The Champion's Return

Lost and Found

Hope smiled at him and move to speak when a sense of worry shot through her body. Wide eyed, she sat up, her wings tightly furled against her back.

Puzzled, Optimus turned to look at her. Then shouting filled the air at the far end of the base. He placed Hope further behind his shoulder and slid his battle mask on. Positioning himself in a protective stance, he turned towards the noise.

Two cars sped through the base and transformed into Sunstreaker and Sideswipe.

"Optimus! Hope's gone, she must have been taken!"

To their bewilderment,  Optimus retracted his battle mask and relaxed his stance. Reaching behind him, he took Hope out and held her out for them to see.

The worry and panic sensation in Hope's chest disappeared and was replaced with a sense of warmth and relief. Unsure, she stepped forward before falling into Sideswipe's servos.

Pressing her to his chest plate, he stroked her back in an attempt to calm himself and her.

Sunstreaker looked down at Hope before looking back at Optimus.  Stepping in front of Sides and Hope in a protective manner, he growled.

"What did you do to her?!"

Startled, Hope stared at Sunstreaker.  "He didn't do anything to me. We were talking when I started panicking. "

Sides stopped stroking her back." Why were you panicking?"

Hope focused on Sideswipe and frowned. " I don't know."

"Why did you leave our quarters?"

Embarrassed now, Hope mumbled an answer.

Sideswipe cocked his helm. "What was that?"

When she mumbled again, Sunstreaker grew impatient.

"Primus femme, speak up!"

Startled by the anger flowing through her, Hope snapped back.

"First I wake up in a strange place, then discover I'm in a nest of all things. I had no clue if I was a pet or what so I left to find answers!"

By now Hope had locked optics with Sunstreaker not noticing she was flying up to his eye level. Their expressions mirrored each other with stubborn fury. A sense of amusement broke her concentration along with the slow smirk on Sunny's face.

"Well little sister, looks like guarding you won't  be boring after all."

As Optimus raised a brow at the term sister, Sides gently grabbed Hope and the three of them left the hanger. Hope continued to watch Optimus as he watched them leave, giving a small wave that he returned almost absentmindedly.  He had another puzzle to solve and would need Rachet's opinion.