The atmosphere in the Autobot base was heavy, almost suffocating. No one had the energy to converse or do more than the necessary. Silence seemed to fill every space between the machinery, weighty as a shadow. Optimus stood before the great holographic map of the world, vigilant for any sign of Decepticon activity, though his mind remained distant, lost in the echoes of recent events.
Several hours had passed since the battle ended, yet nothing had improved. Only a darker mood remained, as if a future without hope were slowly drawing near.
Jack walked slowly toward the Autobot leader. His presence, diminutive before the imposing metal figure, did not go unnoticed. Optimus turned his gaze and inclined his head slightly so his optics met the human's.
"Jack, has something happened?" Optimus asked, his voice calm but grave. He knew that among the three young humans, Jack was the most responsible.
"It's about Arcee…" Jack hesitated, averting his eyes for a moment. "She's acting very strangely. She won't even speak to me." His voice betrayed frustration and a touch of sorrow.
"She is under great stress after what occurred," Optimus replied, recalling the image of her kneeling before the fragments of the AllSpark Cocoon. "Give her time. Sometimes, pain is easier to deal with when we take the time to process our emotions."
Before Jack could respond, firm footsteps echoed. Ratchet appeared, his expression taut and exhausted.
"I have completed repairs on Bulkhead and Bumblebee." His voice was clipped, almost mechanical. The irritation and uncertainty that still gnawed at his Spark were evident. "Bumblebee will need more time to recover fully. If there is a mission, he should not be sent."
"I appreciate your efforts, old friend," Optimus said, his tone soft with gratitude.
Ratchet offered only a slight nod as he stowed his tools among the accumulated equipment at the console.
"Optimus, what shall we do now?" he asked, genuinely concerned. "With the destruction of the AllSpark… the war's original meaning has been lost. I have doubts about how things will unfold from here."
"As much as I long for peace, I doubt the conflict with the Decepticons will end, even without the AllSpark," Optimus answered, his gaze fixed upon the luminous panel. "I do not know what Megatron will do, but I am certain he will not remain idle for long."
Ratchet sighed deeply; the sound echoed like a confession of weariness. "In all these cycles… I never imagined we would reach this point. I still feel… unmoored."
"I understand, old friend. More than you know," murmured Optimus. There was something missing from the equation, something he could not yet decipher.
Jack remained silent, understanding that the moment belonged to the Autobots. He moved away and ascended the stairs to the mezzanine, where Raf and Miko sat on an old couch. Both seemed as quiet as the base itself.
"It's… eerily quiet here," Miko observed, breaking the hush with a timid attempt to change the subject.
"The loss of the AllSpark was a severe blow to them," Raf replied, watching Optimus and Ratchet from a distance. "It is natural that they are like this."
"Losing the only chance to save your own planet… I can't even imagine the weight of that," Jack said softly, almost a whisper.
The three sat in silence, each lost in thought. It was rare to see the Autobot base so hushed; sorrow seemed to eat away at every metallic corner of the place.
"Shall we talk about the new fellow?" Miko suggested, recalling the moment Grimlock had arrived so abruptly.
"It's true… who is he, after all?" Jack leaned his back against the railing. "It seems Ratchet knew him, judging by the way they interacted."
"What's his story? How did he end up on Earth?" Miko asked, though her tone betrayed her lack of enthusiasm—made all the more evident by how debilitated Bulkhead still was, and by the news about the AllSpark.
"We can ask later. For now, speculating won't help," Jack concluded.
Suddenly, an alert cut through the silence. The base's console began to flash, picking up a signal originating off-planet. Optimus and Ratchet exchanged surprised looks.
The signal was strong. It was in motion…and closing in at high velocity.
"Wait…" Ratchet murmured, incredulous. "Is that… an Autobot signal?" His fingers moved rapidly across the console. "Whoever it is, it's coming from a ship. But I can't precisely identify it."
"What's happening?" Miko asked, feeling the tension rise.
Optimus studied the signal for a moment and spoke with urgency: "Ratchet, attempt to establish communication with the incoming craft. If it is an ally, it is in grave danger. A signal of this intensity will draw Decepticon attention."
Ratchet wasted no time. His hands worked quickly to open a communication channel.
The sounds of the console, the blinking lights—everything drew the attention of those nearest.
Arcee's footsteps echoed down the metallic corridor. They were firm, heavy, as if the very floor acknowledged the weight of her presence. The rhythmic, cold sound of her stride filled the base until she finally entered the main chamber. Her optics, icy and direct, were immediately drawn to the console.
