"Redemption"  Part 6
by Ivy Bohnlein



      As the conversation was terminated, the screen in Iacon went blank,
reflecting a distorted picture of Rodimus and Whiz in the confines of
Rodimus' office.  
     "Setbacks," Whiz repeated in a half-sigh.
     "They must be having problems dealing with Galvatron," Rodimus
observed, thinking aloud.
     Whiz looked up as Rodimus turned back around to face her.  "Do you
think Cyclonus will be able to handle him? He's used to you, now."
     Rodimus shrugged slightly.  "If anyone can, it's Cyclonus."
     "Yes.  If Galvatron will trust him.  If he can convince the other
Decepticons.  If, if, if," Whiz observed darkly.
     Rodimus quirked a smile at her.  "I take it that you're not pleased?"
     She didn't seem to recognize the twinge of humor in his voice, let
alone return it.  "Too much of our plan rests on the shoulders of a
madman."
     "I suppose you have a better idea?" Rodimus asked wearily.  He looked
at one of the shelves on his wall, eyes focusing on a picture of the past
Whiz; happy, smiling, making faces at the camera.  He turned his optics
back to his companion's face, looking at her searchingly.
     "You *know* what my idea is, and... why are you looking at me like
that?"  No curiosity, only impatience.
     He sighed.  "It's nothing.  And I've told you before, we're not here
to kill anyone.  That could upset the balance of power in ways that we
can't predict."
     "There are other ways to remove someone from the fight.  Not as
permanent, but long enough," Whiz observed.
     "I trust Cyclonus.  He'll decide when persuasion has failed, and
until then, we have plenty to worry about here," Rodimus stated.
     She looked off for a moment, optics unseeing.  "Yes, but in the final
analysis, it is better to change things in unpredictable ways than to
allow events to repeat themselves."
     "All right, you've made your point."  Rodimus immediately regretted
the snappish tone in his voice, and tried to regain his calm before
continuing.  "If we have to, we'll start an all-out war.  But only as a
last resort.  Understand me?"
     She didn't flinch.  "Yes, Rodimus."  The weight of her gaze was
glacial: deliberate and cold.
     He had been here too many times before.  Rather than allow the
argument to build, he changed the subject.  It was always... well, it was
just easier that way.  "What news is there on the Autobot Primitives?"
     "I haven't uncovered much yet.  Their behavior patterns are
definitely getting more erratic, and approaching the general rubric we've
come to expect from Primitives.  I believe that there is a critical point
at which we can expect rebellion, but I don't know yet what that might be
or how we can prevent it."
     "What about our old theories?  Any of them bearing the weight of
evidence?" he asked.
     "Well, they aren't being disproven.  The spread of the behavioral
shift seems exponential.  Considering the perceived rate of growth, and
the knowledge that this begins with Sky Lynx, a projected time window for
the initiation date could easily encompass Sky Lynx's incarceration among
the Quintessons," Whiz rattled off.
     "So, you're saying that this could be a Quintesson plot from when we
were human."  Rodimus grinned at her, trying to draw out some spark of
involvement.
     She merely nodded disinterestedly.  "An accurate summary."    
     Rodimus felt his fingers curling into fists in irritation.  Why was
this affecting him so much?  This was Whiz.  The same Whiz that he'd known
for millennia.  Why did everything seem so wrong *now*?
     Context, he realized with a sigh.  She was the wrong Whiz for this
time, and for this place.  The way that the other Autobots stared at her
only made that point clearer.  Then again, she'd only been in this time
for a day.  Maybe she just needed more time to adjust.
     She studied him as he pondered, and shifted her stance slightly.  "Is
something wrong?"
     "No, no," he assured her, wishing it were true.  "Being in here just
brings up memories."
     She made a noise that might have been a yes, and waited for him to
continue.
     "What about you, Whiz?  I've heard that you've been using your old
lab."  A gentle prod, maybe.  He could coax her from her shell one step at
a time.
     "The equipment is calibrated for my use," she explained.  "I find it
conducive to my work."
     "What about the rest of the lab, though?  If I have all of this stuff
lying around, I can only imagine the collection of junk that must be in
your lab."  He chuckled warmly.
     She shrugged her shoulders loosely.  "I've tried to disturb as little
as possible.  Those are her artifacts."
     Rodimus braced his hands on the desk as he leaned toward her, feeling
his body pull taut.  "Artifacts? Those are parts of her life.  Of *your*
life!"
     Whiz's optics tightened.  "As far as I'm concerned, that life is
over.  The Whiz of the past was already killed by this war.  There's only
me left."
     "Whiz, there's more to you than you show in public.  Maybe even more
than you show to yourself.  Where did it go?  Dammit, what *happened* to
you?" Rodimus demanded.
     So much for one step at a time.  Any hope that he'd had of getting
more out of her vanished as she folded her arms across her chest and said
icily, "That's irrelevant."
     "To the Inferno with relevance!" he glared.  "When did you stop
talking to me?"
