"I was too late,'' a deep voice spoke and there was a heavy sigh.

Maia looked up to see a blue autobot that was larger than S3WP. She pulled herself back from her father and wiping a sleeve across her face stared up at him. "Who are you?"

"I am Optimus Prime," the autobot bent down on one knee so that he was her height. "I came to find S3WP so I could bring him with me to our new home," he shook his head. "But I see I shall have to bring him to his resting place instead."

"No," Tears in her eyes, Maia turned to the robot. "I fixed him up before-I can fix him again!"

"Maia," Henry began, but Chris laid a restraining hand on his shoulder.

Climbing up onto the fallen autobot, Maia crawled up to where the gaping hole was in his chest. She began to examine it. There had to be a way to fix it. Sniffing, she wiped the tears out of her eyes. "I won't let you die. I can't!"

Suddenly she felt a warm buzzing in her pocket.

Reaching into her pocket, Maia pulled the crystal out that the autobot had given her before he passed. Her eyes widened as she examined it in the palm of her hand. It was growing brighter than before-flashing almost.

The crystal's glow began to increase even more the closer she held it to the hole in the autobot's chest. The hole in his chest was formed into the perfect shape of the crystal.

Should it go there? Biting her lip, Maia clutched the crystal tight in her hand. Whatever it was, it held the evidence to her mother's death and the information that could convict Craig Stevenson. But was that what she wanted? She could avenge the death of one she loved or save the life of another.

If I put the crystal in his chest-it might be gone forever. Frowning, Maia made up her mind not even hesitating a moment. She pushed the crystal forward into the whole.

At once there was a bright glow of light.

Maia held her hand up to shade her eyes.

S3WP began to shake and Maia clutched tightly to one of his metal plates as the robot suddenly began to jerk, his hands digging deep into the ground. He gave a groan and pulled himself to his knees. 

Maia hastily jumped to the ground and watched, wide-eyed as the autobot slowly stood up to his feet.

"What...what's going on?" Jacob stared in shock as the autobot who had been still but moments before stood up on his own feet-the light faded and the gaping hole in his chest was gone.

"S3WP!" Openly crying, Maia tried to wipe away the tears, "You're alive!"

The Autobot turned and faced her. Bending down on one knee he held out a hand. Maia ran up and threw her arms around his hand.

"The Energon crystal," Optimus Prime spoke, his voice deep and grave yet having a tone of almost joy to it. "Somehow it's energy was enough to save him."

S3WP looked at Maia. He spoke in a sad voice, "Saved me...store evidence in crystal so you could use it...but now evidence...gone."

Shaking her head through the tears in her eyes, Maia smiled at him. "It doesn't matter-I have you." She did not care about Craig Stevneson-she did not care about his lackey's. Yes the information he had wanted was gone forever-but either way there was no bringing her mother back even with the evidence. She could forgive Craig Stevenson.

"Maia Langston," Optimus spoke in a solemn voice. She turned and faced the autobot.

"As leader of the autobots, I thank you for saving S3WP's life," the Prime continued. Standing back up, he turned and faced S3WP. "Autobot-we meet again after the fall of Cybertron; come with me and we shall join the others in protecting Earth."

S3WP turned and met Maia's gaze. Then he looked back at Optimus. "Zww Erp-beep-juup."

Jacob stepped up beside Maia and whispered in her ear, "What's he saying?"

Watching the two Autobots conferring in their own language, she shook her head and whispered back. "I have no idea."

Finally Optimus Prime nodded his head, then he looked and addressed the humans. "I have given S3WP consent to stay here until Maia Langsont is ready for the next step in her life; he shall reside with her until the fall where he will then join us in our mission."

What? Maia's eyes widened and looking at S3WP, she grinned excitedly. "Really?"

The Autobot nodded. "You...save my life." He gently took his hand and closed it around Maia's. "Couldn't save...mother...protect you."

Overwhelmed at his words, Maia laid her head on the autobots hand. She spoke in a soft voice. "Thank you."

Suddenly a voice spoke up, somewhat timid. "Maia," Jacob looked at her, eyes having a hint of a wetness. "I'm so glad you're-"

Without a moment's pause, Maia turned to the boy. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she kissed him on the lips. "I love you."

Jacob was stunned for a moment. But than he put his arm around her and kissed her back. "I love you too."

Henry cleared his throat at this. He was about to intervene, but Chris interrupted him. "Oh, let those two lovebirds have their moment, Henry; they were inches away from death–they have a reason to celebrate."