Disclaimer : I don't own it.

Note: For those of you who've asked, Jazz makes an appearance next chappie! :)

(Normal POV)

"Can they not even leave the base for one day, without getting into a world of trouble?"

"The trouble wasn't major-"

"But a prelude to more. It means the Decepticons know where to look to find the femmes. They cannot go back to their homes."

"I sincerely doubt Isabella even hasa home to return to, any longer. Ironhide saw to that when he detected a Decepticon signature in the same location to the femme."

There was a long pause. "Is she harmed?"Internally, he was cursing Ironhide for reporting the incident to Optimus, rather than him, but he had to give the bot props. If she'd been hurt badly, undoubtedly Ironhide wouldhave turned to him. Since he hadn't, Ratchet could only conclude any damage the femme had sustained was minor, and the mech simply didn't want to deal with the obvious displeasure the medic would openly display over their internal communications link.

Optimus' optics were turned towards the incoming boat, the unscheduled return worrying him greatly. "A very minor wound to her arm that has already healed, thanks to internal repair systems."

"At least we can rest easier knowing the femmes' systems appear to be functioning well."

The great Autobot leader paused, his optics remaining on the incoming boat, but now more out of hesitation. After a moment, he sighed. "Except that he's also informed me Isabella-"

She prefers 'Bella'. Ratchet thought idly, his own optics trained on the incoming vessel, knowing it carried old friends, and new team mates. They have a lot of training to endure. I do not envy them the weight on their shoulders.

"Has shown signs of discomfort and sluggish systems responses. He said she seemed...distracted, and questioned him about sparklings and newborn sparks." Slowly, Optimus forced his optics from the vessel and turned to one of his eldest and most trusted friends. "Was she carrying when she left?"

"She'd barely been a Cybertronian for a week. She andher friend have been isolated to med bay, and not even made any real attempts to speak to the other bots, outside of Ironhide." A dry look was shot at the larger bot. "And we both know how well that turned out. I do admit to being concerned. She feels almost physical pain at the mere mention of the name 'Richard Wrenchit'-" Optics narrowed. "I will get you back for that, by the way."

A low laugh escaped Optimus. Low but intense, shaking his mighty frame with it's force.

Ratchet cracked a hint of a smile, before turning serious once again. "She asked for him. She askedfor Richard Wrenchit. She asked for me. I am...concerned as to her reasons why."

"You won't have long to wait to ask her."Gesturing towards the docking boat with his head, Optimus began forward. "Let us go see what has happened."

(Bella's POV)

"One day. I couldn't have onefreaking day!" Rika groaned as she walked towards the dock, choosing, like me, to remain in her human form. "Do you know what happened? Besides the Rumble-intervention, that is?"

"Yeah." I nodded at her, my eyes fixed on the dock. Seeing Ratchet and Optimus standing just out of the way, I sprang.

My systems were still acting oddly, which only attributed to my concern, but seeing the one bot who would tell me for certain what was going on, I felt hope swell within me, mixing with the pain of his relation to the man I'd cared so deeply for. I ran forward, dodging humans and dashing aside, before I triggered the transformation. Once again, systems responded slowly, and I felt...heavier, but my body shifted, and before long, I was hop-scotching over people again.

"Easy there." Optimus held up a hand as I very nearly skidded into him and his medic, catching me by the arms and steadying me.

I could only really stare at him. I'd seen him once before, but I still couldn't get over his height. "Damn! You're huge!" I looked up, having to crane my neck, considering I was shorter than Ratchet or Ironhide, who were both shorter than him. I really only came up to about mid chest. Seeing his look turn amused, I felt the heat flood me. "Sorry."

"It's quite alright." He chuckled slightly. "Are you alright?" Now he sobered, his eyes scanning me.

Being reminded of the situation at hand, I shook my head and pulled away, before turning to Ratchet, whose eyes were locked on Ironhide's. There was a glare on his face that only made me hesitate a moment. Then I felt a nudge on my side, and turned to find Optimus giving me an encouraging look as he gently pushed me towards the yellow medic.

I held my hands over my chest, before turning back. "Ratchet?" Will I ever get used to saying his name out loud?When he turned towards me, I opened my mouth to tell him about the light. I'd fully intended to tell him about my cell phone, and the blast, and the light in my chest, but I paused. I could see Jolt next to Bumblebee -my inner fan-girl of the scout threatening to break free in a squeal and glomp the not-so-little guy.

"What's the matter?"

I felt a tingling run through me, like tiny little pin pricks, and then the air around us got tense. I looked over to find Ratchet staring with horribly wide eyes, his eyes so very bright, and the stare almost shocked. It hit me then, fanfics usually listed Ratchet as the scan-first-ask-questions-later type of person, and judging by his look, I could guess what had happened. "Was I right? Is it a sparkling?"

