Okay, always wanted to do Ratchet and I had an opportunity to capture it in writing. Hope you enjoyed it. Well now let's see how our broken Kiki is doing since she saw a ghost from her nightmare past and see how Starscream handles it.

One quick thing I want to clear up, Kiki's fears kicked in when she saw the arm bands on the soldiers. In my world, the Jung ho soldiers are identified by the territory they serve in. The soldiers that were at the waterfall were the ones who had captured her, but not necessarily the exact ones that had her. In other words a camp or territory may have the same uniform, but have a different colored arm band. This identifies them to which troop or command they are in. The Jung ho are ruled by territorial war lords. Hope this bit of info clears things up.

Please take a moment to comment. I always love to read them. Thank you so much and enjoy!

Starscream was worried. Kiki had been recharging peacefully since the early afternoon but as night approached Starscream began to notice the little twitches and sudden movements that she was displaying in her recharge. Starscream recognized that she was fluxing but there was little he could do except hold her. He brought her in tight and whispered sweet endearments into her ear. Kiki's movements went from twitches to outright shaking and Starscream had to give up his position on the cot and lay her in his arms and hold her as if she was a small youngling. He tried to wake her but her eyes would not focus when they were open so maybe it was better not to try and wake her.

Starscream held her and prayed to Primus that the rescue team would get here soon. Kiki had told her that they knew where they were but holding her now when she was so vulnerable was dangerous. If the wrong faction should find them then it would be difficult for him to protect her. It seemed like it was forever that he waited, holding her shaking form, but then he felt his internal communications ping and he felt relief for only his trine or a Decepticon would com him at this frequency.

"Starscream, this is Ratchet."

"Ratchet? How did you get this frequency?"

"Megatron gave it to me so that we could make contact with you. We are at the entrance of the cave. Are you in there?"

"Yes, but I can't leave her. She has gone into some kind of flux and I can't get her to wake up."

"I understand. We are coming in. There are three of us."

"Yes, we are to the left in a smaller room from the main area of the cave."

"I see your light now. We are almost there."

Starscream could see lights moving toward his position as he saw Ratchet, Sideswipe, and Sunstreaker coming their way. He held Kiki to him as Ratchet was the first to come through the opening. He immediately took in Kiki's appearance and knelt down to check her eyes.

"You are right. She is fluxing and her eyes are dilating. When did she start?"

"About an hour ago. We had a patrol to stop just outside of the waterfall and I think it triggered bad memories for her. I brought her back here and soothed her until she fell into recharge. I thought it would help ease her panic. The shaking didn't start though until about thirty-five minutes ago.

"Has Allie told you anything about her?" Ratchet asked. He could tell that Starscream cared for this femme by the way he held her.

"No, but she told Lord Megatron that she had been damaged and that we were not to hurt her in any way." Starscream replied. Ratchet looked at the red seeker and shifted.

"We need to get her to the ship. Raynie out pilot. The viper is cloaked so you won't see it immediately." Ratchet said.

"Yeah Screamer, it is really cool too." Said Sideswipe. Sunstreaker didn't say anything since he was still not happy with rescuing a seeker but he was impressed that the seeker could think of the femme and put her wellbeing before his. Sunstreaker had always seen seekers as arrogant and selfish being with only destruction in mind for those they thought of as below them.

"Ratchet help Starscream to stand in the limited space and then they helped him carry Kiki out. Once they were free of the cave Sideswipe and Sunstreaker could see how bad the femme was shaking and it looked as if she was having a seizure. The viper was not far since it could hover in the air and they quickly made it back. By then Kiki was shaking uncontrollably and Ratchet was forced to give her a sedative to ease her pain. She never once woke from the flux and Starscream was very worried about her.

"Ratchet, you have been here before. What happened to her?" Starscream asked softly after they had placed her on a medical berth and strapped her down so that she couldn't get hurt.

