Chapter 6

It took the Autobots an astonishingly short time – by human standards – to reach the red planet. They landed as small comets, plunging into the red dust. 'Not soon enough,' thought Optimus as he shed his outer cometary shell. The dangers of returning to the ship were great. He knew this. The Decepticons would; most likely, now be aware of the Ark's presence on this planet. He scanned the terrain for any sign of their enemy. 'So far, so good.' The peace would be short lived. Optimus knew that Megatron would prevent them from reaching and accessing their ship at all costs, even if he did not know where it was hidden himself. Sighing, Optimus transformed and led his small party in the direction of the faint signal that Teletraan 1 emitted, intermittently, on a secure frequency that only he was tuned into. He was growing tired of hiding away from the Decepticons, the time was coming when they were going to have to make a stand, for their own survival and now that of the frail planet they had sworn to protect. Sensing his agitation Ratchett and Arcee increased their speed to catch up to him. "What are your plans?" Arcee inquired. Conversing now in their electronic voices, Ratchett jumped in before Optimus could answer, "I say we take any Decepticon by surprise, rush em'. They're not going to know we're here yet." Optimus considered his suggestion, "The plan has merit however, we have no way of knowing how many we may be facing. I don't want to run the risk of us being overwhelmed, they have been known to lure is into a trap like this before." Arcee interrupted, "We also can't be certain they haven't infiltrated the Ark itself and corrupted Teletraan 1."

"You have a good point Arcee." Optimus paused, "we're approaching the location, transform and halt. Remain out of sight beneath that ridge ahead." Complying, the other two Autobots followed their Commander's lead; they came to a halt beneath a rocky outcrop that shielded them from the sky and from any possible enemies in the valley ahead of them. "We're going to need a scout, someone small, to ascertain the threat we face." Optimus mused, as he stole a glance over the ridge. "Yeah, someone small and fast." Arcee agreed. Ratchett glanced wryly at Optimus, who caught his glance and both the larger Autobots turned to look at the much smaller Arcee. The realisation dawned on her quickly.

"Oh C'mon!" She hissed. "Someone small and fast, Arcee." Ratchett teased, "I can't think of anyone better. Can you Optimus?" Optimus glanced contritely at Arcee, "You are the best choice out of the three of us, Arcee."

"Yeah, don't I know it."

She transformed quickly, a small, pink motorbike – her terrestrial form – took her place. "You guys are gonna' owe me, big."

"Thank you Arcee. Be careful." Optimus's last statement was more of an order than a warning; he did not want to lose anyone else to the Decepticons. Too many had already been lost on both sides over the millennia. Arcee revved and accelerated from them, at speeds greater than any man-made motorcycle, leaving behind a cloud of fine, rust coloured, dust and debris, that covered Optimus and Ratchett unceremoniously.

"I should have swapped with Bumblebee." Arcee grumbled out loud, as she raced towards the ship disappearing from sight as she dropped over the valley's edge. Ratchett brushed his face, "Damn dust, she got it in my optics." He growled, as Optimus blinked at him through equally dust covered optic sensors.

****

Back on earth and heading along the straight and busy Autobahn in Southern Germany, Sergeant Epps was grumbling. Sat in the driver's seat of Ironhide's terrestrial form of a black pickup truck, his feet on the dash, Epps was not at all pleased at being the team travelling to Germany.

"You know I can't even read German, never mind speak it. How the hell am I going to maintain a low profile when I can't understand what they say?"

Ironhide's voice rumbled through the radio speakers in the cabin. "I could translate for you." Epps stared at the dash incredulously. "You can speak German?"

"I can speak all Earth's languages. We all can. Your world wide web is a most useful device, if somewhat primitive."

"That's just great." Epps complained, "I'll let you do all the talking then." Ironhide didn't feel the need to respond. He was rather used to the Sergeant's grumblings by now and was even amused by his straight talking attitude at times. Ironhide held a great respect for both Lennox and Epps. Having worked closely with them both, he recognised and identified with the soldier in each of them, while also becoming quite attached to the Sergeant in their mutual love of powerful and advanced weaponry. They had bonded over the past couple of years and Ironhide knew that no amount of complaining would ever prevent Epps from completing his mission, so dedicated he was to his job and surprisingly the Autobots' cause. Epps had been one of the few humans who had never shied away from the Autobots and hated to back away from a fair fight, if he thought he had a chance to win. Accepting them openly and without judgment, Epps had proven himself, a loyal and determined soldier, who in Ironhide's eyes, was to be respected as if he was his own brother.

