[Next day]
Arianna climbed out of Optimus and flew over to the catwalk. "Bee and Bulk' went to go get Miko and Raf?" she asked Ratchet.
"Yes," replied Ratchet, "And Arcee went off somewhere. Didn't say anything though." He was busy typing on the consul, and by the looks of it, he was scanning Earth's atmosphere.
"Anything Ratchet?" asked Optimus.
"Nothing yet," said Ratchet, "but I'll tell you when I find it."
Aria nodded and scratched her hands, which were still covered in bandages. She turned when the sound of cars came out of the tunnel. Bumblebee and Bulkhead came rolling in with their charges. "When'd you get here?" asked Miko when she hopped out of Bulkhead.
"Few seconds ago," said the older girl, "And why'd you head to Jack's place last night?" she asked. She and Optimus had noticed it when they had been driving back to Aria's home.
"Thought maybe I could talk to him," said Miko, shrugging, "He's stubborner than my old cat."
*Are cat's stubborn?* asked Bumblebee, giving an inquiring look at Raf. "Probably only if they're old," said Raf. He hopped onto Bumblebee's offered hand and placed on the yellow Autobot's shoulder.
You two enjoying each other? Aria asked Raf telepathically.
Sure are! said Raf, Bee's teaching me a lot of things about this car game that we both like. And he's really glad that he found someone else besides the rest of the team that understands him.
Did you, uh-
Tell him. Well, he asked and I answered. Sorry.
It's alright. Aria turned to look at Bumblebee, who was looking at her with a mixture of curiosity and awe. Please don't look at me like that, she telepathically said to him.
Bumblebee gave a small jolt. Uh... sorry. It's just- you're connected to the Allspark! You're like a Prime or something!
Aria cocked her head slightly when she heard his voice. It was different than the one he was currently using, this one sounding more mature and less robotic. Almost like her old friend Issac. Were you looking at Optimus that way when he got the Matrix? she asked him.
For a few solar cycles, he said, then I realized that he was still the same 'bot that I knew before he became a Prime. So, I stopped with the whole 'Oh my Primus' thing.
Well, there's no need for you to do that with me, she said with a smile.
Bumblebee gave a slightly sheepish look at her, then he gave a small nod. Optimus was watching the whole thing and he gave a small smile. She'll still be the same youngling that we all know, he thought to himself.
Everyone gave a small start when the consul beeped. Ratchet checked it and said, "Optimus, I have pinpointed the location of Megatron's Spacebridge." He turned around with a frown on his face as he finished, "high in Earth's orbit."
"Out of our reach?" asked Optimus.
"Okay," said Miko, "So you guys can't fly. But can't you just Groundbridge there?" she asked, gesturing to the archway that made up the Groundbridge.
"The Groundbridge has limited range," said Ratchet, slowly and gesturing with his servos, "Stretched all that way into orbit it's vortex could snap and scatter us to the stars."
Miko looked downright shocked when he said that, and Raf gave a slight wince. That definitely didn't sound good. But Aria said, "Well, maybe I could help increase the range a bit."
"How could you do that?" asked Miko, she and Bulkhead looking at her.
"You'll see," she said.
"Aria is right," said Optimus, "Since Megatron is already likely in transit, I'm afraid we must take that risk. Reaching the Spacebridge first is our only means of stopping him."
"But are you sure you can do it?" asked Ratchet, "Have you completely recovered from yesterday?"
"It's just some cuts," she assured the medic, "Other than those, I'm perfectly alright. More than able to help increase the Groundbridge."
"Could you just make one?" he asked in a slightly sarcastic tone.
"Making stabilized wormholes that can reach anywhere is out of my league still I'm afraid," she said to him, "So if you ask for a Spacebridge, sorry."
Raf and Bumblebee looked at each other in shock. "He knows?" they both asked at the same time.
"Of course he knows," she said, "He came with us yesterday, didn't he?"
