"Optimus, have you uncovered any further sign of Unicron's emergence?" Ratchet called.

"We're kinda surrounded," Nova answered, standing beside Optimus.

  "UNICRON IS POWER INCARNATE, AND YOU, THE LAST OF THE PRIMES, SHALL PERISH!"  

"I'll take that as a yes. We are on our way."

"Negative. Unicron cannot be defeated by sheer force. He wants me, Ratchet." Optimus said in his com link. Optimus activated his blasters and his battle mask before looking to his charge. 

  "Send a groundbridge and take Nova back. I will stay behind and hold Unicron off."  

  "What! You can't defeat all of them alone!"  Nova said to him.

  "I do not have time to argue..."  

"No way, I'm not leaving  you with them either." Nova said as she got in her fighting stance and both her hands sparked. Her whole body was reacting to the danger that she was facing. "I'm sticking with you and I"ll take no for an answer."

Optimus vented sharply at her, all too familiar stubbornness. The pulsing under her skin is now regulated into a quick rhythm. It feels weird and unnerving, but it is not negatively affecting her body. The shock is all in her head. But now she is determined to fight with all her power.

'I will not hold back.'

As the clones jumped upon the cliff that Optimus and Nova were on, and the two quickly dispose of them. Nova was blasting lightning and using her TK power to smash them. Vaguely, She take notice that the purple sparks are surrounding her body, but she had attention in protecting Optimus and not getting hit. She may be thicker skinned, but she knows that if she get hit by those moving statues it will hurt..... A lot.

Just as she jumped off the cliff that she was running,  Nova concentrated her TK power to lift her body as though she was floating. She managed to land safely on another cliff before she used her Tk power again to lift the boulder behind her and plummet it at the moving statues. The head crumbles into tiny pieces and the body stands still before it falls forwards. The clone body breaks into chunks of debris, but in that time she was already smashing the head of a different clone. Unfortunately, more Unicrons emerged from every canyon. 

'This is going to be more difficult,'  Nova said mentally, rolling her eyes before blasting lightning at every one of them while Unicron clones came wave after wave until one of them finally shot Nova off with electricity which she was thrown off the cliff. Luckily, her active shield cushioned her from the fall.

  "Nova!" Optimus shouted before he was tackled off the cliff by a clone.  

  The Prime stumbled back into a wall after being crushed by a clone. Another approached the down Prime and got a couple hits before he was blasted away. Optimus held on for a little longer before he was ping-ponged around. He stabbed one in the face and threw him off the cliff before two more jumped up. He fired at them before he was tackled from behind.   

Nova regained conscious as she saw Optimus surrounded by the Unicron manifestations and was about to end him. She run towards them, stretching her right arm and shouted, "Get your hands off my guardian!!!!"

She felt a surge of energy again then an almost unperceivable wave rolled towards all of the Unicrons before the cracks of light appeared and exploded, the ricochets of it echoing throughout the canyon with a defining boom!

Nova's eyes went wide before looking at her hand, "Woah.....What just happen?"

She snapped back to the present when Unicron growled, apparently not appreciating what she had just done, though she didn't even know what she just did. Unicron raised his arm, ready to bring it smashing down upon the girl before a Ground bridge opened and blaster fire stopped him. Optimus glanced to his side and saw the others have arrived.

Nova blasted lightning at the two golems while Arcee, Bumblebee, and Bulkhead free Optimus. Once he was, the Prime kicked a clone away before blasting and throwing one away and running. Arcee and Bumblebee fired at the one behind the Prime. Bee kicked one while another knocked Arcee down. Optimus came and tossed one before stabbing the other.

"Did Ratchet not relay my command? Return to base." Optimus ordered.

"Reinforcements will not prevent your destruction, disciple of Primus." Unicron boomed.

"Optimus," Arcee blew the helm off a Unicron and looked at her commander. "You're Unicron's target, maybe you should consider retreating to base."

"These manifestations of Unicron can locate us anywhere on Earth. Even our bases' shielding would only cloak our positions for so long. I will not put others at risk."

"Then fall back and let us take the lead," Bulkhead offered, "Just this once....."

