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."