Aria: I know what you are.

IH: Say it. Out loud.

Aria: Autobot

Anywaysssss. I wrote three chapters like in a week! Thank you so much to those of you who took the time to review!

Enjoy!

Wake Up Call

…

The visit with her parents had been a success. With only a dozen more assurances of her safety and at least a hundred more questions, they left the following day.

Now, a couple of days later, she got ready for work. It was an afternoon shift which turned out to be perfect. Optimus and Ratchet were scheduled to return that afternoon, that was— if they hadn't already.

She rode to the base and showed her badge to one of the guards of which there were more and more each day. More guards, more soldiers, more protocols, more paperwork. How NEST kept everything organized was a mystery.

At least she was granted special access to the back door that didn't have an Energon detector yet. They still weren't very sensitive and therefore couldn't pick up on smaller readings, but according to Ironhide and the doctor, the Energon levels in her body were increasing by the day.

A month ago, the base would have been hectic, but now it was the norm. Personnel were walking more briskly than ever, Will was always in a meeting, and the Autobots were constantly training or going over drills.

"Aria!"

Over by the nearest group of people was Amber who was now walking toward her.

"Hey, Amber."

"Did you see him yet?" she asked.

"Is Sentinel here?"

Amber squeaked. "Yes! Aria, he's huge. I think he might be bigger than Optimus. Looks like an old man from what I saw. Come on, he's in the observation room."

The Autobots were there as well. Aria looked down through one of the many windows at Sentinel who was placed on a large chair. Ratchet was scanning him while the other Autobots watched.

Sentinel really did look like an old man. His body was faded red, covered in scorch marks and dents.

"They brought back some other stuff too." Amber pointed down at open boxes with huge metal rods inside. "Apparently, even the Autobots aren't really sure what they are. But they're grilling Wheeljack because he looks like he does know, just refusing to say anything beyond the fact that Sentinel was the one who invented them."

Aria's eyes fell back to Sentinel, then to Ironhide who was talking to Optimus and Sideswipe, the latter Ironhide swatted at when it looked like he said something he thought was funny.

Not long after, Optimus left the room with most of the Autobots joining him. Only Ironhide and Ratchet remained.

"Well, I'd better get back to work." Amber stretched her neck. "Have to make Sentinel a crash course on humans presentation for when he wakes up."

"Make sure to include bathing and sexual reproduction. Ratchet still asks me inappropriate questions, and it's been months!"

"Of course, naked people front and center!" Amber called, earning the looks of a pair of scientists down the hall.

Aria stared back down at the sleeping Prime and then at the strange metal objects near the wall. Knowing the transformers, they could be anything.

Movement caught her eye. Ironhide was coming over, gesturing her to come into the observation room. She opened the glass door separating them.

Ironhide stopped, his head was level with her. "I wondered when you would be here."

"How is he?"

"He's in what we call stasis lock. I heard Ratchet explain it to William that it is much like a human coma."

"Does that mean he was injured in the crash? Will he be okay?"

"He is not injured. It was self induced, so he could be one day found and awoken."

"It's a good thing Optimus has the Matrix," Ratchet said, joining them. "He's been asleep for a long time, running on his last trace of Energon."

Ironhide took a step back from Aria, probably realizing just how close he was to her when Ratchet joined them. "Will there be a toll on Optimus? Using the Matrix like that?" he asked.

"Nothing he can't handle. The matrix merely has to jumpstart his spark. Then he can use our synthetic Energon to fully recover."

Ironhide gave a curt nod.

"The matrix is what brought Optimus back to life, isn't it? That's what Sam used in Egypt?"

"It does not normally have the power to bring a Cybertonian back to life. Sam had a piece of the Allspark which transferred its power into his mind. When he found the Matrix, the Allspark's power transferred to it. That was the energy that allowed Optimus to be revived."

"The Matrix also has a special connection to the Primes. Only a Prime, or a Cybertronian with the potential to be one, can wield it," Ironhide added.

"When Sentinel wakes up, will he be the leader of the Autobots again?"

Ironhide and Ratchet looked at each other.

"That, we do not know," Ratchet said.

Ironhide lifted his chin. "It would be up to Optimus."

