Chapter 59

-0-Ops Center

"Optimus, this is Springer. They have Arcee. They have our daughter."

Prime felt a frigid coldness grip him as he watched Springer, a mech he'd known for eons of time personally, professionally and intimately. The command deck was silent as a tomb.

Prowl slipped his servo through Prime's arm squeezing it gently.

Ironhide with a look of fury on his face watched as helplessly as Jazz, Red Alert and everyone else.

"Optimus, the Decepticons have made demands. They'll be releasing them shortly. They want you to fulfill them so they'll release Arcee. She's not with me right now, Optimus." He looked down moving his servo to his chest like he was in pain. Then he dropped his servo again to stare at the screen.

"They tell me that if you don't do what they want they'll kill her. Our daughter." Springer raised his servo again, touching his mouth like he was in deep distress. He held it over his chest, then put it down, his distress seemingly acute. For a moment he looked like he would cry.

"They want what they want, Optimus. I ... I ..." He paused again raising his servo and as he did Prime got it. He shifted tensely as he stared more intently as Springer wiped his optics with it, his servo dropping again to his lap. It lay in an awkward manner, the digits moving with what seemed like tension.

As he did Prime turned to Jazz. "Get Kup in here now."

Jazz nodded, then ran out of the room.

The video continued.

"They want you to know that they expect you to cooperate if you ever want to see me again. They told me that they will kill me if you don't and they know our bond ..." he paused again, holding his hand to his mouth once more. Then he began again.

"Optimus, please if I die, then you do, too. I don't want that, Optimus." He rubbed his optics with both hands. "Please, don't cause yourself harm. Do what they ask." Then the transmission ended.

Prime stared for a moment deciphering a couple of things before he heard Kup and Jazz return, hurrying across the floor. He pulled Kup to his side. "Springer sent a message. I want you to decipher it for me. I think I have about half of it."

"What?" Prowl asked.

"Wrecker code," Prime said looking at Prowl. "Watch his servos, his digits and where he puts them." He nodded to Red Alert and it began to play again.

"Optimus, the Decepticons have made demands. They'll be releasing them shortly. They want you to fulfill them and they'll release Arcee."

"Pause it," Prime ordered. "Watch his servo." Springer moved his servo to his chest like he was in pain, his digits spread apart evenly.

Kup nodded. "He just said that they took Arcee away."

Prime nodded. "Continue."

"They tell me that if you don't do what they want they will kill her. Our daughter." Springer raised his servo again, touching his mouth like he was in deep distress. He held it over his chest sideways, digits closed, then two opened, closed then opened again before he put his servo down.

Kup nodded again. "He just said that the Decepticons have him in a place that's heavily constructed. That it's a fortress or like one."

It continued. "They want what they want, Optimus. I... I ..." Springer raised his servo wiping his optics, four digits closed and one apart, then dropped it again.

Prime turned to look at Kup. "He says he can't tell where he is. But he's with someone important. Starscream has him some place near enough to come here and far enough away to feel safe. One can assume it's their primary fortress and its partially hand made from the view on the screen. They've either built it themselves or they've taken over someone's outpost for their own."

Kup nodded.

Prime looked at Red. "Continue."

"They want you to know that they expect you to cooperate if you ever want to see me again. They told me that they'll kill me if you don't and they know our bond ..." Springer paused holding his servo to his mouth again, digits closed and pointing upward.

Kup thought a moment. "They want to muzzle you, make you ineffective. They want to blackmail you with Springer to make sure you don't do your job or he pays for it."

It continued.

"Optimus, please if I die then you do, too. I don't want that, Optimus." Springer rubbed both optics with both servos, one with digits closed and one opened. Then the transmission ended.

Kup considered the ending, then turned to Prime. "You get it, too?"

"Yes," Prime said, his expression grim. "Starscream is going to kill him no matter what we do. He said for us to do what we have to do and not worry about him."

Kup nodded. "One riot," he began softly, watching the anger and frustration war across Prime's face.

"One Wrecker," Prime finished shaking his head. "Slag that," he said quietly. Then he began to bark orders.

-0-In a crate on a ship in the Atlantic Ocean

She came to consciousness in the dark, strapped down and aware that there was no sound. She extended her sensor net finding the thrum of a great engine and the life signals of 15 humans. A gentle rocking sensation alerted her after a lot of analysis that she was in the hold of a ship in the middle of a great ocean on its way to some place she couldn't decipher.

