When All Lights Go Out I (TFP)

Chapter 54

With Agent Fowler and the Dingus on their way to the right destination, thanks to the military arriving to assist Fowler in transporting the prototype, Optimus, Arcee, Bumblebee and Bulkhead arrive back at base. They were all happy that the transportation of the device was successful. Though Optimus was more concerned about Azura. He was unhappy that she had been given the okay to go through the ground bridge to help Jack and Miko. He guessed that there was some kind of convincing that had gone on, and Ratchet caved. Optimus felt that it was odd for Ratchet to even cave into that. However, he noticed straight away that Azura was not in the lobby.

Jack, Miko and Raf were here with Ratchet, but his daughter was not. Optimus guessed she was in her room, though he did not know what she would be doing. Arcee, Bumblebee and Bulkhead had been made aware that Azura had been involved, and it was possible now that Mech has seen Azura. While they knew that they have been seen by Mech, they certainly would not want Mech to go after Azura. She was the smallest and weakest of the autobots.

"Optimus." Prime turned his head to look at Ratchet as the medic stood by the bridge controls with a guilty expression. "I deeply, deeply apologize. I know now that allowing Azura to accompany Jack and Miko was unwise."

"But it was me who even suggested that she could follow in the first place. Optimus..." Jack walked closer to the railing and placed his hands on it as Optimus looked at him. "I honestly...well...it was my suggestion. I had thought she could maybe influence the wind to...have an affect on the helicopter..."

"You wanted Azura to use her abilities on humans?" The boy looked away from Optimus as he nodded. "It is a rule that I have put on Azura as it is extremely unwise for her to use her abilities on humans. I would have assumed you would be aware of that. And she was still in training. I suspect that Azura could have blown the train from the tracks."

"She almost did. But..." Jack took a deep breath as he rubbed the back of his neck. "Whatever...I know now that I made a mistake, Optimus. I should not have suggested for her to come with us, and put her in danger."

Optimus nodded in agreement. "Indeed. It was extremely poor judgement to even want to try and stop Mech in the first place, Jack. And I am surprised that you would allow the humans to even try to help, Ratchet. I understand that the humans were wanting to fight against their own, but Fowler believes that Mech are former military personal. Meaning we need to be extra cautious in allowing the humans to deal with Mech."

Ratchet nodded slowly as he fully understood. "I understand, Optimus. It won't happen again."

"It has better not." Optimus turned to Arcee, Bumblebee and Bulkhead. "I do believe we need to be weary of Mech's presence. I am not sure if they had seen Azura on the train as the helicopter was hovering above the train when I managed to stop it. So it is imperative that we are extra vigilant while we are outside the base."

"I still cannot believe we have to watch our backs for these humans," Arcee said bluntly. She was very unimpressed that they were now dealing with a rogue group of people that could potentially pose a threat. "We are already dealing with the decepticons, that's more than enough."

"Unfortunately, evil is not just constricted to one corner of the universe, Arcee. Humans have their own history of evil, and like us, that is not something that humans like to talk about." Optimus glanced around the lobby again and looked at Ratchet. "Where is Azura? Has she retreated to her room?"

Rafael nodded. "She believes that she is going to be grounded..." Optimus was confused by the term. He has heard the word before, and he was not sure what it meant. He assumed that it was a term that humans to refer to children being punished. "So she went to her room. I think she said she was going to work on the Cybertronian letters."