Before Miko or Bulkhead could ask what was going on, a horn came from the entrance tunnel. Arcee came out, a familiar human on her back. Arcee stopped and allowed Jack to climb off her back. He removed his helmet and asked in a sheepish tone, "Hey. Guess who's back?"
As Arcee transformed, Optimus said, "Autobot's, prepare for departure."
Jack's face fell and he looked up at Arcee as she asked, "Where to?"
"The final frontier," replied Miko.
"Whoa- space?" said Jack in a shocked voice, "I-I thought they didn't have a way to get there!"
"They don't," said Raf as Bumblebee let him off his shoulder, "Not really," he added.
Jack nodded and said to Arcee, "Uh- be seeing you?" Arcee gave a small shrug and a light smile as Ratchet fired up the Groundbridge.
"Be careful, Bee?" asked Raf, clinging on to Bumblebee's ped.
*I'll be careful,* said Bumblebee. He stood up from his kneeling position and joined Arcee and Optimus in front of the Groundbridge.
"I'm so jealous!" said Miko to Bulkhead.
"Don't even think about following me," he said to her.
"Good luck, Optimus," said Aria. He turned to look at her and gave a gentle nod. "I will see you soon. I promise." he told her.
"You better keep that promise," said Ratchet, "Because if you leave me stranded on a planet teeming with humans, I will never forgive you." Aria was tempted to smack him, but then she saw the humor in his optics.
Optimus's smile widened slightly and he said, "Until we meet again old friend." As the battlemask slid over his face, Aria knelt down on the catwalk and touched the top of the Groundbridge controls. A slight glow emenated from her hand and she said, "You're good. Happy hunting, guys."
"Autobot's, roll out!" said Optimus. The four Autobots- Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, Bulkhead, and Arcee- transformed into their vehicle modes and sped through the waiting vortex. After a minute or so, Ratchet detected four life-signals on the Spacebridge. "They made it," he said, giving a sigh of relief.
Aria stood up and wiped a few beads of sweat off her forehead. That was harder than she thought it would be. "You okay?" asked Jack as the three remaining teens joined her up on the catwalk.
"Yeah," she said, "Just give me a minute. That was tougher than I thought it would be."
"How did you do that?" asked Miko.
"Later. 'Cons are here," she said, turning to look at the consul. However, to everyone's confusion, the Decepticons hadn't done anything.
Arcee voiced what was on everyone's minds. *Well, what are they waiting for?*
After a few seconds, Optimus said, *It appears the Decepticon's have sustained serious damage to their interstellar navigation system.*
*Huh,* said Bulkhead, *That's my handiwork!*
Aria looked at Miko as she said, "Oh yeah! Bulkhead tore off the top part of that satellite-looking thingie on the top part of the 'Con's ship and tossed it at them!"
"So they can't use it to pinpoint Cybertron," said Arianna, smiling slightly, "Nice going, Bulk'."
"Don't the Decepticon's know where their own planet is?" asked Raf.
"Naturally," said Ratchet, "But Cybertron in many light-years away. To reach their target, their aim must be astronomically precise."
"But if the 'Cons are here..." Aria mused.
*Then he must have an alternate targeting system. a remote one.* finished Optimus.
"Hmmph!" scoffed Ratchet, "From what I know of Earth's technology, I doubt there exists a single radio telescope dish powerful enough to pinpoint Cybertron."
"What about a whole bunch of linked telescope dishes?" asked Raf, typing on one of the computers on the catwalk, bringing up a picture that Aria recognized. "The Giant Sized Array in Texas," she said, "I went there on a field trip when I was twelve. Preceptor said that if humans used it properly, they could find Cybertron."
"Zip-dip-dip!" said Ratchet, looking a little huffily at the humans, "This is not child's play!"
