I only own my OC's!

Writing this one...wasn't easy...This chapter, like Mourning on The Trials of A Cybertronian Princess, made me want to cry. Directly related to Mourning, four years in the future.


Saving Blades

CAFETERIA

"Charlie?"

"Sheyenne? I was just—"

"Don't." I sigh. "Graham's lying down."

"I understand. I'll stop by tomorrow."

I set our trays on the counter and turn toward the jaeger bays. "Walk with me?"


BAYS

He sighs. "Are you sure he's going to be all right?"

I nod. "Trust me, we're on top of things." I sigh softly. "I've got the meds Ratchet's used in the past for carrying bots—and before you ask, we tested them, and they're safe. If they weren't, I wouldn't be letting him use them." I lean on the bars beside Star Warrior. "He's going to be okay."

"As long as you're sure." He sighs. "Is that why he was spending so much time at Doc's?"

I nod. "Doc Greene knew what we were doing, and with the nausea…" I sigh softly. "He wasn't feeling well, and it was better for him to be somewhere where he wouldn't blow the secret until we knew everything would be all right…with everyone involved."

"And… the…"

"Little one?" He gives me a look before nodding. "I know. It's weird. You'll get used to it. Trust me, I did." I shrug. "So far, so good." I smile. "Two months and counting." I sigh. "I've been monitoring him closely, so I don't want you to worry about Graham."

"Is that what you meant when you had him stay in Boulder?"

I nod. "Three nuclear jaegers, one with a leaky reactor." I sigh. "Now there's four of them."

"How is she working for you?"

I smile. "Star's doing great, and Mako's a great partner." I sigh softly. "I would have liked to have Graham with me, but…"

"It wasn't safe."

I nod. "Mako and I have been best friends since we met right after the battle here in Hong Kong. She got Stacker, and then Herc, to let me store the Cybertronium here, and I came out here as often as I could once I learned to deal with the extreme emotions the city caused me."

"Because of Optimus?"

I nod. "And Ratchet." I sigh. "I'm still in training, Charlie. Aid had been so much further in his training than I am now—I'm not sure I'll ever be able to catch up with where Blades' brother was." I look down sadly. "God, Charlie. The whole time I was there… Blades…" I look down. "God, I could have done so much for him… But I didn't know, and now…"

Charlie lays a hand on my shoulder. "Sheyenne? Are you okay?"

I sigh softly. "I'll be okay." I lean against the bars. "I just wish I had known about Blades and the Protectobots before now. I could have brought them back."

"What do you mean?"

I sigh as I look at my hands. "I'm the Star Healer, Charlie. I can heal, and revive. My past life could up to a day, but I don't know if mine is the same, or if I'm stronger or weaker." I turn away as tears start to roll down my cheeks. My shoulders start shaking violently as I quickly lose control of my emotions, and I fall to my knees. "I—I feel like I—I failed him. I—I failed th-the Autobots wh-when Que died, a-and, I failed B-Blades when I-I w—wasn't th-there. I—I c-could h-have sa-saved th-them! B-Blades i-is—h-he c-could d-die, Ch-Charlie, b-cause I-I w-wasn't th-there!"

Charlie kneels to me. "He's all right, Shey. Blades is fine. He's been fine."

I struggle to pull myself together before looking up to Charlie. "He couldn't transform, when Quarry wanted dinobots. That's a sign that he's not all right. Carrying that shark sub out to sea… He agreed with Heatwave about sacrificing themselves far too quickly for my liking." I sigh. "Charlie, he's in constant pain from the spark-break. His days are numbered—and I'm not sure that he has much time left." I whirl to face him, anger at his not understanding the serious nature of our discussion replacing my sorrow at failing Blades. "Damn it, Charlie! We are fragging lucky he's survived this long! He doesn't have much time left! Dani's gonna lose her partner because I. WASN'T. THERE. when the Protectobots needed me to be." I turn back toward Star Warrior. "When Blades needed me to be."

