Chapter 2

Ratchett busied himself with the diagnostic, Optimus was unduly quiet as he checked and re-checked the circuitry, repairing any damage that he came across. Being distracted by his leader's demeanour, Ratchett snagged part of the circuitry causing Optimus to wince.

"Is something troubling you old friend?" Optimus spoke carefully, fully aware of the probable focus of Ratchett's mind. Finishing his work, Ratchett didn't respond immediately. Pacing a few feet away from Optimus, he was deep in thought when a metallic hand stopped him in his tracks. Facing the patiently waiting Optimus, Ratchett emitted the electronic equivalent of a sigh. Conversing in their native language he continued; "I don't like it Optimus. Your circuitry is repaired, but the damage could have been much more severe. If your 'episode' lasted a few minutes or seconds longer I am not sure the damage would be reversible, you could literally lose your mind a piece at a time. You have to stop…"

"We need the information now, more than ever Ratchett, you know that."

"I can't condone your methods Optimus, there has to be another way, the Matrix contained more power and knowledge than we've had before and that was transferred to you when Sam revived you. Trying to tap into that knowledge could be suicide if it isn't controlled properly."

"I understand your concerns but, I know that we are going to need the information the Matrix is trying to give me, it is a warning of some kind, it shows me images of things yet to occur, destruction on a level I can not allow to happen, there is no other way to access it other than through my mind, it is within me now, I can control it."

Ratchett grunted in disagreement; "Were you in control before?" He challenged boldly.

"That was… that won't happen again, I must control it, the fate of us all could depend on the information that I receive. My welfare is of secondary concern when this planet's safety is in question. The Decepticons are planning something, we must be ready."

"But… Optimus let me try to access it indirectly, maybe I…"

Optimus turned on Ratchett with a fierce glare that took Ratchett by surprise,

"No!" He snapped out loud. Catching himself Optimus took a step back, "Please accept my apologies Ratchett, this situation is… challenging to say the least. I will not put anyone else in unnecessary danger."

Ratchett nodded now also speaking with his terrestrial voice, "We can't afford to lose you again Optimus, the war will surely be won by the Decepticons if this doesn't work."

"I have no intentions of being lost my friend; I will not let the Decepticons conquer this world. I owe too much to its inhabitants, we all do. Have faith"

Ratchett's voice sounded in Optimus's head; "Oh I have faith in the Matrix all right, it's your damned circuits that are trying my patience."

"Sentiments not withstanding Ratchett I appreciate your concern. I ask only for a little patience."

Ratchett's tone was serious, "If you must ask, be more careful. Next time your circuits fry I am going to shut you down for a week to repair them. You want to leave command up to Ironhide its fine with me, go ahead; he's all but itching for a fight. You'll be waking up to half a base and some very agitated humans."

The two Autobots laughed lightly. Both well aware that the current level of peace could be shattered at any moment and that it would probably be from the uncontrolled test fire of Ironhide's newly designed weaponry, blowing yet another hole in the hanger which had only recently been repaired from just such an incident. Optimus attempted to steer the conversation to a lighter note, the burden of responsibility once again weighing heavily on his mind.

"He is not one to hang around quietly." Optimus added, "He needs to occupy himself somehow."

"Humph, he has help and encouragement from the human Sergeant Epps, bad influence."

Optimus now laughed heartily, relishing the moment. "You can hardly question his motives Ratchett, you, yourself have become quite attached to the robotics technicians that help you with repairs."

Ratchett pulled a face, feigning indifference on the matter, the subtle tone of affection obvious to Optimus Prime, "I am a Medical officer, and it serves my purpose. They are quite enthusiastic for the work however. Unlike most of you, who are frequently insistent on getting parts of yourselves blown off, especially some of the more impulsive Autobots." He pointed a finger at Optimus accusingly, who simply nodded in agreement, while having the decency to look a little contrite.

"I have become attached to them as well Ratchett; they have a lot of potential." He paused, "I believe that Major Lennox has returned back to base." He noted thoughtfully as a black helicopter set down some distance away.

"It never rains but it pours." Ratchett grumbled absently as they headed back toward the hanger.

Unbeknownst to the two larger Autobots, Bumblebee in his terrestrial guise had overheard their conversation. Troubled and deep in thought he did not notice the red convertible pull up next to him.

"You look troubled Bee; you have been sat out here for a while, what's going on?"

Electronically Bumblebee replied, "Nothing to be concerned about Trailblazer. I was just thinking about my friend that's all." The other Autobot glanced over Bumblebee's shoulder at the larger departing Autobots who had just entered the hanger.

"I don't know how we can all just sit here and wait for the humans. I want to get some action, been looking forward to a good Decepticon ass kicking, as the humans put it."

Bumblebee looked at his companion incredulously, "If you'd been through what we all had you'd be grateful of the rest that we've had from fighting, it gets tiresome after a few millennia."

Trail blazer didn't answer, he was new to this planet and young even as Autobots consider age, he had missed a lot of the war back on Cybertron. Himself and many other young Autobots had been placed on ships and sent into space. 'To protect us.' He thought sadly, 'Yeah lot of good it did.' The small, defenceless ships launched from the dying planet had been spotted by Decepticons and all but one had been destroyed, his ship. He and five others who were the last of the youngest generation of Autobots, had managed to escape, thanks to the efforts of other brave Autobots whose destruction he'd witnessed before his own eyes; their sacrifice had been in vain for one of the most brutal Decepticons had spotted them and after viciously ripping out the spark of the last Autobot guarding the ship he had pointed his weapons directly at Trail blazer, who in a moment of panic and fear slipped as he tried to back away and accidentally landing on the flight controls, sent the ship flying into the Decepticon. A stroke of luck had saved them, a clumsy mistake. Trail blazer remembered the laugh of the evil Decepticon as he flew away not bothering to waste his efforts on a bunch of incompetent Autobots; the ship had accelerated out of control until Cybertron was no longer in view. They were lost from their home forever. "You don't know what I've been through bee." He replied softly, Bumblebee shot him a questioning look. Trailblazer revved his engine impatiently, desperate for a distraction from his thoughts.

"I just wanna see some of this rock, I'm wasting in there, we shouldn't be dictated to by these humans, they should just be grateful we're even helping them at…"

Bumblebee turned on him angrily, electronically rebuking him. "Hold your tongue Trail Blazer, we are not dictated to, we are here on this planet as their guests, this is their planet, not their war. They chose to help us, they could have just as easily said no."

"It would have been their loss by my reckoning." Trail blazer answered sullenly.

"I wouldn't expect you to understand Trailblazer, you're too impulsive, you'll calm down soon enough when you realise that there's a bigger picture here, and it doesn't just involve us anymore." He revved his engine as his back wheels did a spin. "You have a problem? Then Prime is the one you should be talking too." With that he sped off leaving Trail blazer in his wake. Growling his small but powerful engine with frustration Trailblazer was irritated by Bumblebee's words.

"I'll show you, I'll show all of you, left us out in space, I can fight this war just as well as any of you. That's why we were saved; this is our war, my war."

Unknown to Bumblebee, Trailblazer had also over heard Optimus and Ratchett's conversation and fully intended to use what he'd learned to his advantage.