"Please! Listen to reason! If you don't survive, Optimus, I fear neither will this planet." Ratchet reasoned through the comm link.

  Optimus' optics widened before he gave in. "Very well. Nova," he called.  

Nova glanced behind her and nodded as she finished killing off the clone before retreating to her team just as another clone jumped to where she was. "Let's move," Arcee said and the Autobots continued to fight the clones while reaching to the top of the canyon.

Optimus transformed and let his charge in before driving and knocking all the clones. As Nova was seated, her face cringed, clutching to her chest. The pounding under her skin is still active, but it has yet to hinder in her combat ability.  She shook her head as she continued to ignored the pain, pulsing in her chest. They were clear for a moment but they had to transform when another clone, bigger than anything started to form.

"Ugh, you have got to be kidding me! " Nova groaned, frustrated, exhausted and tired.

Bumblebee buzzed questionable.

"No, not Unicron himself, but another of his manifestation," Optimus answered.

"If we can't beat Unicron, and we can't outrun him, what exactly are we supposed to do?" Bulkhead asked.

"All we can do. Neutralize his vessels as they appear, until we find a way to destroy him... without destroying the very Earth upon which we walk. Will you be alright, Nova?"

"That's not going to make me feel better......but I'll live as long as I don't get stomped though." Nova said dryly.

She hoped off of Optimus' servo and began to fire at the giant while Bulkhead and Bumblebee transformed and drove behind him to try and flank him. But Unicron moved the arm with the spikes and knocked them back. He felt more shots being fired on arm and he simply walked Arcee with his other arm forcing her to transform and landing on her stomach. With them out of the way, Unicron focused on his targets who were firing at him.

"Fools!"

He pounded the ground beneath and rocks came flying at the Prime who shoved his charge aside before he was crushed by the rocks. Nova rolled onto a side before getting on her fronts and her eyes widening when she saw her guardian about to be stomped on like an ant.

"I am this world's past and its future. And as of this moment..."

"NO!" Both Arcee and Nova shouted.

"...all Prime's are simply past."

Out of nowhere, blaster fire was heard and hit Unicron in the face, causing him to crumble. NOva grunted as she stood up while the others regrouped around her. 

Bumblebee buzzed in questioned confusedly

"Wasn't me," Arcee answered.

"Me neither," Bulkhead answered before they all looked to the technorganic.

"Don't look at me." NOva said shrugged.

"Ratchet?"

"What is it? What happened?" Ratchet said in the comm link.

"I happened." a voice declared.

Everyone looked at the voice and saw the last person they expected to save Optimus. "Megatron?" Bulkhead asked in disbelief after jumping the remains of the clone.

"King's 'Con there, too?" Miko asked.

"He has aligned himself with Unicron." Ratchet explained.

"Don't be so sure. Megatron just saved Optimus' tailpipe." Arcee said making the medic's optics to widen.

  Optimus pushed rocks out of his way before Megatron aimed his cannon at him. The Autobots aimed their weapons at him, but Megatron offered his servo instead, much to NOva's surprise. Optimus seems surprised as well before accepting his offer and was pulled out of the rubble.  Nova never thought she would see the day that they both will be in this close proximity without fighting each other. The seconds were tense as they stare down, but they seem to come to an agreement and they stand side by side looking at the rest of the Autobots.

"It is rather ironic, considering our last encounter." Megatron states as he walks forward. But then he stops and turns around to look at Optimus. "If memory serves, you were desperately attempting to extinguish my spark." 

"That option remains very much in play." Optimus replies in almost threatening tone as he went up to Megatron and stare him down.

"I would expect nothing less." Megatron retorts. He then moves away. "However, I have a proposal." He stops and looks at the last Prime. "Join me in defeating our shared enemy—Unicron, the Chaos-Bringer."

  Involuntary a shiver passes down her spine and the pulsing on her skin increases in intensity, but not in pace. Quietly, she tugged her hood tightly to be sure no one doesn't see her pained expression. 

  "Ha! Absurd! Unicron is evil incarnate if Megatron wants to take any side, why would it be ours?"  Ratchet said through the com link.

"Because Megatron's pride would never allow anyone other than himself to rule this planet," Optimus answered.

