Space.
Black, almost endless and very hostile, even to life forms who didn't need air to breath and didn't freeze. Very little of this vast darkness with its myriad of stars and planets had been explored so far, and even less reliable charts existed of what was called the Outer Regions. Of course, there was no definition what 'outer' was because to every race the frontiers of space differed, but there was such a thing as a final frontier, something beyond few had ever set foot and those who had, let's say only a couple ever returned. The others were lost, either dead or gone beyond the rim.
A large space ship made its way through the darkness, the running lights along the hull blinking in intervals, the grayish purple skin almost blending with space sometimes. It had tiny, stubby wings, a boxy body that looked liked cobbled together out of different pieces, and was totally missing a kind of aerodynamic slenderness. But in space there was no air and no need for beauty, only functionality. The Satellite was functional as it was sturdy and enduring. It had been built to last, to fly long distances and withstand the strain of repeated warp gate jumps. And it flew under the flag of the Alliance. Built by the Decepticons it now served the allied forces.
Springer adjusted some of the instruments and peered at the read-outs. Nothing around them; nothing at all. They had left behind the last inhabited star system a day ago, the time they had also existed the last warp gate built close to the rim. Right now there was only debris around them, bouncing gently off the shielded hull. He checked the star chart again and frowned. That thing was ancient and even though it had been more or less accurate so far, taking into consideration that planets moved from their original position throughout the millennia, he was not thrilled to use it. But it was the only map he had and he would go by it as long as he could.
"Time to destination?"
"'bout another day, if this antiquated piece if correct," Springer answered the question, glancing at Cyclonus as he entered the cockpit.
The Satellite had a rather large bridge, but except for the pilots, no one came here often. The pilots were Springer and Cyclonus, who was sometimes kept company by Raven. Lucky guy, Springer thought with a grin, as he vacated the chair to turn the controls over to the other Cybertronian. Cyclonus sat down, briefly checked everything, then concentrated fully on his job.
Springer left the silent bridge and walked toward the cargo elevator, a massive construction right in the middle of the Satellite, and went down to where living quarters had been opened for the flight. In the old times, when the freighter had been used only to shuttle supplies back and forth, there had been nothing but crew quarters, meaning two recharge beds for the pilots. Now, for this flight, real quarters had been arranged since there not only robots but also humans aboard.
This mission was under the command of Rodimus Prime and his team consisted not only of the two pilots, but also Tornado, the Seeker leader, Riverdance and Raven. If it had been going by Rodimus' decision, only he and Raven would have gone, but Optimus Prime had counter-acted that decision and decided that some protection was in order, which meant four additional robots coming along. Rodimus had not been happy, but he had complied.
The planet they were headed for had no name, just a code number, ZRX-775. According to the meager information they had received it had no advanced civilization, just primitive life forms, and that it was mostly a water planet. Springer wondered if they shouldn't have taken Claw along. His Interface was a water-breather. He shrugged to himself, then went to his own quarters to catch up on some recharge time.

* * *

Rodimus sat in the large freight hangar of the 'Satellite' and stared out of the small port hole. Nothing but empty blackness flashed by as the freighter streaked toward their destination in hope of answers to several very important questions, though those hopes were not exactly very high. The meager light of the emergency bulbs played over his colorful paint job, but they couldn't chase away the shadows lying over his features. There was a brooding expression in his optics and he didn't exactly appear like someone on his way to maybe the only source of answers there was.
"Roddy?"
He looked up, well, down, and smiled at his Interface partner. Andrea Shanygn frowned slightly, not at all convinced by his smile.
"Still bothering you?" she asked softly and hopped up onto an empty cargo box, using the exo-skeleton armor to boost herself that high.
"Yes," Rodimus answered after a short silence.
"You can't change it."
"No, not really, but I wonder if there might have been a way... earlier... some little help we could have rendered...."
"Spilled milk."
"Come again?"
"No use crying over spilled milk. Rodimus, what happened happened. We can't change it and when it happened, the events were beyond our control. We acted and reacted, Firefall acted and reacted. We counter-worked our own efforts sometimes and a lot were caught in the middle." Shanygn sighed. "Listen, this touches me as much as the next person and I know Firefall better in many ways than you can ever dream of knowing her, but she was hurt. Bitterly and deeply hurt. Not only by us, but also by her own memories, her past and through the Tjineran."
Rodimus sighed deeply. "And demanding to know where this library or base is, even threatening her of sorts, was not exactly the best way to overcome past differences, right?"
Shanygn gave him a humorless smile. "Politeness would not have worked, partner. You know it, I know it." She studied the metal floor. "We need this information, we need to know. She is aware of that, but she is also angry and afraid. That she suddenly has an Interface partner didn't help either. For her it's both a burden and a relief."
Rodimus snorted. "Burden!"
[Roddy.....]
He glared at nothing in specific, not trying to take his anger out on her. [An Interface is no burden, Shan! It's a gift! She had Interfaced over two hundred years ago and didn't acknowledge it!]
[Because she tried to protect Jayce...well, Scott. Her kind should not be able to do it]
[Same was said about Autobots and guess what.... we Interfaced] The young Prime smiled darkly. [I heard the voices in my head and I was told what it means. Firefall knows about Interfacing only too well! And she heard the voices for sure!]
[She was in too much pain over Gaelon's loss...]
[She Interfaced before that!]
Shanygn nodded slowly. [Maybe Gaelon blocked the voices at first, then the loss blacked out everything but the pain]
[Nice theory] he growled.
[Maybe the truth. Roddy, she went through hell and she survived, though barely. Millennia upon millennia of pain can never be erased with ease... or at all. Scott might be the only help she can accept]
Rodimus was silent for a long time. "Maybe," he muttered, turning to look out of the port hole again. "But our relationship is forever destroyed. Our little conversation told me enough. It's over."
Yes, the 'conversation'..... It had been more of a spitting contest. Rodimus had managed to stay as calm as was managable, but in the end he had nearly exploded as well. Firefall's accusations still rang loudly in his audios.

