After a year of work, everything was finally settled, and it was time for the Autobots to leave Earth. All of the Decepticons had left, the last few jettisoning into space the week before. There were no more Cybertronians left but the Autobots, and they were all a bit sad. Humankind was fascinating to them, with all of its strange uniqueness, and it had brought them joy to work with them. But now it was time to say goodbye. And with the humans' short lifespans, that meant that all of their friends would most likely be dead if they ever returned.
Optimus walked over and knelt down to speak to William Lennox and Robert Epps, their two longest friends besides Sam, and the only two who remained the same from the early days. Mikaela had left long ago to start a family with somebody else once Sam had gone to Cybertron the first time. Glenn and Maggie were long gone, too. And now it was the mechs' turn to leave. William smiled up at him, but Optimus could still see the pain, the ache of never being able to see some of his closest friends again.
"Guess it's about time," Robert said, his hands in his pockets. He scuffed his boot on the ground.
"Yes. Almost. We leave at midnight. The cover story is?"
"Meteor shower," William replied. "Last one we need for you."
His voice cracked and he looked away quickly. Optimus sat down and projected his holoform, his Cybertronian body in miniature, and wrapped an arm around William's shoulders.
"It's always hard to say goodbye," Optimus soothed. "I've had to say goodbye to many things in my life, Will. And it… it never gets easier."
William nodded, and Optimus turned to Robert, holding out his fist. Robert smiled sadly and bumped it.
"We'll miss you, big guy. We'll miss all of you," Robert said.
"We'll miss you, too. So much has happened here in so little time for us. Yet I know it has consumed your lives for a decade. That's a long time for you."
William smiled again, but this time it was a little bitter. "Guess you'll forget about us in a hundred years. That's a drop in the bucket for you."
Optimus shook his head solemnly. "No. I will never forget you. I will never forget your planet. I promise."
William swiped at his eyes, and Kup came over with Prowl.
"We're all ready, sir," Prowl said. "We leave in half an hour. We need the humans to be clear of the area by several miles due to radiation."
Optimus turned his holoform to William and embraced him. William hugged him back, then Optimus turned to do the same for Robert. He stepped back and studied their faces, storing them in his permanent memory banks, then clicked off his holoform. He stood up and saluted them.
"It was an honor serving with you, men."
William and Robert saluted back, and Optimus turned to head to the group of Autobots when William spoke.
"One more thing, Optimus."
He turned to look at him. "Yes?"
"If you find Silverstreak up there on Cybertron, can you… can you let us know? I'm worried about him." William stared up earnestly at the Prime. "He's just had a lot of stuff going on, and I don't know what's supposed to happen to him in those orders from Primus. He's not exactly human anymore. But he's not Cybertronian either. I know it's been really hard for him."
"It's been hard for us all," Optimus said.
"Yeah, that's true, but think about it from his perspective. He's got a human mind in an alien body. He's got no human friends besides me and Epps because everybody else left. His family disowned him, he's got insane powers that no human has ever had to deal with, and he's basically stuck in between so many things. I know he did a lot of damage to a lot of people, but he's not a bad kid. I just…" William sighed. "If there's any way to let us know he's okay, would you?"
Optimus nodded. "If Primus allows it, I will get a message to you."
William nodded and smiled. "Best get going. Prowl's tapping his foot."
Prowl stopped at once, and his optics flashed pink as Optimus and Kup looked amused. William and Robert headed for the truck and slipped in. Robert waved at them then started the engine and pulled away, leaving the Autobots alone in the desert. Optimus, Kup, and Prowl waved until they were out of sight, and then they stood there silently. An era was coming to an end. They would never see them again.
Optimus spit static then turned away. Kup placed a hand on his shoulder and squeezed. "It's for the best, Prime," he said in Cybertronian. "Come on. We have to finish getting ready."
They had decided not to explain how they became space worthy with their bodies. There was no need for the humans to know. Not anymore. Optimus turned and walked to the group. There was melancholy and joy at the same time as they chattered about going back home and leaving Earth behind. Optimus looked at his men then got their attention.
"Twenty-five minutes. Shift and shed," he ordered.
They obeyed, their bodies changing as they got rid of the metal that made up their armor to reveal their protoforms. They teased each other playfully about being "naked" which was a feature of humanity that had always fascinated them. It had also been a taboo subject to any but their closest friends, so they were even more amused. They left the metal behind, knowing the government would clean it up, and they stretched and talked even more excitedly. All but two of them.
Bumblebee was twitchy and nervous despite having done this a thousand times, and Hot Rod was dead silent, rigidly staring around and ready to obey any order. The past few months had been exceedingly difficult for them. They had retreated more and more often to be alone, and they had become younglings in everything but their bodies. Optimus was at a loss to understand them. Especially Bumblebee. He'd known him since he was sparked, and he'd never acted so disrespectful before. Guilt gnawed at him because he knew it was his fault for authorizing the program. But what was done couldn't be undone. And they had to face the consequences.
"Worried?" Kup asked as Ratchet walked over to inspect them to make sure they were healthy enough to transform their protoforms.
