XI. How Could You?


The cold stung her cheek making Persephone stir in her sleep. She pulled the covers closer to her, shivering as she warmed herself.

As she was about to drift back to unconsciousness Persephone feels something cold and sharp poke her harshly, as her sides ached at the uncomfortable feeling of metal beneath her–

Metal?

Persephone forced herself to sit, the covers sliding off of her as she looked at what's under her.

"It seems that the human has awoken" Her head snaps to who was talking as she came face-to-face with a cybertronian—he had horns protruding at each side of his helm, a thick wire came from his back and attached on to the massive weapon on his warm, and a single red optic looking back at her.

She gulped. "Sho...Shockwave," Persephone greeted him with a nod, before turning her head to the side and covering her nose with the covers as she sneezed.

The cybertronian cyclops tilts his head to the side, looking at her as if she has piqued his interest. Persephone felt a shiver go down her spine as he watched her, feeling like she was being dissected by layers from skin to her bone.

"You know of me?" Shockwave questioned.

"Of course," Persephone answered with a nod. "Where's Megatron?" She looked around, seeing no sign of the Decepticon Leader.

Shockwave replied, "Lord Megatron has other things to attend to."

Persephone didn't know how long before he comes back. The sparklings were sleeping, and the one-eyed cybertronian was here with her. Usually by now, Megatron would aid her in eating bits of food like soup when she woke up.

And now she had to do it by herself.

She wants to get up and ask Shockwave to put her down, but she can't. Persephone felt like her sickness was getting worse and worse, and she knows it is, because she couldn't push her body to stand for too long.

Where did he go?

Persephone sighed as her head fell back on Shockwave's palm when she started to feel nauseous. "I'm... sorry. I just really need to lay down right now." She apologized as she tried to catch her breath after speaking. "I don't feel so good."

Her eyes closed as she turned to her side. Shockwave clasps her arms in his digits, when she glanced to see what he was doing she saw the Decepticon scientist examining her limb.

"Interesting. I've never seen something like this before," He mused, voice devoid of warmth and filled with awe. "I've been meaning to ask. How long has energon been pumping in your form?"

"Energon?" She asked.

"Yes. Lord Megatron has instructed me to observe your health," Shockwave answered. "If I am honest, so far from what I've seen, it is declining rapidly. How long has energon been in your system?"

"I... I don't know," Persephone said after trying to recall how long she's been sick. "It's been going on for days. I haven't been keeping track of it." She huffed miserably. "I just want this to end."

Shockwave hums like a doctor when a patient tells them why they're seeing them. "You seem thinner than most humans."

"Well, if a human is sick they tend not to eat too much. We just... lose the energy to do so." She sighs. "However, I am very happy I met you."

"Why?"

"I'm a big fan."

If the cybertronian cyclops could quirk his eyebrow, he would. Alas, his face was devoid of any emotion yet his eyes asked questions. "Oh? Are you familiar with my work?" Shockwave chirped.

"Yes," Persephone chirped back, smiling softly. "Not just me, actually. A whole lot of people from where I am from."

Shockwave was silent for a moment. "Where are you from exactly?"

"Hasn't Megatron told you?"

"I'd appreciate hearing it from the source."

She chuckled. "I'm not from here. I'm from a different universe," Persephone says, wrapping the covers around her. "Back where I'm from, you guys are a work of fiction. Also, the part where you made the Nemesis was so cool."

"I see. So, Lord Megatron was telling the truth," Shockwave affirmed.

"You thought he was lying?"

"I thought he had lost his wits. There was no logic in his words. I'm sure you can understand where I'm coming from."

Persephone snickered, nodding her head. She understood what he meant. Shockwave was a man of science and he lacked the empathy towards others to pursue the fruit of his projects. He was a sociopath, but at least his experiments were cool... even if it meant he had to use thousands of Decepticons' energon to make the Nemesis moving.

No sacrifice, no victory.

Right?

Was she scared of Shockwave? Definitely. If she could, she'd run off screaming. But she was sick and she had no choice but to stay where she was. She wasn't scared because he'd kill her.

No. She was smart enough to know that Shockwave was a sensible person, he didn't act out if there was no order or reason. What scared her was that she didn't know what was going on in that big robot brain of his.

He was probably thinking about what's going on in her body. No doubt about that.

A part of her wanted to ask and the other hesitates.

Does she really want to know?

