Metamorphosis, Chapter 17

[wyntir_knight]

Chapter 17

Disclaimer: Transformers belong to Hasbro and Takara, and are licensed to IDW and Dreamworks. My original characters are my own and any similarity between them and any existing characters from canon or fandom is purely coincidental. I claim no ownership by writing this work.

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Hot Rod felt it before he saw it. It was like a wave of energy flowing out from Optimus, passing by everyone to slam into him. It was like being hit by one of Unicron’s massive hands, and as he watched, Prime’s optics widened in shock and he collapsed to the floor. It was as if he was watching something in slow motion; he could see it all, but could do nothing but watch. Everyone turned in shock and he saw Perceptor’s mouth move, saw him give orders and then turn away in disgust. He saw Marissa yell at him, saw First Aid rush in, saw them move Prime’s inert body from the lab to the med bay. It was like he was watching all of these events on a screen with no sound. There was nothing he could do to involve himself, nothing he could do to change anything, even though he knew how terrible the punch line would be. All he could do was watch and follow, pulled after Prime as if they were connected, spark to spark.

The medic and the scientist began to work on Optimus, searching for the cause of his collapse. Once again, Hot Rod saw Perceptor then First Aid say something to him and turn away angrily when he offered no response. He was being given orders, that much was obvious, but he couldn’t get involved. There was something standing in the way, something standing between him and Prime, preventing him from taking any form of action. Soon, Perceptor and First Aid moved off to their stations to analyze the data they had collected and Hot Rod felt himself being pulled to Prime’s bedside.

He gazed down at his commander, looking deeply into his motionless face. He knew what was happening. Optimus was dying. Prime was leaving again and it would fall to him to take up the mantle of leadership. Everyone would be looking to him to make the decisions, to lead, to guide, to be Prime again. It was everything that he feared, everything that he was running from.

Slowly he became aware of his own body, aware of the fact that he was clenching and unclenching his hands rhythmically. He looked down at Optimus again and felt a cold hatred begin to consume him, spreading out from the place where the Matrix once lay. He could almost feel the warm metal of Prime’s throat under his fingers, could almost feel it buckle and compress under his grasp. Never in his entire existence had he felt this angry, this betrayed.

But a part of him felt the call, felt the ache in his chest. Slowly he reached up with one hand and absently stroked the plating under which the hollow lay. He had fought against it for so long but he had always known the truth. In that moment when he had caught the Matrix as it fell from Prime’s dead hand, a decision had been made. There was no turning back, no changing anything. Someone or something had made a decision in that moment and that decision was final.

The silence in his mind was suddenly disrupted and his audios were released. He could hear everything once again. Perceptor and First Aid discussed Prime`s condition quietly. Marissa Faireborn stood on a nearby table speaking soothing words to him, a look of infinite concern displayed on her expressive face. He looked down at her and tried to smile reassuringly, but found that the gesture couldn’t reach his lips. With a slight sigh he turned away from Prime`s form and moved to the corner, resting his forehead against the cool mental of the wall.

Soon afterwards, Ultra Magnus strode into the medical bay followed by Kup and Springer. The three made their way immediately to Prime`s side.

“What happened?” Magnus asked.

“We’re not entirely sure yet,” First Aid replied, moving back to the examining table.

“All we know so far is that his energy levels are lower than normal,” Perceptor said, leaning over a terminal, “and it appears as if he hasn’t installed last week’s upgrades. At least not fully.”

“So what does that mean?” Kup asked.

“I don’t think he’s recharging,” First Aid said quietly. “I can’t find anything to explain that though.”

“The Matrix is rejecting him,” Hot Rod said, in a soft, hollow voice, still facing the wall. It was as if the words came from someone else. He was not conscious of speaking them, only registering them after they came out of his mouth, as if he was some kind of ventriloquist’s dummy.

“What was that lad?” Kup asked, looking up as if seeing Hot Rod for the first time.

“What was what?” Hot Rod replied, distancing himself from the words that were being spoken through him.

“What did you just say kid?” Springer prompted.

“I didn’t say anything,” Hot Rod said, turning around and leaning his back against the wall. Technically it wasn’t a lie, not as far as he was concerned anyway. He closed his optics wearily, hoping that this would all turn out to be a bad dream.

“Hot Rod?” Marissa said, moving as close to him as the table would allow. “You just said that the Matrix is rejecting Optimus. What do you mean?”

“I did?” Hot Rod asked slowly.

Suddenly he began to panic. His optics shot open and he looked at the room’s occupants. They were all staring at him expectantly, as if they expected him to explain everything and drop pearls of wisdom at their feet. It was all too much. He couldn’t say anything, he didn’t dare. If they felt that he was telling the truth or that this was what he wanted, then they would force him to take the Matrix again.

“I didn’t say that!” he protested. “Why would I say that? Optimus is Prime. He’s THE Prime! Why would the Matrix reject him? I have no idea what you’re talking about!” he cried, panic and fear filling his voice.

“Whoah, calm down kid!” Springer said, taking a step forward.

“It’s alright, son,” Kup said gently. “We’re not asking you to do anything. We don’t even know if the Matrix is the problem.”

“And if on the odd chance it is the problem, then I can take it, hold it until we figure out what’s wrong with Optimus,” Magnus said, “Just calm down, no one is going to make you do anything.”

Hot Rod looked from Ultra Magnus to the still form on the examining table and back to Magnus. He felt the pull again from deep in his chest where the Matrix was supposed to be, and in that moment he knew. There was no running from this. No hiding. Not ever. He sighed and looked back up at Magnus.

