Chapter Twenty-One: Sands of Time
The groundbridge opened. Out of the portal came first Sideswipe, then Steven, and then Elita, and finally Magnus. The quad stepped out into the desert sands, illuminated by moonlight. A sky filled with stars hung above them, attracting Steven's, and Sideswipe's to a smaller degree, attention. But they all knew they were there for a reason, as indicated by the NEST encampment they had emerged next to.
"Autobots on-scene," a trooper reported. The humans got out of the way as the group entered the camp, making their way towards the largest tent in the area. A curt nod was occasionally shared between one of them and one of the robots.
"Whatever's going on here, it better be worth staying up this late," said Sideswipe with a yawn. "There've been too many night missions lately."
Elita wasn't sympathetic. "I'm sure Dr. Maheswaran will take your concerns into consideration," she muttered.
The tent was just big enough for the Autobots to fit inside, even if they had to squat a little. A team had already been assembled, crowding around a table in the center. Among them was Dr. Maheswaran, who looked up upon their arrival. "Not a moment too soon, Magnus–some of these fools were starting to talk about leaving without you. And given why we called you all here in the first place, that would have been a very bad idea."
As the trio approached, Steven noticed someone else was among the NEST personnel. "Connie!" Hearing him call her name, she ran over to meet him, with him doing the same. "Hey, it's great to see you in person again! What're you doing here? Shadowing your mom on a mission to get experience?"
She chuckled. "It's great to see you too! And no, I'm just along for the ride. Ever since that whole thing with Windblade, she hasn't let me go anywhere unsupervised. She even takes me on assignments with her–which is cool, but still."
"If it's as urgent as you say, then there's no time to waste," said Elita. "What is the mission, and how can we help?"
Dr. Maheswaran clicked a button on the table, which cast a holographic display of the nearby area. "At oh-three-hundred hours yesterday, we received a distress beacon from a NEST research and development facility not far from here." The display showed it as a few miles from the camp. "When attempts to respond weren't received, our scouts reported that the entire valley was enshrouded by a freak sandstorm. Any attempts to get through, by land or air, have proven futile thanks to the intense winds. Making matters worse, we've determined that the facility itself has suffered a blackout. All the projects being worked on there are in jeopardy, to say nothing of the lives of everyone involved."
"Man, what is it with us and sandstorms?" Sideswipe lamented. "First it was Botanica, then Windblade, and now this…I'm getting tired of buffing out all that chafing!" Elita nudged him.
Connie and Steven were listening in. "Freak sandstorm…you don't think that could be Windblade, do you?" asked Steven, clearly hopeful of the prospect.
"I thought she went back to Cybertron, though," Connie replied. "Why would she come back? And even if she did, why attack that base?" Steven tried to think of an answer, but couldn't.
"If any way in is blocked, what can we do to help?" asked Magnus. "If none of your vehicles are capable of resisting the winds, I highly doubt any of us will fare any better."
The doctor had the slightest glint in her eye. "Maybe not any one of you…but something tells me all of you might just be big enough. I know fully well what you're capable of, and right now, it might be our only way of saving all those lives."
The Autobots looked at one another. "We could try, but…we tend to save combination for a last resort," said Elita. "Gestalts formed from us are often more than a little unstable."
"Trust me, I wouldn't be asking if it wasn't already a last resort," said Doctor Maheswaran. "We need something big enough to carry all of our transports to the facility, and he's the only one big enough to do that, as well as heavy enough to ignore the winds. Can you handle it?"
After another brief moment of consideration, they agreed. "Autobots, step outside and prepare to combine," ordered Magnus. The three of them left, followed by the rest of the personnel.
Steven had immediately gone slack-jawed upon hearing the plan. "I can't believe it! I didn't even know three Transformers could fuse!" he said excitedly. "I mean, two are already pretty exciting, but three?! I can't even imagine what it's gonna look like!"
"Tell me about it!" One of the troopers had appeared beside the two. "I remember back when I saw my first Gestalt. Magnus and Elita. Together, they became…alright, I don't remember the name. But I'll never forget that day!"
Connie chuckled. "You're always happy when you get to work with the Autobots," she said. "At least this time I get to see it for myself instead of just hearing a story about it!"
"And what's wrong with my stories?" asked the trooper, pretending to be saddened. "Am I not a good enough storyteller for you? Maybe it'd be better if I act it out next time!" He began pointing finger-guns everywhere, making blaster noises. Connie rolled her eyes, grinning.
Steven glanced back and forth between the two of them. "Wow, your mom must really be taking you on a lotta missions if you're friends with all her soldiers," he said.
"Oh, you must be Steven!" said the trooper. He removed his helmet, revealing a man who shared a passing resemblance to Connie. "The name's Agent Maheswaran while I'm on duty, but friends and family call me Doug." He held out a hand for Steven to shake. "I'm Connie's dad, in case you couldn't tell."
"Nice to meetcha," said Steven. "So both your parents work for NEST, then? I guess you know what you want to do when you grow up, then!"
Connie was quiet for a moment. "Yeah, that's true," she said, but it didn't sound like her heart was in it. "Just following in their footsteps."
"Here it comes!" said Doug. The Autobots had stepped out of the camp, while a large gathering of personnel appeared to watch them combine. Steven was just as excited as Connie's dad, scampering to the front of the group to get a better look.
After a moment of silent meditation, Ultra Magnus held out his hands. "We have done this before," he said, as Sideswipe and Elita put their hands in his, and in each other's. "Let our sparks and minds be as one, and let harmony guide us."
A faint glow came from each of their sparks as power flowed between them. The light grew brighter as the trio rose into the air, their bodies shifting as they merged. The resulting shape grew, and grew, and grew, until an enormous figure stretched skyward, blotting out the starlight.
Powerglide had been huge. Warpath had been huge. But this new one–he took the cake for bigness. The Combiner formed from all three Autobots towered over everything Steven had seen before, being larger than most buildings. He had a whitish body with blue limbs, and a black head with a pair of fins extending upward. But most notably, he was absolutely covered with guns.
"Fortress Maximus has arrived!" His voice shook the ground, simultaneously frightening and inspiring anyone who heard it. "This mission will now proceed flawlessly, for Fortress Maximus has no equal! I will lead us to unequivocal victory!"
Dr. Maheswaran was handed a megaphone by one of her agents. "Save the infodump for later, Fort Max. We're burning moonlight, so transform and roll out, to borrow a phrase."
