~Morgan's POV
"Ironhide…" I said, speechless, after his declaration. His holoform looked away from me.
"I'm sorry, if you don't feel the same way, I apologize for letting my emotions get the best of me." Ironhide said, reaching for the gearshift in his alt mode so we could pull back onto the road. I stopped him, and he looked up at me when my hand touched his.
"Morgan? What are you…?" Ironhide started before I leaned over the center console and kissed him. He almost broke away in surprise, though quickly surrendered to the gesture and returned it. After a few long seconds, I leaned back into my seat, and Ironhide's holoform looked at me. He slowly blinked his brilliant blue eyes, looking into my green ones he suddenly ducked his head and rested it on the steering wheel.
"Primus…what have I done…" Ironhide said, pulling back into traffic and heading back to the base.
"What do you mean?" I persuaded gently. Ironhide's holoform sighed deeply, troubled, but I could tell he was still reminiscing in the kiss I'd just given him.
"When we first came to this planet, Optimus set up a code of conduct for us here. Most importantly was that we don't harm any human, and we protect them at all costs. But others, like we were to remain 'robots in disguise,' seemed self-explanatory. One of the big rules Optimus put in place was that we weren't allowed, under any circumstances, to form relationships with a human outside of friendship or even declaring yourself an individual's guardian, as I have with you… and I've failed him…" Ironhide's holoform said.
"Oh no, no, no, Ironhide. This was my fault if anything, I'm sorry." I said. Ironhide's holoform looked at me.
"How is it your fault that I've fallen for you?" he asked. I was silent, though gave a weak smile. Ironhide sighed again as we neared the plant. "Even so…I should probably report this to Optimus…" Ironhide said. Right after he said that, my cell phone in my pants pocket rang, and, answering it, I heard Lennox on the other end.
"Hey, where are you and 'Hide? We just got back from that mission in Chernobyl, and let me tell you, you missed out big time. You guys should get back here ASAP and see what we got from there, a warning though, the Director of National Intelligence is arriving soon and Optimus seems to be really upset about something..." Lennox said, filling me in on everything that happened on the mission and hanging up just as Ironhide and I pulled through the gate to the base. I filled him in as we drove in, and as I was sliding out of his passenger seat I talked to him quietly after he deactivated his holoform.
"Let's just keep this quiet for now, I haven't had someone like you in a long time, and in these times I know I could use a friend." I said. Ironhide grunted in answer, and transformed after I had exited his alt mode. From across the base, I heard Wheeljack call Ironhide and I decided to follow.
"Ironhide, I've got a new invention I think you'll like!" Wheeljack called. Ironhide motioned for me to stay behind him once we got close.
"What's wrong?" I asked. Ironhide looked down at me with a smile.
"Hopefully nothing, but whenever Wheeljack says 'Come look at what I just made,' expect it to somehow, some way, blow up, even if it seems impossible." Ironhide said. When Ironhide approached the somewhat crazed inventor, Wheeljack shoved a giant gun into Ironhide's hands. 'Hide looked it over, surprised, as I heard conversation drift through the bay.
A very high and mighty looking woman was walking briskly through the base, a younger Asian lady who I assume was her assistant was scurrying behind her as Lennox struggled to keep up as well. I hid behind Ironhide's foot suddenly when I realized who it was. He ignored me, transfixed with his new weapon.
"This gun is my perfect invention Ironhide."
"Right." Ironhide said, attaching the gun to a compartment across his back. Wheeljack just seemed to notice the small procession and stepped over to them.
"The name's Que," he said, using the name the soldiers had given him, "I do hope you have answers for him, I've never seen him this upset…" Wheeljack said, glancing towards the bay where Optimus was currently parked in vehicle form. I ran after Ironhide there, and I saw Blitz walk up after Mirage went by.
"Ee's in a bad mood. Ee's a not talkin' to anybody today." Mirage said, walking away from the situation with Blitz in tow.
The woman, who I knew was Director Charlotte Merriam, looked at Optimus sarcastically. The only reason I knew it was her was because my team and I had often had to go through her before we were approved to take out a target. And let me tell you, I was GLAD that I didn't have to deal with her any more, though now it appeared I couldn't escape it.
"What's this, the silent treatment?" she said sarcastically, crossing her arms. Ironhide shook his head and stepped over to Optimus.
"We've seen that and this is not that." Ironhide said.
"Definitely not…" Wheeljack added. Ironhide turned to Optimus, frowning.
"Prime! Make something of yourself!" Ironhide said, hitting his fist on the roof of Optimus' alt mode. Instantly he started transforming, and Ironhide backed away near me.
"He's pissed."
I found it amusing when Optimus got about six inches away from the Director's face, pointing at the object on the table in front of her that Lennox had explained to me was an engine part from an Autobot ship.
For the next few minutes, we all sort of got a history lesson from Optimus and the Director explained the real reason why we'd gone to the moon in the 70's. Apparently, an alien ship had crash landed on the moon, and I got a surprise when we all got to meet Buzz Aldrin and the crew of the original manned mission to the moon. One of them went on about how many missions they manned, and how they took hundreds of samples but were sworn to secrecy. (I could understand that, considering the line of work I used to be in.) Ironhide looked down at them.
"Well did you search the crash vault?" he said. The astronauts were silent, and Optimus spoke up next.
"That ship was carrying an important technology that would have won us the war, and its captain." Optimus said. When the Director asked who, he continued. "The great Sentinel Prime, he was commander of the Autobots before me…" Optimus continued, and it was arranged that he and Ratchet would take their own ship to the moon and investigate. We all sort of disbanded to go our separate ways, and I ran my hand across Ironhide's leg, telling him I was going to go fill in my team.
I did as I said I was, looking somewhat sadly at the remainder of my group. Blitz, Collins, and Havii seemed a bit taken aback and to tell the truth, it was a lot to process for me as well.
What I did know was that the shit was gonna hit the fan, and soon…
….
So… another chapter done! I can't believe I got my muse back for this one, I was afraid I'd have to discontinue it, apparently not… As a warning, or more of a head's up, this has only two or three more chapters in the making, so yes, I am drawing it to a close. But don't be sad, I am trying to get back to writing my other fics as well! Aurrawings out! ^~^