[ti]Ep 3[/ti]Another Happy Landing [Closed]

[Optimus Prime]

Episode Three | Week Three | Day Two



It had been countless years since Jetfire's name had been uttered. A designation and face that was almost lost in the far past. With lack of contact, more often than not, one could assume the worst, and more often than not be correct in such an assumption. Yet, there was always that glimmer of hope survivors still roamed, and day by day those that had escaped their return to the All-Spark were collecting into a unified force it seemed. Or... as unified as it felt capable of being. Omega One was certainly fraying at the edges, a few threads even pulled free, and it could use more helping hands to try to rectify.

Jetfire's skills and past positions of leadership meant he had a good grasp on managing others, and could offer a new fresh set of views and opinions to get individuals back in line and lead outings. Yet even then, one soul could only do so much, and Optimus was nearing a breaking point. This pinnacle was already touched on by Wheeljack, and it had given him a steely edge as he observed others and read over events that were going on since then. Detaching himself in order to really get a hard look at things with a much more critical glare. He did not act immediately after the confrontation, willing the simmering ire to settle out so he could think with a clear mind... yet that could only do so much as time only caused the wound to fester and rot.

Yet now wasn't a time to seethe.

It was time to greet an old acquaintance.

--

Heavy footfalls thrummed within the long hall leading out from the living area, the gait steady with a double impact of ped striking first, followed by the ankle bearing weight. It was an unmistakable signature of Optimus Prime, a notable mass behind each step that carried him at a decent pace simply from the length of his stride more so than being in any sort of rush. The specific destination was unclear at this avenue, the location of the latest arrival not exactly known. He could still be within the Control Room, lingering within the rec room that seemed to be a decent enough gathering point, or was possibly not even on base any longer if another errand of some type needed to be tended to.

Optimus hoped Jetfire was not sent off on some mission so readily after arriving on Earth. Even trying to seek an Alt-Mode could be set aside so that he could settle down after what must have been a very long journey. This was especially true given the fact that the mech could not simply pick an Alt-Mode at the freeway overlook as so many of them had done previously. They would require Fowler's assistance to make certain things did not degrade further. An unknown Cybertronian showing up to an airfield would be the ingredients to make a lot of trouble.

Primus he hoped he didn't seek out an Alt...

No. Jetfire was smarter than that.

With this in mind, Optimus continued on, cyan eyes glancing within any room he passed. It wasn't as though the other mech would be difficult to spot. If he were within a room the large mass of white would stand out as a beacon.

[Jetfire]

'Lab space.'

If that meant what Jetfire thought it meant, then 'personal lab space' was little more than a euphemism for a box with a computer in it. Possibly even a table, if he were lucky. With the best-case scenario being what it was, Jetfire had been left to grumble his way through Omega-1 in search of his prophesized lab area, as a shortage of personnel and an abundance of work had left him more or less without a tour guide to some of the more remote areas of the base. His 'guide' had been a small datapad with Omega's original blueprints hastily pulled up, with little regard to the rooms that had been renovated or repurposed.

It had been seven minutes, and Jetfire hadn't located his boxy room with a computer yet. Or a table.

No matter, though. He was used to deep space exploration. He could explore his way through a cramped, human-built facility as well. Hopefully. Jetfire had lost the hallways for the moment, finding himself in what was indeed a room, and even one with a few tables, though it was lacking any dedicated terminals. Two out of three wasn't good enough, but for the moment, he desperately needed to have a quick break in order to interpret his map more effectively. Here was as good a place as any.

Side-eyeing the Energon dispenser as he examined the map, Jetfire did his absolute best to stay focused and to resist the temptation of a quick drink. He set his datapad on a table and began tracing a digit along the route he'd just traveled, just as the definite outline of a him-sized person appeared within his periphery. Good, he thought. At least I'll have a bit of help.

Without taking the time to properly register the figure within the side of his vision, Jetfire tilted his chin up from the floor in order to shoot them a quick question. "Pardon me, but do you know where I could find the-"

In the hallway to the rec room was none other than Optimus Prime.