"Arms up," the medic said.
Optimus obeyed as he answered Kup. "I don't know what to do about them. Everything I try backfires. Bumblebee flipped me off yesterday when I asked him how he was. Hot Rod practically begged me to give him something to do because his duties were over. I don't know what else to try."
"Watch it, glitch!" Bumblebee suddenly barked. All optics turned to see First Aid standing there with his hands on his hips.
"Arms up, Bee!" he ordered.
"Why?"
"You know why," Ironhide answered calmly. "Inspection. He's got to make sure your seams will be tight."
"No! Keep your hands off of me!"
"I could do it if you'd prefer," Ratchet said.
"No!" Bumblebee said petulantly.
"I'm ready, Aid," Hot Rod said brightly.
First Aid looked back at Ratchet, who waved him on. "I'll get Bee."
"No you won't!" Bumblebee snapped.
"Bumblebee, be quiet," Ironhide said.
"Frag off!"
Once his inspection of Kup and Optimus was done, Ratchet braced himself as the three of them walked over to Bumblebee.
"Arms up, Bee," Ratchet said.
"Go defrag yourself," Bumblebee snarled.
Ironhide rolled his optics and walked around behind Bumblebee. "You have one more chance before we make you."
Bumblebee looked panicked and tried to bolt, but Ironhide wrapped his arms around him and anchored him in place. Optimus and Kup held his arms up as Bumblebee threw a fit, writhing and trying to get away. He was swearing up a storm and thrashing around to try and hit any of them as Ratchet checked him over. When he nodded at Ironhide, the mech released him and Bumblebee skittered away, cursing them. Optimus sighed and pinched the bridge of his olfactory sensors.
"What are we going to do?" he asked.
"They won't talk about it with anybody," Ratchet said.
Ironhide shrugged. "Maybe the new Prime will have some ideas."
Optimus's optics flashed, and he looked irritated. Ratchet, Kup, and Ironhide all noticed. Kup shook his head.
"Don't do that, Optimus."
"Do what?" Optimus asked, buzzing before he could stop himself.
"Don't discredit him just because he's new. He's got different experiences, a different perspective on everything than you. It's never good when Primes fight each other. Leads to a whole lot of trouble."
Optimus clicked several times as he considered Kup's words then sighed. "It's just irritating that you think he can handle it when I can't," he finally admitted. "I've known Bee his whole life. I should be able to help."
"It's a bad situation, and I know it's upsetting," Kup said, clapping a hand on his shoulder. "But promise me you'll try to understand him, to listen to him. He's been made a Prime just like you were. Primus chose him to lead Cybertron alongside you. He has just as much authority as you do, Optimus. Promise me you'll keep that in mind when push comes to shove."
Optimus looked down. Kup had touched a nerve, a raw nerve, and he knew it. It was so hard to think that somebody out there was equal in authority to him after so many ages of being alone. It was thrilling to think he'd have somebody who would understand him in a way that nobody else could, but it was also terrifying because he didn't know anything about this new Prime. How could he just trust somebody he knew nothing about?
Kup shook him gently. "Optimus? Please promise me."
Optimus took in a deep breath and sighed it out. "I will try," he said in a low voice. "I-I just…"
"I know," Kup said. "I know it's a big change to adjust to. But you can do it. We're here." He gestured at himself, Ironhide, and Ratchet. "If you ever need to vent, come to us. At least until you get to know him better."
"What if…" Optimus trailed off.
"What if?" Ironhide prompted.
Optimus's optics turned pink. "What if he and I aren't compatible as leaders? What if he doesn't… doesn't like me?"
He said it in a tiny voice, barely audible even to their sharp audios. They could tell he was ashamed for even asking the question, the question of a sparkling afraid of meeting others. Ironhide, Ratchet, and Kup exchanged glances. They understood his nerves. It was important for Primes to like each other, or things would quickly go downhill. Ironhide grasped Optimus's arm and chirruped, a soothing noise that rarely came from the gruff mech.
"What's not to like?" Ratchet asked as Optimus looked up shyly.
"You'll do fine," Kup assured him.
Prowl approached and the four of them went silent. Optimus automatically straightened as he gazed at his subordinate. "Yes?"
"It's time," he said solemnly. Then he looked up at the moon, which was half full. "I will miss this planet."
"We all will," Ironhide said.
Optimus nodded then called out. "Autobots! It's time to go home!"
There were squeals and cheers, and then they all spaced themselves out. Optimus stood tall and looked up at the stars. His spark quivered with joy at the thought of going home and sorrow at losing his friends. Then he spoke firmly.
"Autobots! Transform and launch!"
His body shifted as he pinged his software and he folded in on himself into a space-worthy vessel. With another command, he was hurtling through Earth's atmosphere. For a few moments, gravity squeezed him tightly and then he was free. After pinging everybody to make sure they were safe, he relaxed and began to slip into stasis as he set his coordinates for home. His last thoughts before darkness were filled with excitement and trepidation at what awaited him on Cybertron.