Note: the final chapters of my stories – at least my fan fictions/alternate universes – tend to be short, and more of a summary than an actual plot. I think that's how my style is regarding this type of writing, so I'm sorry if it bothers you. Maybe I'll change it in the future, but enough of my rambling. On with the story!

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The next day is a big day indeed.

The end of a journey, and the beginning of something new.

With their ship fixed and all operations once again fully functioning, the main crew disembark and remain on the planet.

Assistance no longer required, the Daytrader and its members are ready to head off.

Bumblebee and Jazz shake servos just before the latter uses the Daytrader's bridge-portal to go back to Cybertron and give his report to Optimus Prime and the Council.

Knockout and Moonracer exchange numbers with Dead End, hoping to keep in contact and retain some sort of familial connection.

Steeljaw thanks Wreck-Gar for all their help.

Slipstream passive-aggressively bids adieu to Starscream, whereas Sunstorm is showering him with as much love as he can possibly muster.

Starscream, for his part, decides to be genuinely nice to his siblings for once when saying farewell and is actually a little sad to see them go – not that he'll ever admit that.

Shockwave makes the unexpected decision to stay behind.

Fodder remains on the Daytrader with Acid Storm and the Rainmakers, who promise to call Shockwave every once in a while to share research, trade notes, provide updates on anything interesting, or even something as simple as saying 'hi' to an old friend.

Sandstorm and Octane also decide to stay on the Daytrader, wanting to get as far away from everything as possible and just rebuild their life together.

Starquest, Brimstone, and Cannonball are placed in the stasis pods that the Ex-Cons were brought in while the others figure out what to do about them and the Tidal Wave.

Sandstorm says he doesn't care about what happens to them or the ship, but he's adamant about keeping his maps and travel records from aboard the Tidal Wave, which he makes short work of collecting with Octane and Starscream's help.

Thunderhoof and the other Ex-Cons are just relieved that they don't have to go back to Cybertron, in stasis pods, but they'd be lying if they said they weren't anxious about what's to come next for them, their new home, and the political nightmare it will cause.

Steeljaw tries his best to reassure them, knowing that they don't trust him and yet still putting in the effort to – hopefully – make life better for all of them.

Ramulus returns to his mate's side as his most trusted advisor and confidant, which is a welcome relief to Thunderhoof.

Unfortunately, the sentiment doesn't last once he realizes that Phantomjaw is staying for a while.

Sure, Phantomjaw wants to spend more time with his brother, but Primus be damned if he isn't going to enjoy causing trouble for everyone else, especially Thunderhoof.

All petty squabbles aside, though, the Ex-Cons aren't displeased with their new lot in life, and neither are the Neutrals or Autobots who were willing to help them.

Now all they have to do is wait.

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The hangar door of the ship opens and Bumblebee walks out. As he descends the ramp, he looks at the gathering before him: Steeljaw sitting in a semicircle among his fellow Ex-Cons and Phantomjaw, tail anxiously twitching; Knockout is pacing; Moonracer is lying down; Starscream is half asleep and leaning against Shockwave.

The moment Bumblebee touches flat earth, everyones' attention is on him. Nobody moves, except for Steeljaw. The blue/gray Lupicon rises and walks over to Bumblebee, but stops just short. While this whole journey has been a part of his ultimate goal, the mission itself was not his idea. He gestures for Knockout to join him, and the red medic complies.

"So…" Knockout began, just as anxious as everyone else to hear the one answer they've all been waiting hours for.

"What did the Council say?" Steeljaw asked, vocalizer congested with worry.

Bumblebee remained silent. He looked around at the gathered mechs and single femme, mouth opening slightly. Then, he smiled, and shook his helm, a light chuckle escaping him.

Nobody was certain of how to take his reaction.

"Bee, what's so funny?" Knockout asks.

"Oh, n…nothing! I just…" Bumblebee stopped talking to clear his vocalizer. Once he calmed down, he resumed speaking. "Sorry, I don't know what came over me just now! Maybe it's the way your faces look, plus the news I got…"

"Which is?" Steeljaw interrupted, slowly but surely losing his patience with the yellow and black mech. Just give him an answer already, dammit!

If Bumblebee noticed the growing tension, then he ignored it. Instead, he looked between Knockout and Steeljaw, opened his mouth, and said…

"I can't repeat all that they said, but basically what I gathered is this: Optimus Prime and the others are impressed with how far you've come and all that you have accomplished and what you have proven during this mission-journey-thing, and they are willing to take the next step."

Everyone's sparks skipped a beat. Was this really happening?

"Are…Are you saying…" Steeljaw stammered, barely able to get the words out, fearing that it wouldn't be true.

But the Lieutenant's smile is genuine, and his optics gleam with honesty.

"Aside from a few things that need to be addressed during a face-to-face meeting in the near future, yes, you finally have your Decepticon Island."

Once the meaning behind the words sank in, the Cons and Knockout were overjoyed, filled with relief that, finally, they didn't have to worry anymore.

That they had a home.

That they were finally safe.

They're all in such a good mood that they are even willing to take the whole freedom with restrictions thing with a grain of salt and not worry or complain about it too much.

"I'm so happy for them!" Moonracer exclaimed, joining Bumblebee as the two watched the Cons – minus Shockwave – chatter excitedly among themselves.

Bumblebee, despite his past with most of these mechs, had to agree.

Even though Moonracer was a full blown Neutral during the Great War, it didn't mean she didn't have some sort of connection to it. Not like Bumblebee's experience, as he was a part of the War, but still personal.

Knockout. That connection was Knockout. Moonracer's mentor, and one of her closest friends, the major difference between the two being that Knockout was a Decepticon-aligned Neutral, not fully Neutral like she was. He joined the fight, while she stayed out of it.

To make a long story short: despite differing circumstances, Bumblebee can understand Moonracer's reaction, even if a small part of him is still wary of the whole thing.

"Sounds like we're celebrating!" Ramulus chimed in, carefully making his way down the ramp with arms full of Energon cubes, plus two other containers filled with something else. "Drinks all around!"

Steeljaw's mate passed out all of the blocks of blue, giving a couple small ones to Fracture's mini-cons and the biggest one to Underbite. How he was able to carry all of that by himself, nobody knows, except Steeljaw, who is well aware of how strong Ramulus really is.

"Ey, what's that yous got there?" Thunderhoof asked, taking note of the strange, rustic containers filled to the brim with a dark liquid that Ramulus only grabbed for himself and Steeljaw.

"Biofuel, one of my many special blends," Ramulus preened, standing tall and proud beside his mate.

"You wouldn't like it, trust me," Steeljaw said. He took a sip, grimaced, and forced himself to swallow. "Scrap, I forgot how bad this tastes!"

"Reminds you of the good old days, ey, Steel?"

"Oh yeah."

And the pair continue to drink, aware of and ignoring the looks they were receiving from everyone around them. However, they decided not to question it, instead leaving their curiosity for another day and enjoying a well-deserved, greatly needed, moment of peace.