Here's the next chapter! Get ready to learn more about Alestia's powers :)


(A-POV)

"How have you been holding up, Optimus?"

"I am fine." Prime pulled out of the temporary base, following the path Bee had taken upon my arrival. The sun was slowly lowering in the sky, and I watched as clouds, which had been nonexistent when I left the hospital, began to move in. The base was located on the outskirts of Mission City, far away enough to avoid curious citizens but close enough to ensure no Decepticon lurked behind the city's buildings.

"Just fine?" I quirked an eyebrow. I wasn't even sure Prime could see me from where I was sitting, but I pretended as if he was already watching.

"Yes."

I leaned further back into the seat and crossed my arms. "I don't believe you."

"Why ever not?" Prime said, exasperation clear in his tone.

"You're very quiet for a mech who's been keen on talking to me. And," I added, "you just lost a close friend. I wouldn't be fine if I were you. Hell, I know I'm not. "

Optimus was silent. Was I going at this the wrong way? I began picking at my nails, trying to think of something, anything, to pull him out of his head. His processor? Whatever it was. I could feel him pulling back with every second that passed, an invisible chasm stretching wider until it was impossible to reach the other side.

"You can talk to me." I blurted. "I won't tell the others."

"I never once doubted your trust, Alestia." It was said with such softness, such... gentleness, that I brushed my fingers against the leather seat in encouragement.

"Then what is it?"

Optimus vented a deep sigh. I imagined him pressing his lips together in a thin line, frowning slightly. "I am Prime. It is a title bearing a certain level of responsibility. I must have strength for my Autobots. Though Megatron is dead, the Decepticons will not stop; this I know. The war is not yet won, and in times like these, it is imperative to present a... unified front."

I thought about my following words very carefully. "Prime you may be, but you're still Optimus, too. You deserve to relax as equally as every other Autobot. I would even argue you deserve it more, but I have a sneaking suspicion you wouldn't be open to that idea right about now."

He chuckled, and the very same warmth from earlier returned. I glanced down and smiled to myself. When I looked up, I found we had arrived at the top of a hill overlooking the city. The first strokes of color from the sinking sun were beginning to form, clouds painted with brightening yellows and oranges. Out of the corner of my eye, a man materialized in the seat beside mine. I opened my mouth to comment on the view, but upon fully seeing him, the words died on my tongue.

He was dressed casually but neatly. He wore a simple white tee and dark wash blue jeans. Adorned on his right arm was a circle of symbols wrapping around his bicep. They were unlike anything I'd ever seen before. I tore my gaze away from his arm to look at his face, and my breath caught in my throat.

Short blue-black hair was pushed away from his forehead, and an unruly lock had fallen out of place. And just below that strand of hair were his eyes. A deeper blue than Ratchet's, yet seemingly glowing all the same.

God, he was gorgeous.

"Do you like it?" The man rumbled.

"Yes, it's... uh," I cleared my throat. "It's very fitting."

Optimus's holo smiled slightly. "While it is a 'work-in-progress' as Ratchet describes it, I feel as though it will be useful in maintaining peace with the humans. Our true forms are intimidating; this representation of us serves as a reminder that we are not as different as we appear."

"Good idea," I said. "But, why use it now?"

"It is too risky to transform this close to the city. While I can see you sitting in my cab from my mirrors," he gestured to the side of the truck, "I've learned that conversation is easier when speaking face-to-face."

I nodded thoughtfully and looked out the front window again. Prime followed my gaze. "This planet holds such beauty."

I hummed in agreement. "This next part is my favorite. We call it dusk. It's what happens right before nightfall. There's still some light from the sun in the sky, but you can see all the stars begin winking into view."

We were both silent for a moment.

"I was telling the truth, you know."

Prime glanced at me.

"You deserve to breathe now and again. Your duties will be waiting for you when you're ready. Rest is necessary for all living things, not just squishy bags of flesh like me." I teased.

Optimus shook his head in amusement. "How did you get so wise?"