"How can you be sure you were even alive when that happened?"

I cross my arms and glare at Charlie. "I'm 27. I've been the Star Healer since I was fourteen. I've trained with Ratchet for most of those fourteen years. Do you know why?" He shakes his head. He and the rest of his family know better than to argue with me when I get like this. "Because he had First Aid to teach. I would have just gotten in the slaggin' way, being as small and delicate as I was, and with my Praxian frame added onto that…" I sigh heavily. "I didn't try to get to know them while I could, and I regret that now." I smile weakly. "Hide used to tell me stories—and Sides too—about when Bee was a sparkling." I sigh softly. "He's the youngest, you know. Just like Cody." I look up at Star Warrior, keeping my haunted gaze off Charlie. "They'd tell me about Blades and Sunstreaker brawling in the rec room—against the rules, obviously—and how much Bee loved him—both of them." I sigh. "Now Sides and Sunstreaker are both off-line—spark twins. Ratch and I were surprised Sides lasted so long without Sunstreaker—especially after Mudflap and Skids went off-line within minutes of each other." I sigh softly. "And Blades is scarred for life—he may never be the same again, even if I could find their shells and bring them back to life for him." I look at my hands before touching the Star pendant I wear—the Star Matrix. "I mean, I'm not who I used to be either, Charlie. When I first found out I was her reincarnation, I was ecstatic. I couldn't wait to start training, and Optimus was so happy—they all were—when I accepted my title without question. I always knew I was meant to be someone important—someone special—and there I was, on the Autobot base." I sigh. "Then Jazz was killed, and I hadn't learned how to heal." I shrug. "Like I said, Ratch still had Aid, and I would have just gotten in the way." I turn to him. "But then, suddenly, Aid wasn't there—none of them were. Then Optimus was killed. Sam brought him back with the matrix, but… the damage was done. He was my mentor." I look back at the floor. "Then Hide was killed—the twins—Que… And the sparkling…" I sigh softly. "Then Sides, Dino, and Topspin went missing. We never found them, but I don't need to see a body to know that they're dead. Then I felt Ratchet harmed, and teleported out to help him only to watch him get killed, and we saw footage of Leadfoot getting slagged, too." I sigh. "Then, while Optimus was in space, we lost Drift, Crosshairs, and Hound. Bee, Optimus, and Ratch are all that's left besides the Rescue Bots." I sigh. "Blades has combat training—the Protectobots were built for defense and occasional offence as well as rescue work—but I doubt after what happened to his brothers, he'd want to be out there in the thick of things again."

"Is there any way you could find them?"

I sigh softly. "It'd be a piece of cake if we were still on Griffin Rock—they're in the Laurentian Abyss. That's where we "buried" their dead."

"I could talk with Herc—get you a C-17."

I sigh softly. "Even then… It's easier said than done." I look down. "I'd need bots to help me out, and I don't want Blades to know… In case I fail… I won't crush him again… Not with his spark so close to failing as-is." I sigh softly before turning back to Star Warrior.

"Couldn't you—"

I gasp suddenly. "The jaegers!"

"I'm…sorry?"

"The jaegers. They're big enough to help me collect the shells. We could bring almost everyone else back! We could have our team back!"

"And you're sure this could work?"

I rub the back of my neck as I turn to Charlie. "I won't know until I try, Charlie, but we have to do this soon. Dr. Gotlieb says the attacks will start getting closer together. We just had one last night, so we should have at least a week free, but…"

"I'll talk with Herc. Maybe we can get a plane for you and them."

"We have to do this." I turn back to Star Warrior. "Blades' spark depends on us getting them back."


SHATTERDOME HANGAR

Herc sighs. "She's got a full tank of gas, and we've got a pilot waiting for you."

