Once again…I own nothing….not Transformer, not G. I. Joe…not the words I borrowed from Stan Bush. Nothing!
At the end of 'Tell Me Doctor…'
September 1, 2015…Autobot City…Rodimus Prime's office…
Silence reigned over the room as soon as they finished speaking to Mirage; finally Rodimus Prime hissed out in fury as his optics glowed white, "How dare they…how dare they try to manipulate me based on a fragging prophecy…"
"That is becoming fulfilled despite their best efforts," Prowl told him as he once again read the so-called Chosen One Prophecy, 'The power and wisdom from those long before will lead them to victory, he will light our darkest hour and she will join him in their one destiny to bring the children of Primus and the children of Gaia together as one force of light thru the stars. Truth has its moment, and right always wins…prepare for the fight children to keep the peace and freedom for all...do not become overcome or the darkness shall win all.'
"I always hated the prophecies from the Priests of Primus," grumbled Prowl as he wearily leaned back in his chair, "No logic to them and I never could understand why our philosophers studied them due to the fact that the priests would only release them to the public when they became fulfilled anyway!"
At those words, Rodimus looked at him in shock, "How did Alpha Trion get his hands on it, if it never has been released?!"
Prowl thought for a moment, finally he shook his head in defeat, "I don't know…he was always good at weaseling information from even the most secretive of bots!" He gave a deep sigh as he told him, "We need to forget about that dead, old fragger at the moment and concentrate on the live one in our brig. What in the pit are we going to do with him?! I thought about sending him to Omega sector for a couple of eons, then a mining colony on Trifold, but…I can't! The more crimes I find he has committed, the punishment…"
"I know, I know," grumbled Prime as he pinched his nose bridge in frustration, "The punishment just doesn't fit the crime or crimes in this case! I've run into the same slagging problem since I discovered you were alive, Prowl!"
They were silent once again as the tried to think of an appropriate punishment; Rodimus was about to suggest that they just deactivate him, when he heard a familiar voice in his audio, "Trial by Matrix, Roddy…just open the Matrix before him as you did with Unicron and the Hate Plague."
"What about my mate?" he asked in concern, "I thought the Matrix was using its energies to change her into a Cybertrionan?"
Prowl was startled for a moment, and then he muttered as he looked around the room, "I take it that femme ghost you were talking about earlier has decided to make another appearance?"
"Yes," he responded absentmindedly as he too looked around, "What about Marrisa?"
Finally, the spirit whispered again in his audio, "The Matrix of the past is using its energy to change you're mate at a great cost to your father, it is safe to use it now on Ultra Magnus. But, be warned Rodimus Prime…you can only use the Matrix for judgment only three times. So, choose your other two times carefully my little spark!"
Rodimus frowned in concern as he sarcastically asked, "Why do I get the feeling that the great cost is due to my wacko mother?"
"Sir?" asked Prowl in curiosity, "What did she say?"
Sighing, he quickly explained what the spirit told him and questioned him, "What do you think this 'great cost' she is talking about that my father had to pay?"
Prowl frowned thoughtfully as he muttered, "I don't know, but…no…she wouldn't!"
Prime stared into Prowl's horrified face and asked with apprehension, "What?"
Prowl shook his head in denial as he replied, "We need to talk to Psyche Out for the answer, your father saw a great deal of him the last tron he was on Earth. If I'm right…" he sighed wretchedly and then gathered his wits again, "We better deal with Ultra Magnus first…your ghost is right…Trial by Matrix is only way to give the slagger an appropriate punishment!"
An hour later…Autobot City's Brig…
Ultra Magnus sat on the bench in misery as he thought, 'It wasn't suppose to go this way…Alpha Trion assured me that the end result of his plan would be that Cybertrions would no longer be influenced anymore by humans!' Suddenly, he heard footsteps and he looked up...and he gazed into the grim faces of Rodimus Prime, Prowl, Jazz, Red Alert, Grimlock, Lancer, and Lt. Col. Fairborne. He asked softly as he realized what they were here for, "Have you decided to deactivate me, Rodimus Prime?"
"No," Prime drawled out coldly, "Quite frankly, that wouldn't be a fitting punishment."
Ultra Magnus raised a brow in surprise, "Then, what have you decided?" He turned his attention to Prowl, "Or should I say, Prowl has come up with something you thought appropriate?"
"I haven't old friend," he told him harshly, "To be honest, I was stumped on what would be a proper punishment for you!"
"Then what…" he started to ask, but Prime interrupted him.
"None of us could think of a proper punishment to equal your crimes, Ultra Magnus," he explained severely, "Until an old friend of mine suggested in using the Matrix on you!"
Ultra Magnus's face took on a horror-struck look, "Trail by Matrix! But, that hasn't been used since…"
"The days of Omega Prime!" finished Prowl ruthlessly, "Congratulations, old friend…you're the first Cybertrionan to face this type of judgment since our ancient times!"
Ultra Magnus gulped in fear, as Rodimus Prime took out the Matrix of Autobot Leadership out of his chest. The Matrix's light shone brightly and as he prepared to open it…the spirit who was always with him whispered to him the words he needed to say to begin the ritual. "Matrix of Light…Matrix of Primus…Matrix of Wisdom…Matrix of Those Long Gone…" he repeated as he slowly opened the ancient artifact, "I, Rodimus Prime, call upon you to judge this one known as Ultra Magnus for his crimes against me, our people, and our allies. Give him a just and fair punishment for his crimes, for I can not do so." With those words, he opened the Matrix fully and allowed its light to eclipse everyone within the room.
