"Ultra Magnus, something has been troubling you," said Optimus.

"I fear that my command style might be having a negative effect on unit moral," said Ultra Magnus.

"Your service is most welcome old friend, but this is not the elite guard," said Optimus.

"Things have changed since the war for Cybertron," said Ultra Magnus.

"And we must adapt to that change. The members of team prime are not cogs in a machine. They have grown into something greater than an army. They have," said Optimus, but he was cut off by an alarm.

The computer displayed a signal and Ratchet went over to check it. "Optimus, our scanners have detected exposed energon," said Ratchet.

"With our reserves at a critical low, we cannot afford not to investigate," said Optimus.

With the exception of Ratchet, they all went through the groundbridge to investigate.

"Ratchet," said Paige.

"What is it?" asked Ratchet not turning from the computer.

"Do you have enough materials to construct a Cybertronian hand?" asked Paige.

"When we evacuated the base, I brought the materials I constructed from the melted scraplets with," he said. "Creating a fully functional servo should be simple. Why?"

"Because I think you ought to start working on that now," said Paige. "You're going to need it when they get back."

Ratchet turned around to look at Paige. His optics met her eyes and they simply stared at each other for a moment until Ratchet decided that she was completely serious. "I could call Optimus and warn them," said Ratchet.

"It won't help," said Paige with a knowing look.

"I'll start working on it now," said Ratchet. "What size do I need to make it?"

"Use Ultra Magnus as your model," said Paige as she headed out of the hanger.

Ratchet opened the groundbridge once he got the comm and Arcee and Bumblebee arrived hauling carts full of energon. Smokescreen and Bulkhead returned awhile later to find Ratchet busy working on something. When Optimus returned, he was carrying a damaged Wheeljack and an unconscious Ultra Magnus. Ultra Magnus was missing a hand and Ratchet vented. After all this time, Paige's warnings becoming true no longer surprised him anymore. He came over to check on his patients and then returned to finishing the hand for Ultra Magnus.

When Ultra Magnus came back online, Ratchet was sitting next to him working on his hand. He looked down at his mangled hand and groaned.

"Ratchet will take good care of you," said Optimus as he stood next to the berth.

"Magnus fought like a wrecker," said Wheeljack from where he was sitting.

"Optimus, when we spoke earlier, what could be greater than an army?" asked Ultra Magnus.

"A human concept I've learned since being here, a family," said Optimus.

Xxxxxx

"I've done everything I can," said Ratchet moving away from Ultra Magnus. "Considering the limitations of my equipment."

Paige peered over at Ultra Magnus' new hand. He actually had fingers this time instead of hooks and Ratchet had attached the weapon that she'd taken from Mech to his arm.

"It should prove functional after the requisite amount of therapy," said Ratchet.

"That is all we can ask for old friend," said Optimus.

"Hey look at the bright shiny side. Commander Magnus and Jackie single handedly put the kibosh on Project Predacon," said Bulkhead.

"Though one beast still remains, the one that has demonstrated the ability to transform," said Optimus.

"Prime," said Fowler running in. "We have trouble brewing. The Cons staged a smash and grab at the Las Alamos nuclear plant late last night and made off with 20 tons of control rods."

"What are the Decepticons looking to build?" asked Prime.

Paige wanted to answer him so badly, but she wouldn't be able to explain her knowledge and she couldn't interfere with the timeline not when they were so close to the end. She watched as they left and returned with Soundwave as their prisoner. She left the hanger soon after to get some food.

Xxxxxx

Paige walked back into the hanger to see that only Ratchet, Bulkhead and Smokescreen remained.

"Can't we throw a tarp over him? He's creeping me out," said Bulkhead looking at Soundwave.

"Yea, it's like he's watching no matter where you go," said Smokescreen moving around the room.

"Would both of you stop thinking about what Soundwave can and cannot see," said Ratchet. "Instead concentrate on why Megatron would be interested in something that could generate enough power to create a black hole."

"Black holes. So Megatron's looking to swallow up the known universe," said Smokescreen.

"And everything in it," said Bulkhead.

"No, no," said Ratchet. "He would only use the power of something capable of swallowing worlds to create something. Oh my." Ratchet quickly sent a comm to Optimus. "Optimus, I know this hardly seems the time, but this may aid you in your task. It appears that Megatron is trying to rebuild the Omega Lock. Do we let him?"

"No," responded Optimus. "If Megatron successfully rebuilds the lock, he'll cyberform both Earth and Cybertron and that is something that we cannot allow."

Ratchet sighed in defeat.

"Ratchet, it may not be with the Forge or the Omega lock, but we're going to find a way to get our planet repaired," said Smokescreen comfortingly.

Fowler suddenly walked in carrying a file and Laserbeak flew through the window breaking it. Laserbeak immediately fired on the bots and shot off the restraints holding Soundwave down. The Autobots dodged and fired back while Ratchet pulled Paige behind him. Smokescreen managed to knock off a part of Laserbeak's wing with a lucky shot and Laserbeak quickly landed on Soundwave and integrated with him while quickly reloading his mission parameters. Soundwave regained his senses and attacked the Autobots first electrocuting Smokescreen and Bulkhead with his cables and then knocking Fowler out. Then he advanced on Ratchet who was trying to shield Paige.

Bulkhead, Smokescreen and Fowler awoke to the sound of Arcee requesting a groundbridge.

"Where's Ratchet?" she asked.

"He's gone," said Bulkhead looking around.