The last chapter was a little boring, this one is too, I'll freely admit. However, soon things are about to get interesting, in the next few chapters. I want to build up first, I suppose. I probably should have skipped all the nonsense and went right into the action, but I didn't because I hate doing stuff like that. I hope its still enjoyable though.

In addition, the Word Paperclip beta'ed this one too. He wants me to write "Stars cream" for reasons that are unknown to me. You'd think he's first suggestion would be "Star Scream" but no. I had to share that. Sorry.

I know this one is a bit shorter then the last, there might be a few more coming up like this. Don't be alarmed. Once things get going, chapters will become longer then even I dare to admit.

Enjoy, and remember, I own nothing.

Chapter oo2

After an unfruitful sleep, Miko's alarm clock went off at seven, the girl was up and bouncing towards her closet in no time. She plucked out a change of clothes and took off to the bathroom, ignoring the calls for breakfast from downstairs. She took a quick shower and changed, throwing her tattered outfit into the trash bin (because there was no saving it), then made a beeline downstairs. She was greeted with breakfast already on the table, which in her honest opinion, she didn't have time for. Still, to make her host family feel better, she did sit and eat half of it. Honestly, she wasn't exactly hungry anyway, her mind was too busy haunting her with thoughts of what could have happened to Starscream, and that the Autobots just didn't want to tell her.

After she had finished, she thanked her host mother and took off without another word, nearly forgetting to slip on her footwear (silly her). After slamming the door behind her, she jogged down the sidewalk and met a waiting Bulkhead. She slid over his hood and landed on the other side, opening the door and hopping inside. The door closed, by the Autobot himself, and she snapped on her seatbelt. "I take it everything went well last night," she spoke up in a hopeful tone. "He's still, ya know, alive?"

"He's doing as great as a busted up 'con can," Bulkhead grumbled while revving his engine and starting off towards base. That wasn't exactly the greeting he wanted this morning, but it was better then nothing or the normal 'let's do something dangerous'. "Ratchet patched him up the best he could last night, I heard. You'll have to ask around when we get back to base."

"Awesome," she grinned, feeling relieved that all was well for now. She relaxed into the seat and turned on the radio, feeling better when some loud punk song came jamming through the speakers. "So do you think that I could see him when we get there?" She was dying to see how the Decepticon was really doing, not just by word of mouth.

"I don't know, Miko," he answered while turning down the radio a little. She pouted, he noticed, but wasn't sure if it was because the volume went down or because he didn't know. He went with the latter because it fit the situation, much to his dismay. He didn't want her getting attached to the enemy, whether he saved her or not (which was debatable in his processor). No matter what happened, in the end Starscream still was the Decepticon Second In Command and couldn't be trusted. "You'll have to ask Prime and Ratchet."

"Sheesh," she whined while fiddling with his radio. "Can't you let me do something? I mean, you keep telling me to ask them!"

"Optimus is the leader," he countered lightly. "He's the boss around the base."

"Right," she pouted and turned the music back up, maybe even a little louder then before. She knew that with enough begging and annoying that she might be able to get Optimus to allow her to see Starscream, but getting Ratchet to agree would be the challenge of a lifetime. The medic didn't hate her but he certainly wasn't completely fond of her either, and annoying him could result in broken game systems (something he always threatened, it seemed). "Let's just get there! I wanna see what's going!"

"Right," Bulkhead grunted and picked up speed. Nothing else was said as the pair traveled. The girl seemed to be content with the thought that Starscream was doing well and she could play her music as loud as she wanted to. Without her talking, Bulkhead just kept his mouth shut and allowed her to do as pleased in the seat. Although a part of him wanted to tell her of what happened during a short meeting the night before, where it was discussed what would happen with the Decepticon once he was well, if he survived. Their limited resources did a number on how much Ratchet could actually repair.

