Spiritimus Prime: I'm sorry I've been gone for so long with updating this story, but I've... been having issues concerning my bird. He died on Tuesday last week and I've been feeling down lately. I don't know how it happen, but it just did. I still grieve him from time to time. I miss him dearly. He was my sweet baby and I wished that he could've held on a little longer. (sighs) I'm sorry, I shouldn't talk about such matters when you should be reading my story. Please enjoy this. This was made in honour of my beautiful canary, Peepers, who was the whole world to me.

Chapter 9:

A ‘Familiar’ Physique

The massive sun, which was high in the sky, burned down upon the world it shined down on. The heated rays glistened with fierce light that it could possibly incinerate the likes of a simple organic being if it dared to set foot upon the salt covered planet. But, despite the boiling temperatures that flared across the endless desert, it did not provide warmth and security to those that desperately needed it.

Despite all of this, the warmth only seemed to be full of dread and darkness.

A black, white, and red streak shot across the skies at an alarming speed, sending dust and salt particles flying in its wake. Jetfire allowed his golden optics to search the ground for his lost friends. He didn’t know if they were alive or not, but his Autobot programming told him to not give up until he had found their bodies, or any proof of their destruction.

Jetfire could only hope and pray to Primus that they were alive, but he couldn’t help but doubt the dreaded fear that was embedding his Spark. He shook it off, denying the possibility and continued to fly onwards.

Please, guys, he thought to himself, don’t be dead by the time I get there. He closed his optics for a brief second, sending his prays to every god that existed, including the humans’ god. Whichever one that was, but he wasn’t sure. The humans had many different kinds of gods. So how could he tell which god he should be praying to?

None of that mattered at the moment. Jetfire’s main concern was the wellbeing of both Blurr and Shotimus Prime. And, if they were offline, he would’ve found the bodies right about now. However, he still couldn’t get the nagging feelings of worry and uncertainty out of his main frame at all.

They had been walking for Primus who knew how long. Their joints were aching with salt lodging into them like troublesome ants looking for a snack in a picnic, their energy reserves were running very low, making it harder and harder for them to stay awake and cope with the distress that was settling into their systems, and their bodies were overheating due to the exotic heat that was bearing down upon them, seething like a hungry vulture. The only thing that they could do was to keep on going until they found help, or Jetfire.

That is… if Jetfire did make it after the beating they had just taken from the black hole and the electrical storm that had carried them away on to this strange, unknown planet.

“How are you holding up, Blurr?” Shotimus asked tiredly as his electric blue optics turned their gaze onto the sniper mech. He could tell he was tired, but he just didn’t want to admit that he was in pain from all the limping that was in his injured leg.

“I think we should rest,” suggested Blurr, knowing that Shotimus would suggest the idea anyway. He had noticed that his commander was exhausted from having to carry half of his weight since his injured leg had been inflicted. Normally he would never admit things, but knowing what was best for the good of his friends was always a top priority.

Besides, he could see that Shotimus was looking a little distressed about something, but he couldn’t work it out on what it might that was on his mind.

Shotimus nodded in agreement and he gently settled Blurr on a rusted tree before he sat down on the salty floor. He then gently dug his fingers into his right calf armour and began to dig out some of the salt that had gotten wedged underneath and had made him feel a bit uncomfortable. If there was any other place that was the most uncomfortable… he would rather not say it out loud. It was far too disturbing to even describe at all.

While his new commander was working at getting some of the salt out of his joints, Blurr took the chance to look around at the scenery that surrounded them. So far, the only thing he could see was more metallic trees and less shade. They were all so bare that he doubted that there was anything here. How could anyone survive out here? It was far too hot, unfamiliar and unpredictable.

What chance do we have if we stay out here until nightfall? he thought to himself. If I have a guess, there could be things out there that could chew off our skid plates in a matter of seconds. What good am I to Shotimus when I’ve got an injured leg and he is barely able to support himself?

Shotimus looked up when he noticed the distant look on his friend’s face. “Hey,” he said quietly, “you okay, Blurr?”

Blurr realised that he had spaced out and he shook his head. “Sorry, I was just thinking,” he answered honestly, but he didn’t tell him what he had been thinking about.