     Some quick twist of light shifted behind her eyes and was gone.  "A
long time ago, Rodimus.  And there's no cure for time."
     He raised an optic ridge at her thoughtfully.  "I thought that was
why we came here."
     "I can't change my own past.  I can only change what is ahead for
her.  You understand that."
     The words sank in, and as they did, they expanded into new patterns
in his brain.  "Does that mean that no matter what we do, it'll be the
same when we go back?"
     As he watched her silent face, a feeling of loss and disbelief crept
up into his throat.  "Does it?" he repeated, unable to hold back the
anxiety in his voice.
     Her optics traveled down to gaze at her feet.  When she spoke, her
voice was low and tinged with her own pain.  "I wish I knew.  We can hope
otherwise, but with paradox involved... I can't say.  I'm sorry."
     Rodimus looked at her bowed head, holding her momentary vulnerability
close to him as some proof that a spark of the real Whiz remained.  "Hope
for the best, prepare for the worst."
     Whiz nodded, raising her gaze.  "Always."
     "Besides," he said, gesturing to the pictures on his shelf.
"Changing things for them is enough."
     "It may have to be." She turned to the door.  "I'm going to examine a
few of the Primitives who aren't affected enough to resist cooperating.
Eventually, I may have to restrain some of them."  There was an unspoken
question in her voice.
     "Do what you can, but don't hurt them.  They're not our enemies yet,"
Rodimus warned.
     "Understood," she agreed.  "Good luck finding Sky Lynx."
     As soon as the door slid shut behind her, Rodimus sighed deeply and
dropped into his chair.  Somehow, another conversation had just ended
without getting him any closer to the truth.  Discussions with Whiz tended
to do that.
     *No, Arcee,* he thought to himself as he idly turned over a clear,
water-filled hemisphere and watched colored glitter swirl and drift down
upon a plastic scene of Monacus.  *It's not that I never bothered to find
out, it's that she never trusted me enough to tell me....*
     
     Soon enough, he felt a twinge of anxiety begin creeping in on his
reflective thoughts.  Somewhere, there had to be some disaster requiring
his attention, and he was just sitting there.  Time to act.
     In his mind, he reviewed the names of those under his command.
Springer and Outrun were circulating, judging the feel of how the other
Autobots were reacting to their arrival and to suspicious behavior by the
Primitives.  He'd get their impressions later.  Pak-Gor was probably off
with the Junkions somewhere, and Rodimus wasn't about to deny him that
reunion.  Certiorarius was... hm.  He was most likely just doing his best
not to be noticed.
     Rodimus sent a silent thought over his internal radio.
*Certiorarius, Whiz is going to examine a few of the Primitives.  She
would probably appreciate your help.*
     The mental voice that answered was definitely his scientist face.
*I'd be surprised if she even acknowledges it, but I'd be glad to help.*
     *Sometimes she needs help too much to admit it.  And if you come up
with any ideas about enlisting the aid of the Quintessons of this time...*
Rodimus suggested.
     Certiorarius answered immediately.  *Understood.  I'll give it some
thought.*
     *Perfect.  I'll discuss it with you when you're ready.  Rodimus out.*
     *Affirmative, Certiorarius out.*
     Rodimus thought about his next target, then cracked a smile as he
dialed her up on the video communicator this time.  Firestar's
battle-hardened face soon filled the screen, and she grinned as she told
him, "You call, I answer."
     "Hi Firestar.  Enjoying your stay?" Rodimus asked, his face easing
into a smile.  Firestar was someone he understood.
     She sighed and looked off into the distance dreamily.  "Yes sir, I
sure am.  Over so much time, I'd almost forgotten what we were fighting
for.  But this... It's good to be home."
     Rodimus studied his hand casually.  "Well, if you're relaxing so
nicely, I don't suppose you want to know about our latest report from
Darkmount."
     "Darkmount?" she asked, perking up.
     "Yeah.  I got a call from some guy over there.  Typhoonus or
something."  Rodimus grinned lazily at Firestar and continued, "I forget,
exactly."
     She sighed in exasperation.  "You are such a little tease, Rodimus."
     He merely raised an optic ridge at her, gathering around him the aura
of command that comes with millions of years of experience.  "Little?"
     "No matter how old you get, kiddo, I'm older than you.  That means I
can call you what I want." She poked an index finger into the palm of her
other hand to accent her point.
     "Noted," Rodimus agreed with a smile.
     "Now, are you going to tell me what's going on with Cyclonus, or do I
have to come over there and humiliate you by kicking your aft?" she
retorted, folding her arms over her chest.
     Rodimus mused long enough to irritate her further.  "I'd be in good
company."
     "Just spill it!" she demanded.
     He chuckled.  "All right, all right.  Cyclonus is fine, and
Flamediver, Ramjet, and Soundwave are still with him.  They had some kind
of small setback this morning, but Cyclonus still thinks they can pull off
their mission."
     Firestar frowned.  "One way or the other."
     "Yes," Rodimus replied, nodding.  "We can't fail in this mission,
Firestar, no matter how much it costs us personally."
