Disclaimer: I only own my OCs. Vox belongs to a friend.

Vox. It is time for us to begin our operation.

Remcy: *nods* I just hope we can make 'Mala feel better.

Tana: *helmslaps them* I know we will make her feel.

Ch. 11: When a Door Is Slammed Shut…

Ultra Magnus' 1st P.O.V.

I felt as if the weight of Cybertron was pressing against my shoulders right now. What the Council voted on for Pandimala…I wanted to go against it with every fiber of my being. But, with how close I was to Pandimala, it would look like I was showing favoritism toward her. Ever since she had first gone to boot camp, I had been afraid that this would happen. I had been afraid that Pandimala's true heritage would come out and others would have reacted badly. If Pandimala had made it to Prime, then I could have intervened during the decision to remove her status as an Autobot. But, there was not enough time.

And, due to that…Pandimala was being forced to give up her status as an Autobot and was being banned from Cybertron. She would not be allowed back onto the planet…the planet that she cared about that held many bots who cared about her as well. If there was only something that I could do. Frag it I was the commander of the Autobots and I couldn't stop this!

My helm snapped up as I heard a knock on my door. I was in my office and I hadn't expected to be interrupted. But, I was the Magnus and, no matter how hard this hit me, I had to be strong for the Autobots. "Come in."

The door to my office opened quickly and, to my surprise, Zarron walked in. Out of all the bots who could have walked into the door, I had expected Pandimala's close friends to be the least likely to walk through. I figured that they would be avoiding me for awhile after…well after this solar. "Ultra Magnus…do you have a few clicks?"

Since I had cleared out my schedule for the solar to celebrate Pandimala's appointment with her, I had more than a few clicks open. "Of course. Please, have a seat Zarron."

The scout glanced at the seat hesitantly and I would give almost anything to know what he was thinking at this click. But, I didn't have the opportunity to ask as Zarron decided to sit down in the seat. Once he was settled, he turned to look at me. The mech's visor seemed to study me for eternity before he spoke. "Ultra Magnus, unfortunately my time is limited so I can't approach this as delicately as I normally would like to. You are our friend and I don't like being so blunt." He then folded his servos together in front of him. "However, like I said, my time is limited." What was going on? This didn't sound like Zarron.

"What can I do for you Zarron?" I asked the mech. He was very serious and, since the mech wasn't normally blunt with his sentences, I knew that this was very important.

As he said, the mech didn't waste time. "I have come to inform you that I will be relieving myself of the title of Autobot effective as soon as I step on the ship that Pandimala has been given for her departure. However, having the Autobot insignia still on my chassis when I enter the ship may pose a problem. Since I have never had to report to anybot like most of my other boot camp mates have, then I was hoping that you could do the honor."

This was not what I was expecting him to say. However, it shouldn't have surprised me in all honesty. They have always been so close with each other. All of them have. Even the two newest of the group, Remcy and Balm, seemed to be well working pieces of a single bot. I remembered a time not long ago when I was checking in on their boot camp group.

Flashback:

I sighed as I glanced at the group of nine bots currently training on the field in front of me. There were three on three groups with one group doing transform-ups while they waited. After I heard about the incident with Pandimala and the live blaster fire on their first solar, I wanted to take some time and check in on this group. I was worried about them all. Boot camp is just supposed to simulate a battle, not put fresh recruits in real danger like they were. I was just thankful that one of the cadets, the young femme called Balm, had studied medical practices and was able to keep Pandimala online until Ratchet had arrived to help.

"Ultra Magnus, long time since I've seen you around here."

I turned and looked at Kup as he walked up to me, a cygar in his servo. Once he was up to me, I nodded and looked as Pandimala's team, which was made up of herself, Zarron, and Tana, were fighting a group made of a mech called Optimus, a femme called Elita-One, and a mech called Sentinel. The group doing transform-ups consisted of Vox, the femme called Balm, and the mech called Remcy. "Heard there was some trouble on their first solar. Figured seeing their Magnus might give the cadets reassurance that we are all with them."

Kup raised an optics ridge at me and looked toward the cadets. "I know how you're connected to them Magnus. I don't mind." Well, I tried. "But, I must say that I'm glad you are here."

"Why?" Now I was confused. Why did Kup want me here?

The mech motioned out to the recruits before saying, "Those four bots from housing. I haven't seen a group of bots work that well together, even from housing, for many solars. Not since my first team as an instructor. Most of the bots from that group went off to be pretty big." He then pulled a puff from his cygar. "I have a feeling these bots might be the same." He then blew out that puff.

As the smoke dissipated, I couldn't help but smirk slightly. Yeah, this group seemed to remind me of that team from so long ago. "I think you're right Kup." I then motioned toward Pandimala, who had just disabled Optimus. "And something is telling me that she might be the pinnacle of this group."

To my surprise, Kup frowned. "Well, if danger prone is your definition of pinnacle then yes, Pandimala seems to be just that." He then motioned to the group as Vox's group stood to face Pandimala's. "Ever since she has been back, there have been six more incidents involving live ammunition on the testing field." Six? I hadn't heard of any of these. "Didn't report them to anybot but the ICD though. Want to know why?"

I hated when Kup acted like this. Of course, I wanted to know the answer. "Yes, why did you keep them quiet?"

The veteran smirked at that and motioned to the six bots currently facing off against each other. "Because of them. Some of the incidents could have been severe. However, those six have worked almost fluidly together to overcome the obstacles that have got in their way. Ever since that first incident, none of the bots have received more than a few scratches from those incidents. It's almost like those six bots think like one. Frag I have tried to train small groups of bots like that for stellars and, not only have those four from the housing been able to do it, but Remcy and Balm have naturally picked up on their group mentality. If those six ever make a team," He then took a drag of his cygar before letting it out. "they may just be the most fierce and competent team that the Autobots have ever seen…and that's saying a lot."

While a part of my pride wanted to say that Kup was wrong about that, I glanced out at the practice field where the two teams of three were going at each other. He was right. If they got far enough to create their own team…that teamwork of theirs would be the best that the Autobot side has ever seen. "Off the record Kup," he turned to look at me as I continued to stare at the six bots. "I think I agree with you."

End of Flashback.

I guess I should have seen this coming from them. However, just because I didn't see it coming, it didn't mean that I was not prepared for this. "Zarron, how much time do you think you have to spare?"

That question seemed to catch Zarron by surprise. "I want to be at the docks before Pandimala arrives." So, he had at least forty-five clicks. Good. Then this would be a quick run and I could help him the only way I could.

"Then follow me Zarron." I told the mech before I rose from behind my desk and made my way out of my office. From the pedesteps behind me, it seemed like Zarron was following me.

"Sir, where are we going?" Zarron asked me after we left Fortress Maximus and made our way through the streets of Iacon.

