Previously on Project Aurora

Aurora, Megatron, and most of team prime are in the thralls of Unicron. They are undergoing battle, as Unicron tries to destroy them. Ratchet finds out Optimus isn't coming back, while Raf reveals that he holds the key to Aurora's spark.

Present

"Key to her spark!? What- why- I didn't know Aurora had such a thing!" Ratchet said surprised. "What exactly does it do?"

"I'm not sure," Raf explained. "All she said was that I'd find out what it does, and that it will help with future missions. Maybe not the ones you guys go on, but ones only I can do."

"Then how do you know it's the key to Aurora's spark?" Ratchet asked. "How do you know it's not just a piece of jewelry Aurora wanted you to have?"

"This is very important to Aurora!" Raf yelled. "She told me to never lose it. Plus, look at it. Listen closely, you'll hear her sparkbeat!"

The base quiet down, and sure enough, Aurora's sparkbeat pulse resonated over most of the machines. This shocked everyone present. It was unprecedented, but then again, Aurora was far from normal. Not to mention she was called the incarnation of Primus.

"Rafael, may I see the necklace?" Ratchet asked. "I merely want to scan it. Just hold it out for me."

Raf did as instructed of him, while Ratchet scanned it. It took a moment, but once the scan was complete Ratchet stumbled back. The medic almost fell to the floor, if it weren't for Raf using his energon manipulation to hold him up.

"Ratchet, what's wrong!?" Raf asked. "What do you find?"

Ratchet took a few second before making a coherent sentence. "Th-that locket. ... it's 25% spark," Ratchet stammered as he shocked everyone present. "That's half of Aurora's already small spark! Why would she do such a thing!?!?"

"Because she's not coming back," Raf said. "She knew something was going to happen to her. So maybe this would be able to help her come back? I don't know! Primus help us!"

There was a bright flash from the locket, that everyone had to shield their eyes. When it died down everyone looked to Raf, only to see said boy in a daze. Raf was going to crumple to the floor, if it wasn't for Jack catching him.

June and Ratchet were checking his vitals, and found they were normal when comparing it to Aurora's stats. They both noticed that the locket pulsed in time with Raf's heartbeat or sparkbeat.

"Is Raf okay?" Jack asked.

"He's fine," Ratchet replied. "Though it would seem that Aurora's spark fragment is affecting Raf. In what way, I don't know. However, I know he'll be fine."

"This is so out of my hands," June said. "With Raf and Aurora needing nothing more than sleep, I'm so lost with how to help them. They're so out of my expertise."

"You aren't the only one, June," Ratchet confessed. "This is the first time this has ever happened. It sort of helped that Aurora was dubbed Primus Incarnate, but now that Raf is in the same position, I fear any human could end up like them if they don't die."

"What do you mean die?" June asked. "Raf and Aurora are the only cases I've heard of."

"Mom, remember when I explained that Aurora has been tortured?" Jack receives a nod. "Well, Aurora was an experiment under the codename Project Aurora, test subject 201."

"That's where she got her name!?" June realized. "Aurora 201 Projects!"

"And she wasn't the first," Miko stated. "But she was the last. From what Aurora told us, they canceled the project after they thought Aurora was a failure."

"And the other 200 subjects?" June questioned. Silence only met her.

"Dead," Ratchet finally sighed after a minute. "Energon is very toxic to humans."

"Then how did Raf and Aurora survive!?" June yelled. "How did they survive when 200 people died to the same thing!?"

"Raf was infected with dark energon through electrocution. We were able to cure the deteriorating effect of the dark energon, by forcing it out with Bumblebee's energon." Ratchet hummed. "In theory, Raf has been exposed to us, which strengthened his system to energon exposure. Which is why he survived."

"And Aurora?" June asked.

"From what I've learned of her exposure to energon, it was a part of her punishments in small doses," Ratchet says. "It enhanced all her senses, including her pain receptors. Though, I think she was also exposed to Cybertronians before she was taken."

"Why do you say that?" Jack asked as he picked up Raf and took him to the couch.

"Because, Aurora showed no ill effects compared to 200. He was always ill, but tried to stay positive for Aurora," Ratchet explained. "Aurora was specifically chosen for those experiments because M.E.C.H. knew she had been exposed to a Cybertronian."

"Then that means ..." June starts.

"She has met someone from our species," Ratchet said. "And the only one who can figure who she's related to is Raf."

