Author's Point of View

The mixed group follows closely behind Agent Simmons and Agent Banachek on a . . . "totally classified" tour of the Hoover Dam. In a matter of minutes they walk from a high point of the dam to the lower outer level. Agent Simmons looks back at the group, saying, "Alright, here's the situation. You've all had direct contact with the NBEs." The group's facial responses were ones of confusion.

"NBEs?" Chief Master Sergeant Epps asks in clarification.

"Non-Biological Extraterrestrials. Try and keep up with the acronyms." Agent Simmons' response causes Lieutenant Holestein to roll her eyes. She did not know whether or not to take the acronym as a compliment or an ignorant insult. They enter a door that leads to an underground passageway; personnel growing the deeper they travel. After the passageway, they enter other hallways and rooms. Many men and women are going to and fro as their duties are being fulfilled but the rhythm is smooth as no one bumps into others.

As they walk further, Lieutenant Holestein feels a familiar presence; a cold chill running through her veins as a pit develops in her gut. Her widened eyes meet Captain Lennox' and her Scarlett's as her face continues growing pale. Their eyebrows furrow in concern and Scarlett rests a hand on her shoulder, squeezing it lightly. She mouths What's wrong? All the Lieutenant can do is shake her head no as she gulps the uneasiness down and continue walking. Her commanding officer examines her one time over and remains beside her.

"What you are about to see is totally classified," Agent Banachek informs as they approach a very large room. The feeling within the Lieutenant grows and grows with every step to the point she leans against a metal crate near her and takes deep breaths. The others stop as Scarlett says her first name in worry.

"S-Sorry, I-I cannot enter that room," Elektra says in a weary and shaking voice. Her whole demeanor is of one lacking the ability to continue onward; life-force being drained. The Captain rests a hand on her shoulder and as Scarlett wraps an arm around her waist to support her in standing up.

"What's happening? You look-"

"Awful? Yes, but there can be only one being within the universe who can strike such depleting abilities through me," Elektra interrupts Lennox with her worry. Beads of sweat develop on her forehead and neck and Scarlett tries to walk her forward but she refuses. "No no no, I wi-"

"Captain, Lieutenant, Miss Holestein, what is going on?" The Secretary of Defense asks as he approaches them. A small exasperated sigh emits from Elektra as she stands a little straighter; Lennox straight as a stick; Scarlett in awe she is in the presence of the Secretary of Defense.

"Lieutenant Holestein is feeling unwell. Something about what or-or who is in that room," Lennox nods in the direction of the open doorway they are approaching. "Is making her this way." Sec-Def looks at them both, how he is helping her, and her demeanor. He looks at Scarlett briefly as well. His eyes return to Elektra's eyes for a few seconds then lets out a breath.

"Do you know who or what it is?" Sec-Def asks with a calm yet firm voice. The others watch, especially the Agents -eyeing them in interest. All of them have stepped closer with varying expressions of concern, interrogation and curiosity. Being in a weakened state has Elektra instinctively becoming defensive, as well as Lennox and Scarlett. He has been protective over her so some time. After all, she has been there for him through the darkest times of his life: the beginning of his PTSD and his ex-almost fiance leaving him. It is only right he does the same. As for Scarlett, what little sister doesn't have her big sister's back?

Elektra meets his eyes, "Only a guess that I desire to not be true." She regains herself slightly and stands a little straighter. 

Sec-Def smiles a bit at her and rests a hand on her shoulder. "It will be alright. Let's go," he says and leads the four of them back to the group.

"You know what it is?" Agent Banachek asks her in confirmation. His eyes showed interest and concern. The sweat on his brow proved it. Elektra knew that he could easily assume what she is. She looks at Will and Scarlett then stands up on her own, taking a few steps away from them.

Her eyes turn from an earthy green to an electric Autobot blue. Her appearance shifts from human to her true nature: an autonomous robotic organism. Her skin is now slick Cybertronian steel with armor strategically in place over her chest, shoulders, abdomen, legs, back, and arms; her armor consisting of a deep blue and black coloring with gold mandala outlines. The two white tattoos on her wrists stand out with an alluring glow. Her height remains the same and her hair flows in the air from the energon fuel lines in the metallic strands.

Everyone is either giving her a deer in the headlights look and standing still or they have stepped back in caution and surprise. Her team mate's, Scarlett, Sam and Michaela's reactions were the first as the others were the latter. Others who witnessed this event stepped back as well and became cautious. 

"It is similar to me," Elektra breaks the silence, "I assume?" The Agents share a look then nod at her in response. "Lead the way." She sensed men partially surround them with guns of some sort. It was for the safety of everyone else, of course.

The Agents lead them into the room that is technically a hanger. What the group saw was a shocking difference from Elektra. It was a large monstrous metal creature, similar to the ones in Qatar. "Dear God. What is this?" Sec-Def asks in sheer dumbfoundment.

"We think when he made his approach over the north pole, and our gravitational field screwed up his telemetry. He crashed in the ice, probably a few thousand years ago. We shipped him here to this facility in 1934," Agent Banachek explains.

It was Elektra's turn to be stuck in place with a deer in the headlights expression, but one of fear. 'Oh scraps . . . He's been here all along,' she thinks to herself. 'And only a select few of the human race know of us, and it had to be Megatron . . .' She remains frozen in shock for a small moment before a warm smooth hand rests on her shoulder. Her optics meet Will's sparkling brown eyes; strength and an emotion she knows is love radiant from them. His touch calms the storm within her and her cables and pistons relax. Her spark becomes more light and airy as peace courses through her fuel lines. Scarlett links an arm through her sister's arm and she keeps her close. Will examines Megatron then looks back to Elektra, "This is him, your enemy?"

"Yes. This is Megatron, my greatest enemy," Elektra says sorrowfully and the others look at them, "and the leader of the Decepticons. He is the equivalence of earth's Hitler." The group exchange looks between her and Megatron -comparing and comprehending.

"This-This is Megatron," Sam mutters in disbelief and understanding. Epps shakes his head a bit and the Agents watch as their guests take all this in, and they eye Elektra. Scarlett tenses up and gulps down her fear.

"We call him NBE-1," Agent Simmons says. "Easier than Megatron," he adds quickly." Elektra rolls her optics and resists the urge to slaphim.

Agent Banachek looks at Sam, "He's been in cryostasis since 1935. Your great-great-grandfather made one of the greatest discoveries in the history of mankind." Sam's face grew in astonishment and pride of his ancestor.

"Fact is, you're looking at the source of the modern age, the microchip, lasers, spaceflight, cars, all reverse-engineered by studying him," Agent Simmons adds.

Elektra nods mildly in understanding. Had it not been for her kind arriving on Earth this species would not have the technology advancements they do now. 'Crazy, absolutely crazy. And I thought Megatron had a few nuts and bolts loose . . .' She shakes her head at her thoughts.

"And you didn't think the United States military might need to know that you're keeping a hostile alien robot frozen in the basement?" The Secretary of Defense asks, slightly baffled by the lack of knowledge.

"Until these events, we had no credible threat to national security," Agent Banachek answers. 'It is a credible reason but who wouldn't want to know about a deadly alien under the Hoover Dam?' Elektra mentally adds.

"Well, you got one now," Sec-Def says firmly. Elektra holds in a snicker and hides a smirk by rubbing the tips of her digits against her mouth; she hears a muffled giggle from Scarlett. Elektra meets Will's eyes, which are filled with slight annoyance but light up when meeting her optics. 

He looks from her back to Megatron then asks, "So why earth?"

"It's the All-Spark," Sam answers matter-of-factly.

"All-Spark? What is that?" Sec-Def asks.

"It is a large cube filled with power," Elektra answers, "My people kept safe until . . . Until the war." She goes silent as she drops her head slightly. "Megatron's spark -you know it as the heart- changed before the war began then he attempted using the Cube for evil. His intentions here will be to transform human technology into an all-powerful weapon to gain control of the universe." She felt the stares pierce her thick plated armor.

"You're sure about that?" Elektra meets the eyes of the Agents giving clarifying and concerned expressions. She gets a feeling that these agents know more than they care to tell.

"Yes . . . And it's here, isn't it?" Elektra can't help but smile. Though with Megatron so close to the Cube, with her here able to take it somewhere far more safe, there was hope.

"Follow me." The group follows the Agents to where the Spark is located.

Elektra looks back at Megatron, a part of her expecting him to come alive, before following her comrades.

"You're about to see our crown jewel." They enter a viewing room with a window revealing the large metallic cube with Cybertronian markings on it. Elektra's spark flares briefly in awe and the eyes of everyone else widen tremendously.

"Carbon dating puts the Cube here around 10,000 BC. The first Seven didn't find it until 1913." Agent Banachek continues. "They knew it was alien because of the matching hieroglyphics on the Cube as well as NBE One. President Hoover had the dam built around it. Four football fields thick of concrete. A perfect way to hide its energy from being detected by anyone or any alien species on the outside."

"I can't believe you spent so many centuries looking for the Cube . . ." Scarlett comments quietly.

"And to think it would be handed to me on a silver platter by the end of it," Elektra finishes, chuckling in spite of her circumstance.

"Wait, back up," Maggie, the blonde haired girl, says. "You said the dam hides the Cube's energy . . . What kind exactly?"

"Good question," Agent Simmons answers, and yet again, the group is led to another area and room.

Elektra was the last to leave the room again, greatly desiring to remain close to the Cube -to protect it. But the nagging knowing within her that is pulling her along with the group prevents her from doing so. 'I'll return. I promise,' she thinks with great hope in her spark and a smile on her dermas and optics.