"So whenever you have a terrible problem, I'm suddenly the only one who can solve it, right?" she hissed angrily. "But when the crisis is over, I'm the scapegoat!"
"You know that's not true, Firefall....."
"Then read the history files because for me it's already history!"
"And you live in the past, reminding us of our mistakes whenever we try to rectify them!" Rodimus suddenly snapped, surprised by his own words. "Yes, we made mistakes concerning your kind, but don't push the blame solely into our half of the playing field! You were just as bad!"
Firefall bristled. "Watch your tongue, Rodimus Prime."
He met her glacier optics, determined not to give in. "No, Firefall, not any more. We all made mistakes and we all paid for them. Not just you. Not just your kind. We tried to help and you batted the help away in your arrogance!"
Now her face closed up and the danger level rose. Rodimus didn't care anymore. He had it. Totally.
"You treated us like children and kept knowledge that might have helped from us. You went off on your own and pulled us into your fights as well. I don't want to say we are the innocents, because neither side can claim innocence any more, but how about looking at yourself for once and realizing your own wrong doings?"
Firefall's hands curled into fists and she appeared to be drawn between simply killing him or silencing him for now. Rodimus challenged her to do it.
"You have no idea!" she finally whispered harshly.
"Yes, and that's the problem, isn't it?" he almost yelled. "You keep secrets! You refuse to let us in on what is vital to know, you hide behind your phrases and proclamations! You drive us all insane with your maverick and rogue routines! Don't you think we would like to be able to help you? Do you really believe we want to see an enemy in your kind?!"
"Shut up, Autobot!"
"No. It's the truth and it hurts...."
Firefall lashed out and Rodimus Prime went flying back against the wall, a gash at his throat that could have gone deeper if Firefall had wanted to. Energon trickled out of the wound and he touched it, blue optics blazing.
"Thank you for confirming my words," he managed.
Firefall advanced on him, but was stopped by a suddenly materializing figure much smaller than her. "Stop it!" Shanygn exclaimed. "Stop it right now!"
And Firefall stopped, hesitating to simply step around the one half of this Interface partnership she actually considered a friend.
"All we wanted were a few questions answered and suddenly you get out the old bodies again! What is it with you, Firefall? I thought after Scott finally Interfaced you'd be on your way to accept what has happened, but I think I was wrong! You want to hurt, isn't that it? You need the pain and the anger and even the occasional hate to feel alive!" Shanygn's voice was full of unshed tears and emotions. "I defended you repeatedly when the others bashed you, but there is an end of the rope! It's over! Rodimus wouldn't have considered asking you, of all the 'kkin, if I hadn't thought you'd at least listen and maybe tell us a few simple facts, but no! You go on a rage trip again!" She was shaking with fury now. "The war is over Firefall, even if you don't want to hear the truth! And don't spout the nonsense that for you it will never be over! It is! End of discussion! And if you don't want to help, we'll ask someone else!"
With that she whirled around and almost ran out of the room. Rodimus, one hand still covering the gash at his throat, followed her wordlessly.

Shanygn sent a wave of emotional support. Firefall had started out as a friend... now.... she couldn't define the relationship, if there was one, but the friendship had quickly deteriorated and both sides had done their share. If Firefall had been more open.... if she had talked about either her problems or her plans or both.... if the Alliance had given her a chance and trusted her more.... if...if...if... She shook her head. Her outburst had been one long coming. She might regret it now, but it had happened, and it had had results. Firefall had sent them an impersonal mail with the information they had required.
No use crying over spilled milk now. Rodimus was depressed enough as it was and he needed her support. She hoped they would find their answers; she prayed.

* * *

Cybertron.
A beautiful, gleaming metal planet, small but not insignificant. It had seen the worst of all times and it had seen beauty. Lately, after the devastating Tji Wars, all effort had been put into restoring the beauty. And in many ways these efforts had succeeded, Optimus Prime thought with pride. He stood on the balcony of his shared office space -- the other half of the office belonged to his second-in-command Rodimus Prime -- and gazed at the bright lights beneath him. Teaming life where ruins had been decades ago, and after what had been left of Cybertron after the final assault of the Tji, it was a small miracle they had restored their world this far.
The war was behind them now and only the scars remained. Healing scars. Cybertron was back to itself and it would prosper; he was sure of it. The Alliance had prevailed. Autobots and Decepticons lived and worked side by side, though friction was still visible here or there. Sentinels and Seekers had been accepted back on Cybertron and they had given their share in the wars and the ensuing chaos years. They had survived together and they would continue surviving together.
Optimus watched the monorail transports whisk by underneath and smiled slightly. For the first time in almost a century there was peace and quiet. No problem, no crisis, no imminent breakdown of something or other. Optimus had time to actually do some of his normal day-to-day administrative work, he could read reports he had neglected for too long, and he could enjoy his off time. Rodimus was on a separate mission for the time, looking for information on the doorway they had found on Earth, and he didn't expect him or his team back for a few weeks. Exploration of the doorway system had commenced once more and nothing out of the ordinary had happened. The Axis II was ready for lift off and would leave Cybertron for the remote doorway planets tomorrow. Spike and his crew were quite anxious to get started.
Everything was running so smoothly it was like a dream, but Optimus was wary of good dreams. They all too often turned into vicious nightmares. Not right now, though.
A knock on the door let him turn to his office and he depressed a button that allowed the automatic doors to open for the visitor. It was Silhouette and he smiled at her, the smile only visible in his optics.
"What can I do for you, Silhouette?" he asked.
"I thought I'd drop by and see if you needed some assistance with one thing or other. With Roddy gone, the work might pile up to your audios."
He chuckled. "No, not really. I actually got most of it done."
She looked around the office, feigning surprise. "I'm amazed! How about leaving these closed quarters behind then and taking a stroll?"
"Sounds just like something I should do now."
Sil made a flourishing gesture. "After you, almighty leader."
Optimus gave her a mock stern look, then they left the office.

* * *

"That's it, hm?"
Nick regarded the lonely planet with barely any enthusiasm. It was smaller than Earth, a grayish blue ball with a few white clouds and a few specs of land visible from space. It had two moons but no sister planets and orbited a large star.
"Yup, that's it, according to the map. ZRX-775." Springer punched in a few commands and the freighter's scanners made a sweep. "No noticeable emission of any kind, no industries, no nothing."
"How are we supposed to find this elusive and secret base then?" Cyclonus asked. He stood with his arms crossed to one side, clearly not amused by all of this. Raven was perched on one shoulder.
Rodimus walked forward, face expressionless. "With this." He held up a small data disk. "Firefall gave it to me." His voice held no inflection either. "It'll go through the shielded signals and tell us where to go, and it also informs the guardian of the base that we are friends."
Cyclonus looked heavily doubtful, but he remained silent. Rodimus inserted the disk and Springer activated it, sending out both the call and the scanner signal.
"Yeeha, here we go," he exclaimed after  second.
A blip had appeared on the computerized image of the small planet.
"It's underwater. Cute," Shanygn muttered. "I hope this tub is watertight."
Springer grimaced. "Not exactly. Pressure's too much on the hull at that depth, but we come prepared. We have a small sub that can take you down there. The Satellite is not made for atmospheric maneuvers, so you have to go down on your own. One of us stays with the ship."
"Thank you for volunteering, Autobot," Cyclonus remarked with a dark smile.
Springer felt his temper rise. "Hey, one second!" Rodimus placed a hand on his shoulder and the green triple-changer stopped. "Okay, okay," he muttered. "Why me?"
"Because you are best-suited for the job?" his commanding officer remarked with a grin.
Springer snorted.
"I'll stay here as back-up as well," Tornado volunteered. "In case you run into trouble."
Rodimus nodded his thanks. "Take Satellite in and prepare the sub," he now ordered. "We have a guardian to talk to."

