*17 years later*
-beep- -beep- beep- -be--

I groan and roll over, reaching out to my alarm clock to turn it off.

'Why do alarm clocks have to be so annoying?' I couldn't but think to myself. 'Because that's the only way you'll get up, duh.'

I mentally grumble at my brain but get out of my warm, comfy, amaz- Nope, not gonna continue that thought because then I will want to stay in my bed.

I go to my closet and take a look around. 'Let's see... hmm... what should I wear today?' I smile as I see my favorite outfit. A red tank top with a blue flannel jacket over it, as well as a pair of black jeans. I grin as I grab my clothes and make my way into my bathroom. Yeah, I have my own bathroom. My parents- that aren't really my parents- like to spoil me. Then again, I am their only child.

I take a quick shower, washing my crimson hair, before stepping out and drying off a bit before pulling on my clothes. I smile as I look at my amazing look. I frown as I look at my long, dripping wet crimson hair. I sigh before drying it slightly with a towel. Soon, it was back to it's amazingness, for the most part. I still had to brush through it. I actually brushed through it quite quickly, even though it reached my lower back.

I stretched before deciding to put my long hair into a braid. I braid it quickly and smile when I finish.  I smile as I see my dark blue eyes. They were so dark, they were almost purple. I frowned. Doesn't exactly suit me currently. I closed my eyes for a short period of time and when I opened them, they were a lighter shade of blue. "Perfect", I said aloud before going back into my bedroom. I grabbed my favorite pair of shoes, mostly blue, with a bit of red. I always wore blue and red in some way. It reminded me of my father.

I sigh as my hand rests on the doorknob of the door that leads out of my room. I know I'm adopted, and I love my adopted parents dearly but I still wonder about the one called Optimus Prime. The one who sent me away to protect me from a war. I couldn't help but wonder where he is, and if he will truly find me. I don't even know what he looks like. I know I dream of him sometimes and it always startles me in my dream to see what he looks like, but whenever I wake up, I can't remember what he looked like for the life of me. It throws me off a lot.

I give myself a good shake to get rid of those thoughts and make my way downstairs to the living room where my backpack was. I sigh as I quickly make sure everything is there that I need before pulling it on. I check the time and my eyes widen. I had 5 minutes before the first bell rang. It took me 7 minutes just to walk there.

"Bye, Mom! I gotta run or else I'll be late for school! Love ya!" After my little spiel, I run out the door and down the street towards the school. It was a bit chilly but that was expected for a desert in the morning. It would warm up as the day continued on.

I managed to make it into the school just as the first bell rang. Now I have 5 minutes before the tardy bell rings. I quickly rush to my class, not bothering to stop by my locker as I have everything I need in my backpack. I walk into class and sit down in my assigned seat just before the tardy bell rang.

My only friend, Miko, looks over at me, with a questioning look in her eyes. I waved it off, saying that I would tell her later. I then watched as the teacher started to teach the lesson. About halfway through, I dozed off, only waking when the bell rang. I frowned before shrugging. I'd just figure it out later. I was smart, I could easily figure out these simple math equations. And then Miko would come to me for help. Honestly, I don't know how she managed to get into a college algebra class when she's a sophomore but you know, oh well. She's my friend and I'll support her.

The rest of the day went by pretty quickly and soon, I was sitting by Miko on a cement wall after school, telling her why I was almost late.

"So... why were you almost late?" Miko asks while drawing a picture of a blue and pink motorcycle.

"I got lost in thought. I was thinking about..." I trailed off there.

"Thinking about...?"

"I was thinking about my father, who sent me away from him to protect me. I've talked about him before, remember?"

"Oh yeah, the... what was his name again?"

"I'd rather not say in front of all these people. They'd make fun of his name because it's weird just like the name he kept calling me in the dream, remember?"

"Oh right!" Miko chuckles before getting distracted by the motorcycle. "Coolest. Bike. Ever."

I chuckle before looking around. I was watching the doors for the school bully, because I didn't really want to deal with him. But what surprised me was when Miko grabbed my arm and practically pulled me off the wall. Thankfully, I have quick reflexes and landed on my feet.

