*Trying to sneak in and act like it hasn't been an insanely long time since the last update*

17: Thank you! :D And sooorry for the delay...

vampgirliegirl: I did... eventually. xP

Guardinthena: Oh, how I love reading your comments. ^^ And yay for awkward conversations! xD I'm going to have fun slowly building up that relationship between them.

Musical Medli: Thank you very much! :D I'm so happy you found Dawn's story interesting, and I'll try to update more often (I know I've said that before xP).

Well then, let's continue...


Fifty-five minutes.

Dawn could feel the current of panic coil and writhe like angry snakes within her, but on the outside her body was frozen stiff, sitting still inside the cabin of a giant robot. If she wanted to keep Nadia alive, she couldn't let anyone know something was wrong.

Vaguely aware of the fact that they had stopped moving, she forced her hand to grasp Bigwig's carrier from the floor. The passenger's-side door flung open on it's own. Gathering what little belongings she had taken with her, she slid out of the seat and dropped down from the red and blue truck.

Metal faces and glowing eyes turned to stare at her from around the large bunker, making Dawn's stomach twist anxiously. She lowered her eyes to her bags, placing them down with the pet carrier, and hoped she could've kept looking at them instead of the silently judging group. Thankfully, a string of whirring and groaning sounds next to her drew the staring eyes away. Her own gaze drifted to the transforming Autobot leader as well, but she hardly even registered the mechanical wonder that in another situation would've left her in awe.

Soon the bipedal form of Optimus towered next to Dawn, taller than the building she lived in. The glow of the luminous eyes brushed over everyone in the room, before lowering their light towards her.

Dawn felt a sudden fit of tightness constricting her throat. She looked quickly away before moisture could pool in the corner of her eyes. The other Autobots hadn't made a move to approach them, and Dawn was glad of that, even if it was because they still feared her.

Optimus took the initiative, directing his deep baritone words to everyone. "The beginning of our conjoined path may have been less than ideal. But that doesn't mean trust can't still be built."

There Optimus gave a meaningful glance towards Dawn. The memory of their earlier conversation only made the constricting feeling grow worse.

"Right now we work towards a common goal", the solemn speech continued. "To free the human hostage held by Megatron. And for our endeavor to succeed…"

The following words passed by Dawn unheard. Surrounding forms blurred beyond her recognition as the insurmountable bulk of the nightmare her life had turned into came crashing down to fill the entirety of her panicking mind.

How? How could they save Nadia? They had no idea where she was. They had no time to find her. It was her fault Nadia had been hurt and taken in the first place. Maybe if she had stood her ground earlier and fought to end the Decepticons instead of running away... She… she couldn't let her get killed. There had to be something she could do. If she could tell them… their base had to be shielded, right? Megatron wouldn't hear anything, even if the transmitter was able to transmit sound.

Dawn made an effort to focus her eyes back on the talking Autobot leader. Optimus had seemingly good intentions, but it was clear he couldn't help her. Why had she felt such a forceful need to trust him? The thought seemed absurd to her. They were stranger's to each other. Maybe it was as Megatron had said. Something about Optimus attracting followers and leading them to their doom. Was she just a moth drawn to the flame?

If she did what Megatron wanted, he might let Nadia go. And after that? It would most likely be the end of the Autobots. Megatron would have free reign to conquer the universe.

What good would it do to free Nadia if that happened? The only chance to save her and everyone else could be to find and get her out by themselves after all.

And they had no way to do that.

Somehow swallowing down a frustrated scream, Dawn tore herself out of her circling thoughts and back to the awkward welcoming ritual in process. Several robotic faces were looking at her again and, for a moment, Dawn felt a chilling fear that she had somehow given her thoughts away.

"But before we move onto said matters…" Optimus' distinctive voice still rumbled. "I believe introductions are in order. Dawn, this is Ratchet, our chief medical officer. Arcee, Bulkhead, and our team's youngest member and scout, Bumblebee."

Dawn turned her head to look at each Autobot Optimus gestured to. Most of them looked reserved, arms crossed or otherwise distant, but not downright hostile. Only the orange and white medic seemed to practice a permanent frown, mouth pursed into a tight line of disapproval. Dawn also noticed in passing that the yellow robot that had come to her and Nadia's aid earlier, had both doors on his back again. Even in the midst of her personal disaster, she felt relieved that at least some things could be fixed.

