I do not own Transformers, Nor do I own any other brands, shows, or patented materials that I may mention in this story now and in the future chapters.

Big Thank You to; Chocoholic Princess, Jazzilynn Hall and sociallycringy for Following this story!

Big Thank You to; Serenitykoneko, Frost-Prime1340, Jazzilynn Hall and sociallycringy for adding this story to their list of Favorites!

I'm Just Here For The Memories: Lol, thank you for the kind words and warm welcome! Sorry about your tea! Though I have to say, your comment made me laugh when I really needed it so thank you! I hope you like the chapter below! More to come hopefully soon!

CrystalAris: Hmmm. I was not aware of that reference! But I will give you and the others a hint, the reference is from within this fandom! I'm so glad that you loved this last chapter! I do enjoy reading this story from the beginning every now and then to see how the characters have grown, and to help me keep the story straight as I keep writing. I have been looking forward to this part of the story since I started writing it! I'm sorry that it took so long to get to this point though...:( Hopefully I'll be able to keep up with a writing schedule now! And yes, she is running away! Maybe we'll see if she gets caught...or maybe we'll see if she can evade them...:). Who knows, maybe your predictions will come true! ;). I think I have heard of Spark Beats, but I can't find it! A good Jazz/OC story is hard to find! That said I happen to be the author of a Jazz/OC fic. It's called And All that Jazz!, and it has been very recently updated! If you like you can give that one a try! Hope you like that story, and this new chapter!

Silverleone: Hey, thanks for the review! One of the things that I have been trying to do is give Lilac little flaws or quirks to make her realistic. Her problem with staring is something that I imagine a lot of people (myself included sometimes, unfortunately) suffer from, so I totally understand where you are coming from. That kind of awkwardness is honestly hard to rival so I hope that I do it justice! There will be a small hint in the author's note about the reference! That story about your neighbors is funny! I knew a set of twins growing up who argued between each other all the time, so I never got a chance to see if I could make them fight each other. But that is an interesting concept! One of the things I took notice of with the G1 Twins was how they interacted with each other. They would arm wrestle and fight the Decepticons together, so naturally, when you interact like that, you're gonna have a healthy sibling rivalry that sometimes can be manipulated by others. :) Not only that but I feel like it helped make the twins seem a bit younger than the others. And Sideswipe pitching a fit huh? Hmmmm...guess you'll have to read on to see if your prediction is correct! Again thanks for the review! Hope you like this chapter!

SoundlyManners: Hmmmmm...could be! You'll have to read to find out if you're right! Thank you for reviewing!


{"Text"}- Com. Links/text messages/projected text. this is specified.

'Text'-Internal monologue/inner thoughts

XXXXX- Time change/text break


XXXXX

Optimus Prime was extremely disappointed.

Instead of working as a team to finish the necessary repairs to this base, he had to come to the Medbay to pry those under his command apart like a set of feuding younglings.

Sitting in front of him on one berth were Sideswipe and Sunstreaker. Both twins were now thoroughly scuffed up and dented, in part thanks to the incident that caused the kerfuffle as well as Ironhide Jazz and Ratchet's blows and attempts to separate them. On the other berth sat his weapon's specialist who was having one of his cannon's welded back into place after Sunstreaker tore it off.

"Can someone, please explain to me how something as simple as installing cameras along the perimeter of the base, led to such unnecessary actions?"

All at once the mechs started talking. Optimus put up one servo telling them all to stop. He looked at Sunstreaker who glared back with his arms crossed.

"Sunstreaker?"

"He scuffed my paint." He growled indicating Ironhide with his helm.

"Your aft wasn't moving fast enough!"

"Ironhide, do not interrupt." Optimus corrected before looking back to Sunstreaker.

"I was waiting for Sideswipe to finish installing the final camera outside the doors at the east exit when he-"Sunstreaker again gestured to Ironhide "Came around the corner like something from the pits was chasing him and he slammed into me scuffing my paint!"

Ironhide was about to protest when Sideswipe piped up.

"That's not entirely true and you know it." He grumbled quietly shocking everyone in the room, his own twin included.

Never, since they have served under him, has Sideswipe ever sold out his twin. Sideswipe always had Sunstreaker's back, even when it meant that he would be punished too. He always defended his twin's actions.

Sunstreaker on the other hand, would on occasion sell out Sideswipe if he pulled a prank he didn't approve of or if the punishment for said prank would result in what Sunstreaker believed to be an unfair punishment for himself.

Said mech was staring in surprise at his twin with wide optics.

"Sir, we were arguing as I put up the camera. I got angry and I shoved my twin making him stumble back into Ironhide who was jogging around the corner. Ironhide was setting the pace for the new recruits."

"Is that correct?" Optimus asked his weapons specialist.

"Yes Prime. He bumped into me and, on instinct, I shoved him away. I had no intention of doing harm."

Sunstreaker scoffed at the room at large. He couldn't believe that his twin took Ironaft's side!

"Did you apologize?"

"I tried to, but we got into a brawl before I could."

"That isn't true either. You snapped at him to watch it, called us both pit spawned glitches and began to jog off. Sunstreaker threw a rock at your helm-"

"WHO'S SIDE ARE YOU FRAGGING ON?!" Sunstreaker roared in furious disbelief.

"That is enough Sunstreaker." Prime commanded. He turned to his weapons specialist with a frown. Ironhide wouldn't typically lie, but his version of an apology usually wasn't one that was considered much of an apology. As Prime was about to confirm this with Ironhide, Sideswipe offered him a chance to see his memories via the hardline cables in his wrist much to everyone's surprise and Sunstreaker's dismay.

Optimus though surprised, thought for a moment. Usually if Sideswipe was offering a glimpse into his memories, he was trying to prove he was telling the truth. Normally, Prime would decline the offer, but much to everyone's shock, he allowed the link to happen.

