Temerity
Part 20-Confession
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.
Springer was half awake, trying to ignore the voices, but they wouldn't go away. Sounded like an argument, now that he started to listen to it.
". . .maybe I should run a few scans and. . ." Ratchet said.
"No," Prime said. "What's another scan going to tell you?"
"Well, first of all whether or not you inflicted any damage when you hit him," Ratchet said.
"I only landed one punch," Prime said. "And I regret it, I can assure you. He does know how to provoke. . ."
"And you need to learn to control your emotions where he's concerned," Ratchet said.
Springer sat up then, tried to stand, came crashing to the ground, which caused a pause in the conversation.
Ratchet sighed. "Help me with him, then we'll go check on Hot Rod," he said.
Prime nodded, walking over to the green mech, helped Ratchet haul him back up on the berth.
A quick visual examination and scan showed he'd popped several welds on his chest armor.
"I need to fix this," Ratchet said.
"Can it wait?"
"Not really," Ratchet said. "You saw the damage. . .I'll call Wheeljack. He can take care of it."
"Good. Come with me," Prime said.
--
The door to Hot Rod's quarters was locked, and he didn't answer the chime. He wanted to be alone, but knew he couldn't keep himself cut off for much longer. Kup had commed him a couple of times, saying Prime had repeated everything to him and Ratchet, and he'd better open up or else. Hadn't worked, even though he knew by this point Kup was probably wound up.
Another comm. He tried to ignore it, but couldn't, not this voice.
:Open the door or I'll get Frenzy to do it for me. Or Ironhide. Your choice. If you don't open the door of your own free will, I will find an excuse to keep you in the med bay for a very, very, very long time:
Ratchet.
Hot Rod hauled himself off the berth with speed that would've impressed Blurr, opened the door. He found Prime, Kup and Ratchet standing in front of him.
"Want to tell me why you locked yourself in here like a petulant sparkling?" Kup said, arms crossed.
"I wanted to be alone for a while," Hot Rod said.
Prime cocked an optic ridge while Ratchet pushed past him.
"I want to talk with you," Ratchet said. "It won't take long."
Hot Rod frowned, but sat back down on the berth.
Ratchet looked at Prime.
:I'll call you when I'm done. I just want to find out how he's doing:
Optimus nodded, dragging Kup away.
--
"You're remembering more, aren't you?" Ratchet said.
"Yes," Hot Rod said.
"Do you want to talk about it?"
"I did last night and look where it got me," Hot Rod said.
"I'm not concerned about that. You were still linked with your ship when it died, and you were abandoned. I can understand now your anger. . ." Ratchet said.
"And now you know, can we please drop it, Ratchet? This isn't helping," Hot Rod said.
"Is there anything that would?"
Hot Rod snorted.
"You know where to find me if you need anything," Ratchet said.
-----
Prime's office. Just where Hot Rod wanted to be, but it was better than staring at the four walls of his quarters.
"Are you sure you want to do this?" Optimus asked.
"Ironhide deserves to know," Hot Rod said.
"Even if he does not like what he hears?" Optimus said. "I could tell him for you."
"I can take care of myself," Hot Rod said.
"But he likes me better," Optimus said.
Hot Rod smiled. "I can take Ironhide. If he tries anything, I'll be all right. My weapons systems are fully online, and I know I can get away if I have to," Hot Rod said. "Besides, I know his weaknesses--he's big, slow and places too much confidence in those cannons of his. And not to mention his sheer bulk. He also hasn't ever changed his fighting style."
Optimus had to admit Hot Rod had Ironhide's number, always had, come to think of it.
"You're absolutely sure?"
"Yes," Hot Rod said. "I'll tell him."
-----
Ironhide waited at the lookout, impatient. 1917. Hot Rod was 17 minutes late. Not surprising, Ironhide thought. Maybe he'd backed out of their meeting, but with Prime himself informing Ironhide of Hot Rod's intent, he knew the young mech couldn't renege if he wanted to.
And the sound of an engine proved correct.
Hot Rod transformed when he was close enough, just used his momentum to bring himself to a stop mere feet away from Ironhide.
"You're late," Ironhide said.
"I'm sorry. I couldn't get away," Hot Rod said. "Ratchet."
That explained everything.
