She ran her hands through her hair, smooth and incredibly soft even if it was made completely out of energon strands. The nervousness was gnawing from her interior and has made no attempt to hide it whatsoever. All she could do was stand right beside the medical table and keep her optics fixed towards the unlit archway of the ground bridge. She was absentmindedly twirling the ends of her hair to try and alleviate the anxiousness when there were heavy footfalls approaching her from the side. Through her peripheral she quickly recognizes the outline of her beloved field medic coming closer and she remained with the intense gaze unwavering.

Her center of attention towards the ground bridge had her so distracted that she failed to catch what Ratchet was saying to her. It wasn't until she fluttered her eyes back into reality and realized that Ratchet was standing right in front of her.

"I… sorry…" Her voice trailed off as she gave him a sheepish smile.

Ratchet's keen eyesight instantly noted the way she twirled the ends of her hair with her finger before returning his gaze to meet hers.

"You haven't moved from this spot since the others departed."

Oh, right.

It was morning when Agent Fowler had come in with reports of Decepticon activity after the latter had stolen twenty tons of control rods from a nuclear plant during the night. An hour went by as Fowler came back, this time reporting of another Decepticon theft in progress. Almost all of Team Prime had departed to put a stop to whatever the Decepticons were attempting to make. Meanwhile Ultra Magnus was ordered to remain behind, still deemed unfit for going on an expedition by Ratchet, citing that he still requires further rehabilitation.

As for herself, well, she decided to remain behind. It was by her own choice since the majority of them were going together she figured it was best to take a step back. She has complete faith in her teammates to handle the situation without her assistance.

Yet, there was this gut feeling that she has been experiencing since their departure. She couldn't pinpoint exactly what it was trying to say to her, all she knew was that something was going to happen.

"I know… I just have this worried feeling that—that" She was unable to finish her sentence as she shook her head and averted her gaze. The twirling of her fingers on the strand of hair quickened.

Noticing how tongue tied she was, Ratchet closed the distance between them and gingerly took her hand which stopped her from fidgeting her hair. With her attention being pulled from looking away and her focus was on Ratchet once again. He pulled her hand away from the ends of her hair and began to rub his thumb on her hand to alleviate the stiffness she had.

"Optimus and the others will return shortly once the situation is handled. None of them had contacted me to report an emergency transport. They are capable of handling this even without your presence in the field." He reassured her using facts about the team's immense knowledge on handling these sorts of missions.

She exhales. "It's not that I don't trust their experience, that… that's not what has me on edge."

"Then what is?"

"It's just—" She pauses, taking in air and continuing. "I have this feeling, I can't really explain it in words. But, I feel like… like something is coming."

Ratchet ponders for a moment, his brow-ridges furrowing in thought. "Is this what you humans refer to as having a gut feeling?"

"I know it sounds silly, but I had this feeling before, Ratchet. Back when Cylas—of all people, knew about my family."

He tried his best in holding back a physical reaction, however his optics displayed how pained he felt. He has never forgotten about that memory, it was engraved in his mind since then. The mere thought of reliving that moment and watching her decline emotionally over the course of the three solar cycles, pained him. Seeing her in such a low state will forever haunt him.

From then on he vowed to make sure she never went down through her inner turmoil, if it were to happen again he will be there for her.

"I remember all too well, and not in a fond way either." Ratchet admitted, a heavy tone laced in his voice. A frown adorning his features and his optics averting to the side.

She squeezes his servo, bringing his attention back to her. "Let's just… hope this doesn't become severe."

It was only natural for her to feel scared—to an extent. But nothing could shake this feeling that lingered in the pit of her stomach. Perhaps her anxiety was beginning to get the best of her.

Her thoughts were interrupted when Ratchet pulled her in, his arms wrapping around her waist in a loving embrace.

"No matter the outcome, we will always find a solution." Ratchet said with confidence.

There was a pleasant warmth in her chest which completely washed away whatever was left of her anxiety. She smiled, fully relaxing in his hold before wrapping her arms around his neck. "I suppose… we do, don't we?"

Both of them closed the distance, pressing against each other's forehead. Keeping each other close and welcoming their limited PDA for the time being.

