[Omega-1]

Bumblebee quickly opened the Groundbridge, turning to the returning Autobots. Optimus Prime was leaning heavily on Ratchet and Bulkhead, with Arcee bringing up the rear. The Prime was covered in cuts and dents, and energon dripped off his right shoulder.

"Easy, Optimus," urged Ratchet as they continued to help Optimus into the base. "From the looks of things, you've been exposed to a massive amount of Dark Energon."

Optimus lifted his weak helm, seeing Raf on the medical bed with Aria and June next to him. Aria was being given a check-up. "I... am not the only one," he replied weakly.

Ratchet and Bulkhead set down Optimus on the medical berth next to the three humans. Once he was sitting, Optimus clutched at his shoulder, giving a small moan. He looked to his right, managing to give a small smile to Raf.

"Hey," said Raf.

"How you feeling?" Aria asked, turning to look at her guardian.

Optimus gave a small wince. "I have been better," he admitted.

"I think it's safe to say that we're all lucky to be alive," said June, looking up from Aria.

Optimus gave a nod, wincing once more from the pain. Ratchet came forward then, holding a metallic cloth, which he pressed to Optimus' shoulder once his hand had been removed.

Jack and Miko came down the stairs. "Megatron found more of the dark stuff?" asked the older boy.

"A volcano full," answered Arcee.

"The question is; how!" said Bulkhead.

"No," corrected Ratchet. "The question is; what. As in, what in the world is the Blood of Unicron doing here on Earth?"

Miko pipped up, confused. "The Cons killed a unicorn?"

There came a massive slapping sound. "Miko," sighed Aria as the Autobots gave confused looks. "Do you want my headache to get worse?"

Noting the confused expressions on everyone's faces, Miko explained. "White horse with a horn on its head? Prances around all sparkly?"

"Unicron," Ratchet corrected again. "An ancient evil. Whose fossilized blood comprises the matter which we call Dark Energon. As... legend would have it."

"Oh no, Ratch," pipped up Aria. "It's true. I talk to the Primes on an almost daily basis. They mentioned Unicron a lot in my early days."

"So, this Unicron isn't some kind of bogeyman?" June asked her.

"Bogeyman?" asked Ratchet in confusion.

"Make-believe creepy guy who hides in your closet," clarified Miko.

"Nope," said Aria. "Unicron is very real. He's just been gone for the past couple of eons or so."

June gave a sigh and pressed a hand to her forehead. "I guess it's too late to pull all you kids out?" she asked.

"Pretty much," said Raf.

"Nurse Darby." June turned to Optimus. "I never wanted to put the children in danger. If they would listen to me, they would be sent home."

"Not happening, Optimus," said Jack. "This became our fight a long time ago. We're staying to the end."

"Don't worry, Optimus," said Aria. "We can take care of ourselves as well as taking care of you guys."

Optimus gave a small vent that sounded a bit like a sigh, but he smiled. "I will never get over how brave your species can be.," he said, smiling at her.

"That's what a lot of bots in the Allspark say," said Aria, grinning.

Just then, the console beeped. Agent Fowler's image appeared. He appeared to be flying a helicopter. *Prime! Do you copy?*

Optimus managed to stand with a bit of help from Ratchet. "I hear you, Agent Fowler."

*Been watching the news?* asked the agent. *Mother Nature's got a twitch in her britches.*

"We know about the volcano."

*And the quakes?* At the Autobots expressions, the agent clarified. *Seven major trembles of the exact same magnitude and at the exact same time as the volcanic eruption. All over the globe, on different tectonic plates, in theory, unrelated, if they hadn't happened...*

"At the exact same time," finished Ratchet.

"Check it out!" Miko called over from the TV. "More good news."

She turned up the volume as the reporter said, *Freak storms unlike any the region has seen. Tsunamis threaten the Canadian coast. While lightning storms pummel the Gobi Desert. Meanwhile, electro-magnetic anomalies plague urban power grids. These abnormal phenomenon leave many to wonder, 'Why now'? And 'what next'.*

*Don't tell me your Cons have built a weather machine!* said Agent Fowler.

"One that powerful?" asked Ratchet. "Highly unlikely."

"I do not believe the appearance of Dark Energon at this point in time to be coincidental," said Optimus.

*I'm on my way over to your base now,* said Agent Fowler. *I hope you've got a bit of good news for me when I get there.* With that, he hung up.

Aria stood up, swaying slightly. "Aria, take it easy," June scolded slightly as she held her.

"Aria, what is it?" asked Optimus, looking at her in concern.

"I'm... I'm not sure," she finally admitted. "I feel like... I'm being attacked or something."

"By what?" asked Jack, looking at her.

"I don't know," said Aria. "The Allspark has been pretty quiet today as well. At least, ever since Raf came in."

Raf had been moved up onto the catwalk by Bumblebee and was now resting on the couch. June started climbing up to join him. "As soon as this is over, I'll try and take you to a doctor's office," she told him.

"I'm feeling fine now," said Raf.

