A/N: I would like to give a shout-out to Vanessa Masters who helped me with the title for this one!


Chapter 23: Timewarp Part 1

(Alternative Title: A Day That Never Ends)


Between scoops of his cereal, Rad alternated between eating and making sure Ray wasn't about to start hyperventilating. She looked...twitchy, with her jaw clenching and her eyes roving repeating over her notepad. She'd checked that list five times already! "You sure you don't want to eat something?"

"There's no time to eat." Rachel retorted. "I have to make sure I didn't forget anything." she pointed at one of the checkpoints. "High Wire's at the Autobot base?"

"Took him there last night." Rad confirmed reluctantly, though it was awkward when he met up with Hot Shot who still didn't seem to know where Rad fell on the 'friend or not' scale. Rad knew he had no right to give his opinion, but he hoped it would be friends again.

"Got your suitcase packed for the weekend?"

"Yes." Rad answered, his tone more of a growl.

Rachel narrowed her eyes, more than likely picking up the tone. "Don't use that voice on me, there was no other option but for you to stay with my parents. You're too young to be on your own."

Rad sullenly continued eating. He hated it when Ray made sense, because it made him feel ridiculous about it. "I know I can't live on my own, I just don't want you to go."

Rachel crossed her arms, but her mouth was a softer frown than usual. "This is for my final exam, it's important to me. I would never stand in the way of the same for you."

Rad closed his eyes, because he honestly wasn't sure if that would be true. A part of him wanted to believe her, but the other part only reminded him she didn't believe in magic anyway. 'I want to tell you, but I'm scared of how you'll react.'

The sound of a knocking on the door caught Rad off guard, and he looked up incredulously as Rachel opened it, allowing two middle-aged people in, a man and woman very familiar to Rad. The blond blinked. "What's going on? I thought you were coming at 8:45 for Ray?"

Aunt Joy smiled serenely at him. "Change of plans kiddo," she ruffled Rad's hair and he pouted, "I talked with Rachel last night and we agreed it was better to kill two birds with one stone." She gently nudged his shoulder. "We're dropping you off at school before taking Ray to the bus stop, now go get your bag and your uncle can help you with your suitcase."

"That's fine, I can do it myself!" Rad said nervously, and he hurried to his room. He pulled on his backpack, but quickly opened the suitcase, browsing through just to make sure there was no plushy hitchhiker. "Kero, you'd better not be in here," he whispered, "I'll come back after school to take you to the Autobot base and High Wire can watch you, just hang tight."

Rad knew Kero and High Wire didn't get along, but he couldn't help hoping it finally got Kero to listen to reason about informing the rest of the Autobots about magic. It seemed to work with Maya and her trust issues regarding the bots, though he couldn't tell for certain given how reserved she usually was.

"Hey, buddy, you talking to someone in here?" His uncle asked as he poked his head into the room.

Rad made a show of waving his cell phone around, and nervously rubbed the back of his head. "It's nothing, just telling my friend where I'll be." He pocketed the phone and grabbed his suitcase handle. "What are you doing back here?"

"Just getting Rachel's suitcase, she's busy looking over her checklist." His uncle shook his head. "Takes after her mom in that regards." He glanced down at Rad. "You're probably too young to remember, but us and your parents had this camping trip to Black Hills when you were-three, was it?-and Joy planned the whole thing out." He grinned slyly. "Must have been the reporter in her."

"Oh." Rad only nodded along, because the mention of the camping trip made his brow furrow. The Autobot base was located in Black Hills, could he and Rachel have met High Wire there after all? 'It still doesn't make any sense, and I doubt out parents would have let us wander off by ourselves.' What happened during their meeting with High Wire was as much a mystery as to what went on with the Sakura Cards. 'And it looks like Kero and High Wire do have something in common; they're both just as secretive with what they know.'

Perhaps it wasn't fair to be hard on them, but on the other hand High Wire's secrecy hadn't almost gotten him killed before.

Rad glanced at his bedroom as he left, and was still nervous as he followed Rachel and her parents out of the apartment, his stomach churning. He wanted to be excited to spend the weekend with his aunt and uncle, but there had been a reason he wanted to stay with Rachel.

His relatives were flakes; mean of him to think, but growing up all he'd seen was his uncle pursuing his archeological interests with the same zeal Rad's own parents had, while Aunt Joy was constantly on the look-out for a news scoop.

In some bitterly ironic way, Rad realized maybe staying with his aunt and uncle would have a silver lining; they wouldn't notice if he was gone.

'That was morbid.' Rad thought, and once the group arrived at the car parked out on the curb, the blond waited his turn to toss his suitcase into the trunk of the car. He unshouldered his backpack to put on his lap when he climbed into the backseat, and it was strange to see Rachel in the backseat than in the driver's. Even the Autobots let Rachel pretend to be the driver.

"Have a good trip, Ray." Rad mumbled, feeling awkward by the whole thing.

Rachel snorted as she pulled him into a one-armed hug. "Exam, a trip is something you do for fun."

Rad flushed, but smirked at her. "So you're no fun after all, Carlos was right then."

The older blonde huffed as she brought him into a headlock and ran her knuckles over the top of his head. "No fun, huh? We'll see about that." Despite himself, Rad found himself laughing as Rachel kept giving him a noogie, and her other hand tickled his side until his face started turning red.

"Okay, Rachel, knock it off." Aunt Joy said, her face stern. "You're going to make Bradley pass out."

Ice water ran down Rad's spine, his cheerful mood doused as the use of his real name brought him back to reality. Then again, it was always a start to hear that name instead of his nickname. "It's Rad, Aunt Joy. Bradley's my dad's name." he crossed his arms, awkward as it was with Rachel still holding him. "When I grow up I'm changing my name to Rad Newell; it's not as plain as Bradley White Junior"

Aunt Joy turned in her seat, her curly red hair falling over her shoulder. "There's nothing wrong with your name."