Ultra Magnus gasped in fear as felt and heard the voices…he thought he would never hear again; "HOW COULD YOU RUIN MY APPRENTICE'S CAREER?!" bellowed Ratchet thru the Matrix's light, "HOW COULD YOU DO ALL THE THINGS YOU HAVE DONE ON A OLD FRAGGER'S ORDERS?!"
"Was following Alpha Trion more important than following you're Prime?" asked Moonracer softly with disappointment lacing her voice.
"Apparently it was," Wheeljack said unhappily, "And he only thought of the Dinobots as stupid brutes who are only useful in a fight…and only then as a last resort!"
"Fearing the future, over a fragging prophecy…" grumbled Tracks in disgust.
"That is coming true despite your best efforts in stopping it!" exclaimed Inferno furiously.
"Ultra Magnus," coldly stated Optimus Prime, "For you're crimes against my son, Rodimus Prime…
"Against the femmes," continued Sentinel Prime frigidly.
"Against the Dinobots," continued the long forgotten voice of Omega Prime.
"And against the humans," finished another voice from ages past…the femme Prime known as Nova Prime, "has led us to punish you in what you fear the most! I pray that you have learned your lesson Ultra Magnus as you begin anew!" With those words, Ultra Magnus began screaming in pain.
For everyone else in the room; they could only see a flash of blue light and feel the peace that came from the ancient artifact. They heard Ultra Magnus's painful scream and then nothing…soon the Matrix closed once again…and everyone was staring in shock at the brig's occupant.
After a moment of a silence; Jazz, Grimlock, Lancer, and Red Alert fell down on the floor laughing hysterically. While Prowl and Lt. Col. Fairborne smirked in pleasure and were already thinking of the paperwork that they would soon be involved in; Rodimus Prime though, as he placed the Matrix back into his chest, summed up what everyone was thinking, "Now that… is what I call an appropriate punishment for the aft-head!" he exclaimed and then he joined the others on the floor, laughing his spark out.
"Indeed," muttered Prowl approvingly as he gazed at the teenaged, human girl that was once Ultra Magnus; "This punishment does indeed fit the crimes."
"The question is now," drawled out Lt. Col. Fairborne as he too gazed at the sight, "what are we going to do with her now?"
"Hmm," he muttered thoughtfully, "It will need to be a mixture of the human witness protection system and…"
"Juvenile detention center," finished the human solider, "Just what I was thinking…its going to take us a lot of paper work and red tape though to get it done."
Prowl snorted in disgust, "He's been stacking paperwork on me for over a cycle now, one more slagging pile from him or should I say her… won't make much of a difference."
"That bad?" Fairborne asked as they walked out of the area and left the laughing hyenas as they continued to make fun of the Matrix's victim.
"You don't want to know," commented Prowl, "Let's get started…the sooner we get this done, the better!"
"Doesn't Prime have to agree to this first?"
"I'll present our proposal as soon as we get all the paperwork ready for him to sign," replied the SIC, "but, there is a one percent probability that he won't agree to it."
"In other words," Fairborne wearily sighed, "My son-in-law will go along with anything as long as he doesn't have to see or hear from that jackass again!"
Meanwhile in Autobot City's Med Bay…CMO's Office…
Psyche Out moaned out despondently as he came into the office and slumped down into a human sized chair near the desk. Behind the desk, Swoop was re-reading Ratchet's journal on how Optimus Prime managed to get his memory back while fighting the Decepticons. He looked up and asked, "No luck with Him Springer?"
"No," he dejectedly replied, "Any luck with First Aid?"
Swoop sighed wearily, "Maybe…Me Swoop got theory, but going to need help from Protectobots and they not going to like what Me Swoop wants to do!"
"What are we not going to like Swoop?" asked Hot Spot from the door.
Swoop sighed wearily as he explained what he wanted them to do.
Ten minutes later…in the courtyard of Autobot City…
"Do you really think that weird medic is right, Hot Spot?" asked First Aid as he stood with his brothers in the courtyard.
Hot Spot's optic twitched in irritation as he replied, "Yes, and Swoop…" He sighed in defeat, "Let's just form Defensor and let Swoop do his magic."
"And pray to Primus that it works," muttered Blades, "Though I don't know why you want your memory back…you are in so much…"
"Blades knock it off!" shouted Hot Spot, "Prime has accepted Ratchet's recommendation from that popped up video that showed up on Teletran 1 yesterday…so just be thankful he is not going to prison or loose his license!"
"What are you talking about?" questioned First Aid as he looked at them in curiosity, "Why would I be going to prison?"
"Never mind, First Aid!" yelled Hot Spot as he gave Blades a furious glare, "Let's do this… form Defensor!"
As soon as the finished transforming into the giant protector, Swoop came up to them and ordered, "Me Swoop say kneel down, and hold out left arm." Defensor did as he was ordered too; Swoop connected the jump start cable to the arm and then he went to electro-shock machine. "Me Swoop say, hope this works," he muttered as he activated the machine.