Persephone wasn't sure. What if there was no cure? Shockwave was smart, sure; but that doesn't mean that all of his projects were successful. There will always be that one percent where everything could go wrong. Not only that, Megatron wouldn't put their location at stake just to see what was making her sick.

She may be his pet, but that didn't mean that she'd get a royalty treatment–

"I wantyou totake care ofme even if I'm not sick."

Persephone wanted nothing more but to bash her head, cringing at the words she had said to him. Was there a way to turn back time and reverse that moment? If she could, Persephone would have drop kicked herself.

It was embarrassing.

She had to apologize to him. Her behaviour was highly inappropriate. Persephone had been so caught up in the moment that she forgot where she was and who she was talking to.

And the fact that he jokingly agreed with her.

"Remember this moment for it is the event in which you are promoted from a soldier tomy pet."

What the hell was she thinking?! It was a moment of weakness. Persephone frowned, hiding underneath the covers. It was so embarrassing. If she can, she would avoid Megatron until she dies.

But that was pointless.

Sooner or later she'd face him. God she wanted nothing more than to crawl under a rock and die, respectfully.

She had to talk to him. Apologise for the weird shit that spewed out of her mouth. It was stupid. So fucking stupid. It made her look pathetic and it was just... weird.

What would she even say to him?

Hey! I'm sorry for being weird last night and told you to make me your pet! Hahahaha! I'm perfectly normal, don't worry! It was just a joke to pass the time! God that sounded horrible.

Persephone dug inside her head, finding and piecing together one excuse after another as she tried to find something to tell him that explained her weird behaviour that night. She chucked it to her being carried away by the moment.

If she was honest, she did love the way he held her even if it was strange, however; Persephone chided herself to have some self-respect.

After all, what she said was embarrassing.

"Shockwave... Could I ask you something" Persephone softly said, trying her best not to sound too desperate. "Okay, so, I may or may not have said some stupid shit to Megatron and I don't know how to take that back without coming off as very pathetic." She didn't wait for him to reply in her slightly—but barely contained—panic state. "I don't know what came over me at the time, but it just... felt right when I said it! Now, I don't know what to do about it!

The Decepticon's infamous scientist looked at her with curiosity, despite the lack of facial expressions. "Excuse me, but I am not familiar with human woes," Shockwave replied. "But seeing as there is nothing much to do around here, you may as well continue."

Persephone popped her head out of the covers, making sure her face was the only thing visible.

She rolled her eyes at him, huffing. "Thank you," Persephone sarcastically smiled at him. "Anyways, I said something super embarrassing to him." She whined, "And now I want to die because of that. Also, if I jump off of your hand head first, would I get an instant death."

"I often wonder why you humans are so keen on choosing death instead of facing your own problems." Persephone grimaced at his words. "An inconvenience would present itself and the lot of you would immediately choose death as a conclusion, yet you humans would do anything to live."

"That's the uh... the thing about humans," She chuckled, smiling nervously at him, "we're kind of complex beings."

"Quite a paradox. No wonder your species is still stuck where all of you stand now," Shockwave concluded, nodding his head as if he somehow found an answer to a life-long question that plagued him. "So, what was it that you had said to Lord Megatron? I'm sure that you can take it back, depending on the severity of your words."

Persephone opened her mouth to speak, but was cut off when a strange sound pierced the silence. She turned around and saw a white Mercedes-Benz approaching, alongside a cop car.

It looked familiar.

Is... is that a SLS AMG and Mustang?

Her eyes caught something in the sky, seeing two jets approaching; lowering at a very alarming speed. One was a little smaller and she recognised it as some sort of military jet, the other one in front of it was... bigger. It looked like something out of a sci-fi movie or comic with how futuristic it looked.

It was cool.

What wasn't cool was the fact that Persephone recognised who the alien jet was, the sound of metal moving was heard as the three of them transformed.

Time seemed to slow when she saw him in all his glory. His red optics were dark but had been barely covered with joy when it landed on her. The warlord's smile was forced, and he spat his words.

"Well, if it isn't my loyal and faithful pet."


Megatron approached as he tried to hide his anger. Shockwave greeted him with small bow but he paid the scientist no mind as he snatched the femme from his palm. She held on to his digits, trying to steady herself.

"Humour me," He grins at her, holding back the urge to squish her. "When was the last time you talked to someone other than me?"

She proved to be a trustworthy person, but he couldn't help but feel betrayed. The warlord thought she was truly on his side, now he wondered if this was her plan all along.

