Transformers prime OC's pov

by Crashrox92

I'll be brief, my name is Ellen, quite a lot has happened since I was very young, my parents, both dead, my Mother was murdered, my Father, killed by a Con. I made my first encounter with the Autobots and their War...and I'm, glad I did...Now I'm 16 and living in Jasper Nevada with my parental, Optimus Prime. let me tell you of these events through my eyes, and my own origins.

57. Rebellion

A/N well it took me while (i wasn't even able to finish it for yesterday :S) but i got there in the end, well the first half will be mostly Ellen and Ultra Magnus so get prepared for some...uh, Ultra Magnus. ^^l and take your time with this chapter, theirs a lot going on O_o

on a note for all you Vehicon aka Steve fans fair warning, i describe some of there demises in graphic detail Forgive me Steve! TTwTT

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Rebellion

With the recent update as well as Ultra Magnus's plan to infiltrate Dark mount, Ellen had seen the sections of the fortress itself, Wheeljack and Bulkhead were to approach the fortress head on from below, while distracting Cons there end Arcee and Bumblebee were to make their way up the fortress to break off the fortresses shielding and as soon as they fell Agent Fowler was to have the military take the fortress down, Ultra Magnus was to disable those fusion cannons, though for him to go alone, he should not be the one to go alone, just as Optimus has done many times and has always proved fatal the odds are fifty to fifty every time...and she didn't agree with those odds.

She had left the time they were discussing how to lure the units of Decepticons away from the fortress, with the others engrossed in the plan that they now had, it was easy for her to slip out back, to focus on the ship that would take Ultra Magnus into the heart of the operation, she took the time to try and convince Ultra Magnus of her presence, but she was drawing a blank, it's usually a spar of the moment that she was able to come up with things and she had a gut feeling that she was just going to end up looking like an idiot but she had to try which is the only thing she has done but to stop trying was even worse, but even still there's only so much to say until she hated the way she sounded when she started to ramble.

She had teared her bag in half as she used it as a sling to tie her Cosmic rust cannon around her back, she grunted slightly to how heavy it felt, it weighed a good three-four stone but it felt mildly heavy in her case, it didn't compare to a toe stubbing or her aching heart anyway. She then looked around the ship for an entrance of any kind, nothing was perfect, everything had its flaw and that includes this ship and its access control panel being on the outside of the ship was one of them.

"Maybe Ultra Magnus should have a set of keys on him instead." She said to herself as started to climb the legs of the ship, as she reached the top of the leg she bent herself backwards as she took her fingers and reached up to the touch screen access panel, "uh..." she said as it had only three operations. "a blind amoeba can get into his ship." She noted.

She leapt back down as she grunted to the new weight she carried, her muscles strained to the lack of physical activity she had been neglecting of late. She stepped onto the platform as with the contact of the light weight the platform raised up again, going from a light environment to a more darkened one. "These guys need more lighting, can't be good for the dull old frame." She said to herself as she looked over the ship, the platform clicking back into place, "Well at least our planet has something to brag about, just hope they don't get too envious and steal our Sun." All she saw to attract her eyes was the controls for the ship and a single seat to control from; the walls of the ship were plain but most likely just concealing other things, "New Weapons huh? Anything else i wonder? Perhaps its manual book? Yuk yuk, man i need new material." she jested to herself.

She continued to step forward hearing her own footsteps as though she were in an empty hall, she had butterflies to say the least, still drawing a blank on what to say to Ultra Magnus, he'd throw her out the moment he saw her. "Man this is going to be hard, i can't say anything...he's a soldier but they should be something else, interest's maybe? But the only thing he's interested in is the mission and, protocol, haven't exactly had time to analyze him." She placed a finger to the bottom of her lip, "what can i do with that? Urgh it's like having a rock and told to have a conversation with it, but the rock just wants to be a rock..." she then stopped as she thought into that tutting herself, "Why did i have to use rocks as an example?"

She looked around the ship for some kind of hiding place as much as she hated the idea of expressing the behaviors of a 'prey' animal as well as end up skulking in the shadows, to wait for the commander, though she had huge doubts she couldn't remain hidden for long in fact he would probably call her out before he even stepped inside the ship. "This is no good; it's not like the Nemesis." She said from her shadowed corner, "Come on you must have had cargo." She said looking around then to the control panel, she climbed her way up the seat as she set herself onto the controls being careful not to touch buttons with her feet, "weapons, current destination, auto-pilot, self destruct sequence? Come on i need an automatic override for your compartments." She said talking to the ship.

"Urgh..." she frustrated jumping down, "fine maybe some ship maintenance will suit me." She said starting to remove the paneling from the control panel, she peaked her head inside to the shifting parts inside, not much wiring in fact not much machinery, just a few Energon lines that were set to each function, every so many seconds a low hum of Energon passed through like a current, "Hiding in confined spaces only to burst out at the right time? Just call me Miko Nakadai..." she said mock cheering. She crawled herself in as she placed the panel back in place bringing her knees up and tightening her form so it had no excuse to be able to move or even shake. "If she ever did find out what i did, I'll never hear the end of it." she sighed.

She sat there for a while, hearing the loud humming of the ship more than anything else, she admit to herself that she was nervous, the whole situation becoming very real, really she should be used to it but something felt different for her, the fact that this wasn't merely surviving or knocking out someone... she was cut from her thoughts as a loud suction sound made her inhale as she held onto a single breath, "don't...you...move." she told herself, she felt as though she were in a thriller, hearing those eerie footsteps very slowly approach, she briefly wanted it to be the footsteps of a Decepticon because of how intimidating those steps sounded.

that low humming of those Energon pipes suddenly pulsated much louder and faster as he was starting up the ship, it was becoming very warm where she was. Then moments later she felt as though her heart rose in her chest as the ship begun to hover, she then heard a few series of beeping sounds as he inputted something on the control panel, a sequence and then a separate operation as she listened carefully for his footsteps. But, they were silent...and stayed that way for while she begged for him to sit down already. "Step out, now." came his stern sounding voice, almost angry in fact. But despite the obvious embarrassment and nearly needing a new change of pants she crawled back out, stood herself up straightened down her jacket, brushed herself down and calmly (yet forcibly) looked upon her requiem, and came to expect the scowling optics, "What, are you doing here? This is an extremely delicate mission, this is no place for a, juvenile native and as i have explained before that you stand to one side, did you not understand that?"

She dreaded this moment, her way of always expressing herself and having an opinion on most things, such as the term 'Juvenile' on her part, was not going to work here. To present a good argument she first had to present herself on a professional level of speaking, one that he would relate with and hopefully tolerate, like being interviewed...by the executioner? "Ultra Magnus, allow me an audience with you."

She started though in her head if this were a normal, calm day of Energon scouting, she would probably humor him, it sucked that she couldn't do that now. "The others have their partners, back up, i can be yours, you have the foot of the base and a floor covered but the second will have the most soldiers, you shouldn't engage the enemy alone even with your given status and power." She stopped just to let herself breathe and held a hand up before he could answer her, "i know you think i can't be of any help i had my doubts myself, i know survival and along the way eventually Autobot training, but to be honest that was only an added bonus to let me and..." she cleared her throat, "i know that isn't relevant but i'm only telling you this in hopes to try and set a good impression, i know the words that i produce aren't but perhaps my actions can."

There was an intensely long stare before he spoke, taking in her words, "Firstly, your 'actions' have failed you also, you were not given permission to be upon my ship and therefore you are trespassing."

"I know-i know and i can't express my apology enough but i get this feeling that if i were to speak to you it would require weeks of arrangements in advance." She started as she shook her head cupping her hands as she shook them up and down to help her speak, "if Optimus Prime is dead, what are the Autobots going to do if you die too? You fall during this mission and we all fall." She raised her voice slightly but she realized it wasn't the best move as mister scowling face didn't exactly tolerate the whole bad attitude thing, but nonetheless he listened.

"We were all separated, you, reunited us. Even if i don't exactly 'agree' with your methods of authority as well as spokesman skills." She said and made a light smile at him, even though his expression never changed, in fact it wasn't even a 'resting' expression he looked annoyed all the time. She pulled from her back a weapon of her size if not a little overflowing in her arms this banter wasn't going to help so she'd thought to get straight to the point. "I can help you. Maybe not in engineering or medicine or even with psychical strength realistically my human 'being' can't exactly take on an entire unit, and you've..." she sighed. "Got everything else covered. But i can act as a decoy, draw you off enemy fire...i know that's my limit."

"Who gave you authorization to use that weapon?" he demanded sternly.

She bit her lip, though only to remain calm, it was actually a funny thought, she never had a problem with authority, most likely because she was spoiled in that area, living under the rule of a being who was chosen to command, she had no problem with being ordered around by other bots. She couldn't help but grin at the thought, "Ultra Violets being mean to me." She thought amusingly, even if it sound a little immature.

"It was found on a mini-con a few years back." She said almost giving away a slight choked snicker, "it was given to me on my thirteenth birthday...but, it was, disapproved and it was put away...now i find it in my bag most likely placed there by a friend..." she trailed off as she basically stroked the item in hand, analyzing it from her point of view, "i can use this, i know what its capable of and i can see why it was outlawed but i will not jeopardize the mission, I'll help you when all hells breaking loose, and...I know the conditions of War even if I've never truly understood it." She stated though she had to make a 'bleurgh' sound in her own mind to how 'old' she sounded.

"Personal purpose, you have limited right to take appropriate action..." he started as she lowered her head sighing in frustration as expected, but the 'personal' part wasn't true not revenge wise anyway. "You have no authority here..." he continued over her as she started to breathe heavily, "you will be bridged back and will remain at base as a civilian, not a soldier..."

"His cause is mine." She stated though she didn't blurt it out in a fit of anger, she knew of his protests but she had to keep going, push a little more. "Not just yours, ours, my race this whole planet is now a part of this War even if most of its population does not realise this."

Ratchet had already provided him with an update as well as brief origin of the humans, "From what i understand, you have been an occupant amongst Autobots for a duration of time that is considered a long while for your culture, but have only had basic training, which still classifies you as a juvenile, barely even a cadet. Despite the absurdity of it." He said in his opinion military tactics should not have been shared at all, despite the personal intention behind it.

"So what? I need it recorded on a data pad to say that i'm worthy of that status?"She argued as he didn't move or speak, looking almost drone like. "I'm almost failing in Math, but does that say that i can't do it?"

"It shows that you did not do enough to succeed." He argued back.

He was quick in debating naturally, "But i can still do it, it's the circumstance, give me one sum i can't do but give me another and i can do it. Your an experienced being, you should know that results don't measure intelligence, or-or age doesn't define maturity." Though she would like to keep her 'barely scraping Math' comment to herself.

