A/N: Heyo, everyone! We are back with the Autobots and the Falling Stars, this chapter was fun to write and I had a little fun with the last part! We are getting closer to the next canonical episode in season 1, which is going to be very very interesting with the current atmosphere of both Autobots and Decepticons! But until then, please enjoy this chapter!

Chapter 21-Projects and Conversations

Bulletta's POV

I sat alone in my room, working on all my projects. I had a drone that I made to map out the entire base and now I was reviewing it. According to the schematics, this base was bigger than it seemed, with a whole underground complex right beneath them, inaccessible due to there being no lift big enough for beings of our size.

But it could be useful for say, Rafael to set up something for him...or I could make a way for all of us to get done there.

Ah, another project to add to the list.

Then, I remembered something, Raf said he would be handling the new Comm system. Maybe I could help him with that, you know if I can find him. I stood from my desk and headed out the door, making my way down to the main hub when I happened to cross paths with Cliffjumper.

"Hey, Cliff, what's up?" I asked as he seemed a little...frazzled?

He blinked for a second before saying, "Hey, Letta, just wondering if you saw Sunstreaker around. I'm trying to keep an optic on him."

Ah, yes. Sunstreaker. The reason I stayed in my room more often now. It had been almost a week since I overheard his conversation with Sideswipe and since then I've been avoiding him like the plague. I had heard that Cliff was watching after him by Arcee as she talked to Bulkhead in passing, it was starting to get on her nerves.

"Oh, no. I have been in my room most of the day, by chance is Raf here yet?" I asked.

"Yeah, saw him working in the main hub with the kids and Bumblebee." He scratched his helm for a bit, "It looked like he was having trouble concentrating with whatever he was working on, so I don't know if he's still there."

"Ah, alright, good luck on your mech-hunting," I said with a smile, waving to him as I passed by him.

He loudly sighed, clearly tired of watching the mech, but he was too stubborn to stop anytime soon. I walked silently down the halls, my ultra-sensitive audios picking up conversation and laughter from the main hub. By the time I reached it, I had to turn my audio's down as they were loudly screaming in excitement while talking over one another.

Reason? They were playing a new game they had gotten for their system, something called Smash Bros? I don't know, the entertainment of this world is just plain weird sometimes. I saw Sierra, Jack, and Miko playing on the old television, but no bot nor bard insight.

It was weird that no bot was here, since someone was always on monitor duty. Normally it was Ratchet or Optimus or even Arcee, but no one was here but the kids. I was about to ask the kids where everybody was and where Raf was when Optimus appeared from another hall and entered the room.

"Oh, hello Bulletta, you seem to be looking for someone?" The large mech said, his voice as calming as ever.

I nervously said, "Y-Yeah, have you seen Raf anywhere, I need to talk to him for a moment."

Even when it's casual, I feel slightly intimidated by him.

He thought for a moment, "I believe I saw him heading for the training room with Bumblebee."

"Great...thanks…" I slowly inched away from him with an awkward smile, before darting off into the hall.

I sighed in relief when I was out of optic-shot. There was a really good reason why I was so...ugh...around him. We'd yet to have that session I promised him about, me talking about the Countless Lands, and I feel like I can't lie to him. I don't want to lie to him, or anyone on anything, but it had to be done, for the sake of everyone...goddess I hate being the hero.

Also, this was getting tiring, it felt like one of those horrible fetch quests or escort missions back home, goddess I hated those. I finally neared the training room, hearing the sounds of someone hitting a dumb. I peeked into the room, my yellow optics searching for my little friend.

Bumblebee was here and was in the middle of training his moves with a dummy in the room. He was completely focused on his training, his frame tight as if he were actually in battle, his optics hardened in concentration, his frame moving only with purpose. By all that is holy on this Earth, he was so hot when he was like this, so charming in a fighting sort of way. I could stare at him all day...

"Bulletta? What are you doing here and...are you drooling?" A small but unmistakable voice shattered my happy thoughts, I snapped my helm to Rafael, who was sitting on a crate just inside the room next to the door.

I wiped my face to see, yes indeed, I was drooling...welp, that's embarrassing.

"Ah-hehe, I suppose I am!" I said a little too quickly, "But as for why I'm here, I am looking for you!"

He looked at me with surprise, then to Bumblebee, "Does it involve you know what?"

"Hm, depends, what are you working on right now?" I asked, staring at all the papers and a single notebook in front of him.

"This?" He said, motioning to the mess around him, "Oh, no. This is for school actually, I've been sort of...falling behind in my studies recently and if I don't catch up, my Momma is gonna have my head!"

"Oh...want help with it? I sometimes help Sierra when she gets stuck." I said, sitting beside the crates so that I could see everything a bit better.

He smiled thoughtfully, "Sierra's grades have been going up, so I've heard. I guess I don't mind the extra hand."

"Good, then how about later I can also help you with the side project?" I said with a tricky grin, hinting at the Comm system.

He smirked like a shark, "That would be great, I sorta hit a dead end with that too."

