Chapter Text
Glass crunched under her boots as Mikaela stepped into the ancient building. The place clearly hadn’t seen a living being in ages, as none of the damaged walls or ceilings had been cleared away when they fell after the attack, but someone had lived here at some point if the remains of the nearby tarp and heating element were any indication.
“This is where Optimus grew up, huh?” She asked quietly. He voice felt overly loud in her ears, thanks to the exo suit she still wasn’t quite used to.
“What’s left of it, yeah.” Jazz nodded. “The Celestial Temple used to be our holiest place, the home of the Primes before Iacon was even founded. Some mechs believed it was connected to the spark of the Creator himself, though I always thought that was slag. You could never see Primus’ sparklight here, but you could in Polyhex.”
“There’s a lot to unpack there, Jazz.”
“I know.” Jazz turned to her with a smile. “Optimus tried to tell you once, though. Our planet isn’t just a planet, it’s the body of our creator. He sleeps while we live on his plating, until the Great Destroyer comes to end the universe. Or so the story goes. Dunno how much I believe, but I do know you can see Primus’ spark in the ocean just past the city where I grew up.”
“Huh. Never took you for the religious type at all.” Mikaela stepped further into the room, taking the surviving archetecture and trying to imagine what the temple had looked like when Optimus was growing up.
“Ain’t usually. There’s some things you can’t deny, though.”
“Like Primus’ spark glowing in the Mercury Sea,” Optimus agreed from behind them. “A place we should visit, before we return to Earth, if we can.”
“Sounds great to me, big bot.” Jazz grinned as he turned to look at his leader. “How’s it feel being home?”
“Surreal, if I am being honest. Though, the temple has held up better than I expected.”
“Yeah.” Jazz nodded. “I imagine I’ll know exactly how you feel when we get to Polyhex.”
“Very likely.” Optimus nodded and then turned his focus to the temple itself for seveal moments. “Based on your scouting trip, do the two of you think we are able to rest here for the night, or should we put up the portable shelters?”
“We could probably sleep here fine,” Mikaela replied, “But I want my tent at least. This exo suit is not comfortable enough to sleep in.”
“Can’t cuddle you for slag in it either,” Jazz agreed.
Optimus laughed at the two of them, but didn't argue.