Saphira was still sitting on Optimus's knee when Arcee walked in. She was startled as she hadn't expected Optimus to allow such a thing, and Saphira had a half eaten sandwich as well. Optimus and Saphira look at Arcee with smiles. Jack walked in and he didn't seem to notice anything odd like Arcee had. She looked at Optimus curiously, though she said nothing.

"I hear you are feeling a little better, Saphira," Jack said in a calm tone. "You seem to be handling it better than I thought you would have."

"If it wasn't for Ratchet and Optimus, I probably would be a lot worse," Saphira said softly. "Still...I haven't exactly put my worries and fears away. I don't think I ever will...not for a long time anyway." She shrugged a little and bit into her sandwich. "Were you after me or Optimus?"

"We both came to see how you were doing," Arcee said as she placed her hands on her hips. "I see you're quite comfortable, I would hate to ask you to move."

Saphira raised an eyebrow at Arcee. "Optimus is just keeping me company, there's nothing wrong with that." The femme shrugged and relaxed. "Anyway, I'm doing okay."

"That is good. Miko and Raf are playing video games right now, they are also worried about you." Jack stood by Optimus's leg where Saphira was seated, gazing up at her. "However, I believe that there will be a reason to cheer up soon."

"Like a bouquet of flowers?" Saphira said sarcastically, surprising Jack and causing him to blush slightly. She let out a laugh and finished off her sandwich. "I'm just kidding. Still, I do love black roses, they're not easy to find."

Optimus listened, he didn't know what the significance of giving flowers was, however it seemed like something that could be achieved. "You love all things black don't you, Saphira?" Jack asked curiously.

"I guess so..." She glanced at Optimus for a moment before smirking. "Though I might figure out some more favourite colours soon. Given how my life is changing...maybe the colours in my life will too."

"How very optimistic!" Jack comments with a thumbs up. "I'm glad that you are starting to see the brighter side of things..." Saphira grimaced slightly, which Jack caught. "Or not quite yet. Anyway, how about you stretch your legs, hmm?"

Saphira shrugged at the boy. "I could, but there really is no reason for me to get up and walk around. Unless you can give me a good reason for it."

"Fresh air," Jack simply replied as he smiled at her. "It will do you some real good."

Fresh air did sound like a good idea. Saphira smiled at him. "Alright, I'll bite." She carefully slid off Optimus's leg to the ground and walked over to place her plate into the sink. "Whatever your idea of fresh air is, I am curious about it. Just please don't be another 'you'll be okay' speech, I'm over those right now."

The boy opened his mouth for a moment and closed it before thinking of something quickly. "Arcee and I thought you could go for a ride."

"What?" Arcee looked at Jack in surprise, the boy looked back at her with a pleading expression. The femme gasped and smiled at Saphira. "Oh! Right, I totally forgot about it. With everything that has happened to you, I forgot I was going to take you out for a drive. I have no doubt you would enjoy the fresh air rushing past you."

Saphira pondered about it, she suspected Jack had some other plan, but after what she had said he had to come up with something on the spot. "Hmm…that does sound good…" She tapped her fingers on her arms thoughtfully before smiling. "Alright, I already I'll bite. I could use some good adrenaline for a change."

Arcee smirked at her and gestured for her to follow. "Let's get going. Half the morning is already gone."

Saphira nodded and glanced at Prime as he stood up. "Hope you don't mind."

He shakes his head. "It will do you some good, Saphira. When you get back, you may find you will have access to fresh air more regularly." She raised an eyebrow at him curiously and he simply smirked at her. "You better not keep the femme waiting. She doesn't have the same amount of patience as I do."

"Real funny, Optimus," Arcee responded in a sarcastic, snide tone. "I have plenty of patience. I wouldn't be able to deal with children otherwise."

"Hey!" Jack bit in shock, causing the femme to chuckle. "Ooh…you're just playing around. Not cool, Arcee."

The bot chuckled and Saphira followed her to the lobby. Saphira was most certain this idea was put onto Arcee last minute, but a ride really did sound like a good idea. Arcee grabbed Jack's helmet off a table and handed it to her before transforming into the bike. Saphira smiled and looked up at Ratchet looked at them with a questioning expression.

"We're going for a ride, Ratchet," Saphira said to him, knowing she needed to ease his mind. "I could use the fresh air. It will do me some good."

Ratchet said nothing before turning to face the console. "Just make sure you are careful. Arcee, keep a good watch out as well. Saphira shouldn't go into town yet, at least until her next shift tomorrow."

