A/N: As usual, guys, reviews, follows, and favorites are appreciated! Although, anon, would you mind specifying what the issue was, if anything? I know the first couple of chapters are a little weak (I didn't really decide to go "screw canon, I'm changing the movie plotline" until about chapter 5 or 6), but there's not much in your review to go on other than that you didn't like it.

Chapter 3: Arrival

Riella quickly unsubspaced her medi-kit, trying not to make too much noise, and glanced down the alley to make sure they were alone before leaning over Prowl's chest to look at the circuitry. She resisted the urge to swear at the sight of the damage. That's a lot of torn wires. This could take a while. How much pain are you in?

Enough. Prowl stifled a wince when she touched the wires. Is there much damage?

More than I expected and more than can be left to self-repairs. Riella flicked the tiny welder on and carefully lined the wires up. Tell me if it hurts too much to stay still. I might still have enough battery power left in the EMP generator to numb the wires.

I can manage. Don't worry about me. Prowl brushed a finger across her back with a faint smile. I've had worse.

I know. Now be quiet and let me focus.

To Riella's frustration, it took her almost an hour to finish, between the difficulty of the job and the need to be quiet if any human came near. That's it. You should have full ability back, but you might be sore for a while.

Thanks for the warning. Prowl sat up slowly and winced. Ah. Tiny circuits, strong connection to the sensory net.

Riella arched an eyebrow at him. Complaining? We do not have time for that.

Agreed. Prowl transformed, slower than normal, and let his engine hum pointedly. We need to report to the rendezvous point. This has taken too long already, and it's getting dark early. Our orders were to report immediately so they can track our signal in.

What? Riella stared at him in shock. Prowl, Barricade was not seriously injured. He remains a significant threat. Bumblebee –

Can handle this, Prowl reminded her quietly. He's made for guarding and front-line fighting, Riella, unlike you and I. He will be fine. The motorcycle nudged gently but firmly against her thigh, pushing her a step or two over. I will not make it an order, but we need to go.

…Have I mentioned how frustrating I find it that you are my commanding officer? Riella sighed and got on the motorcycle. I do not like leaving him on his own.

Not in a few stellar cycles. I was starting to wonder. Prowl sent a quick flash of amusement over the bond and accelerated slowly, making sure she was paying enough attention to not slip off. I am not happy with this either, believe me, but the mission is more important than our personal feelings. Remember, the needs of the many -

I know, I know. The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few. That does not mean I have to like this. He's the only one we've managed to find again since the AllSpark was lost and we were scattered to the stars. She shook her head slowly. The Autobots have been separated for too long.

Riella... She could feel his empathy over the bond, minds touching in a brief moment of comfort. I know. Believe me, I know. It hurts me as well. I promise you, we will find them all one day.

Riella sighed and patted the side of the motorcycle just below the handlebars, in the place that corresponded to his shoulder in robot mode. Thank you. She forced a faint smile and added, We have each other. You are enough for me.

As are you. Prowl's engine hummed lightly, comforting emotions reaching out from his spark to hers. Our exile is almost over. The AllSpark is located.

They didn't speak again until they reached the center of the city, by which point it was just dark enough for stars to show far above. They parked outside City Hall to wait, and Riella took the moment to stare off toward the star she knew to be Cybertron's sun. Long way from home.

Before Prowl could respond, a signal popped up in Riella's heads-up display, and a neon yellow Camaro turned a corner fifty yards down the street. With a sigh of relief, Riella stood up to get a better look, making sure it was in fact Bumblebee. Looks like someone upgraded.

I noticed. Quite the step up. Someone's tired of undercover, it would seem.

Riella leaned back against Prowl and studied the approaching Camaro with interest. ::I'm glad you're alright, Bumblebee, but why the alt-mode change?::

::Sam and Mikaela thought the first one was 'a piece of crap'.:: Riella was pretty sure the young Autobot would have been blushing in robot mode. ::I saw this one, and, well…::

Even without seeing his face, Riella could just picture Prowl's raised eyebrow ridge. ::Mikaela?::

::Sam's girlfriend::

That explains the female, Prowl commented dryly over the bond. Primus, he's more than interested. Her behavior may indicate reciprocation, but scans are extremely unclear.

Riella laughed internally. That would be why I don't scan humans. I have enough trouble understanding them without throwing biological reactions into the information.

Bumblebee pulled up beside them and let the two humans Riella had seen before – Sam and Mikaela, they have names, use them, she reminded herself quickly. Sam stared at Riella and took a step back. "Um...don't take this the wrong way, but who the hell are you?"

Interesting. Riella pushed her hair back behind elegantly pointed ears – the rubber band holding it out of her face had broken during the earlier fight – and tried to look reassuring. She had the distinct impression it wasn't working. "My name is Riella. This -" she gestured to the motorcycle, "is Prowl. He would introduce himself, but transforming would undoubtedly attract the attention we plan to avoid." Talking still felt odd. She was going to have to break that habit of bond-speaking exclusively on missions.

"So...it's...he's...some kind of robot? What, are you some kind of aliens or something?" Mikaela pointed to Bumblebee. "He said…at least I think that's what he meant."

"And then there was all that stuff last night, what was that?" Sam added. "Like, a message or something?"

Yes…Riella started, realized what she was doing, and repeated herself out loud. "Yes." She was prepared to explain, but before she could start, familiar signals replayed over her long-range comm system, and her scanner picked up the crash of Cybertronian metal hitting atmosphere thousands of miles above her. She looked up sharply, searching for the long-awaited sight; protoform spheres, dropping through the atmosphere at high speed. The flames surrounding each one made for quite the dramatic view. "It would appear to have had the desired effect." Relief and excitement mingled over the bond as Prowl ran the same scan. Finally! It's been far too long.

Can you tell who? Organic mode tended to mute Riella's long-range scanner, much to her annoyance.

Prime for sure, and Jazz. No verdict on the other two. Watch the humans – we've got a landing just half a mile south. Open field. I think Prime, but there's another a mile west that could be his signal too. Before Prowl had even finished his sentence, the nearest sphere hit the ground, and Sam and Mikaela took off running. ::Really? Really? Humans,:: she snapped over the comm, making sure Bumblebee could hear her too. With a barely-stifled sigh, the technorganic followed, angling off on an intercept course. Prowl, can you make contact?

Already trying.

Riella caught up with the humans and managed to block their path, just seconds before the sphere unfolded. The silver robot turned toward them, blue optics locking with Riella's, and she raised her hand in acknowledgement and recognition. A few simple instructions registered over the comlink, in Cybertronian.

::Copy that, sir.:: Prowl, you were right – I have contact with Prime. We have our orders. Rendezvous in ten. Her attention snapped back to the humans, still trying to get closer to the Autobot in the field. "No. Not yet."

"But – "

"Wait," Riella cut in sternly. "We need to get you back to Bumblebee and to the rendezvous point. Being out in the open is dangerous."

To her internal relief, they obeyed, hurrying back to the other two waiting Autobots. Bumblebee opened his passenger-side door, and Riella gestured for them to get in. After a moment of hesitating, Sam got in, but Mikaela looked back at Riella. "Aren't you coming?"

"I have my own ride." Riella rested one hand fondly on Prowl's windshield, allowing herself a slight smile. "We'll be right behind you." Over the comm link, she added, ::Bumblebee, these coordinates are for a secluded location approximately the same distance from all of the arrivals. Ten minutes.::