Optimus relayed the memories at super speed, taking note of what really happened. He saw everything from the tail end of Sideswipe and Sunstreaker's argument, to himself entering the Medbay demanding order. Granted there were a few missing details but for the most part, Sideswipe had told the truth.

As he disconnected the cables, Optimus frowned and ex-vented lightly.

"I am greatly disappointed in all parties involved here. This is not the first time we have had this conversation, and based on previous actions, I am not sure it will be the last. We do not yet have a brig for anyone to serve in for infighting. But that does not mean that what you've all done will go unpunished."

He said sternly.

"Ironhide. You will be put on maintenance duty on the south and west sides of the base. There are walls that need to go up, and you will ensure by your own servos that they go up correctly. You are not permitted to do any sort of training during this time, this includes weapons training at the firing range."

Ironhide grumbled lowly but nodded his helm.

"Sunstreaker, you will finish installing the cameras, and you will be on paint and cleaning detail in the north and east halls. No cosmetic services will be allowed to either of you until your punishment has finished being served. Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes sir." They both grumbled.

Optimus nodded his helm in confirmation, before something occurred to him. "You both also owe Ratchet and the other current residents of this Medbay an apology for the disturbance."

Jazz frowned when the two scoffed at their Prime in disbelief.

"Nah. Because of Ya'll fightin', ya nearly smashed the femmlin' into her berth!"

"What?" Optimus asked with angry concern.

"I barely had enough time to move her to mine before they crashed into her!" Jazz said as he glared at the two.

CLAANG!

"OW!" Came the shouts from Ironhide and Sunstreaker as Ratchet smacked both in the back of the helm with a crescent wrench.

"Where is she now?" Optimus asked as he turned back towards the berths not seeing anything.

"She was on top of my berth before you came in." Jazz said as he walked over to where he usually recharged. He scanned his berth and saw nothing.

"Well, she isn't there now…" Jolt said trailing off as he looked under the berth, while scanning the others for the small femme. Ratchet's optics began to grow wide with growing alarm. He scanned his teammates fearing the worst. Thankfully there was no sign of the girl being smashed into any of their armor.

"We've got a problem." Jazz said from where he stood next to his berth. Between two claws he held a tiny piece of paper.

"What is that?" Jolt asked as Jazz walked towards the others.

"Looks like a note…but the writin' is odd. I've never seen this kind of writin' before." Jazz said curiously as he showed the others the paper. Sideswipe looked at it closely and recognized his friend's handwriting.

"That's cursive." He said surprising the others. Everyone turned to him with surprised expressions.

"You can read that slag?" Ironhide asked genuinely surprised.

"Yeah. Lilac showed me how. She only writes in cursive." Sideswipe said with a shrug. Shrugging is something he had quickly picked up from her.

"Well don't just sit there! Read it!" Ratchet demanded. Sideswipe gently took the note from Jazz and began to read it out loud.

"To whom it may concern,

Thank you all for taking care of me. I greatly appreciate your efforts and I will forever be grateful and in your debt. If you are reading this, it means that I was successfully able to get off base. Please do not panic. I am okay. I am simply returning myself to my natural element. Please do not come looking for me. I was enough of a burden while I stayed in the Medbay…"

"Burden? She wasn't a burden!" Ratchet cut Sideswipe off surprised. Sideswipe resumed reading.

"I do not wish to waste your time or your resources. I am certain that you will all be better off without me there. The resources you use for me can be better used for others who fight alongside you. Not only that, but now that you won't have to care for me, you can better dedicate your time to finishing your war and establishing peace. I truly do hope you all find peace someday. As for me, I will return to the wild. Sideswipe wasn't entirely wrong when he called me a feral femme/human. I belong in the wilderness where I am not a burden, or a danger to others. Please do not worry. Your secret is safe with me. No one will know that you exist until you tell them. And besides, who would believe a dumb kid like me? They'd probably want to lock me up if I said anything, and I certainly don't want that! If you ever want to chat, you can email me. I'll try to check my email as much as possible, at least once a week. Granted it will more than likely be difficult for me. After all, computers aren't exactly located out in the wilderness. But I still want to try to keep in touch with you. Who knows? Maybe someday we'll cross paths again! But until then, I wish you all nothing but the best! Again, thank you so much for everything!

P.S. Please tell Sideswipe that this isn't his fault. I already forgave him because he was only trying to help.

Thank you again.

Love, Lilac."

He finished reading.

"This is bad." Jolt murmured. Everyone in the room sat still for a moment before they all sprang into action. Everyone was searching the Medbay for her before they all began to move towards the door.

Will and Epps who were dismissed once the fighting was brought under control looked at the bots with confusion.

"Everything okay?" Will asked cautiously as he noticed the darkened looks on everyone's faces.

"The youngling has escaped Medbay. We must find her quickly." Ratchet said gravely. The humans raised their eyebrows in surprise.

"She 'escaped' Medbay? Was she a prisoner?"

"Captain, I am being quite serious when I say that very few of my patients leave before I discharge them. No, she was not a prisoner, but she most certainly was not given clearance to leave unsupervised."

"The youngling left a note on Jazz's berth. She did not indicate where she would be going, only that she was returning to the wilderness." Optimus added.

"She ran away." Epps confirmed.

"The California Redwoods. That's where she planned to go once I got to base." Sideswipe said.

"That's far. That's all the way up in northern California." The captain confirmed.

"You do not think she would walk through the desert to get there do you?" Jolt asked.

"No, she's not that ignorant. She knows that would be dangerous." Sideswipe said defensively.

"Why would you ask that?"

"The hallway cameras show her running down this hall and leaving through the east doors." Jolt said while pointing. Everyone trotted up the hall to see the door open just a crack.

