A/N: Hello guys! Sorry for the long delay, I've been really busy this week and the one before. There's this major project going on at school and I we only finished this last weekend. I had to go to school on Saturday and Sunday too, but I know it was worth it. Also, I've got a cold and my nose is putting Rudolph's to shame with it's color.
We've finally reached the end of Volume 1! I'm so happy! Well, also a bit disappointed about the fact that my meticulously arranged update schedule is in shambles, but it's fine, I guess. All that matters right now is that I finished this volume! I'll come back with the next one in a week or so, don't worry!
All mistakes are mine, yadda yadda.
I don't own the Transformers franchise, just my OCs!
Again, I'm sorry for the delay!
Please enjoy!
Chapter 12
- Darkness Rising, part 5 -
Back at the Drive-in. Ioana remembered the last time she had been here quite clearly. But that was the past. It had also been evening, and now it was morning. Quite early too. Ioana hid behind a street light pole. It was Arcee's turn to try and get Jack back.
- With Arcee and Jack -
Jack arrived with his bicycle at his job. He left his bike on one of the bike keepers and chained it. He looked at the flashing lights of the sign of the fast food restaurant and sighed.
"Nice bike." came from behind him.
The boy turned around and laid his eyes on the familiar blue motorcycle.
"Arcee, really. Miko and Ioana already tried." the boy said, walking towards the femme. "Tell Optimus I respect him big time, but if you're at war with the Decepticons, there's nothing I can do to help." he stopped and turned his head away, not wanting to look at Arcee.
"Optimus didn't send me, and no one's asking for your help." Arcee reassured him, her voice calm and comforting, and Jack finally looked at her.
"OK, so, if we both agree that I'm not warrior material, I..." the boy trailed off, not knowing what to add anymore.
"Jack, I just lost someone I cared about. Maybe it's the grief talking," the femme's voice was shaking, showing just how much the loss affected her, "maybe you and Ioana are growing on me. Whatever it is, I'm just not ready to say good-bye." Arcee admitted and the hidden Ioana felt her heart ache, for she knew the agony and misery of losing somebody important.
Jack just looked at the femme with sad and helpless eyes. Arcee knew there was nothing more she could do and turned to leave.
"Wait!"
And Arcee did wait. She internally smiled as Jack climbed on and put his helmet. Then, she turned around, and went to where Ioana stayed hidden.
-Back to Ioana -
Ioana was truly relieved that Jack changed his mind.
"So, you've finally put yourself together?" Ioana asked with the smallest of smirks on her face.
"Wha-? You-you were here, spying?!" Jack asked stunned.
"Of course not. I was just waiting for you to make up your mind." Ioana scoffed, not pleased to being called an eavesdropper.
She crossed her arms over her middle. Today, the outfit she had looked really stylish, with white tight jeans, a white blouse underneath a purple dress jacket, her ever-present black armbands, and black leather heeled boots.
"She was the mastermind behind all of your talks with the three of us." Arcee said, and you could hear the pride in her voice. Jack just stared with his mouth hanging at the smug girl.
"Now, come on, we need to see what the others have been doing. And to show them that you've returned." Ioana said, jumping on Arcee, behind Jack and giving a pat on the shoulder.
Jack smiled underneath his helmet. "Yeah, I've returned."
- At the base -
"Optimus, I've pinpointed the location of Megatron's Space Bridge. High in Earth's orbit." Ratchet said, turning from his console to look up at his leader.
"Out of our reach." Optimus stepped closer to the screens.
"Ok, so you guys don't fly, but can't you just Ground Bridge there?" Miko asked and from beside her Ale nodded.
"The Ground Bridge has limited range. Stretch all the way into orbit and its vortex could snap. And scatter us to the stars." Ratchet explained, his tone grave and quite serious and the humans looked at him in wonder and concern.
"Since Megatron is likely already in transit, I'm afraid we must take that risk. Reaching the Space Bridge first is our only means of stopping him." Optimus said, turning to the Ground Bridge.
