WARNING! Long chapter!
-But really, should you expect anything differently from me now?-
Of the Spark and Heart
Part 1
Chapter 9
The air in the room was frozen along with her body. She couldn't believe her eyes, yet she should. It was confusing and it made her press herself further against the wall. Rethalia Prime, not a wife to Optimus, or a girlfriend. But she and himself were somehow connected. Well, as far as Fera could guess.
Rethalia just waited patiently for Fera to wrap her head around everything. Her calmness was impressive- seeing as she did nothing but watch Fera's disbelief with the utmost friendliness to her features.
Her body was unwilling to move, yet she forced herself to her feet. "Hello." Fera finally managed, crawling up the wall to stand. Rethalia had no malice in her expression; or derision either. She was just so calm and still as Fera found the courage to push herself form the wall.
"Whom are you small one?" Rethalia asked, leaning forward on her slim arms. She was a lot different than the mechs of the base; definitely smaller, with much more slender limbs than her bulkier couterparts. Her paint shone jet black, with pink details on her helmet, arms, and legs. There were delicately lined panels along her thighs, connecting to other plates on her shins. She had pink braces on her wrists and small silver fingers. Her helmet was similar to that of Optimus', but only with the crest and overall shape. On the helmet were two slips of metal that hugged her face and zig-zagged down to sharply line her chin. There was a shallow vizor on the rim of the helmet and two decorative pieces on the sides of her head. The wheels of the pieces moved every so often.
Overall, she was probably the most fascinating Cybertronian that Fera had seen yet. She had such fierce grace and a powerful aura that surrounded her, but she seemed so much like Optimus, with her patience and her kind tone.
"My name is Fera. Fera Lennox." she said, reaching up to touch her necklace. She noticed she was still wearing the military uniform, along with the name tag pinned on her chest. Rethalia watched Fera as the young woman started slowly forward, seeming to forget her fear. Fera no longer felt threatened, but...awed. "You are Rethalia Prime?" she wondered. Rethalia dipped her head, studying the small female beneath her.
Rethalia's legs hung over the side of the towering table she sat on and they crossed at the ankles. "I am she." she confirmed. Fera came even closer, finally seeing the full wonder of the fembot before her. Suddenly, Fera saw the Prime lowering herself, and she jerked. She almost moved back, but when Rethalia hesitated, she stopped. Rethalia started to lean down again and her smooth fingers slipped under Fera's arms and around her. They closed over her and firmly grasped her body. The sound of maybe what were hydraulics hissed and Rethalia slowly began to lift Fera into the air.
Fera's stomach dropped the higher she went, and she clasped on to Rethalia's hand in fright. The ground seemed so far away, causing Fera's mind to swim. But then she stopped rising, and Rethalia gently brought her to the side and over the edge of the table. The fingers around her loosened and Fera dropped to her feet. Rethalia's hand pulled away and Fera stood straight, looking up at her. "Why is it you are here, Fera?" Rethalia asked in her smooth, honey-like voice. It was like listening to the breeze, washing over her and calming any nerve she possessed.
"Well I may have gotten involved in something I shouldn't have..." Fera trailed off and played with her fingers shyly. Rethalia didn't say anything.
"I followed a few of the Autobots while they were chasing a Decepticon. I didn't known what was going on, and soon I found myself here. Under protection by my Guardian." she shrugged her shoulders, unsure of how to tell her story. It was still unclear completely to her, for she didn't understand how to make sense of it all. An entire new race plus the threat of life could make anyone go insane. Rethalia just dipped her head in understanding. "And who is your Guardian?" she inquired. Fera gave a short laugh and smiled. "Solas Kaon. Or just Sol." she answered.
Rethalia actually seemed surprised at this fact and she let her hands sit over her lap. "That surprises me." she stated, echoing Fera's mind. "Solas is a newer warrior to Earth, therefore Optimus' decision is...interesting." she looked to the ground and Fera burrowed her eyebrows. "Well, you can say he's not really that up to date with humans." Fera commented, rolling her eyes. Rethalia looked back down at Fera curiously. "He's always picking a fight with me, he's clumsy, he's irritatingly secretive, and over protective." she counted off on her fingers as she went and when she had finished, she looked back to the Prime and sighed. "But he is probably one of my closest friends. If not my only." Fera rolled back on her heels and promptly fell on her butt, crossing her legs as well.
Fera could tell Rethalia genuinely appeared interested in her stories, but there was also a point where Fera knew she would become annoying to the fembot. "Solas Kaon maybe unfamiliarized with the customs of yourself and your planet. However, I'm sure my sparkmate had his reason to place Solas as your Guardian. I trust him." Rethalia assured her. Fera looked back up at her and she fought the want to distrust her. But she had mentioned something called a "sparkmate", and Fera was interested. However, she kept her question to herself. It was too personal at the moment. Maybe that had been what Sol was talking about...
Thoughts of the mech drew Fera's heart to drop. No word had reached her of his condition, and she was beginning to grow concerned. But she knew what he would say of her worry: "You worry too much, have faith in a mech, will ya?" and then she would grin and brush him off, destroying all her attempts at making him see things her way. Fera saw movement and she found Rethalia setting her hand on the table before Fera. "Fera, you seem concerned. Is it Solas?" she wondered. Fera nodded, amazed this fembot could sense things so well. Rethalia returned her hand to her lap and grinned down at her.
"You have known him enough now to realize his personality. He will be fine and will return to you soon."
Fera's eyes widened and she felt her ears go hot. "It's...it's not like that!" she denied, drawing herself close. She didn't look at Rethalia, instead trying to find some random object in the room to look at. "I'm not sure I understand what you mean." Rethalia said, gaining Fera's attention again. Fera released her legs and she situated herself, her heart thumping loudly. "Nothing. It's nothing." she waved her hands before her and fought to stay calm. Taking a breath, she tried changing the conversation. "What about you? What's your life story with the Autobots?" she wondered. This was actually a question she really wanted to know more about and Rethalia seemed confused at first about Fera's outburst, but she looked to move on.
"To begin, I would have to shorten my story. Is that alright?" she asked. Fera nodded quickly and once again crossed her legs. Rethalia looked towards the doors and a sound like a sigh escaped her. It had come from these vents underneath armored plating. They were barely visible, hidden under so much protection. But Fera found them, and suddenly her mind exploded with thousands of other questions.
"The Great War had already begun on Cybertron. I worked closely with orphaned and newborn sparklings in a city known as Praxus, while I was only in my first form; designated Areil. Already I was in close relations with a mech dockworker named Orian Pax; who happens was Optimus' first form as well." she paused and Fera stayed silent.
"However, when the Great War reached Praxus, myself and Orian were both injured. I was thus given my second form, Elita-one. Orian had more serious wounds then I, for reasons I still have no knowing of. He was given the name of Prime and he was revamped by the Matrix into his current body." she explained. Fera nodded and leaned on her hand, setting the elbow on her knee. "I had no want for the war, but seeing the innocence in the massacre had driven me to leave my caretaker programming and acquire a soldier's. Soon, I joined with Optimus in our struggle, and just as quickly, I became separated from him." there was a sad edge to her voice.
