Temerity

Part 31-Volatility

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.

The med bay door was sealed. Prime, Prowl and Ratchet were inside, going over the medic's grim findings from his examination of Cosmos.

"You're sure?" Prime asked.

"Perceptor and Wheeljack backed up my findings, as has Prowl," Ratchet said. "His injuries were caused by fire from Autobot weapons."

"You said last night it was from heavy weapons fire," Prime said.

"Yes--but upon closer examination, those were not what caused the fatal injury. It was a well-placed shot to his chest plating. Cosmos was built for the harsh climate of space, and his armor was specially adapted to withstand significant damage. No, this must have happened when he was making the transition from his normal bipedal mode to his cometary form," Ratchet said. "But that's only conjecture at this point. Will there be anything else?"

"No," Optimus said. "Remember--this stays between us."

Prowl frowned. "I would like to investigate further. . ."

The look Prime gave his second in command silenced him.

"This is over. Cosmos deserves what decency he can be given at this point, and bringing up the past only causes more pain for everyone involved," Optimus said. "Do you both understand?"

Ratchet and Prowl both nodded. Satisfied, Prime left the med bay.

-----

Bumblebee and Sam didn't say anything as they watched Mikaela and Hot Rod walk down the corridor. Mikaela looked back over her shoulder at Sam, who looked nervous. She smiled back, hoping she looked confident, but she felt anything but. The girl felt like she was walking Hot Rod to his own funeral from the way he was acting, but she pushed it away. She couldn't back down, she wouldn't.

"Are you ready?" she asked Hot Rod, looking up.

He nodded.

--

Prime looked up, leveled his gaze on Hot Rod, sparing Mikaela a surprised glance as the pair walked into his office.

"Mikaela, you can go," he said.

"I'm staying," she said. "I made a promise he wouldn't have to do this alone."

"Very well then," Prime said.

Optimus watched the gaze human and Autobot exchanged, and Hot Rod focused his optics on his leader.

"It wasn't me," Hot Rod said. "I didn't betray my crew."

"How can I trust what you say?"

"Before now, have I ever given you a reason to not believe me?" Hot Rod said. "After these past few months, and everything between us. . ."

"It's not a matter of whether or not I trust you," Optimus said. "But what the others will believe."

"Like Ironhide," Hot Rod said.

"Yes," Optimus said. "He hasn't let go of what happened to the Vector, and he's not likely to--we both know this. Not knowing what happened to Ultra Magnus has always weighed heavily upon Ironhide. Having you here is a constant reminder, he's said as much. I know everything that happened wasn't your fault. I believe that. You were only following orders."

"I was. . .but. . ." Hot Rod said.

Prime raised an optic ridge.

"What?"

"Nothing," Hot Rod said.

"Why did Magnus abandon his crew and his ship? But then again, after everything, it does not surprise me," Optimus said.

"I told you before--it was to give the others a chance. . ." Hot Rod said.

"The ship was attacked, wasn't it?" Prime asked.

Hot Rod didn't answer.

"He ordered the others off. But not you. Why?" Optimus said. "When you said you shouldn't be here, you meant you shouldn't be alive, correct?"

"Yes," Hot Rod said. It was the truth, to an extent, but it still hurt to not be able to tell everything.

Optimus stood, rounding his desk. He put his hands on Hot Rod's shoulders.

"As far as I'm concerned, this matter, for the moment, is settled," Optimus said. "Promise me this--only truth and honesty between us from now on," Optimus said.

Hot Rod nodded.

Mikaela could only stare. She cleared her throat, reminding the Autobot leader she was still there.

"Everything OK?" she asked.

Hot Rod nodded. "Thanks."

"No problem," Mikaela said, trying not to run from Prime's office. Something was obviously going on between the two, and it was making her head spin.

-----

Optimus walked with Hot Rod down to the med bay. They stopped at the entrance.

"May I see him?" Hot Rod asked.

Optimus nodded, watched Hot Rod walk into the med bay, which was empty with the exception of Ratchet, who was cleaning up.

Hot Rod stopped by the berth where Cosmos lay.

"Do you want to be alone?" Ratchet asked.

"No," Hot Rod said. He reached down, put a hand on Cosmos' shoulder.

"I'm sorry," Hot Rod said, walked away.

-----

Lennox stood by Ironhide, hands over his ears, flinching as he watched Ironhide fire his cannons at Sideswipe and Sunstreaker, who barely managed to evade the blasts. Epps, standing a few feet away, was oblivious, silently grooving to a track on his ipod.

"I know you're unhappy, but will slagging two of your friends make you feel better?" Lennox said.

Ironhide snapped, shooting his friend a dark look. "I am not discussing this with you," he said. "And what do you know of my feelings?"

"I know you're upset because of what happened the other night, that you still don't have answers and if you want to talk about it, I'd be willing to listen," Lennox said.

"As I said, I am not. . ."

"Shut up 'Hide. Talk to someone or I'll tell Ratchet. Got it? I'm sure you'd love to have another go with Optimus," Lennox said.

Ironhide's optics widened slightly at that. Lennox turned away, biting back a grin, knowing he'd struck a chord. Then he sighed. The row between the weapons specialist and the Autobot leader the afternoon before still had tensions running high around the base. The two had come to actual blows in ops, and it was something Lennox wanted to forget. Ironhide had started it with words, then threw the first punch. Seconds later, Prime had his friend pinned to the ground after getting in a few hits of his own. That had been followed by the sight and sound of every Autobot in ops and then some onlining their weapons, pointing them at their leader and Ironhide. The appearance of Kup and Ratchet further diffused the fight, earning both Prime and Ironhide a night in the brig.

"I know you're still angry with Prime. Get over it. He's not picking sides--he's just trying to keep things even. And you should know better. . ."

"Keep things even? Hot Rod knows more than he's telling, and Optimus is willing to go along, let him stay silent. He's letting his feelings get in the way when he has a duty as Prime. . ." Ironhide stopped. He was starting to sound like Magnus. . .

"Duty? His duty isn't just to you. Last time I looked, he was looking out for all the Autobots on base, although I have noticed lately he's taken a bit more of an interest in one in particular, and as far as I'm concerned, that's his private life, therefore off limits," Lennox said.

"His duty as Prime is to protect life," Ironhide said. "Autobot and now human."

"If you haven't noticed, he's helped save a life," Lennox said. "Seems to me he's doing his job, even if it has taken a personal turn. You should respect that, when he's trying to respect your feelings."

"And what makes you think that?" Ironhide asked.

Lennox sighed. "Well, for starters, he hasn't flaunted this new relationship in your face, or anyone else's for that matter. Second, he hasn't strangled you before now, when he's had plenty of chances the past few months when you've gone off on him, and he's trying to do the right thing," he said. "How can any of you move on when the past keeps coming back? 'Hide, I know it hurts. I wish I could help you get the answers you want, but at least you have hope. And that's better than nothing at all."

-----

Mikaela sat in class, chin resting in her hand. She twirled her pen in her free hand, ignoring the drama teacher, who was lecturing on set design. Usually, she enjoyed the class, was looking forward to helping build the sets for the upcoming school play, but not today. Two days later and she was still going over the incident in Prime's office. She hadn't told Sam what she'd witnessed. Hot Rod had been through enough without Sam flying off the handle and asking questions.

She knew now something was definitely going on between Hot Rod and Optimus. More than interesting. More interesting than how they were going to build the castle walls for "Dracula" and oh no the teacher was calling her name. . .