"No. But perhaps this is not meant to be for you, many believe we each have our destinies this is not yours." He told her flatly.

She flapped her arms up once like a penguin as she didn't understand. Pinching the skin of her forehead, she was a young woman of science and of course she believed in certain things too, but destiny? Screw destiny, She thought "So your saying i should stick to what society has classed me as? A civilian."

"For now, yes."

She thought that was the whole point that started this War in the first place, the class of society, "what a logical being you are, wh-" she put her hands in front of her as she sighed trying to refrain from falling angry again, "...what must i do, to allow me to become a part of this?" she asked wearily staring him in the optics, "please, i want to help."

His optics glanced over her, judging, scanning. "Return to base." He told her simply, "Stand on the platform and i will ask Ratchet to bridge you back." He said calmly heavily lifting his arm to point to said destination, to her he looked almost like the Grim Reaper.

She wanted to protest, but the answer would still be the same, she argued, but the results were still the same, you can't win them all she guessed. So she slowly inhaled as she accepted this, "Alright, Sir." She said walking past his feet over to the said area, though her eyes averted to the far corners of her eyes as she let her lip curl. It was hard for her to say that, it wasn't like addressing a teacher, heck she even called strangers sir but she felt like she was betraying herself when she addressed Ultra Magnus with the set title.

Ultra Magnus lifted his head slightly as he furrowed his brow "satisfactory, but why the sudden realisation for given respect?" he said with his back to her as she continued to stroll, he sounded unsure of what she said, given what he had heard before from the indigenous he doubted his audio receptors.

She shrugged as she spun her form around to face him, "Protocol to higher ranking officers." He gave her a hard unconvinced stare, "i was...emotionally compromised before, and..." she slightly winced, "immature."

He nodded, "Yes." He said agreeing completely. Ellen slightly repressed an urge to stick her bottom lip out to his frank way of speech as well as trail two fingers down her cheek with the front facing him. "I do not know what Primes intention was when he took you as his charge, highly incomprehensible when taking all purpose into thought. But, i do not think as he does." He said all the while Ellen was chewing on her fist.

"You Sir, have the manners of a Mocking bird." She thought to herself.

"This is War, you understand the risks of your demise and most likely of it being in vein? Many Autobots have died without even firing there first shot." He said noting her small form that stood just in front of his feet, "No, you cannot come, Optimus Prime had made it so that the Decepticons would not destroy your world and that no indigenous life would be put at risk and if he had decided this then i must trust his judgement as well as his, other decisions."

She gave a slight glancing glare at 'other decisions' but she can be her 'casual' self again after the mission, which realistically...she might not come out from. "But it did happen, we will always be at risk no amount of hiding or protection will stop that, but, i will take that risk, if i die...it happens but i know it wouldn't be in vein if i could help you destroy those fusion cannons."

The acceptance in her tone caught him, but nothing more, that weapon was a main cause for taking down large unit of Autobots at a time, a one bot army in a tiny weapon. And only she had to hold it, but he was still conflicted. "Even if you proved your worth in this scenario, and aided me. I find myself morally obligated to reject your claim."

"Morally obligated?" she questioned.

He turned his head to one side, "did he ever tell you that sometimes when told to do something you should not question it?" he said.

"No."

"Well i am, it's called trust."

"You know allot of bad stuff went down with people who 'just followed orders without question' but if that's how you see it, take my presence as a 'no questions asked' scenario."

"I am. Even though i have no choice in the matter, for i did not have a full analyze of the situation, my decisions may prove consequential."

"Sir, i am putting my faith in you because i have to because when everything else is taken that's the only thing left, that's what everyone else is counting on..." she stopped as she shrugged, "w-well, there charges probably had something to do with that, but, if you tell me to do something I'll do it, no questions asked as you said. Just don't let me stay behind...not again." He averted his gaze as he thought, there native allies, he had to admit he was confused, even more confused that she was taught of their military ways perhaps even secrets of their culture, a carbon based life form.

The Key to Vector Sigma had been given to the human male known a 'Jack' one of their most sacred relics to keep it safe...as much as it confused him he was sure that there was some kind of intention behind it but with the facts accounted for it seemed implausible, and she saw this thought but it was hard to read, he was hard to read, he reminded her of when she first met Optimus he didn't interact much socially and was focused on one objective, knowing that this was the most likely outcome she then stopped as she straightened her posture, accepting defeat graciously for once.

"It is what it is." He sighed, "If you wielded the means to even end this War, you are still a civilian by Autobot code..." He started before interruption.

"Funny the Autobot code clearly doesn't reach universally, but it seems you've ignored that." she said calmly.

He snapped his head up as he frowned in an intensely scolding manner, cracking wise was one thing interruption was another. "Return to base." He said lastly as he turned back towards the pilot seat, sitting down and resuming control of his ship starting to open up a comm link.

"The Autobot code is a comprehensive system of morality..." she started as he subtlety lifted his head slightly, "A framework for living, that addresses all aspects of the Cybertronian condition. It's a treatise on aspirational behaviour that shows to the rest of the galaxy that maybe we can transcend our troubled past and become beacons of liberty and enlightenment." She said as she finished her quotation. "Seems like everything is recorded on Cybertron huh?"

"You referenced me." He said though still in his usual tone.

"Well when it came to you, anything that you said that actually grabbed me was pretty scarce...in fact i think that is the only one." She noted brushing her chin, "everything else is through your actions, your pretty impressionable by that standard, Sir. But if i may be frank, i dreaded the thought of meeting you." She quietly added looking to one side.

His expression never changed as he looked her over again, he then looked ahead of him looking at the control panel as a certain command button flashed in a consistent manner as he sighed a mixture of frustration and confusion, "Juvenile. You will follow my orders is that understood?"

"Huh?" she stuttered as a normal response was a firm glare, "I mean yes Sir." She said strongly as she walked over to his seat standing next to it awkwardly envious of his 'chair' for some reason. Though she kind of lacked 'direction' here. But as he had no sight on her she let herself grin a little. "Accept defeat? Barely." She thought to herself sneakily. But still he had given her the name 'Juvenile' because she was un-rankable...lowest of the low, but she shrugged at least it wasn't fleshy, indigenous life form or anything that was related to her scale.

"I suggest you hang onto something and brace yourself." He said as she took a grab for anything acting as a gripping handle mostly the base of his chair, she guessed they were merely flying at a normal speed before she felt her chest tighten with the speed intensifying, then as fast as it was, she let go of the chair as the pressure was gone and placed her blaster back into its 'acting' holster.

"Well..." she started as she brushed herself down, "i will say in the most appropriate manner that, that was exhilarating." She noted strolling back to a position she was barely able to see outside in front of them as well as Ultra Magnus. She pulled her bag strap over a little more to make it more comfortable as she took note of it. "i have never killed anyone before, but i must be prepared to do so, no turning back now hesitation would only get myself killed and in vain as Magnus said, i need to at least deal with those cons first, lower those numbers at least." she thought as she looked to Ultra Magnus, though only to look him over, she really would have to put her faith in him if she ever believed this was to be a success but of course it was hard, change that is.

She couldn't make possible conversation with him only that of the mission she guessed, but better then awkward silence. "What about that giant flying reptilian that you encountered? The Predacon?" she was told of them naturally but only of their existence on Cybertron, she had to admit they looked pretty cool, their wings especially, the first she had seen a holographic image of them was when she was typically going through the phase that Dinosaurs were awesome and Predacon's fell into that category and spawned the inspiration to read epic fantasies. But she shook her head to these thoughts, no time for whimsy thinking...as much as she missed those quieter times.

"Juvenile, do not speak as though you are my higher rank, you should only question your superiors if normal procedure has not been met." He said.

"I apologize; i didn't mean to come off as...over-confident." Though in her head, "think of Earth think of Earth think of Earth think of Earth think of Earth, whatever powerful being is listening right now give me the strength to not have an outburst of noise like a cat on a hot tin roof!"

"Apology is not necessary, but you lack restraint." He then turned his head down to her.

She herself sat silent though she felt anxious, she had questions and they weren't being answered, "Its time like these i wish i had authority, oh well, easy come easy go that's just what happens, but damn it i need answers!" she huffed in thought as she looked up, "what's he staring at? Personal boundaries please."

"Now, to answer your inquiry of the Predacon." He said after a long moment still with those 'judging' optics. "If you were at the briefing you would have already known, if it was deployed before it will be deployed again, i had a thought that we could Groundbridge the beast to somewhere else on this planet, to buy us some time but Predacon's can be as fast as my ship and it would take them merely hours to return." He then let go of the steering as the ship merely adjusted itself, he folded his arms over his chest deep in thought.

"May i make a suggestion?" she asked raising her hand to speak that is waving her hand to speak.

"It is a quality to ask from those who may have them." He said.

"Your frames are exposed to extreme temperatures that could render you non-functional." She said cheerfully answering like a young kid in class.

"I know this Juvenile, it is basic biology." He said sounding offended, as she silently sighed to herself ignoring the new name and his misunderstanding.

"Perhaps if you were to bridge the creature to one of our coldest places?" she said lightly acting as tour guide.

"Please define and quickly."

"Certain places on Earth they have frequent blizzards, even if the beast could still fly he wouldn't get that very far, his wings are thin and hollow, the scale itself of the wing span could freeze them on entrance, but er..." she then stumbled on her words "that's all i got not sure if I'm actually correct in that theory, i mean i play allot of Skyrim and er when i'm all like collecting their souls i kind of stare at the skeleton for a while because I'm just weird like that and..." he raised a hand to stop her.

"actually, you are half correct in theory, they are ancient beasts and there structure is not as advanced or evolved as we are, despite scale, there core requires a constant temperature as they are unable to regulate that, exposure to a low temperature could render them into stasis." He said flatly, though he wondered what she meant by collecting souls.

"Oh." She merely said. "Well I'm guessing getting anything half right with you i should be puffing myself up like a robin red breast in the chilling winters."

He heard the comment but couldn't argue for, or against it, for the simple fact that he did not understand her. "I would need to discuss this with the Doctor, he most likely has a better understanding of the locations of this planet then i do, but your suggestion is noted, though only in theory it could double our time." She looked lightly upon him.

"Permission to speak frank Sir." She said.

"Permission granted, if only briefly." He said.

She grinned, "You are a neurotic workaholic." She blurted typically receiving the usual glare, "with the utmost of respect of course Sir, neurotic behaviour is driven by underlying fears and anxiety." She added pondering with a finger on her lips.

"Are you quite finished?" he asked becoming agitated.

"Hmmm..." she pondered looking up to him, "are you feeling unloved? Are you striving to be 'perfect' to be able to get that?" she asked imitating a psychologist in the most stereotype of way.