Fortress Maximus obliged. With the familiar grinding of a t-cog, much slower and deeper than Steven was used to, the titan shifted into an equally-large vehicle. A massive pair of treads touched the ground, with a door large enough to fit practically the entire camp within. "Now enter, and I shall be your chariot! Onwards!"
A whole convoy of vehicles entered what was like an entire hangar in Fort Max's body. All the troopers and personnel boarded him as well, heading further into a command room at the front. Through the gigantic windscreen before them, the storm loomed in the distance. "All vehicles secured. All personnel accounted for. Fortress Maximus, you may depart when ready." Dr. Maheswaran took a spot in the center of the control room, before another holographic map.
"Forward to uncharted territory!" Fort Max's voice blared. The treads began to spin, slowly dragging the massive vehicle through the sand. They gradually gained speed, soon progressing at a steady pace towards the mysterious storm. Steven was, of course, enchanted by this ride, pressing up against the glass as they moved. Connie was by his side, similarly entranced.
"Woah…why haven't they done this before?" asked Connie. "I feel like the Predacons you guys fight would be way easier to deal with with Fortress Maximus on your team!"
Dr. Maheswaran cleared her throat. "Connie, I want you to stay close to me once we're in the storm," she said. "We have no idea what we're heading towards, so I would prefer it if I could make sure you don't wander off into harm's way again."
Taking a moment to look over at her dad, who didn't react, Connie made her way over to her mother. "Okay, Mom." Steven watched her go, saddened by the distance between them…a distance of about twenty feet, which he could easily walk. But alas, it was no use. He looked back out the window, feeling as though the glass was a wall between them.
"Dr. Maheswaran, we will enter the storm in t-minus three minutes," announced Fortress Maximus. "I advise you instruct all personnel to brace for potential impact. We are a force to be reckoned with, but these winds are not to be taken lightly."
She spoke into her radio. "You heard the man: everyone be ready for the breach. Like he said, this isn't going to be a luxury trip." The others began readying themselves for after the two minutes and forty-five seconds was up. "That means you too, Steven."
Steven pulled his eyes away from the window. "Huh? Oh, right!" He hurried over to Connie, the two of them strapping in as they waited for impact. "Don't worry, Fortress Maximus is all three Autobots at once! He's gotta be invincible!"
"I'm sure he is," Connie replied. "Really, I'm more worried about what's waiting for us at that base. What do you think they were doing there?"
"Beats me," said Steven. "Maybe your mom knows. She's, like, the boss of NEST, right? She has to at least have some idea."
Connie nodded, looking at the floor. "I'm sure she does."
Fortress Maximus grew ever closer to the storm, his massive treads kicking up dust. "We are on the verge of entering the breach!" he announced. "Our moment of triumph draws ever closer–but we must prepare!"
"That's our cue–everybody hold on tight!" Doug announced over the radio. Everybody strapped in in preparation for encountering the turbulent winds. "Going through in six…five…four…three…two…contact!"
There wasn't an immediately noticeable moment of impact, but they could hear the winds as they passed through the storm wall. Metal creaked as Fortress Maximus fought against it, his treads grinding as he resisted being lifted into the air. After a few tense moments, he found traction again, and they continued on as normal. Almost normal: visibility in the storm was basically nonexistent, what with all the sand that filled the air.
"Fort Max, how long until we reach the facility?" asked Dr. Maheswaran.
"Considering our current trajectory and velocity, our rescue party will take three hours to arrive," Fortress Maximus reported.
She sighed. "Then we might as well make the most of it. Listen up! I want all of you prepared for when we get there! That means weapons at the ready, medevac prepped, and disaster response procedures memorized. We're going in blind, so be ready for anything!"
Steven looked over at Connie. "So, what should we do with all that time?"
"Dunno," she replied. "Wanna keep looking out the window?"
Time to destination: 2 hours 47 minutes
Connie and Steven had gone back to doing what they were doing before entering the storm: peering through Fortress Maximus' main window. "See anything yet?" asked the latter.
"Not yet." Connie could see the same thing he could: an endless expanse of sand flying through the air, the monotony broken by the occasional rock. "Is there something specific we're supposed to be looking for? Because I don't think we'll be able to see the base anytime soon."
Steven looked wistfully towards the sky. "No, it's just…nevermind. All this wind was reminding me of Windblade. But like you said, she's probably safe and sound back on Cybertron, right?"
He sounded a bit saddened when he said this, which Connie noticed. "Do you miss her?" she asked.
"Huh? No, I…well, yeah, but I get that she had to go home. I guess I'm just…" He sighed. "A little while ago, I tried to help Blackarachnia, but it didn't go how I planned."
Connie stared blankly for a moment, before asking "And who's Blackarachnia, exactly?"
"A Predacon," Steven replied. "The first one I ever fought, actually. I let her out by accident but she wasn't a mindless monster like we thought. She actually helped us save Beach City from another Predacon. I thought that, if I befriended her, I could somehow find a way to undo her corruption. But she… It didn't go how we wanted."
She placed a hand on his shoulder. "Well, the fact that she wasn't acting like a monster means there's still some hope for her, right? Even with all that dark energon in her, her real self has to be in there somewhere."
"You're right," said Steven, a small smile crossing his face. "Even though she looks and sorta acts like a big spider, Blackarachnia's still Blackarachnia. I, er, don't know her actual name, but I'm assuming it isn't Blackarachnia. But whoever she is, I'll do what I can to make sure she gets home safe…just like Windblade." He stared wistfully off into the sky.
Connie looked up there as well. "Must be pretty neat to be able to fly wherever you want, whenever you want. I wish I had that kind of freedom."
"Me too," Steven said, nodding in agreement. "Turning into a van is neat, but I wonder if there's a way to change into something else? A helicopter would be cool or–Ooh! A train! …Wait, but then you could only go on tracks…"
"That's not exactly what I…nevermind," said Connie, looking away. Steven could tell something was bothering her, and just as he did for him, decided to ask her about it.
He inched closer. "Something on your mind? You can talk about it with me if you want. I'm happy to help."
She smiled briefly. "I know you are. And I'm grateful, but I don't think it's the sort of problem just talking about can help."
"Never hurts to try."
A short sigh. "Okay, here goes…so, you know how my mom said I'm not allowed to go see you in Beach City anymore?"
"Yeah," he said. "It sucks, but I'm glad we got to see each other today! And besides, we can still talk online, so it's not like we're in completely different worlds, right?"
"Sometimes it feels like we are, though," Connie replied. She glanced over at her parents, discussing their plan of action for when they arrive. "You get to go on missions with the Autobots, run around town wherever you want, and practically everyone in Beach City's your friend…but I'm barely allowed to leave the base, and when I do, Mom always has to keep a close eye on me. I get that she just wants to keep me safe, but I feel like I'm too safe. I want to do things, too! I want to explore the world, fight Predacons, go on adventures! I want…I want to be like you, Steven."
