A/N: Hello again! Sorry for the long wait but as always I wanted to make it as right as possible. Now there is gonna be another authors note below talking about something in this chapter and plans I have in the future as we near the end of the year as it gets super busy for me with work and family stuff. But, I hope you enjoy, I think you might tear up a little bit in this chapter, I know I did...or maybe I'm just weird, WHO KNOWS!? Anyways, enjoy this new chapter!

Chapter 12-Together Alone

Bulletta's POV

I was finally making some headway in my servo to servo combat training. Currently I was training with Arcee to increase my flexibility in servo to servo. Bee was good at training punches and guarding against them, now I felt I needed precious and grace, like Arcee.

"Keep your focus, 'Letta." Arcee called out as she got another hit on me.

I sheepishly grinned at her, "Sorry, just a lot on my mind."

And there was so much, maybe too much. My mind was filled with a dozen thoughts, a million of unsaid words, worries, fears, doubts. My sleep this past week has been nonexistent, ever since I came back from the Space Bridge my dreams weren't dreams, they were nightmares.

They were always different, but had a theme. Moments, where I felt helpless, wordless to stop something. Sometimes it was from the past, the past I now loathed to remember, sometimes it involved fictitious things involving Team Prime.

No matter what, those nightmares came and I felt weary and worn after awakening from them. But, I couldn't tell them about it, I won't tell them, they have enough to worry about. I don't need to think about it either, I have my waking world problems I need to deal with.

I kept going through the routine with Arcee, learning, dodging and fighting back. Soon enough, we called it a day, and I was grateful. I had other things to attend too.

"Hey, Bulletta." Arcee called out as I tried to leave.

I froze, looking over my shoulder with a small grin, "Yeah, something you need yet?"

"I was wondering if you wanted to talk about what's been distracting you as of late?" She asked, concerned optics watching my own.

"Oh," I simply said, "I can't right now, I have ...a project that needs completion."

I raced out of the room, leaving the two-wheeler behind. I felt guilt for having semi-lied to her and I felt disappointed in myself. Why didn't I tell her the truth? I shook it off for now, free from her questions and gaze I can focus on what needed to be done.

With my drone project a success it was time for me to begin recon of the unexplored levels of this base, for future purposes.

At the Same Time...

Cenotaph POV

"What are you doing?" A voice from behind me caught my attention.

Opening my optics, I looked back to the small voice that had addressed me in the middle of my ritual spell. I gained a questioning look at the one who had spoken up, Rafael. The human was simply small compared to me yet he seemed unafraid of me, strange.

"Casting a spell my boy, why do you ask?" I turned back muttering the last of the arcane words before activation. I had drawn a mage circle around me with writing and glyphs, it glowed with a dull gold, waiting to be activated with the last spoken word, but I held it to hear what he had to say.

"Oh, can I watch?" He asked, cautiously walking around me and the circle of gold.

I eyed him, "There is nothing to see my boy, it is the Scrying Spell, it will give me sight on a chosen target. All you will see is me going blind and deaf while my vision is carried far from here."

He looked down in disappointment, "Of course, sorry, I guess I shouldn't disturb you then."

He began to walk away, not done with the conversation, I plucked him from the ground. He yelped in surprise as I held him up to my face level.

"Why did you come here, Rafael, what drove you to see what I was doing? I thought you humans were afraid of me?" I asked.

He was silent for a moment before saying, "What happened to Miko did scare me...alot, and Bumblebee did tell me to not be alone with you...BUT! I don't care, sure you are scary and sure we don't really know what you're intentions are, but, isn't that just cause for getting to know one another! I mean, how can you judge someone if you don't know them, who they are or were, and what they strive to become?"

I stared wide eyed at this kid, I couldn't believe how intelligent and forward thinking this kid was! It...was actually really sweet. Sure, there is some naivety in his statement, but he is a kid, can you blame him?

Though I'll never openly admit it, younger kids were a soft spot for me. Teenagers like Miko could die for all I care, and Jack with Sierra were unknowns, but as teens as they were, I cared for them not. Even when raising the dead, I shall never raise a child, for they are pure and too call upon them for battle...I simply don't do it.