"Pit frag it!"

"Shit! The cameras outside don't work right now!" Will snarled.

"No, but our sensor net does." Ironhide said as his optics darkened as he accessed the sensors.

"I installed that shortly after we arrived here. It shows an energy signature making a direct approach to the fence." He said as he projected the reading on to the wall.

"That's her!" Jazz, Jolt, Ratchet and Sideswipe shouted before the group made their way outside.

"Nothing out here now. But her signature does go north." Ironhide confirmed.

"Captain, can you have your team search the desert going north?"

"Absolutely. I'll tell them that it's a time sensitive drill- "

"Please do not be deceptive as to what we are searching for. You may tell your team that the human that assisted Sideswipe is in need of rescuing."

"She made it pretty fragging clear that she did not want to be found." Sunstreaker said making everyone stare at him.

"Be that as it may, she cannot easily survive in this desert on her own." Ratchet said tersely.

"No youngling could." Ironhide said.

"The threat of the Decepticons finding her is still very prominent. We must find her before they do."

"Roger that! We'll get going ASAP."

"Thank you. Ironhide, you will assist the captain's team. Jolt check the perimeter of the base; she may not have gotten as far as we fear. Sideswipe, Sunstreaker, you will cover the most direct route out of the city toward the California Redwoods. Ratchet, you go and search the city. She may have made her way there looking for a means of travel. Jazz, are you functional enough to assist in searching the base?"

"Yes sir."

"Good. You and I will search this base. It would be wise for both of us to be here if she decides to return."

"Yes sir."

"Let's roll out!"

XXXXX

A little over an hour and a half had gone by, and Lilac had successfully made it out of the desert and onto the road. Somewhere along the way she got into the city limits of tranquility. She could see the whole valley from where she stood on the hill. Dusk was beginning to set, turning the sky multiple colors. "Looks like Trix yogurt." Lilac mused amusedly as she continued to look around. She wasn't sure how far she was from the base, but every time she heard a vehicle from behind, she would hide in the bushes. She knew there'd be little chance of the bushes hiding her from Cybertronians, but if the base sent humans out to look for her, then at least the bush would prevent them from seeing her. About a quarter of a mile up the road was a bus stop. Lilac had read the sign when she passed to see if the stop received services and was delighted to learn that the last bus would stop by this stop at about 6:10.

Looking at her watch she noted that the bus would be arriving shortly. Suddenly, she heard the powerful hum of a large vehicle. She squeaked quietly as she hunkered down in the bushes to look up the street.

Lo and behold, it was the bus, right on schedule! Without a second thought, she left her hiding place with her backpack and boarded the bus. She paid the fare and sat down in one of the empty chairs. She took out her map and smiled as she found where she wanted to go.

XXXXX

"Prime, I've searched this base top to bottom twice. There's no sign of her." Jazz reported as he walked into the war room.

Optimus frowned as he made note of what his saboteur said on the large map of the base and its surrounding areas on the monitor in front of him. Ironhide and his team had confirmed finding her trail in the desert, but her energy signature was heavily degraded making it hard to track her. They had been searching for an over an hour.

{"Jolt to Optimus Prime."}

{"Go ahead."}

{"I've covered the perimeter thrice. She is not out here nor is there any sign of her energy signature."} Optimus ex-vented softly before answering.

{"Thank you. Please join Ratchet in searching the city."}

{"Yes sir."} Jolt affirmed before closing the communications link.

"I do not understand. Why would the child leave?"

"Because she feels like a burden."

"Has Ratchet expressed this sentiment in front of her?"

"Not since I've been online. But…"

"But?"

"Last night, she was really upset." Jazz said as she sent his Prime a copy of his memory file from the night before.

"She expressed a desire to return to where she once lived. But why?"

"I'm not sure Prime. But if she doesn't have anyone to care for her, that place might hold some significance to her. By the way she was speaking about it, it sounded like that place was important to her."

"I see." Optimus said as he looked back to the map on the monitor in front of him. Outwardly, he gave no indication of just how concerned he was. 'That child has done so much for our cause out of pure kindness,' He mentally sighed as he tried to think of a way to find her. 'And yet she wanted no reward. Only to be left alone. Primus, please do not let harm befall this child.' He prayed internally. He feared he wouldn't be able to handle the outcome of her being captured well.

'So small. So innocent. She does not deserve to be caught in our conflicts. She should not have to fear retribution from those of her own race either.' The Prime thought as he recalled the danger of her being recaptured by human authorities.

"Pit. We really need to find her. We're racing against two enemies here." Jazz said as he continued to check the local and reginal communications systems. He had stumbled across the website the Dixons had set up looking for their lost daughter. There were new tips about her whereabouts from about a week before. Jazz internally growled as he erased the tips before shutting down the website.

"Indeed…" Optimus said as a thought occurred to him. There was one more person he could call in.

XXXXX

Lilac got off the bus in Mission city after an hour long ride. She would be lying if she said she wasn't a little proud of herself for escaping both the Medbay and the military base. Especially after Sideswipe's stories about how notoriously hard it was to do either one.

Sideswipe…

Her heart ached a little. She knew he would be sad that she left. But it was for her own good. She knew that she couldn't stick around for long. Staying in one place like that with so many people greatly rose the chance of her being turned in.

No. She was doing the right thing by leaving.

'Then why do I feel so sad about it?' she asked herself as she approached the bus station. She shook her head to clear the thoughts before smirking to herself.

'Still, there isn't a facility that can hold me!' She thought as she looked at ticket prices for going to Northern California. She had a decent head start. She could probably get on a bus and head to…

Lilac groaned as she suddenly remembered what she had said to the bots a few days ago.