"M-me?" said Steven, pointing to himself. "You want to be like me?" She smiled, nodding. "Huh. I never really thought anybody would want to be like me. Besides, you're way better as yourself! You're one of the smartest people I know, and you're not afraid of anything!"
"Oh, I'm not that smart, and I'm not as brave as you," she said. "You face off against gigantic Predacons like every other day! If that's not fearless, I don't know what is!"
He had to admit, that was a good point. "Yeah, but…who else can say their mom is the leader of NEST, huh? That's pretty cool!"
She laughed. "Oh, really? Your dad is Optimus Prime! I don't think it gets much cooler than that!"
He laughed as well. "Okay, fair enough. But at least you have both your parents!"
Connie suddenly stopped laughing. Steven stopped soon after. He hadn't meant anything by it–he was just keeping with the theme. But it was just as much the casualness with which he said it that had surprised Connie as the nature of the statement itself. She just turned back to staring out the window, which Steven did as well.
After a little while of this, he cleared his throat. "You, uh…wanna see if anyone brought a game?"
"Yeah, let's do that!" said Connie, happy to pivot to another train of thought.
Time to destination: 2 hours 14 minutes
Steadily, Fortress Maximus continued plodding along through the sandstorm. One of the troopers had happened to bring along a deck of cards, which was enough to keep Steven and Connie busy. Dr. Maheswaran, still standing in front of the map, occasionally looked up at them.
"A watched pot never boils, you know." She glanced over to see her husband approaching. "You've been staring at that map this whole time. I know you're anxious, but that's not getting us there any faster. I could ask around, see if anyone else brought another deck."
"I don't have time for games, Doug," she chided, looking back over at their daughter. "Everyone aboard this vehicle is depending on me to make sure we all make it there safely, not to mention everyone who's been trapped at the research facility. Now, have preparations been double-checked yet?"
Doug looked down at the map, then over at the kids, and then back to his wife. "Yeah, everything was double-checked a while ago. Are you–"
"Then triple-check them," she continued, still staring at the children. "When it comes to matters of security, you can never be too redundant. I will not have any breaches of security on my watch."
"...Ah. I see what this is about," Doug said sagely. "You just want to make sure nothing happens to Connie."
She shot him a look. "Don't you? You're just as much responsible for her being here as I am!"
He held up his hands defensively. "I know, and I'll accept responsibility for that. And of course I want to keep my daughter safe. But you can't do that by hovering over her all the time. Sooner or later, we'll have to let her spread her wings."
"Not around him," continued Dr. Maheswaran, glancing at Steven. "Every time she gets near that boy, she ends up in some sort of danger. I know he doesn't do it on purpose, but… And then, just days ago, she snuck out to fight a rogue Decepticon! If we let her spread her wings, she's going to crash and burn."
Doug moved closer to her. "Priya, our daughter's not so helpless. Sure, she got into more scrapes than we should be comfortable with, but she also got out of them, partly because of Steven. Maybe if we gave her some room to grow, she'd…I don't know…learn from her mistakes?"
Priyanka sighed. "She can't learn from her mistakes if they're fatal, Doug. I just wish we could make her see that she's much better off as far away from Transformer business as possib–"
The (relatively) smooth gliding of Fortress Maximus was suddenly broken as they rolled over what seemed to be a rough patch. It didn't appear to be anything to worry about at first, until the vehicle suddenly jostled violently, nearly throwing everyone who was standing off of their feet. Even after they had settled, their movement seemed much less stable.
"Fort Max, what was that about?" asked Priyanka, sincerely hoping it was only a bump in the road.
"It would appear that the storm caused significant shifts in the local topography," he reported. A hologram of himself appeared, indicating some sort of breach on the lower levels. "A piece of debris has been lodged into my drive systems. The damage is minor, but it will hinder my ability to turn. This will increase the time until we arrive at our destination by a not-insignificant margin."
Dr. Maheswaran massaged her temples. "Nothing can ever be straightforward, can it?" She turned to her husband. "I need you to take a team down to get that obstruction removed. We might not need to turn, but I'm not willing to leave this up to chance."
"Neither am I," said Doug. "Don't worry, I'll head down and take care of it, no team needed! Just watch, I'll be back before Connie finishes her game." Giving his wife a thumbs-up, he headed into the garage to gear up.
"Just be careful," Priyanka called after him. "I don't want you putting yourself in danger just to prove a point!"
But Doug was fairly certain that there wouldn't be an issue. "It's just a little bit of debris, how bad could it be?" he asked himself. Retrieving some climbing gear from a truck, he made his way down a ladder to the vehicle's underside. "Alright, Max, where is this thing?"
The dust kicked up by the storm, not to mention by the treads, rendered visibility at a serious low. "The obstruction has embedded itself in the fore drive shaft," Fortress Maximus' voice said. "Are you certain you do not require aid? At this speed, navigating this obstruction will be quite perilous."
"I can do it–I'm not helpless," he said, strolling down the catwalk to the front. "Neither is Connie, for that matter. Since we've got time, what are your thoughts on all that?"
"I believe Dr. Maheswaran is right to want to keep your daughter away from harm," he replied. "Were it not for Steven's capabilities as an Autobot warrior, my components would likely be similarly apprehensive about taking him into battle."
"That's fair, but Connie's not your average kid," said Doug. "She may not have powers like him, but when she has her sword, she might be a better fighter than half the people on board! And that's not to mention when she's with that giant lion of yours. Where'd that thing come from, anyway?"
"Unknown. Perhaps the heart of the matter lies not in capability, but in the potential for harm. Even with the many abilities Steven inherited from his progenitor, he is far from invincible. Even myself, among the mightiest of Autobot warriors, am no stranger to defeat. Dr. Maheswaran likely realizes that, even with everything she is capable of, Connie is still going up against opponents far larger and stronger than her. Such things would cause any mother to worry."
Doug reached the front of Fortress Maximus' vehicle form. Indeed, a large shard of rock had been thrown upwards, embedding itself between the drive shaft and the wall. "Hmm. It's a bit bigger than I was expecting," he said. The stone was almost the size of his torso. "But, nothing I can't handle." He began unpacking his gear. "But anyway, of course she's right to worry. I just don't know if always deciding what Connie's allowed to do, where she can go, and who she can interact with will be good for her in the long run. My parents were on the stricter side, so I didn't really begin to explore my life the way I wanted to until around high school."