"You know me all too well, Optimus." Megatron replies in almost taunting voice.

  "Why you would wanna help us?" Nova questioned his motive. Megatron's optics fixed the familiar human. "It seems she is the only one asking the logical questions." He smirked.

 Arcee steps in front of Nova in a protective stance, Nova can feel the death glare that she is giving Megatron. Bumblebee and Bulkhead also take a stand next to her.

"To answer her question, defeating Unicron requires something beyond the realm of my command... the power of a Prime."

"Then I guess we don't need you." Bulkhead pointed out.

  "On the contrary, Optimus may be the only one who can defeat Unicron, but I remain the only one who can guide you to him. Unicron's lifeblood runs through me. Only I can hear his thoughts, anticipate his movements." Megatron explained.

Quietly, Nova look at her hands and see the purple veins had reached her fingers.  'I have the Chaos-Bringer's lifeblood inside of me as well. I could hear voices and feel his presence But... I can't hear his thoughts. If I could do that, then we wouldn't need Megatron.' Nova thought to herself.

  "Optimus, our past alliances – Autobot, Decepticon – no longer matter, not while Unicron lives." Megatron continues his speech.  

Optimus scrutinized the Deception leader. "A truce between Autobots and Decepticons... how long do you expect that to last?"

"Just as long as is mutually beneficial."

"And when our proposed shared mission is complete?"

"I will conquer this Earth... my way." He smirked then looks at Nova's direction and made eye contact. Nova noticed he was staring at her before she looked away from his gaze. 

"Brutal honesty of a Decepticon," Arcee said dryly.

"Aligning with the lesser of two evils is still siding with evil!" Ratchet objected to Megatron's proposed truce.  

"Do you think you've witnessed the full power of Unicron? Those foot soldiers were nothing more than a taste. Unicron has yet to fully awaken. With each passing moment, the Bringer of Chaos evolves, mutating Earth from the inside out. What we have witnessed until now is but a prelude of the utter devastation his rising will wreak upon your world."

"Like your quest for power destroyed Cybertron!" Arcee barked angrily, which Megatron retorted. "Make no mistake, this time there will be a planet left for me to rule!"

"Even if we agree. Unicrons all the way down in the center of the earth. How are we supposed to get there, drive?" Bulkhead asked.

"What kind of a question is that?" Nova asked. "Earth is not like Cybertron. The only possible way to get there is by drilling."

"There is another way," Optimus said.

"Absolutely not!" Ratchet denied immediately, knowing what he meant. "Ground-bridging into space or into moving trains is difficult enough. But plotting a blind jump inside a sentient being?! Besides, direct exposure to that much dark energon will debilitate you. You haven't built up an immunity like Megatron has."

"Yet another strong argument for soliciting my guidance," Megatron remarked.

"You can provide Unicron's exact coordinates?"

"If you transport us to this planet's core, I can lead you directly into Unicron's spark... the very heart of his darkness."

"Optimus, even if we survive the jump, how are we supposed to stop Unicron?" Arcee asked.

"With the Matrix of Leadership."

'What is that? It sounds powerful...' Nova thought in curiosity.

"It was the combined power of the Primes that defeated Unicron so long ago, the very reason he now seeks to destroy you." Megatron answered

'So.....the Matrix has the power of the Primes. It is implied that Optimus has it since he is the last Prime. Or at least knows where it is.'

"It would follow that unleashing the power of the Matrix directly into Unicron's spark would return his to stasis." Optimus reveals.

Nova gasped as the pulsing that what was once going weaker now suddenly picked up the pace. They all froze as the rocks began collecting together to form another giant Unicron.

"We got another one," Bulkhead said.

"Ratchet, send a Ground bridge," Optimus ordered.

Arcee grabbed Nova and started to fight back the violent wind when a portal opened beside them. "Wait. We're opening a direct path into our base with Megatron standing right there?"

"And seriously, he's going to risk his own spark to save us?" Bulkhead remarked.

Megatron laughed. "Hardly my nature." He looked up at the giant. "Consider my offer. I shall keep it busy." He stated before jumping and transforming into a jet and distracting the clone.

