Arriving in Princeton was nothing short of relief when the tyres of the plane touched down in the city. Saphira smiled when she had peered out the window before going through the airport security and catching a taxi to head to the rented garage. It was larger than the garage she had rented in LA, it could easily house ten cars, so Saphira had a lot of room to spare. It also had a larger living space with a small bedroom, bathroom and open kitchen with a small living room. It definitely was a bigger step-up from what she had, but a step down because of the house she had rented for a year. Saphira arrived at the property and dragged her suitcases to the mailbox where an envelope was with the key. Thankfully, no one had taken it and the remote for the garage was inside the envelope too. She pressed the button to open the garage and watched the roller door rise, and she saw both the Daytona and Nissan 240sx angle parked on the left side of the garage.

She was very thrilled and walked inside, closing the door behind her. She spotted a note on top of the Daytona and walked over to pick it up. Written on it was an invitation to a race meet at the end of the week to introduce herself and show her skill. She was glad she would be given time to get used to the city before she went to a race meet. Saphira walked to the bedroom to unpack the suitcase with her race meet clothes and some of her underwear. She also grabbed out the cannister with the Cube shard to place inside and place clothes on top of it. She hoped that the energy from it would not be detected here in Princeton.

She pulled out some empty journals she intended on using, however, when she did, her mind suddenly felt lightheaded, and she began seeing symbols that were not familiar to her. The desire to write them down was strong, she grabbed a pen and opened one of the journals to begin writing them down. She didn't even realize she had filled three pages with these symbols until she managed to shake herself awake and stare at the symbols in the pages. She did not recognize them, though she knew they were not human symbols. This worried her, Barricade told her that the decepticons sought extraction of a map to an energon source on the planet through a human. She had touched the Cube…and now…it seemed she had the information in her head.

She slammed the book shut with a frown, there was no way it was possible that she had the map in her mind. She felt she should tell Optimus, though she didn't know when Lennox would even see her text if she sent him something. However, there was no way she would tell him over the phone directly. The decepticons would be watching, they are not fools. The autobots already told her when they met her they used the internet to learn human languages, and she knew the decepticons found her through her blog page, so the chance of them picking up her text was high. It was a big risk. She decided to try and hide it away for the time being.

For the next week, Saphira got settled in the city, she took both cars for joyrides around the city to get to know it and locate where the raceways were, so she knew where to go. She was given the location of the race meet she had been invited to, and the person who would greet her is named Nicholae. Saphira was very excited, she likely would only attend the race meets once a week during college anyway. She didn't want to do anything more than that.

When it was Friday nice, Saphira had chosen to wear a short, black, sleeveless dress with black, stockings and high boots. She had applied makeup and aromatic, floral perfume with plain, silver earrings and bangles on her wrist. She was looking forward to it, the symbols did come back a few times during the week and she needed to try and relax, and to forget about transformers just for a little while. She went with her Daytona as she knew she would be in for some sprint racing, and she loved using the muscles for the sprints. She finished curling her hair and smiled at herself in the mirror before getting into her car and driving to the race meet. The one information she had when looking for Nicholae was that he was the one with the long, silky hair, bright, blue eyes and he would be wearing a glittery suit tonight. It was not a lot to work on, but Saphira accepted it nonetheless. She was thrilled to be racing somewhere new.

When she arrived at the meet, it was packed like they always were with other racers and people who just came to party. There were a lot of nice cars parked within the lot to show off the rides to others, get pink slips ready and just to get ready for the races. This raceway had four sprints going on at a time as this particular raceway was originally a drag sprint speedway with multiple lanes available. It made this place the go to for sprints. Saphira finds an open spot next to a dark, red, 2000 Mustang Cobra with golden eagle vinyl's, gold neon lights, gold headlights and gold line trimmed spoiler and hood. It was really nice, plus there were spinners on the rims of the car. Saphira parked her car and she noticed a man with long, dark blue hair, it was almost black at night and she saw his bright eyes and glittery shirt. She was surprised to see Nicholae, and even more surprised that this could be his car.