"And did you ever find yourself in over your head, in a dilemma you would not have been able to get out of, were it not for those close to you?" asked Fort Max.
Doug was silent for a moment. "I mean…sure, I needed help a few times." He got out some grappling hooks, tying a rope around his waist. "But I had people to help me! And so does Connie. She's got the two of us, and Steven, and you! And I'm sure if she ever got into trouble, the entirety of NEST would be willing to rush in to save her. Priya's basically got command of the entire Delmarva branch, after all."
"So, your solution to letting her discover herself on her own is to constantly keep tabs on her?" asked Fort Max. "Not that I disagree. It merely feels strange that your viewpoint is not dissimilar from that of your wife, whom you claim to disagree with."
Further pondering Fortress Maximus' words, Doug secured the rope to the railing. "Okay, fair enough, but it's not about not helping her, it's…" He paused, swinging the grappling hook and hurling it over to the drive shaft. It latched into place. "It's about making sure she always has help if she needs it. Like a safety net!" Doug made his way across the gap, pulling himself with the ropes while he saw the ground passing by very quickly beneath him. "And speaking of, I could use a safety net right about now…"
Once he reached the obstruction, latched himself into place, and began hooking several hooks into the debris. "You might have had a safety net, so to speak, if you had brought others with you as instructed," Fort Max gently chided.
Doug scoffed, though good-naturedly. "Oh, this is nothing! You should see some of the NEST communication towers I've worked on in the past. They make this little operation look like changing a lightbulb!" He eased himself back over to the catwalk, stopping halfway. "Okay, here goes."
Having tied the ropes in such a way to give himself optimal leverage, he began pulling on the rock. Slowly but surely, it began to inch out of the spot it was wedged. Pulling a bit harder, and moving the rope from side to side, he yanked it further and further out of the crevice.
With one final heave, the rock came loose, tumbling down to the ground below. Doug had been careful to arrange the hooks in such a way that they would disconnect once it came loose–but one of them was still stuck. "There, you see? Nothing to IIIIIT!" Pulled down by the rock's weight, Doug was only saved by the ropes he had used to secure himself. He held on, dangling just below the catwalk. "Little help here!" he called, finding himself unnervingly close to Fortress Maximus' rotating treads.
The sounds of shifting metal filled the air, and Doug found himself in the palm of an enormous hand. Fortress Maximus lifted him up to safety, where he gratefully crawled back onto the catwalk and unhooked himself from the dangling ropes. "Are you unhurt, Douglas?"
"Yeah, never better," Doug said, dusting himself off. "Good thing you're a Transformer, or I'd have been roadkill just then!"
"Indeed. Perhaps now you understand why Dr. Maheswaran did not wish for you to handle this alone? For even though I was able to come to your rescue, this will not always be the case on future missions. Such is the reason we try not to put ourselves in harm's way unnecessarily. Even when we are there for each other, we cannot always come to each other's rescue."
Doug pondered these words as he gathered up his equipment. "Uh-huh, I… So, how's the drive shaft doing? Can you turn okay?"
"All systems are back to being fully functional," Fort Max reported. "I have already informed Dr. Maheswaran of the good news…while also conveniently neglecting to mention your brush with death. Whether or not you wish to inform her, I will leave that up to you."
"I…think I'll keep it between us," said Doug, looking away. "Right now, let's just focus on getting to that base and seeing what's up. And thanks, again." He wordlessly made his way back up to the garage, beginning to rethink his previous position on Connie's excursions.
Time to destination: 1 hour 33 minutes
Having grown bored of playing cards, Steven and Connie had decided to instead pass the time by relating stories of their past exploits. "...and if it hadn't been for Dad, we'd have all been sucked into the black hole!" Steven said, perched atop a humvee.
"Woah. Considering how big black holes can potentially grow, your dad may have saved the entire planet, if not the galaxy!" Connie said. "Don't tell my dad–he'll be so jealous, he might try to do something similar!"
Steven chuckled. "Nah, your dad seems like a cool guy. And he works for NEST, so I'm sure he's saved a lot of people. Your mom, too."
Although he intended this to be a reassuring statement, Connie didn't seem too thrilled to have this brought up. "Y-yeah, always saving the day, those two! Going out and…helping people." She cleared her throat. "Anyway, what other Predacons have you fought recently?"
"Well, aside from Waspinator, it's been fairly quiet since Windblade left," he said. "All in all, we've been able to handle things pretty well. I don't think that…Connie? What's up?"
Connie had been staring absently into the distance. "Huh? Oh, it's nothing. Sorry, I've just been feeling a bit on-edge lately. Mom's kept me so cooped up that this mission's the first time I've been anywhere exciting in weeks. Don't get me wrong, it's great that we get to hang out again, but I just…I wish I could do more, go out on missions with you again, fight Predacons, save the town. I know she's doing it to protect me, but all she's really doing is making me miserable."
To Steven, the answer seemed obvious. "Well, she trusts you enough to bring you here, right? That's gotta mean something."
"Oh, sure, it's fine when she can keep a close eye on me at all times," Connie said bitterly. I mean, think about it: sure, we're going into a dangerous storm, unsure of what awaits us at the end, but really, we're safe and sound here inside Fortress Maximus! The only reason she brought me along was because I'm even safer in here than I am at home!"
"I would not be so certain of that." The two were surprised to hear Fort Max's voice addressing them from what seemed to be the ceiling. "...Of her motives, of course. I can assure you that you are quite safe within me. But I can also assure you, Connie, that your mother has your best interests at heart."
"Best interests, sure, but what about what I want?" she replied. "My whole life, I've only been the good little kid who obeys her parents and gets good grades at school. But ever since I met Steven, I've been doing things that actually matter! Helping the world, like my parents and NEST do. Why do they get to go on these exciting missions when I don't?"
"Because you are young, Connie," said Fort Max. "Though your skills are admirable, sending a child into battle is still not a risk many are willing to take, especially that same child's parents. My components were hesitant to bring Steven into battle as well, until he proved he is no mere child. One day, I am sure you will make an excellent NEST field agent."
Steven was certain this would cheer Connie up, but she instead looked even more disappointed. "What's wrong? Don't you want to join NEST?" she asked her.
She opened her mouth, but it took a few moments for her to find the right words. "I…don't know. I do want to help people, to do my part to save the world, but…I guess I just want to do it on my own terms. If I join NEST, it'll feel like I'm just doing what they want. I want to protect the world on my terms…like you."