The rest of Jetfire's words were retroactively sucked back into his vocal processor before he had the chance to even utter them, his optics having gone wide. Probably for the best, as given the abruptness of this encounter, Jetfire couldn't bear to think about what he might've blurted out loud from the sudden shock.

"Optimus...?" was all he was able to produce, his tone carrying a subdued reverence for the Autobot leader. With everything that had happened, even before the Exodus, he couldn't recall the last conversation he'd had with the Prime. It didn't help that, in the moment, he was in no shape for an accurate recall, not to mention he'd been sightseeing in space for who-knows how long. But as for the objective facts, Jetfire was looking a lot different from how he'd been during the war. But, given his fondness for frame modification, this might not have come as a shock. While he'd once been weathered and war worn before, the air captain was sporting a modern, crisp, and pristine frame that had no doubt seen the love of many nights of tinkering and improvements. He even seemed to have an altmode scanned, on top of that.

[Optimus Prime]

Optimus stilled once he saw the figure within the Rec Room.

Jetfire was recognizable, while also not. An echo of what was once there. His frame may have changed exterior paneling, taking on a new 'attire' with clean paint that had not yet seen war... but the mech's colors, posture, features, and overall generalized shape and height remained the same. A disjointed look back into the past countless years prior, one that was distorted, just as memories could shift under the pressure of time. It brought on its heels an odd familiarity that cast Optimus back to the eclipse of Cybertron. A time that held some of the hardest decisions he had to make.

At the other mech's words, Optimus turned fully to face the room, taking a few strides within, continuing his calm gait. He tried to relax his posture, for this was not a moment to project leadership and authority, though the Prime still carried an air of professionalism and near regality that could not be stopped. Broad hooked armored shoulders, the Autobot emblem in chrome emblazoned on each... while the brand was pristine and clean, the rest of his frame showed traces of war. Thin scratches and abrasions, scuffs and signs of working hard more so than worrying about one's finish. From a distance, things looked right, yet he was a warrior for the Autobots just as much as a Leader.

"It has been some time, Jetfire."

Warmer words. Optimus was pleasantly surprised the other mech was still alive and functional. Not just functional, but seemingly thriving in good repair with no garish remnants of battle. At least, none that were visible upon cursory look. Mental wounds were another thing entirely however.

There had been a somber belief that Jetfire had fallen when the Ark departed Cybertron, one of the few that stood behind to protect the large ship from Decepticons. He, and others he lead, were among the brave who stood strong to permit the great ship to even get to this point on Earth. His near sacrifice should be honored and respected.

"I am glad to see you have not fallen."

Optimus continued into the room as he spoke, his stride at ease and calculated with no rush behind it. It was once he got in range that his hand would hold out, a friendly gesture, hoping they were still on good terms after so very long. The fact Jetfire had shown up at all however was a sign that pointed to the ideal.

[Jetfire]

Optimus hadn't been who Jetfire had been searching for, but he had found him all the same. He had planned to get down to him somewhere down the line, once he'd been properly set up in his new lab. Ironic that he'd find one before the other. From the way he'd interpreted things, operations at Omega were somewhat stressed lately, so he'd put off the thought of finding Optimus for later. Of course, it was only after doing that did Prime show himself.

The precise words he and Optimus had exchanged during their last interaction on Cybertron were little more than blurred impressions at this point, as those last few days before the Exodus had been understandably hectic. He had to admit quietly that he'd missed the sound of that reassuring voice, though.

"I could say the same for you, too," Jetfire replied, a smile curling the edges of his lips. Optimus's original transmission had been what snapped him back into action, after all. It would've been a shame to come all this way to Earth if he were only to find the message untrue.

With enthusiasm, Jetfire returned the gesture as it was offered to him. Optimus would've received only the most firm of handshakes, if only to serve as an indicator that his old air captain still had some vigor left in him. But also, since if felt good to do so. Jetfire had earned a modest handshake, at the very least.

"After the Ark left orbit, I was convinced that'd be the last I ever saw of you." It wasn't doubts about Optimus's mission that had clouded his hopes, however. He had stayed behind, one of the few who did so voluntarily, to safeguard the Ark's passage. As soon as it left, it was the beginning of the end for everyone else still trapped on Cybertron, but Jetfire had mostly made peace with that at the time.