* * *

Sharon Hauser left her apartment in Westridge at the same time she always did. Closing the door behind her she walked to her company car, smiling, her mind still with her husband and two children, who had said good-bye to her, as every morning. Mike had held Jamie in his arms, so that the little girl had been able to give her Mommy a kiss, while Alexandra had stood beside her sister and Dad.
Unlocking the car she hummed her favorite tune and then got in. She started the engine and pulled out of the parking lot, feeling fresh and ready to tackle every client. And her boss had made sure she had a lot of clients to visit today, but that wasn't something to annoy her. She loved her work.
As every morning, the streets were rather crowded and it would take her some time to get to Strata-Mainframe. Her first client today lived just outside the downtown area and she tried to avoid driving through downtown, which was always packed with busses and taxis, if she could.
Sharon got through Shore Drive okay, which surprised her, but found that the road north was under construction -- again -- and she let out a sigh. One half of the road was closed down completely, while the other road, which usually ran into Strata from the North had only two lanes open on each side, separated by orange, plastic cones. The speed limit was down to 45 mph, but, as was usual, no one seemed to have noticed. She got stuck behind a bus and managed only through some quick maneuvering to get on the left lane.

*

Dr. Kyle Scott, resident medic for Interfaces and humanoids, Interface to Voodoo, was on his way to West Central. He had paid Cathy Lee Russell a visit at her office in Mainframe, had picked up some personal items in Strata, and was currently muttering about rush hour traffic and construction sites.
"Should have taken the bus," he sighed.
He had chosen a car, one of the rental cars at West Central's main depot, and though it was easy to drive to Strata-Mainframe, it was hell to go back throughout rush hour. He wove through the traffic and shook his head at the reckless drivers. A soft chuckle in his head told him he was leaking his annoyance and that Voodoo was listening in.
<<If you had a heart, you'd have flown me here!>> the medic groused.
<<And get a ticket?>>
Kyle snorted.
Voodoo just snickered. Flying into the first human settlement on Cybertron was not allowed, except for medical personnel and the tourist flights, but otherwise it was forbidden. And getting home didn't classify as an emergency.
With a sigh he changed lanes.

*

Sharon had her cell phone cramped between one shoulder and her ear, both hands on the steering wheel. "No, no, Mr. Daniels. We'll get these claims through in no time." She smiled, knowing that, though the man on the other side of the conversation couldn't see the smile, he would hear it, feeling reassured. "I'll meet you at 2 p.m. today. And don't worry so much. Everything will be fine."
After a few more words of assurance she hung up and dialed anew.

*

Peter Summers was in an exceptionally good mood, humming slightly while smoking one of his favorite cigars. Traffic was light on his way, though he saw that he was getting into a construction area. He had seen them set up the construction site a few days ago, but he hadn't come this way into Strata-Mainframe for over a week, so he hadn't remembered. But it didn't do anything to foul his mood. If everything went well he would be at the spaceport in an hour and on his way to Earth.

*

".... and please make sure that Jamie is in bed early," Sharon said, smiling lovingly into her handy.
Her husband laughed lightly. "Of course, darling. Rest assured."
She looked up and suddenly her eyes widened. "What the ....?"

*

Summers steered his car through the two lane construction site with ease. Suddenly his mouth opened in clear shock, the cigar dropping onto the expensive leather seats. He didn't seem to notice. He gave a horrified gasp, his face loosing all color and sweat breaking out on his forehead.
"No!" he croaked.
His hands came off the steering wheel, while his foot seemed to be glued to the accelerator.
"Noooo!"

*

Sharon stared at the swerving car on the other side of the orange cones.
"Oh my god!" she cried as she saw the car break through the cones. "Oh my god! That idiot! He's coming right at us!"
Her husband, taken completely by surprise by her outcry, called her through the cell, but received no answer.
Sharon shrieked as the black car raced toward her. "He took his hands off the wheel!"

*

The two cars crashed head first into each other, the black one getting catapulted clear across the lanes. The other traffic braked hard, though some couldn't avoid crashing into something or someone as well. A silver-blue car was hit frontally by the wreck of the black car and was shoved off the lane. It crashed into a sign post, smoking, half overturned. Through sheer luck no one else got seriously hurt. The road was packed with cars in seconds, forming a seemingly impenetrable wall around the accident site.
One of the many involved drivers had the head to get out his cell and call the police while others were circling around the smoking remains of three cars, not knowing what to do.
 

Several miles away Mike Hauser heard the cry of panic, then the handy went dead. Confused and alarmed, not really understanding what had happened, he called his wife again and again. But there was no reply.
 

In West Central, a shriek could be heard, followed by a cry of pain. Aurora flinched violently as Voodoo suddenly collapsed, arms wrapped around himself, eyes glowing a bright white behind his smooth optic plate. His skin, normally of a dark blue color with faint white and light blue patterns all over it, was fluctuating wildly. Knight, drawn by the scream, ran into the room, then stopped dead in her tracks.
"What happened?" she asked.
Aurora shook her head. "I don't know...."

* * *

The cave was incredible. It was several times a Cybertronian's size in height and appeared to be almost endless. The ceiling, illuminated from below, dripped with damp stalactites, huge mountains hanging upside down. Several reached to the floor to form gigantic pillars. Many were too big to look around and they looked like a natural colonnade.
"Incredible!" Rodimus breathed. "The cave must be several miles long!"
Where the Satellite had surfaced, the lake lapped at the rocky shore. The stone was washed smooth by the repeatedly crashing waves, and gleamed with moisture. Some kind of moss was growing on the rocks, glowing in the darkness like a kind of natural lighting system. The dark surface of stone stretched into the cave, which was lit with artificial sources, Shanygn discovered as she looked around. Set into the rock wall were small, autonomic light units.
"Okay, where's the welcome party?" Rodimus muttered.
Cyclonus, gun drawn, looked around, a dark expression on his face. "I don't like it," he announced. "It could be a trap."
Rodimus had to agree, though silently and to himself. It could very well be a trap. What did they know about the guardian anyway? He was one of the oldest, still living Veneran, he had never taken part in the Tji Wars, he lived secluded and alone, and he was the key to a mystery.
"Let's take a look around," he decided and started to walk deeper into the cave. Shanygn followed, clad in her exo-skeleton. Cyclonus brought up the rear.
They had advanced about a mile into the cave when they came upon a natural obstacle. It was a deep chasm, too deep to see the bottom, and stretching a long, vicious, black wound into the distance.
"Yikes," Shanygn muttered.
Riverdance knelt down at the lip of the chasm and peered into the blackness. "Bottomless," she announced.
"Not quite."
They whirled around, both Cyclonus and Riverdance whipping out their weapons. Riverdance had moved in front of Rodimus and Shanygn, who had not yet phased in. Cyclonus was covering Raven, gun pointing at the newarrival. It was a droid, if you could call it that. Squat, almost like a barrel on legs, with four spindly arms and a dome-shaped head. There were no optics and no visible face. It waddled closer.
"You must be the visitors to see Kamren."
Cyclonus clicked the safety off the gun. "Stay where you are and identify yourself!"
There as a soft whirr and a creak as the barrel stopped. "My name is Syr. Your faithful guide into the depths of the Core." If he could have bowed, he would have.
Cyclonus' expression said it all about how much he trusted the little droid.
"Who sent you?" Rodimus now wanted to know. "Who is Kamren?"
"Kamren is my master. He lives in the Core. You asked his permission to come here and he gave it to you. I was sent to lead you to the Core Complex."
"Kamren is the Veneran," Shanygn muttered, intrigued.
Syr didn't answer, but he waddled over to the chasm and waved his spindly arms. "Follow me, please. We have a long trip down."
Cyclonus growled. "I don't trust this thing!"
Rodimus looked at the little machine as it fumbled with what looked like a remote control. There was a loud rumble from somewhere in the chasm and then lights flared up, flickering briefly. Something creaked and then a strange contraption rose out of the chasm. It looked like a large steel cage with a steel plate bottom. Lights sat on its top and led down the side of the chasm into the depths.
"I'm not getting into this contraption!" Cyclonus declared.
Rodimus looked at the elevator, then at the squat droid. "We came here to get questions answered and there is no indication that Kamren is our enemy. We relayed the correct codes and he answered." He exchanged a brief look with Raven, who nodded imperceptibly. "I'm going to get my answers."
"I'm responsible for this group's safety," the Counterstrike commander told him. "And I say this is a blatant trap!"
"Why should he try to trap us?"
Cyclonus' red optics flared. "He is a Tji!"
"Tjineran," Raven corrected him calmly. "There is a big difference."
The Decepticon just snorted.
"Coming?" Syr called.
Rodimus cast Cyclonus a meaningful look, then strode purposefully over to the waiting transport into the chasm. Cyclonus snarled angrily. A small hand curled around his wrist and he looked into the deeply yellow eyes of Raven, who simply smiled at him.
"It will be okay," she said calmly.
"I'll remind you of your words when this Tji is trying to take us over!" With that he stomped after his team leader.

