Hope's Return

A Familiar Bond Found

Several miles above the Great Lakes, Hope turned her wings so she was drifting westward.  Between her shoulder blades, Blurr had finally relaxed and started enjoying the sights.

"Is traveling with you always like this?"

"Like what?"

"An adventure, never knowing where you're heading or who you'll meet."

"Sometimes it's fun but often it's just lonely. I've lost so much these past few years."

"You found me."

"Yes, and I'm thankful for that."

"But?"

A deep sigh echoed in her vents and he felt a pang of sadness ripple through their bond.

"But...I miss Optimus and the life we had the most. What we had in that time together was precious and now without him...I'm just so lost."

Blurr lightly ran his servo over her shoulder plate as he gathered his thoughts.

"You never truly lose the ones you love. You're the protector of the All Spark as well as the Champion of Primus right?"

At her hesitant nod he continued.

"So not only do I love you but so do all the sparks of Cybertron, both alive and in the Well of Sparks."

Hope gave a very unladylike snort but had to admit that he had a point.  Her spark already felt lighter from his words. Sending a smile to him, she caught an updraft and soared higher in the sky.

"Stop doing that!"

A deep vibration rumbled under him as Hope laughed but she slowed her pace and flew closer to the clouds.

"Better?"

A light smack was her only response but she could feel her humor returned through their sibling link. Content, they continued on their search for both friends and family.

***********

"Do you think the base will have a warning system?"

"I'm not sure but I can dodge any missiles that they might fire. I do wish I had a com link for a bot on base at least."

"What about that Sunstreaker you mentioned? Can you reach him through your bond?"

"I never thought of that...but I don't know if he's even at that base."

"It's worth a shot, isn't it?"

Perhaps it was worth trying. At any rate it could be used as a homing beacon to his exact location.

While keeping a mindful eye on the skies, she followed the familiar path to Sunstreakers link and tugged gently. For a second there was a response and then a wall went up between them.

"Well that won't do," she grumbled in irritation.

"What's the matter?"

"He blocked the link, blasted aft probably thinks I'm his twin who he's mad at."

"Can you still track him?"

"Just watch me."

With a snap of her wings, she changed directions abruptly and set on the path to intercept his signal all the while griping about bull-headed, shiny metal idiots under her breath.

After a while, she pulled up and tread air, a look of confusion on her face plate.

"That doesn't make sense. Sunny's a ground mode, but his signal is coming from above us "

Ignoring Blurr's shout of protest, she shot back up into the heavens to follow Sunstreaker's spark. Looking down she spied an army cargo plane and the bond snapped open with a bolt of shock.

Laughing in delight, Hope swooped down until she was parallel with the cargo plane. She could see faces in the windows but didn't care, Sunstreaker was inside!

**********

Inside the plane was chaos. Lieutenant Colonel William Lennox was trying to calm down his men and at the same time keep Sunstreaker from tearing the plane apart.

"What in the blazes is a dragon doing on Earth?!"

"Hell if I know Epps but get Sunstreaker to calm his metal ass down!"

Outside, Hope was keeping pace with the plane when she finally had enough and flew around to the cargo bay doors. Reaching out, she rapped hard three times

The two men stared at each other as her knocking echoed through the hull.

"Aren't you going to answer the door Epps?"

"Hell no man, there's a dragon out there!"

Sunstreaker transformed in the cramped space and smacked his helm on the ceiling. Growling at the two, he gestured towards the hatch.

"That's my little sister you daft humans. Open the fragging door!"

Having no desire to argue with the furious frontliner, Lennox hit the button opening the hatch.

As the door opened, they saw Hope waiting patiently with a smile on her muzzle. With a roar of delight, Sunstreaker launched himself off the platform and into her waiting claws. Flipping him up and over like she had so many times before, he landed just behind Blurr.

"Man, if that's his little sister, I wouldn't want to mess with his momma!"

*************

"Who in the All Spark are you?!"

"I'm her younger spark sibling."

"What?! Hope you adopted a bratty mech as a sibling?"

"Watch who you're calling a brat, you yellow toned aft!"