Grawl's optics flickered as she slowly regained consciousness, her systems struggling to reboot after the prolonged shutdown. She blinked a few times, her vision coming into focus as she realized she was suspended in a cylindrical glass tube filled with coolant. The liquid around her glowed softly, maintaining a low temperature to prevent the dark energon from spreading further within her systems.
"Father... why am I here?" Her voice, though weak, echoed within the tube.
Optimus stood beside her, his expression a mix of relief and sorrow. "Grawl, you were injured, and we had to take precautions. The shard of dark energon that struck you—it's dangerous, especially for Autobots. We needed to ensure you were stable."
Grawl's face fell as she processed the information. "But I'm not just an Autobot, am I?" Her voice quivered with a mix of fear and confusion. "I... I have Decepticon blood. That's why I'm still alive."
Optimus nodded slowly, his spark aching at the sight of her distress. "Yes, Grawl. You have a part of Zephyronyx in you, and she was a Decepticon. It's because of that heritage that you survived the attack. But it also means that the dark energon poses a risk—a risk that we've never encountered before."
Tears welled up in Grawl's optics, mixing with the coolant around her. "Does that mean... I'm going to become like them? Am I going to turn evil?"
Optimus reached out, pressing a hand gently against the glass. "No, Grawl. You are not defined by your origins. You have a choice—a choice to be who you want to be. Your spark is strong, and I believe in you."
Grawl's voice trembled. "But what if I can't control it? What if I hurt you, or the others?"
Optimus shook his head, his voice filled with conviction. "You are my daughter, and I will do everything in my power to protect you. We will find a way to help you, no matter what it takes. You are not alone in this, Grawl. We're all here for you."
The room was silent, the weight of the situation pressing down on everyone present. Grawl looked around at the faces of the Autobots who had become her family. Their expressions mirrored the concern in her father's optics, but beneath that, she saw something more—trust, hope, and a steadfast belief in her.
"Now," Optimus continued, his tone softening, "can you tell me what happened on that cliff? Who did this to you?"
Grawl hesitated, the memory of the encounter still fresh in her mind. "I'm sorry, Father. I hated being trapped inside, so I started sneaking out... And then, I met a big, mean robot. He kept talking about being the second-in-command of the Decepticons, saying how Autobots would face his wrath or whatever. I got scared and lied, told him I was a Decepticon, hoping he wouldn't hurt me. But then he said, 'Oh yeah? Then this will make you stronger,' and that's when everything went dark."
Optimus frowned, his mind racing to piece together the identity of the Decepticon that had attacked his daughter. "So they don't know you're my daughter?" he asked, his voice laced with concern.
Grawl shook her head. "No, sir."
Optimus sighed, relief mingling with the tension that still gripped him. "That's good. It means we still have time to figure this out."
With that, Optimus turned to leave the room, his mind already formulating a plan. But before he could step out, a loud crash echoed through the base, followed by the sounds of metal clashing and voices shouting in alarm.
"WOAH WOAH WOAH!" Jazz's voice rang out, a mix of shock and confusion.
Optimus spun around, his optics widening in horror. The glass tube that had contained Grawl was shattered, the coolant spilling out onto the floor. In the center of the room stood Grawl, but she was no longer the same.
Her once soft and colorful armor had turned jet black, with glowing red outlines tracing her frame. Her optics blazed with a menacing red glow, and her claws and tail had grown sharper, more lethal. She looked like a predator, ready to strike at any moment.
"Grawl, stop!" Optimus shouted, his voice filled with both authority and desperation.
But Grawl didn't respond. Her optics were locked onto Ratchet, who stood frozen in place, unsure of how to proceed. Slowly, she began to move towards him, her movements predatory and deliberate.
Ratchet raised his hands in a placating gesture. "Now, now, let's calm down. I'm just here to help you."
But Grawl didn't stop. She dropped to all fours, her tail flicking in agitation like a lizard about to pounce. She let out a low, mechanical growl, her optics narrowing as she prepared to strike.
In a blur of motion, Optimus lunged forward, grabbing Grawl's arms and lifting her off the ground, her feet dangling as she struggled against his grip. Jazz quickly grabbed her tail, trying to keep her from thrashing about.
Grawl shrieked, her teeth bared as she snapped at Optimus, but he held her firmly, keeping her just out of reach. "Grawl, listen to me! You're safe! You're with family!"
But Grawl's eyes showed no recognition, only the primal instincts of a cornered animal. Desperate to calm her, Ratchet hurriedly prepared a sedative and injected it into her arm. Slowly, Grawl's struggles began to subside, her body going limp as the color drained from her armor, returning to its original hue.
Optimus held her close, his spark heavy with the realization that the battle for his daughter's soul had only just begun.