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"All invaders have been taken captive master." Starscream paced about the deck of Darkmount, gesturing with one slender hand to the captive Autobots below. "And there was no sign of Optimus Prime."
Megatron turned his gaze towards Ultra Magnus' prone form, one which he'd personally dragged out onto the deck.
"So tell me, Commander, where might your leader be?"
Miles away, outside Jasper, Nevada, in the crumbled remains of the Autobot base...
Smokescreen had no idea what to do.
With the aid of the Phase Shifter he'd managed to avoid being crushed to death when the base came down and had hauled a wounded Optimus into a hidden cave under everything, away from the danger. After that he spent time going back and forth between their makeshift hideout and the ruins of the base as well as the Decepticon hideout, trying to find something, anything he could salvage or use.
Nothing in the base was salvageable, buried under literal tons of rock and steel and shattered beyond repair.
He had managed to steal The Forge from the Decepticons' hoard aboard Nemesis. That had been one agonizing stealth mission for sure, he'd nearly been spotted several times. Especially since he took a risk and nabbed the Star Sabre as well. After all, Optimus would need something to fight with once he was repaired. Hauling all that back had been a chore and a half.
The plan had seemed like a good one when he'd left, get the Forge and have Optimus use it to fix himself, as he was the only one who could use it proper. Then when he was fixed, kick some 'Con tail pipe.
At least, that was what he assumed it was going to be used for, until Optimus broke the news to him that no, not only was the Forge nearly out of what power it had left, but that the power that remained was to be used to restore the Omega Lock. Which ok, was a good plan, but they would still need Optimus to do that, it was a tool the Primes after all. And if he died there, then what?
"There will be a new Prime."
Smokescreen shook his head in disbelief, what was Optimus talking about? He must have been delirious with Energon loss, when he'd found Optimus it seemed like there was more of it outside of him than inside, and worryingly he hadn't seen much leaking out as of late.
"No, we can worry about that later after we get you patched up," he said, standing to go and grab The Forge. He was stopped as a hand gabbed at his arm.
"The time...for a new leader...is upon us" said Optimus, voice weak and raspy, his optics beginning to flicker and dim. "In my spark...I believe that leader stands before me right now."
Every thought and action in Smokescreen's mind ground a screeching halt right then and there. Whoa, whoawhoawhoa no, there was no way. The only other bot there was him, and he couldn't be a leader. He sure hoped that Optimus wasn't implying what he thought he was implying.
"I-I can't do this," stammered Smokescreen, pacing around the small cave, shaking nervously as he wracked his mind for any idea of what he could do in this situation. "I mean sure, who wouldn't want to be a Prime? But that's too much responsibility." He'd never lead more than a handful of new recruits in warm up exercises, or showing them around The Hall of Records. Besides, surely there was someone out there more qualified, with more experience, right? Anyone that wasn't him.
"Smokescreen...the choice is neither yours, nor mine to make," said Optimus gently. "When it is time...the Matrix of Leadership will present itself to one whose spark is worthy."
Surely, surely that could mean it could find someone else right? There were multiple other Autobots on Earth and, if they were alive then surely it could appear before one of them, right? Surely they were more qualified than he, right?
He looked back to Optimus, worried. The Prime's optics were flickering like a lightbulb on it's last legs, the once vivid blue nearly a washed out grey and he seemed even more unfocused than before, staring off into space, as if looking at something, or someone that wasn't there.
"Who...stands before me?"
Smokescreen frowned, looking around the tiny cavern before looking back to Optimus. This was bad, he was delirious, or hallucinating.
"It's just me, Optimus. Optimus?"
With a heavy exhale, his optics flickered out and Smokescreen felt the Energon in his veins run cold.
"Optimus, no!"
No, no this couldn't be happening, not now, not like this. It would be bad regardless of when it happened, but right now was, objectively, the worst time.
A brilliant blue glow lit up the dark cavern as Optimus' chest plate opened up, and Smokescreen felt his spark twist deep inside his chest.
NO, it wasn't going to end like this, it couldn't. This wasn't how things were going to end, not for Optimus.
Grabbing The Forge he hauled it across the ground and towards Optimus. This had to work, it just had to. There was still some energy left in The Forge so maybe, just maybe...
"Come on Optimus, please." With a grunt he hefted the Forge over and dropped its handle into Optimus' limp, outstretched hand. "By the Allspark, please work."
The Forge sparked to life, the gears and bands around the head whirring and spinning rapidly as the faint energy in it brightened. A streak of energy shot up through The Forge and into Optimus' body. A glimmer of hope sparked in Smokescreen's chest, it was working, it was working!
But, just as quickly as it started, it stopped. Optimus' eyes flickered to life momentarily and he hefted a heavy sigh before it all faded. The Forge powered down, the whirring and spinning slowing as the energy died out and the glow vanished. It hadn't been enough.
No. No this couldn't be happening.
Smokescreen dropped to his knees in defeat, now what was he to do? "Optimus, no. I don't, I can't do this without you." He slammed his fist into the floor with cry of rage, of frustration and heartbreak. "No."
The blue glow in the cave brightened and Smokescreen lifted his head. The Matrix had finally freed itself from Optimus' chest and it was, beautiful. He'd seen drawings and schematics of it before, in archive files and old documents, but they all paled in comparison to the real thing. It shone with a brilliant silver-blue light, like a tiny star.
A long thread of light began to grow from it, stretching, reaching towards him, and despite all his reservations, Smokescreen couldn't help but to want to reach back. His own spark ached as if it were trying to reach out to it as well, and his chest plates had begun to open of their own accord. The shining thread of energy and light reached towards him, mere inches from the opening in his chest plate and Smokescreen shuddered. There was no going back now.