"I'm a Junior, I want my name to be my own." Rad retorted sullenly.

Aunt Joy scrunched her own. "Why would you want Cindy's then? Even Cindy doesn't want her last name!"

Rad sensed a story behind that, but he wasn't about to drudge up unpleasant memories. He'd heard his mother say she hated her last name too, but he never understood why she despised her hair color-it was a beautiful sunny color. Made him jealous he got his father's darker blond shade instead. Rad was about to go off on his own tangent, but the car pulled up to the curb of Lincoln Elementary.

"Here's your stop, buddy. Do you want a ride back after school?" His uncle asked.

"No, it's okay." Rad replied. He hugged Rachel tightly before releasing her and reluctantly got out the car. "I-I'll see you on Sunday."

"Monday." Rachel corrected him. "I'll be back in the morning, but probably sleep all day so I won't actually be seeing you until the afternoon."

Rad's throat constricted. "I see." He whispered. "Then I hope you do well on your exam!" he rushed out before sprinting away. The blond's eyes pricked with tears, but he wouldn't let them fall. 'She's only going for the weekend, not forever.' But four days felt like forever. Tears didn't fall, but Rad wiped his eyes anyway to get rid of the stinging.

He sniffled as he leaned against a fence outside the school, but frowned as his bag started to move. A different kind of churning started in Rad's gut as he unzipped his bag and pulled back as Kero shoved his head out and gulped in deep breaths.

"What are you doing here?!" Rad whispered furiously.

Kero glared back at him. "There was no way I was hiding in your suitcase, and go to the Autobots to be watched by mini-tin can and big tin can? No way!"

"You were going there because Hot Shot wants to talk to you." Rad muttered.

Kero crossed his arms. "Well I don't wanna talk to him."

"You're being really bratty right now." Rad retorted.

"I've been cooped up day in and out, I'd be surprised if even you weren't a touch selfish." Kero snapped.

"Keep your voice down." Rad whispered, and tried to shove the guardian back into his bag. Kero dodged inside, and Rad's hand instead clamped down on a familiar pink book. "Kero, I can't believe you took the Sakura Book out of my suitcase."

Kero suddenly seemed nervous, his eyes shifting back and forth. "The cards don't want to be separated from you." His voice lowered an almost inaudible mutter. "Plus, they don't like that house."

Rad bit his lip as he looked at the cover of the book, and focused on feeling the cards inside. "Is this true?" He was taken aback when a wordless Yes hit him with an almost angry force behind it. "I-I see."

"Told you." Kero said smugly.

Rad scowled and this time he caught the guardian to shove him back in. "I'll leave an air hole, just don't speak or anything."

Kero grumbled, but when Rad's name was called, the guardian did as told and the blond left an opening when he pulled the zipper halfway shut.

Rad looked up to find Carlos riding towards him, balanced on Grindor's skateboard form. "Hey, what's up?"

Carlos rolled around Rad in a circle before stopping. "Nothing much, you?" Rad only stared at him, and Carlos rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. "That's right, Ray's supposed to be going for her exams, isn't she?"

"Left for her exams," Rad corrected, his tone cracking a touch, "her parents are probably dropping her off the bus stop right now."

"What?" A new voice called, and Rad glanced up to find Alexis approaching on Sureshock, her expression rather hurt and sad. "She just left? I didn't get to say goodbye though."

Rad shrugged forcefully. "That's just the way it is."

Alexis' cheeks puffed as she glared at him. "You did."

Rad winced, but he wasn't sure why Alexis was worked up about Rachel leaving. He got that she admired his cousin, but to this degree? "S-she'll come back." Alexis only frowned.

Due to the angle, Rad noticed Kelly hurrying up to them on her rollerblades. She blushed when she saw him, and waved. Rad waved back and Kelly's blush spread. Seriously, why was she getting sick all the time? Did she just keep going into cold places after overheating?

Kelly braked when she pulled up next to Alexis. "Rad, Alexis, you interested in coming to another martial arts class after school?"

"And there's my cue to leave." Carlos muttered as he propelled Grindor away from them and towards the bike rack.

Kelly childishly stuck her tongue out at Carlos' retreating form before smiling at Alexis and Rad. "I won't push, but it was nice having you there," her expression twisted, "than just being stuck with Billy."

"I get that." Rad replied, while Alexis slapped her forehead.

"I'll be there." She muttered. Kelly beamed, and looked hopefully at Rad.

The blond sighed, but it wasn't like his afternoon was booked. "Sure, count me in again."

Kelly grinned. "Thank you both so much!" she dashed by them, her face flushing to her roots.

Rad frowned, his brow creased in worry. "Does Kelly have a history of getting sick often? Her face is always red when I see her."

Alexis stared at him in disbelief, but only shook her head. "Trust me, if she's sick it's not contagious."

"That still doesn't sound good." Rad pointed out, but Alexis shook her head as she made her way to the bike rack as well.

"I can't believe you forgot about what I told you." He heard her mutter.

Rad frowned. Told him? He tried to think over what she could mean, but all he could think of was Alexis telling him Kelly had a crush on him. 'That's ridiculous though, my 'she's always ill' make more sense, in a rather horrible kind of way.'

He sighed and instead went to wait on the steps of the school. He sat down on the cement blocks, but frowned as he thought he heard rustling and faint squeaks on the other side of the raised wall that enveloped the steps. He checked his cell phone, but they still had a few minutes before class started. When he saw his friends approaching, he waved. "Come on, you know how our homeroom teacher is!"

Carlos waved it off. "Yeah, yeah."

