Disclaimer: Don't own TF: Prime, just a love for big trucks.
Summary: New Armor, New Body, New Alt mode, new everything for Optimus Prime from the Forge of Solus Prime...well, one thing did carry over...and least to say it wasn't expected. Set after "Thirst".
Chapter Three
Heading for a Heartbreak
xxx Set after the photo-shoot in episode 25
Kade smirked as Hailey leaned back enough to breathe before moving in again for another kiss. The advantage of taking her car to the movie theater instead of Heatwave: No commentary or "faulty technology".
The blonde moved closer from the driver's seat, just about completely in Kade's lap before she settled to resting on his shoulder.
"Kade...if you had to have one thing...and I don't mean person or something alive...just an object...what would it be?"
"What d'ya mean?"
"Well...if you had the wife, the house, the kids, the job, the car...that kind of stuff...what would make it complete?"
Kade chuckled, hugging Hailey close, he hummed, buying himself a little time to think.
"Maybe a dog...those are always great."
"I'm allergic to dogs."
"Okay...I've always liked fish and aquariums..."
"Ew."
"Hmm...a stamp collection."
"Boring."
Kade kept his frustration to himself, nothing he said pleased this girl.
"Well...if I had the right job...then I'd still have my Rescue Bot, that and a family and nice house...I'd pretty much be set."
"Ugh...those huge robot things? Are you kidding me?"
"What's wrong with them?"
Kade realized several days later he should have kept his mouth shut.
Beep!
"Rescue Bots, report to Greene Laboratory."
Kade winced, "Gotta go..."
"Whatever."
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Optimus groaned softly as he awoke, laid out on his berth, he really didn't remember even moving to it after contacting Knock Out the night before...
Knock Out...
Prime sat up, almost immediately regretting it as his systems buzzed with hyper charged fluid. He felt...full...that was probably the best description. Or too full would be better, it was extremely uncomfortable. Knock Out wasn't in his quarters, a private comm. request revealed he was back on the Nemesis, doing his best to ignore Prime and please Megatron to avoid detection. Prime let him be.
His internal clock read late morning, meaning soon Ratchet would come looking for him if the feeling in his systems was any indication. Optimus forced himself to stand, leaning on his berth for a moment as he rested a servo over his abdomen, instinctively thinking it would help.
Thankfully his door slid open nearly instantly, it had a tendency to jam. Taped to the wall at human height were several hand made cards and cute notes, made by the three human children. June Darby may not have told exactly what was wrong with Optimus, but the three had picked up that something was up and wanted Prime to feel better.
Optimus managed a small smile, not trusting himself to bend over to retrieve the notes just yet, but appreciating the sentiment. He staggered towards the med bay, developing a slight rhythm to walk slowly with one servo against the wall, the other braced over his abdomen to try and quell the discomfort.
Ratchet looked up from monitor duty at his heavy footsteps, a bit surprised to see him.
"Thought you'd stay in recharge longer."
Optimus merely shook his head, leaning against the wall to remain upright.
Ratchet opened the med bay door, waiting for Prime to collect himself and enter before following.
Prime eased onto the medical berth, hand pressed to his abdomen as he panted slightly, the weight was beginning to bother him.
His CMO scanned his form, working silently as he deciphered the scan results.
"The sparkling's been flooded with the proper coding, and it's charged enough to stabilize the sparkling's systems for quite some time. Your own systems will absorb the rest of the transfluid within the next hour or so, I'd suggest you sleep for that or you're likely to purge it all and make things worse."
Optimus nodded, using Ratchet's offered arm to ease down onto the medical berth to stretch out fully, allowing Ratchet to examine him further before he initiated his recharge protocols.
"Get some rest Prime, you need it."
xxx
Optimus didn't wake for three hours, finally stirring when a comm. request sounded in his head. This time it came from Griffin Rock.
The Autobot leader left the med bay, finding Raf manning the ground bridge while Ratchet was out with Nurse Darby on patrol. Bumblebee was busy monitoring the screens as Prime stepped forward to accept the call.
"...This is Chief Charlie Burns from Griffin Rock...Does anyone copy? Autobot Base Omega One...Do you read me?"
"Chief Burns, it is Optimus Prime, your signal is not transmitting clearly."
"Whoops!...How...out...ow! There, got it."
Optimus nodded as the screen displayed Chief Burns' image perfectly, locking onto his face instead of the camera zooming in.
"Sorry 'bout that, Chase is usually the one working this thing."
"I expect do to the timing and lack of your bot partner that this is not a social call."
"Sorry to admit but yeah...Doctor Greene found a 1930s built time machine below his lab behind a secret garage panel, using a small nuclear power generator he was able to get it running, hoping to send a robot through for data and observation. The Rescue Bots were called to attend as a precaution, after the robot went through the portal thing, the machine seemed to overload on an unknown power source, the Bots were dragged through as well. Along with my son and Doc's daughter."
Optimus nodded in understanding, turning is helm to motion Bumblebee over to prevent him from leaving.
"I am concerned to hear of these events Chief Burns. Energon is our lifeblood and fuel; it is entirely possible it may have interacted with the time machine's technology. Providing the power to the Rescue Bots unexpected trip to the past."
Chief Burns looked away briefly, a sort of frustrated look passing his eyes, similar to June's own despair whenever she knew Jack was possibly in danger. A look Optimus knew all too well.
"So if the energon can power the machine, the Bots should be able to bring everyone back to the present."
Optimus shifted, barely noticeable on screen, he didn't want to worry to father of four, but the cop would also know if he was lying.
"Perhaps, but the fact they have not yet done so may indicate they have encountered difficulties."
Chief Burns nodded in understanding, sighing softly before glancing off screen, "Be back in a second."
