Chapter Eleven: Tomb of the Primes

The building—a tourist centre currently under refurbishment—at the base of one of the three pyramids of Giza was the best place they could find to act as their temporary refuge for the night. With a bit of work from Frenzy to ensure the alarm didn't go off, Zelda picked the lock to allow them inside.

It was dark, and the little light came from the moon outside. Turning the lights on wasn't a risk they wanted to court, so they remained off as the four set up a little refuse in one of the hallways with a few benches. However, within the shop, there were snack aisles partly stocked, and the building had visitor toilets with running water to freshen up.

The mere idea of eating after everything that happened in the last forty-odd hours was nauseating to Zelda, but she stuffed a breakfast bar down her throat because she knew the others were beginning to worry, and Zelda had made a promise to Sunstreaker about trying.

They might not be seeing eye to eye at the moment, but Zelda wasn't going to break that promise. Sunstreaker and Sideswipe were only worried, rightfully so, and they were done holding their glossa about how terrible she looked, despite how much she wanted them to continue saying nothing. It was a miracle neither had reported her to Ratchet yet. Or maybe they had now. The thought made Zelda grimace. Ratchet was going to be utterly unimpressed. If Zelda survived this, she would totally be getting grounded.

While Simmons, Leo, and Mikaela used the public bathrooms to freshen up, Zelda slipped into the disabled facility and locked the door behind her. She removed the jacket that Simmons had lent her and pulled her shirt off over her head. It hurt; her muscles and bones were protesting.

As Zelda gazed at her chest, the sight made her stomach churn, and she felt as if she might vomit. The warping had not been kind to her. The skin above her heart had become discoloured, appearing like a fresh bruise in sickly shades of purple and splotchy patterns.

Each breath spasmed her lungs, threatening to send Zelda into a winded state. It became easier the longer it went on, but Zelda knew that at the rate her body was degenerating, this was the least of her problems. With trembling fingers, Zelda pressed down on the discoloured flesh and almost gagged at the give—her flesh was too soft and pliable beneath the bruised area.

Swallowing down the bile that rose, Zelda sat on the toilet lid, desperately willing her stomach to settle.

"Shit," she hissed, saliva building up in her mouth.

Heat flushed through her. It was ironic. The only time Zelda was warm was when she was about to throw up, and there was no stopping it. Zelda rose unsteadily back to her feet, urgently lifting the toilet lid with trembling hands. As a wave of nausea surged through her, her abdomen tightened uncontrollably, and she leaned over the bowl. She barely managed to sweep her hair back, the strands slipping through her fingers as she heaved violently, expelling what little content she had in her stomach. The force of her retching echoed in the quiet bathroom, each spasm overwhelming her senses and filling the air with a bitter tang.

There went the breakfast bar.

She groaned with discontent, crouching on shaking knees as she grasped the edge of the toilet bowl. Each breath made her dizzy, and the force of her vomiting pulsed painfully behind her eyes.

"Zelda?" Frenzy said from outside. Zelda just gave another groan of misery. "Think you can unlock the door?"

A moment passed as Zelda mustered the strength to rise. She stumbled toward the door, where the lock clicked open. Sagging against the wall, she watched as Frenzy entered, looking down at her.

"You look like slag."

"Thanks," she said dryly.

"It's getting worse?" he questioned in shock, pushing into the bathroom the moment he spotted the discolouration on her chest. "Frag."

"I'm positive it was already too late by the time we even spoke about it," Zelda explained and stumbled her way back to the toilet. Thankfully, her stomach had settled now, and she closed the lid, flushing the vomit. "Pretty sure it was bringing you back that did it."

Zelda ignored the burst of guilt from his side of the bond and instead sat down on the toilet lid. "The only reason it's probably not hurting is from the painkillers," Zelda noted aloud and rubbed her face in frustration.

"You gotta tell the Autobots," Frenzy said, crossing his arms. "This is more than just…something you can keep a secret."

