(Please see all previous disclaimers)
After wishing Hightide and Boulder goodbye and best of luck, Optimus, Predaking, and Lancex made their way back to the rescue bot base on Griffin rock. Heatwave, Chase, and Blades greeted the three. Optimus made sure he didn't indicate he knew anything of anything more than duty, especially to Heatwave. But upon arriving, Optimus indicated to the others that tomorrow Optimus, Lancex, and Predaking would return to the other Autobot base to inform those bots and to prepare to head to Lancex's home dimension.
The rescue bot nodded, but Heatwave then noticed that Boulder was missing. "Didn't Boulder go with you? Do you know where he went? You didn't leave him behind, did you?" Heatwave, sounding to most like he was worried about his teammate, though only Optimus sensed a slight bit more.
"He wanted to speak to Hightide and they are making some plans to keep this place safe once I go to the other dimension" Optimus replied. Most of the others just nodded, though it was obvious to Optimus that Heatwave was grateful to hear that both were okay.
"So, other than you three, are any other bots crossing into that other realm?" Blades asked.
"Well, Bumblebee with his mates Megatronus and Dreadwing" Optimus answered.
It left a slightly sour taste in Blades' mouth, as Blades really liked Bee. He was also shocked that his idol had two mates already. Unhappy about the news blades headed off. Optimus was and wasn't surprised by that, but what did surprise Optimus was seeing Chase go after the chopper bot. Optimus had a feeling about that but decided to let it be.
Optimus, after all the chaos, noticed his lovers seemed tired. And so, to help them, he gently guided them to their temporary room so that all could rest. And soon, all three were out cold, nestled in one another's arms.
And while the others were busy with other things, Heatwave took it upon himself to head down to the harbor. He wanted to be in the know about what the two were planning on how to run things once Optimus would be near impossible to reach. Little did Heatwave realize that the plans for monitoring things were already set and Hightide and Boulder were making other plans… regarding Heatwave. They would hopefully soon get to put their plans into action as the bot both desired was heading right for them. They would just have to play things just right.