Alexis huffed. "You know, you really should take things more serious-"

A loud splash cut her off, and Rad's eyes widened as something beaned into his head, wetness running down his neck and shirt. Shreds of a water balloon lie sticking to his skin. Alexis shrieked as another water balloon hit the back of her head, while Carlos shouted in surprise as one hit his back. Rad only had the briefest reprieve before throwing his arms up and felt the second balloon split open and coat his arms.

Obnoxious laughter rang out as Sid's voice yelled, "That's what you tattletales get!"

Rad brought his arms down in time to see Alexis actually swing her backpack at Sid and Seth, her face twisted in fury.

"You're both horrible!" she shouted, but didn't seem to notice a thin book fly out as her swing connected to Seth's shoulder.

Rad's brow furrowed when he heard a buzzing, and a bee tried to land on his arm. The blond swatted it away, but his eyes widened when he realized the water was sticky. "It's not water," he whispered, "it's syrup." His voice rose as more buzzing rang out. "Alexis, Carlos, we're covered in syrup! We have to get inside!"

Both of his friends' eyes widened as the realization hit them too, and the three made a break for the door.

Carlos angrily scuffed his foot on the floor. "I can't believe those jerks did that!"

Alexis was tense as she walked alongside them. "What do you expect from a bully?"

Carlos though settled as he smirked at her. "Who knew you had it in you to be so vicious?"

The brunette huffed as she crossed her arms. "My parents always told me never to back down from a bully."

"Still, it was pretty cool."

Rad listened with one ear, because his thoughts were mostly centered around how he couldn't believe Sid and Seth spent all this time plotting to get them back for how they told a teacher on them. Did they honestly think they wouldn't do the same thing this time? "This sucks, I feel so gross."

"Same." Carlos nodded.

Alexis just grimaced, but took the lead when they arrived at the office. The secretary looked up at them, and Alexis crossed her arms. "We were just assaulted by Sid and Seth with water balloons filled with syrup that attracted bees to us."

The secretary sighed. "Your parent and or guardians will be notified and bring in clean clothes for you to change in. For now, go clean up in the locker rooms."

Alexis frowned. "What about Sid and Seth?"

"They'll likely get detention."

"That's not good enough! Those two keep terrorizing everyone and all they get is detention." Alexis slammed her fist down on the desk. "What needs to happen is for them to get suspended, or better yet-expelled!"

The secretary's eyes narrowed, perhaps indignant about being talked down to by a twelve-year-old. "You will lower your voice and calm yourself. What happens to Sid and Seth is between the principal and their parents."

"And what about the rest of us?" Alexis demanded. "Are you really telling us that we're just supposed to take it?"

"They get punished, that should be good enough." The secretary said, tone rather patronizing. Alexis glowered, her form tensing as Rad could spot her fury rising. The secretary likely saw it too, for their eyes narrowed further, tone warning. "Now if you don't leave, I'll be forced to ring you all up for causing a scene and perhaps you can settle your differences with Sid and Seth in detention."

Alexis froze, and Carlos grimaced while Rad didn't want to be subjected to that again. Alexis gritted her teeth as she wound down, and stormed out of the office. Rad looked at Carlos, who could only shrug as they went their separate ways at the boys' and girls' locker rooms.

"I never knew Alexis could be so scary." Rad said. "Though she definitely has the guts to be President."

"I'd vote for her." Carlos said. Rad raised a brow, and Carlos looked away defensively. "What? She gets on my nerves, but I was totally onboard with Sid and Seth getting kicked out. I'd like them to be gone forever, but I'll take a week or two for them to learn a lesson."

"Yeah, too bad the lesson probably won't stick." Rad muttered.

"Unlike this syrup." Carlos grimaced.

Rad nodded, but as Carlos went to one of the shower stalls, Rad lagged behind and slipped out the back hall that led to the gym. He could hear faint voices from it, and decided to keep his own low when he opened the bag.

Kero floated out, the syrup having slipped into the bag and matted parts of his fur. The guardian's face was indignant and angry. "I swear, kids today have only gotten brattier. Even the ones I knew weren't this bad."

An image of Teacher flashed in his mind, and he remembered Kero's slip when he saw Fight's cloaked form on the television. "I saw a woman, Alexis and Kelly's aunt, and she looked a lot like Fight's human form, except she looked…kinda older. Do you know who I'm talking about?"

Kero frowned, but then he puffed his chest out as he placed his hands on his hips. "I've been stuck inside a book, so how could I know who you mean?"

Rad looked unimpressed. "You're just gonna keep playing dumb until I snap, aren't you?"

Kero snickered as he came over to Rad's shoulder. "You wouldn't hurt me, I'm so cute and fluffy!" he hugged the side of Rad's face, and the blond scowled as sappy fur clung to his cheek.

"You win this round, but I will get the truth!" Rad retorted, and he rolled his eyes as immediately Kero let go and smirked at him. Rad looked away, but gave a smirk of his own when he flicked Kero on the forehead and sent him spinning away. "Now I win this round." Kero turned right side up, and rubbed his forehead as he glared at Rad. "What's the damage though? Can I use Bubbles to save everything?"

"You can use Bubbles, but I don't think it's a good idea to use her on paper. Unlike the Sakura Book, which is magical by itself, your other books are likely to get soggy and break apart." Kero explained.

Rad sighed, but decided it might be too suspicious to use it her on himself anyway. 'This would be so much easier if I could just tell Carlos and Alexis about this.' He thought, and pulled his key from around his neck. He concentrated, and with a quiet shout of "Release!" his key elongated into a staff. Rad set his bag on the floor and placed the Sakura Book beside it and Kero sat by them. "Clean Kero, my bag and the Sakura Book, Bubbles!"