"It was the first time I came over. She had been captured just before the peace treaty had been negotiated. I had been here a week when they had managed a successful rescue operation. She came in with three other femmes. They were all in terrible condition. I couldn't believe they were still functioning. They had been tortured very severely, beaten, raped, brutalized, but Starscream what haunted me about it all was that the torture wasn't anything that I had seen before. Their valves and ports had been brutalized so severely that Doc had to completely rebuild their carrying chambers and their entire pelvic area. They had burned them from the inside out. It was awful. When I had asked why a being would do this, Doc just said that the Jung ho believed themselves to be a superior being and that anything else didn't have a soul or spark to be considered humane. I will never forget the haunted look in Kiki's eyes. The other three didn't remain functioning a week. I could see their deaths in their eyes; they had given up on living their lives. It was horrible and Doc said they were the lucky ones because they had survived, but I sometimes think that the three that ceased functioning were the lucky ones. They didn't have to learn to live again. I guess though it is how you see everything because Kiki has overcome so much and if she can learn to love again then she will be able to conquer those final fears that still manage to seep through during the night."

"What did Allie say?" Starscream asked softly.

"She is very protective of the femmes that serve under her and even more so of those who have been hurt in the line of duty. What could she say? She made a promise to protect all who serve her and that include Kiki." Ratchet said. The twins were sitting in the front with Raynie so he didn't have to worry about them overhearing. "I told you this, Screamer, because I think that you would be good for her but you need to go slowly."

"Yes, I know. She is not my type." Starscream stated, the last part suddenly.

"Doc certainly not my type, but we make it work. Primus knows what is best for us when sometimes we don't so you must not let your ego get in the way or you miss out on life's best moments. Do you realize that you have not sneered one time since we have been here?"

"Well it's easy when you are not constantly in Megatron's presence." Starscream said ruefully.

"It is much bigger and I think that both Prime and Megatron have their hands full." Ratchet said dryly. Both laughed as they thought about the two mechs sharing quarters with their femmes.

"I am glad that I am not them." Starscream said.

"Well, that's an understatement because the feelings that Allie sent through the bond last night were very interesting because it gave the distinct impression that they were sharing the wash racks." Ratchet stated.

"Oh Primus. How do you know that!" Starscream exclaimed.

"Well you do know that Prime takes his duties very seriously, right?" Ratchet said. "I think Allie managed to talk that fragger into doing a foursome with Shalon and company."

"Oh, and Megatron is a classic voyeur. I bet it was hot." Starscream snickered. "Will this be blackmail material?"

"Hell no, Prime caught me today with Doc so I don't think I can be a reliable source." Ratchet replied.

Starscream laughed hard. "I think I 'd rather know where Hook was than to worry about Prime."

"Why do you say that?" Ratchet asked.

"Because he can be a sick slagger so watch yourself. He thinks nothing of a little blackmail too." Starscream said.

"He's a little antisocial." Ratchet said.

"Yeah, he's been wanting a femme of his own." Starscream said. "Megatron had been hesitant about giving him one because with him you just don't know what you are getting into and he is part of a gestalt." They both laughed at that.

"It would be nice if there was peace. I'm a medic and I am tired of fixing broken mechs. I want to be with Doc and she misses me terribly." Ratchet said. "Do you have any influence with Megatron being his SIC?"

"Unfortunately no, but if you want to place a bug in any mech's audial then you should pick Soundwave. If Megatron was to listen to any mech then it would be him. He has been with Megatron since before the war and they have an understanding that surpasses any interference from the rest of us." Starscream stated.

