Disclaimer: I do not own Transformers (2007) or Transformers: Generation 1.

"Location: Rec Room. Bot Count: Three. Level: High Priority."

I honestly don't know how it started, let alone when, but I do know that Rewind was in some need of serious de-stressing. In his position, that meant playing mind games. I knew that his mind was supposed to be focused on warcraft so that he could provide prompt and accurate information in battle, but that was precisely why I agreed to play with him. Every being needs some downtime even if they don't realize it.

"Who is thy superior?"

"Soundwave."

"Query: Why?"

"Response: Soundwave is never in the rec room, the rec room at the Decepticon base is scarcely used, and Knock Out and Megatron are the only ones who interrupt him. Soundwave is also third in command."

"Reasoning: Logical. Accuracy: Incorrect." Rewind smiled at my confused face. "The answer is Optimus Prime. Above Blaster, he is my superior. Jazz is third in command, Blaster's best friend, and above Blaster in the ranks."

I scrunched my eyebrows together. "Wouldn't Jazz be the answer, then? I don't see Prime right now."

"That may be, but Optimus is above Jazz in ranks. Therefore, he is my ultimate superior. Optimus Prime is also usually never in the rec room as you predicted with Soundwave. I did warn you that I would try to deceive you."

"You forgot to say which base."

"It wouldn't be fun if I told you that."

I smiled. "Wise guy."

"'Wise guy. Someone who is always trying to seem more clever than everyone else in a way that is annoying.'" Rewind frowned. "How rude."

I laughed until I felt the ground shake.

"Why are you fueling his addiction to 'cause friction?"

I blinked at Blaster. "I didn't know it was a problem. I just thought he enjoyed games."

"His memory banks need to be fueled with useful information, not human game questions."

I packed the game before staring up at the ceiling when Rewind and Blaster left. I sat up when I heard rumbling and looked at Steeljaw as he jumped from the floor to the autobot couch. I pet his head, unsure how else to interact with him. "Don' mind him," Jazz said as he sat beside me. "He's stressed. The cassettes will start going mental if Blaster doesn't find a socket soon."

"Can't the cassettes each get seperate sockets and then share the energy with Blaster?"

"Blaster's a stubborn aft when it comes ta sharing," Jazz said. "Worse than Optimus. Ya have to basically knock him out and share while he's not in a position ta protest. He's willing to share his socket with others but refuses for others to do the same."

"Counterintuitive," I mumbled as Steeljaw laid his head and front paws on my lap. I continued to pat his head in comfort.

"What's worse is the cassettes. They won't even be with their own socket's when it gets this bad 'cause o' the negative energy surrounding their carrier. They can take care o' themselves, o' course...But they still feel it in their sparks. That he's not getting enough. Ramhorn almost rammed him into Ratchet this morning just to give him a hint."

I frowned slightly at that image as I stared down at Steeljaw. My eyes softened as a memory came to the surface.

When I woke up that fateful morning, I had a headache. I considered it not to be a problem, considering what I had gone through. I didn't want to get up. I didn't want to move. I didn't want to go anywhere...But I had to move. If there was one thing that I knew, it was that I had to stay physically healthy. I didn't want to cause trouble for others. I didn't want to hurt Sonya by hurting myself. So I got up, brushed my teeth, sat in the shower with the hot water running for five minutes, and cooked myself eggs and set aside two pieces of bread for toast. At least they would keep me full for the time being. I didn't want to eat anything extravagant that would just sit in my stomach. At least I can keep this down. The last thing that I want to do is eat something and then have it come back up. I hate being sick. And yet...My eyes softened as I stared at my half-eaten food. Isn't being emotionally drained like being sick? Does that explain why I don't want to do anything physically extreme? Water, I thought suddenly when I reached for my glass of juice and saw it empty. Have to keep hydrated. No fainting. Can't worry Sonya. Have to play a character. The perfect niece. You are in a play, I told myself. You are in a marvelous play. You are a good girl in a marvelous play. Play your part to the fullest. And I did. I played the part well. To my knowledge, Sonya never suspected a thing. She never asked about my 'ex' girlfriend. I was happy about that.

Maybe the real reason I was happy was because I had spent the day reading the Narnia series. I needed hope. God was hope. However, I wasn't going to listen to some preacher talk about God and his miracles on television. I reached God through Narnia. Asland. Asland calmed me down. I looked to his wisdom. Maybe that was also why I was so happy to see him in my dreams that night. It felt so real to me. I could feel his fur and look into his eyes. His eyes said everything that I ever wanted to feel and hear. I love you, I accept you, and I will never leave you. No matter what happens, and I mean no matter what, I will not leave you. He didn't say a word. He didn't have to. I was content with simply seeing him, being in his presense, and being able to touch his fluffy mane.

The cassettes care about Blaster. In a way, I suppose that translates into caring for me. Steeljaw didn't have to stay with me during the whole night. He didn't have to pretend he was someone else. But when I woke up, he was gone. I remember tears falling afterward even though I considered what had happened to be the best dream that I had ever had. I pat him some more before sighing and tapping his helm twice. He sat up and looked at me. "Thank you. You can go back to Blaster. He must be worried." Steeljaw placed his head under my own and purred deeply. I smiled before kissing his nose. "Go. I'll see you later." Steeljaw jumped down and ran to find Blaster.

"Did ya mean that?"

I looked up at Jazz. I smiled with sad eyes. "I never break a promise."