"Thanks." I turn to the five teens and their pilots, Herc included. "All right, this mission's different than the others you've been given, but it's no less important." I sigh. "Stacker will hold down the fort, and we shouldn't have a kaiju attack for at least a week yet—hopefully two." I turn to the plane. "We're going to the Laurentian Abyss. It's the third-deepest point on our planet, and it's near Maine."

"Why are we going there?"

"Chuck, shut it. I was just getting to that." I sigh softly. "That's where the US Army Rangers working with the Autobots decided to bury their dead."

"So why are we going to an alien graveyard?"

I growl threateningly at him. "Because we have a Rescue Bot all but dead, and his gestalt-mates are buried there. The only way I can save his life is by reviving his brothers." I sigh before looking up to them. "I'm not big enough to do this, and Star's not alive, so it's up to you all." I sigh. "I needed Ratchet's help to bring him back, and Doc Greene was the next best option." I sigh. "Well, I need Defensor to retrieve Defensor. The next best thing we have is five jaegers."


SHORELINE, THIRD POV, 11:00 PM

Dani walks out to the shore when she sees Blades standing on the shore alone. "Blades? What are you doing out here?"

Blades turns to her before turning back to the ocean. "Thinking."

Dani walks over and sits beside his foot on the sand. "About your brothers?" Blades nods, causing Dani to sigh. "We're here for you, Blades."

Blades sighs before sitting on the sand. "Every day it gets harder to keep going. I don't know how much longer I can."

Dani lays a hand on his foot lightly. "I thought Shey said Heatwave was helping you."

Blades sighs. "He is, but it's not enough. My brothers—" Blades turns to look over the ocean. "I never knew how quiet the world could be before I lost them." Blades sighs. "And I did it—they're dead because of me. I don't deserve to live after that."

"Blades—"

Blades looks down to Dani. "They can't come back now, Dani." Blades sighs. "I know Shey explained it to you—I only have so much time left—and it's not a lot."

"Blades…"

Blades stares over the ocean.


INSIDE THE SHATTERDOME, THIRD POV

Dani runs into the bays. "Dad, where's Sheyenne!?"

Charlie turns to Dani. "She just left with the teens."

"To go where?" Dani groans. "Blades is acting like he's at the end, and Shey's out with the teens! She's probably taking them to the mall or something!"

"Dani." Charlie sighs. "They're going to the Laurentian Abyss, not the mall."

"The Breach?"

"No. The Autobot's burial ground."

"Say what?"

"She took the jaegers to retrieve a few of the Autobot shells, to try and bring them back on-line."

"So she'll feel like she didn't fail." Dani sighs. "But that doesn't help Blades now."

"Go get Heatwave. He'll help keep Blades grounded until Sheyenne gets back."


LAURENTIAN ABYSS

"Sheyenne, Dani just came in. Apparently Blades' is spiraling."

I sigh heavily. "What did you tell her?"

"To get Heatwave. He'll calm Blades until you can get back."

"There's no time for that." I sigh heavily. "Get him on the comms, NOW."

A moment later, his voice comes over. "Sheyenne? Chief said you wanted to talk to me."

I sigh. "Blades, I need you to hang on a little longer, for me." I look down. "I've already lost too much. I can't lose you." I sigh softly. "Trust me. I just got done pouring my heart out to Charlie before I got this idea—he helped me get this idea."

"What do you mean?"

I sigh heavily. "We're at the Laurentian Abyss. I have to go. Just…go to the med bay, and stay with Ratchet. If your spark's as weak as you think, Blades, you need to stay with him. If anything happens, he'll keep you on-line until I get back." I turn to the teens. "Transform, quickly, and seal all vents. Blades' life depends on us moving as quickly as we can!" I force myself to ignore their pain and focus on Blades, then follow them under the water, and move to the first Protectobot body I can find. "Aid."

"What?"