He already knew this vehicle was new and he approached the driver side with a smile. His shirt was buttoned down slightly, and Saphira could see his abs, and he appeared to be in his twenty's and she felt herself almost blushing as he was very attractive. She winds the window down, peering out at him. "Sweet ride. I remember when these arrived a week ago and parked them in that nice garage. Nice to finally meet you in person, Saphira."

Saphira smiled and stepped out of the car happily. "Likewise, Nicholae. This is a nice place." She glanced around, there were several dancefloors full of people dancing, drinking and showing off car tricks. "It is so nice to be here."

"I am glad you like it. I hear you are quite the queen in sprints back in LA, we will see about that." The man smiled as he moved to lean on her car, he grabbed out a fresh mint and held it out to her. "Want a fresh mint?"

"No thanks." Saphira shakes her head politely. "So…what do you do for newcomers? Back in LA, if you are not a noob, we tend to give them either a new car or the shell of a car, depending on what place they come in their race."

"That is what we do here too, except we don't offer a shell. Well, we haven't been able to get one. There's a Firebird graveyard we have been trying to use for that, but it has been strangely difficult." The man shrugs casually, he placed a fresh mint in his mouth and Saphira heard him biting down on it happily. "Although, I am not sure what new car you mean, but we always have a new model of a car ready for new racers who are intermediate or experienced if they win their first race."

"Wow, we don't even do that. It is usually a classic muscle or exotic that has all the engine together and fresh paint…so you take it a step further here in Princeton. I will be very interested. Of course, I'd rather not know what car it is until I win it." Saphira smiled at him and looked at the Mustang in front of her. "I suspect this is your car."

"Sure is, this is my newest baby." Nicholae walked to the car and pats the roof of the car with a grin. "I have ten other cars at home. My girlfriend has five in my garage, she's here tonight and wants to compete with you."

"Oh…that's nice." Saphira didn't know if that was because the girl was worried about someone taking her man. Nicholae was a very attractive man. "Is it a one verse one sprint?"

"No, there are three others you will be facing. I am not one, unfortunately." The man chuckled softly and points towards three other cars. Saphira saw there was a fully customised, black, red neon light Volkswagen Golf, a blue 2000 BMW M3 and a white 2002 Nissan Silvia with iridescent blue colour shining off the paint. Saphira was surprised she was racing against these cars. They were all very nice, well loved and had a lot of money put into them. But…Saphira knew she would likely beat them.

"Wow, this is…quite the line-up," Saphira commented with a chuckle. "None compare to a muscle."

"I completely agree. Jessica, my girlfriend, decided to use her 1980 Porsche 911…" Saphira raised an eyebrow at the man and he chuckled at her. "I am not kidding. I mean, the car is great. But…um…she hasn't really done much to it. It is kind of a shamble for a classic."

"Do you ever offer help to upgrade her cars?" Saphira asked curiously.

"She likes to tell me everytime it isn't my business to help her with her cars. I can't do anything. Honestly, been thinking of breaking up with her with that attitude anyway, we only have been dating for a month." Nicholae shrugged a little and glanced to his right as a woman with red hair and blonde highlights approached, wearing a high cut, pink tank top and short, black skirt. "And here she is, the doll of the hour. This is my girlfriend."

The woman snuggled into his open arm with a smug expression with her caked, makeup face and glossy, red lips. She sneered slightly at Saphira. "So…this is the new girl from LA? She don't look like much."

"Don't judge a book by it's cover, I have some good friends who tell me she's great behind the wheel. She can even drive on the tight, mountains near LA very well. She's actually taken those roads several times." The young woman looked at that man in disbelief. "And you know how treacherous those mountains are. All we have is the tunnels."

Saphira shrugged. "And I have yet to see you drive, Jessica. So I guess that means we both will learn that about each other before the end of the night."

Jessica smiled at her smugly. "And just so you know, this man is taken."