The Autobots jumped through the Ground bridge.

Back in the Base

Not long, all of Team Prime entered the base all of them had dents and scratches, especially Optimus who had suffered many scratches that were quite noticeable. Nova, along with the other humans made their way onto the central platform. Optimus disclosed Ratchet and the humans about the details of Megatron coming to base to which Ratchet was not too fond of.

"I know that desperate times call for desperate measure, but bringing Megatron here?" Ratchet asked as he paced back and forth.

"How can you even think about letting that monster near these children after what he did to Raf and Nova?" June asked.

"He will be closely monitored and only allowed to linger long enough to send us on our journey. Not one moment more." Optimus informed "What's going to stop the 'Con from calling in an air strike if he knows where you live?" Fowler asked.

"By Ground-bridging Megatron here, he will be unable to get a fix on our coordinates."

"Optimus, what's gonna happen to you when all your Matrix's energy released?" Jack asked.

"The power within the Matrix has not previously been utilized in this particular manner."

"But you have an idea, don't you?" 

Optimus paused as he looked at the others. "Autobots, if humankind is to be saved... I have no choice but to proceed. But you do."

"Well, I don't know about humankind, but I'm willing to do it... for Miko." Bulkhead said

"For Jack." Arcee added.

  Bumblebee beeped Raf's name valiantly.

Hearing the valiant words and declarations of his comrades, Optimus couldn't help but feel a swell of pride in his spark. He truly was blessed and honored to have such valiant and loyal comrades and friends. Even the humans all had varying degrees of degrees of determination written on their faces and in their eyes. They were just as committed to this endeavor as he was, willing to follow him to what might very well be their end.

He truly was blessed to have such honorable friends.

Chancing a glance in a certain femme's direction as he turned, Optimus almost stopped in his tracks and froze when he caught the intense expression on her face. She had pained look on her face, clutching her chest and breathing heavily for some reason.

Nova was clutching her chest tightly, it felt like someone was ripping her chest open and placing a hot sear on her heart. She couldn't hold it back anymore and let out a cry of pain before she crumpled to the floor. Everyone turned their attention to NOva who seems in pained, Campy head to her with worries.

  "Nova," Optimus called worriedly. 

Jack grabbed Nova from her shoulders. His arms trail down her arms and grab her hands which until now she did not notice they were getting colder. "You're cold." He murmurs but then his eyes widen when he finally saw her hands. "Your hands!"

Nova's arm was showed when they see her hand was covered in purple markings and her skin darkened.

Miko asked worriedly, seeing her arms, "What's happening to her?"

"She was in Bee with me when Megatron shot us," Raf pointed out.

June went over to take off her hoodie and notice the purple veins etched it's way closer to her neck.

    "Is that purple veins?" Jack asked her mother as he stared at her neck. HIs eyes widen, "They're darkershade!"    

June noticed Nova clutching her chest and was breathing heavily as she asked worriedly, "Nova, What's wrong?"

"M-My chest," Nova groaned, grabbing at the center of her chest. "It, burns,.."   

June began to unbuttoned her jacket as she peeked under her shirt, making Agent Fowler and the kids look away. "Good lord..." June muttered, her cold fingers trailing the empty space in the middle of her chest.

"What is it?" Ratchet's voice came from him as Optimus moved to the side so he could see. "By Primus.."

NOva stared down at her chest, There was a purple light shining through her skin, with the same purple filling some of her veins leading away from the bigger source and spreading through her body. Ratchet quickly rushes towards her. He offers his hand and Jack leads Nova to him and he places her on one of the Autobot berths. He scans her and his face looks troubled.

"My scans shows that you have traces of dark energon in your blood circular system." Ratchet informed.

"WHAT?!" the humans said unison. Arcee turned to Nova, "I thought you said you weren't effected by it. 

Nova looked up weakly and said, "I guess I'm not good at hiding......I thought at first I wasn't effected but......There is something that's very wrong actually." SHe took a deep breathe before looking at everyone. "I feel it."

