Chapter 23:

Goodbye is Not the End

Silverflame wasn't sure for how long he held onto Jasmine, but it must've been a very long time. He continued to hold her close as she cried joyfully into his faceplates. He had never imagined that he would ever see her again. After enduring all those long sessions of hard work with the Autobots, he had dreamed of nothing but reuniting with the very one he had loved with every fibre of his being. For that, it had been worth every moment spent with them in order for him to learn how to protect himself and his beloved little human. From all those times he had not been self-aware, trapped as just an ordinary truck, somehow he felt that he had known what she was going through. He had no idea how he knew, but deep down he could somehow feel the very strength within her.

He kissed her gently on the head with his lips, but he hoped that he wasn't harming her for he knew that they were pretty hard compared to her soft skin. Jasmine responded back by burying her face into his left cheek and a soft purr escaped from his vocal processor. Her soft hair felt really strange against his metallic skin. Then he wondered if he felt cold to her touch. God he hoped he didn't!

"I still can't believe… you're really here," Jasmine whispered.

"Jasmine…" Silverflame breathed. "I… I still cannot believe I'm seeing you for real. After all this time… I…" Tears leaked from his optics and he could no longer contain his emotions. He brought her even closer, smelling her warm scent, unable to find the strength to say anymore.

Something soft gently pressed against his metallic cheek and he blinked, shocked when he realised that Jasmine had kissed him. "It's okay…" she breathed. "You don't need to say anything."

Silverflame nodded and he continued to hold her for as long as he possibly could. He really could not believe it that he was holding what he had longed to touch since he had first remembered that he was alive. For all this time, he lost track of it, not caring how long they remained like this, cuddling and allowing their tears to fall after everything they had been through.

It wasn't until the sun started to set that Silverflame noticed that Jasmine was beginning to shiver. He realised that the temperature was dropping to the point where she was starting to get cold. Ratchet's training kicked in and he found himself standing up to his full height. He glanced around for a moment, checking to make sure that the cost was clear and he very slowly shifted into his vehicle mode. He kept Jasmine enclosed in his hands until she was securely in the seat. He cracked up the heater and he couldn't help but smile when she heard her breathe a sigh of relief.

"Better?" he asked softly.

"Much better, thanks," Jasmine sighed, relieved.

"There's a blanket in my glove box if you want it," he told her.

His sensors immediately detected Jasmine opening his glove box and rummaging around for the blanket he had suggested was in there. Once she had found it, she closed it up and then wrapped herself up in it. She leaned back in the seat, a contented sigh escaping from her lips. "I still can't believe…" she tried to say, but the words fell short of breath.

"I know," Silverflame chuckled. He shifted his wheels a bit to get a little more comfortable. "I still can't believe it either."

"H-how are you even here in the first place?" Jasmine asked suddenly.

And so Silverflame spent the majority of the time telling Jasmine the whole story of what had occurred in the past year since he had been awakened. Jasmine remained silent as he explained and he couldn't help but admire just how much she had stayed the same when he had been nothing more than a truck belonging to a human. By the time he had finished, Jasmine was smiling unlike anything he had witnessed before.

After a few minutes of silence, she asked, "Did… Optimus really do all that for me?"

"Yes," Silverflame answered, "he sacrificed a means of restoring his home planet by using the fragment to revive me. He really wanted to make you happy again."

Jasmine wiped a tear away, sniffing slightly. "He didn't really have to do that," she said. "I was happy already."

"Optimus didn't think so," Silverflame replied. "I think he knew how much you were hurting after the… accident. It still grinds my gears that an innocent like you got hurt, especially you. I trained day in and day out to make it so that I can protect you. Optimus can't be around forever, and he felt he was not enough to give you what you wanted."

Jasmine lowered her head, her lips set in a thin line as she considered his words. Finally, she said in a sincere voice, "He obviously knew me better than I knew myself. He's been my guardian for a long while, but in the end, I was never happy. I still get nightmares from the accident, and from when the Decepticons captured me."

