Wheeljack was distracted, only half listening to and answering the questions being thrown at him. He watched Kerri walked down the corridor and disappear, his mind racing. 'What in the hell is going on? There's no way in hell shes fragging Ultra Magnus. That stiff aft couldn't possibly know what to do with a femme like her.' His eyes went to Magnus, who was standing at the monitors speaking in low tones to Ratchet. The Commander laughed (Magnus laughing?) at something Ratchet said before transforming to vehicle mode and rumbling out of the base.

Wheeljack looked back down the hallway towards her room. He was going to get to the bottom of this now. Yeah, he had left, and yeah, she could be friends with anybody she wanted. But Magnus? That was something that she was gonna need to explain.

The others had begun to settle down (except Miko, who of course wanted to know every detail of his adventure). The kids, Bulkhead, Arcee, Bumblebee, and Smokescreen were going on a field trip (per Ratchet's request). Wheeljack would finally be able to speak with Kerri without prying ears and eyes. He made a break for it and was almost at the hallway when the loud rumble of a truck engine announced the arrival of Optimus Prime. Prime rolled into the base, immediately transformed, and strode towards the Wrecker, placing his servo on the mech's shoulder. "Welcome back, Wheeljack", he said in his most dignified Prime voice. "You have been sorely missed. Did you have any success on your quest?"

"No, sir, I can't say that I have," Wheeljack exhaled deeply. "Just a wild goose chase I suppose."

"There is always hope that others like yourself and Ultra Magnus will find Team Prime here on Earth. Kerri told me that you will be staying this time?"

"That's the plan, sir. We'll see how things work out," Wheeljack answered. His attention was drawn to the corridor as Kerri exited her quarters and headed towards the two bots. She ran her hand over his ped and gave the them both a smile on her way to the kitchen. She rummaged through the fridge, and finding nothing else suitable, settled on a slice of cold pizza and headed to medbay. She hopped up on the table next to Ratchet.

"Ok, Doc, I'm ready. What've got for me?"

He watched disgustedly as she ripped off big pieces of pepperoni pizza and wolfed them down. "You're going to clog up your gears eating that garbage."

"I don't have gears."

"You're going to get fat."

"That's rude, Ratchet. Don't ever talk about a woman's weight. You've been on Earth long enough to know better. How would like it if I talked about how old you are? Or how you never get laid?"

"How I never get what?!"

"Look it up, old man," she laughed, finishing up the last bite of pizza. "Alright, I'm ready to work."

"Finally," the medic mumbled sarcastically. "The first thing I need you to do is finish those reports. Then I have some much-needed repairs on equipment that require small servos."

"Hands."

Ratchet ignored her comment. "Thankfully there's been a lull in Decepticon activity and no bot has gotten hurt since Magnus, except that glitch Smokescreen. I haven't had a need for most of it since then, but it's a matter of time."

"Yeah, they've been laying low. Must be up to something big," Kerri figured. "Anyhow, you've got me all day. I'm at your disposal, Doc."

Ratchet looked at her with an amused optic. "How long do you think he's going to let you avoid him?"

"Who?"

"Oh please! Who do you think?"

Kerri look over at Wheeljack. He was still talking to Optimus, but kept sneaking glances in her direction. He obviously had lots of questions, and she wasn't ready to answer him.

"I don't know, Ratchet," she sighed. "I hate letting shit hang, but it's gonna turn into an argument with him. And I don't want to fight."

"I don't get why he cares," Ratchet sniffed, "unless he got laid before he left."

Kerri's jaw hung open in disbelief for a few seconds before Ratchet took his finger and gently closed it.

"That was fucked up, Doc," she said, staring up at the old medic.

"Yep. But it was funny."