It hurts. Arcee doesn't want to admit it, but it does. Now that the initial shock is starting to fade, little by little, and the weight of reality settles in, that's what it feels like. Without fault, without blame -- at least for anyone in this room -- it hurts. Arcee's gaze falls away, defeated, and she nods slowly.

"I'll be back," she promises, but her voice is subdued. She turns to leave, the clank of her feet on the floor louder than ever. It had been bad enough when Optimus had left to fight Unicron. Now...now, she really doesn't know how they're going to get through this.