He then brought up the comm link on his control panel completely put off her conversation. "Doctor." He called.

"Ultra Magnus, i was not expecting to hear from you so soon, my scanners show you are no where near..." Ratchet started saying as Ellen started to question Ultra Magnus' 'Childhood'.

"I need your advisement Doctor, through recent discussions with the native life form i need..."

"What, native life form?!" Ratchet blurted as allot of sudden noise was heard on the other end, Ellen guessed he was spinning around or something to confirm her whereabouts. "Are you out of your Fragging human mind?!" she heard other voices mostly Miko's naming her a hypocrite and other 'colourful' names.

Ellen winced to the piercing voices through her ear as Ultra Magnus merely absorbed it, "Doctor, please, we have only so much time until our destination i need your Intel..."

"May i Magnus?" she asked, call it slight revenge for her 'Juvenile' title but she did like the sound of that.

"'Sir', if i have to reinforce this into you i will do so." He said motioning an open palm to the screen.

She cleared her throat as she coughed into her hand in a mock manner. "Sorry Ratch, i left a note for you, i guess you didn't see it, it was kind of brief but it was basically in code." The said note read, 'Going to Dark mount not back in two hours avenge death, love Ellen, hug, hug no kisses.'

"W-What? N-o i...what-what are you doing out there?! Ultra Magnus halt the ship, i can a lock on her position and return her to base!" he said almost sounding frightened.

Ellen shook her head at Ultra Magnus as he merely flew the ship though gave her a certain look alone that said he wanted her to wrap things up, "No, Ratchet, I'll see you soon alright?"

"Don't do this; there are enough bots out there."

"Not really a fan of odd numbers Ratch, don't worry i won't do anything stupid."

"Come back, now Ultr...!"

She looked to Ultra Magnus as he understood her subtle gesture, as he shut the comm link off for that brief moment for Ratchet to regain his flow of thinking, "i always worry him, but i can't just stay at base with him, i wouldn't be able to stay still, nueh i hate it when he's nice it makes it harder that way."

"You are a juvenile, inexperienced and selfish in nature, he is right to be concerned. Though i suspect Ratchet is not on good terms with my own questionable decision. Do not make me regret that."

"Wow this guy could knock the most confident person into the most lacking of self esteem." She noted to herself.

"However this was a bold choice to make, however foolish it was to begin with." He then turned the comm link on again, "Doctor, i need you to find a location that possesses extreme low temperatures."

It was a long moment before Ratchet answered remembering the mission at hand, "...give me a moment."

"I need you to get a groundbridge ready about five clicks ahead of my ship..."

"Vostok." Jacks voice then came into the conversation.

"Excuse me?" Ultra Magnus said furrowing his brow.

"I heard that the lowest temperature was once recorded there, it's a Russian research station, you could probably just move the co-ordinates a few miles away but...well it's in Antarctica." he trailed off.

Ellen started pointing using her head as that pointer, "Jack." She said to Ultra Magnus, "That's his name and nothing else, you understand?" she said defensively placing her hands on her hips. Though it was more of a 'in the moment' statement as she scratched her head, "heh, heh. sorry i, i think it was those breakfast bars i was eating earlier got my testosterone levels up you know what I'm saying?" He turned his head slowly back to the screen, she guessed he had no idea what she was talking about so refrained from answering, "i guess you go by the saying, it is better to remain silent then to open your mouth and remove all doubt huh?" she said lightly.

He merely nodded as a sigh was heard over the comm link, "Ultra Magnus?" Ratchet said.

"Yes Doctor?"

"I ask again, that she be returned to base." He said.

"Ratchet, we must priorities, with the short supply of Energon powering up the Groundbridge we need to use it efficiently. This was her choice, and however small the task is, the weapon she holds can aid us." He argued calmly.

"It is not her choice." He hissed, "She's my responsibility, scrap! I-I shouldn't have taken my optics off her."

"Then i relive you of your responsibilities Doctor, because you have many already and i need to you to focus, you're a major factor in this." He said.

"B-But i...she..."

"I would like to say that i can look out for all who are under my watch, but i can't. However i will try, with all that is my being, i will try." He told him. "Now, do you have the co-ordinates?"

"...Yes. Ratchet out."

"Thanks." Ellen told Ultra Magnus in a soft tone.

"Gratitude is not needed, nor was it appropriate." He said flatly. She raised a finger as she puffed out a soundless 'I' before he stopped her "We can debate courtesy another time; it will be fifteen minutes in your time before we reach our destination."

She started to twiddle her thumbs picking her words carefully; it was hard not to act as one-self. For example certain questions came to mind, such as "did you ever have a personality? Are you General Zod or something? Did Dad beat you with a drone stick? Will you ever be able to function again when the War is over?" As well as a few choice words for him but an insult for another time thought demonstrating restraint has always been difficult for her and she hated the fact that he knew this.

"Magnus did..."

"You referred to me as 'Sir' but now you are calling me an undesirable name." he said.

"Well, that was proof of my position but, you referred to me as Juvenile, a life stage, as long as you refer to me as that i will continue to refer to you as Magnus, Magnum P.I, and any other nickname i can think of."

He sighed, "As i have mentioned before I cannot refer to you as soldier, for you have never gone through that procedure."

"Well i guess not officially no, but how about some mutual respect? You call me Juvenile and I'll call you Magnus, we both hate the titles but i think that would drive us more, we have our differences, in fact i got that the moment i looked at you, and you probably got the same."

"The title 'Sir' would do fine." He said.

"Yeah i got that, and i don't mind the serious type but as long as they expressed that passion and you could feel that, with you i feel as though you were just set a task and you're off doing it. So instead of expressing our differences why not just do this by using our undesired titles?"

"Though i do not understand your kind of logic Juvenile, i am afraid if i do not agree with you, you would merely continue to speak, and my audio receptors are continuing to down grade." He said flatly.

"Well at least your honest, 'Magnus', Sir." She said sticking with her customized title for him, though as she looked to the floor she grinned to herself, "victory." She said performing a small victory dance with her hands definitely on her way to Dark Mount with him.

"Well i did understand that you were trying to convince me, there was no subtlety to how long you prolonged your points." He said making her stick her bottom lip out a little to his bluntness yet again, "You are primitive in nature when it comes to Authority, but the cause itself is what manages to keep you focused rising above yourself to get where you want to be, to speak when you must, i have seen some like you before, not my kind of bots i normally associate with but in our darkest hours sometimes i have to rise above myself also to achieve certain goals."

Her cheeks turned a little shade of pink as she grinned to herself slightly embarrassed as he was the behind the wheel the whole time knowing her intention, damn he was good. "i will, try to adjust myself to your...ways it's just, you could say my 'loyalties' stands with another, though i give him respect in a different way, in which i definitely know you would not appreciate." She said lightly.

"If you cannot learn to let go of those 'loyalties' that will be your downfall, change is always happening and you need to know this." He said.

"I know." she said solemnly, "I'm sorry if things i say offend you, but the things you say offend me, i guess we're like opposing poles."

"Agreed." He simple said though he almost sounding as though he sighed.

"Alright, alright..." she said patting the air with her hands, "I'll stop talking." though she instantly betrayed her own words as she couldn't help but fidget and make mumbling sounds. "S-Sorry, but what will you have me do? I always know the direction to take but if I'm taking orders from someone else other then familiar faces, i need some direction. After all, i'm-i'm not familiar with your 'stats card' if you understand my meaning?"

"i shall deploy you to your given level of the fortress, while i turn towards the power source, i was originally going to deal with the reinforcements myself with the little options that produced itself but..." he then turned the top half of his body in her direction as he pointed a finger at her, "you will not do anything foolish?" he said.

"No, i value life I'm not going to throw myself at them like a suicide mission, unlike yourself." She said and added with light sarcasm, "If i may be so bold to say Magnus Sir." She added gesturing a 'staged' bow luckily despite how he was able to identify sarcasm, certain gestures she could get away with. "Man this is going to be like a ship in a bottle mission." She sighed.

"Pardon me?" he said and tended to frown at anything unfamiliar.

"Ship in a bottle? Meaning impossible?" she said, she would think that Ultra Magnus would be one of those bots to research up on the internet to get a look into human culture, and it took mere seconds to get what they wanted, though she guessed he had already got what he wanted to know and that was it Earth languages, which side of the road to drive, and that's it.

"But it is not." He replied.

"Yeah i was just, it's just a saying, i mean i don't believe in the impossible but it just seems that way that's all."

"So why say it?"

"Just, you know..." she said starting to stutter.

"No."

"Yea-heh, let's just forget i said that."

He had to admit he was a little curious, the moment he got here he had many questions to ask but he had to refrain from asking such basic questions, from his position he felt, down ranked to ask a human. "But let's just say, from your action before, you know when you were firing upon Agent Fowler nearly, i can tell your...er, what's a best word to describe it? i guess, willing? Open to any option? Well whatever the word, you get things done and are very, dedicated whatever form you're trying to portray."

He sighed heavily, "If there is any way to complete a mission i will do anything to do so even offer my own life."

She snapped her fingers, "That's the word, reckless, you're a form of recklessness." she noted.

"We have led away most of the units." He started avoiding the accusation.

"Pardon me?"

"I'll repeat that if you were there during our discussion you would have know that we have gotten more than half of the Decepticon units away from Dark Mount."

"Well half your works done then." She said.

"There was no need for a reply." He said flatly.

Ellen performed a 'zipping her mouth up' gesture, "when in doubt, just laugh." she told herself.

"Due to its scale i cannot operate such a, tiny weapon. You are sure that you can operate it yourself. i am asking out of precaution before you try to protest." He noted.

As she pouted slightly looking ahead to him insulting her weapon, "it's not the size it's how you use It. and yes i can 'operate' It." she said slightly rolling her eyes.

"Again, there was no need for a reply i was merely pointing out the obvious." He said as she feared that he will merely knock her down a notch with everything she said or did.

"Suggestion noted Lieutenant Dan." she thought as they sat in silence for the remainder of the trip for it was only a good five minutes till they reached Dark Mount and that was enough time for them to prepare themselves.

He didn't understand how humans worked but they seemed to have difficulty refraining from talking as yet again she begun to speak again, though she raised her hand at the same time, he had patience but he wished he could disable her vocal processor. "you know Megatrons probably going to be on the top floor." She said.

"I am well aware, you did not think i would already know this?" he sighed.

"I know, stating the obvious right? But I'm also hinting something there." She said.

"I will hold my own with Megatron, don't get in the way, you have your task and that is all."

"Be that as it may." She said though despite that, she felt Ultra Magnus was one who could help the many even if he was one being. "Maybe i missed something but, how did you find us?"

