The escape pod screamed through Earth's atmosphere like a falling star, burning streaks of light across the sky. Zayden sat calmly, eyes locked on the display screen as the pod descended toward the California coastline. His heart beat with a quiet certainty—this wasn't just a landing. This was his entry into the world's turning point.
> "Impact in 34 seconds," NEX reported. "Landing zone: forested ridge, 8.3 kilometers from Mission City."
"Perfect," Zayden murmured. "Close enough to stay in orbit of the main plot, far enough to avoid being nuked by military radar."
The pod jolted as stabilizers deployed. Trees blurred past the windows. With a thunderous crack, it slammed into the earth, carving a trench through soil and stone before grinding to a stop. Steam hissed from the hull as the pod cooled.
Zayden stood, brushing himself off.
The air smelled different here. Fresh. Vibrant. So unlike Cybertron's rust-scented winds. He stepped outside and looked around—the forest was quiet, save for chirping birds and the rustle of wind through branches. If not for the crater behind him, it would've seemed like a normal day.
He tapped the Omnitrix. "Scan for nearby Cybertronian activity."
> "Searching… Anomaly detected. One Autobot energy signature—dormant. Location: 6.9 kilometers southeast."
Zayden smirked. "Showtime."
---
Meanwhile, far across the city, a sleek yellow Camaro rested in a used car lot, quietly watching humans pass by. Bumblebee's systems were dormant, but a subtle hum of power indicated his readiness. The Decepticons were moving, and he had to stay hidden until his orders activated.
But fate was already shifting.
---
Back in the forest, Zayden trekked through trees with purpose. The Omnitrix occasionally pulsed, picking up background radiation from fallen Cybertronian tech hidden beneath Earth's crust. He could feel it—this world wasn't just full of life. It was full of secrets.
As he cleared a ridge, he saw it: a massive metal structure half-buried in the ground, disguised by foliage and stone. A stasis pod.
He sprinted toward it, climbing the slope until he reached the top. Vines wrapped around the pod like nature's way of keeping secrets buried.
Zayden activated the Omnitrix and transformed into Glitchbyte. His arms shifted into neural tendrils as he touched the pod's panel. A surge of energy flared through him. The connection was unstable, but he managed to pull up the pod's log.
> "Designation: Arcee. Status: dormant. Damage: minor. Revival possible."
Zayden blinked. Arcee?!
He looked down at the small insignia etched into the pod—Autobot. No doubt. Her stasis was likely the result of a forced emergency landing before the rest of the crew arrived.
Zayden reverted to human form. "Let's wake her up."
He reached into his satchel and pulled out a small cube of glowing Energon—one he'd salvaged from Vault 8X-09. As he placed it into the core slot, the pod flared to life.
Lights flickered. Pistons hissed. Then the metal shell split open, steam blasting outward.
From within, a sleek figure rose.
Metallic pink and silver armor. A slim, aerodynamic form. Sharp blue optics that flared as they adjusted to light.
Arcee.
She took a step forward and immediately pointed a blaster at Zayden's head.
"Who are you?" she demanded.
Zayden didn't flinch. "Someone who just rebooted your life."
Her optics narrowed. "You're… not Cybertronian."
"Nope," he replied coolly. "Just the guy who intercepted your crash data signal and pulled you out of a two-million-year nap."
She didn't lower the blaster right away. "Where are the others?"
"Not here yet," he answered. "Bumblebee's the next to land. But the Decepticons are already scouting. If we wait, they'll hit Earth like a hammer."
Arcee finally lowered her weapon, eyeing him cautiously. "You speak as if you know what's coming."
Zayden smirked. "Let's just say… I've read ahead in the script."
---
Later that evening, Zayden and Arcee sat at the edge of a cliff overlooking the glowing horizon of Mission City.
"I've got tech that can shift the balance of this war," Zayden explained. "But I'm not just going to jump into fights. I want to change how the story plays out. No more waiting for the AllSpark to fall into the wrong hands."
Arcee crossed her arms. "So what's the plan?"
"Find the other Autobots before the Decepticons do. Secure Earth's relic sites. And wake up whatever's sleeping beneath the crust. We don't just win this war. We reshape it."
Arcee tilted her head. "You're bold. For a human."
Zayden smiled. "I get that a lot."
---
Far away, in deep space, Megatron stirred in frozen slumber beneath the Arctic ice. Stars shifted. Events moved.
Unseen gears had started turning.
And somewhere in the hidden shadows of Earth, Airachnid's stasis chamber lit up—her optics flashing red for the first time in eons.
The engines of fate had ignited.
And Zayden…
Was the firestarter.