Optimus nodded as the camera lot sight of the human, hearing Chief Burns speak with a female off to one side, most likely his daughter, Blades' partner.
"Bumblebee, prep the ground bridge."
"You sure 'bout that Boss? Ratchet's gonna kill you if you go out in the field."
"No one else will be able to aid the Rescue Bots, only Ratchet, Agent Fowler, you and I are aware of their presence here, let alone the existence of Rescue Bots after the fall of Cybertron."
"Still, I can supply the power needed. Boss you could seriously get hurt! Especially in your condition."
Optimus sighed softly, looking away from the scout's optics for moment, "There is no other option."
Chief Burns reappeared within the screen's view, "What do you suggest we do?"
The last Prime glanced over at Bumblebee as the scout activated the coordinates, holding a thumbs up to his superior.
"Chief Burns, please unlock the ground bridge coordinates to your bunker, my scout Bumblebee and I will join you to determine a course of action."
The police officer nodded, fingers darting across the keyboard at his level while Prime did the same to the ground bridge controls, unlocking the Griffin Rock protocols. For safety, only Prime knew the pass code on the Autobot end of the ground bridge. Heatwave and Chase also knew it in case something happened to Prime.
"All set, I have to turn the monitor off, Boulder and Graham have been trying to work on the backlash from the portals but they haven't quite got it yet."
"Understood."
"See you soon."
Optimus waited until the screen went back to normal before activating the ground bridge, setting a ten second remote for it to shut down and re-lock after they were through.
"Bumblebee, let's roll."
xxx
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xxx
1939, Lab Episode 25 "It's a Bot Time"
xxx
"...He's the only way to power up the time machine..."
Optimus turned slightly, "Not the only way."
"Our energon! It's what caused us to be drawn into the machine into the first place isn't it?"
Prime only managed a nod, he didn't admit it, but after powering the time machine up in 2013, traveling backwards, breaking a wall, and then scaling a cliff...his systems were beginning to ache a little.
Boulder stepped back as he transformed his right servo, the "index" digit unfolding to release an electric prod, able to integrate into almost any machine.
The portal had activated in time to the door opening, and Prime his a grin behind his battle mask as the Rescue Bots shifted to protect the children.
"Stop Them!"
"Go!"
The other Bots made sure the children made it through first, then following with Bumblebee covering them. All except...
"Heatwave..."
The fire bot growled at the command, turning and running.
Optimus waited a split second for the mech to make it through before disengaging from the control panel, jumping forward and transforming.
Slamming into the ground hurt, sending his equilibrium system rolling and a wave of nausea threatening to break through his control.
Prime had one shot, flooring his accelerator and racing through the portal as is shut down around him.
...
Optimus gunned his engines, roaring through the opening and transforming in mid air, landing in a crouch before straightening, the Rescue Bots looked relieved, apparently the portal had shut before he'd arrived in his own pock of temporal energy.
"Where is everybody?"
That was Cody, the Chief's son.
"I'd assumed we'd be returning only a short time after our departure."
"Maybe they're outside..."
Francine...or Frankie as the Dr. Greene had explained moved away first, jogging towards the distorted view of the town.
"Dad! We're Home!"
They all reached the cliff on the other side of the distortion field, the view wasn't expected...
"Frankie...I don't think we are home..."
Blades' voice shook as he spoke up, steadying just a little when Heatwave rested a servo on his shoulder in support.
"What are they...doing here?"
"Unauthorized visitors to Morropolis, Identify yourselves."
"Morropolis?"
Optimus' optics narrowed at this, battle mask clicking into place as the weapons on the drones began to hum to life.
This isn't what Optimus was thinking when he told the Chief there had most likely been difficulties.
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2013
xxx
"...Optimus...Bumblebee...we're forever in your debt."
"Nah...we didn't do a whole lot...Your team did!"
"Bumblebee is correct, we merely assisted the Rescue Bots. Thanks to you, they have become an outstanding team. One it has been an honor to serve with."
The Burns family stepped forward, standing in front of their respective Bots.
"Us too."
Optimus nodded, just in time before they all began speaking at once, and were able to understand each other.
Only one this came through clearly, "One thing's for sure, we're smashing that time machine..."
Bumblebee chirped an agreement, arm transforming to his blaster as he began to recalibrate its strength.
"A rig this size...could come in handy. Who built it?"
"A family of heroes."
xxx
Prime and Bumblebee followed the Burns family back to the bunker, just because the Greenes now knew of their true existence, Optimus didn't want the curious Doctor to question the Ground Bridge.
The lift lowered beneath the six vehicles, setting them in the bunker, the Rescue Bots dispersed, heading off to their own tasks, well Heatwave hung around Prime still.
"Uh dad?"
"Yeah Kade?"
"Why is the main computer fired?"
Optimus followed Chase and Chief Burns to the computer system, sure enough, the screen and system was scorched.
"Huh, guess the time machine's control system is linked back to the Bunker, that would explain why Doc's calculations were messing with the software earlier. Graham, how long would it take to fix this? Optimus Prime and Bumblebee need to be getting back."
The engineer plugged his tablet into the safest port, diagnosing the damage.
"About a week...mostly it's just time consuming with rewiring the damaged circuits, Boulder and I can knock that out in a couple days. I'll have my old roomate from MIT ship me some new power enhancers, should keep this from happening again."
Chief sighed and nodded, nothing else to do, "Sorry Optimus, hope you don't mind staying here a bit longer."
"Not at all Chief Burns, your hospitality is much appreciated. In fact, considering...I-"
Optimus didn't know what happened next, he just remembered beginning to crouch down to the humans' level when he blacked out and hit the ground.
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