The words were out before I even realized what I'd said. Movement on the docks seemed to quiet to a minimum. Bots froze, and the humans stepped warily around their rigid forms. Ironhide's jaw dropped, Will scrambling for purchase in the bot's suddenly nerveless fingers, poking at them, trying to get his attention. Even Rika was looking at me oddly, like I'd suddenly sprouted a second head, or began speaking like Megatron.

"It... But how?!"

"I don't know. I just... I was bored. I picked up my phone, but then decided to just...think." It was odd explaining what was going through my head, and my actions that led to the little spark currently resting so innocently in my chest. "I put the cell phone on my chest, I'd been thinking about the little bot Sector Seven created from someone's cell phone, and then killed off, and then there was a sharp jolt of electricity in my chest."

"And what..the cell phone just turned into a sparkling? Wait, like another little Rambo bot?!"

"Well, yes and no." I held up my hands, looking at them. "It turned...into a little glowing orb. At first, I kept running. I didn't know whatwas going on." It was like everyone faded, and I was only talking to Rika. "I was so upset and scared, but it kept coming at me. Then it just...stopped. It just hovered in front of my chest, glowing brighter and dimmer, like it was a heartbeat or something. I just...reached out for it... It felt right, holding it in my hands." My eyes burned. "Is that wrong?"

She stared at me a moment, frowning. The look on her face spoke volumes. She didn't know. She didn't know what to make of it, or if it was wrong or not. Instead of answering, she shrugged, clearly unable to even encourage me or anything, out of her own confusion.

"No." Ratchet's voice was stern, bringing me back to the present, and I warmed, seeing everyone staring at me. His eyes were just as stern as his voice. "No, you did right. A sparkling is essentially harmless and helpless. How it followed you around, hovered on it's own, outside of your body is beyond me. I've never heard of anything like it."

"I have." Optimus' voice was soft. "The allspark. We believe it changed you, am I right? You wore the necklaces, and the shards seemed to disappear without a trace. What if they disappeared into your body?" He tilted his head a little. "Perhaps your thoughts on the sparkling Sector Seven created unknowingly sent..." He trailed off, as if searching for the words.

"Wait, like we're part of the allspark, or something?" Rika asked in the background. "Dude, talk about cliché. I don't wanna be a Mary-sue!" The last part was hissed under her breath, and she stubbornly ignored the looks the bots gave her, shooting them a look to drop it.

"No, there's isn't enough radiation in your bodies for that, but if you truly had a shard within you, you had the ability to create a new life."

I turned to Rika. "So we both have to ability to create life, and mine is a sparkling?" I saw the thoughtful look on her face, mixed with confusion and fear, before she shook her head.

Ratchet seemed to be lost in thought, but with a shake of his head, he focused back on us. "A longing? Like an unconscious wish for a sparkling?" His own head tilted, as he addressed Optimus' earlier question. "Did you feel bad for the other sparkling's demise? Did you wish it had survived?"

"No." I frowned. "Well, yeah, but... It was just a fictional character." I suddenly paused. "Or... It was. I wanted to hit Simmons for that." I looked up, my eyes widening. "Hey! I can! When he helps-" A hand was clasped over my mouth before I could finish that sentence and I suddenly realized what I'd been about to say. My already wide eyes widened even more, and I was filled with horror as all the bots seemed to stiffen up even more.

"Helps with...what?" Ironhide's eyes were narrowed. "Just what are you femmes hiding?"

My heart thrummed hotly in my chest. Suspicion filled the large black bot. It had been fading it seemed, with the appearance of the sparkling, but now it was back full force. What was worse was, it was now also echoed in the eyes of Lennox, and Jolt and Ratchet. In fact, the only bots regarding us with any kindness were Optimus and Bumblebee, but that didn't help because if Megatron showed the slightest hesitation in killing a human, I knew Optimus would afford him the same kindness.

I was suddenly the bad guy again, but there wasn't anything I could do about it. Even as I pulled Rika's hand from my mouth, my eyes kept burning. I stubbornly fought the tears, gazing at the bots, my mind struggling to figure out what to say that could fix this.

My chest tightened uncomfortably, and I rubbed at it, even as my breaths barely squeezed past the discomfort. "I..." I trailed off, feeling nervous as even the humans stopped milling about, stepping away from us, even as they regarded us with the same sudden hostility. "No, you don't understand-"

"Then make us understand."

Rika growled and turned on Ironhide. "Can't you see this is upsetting her? Why don't you back off, before I make you eat my foot??"

"Enough." The word was quiet, but all the building commotion died at the sound. "Isabella-"

"Bella." I felt stupid even as the word passed my lips. I knew it was a term my friends called me by, and these bots have proven themselves to be anything but my friends. They might make sure I was physically well, but other than that, I was nothing more than a possible spy to them. I sighed, clenching my fist when a small pain went through my chest, my face contorting before I could stop myself.

