Chapter Text
Prowl was nowhere in sight, and after a moment, Sari gave up looking and hurried back to shimmy down the conduit to the grate over Optimus’s cell.
It was really high up. She had no idea how she was going to get down, or even how she was going to help Optimus escape. Darn Prowl for disappearing. What was she going to do? She leaned against the grate, and screamed when it came loose sending her tumbling.
She didn’t fall as far as she was expecting, tumbling once before making a hard and painful impact with a sharp corner, bouncing, and suddenly finding herself on the ground. Megatron had turned halfway around- apparently it’d been him she hit- and stared at her like he’d never seen her before. It took both of them a second to gather their wits.
“What are YOU doing here?” He roared at her. “I ordered you to stay in your room!”
Sari scrambled to her feet, ignoring the way her knee twinged. “I had to make sure you weren’t hurting him!” She pointed at Optimus.
“Does he look hurt?” Megatron growled.
Sari looked over at Optimus. Truthfully he didn’t look injured, but he was also a robot, so she wasn’t entirely she how she would tell. “He doesn’t look comfortable.”
Megatron narrowed those ruby eyes at her, “He shouldn’t be comfortable. He broke into my castle. At the very least he is a spy or a thief.”
“He didn’t take anything,” Sari inserted.
“That you know of.” Megatron glared. “Leave. Now. I will have someone escort you back to your room, since you obviously can’t be trusted to go on your own.”
Sari crossed her arms. “I know he didn’t steal anything because he said they were here to rescue me, and look, here I am! Didn’t need rescuing!” She glanced at Optimus. “I mean, he did kind of break in and stuff, but since they thought you were gonna hurt me, maybe you could just give them a warning and let them go, right?”
“It does not work like that, femmeling. I cannot do that.”
“Don’t hurt them. It just proves they are right about you. Please, please, Pleeeeaaase.”
“Your chronodile tears will not work with me, Sari. I cannot, and will not let them go.”
“My what? I don’t even know what that is. Do you think I’m faking it? Or lying? Cause I wouldn't do that.” Sari glared.
“You should go, Sari.” Optimus spoke up for the first time. “You shouldn’t have to see things like this.”
She barely refrained from rolling her eyes. “Seriously? You’re telling the person who busted in here to RESCUE you that she should go away? I’m starting to think the reason the Decepticons are supposedly attacking you is that you’re just so dumb you can’t stay out of their stuff!” Megatron was staring at her, clearly torn between anger at her disobedience and bemusement. “So anyway, I-”
She was saved from having to figure out what she was going to say next by the sound of an explosion from somewhere outside the room.
There was another explosion this one closer, and made Sari squeak in surprise. Megatron scooped her up, holding her close to his chassis as the doors blew off of their hinges. Smoke billowed through the room, stealing Sari’s breath.
“What is the meaning of this, who is in here?” Megatron yelled. There were several clanks and loud thumps, even as the smoke continued to billow into the room, and suddenly Sari found herself plucked from Megatron’s grasp and being carried at high speed down a corridor in the grasp of a black and white mech she’d never seen before.
“What the hell?!? Who are you? Where are we going? What’s going on?” Sari yelled. Her eyes, and her lungs burned from the smoke, but soon they were in clean air again and she took great gulps of air as the robot ran.
“Hey, I’m talkin’ to you! Where are you taking me?”
“No time to talk, little femme! We’re gonna blow this popsicle stand and find someplace with better company!” The mech said. “I’ll put ya down once we get outside and regroup.” They were moving *fast*, Sari could see now that they were out of the smoke, and she nearly lost the contents of her stomach when they flipped once as the mech jumped over a decepticon soldier who was running to see what the commotion was about.
“What if I don’t want to go with you? Optimus said it was my choice!” Sari wasn’t about to try and get loose, not moving that fast, and really, it was perfectly reasonable to clutch at the mech’s hand where he was hanging onto her, because she did NOT want to get dropped. They were almost to the gate now.
