Once again…own nothing but OC's. I am nearly finished…just two more chapters to wrap everything up. One chapter will concentrate on the past during the time of Optimus Prime and one on the future when Rodimus Prime returns from the past.
During the battle when Blackarachia become a giant spider and grabbed a hold of Prowl…at the end of the last chapter…at the Ark…Med Bay…
Boomer and Bombshell tip toed toward the med bay's entrance, "Why are we doing this?" softly hissed out Bombshell as she joined her new friend on the floor.
"You wanted to know how bad he's going to be," she replied sarcastically in a low voice, "Now, just creep along with me and be quiet! When we reach his office door, we're going to peek in…and if I say retreat! Do it!"
Bombshell nodded her head reluctantly as she thought, 'I feel like I'm in Beachhead's obstacle course…ah well…at least I am not crawling under those bloody wires!' Slowly, they crept along the floor until they reached his office door; Boomer gestured to her to slowly sit up with and peek into the room.
Ratchet was at his desk reading the holographic information that came from the data cube; he's optics were a brilliant white and he had a dreadful scowl on his face, within his hands was his favorite wrench…which he now twisted beyond all recognition. Suddenly, the cube automatically clicked off…an uncanny silence filled the room. Until, Ratchet bellowed out, "I AM GOING TO KILL THEM! KILL! KILL! KILL!" He flung his useless wrench into the wall and overturned his desk, "KILL!"
Wincing in pain even though they had audio plugs on; Boomer called out, "Retreat!" As Bombshell raced out for her life; Boomer quickly pressed a button near Ratchet's office door as she ran out of the room, above the button there was writing on the wall: LOCKDOWN IN CASE OF EXTREME EXPLOSION FROM RATCHET! FOR EMERGENCY USE ONLY!
A moment later, as they both caught their breath at the end of the hall, Boomer gasped out, "Now…you know why we call him the Hatchet!"
From the Med Bay they heard a crash and bellow, "BOOMER OPEN THIS DOOR; I KNOW THAT PROWL GAVE YOU HIS OVERRIDE CODE BEFORE HE LEFT!"
"Yes, I do," Bombshell panted out, "Bloody hell! I can hear him even thru those audio plugs you gave me!"
"One of these days I will create a pair that can withstand Mt. Hatchet," she said hopefully.
"BOOMER!" roared out Ratchet and then they heard glass breaking, "LET ME OUT, I NEED TO GO TO CYBERTRON AND MURDER MY FRAGGER OF AN APPERTINCE AS WELL AS THAT AFT-HEAD MAGNUS!"
"I thought he was dead in the future?" she asked as she tried not to wince at the sounds of Ratchet's yelling and tearing his office apart.
"BOOMER!" he bellowed as he slammed against his office door.
"Gadget is just as bad as her sire," Boomer mournfully replied and then yelled out, "Sorry, Ratchet; but, Prowl told me not to let you out until I am certain you won't mess up the time line!
"FRAGG THE TIME LINE!" he roared out, "WHEN I GET MY HANDS ON THOSE SLAGGERS…"
As he went on with his threats; Boomer sighed and waved her new friend away, "Go back to the command center and monitor the comm. channel..."
"BOOMER...LET ME OUT!"
"I'll stay here until he calms down," she continued as if her audios were not ringing inside her processor.
"Better you than me," she muttered as she went back to her post.
Boomer sighed wearily as she leaned against the wall, and then winced as she heard him smash something against the wall, "Primus, maybe I should have taken Preceptor's advice about bringing sedatives!" she exclaimed.
Back the battle…
Blackarachia gaped in astonishment at the spirit, finally she managed to recover her wits and asked, "It was you?! You were the one to deny me the title of Primal?!"
Aura rolled her optics in annoyance, "No," she drawled out, "you egotistical glitch! It was all of us…including both Primus and Prima! We could sense the darkness within you even before you bonded with Optimus Prime! If it was up to us, we would have encouraged him to pursue Flare Up, Moonracer, Beta 12, Inferno, Steelhead, pit…even Chromia! We would have accepted anyone, but you…Elita One!"
At her words, insane femme's mouth dropped open in shock, then she screamed out, "I was worthy for the title of Primal! Alpha Trion said so!"
"And you believe that old fragger?!" she sarcastically asked as she twirled the Ring of Prima within her hand, "Do you want to know his punishment? Limbo! Where no one can see and hear him…even a Prime or Primal!" She looked toward the horizon, and smiled as she noticed two vehicles approaching, "Would you like to know who my successor is, Elita?"
"IT'S BLACKARACHIA!" she bellowed, "YOU MEADLESOME GHOST! AND IF I HAD TO GUESS IT WOULD BE MY SON'S ORGANIC BONE! BUT, SHE'S HUMAN, NOT CYBERTRION…WHY YOU PICKED HER IS BEYOND ME!"
Aura snorted in disgust, "You don't know a lot of things, Elita! Oh…for your information, she's not human anymore!"
"WHAT?!" she roared out as two vehicles made their way into the battle zone…a Windabago and a Land Rover.
Rodimus and Marrisa immediately transformed and raced toward his Optimus Prime, whom was resting against Sludge. Rodimus Prime's face was stricken with grief as he watched Optimus Prime leaned away from him in fear, "Father," he whispered as he slowly stroked his face, "Its me… Hot Rod…you're son."
