I woke the next morning to the sound of soldiers starting their morning training. I sat upright; my eyes wide.

"What time is it?"

"There's no need to worry, Maria, the day has just started." Optimus told me calmly. I laid back down, rubbing my eyes with a sigh.

"I should probably go..."

"I understand."

I placed my hand on the dashboard gently. "I appreciate you letting me stay with you. Thank you, Optimus."

I heard a slight hum of the engine before he replied. "I greatly value our time together. I am glad to hear that you enjoyed your time with me."

Smiling, I sat up, shifting to the driver's seat. The door swung open for me. "I always do!" I jumped out of the cab of the truck and stretched. I heard the Prime transform behind me, so I turned to face him. "Well, good morning, Optimus!"

He knelt to face me better, lowering his hand and brushing my side with his pointer digit. "Good morning, Maria."

I blushed slightly before turning and making my way to the exit doors. I returned to my room in the barracks to freshen up and change my clothes for military wear. After I was satisfied that I was ready for another day, I went to my personal office to find Will already there.

"Oh! Will, I didn't realize you were waiting for me."

He waved a hand. "I wasn't waiting long, I just got here."

I sat down behind my desk, the Colonel following suit. "Well, clearly you're needing something, or else you wouldn't be here," I said, teasingly.

He chuckled slightly. "You're certainly right." He leaned forward in his chair. "As you know, there are Energon detectors placed around the world. I've gotten word that there is was Energon detected in a secure site. No one else knows of this, the Ukraine government doesn't want this getting out to anyone. They've agreed to meet and show us the location."

"When?"

"We're leaving today, it's an urgent mission. I want you to come with me to the meeting with the Ukrainian government representative when we arrive. After that, we'll be meeting Prime and the rest of the team at the site."

"Optimus already knows?"

"I'll be informing him right after we're done." He stood. "Get your gear together, Major. It's going to be an interesting trip."

"I'm curious as to all the secrecy behind this."

"We'll have to wait and see." I half saluted him before he turned to leave my office, earning a smile from him. I stood up and made my way back to the barracks, grabbing a duffel bag from underneath my bed. I packed up my military wear that was required for missions and extra pairs of clothes that I might need. I included my toiletries in the bag before closing it up. I headed out of my room for the last time in a while, my bag in hand. I made my way to the Autobot hangar where everyone else would surely be as well. I spotted Will and Optimus speaking to one another as I placed my bag in the loading section. Ironhide walked past, nodding to acknowledge me.

"Did you hear about the mission?" I asked him.

He stopped in his tracks to face me. "The Autobots have been briefed, yes. We're loading up now."

"Is Optimus bringing the trailer of new equipment you put together?"

"Well, of course, why wouldn't he? It'll certainly give him a tactical advantage. He'd be foolish not to."

I laughed. "You're right."

"Naturally." He shifted his weight. "I hope you're still planning to make use of the weapon I gave you a while back."

I nodded, remembering the weapon Ironhide was kind enough to give to me on our last major mission. "Naturally." He gave a solid nod of approval. "See you out there, 'Hide."

"Be careful, Squishy." He replied, using his nickname for me. Normally I would find such a name degrading, but coming from Ironhide it reminded me of the tough love I got from my older brother, Evan. He continued on his way, no doubt making sure that all the Autobot weapons were packed and ready for transport. I saw Bumblebee and waved to him in greeting before helping everyone load up all the gear that we would need for the mission.

When we were finally ready to head out, I was placed on a plane with Will and a team of soldiers that we would be working with. Unfortunately, Optimus was loaded onto a different plane, which made me slightly uneasy, but I trusted our pilots, and I knew that Will and I would be joining the team before anything potentially dangerous could happen.

The flight was one of the longer ones I had been on, making it a rather boring trip. But, when we arrived, everyone was quick to action, getting to where they needed to be while they waited for Will and me to conduct our meeting with the representative. We both were given an opportunity to change out our military wear that we were currently dressed in for professional clothing, something that wouldn't raise suspicion. After we were ready Will and I were quickly escorted into a black SUV. Clearly, this was incredibly important. I gave Will a look before I got in the vehicle. We were driven to a government building, but we received no escort into the building.

"I hope you know who we're meeting, Colonel. This is incredibly suspicious." I whispered to him as we entered.

"Just relax."

