Prologue
An Unlikely Meeting

The long, deserted highway stretched endlessly under a moonlit sky, its silence broken only by the faint rustle of a chilled wind. Optimus Prime's headlights pierced the darkness as he cruised through the emptiness, scanning the surroundings. Suddenly, his sensors picked up a faint heat signature—human. Slowing to a halt, Optimus carefully activated his holoform. A tall, gentle man with piercing blue eyes and an air of wisdom materialized, climbing out of the truck.

He walked over to the side of the road where an unconscious woman laid. She fully clothed and didn't seem to be in and physical harm. So why was a human female out here. Using his sensors, he scanned the area for danger.

Carefully kneeling on one leg, he reached over, placing a careful on the woman's shoulder. His voice, low and soothing, broke the stillness. "Miss, are you all right?"

The young woman flinched at first, before jolting awake, her eyes wide, full of fear and uncertainty. She trembled, her thin jacket over a shirt and jeans held no match for the cold night. Her face was pale, and her hands clutched her arms for warmth.

"It's okay," Optimus assured her softly, realizing she was quite disoriented. "You're safe now. Can you tell me what happened?"

"I..." she paused, trying to recollect what happened. "I... I don't know," she stammered, voice trembling as much as her body. "I don't remember much… someone hit me, I think."

Optimus did another scan of the area, noting no sign of another vehicle or a nearby crash site. Her condition troubled him—she was vulnerable, lost, and visibly shaken. He removed his jacket, draping it over her shoulders.

"You shouldn't be out here alone," he said gently. "Come with me. I'll take you somewhere safe."

The woman hesitated, glancing at the man before her, then back at the massive truck behind him. Something about his presence felt trustworthy, like an anchor in her storm of confusion and fear. She nodded cautiously.

"Ok... thank you."

Optimus opened the passenger door of his alt mode, ensuring she was comfortably seated before climbing into the other side. He silently vowed to uncover what had happened to her—and to protect her from whoever had left her to fend for herself on this lonely road.

The soft hum of the engine filled the cabin, a comforting rhythm as the young woman sat huddled in Optimus' jacket. Her arms crossed tightly over her chest, gaze fixed out the passenger-side window, though there was nothing but darkness outside. She hadn't spoken since agreeing to come with him, her fear still evident in the way she kept glancing at the dashboard and shifting nervously in her seat.

Optimus decided to try breaking the silence, careful to keep his tone calm and reassuring.

"Do you remember your name?" he asked gently.

She hesitated, her brow furrowing as though even that question was difficult to answer. "It's… Lily," she said finally, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Lily," Optimus repeated with a warm tone. "That's a beautiful name. Do you remember where you're from? Or where you were going?"

She shook her head, frustration flickering in her expression. "I… no. Everything's so fuzzy. I remember leaving home, but I don't know why. I don't even know how I ended up here."

Optimus noted the tension in her voice and chose not to press further. He decided to shift the focus to something lighter.

"Well, Lily, my name is Orion," he said after a brief pause. It wasn't entirely untrue—it had once been his name, long ago back on Cybertron before becoming leader of the Autobots; Optimus Prime.

She glanced at him, some of the wariness in her eyes giving way to curiosity. "Orion? That's an unusual name."

Optimus allowed a small chuckle to resonate through the speakers. "It's an old name. My... cre... parents thought it suited me." He had almost slipped out about his name being given to him by Alpha Trion when he was rebuilt after Megatron 'destroyed' his former body.

Her lips twitched into the faintest of smiles, but the shadows of fear and confusion still lingered. "You seem… different," she murmured. "I mean, you stopped to help me. Not many people would do that."

"Everyone deserves help when they need it," Optimus said sincerely. "And no one deserves to be left alone in a place like this."

She looked down at her hands, rubbing her fingers together for warmth. "Thank you," she whispered. "For stopping. For not just… driving past."

