(Please see all previous disclaimers)
Trusting that Scourge and Jetfire would keep their word and having been informed of new data, Optimus and the other two headed for the main meeting room. And once they and all the others arrived, Scattershot reported that he and Vector Prime had decoded the message and found that it had come straight from Primus. All the bots were stunned to hear such a thing. "According to what we found, we need to bring ourselves and the lock and keys to Cybertron. The message breaks down after that" Vector Prime revealed.
"If it is a message from Primus, why are we being sent back to Cybertron?" Hotshot asked.
"Not sure, but if those are the directions, we must heed them" Optimus answered. The others reluctantly agreed and soon everyone including the humans were heading for Cybertron. They all hoped that when they got there, someone or something would indicate what their next move was or where the last key was located. Scattershot opened the space bridge and all headed out.
As the Autobots headed out, Optimus found himself not too far from Red Alert. Seemingly concerned about the Prime, Red opened a private line that only he and Prime could talk through. "So, have you informed Scourge and Jetfire of your ability to spark and your submissiveness?" Red asked through the private comm.
Optimus blushed though his red coloration hid it. "No, not yet. It isn't time, as we have things that are of higher priorities" Optimus responded.
Red shook his head, same old Optimus. "Well, I hope you tell them soon" Red retorted.
Optimus looked to red and then realized something. "How did you know Jetfire and Scourge liked me or possibly Vice versa?" Optimus demanded to know.
Red softly chuckled, "well that is my little secret. But seriously, I know darn well that Scourge would not release the key to merely join the Autobots, there is more. That, and Jetfire is quite the blabber mouth when significantly drunk of high grade energon."
"Whether or not I am or am not falling for them is irrelevant at this time. We must complete our mission first before anything else occurs" Optimus snapped back, with the reply telling Red almost exactly what he wanted to know. Optimus may not have said it, but Red alert could tell Optimus was significantly burdened with the knowledge that he was submissive and the worry about if the Autobots would still respect Optimus as leader. Without another word, Red made sure that Optimus knew that Red supported the bot but would not reveal the secret.
Meanwhile, Scourge and Jetfire were discussing how to properly to court Optimus. They knew it would be difficult for multiple reasons, the least of which was that he was the undisputed leader of the Autobots. Scourge suggested pleasure and Jetfire suggested taking the bot on dates. The big thing that they wanted was that Optimus felt loved, wanted and accepted. Only time would tell.