Nodding briefly, Shotimus returned to removing the salt particles from his joints. Some of it hurt like slag while other bits just came out as easily as Red Alert could remove a splinter. He was impressed with himself, but not impressed with the thought of Red Alert doing the job himself. He hated it when his ‘gentle’ hands touched the most sensitive parts of his systems, but it never seemed to get any gentler every time something happened.

For what seemed like hours, Shotimus finally removed what he believed was the last of the salt particles from his leg joints and stood back up. He blinked his optics once and looked down at Blurr to see if he was managing alright. He appeared to be fine, but the look in his ruby orbs proved to his point that he was… distracted.

“Blurr,” he said quietly, getting the blue and orange mech’s attention, “that look on your face says something else. I know it’s not your leg bothering you. Something else is, and I want to know what it is.”

Blurr’s optics never shifted over to his commander. He was as silent as the wind itself. Unpredictable and unreadable he was. It was difficult to see what was bothering him, but Shotimus could see that his gaze had not removed themselves from the shadows of the metallic trees that surrounded them.

Finally, Blurr looked at him for a split second before his optics returned to the shadows again. Shotimus decided to take that opportunity to look in the direction he was looking. However, from what he saw in those shadows… he believed that his optics were deceiving him.

The deep coldness of space was indeed like it had always been. It was empty, vast, and full of unknown consequences without anyone realising its true potential. The only thing that kept the universe calm, gentle and friendly, despite its unpredictable moments, were the twinkling stars and the plants that orbited within its children, the galaxies.

However, this space was much different compared to the one that existed outside the black hole. To the Autobots and the kids, who were on board the Axalon, it was unfriendly, unnatural, cold, and fierce compared to their home universe. But the real danger did not lie in space. It now lay on the desert planet that they had come across.

“Do you guys think its safe?” Carlos asked nervously as Hoist steered the Axalon towards the planet. “I mean, for all I know, there could be aliens or anything else that might view us as hostile beings.”

“That’s for me to know, and you to find out,” Alexis sniggered, while Red Alert and Sideswipe just glanced at each other, not knowing exactly what she meant with the saying.

“So…” Rad muttered, “In other words… you don’t know.”

Alexis just rolled her eyes, but said nothing to make a comeback to Rad’s words. Normally she would have something up her sleeve, but today, she was in no mood to discuss such matters. Her thoughts mostly swirled around on what Sideswipe had told her.

Starscream’s words played around over and over again in her mind like a video recorder. She wasn’t sure if he had meant what he had said about him begging for forgiveness, but a part of her believed it, while the other denied the fact as easily as she had thought of it.

Her attention was diverted when she heard someone speak. At first she thought it was Optimus Prime, but she soon realised that it was only Scavenger. She found it harder and harder to accept that the Autobot Commander was really gone. She felt stinging tears pull at the corner of her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. She couldn’t let his sacrifice come into her mind; he would’ve wanted her to be strong for her friends and family. As far as she was concerned, she missed him more than ever.

Shaking off the thoughts, she returned her attention to the old warrior Autobot.

“Everyone, let’s just settle down,” commanded Scavenger in a calm tone. “We know that both Shotimus Prime, Blurr, and Jetfire are somewhere on this planet. As soon as we land, Red Alert, I, and Hoist will go and look for them.

“I want Sideswipe to stay put to watch the kids and the ship. The Minicons can come if they would like to. Does anyone have a disagreement on this plan?”

Silence erupted from the bridge of the Axalon. No one hand anything to say, but the looks that the kids were giving Scavenger, obviously proved to him that they really wanted to come too.

“Sorry kids,” said Hoist softly, “but for all we know, there could be dangerous beings on this planet, and we don’t even know a thing or two about it.”

“Hoist’s right,” agreed Red Alert. “We don’t know what’s out there. You could get hurt, and we cannot afford to lose any of you.”

“We understand, Red Alert,” Rad said quietly as he lowered his head in defeat.

Nodding in satisfaction, the three Autobots turned and walked out the room, leaving Sideswipe alone with the kids, while the Air Defence Team followed in hot pursuit, determined to help out their new holder.