I sigh softly. "Gips, it's Aid." I turn to the others. "Guys, over here!" They rush over. "Get as many as you can and get them onto that plane." I look over the off-line frames. "Gipsy, get those two… Striker, them—no, them!" I point to the two I meant for him to get, two feet away from the ones he tried to grab. "Cherno, those two—and don't forget their heads." I turn to Crimson. "Get him, and those two." I turn to Coyote before pointing. "Those two." I kneel to two halves of a bot I know well. "I'll get him." I turn to the others. "Now let's go." I wince when one of the shells bangs into my doorwings. "And watch the wings, Crim! Those are sensitive!" I sigh. "We all have to be touching so we can teleport." Striker grabs my doorwing. "And for the love of God, Striker, don't grab my doorwings!"


PLANE

I kneel beside the off-line frames sadly. "Jazz… Que…" I turn to the twins. "Mudflap, Skids."

"Starlight, where the frag are you?! Blades—"

"On my way back with some frames I want to try and save!"

"Blades is fading! Slag it, I need your help!"

I look down at the frames. "Just keep him on-line. I'll do what I can." I lay my hands on one of the Protectobot frames before closing my eyes. 'You have the power inside you, Starlight. You just have to know how to use it.' I put my hands together and breathe slowly. 'Just focus.'

Striker turns to me in shock. "What the heck?"

"She's…glowing…" Gipsy smiles. "Raleigh told me she was an Avatar—you know, like that kid on that show Yancy had us watch."

Striker nods, having been forced to watch them with the others when they first came back.

I breathe deeply before laying my hands on First Aid's plating. 'Come on, Aid. Come back to us. Your brother needs you.'

The bot sits up and rubs the back of his head. "What do you mean my brother needs me?"

The five jaeger teens give me shocked and scared looks.

I repeat the process with the other three Protectobots, then reach up to my comm. "Ratch, how's Blades?"

"What'd you do?"

"First, answer me, then I'll answer you. Dani deserves to know about her partner's condition."

"He's stabilizing."

"Thank Primus." I sigh softly as I look over to the Protectobots. "My power's stronger than hers was. I'll explain when I get back." I sigh. "Put the Rescue Bots and the Burns'—minus Graham, he's probably asleep—on the comms, and let Blades rest." I wait until I hear Heatwave's voice.

"Ratchet told us about Blades. Where are you? I thought you promised him you'd be there for him!"

I sigh. "And I am, Hothead! Sometimes, to be there for someone, you have to be away from them!" I sigh heavily. "I went to the Laurentian Abyss, all right? Chief Burns gave me an idea, and I had to know for sure. When I left, he started spiraling, but he's gonna be all right now." I sigh softly. "Look, I'm on my way back. Just keep Blades quiet, and keep him still. I'll get there as soon as I can." I end the comm.

Hot Spot turns to me. "What's wrong with Blades?"

I sigh softly. "He's not going to be the same Blades you all knew him as." I smile weakly. "He's a lot more like Aid now, actually."

"He is?"

I sigh softly. "Losing those you care about changes you, Aid. Losing Ratch broke me."

He smiles. "I knew you and Ratch would form a bond someday."

I shrug. "And my ability to defuse Ratchet like you could came in handy when I was broken and hiding from the world." I sigh. "I found another rescue team, with a hotheaded fire-bot as their leader." I lean back against his leg. "Heatwave helped me piece myself back together again." I smile. "Doubt I would have tried something like this—or even saving Ratch two weeks ago—without him and Blades being there." I feel us touch down and look out when they open the doors. "Jaegers, take the other off-line shells into the back room of the medical bay for me. Protectobots, stay with me."


MEDICAL BAY

"Okay, now. Listen to me." I sigh before giving them my best batglare. "Keep. It. Down. Blades needs to rest. We almost lost him—we almost lost all of them a few months ago, to be honest—but we almost lost him today."

Hot Spot nods. "We'll keep it down."

I shift into my Cybertronian form and lead them inside. "Ratchet?"