"Perhaps a discussion with your mother would alleviate some of your worries," said Fortress Maximus. "While I can surmise her motivations due to being Steven's guardian, I cannot presume to know what exactly her reasons are."
"That makes two of us," Connie mumbled. Suddenly, she lit up, an idea striking her brain. "Hang on, that's it! Why don't you just talk to her about it? You said it yourself, she trusts you because you're safe, right? If anyone can convince her to go on missions with you guys again, it's you!"
Fort Max was silent for a bit. "I am…not so certain that is the best idea. As Ultra Magnus once learned the hard way, it is one thing to share parenting tips, but another entirely to tell a mother how to raise her child. Perhaps interfering with this matter would only cause more problems than it would solve."
But Connie was adamant, rising to her feet. "No, wait, at least give it a try! You won't know how she'll react until you say something. Besides, if she gets defensive, you can brush it off as just giving some 'parenting advice!' If she doesn't like it, that's not on you. What do you say?"
The pair waited with baited breath for his response. "As ill-advised as I believe this to be…I will give it a try." Connie pumped her arm in celebration. "Do not get your hopes up! I will merely bring some of my concerns to light. I cannot guarantee she will heed me."
"It's fine–maybe all she needs to hear is someone other than me telling her off," Connie decided. "Just, um, don't mention that I'm the one who told you to tell her, okay? She's already upset with me enough as it is…"
"Of course," Fort Max replied. He was, however, beginning to have second thoughts about this whole endeavor–and he wasn't too sure of it to begin with. "Though I really must stress that–"
Connie interrupted. "That I should be the one to talk to her, I know, I know. But I've tried, and it's like she doesn't even care what I have to say! Actually, now that I think about it, Steven, do you think you could back him up? Tell her how much fun we have together when we're out there fighting Predacons?"
Throughout this whole conversation, Steven had been unable to get a word in, but now that he had an opportunity, he found himself put on the spot. "Oh…uh…are you sure she'd listen to me? I don't think she likes me very much…"
"No, of course she likes you," Connie assured him. "Well…she doesn't not like you. I think she's just wary of you, 'cause of all the crazy stuff that happens when we're together. But none of that's your fault! Watch: once you and Fort Max tell her what's up, she'll see there's nothing to worry about, and we'll be able to hang out again! It's almost too easy."
Neither Fort Max nor Steven were entirely sure of her plan. "If that would make you, and Steven, happy, then the least I can do is attempt it," replied the Gestalt. "I must first decide what it is I am going to say to her. I fear rushing in without a plan will only result in chaos."
"You do that," said Connie. "Let us know when you're ready, and we'll be there to back you up!" Since Fortress Maximus didn't have a physical body–other than the one they were currently riding in–he couldn't exactly walk away to gather his thoughts. So Steven and Connie simply sat there in silence for a few moments. "Is…is he thinking?"
"I think he is," Steven said. "And speaking of thinking…what happens if this makes your mom even angrier?"
Connie chuckled. "She's basically already grounded me for the rest of my life. I don't see what else she could possibly do."
Time to destination: 46 minutes
"Man…Fort Max must have a lot of thoughts to collect," Connie said. They had been waiting for some time, but he still hadn't said anything to Dr. Maheswaran. "Should we say something?"
"No, just give him some time," Steven replied. "He's made of all three Autobots, and none of them like disappointing your mom. I'm sure he's just trying to think of a way to put things without offending her."
Connie didn't seem to like this answer. "If that's what he's concerned about, then he'd better prepare for disappointment, because it's literally impossible not to offend her. Where is–does he have any cameras in here? Can he see us?" She looked around for something Fort Max could have used to keep track of them, eventually settling on the ceiling itself. She then gestured towards her mother, as though to say 'get on with it.'
"Be patient–it is not so easy," Fort Max said quietly. "I risk making the situation worse if–"
"Dude, it can't be any worse!" Connie hissed. "She's basically already got me locked up in a tower! Look, just start up a casual conversation, and then steer it into talking about getting my freedom. Keep it super casual, alright? She won't know you're up to anything, trust me. Now go. Go!" She shooed away the disembodied voice as though it was a physical presence.
Dr. Maheswaran remained before the table projecting their surroundings, having hardly moved from this spot since they set off. She was determined to ensure that nothing would go wrong, waiting and searching for even the slightest sign of a problem, no matter how small. Fortress Maximus decided to take Connie's advice, and keep things casual. "Um…greetings, Doctor."
"Fortress Maximus, I trust everything is running smoothly?" she replied. "No more issues to report from down below?"
"No, Doctor, our route has remained steady and unchanged," he reported. "Though I cannot say the same about my interior."
She looked up, concerned. "What's wrong? Another breach? Or has something happened to one of the soldiers?" She realized it was nothing urgent, or Fort Max would have said so. "Or is this something that should be kept quiet?" she asked, her eyes narrowing.
"I can assure you, nothing is amiss," he said. "I merely meant to suggest that you could stand to take it easy. We have almost arrived at the facility, and I can surely handle myself until then. Even if an emergency were to occur, you would not be far away."
Dr. Maheswaran considered his proposal, but quickly shook her head. "No, I'd much rather be on top of things before they happen. There'll be plenty of time for me to rest once the mission is over."
"But what about the next mission, and the one after that?" Fort Max asked. "How many times will you throw yourself into your work before you allow yourself to be consumed by it? I know you think you are the only one who can handle things, but there are others who can aid you. Douglas and myself were able to easily resolve the issue with the debris, and Steven and Connie have often dealt with Predacons before."
"Fortress Maximus…do you know why I brought Connie along?" she asked, looking away. Fort Max didn't respond. "Because I didn't trust her to sneak off behind my back while I was gone. I am well aware that she can handle herself, but should she have to? Every time she goes to Beach City, she ends up in some kind of peril. The least I can do is prevent that peril from existing. Not just for her sake–for everyone's."
"I understand how you feel," replied Fort Max. "My components would do anything to make sure Steven is safe. But if we were to stifle him, he would not be able to grow into the young man he is today."
Dr. Maheswaran turned around to glare at the empty space above the map. "So now I'm stifling her? Look, raising a child isn't easy, I'll grant you that, but I'm not sure you can accurately compare the two. Steven is the son of the great Optimus Prime: not only is he half-Transformer, but he holds the Matrix of Leadership as well. You can't pretend he's a normal child."
Her words seemed to have an effect on Fortress Maximus. "And what is so wrong with that?" he said, sounding a little angry. "Steven is by no means ordinary, but that is no reason to reduce him to a thing."