Like a long, gentle hand, the light from the Matrix reached out, through the opening in his chest plates and touched his core and the whole world seemed to fall away.
Everything was awash in in a brilliant white light and Smokescreen felt as if he was floating, weightless. There was no ground, no cave, just a void of endless white.
"Smokescreen."
That voice, he knew that deep, booming voice, though it had been many, many cycles since he'd heard it. That was Alpha Trion. But, how could that be? He was dead. Had, had something gone wrong? Had HE died now too?
Figures began to appear in the void around him, shimmery grey, misty figures, a couple of which were extremely recognizable.
"Optimus! Alpha Trion!" Maybe he really was dead and becoming one with The Allspark. "Where...what is this?"
"As you know, the Matrix of Leadership will only reveal itself to one whom it deems worthy." Oh, so he wasn't dead yet. For a moment he felt flicker of disappointment at this. "You seem troubled young Autobot."
"I...I don't know if I can do this," said Smokescreen. "I don't feel ready."
"Smokescreen." Optimus, his voice, gentler and softer than Alpha Trion's, spoke up from beside him. "I know you are afraid and uncertain, as I myself once was. But I have the utmost faith in you. You have the makings of a great leader within you, and the time to grow into that role."
The young Autobot trembled, hands shaking and spark heavy in his chest. "I don't know how to do this without you. I don't want to do this without you. What if I fail?"
Optimus placed a ghostly hand against his chest. "You are not alone Smokescreen. Even if I am not with you in body, I will always be within your spark in spirit."
"As will we all. The Matrix of Leadership contains the collective wisdom of the Primes. Should you ever need us, we will be here."
Finally, Smokescreen tore his eyes away from Optimus and Alpha Trion, finally looking at the rest of the ghostly figures around him, some he recognized from old writings, some he did not. The past Primes. And past them, distinct from the void of white he was in, was that same glowing silvery blue orb.
Even without being told what it was, he knew, deep in his spark he knew exactly what he was looking at.
The Allspark.
He was terrified beyond words, this was more pressure than anything he'd ever dealt with before. But it was important; Earth, Cybertron, it was all at risk. His allies and friends, human and Autobot alike were in danger and someone had to do something.
He drew in a deep breath, steeling his mind. What he wanted to do right now really didn't matter, this was bigger than him. This wasn't about a want, but a need. And someone needed to do something, and right now, it seemed like 'someone' was him. He had to do this. He'd always wanted to be a great warrior like Optimus someday. He just, hadn't expected that 'someday' was going to become 'today'.
"Now, Smokescreen, the one judged worthy, come forward and accept the Matrix of Leadership."
The past Primes parted, as if paving a pathway for him. Well, this was it, he supposed.
"I won't let you down Optimus," he said, extending one arm towards The Matrix. "I promise."
The Matrix shone brighter and Smokescreen shut his eyes against it as the tendrils of light reached out, touching him and wrapping around him. Heat radiated throughout his body, like the Energon in his veins was on fire. He could feel his body changing, down to his very frame, warping and changing to accommodate the new power being bestowed upon him.
"Now, arise!"
Darkmount Fortress
"I will not ask again," growled Megatron, the Decepticon leader standing over Ultra Magnus, jaw tense and weapon itching for a fight.
The large blue Autobot groaned as he picked his head off the ground and looked up at him with a defiant glare. "Even if I knew, I would never tell you."
A growl rumbled deep in Megatron's throat as the blade unsheathed itself below his arm cannon. "Very well. Execute our prisoners."
"Master we have, company." Starscream pointed into the sky, and at a figure in it, that was approaching at a rapid speed.
"Predacon?"
He shook his head, "No, not, beastly enough." And it didn't look Decepticon-y enough either as far as he was concerned. But, an Autobot that could fly?
Ratchet stared at the computer screen in disbelief. Where there had only been 6 other Autobot life signals, was now a 7th! And even more surprising was that it was airborn. But, how could that be? While Autobots capable of flight weren't unheard of, they were few and far between and none of them were in this sector, at least not as far as Ratchet was aware of. He supposed it wasn't impossible that one could have shown up, much like Ultra Magnus had. But it felt like too much of a coincidence.
"Could it be Optimus?" asked Jack, trying to sound hopeful.
"Maybe but..." There were certainly ways for Optimus to have taken flight (getting a ride upon a human made aircraft sprang to mind) but, something about this felt wrong. As much as he wanted to hope, there was a nagging feeling deep in his spark, and it worried him.
'Look, look!' Bumblebee beeped excitedly as he pointed at the sky. Someone was coming, help was coming!
"Who is that?" asked Arcee, shielding her optics with one hand as she squinted for a better look. Was it one of theirs? It was one of theirs, wasn't it?
Even their Deception captors stopped to turn their gaze skyward and look for the newcomer, more curious about what was going on in the sky than their jobs on the ground.
Starscream narrowed his eyes, watching as the winged figure drew closer, faster. He didn't recognize the colour scheme. If it had been Optimus Prime he'd have known right away, the blue and red very distinctive. But this bot was almost pure white, and the only blue looked like accent marks. Who in the Allspark was that? Were there any flying Autobots? If there were no one had told him about it.
As they drew nearer it also became clear that they were large. Exceptionally so compared to the rest of Optimus Prime's team. But that didn't make any sense. That only one that large WAS the Prime, and this clearly was not him.
Before he could ponder more who in the world this was, they landed with a loud crash, an imposing figure of white steel with blue and gold accents, the blue trailing across their form like flames.