There was this stillness in the air, a comfortable one in fact. It's as if The Great War between the opposing cybertronians that was outside the confines of their refuge had become nonexistent. But alas, it wouldn't last… the speakers came to life and Optimus' voice spoke through to relay a message.

"Ratchet reopen the Ground Bridge but ensure that the humans are kept at a safe distance, for we will be returning with a Decepticon prisoner."

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.

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There, strapped against the table was Megatron's communications and surveillance chief; Soundwave. The Decepticon remained unconscious once he was secured to the table, yet, that didn't mean he was less dangerous. As the rest of the Autobots surrounded the table, the remaining humans watched from a safe distance. Alongside the humans was Lucy with her gaze directed towards the unconscious Decepticon.

Eventually Soundwave had come around and begun to struggle underneath the binds that held him. While the rest of the Autobots were discussing amongst themselves, Soundwave went still and was looking past the surrounding Autobots towards a specific person: Lucy. As soon as his unlit visor caught her eye, she visibly stiffened.

Lucy couldn't fathom as to why Soundwave decided to focus his attention on her rather than the rest of the Autobots that were within his proximity. Pin pointing his reason was the equivalent of finding a needle in a haystack, and given the fact that he doesn't talk makes it all the more ridiculous to even try.

Perhaps she could try reading into his thoughts…

The Autobots had begun to interrogate Soundwave, starting off civil by demanding what Megatron was building with the parts they had stolen and threatening him with unimaginable beatings. However, Soundwave was indifferent to their demands, in fact, he had been purposely ignoring them entirely.

Throughout the unsuccessful questioning, Optimus had been paying close attention to where Soundwave was looking. He turned his helm to glance over through his peripheral and caught a glimpse of Lucy glowering directly at Soundwave. Optimus took this window of opportunity to move himself between them, purposely blocking Soundwave's view from his friend.

In doing so, she was snapped back to reality with her focus aimed towards Optimus' back. She had indeed attempted to read the former's mind to at least get a sense as to what he was thinking of, but all she could hear was static. The confusion slowly morphed into frustration in a matter of seconds as she tried to figure out why it hadn't worked before suddenly she was covering her audio-receptors from a painfully loud sonic pulse.

As soon as the noise died down, she was left with an excruciating headache. It had gotten so bad that to the point where she had to go to the nearest wall and lean into it for support. Given that her senses were more significant because of her extraordinary abilities, which meant that the ear-piercing noise of the sonic pulse were ten-times more susceptible for her than the rest of the Autobots and her human companions.

She managed to shake off the headache but when she tried to open her optics only to squint at the harsh lights, a migraine perhaps? She pushes herself off the wall to join with the rest of the Autobots, massaging her temple and listening in on what was being said as she did so.

"His vital signs remain functional. It seems he has simply severed all communications, by crashing his own drives." Ratchet expresses his astonishment with the others as he rotates, scanning through the group until his optics land on Lucy.

Quickly making his way to her, noticing her discomfort, he gingerly takes her hand and in a soft whisper asks her if she was all right.

"Yes… I'm alright, Ratchet," she reassures him with a smile and a gentle squeeze on his hand, which he gladly returned. "It's a small headache, nothing too damaging."

He sends you a soft, tender gaze and then guides her away from the group, away from the unmoving Decepticon.

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Bulkhead, Smokescreen, Ratchet, and herself were the only ones that remained within the hangar, as the rest had left not too long ago for the South Pole. They were on their way to intercept another one of the Decepticons heists, apparently wanting to get their hands on another piece of earth technology.

Both Smokescreen and Bulkhead stood in front of the unresponsive body of Soundwave, keeping themselves a good distance away just for good measure, where they had been talking amongst themselves.

"Can't we throw a tarp over him? He's creeping me out." Bulkhead suggested, eying the body with immense uneasiness.

"Yeah. It's like he's watching, no matter where you go." Smokescreen said, moving from side to side. The visor that makes up Soundwaves face seemingly watching his every move despite him being unresponsive.

Approaching behind them was Ratchet, overhearing their inane discussion that he just had to intervene before it drove him mad. Maybe even whack them both with a random piece of equipment if need be.

