Ratchet was in Med Bay, trying to keep himself busy. He knew that Sam had bonded to the twins. To be honest, he was shocked that they were the ones who told him. His first reaction was to strip them of their parts and feed them to cyber-piranhas. Now that he was alone and was finally having a chance to run it through his processor, he came to the conclusion that this was probably good for her. Why she chose the twins over anyone else was beyond him, but he figured she needed them more since they have always been the dynamic trio.
Memories flashed as he remember the trouble they always got into. Ratchet would scold the twins while Nina scolded her daughter. He chuckled at the memories. He looked to the desk where a picture of him, Nina, and Sam stood untouched by time. They were smiling like there wasn't a care in the world, like there was never a war going on. They were happy. Everything was perfect. Then he remembered what day it was.
It was that day. The day she died. The day everything changed.
Sam had gone to the cemetery with the twins for the day to visit her, which was probably for the best. She needed them now more than ever. Although he still wasn't quite comfortable with her leaving the base knowing Sideways was still out there looking for her and that Megatron would be arriving any minute, but the fact that the two gladiator-raised warriors were with her made him feel a little more at ease. He would never admit it, but he trusted the twins with her now that they are bonded. True it wasn't the best choice, but it would be easier to look after her. Not that the twins would ever let her out of their sight, and that made him feel good.
Speaking of which...he would have to stop by the cemetery tonight to pay his respects to Nina. He took one last glance at the photo before returning to his work.
-At the Cemetery-
We arrived at the cemetery about an hour ago. I rode with Sideswipe, dealing with complaint after complaint from Sunstreaker. I had found my mother's stone without a problem and found myself just standing there.
I had gotten a bouquet of flowers for her, but I couldn't bring myself to set them down. I had done this so many times before, you would think each time would get slightly easier but it wasn't. Each time I come here, I am constantly reminded of that night. How my mother was forcibly taken from me. It wasn't fair. And now that I knew the truth of what actually happened, how it wasn't an accident that took her, it made me feel even worse.
Every year I came here with the thought ingrained into me that it was a mere accident that happened, but it was all a lie.
A lie.
I gripped the flowers tighter in my hands. Shaking slightly at the fights that were caused when I knew the truth. I knew now that it was to protect me, but I still felt uneasy. Was it really the best thing?
There was a drop that landed on my head. Then another one. Then another one. And before long, it was raining. I hate the rain. The flowers remained at my side as I tightened my grip, hoping for nothing.
A hand on my should jerked me back to reality to which I wasn't sure if I should be grateful or disappointed. I looked to see Sunstreaker with a solemn look on his face.
"We should go soon. You'll get sick otherwise." Sunstreaker said, staring at the grave. I turned my head back.
"I just want a few more minutes...ah achoo!" I lowered my head, my face was probably red. That was embarrassing!
Sunstreaker grabbed my shoulders and turned me to face him. He had such a serious look on his face. Slowly, he lowered his to mine and rested his forehead on mine. I felt my face grow hotter.
"Hmm." He pulled away. "You have a slight fever. Time to go."
"Okay." I sighed. I looked back to the grave and gently set the flowers down. "I love you mom. I'll see you later." I turned around to face my twins. "Okay, I'm ready. Eeep!" I squeaked when Sunstreaker lifted me over his shoulders and proceeded to walk to his alt form.
"Sunstreaker! I can walk you know!" I shouted at him. Sideswipe, who was standing by his alt the whole time, was trying not to laugh.
"Bro, you don't have to carry her."
"She's getting sick so I don't want to risk it." he simply replied. His passenger door flipped up and he plopped me onto the seat. The door shut and the seatbelt snaked around me.
"Wait! She's getting sick? Is she okay? Do we need Ratchet?" he started talking a mile a minute.
"Come down, Sides. It's just a cold. She'll be fine if she rests. Come on, lets head back. This rain is going to spot my paint job."
So that's where we are now. On our way back to the base. Apparently my fever has gone up some more since we left so I was trying to sleep.
"Sunstreaker, Sideswipe. This is Optimus Prime. What is your location right now?" Prime's voice sounded on the radio.
"This is Sideswipe, sir. We are on our way back to base. ETA thirty minutes." I heard Sideswipe's voice.
"Understood, I need you two to head to these coordinates instead."
"What for?" Sideswipe asked.
"Teletraan-1 picked up Megatron's signal. His ship has penetrated the atmosphere and is set to land outside the city. I have some team members being dispatched there now and I will join shortly." That got me sitting up.
