And here we are coming close to the finale of part one of Allspark Child. Thank you everyone who's stuck with me for this story and thank you for your reviews and comments.
Disclaimer: I do not own Transformers Prime. I only own my OC, Arianna Ariel Prime.
"And it was written in the Covenant of Primus, that 'when the forty-seven spheres align, a perpetual conflict will culminate upon a world forged from Chaos. And the weak shall perish in the shadow of a rising darkness'," Optimus finished, his voice slightly grim.
"No skies raining fire?" asked Arcee as she and Bulkhead joined the Prime, with Ratchet on monitor duty and Aria on the catwalk.
"Goes without saying," said Aria, looking at the group. "It's a prophecy that sends chills down your spine."
"I say its a load of hooey!" said Bulkhead.
"I always assumed that the Ancients were referring to our home planet," said Ratchet, turning to look at them. He looked down as he continued. "But being that Cybertron has been dark for eons..."
"And considering what has befallen this planet since Megatron's arrival here," added Optimus.
They were interrupted by Bulkhead. "Whoa whoa whoa! We've known about these superstitions for ages and never given them a second thought!"
"Why all the ominous rumblings now?" asked Arcee.
"Because," said Optimus, "the planetary alignment, to which the prophecy refers, is nearly upon us."
"And it would seem its endpoint," added Ratchet, pulling up a map of the solar system, "is Earth."
Bulkhead and Arcee looked at each other. "Uhh... crazy coincidence!" said Bulkhead nervously, "r-right?"
"How long are we talking?" Arcee asked, deciding that this was serious.
"A few days," said Aria, "at most. But stuff may happen beforehand."
As Arcee and Bulkhead looked at each other, Optimus said, "However unsettling this revelation may be, I am more concerned about those who might believe that the prophecy speaks to them alone."
"Megatron might think that he's the rising darkness?" asked Aria, looking at the Prime.
"He might," said Optimus.
Aria gave a sigh, fiddling with her braid. "I'm gonna go for a flight," she decided. "I need some air after this." She gave them a respectful nod before heading into the elevator.
When she was gone, Ratchet said, "You didn't tell her?"
Optimus shook his helm as Arcee asked, "Tell Aria what?"
"There is another line in the prophecy," said Optimus, "one that only Primes can translate." He turned to the screen and read, "'When the final battle rises, the two fronts will be together and the same. And in the end, the Allspark Child will lead the lost light home'."
"'Allspark Child'?" repeated Bulkhead. "You mean Aria?"
Optimus looked over at Bulkhead and nodded. "I fear that Aria's destiny may unfold quicker than we realize. She plays a major part in this conflict, in more ways than one."
"I wonder what it means by 'lost light'," said Rachet.
Optimus looked down. He had a feeling he knew what it meant.
Several hours later, Aria came back into the silo to see Jack, Miko, and Raf on the younger boy's computer. "Pass," said Jack.
"What are you three up to?" asked Aria.
The three of them looked up. "You'll see," said Jack. As she sat down beside him, she saw that they were on a conspiracy website, scrolling through pictures.
"Nu-uh," continued Jack as Raf scrolled down. "Kid in a costume. Balloon. Nope. Oh wait- hold!"
They had come across a picture of Bumblebee's alt-mode, with a zoomed in area over the window covering his driver's seat. "Must've been before the holoforms," said Aria.
"We already found a few like this," explained Jack. "Camera sure loves Bee."
"What can you do?" asked Miko, falling back on the couch. "When you're a superstar, you're paparatzi bait!"
"Wait," Ratchet said behind them. "Is that Bumblebee?"
"On a conspiracy website," explained Raf. "Where users post evidence of close encounters. But we've got it under control Ratchet!" As he worked, he said, "We just scrub... and replace Bee with..."
A picture of a cat in a red jumpsuit and a propeller beanie replaced Bumblebee, saying, *Mars Cat sez, take me to your feeder!*
Ratchet snickered. "Haha," he laughed, then his face went into shock.
The kids were staring at him as well. "Ratchet actually laughed?" asked Miko.
"Jazz got him to do that on a daily basis during the war!" pipped up Sideswipe. "We never could though."
"Gee I wonder why?" Jetfire said scathingly.
Jack chuckled at Ratchet's reaction and turned to the main console. "Uh Optimus!" he called out. "Want to see something funny?"
"No," Optimus told him.