If only someone had known how to fix everything else too.

She didn't have to greet her reserved audience as an insistent beeping from a large computer system stopped the introduction.

"Cliff and Wheeljack..." the blue robot, Arcee, stated with an edge to her melodic voice. "What have those two lugnuts gotten themselves into now?"

The Autobots moved closer to the computer. Dawn could hardly see anything from behind the towering giants, but she heard the familiarly upbeat voice of the horned Autobot.

"Hiya! How's it going over there? I hope you're not too busy with anything."

"Spit it out", Arcee tapped her fingers impatiently on her arm. "What did you do now?"

"We miiight've snuck into an energon mine and gotten a little bit cornered by the Decepticreeps here."

"What does 'a little bit cornered' mean exactly?"

"Taking heavy fire and no means of escape?"

Arcee muttered something inscrutable, but undoubtedly insulting under her breath.

"Also Megatron is here."

This time Arcee didn't care to lower her voice.

Dawn's heart switched to overdrive at the mention of the Decepticon leader. Why was he on the move?! Wasn't he waiting for her to activate the signal?

"Hold your position, we are coming", Optimus had taken a commanding tone. "Ratchet, open a groundbridge outside the mine."

"Optimus, I don't like this. Since when has Megatron attended personally to such trivial matters as two Autobot soldiers rummaging in one of his several mines? Something is not right here."

The Autobot leader nodded in grim agreement. "I share your concern. The attack directed towards us on the way here seemed out of place as well. But as we cannot leave Wheeljack and Cliffjumper without assistance, there is little else we can do, but exercise caution in springing what ever trap awaits us."

Dawn's breath stuck to her throat as the pieces of information Optimus didn't have suddenly connected in her head. Megatron was luring Optimus out of the base! That's why he was at the mine, or at least had made an appearance there. Optimus would go after Megatron, and there would be no one who could stop Dawn from walking out and activating the signal.

"Stay at the ready, Ratchet, and see to our guest. Everyone else, roll out!"

"Optimus -!" the frowning medic objected sharply, casting an accusatory glance down at Dawn. The Autobot leader turned to the orange and white robot and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Ratchet... I would not have brought her here had I not believed her trustworthy."

There was the constricting feeling again, tightening around Dawn's heart and throat. The medic held the taller bot's gaze for a while, before heaving a grumbling sigh.

"I truly hope you know what you're doing."

Optimus turned back to Dawn. "I know you wish to fight for your friend, but right now it is best you stay here. I cannot guarantee your safety in the battlefield, especially if Megatron is involved."

Dawn managed to nod, feeling simultaneously numb and sick to her stomach. She crouched down to pretend she was checking up on Bigwig. A furry paw reached out of the carrier, clawing at the edges with horrendous yowling sounding from the box's confines. She didn't raise her eyes until the tremors of heavy footsteps had gone, leaving behind an empty silence.

Well, almost.

One set of steps still persisted. The somber medic moved from the groundbridge and back to the computer, where he quickly conjured up small images of the Autobots, as well as wavy lines Dawn suspected to be medical statuses for each one. The glowing blue eyes stayed stubbornly on the screen, refusing to even glance at Dawn's direction.

Giving her the perfect opportunity to walk out of the base unnoticed.

Dawn checked her personal doomsday watch again, falling in despair. In 48 minutes she would see either the end of Nadia, or Optimus and his reckless bunch, and there just. Wasn't. Time... However she would think… Whatever she would choose the end result would haunt her.

The sickly feeling was growing unbearable. Dawn tried to keep her breathing steady, but it was like trying to draw breath inside a paper bag. She didn't want to make that choice. She didn't want to be stuck in the middle of a war zone with magical powers that made people either fear her or want her dead.

Tears of helpless anger welled in her eyes, uninvited but unable to be held back. She looked down at the now blurry shape of a clawing paw and wiped them away quickly, holding her breath to keep herself from falling apart.

"What's that?"

Dawn jerked, startled by the unexpected question. She looked up at the orange and white medic, who was still seemingly focused on the screen, but had clearly just talked to her. As she continued her bewildered stare, the glow of the stern blue eyes turned to give her the briefest of glances.

"Well? That thing in the box?"

"Ah..." Dawn had to clear her throat to find her voice again. "It's my cat, Bigwig."

Another paw joined the first one through the metal grating to continue the furious escape attempt.