"Already got a man," Saphira responded quickly and Nicholae seemed surprised and disappointed by that. "Besides, I'm only coming to these meets once a week. Gotta keep up that good, college, girl appearance."

"You're going to college?" Jessica began to laugh, her laugh was slightly high pitch and it was already annoying. "You make more money by racing."

"Sure, if you win," Saphira responded with a shrug. "I have ambitions for the future that does not involve racing. At least, I can thank the racetracks for the money I've earned to sail through college."

"And that is a great achievement," Nicholae said with a smile. "Anyway, track four will be free in about five minutes. I suggest you all get into your cars and head over there. I'll direct you to the track, Saphira. Make every moment count."

Saphira nodded and got back into her car. She felt herself getting nervous and excited at the same time. She had no idea what kind of car she could win. She was really looking forward to it. She sat in the car and drove forward slowly as the young man directed her to the track. She knew she did not know anyone else at the moment, but that was how it begins at race meets. It won't take long for her to get to know the people here. It is a tight family here. When she got closer to the track, she saw people cheering as there was a race going on with five other people. She chuckled softly. Some people only came to watch and others only came to dance, but this is what it is. She stopped the car by the entrance to the track and sat waiting as the others pull up beside her. She glanced to her right and saw Jessica gesturing for her to wind her window down.

What does this girl want now?

Saphira winds her window down with a sigh. "Is there anything else you want me to stay away from?"

"Uh, no, but I just wanted to tell you that you should forget about winning the car. This win is as good as mine." The girl giggled with that high pitched laugh again. "Being experienced means five grand is totally mine."

"Mmm hmm…that isn't the highest amount I've won from a single race, but it is decent." Saphira shrugged slightly and looked at the Porsche. "Finding this classic car is pretty hard. Did you buy the shell or something?"

"Nope, some old guy sold it for a cheap price. I am so glad I got it! It is so fast!" The car did not look like it had been modified, so Saphira wasn't sure how good it was in a race. "You know, the 911's are used in racing."

"I am aware. They are one of the most popular cars used, there are other Porsche models that are used now, but of course your car isn't a racing model. It is a model that was sold as is without any of the correct racing components, so I am not sure your Porsche will beat my Daytona." Saphira smirked at her as she raised her eyebrows at her to tease her, making the girl frown at her. "Besides, it might be a European classic, but…this car has won a grand total of twenty races already. So, you might want to tone down your…overconfidence."

"Ouch…you do have a tongue in you," The girl said with a low chuckle.

"So do you." Saphira rolled her eyes at her. "But, whoever crosses the finish line first wins. That is how it always will be. So…good luck."

She winds up her window and sighed deeply. That girl was already exhausting. When she saw a girl wearing just a black bra, a silver jacket and really short, denim shorts with flags approach and direct them to the track, Saphira smiled and drove the car forward. She drives the car up to the starting line, revving the engine a few times excitedly. She glanced at the other cars beside her, she did not know if she should feel bad about beating them or not, but she also knew not to underestimate them. All but Jessica likely had NOS in their cars, Saphira had it too, though she rarely used it.

The woman walked out in front of the five cars and lifted her flags, dancing as music played around them. Saphira smiled as the woman grinned at them, winking at them as she teased them about starting the race. Saphira revved her engine, holding the pedal down as a point and holding the break carefully with her hand on the gear stick. Once those flags go down, Saphira slammed her foot on the throttle and put the car into gear, the force of the rev caused the Daytona to lift upward and speed forward before the front wheels slam back down. She smiled and cheered loudly as the car speeds forward, the sound of the engines in her ears was like music to her.

She noticed the nose of her car was already ahead of the others, that was good. She heard the sound of NOS being used by the others, which was a little early in her opinion. She held the throttle down and changed gears quickly. She glanced in the sideview mirror to see the Porsche struggling to keep up. She saw Jessica flipping her off and that made her chuckle. She looked ahead, the finish line was already a quarter mile away. The other cars were slipping ahead slightly with their NOS system. Saphira waited patiently, her finger danced on the NOS button for her car. The Volkswagen was lagging behind at the moment, it seemed to be having issues so that was why it was slowing down. The BMW and Nissan were the only ones inches ahead of her and she patiently waited for their NOS to empty. The Silvia was the first to slow down slightly. Saphira smiled, that left the BMW. However, she felt something tapping at the back of her car. She glanced at the rear-view and realized Jessica was trying to hit her car!