Optimus' holoform appeared to glance at her reassuringly, though his processors were running through a myriad of scenarios, trying to piece together how she'd ended up here. He decided to ask one more question, careful to avoid overwhelming her. "Lily, do you have anyone you'd like me to call? Family or a friend?"

Her expression turned distant, and she shook her head again. "I… I don't think so. At least, I can't remember anyone."

Optimus's spark ached for the young woman. Whoever had done this to her may have left more than physical wounds—they had robbed her of her sense of safety and belonging. He resolved to help her find those things again.

For now, though, he focused on keeping her calm. "Well, until we figure things out, you can stay with me," he said softly. "We'll find somewhere safe for you to rest."

She looked at him again, her eyes searching his face. "You're really kind, Orion. It's almost like you're not even real."

He smiled gently. "Sometimes kindness feels rare, doesn't it? But it's always real, Lily."

As they continued down the highway, the darkness felt a little less oppressive, and for the first time that night, Lily relaxed slightly in her seat, allowing herself to feel the faintest flicker of hope.

With the steady rumble of the road and the warmth of Optimus' jacket wrapped around her shoulders seemed to ease Lily's tension. Her eyelids grew heavier with each passing mile until she finally succumbed to sleep, her head resting lightly against the passenger window.

Optimus noted her steady breathing, a sign she was at least finding some momentary peace. He lowered the volume of the engine hum, making his movements as smooth and gentle as possible to avoid disturbing her. Once he was certain she was fully asleep, Optimus opened a secure communication channel, his voice low but firm.

"Optimus Prime to all Autobots. I've encountered a situation requiring my attention," he transmitted, his voice echoing across the com.

"What's the status?" came Bumblebee's familiar response, using the radio to communicate. Though Ratchet tried fixing the voice synthesizer, he had yet to have full communication.

"I found a young woman alone on a desolate highway. She was abandoned, disoriented, and under-dressed for the conditions. I am transporting her to the safe location."

There was a pause before Ratchet's voice broke in, tinged with concern. "Is she injured?"

"No visible injuries aside from mild bruising, but appears to have suffered memory loss and significant emotional distress. I believe she may have been abandoned intentionally."

"Abandoned?" Ironhide chimed in. "Who would do that to a human?"

Optimus's voice deepened, a mix of sorrow and restrained anger. "I suspect there is more to her story. She mentioned she does not recall how she ended up on the highway. I intend to uncover the truth once she is stable."

A moment of silence followed, and then Bumblebee spoke again, his tone more somber. "Do you think she's connected to… Mission City?"

Optimus hesitated. It was a possibility he had already considered. The attack two months prior had left deep scars on humanity—families torn apart, lives lost, and survivors forever haunted by the destruction. "It's possible, but cannot say for certain," he admitted. "Her name is Lily."

Ratchet sighed. "I will check in with Captain Lennox."

"I will remain with her until this is over," Optimus said resolutely. "For now, continue monitoring for Decepticon activity. I will report back once I have more information. Set to rendezvous at these coordinates and Ironhide, get Sam. Have him retrieve warmer clothing. I will send you the correct measurements."

"I'm his guardian though," Bee buzzed in.

"Sorry, my friend," Optimus apologized. "In case things get difficult, I will need Sam to help defuse any tension."

"Understood," the team replied in unison, and the line went silent.

With the com now closed, Optimus refocused on the road ahead. There was a long road ahead and he needed his focus on the holoform. He glanced to the sleeping figure beside him. Despite the peaceful expression on her face, he could see the subtle signs of tension, fingers still clutched at the jacket, her posture curled inward as though trying to protect herself.

He couldn't help but think of the devastation at Mission City, the humans caught in the crossfire of a war they never asked to be a part of. If Lily had been there, her presence with him now was nothing short of remarkable. As the stars stretched out above and the road rolled on, Optimus silently vowed to help her heal—no; he would spend his existence here on Earth in protecting her, no matter what it took.

This was created by the assistance of AI ChatPGT. I've always wanted to write a fic based on 'Optimus finds a woman lost on a highway in the dead of the night' but could never get passed that