Everyone looks at the sleeping child. Knowing he could be the only one to identify who Aurora had contact with. Little did they know, Raf was in contact with a higher calling, thanks to Aurora's spark fragment.

With Raf

Raf found himself in a gigantic room made completely out of metal. The whole room gave off a illuminous blue glow that allowed everything to be seen. Looking around, Raf saw hundreds of datapads that lined the walls. He looked behind him, finding a Cybertronian talking to a glowing sphere.

"Who are you?" Raf asked the mech. "Where am I?"

The mech turned around and was shocked to see Raf there. The mech backed up, while the electric blue orb moved closer. Raf was going to back away from the approaching sphere, but the warmth it gave off stopped him.

"You're Rafael Esquivel! What are you doing here!?" The mech behind the orb asked. "You shouldn't be able to be here! Only a Prime or a chosen few can come here!"

Raf backed away from the the orb by the tone in the mech's voice. Even though he felt safer near the orb, he could trust anything around him like Aurora could.

"Now now, Alpha Trion. There is no need to scare the boy," the orb spoke, while shocking Raf. "He's here because he called upon me."

"But how is that possible!?" Alpha Trion asked. "Rafael is no Prime! So how is he here!?"

"Um," Raf started, getting their attention. "Who are you two? Where am I?"

"Currently, you're in the Hall of Iacon," Alpha Trion said. "I am Alpha Trion. The orb before you is the Creator of all Cybertronians and Cybertron itself."

"Oh my- you're Primus!" Raf exclaims. "I thought only Optimus and Aurora could be here!"

"It would seem you are allowed here as well, Rafael Prime," Primus said.

"What!?" Both Raf and Alpha Trion said. "That's not possible."

"I had created Primes of different calibers," Primus began. "No Prime was ever the same. There are no true standards. I chose those who could make a difference, though I did not choose Rafael. My encarnacion choose him as a Prime."

"I'm a Prime?" Raf asked. "Like Optimus?"

"Similar, but a Prime in your own way," Primus said as he came closer to the young boy. "As I said before, each Prime is different. Optimus is a Prime of ideals, while Solus is a Prime of blacksmiths of the arts. You have the potential of greatness ahead of you."

"Primus, why is he here?" Alpha Trion asked as he came closer. "Optimus can't get here, but he can?"

"Rafael is an acception," Primus replied. "As for why he came here ... Rafael is the only one who can answer that."

"Me!?" Raf exclaimed. "I don't know how I got here! I was with Ratchet and I found out Aurora isn't coming back if she gave me half of her already small spark!"

"Yes, now I get it," Alpha Trion said. "That would mean you have questions for Primus. The reason why you must of came here. However, how are you able to get here? Not many can."

"Alpha, he answered your question already. Rafael has Aurora's spark, therefore he is like Prima," Primus said, which received a gasp from the Prime. "So, what do you wish to know Rafael? Or, should I say, Requiem Prime."

Raf just gasped. He didn't know what to make of it. Him? A Prime? He wasn't Prime material. Far from it. If any one was remotely close to being Prime, it was Jack.

"Requiem?" Alpha trion asked. "As in, gathering of the dead? Like the Requiem Blaster?"

"No," Primus said. "Requiem, as in an act or token of remembrance. Now Requiem, what is it that you wanted to know? I'm sure you have a lot of questions."

"How am I a Prime? What will happen to Aurora? Is she really not coming back?" Raf asked. He had so much more, but those were his main concern.

"To answer your first question, Aurora is my reincarnation. I was able to create Primes, so Aurora can do the same. Her spark is proof enough of the title she passed to you. You're last question is easy. Aurora will come back to you," Primus replied. Though he stayed quiet.

"What about my second question?" Raf asked. "You didn't answer it."

"I didn't answer, because I don't have one," Primus replied, shocking the other two present. "I'm not sure what will happen next."

"What do you mean!?" Raf asked incredulously. "You should know what will happen!"

"I cannot see what happens in the final stages of my brother's defeat," Primus said. "Requiem, I'm sorry that I cannot tell you what will happen from here on. I may have known what was to come, but that was before Aurora was ever even born. I changed everything."

"What do you mean!?" Alpha Trion said. "What did you change!? You know very well what happens when you mess with events! You're going to have Vector Prime involved!"

"I know what I've done, Alpha Trion!" Primus said. "I wanted this to happen. The end outcome was far better than I expected. Though it has altered the timeline, Vector isn't needed to interfere. He assured me that in the end, this is a better outcome than the one before."

