CHAPTER 19
Worries and Good News

"So you guys are actually going to try and get Optimus back to Earth?"

Drift turned his head as Mark made his way into their communications area. Crosshairs was busy typing away at a large console, trying to pinpoint Optimus's location. Given the fact he was dressed in his pajamas, and rubbing a tired eye, the boy must have heard the commotion, and perhaps conversations and woken up. "Mark, you should go back to bed, sparkling." Drift told him politely "Sincerest apologies if we aroused you from your sleep."

Mark shrugged, yawning quietly. "It's cool." He told him "I wasn't sleeping really soundly anyway. So are you going to tell me what's going on? I though Hound said you guys were letting Optimus do his thing?" The two mechs stood silently, staring at one-another "Come on, I live with you guys, I'm gonna know eventually anyway." He half-muttered "If I couldn't know this, you guys wouldn't have been shouting about this loud enough that I could hear."

Crosshairs sighed, turning around to stare down at Mark. He crossed his arms, and looked at him. "Galvatron's back. Or at least appears to be." Crosshairs explained, watching as Mark's eyes seemed to bug slightly "Which wouldn't be a problem if he were still on his own." He turned around and continued his typing "But with more Decepticons coming we need our true leader, our Prime." He explained.

Mark nodded his head, and chewed his lip slightly. What did this mean for him? Would the Decepticons now target him even more? And what was more, if Optimus came back to Earth, what would he think of him being there? Would he not approve of the fact that the Autobots were housing an orphaned civilian? Let alone the orphaned civilian son of someone that had sought to destroy him? "Do not worry yourself, Mark." Drift stated, as if reading his thoughts "Everything will work out given time."

"And you definitely don't have to worry about Optimus." Mark turned around as Hound entered the room calmly "Part of the reason we even took you in is that it was what he would have done given the situation." Mark nodded his head slowly, after all, this was the reason he had opened their bond, he wanted Hound to hear that from Hound "You really should be asleep right now though, bud. It's late."

Mark shook his head, looking up at him. "I'm up now." He grumbled "It's a little late for that."

Hound sighed, knowing that he could convince Mark to go to sleep in a moment. He carefully stepped up and stopped as he stood beside Crosshairs. As if reading his friend's mind, the mech turned to Hound. " I managed to get an encrypted message to where Optimus should be." Crosshairs told him calmly "Just in case they make an attempt to intercept our message." Hound nodded his head "I suppose it's all up to fate now. If Prime doesn't get it, we're on our own."

Mark looked between them, and sighed a bit. "And what happens if you guys are on your own?" Mark asked, uncertainty in his voice "How powerful is Galavtron exactly? In that new form of his, I mean..." He commented "Because I get going by Chicago that Megatron was..."

"Worse now." Hound admitted "He doesn't run on a spark which makes him difficult to kill." Mark nodded a little, knowing enough about sparks that it made sense "If he gets his hands on an army and attacks us when we're leaderless..." He shook his head a little, his optics softening a bit "Well, it's not going to be pretty, son. Let me tell you that much."

Mark shuddered a bit at the thought, with any luck, maybe that wouldn't happen. But he knew by the looks on the Autobots faces, that there was a good chance it would happen if they didn't get in touch with Optimus. Drift took notice of Mark's growing intensity, and looked toward Hound. "Perhaps we should not be speaking of the more frightening possibilities while a youngling is present." He suggested.

Hound nodded, this time scooping Mark up in order to not give him a choice. "I agree." Hound commented "It's time for bed, Mark."

"But Hound!"

Hound didn't listen as he carried Mark back to his bedroom, and deposited him onto his bed. Mark started to move to get out and protest, but Hound carefully held up a hand and gave him a stern look. "This isn't something you need to be worrying about, Mark." Hound explained as calmly as his mood allowed "Let the other Autobots and I handle this."

"But Hound, I'm scared." Mark shook his head "What if something happens to you? Or the others? Galvatron could kill you, or-."

"Hey, nothing's gonna happen to me." Hound shook his head "I was practically on my last leg in Hong Kong, and look at me, I'm still standing." Mark looked away, only for Hound to tip his head up slightly "And what's more nothing is going to happen to any of us. Including you." He stated firmly, rubbing his cheek "I won't let anything like that happen."

Mark shook his head. "My dad used to say that too."

Hound frowned slightly, looking down at the human boy. "I swear on my very spark." Hound spoke quietly, and firmly "Nothing is going to happen, Mark. No matter what happens, you will never lose me." Mark nodded slightly "Now, go to sleep, you'll feel better in the mornin', I think we all will." He stood from his crouched position slowly.

Mark finally nodded his head again, and laid his head down. "Alright..." Mark replied with great uncertainty "Goodnight, Hound."

"G'night Mark."