"Do you ever cease vocal communications?" he asked.

"Don't think so." She shrugged. "I've been known to have full conversations when i'm sleeping." She stated very pleased with herself.

He shook his head to the statement, "My ships scanners picked up on a large Energon signature that led me to this planet. When i followed it, it lead me to the Autobots, though you pulsate fragments of an Autobot signature." He then brought a light blue outlined image of her form, well the metallic skeletal structure pulsated a darker shade of blue, and she had to tilt her head at the location of where one of her main organs resided, her heart had a spiral of Energon that was tied around it though it was faded and weakly pulsated the same way the heart would.

"Well, that's my arm." She in a nonchalant tone still furrowing her brow curiously at the image.

Ultra Magnus looked at her and seemed to portray questions by mere look alone. "Long story, and I've told it so many times i'm starting to find a building falling on me and tearing my arm off story to be not as cool as it was the first few times I've told it." she looked back at the screen the best she could that is as she had to take a step back, "but i didn't know that misty kind of signature was there." She thought as she intently stared at it, it really did pulsate like a heartbeat, but it was slow, and even though she couldn't hear it, she mimicked the sound in her head. She thought that must've been what she felt, that tug, was that slight spiral of Energon traces, it did seem to hold on as much as it could as though the signature was almost self aware. "That's...the bond? If that's the case, it should be gone, right?" she questioned. "Magnus Sir, what is that?" she then asked trying to confirm.

"Small traces of essence from ones Spark." He said curiously.

"From, the Spark itself? But how?" she asked anxiously.

She heard him sigh slightly, "It is inappropriate to ask such questions at this time."

"No please, i mean look at it, its-its b-beating. I think, isn't it? Oh Jeez i suck at biology." She said holding her head.

"it is fading, just remainders nothing more." He said, though knew that was not true, but he could not pick up his signature, even if he was alive he could not track him nor could they approach the old base that was so close to the fortress thus abandoning the others. He looked at Ellen whose eyes were glancing left and right, she was putting ideas into her head. "Juvenile." He said as she shook slightly from being startled, "Stay focused."

"Huh? Oh right, I'm sorry Magnus Sir i just..."

"Find hope in our mission, the future of your race and ours, the greater good."

"Right, greater good...but i have to be frank the greater good sucks sometimes." She said folding her arms.

It turned silent again as she lifted her head though could barely see what was on the outside view, so she climbed the chair and hanged onto the side of it, grunting as the cannon on her back pulled on her spine. Ultra Magnus glanced his optics towards her, taking note of her struggles, "heh, can't see." She admitted to him slightly blushing with embarrassment.

"Could you not use the other seated area?" he said.

"Better view from where your sitting." she argued grinning, he made a silent groan making a small adjustment of his leg as he looked forward again ignoring any gesture of appreciation, she smiled to herself as she put herself in the small space. "Thank you." She said. no more than moments pass did she find herself turning to her old self as she twiddled her fingers, "are we there yet?" she asked grinning up at him again.

He tapped the top of his forehead an alternative to passing a sigh through his ventilation. "By your time three minutes twenty seconds." He confirmed, "Now please, remain in your seat." He asked as she balanced on the edge looking to outside.

"Your ship must be going some speed; i can't even see the fortress, are we breaking the barrier or something?"

"Yes the rate we are going is satisfactory, but make no mistake, Megatrons fortress will appear in short moments, so you should prepare yourself." He said.

She took thought in that, situations that were mostly stressful she would get worked up for, adrenaline wise. But couldn't help but sigh cupping a hand around her arm, "well, at least i still have a part of him as sugar coated as that sounds its true."

"I understand that you take it as sentimental value. But." He said.

She wavered a hand, "Yeah i know its part of a 'Prime' frame and it's kind of a gift/curse? People be up in my grill all the time, Unicron called me a parasite while mistaking me for a Prime. Alpha Trion also mistook me for someone else from like the past in a sword? But ended up instead using me as a messenger. You being able to 'pick up on me' Is scary in itself. I'm like a micro chip, you looking for it expecting a Prime but you only find the chip and collar."

His optics turned a lighter shade to the name dropping, though his attention turned to the front as he spotted the fortress, "we are approaching our destination." He said.

"Let's have a look." She said eagerly, jumping onto his leg, when she looked towards the fortress her face dropped with dread as she looked up to Ultra Magnus, he had the most unimpressed face she had seen yet, he looked uncomfortable as well. She tippy toed back into her spot as she patted his leg, "Nice Ultra Magnus." She soothed.

Upon closer arrival a large black shadow, spiky in appearance and wing span longer then its body soared from the fortress, from their view it looked as though it was a part of the fortress before it started moving. "Is that it?" she said awed and at the same time terrified by what used to be a holographic image to entertain her on rainy days, "W-Wow what an extraordinary creature...is what i say in the mirror heh joke."

Ultra Magnus was silent as he made it his own to draw the creature away from its target and fired upon the beast making it move off course of its flying, being fired upon by the ship the Predacon naturally had acclaimed its target. Ultra Magnus diverted the ship going high up into the sky on a straight path as Ellen pushed herself against the force of the pressure.

A blood curdling roar was echoing within the ship confirmation of how close it was as Ellen slightly felt the beat of her heart to the sound.

Ultra Magnus glanced behind him, "Ratchet...Now!" he ordered.

And as soon as he saw a glint of the Groundbridge opening he swiftly changed course avoiding it as the flying beast went through the portal, as quick as it appeared it was gone. "Ultra Magnus to stealth team, Status report." He said through the comm link.

"Having a little trouble reaching the objective." Arcee responded after a long moment. "Security is a little tighter than anticipated Sir." She said.

"Keep them occupied." Ultra Magnus replied.

"Even when you get rid of most of his fleets there are still plenty in comparison." Ellen sighed.

"Change of plan." He announced, "That weapon is your protector deliver it to the fortress and keep as many units at bay." He then glanced his optics at her, "don't do anything rash, but if you can take care of any encounters, make your way down to the lower levels and help the others." He said as she thought, making her way down the fortress?

"Magnus Sir? You'll be alone what about the Seekers or Vehicons that are on your levels? As well as Megatron who is an army by himself, that's just too much."

"Be that as it may, i am still in command." He said.

"I don't think i can let you..."

"If you're displaying insubordination, i think it would be my better judgement to leave you here and monitor progress." He said.

She lowered her head, "I will, aid as much as i can." She said hesitantly, making her way off his seat and to the platform she pulled from her jacket her small ear piece. "My own kind of communications." He told him.

He briefly nodded, "Use the fortresses spiked limbs to make your way inside. Do i need to remind you of your given task?" He said as she felt the ship descend.

"I'll head down the fortress, take care of any Con to appear in my sight and then i will help Arcee and Bumblebee." She said.

"Keep communications open." He said.

"Magnus Sir." She nodded as the platform lowered the instant greeting of harsh winds causing her eyes to weep hit her on exit. He was true to his word as one of the spiked limbs of the fortress stood couple of metres in front, jumped onto it but surprisingly even with its width the wind almost threw her off, "keep your footing, keep your footing." She said as the ship ascended once again circling the fortress looked forward to the mass line of Cons that reacted to the sudden abrupt noise that Ultra Magnus had caused from his own entrance. It was more of a sudden flash of purple and white.

She tensed up, "Come on, Casus Belli, Casus Belli" she kept repeating to keep her focus as she treaded lightly and quickly along the metal limb as the wind intensified, at the base of the limb and the wall that offered shield from the wind she drew her cannon from her sling as she locked it into place, "Latin expression meaning the justification for acts of war." She continued, "something we class as a 'justified murder' but, it is what it is, but for their cause and our own survival that is, i'm willing to do go to that length, but damn i need to make this shot count. Right so weaknesses, the neck, chest, hips." She then shuffled inside against the wall she looked around the corners, Cons running towards the direction of Ultra Magnus and those that were running towards Arcee and Bumblebees level. "Ultra Magnus is taking on Megatron on the other hand it sounds like Arcee and Bumblebee have their hands full as it is..." she looked on as the units from each side both reaching a corner, she groaned to herself "there is no way that i am choosing someone's life over another." She stated clenching her fists.

She jogged into the middle of the hallway, "Okay Ellen, grab their attention i'm not for shooting someone in the back. Let's see what would Miko do?" she thought as she threw her head back."Excuse me! Crazy girl packing heat!" she called politely as high as she could to catch their attention the unusual sound caught their attention alright when the first group were barely able to turn to their side she fired as a plasma ball exploded from the barrel.

She then dived rolled to the other side as the other Cons started firing, "Okay, battle cries like that don't really work for me." She thought clicking another projectile into place she noticed the firing had stopped though she wondered why, she peaked from behind the wall as she noticed the group that had not been shot at had ceased firing and merely stood watching their comrades. for as that ball was fired the moment it was in mere touching distance of the unit a thousand projectiles exploded, to the sense of their signatures, they themselves fired their own weapons in panic. Though she hissed through her teeth to what she had just started. "Die quickly, please."She said.

She caught sight of the first row of cons as they had got hit pretty bad, most notably the face, the shoulders, and chest as she watched on with horror though she could not turn away that curious nature of seeing the horrific gun in play, one Con shook his arms in front of his face as his optics melted away in seconds falling into his now hollow head he could not scream for his vocal processor was already dust, and finally he died falling to the ground as his entire form seemed to melt like snow in a dessert leaving only chunks of the lower part of his body as it seemingly let off a sizzling sound, the same process happened with each of the Cons, the ones who were hit in the shoulder seemed to claw at it as if to wipe the pain away though they screaming in doing so, she knew she'd regret this but it had to be done, there suffering was quick but in place was the most excruciating pain before they passed. But the sounds they made, almost made her ears bleed it was so wincing, something that could barely be comparable would be a fork scraping against a plate and high pitched feedback given from speakers.

Similar scenario's happened with the unit, some grasped there bodies in absolute agony, some of them even fired into their own processor to end their suffering, and in reality all this happened in mere moments all at the same time as she looked over the aftermath, as though history was a disease in itself, all now were just empty shells and brown dust of rust.

Ellen lay a hand over her face to what she had brought down, Cons and Bots were killed and she had seen this but even still, the method she used. It was too destructive to fit her nature, "Ultra Magnus, you better be alive." She merely said, though in honest truth she didn't know what to say. She kept the blaster up as she started to make her way towards the other Cons as they had no comprehension of what happened, but saw the source as they deployed their weapons at her, she stepped slowly taking aim at them, "Move or die, either way I'm getting through." She told them as there answer was clear, there blasters charging up. "Fine then."