Instead of answering the mech directly though, I asked him a question. "Zarron, do you remember the first solar cycle you met Pandimala?"

The scout nodded. "Yes. Joint brought Pandimala into the living room and said that she was going to be our new housemate and we should get to know her." He then looked at me with a curious look. "Why?"

"Because, Zarron, I met her the solar before that. It was also on that solar that I discovered what she was."

He looked surprised at my response. "Sir…you knew that she was the creation of two Decepticons?"

We arrived in front of the building that I wanted to be at and so I stopped before nodding. "Yes. I did. The story is longer than we have time to tell, but I have been preparing for this situation to happen since that solar."

I then led Zarron up the stairs of the shop. "A smithy?" Zarron asked me in surprise.

Instead of answering him, I rang a bell and, not long after, a hauling femme came out from the back room. Her red and violet plating was covered in soot, so she must have been working on one of her projects. When her optics landed on me, I could see a look of understanding cross her faceplate. "It's time sir…isn't it?"

I nodded once before Ness went to the back room. While she was gone, I could practically feel Zarron staring at me. But, now wasn't the time to waste. He didn't have much time and I had one more thing to do for him before he took the item that Ness was retrieving and left. "Now Zarron, you wished for me to remove your insignia?"

He gave me a studying look but nodded. It didn't take long and, in no time, the Autobot insignia was off Zarron's chassis. While it broke my spark slightly to be losing another Autobot, I was glad that Pandimala had such loyal friends who would follow her through this. "Sir, thank you."

"I should thank you Zarron, for being such a good friend to Pandimala." Ness came back out and so I paused and took the item that she held. "Thank you, Ness." She nodded and went back to her workroom while I turned to Zarron. "Take this and get to the shipyards. Pandimala's ship is docked in slot 106." Zarron only hesitated briefly before he nodded and left the shop.

I stood there for a few nano-clicks. Something told me that Zarron was not going to be the only bot that the Autobots would be losing this solar. However, I could say that I was proud of them all. One in particular, Pandimala, I had to tell in the bot. So, I left to gather something I left in my office. Once I got that, I would make my way to the docks and wait for Pandimala.

Casius' 1st P.O.V.

"I almost have you idiots." I mumbled to the pictures of bots I was sure were a part of a smuggling ring. Recently, Cybertron has had issues of bots smuggling weapons off-world to neutral traders who would get them to the Decepticons. It was my job to figure out who was behind these smuggling operations and shut down the entire outfit. However, as I continued to type away at the console in front of me, I realized that I was going to need help.

Thankfully, Remcy would be swinging back here after Pandimala's ceremony and then I could get his input about this block on the banking accounts I was trying to access. This would prove, without a doubt, which bots were involved with the smuggling ring.

It was strange. My opinion of Remcy changed so much from the first time I saw his designation on the list of exam takers. Back then, I thought that he was a spoiled brat who was going to use only his connections to get what he wanted. Connections weren't bad things to have but I believed that you had to work to get where you were. That Klink bot, he was still here unfortunately but I made sure to give him scrap whenever I could. Laziest mech I had ever met, and I had pegged his character exactly right.

However, Remcy still continued to surprise me. After he had passed both parts of the test, I had kept my distance from the mech to study him. He had earned his way into the CIA, much to my surprise at the time, and I had wanted to make sure that he would continue to keep his pedes clean before I started to respect the young mech and interact with him socially.

The solar that I first met Remcy in the bot was not one that I would forget. I had just fired my assistant, Hornet, because he was a lazy mech who was trying to use me as a connection without putting any effort to assist me. So, I literally kicked him out of my room. Then, Remcy showed up.

Flashback:

"Get out of here Hornet. Never come back!" I yelled after the young green mech with black markings when I kicked him out. "If you aren't going to assist me, then I don't need your chassis in here wasting space!"

The hauling mech turned and glared at me. "Good riddance, you crazy old geezer. All you do is make conspiracies and expect me to help you make them stick! It's boring! Good luck getting another bot to help you after this! I'll make sure to let everybot know how crazy you are!" Hornet then turned and walked away. I was about to turn away and return to my work when I heard two bots run into each other. "Watch where you are going idiot!" I heard Hornet yell at the bot he ran in to.

What I wasn't expecting was the vocals that I heard answer back. "First of all, I can see you are upset. But, that doesn't give you the right to take it out on everybot else you run into." That was that new recruit…Remcy! What was he doing here? His room was on the other side of the complex and I didn't think he would be over here. "Secondly," Remcy continued. "don't assume that I am an idiot just because we ran into each other. It's a pointless accusation that will get us nowhere. I have no idea of your mental capacity and you don't know mine. So, I apologize for running into you. However, I would like an apology for the unnecessary name calling."

"You…" Hornet seemed caught off guard by Remcy, as was I, and so Hornet didn't respond for a nano before he said, "Where do you get off saying that to me? You're that newbie, aren't you? Remcy right? I don't owe you any apology. You are what I say you are."

Well, I had better get out there and stop Hornet from attacking the mech. The CIA was, unfortunately at times, a combat zone. It was set up like that, so we could deal with problems internally and not broadcast to all of Cybertron that we were having issues. Normally not a bad idea. But, it did allow bullying at a level. This was an example. Unfortunately for Remcy, Hornet was a skilled fighter as well as a member of the CIA. Remcy, from the records, had not seen the actual battlefield before and that would give Hornet a clear advantage. No matter what your connections were, like Remcy knowing the triple changer Pandimala, battle experience would trump that.

So, I stepped out into the hall and saw that both bots were facing each other, and both looked battle tense. However, to my surprise, Remcy was smirking at the mech. Maybe I would hold off on interfering? So far, Remcy had surpassed all my expectations of him. This could end up being another time.

"I'm sorry but that's not true." Remcy stated. "I choose my own destiny and a bot such as yourself does not have any say over what that is to be. You may make suggestions, but I have the free will to decide whether I follow that suggestion. Now, if you would please excuse me, I have had a long solar already and I would like to continue on."

Hornet did not like Remcy's comeback at all. With a growl, Hornet launched at the new mech. To my surprise, Remcy continued to look calm as the mech charged at him. Right when Hornet was on top of the mech, Remcy sidestepped him and stuck out his pede. This caused Hornet to trip and fall forward. Had Remcy read his opponent that fast? "What the frag?" Hornet growled at Remcy as he stood back up. This time, Hornet looked weary of Remcy. I couldn't see Remcy's faceplate now, but from his chassis language, I could tell that the mech was still as calm as he was at the start of this.