As Hound left, he silently vowed that he would not go back on his promise. Not only for Mark's sake, but for all of theirs. He was not going to lose any more of his friends, not as long as he was still functioning.

...

Hound tried his best to ignore the intensity around base the next day. Mostly, it required an easy feat, which was ignoring and avoiding the man that he despised, Coulton. Since arriving back on-base and being debriefed, the man had done his utmost best to say how bringing Optimus back was a big mistake given the bounty on his head, even considering the circumstances. So far, no encrypted message back from Prime had even been received, but Hound had to hold out what little hope he could that they would hear back soon.

What time he wasn't focusing on the current situation, he kept himself in the company of Mark. As it was very obvious that Mark was tense, and scared with the whole situation. So for most of the day, Mark was found on his shoulder, close by where Hound knew he would feel safe. "Hound?" The mech stared over at the boy as he was pulled from his thoughts again "You okay?"

Hound hadn't even realized that he had zoned out at his desk until he had spoken. Then again, he wasn't surprised either, he'd been going through multiple data pads and it was by far the worst of his duties. "I'm fine." Hound carefully picked Mark up off the desk and set him on his shoulder before exiting the office "I just need to get away from these slaggin' reports for a while." He stated as he put another of his "cigars" in.

"Does that kill you like our tobacco does?"

Hound shook his head, and shrugged his shoulders. "I'm not actually smokin' anything." Hound explained "It just kinda calms my nerves, I've learned." Mark had to laugh at that one, rolling his eyes "Don't let that be an excuse for you to start smokin' though. Your "smoking" kills you." He added very calmly "I just need it right now with tensions running so high."

Mark nodded a little, leaning back against his guardians shoulder. He could understand where he would need a stress releaser, after all, with all that was happening, he would be too if he were in the Autobot army. "Maybe we can go out and do something?" Mark suggested "Go into town, catch a movie, something...? We even have Monday off this week so we can go tomorrow too."

"I'd love to go and do something." Hound grunted "But the "snake" is still around."

Mark frowned at the mention of Colton, of course he would be the one to ruin the idea. "Of course..." Mark replied with a scoff "Maybe we can watch a movie in the rec room tonight, at least. I bet Lennox and Epps would be down for it too." Hound looked thoughtfully at that "I know you guys have some pretty wicked movies on-base, right?"

Hound shrugged his shoulders slightly. "I don't see why not." He finally spoke "Coulton should be gone by tonight, hopefully. So he can't really say much about that." Mark nodded his head a bit "We'll have to pick a good comedy or somethin'. I think we could all use the laugh." He added "Wanna go check up on Lennox and Epps and see if they want to arrange a movie night?"

"Sure!"

As Hound set him on the ground, he let Mark run off. Convinced that, at the very least, the boy had relaxed during his time spent with him. "He seems to have calmed down at least." Hound turned his head towards Sideswipe as he approached "At least that makes one of us." He shook his head and looked over at him "Ye want me to go keep him occupied, you've done that long enough."

"I could use that, yes." Hound replied "This paperwork will be the death of me, and keeping is mind off this hasn't been easy." He paused "He doesn't think I noticed, but I heard him all night last night. I don't think he got a wink of sleep." Sideswipe frowned, his optics softening "Kid has a lot on his mind, I think he does that more often than I even notice."

Sideswipe nodded his head, stroking his chin. Hound could tell that Sideswipe felt concern, given the fact that he had noticed that he and Mark were becoming closer. And Sideswipe, while being a little cocky, and self-centered, definitely was the type to worry about his friends. So he could only imagine that the mech wasn't doing good with that mental image. "I'll take him out of the base for the rest of the day once he talks to Lennox and Epps. Bring him back in time for the move." Sideswipe commented "So we don't have to worry about Coulton worsening this."

"No drag racing." Hound commented.

"I know, I know." Sideswipe replied "I always tell him." He called out "Mark, wait up l'il buddy!"

As Sideswipe rolled off, Hound gave a deep sigh. He really hoped that an afternoon out with Sideswipe could get Mark to calm his intensity down some. As his comm beeped yet again, Hound groaned, yep, this day would definitely be the death of him. "What's up Lennox? Mark was just looking for you." He commented.

"I know, we just met up." Lennox replied "I told him "yeah" but that's not what I'm calling about..." He paused a moment "We've got an Autobot making planetfall with an ETA of forty minutes just outside of Dallas." Hound's optics widened "Crosshairs just caught him, so I thought I'd let you know. We're meeting in the main hangar in fifteen."

"I'll be right there."

Hound almost felt an overwhelming feeling of relief wash over him. He knew it wouldn't be Optimus, but another member being added to their ranks was definitely a step in the right direction for once. And he'd take that over nothing at all.

...

A/N: Time for the first new Autobot, yay! :P Check back next chapter to find out who.