"So, you could've imagined my surprise when I picked you up on long-range, from this part of space no less."

[Optimus Prime]

Optimus' own grip mirrored Jetfire's own, though his smile was much more subdued and muddled. Faint, the briefest inklings of a tug on the corner of his mouth. Through the years Optimus tended to not emote much at all, his expressions edging towards stern neutrality with faint shadows of something else. It did not mean he did not find joy in the moment! It simply was how he was, and such things persevered from the days back on Cybertron.

"A risk with advantageous results."

The call to arms had been a dangerous game of chance, one that could bring destruction just as much as it could bring aid. While the transmission had been encrypted when initially sent, it only took one bad event, one Autobot to let things slip, or one clever individual to hack the code, and the coordinates and announcement would be broadcast not only to every Autobot that cared to listen... but every other entity in space. A line had to be drawn somewhere however, and he did what he felt was best despite the dangers it could bring.

"I just wish we crossed paths upon better circumstances."

While they were in a safe place and not a bunker or trench among active warfare and gunshots, that did not negate what lay on the horizon. One alarm, one bad event, and chaos could shatter through the entire base and rip them all from their little illusion of safety.

Like what happened with Ratchet.

"Where have your travels taken you?"

Optimus took care in how he phrased his question, wanting to be conversational rather than sound accusatory. He was not challenging the other Cybertronian on why he hadn't shown up sooner. Far from it. He understood and was more than accepting should someone wish to detach from the war. Find a better life for themselves, find peace in whatever corner of the galaxy they choose to call home... No blame or scorn would be cast in the direction of any who didn't wish to raise their sword for battle any longer.

At this question, the Prime settled some, his weight resting upon his right leg.

[Jetfire]

"Everywhere, if you can imagine."

He had put forth as much effort as he could to make the old adage of 'getting lost' as real as possible. Not only was there a lot to run from at the time, but there was also still plenty out there left to find. Finding new and uncharted space routes that didn't sport a military or logistical value had fallen off to the wayside during the war, something Jetfire had both accepted and detested. When the war had 'ended' for all intents and purposes, part of his mind had already been set on reigniting that old tradition of the stellar explorer, both for its own sake, and just to get away from everything.

"I moved around a lot after I left Cybertron. Stayed off the familiar transit routes best I could, just in case the 'Cons still had patrols running." He paused. "But... also because I'm a sucker when it comes to the unexplored."

Jetfire's mere presence here might've indicated that his explorations had gone soundly. He hadn't wound up dead from poking the wrong neutron star, at the very least. In truth, he'd gone through quite a few repairs during his travels, as evidenced by his distinctly clean and modern frame. Nothing nearly so bad as wartime, however. Bumps and scrapes were just the universe's way of telling you that you were alive. He still didn't like them denting his finish, though.

"Been riding a Junker for the most part. She's sitting out in this system's comet belt now, though. Burned out what was left of the quantum drive just to push it all the way here." He left out a bit about having to essentially walk the rest of the way to the third planet over several weeks, however. It wasn't all that important, and it made Jetfire wish he had an internal FTL drive. Another upgrade for the list.

Jetfire reached down to the table and snatched up the datapad he'd been clutching to his chest for the past few minutes, shaking it lightly for emphasis. "I did manage to take my navigational data with me, however. With what I've seen so far, I'm not sure it'll do us much good at this time. That being said though, I'm definitely sure there's more than a few places I've been to that the Decepticons have never even heard of."

Something for the future, at least.

[Optimus Prime]

"You have always looked beyond the known, so it does not surprise me."

Optimus mused this when the other mech spoke of his desire to explore and learn. This facet of Jetfire's personality likely played a large role in how he had remained functional all these years in his opinion. Sidestepping major conflict points and slipping under immediate radar. Most had no reason to scour expansive dark swaths on maps to ambush, when easier targets lingered on known safe routes that were void of obstacles or debris.

This goal to explore the unknown however may have detached him some on current events regarding the war, which made the fact he showed up at all more respectable. He could have continued fulfilling his want to learn and discover... separated from destruction, loss, and pain, and yet... he chose to come to call, willing to help. It meant a lot.