Megatron had just enough time to register the newcomer in his presence before a large fist connected with his jaw, then another with his midsection, each blow sending him stumbling backwards. This Autobot, whoever they were, was large and swift. Just as Megatron regained his footing, still in to much shock from the sudden attacks to attack back, a large sword, the blade engulfed in a blue energy, was suddenly swung at him, slicing into his his thick steel armour, leaving a gouge diagonally across his front, chips of metal spraying into the air.
"What?" Was all the Decepticon leader managed before two large hands suddenly grabbed Megatron by the grill and with a heave, threw him across the platform, into the throne at the far end, splintering it into pieces.
And that, Starscream decided, was his cue to get out of there, lest this newcomer decide to start turning his face into a punching bag. His eyes flicked to the large sword on the ground near their feet. Or worse.
Ultra Magnus, on the other hand, was racking his memory banks trying to find any Autobot that could possibly match the appearance of the one that stood before him, but he couldn't find a single one.
"You're...not Optimus Prime," he said as he pulled himself to his feet.
"I'm afraid not," they said with a shake of their head as they retrieved the sword. Their voice was not as deep as Prime's was, and it sounded younger too. Peculiar.
Well, whoever they were he appreciated the help regardless.
"We need to bring this citadel down," said the new comer, optics still trained on where Megatron had landed, as if waiting to see if he would get back up.
"If I may, I suggest we disable the citadel's plasma cannons below as soon as we can, as Megatron intends to begin firing upon the population of this planet," said Ultra Magnus.
The new autobot just nodded and twitched their wings as they turned towards the edge of the platform.
"Wait, what is your name soldier?"
For a moment they were quiet. "My name...is Ignis Prime."
Ultra Magnus just stared at him, that was not a name he was familiar with at all, Prime or otherwise. Before he could ask anything further, they were gone, flying off the edge in search of the aforementioned cannons.
Prime...that couldn't possibly be right, there was only one Prime and Ignis was not his name. And yet...
"All units, we...have a Prime. I repeat, we have a Prime. Mobilize and let's bring this citadel down!"
"Did you hear, Optimus is alive!" cheered Jack, punching the air excitedly with Miko and Raf.
Ratchet wanted to share the excitement but, that wasn't what Ultra Magnus had said. He'd said 'A Prime', not Optimus, and that tiny difference filled him with a world of dread.
"You heard the man," said Agent Fowler to the fleet of army jets. "Move out!"
'Hey, Arcee, didn't that kind of look, like the Star Saber?' asked Bumblebee as he threw one Decepticon into another.
Despite the distance, the Star Saber in the newcomer's hand was as clear as day, radiating with a vibrant blue light. Which could only mean one thing.
"It sure did."
"Let's hope Optimus gives them a real good beatdown then," said Bulkhead, a single swing taking down the 'Con he'd been fighting.
Ignis soared through the air, flying around Darkmount's towers in search of the cannons. For as much as it needed to come down, they couldn't let the cannons remain active while that happened, it was far to risky.
Luckily at least, they were quite large and not hard to spot, as he came to stop in front of one. Raising the sword he swung it, a wave of energy rippling out and slamming into the cannon, slicing off a huge chunk, sending it crashing to the parapets below, dragging chunks of the fortress with it.
He readied himself for another swing when furious roar came from somewhere behind him and suddenly gunfire rained down upon him.
"You are no Optimus!" screeched Megatron as bore down on him, blasters firing over and over.
Scrap, he didn't need this. Whipping around, he raised an arm, returning Megatron's gunfire with his own and soon the pair were off in an aerial gunfight, trading blasts back and forth. Under and over bridges, around spires and past platforms and cannons they flew; Megatron in the form of a great jet and Ignis on gold tipped white wings, the latter taking any opportunity to slash and blast at Darkmount.
As a blast skimmed a wing with a stinging, burning sensation, he whipped around, returning the gesture with a few well aimed shots of his own.
"Who are you, where is Optimus Prime?!" roared Megatron, the Decepticon leader bearing down on him. "How have you come to wield the Star Saber?"
The citadel needed to come down, but it was going to be very hard with Megatron on his tailpipes the whole fight. Fine, time for a change of tactics.
Retracting his blaster and setting the sword on his back, he turned around to face Megatron and waited, as if challenging him to come at him, daring him. Ignis hung in the air, waiting for Megatron to draw near, a feat which did not take long at all. The Decepticon leader sped towards him, seemingly intent on simply ramming him instead of shooting him out of the sky now. The moment he was within arm's reach however, Ignis acted.
"My name..." he growled, digging his digits into the jet's wings, denting the metal in the process as he grabbed him, wings flaring out to each side to brace himself and create drag as they flew through the air. "Is Ignis Prime. And this, is for Optimus." Holding tight with one hand he raised the other and slammed it down hard into the jet, sending it spiralling down into the ground below. "And stay down there!"
Hopefully that would delay him for, at least a little longer. As much as he wanted to further beat him into the dirt, there were more pressing and serious concerns, such as the cannon that he could hear was charging up right behind him.
Spinning around, he narrowed his eyes he focused in on the cannon, redrawing the sword from its place on his back and lining himself up with the charging cannon. He pulled back and unleashed a mighty swing, right down the center. A wave of energy shot down the barrel of the cannon, slicing it horizontally and splitting in two and moments later explosions tore through it, tearing the cannon and cannon deck to pieces. One cannon down, the rest to go.
Luckily for him, the rest of the cannons, and Darkmount itself, were brought down with the aid of Fowler and his men. From his position in the sky, Ignis watched as Darkmount fell, explosions ripping it apart and the Decepticons scattering like flies to the wind. No doubt Megatron would be among them, there was no way he was down and out yet, not from that.
