Chapter 16

Autobot base…

The metal coil positioned in the center of the target room was on the verge of melting due to its rapidly rising temperature. This was because of the crackling energy bolt that was connected between it and Alex's hands. Despite the fact that he was standing more than 3 meters away from the coil, somehow the orange lightning coming from his palm managed to keep contact with it. He was even able to switch palms while the energy was being expelled. However there was one restraint. Because the energy was being expelled constantly, it maintained a certain intensity; therefore he could not increase the bolt's strength. That though wasn't saying that the energy wasn't powerful enough already.

After a few more dozen seconds Alex killed the connection. The coil though continued to glow red, with the top end of it even beginning to sag downwards. Alex grinned. The idea of him having a 'superpower' had finally started to sink in, and to him it was probably the coolest and most awesome thing in the world. Apart from him being a part of Team Prime, that is. An added bonus being that his leg was making a good recovery. However Alex then became silent for a moment, remembering that his presence on this world was permanent, and that there was no chance of going home.

Or was there?

Had Megatron lied to him? Was it just the case of a very powerful spacebridge being needed? Alex thought about this and sighed. Even if there was a way back to his world he would need the decepticons to pull it off.

And Megatron had made it quite clear that he was not interested in such an endeavor.

Alex grabbed his jacket on the nearby bench and headed back to the main part of the silo. He wasn't exactly happy when Agent Fowler forbade him from taking coffee that had the agent's name on the tin, but Raf had kindly brought a few satchels from home just for Alex.

Intending to now enjoy one of these satchels, Alex walked into the main hangar to discover smiles etched on a few of the autobots faces.

"What's up?" he asked.

"Optimus received a message from an Autobot called Alpha Trion via the star sabre." Ratchet replied in a cheery mood.

Alpha/Omega.

"What was the message?" Alex asked with a sense of interest.

"That with the use of devices called the omega keys, we will be able to restore Cybertron."

"Wow." Alex remarked. "So, does that mean you will be leaving?"

"Hopefully soon." Ratchet said as he went back to his welding.

"Yeah, soon." Bulkhead said quietly. Everyone could see that the big guy was not happy about the prospect of leaving Miko behind.

"Cheer up, Bulkhead." Alex said as he ascended the stairs. "I'm sure you'll be able to visit Miko from time to time."

"Jack as well." Said Arcee sadly. Bumblebee then also beeped his agreement when thinking about Rafael.

Arcee watched as Alex made his beverage. She had been surprised when Optimus had returned from his chat with Alex somehow in a happier and more confident mood. This raised the question of what Alex had told him while they had been up on the roof, adding more suspicion and distrust to Arcee's view of Alex. According to Jack's field reports the teenager had merely submersed himself in learning cybertronian code with Optimus and blasting holes in the walls of his target room, only taking time to interact with Raf and Miko with whom he had built what could be considered a friendship with them. However that didn't change anything.

After making his coffee Alex settled onto the couch and turned the TV on. On it was the news headline that South Western Australia was under huge rainfall.

"No biggie." Alex thought. "They've been through worse."

He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and relaxed.

"Back to Cybertron." He thought absent-mindedly.

"Back to Cybertron…"

Suddenly Alex opened his eyes wide and sat upright as he realized something.

"Darkest hour!" he exclaimed.

His sudden outburst caught the attention of everyone in the room.

He looked at the autobots, desperately thinking of an excuse.

"Uh…the news. Australia's floods." He stammered. "Saying that it's their darkest hour. Heh, they always make it sound so dramatic."

Ratchet shook his head and returned to his welding, Optimus lightly frowned at Alex before also returning to his work of decrypting coordinates, and the rest of the autobots shrugged and went back to their own conversations or duties.

Alex remained sitting upright. How had he been so blind?! If he was in the middle of 'alpha/omega,' that meant he was only 3 episodes away from season 2's finale.

The destruction of the Autobot base.

Alex was now scared. Right now he had no idea of what he could do when that happened or where he'd be. The first choice would be to escape with one of the autobots, but that was not an option for him. Jack and Arcee would meet up with Ultra Magnus, Bumblebee, Raf and Ratchet would work together at the Harbinger, and Optimus and Smokescreen…

On that particular note Alex was currently praying to God that his presence in Transformers Prime had not tampered with timelines to such an extent that that particular outcome was at risk. That was the act that would support the series transition phase from season 2 to season 3, and more importantly, the add-on of the title Beast Hunters.

