Temerity
Part 10-Disjoint
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.
Hot Rod and Lennox rode along in silence. Lennox figured there wasn't much left to say, but at least they'd come to an agreement between themselves. He liked Hot Rod. When he was actually being friendly, and not arrogant or crazy, he was fun to be around. Even Kup backed up that opinion. He'd spent a little time talking to the ancient Autobot, and Hot Rod came up often, along with Springer. Lennox had found out that not only did Kup train the two young Autobots, but had also served as a sort of guardian to the two for a time. Both were orphans, which explained a lot, Lennox thought. The twins, he knew, along with Bluestreak, were also casualties of war, losing their homes and families.
But they were all lucky to have ended up where they now were, present company included.
"We're being scanned," Hot Rod said, breaking the silence. "And something is trying to hack my systems. I can feel it trying to use my energy signature to gain access."
"Decepticon?"
"Yes," Hot Rod said.
"Any idea which one?"
"Barricade."
"Are you sure?"
"He's sitting a mile up the road," Hot Rod said. "Now he's moving."
"Can you outrun him?"
"I don't think I can," Hot Rod said, reluctant to admit it, even though it was the truth. Barricade was at full strength, and he was still recuperating.
"What about weapons?"
"Still offlined. And I can't fight him and protect you at the same time."
"What about the others?"
"They can't get here in time to contain him."
"Are they aware of the situation?" Lennox asked.
"I just informed them, but it'll be a few minutes before they can get here," Hot Rod said.
Lennox looked ahead, trying to see if he could spot the Decepticon. Headlights.
"That him?"
"Do you need to ask?" Hot Rod said.
Barricade inched forward, revving his engine.
"And I don't think he's going to let us pass," Hot Rod said.
"You don't think he's stupid enough to be thinking what I think. . .do you?" Lennox asked, suddenly gripping Hot Rod's steering wheel nervously.
"He's a Decepticon. They're all crazy."
"We could try and bluff him," Lennox said.
"I was thinking the same thing, but I wasn't going to suggest it," Hot Rod said.
"Not like we have a lot of choice," Lennox replied. "Do you want to drive, or can I? At least that way, it's my fault, not yours."
"If we're going to do anything, it would be a good idea, because if you haven't noticed, he's coming our way," Hot Rod said.
"If we live through this, Sarah is going to kill me. . ."
Hot Rod pulled the belts tighter, and Lennox situated himself, gripping the wheel and gearshift. He slipped it into gear, slamming down on the gas.
Hot Rod stayed silent, and it happened so fast he couldn't think. Lennox closed his eyes as Barricade crashed into them.
--
Lennox twitched once. Then he snapped back to consciousness.
"Hot Rod?"
No response.
He tried to free himself from the seatbelt, but it was stuck fast. He reached for his pocket knife, used his teeth to open the blade, cutting through the belt. Then the door wouldn't open. He tried the passenger side, but it was stuck fast, so he kicked out the rest of the broken glass, crawling out. He fell to the ground, stayed there a few seconds, willing himself to stand on unsteady legs.
He took a few steps, assessing the situation.
"Oh shit. . ."
Pieces of both mechs lay in the road, with energon leaking from both.
--
Sam shared a quick glance with Mikaela as they came upon the wreck. Lennox was standing guard, and in the background, they heard sirens.
"Don't worry. It's Ratchet," Bumblebee said, coming to a stop.
Sam got out, looking at the wreckage while Mikaela went to check on Lennox.
"Are you all right?" Mikaela asked.
Lennox nodded, starting to shake.
"We need to get him to the hospital," Mikaela said. Sam nodded to her, making sure the approaching lights and sirens were indeed the Autobots. It was, Ratchet and Prime in the lead.
They watched as the two Autobots transformed, Ratchet going to Hot Rod and Prime focusing his attention on them for a mere second.
"Get him to a medic," Prime said, turning back to the wreck.
