Time Scale: Nano-click: second ; Cycle: Minute ; Groon: an hour ; Mega-cycle: days ; Orn: 13 days ; Steller Cycle: year ; Vorn: 83 year

Chapter 22: A Skip and a Jump

In the end, Sentinel had to make a choice which, he was hard set to admit at this point, was becoming an upsetting norm in his life. He had made a lot of hard choices in less than a vorn. And now there was another one.

Trimmer was only able to lie so much before Rodimus became suspicious and started heading back to Docker City. Apparently, Trimmer was a horrible liar, which in some ways was hilarious. And so, at that point, Sentinel knew he had to either run and hide at another far off colony in the middle of nowhere and end up wearing a dress as was customary in some backwater places … or go back home. He would be honest with himself, since Echo had entered his life, he had come to know that home was wherever Echo was.

True, he liked Docker City despite all the oddities that laid with in it and culture clashes, yet when some trinket of news would come to part about Cybertron, his spark would ache. It was as if his spark wouldn't leave that place behind, that it wanted something desperately there. Sentinel, even when he sat up at night with Echo feeding off one of his low grade lines, couldn't quite understand what it was that he missed, but in the end he could only deduct it was his occupation. He was a career soldier and he loved Cybertron.

Plus, his pride was still there and it didn't want to run away, especially not from Rodimus Prime. Though mostly it was because he knew that once he started running he would never be able to stop. And that was no life for Echo. He wanted the sparkling to have all the options in the world open to him, not a fake name every vorn until he forgot what his real name was.

And being arrested would be a nuisance as well.

And so, Sonic Trip at his side along with most of the science crew along with some strings pulled by Trimmer and Restart, a ploy was started so that Sentinel … could have both. Trimmer may or may not have used it as an excuse to get Sonic Trip in as a off planet student to the Autobot Academy as well, but Sentinel honestly didn't care. He just wanted this process to go as smoothly as possible … and to keep Echo hidden. Echo would never be a soldier. He would never be a soldier or a tool or … a disgrace.

He would never be used the way Sentinel had been.

And so, with a soft sob he had allowed Sonic Trip to have his Echo and his flat's keycode while he made the eventful meeting with Team Athenia. Restart had not exactly wanted to lie about a medical report, so he allowed Sentinel to tell the tale. For some reason Red Alert didn't seem convinced by Sentinel's story, but he didn't care. It was Magnus an the other's that had to believe it.

His tale of woe was the closest one to the truth that he could manage … and so he had to confess some things he would have rather not . None of the mechs of Team Athenia had been able to meet his gaze (except for Red Alert who still didn't seem convinced) after he said that he now knew that he would never be Magnus and that he needed closure. The only way for him to do that was to make sure that he said all his goodbyes before starting his new chapter. He needed to say goodbye to Elita-1: the love of his life.

There had been few questions after that, Rodimus unable to keep his optics from gazing at the weld marks in Sentinel's form or the partially crafted legs. He knew that they all thought he had been attacked and though the old part of him would have loved to have made up a tale of battle and imprisonment, he instead settled for half truths. The ground had collapsed in on him and the science team had dragged his nearly offline body back to the ship to try and save him. They merely thought he was a Neutral so they never contacted anyone and put him under due to his mangled state to keep him stable. He had been unconscious the whole time … and did not know anyone was looking for him.

And luckily … Rodimus had bought it and wrote up a report for Sentinel, the ex-Prime's scarred body and hospitalization proof enough for the higher ranking soldier. Little would Sentinel know that when said report on Sentinel's absence came upon Optimus' desk, how much the other mech would blame himself for never telling Sentinel that Elita was not offline … merely misshapen.

Regardless, Sentinel almost couldn't believe how well the whole mess was cleaning itself up. He came back home, pitied and babied for his scarred and barely functioning legs at the time. The Magnus himself had come to see him in his hospital room to make sure his repairs were coming along nicely. Sentinel had been cordial to the mech he had once looked up to, he had even forced himself to thank Optimus for looking for him.

Though he pretended to miss how the other lingered, wanting to say more no doubt.

After a few mega-cycles, his legs working much better, Sentinel had only wanted to go home where he knew Sonic Trip was taking care of his sparkling and hold the sparkling close. After all, Echo couldn't be too far from him for long without his weak spark becoming unbalanced. He was entirely dependent on Sentinel's spark to keep it strong. A second parent would fix some of the problem, or so Restart said, but Sentinel had not significant other and now had no want for one. He was entirely alone in this world with nothing but a sick sparkling, a mind full of secrets and some half-breed mechs as his only friends in all the universe. Too bad they were all so far away, Sonic Trip being trapped in training camps half the time.

