The Life of a Commander (TFP)

chapter 15

Chapter 15

Soon, everyone returned and we were able to complete the project.

As I was helping Ratchet to calibrate the space bridge, I overheard Agent Fowler talking to Optimus.

"Are you sure she can be trusted?"

"While we cannot be sure of her intentions, I have always held a degree of respect for her. She has proven herself trustworthy in previous encounters."

"In others words," Fowler translated, "It could be a trap."

"Affirmative. But that is a chance we must take." He walked towards us. "How is the calibration process coming along?"

"Just brilliant, I huffed. I wasn't very good at acting like I hadn't heard him. I let him knock me out so they could escape. Why didn't he trust me yet?

Ratchet ignored my reply. "Nearly complete, Optimus."

"Good. We'll be leaving for Cybertron when it is complete." The Autobot leader watched me, and I could tell that he knew that I heard his conversation. Apparently he wasn't going to let it pass. "Nightstrike, I hate to pull you away from your work, but may I speak with you?"

"I mentally groaned, but replied calmly, "I suppose."

We walked out of ear shot of the others.

"I understand why you find lack of full trust insulting, but you must realize we have only known you for a limited amount of time, and because of that, it is difficult for us to make judgments based on trust."

"I see," I said after taking a few seconds to think it over.

"May I ask an important favor of you?"

I nodded.

"When we get to Cybertron, I need you to go to Iacon and deliver a warning of the attack to Ultra Magnus. You'll have all the intel needed. You're the fastest of us. You are our only chance."

"What about my insignia? They'll arrest me as soon as they see me. And there's no doubt they'll remember trying to shoot me out of the sky."

"If we had time, i would have it changed. Since we don't, I'll need you to record a message so you can play it if they don't listen to you."

"Talk away." I hit record.

"Attention, Autobots on Cybertron. This is a Prime level directive. Keep your eyes and guns to the sky. The Decepticons plan on bombing Cybertron's air defenses. The one delivering this message is no threat and means no harm. She is a trusted ally. Prime out."

I stopped recording. "You think that will work?" I asked.

"If it doesn't, they'll be disobeying orders."

"Optimus," Ratchet spoke, "the calibration process is complete and the bridge is aimed for Cybertron."

My new leader's baritone voice called out, "Autobots, we must embark immediately. The fate of Cybertron rests in our hands." Ratchet opened the bridge and we all walked towards it. Optimus turned back around. "Agent Fowler, we will soon return with word of what has happened. Do not let this base be discovered."

"What about the...cats?" Fowler asked. Everyone looked to me for an answer.

To me, it looked as if the cats were torn. They didn't want to leave, but they wanted to be with me. I gave them their instructions in the Decepticon language they recognized orders in. "They will stay and guard the base until we return," I translated for the others.

"Very well. Autobots, roll out!"

On the other side of the bridge, we found ourselves in one of the more destroyed sectors of Cybertron.

Once my maps updated, I flew away since I already had my orders, and time was something we didn't have.

I stayed as close to the ground as I could so I wouldn't be detected. I wasn't particularly worried about them shooting me out of the sky. I was worried none the less. I just had this feeling that something bad was about to happen. There was no stopping it, whatever "it" was.