"Good, then let's get started!"

Cenotaph's POV

With a soft click, the hatch to the pod closed, and slowly a fluid mixture of Energon, water, and other ingredients filled the pod. The test subject, the femme vehicon that I nicknamed Subject-FV, was soundly in recharge. Of course, it was a drugged recharge as the femme was screaming and crying her optics out as we opened her up for the hundredth time this week.

In those first rounds of examinations I learned a lot about the Cybertronian anatomy, it was quite fascinating to see how everything worked together. But the most interesting, in my opinion, was the Sparkchamber. The whole thing was like a work of art, delicate and perfect to hold the mystical energy of the very spark itself.

It also gave me a lot of insight into how my undead is raised.

Like any normal undead, the soul or spark, in this case, doesn't return to the body, it's brought back to life by a sort of 'magical spark'. Made up by the spell cast onto the body, as I had also examined Skyquake during this last week as well. So I had more understanding at the end of all of this.

I decided to write down all of my findings on my new computer which was in the main hub of my lab. I wasn't used to it, as I usually took notes the old fashioned way, but I also found this easier. Both of us decided on a project name for the creation of this ultimate spell.

Project: Deathbreaker

But for now, I turned off my mind about the Project. It had been a long week, and it would be another until we met again as a Cabal. So I could afford one break day. I walked my way out of the pod room, leaving Skyquake to guard Subject-FV, and headed for the goat's blood pool room.

As I entered, the tanging iron smell of the blood hit me full force. My shoulders sagged as I breathed in, a calming effect numbing my overworked mind. Of course, I wasn't here to take the plunge myself, that was reserved for the mech who was inspecting a shelf holding different ingredients on the wall, lit but low torchlight.

Ratchet took his optics off of what he was staring at to stare at me.

"If you are spouting nonsense, I swear I'll strap you down to a berth and make sure you suffer." He said with a dark smirk, yet hidden in it was a hint of apprehension.

"I didn't know you were into that kinky shit, my thrall~" I playfully cooed, to which he simply snorted, crossing his arms.

But he sighed and said, "Seriously though...goats' blood? That's how you've stayed young this long?"

I shrugged, "I don't question it, it's old magic, like witch hag old. And it's not just goats' blood, there are some other things in there. I can even change the ingredients slightly to de-age or age a person. It's not just for staying young, it's for many things."

He still looked skeptically at the pool, "What about after...does it come off easily?"

"If you take a hot bath or shower, yes, but let it dry and you start having problems. Don't worry though, I have a bath and a shower in my chambers here for you to wash off." I said as I started taking down a few things I needed to change the properties of the pool from eternal youth to a de-aging effect.

He was silent for a moment, watching me add the ingredients one by one, "Why are you doing this for me?"

Focusing on the task at hand, I answered, "Because I want to give you something for all your hard work this past week, and having to deal with all the craziness it comes from associating with me and the Cabal."

He snorted again, "You don't have too, and besides, I enjoy helping you and the Cabal...but mostly you."

I looked up at him with a raised brow.

"What?" He said, smirking, "It's true, Cena."

I shook my helm, slightly laughing to myself as I add the last thing to the pool. There was a slight shimmer to the red surface, and the smell gained a twinge of lilac in the air. I stood, placing the ingredients back on the shelf, and motioned to the pool.

"Alright, it's ready for you. I'd suggest taken off most of if not all of your armor so that it doesn't get all gunked up. And so that the mixture can make more contact with the protoform which makes it more effective." I said as I started making my way out of the room.

Suddenly, he grabbed my servo, stopping me in my tracks, "Wait…" He said.

I looked back at him bewildered, he seemed to be struggling with himself, an inner conflict playing in his expression and optics.

"Is something wrong?" I asked, stepping closer to him.

He let go of my servo and wrung his together nervously, "I...thank you, truly. This is a gift that many have tried to achieve over the years. And you are just giving it to me, it's almost unbelievable. You didn't have to, after all."

My spark swelled with warmth and a rare, warm smile crossed my lips, "Ratchet, I don't think anyone else is more deserving of being rewarded for their efforts. Especially when it comes to tolerating me. You are the most important person in the world to me, of course, I want to give you everything I have."

He smiled, "Cena, I'm not tolerating you, I'm enjoying being with you. Do you understand that? It's why I stay and listen, why I do what I do. No one should just be tolerated, they should be...loved and accepted, no matter what."

I could feel the pink and purple hue taking over my faceplate as my spark hammered, "I...do not know what to say...other than thank you."

Ratchet rolled his optics, "Alright, alright, then have that as food for thought and I'll see if this goat's blood works."

I laughed, "It does, don't doubt me!"

He smirked, "I don't doubt you, Cena, but I gotta see it for myself."

I just shook my helm and turned to exiting the room and heading back to the hub.

I sighed, it seemed every time I tried my reasoning with that mech he flipped it on its head. I'll most likely never get used to it, but I can appreciate it. Never before has anyone treated me the way he does, and I found myself enjoying it.

