A/N: Ok, this is a story I've been working on for a while. I'm still working on Changes, and am currently writing chapters 4-7, but thought I'd take the chance and post this.

I've tried to put things into my own words rather than go by the shows script. Also, Cliffjumper is alive, so the scene in the mine won't be happening.

Any resemblance to other people's stories is unintentional.

"Speech"

'Thoughts'

"Bumblebee speaking"

"Comm link"

Units of time used in this story:

Nanoclick - Second

Click - Minute

Stellar Cycle - Day

Breem - Hour

Jour - 5 Hours

Groon - Month

Vorn - Year

Disclaimer: I do not own Transformers. They belong to Hasbro.

In a missile silo just outside Jasper in Nevada, Optimus Prime and his Chief Medical Officer were waiting for the other members of their team to call in with progress reports. Ratchet was telling him about some work he'd been doing, but he was only half listening.

"Are you all right?" Ratchet had noticed that he seemed distracted.

"I am fine. I was just thinking."

"About Jetstream again? I'm sure she wouldn't want you dwelling on what happened."

"I can not help it. It still angers me that we never discovered who the murderer was. Sometimes I wonder if she was targeted because of her connection to me. She never kept it a secret that we were related."

"She would have told people regardless of any danger. I only met her a few times, but It was obvious she adored you. I still remember the look on Senator Ratbat's face when she defended you after he laughed at the idea of you becoming Prime."

Optimus gave a weak smile. "She always believed I would follow in our sire's pedesteps, and woe betides anyone who thought otherwise."

At that point, the computer beeped. "Bulkhead to base. Bee and I need a groundbridge. We found a supply of energon."

"I need to go for a drive to clear my processor." Optimus decided. "If something comes up, let me know." Transforming into his alt-mode, he drove out of the silo.

Walking over to the computer, Ratchet pulled a lever and a swirling green portal appeared. Bulkhead and Bumblebee came through it and started unloading the cubes they'd found.

"Good work you will keep us going for a while."

Bulkhead glanced around. "Where's everyone else?"

"Arcee and Cliffjumper are still out on patrol and Optimus has just gone out for a drive."

"You know, Prime's been real depressed lately. Do you think he's worried about the 'cons?" Bumblebee queried.

"They have been rather quiet lately."

"It is not for us to speculate on our leader's mood or behaviour." Ratchet spoke up. "Now, please get those energon cubes stored away." He sighed as he watched the two mechs do just that. Although he knew what was bothering Optimus, it was not his place to tell them.

With Optimus

Even though Optimus had gone out in the hope of clearing his processor, it didn't seem to be working. His thoughts kept straying to his lost sister. Driving to a secluded spot, he transformed and looked up to the northern star. "I am sorry Jetstream, that I wasn't there to help you when you needed me. I can only hope that wherever you are now, you are happy."

At the same time

16 year old Sinead Connelly was sat at a table in KO Burger writing in her journal. She worked every Saturday and a couple of evenings after school. She was currently taking a shift break.

It had been two years since she and her mother had emigrated to Jasper, joining her father who had already been out there for a year with a team of people from his father-in-law's business setting up an expansion.

"Jack, would you please not read over my shoulder? It's really irritating."

Jack was Jack Darby, who worked at KO Burger with her. They both went to the local high school, and had most of their classes together.

"Sorry, just curious about what you're writing, that's all. I still don't get why you don't do that once you get home."

"My...father is the reason why." Sinead replied. "I'm sure I've told you this before."

The hesitation before saying the word father wasn't unnoticed. Nor was it the first time she`d done it. "You have, I just don't understand your father's attitude. What does your mum think?"

"Oh she just agrees with everything her husband says. Yes dear, no dear, three bags full dear. And when she's not doing that, she's worrying about me."

"Well, that is the job of a parent."

"I know, but does she really have to go over the top about it? I'll be eighteen next year. I don't need to be mollycoddled for frags sake."

"Eighteen? You're only sixteen now." Jack looked puzzled.

"I'll be seventeen next groo-er next month."

That was another odd thing he'd noticed about her. The language she used. He remembered an argument he'd witnessed her have with the school bully Vince. Jack hadn't understood a word she'd said. The argument had escalated into a fight, and none of the moves she'd used had come from any martial art that he knew of

"Vince was looking for a fight again after school yesterday. Wasn't anything to do with you was it?"

"He's always looking for a fight," Was the unimpressed response. "Nothing new there, and no it wasn't me. He was picking on Raf again, but then that foreign exchange student got involved."

"You mean Miko Nakadai." Jack more stated than asked.

"I believe that's her designation, yes."

"Designation, what do you mean by that?" Jack ran his hands through his hair and shook his head.

"I mean name, I'm sorry."

He narrowed his eyes at her. "You know, I really wonder about you sometimes. Are you sure you're all there?"

It was Sineads turn to narrow her eyes at Jack. "If you're trying to imply that I've got something wrong with me, then let me assure you, I'm perfectly sane."