And that was how time passed. Mech's slowly forgot about Sentinel's accident as he dived into his work and pulled Communications back together, spoiling Cliffjumper for the first vorn to get on the mech's good side … though as time passed he wasn't sure Cliffjumper had a good side. He would admit to one thing though, he was glad he got stuck in the position he was. Once he started to put the department back together, he once again became invisible and could go home whenever need be to raise his pride and joy.

His Echo.

...

As the first vorn passed, Sentinel could not remember ever being as happy or proud. It was apparent that Echo was very intelligent. Part of Sentinel's mind told him it could have had something to do with a certain donation he had volunteered to be unconscious for or perhaps it had to do with the sparkling's weak body. The now-youngling's weak spark had forced Echo to be berth ridden for nearly the first half a vorn of his life even after his first upgrade (courtesy of Restart), Echo's books and the visits from the training Sonic Trip were his only companions besides his Carrier. Of course that branched out with tutors and private babysitters and … private doctors, but it was a good life.

Even with all its struggles.

Sentinel touched his chest as an ache ran through it, a hand placing itself upon Cliffjumper's desk as he steadied himself, his spark twisting in pain. It seemed that he needed another appointment sooner than he thought with said private doctor … thought mangler seemed a far more fitting term.

Cliffjumper, who had been rambling on about how reviews of the department's newest underlings Bluestreak and Smokescreen, stalled and frowned deeply as he watched his superior lean on his desk for a moment, vents panting, the other obviously in pain.

Only once he was sure Sentinel's attack or whatever it was had passed, did he speak, "They are getting worse Sentinel. Its probably something from your fall. You barely even allowed yourself to be hospitalized for half a groon. Everyone said it was too soon for you to be up and working, but you said you wanted to go home and then get to work. Even the Magnus thought you came to work too soon."

Sentinel, vents still panting, was personally just glad he hadn't cried out because that had certainly been a bad one. Perhaps it had been too soon, even he knew that, but then he recalled all to well why he had gotten out early and just shook his head at the other. He had ignored his healing for Echo, because now that a bond had formed, he knew whenever the other was weak and in need of him … or whenever the other's spark started to waver. It would actually cause him physical pain, both as a creator knowing his creation was suffering and because his spark knew … he was prepared to cut another piece out of it to save his creation.

Gathering enough strength to recollect himself, Sentinel shook his head as he murmured to the other, "Probably, but I will be fine. Now, you were saying?"

Cliffjumper eyed the other critically, lips pursed before he ignored the inquiry, "What part of they are getting worse don't you understand? I don't need to go through training another security head."

"Oh, you trained me, huh?" joked Sentinel slightly, "But really I'm fine. I have an appointment today anyway. That is why I want this done. I have to leave early today."

Frowning, far from convinced, Cliffjumper's digits fell over his digital keyboard again as he started typing on the report, his words embittered, "A private doctor? You should go to one of the military assigned medics. For one, it would be discounted if not free, and they might actually see what's wrong with you … Those half breeds obviously didn't put you together right."

Cliffjumper nearly jumped out of his armor when Sentinel slapped his fist down onto the other's desk, Sentinel's optics bright with rage. There was a moment of stillness, Sentinel Minor a few moment from exploding in fury before the red mech quickly looked down and murmured, "I'm sorry … I didn't mean that. They put you back together … took care of you without even having to be asked. They weren't even medics yet they kept you alive … I forgot you even had a few as friends."

Watching the other's hand curl and uncurl in calming rage, the red mech couldn't help but sigh and grumble, "If your private medic doesn't fix it this time … I know a few good Autobot medics. Would you please at least considered trying one of them?"

Sentinel slowly released his anger, his optics dimming. He wanted to say yes to the other. He wanted to feel energized and youthful like he did before having Echo. He was tired of being tired and tired of worrying constantly about the health of his spark and Echo's spark. He was just tired of keeping up appearances and always having to go to a private medic with all the private bills. But he knew that it was just a fact of life at this point. As Echo grew older, the less dependent he would be on Sentinel's spark, but that wouldn't be for vorns. He just had to deal with the pain.

Sighing, trying to tell himself that it wouldn't hurt as much this time, that his spark wouldn't ache for mega-cycles after wards, he gave Cliffjumper a weak smile knowing that his happiness, his Echo, would always be worth a little inconvenience, a little pain, "Thank you for you concern, soldier, but I will be fine .. I'm always fine."

And yet, as he left the office, he couldn't help but feel a heavy guilt in his tank. As if he had just lied to the other.

Optimus, his office above the main entrance to the strong hold, watched the blue form of Sentinel transform and drive off. It was kind of a norm at this point, the other was always leaving early and working half day. But he got his work done, so no one ever questioned it. Honestly, Optimus Prime had no idea how he even noticed the other's erratic schedule to begin with, but he personally blamed the dreams with their forming obsession about the other.