Noting Jack's slightly downcast face, Aria said, "Eh, don't take it personally, Jack-jack. I've only gotten him to slightly chuckle. And that's when he understands it."
"Yeah," said Arcee as the rest of the Bots joined the group. "Primes are built that way."
"Never seen Optimus laugh, cry, or lose his cool," added Bulkhead.
"While Optimus certainly keeps his emotions in check," said Ratchet, looking at Optimus out of the corner of his optics, "I've known him far longer than any of you have. And he was different before he was made a Prime."
"Optimus wasn't always a Prime?" asked Raf in astonishment.
"Except for the first Primes, Raf," explained Aria, "on Cybertron no one's born into greatness. Rather, you have to earn it."
"So," Miko asked Ratchet, "different how? We're talking... party animal?"
"No no," Ratchet said quickly. "Optimus was more like... Jack or Aria, at least when she's serious."
"What?" chorused the teens. They looked at each other as Jack said, "I'm nothing like Optimus."
"Me either," said Aria, blushing slightly.
"You'd be quite surprised you two," said Ratchet.
Just then, a call came in. *Prime!* It was Agent Fowler. *Those tech-heists my perps have been tracking. We figured it was MECH on account of their stealth tactics. Until moments ago when a security feed at the Penington Apps Particle Collider captured this.* An image of a thin, familiar-looking Decepticon popped up on the other screen.
"Soundwave," Jack said with a shudder.
"Raf could swap that out for you with a funny cat," quipped Miko.
"Not the time, Miko," said Aria.
*The Con without a face made off with a cutting-edge phase conductor. Here's a punch-list of everything else we've confirmed stolen to date.* with that, his image was replaced with a list.
"Plasma injector," read Ratchet. "Neutron shield. Tesseract?"
"All these things combined together could build a Space-bridge," pointed out Aria.
"What is missing?" asked Optimus.
Aria pressed a hand to her forehead for a few seconds, then looked up. "A power source," she said.
"Is there any that would be powerful enough to operate a Space-bridge?" asked Optimus.
Raf was busy typing on his computer. "There's a U.S. military lab that's close to where Agent Fowler works," he reported.
"Did you get that Agent Fowler?" asked Optimus as the agent's image came up again.
Fowler nodded. *I'll alert the lab.*
I have a feeling that we'll be hearing from him tomorrow, Aria said to Optimus.
Why do you say that?
We're getting close to the alignment. If I were him, I'd be getting pretty antsy.
()
What Aria predicted came true the next morning. *The Cons really stepped into it this time,* Agent Fowler said to Optimus. *They hit the lab. Our boys in green will fend them off 'till your team shows.*
"Agent Fowler," said Optimus, "I fear that Megatron's deparation may be at its zenith. And you know that I cannot condone even a single human casualty."
As soon as Agent Fowler hung up, Optimus turned to the team and said, "Roll out! Ratchet, contact Bumblebee and tell him to meet us at the base."
"Right away, Optimus," said Ratchet. Once the team had left, he turned to the console but paused. "Where's Arianna?"
"I think she's up on top of the base," said Miko, pointing.
"I'll go get her," said Jack, headed towards the elevator. Ratchet nodded and turned back towards the console, working on contacting Bumblebee, who had Raf with him.
When Jack got to the top of the base, the sight that greeted him was rather startling.
Aria was sitting on the ground in a cross-legged position, breathing heavily. Bright white light, almost like light being reflected off a swimming pool, rippled across her body. Her hair, still in a ponytail, floated slightly behind her as if it was in a breeze.
"Uh... Aria?" asked Jack hesitantly.
Aria jolted upwards as the rippling light vanished off of her. She turned and gave a sigh of relief when she saw Jack. "Thanks, Jack," she said. "I was worried I wasn't gonna be able to come outta that."
"What was that?" asked Jack, sitting next to her.
Aria looked at the cloudy horizon for a long time. "I'm... not sure," she said. "It's been happening ever since I heard about that prophecy concerning planetary alignment."
"Think its got something to do with it?" he asked her.
"Maybe," said Aria. "Lets... lets head down. Its probably nothing." She stood up, heading towards the elevator, Jack walking beside her.
"You sure its nothing?" he asked.
Aria thought for a few seconds. She thought about what she had seen- Megatron, glowing with strange symbols as he raised his sword to strike Optimus down, a volcano exploding behind him.
"No," she finally said. "I'm not sure."
