A/N hey how ya doin :D last episode of season 1 is done and tomorow i'll be going straight into season 2
also the text in bold is quotations from previous chapters i added a 'grill' episode of my own ;P
One shall rise part 3
With every passing moment, the weather continues to get worse, we were all gathered around the computer screen, ratchet had uploaded the news.
"More than 60 volcanoes are erupting worldwide, and downtown hale lulu is under six inches of snow. Scientists continue to devise theories connecting these unpresentended natural disasters with the planetary alignment which..." the news reporter said before he was cut off and the SMPTE color bars came up.
The worst sign to have in a time of crisis, "so. Who wants to play a game?" June said obviously trying to lighten the mood.
For once in my life i was very quiet, my stomach was tied in so many knots and my mind was battling many thoughts. When unicron is put back into stasis...and he will be, I'll be the one to try and keep the peace and rescue dad, for that i need to think of the task in hand and put aside my feelings for dad...it's the only way i can really focus on a plan, a strategy...but that's easier said than done.
The more i thought about it the more i felt i couldn't do this role.
"That tares it!" fowler then announced tearing me from my thoughts.
"Where are you going?" June asked.
"I can't just sit on my hands, while the world spins out of control!" fowler said. Already there was a tinge of panic in the group.
"And what exactly is it that you intend to do?" ratchet asked.
"Anything! Hook up with my boys at the pentagon, figure out a way to bury that monster for good." He said slapping his fist against his palm.
"In the event Optimus, can't?" Ratchet said.
"Don't you mean Optimus and megatron?" fowler said.
"No one here is thrilled about this arrangement agent fowler, myself included. But with Optimus and megatron together again..." ratchet started.
"Whoa w-what again?" jack said surprised, this wasn't too alarming for me, dad spoke of a time he and megatron were on friendlier grounds.
"Megatron was an autobot?" raf asked.
"Optimus was a con?" Miko reversed.
"No, on either count, but there was a time, back on cybertron in the twilight hours of the golden age, when Optimus and megatron were not, sworn enemies. Do you re-call when i mentioned Optimus wasn't always a prime? Well he wasn't always Optimus either. He was once a clerk, in the iacon hall of records named Orion pax." As ratchet said that i was now intently listening i knew dad had a name before 'Optimus' and a different kind of role before he was a prime but i never knew what, until now, But i put that aside as i continued to listen.
"But as he learned more about cybertron's past, he grew increasingly concerned about the present corruption in high places. An inequality among the masses. Orion became inspired by the words and ideas of a gladiator, one who had named himself after one of the 13 original primes, Megatronus. Megatronus vowed to challenge cybertron's leadership and demand all cybertronians be treated as equals. This gladiator turned revolutionary rapidly gathered a loyal following, soundwave chief among them. Orion began corresponding with megatronus, who came to something as a mentor to him. As megatronus left the gladiatorial arena for the political, he saw fit to shorten his name. Before long megatron appeared before the high council to purpose his vision, for a just society. And it was here that he began to reveal his true colours, proclaiming the need to overthrow the old guard with force and arrogantly demanding to be named the next prime. But Orion did not believe in violence as a means of achieving justice, the sparks and minds of the council were moved by orions words, here for the first time since cybertron's golden age, stood someone worthy of being a prime. But that honour could only truly be achieved, by earning the legendary matrix of leadership. His ambitions thwarted, megatron spitefully severed all ties with Orion and the council, and came to wage war on all who opposed him through his growing army of followers which he named, decepticons. He vowed to claim the matrix for himself wherever it might lie. In time warfare consumed cybertron, poisoning the planet to its core. Orion journeyed there hoping to reverse the ill effects and found himself before the very spark of our life giver, primus himself. The ailing primus sensed the innate nobility within Orion and bestowed the matrix upon him. It was thus that a surprised and humble Orion pax came to be, Optimus, the last of the primes." Ratchets long story had really got me thinking.
this made me think a little different, dad was an ordinary cybertronian citizen working a job like anyone else, but was truly something special, during then he was no warrior, and was defiantly not part of the higher class of society, but his spirit was strong and he knew the right thing to do at the time, during the audience with the council and also when he tried to save cybertron's core, sure during then he may have been nervous at the time but he knew he had to do it, to save his planet.
