Hope's Return

Family Found

From above, the rescue team waited in fear as the boat continued to sink. Where was the fierce femme? Had she sacrificed herself to give them a chance at survival?

"Team, prepare to evacuate.  If we're careful, we can escape the Kraken's notice by rolling along the sea floor."

"But what about Hope? She could be in need of help."

"We'll cross that bridge when we get to it. For now, we worry about the team. Rescue bots, transform."

"Chief Burns...wait!"

The rest of the team looked over at Blurr who was staring at the waters below. A bright light could be seen under the surface and it was coming closer. The waters bubbled and rolled as Hope broke the surface and shot into the air.

Her wings unfurled and shook droplets of moisture on the crew below. Sunlight made her form shimmer and sparkle in its light and for a moment there was silence. Finally a long whistle broke the quiet and all optics turned to Heatwave who simply pulled Kade from his chest compartment. 

The red headed man just shrugged.

"Hey, she may be a 20 foot robot but she's still a babe."

This time the team spoke in unison.

"Shut up KADE!"

Hope merely smirked and gestured to the sinking boat.

"Ready to go back home?"

"We'll need to drive across the sea bed unless you have a better idea."

Her shoulders shaking with mirth, Hope grinned.

"Just watch me."

Clasping her servo's together, she wove a pattern of power that formed into a portal. High Tide's ship lay on the other side and Cody could be seen waving to them.

"Sweet Solus Prime. Did you just form a ground bridge?"

"What? Like it's hard? Come on, I can't hold it open for long."

Without another word, the bots transformed and drove through the portal before skidding to a stop on the deck. Hope closed the bridge, zipping through at the last moment.

Tumbling to a stop, she stood and brushed the sea water off her arms. Giving her wings a hard shake dislodged the rest. Turning to the rest of the team, she was puzzled by the collective look they gave her.

"Why do you all seem so surprised? I would've thought you'd have figured out who I am by now."

"It's not their fault lass, your records were sealed after your demise on Cybertron."

Hope looked up at High Tide as he touched her shoulder with his servo. A half smile lingered on his face plate as she covered it with her own. Venting a little, she looked down at Cody.

"Remember when I told you I had been in a deep stasis after the rebirth of Cybertron? When Optimus sacrificed his spark to save the Well of Sparks, I attempted to save him but was denied that by Primus himself. He had earned a place alongside the Primes and I was needed to heal Cybertron itself."

"But why were you chosen to heal Cybertron?"

Her answer was soft in response to Heatwaves question.

"I was...am, the Champion of the Primes. My destiny to reunite the factions once more."

"Noble."

The teens breathless enthusiasm made her smile as she knelt in front of Cody.

"You remind me of myself, the first time I met the Autobots on Earth.  That picture you saw? That was taken soon after Sunstreaker tossed me to Bumblebee. "

"Wait a minute, weren't you human in that photo or was that a holoform?"

"No Boulder, at that moment I was human. I'm still regaining my memories but Ratchet our medical officer theorized that a human had touched my bi-pedal form while I was in forced stasis and I absorbed their DNA, thus turning me in all respects, human. I awoke with no memory due to the damage I had acquired from a past battle. A small village was kind enough to take me on and give me the name Hope."

"Do you remember your former Designation?"

"An old Spark I once met called me Sky Dancer."

There was a squeal of tires as Blurr transformed and pushed through the group. The normally cocky rescue bot was a few shades paler and appeared to be venting hard in shock.

"Blurr? What in Cybertron?"

Blurr held up a shaking servo to silence Chase's inquiry and held it out to Hope who took it in puzzlement. Shutting his optics, he vented a ragged breath and met Hope's optics once more.

A warm light spread through her spark and her optics widened in revelation.  Pieces of her memories clicked into place in the puzzle that was her past.

Venting in disbelief, she launched herself at Blurr, knocking him to the deck. The two locked in a tight embrace, neither letting go.

"Umm...what just happened?"

Cody just looked up at Blades and shrugged in answer. Hope gave a watery laugh as she helped Blurr to his peds. Patting him on the shoulder, she addressed the team.

"I apologize for my outburst. It's not often you're reunited with your younger sibling after a millennium of being apart."

"Your WHAT?!"