"He's not a thing anymore than you are," she said, rolling her eyes. "I'm just saying that someone who can turn into a twenty-foot-tall space robot, armed to the teeth and with a mystical artifact of destiny, can stand to be a bit more independent than your average middle schooler. I'm sure Steven can handle himself in the event of a Predacon attack, but what happens if Connie finds herself in the same situation?"
"She deals with it!" Fort Max shouted. "In each of those times you were referring to, your daughter was able to emerge unscathed. By working together, she and Steven easily defeated the Predacons threatening them, and in many cases, came out in a better situation than when they came in!"
"Oh, you mean with that lion of his? The Star Saber?" she said dismissively. "That's exactly my point. The only reason she's ever survived each of those encounters is because Steven or one of you happened to be nearby. And how many times did she actively go out looking for trouble, only for you to lead her right to it? What would happen if she went hunting for Predacons, only to stumble across one without one of you to save her? It's my job to make sure that doesn't happen!"
By now, their discussion devolving into an argument had attracted the attention of everyone else on board. Most of the NEST operatives chose to leave their boss to her business, but Steven, Connie, and Doug approached. "Max, what's going on? You weren't supposed to start a fight with her!" Connie said.
"Oh, so you put him up to this?" asked Priyanka, crossing her arms. "Why am I not surprised? Was risking your life behind my back not enough, but now you have to get my colleagues to cover for you?"
"Priya, she just misses seeing her friend," Doug assured her. "I'm sure she appreciates what you're doing, she just–"
"No, actually, I miss going out on missions!" replied Connie. "I've been trying to tell you, but you just keep tuning me out! I figured that you'd at least listen to Fort Max, because you actually respect him, unlike me!"
Seeing that both Connie and her mother were getting rather heated, Steven placed himself between them. "Um, hey, there's no need to be at each other's throats. We have a mission to be worried about, right? Why don't we focus on that?"
But Priyanka was not interested in putting aside her anger–and neither was Connie. "Is that really what you think? That I don't respect you? Sneaking out behind your mother's back seems far more indicative of a lack of respect! Have you ever once actually thought about why I don't let you go to Beach City anymore?"
"Yeah, because you think I'm some delicate little flower, and the only way to protect me is to act like a total tyrant! What about what I want!?"
Doug took a step forward. "Now, Connie, your mother just wants you to be safe. You're a capable girl, but don't you think hunting Predacons is a bit dangerous for someone your age?"
"You don't seem as upset when Steven does it!" she shot back, gesturing to the boy, who tugged on his collar awkwardly.
"Steven is a special case, as I said earlier," said her mother. "Also, you are our daughter. You obviously take precedence when worrying about what you children get up to on your adventures."
"That may be the case, but have you considered that your style of parenting might be stifling her?" asked Fortress Maximus. "Research shows that children whose parents are overly-controlling often–"
"Wait, you're calling us overly-controlling now?" asked Doug, turning on him. "Just a little while ago, you were the one convincing me that we were right to protect Connie!"
Hearing this, both Connie and Priyanka turned to glare at Fort Max and Doug, respectively. "You did!?" shouted the former. "I thought you were on my side!"
"You mean to tell me you had to be convinced to protect our daughter?" asked Priyanka, crossing her arms.
"Everyone, please, stop fighting!" cried Steven, but everyone was too caught up in their arguments to hear him. "We're supposed to be on the same side! Why are we suddenly acting like we all hate each other!?"
Dr. Maheswaran massaged her forehead. "Maybe it's because some of us don't realize how stressful being both a mother and a commander is! I have to put up with a trouble-making daughter, a trio of incompetent robots, a husband who is supposed to be on my side, and Optimus Prime's son who continues to irresponsibly put my daughter's life in danger!"
"Steven is not irresponsible!" shouted Fortress Maximus, his voice causing the entire vehicle to tremble. "He is still learning. He is a child, just like Connie. But that is no reason to insult him. No, she is merely stating her view. And aren't we doing the same? No, that is not…we are not…"
As Fortress Maximus continued to ramble to himself, the vehicle once again shook, this time much more violently. The treads pulling them forward seemed to jolt and shudder, grinding as they sped up and slowed down erratically. But things took a turn for the worse when the very chamber they were in began to come apart, the metal walls slowly folding in on themselves.
"He's transforming!" cried Connie.
"Worse–he's decombining," Priyanka said. More parts of Fortress Maximus started to come undone. "If he's reduced to his component bots, we'll all be at the mercy of this storm. Fort Max! Get a grip!"
"T-trying…" he groaned. Metal screeched as he struggled with all his strength to literally keep it together, holding back the decombination. But with his components beginning to disagree, harmony was becoming less and less possible. "Find…safety…"
"The vehicles!" shouted Doug. "They might not be able to withstand the wind, but being in one's safer than being out there! Everyone, find a seat and strap in!" He led the way into the garage, where the soldiers began climbing into the various transports stored there. Just like the bridge, this room too was coming undone. It wouldn't be long before the roaring wind outside found its way in.
With another violent shudder, Fortress Maximus lurched to the side, throwing many off-balance. Steven and the Maheswarans stumbled against the wall, where they steadied themselves–but with the screeching of metal, a large vehicle was sliding straight towards them. They all braced for impact, except for Steven, whose instincts kicked into action.
There was a flash of light, and Steven, now a Transformer, caught the incoming transport. "Quick, go!" he ordered. The three of them climbed inside, buckling themselves in. But rather than join them, Steven made his way back towards the bridge.
"Steven!" Connie yelled after him, leaning out the window. "Where are you going!? It's not safe out there!"
"I have to at least try to help keep Max together!" he called back. "Just stay there, I'll be back! …Probably!" He exited the garage, vanishing from view.
Unwilling to let him put himself at risk alone, Connie unbuckled herself and dashed out the door after him. "Connie! What do you think you're doing!?" Dr. Maheswaran shouted.
"What's it look like? I'm helping him save everyone on this thing!" she said. "J-just wait there, okay? It'll be safer!" She, too, vanished through the door.
Doug and Priyanka took one look at each other before they gave chase. Racing towards the same destination, they were determined to keep the two safe from harm–though how they would accomplish that when everyone currently onboard was in danger remained to be seen. At the very least, getting them back into the seats seemed like the best option.
With not much of an idea on what to do next, Steven stood in the middle of the room, trying his hardest to reach out to the Gestalt. "Please, Fortress Maximus, you've gotta hang on! Everyone in here is depending on you!"
"We can't…it's not…they don't…" His voice seemed to be becoming a jumble of his three component bots, as they slowly lost their grip on maintaining his form. Their disagreement had fractured them too much to stay combined.
