Hi readers!
Okay I wrote this up this morning and wanted to post it as soon as possible so forgive me if there are grammar or spelling errors! I will go through it soon and fix whatever I find, but until then, maybe you can help me out and point out any errors you find. Thanks for checking back!
Now on to the story!
Starry Surprise
pt8
Location: The Bridge of the Nemisis
Earth Time: Next morning, 7AM
"You incompetent idiots!" Starscream raged. His metal heels stomped up and down the bridge, flinging his arms around to emphasize even greater the fury and embarrassment which he felt in defeat.
"What is the point of having an army if you can't stop a group of four measly Autobots!?" he ranted. No bot on the bridge dare offer up a single syllable. It was simply suicide to speak while Starscream was in one of his wild fits. Knock Out sighed irritably, beginning to prefer the idea of Megatron being Lord of the Decepticons once again. His tantrums hadn't ever lasted half this long. Megatron usually just killed a drone in one quick action of violent anger and then was done with it. Starscream dragged each miserable defeat on and on, making existence on this ship practically unbearable, dragging not only himself through the Pit and back, but every bot at his command.
"Well one of those Autobots was Optimus Prime..." ventured a drone. Knock Out cocked a brow. That drone must have been very new or incredibly stupid.
"Shut up I don't want to hear it!" snapped Starscream, slashing the drone right across the face, "Where is Lockdown? LOCKDOWN!" the Decepticon Lord screamed down the bridge isle. Through the ship doors trudged in the bounty hunter, looking even more miserable than the rest of the drones who stood scattered around the room. Shortly after the first skirmish with Optimus Prime and his scout Bumblebee, Lockdown had split, having never wanted part of this war, and not changing his mind now. However, he hadn't made it too far, before Starscream had yet again contacted him a second time, offering a credit amount twice what his last reward had been for a new mission the Decepticon Lord was offering.
"I trust you have an idea of why I've asked for your return?" Starscream questioned the large mech as he strode forward.
"I brought you your precious femme, and she had what you wanted. My guess is either you have a fascination with hacking me off, or you've somehow managed to loose the femme," Lockdown snorted.
"I called you aboard this ship because I yet have need of your services. Amidst the rush of an unpredicted attack and the delicate nature of my goal hanging in the balance, the Autobots stormed in and stole away the spark," Starscream snapped back bitterly. He did not enjoy admitting his defeat but in this circumstance it had to be said. "It will be your job to find this Autobot femme and recover her. I assume the Autobot medic Ratchet will be working to bring the femme back on-line, for Optimus won't stop until Elita One is restored. If Ratchet succeeds, then she will be out and about. Success in her capture will earn you double your last payment," Starscream summed up, all the while speaking on the verge of a spat. Lockdown nodded when he finished.
"Where do I start?"
"Soundwave was clever enough to have suggested Knock Out place a tracking beacon within the femme's body should we loose it and though at the time I thought it unnecessary it will prove quite useful now," Starscream responded, "Here are the coordinates. Follow them and wait until the opportune moment," Starscream insisted, handing over the beacon tracking device, "Don't fail me..."
Location: Autobot Base
Earth Time: 7AM
When Elita One's systems awoke from her recharging state, it took her a moment to remember where she was. The walls and floors did not look the slightest bit familiar. Her first thought was that she had somehow been captured by Decepticons and was now trapped as their prisoner. Then, there was a knock, and she heard his voice.
"Elita?"
It was so soft and caring, yet his voice was also reliably strong.
"Come in," was Elita One's reply. Her spark slowed its previosuly fast pulse and she swung her legs down from the berth to sit on its edge. Optimus Prime opened the door with the press of a button and regarded her a moment, a small smile on his face before beginning his moring greeting.
"I hope I did not disturb you too early, I was anxious to check in and make sure all was well with you," he admitted.
"All is perfectly well with me, thank you," Elita One responded with a smile of her own. Optimus took a moment to stare at her some more.
"Is... everything well with you?" Elita One inquired after a moment.
"Very much so. I'm afraid you'll have to forgive me. It's just that it has been so very long. I'm still having a hard time believing you are really here," he explained, still standing in the door way.
"Would you like to come in? I'm sure you've got a lot to aquaint me with.. no doubt I've missed out on most of the action since being put into stasis," Elita said softly.
"Actually, it is better we speak out on the main floor. Ratchet would like to run another scan on you to assure your systems are functioning properly. I can begin aquainting you with the details while he does so," he replied, stepping backwards from the door and gesturing down the hall with one slow sweep of his hand.
Elita One stood, somewhat regretting that they could not just be alone together for a while. She had so many questions, and amidst other bots, she would be required to act militarilistically around Optimus, when all she really wanted was to behave on terms of simple friendship. Little did she know that this base was in fact different then those on Cybertron. Here, the rules were less strict and standard. More leeway had to be afforded to the soldiers here on earth, since first of all, they were around humans and sometimes (if not all the time) random things they were not used to occurred. Regulation was pretty much nonexistant here, considering the ranks were small and the chain of command did not travel far. What the Prime said goes, all other time left the bots free to spend it how they saw fit.
The femme stepped forward, coming out in to the hall to walk alongside Optimus through the base.
"How many soldiers do you have under command here?" she inquired.
"Four," Optimus answered, "The fifth member was offlined shortly upon our arrival here on earth," he explained, looking suddenly grim. Four was perhaps the smallest number of soldiers Elita One had ever heard of Optimus Prime leading. But this was a new planet, and there was still much Elita did not know.
"Earth," she repeated, "What kind of planet is it?"
"Organic, and vastly populated by sentient life forms called humans. They have their own primative kinds of technology, one of which we learned of their system and ways through is called the internet. It's a global network that will teach you all you need to know about their culture and way of life," Optimus supplied.
