Hidden Spark on Earth (TFP)

Chapter 81

Saphira paced nervously. It had been at least an hour since Optimus had gone to investigate anything that would indicate more of Unicron's wakening. She felt that it might be a waste of time as they should be figuring out how to stop Unicron, not follow the crumb trails the titan was leaving them. The sense of dread growing from within her was getting worse, and she couldn't help but wonder if it was a warning in the back of her mind about Unicron's rising.

"Saphira." She jumped when she heard Ratchet addressing her. She turned and looked at him, seeing his expression was filled with worry. "Please, don't exert yourself too much. You're still tired from completing the bond with Optimus. I think he shouldn't be out there either, but Unicron isn't going to wait for us."

"I know...but...I don't want to sit and play with my thumbs," Saphira responded bluntly and resumed her pacing. "To me, it is pointless. Although...I really know that I am just walking aimlessly right now. I wish I could help."

"Getting yourself worked up is not going to do anyone any favors either," Ratchet said in a reassuring tone. "Supporting Optimus right now is the best thing you can do. I know you want to do something, Saphira. I really do." He watched as Saphira kept pacing and he grabbed her suddenly, making her yelp in surprise and pulled her in for a hug. "Please know that we will do everything we can to save your world. Optimus will not let you down. He will come back, I know he will."

"Then why do I have this dreadful feeling growing within me?" Saphira asked in a small voice, looking up at Ratchet with wide eyes. "It...It...I can't shake the feeling, Ratchet. I know Optimus will save this world...I just..."

"I understand. It may seem like that Optimus won't come back, but he will. I believe it in my spark that he will." He kissed her forehead, knowing that Saphira needed the comfort knowing that Optimus would be okay. He moved her to sit on his shoulder, which she gladly shifted onto and relaxed as best as she could. "I know what it feels like to be apart from the one you love, Saphira."

"Did you have a sparkmate?" Saphira asked curiously as Ratchet turned to the console.

Ratchet was silent as he processed her question before he responded. "I would rather not answer that question."

Saphira didn't need to know the answer, she felt Ratchet tense slightly from her question. She immediately felt sorry for the bot, as losing someone was a hard thing. She knew that all too well. She didn't say anything more as she knew it was not necessary.

"Ratchet, this epicenter is consistent with the findings of the others," Optimus said through the com link. "Its terrain is rich in ore."

"So, what does that tell us?" William Fowler asked curiously as he listened to Optimus's report on his findings.

"It follows that the natural metals in your Earth, would be extensions of Unicron. His limbs, if you will." Ratchet's words were not very comforting and Saphira shuddered, wondering if the metals humans harvested were part of Unicron.

"That kind of sounds like we...uhh...harvested parts of Unicron for our own purposes," Saphira said thoughtfully and shuddered. "That's a scary thought."

"Now that you said it that way...it is possible," Ratchet responded with a nod. "However, the metal was unlikely to be directly part of Unicron, but rather fragments. Parts that he no longer needed."

"And if these ore deposits Optimus is finding is rich and consistent...I guess that means he did have his morning stretch," June said thoughtfully. "Which is why these quakes happened."

Saphira nodded before an alert on the screen made her look at it with wide eyes. "Optimus, I'm detecting a swell in Unicron's spark activity."

"Rest assured, Ratchet, I will proceed with vigilance," Optimus responded in a calm tone. "And know that I will not do anything to endanger myself to the point of not being able to come home."