"It figures. I think Allie would like to have him on her teams. She was hinting that he would do well to command a base near one of Cassie's homes. I overheard them talking about it with Prime." Ratchet paused for a moment thinking. "When Allie first showed up and we realized who she was I had a feeling. I have only had it once before, just before the war when the senate became so corrupt and I knew we were headed for war. Do you know that I gave up my seat in the senate because of the corruption?" Ratchet looked at Starscream in the optic. "When they passed that no flying ordinance against the seekers I knew then that it was due to jealousy and hatred than for any logical reason. The only reason I became an Autobot was so that I could stay close to Prime. He is a good mech who believes in freedom for everyone, not just a select few. I now have that same feeling again that we are at the end of our conflict in this war. It seems we all want a similar goal."

"I know. When I was holding Kiki I thought how nice it would be to be able to protect her for the rest of our lives and to have a family. I still can't believe that Soundwave has three sparklings. How the hell did that happen?" Starscream laughed.

"Well, he already had six and what a bunch. I am glad those hellions are his and not mine." Ratchet laughed.

"They're not too bad. I mean Frenzy gets on your nerves and Rumble can be crazy but they are not as bad as long as they and Warp don't get into prank wars."

"Don't even get me started. Those maniacal twins can be hell and when Prime gets involved all hell breaks loose."

"If Megatron gets involved we are lucky if we survive!"

"No sense of humor?"

"Nope, not at all." Starscream stopped though as he had a sudden epiphany. "Although lately, he has laughed more than the last six million years."

"Yeah, Prime's been smiling more since Allie been visiting. Hell, everyone been smiling more and I haven't had to threaten to weld those hooligans' afts to the ceiling lately. I think Raynie keeps them busy." Ratchet stated with a smile.

"Well, I know we are not plotting as much though we still steal our share of energon. Did you see the size of that converter? Aura said that it fuels both the hall and supplements the city forty-five miles from the hall." Starscream said. "She said that they have enough stored that if it should fail that they would still have energon for at least the next few thousand years."

"I know. I keep hinting at Prime for us to stay here. It would be ideal. The humans accept us better here than they do on earth. I have never been the most comfortable there anyways." Ratchet said.

"You just want to be with Doc."

"That too."

"Maybe."

"Yeah, maybe." Ratchet sighed as he said this last bit. "You know, you are not half bad when you are still and focused and you hardly screeched."

"Don't knock it medic, I might start just for the hell of it." Starscream replied. Ratchet laughed.

"Maybe I'll weld your aft to the outside of this ship." Was Ratchet's smart aft reply.

0o0o0o0o0o

Megatron watched Allie as she paced back and forth. He knew something was wrong by her body language but didn't dare say anything. She watched from her window as everyone worked on the tarmac. Megatron decided to go and talk to her. If anything she might let him know how his SIC was doing. He walked up the stairwell that opened up on the upper level and walked past the busy mechs and femmes that were manning the consoles. He went to Allie's office door and knocked.

"Come in." Was heard from the other side and he opened the door and slowly walked in. She had her hands behind her back watching the activity down on the tarmac.

"Is everything alright, my dear?" Megatron's smooth voice floated across the room registering with Allie and she had to smile.

"Can you bomb the Jung ho senate for me? You seemed to do a fine job on Cybertron." Allie snarked. Megatron laughed as he walked around her desk and stood behind her. Down below Optimus stood helping Barricade and Bumblebee with a project that Stargazer asked their advice on. He looked up to see them watching from the window and Allie smiled down as he waved to her.

"So, they are giving you trouble over the rescue mission?" Megatron asked.

"Yes, unfortunately and I knew it would be this way. I have to get dressed up tomorrow and fix all the problems from yesterday. I have a femme coming in that is locked in a stasis flux, and I have to relocate a pile of refugees within the next week because we need the hangar for incoming transports from Magnus' base. To top all this off, I have to deal with Sentinel who will be arriving tomorrow because he doesn't like that I am a femme giving him orders." Allie sighed and turned toward Megatron.

"Have you thought about where we go from here?" Allie asked. "It would be nice for all of us to work together for a better life than to continue a pointless war."

"Would the Decepticons be accepted back into society or would we be outcasts?" Megatron asked her. Allie looked at him carefully, weighing his words to see if there was any deceit behind them.

