A/N my god, has it been two or three weeks? O_o i am sooo sorry i was working on other stories and stuff but i was also planning an outline for other stuff involving this story so *wink* *wink* *nudge* *nudge* say no more ;) i also apologize for not doing a 'patch' episode so i put a little Optimus and Ellen moment at the beginning to make up for that :) but the tension will increase, especially the way season 3 is looking :S
Regeneration Part 1
I sat on the ledge up top as i looked out to the area, with the view i was getting i felt content must be because I'm outside where there are no walls, despite the silos size it still felt confining. Okay I'm also watching the long stretch of road like a hawk...a desperate hawk that thought he was extinct but still kept searching for its species.
"May i join you?" came a voice from behind, Dad's voice. Oh man not now please, not after what just happened.
I shrugged in response, "yeah sure."
He stood beside me like a cloud that covers the sun, it slightly annoyed me, "you don't have to stand all the time you know." i said as i whacked the cliff hinting.
Dad looked over his shoulder slightly, "i doubt anyone will see you." I sighed.
He finally sat himself down as his legs draped over the edge, very casual looking for him, "so what you doing up here?" i asked looking at the road ahead.
"Clearing my thoughts, are you?" he said.
"I guess." I shrugged again swaying slightly.
"Irregular for you to bare such short sentences." He said sounding slightly humorous.
I shot him a glare but not a spiteful one, "i could say the same thing about you but you have yet to say just a couple of words yourself." I jested.
He then lay his hand flat on the ground beside me, "perhaps it is not words that should be shared now." He said.
I took his hint as i raised my hand slightly to reach out to his, but i pulled back, i can't easily do this like nothing is happening. "i...can't, i..." i don't know the thought of being near him at all just hurt.
"You hesitate?" he said sounding slightly hurt himself.
"I don't know I can't..." i started.
"What is holding you back?" he asked.
"I'm scared." I finally said my eyes had that glazed feel to them.
"When you were younger and would get scared, what would i do to reassure you?" he said.
"I don't know, tell me a story, hold me, that kind of thing." I said, remembering that was like sun rays on my skin, but this is the present. "I'm not feeling it. theirs nothing there" I said flatly.
Though he forcefully picked me up anyway, "you are stubborn." He said holding me like a figurine.
"Put me down." I said firmly.
i became a bit cautious as he didn't answer me and before i knew it he started nuzzling his cheek against mine, as he did he emanated a slight purring sound, it was hypnotic but for god sake my feelings are not there to be played with...first he's angry now he's not...i mean...does this mean he's staying...or...not but he's...letting...me down...gently...? well he can shove...it...up...his...ah screw it might as well get in what i can! I'm just a god damn pet wanting affection! "Love me dammit!" i ordered.
"And this is why i bare no worry for possible suitors." he said shaking his head amused.
i had a sarcastic remark to make but i threw it away if this is the only time I'm not yelling at him then i'll take it, the way he was acting was still unconvincing and i was still slightly wary because of his outburst from earlier, but despite that i'd might as well ask if i'm to get some answers, well attempt anyway, "Are you...okay?" i said as he tilted his head in confusing at the question, "I-I mean you had a mental breakdown out there." I said slightly patting his hand, but it wasn't convincing as my hand shook slightly.
"Did i frighten you?" he asked solemnly.
"Maybe a little, i felt as though someone threw a vile of acid at me." I said, well maybe i exaggerate but it was like a real bad case of chest pains.
"You have been expressing your inner conflict with this situation, so have i, though i did not show it as much, but instead it merely built up and eventually escaped me when we lost the keys to Starscream, the thought alone of losing those keys...i did not think of anything else." He said, getting straight to the point, i wish he had done this when explaining about the omega keys, but i'll try to forget about that during this only moment of social banter.
Still even when explaining it makes me feel bad, but...Ooh! what am i supposed to feel?! I feel angry and upset that there is a possibility he may be leaving but i feel bad that they lost the keys but at the same time i don't, i really sound selfish. "Okay, well he probably doesn't even know what to do with them; he might barter with them again." I said at least i can genuinely try to reassure him. "Probably with Megatron though, i'm not very good at this am i?" then again in situations like these i state the possibilities, basically what people don't want to hear.
"At least you are able to speak." He said lightly smiling.