However, Optimus said, *Good thinking you two. Ratchet, have Agent Fowler alert the array staff to the security hazard.*
"Uh, but isn't Fowler still-?" the older girl started to say, but was interrupted. Everyone turned to look at the Federal Agent as he sat up and pointed at Ratchet, saying, "You! Soldier! You're out of uniform! Put on some pants!" He then fell back onto the medical bed.
With the sound of the Terror Twins laughing uproariously in her head, Aria winced and said, "I was going to say catatonic, but now I'm just gonna say plain loopy." She rubbed her temples and said to the twins, "While I will admit that that was funny, shut up! Trying to save the world here!"
"I'm sorry!" said Sideswipe, "It's just-!"
"Put on some pants, Doc!" giggled Sunstreaker. The Twins dissolved into laughter again, falling to the floor.
"He was way funnier yesterday," said Amalgamos, giggling with the Twins.
"I'll have to hold your word to it," she muttured to herself as Raf resumed typing on the computer. "Ugh! I can't get past the array's firewalls!" he finally said, "They're too thick!" he slammed his hands on the desk.
Ratchet looked at him in surprise and asked, "You actually think you could keep the Decepticon's out?"
"Maybe," said Raf, "If I could get in."
Aria gave a gasp and looked at Jack, who looked back at her. "You thinking what I'm thinking?" he asked her.
Aria nodded. "If we can't get through the firewalls computer-wise, maybe we could get through them physicaly."
"So how about we get you in?" asked Jack, "Like inside the building in."
Raf perked up. "I could log into their internal network on the other side of the firewall!" he said.
*The risk is too great,* Optimus said suddenly, *The Decepticons will be there. Perhaps even on site.*
Jack looked down at the ground before saying, "Optimus, with all due respect, you said it so yourself. This is bigger than the safety of four humans."
"Yeah!" pipped up Miko, "If we let the 'Cons win, we're fragged, along with everyone else on our planet!"
"You guys have done a lot for us," said Aria. Her eyes glowed slightly as she said, "It's our turn to do something for you. We're believing in you. Now it's your turn to believe in us."
Optimus's voice paused for a few seconds, then he asked *Raf?*
Everyone turned to look at the younger boy, who mulled over the situation before saying, "I want to give it a shot."
*Then go.*
()
Raf, Miko, and Jack gave a few moans as they steped out of the Goundbridge portal. "That'll take some getting used to," said Jack, rubbing his head.
"Speak for yourself," said Aria, stretching slightly, "I feel perfectly alright."
"How- whoa," said Miko, seeing that they were at the array. "C'mon," said Aria, "Let's do this."
They all headed inside, on the lookout for Decepticons and any of the array personel. When they finally reached a computer room and Raf was logging on, Miko commented, "Security sure is lax in this place."
"That can't be a good sign," said Aria, looking around nervously.
Raf finally said, "Alright, I'm in... and so are the Decepticons."
"What?" asked Jack.
"How can you tell?" asked Miko.
"He's right," said Aria, looking at the computer screen, "It's the schematics that you took a picture of before. But these look complete."
"And this time," said Raf, holding up his USB drive, "I can download them."
As Raf plugged it in and began the download process, Aria said, "It's definitley the Spacebridge. The 'Cons must be sinking it to the dishes. But we can sink to them."
"Won't they know?" asked Jack.
"Even if they see that I'm in the system," said Raf, "they'll have no idea that I'm in the house!" He got back to typing as Aria looked around again. Something didn't feel right.
"Be on your guard, Aria," said Prima, "But remember what Optimus made you promise."
She nodded, remembering what Optimus said to her before they left for the array.
[Flashback]
*Aria.*
The older girl looked back at the consul as Optimus said to her, *Promise me that you will keep yourself hidden. We cannot let the Decepticons know about you.*
"I promise," she assued him. Then, they all went through.
[End Flashback]
"What did Optimus mean, by the way?" asked Jack, startling Aria out of her thoughts, "What did he want you to keep hidden?"
