It was strange for her, being inside of a vessel clearly intended for beings much larger than she was. Still, it definitely left her in awe. Sunset, walking along the floor of what, at one point, had been a fully intact bridge, looked to every beeping monitor and giant chair around her, just taking it all in. The sheer scale of all of this was beyond anything she'd seen thus far in her life, which was already saying something considering everything she and her friends had been through. Yet, she knew this was all just normal to those who dwelt here. And speaking of whom, thunderous footsteps behind her alerted her to an approaching Autobot, and as she turned she saw that it was none other than Optimus himself, who looked down to her upon entering the bridge. "I would have preferred you to see the Ark back when it was in good condition, Miss Shimmer. These remains are far from the best first impression."
Sunset chuckled. "No apology needed, Mr Optimus. It's impressive all the same." She watched Optimus nod to her, then make his way over to the largest of the chairs, right in the centre of the room, before sitting in it. He busied himself with work on the panel in front of him, and Sunset walked alongside him to observe him do it. "So...any luck getting a call out to your people?"
Optimus hung his head, and Sunset knew from looking that, while he may have wanted to put on an air of confidence or reassurance, the facts were too dire to be ignored or sugarcoated. "No. And the chances of us repairing our ship to do so are small. It appears...we are simply stranded." He leaned back into his chair, staring out at the shattered remains of what used to be the main viewscreen of the bridge. "I do not wish to trouble you with our burdens, Sunset Shimmer. But...let it be known that I would never wish this feeling on you. To be trapped in a far-off place. Never knowing if you will see your kind or your home again."
Sunset looked away, holding herself. "Actually...I kinda do know what what feels like." She didn't look back to him, but she could nevertheless feel his inquisitive eyes on her, prompting an explanation on her part. "You see...much like you guys, things with me aren't all they appear." After that she finally looked to him. "I'm...not actually human."
Optimus was quiet for a time, then spoke, clearly doing his best to hide the fact that he thought the girl's statement was odd. "Forgive me, Miss...but that is a difficult claim to accept."
Sunset smiled to him, then gestured to herself. "Don't let the look fool you. This appearance is just a consequence of my people journeying from our world to this one. And believe me, it took a lot of getting used to."
Now looking like he was taking her words more seriously, Optimus considered them. "Red Alert would be fascinated to examine you if that is indeed the case. Involuntary biological transformation as a result of interplanetary travel." His face was hard to read, but even Sunset could tell that he was smirking slightly under that face-plate of his. "Knowing her, she'd likely want to write a whole thesis about it and present it to her..." Then, he stopped, sighing briefly before looking back to Sunset. "Apologies, my mind was elsewhere."
Sunset could feel that there was something else there, but didn't pry, instead getting back to her point. "Thing is...my coming here, it...well, it was for less than benevolent reasons. And once I was here, it was a while before I had any hope of returning." She paused, looking away from him and instead staring at the cracked glass of the viewscreen. "There were times...I wondered if I could return. If all I'd learned of the journey was wrong and that...I was truly trapped in this place." Walking to the side, she placed her hand upon the cold metal of the base of one of the empty chairs. "Some nights...I couldn't sleep. Kept awake by the thought that...I'd made a prison for myself. That I'd chosen exile and would never know anything else."
Optimus had let her speak, and only now, when she'd stopped, did he offer his own words. "Did you return, in the end?" Seeing her nod, though still looking away from him, he continued. "Then take heart in knowing that your dark tunnel had a light at its end. You suffered alone in this place, a point made worse by the knowledge that it was your hand that made it so. It is a pain none should endure...and you were correct. Your experience gives you more than enough cause to emphasise with us. And for that...I am grateful."
Sunset, finally looking back to him, smiled. "You're very welcome, Optimus." She shrugged. "And hey, it's not all bad. In truth, my being here was probably the best thing to ever happen to me. I was...kinda terrible back in the day. But living here..." Her expression softened. "I have friends now, a life I'm happy with. I can even go back to those I left behind if I wanted."
Optimus nodded to her. "That is good to hear. Though a bitter pill to swallow, sometimes it is only through passing through the darkest times of our life that we emerge someplace better. It is a harsh lesson, but one worth learning all the same."
Folding her arms, Sunset chuckled. "Out of curiosity, are you usually prone to giving inspiration speeches at the drop of a hat?"
"...It has been...noted," Optimus conceded.
Another laugh from Sunset. "In that case, Optimus, I think you guys will fit in very well with me and my friends." Walking away, she began to head for the bridge door, still speaking back to Optimus as she did so. "And hey, maybe you guys can get back home one day too."
"That...will not be possible."
Sunset stopped, slowly turning, her face now one of concern. "I'm sorry?"
As before, Optimus hung his head. "Our war...cost us. And that cost...was Cybertron." After a solid minute of quiet, he looked her right in the eye. "We...no longer have a home to return to."