I breathed a sign of relief. I was back outside where there were no walls. Everything told me I couldn't be in there until I felt I could really trust these mechs. Even if they did give me a better vibe then the other ones. I was hardly surprised I could even warp like that. I looked back at the mountain. I wanted to leave but I had a feeling I wasn't ready to yet. I looked to the forest. Until I felt it was time that would be my home.

(Back in the Base – Optimus)

I looked over at the spot that she had been standing in. I knew it would be some time before we'd see her again. She had lost all trust in others, and Megatron and his groupies hadn't helped one bit in that department. I looked to the door as it opened to let Red Alert and Hot Shot in with the kids following them. The kids looked around and immediately looked saddened when they didn't see her.

"She left didn't she?" asked Hot Shot, his optics darting around hoping to see her.

"Yes she did Hot Shot but the interesting thing is that she actually warped out of here," Optimus turned to his medic, "Do you have any thoughts on this Red Alert?"

Red Alert took a moment to think on a possible conclusion, "There may be a number of abilities she hasn't discovered since she has no memory. We will not be the only ones who will be surprised about what she can do."

Optimus nodded, "All right. Now we just have to get Ashley to trust us. Once we have that, maybe we can get her to stay here where we can protect her."

The kids then called their Minicons over and got ready to head back home. Alexis explained that she was going to head home and look for some more clothes to bring back here for Ashley just in case if she ever came back. Hot Shot suggested we should make her a room of her own just in case she ever needed a place to stay. If she ever got to that point that she trusted us.

I nodded my head and watched Hot Shot follow the kids out. I was surprised to see Red Alert was watching me.

I turned my focus on Red Alert, "Is there something the matter Red Alert?"

"What do you feel about her?"

"I feel she's lost with no one to care about her."

"You feel something more don't you?"

In all honesty, I did not have a reply to that.

"I'm sure we will be seeing her again soon, Optimus. Who knows what's going happen but we'll have to take it a day at a time. Maybe you should think about how you wanna explain things more thoroughly with her."

Red Alert then turned and walked out of the room before I could make a reply. I don't know why but he was always able to read me before I could say something myself, perhaps it was part of him being a medic. Watching him leave, I smiled behind my facemask. Things were gonna change, that was for sure. And I had no idea if that was good or not. Either way, we would take it head on.

(2 Hours Later – Optimus)

I was outside standing on a ledge thinking about everything that had happened today. I couldn't help but think that things were gonna be very different from now on. I had no idea why but I felt that I needed to get Ashley to stay here with us, and not just for her protection. I wanted her to trust us. I've never really had anyone not trust me before so the feeling was; pardon the pun, alien to me. Even the kids trusted me just seconds after we met.

The others wanted to wait until she came on her own but I felt that wouldn't be quick enough, especially with the Decepticons lurking. I told the others as much as well. I almost felt the need just to go look for her right now. I looked out to where the sun was slowly disappearing over the horizon as I considered what to do. The kids probably felt the same way I did. I knew they wanted her here as much as I did. To them, a kid living on their own was something that needed to be corrected. A unique sound made me turn to see Ashley sitting in a tree a couple yards away looking at me. With her armor out, the girl sat, I had no idea what she was thinking. Though I wish I knew.

"I don't know how long it will be but I wish to gain your trust Ashley."

"We'll just see how much you want it." With those words she warped away, leaving a bare tree to stare back at me.

(2 weeks later)

It's been two weeks since we had met Ashley and we hadn't seen any sign of her since. Over that course of time, we've been pretty busy with locating the Minicons that had been scattered Primus knows where over the planet. So we really hadn't had time to think about Ashley. But I always had a feeling that she followed us to wherever we had to go, secretly watching us. Alexis has even confided in me that she has a feeling that Ashley was following her to her home and school and such. Not talking or anything, just watching her. I can tell she is very curious. But I ignored it at that point, for we were on a Minicon mission.

(Alexis's POV)

Right now, we are under a big city where a Minicon is supposed to be. Rad, Carlos and I went looking on our own and have now found an old subway station and tracks that had been long abandoned. I still have that sense that we are being watched and just put it off that it was just Ashley, since it seemed to have become a common thing now. The others were looking everywhere for the missing minicon. I look up and see our Minicons combine into Perceptor and head to the top floor and start pounding away at the ceiling. Apparently he had found something. We watch as the ceiling crumbles and see the tell-tale sign of a panel sticking in the rock but Perceptor was still too short to reach it.

"He's too short." I called out when I saw Perceptor struggling to reach the Minicon.