"But at the cost of Aurora!?!" Raf shouts. "To have Aurora lose her life! And for what!?"

"You're continued life with the Autobots," Primus said. "All of your lives, you had nothing but suffering. Always being ignored and put down by your father, because you don't meet his expectations. You can abandon your old life. Start anew with the Autobots. Besides, Aurora was suppose to have died with her parents."

"What about the other?" Raf asked. "What becomes of them?"

"In due time," Alpha Trion said. "But for now, it's time for you to go."

Raf saw he was being to fade away.

"You need to get use to your new abilities," Primus said. "They will help in your mission to help Optimus and Aurora."

"Please," Raf pleaded as tears streamed down his face. "Tell me how Aurora, my Primus, will come to an end. I need to know."

"Very well," Primus said. "It's all I can do to repay you for what is to come."

In Omega-1 Base

The earthquake shook the base hard that the rocks broke from above and was going to hit the lounge area. Ratchet realized a little too late as he saw the large rocks going to crush his human charges. Right before it did, everything stopped moving, including the earthquakes.

"What happened?" Jack asked.

Ratchet looked around and closely observed Raf. The young boy had his hands up. His palms glowing softly. Then something formed above his hands and floated there. A three point shuriken that was mainly black, but the sharp edges were electric blue.

Raf got up and rubbed his head, but Ratchet watched the shuriken. It began to spin counter-clockwise. As it did, a phantom clock over shadowed it and the hands of time were reversing. As this happened, all the rocks began to return to its original position.

"By the Allspark!" Ratchet explained. "This goes beyond anything in the laws of science! Aurora's abilities made sense, but this is illogical!"

Jack, Miko, June, and Agent Fowler stared wide-eyed as Raf's ability, in a sense, reversed time. Though that wasn't completely the case. For there was a Prime who could manipulate time and space. This was a bit simpler than that.

"I'm just repairing all the damages," Raf explained as the the rocks were in place. Though the shuriken continued to spin above his hands. "I can only return anything in an enclosed space to a state I've seen before. Nothing beyond that."

"Then how come we don't feel the quakes?" Agent Fowler asked. "I mean, you repaired the base. So, why can't we feel them?"

"I'm actually keeping everything in place as long as I can," Raf replied as sweat formed on his forehead. "I'm repairing in-time with the quakes, which is why you don't feel them. Though, this is very draining since I'm not really use to using my Spatial Reversion."

"Then drop it, Raf," Jack said. "Ratchet can take a hit."

"No," Raf said. "They're in the final stages of battle. I can hold out just until the battle ends. They might need a bridge at a moments notice."

Unicron's Spark Chamber

Arcee, Bulkhead, and Bumblebee were outside, fending off Unicron's antibodies. Aurora, Megatron, and Optimus were in the chamber. Optimus prepared to release the energy of the Matrix into Unicron's spark.

Optimus was heading over to Unicron's spark, when Megaton fell to one knee and gripped his head.

"Lord Megatron?" Aurora called. "Are you alright?"

"Optimus, hurry!" Megatron shouts. "He's trying to take control!"

"Your resistance is foolish!" Unicron said as Megatron got up. Though Unicron was in control. Aurora gasped as Megatron unsheathed his blade and began to move closer.

"L-light, I-I'm sorry,' Megatron said. "I can't stop!!!"

"Keep fighting, Lord Megatron!" Aurora said. "Just hold on. Optimus is working as fast as he can to stop Unicron. Your will is stronger that Unicron's."

"HA!" Unicron said. "As if a mere insect could go against me. You truly are foolish for reincarnating into such a weaker form, Brother."

To everyone's surprise, Aurora chuckled, but it didn't sound like her. It sounded like a benevolent mech. Everyone stared at the little girl to see her surrounded with a gold aura.

Some of her bright purple streaks in her hair turned a brilliant yellow. Her uneven horns turned gold with electric purple trim. Her electric purple streaks on her arms and legs became thicker with a yellow streak cutting down the middle. On her hands, the streaks turned into circles at the end with the yellow being surrounded by the purple. At the center, was her normal pale skin color. When she opened her eyes, electric purple was replaced with gold. Though, she still didn't have pupils.

"This form may be weak, but I took this form to save quite a few lives," Primus said. "I have always believed that my creations always have a chance to change their lives. You know that very well, Brother. I never did let my creations offline you."

