A/N: I'm glad this story is such a hit. It really means a lot to me.

Fire in the Sky

Getting into Gear

"This is getting frustrating, Arcee." Silverbolt grumble. For what seemed like the umpteenth time that day.

He and Arcee where in one of the training rooms. Supposedly, trying to meditate. She was trying this technique to teach him how to transform, as all others had failed. Something, as she soon found out, that wasn't going as smoothly as she had hoped it would.

"I know that, 'Bolt." Arcee agreed with a irritated sigh. "But you repeating that fact every micro cycle isn't really helping either."

Silverbolt, for some reason, didn't know how to transform. Something that came naturally to Arcee, and to the others, didn't come so naturally to him. The other autobots had that function programmed into their memory core when they where assembled. Well, all except Optimus. Being one of the first autobots to actually transform, and all. He, along with Elita One and Megatron where trained by Alpha Trion, who was the cybertronian to invent the technique. And, as an indirect result, largely due to Megatron's betrayal, gave the Decepticons the ability to transform as well.

"Well, why can't I transform yet?" Silverbolt bit out. "It's been a week and -"

'By the Matrix, give me strength...' Arcee thought. "I don't know why you can't transform like us, 'Bolt." She said, trying to stay calm. "There's so much about you that Ratchet can't figure out."

Silverbolt stood up from his sitting position. "Well, why can't you guys just... I don't know, download the command protocol into my memory core?"

Arcee shook her head, and stood up as well. "Because it doesn't work like that, Silverbolt. I already told you, like Optimus, you already have the ability programmed into you. You just have to be trained to access it." She paused for a second to think. "It's like how you told me that human protoforms need to be taught how to walk. They already have the ability, but they still need to be trained how to do it, right?"

Silverbolt sighed. "Yeah. I just... hate being stuck in here."

Arcee walked over to him and placed a calming hand on his forearm. "I know you do. But you know the rules. No going outside until you can disguise yourself. We don't want any humans finding out about us."

Silverbolt tilted his head at her. "Well, anymore humans."

"Okay. Fine. I get it." He huffed. "Look, can we just take a break? Maybe that will help clear my head."

Arcee crossed her arms and looked at him. "Fine. A quick break. But then, it's right back to training, got it?"

"Yes, Ma'am."

"Watch it, Hot shot."

The two 'bots walked out of the training-room, down a side passage, and walked into the Ops center. Optimus and Ratchet were standing at the main computer, while Raf and Miko where on the upper level playing video games. Bulkhead and Bumblebee were absent for some reason.

At the sound of Silverbolt's and Arcee's approach, Optimus turned away from the monitor he was watching.

"Silverbolt. Arcee." He greeted each bot in turn with a head nod.

"Optimus." Silverbolt and Arcee greeted their leader at the same time.

"How goes your training, Silverbolt?" Optimus asked kindly. "Have you made any progress?"

Silverbolt shook his head no. "Afraid not, Optimus. Arcee is doing a great job, but I just can't seem to get the hang of it."

"I see." the red titan hummed. "What techniques have you tried thus far?"

Arcee answered before Silverbolt could. "More like what haven't we tried. I've tried teaching him by showing him, I tried programing the code into his computer, which it didn't want to accept by the way, and I even tired meditation."

"And none of these techniques were successful? Odd." Optimus mused. He crossed his arms, and observed Silverbolt silently.

"It's my fault, Optimus." Silverbolt admitted guiltily. "Arcee has tired her best, but I guess I'm just too impatient."

"You? Impatient?" Miko asked from her position from the couch. Silverbolt, Arcee and Prime looked in her direction. She then added sarcastically, "Perish the thought."

"Give him a break, Miko." Raf defended his friend. "It's been a week since he started. I would probably be frustrated too, by this point."

"Yeah, yeah..." Miko grumbled, then fell silent again, concentrating on the game.

"Hm." Optimus hummed. "I understand your frustration, Silverbolt. You are young by human standards, and now that you are one of us, you are even younger by Cybertronian standards. If I remember correctly, I was not so different from you when I was first taught by Alpha Trion, all those years ago."

"Wait. You were impatient too?" Silverbolt asked in surprise. "I can't believe it."

"I was not always the wise leader you see before you, Silverbolt." Optimus explained. "I was once a young protoform, named Orion Pax, eager to learn the ways of our kind. Only when I received the Matrix of Leadership, and thus earned the rank of Prime, did I do away with my impatiences."

"How long ago was that?" Miko/Raf asked. They had long abandoned their game at the mention of Optimus once being like Jack.

Ratchet stepped in at this point. Without turning away from the computer, he said "You wouldn't believe him even if he told you."