A large pile of pink bubbles sprouted from the card, and converged over both Kero and the book. Once it was over, all three were squeaky clean and Rad grabbed the card as it floated back to him.

"Thank you." The blond said before putting Bubbles back into the book. He was unsurprised to see his textbooks had been ruined, but it wasn't a lie to say the syrup had messed them up. He placed the Sakura Book back inside the newly cleaned backpack and Kero slipped inside. Rad transformed the staff back into key form and quickly set about getting into the shower after storing his backpack in a locker.

Though Rad couldn't help grimacing when he realized Rachel would be the one the school called. 'Hopefully it won't worry her.'


Rachel couldn't believe how lucky Rad was the school called her just as her father was putting her suitcase into the bus' carriage on the side of it. She rubbed her brow, incredulous as to why two brats would do that. 'I think I just answered my own question.'

Her mother patted her shoulder. "Don't worry about it, we'll drop off some clean clothes for Rad. You just focus on your exam."

Rachel allowed herself to be pulled into a group hug by her parents. She found herself reluctantly relaxing. "Yeah, I guess I'll try to." She basked in their affection before pulling away, and bit her lip as she got onto the bus. She grabbed a front seat, self-consciously aware she knew most of these students, who in turn only knew her as the 'weird girl that was always being pulled from school'.

Rachel slumped into one of the front seats, and saw her parents wave. She weakly managed to wave back, but her stomach was still forming knots. 'This isn't off to a great start.' She though and watched her parents head back to their car. Behind her, several students were speaking, and she blinked as she realized what it was about.

"Did you hear? Last night there was a news report of some unknown city being discovered underwater!"

"Really?"

"Yeah, they got a tip to use the underwater sonar to look around, and that's where they found the ruins! Already there's talk about who'd lead the expedition; word is they're trying to get Jessica Theist or Carter Sanford."

"That's awesome! I wish I could discover something big like that, maybe some unknown species of dinosaur."

Another student laughed, but it was playful. "You're more likely to find your keys because they fell out of your pocket."

The previous student growled and a soft 'thump' followed. "That's not funny!"

"You know what's more likely to happen? That klutz Becker probably tripping over her own tools!"

Rachel groaned and slumped deeper into her seat. 'I knew I should have come up with a better excuse for my ankle than 'I tripped over my own foot'.' She panicked, having been still stuck on her nightmare and giant robots than to be creative.

The group behind her hushed as Marty climbed onto the bus, in his arms a large grocery bag. If Rachel hadn't seen him put away a whole pizza once, she would have believed bringing the bag along to be overkill. Then again, they were going to be on a bus for hours to get to their destination.

"Oh, don't stop on my account." He said as he took the seat across from Rachel. Marty smiled at the blonde disarmingly. "Are you excited about the exam?"

Rachel snorted. "That's kind of an oxymoron, isn't it? I'm in it for the dinosaur bones we're digging up."

"You mean the false bones made of papier-mâché." Marty replied with a wry smile.

Rachel crossed her arms. "My point still stands."

"Then just be sure you don't get them wet or the professor will dock you points." Marty said dryly, but Rachel found it difficult to discern if he was joking or not.

It sounded like a joke, but Paaswell was rather no-nonsense, so it wouldn't surprise her.

And speaking of such, the professor in question came walking onto the bus. He narrowed his eyes, and the cabin was completely silent. No one wanted to fail this exam, because no one wanted to retake it again.

"I want you all to leave the bus in the same condition you got on; neat and clean, no littering or I will find out." Paaswell stated. "There will be no roughhousing or such; your adults and I expect you to act like it, understood?" Everyone grumbled in agreement. "There is only one bathroom, so no shoving or pushing. Let's all make this trip to Wyoming as pleasant as possible, do I make myself clear?"

Once more, everyone rumbled in agreement as the old professor took a seat behind the driver. "And one more thing," Paaswell continued as he glanced over his shoulder at everyone, "there will be no break when we reach the Wyoming dig site; you are all to choose your sections and be responsible for the preservation of any bones you may find." he finished, and nodded to the driver.

The bus started up, and Rachel looked out the window.

She sighed and wondered if seven hours on the road really would fly by. 'And me without a book to read.'


"Hot Shot," the yellow mech blinked as he looked down from his berth as Maya appeared on the floor, her expression slightly confused and worried. The bot turned down the television on his shelf to give her his attention, "I was wondering if you were aware of any other alien races that could be on planet?"

Hot Shot blinked. "Not that I'm aware of besides the Wisp-probably-why are you asking?"

"It's just as I was going through the news articles, I found several disturbing reports of a flying saucer being spotted over a town in Roswell, as well as there being reported thefts of cattle and crop circles recently being burned into cornfields."

Hot Shot tilted his head, glancing at his television. "That kinda sounds…fake." He smiled, a bit ironically given who was talking. "Those are the most common occurrences of 'alien' presence out there. Even the movies I sometimes watch have them. I never realized how funny humans were about this stuff." He shook his helm. "But I know you wouldn't just come to me if you didn't know that from your own Internet searches; so, what you got?"

"This." Maya lifted her hand, and above her palm a screen appeared. Hot Shot knelt on the floor as she brought up a grainy video. "There was captured evidence and I thought it would be worth a look-I of course made sure to take it off the Internet in case it proved pertinent."

Hot Shot nodded, his optics glued to the screen as he watched a disc-shaped figure with an oddly pointed front and tail fins zooming across the sky. It swivelled and dip, as though leisurely, but what made Hot Shot realize this couldn't even be a Wisp was the purple light which enveloped the saucer and the crack of air as it vanished from sight.

"Scrap!" Hot Shot's optics shot wide open, and looked seriously down at Maya. "How long has this been going on for?"