---

Starscream already had his orders, deal with the Autobots and he hadn't even had time to savor the utter failure of Shockwaves 'pet'. He had taken with him a Vehicon, (call it life insurance as Megatron voiced his expectation that he can handle it alone with his given fire power but he took a precaution nonetheless) "How is it, my alt form grants me flight and yet i have to run?" he complained to the Vehicon, who shrugged and shook his head wishing to be somewhere else right now. "you and your counterparts are full of opinion aren't you." He sarcastically stated "Wait. What is that?" he said noticing a pool of blue, purple and brown. He looked to the Vehicon as he shoved him in front of him, "Well, what are you waiting for? Scout ahead." He ordered.

The Vehicon shook his head to the abuse he was used to as he deployed his weapon steadily scouting on ahead, he got so far until his head was suddenly ripped from his body as a ball passed through him like air. The projectile hit the wall behind him as it eat through it like scraplets in a junkyard.

"W-What?" Starscream uttered. "M-My, my Decepticons." He continued deploying his own weaponry as his arm shook hesitantly cautiously preparing himself to destroy whatever resided behind that corner, "I knew it, Shockwave has been hording more of his 'experiments' knowing him he has probably gave them 'pet names' Rampage or-or Divebomb or Tantrum something as stupid as that i bet." He finally peaked himself around the corner though saw nothing, no giant beast whatsoever except for a pool and chunks of scrap. "Has Shockwave granted it invisibility?" he pondered, his optics slowly wandering down the hallway.

A clicking sound made him shoot his head down aiming at the source, "What?!" he exclaimed revealing the source, "you!? You did this?" he said dumfounded.

She glared at him, a contributing factor to all this. "So what if i did?" she hissed.

"Your human, like me, an animal, like me, stop lying to yourself in thinking you have some sense of honor, you wanted to kill me i saw that blood lust in your eyes there like mine"

"Wh-Wha..?" she breathed to herself, sudden words of Silas hitting her of all beings. "No this isn't like that." she said to herself but was in the direction of Starscream who was utterly confused to her crazy behavior.

"But i was really bent on killing him; if he hadn't pleaded for mercy i don't think I'd be able to stop myself."

"I believe you would have even without his pleads."

"I hope your right about me, and i hope never to be in that situation again to find out."

She looked at her cannon then to Starscream, she loaded it. first he made a slight hint of concern for his own life though noticed a slight hesitation in her hands, "well come on then, shoot me." He taunted.

"No...send him off, he's only taunting you. You have to give the option." She scolded herself, but in saying that she held the weapon at him again as he turned slightly wary, but she turned the gun to one side and fired a warning shot instead.

"Wah!" he yelled looking to his feet to where it was fired...melting away the floor itself. "H-Heh, Such devastation, that weapon is of Decepticon origin i recognise Shockwaves handy work." He said presenting her with an open palmed clawed hand, "give it to me." She walked up to him casually loading her weapon again, as he backed up against the wall, "have you lost your tiny human mind?!"

"Starscream, just turn around and head the other way." She warned. "I didn't want this..." before she could finish her sentence she found herself falling limp as her vision blurred she dropped the cannon as she felt on one knee. Starscream tilted his head dumbfounded as he knelt down poking the tiny weapon.

"Hmph, not my size anyway." he scoffed flicking it to one side.

Ellen slowly curled up in a foetal position as she held her head, Starscream jumped back as she suddenly started screaming. "No!" she hollered rubbing herself up and down with her arms, a flash of light just appeared in front of her eyes looking for a source, two hands locking together, "N-No Don't look!" was what she yelled to the image that she was given, she then shot her head up as she blindly trailed the floor with her fingers, "No i said!" she said again thought aimed this at herself, "Ultra...Magnus, Ultra Magnus!" she called pulling herself from the floor as she darted forward grabbing the blaster as Starscream stepped to one side having no idea what her unpredictable behavior would do next.

"these humans are possessed!" he announced wavering his hand as he turned back to dealing with his given task but hesitated however. "If Megatron see's i let a human get passed me..." he pondered tapping his chin, "Then despite Shockwaves failure mine would be even more low." He confirmed spinning back around as he pursued after her.

Ellen's head burned as well as her heart, a knife plunging inside and tearing out a huge chunk of it, she rammed into walls like a blindly charging animal as she tried to continue on straight, "I'm coming. I'm not leaving you..." she started muffled speech as she made it up to the top floor.

"Ultra Magnus, you are no Optimus Prime." Came Megatrons voice which Ellen pinpointed as the only sound to exist as she locked her gun into place holding it in his direction, though Megatron was not deaf and turned to face her, quick and aware as he was in the pits of Kaon.

"Hence the name!" she announced, and fired as did Megatron the plasma and cosmic rust both met as it imploded on itself destroying the projectiles.

"Stand down Juvenile! Don't interfere!" Ultra Magnus called from his position.

A gasping, panting sound from Starscream made her turn towards him as in a panicked state flicked her to one side, like she were a poisonous snake "Ha, ha! That will teach you to try and attempt intimidation!" he announced triumphantly, but a hard glare from Megatron made him refrain his position as he plucked up the girl by the leg and pitched his fingers around the weapon as he looked it over in a disgusted form before he turned confident, "Of course this is one of Shockwaves inventions Master. His experiments have always proved, somewhat of a failure." He stated smugly throwing the weapon over the edge of the fortress.

Megatron growled with frustration at Starscream as he chuckled a nervous laugh backing away. He then cupped both hands around the human, "i'm not going to let you snap another finger from me you puss filled sack." He hissed in a whisper holding her about two metres away from his chassis.

"And how is Starscream that she got past you in the first place! She is human is it possible you cannot even deal with them now!?" Megatron roared.

"I-it was not me Lord Megatron, t-the human has a weapon of Decepticon science you should see the body count down there, t-that is no, body count." he argued grimacing and shuddering slightly to the sight.

"It doesn't matter what they do in the end there only using tools not themselves, hiding behind our weapons like shields!" he argued briefly sneering at the small creature. "manual labour is there only function and their existence a mistake."

She was beyond bitterness and just wanted to scream her hatred for him, but something wasn't letting her, she was supposed to be angry but...it wasn't her.

"Starscream dispose of it will you? If you can." He finally let up as he turned his attention back to Ultra Magnus.

She dipped her head, starting to mumble sounds, sounds of chuckling, to a point she just wanted to joke around if she was to die, she'll die being herself, "i guess Primus was drinking and smoking when you were created huh?" she jested lifting her head lazily to the sky reaching its highest point as the corner of her lip curled, as she just snickered to herself lightly.

Starscream just grumbled to himself, "Urgh I'm tired of this planet..." he moaned starting to follow Megatron who took a hold of Ultra Magnus' arm and begun dragging him up top.

"No surprise there, you have no sense of commitment." She said lecturing him, but she felt wearily confused but having a hard time repressing an urge to burst out with laughter. One guess she thought that she had probably gone mad, she couldn't think of another reason "boy do i need therapy, there's one thing you should know."

"And heres another thing you should know." Starscream started tired of her human behaviour as let her hand upside down cupping his hand around her one leg, "you know, i still need to repay you for my snapped finger." He said as he casually squeezed her leg in his grip.

Ellen grunted at first, trying to take it but a sudden crack made her cry out briefly, she bit her lip as she struggled with controlling the fast rate of her breathing through her nose, "y-you..." she started, "need a life." She announced, "argh-gh!" she hissed as he kept a firm grip. He then placed a finger on his helm as he nodded, starting to grin to himself.

Ultra Magnus tried forcing himself against the force Megatron placed upon him as Megatron continued to drag his form.

The dawn approached on the outlook of the fortress and Megatron had dragged Ultra Magnus so far before letting him fall like some dead carcass, as Starscream rolled Ellen across the floor like a bowling ball in an amusing manner. Her leg was broken but she dragged herself to Ultra Magnus pulling herself using her hands, "I'm sorry Magnus Sir." She said wearily, this felt like a hanging day for her.

"No, i led this unit; i am responsible for our failure." He said quietly.

She lent a hand on his helm as she weakly smiled at him, "No failure in trying." She told him as he only nodded tiredly.

"All invaders have been taken captive Master." Starscream mused with his hands behind his back. "There was no sign of Optimus Prime."

"So tell me Commander. Where might your leader be?" Megatron asked, Ultra Magnus said nothing only attempted to stand.

"Now there's a tragic love right there." she hissed quietly though it did confuse her with their questions they didn't know where he was? They invaded the base they must have found some...trace of him.

"Be quiet." Ultra Magnus told her in a dangerously threatening tone.

"I will not ask again." Megatron growled.

"If i knew, i wouldn't tell you." Ultra Magnus told him in a struggling voice.

"Very well." Megatron simply said deploying his sword, "execute our prisoners and fire each cannon at the nearest metropolis within its sights..." he told Starscream whose optics glowed with eagerness to grant him the permission, "it is time to show the known universe..."

Ellen drowned out Megatron as she looked at Starscream his sudden eager look had turned with sudden surprise and integrity as she swiveled her form around whilst holding her leg, to whatever it was he was looking at, though perhaps sending the Predacon somewhere else didn't quite work out. "Master." Starscream said interrupting Megatrons words "something's coming." He said with concern.

She squinted her eyes as she held her leg firmly to the pain it was pulsating, "ur-rh..." she moaned cringing.

"The Predacon?" Megatron said.

"Hmm, not beasty enough..." he said stepping back with caution as Megatron took point, despite the sun she could see a black speck but nothing that resembled wings, except not flapping ones.

Ultra Magnus forced himself up with a slight groan, as he too looked at what was approaching, "i know that color scheme." Starscream said.

Ellen squinted, though her eyes couldn't take the uv of the sun, but that speck was turning into a large form, the sounds of jet engines boomed as it came closer, she felt allot of confusion but thought nothing of it, "wha-what is that? a cargo plane?" just like the dawn she felt lighter in soul as by now his very form had blocked the light enough for her to identify the being, "N-No..." she said with disbelief, "he...but i felt..."

"Wait, he can't fly." Starscream noted. "Can he?"

The bulked up form which was no other then Optimus Prime landed onto his feet as he swerved around hitting Megatron in the side of the helm as he stumbled to the massive force, and in an attempt to fire back Optimus whacked his cannon, he uppercut him in the chin and then finally sent a full force of a punch into his chassis sending him back into his throne that said throne completely destroyed, he then deployed a weapon from behind his back, in appearance looked and worked like a Gatling gun as he took out the Vehicons that were operating the controls.

Starscream with his back turned to Ultra Magnus allowed him to stand before the Decepticon commander could react Ultra Magnus beat him down causing him to propel across the platform. "comandante e comandante." Ellen said looking to the knocked out Starscream before following after Ultra Magnus.

