Hey guys! So, I know it's been a long ass time since I've posted anything….and there's a reason for that. I took a trip to Japan so see my fiancé who is currently stationed there. I was there for a month and didn't even touch my laptop. I've been back for a while but I got into the last book of the Eragon series and just couldn't put it down. But I was thinking of you guys and wanted to make sure I posted a really good chapter when I finally got back into it. I hope I achieved that goal.
The sun had long since set when Ratchet finished securing the newly-repaired armor to Optimus's body. The only plates remaining were the chest plates. The medic cast his glance toward the resting dragon and Prime and decided it would be best to secure those when Jazira was finished using Optimus as a pillow.
Smiling to himself, Ratchet placed a tarp over the armor and approached the sleeping giants. He silently ran diagnostic scans on Optimus to discover that, aside from his energon levels being slightly lower than normal, he was completely fine and would be healthy and recharged enough to be brought out of stasis in the morning.
He walked to the empty corner of the hangar and settled himself to transform into his vehicle mode and get some recharge himself. Compared to the repairs he had just finished, the repairs needed after the fiasco in Egypt the year before looked minor. Brushing the thoughts of those events from his processor, Ratchet prepared his recharge process to allow him to be easily roused should anything go wrong in the night.
Then, just as Ratchet was about to begin his transformation sequence, Jazira shifted in her sleep. She slid her head from Optimus's chest plates to snuggle under his chin with a soft purr.
Ratchet stared at the dragon in fascination. She'd barely known Optimus for more than one day and already her protection instincts toward him were as strong as a mother's.
With another smile he realized his presence there was not needed. Jazira would be there should anything happen; she would call for him if he was needed. He turned to retire to the next room to recharge in his quarters. As he approached the door, the familiar whirring and humming of a system reboot reached his audio receptors.
Optimus was coming out of stasis on his own.
Ratchet rushed back to the berth as Optimus's blue optics lit the dark room. He groaned and shifted in an attempt to sit up. Ratchet placed a hand on his shoulder and forced him to stay down.
"Easy there, Optimus," the medic said. "You've been through a lot and it's too soon for you to be on the move."
Optimus looked confused for a time. He glanced around, unsure of how he got into Ratchet's med bay. Finally, he noticed the weight on his chest and looked down to see the sleeping serpent with its head resting just above his spark chamber. His optics widened in shock. He had no recollection of such a creature ever residing on base.
His memories of the past day eluded him.
"Ratchet…." He whispered harshly. Ratchet's hand lightly gripped Optimus's shoulder armor. As a medic, he had expected Optimus to have some memory problems. After taking such a beating and going through a complete system reboot, temporary confusion was only natural.
"It'll come to you." The medic said gently. "Just think about it for a moment; let your processors stabilize."
Optimus stared at the dragon. His gaze followed the horn on her nose, along her head, and down her neck. His attention caught on the bandages covering her shoulders and back. It was then that he remembered everything. The memories of the ambush, Jazira's brave stand, being patched up, and the journey back to the base all rushed back to him at once.
He raised one of his massive metal hands and placed it gently on her neck, embedding his fingers in the white fur of her mane. Ratchet removed his hand from Optimus's shoulder. It was clear he realized who she was.
"What happened to her?" Optimus asked, keeping his booming voice to a low rumble.
"She flew here from the other side of this planet with you on her back." Ratchet replied. "She's exhausted." Optimus pointed to the bandages.
"I hope I was not the cause of those wounds." He said. Ratchet walked quietly around Jazira to check on her. He cycled air through his vents slowly: a Cybertonian version of a sigh.
"Your armor was shredded in many places Optimus." He said gently. "The shards punctured her scales, and she pushed herself too hard in an attempt to return you here before it was too late. Her shoulder muscles are in bad shape, but she will recover with rest."
Guilt lanced through Optimus's spark.
Ratchet noticed his stricken expression and frowned. It was just like Optimus to feel that he was responsible for incidents that he had no control over.
"There is no sense in dwelling on this Optimus." He said sternly. "It was not your f-"
"No, Ratchet," Optimus interrupted. "The fault was mine." He moved his metal hand from Jazira's neck and covered his eyes, totally ashamed. "I refused to stop and recharge during my journey. If I had done otherwise, I would have been fit for battle. I put Jazira's health and safety at risk; it was a poor decision on my part as a leader."
Ratchet approached his leader and removed the hand covering his sky-blue optics. The medic regarded his old friend with sincerity and understanding.
"Jazira's choice to come to your aid was her own, Optimus." He reached down and detached the energon feed lines from the flame- covered arm. "But this is something you should discuss with her. But I'm certain that she will be satisfied with the fact that you are alright. Now, you need at least another eight hours of recharge before you can be up and moving around; so stay put." His last three words were firm.
Optimus nodded reluctantly and closed his optic covers in hopes that Ratchet would leave for his quarters. He was right. Optimus listened as Ratchet walked to his room, transformed, and powered down. After silence had enveloped the med bay, Optimus prepared himself to get up.
His movements were shaky and labor intensive. He felt as though his body had been lying dormant on Ratchet's berth for eons. With some difficulty, Optimus managed to gently remove Jazira's scaly head and neck from his chest and lay her softly on the concrete floor. She stirred slightly but did not appear otherwise disturbed.
Satisfied, Optimus swung his legs over the other side of the berth. He waited for his processor to stabilize his perception of depth and the ache in his chassis to dull.