And thinking of it now, Alex was fearful of what could be said in the first scene of episode 26. Megatron would no doubt take pride in mentioning Alex's apparent failure to help the autobots, and Arcee would no doubt in turn realize and explain how Alex knew what knew, in which case his cover with the Autobots and Decepticons would be blown, and there was no doubt in Alex's mind that both factions would then come looking for him in order to exploit him. The fact that he actually had a means to defend himself from such was not helping.

The possibility of him explaining himself to the Autobots before the season finale was also out, as by doing that would almost certainly jeopardize future events and possibly kill any chance he had of escaping the destruction and reuniting with any of the autobots.

There was the option of being with Agent Fowler or June Darby during the destruction, but that would be risky due to it looking to suspicious to the autobots and the prospect of eventually meeting up with them after them realizing that he could have prevented the base's destruction was not appealing in the least. Despite this, this option seemed to be the only one available.

Alex sat shivering. He was scared. But thankfully he had time to think, as he had two more episodes before he would have to take action.

In any event however, he would have to be ready to leave the base at any given moment. In other words, he would need to be ready to disappear...

But for now, he would remain calm and carry on, and continue blasting holes in the walls and learning cybertronian code with Optimus; as it was the only thing he could do.

But where the hell would he go?

….

The next evening…

The base was soaked. Starsceam's visit had also left a massive hole in the vault that had been storing the omega keys. After shutting the sprinklers off the autobots had set about drying off all of Ratchet's precious equipment. Meanwhile Bulkhead and Ratchet had returned through the groundbridge along with Optimus, who was not in the best of moods. The autobots had cringed when their leader had cried out "NO!" after failing to apprehend the rogue decepticon. It was a side of Optimus they never truly saw.

Alex on the other hand, was in a much better mood than yesterday. He had come to the decision that he would leave the base of his own accord. Pretend to go out for a walk and then disappear without a trace. He had already packed a bag with supplies and knew that when Optimus cooled down he would assist Alex if needs be, provided that Alex give sufficient reason. Now though, as he tried to dry himself off in his quarters, he would just act normal, maybe even try and up the mood of the place.

….

"Arcee, why didn't you close the groundbridge faster?" Ratchet snapped at the two-wheeler.

"In case you hadn't noticed," snapped Arcee back. "But Starscream was at hyperspeed!"

"Enough." Optimus intervened. After half an hour back at base he had regained his composure and set about repairing the damage to the base. "While there are many things to discuss concerning the loss of the Omega keys, I recommend we wait until tomorrow, as many of us are in need of a recharge."

The autobots were saddened, and they had every right to be considering that they had lost their opportunity to restore their home planet. Alex saw their looks of disappointment as he stood by the kitchen counter preparing yet another cup of coffee and thought about attempting to lift their spirits.

"Oh, chin up." He said. "You've been through worse, and I have every confidence in you eventually returning home."

"Easier said than done." Murmured Bulkhead as he looked to the floor.

"Besides, we don't know yet what Starscream's gonna do with the keys." Smokescreen added. "For all we know he could hand them straight back to Megatron."

"Oh I wouldn't worry too much." Alex said brightly as he stirred in his sugar. "Megatron doesn't seem capable of keeping his forces in check, nor has Starscream ever proven to be completely loyal to his command." He laughed. "I don't think Megatron even likes half of the 'cons on his ship. I bet he wasn't quick about releasing Knock Out from the wall after Smokescreen trapped him there when escaping." He giggled at that funny scene of Megatron and Dreadwing walking past the astonished doctor without a second glance at his predicament. He took a sip of his coffee without noticing that the room had gone silent.

"Alex." Came Smokescreens voice from behind Alex.

"Yes, Smokescreen?" Alex asked before taking another sip, back still turned to the Autobots.

"I never told anyone about Knock Out." Smokescreen said slowly. "So how would you know he got stuck in the wall?"

The coffee mug slipped from his fingers and hit the floor, liquid spilling all over the floor.

Wide eyed, he realized what just happened and what he had just accidently revealed. "Scrap." He silently cursed.

Turning slowly round to face the autobots, he was greeted by the frowns on all of their faces as they stared at him.

"Uhh...didn't you…tell us?" He smiled awkwardly.

While all the autobots were shocked at the fact that Alex knew something that hadn't actually been disclosed with him, there was one Autobot that it affected the most.

In a single moment, that failed excuse, the sudden revelation of information, the anger over the loss of the Omega keys and the amount of previous suspicion and anger, combined to form one blow that caused Arcee to snap. With her arm shifting into her blaster she pointed it at Alex. "Who are you." She said slowly.

"Arcee…" Optimus stepped forward.

The weapon started to glow as Arcee charged it, forcing Alex to take a step back.

"Tell us who you are right now or I will shoot you." She said…

To be continued…