"He's… a pet", she added.

"I see."

The silence continued, but the brief exchange had given Dawn a small breather to gather her bearings. She had also gotten the feeling the reserved medic wasn't ignoring her as much as she had thought. It prompted her to ask a question of her own.

"Tell me… Do you really believe you'll be able to get my friend back?"

The medic stood still, gaze firmly on the screen. "As things are now, no, I do not. Though, Primus knows, that won't stop Optimus from trying."

It was brutal honesty, but Dawn found it more reassuring than lying to comfort her. "Is… is there any chance Megatron could let her go?"

Ratchet barked a scornful laugh, breaking eye contact with the computer and turning to her with a lecturing finger. "Not in a million cycles. Megatron doesn't practice any kind of charity. And if he does, you can bet there's always something sinister buried beneath whatever he claims to be doing."

A short moment passed as the medic looked surprised, as if just realizing he'd gotten carried away. He returned to the screen, arms folded, and muttered half-audibly. "Sorry for your friend."

Dawn sank into her tormenting thoughts again. Her fingers played around the activation button on the small watch.

No matter how much it pained her, she made her decision.


"Optimus. We... have a problem."

In the confined corridors of the active Decepticon mine, Optimus furrowed his optic ridges. The graveness in Ratchet's voice had instantly cut through his battle focus, and now worry sparked in the pit of his fuel tank. Taking aim, he disposed of a carelessly attacking Vehicon before answering his CMO.

"What is it, Ratchet?"

"It's better you come back and hear it from her."

The recommendation only added to Optimus' growing confusion.

"Are you in any imminent danger?" he tried to get some clarification, but Ratchet brushed his inquiry off.

"Just get here now."

The comm. link went quiet, leaving the Autobot leader with an unpleasant sinking feeling. The serious tone in Ratchet's voice had barely hid beneath it the same tiredness that had concerned him for some time. The medic had been overworked, understaffed and running low on supplies the majority of their drawn out war, and despite it all, he had always persisted, performed miracles even. It was one of the few constants Optimus had counted on for millions of cycles. This time however, Ratchet had sounded… resigned. It was enough to convince Optimus now was not the time to stall.

"Autobots! We are going to charge and scatter their defenses."

"Got it!" Arcee confirmed, followed quickly by Bulkhead and Bumblebee.

"Cliffjumper, Wheeljack, get ready to regroup while the Decepticons are distracted."

"The old hit-and-run it is, boss."

Without delay, Optimus stepped into the open. Megatron was nowhere to be seen, and though it raised questions to the motive of his alleged appearance, it made what they were about to do significantly easier. With a fluent routine that was not hindered by a few worn down cogs, the Autobot leader switched to his vehicle mode and flashed his headlights. The Decepticons had dug into defensive position where they could block the way and lay suppressive fire, but as expected, seeing a large semi-truck revving its engine and speeding towards them in the fairly narrow tunnel made them hesitate behind their hastily built barricade.

The moment of hesitation cost them time, and too late they continued firing at the bulk of metal hurdling towards them. Optimus ignored the shots that singed his plating and waited until the last moment to transform and leap over the barricade. He didn't have to look to know the other Autobots had followed behind the cover of his frame and spread out to launch their own attacks. Chaos ensued as Vehicons fell all around them, despite their greater numbers unable to recover from the fierce attack quickly enough.

Midst the screeching and clanging concerto of clashing metal, Optimus heard the sound he had expected. Two more vehicles fast approaching.

"Fall back!" he gave a curt command. The others dealt their last blows and complied, retreating back to the adjacent tunnel they had come from. Optimus remained behind, giving room to the two sports cars that suddenly rammed into the Vehicons from behind.

"Everyone is accounted for, ready the groundbridge at the same coordinates", Optimus commed Ratchet before making his own getaway and shielding the others during their retreat.

"Coming up", the medic grunted.

The Vehicons hardly gave chase in their disorganized state. Optimus wasn't sure what kind of trouble he expected to face upon their return, but as he drove out of the dark mine and through the swirling groundbridge, he was relieved to see everyone safe in the bunker with no immediate threat present.

"Whew, that was a decent bit of exercise!" Cliffjumper exclaimed cheerfully, transforming back to bipedal mode and casting a curious gaze at Dawn. "Oh, you decided to come back after all."