"We wouldn't know until we tried to negotiate." She finally replied. "Optimus wants peace for all Cybertronians. My femmes want families and stability. We have the means to supply unlimited amount of energon for the cities here in the Realm as well as energon that can be shipped home to our planet to help jump start its industry once again."

"What if I wanted to return to Cybertron?" Megatron asked as she sat down at her desk and he came around to take a seat.

"Cybertron will never be the same. It's resources have been drained until there is nothing left. It would take a millennia to just jump start it." Allie said. "Many of those who have scattered throughout the stars we have rescued and we have even set up a colony to help them start over." She added.

"What would be our advantage here? What would we do?" Megatron asked softly.

"Prime will always see himself as a spiritual leader and guide to his people. If we are at peace that would be for your mechs as well. It would be nice if I could trust someone to share the military operations with. You have that knowledge, but I would have to know your intent and you would have to understand that we are a people who have come to protect our holdings and that means protecting the humans who live here as well. I had hoped that Sentinel would be that person…"

"Sentinel cannot be trusted." Megatron flatly stated. He looked at Allie steadily as they heard a knock on the door.

"Come in." She said. Optimus walked in and took the seat next to Megatron.

"Am I interrupting anything?" He said for the second time that day. He raised his optics in a questioning manner.

"No, we were discussing some things that might interest you." Allie replied. She reclined back in her seat to look at both mechs. "I am going to have to start using my com system on my door. It's become much busier around here." Optimus smiled at her as they looked back and forth between the three of them. Her words seemed to break the awkward silence between the three of them.

"Megatron asked me what would happen if we did negotiate peace for our people." Allie told Prime. Optimus sat back as he pondered her words. He had never been one for answering rashly and he understood that his next words could very well end the war for his people.

"Before I can truthfully answer you," Optimus looked at Megatron. "I would have to know your intentions. Are we going back to earth or would we stay here. Cybertron is uninhabitable right now." He stated.

"I know. Shockwave says the cities are pretty much decimated and we have lost many mechs from the war." Megatron stated. "The mechs that are with me have now seen what the femmes here can offer them. I haven't talked to my officers but I do know that their main concern would be if they were to be held accountable for war crimes."

Optimus listened carefully to Megatron because he wanted no misunderstanding between them. Allie listened and watched their body language.

"I am more concerned about bringing our people back together as one unified people." Optimus aid and Allie smirked. "What, it is true. How can we even talk if we are not unified."

"It's not that my darling, it's just that I told Megatron the same thing before you entered my office." Allie said. "I told him that as Prime you would be more concerned about the spiritual welfare of your people and that would mean all your people. We would all have to work to teach each other how to live together again."

"I agree. My mechs are not going to find it easy to live with a former war lord, and that leads to my next concern. Where would we start? The humans of earth would never accept the Decepticons after what has occurred there. They would demand retribution and expect us to try you and your mechs for war crimes." Optimus stated.

"Earth is primitive compared to what we could offer here in the Realm. We already have a colony for Cybertronian refugees. Alpha Trion has worked hard to organize and assist them to make it here." Allie said.

"I have a good science team between Starscream and Shockwave, and Soundwave is very knowledgeable in engineering." Megatron said.

"We have Wheeljack and Alpha Trion here already and they make a very valuable team." Allie added.

"Perceptor communicated with us a little over a month ago and he is in route to earth." Optimus said. "He can be a bit discerning but he is valuable in scientific knowledge."

"Besides comparing our science and engineering, we would need to make every effort to see that our mechs follow in our footsteps. We would set the example and we could do this now while we are awaiting repairs on the gate." Allie stated.

"I agree. I also want to talk to my officers before we make any formal agreements among ourselves. Soundwave's opinion is important and he has earned the right to express it since he has been loyal to me since the beginning of the war." Allie could see where Soundwave would play an important part as she listened to Megatron.