I look around to see an old ladder. I point it out to the boys and we grab it and bring it to the platforms. Carlos and I climb up the ladder as Rad stays at the bottom to make sure it doesn't move and cause us to fall. Perceptor gets out of the way as we get to the top. I hop off the ladder as Carlos continues to the top and reaches for the Minicon. He's able to grab it but the ladder breaks so now he's hanging on the Minicon that won't come out of its prison. After he starts thrashing around we hear the sound of the rock breaking. It finally comes and Perceptor catches Carlos before he hits the ground. We stare at the Minicon that is still trapped in the rock. Perceptor comes apart and as we were climbing on our respectful Minicons I hear movement to our right. I give a frustrated sound and the boys watch as I walk over to where the sound came from.

"Ashley this isn't funny anymore. You can come out now."

The boys start to get scared but I refuse to show fear. I simply stood there waiting. After a few tense minutes, I hear a noise that couldn't possibly come from Ashley. An engine starts up and something breaks the wall down.

"Let's get out of here!" Carlos yells.

I ran back to Grindor and hopped on and sped off after the boys with the unknown – what we could only assume was a mech behind us. All three of us were freaking out as we heard him get closer. As we turned a corner I suddenly froze. Our quickest way to the Autobots was blocked by old rail cars. Just our luck. We looked back to see the mech quickly approaching. We knew we had no other option than to try to make our ways through the busted cars, hoping we could escape before the mech caught us.

Rad points to a spot under the railcars "Go underneath them. There's plenty of room."

Minutes later we had gotten through the cars but now we had bigger problems. Megatron had obviously been searching for the Minicon as well and in his search, he found us. I saw a little crack in the wall.

"Well, well. Looks like I get to have two prizes today. A Minicon and some human pets." Megatron sneered.

"Guys quick! Follow me!" I whirled around and headed towards the small hole. We were quick enough to get through the hole but we soon discovered it lead to a dead end. Rad let Laserbeak out and sent him to fetch the Autobots, knowing they were our only hope now. I didn't know what happened but the next thing I knew there was a huge explosion. I turned to see the Deceptions now standing in the widened doorway. We watched as Megatron continued further. It wasn't until he was nearly upon us did we see something come out of nowhere. It was the mech that had been following us. He drove straight into Megatron's legs and we watched him tumble. He skidded to a stop in front of us and we were finally able to see the Autobot insignia on his now orange hood. His blue crane launched out and hit Demolisher in the stomach. We were thankful that he had come when he did.

With two bots down we thought we where safe but Cyclonus had decided enough was enough. He took a shot at the ceiling. The strange mech transformed and covered us with the fallen debris as he cackled madly. Surely there was something wrong with that Decepticon. As the rocks came down everything went dark after that.

(With Optimus)

As soon as I saw Laserbeak heading for us I had a sense of uncertainty. Something told me there was trouble and I was right. When we saw the footage of where the kids were we started heading there immediately to assist them. When I heard the shot fire off my spark went cold. As we turned the corner I saw a large pile of rocks with the Decepticons standing very close to it.

"Hold it right there Megatron." I called out, halting the other leader.

"Ah so nice to see you Prime. Come to witness my victory of yet another Minicon?" Megatron smirked.

"Hand over the children!" I demand.

"I'd be glad to but I can't seem to find them in this rock pile." Megatron's optics went to the pile to show me what he was meaning.

"WHAT!" Deep down I was worried. If anything had happened to those kids, I would never forgive myself.

I looked at Cyclonus as he dug through the rock pile. I could feel Hot Shot shaking behind me and I put an arm out to keep him from moving forward, knowing he wanted to rip into the Decepticon.

Megatron watched Cyclonus dig and chuckled, "You can have the little brats once I get that Minicon."

"HEY! I found it!" Cyclonus cackled.

We all turned to Cyclonus as he held up the little green panel. He crushed the bit of rock that it was embedded in and activated it. The little robot transformed into a drill-like vehicle and then attached itself to Cyclonus. We all took cover as the Decepticons started firing at us.

Having successfully captured the Minicon, Megatron was quick to get out of there, "Decepticons retreat!"

We stood up and watched them warp away. Once they were gone Hot Shot immediately ran for the rock pile, but before we could start digging the rocks suddenly moved. A bright, orange mech with a blue crane and red optics sat up and held the children in his hands. He smiled at Hot Shot as he showed us that they were perfectly fine, bar a little dirty.

"Hey there little buddy. Long time no see." Hot Shot smiled as he looked down at the orange mech.

"Smokescreen! When did you get here?" he asked.

"I've been stuck down here for quite some time. But earlier when I saw these kids I heard a voice saying that I should follow these kids. That they would lead me to you," he paused as he looked down at the kids. "I didn't scare you did I?"

"It was great luck that you were here before Megatron could harm them. It's nice to have you with us buddy." Hot Shot smirked.

As I watched Hot Shot and Smokescreen mess with each other I had a feeling I knew who had spoken to Smokescreen. I turned to the tunnel that he had come from and saw a pair of blood red eyes staring at me before they disappeared. I kept this little fact to myself.