Approximately ten songs later, the pair had arrived at base and Miko was out of Bulkhead's vehicle mode in no time. She bound towards the leader of the Autobots with a sweet smile on her face, which normally meant that she wanted something. Raf, who had been playing video games with Bumblebee, looked up (expecting Jack) and blinked at the sight of the girl bouncing in front of the equally surprised prime. Bumblebee beeped and clicked beside him, and Raf shrugged to tell the Autobot that he didn't know what she was doing here this early either.

"Optimus," the girl chirped at the robot. "Can I see Starscream today? I heard he's doing better! He can have visitors now right?"

"Uh," the leader responded with uncertainty. Starscream was stable but certainly not in the shape that an impressionable child could view him. He sent glances to the two other Autobots, then the approaching Ratchet, who raised an optic ridge. After a swift exchange of looks, Ratchet gave a stern one in the direction of the leader, who nodded slowly. "I'm sorry, Miko, but right now is not the time."

Miko looked crushed, "What?"

"The 'con isn't ready for visitors yet," Ratchet added with a stern tone.

"But—!"

"Well the girl's here early," the voice of Arcee echoed, then the sound of her transforming. Miko glanced over to see Jack and motorcycle, frowning at the blue 'bot. "You two," she motioned towards Jack and Miko, "Go play watch cartoons."

Jack mumbled, "I'm sixteen, I don't watch cartoons."

"And I want to find out about Starscream," Miko whined.

"Go, both of you," Arcee replied in a tone that left no room for farther statements.

That didn't stop Miko, as she turned and headed towards the television, "I almost had them broke too!"

"Right," Jack rolled his eyes and followed after the girl.

"Hey guys," Raf greeted and passed over the remote when the pair had made it over. Bumblebee clicked and beeped in dismay, not wanting to mess with the ideals of cartoons, apparently having become attached to them. "We can play video games if you want!"

"That'd be alright," Jack shrugged as he flopped down on the couch. "Whatcha think, Miko?"

"Meh," she shrugged. The two boys appeared surprised but she ignored them, turning her attention to the Autobots across the room. They gave each other a glance, then Jack motioned with his head towards the little Asian.

"What about a movie? I'm sure they have some kind of Science Fiction one on."

"I guess," she mumbled and narrowed her eyes at the giants. Jack and Raf glanced at each other once again, Bumblebee giving another series of noises (asking what was wrong). To this, Raf shrugged his shoulders to the giant yellow robot. Jack knew what was wrong, Raf probably did too but didn't want to admit it. Miko was planning and it was certain that involved the Decepticon that had been brought in. A silent Miko was never a good Miko, which was one of the many things the two boys learned about their new friend.

They didn't have enough time to linger on the idea, for alarms were firing in no time and Decepticon activity was alerted. The foursome bounced to their feet, Miko included, and took off towards the group of Autobots near the system. However, in the buzz of everything, no one noticed that the girl had trailed behind the group that she normally led. Her eyes trailing towards the hall that she had seen the leader take the night before, her sly little mind ready to put plan 'sneak-and-seek' into action.

While the boys hovered around the control system, Ratchet droning about what was going on, Miko took a turn in her steps. Carefully, so that she wasn't spotted, she made her way towards the hall. She glanced over her shoulder once she reached the doorway, only to see Raf shaking his head quickly. She flashed a mischievous smile and placed her pointer finger to her lips, which earned her a desperate look to come back. She winked and slipped into the hall, taking off down it (knowing full well that Raf wouldn't say a word, even though he couldn't lie to save his life). She just had to make this fast; find the Decepticon, make sure he really was alive (at least), then sneak back.

It couldn't be that hard, right? Wrong, she realized as she moved down the long hall. She peered into every little nook and cranny that she could find, no flying Decepticons could be seen. As she moved farther and farther away from the entrance to the hall, she began to wonder if 'sneak-and-seek' was that awesome of a plan to begin with. However, soon her sights set on one opening in the wall, a light inside shone into the hall and a smile spread across her lips. This could be it, she wanted to shout as she jogged over to it with a sly grin. She found him, she had to of.