They talked for a couple more minutes before Aria had to start her shift. Ironhide waited for Ratchet to transform and exit the bay before once again leaning close to her. It wasn't often that she was face to face with him like this, not since she had a balcony.

His optics shone a soft blue, conveying his wordless contentment. The spark in her chest hummed and a phantom warmth filled her chest.

She glanced down, half expecting it to be glowing.

"I feel it too," Ironhide said in a low rumble.

"What is—"

"Aria! You're not authorized to be in here!"

Aria jumped and Ironhide straightened, distancing himself from her.

Lennox walked in followed by a few soldiers. "Get going before Mearing sees you! Ironhide, help me move those rods. Wake up time is at twenty-one hundred."

"Rodger that." Ironhide gave her one last fleeting glance and left to help the soldiers.

Aria swiftly left the room and went down the stairs back to the main hangar. They weren't going to wake up Sentinel until nine, which seemed strange. Unless it was in case he reacted badly and pulled a Jetfire, then nighttime might avoid some unneeded witnesses.

Would he be senile like Jetfire? Time hadn't done the old Blackbird any favors. Perhaps stasis lock was different, and time had no effect on Sentinel.

But other people were worrying about that.

She wanted to know what that feeling was.

The spark in her chest always emitted warmth, but the last few times she'd been close to Ironhide, it got much more noticeable. And this time was the most intense of all.

And he felt it too.

Did that mean they were connected in some way? Sure, between Cybertronians that seemed very likely. But for her and Ironhide?

Conscious of the fact she was probably making a face when walking past people, she relaxed.

She'd have to ask Ironhide when she got the chance.

Unfortunately, she was on office and hallway duty today. She took the opportunity to clean Mearing's office while she was out.

If it wasn't for the high probability of cameras in the room, Aria would have been tempted to steal one of those pictures of her and Ironhide. Not that they were particularly nice photos, but there were probably the only ones in existence with the two of them together.

After a few agonizing hours of cleaning every uninteresting part of the base, it was brake time. She made a pit stop at the lunchroom to eat her sandwich before venturing out to see if she could find Ironhide.

Still chewing, she walked into the main hangar. She kept close to the wall to avoid the scrap Skidz and Mudflap were having. Bumblebee and a few personnel were trying to break them up.

The other Autobots were staying out of it, their alt forms parked in their designated spots. Her eyes swept to Ironhide's empty spot. He was probably out running errands with Will.

Maybe she could go find Amber.

Before she turned to leave, Ratchet transformed. Instead of stopping the fight as she assumed he would, he walked around and over to her.

"Aria, care to talk for a moment?"

"Sure."

She followed him to the empty presentation room. The automatic lights flickered on as Ratchet pressed the button to close the large door.

Aria went over and sat on the stage by the base of Amber's podium.

Ratchet kneeled in front of her, raising an arm to scan her.

Aria lifted her arms. "Didn't we just do this a couple of days ago?"

"Do you feel hot or abnormal in any way? Perhaps not now, but earlier in the observation bay."

Oh.

Oh no.

Could she have any semblance of privacy around Ratchet?

"I was going to ask Ironhide about it when I got the chance."

"You do understand then." Ratchet hummed. "Your connection with Ironhide is strong."

"I think we're…close."

Ratchet finished the scan. "Indeed. What intrigues me, though, is how you've managed to become so close with what limited time you have together. I have never seen Ironhide grow so attached to someone so quickly. And a human at that."

"So the feeling is because we are close?"

"Between two Cybertronians, yes, the feeling is mutual. However, you are a human with a piece of a spark in your chest. So the connection is one way. You are feeling what Ironhide feels."

"He feels like that…about me?"

"There's a reason we call our loved ones sparkmates."

"I know that."

"You do?"

"Wheelie and Brains told me about it. But Ironhide said that giving me a piece of his spark didn't mean that. Only that it would allow me to use the bow."

Ratchet tilted his head. "And do you want it to mean only that?"

Taken aback, she only looked at him.

"Surely you've realized by now that even if the gesture was merely to help you defend yourself, it was a gesture of love."

Still, she didn't say anything. Was she even allowed to admit that she loved Ironhide to anyone? The Autobots weren't oblivious by any means, they constantly teased her and Ironhide at any given chance, but telling them that she and Ironhide truly loved each other?