"That will be your downfall Brother!" Unicron said. "You were not suppose to exist in this form! Nor will I allow you to continue your disgusting existence as a Parasite!"

Megatron jerked forward, but stayed put.

"Do you see, Brother. This mech's very will is resisting you," Primus said. "My creation's individuality will continue to fight you for his own sake, and those around him."

"He won't be able to keep this up!" Unicron growled. "He will eventually weaken until he will no longer be able to resist my control."

"I already know, Brother," Primus said softly. "But he can still slow you down when the time is right."

Primus closed his eyes and all the yellow faded back to its original electric purple. The golden aura faded, and Aurora woke up.

"O-Optimus? L-lord Megatron?"

"L-light ... H-help M-me!" Megatron called as he tried to resist Unicron's control.

"Optimus, hurry up!" Aurora called. "I'll hold Lord Megatron back, but please hurry."

Optimus was going to protest, but thought better of it. He turned to Unicron's spark and focused the matrix energy.

Aurora created four energon swords, preparing herself for a fight with Megatron.

"I'm surprised," Unicron said through Megatron. "You would rely on your Primes to do the battles for you. Decided it's time to put down one of your own creations, Brother?"

"One, I'm not your Brother. I'm your Sister now," Aurora corrected. "And two, I'm going to free my creation from your hold. Even if it costs me my life, which is highly unlikely."

Unicron just snarled in response. He aimed Megatron's fusion cannon at her. Right when he fired, Aurora had one of her energon swords a foot in front of the barral. As the shot made contact with her blade, an explosion happened immediately after, throwing Megatron into a wall.

That blast hurt, not only Megatron, but Unicron as well. The sword was made of a high concentration of light energon. The particles that make light energon is poisoning the air within Unicron's spark chamber.

"Curse you," Unicron growled through. "I'll correct everything, by ending your very existence!"

"Come at me!"

Aurora and Unicron clashed, trading blow for blow. Neither of them getting the upper hand over the other. Unicron has been battling over millions of years with Primus, while Aurora was trained relentlessly to perfect her combat skills if M.E.C.H. deemed her a success in the experiments. This was like the never ending battle between the true forms of the deities.

Trying to get pass this stalemate, Aurora used her abilities. She could manipulate the energon in Megatron's, but only if Unicron brought him close enough. Aurora was too focused on fighting to try bridging Megatron out of Unicron's influence.

Aurora tried to get Unicron closer, but he kept his distance despite her attempts to force him closer. There was only one thing she hasn't tried yet, but she was reluctant to even try since this was a double edge sword she has.

"Brother, release my creation now. Or I'll force you out!"

"Go ahead and try! A lower being like you won't succeed, Sister."

Electrical charge, surged through her wings as Aurora prepared to use her Memory Alteration Shock. Aurora thought that using her M.A.S. could remove Unicron's mind from Megatron.

Unicron saw the electrical build up, and prepared a counter charge. They both fired their charges at each other.

"Did you really think you could use electrical attacks on me? Think again!"

Aurora saw Unicron's lighting absorbing her own. She knew she was going to lose this fight. So see looked at Megatron and whispered seven word. Though Megatron could only watch in his mind, he was shocked by Aurora's word.

"I failed you, Lord Megatron," Aurora said. "Forgive me."

Then the lightning reached her wings and shocked her. Aurora screamed which made Unicron stop. Aurora fell to the floor with her energon swords losing their form and turned into hard crystals.

Optimus turned when he heard Aurora scream. He quickly turned back and focused. If he was going to save everyone, he needed to finish it now. Unicron seemed to notice that Optimus was the bigger threat and made Megatron to attack the Prime, but he resisted.

"Obey me, lowly passant," Unicron yelled in the internal battle with Megatron. "The Prime must be stopped!"

"NEVER!" Megatron shouts back. "LORD MEGATRON YIELDS TO NO ONE!!!"

At that moment, Optimus released the matrix into Unicron's spark. Once it was over, Optimus and Megatron fell to the floor due to exhaustion. Thought, Megatron was the first to recover out of the three of them, and made his way over to Optimus.

In Aurora's Mind

'Where am I?' the young girl wondered. 'Better yet, who am I?'

The young girl tried to remember something, anything, but there was nothing. The girl refused to open her eyes, in fear more questions than answers will meet her. Though the girl started to relax as she felt as though someone warm held her close.