"H-Hot R-rod?" stuttered out Optimus Prime as looked up at him in wonder, "Y-you l-look older."
"Yes," he muttered as he and his mate looked around at the field of battle, "I do." Gadget was busy tending to an injured Prowl and Wheeljack with Silverstar hovering near them; Lifeline was tending to an unconscious Psyche Out, while at the same time instructing Scarlet in caring for an equally unconscious Cover Girl; Snake Eyes was patching up Hawk's arm, while Jinx and Stigma were covering him in case his insane mother started to re-new her attacks; and as for Starscream…he was still throwing stuff out of his tanks.
Marrisa Fairborne and Rodimus Prime both stood up as fury raced thru them; she growled out, "That's it…
"No more of this fragging destruction!" finished Rodimus Prime as he wrathfully glared at his mother.
"Indeed it does," agreed Aura Primal as she looked over her successor, "Marrisa Fairborne, please step away from them for a moment."
Blackarachia gasped out in surprise, "That slagging vehicle that nearly ran me over with my son…is that organic bone!"
Aura Primal glared at the insane femme in rage, "I told you…she's not human anymore!" she exclaimed and then turned her attention to Rodimus Prime's mate, "Arise, Mara Primal!" With those words she hurled the Ring of Prima right at her, and disappeared from sight.
"No," Blackarachia whispered as she watched the weapon whirl around the former human, "No…it can't be! I am the one who deserves it!"
Mara felt has if she was in the eye of a hurricane; she was getting taller and stronger…within her head she could hear a chorus of voices welcoming her, encouraging her, and telling her how to use the weapon. Just as the weapon was just about to pass in front of her, she caught it in mid air. She gazed at it in wonder for a moment, and then she raised it toward the giant monster that her mother-in-law had become; "This race is over…Blackarachia!"
As she charged toward her; Rodimus Prime ordered, "Everyone, fire at her face! We need to keep her distracted until Mara cuts her down to size!"
Everyone, both Cybertrions and Joes…who were not severely injured…fired at the insane femme. She hissed out in fury as she tried to see thru the gunfire, "Slag!" she called out, "Where did that little organic glitch…AGGAH!"
She screamed out in pain; Mara was racing swiftly underneath her…using the Ring of Prima to cut off her extra legs and claws. Finally, she only had two legs left and was starting to fall. Mara Primal raced away from her, calling out, "Timber, down she goes!"
Blackarachia fell down with a huge crash, and started to change back to a normal looking femme, "No," she weakly hissed out, "You can't beat me!"
"We did," grumbled Mara as she stood over her, aiming both the Ring of Prima and Chromia's gun at her head, "Roddy, what do you want to do with this bitch?!"
Rodimus frowned grimly as he gestured to Prowl, "Give me that last syringe," he ordered, "I need to do this…personally!"
Prowl gave it to him and said, "Here you go, sir."
As he went up to the two femmes, Rodimus Prime denounced, "Blackarachia, formerly known as Elita One…you have caused enough devastation and spark break in two time periods! I, Rodimus Prime, sentence you to this…"
"Sentence me to what?" she interrupted as she tried to get up, but was immediately shoved back down with Mara's foot, "Deactivation?"
"Oh, no," he drawled out as kneeled down next to her, "After everything you have done…the lives you have taken or ruined…that would be too good for you!" He gave her a shot thru her neck cable, "I sentence you to life as a human."
"WHA…!" she started to bellow, but immediately started to scream out in pain. Mara took her foot off her, put her gun into sub space, and backed away; watching as the evil femme twisted and turned in agony.
Rodimus sighed sadly as he too back away, and he stared down at his creator…he nearly missed Starscream coming up behind him…nearly, "What do you want, Starscream?" he asked as he gave him a quick look over his shoulder.
Starscream just looked at him in astonishment, "That insane femme is Elita One from the future?! The one that made me suck Optimus Prime's spike?!"
"I really didn't want to know that," grumbled Rodimus as he kept one optic on the Decepticon and the other on his mother who was getting smaller and more, fleshy.
"I'll take that as a yes," said Starscream as he watched in fascination, "What was she trying to accomplish?"
"Changing the time stream," answered Rodimus Prime as he gave a weary sigh, his mother was a young human woman now…but it appeared she hadn't stopped the transformation, yet.
"What?!" he screeched out, "Even I am not that foolish enough to do that! If you mess with time…you might end up destroying yourself in the process!"
"Glad you have you're priorities straight, Starscream," said Mara Primal behind him, "And I am really sorry to do this…not!"
"What…" Starscream started to say as he turned around, and then he screeched out in pain as the Ring of Prime swirled around him, "AAAGGH!" he screamed out as he disappeared from sight.
"What did you do to the slagger?" asked Gadget as she, Ironhide, and Wheeljack came up to Mara Primal as well as Rodimus Prime.
Mara shrugged as she explained, "They," she held up the Ring of Prima for a moment, "told me to do that…Screamer is currently sound asleep in his quarters with no memory of what happened the past few days."
"I don't suppose," Ironhide started to suggest, but she stopped with a negative shake of her head.
