A/N: Hey guys! Thanks so much for the feedback and answers to my questions, I really appreciate it!
Seeker3: Thank you! It will make life easier for me now, knowing that. X3
Dragonflower6713: Thank you! Though, I think 15 to 20 years is too long of a timeskip. XD You will most definitely be getting that, Megatron would want to know of the human under Optimus's personal protection!
ChromedomeAndRewind4ever: Oh thank you so much! Yeah, it was so confusing for me so I am very happy to have answers to my question! And thank you, I am pleased to know you are enjoying the story! X3
I will be updating weekly now, as I am also working on my Hellsing fanfic Clarviziune;check it out any fellow Hellsing fans!
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Lana skipped down the stairs, a spring in her step, and landed at the bottom with a light stomp. Smiling, she set her backpack down by the front door and made her way down the hallway and into the kitchen. She was in a delightful mood that morning and the bounce in her walk would be evident to anyone who saw it. Her aunt was sitting at the island on one of the high stools when Lana entered the room, nibbling on a slice of toast. Olivia's earliest mornings were Sundays and she was always up before 8 am.
The woman glanced her way and her eyebrows drew downward in confusion.
"You're up early." She said bemusedly, swallowing her food.
Lana gave her a smile as she opened the cabinet to take out the box of cornflakes. "I am hanging out with some friends today, to finish off homework and stuff." She was excited to see the Autobots again today, especially Optimus.
"Huh...Well, you have never been up this early on a Sunday morning." Olivia sipped her mug of black coffee. "I know you like getting up early but you usually sleep in on this day of the week. Who are these friends?"
Lana panicked momentarily at the question. She couldn't tell her aunt the truth, the Autobots' existence on Earth couldn't be revealed to more humans; even Olivia. "O-Oh...I met them through Raf, he introduced me…" She poured her cereal into a bowl and went to retrieve the milk.
"...I see. Well, it's good that you and Raf are making more friends." Olivia responded and Lana turned to see her rising from the stool, her heels clacking on the tiled floor. Her aunt always dressed formally in a pencil skirt and low heels on Sundays. 'Paperwork Day' as the woman liked to call it. Only for emergencies would she have any surgeries scheduled for this day.
"Hopefully these new 'friends' are a good influence on you. Maybe you will actually start coming home before curfew." Her aunt smirked a little and shouldered her handbag. "I shouldn't be home late. Can you clear this for me?" She gestured to her empty plate and the half empty mug. The short haired woman then strode out of the room, her back poised and her walk professional.
Lana peered through the doorway to watch her departure. She squinted her eyes when Olivia opened the door, to see if Optimus was outside. He wasn't out there; maybe he was parked somewhere else.
"See you later." Olivia turned her head to give Lana a light glare. The warning within those hard eyes was transparent. "Don't be late."
"I won't, I promise!" Lana waved at her cheerfully and waited for the door to shut before sighing. "I hope so anyway…"
The girl cleared the black marble-top island, draining the mug and placing the dirty dishes into the dishwasher. She then sat herself on the stool her aunt had vacated, sitting her bowl of cereal in front of her. As she ate, Lana wondered where Optimus was. There was a chance he was not parked outside at all. And if that wasn't the case, then surely he'd blare his horn to rouse her attention. Perhaps he was running late, he was fighting in a war after all. Megatron had returned too, so that would certainly cause problems for her guardian and the other Autobots. Her thoughts threaded through dark waters when she thought of the Decepticon warlord. Would she ever meet him? Lana's shivering subconscious prayed for that to never happen. She was sure he was absolutely terrifying. However, she was curious about his appearance. Contemplating, she tried to imagine him appearing similar to that of the Vehicon troopers. Lana doubted it though, she expected him to look bigger and more intimidating. More frightening.
The sudden ringing of her cellphone broke her from her ponderings.
Fumbling a little, Lana took it out of her jeans' pocket and flipped it open, eying the unknown number. Hesitantly, she pressed answer button and held the device to her ear. "H-Hello?"
"Hello, Lana." Optimus's deep baritone made her smile and she spun around on the stool, away from the island, and jumped down.
"Hi, Optimus." She replied sweetly and her smile had a confused twinge to it. "How did you get my phone number?" How did he even know of cell phones was the true question, but she wouldn't ask him such a thing.