Fera lifted her head and she reached down to grip her necklace again. Whatever relationship Rethalia and Optimus shared, it was deep. And Fera couldn't figure any word better for it then love. Simple as that. Love from War.
"Deep into the war, and after most of Cybertron had been destroyed, Optimus left it and me behind to find the AllSpark. Since then, he and I have been apart. And that was over 300 of your Earth years ago." she said with another sigh. Fera shifted from her spot on the ground. She couldn't imagine the pain and the longing Rethalia must have felt for her love. There was no comprehending it.
"It was around 15 of those orbits that I'd felt I'd lost him. He was gone, absolutely gone. With no link anymore and creating an avid void inside of my spark." she lifted a hand and placed in over her chest where Fera guessed her "spark" would be. It was almost an uncomfortable situation, and Fera controlled her urge to get up and try to comfort the giant fembot. She had once heard this story before, laying with her father in bed one night. He'd been in-between deployments and he was helping a six-year-old Fera to find sleep. He'd told her that he'd gone to Egypt, where the "big pointy things" stayed. He'd laughed and told her about how Optimus was driven into a deep sleep and that Sam helped him wake up.
Now she knew that is was no sleep.
"He'd been brought back to life." Fera whispered. Rethalia nodded, letting down her hand. "And that was the point in my grieving that I had become a Prime. I started for this planet the moment I felt his spark beating again." she said, turning back to Fera. Fera looked up at the Prime and locked eyes with her. "And you ended up here." she finished. Rethalia leaned back on her hands and 'blinked'. "Only after having my ship attacked and my crew killed before me." she stated in a grim, bare tone. That statement made Fera's blood run cold. She hadn't been informed of that part.
"Oh my God." she murmured, horrified. All of them...killed in front of her?
Fera placed her hand over her mouth and then she hovered it just before her lips. "How are you...coping with that? It...it can't be easy." she questioned, completely awed by the fact that this fembot was as calm as she was. If it were Fera, or most any other human on earth, she would be silently rocking in the corner, crying and wailing and thrashing in nightmares. Slowly she would lose her mind, and then her body would fade. Just having the fact that you were unable to prevent the extinction of so many lives, some maybe very close to you...it was unimaginable.
At first, there was silence from the Prime. She seemed caught up in her own mind, yet she still looked down on Fera with painful, frustratingly calm eyes. "I have not coped with it Fera. I merely feel the pain and face it. There is no coping through it, just surviving. They perished by lustful hands, none of it being less than a massacre." Rethalia answered in grim seriousness. Fera winced under the eyes of the Prime and she shrunk into her shoulders, placing her head on her knees. "If I had gone through that, I don't know what I'd do. It takes a strong individual to know the differences between dealing with pain and surviving through it. You will have to keep the memories of course, otherwise you'll have empty pain. And purposeless pain will certainly drive the sturdiest to insanity." she stated, glancing back up at Rethalia.
Rethalia wasn't returning the look however, but she had trained her eyes on the floor again. Fera lifted her head, noticing the grief in the posture of the Autobot. "But it takes an even stronger person to forgive themselves." Fera went on. She was trying her hardest to make a point in this speech, but all she could think of was the things her mother had said to her after the death of her father. "You can't blame yourself for the death of another. I learned that the hard way." Fera stopped herself and she swallowed the lump in her throat, the cut in the conversation making Rethalia peer over and down again. And taking a shaking breath, Fera shook her head and clenched her teeth. "Now it's your turn to forgive what could not be prevented." she had gotten ahold of herself enough that her voice was even.
Rethalia said nothing, just peered down at Fera, who glanced away to break the contact. She didn't want to know if her advice would be taken or not. At least Fera had said what was on her mind. And saying what she had thought just proved that her words were far less wise than those of her mother's. This was a Prime for goodness sake! Rethalia would mutter something more intelligent in her sleep.
But nonetheless, Rethalia did not say anything to make fun of Fera or her knowledge. And neither of them would be able to before the door to the room opened. Both Fera and Rethalia whipped their heads towards the noise, finding the culprit standing in the doorway. It was the greenish-yellow mech. The medic. Ratchet.
He had a small tool in his hand and a shocked look to his face. But the shock soon twisted into a deep frown. "Fera, how in the Pit did you get in here?" he demanded, stalking into the room. The table was just up to his hip, leaving Fera to lean back to fully see him.
"I, well...followed you in." she slowly came to her feet as Ratchet glared down from his towering height. "You're supposed to be in the medical bay. Rethalia is recovering and I'm sure she does not wish to converse at this time." he lifted a hand and started for Fera, who took an uncertain step back. But Rethalia also jerked forward, throwing her hand between them. "Ratchet, on the contrary. She has offered me company in my time of grief. And she has graciously answered each of my questions, allowing me a better view of herself." she informed him. Ratchet drew back hesitantly and Rethalia pulled away her hand. "But Rethalia, you are still in need of recharge. Fera's presence here will only draw out your injury. As your medic, I cannot allow your health to fall because of company." he insisted.
Rethalia shook her head and Fera found a small grin to play on her face. "You are a grumpy old mech, too full of concern and worry. Do not let your programming take away a Prime's only connection to the world she now sits upon." Rethalia's hand came very close as she laid it on the table. Fera, feeling extremely brave, reached out and placed her own hand on the fembot's own. Ratchet watched the two carefully before sighing. "Only for half a joor. Then she leaves. But only half a joor." Ratchet lifted a finger and raised metallic eyebrows. There was a dip of the head from Rethalia and a quick series of nods from Fera. Ratchet once again sighed and lifted a hand to pinch the ridge of his metal nose.
"I'm soft. I've lost my reasoning. I'm a medic, not a Prime-sitter." he muttered beneath his breath.
He had turned and was now leaving when the door opened again. Hound, the bulky, dark -green mech with the stationary gun on his shoulder stood on the other side of the door. "Hey, Fera! Sol's been lookin' fer-" he cut off as Ratchet jumped to the side of the room and grabbed a random wrench. He was faster than Fera thought possible for his size, moving to draw back his arm and skillfully chuck it through the door to hit Hound dead square in the forehead.
The mech leaned back and planted a hand on his throbbing head. He stumbled a step and then stopped, throwing both hands to his side in a confused and offended gesture. "What the frag was that about?!" he demanded. Fera snapped her hand to her mouth and she held it there to keep from laughing. Ratchet straightened and hovered his hand threateningly over another wrench. "What did I say about visitors?" he inquired, his fingers closing over the tool. Hound looked down at the mech's hand and then back up. "No visitors, but-" he wanted to go on, but the wrench was suddenly thrown directly at him. Hound ducked and the wrench struck the wall behind him. There was a loud clattering and then it hit the floor.