"Starlight?" He looks over to me before noticing the gestalt behind me. "What in the All Spark? How did you—"

I smirk. "Told you my power was stronger than hers." I walk over to the cot before laying a hand on Blades' shoulder. As I do, I motion for the other bots to duck into the storage room with the off-line frames. "Blades?"

He blinks before looking up at me. "Starlight. Where were you?"

I sigh softly. "I had to go out near Maine."

"Why did you go to Griffin Rock?"

I cross my arms. "I didn't say I went to Griffin Rock." I sigh. "I was at the Laurentian Abyss with the jaegers."

"Why would you—unless—" He suddenly gasps and lays a hand over his spark. "You—I thought—where—"

I laugh softly and lay a hand on his shoulder. "Calm down, Blades. You gave us quite a scare. You need to take it easy for a little while." I sigh softly. "They're in the back room. I figured Dani would want to see you before we introduce them to the new guys. She's worried about you." I sigh. "And I'll have to deal with a hothead."

I turn when I hear a voice. "Who's the Hothead?"

I find Hot Spot leaning around the door. "A very angry fire-bot." I groan. "Who thinks I abandoned Blades when he needed me the most, because I had a plan to heal his spark seconds before he started to spiral." I sigh. "I'll send Dani in, Blades."

"Dani?"

I turn to the four. "His human partner. The Rescue Bots are partnered with a human each. Blades' partner is a pilot named Dani. Boulder—a bulldozer—has her younger brother, an engineer named Graham. The angry Hothead I need to deal with is Heatwave. He's got Kade, their older brother. Chase—the cop-bot—has their Dad, Charlie. Then there's the youngest, Cody. He's still in school." I run out the door. "Dani, Blades is awake."

"Heatwave's in the meeting room, and he looks angrier than he was when Kade was having those nightmares."

I roll my eyes. "That was your fault, Dani." I sigh. "I'll go deal with Hothead. Your partner is waiting to see you."


MEETING ROOM

"'Wave?"

He turns to me with a growl, fire flashing in his eyes. "You abandoned him when he needed you!"

I roll my eyes. "Go to the med bay and look in the back room. You'll both see what I was doing, and find a living gestalt."

"You…" He gives me a stunned look, his anger instantly gone, replaced by confusion. "What?"

"I revived the Protectobots, 'Wave. That's where I was going when Blades started spiraling." I look at the floor. "I just wish he'd told me before. I could have done this sooner, and saved you the pain of losing him…" I sigh softly as we start for the med bay. "You can't judge a book by its cover. You know what Optimus says. There's more to what you see than meets the eye." I climb on his foot before hugging his leg. "Now, Blades'll be okay. You don't need to worry about him anymore. Just give him a few days to reunite with his brothers, then things will return to normal."

Heatwave sighs. "You're sure he's going to be all right?"

"Not only that, we've finally got a Cybertronian that can be close to the size of a jaeger in the event that our own jaegers fail."

"You're sure the yellow belly can—"

"Heatwave!" I scoff. "Blades. Is. Not. A. Coward." I cross my arms as we walk into the med bay. Boulder and Chase have already arrived, and are sitting on the medical berth across from Blades while Dani sits on his leg. "If anything, 'Wave, he's braver than all of you—braver than me, and I'm a Green Lantern." I smirk. "It's the energy of will, and fear is the opposite of will."

"Hey, Heatwave."

Heatwave walks over and sits on the berth beside Blades. "Star said you were feeling better."

Dani turns to me. "He said they were back. Think we could meet them?"

"Graham will have to meet them tomorrow, and Cody's out of school until the Kaiju Cult has been dealt with, so they can meet tomorrow, but you can be the first." I smirk. "After all, he is your partner." I walk over to the door. "Come on in, Guys."

They walk in. Hot Spot lays a hand on Blades' shoulder.

I lean against the wall as Blades turns to him. "Hey." He looks down. "I'm sorry… about crashing the ship."

Ratchet leans beside me. "Thanks… for saving them. I don't think I could have saved Blades on my own."