*

The ride down was eventless. Riverdance watched the dark walls slide by, only illuminated by the elevator's lights, and the others were silently keeping back. Cyclonus had his gun drawn while Rodimus had decided to be non-threatening. Syr handled the elevator's engine, lowering the steel cage slowly, now and then checking on his passengers.
"How far does this thing go?" Riverdance broke the silence.
"Oh, about seventy levels, I think. I never counted. Safest way down."
"There are others?" Rodimus wanted to know.
Syr waved two of his four spindly arms. "Tunnels. Very dangerous. Lots of wild life. Nasty things who eat what they get. Wouldn't advise it. And it would take days."
The ravine narrowed down and turned into more of a tunnel than an actual canyon. The walls kept closing in and it was by now pitch dark. Just then a breeze rushed up the ravine they were descending into and at the same time, light burst up from below.
The elevator had just dropped into a cavern. And the cave was incredible!
In front of them, a vast rolling field of some kind of yellow plant stretched into infinity. It looked like wheat at first sight, but it wasn't. And it grew almost waist high! For a Cybertronian! This cave had to be miles across! Miles! It was monstrous, almost like Grand Canyon with a lid on it. The walls stretched up to the rocky ceiling, hundreds of storey high, covered thickly with the same, glowing fungus, lighting everything up like sunlight. Shanygn opened her mouth to say something, then closed it again. She was struck speechless.
Syr gestured at them to follow and they left the elevator, marveling at their surroundings. The breeze continued, a steady, warm wind that caressed the metal armor.
"Caves breathe in and out. They react to barometric pressure," Raven explained as if she had read Rodimus' thoughts.
He just nodded, totally awed.
Not far away a wall rose to meet the high ceiling, their path leading directly toward it. Even from this distance they could see little black dots along the wall. Tunnels?
As they came closer, Rodimus discovered that those dots were two sets of doors and windows. The doors were made of metal and the windows were blind. Syr walked straight toward the left door and opened it by tapping one of his hands lightly against the metal. It slid open noiselessly and they entered, Cyclonus warily scouting ahead and Riverdance bringing up the rear.
The room that lay behind the door was as gigantic as the cavern they had entered, stretching into infinity as it appeared, and it was lined with endless shelves. There were no books or scrolls on the shelves, just small cubes. Everything looked clean and polished, though it had an old look to it. Syr led them into the cavernous room, everyone wary but deeply impressed as well. The walls were lined with metal, as was the ceiling, and if Rodimus hadn't known better, he would have thought he were inside Cybertron.
"Welcome to Eleon," a soft, female voice greeted them and Cyclonus whirled around, gun ready.
Rodimus did the same, but he left his gun in subspace. What greeted him was an organic, about their size -- just a head or two smaller than Rodimus Prime. It was a female, with long, red hair, a pale orange skin and unnaturally blue eyes. She had two arms and two legs, looked human except for the skin color, and was dressed in a kind of loosely fitting gown. On her forehead was a tattoo, like a star with a much longer point reaching down her forehead and to the bridge of her nose. Somewhere, Rodimus had seen this tattoo before.
"Who are you?" Cyclonus demanded.
"My name is Orik'ra of Eleon. I work as an assistance to Kamren." She bowed slightly. "I am honored to welcome you to my world."
"Kamren? Is he the Tjineran?"
She nodded. "He has asked me to greet you in his absence."
"Thank you for the welcome then," Rodimus told her, smiling. "We are honored to be welcomed here. We would like to talk to Kamren if possible. We have questions and he might be the only one who can answer them."
Orik'ra gazed at the drawn weapons and gave Rodimus a pointed look. "I fear that he is in too much danger for me to reveal his location."
"Cyclonus...."
The Decepticon glared at Rodimus and the younger Autobot's optics flashed briefly.
"Do it," he said under his breath.
Cyclonus glared even more, but he stowed the gun away. Orik'ra nodded, then closed her eyes and pressed her palms against each other in front of her chest. There was a brief whisper of light around her chest, then something moved out of her. It moved out of her! Rodimus stared and felt Shanygn's surprise.
[Oh my gods....! The Tjineran is inside her! An organic being!]
The energy creature took form, looking the accustomed, yellowish white, tentacles flowing around it like in a breeze. Orik'ra opened her eyes and let her hands fall to her side. She took a stance that told Rodimus she was ready to interfere if they dared to threaten Kamren.
"As my assistant said, welcome to Eleon," Kamren now greeted them, his voice light and slightly tinny.
"You.... you can merge with an organic?" Rodimus asked.
"I can, but it is not what you fear, Autobot. Orik'ra is a Host. Her abilities to accompany another being inside her was given to her. I never took her over. We live in symbiosis, if you would call it that."
"Sphere," Raven said carefully. "She is like Sphere. She has a Host space."
"I apologize for not telling you sooner," Orik'ra said softly. "I didn't think it would result in such shock. I should have remembered your history."
"You know of us?" Riverdance wanted to know.
"Yes," Kamren answered, tentacles waving gently. "I know of the wars, of what my kind tried to take from you, but believe me, I do not want one of you as a host body. My life is here, not out there." One tentacle gestured at the walls around them. "I am Tjineran and I am what we always were."
Rodimus Prime nodded slowly. "I was told so. Firefall, a former host to the Veneran Gaelon, gave us the code and the coordinates of this planet. She said you might be able to help us."
"Ah, Gaelon. I mourn her loss, but death comes to all of us one day." Kamren sighed softly. "She was a good friend. Now, you want help. With what?"
Raven stepped forward and took a small holo-crystal out of a compartment. She activated it and the writing on the Earth doorway was displaced. "We are seeking information about this and how to translate the glyphs."
Kamren floated slowly closer and Cyclonus tensed, but the Tjineran just studied the writing. "I can't say I recognize the language, but I have seen these glyphs in my younger years. You can use the computer as a search tool if you like. If there is any knowledge of the language or a basic translation program anywhere in the galaxy, I have it here."
Raven nodded. "Thank you."