"Would both of you stop focusing on what Soundwave can or cannot see and help me figure out what he did not tell?" Ratchet raised his voice in frustration, "Like why Megatron would be interested in something believed to generate enough power to create a black hole."

Almost immediately Smokescreen and Bulkhead threw assumptions of the possibility of Megatron attempting to create a black hole to swallow worlds; this was quickly shut down by Ratchet. Clarifying that Megatron intended to harness its power for it to be capable of swallowing worlds.

"In order to… create one."

He pauses.

"Oh, my."

He swiftly makes his way towards the monitors and contacts Optimus. Relaying his suspicion— the truth that Megatron is planning to rebuild the Omega Lock. He knew better when he suggested the thought of allowing them to rebuild their only means of restoring their home-world, it was no surprise when Optimus strictly prohibited it.

It is the logical thing to do after all.

But the disappointment that adorned his faceplates contradicted the words he responded with.

"Understood."

He had to swallow his Cybertronian pride, if he hadn't done so, well, there would have been a nasty dispute on his part. Going against his tangent was the most preferable option, but that could only do so much that containing his disgruntlement was becoming quite evident.

"Have faith, Ratchet,"

He looks over to see Lucy beside him, a hand resting on his bicep in reassurance. She was trying to soothe his conflicting emotions over the knowledge of a possible reconstruction of the Omega Lock.

"We'll find a way, like we always do."

"She's right!" Smokescreen pipped in and everyone turned to face the young recruit, "It may not be with the Forge or the Omega Lock, but we're gonna find a way to get our planet repaired."

Their reassurances weren't exactly convincing him but he commends them for at least trying. Whatever chances they have in restoring their home-world is astronomically slim, statistically speaking. The harsh reality is that without the means of such equipment and the technology at their disposal, their means of ever returning to Cybertron is more than likely to never—

"GET DOWN!"

Ratchet felt himself being pulled down by his arm, crying out in surprise at the sudden pull.

Glass was shattered and it was immediately followed by blasters being shot towards them. It was a shocking sight to see Laserbeak flying across the hangar and the question of how it even found them in the first place will be left unanswered as it continued to shoot aimlessly. A stray shot was headed directly towards Ratchet but before it could even hit Lucy had redirected it, standing protectively in front of him with her arms stretched out.

The Decepticon drone had preoccupied itself in stripping the binds that held Soundwaves slumped form. Not giving it a second thought, she took her chance and held out her arm, a shimmering aura engulfing the drone where it was held in place. A small feat that was soon short lived when Smokescreen had fired at the incapacitated Laserbeak right on the wing.

Her concentration was broken and turned to give him a sharp glare. "Smokescreen what the hell— AAAGH!" Doubling over from the immense pain that shot through her upper leg and stomach. Then her legs buckled causing her to fall harshly onto the floor.

Bugger. That damn drone shot her!

She desperately wanted to help Bulkhead and Smokescreen apprehend the now awakened Soundwave but her body refused to cooperate. Watching Soundwave effortlessly take out both mechs and swatting Fowler away with his tentacles, not giving her presence much thought where he advances to Ratchet.

"No… stop!" She tried to stand only to tumble down once again, the pain shooting through her nervous systems as if lava was being poured into her veins.

Ratchet's pained cries filled the air and then silence followed by him falling unconscious after being electrocuted. Despite her body's protests, she found enough strength to stand up and bolted. She stood between Soundwave and Ratchet's unconscious form with her arms spread defensively, and with the other arm pointed at Soundwave. Her open palm facing the mute Decepticon, a warning for him to back off or else…

"Stay. Back." She spat through gritted teeth. Her limbs visibly tremble from the great amount of effort it's taking her to remain standing. "If you want Ratchet… then you'll have to go through me, understand?"

Soundwave remained silent, his visor reflecting Lucy's features. Her electric optics fueled with determination intending to keep the unconscious medic safe from further harm. The two tentacles on his side were targeted at her, snapping their claws every so often in a rhythmic pattern… almost as if he was deep in thought.

Then his screen lit up and spoke.