I rolled my eyes as he led me to the upper level. He came to a stop next to a large pillar that went all the way up to the ceiling. I stood across from him to make it appear that we were in conversation. The representative that we were to meet must have been waiting for us, as it was only a moment before someone passed by us that Will nodded to, turning away from the pillar and following the gentleman. I adjusted my pencil skirt before following, making sure that my outfit was perfect. We came to stand at the corner of the balcony, overlooking the first floor below, a solid wall next to us.

"I am Voshkod, general counsel with the Ukrainian department of energy." The man began in a hushed voice. He did not look at either of us. "My government will officially deny that we're having this conversation. At one of our decommissioned facilities, a discovery was made." He paused and looked to Will. "Which I fear may be alien in nature." His voice was shaky, I didn't need to be a psychologist to tell that he was afraid of something. "The facility's name is Chernobyl." Without another word he turned away, lowering his gaze to the floor and left the two of us. I looked to Will whose eyes were wide. He was just as wary of this as I was. We moved together as we left the building, wasting no time at all. After getting in the same vehicle we were taken back to the site where our team had landed originally, giving the both of us to change back into our proper gear and brief the team on what was to happen next. I was the first to change and secure my weapons in their place. I made my way to where the Autobots were waiting in their vehicle modes.

"We're heading to Chernobyl, boys. There's been what the representative called a presence there they believe to be 'alien in nature'." I heard Will behind me as he briefed the military team. "He is meeting us there to escort us, but that doesn't mean this isn't dangerous, we have no idea what's out there." I looked over the group of bots. "All right, let's head out!" I walked closer to Optimus, and the driver door opened to welcome me in. I took my seat and adjusted my weapons so I could sit more comfortably. I rested my hand on the part of the seat next to me, gently tracing a pattern with my fingertips. "How're you feeling, Optimus?"

"I am concerned with what we may have to face. Perhaps this is a Decepticon in hiding...it has been far too long since we've faced one, and I worry that our time is up." He responded. Before I could reply, Will jumped in the passenger seat.

"Let's head out, Prime, I'll direct you where to go." He said as he closed the passenger door. Without a word, his engine started, and he drives forward, the rest of the team following us.

As we pulled into the site, I couldn't help but look in awe at the dilapidated buildings and ruins. So much history was held here, and I was trying to take it all in. Optimus came to a stop in front of a limo. Will hopped out as Voshkod exited his own vehicle.

I leaned close to the steering wheel, resting my forehead on the center of it. "Stay safe out there, okay?"

There was a gentle humming of the engine. "You as well, Maria." He opened the driver door for me, allowing me to step out. I joined Will as he walked to meet Voshkod, the rest of the team remaining behind us.

"Mr. Voshkod!" Will greeted. As the three of us met in the middle he looked around briefly. "So, uninhabited since '86. I hear it won't be livable again for another twenty thousand years?"

"At least," Voshkod agreed. "Ukraine was the most fertile land...it's a tragedy." He pointed behind us. "This way."

"Gear up!" Will ordered to the team as we walked. "We have sixty minutes on the ground. Watch your radiation levels." We all placed our gas masks on, making sure they were secure and working properly. "Mr. Voshkod, where's your protective gear?" We were nearing a building, and the man was heading straight inside, a group of soldiers joining us now. Indeed, he had no mask to protect himself from the radiation. Will repeated his question.

"It would not matter." Voshkod responded when we entered the building. "For me, it's only a matter of time." He pointed to his right, leading us further in. "Through the school." Our group walked through the abandoned building, gas masks and paper littered the ground. Eventually, we came to a more industrialized looking part of the building, with pipes and large metal containers surrounding us instead of rubble. "Yuri will take you down below." He gestured to the man beside him. He then grabbed hold of Will's arm, speaking to him in a hushed tone. With all my gear on it was hard to make out what was said, but I had faith that Will would share it with me if it was important enough. I watched as the man glanced around as he spoke, then a look of terror crossed his face when his gaze came to a stop above us. "It...it can wait." He sidestepped Will and took his leave of our group. Will looked at me as Voshkod left, his eyes furrowed in confusion.

As we continued, it was clear that what we were standing in was no longer part of the rubble and ruin of the original Chernobyl. There were metal parts that were interconnected, making this large structure that we were currently standing in.

Will crossed a metal bridge, myself behind him. "Keep moving, stay tight," I ordered the others.