"No," she told him as she gestured to her new weapon, "According to 'them', unlike Starscream…the past few days have been burned into Optimus Prime's spark. If I try to erase what happened, it will drive him insane and…
"Fragg up the time line," finished Wheeljack sadly as his fins blinked blue, "What are we going to do? How are we going to help him?"
"Psyche Out can help him," said Hawk as he came up to them, "Though you'll have to wait until he gets out of the Doc's care, right now the only thing you can do is be there for him." He turned his attention to Rodimus Prime, who by now was staring at an elderly, unconscious, human female. He walked over to him, and asked, "I suppose you'll need my help in falsifying records for her and placing her in an insane asylum?"
"Yes," he replied sadly as he shook his head in despair, "if you wouldn't mind…she has spark broken my father…taken away my mentors and sparkling hood friends…if I take her back to the future, I would be sorely tempted in killing her."
Hawk nodded his head in agreement, "Wild Bill and his group are coming to pick us as well as Mainframe up, and I'll take her with us. I assume you can destroy, what's left of this rocket?"
"Oh, yes," Rodimus Prime drawled out as he stared at Gadget who was injecting his father with a sedative, "The Autobot I have in mind to take care of it, will do an extremely hatchet job of it!"
Two hours later…after the Joes left…
Gadget watched as the last helicopter flew away; when it did…she turned around and stared furiously at Rodimus Prime. "All right, their gone and the others are a safe distance away from the crater. Now, what in the slag did you want me to do?!"
Rodimus shrugged as he slowly stepped away from her, "Destroy the rocket site, Wheeljack's has already destroyed the serum."
"And just how am I suppose to do that all by myself?" she disbelievingly asked.
"Oh," he drawled out innocently, "Just picture in your mind that the site is Ultra Magnus and First Aid."
Her optics narrowed in suspicion, "Why? Sure I know First Aid is a patsy and Ultra Magnus is an aft-head…"
"Because," interrupted Rodimus Prime as he continued to slowly back away, "First Aid wasn't keeping up with the innovatory, as well as maintenance on the Autobots in his care."
"That still doesn't explain," she started to say, but Prime stopped her with a raised hand.
"He also didn't take time to teach Swoop," he quickly explained as he continued to slowly back away from her, "and he broke patient confidentiality with me when he informed Ultra Magnus everything about me as well as whatever showed up on my tri-monthly maintenance as well as any injuries that occur in battle with our enemies."
Gadget stared at him in shock, a strangled noise came out of her vocalizer as she croaked out, "What?!"
"So," he told her cheerfully, "As a consequence, I decided to replace him with you! Congratulations, you're now CMO of the Autobots…Ratchet will be thrilled when he finds out! Oh, Swoop gave Sludge some paperwork for you to go thru…just to give you a head start on the huge pile in your new office!" With those words he transformed, and raced away from her.
Dead silence surrounds Gadget as she processed his words; her optics slowly started to glow a brilliant white, she snarled as she turned around to stare at the rocket launcher; in her processor...it turned into First Aid, and Ultra Magnus.
Some distance away…
The Autobots cringed as they heard a furious bellow, "I AM GONG TO KILL THEM! KILL! KILL! KILL!"
Wheeljack cringed as he tried to get the collar off an unconscious Optimus Prime, "Primus…I was praying she wouldn't have her sire's temper!"
"Apparently, you didn't pray hard enough," said Silverstar as she tried not to stare at Prowl, whom was busy talking to Bombshell over the comm. channel.
"Yes," he answered, "We'll be back as soon as Gadget finishes destroying the rocket site."
"DO I LOOK LIKE I WANTED TO BE CMO OF THE AUTOBOTS?!" they heard her roar out in the distance, "DO I LOOK LIKE I WANTED TO DEAL WITH THIS SLAG ON A DAILY BASIS?! FIRST AID, I AM GOING TO RING YOUR SCRAWNY NECK!"
They heard a crash and a boom in the distance; Bombshell asked Prowl, "Is everything okay, sir?"
"Yes," he replied, "its just Gadget loosing her temper. Speaking of tempers, did Ratchet finish reading the medical logs?"
"Yes sir," she answered, "in fact I think I can patch you into Boomer's comm. channel, she's still guarding his office door."
Prowl winced apprehensively as he quickly declined, "That won't be necessary, just contact me when she finally releases him," he looked up and noticed Rodimus Prime coming toward them, "If I don't hear from you; I'll contact you before we leave, Prowl out."
Rodimus transformed and commented, "I think she's taking her promotion rather well."
"Yes," agreed Prowl as they heard more booms and howls of rage, "I would estimate that in a few clicks, we might actually be able to return to the Ark before dawn."
"YOU AFT HEAD, WHAT DID YOU HOPE TO GAIN FROM THE INFORMATION THAT FRAGGING PATSY OF A MEDIC TOLD YOU?!" they heard her howling out, and then another explosion.
"Are you still going to talk to her about your new look?" asked Rodimus as started toward his mate who was debriefing Stigma.
"Not until she fully calms down," he answered as he went over to Wheeljack, "here let me help you get this slagging collar off of him!"
"Thanks," said Wheeljack as Prowl helped him get the collar off of him, "Are you going to leave right away?"