She took me to the alley behind the school were I saw a kid, uh... Jack, I think his name was talking to a... giant robot... The robot looked to be female. And for some reason... I felt like I had seen something like this before. However, I was unable to figure it out because Miko decided to speak up.

"Dude, what are you waiting for? Go with!"

Jack and the robot looked at us. The robot then said, "Scrap."

I hummed for a bit before looking at what seemed to be wings on the robots back. I froze, however, when I saw a very familiar marking on the wings. I had that exact same mark on my right shoulder blade. I always assumed it was a birthmark. Evidently not, seeing as the robot had the exact same symbol.

However what surprised was when a vehicle pulled up beside me.

:Red haired female, get in:, it said. I blinked and saw a young boy in the vehicle.

"What about Miko?" I asked, not wanting to leave her behind.

:Don't worry, Arcee will drive her, as well the other human:, the robot says.

I hum slightly before seeing the robot from before transform into the motorcycle Miko had been drawing. I frown before deciding to trust them.

I climb into the black and yellow car and frown when I see no driver. However, the vehicle had the exact same mark as the other robot did.

"So... uh... what's your name?" I ask the young boy.

"I'm Rafael. But you can call me Raf", he responds. "What's your name?"

"Alexis. But if you want, you can call me 'A' or Lexi", I say with a small smile.

"It's nice to meet you, A", Raf says with a smile.

"The same to you, Raf", I smile back. I look out front, only to start freaking out when I saw a cliff face in front of us with us driving right towards it.

"Uh... Don't you think we should..." I trailed off as the side of the cliff opened and we were welcomed into a secret base.

"Woah", I say as I look around. I saw two more robots waiting for us in what I assumed was the main room.

We stepped out or off of the vehicles that had transported us, and they tranformed into robots.

"I thought there were two", one of the new robots said. He was orange and white.

"Haven't you heard? Humans multiply", the blue and pink robot from before says, sarcastically.

Miko then got sidetracked with the bulky green one, who I learned was named Bulkhead. I hummed as Raf asks a million dollar question.

"So, if you guys are robots, who made you", he asks.

The orange and white robot scoffs. "Puh-lease."

Suddenly we heard footsteps behind us. I turned around and saw the biggest robot of them all standing before us.

"Woah", I whisper. There was a faint tickling at the back of my mind, saying that I should know him but I couldn't place why I should know him...

"We are autonomous robotic organisms from the planet Cybertron. Also known as Autobots."

I continued to try and figure out why I would know him but I couldn't place it so I just kinda gave up, though it was still at the back of my mind.

The tall robot started to talk about a war that raged for centuries that was started by a Decepticon named... Megatron. That name sounded familiar but I couldn't quite place it.

A few minutes later, after the tall robot had finished speaking, it came to my mind. The message that my real father, or rather Sire left for me. It played in my mind.

'Oh, Crimson. You'll grow up without this war. You may possibly forget me. But I hope with all my spark, that you will remember your Sire's name. My name. Remember, little one, remember that I am Optimus Prime, and I vow to protect you with all my spark. I have to send you off-world to protect you, otherwise Megatron would get his nasty servos on you, and turn you into the warrior I hope you never have to become. I love you, Crimson. I love you, my little Starflare. I'll find you again, Crimson Starflare. Remember me.'

I tense up as I feel all the Autobots watching us. I finally spoke up. "Would you mind introducing yourselves to us? It seems to me, that you have learned our names, and we have yet to learn yours. Except for Bulkhead. Miko kinda got him to introduce himself earlier."

The tall robot smiled at my words before he looked to the orange and white one.

"This is our medic, Ratchet. He has been by my side in this war for many years", he says before look at the small blue and pink robot. "This is our warrior, Arcee. She may be small but she is fierce." He looks at Bulkhead next. "You've already met Bulkhead; he's the wrecker of the group." He introduced the small black and yellow one as Bumblebee which I found very fitting. And then... he introduced himself.

"My name is Optimus Prime. I am the leader of this small band of Autobots", he says. My eyes widen when he said his name.

I was going to start crying and I knew it. I quickly looked around.

