Alita gazed at the viewscreen, watching her home recede into the distance. She twisted her hands in her lap, trying to regain control over her rampaging emotions. She had to be strong now and calm herself for the task ahead. She couldn't allow any emotion to cloud her judgment. When she felt that she had regained control, she decided to prepare herself for her mission. She turned and picked up the packet beside her, eager to immerse herself in last-minute details. She frowned at the paper she withdrew. This wasn't the standard last-minute briefing- the format was completely different. What could it be?
She gasped, her hand flying to her mouth as she read the message before her. "Oh, Optimus," she choked, her optics widening at her lover's final words to her.
My Dearest Love,
I have so many things to beg your pardon for. I cannot hope that you will even read this to its conclusion, since it is I that have sent you off like a Terran lamb to the slaughter, but somehow I feel that you will not deny me this last time to voice my sentiments. You know very well that I dislike such letters as these, for they always come out saccharine and overblown, but every word that I write here is the truth. My cerebral processor tells me that my decision to send you away was correct, but my soul is screaming inside at the loss. You were with me from the start, helping me deal with my new responsibilities and understanding when I needed someone to hold my hand. You deserved so much better than what I was able to provide, a lover who had very little time to devote to you and always put his work first. I could tell that it hurt you, but you refused to let me see how much. And now this is the final blow, sacrificing you for the good of the others, those who always stood between us. All I can to is say I'm sorry, and that I will bear this burden for a very long time. I know that these words come too late, and perhaps it is more a purging of my soul than a last goodbye, but I can't leave this unsaid. Our relationship was doomed right from the moment of our rebirth, and yet I couldn't let go of what we had. I would like awake at night gazing at you, wondering how I could ever find the strength to say goodbye. I knew I couldn't be there for you when you needed me, and that I was only singling you out as a target for our enemies. But every time I'd open my mouth, I'd fall in love all over again. Many times I felt as if I were taking advantage of you, leaning on you when I needed moral support yet never there when you felt lonely. I should have let you go to seek your own happiness, to find someone who was truly worthy of you, but I held onto you desperately, like a priceless jewel too valuable to be exhibited freely. You committed to me for all of those millions of years, but I could never fully acknowledge our relationship together. We were both so sure that the war would end soon. I look back on that innocent hopefulness now with incredulity. All our enthusiastic plans eventually decayed and were scattered to the dark corners of our minds. I swore time and time again that we would be united when this nightmare ended. Now I find it is just beginning, but I can't let you go out of my life without making good on my promise. I will never know if you accept or not, but I will always be hoping. I will wear my bonding bracelet for the rest of my days, letting it be a reminder of all that I loved and lost. We may never have gotten a chance to bond officially, but we will always be united in my heart.
Goodbye, my most precious love. I will never forget you.
Orion
Alita choked back a sob as droplets of cleansing fluid streamed down her face, dampening the paper. "Such a romantic old fool," she sighed. The letter did get a bit syrupy at times, but that was just the way he was. Underneath his no-nonsense exterior beat the fuel pump of a hopeless romantic. For once he had been able to expose his feelings completely without fear of letting his position get in the way, even though the irony of it was that that was the reason why she was here. She reached into the packet and withdrew a polished bonding bracelet, woven out of red, white, and blue strands of metal. Her trembling lips formed a radiant smile as she slipped the bracelet over her delicate wrist, relishing its weight. She was determined now to beat the odds, to perform her task and escape to return to her newly bonded partner.
"So much has been cheated from us already. I won't let it happen again!" she vowed. "I will come back to you, Optimus!"