"I wouldn't try that again." Remcy advised. "You seem like a top-heavy hauler and, using a charge move like that, you open up your weakness in balance. That kind of an attack didn't stand a chance. So, I advise that you give up now while you still have your pride." This didn't make sense. How did Remcy read that attack when it only lasted three nanos? Usually warriors were the only ones that reacted like that…or bots with battlefield experience. Remcy didn't fall into either of those categories.

"How did you read that much so quickly?" Hornet asked as he stepped back from Remcy. I could see a nervous look in Hornet's optics.

Remcy was not the regular recruit that could be pushed around. I was curious as to how Remcy was going to respond to this question. "Well, my goal is to become the best intelligence agent that the CIA has ever seen. That means retaining information that I observe about bots in front of me…even at a few nano glance." He then let out a laugh. "As for your attack itself? Well, I happen to be friends with two larger than average femmes. Tana a little wider and 'Mala a little taller. While Pandimala doesn't have the issue nearly as bad as Tana, both have top-heavy chassis and they have had to adjust their fighting styles to compensate that." Remcy then paused. "So, why don't you go hit the washracks for a few clicks and calm down. I really don't want to fight you but, thanks to being in plenty of exercises with the War Trap, including boot camp, I feel like I could do alright."

That little bit of confidence that was in Hornet's optics vanished as Remcy answered his question. "Sorry Remcy. I'll go hit the washracks." Hornet then retreated. Honestly, if I was in the same position, as Hornet, I would too. I forgot that Pandimala was known as the War Trap for a reason. Being in training exercises with her would give bots experience like bots got on the battlefields. That gave Remcy a pede up on Hornet. But, I appreciated that Remcy didn't use that piece of information until the end. He tried to get Hornet to stand down using his own credentials and logical reasoning. Plus, he continued to avoid the fight and offered Hornet multiple lines to get out of the confrontation.

Maybe it was time for me to put myself into the young mech's path? When the young mech let out a sigh, I decided to jump in. "You done making a racket out here?"

Remcy jumped at my interjection and turned to me before looking embarrassed. "I'm sorry sir. Was just making my way back to my room. Accidently ran into a bot and we talked for a bit." Well, the young mech wasn't lying…though I would classify that confrontation as 'talking for a bit'. "Did I interrupt your work?"

The young mech looked worried and I realized that I had better relieve him of that. "No mech. I unfortunately had to just fire the mech you were…talking to," I gave him a knowing look at that before continuing. "so, I find myself without an assistant. You wouldn't happen to want the job?" This would allow me to study the mech some more and see if he was truly a bot that went against the mold of most bots who had a chance of privilege growing up. I had met a few but he seemed to be taking the lead.

The brown mech with orange markings stared at me for a few clicks before he smiled and nodded. "Sure." Really? After the speech on choice that Remcy just gave Hornet, I didn't expect the bot to accept that so quickly. "I want to learn more, and I bet that you can teach me a lot."

I raised an optic ridge that that. "Are you calling me old?" I asked him.

Remcy smiled and shook his helm. "No sir, just experienced. I don't have much experience here at the CIA and, given that Hornet used to be your assistant, you should have some experience that I could learn from."

Well, if anything I could say that this was going to be fun. "Fine. Get me a cube of energon and we can get started."

End of Flashback.

I was jarred out of that memory as my door opened rather quickly. Turning, I was surprised to see that Remcy looked upset by something. His chassis was tense, and his optics were immediately searching. When they landed on me, I realized that he was looing for me. "Remcy, what happened?" I asked the mech. I was concerned. Remcy wasn't an easy bot to fluster yet something caused the bot to be just that.

Remcy glanced at me before saying, "Casius, I don't have time to waste. I've already packed but I wanted to let you know before I left." Before he left? Was he quitting the CIA? What the frag happened at that ceremony with Pandimala?

"Remcy, you aren't making sense. Calm down." I ordered the panicking bot.

Finally, the young mech paused and let out a vent before staring at me in the optics. The look in his optics was torn and I had a feeling that I was not going to like it. "Cas…Pandimala is being forced to leave Cybertron and give up being an Autobot."

…What?! "Why?" I almost yelled at the mech who I looked to as a confidant. Pandimala was one of the most loyal bots to the Autobot cause that I had ever met! How could they take the status of Autobot away from her?

Remcy looked slightly nervous before he answered me. "It came out during the ceremony that Pandimala is the creation of Decepticons. So, the Council voted as a majority, though not unanimous, that she be stripped of the title of Autobot and forced to leave Cybertron. She has thirty more clicks to get her stuff together before she has to go to her ship." Remcy then looked more confident as he motioned to his own Autobot insignia. "Cas…Vox, Zarron, Tana, Balm and I have decided, as an act of protest to this decision, to remove our marks and become neutrals with Pandimala. Could you please remove my insignia for me?"

That insignia meant the world to Remcy and, for him to ask me this request, I knew that he was serious. While there was so much I wanted to say to the mech, I knew that he was on a short timeline and so I simply nodded and grabbed a tool from my computer table. "Of course, Remcy. I also have a gift for you to put in. Come over here." He did, and I started my work.

"What is the gift Cas?" Remcy asked me.

I put the mod in as I spoke. "It's an invisibility mod. A good friend of mine bequeathed it to me before he passed. Figured you would have better use for it than I do." It didn't take long after that to remove the insignia but, before it was gone, I decided to get one more word in. "Remcy, it has been an honor to work with you."

Remcy, now a neutral, stood and turned to me before giving me a very uncharacteristic-like hug. "Don't you be changing Cas. Don't let these young bots mess with you." He then paused and hugged me a little tighter. "Thank you for everything Cas. It has been my honor to work with you." He then let go and nodded once toward me. I nodded back before Remcy ran out the door.

I stood in the room for a few seconds before I heard the door to my washracks open. It didn't take a genius to know what to say. "If you hurry, I can help you and you can catch him. Don't worry about the other idiot you two are friends with. I'll make sure that there isn't any trouble."

Vox's 1st P.O.V.

I tapped my pede impatiently. After Balm had told us her plan, I had gone to my place and packed everything that I needed before I had called Alpha Trion. Working with the CBI really didn't give me a superior, per say, and so he was the bot that I looked to as an example. Even though he was on the Council, I don't think he was one of the ones that voted for 'Mala to be forced to give everything she had worked for and dreamed up. He had known her for too long to allow that.

A part of me still couldn't believe that this was happening…that this was real. Pandimala…one of the most steadfast Autobots that I had ever met, being forced to leave the planet and the Autobots just because she was created by Decepticons. It shouldn't matter that she was created by the enemy. She worked constantly for as long as I had known her to make her dreams come true, to prove that she was an Autobot and believed in the same cause that they did…just for them to slam the fact that she didn't come from Autobots in her faceplate and tear her achievements away from her.

