I have a poll on my profile page asking a question I really want to have answered. I'm trying to get as many answers as I can, and very few people visit my profile. I've gotten literally one answer in a week, and that's sad. Please answer, and be honest about it.

I only own my OC's!

DARKNESS RISING PART FIVE

Optimus picks me up again the next day. I start reading on the way to the base, telling Optimus about the historical incident the book is written about, knowing the former archivist will enjoy it. After we pull in, I move to the second level and sit in a corner with my book as Miko and Raf run in and start playing some racing game.

Jack climbs off his bike and locks it into a bike rack. He looks up at the KO burger sign and sighs. "Nice bike." Arcee says from behind him. "Arcee, really. Miko already tried. Tell Optimus I respect him big time, but if you're at war with the Decepticons, there's nothing I can do to help."

"Optimus didn't send me, and no one's asking for your help."

"Okay. So if we both agree that I'm not warrior material…"

"Jack, I just lost someone I cared about. Maybe it's the grief talking, maybe you're growing on me. Whatever it is, I'm just not ready to say goodbye."

"Optimus, I've pinpointed the location of Megatron's space bridge. High in Earth's orbit."

Optimus walks over with me on his shoulder. "Out of our reach."

"Okay, so you guys don't fly. Can't you just ground bridge there?"

"The ground bridge has limited range. Stretched all the way into orbit, it's vortex could snap and scatter us to the stars."

That makes me feel pretty anxious for them. "And, that would be bad. For them, and for us."

"Since Megatron is likely already in transit, I'm afraid we must take that risk." Optimus sets me on the platform. "Reaching the space bridge first is our only means of stopping him."

Suddenly we hear a soft horn. Jack pulls in soon after and takes off his helmet. I stand and run to the railing as Miko and Raf run down the stairs. "Hey. Guess who's back." Jack climbs off Arcee so that she could transform. Jack stands in front of Arcee.

I sigh sadly and turn away from the Autobots. They are going to go into space to stop Megatron, and without a secure way of getting there, I am afraid I may never get to see them again.

"Autobots, prepare for departure."

"Where to?"

Miko moves her hands in an arc around her. "The final frontier."

"Space? I thought they didn't have any way to get there."

"They don't, really." Bee sets Raf on the ground.

"Be seeing you?"

Ratchet goes over to the main controls and opens the ground bridge. Bumblebee kneels down in front of Raf.

"Be careful Bee?"

"Don't worry."Bumblebee stands back up, walking over to the portal.

Miko, once again, is pouting. "I'm so jealous!" Miko moves right in front of Bulkhead's over-sized foot.

Bulkhead looks down to her and waves his hands. "Don't even think about following me." He walks over to where the others, save Ratchet, are waiting.

"Optimus, if you leave me stranded on a planet teeming with humans I will never forgive you." Ratchet turns to the prime. His expression is stern and serious.

"Until we meet again, old friend." Optimus activates his face mask. "Autobots, roll out!" They all transform and race through the ground bridge, leaving us with Ratchet.

We climb up the stairs leading to the platform with all the human sized computers. I look up at the screen Ratchet is observing and sees some foreign language, stats and a picture of Optimus Prime.

"Do you think the others will be all right?"

I turn to him and place my hand on his shoulder. "They will be fine, I promise."

The boy smiles and walks over to talk with Jack. Miko looks bored stiff. I sneak over and poke her, and the ultimate poke war begins, some punches getting thrown into the mix as well, all from Miko. It's fun until we hear Optimus's voice, to which we stop.

"It appears the decepticons have sustained serious damage to their interstellar navigation system."

"What?"

Ratchet gives me the 'shut up' look.

"Huh, that's my handy work." Bulkhead mentions.

Miko smiles proudly and I fold my arms.

"Great job Bulkhead, without the dish, Megatron will be unable to aim the spacebridge at Cybertron."

Raf steps forward. "Don't the decepticons know where their own planet is?"

I look towards Ratchet, waiting for an answer. It comes quick. "Naturally, but Cybertron is many light years away, to reach their target their aim must be astronomically precise." I nod my head. Raf seems to get it, but the other two look completely lost.