"Sorry Optimus. We have to stop at the base first. We have Sam with us and she's running a fever." Sunstreaker said.
"There's no time to stop by the base. Meet at these coordinates immediately. I'll have Ratchet meet you there and he'll take care of her. Optimus out." The transmission cut out.
"Sunstreaker what are we going to do? We can't bring Sam with us. Starscream will be there and most likely Sideways too." Sideswipe said. I remained quiet. It was obvious that I was nervous. What if he really was there?
"Scrap!" Sunstreaker shouted. "We don't have a choice. We'll have to go and Ratchet will take her back."
"Yo Sunny!" Sideswipe suddenly shouted.
"What?" Sunstreaker shouted back, irritably. A sudden rev of an engine snapped me up. That engine didn't belong to my twins. I looked out the window and saw a familiar mustang police car.
"It's Barricade!" I smiled. Sunstreaker growled.
"Great, who invited him?" he groaned.
"Optimus sent me. He said you had Sam. Since I can't really participate in the battle, he wanted me to bring her to Ratchet." Barricade said.
"Yeah right! There's no way in Pit that I'm trusting her with you!" Sunstreaker shouted. I rolled my eyes. Of course they still don't like each other.
"Why can't you join the fun, Cade?" Sideswipe asked. At least he was trying.
"Starscream and Sideways already want to snuff out my spark. You think I want to be there with both of them including Megatron? No thank you." he replied.
"Sunstreaker, maybe you should give Sam to Barricade. He can take her to Ratchet while we go deal with the Cons." Sideswipe tried to reason.
I felt the seatbelt tighten around me. I know this was already a losing battle.
"No way! I'm not going to risk it! We can protect her just fine!" he shouted.
"Is your processor malfunctioning?" Barricade snapped. "If you continue to take her with you, you'll only be putting her in even more danger!"
Sunstreaker only growled in response.
"Look, I know Sideways. She is going to be his only target. And now that he has Starscream playing his little game, they're both going to go after her. There's no doubt that this will attract Megatron's attention as well." Barricade tried to reason.
"Yeah, but you said so yourself. You're also their target! So what makes you think that even if we hand Sam to you that they won't just come after you instead. What if this whole thing is a trap?" Sunstreaker retorted.
We were all silent. Sunstreaker had a point. What if this whole thing was a plot to get me and Barricade.
"I won't let that happen." Barricade suddenly said in a dead-serious tone. "You have my word, Sunstreaker, that no harm will come to the girl. I swear on my spark."
Sunstreaker remained silent, as if pending.
"Sunstreaker." I said. I was willing to put my trust into Barricade. He's already proven himself to me when he saved me. There's no way he wouldn't do it again.
"RRRGGGHHH Fine!" Sunstreaker relented. They pulled over and Sunstreaker unbuckled the seatbelt. I stepped out and proceeded to walk to Barricade's awaiting alt form, quickly getting drenched in rain.
"You better keep her safe, Barricade." Sunstreaker warned.
"Just worry about stopping Sideways. He's not one to get his hands dirty. Knowing him, he's got something planned out and there's no doubt that Starscream is in on it." Barricade replied.
"Take care, Sam." Sideswipe called out as he and Sunstreaker peeled out.
"Good luck you guys!" I shouted, and then muttered, "You better come back to me."
"Come on, Sam. I already know you are unwell." Barricade's passenger door opened.
We hit the road in no time, but in the opposite direction of the twins.
"I've already alerted Ratchet of your condition and he is on stand-by for us just up the road." he said through the radio.
"Mmm." I replied. I just stared out the window, worrying about the twins. Were they going to be alright? I just hoped they wouldn't worry too much about me and get hurt because of it. I would never forgive myself.
"Are you okay, Sam?" he asked, worried.
"I'm just worried Barricade. What if they get hurt because of me? I'd never forgive myself."
"You know that's not true, Sam. Those two would rather give up everything than not returning back to you."
I continued to stare, my mind getting a little more foggy. "That's what worries me." I mumbled, knowing he heard me. My head started to hurt a little. My fever was probably getting worse.
"Sam!" Barricade's voice sounded further away and I barely had enough time to register what was going on before there was an explosion right next to us and everything stopped.
Everything was quiet, except for the pounding of the rain and the sound of squealing tires in the distance. We were upside down on the side of the rode. The only thing I realized was that we were attacked and my head hurt. I could hear Sunstreaker's voice saying "I told you so."
Then everything went dark.