Saphira glared at the mirror before pressing the NOS button. The engine roared and the Daytona sped ahead of the BMW. She was not about to allow that girl to damage her car simply because she worried about her boyfriend who was soon to be her ex. The driver of the BMW panicked when he saw the Daytona pulling ahead of him, though there was little time to react as they cross the finish line. Saphira sighed in relief and slowed down, pressing her foot on the breaks to slow the car down gently and make her way off the track to the winner's circle.

She smiled as a crowd gathers to congratulate her. She parked the car with a smile, she stepped out to cheer loudly along with them. She ignored the men and women who gave her seductive expressions as she walked around to the front of her car. Nicholae approached with a smile and a suitcase that she knew held the winnings for the race.

"Well done, Saphira," Nicholae said, extending his hand to shake her hand. "You deserve this. I am terribly sorry for Jessica, I did not expect her to try and cause you injury and damage like that."

"It is okay. I got out of it." Saphira smiled as she takes the suitcase. "So, what is the lucky car prize?"

"Oh, you are going to love it…"

"NICHOLAAAEEE!" She and Nicholae cringe at Jessica's loud, whiny voice. They turn their heads to see the girl stomping towards them with a sulky face. "I need the new car to beat her. Can you give it meee pleeeaaassee?"

Oh god…this girl is something else…almost like Sophia or worse…

"Jessica…" Nicholae grimaced as the girl tried to hug him and he pushed her away gently, surprising her. "I saw what you tried to do on the track, Jessica. You were nudging the side of your car on Saphira's car to cause an accident."

"No I wasn't!" Jessica responded in a loud, shrill voice. "I wasn't trying to! You can't prove it!"

"We can if we look at both cars to see the paint that is removed from your stupid choice," Nicholae said bluntly with a frown. "I am very disappointed in you. I did not think you would do something so dangerous. You have a week to find a new garage to house your damn cars!"

"WHAT?!" Jessica exclaimed loudly in shock. "YOU'RE DUMPING ME?!"

"Yes, yes I am." Nicholae looked at her with a smug expression. "I've been thinking about it for a while now. I think it is best that we stop seeing each other. Do not take your car back to my garage tonight, find somewhere else bitch."

The crowd around them laughed and booed at Jessica as they could hear this whole thing loud and clear. Jessica began to pout and tear up, she looked at Saphira who stood there with a relaxed expression. Although, Saphira wanted nothing more than just to laugh at this stupid woman. The girl huffed and turned around, stomping over to her car to leave.

Saphira began to chuckle softly and looked at Nicholae. "I thoroughly dislike overly dramatic women. I hope you find someone else that you deserve."

"Thanks, I wish it was you though." She raised an eyebrow in surprise at the man. "But you said you have a man. Besides, you are going to college as well, and I don't want to disrespect you. Anyway, about your new car…" Nicholae turned around with a big smile. "Bring out the car!"

The crowd cheers loudly and Saphira heard the engine of a new car. She listened to it as it approached, and she grinned excitedly to see what car she had won. The crowd move aside, and she widened her eyes in shock when she saw a brand-new, silver, Nissan GTR. She has never had a car this new before, and it looked like it had just come off the showroom floor.

"Wow…that is a surprise," Saphira said with a grin. "How lovely."

"We got it a couple days ago, so it definitely is brand-new," Nicholae said with a chuckle. "I hope you don't mind an exotic instead of a muscle. We don't usually plan what car to buy for new experienced racers joining. We just buy it."

"I don't mind at all. It might even be my casual car." She walked over to the car to get a closer look as a man with dreads steps out of the car. "This is really nice."