Optimus examined the scene closer. The human hadn't moved, still standing rigidly next to the belongings she had brought with her. There was a look of obvious anguish on her face which immediately extinguished the brief relief the Autobot leader had felt. He turned to Ratchet, who returned the inquiring gaze with a confrontational one. The others noticed the tension in the air too.

"Sheesh, I think the cons gave us a warmer welcome", Wheeljack murmured, looking also at the aggravated medic. "What's got your tailpipe in a twist, doc?"

Ratchet uncrossed his arms and glowered at the wrecker, before meeting Optimus' optics again and gesturing heatedly towards Dawn. "Ask her why she came here."

Every Autobot was now listening intently. Optimus looked at the small, yet potentially destructive human, noting that she seemed reluctant to look at anyone. Lowering himself on one knee, Optimus directed his full attention to the woman he had believed trustworthy. She only made an effort to avert her gaze more.

"Is there a specific reason you changed your mind about coming here?" Optimus kept his voice soft, still strongly, if illogically, feeling that he couldn't have made an error in his judgment of her.

Dawn sighed, an air of finality in the wavering breath. She raised her eyes, showing an array of emotions Optimus couldn't interpret more than that she was greatly stressed.

"I..." she faltered for a moment, then raised her hand slowly next to her head and started again. "I came here because of this."

Optimus turned his optics towards what seemed to be a device much like the external chronometer agent Fowler wore on his wrist, except this one was counting down to something. He waited for continuation, careful not to disrupt the flow of whatever confession was coming.

She lowered her hand. "I was supposed to walk out and activate this to reveal your location to Megatron."

For a nanosecond, no one moved a muscle cable.

"Told you we should've left her to Soundwave", Wheeljack muttered.

Optimus disregarded the wrecker's remark, letting the revelation sink into his processors. He kept his optics locked with the human's eyes, and contrary to her earlier avoidance, now she seemed almost desperate to hang on to his gaze. The initial shock subsided quickly as reason took over. Optimus continued with the same calm tone.

"I take it you decided not to follow Megatron's instructions."

"Yes."

"When did he get to you?"

"After you…" obvious guilt flashed across the woman's tiny features. "...went out."

Optimus knew she was referring to the accidental attack and decided not to dwell on the subject. "And then?"

Dawn sighed again, the words beginning to flow faster from her mouth. "He jumped me out of the blue and made it clear he had been listening to our whole conversation. They had planted a bug on the wall outside, but the darn thing was so small I didn't even see it until Megatron told me it was there. He was in his human disguise, and I couldn't sense his real self anywhere nearby, so I... couldn't…"

She trailed off, suddenly looking startled. It confirmed what Optimus had already suspected earlier. She had been hiding the full extent of her abilities.

"Am I correct to presume you are able to detect the metal in your environment, not just manipulate it?" he asked, more curious than displeased.

Dawn's cheeks gained a noticeable tint of red. She nodded reluctantly. "Megatron figured that out too."

Optimus wasn't surprised to hear it. "Megatron possesses the highly observant mind of a master strategist, unfortunately. A ploy such as this is nothing new. Except that this time he clearly overestimated the hold he thought he had over you."

"Barely..." Dawn said quietly, lowering her eyes.

Optimus considered all the newfound information. "I assume Megatron pressured you by threatening to harm your friend?"

"Yes", Dawn breathed, an edge of bitterness revealing the anger contained within her. "And I'm sure he tricked you to leave this place so I could get out without anyone stopping me and complete his errand."

She looked at the Decepticon contraption on her wrist, the angry edge dulled into a pained whisper. "38 minutes. The time's almost up."

"Do not lose hope yet", Optimus gave an automatic response, all the while painfully aware their options, as well as chances of success were limited. "Your friend is the only leverage Megatron currently holds over you, and it would be rash of him to give it up so quickly considering the threat your abilities pose on him. We might have more time than that to -"

"Are you seriously going to brush over what just happened?!"

Optimus turned his gaze at the interruption. Ratchet stormed towards them, disbelief and indignation written throughout his face plates.

"Optimus..." the orange and white mech looked like it took him a great deal of effort to hold back and not keep yelling. "You left me here, alone with a stranger we've just met, one who could destroy us all on a whim, who just happened to be working for Megatron and intended to go through me to get the job done. And you're going on like that's nothing?"