Analysis further revealed that she was crated up in a wooden box. Her comm system was disabled, her weapons, transponder, and other location devices were missing. She was helpless. She vaguely remembered being hit with a null ray, falling into a vast darkness even as the sound of Springer's curses and shouts faded away.

Now she was alone in a sensory deprived environment and without a clue as to where she was going. It was not the worst situation she'd ever faced in a long life as a soldier but it was among the top ten at this moment. She lay back and powered down all of her systems that didn't need to run. When she got to where she was going she would need the energy. With Starscream in charge, Primus only knew what she would face when she got there.

It was quiet in the hold as she listened intently for the moment when it wouldn't be.

-0-Ops Center

Ratchet walked into Ops Center pausing by Ironhide, slipping his servo into the big mech's arm. He'd heard the news about Springer. It had circulated through the complex in nanokliks going beyond Earth to Autobot City. Everyone was on edge. Two of theirs were captive, one of them on her way to a lab for disassembling in the United States.

It seemed that was the way life was, up one moment and down in the Pit the next. The joy everyone had felt at the sparking was being swallowed whole by the fear that Arcee and Springer might be lost. He'd walked to Ops Center to find out what he could do and to be with Ironhide who he knew would be deeply upset. Arcee and Springer were close friends, youngling soldiers from the old days. Now they were lost on a mission and they had to be found.

Ironhide turned to Ratchet and looked at him, surging over their bond his love. Ratchet surged back, leaning against Ironhide's shoulder. They were waiting for intel from the shuttles who were moving out from the Oort Field and into a route that led to small planetoid-sized asteroids that could be big enough for fortresses or shelters.

"How is Prime?" Ratchet whispered.

Ironhide glanced back squeezing Ratchet's servo which he held in his own. "He's feeling personal about this. As usual."

Ratchet nodded. He did, too. They all did.

"How do you feel?" Ironhide asked massaging Ratchet's servo with his thumb digit.

"I'm fine, Ironhide. You?"

"I'll be fine when the younglings are safe," he replied.

Ratchet nodded.

-0-Autobot City, Mars

They received the call that they were to stay and man the installation. The gun turrets were in transition. That is, they were essentially built but the guns were not installed. Instead, they'd moved two of the Aerialbots to the settlement and had them base there when they were in, ready to assist in the defense if something came out of space at them. One of Teletraan's mobile satellites was in station around Mars, also a part of the early warning system.

Sideswipe having gathered his gear to leave found that he was staying until further notice. The word about Arcee and Springer had reached them along with the orders. He was unhappy but kept it to himself, the reasoning sound as the Autobots were placed in danger collectively when a single member was held hostage.

He rolled down the street taking in the amount of construction that had been accomplished since the first steps of surveying. There were three streets so far, two of which crossed. There was space designated in the planning for housing of civilians and businesses at some future date. There was an abundance of materials on this planet that would allow manufacturing. There was even the hope of trade with Earth eventually, although Earth had no idea of their efforts thus far. He turned at the corner and rolled into the garrison which had built the surface level floors and had begun to map out the interior of the Autobot Armed Forces Headquarters.

One day they would have a city and he would live here, he, Sunny and Bluestreak. Hopefully, it would be the three of them he considered. Hopefully. He rolled into the garrison, down to the underground levels where the crews and their guards lived.

-0-A faraway place

He sat in his cell, every creak and sound throwing a wrench into his spark. Starscream hadn't come back. He would, Springer imagined because he said so. As he thought that, he heard a door open, then footsteps walking down stairs. After a nanoklik of paralysis, Springer on-lined the systems that he needed for combat, dialed down his emotional subroutines and switched to night vision. The darkness seemed almost alive and it swirled, an effect of his vision and fear.

Footsteps echoed in the dank dungeon as he waited ready for everything and nothing.

-0-On a ship in the ocean

It cruised into port, landing in Corpus Christi, Texas. When the ship came into dock and was secured, the Port Authority police and other law enforcement officials were waiting. After boarding the cargo vessel, going over the manifest and other pertinent paperwork to compare it to the cargo they could see the easiest, the ship's captain, a Cypriot found his vessel impounded. The usual arguments broke out and the crew was removed, carted off to a detention facility at the port.

The Coast Guard working with N.E.S.T. and the F.B.I. began a systematic search of the ship going through the cargo box by box. By the time they found the crate with Arcee, the impound orders had been signed and the crew placed under arrest for carrying contraband. Illegal weapons and munitions were found on board as well as a long heavy wooden crate that was off loaded when the ship had been cleared and placed in a truck for transport to the airport.