"Light, fear not," a woman's voice said. "You have nothing to fear."

She was sure that it wasn't a fem's voice, but a voice that belonged to a human female. Though, the girl knew she never heard this person, or at least not for a long time. It stirred the feelings of happiness, warmth, and safety.

The young girl snuggled closer, causing the woman to giggle and pet her head.

"It's been so long since I held you. I'm glad even if you don't remember me," the woman said. "But we haven't much time with each other. Light, I want you to do something for me. Can you do that?"

The girl, now known as Light, nods, but never opens her eyes. She wanted to savor this person. She didn't want to find out this was just an illusion.

"When you wake up, I need you to stay near a red and blue mech by the designation Orion Pax. I want you to be brave, follow your spark, and be yourself. Don't fear things around you, Light. Try to help where you can, but know your limit. When the time comes, you'll have to leave behind important people, but it has to be done in order to protect others."

Light was confused, but kept those word in mind as she felt the woman's presence fade way. Though Light didn't know what to think about the woman's last words to her.

"Be safe. I love you, baby girl."

In Unicron's Spark Chamber

Light became conscious. She looked around and spotted a huge gun-metal gray mech moving to another one of red and blue.

'That must be Orion,' Light thought as the mech looked around. Light flew over once the gray one stopped before Orion.

"Where are we, Megatronus?" Orion asked.

The question seemed to take the newly dubbed Megatronus by surprise. Then he disengaged his blade and held out his hand to help Orion up.

"Don't you remember, old friend?" Megatron said to Orion.

The heard loud noises and turned to face it. Then a wall fell, and two mechs and a femme came through the hole.

"Optimus, are you okay?" the green mech asked.

"Why did he call me that?" Orion asked.

"I don't know," Light said surprising Megatron and Orion. "I mean, your designation is Orion Pax after all. I don't even know who they are."

The three Cybertronians moved to stand before them and the femme glared at Megatron as she growled, "What did you do to them!"

"Who are they?" Orion asked. Then turned to Light. "How do you know me?"

A bridge opened up behind the Orion and Megatron took this opportunity to make his move.

"They're our mortal enemies," Megatron said. "Go! We're outnumbered. I'll cover you. Take Light and get to safety."

Megatron fired at Arcee, Bulkhead, and Bumblebee as Orion quickly scooped Light out of the air and moved to the bridge. Orion and Light looked back at the Autobot warriors.

"Aurora? Optimus?"

Optimus made no sign of recognition, but Aurora looked concerned as she recognized the scout's voice. Optimus went through the ground bridge taking Aurora, and Megatron followed shortly after.

Omega-1 Outpost

The bots walked through the ground bridge, but without Optimus and Aurora. Raf knew this was going to happen, but it still hurt to know that his little sister, his Primus wasn't there with him like she should be. They greeted the returning bots, but they had grim news.

"And Optimus and Aurora?" Ratchet asked. "Are they ...?"

"Dead?" Arcee supplied. "No."

"But he looked right at us without recognizing us," Bulkhead replied. "Didn't even know his own name."

Ratched sighed. "When Optimus surrendered the Matrix of Leadership, he lost more than the collective wisdom of the Primes. He lost his own memories."

"What about Aurora?" Raf asked. "Did she recognize you?"

"Not at first," Bumblebee said. "When I called out to her, she seemed to recognize my voice. But other than that, it seems that her memories are gone as well."

"It must have happened when she was, most likely, fighting Unicron," Raf theorized. "Her memories might be gone, but her heart still remembers us. Besides, being the incarnation of Primus, Aurora's main instincts must have told her to follow her lost Prime."

"And why would you say that?" Jack asked.

"It's just a feeling I have," Raf said as held Aurora's spark close to his. "Jack, Miko, I need to talk to you in private."

On the Nemesis

"Welcome back, Lord Megatron," Knockout said.

As Megatron walks out of the doorway, Optimus comes into view with Aurora on his shoulder plate. Breakdown transformed his servo into a hammer and starts to charge. Others were surprised Airachnid move to strike as well, but Megatron stopped them.

"At ease Breakdown, Airachnid," Megatron said. "That is no way to welcome a long lost comrade and his charge."

Megatron turns to the new comers. "Orion Pax is one of us. As is his human charge and our creator, Light Path." Optimus looked very uncertain, while Aurora looked rather curious of her new surroundings.