"Isn't it strange how often he goes home early or does his work from home. Its like he'd rather be there … why do you think that is, Ratchet?" said Optimus as he watched Sentinel's blue form disappear around a corner, watching for a nano-click before he turned back to his desk and to the healthier looking medic. Despite looking shiner than ever though for his students and standing, Ratchet still wouldn't get that chevron fixed. He said it was a bad to forget.

"I don't know. Slaggers probably just lazy," said Ratchet, having watched the blue ex-Prime just as carefully as Optimus this past vorn, wondering if he would ever be able to confront the other about what had happened that night in the subways, though at this point he was just worried the young mech was sick; there was just something sluggish and tired about him as if he was carrying a heavy weight, "But we have bigger issues than your crush on Sentinel."

Optimus choked, his cheeks blushing, "I-I-uh don't have a crush on Sentinel."

"You've admitted it yourself that you dream about fragging him at least every orn now, Optimus. It's something and instead of wondering by the Communications Department and unable to stop in, perhaps you should just talk to him. Sentinel's done a lot of growing up since his accident. He's not as loud or brash or flashy. He's far more reserved," likely traumatized or he hit is helm to hard in that fall of his, "and perhaps … he might not be as picky as he once was."

Sighing, knowing that he had other things to talk about but was far to frustrated to just cut the conversation off, the Prime collapsed into his chair, grumbling, "But he's always been a femme kind of mech and I took his job. I'm lucky he doesn't glare at me every time we pass in the halls. Instead, he just snubs off my existence. Lately, he doesn't even do that. It's as if he has more important things to do than ignore my existence."

Shifting his shoulders as he accepted a cube of fine high grade from the decorated Prime, Ratchet personally considered that a good sign. It meant the ex-Prime was getting on with his life and that maybe what happened in that subway wasn't as bad as he thought it was. He never had any real proof after all.

"Well, perhaps its a sign. Maybe he's getting on with his life … and so should you. If you don't want to ask him, there have been many a good looking mechs and femmes that have expressed interest in you. And you still have no proof that damaged bond ever existed to Sentinel. It could have easily been Prowl."

Frowning, looking at his drink with a sullen expression, Optimus carefully murmured, "It could have been … but … have you been by to see him. I know that Jazz goes and sees him all the time, but has anything changed?"

Shaking his head, sighing out of his vents, the old war veteran murmured, "Nope, he's still in status lock. We can only hope that one of these mega-cycle he will pull himself out of it, but gathering the Allspark back together was hard on him. We only have to thank Jazz's early departure from Cybertron, with the jet twins, that he's even still alive. Those three helped gather more shards. If Jazz had had to collect more than he had … its something I would rather not dwell on. But since we are speaking of Earth … you know we can't put it off any longer Optimus. The Sari issue that is."

Optimus actually physically twitched at this. The subject painful for him.

"Professor Sumdac can't hold out much longer. He may have been a genius, may have been able to make a fake body to hold on as long as he has … but his brain is still organic …"

Optimus frowned at this. Personally, he hated this conversation for it reminded him how many humans he once knew were now offline and how short lived they were, but he owed it to Sumdac and Sari to try and do something for the situation. For them he would bare any burden.

"He called me again. He begged me again Optimus to come to Earth and take her. He knows he is slipping, that he can't be there forever,and though she may technically be around a hundred human years old she still acts like a mid-grade youngling," finished Ratchet, his next words hard. "You and I both know why he's calling us there Optimus because he know and we know, when he's gone … she will need someone to look after her."

Shifting uncomfortably Optimus' optics dimmed and he almost whispered, "She won't want to come home with us Ratchet. The scientist would prod at her as if she was a freak and the citizens would ignore her as if she was a freak. Even though she can blend in a little more, she still partially organic. Mechs will notice. Besides, even after her Creator's … um, father's … body failed him, she didn't want to leave. What makes you think she will leave now with her father … so close to the end?"

Shaking his head, Ratchet merely murmured, "I don't think she'll have a choice Optimus and when that time comes someone will have to claim responsibility for her. It best be us instead of someone that would abuse her … gifts."

"Yeah … gifts. If that's what you want to call them."

XXX

Paw07: Not the turn I'm sure most of you were expecting, but I do hope I'm not completely obvious. As for what is wrong with Sentinel's health, you'll have to wait, and as for Prowl, I never said he died in the story. I honestly left it open because I didn't know what I wanted for him. So there, he's kind of alive. As for Sari, I've always had plans of her and Echo interacting. So know we get to start on her tale. Lets just say that the key did more to Sari than give her a little upgrade and it really has a lot to do with the false Elita-1. Sorry if there are more spelling errors than usual, I'm trying OpenOffice Writer. We'll see if it is any good.

Anyway, back to MineCraft!