Defensor screamed out in pain as the volts of electricity shot up his arm, suddenly, the arm broke off and transformed into First Aid who was groaning out in pain. Quickly, Swoop stopped the machine and Defensor broke apart; as they rushed toward the fallen medic, Grooves asked, "Did it work?"
First Aid shouted out, "Where is that crazy femme?! She's going to…aggah!" He choked out gasping for breath as his brothers rushed him and proceeded to hug the living daylights out of him. Swoop smirked in delight as he called out, "You Hot Spot explain to Him First Aid what happened since attack! Me Swoop will be waiting in CMO's office to give Him First Aid message from Him Ratchet."
At those words, his brothers stepped back and looked at him in pity as well as fury, "First Aid," growled out Hot Spot, "We need to have a little chat…no… make that a long talk before you go to your former office!"
First Aid gulped as he fearfully babbled out, "My former office…what? How? Why?"
"Because I want you're audios to be loud and clear before the Hatchet makes you deaf from beyond the grave!" shouted out his elder brother who then proceed to give him a very long lecture.
Two hours later…CMO's office…
Swoop and Psyche Out were watching TV while waiting on First Aid to come into the office; Psyche Out asked, "Are you certain you drugged up Springer enough that he will sleep soundly thru this?"
"Me Swoop did one better," he replied, "Her Firestar and Him Sludge took Him Springer to Ark's med bay after Me Swoop sedated Him Springer."
"Good," he told him, "I just don't know what to do…I've discussed spark bonds and how it affects the minds of Cybertrions for years with Ratchet. But, when I have the chance to use the knowledge I gained from him…aggh…it's so frustrating! I don't know how to help him!"
Swoop grunted in agreement, "Maybe one day Him First Aid could…" he stopped as noticed the mech in question coming into the med bay, "Me Swoop say speak of the devil! Here Him First Aid now!"
"Oh, goody," Psyche Out muttered sarcastically as he pulled out military style ear phones out of his bag, "I'll be with Cover Girl, Flint, and Lady Jayne in the underground."
Swoop waved his hand in farewell, as First Aid came into the office, being very careful not to step on the human that rushed out. He looked at Swoop sadly, "How bad do you think I am going to get it?"
Instead of answering, Swoop opened the communicator unit and called out, "This is Me Swoop, everyone plug audios and ears…You Joes go to underground… Mt. Hatchet about to erupt…Me Swoop repeat… Mt. Hatchet!"
As he shut off the communicator, First Aid stared at him in horror, "That bad?"
"Me Swoop haven't watched it, but evidence say…yes!" he shouted as he stood up and gestured at the seat, "You First Aid don't plug audios, Him Rodimus Prime's order! This part of You First Aid's punishment!"
Gulping in fear, First Aid sat down and looked at Swoop as he pleaded, "Do I have too?"
"You First Aid," warned Swoop as he put his audio plugs in, "have choice…this or court martial!"
Gulping again in fear, he waited until Swoop left the room and locked the door behind him. With a great deal of apprehension, he slowly turned on the message that was already loaded in the desk's viewer. Ratchet's face appeared on it, and his optics shone as white as the sun, he bellowed out, "WHAT IN THE NAME OF PRIMUS, PRIMA, AND THE ANCIENTS WERE YOU THINKING?! GIVING OUT RODIMUS PRIME'S MEDICAL INFORMATION TO THAT AFT HEAD?! WHO WERE YOU GOING TO GIVE IT OUT TO NEXT…THE UNI-MAKER?!"
Swoop who was outside waiting, winced in pain as he watched the locked office door vibrate as if it was holding up against hurricane force winds, "Me Swoop can hear him thru plugs!" he exclaimed as he placed his hands over his audios and he rushed out of the med bay.
Rodimus Prime's office…
Rodimus was signing the last bit of paperwork on Ultra Magnus...when Mt. Hatchet erupted, he winced, "Pit, maybe I should have gone thru with the court martial!"
Prowl shook his head in irritation as he tried to ignore the pain in his audios, "The audio plugs are not working!" he yelled out, "Ratchet must have recorded it to the highest possible audio setting!"
In the tunnels…underneath Autobot City…
Even with the headphones on, the former Joes winced as they heard the roaring of the Hatchet, "Damm," muttered Flint as he helped to ease his wife onto the floor, "Now, I know why they called him the Hatchet!"
Cover Girl and Psyche Out, though, gave each other a knowing look; both of them were thinking the same thing...remembering their first encounter with the CMO's temper in the past.
Back in the CMO's office…
First Aid winced in pain as he used his hands to cover his audios, "I think I preferred the court martial," he muttered.
As if he was hearing him the video of Ratchet bellowed, "OH NO…NO COURT MARTIAL FOR YOU…YOU SLAGGER! NOT AFTER ALL THE TIME AND EFFORT I MADE FOR YOU…TEACHING YOU…THAT WOULD BE TOO FRAGGING EASY! SPEAKING OF TEACHING, WHY DIDN'T YOU FINISH SWOOP'S MEDICAL EDUCATION?! WAS IT BECAUSE YOU WERE JEALOUS OF ALL THE TIME I SPENT WITH HIM, OR DID YOU THINK HE WAS MERELY A DUMB DINOBOT?!"
At the Ark…Wheeljack's old laboratory…
Preceptor and Boomer winced as they heard the Hatchet's bellows coming from the city, "Pit, am I ever glad we're here!" Boomer exclaimed as she injected a liquid into a cyber mouse.