Optimus bent down, holding out a servo to Aria. She climbed onto his servo and held on as the Prime lifted her up onto the catwalk as well. "Try not to lose your balance, alright?" he said.

"I'll be fine," said Aria.

She turned to the TV as the reporter said, *The storms and natural disasters have turned into a global phenomenon.*

"'Global'?" repeated June, crossing her arms.

*And,* added the reporter, *scientists are linking it to the current planetary alignment.*

That was when the elevator slid open, allowing Agent Fowler in. "What did you learn, Prime?" asked Fowler. "And you better not blow smoke up my- oh!" He noticed June standing next to her son and Raf. "Nurse Darby. What a nice surprise," he said politely.

"Special Agent Fowler," greeted June.

Before any more pleasantries could be exchanged, Ratchet interrupted. "We've learned this. As with the so-called magma from the volcano, these earthquakes originated deep below the Earth's crust. From the very center of the Earth's core, in fact."

"Quakes don't start there!" exclaimed Fowler. "Do they?" he asked June.

"They don't," said Aria, joining them at the railing. (Optimus was standing close to her as she did that) "They actually start a little below the crust, by the mantle moving the tectonic plates. This isn't that?"

"No," said Ratchet. "These are different. Tiny tremors rising and falling, almost like..." He trailed off, staring at the reading for a few seconds before his optics widened. "By the Allspark," he whispered in horror. "If I convert these data-points to audio file..."

"What?" asked Fowler as Ratchet started typing into his console. "What is it?"

"Listen," said Ratchet.

A thudding noise came from the computer as the data-points on the screen started to change. Everyone jolted as they recognized the sound.

[Nemesis]

Soundwave's screen was showing what looked like a heart monitor to Megatron and Airachnid. "Stop, Soundwave!" yelled Megatron, clutching his helm. "Turn it off!" And even when Soundwave did, the sound continued in his helm. "I can still hear it pounding in my brain!"

"A... Cybertronian heartbeat?" asked Jack finally.

"How is that even possible?" said June. "A heart pumps blood! There's nothing in the Earth to pump except..." she trailed off, realization striking her.

Raf was the one who said it. "The blood of Unicron."

A few moments after Raf said that, Aria screamed, clutching at her head, and toppled off the railing. "Aria!" yelled Miko.

Optimus quickly caught her, watching as her body started being covered in rippling white light. "Aria? he murmured, worry filling his spark.

"Optimus..." came the pain-filled whisper. "Chaos... Bringer..."

And with those final ominous words, Aria fell unconscious.

"She's stable," reported June, lowering Aria's light-covered arm. "I just don't get why she reacted like that." She turned to Optimus and Ratchet, who were watching, and asked, "Have you seen this before?"

"We have," said Ratchet. "First time we saw it was when Megatron first came with Dark Energon. Aria tried to grab it telekinetically and injured her hands. And the energy from the Dark Energon weakened her very badly. She has the reaction whenever she's close to Dark Energon."

"But there isn't any Dark Energon in here," said Fowler. "So what's settin' her off?"

Optimus had been silent, but now he spoke. "She said one thing," he said. "'Chaos Bringer'."

"Okay, hold on!" said Miko, who was perched on the railing. "You mean something's living down there? Inside our planet?"

"I fear that the Earth's core is not comprised of magma as your science has suggested," said Optimus, "but, of Dark Energon."

"And if we're hearing a spark," realized Ratchet, placing a servo to his chin, "then Unicron is the rising darkness of which the prophecy foretold."

"So, how do we stop this thing from rising?" asked Fowler.

"That I'm afraid," said Optimus, "was not foretold."

"How can something be in our core and be alive?" asked June.

"Such a thing is not unprecedented," said Optimus. He paused for a few moments before continuing.

"Before the beginning, there was Primus and there was Unicron. One the incarnation of creation. The other of destruction. For eons, Primus and Unicron battled. The balance of power shifting between them more times than could be counted.

"Only by creating the Thirteen, the original Primes who preceded me, was Primus finally able to defeat Unicron and cast him out.

"Primus became one with the very core of our planet, creating life through the Well of Allsparks. And Unicron was never seen or heard from again... until now," Optimus finished.

Agent Fowler had an idea. "Maybe we can find the hole this uber-con built when he dug himself all the way down there and fill it full of explosives!"

"Agent Fowler," said Optimus. "I do not believe that Unicron became one with your planet, but rather with time and gravitational force, debris collected around the slumbering titan."

"Forming your Earth itself," finished Ratchet. A look of horror crossed Agent Fowler's face.

"And he's only awakening now due to the magnetic pull created by the planetary alignment!" realized Arcee.

"Okay," said Jack, "so what happens now when the big U wakes up from his billion-year nap?"

"Yeah," said Miko. "Does he like stretch and 'kapow!'? Earth poofs to dust?"

Optimus remained silent, appearing to think.

"You don't know, do you?" asked June.

Optimus finally talked. "My guess is that Unicron has transcended his physical form as we know it. Nonetheless, we must find a way to stop this 'force of nature' from ever fully awakening. The very survival of your planet depends upon it."