So to say that Rafael unfrozen my spark, if only a little, is true.

"You are something unexpected, Rafael. Come, let us see what the Decepticons are up too, specifically the leader of those who walk in deception's path."

I smiled as I whispered, 'Videre.' and golden light engulfed our vision.

Somewhere on Earth…

No One's POV

The golden light that had engulfed their vision lifted suddenly, to their surprise, it was not the Nemesis's walls they saw, but a snow-covered pine forest. The snow around the target seemed fresh and untouched, like the target fell from the sky, or a portal.

The target, Lord Megatron, stood looking around the quiet forest with curiosity. But what surprised the watchers was the other with the Lord. A small femme, with striking grounder with light green spikes coming off her helm, olive protoform and black with green highlights on the armor. Spikes were in different places on her armor, giving it a studded look. Her golden optics and strange tattoos were the most noticeable features and a strange sword on her back. Her wheels located in her shoulders and her hips, she was completely dwarfed by the warlord but still held an intimidating presence.

The two wondered who this femme was, and why her Decepticon symbol had wings...well, one of them wondered.

Finally, the warlord spoke in the empty cold air, "So, you wanted to show me your part of the bargain?"

Bargain? What the heck were they talking about?

She smiled up at the warlord, with a gleam of glee in her optics, "Yes, but you need to be accepting, can you do that?"

Megatron smirked, "Of course."

She begins to move her now visible onyx inlaid palms around, creating a cocoon shape in the air, the glowing greenish-blue light sparkling in the air. Then, she thrusts it forward and it passes into the warlord.

The two watched in amazement as Megatron's body transformers, but not in the way a transforming being like himself should. His body twists and morphs but isn't painful as far as they could tell. He becomes lower, more animalistic as more time passes until instead of the towering Lord of the Decepticons isn't standing their anymore, but a larger than average cougar with silvery-grey metallic fur and burning red eyes.

Cenotaph instantly knew this was a new arrival just like her, now noticing that she had a Gnomish appearance and was apparently a Druid as well. It both intrigued and worried her.

The femme smiled down at the cougar, who inspected himself with curiosity.

"Megatron,this might be hard to understand but you have gained the intelligence of the animal, which means you can't speak and nothing you had before will work, no weapons, no Comms." The cougar looked up with rapt attention though the two watchers didn't know if it got through to him as she claims of his new intelligence being limited.

"Alright, my turn."

Again, the transformation began, but it was different. A glow surrounded her frame before it started the same thing as with Megatron. But this seemed more naturally to them, smoother and it looked less painful to them. Before long, another cougar, female with tan-ish coloring instead.

They huffed at each other, as if speaking before the femme turned and ran into the forest. Quickly, Megatron followed the femme. Suddenly the watchers vision was pulled with the cougar, moving at the same speed and always keeping him in the center.

They ran and ran, until the came to a clearing. They chuffed and huffed at each other, as if speaking before Megatron lunged out. Suddenly deer came into the focus range and Megatron latched onto one of the unfortunate animals, dragging it down and killing it.

Before it could go any further, their vision was pulled away and both Cenotaph and Rafael shuddered back into their own bodies, wide eyed with new knowledge, questions and fears.

Unknown Location...

Unknown POV

The crackle of thunder raced through the dark clouds above. Rain poured down on the cobbled streets below, the maze like city had so many twists and turns you could get lost in them. As thunder and lightning crackled and boomed overhead, a small form raced through those winding streets.

Her breath was shuttering with the bitter cold of the rain and the heaving of her lungs as she ran. The small cloaked figure gave a glance back to see her presurer, the town's guard, one man, was after her. And for good reason she supposed, she did just steal some bread from the baker while he was trying to close the shop for the night.

Nevertheless, she ran from the law.

The little girl skidded and darted into an alleyway, squeezing into a small space and pulling her dark cloak around her. As the footsteps got closer and the light of his flaming torch got closer, she held her breath. The footsteps halted, the light danced and shifted, the armored guard looking for the little thief.