He sighed, bringing down Darkmount had been the easy part, now there was a far more difficult task waiting for him. It was time to meet up with the rest of his team and explain everything. He was...not looking forward to that conversation. Not one bit.
"Ratchet, you've been awfully quiet," said Jack, adjusting his seatbelt inside the ambulance bot as they prepared to meet the others. "Something the matter? I thought you'd be more excited to see Optimus and the rest of the team."
"I am," replied the medic. "I'm just...tempering my expectations, nothing more. Just, let me focus on getting us to the meeting point." Ultra Magnus' words earlier still rang in his mind and it worried him. 'A Prime' Not Optimus Prime, just A Prime.
He silently prayed that his fears were unfounded and that he was worrying over nothing as he raced to the rendezvous point to meet with everyone else.
The meeting point wasn't anything fancy, a large open plain miles from Darkmount's former place of residence and effectively in the middle of nowhere. A good place to meet where no one would see them.
He took count of the Autobots already gathered, it seemed like everyone was accounted for, dinged up and dirty, but accounted for. Everyone that was aside from Smokescreen and Optimus.
His doors opened and the humans spilled out, beelining for their Autobot partners while Ratchet transformed back and made his way to Ultra Magnus.
"So, what happened up there?" he asked, before quickly adding. "Sir."
"It's as I said. We received the aid of a Prime."
"I heard you. What I want to know is, what did you mean by that?"
"I mean, it has to be Optimus right? We all saw the Star Saber and no one side from him can use it," said Arcee. "At least like that."
The commander just frowned and turned away, looking to the sky. "Why don't you ask him yourself?"
He pointed to the sky and all eyes turned skyward and in the direction of his arm, towards an incoming figure, and the closer they got the less it looked like Optimus, even outside of the new paint job.
"That doesn't look like Optimus," said Arcee with a slight frown. While it wasn't impossible that he could have scanned a new paint job, that wouldn't have changed, everything else about them, the size, the shape, the wings.
Bulkhead squinted, one hand shielding his optics from the light of the setting sun. "It...almost looks like the kid. But, there's no way that's him, he can't fly. And he's not that big."
The others had to agree, if they squinted it did sort of resemble Smokescreen, especially the colour scheme, primarily white, with blue accents. But, whoever they were they were large, much larger than Smokescreen, and airborne on wings! Wings with gold highlights. And something about their build was just, off.
"I think it IS Smokescreen!" exclaimed Bulkhead. "I-I dunno what happened to him, but that's gotta be him, right?"
Bumblebee beeped in agreement, nodding his head, it did look like the missing rookie.
Except, why was he holding the Star Saber?
He came to land with a loud thud on the desert floor, kicking up a puff of sand and dirt.
"Smokescreen! What happened, you look...big!" exclaimed Bulkhead, looking him up and down as he ran to greet him. "You have some kind of growth spurt on us?"
The face, it was clearly Smokescreen, except now he was as tall as Ultra Magnus, when before he'd been even shorter than Bulkhead. And, wings? Since when did he have wings? His car doors had always looked like wings but they weren't actually wings, but these were, large and with multiple long plates. And his paint job was, different, the blue markings tracing along him like flames and gold markings that hadn't been there before. The Phase Shifter, his apparent favourite tool, was affixed to his wrist, the biggest giveaway as to his identity.
Despite everything that was clearly different, it was still quite clearly him. And yet...in his other hand was the very unmistakable sword that was the Star Sabre, shining with the blue light that it only did in the hands of a Prime. A few confused murmurs floated through the gathered bots and humans, the joy and excitement beginning to ebb away.
"Smokescreen?" Ultra Magnus raised an eyebrow as he looked from the team to the newcomer. "That is not the name you gave me atop Darkmount, soldier."
Ratchet's frown deepened as he looked at 'Smokescreen', the tall Autobot averting his gaze quickly, wings twitching.
Now it was Bulkhead's turn to frown, noticing the quiet and lack of an answer on his part. "Smokescreen?"
"And how is it that you have the Star Sabre?" asked Ratchet. "Only a Prime can wield that."
"You're right, only a Prime can." A sickening quiet fell over the group, no one daring saying what they knew they were all thinking. He clenched his hands tightly as at his sides, taking a deep breath before he turned to face them, battle mask finally retracting from his face. "Smokescreen isn't my name. Not-not anymore. My name...is Ignis Prime."
The crowd was quiet for a moment before erupting into choruses of 'what' and 'how' and 'was that even possible?' What did he mean, why would he call himself by another name? Confusion, panic and denial. There was only one explanation but no one wanted to be the one to say it.
"So, we got TWO Primes now?" asked Miko, punching the air. "That sounds heckin' sweet! The 'Cons won't know what hit'em."
"No Miko, we don't have two Primes," said Ratchet, voice shaking.
Jack frowned, "What do you mean Ratchet?"
"Jack, do you remember what I told you about the Matrix of Leadership?"
"It's what makes a Prime right? That's why Optimus stopped being Optimus when it drained," said Jack, thinking back to that whole debacle some months back. "What, do you think Optimus got hurt and handed the Matrix off to Smokescreen to fight in his place?"
Ratchet sighed, a weak, shaky sigh as he shook his head. "Oh Jack, if only it were that simple. The Matrix of Leadership is a powerful, ancient relic of the Primes, which is only passed to the next Prime...upon the death of the previous Prime."
Jack looked between Ratchet and Ignis, a cold pit forming in his stomach. "You don't mean...you don't...Optimus is..."