"Do you guys have any human facilities around here?" I asked quickly. Optimus looked at me concerned but gave me directions nevertheless.

I found a bathroom and closed the door and finally let the tears fall. 'I finally found him. I finally found my real father.' And then it hit me. 'My father is a giant robot.' As soon as I said that, I started to laugh. "That's absurd", I chuckled quietly. "How could my father possibly be..."

Then my dream came back to me and the words my father spoke to me before he sent me off. "Crimson Starflare. That's the name he called me by. So... I must not always have appeared human..." I then remembered the symbol on my shoulder blade. That must be why I have that symbol. It's because I'm one of them.

I frown before pulling out my phone. I sent Miko a quick text. _Miko! Come to where I'm at!_

She replies quickly. _Okay!_ I waited for a few moments with a small smirk on my lips. Miko then sent another text. _Uh... where are you?_

I quickly sent directions and she found me. I immediately pulled her into the bathroom, where she stared at my tear-streaked face in surprise.

"Why have you been crying?" she asks.

"Because I finally found him. I finally found my father", I say, a smile on my face.

"Oh! That's awesome!" Miko grins before her eyebrows furrow in confusion. "How'd you find him?"

"I have you to thank for that. If you hadn't spoken up when you first saw Jack and Arcee behind the school building, I never would have met him", I say with a smile on my face as I hug Miko. She was still confused.

"Wait. What's your dad's name?"

"Let me tell you the message he left me when I was a little child. A baby. He said and I quote, 'Oh, Crimson. You'll grow up without this war. You may possibly forget me. But I hope with all my spark, that you will remember your Sire's name. My name. Remember, little one, remember that I am Optimus Prime, and I vow to protect you with all my spark. I have to send you off-world to protect you, otherwise Megatron would get his nasty servos on you, and turn you into the warrior I hope you never have to become. I love you, Crimson. I love you, my little Starflare. I'll find you again, Crimson Starflare. Remember me.'"

Miko stared at me in shock. "But... dude! That means that you're one of them!"

I stare at Miko as a tear streaks down my face. "I know. My actual name is Crimson Starflare."

"Dude! We have to go tell OP right now!"

I shake my head and grab Miko's arm before she tried to run out the door.

"No. I... I want to see if he remembers Crimson Starflare. I want to see if he remembers me", I whisper.

"You do realize you're going to have to become really close to him in order to find that out, right?"

"I know. But I'm willing to give it my all. Besides, I plan on learning all about their biology so that way I have a way to know just what I am when I reveal my true self, however I can do that. Now, come on. Help me clean up my face and let's head back out there", I say with a smile.

"Okay", Miko grins. Soon, my face is clear of any tear tracks and we walk back to the main room together. When we got there, we got back in time to see an explosion coming through a portal. Miko was instantly intrigued and ran forward, yelling questions at them. Arcee got annoyed at her but Jack distracted Miko easily.

When Arcee suddenly got dizzy, we were all surprised.

"Robots who get dizzy?" Miko asked.

"Robots with emotions", Raf realizes.

"Robots... who can die", Jack says.

"Y'all just realized this?" I roll my eyes as I speak.

Everyone stares at me and I just shrug. I then checked the time on my phone and almost freaked out.

"Um.. Optimus", I began quietly. He looks at me. "I hate to bug you, but... I really need to get home. Or else I won't be able to leave the house for at least a month. My parents might have adopted me, but they still worry."

"Yeah, and if I don't get home soon, I'm sure the cops will be out looking for me", Jack says.

"Have you broken a law?" Optimus asks in his deep voice.

"Uh, curfew. It's after ten p.m.", Jack says. I nod.

Raf then says that he had better get home too.

"Earth customs", Optimus realizes. "I hadn't considered."

"Bulkhead! You'll accompany Miko home."

Miko grinned. "Sweet! My host parents will freak!"

"And maintain covert vehicle surveillance", Optimus finishes. Miko sighed before grinning again. I chuckle and elbow her.

"Excited to have your own personal bodyguard?" I whisper to her. She looks at me and nods excitedly.

"Bumblebee, you'll watch over Raf", Optimus says.

Raf smiles at Bumblebee.