She remained breathless, waiting for him to leave so that she could breathe again.

Slowly, the light disappeared and his footsteps faded.

The little girl took a deep breath and sighed in relief. Slowly she came from her hiding spot, looking both ways before hurrying to her makeshift home. She ducked into a grate that led to the underground waterways and sewers, where her home lay and where her father figure rested.

After sometime, she came upon the small alcove where their home was. It was simply enough, with bedrolls, a fire and pile of what that had obtained over the years. Their, sitting next to the fire was an older man, with a thinning hairline and a large white and grey beard and brilliant amber eyes. The man was of the larger size and seemed to light up with life as the little girl approached the older man.

'Ah, you've returned.' He greeted her as she came to sit next to him, 'What did you catch this time, my little Moon?'

She pulled the cloak away, revealing her ashen grey skin, her horns and black hair with white strips in them and yellow eyes.

'Something...to...eat!' The child said, her words harsh and hesitant, the old man looked at her proudly.

'You're vocabulary and speakin' is getting better my dear, now lets see what ya got?' He said, she revealed a bag filled with bread from the baker. 'Ah, now that's a good haul, lets dig in!'

Both began to eat the bread with enjoyment, though it was rough and stale it was better than nothing.

As the girl, named Moon, ate she thought of something.

"Question?" She asked the old man, who nodded his head, she put a lot of thought into her next words, "...where did I come from, Hamilton?"

The old man, Hamilton was stunned. Moon was always good at mimicking others but he wondered where she heard that phrase from. Shaking it off, he smiled at the little tiefling orphan in front of him.

'I don't know, little Moon. I found yah, on the street and took ya in. I guess...I just didn't want to see a little baby die when all it needed was a chance.'

Moon pondered her father figure's words, she didn't understand why she was left alone on the streets. Why would she be left alone? Was it the same reason the population above despised her, this made her frown and pout. Hamilton, seeing this, tutted her.

'No, no, don't do that Moon. You need to think positive thoughts, if you weren't there, I wouldn't have you with me now!' He said, putting the girl onto his lap, she looked at him with sad eyes.

"But….do that mean I...have a real Mommy and Daddy? Why...make me go away?" She asked, her child brain not able to understand the concept of abandonment.

The old man sighed, 'Don't think too much about my dear, ya will go into a dark place. Only think of the positives, now go on, eat ya food.' He said giving her half eating loaf back to the little girl.

Halfheartedly, she began to eat it once more.

Suddenly, a shout was heard in the tunnels, the sounds of armor clanking and shouts of familiar guards.

'Ah shit,' The old man cursed, 'They doin' another purge, come quickly Moony, we don't have much time!'

He scooped up the little girl and ran further into the sewers as the guards started pouring in to imprison those that lived illegal in this tunnels. Her little heart pounded in her chest as fear started to consume her.

'Don't fret, Moony.' Hamilton said, sense the girls fear, 'We'll be okay, I promise.'

That did little to nothing to settle the fear in her very soul from rising up. The shouts got louder, the clanking of metal seemed almost monstrous. They rounded a corner only to see a group of guards standing there.

'Hey, stop! In the name of the City of Vasselheim!' He shouted.

Hamilton, for an old man, was quick. He turned to the other direction and ran as fast as he could. Each corner they tried to go down, it seemed like there were even more guards swarming there. The old man was tiring quickly, making the little girl lean into him more for comfort.

This took his attention away to her, which was a mistake.

Suddenly, his foot caught a floating log in the waterway causing him to trip and throw the young girl from his grasp to the ground. She squealed in terror and pain, she looked up, bruised and scratched, wet and cold at Hamilton.

'RUN, MOON, RUN!' He shouted, she looked past him to see the guards approaching.

With tears in her eyes, she got up and stumbled into a run. She ran deeper into the darkness, her Darkvision allowing her to see in the pitch black. She kept running and running until her legs gave out, she was tired, cold, wet and exhausted.

Her breathing labored, she cried out. She was scared, worried for her father figure and for her own safety, she was on her own.