"Did you tell Optimus this?"

She shook her head. "How could I tell him?"

"From the reports he was sending to me about your status, I think he knew about your bad dreams."

She laughed, but Silverflame detected it was not out of bitterness. "Guess I can never hide anything from him. For someone who has lived a long time, he sure knows how to be sneaky."

He found himself chuckling as well in agreement. "Jasmine…" he suddenly said, his voice firm and serious. "Optimus is leaving first thing tomorrow morning, once he does, the torch of guardianship will be passed onto me. From what he told me, we won't be seeing him again."

Jasmine's eyes widened for a brief moment and Silverflame's sensitive sensors detected an escalating heartrate, followed by a shortness in breath. He almost panicked until he realised she had just been in shock from the news and her heartrate and breathing relaxed. Her voice finally whispered in the warm darkness, "When does he leave?"

"Ten in the morning," Silverflame replied.

Jasmine opened her mouth to say something, but then she closed it and looked down at the floor. Silverflame's sensors immediately detected her facial expression, her eyes seemingly far away and her jaw tightening: she was thinking very carefully. Something told him that interrupting her thoughts would be rude, so he let her think with a lot of experienced patience for one so young.

Finally, she looked up and her eyes met his dashboard. "Can you get Optimus?" she asked.

Surprise was felt deep inside the pit of his spark, but he did not question her request. He sent a private message to Optimus over the com-link, and Optimus responded in less than a few seconds afterward. Something told him that Optimus had been very patiently waiting for some sort of sign that he would soon be needed.

Optimus' vehicle form soon rounded the corner, his massive engine humming deeply through the night. Once he was parked in front of Silverflame, Jasmine requested to be let out and the young mech complied with her wish, still confused on what she wanted to speak to Optimus about, but she kept herself wrapped warmly in her blanket. She stepped up to the red and blue Peterbilt and tightened herself in her blanket.

"I suppose that Silverflame told you about my… leave of absence?" Optimus asked once Jasmine was inside his vehicle. Silverflame was surprised that he was speaking on an open channel, but then he realised that he had let him in on a private channel and so that he can hear what he was saying to Jasmine.

"Yeah," Jasmine said, "he did."

"I believe there is more to the reason you called me over," the Autobot leader said. Silverflame mentally smiled at just how good he was at figuring out such simple conversations.

The young woman nodded and brushed a stray hair from her face and behind her ear. "I know I don't have much time left with you, Optimus," she said quietly. "But… I was wondering… if we could go on one last drive together."

"You wish for me to take you on a drive with no destination in mind?" Optimus asked.

"Yes," she sighed, closing her eyes and adjusting her arm sling to make herself more comfortable. "I thought that… since we won't see each other again, I wanted to spend as much time as I can with you before you have to leave in the morning."

"I'd actually like that, Jasmine," Optimus whispered. "I've already sent a message to Jason's mobile device about what we're going to do. He says he's fine with it and wishes us a safe drive."

"Can I come too?" Silverflame suddenly asked, causing Optimus' vehicle form to hitch as though he had forgotten the young mech was still there. Then, to Silverflame's surprise, a rumble echoed from his interior. It took him a moment to realise that Optimus was laughing. "What? What did I do?"

"It is not you, young one," Optimus reassured him. "I keep assuming that you are still very young and that enthusiasm still… What was the human expression, Jasmine? Shines through?"

Jasmine giggled. "Yup, that's the one. And sure, you can come Silverflame. But… if you don't mind, I'd like to ride with Optimus."

If Silverflame had his head right about now, he'd be shaking his head from side to side. "Not at all, Jasmine. I'd be happy to trail behind and see where we go."

"I may have a destination in mind," Optimus chuckled softly.

Silverflame wasn't sure how long they had been driving for, but he didn't let it bother him too much. He followed behind Optimus at a safe distance. Should trouble arise when they least expected it, he wouldn't be too far behind. Instead, he chose to enjoy the scenery for as long as he could. It didn't take him long to work out that they were heading out of town and straight towards a hill with a single tree at the top of it. He didn't know why, but it felt a little… familiar, as though he had been here before, but he couldn't work out why.

