Azura leaned against the railing, staring at the elevator door as she waited for Agent Fowler to reach them. She wasn't sure if she should be worried for him or not. She knew Optimus was angry that the man had a hand in housing her for the last three years and never said a word to them. She did not know if he would really confront him about it today, but Azura couldn't be sure of how often Fowler even visited the base. She knew he didn't much when she had been here, but she didn't know if that changed when she had left, so she could not be sure. Nonetheless, it was going to be good to see him again.

The doors of the elevator opened, and Fowler stepped out with a frown. "Seven wrecks, thirty-four fender benders…" The man walked towards the railing and did not notice Azura leaning nearby as Optimus stepped forward listening to him. "A three-hour traffic jam, and a particular note, numerous reports of a speeding motorcycle of unknown make and a black and yellow custom muscle car." Bee and Arcee glance at each, seemingly unphased by the dripping disrespect coming from the man. "So, anything you care to get off you tin chest, Prime?"

"We have the situation under control, Agent Fowler," Optimus responded calmly, though he did not hide his displeasure at this time, though Fowler did not seem to pick up on it straight away.

"They're back, aren't they?"

"If you are referring to the decepticons, I have doubts that they ever left. Your planet is much too valuable. Plus…" Optimus glanced towards Azura briefly and Fowler followed his gaze and widened his eyes when he saw her. "They have another reason to remain on this world…those it is more against me than anyone else."

Fowler stared at Azura in shock as she gave him an innocent wave. "Azura? W-When did you get back?"

"Yesterday. After I was followed home by one of the cons." The man was shocked as he listened to her tell him what happened. "Unfortunately…" She shifted and grimaced with a light groan, placing her hand on her back from feeling a pinch of pain in her back. "I cannot go back to that unit. I…there are some things I left behind."

"Right…" The man turned his head slowly and looked at Optimus. "That means…you know I have been helping her."

"Yes." Optimus narrowed his optics slightly. "It would have been appreciated if you had alerted us to her location, Agent Fowler. You left us without knowing for years, even if Cliffjumper had known of her location and knew that she was safe this entire time."

The man grimaced a little, knowing he was now in front of an angry father who easily pummel him with a single punch. "Yes...well...uh, there is a good reason for that..." He stepped back slightly as Optimus leaned closer to show he was listening. Azura was not sure if she should be amused since Fowler was keeping her location hidden from the autobots by her request. "I was just doing what I thought was right for her, Optimus. You didn't see how she was affected..."

"I saw very clearly, Agent Fowler," Optimus interrupts bluntly. "I am thankful that you kept her housed and safe, but her safety changed yesterday. The decepticons know the location of the unit she has been living in. If she were to return, they will find her again."

"I am a little concerned that they were driving around Jasper in the first place," Fowler said thoughtfully with a slight frown. "They must have had some reason to be driving around in Jasper for them to spot and follow Azura home."

"Oh, don't you dare try to pin this on us!" Arcee snapped, making the man flinch a little from Arcee's anger. "In case you have not noticed, we are one autobot down." Fowler glanced around and noticed there was indeed one member of the autobots who was not there. "Cliffjumper perished yesterday..." Azura glanced down at the ground sadly. "And I needed to go for a drive. I did not think they would be waiting in Jasper, but that is not the point. The decepticons could have patrolled Jasper without their boldness of targeting us."

Fowler listened and glanced at Azura when he heard a sniffle from her. He knew the bot had been trying to convince her to return to the base, and he placed a hand on the back of his neck. "I...I'm very sorry to hear that. And...I wasn't trying to blame you. I was just thinking they might have found evidence of your base location." He looked up at Optimus with a concerned expression. "Look, I know you are mad. But I gave that girl a safe place for her to shelter in while she worked out her feelings. She explicitly told me she didn't want you to find her. I was just doing what I felt was right." Optimus said nothing, though his expression softened slightly as he accepted the answer for the time being. "But...it is a concern that the decepticons are confident enough to be driving around small towns and attacking autobots in broad daylight and in front of civilians. I think it's time to wake the Pentagon."

