Temerity

Part 5-Reality

Part 4-Reunion

Disclaimer: I don't own Transformers. They belong to Hasbro and Takara. I am merely taking them for a short spin.

"Sometimes solutions aren't so simple,

Sometimes good bye's the only way."

--Shadow of the Day, Linkin Park

Temerity-Unreasonable contempt of danger; extreme venturesomeness; rashness.

Ironhide stared at the crater. He'd scanned the crater itself more than once, and each one told him nothing. He also walked the length of the gouge leading to the crater. It gave him no comfort, no closure, as the humans said. Prime was stalling, putting him off. And Ironhide's own patience was running out. He ran one more scan, again nothing, but he expected nothing. He sighed, transformed, heading back to base. Maybe it was time to start pressing for answers.

--

"I say we let them sleep," Lennox said, eyeing the recharging Autobots. "How long's it been since any of them have rested this good?"

Epps shrugged. "I don't know, but with the shape they're in, a Cub Scout troop could take this place right now," he said.

"We haven't seen a Decepticon in days, and the only one that's even a threat is Barricade, and if he shows up, they can take him," Lennox said.

"True, but shouldn't we at least wake up Prowl? Somebody's gotta be responsible," Epps said.

"I'm gonna tell him you said that," Lennox said, grinning. "He'll take that as a compliment."

"Whatever," Epps said. "I just don't want to be at ground zero if you-know-who goes off on a tangent again."

"His name is Hot Rod, and he's got Optimus Prime sitting just a few feet away if he does," Lennox said. "See, with talk like that, he will get set off again. And I don't want to hear anymore of it, understand?"

Epps ignored his commanding officer, interested instead in the new Autobots.

"I can hardly wait to find out about this new bunch," he said. "Hopefully none of them are nuts."

-----

Optimus came out of recharge slowly. He shook his head, trying to shake out the cobwebs. He sat up, looking around, wondering for a few seconds why he wasn't in his berth. Then he saw the empty energon containers on the desk, remembering the high grade, a dare from Sideswipe and something about a drinking game? Where had the red twin come up with that crazy idea? But in a rare moment of stupidity, he accepted, and matched the twins drink for drink until they both passed out. He now wondered where they were, suddenly alarmed at the idea of an inebriated Sideswipe and Sunstreaker running amok in Tranquility.

The Autobot leader stood slowly, then tilted as he lost his balance, reaching toward the desk to steady himself. Once righted, on unsteady legs, and very quietly, so he wouldn't wake Kup and Hot Rod, he made for the door to Ratchet's quarters.

"Can't hold your drink?"

Prime looked down, seeing Lennox and Epps coming his way.

He shuttered his optics a few times. He was seeing more than one of each of his human friends.

"You OK?" Epps asked.

"Fine. Just trying to adjust. I haven't had this much high grade in a very, very, very long time," Prime said.

"You look kinda worried," Lennox said. "Anything else the matter?"

"I don't suppose you've seen the twins--one's red, the other's yellow?"

"In the med bay, asleep shoulder to shoulder," Lennox said.

Prime visibly relaxed.

"Anything else you want to share?" Lennox said.

"My friend, consider their unconsciousness a temporary reprieve," Prime said. "Because when they wake up, things are never going to be the same again around here."

With that, Prime nodded, heading toward the med bay, leaving the humans.

The two soldiers glanced at Prime, then at each other. What did he mean by that?

-----

It was well past noon before the rest of the Autobots were up and around. Ratchet's annoyance at a full med bay quickly faded when he realized the twins weren't planning a prank, and wanted to see how he was. Blue was happily staked out with Jazz, living up to his name, no doubt filling in the silver mech on all of the details since their separation, Hot Rod parked on the berth next to them, listening. Prowl was out on patrol, because somebody had to do it, and Prime and Kup were out inspecting the shuttle.

And still no Ironhide. That did annoy the medic--someone leaving the med bay without permission. Yes, Ironhide still had one functional cannon, but it was the principal of it. No one disobeyed the medic, not even Prime. And even though Ironhide had a justifiable reason for wanting to be alone, medic's orders were absolute. But Ratchet would deal with it later. For once, the med bay was filled with something besides pain and grief, and he was going to enjoy it.

--

Kup and Prime stood outside, looking at the shuttle.

"Is the med bay functional?" Prime asked.

"Functional and mostly stocked," Kup said.

"Good. Ratchet isn't done with the repairs on Hot Rod, so this is good news indeed," Prime said. "Wait--how did you keep the twins out of it then?"

Kup shrugged. "Told 'em if they got hurt bad enough, I'd finish the job. Worked too. Except this one time I actually shot Sunny. Sides didn't talk to him for three days, and Blue didn't talk to anybody for more than a week, so that was kind of nice," Kup said.

"Remind me not to tick you off," Prime said.

Kup smiled.

"So what's the plan?"

"Would you mind if we stripped the shuttle? There's enough raw material there to help make the base more habitable," Optimus said.