"No visitors means no visitors! Rethalia is in no shape to be bothered, therefore you can come back when I say so!" he asserted, jabbing a finger at Hound. The mech cringed and backed up and through the door. But before he would run out of the way of Ratchet's wrath, he stood tall and called over the medic's shoulder. "And your female creator is here." he put in, hurrying out of sight. Fera perked up at this and she stared towards the door. She was here. That meant she was safe and that she was near. And Sol had been looking for her? That meant he was fine as well! Relief and happiness poured through her tired body.
Ratchet straightened and glanced back at them. Rethalia looked down at Fera and then at Ratchet, giving a nod. Ratchet started forward, slower this time, and reached down. "Hey, what are you doing?" Fera asked in surprise as Ratchet curled his thick, almost rectangular-like fingers around her. His grip was harder than Rethalia's, but then again, he was a mech and not a more delicate fembot. Fera was lifted off her feet and placed high on Ratchet's shoulder. "But didn't you want me to stay?" Fera asked, crawling forward to lean off the less kind mech's shoulder. Rethalia just gave a soft grin and swung her legs back over the table.
"Leave her be." Ratchet instructed softly, less annoyed than he seemed before. But he still turned out of the room and carried Fera on his shoulder down the halls. Fera moved herself so she was sitting, her legs drawn up. She wrapped her arms around them and stared forward.
"I'm sorry." she commented, glancing up at Ratchet's face. He seemed to pause for a moment before continuing. "I don't see why you're apologizing." he stated plainly. Fera gave a half grin and looked ahead again.
"I'm apologizing because I did something I shouldn't have. But I still am curious about some things. And even though you tell me no, I will still go back to Rethalia." Fera said.
Ratchet seemed to snort and Fera pressed her lips to her knees. "Even if you were able to get to her, why would you be in need to? Rethalia needs to heal, and your constant meddling won't help her." he turned around another corner and they passed through a lengthy hall. "I'm not meddling, I just want answers. I know now that I'm here for a reason, so I just want to know why." there was a determined edge to her voice, yet Ratchet appeared unaffected. No matter what she said, she wouldn't get through to Ratchet. And she knew that. But she could at least try to correct a broken first impression. "Why you're here is because you followed strange cars through a barricade, on a highway, and in the pouring rain. It is just coincidence that your father was a captain of the military sector involved with us." Ratchet insisted.
Fera sighed and grabbed her legs tighter. That couldn't be true. She had a purpose here, she knew it. And just because this encounter happened by accident, she was sure it was meant to happen eventually anyway. "NEST, right? But they're mainly in Washington D.C. Why are you all here then?" she wondered. Ratchet moved his shoulder and Fera's arms flew to her side to balance her. Glaring at him, Fera returned to her curled state. "If I tell you, will you cease this rampant thirst for more knowledge about us?" he asked.
Fera patted his shoulder beside her. "Of course not." she decided calmly, yet full of playful sarcasm. Ratchet shook his head and looked to her from the side of his eye.
"Optimus Prime's main group of Autobots are stationed in Washington D.C and all over the United States. However, a few relocated here when word was leaked to us that Arachnid, leader of the Decepticons, was planning on breaking into this base and obtaining information from it." he paused and passed through another hall. "He had then taken himself and a few of his closer peers here so that Arachnid could be stopped. However, it was known that there was something not right with this report, therefore, we were hesitant. However, while we had been here, one of the upper grade military security vaults had been infiltrated and suspicious materials had been stolen. That is when we met you, and we had discovered everything had been a ruse." he turned the last corner and started towards the main entrance.
"However, when we had found the Decepticon soldier, we grew suspicious. The theft had happened in Washington D.C, but the suspect appeared in Amoret. And he still bared no cargo." Ratchet had said the last part in a more serious tone and Fera looked nervously up at the medic. She wanted no part in the wrench-throwing fury of the mech. But he didn't seem mad for long, moving through to the main entrance lobby and seeming to rein in his feelings. Looking around, Fera found Bumblebee there, speaking almost in panic to Mirage, who tried to reassure him of something. Sideswipe was standing aside with Hound, who had a shallow dent on his forehead from Ratchet.
And Optimus Prime was there as well, speaking to a tired-looking, smaller, and much alive Sol. Fera got unsteadily to her feet and her lips stretched to a beaming smile. "Sol!" she cried out in excitement. He immediately jerked his attention from Optimus to search for the source. Ratchet slowed his steps as the black and red mech started towards them. He had relief washed over his features and he lifted his arms to take her from Ratchet's shoulder.
"Fera, you slag-head." he breathed, holding her in his open palms. She stood and let her hands steady herself against his chest. "I don't know whether I should punch you or hug you." she put in before he could say anything else. Sol chuckled and gave a small wince.
"Seeing as I am made of metallic plating and your fist is mostly flesh and small bone, I would not suggest you try harming me." he put in humorously. Fera laughed and instead landed a hard pound of the side of her hand to his chest. It didn't hurt as much as a punch, but it was just as satisfying. Sol rolled his teal blue eyes and moved Fera lower. "You just can't show compassion, can you?" he inquired. Fera shrugged. "Maybe I can. Maybe I can't. Who knows?" she let her hands slap back down against her thighs and she smiled innocently.
Sol shifted and began to lift his arm, ignoring her last comment. "Now there's a similarity between us." he had moved the limb enough so that Fera could clearly see what he wanted to show her. She drew in a sharp breath and she stared. It was a long, jagged strip of bulging, welded metal. A scar most definitely not there previously.
"You got hurt because of me. That was stupid! You could have gotten killed!" she exclaimed, now looking up at Sol's eyes. He shrugged and let his arm down, bringing her back before him. "The role of a Guardian is that we protect what we are assigned to guard, with our lives if necessary. That's what I was doing. And I would gladly do it again." he stated simply.
Fera breathed deeply, trying to keep the horrific thoughts from her mind. "Then you're idiotic... you stupid mech." she seared softly. Sol looked down at her in confusion, but Fera wasn't looking at him. She was training her eyes on the floor, trying to keep her temper in check. "Fera..." he trailed off, but Fera wouldn't let him continue. She just balled her hands and leaned forward, promptly hugging Sol as closely as she could get. Her cheek was on his chest plates and she hid her expression in her hair. "Don't ever scare me like that you reckless, thoughtless, jerk." she commanded. Sol was seemingly in shock, unmoving while his peers watched him from their spots in the room. She had never hugged him before, just an occasional touch or smack. But never a hug.
She felt him hesitate, and she only hugged him harder. No longer would she take advantage of his presence. He was alive now, but in pain. That had been clear the moment she'd seen him. Yet he still moved, talked, and joked as if nothing were wrong. She was still suffering from her wound, having to constantly pause to ease the seizing of the scarred tissues. "You're getting soft, I swear..." Sol teased, lifting a hand to gently place over Fera. It was nothing much but a cupping of his hand. She knew he could easily crush her. But he wouldn't, and that touch was enough.