By the time the truck reached the airport Optimus Prime had been assured by Will Lennox who was leading the team that was dispatched that Arcee was being loaded onto Cosmos and would begin the trip homeward. Prime sitting in Ops Center at Diego Garcia felt a relief that was only partially uplifting. Half of their job was finished. The other half was still undone.

-0-Far away

The footsteps stopped just short of the pool of light that ended in shadows beyond the cells. They were heavy footsteps, ominous and slow, taking their time to arrive. He sat as calmly as he could manage, his optics dialed to the greatest precision he could effect.

"Springer."

"Starscream."

The Seeker stepped into the light, the shadows making his menace even greater than usual. Springer watched him as he moved toward the front of the cell, pausing there with his weapon online and powered up. Springer looked at it, a null gun, as a smirk formed on his lips. "What do you need a weapon for, Starscream? Are you afraid you'll fail?"

It stung the Seeker. He sneered. "It won't matter how the deed is done as long as it is."

"You're a coward, Starscream. Even dead, Megatron casts a bigger shadow."

Megatron's name needled Starscream causing him to raise his weapon. He pointed it at Springer. "You won't sidetrack me with your insults, Springer. In the end I will win and you will lose."

"This isn't about me, Starscream. It's about everything else. It's because Optimus is a better mech. It's because Optimus has the Matrix, because he's the Prime and has the love and respect of our people. That's what this is about. It isn't about me or anything else. It's because you don't measure up on any scale with Prime."

"I know your game, Springer. I had to endure it with Megatron for vorns. But he's gone, disappeared, and I'm leader of the Decepticons. Now it's time to pay Prime back for all the vorns of misery he's caused me. Now is the time to take what is his," he whispered, his rage so finely contained that he fairly glowed with it. He came closer and knelt down on one knee structure. "Now is the time that I take that which is Prime's." He smiled, slightly raising the weapon toward Springer. "You."

Then he fired and Springer fell into oblivion.

Chapter 60

-0-Far away

He came to sentience flat on his back, the bars of the cell gone. He felt the muzziness of a null ray and lay quietly, aware that only time and his diagnostics programs would clear his vision and processor. The moments before being struck slammed back into his awareness and the cold fingers of fear gripped him.

Finally he sat up and rolled his head, shaking some of the tension that he felt in his neck. Rising to his peds, taking a moment to get his bearings, he walked forward with caution infusing his every movement. No one was there, no one was close and the door to the brig, jail or whatever this place was was standing open slightly. Moving forward, he peered out looking down a long stone corridor that led to stairs that went upward and beyond. No one was behind him, he sensed no one ahead, so he went as silently as a cat creeping forward to freedom.

-0-In the Oort Cloud

They had begun to scan larger asteroids looking for constructions that might signal Springer's presence. They flew grid patterns casting their sensor nets wide. The Aerialbots were due to turn back but they continued onward just a little farther. Sky Dive was certain they were on the right path.

-0-Springer

He climbed the stairs, every sound and creak evaluated and dismissed, every gesture of his body ready for combat, every movement prepared to react. By the time he reached the large room above he could see that no one was left but their debris was scattered all over the place. Here and there were burn and scorch marks on floors and walls. He crept to a window and beyond it there was no ship, no guard, nothing. Looking around, he saw a device on the floor near to the door.

He stared at it, then came forward, bending down to look closer. It was a communication device typical of Decepticons. He scanned it to find nothing dangerous to give alarm. He picked it up, re-programming to an Autobot frequency. There was only static. He listened, then straightened, moving to the door to peer outside. No one was within the range of his sensors so he stepped outside and considered if his alt helicopter format would take him very far in vacuum.

He looked at the comm device and decided to wait, going over the situation as he saw it. Then he went back inside to look through the debris to find anything that he could use to make a signal.

-0-Sky Dive and the Aerialbots

They passed a cluster of big asteroids, several that had battered each other and as they did they entered a more vast region of large and small bodies. Beyond them, a faint signal was emitting so they spoke among themselves making their plans for approach and retreat should it turn out to be the enemy.

Sky Dive who was the fastest flier in the group went on ahead with his sensors and weapons both activated. As he approached a large asteroid he could see the effects of habitation on its impacted surface. The signal was coming from there so he pinged it, sending a pulse that indicated that he was an Autobot. He got it back and commed the others, going in for a closer look as he did.

On the surface below standing outside the underground structure that had been his prison, Springer waited, waving his arm to the sky.