"Lovely like you, little lady," The man said with a grin as he approached her with the smell of cologne and a Rolex watch on his wrist. "I am Mason, nice to meet you. We have been told many good things about you. I look forward to seeing you on the circuit sometime. That is my specialty."

"Nice to meet you too, Mason." Saphira walked to the door to peer inside. The new car smell filled her nostrils. "I am definitely going to like this. Though I will need someone to drop it off."

"We can do that for you tonight," Mason said politely. "When you are finished racing of course."

Saphira smiled and opened her mouth when she suddenly felt her mind get overwhelmed and she placed a hand on her forehead, grimacing as she saw the symbols again. She had the urge to stick her finger into the dirt and draw them out.

"Saphira?" Nicholae stepped close to her and placed a hand on her wrist, snapping her out of it. "Are you okay?"

"Um…yeah…I just suddenly felt a bad headache," Saphira responded slowly with a confused expression. "I think that might be my only race tonight…I don't want to risk spinning out."

"We understand," Nicholae said to her politely. "I can drive you if you would like."

"No thanks, I will be fine." Saphira smiled at him as she knew they were concerned she would get hurt. "If you can bring the Nissan with you and drop it off though, I would thoroughly appreciate it."

"Sounds like a plan, we can keep an eye on you that way so you don't crash or anything," Mason said as he stepped closer to the driver side door. "We should get going so you don't get worse."

Saphira nodded and walked back to the Daytona to step in. She watched Nicholae run from the crowd to get to his car. She smiled, she always liked that about race meets. They watch out for each other. It was always nice. Saphira drives her car carefully out of the raceway with Mason and Nicholae following behind her. She was glad she was not experiencing the sensation of the symbols showing up again. She drove through the streets carefully back to the garage and parked the car inside. She smiled as the GTR is parked next to the Dodge and Mason stepped out, he glanced around with a whistle.

"This is a nice place," He compliments with a smile. "You picked a great place to rent. At least you can come here to escape college whenever you need to. I definitely call this as a way to get around the stupid rules the college has for freshman."

"Yeah, it definitely is the reason for it," Saphira said affirmatively before yawning. "I think I should get some sleep."

"Don't forget to take aspirin for that headache." Mason walked out of the garage with a wave. "Will we see you next week?"

"You can count on it."

Saphira grinned as she closed the garage door and walked into the room to wash the makeup off her face. However, she yelped in shock when she saw a tiny, skinny bot on wheels rummaging through her desk drawer. It shrieks when it saw her and Saphira ran out to grab a wrench before running back in as the bot tried to leave.

"What the hell are you doing here, you little freak?!" Saphira demanded, slamming the end of the wrench in its face, breaking the left eye.

"OW! That's my eye, you bitch!" The bot snapped back at her, glaring at her with its red eye.

She glared at it, pressing it against the wall. "What is a little decepticon like you doing here, hmm?"

"The shard, I need the shard!" The bot responded hastily. "Give me the shard, and you will live in peace!"

"I don't believe you!" Saphira grabbed it's throat and the bot tried to claw her hand off it. "Oh, stop fussing! Did Barricade send you to do his dirty work or something?"

"That idiot doesn't even know I am here!" The bot snapped as Saphira pulled out a metal box. "Hey! What are you doing?!" Saphira opened it and slammed the bot into it! "Ow! You can't do this to me! I am gonna have so many decep…"

Saphira slammed the lid closed and locked it, she grabbed a chain and wrapped it around the box to keep it from being opened. "I'll let you stew for a little while until I figure something out."

She sighed deeply, she glanced at the drawer, thankfully the bot rummaged through the wrong drawer for the shard. She kicked the box under a shelf and cleaned herself up and changed into pyjamas. She thought about calling Lennox, though she had a direct line to Bee. Perhaps she should call him, though she didn't know if it was a call for concern. That bot had no weapons, he seemed all bark and no bite, so Saphira figured she could take care of it easily. Especially with the weapon Ironhide gave her. She just needed to get it to talk and tell her more about the plans of the decepticons.