Fera finally released him and Sol moved her so she could climb off of his hand. "Where is my mother? Hound said she' been taken here." she said, turning around to scan the area. All she saw were the usual sights in the lobby: Autobots, scaffolds, and soldiers or other personnel. Fera caught Sol shooting a glare in Hound's direction. The large mech just shrugged and continued talking with Sideswipe. "Sol...?" she trailed off, urging him to answer. Sol looked down at her and rubbed the back of his neck. "She...um...Bee?" he directed the conversation to the small yellow mech by the door.
Bumblebee looked up at the sound of his name and he looked from Fera to Sol. "Where's Fera's female creator?" Sol wondered. Fera set a hand on her hip, knowing the suspicious edge that he held in his voice. Bee seemed to return to his panic, uncertain and stumbling to find the correct words over the radio. "Retrocedió Sol. Leave the cyberling alone." Mirage put in, waving off Sol. Fera gave a small grin, but then turned on her Guardian. "Where. Is. My. Mother?" each word held emphasis that she was indeed serious. Solas stalled once again.
But finally, none other than the great Prime himself saved the mech. "She is recovering in the medical wing. She collapsed upon meeting us, and we feared she was seriously ill." Optimus reported without hesitation. Fera nearly thanked the leader if not for the fact that the news she heard disturbed her. I hope it wasn't a heart attack, she thought nervously. Sarah Lennox was by no means old, but she did have a normal, overwhelmed heart. And meeting giant, alien robots may have pushed her over the edge.
But then she realized that there would be a totally other explanation for Fera's mother. Giving a short laugh, Fera crossed her arms. "She probably just fainted. Humans often do that when they're really, really scared, or just way too overwhelmed." she explained to a confused group of staring Autobots.
Behind Fera, Bee fell on his butt and sagged in relief. Optimus left Sol's side and walked out of the room, seeming unnecessary anymore. She wondered if he was on his way to meet Rethalia. She moved her eyes towards the entrance to the medical wing and she briefly had the urge to go to her mother. Certainly she would be stressed by all of this, and it would be Fera's job to help her through it. "Bumblebee?" she called, turning around. The smaller yellow mech lifted his head at the sound of his name and he looked down at Fera. "Thanks for bringing her here. I really appreciate that." she gave a grin and Bee whirred happily.
"Hey Fera," Sol voiced, catching her attention, "want to go for a ride? Being cooped up in here is getting boring." he jabbed his thumb behind him.
A large grin crossed Fera's face and she began to speak before Ratchet magically appeared behind Sol and walked up beside him. "Oh no you don't. That welding is still fresh, so any use of your alternate form could damage it and possible break the seal. Absolutely not." he crossed his arms and gave them both a firm look. Sol sighed loudly and Fera looked between the both of them. "Ratchet, I swear the Dinobots are calmer than you. You sound like a scolding fembot." Sol stated, playfully nudging the mech's shoulder. Ratchet laughed sarcastically and then dropped his arms. "I'm serious Sol. Until you are completely functional again, you cannot be Fera's Guardian." he addressed the mech with a grim voice, one stating that he was very, very sincere.
As quickly as it had come, Sol had lost his happy mood. Fera's eyebrows lifted and her lips parted. He can't be my Guardian? she thought in shock. What does that mean? "What do you mean I can't be her Guardian? I'm perfectly able to do anything any other mech can!" he argued, seeming offended. Fera could tell Sol wasn't really upset by the fact he couldn't protect her, but because Ratchet had said he was unable to be a Guardian at all. Ratchet doubted his abilities. Fera felt a sting at the thought that Sol wasn't seemingly concerned about being her Guardian or not, and that he was more concerned about keeping an image; a reputation.
"Really? So if I were a Decepticon..." Ratchet trailed off and grabbed Sol's arm without warning, then yanking it behind him and pulled roughly on the other. The CMO's wrist was close to Sol's throat, and two twin sawblades shifted up from the brace on his arm, hovering dangerously close. Sol paused and growled in pain. Fera stepped back in surprise. She hadn't thought the medic had it in him. And he didn't even seem to put any effort into his assault- seeming almost bored with the calmness he possessed. Sol shuddered and Ratchet pulled back the blades and released the warrior.
Sol fell back to his feet, but he was slightly bent over, one arm wrapped around his waist while the one hung limp. "You would be dead in a nanoclick. Deadspark. And where would that leave Fera?" he demanded, opening his hand towards the small human on the ground. Fera just stared at Sol, a flurry of emotions stirred inside of her. The teal blue-eyed Autobot looked up and locked eyes with her. She could see the shame in his expression and the utter sense of failure. "In the hands of Arachnid. Who wouldn't even pause at the thought of killing her." Ratchet went on, more softly.
Everyone in the room had stopped to look towards Ratchet and Sol, all either curious or concerned. But no one said anything. Fera walked closer to Sol and got below his bowed head, lifting a hand to touch the tip of one of his fingers. "No matter what you think of me, I get worried about your wellbeing, so I think you should listen to Ratchet." she said gently, her brows furrowed. Sol looked surprised for only a heartbeat before it faded. She gave a grin and lowered her arm.
"And stop being such a stubborn piece of scrap metal so you can get better."
Sol huffed, blowing her with air from the vents on his chest. "Your so supportive." he said sarcastically. But Fera chuckled anyway and crossed her arms. "Don't miss me." she went on as he stood. Sol waved her off and rolled his eyes. "Don't get your hopes up." he retorted just as mockingly. "I have already spoken with Optimus and we decided that Bumblebee will be her new Guardian until you can return to your position." Ratchet cut in, drawing both their attentions. Fera nodded and looked back to Bee, waving. His eyes smiled and he waved back.
But then there was a very worried, very angry-sounding voice from behind her. "Fera Rosalie Lennox!" Fera's head ducked into her shoulders and her hand closed in the air. Each of the mechs turned towards the noise to find Fera's mother stalking across the room, keeping her eyes trained on her daughter. Fera, fearing for her life, slowly turned and locked eyes with her mother. Sarah Lennox was visibly furious, her steps quick and short. "Hey mom, how are you?" Fera asked as she got closer. Her mother stopped close by and she set both hands on her hips. A few of the soldiers in the room left, as well as some on the higher scaffolds. An angry mother was just as, if not more, dangerous than one of the mechs. At least, they were a hell of a lot scarier.
"Don't give me that crap Fera." she said tartly. Fera flinched at her mother's tone and she lowered her hand completely. "When I said you should make friends, I didn't mean giant alien robots. What in the name of the good Lord is going on here?" she demanded. Fera rubbed one arm and looked anywhere but her mother's stabbing eyes.
