Coming into base, I hop off Arcee and go to the computers, quickly opening the same coordinates that had been used only a few minutes before. Arcee and Bumblebee leave me, with strict instructions that I am not to leave the base. I sigh as the ground bridge closes.

How am I supposed to tell Optimus that I'm his daughter? He remembers me and I know that he misses me. I wonder if the hint I gave him last night was enough to tell him that I'm his daughter. That I'm Crimson Starflare.

I huff in frustration. Why couldn't Ratchet have left me something to read about cybertronian biology. That way I would be able to keep my thoughts off of figuring out a way to tell Optimus that I'm his daughter. That I'm his... sparkling? I sigh again. "Please let someone come back soon."

Just then, a message came in. I checked the computers and found that it was from Arcee.

"Alexis, bridge us back. We got everyone. Use the coordinates we used earlier", Arcee says. I nod and open the portal. Arcee, Bulkhead and Bumblebee drove in. With Jack, Miko, Raf and another human that I didnt know. He looked to be really official. I hope he wasn't government. No offense, but I really don't like government. I'm a rule breaker at heart, though I've learned to hide it well because I don't like my parents being angry at me for breaking rules.

"Who's that?" I ask Arcee.

"Agent Fowler", she responds.

"Is he government associated?"

"Yeah. He's our liaison to the outside world and not very friendly to our kind", Arcee explains.

"So, if he found out I was one of you, he wouldn't be very happy?"

"Probably not."

"Good to know", I say before hearing a request for a ground bridge from Optimus.

I quickly run to the computer and open one, before any of the Autobots could. Optimus and Ratchet come through, both injured slightly, Ratchet more than Optimus.

I hum softly as Optimus makes a cast for Ratchet's arm. Once Optimus finishes that, he chastises Bulkhead for bringing the humans with him. Miko then steps up to defend Bulkhead and shows Optimus a picture that she took. He told Ratchet to take a look.

When Miko got all excited about a con that Bulkhead took out, Jack was not very happy. He chose to leave base. Ratchet was very quick to send him off, and he earned a glare from me. He mutters to himself and Jack looks back at me and Raf.

"You guys coming?" he asked.

"I'll be okay, Jack", Raf says.

Jack looks to me and all I do is lightly shake my head and look towards Optimus. Jack sighs but I knew he understood what I was saying.

"See you at school, Jack", I say softly.

"See you, Alexis. Don't hold onto your secret longer than you have to", Jack says. I sigh in response. I knew Optimus was watching our exchange curiously.

Jack leaves and I go up to the platform near Ratchet's work station. Ratchet was looking at specs that Miko had brought back and trying to figure out what they were. However, when he saw me, he pauses.

"If you don't mind me asking, what was that secret Jack was talking about?" Ratchet asks. His question had caught everyone's attention in the room. Arcee and Bumblebee knew my secret but I wasn't ready for anyone else to know. I looked at Optimus, and I could tell he was extremely curious.

I sigh. "It's not something I'm ready to share with everyone right now. I'm willing to share with you, Ratchet, but not anyone else at the moment. And it's not that I don't trust you guys", I was referring to everyone else in the room. "But it's something that I need to find the right time to share with everyone else."

"We understand, Alexis", Optimus says. Ratchet offers me his hand, and I climb on. He takes me to the back of the base, where he then asks about my secret again.

"So what is this secret you are only willing to share with me?"

"It's... part of the reason why I want to learn about your guys' biology. Arcee, Bumblebee, and Jack already know", I mumble. Ratchet stays silent and so I continue. "I'm not human. Haven't been human since I was born. I didn't even look like a human originally. I'm... I'm the sparkling of someone in this very base... He sent me away to protect me from Megatron. I almost said my real name when I was asking you to teach me about Cybertronian biology..."

Ratchet's eyes widen when I finish. "Crimson Starflare...?"

"Yeah. That's me. I knew about you guys before I even met you and it's all because of the message Optimus left me when he sent me off."

Ratchet was surprised. "You remember what he said to you?"

I nod. "Yeah. That's why I asked for human facilities when Optimus introduced himself. Because I remembered his name. I remembered my sire's name. I... I had dreams about him too. I just... I could never remember what he looked like. I finally met my real father, and he still doesn't know that I'm Crimson Starflare. He doesn't even know I'm on this planet."