'Even if everyone else miraculously forgot, Sideswipe wouldn't. He'll know where to find me.' She internally mumbled.

'He wouldn't lead them to me, would he?' She wondered before remembering the highly amused cheeky grin he wore when Ratchet decided she needed his help.

"Yeah, he would. Well. I can't go there now." She muttered to herself as she got her map out.

XXXXX

Somewhere enroute to California 7:45pm

Sideswipe had had just about enough of his twin's complaining. Granted to hear some complaining from his twin was relatively normal.

"I cannot believe Prime is making us drive all this slagging way for some stupid youngling!"

But it was getting really annoying.

Had he been in his bipedal mode, he would have rolled his optics much like he'd seen said youngling do when she was annoyed. Instead, he simply revved his engine as they continued to drive towards Northern California. About forty minutes ago, Ratchet had informed them that all of the busses headed towards Northern California would have to travel along this road. So, Sideswipe planned to drive all the way to the nearest fork in the road before stopping and waiting for busses to come by. That way, he and his twin could scan each passing vehicle for her energy signature without having to follow and track countless busses.

The wind kicked up as the two continued to drive. Sideswipe mentally groaned as he felt the grit of the sand scrape across his metal. Just one more thing for his twin to complain about.

"This stupid fragging wind! Filthy mud ball planet! Ruining my finish!" his twin snarked moodily as they continued to drive.

"Give it a rest will you?" Sideswipe growled. His twin simply growled in reply as they continued to drive in silence.

Not too long after, the two found the fork they were looking for. As Sideswipe was pulling off the road, he heard his brother start complaining about his finish again.

"Watch the paint! You're kicking up rocks and dirt!"

"Sorry!" Sideswipe snarked.

"Not as sorry as that stupid fragging fleshy is going to be! Making us drive all the way out here and for what?!"

"Will you mute it already?! For frag's sake all you've done is complain!"

"IF YOU HAD NOT BROUGHT THAT THING BACK TO BASE I WOULD NOT BE COMPLAINING!"

"SHUT THE FRAG UP! AND DON'T YOU DARE CALL HER A THING!"

"Or what?" Sunstreaker challenged with a low, icy tone.

With the roads empty, Sideswipe transformed up and flipped his twin over onto his roof harshly before kicking him further into the bushes and rocks behind them.

With an enraged roar, Sunstreaker transformed and tackled his twin, sending them out of their hiding place and across the road into a nearby ditch.

"How fragging dare you! Have you lost-"He began before Sideswipe's fist collided with his face.

"GET OFF ME!" The crimson twin roared.

Thunder boomed overhead as lightning lit up the sky. Sunstreaker saw red. He vented hot steam from his systems through his olfactory ducts much like a bull Sideswipe had seen while he and Lilac drove through the country. He charged again, but Sideswipe was faster. As he charged, Sideswipe stepped aside allowing his twin to barrel past, running into a small patch of cacti.

As Sunstreaker howled with pain, Sideswipe grabbed him by his scruff bar and threw him back down. Suddenly the clouds opened up and rain began to fall.

"Let's make something very, very clear." He began only to slam his peede down on his twin's chest as he tried to lunge at him.

"You will not call Lilac a thing again. That kid, did us the single largest favor in saving my life. She sure as slag didn't have to. She could have fragging ran. But no. She helped me, not once but twice. If she hadn't intervened when she did neither of us would be here. Do you understand me?" Sideswipe snapped as the sky continued to rumble.

His twin growled murderously from beneath his peede. This time Sideswipe did roll his optics in annoyance.

"Get your peede off my chest!"

"Say you won't call her a thing again."

"Frag you!"

"Frag you too then."

Sunstreaker let loose a string of curses at the top of his voice, uncaring if any human nearby heard him.

Sideswipe continued to stand, peede planted firmly on his twin's chest plates.

"Are you done?"

"WHY THE FRAG DO YOU CARE ABOUT HER SO MUCH?! SHE'S JUST AN ORGANIC!"

"And?"

"She'll fragging offline soon!"

"And?"

"STOP SAYING 'AND'! GET! OFF!"

"No. Not until you calm the frag down. You're acting like a sparkling!"

Sunstreaker roared as he threw his twin off of him. Sideswipe fell to the ground with a wet splat but sprang back up locking his arms with his twin's in a stalemate.

"You are such a fragging traitor!" Sunstreaker snarled.

"Why? Because I finally didn't take your side against Ironhide? You've sold me out a fragging ton so don't even start with that slag!"

"We get to this mudball planet and instead of speeding straight for us, you decide to take a leisurely drive with some…some insect! You allowed her in your vehicular form when she was filthy and bleeding! You tricked the others into trying to care for her, and now you have us trying to track her down when she explicitly said she did not want help!" Sunstreaker yelled.

Sideswipe grunted as he tried to sweep his brother's legs out from underneath him only to be blocked.

"What the frag did that fleshling do to your processor to make you even remotely process that what you did was a good idea?! You and I both know that nothing here is worth us staying here! Like anything on this mudball would even be considered worth our time- "

"Oh, will you shut up already!?" Sideswipe blurted as he pushed his twin back. Sunstreaker slipped in an unseen mud puddle and fell over backwards with a squelch.

"I am so fragging tired of your attitude! For frag's sake! STOP PINING ALREADY!"

"I am not pining!" Sunstreaker hissed.

"BULLSHIT!" Sideswipe snapped using the new curse word he had learned from the truckers.

"Sunny, all you have ever done since we left is whine and complain about how nothing compares to Cybertron!"

"NOTHING DOES COMPARE TO CYBERTRON!"

"SO STOP FRAGGING COMPARING THEN!" Sideswipe screamed.

"I MISS HOME TOO OKAY?! But it's not coming back!"