"I'm afraid so," said Ignis, his chest plates opening up, revealing the very thing they had been talking about, The Matrix of Leadership, set firmly into his chest. "I'm sorry."
There was a loud crash as Ratchet's legs suddenly gave out from under him, the medic collapsing to the ground. The one thing he'd feared, had come to pass.
"No....Oh...Optimus." He covered his face with one hand as a sob broke free. "We needed you."
"Would you...like me to take you to him?"
Ignis wasn't sure which walk was the longest, the one back to the remains of the Autobot base, or the one he took alone, out of the base with Optimus.
The whole trip back no one spoke, not that there was anything to say really, and Ignis couldn't bring himself to speak. What could he even say? All that seemed to come out were apologies, and he was afraid that if he tried to speak he was going break down. It was all he wanted to do, to cry and yell, that it wasn't fair, Optimus should have been the one fighting Megatron, he should have been here.
But he couldn't, he needed to remain composed, if not for himself than for everyone else. A leader needed to be strong, to be composed and in control. He couldn't afford to let his emotions win.
It wasn't easy though, taking every ounce of self control he had.
Every time he looked at his teammates, at the pain on their faces, his spark ached in its chamber, even though he knew there was nothing he could do. Nothing he could say.
But, that trip seemed to pale in comparison to his lone walk through the rocks around the base, back to where Optimus rested. Every step felt as if he feet were made of lead and he just wanted to collapse. He was alone, it wasn't like anyone would see him. Or hear him for that matter, not with all the solid stone between him and them.
But he couldn't, he had to keep going. Everyone was waiting.
After what felt like an eternity, he found himself back in that tiny cavern, one that felt even smaller now than it had before. Even Optimus looked smaller to him. Or maybe that was a side effect of him no longer possessing the Matrix.
With the Forge strapped to his back, Ignis carefully scooped up Optimus in his arms and made the painfully long trek back.
"I'm sorry Optimus," he said quietly. "I'm sorry."
Slowly, slowly he moved through the rock, phasing through to the outside world, flinching as the light of the setting sun hit his optics.
Hushed whispers broke the quiet of the desert, followed by the sounds of movement as the waiting Autobots shifted from where they'd been sitting or otherwise resting while they'd waited for him.
"I..." what should he even say? Nothing felt right. Instead he merely kept walking to them.
"He's really gone, isn't he?" asked Arcee, barely restraining her own tears.
"I'm afraid so," he replied, looking down at the Autobot in his arms.
Even in the dim light of the setting sun it was clear to see how battered he was. No part of him was left unscuffed or unscraped, the glass all shattered and metal twisted in ways it really shouldn't have. All the colour he'd once had, the vivid blues and reds, had all but drained from his body, leaving him a dull, lifeless grey in comparison.
Carefully, he knelt down and placed Optimus on the ground, one arm draped across his chest.
Kneeling at his side, Ignis watched as the Autobots swarmed around them, making their way to Optimus' side, the pain and grief written plain as day on their faces. Bumblebee beeped and buzzed in pain, shaking his head over and over in disbelief. Bulkhead just covered his face and looked away, leaning on Wheeljack's shoulder as the other Wrecker just stood there, unable or unwilling to look at Optimus. And Ratchet...he was the first one at Optimus' side, kneeling beside him and taking one hand carefully between his own as he bowed his head.
"...Optimus..."
And then. Something inside of Ignis broke.
As he knelt there, as he looked at his teammates grieving, at Optimus, at himself, it was as if everything came crashing down upon him all at once. All the events of the day, everything he'd gone through and done and everything he'd witnessed and dealt with came bearing down on him. All the emotions he'd been restraining back, the pain and hurt, the anger and grief, the fear, like a breaking dam they all burst forth, unbidden and unable to be held back any longer.
He wasn't Optimus, no matter how much he tried to emulate him. He couldn't remain composed and calm, couldn't push his emotions into that well in his spark and ignore them, not any more. All he wanted was to scream and cry. He wanted to feel, to hurt, because he did hurt.
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" He punched the ground beside him with a fist as he bowed his head, his face in his other hand as optical fluid blurred his vision and splashed into the desert sand. "I'm sorry. I tried, I tried so hard, I did everything I could. I couldn't...I couldn't save him. There was nothing I could do. I'm sorry. I wasn't fast enough...wasn't strong enough...I wasn't good enough. I couldn't save him. I'm sorry." He bowed his head as he apologized, falling from one knee to both knees, hands falling to the dirt in front of him. "I don't know why he chose me. I don't know why this happened. I don't know. I'm sorry. I'm sorry."
The wings on his back drooped and twitched, shrinking in size as he drew them in. His voice cracked as he trailed off into a string of 'I'm sorry's, though it was hard to tell who exactly he was apologizing to by that point, them or Optimus.
As he wept, a hand gently came to rest upon the back of his head, almost comfortingly. "You have nothing to apologize for," said Ratchet.
"But...I couldn't save him. I was there and couldn't do anything."
"You went back when none of us did, or could. You did something, something none of us could do," he said, voice soft. "You were there. You made sure he wasn't alone."
Ignis clenched his eyes shut, a shuddery sob escaping him. Primus how pathetic was this? He was supposed to be better than this, stronger than this.
"And, more importantly, you brought him back to us. And brought us back to him. Safely," said Ratchet. "And you came back alive."
"It's just not fair. He should be the one here, not me. He should have been the one fighting today."
This time it was Arcee who spoke, kneeling beside him and placing a hand on his arm. "Listen, I know what it's like, to be the one left behind," she said, eyes soft, sympathetic as she looked at him. "I know it's not easy, but it's not a crime to survive. You have to keep moving forward, for their sake and your own."