"Ironhide is a guarded mech," Ratchet said. "He has loved and lost before. I believe that is why he is so protective of you." He must have read the question in her eyes. "Her name was Chromia. She remained behind on Cybertron and is likely gone. It was hard for him to leave her behind, but necessary."

"He left her?" That didn't sound like something he would do.

"She refused to leave. She wanted to stay and help refugees. She told us she would leave on another ship after she'd found everyone. We sent her our coordinates shortly after arriving on Earth, but we have yet to hear back."

A small noise left Aria's throat. Chromia sounded…so noble. So, so much better than her.

"Chromia was born a warrior. She never backed down from a fight, and it almost cost her. Ironhide saved her more than once. But every time she finished healing, she would leave and fight again. Her recklessness led to Ironhide's scar."

"He said he got it from a giant Decepticon," she recalled.

"One that Chromia tracked down and tried to take on, alone. If Ironhide hadn't followed her, she would have perished."

Was Ratchet trying to make her jealous? Make her feel inferior? "Why are you telling me this?"

"Because I want you to know, Aria, Ironhide will die for you."

Her stomach dropped and she blinked as her eyes started to sting. She couldn't look at Ratchet.

"He is our friend and so are you. So I must ask you to protect him."

By doing what? All she had was a bow that she promised to only use in self defence. Was he going to ask her to track down Decepticons from them? Ironhide would never approve.

"How?"

"By keeping yourself safe and doing as we tell you."

She swallowed. "Okay."

…

The large digital clock read eight pm. It was almost time. She lowered the incline and shut off the treadmill.

The changing room shower was never the same after Ironhide's visit. He did still pop up from time to time but hadn't peeped at her since.

She couldn't bring herself to stop thinking about Chromia. Why had Ironhide never mentioned her before? Even when he used to tell her old war stories, her name had never come up. Maybe it was too painful for him.

At this point, she didn't know if she even wanted to see him. One part of her wanted to know everything, but the other wished she never heard the story at all.

She finished blow drying her hair and started to brush it when a siren blared through the speakers. She flinched and dropped the brush. Why did it have to be so loud? The Energon detection alarm went off almost every week thanks to the Autobots sneaking in and out of the base.

The alarm only lasted a minute before shutting off. By then, she put everything in her backpack and headed for the hangar.

The base was packed. Like a lazy tide, everyone slowly made their way toward the observation room. Two people, in particular, caught her eye.

Sam and Carly were walking past the Autobots, Bee trailing behind them.

She lowered her hand when they didn't see her wave.

"That's embarrassing," said a raspy voice by her feet.

"Wheelie!" she squealed, bending down and embracing his small pointy body the best she could.

"Woah princess, no need to get touchy feely."

Brains came up beside Wheelie. "Heya, Ari."

"Hey Brains!" She decided against giving him a hug too. "You guys here to see Sentinel?"

"Well shit, that's tonight? Nah, Sam just had a Decepticon ambush him at work."

"Wait, what?"

"Uh huh," said Brains. "Sounds like Lazerbeak which means Soundwave is nearby."

Aria looked between them. There were Decepticons in Washington?

"Good thing they're waking up ol' Prime. He'll make the Decepticons think twice."

Awakening Sentinel in T-minus five minutes.

Both of the small Autobots ushered her along.

"Don't worry, Ari. As long as we got Sentinel, ain't no Decepticons touching us!"

She hoped Brains was right.

"Aria, over here," Amber called. She was standing on the steps by Sam and Carly.

She, Wheelie, and Brains joined them.

"Sam, I heard what happened. Are you okay?" Aria asked as soon as Sam noticed her.

"Aria, what are you doing here?"

"There was a Decepticon at his new office, Accuretta Systems. It killed one of his co-workers!" Carly cut in.

Accuretta Systems? Sam got a job there straight out of college? She must have applied at least six times without so much as an interview.

No! That wasn't important. "Did you say someone died?"

"Yeah, he was acting strangely, right Sam?" Sam nodded. "Then he allegedly jumped out his window."

The conversation swiftly died when Optimus walked into the room carrying a glowing blue object. It shone brightly, casing a blue glow against the white walls.