Saphira swallowed a little with worry about her next shift. She didn't really want to face it mostly because she worried what might happen. "We should be okay, Ratchet."

"I won't got anywhere near town. Saphira and I will just drive around the open roads for a little while, and have a little chat about something…maybe." Arcee's mirrors raise slightly as though she was shrugging. "Let's go while the day is still young."

She climbed onto the bike, placing the helmet on her head and placing her hand on the handles. "Let's burn some rubber, Arcee."

The femme did not need to be told twice as she drives away from the lobby down the tunnel to the exit. Saphira turned her head slightly to glance back at Optimus as he watched them leave. She wished she could go for a drive with him. She would most certainly enjoy it. That time will come, she just needed to be patient. Saphira winced a little as Arcee drove out as the doors open onto the road, glancing up a little at the sun.

"This is quite a beautiful day," Arcee comments as she drives steadily along the road. "It must feel a little dreary for you to be in the base all the time now. You humans aren't really that accustomed to staying underground as most of your homes seem to be above ground. And from what I understand, sunlight's actually necessary for your health."

"I actually prefer dark, cold spaces," Saphira said softly. "My favourite kind of days are the cloudy type, just before the rain hits and the beautiful smell of fresh rain filling the air, and nature's own air conditioner. It is a rare thing out here…but it is my favourite kind of weather."

"Somehow, that does not seem to surprise me."

"Don't take it as something dreary, Arcee. Even when my mother was alive, I preferred rainy weather. I always have, and always will." She smiled at the bot's side mirror. "Don't take it as because I have been in pain."

Arcee was silent for a moment as she processed the words, and seemed satisfied with them. "And yet, you still want that plot of land? Why is that, Saphira?"

"I see the potential of that property, that is why," Saphira responded with a smile. "You see, when I was little, I used to dream about owning a small cottage on an acreage with no neighbors for miles and miles around. Just me and the rolling hills. There, I would have a large garden and orchid to provide myself with the fruit, herbs and vegetables, I would own a chicken coop for eggs, a cow for milk and a horse or two to help pull loads of fire or harvests. I would have a couple dogs for protection, even donkeys to guard the animals from wolves and coyotes. My own little patch of heaven."

"That sounds quite nice…but…" Arcee had seen the abandoned plot, it wasn't exactly how Saphira was seeing things. "That place isn't exactly what you are imagining."

"Perhaps not. With some TLC, garden beds and trees, it will look like a small piece of paradise." Saphira smiled dreamily as she thought about it. "I already know what I can and can't grow here, and I am aware that I need to be mindful of water. Without water, nothing will grow. I'll just have to get creative with that plot so I can grow enough without needing to go into town for some things."

"I have to admit, watching humans grow their own food actually sounds intriguing to me," Arcee said thoughtfully. "Watching from the start to finish will open our eyes a lot. We have no idea the process of you growing your own food."

"I would love a beehive too so I can have bees pollinating the plants," Saphira continued dreamily. "While water, fertilizer and sun are important to grow food, a lot of food start from flowers. When they get pollinated by certain insects, it helps the process of the plant's energy to create the food it is intended to grow. And bees are the best there is out there."

"Don't bees sting you?"

"Yes, but that isn't a concern to me. I'm not allergic to bees." She smiled at the bot, taking a deep breath of the fresh air passing through into the helmet. "Besides, if me being stung is worth ensuring I have food, so be it. Plus, I will get honey out of it too."

"Honey?"

Saphira chuckled softly. "Honey is made by bees. They collected nectar from flowers, yes they pollinate the flowers, but their main objective is to collect food for their queen. They take it back to their nest to fill the honey combs they make, and they fan the nectar with their wings to to cause evaporation. The taste and colour of honey also depends on where they get their nectar from."

"Do I even want to know how bees do that?" Arcee asked in a slightly disgusted voice. "I already dislike the idea of humans vomiting, no offence. And now you're telling me you humans basically eat honey, something the bees regurgitate?" Saphira shrugged and nodded. "Eww…I can't think of anything worse."

She giggled at Arcee, she knew the bot would figure out how bees transport nectar from a flower to their hive. In a sense, it seemed disgusting. Yet, honey was one of the healthiest thing in the world. "Don't worry Arcee, just be happy you don't have to eat it. Humans have been eating honey for years, so have other animals. Plus, honey is one of the healthiest foods out there. It's great for our health."