Had she played the long game? Waiting for him to gather his men so that people could find her—to lead them to him.

"I... I talked to my brother," She gasped out as if she was out of breath, "but that was before I got into an accident and woke up here." Her purple eyes held one thing and one thing only.

Fear.

There was no respect, no awe, no adoration like she used to. There was only fear in those wide optics of hers. He wouldn't admit the fact that it had somewhat displeased him to see that reaction from her.

But humans were humans, after all.

He snarled, shaking her. "Then tell me why there are humans looking for you?" Megatron roared. "Pray tell why there is a widespread manhunt and a bounty on you if you were returned?"

She looked confused, convincingly so yet he knew it was a mere trick. "What?"

"Are you a spy? Perhaps an undercover soldier trained with a perfect alibi and plan to stall while you lock into our coordinates." He hissed, glaring at her. "Have you digested energon in order to sell your act? I'm surprised you haven't died yet."

She didn't answer him, fluids peeking at the corners of her optics. Persephone didn't move, she was just staring at him barely breathing as she weakly pats him as if to calm him down.

He had been nice to her, aiding her to full recovery and this was what he gets? For humans to hunt her down so she could lead them to him?

Megatron couldn't accept the fact that he was fooled.

Persephone utters something, barely making a sound.

"Well?! SPEAK, INSECT!"

"Can't... breathe..."

Then he realized that she wasn't patting him to calm him down, but to signal to him that he was killing her. Megatron had half a mind crushing her, but he convinced himself not to, opting to leave a message behind otherwise humans will continue to search for them if they found this asset of theirs dead.

She relaxed, leaning on to his servo as she gasped for air as if she had been deprived of oxygen. After a moment, she caught her breath. Persephone looks up at him, confusion and fear mixing in those pools of purple.

"What..." She grunts, "the fuck... are you talking about?" The human says through gritted teeth.

"Humans are looking for you! You are missing!" Megatron laughS humorlessly. "There are humans looking for you! Have you lied to me? I am impressed that you have fooled me this long, going far as to begging me to make you my pet."

She was silent, as if recovering from the way he squeezed her. Her face contorts into pain. "I have... I have been nothing but loyal and faithful to you, my lord," Persephone utters, her optics squinting as she holds his gaze. "I don't know why humans are looking for me since I have done nothing to garner their attention..."

Megatron tries to look at her lie, examining and dissecting it. However, it was nothing but the truth.

"What about your primitive contact device?"

"My phone? I can't call anyone... signals down. You can check it for yourself."

He looks at her. He should kill her. Punish her for putting him at stake because of her identity. "Soundwave!" Megatron barked at the Intelligence Officer. "Search her device. See to it that she isn't lying."

Soundwave nods his head. "Yes, Lord Megatron."

"I'm not lying!"

"SILENCE!"

She had to have been of any significance to the authorities, why else would they look for her? It didn't make sense if she was from another universe for someone to look for her.

However, she didn't seem to be lying. He chucks it up to her being a skilful liar. Megatron was impressed that she had been able to hide her real intentions.

"Soundwave reporting, Lord Megatron." The Decepticon warlord turns to him, raising an optic ridge at what he had discovered. "The femme has no contact to anyone. Every record of communication is different from the present, no calls were traced. No messages sent out. There are no records of reaching out to any outlet."

If that were to be the case, then who was looking for her? Why were there flyers of her being missing?

Megatron turns to focus his gaze upon the human in his grasp.

Her head was lowered, her arms holding her up. "It seems there was a misunderstanding," the warlord chuckled as he turned her head to look at him. There was a leakage in her eyes as she looked everywhere but him.

"Look at me," He ordered, before her eyes settled on him. Megatron kicked the urge to check if she was okay to the back of his mind when he saw the hurt, fear and confusion from her. "It seems you are indeed telling the truth."

Her lips trembled adorably as she nodded her head. "I would never betray you... so... So, please don't be angry at me."

Megatron gently wipes the wetness from her cheek before holding her properly in his grasp.

"Lord Megatron, I wish to ask you. Why bother keeping the human alive?" Starscream asked, eyeing the human femme. "Would she not endanger us, especially now that there are others who are looking for her?"

"The same reason I have decided not to offline your miserable life," Megatron barked at his Second-in-Command. "She is of use to me, quite the entertaining human if I do say so myself. Unless you wish to entertain me yourself, Starscream?"