* * *

The coroner was already there, as was the police. Two bodies were carried to the coroner's car while the police officers tried mainly to get spectators away from the accident site. The last thing they needed were curious people stomping all over the evidence.
One of the officers was Martin Shaw. He had seen a lot of accidents in his time and this was nothing exceptional, except maybe for the fact that none of the drivers had survived. Mostly you had one survivor, sometimes even both came away alive. For two of the three drivers involved to die on the spot, even before the police arrived, was rare. The third man, who had been hit by the wreck of the black car, was currently attended by paramedics and an emergency shuttle had already landed, ready to take him to the West Central med bay.
"Well?" he addressed one of his colleagues, who had inspected the accident site more closely.
Cary Henderson scratched his head. "It's a mess. My guess is the Streaker was within speed limits, the other was doing more than 50. They crashed head first into each other."
"Brakes?" Shaw wanted to know.
"I found some traces of rubber for the Streaker, but none for the other." Henderson gave his colleague a pointed look.
Shaw stared at the wreck that had once been an expensive car, then back at Henderson. "He didn't brake?" he asked, as if he hadn't really understood what Henderson was indicating had happened.
"Looks like it, my friend."
"Maybe he was overtired," Shaw theorized. "Had a big party and not enough sleep. We had cases like those."
"Possible," Henderson admitted. "But he wasn't buckled up."
"What?"
The other officer nodded grimly. "More than 50 in a construction site and then without a seatbelt."
"Suicide?"
Henderson shrugged. A third officer joined them, a brunette woman, carrying a notebook.
"Found any papers on them?" she asked.
"No. We just got the bodies out before any press could get a shot. We'll search the cars and the bodies later. The survivor is one Dr. Kyle Scott. Medical doctor at West Central's med bay. Got a call from Skywolf, a Sentinel, and he ordered the shuttle to get him here ASAP. Must be one important guy."
"You think it was suicide, Cary?" the woman asked her partner.
"Maybe, maybe not."
Shaw watched as the coroner's car pulled away, then he walked over to his car and called dispatch.
A minute later the shuttle took off with Scott inside.

* * *

Forgotten world, forgotten realm, closed to the eyes of man
Never seek the key
Beware of what lurks behind the closed doors
Beware of the Darkness descending
Step back, turn away, don't open the lock
May those behind the doorway sleep
Let this warning be your guide

Kamren looked at Raven and she suspected that if he had had a facial expression, he would have raised an eyebrow. "What does it mean?" she asked.
"I don't know. I only guard the knowledge, I don't interpret it." The Tjineran floated closer to the screen and one shiny tentacle tapped on the touchpad keyboard. A drawing of the Earth doorway appeared. "I heard legends about this lock, but nothing definite. To us later generations it was a myth."
"Myths always bear a kernel of truth," the Key told him.
"Oh, yes, they do, but after such a long time, even the truth is just a myth."
"Do you have any other files?" Rodimus asked, studying the drawing. It was a very lifelike drawing, as if the artist had taken a picture and added a few streaks of color.
Kamren gestured at the vast cave they were in. "I have many files, young Autobot. I can only point you toward the index, the rest you have to do yourself."
Raven turned to look at the commander. "I'll get right at it. Maybe the translation helps me. Whatever the warning is about, maybe they have files on this forgotten realm. And maybe Kamren can remember one thing or the other." She smiled at the Tjineran.
"Ah, old age is a burden," he sighed with a amused sparkle in his voice.
Rodimus smiled briefly, then nodded and walked back to the others, who had explored the gigantic underwater cave a bit more.

* * *

Just outside Cairo, the incredible Cheops pyramids rise up into the sky, a masterpiece of early human engineering and still a mystery and full of fascination to visitors from all over the world, even the universe. Today was a slow day, the heat almost stifling, and the wind brought no relief, just more heat. The camels rested at the base of the pyramids, waiting for the few tourists to exit the cooler interior, and the camel herder sat in the shade of their animals' large bulk, dozing. A few guided tours proceeded through the hot sand and pictures were taken.
No one knew what they were walking across. No one knew the true secret hiding deep within the Cheops pyramid. And those guarding this secret would make sure it stayed that way.
Nabeh, dressed as one of the many workers who were constantly keeping an eye on the tourists so they wouldn't damage the artifacts, entered the pyramid. He was a tall, wiry man of clearly Egyptian heritage. His skin was sun-burned and weathered, his dark eyes alert. He belonged to an elite group, a group of guardians who had kept an incredible secret for millennia, who had survived and passed on their knowledge to the next generation, never falsifying it. Leaving the well-trodden passage the tourists were led along deep into the heart of the pyramid, he arrived at what looked like an ancient seal. No one had ever come here, it seemed, though all guardians knew of this place now. It was the doorway into the true heart of the pyramid, the heart that beat underground.
Depressing a stylized Anubis hieroglyph, Nabeh waited for the seal to open. It didn't creak or groan, it slid smoothly aside, revealing a wide passage. He stepped inside and the seal closed. Lights went up around him, illuminating a corridor made of smooth, dark stones. He followed it for a while, all the time proceeding down, and finally arrived at his destination: the Guardians' chamber. It was larger than it appeared to be, rectangular in shape, and the high ceiling gave it a cathedral-like look. Giant faces of different deities had been delicately sculpted into the pillars supporting the ceiling. The tiled floor showed an elaborate mosaic.
Yunet was present, talking to A'noophis. Nabeh smiled at her and nodded a greeting, then proceeded over to where the Cybertronians had set up their research station. While Yunet had accepted her position as a liaison, Nabeh still worked whatever jobs needed to be doing. Right now he was more or less a messenger, relating highly sensitive information by foot instead of using the rather insecure open lines.
"Perceptor?" he addressed the tall, red Autobot.
The robot turned and looked down at him. "Oh, hello, Nabeh. You have the requested information?"
"Yes." He held up a data cube. Perceptor took it carefully between thumb and forefinger. "Ben offered to help you out further if need arises. I could easily get you to the library."
"Thank you. I might come back on the offer."
Nabeh left the scientist alone and wandered through the large cave. He had some time left and maybe he could talk to some of the Guardians.

