Arianna watched from the cover of her small cave at the advancing undead army that was headed for Optimus and Ratchet. She continued to press her hurting hands to her middle, trying to stop the pain that was coursing through them. Her whole body was tingling as well, and small archs of light were coming from her body. She seriously hoped that Megatron couldn't see her.

"Don't worry," came Skywarp's voice, although it was fainter than she remembered, "He'll be so busy watching Optimus and Ratchet that he won't bother looking for you."

"Well, that's comforting," said Aria. She watched as Megatron yelled out, "Destroy them!" and saw Optimus started shooting at the army in front of him, only for them to get back up, except for a few of the ones that he shot in the head. "Is there any way you can kill a... Zombie-con? They're already dead!"

"Terrorcon's the actual name," said Perceptor, his voice faint as well, "And I think slicing would do the trick. The smaller the pieces, the better."

Aria nodded and looked at Ratchet, using her telepathic abilities to send him a message, Ratchet! Slice and dice time! She wasn't sure that he heard her, with her head buzzing so much. The Primes and a few others were trying to care for several frozen sparks, whose bodies were being used by Megatron in the battle in front of her, and it was causing a lot of pain and distraction for her. She just hoped that she got through.

Ratchet heard her message, looking over to her and nodding. He turned to look at Optimus as he said, "Ratchet! Retreat! Take Aria with you and bridge yourself back to base!"

"No," said Ratchet, drawing two large surgical blades, "Aria just gave me a solution. The smaller the pieces, the better. It could work. And besides," he added, "you may require a medic when this is over with."

Ratchet started hacking into the Terrorcons as Optimus's blasters retracted into his arms and were replaced with two swords, which he used to start cutting into the enemy as well.

Well, that worked, she thought to herself. She settled down against the cave wall and watched the battle unfold.

()

Optimus stabbed his two blades into the Terrorcons as they rushed at him, slicing them in half and at several intervals, stabbing one of his swords into a head. "Aria gave us sound advice," he said as Ratchet ran to his side.

"She probably got it from Perceptor," he replied, "but why's she hiding? She could easily help us take down this army."

"She's hidden for two reasons," Optimus explained to him, cutting down another Terrorcon, "I do not want Megatron hunting her when he sees her power. She's also suffering ill-effects from the Dark Energon. She first noticed it yesterday when you passed her with the sample."

"So she's weakening," said Ratchet, slicing another Terrorcon in half, "I guess it's because she's connected to the Allspark. Are you suffering any ill effects?"

"The Matrix is flaring a little bit," answered Optimus, slicing the heads off of two more Terrorcons and slashing at another one, "Other than that, I am alright. What about you?"

"I'm doing alright," his friend responded, "but I'm worried about how much exposure we're having because of this." He rushed off to deal with a small group of Terrorcons before Optimus could ask him what he meant.

Optimus slashed out at a few more Terrorcons before looking up at Megatron. "I have mastered Dark Energon," gloated the warlord, "When you fall, Optimus, you too shall join my army."

Optimus's optics narrowed and he and Ratchet burst forward again, cutting down more of the Terrorcons. "Optimus," suddenly came a voice that he recognized.

"Prima," he greeted, "How is Aria doing?"

"Not very well," responded the First Prime, "She's stable, but you must deal with this army. The pain will stop when it's gone. And it will also help the Allspark calm down. Many of the sparks have already unfrozen, but there are still a lot more to be dealt with."

Optimus nodded and gave a quick glance back at the cave where Aria was. He could see her form huddled at the entrance, and he could see her trembling. Hold on, Aria, he thought, hold on.

After a couple of minutes, Ratchet rejoined Optimus, his arms covered with rust and purple-streaked blue energon. He was also breathing heavily. "We have a slight problem," Ratchet told him, coming back to back with his friend, "This prolonged exposure to Dark Energon is sapping our strength. We won't last much longer."

"We cannot falter now," Optimus told him. Ratchet gave a weary nod and the two of them resumed fighting.

They were now pinned in a circle, with the Terrorcons slowly advancing on them. Ratchet continued to hack them to pieces as Optimus stabbed and shot at the undead army, trying desperately to hold them back. But the army grew even closer to them.

Finally, a Terrorcon leapt onto Optimus's back, distracting him and even more swarmed around him. He tried to blast them away, but they finally pulled him to the ground.

"Optimus!" yelled Ratchet. A Terrorcon leapt at him, wrapping it's arms around his and pinning his arms. More Terrorcons grabbed him and one stabbed into his right shoulder, causing him to yell in pain. They swiftly pulled him down to the ground and one of the grabbed his head, ready to rip it off...

()

Aria watched as the two Autobots were overwhelmed. I have to do something! she tought to herself, I can't just stand here on the sidelines! She shakily rose to her feet, trying to think of something.