"I-It is an honor, my liege, but you have bestowed that position to the human. Who am I to refute that?" The seeker laughed nervously, taking a step back with a bow. "But what now, Lord Megatron? We have gathered enough intel, what is the plan?"

"We will have to tread with caution seeing as humans are out to get us. They have tools to incapacitate us long enough to offline us," Megatron chuckled. "Sooner or later, we will have the upper hand. With her help, of course." The warlord presents the human who was covered in layers and layers of blanket.

"Hi," Persephone sniffled with a weak wave of her hand.

"It seems that Primus has blessed us with an opportunity to rise once more. She will guide us, seeing as her little processors contain so much knowledge of the past and the future!" The warlord boasted about the three of them.

"I don't mean to oppose you, Lord Megatron," Barricade finally speaks after being silent throughout the whole fiasco. "But why should we trust the fleshy? If she does know anything and everything that would happen, shouldn't we just extract the information from her and then dispose of her?"

"That would be insufficient," Shockwave countered. "I lack the necessary tools to properly extract the information from her processors without damaging the intel and the human." The scientist eyed the human for a bit and said, "It would be ideal if the organic was alive."

Megatron chuckled. "Not only that, but she and I have an... agreement. She would aid me in bringing back Cybertron to its glory days," He tells them with a smirk. "In exchange for her to have 'front row seats' during her stay and having that little peaceful life she wants afterwards. A fair price, no? Besides... the femme herself has volunteered to be my pet."

Starscream's helm snaps at the human in shock. He looks at everyone, giving them a 'Are-any-of-you-seeing-this-slag?' look when the warlord glanced at the human. Megatron missed the confused glances his soldiers gave to each other.

"Shockwave, what have you seen regarding her health?" The warlord turned to him.

The scientist approached him. "I lack the tools in order to examine her properly," Shockwave answered. "If I am able to access the materials I need, then I would be able to help her even if it is temporary.

The warlord turns to the human who peeks out of her blankets, her purple optics giving off a soft glow.

Persephone shook her head. "I can't afford that much, otherwise my card would decline," She said. "I'm saving my money for the things that I need like food, water and clothes."

Megatron thought about it for a moment before he made a decision. They would have to be stealthy in order to avoid running in with the humans and to also avoid suspicion.

It would require some time, but he would do anything to relieve her of her pain.

Humans were a pain to take care of, yet she had been nothing but compliant and nice. Megatron owes her that for keeping him company in the past few days.

"Well... yeah. You haven't screamed at me in days, you're taking care of me while I'm sick even though I'm technically considered as a soldier."

He saw the way she flinched when he yelled at her and Megatron wouldn't admit it, but even he was surprised that he didn't feel the same sense of joy he used to whenever he barked at someone.

Megatron had to establish his dominance, she was being too comfortable. Wasn't that his goal to begin with? No, it wasn't because she was being too comfortable, it was because he was angry when he thought Persephone had lied to him.

He tried to brush the feeling off as he went on about his day, planning on where and how to get the materials Shockwave needed.

Guilt eating away at his spark as Persephone stayed silent throughout the day unless she needed to answer.


The waves crashed against Leon's legs as he passed through the shore. The waters were dark as the sun started to rise on the horizon, soft strays bleeding into the sky.

It was somewhere around seven in the morning, the soldiers had long since risen and buzzing on and about within the buildings. The mechanics were tinkering and checking the fighter jets that were lined up perfectly. Leon found it strange how he used to be that small.

It was fun being here.

Getting to meet half of his childhood idols, being trained by one of the most badass Autobots in the franchise, and getting to breathe the same air as them.

And it is fun, but he also finds it... boring. He wasn't here for long, but some things were a little repetitive. Leon couldn't hold a normal conversation with the humans because a) they're a little wary of him and kept their distance b) they mostly talk about military stuff that he didn't relate to.

He wasn't too lucky with the Autobots either.

Arcee was nice to him and he figured she was only nice because she had to train him with his marksman abilities, but even that didn't last long. Leon couldn't even activate the weapons he had in his body. That is if he had them, so the session was really a one time thing.

It was embarrassing how he couldn't even activate his weapons. Not only that, but transforming into a vehicle? That shit really humbled Leon.

Whoever said it would be easy was a liar.

Sideswipe was nice, he's a Giga Chad if Leon was honest but the mech was sent out on a mission. If anything, it seemed like half of the Autobots were sent out of base. Bumblebee was barely on base so he didn't have a chance to meet them properly. Leon tries to have a conversation with the other Autobots too, but they somehow go quiet when he goes near.