"Mmm hmm…I'll stick with energon," Arcee bit out, still unnerved by the new information. However, she became amused shortly afterwards. "I wonder how Ratchet will react when I tell this to him?"

"You'll horrify the poor doc," Saphira said sarcastically. "I really don't know what he will say, but he will be a lot more dramatic than you. But…" She giggled again as she thought about it. "It will be very amusing. Even Bulkhead's going to almost lose his optics with how wide they'll get."

Arcee laughed gently. "That is going to be so funny. Too bad Optimus isn't the kind of bot to react like that to those sort of jokes. It has been such a long time since anyone has heard him cry, laugh or even let out a cry of frustration."

Saphira was surprised, she has managed to make Optimus laugh a couple times and Ratchet's comment seemed to make more sense. "Is it because he has managed to gain control of his emotions?"

"So to speak…but also, Optimus has been through a lot through the war. He's lost so many friends, family…I think Optimus does express feelings in his own time. But, he just keeps stoic in front of the rest so we don't feel even worse when the leader is feeling the same." Arcee paused so Saphira could process the words. "However, Optimus has been a bit more relaxed lately. That is something I never expected."

"That should be a good thing, right?" Saphira asked curiously.

"I would say yes, but…do you and Optimus has a thing going on by any chance?"

Saphira was glad she was wearing a helmet as the visor was tinted and kept her eyes covered. "Um…that's a little odd to assume that, Arcee. What made you think that?"

"I just…have my suspicions…" Arcee sounded as though she didn't believe what Saphira was saying. She was suspicious. "It's not like Optimus to be so relaxed around someone."

"Seriously?" Saphira let out an irritated sigh. "Optimus and I have grown close, I will admit. But we are friends…" She glanced down a little, staring at the ground between the handles as it goes by. "I would like to go as far to say my best friend…something I haven't had for years. I don't think it is a bad thing that he is relaxed around me, Arcee. I would probably struggle more if I didn't have someone who would have my back."

"I wasn't meaning anything by it…it is just…" Arcee groaned a little as she felt guilty for maybe hurting Saphira. "Optimus already lost someone dear to him before. I wasn't there when it happened…and to be honest, we all have wanted Optimus for find another and become happy again. But, we all feel he would find someone when the war ends. At least…that is what I've believed."

Saphira didn't think that was a good enough reason for Optimus to choose not to find someone. Plus, their relationship just sort of happened rather naturally, it was hard to explain. "You shouldn't have anything to worry about anyway, Arcee. Optimus and I are just friends. He just wanted to talk with me this morning when you and Jack showed up. I am not sure where you got your assumptions from."

"You're right…I'm sorry…" Arcee felt a little stupid for making an assumption, even though she was right, Saphira and Optimus had agreed not to tell the other autobots for the time being. "I guess I just…worry…" She faltered off for a moment and Saphira saw her side mirrors move. "Scrap. Hold on tight, Saphira."

"What's going on?" Saphira asked, feeling the urge to turn her head to glance back.

"Don't look back!" Arcee snapped, speeding up suddenly, causing Saphira to tense and grip the handles tightly. "It seems Ronan hasn't taken the hint!"

Saphira let out a gasp, feeling her blood almost freeze at that. She glanced into the side mirrors and managed to see a black Cadillac chasing them. She didn't think he could recognize her, but…she also didn't think he would look for her out on the open road.

"Nice ride!" Ronan called out in a fake tone of fascination. "I never knew you were into bikes. Maybe when it's my turn, I'll be turn to use you as a ramp for some tricks! Ones I know that you will find to be spine shattering!"

She shuddered with a light whimper. "Arcee…"

"I won't let that monster get his hands on you!" Arcee promised. "Arcee to base, we have a situation!"

"What is it, Arcee?" Optimus's voice spoke through the com link.

"Turns out that so called father has managed to find us!" The femme bit, turning sharply, which caused Saphira to shriek and hold on as the tires skid on the road. "I'm not sure how they knew Saphira was out here. But they are on our tail as we speak."

"Remain in vehicle mode, Arcee!" Prime ordered, his voice already filled with worry. "I will contact Fowler."

Saphira was already trying to figure out how her father could be tracking her. There was nothing new on her that she could remember that might be a tracker. "I…I don't have my phone with me…"

"He's clearly using something else. Figure it out, Saphira! I will try to lose him, but if they can track you, there is nothing you can do." Arcee was worried that Saphira might have unintentionally led her father to the base, but he would likely not know how to get in.

