Transformers Prime: I am Allspark

At the top of the colossal pillar-tree, where metal and nature fused into a single living entity, Gaea shaped her new form.

Her silhouette was sculpted from the very matter of the forest, liquid metal flowing and crystallizing around a glowing core of pure vital energy.

She was a slender yet imposing figure, with elegant golden features. Her wings, now smaller than the vastness of the forest, still pulsed with an ethereal glow, shifting between the organic and the mechanical in a raw, primal way.

She was the entire forest. Every root, every leaf, every cyberformed creature was a part of her. And yet… this singular form made her feel complete in a new way.

If she revealed her true form… if she fully merged with her original matter and rose to her full stature, the entire forest would cease to exist. So she preferred to remain in something small rather than unleash her real potential.

It was preferable to that… than destroying the home of all the creatures under her protection. She lifted her gaze toward the horizon, beyond the trees and beyond the shield, toward where she could sense the presence of her creator.

The primordial energy flowed through a connection beyond the visible, yet unceasing, traveling to her like an eternal river that never ran dry.

Gaea silently feared what might happen to her and the creatures under her care if the AllSpark was taken back to Cybertron.

Deep down, she understood the magnitude of what was at stake. She knew the AllSpark was more than just a source of energy, yet she also knew its true place was on Cybertron.

It wasn't hard for her to realize how much she and Primus were alike—it was as if he were an older brother to her, in practice.

"I'm sorry, Optimus Prime… but I'd rather the AllSpark remain on this planet." she whispered with sorrow, as though confessing a crime—yet it was partly her own selfishness as well.

She knew this would not remain a secret forever. The AllSpark's energy was growing, pulsing aggressively, almost voraciously, as if something dormant was awakening… and soon, it would be noticed by all.

With a subtle gesture, she shaped a small insect, a fragile creature with metallic, translucent wings, beautiful like blown glass. She caressed its head and whispered:

"Watch our creator… and tell me everything."

The tiny being took flight, crossing the forest canopy with a soft hum, blending seamlessly with the wind.

Gaea remained silent, contemplating her forest, the paradise formed through her own body.

***

Autobot Base...

As he stepped through the portal, Optimus Prime emerged amidst the fading blue glow of the Ground Bridge, his imposing silhouette instantly capturing everyone's attention.

All activity around him ceased. Eyes turned toward him, filled with concern, hope, and expectation. The tension was palpable, as if the very air itself was waiting for answers.

Ratchet was the first to approach, his expression heavy with genuine worry.

"Optimus… how did it go?" he asked quietly, respectfully, though with a trace of anxiousness.

Before the Prime could respond, Agent Fowler's sharp voice cut through the moment.

"With all due respect, Prime… we don't have time for small talk. What did you find? Is there any way to pack that place with explosives?"

Optimus held his gaze steady, knowing his answer would not satisfy Fowler in the slightest.

"As I had predicted, the forest is a conscious entity. Her name is Gaea." Optimus said, his deep voice echoing softly through the base.

Jack raised his eyebrows, leaning on the railing as he tried to process.

"Her?" he asked, confused, glancing at Raf, who stepped closer, adjusting his glasses with curiosity.

"You're saying the forest is… like, some kind of mythological goddess?" Miko asked, crossing her arms, her mind immediately pulling references from the Greek myths she had studied in school.

"The name itself is just a coincidence," Optimus replied. "Although she initially exhibits Cybertronian traits, she is… quite different, in many ways."

"Then what does she want?! Is she just another lunatic like Megatron?!" Fowler snapped impatiently, his eyes sparking with indignation.

Optimus remained calm, his voice as firm and controlled as ever.

"From what I could discern, her actions are more instinctual than driven by ideology or any desire for conquest."

Arcee approached with her arms crossed and her gaze narrowed. She looked confused.

"What do you mean instinctual? What are you really trying to say?"

Optimus tilted his head slightly, as if still organizing his thoughts.

"During our conversation, it became clear that Gaea has limited knowledge of humanity. Her actions are purely protective… as though she is defending her home, or rather, her territory." He paused briefly. "It's as if she's never truly seen humans… as though we are beyond her understanding."

A heavy silence fell over the Autobot base. A silence that made the situation feel even more complicated than anyone had expected.