"Y-Yeah." I said though i only did because i felt guilty, i mean last hope being lost hope for Cybertron...you know what? I've never thought about what Cybertron actually used to look like, i mean I've seen it a few times but only as what it is now, but as many has described it used to be bright and could be seen from any planet in any galaxy. "Dad?" i then said.
"yes?"
"I've only seen Cybertron a few times and each time it had only been a barren wasteland, but what did it used to look like? I mean your cities and stuff." I asked, i was curious though I've never asked before, which is strange because i'm usually nosey.
Dad smiled at my sudden interest as he lifted his hand a slight projection appeared in front like a home movie, "this was Iacon, i thought to show you it first as i have spoken of it often." He said.
Well it was a city alright, a city of steel, literally even the floor was metallic but everything was bright and clean, not like my bedroom anyway "i definitely need to explore Cybertron when it's at its best." I said as i looked straight into his optics, "And it will, Starscream with the omega keys or not, Cybertron will inevitably be restored." I said.
"inevitably?" he said solemnly, well i can't act as though i like the idea, "i appreciate the reassurance, but even you cannot lie to yourself." He said.
"i know, but i can't just let you get depressed, Cybertron was your first home and anyone can tell your very proud of it, its just that, i feel grudgeful that its being restored and bad when its not, how do we gain?" i said with building frustration.
"We both now just need to wait, there is nothing we can do for now." He stated.
"i thought you'd say that." i said slightly muffled as i was leaning my chin into my hand, "You want to head back down now?" I said.
"let us just, sit here, a little longer." He said as he shut his optics and begun stroking my cheek with a finger as if he were holding a kitten, "Just a little longer, as we were, until we are not, because of what i know." He then said, though that phrase confused me, but he looked dazed, but still, what?
"what do you mean?" i asked.
"jsut referring to the news i had gave about the Omega keys." He said weakly smiling at me for reassurance.
Raf, Miko and Jack were finally back at base, i had seen them approach from up top but before i could speak with them there were with their guardians, hopefully i can steal them away for a second just to give them my own update, i couldn't listen into their conversation though they were getting the news broken to them though i did manage to catch a comment from Miko suggesting she wants to stay with Bulkhead on Cybertron, and sounded very excited about that, wow she can made a decision just like that, am i just crazy then? I mean what about her family and friends? Here and in Japan? She mentioned that Raf could come visit when she and bulkhead get there place set up. I held my head at that point, Miko could follow Bulkhead to the end of the universe and back and yet i can't...i think Dad picked the wrong human...
But then hesitation from Bulkhead made me wonder, was it because the arrangements for humans to live on Cybertron would take a while? Was it because he was thinking of what was best for her future? Whatever the reason it made Miko anxious.
Well at least there's a shared feeling. I let myself sigh under my breath, sometimes i wish Dad weren't a Prime, Optimus alone suits him fine...Alpha Trion, all this secrecy and riddles, i feel like such an idiot when talking to you when you knew all this, our planet was just used as a host for the keys, the iacon relics, and you never considered the effect it would have on its natives, when there are giant robots roaming the planet of course there's going to be contact, especially since decepticons don't really much care for hiding.
Well i wasn't part of that discussion anyway, because i was to the side, moving a bookcase, why i brought so much stuff i will never know, maybe because i didn't plan on other humans being here and i had allot of free time to just watch movies and stuff. but no, so i was dragging a lot of stuff out my room, a bookcase, a bedside table, mainly the big things first and putting them to one side far from robotic feet. I still have box full's of DVDs, games, consoles, models of a sci-fi nature, and some other stuff.
i dusted my hands as i finally got the bookcase to one side and my ear twitched to a beeping sound coming from the computer, a incoming message if you will.
"Okay that's weird." Bulkhead said, though i have no idea why, something about Starscream negotiating with us first or something.
"Is it Starscream?" Arcee asked.
"No it is Dreadwing. And he wants to meet." Ratchet confirmed.
"Dreadwing?" Arcee said, i second that, i mean what does he want?
"He has stated in his message that he has come alone." Ratchet added.
"Alone? Yeah right." Bulkhead scoffed.
"Dreadwing is a decepticon of honour Bulkhead; i do not believe he would perform an act of trickery during negotiation." Dad said, his tone hinted that he was actually considering to meet with Dreadwing.
"So we're going?" Bulkhead said sounding slightly confused.
"Yeah, what if you go through the groundbridge and then boom! You all become scrap for new trash cans." Miko added with flailing arms on 'boom'.