"Aww, c'mon!" Miko pouted. "We really want to know!"

"Very well." Prime nodded his head. "I was first assembled under the identity of Orion Pax, ten thousand years ago, by Earth measurements."

"Ten thousand?" Raf exclaimed. "But...

Silverbolt looked at Prime, and then to Arcee. He knew he was going to regret it, but "If your Optimus's commander... how old are you?" he asked.

Arcee scowled, and turned her back on him. "A lady never reveals her age."

"The commander is nearly five thousand years old." Ratchet answered.

"Ratchet!" Arcee cried out in anger, sending a spark reducing glare at the medic. Which was missed, due to his back still facing her.

"Better to get it out of the way now, then to have Silverbolt pester you indefinitely." He reasoned. "And you can stop glaring commander, as I know you are, it won't change a thing."

"Wait. If Arcee is as old-" Miko started ask something.

"Watch it." Arcee grumbled.

"Is as experienced as Ratchet says she is," She amended, "But not as experienced as you Optimus, how is she your second in command? You didn't have one before her?"

Optimus was starting to find this discussion tedious. "Yes. On Cybertron, before Arcee was made my commander, there was an Autobot by the name of Ironhide. Unfortunately, he was lost during a decisive battle with the Decepticons, along with two others named Jet fire and Scattershot. We were unable to recover their bodies, and thus proclaimed them returned to the All-Spark." He paused as the memory returned to him. With a heavy sigh, he continued. "Arcee, being the most experienced warrior, was promoted to commander."

Silence followed Prime's story. Silverbolt looked over at Arcee, who in turn, was avoiding his gaze. She didn't want to see his face. To see the look of disappointment, as he realized just how much of an age distance there was between them.

With a sigh, and a strong need to be elsewhere, Arcee transformed into her travel mode. "I'm going on patrol." she announced, and was gone before anyone could say anything. Silverbolt felt helpless as he watched her leave. He hung his head in shame.

"Silverbolt." Optimus said, coming up to the young bot, and placing a hand on his shoulder. "Do not feel guilty. The information, and topic, of the Commander's age would have been broached eventually. Better to have it out in the open now, then have it come at a stressful time later."

Silverbolt looked up at his general briefly, then returned his gaze back to the exit/entrance ramp. "Yeah. I guess so. Do you think she'll... nah. Never mind."

"Come, Silverbolt." Optimus said, removing his hand. "We must train you in the art of mode conversion."

"How?" He asked, turning to face Optimus fully. "Nothing has worked so far."

"True." the autobot leader admitted. "That is why I will now share the knowledge of the Creator with you, so that you can learn directly from him."

"Huh?" Silverbolt gasped, as Optimus opened his Spark chamber, and exposed the young bot to the light of the Matrix.

"Let the light of the past, shine on the present." Optimus recited, "Let the knowledge of the old be taught to the young. And may those who once where, be allowed to exist once again..."

There was a flash of light, which caused Silverbolt to shield his optics with his arm, and then...

He lowered his arm. Instead of standing in the Autobot bunker, he found himself standing in a large golden room.

"Welcome, young one, to the hall of teaching." An old autobot greeted Silverbolt. He was tall, about the size of Optimus. His chest, forearms, shoulders, and legs where purple. His hands, upper legs, upper arms, face, and beard (huh? Beard?) were white. And his chest, head, and cape were red.

"Who are you?" Silverbolt asked in awe.

The Elder chuckled. "I am the physical memory of the one called Alpha Trion."

"And... is this Cybertron?" Silverbolt asked next, as he looked around.

"As it once was." Alpha answered. "Many years ago."

"But how?" Silverbolt asked, locking optics with the older bot. "I mean, isn't Cybertron a dead planet?"

"It is in your time, yes." Alpha explained, "But here, it is not. You are not really here, just as I am not really here."

"Oh." Silverbolt blushed. " I guess I should have realized that, huh?"

"Please restate question." Alpha automatically stated. "Due to the limited knowledge stored in this device, questions must be limited to specific topics."

"Oh, uh..." Silverbolt scrambled for the proper wording. "Could you teach me how to transform?"

"Ah." Alpha smiled suddenly. "The knowledge of mode conversion. A worthy topic. So complicated, and yet so simple. Easy to learn, yet impossible to master."

"Easy to learn?" Silverbolt scoffed. "Then why can't I do it?"

"Please restate question."

"Sorry." Silverbolt sighed. "Why am I unable to transform?"

Alpha Trion stroked his beard. "You most certainly are able. All you need to do is will yourself to."

"Will myself?" Silverbolt asked. He scratched his temple. "Cybertronians have wills?"

"Every sentient being has a Will." Alpha answered with a chuckle. "You have emotions, yes? You have freedom of choice, yes? Then you have a Will."