'And it's not your fault, if anyone's to blame for all this it's Megatron,' said Bee, huffing and punching the palm of one hand with another.
He choked out a sob as he stared at the ground, it didn't make any sense, they didn't blame him? They weren't upset that he was here and Optimus was not? That he had survived while Optimus died?
"I...I..."
"You know," began Ratchet, "Until today, I thought we had lost both of you. I am glad to know that is not the case. You have nothing to apologize for."
Hearing that from Ratchet, of all bots, made him feel like he was going to break all over again. If anyone should have been mad at him, upset that he hadn't saved Optimus, it would have, should have, been him. And yet, for as hurt as Ratchet was, he didn't. He didn't blame him.
The sob cracked into some kind of strangled laugh as relief washed over. This biggest fear his paranoid mind had been plaguing him with and it was just...gone. Like he'd panicked over nothing.
"I...I don't know what to do," he said, covering his face with one hand as he sort of sob-laughed. "I don't know what to do."
Ratchet moved his hand down to Ignis' shoulder and he lifted his head to look at the medic, for the first time realizing that there were tear tracks down his face plates. "I think, we ought to give Optimus a proper send off. After that, we can take it one step at a time."
"Th-that, ahh yeah, he deserves that at least," he said, furiously wiping away the fluid in his eyes.
"If you're open to suggestions, I know a place," said Arcee.
One step at a time. He supposed that was as good a place to start as any.
Ignis had never met Cliffjumper, the 'Bot had died long before he'd come around to Team Prime. And he'd heard very little about Arcee's former partner, aside from his name a scant few times and what had happened to him. He didn't blame her for not talking about him, it had to be hard.
So he was a little surprised when she suggested laying him to rest where they memorialized Cliffjumper, especially since it had been destroyed when the base went down.
"It's probably the one place he won't be disturbed," she said as they climbed the remains of the mesa. "Besides, the view is still pretty great up here."
She was right, on both accounts. After it had been destroyed he had seen a few Cons crawling around the area, scavenging, but they'd eventually left after finding nothing of interest, so it wasn't likely they'd come back.
In lieu of a proper coffin with which to inter him, Agent Fowler offered them the trailer portion from a large semi truck. Ignis couldn't help but to allow himself a small laugh at the situation, Optimus in a semi truck. Somehow he couldn't help but to think he would also have found that a little bit amusing.
'So, I know this is probably a bad time but, where are we gonna like, sleep now?' asked Bumblebee, clapping dust off his hands.
By the time they'd finished digging and burying, it had long since grown dark and everyone was tired and in need of a good, long rest. Even the humans had been sent home. Which had brought to light a very glaring issue that no one had really wanted to think or talk about. At least until Bumblebee spoke up.
'I know it's the last thing on anyone's mind considering, everything that happened, but we don't have a home anymore. And I don't know about you, but I could sleep for a week right now.'
They'd all lain low easily enough when spread out, but they were together again so that wouldn't work anymore. Arcee could crash in Jack's garage but that only left, everyone else needing a place to crash.
"If I may," said Ultra Magnus, as Ignis had finally learned the name of the large blue Autobot was. "I would like to offer up my ship as a temporary place. It may be a little cramped but it should do us for the night."
"Are you sure? I wouldn't want to inconvenience you."
"With all due respect, the Scout is right. Everyone is exhausted and in no condition to good looking for a place. One night will not be an inconvenience."
Ignis looked around at the rest of the team, at his team. They really did look exhausted, on top of being dirty and dinged up. The real picture of through hell and back. He turned back to Ultra Magnus and nodded. "Thank you. The offer is much appreciated."
As appreciated as the offer was, Ignis still felt very weird actually following up on it, being in such close proximity to everyone at the moment just felt...stifling. Not to mention he just couldn't sleep, no matter how much he tried despite being tired.
So while everyone else was powered down he slipped outside into the cool night air. Finally, a moment alone, with nothing but his thoughts and the silence around him.
"You really chose the least qualified bot for this job, huh?" he mused out loud as he sat down on the edge of the cliff, feet hanging over the edge. "What were you thinking? What was I thinking? I'm so lost Optimus, what do I do?" He tilted his head back, looking skyward sadly. These were some really big feet he had to fill, and he couldn't help but to feel lost. "I wish you were here, you'd know what to do."
'Mind if I join you?' came a soft beeping from behind him.
Turning around he saw Bumblebee, shifting about slightly on his feet and twisting his hands together.
"O-oh, Bumblebee! I-I didn't wake you when I left, did I?"
Bumblebee shook his head as took a seat beside Ignis without even waiting for an answer, shifting about to make himself comfortable. 'Naw, I couldn't really sleep either. And...you looked like you could use the company.'
"Yeah, maybe I do," he said, turning his gaze back at the sky. A part of him wanted to be alone, but on the other hand, it was kinda nice to have someone there with him, even if it was just to sit in silence.
Bee gave a beep of comfort as he settled in beside him, joining him in looking at the sky. Well, mostly at the sky. From the corner of his optic, Ignis noticed that Bee kept looking back at him, examining him almost.
"Uh-"
'What's it like to have wings?' asked Bumblebee abruptly, upon noticing that his staring had been noticed, eyes flashing with excitement and curiosity. 'And flying? What's it like to fly?'
Oh. That was, not what he'd expected to hear. He wasn't sure what Bee was thinking, but that line of thought wasn't what he expected to come out.
"It's, certainly different," he said. He leaned forward slightly, transforming his wings out from their stored away state, twitching the tips. "I have a whole extra set of limbs I've never had before. It's...kinda weird." As he gave them a little twitch, flexing them and stretching them out, he noticed Bee watching them, clearly fascinated. "Uh...Bee?"