"What's occurring?" she asked, her tone distant, almost cutting. "Are the Decepticons attacking? Or is it… Airachnid's signal?"
Seeing her, Jack tried to attract her attention quickly. "It appears to be an Autobot."
Arcee ignored Jack entirely. Her cold gaze showed no inclination to converse. Instead, she stepped up to the console and fixed her stare on the projected Autobot insignia blinking within the hologram.
"This could be a Decepticon trap," she said, her voice taut with distrust. "We know all too well what happened the last time we trusted a false Autobot signal." Her memory drifted to the day a Decepticon had assumed Wheeljack's form and almost compromised the base's location.
"If it were a trap," Ratchet countered without taking his eyes off the readout, "it would mean Megatron is desperate." He paused. "I doubt he would waste time with petty tricks—not now."
"Or perhaps," Optimus interjected calmly, "the recent reappearance of the AllSpark has attracted attention from many—Autobots and Decepticons alike—who have been drifting through space."
Arcee clenched her fists. "That only means more trouble. We don't know who this figure is, nor on which side he truly stands." Her voice remained hard, still carrying the anger and frustration over what Airachnid had done to the AllSpark.
Ratchet broke the tension with a brief exclamation: "Got it!" He had finally established an encrypted channel between the base and the approaching signal.
Optimus stepped forward, projecting his firm, resonant voice through the comms.
"This is Optimus Prime. You are entering the airspace of Planet Earth. If you are an Autobot, you must conceal your signal immediately before the Decepticons intercept it."
However, there was only silence in response. The only sound was the radar picking up the energon signal.
"Apparently whoever that is isn't exactly… polite," Arcee said, her distrust plain in her tone.
Suddenly the signal accelerated in a steep descent.
"Optimus," Ratchet warned, his fingers dancing across the console, "it's heading straight for Hoover Dam!"
"That confirms what we suspected," Arcee remarked, eyes narrowed. "The visitor came because of the AllSpark." She turned toward Optimus. "Who will investigate?"
Her expression left no doubt that she did not intend to remain on the sidelines.
"All right," Optimus said decisively. "Arcee and I will go to Hoover Dam. Ratchet, remain on standby to reopen the portal if there is any emergency."
Optimus's battle mask slid into place, sealing the grave tone of the mission.
Meanwhile, above the clouds, a red craft tore through the sky at supersonic speed. Its turbines shimmered with an intense blue, leaving traces of energy in the thin air. On the tips of its wings the Autobot insignia gleamed clearly.
When its sensors picked up the energy it sought, the craft pitched into an abrupt descent. Before touching ground, metal plates slid and reconfigured with precise motion. The vessel transformed, revealing a robotic female figure.
She wore gleaming red armor traced with elegant lines. Two large metal wings rose from her back like the blades of a warbird. Her face, pale against the red of her body, bore an appearance reminiscent of traditional Japanese geisha makeup. Her blue optics shone like ice, but there was something calculating in them, as if she appraised every detail of the scene.
"By Primus… the signal is incredibly strong," she murmured to herself as she scanned the landscape. From there she could see Hoover Dam—devastated, marked by scars of old explosions and traces of battle. "That means I don't have much time. I need to find him... but as long as he keeps his powers hidden, I won't be able to track him accurately. Damn it."
Her thoughts were interrupted by a shimmering blue portal that opened behind her. The vortex's cold light reflected on her armor. Instinctively she rotated partway, assuming a low guard stance—clearly prepared to fight if necessary.
Her blue optics narrowed as two silhouettes emerged from the portal. It took only an instant for her to recognize one of them. The imposing presence was unmistakable.
Optimus Prime and Arcee advanced, alert. Both assessed the unfamiliar figure before them. Despite her enigmatic bearing, it was impossible to ignore the Autobot insignia emblazoned upon the newcomer's wings.
"You have arrived at precisely the right moment," the stranger said, turning fully to face them. Before speaking again she cast one more quick glance at the old battlefield, as if something there weighed on her memory. Finally, she exhaled—a small, resigned breath.
"It is an honor to meet you, Optimus Prime. I am an ally," she declared in a formal, steady tone. "I have traveled the stars on specific missions… for the stability of the universe."
Optimus remained composed, though his gaze retained a measure of caution.
"I do not recognize you. What is your designation?" he asked with measured patience.
"And what exactly is your mission here on Earth?" Arcee added, her distrust still evident.
The figure straightened and inclined her head slightly in a sign of respect.
"My name is Windblade. I have come to Earth in search of the AllSpark."