"Indeed," her partner agreed as he looked up from his calculations that he was writing on Wheeljack's old drawing board, "If we were in the city at the moment it would be agonizing on our audios."
"Have you ever…pit," she muttered as she looked at the dead cyber mouse in her hand; she resignedly sighed as she threw it on the dead pile of cyber mice beside her chair.
"If you were going to ask have I ever seen Ratchet this furious before in life, no…but," he trailed off lost in thought.
"But," she prompted as she turned on her stool in ordered to get a better look at him.
"When he saw Ultra Magnus the first time in eons on Earth... when we were building the first Autobot City; he couldn't stay in the same room with him without breaking a data pad, a wrench, anything that was in his hand when he was forced to interact with him! It got so bad, that Optimus Prime suggested that he take up a hobby in order to curb whatever angry he felt toward Ultra Magnus," he explained as he turned his attention fully on her.
"What hobby was that?" she asked in curiosity.
"Metal sculpting," he replied eagerly, "In fact, he was highly successful and made a second career of it here on Earth! One of his last pieces is touring Europe at the moment!"
"Really?" she asked with amazement.
"Oh, yes!" he exclaimed, "It's called 'Kicking Aft'!
Before she could question him more on the subject, a beeping sound was heard thru out the room. "What in Primus's name?" muttered Preceptor as he looked underneath Wheeljack's drawing board and discovered the source of the sound…a tiny safe that apparently had just became unlocked.
A few moments later…
Boomer and Preceptor stared down as the message cube in apprehension; finally Boomer gathered the courage to turn it on. "Hey, Boomer!" exclaimed the long dead inventor, "This is your Uncle Jack! I hope I timed this right, and that you're working with Preceptor instead of by yourself on this slagging project or should I say projects! By the way, this safe would only open when Ratchet's recording can be heard here in my shop…and since I am the one who helped record his message for First Aid," here the image shuddered in memory of the event, "well…I can accurately tell you that it's going to last twelve hours."
Preceptor made a strange noise as he gasped out, "Twelve hours?!
At the same time, Boomer exclaimed in shock, "Twelve hours?!"
"Yes," replied Wheeljack as if was there in person to answer their question, "Twelve hours. It would have been longer, but Ratchet's vocalizer was becoming hoarse from his constant yelling." He clapped his hands in glee, "Which should give you both plenty of time to build the time machine from the plans I have drawn up…and yes, Preceptor I am fairly certain that it will work! I put Blackarachia's time machine back together again; reverse engineered it; and then Ironhide blasted it into tiny, little pieces; which I then dumped into one of Hawaii's active volcanoes."
They paused the recording, looked at one another for a moment and then dived under Wheeljack's drawing table. "Ow!" they exclaimed as they both hit their helms together in their rush to get into the open safe. They reach drew out something from the safe…for Preceptor it was the plans for the time machine and for Boomer it was a stasis cube.
"What the slag?" she muttered as she stared down at the cube.
"Mmm, I don't know," muttered Preceptor thoughtfully as he turned Wheeljack's message back on.
"Also, in the safe," continued Wheeljack, "is a stasis cube that contains a tube of a very dangerous formula that Ratchet and I created…" Boomer and Preceptor stared down at the cube in fear, but their heads shot back up at Wheeljack's next words, "The formula will change any Cybertrion into a human…but it has one tiny side effect."
Fourteen hours later…near midnight…Autobot City's meeting room …
Rodimus Prime thought his audios were still ringing, he asked, "You're kidding me!"
"No, Prime," reported Preceptor, "It can make a Cybertrion into a very young or very old human. They destroyed their research as soon as they created it, but they made us enough of the formula to give us three chances at getting Blackarachia."
"However," continued Boomer, "Uncle Jack says it's only been tested on cyber mice, and he recommends we use one dose on someone in order to make certain that it works."
Silence reigned over the room, finally Swoop spoke up, "Me Swoop say…regretfully…that we test it on Him Springer.
"What?!" everyone bellowed at the Dinobot, and they were about to shout out more at him when they were interrupted by Psyche Out.
"He's right!" he shouted out and then he slumped in from his position on the table; he lamented to them, "He's right…I…We can't do anything for him besides keeping him sedated! And even that's not working long on him! He's suicidal when his awake, and if someone is not watching him…"
Rodimus Prime dropped his face into his hands as the room was once again filled with silence, finally Prowl agreed sorrowfully, "They're right…it is the only logical solution, Prime."
"Unless, you want to loose another Autobot to that bitch…son," whispered Lt. Col. Fairborne as he stood up on the table and walked toward him. "Marrisa told me he was your childhood friend," he comforted him as he patted him on the arm, "That you been thru a lot together…yes, there is a chance he could die from this or he could begin a new life as a human. Either way, you need to let him go and let him find peace…Rodimus Prime."
Silence once again reigned, finally Rodimus Prime looked up and huskily ordered, "Do it…before the Press Conference that's coming up in two clicks. I can't…I just can't…watch him…"
Preceptor, Boomer, and Swoop looked at him in sympathy, "We understand, Prime," whispered Boomer and then they quickly left the room in order to prepare the procedure.
As soon as they left, Rodimus stood up and said, "I am going to the Memorial Hall if you need me."
