Author's Note: I posted a fun little one-shot a couple of days ago called "Boogeyman" as an out-take from the last chapter. Three guesses if it's about Will Lennox, and the first two don't count. :) Hope you enjoy!

Will and Sarah Lennox greeted Annabelle with a tight hug. She was an adult now, no question, but she had clearly missed her parents, and they had missed her. We were still on the tarmac of an Air Force base in Delaware, and their group hug was going to be delaying flights if they didn't get on with it. It wasn't until I cleared my throat that Will finally noticed the world around him and stepped back a little from his ladies. He crossed the distance between us to warmly shake my hand. "Good to see you, Samuel."

"Same!" I said, grinning. "We've almost got you home – just another two-and-a-half hours. But we can stop at any restaurant you want along the way for a snack. Just don't ruin your appetite. Mikaela's planning on bringing us all out to dinner at a steak and seafood buffet. And I mean all of us – you guys, all the kids and 'bots, even al-Sharif and his family."

"Oh goodness!" Sarah muttered, but she was grinning.

"I'd love some jalapeno poppers," Will said. "Otherwise, I'm good."

"Does that work for you, Sarah?" I asked.

"Sure. I'd be happy with a turnover or any food, really, that wasn't made in my kitchen or the mess hall."

He and Sarah had traveled without an Autobot escort, so both Tracks and Bumblebee had driven us here. "Ride with me, Mom," Annabelle invited.

"Go ahead," Will encouraged. "Samel and I will probably talk shop the whole way anyway."

With that settled, Will and I climbed into Bumblebee's cab and I let 'Bee take the lead in finding the nearest drive-thru that would meet our needs.

"Good to see you, too, 'Bee," Will added.

"Glad you both made it," he answered, and Will half-smiled at the sound of his voice. Even after three years, it still caught people by surprise sometimes that he could talk again.

"So how was your flight?" I asked.

"Long like usual," Will said, making himself a little more comfortable. "Kinda lonely without Ironhide and Chromia along for the ride, but it was good to have some quality time with Sarah." He let out a bone-deep sigh. "I'm not going to lie, I've been stressing about this trip for weeks, ever since I got word that my name was getting advanced from the promotion board to the Secretary of the Army. Sarah says I cuss out Charlotte Mearing in my sleep."

I chuckled. "There are a few people on Capitol Hill that I probably do that to."

"She's been out to dismantle NEST for the last year and a half, and she has the president's ear. The JCS stood with me and the 'bots, but if I'm not there overseeing day-to-day operations…"

"I didn't realize it had been going on that long," I admitted.

He smirked at me. "Oh, it's been going on for decades, to varying degrees. Remember Galloway?"

"The liaison you threw out of the back of a C-17?" I asked, smirking. "How could I forget? Even hearing the story third-hand, it was fragging epic."

Will snorted in amusement. "So yeah, I wasn't going to go crying to the human Prime at the first sign of trouble. We've held our own. First she tried the purse strings, but thanks to you and Ellis, she ran into a brick wall there. Then she tried throwing the book at us, hunting for procedural missteps, but you know Prowl. He makes sure we run a tight ship. She even tried to pry Ratchet's repair team away, but they're too loyal. I heard through the grapevine that she tried to just have the President unilaterally disband us without explanation, but the Brits, Aussies, and Germans would have none of that and threatened to raise a diplomatic stink, since NEST is a product of international treaty. She couldn't crack us, but this…" He shook his head, sobering. "She's checkmated us with this promotion. Different approach, same effect. NEST will get a new commanding officer – one she hand-picks – and the 'bots will be at the mercy of bigots and bureaucrats."

"Couldn't you just decline the promotion?" I asked.

"Mearing would make sure I still get reassigned if I do. I wish you could have done more to stop her."

"Me, too," but I wasn't sure what else I could have done. "I didn't realize how bad it was getting. I mean, Optimus didn't tell me or anything."

"I asked him not to years ago. Like I said, we'd been holding our own even against Mearing. There was no reason to trouble you about it until she stumbled on the promotion idea." He gave me an appraising glance. "Prowl mentioned they were leaving anyway but then he clammed up and none of the 'bots will tell me what's going on. Seems like NEST is fragmenting already."