"It was quite easy for us to access certain frequencies to find the correct number for your cellular devices." He responded and Lana could hear an engine rumbling in the background. He must be driving. "Arcee, Bulkhead and Bumblebee have the numbers of your friends too." Arcee had Jack's number? The femme must have had hope that the boy would change his mind. Lana hoped so too.
"I see." She set her phone to loudspeaker and continued her conversation with Optimus as she imputed his contact details into her phone. "That's pretty cool, t-though a slight invasion of privacy." Oh no, she thought; completed horrified by what she just said. That sounded rude, too rude, "N-Not that I mind of course!"
A slight chuckle answered her, "No, you are right...but I neglected to ask for a way to contact you, as did the other Autobots. So this was the quickest and most effective means of such."
"Y-Yeah, of course…" Lana flushed with embarrassment. This wouldn't be the first time she said something like that and it certainly wouldn't be the last.
"The reason I am calling, is to inform you that I am en route to your home." Optimus said. "I should arrive in approximately two minutes."
"Okay." Her smile returned. "I was wondering where you were."
"Yes, I apologise for not being outside, but I had business to attend to." His voice became quiet and grave. "And a bigger problem has arisen. One of which I shall inform you of when I arrive."
"A-Alright, I'll be waiting."
After hanging up, she jogged down the hallway and picked up her backpack. It had her sketchbook inside and her art supplies; pencils, chalk pastels, markers etc. Hopefully she would have the chance to draw Ratchet today. Or any other Autobot. Since she never did after that terrifying excursion yesterday. Lana thought about asking Optimus to be her model, since he was her guardian. It was a strange request to ask of him, but she was sure he wouldn't refuse.
A loud horn from behind the door caught her attention then and Lana opened it, brimming with happiness when her emerald eyes landed on Optimus's Peterbuilt semi-truck alt form.
Lana grabbed her house key and shut the door, locking it and hurrying down the pathway. The truck door swung open on the passenger side and she climbed in, placing her bag in its appointed spot beneath the dashboard.
"Is your aunt working?" Optimus asked curiously and reversed to do a U-turn, driving off down the road. For an enormous truck, he drove pretty smoothly.
"Yep! She works every day of the week, but she never works too late on Sundays." Lana replied in a soft voice and buckled up in the seat belt.
"I see. She is a surgeon correct? You should inform Ratchet, since your aunt is the human counterpart to him." Optimus ventured and Lana could hear the smile in his deep voice. She giggled a little and nodded.
"I definitely will! Though, I can picture him scowling and just rolling his eyes at me."
Optimus gave her a small chuckle in response, "Yes, that does sound like Ratchet."
Their phone conversation popped into her head then. "So...what is this big problem you mentioned on the phone?" She asked and her eyes fell on the spinning wheel, the Autobot insignia in the centre glowing.
"Ah yes." The Cybertronian sighed. "The plans that you children managed to capture an image of, just so happens to be for a...Spacebridge."
"Oh yeah, Ratchet told us about one." Lana said, blinking owlishly.
"Yes and Megatron's use for this one is to transport a large quantity of Dark Energon, and revive fallen Cybertronian warriors." A growl could be detected in Optimus's voice. "They will become his undead legion, of which he will use to conquer your world and eradicate your race."
The young girl gasped and her fingers curled into her palms, fear lancing through her at Optimus's words. She was rattled by this, and her blood stirred with terror and panic. An army of the undead was going to invade Earth; that was, if the Autobots couldn't stop Megatron before it was too late. "S-So...to get that big of an army...he has to be bringing them from…" She trailed off and Optimus hummed in confirmation.
"He will be resurrecting the dead of Cybertron."
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Raf and, surprisingly, Miko were already at base when Lana and Optimus arrived. Bulkhead and Bumblebee were standing next to their charges, but Arcee was missing. Strange.
Miko whooped and waved her hand about fanatically as Optimus's alt form came to a stop. Lana grabbed her backpack and scurried out of the Autobot, being careful to avoid his huge peds when he transformed. She looked up at him and her gaze locked with his bright optics. He nodded at her with a small smile and made his way over to the other Autobots, tremors rattling the floor as he moved. Lana was still shaken by what he had revealed to her on the journey here, but she would be sure to hide her negative feelings from the others.
She then noticed Ratchet, who was slaving over his computer, a heavy scowl on his face. He must be trying to locate the Spacebridge...
"Morning Lana!" Miko greeted and grinned broadly at her. Lana returned her grin with her own, soft one. "Good morning Miko." She approached the Japanese girl who gave her a one-armed hug.