"Vox," I turned my helm to the door and saw Alpha Trion walking toward me quickly. "my apologies for the late arrival. There were some things that I needed to take care of before I could come and meet you." Once he was closer in front of me, I saw regret come to his optics. "I wish to also apologize for everything that happened this solar. I did not know. Pandimala earned her place among us and for that to be taken from her…I didn't want that. I voted for Pandimala to stay among us."

Before the old mech apologized himself offline, I decided to step in. "Alpha Trion, I know that you wouldn't vote for that sort of thing. It's not in your character. However, I do appreciate you letting me know." Alpha Trion was my friend and I didn't like that he was feeling guilty about this. The ones who should be feeling guilty were the Council members who voted for Pandimala to be cast aside and Sentinel, who had brought the information forward in the first place.

…how had he gotten that information anyways?

"Vox," I let that thought drop as I paid attention to Alpha Trion. "regardless of our connection, I do apologize." Then, he motioned to me. "Now, what did you wish to see me about?"

That was right! I was still so upset about what happened to Pandimala that I forgot that I had asked Alpha Trion here for a reason. "Sir, there is a group of us who do not believe that the decision of the Council was the correct one. So, along with them, I wish to have my Autobot insignia removed and I was hoping that you would remove it for me."

I was surprised when Alpha Trion slipped a smirk. "You all have always been close. This shouldn't surprise me. Thankfully, while this does surprise me, I have been prepared for this." He then took out what I recognized as an internal mod before saying, "I purchased this some time ago and was waiting for your next promotion to give this to you. But, given the circumstances, now seems like the best time."

What was that? I didn't recognize the shape of the mod and that was weird. I studied different mods that a bot could get but this one wasn't familiar to me. "What is it?" I asked as he walked up. Of course, I was going to let him put it in. I trusted Alpha Trion with my spark. But, I did want to know what he was putting in me.

"Impatient? I thought I helped you get rid of that trait stellars ago?" Well, I was pressed for time. Thankfully, I didn't have to answer that as Alpha Trion continued. "This is called the C.P. mod in many circles. Long form calls this the Chameleon Pretender mod. It allows you to scan a temporary secondary alt mode that will fit your chassis. Helps when trying to stay inconspicuous and you are spotted in one form."

Wow! This probably wasn't easy for Alpha Trion to get so, as he started to insert it in my systems, I thanked the mech. "Thank you sir. I appreciate everything that you have done for me."

After a few clicks, the old mech finished installing the mod and moved to removing my insignia. There was a silence that fell between us before he spoke. "Think nothing of it Vox." He then finished removing the insignia before he turned me to face him. "Let Pandimala know that there are many of us who support her…even if we can't show it in public." He then paused. "Do you know how to get to her ship?"

Nodding, I motioned to the doors. "Yeah, Rem got the information for us all. It won't take me long to get there."

Alpha Trion nodded. "Good." He then looked at me serious again. "Vox, I know that all of you will go far…even outside of the Autobots. But," But what? "Vox, I need you to promise me something."

"What?" I asked him, trying to get him to get to the point.

And thankfully, he did. "I need you to promise me that you will keep your loyalty to Pandimala and help her through this. She is going to stumble, and she will need the support of all of you to keep going."

That was it? He didn't have to worry about that. "That's the plan Alpha Trion." I then turned before deciding to give the mech one more expression of thanks. "Again, thank you Alpha Trion. I hope we meet again one solar."

"I hope that will happen as well." I heard Alpha Trion say. "Calm cosmos and smooth flying to you all Vox." I then walked out the door.

Ratchet's 1st P.O.V.

Even though it has been dozens of stellar cycles since I first met the young femme called Balm, I have never regretted a cycle of it. True, Balm was a nervous femme. But, she was a genius when it came to her medical training. While I knew that Knockout had been teasing Joint after Balm's medical exam was over, he did have a point. Joint had learned what I had to teach, but Balm had absorbed my teachings and had evolved them over the course of her training.

I had been surprised when, after her exam and she had been offered to be the assistant to Ultra Magnus' personal medic, Corona, she had refused. That was a high honor and most bots would have jumped on that chance. I had been waiting for Balm to accept it promptly when she was asked. But, she had surprised me and turned them down immediately and said that she was going to stay on as my assistant. Why would she give up being in a position that would help her future career like that?

Later, Balm had said that she turned them down because she wasn't done learning. She had told me that there was more that I could teach her, and she wanted to have all the knowledge she could get before joining Pandimala's team. Now, that time was coming soon, and I wasn't sure that I was ready to see her go. After so long of her being my assistant, I had gotten used to her being around.

The doors opening caused me to glance up and I dropped the cleaning rag I was using before I ran up to Balm. She looked upset about something and, since she was coming back from Pandimala's ceremony, I knew that it was going to be something about the triple changer. "Balm, what happened?"

Balm looked at me and I could tell that she was trying not to cry. "The Council…th…they…they," What the frag did those fraggers do to put Balm in this state? Before I could gently press Balm on the 'what happened' mystery, she calmed herself down. "they took away P…Pandimala's status as an Autobot and are f…forcing her to leave Cybertron."

"Why?" I asked her calmly. While I wanted to yell in anger at the stupidity of the Council for making the only triple changer leave the Autobots, I knew that would not help Balm in telling me what happened.

It took Balm another click to calm herself enough to answer me. "They f…found out that Pandimala is the cr…creation of two Decepticons."

That was it? Honestly, I had suspected as much. No other Autobot was a flier and, being a triple changer to boot, that made her have a high chance of being the creation of the Decepticons. But, I never said anything about it. She was loyal to the Autobot cause and had been training herself to be the best Prime that the Autobots had ever had. "Balm, that was a stupid decision on the part of the Council. Pandimala has been the most loyal bot that I have ever seen come though the Autobots." From the hesitant look that Balm suddenly grew, I had a feeling that their group already had a plan to combat this. "Balm, what have you all planned?"

The yellow-green femme shifted nervously before she started to speak. "Well…it was my idea really." Really? I didn't expect that. "Whenever you told me stories about times in the past, especially about when bots didn't agree with the Council before, you said that it was always best to hit them where they didn't expect us to. Most bots would think that we would protest here on Cybertron. But, I figured that a way that they wouldn't expect us to fight back…" She then went quiet and got nervous again.

I had a feeling about what she was going to say but knew that she needed to say it herself. "Balm, it's alright. I wouldn't get angry with you for how you all are going to protest this."

Balm took in an intake before nodding. "Well, to fight back, I figured that the best course to take would be for all of us to follow Pandimala into exile and remove ourselves from the Autobots. Everybot agreed."