"It's easier to show you than to explain it," I answered, "but Prowl's right that we have a back-up plan. Even if they get kicked off of Diego Garcia, they won't be going far, relatively. Let's talk about it after dinner. For now, take comfort in the fact that the 'bots will totally land on their feet. Trust me on this, just like you trusted me in Egypt."

"That grim, huh?" he warily asked.

"That rock-solid real," I countered. "But in the meantime, tell me more about how Wheeljack's experimental 'ground-bridge' is coming along. The reports looked promising, but I know Wheeljack…"

…

After dinner, we returned to the tower. Sarah and Will were staying in one of the guest-bedroom suites on the "entertaining level" (fourth floor from the top), and Annabelle opted to stay on that level with them while they were visiting.

Will had been to the tower a couple of times before, but this was Sarah's first visit, so Annabelle and I gave them the grand tour. After showing them the subterranean Autobot level, including the common room and barracks, Hound interrupted, "With your permission, Prime, I'd like the roof to be our next stop."

Annabelle and I exchanged a surprised glance, but I answered, "Sure."

The rest of the 'bots got back to their assignments, but Hound and Mirage accompanied us to the roof. "We've got a bit of a patio up here," I said, as the elevator car opened around us to reveal the night sky, "and sometimes the kids play basketball or soccer, too. But the crowning jewel is Hound's doing…"

When I gestured to Hound's holoform, he turned all our attention to the sunroom.

"Oh wow, Hound!" Sarah exclaimed.

With a mischievous little smile, he said, "Come on, I've got something special for you." Ushering us all into the sunroom, he turned on a string of fairy lights and picked up a potted strawberry plant. Holding it out to Sarah and Will, he shifted the leaves to reveal two gorgeous berries. "For you."

With exclamations of thanks and admiration, Will and Sarah each picked their berries and while they ate them, Hound returned the plant to its place. Then turning to look at them, he said, "To your human governments, you're just two more taxpayers. To Decepticons, you're vermin, but here, in the shelter of this tower, you're kin."

Sarah covered her mouth in touched surprise and then threw her arms around Hound's holoform. It was a variation on the theme of her usual welcome-speeches to newly-arrived Autobots, and she clearly recognized what Hound was trying to say.

"I second that," Mirage's holoform added, "as would every Autobot here."

"Thank you," Sarah said, stepping back a bit.

Hound nodded and said, "I should probably go help 'Breaker and Mikaela get the kids down for the night. With your leave, Prime?"

"Of course." To my fellow humans, I said, "And we've got one last thing we need to show you before we can let you settle in for some real rest. Come on."

I led everyone to the second floor down from the top, the human-sized part of the Autobot Command Center. Gesturing toward the conference table that I knew was already loaded with the holograms we wanted, I said, "Alright, Annabelle, read them in."

"Right," she crisply said and activated the hologram of our island. "This is New Archon. We've purchased it from Kiribati, since it's unlivable now for humans, and have already begun bringing some essential supplies there for the 'bots. Samuel," she nodded my way, "has been working for years to finalize the purchase and to make sure things go seamlessly when the Autobots go public and declare their independence. The pieces are almost in place for New Archon to join the world's nations as a Cybertronian homeland on Earth."

"What?!" Sarah exclaimed. "They're setting up their own country here on Earth?"

"When?" Will asked, serious as death.

"Weeks," I answered. "Months, tops. For sure less than a year and maybe even as soon as next month. We've been working behind the scenes, and all the major players know and are on board. The hang up is the state department. It's a logistical necessity, but I'll have to renounce my US citizenship. I want to make sure that's an amiable parting of ways, not something that's going to cause even bigger headaches for the 'bots."

"How did you have the funding for all this?" Sarah asked. "I mean, I monitor the financial accounts for all the 'bots."

"You monitor their personal accounts," Annabelle answered. "The money came from their corporate accounts, and most of those funds came from the tech they've introduced piecemeal into the global economy and the leftover metals mined by the crew of the Iron Will."

Will gave her a suspicious look. "You knew all this? And you didn't tell us?"

A Firebrand glint sparkled in her eye. "At least I didn't make you wait 15 years."