"We will still treat this as any other meeting with a Decepticon, with caution, and as such, i will need all warriors present, for Dreadwing is a formidable opponent." Dad said.
"With our current situation i'm willing to any encounter, if it has the slightest link to the omega keys..." Ratchet started as he input the co-ordinates that came with the message, he then pulled the lever as we looked at how eager he was.
Nonetheless they transformed and proceeded through, with no word uttered.
I stared at the groundbridge, even when it shut, but i didnt hang onto that for long as i went back to carrying on as normal, i think i'll grab few boxes next, in a way i didn't need to empty all my boxes afterall, "Hey spring cleaning?" Jack asked from behind.
I stopped whatever i was doing as i hesitantly faced him, "Erm no, not exactly." I said awkwardly.
"It's not termites is it?" Miko jested nudging me in the side i cringed slightly, that was annoying but only because i wasn't in the mood.
"N-o, just hang by our usual spot and I'll talk to you then i just need to grab a few things and then I'll explain." I stated as she and Jack blinked at me confused.
The guys including Raf were gathered around the sofas as they continued to discuss the Autobots possibly going home, i slouched onto the couch as my presence was definitely known then my loud exhaling of air wasn't exactly subtle either and i didn't say anything so to break the awkward silence Miko carried on, "Bulkhead better take me with him." Miko started with.
I cocked an eyebrow as i shot my eyes at her, "Miko, how can you easily leave your family like that, your friends?" not that it's a problem i just don't see how she could, i mean i can't, something admirable of Miko she knows what she wants without hesitation.
"Hey i can always visit." She said lightly.
"But what would you tell your parents? Your host parents? What about your cats?" i felt my voice rise again, my anger, my frustration, "How can you leave so easily without the slightest of regret?! Or is there something wrong with me?!" I stood up at this point trying to find a flaw on my body, i was really starting to feel as though i was a weirdo for not accepting change.
"Hey calm down El, you're suddenly so quick to panic." Jack said holding out two hands in front of him to calm me down.
i...sat down in another chair away from them, "S-Sorry the tension in the air is pretty thick lately." I said i tried to make a joke but what's the point, if the tension is this thick i don't see how i can undo that. "i need to tell you guys something." I added solemnly, no point in beating around the bush and i am certainly not going to keep secrets.
"What is it?" Raf asked sounding slightly frightened by my tone, all the more making this even worse.
"Well i'm...returning to Tranquillity." I said flatly.
"Tranquillity? Why? W-well what i mean is why now?" Jack asked. His concern forced a weak smile out of me but that was all.
"Just till this omega key business is sorted out, i mean i-I'll be back...for the goodbyes, but you guys knew that i would be leaving some time. I told you from the start that this was a temporal arrangement" I said.
"But to happen at the same time as them leaving." Jack said bowing his head slightly.
"Look i'm not like Miko okay? I can't take things into my strive so easily." I snapped, " i-i m-mean...how do you guys feel about this?" i asked Raf and Jack.
"Well i'm glad Arcee's home is going to be alive again, but i can't say i'm feeling great that she's leaving, my life is much better with her in my life, with you guys in my life and if they leave everything falls apart, i mean your leaving, isn't that a large sign of that?" Jack said in my direction, he almost sounded annoyed.
"I'm in the state next door." I said raising an eyebrow.
"Well that's not too bad." Raf then cut in to get his say in this, "I'm just worried about the fact that the bots will be light years away, how will i contact Bee? What if he forgot about me? I'll go back to being the youngest child that was always forgotten...but it wasn't like that when i was here with you guys." Raf said, a-rh, i wanted to hug him.
But being emotionally confused i just threw my arms up into the air, "Oh! This is worse than when Worf resigned from Starfleet to fight for Gowron!" i frustrated.
Raf gave me a look of sympathy as he shook his head, Jack and Miko looked at me blinking, until Jack put an arm around my shoulder and jested, "No? That bad?" he jested.
"i know right?" i jested back i knew he had no idea what i was talking about but still it made me laugh nonetheless, well for that brief moment anyway, "that bad." I added solemnly.
"You look tired, have you been sleeping? Or eating" Jack asked, i think Jack needs a male role model because he sounded way too much like his Mom.
"I don't feel that hungry." I said though that is a good point, when was the last time i had eaten?
