When All Lights Go Out II (TFP)

Chapter 28

"Hmmm, that sounds tempting...though at least that sounds better than whatever music concert Miko wants to go to tonight." Miko raised an eyebrow in surprise and Azura chuckled a little. "What are you going to watch again? Some kind of heavy metal band?"

Miko nodded excitedly. "Yep! Slash Monkey! This is their only US date, and I just cannot wait to go! But I know there is about five or so hours until the concert, so I am just trying to not think of it, or I'll get impatient."

"I guess you and I need to think of something to do then," Azura said with a chuckle. "I have no clue about that band at all, but if it makes you happy, then I am glad you get to enjoy yourself. I still have to wait until this monitor is removed and for Ratchet to even let me go outside. I haven't seen the sun and the sky for a long time."

"And it will be so good when you do." Jack pondered on what they could do as he knew Azura will want to try and walk again soon. "Hmm...weren't we going to do something in the nursery before you decided you wanted to walk around again?"

"Oh yeah, she wanted to play with her toys to act out some Lord of the Rings scenes." Azura nodded, though she was not sure if she wanted to do that anymore. "Or something like that...we could still do that."

"I don't know. I had wanted to do that, but now I am not sure." Azura tapped her fingers on her knees lightly as she thought about it. "Mmm...maybe we could..."

"Optimus..." Azura turned her head when Ratchet spoke and saw he was looking at one of the screens, and she already guessed he had detected something. "Not sure if this will be worth checking out, but I am getting a very faint, but noticeable signal of energon from these coordinates. From what I remember, the decepticons had already mined here quite sometime ago."

"Does that mean there might still be energon there that they left behind?" Arcee questioned, who had been leaning against the platform and observing Optimus assisting Azura with her walking. "If there is, we could really use it."

"I think there very well could be. And since the decepticons abandoned it, we would have an opportunity to check it out." Ratchet had the system scan the location again just to be sure. "I am definitely getting a reading. The system is not picking it up randomly. I'd say something unearthed it for us to detect it."

Optimus hummed softly as he looked at the screen. "This could definitely be good news. Especially as we are limited on our supply of energon." Optimus knew that he had a hand in it due to needing to ingest higher quantities of energon for Azura, but he couldn't ration any of it or the low-grade would dry up and Azura's system was not yet ready for regular energon as well. "Arcee, you and Bulkhead are to scout the mines for any sign of energon crystals. Regardless of how little there might be left, we need to get it checked out."

Arcee nodded affirmatively. "Understood. Let's go, Bulk..."

"Hey!" Arcee turned in surprise and frowned a little when she saw Miko standing at the railing with a smile on her face. "Can I come with? Since it is just a mission to check out some old mines, I figure it will be safe."

Arcee pondered for a moment and looked at Optimus. "What do you think? This will just be recon, so Miko is unlikely to be in any danger."

"I do not see a problem with her accompanying you and Bulkhead. And if he wants to, Jack may also go with you." Jack was surprised when Optimus gave him the okay as well. Optimus looked at the boy with a smile. "That is, if you wish to go with them."

Jack was not sure how to respond since he usually remained whenever the bots went through the vortex. And after he and Arcee had met Airachnid when the femme took him on a recon trip, Jack has hesitated to go. But since this might not be like last time, Jack breathed in deeply and smile. "Sure. I guess I'll go." Jack stood up and looked at Raf who was watching quietly. "Do you want to come, Raf?"