Sideswipe kept his step quite brisk as he walked down the hallway, hardly acknowledging the fellow Autobots that he passed by. He had work to do after all, and he couldn't afford any delays.
"Hey, Sideswipe. I heard about the mission. Good luck to you guys."
"Thanks," Sideswipe said, not really looking at Springer.
Still, the red Lamborhini couldn't help but smile. When Jazz had called him and Sunstreaker via the radio transmitter a few orns ago and had said that they had been assigned an important mission, Sideswipe had almost jumped with joy; it was their first mission in a long while.
"I'm telling you, Bro, it's gonna be just like the old days," he had told Sunstreaker. "You and me, back to back, shooting and kicking Decepticon aft every which way! Who knows, we might do some jet judo too! If you aren't feeling too rusty for it, I mean…"
Sunstreaker had smirked and cuffed Sideswipe on the arm at the jibe, and, of course, the red Lamborghini reciprocated in kind. A few moments later, the twins had ended up on the floor, locked in mock combat very much like the way they used to when they were back at the Ark. It had made Sideswipe feel carefree once more.
There was still one other matter, however, and it went by the name of Bluestreak. Jazz had asked Sideswipe to bring the silver mech to the launch site at the appointed time, so the team would set off on its mission without setbacks. Sideswipe would have preferred it if Sunstreaker was with him, but he remembered what Smokescreen had said: there should be one visitor at a time. So, Sideswipe stood in front of a familiar door, and he felt fingers twitching as he considered pressing the call button. Though he had been there before in a wish to see how Bluestreak was faring, his visits weren't easy… especially after the Hate Plague.
Realising that he was merely stalling, Sideswipe shook those thoughts off his head. He cycled a great amount of air in his vents, steeled himself, and then pressed the call button. The door opened, just a bit, revealing Bluestreak's visage behind it. Blue optics regarded Sideswipe and a brief flash of recognition reflected in them.
"Hey, Sideswipe," Bluestreak said, a small smiled on his features. "Is it time to go?"
"Yeah, it is," Sideswipe said, trying not to mind Bluestreak's quiet tone. "You ready?"
"Almost," the silver mech replied and he opened the door all the way. "Come in if you want. I won't be long."
It was a polite gesture, no question about it. But Sideswipe still registered Bluestreak's warmth-lacking gaze, and he noticed how worn out the silver mech's movements were. Apparently, those sessions were Smokescreen weren't progressing as fast or as smoothly as Sideswipe had hoped.
Sighing, the Lamborghini stepped inside and watched Bluestreak go to the other room before having a look at his surroundings. Nothing had changed since Sideswipe's last visit. The place was still barren, lacking any sort of personal belongings that indicated that the dorm was, in fact, inhabited. Just a small vial of energon on the table, barely touched; and a small, framed photograph, face-down.
Sideswipe winced, suspecting which photograph it could be. He looked in the direction Bluestreak left, listening to the silver mech's steps quite distinctly. Bluestreak was still busy with whatever he was doing, so it Sideswipe had the chance to pick up the photograph and take a look.
Sure enough, it was the photograph. The one in which Bluestreak smiled broadly and gave his viewer a playful thumbs-up, while Prowl looked up with his usual serious expression on his features. The one which Bluestreak had found in the debris of the spaceshuttle where Prowl was killed. The one that was still broken after all this time, almost as badly broken as its owner.
"Hard to believe, isn't it?" Bluestreak's voice sounded from up close, startling Sideswipe. Indeed, the silver mech was standing next to the red Lamborghini now, but his gaze was locked on the picture. "There was actually a time that we could be really happy."
Sideswipe shifted his weight, guilt eating away at his spark. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to-"
"It's fine," Bluestreak said in a reassuring tone, and he extended his hand.
Understanding, Sideswipe handed Bluestreak the picture. The silver mech took it, white fingers tracing Prowl's form as he swiftly got lost in thought.
Primus, Bluestreak… And yet Sideswipe couldn't confront his friend for seeking comfort in an old picture when there were so many living Autobots willing to offer him their support. That picture was probably the one thing that kept Bluestreak sane during the Hate Plague.
"Didn't you ever think of repairing it?" he asked, genuinely curious.
Bluestreak shook his head at once. "I don't want to forget."
He placed the photograph almost reverently on an empty shelf, his fingers and gaze lingering on it for a moment longer before he finally turned to Sideswipe. His expression was neutral, almost passive as he said in a soft tone, "Let's go."
"Okay," Sideswipe replied. He exited the room, only to pause momentarily on his tracks as Bluestreak occupied himself with locking the door.
"So… uh… do you know what this mission is about?" he asked, a feeble attempt to make Bluestreak talk.
"Some kind of a rescue mission, from what I gather; Jazz wouldn't say much else," Bluestreak answered, following Sideswipe's down the hall. "What did he tell you?"
"More or less the same," Sideswipe replied evasively. Yes, Sideswipe knew a lot more than he let on, but he wasn't supposed to say anything to Bluestreak; not yet anyway. "I guess Prime will tell us more at the launch site."
"He's really coming with us then?" Bluestreak said.