Suddenly, two beeps came from the entrance tunnel and Arcee came rushing in with not only one person in tow, but two! Arcee slowed to a stop and her two charges climbed off. Ioana took her helmet off first and looked at her friends.
"Guess who's back?" she said giving a small smile.
"Autobots, prepare for departure!" Optimus said, giving Jack and Ioana but a small glance.
Behind the two, Arcee transformed. Ioana and Jack looked up at the femme frowning.
"Where to?" she asked confused.
"The final frontier." Miko answered her.
"Reference!" Ale whispered to Tamara and Raf, who were in 'Bee's servo.
"Space?" Jack asked. "I thought they didn't have any way to get there?"
"They don't. Really." Raf said, 'Bee placing him and Tamara on the metal floor.
"Be seeing ya?" Jack asked awkward.
Arcee offered them both a smile. Ratchet went to the levers and activated the Ground Bridge.
"Be careful, 'Bee." Raf said to the yellow mech.
"Yeah, take care!" Tamara smiled at him.
" I will, guys! " the 'Bot said, and went in front.
"I'm so jealous!" Miko looked up at Bulkhead.
"Me too!" Ale whined.
"Don't even think about following me." Bulkhead warned them and followed 'Bee.
Ioana bit her lip and glanced at Optimus.
"Return safely, you guys!" she requested and gave all of them a meaningful and pleading look.
"Optimus, if you leave me stranded on a planet teaming with humans, I will never forgive you." Ratchet told the poor mech, who, for his friend's sake, didn't answer. Instead, he said:
"Until we meet again, old friend." and with that, his face mask closed over his lower faceplates. "Autobots, roll out!" they all - minus Ratchet - transformed and went into the bridge. The last thing they heard from them was "Maximum and overdrive!"
And, with that, the Ground Bridge closed behind them. They all stared at it for a few seconds, but they got out of their reverie when Optimus' voice came through the speakers.
"Autobots, transform and gravitize!" they all looked at the monitors with relief and joy.
Ioana, Jack, Ale and Raf climbed up on the platforms, closer to the consoles and next to Tamara and Miko.
"Ohh!" was heard from Bulkhead. "Don't look down. Or up. Or left." Ale and Miko laughed and Tamara and Raf smiled.
"So, Megatron is packing enough Dark Energon to raise Cybertron's dead?" Arcee asked and they all felt their eyes widen.
"And since we don't possess ready means of disabling the Space Bridge, nothing gets in or out!" Optimus said.
Ale glanced at Tamara and Ioana with worry. Tamara bit her lower lip, while Ioana just turned her gaze back to the screens full with Cybertronian formulas and symbols.
"Oh dear. That would be quite a lot, wouldn't it?" Tamara asked Ratchet.
"Unfortunately, yes." came the ice-cold response.
Tamara winced, having realized that hadn't been the best thing to ask.
"Well, what are they waiting for?" came from Arcee after a few minutes.
"It appears the Decepticons have sustained serious damage to their interstellar navigation system." Optimus answered.
"Huh, that's my handiwork." Bulkhead said and Ale and Miko grinned, high-fiving each other.
"Great job, Bulkhead. Without the dish, Megatron will be unable to aim the Space Bridge at Cybertron." Optimus said.
"Don't the Decepticons know where their own planet is?" Raf asked.
"Naturally." Ratchet answered, looking at them, but this time he wasn't as off-cutting, more like 'puh-lease', in fact. "But Cybertron is many light years away. To reach their target, their aim must be astronomically precise." he added.
"If Megatron went through the trouble of rendezvousing with his Space Bridge, he must have an alternate targeting system. A remote one." Optimus concluded.
Ratchet scoffed.
"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." Ratchet criticized Earth's technological power.
"What about a whole bunch of linked radio-telescope dishes?" Raf said, already on a seat with his laptop in front of him, typing.