"Ratchet..." Optimus stood up and tried to calm the upset medic, unsure how to explain the certainty he felt about the human. "I strongly believed her to be trustworthy and it seems I was not mistaken."

"You gambled your only medic's life on a hunch." Ratchet was far from appeased, tiredness creeping into his slightly hoarse voice. "What would you do without a medic the next time one of you came back with a ruptured fuel line? Or a jammed t-cog? Have you any idea how difficult it is to manage our dwindling resources to keep everyone in fighting condition even without someone constantly breaking my equipment or running off on some suicide mission?"

Optimus knew it all too well. This time he couldn't bring himself to tell the burdened medic that things would get better, that one day, light would triumph over the darkness and all of their struggles would be the foundation for a brighter future.

"I'm sorry!"

Optimus stopped, as did Ratchet, both lowering their gazes at the human who had just raised her voice and stared hesitantly up at the medic.

"I'm sorry..." she said again, nervous tension in her posture and voice. "I didn't know what to do, okay? If I had told Optimus what I told you just now, he wouldn't have brought me here, Megatron would've known something was wrong, and Nadia would've paid the price right away."

Ratchet crossed his arms, glaring down silently with no hint of disputing or encouraging her.

"I think…" she continued quietly. "I knew from the start I couldn't do what Megatron wanted. And I can't imagine Nadia would've wanted me to do that either. She's stronger than that. Has always been. Tax audits, crazy ex-partners, she always… seems to know what to do in every situation. I don't. But I wish I was like her."

The last thought seemed to turn Dawn's hesitance into resolution. "I don't know what cruel twist of fate got us dragged into this mess, but I do know it's not your fault. You tried to help me and you shouldn't be the ones to pay for it. This is my problem and I will solve it in my own way, not Megatron's."

There she stopped, holding her gaze silently connected with Ratchet's. Optimus said nothing, waiting with the other Autobots for a reaction.

Ratchet heaved a heavy sigh and turned away. "I need some fresh air."

Optimus watched his long-time friend transform and speed out the winding tunnel that led outside, before turning to the blue-plated femme who already watched him expectantly. "Arcee…?"

"I'll keep an optic on him", the small femme promised, switching to her two-wheeled vehicle mode and heading out after the aggravated mech.

Optimus held back a sigh of his own, and returned to the task at hand. "If there are any who do not wish to take part in a rescue mission, you are free to withdraw. Those who decide to join us... I am open to suggestions."

"I'm in", Cliffjumper announced, much to the Autobot leader's relief. "The day I say 'pass' on trashing more cons is the day I'm either dead or in the last stages of cybercrosis."

The horned mech winked at Dawn. "Besides, I'm with Optimus on this. If you didn't give into Megatron's pressuring here with the perfect opportunity, I'd say the least you've earned is a chance to prove yourself."

"I still don't trust her", Wheeljack stated gruffly, then shrugged. "But I'm also up for more con bashing."

Optimus nodded at the two and turned to Bulkhead and Bumblebee, who exchanged quick looks and shrugged as well. "Count us in, I guess", the green wrecker stated. "Though I have no idea how we're going to rescue anyone when we can't even find the cons."

Optimus was aware of the problem, but before he could delve on the issue, Dawn made her own announcement.

"No. You don't have to do anything."

Optimus fixed his optics back to the small human. She stood still, only the clenched fists and defiant gaze aimed at nothing speaking of the tension beneath her suddenly calm surface.

"Theoretically, even if I were to walk out and activate this thing, Megatron wouldn't come out and release Nadia, would he?"

"No… he would not", Optimus confirmed carefully, unsure where the human was heading with her thought process.

"I figured as much", Dawn gave a quick, bitter smile at the nothing. "And you have no way of finding him?"

"I'm afraid not at the moment. The Decepticons travel aboard their ship, the Nemesis. They rarely remain in one location for long. Even if you were to take advantage of your 'metal sensing', I suspect the range of your ability would be insufficient to locate them."

"And there we have it", Dawn's fists clenched a little tighter. She nodded as if to reassure herself of something. "There is no way to get Nadia back within the time limit."

"Do not give up -" Optimus tried to assure quickly, only to be interrupted.

"I'm not giving up", Dawn looked up at him with grim determination. "I intend to fight. You can open that bridge for me to some remote place, I'll go and activate this bracelet there, and tear apart anyone who's stupid enough to appear."