"Ratchet-" Ratchet cut Optimus off by saying, "Busy!" So Optimus instead switched to Arcee. "Arcee, you'll accompany Jack."

"Oh, still dizzy", Arcee tried to fake out of watching over a human but Ratchet said that she was fine. So she was stuck watching over Jack. They all transform and take the humans home, leaving me alone with Optimus and Ratchet.

Optimus went over to Ratchet and they spoke for a bit before Ratchet sighed in defeat and left what he was working on alone and walked down a hallway. Optimus turns to me.

"I will accompany you home", he says. I blink before coming down off the platform I was standing on and climbing into Optimus alternate form that he had transformed into. He was a nice semi-truck. It made me wonder if my true form looked anything like his.

Soon, we were out underneath the stars and I looking out the window, finding different constellations and naming different stars.

Soon, Optimus spoke. "You are very quiet as of right now. Is something on your mind?"

"I'm just... thinking about my real parents. Where they are, what they're doing, what they look like. Wondering if they even remember me."

"I'm sure they remember you. Almost every parent will remember any child they had", Optimus' voice was quiet.

"Did you have any children, Optimus?" I ask quietly.

"I had one. A femme", he spoke quietly. I furrow my eyebrows together in confusion. "A female. Cybertronians refer to the female gender as femme's."

I nod my head in understanding. "What was she like?"

"I don't really know. I sent her away when she was a sparkling." At my look of confusion, he explained that a sparkling is the Cybertronian version of a baby.

"Why'd you send her away?"

"Megatron wanted to take her away from me. He wanted to turn her into the perfect Decepticon. So I sent her away before he could get his claws on her", Optimus says, pain filling his voice as he remembered his lost sparkling.

"If you wish to stop talking about this, you can. I was just curious", I say.

"It's alright. It helps to talk about her. I miss her a lot. She looked a lot like her carrier- mother", he explains before confusion can even show up on my face.

"I only really have one more question about her", I say quietly.

"Go ahead", Optimus says.

"What was her name?"

I could tell that Optimus was smiling as he thought of his sparkling's name.

"Crimson Starflare", he says, warmth filling his voice. My heart lurched.

"That's a beautiful name", I say with a small smile. I was holding back all the happiness that was inside me. He does remember me!!

Soon, we pulled up in front of my house. Before I got out, however, I said one last thing to Optimus. "Thank you for sharing that with me, Optimus. I know that it must have been hard to share something that personal with someone you barely know."

"And yet, young Alexis, I feel like I know you well", he says. "And it confuses me greatly."

"I feel like I know you pretty well, too, Optimus. But I know why I feel like that", I say with a small smile. Optimus stayed silent, hoping I'd say why. "However, I'd like for you to figure it out on your own."

Optimus stayed silent as I quietly got out of his vehicle form. "Goodnight, Optimus!"

I hesitated before saying one more thing. "And don't worry. Megatron won't get his claws on me anytime soon. You've done a great job of protecting me from him."

With that, I ran inside, and up to my room where I watched as Optimus hesitated before pulling away. I knew he had better things to do back at base so I wasn't too worried.

I stepped away from the window and turned around to see my mom standing there. She did not look happy with me.

"Alexis! What were you doing out late?"

I smile softly as I told her the truth. Well, the partial truth. "I found my father. My real father. I was out late because I was getting to know him better."

"Is he going to take custody of you?"

"No.  He doesn't even know that I'm his daughter. But I know he's my father because he left me a message that has stayed with me all these years. He left me his name and his name is very unique and so I know that no one else has it."

My mom sighs. "Well, you should probably tell him that you're his daughter soon."

"I gave him a pretty big hint tonight just before I came inside. He should figure it out eventually", I say with a smile. "Anyway, I need to get to bed. We planned to spend all of tomorrow together too, to get to know each other even more. He'll be here to pick me up tomorrow morning at about 7 in the morning. So, if I'm gone before you wake up, just know that I'm with my real father. He won't hurt me. I promise."

My mom looked skeptical but trusted me anyways. She sighed before pulling me close and hugging me.

"Goodnight, Alexis."

"Goodnight, Mom."