Maya frowned as the screen disappeared. "Almost a week ago; why, is there something to it?"

Hot Shot nodded. "You'll have to get Red to take a look at it, but I think what I just saw was a warp drive in action."

Maya frowned. "Is there a difference between this and a warp gate?"

Hot Shot shrugged. "Beats me, I was never really interested in that. Maybe Red or Optimus knows; I just know this isn't good."

"Then I will show this to Red Alert right away." Maya nodded to herself before her form vanished.

Hot Shot sighed as he glanced at the muted television. It was some cheesy soap opera, but he'd gotten surprisingly into it. 'It's so over-the-top it's kind of amazing, really.' He thought, but reluctantly turned the screen off. The more important thing was figuring out who got their hands on a warp drive, and if they were a 'Con.

Plus freaking the humans out for some twisted thrill was just plain wrong.


Rad swore he could still feel the syrup in his hair, but all through the morning it was only the water in his still drying hair that came away on his fingers. He was at least grateful his clothes had been left by the locker room, but slinking into homeroom with most of his classmates snickering because they likely heard the teacher being told the situation didn't help.

Now lunch was almost upon them, and Rad mourned for his lunch that had been destroyed. He hoped the cafeteria had something good at least. 'Well, I can use Sweet.' He thought, but blinked as instead of the bell, the intercom buzzed and the student announcer's voice rang out.

"Attention everyone, I have been handed an excerpt from a contest winner in a writing competition."

Rad furrowed his brow, and saw several of his classmates glancing at each other too. What competition? Didn't those only happen in high school?

"She's so pretty, with her long blonde hair the color of sunshine that's silky smooth and eyes like glimmering sapphires. Even when her hairs mattered and her eyes are exhausted I just can't help but think she's beautiful." The announcer's voice was sappy and dramatic, but Rad noticed that Alexis went stiff. Did she really hate the passage that much? "She's so smart, nice and I wish she'd smile at me all the time, that she'd notice how I feel about her and-hey!"

The microphone screeched as it sounded as though there was a struggle for the intercom before the school secretary's voice rang out instead. "Attention, this has not been authorized by anyone on staff. We will get to the bottom of this prank, that is all."

Just then, the bell rang. As students began filing out, several shouted and Rad was startled to see Alexis plow by them, muscling her way out of the room without a look back. The blond's brow creased in worry, and he saw Carlos looked just as concerned. The two hurried out, catching hisses from the other students they accidently bumped against.

Rad glanced around, but finally caught sight of Alexis running down the opposite hall. "Alexis! Wait up!" he called, but his friend didn't hear them.

"Come on, let's follow her!" Carlos said and Rad nodded. They sprinted to try and catch up to the brunette, but never managed due to her head start. When Alexis ran into the girl's washroom, Carlos halted abruptly and Rad stopped too. The former grimaced. "I'm not going in there."

Rad bit his lip. "Me either, but how are we gonna ask her what's wrong?"

Faint wailing drifted from the bathroom and Carlos sighed. "This might take awhile." He fished several dollars out of his pocket. "I can go get us some food, you got any money?"

Rad furrowed his brow as he dug around his backpack before finding loose change. "I know it's lunch and all, but how's this gonna help?"

"Crying tires you out," Carlos said wisely, "Alexis is going to need the energy. Plus my lunch is ruined."

Rad snorted. "So's mine." He replied. While Carlos left for the cafeteria, Rad leaned against the bathroom door, distinctly uncomfortably as he listened to Alexis crying inside. Should he say something? Would it only make it worse? "W-what made you upset? Can I help?"

Abruptly, watery laughter rang out and Alexis' cracked voice replied, "You don't even know what happened, do you?"

Rad was immensely confused. "No…" he answered carefully. "I'd like to understand though." There was no reply, and the crying quieted. For a long time, it was silent, but then soft footsteps echoed until Alexis was standing in the archway.

Her eyes were puffy and red-rimmed, mouth pulled into a frown. "You wanna understand?" she asked quietly, voice hoarse. Rad hesitantly nodded. Alexis breathed in deeply, eyes closing. "I…the passage was…was ready from my d-diary." Her voice hushed over the last word, so quiet Rad barely heard it.

But he had. Rad furrowed his brow. "So what everyone heard was a story you wrote? That's awful!"

Alexis jerked back, her eyes snapping open. The green in her eyes blazed. "It wasn't a story!" she snapped, but grimaced and looked away. "It was real." Her cheeks burned red. "My crush was broadcasted all over the school." She tensed up, eyes wide and expression tight.

Rad blinked, a bit floored when he realized what she meant. "So you like…girls?"

Alexis flushed redder. "I'm not sure, but it's always just been," she bit her lip, "her." She closed her eyes in anguish. "And now everyone knows."

"But there was never a name mentioned." Rad pointed out, but Alexis shook her head.

"Don't you see? Whoever has my diary knows it's me!" Alexis' expression turned fearful. "They know who I like and I'm…I'm scared. What if they tell everyone? All my hopes, my dreams, my thoughts are in that book, and now someone is looking through it!" she hugged herself, eyes squeezed shut.

Rad had seen Alexis scared and upset, but not like this. She was always the level-headed one, the one who had a grasp on what they wanted in life and Rad admired that. "I'll help you look for it." He offered.

Alexis furrowed her brow. "You will?"

Rad nodded, smiling faintly. "I'm sure we can find it if we split up. Someone has to have seen something, right?"

"I-I guess." Alexis wiped her eyes, and gave a teary smile back. "Okay then, I'll meet you back here after lunch. My diary's green, with a thin cover and a lock on the side with my name on the front."

