The sun rose brightly over the many sand dunes that covered Diego Garcia early in the morning. Like always, Aria would wake up early and go back to her original room in the cabins so that Optimus could get to work with NEST. In the meantime, while he was busy, she would usually stay in her room to take a shower, get dressed, do her hair, etc. Aria would rarely sleep in that room, even though it was especially made for her to live on base; the only times she stayed in it was when Optimus would have to leave with the other Autobots and NEST to take care of a Decepticon attack or meet new arriving Autobots. Sometimes, though, she was allowed to join them. Rarely for Decepticon attacks, but always on meeting new Autobots.
After she got out of the shower in the bathroom that was built into her room, she stood almost sopping wet as she tried to figure out what to wear for the day. Lately, she hadn't really caught up on her laundry so there were not much choices.
"Shoot I should take care of those…"
She rummaged through her closet, pulling out shirts, pants, shorts, and dresses in every direction. Suddenly, she stumbled upon a large box that sat in the far corner of her closet.
"Huh, that's where those went."
She grabbed for the box and slid it closer to her reach then unleashed the latch on the front. Lifting the lid, the inside revealed two same size guns about the size of regular shot guns. But they weren't ordinary guns; one had the power to burn straight through Decepticon armor and the other had to packs that when shot, could latch onto any part of a Decepticon and send an electrifying circuit to slow down their senses and reflexes.
They were gifts from Kaminari Ishihara and Petr Andranov, two guests that recently worked for and left NEST. They were for Aria to use if she ever found herself in a situation with a Decepticon and also made more small and compact so they could be easier to carry around. Looking back at the moment from when they had been given to her, she slightly grinned, shutting the lid and latched the box back up.
She stood back up and looked around the rest of her room, she suddenly spotted a small spaghetti strapped white dress. From all the other choices of clothes she had, the dress seemed better.
"Man, I have too many clothes and not enough clothes, this is a bad habit," she mused to herself as she lightly chuckled.
"Well, better get ready."
She picked up the dress and held it out in front of her when déjà vu suddenly struck her.
"This reminds me of something….but what about?" She thought to herself.
Aria shrugged her shoulders and decided it was nothing; she then proceeded to put the dress on and finish her makeup and hair.
As she did so, she looked at her tall mirror, staring back at herself and into her eyes. She sort of felt weary ever since the dream she had last night; but she couldn't even remember what it was about. She also felt different, but didn't look any different at all. Still had the shiny Energon-effected eyes where they had that slight glimmer to go with the hazelish color, same brunette hair, and still the strong but delicate body. She slightly sighed again and went on with her regular activity. If she couldn't find out what was the matter with her, there must have been nothing wrong. Just a harmless nightmare.
"Sir, we have sensed and intercepted three new Decepticon arrivals. Unfortunately we have not been able to track their landing or where they have gone to. Nor if they really are Decepticons." One soldier informed Lennox and Epps; along with the Autobots: Ironhide, Ratchet, Sideswipe, Arcee, and Optimus.
"So we've basically lost track of them?"
"Yes sir."
Lennox sighed, grabbing his forehead and shaking it. "This can't be good."
He glanced back at his partner and friend Epps, then back at the giant bipedal shapes that stood before them in the base's hangar.
Arcee stepped forward and implied to the conversation, "They must have lowered their signals. Depending on who they are, that could be their specialty. One or all of them. We should take some precaution."
"Arcee is right, but who or what could they be?" Ratchet added in. He looked to Optimus Prime questionably. Ironhide interrupted the conversation with his usual opinion.
"Well who ever it is, we should find them and get rid of them if they really are those impudent Decepticons."
"We mustn't be too rash, we still don't know for sure of they really are Decepticons or one of us. They could be Autobots." Optimus stated as he held out a hand on Ironhide's shoulder to restrain him.
"Yeah only if any other bot survived the war for the Allspark," Sideswipe snuffed in a harsh tone. He looked back up to Optimus and shrugged.
"You are probably right but we shouldn't think that way, we need to hope that there are other Autobots."