"- I'm not sure it'll do us much good at this time.-"

"We are primarily landlocked at present, though I know of some who would appreciate such information."

Wheeljack had a space capable ship, and while they were not on great terms at the moment, Optimus was not one to withhold information on this level out of spite. In addition, Kamal had a ship as well, picking up those who wished to jump to the call to arms, yet had no way to get to Earth, his vessel traveling great distances to make such things possible. To have a few new paths opened up that were deemed good enough to test out? Would undoubtedly be cherished to make his travels as safe as possible to circumvent some obstacles.

"That said, there have been numerous rough landings through the months. Should a time come that we find an applicable drive, salvaging your vessel could be advantageous."

Every little bit counted, though the crashes tended to be true crashes and not just rough landings. From mangled shreds of metal split and smeared across rocky terrain... to combusted balls of blue flame rupturing into the air to fry out and consume everything, leaving only metal husks in its wake. Perhaps luck would grace them and they could find such a device, or find a different shuttle that could leach a component off Jetfire's ship in order to make it functional once again.

Any type of aerial aid to transport others would always hold value.

Moving to the side to not be in front of the entryway as if he were caging the other mech in, or blocking others from trying to slip by, Optimus would settle. He was considering what may have led to Jetfire being in here alone, when he was a new arrival that had only just gotten to base. He seemed like he was lost, for he did start to ask where something was before realizing it was him... did he not really know much at all yet?

"Were you simply dropped in here?"

[Jetfire]

Going back to the Last Adventure? Even after he'd first salvaged the ship, Jetfire knew full well that she wasn't going to be a real long-term research vessel. In spite of that, the old girl had lasted him for far longer than she had any right to, something he credited a healthy amount of luck with. After nearly every jump, that old garbage barge required a day's worth of maintenance just to stop itself from ripping apart. There was that, and also the problem of finding it. For all intents and purposes, it was dead in the water; nothing to track, nothing to trace. But, he did have his navigational data, and star charts of Earth...

Jetfire could find it, if he wanted to. He really, really didn't want to though.

"Even if we're so hard-pressed for ships, I think I'd rather take my chances at putting one together from scratch... instead of trying to fish that old hunk of scrap out of a comet lake." Some literary analyst back home would've called that symbolism, he felt. The Last Adventure was a ship from the old days, from back home. It was rusted, battered, and always a few seconds from destruction. Also like home. If he were given the chance, and by extension the materials and time, Jetfire would've eagerly built a brand new ship, if only to represent something distinct from the old. Pipe dream at this point, all things considered.

Though Optimus's question was straightforward enough, Jetfire felt his assumption was a little rougher than reality. But, a moment to rethink was all it took for him to realize that the Prime was absolutely right. The old Seeker shrugged, "I had a welcoming committee, at least: Jazz, Skirmisher, Oversquare. The basics were relayed to me, but... yes, I've been left to chart my own course, for now. I was told there was a spare room hiding somewhere." Ideally, the commander of the base (and by extension the Autobots) ought to know Omega-1 by the back of their servos. Hell, if not, Jetfire would make the room if he had to.

[Optimus Prime]

Jetfire's rather prompt reluctance to even consider his shuttle a slightly salvageable craft spoke volumes about its current state. Optimus may have been initially interested in details to log the ship for whatever may come down the line, yet now he needn't see or hear a full report of any kind. It sounded as though it was as useful as those that graced the Earth's surface at full speed, except those that got to Earth could at least have the metals recovered. No use dwelling over what may have been however, as the here and now called and as such he focused on how Jetfire got to this room.

"Perhaps each assumed one of the others would field such tasks."

A mindset of 'they will do this, I don't want to be in the way', mixed with perhaps the newer individual not believing they could take on such a task despite its simplicity. Misunderstanding and misreading the situation. Optimus didn't believe any of the three would intentionally abandon a newcomer to try to chart his own course through an unfamiliar environment. This oversight left him to pick up the slack, though it was not as problematic as it may have been.

"Come. I can show you to an open room."