Aria noticed Miko looking at her curiously as well, but Raf kept his attention on the computer. Aria gave a small sigh and said, "Jack, you remember what I said about how I had sort of 'teased giant alien robots before'?"
The two teens nodded as she said, "Well, I-." As the room suddenly shook, Aria stumbled and asked, "What happened?"
"They're locked onto Cybertron!" exclaimed Raf, "But not for long." He rapidly typed on the computer as the rumbling continued. Finally, the rumbling stopped and Raf gave a proud grin. "I bet they're scratching their heads right now," he said proudly.
"They'll still keep trying," said Aria, pointing out that the dishes were moving again.
"I'll just undo that again," said Raf, typing once more on the computer.
"What happens when the 'Cons realise they're being punked?" asked Jack to Raf.
"It's only virtual combat," said Raf, "You know, like online gaming."
"Yeah guys," said Miko, looking at the others, "What are the 'Con's gonna do? They're probably like a thousand miles away."
Aria suddenly heard the door open. "And you just jinxed it," she groaned, turning. She gave a yelp when she saw the massive purple tentacle with the tiny little wiggling wires on the end of it slither through the door.
Jack heard her yelp and turned, giving a small exclamation before the tentacle attacked. Aria, Jack and Miko grabbed onto it, managing to stop it from hitting Raf as he continued typing.
Jack was thrown against the wall with Miko, but Aria quickly grabbed onto a bolted-in chair with her legs. "Oh no you don't!" she yelled, "Miko! Grab the axe!"
Raf gave a small yelp as the body of the tentacle slammed into the desk. He quickly grabbed his USB drive and leapt out of the way. As Miko pulled the axe off of the wall and ran forward with a yell, the tentacle gave a jerk, causing Aria to let go and for Miko to slam into the wall again, losing her grip on the axe. Aria dodged the tentacle again and joined her friends. They watched in horror as the wires on the end of the tentacle grabbed the axe and lifted it up.
"You handed it an axe?!" shouted Jack.
"Not good!" said Raf.
Aria stood in front of the others in case the tentacle attacked them, but was rather startled when the tentacle instead slid out of the room. "Follow it!" she yelled. On a hunch, she flipped her black hood up so that it covered her face, and the four of them chased the tentacle.
They finally burst into a large room with a broken skylight, where the Decepticon that was climbing out of it turned to look at them. Aria was rather startled to see that it didn't have a real face, only a blank visor. "Kid! That's Soundwave!" yelled Skywarp, "Get outta there!"
Miko quickly whipped out her phone and snapped a picture. And in retaliation, an image of them appeared on Soundwave's face, with only the lower part of Arianna's face showing. Then he transformed into a military surveilance jet and sped off. "Why is he leaving?" asked Miko.
Raf looked around for a few seconds before walking over to the fire axe that Soundwave had taken from them, now buried into a long cable. "He cut the hardline," he said sadly, "The dishes are locked onto Cybertron. For good."
Aria looked over at one of the dishes, Could I- she thought to herself.
"You can't move them manualy," said Perceptor, "Even with super strength. They're designed so that they can't be moved that way."
"Well, that's dumb," said Aria, "Might as well head back then. We've done all we can here."
()
When they made it back, they found that not only had Fowler finally woken up, but the Spacebridge had been activated, and Ratchet was now reading something coming through the vortex. "Optimus!" he said into the com-link, "I'm registering a masively expanding mass in their Spacebridge vortex. One with a peculiar energy signature."
Aria nodded to Folwer as he hobbled forward to join the group. She turned when Optimus said, *Dark Energon. Ratchet, we must destroy the Spacebridge.* As Ratchet's face fell, Optimus continued, *There's enough live energon coursing through it to achieve detonation. But we lack the firepower to ignite it!*
"If I knew how the Spacebride was engineered," said Ratchet "I might find a technological way of accomplishing that feat." He looked at Raf as he nervously held up his USB drive and asked, "Um, would schematics help?"