"Have you tried to use your parental-sparkling bond?"

"My what?"

"Parental-sparkling bond. It's a bond that connects a parent and a sparkling together. You're able to feel each others emotions slightly, and you can use it to send messages."

"Is that why growing up, I sometimes felt emotions that weren't mine?"

"It is the most likely explanation."

"How do I... use it?"

"Close your eyes." I close my eyes. "Search for a string. You should have two though one will not work, because your carrier is no longer with us." I quickly found the string. "Once you find the string, pull on it gently. It should open the bond back up and you'll be able to send Optimus a message through the bond."

I pull on the string gently, and instantly, I could feel the difference. I smile as I open my eyes. And then, a thought that wasn't mine came to my mind.

'Crimson?' With the thought came an influx of surprise, love, and hopefulness.

'Hello, Sire', I respond sending back love. I quickly run back to the main room to see Optimus frozen in place, with a surprised look on his face.

'Crimson... you're alive!' There was so much love coming through the bond that tears were falling from my eyes with joy. He really did miss me, didn't he?

'I am. I missed you so much, Sire!' I sent a huge influx of love towards him. It made him smile as tears started falling down his face as well.

'Where are you?' he asked.

I paused. How should I tell him that I'm much closer than he thinks. 'I'm a lot closer than you might think.'

Optimus looked around and he saw me standing at the end of the hallway, tears filling my eyes as a smile made it's way onto my face.

'Looks like you found me', I send through the bond. Optimus' eyes widen and he walks over to me, kneeling and offering me his hand. I climb on and he stares at me.

"Crimson?" he spoke aloud. I smile softly as tears fill my eyes.

"Hello, Sire", I say, copying our conversation through the bond.

"This is the secret you were hiding from us", Optimus murmurs softly.

I nod. "I was afraid you wouldn't remember me, but then last night, when you drove me home, you talked about me. The actual me. Not this human being that I was transformed into when I first arrived on this planet. And that's when I knew I had to tell you. I just... I had no idea how to..."

Optimus smiles. "At least you have been safe. All these years, I couldn't help but wonder where you were, what you were doing, what you looked like, and if... if you remembered me."

I smiled as he said the exact same thing that I said about my real parents.

"Well, I don't think any child could forget their parent especially if their parent is a giant robot that they dreamt about and remembered the last things they heard their parent say to them", I counter with a smile.

Optimus smiles softly before humming quietly. "Do you have any idea how to get back into your real form?"

I shake my head. "Not a clue. I was hoping that learning about Cybertronian biology would allow me to figure out how to change back..."

Optimus hummed, before setting me down on the platform. It was there that I noticed the time. 9:45 PM. It took about 15 minutes to get home.

"Oh shoot! I have to get home. It's almost 10 and I told my mom that I would be home by 9:30 or 10. Scrap!"

Optimus looks at me before smiling softly. "I will take you home, Crimson."

"Thank you so much, Sire", I say. He transforms and I climb in.

On the drive there, I realized that my mom would want to meet Optimus to make sure that I am safe when I am with him.

"Sire...?" I ask quietly.

"Yes, Crimson?" he respond gently.

"My mom- the one that adopted me- will want to meet you. To make sure you're trustworthy. She... she doesn't want me to get hurt", I say softly.

"I understand. But I cannot reveal myself to another human", Optimus says.

"Oh! I wasn't referring to your real form. You could use a holoform, right?"

Optimus hums thoughtfully before, in the driver's seat, a man materializes. He had short red hair, a bit more red than mine, but he had a very similar face shape to me. He also wore a lot of red and blue. His clothing style was actually very similar to mine.

"Woah. I look like your holoform", I say.

Optimus chuckles. "Yes, yes you do. It would make sense for you to look like me, seeing as I am one of your parents."

"Okay, fair", I say with a smile. Optimus chuckles before pulling up in front of my house.

"Come on!" I grin as I hop out of his vehicle form, and head towards my house. Optimus follows me. Before I go in though, I pause and turn to face Optimus.

"You won't be able to call me Crimson in here, okay? My mom would get suspicious. Also, do you have a specific name you use when in holoform?"

"I understand, Alexis. And I usually go by Orion Pax when in holoform", Optimus says.