Zelda looked down at the floor tiles and let out a sigh of defeat. "Okay."

Zelda sat on one of the benches that lined the middle of the hallway in the tourist centre. It was silent and dark, but isolated, just what Zelda wanted for this talk.

"So, are you gonna explain what you wanted to talk about?" Sideswipe asked. He sat on the opposite side of the bench beside her, upper half twisted to face her while Sunstreaker was in the middle, legs bent with his arms crossed over them.

Zelda broke her gaze from the window that let her see the pyramid's base, dropping them to her knees as her finger tapped a nonsensical rhythm on her thigh. "Promise me you won't interrupt?"

"I'm not promising that," Sunstreaker retorted immediately. Zelda could feel his gaze burning into the side of her face—she didn't need to meet his eyes to know he wanted answers on the bullshit he had called her out on this morning.

("You're not telling us something, Zelda, now spill," Sunstreaker demanded.

"It's nothing to worry about," Zelda tried to argue, but her words sounded weak to her ears.

"Nothing my aft," Sunstreaker hissed. He spared a glance over his shoulder toward the others before glaring down at her.

"I'm just tired and exhausted, I'm in pain, Sunny," Zelda sighed. "Nothing else to it."

"Don't take me for an idiot."

"Sunny, back off!" Sideswipe hissed, placing a hand on Sunstreaker's shoulder.

"You're not telling us something, Zelda, and I know for a fact that stupid minicon knows," Sunstreaker snapped.

"It's nothing," Zelda grit out, whirling on her feet and walking away.

"Zelda," Sideswipe called after her and Zelda paused, looking back. "I know this is all—slag, but Zelda, we know something's wrong and pretending it doesn't existing isn't going to make it go away."

Zelda just turned and continued walking.)

"Sunny," Sideswipe warned, throwing a glare his brother's way.

"I'm not," Sunstreaker said, putting his foot down. "And Zelda's going to tell us exactly what is going on."

Sideswipe sighed, rubbing his face.

"It's fine. You guys deserve the truth," Zelda acknowledged. "So, we've long established how stubborn I am, right?"

The twins shared an uneasy glance, and Zelda knew they immediately didn't like where she was going with this.

"…Go on," Sunstreaker encouraged slowly.

"When…when Megatron terminated Optimus…I did something…foolish. Although to be fair, I didn't know what I was doing at the time. It was—I was scared and just did it instinctively!" Zelda rambled a little, trying to defend her actions.

"Hey, easy," Sideswipe scooted even closer, taking her fidgeting hand in his own.

"So…I may have…inadvertently pulled on the tether to the point I began housing his spark."

Sunstreaker lurched forward, and Zelda yelped, trying to scramble back as he grabbed her shoulders. "Are you still—"

"No!"

"Sunny!"

"—You stupid bitch!" Sunstreaker snarled, yanking Zelda close. She flailed out of instinct, batting against Sunstreaker.

"Sunny, stop!" Sideswipe was there, trying to get between them. Sideswipe threw his arm around his brother's shoulders and twisted. Unfortunately, Sunstreaker didn't release Zelda, so all three crashed onto the marble floor.

Zelda let out a sharp hiss, her face contorting in pain as she collided with the marble. In the midst of the chaos, Sunstreaker finally released his grip, and the atmosphere shifted as the twins engaged in their brawl. Sideswipe wrestled to pin Sunstreaker down while Sunstreaker fought to free himself from his brother's grasp, pushing with all his might to regain the upper hand.

"Get off!" Sunstreaker demanded.

"Then calm the frag down!" Sideswipe snapped back.

Zelda found herself half-reclining on the floor, her eyes wide with disbelief as she watched the two refuse to yield to one another. The air was thick with tension, and neither twin were showing any signs of backing down. Until now, she had only witnessed their playful tussles, filled with roughhousing and laughter, but this was different—this was…

Panic surged through her as she scrambled upright, her breath quickening. In a frantic motion, she scrambled away, jerking as the corner of the bench jabbed painfully into her ribs. For a brief moment, the intensity of the violence between the two consumed Zelda. All she could see was the arena that MECH had forced her to fight in. She felt the heat of the spotlights above and heard the loud, taunting cheers echoing in her ears.