Ratchet was silent for a few moments before saying, "Optimus, I must say, the Spacebridge is our only sole hope of ever returning to Cybertron. Are you certain it's destruction is the only option?"
*...I'm afraid so.* said Optimus, a note of sadness entering his voice.
Ratchet's, however, turned to one of courage and determination. "Then by all means," he declared, "Let us light our darkest hour!"
After a few moments, Optimus said, *Autobots, take your positions and follow Ratchets' lead... while I make my stand.*
Aria's eyes widened, "He's going to fight Megatron, isn't he?"
"He'll have to," said Ratchet, rapidly typing on the consul as Raf plugged in his USB drive, "Otherwise the Decepticons will find out our plans before we want them to."
She nodded as Fowler asked, "So, how come I didn't see you yesterday?"
"Long story," said Aria, sitting down next to Raf, who was typing rapidly on the keyboard. He, Aria and Ratchet studied the schematics for a while until Arcee commed them. *Ratchet, we're in position.*
"Arcee," said Ratchet, "Pay very close attention." As he began a step-by-step procedure on how to destroy the Spacebridge, Aria closed her eyes, listening to the Primes, who were watching Optimus's fight with Megatron. "Will he make it?" she asked Solus Prime.
"It has been a few years since Optimus and Megatron last fought," said Solus worriedly, "The warlord has improved."
"We can't just sit here!" said Nexus impatiently.
Aria realized what they were saying. Optimus was losing. No! she thought ferociously, I won't let that happen!
Then suddenly, something flashed through her and she heard the Primes give a few startled yells. "What the heck-!" yelled Leige and Vector Prime.
Aria was quiet confused as well. Her powers had acted on their own for the second time in the past few days. But how?
()
[Spacebridge]
Optimus Prime looked up at Megatron as the warlord approached. As he raised his sword, a voice on his com-link said, *Master?*
"Starscream," snarled Megatron, "What is it?!"
*I do not wish to question your all-seeing wisdom,* said the Seeker second-in-command, *But I believe the Autobots are up to something again, beneath your bridge this time.*
"Ah," said Megatron, turning to look at Optimus, who was on his hands and knees, "Misdirection, Optimus. You would've made a fine Decepticon!" Megatron raised his blade to kill Optimus.
Something flashed through Optimus then, and a briliant flash of light appeared from his body, stopping Megatron from striking him. He felt his wounds healing and his right blade- which had been sliced in half by Megatron a few seconds previously- grew back to it's full length. He stood up and said to Megatron, who was staring at him with anger and shock, "I chose my side!" His blade sheathed, switching out for a blaster, and Optimus fired, blasting Megatron away.
As the warlord transformed and shot off, Optimus turned on his com-lik and said, "Arcee, Megatron is coming for you! Be ready!"
He gave a grateful smile to the planet below and thought, I do not know what you did, Aria. But thank you. As the bridge started to come apart at his feet, he took off for the edge of the Spacebridge.
()
"You okay?" Aria looked at Raf as he asked her quietly, a note of worry in his voice. "I'm okay," she assured him, "But something happened. I'll tell you later."
"Optimus," said Ratchet, "The Groundbridge is ready and waiting."
Aria heard the Autobots jump in, and the humans rushed to the end of the catwalk, looking at the swirling portal. Raf asked in a frightened voice, "Do you think they're-?" He didn't finish his question.
Ratchet held up a monitor and said, "Four lifesignals. One very faint."
Everyone watched the portal nervously. Finally, Optimus stepped through. Aria gave a massive sigh of relief and gave a grateful smile. Optius gave her a gentle nod. He knew she would rather fly right at him and give him a big hug at the moment, but she didn't.
Miko's face split into a wide smile as Bulkhead came through, looking up to see her charging forward with the others following her at a slower pace. "Bulkhead!" she yelled. He knelt down and stretched out a servo, which she happily hugged. Everyone turned to look back at the Groundbridge and Jack's eyes widened in shock when he saw who came through.
