Please be safe everyone. I know America and the world is looking really grim, but we'll pull through. Spread kindness, gentleness and compassion. Lots of hugs for all of you.

Thank you for the reviews: C. S. Stars, KEZZ 1, angel897.

Welcome new favs/follows: Shadow's Rapture and Chaoswolf12.


Ratchet approved her new wheelchair in time for those coming back to Earth to arrive.

Sarah felt spoiled by the compartments for her files, the feeding tubes and toys for her hatchlings, along with two spaces for Rustwind and Chinook to lay down when they wanted to stay close to her.

Reviewing a file John handed her as the shuttles made their descents, Sarah grinned.

Mark's solo liaison with NASA and sister agencies across the globe had been a success.

She'd tell Optimus that the agencies wanted help with Venus science expeditions as soon as the metroformer was settled.

Signing off on the schedule for Mark to discuss the first shipments with the space organizations with Wheeljack and Perceptor, she handed it over to John, "So both Wheeljack and Perceptor gave the go ahead already, hmm?"

"They want to see how humans approach this and how they correct based on what their equipment does. The metroformer is also very glad to take on a more peaceful science post after being harried by his own kind. Optimus is next for approval."

Sarah looked up, "You may want to give him a day, or get Ballast to work with him on it when we are sleeping. He's got a debrief before he goes back to the normal requests."

The shuttles glided down and slowed to a stop in a perfect line.

Seeing all of them exit the shuttles with only dents and minor scratches, Sarah hummed happily.

Only to have all the hatchlings flock to her, chattering and humming.

Starscream strode over to her with a spring in his step, "You are becoming more and more seeker every day. I must be a fine example for you."

Sarah laughed, "I'm not sure I want that level of exceptionalism. I just don't want to have the entire flock descend on me every time I hum. It was bad enough with the wash racks and the energy goodies."

Chinook made a plaintive squeal, which all the others echoed.

"Is it bad they are spoiled now?" Sarah asked as Ratchet knelt, handing out candies as the children changed targets.

"This isn't close to spoiled," Starscream haughtily replied, then picked up his hatchlings, humming as he nuzzled them, "They deserve the sky for what they went through on that worn down ship you sent us to."

The Cybertronians collected hatchlings and spoke excitedly about the newest additions while Optimus spoke with Ironhide, Jazz, Ratchet and Prowl.

Movor's whine carried on the air, "This base is too smaaaaaaalll!"

Prime looked at Ironhide who said, "Seems that is one thing the reprogramming didn't remove. I suggest having him on Mars runs asap, then Venus once it's available. The other four would be better here since they have a nasty reputation we'll need to blow away."

A shadow covered Sarah.

She looked up into a single red optic.

"Shockwave," she greeted.

He knelt slowly, settling his gun arm across his knee, posture relaxed, "Ratchet contacted me on the way down at your insistence. Please explain your logic, Liaison Twintower."

Glad she hadn't gone back in time to experience what he'd suffered like she'd done with Megatron and Mega-Octane, she replied, "I see beyond the exterior, Shockwave. What your own people did to you for harboring dissidents to the high caste didn't break you. It made you stronger, and eventually you'll come to an acceptable point of recovery."

"Why help reopen the communication between Ratchet and I?"

"My kind are lucky to live a hundred earth years, Shockwave. I've accepted that, but…"

Shockwave turned his optic to Ratchet who was prodding a wound on Optimus, his voice rising in irritation, "You understand you are a brief interlude in the normal lifespan of my kind. Ratchet will continue," his optic turned down to the hatchlings sitting against her sucking on energy candies, "as will these ones."

Sarah nodded, "I will not leave Ratchet alone to deal with these two once they get old enough to have a rebellious phase. Forbid them dating. I think they'll make Starscream look tame in comparison."

"A logical and societal-focused plan. Does he know?"

The laughing whisper around Sarah made her grin, "Let's just say that I have several pranks in the works and he's too distracted with one of them to come to that conclusion yet. He may not appreciate I have him as a target."

Shockwave inclined his helm, "Your plan has my approval."

"I do reserve the right to take some of his time as you two get reacquainted and heal each other," Sarah stated firmly.

Before he could respond, Epps' guffaws reached them.

The Predacons were laying in front of Epps, letting him scratch their chins, tails wagging in happiness.

"Hey, Lennox! I doubt anything would dare to give me grief now. This black man will survive."

Lennox shook his head, "Just keep them away from Wheeljack's lab."

A resounding boom shook the air.

{Mark, did Wheeljack see an episode?} Sarah looked back towards the billowing smoke.

{Umm. I don't recall.}

{John, can you go handle the normal contacts? Annie, Mark, go see how bad it is and help Wheeljack get his lab in order. Then make sure he watches an episode. Drag the smaller twins over as well.} Sarah amended as she spotted an official looking plane circle for landing.

Frank called out, {I just checked with Inventory. Looks like shipment one of ten from our family in the reservations arrived. Toys mainly. Also, we have deliveries for Ratchet's Medbay, the Cybertronian Armory and those that will have to wait until we see how bad Wheeljack's lab is.}

{My lab is not that bad!} Wheeljack protested.

{Are you mobile?} Ratchet growled.

{Umm,} Wheeljack hesitated.

Ratchet stomped off to Medbay, "Fragging idiot!"

Sarah looked up at Shockwave, "You may want to give Ratchet a hand peeling Wheeljack off the wall, Shockwave. It would also be beneficial to see the lab at it's worse."

"A logical suggestion," he straightened slowly, took a step, then paused, "What do you mean an episode that needs to be watched?"

Sarah offered, "Seems Wheeljack has less explosions when he sees one from a science show we humans made called Mythbusters. Let me know if you want to watch it. We'll have one of us liaisons sit with you to answer any questions you might have."

"I look forward to how your science approaches answers," he walked after Ratchet.

Jazz settled down next to her, "Are ya sure ya want to be getting those two back together now?"

The voices that chimed in around her filled her voice, "Let's say that it will take a long time before those two are anywhere close to being on best terms. Unfortunately, I'm going to need a partner to continue my prank after I'm no longer able to. Do you happen to know a mech or femme who'd help?"

Jazz smirked as he straightened, "Ah have a small team ya may want ta brief on this mission."

Wheeling her chair around, she kept pace with Jazz as they walked towards the offices, "Do tell."