"You have dark shadows under your eyes." He said poking me in that general area.
"Get your hands off me you damn dirty ape!" I said swatting his hand away.
"Pile on!" Miko then announced as she leapt at me, her elbows dug into my stomach as i wheezed slightly, Jack then pushed me off the couch as i fell on my front, i have great friends! Miko then sat on my back as she rode me like a horse that just got run over.
"Get off me." I said flatly as i couldn't be bothered to move her, she then ruffled my hair up, a line not to be crossed, not that i like my hair neat or anything as it is hardly 'neat' but it was in 'rebelling' mode and now it's in 'hobo' mode. "That's it! Raf get me a knife i'm going to cut Miko's ponytail off!" i yelled but i was purposely teasing...I'll miss these dumb moments.
Well i wasn't able to cut Miko's hair, but it was fun attempting it anyway...before they were bridged back to there homes, well I'm glad they were here. I lay my head against the couch as i waited for that groundbridge to open like a dog waiting for his 'Mom' or 'Dad' to come home. And they had, but the request must've been through a personal comm link patch as there were no incoming messages on-screen. Dad and Smokescreen were the first ones in as Dad held...a hammer, the forge of Solas Prime? Thor eat your heart out, da-umn, you could live in that thing!
I was curious, i mean who wouldn't be? "What happened?" i asked running downstairs.
"Dreadwing gave us a present." Smokescreen jested.
I thought for a moment, taking in any possibility for his reasons...none okay..."w-whyyyy?!" i exclaimed completely confused.
"The decepticons are a lost cause basically." Smokescreen shrugged,
I slumped at Smokescreens explanation, okay fine it's a lost cause so we got a hammer, "And...The omega keys?" i asked hoping for a refined explanation.
"Megatron has possession of all, Starscream being the source." Dad answered for Smokescreen,
"So Megatron can...revitalise Cybertron?" i asked a nervous choke was caught in my throat.
Dad nodded gravely.
"Right...well you guys...carry on with whatever it is your doing." I said stepping to one side, apart from the fact Megatron would look like a god when he revives Cybertron, i wonder, would Cybertron reform because Megatron is the one to do it? Does it work that way? I don't know but the question still remains, where do the keys go?
"It's no Star Saber, but i bet it can shatter Megatons blade." Smokescreen stated proudly. "And put some dents in that ugly mug of his."
"It's not that kind of hammer." Arcee stated before Smokescreen got carried away.
"With the Decepticons in possession of all four omega keys, a more appropriate use of the forge would be to use it to replicate our own." Ratchet said.
"Even with such power there reconstruction would require a level of expertise i do not possess." Dad said, a more polite way of saying that he aint no blacksmith.
"We just better hope that Megatron doesn't destroy the keys to prevent anyone from going home." Arcee said.
"Megatron may be evil..." Dad started as he placed the hammer part to the floor and leant on the base, "but i do believe he will use the keys for their intended purpose"
"Well i say we let him keep em and do the work for us." Bulkhead said as everyone looked at him, "w-well i mean what difference does it makes who restores Cybertron?"
"If Megatron revives Cybertron, he will no doubt use it to his political advantage." Dad explained.
"y-you w-what...y-you lost me." Bulkhead said utterly confused.
"In all likelihood the leader of the decepticons will portray him as our planets savoir and brand all Autobots as war criminals." Dad explained further.
"The grand deception continues." Arcee said almost tired like.
"Megatrons so called achievement could influence Cybertron for eons to come, poisoning the sparks and minds of its returning citizens, hardly the idle way to begin a new age." Ratchet said.
"But there is hope, for while Megatron may have the keys he has yet to discover the existence of the Omega lock itself." Dad said. . .what?! I shot my head up O-Omega lock? There's an actual lock?! Named the Omega lock?!
"Omega lock?" Bulkhead said equally as confused.
"Wait...now you lost me." Arcee said.
"And me!" i snapped. Thank you! I'm not the only one left in the dark, Gr-rr! More secrets! More information that he kept to himself! Who the hell can i trust?!
A/N i put this into two parts mainly because i hadn't finished refining the whole chapter and i thought that i left you guys hanging for too long, so the second part might be uploaded tomorrow? also this will be the last episode i'm working on as a chapter but after i've uploaded the second part i thought i might do this episode again but in Optimus' POV, i don't know i thought i might try it, but i'd like your opinion, yes or hellllll no! :P