Ironhide in pieces

Chapter 2: No keeping secrets

He was outside again, against the better wishes of everyone. He sighed looking out to the world. This cliff was his new ‘spot’. If Ironhide was not in recharge, he was here. There was something familiar about looking of this ledge, something that reminded him of home. He could not place it, but he liked it.

It was this feeling that drew him out of the hanger and into the open world. He turned his head taking note of a small group of three deer that were moving down into the ravine. He also had a coyote on his sensors. Something about watching the hunt of these small creatures intrigued him. However, the hunts of small creatures did not give Ironhide insight into human behavior. They seemed to defy all reason.

He made a point to take a mental image of the deer. He liked them, they were small and simple creatures, and their instinct was something of a marvel to even him.

“Ironhide.” A voice broke him from his focus, and the deer had heard it too. They bound away from the direction of the bots and the coyote, and made their way out of the ravine. “am I bothering you?”

Ironhide shook his head. “No.”

“Come back with me.” Optimus motioned “Let’s go I won’t stand for this much longer.”

Ironhide nodded and let out a grunt turning and following Optimus back down the small hill, to the hangers. “I have told you I’m fine.”

“And I have told you old friend that I will not let this go on.” He continued to walk. “You are still my weapons expert, and you are a fine soldier.”

“However I am confined to Base, and that hanger.” He glared. “I will not be treated like an animal prime.” He continued to walk down the small hill and back to the buildings.

“You haven’t told him.” Optimus responded flatly. “You have four breams to get it out to Ratchet, or I will inform him myself.” Optimus was serious this time.

“Of course…” Ironhide was being condescending as he pushed back the hanger door.

“I mean it.” Optimus didn’t like his tone. Ironhide paused to respond.

“I know you do.” Ironhide replied and moved back into the hanger and sat back down on the back of the bed of the truck.

“Good you’re back from your walkabout.” Ratchet walked up. “You need to not do things like that.” Ratchet was taken aback by Ironhide’s look. “Is something wrong Ironhide?”

“Look, there’s something I need to tell you.” Ironhide shook his head “I don’t want Prime to do it, so I’m going to say it myself.” He stood and turned to Ratchet. “I don’t want to hear a word of this to the little one.”

“If it’s medical then Bumblebee would have no reason to need to know.” Ratchet raised his optic ridge up. “What’s wrong?”

Ironhide lifted an arm up and pulled his chest panel back and turned showing Ratchet the spark casing. “It’s spreading, and there’s no stopping it now.”

“Rust rot.” He sighed “Why didn’t you let me know?” He reached up touching the side of the chamber. Ironhide bit back a response. Ratchet shook his head drawing his hand back “It’s what’s causing you discomfort, not your hip.”

Ironhide let his chest plate close and seal with a grunt turning away.

“Ironhide quit being so proud, and get back to the hanger.” Ratchet pulled his arm to get him walking and followed him without a word for many moments before he spoke again. “It was that slaggin pool you landed in.”

“That is what I believe as well.” Ironhide moved into the hanger, with ratchet behind him. “There were many chemicals in that small body of water.”

“Yes, humans do that to keep the water clean.” Ratchet turned “Give me a moment to find some things, we can replace some of this, but your chamber…I’m …going to just have to wait and see what I can do about that…” Ratchet motioned him back up on the truck bed.

Ironhide complied and sat down. The rust rot was across his spark chamber, and had effectively sealed it off. The rot continued up his right shoulder assembly.

Ironhide had hidden his condition well knowing it very well could cost him everything. He was hoping to just fall in battle. It was how he wanted to go, his idea of his spark extinguishing in old age did not sit well with him. He wanted to die for something.

“I’ve lived with this for months now. Take your time Ratchet.”

“I should slag you right now, and Optimus too. If he knew this was going on he very well should have told me.” Ratchet turned “Don’t leave…and I mean that Ironhide…when I get back your aft better be here.” Ratchet exited the hanger. “Optimus a word…” He caught his leader speaking with a few of the humans.

“Excuse me.” He told the humans standing moving to Ratchet “He told you?”

“Yes, and I must say I’m disappointed in you, this is a serious condition.” Ratchet said.

“The decision to tell you needed to be his.” Optimus said and sighed “what can we do for him?”

“Other than replace some parts and keep him comfortable I’m not sure.” Ratchet looked down to the humans. “Call your superiors; I need a large amount of something called Stainless Steel.” The humans nodded and headed back into the hanger. “Optimus it’s across is spark chamber, it’s effectively sealing it off, there’s no way to get in it at this point.” Ratchet shook his head “Why did you let him keep this? Why would you let him get this bad Prime? That’s what I don’t understand.”

“He told me about it weeks ago, but he did not inform me as to the severity of the spread. Nor would I as a friend betray him by saying anything, but in recent days I’ve noticed a change in him. I knew it had the be the rot taking him over…so at that point where he is hurting himself to keep the secret; It is my duty to tell you, but I gave him the option to tell you himself and save his pride.”

“You’re a good friend Optimus, but I need to know things like this.” Ratchet shook his head “The all spark is gone, we could be all that’s left, and I won’t let any of us go…especially not like this, not to rust rot.”

Optimus nodded. “I understand Ratchet.”

“Because of this you and Bumblebee are getting full checks. I mean it…I’m not going to have bumblebee in my hanger in a few weeks cause he’s too proud too.”

“Bumblebee is not proud.” Optimus let out a small laugh.

“No but the rest of us are.” Ratchet sighed “Just let him know he’s on my list.”

“Very well.” Optimus shook his head as Ratchet turned and barked at the humans to get his steel as soon as possible.

“Sir it’s in Tranquility they are waiting for a truck to pick it up.” The man told Ratchet. Ratchet only turned and pointed to Optimus.

“Do you see that? That is a semi truck…get that stainless steel here…TODAY.” Ratchet stormed off. Optimus looked down to the humans.

“He is upset, do not mind him. I will help you retrieve the Steel.” He transformed and opened the doors of his cab. “If there is a trailer there I can bring it back here.”

The two humans climbed up into the cab and Optimus pulled away from the base.

Ironhide sighed and look down at his chamber and touched the rust. His chamber was becoming brittle. He didn’t like the feeling and he wished it would just go away. He leaned up against the small side of the truck bed that had been left on and offlined his optics. With a sigh he tried to recharge.