Honestly, I was proud of Balm. Even though it was going to be hard to let her go, her plan to reject the Council would work better than she thought. Out of the five of them leaving with Pandimala, Balm was probably the least recognized, and she was pretty sought after as a medic. The others made large impacts in their fields that the Autobots would be feeling for hundreds of stellars at the least.

Balm's plan was a multi-directional attack at the Council and all they were going to be doing was leaving. "Balm, I am so proud of you. Of course, I will let you go. But, I won't let you go unprepared."

She looked confused at that before I went over to one of my drawers. "What do you mean Ratchet?"

Shaking my helm, I didn't answer her until I found a wrapped box that I had stored in there. Once I turned back to her, I answered her question. "Well, I know that your sparkday is coming up in three solars. So, I got you a little something. Since you are going to be leaving, now is as good a time as any to give it to you." I then held the gift out to her.

Time wasn't wasted as Balm ripped the covering off the present before she opened the box. Once the box was opened, Balm glanced up to me and smiled. "Thank you Ratchet." Inside was a med kit along with three wrenches. She placed the items inside her subspace before, to my surprise, she pulled out a frame before handing it to me. "This is for you. It's from our first medical conference that we went to together."

Taking the frame, I placed it in my own subspace before I took the insignia off Balm's chassis. Once it was gone, Balm gave me a hug. "Thank you, Balm."

Nodding she hugged me a little tighter. "Thank you Ratchet…for everything." She then let go and left.

It was quiet around me for a few clicks and I realized that this was what my med bay was going to be like for the foreseeable future. While I didn't like it, I knew that it was for the best. Balm needed to be with her friends at a time like this. This would be important for her future and I couldn't hold her back.

"I can go with doc. Cybertron and the Autobots aren't exactly worth losing contact with Balm…no offense." A voice came from the area of my washracks. I had been preforming a check-up and the bot had been washing up when Balm came in.

In response to the voice, I nodded. "Would make me feel better if you did. I'll make sure to let everybot else know where you're at. Better get moving though. From how Balm was acting, there won't be much time until they leave."

The voice let out a chuckle. "Don't worry about that doc. I've got my connections. Plus, my apartment is one of the closest to the docks. I'll get there before any of them realize that I'm going."

Tana's 1st P.O.V.

I didn't waste a nano, after Balm told us her plan and we agreed on it, in rushing to Guardian Headquarters. Of all the low-down shots that the Council has taken over the stellars, this had to be the worse. The other Guardians, upon my induction into their ranks, did not hesitate in sharing information with me regarding their interactions with the Council in the past.

But, even after going through the files, nothing got my energon churning more than this. Rejecting to give Pandimala the position of Prime, removing her status as an Autobot, and forcing her to leave Cybertron! So, what if she was the creation of two Decepticons! Family didn't determine what sort of bot you were!

Vox, Zarron, and I knew that better than almost anybot besides Pandimala. Being in housing before this meant that we didn't have a family except for each other, Joint, and Blockade. No bot had wanted us, so we were shipped to a place where we would hopefully be accepted. We fought to get where we were this solar.

Pandimala had fought twice as hard as we had. She had this heavy secret weighing her down the entire time and that same weight that the three of us had. Even though she had fought through all of that, she was treated like scum the click it was revealed that she may not be a 'pure' Autobot straight from the Well or, in Balm's case, straight from two Autobot creators.

Finally, I reached the twelve-story tall building that was Guardian Headquarters and didn't waste a nano in marching in through the front doors. There was no bot in the lobby but that was alright. I wasn't planning on hanging out here for long. Arriving at a door with a combination lock, I punched in the code for entrance. As soon as I did that, the door swung open and walked three steps inside, closed the door, and turned back forward before reaching my right servo out and pressing a large black button on the wall.

Immediately, the lights in the building started to flash. Every system of lights would flicker until every Guardian was in our meeting room. This was a signal for a dark meeting and it allowed us to turn off all signals going in or coming out of the meeting room. That way, if the room was bugged, those bugs would be made ineffective. I didn't waste time in moving toward the elevator and entering it. Odds were that one of the other Guardians, at the least, would be joining me in here. The meeting room was on the top floor, to avoid bots listening in by the windows.

Once the elevator doors shut, I found myself pacing from pede to pede with impatience. Time was ticking away, and I needed to give a full debriefing of recent events to Hinge and the others before I packed and got to the docks. I had to get there before Pandimala and, since Guardians HQ was fifteen clicks from the docks, then I had about thirty clicks before I had to be on the ship.

Soon, the elevator doors opened, and I didn't waste any time going to the doors to the meeting room. When I opened the doors, however, I was surprised to see that everybot was already here. How did that happen? "How are you all here already?" I questioned the five mechs once the door shut and the dark meeting mode was activated.

Hinge motioned around the table before answering me. "We were preparing for our meeting with Pandimala after the induction ceremony to discuss the situation with you joining her team." He then looked at me with a concerned look, one shared by the others sitting at the table. "Tana, what happened? Why have you called a meeting?"

I glanced at each one of the mechs before sitting down. I was about to give them a lot of information and they had to be ready for it…and I should probably sit down to avoid throwing chairs around. Once I was sure that they were ready, I began. "The ceremony didn't go as planned. During the ceremony, Sentinel Prime came in and said that Pandimala did not deserve to be Prime because she shouldn't be on the planet to begin with. When asked why, he said that she was the creation of two Decepticons."

The room stayed silent for a click at my revelation before Chem spoke. "Tana, what was Pandimala's reaction to this?"

My processor flashed to Pandimala's reaction and I shivered slightly before continuing. "She barely flinched her wings before immediately answering that it was true. Pandimala didn't try and hide it. It was almost like she was relieved that she didn't have to keep it quiet anymore. She tried to tell the Council how she came to the Autobots, but they silenced her and called her a traitor. I wanted to interject right there and rip into all of them. But, Zar stopped us all. He sent a private message saying that we needed to follow Pandimala's example until she made a move. The Council then voted by greatest majority to strip Pandimala of her rank as Autobot and ship her off Cybertron. She has thirty-three clicks before she will have to go to her ship, which is being provided for her…though I doubt that it will be that nice given the circumstances."

Of course, the last part of that wasn't heard as the others started to vocalize their own reactions. "The Council is full of idiots!" Blackbit growled as he slammed a clenched servo against the round table. I could see that he was angry about what I reported, and obviously his anger was directed in the same direction mine was.

"Sentinel Major," Chem started with a growl in his tone. "he had no right to be going through classified files. If he hadn't, then Pandimala could have had a better defense against this injustice being put against her. She has worked so hard for the Autobots and now the Council has just pushed her aside."

Foresight nodded at that. "Yeah. Honestly, I bet Sentinel was probably jealous. It isn't a secret that he wants to be a Magnus one solar. Pandimala having the chance to become Prime before him probably set him off to stop it. If she became Prime before he did, then she stood a higher chance of becoming Magnus. If that happened, the odds of him becoming Magnus would shrink considerably."