"You' re right Megatron. Our officers do need to be a part of this. Ratchet and Ironhide have been with me since the beginning and I would like for Ultra Magnus and Alpha Trion to be here as well. There is one more point I need to make." Optimus stopped a moment to gather his thoughts. "About Jazz, my mechs had never gotten over his termination. It may come up in negotiations." Optimus stated quietly. "I am not going to mention it but I just wanted to warn you that they may demand compensation for his death." Optimus heard Allie's breath hitch as he brought some very painful memories with his words, but they had to be addressed before they could move on.

"It was war Optimus, and my mechs may demand compensation for the Allspark being destroyed." Megatron countered.

"Then we know where we stand when we open these peace talks." Optimus sighed. "I think that it is good that you and I talk first with Allie being witness, but as we officially open who do we bring in from both sides?"

"My top officers need to be there as well as yours." Megatron stated and Optimus nodded in agreement. "Allie?"

"I feel that Alpha Trion would be a good asset. Ultra Magnus needs to be there as well. If you are going to reside here in the Realm then my top officers need to be here as well as the governor of the Cybertronian colony." Allie said.

"My concern about bringing in a governor is that will he hold us accountable by the old standards of Cybertron or will he take in the changes that the war had brought?" Megatron asked.

"I don't know this governor well but Cassie can better answer that question. She is the one who oversees all the governors from each district and planets in the Realm." Allie told them.

"Well it seems we have a good start. We just need to get the preliminaries started. When do you want to make it official?" Allie asked.

"Why not have it at the end of the week. You have a charity concert and we could use that as a good will benefit." Optimus stated.

"It's not a bad idea. Megatron?" Allie asked him.

"I would agree to that and it would give each of us time to get who we need together for the talks." He said to Optimus and Allie. Allie heard her private com go off and knew that Aura was letting her know that the rescue viper was back.

"I am ending this little meeting since Raynie has returned with Ratchet, the twins, and Starscream. I need to meet them since there has been a relapse with Kiki." Allie rose to end the meeting and to signal that she needed to leave. The mechs stood and bowed to her as she returned their bows with respect. Optimus guided her out from around her desk as he held the door open for her. Megatron followed them both from behind as they headed to the viper.

Optimus saw Ratchet unloading the medical gurney and his concern became great as he saw the little femme lying motionless on it. Starscream was hovering over her and Optimus couldn't help but notice how concern he was for her. Optimus could feel the connection between the two as his spark went out for them both.

"How is she, Ratchet?" Optimus gently asked before Allie could get the words out.

"I won't know for sure until I have thoroughly scan her. She had a flux and went into stasis rather than coming out of recharge." Ratchet said as he saw Doc running toward them.

"How is she?" She said breathlessly. "She didn't try to hurt herself?"

"No, we ran into a patrol and I thought she was alright so I let her lie down and recharge but then later she started having a flux." Starscream told Doc.

"When we got there she was in stasis. I have had to give her a mild sedative to stop the tremors." Ratchet told his mate. "Allie will you do what you did last time to see if she will come out of stasis?"

"No, I think she will pull out of it herself. I don't get any feeling of hopelessness like I did with the other three. She is a fighter." Allie looked at Starscream speculatively. "Did anything occur between you and her?" She asked.

"No, I mean… We did get a little closer, but I heeded Lord Megatron's warning and I made sure that nothing inappropriate happened." Starscream replied.

"Good. If you did get a little closer, then you might have given her a reason to fight this setback. I find friends and lovers are sometimes the best motivation to keep a damaged mech or femme from giving up." Allie stated.

"I agree. Let's get her to the infirmary so I can get a better scan." Doc and Ratchet walked the gurney toward Hook who was standing in the corridor leading to the infirmary. He held the doors open for his colleagues as they pushed the patient past him. Starscream followed them as they walked hastily down the hallway.