"A Prime? Impossible!" Ratchet stuttered in astonishment.
"To my knowledge I was the last of the Primes. When were you chosen? Why did I not know?" Optimus asked amiably in slight surprise.
"Our appointment as Prime's were hidden from most history books. I was chosen in secret, and Unicron appointed Crit as a Dark Prime during a time of chaos." Ara explained simply with her breezy smile.
"A Dark Prime? What's that?" Arcee demanded, loading her weapons silently. "Doesn't that mean you're a Decepticon?"
"To be frank, yes." Critius replied easily.
"A Decepticon, in our base? Get him out!" Ratchet ordered as a mad anger descended on him.
"It's not like that... Well yeah, it is, but there's more to the story, if you'd just let me tell you! Besides, the faster we get these preliminaries out of the way the faster we find your dear Miko." Ara said, defending the black bot as she dangled the idea of getting their human back in the 'bots faces.
"We will hear you out." Optimus finally decided.
"Optimus, he's a con! We can't have him in here!" Bulkhead argued, and Bumblebee added angry beeps and clicks to the mix.
"We must hear them out, my comrades. I am- I am interested." Optimus replied, an unusual curiosity seizing hold of him. For so long, he had been the last of the Prime's, burdened with the wisdom that had been imparted unto him and the Matrix now residing in his core. To not be alone, that was his great weakness. He could soldier on as he knew how, but to be truly alone, that frightened him more than he was willing to admit to most.
"Thanks, Optimus." Ara replied gratefully. "As I told you, I am a Prime. Graced by one of the original powers to wield an immense power, I now control the Appex of Control, my comrade the Star of Power. But unlike you, I wasn't chosen by Primus. I am Prime, but my being chosen to carry the burden of power I suspect you know greatly of was given to me by Middia herself. The Middle Power created the Prophecy of her return, and she passed it onto me so I would know the signs of her re arrival. She was bored when she created the Prophecy, and decided to see what a combined power of hers and her brothers could do when joined. It didn't take much to persuade her brothers to agree. Primus had already created Primes, and Unicron liked the idea. So in agreement with each other, they seeked out the best in their domains. Primus was greatly pleased by you, Optimus, and after a search Unicron was extremely pleased by Critius here. Critius and I were chosen in secret, given our gifts in silence, and shipped out so one day we could join up as Middia had decided long ago. I am a Prime like you, Optimus, but my power comes from a different power source."
"I am a Dark Prime, a Prime as well but of blacker origins. As Ara said, we were chosen in secret, and only a handful of Cybertronians knew about what had taken place. Middia had an ulterior motive, not just boredom, but she wanted to make sure someone of each race continued on after Cybertron's demise."
"Wait, this Middia knew Cybertron was going to be destroyed? Why didn't she stop it?" Bulkhead demanded in shock.
"She saw two paths, she followed a different road than expected." Ara replied with a sigh. "I miss our world too, Bulkhead, but I took the hand Fate gave me and continued on."
"So does that sorta explain what you were asking, Optimus?" Critius asked bringing the topic back to its point of origin.
"Not completely, but it is sufficient for the present." Optimus replied, his curiosity only slightly quenched.
"Primes, Dark Primes, what does Middia expect you to do?" Arcee asked after a slight pause. "What does she want anyway?"
"Honestly? She wants a thrill, she was the most mortal in view point to start with, so she simply wants an excitement. She had three appointed, and together we will bring her down or easily she will knock us away. If we win, we get the prize back: Miko. If we lose, Middia keeps Miko forever. Simple, right?" Ara replied.
"What is this Middia trying to do? What's the point?" Arcee asked in shock.
"Your guess is as good as mine, and I met her." Ara shrugged.
"What must we do to retrieve Miko?" Optimus asked finally as Jack and Raf entered the room.
"We're getting Miko back?" Raf asked surprised. "How? When?"
"You will be taken home, Raf, you as well, Jack. Your parents are probably getting worried. Bumblebee, Arcee, get the children home." Optimus ordered.
"Yes, Optimus." Arcee nodded and Bee gave a click in submission as they transformed.
"Wait, we can't go now! If you're going to get Miko, then we're coming too." Raf rebutted determinedly.
"No, you must return home, we will get Miko back, but you two must go home. Arcee, Bumblebee." He nodded and the two vehicles drove forward and the two got sullenly in or on their rides. "We will get Miko back, I do not want you to worry." Optimus told them firmly and the two Autobots rolled out.
"We will get her back, right Optimus?" Bulkhead asked softly, and the leader turned toward his subordinate slowly.
"I am not fully sure, but we will not give up."
"Great, then tomorrow morning we roll out." Ara smiled and she left dragging Critius with her into the system of hallways in pursuit of a sleeping Mitzi.
"Tomorrow?" Bulkhead asked dubiously.
"They know what to do, they have been trained, my friend. They know what is best." Optimus replied, almost needing to defend his fellow Prime from anything or anyone.
"I hope so, because I'm not sure."