Hindsight took the more violent route like Blackbit and slammed his servo down on the table. "This is an abuse of the Council's power! If the rest of the populace knew about this, the majority would vote for Pandimala to stay. She has more than proven that she belongs with the Autobots! Now she's been tossed out!"

While I was upset with the Council for the decision that was made, I needed to keep a calm helm and remind the mechs around me that the vote wasn't a unanimous one. I wasn't so worried about Blackbit, Chem, and Hinge…but the twins might decide that they might have to pay the Council back personally. "Before you all get too out of servo," I started with a slight growl in my vocals…still feeling anger at the Council. "I feel like I should remind all of you that the vote was not a unanimous one…just enough for the deed to be done."

Hinge, thankfully, must have noticed my worried glance at the twins at that because he nodded, "Yes, that is a good point Tana. We don't need to be causing any unnecessary trouble with the Council right now. They will be up in arms and will be looking for a fight."

The twins and Blackbit looked disappointed at that and, honestly, I suddenly felt a weight come on my spark as I glanced at the five mechs sitting around the table with me. They became a second family to me, since Joint, Blockade, Pandimala, Vox, Remcy, Balm, and Zarron were my first family. Also, these mechs were my first team. Now…with Balm's plan, I was going to have to leave them. This seemingly crazy assortment of bots that Hinge brought together and made an awesome team…the team that accepted me into their ranks.

"Tana…are you okay?"

I glanced up at Blackbit, who asked me that with concerned optics. I wanted to nod and say that everything was fine…but it wasn't. I was going to be leaving them to support Pandimala…and it was hurting more than I thought it would and I hadn't even told them yet!

"Tana…" I glanced at Hinge and saw that he had an understanding look in his optics. I knew that look. It was the look that said that he knew what I was thinking and that I should just let it out. "you all have already come up with a plan to go against this…haven't you?"

This wasn't the time to hold back and so I nodded. "Yeah…Balm was the one who thought it up and we all agreed to it." I played with my servos in nervousness for a click before I continued. "The five of us who have been close to Pandimala…we've decided to leave Cybertron and give up our status as Autobots with Pandimala. Hinge…can you take off my insignia for me?" This was so hard…leaving the Autobots. Since the Guardians were a group of Autobot soldiers…this meant that I was leaving them as well. I wouldn't be a Guardian anymore.

The room stayed silent for a nano before Hinge spoke. "Tana, I will take your title of Autobot from you." He then walked up to me and did so. As he did, though, he continued to speak. "Though you will no longer be an Autobot and will travel far from us…you will always be a Guardian. Nothing can take that away from you."

My optics widened in surprise and, once Hinge removed my insignia, I turned to look at him fully. "Can you do that Hinge?" I would still be a Guardian? This sounded almost too good to be true.

But, Hinge nodded with a small smile. "Of course, I can Tana. The Guardians are a group of soldiers outside of the Autobot chain of command. In a sense, we are mercenaries, but we don't fight for money. We fight for what we believe is true and we fight with honor and dignity. If you don't disgrace the title of Guardian, then it will always be yours." Hinge then offered me a servo to stand, so I did, before he sent me a transfer. As I took it, he explained. "I just sent you the private comm for the Guardians. If you are ever in need of our help, just send a message through that and we will come to you. Also, we've given you a stipend of credits to use in case of an emergency while you are all out there."

"Thank you Hinge." I thanked my leader. I could see that this was as hard for Hinge and the others as it was for me. They were losing a member of their very close-knit family as well.

Hinge smiled and nodded before turning to Blackbit. "Blackbit, if you could, go and assist Tana in packing. The rest of us will wait for you all in the lobby."

Blackbit smiled toward Hinge and nodded before looking at me. "Of course. I would be honored."

So, the two of us moved to the doors and, once we were through them, we walked to the elevator. Not a word was said as we went down to the seventh floor, which housed all our rooms. I could see, from the glances that I stole of him, that Blackbit looked torn about something. But, I figured it would be best if we were in my room before anything was said. Thankfully, my room was directly to the right of the elevator, so it wasn't long before the two of us were in my room.

I went immediately to my pictures from when I was little and started to put them in my subspace. Thankfully, that was when Blackbit finally decided to get whatever was worrying him off his chestplate. "Tana…it's not going to be the same without you here."

Even though it felt wrong to say that I would miss any of the Guardians above the others, I knew in my spark that I would miss Blackbit the most. After all the adventures and misadventures that we had been on, I knew that leaving him was going to be the hardest decision that I have ever made. "I know Blackbit, and it isn't going to be the same for me not having you all around…" I then remembered that we were supposed to go out for dinner tomorrow. Guess that was out of the picture. I had been really excited about that too. "I'll have to take a storm check on dinner tomorrow though."

Blackbit let out a chuckle at that. "You and your storm checks…they always come in the most serious of circumstances, don't they?"

A smile slipped on my faceplate as I nodded. "I know. Guess 'Mala isn't the only one with the bad luck. If we ever meet up off world, we can make it up then. I'll make sure to know the best place to grab a drink for you."

"I'll hold you to that Tana." Blackbit stated as he handed me my weapon cleaning kit. I grabbed hold of it and the two of us stared at the object. This was the last item that I had to pack. Plus, with twenty clicks left to get to the station, I knew that we didn't have much time.

"Well, guess it's time to go." Blackbit muttered.

While he normally didn't mutter, I knew that now wasn't the time to tease him about that. "I know."

So, the two of us stood up before moving to the elevator. Once we were inside, and I reached to push the button, Blackbit suddenly spoke. "Tana, I've got something for you."

He then dug into his subspace, as the elevator started to move, before pulling out a wrapped present. When he handed it to me, I didn't waste any time in opening it. When I saw what was inside, I smiled softly. "Blackbit…they're beautiful." I then pulled out a set of knuckle joint busters. I had been looking at some to improve my close combat capabilities. Guess Blackbit noticed. I then put them in my subspace.

"You can have them be covered with an electric shock. Should do some mean damage to anything that tries to give you trouble off-world." Blackbit explained them for me.

These were awesome. Glancing up at Blackbit, I smiled widely before acting on impulse and kissing him on the cheek. Before he could respond to that, the doors to the elevator opened and the two of us stepped out to see the others standing there.

Of course, they weren't standing still for long as they all gathered around me and enveloped me in a group hug. "We're going to miss you Tana." The twins cried out together.

I let out a laugh as we all separated. "Mechs, this isn't goodbye forever. I'm sure we'll meet again some solar."

