The Decepticons had found other planets to explore and raid, and they all couldn't be happier to oblige. During their missions they would return with a heaping supply of Energon while they'd return empty-handed on others. One thing that remains the same, however, is that whether they succeed or not, they will always come back injured.

"There you go." Judith patted up Soundwave's patched up arm. "I gotta say, I never expected you of all 'cons to get injured."

"You'd be surprised." Soundwave rubbed his arm.

"You know, I never understood why Megatron's never made you his second-in-command." The woman had her hands on her hips. "You're loyal, intelligent, and you even have your own faithful followers. So how come he's never made you more than his scout?"

"Megatron preferred to have his friends close, and his enemies closer." The second-in-command stated.

"That would explain Starscream." Judith covered her smile. "Since Megatron believed that so much, he would've made Optimus Prime second-in-command."

"The leader of the Autobots as a second-in-command to the Decepticons is highly illogical." Soundwave remarked.

"It's a joke." Judith shrugged. Rumble let out a laugh.

"Soundwave ain't the type to laugh at jokes." Rumble vouched. "But he is the type to make 'em."

"What does he sound like when he laughs?" Judith tilted her head.

"Ya don't wanna know, fleshy." Rumble recommended. "Trust me, it takes a lot to make Soundwave laugh, and it can get chillin '."

"I am right here, Rumble." Soundwave rebuked. "And if you are looking for a demonstration, I'd be willing to give you one right now."

"U-uh, no thanks! I'm good!" Rumble perked up and raised a waving hand.

Soundwave turned to the human.

"Thank you for your cooperation, human." Soundwave stood up.

"No problem." Judith smiled, her voice shaking. "It's why I'm here."

Soundwave silently stared down at the human before making his way out, leaving Judith and Rumble to themselves.

"That's the nicest I've ever seen Soundwave act towards a human. Willingly, at least." Rumble quipped as he walked over to Judith. "Then again, he's the closest to nice out of everybody on this ship." The 'con saw that Judith had her head down, and her face hidden. "Uh… fleshy?"

"Rumble… why are you here?" Judith asked. "The way everybody on this ship treats you. Are Soundwave and the other cassetticons the only ones who respect you?"

"…I'll do ya one better, fleshy." Rumble crossed his arms. "Why are you here? Ya seem too much of a wimp to wanna join the Decepticons."

"You make it sound like I had a choice." Judith weakly laughed. "I didn't even know that I was healing Starscream on Earth."

"… you're not serious, are ya?"

"Starscream was thought to be dead by then, and even if I knew it was Starscream, I would've still helped him."

"Why would ya wanna save a Decepticon?" Rumble tilted his head. Judith sighed, pushing her hair back before turning to Rumble, her green eyes glimmering more than usual.

"I wanted to prove to myself that I could save a Cybertronian on my own… that I had the skills to do so. And when I first saw Starscream in that crater, I saw my chance and took him in." The woman rubbed her arm. "I figured I'd try fixing him myself, and that jf I couldn't do it, I'd have the Autobots help him instead, and I'd live with the fact that I can't save anyone on my own." Judith weakly chuckled. "I thought he had faith in me, but all that time he was using me to make sure I never told anyone about him. And now I'm here on this ship, far away from home..."

Her eyes dampened with tears.

"I'm such an idiot."

Judith wiped her eye and turned to the door. "On the bright side, I now know that I'm useful to the Decepticons." Her sad tone continued. "And that I… I'll…"

The cassetticon laid a hand on her shoulder, the woman turning to find Rumble's blank expression. She stared at his red visors before hanging her head down.

"I'm trying, Rumble." The woman sighed. "I'm trying to accept this. I keep telling myself that things will get better, but they're not getting better for me… I'm not a Decepticon."

"Ya never chose to be." Rumble continued patting.

"I can't go home." Judith shook her head. "He knows where I live, and I'm scared he might hurt my dad if he…" Judith gasped. "Dad!"

Rumble was taken aback by the human suddenly shaking and heavier breathing. "I have to go back!" Judith covered her open mouth. "I have to do something! I can't let dad…!"

"Hey, calm yourself, fleshy!" Rumble grabbed both her shoulders. "What about your dad?"

"If he finds me missing, he'll..." Judith shook in the cassetticon's hold. "I need to assure him that I'm doing okay. I don't want him to worry for the rest of his life. He's lost enough already…"

As Rumble stared into Judith's moistened viridescent eyes, he could see the anguish and anxiety she was going through.

"Look…" the 'con sighed. "This is somethin' ya gotta tell Starscream about."

"He wouldn't let me." Judith shook her head, staring down at the floor. "He doesn't care about my dad, nor would he ever want to go back to Earth. I can't trust him to listen…"

"Attention, all Decepticons!" Soundwave announced via speakers. "We have arrived at planet Sol and shall depart immediately! Prepare your battle stations!"

The ground quaked as the Decepticons ran down the hall to the ship entrance.

"Rumble! Starscream requests for your presence!" Soundwave announced again, the cassetticon turning to a depressed Judith.

"I, uh…" Rumble lowered his head. "I'll come back as soon as I finish."