I sigh. "And you're the best medic I know. I'm glad I got the chance to learn from you—even if I can't anymore." I sigh. "Now that Aid's back, you're probably going to work with him again."

He crosses his arms. "And abandon my daughter?" Ratchet sighs. "So, I guess Heatwave wasn't as mad at you as you thought."

I sigh. "Nope, he was furious." I cross my arms. "I learned more than just medicine, being your assistant. I also learned to defuse hotheads and temper tantrums. Blades was happy for that, remember?" I turn my attention to the two rescue teams.

"So, they're your brothers? But Cody told us—"

He shrugs. "Some did, some didn't."

"How could you handle being so close? I can't even handle being in the same room as Kade sometimes."

"As I heard on Young Justice, "lower beings are afraid of intimacy"." I sigh softly. "Blades…"

"I'm all right."

"I know." I sigh softly. "Ratch, you need to go help Optimus and Bee set things up in your suite for four more bots. I'll revive the others and start putting Jazz back together tomorrow." I sigh softly. "Hot Spot, we need to talk." I sigh. "Blades, I'm stealing your brother for a few minutes."

He gives me a stunned look. "What?"

"Relax. I just need to explain a few things about the chaos that's been going on here. We're just going to the bays."


BAYS

We walk into the bays and stop in front of Star Warrior. For a while, we simply watch the crew as they make repairs and check her weapons systems.

"What's going on?"

I sigh softly. "Kaiju. Category four." I sigh softly. "The Rescue Bots faced a couple on Griffin Rock—one tried to ice your brother with Dani and I inside. Not. Fun." I sigh. "But, they survived." I lay a hand on Star Warrior. "This is mine and Mako's."

"What?"

"Oh… I forgot. I haven't explained the drift yet." I sigh softly. "Two pilots control these things—they're called jaegers. This is Star Warrior. She's the only one that's not alive—yet. The others were—are—the teens who helped me save you guys. Gipsy Danger. Cherno Alpha. Coyote tango. Crimson Typhoon. Striker Eureka." I sigh softly. "Mako and I each control half of this monstrous machine." I smirk. "Star's made of old jaegers, and designed like Gips."

"I don't think that's what you wanted to talk about."

I sigh softly. "Not exactly, but it leads up to it." I smile. "I went to Blades when I was preparing for my first drift. He didn't have any advice for me, but I've handled the drifts well enough since." I shrug. "I brought you out here to talk to you about the kaiju. They have EMP's. They shorted out Striker. Twice." I sigh. "But their weapon doesn't affect Cybertronians—their lights and sirens, and instruments, but not their ability to transform. Gips, Cherno, Coyote, and Star are analog, so it doesn't affect them either, but it knocks out their comms." I sigh softly. "We may need Defensor at some point. I need to know I can count on you."

Hot Spot sighs. "We're here to protect and serve, so we're on hand." He looks up at Star Warrior as her right sword slides out.

"Tendo, Mako, sword's loose!"

"We're on it!"

Hot Spot turns to me. "Do you know if Blades still has his swords?"

I sigh softly. "It hasn't come up in our conversations—heck, I just got him to open up about you guys two weeks ago." I look down. "Blades is my best bot friend. I can't lose him—not after having to save my guardian." I sigh softly. "Raleigh knows what it's like—he just got Yancy back after eight years—Gips too."

"What?"

"Yancy's his older brother. Gipsy is his jaeger. Yancy was killed by Knifehead. He came back, leaving Mako without a jaeger and her boyfriend with his brother back. That's why Mako and I teamed up." I sigh. "One thing I've heard both him and Blades say is that nothing was louder to them than the silence." I look down. "I understand that. I was without Ratch for four years." I sigh softly before changing the subject. "Have you guys ever handled a flood—well, of course you have. Ratchet told me the story. Blades was captured."

"Yeah. We almost lost Aid."