"It's that simple?" Silverbolt asked, looking at the Elder skeptically.

"Willing yourself is one thing. Actually doing it, is completely different." Alpha explained kindly. "There were many Cybertronians who lacked the proper Will to transform. They were either able transform, and remain in their alternate mode, or try to change and become stuck mid-way through their conversion."

"Scrap." Silverbolt grimaced. "What can I do to prevent those outcomes from happening?"

Alpha Trion placed his hands behind his back. "Do you have a strong enough reason to change your mode? Hm? Is it imperative that you must learn to do so? Would others suffer, potentially, if you did not learn how?"

Silverbolt thought for a moment. "Yes."

Alpha smiled. "Then take this gift, warrior." He held out his hand. In his palm rested a golden, well, orb. "And may The All-Spark guide you."

Silverbolt took the orb in his hand. He studied it for a second, and looked at Alpha Trion. Except, it was no longer Alpha Trion, but Optimus, and Ratchet.

"By the All-Spark. What is that?" Ratchet asked, observing the glowing orb in Silverbolt's hand.

"I...I don't know." Silverbolt admitted. "Alpha Trion gave it to me."

"I beg your pardon?" The med-bot scoffed. "Your saying that Alpha Trion, the creator of the Autobots, gave you that object?"

"Hm." Optimus observed the orb. "That is a familiar gift. I believe it is part of the source code, if I remember correctly."

"The Source Code?" Ratchet asked in shock. "Optimus. Are you certain?"

Ignoring His Medical officer, Optimus addressed Silverbolt. "Silverbolt. Place the orb in your arm camber, and repeat after me : I am transformed."

Silverbolt did as he was told, and then repeated what Optimus said. "I am transformed."

The sound of the autobot's transformation process rang out inside the bunker. Metal plates, wires, wheels, and joints rearranged themselves. What once was a human-shaped robot was now a silver Ankonian Lamborghini concept car.

"Whoa..." Silverbolt/ Raf/ Miko breathed out.

"Excellent work, Silverbolt." Optimus said with a hint of pride. "Now, are you able to convert back?"

With a little effort, Silverbolt, reversed the process, and returned to his robot mode. "Okay, wow. That was weird."

"Hmph." Ratchet scoffed. "It's just some minor conversion sickness. It'll pass with time."

"With practice, yes." Optimus agreed. "But you have accomplished a great feat here today, Silverbolt. One that you should be very proud of."

"I am Optimus." Silverbolt said. "I just wish..."

The titan seemed to know what he was thinking. "Fear not, Silverbolt. Arcee will return soon enough. She, like humans, needs time to think. You need not worry."

"Hey, Jack!" Miko shouted.

"Yeah, Miko?" Silverbolt looked over at his two friends.

"Can we go for a ride?" She asked excitedly.

"Miko, I don't think that's such a good idea." Raf said, looking concerned.

"What? Why not?" Miko asked, rounding on the small boy.

"For the time being, I must ask Silverbolt to remain here." Optimus answered for Raf. "Even though he has successfully learned how to change forms, he has much practicing to do." He then spoke into communicator. "Bulkhead? Bumblebee? Return to base." He clicked it off, then spoke to Silverbolt.

"You shall train with Bumblebee in the matter of unarmed combat and mode conversion." He explained. "And Bulkhead shall train you in the ways of energy weapons. Is that understood?"

"Yes, Optimus." Silverbolt answered, understanding what he said was an order.

"Return to the training room, and wait for Bumblebee and Bulkhead. Dismissed." Optimus ordered.

Silverbolt saluted, and took his leave.

Once he was gone, Ratchet spoke up. "I'm not one to sympathize, but don't you think that was a little harsh, Optimus?"

Optimus turned his head to face Ratchet. "Perhaps. But the boy is hurt and confused at the moment. Until Arcee returns, the best thing for him is to keep him distracted."

"Whoa, Ratchet. I didn't even know you had feelings." Miko quipped. "You're not turning into a big softy, are ya?"

Ratchet looked at the young girl, whom was smiling ear to ear, with a straight face. "Hardly." He then returned to his station at the main computer, and busied himself, or appeared to, with some task.

"Hey, Optimus?" Raf asked hesitantly. The giant walked over the boy.

"Yes, Raf?" he asked kindly.

"Will Jack and Arcee be okay?" the bespectacled boy inquire, worry clearly evident in his voice.

"At the moment, Raf, I am uncertain." Optimus sighed. "If cool heads prevail? Perhaps. If not?" he left the answer hanging.

Raf and Miko exchanged worried expressions.

TBC

A/N: You know the drill. Don't play that game.