“Good luck guys!” Alexis called from afar.

“You’re gonna need it,” Carlos mumbled.

The other kids glared icy daggers at the Spaniard, their eyes holding annoyance and disgust at the same time. Carlos turned back to look at them in puzzlement. What were they gawking about? Didn’t they know it was rude to stare?

The figure was just standing there, looking at them, shadowed by the metallic trees that were as dark as the night itself. It was hard to make out who it was, but they both recognised the form at once. However, they both believed that it wasn’t real and they shook their heads, trying to deny the sight.

Shotimus felt his jaw line tighten, as though he was just coming out of some dream that had been whisked away the moment the sacrifice had been made right before his optics. He wanted to believe that it was real, but another part of him instantly denied the possibility that anything was real. His own head spun out of control, trying to decide whether or not to believe anything at all.

“This can’t be real,” he said out loud, not noticing that Blurr was looking at him from the corner of his optic. “This just can’t be real at all.”

The sniper mech just sat there, staring at the figure that was still shadowed by the dead trees. The figure’s shape was indeed familiar, but the uncertainty of whether it was true or not was beginning to kick into his systems. Alarming bells of warning were flaring quickly in his head. Something just didn’t feel right, but he might as well just see if it was real.

“Come on out!” Shotimus called, causing Blurr to jump. “State your designation and your function!”

Okay, did he really have to be so dramatic? Blurr thought in annoyance. He shook his head and sighed before he squinted his optics, hoping to spot the so-called intruder that would dare to approach them while they were injured and exhausted from their unusual landing... Whatever it was that had happened that is.

Slowly, the figure began to shift, growing larger and larger as it approached them. Its broad shoulders and chest moving from side to side in a fluid like manner that was so familiar, and yet... so unnatural. The footsteps were silent and ghostlike as they strode across the salty ground, which left very little footprints. The shadows still hiding the frame of the figure, but they could make out golden optics that shone brightly, and a silver face plate that sent unfamiliar chills down their backs.

The moment the figure stepped out from the shadows, their jaws instantly dropped from behind their face plates. Shotimus couldn’t help but retract his face plate out of reaction to the sight that was unfolding before him. He hadn’t known that he could do that up until now, but the look that Blurr was giving him, proved to be that he could without thinking.

“It... it can’t be,” Blurr stuttered in disbelief, feeling his voice becoming wedged into his throat as it fell on deaf audio receptors.

“O... Optimus, is... that you?” Shotimus breathed, unable to contain his nervousness.

The figure lowered its head, its golden optics looking into the electric blue ones that sparkled in the seething sun, its rays casting a fierce look upon the figure’s royal red armour that gleamed with... an unusual tint of ruby that resembled that of human blood.

“Yes, Hot Shot,” the figure whispered in a familiar deep tone. “It is me.” However, the voice not only contained the exact same tone that their commander once held, but it too had something that sent foreboding chills of uneasiness down their backs and through their bodies at alarming speeds.

Starscream’s twin embers, which sparkled with anticipation and annoyance, darted left and right. The silver face of the said ‘Con was distant, quiet, and unsure. He somehow felt the need to just transform to his jet mode and fly away as fast as he could. For some reason, this salty world made him feel dreadfully uneasy. He had no idea why, but it just gave him the creeps every time he stared at those dead metallic trees.

“Starscream!”

Starscream snapped out of his daze and turned his attention to the speaker, realising that it was Megatron who had spoken to him. He said nothing to condemn his thoughts, but the look that he was getting proved to be something that was worth not avoiding at all.

“Sir?”

Megatron’s blood red optics flashed with fury, but it quickly faded as quickly as it had appeared. He still said nothing, but after a brief moment of silence, he finally spoke as calmly as he could, but Starscream could somehow sense his bitter tone, “I want you to scout ahead and search for those meddling Autobots.”

Starscream lowered his head, his gaze meeting his leader’s own. He knew that Megatron was testing him for his loyalty. If he found the Autobots, then he would have to report it back to him, but if he didn’t find anything, then there would be no point in saying anything at all.