"What the frag is happening?!" Wheelie demanded, rounding a corner with Bumblebee's holoform. Frenzy arrived just moments after, scrambling to a stop.

Sunstreaker and Sideswipe froze in place, yet both maintained their glares. Neither were willing to concede.

"Zel," Bumblebee said softly, bringing all attention to Zelda. She snapped her head around to look at him, her eyes wide. "You're shaking."

Shaking?

Zelda gazed down at her hands, a strange numbness settling over her like a heavy fog. She noticed, with a growing sense of unease, that they were trembling slightly, a subtle but unmistakable sign of her anxiety. Oh.

"Zelda," Sideswipe began just as softly, but Zelda scrambled to her unsteady feet.

"No," she replied tersely, her voice barely above a whisper. With urgency in her step, she hurried down the dimly lit hallway, her heart racing and her mind a whirlwind.

"Good job, fraggers," Frenzy's sneering voice echoed down the hallway.

Zelda turned a deaf ear to the escalating argument that erupted behind her, trying to drown out the heated words. She felt the weight of the memories pressing down on her, a sensation that twisted like a knot in her stomach. It was impossible to focus, especially as the edges of her vision began to blur and melt into an unsettling haze. The familiar voice echoing in her ears sent a shiver down her spine.

Silas was gone, six feet deep, yet his presence lingered like a dark stain, always finding a way to terrorise her from beyond the grave as if one last fuck you to Zelda.

Although, if she pulled through this literal nightmare of their sun being harvested, Zelda was sure Dr Cromwell would undoubtedly be receiving the paycheck of his life. Albeit, that would imply Zelda survived this shit show, of course.

Zelda sat against the parapet on the roof, her legs tucked to her chest. Her eyes were fixed on the pyramids that loomed before them. They were even more beautiful at night, illuminated by large, warm spotlights.

As she sat perched atop the high vantage point, a wave of tranquillity washed over her, calming the frantic anxiety that had gripped her when she first ascended to the spot on the roof. The warm evening air wrapped around her like a cosy blanket, breaking through the ice that encased her. The vast, clear sky stretched above her, dotted with the brilliant glow of the moon and countless stars. The sight served to soothe her frayed nerves, casting aside the fear that had initially clouded her mind.

With each deep breath, she felt her heartbeat steadying, allowing her thoughts to clear. No longer consumed by panic, Zelda found herself grappling instead with irritation towards Sunstreaker and, by extension, Sideswipe.

Zelda rubbed her face roughly, trying to ward away the tiredness that dogged her every step.

There was a rustle of fabric and the sound of someone climbing the scaffolding. Zelda lulled her head to see Sunstreaker. She pursed her lips, unsure if she wanted to see his face right now.

Sunstreaker paused as he stepped onto the roof, gazing her way.

Zelda gave a wary sigh. "If you're here to shout some more, please go away."

"I'm not, I promise."

Ah! Zelda couldn't help but chuckle at the irony.

"Frenzy told us everything," Sunstreaker continued when Zelda said nothing.

"Everything?"

"As much as he knows," Sunstreaker answered and slowly approached. He tentatively slid down the parapet to sit beside her. Despite how much she wanted to, Zelda didn't tell him to go away because she was just reminded of how…little time she probably had left.

"I didn't mean to," she said quietly.

"I—I know," Sunstreaker whispered back, voice thick with emotion.

"And—and I listened to Frenzy when he told me to sever it, but…but it came after I resurrected him and…" Zelda choked on her words. "I'm sorry."

"I know," Sunstreaker assured, gently squeezing her hand in his. "Can you tell me why you didn't tell us?"