"Like the giant-sized Array in Texas?" Ioana asked, crossing her arms.
"Zip-tip-ack-tap-tap-! This is not child's play!" Ratchet exploded, scaring Miko, Jack, Ale and Tamara, and Ioana could swear she saw a new blue tint on the old mech's metal cheeks.
"Good thinking, Raf." Optimus praised, and Ioana patted Raf's shoulder. "Ratchet, have Agent Fowler alert the array staff to the security hazard."
"You, soldier!" they all looked at the agent on the bed, who now sat up, but still had his eyes closed. "You're out of the uniform! Put on some pants!" the sleeping agent gestured with his hand then promptly fell back on the bed.
"That... may be a challenge." Ratchet muttered.
Raf quickly returned to his laptop and started typing but stopped with a sound of frustration.
"I can't get past the array's firewalls. They're too thick."
"You actually think you could keep the Decepticons out?" the medic asked, skeptical.
"Maybe, if I could get in." the small boy said, glancing at the Cybertronian.
Just then, Ale got an idea, glancing at Ioana, and everybody followed her gaze and then back to the boy.
"Wait, wait, wait. Raf, what if we could get you inside? All the way in? Like, 'inside the building' in?" the girl put a hand on Raf's shoulder and leaned closer to the laptop.
Then, she looked at Ioana and everyone followed her gaze. Raf looked at Ioana hopefully.
"I could log into their intern network on the other side of the firewall." the boy said.
"The risk is too great, the Decepticons would be there. Perhaps even on sight." Optimus spoke up.
"Optimus, with all due respect, you said it yourself, this is bigger than the safety of six humans." Jack said and Ioana internally smiled.
"Yeah, if we let the 'Cons win, we are fragged, along with everyone else on our planet." Miko added her own two cents in.
"Raf?" Optimus asked and everyone looked at the small boy.
"I wanna give it a shot." Raf finally said, after a few seconds of thinking.
"Then, this will be of great assistance." Ioana spoke up, lifting her hand, where the special card that almost made Agent Fowler faint the other day was held up.
- Later, outside the Radio-Telescope Array in Texas -
The Ground Bridge opened and everyone, minus Ratchet and Agent Fowler, jumped out next to the fence surrounding the radio-telescopes.
"Urgh, that would take some time getting used to." Jack said, feeling his bones shake.
"Yup." Ale and Miko agreed.
"Come on, let's move it. Ratchet? Can you hear us?" Ioana brought her right hand up to her ear, where a small black device rested.
"Loud and clear." came grumpily from the medic.
"Perfect. Now, because we don't know each other from a long time and some government files prevent it, only me, Ale and Tamara can go inside with the card. You will have to jump the fence. We three shall work as distraction. You need to wait for my signal." Ioana said, gesturing to the fence, and everyone nodded.
"Right, let's do this!" Ale punched the air, determined.
"Ioana, lead the way." Tamara said and Ioana nodded, turning towards the entrance in the facility.
- Ioana, Tamara and Ale -
The guard on duty looked to be in his mid-thirties, and wore the usual blue uniform. He was looking at the surveillance cameras. When he saw them, he jumped on his feet from his seat and looked at them strangely.
"Who are and what are you three doing here? This area is restricted for the public." the man said.
"Well, good that we aren't exactly 'the public', right?" Ale grinned at Ioana, who offered a small amused smile.
Then, Ioana became serious again and lifted her right hand. The card shone brightly in the strong sun.
"Wha-what!" the guard stammered, his reaction strongly resembling Agent Fowler's one. "Miss S-" he was stopped by Ioana before he could continue.
"Finish that and I'm calling your superior." she said, her voice like ice.
"S-sorry, miss. If you don't mind, could you give the card for verification? A security measure." the man said, eyes wide and amazed.
