally humiliated cadet. His gaze slips to softness actually feeling for her. She didn't deserve this treatment from Elita after what he did to her at the range. "Yeah, that would be a good idea. I'm not into pink." He gives Chromia a lit of a smile. Elita cackles back.
Chromia looks back to her data pad paling, "Elita, I'm serious, I'm going to be sick." Elita looks down and sees maybe the game has gone just a little too far. After all, the blue one had only arrive yesterday making it clear she was hear to fight a war. This soft bantering was just a bit too much.
With a serious nod to Optimus, Elita gets the commanders to move on saving Chromia from any more humiliation. Elita wraps her arms around Chromia and hugs her. "I'm sorry. I'll have to get your broken in to how we blow off steam around here. Some mechs just need to have their egos put in place." She sighs to a last glance Optimus sends, "And others need theirs caressed and encouraged." Chromia knew right there, Elita One would be one of her best friends, no matter what happens. Neither female could help but watch the blue and black backs stride around the corner of the building with duty. {end flashback}
~~ Now Chromia is following Ironhide's humanly determined straight back stride around another corner to a duty. She had to jog to keep up with his temper.
Ratchet is in his lab when Ironhide and Chromia enter. A sentry tries to stop them but Ironhide has already bloodied his nose.
"OUT! Now!" Ironhide tries to command the rest of the humans in the room. They all stare at him like he is nuts. Ratchet's head shoots up from his readout. He turns his focus to the voice.
Ironhide is still in command mode approaching Ratchet. Two more guards follow the bloodied soldier. They grab Ironhide's arms to stop him. Ironhide puts them down very quickly and continues his approach. Two more come to Chromia. She puts her fists up in a warning stance, "He trained me." They stop as Ratchet puts a hand up.
"I need you, now!" Ironhide states commander to commander pointing a finger up at Ratchet. Ratchet can see he is still doing his duty even in this form.
Ratchet turns to his team, "Clear the room."
"Sir? Are you sure about these humans? They have no clearance. They don't even have any ID." the bloodied soldier manages to get out with a hand on his nose.
"They are fine. They have been cleared by Prime personally." Ratchet tries again.
"I'm sorry sir, but I must-"
He is stopped instantly when Ironhide pulls up his right sleeve and shows an Autobot emblem of raised skin on his right shoulder, "Good enough for you?" The man can only stare at what looks like a healed over scar engraved on his arm. Autobot logo. He knows Prime would never brand a human like that. Something must be serious.
The soldier gasps, "I've never seen anything like that before."
"And you never did," Ironhide answers curtly. "Now, clear the room, soldier." The soldier follows the orders. The room is cleared quickly of all personal; Autobot and human. Ratchet sinks down into a chair.
"Chromia, show me your shoulder." Ratchet orders softly. She does so. There is nothing there.
"What does it mean?" she asks a little worried. She can see that Ratchet is very concerned, rubbing his forehead in frustration. Ironhide is passing. "Somebody tell me what is going on!" she tries again.
"Ironhide," Ratchet softly tries to get him to tell her.
Ironhide can't face her. So she stops him by grabbing his cheeks and making him face her. "Commander," she tries that approach. But the look in his eyes is not a soldier. It is of a mate. He raises his hands to embrace her.
"Get him in here," Ironhide finally turns to Ratchet with a somber tone.
Ratchet touches his com, "Optimus, my lab. Now."
"Acknowledged." is all that is heard.
The room is deadly silent while they wait for Optimus. She tries to stay calm. After all, she is a soldier. Ex-Rock Bottom FIC. Human body or not. Wrapped in Ironhide's arms with his palm keeping her head tightly pressed to his shoulder, she almost wants to cry at his grip of tenderness and protection. Ironhide is tough as nails, as the humans say. There wasn't a chink in his armor anywhere. Well, one little red spot. Maybe two….