Connie ran into the room, followed soon after by her parents. "Steven, I don't think this is working! Either he can't hear you, or his mind is too disjointed by this point. We have to get to safety while we still can!"
"Just a bit longer! I can reach him, I know I can!" he replied. "Just, um, feel the sand beneath your treads, and focus on that!"
Priyanka knew this whole endeavor was hopeless, but Steven wasn't about to leave anytime soon. "This has gone on long enough. Fort Max's mind is already too fractured." She sighed. "But if you really think you can reach him, you'll have an easier time if you talk directly to his spark."
Both Steven and Connie turned to her, surprised. "His spark? We can do that?" asked the former.
"Of course. Given the general layout of this machine, there should be an entryway around here somewhere." She quickly scanned the room, finding a hatch in front of the holographic map, right where she had been standing for so long. "Here. Quickly!"
Steven shrank back into his human form, descending a short ladder. Connie moved to go after him, stopping just before the hatch. Her eyes met with her mother's, and in that brief moment of understanding, she allowed her to follow. "How exactly did you find that so quickly?" asked Doug.
"I've been working with the Autobots for my entire life," she replied. "It's only natural I know a few tricks." She also descended the ladder, her husband right behind her.
The four found themselves on another catwalk, this one in between the treads. Steadying themselves with the handrails, they inched forward as Fortress Maximus continued to deteriorate. Just up ahead, the ceiling had another hatch–Steven grabbed the handles and pulled, managing to wrench it open.
Before them, a spark chamber descended. The spark itself, much like its owner's body, was erratic, pulsing and malforming as it looked like it was preparing to split into three parts. "So do I just…talk to it?" he asked. "What am I supposed to say?"
"Tell them–him to focus on something all three Autobots have in common," suggested Connie. "...Like you! Get them to focus on how much they love you!"
"Of course!" Steven turned to face the spark, preparing his speech. "Guys, I know you don't always get along all the time, and I know you don't always see eye-to-eye. I don't know if what you're arguing about now is my fault, or someone else's, or anyone's, but whatever it is, it doesn't have to be a big deal! If this is because of what we were talking about earlier…I'm sorry. I'm sorry if I or somebody else made you feel like you're bad parents, because you're not! All of you are always there for me when I need you, and even when I don't, and no matter what, you always make sure I'm safe! If nothing else…that's what you all have in common. That's what makes you one."
For what seemed like an eternity, the spark continued to pulse. The others were certain it hadn't worked…but then, gradually, it calmed. Fortress Maximus' vehicle mode began to rebuild itself, steadying their course. His spark returned to its place, whole once more.
"Steven…I thank you," he said, his voice no longer fragmented. "You are correct: Ultra Magnus, Elita-1, and Sideswipe all care for you very much. That love for you exists in me, and is the glue that binds me together. By reminding me of that, you have saved everyone here."
"Aw, I-I guess so," Steven said. "Really, though, I couldn't have done it without these guys!" He gestured back to the Maheswarans. "It was their quick thinking that saved the day!"
Priyanka approached the place where Fort Max's spark had been moments ago. "I…think I owe you an apology. I owe one to you all, in fact. I always thought that my experience made me the most qualified to make decisions, but maybe what I've learned as a NEST commander doesn't necessarily apply to motherhood. Or wifehood."
"I'm sorry too," Connie said. "I should've told you how I feel, instead of making Steven and Max fight my battles for me. Watching Steven run off into danger like that…I get why you don't want me fighting Predacons anymore."
"And I'm sorry for taking sides," said Doug. "Next time, I'll do everything I can to keep this family together instead of breaking it apart."
The Maheswarans all shared a group hug. Steven watched this happily, until Connie held out an arm. "Steven, you joining in, or what?" Surprised but glad, he went over to take his part in the embrace. A large metal hand extended from Fortress Maximus' underside, placing itself over them.
Time to destination: arrival imminent
"We have almost arrived at the base. Dr. Maheswaran," Fort Max reported. "I recommend you prepare everyone for disembarkment."
Priyanka nodded. "Alright, you all heard him!" she announced from in front of the map. "Everybody get ready to set off! Either you're in a seat, or we're leaving without you!" The troopers all returned to the vehicles they had been inside just moments earlier, this time under much less perilous circumstances. "And that goes double for you!"
Steven and Connie followed her into one of the transports. "So…you'll leave us behind twice if we don't hurry?" asked Steven. Connie giggled.
The large form of the NEST research facility appeared, a dark silhouette against the backdrop of the sandstorm. Fortress Maximus slowed to a stop as he approached, before turning around and slowly reversing towards it. The garage door slid open, and all of the vehicles rolled out into the base's garage.
Once everyone was inside, they all disembarked. "Huh. That was a short trip," Connie said. Doug and Priyanka led the way into the facility proper, the troopers prepared for any sort of threat they might encounter. But once they entered a large room, they ran into a collection of more soldiers and researchers–a few of them slightly injured, but otherwise safe.
"Dr. Maheswaran!" one of the scientists shouted, running up to her. "You got our distress call! And here I was, worrying we'd have to set out for safety through this terrible storm… How did you manage to get here, anyway?"
"The same way we plan on getting you all back," she replied. "Now, as for this storm: what can you tell me about it?"
The scientist glanced back at everyone standing behind her, then back, before answering. "The prototype weather generator went haywire," she said. "We really overestimated the kind of power that much energon would produce, and we ended up with no way to stop it. Short of destroying the antenna on the roof, there's nothing that can–"
That was all she needed to hear. "Fort Max, there'll be an antenna on top of the base," she said into her radio. "Take it out, and the storm should follow."
"Understood." Fortress Maximus transformed, rising to his full height. The base was still a bit bigger than him, but after stepping back, he could see the antenna she meant. Taking aim with his multiple guns, he opened fire, reducing it to scrap metal. Its burnt husk creaked as it fell to the side, tumbling off the rooftop. With that, the storm slowly dissipated.
From inside the base, everyone heard the sound of explosions, followed by the wind dying down. "He did it!" the scientist shouted. "We're safe! B-but what about the experiments?"
"All that matters is that there were no casualties," Priyanka assured her. "Now then, get medical attention to anyone who needs it! Otherwise, take your seats. It's time we brought you all home."
Connie and Steven watched as the troopers helped everyone into the vehicles. "Looks like another mission accomplished, eh?" said Connie, nudging Steven.
He grinned. "Yup! We sure do make a good team! Maybe one day, we'll be able to go on missions like this all the time."