"Don't see why not. Not like it was top of the line to begin with," Kup said.

Prime raised an optic ridge.

"I know it wasn't one of my more aesthetic designs, but it was functional, was it not?" he said.

"Got us here, didn't it, so there's your answer," Kup said.

When Prime didn't say anything, he looked at his leader, who was suddenly very still for a few seconds, then looked at Kup.

"Ratchet wants us to come to the med bay," Optimus said.

--

Hot Rod sat on the berth, arms crossed, annoyed. He knew the others were talking about him, from the way they kept looking his way, but they were using their private comms. He wasn't stupid. Damaged, in need of repairs, annoyed, angry, yes, stupid, no. He hoped they got the message, glaring at Ratchet when he glanced at him.

The medic raised an optic ridge when he saw the look on Hot Rod's face. Annoyance, Ratchet noticed, was one emotion that seemed to register rather well on a protoform face.

:He's said more in the past few hours than he's said in more than two weeks. This is rather sudden, but I think Kup's presence has made a world of difference:

Kup glanced over at the young mech.

:How was he before now?:

:Withdrawn, confused, I wasn't really sure how much he was aware of:

:That bad?:

:He'd respond to me minimally, more to Optimus, but you seem to have brought him back:

Kup switched his focus back to Ratchet.

:But he'll be all right now?:

The glance between Prime and the medic did not go unnoticed.

:What is it you're not telling me?:

:Ratchet still has some repairs to complete, and there is more I'll tell you, but not here, and not now.:

Kup nodded.

Ratchet again leveled his gaze on Hot Rod, now that the hard part, so far, for this day, was over.

"Let me go talk to him," he said.

"OK, but I'm staying right here," Kup said.

"You can both stay," Ratchet said.

He walked over to Hot Rod, who was still glaring, but it faded quickly when the young Autobot realized Ratchet meant business.

"I'm glad to see you're feeling better," Ratchet said. "Otherwise, I'm sure you wouldn't be trying to kill me with a look. What brought on this sudden onslaught of emotion?"

Hot Rod was suddenly not so sure of himself, drawing back.

Ratchet reached out, putting a hand on his shoulder. "It's all right," he said. "It's just that this is such a change. . ."

"I. . .I didn't think any of this was real, until I saw Kup last night. I was alone so long. . .," Hot Rod said. "But I'm OK now, really. . ."

"I'll be the judge of that," Ratchet said. "But I'm glad you're feeling better. Welcome back."

"How much longer do I have to stay here?" Hot Rod asked.

"I have a few more repairs to do, and if your recovery is satisfactory, I'd say another week at the most," Ratchet said. "Prime and Kup both want to see you, but there's something I want to ask. How long were you alone?"

"Too long," Hot Rod said. "Can we leave it at that? Please?"

"For now," Ratchet said, beckoning the others.

Satisfied, for the moment, the medic left them alone.

"Can you get me sprung?" Hot Rod asked, looking from Kup to Optimus and back again.

"I don't think Ratchet will let you out of the med bay," Kup said. "But I'll see what I can do."

"And don't look at me," Prime said. "I don't hold any sway within these walls."

"A few minutes outside, that's all I ask. I've been on this planet half of one of their months and I can't even remember what it looks like," Hot Rod said. "I don't think you know how much I need to get out of here. . .brings back too many bad memories."

-----

For the first time in a very long time, Optimus Prime was truly and content. Not happy, but he was settling for content. Ratchet had agreed to Hot Rod's request, letting them take him outside for a while. It went better than expected, and having seen the new Earth forms of the twins and Bluestreak, and with permission, Hot Rod now had something to occupy his time--searching the Internet for his own eventual alt form.

Bumblebee planned on bringing Sam and Mikaela to meet the latest arrivals as soon as they were able and with the others happy, for the moment, Optimus was satisfied to leave things at that. But he knew there was always something looming on the horizon. In this instance, it was Ironhide storming into his office.

"When do you plan on questioning him?" Ironhide asked.

"He's in no shape for an interrogation," Prime said. "We've been over this--you've waited this long. What will a few more days matter?"

Ironhide's gaze remained very calm, and Optimus knew he'd struck a chord.

"I wouldn't expect you to understand," Ironhide said. "You've never. . .

"Cared for anyone? I understand better than you realize. I had a twin, or have you forgotten? The connection between us was stronger than any normal bond. And I did the unthinkable--I broke it. I lost half of myself," Prime said.

"This was different," Ironhide said. "At least you have closure."

"Ironhide, give this time," Prime said. "Please."

"Dragging your feet won't make this any easier," Ironhide said.

"I'm well aware of that."

"If you won't question him, then I will," Ironhide said.

"Then you'll have to deal with Ratchet on your own, because I will not support this," Prime said.

"Fine," Ironhide said. "But when your turn comes, I hope the fates are not kind."

Ironhide turned away, walking from the room.

-----