It took Zelda a moment to gather herself. With another wary sigh, she began to explain. "I didn't want to add more worry but by not telling you, I ended up worrying you more. I'm just so used to keeping pain to myself, to ignoring what's right in front of me."

"To some extent, we're all used to compartmentalising," Sunstreaker acknowledged, which drew a weak laugh from Zelda.

She turned her gaze back to the vast expanse of the night sky, the stars twinkling like distant diamonds scattered across the deep velvet of space. She intertwined her fingers with Sunstreaker's, the warmth of his hand enveloped hers, creating a comforting grounding.

"I…" she began, the words hanging delicately between them, charged with unspoken emotions thick in her throat that Zelda had always been scared to admit out loud.

A sudden noise broke the stillness, and Zelda turned her head, her curiosity piqued. Sunstreaker followed her gaze just in time to see Sideswipe's figure emerging over the roof's edge. With a grunt, he hoisted himself up, pulling his frame onto the ledge. He stood there for a moment, eyeing them.

"Is this a bad time or?" Sideswipe asked lightly, trying to jest.

Zelda sighed dramatically, rolling her eyes in exasperation, her expression a mix of annoyance and amusement. She invited him to join her with a quick motion of her chin. A broad grin spread across Sideswipe's face, and with an easy confidence, he sauntered over. He plopped down on Zelda's other side with a casual thud, the warmth of his and Sunstreaker's presence boxing her in contrasted with Zelda's feigned irritation.

"I was probably trying to spare myself more than you guys by not telling," Zelda said.

"Can we see it?" Sunstreaker asked quietly.

Zelda sat still for a moment, eyes closed. "It's not going to be pretty."

"But's it you," Sideswipe said as if that answered everything.

Zelda squinted at him in confusion. "What?"

Sunstreaker huffed out a laugh on the other side of her, but he sobered up. "Please, sweetspark?"

Zelda waved her hands exasperatedly. "There are much better things to be looking at!" Mostly because she didn't want to show them. "I mean, we're underneath the moon and the stars and the three most beautiful pyramids on the planet, and you want me to show you—" Zelda blinked. "Mm... pyramids."

Sideswipe stared at her in bewilderment. "What? Zelda, we're not letting you change the subject this—"

Zelda covered Sideswipe's mouth. "Shut! I'm thinking!" Sideswipe blinked and met Sunstreaker's just as confused gaze. Zelda's eyes widened. "Oh, the pyramids and stars!"

"Zelda?" Sunstreaker tentatively questioned.

Eyes wide, Zelda scrambled to her unsteady feet. "I can't believe I didn't realise soon! The Three Kings will reveal the doorway when dawn alights the Dagger's Tip!"

"Wait, Zelda!" Sideswipe called as he and Sunstreaker scrambled after Zelda as she raced for the scaffolding.

Zelda barrelled into the tourist centre, the door banging loudly as it swung open.

"Simmons! Leo! Mikaela! Wake up!" she exclaimed, her voice echoing slightly in the quiet space. She turned her feet towards the trio sprawled across the benches with pilfered pillows and blankets from the shop.

All three woke up abruptly, startled by Zelda's loud voice, which sent them scrambling in their grogginess.

"What? Are we under attack?!" Simmons shouted.

"No, but I figured it out!" Zelda grinned and grabbed Mikaela's wrist to drag her outside.

"Zelda, wait a second," Mikaela yelped, stumbling over her feet as she tried to keep up with Zelda.

"No time! Come on!"

Simmons and Leo hurried after, meeting with the Autobots' holoforms outside along with Frenzy and Wheelie. Zelda wasn't sure where those two had been, but she didn't care.

Instead, Zelda pointed skyward toward Orion's belt. "Okay, you see those three stars? You see how the last one touches the horizon?" she asked. Once she got the affirmative, Zelda continued. "That's Orion's belt, but it's also called the Three Kings. And the reason for that is the three Egyptian kings who built the pyramids of Giza built them to mirror those stars, so it's like an arrow staring us straight in the face. The Three Kings will reveal the doorway when dawn alights the Dagger's Tip, that's what Jetfire said!"