A few hours later, Ratchet opened the Groundbridge to a startling sight- Bumblebee and Arcee, with the femme carrying a comatose Raf.
"Raf?" called out Jack, rushing over to the railing with the two girls.
"No!" said Miko.
Aria flew over to Ratchet as the medic demanded, "What happened?"
"Megatron," Arcee said grimly.
"He's alive," said Aria, looking at Ratchet.
"Quickly! Into my laboratory!" said Ratchet.
Aria rushed over to the nearby closet and pulled out a medical bed, which Arcee placed Raf on. Jack joined them, pulling out a heart monitor and placing it on Raf's neck while removing the young boy's glasses. "Good thing my mom's a nurse," he said.
"Speaking of which," said Aria, turning to him, "you better call her. We're gonna need all the help we can get."
As Jack pulled out his phone, Ratchet said, "His mother may be a nurse, but does she know anything about the effects of energon on the human body?"
"Do you know anything about the human body?" Jack retorted.
Ratchet looked shocked, but stayed silent. Satisfied, Jack turned to his phone and said, "Mom. Its urgent."
Ratchet looked down at Raf. "'The weak will perish'," he recited. "Be strong, Rafael."
"He might not look the part, Ratchet," Aria said, sitting next to Raf. "But Raf is the strongest of us all."
Less than thirty minutes later, June's car came racing through the Groundbridge. Jack greeted her. "Mom! Thank-!"
"Grab my bag," she ordered her son. She raced over to Ratchet's laboratory, where Ratchet was scanning Raf with his arm-mounted scanner.
As June took the young boy's pulse, Ratchet told her, "Measuring the extent of the absorption should determine the proper course of treatment."
"If I don't get this boy stabilized now, he will not leave this table alive," June barked at Ratchet, "do you understand me?"
"Uh-!" Ratchet gave a small start, but nodded.
"Pull up your holoform," said June, "I need all hands on deck."
Ratchet quickly transformed, his holoform stepping out of the cab as Jack gave his mother her medical bag. "You can't heal him?" June asked Aria.
"Healing myself I can do," said Aria. "But others-?" She gave an angry sigh.
Bumblebee finally gave an angry growl, punching the wall next to him. All the humans jumped.
Arcee pinned Bee to the wall. "Bee! Listen. You think I don't know what its like to watch a partner... harmed? Revenge won't help Raf right now. You need to keep your emotions in check!"
Bumblebee looked over at Raf as Arcee let him go. He placed a hand to his helm. *Oh Raf,* he murmured.
Aria flew up to Bumblebee's shoulder, gently stroking the yellow and black helm. "We'll save him, Bee," she said. "We have to."
A short while after that, Optimus' voice spoke on the com-link to Ratchet. *Ratchet, how is Rafael?*
"It is too soon to know," said Ratchet, turning away from the bed.
*He's in good hands.*
"Not mine Optimus," said Ratchet, looking at June. "Curse my cybertronian pride! We've accepted these humans into our lives yet I bother to learn so little of their science or medicine."
*Pull yourself together, old friend,* comforted Optimus. *Rafael needs you.*
"And I... have grown to need him."
[Nemesis]
"Lock onto my coordinates and activate the Groundbridge," said Optimus. He turned as Bulkead gave a grunt, swinging the stolen generator onto his back.
"Ready!" said Bulkhead as a Groundbridge opened beside him.
Before the Wrecker could enter, Optimus strode up to him. "Bulkhead, return to base," he said. "There is something I must do."
"Wha- serious?" asked Bulkhead.
Optimus looked around the room as he said, "I have been foolish not to see what history has proven over and over again- that Autobots and Decepticons will never mend their ways. If there can be no diplomatic solution to this perpetual conflict, then I must not allow more darkness to fall upon this or any planet." He clenched his servo, closing his optics.
When he opened them again, a deep anger blazed in his optics. "Megatron must be destroyed!"
[Omega-1]
It had been almost an hour after Bulkhead had returned, and now everyone was gathered in the laboratory, watching as Ratchet and June worked on Raf, whose breathing was starting to shorten.
June straightened. "Jack, Aria," she said. "Help me get Raf to the car! He's going to the emergency room!"
"Nurse Darby," said Ratchet, turning to her while looking away from the pad that came with his holoform. "Your doctors won't be able to comprehend what's afflicting him. Not without a decade of study."
"Ratchet's right," said Aria. "The only place Raf can be saved is here at base."