A silence filled the room as they reflected on their memories of others, they at least hoped there were other Autobots. The war had taken too much and they were lucky enough to be where they were standing.
"Well whatever they might be we still need to investigate in order to find out exactly what to do with them," Lennox put himself back into the conversation. He looked back to Epps, "Epps, what do you think?"
Epps arched and eyebrow and looked back at him, "I say that I smell something fishy. Why would 3 Decepticons land on Earth and then be gone without a trace?"
"Then they must be planning something."
"Well then what are we going to do about it?"
"All we can do is wait and search as much as we can, we don't know where or what they are. We'll have to settle down and play it by ear."
"Waiting will accomplish nothing," Ironhide said to Lennox. He was clearly no more patient then Epps.
"What can we do? We have nothing but signals showing Decepticons landing."
"Lennox is right Ironhide, if we rush in now we could end up with nothing or be running into something we are not prepared for. For now, we wait," Optimus added as the final word. The Autobots had nothing to do but listen to and obey their leader.
As they spoke of this, they did not notice that on the small jungle that grew on the island was harboring a Decepticon. One of the very ones they were speaking of.
He secretly lied in wait to make his move. As he had thought, the girl that Prime protected would probably be making her way around the island with or without an escort Autobot. If not, he would make his move at night. He quietly stayed hidden and waited for any movement from the girl.
Aria poked her head into the hangar that the Autobots resided in when they had nothing to do. She casually walked in to see that other Autobot, Knockout, getting ready to take a ride around the island's beach and small jungle. He quickly realized Aria's arrival and transformed back into his natural bipedal form.
"Hey little one what's going on?" He called to Aria as she walked closer to him. She looked up slightly to meet the lens of Knockout.
"Nothing just walking around base. I'm bored and Optimus is too busy."
"How 'bout you go on a ride with me around the island? We can stop where ever you want."
Aria smiled back at the taller form and replied, "Sure sounds fun!"
"But you should ask Optimus first. If you don't he'll worry himself sick, you wouldn't like him if he gets mad."
"He's not my parent you know…"
"But he is you guardian."
"True, alright, let's ride to the other hangar and let him know."
"'Kay hop on!" Suddenly he transformed back into his motorcycle terrestrial guise and revved his engine. Aria smiled and sat on the motorcycles seat, she grabbed a nearby helmet and secured herself onto it. She kicked to the side gently and the motorcycle sped off outside on its way to the next hangar.
Hearing a revving motor sound come closer to the hangar, Optimus and the other Autobots turned to see Aria riding in on Knockout's terrestrial guise. They came to a stop in front of Optimus's feet and hopped off of the seat and slipped off her helmet.
"Good morning Optimus!" Aria grinned widely as she stared back into the lens of her guardian. He glanced down at her and shook his head, "I see your already full of energy?"
Aria laughed lightly and replied back, "Haha yes!"
Of course, that didn't surprise Optimus, when ever she was with him or the others she was always full of energy and spirit.
"Optimus! I came to ask you something"
"Yes Aria?"
"May I go with Knockout on a ride around the island?"
Optimus hesitated, "I'm not sure about that. It could be dangerous."
Knockout interrupted from his speakers, "Sir, the island is practically deserted by any unknown entities. It wouldn't hurt to let the little one enjoy a ride outside."
Optimus paused, "Your not sure. I sort of have a bad feeling."
He looked back at Aria who gave him a pleading look. Almost as if she was using puppy-dog eyes. He hesitated and thought to himself, then replied, "Alright, but be cautious."
He didn't like the idea and couldn't help but have a bad feeling, but Aria's eyes were enough to convince him into anything.
"Yay!" Aria quickly hugged Optimus's leg, "Thank you Optimus!"
She returned to the seat on Knockout and slipped her helmet back on.
"You ready?" Knockout asked her.
"Ready!" She yelled over the sound of his engine.
"Hold on tight!" Almost like the speed of a jet, Knockout and Aria raced outside and made their way around the beach and into the nearby small jungle…