"This is all Prime's fragging fault! If he had- "

"STOP BLAMING HIM! Pit slag it Sunstreaker!" Sideswipe swore jarring his twin a little. Sideswipe rarely used his whole designation, especially when angry.

"We knew that things had already gone to the pit when they launched the cube! We knew that things were slagged when we left our planet behind! We knew from the start that even if, by some miracle of Primus, we got the Allspark back, that it wouldn't regenerate Cybertron!"

"We did not know that!"

"YES WE FRAGGING DID! The science was there! The SIGNS were prevalent! We didn't want to listen! Like usual…" He said trailing off as he kicked at the mud.

"We have an opportunity here, on this planet that sure as slag beats the alternative-"Sideswipe began only to be interrupted by his twin's disgusted scoff. Sideswipe turned and deliberately kicked muddy water into his twin's face making him cough and splutter in rage.

"What would you prefer huh? You wanna wander through space forever? No cleaning rags, no wax or polish, no place to rest our helms, no stable form of resources for energy conversion- "

"What is your slagging point?" Sunstreaker growled.

"You need to fragging get over Cybertron. Yeah, I miss it too. We all miss it. We're all gonna mourn the fact that we can't go home! But everyone except you, is moving on." Sideswipe snarled at his glaring twin. Sunstreaker crossed his arms and looked away from his twin.

"Things aren't fragging ideal. But at least we have a base! At least we have allies who want to help- "

"The humans are pathetic! Thinking that they can help us win our war! They get in the slagging way! They will get squished or popped by the Decepticons in little time!"

"At least they want to help us! At least they were kind enough to give us a place to live! I've seen what some of them are like and believe me when I say we have it good!"

"In exchange for all that slag, they want our weapons!"

"Not all humans are bad. Prime will work things out and we won't give them any. We just have to show them how to fight with us correctly- "

"So what? They can help us 'win the war'?" Sunstreaker sneered mockingly. "We do not need their help. We are more efficient without them. Hmmph! We'll probably win this war in a few Earth vorns. Maybe one full Cybertronian vorn."

Sideswipe frowned. "What are you gonna do when the 'Cons stop attacking?"

"What?"

"What are you gonna do, when the Con's stop attacking? You're right. Our war isn't gonna last for long. My best bet is that in the next 3 to 5 Earth vorns, we're done. So, what are you gonna do then?" Sideswipe asked crossing his arms.

The two stared at each other silently as the rain continued to plink and rattle against their frames as the storm raged on. Sunstreaker was, (as much as he didn't want to admit it,) startled. He had never thought about what he'd do after the war.

Sideswipe huffed before he snorted lightly, seeing and feeling his twin's surprise.

"Bee's got a charge. So does Ironhide. They'll probably hang out with them. Ratchet will probably go fully into Earth medicine. Prime…well who knows with him, maybe he'll look into politics or building things." Sideswipe drawled as he began to pace thoughtfully.

"Jazz'll go into music, Jolt electrical engineering…and me?" Sunstreaker snapped his helm up at his twin in surprise. He watched as Sideswipe held his chin with a thoughtful look, something he did when he was truly contemplating things.

"Hmm. Maybe I'll join a racing circuit. Or maybe I'll become a trader again. Who knows? But I know one thing for a slagging fact;" he said as he looked back at Sunstreaker.

"As much as I love you, I will not let your attitude hold me back from my happiness." Sideswipe said as he began to slowly walk back over to his twin. Sunstreaker stared at him in utter shock.

"I happen to like Earth. No, it's not perfect. It sure as slag isn't Cybertron, and yeah humans are weird. But if I have to choose between floating through space for all eternity hoping to find the last of the Decepticons to slag them leaving myself alone or hanging out here with my new friend and starting a new part of my life, I'd rather be here." Sideswipe said as he offered his twin a hand up.

Sunstreaker glared at his twin before looking at his hand with an angry scowl. Sideswipe raised an optic ridge.

"I do want you to be happy. I'd like to have you around. But if you'd rather float through space, then I guess I'll have to find a way to understand."

Sunstreaker heard the unspoken, 'I'm not going with you though' in his brother's tone. He'd never had an argument like this with Sideswipe. He'd never seen Sideswipe this passionate about something before. He'd seen his twin passionate before, on the battlefield, in the gladiatorial pits, even recounting a really good prank they'd pulled. This kind of passion was different. He wasn't sure if he liked it.

He hated to admit it. But his twin did have a point. A very SMALL point. Insignificant almost.

["You need to adapt. The rest of us will move on with or without you."]

["You would not leave me behind."] Sunstreaker said over their bond as he glared at his twin challengingly. Sideswipe gave him a neutral expression.

Usually, the roles were reversed, and it was Sunstreaker offering Sideswipe his servo to get up, while also scolding him about how he needed to get his slag together. Sunstreaker was certain he did not like being in the opposite role.

With a grunt Sunstreaker grabbed his twin's offered servo and stood up. Slowly, the two walked back towards the road with Sideswipe in the lead.

["I make no promises about accepting humans."]

["That's fine."]

["One more thing"] Sunstreaker said over their bond as a sinisterly malicious smirk etched itself on his face. All at once, he hooked his right leg around his twin's left, grabbed his twin's left shoulder and threw him down into the mud with a loud splash! Sideswipe yelped in surprise as he fell.

"If I have to return to base filthy, so do you!" He said with a mischievous (if a little bit petty) smile. Sideswipe stared up at his twin in surprise before snorting a laugh as he got back up.

"Fine. But just so you know, neither of us have to go back filthy."

"Right, because you know of some miraculous washrack out here in the middle of nowhere!"

"Actually, the humans have a place where they take their vehicles for cleaning maintenance."

Sunstreaker gave him a bewildered and disbelieving look before reluctantly transforming back into his Lamborghini altmode.

