Hi everybody... I'm back! I hope you'll enjoy this chap... a little Pricee for the lovers!
Chapter seventeen: the memories - the final step
Jack found himself back in Alpha Trion's studio of. By now the boy needed only a quick look to see where he was, some of the places had become familiar to him. And the "jumps" in space and time wasn't causing him any more trouble.
The teenager could see the old chief clerk sit behind his big desk He was reading carefully what looked like an ancient text.
"The Covenant of Primus ..." Jack whispered, realizing to be in front of one of the most powerful and ancient relics of Cybertron.
Just then, the heavy metal door swung open. On the threshold appeared a worried and tired Optimus Prime. Alpha Trion was limited to look up to the Autobot leader and, annoyed, lift his left eyebrow.
"Say it is not so?" the young Prime asked, as he entered into the room and closed the door behind him. He moved one of the chairs that were in front of the desk and placed both hands on the shiny surface leaning toward the old mentor "Tell me that you're coming with me ... with us ..." he continued, almost desperate.
Alpha Trion then laid aside the old datapad, put his stylus on the table, clasped his hands in front of him and put both hands on the smooth and old surface of the desk.
He made what to Jack looked like a deep breath. Then again he extricated the fingers, placed his hands on the edge of the table and shoved his chair toward the back, causing a metallic noise. Finally he got up with a slow movement from the big chair, his optics closed. He folded his hands behind him and began to move with slow, swaying and reaches his former disciple
Optimus, who until then had not moved, began to follow his mentor with his optics. When the bearded mech was beside the young, Prime took his hands off the table, leaving them helpless to fall along his sides and turned to him.
Alpha Trion had a ghost smile on the lips. He began to giggle and then put both hands on the shoulders of the younger mech. The Autobot leader looked at him, confused.
"I still remember the first time you crossed that door ..." said the chief clerk, pointing to the entry of the big room "When I saw you come in with optics filled with wonder, I immediately thought you were ..." he hesitated as if searching for the right words "special ... and I wasn't wrong," the old bot removed his hands from the red and blue mech's shoulders and folded them back behind his back again. Then he began to walk around Optimus. The young Prime continued to follow him with his eyes, without a word.
"The Covenant of Primus wrote great things about you and your deeds. And as far as I could, I tried to be near and, at times, to be your guide" Trion broke his steps and turned around, staring at the young mech straight in optics "But now, you have to continue your journey without my constant presence".
Pime started to protest, but the old mech interrupted him with a wave of his hand "Thus it is written! You grew up, my student. You are matured and you're ready now. and I have to stay here. This is the will of Primus". He paused and put a finger on Optimus' chest, just above his spark "But you will not be alone. The Matrix of Leadership will guide you on your journey".
Optimus stood still for a moment, keeping his regal posture with shoulders back and chest out. Then his majesty, suddenly, disappeared: his shoulders sagged down, the right hand leaned heavily on the table, his head bent forward to look at the floor, he closed his optics and ran, tired, his left hand on his face. Then he raised his optics again and stared at his old mentor "So ..." His voice, deep and strong, now was broken, broken by a feeling of sadness and regret "This is a farewell, master".
On the face of the bearded old mech exploded a sympathetic smile "Only the Primus knows. Till all are one, my youngling".
Jack had watched the scene with tears in the eyes. No one, after that day, knew what had happened to the old chief archivist. Even Ultra Magnus, who had freed Alpha Trion from Shockwave's secret lab, wasn't sure of the fate Optimus' mentor.
But Jack was now certain that the bearded mech had met his end and he was in the peace of the AllSpark. Or so he deduced by what he had seen in his first meeting with the wise mech. Where could it be but in the AllSpark?
A cold shiver ran along the spine of the boy and a thought passed quickly through his head, chilling the blood in the veins: was he dead too? This gloomy thought was swept by a whirlwind of sights, sounds, voices.
But it was just a moment. A short, endless moment. Then came the confusion and utter chaos. The images that were passing before his eyes were so fast, confusing, unclear. He almost didn't understand what they were. But this was just what he imagined because in his mind all was clear: the departure of the Ark from Cybertron through the space bridge, the tense faces of the Autobots, the inevitable sadness on Prime's face ... the names of those strange, new, far worlds, of all the mechs and femmes that Optimus and his soldiers had met... all this had now left an indelible mark in Jack's memory.
But it was a thing in particular that remains imprinted in the raven teenager's mond: the smile, even if just mentioned, on Optimus' face, on planet Aquatron, when he and Megatron came to a brief alliance. The thought made smiled the boy: the Prime really had never stopped believing that one day he could rehugh his friend, his lost brother.
Then, as it began, it was over in a second. Jack found himself again to float immersed in an ethereal whiteness. And the warmth that enveloped him replaced pleasantly the cold of deep space through which he had traveled in the last few ... seconds, minutes ... he couldn't know. But he was relieved that all this was finished.
"Young man" Alpha Trion's deep and old voice forced him to turn back on himself. The bearded mech was right there in front of him. On the face a serious and hard look that softened when he saw the confusion of Jack's face.
"Now what?" asked with a hint of insecurity the teenager Has my journey ended?".
Everything he would expect but not the old archivist of Iacon began to giggle. Jack was more and more confused and anxious.