"Not for a few days, we need to make certain that the time line will be safe and…" replied Prowl, and then he stopped; he looked at Wheeljack wretchedly, "Rodimus…Rodimus, told me I needed to say my…"
Wheeljack threw the collar away, and then stared into Prowl's optics sadly, "I understand," he whispered, then he gathered his wits about him as he gestured to Rodimus Prime and Mara Primal, "Also, I suspect that Rodimus wants to have a few days of some what peace and quiet while he goes on his 'honeymoon.'"
Prowl snorted in agreement, "Yes, Swoop and Boomer have already told him not to spark her up due to the fact they have no idea what the time energies will do to a sparkling."
"Neither do I, it would make a fasinatinggg!" screamed out Wheeljack as Sludge picked him up from behind and gave him a gigantic hug.
"Me Sludge didn't have chance earlier, Me Sludge does now!" he exclaimed as he swung the inventor like a favorite teddy bear, "Me Sludge missed You Wheeljack!"
"Help," croaked out Wheeljack as he looked desperately at Prowl for assistance.
He's lips twitched in amusement, "Sludge, you have to let him go; he needs air, plus Optimus Prime still needs medical care since Gadget is a bit…busy…at the moment.
From the distance, they could hear another huge explosion; Sludge, quickly released Wheeljack and then sheepishly said, "Me Sludge sorry, but Me Sludge missed You Wheeljack."
"I can tell, Sludge," gasped out Wheeljack as he took in the fresh air, "believe me…I can tell!"
Nearly Midnight…the Ark…front entrance…
Ratchet, Boomer, and Bombshell waited patiently for the rescue team to return; the first to show up was a greasy, filthy, Gadget whose optics were still glowing white. Ratchet came up to her with equally glowing white optics, "Are you functional?" he asked as he tried to contain his fury.
"With the exception of wanting to strangle a couple of slaggers…yes!" she yelled out as she clenched and unclenched her hands.
"Good," purred out Ratchet, "I assume they told you about First Aid and Ultra Magnus?" He got a snarl from her in reply, "In that case," he told her as if she gave him a proper answer, "Go to the wash racks, get some energon, and then meet me in my quarters. Boomer informed me that Rodimus has already taken care of that Aft Head Magnus, and all we need to do is come up with an appropriate…punishment…for the other fragger without endangering the time line."
She snarled out, "Got it," and then, she furiously stalked out towards the wash racks.
Prowl, Silverstar, Wheeljack, and Stigma were the next ones to fly in; Ratchet looked them over with a critical optic as he asked, "Are you functional?"
Noticing the medic's furious look, Wheeljack quickly answered, "Yes, but Optimus isn't…he's…" He shook his head despondently as let out a deep sigh, "General Hawk is going to send us, Psyche Out, for a few months as soon as he is released from their med bay. Officially, he will be here to study about Cybertrion bonds with you, unofficially…"
"He will be here to treat, Prime," finished Ratchet as he closed his optics and pinched his nose bridge in frustration, "Slag! That's one thing that humans do better than us…" He trailed off, and suddenly looked up with wicked look in his optics.
Prowl smirked in satisfaction as he silently gestured for the femmes to follow him into the Ark; at the same time Wheeljack stared at his friend fearfully, "Ratchet…I don't like that look in your optics! What have I done?!"
"Done?" he purred out in glee, "You've done nothing, Jack...but, you did give me an idea; A marvelous idea on…HOW TO PUNISH THAT FRAGGING APPERNTICE OF MINE IN THE FUTURE!"
Wheeljack winced in pain as his audios rang, "Terrific," he muttered and then pointed to the horizon, "But, could you please stop shouting! Optimus woke up while your daughter was yelling up a slagging storm…I couldn't get him to calm down, so I had to sedate him again."
Ratchet growled out furiously and took several deep breaths; soon Ironhide and Sludge were flying toward them with an unconscious Optimus Prime between them. "Primus," whispered Ratchet as he sorrowfully looked down at the clawed up, beaten form of Optimus Prime. Sighing, he ordered, "Get him to med bay." He stared off into the horizon, "Where is Rodimus Prime and our new femme leader? I thought they would be behind you."
Ironhide snorted in disgust as he helped Sludge to carry Optimus Prime into the Ark, "Ratchet…I thought you would have figure it out by now; they stopped at that mountain they call Lookout in order to check out the view; they said that they will be at the Ark later."
Ratchet rolled his optics in annoyance, "Right…the view!" he exclaimed sarcastically as he and Wheeljack followed them into the Ark.
Meanwhile on what will be known as Look Out Mountain…
Mara purred as her mate massaged her back with the wax, "This feels so good!" she exclaimed and then gasped in pleasure as Rodimus thursted two fingers into her aft.
"Good," he growled out as he lifted her off the ground by her hips, "Now, if you don't have any objections…I am going to claim you as mine!"
He thursted his spike into her aft, she screamed out as her rear port seal broke, "OH!"
"My mate," he hissed out in pleasure, "you're so slagging tight!"
"Roddy," she whimpered out in passion, "please…move!"
He smirked down at her, and then immediately thursted in and out of her; as she moaned and whimpered, he chanted, "Mine…you're my mate!"