Will crossed his arms. "We were following international law!"

She looked my way. "I was just following the directives of my Prime."

"Since we're going public soon, I figured it's okay to let you in on the secret now," I said, trying to dispel the tension. "No matter how things go with your promotion interview, the 'bots won't be at the mercy of bigots and bureaucrats much longer. Mearing might think she's got the 'bots under her thumb and control, but she's only checked you with this promotion, not check-mated."

Will's shoulders relaxed and he looked from Annabelle to me, nodding slightly. While we'd soon technically be citizens of different nations, he was still a human Autobot and I was still the human Prime. I had his back on this.

"Sorry, Annabelle," he said. "Go on."

She half-smiled. "That's okay, I was kind of being a teenage brat. I've got less than a year left of that, so I had to make the most of it."

He snorted in amusement.

"So," Annabelle continued, zooming around and highlighting different parts of the island's plans as she spoke, "there will eventually be accomodations for human visitors, but for the first year or so, the focus will be on getting the Autobots set up with a seaport and airport; housing; fuel depots; civic, community, and med centers; and most importantly, defenses. These will represent a significant upgrade from what's protecting Diego Garcia since this technology will remain in the possession and control of the Autobots."

Will's eyebrows rose in surprise. "Better than Diego Garcia's defenses?"

"Much better," I interjected. "We hope New Archon will be allowed to join NEST's treaty and contribute personnel. In exchange, we're prepared to give tours to representatives from NEST member-nations."

He let out a low whistle of appreciation. "You're coming out both fists swinging, aren't you."

I grinned. "I prefer to think of it as laying the charm on thick, but sure, we can go with that, too."

…

All the Autobots were in the command center with me when Optimus called Shockwave back, including Will Lennox this time. We were just watching – muted and cameras off – and I don't even think the 'con knew we were linked in.

"After much consideration," Optimus said, "we must decline your offer."

"Very well," Shockwave answered, completely indifferent, but Optimus held up his hand.

"We are willing to counter-offer."

"I'm listening," Shockwave replied, quoting Optimus from before.

"We cannot commit to an ongoing percentage as long as hostilities continue between Autobots and Decepticons. Are you willing to surrender in order to obtain that ongoing percentage?"

"You insult me," Shockwave said, though he was as calm as ever.

"I only seek to understand your processing. In that case, we are willing to counter-offer with a set amount of energon, to be delivered in installments."

"I do not trust you to make more than the first installment," he flatly replied.

"And yet you trusted me to make an ongoing percentage," Optimus answered, optics narrowing.

For several long seconds, they glared at each other, until Shockwave finally said, "This posturing is counterproductive. Your logic is sound. I will require five thousand traders' vessels in exchange for recharging the Matrix."

Beside me, Trailbreaker actually growled at the exorbitant amount. Bumblebee grumbled, "Trader vessels hold sixteen times as much as a typical energon vessel. That would be enough energon to top off the entire Decepticon army at least three times!"

Optimus smoothly countered with, "In installments of fifty traders' vessels annually."

"Unacceptable," Shockwave retorted. "That would require me to wait a hundred Terran orbital cycles for full payment."

"If that is unacceptable, then we Autobots will find another way."

"Tell me, Prime," Shockwave suddenly said, "does the head of the Temple guardians still function?"

After a second's hesitation, Optimus slowly said, "Prowl is still online, yes."

"I wish to speak with him."

"You are negotiating with me."

"Then as the Prime, I charge you with carrying my request to him. Tell him these words: I seek a boon from the All Spark. I expect he will remember them, even if the supposed Prime does not."

Optimus let out a slow, mechanical sigh, and off-screen, we all heard Prowl say, "I remember the words, as appalling as they are coming from your vocalizer. But your logic is sound." He stepped into view of the camera. "This decision is rightfully mine as head of the Temple guardians. However, there is a limit to how quickly the energon can be produced. There will be many others seeking a boon, and the Temple guardians give to all equally. Fifty traders' vessels is more than all the energon we Autobots have harvested since recovering the All Spark seventeen years ago. It is a generous offer from our Prime. It would be logical to accept it."