I shrug. "We almost lost 'Wave when the river on Griffin Rock flooded. Thank God he's a triple-changer—fire truck and fire boat. Saved an old lady and her cat too." I shrug. "Though they both wound up drenched." I smile. "But, they saved everyone, which is more than I can say about that one you handled. Aid endangered himself to save a little girl you guys missed." I sigh before turning to Hot Spot. "Blades got dinged up by a dino too—bet you can't say that happened with you."

"What kind of emergencies happen on that island?"

I cross my arms. "The weird kind." I shrug. "But, the weird emergencies kept my mind off Ratchet, and dealing with Hot-Headed Heatwave kept me grounded." I sigh. "Movie monsters and mechanical mayhem kept us moving, that's for sure—especially when the movie monsters chose to make a meal of the mayor's mansion."

"Say what?"

I turn. "Cody, you're supposed to be in bed." I shake my head. "No time like the present." I turn to Cody and kneel. "Cody, meet Hot Spot, head of the Protectobots—and Defensor. Hot Spot, this is Cody Burns. He's Dani's little brother."

"That's Hot Spot? I thought—"

I smirk. "Blue Inferno, Code." I sigh softly. "Cody, we—we almost lost him."

"We almost lost Blades?"

I look down sadly. "Yeah, Cody. We almost lost Blades." I sigh softly. "But I was able to save him." I look up suddenly. "Wait. I did it."

"What?"

"For the first time since Ratchet died, I followed my gut and I saved a life doing it."

"Sheyenne?"

I hold out a finger and tap my comm link. "Speaking. What's the problem, Dani?"

"Blades is getting anxious. Are you almost done with Hot Spot?"

"You know I wound up in the Autobot's berth room for a week after I brought Ratch back, Dani." I sigh softly. "It's all right. We were finished anyway." I turn to Cody. "And tell your Dad he's got an escapee."

"Let me guess. Cody's in the bays."

"Yep."

"Tell Cody to get to bed, and get Hot Spot back here before Blades goes ballistic."

"Deal." I turn to Cody. "You heard her, Kid. Get to bed before your Dad sends Chase after you." I turn to Hot Spot. "And you need to get back to Blades. He needs to have those bonds close right now." I sigh softly. "I had to stay with Ratch for a week after I brought him back."


SUITES, 12:00 AM

"Here we are." I hold the door open. "Good night."

First Aid turns to me. "Where are you going?"

I rub the back of my neck. "Bed." I sigh softly. "I was up at midnight for a kaiju attack, and two for a sick roommate. As it is, I've got far too much to do tomorrow, and I'm gonna be up in a few hours with Graham." He gives me a look. "Ask Boulder, I already got into it with the family." I sigh softly before surprising the medic-in-training by hugging him. "Blades isn't the only one glad to have you guys back. I missed you guys!" I step back. "It's just… Optimus, Bee, and Ratch are the only ones besides Charlie and Dani that know I met you guys, and none of them know about my living on the base after Aaron."

"You've kept a lot from them, haven't you?"

I sigh softly. "Not Mako, and not Blades." I sigh softly. "Hot Spot knows what the drift is, Mako's my partner in Star Warrior—er, our jaeger. Blades was there—I just didn't know until two weeks ago that their Blades was your Blades."

"Drift?"

"Like the gestalt spark bonds—only when we're operating them—but, some things do linger—Ghost Drifts—Raleigh's addicted to chocolate now. Gipsy's got Raleigh's determination." I sigh softly. "You'll see what I mean when you get the full tour tomorrow. For now, get some rest—and stay with Blades."

"Chase said you had assignments for them around here."

I nod. "Blades and Dani help in the med bay—Dani's an EMT too. That's where Aid will be too. Streetwise and Groove will be with Charlie and Chase—security. Hot Spot with Kade and Heatwave. Doc Greene with the scientists. Graham and Boulder occasionally with us, occasionally with them, depending on where they're needed."