It didn't take a genius to know that he wasn't wanted.

Ratchet was nice, but he was too busy with recording data and Ironhide was too busy fixing his cannons. Leon couldn't even say a 'hello' to Optimus Prime, seeing as the giant mech looked mostly pissed—kind of like someone shitted on his plate and gave it to him—all the time... Leon made sure to avoid him since he didn't want to be at the receiving end of all that truck-load of ire.

So far, his stay was lonely.

It was like being back in middle school where people bullied and isolated you for being different. In a way, he was more alien than the cybertronians themselves.

He was from a different universe and woke up into a body of a transformer. He didn't even know most of the people on the island. Not to mention all Autobots were usually called into the meeting room, but he wasn't allowed.

It's funny how they say that he's an Autobot too, but exclude him from their plans and whatnot. So, he developed a habit of walking to the other side of the island.

Leon had to stay with Autobots because they provided safety, but he also hated how he was chained down to them.

The trees became denser as he proceeded to walk the pathway he had created to himself before he cane into a clearing where the shoreline is seen and the soft sound of seagulls passing by.

Leon sat where the ocean was high enough to be on his waist as the waves crashed against his body, his knees pulled to his chest as he sat there; closing his eyes.

He had... no one in this world.

It was a terrifying thought, but his adventures so far had proved that it was a fact. He had no place amongst the humans and no place within the Autobots. If anything, it seemed like he was just there. Existing and pretty much nothing else.

It was fun, but now he wanted to go home. At least, there he was wanted.

He lays down, letting the water submerge most of his body as he looks at the sky. Leon wouldn't admit it, but he felt... helpless.

The sun had long since taken its place in the sky. It was about nine in the morning when the sound of trees rustling made its way to his ears. Leon craned his head only to see a certain yellow and black Autobot step out into the clearing.

" —Eureka! I found something!—The missing child was finally found—I am so proud!—"

Leon hastily got up, stumbling over his feet before he stood up straight; water droplets trailing down his frame. "Hi, Bee!" He cleared his throat, kicking himself internally for sounding way too excited. "I mean... hey, Bumblebee. I didn't expect to see you here."

The yellow scout approached him, optics shining with awe. " —Take me to your leader!—Your presence was requested, your majesty!—You are summoned by the court—" Bumblebee replied through the radio, beeping here and there.

"I'm guessing they're all looking for me now. Huh?"

The scout nods his head, beeping up a storm at his words. Leon walked out of the water as the scout led him back to base. Besides, he had no choice otherwise the humans would hunt him down. Plus, he was literally on an island; so he can't exactly just speed off into the sunset.

Bumblebee turns to him excitedly " —You're not from here, are you?—Sent from Heaven!—You're from a whole 'nother world. A different dimension—"

Leon laughed, his shoulders shaking in mirth. "Yeah. Yeah, I'm not from here. I'm from a different reality if that makes any sense to you," He answered with a smile. Leon explained the same thing he said before, how they were all works of fiction and whatnot.

The scout nods his head at his words, beeping here and nodding there throughout his tale. Bumblebee was already cute from the beginning, but in person? The yellow and black mech was the personification of adorable!

Leon had to resist the urge to just hug and squeeze the life out of him. "–and then I woke up here," He said, drawing a conclusion to his story. "So... yah, that's my origin story. Also, I am a very big fan of you!" He gushed in a child-like manner.

An audio of people clapping was heard from the radio as Bumblebee performed a bravado and bowed down at the imaginary crowd. Leon laughed, whistling and cheering.

" —Am I your favorite, daughter?—It's me. Me. Me!—" Bumblebee looks at him with wide eyes, waiting for his response.

"Well... not really..." Leon trailed off, watching as the door wings at the back of the scout flops as the yellow and black mech deflated. "Because you're not just my favourite, but you are everyone's favorite scout!"

And that seemed to smack some life into the young scout as Leon watched him run around like a child, jumping up and down as he blasted the sound of people cheering. The soldiers that walked past them gave them confused glances before going on about their day.

They talked some more as they approached the base. Bumblebee tells him about Sam and how the scout missed the human boy. He went on and on about how he used to alter his visits to Sam and Mikaela since both humans were very dear to him.

As they both enter the base, Leon was about to go back to the room that was given to him when someone called him over.

