The night side of the planet was shrouded in an ash-gray fog.

A ruined industrial sector—an old energon complex, abandoned before the war. Dilapidated towers, rusty pipelines, empty tunnels extending deep beneath the surface. Scanners showed faint Decepticon signatures.

Mission: reconnaissance and data recovery.

Fast. Silent. No fighting.

The team moved in single file.

Arcee and Bumblebee led the way. Smokescreen and Ultra Magnus followed a little further. Ratchet and Bulkhead covered the rear. You walked next to Optimus.

It was dark inside the complex. Only the occasional emergency lamps cast a dim, reddish glow. The metal beneath their feet clanked softly with every step.

"Scanners are showing unstable energy fields," — Ratchet said quietly over the comm channel.

"This complex was used as a trap storage facility."

"The main tunnel is blocked," — Ultra Magnus added.

"I recommend a detour through the upper level."

Optimus slowed his pace.

You sensed it immediately.

He glanced at the holographic map.

The upper level meant wasted time. And time meant risk of detection.

"We'll go through the lower tunnel," — he decided.

"The scanners show it's stable. It's the fastest route."

Ratchet frowned.

"Optimus, that data is old. I wouldn't—"

"We don't have time," — Prime said calmly but firmly.

"We have to get ahead of them."

You looked at him for a moment.

Something inside you clenched. But you didn't object.

You trusted him.

The lower tunnel was narrow.

The vaults were low.

The ceiling was cracked. Stains of old Energon lined the walls.

The team moved slowly.

The silence was too... pure. Too perfect.

And you were the first to feel it.

A subtle vibration beneath your feet. Barely noticeable.

"Optimus..." — you began. — "I feel—"

It's too late.

Flash.

Blinding light.

The shockwave passed through the tunnel like a living thing.

The floor exploded beneath you. You were thrown to the side like a doll.

Metal tore through armor. Sparks struck the optics. The systems went dark for a second.

You hit the wall with such force that the air was knocked out of the vents.

"NO!" — Optimus's voice cut through the comm channel.

He lunged at you without thinking.

Secondary explosions shook the tunnel.

Bulkhead laid down covering fire. Arcee dragged Bumblebee behind cover. Ratchet screamed for everyone to retreat.

But Optimus was already at your side.

He scooped you up in his arms. You could feel his fingers trembling.

"Hold on. Look at me. Don't lose it. Can you hear me?!"

Your armor was breached. The spark stabilizer was flickering. Systems were emitting alarms.

You could barely speak.