Optimus studied with sadness the small, defiant form glaring up at him. He had seen that same look on so many Autobots before a desperate battle with no way out. Under the thin surface of defiance lay a dark void of crippling fear.

"And what do you hope to achieve by throwing yourself at them?"

"Maybe nothing", the armor of defiance cracked with the human's voice. "This war of yours is killing my friend, and, let's face it, at some point it will most likely kill me too. I can't sit here and do nothing. You may not understand this, but even before I met you, my whole life had been shadowed by nameless nightmares and fears lurking in the back of my mind. Something I've had no way of fighting. I may not get Nadia back, but this time I can fight at least, and take down as many as I can before..."

The fear crept to the surface for a moment. Dawn looked away, not finishing her sentence.

"You have courage..." Optimus admitted slowly and knelt down again. "But there is no reason for you to fight by yourself, let alone forfeit your life so readily. We will fight alongside you."

"No!" Dawn denied quickly, growing more anxious. "If… when... they do something to Nadia, I can't… I won't hold anything back. I know I'm going to lose it. If any of you are too close..."

Suddenly the sound of Cliffjumper chuckling drew their attention.

"That's all noble and such", the red mech beamed. "But why make things difficult when there just might be an easy solution to this conundrum."

"What do you mean?" Optimus asked.

"If we take the transmitter someplace and invite the con's to come, I'm ready to bet my t-cog they'll bring their whole armada, Nemesis and all. If we just manage to distract them and sneak aboard the ship, we might be able to pull off a successful rescue mission after all."

Optimus saw Dawn's head jerk up at the unexpected declaration of hope. "It is… a feasible possibility", he admitted carefully. "But it is likely their ship will still be cloaked and shielded against intrusions. Groundbridge would not be an option."

"I can sense them!" Dawn exclaimed with sudden excitement. "You're all practically like white hot beacons for me. I bet I can see their ship as easily as I can see you right now."

"See? We're getting somewhere", Cliffjumper smiled. "Now there's only the problem of getting up there."

"Jackie can fly us up with the Jackhammer", Bulkhead nodded towards his fellow wrecker. "Can't you?"

"It's not that easy", the sword-carrying mech shook his helm. "My ship won't fit many passengers at once. We would have to fly by them blind and have someone leap out to board their ship. The problem is, my ship isn't small enough to fly under the Decepticon radar. We would be spotted and shot down before we even got close. And that's just going in, getting out with a rescued hostage is a whole other story."

"Scrap..." Bulkhead grunted. "Too bad none of us are fliers."

"She made me fly earlier."

Bumblebee circled in front of Optimus, looking from Dawn to him. "When Soundwave tried to trap us with a bridge. She flew us right over it. Maybe she can fly us up to the ship."

"Yeah?" Wheeljack scoffed. "Are you willing to bet your life on it? I don't like the idea of being dropped halfway there."

Dawn gave a questioning look at the yellow scout. "What?"

"It's not an impossible idea", Cliffjumper followed after Bumblebee and knelt down next to Optimus, fixing Dawn with a challenging smirk. "Fly me."

The baffled look on Dawn's face only grew more confused. "Excuse me?"

"Try to levitate me. Can you lift me up to the ceiling and hold me there?"

"I… uh… yes…? I think so", Dawn hesitated, before the idea behind the request dawned on her and made her eyes widen with realization. "You think I could lift you up to their ship?"

"You tell me. You did knock all of us down back at the little skirmish with the cons. Clearly you don't lack the power."

"Maybe..." Dawn pondered. "Are you sure?"

Cliffjumper nodded and leaned in to whisper loudly. "Just don't bonk my helm too hard on the ceiling. That would be kind of embarrassing."

Dawn gave a nervous smile and looked to Optimus for confirmation. The Autobot leader considered the risks and gains of such possibility, noting the clear problems it had, but also that they had little other options available to them. There was something... a distant memory that teased him at the back of his processor.

"Absolutely not!"

Ratchet's authoritative voice echoed through the base. Optimus was surprised, pleasantly so, to see the CMO stride back in so quickly. Behind the stern-looking medic, Arcee followed with a wry smirk. Optimus nodded in silent appreciation for whatever the blue femme had done to convince him to return.

"Don't thank me", Arcee shrugged with the same half-amused look. "It was a heated monologue, but it didn't take him long to convince himself it would be irresponsible to leave the rest of us on our own for too long."