“Yes, sir,” he responded quietly. He then transformed to his jet mode and flew off, leaving Wheeljack and Megatron to follow behind at a good distance. He was glad that Megatron had sent him ahead to check things out, it would be a good opportunity for him to warn them of Megatron’s coming... if he could get to them in time that is.

While Starscream flew on ahead of the group, Wheeljack glanced over at Megatron. He could see that Megatron’s thoughts were not focused on what was going on. From his perspective, he could guess that he was thinking about what had happened back on their ship when Sideswipe had been onboard to take back the Star Saber.

Wheeljack felt his body shudder when he remembered the way how the Dark Saber had cut through the air as swiftly as the Star Saber had done to slash upon his body to leave an injury on his right shoulder. The injury had never recovered from the whole ordeal. It had been left on his shoulder... as a scar that ran deeper than the one on his chest.

“Sir,” Wheeljack spoke up, getting his leader’s attention. “Even if those Autobots are alive, wouldn’t it be best if we just leave this planet and let those filthy Autobot scum rust? Besides, there’s hardly anything they could live on.”

The Decepticon Commander let off a snort that startled Wheeljack. “Pah!” he growled. “If they were offline, we would’ve found their bodies right about now. No. I want them found at all costs!”

Wheeljack sighed. There was just no point in reasoning with him at all.

Shotimus Prime glanced from Blurr to the figure that stood before them. He didn’t understand how this could’ve happened, but he knew that he would’ve felt it happen through the Matrix of Leadership. It would’ve told him so! He shook his head, trying to deny the fact of what he was seeing.

“This is impossible!” he cried angrily. “You were supposed to be dead. I saw you die right in front of the Hydra Cannon! How can you be alive right now?” He felt his hands ball into fists of fury, his optics squinting to tiny blue slits that were shadowed by his helmet. “It’s just impossible,” he whispered to himself.

The figure, which was believed to be who they thought it was, approached them slowly. His footsteps were so silent that Shotimus believed them to be almost perfect in every way. The way how he carried himself, the way how those powerful shoulders were swung about, and the way how his gait was fluid like with no act of imperfection.

“No, Hot Shot,” said Optimus in that familiar baritone voice, “it is not impossible for me to be online and standing before you. It may seem to be a dream, but it is not.”

“Then tell us how you came back online,” said Blurr, startling Shotimus. “Shotimus would’ve sensed you coming back due to the Matrix of Leadership’s abilities.”

Optimus nodded and smiled faintly beneath his silver mask. “I don’t remember much, but I’ll tell you what I can,” he said softly. “From what I know, I woke up here on this planet in the middle of the desert. I’ve been here for a few days, surviving by recycling my Energon reserves. How I came to be, I think the Mini-Cons had something to do with it.”

“So you’re saying that it was the Mini-Cons who brought you back to life?” Shotimus asked in a puzzled manner.

“It’s possible, yes,” Optimus replied with a small nod.

Shotimus frowned slightly and he turned to Blurr, hoping that he may have a solution to this odd problem. A part of him did not believe that this was their former commander, but another part believed him to really be him alive and well. However, what he never expected from Blurr was something not quite obvious.

“If you really are Optimus Prime,” said Blurr, “then you should the fact of why you died at the hands of the Hydra Cannon.”

The being that stood before them frowned. How should he know this question? He knew that it was out of some purpose that their commander had died to save the life of that pathetic organic planet called Earth. What did it matter to him anyway? Mentally he snorted. He would have to answer this in the same way that the true Optimus would.

“I did it to save the life of the human planet called Earth,” he stated. “It was considered to be the most beautiful home planet there ever was, which the Mini-Cons crashed on it. As for me, Hot Shot, and Red Alert, we met the human kids called Rad, Carlos, and Alexis.”

Blurr glanced over at Shotimus and nodded silently. It seemed like the proof that they needed to know about whether or not it really was their former commander, but something told them to be cautious just in case.

Shotimus faintly snorted, but he said nothing against the idea. It seemed like proof enough to him. He glanced nervously at Optimus, but the look he got from him settled his hostile thoughts towards him. He emitted a deep sigh and approached the former Autobot Commander, offering a hand out towards him. “It’s great to have you back sir,” he said.