"I'm not sure…" Saphira took the moment to glance over her shoulder, as frightened as she was.

"Ha, ha, ha!" She grimaced hearing her father's laughter. "Trying to work out how I can track you, I see. It was only a matter of time that I would find you. When I saw you travel outside of town and disappear, I thought someone had done away with you, and buried you. Guess you found some kind of mafia, perhaps." He laughed cruelly again at her. "You've always been a whore, so I guess it was easy to slip into that kind of crowd."

She hears him speed up and shrieked as the car hits the back of the bike, Arcee yelped in surprise and swerved, but she kept steady. "Arcee, go faster!"

The engine revved furiously and sped away from the car as quickly as possible. "He's almost worse than a decepticon…even they have more honour than him."

"That's probably the nicest thing you can say about him," Saphira said in a dry, fearful, sarcastic tone. "Time…time…" She looked at her watch for a moment. "Oh…"

The watch she had on her wrist is a watch she has had since her mother passed away. Her father had gifted it to her shortly after her passing. Saphira stared at the watch, wondering if he has been tracking her this whole time. She shakes her head in disbelief…but it was the only thing she could think of. She had no jewellery, which left the only think in her possession that might be considered valuable.

She yelped when she heard the crack of a gun and a bullet whistling passed her. She glanced back, widening her eyes to see Samantha with a handgun pointed at her. "Scrap!" Saphira hissed, ducking when another shot was fired at her, bouncing off Arcee's body. "ARCEE! Surely you can do something!"

Arcee wanted to, but she had to follow Optimus's orders. She thought of one thing. "Alright…but you must trust me, and hang on tight." Saphira nodded. "Close your eyes if you must, this is going to get rough!"

Saphira didn't know what Arcee meant until she felt the bot swerve suddenly, she let out a shrill scream as Arcee drifts and speeds towards the Cadillac. The faces of her father and stepsister change to shock as Saphira had turned around, speeding towards them. Saphira clenched her eyes shut and tightened her grip, bracing herself as Arcee sped towards the car. Just before colliding with the car, Arcee skidded forward, turning herself to graze the ground as close as possible. However, she cleverly covered Saphira's leg with her hand as her back tyre hits the front type of the Cadillac, the force of the impact caused the vehicle to raise slightly and lose control, turning towards a power pole and slamming into it, snapping it slightly.

Saphira felt Arcee jolt upright and she opened her eyes slightly, glancing around in surprise, feeling her heart racing inside her chest. "What just happened?!" She glanced back to see the Cadillac reverse from the power pole and turn. "Scrap! They don't give up!" Saphira glanced at her watch and frowned. "Head into town!"

"What?!" Arcee was shocked Saphira would suggest that. "Why?!"

"We won't lose them out here. I have an idea…and hopefully it will take the scent from their noses if they aren't caught by the cops." Saphira hoped it would work anyway. "You know they won't stop now. They hit that pole pretty hard, and they're still chasing us with a smoking car!"

Arcee knew Saphira was right, she was still concerned. She accepted the idea for the moment and turned towards the town, speeding towards it. She hoped Optimus was able to reach Fowler, no doubt they were watching Arcee's movement and wondering why she is heading towards the town. So much for a peaceful ride…

As soon as Arcee entered the town, Saphira glanced back to see the car still following them. "Alright…there should be a basin the city is working on that has little traffic," Saphira said to Arcee. "I'll direct you to the location. You should be able to lose Ronan's sight and I'll be able to toss the watch into the basin."

"As long as you're sure that is what he's using to track you," Arcee said in a blunt, uncertain tone.

Saphira was not a hundred percent sure, but there was nothing else she could think of. "I'm not sure what else it could be."

Arcee felt the same, yet she was worried this won't end even if Saphira managed to stop the tracking. The man was relentless, he's proven it already. He hasn't given Saphira a day or two, it was sad. Arcee made sure not to draw attention of the local law as she drove through the town, weaving between other cars and making it hard for Ronan to follow them. Saphira was relieved when they lost him and Arcee skids to a stop by the basin.

She took her watch off quickly. "I hope this works…" Saphira muttered, throwing the watch into the basin and watching it fall into the water to be carried down stream. "Now let's get out of here."

Arcee didn't need to be told twice as she speeds away from the basin, making sure to not be seen by Ronan to make a long trip back to the base. She drives away from the town as she and Saphira keep an eye on what could be following them for sometime. However, it became clear that Ronan was not following her. Saphira felt a sense of relief wash over her, she was able to stop him from tracking her.