"Oh yeah? What is it?" He snorted as his twin transformed behind him into a matching Lamborghini.

Sideswipe grinned internally. "It's called a car wash…"

XXXXX

Downtown Mission city 8:17pm.

Lilac emerged from the local Walmart with a sigh. She bought new bandages and medications to replace what she used out of her first aid kit. She bought three lighters and two boxes of matches for starting fires. She bought as much canned food as she could stand to carry, a small case of bottled water and a small pot for cooking. She couldn't remember a time when her backpack was so heavy!

She was getting tired of walking around.

She had walked five miles to the store, which wasn't in a very good location of the city. As she left the store and walked further into the sketchy area, she considered joining the homeless communities that stretched along the back allies, and along some of the warehouses. As she walked, she saw trash can fires in a few old buildings and slowed her steps. It was raining pretty hard, and the fire looked nice. That said, joining a new homeless community could be dangerous. Deciding to get a better look she crept closer. She could see several people stretched out over dilapidated mattresses and sitting against walls. Everyone looked dirty and thin as could be.

"HEY YOU!"

"AHH!"

"SHUT UP! C'MERE KID!"

"HNGGH! HEY! LET! GO!"

"YA GOT ANY CASH? GOT ANY CASH? HUH? HUH!?"

"LET ME GO!" Lilac wailed as she pulled herself from the man's grip stumbling back into the street. This man had a long shaggy beard and long greasy wispy hair. His breath stunk of alcohol, and he had a hypodermic needle sticking out of his arm where it bent at the elbow. His eyes while sunken and hollow were wild and angry, his filthy skin clung to his bones as if it were shrink wrapped onto him. He wore a dirty white tank top, a filthy pair of underwear and flip flops. Lilac scrambled back as fast she could when she saw the junkie pick up an empty bottle. She could hear more movement coming from inside the warehouse as she got up and sprinted up the street. She turned the corner and started to hear sirens. Lilac's blood ran cold as she saw police cars and a search and rescue ambulance coming up the street. She ran as fast as she could praying that none of the vehicles were sentient as they passed her.

Suddenly one of the cop cars pulled away from the others and started driving towards her.

Lilac continued to panic as ran down that street. She didn't have the stomach to look back to confirm her fears. She took a left and two rights before she stumbled across a bus station where a bus had just pulled in. The cop was about two blocks behind her, so she quickly got onto the bus and prayed as she paid the fair. Sure enough the cop car went zooming past the bus stop until it reached what looked like a crime scene. There were other cops at the scene too. Lilac sighed as she sat down, watching what looked to be the end stages of a drug bust as the bus drove by.

Once she calmed down she looked at the map of the bus's stops that was advertised next to where she sat. This bus would make three stops in Mission city before going towards the suburb of Tranquility. She looked at her map and made some comparisons. The bus wouldn't get her into Tranquility, but it would definitely drop her off in a nicer part of the city if the many advertisements for shopping outlets and nice new homes were anything to go by.

She rubbed her eyes tiredly as she put her map away. 'Ughhhh! Tonight, is not going how I wanted it to. Why? Just why?' She moaned internally as her hand bumped something in her bag. Pulling it out she realized it was the magnetic map that Sideswipe insisted they get. Lilac hadn't paid attention to it, but it looked like the Autobot had colored in the few states that she missed. Looking closer she saw that he had written on the map too. He had drawn a star at the bottom of Nevada and written "Our objective: Arrive somewhere around here!" He had also drawn a star up near Northern California and written; "Take Lilac here! She really wants to see the trees!". Lilac smiled, laughing silently in her head at what he wrote. As she looked at the rest of the colored in states, she saw that he had drawn the route that they had taken and drew little pictures of things they did in each state. "Car chase on the freeway!" said one. "Saved a K9 from an awful fate!" said another. "Pranked a 'Con!" "Rescued some femmes!" "Made Crop circles!" "First Car Wash!" "Made a friend!" Lilac did a double take at the last one. As she looked again, she saw a picture of what looked to be Sideswipe and her standing next to each other by a cave and an obvious crater. They were both smiling.

She started laughing out loud at the outrageousness of it all, and then her lips started trembling and her eyes welled up with tears. She wasn't sure when she started sobbing. Thankfully the bus was mostly empty and the people on it didn't seem to notice her or care. Lilac sat there weeping as she looked at the souvenir. 'What have I done?' she whimpered internally.

XXXXX

Barricade sat in the warehouse district of Mission city, his engine snarling with so much rage, the rainwater vibrated away near instantly. After his fight with the Autobot he had been ordered to return to the city to do recon. He was to keep an optic out for any Autobots, and for their human allies as well. He had been taking a leisurely drive back when Starscream got on the open Decepticon communications band and started screaming and ranting about how they needed more ground-based troops to monitor the area now that it seemed the Autobots had established a base nearby. Barricade was then ordered to pick up his pace to meet the demand of "Lord Starscream".

'Pffeh! "Lord Starscream" my aft!' the mech internally grumbled, thoroughly annoyed with his new "leader". 'Fragger keeps changing plans! "I want the base in Nebraska! No not there, the humans are suspicious! I want it in Montana, so we'll be closer to the Autobots but not be detected! No! It's too frigid there! My wings will freeze! Monitor the insects and the Autobots in Nevada!" Slagger gets his aft kicked the slagging Terror Twins and makes it my problem!' Barricade snarled as he listened in on the police scanner.

"All units please report to the house fire on fifty first and Beekman Street. Repeat; house fire on Fifty first and Beekman Street."

Barricade grunted as he heard the call. Deciding to warm his tires, he pulled onto the soggy road and began driving toward the housefire. He wouldn't do anything to help the insects but driving towards the fire might be entertaining. 'Maybe one of them will actually be ablaze and running around.' Barricade mused amusedly to himself as he joined the short convoy of other cop cars in front of him.