It was Bumblebee, carrying a very still Arcee.
Jack rushed up to her, watching her face. Miko laid a gentle hand on Jack's shoulder as she, Aria and Raf joined him. "We lost one this week," said Ratchet in a grave voice, "By the Allspark, don't let it be two."
Aria's jaw set in a determined line. She walked forward, laying a hand on Arcee's limp servo and closing her eyes. No one but Optimus saw the gentle light that came from her hand. After a few moments, she opened her eyes as Jack came forward and placed his hand on Arcee's while Aria removed hers.
After a few moments, Arcee opened her eyes. Aria gave a small sigh of relief and a few tears came from her eyes.
"Arcee," said Jack, relief in his voice.
"Jack... really?" the femme asked in amusement, "There are other motorcycles in the world."
"Yeah," said Jack, "but you're my first."
"And Megatron?" Ratchet asked Optimus, who was standing next to him.
"Not even he could have survived ground zero," said Optimus. He looked at Aria, who gave a shrug. He's not in the Allspark, if that's what you're asking. I just can't sense him. It could be because he used Dark Energon. I can't sense stuff like that. Optimus's sagged slightly at the news.
"Prime!" Everyone turned to look at Fowler as he said, "I never got to thank you 'bot's for the save. I owe you one." He climbed into the elevator and said, "We all do."
Bumblebee carefully helped Arcee stand up, and she gave a gentle, yet pained smile. It was clear she was still hurting from her wound. "Alright, Arcee," said Ratchet, gently taking her arm, "Let's get you cleaned up."
As they headed to the med-bay, Miko got a strange look on her face and turned to Optimus. "So," she asked, "Is this the part where you say goodbye and tell us to forget that we ever saw you?"
Optimus looked at them for a few second, looking expecially at Aria. He then said, "I do not see any reason why we should tear apart the bonds that we have forged together. If you wish to continue to stay with us, then I am alright with it."
Jack, Miko and Raf gave happy cheers and Aria gave a fist pump. Then Jack turned to her and said, "So, now that all the crazy stuff is over, could you answer the question that I asked you when we were at the array?"
Aria looked at Miko and Jack, then at Bulkhead and Arcee, who was staring at her with curiosity in their optics. She gave a sigh and said, "Alright. But before I do explain, I just want to say that I'm still the same girl that you guys know. I just have a few, uh... unexpected things about me."
"It goes something like this..."
()
[Optimus's office]
Aria sat beside Optimus and said, "Arcee was pretty glad to hear that Cliff's okay."
"We all are," said Optimus, smiling at her.
She looked up at him and asked, "Is there a reason why you wanted me here?"
Optimus nodded and said, "I just wanted to say... thank you."
"For what?"
"For saving my life and Arcee's."
Aria gave a shrug and said, "I just helped Arcee back. She was close to the edge. As for saving you, your welcome. But..." Here she paused, confusion crossing her face.
"Is something wrong?" asked Optimus, noticing the look on her face.
"It's my powers," she said, "They completely acted all on their own. It scares me. I just didn't want you to get hurt, then something flashed through me. Startled the Primes pretty badly though. Even they don't know why they acted like that."
Optimus looked contemplative for a few seconds, then he said, "Perhaps that is a mystery we will discover. In the mean time," he held out a servo and allowed Aria to climb on, "Let's take you home."
Without a means of leaving this world, we Autobots take strength in the bonds we have forged with our four young friends. True warriors, if not in body, then in spirit. My name is Optimus Prime, and I send this message. Though we did not choose to be of Earth, it would seem we are here to stay, if any of you approach this planet with hostile intent, know this; we will defend ourselves, we will defend humanity, we will defend... our home.
And that's the end of the Darkness Rising saga! Hope you guys enjoyed that. Next we're getting on to the other part of the story line.
R&R