New chapter ahoy! Hope you guys enjoy it! And 'Welded' is coming soon! Maybe with the chapter after this one.

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Savannah huddled on the metal floor. They no longer kept her where she couldn't move, but that had apparently created a problem for one of the Decepticons. The now blind woman had tensed when she heard the door to her prison open, and then became confused when an exasperated sigh and soft human footsteps had approached her.

"They never make anything easy for me… do they?" A woman's voice stated quietly. "Alright then, Savannah of the Autobots, are you able to hold silverware?"

"Who are you?" Savannah asked hoarsely, her throat burned from the screams she had let out in the latest round of torture.

"I am Lillith, the only organic Decepticon." A hand landed lightly on Savannah's shoulder. "I need to know if you can use silverware, or if I have to hook up the IV to give you the nutrients you need to survive, Ms. Price."

"What do you mean?" Savannah was proud of herself for not flinching away from the contact.

"Ms. Price, I have been making sure that you have the nutrients necessary for you to continue living for the past five months." The woman stated. "As ordered by Lord Megatron."

Savannah was tempted to point out that Lillith used quite a bit of sarcasm on the word 'Lord'.

"Why?" She croaked, but nodded to show that she could use silverware if necessary.

"Because…"

We hoped that one day you would be able to return to the Autobots.

Savannah froze; the woman was close enough that she should have felt the breath that she used to speak. But she didn't.

That is because I spoke in your mind, Savannah Price. You are not as surrounded by enemies as you believe. The Autobots are coming for you, Savannah. I will place an IV in your arm to give you the nutrients that will help to give you the energy you will need to escape. Do not give away the fact that I am helping you, or my siblings, creator, and I will be in danger. We are deep undercover. Savannah felt a gentle touch on her arm before a small pinch signified the needle being plunged into it. I cannot answer all of your questions. If it bothers you, and you need more answers, ask Jazz… he will know that I told you.

Savannah nodded, and then caught Lillith's hand as she stood up.

"Thank you…" She whispered, and then let her arm fall as she fell asleep.

~Off the coast of Mallaig Scotland~

"Jazz, Hound, Mirage, and Katrina are team 1; they will infiltrate the Decepticon base and get Savannah out. Team 2 consists of Optimus, Sunstreaker, Sideswipe, and I… we will distract the Decepticons so that team 1 has less of a chance of discovery." Prowl stated as he glanced around the room at the gathered bots. "Ratchet, Skids, Mudflap, and Bumblebee will remain on ship and act as back-up should anything go wrong."

A round of nods followed the end of Prowl's plan.

"Team 1 will return here immediately after recovering Savannah, Ratchet will have the med-bay ready for her arrival." Prowl lifted his doorwings in a motion of finality. "We will arrive at the launch point in a few minutes. You are all dismissed."

Optimus, who had been very quiet for a while now, stood and looked at each of the mechs in the room.

"You are all to return after this battle. There will be no mech left behind; I wish you all luck…" Optimus took a deep breath, and then nodded. "Until all are one, Autobots, Roll out."

The surrounding mechs saluted and went their separate ways.

~Underwater Base, Mallaig Scotland~

Savannah woke when a tremor went through the base. She shifted and noted that the IV was no longer in her arm, and that she was alone in her cell once again. The woman's brow furrowed as she contemplated the knowledge that there was a group of deeply undercover 'bots in the Decepticon ranks. The thought was slightly disturbing, but she was willing to overlook it. Savannah paused, and then hesitantly raised her hands to her eyes. She gently felt the scars around her eyes, and then trailed her fingers back to her ears, where the scars dwindled, and then stopped. She ran a cautious hand through her hair, simply because she wanted to know how much of it remained. She was sure her face registered her surprise when she felt that, not only was it clean somehow, but it was longer than she remembered. Her clothes, upon inspection with tentative touches, were in tatters. And her ribs were easily counted. But she was overall healthier than she should have been for a prisoner.