Suddenly, a familiar shape appeared behind him. It was a large chartreuse search and rescue vehicle. Barricade though reluctant to admit it, got nervous. He carefully scanned the vehicle behind him to find that it was only that. A vehicle driven by humans.

Thanking Unicron he turned around and started driving up the street when he saw someone vaguely familiar. He could have sworn that the silver slagger had a human youngling with him before they fought. And Starscream mentioned that he wanted a specific human femme and that said silver slagger had her. Checking his memory files as well as the files shared to him by Thundercracker, he confirmed that the youngling currently running up the street was indeed the same.

Barricade smirked internally to himself. All he had to do was speed up and capture her. It would be easy.

That said, where she was Sideswipe was sure to follow. Slowly he followed her, hanging back a few blocks. Just as he was about to speed up and corner her, he got a ping on his sensory grid. The real Ratchet was only two blocks away. Not wanting to take any chances, he sped past the youngling as she got onto a large vehicle containing other humans. He drove towards a crime scene and quickly engaged his signal scrambler. If the medic was so close by, he didn't want to take any chances with his sensors detecting his signal. He growled internally as he watched the youngling escape his grasp.

He was the only ground based Decepticon in all of Nevada, and while he wanted to give chase, he knew that he had to hide. The medic wasn't very merciful to those who harmed his teammates. He hardly wanted to know what he'd do to him if he was caught holding the fleshbag.

Barricade stayed at the scene until the Medic's signal grew fainter. Unfortunately, by that time, so had the energy signal of Starscream's demanded fleshy.

XXXXX

All was quiet in the suburbs of Tranquility. The rain had finally stopped, and the streets glittered in the street lights. It was about 10 o'clock as Lilac walked down the sidewalk feeling defeated. She was tired, hungry, wet and cold. She had gotten onto another bus after getting out of Mission City and this one dropped her off in the suburbs. She guessed she had to have walked at least six miles since she got off at the last bus stop. Her feet were a little sore, so she stopped and leaned up against a street light. Sighing she looked at the large houses that lined the streets. Each house looked huge to her! The had clean driveways and well-manicured lawns that were cutely fenced in. She inhaled deeply, relishing the smell of wet grass. 'At least I'm free!' She thought somewhat triumphantly to herself.

"Oh! Look at that!"

"Ohhh, man! That's hilarious!"

Lilac looked up to see a two-story house. The shades were still open, and she was able to see a man, woman, and teenager watching t.v.. She jumped when she heard their hearty laughter. The teen smiled as he leaned next to the woman, probably his mom, and grabbed some popcorn from a bowl.

Lilac wasn't exactly sure why this scene made her feel upset and uncomfortable, but she quickly started walking down the street again, silently crying as she watched a handful more families doing the same in their own homes.

"At least I'm free…." She whimpered sadly to herself in a tiny voice as she continued to wander her way out of the neighborhood. No one even noticed she was there.

XXXXX

{"Optimus Prime to Bumblebee. Please come in."}

{"Bumblebee reporting. Where do you need me sir?"}

{"I am sorry to disturb your recharge soldier, but the matter has become more urgent."}

{"Sir?"}

{"Recently, Sideswipe arrived at base with a small femme youngling. Ratchet took her into his care to treat her wounds as well as to treat her for malnourishment."}

{"Sideswipe didn't feed her?!"}

Optimus smiled internally at his scout's protective nature.

{"No, no. Sideswipe cared for her as she aided him in traversing the United States. She is malnourished due to her poor living conditions prior to meeting Sideswipe."}

{"Ohhh. So did Sideswipe pull a prank on Ratchet and now I have to search for him and bring him back to base?"} Under different circumstances Optimus would have laughed at his scout's eagerness to "get one over" on the twins. But not tonight.

{"No. Your task is to find the human femme. She managed to leave the Medbay during an altercation earlier this evening and has since gotten off base. Ratchet recently confirmed that he detected a Decepticon energy signature within Mission City. It is imperative that we find her before the Decepticons or the human authorities do."}

{"Yes sir."}

{"I have sent you the necessary information so that you may be able to track the child. We have been tracking her with little success due to the weather and due to simultaneously tracking the Decepticon signature. Have you installed the proximity sensors around your charge's residence?"}

{"Yes sir. I disguised them as lawn ornaments so that his parental units would not be upset. I will know if a Decepticon is near their residence within several miles."}

{"Very clever. Please be discrete as you leave. We do not want to worry the boy."}

Bumblebee laughed.

{"Especially not after he processed me as being stolen or possessed shortly after acquiring me. That was a unique misunderstanding."}

{"Indeed, it was."}

Optimus said warmly, remembering the memory files Bumblebee had shared of the miscommunication leading up to his revealing his identity to Sam.

Bumblebee took a look at the files Optimus sent him as he silently backed out of the garage. His sensors pinged as he immediately picked up on Lilac's energy signature.

{"Sir?"}

{"Yes Bumblebee?"}

{"I believe that the youngling may be very close to my location. Her energy signature just pinged on my sensors. The signature looks to be, perhaps an hour or so old."}

Optimus was surprised and secretly a little hopeful. What luck that the child would be nearby!

{"Very good. Please follow her signature. If you get a visual on her let me know Immediately."}

{"Permission to engage if she is not among other humans?"}

{"Permission granted but be cautious. She has encountered Decepticons while aiding Sideswipe, so she may run from you. Try and identify yourself as an Autobot as soon as possible, and even still, do not allow her to run away from you. She must return to the base and to Medbay to ensure her continued safety and functioning."}

{"Yes sir! Bumblebee out."}

He said as he began driving out of the neighborhood.

