A/N: UPDATE ANNOUNCEMENT PLEASE READ.

This week I'm not going to be able to get to a computer very often because my family is full of brats, so there will probably only be one update per day and responses to PMs and Reviews will be slower than usual unless my ninja skills return to me.

After this 600-word chapter, it's back to Marian and Knock Out!

Beta: The amazing Everon Prime!

Disclaimer: I don't own Transformers Prime, just the random OCs and plot rainbows I barf out.

Chapter 131: Like Rust

Ratchet was all set to tear apart and rebuild the hunk-of-junk that Marian Padauk called a car. Tools were prepped, schematics were downloaded, and Honey was sitting on the couch next to the other human children with a smug look on her face. The little Pit-spawn... He pointedly ignored her as he reached for one of his tools, only to stop as a monitor beeped loudly as it received an incoming call.

"Ratchet, open the ground bridge," Was all Optimus said before cutting the line, leaving a set of coordinates on the screen.

He huffed in annoyance at being interrupted and gave the giggling girl a dirty look as he quickly moved to the control panels, adjusting the settings and yanking the lever down to initiate the transportation sequence. In just a few moments, four tired Autobots shuffled into the base, and he immediately turned to scan the warriors for injuries despite not seeing any wounds. The children were off of the couch and pressed against the railing, each one craning their necks in an attempt to spot the red-headed woman that had been snatched from them.

Honey was the first one to speak up, her eyes wide and hopeful as they focused on the tallest mech. "Marian...?"

The Prime couldn't look her in the eye as he stepped forward and silently held out his hand and pinched between his fingers was a small, black cellphone. "I am sorry."

Blinking slowly, the little girl reached out and took the item, staring at the cracked screen despondently.

"We tracked some tread marks to a cattle ranch, where we found that." Bumblebee buzzed an explanation to the Medic. "The 'Con must have backtracked over his own prints because the trail ended there."

"Or he was granted a ground bridge." Arcee added.

The little girl ignored them as she tried to turn the phone on, only to find the battery was dead. Jack placed his hand on her shoulder in an attempt to offer her much-needed comfort. She bit her lip and gripped the device in both of her hands as tightly as she could, her eyes brimming with tears. Taking a quivering breath, she looked at Ratchet while she tried her hardest to hold back a sob that she knew would only annoy him, then turned back to the Autobot leader.

"Optimus? I want to go home." Her voice cracked and squeaked as a few stubborn tears rolled over her cheeks. "Marian will be mad if I miss school tomorrow."

"I am sure Ms. Padauk will not mind if you miss a day of schooling." He gently told her, but she began to frown, and he quickly added. "But if you feel that you must..." The frown became a small smile, and she nodded. "So be it. I-"

He was cut off when she quickly moved further along the railing so that she was closer to Ratchet. "C'mon Hatchet! I gotta take a bath before I go to bed!"

He sputtered. "But I- you... What?"

"I need a bath, I'm hungry and I still have some homework to finish."

"Ratchet, escort Honey to her home and see to it that she refuels. Until Ms. Padauk is located, you are to be her guardian." Seeing the Chief Medical Officer beginning to protest, Optimus finished with, "This is not open for debate."

"What?!" Came the outraged cry. "But-"

"'Nooo buts'!" Honey quoted.

He shot her a disapproving stare.

"Relax." Arcee patted his arm as she passed him to get to Jack. "The humans grow on you."

Ratchet scowled and bitterly retorted, "Yeah. Like rust."