"Well...um...didn't I tell you my car was a transforming robot from another planet?" she wondered in pretend innocence, grinning sheepishly. Her mother gave a short laugh and then crossed her arms. "No, sorry didn't get that part. Wait, your car is a what?" her eyebrows rose and Fera flinched again. Oops.
Excuses and thoughts filed through Fera's head and her tongue became twisted. She couldn't find the right words, so she glanced up at Sol pleadingly. Help me, she thought desperately. The mech waved his hands before him, showing he wanted no part in this. Narrowing her eyes, Fera turned back to her mother. "He's right there." she said, gesturing towards the black and red mech. Sol jumped and took an uncertain step back. Fera's mother turned and her expression fell, turning to horrified shock as she scanned up his body. She found his face and her arms dropped when their eyes met.
Obviously confused at what he was to do, Sol tapped his leg and stalled when first speaking.
"Um...hello Mom." he said, finally catching her eye again.
The Cybertronians around him gave small laughs and he looked around in bewilderment. Fera gained a small grin and her mother just stared, dumbfounded. "That thing...has been driving you around?" she questioned disbelievingly. Fera let her hand slide down her face to sit over her mouth and she nodded. "He's my Guardian. Well he will be once he recovers from his injury. For now, Bee's my Guardian." she nodded back towards the yellow Autobot and her mother brought a hand through her hair. Like mother like daughter.
"When I thought about you bringing home a boy, I'm not sure this is what I had in mind." she stated, looking around again in amazement. Fera's ears flushed and she drew in a sharp breath. "Mother!" she exclaimed. Fera's mother stopped turning and she caught the eye of Hound, who nodded towards her. "Hello ma'am." he greeted. She gave a short laugh and shook her head in wonder. "This is just too weird." she seemed to have lost her past anger. Fera leaned forward and tapped her mother's arm, getting her attention back. "Yes I know. But you'll get to meet them all soon, I promise. Right now, we need to figure out our situation." she informed her, looking over at Ratchet.
The dusty-green Autobot shifted on his feet and looked from Sol to Fera. "As of now, Decepticon activity has been found by both our bases in San Diego and Florence, Italy. We have troops dispatched to their locations, but we are having trouble tracking them." he explained, setting a hand on his hip. Fera turned to Ratchet and knitted her brow in thought. "What about Decepticons here? We don't know anything except that they just randomly show up whenever they want to. We need to set traps." she decided. Ratchet shook his head and moved the hand on his hip to lift palm-up in reason. "That wouldn't be wise. There are too many possible places that they can pop up from. It would cost too much time and effort." he declined.
Fera took her turn to shake her head. "Well at least it would be doing something. It gives us a better chance of finding them and them a lesser list of spots to show up." she could feel her mother watching, and she felt slightly proud of herself for being so calm. This was probably the most steady conversation Fera had had with Ratchet without him being so irritable. "Excuse me, but I'm afraid I don't understand." Fera's mom piped up. Fera noted her mother's bravery, but she wished that the woman would just wait. Turning to her mother, Fera answered, "Decepticons are the Autobots' greatest enemy. They are ruthless, evil creatures who aim to take over the universe by any means necessary." her mother looked to her, "Right now, no one knows where they are or when they'll show up next." Fera looked to the ground and thought about the problem. "We have searched everywhere, with no results." Sol put in, making both Fera and Sarah turn their heads. "The air, underground, in the fields and valleys, and any other thinkable place." he counted off on his fingers and then dropped them.
"What about the water? Did you check the rivers?" Fera wondered. Sol nodded, "Every fresh water system available." he agreed. "What about the ocean?" Fera pressed. Sol shook his head and looked around the room. "Cybertronians can't stay in water that long before rust sets in. Salt water is even worse. We didn't even try." he informed her. Fera crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes. "But how can you be sure nothing's there if you didn't look?" it was the United States army, of course they would search anywhere possible. "Military divers searched a wide radius of oceanic activity and came up with nothing. Therefore, we were set back to square one." Ratchet interrupted before Sol could speak.
Fera noticed her mother come up behind her and set a hand on her shoulder. "Did you try tracking their past movements, see if there was a pattern?" she inquired. Ratchet nodded. "Nothing."
"What about drones?"
"Still nothing."
"And the other countries are clear too?"
"Not...completely. We still need full clearance of a few."
Fera's mother fell silent and she could feel the woman's building frustration. Her mother hated not knowing something, but it didn't happen that often. She could tell you so many different military tactics just from listening to her husband that you would think she was a retired armywoman. Fera looked long and hard at the ground as the room stood in quiet. "They must be in the other countries then." Fera decided quietly to herself. "They've tried everything else, but some of the other continents are larger than the United States. It would be almost impossible depending on size of the base and security." Fera crossed her arms and held them against her body firmly.
"Without permission, they can't do anything anyway." Fera's mother put in, seeming to have overheard Fera's solitary conversation. Fera nodded, not looking up. "Wasn't there something else- something dad said that the military was still working on?" Fera insisted. Sarah nodded and stood back as Fera looked up. "The signal interceptor drones? What could they do?" Sarah asked. Fera raised a finger and looked back to Ratchet. "Signal interception! Maybe if the Decepticons are communicating back and forth with eachother, the drones could pick up their signals." she suggested.
Sol crossed his arms and thought for a moment on her words, Ratchet just shook his head sadly. "It's a thought, but the Decepticons definitely have disrupters to block signal interference." he broke the hope in Fera's thought, but she still went on, trying to squeeze any and all possibilities. "Cybertronians use magnetic signals everyday just as they live, right? Well the drones can pick up on more than just communication signals. They can also pick up other electronic disturbances in the air." she explained. Ratchet's metal eyebrows rose and he grew quiet.
"Any electronic disturbance? What is their range?" he eventually asked. Fera paused, her happiness drowned. Her mouth hung open and then she snapped it shut. Her mother didn't offer anything. There was just an uncomfortable silence with Fera and she shifted on her feet. Her father never actually went into much detail, and if he did, she wouldn't have remembered. She was only a child at the time after all, she didn't really pay anything much mind then.
"100 miles from the air at an altitude of 10,000 feet; 50 miles below ground." someone called. Fera looked towards the voice along with the other mechs and she saw uncle Robert step down the steps of a scaffold, walk out on the platform, and then just lean on the rail like it was an everyday thing. He caught Fera's eye and then he looked to her mother. "Hey Sarah." he greeted, lifting a hand. Fera peeked at her mother's reaction and found her once again shocked, lifting a stiff hand. By the end of the day, Fera wouldn't be all that surprised to find her mother doubting everything in her life. She could just picture the woman sitting in a corner, softly rocking back and forth, mumbling a bunch of inaudible gibberish to herself.