Chem just smiled and nodded while Blackbit looked in a stupor. Hinge, thankfully, was still able to respond. "Sounds like a plan Tana. Until we meet again, calm cosmos and smooth flying to you all Tana, Guardian."

I smiled and nodded before turning and running toward the docks. I had fifteen clicks to get on the ship without Pandimala noticing. I would be cutting my arrival close but that was alright. With the support of the Guardians and my friends, I knew that this was going to go just fine.

Pandimala's 1st P.O.V.

After everything that I've been through…after all the pain, suffering, and sacrifice…all that work taken away from me right when I was about to achieve my greatest dream. Becoming a Prime was in my grasps. Now…now I was without my Autobot insignia and seven clicks away from having to leave the world and bots that I cared about so much. The Guardians, Casius and his theories, Alpha Trion, Joint and Blockade, Ratchet, Ultra Magnus…and Balm, Vox, Zarron, Remcy, and Tana…they were all my friends and I was never going to be able to see them here on Cybertron ever again.

Most of my things were already packed away in my subspace. The only item that was left was Mr. Lunor…the stuffed moon that I had received as a present so long ago. He was being held in my grasp like he was a lifeline for me. Mr. Lunor represented all the struggles that I had gone through in my existence to be at this point. I had taken him with me everywhere that I went, and I always panicked when he was out of sight.

Now, he was here with me as I was about to have to give up everything that I cared about…because I was the creation of two Decepticons. All my hard work meant nothing to them…NOTHING! The Autobots had been the faction that I had placed all my hopes and loyalties in. Now, there was nothing left. I was being sent away and I was branded a traitor.

Traitor.

That word echoed in my helm as I looked at Mr. Lunor. To the Autobots, I was worse than a Decepticon now. I was one that had earned their trust and then tore it down. But, that wasn't true. My loyalty has been with the Autobots since the click that I escaped from my home…my parents…everything I knew…to join them.

"Time's up Pandimala." The voice on the other side stated.

Well, it looked like it was time for me to go. Once I put Mr. Lunor back in my subspace, I stood and folded my wings against my back. My 'escorts' seemed like the jumpy kind and they might be nervous if my wings were out. Since that was taken care of, I made my way to the door. When I opened it, I was surprised at what I saw.

"Voltage Minor, I can assure you that the five of us can take Pandimala to her ship just as well as you, Scorchpoint, and Hangbang can." Chem, a member of the Guardians, spoke to the three bots who were supposed to escort me.

Voltage Minor, a nervous sort of mech most of the time, looked between Chem and me before saying, "Are you sure this is alright? I mean…the Council did order us to,"

Hinge, thankfully, stepped in. "Then think of it as an order. You know as well as any Autobot that the Guardians hold a rank higher than that of Prime in the order of things. If the Council has any objections, I'll meet with them to discuss it after we escort Pandimala." He then turned to me. "You won't try anything on us will you Pandimala?"

Smiling, I shook my helm. "No Hinge. I know that you five could take me out the instant I tried…if I wanted to try."

Chem then took back over from Hinge. "See? Us Guardians will be just fine. Why don't you lot head over to Maccadam's for a drink? All this stress must be getting to you."

Voltage Minor looked between the six of us again before he finally nodded. "Fine. Let's go bots." He and the other two on his team then left, leaving me with the mechs who were in the Guardians.

Blackbit then motioned to the door before saying, "Well, as much as we would like to stop this, the Council didn't seem too keen on taking back that fragged up order of theirs."

Well, at least the Guardians were on my side in this. But, as we walked out of my apartment complex, I wanted to ask them something that was bothering me. "Hinge…where is Tana? I thought…well… I thought she would have been here with you when I heard you all." I was worried that Tana wasn't here with the Guardians. Was she mad that I kept my origins from her…were they all upset with me?

Thankfully, before I could worry too much, Hindsight jumped in. "Don't worry your thrusters off 'Mala. Tana would have given anything to be here with you. But, she was requested to go on a time sensitive mission that only she could help with." Relief flooded my systems when Hindsight said that. She wasn't mad at me. I wasn't sure how I would feel if I had to leave them all and they were mad at me.

The walk from my apartment to the docks was shorter than I wanted but, when we arrived at the doors, I smiled when I saw Ultra Magnus there. "Hinge," Ultra Magnus started.

"Yes sir?" Hinge responded to Ultra Magnus, waiting for him to respond.

"I'll take over from here. Why don't you all go to the viewing dock?" Ultra Magnus suggested to the leader of the Guardians.

A knowing look passed between the two before Hinge nodded. "Of course sir." Hinge then turned to the other Guardians. "You heard the boss. Let's go get some nice seats." The five of them then went off.

When I turned back to Ultra Magnus, he motioned me to follow him and I did so. Once we were inside the hall that would take us to the docking bay, he stopped and turned to me. "Pandimala…I'm sorry. I'm sorry that I couldn't protect you from this." I could see that this was adding so much weight to his shoulders and, while his shoulders were wide, they didn't need the extra weight of this on them.

So, I shook my helm. "Ultra Magnus, I always knew in my spark that this solar was bound to come some-solar. I've always been braced for it. I just didn't expect it to happen on this solar of all solars."

Of course, Ultra Magnus wasn't making it easy to change his processor. "I know Pandimala, but as leader of the Autobots, I wish I had the power to reverse the Council's decision. But, unfortunately, I do not."

I placed a servo on Ultra Magnus' shoulder, turning him to face me, before I smiled. "Ultra Magnus, you've done more for me in my existence than I could have ever even hoped to have asked. You gave me a chance to be an Autobot, to make great friends, and be an example to future Autobots that come through. There is nothing more that I could have ever asked from you."

Ultra looked surprised at my speech for a nano before he smiled as well and nodded. "You are a wise and humble femme Pandimala. It has been my honor to be your leader." To my surprise, he then went and reached into his subspace before he pulled out a long box with a latch in the front to open it. "Even though you didn't ask for it, I want you to have this. It was supposed to be my gift to you after the ceremony but…well…please accept this much from this old mech."

I couldn't stop the chuckle from escaping my lips before I took the box. "You aren't old Ultra Magnus. Experienced maybe, but definitely not old." I then lifted the latch before opening the box. When I saw what was inside, my spark stopped, and tears threatened to slip from my optics.

There, nestled in black mesh, was a long dagger that was black with green markings. About fifty stellars ago, I had been taking a walk with Ultra Magnus down the streets of Praxus and I had seen this dagger in the window of one of the smith shops there. But, it was too much for me to spend on a dagger at that time and had just commented how nice it looked to me. Ultra Magnus must have gone back later and bought it. When I picked the dagger out of the box, placing said box in my subspace, I saw that, there on the base of the dagger, was the strange symbol that was on the pendant Ultra Magnus gave to me so long ago when he first dropped me off at Joint and Blockade's place.