With a groan of pain, she pulled herself to her feet with the aid of a bar on the wall to her prison. She stood there for several seconds, gasping in pain, before letting herself sink back down into a sitting position. Savannah couldn't help but give a triumphant smile though, she could still stand. The smile fell from her face as the door opened and three sets of heavy footsteps filled her hearing.

"Have you come to torture me some more?" She asked lowly.

"Oh, well… if you want us to we can just leave." A voice that she hadn't heard in five months stated flatly.

"Katrina!" Savannah pulled herself back into a standing position. "Is that… is it really you?"

"Come on Anna… we're getting you out of here." The younger sibling's voice sounded strained as she ran over to support Savannah.

"I'll carry her." A voice that Savannah was used to hearing with a teasing tilt to it sounded from above her.

"Jazz?" Savannah asked hesitantly, she wasn't sure if she should trust what she was hearing.

"It's me Kitten." Jazz's voice soothed as she felt herself gently picked up by him. "We're gonna get you to Ratchet."

"Who else is with you?" Savannah asked as she pressed against the warm metal of Jazz's chest.

"Hound and Mirage." Jazz responded quickly.

Savannah nodded as she huddled against Jazz's chestplates. She was finally going home.

~Aircraft Carrier, off the coast of Scotland~

Jazz hadn't stopped to even alert the ship that he was on board, so when he had just seemingly appeared in the makeshift med-bay Ratchet had been less than prepared. But that was quickly forgotten when Jazz simply handed Savannah to the medic, his lip plates were set in a grim line and his stance was restrained.

"Savannah…"

"Ratchet?" Savannah didn't look up at the medic. "Is this… thank god."

"Savannah, I need you to look at me so that I can assess the damage done." Ratchet instructed, and then had to bite his lower lip plate to keep from cursing the way he wanted to.

Scar tissue glared at him from the bridge of her nose to her hairline. Small rivulets where the acid had flowed crissed crossed around her eyes, which were still a light lilac color. Though the pupils were gone and, with a quick scan, Ratchet realized that the pupils had been removed and the iris had been extended surgically.

"Did they…"

"I was awake the entire time Ratchet." Savannah stated quietly, her voice was filled with exhaustion and a slight tremor ran through her back and shoulders.

"I'm going to give you some pain medication and antibiotics." Ratchet stated as he placed her near a bed before activating his holoform to pick her up and put her on the bed itself. "You can rest now… You're safe, I promise."

Savannah nodded slowly before relaxing very slightly. She winced when the needle for the IV was placed in her arm, but she remained still. Her eyes drifted closed as the pain medication took hold and soon she was completely out of it.

"Ratchet…"

"I know Jazz." The medic had forgotten that Jazz was still in the med-bay.

"I already alerted the others that she's out." Jazz stated. "Physically at least…"

Ratchet and Jazz both observed how Savannah jerked at something in a dream.

"She shouldn't be able to dream…"

"I doubt that those are dreams 'hatchet." Jazz muttered.

Ratchet glanced back at Jazz and saw the honest concern and anger on his faceplates.

"They'll pay for it Jazz." Ratchet stated with a heavy sigh. "Eventually, they will pay for this."

"Doesn't mean I don't want to be the one to make them pay up."

Ratchet only watched as the saboteur fought to control his anger, somehow what had happened to Savannah was hitting a closer chord than it should have.

"Jazz…" Ratchet took a hesitant step toward him. "You've got to control yourself."

The medic heard the sound of gritting denta before Jazz gave a curt nod. He didn't explain himself, nor did he want to… but he could control himself for the sake of those around him.

But the 'cons would pay for what they had done.

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Why did Jazz have such a volatile reaction to what had happened to Savannah? And what is going to happen next? At least she's safe.

Anyway… just because I have a slightly self-conscious thing going on right now; does it seem like I've lost something in this story as it continues? I dunno… it just… I had a review that made me question it a bit. Something about the maturity in the story has declined? Anyway… if anybody could give me specifics on that specific ideal, I would be grateful. (Remember constructive criticism includes the problem, an example of the problem, and a possible solution!)

If you read it please review it!

Until all are one,

Chistarpax