Transformers Prime: Agent Adelaide Parks

Chapter 11

It was tense that night. Everyone was on the edge of their seat.

Optimus stood with his hands resting on his hips, watching as Ratchet worked. He turned his head a bit to be able to see Adelaide who was still resting on his shoulder.

"How are you feeling?" Optimus spoke lowly.

"Other than every muscle in my body being sore, I'm alright," Addie replied as she looked at him with a lopsided smile.

"I am very sorry that I was not there in your time of need," he said, a look of guilt filling his features.

She frowned and shook her head. "Don't apologize. You were in a situation of your own. And I'm okay, right? No sweat."

Optimus gave a slow nod. Even with her reassurance, it still pained him to know that he wasn't there when she needed him. He hadn't protected her like he had promised.

"Optimus," Addie spoke, drawing his attention once more. "Get out of your head. Everyone is okay. We're safe. What more could you ask for in this moment? You are gonna stop Megatron, you and the others. Then you can come back and I'll be right back on your shoulder. Okay?"

The Prime felt his spark swell. "I would want nothing more."

-

"Optimus," Ratchet spoke up. "I've pinpointed the location of Megatron's space bridge- high in earth's orbit."

"Out of our reach," Optimus said as he looked at the monitor in thought.

"Okay, so you guys don't fly. But can't you just groundbridge there?" Miko suggested.

Ratchet looked at the human girl with a grimace. "The groundbridge has limited range. Stretched all the way into earth's orbit, its vortex could snap, scattering us to the stars."

"Do you have much of a choice, though?" Adelaide pointed out.

Optimus nodded in agreement. "Since Megatron is likely already in transit, I'm afraid we must take that risk. Reaching the spacebridge first is our only means of stopping him."

Just then, the sound of Arcee's motor came towards them from the entrance to the base.

Jack took his helmet off as he looked at everyone sheepishly. "Hey. Guess who's back?"

"Autobots, prepare for departure," Optimus spoke as he allowed Adelaide to get into his palm.

"Where to?" Arcee asked after reassuming her bipedal form.

"The final frontier," Miko answered.

"Space?" Jack questioned. "I thought they didn't have any way to get there."

Raf walked towards Jack with a small smile, glad his friend had decided to return. "They don't, really."

Jack then looked up at Arcee. "Be seeing you?"

Optimus gently set Adelaide onto the platform. Before he could fully pull his hand away, she grabbed onto one of his digits.

"Promise me that you'll come back, okay? I kinda like having you around," Adelaide joked lightly, but Optimus could see that she was worried.

The Prime gently stroked her hair and gave a nod. "We will all come back, Miss Adelaide. I promise."

She gave a smile and watched as he walked towards the groundbridge.

"Optimus, if you leave me stranded on a planet teeming with humans, I will never forgive you," Ratchet said as the others got ready to roll.

Optimus couldn't help the small smile that tugged at him before he activated his battle mask. "Until we meet again, old friend."