"They all point due east, towards Jordan. The mountains of Petra!" Simmons whirled around with a grin. He held his hand up, and Zelda high-fived with a laugh.

The sun was reaching its peak as they arrived, the Autobots zipping along the winding roads following Bumblebee, who was in turn being guided by Zelda's direction and the AllSpark that buzzed beneath her skin.

The moment they had arrived here, it was like something had come alive within her, beckoning her.

Now, in Petra's National Park, surrounded by steep cliffs and remnants of ancient civilisations that the Romans had attempted to defile—they had never left anything untouched—Zelda had never felt the pull stronger.

The preserved ruins were beautiful, just one of the many places Zelda had always wanted to visit and see in person but never had the time. Zelda had believed she never would get to tick things off her bucket list, and she probably wouldn't, but…this made up for her incoming demise.

Oh, it was simply beautiful.

Even Sunstreaker and Sideswipe, the tallest of the Autobots present, didn't compare to the archway into the building.

"So, what exactly are we looking for? Archaeologists have combed over this place ages ago," Leo said. He stood in the archway, peering into the empty ruin.

Zelda stepped up beside him. "It's here."

"Where?" was Leo's incredulous response, his arms flailed. "Look! It's empty!"

"Leo," Zelda turned to him with a pointed look. The tugging sensation had evolved into something more profound; it gently wisped against her ears as if inviting her to follow. Yet, the question of where exactly lingered just out of reach, leaving her teetering on edge.

"Gotta have more faith, kid," Simmons smacked Leo's back. "She's brought us this far. Are you going to go doubting now?"

"Yeah, I am, 'cause, uh, we're trusting Grandpa Blackbird who was in a coma for the last several decades?" Leo retorted.

"Watch it, human," Sunstreaker warned.

"It's fine. We're all tired," Zelda said, waving Sunstreaker off.

Instead, she turned her focus inward toward the shadowy depths of the ruins. As Zelda crossed the threshold, a refreshing chill enveloped her, offering a sharp contrast to the heat outside. The walls, adorned with ancient paintings, bore the marks of time—faded colours and delicate strokes that, despite their wear, still radiated a stunning beauty.

As her eyes drifted to the back, she became acutely aware of an increase in the ambient sounds; a chorus of faint, ethereal whispers seemed to beckon her closer, wrapping around her like a gentle breeze, imploring her to uncover the secrets hidden within this ruin.

Unaware of her own actions, Zelda slowly approached the painting, raising her hand.

"Uh…I think she got somethin'!" Mudflap called out, his voice distant to Zelda.

Deep within, the AllSpark pulsed and swelled, resonating with the deep-rooted call of kinship. It was a sensation unlike any other, akin to the warm embrace of a long-lost sibling reuniting after years apart, a feeling of belonging as if a crucial piece of an intricate puzzle had finally fallen into place. Zelda gently rested her palm against the cool, textured surface of the wall, and to her glee, she felt a ripple of energy flow beneath her fingertips. A surge of power coursed through her arm, igniting every nerve with a vibrant intensity.

Her ears throbbed with a cacophony of sound, yet even amidst the overwhelming noise, a chorus of whispers wove through the chaos, persistent and alluring, as if calling out to her from the depths of history itself.

As she brushed her fingertips against the cold surface of the wall, it shivered slightly beneath her touch, like a living entity responding to her presence. To her astonishment, the stone shifted and folded inward, revealing a small doorway that beckoned her.

Zelda took a deep breath and stepped inside, only to be halted in her tracks by the breath-taking sight before her.

The tomb was an extraordinary sight, comprised of the six Primes' bodies intertwined in an intricate arrangement. Zelda struggled to absorb the scene before her; their faces were strikingly distinct, and together, they formed a mesmerising tableau. The bodies seamlessly melded, creating a stunning tapestry of colours that shimmered in the dim light. Even after the passage of time, the vibrancy of their palettes was a reminder that they had once lived.