Optimus pressed the object into Sentinel's chest. Sentinel lurched as if electrocuted then jumped up. In seconds, he had a sword pressed to Optimus's face.

Personnel panicked as Optimus reasoned with Sentinel. The other Autobots came out as well.

Sentinel, though disorientated, did seem of sound mind. He spoke of the war, but more importantly about the rods—or as he called them, the pillars.

They sounded much like what Ironhide had described in his story; transport technology, capable of teleporting stars from one solar system to the next. He warned Mearing of their power and that they must be kept secret from the Decepticons at all costs.

Sentinel's conversation with Mearing didn't last. Optimus and Ratchet ushered him back into the seat and told him to rest.

"Hey, you didn't answer my question," Sam said as they followed the crowd out of the observation bay. "You work here?"

Carly also looked curiously at her.

Aria shrugged. "Just a janitor. You on the other hand got a job at Accuretta? How?"

"I don't know." Sam shrugged. "Someone sent in a recommendation on my behalf. I'm not doing much better than you, though. Mailroom assistant."

Carly put a hand on his arm. "Sam, it's an important first step. Oh look, it's the Director. We should go talk to her while we have the chance." She paused at turned to Aria. "It was lovely seeing you again, we should meet for coffee again sometime."

Aria agreed at waved them off. When Mearing caught sight of them, she gave a swift gesture and the three disappeared into the hallway.

Deciding it was time to go home, Aria started for the parking lot. The Autobots would probably be preoccupied for the next little while so there wasn't much point waiting around for them.

"What, ol' grumpy not giving you rides anymore?" Wheelie came rolling up to her, Brains catching up.

"I thought you would know, seeing as you two are always scheming."

"Hey, it's mutually beneficial, 'Hide gets what he wants, and I stay in his good books. Win-win."

Brains elbowed him. "Nah, you totally ship them."

Aria rolled her eyes. "Hey, are you guys staying here tonight? Want to have a sleepover at my place?"

"Awe thanks, Princess, but we gotta go back with Sam and Blondie."

"No problem. Thought I'd offer." Aria did her best to hide the disappointment from her voice.

Back home, she got ready for bed. It had been an eventful day. Seeing Sam, Sentinel, the pillars, Ratchet's story. It was a lot.

She went upstairs to the chair that faced the window. Just visible was the roof of the base. And in that base was Ironhide. He was only minutes away. She was safe. The Decepticons wouldn't come after her here.

She sat down in the chair and closed her eyes, breathing deeply.

The Decepticons wouldn't attack.

The Decepticons wouldn't attack.

She opened her eyes. Maybe she should have stayed at the base.

The faint ticking of the clock filled her ears as she sat there looking out at the distant lights of the city. The book she had attempted to read lay forgotten on her lap.

Static filled the air and tingled her chest. When she looked over, Ironhide stood near the stairs, illuminated by lamplight.

"Aria, why are you still awake?"

She looked up at the clock. The short hand was nearly touching three. Had she been sitting there for that long?

"Oh."

"Come on, it's time for you to sleep."

He came over and held out a hand. But she shook her head. "Can't see from there," she whispered.

He looked out the window, eyes scanning the cityscape. After a moment, his expression changed. He had figured it out.

"I am here, outside."

"I thought you'd want to be with the others tonight."

"They are all resting like you should be." He took the book from her lap and placed it on the table.

"I want to stay with you."

"I am staying with you."

"Outside."

Ironhide looked surprised and then grinned his usual lopsided grin. "You'll need a cover then."

Aria yawned. "You mean a blanket?"

Ironhide helped her up. "Yes, and that other thing that goes under your head."

"A pillow."

She took said items off her bed, bunching them in her arms. Ironhide didn't give her any notice before picking her up and talking her downstairs. Her chest filled with warmth.

She thought of telling him, but it slipped from her mind. Her eyelids were getting heavy.

The next thing she knew, she was outside in the cool air. Sure enough, Ironhide was parked there. The rear passenger door was open and the rear seats were folded down into a makeshift bed. She crawled in and untangled the blanket from the pillow. She laid down and the door closed.

"Comfortable?" Came Ironhide's voice from the speaker.

"Mmhm."

…