"Captain Lennox. . .Will. . ." Sam yelled. "Come on. It's all right. He'll be OK. . .and my mom's already at your place so come on, get in."
Lennox let Mikaela take him by the hand, leading him to Bumblebee.
--
Mikaela sat with Lennox while Sam talked to the nurse, helping fill out the paperwork in the emergency room.
"We go with him," Sam said, not taking no for an answer. The nurse wasn't about to argue, so she let the kids alone.
"What happened?" she asked.
"Uh, he fell off a ladder changing a porch light," Sam said.
The nurse raised an eyebrow.
"Seriously. Uncle Will's always been a little clumsy," Sam said.
That seemed to placate the nurse, who went to help the doctor assess Lennox's injuries. Mikaela and Sam moved aside, getting out of the way.
--
They almost made it out of the hospital without any trouble, but Sam knew it just had to work out that way when he saw Epps coming in the emergency room doors.
"I was on a date and I get a call. . ." he said, stopping as he saw Lennox.
Butterfly strips held shut a cut around his left eye, which was already blackened. His lip was also cut, and his left arm and hand were bandaged and stitched.
"He caused this, didn't he?" Epps said.
None of the three answered.
"You know, I told you this was going to happen," Epps said.
"Epps, drop it," Lennox said. "You don't know what you're talking about.
"Whatever. . ." Epps said, walking away.
-----
Ratchet had both Hot Rod and Barricade laid out on his surgical berths, Prime watching him work.
"How bad is it?" he finally asked.
"Which one?"
"Pick one," Prime said.
"Hot Rod can wait. The damage isn't as bad as it looks, but I'll have to rebuild his right shoulder," the medic said. "But Barricade. . ."
"Do the minimum of what you must to save him," Prime said.
-----
Lennox stared at the ceiling. The other side of the bed was empty. Sarah was in Annabelle's room, had been for almost an hour, rocking their daughter back to sleep. She hadn't said anything to him when Bumblebee dropped him off, only looked him up and down once and left the room. She knew about them, what happened tonight.
"How is he?"
"What?" Will said, sitting up, seeing Sarah standing just inside the room.
"How is the Autobot?"
"I don't know," Will answered.
"If it were one of your men, you'd be there, so what are you doing here?" Sarah said.
"Are you sure?" Will said, standing.
"I'm sure," she said.
He quickly threw on jeans, a shirt and his shoes, grabbed the keys to her Honda.
"I love you," Will said, placing a kiss on her lips.
"I know," Sarah said, watching him go.
-----
"My God. . ."
Pieces of armor and other parts laid scattered on the med bay floor. From which mech, Lennox wasn't sure.
Barricade occupied one berth, Hot Rod the other. Prime was standing by Hot Rod's berth.
"Is he all right?"
"He's in and out of consciousness," Prime said. "His injuries are serious, but not life-threatening. Unlike Barricade. Ratchet had to work very quickly to save his life," Prime said.
"What about Hot Rod?"
"He hasn't started yet."
"Keller is not going to like this," Lennox said.
"I know, but for now, Barricade is my problem," Prime said. "Go home. Get some rest. If anything changes, I'll contact you. And get someone to take you home. You shouldn't have driven yourself."
"OK," Lennox said, headed toward ops. He stopped. "What about Frenzy?"
"We didn't find him," Prime said, turning his attention back to Hot Rod, standing vigil yet again.
--
After a while, Optimus gave up standing, instead pulling over one of Ratchet's stools, sitting down. He leaned back against the wall, arms crossed, settling in for the long haul, keeping an eye on both patients while Ratchet grabbed some recharge.
After a while, he heard Hot Rod stirring.
". . .Magnus. . .broke. . .your promise. . .Magnus. . ."
Hot Rod's good arm came off the berth reaching, Prime reached down, taking his hand.
"It's all right, Hot Rod," he said, seeing Hot Rod's optics online.
". . .huh? Optimus?" Hot Rod said, like he was surprised to find someone else standing over him.
"You were dreaming," Prime said.