"Commander?" Optimus said looking over the two beings though fell more concerned with expression to the other.

"You're..." Ellen said herself as Ultra Magnus stepped in.

"Sir you're looking...robust." Ultra Magnus said choosing appropriate words.

"Fat." she said not what she intended to say but could only say something of description, she could not voice what she was thinking and feeling, she merely could not believe it, like some joke that was being played on her.

"It is paramount that we disable the fusion cannons below." Ultra Magnus continued.

"Understood." He said locking his battle mask into place as he ran to edge activating his jet packs.

Ellen stood there with one leg hovering from the floor as she took in that gust of force the pack expelled, "all units Optimus Prime has returned, i repeat Prime is alive and quite well." He then opened a compartment on his arm as he pressed something.

Ellen hopped to turned around to the sound of engines again, "you can't walk." Ultra Magnus told it as it was.

"Correction, I can limp." She argued.

"Not enough time." He said as he lowered a hand towards her two fingers held like pincers, she slightly glared at him, though didn't expect it.

"What the Darmok and Jalad do you think you're doing?" she said as she felt clasped fingers around her shirt collar.

"i find this method less time consuming." He said as he ran for the edge.

She folded her arms as she lifted a hand, "formal protest, come on i can easily hold onto your Romulan shoulder pads."

"I am the second in command to Optimus Prime, i will not be seen as 'tolerable' if i am to allow an organic life form casually occupy my shoulders." He stated jumping off the edge as he landed hardly onto his ship.

"Organic Daughter I'll have you know i hate to use it indiscriminately but i don't think Dad would appreciate you classing me as inappropriate." she folded her arms as he let her dangle there for a moment before entering the ships up top entrance. "and Magnus Sir, that's all good and well expressing a sense of dignity but dangling me in mid-air, is exposing us to danger so you're a bad bro in arms."

"Bad what?" he said placing her on the floor.

She grinned to herself, "Irrelevant topic, so what now Magnus Sir? We gonna help, er, him?"

"His presence notes my position as second in command again, if he requires our assistance he will order us to do so." He said.

"Well yes i know but..."

"You underestimate him."

"I do not!" she snapped, "It's called concern that's what 'emotional' beings do." She added in his direction before slumping her form, "I'm sorry, there are some things i can't control, it's mostly the relationships i have that get me so riled up."

"Emotional attachments." He said in his terms as he looked to his ships visual, "We need to leave, now." he said taking control of his ship. Ellen steadily hopped after him as she stopped at the foot of his chair she grunted slightly as she attempted to climb up it as she once did before, only to fail badly. And she folded her arms as a light blush fell on her face.

She coughed slightly to get his attention, "E-Erm..." she started with embarrassment as she looked up to him, "i seem to be in a predicament." She said her face turning redder with every word. He scruffed her by the shirt collar again as he placed her in the small gap she was presented with before. She cleared her throat as she scuffed her feet, "I'd, er, appreciate it if this part of the mission was kept confidential." She said.

He looked at her briefly before turning to his command center, "Autobots! Clear the area." He said.

She watched the screen, as the fortress was lit up like a tree on fire and toppled onto itself destroying it completely, she clenched her fist about to cheer only to stop as she tapped Ultra Magnus' leg, "Apologize for the abrupt announcement but Jenga!" she cheered punching the sky.

"Excuse me?" he said.

"Again, not relevant, to you i guess. But on a serious note your design of buildings are seriously flawed, i bet it was only a matter of time till a butterfly took a rest on that thing." She sighed relieved as she kept off her bad leg, "hey now that this mission is over and i can be 'less formal' can i call you Magnus?"

"No." He said bluntly.

"Well i'm going to anyway." she quietly said herself. "As well as a few more things, Number One." She grinned to herself stupidly despite being the only one on the ship to understand her joke.

"To be perfectly frank i am surprised that you are still alive."

"I guess if you think it logically with my structure and size i guess i would be, but that's where belief comes in but i don't think you believed i would have lived right?"

"My judgement was premature, but in my defence i don't know your capabilities despite the fact that you are human."

"Or our culture for that matter..." she added quietly.

"i should also point out that i have no care for sarcasm, you would be sound to make note of that." He said.

"Well, you better get out while you still can, because this is me, like you are you. And I'll have to get used to that too. Like how i got used to Arcee...which took sigh, a few years and i think I'd be...hmm fifty three before i can have a mutual conversation with you." She then sighed.

"Are you losing life blood?" he asked.

"No just feel..." she started looked at him, "fine i'm feeling, fine." She said instead.

"The Deceptions numbers have decreased, though still outnumbered that is an accomplishment in itself." He noted as a serious statement.

"What do you mean accomplishment?"

"Praise often lifts morality besides the intention or what conditions of the mission entailed." He said. "And do not think too much into what you did, only what it contributes towards, for us to prevail over the Decepticons." He said.

"What it contributes to? I don't know about that."

"However small it still contributes."

"Well thanks for the, recognition? But seriously i'm fine morality is a-okay my end. Right lets go pick up the others." She announced but then sighed as she didn't need to psychic to what look she got next, "What? I was referring to us as a whole i wasn't telling you what to do, Magnus Sir."

"...if this were Cybertron, I'd have you thrown in the brig."

"If this were Cybertron you'd have to try and find me touring the place first Magnus Sir." She said winking at him.

"I have broken many bots and have changed their attitudes during the War."

"Oh? Are you claiming you'll do the same with me?"

"I am challenging it. You need supervision, and by what i have seen so far with the other natives despite what Ratchet has told me, i may need to make it my business to improve their nature as well. I intend to improve our faction, things have changed drastically since Cybertron, they just need a firm reminder so not to lose sight of our culture and become more accustomed to yours."

"May the deities have mercy on us all." she said grimly.

---

Ultra Magnus had transported all bots and humans, besides Optimus to follow Agent Fowler back to his base. Or to put it another way there new base, Smokescreen it turns out had also followed but by his own set of wheels, everyone was relieved that the young elite guard was alive and well, but was asked a number of questions such as his own survival and he had provided an explanation of Optimus' new look.

After which Agent Fowler had led them to a specific hangar where Optimus resided inside, Ellen waited just outside like a small kid trying to avoid someone at school.

"I just, felt like i needed to go back it didn't feel right in leaving." Was what Smokescreen included in his explanation.

She lightly hit the wall with her hand, hearing all the voices that resided inside. She saw the slight shadow of Ultra Magnus as half his form stuck itself out of the entrance, "Juvenile, the human Agent Fowler requests all involved parties to be present this includes a standard meeting inside now." he ordered her walking into the hangar as she leant her bad leg up against the wall.

"I bet allot of agitated young trigger happy bots wanted to blow your aft away." She snickered to herself.

"And i ceased that behaviour before they could even process the thought." He said from inside the hangar.

"Scrap." She sighed letting her arms fall to her side.

"Ellen." A voice said as at first she looked to the sky to how 'little girl' it sounded as she looked to her side, Miko stood just in front of her as she was known to somehow teleport herself into unlikely scenarios.

"Hey, Miko?" She greeted tiredly, though it was still a weird volume of voice she was using.

She spread her arms as she gave her a light hug, though she should've known what to expect after the hug, as Miko gave her a punch in the stomach, "a-a b-bizarre expression of a-a-affection isn't i-it?" She wheezed.

"You fudge packer, you're lucky that's all i do to you! And besides that's payback for knocking me down earlier!" she yelled at her.

Jack lightly pulled Miko aside as he had followed her, "Come on Miko, you've done..."

"I mean storming Dark Mount and not sneaking me in too? I thought we were friends." She complained.

Ellen grinned at her; "Sorry Miko, buuuut check it out..." she started as she lifted her leg, "Broken leg among other things."

"Broken leg?" Jack said putting Miko to one side. "Want me to get Ratchet?" he said kneeling down to her leg examining it himself.

"No way, o-ow hey watch it chief, anyway ow, you might as well call 'time of death' if Ratchet gets involved." She then placed a hand on Jacks shoulder to get him to stop, "Alright Jack I've already clarified that its broken." She clasped her hands together rubbing them, "So where's Raf?"

"Inside, Moms talking to his parents on the phone." He then nudged her shoulder with his fist, "i was, er, pretty worried about you." He said scratching his head.

"Sorry for, worrying you. And i know you guys were just as anxious as i was but, well...i did something stupid. I-I could've died and..."

"We're all guilty of putting ourselves in those situations now, be it out of peer pressure or...just being Miko." Jack said.

"You guys seriously." Miko said with one hand on her hip. "i sneak out, we get it."

"Yeah better not provoke her too much Jack this is a girl who has seen too many concert riots then an average human being and practically wrote the book on surviving one i bet." She said.

"That's for sure." He said, "Now give me your hand."

"Not in marriage i hope?" she jested.

"No, to get you to a chair or something close to a seat." He said.

The moment he said that she starting limping in herself, "no, ow. I'm ow, fine ow." She argued as Jack rolled his eyes.

"Man some people can be so stubborn." Miko added as Jack facepalmed at the both of them.

She limped inside as the first bot to come in contact with was Ratchet as she quickly limped back where she just came, "Oh-wait-i-forgot-to-turn-off-the-kitchen-sink, back-at our old base?" she said in a robotic tone.

"Ellen, get over here before i throw you into the hanger." Ratchet said.

She sighed turning around, "it doesn't rain it pours. Come on Ratch not now."

"Hard headed female." He said.

"...just been one of those days Ratch." she said rubbing a hand down her face.

"Why do you sound so weary?" He said lightly. "I'd expect you to be, well..."

She looked further into the hangar like a social meeting in a cafeteria the remainder of the bots were having conversations amongst themselves but Optimus always being the centre as they surrounded him. "I'll be over here." She said backing up against the staircase wall, "I'm not a priority, i mean operation Dark Mount is over that's no longer a threat but now it's back to work again."

He scoffed, "Priority. Priority? One, the injured are a priority as stubborn as it is for you to admit that, that's what you are and two go greet him for Primus sake." He mock scolded. "And while we're on the subject, you were lucky to come out with just an injured limb! As soon as Raphael and i get this new base set up which will be a while, i have the right mind to build a pen. Wi-With the strongest element on your planet as walls, twenty feet in height to keep you all from doing any more foolish wanderings!"

"You mean you'd hold us against our will and imprison us to keep us from Con harm aw your just the bot who keeps on giving."

"Or the world's biggest tyrant." Miko added.

Ratchet looked to the side of him noting all bots inside as he raised an eyebrow at her, "Well?" he said.

She looked to where he was pointing at. "I don't know..." she said to him. "I'll...stay here; you go ahead i don't want to draw attention." She then said to Jack and Miko 'shooing' them in a sense.