  "Feel what?" Ratchet asked  

"When the blast hit me, I felt energized at first, but it came with a strange pounding feeling originating from under my skin. I dismissed it as unimportant until we all heard Unicron's heartbeat. I felt scared when I realized that the pounding, which I now know is because of the dark energon under my skin, is in sync with Unicron's heartbeat. It would explained why my power was very strong when I exploded all of the clones. "

There was tense atmosphere in the base and everyone were shocked of what she said.

"Why didn't you tell us before?"

"Becoz I don't want to worry all of you and get your hopes up. Don't worry about me, I'll be fine just focus on your mission."

Miko suggested, "Can't we do the same thing what we did to Raf?"

Nova said, "THere's no time, forget about me..... your priority is the Earth."

OPtimus stepped forward, "Both you and the Earth are important....."

"But...."

"Nova, you matter to me and I do not want to see any harm to your wellbeing."

Nova was taken back by his word, all her life she recalled when she was an ex agent before but it was the first time anyone had said to her. Nova chuckled and said, "THat's strange....No one has ever worried about my health before. Even though, I don't matter what happens to me."

Jack said, "Don't say that.....we're your friends, Nova and we do care about you." Nova stared at everyone and she was swelled with pride that they cared about her. She said seriously, "I know your all worried about me but right now you got a world to save."

"Nova.." OPtimus said before he saw the pleading look on NOva's face.

"Optimus.....please for the sake of humanity, Save Earth from the rising darkness." Nova pleaded to him. "I'll be fine......I promise it'll be alright." She squeezed her left eye, trying to endure the pain from the dark energon effect.

Optimus stared at NOva for a minute, he couldn't bear to see his charge in pained but Earth was his priority. Nova promised him that she'll be alright so he decided to believe in her words. He went to the controls and called through the comm link, "Megatron, we are sending transport."

 " You can always be relied upon to listen to reason, Optimus "

Ratchet placed NOva down to go with the humans, telling them to hide. She ordered Campy to hide in her room. He whined a bit before heading back to the hallway. Nova wouldn't want her pet to be near to a decepticon warlord. Nova cringed in pained, placing her hood over her head so that no one would see her pained look.

"No fair! I've never seen him! Why do we have to hide?" she heard Miko whine.

"Because I said so!" the medic snapped. Nova grabbed Miko's hand and said, "And believe me, you don't want to. I've seen him enough to last a lifetime."

  As everyone went to the hallway, the ground bridge suddenly lit up. He turned his helm to the direction of the ground bridge was before walking over to the rest of the team. All of Team Prime were huddled together staring at the vortex intently. Optimus took a few steps forward where he basically stood right in front of the entrance of it. That was when Megatron appear from the swirling green vortex walking casually, yet intimidating nonetheless. Bulkhead, Bumblebee, and Arcee activated their blasters where they did not plan to let their guard down. Megatron halted, as he now stood in front of Optimus. His piercing purple optics look around the room with curiosity.  

"So, this is where the magic happens. Quaint." Commented Megatron.

Nova and the rest of them watched from the corner of a wall. All eyes were on Megatron who stood before bots with confidence. Raf started shaking in anger when he suddenly stormed away from the group. 

"Raf!"

"Rafael, no!"

   Jack, Miko, Nova and the other two followed behind the boy which caught Megatron's attention as looked over to his left. 

"You...!" the little boy growled with a dark, angry expression on his face as he glared up at the colorless mech.

Gently, she set one of her hands of Raf's other shoulder, standing next to Jack as Nova glared up at Megatron.

"Ah!" Megatron turned to the boy but Arcee put herself between them. "You're looking much better than the last time we met, little one. Humans... resilent."

  Jack pulled Raf away. "Come on, Raf. He isn't worth it." Jack said, leading Raf away where his mother then took him away. As Jack began to walk away Megatron spoke, which directed at him. "And you, I never forget a face even that of a human." Jack glared over his shoulders at Megatron before walking away.  

"You double-cross anyone mine is the face you'll never forget. Never!" Miko declared. Fowler grabbed Miko and pulled her back while Megatron stared at her unamused by her threat. Nova was about to followed them behind before she felt an excruciating pained in her chest. It was pounding intensely as she crumpled on the ground in a crouching position which caught everyone's attention when they saw light purple sparks coming out of her body.