*

Firefall stood in front of the Earth doorway, awed and slightly frightened in one. The awe came from the massive, ancient construction, from what her own doorway circuits told her this thing was. It was older than her, older than maybe civilization everywhere, and it still looked like it had been built only yesterday. The fear came from another part of her, an instinctive part. Something about this thing was wrong, so totally wrong. It was like a dark force lurking behind the closed doorway, ready to strike out at them. Firefall shuddered and walked around the gigantic ring. It was carved with unknown runes, those the Cybertronians were now trying to decipher, and they seemed to spell a warning, though she had no clue why she thought that. She couldn't read them either.
Someone approached and she discovered A'noophis, the leader of the five guardians who were forever stationed on Earth to keep this doorway safe. She was highly fascinated by these robots who were not like any Guardians she knew. They didn't actually transform but morph in a way, and they were older than even the oldest Autobot or Decepticon, older than her as well. A'noophis was a very calm individual, someone who seemed to take everything in a stride and who barely moved a muscle when confronted with something unexpected or new. He had greeted her when Firefall had arrived under the cover of darkness, had introduced her to the others, and he had arranged quarters for Scott. She had to confess he did look a lot like his Egyptian namesake Anubis, especially since he was dark-skinned and his stylized armor looked like an Egyptian costume.
"It's fascinating," she said softly. "And dangerous." The last was uttered in an even lower voice.
A'noophis' eyes gleamed gently. "You recognize its powers, like a Gatekeeper."
She laughed dryly. "But I'm not. Don't set your hopes too high." Firefall bit her lower lip after she had uttered the last sentence. Damn! That had come out wrong.
The jackal-headed robot smiled. "We Guardians know our Duty. And we would recognize the Gatekeeper assigned to this doorway. You are not it."
The Venerakkin sighed. "I'm sorry."
"You said nothing wrong. I am aware of our possible future, of what might be asked of us. We are ready for it, we always were."
"Staying here for all eternity?"
"Is it any different from being a Gatekeeper?"
She shrugged. "Yes, but you were never meant for this job."
"Were you born for the job you are doing now? Were you meant for it?" A'noophis asked calmly.
Firefall stopped, opened her mouth to say something, then shut it again. He was right, she knew. She was far from what she had been born and the same was now coming true for the Guardians.
"Have you ever wondered what is behind this doorway? Why it is locked and was never assigned a Gatekeeper?"
"No. It's not my position to ask and we would never be able to open it anyway." He shrugged. "Why waste energy on it?"
Firefall smiled wryly. Yes, why indeed? She studied the doorway again, then her optics traveled over to the stone and the stylized Guardians on them. The doorway as such was hidden beneath the ornamented floor, which they had broken open as carefully as possible, and it was about as large as the centerway on Cybertron. It lay embedded in the ground, a large circle closing around a triangular center piece. The outer circle was made of the same, gray quartz the other doorways were made of, the triangle of black crystalline stone. There was a faint echo of doorway energies within the structure, but it was dormant. Firefall could feel the energies, but they were unlike any doorway energy she had ever felt. It was weird and also a warning.
Someone else joined them. It was a female human, dark-skinned, with long, black hair, dressed in the traditional garb of the people here. Her name was Yunet and she seemed to have unique relationship with A'noophis. Firefall had yet to discover everything there was about the Guardians and coming here to Earth would serve this purpose as well. But foremost she wanted to explore the doorway. No one had hindered her, least of all the scientists, and no one bothered her, asking stupid questions about her presence.
Yunet nodded at Firefall, then looked at A'noophis. "Ready?" she asked, her voice soft and smooth.
A'noophis smiled. "Of course." He looked at Firefall. "I'm getting a sight-seeing tour of modern Cairo."
Firefall gave him a surprised look. The presence of the Guardians, and the Cybertronians too, was a secret, guarded from Earth and everyone who didn't have to know, and going outside would be revealing this secret.
"Don't worry. No one will look at me twice," the Guardian chuckled and transformed, no, morphed, into his alternate form. A black jackal with a stylized collar looked up at her. "Whoof," he made rather unconvincingly.
Yunet laughed. "You better keep your snout shut, Noo. Come on."
The two let the doorway chamber and Firefall was alone again. Well, not completely. The strange background tingle of the alien energy was there, all-present, a warning. She didn't like it and she knew she had to explore it. Whatever lay behind this doorway, it was nothing anyone had ever encountered before.
<<How dangerous?>>
She smiled as a by now familiar and loved presence touched her mind. <<Very>> she answered Scott's question.
<<Don't tell me.... you want to save the world again?>> he asked with a lot of humor coming through the link.
Firefall found herself chuckling. Ever since she had Interfaced, acknowledging Scott's presence for real, she had found that she could actually smile and laugh again. He made her laugh, he made her smile, and he made her enjoy life again. Now and then old memories came back and each time he tried to help.
<<Not it I can't help it, Scott. I'm here to study this doorway, not to fight whatever comes through>>
<<Good to know. I'll remind you off it when the first monsters crawl through>> he replied good-naturedly.
Firefall sent a mental slap and he laughed.
<<Ouch>>
<<Oh, shut up!>>
<<Yes, Ma'am!>>
He retreated, leaving a warm impression in her mind that she cherished. Firefall sighed softly and left the doorway chamber. Scott was somewhere inside the pyramid, she knew, getting a guided tour by Biztha. He'd be back some time later and it gave her enough time to talk to the other Guardians. No sense in prolonging her studies any more.

* * *

"Dr. Scott has a severe concussion, four broken ribs, a fractured wrist and his left leg is broken in five places. These are minor injuries compared to the hairline-fractured vertebrae in his back and the injuries sustained to the neck. We are keeping him immobilized so he won't make any sudden movements. His fractures are being set now. He will be in recovery for a little while, then moved to ICU. I will let you know when he's moved." Dr. Brenda Roman shook her head. "It's a miracle he survived the collision and another that he was not immediately paralyzed."
Jeff Winters closed his eyes, inhaling deeply. He felt a slim hand on his arm, squeezing it gently, and he knew it was Cathy. Both had rushed to West Central the moment they had been informed. With Steve gone, Jeff was automatically second-in-command, just like Wild Card, and he had to deal with it.
"We have him stabilized, but his body is on the defensive and he is in a coma," Brenda went on. "All we can do now is wait for him to wake while his body is healing."
"Thanks," Jeff said softly.
Voodoo was in med bay as well, almost catatonic. Skywolf was tending to him. The dark-blue Sentinel was barely coherent and when he uttered a sound, it was a whimper, barely discernible as Kyle's name. His optics held a bright, constant glow, and he refused to take in any energon. The burn-up rate was rather high in this agitated state and Skywolf had ordered a constant feed.
Jeff leaned against the wall of the corridor outside, shaking his head. Wild Card was a gentle presence in his mind, reassuring him that Kyle would survive, but right now, nothing could really cheer him up.
<<Shit!>> he cursed heartily.
<<I can only agree>> his partner said soothingly, <<but we can't do anything now but hope>>
And pray, Jeff thought sadly.