"I think we found it." A soldier behind me said. Before us was a semi-circular metal structure that held a ball of what appeared to be metal and wires. While the object appeared to be a separate entity from the large clamp looking structure, they were clearly connected.

The Colonel activated his communication link to the Autobots. "Optimus, we got a visual. Looks like the objects clamped in some kind of metal harness." He then noticed something on the ground. "What's this?" He brushed off some of the debris that covered it before calling us over. "Why does this thing have Soviet space markings on it?" As he continued brushing off the dirt, he revealed a symbol.

"Sputnik." I stated simply.

"Energon reading, sir." One of the soldiers informed Will as his instrument beeped. He was holding it close to the metal clamp. "It's strong." The instrument was beeping faster now. "Below us...and it's coming fast." Our group came closer together, looking for what could possibly be heading towards us.

With a heavy crash, what looked like a large metal worm came tearing through the wall and charged right in front of us, tearing through the platform we were on. Most of us were further back and were safe from the initial attack. A few soldiers began firing at the aggressor, shouting at one another, but it tore through them. A part of the metal worm detached itself and reached for the object we were just examining, taking hold of it and tearing it away from the clamp system.

I hurried backward with Will and a few others, activating my commlink. "Optimus, there's something Cybertronian here, it's attacked and taken the object!"

"Understood." He responded. I heard his engine start. "Get out of there Maria, you're in danger!"

Without another word, I threw my arm around the soldier beside me, ushering him forward and out of the building. Will helped a few others and we all rushed out of there as the metal worm crashed through more of the building, moving in a wave-like motion. As we ran out of the building, Will and I took the injured soldiers among us to the medics that were here with us, making sure they got the immediate attention they needed. Once I saw they were safe, I turned back to the building.

Will grabbed my arm, stopping me in my tracks. "What the hell do you think you're doing?!"

"I'm not leaving Optimus there alone!" I shoved him away and continued back over to where the unknown Cybertronian was still crashing through the place. I heard Will sigh and gather up the uninjured, following me to join the Prime. I saw Optimus as he drove alongside the building, easily keeping up with this thing. Suddenly, the metal worm changed course, cutting in front of him. Optimus detached himself from his trailer, triggering it to transform as he did as well. His trailer settled into a ring of weapons and gear, ready for use.

"Heavy weapons!" Will ordered. "Heavy weapons up!"

"Stay behind me!" Optimus shouted as he pulled a sword and shield from the gear.

Our group ran forward, and Will called out to the Prime as tendrils of this metal thing pierced through the ground and took out soldiers left and right. There was no way to anticipate where this thing was coming from. I squatted behind a fallen piece of building, using the weapon Ironhide gave me to take my shots at this thing. Optimus charged forward, racing for the end that held the object we were after. Before it had a chance to dive back into the ground, the Prime jumped into the air above it, swinging his sword as he moved to slice off the head of it, the object falling to the ground.

Suddenly, the worm shifted and transformed to reveal a large, one-eyed Cybertronian. There was no doubt in my mind that this one was a Decepticon. Metal tendrils churned around it. "Optimus!"

Optimus rolled in front of him, pointing his weapon straight at the Decepticon, his shield up, guarding his face. He released a heavy battle cry, challenging the enemy. In response it transformed once more into a worm-like state, diving back into the ground in retreat. I came out from where I was kneeling, standing beside Will.

"What the hell was that?" He asked.

"That is Shockwave." Optimus said gravely. He threw his sword to the ground with a clang as he walked over to us.

"Why was he after this?" Will asked, referring to the round, metal object.

"It's impossible." Optimus said as he knelt to the ground in front of us. He pointed at the object. "This is an engine part from a long lost Autobot ship."

"Long lost? Then what is it doing here?" I asked.

Optimus looked at me, his blue optics meeting mine. I could tell he was just as uncertain, as his optics held that confusion and something more I had not seen before.

"We gotta take this to headquarters," Will said. "Let's load up! We're heading out!"

I waited as Optimus transformed with his trailer, making sure that I was heading back with him. When I took my place in the driver's seat, I could feel that something was wrong. The object was placed behind the seats, secure and protected.

"Are you all right?" I asked calmly.

"There is no need for worry, Maria." He responded. His tone wasn't exactly curt, I wouldn't imagine he would ever talk to me like that, but there was something in his voice that made it clear that something was bothering him, and he wasn't ready to talk about it. I had a feeling it had something to do with this engine part that rested behind me.