Her eyes were then drawn to Bumblebee when he walked over, Raf sitting upon his shoulder and kicking his feet. The scout beeped happily to her and her grin widened. He would make even the saddest of people smile with his adorable and uplifting presence.
"Hey, Bee. It's lovely to see you too." She hoped she was right in assuming what he had said to her. By his nod, her assumption was correct.
"Hi Raf!" She chirped up to the boy.
"Hi! How does it feel being up early on Sundays?" Rad adjusted his glasses and Lana laughed at the teasing smile he was throwing at her.
"My aunt was weirded out by it but I feel fine, strangely enough." She answered and shrugged her shoulders.
"That's something new." Her friend winked at her and she rolled her eyes fondly.
"...So, I'm guessing you both know...about the undead army?" Lana inquired and shivers racked her body.
"Yeah, more zombie cons!" Miko beamed and pumped her fist in excitement. Lana felt everything but excitement about this.
"Ratchet has been trying to locate the Decepticons' Spacebridge." Raf looked over at the medic, who was entirely focused on his task.
"So that is why he looks grouchier than usual…" She thought she had said it quietly enough but the glare that the CMO threw her over his shoulder proved otherwise. So he wasn't entirely focused. Lana smiled guiltily, a blush on her face. "S-Sorry Ratchet." She really had her foot in her mouth today.
He humphed and rotated back to his monitor, typing expertly with his optics on the monitor. They widened then when he saw something appear on the screen.
"Optimus, I have pinpointed the location of Megatron's Spacebridge." He stated and faced them all, a frown on his face. "High in Earth's orbit…"
Lana craned her head back when she heard Optimus step up behind her. She would never get over his sheer height…
"Out of our reach." Optimus finished gravely and Lana shifted over to his outer leg and laid her hand on the blue armour surrounding it. Her guardian bent over to see her and she saw a softness in his optics.
Okay, so you guys don't fly," Miko suddenly said and Lana blinked over at her, emerald eyes wide. "But can't you just Groundbridge there?"
Ratchet rolled his optics and raised his servos to explain to the girl, "The Groundbridge has limited range. Stretched all the way to orbit, it's vortex could snap and scatter us to the stars."
Lana winced at the consequence of such a feat and Miko looked rightly shocked.
"Since Megatron is likely already in transit," Optimus said, his voice commanding and determined. "I'm afraid we must take that risk. Reaching the Spacebridge first, is our only means of stopping him."
"But...it isn't safe at all. W-What if the worst happens? Like what Ratchet said?" Lana frowned worriedly at her guardian. She didn't want him risking his life, something bad could happen to him and the Autobots. She would be devastated.
"As I said, it is a risk we must take." Optimus replied gingerly, a reassuring light in his optics. "Have hope that we will return unharmed and victorious."
She tried to smile but found the task troublesome with the worry she was feeling. Just then, a beeping sounded from the tunnel leading out of base and everyone's eyes honed in on the entrance. Arcee zoomed into room and Lana was pleasantly surprised to see Jack riding on the Autobot's alt form. He had returned and by the smug grin on Miko's face, Lana was guessing that she had a part to play in it.
Jack climbed off the motorcycle and removed his helmet, shaking his black hair out. Lana smiled softly at him, showing how happy she was to see him. His appearance made smiling easier, but she still felt concerned about the situation at hand.
"Hey!" Jack chuckled sheepishly, cradling the helmet at his waist. "Guess who's back?"
Lana opened her mouth to respond but Optimus's authoritative voice cut in before she could and called for the attention of everyone in the room, bypassing Jack's greeting; though he meant no harm by it, Lana was sure.
"Autobots. Prepare for departure." The order was absolute and Lana's smile grew sympathetic when Jack's own one dropped. He was easily dismissed and didn't seem pleased at all.
The newly transformed Arcee frowned at her leader, "Where to?"
Miko stood next to Lana, "The Final Frontier." Her voice was willowy and awe-filled. Lana nodded at Jack when his brow knitted in bewilderment.
"Wha...Space?" He whispered quietly, clutching his helmet closer. "I-I thought they didn't have anyway to get there…"
"They don't…" Lana's shoulders drooped sadly, her own voice quiet and withdrawn. She didn't like this plan at all. Not one bit, and she wouldn't be content nor would her worry be satiated until the Autobots returned safely.
"Not really anyway…" Raf finished as Bumblebee set him down beside herself and Miko.
