The early morning fog clung to the streets as Cassie trudged her way to work. Another opening shift. Another long day. She was beyond exhausted, her body still aching from her recent injuries, but she knew she had bills to pay. That thought kept her going, though it didn't make the day any easier.
As she reached the store, Jetfire's familiar voice echoed through their bond, wrapping her in a warm sense of comfort. "Cassie, are you feeling alright?" His voice was soft, but there was a hint of concern laced in his tone.
Cassie sighed, pausing for a moment before responding. "I'm fine, Jetfire. Just... tired. My injuries are healing, but it's slow going. I don't know if it's because I've been working so much or if it's just... taking longer than expected."
"It's because you're overworking yourself, Cassie," Jetfire gently scolded her, his tone firmer now. "You need to rest. Your body can't heal if you keep pushing it like this."
Cassie knew he was right, but it wasn't as simple as just stopping. She had rent to pay, groceries to buy, and bills that wouldn't wait. But maybe she didn't have to keep working herself to the bone. "Actually, I wanted to tell you something. Optimus approved me moving into the Autobot base. The rent on my apartment was just too much, and this way, I can save some money. Plus, it'll be nice to be closer to everyone."
There was a brief pause before Jetfire responded, his voice softening. "That's a smart move, sweetspark. You shouldn't have to worry about things like rent. And when we finally become sparkmates, you won't have to work anymore at all when we go back to Cybertron."
Cassie blinked, her steps faltering slightly as his words sank in. "Wait... what do you mean I won't have to work anymore? And... going back to Cybertron? I can't even breathe in space, Jetfire."
Jetfire's voice was calm, but there was a sense of gravity in his explanation. "That's because when we sparkbond, you'll become a techno-organic. Your human heart will slowly transform into a spark, and your body will adapt. You'll be able to survive in space, just like me."
Cassie's heart raced, and she found herself stopping in her tracks. The idea of her heart turning into a spark, of becoming something entirely different... it terrified her. She hadn't expected this level of transformation, and the thought of it made her feel small, vulnerable.
"I... I didn't realize that would happen," she said quietly, her voice trembling slightly. "Jetfire, that sounds... terrifying."
Jetfire's presence in her mind grew warmer, more reassuring. "I know it sounds scary, Cassie, but I promise you, it's nothing to fear. It will happen gradually, and you'll still be you. You won't lose who you are. You'll just be able to live by my side, no matter where we go."
Cassie took a deep breath, trying to calm the storm of emotions swirling inside her. She trusted Jetfire with all her heart, but the thought of changing in such a profound way... it was overwhelming. "I trust you, Jetfire. I do. It's just... a lot to take in."
"I understand," Jetfire replied softly. "And we don't have to rush into anything. When you're ready, we'll take that step. But until then, you can always talk to me about anything, alright?"
Cassie smiled faintly, her heart warming at his words. "Thank you, Jetfire. You always know how to make me feel better."
"That's because I care about you, sweetspark," he replied, his tone full of affection. "And I'll always be here for you."
Back at the Autobot base, Carlos sat down with a drink of milk, chatting with Rad and Alexis about Hot Shot's training with Scavenger. The kids were curious to see how Hot Shot was progressing under his new mentor. They rushed off to find him, leaving their half-eaten breakfast behind.
When they reached the training area, they were met with the sound of heavy snoring. Scavenger was fast asleep, much to their surprise. Alexis joked that Carlos would fit right in, given his love of naps. Meanwhile, Hot Shot was in the midst of intense training, his punches and kicks slicing through the air with determination.
The kids watched from a distance, but Carlos couldn't help but voice his concerns. "Are we sure we can trust Scavenger? I mean, he was with the Decepticons for a long time."
Rad frowned, also feeling a bit uncertain. "I don't know. Optimus trusts him, so maybe we should too. But it's still hard to forget where he came from."
The kids' conversation was interrupted as the alarms blared through the base, signaling the detection of another Mini-Con. The Autobots rushed to action, heading toward a snowy battlefield, where the Decepticons were already waiting.
The battle unfolded quickly, with both sides clashing head-on. Scavenger completely outmaneuvered Cyclonus, taking him down with ease. But then, as the fight intensified, Scavenger suddenly disappeared, leaving Hot Shot to fend for himself.
Optimus and Megatron moved closer to a deep gorge, the battle between them fierce and unrelenting. Just as Megatron seemed poised to finish Optimus off, Scavenger reappeared, leaping across the chasm and saving Optimus from what could have been a fatal blow.