Alone. In the dark, lost and alone.

She began to hyperventilate, she didn't want to be alone. She didn't like to be alone, bad things happened when she was alone, no she can't be alone, she doesn't want to be alone...I don't want to be alone...I want to call out but my voice catches in my throat...I want out...I want Hamilton...ANYONE..

"PLEASE...DON'T….DON'T….I DON'T WANT TO BE ALONE ANYMORE!" I screamed into the void…

…

…

…

…but no one came.

Bulletta's POV

I gasped as I awoke violently. I sat straight up from my desk, where I was working on a new prototype of my drone. I felt a chill run up and down my frame. My servos shook uncontrollably, my optics darted around the empty room and it suddenly felt small, too small for me.

Shoving myself away from the desk I opened the door and walked briskly to the wash racks. My venting was still harsh as I kept my optics burning into the floor.

I finally made it to the showers, instantly I blasted the hot water onto me. It seeped and soaking into my frame, I didn't even bother taking my armor off. I just stood there, shaking and gripping the wall as I stared at where the drain washed the water away into the depths.

"Just...a dream, don't let it get to you, Moon." I repeated to myself the mantra I had since learned ever since the nightmares came.

This was the same every night now, a nightmare would wake me, I'd take a hot shower then go sit in the main hall until I felt sleepy again then went back to my room to crash. Only to have another nightmare, wake up in the morning and pretend it never happened.

I kept repeating the mantra, over and over again. But for some reason, it wasn't working, I was still shaking, still cold...still alone. I felt the tears coming up, I tried to hold them back, I really did. But, my facade failed me, my stress of holding everything in, from my past, for my mission, and what I felt was the weight of all of my internal pain came out all at once.

I crumpled to the floor, heaving and sobbing as the stress finally took hold of me. I tried to keep it down, to not wake the others. But the trembling and the pain finally took over, I cried out in agony, like my spark was being pierced and hundred times over.

Hot, fat wet tears mixed with the water that fell over my face and frame. I gripped my arms so much I felt dents pushing in as I sobbed out freely. My dam...finally broke...I couldn't do it anymore ...the stress… the lies...and the heartbreak of the past that I had repressed for so long came at me in full force ...and it left me as a crying, sobbing mess.

All that I felt now was the pain...the stress...the dissatisfaction with myself...the loneliness that crushed me even in a packed room of people.

All of it...on full display, for the world that turned a blind eye to my pain.

It was always like that, I always had to deal with that pain alone, always alone. No one cared for a crying tiefling girl. No one.

I was alone, always alone, I don't want to be alone.

Suddenly, I noticed something.

The water that cascaded down my crumpled frame was gone, the water not falling anymore. Through tears, through the pain, through it all I heard...someone? No, multiply…

"What happened...?" One male voice asked, filled with concern.

"I don't know, I found her like this…" A dominating female voice said.

"Come on, help me get her to the Med Bay." The male voice asked, and two sets of servos gently picked me off the floor.

A male voice to my left asked, 'Do you know what is wrong with her?'

The first male voice answered, "I believe so, I think she's had a mental breakdown."

Another female voice asked, "But why? Is there something we didn't see going on?"

"I don't know yet, here, put her here."

I was gently laid down onto a cold surface, but one of the pair of servos never left me, one holding onto my servo another resting against my helm. I loved the warmth of the servos, and I leaned into the touch. My optics while open seemed unfocused, dull and lazy with tears.

"She's seems cold, can you hold her while I get some thermal blankets?" The first male voice asked.

Silently, the one holding onto to me shifted. Until he settled down into a new position, one in which I leaned into his chassis. He was so warm, so comforting, I pressed my helm into the crook of his neck. He seemed to freeze for a moment before relaxing into me.

All the pain, all the loneliness, all the sorrow and stress seemed to melt away as I laid in his grasp. I felt...safe, protected and warm. I didn't want to leave him, I hummed in appreciation, my optics slowly gaining clarity.

I felt a servo brush away the tear stains and the last remnants of those tears away.

