"Redemption" Part 7
by Ivy Bohnlein
The rest of the day was spent in a flurry of planning; preparing the
manhunt that would go after Sky Lynx. The Autobots had three shuttles on
the ground and prepared for flight, with another being worked on at
Autobot City on Earth. Rodimus decided to keep that one in reserve, and
carefully chose crews for the other three amid tactical discussions with
Ultra Magnus. All of the Technobots were assigned as crew, even though
Scattershot and Strafe were able to fly in space - if they were injured,
Rodimus wanted to ensure that there would be enough room on the ships to
bring them home again.
Finally, once he had run the assignments by Ultra Magnus and
Firestar, he felt satisfied that they would be ready to launch the next
day. Looking around his office, he realized that he'd been there for too
long, and he got to his feet. Time to see more of his city.
The commissary hummed with activity and talk, but without the
desperate undertone that he was so accustomed to. Instead, there was a
relaxed camaraderie in the air as the off-duty Autobots lounged around,
relaxing in their own ways. Rodimus watched the activity from the door of
his office, folding his arms over his chest and allowing a satisfied smile
to creep over his face.
This is what it used to be like, he thought. This is what we're
here to protect.
Word must have spread about what had happened, because few of the
Autobots stared at him openly. He could sense a faint undertone of
confusion and distrust when they looked at him, but that was more or less
expected. He had changed. And though they could only see the physical
changes, he had no doubt that they could feel the internal changes as
well.
A burst of laughter from a cluster of Autobots in the corner caught
his attention, and he looked over to see Springer telling one of his many
stories to an amused audience. He's as bad as Kup ever was, Rodimus
grinned as he headed over.
"So then I said to Cyclonus, 'Well, if you're actually *afraid* of
that little petro-rabbit...',"Springer was saying, and laughter burst out
again.
As Rodimus moved closer, he could see that Outrun was standing beside
Springer and, unbeknownst to him, pantomining his gestures and mouthing
the words as he said them. Rodimus chuckled at the little display and
asked, "Are you telling the Cyclonus and petro-rabbit story *again*,
Springer?"
"Yes," Outrun groaned, "Again."
Springer put up his hands defensively. "Hey, these guys haven't
heard it yet."
"Lucky them," Rodimus said dryly.
Springer just made an attention-getting noise deep in his throat and
continued, "So anyway, Cyclonus looked like I'd mortally insulted him. He
gave me a really suspicious look for a while, but I knew better than to
crack. So finally, he picked up the petro-rabbit, glared at it hard
enough to fry it with one look, and then put it on his head. Right
between those two grey horns of his," Springer chuckled. "So then I told
him, 'Hey Cyclonus, I think you two must be related, because you both
inherited the same set of ears!'"
Laughter rolled through the group as Rodimus reflected on how
Springer always ended the story here, before the part where Cyclonus had
flung the angry rabbit at Springer, and Springer had been forced to go to
Whiz for repairs to the many bites and scratches he'd received. Odd how
he had such a selective memory. Must be senility setting in.
"Springer, Outrun, can I speak to you two?" Rodimus asked casually,
but it was enough to get the crowd around them to quietly disperse.
"What's up, Rod?" Springer asked, settling himself at one of the
commissary's small tables. Outrun followed his lead, sitting in a chair
beside him, as Rodimus took a seat across from them.
"I just wanted to know how your reconnaissance is going," Rodimus
told them. "How are the others reacting to us?"
Springer spread his hands on the table. "Fairly openly, in most
cases. I'm not sure how much the Primitives know about us, but they seem
to avoid us. A few 'bots were originally a little leery of Outrun here,
but not for long." He grinned at Outrun, and the little femme beamed.
"You think they trust us?" Rodimus prodded.
"Mostly, yeah. We're enough like our old selves - well, most of us
are - that the Autobots we talk to end up convinced. I think Certy made
some of them nervous, though. I've heard a couple of mutters that we're
really Quintesson drones."
Rodimus said thoughtfully, "I can see that. All right, I'll remind
Certiorarius to maintain a low profile. In the meantime, lets not talk
any more than necessary about being at peace with the Quintessons."
"Gotcha," Outrun piped up, and Springer nodded in agreement.
"If they're already starting to trust us, maybe we can get them to
act before it's too late. I'd hate to have to wait for 'proof' that we're
right. How do they feel about hunting down Sky Lynx?"
"They're a little confused. But a lot of them have noticed that he's
been acting strange lately, and they're starting to notice oddities in the
other Primitives too. As long as we keep it clear that we just want to
capture him and heal him, they'll go with it. If it comes to a battle,
though..." Springer trailed off, blue optics unsure behind his targeting
scope.
"But aren't we here to prevent the battles?" Outrun asked.
Rodimus smiled at her gently, but his voice was deadly serious. "I
hope so, Outrun, But I don't know if we can avoid them all."
She frowned down at the table. "I guess you're right."
Springer looked at Rodimus intently. "Speaking of battles, what have
you done about the first victim?"
Outrun looked blankly at Springer, then at Rodimus. "Huh?"
"We talked." Rodimus' voice was firm, cold, and definitely didn't
invite a follow-up question.
"I meant, what have you done to prevent it?" Another annoying part
of Springer's senility was the loss of his ability to notice when
questions were unwelcome.
"She doesn't want my help."
Outrun was looking a little exasperated now. "Who?"
"Nevermind, Outrun. Long story." Springer returned his full atention
to Rodimus and said seriously, "Whether she wants your help or not, Rod,
you'll never forgive yourself if you don't protect her."
Rodimus sighed, tracing a long scratch in the table with his finger.
"You're right. I'll do what I can."
"Good," Springer said, shifting in his seat as he changed topics.
"So, heard from Bunny Ears?"
Outrun giggled, and Rodimus couldn't hold back a smile. "You know he
hates it when you call him that," he warned.
With a broad smile and an exaggerated look around the room, Springer
said, "I don't see him here, do you?"
Rodimus shook his head and just answered the question. "Yes, we got
a transmission from Darkmount this morning. They seem to be settling in
over there, with just minor difficulties. Probably with Galvatron."
"Hmph. Lucky they're only minor then," Springer observed.
"Exactly," the Cybertronian leader agreed. "And we have a few
shuttles ready to start looking for Sky Lynx tomorrow, as soon as the EDC
shuttles arrive. Firestar will lead the fleet."
"Can I go too?" Outrun asked eagerly.
Rodimus and Springer both chuckled. Springer put an arm around the
femme's shoulders and asked teasingly, "Are you so anxious to get away
from me, kiddo?"
"Only if you keep telling all the same old stories," she groaned
melodramatically.
"No fighting, you two," Rodimus smirked. "And we need you down here,
Outrun, charming all of the Autobots into liking us now that we're old and
boring."
Outrun's laughter doubled. "When you put it *that* way..."
"I'm glad you see my point, Outrun," Rodimus grinned. "Now that I've
stored up some support, I'd better go check in with Whiz. She was
examining some of the Primitives."
"Good luck," Springer offered as Rodimus rose to his feet.
"Go cheer her up," Outrun grinned.
Rodimus turned to go, then looked back toward Outrun with a rueful
smile. "I wish I could."
Her face softened to a gentle look of understanding. "I know."
[TBC]
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