Jack said, running to her, "Nova!"

Nova raised her hand to stop him as purple sparks surrounded her body before it calmed down. As her hood fell off, she slowly lifted her head only to reveal her purple veins that have most likely have covered half of her face and her skin darkened, even her right eye was no longer azure. Instead, her right pupil was purple and her iris darkened as well.

"I'm fine.....just having a headache, that's all." Nova said weakly while breathing heavily.

 "No, your not fine.....The dark energon is taking over your body." Ratchet answered gravely. "It's just a matter of an hour or so before it finally completes."

"I'll be fine, I can manage myself."

 "But..." Jack said to her.

"Look, I've been blown up, shot at and got blasted by dark energon. Believe me, I faced far worse than this and it's something I'm not going to repeat. Trust me, I'll be alright." Nova said harshly to him. Ratchet wanted to protest but decided not to questioned her. She slowly stood up while clutching her chest.

Megatron who has been observing at the scenario, His piercing optics was studying her like a prey observing its meal from afar before striking. He seems to admire her bravery despite she was infected by the dark energon. He was amazed that that she was still functioning and alive. He chuckled, and this caused everyone in the room to grow tense, including Optimus, who has been observing Megatron looking down at Nova.

"It would seem my suspicion were correct when my medic informed me of his report. I would have know that you had a technorganic among you. Yet, I didn't expected her to be effected by my attack." He said. 

Nova turned to him and said angrily, "If you hadn't blast us, Raf and I would have been killed. Your lucky, I won't have to used my power to strike you down when I'm not in this weakened state."

Megatron doesn't seem fazed by her threat before he said, "You have sharp words and such fire in you femme, It seems I was right about you...."

"About what?"

"...That you would make a fine decepticon warrior."

Out of the corner of her eyes, Nova didn't fail to notice how Optimus, Ratchet, and the others are all visibly tensed at the words. Nova was fazed to what he said, and without warning,  she backed away and gave the gunmetal-grey mech one last deep, scowling glare as she turned around and said, "My name is Nova......and I fight for my own rather than fight for your caused."

As she walked the opposite way where Jack was waiting for her, much to Megatron's disappointment which he expressed by curling his lips down.  

 "Ratchet, obtain the destination coordinates from our guest," Optimus ordered. Nova could hear an edge in his voice that suggested he was just as uncomfortable about Megatron being at the base as the rest of them. However, Nova knew  desperate times do call for desperate measures and this was one of them, so she was in no place to complain.  

  "Jack," he called. Nova halted on her tracks as she turned to where she see Jack and her guardian curiously. Optimus looked over his shoulder, checking his troops before he turned back the the boy. "Will you, keep something for me?"  

"Sure." JAck replied.

Nova watched Optimus held up a silver and blue metallic object appeared from his hand. Then as he gets it closer to Jack, it compacts into a smaller size.

"What is it?" Jack said, studying the object in his hand.

"It is the key..... to the Ground bridge power supply." Optimus said. However, Nova knew that wasn't telling the truth, judging from his tone. She recalled when she was once Agent Reaper, she was trained to anticipate not only attacks but she also detect a lie through their expressions and tone. She was really suspicious of her guardian when he claimed it was a groundbridge power supply. 

"Okay, but shouldn't Ratchet have this?......Or Nova?" Jack questioned.

"Perhaps. But I've been impressed by how much you have matured since we first met. As such, I feel you have earned the responsibility of safeguarding this important device, until I return."

  "I won't let you down," Jack smiled as Optimus rose and turned to the others.  

  "You're a terrible liar," Nova spoke which caught Optimus' attention. "What is it really?"

"Its....nothing." He replied but she knew he was lying. "It's okay if you don't want to tell me, I'm fine with that."Nova said, causing the Prime's optics to snap back to her in surprise. He had probably been expecting her to call him out on lying. But as he studied he face, Nova guess he found the answer he was looking for before his frame relaxed slightly and his optics brightened.

 "NOva, i can't predict the outcome when we render unicron back into stasis, but if the autobots return before i do." He said

"But you're coming back." She interrupted.

"If the autobots return before i do, I'll need you to take my place..." He said shaking off hercomment.

