Temerity

Part 6-Retrospect

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.

Kup stood outside, staring up at the night sky. Alien, but still beautiful. It had been a long time since he was able to stand planetside like this, with nothing better to do than look at the stars. He savored the moment, then let it pass. The base was quiet, and that was another thing he hadn't experienced in quite a while. Quiet meant danger, but here and now, it meant just quiet. He relaxed. He was back among friends.

Done staring at the stars, he started toward the shuttle. The ramp was down, so he decided to go see who was on board. Walking into the control room, he found Optimus sitting at one of the stations, running his fingers over the controls.

"Takes you back, doesn't it?" Kup said. "Good memories, I hope."

"Just remembering how Alpha Trion told me the design of this ship would never mesh with the A.I. he developed. He was wrong," Prime said.

"Wasn't it this shuttle design that helped pave the way for the ARK-class ships?"

"Yes, although it wasn't in the plans originally to have this computer design integrated into the ships," Optimus said.

"The Valor came online first, right?"

"She was built with the new interface included, but it proved to be too dangerous, so the Ark and Vector were given the new A.I. It was thought the semi-sentient nature of the computer would be easier to deal with in an emergency," Prime said. "The old bonding process was becoming outdated."

"Then Springer went and got himself bonded to the Valor when Highbrow was killed," Kup said.

"That worked out better than any of us could have imagined," Prime said."I know," Kup said. "But if we're going to talk about the past, at least let me go get something. . ."

Prime watched as the ancient Autobot disappeared, returning a few minutes later, holding something in his hands.

"Been savin' this for a special occasion," Kup said, handing the container to Prime, and setting down two drinking containers on the console.

"This is old," Prime said, handing back the container of high grade.

"Older than dirt, as these humans say," Kup said with a smile. "I kept this hid in my quarters, away from the twins."

He broke the seal on the container, pouring some for himself and Prime. "Enjoy this. It's the last of the fine stuff," Kup said.

"I have so much to tell you old friend," Prime said, taking a sip. "But I don't know where to begin. . ."

"It can wait, if it involves what I think. Today was a good day," Kup said. "I'm drinking to that."

Prime let it slide, enjoying the companionable silence with Kup, letting the anger from his earlier argument with Ironhide fade. Yes, it was a good day. Mostly.

But Kup broke the silence after a while.

"Lad, I know you're dying to ask me something, but what, can wait, for a little longer. But considering we're here, on this ship, I'll tell you what I know about the Vector," Kup said. "I was prepping my team for our assault on the shipyards at Kaon when Blurr got pulled away by High Command for another assignment. That was all well and good, but. . ."

"You were counting on his speed," Prime finished.

"Yes, but we still managed to pull off destroying the Saber and Curse before they launched, but I lost two tac units at the same time," Kup said. "I just got lucky I kept what was left of mine, but we almost didn't make it. The place was on fire, coming down around us. I was getting ready to tell the twins and Blue it was an honor to serve with them when I thought I had finally gone around the bend. . .over my private comm I think I hear Blurr screaming 'hold on' over and over again. Next thing I know we're getting bounced from Kaon to Simfur and somewhere in between I hear Hot Rod's voice saying 'got you old-timer.'""So he was on the Vector," Prime said.

"I told you--when he said he was, he was," Kup said. "Now you know."

"But that doesn't answer the question of why," Optimus replied.

"No, it doesn't. Does it even matter anymore?"

"Ironhide seems to think so, and he is losing patience over the matter. He said he'll question Hot Rod himself if he has to."

"Over my dead body," Kup answered. "And Ratchet will have his head if he tries. Say, what was Ironhide in the med bay for anyway?"

"Hot Rod separated him from one of his cannons," Prime said.

"Seriously?"

Prime nodded.

"Wish I could have been there," Kup said, pouring more high grade.

"Kup, speaking of Hot Rod, I have something else to ask. Do you know everything that happened before Tyger Pax?"

"Not all of it, but my team was in charge of the recovery operation. I've never seen such carnage. . ." Kup said. "But it wasn't my team that picked him up."

"I was aware of that," Prime said. "What about after?"

"I know he was at the main medical facility at Iacon. I tried several times to get in to see him, but my request was denied every time," Kup said.

"Why didn't you contact me?"

"I tried, but I was told you had other matters to deal with, and at the time, I could understand why you didn't want to talk to me," Kup said. "The council was destroyed and your twin killed your creator. If that's not reason enough. . ."

"I never heard a request from you," Prime said.

"Figures. I also tried High Command, but I was denied there also," Kup said. "By who?"

"Do you really need to ask?" Kup said.

"No," Prime said.

"Springer and Blurr did manage to sneak in though, just long enough to see he was doing all right. That was enough for me," Kup said. "Then he got reassigned, and there for a while, I was worried until finally one day he came by to see me. He said the past was the past, it couldn't be changed no matter how much he wanted. And that was that. He never mentioned it gain. And I don't know if he ever talked it over with Springer. I was just happy to have him back."

"I have another question," Optimus said. "Was he ever. . .involved with someone?"

"That's a strange question," Kup said. "Why does it matter now?"

"Just humor me," Prime said.

"I don't really know. Hot Rod never talked about it. Kept that part of his life private. He did ask me about someone a time or two, but I'm pretty sure nothing came of it," Kup said.

"Who?"

"That was between us," Kup said.

"What about him and Ultra Magnus?"

"Are you crazy?" Kup said, spluttering on his energon. He gave Prime a strange look, then reached to wipe the energon from his face. "But then again, I honestly don't know."

"Again, you're sure?"

"Look, you know as well as I do those two weren't talking for quite a while, and Hot Rod could've entered the picture. But considering how he and Magnus were always at each other's throats. . .Remember that one security briefing?"

Prime sat back. That was a day he remembered very well.

"The only time I ever saw Magnus lose his temper in public," Optimus said. "What was it Hot Rod said, 'Pardon me sir, but you can blow it out your aft?'"

Kup laughed. "Oh lad--and remember how they almost came to blows?"

Prime smiled. "It took you and I to hold Magnus back, and Blurr nearly lost his grip on Hot Rod. That was one of the more lively meetings we had. A good one, although I recall Hot Rod wasn't supposed to be there."

"Yeah--Prowl got himself hurt in that stupid brawl on a training mission, right? I almost forgot about that, so they needed somebody with tactical training and the Council just picked somebody off a list, and that somebody was Hot Rod," Kup said.

"Prowl will love the fact someone remembered," Optimus said.

"I'm sure he will," Kup said. "Lad, you look beat, and I think I've drank too much. You should get some rest."

"I will," Prime said. "Thank you, Kup, it's good to have you back."

"No need for thanks, lad," Kup said.