He was jolted back into reality when his sensors detected Optimus moving up the hill and then coming to a halt at the top, his engine blasted exhaust and he angled himself until he was right alongside him. He picked up Jasmine opening the door and stepping out of the Autobot leader's interior. She took a few steps back, giving Optimus the space that he needed to shift back into his bipedal form.

Once he was standing tall again, Silverflame followed suit. He rubbed his head to clear some of the cobwebs from his processor. No matter how many times he shifted back and forth, his head never really liked the transformation process, it always left him with a slight processor ache. He had no idea why, but perhaps it had something to do with the fact he was so used to being in his vehicle form. His robotic form always felt so… alien to him, no pun intended on himself.

To his surprise, Optimus sat down cross-legged and turned his head up to the sky, as though he was searching for something. But despite his confusion, Silverflame copied his leader's posture, his optics never leaving him, but not before he offered a hand out to Jasmine. She climbed on and placed her on his left shoulder.

"This was the place where you and I first met face to face," Jasmine whispered, loud enough so that both Silverflame and Optimus could hear her. "Seemed so long ago."

"For myself, it had only been just yesterday," Optimus rumbled, his deep voice vibrating through Silverflame's metallic skin. He glanced over at the two, his light optics glowing immensely in the darkness. "I never thought that this would be the place where I may see you for the last time."

Jasmine looked down, her eyes welling up with tears. A large hand lifted up and a finger pressed itself against her cheek, she sniffled and wrapped her arms around it, holding it tightly. "I don't want this to be our final goodbye," she whimpered.

"It will not, Jasmine Clark," Optimus said kindly. "One day, we will meet again."

Silverflame leaned his head near Jasmine, close enough to press his cheek guard against her skin in an attempt to reassure her that he was right there beside her. She turned and pressed her lips against the warm metal, kissing him in thanks for his kindness. It sent his spark fluttering, but he paid no heed to it.

Once again, Optimus looked up at the starry night sky, as though he was searching for something.

Jasmine noticed it too. "What are you looking for?"

Optimus raised a hand and pointed it toward a set of three stars lined up side by side. "That," he said, "is what you call the Orion's Belt. Between the stars – Alnitak and Alnilam – is the Cybertronian race's home planet called Cybertron. Once, it had been a beautiful planet, a lot like Earth. It was full of life, illuminated by city lights and bustling with daily activity."

Although Optimus' expression had not changed, Silverflame noticed that the corner of his blinkers turned downward, as though he was… sullen.

"But Megatron became greedy for power and our entire planet was consumed by death and destruction. Cybertron could no longer sustain us, it was war-torn, scarred, and drained. I had no choice but to send the very object capable of giving back life to it to dark space, out of harm's reach."

Silverflame felt his chest pulse slightly and he rested a hand upon it, feeling his spark for the first time and becoming aware that it actually existed.

The elder turned back to them, his optics brightening somewhat. "I'd lost all hope for our race when we scattered across the galaxy to find it, only to learn that it was here on this very planet that you humans call Earth. Your species is so young, so eager to learn, and yet… you are all so much like us. You might be small in size and you live so little, but you think, you feel, you love. I've never met such an incredible species like yours, Jasmine."

A smile creeped across the young woman's lips and Optimus offered a hand out to her. She eagerly climbed out onto it and cradled her closely to his warm chest. "I will never forget you, Jasmine," he whispered to her. "When you someday pass on into the next realm, know that I will always remember you."

Silverflame couldn't help but nod in agreement. He didn't need to say any words to offer whatever comfort she needed, Optimus said it for him. He stood up from his spot and headed over to the giant oak tree, he leaned against it and watched the two with a smile placed upon his lips. Optimus meant a lot to Jasmine, he knew that much. If anything, they deserved to have their last moments together.

"Happy birthday, Jasmine," he whispered.