It wasn't typical that Optimus assisted new recruits to their quarters, but it wasn't typical that a newcomer was an individual he knew from so many years prior. It gave him opportunity to try to catch up with things and learn where the other Cybertronian had been, while still serving a functional role to help them integrate and find a place to rest. Whether the trip was short or long, easy or difficult, rest after a journey of any kind was often appealing, and by the sounds of it Jetfire's last leg to Earth wasn't the most relaxing of adventures given he had to abandon his ship.

Easing around, Optimus turned and took a few strides towards the exit, believing that Jetfire would follow, though he did not move too far without confirming this. His progress would slow, helm crooking back some as if to look over his shoulder, though his general build and armor made such a task more an implication than a fact, unable to directly see the other mech.

"What basics were relayed?"

Better to know what was already covered, so he could only speak about what was needed.

[Jetfire]

He smiled at that. No matter how long they'd known each other for, or regardless of whatever conscious effort had gone into improving it, Jetfire was still adept at picking the disappointment out of Optimus's voice. It was a polite, highly-refined cadence the Prime spoke with, not one Jetfire was unfamiliar with. It wasn't a huge problem, he could sense that Optimus had really wished someone else had already handled it. Thank goodness he hadn't bumped into Ultra Magnus or Prowl while in the middle of his dilemma. At his leader's insistence, the air captain fell into line behind him, following a reasonable distance back and to the right.

"Oh, I don't mind it that much," he returned, his tone hinting a slight degree of amusement. "When I heard the war had moved to Earth, I expected the welcoming to be slightly different." A burning airfield, flak in the sky, once-fertile lands pockmarked by artillery. He hadn't anticipated that it would have been so quiet.  "No gunfire, nothing ablaze..."

Of course, that wasn't to say that everything was running to code at Omega. It certainly had its share of problems to handle, and Jetfire had no doubt the list of troubles would grow longer during his stay. He'd already been (briefly) briefed about several recent incidents, including the circumstances of the Autobots on Earth as a whole. Though there wasn't a room or a tour, there'd been that at least. "Let's see... a few points about general security... the importance of maintaining a low profile... felt a bit more directed toward some of our road-bound fellows, but..." 

There was one issue that Jetfire had felt he needed to address, one he didn't even know he was involved in before he'd arrived. "But, also...." he trailed off, momentarily. There was nothing accusatory or volatile whatsoever in his tone. He merely spoke with the same inflection a concerned patient might have, while they sought clarification on a particular diagnosis.

"Ratchet."

[Optimus Prime]

"Rather different indeed. Upon surface level this world appears quite calm."

Humanity had their own conflicts and issues, yet much was untainted directly by war. Compared to Cybertron's landscape, it was a peaceful planet, not riddled in endless craters and a constant fog of ash and dirt that never settled beneath distant combustions and raining debris. To pretend it was perfect was a laughable endeavor however, but it was interesting to observe the clash of environments with an illusion of calm.

Optimus had turned forward once more once he heard Jetfire stand to follow, listening to what he was saying with a faint smirk of amusement at the lower spoken words about their grounders... yet, all this faltered and stopped abruptly at the utterance of a single mech's name. That one word, it caused his shoulders to tighten, his frame moving a bit stiffer before coming to a complete halt in front of the Rec Room door. Any flickered looks of amusement slipped off his features into a deadened stare at the flat slab of a panel.

The informal approach that had been taken previously, casual and entertained, was stifled and quickly suffocated under the powerful and unflinching role of The Prime, and the strength that it was expected to bring on its heel. It didn’t matter that it was Jetfire, this shift still happened due to the nature of the issue that had been brought up. The entire situation burned, and it would continue to burn, healing not even remotely able to occur as the wound was ripped open violently at the mere name, and rare sight of the other mech. He couldn't afford to show favoritism and grief on any real level beyond what he may show another that befell the same fate, so he pushed up the mask once more.

"Yes."

A single stiff word. He did not turn back to the other mech, positioned as though he intended to leave this area to show him around, and yet no more forward progression occurred.

"Some humans act as allies; most do not know of our existence... yet MECH destroy and dissect. They see us as nothing more than technology to reverse engineer and exploit."