I leaned against the banister with my arms crossed as i went into deep thought.
"So when Optimus got the matrix from cybertron's core and now he's gonna give it to earths?" miko said.
"What's to stop megatron from claiming the matrix for himself this time around?" jack asked.
"Only his greater desire to save this planet so that he may in turn conquer it, as he so compellingly argued. Provided the lord of the decepticons can ever be fully trusted." Ratchet said.
To be honest i think i'm a bit in denial, i keep thinking that it's all going to be fine and dad will come back, but he won't he said so himself, but if he told me this, do i tell the others as well? Especially since jack has...the key. I'm not sure; did he intend to only tell me? Maybe he wanted everyone to stay focused while in unicron, with not knowing this information? Inevitably they would find out sooner or later and if they found out i knew and didn't say anything, they wouldn't listen to me then, maybe even turn on me. Perhaps he told me this so i could prepare myself? Urgh! All these questions and i can only theorise the answers!
"Communication links are down as expected, but we've lost their signal." Ratchet said.
"Doesn't that mean?" raf hinted.
"Usually, but a more likely explanation would be the severe interference caused by these electromagnetic anomalies." Ratchet explained.
"So if we can't track them and they can't contact us..." raf started.
"How are we gonna know when they're ready for pick up?" miko finished.
I followed ratchets gaze as a series of tapping came from my right, jack, like myself looked like he was in deep thought and probably didn't realise he was tapping the key against the railing.
"Where did you get that?" Ratchet asked intently, here comes the reveal I'd been dreading.
"Optimus. Honestly i don't know why he gave me the key to the groundbridge power supply." Jack said.
"Jack. There is no key to the groundbridge." Ratchet told him.
"Well then...what is this?" jack asked looking at it.
"That is the key to vector sigma." Ratchet confirmed.
"The what?" jack said.
"You are holding one of cybertron's most important relics." Ratchet told him.
"i-i shouldn't have this." Jack said handing it in ratchets direction.
"Optimus entrusted it to you jack." Ratchet said.
"b-but that doesn't make any sense, w-why?" jack said.
"Because he doesn't plan on coming back." Ratchet said.
Everyone was naturally stunned, but i kept my eyes on the floor, with concentration on my face. I then came in sight of jacks shadow on the floor as i lifted my head to face him.
"Did you hear what he said?" he asked.
"I heard." I said solemnly then i looked at the others as they were having a conversation amongst themselves as i motioned to jack. "Can i, talk to you?" i asked.
"sure." He said as i motioned for us to go downstairs away from watching eyes, he followed and i didn't speak till we were out of sight and hearing distance, jack had a worried look on his face for my sudden secrecy.
"Jack, i knew dad wasn't coming back." I told him up straight quietly.
"What?" he answered quietly too.
"He told me, but no one else." I said to him.
"Why didn't you say anything?" he asked.
"I think that would've made everyone a bit on edge, so it could've jeopardised the mission." I said.
"I guess so, what else did you know? Did you know about the key?" he then asked.
"yes, but again i think that would've aroused everyone's suspicions, but i guess everyone would've found out sooner or later, it's just a good thing you didn't get the key out before." I told him.
"So you kept it to yourself. And now you're telling me?" he then said.
"I had to tell someone, besides you saw my reaction when ratchet said dad wasn't coming back, i kind of dropped myself in a bit." I said. "and also i need to tell someone of this as well." I said biting my lip.
"You can tell me." He said.
"Well i, before he left he kind of ...sort of made me ...well take his place temporary." i said hesitantly scratching my head awkwardly.
"Really?" He then thought.
I lowered my head a bit at the sudden silence.
"Well i have to admit i am a little surprised, but then i thought about it a bit more and it makes sense." Jack said smiling at me.
