Sinead's pov
Oh. Scrap. What do I do now?
We travelled until we reached a secluded area. Optimus let me out, and then he transformed.
I glanced up at him as he turned and looked me over. For some reason, he wasn't angry that I'd been keeping secrets. More than anything else, he looked curious. And was that hope that I could see in his optics?
"The more I look at you, the more you remind me of someone." He mused.
"I do? Who?"
Optimus tilted his helm as he looked at me. "My sister. Your looks and personality match hers almost exactly. The only thing missing is the mischievousness and the pranks."
Only because my...father would have my head if I so much as thought about pulling a prank. Will he believe me? Only one way to find out. He sat down, and I carefully approached him. Taking a deep breath, I asked, "What would you say, if I told you, that I am your sister?"
"What was my name before it was changed to Optimus?" He immediately asked.
"Orion Pax."
"What was our sire's name?"
"Nemesis Prime."
"What was the name of the senator that you had a go at for laughing at the idea of me becoming Prime?"
"Ratbat."
"How did you die? Who killed you?"
"Conrod killed me."
"Conrod? Sentinel's son?" His optic ridges rose.
"The one and the same."
"What happened?"
"There was an attack on the outpost I was assigned to. Reinforcements were called for, but they didn't arrive in time. Led by Conrod, the group of cons managed to break in."
"How did he even know you were there?"
"I don't think he did, it was just chance. He did express surprise at seeing me there after I was dragged in front of him, but he was more interested in expressing his displeasure at the fact that you were made Prime instead of his father. He also saw it as an opportunity to send you a message. He ripped my spark out, and laughed as I lay dying. I offlined not long after. I even have a mark on my chest depicting it." I informed him, and pulled down the neck of my t-shirt to show him.
Optimus optics widened, and he gently brushed over it with a finger. "How long have you had that?"
"It's been there since I was born." I replied.
Optimus pov
Once again the matrix is pulsing, and it only ever does it around Sinead. It clearly knows something I do not. Is it at all possible that she is telling me the truth? That she is my dead sister reborn?
Now I think about it, she doesn't just behave like her but she sounds like her too. Anyone else would say it was coincidence, but I do not believe in them. One thing is for certain. The others cannot know about this, at least not yet. "Does anyone else know about this?"
Sinead shook her head. "No, no one."
"You have not told Jack or Miko?"
"Why would I tell them anything?"
"I was under the impression that the three of you were friends." I frowned.
"We aren't. Miko never addresses me by name, it's always weirdo, freak, dumbo and any other insult that she can think of. And Jack? He's pleasant enough, but the moment I do or say something unusual, he's quick to side with the other kids in calling me names as well. If I told them I was a Cybertronian reborn as a human, they'd think there was something wrong with me. That is, if they don't already."
I felt anger build up inside me at the sound of the insults my sister had to put up with."Come, we had better be heading back. For now, we will keep this between us."
I transformed and opened a door for Sinead to get in. I took the opportunity to scan her, and it seemed as though a weight had been lifted from her.
She may no longer be Cybertronian, but she is still my sister. And as far as I am concerned, that is all that matters.
Sinead pov
We arrived back at base to find Ratchet attending to Miko and the others tidying up.
"Wow, what happened here?"
"It turns out that Wheeljack wasn't actually Wheeljack." Raf explained. "He was a con called Makeshift who'd infiltrated the base in the real Wheeljack's place in order to find out our location. Bulkhead realized this and confronted him, which unfortunately resulted in him taking Miko hostage so he could take control of the groundbridge."
"But, where was the real Wheeljack?"
"A prisoner aboard the Nemesis. But he managed to escape. When Makeshift opened the groundbridge to let the Decepticons through, Wheeljack came through instead. Ratchet immediately closed the bridge down and the two Wheeljacks had a fight. The real one won, and Bulkhead sent the imposter flying back through the groundbridge."
"With a live grenade attached to him as well." Wheeljack put in as he entered the room.
Spotting me, he walked over. "Do I know you?"
I shook my head. "Never met you before."
He was now walking around me, his optics narrowed. "Your face is very familiar. Although the last time I saw it was a long time ago when I was brought to an outpost for treatment after being injured in a skirmish."
I thought back, trying to remember. I had a vague memory of meeting a mech that looked like him. We'd exchanged words briefly whilst he'd been recovering but we hadn't really gotten to know each other.
Optimus came in at that point and Wheeljack looked up. His optics met my brothers for a few moments. He nodded.
Bulkhead came in at that moment. "Well Jackie, now you're here, you need an alt-mode."
"I'm sorry Bulk, but I'm not staying."
"What?" Jack exclaimed.
"You're leaving?" Miko asked.
"I'll be here for a few days whilst I fix my ship, and then I'll be off."
"You will come back though, won't you?" I couldn't help asking.
"Wheeljack may leave, but he always comes back." Bulkhead spoke up as Wheeljack winked at me.
------------------------------------------------
It was three days later, and I was stood with the kids, my brother and Bulkhead. Over my shoulder, I carried a new quiver that Wheeljack had given me along with a bundle of arrows. These worked in two ways. I could use them as regular arrows, or, if I pressed a button near the end, to blow things up.
"Wheeljack, please know that you will always have a haven here." Optimus told him. He nodded and then turned to Bulkhead.
"You know Bulk, there is room for two in here, even for your backside. We could travel together, see what's out there, maybe find some of the old crew."
Bulkhead was very tempted, but one look at Miko told him where he belonged.
"My place is here, with her."
Wheeljack turned to Miko. "If anything happens to my favourite wrecker, I'm coming after you."
"I'll take good care of him," She promised. "Now, say cheese." Her phone clicked as she took a photo of the pair.
They then watched as Wheeljack got in his ship, took off and flew away.