"What are you saying? That she just appeared out of nowhere?" Bulkhead asked, confused and concerned.

Bumblebee emitted his characteristic rapid beeps, clearly echoing the same question.

Optimus remained silent for a moment, his eyes fixed on the control screen. The holographic map showed the vast cyberformed forest that now covered part of American territory in detail.

"It all began with that massive Energon pulse…" he said, his voice low and reflective. "And in a single instant, that metallic forest emerged… alive… conscious."

"Something like that wouldn't go unnoticed by the humans," Ratchet added, stepping closer. "But even so, it doesn't make sense. It's not as if it simply… sprouted from the ground unless—" He stopped mid-sentence, his expression growing more serious. "You're not suggesting what I think you are."

Optimus looked at his old friend, then replied firmly:

"Spontaneous creation of Cybertronian life."

Arcee's optics widened. The silence that followed was almost tangible; all the Autobots understood the weight of those words. In contrast, the humans exchanged confused looks, trying to grasp what was happening.

"That's impossible… isn't it?" Arcee murmured, trying to find logic amid the absurd.

"Spontaneous creation of Cybertronian life…" Ratchet repeated slowly, as if hearing the words for the first time himself. He turned to Optimus, his gaze heavy with tension. "Optimus, more than any of us… you would know. Is he here?"

Optimus shook his head slightly, his optics still fixed on the map.

"No. I would have known the moment I set foot on this planet. The AllSpark… is not here. But…" His voice faltered for a moment. "…I cannot ignore the feeling I had when I encountered Gaea."

"Feeling?" Ratchet narrowed his optics.

"Gaea emanates something…" Optimus took a deep breath, searching for the right words. "…something almost identical to the presence of Primus. It's difficult to describe. I admit, this is far more complex than I ever imagined."

"AllSpark? What's that?" Jack finally asked, his voice filled with curiosity.

Arcee turned to him and answered without hesitation:

"The AllSpark is everything, Jack. It's Cybertron's most sacred relic. Whoever controls its power could end the war with a single thought."

"The AllSpark is the source of life," Optimus continued. "It has the power to create worlds… to fill them with life. That is how our race was born. But to protect it from Megatron, I… had to cast it into deep space, to a location unknown even to me. It was the only way to ensure it would never fall into the wrong hands."

Fowler shot a hard glare at Optimus, indignation burning in every word that followed:

"You isolated a weapon capable of destroying Megatron and the Decepticons? Why didn't you use it to end the war?"

Optimus stood firm, his tone calm but unyielding:

"The AllSpark is not a weapon, Agent Fowler. It is far more than a source of power… it is the spark of creation itself. To place such immense power into the hands of a single sentient being… would be to condemn everything we swore to protect. Had I used it as a weapon, I would not be worthy of leading the Autobots."

"So it was pride?!" Fowler shot back, his temper flaring. "You're arrogant, Optimus! Maybe this damned forest is your fault!"

Ratchet stepped forward, his optics blazing with fury.

"How dare you?! You have no idea what we've faced, what we've sacrificed! Nothing a human like you could even begin to comprehend!"

"Ratchet." Optimus said firmly, placing a steady hand on the medic's shoulder to calm him. The touch alone was enough to make Ratchet step back with a restrained grumble.

Optimus then turned his gaze toward Fowler, his voice now filled with purpose:

"Power so vast must be earned, not taken by force. If I allowed myself to be seduced by it, I would become what Megatron has become. A tyrant with a crown forged from ashes."

Fowler drew in a deep breath, frustrated yet visibly affected by the Prime's words.

"So what do we do now? How do we deal with this forest?"

"I need you to convince your government not to attack," Optimus said plainly. "I secured a truce with Gaea, but any human aggression will provoke retaliation. And she will not hesitate to go to the ultimate consequences."

"You're asking the United States to simply surrender part of its own territory to an alien? And just accept it in silence?!"

"For the sake of humanity…" Optimus met Fowler's eyes. "…sacrifices must be made. At least until we understand what, or who, we are truly facing. This agreement… is our best chance to avoid the end."

A tense silence followed. And for the first time, Agent Fowler didn't have an immediate comeback.

"I'll do what I can… but know this, I have limits."

"I understand perfectly, Agent Fowler."