Arisen

7

The next morning, Pax and D slowly make their way out of the caves, when they hear behind them,

"Wait!"

They turn, seeing Bee trying to follow them. "Did you forget about me?"

Pax and D take a look, but it's Pax who says, "You're not coming with us."

"What?" Bee demands, hurt.

"You're not coming with us to the Enforcers." Pax clarifies.

"But why?" Pax winces as Bee's face turns even sadder.

"Look, Bee." Pax begins. "Last night proved that as much as we like to say we have a plan, we really don't. We may be on our way to meet up with the other Wreckers, but after that? All we know is it involves going after the Constructicons and killing Sentinel. Which more than likely is going to cause another war to break out. And when that happens, you're going to be as far away from it as possible, even if it means hiding among miners. You...you're still young. You can make friends here. Build a new life where being in a faction doesn't matter."

"Pax, mining is killing the planet!" Bee reminds him.

"Only until we carry out our plan." Pax repeats, then says firmly, "But I've stolen enough of your innocence letting you come this far. I refuse to take what's left."

Then he leaves Bee standing there, stunned, as he rejoins D to continue their climb out of the mines.

"Pax? You okay?" D asks a while later.

"I will as soon as we're with the Enforcers." Pax replies.

"Pax, stop." D grabs one of Pax's arms to turn him around. "You did the right thing. Bee needs to remember there's still good in this world. You can't do much else for him right now, but you can still do that."

"Then why couldn't I do it for anyone else?" Pax asks, no real heat to it.

"Because no one's listening." D replies simply. "Not wanting him to see what you're going to do to Sentinel isn't selfish. It's actually one of the most selfless things you've ever done. And here's something you're gonna hate: listen to Dai Atlas. Let yourself heal."

Pax nods, then says, "Thanks.", but he's not entirely sure he feels it.

Then at a noise, Pax says, "We gotta go.", and the moment is gone, in favor of moving along.

"Attention. All factions must adhere to the new curfew until further notice."

Finally, they make it, and as they walk up to the Enforcer building, they're immediately bombarded by Wreckers.

"D-16!" Jazz calls with a smile, while another bot reaches them first, holding out a hand.

"Good to see you made it." He says.

"How are things, Smokescreen?" D asks.

"Better. You know me, nowhere I can't sneak in or out of." Smokescreen replies.

"Pax!" Pax hears, and his optics widen when he sees Bulkhead approach, and immediately grabs him in a hug.

"Bulkhead!" Pax exclaims. "I'm glad to see you're alright."

"Same to you." Bulkhead says, then pulls back.

"I see your injury is healing." Pax says guiltily, looking at the now welded gash.

"Yeah, it is. Any clues to how I got it?" Bulkhead asks, and just like that, any happiness Pax felt is gone.

Before he can think too hard on it, he shakes his helm and lies, "No."