"Got it!" Rad said, and waited until Alexis sprinted out of sight before ducking into a supply closet and opening his backpack. Kero floated out and landed on his shoulder. "I can't believe someone would do something so awful!"

"I stand by what I said, kids today." Kero muttered.

Perhaps inappropriate for the current time, but Rad couldn't help imagining Kero sitting on a porch and yelling at kids to get off his lawn and waving a cane at them. The blond snorted, but coughed to cover it as he pulled the Sakura Book out. "Which one do you think would help me the most with this?"

Kero crossed his arms, furrowed his brow. "That's a tough one, isn't it? Finding one book among the whole school?"

Rad tapped his chin. "Could I use Sleep to knock everyone out?"

"You really think you can find it before Sleep's powder wears off?" Kero retorted.

"Yeah…no." Rad replied and looked through the cards he'd sealed, his mind whirling. 'Can't use Wood, can't use Sleep, or Sword, or Glow, or Sha-' Rad stopped, his eyes widening. "Wait, I can use Shadow to scout the school. A shadow is something everyone has, and he could bring it back."

"Good idea, but I'd advise against him risking dragging it through the school." Kero said. "Shadow might be cloaked, but the book wouldn't be-remember how your mecha friend was just seen floating on an invisible dragon?"

Rad grimaced. "Yeah, I remember." He frowned before snapping his fingers. "I'll have him hide it and get it once the coast is clear." The blond took off his key and held it out before him. "Key of the star, with powers burning bright," a golden circle formed under him, wind picking up as his key floated above his palm, encompassed in a white light, "reveal the staff and shine your light-release!" The key form expanded until it was a wand that Rad grabbed a hold of.

The blond tossed Shadow's card in the air, where it stayed put by an invisible wall, and Rad pointed at it, the wings of his wand glowing as they expanded. "Shadow!" he called, and the spirits form appeared on the wall in front of him. "Search the school and find a thin book with a green cover and a lock on the side where it'll have the same 'Alexis' written on it. Once you find it, hide the book and come back to me."

The spirit's form broke apart, and slid in many parts under the door.

Rad let his staff turn back into a key before packing the rest of the cards and book into his bag. Kero reluctantly climbed back inside and Rad shouldered it. "Might as well not let Shadow and Alexis do all the work. I wonder where I should start looking though?"

"Where do the trouble makers in your school hang out? That's the kind of person who'd think doing this would be 'funny'." Kero pointed out.

"I guess detention." Rad replied, grimacing. "Though there's no way I'm sticking around in case Sid and Seth are there." He muttered. The blond exited the closet, and sprinted towards the detention room; though when he peered in through the window, in some part he was relieved he couldn't spot the bullies, but on the other angered they weren't there.

Rad huffed quietly as he pulled back, but froze as he noticed Shadow slinking back up to him, connecting to his own shadow before Rad hurried to the corner. "That was quick, I take it you found it then?"

Shadow didn't so much as speak in words than let his magic flow with Rad's, and the blond closed his eyes as in the hazy connection he saw Shadow find the book in question being snickered over by a thin, gangly boy and a stouter one on the steps of the school.

Rad scowled as he recognized Seth and Sid instantly. 'I can't believe I didn't realize it was them.' He chastised himself, but watched as the moment Seth put Alexis' diary down, he slithered in and dragged it over the steps and dropped it into the bush by the steps.

Opening his eyes, the blond smiled. "Thanks, Shadow. Good job." He said, and the card seemed to be radiate pride before returning to his card form and floated back to Rad, who caught it and held the card out to Kero to put back in the book. "Now I got to make sure the coast is clear."

When Rad got to the front entrance, he hung back to cautiously look out the door, but once there was no sight of the bullies, the blond quickly retrieved the diary and set off to find Alexis.


"Hot Shot," Red Alert began, "I know you're curious about the video, but staring over my shoulder isn't going to make me work faster."

The yellow mech shuffled back sheepishly, but with just him, Red and Maya currently in the command room, he couldn't resist his own dig. "Would you prefer it was Optimus standing behind you?" he grinned slyly when Red's faceplace flushed, and he heard Maya giggling.

Red Alert tensed up, looking pointedly at the screen. "Must you be so immature?"

Hot Shot chuckled. "It's so easy to rile you up though. If I knew you got so flustered so easily I'd do this more often."

"Please don't." Red Alert muttered.

Whatever had been Hot Shot's next comment was interrupted by Optimus walking into the room, his gaze on the screen. "How goes it, Red Alert?"

"As well as can be, all things considered." Red Alert replied. "I've concluded that Hot Shot was indeed right, whoever is in the video was using a warp drive." Hot Shot grinned proudly to himself.

Maya looked around at the three of them, her lips pulled into a frown. "If I may ask, what exactly makes a warp drive so troublesome compared to a warp gate?"

"While both function in very much the same manner: of teleporting from location to the next, a warp gate is an external thing, one that must be manually handled to activate by putting in co-ordinates." Red Alert explained.

"A warp drive though is an internal modification that is installed to connect with a mech's neural network. All one needs to do in order to activate it is merely think of the location they wish to be in and that's where they'll appear. Unlike a gate, a warp drive is harder to counteract because the only center is one mech, instead of an outside computer." Red Alert finished.

"Also," Optimus added, "a war drive is extremely rare. I can honestly only think of one mech who possesses one. Red Alert, have you checked the database?"

"I have, but I couldn't find a match." Red Alert's lips pressed into a tight line. "The small parts of the actual vessel not covered by the saucer isn't enough to confirm anything. He could also have changed forms to take on an earth flying craft, but I won't be able to discern anything until I have digitally removed the saucer part."

"I take it from your tone," Hot Shot would deny it, but he jumped at the sound of Sideways' voice coming from behind him. The yellow mech turned around and found the other bot was leaning against the back wall, "that this mech isn't a friendly."

