A/N: Don't own Transformers.
Ah, here is a second installment for the Through Time stories. Sorry for taking so long, but things come up (plus i hadn't been around for a week on top of that) and I been working on my other ones too. Hope you all enjoy! Lemme know if there is anything wrong. Wrote it on the fly, as always lol
Hot Rod stared at the form on the berth. The golden twin still wasn't looking good. Hot Rod felt guilty about what had happened to the older twin, and wished silently that it had been him in that place. He knew Sunstreaker was as quick as he was to jump into battle with his brother. Primus knew that they were a pair of the most deadly Autobots ever to have been sparked, so it was no surprise that they were quick into battle, oftentimes being the first in battle and the most injured, which never bode well with Ratchet. The poor Autobot medic was always repairing them. The younger once commander shook his head with a sound that resembled a sigh as he prayed to the powers that be that Sunstreaker would make it out ok, for he still felt responsible for Sunny. Sideswipe wasn't fairing well either in the slightest. His brother's issue was hitting him hard. The often outspoken twin was seldom seen. He was often locked in his quarters or out, and when he was out, he was often parked somewhere where he could be alone. Hot Rod wasn't sure how much more the nano-second younger brother could take. He pivoted on his foot, turning and headed to what was deemed the main 'rec' room.
Sam and Mikaela had seen how the younger twin was acting and how Hot Rod was also sullen. They often tried to cheer up both of the young bots, but failed miserably. Sideswipe would humor them sometimes with fake smiles, while Hot Rod had to accept their attempts. It was in his core programming, even more so than he used to before he had to bare the matrix. The kids tried so hard, and the younger ex-leader had a lot of respect for them, and would even learn a new side to them now since time had changed. Sunstreaker was taking a big toll out on both of the young Autobots. Bumblebee was even bothered by Sunny's stasis lock. He hadn't known him well, and was even younger than him, but he had heard of him, and felt grief when the yellow Autobot fell.
Back in the rec room, Mikaela had heard a bit from Hot Rod about the future he was from, and how things were. Hot Rod had avoided telling her much about his own leadership, because no matter how it seemed, he never felt like he had done his best, even if he was well respected because of his bravery. He also didn't want to mention more than he had to about Optimus' downfall, "Hot Rod, tell me more about what the future was like that you come from? I mean, like, can you tell us some more things that happened?" Mikaela asked as she sat on his foot while he rested. It was a place she liked to perch since Bee was usually being sat on by Sam. Hot Rod looked down at her, taken from his thoughts. Why would she want to know what he came from?
"Are you sure you want to know? It wasn't all that great and there were a lot of friend's deaths." The young leader said with a grim undertone, remembering those who died.
"Maybe just to see what you three came back to save?" Well she was right. Maybe he could tell her about their old future, "I know you've told us a lot, I just… I'm glad that things turned out alright."
"What would you like to know?" He asked, sitting up slightly, repositioning himself to look at her easier.
"Well, for one, what Optimus was like?"
"About the same as he is now. Always as noble."
"That's not what I meant." Hot Rod smiled down at her, "Well," he started, "I will tell you he had not survived the fight with Megatron in Mission City."
"Huh? What?" he saw her eyes frown which in turn made him frown, "Mika," he started, "I hadn't arrived here until after the fight in Mission City. The twins were the first to come, but I do remember
when I got here that I had to take on Optimus' role until he was repaired." The idea made him think about those times. How he was chosen for whatever reason to carry the Matrix, "You, Sam and Will all helped save the people at that time." He deliberately changed the subject. She could tell, and seeing the look on his face, she did not press the issue, "Really? Like some kind of freedom fighters?"
"Yeah, something like that. You three were famous."
"Famous huh? For what?"
"Well not only had you guys saved thousands of people, you also saved a lot of Autobot's lives. Even when things looked their worst. Especially with your ability for mechanics. It came in quite handy with repairing the injured."
Mikaela thought about it a moment. So they were life savers. Heroes and a heroine.
"Rodimus," A soft voice called, searching out the younger leader. Hot Rod recognized it immediately, and the voice had also caught Mikaela's attention. She turned when she saw the other younger bot standing not far off in the shadows.
"Why do you keep calling me that? Even if it is a joke, it's not my name."
"Rodimus?" Mikaela echoed, "Why that name?"
Hot Rod shrugged, "Because that's what I was called when I was in charge." He seemed totally unimpressed with telling her.
"Easier to say," Sideswipe fell silent a moment, "Any news on Sunny?"
Hot Rod dreaded telling him that nothing had changed, and felt even worse when the red twin sunk, "Sides, you gotta get out of this slump. We both do." Hot Rod sat up slightly more, Mikaela flailing on his foot then almost falling before he caught her and balanced her.
"It's not that easy. I am so lost. So incomplete. So alone. I don't like it. I just want my brother back."
"Ratchet is doing all he can,"
"I wish we hadn't come back, I would still have my brother!"
"You don't mean that," Hot Rod growled.
"You don't know what it's like, Hot Rod! You don't know what it is like to lose someone so close to you! To feel only half alive! To feel like your spark has been ripped out of your chest and laid out for all to tromp on!"
