Interrupting Extinction

Interrupting Extinction - Two

         When Alice woke up for the second time on Cybertron, she decided to just lie on the dais awhile. Sleeping, unfortunately, didn't solve the problem like it usually did. Alice had dearly wished and hoped that losing her family to distance and at some point in time had only been a terrible, terrible dream. She could hardly believe that this was happening to her. It was difficult to stay rooted, and as she lay there she could feel herself an inch away from dissociating. What kept her locked in was the pressure of the dais underneath her, the lukewarm metal reminding her of her current situation. Alice took one more deep breath before sitting up. Despite the fact she wanted nothing more than to give up and just lie uselessly forever, she couldn't do that. (A small part of her knew that she would've, without the presence of Cherry and Steel in her life. She dutifully ignored it.)

Following that direction, Alice made the executive decision to bottle up her feelings on the matter, also ignoring the Allsparks disapproval. The young woman didn't have time to sort out her feelings. No matter the time conversion Alice needed to get back to her family as soon as possible. If that meant shoving the aching sadness and separation that she felt into the darkest, deepest corners of her mind, then so be it. Daughter... Alice shook her head, knowing that the Allspark would be able to understand the gesture somehow. She wouldn't think on or discuss the subject any longer. She had a job to do.

Sunsprinter turned away from one of the grand windows as Alice swung her legs up over the dais. Similar in cause to Sunsprinter's change in attention, the young woman looked up at the sounds akin to that of shifting machinery. Her lips bent into a small smile at the sight of the large guardian. Alice blinked, suddenly realizing that the other guardians she had seen before were no longer in the room. Rebuilding, the Allspark whispered to her, images of the formerly statuesque mechs cleaning up the reformed Cybertron. Alice's heart was soothed by the knowledge. The faster Cybertron was fixed up the sooner she could see her family.

"Good morning, Sunsprinter." Alice greeted him. The temple guardian nodded towards her in acknowledgement.

"Good joor, your honour. I assume you would like to know the time passed for both you and your loved ones?" Sunsprinter prompted, golden optics connecting with her own brown eyes. Alice gave a short nod in response.

"Yes. Thank you." The young woman affirmed, surveying the room as the mech calculated.

"For you it has been a meta-cycle, three months. Your loved ones have only lived four days more since you were last awake. The taint that once infested Primus' shell is almost gone. Your purity has seen to that. Still, now that it has been so long Cybertron would benefit more if you travelled across its surface, honoured one." Sunsprinter told Alice, his last suggestion echoing slightly within Alice's ears despite the guardians soft, timber voice. Truth, my daughter. Alice did not need the reassurance though, somewhere in her bones she knew that Sunsprinter could never lie to her. Especially since the Allspark was wrapped carefully around her own soul. Plus the mech was just too pure to even think of lying to her. Much like Bluestreak. Alice's smile widened at the sound of the Allspark's bell-like laughter ringing in her mind. An assumption they shared it would seem. Alice took a deep breath. The pang at the thought of of her family seemed softened somehow, the pain she had forced into the back of her mind almost fading into obscurity. She supposed the news that Cybertron's healing was quicker than she'd first assumed shaved away at the tangle of feelings a little. Alice looked back up at Sunsprinter.

"Will you come with me? I don't think I could take being alone." Alice admitted. The guardian's optics gleamed in the low light.

"Of course. But honoured one? You are never as alone as you think." Sunsprinter agreed. Alice cocked her head at his second statement in slight confusion. The mech chuckled.

"The memories of your loved ones never quite leave, honoured one. Moreover, love leaves pieces of ourselves in others," Sunsprinter then looked past Alice towards a darkened hallway, "Now, I shall call Hourglass to watchover the temple while we travel." With that declaration Sun sprinter subsequently left the grand room, leaving Alice alone for the moment. Alice forced herself to breathe.

It was only for a moment.

          Never-alone, daughter. The Allspark was quick to remind Alice after Sunsprinter returned with another mech. Alice assumed this was Hourglass, and with his core colour being a sandy shade, she could see why the mech was called so. Interestingly enough though, Hourglass had the wings of a seeker. The young woman was surprised, but glad to learn that not all of the seekers turned their backs on Cybertron at the behest of Starscream.

"Honoured one, this is Hourglass, the High Guardian of Lacon's temple," Sunsprinter introduced the seeker, "Hourglass, this is the Allspark's chosen." Hourglass' optics analyzed Alice's human form, narrowing for a moment before smoothing out when Alice's brown eyes flickered a familiar blue. Not that the young woman knew that.

"I shall watch over the temple in your absence, honoured one. Until all are one." The seeker affirmed. Alice could understand a goodbye when she heard one, and so could Sunsprinter. She knew this as the mech gently offered a servo for Alice to climb on. Alice did so, but raised a palm to stop Sunsprinter from leaving just yet. She turned her head towards Hourglass, making sure their visuals met.

"Stay safe, guardian." Alice ordered, knowing that with Cybertron's revitalization many would come looking. The light was back after all, after being gone for so long. Hourglass stayed silent for a long moment before his voice sounded.

"As you bade, honoured one." Hourglass swore;  an oath to all who heard it.