As they watched him leave, Prowl softly muttered, "I wish he didn't have to go thru this…and at such a young age!"
"He had to sooner or later, Prowl," Fairborne commented as he and Psyche Out jumped into his offered hand.
"But, losing all three of them…he has known them since sparkling hood!" he whispered sorrowfully, "Kup, Arcee, and now…Springer!"
"Springer has a small chance at living in a new life," Psyche Out reminded him, "And you understand what he is going thru…in fact you still haven't finished grieving over your own loss, am I right?"
"No," he hoarsely admitted as he placed them on the ground, "I haven't finished grieving over them. Perhaps…perhaps we can get thru this…together."
Five Minutes later…Memorial Hall…
The Dinobots, with the exception of Swoop, were preparing for the funeral that would take place as soon as Blackarachia was finally dealt with and the time travelers were home. Sludge was busy putting black candles in the candlesticks that lined against the walls, he looked up as Rodimus Prime entered the room and immediately noticed the grief stricken look upon his face. He sighed mournfully, "Me Sludge ask is Him Springer dead too?"
With those words, they all looked up at Prime who was walking towards the table that held Arcee's temporary resting place. He somberly replied, "He might as well be if Wheeljack's and Ratchet's formula actually works!"
Standing near Kup's shell, Grimlock asked fearfully, "What do You Prime mean?"
Rodimus didn't reply, he merely stared down at Arcee for a moment and then he moved towards Grimlock. As he stared down at the face of his old mentor, Grimlock once again asked him, "You Prime scaring Me Grimlock…which not easy to do! What formula of Him Ratchet's and Him Wheeljack's?"
Rodimus looked up at the Dinobot, and then he answered him softly as he walked toward the table the held Chromia's body, "They were successful in turning cyber-mice into flesh and blood but the formula had one side effect…it made the mice into little babies or into very frail…and very old mice. In order it to be certain that it worked on fully functional, Cybertrions…"
The Dinobots were silent for a moment finally, Grimlock muttered out, "You Prime…"
Rodimus interrupted him as tears began to gather in his optics, "Swoop and Psyche Out said they couldn't do anything for him…that it is most likely that he would commit suicide if he wasn't constantly watched…"
The Dinobots slowly came around Rodimus Prime and Chromia's empty shell, Slag growled out softly, "You Prime…it will be…"
Rodimus Prime cried out as he slumped over Chromia's body, "How could I…one of my best friends…from sparkling hood?!"
Grimlock gently put a hand on his leader's shoulder, "You Rodimus…let it out," he comforted him, "Let it out like You Rodimus told Us Dinobots a tron ago…when Him Ratchet and Him Wheeljack died."
As Rodimus wept, he called out, "My mate…I need my mate…"
Snarl sighed sadly, "We get Her Marrisa back soon…"
He was about to say more when Swoop spoke out over the comm. channel, "Me Swoop to Him Prime…Him Wheeljack's and Him Ratchet's formula success, Him Springer now human baby!"
Rodimus Prime gathered himself together long enough to order him, "Prime, here…get with Lt. Col. Fairborne and Prowl to make new living arrangements for Springer. Also," he choked up as tears continued to flow down his face, "make fake shells of Springer and Ultra Magnus…make them appear dead, Swoop. There is no reason to give anyone, particularly the Decepticons, reason to believe that they are still alive."
"Me Swoop say okay," he confirmed, "Me Swoop out."
Grimlock sighed wearily as he morbidly ordered, "You Sludge come with Me Grimlock…we go get two more tables."
Sludge made a disgusted face, "Me Sludge doesn't want to honor Him Aft Magnus even if Him Magnus not dead."
Rodimus snorted in agreement as he stood up, "I don't want to either, but I am telling the Press he died from internal wounds that Blackarachia's power inflicted on him…so I've got to appear that I am honoring a great Autobot warrior, that's what the public will be expecting!"
The Dinobots growled in disgust, and Slag asked, "And story on Him Springer?"
Prime closed his optics with grief as he replied, "Suicide…he couldn't handle what he done to Arcee, which is not too far from the truth." He opened his optics that now were glowing a brilliant white, he growled out, "And I am ordering everyone in the city before the press conference…And I do mean everyone…to not to say, write, or even think of what truly happened to Ultra Magnus as well as Springer! If they do, they are going to wish they hadn't been sparked!"
Two hours later…Char…Hook's Med Bay…
The three of them watched the press conference as Rodimus Prime stood in front of a red curtain as he explained the recent attack on Autobot City, Hook muttered as he folded his arms as he patiently waited for what he knew was coming, "I always felt Elita One would have made a brilliant Decepticon, and an excellent mate for Megatron."
"Affirmative," stated Soundwave, "Statement: Not now though, we have enough problems dealing with Galvatron."
Hook snorted in agreement, "Tell me about it!"
"Shh!" hushed Rumble, "Prime is about to introduce him!"
"As many of you have no doubt heard," he said over the view screen, "Optimus Prime's SIC, Commander Prowl, somehow survived the ambush a tron ago. I am here today to tell you it's the truth, thanks to one of the Dinobots…Swoop; his spark was saved and placed into stasis."
"I knew it!" exclaimed Hook.