He whispered into my audio, 'Don't cry anymore, Bulletta, I'm here now.'

I closed my optics and sighed in contempt.

"It seems she likes to cuddle with you, Bee." The second female voice said with a sly undertone…

...Bee? Why was she referring to a bee?...

What...is she...talking...wait...bee...bee...Bumblebee?

My optics opened slower than I would've liked, I stared into someone's neck and chest. Titling back and up I locked optics with sky blue ones, brilliantly sky blue. Those optics were full of worry, reassurance and...something else…

Suddenly, it all clicked.

"Bumble...bee?" I asked, my voice hoarse and tired.

Though his mouth was covered, I could tell he was smiling sadly.

'Hey...you're alright, your safe.' He said with a soft voice, my spark was too tired and weak to even think about the fact that I was in a handsome mech's strong arms.

I smiled tiredly, "I know…" and then, I fell into a dreamless sleep.

No One's POV

As Bulletta fell asleep in Bumblebee's arms, the other three in the room were preoccupied. Ratchet placed the heated blanket over Bulletta, with a nod from Bumblebee, he remained holding the femme he was slowly falling for in his arms.

The two femmes, Arcee and Cenotaph stood off to the side, watching the whole thing.

It was Cenotaph who originally found the femme crying alone in the showers when she had gotten up to check if Ratchet was sleeping properly. She had commed Ratchet and Arcee along with Bee to her aid, unable to coax the femme from her wallow and shock state.

Cenotaph had never seen some so broken down before, it honestly frightened her.

"So, what happened?" Arcee asked the doctor who now turned his attention to the scans he took of her.

His optics narrowed, "It seems as I was correct before, she had a mental breakdown. It seems as though something must have triggered her suddenly metal shutdown, causing her to go into shock and hysteria. But what is still unknown, it also seems that her spark is under a lot of stress, which can also cause these types of outbursts."

"So," Cenotaph asked, "She basically couldn't handle the stress and broke down?"

"Yes, and it seems like she was under a lot of it to cause her to go into shock." He looked back to her now peacefully sleeping.

"The only way we know for sure is if she tells us what's going on." Arcee said, staring sadly at the femme. "Before during our practice she seemed distracted, unfocused, maybe it corresponds with this?"

"Maybe," Cenotaph countered, "Or it may just go deeper than that."

"Indeed, but we won't know until she wakes up, so for now go back to rest. Me and Bumblebee will keep a watch on her." Ratchet said going back to his computers.

Silently, the femmes left with questions racing in their minds.

One questioned if her comrade was alright, and if she was really good to go in combat.

The other, questioned if she would become a liability to the mission. If she couldn't handle the stress, then what else couldn't she handle either?

So many questions, but for now, they found rest. Or whatever rest they could find with the burning questions lingering in their minds.

Bumblebee, unlike the femme's, had no questions. He just wanted to know she would be okay, and he knew that he was not leaving her side for a moment. If there was one thing a scout was good at, it was listening. And Bee would do just that, when she was ready to talk about what was on her mind and spark, he would be there.

Always.

A/N: So, basically what happened to Bulletta in this last part of the chapter actually happened to me once, but it was for a way less serious reason. I basically accidentally hit my mom's car, that was parked on our driveway with another car that she owned and I kinda lost it and fully broke down. To the point where the whole accident is now just a blur to me. With me only really remembering the absolute despair and fear I had coursing through me. I was a teen at the time with my license barely achieved so I was worried for a good reason, but it still worked out in the end. Anyways, just letting you know I most likely won't be updating either of the Falling Stars universe stories till most likely February of next year, with Christmas and New Years and the fact that in January it'll been a year since my Dad passed away, I think I'll be to emotionally and physically drained to really get anything down...and also its just nice to have a break to get those creative juices flowing again, but I hope you understand that I just need some family and me time, but I might upload if and only IF I feel like I got something good...we'll see. Anyways, sorry for the long rant, hope you have a good whatever time it is when you are reading this and have a Merry Christmas or whatever you celebrate and have a Happy New Year, bye for now!