The Scout made an embarrassed buzzing sort of noise. 'Sorry, sorry! I didn't mean to stare. I've just, I've never been on a team with a flier before, so I've never seen them close up!' he explained hastily, tapping his fingers together. 'The only wings I've been close to were always attached to a 'Con that was trying to punch me in the face.'
Ignis was quiet for a moment before leaning over slightly as he spread out his wings, stretching one closer to Bee and bumping it against his hands.
His optics widened as he looked at the wing, hovering near his fingertips. 'Ah, um, are you sure?'
"I won't tell anyone if you won't."
With a giddy beep he reached out and placed a hand against the plane of the wing, giving a whistle of awe. 'They're so big!'
"Tell me about it." He looked around for a moment before looking back to Bumblebee. "Don't tell anyone I said this but, I almost fell over at first. My center of gravity is completely thrown off now." When they were shrunk down and small it wasn't much different than his door wings had been. But at their full size it was a massive weight he wasn't used to having and, at least while on his own two feet kept throwing him off balance. Sitting and flying was less of a problem, though it had taken him a few attempts to get the latter right. Thank the Allspark no one had been around to witness that. "No idea how long it'll take me to get used to them."
'What about flying?' asked Bee as he lowered his hand. 'What's that like?'
It was nice, thought Ignis, to have someone be so, casual with him and willing to speak candidly around him. He'd noticed how stiff everyone had been around him since he'd arrived and discovered his new position, as if they were 5 seconds away from calling him 'sir'. He understood why, but it just felt, wrong and awkward and only helped to reenforce just how things had changed. So having Bee just, talking to him like normal was a breath of fresh air. It was a nice distraction.
Really nice.
...
"I can't believe I didn't think about that. Where am I even going to find a new alt mode? I mean, can it still be a car even though I have wings? Am I going to have to scan a jet? Think Agent Fowler would let me?"
"Is everything alright out here?"
A new voice interrupted the conversation, Bumblebee and Ignis spinning around to see Ratchet making his way towards them.
'Oh scrap.'
"We weren't being loud were we?"
"No, no, I was up of my own accord. But when I noticed that two of our number were, unaccounted for, I thought I should make sure everything was alright."
"I don't know if 'alright' is how I would put it but..." Ignis trailed off. "We're still here at any rate."
Ratchet nodded, optics flickering between the pair. "May I join you?"
Ignis looked around the cliff edge, then back to Ratchet. "I mean there's plenty of space."
Wordlessly, Ratchet made his way over to the edge of the cliff, joining the pair already there. "How are you holding up?" he asked. "You've been through...well, more than any of us have today."
Ignis sighed, small wings drooping, having since retracted them back in. "I don't...I'm not fine. I'm scared, and confused. And I'm...lost." His voice cracked slightly as he spoke. "I wish Optimus were here. There's...there's so much I want to ask him. So much I wish I could have asked him." He drew one leg up, pulling his knee to his chest and wrapping his limbs around it as he bowed his head slightly. "He always knew what to do. And I have no idea. And I can't screw this up, if I screw this up someone could die. Lots of someone's could."
"You know," said Ratchet at a moment of quiet. "You remind me a lot of Optimus back in the day."
"What?"
'Really?'
"Optimus, like me? No way, he was way cooler than I could ever be," said Ignis, shaking his head. "And more confident."
"Not at first. He didn't pop out of the Allspark like that, and he didn't change overnight either. He wasn't always the Optimus you knew."
'That seems hard to believe.'
Ratchet just nodded, a sad smile on his face. "I am sure it does. But it's the truth. Young, reckless, but determined to prove himself and quite capable. As I said, a lot like you." He took a shuddery breath and closed his eyes, running a hand over his face.
"I'm sorry, I know how much he meant to you, if this is too much-"
"It's fine." said Ratchet. "In fact, it feels good, to talk about him. It's not something I've ever had the chance to do. He was here, there was no need."
"Do you have any idea why he chose me then?" asked Ignis. "I know he said that The Matrix makes the choice but, he did say he thought I was worthy."
Ratchet laughed softly. "While I may have known him probably better than anyone, I still couldn't begin to tell you what went on in his head sometimes."
"It's fine, you can say it, I'm not exactly the first choice for...this sort of role. I wouldn't have chosen me for this role," said Ignis. I didn't even want to take this role, not like this.
'It's...certainly a surprise,' agreed Bumblebee. 'But-but I'm sure Optimus knew what he was doing.'
"I hope so, cause I don't."
"While I cannot tell you what Optimus was thinking, he clearly saw something in you," said Ratchet. Reaching out he pressed a finger to the center of Ignis' chest. "And I have always trusted Optimus' judgement. If Optimus saw something in you, then I believe him. And I have faith in you."
"I just...I don't want to fail him. I want to make him proud, to be someone he could be proud of."
"And I'm sure you will."
A pair of arms suddenly wrapped around him from behind and he felt Bee press against his side as he hugged him tightly.
'You seemed like you could use a hug,' he said after a moment.
"I..." his voice cracked. "Thank you. Both of you. This whole thing...I know I shouldn't be saying this but, I'm terrified."
"I would be surprised if you weren't," said Ratchet, "But, Ignis, know that we all have your back. I know the team might seem apprehensive at the moment, but I promise, they have your back as much as I do. You aren't alone, so please, don't try to do this alone."
Hearing Ratchet use his name, his new name, really struck how real this all was. It was real and it was happening. He wasn't Smokescreen the rookie anymore, he was Ignis Prime, Optimus Prime's successor. He couldn't afford to act like a kid anymore.