“Sorry, femmelet, but you shoulda probably thought of that before you went getting all up under Megatron’s grille.”
“I wasn’t under his grill, I was...I don’t even know. Optimus said I had a choice,” she yelled, but the robot didn’t slow down. The sailed right through the gate and kept going. Sari closed her eyes. Could things really get any better? Really?
Bumblebee skated up beside them, grinning madly, “Awesome timing, Jazz!”
‘Thanks, Bee,” The robot grinned at his compatriot as they slowed to a stop. There was no pursuit from the castle, at least, not yet. “O.P. and everybody else take the scenic route?” He stopped and set Sari down. “Think we can spare a minute or two for introductions. Like the mech said, I’m Jazz. Pleased to meetcha.”
“I’m Sari,” She replied. These robots were weird. So weird.
“Sari, that’s pretty slick. Never met a changeling like you.”
“Yeah, sure. I’ve never met robots like you. So. Where are you taking me? Home?”
“If you want, eventually. The king will wanta meet ya. And we need ta make sure O.P. got his aft outta there. No Autobots left behind. You know the drill.”
“Um. sure,” she said, wiggling in his grasp. “Think you could maybe put me down.”
“Dont do it! She’ll make a run for it,” Bumblebee said. “She’s as slippery as a cyberrat.”
“I’m not *any* kind of rat!” Sari protested.
Jazz shrugged. “Like Prime says, she’s gotta choice, if she wants to go back to the Decepticons, she can start walking that way.” He set her down carefully on the ground.
Bumblebee- Bee- made some sort of growling rev, but just shook his head. “Think they got out okay? Where’d Ratchet and Bulk get too, anyway?”
“They hightailed it for the border soon as I got in to extract you mechs,” Jazz said. “I figured it wouldn’t hurt none of us to give them a head start. ‘Sides, you know fighting makes Ratchet cranky.”
“*Everything* makes Ratchet cranky.” Bee rolled his optics.
Sari looked back, it would be a very long walk back, alone. It wasn’t something she was sure she wanted to do. Not by herself. This place was all kinds of weird, who knew what was out there. And well, maybe the Decepticons weren’t quite as nice as they wanted her to think, either.
“I’m going with you,” she spoke up suddenly.
“Let’s go then,” Optimus said, speaking up. He bent down, offering his hand. “Need a ride, Sari?”
OoOoOoOo
“Is the whole…” She hesitated. “Planet? DImension? Wherever we are- like this?” She asked Prowl as she jogged along, trying hard to keep up with the mechs. She didn’t want to be carried, but they were so much larger that she had to take almost ten steps for every one of Optimus’s.
“This is the land of the Dark Court. We’ll be coming to the border soon.” He replied.
“Are there like, animals or anything here?” Sari asked.
“There are mechanimals, if that is what you mean. Yes. Lots of avians, like lilleths, and other things too like retrorats, turbofoxes, and cybercats. They are all hiding, I’m sure,” Optimus said.
“Oh, wow,” Sari said, and looked around. “Wow. Really?” she asked, squinting at him. She wasn’t sure if he was telling the truth or simply pulling her leg.
“Positive,” Optimus said. “They aren’t very lively here. Too close to the dark court. They do like to hunt.”
|Your court doesn’t, though?” Sari asked.
“Most of us don’t, and we release anything we catch unless it’s been hurting someone. King Ultra Magnus holds by the Autobot Code of Chivalry.” Optimus replied.
They walked on, what felt like miles and miles to Sari, before coming to a strange line on the ground. It wasn’t so much a line that anyone had drawn as much as a sudden stopping of the dark, creepy forest of crystal spires that they had been walking through. On the other side, the land was gold and orange, with metallic trees covered in crystal fruit and tiny gems almost like gravel underfoot.