"If Megatron went to the trouble of rendezvousing with his spacebridge, he must have an alternate targeting system. A remote one."

Ratchet scoffs. "From what I know of Earth's technology I doubt that there would exist a single radio telescope dish on this planet powerful enough to pinpoint Cybertron."

I then notice Raf typing into one of the computers. "What about a whole bunch of linked radio telescope dishes, like the giant size array in Texas."

Ratchet leans over the railing, clearly agitated. "ZI-BUP-BUP-BUP! This is not child's play!" He glares at Raf.

"Good thinking Raf."

I clutch my sides laughing so hard at Ratchet's face. One word: Priceless.

Miko is giggling beside me while the boys are chuckling, Jack shaking his head. Ratchet narrows his eyes at me. 'If looks could kill…' I slowly stop laughing and turn all serious again. "If looks could kill, I'd be dead."

"Ratchet, have Agent Fowler alert the array staff to the security hazard."

Ratchet is about to speak when said person sits up. We all turn to him. "YOU, SOLDIER, YOURE OUT OF UNIFORM! PUT ON SOME PANTS!" Agent Fowler says. And with that, he passes back out. We all exchange wierded out looks.

"That may be a challenge." Ratchet replies.

Raf then starts typing into the computer, trying to figure something out. "I can't get past the arrays firewalls, they're too thick." He slams his fists onto the desk.

Ratchet raises his metal eyebrow. "You actually think you can keep the decepticons out?"

Miko puts her hands onto her hips and decides to voice her thoughts. "Well, if he can outsmart a super advanced alien species, I'm pretty sure he will be able to help keep the decepticons away."

Ratchet glances at her, and then turns back to Raf. "Maybe, if I could get in."

Jack has his idea face on as he steps forward. "Wait wait wait, Raf, what if we could get you, all the way in, like, inside the building in." He places a comforting hand on his shoulder.

"I could log into the internal network on the other side of the firewall." All attention goes back to him, including mine.

"The risk is too great, the decepticons will be there, perhaps even on site."

I don't want to go. "Optimus, with all due respect, you said it yourself, this is bigger than just the safety of four humans."

Miko looks shocked, but agrees never-the-less.

"Yeah! If we let the 'cons win, we're fragged, along with everyone else on our planet."

"It is. It's not just our safety, It's not just the world's safety. The world is out of balance as-is because the last avatar to succeed at his duties was Avatar Aang. There is a Cybertronian-sized threat to the balance of this world, and it's our duty to fix it."

Optimus is silent for a moment. "Raf?"

We all turn to the boy, who is considering the options. "I wanna give it a shot." Raf looks up. They start for the ground bridge.

"If it's okay, I think I'd prefer to stay here…"

"You need to go with them. If they run into trouble, you are the avatar. You alone have the ability to protect them."

"Touché."

We all walk towards the ground bridge as Ratchet types in the coordinates. Once done he pulls the lever and the familiar green portal opens up. He looks down to us sternly. "Be careful, there could possibly be many security officers on base."

We all nod.

As we jump out the other side, we all try to keep our balance as we hold our heads, groaning. "That'll take some getting used to."

We all look up at the building and the many massive satellites. "Woah."

After a moment of gazing, we all run towards the building, me lagging behind. I shake my head and catch up with them.

Jack signals for us to wait where we are while he opens the door slowly. He peeks in. "Clear."

We all slip in.

The other three are currently opening every door, searching for the computer room. Raf eventually finds it and we pile in, the boy typing access codes into the computer while the rest of us watch in interest.

Miko goes to check for any guards. All she does is poke her head around the door before bringing it back and closing the door. "Security sure is lax in this place."

The computer suddenly makes an odd noise.

"I'm in!" Raf furrows his eyebrows. "And so are the decepticons." He starts to type stuff I can't understand on the keyboard again. We all gasp lightly and lean closer to get a better look.

"What?" Jack's eyes widen.

"How can you tell?"

Raf doesn't take his eyes off of the screen as he replies. "Schematics, with the same alien math we saw on their ship." He turns to us, smirking. "But this time, I can download it."

I suddenly realize that he is holding a memory stick in his left hand when he plugs it in and continues to type.