He frustrated as sigh as he pinched the bridge of his nose. "At least let I or Nurse Darby take a look at that leg."

"It throbs, I'm not dying. Besides what's the choice here? Choose you and you'll make it look like a mummification then a bandage, or choose Nurse Darby and I'd get a bigger lecture alongside a few hair clips." She shuddered.

"Urgh, fine, but if you're not on...well whatever I'm going to claim as a new med table in fifteen minutes I'll break your other leg." He sighed before turning around to meet the others.

She lent herself against the hanger door as she watched the loud conversations that overlapped each other, watching who everyone said is Optimus, who is Optimus. She felt fine just standing there, she looked up as she heard a door click back into place as she saw Agent Fowler emerge, he had just come off his phone walking from one staircase to another making himself known amongst the group standing to attention as he wanted there's, "on behalf of the President and the joint chiefs i thank you all for your selfless heroism and defense of his planet I'm only sorry that the world can't yet know of your undying dedication, because i for one owe you my life, my liberty and my future." He then stood to attention again as he gave a proud salute to them all.

Optimus gave a subtle nod towards him before Ultra Magnus spoke up, "Sir, i am honored to relinquish command of the Autobots to you."

"Welcome to Earth Ultra Magnus, and, to Team Prime." He replied lightly smiling.

"Okay, someone's gotta say it, Optimus 2.0 is rad." Miko announced, performing two rock hand signs.

Ellen lightly rolled her eyes, "Rad? Hey Marty the future is messed up everyone has converted to the decade that was the 80's." She jested only to mumble something as she looked to one side. "Do-Don't mind me, the King of subtly heh yes and I'm going with King." she awkwardly said.

"Hey you being unsociable over theeeeeeere!" Miko called using her hands to produce a louder sound, "seriously now, imagine what the forge can do for your bod." She continued looking to Ratchet who scoffed.

"Well..." he started as he looked to behind him, to the forge of Solas Prime. "Is it true that forge has been drained of its power?" he asked getting a subtle nod from Optimus. "Then any hope of rebuilding the Omega Lock has truly been lost." He said this time in Smokescreens direction.

"I, did what i felt was right." Smokescreen said.

"And your instincts have again proven to be quite sound." Ratchet reassured as Smokescreen looked over his shoulder to him giving a nod. Smokescreen hoped to himself it was the right decision to him it did, and Ratchet wasn't holding a grudge towards him for it either, still, he wondered about the others thoughts, if they were the same.

Ellen started to maneuver her way around silently, trying to head outside, as the group discussion had ceased. somehow Smokescreen was able to go back and save Optimus with forge and that was the extent of her knowledge, but she still felt anxious, he was there physically, heck she could even talk about him in present tense but something still convinced her otherwise, sneaking towards the door in a cartoonish style way, Optimus had turned his head towards her, always following her even during conversation between the others and she slightly looked back and felt sudden panic. He smiled at her, but she didn't want to approach him, she felt very confused a mental battle between her eyes, head and heart. He was just so adapting to the situation, base went under, he went under, back on his feet back with a base, just another day. And she was fine with those situations but not this, loosing possessions, even cherished photos, when your house is burned to the ground the only thing you say is 'at least we have one another' you can't hug a photo the way you can the real person.

Instead of shaking her head or producing a frown she turned as she started to limp around the outside to avoid attention. But despite that she knew he wouldn't leave her alone; he was following her with his optics. the hangar rang with voices as she couldn't think and she was constantly being stalked.

Then her stomach tensed as to what was said now caused the room to cease to silence, but she wished they hadn't, "Ellen." Optimus called.

She felt sick and scared, and the worse was still to come as he started making his way towards her when she didn't answer, though the steps of his feet had changed drastically in volume, and she felt queasy, she kept her head when she turned around to meet his feet, he knelt down and offered a open flat palm for her, it had definitely doubled in scale but despite the subtle gestures for her to get on, she averted her gaze, she was reluctant, she didn't know how to react, "your...you're not real..." she mumbled starting to frown, "you can't be real, you, i felt myself die, i was convinced that..." she started tempted to look up.

"Though my frame is different, my Spark is the same." he said sounding like his usual self. She slightly backed away, metaphorically speaking her heart had broke in two, and the bond damaged she could not feel him in the room nor could she feel that relief he was expressing.

"Just." she started as she backed away from the being, "please, I need air, and to be alone, and i mean It." she stated spinning herself around and heading back out.

"Didn't expect that." Miko said shrugging.

Optimus watched her intently as she walked off, she was indecisive; Ultra Magnus came to attention also, as he stepped to his side, "Sir. I know that there are personal issues to attend to but we have much work to do with our new found base." He said noticing the conflict in his expression, "Solitary is a good teacher."

He nodded to the statement, "She often chooses her own company when faced with conflict, which concerns me, but she needs her space this time, she is in a state of shock."

"Her exit was, inappropriate." He noted.

Optimus turned his gaze to Ultra Magnus, "on a professional level perhaps, she has every right on a personal level to feel a sense of anxiety."

Ultra Magnus averted his gaze to the floor pondering, personal level has never been his strong point since, well since he can remember, he had been an Elita Guard most of his life his career had always involved professionalism. "Sir, when you are unoccupied i would like to present my report." He said as he looked to one side, "and with your permission a few unrelated questions resolving a few 'human sayings'."

Optimus blinked at him, "...how, much interacting have you had with our human friends?" he asked.

---

Ellen stayed out until late afternoon, she sat on one of the hangars far from the one the others were in, watching two human soldiers come back and forth in a truck with supplies for the new base, it made sense to only have a couple witnessing eyes. her arms felt numb slightly to how suddenly biting the air had become, her leg was agitating her but she said she wanted to be alone for a bit. Problem was she had trouble with being able to go back and Ratchet did say he'd break her other leg. She then heard the sound of tippy toeing as though pebbles were being thrown at the roof, her eyes glanced to her left as she sighed silently, "Smokescreen, please i don't know what 'right' choices your feeling right now but it is defiantly the right thing to do in leaving me to be with myself..." she pleaded noticing him trying to be light hearted with her as he tried to be mock stealthy in approach.

"Hey, i just thought I'd tell you what happened, i er, don't think you were trying to listen." He said trying not to slip on the nature of the roof.

"Honesty, i don't want to know what happened and i can't talk to you at the moment either." She said frowning at him.

"Wait, what? To me? Why?" he asked tilting his head.

She waved her hands in front of her as he came out very confused for his misunderstanding that she hated him or something, "its-it's not you, and i should be grateful for saving...if that is, oh i don't knoooww." She said holding her head, "you went back. There i said it." She said slightly bitterly towards herself.

"O-kay?" he said raising an eyebrow.

"You went back...i couldn't, i wanted to but you did, you saved him and i couldn't, i couldn't go back." She sighed as she lay a hand on her face, "I've worked hard in school, at home with my life just trying to work hard so i can help out...i try to do things right but it only falls back on me and with consequence. You going back...i felt as though i had just, abandoned him like i didn't try hard enough. Bee was wrong, i was wrong maybe there is such a thing called destiny and mine is to not help i don't know." she finished laying on her back.

He shuffled beside her though she made clear indications to come no closer. "You didn't exactly have that right moment to do something, you went with Ratchet right?"

"Yeah...i was restrained, tricked actually..." she hissed.

"he, knows you would've done anything, we all probably would've went back for him, i mean i was on my own i had no one to take care of..." she noticed his optics looked down, "no charge of my own, no responsibilities. It was just de...no, it was circumstances, you make your own destiny and mine started when i wanted to be an Elite Guard."

"Yeah you're right, s-sorry I've just..." She sighed, "Got a headache."

"But that is Optimus Prime in their i know the change is a bit erm, different? But i couldn't believe the transformation either, it was just...'boom' you know?" He said.

She shook her head at him in an unconvinced manner, "No i don't, I thought he...well i was..." she said starting to blush. "i-its illogical in description."

"Try me, impossible thoughts are my specialty." He teased.

"I thought it was recklessly impulsive?" she grinned.

"That too." He grinned back.

"Well, i felt something pull away from me, like a symbiote when separated from its host, it tugged and tugged and then it stopped but it wasn't gone it froze in that state hanging on, clinging..."

He held a finger under his chin as he thought into it, "would you like the good news or the bad news from that explanation?" He said his grinning expression fell as he turned more solemn.

"I know that look, he died didn't he?" she said flatly.

Smokescreen cringed slightly, "How can you be so casual about that? it's kind of off putting." He said in all honestly.

"I'm a realist when it comes to the subject. Miko even slapped me in the face one time for it." She shrugged remembering how much it stung. "Thank Starfleet she didn't punch me."

"No kidding, well..." he stopped as he rubbed the back of his helm, "he did, but-but don't worry it was more like, when a medic stops your spark for a little bit while performing surgery..."

"So then you..."

He rubbed the back of his helm again as he was still unsure of his decision because of what Optimus had told him to do, only to not. "Yeah, I took the forge of Solace Prime and placed in his palm, the power of the Primes activated it and started to mend his frame, transforming it...but you have to know, he didn't want to use the forge on himself."

"Why? That thing made a Spacebridge for Primus sake." She said speaking from personal feeling alone.

"It was low on power it only had enough for one more try..." he sighed again shaking his head, "and he wanted it to mend the lock and restore Cybertron."

She sighed also as she pinched the bridge of her nose, then wiping her hand over her face, "he did huh? I expected as much, the needs of the many, out weight the needs of the few...or the one." She said in a typical fashion.

"Er, yeah?" he said as she had suddenly changed her tone and voice for that matter.

She lifted her head lightly to him, "But instead you reversed that, making it the needs of the few outweigh the needs of the many...nice one Jim." She said giving him a thumbs up.

"Er, you-you know what i'm going to take a stab at this and say yes? Is that the correct answer miss?" he said.

"Yes." She sighed fondly, "Besides they'll be another way to revive Cybertron. right?"

"Right"

"So, that really is him? I haven't finally snapped have i?"

"Well i don't think so but, i know for a fact, that, that is him, so you gonna go in there and do human stuff that you do? Er licking is it?" he said as she glared at him in an instant, "Joke, i'm not that oblivious to human behaviour." He said placing two hands in front of him for shields.

"You're a worse tease then Bumblebee, besides i bet you hugged him when he was restored." She teased back.

"I did not!" he called as she stood up though winced to her protesting leg.