Ratchet looked at his pad and froze, studying the readings he had gotten from Raf. He looked at them, then turned to Aria. Jack noticed the expression. "Ratchet? What is it?"
Ratchet walked over to Aria, grabbed her wrist, and touched her fingers to the back of Raf's hand. Aria instantly lept back with a yell of pain. "Ratchet! What the... heck?" Sudden realization dawned on Aria. "No," she whispered.
"It's not energon," said Ratchet, the grave look on his face growing deeper. "Rafael's been infected with Dark Energon."
Everyone's faces turned to shock.
[Volcano]
Megatron watched as a Groundbridge swirled open a little ways away from him and Optimus stepped out. "Megatron!" he called out. "Today you answer for your crimes against Cybertron, and against humanity! One shall stand!"
"And one shall fall," finished Megatron. "You- Optimus Prime!"
The two leaders charged towards each other, yelling.
[Omega-1]
June looked at Raf in concern as Ratchet returned to his Autobot form and said, "If Dark Energon is devouring Raf from the inside-out, we must expel it, and fast. But I'm not sure how."
"I've got an idea," said Aria. "But we'll need regular energon for it."
June turned to her. "Wait," she said. "Ratchet just said that energon was devastating to humans."
"Under normal circumstances, yes," said Aria.
Ratchet suddenly understood what the young girl was saying. "But the Dark Energon should meet it head-on, not only protecting Raf, but also vaporizing it! Aria, you're a genius! Or," he turned to her as he picked up a container, "do I have to thank Perceptor?"
"Nope! All me!" said Aria proudly. "I pay attention in class."
[Volcano]
Optimus' and Megatron's fists clashed against each others faceplates. They both skidded back before they charged forward again, Megatron firing his cannon.
Optimus blocked it with his own gun.
The two of them tried to fire at close quarters, only for their blasters to get pushed out of the way, also exchanging blows and kicks. Finally, their guns were pointing down each other's barrels and when they fired, both leaders were sent flying back.
Optimus was the first to stand, putting his gun away. Megatron stood with a smirk, firing his own gun. Optimus' right sword came out, deflecting the shots away from him. He lept up into the air, aiming at Megatron, whose own sword unsheathed and met Optimus.
"Your defeat here was forseen by the Ancients," mocked Megatron. "What was it they wrote? 'The weak shall perish'?"
"Do not believe everything you read," quipped the former librarian.
As they started to sword-fight, Optimus couldn't help thinking to himself, Amalgamos was right. Aria is rubbing off on me.
[Omega-1]
As Raf's vitals started to get smaller, Ratchet placed the container of energon that Bumblebee had donated into a small slot next to the medical chamber. "I need him over here- now!"
Jack, Aria, and June quickly pushed the bed into the chamber as Ratchet typed on his console. When they were out and the door closed, Ratchet pulled on the lever.
Everyone watched as the chamber grew brighter, almost blinding everyone. Several beeps came from the console as the container glowed. After what seemed like forever, the chamber dimmed and opened.
All the humans and Bumblebee hurried into the chamber, Bee kneeling at the foot of the bed. AS June lifted the young boy's arm, Raf started to moan.
"Pulse rate is stabilizing," reported June.
Raf opened his eyes. "Bee?" he asked weakly.
*Raf,* beeped Bumblebee.
Ratchet breathed a sigh of relief as Miko bent over, giving the young boy a hug. Raf gave a small smile, turning his head slightly. As Bumblebee reached over and gently stroked Raf's cheek, Aria said, "He'll be weak for a few hours, but he'll be alright."
"Optimus," Ratchet said into the com-link. "We did it."
Just then, Aria gave a scream of pain, falling to the floor with her eyes glowing. "Aria!" yelled Jack as his mother rushed to her side.
The glow faded as Aria sat up shakily with June's help. "I-I'm okay."
"What was that?" asked June.
Aria instead turned to Bulkhead. "Where's Optimus?" she asked.
[Volcano]
Optimus blocked Megatron's blade and pushed Megatron back, who swung back at him. He repeated this several times before Megatron punched Optimus and kicked him away.
The Prime's sword sheathed, and he gave an angry yell as he transformed, driving on a small hill and smacking his vehicle mode into Megatron, causing the warlord to fall off the cliff. Optimus transformed, the wheels on his back leg moving over his peds. When he landed, his foot was on Megatron's face, and he allowed the wheels to spin until Megatron grabbed Optimus by the face and tossed him off.