"And I was certainly correct", the medic snapped. "I absolutely forbid any attempt to use yourselves as test subjects. You have no idea what level of control she has over her abilities."

"And we don't have the time to test them any other way", Cliffjumper retorted. "She can use them enough to fend against Soundwave."

"She can shove and maim us! That's far from what you're trying to get her to do now."

"There's another way to find out..." Dawn muttered, looking around the base.

Only Optimus heard what she said, Cliffjumper being too occupied with his debate to listen. The Prime watched with interest as the human took a few steps, clearly searching for something. Then she stopped and lifted her hands, holding them in front of her as if to push something invisible.

The lump of metal the younger Autobots used to play lobbing with rose in the air on the other side of the cavernous hall. Ratchet and Cliffjumper stopped their bickering and stared with everyone else at the slowly rising ball. It traveled all the way to the ceiling, stopping just before hitting it, and changed direction towards the hands that seemed to keep it afloat.

As it landed neatly in front of Dawn, topping her height and mass greatly, the woman turned to Optimus with a triumphant smile. Optimus found the instinctive gesture spark-warming, being so clearly full of sincere pride of accomplishment. It vanished as quickly as it had appeared though, as she looked quickly away again, face suddenly flushed.

Lowering her arms again, she cleared her throat. "That was easy to do." She breathed deeply and turned to the medic with a pleading look. "I'm sorry, but I want to try Cliffjumper's plan. It might be the only way to save Nadia."

The silent glare Ratchet aimed at the small human was piercing, but she endured it, waiting for the answer.

"No", the medic finally said. "It is still too dangerous. There's no guarantee you won't harm one of us by accident."

The idea that had been knocking in the back of Optimus' processors came forth with a certain memory from the far past. The Autobot leader stood up and headed towards the groundbridge, where a stack of panels waited for installation.

"Optimus..." Ratchet groaned as he took one of the sizeable pieces and brought it back with him. "Don't tell me you're considering this ludicrous idea."

Optimus set the panel down next to Dawn. "Her abilities have no effect on me."

"But that also means she can't magic you up there."

Optimus gestured to the panel. "Then we will have to do what Windcharger used to do."

Ratchet stared at him, then opened his mouth for a counterargument, then closed it again, optics darting back and forth. "Even if she managed to do that, the trouble only starts once you get into the ship."

"Who's Windcharger?"

Optimus turned back to Dawn, noting that she looked much more energetic now. "An Autobot who possesses the same type of ability you do, though not to the same extent. He sometimes joined us in covert missions, levitating us on metal platforms when we needed to travel unnoticed."

"So if we stand on a platform big enough for the both of us, we can get to where Nadia is!"

Optimus frowned. "I do not think bringing you there -"

"I know, I know..." Dawn could hardly contain her impatience. "You think it's too dangerous for me, I don't know what I'm up against, once Megatron finds out what were doing, he's seriously going to try and kill me, and even the stars are aligned against us!"

"Still..." she continued with a quieter plead, undisturbed by Cliffjumper grinning unabashed at her. "I don't mean to leave your scout without a job, but I can tell you where they are on the ship, I can open any door for you, and I can definitely… insert a cybertronian term for ass-kicking."

"Kick aft", Cliffjumper offered helpfully. "Or fender some benders, rattle their gearboxes, drive a stick up their -"

"Cliffjumper", Optimus made a firm statement to return their conversation back to it's track. "Those are undoubtedly useful traits. One of my main concerns is your smaller stature. I do not feel comfortable carrying you in the middle a possible battlefield, and it would be too slow for you to move on your own if we had to hurry or you had to run for cover."

"I'm going up there", Dawn didn't budge. "With or without you."

Optimus wasn't pleased, but he wasn't surprised either. He had known the human to be stubborn.

"Just use the transmat reduction beam."

Optimus lifted his gaze from Dawn and gave a surprised look at Ratchet, who crossed his arms over his chassis and continued somberly. "We never have the need to use it, but it's still operational. As you're all fine with experimenting, just increase her size with it."

Optimus found himself unable to present any more insurmountable obstacles in their path. Dawn met his gaze again with triumph.

"So we have a plan?"

Optimus didn't have to think for long. It was obvious this would be their best and only chance of rescuing the captured human.

"It seems we do."