-0-Ops Center

"Prowl here."

"Prowl, we found him."

Prowl felt the weight of a hundred similar but unsuccessful moments lift off his spark. "Sky Dive, what's his status?"

"We found him abandoned on an asteroid. Silverbolt took him on board. His appearance is acceptable. But beyond that we don't know. He's communicating and appears to be unimpaired."

"Affirmative," Prowl said as he commed Med Bay. "Your ETA?"

"We'll be in orbit around Earth in four joors."

"Affirmative. Prowl out." He opened the channel to Ratchet. "Ratchet, the Aerialbots found Springer. They're bringing him home in four joors."

"Good. How is he? Is he in need of treatment? Show we go out to meet them?" Ratchet asked.

"Sky Dive says he's in good condition but until he gets here I don't know the extent of that. I'd prepare for him in four joors unless something comes up and we have to meet them."

"All right, Prowl. We'll be ready. Ratchet out."

"Prowl to Prime."

"Prime here."

"We have him, sir," Prowl said with evident relief.

There was a pause.

"Thank you, Prowl. When is he going to be here?"

"Four joors. He's in good shape, the Aerialbots say."

[Pause]

"Good. Thank you."

"You're welcome," Prowl said. "Prowl out."

-0-Springer

He sat on the floor of Silverbolt's hold leaning against the bulkhead, relieved to be found. It would be a short swift ride back to Earth, then the real battle would begin. He pushed his thoughts away and off-lined his optics as he attempted to relax until then.

-0-Orbit around Earth

They entered into orbit and commed Ops Center, coming down to Diego Garcia one at a time. Silverbolt landed first taxiing as close to the hangar complex as he could. He lowered his ramp as Springer arose rapping his thanks on the ship's hull as he walked downward toward the light beyond. As he did, he saw Prime waiting with an anxious affect to his body and a tense expression on his face.

"Hey," Springer said smiling in spite of not feeling it.

"Springer," Prime said clasping his wrist. His optics taking in his friend carefully. "They found you abandoned."

"They did. I'm assuming you got my message in the message?" he asked as he began to walk with Prime toward HQ.

"We did. We got Arcee," Prime said.

"Good," Springer replied, his relief evident. "I assume she wasn't going to be released."

"No. She was going to Intel-Martin to be reverse engineered," Prime said with a trace of anger in his voice.

"It'll be nice to put that outfit away," Springer said.

"We will. Right now, Ratchet is waiting in Med Bay," Prime said.

Springer slowed, his expression devoid of emotion. "I think I'll take a pass."

Prime slowed to a stop, pausing uncertainly before the big mech who knew him more than most could imagine. "It is standard. If you have been in Decepticon custody-"

"You've got to be scanned for viruses and I know. I'm not agreeing to go, Optimus," Springer said as he tensed slightly.

Prime hesitated as a thread of dread suffused his spark. "I would like you to go. I... I would be derelict in my duty to you, Springer, if I agreed to your request."

"I know. I relieve you of that responsibility."

He stared at Springer a long time, their optics level as they gazed at each other. "Springer, if there is something you need to tell me, something that will not be public, I am here to listen."

"I know and no, there isn't anything. I just want you to accept that I won't be going to Med Bay," Springer said.

They stared at each other for a moment, then Prime shifted. "What happened?"

"Nothing," Springer lied. "I just don't think I need to go to see Ratchet."

"I could order you to go."

"You could."

Prime felt his insides turn over at the possibilities that would compel a mech as strong as Springer to defy standard procedure. "I could go with you. No one will know the outcome of the tests. Just you, me and Ratchet. They will be sealed."

"I can't go," Springer said doubling down. "I won't go, Optimus, unless you're ready to shoot me."

Prime stared at him, his unease palpable. Then he nodded. "Just for today you do not need to go. But tomorrow, I will order it if I have to."

"You can," Springer said. "I don't have to obey." He looked at Optimus as a thousand words and a thousand moments hung between them, then he stepped around Prime to walk toward the HQ alone.

Prime watched him go with miserable optics.

-0-Outside the HQ that evening

Springer sat on the metal bench outside the hangar nursing a cube of high grade energon. He'd been given it by Kup who wanted to know how his protege and friend had gotten out of jail. He had fudged the story and left claiming fatigue, coming outside to watch the sun set on the horizon of a different world than the one he had fought for all his adult life.

It was quiet and peaceful. He didn't notice that Ratchet had come out taking a seat next to him. He startled, then looked at Ratchet with a nod. "Ratchet. Nice approach. I didn't hear you."