But Optimus' plan had worked. He now rapidly punched at a blinded Megatron, hitting his helm and middle. Just as Megatron's sight cleared, Optimus rushed forward, decking the Decepticon leader to the floor.
Megatron managed to sit up as Optimus walked forward, his sword coming out. "My... destiny," murmured Megatron as Optimus pinned him to the ground again, "this isn't... how it's... supposed to end!"
"On the contrary, Megatron," Optimus said, raising the sword. "I could not have allowed this to end, otherwise."
Then, the volcano exploded as Optimus' sword came down. The Prime's optics widened in shock.
Megatron had somehow pushed him off, sat up, and grabbed the blade in his hands. When he looked up, his optics were glowing as symbols ran across the violet parts of his body.
[Omega-1]
"Bulkhead," said Arcee angrily, "you let Optimus face Megatron alone?"
"I didn't have a choice," Bulkhead said, defending himself.
"He gave you the look, didn't he?" asked Aria, who was sitting next to Raf's bed as June gave him a check-up.
"It could be a trap," said Ratchet at the console. "We need to get a fix on his location!"
[Volcano]
Megatron gave a growl as he stood, still holding Optimus' sword in between his hands, his optics glowing sinisterly. Optimus gave a grunt as he tried to hold Megatron in place.
"How was it that you put it Optimus?" asked Megatron. "'I could not have allowed this to end otherwise'?" Then with a mighty pull, he snapped the blade in half and stuck it in Optimus' right shoulder.
Optimus tried to fight, but Megatron started to slam his suddenly strong fists into Megatron's body, leaving even more dents. Finally, a massive punch sent Optimus flying through the air and landing on his back.
Optimus felt weak and dizzy. The only things he noticed was the sun darkening as a solar eclipse happened, and Megatron stalking up to him, his optics flashing in time with the lightning that struck the ground around him.
Optimus reached up, pulling out the piece of sword that was stuck in his shoulder. Before he could stand, Megatron pinned him down, an evil grin on the warlord's faceplates.
[Omega-1]
"I'm locked onto Optimus's signal," Ratchet reported. He suddenly stopped, studying the readings. "Wait... how is this possible?"
"What?" asked Arcee. "What is it?"
Ratchet stood there, frozen for several seconds. Then he whirled around. "We need to get Optimus out of there- NOW!"
[Volcano]
Megatron looked up as the volcano started to explode even more, sending large chunks of glowing violet rocks into the sky. He gave an evil laugh. "Well well," he said. "It seems the Blood of Unicron I've been seeking is not up there, but rather, right here!"
Optimus' optics widened. "Dark Energon," he whispered. "Erupting from the Earth?"
Megatron drew his sword and raised it above his helm, ready to deliver the killing blow. "A question, Optimus," he said, "that you shall take to your grave!"
Optimus tried to get up, but the Dark Energon was starting to affect his systems. He was helpless.
Before Megatron could swing the sword downwards, a Groundbridge opened. Before he could react, Bulkhead slammed into him, knocking him off Optimus. He continued to knock the warlord back, away from his leader.
Arcee appeared through the Groundbridge next, back-flipping over Optimus. She stood and gasped at the sight of the volcano erupting Dark Energon.
Ratchet appeared next to her. "Quickly!" he said. "We must pull him through!" Arcee joined him in pulling an injured Optimus upright.
Megatron blocked one of Bulkhead's punches, knocking him back. Bulkhead retained his footing and growled at the Decepticon leader.
"Bulk!" Bulkhead turned towards the Groundbridge, where he could see Arcee calling out to him with Ratchet supporting Optimus. "NOW NOW NOW!"
Bulkhead quickly transformed, driving towards the Groundbridge with Megatron hot on his heels. He transformed, leaping into the Groundbridge with a yelp.
Megatron gave an angry yell as he slashed at the Groundbridge with his sword, which was covered in purple flames. Before his blade could touch it, the Bridge disappeared.
Megatron pulled his sword out of the ground and sheathed it, giving an angry growl. With the tip of his finger, he wiped away a small drip of Dark Energon, his optics lighting up.
"This," he proclaimed, "is merely the beginning! I now posses enough Dark Energon- to reanimate Unicron himself! Hehahahaahahaha! YEEEEEEES! HAHAHAHAHAAAAA!"