Nikkei awoke after a peaceful sleep, flipping around she saw that it had grown dark sighing she closed her eyes and went back to sleep.
Ratchet franticly searched for Ironhide he found him at the edge of the lake surrounding the factory/base. Ironhide had his eyes closed contentedly, Aella was swimming far off. Ratchet poked Ironhide awake; sitting down next to him Ratchet looked at him very hard.
Ironhide was utterly confused "Ratchet what's the matter?" Ratchet sighed "what is love?" the question was abrupt and uncalled for but he asked it all the same. "Love?" Ironhide repeated. "Yes love, you and Aella love each other, what is it?" Ironhide rubbed the back of his neck in confusion "what's this about?" he asked. Then his eyes opened wide "you like Nikkei?" Ratchet sighed "I don't know" Ironhide narrowed his eyes "isn't this a little soon?" Ratchet sighed again "I don't know" he repeated. Ironhide shook his head in bewilderment "im not telling you, you will find out sooner… or later" Ratchet got up, he walked away with out another word.
Ratchet wandered into the med lab he was lost in his thoughts and he failed to notice the sleeping Nikkei. She had not liked it in the room and so she had moved back into the med lab. She had a pillow and a blanket wrapped around her and she was sleeping peacefully. Walking into his office; Ratchet stopped, he then backed out of the office and looked at the Nikkei he hadn't noticed. She was curled up in a ball the pillow acting as a teddy. Ratchet sighed, he walked up to her and knelt down beside her, Nikkei had stirred and now she stared at him.
"Good morning" Ratchet laughed "good afternoon" Nikkei narrowed her eyes "are you sure" Ratchet nodded "pretty darn" sitting up Nikkei wrapped the blanket around her self. She then asked "when do I get to go home?" Ratchet hadn't thought about her home, he thought for a moment and then said "you can go home today if you wish." Nikkei laughed "I wish" Ratchet nodded "lets go then… ill drive you" he transformed and Nikkei got in. she nestled up in the front seat. Ratchet drove off and exited the factory. Ironhide and Aella drove up next to them. Aella waved and they raced past them. Ratchet grumbled "reckless" Nikkei giggled. And so they drove off, Nikkei occasionally gave directions and soon they were at Nikkei's house. Thanking Ratchet she ran inside.
Once inside she ran into the bathroom, sick of her clothes she stripped them off and grabbed some new ones. Then rushing to the kitchen Nikkei made her self some KD. Looking out the window she sighed, Ratchet still stood on her driveway. She went to the front door and called "if you expecting an invitation, tough, you can't fit!" Ratchet chuckled, "not in this form no" Nikkei walked out to stand in front of him. "What do you mean 'not in this form'" Ratchet didn't bother to clarify.
Suddenly a hologram appeared and Nikkei jumped back. Ratchets new form laughed, he was about Nikkei's age, and his dark brown eyes had a golden glint to them. His blond shaggy hair was mused; it looked as if he had been running. Getting out of the once was Ratchet, the hologram Ratchet walked up to Nikkei. He wore baggy jeans and a baggy T-shirt, which held the Autobots symbol. "wanna invite me in now" his voice was the same, and it fit his appearance. Nikkei stared at him open mouthed she had never imagined a guy (who was really a robot) could be drop dead gorgeous. Composing her self Nikkei nodded "wanna come in?" Ratchet smiled "sure" they both walked in the door and shut it.