"Yours," she agreed eagerly with each thrust, "All yours."
Then they both screamed out as they overloaded; Rodimus took out his spike slowly, and told her, "I'm going to put a fake spike into your rear port, if that's all right with you?"
"Why?" she asked as she wearily, half way, slumped onto the ground in exhaustion.
"Because," he explained as he gently fingered her rear port and then grinned when he heard her moaning in desire, "You won't be so slagging tight and I want your ports to get used to my spike before I breed you…but I'll be the only one able to take them out of you."
She thought for a moment, finally she agreed, "All right…ow!" She looked over her shoulder at him, "Did you have to spank me?"
"It was only in apparition, Mara," he told her as he thursted the fake spike into her rear port, "Did I hurt you?"
"No," she told him reassuringly, "You only startled me."
"Good," he whispered as he flipped her over onto her back and stared lovingly into her optics, he leaned over her, "Mara…if I do anything that makes you uncomfortable or hurts…tell me…I don't want to end up like 'her!'"
Mara gazed at him devotedly as she caressed his cheek, "If I do…I will tell you, but only if you do the same for me…I don't want to end up like your mother either, Roddy."
He smiled as he nuzzled her hand, they were silent for a moment, until Rodimus asked, "Want me to massage you're front?"
She raised an amused brow at him, "With the wax…of course, unless you want to use your tongue?"
"Mmm," he muttered as he leaned into kiss her, "maybe another time."
Two hours later…Ratchet's Quarters…
Gadget finished off her energon ration as she read over the injury reports that Sludge had given her, "Figures that slag head would loose his memory without making back ups," she grumbled, "Hopefully, Swoop will solve it before I get back! If I see that slagger while he's injured…"
"What has that idiot done now?" hissed out Ratchet as he came into the room and flopped down into a nearby chair in front of the small desk he had in his quarters. Gadget didn't answer, but asked as she handed him the report, "How's Prime…Optimus, not the one who is probably busy fragging his spike out on his mate!
Ratchet sighed dejectedly as he took the data pad, "Physically he's fine now…mentally," he shook his head in despair, "not good, I'm hoping that Rodimus will be able to help me snap him out of it long enough until Psyche Out gets here!" He looked over the data pad quickly, and then grunted in disgust; as he gave it back to her, he said, "There is an old human saying, 'if you have lemons, make lemonade.'"
"What is that suppose to mean here?" she asked in curiosity as she swiped the data pad back from him.
"First Aid is the lemon," he explained as his optics glowed white and he gave her a wicked grin, "And we're…or should I say…Psyche Out is going to make him into lemonade!"
She stared at him for a moment, and then she viciously chuckled out, "Now, that is a mean thing to do for a poor human such as him, after all the help he has done for us…Daddy your brilliant!"
"I know," he said as his smile got broader and he took out two glasses as well as a bottle of high grade from his desk drawer; as he poured them both a glass, he drawled out, "Of course, that doesn't save him from giving him A PIECE OF MY PROCESSOR!"
"It doesn't save him from ME either," she said as she picked up the glass and narrowed her optics furiously, "Of course, besides giving him a piece of my processor…I am personally going to 'show' him my opinion about what he had done as well as giving me my unexpected promotion!"
"Do be sure to 'show' him extra hard for me, sweet spark," growled out Ratchet, and then he looked proudly at his daughter as he raised his glass to her, "But, personally…I am proud that you're taking my place, Gadget!"
She gave him a weak smile as she whispered fearfully, "I'm scared Daddy, I don't know the first thing about being a senior officer!"
He returned her smile, "You'll do fine…you're my little femme! Besides, I'll leave a couple instructional videos for you as well as Swoop!"
She chuckled in dread and amusement, "Thanks, I'll need all the slagging help I can get!" she exclaimed, "But, you better do a video for Swoop first…he will probably need a little encouragement on doing Prowl's surgery as well as the job of CMO until I can get back."
He snorted in agreement, "I will, along with Jack's automatic throwing wrench system…he definitely will have to get it working now! I just know those two pit spawns of my existence will be with Swoop when he finds out that he is in charge until you get back!"
She grunted in agreement as she took her own sip, and stared in revulsion at the stack of data pads on the desk, "Care to help me get a head start on this slagging paper work?!"
He let out a deep sigh as he replied, "Hand me a pad, and I will definitely be doing a video on how to do as well as make time on this fragging red tape!"
Later that day…
Optimus Prime groaned out in agony as his optics came online, and he stared into Ratchet's face, "Ratchet," he whimpered out, "Was it a dream? Did I really meet a…"
"Future version of Elita?" he interrupted softly, "Yes, you did."
Tears ran down his face, as he choked out, "She-she…"
"Sshh," whispered Ratchet as he drew him into a comforting hug, "I know, and I am so sorry, old friend…so sorry!" He allowed him to cry his spark out on his shoulder, then the medic looked up and a small smile came over his face, "Optimus, she…she wasn't the only one to come from the future."
"Wh-what?" he stuttered out as he looked up at him with tearful optics.
"I said," Ratchet repeated as he gazed down at him with a mixture of sadness and joy, "She wasn't the only one…some Autobots came after her…one of them really wants to see you."