"Oh. . ." Hot Rod said, slipping back into recharge.
Ratchet found them that way a few minutes later.
"Everything all right?" Ratchet said. "You look like you just saw a ghost."
Prime looked up from Hot Rod, focusing his gaze on Ratchet.
"He was talking to Ultra Magnus in his dreams," Prime said.
"I told you he's been doing that," Ratchet said.
"I know."
-----
Six in the morning. Lennox should've been home in bed, recuperating, but he was barely inside the med bay when Hot Rod came online.
Hot Rod sat up, took one look at Barricade. Lennox watched as Prime tried to catch him before he hit the floor, but he was too late. Hot Rod was down on all fours, trying to support himself with his damaged arm, purging his tanks. Prime knelt down beside him.
"What's wrong?" he asked, helping Hot Rod up.
"That," Hot Rod said, pointing at the unconcious Decepticon.
"Why is he like that?" Lennox asked.
"Ratchet had to do it to save his life," Prime said.
"Can he see or hear?" Hot Rod asked.
"Unknown," Prime said. "How do you know what's been done to him?"
"That's a core extractor," Hot Rod said. "I know what it is because I remember when mine was removed."
"What?" Lennox said, not quite able to see from his angle.
"Want to see?" Hot Rod said.
Lennox nodded. Hot Rod knelt, letting Lennox onto his good hand, holding him up long enough to get a good look at the Decepticon. He saw what resembled human jaws of life spreading open the armor of Barricade's chest, exposing a pulsing blue orb contained within a force field.
"What is that?" Lennox said, once he was back on solid ground.
"His spark," Hot Rod said. "It's been separated from his body. You can't see or hear, you can't move, you can't communicate. You're trapped until someone removes the force field."
Hot Rod was shaking now. "Please, get me out of here. . ."
"Hot Rod, come with me," Prime said, putting an arm around the younger Autobot, trying to lead him from the room.
Lennox watched them go, wondering what the hell was going on.
--
Ratchet ran into them as he was headed back to the med bay.
"Where do you two think you're going?" the medic said.
"He wanted to leave the med bay," Prime said.
Ratchet raised an optic ridge. "Why?"
"Do you need to ask?" Hot Rod said, glaring at the medic. "Did you fully separate him from his body?"
Ratchet considered the question.
"Yes, but only long enough to stabilize him. Barricade can see and hear, but I've turned off his vocalizer," he said. "The containment field is there for his protection now. Nothing more."
Hot Rod relaxed against Prime.
"Would like me to begin on your repairs now?" Ratchet asked.
Hot Rod looked up at Optimus.
"It's your choice," he said. "You don't have to go back right now."
"No. It's OK. I just don't want to see anyone have to go through that. . ."
-----
"What's wrong with you?" Epps said, seeing the look on Lennox's face.
"I just watched Hot Rod puke all over the med bay," Lennox said.
"So?"
"Well, first, I didn't know they could do that, and second, after I saw what they've done to Barricade, I can see why," Lennox said. "And Hot Rot was terrified when he saw it."
"We've got bigger problems right now," Epps said. "Bogeys."
-----
Prowl sighed. Jazz looked up, raising an optic ridge.
"What's the matter, Prowler?" Jazz said.
"NORAD."
"You told Prime yet?"
Prowl frowned.
"Guess not, eh?" Jazz said. "Want me to do it?"
"Ratchet said not to bother him," Prowl said.
"Like Ratchet's following his own orders. He's repairing Hot Rod right now," Jazz said.
Another sigh.
Jazz stood. "I'll tell him. Ol' Hatchet shouldn't come after me. He just threw me out," Jazz said, flashing his trademark smile.
"Thanks," Prowl said.
"No problem, Prowlie," Jazz said.
"Don't call me Prowlie."
"Sure. . .Prowlie."
--
Jazz didn't knock. He walked into Prime's quarters, as he usually did, unannounced.