Shockwave's single optic focused on Optimus again. "I accept your terms of five thousand traders' vessels full of energon, paid in installments of fifty vessels every Terran orbital cycle, in exchange for the use of a fully-functioning solar harvester. It will be completed in less than a Terran orbital cycle."

"We have a preferred location for its construction," Optimus interrupted.

"Send the coordinates."

"Transmitting."

Shockwave's optic brightened. "There is a space-bridge directly orbiting this system. That should accelerate construction. It could be completed in as little as half a Terran orbital cycle. I will require the specifications of your original plans, as well as whatever other materials you are able to bring to bear."

"I will be in contact with that information," Prowl said.

Shockwave nodded and then cut the transmission.

…

That night, Sarah and Will Lennox were on a plane back to Diego Garcia, and the whole clan was waiting for me on the flight deck in our bond dream. Their chatter quieted as I approached, but their turmoil didn't. Chromia was the one who broke the silence, her irritation slamming into me. "I can't believe you encouraged Optimus to sacrifice himself this way!"

"What do you mean?" I asked. "I thought the negotiations went well."

"Shockwave's desperate," Ironhide snapped. "He's a being of cold, amoral logic. For him to invoke the Temple of Simfur…"

"It was uncharacteristically manipulative of him," Optimus said. "Likely, he was being prompted by Megatron."

Suddenly I saw that whole exchange in a new light – invoking the Temple, pretending to play by the rules of a society they already burned to the ground, trying to get us to trust them…

"They don't have any intention of letting you return to us," Bumblebee said to Optimus.

"They do not," he admitted, "but their intentions are not the ones that matter."

"When it's your spark on the line, they are!" Beatus wailed. "I don't want you to be offlined!"

Optimus dropped to one knee and pressed his helm to Beatus' as kin, but we all felt that bone-deep peace that was the hallmark of my brother Prime. "Many Primes have come before me, and you are just the first of many who will come after. But a Prime is first and foremost a servant. I don't want to be extinguished yet either, brother, but if I ceased to serve the will of the All Spark, I would cease to be a Prime. I would become as Megatron. And I fear that far more than I do the Well."

Even though it was a bond dream, my eyes started prickling with tears, and I tried to blink them away.

Rising to his feet again, he looked over us one by one. "The worst that could happen to me is that I will be reunited with Elita." His gaze settled on me. "If that is my fate, do not begrudge me that."

Arcee softly said, "Until all are one."

"Frag it," I grumbled and looked down.

"But my intentions matter, too," he declared, his confidence pouring through our bonds, dissolving the grief and turmoil, "and I intend to return to you all. But before we can do any of that, the Matrix must be activated for the solar harvester's use. That role falls to Samuel Prime."

My head snapped up in alarm. "What?"

Just like in the waking world, Optimus opened the compartment on his frame and retrieved the Matrix of Leadership. It hovered above Optimus' palm, glowing faintly blue. The rest of our clan drew closer, watching in fascination. He'd never brought it out in a bond dream in front of them before, and there was a different quality, a fundamental reality to the Matrix that set it apart from our surroundings or even each other.

"It transcends dimensions," Bumblebee softly said, catching the edge of my thoughts. "As the vessel of the All Spark, the Matrix always exists, even here."

My big brother lifted his other hand and passed it over the Matrix, turning the light inside from blue to green. I remembered that he did that right before he used it to generate energon. "How did you learn how to do that?" I asked.

"I underwent many experiences in the Well of All Sparks to learn." He tilted his helm, troubled that I was kind of freaking out. "This is my role as Prime, and I was given the opportunity to obtain the knowledge I needed. Were you not also given such an opportunity?"

"I…" I blinked, remembering a fleeting mental image from some bond-dream or another. I was passing my hand over the Matrix, just like Optimus did, and it turned the light inside red. "...No. I have no idea how to activate it. What did it look like when The Fallen activated it in Egypt?"

Optimus brought us all back to the memory of launching into the desert sky, rushing toward the pyramid with the solar harvester hidden inside. He slowed the memory down so we could see the machine humming to life, a blue light dancing around it as Optimus approached. His focus sharpened as he took aim and shot the machine just below the Matrix of Leadership, hoping to preserve it. Then he brought us back to the aircraft carrier.