"Although, my good friend Captain Lennox was strictly informed that that was classified material..." he went on, seeming to talk to only the air. Ratchet appeared to ignore Epps' last comment and he continued the previous one. "But can it pick up nearly invisible signals? My people give off certain energy waves yes, but only at specific moments of time." he informed. Fera just wanted to hit the mech, because everything he had said so far was nothing but negative letdowns. "Yes, it is a newer technology that picks up any and all shifts in the natural magnetic balance of the earth. It's sort of like a blanket; if something is lodged in the ground, we'll see it on the radar. It's like a black spot in a bucket of sand. We are working on allowing it to reach into a further depth." Epps answered, seeming pleased with himself.
Ratchet didn't respond, just paused to think of things to himself. Sol moved to look up at the man and Fera glanced in his direction. "We may have to keep one of those things online at all times. Because if this little appear-disappear-then-reappear act is logical in any way, it should give off its own signature." he suggested, dropping his locked arms. Fera saw Epps shrug. "Ya, that could happen. I'll talk with my commanding officer on getting connected to the special technologies unit. They're the ones with the drones." he said, standing. Both the Autobots nodded.
"What about my mom? She's not safe." she asked them worriedly. Sol looked to her, but didn't answer, seeming unsure himself. "We'll have to speak with Optimus about those arrangements. However, for now, Hound can be her personal guard until she acquires an actual Guardian." Ratchet responded. Fera felt her mother's hand on her shoulder and both she and her mother looked towards the large mech by the wall. "Alright Ratch', ah'll keep 'er safe." he agreed. If only Sol were that cooperative when he was named my Guardian, Fera thought bitterly. Sol seemed surprised with Hound's calmness and Fera caught his eye, only to give him an ironic huff. He shrugged only one shoulder and turned back to Ratchet.
Rethalia laughed, genuinely, for the first time since her arrival. Her optics were weary and her movements were sluggish, but after everything she had been through, Optimus couldn't blame the Prime. They had locked their terminal links together long ago, not allowing either to pull away. "Yes, and then Sunraider went on to launch the wrench at the back of Metallooper's cranial unit." she giggled and Optimus grinned softly. She had such a beautiful laugh; it never ceased to bring up his mood upon hearing it. But there was also an awed feeling in him, one that was brought forth by his sparkmate's curious behavior. Just the kalon before, she had lost her entire crew and some of her closest friends. How was she so cheerful?
His grin turned to a thoughtful frown and he squeezed her hand. "She learned so from Ratchet I suppose. They are with the Matrix now, so they are at peace." Rethalia had noticed his more serious tone and she dropped her optics. Her expression turned to that of sad memory. "I know. They deserve nothing less. It is just that I..." she trailed off and gently shook her cranial unit as fluid built up on the edge of her bright blue optics. "I could have done better...to try and save them." she bit back her tears and kept her gaze trained on the ground, as if seeing him would cause her hold to break.
The sadness and pain in Rethalia's spark could be felt through their link, and their small sparkling shifted in her recharge at feeling her fembot creator's grief. Rethalia placed a hand over her abdominal slips and she shuttered her optics to clear the tears. "There is nothing more you could have done, otherwise you would have. Calm yourself. Please, because I can't bear to see you in such sadness." Optimus pleaded softly, moving himself closer so he could bring his sparkmate near. She drew in a shuddering breath through her vents and leaned against him, laying a hand over his spark. It jumped at the contact and Rethalia gave a soft chuckle through her tears. "Even after so much time, we cannot seem to control ourselves." she began tracing her terminal link over his chassis and Optimus' form gave a tremble.
"It does not help much that you carry our sparkling Rethalia. It just forces my spark to sputter every time I lay optics on you." he rumbled. Rethalia set her cranial unit on his shoulderbolt and looked up at him with assured optics. "We still haven't named her yet." she noted lightly, watching him. Optimus looked up across the room and thought deeply for a sparkbeat. He had been thinking just of that before Rethalia had awoken from yet another needed recharge. Every name he had come up with was different, but none seemed to fit.
"What of Soulsong?" he suggested. It was different, and it showed both gentleness and spirit.
Rethalia shook her cranial unit and locked optics with him once again. "It's attractive to the audio receptor, but she is special. She needs a name that captures her very essence." she murmured, tenderly rubbed her slips. Optimus let air flow from his vents and he brushed her hand with his thumb link. "Dawnlight? Or maybe Syria?" he went on. Rethalia again shook her cranial unit and lifted her hand from her slips to take his chin in her terminal links.
"No, keep trying." she grinned softly and came within inches of his faceplates.
She was so close, Optimus could feel the air from her vents on his chassis. His spark pumped and his tanks turned. It was so hard to process anything with her so close, so...there.
"Lilywing, Corra, Artemis..." he could have gone on, but their faceplates were so near that their lip plates were almost touching. So hard to think...
A mischievous grin played across Rethalia's faceplates. "Getting closer..." she breathed. He could just shift forward, just press their lip plates together. It would be so easy. So many names came on his vocal processor, but he couldn't seem to make out the syllables. Something was burning inside of him, urging one from the rest. He could tell Rethalia knew he had reached a conclusion and she peered deep into his optic.
"Liora." he murmured simply. Rethalia finally broke her sneaky expression and melted into a happier, softer mask.
"That's it." her voice was light enough that it was nothing more than the breeze, gently flowing over his audio receptors like water.
Finally, after teasing and leading him on, Rethalia pressed her lip plates to his own. They moved in unison, knowing each other so well that they needn't say a word. Rethalia slipped her hands over his broad chassis and he leaned into her touch. Their sparks were crying out painfully, just wanting to be joined together as a whole- just wishing for the connection to their other half again. Both of their vents blew angry streams of air as they fought to keep their forms from overheating. The pipes on Optimus' spinal support gave a puffing hiss as a cloud of exhaust lifted into the air and disappeared.
But this wasn't the time. Or the place. So, reluctantly they pulled away. But Rethalia still remained in his locked grasp, staying as close as their armoring would allow. Their ventilation systems worked hard to get rid of the heat in their bodies and return them to a better temperature. Their faceplates were still close to one another, hovering just inches away.
"Liora. Our small light in a world of darkness." Rethalia whispered, locking optics with her sparkmate.
Tears were streaming down her faceplates, and would drip off on to his. He lifted a hand and gently wiped them from her optics. Rethalia lifted her own hand and grabbed his terminal links, moving them from her optics down. She then pressed their locked hands to her abdominal slips.
Right now, they were in their own, small world. This was their moment, with their family. She finally had a name. And what a beautiful, wonderful name it was. Liora. It flowed from his vocal processor so effortlessly, it was almost like circulating. They felt the warm, innocent presence of their sparkling and fresh new tears sprang from Rethalia's optics. "She's so much like you...but I only wish the others would have been able to see her; to just speak her name." Rethalia broke their contact and looked down, seeming to try not to break as she had her first kalon on Earth.