:I thought I told you to be more careful:
Prime rolled into a sitting position, shuttered his optics a few times before standing.
"And you need to learn how to knock," Prime said.
"How long did you get to recharge this time?" Jazz said.
"Two hours. What is it now?"
"NORAD picked up four cometary forms entering the atmosphere 15 minutes ago. One came down in northern Canada, the second in upstate New York and the other two in southern Idaho. Prowl's uplinked with the Ark and we're trying to track them," Jazz said.
"Thank you, Jazz," Prime said.
Jazz nodded, ready to go, but Prime came with him.
"Thought you were supposed to be in recharge," Jazz said.
"I was, but this news is more important," Prime said.
They walked to ops, which was now silent. Prowl stood by the main screen, optics burning brightly, images flashing across the screen as he processed the data sent back from the ship's sensors. The second in command broke off the communication with the ship when he sensed the presence of the other Autobots.
"Anything?" Prime asked.
"The two that came down north of here are stationary. The other two have started to move, probability indicates they're heading our way," Prowl said.
"Feel up to another uplink?" Prime said.
Prowl nodded.
"I need you to contact the Valor," Prime said.
Prowl forced the communications systems on the dormant ship online, quickly relaying the message to contact Earth.
Minutes later, they were greeted by the sight of Springer on the main screen.
"This better be important," Springer said.
"How quickly can you make Earth?" Optimus asked.
"Well, according to the numbers Perceptor recalculated after receiving the data you sent, we're still 16 days out at present speed," Springer said.
"What about your jump drive? Is it intact?"
"What about it? Using it would take all the energon we have left. . ." Springer said. "And besides. Perceptor said it wouldn't even be a good idea to try, although Wheeljack said a few days ago he could get it operational. . ."
"In this case, I'm going to defer to Wheeljack's expertise," Prime said. "After all, he did build it. You need to get here as quickly as possible."
"Me or the ship?"
"Both. Bring Wheeljack, Perceptor and Smokescreen with you."
Springer raised an optic ridge.
"Get here as soon as you can. And don't argue about protocol. As of now, I'm relieving you of command and placing Trailbreaker in charge."
"What am I supposed to do with the rest of the crew when I get there?"
"Park the ship, cloak it and come down in protoform. The others can follow when they're ready."
Springer considered that, then nodded.
"Hurry," Optimus said. "I'm giving you 12 hours."
--
They did it in eight.
Springer adjusted his trajectory accordingly, aiming for the desert outside the community near the coordinates he was given. Something must've changed for the Autobot leader to order them to Earth. And it probably had something to do with Hot Rod. And the Autobot leader knew Springer would do what it took to get there if it did involve his friend.
Except Hot Rod was more than a friend. They considered themselves brothers, even though they did not share the same creators as did normal siblings, or share the same spark as did rare twins. The two trained together, served together, earned their commands together. Set on the same path, they always didn't see eye to eye, but that didn't matter. They were both orphans, and forged their friendship from shared experiences and later a sort of familial attachment with Kup, who trained them both. Their loyalty to each other and later the Autobot cause went unquestioned, although duty and responsibility and the nature of war pulled them in different directions.
He pushed the thought from his mind as he entered the planet's atmosphere, offlined his audios, protecting them from the sonic boom as he broke the sound barrier hurtling toward the planet surface. The outer layer of his armor burned away from the friction of the oxygen-rich atmosphere, his protoform protecting him. Seconds passed and suddenly, he made impact, ripping a long, flaming furrow into a field. Finally, he slammed to a stop in a small crater.
Springer transformed, standing, rain starting to fall, causing steam to rise off his armor.
He watched, staring into the distance, scanning. In the distance, he saw headlights, coming ever closer.
Prowl.
The organics with him did not exit their vehicle. Seeing it was appropriate for his size and mass, for the moment, Springer scanned one of the Humvees, transforming, following them back to base, stopping only long enough to ask Prowl where Hot Rod was.
"Where is he?"
"Med bay," Prowl said, pointing.