Nova was taken aback by this sudden appointed post as she said, "w-what? but your coming back there's no need, besides appointing me to something like that. You know I can't do that?!"

"I am uncertain of the outcome when i do release the power of the matrix, but i theorised it may take a piece of me with it."

"What do you mean a piece of you?" 

"I cannot tell you...... which is why I'm entrusting my position to you, Arcee, Bulkhead, Bumblebee, Ratchet. In my absence they will surely lose all sense of reason and go purely by emotion."

"But i'm no better." I said.

"You've been able to control your emotions allot better in dire situations, since your encounter with silas." 

"Yeah that was before....I don't understand why your entrusting me with this position."

"Because.....I have faith in you, NOva."

Nova's face became stiff when he said that. 

Faith

She recalled when Raoul and Login told her to have faith. All her life, she has never trusted anyone but now the tide was turned when Optimus had faith in her. Nova stared at her guardian  said, "I don't know if I can lead them beside they won't listen to me."

  "it will come to you, they'll listen."  

Nova lowered her head, shuffling her feet and said, "I can't believe you're leaving me."

"My will is your own; I've never truly left you."

 'My will is my own, huh sound familiar.' She sighed in exasperation as she replied valiantly, "Ok OPtimus, I won't let you down."

Those blazing blue orbs brightened at the words, something like shining pride in them.

Both of them fell into silence after that. Time was running out; they both knew that, but there were no words that passed their lips as they merely shared many unspoken words with just a simple look.

There were no smiles either—at least not physically visible ones—mainly because they didn't require them. They could just tell by the brightness and emotions they could see in the others' gaze. No words were needed because they both understood.

Was she happy with this scenario? No, most definitely not. He was walking headlong into danger who thought he was invincible and tried to walk through an active warzone without any protection. But unlike Optimus, Nova knew he had to do this for the sake of Earth. She just wished that it didn't have to be him.

Finally, Optimus imparted his last words to her, she cursed her near shattering stone mask with a need for a waterfall of tears and a quavering smile.

  "Look after them for me while I'm gone, little one. They look up to you more than you know," he whispered with a somber expression, and she got the feeling he was talking about everyone, not just the humans. "Till all are One, Nova of Earth."  

 Despite the amusing sense of déjà vu the familiar words gave her, Nova's heart started to hurt again not becoz of the dark energon but something different. Optimus must have seen it in her eyes because he then tucked some stray hairs behind her left ear, warm digit then lingering on her cheek in a gentle caress. Nova think she even saw his lipplates tremble a little too, like he was experiencing a similar onslaught of emotions.

For some reason, she could feel his emotion waving through her but decided not to question it. There was just so much left to say and not enough time to say it all in; and this send-off felt a little too final for me.

However, determined to impart my own words to her dear guardian, She ignored the odd feeling, grasping the gentle digit at her cheek with her own small hand and giving it a slight squeeze as she spoke. "I will, just so long as you stay safe," Nova murmured, wanting to smile, but lacking the strength of will to do so. Then, completing the little ritual, She managed to choke out, "'Till all are One, Optimus Prime of Cybertron."

  He then stood up at his full height as he smiled at her briefly before heading back. Nova felt a burning in her chest, not the same as before, but it was familiar when Dr. Login leave her. She felt a single tear fell from her left eye which she doesn't know why but she wonder if she'll ever see him again though. 

  Watching as OPtimus shot NOva one last look before turning away to face the others, She wiped her tear in her eye and shook her head a little. 'No, don't think like that. You will see him again. ' Nova thought hopefully.

  The ground bridge was open and Megatron was the first to enter, prior to Arcee's offer of him going first. Before the Team entered the swirling vortex all of them turned their heads around their shoulder pads to take one last glance at their human friends. The six of them now stood near the stairs as they watched Arcee, Bulkhead, Bumblebee, and Optimus walk towards the vortex. Yet, Optimus abruptly stopped to turn and face them one last time before walking behind the rest of his team. Ratchet stood behind the humans and watched the leader disappear through the vortex.   

But as they all disappeared through the ground bridge, a small whisper managed to escape from NOva's lips, "Stay safe.....Sire."