{flashback} The weapons training team, Ironhide, Scatter Shot and Sideswipe were a good team. Not only did they teach targeting and weapons orientation, but also hand to hand combat. If Chromia thought his cannons were nice, watching his graceful yet deadly moves against Sideswipe were amazing. Stealing a glance around the room, she knew she wasn't the only one impressed. Who knew such a bulky 'Bot could be so graceful? But what ultimately did her in was the way he locked gazes with her (and she knew it was her alone) while marking lithe Sideswipe with a paint mark through his torso simulating a sword strike. At the same time, he struck back with his right foot knocking Scatter Shot back and to everyone's gasp, curled his shoulders under surprise attacking Prime's ax. But then he broke his gaze to turn a fist and attempt an upper cut to Prime's chin. Scatter Shot rained laser pellets down on both of them. But the impact only to made Ironhide hiss, Chromia winced. The teacher turned a cannon behind his back and made a "kill shot". Now his only opponent was Prime. And the fist fight turn into sword vs. ax threw sparks over the cadets. Finally the two friends were in a dead lock and panting. They laugh and retreat.
Ironhide retracts his weapons, "I had you, Optimus. But I need to give the cadets my time."
Stoic as always, Optimus just tips his head to Ironhide in a classic yeah right answer. The class begins to chuckle. Optimus turns to the cadets, "Heed his warnings and you may yet survive to fight a second battle." With that, Optimus salutes his commander and leaves.
Sideswipe glowers at Ironhide, "Had to use the permanent stuff didn't you? You know how long this will take to get out?"
Ironhide warms up a cannon, "What, got a date or something tonight? I could take that off for you." And fires a round off.
Sideswipe swiftly deflects the round up with the flat of his sword, but glares at Ironhide. The cadets duck at the falling pieces of the roof. Looking up, this wasn't the first time that ploy has been used.
Ironhide, quite pleased with himself, strides before the reassembling cadets. Carefully he avoids looking at Chromia. That unnerves her even more than if he had stared. Ironhide begins the instructions to the next drill, "So you want to fight 'Cons? Well, let's see just how good you are. I'll make you a deal. The first Hatchlet to take down one of us gets off guard duty tonight. If any of you," he laughs heartily, "Nails me, gets out of the rest of training and gets their first choice of weapons upgrades. Deal?"
"Yes sir!" They all bark.
Ironhide drops his hand and the barrage starts instantly. Chromia dives and slides behind clunky Scatter Shot, using him as a shield. But she only had one target. The target that she just couldn't ever shake from her head. During her target training she didn't see 'Con spark chambers or optics. She only saw one small red spot. And she practiced and practiced. Now it was coming into her sights.
One beautiful black aft with a small red spot. She very carefully took aim while rotating and keeping Scatter Shot as her shield. And she fired one shot. Instantly, Ironhide was dropped to his knee. All volleys stopped as soon as his knee crashed to the ground heavily. Carefully Ironhide stood up and turned. He looked at Scatter Shot directly in his line of sight. Scatter Shot raised his hands indicating he didn't fire the shot.
And then Chromia steps out from behind Scatter Shot. Ironhide couldn't suppress a grin of glee. "I should have known." He cools his cannons. "Your name." He never called the cadets by name until they graduated.
"Chromia." She proudly called out. Now that did increase his admiration of her. She wasn't the blushing hatchling he saw with Elita a few weeks ago. With one hand still on the spot where she hit him, he uses the other to point where he wants her to stand. She comes to stand a respectable distance from her commander. The others all fall in line amazed that this sparkling royal blue cadet could actually hit tough old Ironhide, let alone drop him to a knee. What would he do to her? He puts his hand out and she lays her weapon in it. Carefully he examines it.
"One shot?" He clearly shows his approval and shock.
Only he can see her face and so she lets it slip into a smile, "That's all it took." He tips his head to their joke with Elita encouraging her to explain. "Only had one target in mind."
He drops his voice to almost a whisper, "And did you hit it?"
She bits her lip for a moment and then sheepishly admits, "Every time."
Now his eyes grow wide in understanding. She really couldn't get his aft out of her mind and used it to her advantage. Now that he is very impressed with. He lets her know with just a look. She is not embarrassed this time. He raises the volume for everyone to hear, "And so what weapon did you want?"
She points to the one in his hand, "That one."
He gives her a very curious scowl, "It's a pea shooter compared to what is available." He bristles showing his own.