Ioana handed the man her card and the guard took it and sat down at his computer, inserting the card inside. And while the guard was checking her card, Ioana turned to her other three friends, who were looking at her curious. She gave them a big nod and waved towards the fence. The three nodded.
- Jack, Raf and Miko -
"Okay, Raf, Miko, up." Jack said and grasped the metal wires in order to climb. The other two followed his example.
They jumped down and rushed through the back door. Once inside, they looked in each room till they entered one with a lot of computers. But it wasn't that big, quite small, actually.
- Ioana, Ale and Tamara -
Once Jack, Miko and Raf jumped, the guard returned and handed her card back.
"Well, it's okay. Just, don't break anything." the man told them and let them pass. They went inside and started to search for their friends.
- With everyone -
They met at the door, when Miko looked out of the room to see whose footsteps they heard outside.
"Hey guys!" the girl grinned.
"Hey!" Tamara and Ale smiled happily in return.
"Security sure is lax on this place!" Miko said and let the others inside the room.
"I'm in." Raf said smiling and typing on a computer. And, then he frowned. "And so are the Decepticons."
Ioana and Tamara frowned too.
"What?!" Jack whisper-shouted.
"How can you tell?" Tamara asked.
"Schematics." the small genius answered. "With the same alien math we saw on their ship. But this time, I can download it." he grinned and brought up a flash drive.
"It's gotta be the Space Bridge." Miko said.
"The Decepticons are syncing it to the dishes. But I can sync to them." Raf countered.
"Would they know?" Jack asked.
"Even if the Decepticons see that I'm in the system, they have no idea I'm in the house." Raf said, but Ioana had a small suspicion that the Decepticons might have. After a few minutes of typing, Raf spoke up again. "They're locked on to Cybertron, but not for long." the boy resumed his typing, but with more passion. Outside, the dishes, which had been in position, now disengaged.
A quiet and almost unheard beep sounded. Ioana, Ale and Tamara were the only ones to hear it. It came from the surveillance camera in the top corner of the room. Ioana frowned at it and realized the 'Cons were watching them.
"The dishes are heading back towards Cybertron. I'll just undo that again." Raf said.
"What happens when the 'Cons realize they are being punked?" Jack asked leaning closer to the screen.
"We will find out very soon." Ioana finally spoke up, eyes wide.
"It's only virtual combat, you know, like online gaming." Raf reasoned.
"Yeah, Ioana, what are the 'Cons gonna do? They're probably like a thousand miles away." Miko said jokingly.
This time, neither Ale or Ioana heard the door. But, Ioana did hear the wiggling and strange sound from above them, just like Jack and Tamara. The thing above them was like a metal tentacle, dark-purple, with small brighter dots from its tip down to its length. At the tip, it split into four hooks and 4 smaller and shorter fendlers. She only had three seconds to admire it before it came rushing at her. She held in a scream of fear as it grabbed her tightly. Ale and Miko quickly grabbed it, and the tentacle tried to shake them off.
Meanwhile, Raf still typed away at his laptop, with Jack and Tamara next to him, like a shield.
"I won't let them lock on again." the small boy said, determined.
The cable threw Ioana into one of the walls, and the girl grunted in pain. Next were the other two girls, who voiced their pain at the contact with the wall a lot louder. The tentacle came closer to the other three at the computer and shoved Jack and Tamara out of the way. Just as it was about to grab Raf, the boy jumped up, pulled the flash drive from the computer and jumped down from the desk. The cable destroyed the desk and everything on it trying to get to Raf.
Miko lifted herself up and grabbed the axe that sat in a case for emergencies. She then jumped up, at the cable, trying to cut it in two, but it got out of the way and hit Miko, making her lose her grip on the axe. Miko almost hit the wall, but was caught by Ioana and Ale. The axe fell down, on the floor, and the cable grasped it and lifted it above their heads.
"You handed it an axe?!" Jack screamed with a high-pitched voice.
"Not good..." came from Raf, who was staring fearfully at it.