Optimus, trying desperately to hold on to their brief moment of invaluable happiness, gave her a small squeeze for reassurance. "They will call her name through the Matrix until she is known through many and all of our passed comrades. None will be unfamiliar towards her, as she will shine light on any of our darkness throughout time." he told her, making her optics flick up to his own. They were full of hope. Hope is why they were sparkmates. Hope is why they had fallen in love. They were both saturated in it. "Truly?" she asked quietly. Optimus nodded and gave a small grin. Rethalia let the saddened tears roll down her cheekplates and off her mandible point.
And she then grinned back, a grin full of sadness and pain and love. She placed her cranial unit under his mandible point and let one hand lay on his chassis and the other atop the hand on her abdominal slips. Liora stayed in peaceful recharge, lulled back into the state after her creators sent her tender waves of reassurance. They just sat like this, embraced in silence, but wanting nothing else. The stillness was welcomed, as was the soft humming of Rethalia's vents with Optimus' own. Their sparks beat together rhythmically and Rethalia was busy tracing her delicate terminal links over Optimus' chassis. When she brushed over a partially sensitive spot on the broad surface, his body trembled.
Curious about his reaction, Rethalia once again touched the spot, getting the same response. She chuckled lightly and looked to his faceplates. He was looking down at her in confusion. "This is interesting." she noted, sliding her hand down the spot. Once again, his armor vibrated and shook. "Rethalia, please." he murmured. He could feel the interest through her spark, yet he dreaded what he felt when she touched that spot. It was a spot long hidden behind his armor and masked by Ratchet's hand. However, she had somehow found the area, gently pushing aside the armoring around it and trailing her linktips over the edge of the scared area. "What is this?" she whispered, looking up in concern.
This was the very question he had hoped to avoid for as long as possible. It was one of his worst -if not the worst- memories in his memory core. But it was seared so far down into his files that it could never be deleted. That suffocating darkness; the feeling of Rethalia's fading spark from his own... The very thought of that file had him cringing from the contact of it. He felt her soft touch over the area of the scar, right above his spark. There had been a flash of great white and then his vocal processors were choking on sand and dirt, his vents clogged. He had been pulled from that darkness; from the very gates of the Matrix itself. Sam had been there, reviving him with the almighty Matrix of Leadership. There was no words for how grateful he had been towards the young human. Now, it hadn't lessened by anything.
That great fear Optimus had felt as his brother drew that blade between his spinal panels and through his spark casing; there had been energon, flowing greatly over his hands and letting his very life cycle flash before him. His CPU was completely failing along with all of his other systems. One by one, they went offline, leaving him to grow very, very cold. He'd found the frightened human he'd been protecting off behind a large trunk of a tree, staring in disbelief. And as the darkness gripped the edges of his optics and his spark pulsed for what he believed was the last time, he muttered two words: "Run...Sam..."
"Optimus?" Rethalia called him back to reality and was looking up at him in concern. Her palm was still over his scar, almost like she was shielding it from the outside world. Taking a moment to push back his awful memory files, he sighed through his vents. "It is a memory I'd rather let rust." he admitted to her, locking optics. "But this is where I had been resuscitated by Samuel Witwicky via the Matrix of Leadership." he explained. Rethalia froze in his arms, their link filling with both shock and black horror. So she had felt him as he'd perished by his brother's hand. It wasn't something he'd ever have wished on her. Ever. But that was the risk involved in a sparkmate, because if one half dies off, the other would never be able to continue on for long.
Rethalia's terminal links could be felt as she drew them into a fist over the spot of the scar. "So you did leave me...even if only for an orn." she murmured. New dread flooded their link and Optimus pushed back with overwhelming calmness. No, she wouldn't feel that way again. Not if he could prevent it. "That was the most painful, dark time of my existence. I couldn't fathom being without you. It was so frightening..."she was seemingly unable to go on, and Optimus didn't urge her. "But you're here now; we both are. Please don't ever leave us again. I couldn't possibly bear it." she came close and laid her cranial unit over the hand on his scar. He could only comfort the wrecked fembot by laying his hand over her spinal support and holding her other terminal links.
"I won't do so as long as I stand as Prime and are in my own power. Rethalia, you are strong. And you have always been. I doubt that memory will haunt you for long." he murmured, brushing his thumb link over the panels of her support. She seemed to calm down slightly and she embraced him through their link. She was so broken, so miserable. It shattered his spark to feel her emotions in such a state. All he could do was hold her close as she once again began to descend into one of her cold fits of loss. Her shaking rattled her body and Liora stirred in her hold, shifting in discomfort against the rush of sadness she felt.
Optimus tried masking his sparkmate's feeling by reassuring their sparkling with his own of love and reassurance. Liora calmed down and returned to her light recharge. Rethalia brought his hand to her slips again, trying to recollect herself as Prime just waited patiently for her to return. Her shuddering air vents slowly returned to normal and her trembling drew to a close. This was not as bad as the first fit had been, but there was grim knowing in Optimus that they wouldn't always be so light.
Rethalia took a long breath through her vents and let her hand stray from his scar, lifting her cranial unit as well. "Thank you Optimus. For being here with me like this." she murmured as she looked up into his optics. Her own were so entrancing that it took him a sparkbeat to regain himself enough to respond. "I wouldn't rather be anywhere then here with my family." he said back. He saw that beautiful grin return once again and he felt his spark glowing with warmth.
But it fell as the lights switched to red in the room. Both of their sparks dropped and he froze as Rethalia came close in fright. Sirens blared through the air and echoed throughout his audio receptors. "Is that an alarm?" she asked, seeming concerned. Optimus put an arm around her shoulderbolts and narrowed his optics. There was no drill scheduled today, and if so, he wasn't informed. That wasn't the fire alarm, or any weather alarm. His optics slowly widened as cold dread filled through him.
"Decepticons." he breathed darkly. He felt Rethalia shift and they locked optics.
"Here? How is that possible?" she questioned in shock.
The long and short tone of the alarm were hard on the audio receptors, not allowing it to go unnoticed. Optimus stood, having to release his sparkmate. She had one arm still reached for him, but she drew it back as she stared at his support in concern. "Optimus to Ratchet." he said, pressing the comlink communicator by his audio receptor. ~This is Ratchet.~ the medic responded. There was suddenly a very large vibrating of the ground and Optimus let his hand hover, looking around him as the room shook and stopped, a few particles of dust falling from the ceiling. He felt Rethalia's uneasiness and he tried calming her through their link. ~What in Primus was that?~ Optimus asked grimly. There was a pause from Ratchet's end and then he came back on.
~Decepticons. They've somehow located the base and are attacking.~ he reported. Optimus' very energon ran cold.
"I will be there immediately. Start the evacuation procedure and get all non-military personnel into safety. EAT is approximately five minutes." he directed. ~Understood. Ratchet out.~ he said quickly, dropping the connection. Optimus turned to his sparkmate and she jumped from the berth, coming to him and grabbing the V of his chassis before he could react. She then brought him close, buildup from the electricity in her body forming in her optics once again. She kissed him with a passion he was shocked to find coming from her weakened form. After she separated them, she hesitantly released him.
