Forever Alone: Transformers Prime

Chapter XLII

"Doctor, what is the current status of your synthetic energon experiments?" Ultra Magnus asked.

"Doing the best I can, Commander, given the lack of functional equipment at my disposal." Ratchet replied.

"You do realize that an alternative energy source may be essential to our survival?"

"Believe me, Ultra Magnus, no one is more acutely aware of the stakes than I am." Ratchet replied. Annoyed in the process, Julie flew over to them wanting to help stand up for Ratchet.

"Of course." Ultra Magnus spoke.

"Ratchet, worst case scenario I can help you like I had at the last base, we just need to find some sort of energon mine." Julie spoke up. Ultra Magnus turned and looked at her as she spoke. "You can make energon?" Ultra Magnus asked.

"Not exactly, but I can manipulate it." Julie replied. Then an idea came to her mind. "I think I need to be alone for a second."

"Wait, Julie." Ratchet cried. "Where are you going?"

"To work on my powers, see if there is some way I can help." Julie replied as she flew past Ultra Magnus who was walking over to the others. "Beast Hunters, may I ask why you are not currently scouting the grid 305 for predacon bones?" He asked.

"Because we just returned from surveying grids 301 to 304." Arcee replied.

"To log our field reports per your protocol, Commander Magnus, sir." Bulkhead commented. Suddenly Magnus turned to Wheeljack who was just coming into the hangar.

"Soldier, I don't recall giving you permission to leave the base." Magnus spoke up.

"Because you didn't, sir." Wheeljack replied.

"Why are your hands smeared with coolant?"

"I recalibrated your ship's engines, you can expect a 10 percent increase in vector thrust." Wheeljack answered, just as Optimus showed up at the entrance. Julie hovered over to Wheeljack and Magnus. "You need to calm down, Magnus." Juliie cried out. "The team knows the protocol, but if you ask me, it seems like you are looking for someone to mess up."

"Hey, Optimus." Bee buzzed.

"Welcome back." Arcee commented.

"He's back." Bulkhead cried.

"Decepticon activity is at a lull, I fear that Megatron may have collected the specimens he requires to...clone his army." Optimus spoke.

"Look, Magnus." Julie replied as she pointed at the team walking over to the Prime. "He is a full on Prime, who you would expect needs more respect than a second in command, and yet they respect him. Because he doesn't wear them out and drag them on like they are perfect machines. Instead these are your teammates, the only ones you have at the moment." Julie explained. "I am not saying they don't respect you, but you need to ease up, and stop acting like a drill sergeant, because at the moment that is not what we need. We need you as a friend and a respectful example to everyone. Now I fear that we need to prepare for a battle here soon, so I am gonna go train in a nearby corner, without touching the iron sheeting hopefully." Julie flew over to a corner just as she saw Optimus walking up to Magnus. "Ultra Magnus, something has been troubling you." Optimus spoke, gaining Julie's attention as she watched them from a distance.

"I fear that my command style may be having a negative effect on unit morale." Magnus explained.

"Your service is most welcomed, old friend, but this is not the elite guard." Optimus explained.

"Things have changed since the war for cybertron."

"And we must adapt to that change. The members of Team Prime are not cogs in a machine, they have grown into something greater than an army." Optimus spoke as he turned to look at the teammates who were working. "They have become..."