The morning light cast its glow upon the city, birds sang sweetly to unheard music, butterflies flew from flower to flower while drinking the nectar greedily. Despite the warm breeze blowing that spoke of a good day, Silverflame felt a sense of dread. He knew that the time had finally come for all good things to come to an end.

He stood in the backyard with Jasmine, Jason, and Midnight. Optimus Prime stood on the opposite side of them, looking down at the two humans who meant so much to him. Jasmine was struggling not to cry, but the tears were already leaking from the corners of her eyes. Jason had an arm draped over her shoulder, providing whatever comfort he could to her. Midnight let off a small whimper, her soft brown eyes looking between both her masters, it was as though she sensed the distress in the situation, but she didn't really understand why they were sad.

Silverflame gently picked Jasmine up off the ground and approached Optimus. Suddenly, he found himself unable to verbally express just how much he had changed their lives. Instead, he took a step forward and wrapped his arms around his frame, burying his face into his shoulder. He felt Optimus tense, but it was brief, and he too responded in kind. For what seemed like minutes they stood like this, but at long last, Silverflame let go of him. He suddenly realised there was water in his optics and he quickly tried to wipe them away, only for a firm, but gentle hand to stop him from doing it.

"Your emotions only show that you are well and truly alive, Silverflame," Optimus whispered. "Remember that these tears are not for me, but for the very thing that you now hold: your spark. You are alive, young one, and you are not alone."

Silverflame found himself smiling and he whispered, "Goodbye, Optimus Prime, thank you for everything you've done for us."

Optimus chuckled softly. "Goodbye merely means its forever, Silverflame," he said, winking a bright blue optic. "No, let us just say… until we meet again." He then offered his hand out to him.

Silverflame stared at the open gesture for a moment and he found himself smiling too. He took the hand and shook it with renewed firmness. "Until we meet again."

"Yeah, see you soon, big guy," Jasmine replied, wiping her eyes, and she quickly hugged both their closed hands.

With that final saying, Optimus waved a salute to them and he turned and made his way down the driveway. He stopped before the road and then shifted into his vehicle form, a low, deep blare escaping from his interior. Silverflame couldn't help but respond in kind with his own, only it was high pitched and more enthusiastic. Smoke wisped from the red and blue vehicle's pipes and he slowly pulled away, gaining speed with each second, but it seemed like a slow gain. Silverflame wished that it would go faster, but at long last Optimus Prime grew smaller and smaller until he was no more than a speck of dust, and then he disappeared around a corner.

Optimus Prime was gone.

Sniffling caught Silverflame's sensitive audio receptors and he was quick to bring Jasmine close to his chest. He used his finger to gently rub her back to give her some reassurance, but he knew it would not be enough for her to miss the very one who had pulled her out of his body all that time ago. If anything he would definitely miss Optimus too, for he had given him a second chance in life to be with the very one he cared about most. Optimus Prime had changed their lives for the better. Him leaving hurt them deep in their hearts and minds, but something told him that they would meet again in the future. It might not be today, it might not be tomorrow, but he sensed that it would not be forever that he was leaving them.

It has been a VERY long time coming, but at last… the chapter is finished. I'm so sorry I took so long, but I had a lot of things going on in my life and so much stuff happening that I felt my brain just take off and leave everything.

I felt mentally sick and my muse would no longer come back to me. I felt lost and empty, it was as though I'd lost my sense of touch, the urge to write was gone from me. But just a while ago, as I was going over my pieces of unfinished work, I rediscovered Guardian Angel and suddenly everything felt right again.

The community deserved this story to be finished, and its going to happen.

The last chapter was written a very long time ago, but I wasn't sure how to write this one. But after ongoing encouragement from friends, loved ones, and the very ones who still keep in touch with me, I felt the strength to finish it. So thank you all for being so supportive of the story for many years. I wouldn't have finished it without your help.

Expect the last chapter to be posted on Sunday my time. I've got stuff to do on Saturday, but I promise you… this isn't really the end of Silverflame and Jasmine.

It's only just the beginning.