*

Jill McKennan looked at the pale, silent form of one of her oldest friends. Kyle Scott. A hospital gown covered bulky bandages over the incision from the surgery they had performed on the broken ribs. A tube emerged from the lower edge of the dressing and led to a container beneath the bed. Electrocardiogram patches were stuck on each corner of his chest. A wire from each patch coalesced into a cable attached to a monitor above his bed. Intravenous tubing that carried blood and fluids snaked to catheters in Kyle's neck and arm. His face, scraped open by hitting the street, was no longer so swollen, but it would take some time for all traces of the wounds to disappear.
Voodoo was still catatonic, reacting to nothing at all, and his condition was deteriorating. Skywolf did all he could do, but that wasn't much. Voodoo didn't accept outside help, which was nothing new. Interfaces shared a close, intimate and very private link. If anything disturbed this link, they turned into very protective beings.
<<Any change?>>
Jill sighed. <<No. He is still alive, which is good. He hasn't stabilized further, which is bad>> She leaned against the door, arms wrapped around herself, feeling cold.
Skywolf gently embraced her through the link and she closed her eyes, shivering. <<Damn! Someone has a heart attack while driving and Kyle is nearly killed because of it! And Voodoo.....>> She stopped, aware she was trembling harder.
Skywolf's presence was stronger now and Jill hugged him close. They all knew that two others had died in the accident as well, one a mother of two children, but the Interfaces also knew that if there had to be priorities, the Interfaced humans had them. If Kyle died, Voodoo would follow. They couldn't lose him like this.

* * *

Raven stretched her aching joints and got off the chair, pacing in front of the library computer.  She had been working on the files for over a day now, though there was no actual passing of time down here. She had to rely on her internal chronometer, and that one went by Cybertron time. Rodimus and Shanygn were exploring the cave system, Midnight was talking to the Host, and Cyclonus had opted for guarding her. That she was very well able to defend herself was something she would have loved to make clear, but she also knew he was feeling under attack. Tjineran, Tji, Veneran, they were all the enemy to him, whatever their names. She felt assured by his presence, and he wasn't exactly intruding into her work.
Now Raven turned and looked at her silent guardian. Cyclonus' face was unreadable and she smiled slightly as his red optics bore into her.
"Anything?" he wanted to know, breaking the silence.
"Not much. Tidbit here or there. Currently a search engine is browsing through the extensive files to get me what I might need. It will take more time."
He snorted.
Raven walked up to him, chuckling inside. "Relax, will ya? We are not in enemy territory. Kamren wants to help. He is not Tji or Veneran. He is what they were before their war."
"No difference."
"Big difference. He is not the enemy, Cyc."
Another snort. Raven cuffed his arm lightly and returned to her desk.
"You really need to lighten up."
There was no reply and she swiveled her chair to the control screen. She had a job to do.

* * *

Rodimus Prime stood at the mouth of a gigantic underwater lake, marveling at the dark and alien landscape. Everything was glistening wetly, the moss and funghi spreading the only light to see by. There was a lot of that plant life, crawling over the walls, hanging from the ceiling like a living curtain, and now and then he saw small creatures among the dizzying jungle of moss.
"This is fantastic," Midnight muttered.
The black Sentinel was almost blending with the darkness. He walked toward the water, carefully touching a growth of funghi around a stalagmite.
Rodimus just nodded. They had explord this cave for hours now, all the time walking underneath the ocean floor, aware that not far above them were millions of tons of water. The water down here was sweetwater, harboring tiny life forms, and Orik'ra had told them that once a whole civilization had prospered underneath the hostile sea. Where they had gone, nobody knew. Few artefacts remained and except for a city, she had not found any more traces. The city was a three-day travel on foot away.
"You think we can find the answeres here?" Rodimus suddenly asked.
Midnight turned, face serious. "I hope so. If we don't, we'd have to search again, employing Venerakkin help. And that's something I really don't want to do."
The Autobot grimaced. "Likewise. One encounter was enough."
Midnight was suddenly thoughtful. "But maybe it will be our only hope. They know more than we do about the Tjineran and their secrets."
"Let's hope Raven finds what we need here."
Shanygn and Steve approached their partners, both clad in full exo-suit outfit. They had been taking samples for later study. This was an unexplored planet in any case, and as long as they were here, they would do some research.
"You guys want to go deeper or turn around?" Shan asked, throwing her partner a questioning look.
"I think going back would be best," Rodimus decided.
"Don't want Cyclonus to shoot Kamren by accident, hm?" Midnight teased.
The Autobot grimaced. "That and I want to know if Raven found something."
"She would have contacted us," Steve pointed out, smiling.
"Maybe," Rodimus muttered and turned to walk back the way they had come.
Truth to be told, he did feel nervous about leaving Cyclonus behind with only Raven to keep him from accidentally shooting Kamren or Orik'ra. She was very well capable of stopping the Decepticon, but still..... he wanted to go back.
[.....]
 
 

He was in an empty room. Empty, gray, featureless. He turned around, trying to see if there was anything else, but there was only the nothingness. Taking a few steps through the grayness around him, he tried to hear a sound. Except for the noise he made, there was nothing. And even his own sounds were muffled.
Hello?
He didn't know if he had called out loud, but he knew he had tried to communicate.
Something shifted in the nothingness, turning a lighter gray, and he took several steps toward it. But it didn't come closer. It was always the same length away.
Hello?!
Something echoed and it wasn't his own voice.
He felt pain. A shooting pain in his body, and with the pain came memories of more pain. All kinds of pain.
Burns.
Cuts.
Shots.
Gashes.
Bruises.
Broken..... fractures..... smashed.....
He screamed and this time the sound was real.
Something touched him and he whimpered softly, trying to scoot away from the touch, but it was everywhere. Inside him. It was .... inside?
Who are you?
<<Kyle?>>
He sobbed with relief as he realized who the voice belonged to. It washed over him, embraced him, touched the link that was the most precious belonging he had.
Voodoo......, he whispered.
<<I'm here>> the voice echoed, coming closer.
He was was surprised to see a humanoid shaped figure, a masculine figure.
Voodoo?
A chuckle answered him. <<Yes>>
He looked a bit like his robot form, his skin holding the same dark blue color and light pattern, though he now featured short, dark .....hair? And eyes! Silvery glowing eyes! He wasn't clothed, but he also wasn't naked in the sense of the word.
<<Voodoo.....>> he managed, using the link. <<What... how....?>>
<<We are inside your mind, Kyle Scott. You were injured>> his partner said softly, regarding him with those unnatural eyes.
<<I... remember..... Why are you here with me?>>
<<Where else should I be?>> Voodoo asked philosophically. <<We are one>>
Kyle reached out and Voodoo caught his hand, the warmth his fingers radiated coursing through the human. Kyle gazed at him in utter amazement.
<<Real>> he murmured. <<So... real....>>
Voodoo squeezed his hand and smiled. <<In here, everything is>>
More amazement flooded him.
<<But we have to go, Kyle>> the Sentinel went on. <<You have to return to the world, you know.>>
Yes, he knew. He had to return to his conscious mind, fight off the threatening pain and fear, the horror of the accident. A shiver passed through him.
Voodoo touched his cheek and forced him to look at him. <<Don't be afraid, partner. I'll be there>> he promised.
I know, he thought, unable to say whether or not it reached his soul partner or not. But after such a long time together, ther ewas little Voodoo didn't pick up if he wanted to.
 