The black mech looked around, eyes searching the ground too as to who could possibly be talking to him. "On the catwalk." Leon searched for the catwalk when Bumblebee turned him around to face whoever was talking to him.

His eyes lands on a brunet man with brown eyes dressed in tactical gear, leaning over the rails, and looking up at him. "I believe we haven't met properly. I'm Major Lennox, head of the N.E.S.T operation and base that you're currently in."

Leon grins at him, rushing over to lean at the man's eye level. "I'm Leon. Leon Villamora. It's nice to meet you!" He chirped, offering the Major his hand.

It took him a second to remember that Lennox was really small compared to his hand and opted to raise a single digit instead.

Lennox gave him a scrutinising look and said, "I'm sorry. What did you just say?"

"What do you mean?"

"Your name. What did you say your name was?"

Leon looked at him suspiciously, eyeing the Major like he was plotting something evil. "My name is Leon... Leon Villamora." He watched as Lennox's eyes grew wide before looking at the Autobot scout that stood next to him.

Leon watched as the two shared a look before the both of them looked at him. "Really? Who gave you that name?" The Major asked, crossing his arms.

He sighed, red optics rolling. "Obviously my mom. Duh!" Leon sassily responded. "In case you didn't know, I was a human before I woke up in this body!" He gestured to himself, exasperated.

Lennox turns around, muttering something in his earpiece. He didn't know what he was saying, he was far enough not to hear it at all and Leon only frowned as he crossed his arms. When Lennox turned to face him, Leon raised a brow at him.

"Well?" He asked.

"Is it true that you know everything about this universe—about the Transformers?" Lennox asked him.

"Depends on who's asking," Leon answered, putting his hands on his hips.

"I'm asking."

"If I said that you video called your wife when you encountered that weird metal scorpion in the desert, would you believe me?"

The surprised look on the Major's face gave Leon huffed in delight, giving Lennox a smug grin.

"Okay, listen," Lennox explained. "I got orders from Optimus that you'd be called in the meeting room. Apparently, you were called. A.S.A.P. Bumblebee, lead the way." The Major jumps from the platform and into the scout's open hand.

"Wait!" Leon exclaimed. "If the meeting is going on, then why isn't Bumblebee with them?"

Bee makes a beeping sound and Lennox answers him, "Optimus ordered him to bring you back to base."

Leon was silent the rest of the way, wondering why he was allowed access now. When he entered the room, all eyes turned to him.

He was thankful he was a cybertronian, otherwise he would've shit himself. Leon had been with crowds before, he attended many seminars and retreats with his fellow co-workers and whatnot, but this really pumped his anxiety upwards.

Because dear god he didn't know what to do.

"So..." Leon trailed off. "Okay, I know I should have said where I was always going but I didn't think any of you wanted me here so I just... got out of everyone's hair."

Arcee was the first one to speak. "Who said we didn't want you?" She asked, confused.

"For starters, the humans." Leon huffed. "It's obvious that they don't trust me and the same can be said to most of the Autobots. Either you guys are busy or you hate me because I try to approach you guys and you just... give me a weird look." He shrugs, watching as Jolt, Skids, and Mudflap wince. "You guys say I'm an Autobot and then don't want me to attend whatever meeting you guys are having. Suddenly I'm allowed to be here or something. Listen, I don't care if any of you hate me. However, I do expect you guys to be at least somewhat civil." Leon grumbled, crossing his arms and looking away.

He wouldn't admit it, but to have his favourite idols push him away really hurts him. It's like someone meeting their favourite super star and they were just rejected by said super star.

"My apologies, Leon," Optimus spoke, his voice rumbling. "It was not our intention to make you feel like you are not wanted. We were too busy finding something... or rather someone. You have given us what you know so far about our race, I wish to know what else is that you are aware of."

Leon furrowed his brows, tilting his head. "That's all I know. Also, I don't see how I could help you guys find a person. I can't even transform or activate my weapons... if I have any, that is."

"Tell me, Leon. Do you know anything about the Imprint... or about The Prime's Mark?" Optimus asked, making Leon more confused than before.

"Sounds like a title for a very cheesy fanfiction," He snorts. "But no. Never heard of it my whole life. What is it about?" And the next few minutes, they explained what the Imprint is and how it was formed by Primus. They explained to him that whoever bore the Mark would present themselves to the Prime and how they were an omen of change and what not.

Leon stood there, his mind processing what they told him. "So, you're telling me that your soulmate—and by your explanation not mine—is a massive weapon of destruction just walking on and about?!"