"But that's not right," I said. "It's supposed to be red. The All Spark showed me in a vision. It just didn't bother to show me how to turn the Matrix red."

Ironhide snorted in amusement. "Good thing you've got a few months to figure it out, Samuel."

My gaze met Optimus' and his calm washed over me. "That should give us more than enough time," he confidently declared. There was a thread of compassion, of protectiveness that wormed its way through the confidence. He was being optimistic for my sake. None of us know when or even if I would be able to flip the Matrix's internal switches.

"Well, as much as we'd like to just sit around and watch," Chromia said, "BINDS still needs repair. Wheeljack roped me and Ironhide into helping with that. Let us know if there's anything we can do to help."

"Thank you," Optimus gravely nodded, and the two of them left us and recharge behind.

Beatus looked up at Bumblebee. "You were a Temple guardian. Do you know how to fix the All Spark?"

"It's not a matter of fixing it," 'Bee answered. "It's a matter of telling it what you want or need from it. We used various harmonics to coax it to change size or heal or give life."

"You sang to it?" I asked.

His antennas raised in amusement. "That's one way of putting it. But if there was a 'melody' that would turn it into a key for a solar harvester, it's not something I was ever taught. If your brother Primes don't know, then the only other person who might is Prowl."

"I think I'll ask him first," I decided.

…

The next day, Bumblebee cleared the Autobot Tower's command center for us.

"Just so you know," he said, "this is all beyond top secret. We're talking about Temple guardian knowledge, and back on Cybertron, it wouldn't have been discussed outside of the Sanctuary. So we're not having you talk to Prowl over a teleconference. It's got to be unhackable."

My eyebrows rose in surprise. "More unhackable than Cybertronian frequencies?"

He nodded. "Arcee and I are using our bond to relay via hologram what you two say. As mates, it's assumed that she'll know anything I know, so it's okay for her to be part of this conversation. That same understanding would extend to Mikaela because she's your mate and to Optimus and Beatus because they're Primes, but beyond that…"

His mention of Beatus made me realize just how super-secret all this was. "I carry all this to my grave?"

He nodded again and then turned on a projection of Prowl.

"Samuel Prime," he said, nodding to me.

"Prowl. Thanks for agreeing to this. I know it's kind of a big deal to even be talking about the inner workings of the All Spark."

"What information do you seek, exactly?" he asked, sounding a smidge put out.

"I need to modify the settings, I guess, for the Matrix of Leadership. Bumblebee has indicated that the Temple guardians were able to modify the shape and function of the Cube by...harmonics, I think he said?"

Prowl tilted his helm, disbelieving (if I was reading him right). "That is correct, Samuel, though only those trustworthy enough to serve in the Sanctuary itself were taught those frequency patterns."

"If we're going to harvest a star, I need to tell the All Spark that it's time to switch gears, so to speak. Optimus does this when he's using it to generate energon and switches it to green. I need to switch it to red, but I don't have the same hardware he does. I don't know how to do that."

"I do not see how I can be of assistance."

"Didn't you guys, the Temple guardians, that is, ever do anything with the All Spark that would make it absorb energy instead of radiate it? Or even just turn it red?"

He looked down, considering. "Energon is green, of course, and the All Spark's visible radiation had a greenish hue while producing it. Blue was associated with healing and white with creation. I have never seen the All Spark produce red-hued energy."

My stomach fell, and I said, "But what about rumors or legends or something?"

"I'm afraid not," he answered, shaking his helm. "What you seek is beyond the scope of my knowledge."

I sighed. "Then thanks anyway, Prowl."

He said, "I wish you luck, Samuel Prime," and for a split second, I felt like he genuinely meant it.

…

The Ancient Primes...well, technically they were my brothers and they'd been helpful from time to time, but usually we didn't see each other unless something epicly trauma-inducing was going down. So I put off even trying to contact them for more than a week.

Either my bad attitude was preceding me across the bond or they weren't in a mood to talk because when I did finally get up the courage to reach out to them, nobody answered. That was something of a first for me, actually. They'd been involved with me seeing symbols before Optimus died, and a couple of times I'd been able to reach them by following their hissed words over the brother-bonds we shared. This time, it was just...nothing.