She bites her lip again flushed admiring his physique again. He can see she has a witty come back behind her flushing. With a replying smirk he allows her to say it. "Yeah, but it got the results I wanted." He laughs heartily and fully. Now that does make her blush and hard. That she could make him laugh lifted her spark more than making the shot.
Laying a hand on her shoulder, turns her to the rest of the recruits. He leaves the servo proudly on her shoulder. "Chromia, you will have to get an upgrade to take on the 'Cons. But I'll make sure they are sniper scopes. Now go. You have the next two weeks off. Get out of here." He bops her in the aft and she drops to her wheels peeling out of the training center.
She could still feel his warm hands on her shoulder and aft when she returned to her bunk. There wasn't anything for her to do for the rest of the day. All her friends were at training. Bored, she toyed with ideas for upgrading her armor and weapons, but there was nothing she could put into effect until Weapons Commander agreed. That meant she would have to face him one on one. Could she? Was it wrong of her to sit here and fantasize about the mech in a war zone? Would there ever be a future?
Looking down at her sketches, she noticed that the weapons drawing had changed. They were becoming more detailed lines of optics, face plates, asbargos … servos. And then she saw something she hadn't done since she was a teen-bot. Her name, entwined around another… his. "Primus save me…" Swiftly she pushed the delete. No need for anyone to see that and tease her. She went back to doodling weapons designs. Until Elita came to her and gave her a note. Celebration time with a time and door number.
Setting the data pad aside, laid her head back, all she could think of now were arms. Not an aft, but those hands and the large arms. She knew she was insane. In a couple weeks she would be assigned to some far remote base and never see her training commander again. Besides, she was no bimbo-bot, and certainly no love sick little hatchling. She was a soldier, and a good one. A proud arrogant tough soldier. She wouldn't think about any part of Ironhide's anatomy. Ever again. Well, not after one last hot dream… wrapped in his arms listening to that deep soft voice encouraging her… {end flashback}
~~ But here she was now surrounded by his anatomy in the present. Human or not, she could feel his fear and concern. Just as she had felt his pride and laughter, now she could feel his fear yet his comfort he tried to exude onto her.
Optimus arrives shortly. He looks between his Medical Officer and his Weapons Officer wrapped around his mate. "What is it?"
Ratchet lowers his voice, "Show him." Ironhide releases Chromia to stand before Optimus and raises his sleeve showing the raised insignia with flecks of silver showing.
"I see," Optimus sighs.
She has gotten herself under control and carefully asks, "What does it mean?"
The three officers look between each other and ignore her question. Ironhide asks, "Where are the shells?"
"We can't find them." Optimus clearly states.
Ironhide turns to Ratchet, "What happens with out the shell?"
"How should I know?" Ratchet is exasperated and points to Optimus. "Ask him!" Ironhide turns to Optimus. Optimus just shrugs.
"How did this happen?" Ironhide points to Ratchet. "This was meant for you," he points to Optimus with the other hand.
"You're the weapons officer! This is your fault." Ratchet bellows pointing back to Ironhide.
"I wasn't the one working on a molecular weapon! You were!" Ironhide tries to fire back. Then he turns to Optimus, "And you wouldn't let me go with you!"
Calmly Optimus responds, "Would that have changed anything?" His gaze holds Ironhide carefully silencing the finger pointing.
He has no choice but to respond. Ironhide drops his gaze, "No, it would have made things worse." Optimus chuckles. "Why are you laughing?"
"You certainly make one hot tempered human." Optimus is amused.
"And you-" Ironhide starts with a wagging finger.
"Chose your words very carefully, my old friend," Optimus smiles inclining his head towards Ironhide's concerned mate. She is stunned at the current bickering among the friends.
Ironhide has to walk away and get himself back on track. Ratchet starts again, "When did it show up?"
"About ten minutes ago."
"Optimus?" Ratchet looks for help. He knows they are trying to keep from scarring Chromia any further.
"There is defiantly a delayed reaction," Optimus ponders.
"Could the Matrix have anything to do with it?" Ratchet asks. They are both stunned. They know Ironhide doesn't have the Matrix, and can't. Ironhide takes a shaky inhale. He's trying to think. He has to get back into command mode. Ratchet has a thousand hypothesis running through his head. Optimus is praying for guidance.