Just as the cable prepared to hit them and close their fates, it reared back, as if burned and rushed out the door.
Outside, the radio-telescopes moved in position for the final time.
"Quick, up! We need to follow it!" Ioana shouted, already at the door.
"Coming!" Tamara said, helping Miko up.
They left the room behind them and burst into an empty hanger. Only when they looked up, did they see him. He was on the open roof of the hanger. A new Decepticon, very different from Steve and his kind. He was a dark purple in color, with highlights of neon purple. Much like his tentacle. And the other three he had. But, like Steve, he didn't have a face. He had a visor made of a dark screen. Gasping, Miko took out her phone and took a picture of him. The Decepticon, in exchange, took a picture of all of them, before jumping and transforming into a jet. "An air drone, it seems." Ioana thought, frowning.
"Why is he leaving?" Tamara asked with wide eyes.
"Raf?" Ale asked worried.
"He cut the hardline." the small boy said, approaching a thick cable in which rested the axe from earlier. "The dishes are locked onto Cybertron." he added in a defeated tone. "For good." he finished.
Ioana's shoulders sagged. She looked at her friends and saw the same helpless feeling in her chest reflected in their eyes. She lifted her right hand to her ear-piece and spoke.
"Ratchet... Bridge us back. The mission failed." she stated what everyone feared to say. But someone had to do it and Ioana took it upon herself.
For a few moments the line was quiet. Then:
"You tried. Even though I told you it was going to be dangerous and impossible. I hope you learned something new and important today." the medic said in his best reassuring voice.
"Yes, Ratchet. We did." Ioana glanced once again at her friends which were looking at her sad and angry with themselves.
With that, the line went offline and a Ground Bridge appeared next to them.
- At the base -
When they came in, Ratchet was at his consoles and Fowler finally awake. The Agent looked strangely at them, but they paid it no mind. Then, Ratchet spoke up, and he didn't sound too happy. In fact, his voice was full of worry.
"Optimus, I'm registering a rapidly expanding mass in their Space Bridge vortex. One with a peculiar energy signature." the medic said.
"Dark Energon." Optimus answered. "Ratchet, we must destroy the Space Bridge. There's enough live energon cursing through it to achieve detonation. But we lack the firepower to ignite it." the leader said and everyone shared a look.
"If I knew how the Space Bridge was engineered, I might find a tactical way of accomplishing that feat." the medic retorted.
"Um, would schematics help?" Raf said, holding up the flash drive.
Ratchet looked at him then back at the screens in front.
"Optimus, I must say the Space Bridge is our sole hope of ever returning to Cybertron. Are you certain it's destruction is the only option?" Ratchet asked, and there was an edge of sadness in his voice.
"I am afraid so." Optimus answered with sympathy.
"Then by all means, let us light our darkest hour." Ratchet said determined and everyone smiled, finally confident that they would make it.
Ratchet turned to Raf who wordlessly went to his seat at the human-sized laptops and plugged his flash drive in. He began typing, and after a few seconds, the same formula that helped Megatron build a Space Bridge appeared on the bigger screen in front of Ratchet. Only, this time, it will be used to destroy a Space Bridge. On the speakers, they heard Optimus talk to their guardians.
"Autobots, take your positions, and follow Ratchet's lead. While I make my stand."
Ioana looked shocked at the screens. He... he wasn't going to do what she thought he would do, would he? Oh dear, but he was...
"He's gonna fight Megatron, isn't he?" Ale asked, more serious than usual.
"He has to. We need as much time as we can get." Ratchet answered her.
"Then we need to hurry. I don't want anyone out on that field to remain there." Ioana said suddenly, with a surprisingly authoritative voice.
Everyone looked at her surprised but Alexandra and Tamara smiled and saluted her military-style.
"Everyone, you heard her, let's get this show on the road!" came from - surprisingly - Agent Fowler. The Agent knew that if someone could do it, it was her. Maybe he hadn't met her in person, but he heard enough about her to know they would not be so easily defeated with her on their side.
