I know I was out for a while. But now I'm here. Enjoy!
Chapter eigthteen: a new life
When he suddenly opened his eyes, to Jack Darby was like being born again.
The first face he saw was Arcee's astonished one. His guardian and friend was staring at him in disbelief. The boy could see her lips moving but he couldn't hear any sound come out of her mouth. He turned his face and saw his mother in tears. She hugged him so hard that almost took his breath away. She also was talking but he didn't hear any sound. Then it was the turn of Miko and Raf.
Then before him appeared Ratchet who enlightened him with a strong red beam. It was as if someone took away the caps from his ears.
He looked around again astonished. He saw that the whole Team was Prime there. Everyone was smiling, including Ultra Magnus. Megatron also seemed relieved. Hey, what the ... Megatron?
"We were worried about you, boy!" Agent Fowler's voice seemed to resonate within his eardrums and it pulled him out of his thoughts.
"What happened to me?" he asked in a small voice.
"We were hoping it was you to tell us!" the doctor answered with his usual annoyed manner.
Jack put his head on one hand and closed his eyes for a few seconds.
"I have to go to the Hall of Records"he said, starting to tear the cables that bound him.
"Yep-yep-yep! Not until tomorrow morning when I have completed my scanners and... " but the crotchety white and red mech was interrupted.
"Primus talked to me!" said the young man vehemently "And I have to go to the Hall. NOW!".
"P-P-Primus?" repeated Arcee.
Jack nodded, smiling. Then he approached to the femme and whispered words that only she could hear "There's a surprise for you ...".
Arcee stared curiously as the boy continued to nod.
"Perhaps it is best to follow Ratchet's advice" tried to say June, evidently concerned about the physical and mental health of his son.
The boy grabbed the shoulders of his mother and said "I've never felt better. Let's go!" and he began to run toward the Hall of Records, followed by everyone else. Including Megatronus.
Once delivered, Jack turned to Bulkhead.
"Bulk, you directed with Optimus the reconstruction work?"
"Yeah, but ..." the young man raised his hand and the former wrecker stopped.
"Take us in the oldest section of Hall please!" ordered confidently Jack.
The rest of Team Prime exchanged puzzled glances, but no one dared say anything.
"This way" then said the big green mech.
When they reached the oldest section of the building, the great hall was dark. Only a small light came from a small room adjoining the main.
"Come on" Jack said, motioning the others to follow.
They arrived at the door of the room and that was when everyone saw.
"By the Allspark" was all managed to say Ratchet.
At a desk was sitting a young red and blue mech. He was brimmed low, engaged in reading a datapad.
"O-Orion ..." the doctor tried to articulate.
It was then that the young mech turned around and did something totally unexpected: he smiled. A big, sincere smile, full of joy and life.
"Doc? What are you doing here?" Then he looked at the other and then at Ratchet aganin "Who are they?" But his eyes fell on the purple and blue femme" Arcee?" and his smile grew, if possible, even more great.
The SIC of the Autobot blushed and nodded.
Ratchet approached the young archivist, grabbed his face in his hands and then hugged him.
Some tears furrowed the old mech's face.
"Hey Doc, are you all right?" Orion's smile faded and gave way to concern.
The doctor nodded several times "I thought I lost you, but now it's all right".
The confusion on Orion's face was evident, but he had no time to express it in words because his good friend hugged him again and so hard to block his intakes.
"Easy Doc" whispered the young red and blue mech as he put both hands on the shoulders of the doctor.
"Orion. Brother" then said Megatronus making his way through the others "We thought we'd lost you!" and he embraced his friend.
"Hey! Take it easy Megs" Orion said placing his gaze on the large group of transformers and humans that were staring at him. The former leader of Decepticons shook his head several times as he smiled and stepped aside, allowing his young friend tosee all who were present in the room.
"And who are you?" he asked . There was a round of fast presentation, before introducing the humans.
"He seems familiar ..." said the clerk pointing to Jack.
The young man smiled, "You have no idea!".
"And Alpha Trion ...?" Orion finally asked, looking around worriedly.
"There are so many things that you do not know " and that was how Ratchet began telling of how started the great war between Autobots and Decepticons, the loss of the AllSpark and then of their entire home planet. He recounted the long and dangerous journey to a new planet, a new home: Earth. He told of the battles, the victories, the defeats of Team Prime. He told of the relationship with the Humans, of how, thanks to them, they had become a family. He told of the sacrifice of Optimus Prime and the return to them again as Orion Pax.