"Who?" Optimus Prime whispered harshly, "Who wants to see a broken, old…"
"You don't seem old to me," softly said a some what familiar voice behind him, "A bit broken, maybe, but I am really hoping you won't give her or Megatron the pleasure at seeing you this way."
Optimus frowned in confusion as he drew out of Ratchet's arms, slowly; he shifted around enough to gaze into a pair of very familiar, but tearful optics, "Hot Rod?"
He's son choked out as he slowly came toward him, "Its Rodimus Prime, now."
"Rodimus," said his father as he tried the name out on his tongue, "It…it suits you, but how can you look at me like this? After what she's…" He couldn't get out the words, but looked down on the ground in shame.
The younger Prime gently lifted his face up and said, "I can…because you're my father! And unlike that obsessive glitch…I know you truly love me as well!"
Optimus stared at his son in awe, and then he smiled sadly as he once again started to cry his spark out, "You…Primus!"
Rodimus slowly pulled him into a comforting hug, "It will be all right," he muttered as he let him cry on his shoulder.
While Ratchet slowly slipped out of the med bay; Rodimus said to his father, "I can't tell you what happens in the future, but I can tell you that you will survive what that glitch has done…if you have the courage and will power to do it!"
"I can't," he whispered into his son's chest, "I can't…"
"You can," Rodimus firmly told him as he slightly pulled him out of his arms, "you have too…I learned how to be courageous and to never give up because of you! When I first saw you on Earth for the very first time until you're dying breath…I learned how to be a Prime because I witnessed your actions first hand!"
Optimus gazed into his pleading optics, finally he muttered, "I'll try for you…son, I'll try."
"Good," he muttered as he gently drew him back into a hug, "The first thing you need to do is to do what Psyche Out tells you to do!"
"That mental doctor from G. I. Joe?" he asked in agony.
"Father," warned Rodimus as he tapped him gently on the helm, "You said you would try."
"Fine," he grumbled and then he immediately realized something, "Please...don't tell me that members of the G. I. Joe team were involved in my rescue?!"
"Umm," he responded sheepishly, "I would be lying if I said no, and to tell you the truth it wasn't my idea."
Optimus whimpered, "Then they know…"
"Actually," he said, "From what I heard from Mara, it didn't take them long to figure out what that glitch was doing to you as well as what she was planning."
"Mara?" asked Optimus as he pulled out of his son's arms and for the first time looked at him slightly in amusement.
"My mate," replied Rodimus as he puffed out in pride, "I just bonded and claimed her yesterday or is that early this morning? Anyway, right now she's…"
"She's?" he prompted carefully.
Rodimus gave him a grim smile as he answered, "Talking with General Hawk about mother dearest new accommodations; he is arranging it, and I promise you that this version of that glitch will never bother you again!"
At the same time…Optimus Prime's office…
"So, she's locked up in France?" she asked over the audio comm. channel as she shifted in her chair.
"Outside of Marseilles to be precise," her godfather replied, "Silverstar told me the only Earth language she speaks is English, and this place was the only one in France whose administrator's sister's cousin owes me a huge favor!"
"In other words," she said sarcastically, "Easier to bury the paperwork! Please tell me at least that it's humane and nice…that she will get the care that she needs!"
"I thought you hated her guts?" he asked in amusement.
"I do," she answered as she let out a heavy sigh, "But, unfortunately…she's family; even though like Roddy, if I see her again…I'll kill her in a heartbeat!"
Hawk grunted in agreement as he replied to her earlier question, "Yes, it's nice, humane, along with heavy security; the Head of Security is a former Joe! She'll get the care she needs, don't worry! How's the honeymoon, by the way?"
"Mmm," she muttered dreamily, "despite our somewhat cultural differences on bondage…it's been heavenly! Roddy isn't doing anything, I don't want to do! In fact, we…"
"I don't want to know!" interrupted Hawk quickly, "Really…I don't want to know, too much information, Mara!"
"You asked," she teased him and then more seriously, "When can Psyche Out get here?"
"A couple of weeks," he replied wretchedly, "I can't get Doc to release him any earlier than that, and he got fairly beaten up in that battle when she turned into that monster!"
"Great," she muttered, "And we leave in a few days to go back to the future."
"Can Optimus Prime hold out for that long?" Hawk asked worriedly.
"He's going to have too," she grimly replied, "I don't suppose if Ratchet talks to Doc about how important he is needed here…"
"It couldn't hurt," he interrupted her; "I can't get any further with our stubborn doctor!"
"Okay," she said, "I'm going to put you on hold Uncle Clay until I get Ratchet in here."
He grunted in accord, "I'll get Doc, in my office while I'm waiting.
She placed him on hold, and then called over the comm. channel, "Mara to Ratchet…"
At the same time…the weapons range behind to Ark…
"No, no!" exclaimed Ironhide as he came up to Bombshell, "That isn't a flimsy, human machine gun! If you don't go easy on it, it will blow your fragging hand off!"
"Sorry, sir," she muttered sheepishly.
As Ironhide showed her, yet again, on how to fire a high powered, solar, laser gun; Prowl smiled sadly at the sight of his old friend teaching a helpless rookie. Suddenly, he heard behind him, "He's really pushing her."