Once in Ratchet noticed the house was deserted, he walked up to Nikkei who had continued to make her KD. "Any one else live here?" he asked. Nikkei didn't look up at him but answered "my parents are on a trip, both wont be home for another two weeks" Ratchet narrowed his eyes at her back, she seemed to feel his intense stare so she turned around and lifted an eyebrow. "What?" she asked crossing her arms. "You're here alone? Isn't that dangerous?" Nikkei laughed "I can take care of myself you know" "riiight" Ratchet nodded as if he understood, She slugged him in the arm. "You hungry she asked? Ratchet shrugged "ive never tried you food it will be a new experience" Nikkei laughed, "your starting with KD how sad." She put the KD in to two different bowls and then brought them to the table. Sitting in front of Ratchet she began to eat, she was hungry. Ratchet looked at the bowl that was in front of him, he then looked up to see Nikkei eating it. Lifting an eyebrow he tried a bit to find it actually very good. Most of their meal was eaten in silence. Once they had ended the conversation still had not struck up. Ratchet decided to end that "so thanks for my first ever human food" Nikkei smiled "your welcome, was it to your liking" both were formal… too formal. "Yes thanks"
They both stood a few good meters from each other, each was to afraid to take a step to ward the other. Nikkei's mind went blank; she was tired and wanted to go to bed. On the other hand Ratchet was full of thoughts ask her to go to dinner tomorrow… what are you crazy!... it was just a thought… id better go… yah she looks pooped… bring her to her room…what! Just do it. Ratchet shook his head that stupid voice was back. Sighing in defeat Ratchet walked up to Nikkei her eyes were half closed and she really didn't mind when Ratchet had picked her up, in fact she nestled into his hologram warmth. Ratchet carried her upstairs and tried to find her room, he was successful, and gently he placed her on the bed. Nikkei had fallen asleep in Ratchets arms. Smiling softly Ratchet covered her with some blankets. Nikkei moaned and turned over. Nodding Ratchet knew his work was done here.
The ride back to the base was silent, Ratchet had not bothered to turn on the radio, he was caught in his thoughts. Swerving through traffic and occasionally missing the rare pedestrian by inches Ratchet made his way to the base. Once again the voice was back you did it good job! … go away… no… please… this time the voice didn't come back. Once at the base Ratchet trudged back into the med lab and then into his office. He would pick up Nikkei tomorrow, she still needed to be looked after, after all she was home alone…
Back at Nikkei's house, Nikkei slept peacefully in her nice warm bed but else were in the house something strange was happening. Two men had decided to break in, the house was big enough and looked to be a treasure trove. They circulated through out the house not bothering to keep quite. Once few plates had been over turned, Nikkei was brought roughly awake. Thinking it was Ratchet she climbed out of bed to get him to go away. But at the top of the stairs she heard talking. "ready your gun mate, I just heard foot steps" Nikkei gasped there were robbers in her house.
As quietly as she could Nikkei crept into her parent's bedroom. A phone was there, it was her ticket to getting out of here safe. But unfortunately for her, Nikkei's parents were a bit messy and so she tripped over a few clothes sending a loud bang though the house. "Oi mate there's some one up stairs" she then heard the pounding of feet on the stairs and the next thing Nikkei knew she was roughly being hauled to her feet and a gun was placed to her temple. "lass you should have stayed quiet" a man stood in front of her. A dark mask hid his face, she struggled against the person holding on to her. But the gun was just pushed into her temple further.
Whimpering she continued to struggle, she was now crying and praying silently. "now what to do with you?" the man in front of her paced "well we could kill you, and then rob you house, or we could take you along" his face was close to hers now "we could use some one like you for… entertainment" Nikkei struggled as hard as she could, nothing could ever compel her to do such things. She was crying in steady streams now. Nikkei desperately wished for Ratchet to be there to save her. To try and get her to stop struggling the man pulled on her hair causing her to cry out in pain. She fell to her knees and hands. The men looked at her "pitiful one" one of the men commented "the other said nothing" the next thing Nikkei knew there was a sharp pain in the back of her neck. The man had hit her with the butt of the gun knocking her unconscious. Her world went black. The men that night made it out with a few treasures but nothing that would sustain them for quite a while.
Ratchet drove to Nikkei's house quite leisurely, he was happy. But when he saw the house he knew something was wrong, the door was open and all of the lights were off. Ratchet drove into the driveway, and then putting on his hologram he ran inside. Looking around he gasped. The house was in ruins. Many things were turned over, but most was shattered. Calling out Nikkei's name Ratchet ran upstairs. He saw Nikkei lying on the floor face down. He ran to her, taking one look at her neck he knew she had been hit pretty hard. "Damn" he muttered, he flipped her over and placed her head in his lap. He then began to examine her for any more injuries. He was relieved to find no more. He them tried to shake Nikkei awake, he needed to make sure she was ok. She moaned, Ratchet shook her some more. "Nikkei" he called softly. She flutterer her eyes open. Brown gold eyes met hers. She winced but smiled all the same. She then whispered "I knew you would come" with that her eyes closed again and he knew that she had slipped back into unconsciousness. Ratchet picked her up and brought her back to the base. He had made his mind up, Nikkei had a new guardian.