I nod before entering my house, Optimus following me.

"Mom! I'm home!!" I yell at the top of my lungs.

Mom comes out of the kitchen, Dad following her. I grin and go to give both of them a hug. However, they were staring at Optimus' holoform.

"Oh yeah. Mom, Dad, this is Orion Pax. He's my birth father", I say with a smile.

Optimus smiles at them and my mom hesitantly walks forward.

"It's nice to meet you, Mr. Pax", my mom says.

"Please, call me Orion", Optimus says politely. My dad then steps up to Orion.

"It's very nice to meet you, Orion. I'm Derek and this is my wife, Sally", my dad says.

Optimus smiles. "It's very nice to meet you both. I must thank you for taking care of my daughter for the past 18 years. She's grown into such a fine young woman."

"Has it really been 18 years since we adopted her", my mom muttered to my dad.

My eyes widen. "Holy macarons! My 18th birthday is tomorrow!"

My parents eyes widen, including Optimus'. "Uh... Sally... I think we need to do some last minute shopping", my dad murmured.

"Yeah..."

I fake pout. "Aw, don't tell me you guys forgot my birthday again..."

"Sorry, Lexi. We've just been really busy and all with...." My mom pauses.

"With?" I try to get them to continue their sentence.

"With me being pregnant!" My mom couldn't keep in any more.

My eyes widen as grin breaks out across my face. "I'm going to be a big sister?"

My mom smiles and nods while my dad watches proudly on. Optimus, however, looked uncomfortable.

"Yay!" I grin as I go and pull both of my parents into a hug. "Good work you two", I whisper.

My mom pulls away while my dad chuckles. "Really, Lexi?"

"Yep", was all I chose to say. Just then, Optimus cuts in.

"It was really nice to meet you, but I really must be going", Optimus says.

"It was nice to meet you too! You better show up for her 18th birthday, or else!" My mom says. Optimus chuckles.

"I'll be there. What time would you like me to show up?"

"Whenever you want. Well, preferably not too early in the morning", my dad says.

Optimus smiles. "Would it be alright if I brought someone else along? I'm sure he would be very glad to see his sister turn 18."

"Alexis has a brother?" My dad was surprised.

I chuckle. "Sorry... guess I forgot to tell you that."

"Indeed", Optimus says. "His name is Brandon. He's very energetic, even though he's older than Alexis."

My parents looked at each other. "It'd be delightful to meet him", my mom says.

Optimus smiles. "Wonderful. I'll bring him along then."

Optimus heads out the door, with my dad closing it behind him. My mom turns to look at me. "Well, I have no doubt he's your father. You two look way too similar to not be related. However, I have some questions about him..."

"Okay, shoot", I say with a smile, confident I would be able to answer their questions.

"Why did he send you away but keep your brother?" my mom asks.

"He's been fighting a war for a long time. My brother was born before the war, and so by the time the war started, he was old enough to be fighting. I was born during the war, and Orion's arch enemy wanted to take me and turn me into the perfect warrior. So Orion left me somewhere far from the war, hoping that someone would find me."

"What war were they fighting?"

"They're fighting for control over their homeland. It's a far off place, not even I know where. My father and his teammates fled here, in hopes the enemy would not find them, but they followed. And now the war is continuing all around us, but in secret."

"Why did they flee, and why did the enemy not take the homeland once they fled?"

"They fled because the enemy is much stronger than they are. And their homeland, is desolate and ravaged and no one can live there now", I say softly.

My parents hum thoughtfully. "So, this Brandon... have you met him yet?"

"Yeah. Like my father said, he's really energetic. Possibly more energetic than me which is saying something", I grin.

My parents eyes widen. "Oh boy..."

I chuckle before yawning. "Well, I think I should head to bed. I don't want to be too worn out for my birthday."

My parents nod.

"Goodnight, Mom. Goodnight, Dad. Love you both", I say with a small smile as I hug them.

"Goodnight, Alexis", my parents say in sync.

I chuckle before climbing the stairs and going into my room. Before going to bed however, I send Optimus a message over the bond. 'Goodnight, Sire. Love you.' As I climbed into bed and started to fall asleep, I recieved a message from Optimus.

'Goodnight, my little sparkling. Sleep well.'