"I won't, I won't," he said, rubbing his optics with one hand. "I promise."
Ratchet smiled softly and gave him a gentle pat on the shoulder. "Now, in my opinion as a doctor, you need to get some rest. You've been through a lot more than the rest of us, a good rest and recharge will do all your systems good."
"I will. I just...want a little more time."
"Alright. But don't think just because you're a Prime doesn't mean I won't force you to rest. I did it with Optimus and I'll do it with you if I must."
Somehow he didn't doubt that Ratchet could in fact do that. And he wasn't about to put that to the test.
"Ratchet...does it ever stop hurting?"
Ratchet was quiet as a sad look crossed his face. "No. It never really stops, it only gets more bearable."
With that, Ratchet pulled himself to his feet and started back to where Ultra Magnus' ship was parked.
"Ratchet."
"Yes?"
"Do you think you could tell us more about Optimus, and what he was like, sometime?"
The doctor's features softened and for a moment Ignis saw the shine of optical fluid run along the edge of his optics. "I think I would like that, thank you," he replied, before turning away. "Now, goodnight."
As Ratchet returned to the ship, Ignis looked back at Bee, who was still holding onto him. He started to speak but stopped. The Scout was trembling with silent, barely contained sobs, had been for a little bit in fact, but he hadn't wanted to draw attention to it while Ratchet was around, lest he upset him more. Shifting his position, he wrapped one arm around him, placing the other hand atop his head, holding him close.
"I'm sorry Bee, I really am," he said quietly.
'I know,' he beeped quietly. 'It just hurts.'
"Beginning to think the one who needed a hug here wasn't me after all."
Bumblebee's only response was a whirring, whining sort of noise, face still pressed into Ignis' frame.
"Would it help if I said I punched Megatron in the face. Several times?"
This time he gave a distinctive humming laugh before bringing one arm back to wipe at his eyes. 'Good. But I still deserve a crack at him. Now I owe him at least two hits. One for me and one for Optimus.' He drew in a deep, shaking breath as he finally released Ignis, even though the Prime still had him in a hug.
"I'll make sure you get a chance to take a crack at him," he said. "No way he stayed down. But, in the mean time, can I ask something of you?"
Bumblebee pointed at himself, tilting his head in confusion. 'Me?'
Ignis nodded. "This whole thing, it's way new to me. I've never lead anything more than, morning stretches at the academy. Once. I could...probably use someone to call me out if I'm being stupid. Keep me grounded."
'And...you want me to do that?'
He rubbed the back of his held, fingertips dragging against the metal lightly. "Well...yeah. I just...I think I could really use a friend whose got my back like that."
'Only if I can ask you to do something.'
"What is it?"
'...Please don't leave.'
Ignis gave him a startled look. "Leave? Why would I be leaving?"
'You know what I mean,' he beeped sadly, placing a hand on his arm.
...Oh, OH. So that was what he meant. He placed one hand over Bumblebee's, squeezing it gently. "Don't worry, I don't plan on that happening for a very long time. I'm not going anywhere, not anytime soon." He leaned down and bumped hid helm against Bee's gently. "I promise."
'You better not. If you do I'll drag your spark back with my own servos. And then give you a good kick in the aft.'
Ignis laughed, the first real, happy laugh he'd had in what felt like a while, small wings twitching against his back. "I'll hold you to that then."
'And I'll do my best to prevent you from being stupid.'
Soft laughter burbled between them as they settled back in on the edge of the cliff, Bee sidled up against Ignis' side, servos clasped together, fingers entwined.
When the base had been bombed, and Smokescreen and Optimus' status was unknown, he'd worried. All of them had of course, but Bee had felt this twisting in his spark he couldn't explain and simply pushed it aside as worry.
And then he appeared, different but alive all the same, and Bee felt his spark positively burn, not with anger but with relief, and it hit him. How worried he was, and how much the idea of never seeing Smokescreen again hurt. It made his spark twist and ache, he couldn't bare the thought of it.
He wanted to say something, but the words just wouldn't come, and given everything that had happened it just didn't feel right, not yet.
He closed his eyes as he leaned against Ignis' side, listening to the soft, near imperceptible electronic hum of his spark, of the warmth under his metal; the sounds and senses of life. He was alive, he was there.
If the closeness was bothering him in anyway, Ignis made no mention of it or attempt to move, so until either of those things happened, Bee was content to remain where he was.
The feeling of closeness was nice and, maybe, thought Ignis, what he really needed. He looked down as he felt Bee go slack against his side, having finally conked out for the night. Well, it was bound to happen sooner or later.
With a tiny smile he leaned down, gently knocking their helms together in silent thanks before looking out over the sprawling desert below.
Maybe he could do this after all. It was terrifying for sure, and a lot of pressure, but he wasn't alone in this. One day at a time, like Ratchet had said. One day at a time. And, from a quick look at his internal clock, it seemed it would be a new day in a few hours, the dawn fast approaching.
A new day, the first day of his new life.
'I hope I can make you proud Optimus. I hope you're watching. Wherever you might be.'
He wasn't Optimus, couldn't be him. But that was fine, he'd be a leader in his own right, one that Optimus could be proud of. He'd be the kind that would protect his teammates, no matter what.
The weight of the world rested upon his shoulders, but for the first time it didn't feel quite so heavy.
(It would be several hours later, after the sun had begun to rise, that someone would find the two of them still at the cliff, both leaning on each other and fast asleep. It would be a while before Bumblebee lived down the fact that he'd ended up sleeping outside after being the one to talk about wanting a place to sleep.)