"yeah right, you look at him like i do at...er, my heroes... admiration, pride rising in your chest just to the thought of being the same room as him, and the thought of him looking at you with shameful death eyes it's enough to make you just wanna die and, oh! This one time i saw him in person at a convention once and i could've cried..." she started rambling as Smokescreen darted his optics left and right wondering if she remembered that he was still there, "and then-and then he said my name when i asked if i could hug him and sqeee! He is so awesome! He even-he even...he even..." she stopped as she realised the worst. "What are you looking at? I was having a fan girl moment everyone has them at least once."

Smokescreen kind of shuffled away slightly, "Ah shut up you're a fan boy yourself." she jested lightly before sitting herself down again. "So, er, how you doing? Seeing a leader die, well and your hero die, you alright?"

"Well, i'm doing fine now, he's alright now, but i kind of think of myself a little differently now, with all that's happened i mean."

She pretended to have a heart attack, "H-Hold up-hold up! G-Give me minute everything's going dark! Hold me closer Smoke i-i can't breathe, i mean you need to set me straight here, are you, referring to, 'personal r-reflection?" she said melodramatically.

"Aw come on, is it really that much of a shock?"

She lightly poked him in the leg, "Come on Smokescreen i'm only teasing i give as much as i take..." she then stood up as she held out a hand, "maybe i should introduce myself again? Hi Ellen Sarek Robertson, Base Clown and modern philosopher." She said sticking her tongue out.

"Er, Smokescreen, Elite Guard." He said, "Well, now, i don't know, when i said i saw myself a little differently..." he stopped as he wondered watching her blink a few times to his frozen form, "you see..."

"What? Has Arcee said something again? I didn't think she would despite everything that's happened? I'm telling ya, don't worry about it, no one's born like...well i question Ultra Magnus ever being 'a kid' but you know, i mean look at me i'm an idiot." she said making herself cross eyed as she made 'doi'ng' sound.

"I wouldn't say you were an idiot, just...silly." he said.

"I like to think so too." She said fondly.

"Well anyway i just...thought that...well you know can't-can't be a kid forever. And-and in war."

"u-huh." She said looking him over wondering if any of that forge stuff had rubbed off onto him, "You know it's weird."

"What?"

"well your face, but, it's like you were emerged from the well yesterday and are learning everything now, and i mean that whole escape pod thing, but before then it was just training and reading, no life experience you know?" she said.

"Yeah, it's like i was frozen in time being in stasis." He said.

"Have you never been is stasis?"

"Nope."

"You know what i hate? Going under the knife whilst under anaesthetic, you know if anything went wrong and i just spontaneously died, that would suck."

"Same thing that could happen to us."

She thought that since he was sitting tight this time, she needed to get something straight and answered, "Smokescreen, when i was packing my stuff i noticed some of my things were missing." She said suspiciously.

"You, did?" he asked grinning nervously.

"Something round in shape i put it in the corner of our quarters. It was grey and basically awesome." She said.

"I, might have seen something like that, when Jack was giving me a tour." He said rubbing the back of his helm again.

"I knew it! You stepped on my Lego death star didn't you?!" she hollered.

"I thought it was a miniature lobbing ball." He said innocently. "But Jack did a good job at hiding 'my' mess."

"Ah, so you had an accomplice?" she said stroking her chin.

"No i mean, it was my fault in the first place and..."

"Joke Smokescreen, joke i'm just putting on a show here."

He held his helm, "i can't tell if your being serious or joking or what."

"Trust me you'll know when i'm serious, but Miko won't be too great she got me that thing for Christmas." She then tapped her fingers against her knees. "Hey er, Smokescreen?" she then said shyly.

"El, can i call you that? Jack said you preferred It." he interrupted thinking she was about to mention the other things he had, 'messed' up.

"Well, yeah sure. But you didn't have to interrupt me to..."

"I swear i thought that robot monkey was a scraplet." He blurted misunderstanding her tone.

Ellen's expression turned to that of straining as her eye twitched, "y-you broke Antari?!" she hollered, "wait-wait, it's okay, it's okay, i can handle it, there just meaningless possessions..." she said calmly breathing slowly. "With my savings card inside and license...and the key to my house...and-and the keys to my Motorbike." She then shot her head up in horror, "Aw hell no. Not my Bike, not my cherished inanimate old friend?" she weeped putting her head between her legs.

Smokescreen winced slightly as he had to finish it despite her mourns, "wait, there's more..." he said as she shot her head up a shadow fell over her forehead as she frowned intensely. "There was this sword and it had this weird feline face on the hilt it was red and..."

"What did you do to the Sword of Omens?" she started dangerously.

"I used it, for target practice i was gonna put it back but then it snapped in two on the second try." He said covering his optics with a free hand.

A nerve in her head snapped as she surprisingly merely smiled at him, "you best watch your back my friend, because when you least suspect it i'm going to be on you like a shadow of vengeance, a very small un-glorified shadow of vengeance, but vengeance nonetheless!" she announced pointing a finger to the sky, "i mean good grief, my Death Star, Antari, The Sword of Omens of all things...were you high?" She said stroking her leg as her slight laugh died down, "Hey Smokescreen?"

"Yes?" he asked nervously shielding his face.

"You know, erm, thanks for saving my Sire." She said scratching the back of her head this time.

He lowered his hands as he took time to take in what she said, "No problem, anytime."

"Anytime? Not the best choice of words Smokey." She said.

"Okay-okay, let me try again...no problem."

"Better. Oh and sorry for snapping at you a few minutes ago, it's just frustrating when you can't help. And then there's someone who's better at doing it then i ever can."

"Trust me, i know the feeling." He said.

"So." She started as she slapped her lap, "Seen enough now? You still think you're not good enough?"

"Well for today anyway and as for self esteem neh, i think it's been taken up a notch." He said performing a 'so-so' gesture. "what about you, you going to be tagging along in, what did you call it? Lightweight?"

"it's 'Star-light' and don't you forget it, and as for tagging along, i'm hoping to, i mean i'm no whizz like Raf, and i hate being deadweight but i also hate allot of work, but if you have the power to be able to make a difference and set things right, you have a moral obligation to do those things...right?"

"What if you didn't think you could do it?" he asked looking concerned for himself than anything else which intrigued her, the show of doubt.

"Well, you try and you screw up but you learn and move on, like I've told myself before, your only a failure if you give up on trying...and i will always sound like a Disney film." She then looked at his expression he had some sort of 'scare' factor to his expression like some kind of wake up call, "you okay Smoke? You look, anxious."

"I'm fine, seriously. Just, thinking."

"Thinking? Again, twice in one day? Well don't blow your head off or anything." She said.

"Hey! Is that the last one now? Because i'm trying to insult you back but i'm currently occupied on other things"

"Normally i can let these things go, but not the Sword of Omens man." She leant over a little looking at him as he had dipped his head not paying attention, "seriously, what's up? You're on and off here."

"Just thinking of, my career." He blurted.

"Career? Seriously you thinking about settling down as well, have a sparkmate and a room full of little puff of smokes?" she teased.

"What do humans do?" he said assertively.

She set aside the jokes for now as his expression turned serious. "Well lots of things, some careers similar to yours and others that aren't, we have our doctors, our military, our construction, our leaders."

"Leader-s? So not just one? I mean sure we had the original thirteen but that was against Unicron. But how many are we talking here?" he asked intrigued by that statement.

"Well it's pretty difficult to give you an exact number because it depends on how you define a world leader, but there are hundreds of names listed, and they have different titles depending on where you are, like here, we have our President."

His optics slightly widened to the quantity, "President. Is that the guy Fowler referred to?"

"That's right."

"Is he anything like a Prime?" he asked.

"Hmm, well, some were on that line yeah." she said resting her chin in her hand, she never thought of a comparison before.

"So what are they chosen or...?"

"For the people, by the people Smoke, we have a election every four years between candidates."

"Oh so the population has a say in it?"

"Yeah." She said slightly growing bored with discussing politics.

"Hmm, well that's one subject can cross of my human training course." He jested "right, so back inside the hangar right?" he then said switching topics fast.

"Wait hold up, you really just asking to learn? Or are you planning on leaving? Or something?"

"No, just curious, Jacks job is pretty weird i mean serving humans supplements like a drone? They can't make it themselves?" he said.

"Preach all you like but I'd like to see you make Kentucky fried chicken. Anyway you go ahead, i still, i still want to just sit here just for some quiet time as well as figure out a way to sneak bag inside whilst avoiding awkward scenarios."

He puffed a soundless laugh as he shook his head, "alright but if your skin starts turning blue I'm informing Ultra Magnus." He jested.

"Aw come on. He was talking about throwing me in the brig before he's probably already got one set up." She moaned.

"By the way, what was it like, with the Commander i mean?"

Her face quivered as though she had sucked on a lemon, "Smokescreen, i can only say this, i never thought i possessed such patience until i met that one being commonly referred to as, Ultra Magnus." She emphasized.

"I guess certain abilities get forced out of you when met with the right obstacle." He winked.

"'hell' to the 'yeah', I'll see you back at the hangar and tell Ratchet i ran away or something." She said lying back.

"Will do." He said sliding himself of the roof only being a sitting wall to him in comparison. He gave a short wave at her as she returned the gesture, she sighed to herself as she watched him make his way back, she then nodded shuffling her way to the edge of the roof.

"Hmm, i think I'll just hang around, a little bit more." She said with worry, "just a little longer." She continued as she made her way slowly down the ladder. Getting to the bottom she felt her leg creak and crack, realizing how half a football pitch in length she was away, she went around the side of the building as she lent herself up it, gently hissing as she rubbed her leg. "Ratchet can wait." She said resting her head back, though she couldn't help but look at her hands, what she had held before. it still rested on her conscience.

---

A/N oooh is that it? well no, but aren't i a tease? but the next chapter will be titled 'Rebellion prologue' for, well you can probably guess ;) and some parts will probably be a little whimsy but hey i need to do one since everything went wrong since the Omega keys for her XD. but that shouldn't take as long to upload as these past couple chapters did.

i added my own theory to why the Predacon froze on entrance, even if its highly unlikely, i attempted an explanation anyway :P

you know to be honest and not being vein or anything but I'm pretty proud of this fic its allowed me to improve my writing skills and of course it has its flaws and is part of the 'cliched' section but I'm pleased with it :) but any case it could be worse

and yes i got Ellen yet another 'title' Juvenile and of course her title for him, 'Magnus Sir' -_o i though it would suit her way of not being clear all the time and blatantly be awkward.
also if not brought up, i was too oblivious to notice that this fic is over a year old so...happy very late anniversary? :P

so next two chapters won't be 'episode based' but the second chapter after the next will be very 'interesting' going over Ultra Magnus getting his truck mode and settling in to the new base, I'm making it a 'silly' chapter but not too much hopefully anyway please R + R, Fave, Follow and who wants a high five? *raised hand* don't leave me hanging now :3