Categories
Transformers: Mobian Chronicles Transformers: Mobian Chronicles (Arc 17: Living Stories)

TMC 17-23

Like she suspected, Strongarm had a burr on her rotator. As she treated it, she told Optimus, Kup, Prowl, and Windblade about what Chromia told her. “Sounds like she’s put a lot of thought into this,” muttered Prowl.

“I’d say she’s been thinking about it before this all went down,” remarked Strongarm.

“She’s raised some good points,” remarked Kup. “I mean, how much longer do we actually have?”

“If it’s such a problem,” growled Windblade, “why don’t us old fogeys all go for medical euthanasia?! Because we’re not stupid!”

“So, anyone who chooses to die like that,” snapped Optimus, “is stupid in your book, Mom?”

“If they refused the options available to them, yes!”

“Even if those options have a low chance of survival?”

“Optimus, I don’t know if you remember the war stories, but we had a few low chances of survival during our youth! That didn’t stop us from fighting!”

“Windblade, this isn’t the same thing!” argued Prowl.

“Oh no?! What’s the difference between facing death by firearms or by a serious illness?! You can die in either case, but you fight on regardless!”

“Not everyone who fights wins, Windblade! Not everyone came back!”

“But enough of us did, including Chromia! I don’t get why she wants to die after surviving a war!”

“Chromia, why are you insistent that she doesn’t do this?” asked Kup. Windblade hesitated before explaining.

“Have you guys ever heard of the term ‘Amica Endura’?” Only Strongarm’s head was still as everyone else shook their heads. “It’s like a Conjux Endura, but it’s only between friends. A sort of platonic marriage, if you will.”

“And Chromia’s your Amica Endura?” asked Optimus.

“Exactly. She’s my best friend and we survived through so much. Believe it or not, I was once prejudiced against Cybertronians and joined the Camien Liberation Front. It’s thanks to her that I got over that prejudice. I felt like I owed her. Now she’s dying and I can’t do anything to help her when she needs it the most!” Windblade was letting her tears fall by then, born of both frustration and sadness.

“It’s…it’s infuriating, this whole situation.” sighed Kup. “Unfortunately, the French have a rather sad but accurate phrase for something like this. C’est la vie, that’s life.”

“And it’s bullscrap!” Windblade sighed to steady herself for her question to Optimus. “When’s she gonna do it?”

“Wednesday afternoon at 4,” answered the young Prime, “and she’s requested you and Kup be there when it happens.”

“She has?” asked Kup.

“Given that we’re prepping for a space journey, and considering the actual size of the Repair Bay, it would be impractical for everyone to see her. However, I’m allowing for requested visitors to go if they want.”

“I want,” declared Windblade.

“Me too,” rumbled Kup. Optimus then got a look of contemplation.

“You know, I think we can bring someone else along,” he mused, “one of our allies that she hung out with a lot.”


4 O’clock, Wednesday afternoon came too quickly for Windblade’s liking. She, Kup, Ratchet, and Optimus gathered around Chromia’s berth. As Ratchet prepped the necessary machinery for inducing medical euthanasia, Chromia spoke with everyone else. “Thanks for being here,” she greeted with a sad smile on her face.

“It’s our pleasure, Chromy,” chuckled Kup. Her face then turned sour.

“So it’ll be your pleasure to watch me go?”

“Nonononono! I meant…!” Kup then saw her wicked grin. “Ah HA! I knew you’d get me one day!”

“I taught her well!” chuckled Windblade.

“More like I taught YOU,” reminded Chromia.

“…Yeah, you did. Chromia-”

“You’re not gonna try to talk me out of this, are you?”

“I would, but the thing is, it’d sound like begging.”

“You? My Amica Endura? Beg? That’s hardly befitting a Camien!”

“It’s not befitting of any soldier,” remarked a voice. A human woman then came out from behind Optimus’ head.

“Commander Topaz?!” yelped Chromia. Her smile almost lit up the room. “So good to see you again! I don’t think you told me the results of that little health scare last year.”

“And I’m sorry for not telling you. It’s just been so busy after the whole Unicron fiasco that I couldn’t find the time to tell everyone.” Optimus set her down on a little table near the berth. “I was diagnosed as prediabetic, so I went keto to gain control of my blood sugar. Let me tell you, it’s worked wonders! Thanks to that little change, I got a new lease on maintaining my health!”

“That’s wonderful! Congratulations!” Chromia’s smile then faded. “I…hope you don’t think less of me for-”

“I would never dare think less of you, especially not for this decision. I will admit, I’m not too fond of it, but I respect your choice. So should you, Windblade.”

“I don’t know if I can,” mumbled Windblade. “Chromia, after all you’ve done for me-”

“Windblade,” interrupted Chromia, “you owe me nothing. You never have. I was proud to call you my Amica Endura. Topaz, it was a pleasure to work with you in Mobius/Cybertron relations and to assist you in all joint operations we did together. Optimus, it was an honor to be a part of your life and to be commanded by you. Ratchet…” She trailed off when she saw Ratchet simply standing by. “…It’s ready?”

“Unfortunately, yes,” mumbled the old medic.

“Well, let me just say this to you, it’s still an honor to have been treated by you. Remember this, you’re NOT my executioner.”

“…I’m not sure if I could ever accept that. I never did with those I had to euthanize.” Ratchet then turned to Optimus. “We’re ready on her word and yours.”

“Chromia,” asked Optimus, “you’re absolutely sure about this?”

“Yes, Orion, I am.” Chromia then tapped a button and the berth leveled itself out. There was a window in the ceiling that showed off the sun as it shone down on her. “You may give the word.” Optimus hesitated.

“…Ratchet…do it.” Ratchet pressed a button and the machine near the berth started shutting down all electrical signals in Chromia’s body. She smiled, being at peace now.

“I’ll give my love to Ironhide and Firestar, shall I?” she offered. Her Spark then lost cohesion without the electrical signals keeping it going, resulting in it fading away. Once it did, her optics went offline, and her body faded to gunmetal gray. Her armor then shifted before settling on her robot mode. As her body laid on the berth, one could still see her peaceful smile on her face. There wasn’t a single dry eye in the Repair Bay as the truth set in; Chromia was dead, reunited with her husband and daughter.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *