Optimus ran at a vehicon and threw a solid right hook, knocking the drone off his feet.

The spacedbridge surged after shifting its aim.

As the realization settled in, Optimus looked up towards the Nemesis. He watched as Megatron launched a hunk of dark energon in the direction of the spacebridge.

He tried shooting at the purple chunk hurdling through space, but his effort was fruitless. The dark energon disappeared into the vortex and Optimus felt his spark tighten.

The Autobots gathered around Optimus and they all looked up into the giant vortex.

Bulkhead was the first to speak. "So, how do we beat a whole planet of the undead?"

"Optimus, I'm registering a rapidly expanding mass in their spacebridge vortex, one with a perculiar energy signature," Ratchet spoke over the comms.

"Dark energon," Optimus confirmed. "Ratchet, we must destroy the spacebridge. There's enough live energon coursing through it to achieve detonation, but we lack the fire power to ignite it."

"If I knew how the spacebridge was engineered I might find a technical way of accomplishing that feat," Ratchet gruffed.

"Would schematics help?" Raf's voice popped over the line.

"Optimus, I must say the spacebridge is our sole hope of ever returning to Cybertron. Are you certain its destruction is the only option?"

The Prime lowered his gaze, thinking about the opportunity to see is home once again, even if it was plagued with ruin. "I am afraid so."

"Then by all means, let us light our darkest hour."

"Autobots, take your positions and follow Ratchet's lead," Optimus instructed as he turned back towards the warship. "While I make my stand."

Bulkhead, Bumblebee, and Arcee retreated while Ratchet guided them beneath the spacebridge.

Bumblebee glance back for a moment and saw Megatron land in front of Optimus. He let out a whir as he continued to run with the others.

"The boss will be fine. He's got this," Bulkhead reassured.

Once below the bridge, Arcee commed in.

"Ratchet, we're in position."

"Arcee, pay close attention," Ratchet spoke as he watched Raf pull up the schematics. "Directly under you three is a panel. Remove it."

Bumblebee and Bulkhead lifted the panel and Arcee asked for the next step.

"There is two glowing orange pipes that run perpendicular. Where they cross is a panel with three switches. Flip the two outside switches."

Arcee leaned down and flipped the two designated switches. "Got it."

"Now follow the line from the flow regulator to the energon pump. There should be a valve."

"I see it," Arcee said as she brought the valve up from the mechanics around it.

"Good. To turn all that power against itself, all you need do is reverse the current."

Arcee grabbed the handles and used all her strangth to turn it into reverse.

"Current reversed."

"I'll ready the groundbridge."

Blaster fire began to rain down on them from above. The three Autobots turned to return fire, finding Megatron as the culprit.

He circled back around and sprayed them with fire, narrowly dodging their blaster fire. And he got a lucky hit.

Arcee let out a cry as the direct shot knocked her back, sending her floating as her gravitizers deactivated.

The spacebridge became unstable and began to rupture beneath their feet.

"Autobots!" Optimus called through the comms. "Jump!"

Bumblebee and Bulkhead saw the groundbridge waiting for them so they took off running to give themselves a boost.

The black and yellow scout aimed his jump perfectly to grab Arcee who was weakly floating through the vacuum.

They were all going back home.

-

Everyone at base waited with bated breath.

"Do you think they're-" Jack trailed off as he looked up at Ratchet.

The medic looked at his wrist monitor. "Four life signals. One very faint."

Adelaide felt her breath hitch at the last bit of information. Optimus had faced Megatron. What if-

Optimus was the first the come through the spacebridge, making all the nerves in Addie's body all melt in relief simulteonously. Granted he was in rough shape, she was just happy that he was okay. But if not Optimus, then who?

The wrecker was the next to make his entrance.

"Bulkhead!" Miko cheered as she ran to him immediately. He lowered his hand to let her hug his finger.

Then came Bumblebee carrying a barely conscious Arcee in his arms.

Raf and Jack walked towards the two bots as the groundbridge vortex swirled to a close.

"Arcee," Jack whispered as he gently set a hand on hers.

She opened her eyes a bit and gave a weak smile. "Really, Jack. There are other motorcycles in the world."

"You were my first," he joked back with a tiny chuckle.

Adelaide stepped on the lower bar of the platform railing and Optimus gave a gentle smile. He walked towards her before setting his hand beside her. She climbed on and allowed him to set her on his shoulder.

"See, I told you I'd back up here when you got back," she said with a smile.

"And I am glad," Optimus spoke softly.

"And Megatron?" Ratchet asked hopefully.

Optimus shook his head slowly. "Not even he could've survived ground zero."

-

"Just take it easy, Optimus," Ratchet said after welding some minor leaks, buffing out little scuffs, and getting out as many dents as he could.

The Prime nodded before looking to Arcee who was resting on one of the medical berths.

"She'll recover quickly," the medic assured.

"I think everyone needs a moment to settle and relax. Everyone did well. Even you, old friend."

"I did what I could. Even the humans did their part." Ratchet looked over at the kids who were playing a card game on the coffee table while Adelaide was typing away at her computer. "You deserve to relax as well, Optimus."

"I believe I will take you up on that," Optimus replied with a nod as he turned his gaze to Adelaide.

He walked towards the platform where the female agent was sitting.

"Adelaide," Optimus spoke, drawing her attention away from the screen in front of her.

"What can I do for you, OP?" She asked with a smile as she spun her chair all the way around to face him.

"I wondered if you would join me for a drive."

"Absolutely," Addie answered, jumping up quickly.

Optimus proceeded to transform as Adelaide bounded down the stairs, sliding into the Prime's passenger seat.

As the two drove out of the base, Miko began to giggle.

"What's so funny?" Jack asked as he looked up from his cars.

"Addie is so whipped," the girl gushed. "Got an ace?"

"Nah, go fish. And I highly doubt she has a crush on a giant alien robot. This isn't a fanfiction," Jack shot it down. "Raf, do you have a three?"

The smallest of the teen grinned as he shook his head. "Go fish."

"Oh, come on, Jack. Have you seen the way she looks at him? Or how she's always by his side?"

"So? She could just see him as a good friend," Jack argued as he picked up a card.

"Miko, seven?" Raf asked as he studied his cards.

The girl huffed as she threw down her three. "You just don't understand women."

"What do you think, Raf?" Jack asked, putting down his newly gathered pair of threes.

Rafael adjusted his glasses for a moment before shrugging. "I don't know. She definitely cares about him a lot and respects him even more."

"Miko, do you have a queen?" Jack asked.

"I ship it. Just you guys watch.," Miko claimed, throwing another card at Jack.

"Whatever." Jack rolled his eyes as he put down his last card on top of Miko's with a victorious smirk. "I win."

-

Adelaide laid beside Optimus's helm as they watched the stars. She had noticed Optimus was much quieter than he normally was.

She looked over at him and watched him silently for a moment.

"Hey, are you doing okay?" She finally spoke after a bit.

"I told you once that I was not always a Prime, correct?" Optimus said, keeping his gaze to the heavens.

"Mhm."

"When I became a Prime, the name Optimus was given to me by the high council. The designation I was given at my creation was Orion Pax," he continued.

"Orion Pax," Addie repeated quietly.

"I know I have chosen not to tell you about my time before the war, but I do not want you to think it is a lack of trust," Optimus said as he turned his head to look at her. "It is just not an easy thing to talk about."

"I would never ask you to tell me something you don't want to, Optimus. I don't need to know about who you were and what you did before the war to know who you are now."

There was a moment of silence as an abundance of different words flowed through his mind.

"I used to be close to Megatron. I even considered him a brother. I truly believe that I would not be who I am today without the things he taught me. Seeing what he became..." Optimus trailed off as he looked back at the stars. "I wished that I could have gotten through to him. But he died feeling that I betrayed him, and with a spark full of nothing but hate."

Adelaide gave a quiet hum. "I won't lie to you and say I know he couldn't have changed, but I do know that he clearly never tried. He didn't want to change. There's nothing you truly could've done to make him desire that change. But if I know you, you did what you felt was right. Losing a close friend is painful, but everyone comes and goes for a reason. Perhaps his spark will find some peace in the All Spark."

"I would like to think so."

The agent chewed the inside of her lip as she continued to watch the Prime. Her heart ached, knowing that there wasn't a thing she could do to ease the guilt that kept him weighed down. She wished more than anything to be able to make him happy.

He was her best friend and she cherished every moment she had to spend with him, knowing that one day he, along with the others, would have to leave. His voice soothed any worries she had, and being in his presence gave her comfort. She felt truly at home when she was sat on his shoulder.

She wanted to return that comfort, that feeling of home and ease. But she couldn't take the war away. She couldn't take away the past guilt that ate away at him. But she could listen.

It was quiet again for a little while before Addie gave a small laugh.

Optimus turned to look at her, wondering what had caused her amusement.

"You know, Orion is Greek for heaven's light and Pax is Latin for peace. Pretty fitting, huh?" Adelaide said as she threw a smile at Optimus.

He couldn't help but return her smile. "What about Adelaide?"

"It means of noble nature," she answered. "My parents said they chose it because I was their little princess."

"Your name, too, fits you well," Optimus replied with a slow nod.

"I'd like to think I'd meet a pretty good queen," Addie joked with a grin.

"I know you would."