The air was thick with a sense of history and reverence, leaving her in quiet awe.

A warm cocoon of safety enveloped her, wrapping her in a comforting embrace that felt all too familiar. It was as if she had stepped into a sanctuary, where every corner whispered of belonging and every breath filled her with a sense of tranquillity. The AllSpark's vibrant energy trickled warmly through her, pulsing beneath her skin, intertwining with her very essence and igniting her veins with an almost electric sensation.

The soft, beckoning whispers dissolved into an eerie silence as Zelda crossed the threshold of the ancient tomb. It was as if the very air had thickened around her, and she could feel the weight of a dozen unseeing eyes boring into her from above. Yet, her attention quickly shifted away from the oppressive gaze, drawn instead to the outstretched servo that loomed before her. Cradled within its mechanical grasp was the coveted artefact they had been desperately seeking, its surface glinting faintly in the dim light.

The Matrix of Leadership.

Zelda knelt, nearly collapsing to her knees before the servo. She didn't immediately reach out to grasp the Matrix. Instead, she stared and admired its beauty, which resonated with the AllSpark beneath her skin. It was beautiful.

With a gentle resolve, she reached out, her fingertips hovering uncertainly as her gaze rose to the faces above. She would ensure their sacrifices were not in vain. They would stop The Fallen and this Sun Harvester.

The Matrix crumbled to dust the moment she touched it.

Zelda stared for a moment, unable to comprehend what had happened. The dust and shavings of what was once the Matrix scattered across her palms and the servo that had held it.

No. No, no, no, nononono!

She choked on air in shock and horror.

"Thousands of years, rapid decay," Simmons remarked sympathetically.

It couldn't end just like this. Zelda felt like a child in a sandbox as she let the dust trickle through her fingers before clenching her fist, feeling the gritty texture scrape her palm. A sense of numb disbelief settled within her chest.

Zelda hardly registered Leo and Simmons exiting, speaking between themselves. Mikaela slotted herself down beside Zelda, resting a hand on her arm.

It brought Zelda from her choked silence. "This isn't how it's supposed to end."

"You heard Simmons, it's been here thousands of years," Mikaela said gently.

Zelda lowered her head, resting it against the cool, metallic surface of the aged servo. Her fingers curled tightly around the Matrix dust, a mix of frustration and desperation coursing through her.

"Think about it this way, if the Matrix is gone, The Fallen can't use it," Mikaela continued.

"I've spent months seeing these scripts," Zelda began, voice raspy around the edges. She took slow, measured breaths as the frustration threatened to overwhelm her. "All this time, all this pain, it can't be for nothing."

"Zelda—"

She lifted her chin, locking her gaze with Mikaela's. The unexpected intensity of her stare caught the other woman off guard, silencing her in an instant. The vibrant blue of her eyes shimmered like precious gems, casting a supernatural, captivating glow amidst the oppressive darkness of the ancient tomb.

"If there's one thing I've learned about the Cybertronians, it's that nothing is ever truly what it appears to be," Zelda said, her voice steady despite the weight of the moment.

She lifted her gaze toward the hollow, unblinking optics of the long-deceased Primes, their forms looming above her like ancient sentinels. The eerie stillness of the chamber was palpable, and a shiver ran down her spine as she felt their eternal gaze upon her. It was as if their spirits lingered, just out of reach, imbued with centuries of wisdom and secrets. In the haunting atmosphere, Zelda couldn't shake the awareness that she was being watched, scrutinized by forces far beyond her understanding.

"Everyone's after me because of what I know, and what I know is that this is going to work."

With a hint of uncertainty in her voice, Mikaela leaned forward slightly, her brow furrowed in concern as she asked, "How can you be so sure it's going to work?"

With resolute determination, Zelda locked her gaze onto Mikaela's once more, the intensity of her conviction radiating from her.

"Because I believe it will," she declared, her voice steady and unwavering.