"Hear me, Agent Fowler," Optimus said sternly. "We are your best, possibly your only, defence against the decepticon threat."

Fowler folds his arms. "Says you." He glanced at Azura for a moment and looked back at Optimus. "And I hope you have some other plan to ensure she isn't targeted again."

"I believe that concern remains with us, not you, Agent Fowler," Ratchet said bluntly as he listened on the conversation. "She will live here now, and we will make sure she remains protected."

"At least this time, she has no reason to run away," Fowler said bluntly, ignoring the glare he received from Optimus. "Azura..." She flinched in surprise when she was addressed. "I will remain an extra pair of ears if you need someone to talk to."

Azura glanced at Optimus for a moment and looked back at Fowler. "Thanks...but you don't need to do that...just don't make things worse."

"Very well." Fowler was guessing that Azura had received some tough words, even though he had no idea of what had been said over the last day. "I still don't know, Prime. I get you feel like you are the only ones who can protect our planet from..."

"Hey, fleshy!" Bulkhead snapped, interrupting Fowler as he was annoyed by him. "Did anyone get splattered on that freeway? Team Prime knows when to use force..." Azura widened her eyes in surprise when Bulkhead pulled off one of Ratchet's pieces of equipment. "And how much to use."

Bulkhead squeezes the tool until it was destroyed. Ratchet stared in disbelief that he would do that. "Bulkhead, I needed that!"

"Enough!" Azura flinched at Optimus's stern voice. She guessed he was annoyed with Bulkhead and Agent Fowler as well. Especially since Fowler wasn't telling much about his reasons in keeping Azura's location hidden from the bots, even though he gave them the right answers. "Military involvement will only result in catastrophe. Perhaps you can condone widespread human casualties, Agent Fowler. I, however, cannot."

Fowler huffed loudly at the leader. "Then do us both a favour and handle this Prime, under the radar." He turned and walked back to the elevator. He stepped inside and glanced back at Optimus. "Or I will." He presses the button to go back up and the doors closed.

Azura tapped her fingers on the railing as she listened to the elevator go up and sighed, glancing at Optimus as Bulkhead glared at the elevator. "Pretty big bearings, for a human."

"Agent Fowler is concerned for his world, Bulkhead," Optimus explained to the wrecker calmly. "As he should be. However..." He turned to look at Azura. "He and I still need to talk about a few things. However, was Agent Fowler, right? Did you ask him not to let us know your location?"

Azura nodded. "Yeah...I wasn't even sure if he would do it. I just...needed the time and space...even if it turned into..."

"Sorry to interrupt..." Jack spoke as he walked up the stairs with a curious expression. "But I got the impression that you have known about the autobots for a long time. Is that right, Azura?" She nodded as Jack reached the top of the stairs. Miko had a jealous expression and Raf was surprised as well. "But...why would they be mad that you went and got a unit for yourself? And you said you were an orphan...is anything you've told me is true?"

Azura tensed as she didn't know what to say. She was about to respond when Optimus spoke up. "Azura did not lie to you about her being an orphan, Jack Darby." The children look at Optimus as he spoke to them. "However, we met her three years ago under very different circumstances. I believe when the time is right, you will learn about the situation. However, Azura is no longer an orphan as she was adopted by us."

"I'm so jealous," Miko said and looked at Azura with a jealous smile. "And I can't believe you passed up the opportunity to live with giant robots."

Azura shuddered a little in irritation. "Can you stop calling them robots? They are alive, you know. They were born, just like everyone else." Especially as Azura knew she was also an autobot, she just currently looks like a human.

"Pfft, fine." Miko rolled her eyes and walked away. "I am still jealous."

"N-No offense, Optimus, but I get the feeling there is more to the story with Azura than you are telling us," Jack said gently. "I have been friends with Azura during the three years, and she told me she has met her birth father before. She didn't specify when, but she simply said she was only living in that unit until she was ready to go back. Do you know who her father is?"