"Yup," Sideswipe answered with a nod. "Jazz and Bro will be with us too, as well as Blurr and Wreck-Gar."
Bluestreak's features clouded at those words. "Strange. Not a single scout or medic on a rescue mission," he mused aloud. "Are we expecting trouble?"
The inquiring look that Bluestreak gave him almost unnerved Sideswipe, for it resembled a look that a certain tactician used to give the red Lamborghini whenever he was caught red-handed pulling pranks.
"Aren't we always?" he answered, forcing a cheeky grin on his lip components.
If Bluestreak wanted to find out more, he didn't get the chance. In that moment, they stepped foot on the launch site, and both Autobots were welcomed by a very exuberant Blurr.
"Oh, good, you guys are here! I thought you wouldn't make it because it's almost time for the launch and that wouldn't be good, no, no good at all!" the blue mech said, his words flying with the speed he was well-known for. "Hold on, I'd better tell the others, they'll want to hear this, they definitely will!" And he zipped off before either Sideswipe or Bluestreak had the time to say a word in response.
The two Autobots exchanged a look and then shook their heads, continuing on their way. It didn't take them long to find Optimus, Jazz, Sunstreaker and Wreck-Gar, who were standing next to Skylynx with an expectant look in their optics; news certainly travelled fast when Blurr was the messenger.
"Heeeeere's Johnny!" Wreck-Gar declared, a grin on his lip-components.
"Took you long enough, Bro," Sunstreaker noted with a snort. He faced Bluestreak, giving him the once over. "So… you've finally decided to join the rest of us?"
"I missed you too, Sunstreaker," Bluestreak replied with a small smile. He knew, just as well as Sideswipe did, that that was Sunstreaker's way of welcoming the silver mech back to the Autobot ranks.
Sunstreaker acted as though offended by that sort of presumptuousness and crossed his arms. Jazz and Optimus stepped forward, however, cutting the banter short.
"I'm glad you came, Bluestreak," the Autobots leader said sincerely. "I realise that this isn't easy for you."
"You wanted me in this mission," Bluestreak replied. "It's not in my place to say no."
Optimus nodded, while Jazz took out of subspace a particular gun.
"I was holding this for you," he said. "You must have missed thisbaby."
Bluestreak's optics widened slightly. "Is that…?" he started, yet stopped midway as if afraid to voice his thought.
"The one and only," Jazz replied, handing Bluestreak the gun. "I've figured you might want it back."
"Thanks, Jazz," Bluestreak said softly, accepting the saboteur's gift.
Sideswipe recognised the gun, and he realised how important that moment was. Prowl had given Bluestreak that gun, back when the silver mech had been accepted as an Autobot gunner. Bluestreak had to give it up after the Battle Of The Autobot City, when First Aid expressed certain fears that Bluestreak wouldn't hesitate to use it against himself; but now, after more than a year, the gun was finally back to its rightful owner.
The red Lamborghini looked at his friend as he still held the gun. It was strange, but he felt that something was right with the world now that Bluestreak was a gunner once more. It was a welcome sight.
- What are you thinking, Sideswipe? - Sunstreaker asked over the secret frequency. He had obviously noticed Sideswipe's thoughtful expression.
Sideswipe cast a brief smile in the yellow warrior's direction.
– Probably the same thing you're thinking, Bro. -
Another pair of footfalls made all the Autobots turn around, just in time to see Hot Rod approaching them. The young mech seemed quite self-conscious at the sudden attention to his person, and he stopped on his tracks.
"Uh… I'm not late again, am I?" he asked.
"Not at all, Hot Rod; your timing is perfect," Optimus said, walking up to his protégé. "Where's Springer?"
"He's already up at the control tower," Hot Rod answered, pointing with his thumb at the tall building behind him. He cocked his head to the side, regarding Optimus with a raised optic ridge. "So you're really going?"
Optimus nodded. "Something tells me I should investigate matters personally."
"If you say so," Hot Rod replied, shrugging. "Just don't die again, okay?"
"Not if I can help it," Optimus promised with a small chuckle, and he opened his chest. Even though its former power was gone, the Matrix of Leadership still sparkled under the Cybertronian lights as Optimus passed it over to Hot Rod. "I leave everything here in your care now… Rodimus."
"Heh. I guess if I did it once, I can do it again," Hot Rod said, and he placed the Matrix inside his own chest. In the next moment, Hot Rod was gone and Rodimus Prime stood in his place, regarding Optimus with respect. "I won't let you down."
"You never did," Optimus said kindly, patting the mech on the shoulder in a gesture of farewell. "Okay, Autobots, it's time to move out!" he declared.
"Very well, chaps," Skylynx said, realising that that was his cue. "Please enter in orderly fashion and remain seated in your places while your excellent captain prepares for departure. Thank you for choosing Skylynx Airways; prepare for the ride of your life."
"Geez, ego much?" Sunstreaker muttered under his breath, taking a seat.
Sideswipe's comment about the pot calling the kettle black was left unheard as Skylynx's engines gunned noisily, signifying the flier's take off.
TBC...