The first chapter of this sequel is dedicated to my two cats who lay in my lap as I type these chapters

Say hello to everyone Mercedes. "Merrrrow!"

Chapter 1: Forgiveness

(Sapphire's POV)

I stood sentinel with crossed arms as I watched the bots prepared CliffJumper's body for burial. Optimus kept me in is sights at all times, obviously worried that I would be taken from him again. I noticed that the others gave me glances every few once in a while. Optimus may be worried, but their optics told me that they were weary of me. I would bet that their worried about me seeking retribution for Arcee's assault.

Storm jumped out of the pit and walked over to stand beside me. 'Are you alight Sapphire?' he asked me while watching the bots with me. I sighed and I turned my head to look at him and him me. "I'm sad that we couldn't save Cliff and a little upset that they would immediately assume the worst of me, but other than that I'm fine." I told him.

Silence met my words as we each though silently. "Are we staying or going?" Storm suddenly asked. My partner knew me well to guess that I had considered leaving. "Staying." I replied firmly. Storm looked at me like I had gone crazy. I explained, "At the moment I don't trust the others and it would seem that they don't trust me either, but I don't care. Optimus needs me and I need you."

Storm nodded in understanding and smiled when I said I needed him. I turned my head when I saw something glimmer in the corner of my eye. I jumped into the pit and walked towards the object. There wedged in the ground, was CliffJumper's right horn.

I pulled it out of the ground easily and turned it in my hand. It had a few scratches, but unlike the rest of Cliff, it didn't look like it had been in an explosion. Looking at my Uncle's prized horn made me realize that I shouldn't be mad at Arcee. She had been blinded by anger, so what? I had been to, when the retarded con shot the energon.

Storm walked over and whined sadly when he saw what I had found. I turned to the bots, whom had yet to notice my change of position. Storm and I ran over to them and we stopped a few feet behind Arcee. "Arcee!" I called. She nearly jumped out of her armor in surprise. I mentally chuckled; it was quite a feat to sneak up on Arcee.

She turned to me quickly and had a look of guilt and a hint of fear. I sighed, she really wasn't helping the whole forget about it thing. I held out Cliff's horn and she kneeled down and took it in her servos gently. "He would want you to have it." I told her sadly.

I turned to walk away, but her voice stopped me. "Jen, I'm sorry I attacked you." She said quietly. I turned to face her again and had my helmet transform onto my back. I smiled and replied, "Leave the past in the past if you want the future to last."

She looked at me with stunned optics as did the others. Optimus smiled at me with pride and I smiled back. "Wait, you're not mad?" Bulkhead asked in total surprise. "Well I was, but I've never really been the revenge type anyway. Besides, you were blinded by loss I can't say I wasn't the same when the fragging bastard shot the energon." I told them.

"Jennifer…." Optimus said sternly. I rolled my eyes, "No offence dad, but the bot I considered an uncle just died. I'm gonna cuss a little!" I told him in annoyance.

"Whoa, whoa, wait a second. You considered him an uncle?" Bee asked. I nodded, "Is that not what I just said?" I replied.

"So what did you consider us?" Bulkhead asked eagerly. I smiled, rolled my eyes, and turned and started to walk away. "Where do you think you're going?" Ratchet asked with his usual attitude. I answered without looking back, "Someone has to go back to base and send yal a bridge. Might as well be me."

I turned to Storm, "Feel like a little hyper running?" I challenged him. 'Are you sure you can keep up?' he challenged back. I smirked, "Ok. Ready. Set. GO!" I yelled and we took off. I had my helmet come over my head as I kept pace with Storm. Luckily we were still in Jasper, so we wouldn't have to run too far.

Ran for about 15 strait minutes when we finally reached the base. I had to open the door with the hidden switch because I wasn't riding in an Autobot. I opened the door and had it close quickly behind us, not wanting anybody to discover the base by accident. I ran over to the monitor, locked onto Optimus's signal and opened a bridge.

After a few minutes they all came through, with Bulk and Bee carrying Cliff's body. Storm and I took the human elevator to the top of the base while the bots took the larger one made for vehicles. The bots reached the top first and before we even got there they started digging a pit near the edge.

I wanted to help, but I figured I would just get in their way, but then I had an idea. I whispered it to Storm and he nodded his head in agreement. We started using our hyper speed and super strength to gather small boulders. When we had a good amount we returned to the others right as they were putting Cliff's body in the hole.

We watched quietly as the filled the pit again and silent tears fell from my eyes. We moved a little closer and I transformed my helmet off, but we still stood off to the side as Optimus started speaking what I assumed to be some kind of burial ritual.

"We must not allow our anger over the loss of CliffJumper, to impair our judgment. As of today only we seven Autobots remain on this Earth." Optimus paused. "We owe it to ourselves, to the memory of Cybertron, to any Autobots in any galaxy seeking safe harbor, to humankind, and we owe it to the memory of our fallen comrade to survive." Optimus finished.

Arcee turned and started to walk away. "Arcee?" Optimus asked her. "If Cliff's gone standing around here sulking won't bring him back. So unless anyone minds, I think I'll get back to protecting humankind." Arcee told him coldly. Then she transformed and drove away.

We all watched her as she left. Ratchet moved to stand beside Optimus and spoke, "Optimus," Dad turned to him as he continued, "Helping humans will only result in more tragedy." Optimus replied, "Your opinion is noted."

More tears fell from my eyes at Ratchet's comment and I looked at the ground in shame. Storm hung his head as his tail and ears drooped. I used my super speed to stack up the boulders we had collected on top of Cliff's grave. It wasn't art, but it was just something to honor my late uncle. When I was finished I stood back to look at my work. It was difficult to see through my tears, but I could tell that it was sturdy enough to serve its purpose.

Storm walked forward and stood at my side. I crouched down to his level and he sat down. We leaned against each other for support as we looked on in sadness. I heard heavy footsteps approach us and didn't have to look to know who it was.

A hand was placed on the ground beside us and Storm and I both stepped on to it. Optimus brought us to his chest and I collapsed on my knees and wrapped my arms around Storm's neck. I sobbed into his chest and Storm wrapped his right paw around my back as best he could. Optimus wrapped his other hand around us as I continued to cry shamelessly. I heard the other bots leave quietly, but I didn't care.

I blamed myself for Cliff's death I should have just stayed at base so the team could have aided him faster, but no I just had to jump at the chance to prove myself. I was no Autobot; I didn't deserve either of the insignias I whore. I should have just stayed home and followed orders, then Arcee would still have her partner and I would still have my uncle.