After a few moments, Bulkhead asked, "So, what role does Aria have to play in this? Does it have something to do with that part of the prophecy that talks about her?"

"What prophecy?" asked Raf.

"There's a prophecy that explains about this happening," said Ratchet. "But there's a part that not very many people know about. And what Optimus recently told us." He looked over at Optimus.

Optimus nodded and recited. "'When the final battle rises, the two fronts will be together and the same. And in the end, the Allspark Child will lead the lost light home'."

"Two fronts?" said Fowler in confusion.

"Is 'Allspark Child' Aria?" asked Miko. "If so, then that's a cool name!"

"You're right, Miko," said Optimus. "Aria is called the Allspark Child, from what I have managed to learn."

"But two fronts?" said Fowler. "I figure you'll be one of the fronts, but where's the second one?"

"Uh, what's a front?" asked Miko.

*It's a place where two armies clash,* said Bumblebee with Raf translating.

"Agent Fowler," said Optimus. "This battle will be both a temporal and a spiritual one. And Aria will lead the spiritual charge. As far as we know, Aria could be fighting right now."

June looked over at Aria's light-covered body. "Is there anything we can do for her?" she asked.

"No," said Optimus.

"Except move her to another room," said Ratchet. "There are a few rooms down the hall. Aria moved some stuff into them in case someone had to sleep here. Should be ready."

Optimus transformed, activating his holoform on the catwalk. He moved over to Aria, gently lifting her up. "This way," he said.

As he, June, and Jack moved down the hall, Optimus gave his charge a concerned look. Fight hard, Aria, he thought. We need you... I need you.

To lead me home.

"Hello?"

Aria continued to walk. She couldn't recognize any of her surroundings, not like there was much to begin with. The only things that she could see were massive towers of clouds, some colored a dark blue while others were a dark purple. Often there came a flash of lightning from above the clouds. Light blue mist covered the ground, swirling around her feet.

Aria tried to think. How did she even get here? Her gloved hands rubbed her head as she gave an annoyed sigh. Suddenly, she remembered. Optimus had caught her after she had toppled off the railing. She had felt like she had been about to explode.

"Still doesn't explain how I got here," she sighed angrily.

As she kept walking, she saw something out of the corner of her eye. It was an image, showing Optimus in a canyon. He was looking around wildly as figures erupted out of the ground and out of the walls around him.

And Aria recognized them. "Oh no," she whispered.

Then, there came a whisper behind her. "The Allspark Child."

Aria turned, seeing a pair of glowing violet optics behind her in one of the purple columns of smokey clouds. "So that is what I'm called," she said, clenching her hands.

"And do you recognize me?" came the again.

"Unicron," she growled. "The Chaos Bringer."

"Gooooood," said the voice as the figure stepped out of the column. It was made out of the violet smoke, the shape slightly shifting through an unknown wind. There weren't many features except for the spiked shoulders and armor and the two curved horns sticking out above the head, as well as towering above her, taller than Optimus. Aria took a nervous step back.

"Now I shall have another title," said Unicron. "The destroyer of the Allspark Child!" He charged forward, glowing weapons surrounding his hands.

Aria lept back, shooting out several beams of energy before flying up into the air, taking up her Night Fury form. She flew through the air with Unicron firing after her. She turned a corner and fired at him, only for him to dissolve and pop up somewhere else.

Ah great, she thought before she was hit by a bolt of lightning and sent falling to the ground. She hit the ground, coming out of her form.

Unicron moved above her as she moved into a slightly sitting up position, lightning crackling over her. She was wincing slightly from the pain she just went through. "The line of Primes has grown weak," scoffed Unicron. "And the so-called Allspark Child couldn't stand up to a tiny insect! Your time has come! Today you shall end!" Unicron raised his hands again, energy gathering at them.

"I might die one day," said Aria, her crystal blue eyes glowing, "but that's certainly not today!" She raised her hands.

A beam of blue-white energy shot from her hands, striking Unicron in the chest. As the apparition fell back, Aria lept up into the air, another beam of energy taking a different shape in her hands. When Unicron looked up, he was sheared from top to bottom by a glowing sword twelve times as big as Aria.

She landed on the ground as the smoke whirled around, heading back into the column that it had come from. Aria allowed the sword to dissolve as she said, "Well that's a new one! And that could've gone better. But in all honesty, I thought you would be a bit tougher."

Then, from around the columns came more figures, all of them in the shape of Unicron. "Yes Allspark Child," they said at the same time. "On this very day! You are alone! Primus cannot protect you in a place where he cannot reach! Today is the day that you shall fall for good!"

Aria looked around and gave an irritated sigh. "I just had to open my mouth, didn't I?" she asked to no one in particular. Then a look of determination crossed her face.

She raised her hands again, allowing beams of energy to erupt from the ground around her. They moved around her, taking the shape of various weapons; A sword, a scythe, a spear, a gun, and a bow.

"I might be human," she said as she floated up in the air slightly, "but that doesn't mean that I won't fight!"

And with that, she charged into the shadowy ranks, swinging and shooting.