Optimus' return had kicked events into high gear. Rodimus made Optimus sit until he had sobered up a bit, and though he did not elaborate, it was clear that Megatron had found a way to reach him that the others hadn't. Who could've imagined that the Decepticon leader had been their last, best hope?
The first thing Optimus did, after his mind had cleared, was to dash off and find Andromeda. With a squeal, she was swept off her feet and spun around in the air; he then kissed her so passionately that she was certain she was melting.
The next order of things was to announce his survival to the masses. Magnus opened a channel and addressed the Autobot army with a serious expression. After a brief speech with vague references to the Autobot army and valor, Optimus stepped casually behind him. As anticipated, the throngs went wild.
He smiled behind his faceplate. "Reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated." He went on to give a brief recap of his survival and recovery on Verderon Seven. "Although I am feeling much improved, I would still like to take things slowly as I ease back into my role. I appreciate your concern for me and your desire to wish me well, but please have some patience with me. There is only one of me and so many of you." The Autobots laughed appreciatively.
Despite Prime's request, he found himself sought after everywhere he went, from those who simply wished to greet him and congratulate him on his recovery, to those who insisted on meeting with him and briefing him on every detail of every project that had progressed since his disappearance.
Once Rodimus and Magnus were certain of his full recovery, they scheduled a meeting of the head Council members. Megatron and Cyclonus joined them in Metroplex's secure conference room. They were gathered to discuss the remaining issues about the Circle.
"But what do we *do* with them?"Rodimus asked, propping his head on his hand, supported by an elbow on the table. They had debated the issue for hours and were still no closer to a resolution. "There's so many of them! We can't keep them locked up forever."
Magnus nodded. "But at the same time, I don't think we can just release them as if nothing had happened. They behaved like terrorists and betrayed everything the Autobots stand for."
Cyclonus frowned. "The Decepticons that participated have also betrayed our kind. Such treachery cannot be forgiven or taken lightly."
"The question is, of course, how to proceed." They turned to look at Optimus. "I also do not wish to forgive or forget. The Circle is a manifestation of the hatred and mistrust between our factions. Sweeping it under the carpet, as the humans say, will not resolve the underlying problem. Violence will continue to erupt unless some kind of understanding can be reached."
Megatron snorted. "I say we ditch them all on a deserted planet and let them fight it out amongst themselves."
The elder Prime smiled grimly. "Bravo, Megatron. I think you've really got something there."
The Decepticion leader stared. "I was joking. I didn't think for a minute you'd take me seriously."
"I don't advocate fighting it out, as you mentioned, but the rest of the suggestion is sound. The Circle members that cannot easily be re-integrated into our armies must be sent away. Decepticon and Autobot participants alike will be stranded on a remote planet and will have to depend on each other for survival. We could divide up the supplies so each group has items that the other one needs. If they work together, then they should be able to do quite well for themselves, and once they have proved their inter-faction cooperation, we will welcome them back with open arms."
"And if they don't?" Megatron arched an optic ridge.
"Then they die." Magnus looked grim. "The prospect is not exactly thrilling."
Rodimus sighed. "What other choice do we have? Optimus is right. This has to stop *now*. We've fought so hard for peace, and we cannot let the Circle or any other like-minded individuals or groups sabotage it. We won't provide any weapons, but we will give them ample supplies -- if shared, survival should not be a problem."
"All in favor?" Optimus asked. There were no nay-sayers. The fate of the Circle was decided.
* * * * *
Optimus stepped into his quarters after yet another busy, hectic day to find Andromeda sitting on the recharge berth, staring into space. He smiled at her and came up from behind, wrapping his arms around her. She jumped slightly, then settled into his embrace.
"I have something for you,"he murmured as he nuzzled her neck.
"I'll bet you do," she said teasingly, leaning back.
"No, not that!"he chuckled. "This." He handed her several metal strips.
She laughed and took them from his outstretched hand. Her smile faded as she examined them. "What's this?"
Prime smiled teasingly behind his mask. "I would have thought that was obvious."
"They're tickets to Risa."
"Yes."
"Why do you have tickets to Risa?"
"Again, I thought that would be obvious." He waited, but Andromeda still stared at him blankly. "My memory lapse has caused me to rethink the way I am living my life. Megatron told me that I was hiding from my problems, and he's right. It's time to confront my demons and stop burying them with piles of paperwork. I will no longer allow myself to get overworked and overwhelmed. I have accrued many hours of vacation time over the years, and Rodimus has threatened to revoke them if I don't start using them. So I thought a little trip was in order."
She stared at him, mind-boggled. "You? Going on a vacation? With me?"
He chuckled. "You make it sound like it's a novel concept."
"For you, it is!"
He removed his mask and smiled at her tenderly. "I've decided to stop taking the good things in my life for granted and start enjoying them. Starting with you." Her response was swallowed by a kiss.
* * * * *
Andromeda laughed as her mate chased her back to their room they had reserved on Risa. This had been one of the most amazing weeks of their shared lives. They had played some energetic rounds of hoverball, lounged by the shore of a sparkling lake, and enjoyed massages by the internationally-renown masseuses. Some days they did not leave the room at all.
While they got up to much mischief, they were serious at times. To Andromeda's boundless joy, Optimus decided to keep in touch with Aree. His mental health had drastically improved, but he would likely still need professional help from time to time, and he could think of no one he trusted in that capacity more.
Andromeda threw herself on the recharge berth, and Optimus joined her. She stopped laughing abruptly as his expression turned serious. "Andromeda..."he began uncertainly.
"Yes?"
"We may not have been together for as long as other couples... certainly not as long as Alita and I were... but I do feel that we have something special together, something worth keeping. Well... I..." Words failed him. If her fuel pump hadn't been pounding so furiously, she would have found it amusing.
Wordlessly, he sat up and parted the hinged opening that ran along the front of his chassis. She gasped in wonder as a glowing white sphere was revealed. The Matrix was also secured within, its multi-faceted crystal sparkling, but she barely noticed. Optimus reached within his chest cavity and withdrew his pulsing, dazzlingly bright spark.
Tears coursed down her face as Andromeda fumbled with the catches on her own chest cavity. They sprang free, and she offered up her own spark in response.
Prime's face was equally tear-streaked as they moved their sparks together, gazes locked on each other's face, until the lifespheres merged, energies crackling and throwing a whitish light on the couple.
Both gasped and became perfectly still as they were overwhelmed by the other's memories: Optimus receiving his commendation as Autobot leader, Andromeda watching fearfully as Optimus leaked nearly to death after the excavation cave-in, Optimus making love to Alita (Andromeda felt his love for the departed femme but did not feel the stab of jealousy that she expected), Andromeda kissing Optimus for the first time, Optimus and Megatron locked in a stranglehold, Andromeda fleeing across Cybertron with the â–’Cons in hot pursuit, Orion being pushed to the ground by Imperious (Andromeda gave him a mental hug and turned him away from the painful memory)... the flashes grew too fast to follow, but their love was constant, an eye in the midst of a raging storm.
Time seemed to stop. After an interminable length of time, they pulled apart and their spark separated. They looked at each other, still holding their life essences, and smiled. They were now Bonded. They were as one. They had no secrets from each other, and nothing would tear them apart.
THE END