Chapter 10: The Earthspark
Optimus pounded on the door furiously, wishing his fists weren't now so insufferably tiny.
"Ratchet, when I get in there so help me-
"You make a lot of noise, small fry." Ironhide had opened a door across the hall.
Optimus glared at him. 'As soon as I get to Phoenix she'd better make me big again!' He thought darkly.
"Who are you calling 'small fry'?" He said aloud.
Ironhide looked exaggeratedly around the hallway. "Uh, you seem to be the only one around here whose three feet tall, and if I were you, I probably wouldn't be picking fights with Ratchet."
Optimus drew himself up to full height. "I'm not three feet tall. I'm at least six!"
Ironhide shrugged, "When you're that height it doesn't make much difference, sir. Anyways, why are you still so small? Can't Phoenix work that out for you?"
"Yes but-
"You like her don't you?"
"Ironhide!" Optimus sputtered. Of all the Autobots, he wasn't about to share love confessions with this one!
Ironhide shrugged again. "Just voicing my concerns, captain."
Optimus stood as tall as he could, which caused Ironhide to snicker. 'No one takes me seriously at this size!' He silently fumed, feeling worthless.
"Your concern has been… noted. You may return to your duties." He spoke as the leader he was, making the dismissal apparent.
Ironhide turned back into the room without a word.
Making sure no one was around to torment him further, Optimus slid down to sit with his back to Ratchet's door.
He hadn't realized that he'd fallen asleep until he fell over as the door was unceremoniously yanked open behind him.
"OPTIMUS!" Ratchet barked, looking around and then down. "Oh yes. I forgot about your rather unfortunate predicament for a moment."
"You nearly stepped on me!" Optimus panted, having narrowly avoided Ratchet's giant foot.
"Ah you're pathetic!" Ratchet grumbled as he grabbed Optimus and stalked back into the medical bay. He was not in a good mood. He placed Optimus on the floor while he looked for his notes.
Lying on a human sized bed was Phoenix. She looked tired, but happy to see Optimus. She leapt up to greet him, but she was still weak from having been put to sleep. As she started to collapse Optimus caught her in his arms.
'I lied.' He thought, 'I love being this size.'
He was having rather mixed feelings about being small. On one hand, he was closer to Phoenix. On the other, he feared for his life and felt vulnerable every minute. How did humans live being so tiny?
Phoenix smiled radiantly up at him. She felt like she never wanted him to let go. And then was Optimus leaning in?
"Ahem." Ratchet cleared his throat.
Optimus was so startled that he dropped Phoenix in a heap on the floor.
"Ow!" Phoenix shrieked. The moment had been ruined.
She glared at Ratchet, who seemed amused. "What do you want?" She scolded.
"I believe we have very important matters to discuss. You two can… hold each other later."
Phoenix flushed pink. Optimus just scowled.
"What have you found out?" Optimus asked, trying to sound polite as he helped Phoenix off the floor. He let his hand linger on her waist for a moment, not wanting to let go. Phoenix looked at him and almost seemed to nod. He took it for approval and left his hand where it was. Phoenix almost imperceptibly leaned closer. All this took place in a split second, but Optimus felt it had been an eternity ago that he'd been talking to Ratchet. Where he was now couldn't be reality, it was just too great.
"I have some…interesting news. When I was looking at the information for the earth's core, I noticed that it seemed to have the same characteristics as the Allspark. This led me to the experiments that I have just performed on Phoenix. If my results are correct, and I am very, very rarely wrong, then I believe I have found out what it is that Starscream has discovered, and his intentions."
He paused.
"What is it?" Phoenix breathed.
"I believe that the earth's core is very much like the Allspark, and Starscream has or is trying to discover a way to make a new Allspark from the core."
"So that's why he had a bit of it then." Phoenix said softly. "He's trying to figure out how to make it into another Allspark?" Another thought floated into her mind. "Earthspark! That's what I heard in my dream! It must be true, an Allspark made from the Earth's core!"
"Yes." Ratchet agreed. "A new life force. The Earthspark."
"But how will we know when he's figured out how to make it?" Optimus asked.
"For now we'll just have to watch and wait. But when the time comes, we'll have to stop Starscream at all costs."
"What will happen?" Phoenix was pale, already guessing the answer.
"Well," Ratchet answered gravely, "If Starscream uses the core for his plan, then the earth, naturally, will be destroyed!"