"Robots who get dizzy?" Miko asked.

"Robots with emotions." Raf said.

"Robots... who can die." Jack frowned.

I frowned as I stood next to Optimus, looking at Arcee with worry as Ratchet scanned her over. "What is this? " Ratchet looks at a spot on Arcee that has a dark purple substance on it.

"I don't know," Arcee holds her head. "Cliff was covered in it. Leaking it."

Ratchet used a scalpel to scrape the substance off of her hand. "Go take a decontamination bath, now." He ordered. Bumblebee helped Arcee to stand and they made their way over to what I assume is the decontamination bath.

"O-optimus, I-I hate to bug- but no bars." Jack holds up his phone to show him. He turns around to look at him and nods.

"A security precaution. The silo walls isolate all radio waves."

Jack taps with phone with a frustrated sigh. "Well, if I don't call my mom, like, now, I'm pretty sure the cops will be out looking for me."

Optimus leans in close to us. "Have you broken a law?" I couldn't help but laugh a little at the pure seriousness of his tone.

"Jack? Breaking a law?" I chuckled.

"Ari-" he sighs. "Uh, I broke curfew. It's after 10:00 PM. "

Raf chimes in, "I better get home, too, or I'll be grounded for a year. "

Optimus' face has a look of realization. "Earth customs- I hadn't considered. But the issue of your safety remains. Bulkhead, accompany Miko home-"

Miko jumps for joy and Bulkhead walks over. "Awesome! My host parents will freak!"

"-And maintain covert surveillance in vehicle form."

"Curbside duty, got it." Bulkhead confirms. Miko groans.

"Bumblebee" Optimus addresses, " you'll watch over Raf. Ratchet?"

"Busy!" The medic waves his hand.

"Arcee. You will accompany Jack."

Arcee sighed dramatically. "Still dizzy".

Ratchet calls from his corner of the room "You're fine, says your physician."

"Ari, I will accompany you home." Optimus looks down at me.

"Well, can't Bee just take her home? She lives right next to me!" Raf smiles up at me.

Optimus glances at me and nods. "That would be beneficial."

"While I am perfectly fine going with Bumblebee, I do want to actually have a word with you, Optimus. If you don't mind, of course." I crane my neck to look up at the titan.

Optimus kneels down, "Are you not concerned with your curfew?"

"I, unlike the others, don't have one. I'm over 18, so I'm legally an adult." I hear Ratchet scoff in the corner, but ignore it.

Thinking for a moment, Optimus nods. "Bumblebee, accompany Raf home for now. I will drive Ari after we have a conversation."

Raf frowns a bit, but gets into Bumblebee's vehicle mode. As soon as all the children have left the base, I turn to Optimus with a serious look. "Optimus. What are we dealing with exactly?"

Optimus bent down to be at eye level again. "What do you mean?"

"I mean, what is the exact threat? How many Decepticons are there? How strong exactly are you guys? How much of a threat are you all to the children?"

Optimus paused to think for a moment. "I fear that this threat is immense. There are hundreds of Decepticons. We have held our own for a while. As for the children, we will do our best to protect them, and you." I squinted my eyes. They must have lost so many.

"There's only five of you. There aren't anymore?" I asked. A solemn look overcame Optimus' face.

"There are most likely Autobots out there still. After the fall of Cybertron, we were scattered to the stars. We have lost many comrades."

"I'm...sorry. I probably shouldn't have asked that. It was insensitive." I felt guilt consume my heart at the sadness in his voice.

"It is alright. I understand you are concerned for the others." He pauses to look at my shoulder, which has gauze on it from the wound I had received yesterday. "You have already been a victim to Decepticon cruelty, and you do not wish it to befall the others." I nod at him, glad that he understands without me telling him. "Our team may be small, but it is mighty. So long as energon still flows through my veins, I will fight for this planet and its inhabitants."

I look up at him, looking into his eyes. They are a blazing electric blue, and inside of them I see wisdom. "Thanks you, Optimus. For talking with me. I'm sorry if I seemed rude doubting you all."

He looked down to me, and smiled gently. "Are you ready to go home?"

"Yep!" He offered his hand out to me for me to step on. Hesitantly, I climbed on. He began slowly lowering me to the floor, when I felt it.

I cried out in pain, feeling a rush of static shock across my body. It felt agonizing. My head was spinning, and my legs gave out. I tried to move my body but I found I was stuck in place. I look up through my blurry eyes to see a set of concerned blue eyes as everything begins to go black.

Optimus felt it. A rush from the matrix as soon as he had touched Ari. He looked down as soon as she had cried out and saw her holding her head in her hands. Ratchet rushed over quickly, demanding to know what happened. Ari couldn't respond as she fell into his hand. Ratchet had gently rolled her over onto her back to see what happened, but he could see no visible injuries. Optimus felt helpless as he watched Ari pass out in his hand. Had he done this? What was that rush that he felt? Will she be alright?

"Optimus! Put her down here." Ratchet demanded the Prime. In his concern, he hadn't realized that Ratchet had gotten an old medical bed for humans out of the storage closet. Optimus gently set her down onto the bed. Ratchet was quick to run a scan over the girl, try to see what the problem could be. Ratchet paused in confusion. "There is nothing wrong with her."

"I felt something when she stood in my hand. It was as if... the Matrix touched her."

Ratchet looked up at him, confused. "What are you talking about?"

"I felt the Matrix send a rush through me. I think it effected Ari."

"I think it is best it I keep Ari here for surveillance, in the event that the Matrix has effected her negatively. At the moment, I am unsure what we can do."

Optimus only nodded at his old friend. He could feel guilt eating away at him, but he pushed that feeling away in favor of scouring the internet for what is ailing her.