There was no telling how many had fallen under their hand. With new Autobots and Decepticons alike filtering into this world on random intervals with no warning, more than a couple could simply never make contact and neither faction would ever be the wiser. Or, not at least, unless they located such a facility and recognized the pieces and parts that remain. Yet... those that were pulled apart were perhaps lucky, as there was always the risk of their bodies falling to a worse fate. Manipulated, puppeted, processor overridden by brutal technology. If he were not rescued, such a fate may have befallen Ratchet.

It had been hard enough seeing one fall to such torment.

"He did what he felt best to deny them his knowledge"

Optimus' eyes closed some, a deadened look that never left the door.

"Hope yet stands for recovery, yet it seems out of our reach for now."

The Prime's words had slipped entirely away from the warmth and joy of seeing that Jetfire had been alive, the aforementioned hope nowhere to be found.

[Jetfire]

Slowly and thoughtfully, Jetfire processed what Optimus had to say. He so desperately wanted to see him, for reasons both clinical and personal. Despite Ratchet's best efforts, he was no doctor. But in a way, it was chiefly due to those efforts that Jetfire needed to give this problem his absolute best. Only as the Prime's last words left his mouth did the reality of the situation sink in yet further. Optimus Prime, emblematic of hope and righteousness, was losing hope. This wasn't some sudden crisis that he'd walked into, no. Ratchet had his initial diagnosis, a team to deliberate about his condition, and chances for recovery.

And even with such a bleak diagnosis, Optimus was still sugar-coating it.

Foolishly, Jetfire refused to accept it.

MECH was no doubt a threat to their presence on Earth, as well as their lives, but the fury of his attention was chiefly directed elsewhere. There would always be opportunists and schemers like them on innumerable worlds. Such beings were not uniquely human.

He wanted to spout out a message of reassuring hope, something to relight the spark he'd seen burn within Optimus before. But foolish as he was, Jetfire wasn't that hard-headed. He needed to speak with Ratchet personally and make his own diagnosis, which meant he needed to temper any promises he were to make in the moment.

"I preface what I'm about to say knowing that I've yet to see him in his current state, and you are more than free to label me a fool if what I say rings too idealistically..."

Prime, forgive him for his prolixity.

"Our minds are designed to forget. They're far more complex than we sometimes give them credit for, but they're also not so fatalistically simple. Whether his memories have simply been deeply buried, or..." he paused, disliking having to ruminate on that possibility. "....if they truly are gone.... there is still an immutable essence of his being that remains, beyond thought and memory."

Jetfire gave another pause, as his speech was getting a touch too spiritual for him. Back to facts, dammit.

"I'd like to meet with him in the future, to see how much of that essence remains. There are a few non-medical tests I have in mind." Not medical, but certainly still clinical. Heaven forbid Optimus get the impression he was going to split Ratchet's head open and prod him with an electrode, but hopefully he had enough sense to know that wasn't the case.

[Optimus Prime]

Everyone wished to help. Everyone had their opinions on what may, or may not work. It brought to the table a varied view on it all, a new angle to try to come at it that could bring new results. Optimus would always accept such aid, he would always let others try what they could so long as it was low risk unless tests show a greater jump must be taken for progress. This wasn't something that would change. However, what it also brought on its heel was a feeling of hope that rises, only to be stifled or punched down. He wanted to believe Jetfire's opinions would do well to assist Patch. He was a brilliant scientist, and while such sciences didn't translate to their biology one to one, it was beneficial.

And yet...

Cyan optics closed at this, an unsettled somber feeling washing over him as he was already bracing some for what may be on the horizon. It was unlike Optimus to be this way, typically looking brightly at the future and the hard set goal that they would eventually find victory! Though, this was Ratchet, and this threw everything off and derailed him in a way he had yet to find balance and grasp stability yet.

"Ratchet designed the purge."

Should anyone else have done so, Optimus would be handling this better than he currently was.

"With his skill, I believe that should he truly wish to erase everything he was, and everything he knew-"

Easing his weight back finally with a partial step, Optimus turned about face gradually to angle off with Jetfire once more so that he did not remain staring at the door to the room. He would settle after doing so, though his frame remained tensed and ridged, movement somewhat stilted and mechanical for lack of a better term. He would then speak more openly, not sugar coating it as he may when addressing another due to he and Jetfire's history.

"-Then he is truly gone as we knew him."