"Oh…I was right," Saphira said through her heavy breathing. "My watch was tracking me…and I now wonder how long it has been doing that."

"That is one problem solved," Arcee said in a soft tone. "The others are aware of this, and they will be welcoming us back now. Be prepared to have Ratchet look over you."

She frowned a little, glancing ahead as she saw the rocky mountain the silo was hidden under. "I'm not hurt, Arcee. And strangely…I don't even feel upset or the need to hide away."

"Not yet."

Arcee might be right, but Saphira didn't feel upset at all. In a way, she has had a small victory against her former family and it felt good to actually have a small win. It made her feel like she was capable of fighting back. She might have had Arcee beside her during that time, but it still made Saphira feel like she could defend herself. She felt herself smile slightly at that thought as Arcee entered the automatic doors into the base. And in the lobby stood the worried autobots and humans.

"I hope this doesn't mean we have to keep watch of this human now," Ratchet said in a sad tone as Arcee stopped and Saphira got off. He dropped to one knee as she removed her helmet. "I will scan you for any injuries."

"I am not hurt, Ratchet," Saphira responded in a calm, yet breathless voice. "In fact, Arcee did a great job keeping me unharmed." She looked at Arcee as the femme transformed. She smiled at her gratefully. "Even if you had made me nervous with that impressive manoeuvre."

Arcee smirked slightly at her. "While I am glad you felt that way, we can hope now that we got rid of their means of tracking you." She looked at Optimus who had a worried expression on his face. "It turns out the watch she has had on her wrist was the tracking device."

"How odd," Jack comments with a frown. "There could have been other things that he could have used."

"I've worn that watch since I was a small child, Jack," Saphira explained. She sighed as a sad expression grew on her face. "My father gave that watch to me after my mother died. And I hardly took it off. It makes me think he's been tracking me for a long time."

Bumblebee whirred softly. Raf nodded to him. "Bumblebee is right. Even if Ronan was able to track Saphira, the shielding of the base would have prevented them from finding it. I'd say that is why he never showed up before."

"He also would not have known the way into the base," Miko added with a smirk. "And if he had, he would be roadkill!" She punched her fist into her palm to show she would be okay with that. "Well deserved too!"

"I agree," Jack nodded with a stern expression. "I wouldn't condone it normally, but there is only one sentence for psychopaths out there."

"Yet, I wish I could do to him what he has done to me." Saphira flinched a little as Ratchet seemed satisfied with the scan and stood up suddenly. "That is the least he deserves anyway."

"I am surprised you are taking today's events rather well," Ratchet said curiously, rubbing his chin as he looked at the results. "You have no injuries, and while you do seem shaken, you are quite calm. I expected to need to put an oxygen mask on you again."

She shrugged a little. "I guess I have had a little victory today…plus, I think Arcee scared Ronan with what she did too. It probably made him a little scared of me…I hope anyway. Now that he can't track me, I should be safer…"

Saphira wasn't entirely sure on that. She took a deep breath, her heart was still racing and she needed to calm down. "I think you leaving the base for a while would seem foolish," Optimus said suddenly, surprising everyone in the lobby. "I know it isn't possible due to school and your work. If you didn't have those, I would suggest remaining in the base for sometime."

"Hiding away wouldn't exactly solve it, Optimus," Miko said with a raised eyebrow. "Saphira needs these people out of her life for good. Even if they have to be put under the ground with no gravestone to remember them by."

Saphira also was surprised by his words, she understood his concern though and smiled at him. "I have the rest of the day to spend with everyone here in the base. I think that is still a positive thing."

"It sure is," Bulkhead said cheerfully and looked at Optimus. "Besides…I think Optimus wanted to show you something." Optimus looked at him with a surprised frown and the large, green bot shrugged. "Come on, it will cheer her up!"

Optimus was silent for a moment as Saphira gazed at him with curious eyes. He smiled at her, relaxing his body and nodding. "Come, we have something to show you."

Saphira's smile widened, watching Optimus and Bulkhead lead the way with Miko jumping excitedly behind them. She glanced at Ratchet who nodded and waved his fingers for her to go. She giggled and followed Optimus quickly, she had a hunch of what the surprise was, but she was eager to see it. She needed something to take her mind off of what had happened today. She knew something will happen again, and soon. But at least she was able to have a small victory today, and it made her feel quite happy.