Chapter 9

Autobot base…

Darkness had fallen over the Nevada desert. While it may have been the middle of summer, the temperature was low enough to make anyone shiver. Alex didn't feel the cold though. He had been sitting on the roof of the base for the last hour and while it was indeed cold up here, the feeling of sitting in complete silence was compensating for the lack of warmth. It allowed Alex to clear his mind after the past few hours. He also couldn't stop looking at his hands.

After just sitting on the floor of the base for a full 10 minutes crying, he had looked up to find Rafael standing over him and offering him his walking stick, a look of kindness on his face. Alex looked up at the boy before wiping his now running nose and thankfully taking it.

As he stood up, he said, "Thanks for the help, Raf."

Raf nodded and enquired, "What happened? Did you see Megatron?"

Alex took a deep breath. "Uh…yeah…sort of." He replied. He opened his mouth to continue but was cut short by Agent Fowler.

"You need to explain to me right now what you did! Did you just say you saw MEGATRON?!" the former army ranger exclaimed.

Alex stared at him. He opened to say something but then decided against it. He began limping towards the elevator.

"Hold on a star-spangled moment! Come back-" but before Fowler could continue Optimus's voice rang out through the com link.

"Agent Fowler, have you warned the facility of the impending danger?"

Fowler had no choice but to turn to the computers. "The place is clear, Prime. Try not to wreck the joint. But please hurry. It seems we've had a situation here." He looked sternly at Raf. "Rafael will fill us in on everything…"

That had been an hour ago. During which time all of the Autobots had returned from their missions, including Bulkhead who had come flying through the groundbridge with a smoking hole in his back. Ratchet was probably attending to him presently with Miko right by his side. Optimus and Fowler were probably interrogating Raf and it would not be long before somebody came to find him.

He didn't have to wait long. He didn't break his gaze of the beautiful view when he heard the opening of the elevator doors and the sound of giant footsteps approaching him. He still didn't look up as Optimus came to stand above and next to him at the edge of the cliff. Optimus looked down at the boy before turning his gaze to the view. The plains had always reminded him of the sea of rust back on Cybertron, just much better all-round.

After a while, Alex finally spoke. "He told me I could never go home." He said slowly.

"Rafael informed us that something was wrong." Optimus replied. "What exactly did Megatron tell you?"

"He told me that it was impossible. That I'm basically stuck here." Alex giggled sarcastically. "I guess that makes us similar. We can both never go home." He said the last sentence dramatically, but Optimus noticed the single tear rolling down the boy's cheek. He made note to be extremely gentle with him.

"And what did you tell Megatron?"

Alex still looked to the plains. "I told him that I was useless to him, that me being here had changed the future."

"And has it?"

Alex finally broke his gaze and looked up to the giant. Optimus could now see that his eyes had watered and that another tear was on the verge of falling.

"Bulkhead's injured isn't he?" he said rhetorically.

Optimus could only gaze down at the boy in silence.

Alex turned back to the plains. The moon was full that night and sky was a royal blue. It reminded him of sitting on the balcony back home, looking up at Table Mountain in the moonlight. He took out his cellphone. He brought up a picture of his family taken last Christmas. It showed him and his two older sibling's playing cards with his parents at the dinner table. He remembered that he had lost miserably that night. He smiled at the memory. At the same time, another tear ran down his cheek.

"Is that your family?" Optimus asked, also looking down at the tiny screen.

"Yeah." Alex replied. "I promised my mom that I would be back by eight." He paused. "She'd wait for me before making dinner." That last thought brought the cascade of tears. Alex couldn't help it.

As he sobbed, he felt something pressing against his right shoulder. He turned to see Optimus had gently laid a finger on him. The Prime had kneeled down to next to him facing the cliff edge.

"Alex," Optimus began. "I cannot undo the damage done to you. All I can do is offer you sanctuary. And you need not fear being cast out. With or without the knowledge you hold, I believe that you are strong enough to continue moving forward. And while no way may currently be apparent, I promise to do everything in my power to help you get home."

Alex continued to look at Optimus before turning back to the view. He said nothing.

"Now," Optimus stood up slowly. "I ask that you accompany me back downstairs. Nurse Darby has arrived and your wound needs attending to."

"And you might want to ask Ratchet what exactly is wrong with me." Alex added.

The prime was confused. "I do not follow."

Alex snapped his fingers. A small orb of cackling energy appeared at his fingertips, he flicked it over the cliff and it travelled for a few meters before putting out.

He turned to look up at Optimus, on whose face a look of surprise and fascination had appeared.

"Now how can I do that?" Alex asked.

To be continued…

Authors note: Sorry it's a little bit short, just something to keep you guys on your toes.