“That’s the beginning of the lands controlled by the bright court. Once we’ve crossed over, we’ll be safe there.” Prowl said.
“It looks so different,” Sair said, her eyes wandering across the equally alien landscape. It was eerie. If she squinted it almost looked like home...almost.
“Different? I suppose it is,” Optimus said, and strode forward. “We should waste no time. The king will need to know what happened.
“It’s called the BRIGHT court for a reason.” A red and white mech said grumpily. He was waiting for them just over the line, another mech in an olive green tone waiting next to him. “I thought we were supposed to be the slow ones. And is that a changeling? You should have brought her to me so I could examine her right away!”
“This is Ratchet, our team medic,” Optimus said as the red and white mech came towards them. “And Bulkhead, who is a portal mage.”
“I’ll be able to open a portal to send you home when you’re ready,” The other mech said, almost shyly.
Sari perked up, "You can send me home?! That would be wonderful. Can I go now? Oh...wait maybe I shouldn't. Maybe I can stay for a while. Do you think I could do that?"
“We need you to talk to our king, at least,” Optimus said. “The Decepticons shouldn’t have been able to open a portal to the mortal plane. It’s the job of the Elite Guard to keep them from breaking through like that.” He stopped to let Sari catch up.
“Well, you’re not doing a very good job.” Sari said. “They came right into my house!”
“We’re not, uh, actually part of the guard. Well, my team isn’t. Jazz is. We’re just a repair crew- we were reinforcing the wardstones when we heard about them capturing a changeling.”
“Oh...well...they aren’t going a very good job then. Really...kinda a crappy job. I bet my dad is all kinds of worried.”
“Dad?” Optimus raised a browplate.
“Duh, my father.”
“No idea what that is,” Optimus said.
“You’re kidding, right? Seriously? Dont’ you have parents? Guardians? People who raise you?”
“All Cybertronians come from the AllSpark. Well, sentient ones, anyway. Turbofoxes and some of the other wildlife buds from a parent. And gyrohawks hatch from eggs.” Optimus explained. “We are raised by mentors, some of us. I guess that is like your parents?”
“Kind of, but I don’t think so.” Sari shook her head. “My dad is like, biologically related to me. Or maybe not, since I’m a changeling, but usually parents are. Anyway, that doesn’t matter. A parent is someone who teaches you stuff from the time you’re little and loves you and everything.”
Optimus nodded, “That is what a mentor is. The king was my mentor, and I disappointed him. So much.”
Sari frowned, “You seem nice. Why would he be disappointed in you?”
“I let Elita get captured and killed by the Dark Court. He will never forgive me for that. I let him down. I left an Autobot behind.”
Sari huffed, “He sounds like a real jerk.”
“He isn’t a jerk.” Optimus said. “I failed in my mission that day. But we have all returned safely today, thank Primus.”
“Primus, hah. Thank ‘running our afts off’,” Ratchet snorted. Optimus shook his head a bit reprovingly. “At least we’re back in Iaconia now.”
Sari made a huffing noise, “If he was a good mentor he would still love you. My father still loves me even when I screw everything up. One time I blew up half of his lab and he was just glad that I was okay. Yeah. He does too sound like a jerk, Optimus. And I think you deserve better than that.”
“We all think he does,” Ratchet grunted. “Kid’s gotta good spark.” Optimus ducked his head, clearly embarrassed.
OoOoOoOo
Not that she had seen a lot of Decepticons, but that was beside the point. The king stood on his dias, and on one side stood a mech with the biggest chin she had ever seen.
“What did you screw up this time?” The big chinned mech snapped before the king could say anything.
“We brought back a changeling,” Optimus said, which only made the big chinned mech flinch away.
“You brought a changeling here? They are dirty and diseased! Get it away from me.”
Ratchet rolled his eyes. Loudly. “We all know your views, Sentinel.”
The mech on the throne held out his hand for silence. “Thank you, Sentinel. That is quite enough. Optimus, bring her forward so I can see her better.”