"You're tired. I'm old and treacherous. Bad combination."

Springer smiled. "True."

"Glad you're back, youngling."

"Glad I'm back, too. I like the sunsets here."

"So do I," Ratchet said. He looked at the ground a moment, then Springer. "You didn't come see me. I waited a long time, too."

"Nothing to say, nothing to see, Ratchet," Springer said.

"That's for me to say, Springer," Ratchet replied. "You younglings … you're so precious to us. I don't know if you understand that. We, Ironhide and me and a few others, we remember you when you were youngsters, full of life and the desire to fight. You, every one of you, are precious. What happens to you, how you are, what you feel, that matters. I would hate to not be able to take care of any of you when you get hurt."

"I'm not hurt, Ratchet," he said squeezing Ratchet's servo as he took Springer's hand.

"Some hurts don't show on the surface. I know," Ratchet said. "I'd find it hard to recharge knowing you might need me and I didn't get to take care of you."

"I hear you and Hide sparked. I'm happy for you two. Who would have known?" Springer said smiling at Ratchet as the medic leaned against his shoulder massaging Springer's hand in his own.

"It's a miracle," Ratchet agreed. "I hope to have the separation at Autobot City."

"First sparkling born in our first colony," Springer mused. "That's a good thing."

"So is taking care of you, youngling. Come with me. It's me, Ratchet. I'll take care of you and you'll be cared for with love."

Springer felt himself fill with emotion as all the memories of Ratchet and Ironhide, two wild wonderful companions of eons of vorns came to him. They had helped blunt a void that ripped open when Polyhex and his family was engulfed with flames long ago. He swallowed hard as he stared at his energon. Then he tossed it in a container beside the bench. He squeezed Ratchet's hand and stood, tugging Ratchet to his peds.

Ratchet squeezed his servo and together they walked inside.

-0-Med Bay

He sat on the med berth tense and silent. Everyone was gone. It was only Ratchet and Springer here now. Ratchet was talking about Ironhide, telling Springer a funny story when he reached for and gently opened the medical panel on Springer's neck. Taking a cord, he carefully plugged it inside rubbing Springer's neck with his digits.

Springer relaxed into Ratchet's fingers, resignation suffusing him as he did. Ratchet slid his arm around Springer's helm, holding him as Springer leaned into him. An arm slipped around Ratchet's waist as Springer off-lined his optics waiting sadly for the findings.

Ratchet's voice was soothing and as the data poured through the screens behind him, Ratchet continued to tell about Ironhide. The data flow stopped and the conclusions were delivered, glyphs one after the other forming in neat text lines. Ratchet read them, then looked down at the forlorn youngster leaning against him. "You're clean, Springer. There's nothing in your system that you didn't have when you left."

He leaned up and looked backward reading the words for himself. Then he swallowed hard and slipped both arms around Ratchet, hugging him as Ratchet hugged back. They stayed that way for a long time.

Out in the hall slumped against the wall, Optimus Prime waited out his relief as well.

Daniels sat silently trying to digest what it all meant. A bond wife or perhaps husband or what passed for both among their kind ... and a daughter. How did a robot have a daughter? And why would a machine need a spouse? It stuck in his craw sideways and again, he felt the revulsion that such beings were on the Earth moving among them with their alien strangeness. A bond. A mech who had a bond who was a mech. Or at least he assumed Springer was a mech. He had a daughter apparently. Why didn't he have a female bond? What the hell?

His computer pinged again.

Nast.

He opened it and read the email...

"I got the word from High Flyer. I don't know how he finds this out but our friend in N.E.S.T. HQ just confirmed it. Either High Flyer has his own moles in N.E.S.T. HQ that we don't know about or he has contact with the Decepticons. Either way we have the advantage. We'll always be one step ahead of them. I'm coming out to pick up the bodies of the two morons who died and get the other employee. He's ready at last to go. I want to see them when I get there. I want to see this Prime and these Autobots myself. Be there and make it happen, Jase. -Bill Nast

C.E.O.-Intel-Martin

Houston, Texas

Daniels considered Nast, the man who would finance his way to the Congress and beyond some day. Between him and High Flyer, his path was free and clear. He smiled and sat back sipping his beer, waiting for more emails to come.

-0-Ops Center

"Nast is coming," Ironhide said. "Should be interesting. Apparently, they want to see what you're made of."

Prime glanced at Ironhide. "They will," he said, his voice low and calm. "Count on it."