"No, he isn't." Red Alert replied.

Hot Shot looked incredulously from Red to Optimus and wondered how they could be so calm before rounding on Sideways. "How long have you been there?"

"Long enough." Sideways answered cryptically.

Hot Shot vented heavily, but the ringing of the mini-con alarm blaring overhead drowned it out. "Guess we gotta go find the new mini."

"Optimus, permission to stay behind and continue analyzing the video?" Red Alert questioned.

The red and blue bot nodded. "Permission granted." He said, and grabbed the medic's shoulder. "And I would not want you in the field anyway given Megatron's current hostility towards you."

"I am capable of protecting myself." Red Alert said stiffly, but smiled faintly as he placed his own servo over Optimus' briefly. "Though your concern does warm my spark. Though tonight I will be in the lab continuing with other projects, so I will be unable to retire to your quarters."

Hot Shot blinked, and looked away as he felt like he was intruding on a private moment, as well feeling like he just got more information than he ever wanted to know. 'How the frag did I not realize they were together sooner?' he thought as he dazedly made his way to the warp gate.

"Hey, Hot Shot." Sideways said quietly once he caught up with the yellow mech. "Are Optimus and Red Alert…together?" Hot Shot blinked, but nodded. The other mech's lack of expression was reflected in his event tone, "I see."

Hot Shot frowned slightly. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"It's just, well, isn't a little…inappropriate for them to be together? Optimus is the Autobot leader, shouldn't be hold himself more professionally?" Sideways questioned. "Unless of course I've been out of the loop too long."

Hot Shot frowned. "What goes on between Optimus and Red is their business. If they want to be together I won't judge."

Sideways held his servos up. "No need to get defensive, I'm just making an observation."

Hot Shot vented. "Sorry, it's just…well, I kind of know where they're coming from." He looked down the floor. "I was close to a subordinate, and while we weren't romantic or together, I was…very attached to him. And…it's nice seeing two bots who are so comfortable together be happy."

"So that's how it is?" Sideways questioned, but his tone was so low and quiet, Hot Shot wondered if he meant to say it out loud.

Hot Shot didn't get a chance to ask though for they arrived at the warp gate, and when the three Star Saber mini-cons come rushing around the corner to stop by his side, the yellow mech blinked as he noticed an orange-pink mini-con peering around the same corner. "Jolt?"

"Hey," the mini-con beeped sheepishly, but let out a startled squawk as High Wire shoved him into the open, gesturing from him to Hot Shot, "I'm getting there!" he shouted at the gray-blue mini before looking up at the yellow bot. "Can…can I go with you this time?"

Hot Shot's grimaced. "Not this time." He replied, and the mini-con slumped. "I'm not…that mad anymore at you, but I just can't get over it."

Jolt nodded, scuffing his foot on the floor. "I see. Be safe then." He turned and walked back around the corner, High Wire following after him.

Hot Shot didn't like being cold, but things weren't going to get better overnight. Though at least he didn't feel the immediate stab of hurt and anger when he looked his mini-con partner anymore. When the warp gate started up, he got his processor back to the current mission.

Focus, he needed to stay focused.


It was subtle, but Rad noticed how much, well, not happy per say, but less bleak than she was during lunch. Though maybe it was only because he was siting behind her on Sureshock, as High Wire wasn't available to cart him around and it wouldn't be fair to make Kelly and Alexis wait.

Speaking of, Kelly skated beside them, her brow furrowed. "Rad, didn't you have a bike?"

"Yeah, but it's…in the shop." Rad replied. "H-it's there for a tune-up, should be done in a few days."

Kelly's brow creased further, but she shrugged. "Okay then."

Rad breathed a sigh of relief, and wished he could scold Sureshock for finding his nervousness amusing. As they reached the dojo, he wondered if Teacher had any other classes during the day than just ones after school. His question died the moment he walked in, and his eyes narrowed when he saw Billy there again. "So you came back, huh?"

Billy snorted, crossing his arms. "I like this class, probably the only one." He muttered. "Oh, and I also brought Fred." He added as an afterthought.

The stouter boy looked nervous. "Yeah, the scary-I mean, nice lady said I could try out." He smiled sheepishly at Teacher, who wasn't even looking at him.

She only had her arms crossed and her expression was stern. "You're late."

"Sorry Aunt Mei, there was a bit of a transportation problem." Alexis said.

Teacher sighed, and waved it off. "Just go get changed. We'll take up sparring with the training dummies when you come back."

Billy smirked. "Hear that Rad? Looks like you'll have a great career path ahead of you."

Rad growled in the back of his throat, teeth gritted. He blinked when Billy and Fred both froze up, but furrowed his brow. He couldn't be that intimidating, could he? No, their gaze was behind him, and when Rad turned around, he started seeing red. "What are you two doing here?" he hissed as Sid and Seth walked in. "Come here to learn how to beat people up?"

Sid had the nerve to look hurt. "What do you mean? I'd never abuse this that way."

Alexis gritted her teeth. "Just like you didn't throw water balloons full of syrup at Carlos, Rad, and I this morning?"

"They did what?" Kelly asked, and glared at the two bullies.

"Enough." Teacher stepped in. Though she didn't look pleased, she looked just as sour to continue her sentence, "Leave your troubles outside of my dojo. Though be warned," she gave the two bullies an icy stare, "if you cause any disturbances you will not be allowed back."

Seth looked down. "Yes, ma'am."

Sid nodded along, his expression contrite, but when Teacher turned away, his and Seth both smirked at Rad and Alexis.

"Go change!" Teacher shouted, and the kids all broke for the locker room.