I looked at him confused "huh? I really don't think i'm cut out for the job, i mean i can't lead them physically, and i defiantly can't go hand-to-hand combat with megatron." I said.
"maybe not but your forgetting the stuff you've done before, not with brute strength but with your mind, i mean you're brave, compassionate, you admit when you've made mistakes, and i can name many times how you've shown." He told me.
"Name one." I then said unconvinced.
"I can name several, like the time we were on the nemesis." He told me. "And when you threw yourself on one of sound waves tentacles at that satellite place."
"Because they have for me, each and every time I have been in danger they've come for me. That's why I have never lost faith in them, so don't lose faith in them either raf."
"Closer then you think, get down!" I shouted as I pushed miko and jack to the other side of the room. I then latched on the rogue tentacle trying to lead it away to buy raf enough time to finish the download.
"Anyone can do that." I retaliated.
Jack sighed. "Okay I'll use another point, but you do become a different person in time of peril, when our lives are all included."
"Of course it's my only objective during those times, to get you guys out of that scenario; your safety comes before mine." I said.
"You see? You even admitted it yourself, Name anyone else who would put strangers before themselves." He said.
"Many people do, and no one feels like a stranger to me." I stated.
Jack sighed again "you're describing the kind of person you are and you don't even realise."
I tilted my head in confusion.
"Okay how about the time you faced starscream." He said.
"What about it?" i asked.
"Is the phrase 'faced starscream' not enough?" he said.
"I don't see how that has anything to do with the point i'm trying to make." I said.
"okay I'll expand, you ended up on the nemesis, you made your way through the ship without breaking a sweat, you analysed the situation and found your objective, you pushed on like you'd won already before there was even success, you faced starscream, and even when you knew you at that point you were going to die, you snapped one of his fingers off." He explained.
"Meaning?" i said in confusion.
"Ellen most people would've broke down in that situation, you didn't, there's the trait i'm pointing out you were calm that's the biggest trait a leader should have, and the others can also be calm but they have their limit when it comes to the absence and guidance of Optimus." He said.
I got back to focusing; I closed my eyes and inhaled, then tried to figure out my surroundings.
"w-well i was calm to an extent, as well you know." I then tried to argue.
"Only when you thought you were going to die, but you weren't exactly screaming in terror either." He said.
"e-er well...it was..." i couldn't think of anything to retaliate with "well okay what about all the bad times?" i then said.
"Like?" he said.
"My argument with miko, that was really mature." I said.
"Because you were scared for her that was your compassion." Jack said.
"At least i know my limit, and when not to purposely and unnecessarily put myself in harm's way, not to mention know when not to get in the way! Yes i have made mistakes, but i learn from them and what I've learned is that missiles and null rays don't mix with human flesh! You can ask many things of me miko, but do not ask me to look upon your cold...dead...body...do not!"
"I shouldn't be having outbursts like that." I said.
"Ellen you're still growing and learning we all are, what about the time you faced silas?" he said.
"The biggest point why i can't lead the team, i lack integrity." I argued.
"like i said your still learning and this was a pretty big lesson, it was a test of your humanity and you didn't kill him, not only that but you helped him, i think it takes allot of courage when you face your enemy, but i think you were even more strong in showing him mercy." He said.
"No... Killing you in cold blood is not justice, neither will it allow me to move on...and it won't bring my mother back."
I then walked away from him content on leaving him...but i couldn't, not really.
...but i had to help him...he was still human and a human in pain.
"But i..." i started.
"No you can't retaliate, because i have even more points, for example when we were trapped in that mine and you were stuck in the same room with megatron, i was a bit freaked when i just saw his face let alone be in the same room with him." He said
"And your arrogance will be your undoing if you continue to underestimate everyone you feel superior to!"
"And Ratchets kind of loosened up lately with us humans, any idea why?" he said raising an eyebrow at me.
"when you know someone you're in indescribable pain when they die, but when you reject your feelings you'll regret it more in never knowing that person...when you really wanted to."