"Shh!" scolded Rumble
"However, it wasn't until recently that we were able to find a proper shell that served as a temporary placement for him until a new body was built for him. The temporary shell we used was Moonracer's and while he was within the shell; he recovered and caught up to what has been happening since he went into stasis," continued Rodimus Prime, "Gadget, daughter of the late Ratchet; led a team consisting of Boomer, Swoop, and Sunstreaker in the creation of a new body for Optimus Prime's and now my…yes that's right Ms. O'Neil…my SIC!"
Rumble moaned out in misery, "Barricade was right! I thought we were done having that slag head interfering…"
Hook interrupted him, "Rumble, shh!"
"Well, Ms. O'Neil" drawled out Prime as he absentmindedly traced the scars on his face, "I needed a new one since Blackarachia killed Ultra Magnus and he was the only one qualified for the job! And how does he feel? Why don't you ask him yourself?" He gestured to someone beside him, the crowd gasped as the newly re-formed SIC appeared beside Rodimus Prime.
Rumble cursed out, "Slag!"
Soundwave choked out in shock, "Query: how?"
Hook growled out in aggravation as he replied, "Remember what I said earlier? They were creative…extremely creative! I do know that wasn't an invisibility cloak like that slagger Mirage has!" He looked over the mech's form with a critical optic, "If I had to guess… they built him for speed, stealth, and a lubricant dream for every femme and sub mech in the galaxy; though how they managed to convince that fragger Sunstreaker to go along with it, I'll never know!"
Soundwave sighed wearily as he pressed a button stop the broadcast, "Statement: Back to work…must get everyone functional as soon as possible."
Hook and Rumble snorted in agreement, "Yeah…the sooner we can give this bad news to Galvatron the better our chances of coming out of it alive will be!" exclaimed Rumble as he hopped out of the chair.
If Soundwave had left the new conference on just a few moments longer, they would have heard even more bad news…for them at least.
A few moments later…The News Conference within Autobot City…the Auditorium…
"Yes," Rodimus Prime repeated wearily, "The Matrix has turned her into a Cybertrion because I fell in love with her and she with me…if you have any further questions, please direct them to Preceptor. You'll meet her once she has fully recovered, thank you for your time."
Rodimus Prime and Prowl left the conference and soon as they were well enough away from the reporters; Prowl suggested, "Why don't you go recharge for a while Prime?"
"If I do, all I dream about is her," he muttered in longing.
"But, your body still needs rest," countered Prowl, "And you won't rest much when we go into the past."
Rodimus sighed wearily as he reluctantly agreed, "Fine, your in charge…wake me up if anything happens!"
Prowl nodded his head in agreement, "Will do Prime." As soon as he was certain he was out of audio range, he called out over the comm. channel, "Teletran, where is Psyche Out?"
"In his quarters," responded the computer, "recharging."
"Wake him up," he growled out, "and have him meet me in my office. He and I need to have a very long talk!"
A few moments later…Prowl's office within Autobot City…
Psyche Out yawned sleepily as he grumbled, "0100, why is it always 0100 when one of them calls? Don't they sleep?"
"Yes, we do," answered Prowl from his doorway, "Except when something comes up or if our processor has been running all day on one particular topic…as mine has Dr. Rich-Steen. So, would you please stop loitering in the hallway and come in?"
Psyche Out started at him in worry as he came into the room and immediately noticed the giant chalkboard that was blank except with a title as well as Cover Girl's and his names. He read the title, "Uh-oh…"
"Yes, uh-oh!" drawled out Prowl as he sat down behind his desk, "I never met you two before now, but I immediately recognized your voice as well as Cover Girl's! Now, why is that I wonder?"
He gulped in fearfully as he protested, "I can't tell you everything, and neither can Cover Girl…Hawk order us to prevent…"
"The timeline becoming more fragged up than it is already," finished Prowl as he closed his optics in frustration, "Who else was there helping Ironhide, Wheeljack, and Ratchet to cover the slagging thing up? And how did you managed to incapacitate the entire Autobot and Decepticon armies that were on Earth at the time?
"Hawk, of course," he answered unhappily, "My husband, Lifeline; Jinx; Mainframe; Scarlet; Snake Eyes; and Bombshell."
"Bombshell?" he asked with a raised brow, "I don't remember any Joe designated Bombshell?!"
Psyche Out shifted uncomfortable, "You'll find out."
"Of course," he grumbled out in frustration, "I was already getting a processor ache the moment I heard Blackarachia mentioning back in time in that video clip," he gave a deep sigh, "And the answer to my other question?"
"Stigma has some type of gas that placed them in a deep re-charged until we got Blackarachia…taken care of," he replied regretfully.
It took all of Prowl's will power not to snap at the human, "Of course…which resulted in the Decepticons attacking every few days for a half a Earth year," he hissed out in fury, "And when they were not attacking, those blasted twins pulled pranks when they weren't in Med Bay being repaired!"
Psyche Out weakly apologized, "Sorry, but it was the only thing Stigma could think of to keep them out of Blackarachia's hands…plus Hawk approved it…"
Prowl took a deep breath as he interrupted him, "No…you were right to do that, but it was a pain in the aft dealing with the consequences of their unexpected recharge!" He sighed again, "All right, I won't press you or Cover Girl any further on what will happen in the past...and I'll make certain Prime understands this. But, I need to know one thing…and unlike Ultra Magnus, I will not forcefully make you break patient confidentiality."
"What do you want to know?" he asked warily.