All the while, the young clerk listened in silence, carefully and patiently, his old friend to tell of things of which he was the main protagonist, but of which he didn't remember anything.
In the end his face was contrite and he had thoughtful look oh his face. He said nothing for a few moments. Then he was content to utter only one, single word: "Sorry ". It was barely audible, and none of those present, Cybertronian or Human, had the courage to say something to the red and blue mech who was moving away.
It had been nearly an hour since Orion Pax had left the great room of the Hall of Records. The young clerk reappeared. His eyes were thoughtful, but determined. He made no preamble, no round of words.
"It is necessary that I go ... again ... or at least I think ... " he said as a bit of the determination diminished in his whispered words "to the Core of Cybertron". The looks of confusion that greeted his words prompted him to move forward. He turned his gaze to Ratchet "I don't remember anything of what you told me" he looked down as embarrassed "But I'd love to. Maybe Primus will be so kind to give me this grace".
The doctor nodded "I understand, but not now!" he approached the young red and blue mech and put both hands on his shoulders. A small smile gleamed across his face "It 's been a busy day for many of us" and he turned, staring at the young raven-haired human. Jack gave a little nod then looked away quickly, embarrassed.
Also Orion stared at the boy and nodded "You're right ... as always ... my friend".
Ratchet threw his arms up and exclaimed aloud "Praised be Primus! How I've missed you, Orion!" and hugged again Orion so strong as to prevent him from moving.
The young clerk merely smiled and added"Let's go! There's lots more to talk about!".
The group then returned to the Autobots' headquarters.
That evening it seemed that no one was tired. Nobody wanted to stand up and first fall asleep, or to fatigue. There were too many things to say, too many stories to tell. But like any good mother, at one point, the nurse Darby recalled to the order, human and transformers, remembering that the next day would have been perhaps even more intense and challenging than the past one.
After a brief exchange of "Good night", in the big room were only Orion and Arcee left. For a few moments an awkward silence reigned. It was the femme to interrupt it "It's really late and you must be tired. All this attention and ... ".
"Actually, I think I slept for centuries" interrupted gently the young archivist, while, approaching to the femme, he stretched out a hand toward her face. He barely touched it, timidly "You, on the other hand, seem very proven. Come on, I'll walk to you room".
Arcee nodded while her cheeks were tinged with a deep pink. But why had Optimus this effect on her? While she was engrossed in these thoughts, she did not notice they had come in front of the door of her room. She didn't realize how close Orion was to her face close. But he noticed when his lips gently brushed her cheek and his words gently caress the auditory apparatus "Good night Arcee!".
"Night Orion" replied shyly the femme before crossing the threshold of the room and close the door gently behind her. Sleep took her while she was still thinking about the gentle kiss she'd just received.
The next day a small team formed by Orion, Ratchet, Bumblee, Bulkhead and Arcee was ready to face the descent to the planet's core. Jack had insisted to be a participant in the expedition, but Orion told him he had already faced too many dangers for him. So he stayed with the other humans on the edge of the Well of the Allspark. Even Megatronus stayed with them, not convinced of wanting to face their creator in person after all that had happened.
The descent towards the center of the planet turned out much easier than expected. In about two Earth hours, passing through secondary ducts and various gradients, the group arrives at the gates of the core. Primushimself granted the entry for five Autobots.
They found themselves in front of the most wonderful spectacle of life that never would have been able to see. And there was no need to say anything.
A blue beam hit Orion at the center of the chest, right where Optimus carried the Matrix of Leadership. The light was so intense and bright that it blinded the audience. When it disappeared, Ratchet noticed immediately Orion was slumped to the ground and he was holding his chest with the hands. Immediately the doctor activated his scanners "It cannot be" he whispered.
Arcee knelt beside them and put a hand on the shoulder of Orion "What is it? What happens? "The tone of the femme went from worried to annoyed in one sentence.
"The matrix" mumbled the doctor.
Arcee's eyes widened. And did Bumblebee and Blukhead. Then the femme turned to the red and blue mech and stared at him, straight in the optics. It was then she realized.
"Optimus?" She asked insecure.
One who until then was known as Orion the archivist took Arcee by the hand and together they rose in a standing position. He smiled and said "Hello Arcee".
Then the femme threw her to her leader putting both her servos around Optimis' neck, while the other three mechs came near him smiling.
"Welcome back ... Prime!".
So... is it over or not?