High school wasn't exactly where Zayden thought his cosmic journey would lead him.
And yet… there he was.
His 7'8" frame barely fit the doorway of the temporary school building in southern California, the sun beating down on his broad shoulders as he ducked inside. Students stopped and stared as he moved through the hallway like a walking monument. Whispers rippled in his wake—some in awe, others confused, some definitely intrigued.
He was dressed simple—black cargo pants, a green t-shirt stretched over a lean, powerful build, and a dark denim jacket. The Omnitrix on his wrist was hidden under a bandage wrap, passing as a sports injury. A faint green glow still pulsed beneath it.
"New guy looks like he bench-presses dump trucks," someone muttered from a locker corner.
Zayden just smiled. Let them talk. It kept suspicion off his other activities.
He slid into his assigned classroom just as the bell rang, ducking through the too-small doorframe. The teacher, Mr. Conner, nearly dropped his chalk.
"Oh… uh… welcome. Everyone, meet our new student, Zayden Stone."
He gave a two-finger wave to the silent room.
"Hi."
And then, from the back corner—she looked up.
Mikaela Banes.
Wavy chestnut hair tied into a loose ponytail. Soft but sharp hazel eyes. Sleeveless red top. Grease smudges on her notebook. She glanced at him briefly, not like the others. Her stare wasn't awe or intimidation.
It was curiosity.
Zayden took a seat in the row beside her, shifting gently so his chair didn't snap in half. The desk protested anyway.
Mikaela leaned over slightly. "You're… really tall."
He smirked. "Yeah, I had a growth spurt. Or ten."
She gave a small laugh.
"Zayden, right?"
"Yup. And you're Mikaela."
She raised a brow. "Already did your homework on me?"
Zayden winked. "Let's just say I'm good at noticing important people."
That earned a full smile.
---
Later that afternoon, in the student parking lot, Mikaela was elbow-deep in the engine of an old red Ducati bike—half restored, half mystery. Wrenches clinked against the frame. Her fingers moved like they were born to tame machines.
Zayden leaned against a nearby light pole, arms crossed, watching quietly.
"That engine's from a 2008 model, but you're integrating fuel injection from a newer build," he said casually.
Mikaela paused. "You recognize all that just from a glance?"
"Kind of a hobby," Zayden replied, walking over. "I like building things. Especially when they go fast."
"Really? You don't strike me as the mechanical type," she said, glancing up.
"What type do I strike you as?"
She looked him over—chiseled face, charming grin, eyes that held something… unspoken.
"Maybe the mysterious-loner-who-knows-way-too-much type."
Zayden laughed. "Guilty as charged."
He knelt beside the bike. "Your fuel line's going to underperform with the current injector setting. Want help tuning it?"
She hesitated, then nodded. "Alright, mystery guy. Impress me."
Within five minutes, the two were side-by-side, working in seamless rhythm. Zayden moved like someone who wasn't just smart, but who understood machines in ways most couldn't explain.
He didn't just fix—he connected.
"You're really something," Mikaela said as the bike finally roared to life. "Most guys just pretend to care about what I do."
Zayden wiped his hands with a rag. "That's because most guys don't see the beauty in this," he said, gesturing to the purring engine. "This isn't just metal. It's motion. Heartbeat in steel."
Mikaela blinked.
"Damn," she whispered. "You're either crazy… or really poetic."
"Why not both?" Zayden teased.
She laughed again—less guarded this time. "Alright, tall boy. You're officially interesting."
Just then, a faint beep echoed from Zayden's watch.
He tensed. Mikaela noticed.
"You okay?"
He quickly covered it with his sleeve. "Yeah. Just… glucose reminder. I have a weird metabolism."
She raised a brow but didn't press.
"Wanna grab something to drink?" she asked.
Zayden smiled. "Sure."
But in the back of his mind, the Omnitrix was flashing a silent warning.
> "Unidentified Cybertronian energy signature… approaching."
---
Across town, hidden in the shadow of an old warehouse, a sleek motorcycle rumbled into a hidden alley. But this wasn't an ordinary bike.
The tires retracted. The body split.
And standing in its place… was Arcee.
Her armor glinted under the neon lights, her expression tense. She tapped a wrist beacon.
> "Zayden, we have a problem. A rogue Decepticon landed near your location. Looks like a tracker-type. It's sniffing for the Omnitrix."
Zayden's voice came through her receiver.
> "I'm with a civilian. Can't make a move yet."
> "Make one soon," Arcee warned. "You don't want her caught in this."
She cut the comms and looked up toward the skyline.
From the rooftop above, a dark shape with glowing red optics watched them both.
---
Back at the smoothie shop near the edge of town, Mikaela and Zayden sat outside, sipping from plastic cups. The sunset bathed the sky in molten gold. Laughter echoed from nearby students.
Zayden looked at her—not with flirtation, but with curiosity. Admiration. He felt something… human.
Comforting.
Mikaela nudged his arm. "You okay? You seem distracted."
He looked at her, eyes soft.
"Just thinking how… different this world feels today."
She smiled gently. "Good different?"
"Yeah," he said, almost whispering. "Very good."
But the Omnitrix pulsed again—stronger.
War was creeping closer.
And even with Mikaela smiling beside him… Zayden knew peace never lasted long.