"That's exactly my reaction!" Leon turned to see Epps standing on the table beside Lennox.

"And not to mention, the weird symbiotic relationship that would be established?!" He exclaimed.

"My thoughts exactly!" Epps responded.

Leon walked over to the Sargent as he gave everyone a look. "Are we the only one who still has our sanity in tack?" He asked as he gestured to Epps and himself. "Why isn't anyone doing anything about it?!"

"It's not that we're not doing anything," Chromia answered. "It's because we're trying to keep it from human officials who would want to get their hands on any cybertronian weapon they can. I'm sure you can imagine what they'd do if they found out what the human femme can do." When Leon winced, the blue femme laughed. "Yeah, I thought so too."

Leon turns to the Prime, crossing his arms. Only then did he notice that the blue and red mech was cradling what looked to be a datapad of some sorts.

He didn't know why they had to tell him this information. Was he required to go on to missions with them?

They are going to need extra sets of hands eventually.

He just hoped that they'd be able to teach him how to transform, unleash his weapons and fight. Otherwise he'd be a greenhorn in the battlefield.

He might even die before he's able to say or do something.

"This may come as... very strange... to you." Optimus's voice made Leon jump. The caution in the Prime's voice had surprised him.

Optimus wasn't looking at anyone, but rather he was looking ahead, expression carefully blank. Leon saw the Prime's grip tightened around the object in his servo.

"Uh... a little bit," Leon answered truthfully. "I mean, I don't understand why you guys are telling me this. I don't really know what to do with it either. For starters, I have no idea who we're looking for."

"She is... my most guarded secret." Optimus's voice was soft despite the blank look on his face. "I cannot let anyone know about her so carelessly. I could not allow our enemies to discover... her." The Prime finally looks at him and says, "I figured that you have the right to know about it if I was correct. You have told Lennox that your name was Leon Villamora, right?"

"Yeah, I did." Leon nods his head, curious as to what his point was. "Why do you ask?"

"Do you know anything about Persephone?" Arcee asked, which made Leon raise a brow.

"The goddess of death?" Leon hums. "Yeah, pretty much. I mean, her story is widely known... mostly."

"Do you know anyone by the name of Persephone, by any chance?" Optimus's voice brings his attention back to him. Leon nods his head.

"Well, yeah," Leon agreed. "I do. In fact, I have a little sister named Persephone—she's the youngest, mind you. Unfortunately, she's in a coma since some bastard decided to drive while they're wasted as fuck." He grumbled, crossing his arms as he looked to the side. "I don't mean to be rude, but what exactly are you holding?"

Optimus looks at him for a moment before he sets the datapad down and activates it. "She bears my mark... She is my sparkmate."

Leon had to squint his eyes as he leaned towards the hologram that the Prime showed them.

It was a woman, wearing a wedding gown with a golden headpiece stuck to her head. Her hair was long and a rich dark color, there were purple lines on any visible part of her body and on her chest looked to be a star; what with how it was glowing. She had purple eyes, which reminded Leon of Shinobu Kocho from Kimetsu no Yaiba.

The woman was smiling widely.

She looked a lot like–

Leon paused.

The gears in his head had stopped working. He was asked what his name was and Lennox seemed to not believe him. They asked him if he knew anything about the Imprint thingy or whatever and they asked him if he had a sister named Persephone.

Leon furrowed his brows, putting the pieces together.

"SEPHIE?! SHE'S HERE?!" He turned to look at Optimus and yell, "YOU'RE TELLING ME MY SISTER IS YOUR FUCKING SPARKMATE?!"

"So, you two are siblings." Optimus closed his optics for a moment. "Had I known who you were, I would have let you help us sooner. The chances of you two being related was impossible before we knew of your surname. I figured that the universe you two had originated were the only thing the both of you shared in common," When the Prime looked at him, Leon could see the deep regret in those neon eyes of his. "My deepest apologies for keeping this from you, Leon. I hope you understand."

And then, everything clicks for him. He then understood why they were so distant. He knew so much about them and they knew little about him. Of course, they'd be wary about him.

Leon puts himself in their shoes and realised that he would have probably done the same thing.

"Yeah. I understand... I forgive you for that." He nodded his head as he looked back at the picture of his sister, his eyes tearing up. "Where did you get this?" Leon asked, gesturing to the hologram in front of them.