"That'd be nice," she said. "Still, I think I'm fine with staying at home a bit longer. Mom's right: I should make sure I'm at my best before I go around looking for trouble."
"If you ask me, I think you're closer to that than either of us thought." Priyanka had been observing the proceedings from nearby, but neither noticed her until now. "Connie…I think you were right. I may have been unfair in how I treated you. I do want to keep you safe, but if today showed me anything, I can't do that by keeping you by my side at all times. At the very least…I can allow you to see Steven again."
Connie's eyes lit up. "Really!? You mean it, Mom!?"
She nodded. "I do. Just so long as you promise not to go out of your way looking for danger! Understood?"
"Of course! Thank you so much!" Connie wrapped her arms around her mother, an embrace she warmly returned.
With the storm quelled, there was no longer any need for Fortress Maximus. The night was illuminated by a glow as light enveloped him, before he returned to his component forms. "Woah, man, who knew being a combiner takes so much out of you?" said Sideswipe, stretching his sore joints. "I'll never know how you put up with having someone else in your head for so long…"
"And yet when you were a part of Warpath, you absolutely refused to separate," said Elita. The two of them leaned against the wall in the garage, where Doug was making sure everyone was accounted for.
"Hey, thanks for carrying us all this way," he told them. "I know you guys don't get gratitude as often as you should, but just know that we really appreciate everything you do for us, and for people in general. …Hang on, is Magnus with you?" The pair looked around, realizing he hadn't joined them.
Doug headed outside, where he found Magnus examining the antenna that they had destroyed, now resting beside the building. "A Decepticon with the ability to control winds…and now, not long after, NEST has developed technology to mimic that power. Does that seem like a coincidence to you?"
"I'm…not sure what you mean," he replied. "NEST is working on all sorts of projects to help us fight Predacons and protect people. I'm sure this was–"
"Then you didn't know about this?" he asked. "You are married to the head of the Delmarva NEST branch, and you're certain you had no inkling of a weather control device being responsible for this freak storm?"
Doug's eyes darted back and forth. "I…may have heard a thing or two. But I didn't have enough details to put two and two together! It doesn't matter that we're married, she's got confidentiality to deal with, you know that. This is the sort of thing that has to remain secret, from everybody. Just in case."
Ultra Magnus slowly turned away, nodding. Although he agreed with Doug's argument, something about all of this rubbed him the wrong way. "You know, for all her claims of wanting to protect the people trapped here, I find it odd that she neglected to share the fact that she knew exactly what was going on. Surely it would have been much more efficient to tell us about it when we arrived. Don't you agree?" He looked down at Doug, his expression impossible to read.
"We still had miles of storm to drive through, and all it took to stop it was busting that thing," he said, gesturing to the destroyed antenna. "Would being told what was causing it really have helped all that much?"
Once again, Magnus had to concede to his point, though that did little to soothe his suspicions. "So I guess we're all done, then. If you don't need us any longer, I think we'll be heading out." He went inside to collect the others, Doug watching him with mild suspicion as he went.
"Time to go already? And I was just settling in," said Sideswipe as Magnus entered. Steven and Connie approached, engaged in animate conversation, with Dr. Maheswaran behind them. It seemed that their differences had been resolved, at the very least.
As he worked to get the groundbridge set up, Magnus asked her about his discovery. "So…this facility was researching Windblade's ability to harness the weather, and yet you seemed completely in the dark as to the reason behind the storm. You were aware of what was going on here, yes?"
Priyanka's eyes narrowed slightly. "I'm sure you didn't mean it that way, but your tone sounds almost accusatory. Yes, I was aware that research was going on here, but I had to account for all possibilities. That Decepticon might have come back, for one."
Before he could press her further, the portal opened. "Bye, Steven! I'll see you soon!" said Connie, waving as he and the Autobots stepped through.
"Can't wait! I'll make sure everything's super safe–no Predacons or anything!" he assured her. The four of them vanished through the portal, which closed shortly after, leaving the rest of them alone–in a manner of speaking.
Once they were gone, Priyanka rolled her eyes as she got back to business. "Oh, sure, don't offer us a ride back or anything," she muttered.
"You know what, Sideswipe? I think you're right," Elita said, stepping onto the far softer sand of the beach. "The next time we have to deal with a sandstorm, rainstorm, thunderstorm, snowstorm, media storm…I might just sit that mission out. Pit, I might not even be in the mood to deal with somebody with 'storm' in their name."
Steven yawned. "Wow, I didn't realize how tired I am! Guess sometimes adrenaline keeps you going, huh? If you guys don't mind, I think I'll head back to bed. 'Night, all!"
"'Night, Steven!" said Sideswipe. "Y'know, some sleep sounds pretty good right about now. Think I'll turn in too. Don't bother waking me up if anyth–" He was about to return to the Ark, but Magnus stopped him with a hand on his shoulder. "Hoo boy, I've seen that look before. What's on your mind this time, Mags?"
Magnus looked at both of his companions, a grave expression on his face. "I've been thinking lately…and by 'lately,' I mean for the last minute or so. But in that time, it's become clear that things might need to change around here. I worry that we might not be the best parents for Steven…"
"What? What makes you say that?" asked Elita. "You heard him, we're always there when he needs us. What more could we be doing?"
"Forgive me if I sound paranoid, but maybe we shouldn't let him get so involved with NEST business," he continued. "And maybe stop taking him on dangerous missions all the time. At least until he's ready."
Sideswipe raised an eyebrow. "What brought this on? Mags, he's been taking on Predacons on an even playing field for basically a year now. You saw him out there today–if he's not ready, then when will he be?"
"I…don't know," said Magnus. "But everything we saw today with Connie and Dr. Maheswaran, it made me realize that we've been treating him more like a teammate than a child. At least for now, we should focus on being more nurturing."
After a brief pause, Sideswipe shrugged. "A'ight. I'll nurture him plenty in the morning. Or afternoon, whenever I'm up." He headed back inside, equally tired of this conversation as he was tired, period.
Elita could tell that something was up with Magnus, however. "This isn't just about Steven, is it?" she asked. "You're worried that Priyanka is hiding more from us."
He nodded. "Something about this isn't adding up. Does she really not trust us after all this time?"
"I'm sure there's more to it than that," Elita replied. "We'll think about it in the morning. But right now, let's follow the boys' advice and get some sleep."
The two headed inside as well, both realizing how tired they really were. As for whatever came next…they would just have to wait and see.
AN: So, guess who saw Transformers One recently? I won't give anything away, but let me just say that it was the best TF movie in years (aside from maybe Bumblebee)! Anyone else who saw it have anything to share?