     She sighed.  "I know.  I just wish I could be there with him."
     "He knows that," Rodimus assured her gently.  "He'll never be on his
own - none of us will.  We've been looking out for each other for too long
to forget that habit now."
     "Reading you loud and clear.  It's just odd to think that, if we
change the future, he and I may never..." She trailed off, suddenly gazing
intently at the console in front of her.
     Rodimus released a deep breath.  "I know.  And Flamediver and Outrun
may never be created, and the Terrans and Militants may not unite... there
are too many links between the events of our lives.  We may just have to
trust that some things will still happen, because they *must* happen."
     "Well," Firestar drawled, "I'd be happy to believe that, as long as
none of those things involve Sky Lynx taking over Cybertron."
     He chuckled.  "I'm with you."
     "So, forgive me for being pushy, but you didn't just call me with the
Cyc-status update.  What's up?" she asked.
     Rodimus flattened his palms on his desk and adopted a serious
demeanor.  "I need someone to assist in planning the mission to capture
Sky Lynx, and then to go along on the search.  You know what we're looking
for, and you won't hesitate to act.  I want you to go."
     Firestar grinned in anticipation.  "And here I thought you were going
to give me something *hard* to do."
     Rodimus slowly shook his head.  "Don't underestimate how difficult
this will be.  It's going to be dangerous - Sky Lynx's actions are
unpredictable, and we don't know where he could be hiding."
     "Yeah, Rodimus," she grinned, "But any job seems easier when you love
your work."
     Rodimus chuckled along with her.  "So I take it that you accept the
mission?"
     "With pleasure," she replied.
     "Good." He glanced down at the data terminal on his desk, then back
at her.  "The EDC has committed a few shuttles, and I'll get to work on
assigning you a few crews.  If you have anyone in mind..."
     "I'll let you know," she finished.  "Offhand, I think the Technobots
would be good - they won't mind fighting the Primitives as much as some of
the other Autobots might.  Plus, a couple of them can maneuver in space,
and they can always merge if we get in over our heads."
     "Good thought," Rodimus agreed.  "And they'd love to go after the
Terrorcons."
     Firestar chuckled, but not without a hint of pain.  "And this time,
the results will be different."
     Rodimus turned somber immediately.  "Exactly.  This time, everything
will be different."
     She sighed and gazed into the distance, a thoughtful look on her
face.  "It's strange to be here, where everything is the same, and to know
that we've changed so much.  I wish I could just *be* this Firestar, but I
can't.  Too much has happened to me."
     Rodimus chuckled a little.  "Think how much you'd lose, Firestar.  At
least you got Cyclonus out of the past few eons.  It's the rest of us who
should want to go backward."
     She nodded, smiling distractedly, then turned her attention back to
Rodimus' face.  "Forgive me if this is too personal, but why aren't you
using the Matrix?" Seeing Rodimus' wince, she continued hastily, "Never
mind, I shouldn't have asked."
     "You have a right to ask," Rodimus assured her, his features
slackening a little as he explored the faraway tug of the Matrix's faint
call.  "It's not that it doesn't want me to.  I can feel it right now,
trying to accept me even after so long.  As if it understands everything.
If I let it, it would mold me with its power..." he trailed off.
     Firestar prompted gently, "But...?"
     "But I can't, Firestar.  It isn't mine to take.  I lost it before,
and I have to remedy that mistake before I can bear it again.  There *is*
a Matrix out there that belongs to me, and until I can get *that* one
back, I'm just Rodimus," he explained, unable to fully control the strain
in his voice.
     "Let me make this clear to you.  I don't think I'm settling for 'just
Rodimus'.  I know you better than that.  You're a better leader now than
you ever were, Matrix or no Matrix.  But the Autobots of this time are
used to looking up to the Matrix."
     Rodimus smiled wryly.  "If they don't look up to me yet, I'll just
have to teach them."
     Firestar shook her head with a wide grin.  "Okay, okay, that'll teach
me not to argue with the expert."
     "Firestar, when I first opened the Matrix, I didn't know what was
going to happen.  This time, when I take it, I'm going to be ready.  It
has to *feel* right."
     "I understand," she nodded.
     "Good," he said, then smiled broadly.  "Now I only have to explain
that a hundred more times."
     She laughed.  "All of those nosy little Autobot busybodies."
     "Now you're *really* starting to sound like Cyclonus," he teased.
     Her face took on a false pout.  "If you're quite finished mocking me
now, I'm going to go check out the shuttles.  I need to refamiliarize
myself with  the tech of this time frame."
     "All right, Firestar, let me know if there's anything you need."
     "I will, Rodimus," she assured him, reaching out to the console.
"Talk to you later."  And the screen went blank.
     Rodimus relaxed back into his chair with a sigh, feeling better after
the conversation.  It was good to talk to someone familiar and - well,
*happy* - for a change.  Someone who listened, understood, and didn't pass
judgment.  That kind of friend seemed in short supply lately.


[TBC...]


 
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