"I'm not trying to imply anything, it's just...The odd words you use instead of proper English, the weird martial arts moves you used against Vince and the way you view the world around you as though you don't understand it. If you could hear some of the things people call you. A lot of them have commented that you act as though you're from another planet."

'If only you knew.' She thought with a wry smile. "I know, and I have heard them. And more often than not, you're usually standing with them joining in."

Jacks face flushed pink as he rubbed the back of his head. "Well, it's just, no one knows what to make of you, that's all."

"I wasn't aware it was such a big deal."

"I'll be making a big deal if you two don't stop yapping and get back to work." Their manager interrupted.

"Yes sir."

"Sorry sir."

"At least Vince hasn't turned up so far." Jack mused.

"Give it time, he still could. Just try not to let him annoy you if he does. You know he only does it to get a rise out of you and I'm sure you don't need me to remind you of what happened last time."

"No, I do not."

Every time Vince popped by to get some food, he liked to use it as an opportunity to wind Jack up. The last time he did, he drove off without paying. The manager had deducted the money from Jack's wages.

Fortunately he didn't turn up. At 18.00, once everything had been cleaned and tidied up, they left. Jack and Sinead lived next door to each other so they walked together.

"I'm still surprised your Dad actually allowed you to get a job there. How did you manage to convince him?"

"I didn't. I didn't even tell him until after I got the job. He wasn't happy at all, practically shouted the house down, but as I don't get an allowance and I'm going to need the money for college, he didn't have much of an argument."

As they approached Sinead's house, the sound of arguing could be heard. "Oh for frags sake, not again. This must be the fifth time this orn."

"Sinead. Get yourself in here, now," Her father shouted.

"Well, I'll see you in school on Monday." Jack turned and walked towards his house.

"You're late." Her father snapped as she came in. Her mother was standing beside him, with an extremely worried expression.

'Here we go again.' "No I'm not. I finished dead on 18.00."

"Then why has it taken you thirty minutes to get here?" Her mother asked.

"Because that's how long it takes to walk here."

"You didn't walk home alone did you? It's dark, and it could be dangerous."

Sinead sighed. "No, mother, I didn't walk home alone. Jack Darby walked me home."

"Who's he?" Her father asked, a suspicious look on his face.

"Yes, you've never mentioned him before, and we've never met him. He could be a stranger for all we know."

She mentally rolled her eyes. 'Of all the parents I could've ended up with, why did it have to be these two?' It was no surprise that her father didn't know who Jack was, despite the fact he lived next door, as he was only concerned about his job. Her mother though, should have known full well who he was. "I have mentioned him before, he's not a stranger and you have met him. He came round one Sunday as we were working together on an English assignment." She barely managed to keep the frustration out of her voice.

"Watch your tone, young lady. Your mother's simply worried about you."

'While you're not.' Sinead thought bitterly. 'The only thing you worry about is that fragging business. You couldn't care less about me.'

"I suppose you want some dinner."

"No, thank you. I ate at work."

"What are you doing now?"

'Talking to you,' She thought sarcastically. "I'm going to my room to start my homework. I've got an English essay to do."

"You'd better get on with it then, hadn't you?"

Sinead turned and headed upstairs to her room. 'Primus! What's his problem? Why's he even here at this time? Normally he works late on a Saturday.' Closing the door and throwing her rucksack on the bed, she took out the books she needed and got started. Once her homework was completed, she contemplated what to do next.

There wasn't anywhere of interest to go, and even if there was her parents would throw a fit if she tried to leave the house. Watching TV was out of the question as the only set was in the living room and the only programs allowed were the news, weather and the occasional business show. TV shows, films and cartoons were banned in the house.

There weren't even any books to read. Not fiction ones anyway. They were all business books that her father had made her read.

She was startled out of her thoughts by the sound of the front door slamming. Walking over to the window, she looked out to see her parents getting into the car and heading out somewhere. 'Typical. They expect me to tell them what I'm doing and where I'm going, yet they go out without saying a word.' She sighed and shook her head before glancing up at the sky.

It was a fine night. The stars shining clear and bright. She smiled as she looked at the northern star. "Hey big bro, I hope you're well wherever you are, if you're still online. I'm doing all right, I guess. Well, as all right as I can, with these people as my parents. I miss you bro, like crazy. Are our creators still online? Our friends? I guess I'll never know. I'm probably not meant to, but that doesn't stop me wondering."

Most people don't remember their previous lives, but Sinead remembered hers clearly. Who she was, her family and her friends. She also remembered how she died, and even had a birthmark over her heart. It was a jagged shape with five dots around it.

Deciding there was nothing else to do, Sinead went to bed.

A few days later

It was Wednesday after school, and Sinead had just arrived at KO Burger. She was about to go in when she spotted a blue motorcycle parked outside. For some inexplicable reason, she felt a sense of familiarity as she looked at it.

A red face-like shape on the side caught her eye. Seeing it caused a shiver to run down her spine. "Never thought I'd see that symbol again." She muttered under her breath before speaking out loud. "Well I'd better get inside to start work."

And with that, she turned and walked inside. Not noticing that the bikes front wheel had turned in her direction and was watching her.