"Raf, Ratchet, get that formula simplified and ready to be played on the field. Agent Fowler, contact the Radio-Telescope Dish Array in Texas and explain to them the reason why their dishes are located on a planet unidentified 'till now, and make it believable, if you need help, contact the Pentagon or just ask me. Miko, Jack, keep an eye on those Cyber-zombies, and Ale, you and Tamara go prepare the Med-Bay. We are going to need it. I'm gonna help Agent Fowler, Ratchet and Raf. Everyone got it?" the petite girl explained and all she got in response were open mouths or wide eyes/optics. "Everyone got it?" she pressed and that spurred everyone in action. The rose in her hair was warm, reassuringly so.
Tamara and Ale went downstairs to the Med-Bay, Miko and Jack took their places as watchers, Ratchet and Raf turned to their respective devices and Agent Fowler took one of the free seats next to Raf to make the requested call. Ioana was watching everyone and, true to her word, she helped Fowler make a better excuse than, and I quote 'No, no, Miss Canace and her friends were trying to stop the desert rabbit from destroying the dishes' and 'Yes, you heard well, the rabbit was the one with the axe!". She also helped Raf and Ratch, showing them that not only she could make a good commander, but also a good planner and strategist.
A few minutes later, Tamy and Ale returned and stood close to Ioana and Agent Fowler, who had finished apologizing for the damages done at the Texas Array, and they watched the screens showing both the formula and the Space Bridge progress, and Ioana adding a few suggestions for the plan once in a while. Even Ale did, showing that she was just as good as Ioana when it came to planning. Then, Fowler spoke up when he noticed something strange on the screen showing the Space Bridge, that Jack and Miko were keeping an eye on.
"These... These things are getting closer. That's bad, right?" he pointed at the screen, turning to Ratchet.
"Ratchet, we're in position." Arcee's voice came from the speakers.
"Arcee, pay close attention." Ratchet told her. After a few minutes to explain the system of the Space Bridge, Ratchet moved to the next step. "Now follow the line from the flow regulator to the energon pump. There should be a valve."
"I see it." Arcee answered.
"Good. To turn all that power against itself, all you need to do is reverse the current." the medic said and they waited for the femme's response.
"Current reversed." Arcee said after a few suspenseful moments.
"Yes!" came from Agent Fowler. "Right?" he asked leaning down at the stunned Raf.
"I'll get the Ground Bridge started." Ratchet said, turning to another console and typing the needed coordinates.
Just then a pain filled groan was heard through the speakers. It had been Arcee's.
"Arcee!" Jack and Ioana shouted.
Behind them, the Ground Bridge onlined.
"Optimus, the Ground Bridge is ready and waiting!" Ratchet said through the connection.
"Autobots, jump!" Optimus ordered with the help of the comm.
They all waited anxious, with their breath caught in their throats. They faced the open Bridge.
"Do you think they're...?" Raf had the power to ask, but not to finish.
"Four life signals. One very faint." Ratchet answered.
The first to get through the Bridge was Optimus. He stepped slowly, closer to them, clearly exhausted. Ioana smiled, despite herself, at his entrance. The next to sport a smile were Ale and Miko, at the appearance of their guardian.
"Bulkhead!" screamed the two girls, rushing down the stairs and hugging the hand offered by the mech.
Slowly, they all got down the stairs, happy to see that the two first mechs were alright. But, Ioana's smile quickly disappeared when the last two 'Bot's came rushing in. At least, 'Bee did. Arcee was in his servos looking the worst for wear. 'Bee crouched down, looking at the femme. Ioana and Jack rushed to them. Ioana looked at the femme, whose optics didn't even flutter at the sound of their footsteps. She felt her eyes burn and her sight blur around the edges against her restrain. The rose felt hot on her head, and she grasped it, pulling it down. The others approached them and Miko put her hand on Jack's shoulder, while Ale put hers on Ioana's.