Quintus Prime spoke to her then. "Optimus has the Matrix of Leadership. We are giving him a little bit of strength, but he won't last much longer."

"So what do I do?"

"Send him a little bit of Allspark energy," he told her, "It'll give him more strength, and he'll be able to burst through."

Aria nodded and closed her eyes, her face turned in Optimus's direction, where he was covered in a huge pile of Terrorcons. She clenched an aching hand before raising it up. An invisible beam of energy sailed from her hand, striking the pile and hitting Optimus.

She only hoped that it worked.

()

Optimus struggled weakly underneath the Terrorcons that were pinning him down. He could feel occasional flashes from the Matrix, allowing him to stay on his knees, but it wasn't enough. He was going to fall sooner or later.

Suddenly, a bolt of energy from outside the Matrix, stronger than what he was being given, struck his body. He gave a small gasp of shock, before his face hardened. He raised his blade and stabbed it into a Terrorcon before giving an angry yell, blasting all of the Terrorcons off of him with his blaster. He shot at another Terrorcon and slammed the one he had just stabbed into the ground.

()

That did it, Aria thought, sliding down to the floor again. Now to rest.

()

Optimus looked to his left, where Ratchet was pinned down. He strode on over, blasting one Terrorcon off before picking up the other two and bashing them together, causing them to fall apart. He quickly helped Ratchet to stand, who was grimacing and holding his shoulder, which was covered with cracks.

"After all these years, Optimus," commented Megatron at the top of the cliffs, "Still at the top of your game."

Optimus's gaze hardened even more, and he drew his blades again, Ratchet unsheathing the blade on his good arm, and the two of them resumed slicing the Terrorcons apart. "I think you might be the one that needs a medic after this, old friend," Optimus said to Ratchet.

"I'll be fine for the moment," said Ratchet, "Let's finish this."

They charged forward as Megatron yelled, "My legion, FINISH THEM!"

Optimus and Ratchet slashed at the Terrorcons that advanced towards them once more, their numbers rapidly dwindling as they continued onwards, until Optimus stood at the base of the cliff where Megatron was, slashing apart a few of the final Terrorcons. "I'll deal with Megatron," he whispered to Ratchet, "Get to Aria, quickly!"

Ratchet nodded and made his way over, dealing with the rest of the Terrorcons as he went.

Optimus looked up as Megatron said, "Bravo, Optimus. Thought this is but a prelude. You may wish to save your strength for the main event."

Optimus's weapons sheathed and he started climbing up the side of the cliff. "You will not prevail Megatron!" he growled, "Not while energon still flows through my veins!" He clung to the ledge and looked at Megatron straight in his purple optics.

"Fitting," said Megatron, "For it is Dark Energon which flows through mine." He leapt upwards as Optimus lunged forward, and the warlord quickly transformed into his spaceship form, taking off as Optimus shot several shots after him. He gave an angry growl, then started to climb back down.

()

"Aria, wake up."

Aria gave a small moan, opening her eyes to find herself face to face with Optimus and Ratchet. She was being held in Ratchet's good servo, and judging how his optics were glowing, he was taking a scan of her. "You mind?" she asked, sitting up carefully.

"Ep, ep, ep! Take it easy! You're still pretty weak," cautioned Ratchet as she rubbed her head with her hands. She felt Optimus taking her and he asked, "How do you feel?"

Aria stretched slightly and rubbed her hands. "Hands still hurt," she said, "And I'm still a little bit sore. But I think I'll be okay." She pulled off her gloves and examined her hands, which, to her surprise, were covered with small cuts and were bleeding slightly.

Optimus noticed this, "You're bleeding."

"Just need some bandages," she said, "I thought I saw a leftover first-aid kit in a closet yesterday. I'll be fine in a few days."

"You can't just heal yourself?" asked Ratchet.

"Red Alert and First Aid says that these'll need to heal naturally," she told him, "I did just try to grab a shard of Dark Energon."

"Arianna," said Optimus, "I'm sorry for putting you through this. If I'd known how bad your condition was going to get, I would've allowed you to stay at base."

"Are you kidding me?" she said, stuffing her gloves in her pockets and standing up, "I haven't had this much fun in years! Besides, if it weren't for me, you'd probably be a part of Megatron's Terrorcon army!"

Optimus's optics widened. "That was you?" he asked her.

"Terrorcons?" asked Ratchet.

"Perceptor says that that's what they're called," she explained, "And yeah, that was me."

Optimus nodded, a grateful look crossing his faceplates. "Thank you," he said.

Ratchet turned to look at the remains that were littered across the valley floor. "But if this wasn't Megatron's endgame, then what is?"