"And what has been your experience, with these humans?" Elita One asked.
"I've found the ones of my association to be very intelligent and capable of courage beyond what one may expect from beings of their size," Optimus answered with a small smile, "We have three such humans who know of our existence and in whom I have made my soldiers guardians over as they too are now suseptible of becoming targeted by the Decpeticons as our allies. They have been very helpful in the times past. As for the rest of the planet it is best our presence here be kept a secret. No one but an agent I've met with within the United States military knows of our presence on this planet, and they were the ones to supply us with this base," the Prime finished, "To the rest of the world, we have selected human vehicle modes, that keep us disguised during travel,"
"How interesting," Elita One responded. The idea of having to stay undercover on this planet was fascinating to her. Very unlike any other missions she had ever opporated in. The pair now made their way into the main platform of the base where Ratchet was waiting by the medical table with his various instruments.
"Good to see you up and about this morning," Ratchet greeted Elita, nodding his head respectfully, "I hope you don't mind I take one more scan, just to make certain I've not over looked anything needing attention?" he gestured she take a seat and Elita smiled willingly. She'd never loved being prodded with medical tools but the experience was always better when it was the friendly mech Ratchet doing the prodding. He was trustworthy and experienced with his work, two things that eased many a fear in her mind. She sat down as required and lay flat for the scan to take place. Optimus took a few steps back as Ratchet began his work, watching in mild interest.
"So what is the objective of having come to this planet?" Elita One inquired next curiously, as the red beam light swooped over her body slowly.
This was a question Optimus had not been looking forward to answering. If his suspicion was true, then Elita One might not have even known about the whole downfall of Cybertron, and the sorry state it was now in. If he wasn't careful in how he spoke next, it would crush her. He knew it would be easy to skirt the question altogether and give her a simple answer, but that wasn't something Optimus would do with Elita One. She trusted him too much, and he cared for her too much, to be in any way untruthful. He'd tell her strait out.
"We are here," Optimus ventured, "because it was necessary to evacuate our planet, due to the damage it sustained during the war," he replied as calmly as possible. He couldn't let any sign of sorrow infiltrate his voice, or Elita One would know how serious that statement tuly was. Meanwhile, he watched her face for any reaction. So far she had remained stoic, all except for the small crinkle of a frown, that formed at the fractionate drawing together of her brows.
"What... kind of damage?" she asked finally.
"Vital damage. Damage which is my duty to search out rectification for. Here on earth there are many hidden relics which the anxients dispersed here a long time ago, to be kept far from evil hands. We are present to search them out, and find them before the Decepticons do. Any number of these relics might hold the key to the rebirth of our home planet and keeping them from Decepticon possession is an absolute necessety," Optimus explained. Elita was still frowning as she stared up at the cieling. Ratchet reminaed quiet, going over the scan until he was finished.
"I'm done," he informed, moving the scanner away to let Elita One sit up once more. She did, her expression slightly somber as she sat up to stare at the ground in deep contemplation. Optimus wondered if he should approach her to offer any kind of consolation, but he wasn't sure what she needed. Ever since he'd first met her, Elita One had possessed a very strong, courageous spark. It was for this reason she had been given her own elite squad of femmes to command and conduct various missions all over Cybertron. It was for this reason also which she was given the extreme burdon of carrying the weight of a special power within her own body, one which had to remain hidden, and her along with it, for countless of mega-cycles.
"And... where are the others?" she asked suddenly, looking up directly into Optimus Prime's eyes. Her blue optics shimmered with repressed emotions.
"They are dispersed through the galaxy. Some are hiding, some are scouring the stars, attacking Con ships in their own attempt at resistance. I've sent many a message stating as to where I am and where soldiers will find me, but whether they have not gotten through, or remaining Autobots have refused to come to my call, I cannot say," Prime admitted. Elita cycled a deep intake of air and closed her eyes a moment. It was clear this news had shook her and Optimus wished more than anything that he could make everything right then and there. But he couldn't. The relics were the only things which he could attach any amount of remaining hope towards. None the less he took a step forward towards her, extending a hand. She took it and used his help to stand off from the medical berth, her gaze having returned to the ground.
"I'm putting all that's left of my hope for our planet into the finding of these relics," Optimus stated softly, "And I won't rest until I've done everything within my ability to restore Cybertron," he vowed. Passion surged through those words and seemed to flow directly into Elita One's own spark after he had said them. Her optics flew up to his once more and she nodded.
"You are the most noble of mechs. I know you will not fail," she replied in turn. This time, it was her words that sent empowerment to Optimus, creating further confidence to swell in his spark, and the assurance that he and his soldiers could obtain victory sent strength through his metal veins. Optimus wanted to grab the femme before him and pull her into a tight embrace. He wanted so badly to let her know what she did for him, what just being around her did to raise his spirits and encourage him. He was Prime, much was always expected of him, and the weight of leadership rested consistantly upon his shoulders alone. He recieved support from Ratchet, and the occasional encouragement from his own soldiers, sometimes even the children, but to hear it from her, it was an entirely different feeling that vibrated inside of his being. Optimus' processor scrambled for words to use in response but that was when the sound of engines passed through the base's tunnel entrance and echoed into the room. Optimus turned, having released Elita One's hand, to face his soldiers as they drove in, their human charges having arrived with them...
TO BE CONTINUED...
That was a long one ehhhh? Hehe... hope you all are enjoying Optimus and Elita One's interaction. I must admit it is difficult balancing their relationship as to not make it too lovey dovey, but still touching along with seriousness. I hope I'm doing an okay job...
Let me know what you think!
-Stokin D Embers.