XXXXX

Lilac climbed the hill out of Tranquility silently. She had taken a couple of busses, the last of which dropped her off close to the city limits as it was its last stop before heading to the garage. The hill she was climbing, happened to be the one where she and Sideswipe met up with the other Autobots only a few days ago. Only this time, she was leaving Tranquility instead of being driven into it against her will.

Lilac had done a full loop around the city, in the hopes that the Bot's wouldn't find her. So far, her plan worked. And yet she still felt miserable as she climbed the hill. She had decided that it wasn't the falling rain, or the rainwater that was kicked up from the vehicles traveling up the freeway that made her so sad.

She refused to admit to herself the real reason for her misery. She knew if she dwelled on it, she would get cold feet and go running back down the hill as fast as she could. 'This is for my own good. I can't go back now. I need to keep going.' She thought to herself as she tried not to pant with the effort of moving.

She decided to stop to catch her breath. 'Who am I kidding? This was a horrible idea!' she lamented as she bent over trying to catch her breath.

'I just want to go home.' She thought, 'What home?! You don't have one, remember stupid?!'

'Yeah…well…Sideswipe wanted to give me one…'

'Yeah right! Like he'd trust you now! He'll probably never speak to you again!'

'We don't know that! Maybe he's out looking for me right now!'

'Suuuure. And maybe the Easter bunny'll come riding up the hill on his chopper and give you a million dollars!'

'You don't have to be so mean…why are you so mean?'

'Because I'm you. And you know how well going back will go. They'll be angry.'

'They will…'

'They'll screw you over first chance they get! Everyone always does.'

'But maybe…'

'But maybe what? They'll love you and care for you and take care of you for as long as you live? How stupid is that! You know you're worthless! You're not meant to be loved.'

'Just…just shut up, okay?!'

'You know I'm right.' Her internal monologue snorted with malicious humor as she wept new tears. With a soft hiccup she continued to trudge up the hill.

Suddenly a yellow sports car went flying up the hill past her, only to slam on its breaks, illuminating the wet road with its glowing red break lights. Lilac looked at the vehicle and froze as it sat there. Previous encounters made her wary of vehicles. Not to forget to mention that she was walking off to the side of the freeway in the dirt. Most cars and trucks didn't see her, even when they were in the lane closest to her.

But this one stopped.

Lilac inched sideways a little watching to see if the car put on its hazard lights or did anything else. Much to her alarm, the car's taillights flashed on with a dazzling white light as the car suddenly started coming down the hill in reverse!

Lilac's eyes went wide as she started to skip sideways further into the dark. The car eventually pulled up next to where Lilac was standing and stayed still. The windows were tinted a dark black so she couldn't see inside.

'Please be a normal car! Please be a normal car! Please have humans! Please have humans!' She screamed internally as the car slowly backed further down the road. Suddenly the wheels turned, and the yellow car bounced off of the pavement and began off-roading. It was heading right for her! Lilac bolted this time sprinting up the hill.

'WHHHHYYYYY MEEEE!?' She wailed internally as she ran. The yellow car's engine revved behind her.

'And why on this damn hill?! What's with this stupid effin' hill! Is it cursed?! What is with me getting chased in this area?!' She sobbed angrily as she tripped over a rock and scrambled to get back up. The car's headlights creepily illuminated some of the desert in front of her. Off to the side Lilac could barely make out an area with a large ledge that cut off at a cliff. She turned herself, leaving the car's headlights. The car was quick though as it turned to follow her. As she got to the ledge, she saw a hollowed-out area in the hill that looked like a cave. Had the car not been so hot on her heels, she would have hidden in the cave and let the car go racing past over the cliff.

Luck was not on her side.

Lilac skidded to a halt when she reached the cliff's edge, watching as some sand and rocks flew over the edge into the darkness below. She turned around and faced the car that slowly drove up behind her. Heartbroken and tired, she decided to address the car and accept her fate.

"Well come on then! Do your thing so we can get this over with!" She snarled. The car sat there for a moment before it slowly began to transform. Lilac watched, resisting the urge to back up, and fall off the cliff. When it was done, a yellow and black bot with bright blue optics, little antennas and doorwings stood in front of her. She glared back.

"Go ahead! Do your worst!"

The yellow bot reared its helm back in surprise before shaking his helm and waving his servos in a 'No, no, no!' sort of fashion. He pointed to the red insignia on his helm in answer. Lilac squinted before being able to fully see the insignia for what it was.

"Oh. You're an Autobot?"

The yellow mech nodded his helm yes cheerfully. Lilac sighed and hung her head.

"Can you do me a favor then?"

The bot cocked his helm to the side curiously before she spoke again.

"Please, drop kick me off this cliff. I don't want to live anymore."

XXXXX


A/N: Well, that was a lot! FYI this chapter, the one before, and chapter 12 were actually meant to be one big ol' chapter! But it didn't flow right, and I didn't want to overwhelm you guys with so much info!

Anywhoo, please let me know what you think of the chapter! I'd love to hear ya'll's thoughts on what happened and what you think will happen, because your predictions are fun to read!

Also, I didn't celebrate it last chapter, but...10 CHAPTERS! WOOOO HOOO! And also, THANK YOU to my 90th Review on this story! I think it may have been from either I'm Just Here For The Memories or CrystalAris! And even if I'm wrong (Sorry), thank you guys so much for sticking with this story and letting me know your thoughts! I love reading your reviews whether they are long or short!

HINT FOR THE REFERNCE COOKIE CHALLENGE: The reference does come from within Transformers media. BUT it was not in ANY of the Bayverse movies! Think 2002 backwards! :) Same rules apply as before!

Hope you're all doing well out there! Hope to hear from you soon!

Please follow, favorite, and review!

CLYL!