Even when both Optimus and Beatus clamped down on their ends of the bond as tight as they could, I couldn't hear the Ancient Primes' maddening whispers. I was just alone in my own head, as if I'd never forged any spark-bond. That was terrifying in its own way, and I hurriedly backed out of my own mind and into the reality of the mostly-empty Autobot Command Center.

Looking up at 'Bee (who was holding me in his hands), I shook my head. "No dice."

Both Optimus and Beatus opened their bonds again, and I reflexively took a deep, relieved breath.

"So what now?" 'Bee asked.

"Giving up isn't an option."

His antennas raised in amusement as he set me on my feet again. "That's about what I'd expect from the human Prime."

I got a text alert from Optimus. /We have New Archon and the solar harvester construction to worry about by day. Let us discuss this more by night./

When we didn't have to be all cloak-and-dagger, too. /Agreed./

…

That night, it was just me and Optimus in the bond-dream on the aircraft carrier. "So, we've tried the Temple guardians, and we've tried the Ancient Primes. I don't suppose Jetfire's databases have anything helpful."

"Unfortunately, no," Optimus answered.

I sighed. "I'm not sure where else we should even look."

I felt it when Optimus realized who we needed to talk to next, and I reflexively said, "Uh-oh."

He tilted his helm curiously. "I didn't think I was sharing my thoughts."

"You aren't. But if you are feeling that intimidated or whatever, I'm screwed."

Squaring his shoulders, he said, "Only Primus himself now holds the answers we seek."

"Frag."

Optimus' amusement rolled over our bond, though it was still tempered a bit by his feelings about Primus. "You are a Prime, Sam, chosen as a human intermediary between my race and our Creator. You carried his avatar in your subconscious for two years and in your crew sock through pitched battle in Egypt. You are on more-intimate terms with him than any living Cybertronian – except me."

"That's right," I said, suddenly remembering, "you lived his memories while you were in the Well of All Sparks."

"A select few of them," he modestly clarified. "It was part of my trial there, the one that prepared me to harvest energon. He showed me how the Autobots, the Decepticons, the Fallen, all of our existence is just a continuation of the battle between himself and the Destroyer."

I considered that and then remembered a bond dream all the way back before Mikaela and I even got married. I'd been stuck in jail thanks to 'Bee, and Optimus had tried to show me a memory that involved him contacting the Ancient Primes. Alpha had said that even the memories of their Creator were alive and that I wasn't strong enough for them or something. "Like that time you tried to show me how to talk to our brothers and I ended up having a one-on-one heart-to-spark with Alpha Prime?"

He nodded.

"But I'm not strong enough. That's what Alpha said. The memories of Primus would consume me or something. You were strong enough because you'd been prepared," I remembered, "but I wasn't."

"And I hope you never will be," he earnestly answered. "That preparation was...not a pleasant experience. But I needed to remember the past to understand the present and to shape the future. Yours is a different quest, even if it takes you on a similar path."

"So what do I do?"

"When I needed instructions on how to operate the Matrix, I went to where I had encountered Primus before. Where have you encountered him?"

"No where, really. I was usually trying to pull you out of the Well of All Sparks or keep you from falling in. And we are not repeating one of your near-death experiences just so I can learn how to do this. If Primus wants me to recharge the All Spark, he's going to have to let me in on the secret without risking your life. Non-negotiable."

"Perhaps we can simulate it on your end. Some forms of human meditation put the body in a very deep state of rest, not unlike stasis."

I huffed. "It takes years to learn that kind of stuff."

"Unless one happens to have a bond-brother who is well-read on Earth's religions," Optimus smugly pointed out. "I am confident that, with a little practice, I could guide you in a deep meditation. Whether Primus will meet you there, however, I can only hope."

"Well, it's better than sticking my unprotected hand into a spark-chamber," I snarked. "Let's try it first."

Author's Endnote: For more about Sam's time in jail (including his experiences with Alpha Prime), see our fic Reunion. For more about Optimus' experiences during the 3 days he was in the Well of the All Sparks (during RotF), see Introductions: Optimus Prime. Thanks for reading!