He turned around to face another old friend, "Blackarachia killed Kup before she went back in time," he explained to Ratchet, and then turned his attention back to Ironhide's lesson, "Due to this, and I haven't had time to find a replacement for the Academy's head position; I asked Ironhide if he could give our new femme seeker some tips before we had back."
"In other words," grumbled Ratchet as he watched with him, "A slagging crash course…similar to the one he did for Mara Primal a couple of days ago."
"Exactly," confirmed Prowl, and then he let out a deep woeful sigh.
Ratchet glanced over at him, and immediately guessed what was on the SIC's processor; he grabbed his arm and pulled him away from Bombshell's as well as Ironhide's audio range. As soon as he thought it was safe, he hit him on the helm with his wrench and yelled out, "Prowl! Stop with the kicked puppy act! We're dead in the future, yes…but our deaths will not be in vain if you're still alive to help Rodimus Prime and to kick that Aft Head Magnus's aft from here to Cybertron!"
Prowl rubbed his helm, and looked at him forlornly, "I realize that Ratchet…it's just…I wish it hadn't taken…"
"I know," whispered Ratchet dejectedly, "I do too…but we'll do what needs to be done, Prowl." They we're silent for a moment, until he said, "You shouldn't be so hard on Gadget when you talk to her about your new look, Prowl."
Prowl raised his door-wings in irritation, and he snapped out, "Why not?!"
"She was doing you a favor!" Ratchet shouted back, and then he let out a heavy sigh, "Prowl…as medics we do what we think will be best for our patients in the long run. In your case: nearly all of us who know you are dead in the future; you are SIC again; and let us not forget you have to fix whatever that slagger did to your filing system!"
"Don't remind me," he grumbled, "You're point?"
"My point," hissed out Ratchet, "is that you need to find a mate in order to stay sane, Prowl; unless, you want to end up like Elita?!"
Prowl was thoughtfull for a few minutes, finally he reluctantly admitted, "No, I don't want to end up like her…but did your daughter have to create this new shell like this?! I look like…" he shifted uncomfortable, "something out of Play Femme!"
Ratchet chuckled in amusement as he patted him on the arm, "Prowl, look at it this way from a logical view point: your new looks will help you weed out those who are not worthy of your spark, old friend." He looked at him sadly, and softly pleaded, "Please find a mate, Prowl. I don't want to watch…from the Matrix…another friend going completely a round the bend!"
Prowl was once again silent, finally he reluctantly promised, "I will…on Primus's name…I will. But, I still want to punish your daughter for this…irritation!"
Ratchet chuckled in amusement, "If you want to get back at her that bad, find her a mate that is worthy of my little femme's spark."
Prowl snorted in amusement as his door wings fluttered, "I am not Moonracer, Ratchet."
"But, you'll give it a try anyway," guessed Ratchet as he looked at him amusement.
"Yes," he confirmed as his processor was already forming a potential list of possibilities.
Suddenly, they heard over the comm. channel, "Mara to Ratchet, could you please come to Prime's office for a conference?"
A few days later…outside the front entrance of the Ark…
Optimus Prime hugged his new daughter-in-law, and he whispered into her audio, "Take care of him."
She smiled sadly, "I will…good bye, Optimus Prime…until all are one."
He smiled as he watched her board the shuttle, then he turned his attention to his son, "Rodimus…I am sorry that…"
"It's okay," he whispered sorrowfully, and then gave him a weak smile, "You're there for me when I first came to Earth…and in the future, you're there for me in the Matrix. Speaking of which; Ratchet…sooner or later….is going to let you read a…" he paused as he tried to come up with an appropriate word, "interesting list. I know you'll be absolutely furious, but despite your feelings you'll need to give the Matrix to Ultra Magnus when you die."
He stared at his son in confusion, "Why? It's meant to…"
Rodimus raised his hand to stop him as he explained, "It's a long, as well as unbelievable story. Ratchet can give you the short version, but I really need you to give it to the Aft Head. It's the only way; I'll be able to get to it when we face our darkest hour."
"Darkest hour?" muttered Optimus thoughtfully, "Where have I heard that phrase?"
Rodimus smirked in amusement as he half lied, "Probably an old fairy tale." He looked at him sadly, and then pulled him into a deep hug. "Good bye, father…at least for now."
Optimus returned the hug, as he whispered, "Good bye, son…May Primus watch over you and your mate."
At the same time…
Prowl and Ironhide were doing their level best at not laughing like a pair of hyenas as they watched Sludge say his good byes to his creators.
"Me Sludge will miss You Ratchet and You Wheeljack!" he cried out as he hugged them both so tightly that they were gasping for air, "Miss! Don't want You Ratchet and You Wheeljack to die!"
"Sludge!" barked out Gadget as she gave the two laughing mechs a dirty look, "Let them go! I don't want them to die either, but do you really want Aft Magnus to stay as Rodimus Prime's SIC?"
Sludge paused in thought; finally he reluctantly admitted as he hugged them even tighter, "No…Him Aft Magus fragged everything up!"
"Then you need to let them go," she calmly said as she gestured to herself and Boomer, "Besides, we need to get our own hugs in too…you oversized, dinosaur, teddy bear!"