He finally moved to stand. He couldn't remember the last time a simple movement such as standing had become so tedious. His joints creaked and hitched making motion anything but fluid.
Once he was convinced that his legs would carry his own weight, Optimus took one step forward, then another. Each was painful and sluggish, but he was determined to be in working condition for the Autobots in the morning.
On his next step his leg hitched painfully causing him to stumble. He tried to move his other leg to catch himself but it refused to move in time.
He prepared to hit the floor, followed by Ratchet rushing in to scold him for not doing as he was told.
Instead, something caught him. He looked down to see Jazira's neck stretched out, holding him up.
"You know, for a leader," Jazira said "You sure love getting into trouble."
"How were you roused from sleep?" Optimus asked her as she helped him stand and walk back to sit on the berth. He hoped it wasn't his fault.
"Optimus," she snorted, amused. "Your joints are about as quiet as a bull in a china shop. But don't worry, I'm not bothered. I don't usually sleep for more than a few consecutive hours before I wake up on my own."
The last statement was true, but she had said it to ease Optimus's obvious shame. His shoulders sagged and he looked at the floor.
Jazira sat and watched him for quite some time, ignoring the ache in her back and shoulders. Optimus could feel her eyes on him. The creature before him was magnificent and full of power and could easily kill with the amount of brute strength at her disposal. He remembered watching her defend him from Megatron. The sheer force that she displayed had shown him that she was capable of great destruction. And yet he felt no malice, no anger, and no threat of violence emanating from her. In fact, his interactions with her thus far had shown that she was very tender and compassionate.
How could such a dangerous creature be so gentle? Optimus thought to himself.
But he knew that it had all been for him. She had become a vicious creature bent on protecting him from the Decepticons. She had even faced Megatron himself to save his life and he had repaid her for everything by tearing her flesh and weakening her to the point of exhaustion.
"I'm sorry, Jazira." Optimus said. Jazira lowered her head to the floor and looked up at Optimus, catching his gaze. She pulled back up and he followed. The depth of her bright green eyes drew him in. It was a more beautiful sight than anything he'd ever laid his optics on in the many centuries he'd lived and the countless galaxies he'd visited.
Jazira blinked slowly.
"Why?" she asked gently. "There is nothing that you've done that needs forgiving."
"Jazira, you are in the condition you are in now because you came to my aid." The mech replied. "During my voyage to see you I neglected to recharge and regain my strength. Had I rested, I would have had the energy to fight. However, I chose poor judgment, and you paid the price."
"Optimus, I would have been needed whether you were rested or not." Jazira said. "You were outnumbered four to one. Now, while I know that you're more than capable of holding your own against Cons, Megatron wasn't about to let you leave alive. Sometimes shit happens that you can't control. This, unfortunately, has been one of those times." She took a step forward until she was mere feet from the Autobot leader and her tail swayed gently before coming to rest on the ground. "But Optimus…I should be thanking you."
Optimus's facial plates shifted in a puzzled frown. "You set me free Optimus." She said with a smile on her words. "I had been stuck alone for so long. Society wasn't ready to know of my existence, so the government left me on that mountain with everything I'd ever need…except a purpose and companionship." She huffed a sigh and a small puff of smoke floated from her nostrils.
"I was so lonely, Optimus. It was like I didn't even exist. But then I heard about you and the others and I finally felt that I might have a chance to be something and help people with my power. But before I got to help people, I got to help you. You've shown me where I belong: here, with you, where I have a purpose at last. So for that, I thank you."
Jazira stretched forward and draped her neck over Optimus's shoulder plating: the closest thing to a hug she could manage.
Optimus hesitated for a moment, slightly shocked, then embraced her in a hug of his own. Jazira closed her eyes and savored the warmth emanating from Optimus's spark chamber.
"I owe you my life, Jazira." Optimus murmured.
"You gave me a life, Optimus," she purred back "You owe me nothing."
When they broke the embrace, Jazira helped Optimus lay back down on the berth and urged him to sleep. He still seemed uncomfortable and unable to settle down.
Jazira's mothering instincts took over.
She laid her head on Optimus's bare chest and started to hum. The vibrations radiated from her throat and penetrated into his very core. For Optimus, it was just like a massage on his still aching circuitry. He sighed and noticed that for once in the centuries of war he'd fought, he felt safe.
After a few moments of humming, Jazira began to sing. Her voice echoed through Optimus's head like a gentle whisper. It was the most pure and beautiful voice he'd ever heard.
There are places I remember
All my life, though some have changed
Some forever, not for better
Some have gone and some remain
All these places have their moments
With lovers and friends I still can recall
Some are dead and some are living
In my life, I've loved them all
But of all these friends and lovers
There is no one compares with you
And these memories lose their meaning
When I think of love as something new
Though I know I'll never lose affection
For people and things that went before
I know I'll often stop and think about them
In my life, I love you more
Though I know I'll never lose affection
For people and things that went before
I know I'll often stop and think about them
In my life, I love you more
In my life, I love you more
When Jazira's voice ceased, she smiled. She had watched Optimus the whole time she sang. He had drifted into recharge and she was quite sure he would remain in his slumber until he was fully rested.
She closed her eyes and soon, she too was enveloped in the embrace of sleep.
Well there you have it guys! I finally finished the chapter. But don't worry, there's one more before the story is over. PLEASE comment! I missed writing while I was overseas and I missed hearing from you guys even more. Much love 3