"It's gotta be the space bridge."

All of the sudden I feel confusion sweep over my body.

"The decepticons are syncing it to their dishes, but I can sync to them."

Jack places a hand on the back of Raf's chair. "Will they know?"

Raf just waves him off. "Even if the decepticons see that I'm in the system, they will have no idea I'm in the house!"

'Tricking the decepticons. How fun.' There was then a few moments of uncomfortable silence.

"They're locked onto Cybertron, but not for long."

Miko and Jack exchange looks but all of the sudden the computer screen was showing us the satellites moving! I gape and so do Jack and Miko. "How did you do that?"

"Years of practice."

I look up and noticed a security camera in the corner of the room, and the light was flashing red. I gulp and tap Jack before pointing to it. "Scrap!" The others look to Jack, confused. Jack simply points to the bleeping camera and the others look worried for about half a second.

"Just because the cameras are on, doesn't mean anyone is on site right now."

I just nod, but I have a strange feeling that something is about to go terribly wrong. "Guys, I have a bad feeling about this."

Raf turns to Miko. "The dishes are heading back towards Cybertron! I'll just undo that again."

Jack leans closer to the boy. "What happens when the 'cons realize they're being punked?"

Jack and his many questions. I'm sure it will kill someone someday. "Curiosity killed the cat, Jack."

"It's only virtual combat, you know, like online gaming."

"Yeah Jack, what are the 'cons gonna do, they're probably, like, a thousand miles away."

"Or, right next door." I nervously point to a tentacle.

The three of us are being flung around in the air, Raf typing into the computer at a rapid pace. We are then thrown against a wall and land in a heap.

I hit my head and soon feel blood oozing down the side of her face. "Jack, waterbenders are known to be great healers. Have you learned—are you able—"

Jack doesn't answer but pulls the water out of the air and covers his hand before using it to heal the cut on my head.

I look up just in time to see Raf leap off of the computer desk, the computer itself being destroyed by the robot tentacle that is in the middle of attacking us.

Miko grabs the nearest thing to her, which happens to be an axe, and swings it at the menace, only to be knocked back while the tentacle picks it up.

My eyes widen in fear as Jack glares at her. "You handed it an axe?"

Raf gulps. "Not good."

I stand in front of them and take a fighting stance, causing Miko to stare at me in shock. "You're going to face an axe-wielding tentacle?"

The tentacle swings at us as I shield them, but it suddenly pulls back and disappears from sight. We all run out the door to catch up with it.

We run for a little bit when we come up to double doors. We take a chance and fling the door open, and see a decepticon standing on the roof of the open building. He turns to us and I notice that his face was like a monitor. Miko gets her phone out and takes a picture of him. He looks at us briefly before flying off. "Why's he leaving?"

Raf then run over to a large, thick wire which is chopped in half, the axe still in place. He kneels down to it. "He's cut the hard-line. The dishes are locked onto Cybertron." He turns to us sadly. "For good."

I frown and look down, knowing that we had failed. Miko calls Ratchet for pick up. Sure enough the familiar portal opens up and we all jump inside, soon finding ourselves back at the Autobot base.

The four of us decide to play truth or dare. We are all sitting in a circle on the platform where the computers are placed. I decide to start. "Miko, truth or dare?"

"Dare!" She replies instantly. I smirk and put on an evil look. "I dare you to run around for 10 seconds screaming 'I'm mentally retarded!'"

After 'careful' consideration she stands up and starts dashing around the platform. "I'M MENTALLY RETARDED! I'M MENTALLY RETARDED! I'M MENTALLY RETA-" Miko yells over and over for ten seconds. Jack, Raf, and I are laughing our butts off at her and Ratchet looks slightly scared and wierded-out, which just makes it even funnier. Miko comes back panting. "Done…Jack…truth…or…dare?"

"Truth."

Miko pouts at him. "Spoilsport. Anyways, what's the stupidest thing you've ever done BEFORE we met the Autobots."

Jack has his thinking face on and after a few seconds his face lights up. "Oh, I have one. When I was younger, Mom and I lived in a two story house, and one day, I thought that I could fly so I jumped out of my bedroom window on the 2nd floor."

