Takes place shortly after Sari's training session. Optimus and the crew are in the process of getting the ship ready for their return to earth. They need to decide where to land, what will be their base of operations, as well as other considerations.

Professor Sumdac was "relaxing" in his quarters on the Ark-32. He was thinking about business back on earth. "I wonder how things are going. It's been 10 days since I left earth. I put Richardson in charge; he's a good man, but this communication blackout is driving me crazy! I'd like to touch bases with him to see what the Board's been complaining about, how the factories are doing, how the latest balance sheets are looking..."

Just then he got a knock on his cabin door. "Dad, can I come in?"

Isaac opened the door. "Of course, my Sari! Please come inside and have a seat.

Sari entered the cabin. She had a disturbed look on her face. "What is wrong, Sari?" asked Isaac. "You look so troubled."

She sat next to her father. "I'm scared, Dad. Ever since that training exercise. All that power kind of freaked me out and," Sari looked down and rubbed her arm, "it made me feel weird. Dad, what if I lose control again?"

"Lose control?" Isaac asked.

"I care so much for the Autobots and…and I love you so much, Dad." Sari's voice quivered. "If I ever lost control again, and hurt any of you, I…I could never forgive myself!" Sari threw herself on Isaac's shoulders and cried.

Isaac hugged his daughter. "Oh, my beautiful Sari," He said. "So much love you have in your heart. I don't care whether it's a heart or a spark chamber! It is YOU, Sari! And love is the most precious thing in the universe!" He looked his daughter in the eyes. "With these kinds of powers come enormous responsibilities – but Sari, you have a family and good, close friends to help you and guide you and hold you up! You are not alone! We are here!"

"Oh, Daddy!" Sari said, "Don't let go."

"I won't, my Sari, I won't," said Isaac.

"The AllSpark is also guiding you, helping you advance not just with your mods, but I believe, with your inner strength and your maturity – I see it! And Sari, I too believe that Prowl is out there somewhere guiding you. Perhaps with Jazz' help, you can tap into that well where Prowl can continue to speak to you."

Sari felt better, wiped her tears, and sat back in her chair. "I miss Prowl, Dad. Do you think Jazz will be able to train me like Prowl did?" Sari asked.

"We will see, Sari. I was talking with Optimus, and I asked him if it might be possible to have Jazz come to earth, so that you could begin your cyber-ninja training sooner than six months. Do you think that would be a good idea?"

"Maybe that would help," said Sari. "I would really like to ask Jazz about what happened in the AE-35, and if it really was Prowl talking to me."

"Well, after we arrive, Optimus said he will return to Cybertron and see if that can be arranged," said Isaac. In the meantime, my Sari, always remember that I love you more than anything else, and I will always be here for you no matter what!" He gave her a hug.

"Thanks, Dad," said Sari. "I feel so much better being able to talk to you like this. It was so wonderful for you to be on this trip with me!"

"It was wonderful for me, too, Sari. Although I have to admit, I was biting my nails watching you out there on the ship's exterior," Isaac rubbed his temples.

"Sari smiled," biting your nails, or rubbing your temples?"

"Well, maybe both," he chuckled, "but not at the same time. So, when we get back to Detroit, what would you like to do first?"

"Oh, definitely Burger Bot!" said Sari. "Cybertron's great and all, but the human food's nothing compared to what we get in good old Detroit."

"Well, you've got that right, my dear," Isaac said. "I tried what they had while I was on Cybertron, and while it was OK, it was, shall we say, a bit too sophisticated for my earthling palate?"

Sari laughed. "Dad, you're almost as good a diplomat as me – and you don't have the mod!"

They both laughed.

Meanwhile, Arcee was monitoring the long-range scanners. "Optimus, I'm detecting a Decepticon ship within range. It appears to be on a trajectory that would put it in earth orbit within the next stellar cycle."

"At least we will arrive first," said Optimus. "We can prepare for them if they decide to continue on that course. Alert the rest of the crew."

Arcee came on the ship's address system: "All hands: attention. Decepticon ship detected. All hands report to Captain's briefing room."

"Uh oh," said Isaac. "Looks like we'd better head on over, Sari."

In the briefing room, Optimus gave the report. "The Decepticon ship will likely arrive in earth's orbit in approximately 4 orbital cycles, so we should have enough time after our arrival to prepare for them." Said Optimus. "We will use the ship as our base of operations, and Professor Sumdac can use Sumdac Tower's long-range sensors to track their whereabouts. We will do our best to remain undercover so as to make the Deceptions think there are no Autobots on Earth."

"After we arrive, I will use the space bridge to return to Cybertron to give our status to the Autobot High Council. I will also see if I can bring Jazz back to earth, to begin Sari's cyber-ninja training sooner than we first thought. Her mods are coming on quickly, and we think starting her training here will be beneficial."

"I should be away for no more than three solar cycles. While away, Ratchet will be in charge of the team."

"Any questions?" asked Optimus. "No? Then let's get ready!"

Sometime later, Optimus spoke to Isaac in private. "How is Sari doing, Professor? Shortly after the training exercise, she seemed very animated, but now she seems very much at peace."

"She is doing very well, Optimus." said Isaac. "She is doing very well. She came to me and we had a good, father-daughter, human type of talk."

"I think Sari's going to be OK, Optimus." Isaac continued. "She also likes the possibility, if it can be arranged, of bringing Jazz to earth to start her cyber-ninja training early."

"Glad to hear that. It was good that you were with us on this trip, Professor. Sari really needed you at this point in her development." Replied Optimus. "Thank the AllSpark you came when you did."

So the human edge, in the form of the father-daughter bond, seemed to provide just the support and guidance needed at this point in Sari's life. Thanks for reading.