Ironhide found himself surprised at his own willingness to accept the human as one of his own. There was once a time when he had held contempt for the humans. Having watched them from afar, prior to arriving on Earth and then during the events following Bumblebee's capture by Sector seven, Ironhide had distrusted the humans as much as he distrusted the Decepticons. It was only at Mission city that he had seen, what Optimus had seen all along. They had fought bravely and against all odds in a fight that, by all rights, they should never have been involved in. Despite losing his friend Jazz in that battle, Ironhide counted himself fortunate to have found new friends among this unsuspecting and understated species. Musing to himself, his thoughts were interrupted by a now, much calmer and subdued Ray Epps. 'Humans do not like silence,' he thought as Epps tried to get his attention.

"Ironhide?"

"Yes."

Epps hesitated, unsure how to continue. "The other day in the hanger back at base, I saw something happen after the conference meeting... with Optimus..." He paused, trying to find the right words, without wanting to pry too much. He had no idea if it was possible to step over the line with an Autobot, but Ironhide was not the Autobot he wanted to test the theory upon. Ironhide sensed his discomfort. "You are referring to Optimus stumbling I presume?"

"Well, yeah. You were all communicating in that electronic screeching that you guys call a language, so I didn't want to jump in if it was a private moment you know."

"Yet you stayed and watched..." Ironhide prodded. Epps opened his mouth to defend himself, but could find no words. "Yeah, guess I'm just nosey like that. Sorry man, I'm just curious, he looked in pain. Wanted to make sure everything was alright, you know, seeing as he's gone into space to protect our space station and all."

"Your concerns are valid Sergeant Epps."

"Damn..."

"It is a matter of some controversy."

"Really?" Epps's curiosity got the better of him, "so what's going on big guy?" He heard Ironhide sigh through the radio.

"Optimus is receiving messages from the Matrix, directly into his cortex. The power of it occasionally proves to be too much for his circuitry. Ratchett is concerned; he does not want him to continue, he could literally lose his mind if the information proves too much."

"The Matrix, that's the key thing that Sam used to revive him right?"

"You are correct."

"I thought that was destroyed with the fallen."

"No, only the machine that contained it was destroyed. Optimus managed to retrieve the Matrix. He keeps it with him to ensure its safe keeping. If it fell into Decepticon hands it could be used to provide energy to a whole army of new Decepticons if utilised correctly. It is a power source itself and is directly linked to the Allspark; it is of the same origin." Epps whistled quietly. "So if Megatron got his hands on it...?"

"We would most certainly lose the war and Earth would most likely be a slave planet or destroyed." Ironhide growled at the thought.

"Damn." Epps whispered to himself. "Why is Optimus trying to use it then, if it's causing him damage?"

"It is not through choice. He could prevent the Matrix from accessing his mind if he so wished, but that would require immense concentration and energy on his part, this would leave him in an almost stasis-like state which, I'm sure you would agree, is simply not productive given the current situation. He believes that it is trying to give him something of value. The messages received so far, that he has been able to understand, have been warnings."

Epps frowned. "Warnings of what?"

"The destruction of your world." Ironhide replied quietly. Epps was gob smacked. "Shit and you guys didn't think we needed to know about that?!" He demanded, his temper flaring.

"It is not my decision to make." Ironhide answered, "Optimus did not want to present your leaders with insufficient or incorrect information that is, as you would say, based on a hunch."

Epps shook his head in disbelief, as he let his head rest back on his seat. "I had to ask..."

"Ray Epps." The use of his full name had Epps's full attention. "Optimus would not deliberately place your world or any of our lives in jeopardy, unless he had an absolutely irrefutable reason for doing so."

"You trust him that much huh?"

"With my life."

"What makes you so sure he's right?"

"I am not always sure that he is. I trust his decisions. He is the true leader of our people, descended from the original Prime lineage, if we start to question his motives and decisions, we will most certainly fall or become just like the Decepticons, who fight amongst themselves for the smallest amount of power over another." Ironhide's voice softened a little, "he is also my oldest friend. He has risked his life for me in the past, when I have been foolish enough to rush in without considering the consequences, without hesitation and he's done it for others too and most likely will do again. He will do all he can to prevent harm to your world."

Epps frowned, thinking of all the harm that had already occurred in the past couple of years. Try as he might, he could not share in Ironhide's confidence. "We're going to have to tell Lennox about this."

Ironhide responded immediately. "I believe he is already aware of the situation. Admiral Morshower and Optimus briefed him before his arrival back to base, he was ordered not to disclose it to anyone, only Ratchett and I are aware of the full situation amongst the Autobots. It would create too much unrest amongst the others, given the inherent risks. Major Lennox asked me to inform you when we were underway; the others are to remain on a need-to-know basis."

"Great, that's just great." Epps sighed.

"I am sorry I did not tell you sooner Sergeant Epps."

Epps was no longer listening, his Ipod was out and his earphones were in and his head was filling up with music, drowning out the thoughts of asteroids and Decepticons, screaming in his head.