Each of the children faced their guardians then and Lana didn't pay the others any mind as Optimus crouched down to meet her sad gaze. "Be careful...alright?" She reached out to touch the index finger of the servo he offered her.
Optimus's optics brightened with reassurance and comfort, the light illuminating the features of his face. "I vow to return. Safe and sound." His tiny, almost miniscule smile greeted her and hope bloomed in Lana's chest. Optimus would be fine. He was strong, courageous and Lana knew he would fight with every fibre of his being.
"Optimus." Ratchet called and both of them looked his way. The medic's scowl had deepened, though Lana could see mild humour in his optics. "If you leave me stranded on a planet teeming with humans, I will never forgive you."
A gentle laugh escaped Lana's lips and Optimus rose to his full, towering height. His smile had widened for a moment but now a determined, battle-hardened expression adorned his faceplates.
"Until we meet again, old friend." He promised and his mask snapped forward to obscure everything from the optics down from view. Lana had to admit, he looked insanely cool and battle ready.
The young girl went to join the others by Ratchet's peds as Optimus's next command echoed loudly and authoritatively throughout the base.
"Autobots! Roll out!"
Each of them transformed and Optimus led them off into the swirling vortex of the Groundbridge; Arcee and Bulkhead flanking him while Bumblebee took the rear. The Groundbride seemed wilder and more erratic than the other times that Lana had seen it in action, she knew this must have been due to the stretch in which the location was.
Optimus's voice rang in her ears again from the tunnel of the portal.
"Maximum Overdrive!"
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Lana and the other children had changed positions from the main floor of the base, to the upper loft by Ratchet's monitors; this gave them the opportunity to listen in on what was commencing up in Earth's orbit. To Lana's utter relief, the Autobots reached the Spacebridge unharmed and gravitized to stand safely upon its surface.
However, the Nemesis remained in the same position, completely still and no movement from it. It was a silent shadow looming a bit of a ways off from the Spacebridge. No Vehicon troopers were gathered on the main deck. It was completely still.
"Well, what are they waiting for?" Arcee's aggravated voice questioned from the monitor.
Optimus answered a few seconds later, pride evident in his voice. "It appears the Decepticons have sustained serious damage to their interstellar navigation system."
"Huh! That's my handywork!" Bulkhead replied and Lana shared a well-informed smile with Miko, Raf and Jack. Bulkhead had torn the dish from its placement and hurled it at attacking Decepticons during their little adventure upon the Nemesis.
"Great job, Bulkhead." Optimus's voice rumbled. "Without the dish, Megatron will be unable to aim the Spacebridge at Cybertron."
Lana's brow knitted in confusion and she looked at Ratchet, "D-Don't the Decepticons know where their own planet is?"
The Autobot huffed and rolled his eyes at her, which made her smile nervously in response. "Naturally!" He boasted and his optics returned to the monitor again. "But Cybertron is many light years away. To reach their target, their aim must be astronomically precise."
"Ah, I see…" She nodded her head and blinked her emerald-green eyes at him.
Spacebridge technology was obviously so advanced that even the Decepticons needed a crutch for it to lock onto the correct coordinates. The Autobots now had a chance to do something about the portal before Megatron would be able to activate it; hopefully they thought of something soon.
However, why would Megatron be at the ready? There would be no reason to have his ship at the location if he didn't have some sort of plan.
Optimus seemed to be thinking the same thing.
"If Megatron went to the trouble of rendezvousing with his Spacebridge, he must have an alternate targeting system. A remote one."
"Humph!" Ratchet narrowed his bright optics and gave the monitor a hard stare. "From what I know of Earth's technology, I doubt there exists a single radio telescope dish on this planet powerful enough to pinpoint Cybertron."
"Um...I'm not so sure about that." Lana intervened meekly and tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear. She glanced down at Raf, who gave her a knowing smile before meeting Ratchet's curious gaze. The boy then turned to one of the computers and his hands flew across the keyboard, searching up a particular image.
"What about a whole bunch of linked radio telescope dishes?" He asked and spun around in his chair. "Like the Giant Sized Array in Texas."
Lana jumped back with a squeak when Ratchet bent forward in one harsh move, displaying a zipping motion with his servo.
"Zip! Dip! Dehp!" He shook his helm frantically. "This is not child's play!" The CMO rested his servos on his armoured hips. He didn't agree with Raf at all, he didn't want to follow a child's lead.