Kyle was vaguely aware. Mostly he was aware of the pain. His back was on fire, there was a shooting pain down his right leg, and a merciless, throbbing headache. Fighting unconsciousness, he tried to open his eyes. He could hear someone moving about, the distinctive sound of mecial equipment; his millennia as a medic giving him an insight into what noise represented what tool or machinery. The smell of anti-bacterial gel touched his nostrils. Nausea passed over him in a wave.
And then there was a presence.
Tentative and probing.
Who....?
What.....?
<<Kyle?>>
It was a whisper, barely even a word, but he recognized it in a way. His mind dragged itselt out of the swamp it was trapped in, but the effort was too much already.
He coughed, his body curving forward as he did so, sending new pain searing through his head.
<<Shhhh....>> the voice inside his head whispered and he felt the soothing caress of the touch. <<Sleep. You will be fine.>>
No longer willing to fight, he succumbed to sleep, his trust in his parnter's words infinite.
 

Outside the ICU, Voodoo tried to stop from shaking. Tremors raced through his frame and he knew the skin patterns were swirling maddeningly, but inside, he wept with joy. Kyle would live. He could feel it. His partner would live.
Gazing at his hand, made of metal and wire and plastic, he remembered the touch of human skin. Same-sized hands touching. Partners in mind, so deeply interwoven that nothing but death could separate them.
Death, driven off once more.
Thank the gods.....

* * *
 
 

Kyle sat up in his bed, thanking the new bone glue material and the tanks he and some others had developed from an already existing, alien healing technology. His ribs were mending, but would need two weeks to be back to their old strength. His leg had a more complicated history and would need extensive rehab. He knew the medical facts, but he didn't like this downtime one little bit.
<<Relax>> Voodoo's voice whispered in his head.
Kyle grumbled something to himself and glared at the stack of magazines Steve had gotten him. Midnight's Interface had pointedly refrained from telling him anything remotely to do with work, just some grapevine gossip, and then had proceeded to needle him about the crossword puzzles in one of the mags. Kyle had finally throw a magazine at him, chasing him out of the room, threatening to go after him on a crutch. Steve had laughed and made a quick exit.
<<Kyle....>> Voodoo admonished lightly. <<Do what you tell your patients>>
<<Can't I also behave like my patients?>> he asked angrily. <<I want to be out of here! I have my ribs taped, my leg in a cast brace, and there isn't much I can do anyway!>>
<<So? Doesn't matter if you sit in a hospital bed or in your own>>
<<It does>> Kyle snarled, real anger threatening to rise. <<My bed is my own. I have my own room!>>
Voodoo was silent for a while, touching him gently. <<I understand>> he whispered, no anger in his own voice, not rising to the temper Kyle tossed at him. <<But you barely survived..... they can't let you go just like that>>
Kyle swallowed, exhausted by the sheer mental projection of anger. He wanted to argue with his partner, wanted to spend his frustration in a verbal fight, but the simple wave of anger had already been enough to floor him again. Voodoo sent a smile and stayed close to him. He understood him, but he would also care for him. There was nothing more important than Kyle's health and well-being.
Kyle felt the thoughts reach him and a gentle smile passed over his lips. As much they were complete opposites, they were also sharing their souls, their minds, everything. Voodoo would deny the gentler feelings loudly and vehemently to everyone, but the Interfacces all knew there was nothing deeper than a bond.
<<Sleep. Heal>> the Sentinel now whispered.
Kyle felt exhausted, but he still fought sleep for a while. Finally he surrendered and drifted off, still in the warm embrace of his partner.
 

Voodoo smiled warmly and sat back, content with the himself and the world in general.
"He's okay?"
Surprised by the unexpected voice, Voodoo nearly jumped out of the chair. Spellbinder chuckled and held up a hand.
"Wow, easy there, race boy."
Voodoo settled down again, chiding himself that he hadn't heard the other Sentinel approach. "Yes, he's okay," he said, unable to keep the gentler emotions out of his voice.
Spellbinder smiled. "Good to hear. Kayla kept me updated on what was going on, but it's best to hear it from Kyle's partner."
Voodoo nodded slowly.
"How are you?"
That surprised him once more. Spellbinder wasn't the chatting type, he knew. The dark purple and black Sentinel usually kept to himself, a quiet and rather closed person, calm and gentle despite his dark and almost demonic appearance. He had been the first to Interface among them. Such a long time ago. Longer than him and Kyle. So much longer...... Voodoo shook those thoughts away. Whenever he thought about the length of time he and Kyle had been one, it gave him warm shivers. Six thousand standard years. So much more than a simple human life span. Now and then he wondered what would have happened if Kyle had not stopped aging, even if that was impossible for an Interface. The aging process stopped automatically. It was part of the package.
What if Kyle had died? What if he died.... ever....?
Voodoo swallowed the thoughts, feeling dangerous emotions rise inside him, leaking toward Kyle, who needed rest.
"I'm okay," he managed, not looking at his friend.
Spellbinder sat down, red optics warm and compassionate. "He is alive, V," he said softly. "Don't think about what might have been, what could be. Just stay with the now."
"Did you suddenly develop telepathy?" Voodoo joked weakly.
"No. I simply know you."
"Oh."
"V....." He stopped, then smiled. "Voodoo," Spellbinder used his full name. "Kyle is alive. He is with you. Thinking about the past, about death, never helps you. Kayla once nearly died of a poisonous infection. We had been Interfaced for a short time, just a few hundred years, and I was frantic with worry. I didn't want to let her go afterwards, I clung to her. It was instinctive. The same happened to every single one of us who had a close call like this. Midnight went into aura shock when he thought Steve was passing away from him twice. No one is an exception. All you can do is accept it as part of you and give Kyle the strength he needs to recover. Then.... store it away."
Voodoo sighed. "He is so vulnerable, Spellbinder," he whispered after a while. "I know that he isn't. We have been together so long, but still..... Every time he is injured, I ask myself why we Interface with such weaker beings."
"They aren't weaker."
"Compared to us, they are."
Spellbinder laughed. "You can be as easily killed by a blast or acid or an explosion, V. Kyle is smaller, like all Interface partners, but they are all resilient."
A sigh answered him. "I know, I know. Kyle's been telling me that ever since he broke his wrist such a long time ago. Still...."
Spellbinder smiled. "Still you worry. So do we all. It's instinct. Protect the partner against all harm. It's our strength, it's our weakness."
"Yeah," Voodoo mumbled. "Yeah....."
He reached out for Kyle and checked his sleeping soul partner. Smiling to himself, he drifted with the quiet, calm and dreaming mind.
Spellbinder rose silently, smiling to himself, aware that Voodoo wanted to be alone.
<<Good work>> Kayla lauded, a smile in her voice.
<<Thanks. How is Kyle?>>
<<Sleeping. Steve told me he's quiote vocal about having to stay in bed already, but he behaves>>
Spellbinder only chuckled.
 

Notes:

- no doorway present
- ancient Tjineran base
- Veneran left it alone; one guardian; contains a kind of library
- guardian is ancient, but not from around the time the Node was constructed
- translation of runes: doorway is called The Node; opens to a contained world were 'prisoners' were kept and forgotten; very dangerous; not to be opened under any circumstances
- FF goes to Earth out of curiosity and carefully examines the Node; a vibration is sent through and received in the contained world
- the prisoners made a deal with the Tji to get out of the prison