"As I told you before," I smiled sadly, "I've experienced more than I like to admit."

"After the battle, you healed me." He cocked his head slightly. "How?"

"I don't know," I admitted. "According to my parents, I've always been able to do it. I guess I was just... born with it. When someone I know is injured, I can sense it, here, in my chest. The closer I am to them, the more the physical pain is registered as my own. That's how I could tell Sam freed Bumblebee from Sector Seven. His pain slowly ended. The distance between us didn't matter."

"And you've met no other human who can do this?"

"Nope. As far as I know, it's just me."

"Can you heal yourself as well as others?"

I glanced sidelong at the Prime. "You're more curious than I thought you'd be." I mused.

He snorted. "Before I was Prime, I was a data clerk. It was my job to be inquisitive."

"A data clerk, huh?"

"Just answer the question." Optimus' face broke into a wide grin and he poked my shoulder.

"Alright, alright!" I laughed. "Well, the way I see it," I shifted, tucking my legs underneath me to get more comfortable. "The body is a highly advanced and efficient machine. It's evolved to withstand damage and heal on its own. The key to healing, and life itself, is energy. If I direct the energy of my own body to that of an injured person, I can speed up the natural self-healing process."

Optimus sat back in disbelief, and I continued.

"I like to think of each cell as its own entity. I coax them by... I guess you could say whispering. Not out loud, of course, but in my mind. I've found that words work better than emotions or feelings in directing the cells to the injury. When I healed you and took some of Bee's pain away, I tried to reach out to something, not necessarily a cell, and it surprisingly worked.

"Anyway, to answer your previous question," I lifted an eyebrow as Prime smiled sheepishly at me. "I can heal myself, but to do so, I have to turn my own energy inward. My body already has a more responsive immune system than others." Understanding dawned on Prime's face as he recounted the high white blood cell count. "But, depending on the injury, it can do more harm than good. Instead of a rush of adrenaline, it's just more pain."

"That's why you told Ratchet you couldn't heal," Optimus murmured thoughtfully.

"Mhmm."

He shook his head slowly. "You are extraordinary."

I blushed, but crinkled my nose and waved him off. "Nah," I replied. "There's no difference between me and someone else on this planet. Or, as your existence has proven to me, this universe."

The sun had fully set by now, the stars twinkling dimly in the night sky. While there was still some light pollution from the nearby city, we were far enough away to see more than I'd recently spotted. Just like it did every night, the sight took my breath away, calming some deep, innate part of me as it had since I was a child.

I leaned forward to rest my now-crossed arms on the dashboard, my chin resting on my folded hands. I breathed deeply and stared at the heavens.

"You forget that you refused to cower in the face of danger." I glanced at him as he spoke. "That you refused to sacrifice my life, even when it was believed to be the last chance at Earth's survival. "

"Your Autobots need you. What I did was the obvious choice."

"You forget that I am in your debt," Prime said quietly.

"I don't plan on evening the score, Optimus. I'd rather not see you throw yourself into jeopardy just to protect me."

"It's what you would do. What you did do."

I sighed. "I am one human among many. You, however. You are needed. By your Autobots. By this planet, and your own. You matter."

"You speak as if you do not."

"I don't."

"I disagree." He fired back.

I was rendered speechless. We simply stared at each other, silent save for the sound of crickets chirping idly outside. I could feel my heart pounding in my chest. I took this moment to just look at Prime's holoform, trying to imagine what he would look like in his true form. If the contours of this face would match those in real life.

I was jolted from my mind by the sound of the truck's engine roaring to life.

"It's getting late." The holo rumbled softly. "We should get back."

"Yes, it is. I heard you're being transferred to a top-secret base. If you don't mind, I'd like to say goodbye to everyone."

"Of course." He dipped his head and promptly fizzled out of existence.

And as we drove back, all I could think about was how much I'd miss my newfound friends.


Ahhh, the fluff! This chapter was such a joy to write. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did!