"Okay." Judith tried a smile, with Rumble mirroring her actions before heading out to join the rest of the 'Cons.

As soon as they departed, Judith peaked outside her door and saw nobody in sight. She sighed with relief until a familiar looking feline was approaching, growling at the human.

"R-Ravage?" Judith furrowed her brow, the mecha panther lowering his growls. "I, um… I was wondering if you'd give me a tour of the ship. There's nobody around so I figured now would be a good time to understand this place. Please?"

The panther squinted his eyes before turning away from her, only to stop mid-prowling to check and see if the human followed. Recognising the gesture, Judith followed Ravage as they explored the ship, the robot cat passing near the doors so they would open upon detection and give Judith a glimpse of each room. While they roamed, Judith spotted what seemed to be escape pods, but kept her mouth shut to avoid any suspicion.

"Ravage…" Judith rubbed her cold arms. "I'm sorry you couldn't join Soundwave on his mission."

Ravage stopped in his tracks, completely silent.

"I understand if you're upset with me. Rumble's often mad about having to stand guard because I can't defend myself. Just know that I appreciate all that you and Rumble do."

There was a long pause before the panther continued on with the tour until he finally returned her back to her work quarters. That's when they found Rumble waiting by the door.

"Oh, that's where ya went." Rumble perked up. "Coulda sworn ya got up and… ya know what? Never mind."

The cassetticon smiled at the panther and opened his hand out, petting the purring Ravage on the head. Judith had her hands behind herself as Rumble had his moment with his friend, the human taking small quiet steps towards the other direction. Ravage let out an alerted growl upon noticing and Rumble took notice. "Hey, where ya goin'?" Rumble asked the frozen Judith before she suddenly bolted. "HEY!" Rumble and Ravage gave chase before witnessing the human enter one of the rooms. "Ya can't go in there! It's dangerous!" Rumble warned and stumbled inside to find Judith running into the escape pods, but right as it closed up, Rumble lept right past the shutting doors and onto the "eject" button.

Judith gasped as the pod suddenly released the two into space, Ravage staring in shock as the human and the cassetticon are left stranded into space.

"You dolt head!" Rumble shouted, trying to reroute the coordinates on the panel. "What were ya thinkin'?!"

"I need to go home!" Judith cried with clenched fists. "It's an emergency! I have to do this! I promise to come back!"
"Are ya that fried in your brains, fleshy?!" Rumble argued. "Do ya have any idea what Starscream'll do to me if he found out ya escaped?!"

"My name is Judith!" the human pushed with all her might on the cassetticon's arm. "And I have to protect my dad! Nothing will compare to what my dad will try to do to you guys if he found out!"

"Who cares?!" the cassetticon pushed the human back with immense force against the metal wall. "What does it matter if a dumb fleshy finds ya gone?! And even he does, he'll just-"

Judith hung her head as she rubbed the top of her head, not uttering another word to the cassetticon. Rumble's anger dissolved when he realised what he had done. "Uh... fleshy?" he approached with a hesitant arm.

"Just turn the pod back..." Judith demanded in a despondent tone. "... I got you into enough trouble... I'm sorry, Rumble..."

Rumble took his hand back and faced the panel before him. With a sigh, he typed on the panel and approached the human once more, settling right next to the injured woman.

"How, uh... how's your head?" Rumble asked.

"It'll heal..." Judith took her hand off her head and examined her palm.

"I'm, er... sorry about that." Rumble stared down at his lap.

"It's okay." she sniffled, raising her head. "I'm not as tough as you."

"Ya don't have to be." Rumble shook his head. "You're strong as you are now."

"What good is my strength if I can't defend myself from giant aliens?" she stared up at the ceiling. "I can heal others, but I can't protect them."
"I suppose I'm on the flip-side of dat spectrum, eh?" Rumble smiled. "Though it's more like 'I can scare fleshies, but I can't scare Decepticons'."

"You don't have to be scary to be strong, Rumble." Judith turned her head, displaying her sad viridescent eyes. "You just have to be your best."

"My best, you say?" he scoffed, turning his head and folding his arms. "Well, my 'best' seems to be some kinda joke to the other 'Cons."

"Even to Soundwave?" Judith's brow furrowed.

"Well... no." Rumble raised his head. "He and Frenzy treat me with the respect I deserve, and Ravage trusts me enough to pet 'em, and he never lets anyone touch 'em. Not even Starscream."

"I can see why you consider them your friends." Judith beamed. "They like you for you, not just because you can be intimidating."

"Ya know... you're startin' to remind me of one fleshy I met on Earth." Rumble turned to the human. "Maybe on the way I can meet her again."

"That's gonna be impossible now." Judith sighed, averting her gaze. "Starscream forbids me from ever leaving the ship."

"Who says we're goin' back to the ship?" Rumble smirked, Judith perking up with surprise. She eyed the control panel and then the window, watching the Dominion visually shrink as the escape pod lead them astray. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she focused on Rumble. A sweet smile found itself beneath her tears.

"Thank you!" Judith sprung forward with open arms, pulling the surprised cassetticon into a hug. "Thank you..."

Rumble sat frozen in the human's arms before he gradually brought his own around her and held her back.

"Anytime, Judith..."