"There's no easy way to say this. . ." Hot Rod started.
"He's dead, isn't he?" Ironhide said.
"Let me say what I need to say," Hot Rod said, frowning.
"Fine," Ironhide said.
"The Vector is gone, destroyed," Hot Rod said. "I gave the order to detonate her."
"So. . ."
"'Hide. . ." Hot Rod said. "The others escaped. I know that much, but what happened after the ship blew, I don't know. And if I did, I can't remember now, because I was linked with the ship when it died."
"After all this time, that's the best you can do?" Ironhide said.
"I'm sorry," Hot Rod said. "Remember what I told you before--that Ultra Magnus had forgiven you? He understood, said it took him a while, but he understood. . ."
"What do you know of any of that?"
"Magnus said if he had it to do all over again, he would've chosen loyalty," Hot Rod said.
"Magnus chose his duty instead," Ironhide said.
"Do you know what he sacrificed?" Hot Rod said.
"Not much," Ironhide said. "And I'm surprised to hear you defending him, considering what he put you through."
"Magnus and I had our differences, but he tried, Ironhide," Hot Rod said. "And I know why you called it quits with him."
"You know nothing of the sort," Ironhide said. "Why would. . ."
"You knew the Council of Ancients was going to use him, they were trying to reign in Prime, and if they couldn't, they were going to replace him, and that's why you walked away, because you wouldn't be part of it," Hot Rod said. "Am I right?"
"Yes," Ironhide said. "And none of that is your concern."
"It was," Hot Rod said.
Ironhide's optics suddenly widened.
"That was why your team was tapped for the mission," Ironhide said.
"Magnus didn't pull out of the mission on his own," Hot Rod said. "He was replaced."
"Why?"
"Doesn't matter now," Hot Rod said. "What did he tell you about that last mission?"
"I know it was a retrieval mission, to recover a weapon hidden somewhere in the Maze," Ironhide said. "He told me that much. I was with him the night the recovery team found you. . ."
"He was surprised to hear someone survived, correct?"
"Yes. And he didn't think you were going to live. No one did, considering your injuries," Ironhide said.
"What did he tell you of the. . .weapon?" Hot Rod asked.
"It was found after the fact and destroyed," Ironhide said. "Magnus never said anything else about it after."
Of course not, Hot Rod thought, considering it couldn't be destroyed, and it wouldn't be.
"Do you have anything else to say?" Ironhide asked.
"No," Hot Rod said.
Ironhide didn't say another word, simply transformed and drove away.
-----
The Topkick's engine shook the windows in the living room when it pulled up, setting Annabelle off crying. Lennox picked up his daughter, tried to comfort the baby. Sarah came out of the kitchen, took one look at her husband's face, grabbed her jacket.
"I'll go see what he wants," Sarah said.
"You sure?" Will said.
"It's not a problem," Sarah said, going out the front door.
She watched one of the truck doors open, and got in.
"Do you want me to get Will?" Sarah asked.
"No," Ironhide said. "I'd rather talk to you."
-----
Hot Rod walked into the med bay, watched Springer try to sit up. Ratchet glared at him as he pushed Springer back down on the berth.
"Pop those welds again and I'll solder your aft to the berth this time," Ratchet said.
Hot Rod raised an optic ridge in question.
"Badass here tried to get up this morning, fell, ripped out the welds in his chest and managed to snap the bracing on his knee," Ratchet said.
"Yeah, well, if you and Prime would've kept your mouths shut. . ." Springer said.
Ratchet ignored him. "He keeps this up, it'll be next year before he gets out of here," he said.
"I'd listen, Spring," Hot Rod said. "He means business."
"Whatever," Springer said. "Where the hell have you been all day?"
"Nowhere. . ." Hot Rod said, forcing a smile.
"I know you had it out again with Prime this morning," Springer said. "Because someone doesn't know how to keep it down."
Ratchet stuck his head out of his office, made rude gesture back at Springer.
"When I get out of here. . ." Springer muttered, then turned his attention back to Hot Rod. "I'm not stupid. I can hear. Prime said he hit you. Again. What did you do this time?"
"Nothing," Hot Rod said. "I just came to see how you are."