Optimus reached out his own hand and took Shotimus’s own, his fingers intertwining with the owner’s. His grip became firm and hard, instead of soft and gentle that all his friends were always familiar with. Once he had let go, he noticed that Shotimus was staring at his hand where they had just shaken.

Blurr cleared his throat, catching both of their attention. “I’d hate to spoil the reunion between you two,” he said quietly, “but it would be great if you could help me up. We need to get a move on in case there could be any hostile creatures or if the Decepticons may find us and take us out while we’re still injured and unable to fight back in this position we are in.”

You don’t know how hostile these creatures may be. “Yes, we should get a move on just to be safe,” said Optimus as he nodded in agreement. He then turned to Shotimus Prime, who seemed to be staring out into space. “Hot Shot... is the Matrix safe?”

Shotimus turned to Optimus, lifting an optic ridge. Why does he keep calling me ‘Hot Shot’ when he knew that my name was Shotimus Prime back in the Matrix when he came to say goodbye to me? He nodded. “Yes,” he replied, “it is safe.”

“May I have it back?”

Shotimus could’ve sworn he saw a flash of greed in those golden optics, but it was gone quicker than he could address the situation as to why Optimus was not acting like himself. None of this made any sense. The Matrix would’ve told him so about Optimus’s resurrection! Isn’t that one of its abilities anyway? To communicate with the bearer?

Then, he had an idea. It was a risky thought, but he would have to try. “How about I give it back to you after when we get out of this mess?” he asked. “It would be best that way, in case the Decepticons think that you’ll be carrying it now, instead of me.”

Blurr shot Shotimus a look of concern. “But wouldn’t Megatron think that you’re still carrying it?” he asked. “So far, he’s the only one, besides the Autobots, who knows what you really look like under all those flames of yours.”

“True,” said Shotimus, “But it never hurts to take a risk, doesn’t it?”

When Blurr saw that familiar look in Shotimus’s optics, he knew instantly what he was thinking, so he made no attempt to try and stop him from making that choice. “Alright,” he finally sighed in defeat, “I’ll have to agree with Shotimus on this one, sir.”

For a moment, Shotimus thought that his plan might work with Optimus leaping at him to make a grab for the Matrix. But he didn’t do what he had intended. He watched as those broad shoulders sagged in defeat and the head had turned down a small notch that was almost unnoticeable.

“Very well, Hot Shot,” said Optimus. “As soon as Jetfire finds us, along with our friends, we’ll get out of here and I can resume leadership of the Autobots. You’ve done a great job in my absence.”

The young commander felt his chest swell with a hint of pride. “Thank you... father,” he quietly breathed. For some reason, he did not want to say it out loud to him. He felt that it would be best until he was sure that this was really his father, who had left him to be one with the Matrix nearly a week ago.

Has it really been that long? he thought to himself silently. He wasn’t sure, but all he knew was that he had lost track of the time since Optimus’s death. He missed him so much, and the determination to follow in his footsteps was beginning to overwhelm him entirely. I just hope this really is him.

“Aren’t you going to help me up?” Blurr asked, getting his attention.

“Uh yeah, sure Blurr,” Shotimus replied sheepishly as he approached his friend before offering his arm out to him so that he could lean on it. “Can you give me a hand, Optimus?” he asked, glancing over his shoulder to see if Optimus could be of assistance.

“Of course,” Optimus answered. He then walked up to the two and onto Blurr’s other side. He then placed that arm over his shoulder. Together, he and Shotimus lifted Blurr onto his feet, and they continued onwards, hoping to get out of this unusual forest. But youse two have no idea where we’re really going, he thought with a faint smirk.

Spiritimus Prime: My fingers are killing me from typing here. I swear, by the Will of Primus, I'll die by the next morning. Note to self: don't ever type in the middle of the night when you should be sleeping. XD Yeah, I know, I should be in bed asleep, trying to regain my strength from crying today. Yeah, grieving hurts, but it often clears the head from time to time whenever it can. I'll let you guys go now, I have to update Guardian Angel and its cousin stories. XD Until the next chapter, stay tuned!