“He doesn’t bite,” Optimus said under his breath as he set Sari down and urged her forward. “He’s a very kind mech, and he’ll be glad you are safe.”
Sari frowned, her eyes narrowing as he passed by the big-chinned monster, “Optimus says you are the king. I’m Sari.”
“It is good to meet you, Sari. Were you injured by the dark court. Their ways are harsh, I know.”
“Naw, they were cool. Mostly. Not sure why you don’t like them.”
The king stared, “They are evil. They took you from your home.”
“Well, yeah, but Optimus said you guys sometimes foster changelings too.” Sari said. “They were being pretty mean to him and Bee, though. And I’m going to go home soon, right, so that’s okay.”
Ultra Magnus looked grave. “I am afraid that we need to figure out why the wards allowed them through to your world in the first place before we can send you home and ensure you will be safe there.”
Sari’s heart sank. Her dad was going to be SO worried. “So...you are going to keep me here against my will?”
“It isn’t safe for you to leave,” the king said. “The Dark Court would capture you again.”
Sari squinted at him, “From where I’m looking you look pretty much the same. They wanted to keep me, and you aren’t letting me go home either.”
“It isn’t the same at all you ungrateful little monster,” the big chinned mech cut in.
“You can go home- just not yet.” King Ultra Magnus said, firmly. “It would be irresponsible of us to send you home when you would just be captured again. I believe it would be safe enough to send your father a message though, explaining the situation.”
“So what am I supposed to do while everyone tries to figure out how to fix the stupid ward things?” Sari said. She knew she sounded whiny, but dammit, she wanted to go home.
“For now, I believe you should stay with Optimus and his team. They can show you around Iaconia when they are not on duty.”
Sari scowled at him. He wasn’t giving her a choice, and it was horrible. “Fine, whatever,” she snapped. “Not like I have a choice in the matter anyway.”
King Ultra Magnus was not swayed by her fit of temper, “You will go home in time, changeling.” He pointedly ignored her outburst. “Optimus?”
“Yes, my liege?” Optimus stepped forward, head bowed submissively. He looked kind of anxious.
“I charge you with the protection of this changeling. You will be her guardian until she is able to return home.”
“You’ve got to be kidding me!” The yellow and blue mech standing next to the king yelled. “He’s going to get her killed. Let me be her guardian!”
Optimus ignored the yellow and blue mech, still looking at the king, he bowed lower for a moment, “Thank you my liege. I will protect her with my own life.”
“Primus blessings to you, Optimus,” Ultra Magnus said. “I have no doubt you will treat this as the serious manner that it is.”
“Ultra!” The yellow and blue mech whined.
“Hush, Sentinel. Are you questioning my decision?”
Sentinel shrunk away, “No, your majesty. I just think that...maybe....” he trailed off as he noticed the look on Ultra Magnus’ faceplates. “I could do a better job.” He said sulkily. Sari rolled her eyes.
“If that is it then, you are all dismissed.” King Ultra Magnus said. “Bulkhead, you will report your findings about the wards to the other mages.”
The green robot bowed low, “I will your majesty.” He scurried off faster than Sari thought he would have been able to move.
She followed Optimus as he left the hall. “Now what?”
“Now we wait,” Optimus said.
Sari looked around. “Maybe you can like, show me around town while we wait or something? And get something to eat?” She frowned as her stomach growled. She was really glad that the weird energy drink- energon- that all the mechs subsisted on was something she could drink as well (and wasn’t that weird)- but it sure didn’t last her very long.
“We- my team- are off shift. I would be happy to show you around though, but I should check in and make sure Bee gets checked out by the medics, just in case.”
“Oh, sure. I can come with you while you check? Can’t I? I mean while you check on Bee?”
Optimus nodded, “If you want to, then yes.” He gave her a gentle smile. “You know, Sari, things will work out and we will get you home.”