Prowl paused for a moment, and then forced the question out of his vocalizer, "Did Blackarachia rape Optimus Prime?"
Psyche Out bit his lip and stared down at the floor for a moment; finally he looked up and whispered in regret, "Yes."
Prowl gave a heavy sigh as he placed his face within his hands, there was silence for a moment…then Psyche Out let out a bitter chuckle, "He knew."
"What?" he muttered softly as he looked up.
"He knew," he repeated, "He knew you would figure out what happened to him." He gave a deep sigh, "He left a message for you and Rodimus in his quarters at the Ark…he hid it quite well, so in order to find it, you'll need to say the password out loud."
Prowl started at him for a moment, then he asked, "What is the password?"
"The first Earth joke you heard," he replied.
Prowl groaned as he remembered the incident, "Wonderful," he grumbled and then waved his hand in dismissal.
He was about to leave the room, when he stopped and told him, "Prowl…you need to tell Rodimus what happened to his father. I don't know entirely what's in that message he left, but I do know he mentions...what happened to him."
As he left the room, Prowl stood up and looked out of his window at the pre dawn sky…
4 hours later…Rodimus Prime's office…
Rodimus stared at him in shock; finally he closed his optics and put his head within his hands. Prowl looked at him in sympathy as he muttered softly, "I should have known something had happen…whenever Elita spoke to him over the comm.; he immediately went out for long drives in the countryside. I tried to stop him at first because he had no escort, until he just snapped at me that he needed…"
"To be alone,' finished Rodimus as he looked up at his SIC, "To feel the open road and the wind against my windshield…I've felt the same way at times, when this job got too much to handle."
Prowl smiled sadly, "You truly are your father's son, Prime. And…"
"I know," chuckled out Rodimus bitterly, "Thank Primus I do not take after my mother...too much! Chromia told me that constantly over the comm. channel whenever we talked!"
They were silent for a moment as they remembered the feisty femme; finally Prime let a deep sigh as he said, "Let's go see what's on that message cube."
A few moments later…the Ark…Optimus Prime's old quarters…
Rodimus raised a brow in surprised as he stared down at the torn sleeping bag and pillow; he looked up at his SIC and asked, "Marrisa, I presume?"
"Yes," he replied, "She dreamt of…having you when a strange mech, in her words, showed up and told her that you had been captured by your mother."
Rodimus purred in pride and pleasure as his optics glowed a brilliant white, "She's getting stronger…she wants me…soon…" He felt a cold, invisible hand hit him in the helm as a femme whispered in his audio, "Now, is not the time to be thinking with your spike!"
He hissed out in frustration as Prowl looked at him in curiosity, "Let's get this over with," he grumbled, and then muttered under his breath, "Want my mate."
Prowl wearily sighed and he spoke out loud, "How much wood can a wood chuck can a wood chuck chuck wood?"
Prime snickered, "You glitched over that!"
Prowl rolled his optics in annoyance, and was about to make a comment, when they both heard a beeping noise coming from underneath the berth. He reached under it, and pulled out a message cube. They both stared down at it, finally Prime ordered softly, "Turn it on, Prowl."
Optimus Prime's face sprang up with one simple message, "Turn on my desk view screen."
They looked at one another; finally Rodimus asked as he turned on the view screen that was on a nearby desk, "Was he always this…dramatic?"
"Rodimus," commented Prowl as he stared into the view screen, "You're one to talk about dramatics." He sighed sorrowfully, "No, he wasn't always this dramatic…in fact it happened very rarely, but when he was…it was always profound."
They immediately became silent as the Optimus Prime's weary face appeared on the mini view screen, "Prowl, Rodimus," he rumbled out from the video, "I am recording this before I leave for Moon Base 2 due to the fact that Ironhide, Wheeljack, and Ratchet seem to be rather…anxious…about our coming trip. I can only assume that the ambush you were involved in Prowl will be happening soon and as a consequence…my coming death."
He paused for a moment, and then slowly took off his mask…both of them gasped in amazement…underneath the mask; Optimus Prime looked exactly like an older version of Rodimus Prime. He smiled sadly as he asked softly, "Are really that surprised that I look like you son…Prowl?" He chuckled humorlessly, "Or should I say you look like me…with the expection of those slagging scars your mother gave you?" He shook his head his head in denial as he explained, "She wasn't always like the femme you know now…before the war…she was funny, feisty, dramatic, stubborn, and loved to dance to the latest music from the Solars. After, I woke up here on Earth and contacted her over the comm. channel, she was still those things…but she was also very paranoid and fiercely determined to free Cybertron of Megatron's control."
He took a deep breath as he continued, "Then…then I met her future self…what she turned into after my death, I…I…" He dropped his face into his hands for a moment, and then he looked up with tears running down his face, "Psyche Out says it wasn't my fault…that I had no control over my actions. But, even now…" He took another breath as he struggled with his words, "Prowl will remember when we went to Cybertron for a visit, it was about an Earth year after the…incident…she expected us to have some 'fun' after our battle… 'fun'!" He gave a bitter laugh, "It took all of my will power not to throw up right then and there! Fortunately, I was able to use Megatron as an excuse to get back to Earth…" He laughed hysterically, "If he ever found out I used him as an excuse to not have sex with my bondmate!"
