Silence (TFP)

chapter 8

Chapter 8

I yawned as I rolled over. That was a great nap. I should take naps more often. Sadly, though, I now have to face the real world instead of my dream world. This sucked.

I slowly opened my eyes. The usual was going on. Kids playing video games, Bulkhead and Bee watching them, Arcee off doing who-knows-what in who-knows-where, Ratchet working at the computer, and Optimus nowhere to be seen but most likely in the back somewhere. Great. I sat up and climbed down the table. Ratchet heard me hop to the floor and turned around.

"Oh, you're awake." He seemed surprised, but his voice held a hint of sadness.

I cocked my head to the side. "You sound disappointed. You like me better when I'm asleep or something?"

He sighed. "No, it's just that we haven't heard from Optimus and Arcee in a while."

"I thought they were just around doing their usual. Where'd they go?"

"They went to go check out an energon mine the Decepticons abandoned a couple of months ago. We're hoping there's still something left. Anything would wonderful, really."

"You need energy that badly, huh?"

"We do. It's been a constant struggle to obtain any energon on this planet with the Decepticons having control of all of the mines. I just wish those two would give us a sign that they're still functioning."

"They're probably just too far below ground for a signal to get through," I tried to reason. "There's probably nothing to worry about."

"You're probably right. I just can't help but worry. Optimus is my best friend, you know."

"Yeah...Hey, if you're really worried about it, I could go check it out," I grinned.

"Absolutely not! Optimus would never approve! Besides, there's two perfectly capable soldiers right here," he turned and looked at Bulk and Bee. Their whole group stopped what they were doing and looked over.

"Is that your way of telling us to go check things out?" Bulkhead asked.

"You might be smarter than you let on," Ratchet mumbled as he fired up the ground bridge. "Contact me immediately once you get any new information whether it be good or bad."

Bumblebee beeped in agreement. I watched as the two ran through. If something did happen to Prime and Arcee, I just hope the same thing doesn't happen to those two.

Ratchet closed the ground bridge.

"Wait, where's Miko?" Jack asked. We all looked around, but we didn't see her anywhere.

Ratchet face-palmed as he contacted Bulkhead. "Bulkhead, Miko has mostly likely followed you into the ground bridge."

"I've got her. She's safe with me, Ratchet."

Ratchet groaned as he cut the communication link and continued to watch for any sign of Optimus and Arcee.

"Ultra Magnus to Autobot base, Smokescreen and I are going to go help out in the mine. We are 3 miles from the entrance."

"Ultra Magnus, I've gotten no word from Optimus and Arcee. I've sent Bulkhead and Bumblebee to check things out. Use extreme caution and let me know something as soon as you find anything out."