"No, my friend" said then Alpha Trion "In order to accomplish the task that Primus has assigned you, you still lack a bit ... get into Optimus' mind" and he raised a big hand as if to ward off something annoying.
And again the light was so bright to force Jack to cover his eyes with his right hand.
"A new peak ... it's like ..." Ratchet muttered to himself.
"What's wrong?" Arcee was so worried that her voice rose a few decibels.
"For a moment his heartbeat have accelerated ... then nothing. His brain waves have undergone a slight change, but there's nothing that make me to think of something pathological".
The Autobot femme let out a deep breath and took her place beside the young human, still unconscious.
"Primus ... protect him" was her inaudible prayer.
When Jack reopened his eyes immediately recognized the Outpost Omega One. He looked around. A sense of sadness pervaded him and his eyes filled with tears. But he had no time for sad reminders that he was again wrapped in a swirl of sights, sounds and voices, just as had happened shortly before reviewing Alpha Trion.
Only this time he could also feel the emotions. It took a while to figure out that those so strong emotions and feelings were those of Optimus Prime.
The boy had always considered the Autobots leader cold, aloof, emotionless. And only now he understood that it was his role that forcing him to the emotional distance from everyone and everything.
He could feel the genuine concern for the Autobots, for himself, Miko and Raf. Even for his mother and Agen Fowler. But he also cuol feel the deep affection for all of them.
But there was more. The fear of making the wrong choice. Insecurity in difficult times. Anger in adverse situations. Feelings of guilt when something had gone wrong. The joy at seeing the change of Megatron. The love for a certain femme.
He also revived the last act of love, the great sacrifice that made the Autobot leader: he could hear Prime's regret, but also a great sense of relief at the entrance door of the AllSpark.
While Optimus closed his optics and carried away in it, even Jack opened his arms, closed his eyes and let himself be enveloped by an intense bright light and warmth, surrounded by love and joy.
"Jackson Darby".
The voice that struck the young human's ears was deep and ancient. At first he thought to be back in the presence of Alpha Trion.
"Open your eyes, human".
No. This voice was deeper and older. And it was familiar. Jack hesitated for a moment before opening his eyes. But when he did, he found himself in front of a wonderful show.
"Primus ..." he could only whisper. He could feel the life force of the being who had given his life to Cybertron and its inhabitants. And the feeling coursing through his veins. He felt the presence of the God in his heart and in his mind. He touched his chest and massaged it several times.
"Do not be afraid ... come closer".
With a certain amount of reluctance and insecurity, the boy did as the Being was telling him. The blue light became more intense and struck the teenager.
"My disciple was right. In you we are the qualities of a leader ... of a Prime"
"Y-Your disciple ...?" it was a strange, but the God began to laugh.
"Optimus ... he told me a lot about you".
"Optimus?" The boy's eyes widened and he began to look around "Is he here? Can I see him? Talk to him? Please Primus ... one last time before ... " Jack looked down and clenched his fists "I never thanked him for what has done for me ... for believing in me".
"I will do more ..." Primus paused.
The wait was killing the boy.
"The one who gives his life for a greater good, will be rewarded, so ..".
"I volunteer!" said without hesitation and with courage the young human "Everything for Optimus".
"Your heart is brave and full of love for others. But it is no your sacrifice that we need" There was another pause unending "Optimus has sacrificed his life for the good of Cybertron and its future generations. And this will have a second chance ... as Orion Pax".
"How ...? Why?" Jack's confusion was audible in his words.
"You should know better than anyone"
The boy grabbed his chin with his right hand and frowned thoughtfully. Then he closed his eyes and had his answer ...
Flashback
Optimus was on the roof of the outpost Omega One. The sun had set and darkness had enveloped Jasper and the Nevada desert. It was a moonless night and the stars seemed even brighter in the sky.
It was now a few hours that the leader of the Autobots and his SIC had returned from their terrible adventure in the Arctic and the base was almost completely operative after the invasion of the Scraplets.
The big red and blue mech was often here to meditate, alone, at night. The East headland was his favorite place to think and reflect. Optics closed. Only that night he was not alone.
"May I?" a soft voice forced Prime to reopen the optics.
"Sure" he replied softly, indicating the seat next to him. Arcee sat and hugged her knees to her chest. Optimus raised an eyebrow, a hint of a smile touched his lips.
"What?" asked with mock indignation the blue e purple femme "I have not yet fully recovered from our trip in the cold!" then she shrugged "We're not all as strong as you!" finally she added with irony.
"If only that were true ..." the words came out almost without his noticing. But it did not escape Arcee's sensitive auditory receptors.
TUNG!
It was a heavy blow, but the Prime rubbed the hit arm.
"What are you saying? You are the strongest and most courageous mech I know!" said the femme grabbing Prime's big hand.
Optimus then did something totally unexpected. He turned to his SIC and rested his forehead to hers.
"And instead I'm a coward ... sometimes I just want things to return to normal ..." and closed the optics.
"When you were Orion Pax?" she asked softly.
The big mech nodded and opened his optics "I could have do this ... without worries or regrets" and gently placed his lips on hers.
When their faces turned away he added "I would like to have my life back... to be able to share it with you ...".
When he opened his eyes everything was clear.
"Now go ... Jackson Darby comes home"
"Wait ... where will I find Opt ... Orion?"
"You know where ..."
And, for the last time, the so familiar white light enveloped him.
Tell me what you all are thinking... please ;)