Rodimus Prime and Prowl watched wretchedly as one the greatest leaders that the Autobots had ever known went into hysterics. Prowl sighed sadly as he muttered, "Optimus…"
At the same time, Rodimus whispered in distress as tears slowly crept down his face, "Father…what in Primus's name had she done to you?"
Finally, Optimus Prime managed to pull himself together and once again looked into the viewer, "There is one thing on Earth or on Cybertron that I have no regrets in my dealings with Elita One…you my son. I never regret siring you with her…when I first saw you after I woke up from her…spell…I couldn't believe that I sired this brave, swift, and confident mech that stood before me." He's lips quirked in amusement, "Though, when I saw you again as Hot Rod…I dearly wish you were not so swift! How many speeding tickets did I have to talk you out of serving him Prowl?"
Prowl snorted in amusement as he folded his arms, "5, 633…you nearly beat the twins' record in your first year on Earth."
As if he already heard the answer, Optimus commented, "And that doesn't include the tickets from the Portland Police Department that I had to pay personally on your behalf, son."
Rodimus looked at Prowl in shock, "He paid my fines?!"
"Yes," drawled out Prowl as his door wings twitched in irritation, "though I did try to talk him out of it."
As if hearing them Optimus Prime chuckled out, "Why do you think I picked you to baby-sit Daniel as soon as he entered his toddler years? Kill three birds with one stone…a permanent baby sitter for him, to teach you about responsibility, and a way to curb you from breaking the twins' record for speeding tickets."
Prowl stifled his chuckles as Rodimus rolled his optics in a mixture of annoyance and amusement, "I'll have to remember that one when my children become younglings!"
Optimus smiled in pleasure as if he heard him, "I hope you do, Rodimus…but I mostly hope you will be a better father than I was to you." Silence reigned over the room, and Optimus wearily sighed, "It's nearly time for me to go, time for me to become..." he used his fingers to make quotation marks as he rolled his optics in annoyance, "the great Optimus Prime."
He scowled as he grumbled, "I rather be traveling on Route 66 than to go…" He gave another deep sigh, "Rodimus…within the message cube is a permission chip, give it Psyche Out if you want to know more about my life. He can tell you what we talked about in my sessions with him…and not all of it was about that glitch that I had the misfortunate of being bonded too! Also, he made me keep a video diary in order to help me process what happened and to deal with my feelings whenever I had contact with Elita, Ultra Magnus, as well as you…I gave him the entire diary a week ago and told him to keep it for me until I get back. However, if something happens to me…to give it to you if you ask for it."
Rodimus lowered his head as he mourned the father he never really knew, he muttered, "Father, thank you."
"Prowl…" drawled out Optimus as he put on his mask, "take care of my son, as you have taken care of me. Also," he gained a mischievous look in his optics, "Ratchet, Ironhide, Wheeljack, and I left you a few…presents…underneath the berth in your quarters here at the Ark. It's just a little something to help you deal with your…fans. Optimus Prime out."
They stared at the blank viewer for a moment, and then Rodimus gained the same mischievous look as his sire, "Mmm, I wonder what they left you?" he asked as he slowly walked backwards towards the door.
Prowl immediately processed what he was going to do, "Rodimus Prime," he warned him, "Don't you dare!"
"Oh, I dare!" he exclaimed as he rushed out of the room with Prowl hot on his trail.
It only took Rodimus a few minutes to get into Prowl's old room and he immediately dived down, as he reached under the berth, he felt a hand on his shoulder. "Rodimus," growled out Prowl furiously, "I really don't think we need to…"
He shrugged off the hand easily, "Oh, but we do!" he enthusiastically exclaimed; "Besides…I haven't had any thing to…ah ha! What do we have here?!" He drew out a medium-sized box from underneath the berth, and immediately opened it, "Let's see…fuzzy handcuffs, a data pad on how to please a femme, lubricant," as he listed the items, Prowl's face turned red in embarrassment, "Oh! Fake spikes! I might have to borrow those if you don't mind Prowl…"
Prowl groaned out in humiliation as he leaned against the wall, "When I get my hands on Gadget!"
"OH!" exclaimed Rodimus as he continued to bring out objects from the box, "Massage wax! I'll just take this Prowl, instead of the fake spikes…if you don't mind! Marrisa is basically a virgin…again…and I'll need her to relax and enjoy the…"
"Go ahead," Prowl interrupted him sarcastically as he banged the back of his helm on the wall, "I apparently have been recently gifted with an entire stock from an interface shop!"
"Thanks!" he exclaimed brightly and without delay stored the wax in his subspace pocket, "Let's see…this is from father...I just know it!" he held up a data pad and read the title out loud, "'How to escape from a chasing femme or sub-mech!' Primus, I wish I had this when I first became a Prime!"
Prowl immediately swiped the data pad from him, and earnestly began to read it.
An hour later…in front of the Ark's entrance…
"Is everyone ready?" asked Rodimus Prime as they prepared to board the shuttle.
"Me Sludge say ready!" exclaimed the Dinobot in excitement.
"I'm definitely ready!" shouted Boomer as she thought, 'I am finally going to meet Uncle Jack!'
"Ready, Prime," stated Prowl as he prayed to himself, 'Primus, please let me get thru this with my sanity intact!'
"Then let's roll!" he ordered and then the boarded the shuttle; soon…before anyone could blink, it disappeared from sight.