Sighing in regret, he turned them loose, and they immediately dropped onto the ground, gasping for breath, "Me Sludge don't like saying good byes," he grumbled with tears in his optics, "But, Me Sludge say anyway…good bye You Ratchet and You Wheeljack."
"Goodbye," squeaked out Wheeljack as Boomer quickly checked him over for any damage.
Gadget was doing the same for her father, as he panted out to Sludge, "Good bye." As soon as he was certain that his creation was on the shuttle. He growled out softly, as he pointed at Ironhide and Prowl, "Get them."
"With pleasure," growled out his daughter as she threw two wrenches at their heads, and she smirked in satisfaction at their combined yelps. She looked at her father sorrowfully, as she helped him up, "I'll miss you, Daddy," she whispered somberly.
"Aww," he cried out as he pulled her into a hug, "I'll miss you too…one of the lights of my existence. I'll always be watching you with your mother in the Matrix…and if you really need me I'll be there with you in spirit, sweet spark."
She cried on his shoulder for a moment, and then he pulled her away from him, "You better go," he choked out, and then his optics flashed a brilliant white, "You have a job to do and a slagger that needs a more personal touch than what I'll be saying to him after I die."
She growled out as her optics flashed the same furious white, "I'll be sure to hit him extra hard for you, Daddy."
"Do that," he growled out, "I am already planning on giving him a message that will show him my full…displeasure…of his actions in the future."
Meanwhile…during the two medics' emotional good bye…
Boomer and Wheeljack watched the two medics apprehensively, "Oh, Primus," he muttered in despair, "Why do I get the feeling that I'll be helping him record his message to First Aid?"
"You will be," he niece confirmed regretfully, "I suggest having plenty of audio plugs on hand." As Wheeljack whimpered in fear, she patted his shoulder as she reassured him, "Look on the bright side, at least you don't have to be the one in stopping Gadget from committing murder."
"Some bright side," he grumbled in despair, "I assume you; Hot Spot, Preceptor, and Swoop have a plan in trying to contain her."
She grunted in disagreement, "Not really…the only thing we managed to come up with is to give First Aid a five minute head start. Do you have any advice?"
"Be prepared to give her a couple of sedatives if she's got him cornered," advised Wheeljack, "That's the only thing I can think of."
"Preceptor suggested the same thing," she muttered in misery, she let out a deep sigh and then suddenly remembered, "Oh, I nearly forgot! I need you to place your nannite research where I can easily see it."
"Why?" he asked in curiosity, "And how did you know that…" he stopped as a thought occurred to him, and he quickly glanced over at Prowl who was rolling his optics at the teasing he was getting from Ironhide, "Is that how…"
"Yes," she whispered as she flashed her fins a brilliant red.
Wheeljack looked at his niece in pride, "You're smarter than me…I could have never figure out how to fix the slagging things or use them like you did on Prowl's shell!"
Boomer blushed in embarrassment as her uncle's words, "You were always, my inspiration, Uncle Jack!"
Soon…it was only Prowl, Optimus Prime, Ratchet, and Ironhide standing in front of the time shuttle…
Prowl shifted uncomfortable as they looked over him, finally Ironhide grumbled out, "I hate good byes!" He swiftly pulled the SIC into a quick hug, pounded his back, and exclaimed, "Get back at those Decptio-creeps for me, Prowl!"
Prowl smiled sadly as he responded, "I will."
Ironhide grunted out as he stepped back to allow the others to say their farewells, "Good."
Wheeljack came up to him, fins flashing blue as well as red, "Good bye, Prowl," he said as pulled him into a quick hug as well, "Keep an optic on my niece, she's brilliant…but I got the feeling that my sister named her a bit too well!"
Prowl chuckled out softly as he returned the hug, "I will."
As Wheeljack stepped back, Ratchet came forward and waved his wrench in front of Prowl's nose, "Remember your promise, if you don't…I'll find some way to come back and haunt you until you pick a mate!"
Prowl finally let out a small laugh, however it was mixed with his tears, "I will, old friend; and what we talked about concerning Gadget…I will definitely do!"
Ratchet grunted in satisfaction as he stepped back and allowed Optimus Prime to step forward; the great leader looked at his SIC with pleading optics, "Take care of my son, I don't know what happens in the future," at those words he glanced over at the other three mechs behind him in curiosity, "But, I do know that he will need you, Prowl."
"I will," he choked out as tears ran down his face, "It…it's been an honor serving under you, Prime."
"And it's been my honor to have you, Prowl," Optimus Prime told him sorrowfully as he looked over at the shuttle's entrance, "Now; the future is waiting on you, old friend…and you need to help a new Prime. Serve him as well as you served me, Prowl."
"I will," he replied as he pulled the elder Prime into a hug, "And you take care of yourself…try not to get into anymore trouble at least until my past self comes back!"
Optimus laughed out softly, "I will, do…do…you know…what she…"
Prowl pulled out of the hug, "Only in the future…Optimus Prime," he answered his unasked question, "only in the future." He climbed aboard the shuttle; stopped at the entrance and he looked at them one last time, "Till all are one!"
"Till all are one!" they shouted back at him as he closed the door. There was silence for a moment; and then energy surrounded the shuttle…soon it disappeared from sight.