()

Aria finished rubbing the disinfectant on her hands, wincing as the cuts stung from the solution. She picked up a roll of bandages and started wrapping them up until her palms were covered, then examined the few cuts that were on her fingers before grabbing a few band-aids and putting them on the cuts, then pulled her gloves on. She then packed up the first-aid kit and put it back in the closet before walking back into the main room. She saw Optimus putting the finishing touches on the brace for Ratchets arm before gently letting go. Ratchet nodded in appreciation before walking up to Bulkhead, who was with the kids watching over a comatose Agent Fowler.

Aria rolled her eyes. Apparently after the three of them had left, Arcee and Bulmblebee had gone on patrol, leaving Bulkhead with the kids when Agent Fowler came. He had spotted them and bulkhead had talked Agent Fowler down from telling the government about them. Then, Agent Fowler had gotten captured by Soundwave on Starscreams orders. Bulkhead had left to find them and he had been followed by Miko, who had been followed by Jack and Raf. Arcee and Bumblebee finally made it and joined Bulkhead in rescuing Fowler, who had gotten an electrical shock from Starscream when he had tried to interrogate him. After rescuing him, they quickly left, making it back in time to bridge Optimus, Ratchet and Aria back.

Miko turned to look at Ratchet, "What happened to you guys anyway?"

"We engaged an army of undead cybertronian warriors," explained Ratchet as Bumblebee and Optimus joined the group.

"Zombies?" asked Miko. Then she exploded, "You fought zombies and I missed it!?"

"Wasn't your Walking Dead video, Miko," said Aria. Noting the others confused looks, she said, "TV show about a group of people surviving the Zombie Apocalypse."

"Bulkhead," said Optimus sternly, "You excersized extremely poor judgement in allowing the other humans to accompany you."

Bulkhead stood, "It won't happen again, Optimus," he said, "I promise."

"But it wasn't Bulkhead's fault," said Miko.

"She does have a point, Optimus," said Aria, "Miko snuck after Bulkhead and Jack and Raf followed to get her back."

"And check it out!" said the younger girl, pulling out her phone, "Recon! Hey!" she said when Aria snatched the phone from her hands.

"I doubt they can see that, Miko," she said, "And besides this sciency stuff, why do you have a picture of a Vehicon?"

"I thought Jack said to take a picture of it!" said Miko as Aria plugged it into Raf's computer and pulled it up onto the cybertronian computer.

Optimus peered at it for a few seconds, then said, "Ratchet, have a look. It may be of importance to Megatron."

"Whoa, wait," said Jack, stepping forward, "Megatron's back? That's... that's bad news, right?"

"You should've seen the Con that tried to kill us!" said Miko, "Bulk' smashed right through it's grill."

Jack exploded at that statement. "Miko! Raf was almost killed! This isn't a game, when are you gonna get that through your thick skull?!"

"We were all almost killed!" said Miko, "You, me, Raf, Aria, even them!" she pointed to the Autobots.

"We all take risks during war, Jack," said Aria, "I've been taking risks since I lost my family, getting ready for something that I know will come one day."

Jack stared at her for a few seconds, then said, "Well, if this was an average day with the Autobots, then I don't want to be a part of it! Not anymore!"

"Jack," said Optimus, causing the teen to look up at him, "Putting you in harms way was never our intent. However, it is no longer the safety of you four that is at risk, but the safety of all humankind. We will respect your descision if you wish to leave."

Ratchet opened the Groundbridge and said, "No point in long goodbye's. Here's the door."

Jack turned to look at Raf. "C'mon Raf."

The younger boy looked at Jack, then at Bumblebee, who looked down at the floor, then said, "I'll be okay, Jack. See you at school."

"Sure thing," said Jack, sounding slightly shocked. When he walked down the stairs, Arcee stepped in front of him, her arms crossed. "I know," he said, "You don't exist."

"Don't make me hunt you down," said Arcee as he walked past him, then her head bowed.

As Jack walked through the Groundbridge, and it powered down, Aria said, "he'll be back. Just wait."

()

Aria stood on the catwalk next to Ratchet, looking at the picture that Miko had provided from the Decepticon warship. Her eyes widdened. "Ratchet," she said, "Perceptor finally recognized those."

"As do I," replied Ratchet, "Optimus!" As soon as Optimus had joined them, the medic explained, "These are engineering specs for a space-time vortex generator."

"Megatron's building a Spacebridge," realized Optimus, "If he hasn't already."

"Those haven't been used in ages, right?" asked Aria.

Optimus nodded as Bulkhead, who had gotten back from dropping off Miko, said, "The sooner he leaves, the better."

"Bulkhead," said Optimus, turning, "A Spacebridge runs in two directions. Megatron may not be using it to leave Earth, but to bring through his conquering army."

"The 'main event' Megatron reffered to?" asked Ratchet, "But the only place Megatron could possibly recruit that many fallen warriors..." his voice trailed off as realization struck him.

"Exactly," said Optimus.

"It's Cybertron," said Arianna, looking sick, "He's going to bring Cybertron's dead to life again."