"I wanted to make sure you didn't forget that you have friends here Pandimala…" I looked up at Ultra Magnus when he said that and saw that this was hurting him just as much as it was hurting me.

Knowing that there was only one thing to do, I acted on impulse and pulled Ultra Magnus into a hug before he could say otherwise. "Thank you so much Ultra. I…I'm going to miss you so much." I then broke down and started to cry. After holding off on crying for everything that has happened this solar, I couldn't hold it back anymore.

I felt as Ultra put his left servo around to pull me closer before he used his right to brace the back of my helm. This action alone caused me to cry more. I was going to be losing everything! Everything that I knew was going to be left behind. I was…I was scared. "It's alright 'Mala. Just take some intakes." He then stepped slightly back before using his right servo to make me look up at him. "This is the start of your own grand adventure. If we ever meet again in the cosmos, you will have so many stories to tell me."

Finally letting go of Ultra Magnus, I stepped back and nodded before wiping away my tears. They were used and now it was time to move forward. "They will be amazing stories Ultra…I promise you that."

Ultra Magnus smiled and nodded at that before motioning me forward. I followed him diligently through the doors to the docking bay. Once we were through, I felt my optics widen in shock at the sight before me. This ship…it was massive! And not only that, it looked brand new! Did the Council know about this?

"Don't worry Pandimala." Ultra Magnus spoke before motioning to the ship. "This is not an Autobot ship. The Council has no rights to this ship. Myself, Alpha Trion, Ratchet, Casius and Sturis, Terazda Major, Team Galaxy, and the Guardians all pitched in to pay for it. It was to be everybot's gift to you and your team. But, given the circumstances, we've all agreed that you should take her with you."

I was pretty sure that my mouthplate was stuck open but, since it was, I had better use it. "What…what's her title?" The awe I was feeling about my ship was in my vocals when I asked that. This ship was beautiful, and it was hard to believe that she was mine.

Ultra Magnus walked up to the ship and activated the bay ramp that would let me get on the ship. "Her title is the Estia. It was really the only name that all of us agreed on."

Well, I couldn't waste much more time. The Council would probably be mad that I wasn't gone yet as it was. So, I walked up the gang plank. "Thank you, Ultra Magnus…for everything."

He nodded. "Always remember Pandimala, for every one step you fall back,"

"I need to run forward four more." I finished off for him.

Ultra Magnus smiled at that before he turned to walk away. I was about to do the same when Ultra Magnus paused and turned back to me. "Oh, before I forget. There is a surprise waiting for you on the ship."

A surprise? As Ultra Magnus walked away, I turned to investigate my ship and with a nod, I walked inside. There was no turning back. I was no longer an Autobot and I had to move forward in my existence with that fact. It was going to be hard, but, as I approached the doors to the bridge, I realized that I was going to do just that. I stood for a nano, waiting for the doors to open at my presence, and felt a chill go through my chassis. Even though I was sad to leave, this was the start of a new adventure. If only,

When the doors opened, I felt my jaw plate drop at what was in front of me. I…I had to be seeing things. This had to be some messed up dream. Maybe I had been knocked out and I was going to be sold to some bounty hunter and I was just suffering from whatever fumes they used to knock me out. That had to be it. It made more sense to me than what I was seeing in front of me.

"Tana…even if you were to offer me the Allspark, I wouldn't let you near the controls of this ship to drive." Zarron argued with the warrior femme who he was fighting with for the seat at the helm. Remcy was standing next to Zarron, looking torn between who to agree with. Vox, who was next to Tana, looked like he was waiting for the right moment to strike at something.

Tana, who looked very keen on winning the argument, decided to take her turn in this argument that I still couldn't believe was happening. "Well, I don't have the Allspark but what I do have is more experience flying a ship than you do. So, I will be driving once you decide to move."

The two of my friends gave each other looks that told me that they weren't backing down. I had a feeling that I was going to have to break them up before I figured out why the frag they were here!

"Bots," Balm started with a worried tone. She was standing by the viewing window and she seemed very nervous. "I don't want Pandimala to hear us arguing when she gets here. I could drive until we get in space."

Both bots turned to look at Balm like she was crazy. To help bail Balm out of being drawn into the argument, I decided to finally make myself known. "What I want to know is why you all don't have your insignias and are here? I have to leave the Autobots and you have your dreams to live."

They all jumped at my voice and turned to me. Once I asked my question though, Tana marched up to me before helm slapping me and answering. "Pandimala, sometimes it is nice to think about how we look to you. You are our leader and we are your team. We will follow you wherever you lead us."

All of them…they…even though I didn't want to cry anymore this solar, I couldn't stop my self from falling to my knees and crying again. This time, it was out of relief and joy. I wasn't going to be alone through this. My friends were going to be with me no matter what and it took so much pressure off my spark to have that shown in front of me.

Soon, I felt two sets of servos comforting me and I glanced up to see Balm and Tana hugging me. "Pandimala, don't cry." Balm stated in a comforting way.

"Yeah 'Mala," Tana started. "you couldn't get rid of us that easy."

I let out a hiccup-like laugh before saying, "I'm just happy. I'm so happy that you all are here. I…I feel so selfish, but this is going to make all of this…so much easier."

Everybot let out a laugh before Vox…who I noticed took over the helm, spoke. "Well, we had better get going. All of us should probably get out of here before the Council gets wind of what we are doing." He then messed around with the controls and, a few clicks later, the engines started. Vibrations were sent through the ship as the power built. After ten nano-clicks, the sensation of flight came over me as the Estia rose from the planet's surface and made her way into space.

This was it. While the door that I had been dreaming of for thousands of stellars had slammed shut in my faceplate, this new and unexpected path had opened in front of me…in front of us…and this was the beginning of it all. What would the galaxies have in store for us?

Pandimala: I am so glad that you all are with me for this. It means so much to me.

Tana: Well, Balm was the one that came up with the idea.

Balm: *embarassed* Honestly, there is one person that we need to thank and that is the Authoress. Without her, you might have had to go alone.

Authoress: Finally! Finally I get some recognition for something good.

AN: And that is the end of that chapter! *mutters* Finally. *coughs* I know that it was a long chapter, but I had a lot to put in it and I hope that it made the story that much more exciting! I don't honestly have a lot to say (that won't give away points in the story) so I guess I will give a reminder to look at the little details.

Now, for the titles of the upcoming chapters:

Chapter 12: Eine Neue Welt

Chapter 13: A History Not So Different

Chapter 14: ...? (find out next time!)

I now ask that you all review! I enjoy the reviews and they give me so much inspiration! Flames will be used to warm my fingers (it is cold here!). Well, that's all for now. TTYL! *thinking about being awesome*