Our team left the facility and loaded back up onto the planes that we had arrived on. Because there were many injured soldiers, they required more room, so most of us were moved into some of the planes that the Autobots were loaded on. While I would have liked to stay with Optimus, I was moved to the plane with Ratchet. The headquarters that we were heading to were in Washington D.C, and slightly different from the base where most of our time was spent. The higher-ranking officials stayed at the NEST headquarters, which only made me that much more suspicious of this object. Clearly, there was some great importance, and the effect it had on Optimus' mood worried me.

The injured were the first to be loaded off and taken care of when we arrived, the rest of the team followed. The Autobots were called to sections of their hangar for checkups and maintenance. I watched as Optimus parked himself at the center of the hangar, away from the rest of us. I respected his space and left him to take my gear to where it needed to go and change out of my mission gear into more comfortable clothes that I wore while still on duty. When I returned to the Autobot hangar, I spotted Will next to the Director of National Intelligence, someone quite high up in the government. They were in front of Optimus, with a few other Autobots standing near. I approached, standing on Will's right side.

"Optimus, you remember Charlotte Mearing? Our Director of National Intelligence." Will said to the Prime, introducing her. Optimus remained in his vehicle mode.

"He's in a bad mood," Dino said, glancing between his leader and Will. "He's not talking to anybody."

Director Mearing raised her eyebrows. "What is this? The silent treatment?"

"We've seen that, and this is not that." Ironhide informed her. "This is worse."

I crossed my arms in front of my chest, my brows knit together. This was incredibly unlike Optimus.

In his gruff voice, Ironhide turned to Optimus. "Prime! Make something of yourself!" He slammed the side of his fist on the roof of the Peterbilt. "He's pissed."

With that, Optimus began to transform until he was face to face with the Director, his fists on the ground in front of him. Between them was a table, on which the object we obtained in Chernobyl rested. "Everything humans know of our planet we were told had been shared. So why was this found in human possession?"

"We were in the dark about this also." The Director defended. "It was director only clearance at Sector 7, until now." She turned to her assistant. "The bag."

The young girl shuffled the bags in her arms. "Which bag?"

Annoyed now, she said, "air Ms. Berkin, green ostrich. Oh my god." Her assistant ran to hand her the bag, heels clicking on the hard floor. "This is a secret only a few men know." She said, reaching into the bag. She pulled out a small white book before handing the bag back to the girl. "And fewer still remain alive. Allow me to please introduce to you, two of NASA's founding mission directors and astronaut, Dr. Buzz Aldrin. One of the first two men to step foot on the moon." She shook hands with him as the older man and his group approached. "Sir, Optimus Prime" She introduced.

Dr. Aldrin looked up in awe at the Prime. "From a fellow space traveler, it's a true honor."

I watched as Optimus' demeanor changed. He knelt to face the man. "The honor is mine."

The Director was on the metal landing now as she began to explain. I remained on the ground, wanting to stay with the rest of the Autobots. "Our entire space race in the 1960s...it appears in response to an event. Our astronauts investigated a crashed alien ship. No survivors on board."

"We were sworn to secrecy by our commander in chief," Dr. Aldrin added.

A bald gentleman next to Aldrin spoke. "A total of 35 people knew the real plan at NASA,"

And yet another, added, "Soviets managed to land unmanned probes. Somehow they picked up that fuel rod."

"We believe the Russians deduced that the rod was a fissionable fuel assembly. Believed that they had it mastered and harnessed it at Chernobyl."

The bald man stepped forward. "We went on six missions in all. We took hundreds of photos and samples. We locked them away forever. And the moon program was shut down."

"Where did you search the crash hold?" Ironhide asked. The people remained silent.

It was Optimus that spoke. "The ship's name was the ARK. I watched it escape Cybertron myself." He strode to the landing where the Director was standing. "It was carrying an Autobot technology which would have won us the war. And it's captain." He rested a servo on the railing.

"Who was this captain?" She asked.

"The great Sentinel Prime, the technology's inventor." He let his servo fall to his side again. "He was commander of the Autobots. Before me." He turned away from her to speak to everyone now. "It's imperative that I find it before the Decepticon's learn of its location." He faced the Director once again, leaning over the railing, causing her to step back. "Our Autobot spacecraft has the ability to get there. And, you must pray it's in time."