The kids watched in awe as Scavenger's loyalty to Optimus became clear. Red Alert explained that the trust between Scavenger and Optimus had been built long ago on Cybertron, a bond forged through years of fighting side by side.
After another grueling opening shift, Cassie finally returned to the Autobot base, her body still aching from her barely healed injuries. She was greeted by the usual calm atmosphere of the base, something she had grown to appreciate more and more since moving in. She'd been exhausted, but living here had definitely saved her money and stress.
Jetfire contacted her almost immediately after she arrived. His voice filled the air through their bond, gentle yet carrying a hint of concern.
"Cassie, you know you don't have to keep working yourself so hard. Why do you keep doing this to yourself?"
Cassie plopped down on her bed and sighed. She loved hearing Jetfire's voice, but she knew where this conversation was headed. "I know, Jetfire. But I need to keep busy. I can't just sit around and do nothing all day. I've always been like this—constantly needing to do something, to keep moving."
Jetfire's voice softened, a bit amused but still serious. "I get that, but you don't have to hurt yourself in the process. You're living here now, and when we finally sparkbond, you won't have to work a day again. I'll take care of everything. But until then, you could help out around the base."
Cassie's brow furrowed slightly, intrigued but also a bit defensive. "What do you mean, help out? I don't know the first thing about what you all do."
"There are plenty of things you could do, Cassie." Jetfire's voice became more encouraging now. "You could assist Red Alert with technical repairs, or help Optimus with logistics and battle planning. Even helping Hot Shot train wouldn't be a bad idea. You're more resourceful than you think, and we could use someone with your mind around here."
Cassie paused, considering his words. There were a lot of things she hadn't thought about when it came to helping out at the base. Her job had always been her priority, but now that she was living among Autobots, maybe there was more she could contribute.
A small grin tugged at her lips as a thought crossed her mind. "You know... I do have a hidden talent I've never really bragged about."
Jetfire's curiosity piqued instantly. "Oh? And what might that be?"
Cassie leaned back against the pillows, her grin widening. "I'm an excellent hacker."
There was a moment of silence on the other end, and Cassie could practically feel Jetfire's surprise. "Wait... you're serious?"
She nodded, even though he couldn't see her. "Yeah. I don't talk about it much because it's not exactly something to brag about, but I've been good with computers since I was a kid. I've hacked into some pretty secure systems before."
"Cassie, that's…" Jetfire trailed off, and she could feel him processing what she'd said. "That's actually incredibly useful. Why didn't you mention this earlier?"
Cassie chuckled, a bit shy now. "I don't know. I guess I didn't think it was relevant. Plus, I didn't want you guys to think I was some kind of cybercriminal or something."
Jetfire laughed, his amusement radiating through their bond. "You're far from a criminal, Cassie. In fact, with your skills, you could help us take down the Decepticons' systems from the inside. Optimus would definitely want to know about this."
Cassie's smile faltered slightly. "You think so? I mean, I've never really done anything that intense. Just small stuff."
"You underestimate yourself, sweetspark." Jetfire's tone was serious now. "You have the potential to be a huge asset to the team. We're constantly dealing with cyber warfare, especially with the Decepticons. If you could disrupt their communications or disable their defenses from the inside... well, that could change the tide of a lot of battles."
Cassie sat up, her heart racing slightly. The idea of using her hacking skills to help the Autobots was exciting, but also nerve-wracking. She hadn't thought of herself as someone who could play a key role in their missions, but now that Jetfire was laying it out like this, it seemed like a real possibility.
"I'll think about it," she said after a moment, her voice more subdued. "It's... a lot to take in."
"Take your time," Jetfire reassured her. "But know that whatever you decide, I'm behind you one hundred percent."
Cassie smiled softly, the warmth of his words wrapping around her like a comforting embrace. "Thanks, Jetfire. That means a lot."
The two of them lapsed into a comfortable silence for a while, their bond strong and steady. Cassie could feel the depth of his affection for her, and it made her heart swell. Even though they were light-years apart, she could feel him with her, supporting her, loving her.
And now, with the prospect of using her hidden talents to help the Autobots, Cassie felt a new sense of purpose growing within her. Maybe, just maybe, she could make a real difference in this war.
But first, she had to get some sleep. Tomorrow was going to be another long day.
As she drifted off to sleep, she knew one thing for sure—whatever the future held, she wasn't facing it alone. Jetfire was with her, always. And that made all the difference.
