Book IV
     "Dark Times, Part I"

     Chapter XVII
     "Friends"


     Optimus spent the next half hour
checking to make sure that the base
repairs were underway.  Only one
person was unaccounted for.  They
still had not found Spike.
     As Optimus walked down the
hallway, he heard footsteps behind
him.  He turned to see Blades.
     "Optimus, they have found
Spike", said Blades.
     "Where", asked Optimus.
     "He was two floors below the
Command center.  The floor must have
been blasted out from under him",
said Blades.
     "Is he alright", asked Optimus,
trying not to show his worry.
     "Medics say he'll make it, his
injury's are not severe.  Springer is
airlifting him to the hospital, just
to be safe."
     "Blades, tell Ultra Magnus he is
in command until I return."
     Optimus went past Blades and
headed for the hospital.


     "What do you mean our
communications are being jammed",
said Rodimus to Air Raid.
     "Just what I said, I got a
message from Kup saying that they
were heading back immediately, but
before he could tell me why, the
transmission was jammed", said Air
Raid.
     "Sorry Air Raid, I didn't mean
to snap at you", said Rodimus.
     "Don't worry about it", said Air
Raid.
     "Try to contact Optimus Prime on
Earth", said Rodimus.
     "Will do", said Air Raid, and he
started manipulating the controls. 
"That's odd."
     "What's odd?", asked Rodimus.
     "My signal is getting no
response", said Air Raid.  "I should
at least be getting an
acknowledgement from the global
satellite communications network, but
I'm not getting anything.
     Rodimus knew this wasn't good. 
Whatever was going on, he had to keep
Cybertron defended.  Optimus would
have to deal with whatever was wrong
on Earth.
     "Red alert", said Rodimus to the
computer.  
"All personnel to battle ready
status.  Prepare for a Decepticon
attack."


     As Optimus drove to the
hospital, he could not help but
worry.  He didn't know if he could
live with himself if anything
happened to Spike, Carly, and Daniel. 
As he drove, he tried to focus on
what was happening.  Megatron had to
have a plan, but what it was, Optimus
did not know.
     When Optimus arrived at the
hospital, he transformed.  He saw
Commander Smith outside of the
Emergency room entrance, smoking a
cigarette.
     "Commander, how are they", said
Optimus.
     "Carly is fine, and the Doctor
said Spike will be alright as well. 
Daniel is not doing well.  He's
stabilized, but he's still in
critical condition, and the doctors
had to take his legs and arms. 
Doctor Hollas arrived a little while
ago, but he won't be able to work on
his artificial limbs until Daniel
gets a little stronger."
     "Is Spike awake", asked Optimus.
     "Yes.  He's in a room on the
second floor, fourth window on your
left", said Commander Smith.
     "Thanks, Commander", said
Optimus, and he headed toward the
proper window.
     He looked in and saw Carly
sitting in a chair next to Spike's
bed.  Spike was awake.  Optimus
tapped the widow gently, and Carly
came over and opened it.
     "Carly, Spike, are you alright",
asked Optimus.
     "I'm fine", said Carly.
     Optimus could tell she had been
crying, but she was trying to hide it
from him.
     "I'll live", said Spike, "though
I'll probably be sore for a while. 
You heard...about Daniel."
     "Yes, I did.  Carly, Spike, I'm
so sorry", said Optimus.
     "It's not your fault Optimus",
said Carly.  She put her hand on his,
where it was resting on the window
sill.  "You can't blame yourself."
     "You can't control the
Decepticons", said Spike.
     "No I can't control the
Decepticons, but it was my actions
that put Earth in danger.  It's my
fault that this planet suffers." 
Optimus had never forgiven himself
for endangering Earth.  His decision
to leave Cybertron to search for
energeon still haunted him, four
million years later.  "I'm afraid
there is no way I can ever put it
right.  I've got to get back to base. 
Please let me know if there is any
change in Daniel's condition."
     Spike nodded, and Optimus left
them.  Optimus walked back to the
parking lot, where commander Smith
was still waiting.
     "Could I get a lift back to the
base Optimus", said Commander Smith.
     "Certainly.  Optimus
transformed, and Commander Smith
climbed into his cab.