Optimus glanced at the picture of his sister longingly before closing his eyes. "From my memory banks. She appeared to me in the form of a dream. Ever since then, I have not been able to contact her," the Prime said in a tone that reminded Leon of someone trying to put something unpleasant off of their mind. "She is in grave danger... There is a team currently sent out to find her."

Leon raised a brow. "What? Don't tell me she's with the Decepticons," He snickered, shaking his head at how silly it was.

But none of them were laughing.

If anything, Optimus seemed to grow rigid with his hands turning into a fist.

"Unfortunately, you are correct." The growl rumbling from the Prime shut Leon up immediately, starting at the Autobot leader with wide eyes as he glanced at the exit doors. "We must find her before the Decepticons figure out who she is... before they use her against all of us."

"I want to help!" Leon exclaimed. "If I could just learn how to use this body, I could be of help. I need to find my sister." He begged, hoping the Prime understood him.

"I thought you knew about cybertronians and how we function?" Ratchet asked, giving him a confused look.

Leon nods his head.

"Yeah, I do... if I was a human. But I don't know how to operate this body properly as a cybertronian. I'm not sure if this body has a weapons system and if it doesn't, then I need you guys to install them." He turned to look at them. "I don't care what I have to do, but I want to help find Sephie..." He then asked, "What have you guys done so far? I mean, you can't exactly find her. America is a very broad area to search for one human."

"We've put her out as missing, so that anyone who finds her could immediately call the authorities. We'll be notified if that happens," Lennox answered, making Leon nod his head. "But we found something about her when we tried to dig up some information."

"Which is?" He asked.

"Well, I don't know if this happened in your world too, but according to the intel we've gathered, a Persephone Villamora did exist in this world," Lennox paused, glancing nervously at the Prime who still had his back on everyone, "but she's dead. Well, not just her. Almost everyone in her family died."

Leon looked at him for a moment, his mind processing the words. "I'm sorry. Dead?"

"Yeah, but her death was registered in the Philippines—in a different country—so unless the government tries to get information from said country, anyone would just think she's missing."

"How..." Leon took a deep breath. "How did they die?"

There was a silence that hangs in the air as Lennox struggled to say the next words.

"She was... it's a case of domestic and child abuse," the Major glanced at the black mech who looked at him with wide red optics. "The children were killed in a gruesome manner, their aunts who were taking care of them at the time were sentenced to life in jail, and the mother... the mother committed suicide."

Leon's breath hitched as he stood there, horrified at what he heard. He was dead? Supposedly, in this world, at least. It made him shudder thinking this was one of the realities where they did die. "How old were they when they were killed?"

Lennox looked like he knew the answer but didn't want to say it. He stood there glancing at everyone but him, his back turned with his hand scratching his head.

"The eldest was twelve, the middle child was eight." Lennox paused, glancing at Leon. "The youngest was three, turning four." His brows furrowed upwards as he looked at the picture, shoulders slumping in dismay.

"It did happen to us..." Leon trailed off, closing his eyes with a sigh. "Although it's a miracle that we're alive. Unfortunately our counterparts in this world aren't that lucky, it seems." He opened his eyes, crossing his arms. "She's... Sephie is a little vulnerable mentally when we were in our universe," Leon breathed out, weighing the gravity of the situation. "Knowing the Decepticons... There's no doubt she's being pushed around as we speak."

Leon jumped when an ear-splitting roar shook the entire base, the sound of something being destroyed immediately following.

Everyone flinched.

He stood still as their part of the table was ruined, the wall seemingly having a giant dent as the Prime stood with his back turned to them; his hand gripping the missing piece of the table onto the wall with cracks stretching out of the wall like lightning.

The hologram of Persephone flickered for a moment, before it went back to normal.

"Major," Optimus's voice sounded deeper and darker than before, making Leon back away slowly until he reached the exit. "Use any means necessary, so long as your human officials do not suspect about my sparkmate. See to it that they find her immediately..."

The Prime turns to look at Ironhide and Ratchet with a look that he was holding back the urge to bark at them. "Do whatever needs to be done to help Leon. The more people who search for her, the better."

Leon wanted nothing more than to get the fuck out of that room.

Away from the angry Prime, preferably.


End of Chapter XI


Author's Note:

So, guess who got discharged from the hospital? It's me! MUWAHAHAHAHA! Sorry for the late post, I just got home. Anyways, hope you guys enjoyed this chapter and the next one!

—Stwawbewwy