“It would reject you too. The Matrix made up its mind, and there’s no changing it,” he said quietly in a voice filled with infinite sadness and defeat. “As long as I’m alive that decision won’t change.”

“How do you know all this? Do you even know or are you just guessing?” Springer asked.

“I … I don’t know I just-,” Hot Rod’s stammering was interrupted by a groan from the med table.

“Optimus!” First Aid cried as he moved to the bedside. “Thank Primus you’re awake. How are you feeling?”

“I’m fine, just a little tired,” Prime replied.

“It appears that you have not been recharging and have not installed the latest upgrades, Optimus. We will have to run further tests to assess the nature of the problem,” Perceptor said.

“I’ll be fine,” Prime replied. “I just need to rest. I’ll do that as soon as I’ve spoke with Roddi- with Hot Rod.”

He moved to sit up but was restrained by both Perceptor and First Aid.

“We cannot allow you to leave until we have assessed the nature of the difficulty,” Perceptor said.

“I’m sorry, Perceptor, I appreciate your concern, but I know that’s wrong and what I need to do. I will recharge as soon as I’ve dealt with this matter,” Optimus said. His tone broached no argument.

“And I’m sorry, Prime, but as CMO, I’m going to have to insist,” First Aid said firmly, crossing his arms over his chest. “I can’t let you leave until I’m sure that you’re fine.”

Prime looked up at him and chuckled.

“For a moment there you sounded just like Ratchet,” Optimus said affectionately. “How about this, then? Will you let me speak with Hot Rod in private if we stay here?”

First Aid looked at him for a long moment before replying. “Fine,” he said. “But you only have ten minutes.”

“Agreed,” Prime replied. “Now I’d appreciate it if you all left us alone for a bit.”

“Wait a minute, Prime,” Kup protested. “If you’re planning what I think you are, then it’s Magnus you need to talk to, not Hot Rod.”

Magnus and Springer stepped forward, both nodding their heads in agreement and placing themselves silently between Optimus and Hot Rod.

From the moment that Prime had awakened all Hot Rod wanted was to disappear. But now his former senior staff was jumping to his defence, shielding him from Prime. Hot Rod felt his hopes buoyed, that maybe his fears were unfounded.

“I am sorry, but that isn’t going to happen. This is how it has to be and nothing is going to change that. Now, please, leave,” Optimus said sadly.

Hot Rod felt his hopes dashed. His friends looked like they were ready to protest further, but in the end they did as they were told. Everyone, even Marissa, left Hot Rod and Optimus alone.

After a moment of silence in the now empty room Optimus turned to Hot Rod.

“When I passed out it was because the Matrix needed to speak with me directly,” Optimus said quietly. “It’s not pleased. It … It’s rejecting me as its bearer.”

“I know,” Hot Rod replied dully. “I don’t know how I know, but I do.

“I need you to step up again,” Optimus said.

Hot Rod shook his head. “You can’t do this to me,” he said. “I can’t do this again. You can’t expect me to be the leader … not again.”

“I’m sorry Hot Rod. I really am, and if this was my choice … If I had a choice I would never put you through this,” Optimus said softly. “But all I need is for you to carry the Matrix. You don’t need to lead us, just-”

“What? Just guide you? Interpret the Matrix? Speak for Primus?” Hot Rod asked angrily. “I can’t do that! I’m not leadership material, I’ve proven that, and I-”

“Rodimus!” Prime said sharply. “I need you to just listen to me, just for a minute.”

“No!” Hot Rod shouted. “And I am not Rodimus! Stop calling me that! You came back! You took the Matrix from me and I was normal again. You can’t do this to me! I don’t want it back!”

“But it wants you back,” Optimus said softly. “I’m sorry, but it won’t take no for an answer. Believe me, if I thought there was any other way, I would take it. I don’t want to give this up any more than you want to take it, but this isn’t our decision to make.”

Hot Rod turned away and leaned against a wall, staring angrily down at his feet.

“Look, Rod- Hot Rod. I’m not going anywhere. I’ll still be here to advise you, to be your general. I’m not asking you to lead the Autobots. I’m asking …” Optimus trailed off with a sigh. “All I can tell you is that this is how it has to be. Something is coming, and we need Rodimus Prime.”

“Why me?” Hot Rod asked, still staring at the floor. “Why did it have to be me?”

“I don’t know,” Optimus said, coming over to place a hand on his shoulder. “I wish it could have been any other way.”

Hot Rod snorted slightly. “Yeah, you and me both,” he muttered.

“Are you ready?” Optimus asked, leaning in to look Hot Rod in the optics.

“No,” Hot Rod replied. “I never will be, but let’s get this over with.”

Optimus sighed and shook his head.

“You will have something no other Prime has ever had, Hot Rod.”

“Yeah? What’s that?”

“Guidance. I’ll make sure it’s not as bad as you think it will be.”

With that, Optimus opened his chest and removed the Matrix from the cavity within. Slowly he handed it over to Hot Rod, and as soon as the younger mech took it, it flared brightly.

Hot Rod looked down at it for a moment before opening his own chest and placing it within. He felt a heat begin to spread out within him, felt his body grow and change, and he heard that voice again.

“Arise. Rodimus Prime.”

Then, suddenly, an image appeared in the depth of his mind. A planet moved toward them trailing an army of destruction in its wake. He saw ancient enemies victorious over them, and he saw the entirety of the Universe laid waste at his feet.

He opened his optics and looked at Optimus is shock.

“Unicron is back,” he whispered.