"Agitated," Springer said. "I believe that was the diagnosis this morning. I'm not stupid. I know something's been going on. Blue and the twins dropped by today, and Prime himself even stopped in to give me a data pad with the best parts of Kup's shuttle logs on them. And Kup was the clincher. I really knew something was wrong then. I haven't seen him like that since. . .since the night his retrieval team found your unit. Look--when he's that worked up, it can mean only one thing--something's happened to someone, and among that number here on Earth would be you me, Prime, the twins and Blue. So, considering who I've seen today and my condition, that leaves you. What did you do this time?"
Ratchet came out of his office. "Springer. . ." he warned.
"Shove it, Hatchet," Springer said. "You snuck off again, didn't you?"
Hot Rod didn't answer, instead stared at the floor.
"I knew it," Springer said.
Hot Rod ignored his friend.
"There's nothing wrong with his mouth, is there, Ratchet?"
Ratchet smiled slightly. "I think it's the only part of his body that didn't sustain a major injury."
"Figures," Hot Rod said. "Behave, Spring, Ratchet's only trying to help."
He reached out, squeezed Springer's shoulder, leaving the med bay.
"Who the hell Stepforded Hot Rod?" Springer said.
Ratchet frowned. "You need to learn when to keep your mouth shut," Ratchet said. "He just told Ironhide what happened to the Vector."
Springer's optics widened. "What?"
"You heard me," Ratchet said. "Now, if your reign of terror is over for the day, it's late. We both need to get some rest."
"You're not going to tell me what happened?" Springer said.
"It can wait until morning," Ratchet said.
-----
Optimus found Kup standing at the open door to Hot Rod's quarters. He placed a hand on the ancient mech's shoulder, startling him.
"I'm sorry, old friend," Optimus said. "I just wanted to see how he's doing, and I wasn't expecting to find you here."
"He's resting, finally, as you can see," Kup said. "How did Ironhide take it?"
"He asked for tomorrow off, and considering, I approved his request," Optimus said.
"Just because the ship is gone doesn't mean the rest are too," Kup said. "He made it. Could be the others are out there somewhere, alive."
"I hope you're right," Optimus said. "But Kup, I'm worried about Hot Rod. He's been so. . ."
"Unlike himself since he got here? Well, now we know part of the reason why," Kup said. "Injured and abandoned. . .damn Magnus. If I ever get my hands on that bastard. . ."
"Kup, that's enough," Optimus said.
"Y'know, I actually thought we stood a chance on this planet, could build a new life, but I guess I was wrong. How can we when the past keeps coming back to haunt us? I've been twice blessed in my life--first with you and Ironhide, then with Hot Rod and Springer. Like my own, both pairs. And those two remind me of you and 'Hide more than I care to admit," Kup said. "Scares me sometimes how much."
The slurred words tipped off Prime.
"How much have you had to drink tonight?" he asked.
"Enough. Just had to try and forget. . .it just scared me, today, with Hot Rod. . .I was afraid. . ." Kup said.
"That he'd try and hurt himself? The thought has crossed my mind, too my friend," Optimus said, putting an arm around Kup's shoulders.
"But he didn't," Kup said. "And I think I know why. He's always cared for you, y'know? 'Cept he never thought you'd see him that way, because you're Prime and he was a punk off the streets."
"What?" Optimus said.
"You heard me," Kup said. "And what you choose to do about it is up to you."
Kup patted Optimus on the shoulder, stumbled down the corridor to his quarters. Prime watched him go, then looked back inside Hot Rod's quarters, to find him sitting up on his berth.
"How long have you been awake?" Optimus asked.
"Long enough," Hot Rod said. "Look, if you're going to stay, you might as well be comfortable."
Prime tilted his head, questioning.
"There's room in my berth for us both, if we spoon, like the humans say," Hot Rod said. "But if you don't want to stay, I'll understand."
"You don't need to be alone," Optimus said.
Hot Rod shrugged, laying back down on the berth, turning on his side, facing the wall. He heard footsteps, then Optimus sat down on the berth, laid down until he was on his side, but not touching Hot Rod.
"What did Kup mean by what he said?" Optimus asked.
"He's drunk," Hot Rod said, dismissing the question, refusing to say anything else.
Sensing Hot Rod's hostility, Optimus let it drop.