Rad kept his distance from Sid and Seth, and for once didn't begrudge Billy's presence as he and Fred hung back closer to him. He kept his attention mostly on changing into his white uniform, but forewent the locker to put his backpack in and turned on his phone.

"Don't you think it's weird that 'teacher' looks like that woman everyone's on the look-out for?" Seth asked loudly. Rad gritted his teeth.

Sid smirked. "It is, isn't it? I bet we'd get a reward for busting her, but what do I need money for?" he laughed. "My parents are rich, and a new donation to the school is keeping me from getting expelled."

Rad's teeth hurt from his jaw being clenched so hard. He worried he might chip a tooth. 'Don't rise to the bait, don't rise to the bait.'

He stormed out of the room, and Billy and Fred hurried after him.


It was dark when they reached the destination and began their search, optics needing to adjust to the pitch blackness around them. Hot Shot was always eerily reminded of Cybertron in the strangest ways, to the same blue sky and dark nights. Though on Cybertron genuine night had been a bit of a rare thing with the lights of the city always drowning out the night. Though when rolling blackouts happened, things got dark fast.

Hot Shot blinked as headlights flooded the area, and glanced at Optimus. "Sir, what about the Decepticons?"

"For now it is safer to ensure we don't accidently step on the mini-con." Optimus said gravely.

Hot Shot grimaced, once more reminded of his tiny the minis were. He hefted the Star Saber against his shoulder, though awkwardly made sure the tip hadn't struck anyone. The mech didn't want to admit it, but he felt…lesser without Sword's confidence brimming inside of him. Hot Shot shook his helm. 'No, I don't need enhancements to deal with this.'

"Optimus," Smokescreen called, "I've been on duty tracking that weird organic that stole the mini-con panel, but it's making my processor ache just looking at nothing. Could we switch out when we get back to base?"

The red and blue bot glanced back. "Very well, it is time for a roster change. Any volunteers?"

Hot Shot hemmed and hawed, his processor dying a little at the thought of sitting and looking at a screen for hours on end. To his surprise, Sideways spoke up, "I will, sir. I don't mind."

Optimus nodded, and looked back ahead.

Hot Shot narrowed his optics at Sideways. "You really serious about that? As a drifter I expected you to be a little more…not sitting still, for one."

The other mech shrugged. "Really, I don't mind." He repeated. "I think learning about these energy beings is the best way understand more about them."

"Then the first thing to know is that whenever this organic's signature appears, it keeps popping in and out. It's really frustrating to track down, especially knowing she's got the mini-con and her signal masks it's so we can't track that either." Smokescreen explained.

Hot Shot grimaced. That would have driven him to the edge. He paused as rustling of leaves caught his attention, and his headlights flooded the area. His optics caught a glimpse of blue, and hurried after it as it made a break through the trees. "Hey, wait! We're not here to hurt you!"

Shrill beeping answered him, angry and incredulous almost. It did though give Hot Shot a vague direction of where the mini-con had run off to. The yellow mech hurried after it, but made sure to keep his optics underpede just so he didn't accidently step on the mini.

"Seriously, we're the good guys, you know, the Autobots?" Hot Shot called, but the beeping he received sounded distinctly rude. "I'm guessing that wasn't very nice."

"We must understand Hot Shot, that these mini-cons have a very different view of the war than we do." Optimus said, as he placed a calming servo on Hot Shot's shoulder. The red and blue mech then knelt to be more the mini-cons level. "Will you come with us?"

Another rude beep answered him.

Hot Shot bristled. "You can't talk to Optimus that way, even if I don't know hat you said!" he snapped, and commed. the base. "Maya, can you see where this little punk is with Lasberbeak?"

"No, it's too dark and the mini-con is too small for Lasberbeak's optical set-wait." Maya cut herself off, and her tone raised a little. "Be careful, I can see the Decepticons just south of you."

"Mechs, cut your lights." Optimus said, and the rest followed suit as he doused his headlights.

As if on cue, the clouds covering the moon floated away and bathed the murky forest in a bright cast. "That's just our luck." Smokescreen muttered.

Hot Shot grimaced, because he too could see the shapes of the Decepticons in the distance. Though part of him couldn't deny wanting to get into a scrap just to vent his frustration. Overhead he could hear an engine roar the chop chop of rotor blades.

Shrill beeping drew his attention, and Hot Shot saw Sideways had used his stealth-skills to sneak up on the mini. It wriggled in his servos, slamming a fist onto his digits. "I got it!"

"Hey, keep your voice down-" Smokescreen was interrupted with laser fire, shots striking the ground and trees around them. "Looks like its too dark for them to get a shot in too."

A shot nearly hit Sideways' pede though, and he went careening back, knocking against a tree as his servo flailed. His digits slipped, and the mini-con was sent sailing into the air. From above, Cyclonus transformed part of his vehicle mode to grab the mini-con.

"I got it, I got it! Hahahaha!" The helicopter's deranged laughter trailed behind even as he warped away.

"Scrap!" Hot Shot shouted, clenching his fist as the rest of the Decepticons warped away. Though he was angry the mini-con had been captured, he still rushed to Sideways and helped him up. "Are you okay?"

"I lost the mini-con." The mech said sullenly.

Optimus stared off where the 'Cons had disappeared too, his shoulder tense, but he didn't let it show in his voice. "We might have lost this time, but there is next time. Do not despair, let us return to base."

Hot Shot vented, but did as he was told.


In Lincoln, the sky turned dark and starry in the night, everything quiet as midnight approached. In the park, the sundial rested on a bed of sand, but slowly a glowing, robed figure holding an hour glass with orange sand swirling inside appeared.

The hourglass was clear and, as midnight struck, it was turned over and the sand inside began to fall.

And everything started to rewind.