"And little things i think you forget you even say them." He said.
"I'm not going to lie on the couch knowing i can do something."
"Sometimes you need to trust in the strength of others."
"I will not sacrifice rafs life in exchange for remaining a government secret."
"i wish i could protect you, I'd plunge myself through Megatrons blade if it means allowing you to live."
"Look trust me when i say you can do this, you say you can't control your emotions well i think you can when the time calls for it, i just think you don't realise when you're doing it." He said.
"hmm." I thought as i recalled dad's words.
"It will come to you, they'll listen."
"Come on let's head back upstairs, see if there's been any change in events." Jack said.
"sure." I said. "Jack thanks for, well... trying to prove me wrong." I said with a small smile.
"You know i'm right admit it." Jack jested.
I was silent, i couldn't be sure of anything at the moment, my minds still unsure.
We joined up with the others as they weren't aware of us ever being somewhere else, i put myself between miko, raf and jack instead of putting myself in a solitary corner, as i felt sudden small shaking from beneath my feet as it grew.
The ceiling above shook as well as tiny debris fell from above.
"earthquake." Fowler announced.
"Take cover!" Ratchet said as he shielded me, jack, miko and raf. "Agent Fowler, Nurse Darby quickly!"
June and fowler came huddling under ratchets arms with us as the earthquake continued, and it looked like it may take the building down with it.
Then it quickly and i mean quickly ceased to a stop, as ratchet removed his arms from over us.
"There could be aftershocks." June said.
Then the others tracking signals popped up online.
"Do you think?" jack hinted.
"I do." Ratchet said as all there life signals came up online.
"Yes!" jack exclaimed.
"coo-yar!" miko exclaimed
"Sweet!" raf exclaimed.
I was so relieved, he's alive at least i know that.
"Yes!" fowler then exclaimed wrapping his arms around June as his face rubbed against hers. It was a long moment before fowler realised what he was doing as he quickly let go of her as he awkwardly rubbed the back of his head as we all looked at him.
But now i felt a sick feeling in my stomach which came out of nervousness, this was the part i was dreading the most, everyone had concerned and worried looks on their faces as we all went downstairs to wait at the entrance of the groundbridge. Raf and miko had the most worry on their faces as they waited eagerly for their guardians return, my hands started to shake as i rubbed them together to try and make them stop, i felt a sudden panic in my breathing and i had to close my eyes. Then I felt a hand grab my wrist as i looked upon jack he smiled sadly at me as he nodded.
"Yes, i know jack." I thought as i nodded slowly to him, i then ceased all sudden panic as i let my arms flop to my side, i then looked upon the groundbridge as ratchet opened it, my expression was neither sadness nor was it frustration, it wasn't an expression at all.
And with that bulkhead, bumblebee and Arcee came walking through with solemn expressions, as jack, miko and raf ran up to their friends along with fowler and June, as i remained in my position.
"Arcee." Jack said relieved.
"I was worried bulk." Miko said also relived.
"You alright bee?" raf asked.
I really wish i could say i too joined them in greeting my dad, i really could.
"And Optimus? Is he?" ratchet said.
"Dead? No." Arcee said.
"But he looked right at us without recognising us, didn't even know his own name." Bulkhead said.
So it is true the matrix did take a part of him with it when putting unicron into stasis.
"Hmm, when Optimus surrendered the matrix of leadership, he lost more than the collective wisdom of the primes...he lost his own memories." Ratchet confirmed.
I said nothing, i did nothing, i merely left for my room as the only thing i could hear were the sounds of my footsteps echoing down the hall, i couldn't see it but i felt all eyes on me, i was still unsure of myself, i'm sorry everyone, i'm sorry dad, but a part of me was hoping you would come back and now that the reality has hit me, i'm not sure i can take it, losing two fathers in my life is just too much...i just...i just need to think.
A/N so yeah tomorow we'll be kicking off with orion pax part 1 with Ellen stepping in to calm the lost autobots, but first a little background of her biological father.