Hope's Return

A Fiery Welcome

Hope just smiled as she listened to the two mechs bicker. Her family was finally together again. Sure, there were some rough spots to work out between the twins and now Blurr but she had confidence in the strength of their bonds.

Falling in line with the cargo plane, she followed it towards the new base. Sunstreaker had reassured her that several bots she knew were there as well as a few new ones. Oddly though, her spark began pulsing and tugging her towards the base with a sense of urgency.

The two mechs felt the echo of the pull and looked towards her with concern in their optics. Hope had paused in flight, her optics unfocused as she studied the pull. Swinging her helm, she went into a nose dive and hurtled towards the base below.

She could vaguely make out Sunstreaker yelling into his com link as blaster fire came from below. Dodging lithely, she avoided the blasts and landed in the midst of the airfield.  Summoning a shield, she sat and waited for the fire power to cease.

The blasts slowed and finally stopped revealing the three still protected by the shield. Hope spoke almost as if she was musing out loud. 

"Odd, I expected a warm reception  but not hot blaster fire. Perhaps, more of a warning next time?"

As she finished, she turned to Sunstreaker who was still yelling into his com link. Nudging him gently, she curled her body around both mechs and waited for the welcoming party.

It wasn't long before a row of vehicles filed out of base and surrounded them. A GMC Topkick was the first to transform and cautiously approach. Hope smiled as she recognized the weapon specialist but continued to wait in silence.

He came within 20 feet of them, his optics scanning her relaxed form. True to his nature, he kept his cannons powered up and trained on her, waiting for a sign of agression. Sunstreaker though, was a bit more impatient.

"For Primus sake, lower your weapon Ironhide. It's Hope you dumb aft!"

Ironhide's optics met Hope's, who in response winked slowly at him. Unfurling herself from the two mechs, she stepped forward, deactivating the force field. He stood there as she approached and settled in front of him.

Ironhide reached up a shaking servo and lightly touched her scales. For a moment he stood there, his face plate blank than like a breaking storm, a grin spread across it. With a wild yelp, he encircled her neck as much as he could.

The rest of the vehicles transformed revealing old and new mechs but not the one she missed almost as much as Optimus. Lowering her head, she spoke quietly to Ironhide.

He nodded in response to her question and pointed towards the base. Her optics lit up and she took a large step towards the hanger doors and was immediately surrounded by bots celebrating her return.

Snorting a little, she spread her wings before taking a giant leap. Soaring over the cargo plane that had just landed, she continued on her way into the hanger leaving behind a stunned silence.

Lennox and Epps turned to Sunstreaker and Blurr who were shaking their helms at their siblings abrupt behavior. Ironhide just grinned and remarked off handily.

"Same old Hope. Looks like life on Base is going to get interesting again."

"Hide...that's an understatement if I ever heard one!"

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

Ratchet was a mere shadow of the mech he used to be. It had all started when Optimus and Hope had become spark mates. True, he had tried to be happy for his best friend and untold love but that had ended with their deaths.

Optimus sacrificing himself to save Cybertron had been a bitter blow. The fact Hope had been inconsolable with grief at the loss of her sparkmate had been understandable.

But when the All Spark had also claimed her spark to help heal Cybertron itself? That was the final straw. Ratchet had watched helplessly as Hope had become a bright flame of power before transforming into her dragon mode and settling on the dark surface of his home planet.

When the brightness had faded, there was a stone statue where Hope once stood.  Her power had gone into the planet, healing the wounded land. He remembered running to her but all that was left was a life less husk of a monument.  He had fallen to his knees and wept openingly for the mech and femme he had loved.

Now he remained on Earth with the humans. Cybertron was to painful for him to be on. The statues of his friends were a grave reminder of how much he had lost. During the day, he worked himself until he was to tired to function and then cried himself to sleep.

Every day was the same. Get up, work to exhaustion, than weep. Fellow comrades would attempt to talk him through his grief, even Arcee who had lost two partners of her own until Cliff Jumper had been restored by Hope. But it was to no avail. Ratchet continued on, his spark fading with each day. Until that moment a loud shout was heard from the grounds.

He turned towards the heavy bay doors and caught the glimpse of something metallic and huge. His optics widened in shock as he took in the glory of his former love. Hope had returned.

His ped steps fumbling, he stumbled to the door. Certain his mind was playing tricks on him, he stepped hesitantly up to the dragon who gazed down at him.

"Hope?"

His voice choked out her name and the dragon transformed into the femme he had loved so much and threw herself into his arms.

"Hello Ratchet" was all she said.

Together they stood in silence, tears rolling down both their face plates. They grieved for the mech they had both lost. Finally she pulled back and smiled at him through her tears.

"We have much to catch up on huh?"

Ratchet just gave a watery chuckle and embraced her once more. It could wait. His angel had returned home.