I turn back to Jack, laughing. "Only airbenders can fly, fool."

Jack grins and shrugs. Miko is snickering and Raf's jaw drops. "Were you hurt?"

"No, luckily there was a trampoline directly underneath my window."

Raf nods.

"Anyways, moving on!"

Jack turns to Raf. "Raf, truth or dare?"

"Dare." The boy says after a moment or two.

"Okay. I dare you to… kiss Miko on the cheek!"

Miko and Raf look disgusted and I snicker. "I'd rather not."

Jack tutts. "Either kiss her on the cheek or kiss her on the lips!"

The two eyes widen as they both yell "THE FIRST ONE!"

I have to cover my ears from the sheer loudness while Jack simply shakes his head as I lean to him. "I thought only airbenders could yell that loud."

Raf then leans closer to Miko and gives her a quick peck on the cheek. He pulls back and they both blush, but try to hide it. I collapse in a fit of giggles and Miko hits me on the arm to make me stop. I narrow my eyes at her.

Raf then turns to me. "Okay, then. Sheyenne, truth or dare?"

I hum as I thinks about this. "Truth."

"All right then. Who do you hate the most?"

I raise my eyebrow at him. 'Such a random question.'

"Sozin. I'd know the fate of my nation today if he hadn't killed everyone but Aang."

Our game splits up after that. Jack goes to the training room, Miko and Raf start playing a racing game, and I pull out my book.

"Optimus, I'm registering a rapidly expanding mass in their space bridge vortex! One with a peculiar energy signature."

I look up from my book on the couch and see Ratchet and the others, including Agent Fowler, staring up at one of the green computer screens. All I can make out is a circle with loads of purple dots surrounding it from the sides down. "Dark energon. Ratchet, we must destroy the space bridge!" Ratchet tilts his head down slightly. He looks almost sad, which makes me feel sorry for him, even if I don't know why he is sad in the first place. "There is enough live energon coursing through it to achieve detonation, but we lack the firepower to ignite it."

"If I knew how the space bridge was engineered then I might find a technical way of accomplishing that feat."

I turn my gaze to Raf, who is already holding out the memory stick. "Um, would schematics help?" Raf rushes up to the railing. Poor boy is smaller than the railings as well.

Ratchet looks kind of put out that we now had found a way of making the space bridge go boom. He hesitantly looks back up. "Optimus I must say, the space bridge is our soul hope of ever returning to Cybertron, are you certain its destruction is the only option." His words sting like a bee.

Jack, Miko and Raf look slightly upset as well, and I can't imagine being without Optimus without tears coming to my eyes. 'True, it is his home planet after all, but we are not that bad. He must really hate us. Then again, Aang lost all his people, and Sokka's father left to fight in the war, and Katara's mother died… and Zuko's mother got banished.'

"I am afraid so." Optimus also sounds kind of sad. What

Ratchet says next actually surprises me. "Then by all means, let us light our darkest hour!" He lifts his head up.

Miko jumps in the air, whooping and punching her fist up. Everyone laughs and I could have sworn Ratchet smirked. I start giggling.

Raf walks on over to the computer to pull up the plans for the space bridge. Jack is observing close by and Miko is annoying the heck out of Fowler, who is groaning and covering his ears. It is rather amusing to watch.

I turn to the screen. "We won't live for much longer if those zombies get through."

Agent Fowler is now examining the screen. "These things are getting closer. That's bad, right?" Fowler turns to Ratchet, his thumb pointing to the diagram.

Sure enough, there are more purple dots surrounding the circle, some even above it. He never gets his answer since Arcee comms in.

"Ratchet we're in position."

"Arcee, pay close attention." Ratchet is now observing the many diagrams that Raf has put up of the space bridge and the parts of it. All in all it looks extremely confusing. "-now follow the line from the flow regulator to the energon pump, there should be a valve."

"I see it."

"Good. To turn all that power against itself, all you need do is reverse the current."

Arcee sounds like she is struggling for a little bit. "Current reversed."

"YES!" Fowler briefly punches his fist in the air before pulling it back down. The three all back away slightly. "Right?" Fowler then asks.