"You think, huh?" Hot Rod's eyes narrowed. The very thought that Sideswipe could say something like that annoyed him, "You think I didn't feel anything when others died under my command? You think I didn't feel anything when I had to stand by and watch their sparks extinguish?" He stressed the word to prove his point. The idea angered Hot Rod and his brows furrowed at Sideswipe, "I do, in fact, know what it is like to lose, Sides,"
"I-I'm sorry," Sideswipe lowered his head defeated. He knew he had been wrong to say what he had, but Primus it was so hard. He didn't know how to function hardly. He only existed, he didn't live. Not without his beloved brother.
Hot Rod didn't press the idea of Sideswipe's outburst, because he did know what it was like to feel lost and incomplete. He could somewhat feel how Sideswipe felt. Be it remnants of the Matrix or what, and he grieved yet hoped that soon Sunstreaker would wake up. Mikaela watched the interaction between the two bots, but remained silent. It was their time right now. She didn't exactly know how Sideswipe was feeling, because she had never lost a brother or sister, but she could feel for him.
"I have a lot to think about, Sides," Hot Rod started, putting a hand under his head as he leaned back, thinking about the incoming Ark, "I still don't know what is supposed to happen when the Ark gets here."
"I am only worried about Sunstreaker,"
"Be glad that is all you have to worry about," Hot Rod was for sure he had no idea what was going to happen. He knew that the twins were stationed on that ship, but the change in the time had to have done something with them. Being a once leader, he felt the weight of the world and the future on his shoulders, even though it really wasn't his place, it was Optimus', but the Matrix changed him.
Meanwhile, Optimus and Ironhide and Ratchet were all outside, in their root modes talking about the twins Hot Rod and the fate of the Allspark and the fate of the Autobots. Optimus remembered Hot Rod saying there was about 80 Autobots that would make landfall within the next 25 years, minus the three already here. He, himself was concerned about the twins, since he had never experienced a time change of any sort in his lifetime.
"Optimus Prime," a crackle then a voice came over the Autobot comlink, "This is the Ark, Prowl here." It caught the attention of Hot Rod who also received the call through the link. Instantly he felt dread overcome him. He knew the ship would crash and there wasn't a thing he could do about it, "Get up, move, I gotta go talk to Prime now!" He said to Mikaela, who quickly got off his foot as he stood and raced past Sideswipe, both Mikaela and Sides looking at each other in confusion, before they both followed the other youngster out. They found him standing beside Optimus, looking up at the sky, "Optimus, did you hear that?"
"Yes, I heard it, how did you?"
Hot Rod only gave Optimus a look as if to say 'why are you asking me that?' then looked back to the sky, "You need to warn them, you need to warn them about their crash, Optimus!"
Optimus winced, but the youngster was right, "Optimus here," the leader spoke to the incoming ship, "It's good to hear your voice, old friend, but I have grave news,"
"Yeah, same here Prime, and I also have grave news."
"Is it about the twins?"
"Yes, how did you know?"
"Because they are here already,"
The line went silent. Prowl's own logic went to work trying to figure out how that was possible. He knew Wheeljack was in the infirmary with the two dead twin bodies, "Prime, how-?"
"I will explain when you get here, what are your coordinates?"
"We are out by a very large planet here with rings. Wheeljack insisted to take a pit stop to check out one of the moons." Prowl said slightly annoyed about Wheeljack.
"Well that's Wheeljack for you," Prime's voice hinted amusement. He knew his Engineer well and also knew how curious he was, "I want you to prepare for a crash landing, Prowl, you read?"
"A crash landing? Why? Nothing is wrong with the ship, sir."
"I know, just prepare for it,"
"Prowl, you will find the Atmosphere here does something to the engines, you need to cut them before you enter then burn when you are within the atmosphere," Hot Rod sent, spoken like a leader instead of a youngster. The line went silent and Optimus' head spun to look at Hot Rod, who seemed sheepish, and looked down, "It's the only thing I could think of," he said almost in a whisper.
"Who are you? What are you doing on this line! By the Pit, you better get off this line!" Prowl growled, knowing no one but the leaders and the Ark could speak on this line.
"Easy there, Prowl, it's alright, he's with me." Optimus sent before Hot Rod could feel any more guilty than he already did, "I will send you coordinates to our location, I suggest you take Hot Rod's advice,"
"Hot Rod?" Prowl again started to wrack his head for logic as to that, "How is that possible? He's on one of the other starships that escaped Cybertron. No one has heard a thing from that ship in vorns!"
"Again, I will explain it all when you arrive."
"We have downloaded all information from Earth through the access to their internet, we will enter the planet's atmosphere in a little under 3 Earth days." Prowl said, before giving a look to the one outside the ship wandering around on the small moon that they had landed on so Wheeljack could satisfy his curiosities.
"We will be waiting," Optimus said as the line fizzled out. He was excited that Hot Rod was right about the incoming Autobots, but still. The twins were on that ship, and Prowl was confused as ever. They hadn't messed something big up, had they?
As always, reviews are loved, CC and ideas are always welcomed and flames I just put out :D