"Good job Raf." Optimus's sudden praise shocked them all, especially Ratchet, and a happy smile graced Lana's face. "Ratchet, have Agent Fowler alert the Array staff to the security hazard."
"You, shoulder!" All those present at the base whirled around to look at the agent lying on the gurney; though now he was sitting up, pointing a finger and slurring his words. Fowler was still affected from the torture inflicted on him by Starscream. Lana winced sympathetically, feeling pity for the poor man; though, she had to stifle a giggle at his next outburst. "You're out of uniform! Put on some pants!"
"...That may be a challenge." Ratchet sighed and gave them all a weary look.
Then, Rafael's face furrowed in determination and he rotated in his chair to face the computer screen again, typing furiously. "Ugh...I can't get pass the Array's firewalls!" He slammed his fists down on either side of the keyboard. "They're too thick!"
"It's okay Raf." Lana gave the boy a reassuring smile as Ratchet's optics squinted at him.
"You actually think you could keep the Decepticons out?" The medic questioned incredulously.
"Maybe...if I could get in." Raf responded and averted his eyes.
Lana raised a hand to her chin and hummed softly, ideas rolling over in her head. They needed to get past the Array's security system, to prevent the Decepticons from using the dishes to lock onto Cybertron's coordinates. If Raf couldn't do it remotely, then that would mean…
The girl gasped as realisation flooded her and Jack gave her a wide eyed look, a knowing glint in his blue orbs.
"You thinking what I'm thinking?" He murmured and Lana nodded affirmatively. They both had the exact same, crazy idea and Jack stepped forward.
"Wait Raf, what if we could get you all the way in?" Jack asked and gestured to Lana as she came up beside him, her green eyes firmly on the screen. "Lana and I just had the same idea. What if we could get you inside the building in?"
Raf's eyes hardened and he nodded confidently, "I could log into their internal network on the other side of the firewall."
"The risk is too great." Optimus cut in suddenly and Lana frowned at her guardian's words. "The Decepticons will be there. Perhaps even onsite."
The young girl's chest twisted painfully, she knew this was difficult for Optimus; he had to understand, however, that this was the only solution. She felt her courage soar then and understood that four human lives meant nothing in comparison to the billions that would most definitely be destroyed if Megatron's dastardly plan came into fruition. Optimus Prime was noble though, Lana knew this, and he would never sacrifice any life; especially not the lives of four children. They wanted to do this though and Lana's readied expression of determination mirrored the ones adorning Jack, Miko and Raf's faces.
"Optimus, with all do respect," Jack began for the lot of them, "you said it yourself, this is bigger than the safety of four humans."
"Yeah!" Miko chirped, through with remaining silent. "If we let the Cons win, we're fragged along with everyone else on our planet."
"We can do this Optimus...it's our turn to defend ourselves in someway. To help you all." Lana conveyed softly, trying to assure her guardian that they were ready to do this. "Have faith in us."
It was silent on Optimus's end for a moment, "...Raf?" He was agreeing with their decision, Lana realised joyfully, but it was all down to the young boy who was the only one at the moment that could fight the Decepticons on a technological level.
Lana directed her gentle gaze to her best friend as he mulled the plan over in his mind. This would be a difficult decision, Raf was going to be putting his life on the line; he wasn't even a soldier. Lana knew in her heart though that he would make the right choice. Rafael may not look it, but he was one of the bravest and most selfless people she knew.
"...I wanna give it a shot." Raf finally answered and Lana beamed at him.
"...Ratchet. Activate the Groundbridge, and be sure to maintain constant communication with the children." Optimus commanded. His decision was made.
Ratchet typed in the coordinates that would transport Lana and the others to the Giant Sized Array; they would be battling the Decepticons now. It was their time to help their planet, to help the Autobots. Raf would be protecting the Earth with his computer intellect, and Lana, along with Jack and Miko, would be protecting him in turn. They all descended the ladder and approached the dim tunnel of the Groundbridge, which soon swirled with its vibrant colours and spirals when Ratchet activated it.
Lana took a deep breath and they all began to enter the vortex, feeling the familiar pull and vibration in their bones as the transport commenced.
They then vanished in a scintillation of colour and light.
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A/N: Well, I sincerely hope you enjoyed that chapter! X3 I have so many college assignments, so that is why this chapter was delayed; along with the fact I am also working on another fanfic, as I stated before.
PLEASE REVIEW I CRAVE FEEDBACK!