"Alright. As Optimus said, that's enough. Rika and Bella will be coming with me to the med bay. Questions can wait until after I've checked to make sure the sparkling is alright, and that Rika hasn't picked one of her own up-"

"I think I'd know if I turned something into a glowing orb, Wrenchie."

"My designation is Ratchet, I would appreciate it if you used it." The tone was a growl. "Now, no more arguments. Follow me."

Without a word, I trudged after Ratchet. I could hear Ironhide arguing that we should be kept in the brig, and froze when Rika suddenly stopped walking. Turning, I watched as she spun on Ironhide.

"Well jeez, you'd think a pregnant female is the biggest threat since Mega-douche." She snapped, catching their attention. "Ever consider that maybe, just maybe we're trying to protect all you?" With that, she turned back, staring at me. "What? We are, aren't we?" She shrugged and began walking again.

The rest of the walk back to the infirmary was silent. I didn't even have to be told to sit on the berth when we entered the room, my mind on the little Cybertronian baby growing inside me. It was when Ratchet faced me, with a rather guarded look, that I sighed, looking down. At least the burning sensation, threatening tears, had faded. Now I just felt...empty.

Lost my humanity. Shunned by Cybertronians. Will I ever fit in anywhere?

"Open your chest please." The tone was so distant and professional, I felt like any and all progress we'd made had disappeared, and I was once again faced with a stranger. "I'll need to have a look at the sparkling."

I reached up and opened my chest plates. He'd told us that we'd soon be able to do it with our minds, but I couldn't so... As he reached in and gently pulled the cover free, I frowned, seeing the bright white glow next to my own heart. "If you want, it's probably best to have one of the Arcee triplets take the sparkling." The pain that soared through me at the thought of him doing so, was a lot sharper than I expected, but I endured it. Wait, can they even do that? Move a sparkling from one femme to another? I had to believe so, considering how advanced they were.

"And why would you suggest such a thing?"

"I'm a threat, remember?" I couldn't keep the bitterness out of my voice, even if I had tried. "You wouldn't want it around such a bad influence, and at least you don't ever have to worry about me using the sparkling against you."

He reached into my spark chamber, but I didn't have the courage to look up at his face. I also couldn't watch as I was sure he was about to pull the sparkling from me, so I turned away, once again staring at the rather plain tiles on the floor. Instead of feeling him tug the sparkling, however, I felt a hot jolt that sent sharp electricity through me. Before I knew what I was doing, I was grabbing Ratchet's wrist and twisting away from him, moving on shaky legs.

"What the pit was that?!" I shuddered again as my heart hummed rapidly, my body really hot all of a sudden.

His eyes were bright, and he reached up to scratch at the side of his neck, almost sheepishly. "I'm afraid I got a little too close to your spark. I do apologize." He sighed. "From what I can tell, the sparkling is perfectly healthy, and it's a little femme, hence the white-blue coloring of the spark. A mech's is a darker, richer blue. I'll have to create a shell for her body." He frowned deeply. "Which will take a lot of time and effort to make sure it's ready in time."

"Wouldn't it just be easier..." I shuddered again. "To transplant the sparkling into someone who knows what they're doing?"

"Is that what you want?"

I paused. "What?"

"Do you want the sparkling out of you? I can understand your reactions in placing it within you could have either been an instinctual response, or you knew the only way it would survive, but do you want the sparkling out of you?"

"Yeah, because I'm a cold hearted bitch like that." I hissed, my arms wrapping around my chest.

He raised an eyebrow. "Then stop suggesting it. I do not know if you are a threat, honestly. I'm uncertain how two earth-born femmes can 'protect' a group of ancient Cybertronians, no matter how well versed they are in our history-"

"Future."

I turned to Rika, who had her arms crossed over her chest, watching the entire exchange. I wasn't the only one, either. Ratchet spun to her so quickly, I'm surprised I didn't hear anything snap inside his neck. "What?"

"Future." This time it was me. "Past we know a little about. When we mention protecting you guys, we mention a huge battle coming in the very near future. Tell me something, Ratchet. Does any of the Autobots ever check out the satelites in space?" When he shook his head, I tilted mine. "Don't you think you should, considering Soundwave's ability to hack into communications?"

"He might not be there yet, though, so you'll wanna keep an eye out." Rika added, seeing where I was going.

"And let's not forget Ravage. Barricade's still out there, somewhere, but he wasn't a part of the final battle..." I tilted my head at Rika. "I hate suspense. Just where the frag was that bot? He wasn't destroyed in Mission City, and he wouldn't take off like that... Ugh, anyways..." I shook my head before refocusing. "They're gonna be looking for your allspark shard." I straightened slowly as Ratchet took in what we were telling him. I knew we were both screwed, but a glance at Rika told me we both felt the same way.

If our lives outside the base were all but over, what better way to start a new life, than helping veritable alien heroes protect our world?

...That is, if they'd accept us.

Written : Jan 25, 2010

Hope you like it.

R+R Please

Thank you

Tenshi