Cassie's morning was starting the same way it had been for weeks now—an early opening shift at work. She was already feeling the weariness of it all, especially after everything she'd been through with the Autobots and her engagement to Jetfire. The night before, she had texted her GM, telling her that her fiancé was returning from being "deployed," and that once he left again, she'd be leaving her job to go with him. Her boss had been understanding and told her to keep them posted.
As she dragged herself out of bed and got ready for work, Jetfire's familiar voice filled her mind, checking in on her.
"Good morning, sweetspark," Jetfire's deep voice rumbled through their bond. "How are you feeling today?"
Cassie couldn't help but smile despite her exhaustion. "Morning, Jet. Just tired, as usual. You know how it is. I texted my boss last night, told her about you. Said you're coming back from deployment and that once you leave again, I'll be going with you."
There was a slight pause before Jetfire responded, his tone softer this time. "So, you're really preparing yourself to leave Earth, huh? I can feel a lot of mixed emotions in you."
Cassie sighed, leaning against the counter at the store as she waited for her first shift tasks to start. "Yeah, it's a lot to take in. Don't get me wrong, living on Cybertron is like a dream come true, but it's also terrifying. Leaving everything behind... I've never done anything like this before."
Jetfire's concern filtered through their bond. "You don't have to be afraid, Cassie. I'll be with you every step of the way. And when we sparkbond, you'll change, yes, but it'll make everything easier. You'll become a techno-organic, meaning your heart will become a spark, and your body will start adapting to life on Cybertron."
Cassie had to pause and think about that. Becoming a techno-organic wasn't something she'd fully wrapped her head around yet. It sounded... massive. "So... I won't be human anymore?"
"You'll still be you, Cassie," Jetfire assured her. "But you'll be able to do things you couldn't do before, like live on Cybertron without worrying about breathing or surviving in outer space. Your spark will replace your human heart, and over time, you'll start to notice the changes."
The weight of his words hung over her. She had always known their bond was special, that it connected them in ways beyond the physical, but now she was realizing just how profound that connection was. She swallowed hard. "That's... a lot to take in."
"You don't have to decide everything now," Jetfire replied, his voice soothing. "But one thing's for sure—you won't ever be alone. I'll be right there with you, guiding you through it all."
Cassie closed her eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath. She trusted him more than anyone. "I just have to wrap my head around it. It's a big deal, you know? I've lived on Earth my whole life."
"I understand, sweetspark," Jetfire replied, his tone full of affection. "But we have plenty of time to figure it all out together."
Cassie allowed herself a smile, feeling the love radiating from him. "Thanks, Jet. By the way, do you have your own place on Cybertron? I mean... we've never really talked about that."
Jetfire chuckled, the sound vibrating through their connection. "I do have a place. It's nothing like what you'd imagine—certainly not as big as some of the command posts you've seen. But it's comfortable, and it's home."
Cassie's imagination ran wild as she tried to picture what his home looked like. To her, it probably seemed like a palace. "A palace, huh?" she teased.
Jetfire laughed softly. "I wouldn't call it that, but I suppose it could seem that way to you. Once we're back on Cybertron, I'll show you everything."
Her heart raced at the thought of seeing Cybertron with her own eyes, of finally being in the place where Jetfire was born and raised. But it was still daunting to leave everything she knew behind.
"I've been thinking..." Cassie began, her voice thoughtful. "Once I'm there, what exactly am I going to do? I mean, I know I won't have to work like I do here, but I can't just sit around. I have to be doing something."
Jetfire's tone became more serious as he considered her question. "There's always plenty to do on Cybertron. If you want, you could work with me—strategizing, understanding the logistics of the Autobot forces. You've got a sharp mind, and I think you'd enjoy being a part of the operations."
Cassie's eyes lit up at the idea. She'd always admired Jetfire's role as a strategist and commander. "You think I could do that? Help with strategy and logistics?"
"Absolutely," Jetfire replied confidently. "You've already got the instincts for it. Plus, you'll be my partner in all things, and that includes working together on missions. We'd make a great team."
Cassie felt a sense of purpose swell within her. The idea of working side by side with Jetfire, being a part of the Autobot forces in a meaningful way, thrilled her.
"I could also start hacking again," she added after a moment. "I never really talk about it, but I was a pretty good hacker back in the day. I could definitely help in that way too."
Jetfire's voice took on a teasing tone. "A hacker, huh? And here I thought I knew everything about you. You've been holding out on me, sweetspark."
Cassie laughed. "Yeah, I guess I don't brag about it much. But I was pretty good at it. Maybe I can use those skills to help the Autobots in the future."
"I have no doubt you'll be invaluable," Jetfire said, the pride in his voice unmistakable. "You always surprise me, Cassie. There's so much more to you than meets the eye."
Cassie smiled to herself, feeling her connection with Jetfire strengthen with each passing moment. As the day went on and she worked through her shift, the thought of her future on Cybertron became less terrifying and more exciting. She could see it now—her and Jetfire, working together, side by side, as partners in both life and battle.
Later that evening, Cassie received a call from Alexis. Her friend was clearly frustrated, venting about how the boys had forgotten to invite her on a camping trip.
"Can you believe them? They just left me out, like I didn't even exist!" Alexis fumed over the phone.
Cassie chuckled, already planning a way to cheer her friend up. "How about this? When I get off work, you come over to my quarters. We'll have a girls' night, watch a movie, and have a sleepover. Just you and me."
Alexis instantly brightened up. "That sounds perfect. I'm in."
Cassie smiled, relieved to have a plan to unwind after such a long day. As much as she loved Jetfire, she needed time with her friends too.
As the evening settled in, Cassie was back at the Autobot base, preparing for her girls' night with Alexis. She was rummaging through her movies, trying to find something that wasn't too cheesy but still fun. Optimus checked in, making sure everything was set before he turned in for the night.
"You two girls okay for the evening?" Optimus asked, his deep voice carrying a fatherly tone.
Cassie nodded, smiling up at him. "Yeah, we're good. Thanks, Optimus."
Optimus gave her a warm smile before heading off to his quarters, leaving Cassie to finish setting up for the night.
Jetfire checked in on her not long after. "You having fun with your friend, sweetspark?"
Cassie laughed softly. "Yeah, Alexis and I are having a girls' night. It's been a while since we did something like this."
Jetfire's voice softened, filled with affection. "I'm glad you're enjoying yourself. You deserve it, after everything you've been through."
Cassie's heart warmed at his words. Even from lightyears away, he still found a way to make her feel loved.