Even though I knew it could never truly be. I have had to pay great prices, and there is one that I don't even think Ratchet can overlook.

I had returned with Ratchet later that evening. We returned without issue, sneaking back into the base as we've done for the past week. Ratchet retired to his room, refreshed from the goats' blood bath. He seemed slightly younger, he had more energy and was slightly less...rigid due to age. The only way to truly notice was if you stared at him for a good long while.

I headed for my room, one granted to me by the Prime, even though I didn't like it. My chambers back in my lab were much more comfortable, while here, it lacked the class I was used to.

But, before I could reach them, I heard something in the distance, voices.

Curiosity swelled and I alighted my staff, forming a circle of magic above me before shutting it down, turning me invisible. I crept closer and the voices grew louder and more clear than before.

"Optimus, I am concerned." The sound of Arcee's voice drifted out of a storage room, dimly lit.

I entered to see that both Prime and the femme were here, alone, and in a serious conversation.

The Prime furrowed his brow in worry, "I know, but we can't simply act without thinking. It makes us no different than Decepticons."

Arcee seemed frustrated, waving her servos about, "But Optimus, Cliffjumper! He's been acting off lately, and he seems so distracted. Especially with Sunstreaker, ever since those two had a spat, his wary of him. And then don't get me started on that new lander!"

Now the confusion crossed his face, "Cenotaph? What about her?"

I narrowed my violet optics as I watched her go off, "I...I don't know! There is something off about her, we barely know her and she disappears for most of the day, along with Ratchet. He seems to put all his attention on her, and his been...he's changed somehow, I'm sure you've noticed it, right?"

He sighed, "Of course I've noticed all these things, Arcee. I am just unsure of how to proceed and I understand you're concern, but let me handle this, it is my burden to bear. I am the leader of this team after all."

She sighed, almost in defeat, "I know you are, I'm just concerned about it because…"

He smiled slightly, place his large servo on her shoulder, "Because you care about them, I understand Arcee. Just let me handle it from here on out."

She nodded before heading towards the door, I stepped out of her way, eying her up and down. As she passed, she shivered slightly, her optics darting around for a moment, before she exited the room at a hurried pace. I made a note to myself to keep a close eye on that femme, she could be trouble for me later on.

I looked back to the Prime who stood along in this room, his stoic expression faded all at once and what seemed like a depressive darkness settled in his frame. He sighed heavily before turning directly towards me… as if he could see me.

"I can see why she doesn't trust you…" He said, his voice low, sorrowful, and dreadfully even.

I stared in shock before frowning deeply, I dropped the spell, slamming my staff onto the floor. The clack reverberating in the room as a chill took the room.

"How?" I growled, wary of the Prime before me.

"The Matrix told me, I knew the moment you stepped into the room that you were there." He said, fully facing me.

We stood optic-to-optic, but I felt like he was trying to stare me down, look down upon me. I hated that.

"The Matrix of Leadership told you?" I sneered, stepping up closer to him, "Then why did you ignore me?"

He was silent for a moment, trying to read me before saying, "I'll be honest, I don't trust you. Not since you appeared as you did, but I am giving you the benefit of the doubt and trusting in the fact that we have the same goals. You did come to the Autobots to be one of us, I trust you have our best interests in mind."

I dryly laughed, "Benefit of the doubt? Seriously? That's all you have, blind trust? I wonder even now how you've survived in this war for so long. I wonder, how many times that blew up in your face?"

He frowned, "That is true, I've known betrayal many, many times. But every creature and being deserve the chance to change and is capable of such. So, yes, call it blind trust, but it is how I do things here and I'll never stop either."

"You are more naive than I thought, Prime." I sighed, and shook my helm, "But I'll give you credit for sticking with your moral code, even if it's foolish and naive."

He moved on to the next topic, asking, "Which brings me to another question, Cenotaph, what are you planning?"

"What?"

"You are planning something, I can see it in you're optics, I've seen that look before in many Cybertronians. You are a schemer, a planner, so what are you planning? Why join the Autobots and most importantly," He leaned in close and vented deeply, "Why do you smell of death and blood?"

I stood my ground against the mech, he wasn't hostile, but he wasn't friendly either.

I narrowed my optics and tilted my helm. "You are a schemer too, Prime."

My reply hung in the air, and a flash of confusion crossed his face as I smirked darkly.

"Yes, that's right, you are a schemer, a planner like me. Do not assume you are above me, Optimus Prime. And do not demand of me what you don't deserve, because unlike you, I AM above you. You may lead this band, but I will make sure we all survive...in some form. That is my plan, it will always be the plan, to survive." I said.

He sighed, heavily, "That is not what I asked."

"It is the answer you'll get, Prime." I said shrugging nonchalantly, "Now, I think I'll take my leave."

I made my way to leave but was stopped when Optimus spoke, "You never said why you smell of death and blood…"

I smirked, "That's something that's always clung to me, Optimus. Death is my companion, and blood is what keeps me young and alive."

Then, I walked away, humming an old tune of Barovia.