Ironhide is back as commander, "Have we reviewed the footage or sensors?"
Optimus nods, "We have been analyzing it all night and right now. What are you looking for?"
"Are we sure the shells survived the blast?" Ironhide tries.
"Ironhide, there were no shells. It was a plasma blast. What do you mean?" Chromia is very curious.
"Not weapons shells. I mean our Autobot bodies. This virus-based plasma-blast has hit our spark and transformed it into a human body," he explains carefully. She just stares at him. She backs up and drops into a chair.
"You were actually working on a weapon that would do this to the Decepticons? How horrible of you. You…you…," she is sickened by these commanders.
"No, that's not what happened." Ratchet answers.
"Then what did?" Optimus is the one who finally asks the question. "And so help me, you better not tell me you don't know."
"The sergeant was right, we did have a security leak. They were trying to steal the virus. They had managed to get your signature sample from my private quarters. Then use it to release the quarantine seal on the virus. They were trying to run out of the lab." He turns to Ironhide, "The clumsiness in the lab was that whole process. It got dropped and mixed in with other slides. I thought Intake had a plant sample that had fallen on to the processor. I left with you so they could clean up the lab. That is what the slide had been labeled. If I had known…" He shakes his head, "Things just snowballed from there. It didn't help that Optimus notified us he was returning early."
"You mean this was all an accidental sabotage?" Ironhide is shocked. Ratchet can only nod. "Oh, I need to go blow something up," Ironhide grips his head in frustration.
"No, we need to review the security footage and find those shells," Optimus orders.
"What then?" Chromia asks.
Optimus turns to him, "If we can find the shells we might have a chance to transform you back."
"And if we don't?" She asks the deadly question. She looks between Optimus and Ironhide. Ironhide is rubbing his shoulder. Ratchet is rubbing his forehead. Optimus his chin.
Optimus turns his focus to his Weapons Officer, "I'll release your quarters. Get something to eat and I have the files transferred there. We have searched the video, but one more set of eyes couldn't hurt. You know better than anyone what to look for; both human and Autobot. We also have inferred, ultrasonic, and the submersibles are still out relaying back more information."
Ironhide adds more, "Send Bee and Bluestreak back through the bridge. See if by any chance they were shot through as you came in." Optimus nods. "Do we have the saboteurs subdued?"
"Yes. They are in the brig." Ratchet responds.
"Who sent them? How many were sent? Are we sure we have them all? How were they supposed to deliver the virus? Are all the virus slides accounted for? Find the vehicle. It could have captured the shells awaiting a trade or experimentation." He is still City Commander. "And get me some clearance or a weapon. No! I want both."
Optimus smiles, "You are doing just fine with the physical guns you currently have." He tries to counter pointing to the blood on the floor.
Ironhide curls his face at Optimus, "Don't patronize me. I still know the soft spot in your armor, old friend." Then he returns the smile, "Or maybe I'll poison your Chocolate Energon cubes," in reference to the fudge and the couple times Ironhide had slipped Optimus a "mickey".
Optimus pulls back with a growing grin and crosses his arms over his chest in challenge. Ironhide returns the stance.
Chromia shakes her head, "Mechs! Men! Now I understand what these human women mean. I don't have time for you clowns." She walks out the door. Ratchet follows her.
"Feisty human she makes." Optimus retorts.
"You have no idea." Ironhide agrees. The smirk on his friend's face says it all.
~~~ But she was right. They had to stay focused on the task. There would be no choice if they didn't find the shells. Back in Ironhide's quarters they begin the research. She can't help but smirk to herself about the conversations and the things they had done here as Autobots. Without even looking at her he states clearly, "Stay on task. Not time to be distracted."
She doesn't turn to him, "Look who is talking." He just smiles. Yeah, his memory was trying to drift him off course, too. He had to steel himself against temptations. But it didn't work. She messed with his concentration the moment she fell under his training protection. But he knew he was in deep trouble when he couldn't keep his eyes off her, so focused, so dedicated, so skilled. Just like now as she pours through the tedious task. But when did he know he wanted her forever in his life? When did he first contemplate her as his spark-mate?
4 in progress.