Optimus' profound trust and belief in his old friend, meant that when it came time to damn his work and skill, he couldn't grasp it as well as he should. To have hope was to discredit Ratchet’s skill. To have trust in his friend was to give up hope.

[Jetfire]

Perhaps more than anyone, possibly on par with Optimus himself, Jetfire knew better than to doubt his mentor's capabilities and resolve. His erstwhile hopes had just been struck a wounding blow, but not one of an appropriate caliber to put them down for good. The Seeker's expression grew distant, forced to rapidly revaluate his prior stances in light of new evidence. It would not stop him however; it only meant more thought needed be given to the problem. However, that wasn't to say things were completely unsalvageable, from Jetfire's perspective.

"As we knew him..." he repeated, optics lightly flitting this way and that, his mind madly at work.

From the days since Ratchet had caught him stalking at the edge of Cybertronian academics, Jetfire had known nothing but warm companionship between the two of them. Such a pure understanding between two people was not something that could be replicated in an instant, or even with haste. In all likelihood it was gone for good, truly. He quickly came to deeply understand the malaise now plaguing Optimus, though ironically, Jetfire was bolstered against it by the reality that had likewise inflicted it.

Friendship was an illusive element. It was rare in good quality, lacking in quantity these days, and had something of a temperamental half life. Synthesizing it was out of the question, for now. But, that in and of itself did not preclude the possibility of discovering it again.

Tests would still be run, of course. Though for now, Jetfire would content himself with present realities.

For the first time though, he reached out to Optimus, lightly placing a servo upon the Prime's shoulder. It was about as good of a gesture as he could manage, though Jetfire hoped it would suffice.

"If that is the case... and there truly is no going back from this, then all I can say is that I'd be happy to meet him for the first time, again."

Jetfire offered the lightest of smiles back to Optimus. It would have been smaller, had it not been for the objective reality of the situation sinking in. It wasn't the best possible outcome, but there were certainly worse ones. Ratchet, as they knew him, was gone. But, thankfully, he was still alive at least.

Better an awkward first meeting than a funeral, Jetfire reasoned.

[Optimus Prime]

As Jetfire's first words tapered off, Optimus knew that the reality of things must be settling in. It wasn't his intent to try to dismantle hope, such was contrary to his very outlook on life. The Prime believed in trying to seek out silver lines that could etch around any bad situation, striving to find what good could come out of the darkest of shadows. Yet, this dismantling of hope was precisely what he was doing by emphasizing his lack of optimism on the situation. Presenting the facts that lead him to such a conclusion as if it were a form of dead end.

When helping others, Optimus could back off and try to see it all through a different lens to guide, but in this incident he was too close. The wound was too fresh. There was no immediate path to be seen, and as such he was mentally walking in circles making no progress other than stressing over what cannot be done. A clear view had to be offered, and it was by some sort of fate that one such view would be gifted.

Optimus was sharply snapped out of the darker silence by a hand that had placed on his shoulder, his frame tensing up for a second as he brought himself back to the here and now, rather than the situation as a whole. With a flick, cyan optics looked over at Jetfire's hand, almost as if surprised to see it there. This expression was muddled, though it was present, only formed for the briefest of moments before he eased back and relaxed, looking over at the other Cybertronian. He wasn't bothered at the contact, he simply was jolted out of his own thoughts.

"Perhaps you are correct."

No. Not perhaps. Jetfire was correct. His outlook was admirable, a viewpoint that Optimus knew he needed to try to emulate in any way he could in this given situation. If Ratchet was gone? Then he truly needed to try to accept that so that he could get to work on meeting the new Autobot that had unceremoniously joined their ranks. It would be difficult, but he couldn't just run from this issue forever. This was a fact he knew well. Yet, even if he accepted this hurdle, he would not give up either. Perhaps Jetfire indeed had some good ideas to help Patch find a resolution.

Time would only tell.

"You never fail to offer alternate perspectives."

Some of the somber overtones bled away from his voice with this, slipping from the hollow neutrality to warmth and a form of amusement in his statement. This was paired with the faintest of smiles that were offered back in turn. Faint, but it was there. He knew he needed to try to embrace these words and take them to heart.