Transformers The Hatchling

Final frontier

No POV

Jack had arrived back at the base 48 hours later, his decision to leave the team hanging in the air as he returned, his conscience now weighing on him. Arcee had spoken some sense into him, urging him to rejoin the Autobots and contribute to the cause. As he dismounted from Arcee's vehicle mode, he pulled off his helmet, casting a sheepish look toward everyone in the room. "Hey, guess who's back?" He surveyed the group, his eyes searching for the familiar presence of the team's large and intimidating member. "Where's Stormchaser?"

The Autobots exchanged glances, the atmosphere turning somber. Optimus, standing tall as ever, was the first to speak, his voice carrying a note of concern. "Stormchaser has gone into a deep stasis, or what you might call hibernation. When she will wake is unknown, but she is fine," he assured them, though the uncertainty of her condition lingered in the air.

The worry on the kids' faces deepened. Arcee, her voice laced with confusion, glanced toward Optimus. "Where are we going?" she asked, unsure of the sudden urgency.

Miko, ever the quick-witted one, jumped in before Optimus could respond. "The final frontier." Her grin was mischievous, as she often found herself playing with human sayings.

Arcee's optics narrowed in confusion, looking to Jack for clarification. "The final frontier?" she asked, not understanding the Earth saying.

Jack, smiling slightly at the exchange, translated with ease. "Space. But I thought you guys didn't have a way to get there." He looked to the others, his expression still conflicted as he tried to understand the mission.

Bumblebee lowered Raf to the ground, his small form buzzing with energy, though Raf's face betrayed his concern. "They don't, not really," Raf said, his voice heavy with worry over the unknown dangers the Autobots were about to face.

Jack, sensing the tension, turned to Arcee. "Be seeing you?" he asked, offering a small smile. Arcee, ever the protector, nodded in return, offering a reassuring look as she stepped toward the ground bridge.

Ratchet powered up the ground bridge, its familiar hum filling the room as the kids said their goodbyes to their guardians. It was clear that the situation was growing increasingly dire, and the sense of urgency seemed to hang in the air like a storm waiting to break. Ratchet, ever the pessimist, turned toward Optimus, his voice serious. "Optimus, if you leave me stranded alone on this planet teaming with humans, I will never forgive you."

Optimus glanced back, a slight, knowing smirk pulling at his features as he responded with his usual calm. "Until we meet again, old friend. Autobots, roll out." With that, the four Autobots transformed into their vehicle modes, revving their engines and rolling through the ground bridge.

The kids watched in silence as the Autobots vanished through the portal, their thoughts with their guardians as they awaited news of their success.

At the Space Bridge

"They made it through the ground bridge," the kids cheered in relief, but there was no time to celebrate. The Autobots' comlink systems buzzed to life, allowing the children to hear what was going on.

Optimus' voice came through, calm but focused. "It appears the Decepticons have sustained serious damage to their interstellar navigation system," he reported, and the sound of Bulkhead's voice crackled through.

"Ah, that's my handy work," Bulkhead's voice sounded surprised, but there was an underlying sense of pride in his tone at the unexpected success.

"Great job, Bulkhead," Optimus responded. "Without the dish, Megatron will be unable to aim the space bridge at Cybertron." The temporary relief didn't last long, as the next question hung in the air.

Raf, always curious, asked, "Don't the Decepticons know where their own planet is?"

Ratchet's voice answered first, practical as always. "Naturally, but Cybertron is many light-years away. To reach their target, their aim must be astronomically precise." He paused, considering the situation. "So the question going through everyone's mind is why Megatron is gathering his forces around the space bridge, then?"

Optimus' tone shifted with a note of concern. "If Megatron went to the trouble of rendezvousing with his space bridge, he must have an alternate targeting system. A remote one."

Back at the base, Ratchet scoffed, his voice full of disbelief. "From what I know of Earth's technology, I doubt there's a single radio-telescope dish on this planet powerful enough to pinpoint Cybertron." His skepticism was clear, though a part of him was always open to possibilities.

Raf, however, wasn't deterred by Ratchet's dismissal. His mind raced as he typed away at the computers, the sounds of his fingers tapping on the keys filling the room. "What about a whole bunch of linked radio-telescope dishes, like the giant array in Texas?" he suggested, his face lighting up with the spark of an idea.

Ratchet interrupted, his tone sarcastic. "This is not child's play."

Optimus, however, looked thoughtful, his mind processing the suggestion. "Good thinking, Raf. Ratchet, have Agent Fowler alert the array staff to the security hazard."

At that moment, the kids could hear a groan from the far side of the room. "You soldier, you're out of uniform! Put on some pants!" came the sharp, irritated voice of Agent Fowler. There was a pause, and then the sound of him collapsing back onto the medical bed. "That may be a challenge," Ratchet muttered, his optics flicking toward Optimus.

Raf, growing increasingly frustrated, struggled with hacking into the array's systems. "I can't get past the array's firewalls. They're too thick." His frustration mounted as the words he needed seemed just out of reach.

Ratchet, almost incredulous, spoke up. "You actually think you could keep the Decepticons out?"

Raf's face hardened with determination as he glanced up at Ratchet. "Maybe if I could get in."

Raf's persistence was admirable, but he was still just a human child facing an unimaginable challenge. His gaze faltered for a brief moment, the weight of failure bearing down on him. Jack, ever the problem-solver, had an idea.

"Wait, what if we could get you all the way in, like inside the building?" Jack said, his voice urgent, and Raf's expression brightened with renewed hope. "I could walk into their internal network on the other side of the firewall."

Optimus, though willing to listen, immediately saw the risks. "The risk is too great. The Decepticons may already be on-site, or they could arrive any moment."

The kids exchanged determined looks, their resolve unwavering. Jack spoke first, his voice calm but firm. "Optimus, with all due respect, you said it yourself. This is bigger than the safety of three humans."

Miko chimed in, agreeing with Jack. "Yeah, if we let the Decepticons win, we're fragged along with everyone else on this planet."

Optimus looked down at the kids, his optics softened by their bravery, but he knew the weight of what he was agreeing to. He sighed, a heavy sound filled with both pride and concern. "Raf?" Optimus asked, seeking confirmation from the one leading this charge.

Raf nodded, his determination unshaken. "I want to give it a shot."

Optimus, ever the leader, looked at the team and made the difficult decision. "Understood. Ratchet, get them into the site and be ready to ground bridge them back when the mission is complete."

Just as Optimus gave the orders, the first wave of Decepticon forces came into view, making their presence known. Bulkhead, always ready for battle, didn't hesitate. "Here comes the welcoming committee," he muttered, his blaster already aimed and ready for action.

The Autobots braced themselves for the inevitable battle, knowing that the kids were about to face an immense challenge. But in this moment, they were all in it together—Autobots, humans, and the promise of a better future.