Precious Things

by Phantom

Chapter Five

"Damn him," Chromia cursed under her vocal unit as she surveyed her friend intently. Alita was surrounded by a flurry of movement, dealing calmly with last-minute advice and fine-tuning in her orders, but Chromia caught her sidelong glances directed at the doorway. "The bastard has the nerve to send her off on the most dangerous mission since the Ark's flight four million years ago, and he doesn't have the balls to even say goodbye."

Alita turned to her friend, hearing the comment despite the organized chaos around her. "Don't be too harsh on him, Chromia. This decision must have been very hard for him to make. I've seen him on his guilt trips before, and I'm sure this is no different. I understand his reasons for choosing me, and I don't blame him." A wistful note crept into her voice. "Still, I wish he'd come to say goodbye."

Chromia didn't look very convinced. Alita had turned up at her door the night before, asking to spend the night. She had received the curt, brusque notice from Optimus regarding her assignment and understood the mental pressure he was under. She wanted desperately to go to him, reassure him and in turn be enveloped by his comforting arms one last time, but she knew that it would be the wrong thing to do. Optimus had made his decision, and he would be trying to cope with it on his own. The sight of her would smother him with guilt, and he wouldn't be able to think objectively. He needed to distance himself from their personal relationship in order to fulfill his duties. Still, a part of her felt stung, not by his choosing her to go, but by his shutting her out of his mind and heart before she'd even left. She craved a goodbye embrace, a kiss, even a last look from her beloved before she placed her life in Fate's hands. But above all she was a leader as well and would perform her duties with dignity.

"Everything's ready to go," Chromia observed as the shuttle crew gave a thumbs-up sign. "I guess Romeo really isn't going to show."

Alita turned to her friend, trying to be strong but suddenly feeling very afraid and alone. Chromia clasped her hands tightly in her own, squeezing forcefully, as if trying to press her own strength into the metal flesh. Alita gave her a relieved look. "I'll miss you, Chromie. You've been such a good friend to me."

Chromia tried to keep her composure, but there was a detectable waver in her vocal unit. "It was nothing," she said gruffly. "You just go out there and knock 'em dead for me, girl. I know you can do it." She spontaneously hugged her friend, and Alita hugged back fiercely. The two broke apart, choked up with emotion. Alita turned to board the ship, shoulders slumped. He hadn't come. Despite the fact that she had braced herself for it, she still felt cheated.

Chromia's hand on her shoulder stopped her. "I don't believe it! He's here!" she whispered excitedly. Alita turned slowly, scarcely daring to hope.

Optimus stood gaping at his mate, scarcely daring to believe his optics. He had known that some sort of camouflage would be necessary to change her appearance, but he hadn't been prepared for the change. Her usual pink color had been changed to a violet purple, very similar to that of the highest-ranking Decepticons at the moment, Cyclonus and Galvatron. Not only was it a good choice, since the Decepticons probably had an instinctive respect for that color by now, but it suited her feminine form very well. Her weaponry had been obviously upgraded, with twin blasters anchored to her forearms. The changes gave her a more alluring and dangerous edge, something that a part of Optimus that had nothing to do with leadership quite appreciated. But, as his optics met with hers, he realized that nothing inside had changed. She was doing her best to be strong, to succeed for the sake of everyone she loved, but there was a deeply-hidden fear of failure, and a need to be comforted and reassured.

"I thought you weren't coming," she said softly, the words sounding somewhat accusing despite herself. Chromia slipped away silently, trying to give the couple privacy. The security personnel and shuttle maintenance crew suddenly found something to busy themselves with, their positions requiring them to stay on site until their operative was dispatched, but sensing the private nature of the moment.

Optimus hung his head, unable to meet her optics. "I almost didn't," he said softly. "It went against everything my rational judgment told me, and I knew it would make our parting all the more difficult, but I just couldn't bear to stay away."

The whine of the shuttle engines cut into the intimate moment, alerting the couple to just how little time they had left. "I also came to give you this," Prime continued, holding out a sealed packet. "It is not to be opened until you have cleared Cybertron's gravity and out of short-distance communicator contact."

Alita was unable to hide her crushing disappointment. He had only come to give her last-minute orders, nothing more. Still, at least he had found the courage to deliver it by hand and not trusting it to some lackey. She took the packet with numb fingers. Their confrontation was becoming too painful to bear. Once again, Optimus was directing his gaze elsewhere. She turned to go with a heavy heart, whispering a farewell. "Goodbye, Optimus."

Optimus watched the figure of the greatest love he had ever known retreat, heading towards the shuttle that would take her out of his life forever. Suddenly the ice that had surrounded his demeanor, steeling him against his own feelings, shattered. "Alita, wait!" he cried, rushing after her. He just couldn't let things end this way.

Alita turned, surprised at the urgency in her mate's voice. Optimus ripped off his battle mask, swept her up into a powerful embrace, and kissed her with all of his might. Her knees weakened and she wrapped her arms around his waist for support, fingers barely keeping hold of the packet as she kissed him back fiercely, feeling his body tremble with emotion. For a moment time seemed to stop as they held each other, communicating their feelings without saying a word.

At last Alita pulled away, no longer able to hide the tears that spilled from her optics. Optimus brushed them away with the back of his hand, looking dangerously close to tears as well. "Go," he choked, turning his face away. "I don't want you to see me this way." Alita hesitated, wanting to comfort him. She had never seen him so upset before. She understood the pride that he cherished, and he would somehow feel humiliated if she saw him break down, but she wanted to be there for him when he needed her the most. But she also knew that she was the cause of his pain, and lingering would only make it worse. "I love you," she whispered softly, squeezing his hand in farewell before turning and heading into the shuttle, doors swinging closed behind her with deadly finality.

"I love you too," Optimus whispered, despite the fact that she could no longer hear him. His words were drowned out by the roar of the shuttle's engines as they fired, propelling the small craft into the air and towards its destiny.

He turned to see the multitude of personnel standing around, all carefully not looking at him. The battle mask was like a lead weight in his hands. 'They blame me for this,' he thought. 'What they must think of me!'

"It's all my fault," he whispered almost inaudibly. He lifted his exposed face and gazed at his followers sadly. "I'm so sorry. For everything," he choked and rushed out of the room.

end of Chapter Five

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