"You better come back. That isn't an option. It's an order." she commanded with steady composure.
Optimus could only brush his sparkmate's faceplates once more before he spun on his sole pads and rushed through the door.
His long legs carried him quickly down the halls as he hurried through the concrete pathways. Smaller humans were running below him, trying to get others to a safer location before anything happened. Optimus rounded the corner and leapt down the next hall before he felt another shaking of the base. Worry and nervousness built up inside of him, causing him to reach out through his link to all of his troops. All were online and safe. Antsy, but safe. He nearly crashed into the next corner as he shot down the following hall. The door separating the center base from the main lobby opened and allowed him though. Chaos was behind its metal sheets.
Humans were running around in flurried steps, some military officers barking orders at the worried peers. Optimus carefully stepped through the crowds and he was able to get to the main system of passageways. Past the main medbay, through another storage hall, flashing by the communications office, and through yet another hall lined with rooms, and he finally had the entrance lobby in his sights, the colors of different Autobots flashing by the door. He burst through the doorway and let his vents catch up with him, scanning the area. Ratchet was nearby, ordering around the different humans who ran by his sole pads.
"Ratchet, report." Optimus ordered, coming closer. Ratchet looked up and met his leader mid-floor. "We have gained information that the Decepticons are attacking from both above and below. The roof has been intruded by a few of Arachnid's drillers and now Decepticons are pouring in. The communications office is being shut down and all the information is being stored away. Non-military personnel are being evacuated along with the injured." he explained. Optimus looked around him before returning his attention to Ratchet. "And are the Decepticons soldiers or warriors?" he asked. Ratchet shifted and brought out a holographic map attached to his hip bolt.
Pointing to a few locations, he marked them with flashing lights. "Warriors, soldiers, a few drones, and flyers above ground. The drones have been seen heading for the communications office while warriors and soldiers are filing through the halls. We can't get to the eastern wing because Decepticons are already through." he informed the Prime. Optimus nodded and entered his assault code for his rifle. The large blaster shifted out of its holster on his spinal support, fitting into his hand nicely as he reached back for it. He found most of his warriors in the same room, so he focused on each. "I want Wheeljack by the communications office and Sideswipe and Bumblebee in the eastern wing to hold off the Decepticons until we can close it off." Optimus stated, aiming his terminal joints towards the hall.
"Hound will be stationed by the southern medbay while Ratchet and I drive them off outside." Optimus swung around as the assigned Autobots moved where they were ordered to.
"And where is my Tri-tech?" he bellowed worriedly.
"It's in the weapons bay Optimus." Sargent Epps called from his position nearby. Optimus briskly nodded his thanks and he turned towards the hall. "Everyone move! We cannot allow the Decepticons to-" he cut off as the building shook. The noise around him intensified and Optimus suddenly remembered someone. "Where is Solas Kaon?" he demanded, looking around. Epps returned again, sprinting up the scaffold to get a better level with Optimus.
"He's back in the medbay area with Fera." he reported, hurrying to the rail. There was a worried look on his face as the pieces began to fit back together. "Sarah is with them. They should be safe!" he exclaimed, throwing his hands up to grab his short, black and grey hair. "The medbay is near the eastern wing. They need to be informed immediately before anything becomes of them." he said, pointing at the ground to extenuate the weight of the situation. Epps nodded and threw his phone open. After a few seconds, he snarled in a feral manner and chucked his phone in a way that would make Ratchet proud. "The connection is cut." he explained, grabbing the railing.
Someone would have to physically go to them and get them to safety. And with the Decepticons entering from two separate areas, he was running out of options. On top of that, the main medbay was in the complete opposite direction of the weapons bay. "I will get Solas and the others. Ratchet, find Bumblebee and Sideswipe and help them to clear the drones and close off the Eastern wing." Optimus decided, partially throwing away his original plan. Ratchet nodded without a word and caught the sight of Hound, who was still in the room. Ratchet snatched up a loose bit of steel from the floor, skillfully launching it at the side of the mech's cranial unit. Optimus sighed through his vents and glanced back at the large Autobot. "What are you standing there for?! Get your aft in tow and get to the south medbay!" Ratchet ordered sharply. Hound rubbed the new dent in his helmet and glared at the medic before hurrying out of the room.
Optimus followed the mech until they split off through the halls. He then jumped down the less-crowded halls and took long, quick strides through the paths. Around the corner he leapt, diving through the new hall and to the doors. The base shook again and Optimus stumbled, grabbing on of the entries for support. It slid open and he glanced inside. No one. Frustration sparked inside of him and he jumped to the other side of the hallway, pushing aside the doors as they locked from the alarm. It was a security measure to provide extra safety to the patients. But now it was only a drawback of the systems, forcing Optimus to strain in prying open the sliding doors.
One after the other, the rooms were empty. He came to the further rooms and worry began to settle on him. What if they weren't here? Where would they be? He growled in opening the second to last door and he sagged as the room was also dark. He let the doors slam shut and he whipped around, quickly coming to the last door. Slipping his terminal links between the cracks of the doors, Optimus planted his sole pads and pulled. The inner workings of his arms strained and groaned as he pushed as hard as his weakened body could. He growled with the effort and ground his oral sheets together.
The door whined against his struggles, pushing again and again to remain locked. One of the circuits popped and sparks flew from the inside. Optimus gave a loud cry of strength before he slipped into the room, letting the door jerk and seize behind him. His vents whirred strongly and he tried to allow them to catch up. He had placed his rifle at his hip bolt and now he hovered a hand beside it as a threatening voice growled.
"I'll give you three nanoclicks before I blow your cranial unit back to Cybertron." it was definitely Sol.
Optimus narrowed his optics against the blinding light of the alarm and the dark of the blown out ceiling lights. "It is I, Optimus Prime." he informed, turning on the headlights on his shoulderbolts. Solas did th same, illuminating them both. Sol was by the berth against the rear wall, his posture protective as he held Fera close to his chassis. Her female creator was beside her, both of them seeming frightened. Fera less, but still anxious. Sol had his free arm raised, his bracer shifted into his most lethal blaster. Upon seeing the familiar form of his leader, Sol lowered his weapon and relaxed his posture. For an injured mech, Sol was actually fairly intimidating.
"You three need to evacuate immediately. Decepticons are invading the eastern wing and all injured and non-military persons are being brought to the southern wing." he explained. Sol nodded and said something to Fera and her female creator, then he hid them by his chassis with his hands. Optimus watched the mech run by and he hurried to hold open the door, allowing Sol to retreat out of the room and start out of the area. Optimus followed behind, anxiety and nervousness filling him. The distant call of Liora had his parental programming kicking in and a calming sense sent to the small sparkling. She settled down a fraction and Optimus kept the bond strong. Soon.
:D Dun, dun, dunnnn- what shall happen next?