I face-book.

"I'll ready the ground bridge." Ratchet walks off. I'm pretty sure that wasn't the only reason to get away from where he had been standing. Agent Fowler can creep anyone out without even trying. Soon enough the portal was once again open. "Optimus, the ground bridge is ready and waiting."

We all walk up to the edge of the railing, anxiously waiting for them to return. The atmosphere is so tense you could cut through it with a knife. I suddenly climb down the stairs and duck into the first berth room, not really caring whose it is, all the while fighting back tears and the avatar state.

Raf gulps as he attempts to ask a question. "Do you, think they're-"

Ratchet opens up a part of his lower arm and looks at it. "Four life signals. One very faint."

Jack, Miko and Raf all start to worry about their guardians. Who was hurt? They all look up to see Optimus jump through the portal. I pull myself together and sneak to the doorway.

Miko brightens up when Bulkhead comes through next. "Bulkhead!" She runs down the stairs, the other three following. She races over to him and hugs his hand. It is very heartwarming.

Jack's face falls and he glances over to see Bumblebee running through with Arcee in his arms. Once he stops the yellow Autobot looks down to her and her arm, hand limp, near the floor. Jack jogs over and sadly stares at her face. Arcee's eyes are closed and she looks peaceful.

Miko gently places a hand on his shoulder and Raf stands on the other side of him. I walk up behind him and lay a hand on his other shoulder. The rest of the Autobots just look on and Ratchet then walks a little closer.

"We lost one this week by the All Spark don't let it be two." To our shock he actually sounds worried, but now is not the time to dwell on that.

Jack takes a step forward and places his right hand onto Arcee's palm. She then slowly opens her eyes. "Arcee."

I am once again fighting back tears.

"Jack, really? There are other motorcycles in the world."

Miko snickers at that. Arcee briefly turns her head to us and grins before focusing back on Jack. "But, you're my first."

I press the back of my hand up to my mouth.

"And Megatron?"

"Not even he could have survived ground zero." I now look up to Ratchet and Optimus and smile.

'Good riddance.'

"PRIME!" Agent Fowler suddenly yells, catching all of our attention. "I didn't get to thank you Autobots for the save," Fowler starts working to sort his tie out. "I owe you one." He steps into the elevator and turns around. "We all do." The door then shuts.

We turn back to Arcee, who is now standing up and smiling down at us, mainly Jack. Miko has her thinking face on for a split second before walking over to where Optimus is standing.

I stand by the doorway leading to their berth rooms as Jack, Miko, and Raf reunite with their guardians. "So, is this the part where you say goodbye and tell us we need to forget we ever saw you?"

"So I guess this means goodbye."

"Without a means of leaving this world, I do not see why you must. We take strength in the bonds we have formed with the four of you. You are true warriors, if not in body, then in spirit."

I smile widely as I run over from my place leaning against the wall and wrap my arms gratefully around the prime's leg. Miko squeals and starts jumping around. Raf grins like a madman. Jack chuckles and walks over to where Miko is.

As the other three humans leave for their homes, Jack hitching a ride in Ratchet so Arcee can rest after almost being killed by the explosion, Optimus stoops down to my level. "Are you ready to return to your family?" I nod gently, and the bot transforms.

"What is your family like?" Optimus asks as we pull out.

I smile sadly. "Mom and Dad are air acolytes—but Dad was descended from Aang. There was just too much earth in the Air Nomad culture now for all Air Nomads to be benders. Mom is all Earth Kingdom, and hates to travel. I had a brother, but he was kidnapped by firebenders when I was seven. His name was Gyatso. Last I saw of him, he was three. But even when I was little, I felt like something was missing…like a part of me was missing."

Optimus is silent as my news sinks in. "I never realized humans could have so much in common with our race."

I quickly change the subject. "I actually feel like a normal kid at the base. Thank you."

"We may not have chosen to be of Earth, but since we are here to stay, I want you to know this: We will defend ourselves. We will defend humanity. We will defend our home."

"Then as the avatar of this world, I grant you asylum on my planet. My past life and Ancestor would have, and I believe that I should as well."