"We lost one this week, by the Allspark, don't let it be two." Ratchet quietly prayed.
"We need to get her to them Med-bay! We didn't prepare it for nothing!" Ioana said, trying to contain her tears and control her voice.
Alexandra and Tamara looked at her in sympathy. Ioana paid them no mind. She blinked off any water she had in her eyes and shook her head. She shrugged off Alexandra's hand and approached Arcee determined. She placed her hands on the femme's servo and closed her eyes. Jack looked at her and did like her, although he didn't know why she did so. Ioana's eyes narrowed in concentration and Arcee wasn't the only one to feel it. Bumblebee and Jack did too. A quick, painless, lightning-like jolt.
Then, to the surprise of everyone but Ioana, Arcee slowly opened her optics.
"Arcee..." Jack said, but it sounded so close to being a whimper.
"Ioana, Jack... really?" the femme asked, managing to smile a bit at them. That is when Ioana realized that Arcee would have lived without her help, but she didn't care. She was happy her guardian was alive. "There are other motorcycles in the world." the femme continued.
"But you're my first." Jack said and Ioana snorted watery, assaulted again by tears.
"And my best!" she said quickly, not able to look at her in the optic with all the emotions inside her. Alexandra, Tamara and Miko hugged the poor girl, who clutched at Alexandra's shirt tightly with one hand, the other gripping one of Arcee's digits tightly. The femme just smiled at them and brought her servo around them, like a hug.
"And Megatron?" Ratchet asked Optimus, trying to lighten up the atmosphere.
"Not even he could have survived ground-zero." Optimus responded.
"Prime!" came from Agent Fowler. "I didn't get to thank you, 'Bots, for the save. I owe you one. We all do." the Agent said and stepped into the roof elevator, the door closing with a beep.
Slowly, Bumblebee put Arcee down on her own two pedes and she smiled at all six of them in a very 'proud mother' fashion. Miko smiled back, but then frowned. She slowly approached Optimus, who looked down at her.
"So is this the part where you say good-bye and tell us we need to forget we ever saw you?" she asked leaning back and forward on her feet, eyes sad.
Optimus looked at all of them and then stepped forward, all eager to hear his response, be it a good one, or a bad one.
"Without of means of leaving this world, we Autobots take strength in the bonds we have forged with our six young friends. True warriors. If not in body then, in spirit." Optimus said and slowly approached the consoles. He kept looking at them, and finally smiled. He pressed a button and continued, "My name is Optimus Prime, and I send this message: though we did not choose to be of Earth, it would seem that we are here to stay. If you approach this planet with hostile intent, know this we will defend ourselves. We will defend humanity. We will defend our home."
- End of Fate of the Star: Her Story: Volume 1 -
Worry not, my dear readers, the story is not over yet, for there are many mysteries and answers to be revealed. Keep an eye out for the next part: Volume 2.
Preview:
"What you can do, it's amazing!"
"I told you to stay here, but noooo! You had to go, get sick, and give us a panic attack when you fainted on Raf!" Ale shouted at the glaring Ioana on the bed.
"It is, isn't it? I was born like this."
"Do not underestimate me, Decepticon, even in a state like this, I'm quite a match for you." Ioana said, lifting herself up.
She looked at their capturer with a look as if to say 'I understand you, I know, it's okay.'
Starscream remained frozen. Then, he came back to himself. How did the puny human dare to level him with the pretense to know him?! To understand him?!
She delved deep inside, and found what made the warlock tick. But, by now, it was only a small poor imitation of what it used to be before the explosion. She had a choice to make. Extinguish the small, barely-there spark, or save it, using the same method she used on Arcee when she thought she was almost dead.
"So, you are the one that saved me... Welcome abroad the Nemesis. I hope you'll enjoy your stay here. I guarantee, you'll be staying some time here." and a dark grin filled his faceplates.
