It didn't take long for the external repairs to finish and within two months the Ark was ready to leave. Decepticon skirmishes had been few and far between during those two months and over the last week there had been no sign of them at all. While this put most of the Autobots on edge, Rain simply excused it as them hurrying to finish the repairs on the Nemesis as well.
Sam and Carly were safely on board and the Autobots were busy running final checks on the Ark's systems. Finally everything checked out to their specifications and Optimus gave the command to launch. They intended to exit the Earth's atmosphere and maintain orbit around the moon until they were sure that the Decepticons were following them. Once in orbit, they directed their scans on the Earth waiting for either transmissions from the humans or signs of the Nemesis.
Everything was quiet on Earth over the next week, but at the end of the week the Nemesis left the atmosphere leaving the planet behind.
Ratchet had been busy all week. It was one project after another. He was busy getting Carly and Sam situated as well as treating Autobots who came in with slight damage from training or pranks. He hadn't seen Rain in over a week. When he called her over the bond, she reassured him that she was perfectly fine, but that she was currently busy. It didn't concern him too much until he tried to find her and the computer couldn't locate her on the ship. He immediately went to Red Alert.
"The computer is saying that Rain isn't on board," said Ratchet panicking.
Red Alert typed several things into the computer and started reviewing footage. Finally he pulled up a clip of Rain in her black Decepticon paint leaving the Ark on the day they departed. Ratchet sunk into the nearby empty chair in shock.
"Why would she leave?" asked Ratchet in disbelief.
"Maybe she joined the Decepticons," said Red Alert. "Or wanted to stay on Earth."
Inferno who sat beside him promptly smacked him in the back of the head. "She's not a Decepticon," said Inferno. "They would kill her on sight after what she did. Maybe she came up with another plan."
Ratchet reached for her over the bond and she sent him love and reassurances that she was all right.
Red Alert pulled up footage from Earth from half a day ago. It was of Rain getting surrounded by Decepticons. They didn't rip into her as he expected them to, but escorted her somewhere with their blasters trained on her. "The Decepticons have her," said Red Alert.
"We have bigger problems," said Inferno pointing to the screen where the Nemesis was emerging into space.
"Ratchet, go to the bridge," said Rain over the bond. "You'll understand once you get there." Ratchet immediately headed for the bridge. Optimus and most of the command staff were already there. The Ark moved off quickly drawing the Nemesis further from the Earth. As they passed Pluto, the Nemesis sent them a message and Megatron came onto the screen. "Give up the Allspark shard," said Megatron.
"What makes you think that we would comply?" asked Optimus.
"What about if I return something of yours," said Megatron stepping back from the screen. Behind him stood Rain in her Decepticon colors. "She is mostly undamaged at the moment. It would be a waste for a new spark to die so soon."
Prowl looked at Optimus and shook his head. As sad as it was, they could not give the Allspark shard up for one Autobot.
Ratchet stood frozen a look of shock on his face.
"No deal," said Rain smiling from behind Megatron and suddenly the transmission from the Nemesis was cut off.
The Ark suddenly put on a burst of speed distancing itself from the Nemesis without command from Optimus. Optimus looked over at Blaster and Echo who were at the controls. Jazz stood behind them. Suddenly the Autobots watched stunned as the Nemesis exploded on the screen.
"Rain," said Justice quietly from where she stood.
"It can't be," said Ratchet in disbelief. "She isn't gone. I can still feel her."
"Because I'm not," said Rain walking onto the bridge surprising many of the bots.
"Where have you been?" asked Ratchet moving to embrace her. "I couldn't find you anywhere."
"I'm sorry, but we had to make sure there weren't any spies on board and your reactions had to be genuine when you found out I was captured. The femme that got captured wasn't me. I infiltrated the Nemesis using a remote controlled puppet of myself. You may recall that in your time on Earth there was a scientist that built a Ninjabot."
There was a look of recognition among those bots that had been present on Earth for a while.
"I appropriated the Ninjabot for some serious cash that would allow the scientist to continue his work on other projects unhindered. With the help of Wheeljack and Dawn, I made it look like myself with the Decepticon paint. That is what they took onboard. I had just enough explosives stashed in the bot to detonate the entire ship safely without making the warp engines create a black hole."
"You did this without orders again?" asked Prowl turning to her.
"I approved it," said Jazz quickly. "However it was need to know. Blaster, Inferno, Echo and I boosted the signal while Rain controlled her copy remotely."
"That's simply devious," said Ultra Magnus.
"That's black ops," said Jazz shrugging. "Though Rain had the initial idea."
"Ultra Magnus, I realize that you didn't spend very much time on Earth, but there's much to be said for the deceit and treachery of humans," said Rain smiling. "I've learned from the best and you're right to think that I have the temperament of a Decepticon so aren't you glad I'm on your side?"
Ultra Magnus merely raised an eye ridge.
For as bad as Rain tried to make the others think she was, Ratchet knew better as he pushed love across the bond. He knew it was simply her way of protecting others. Rain sent a wave of love in return laced with lust and Ratchet shivered. Oh, she was bad all right, but not in the way they expected.