Optimus did not expect that. He could tell Jack was intelligent, and seemed to easily sympathize with Azura. However, she was not comfortable with the children knowing she was his daughter yet, and Optimus did feel that information was something they would tell some other time as well. "I understand your concerns, Jack. I want you to know that when the time is right, we will tell you the rest of the story. But I hope this does not cause your friendship to fracture, as I know Azura enjoys having you and Rafael as friends."

Azura hoped for that too. Jack seemed hesitant. "Listen, Jack…" He turned to face her with a frown. "It's not that I don't want you to know…I…uh…" She looked away from him as she placed a hand on her arm. "I am just…not ready to accept some facts…" She heard a whir from Optimus's body which was a sign he was saddened to hear her say that. "And when I do, I will tell you the truth. But it does have everything to do with my…identity and my…" She paused for a moment, before speaking in a shaky tone. "My father."

"I guess this means you don't have a mother," Jack said thoughtfully, though Azura didn't respond to that either. "I suppose if that is the case, I guess I can accept it. I can see you are having trouble with it, even right now." She just nodded without looking at him. "I think we can still be friends. I just don't think it will be the same as before." She looked at him with a smile. "Especially since…" Jack paused for a second and blushed a little. "I think you're very pretty."

Azura widened her eyes in surprise. She had not expected that from Jack, and she couldn't help but blush a little. "Uh…thanks…but we should just stay friends." The boy nodded in agreement, before sighing in disappointment. She didn't want to disappoint him, but Azura knew it wouldn't work, given what her age technically is in Cybertronian years. She looked up at Optimus who was deep in thought. "Now what?" He glanced at her in surprise.

Ratchet turned to face Azura. "I think it will be best if I…" He paused for a moment when he noticed something on the screen of the monitor. "Blasted Earth tech!" She looked at him in surprise. "Cliffjumper's signal popped back online."

"You mentioned his name before, who's Cliffjumper?" Miko asked curiously, glancing at Azura who seemed surprised to hear that his signal popped back online.

Though the autobots did not seem inclined to respond to Miko at this time. "How is that possible?" Optimus asked in a hopeful voice.

Ratchet shook his head. "It isn't. Another bug! The system's chock full of them."

"But…" The medic turned his head as Azura spoke. "What if it is possible? What if…Cliff is alive?" Azura was hopeful it was possible. "There's a lot of things I feel like I need to say to him…I was angry at him the last time we spoke…and I now just want to apologize for it."

"I am in agreement with Azura." Arcee glanced up at Optimus. "If there's any chance Cliff's alive…"

Optimus nodded in agreement and looked at Ratchet. "Ratchet, prepare sickbay, we may need it."

He began walking towards the ground bridge tunnel when Miko spoke up. "Hey!" The bots looked at the girl in surprise. "What can we do?"

Optimus was a little surprised that the girl asked if they could do anything, but he simply responded to her. "Remain with Ratchet." He turned for a moment and glanced back at Azura. "Ratchet, make sure to keep an eye on Azura."

Azura blinked in surprise and smiled at him. "I am not going anywhere this time, Optimus." She glanced down for a moment as she softened her expression. "Just…come back home, okay? I don't want to be the one to come back and then you leave and…"

"Azura." She turned to look at Ratchet when the medic spoke gently to her. "Optimus is a great warrior, he will come back." She nodded and looked away with tears filling her eyes. "It will be fine. Besides, you can help me keep these three in line while the bots go looking for Cliff." Azura just smiled a little before the smile faded again. Ratchet looked at Optimus as the leader seemed hesitant to leave now after seeing his daughter react this way. "I have it under control, Optimus. I figured Azura and I could look at some other fish tanks while you are away."

Azura looked at the medic in surprise and Optimus smiled. "I think that will be a good idea. I know Azura would like to have some more fish to look after." He glanced at her. "May I suggest some more tetras and rainbow fish? I enjoy watching those colourful fish." Azura chuckled a little as Ratchet activates the ground bridge near the location of Cliff's signal. Optimus stepped forward as he gazed at the vortex. "Autobots, roll out!" He stepped forward and transformed, speeding into the vortex with the other three behind him.

Jack, Miko and Raf stared at the vortex in disbelief as the autobots disappeared. "What just happened?!" Jack exclaimed in disbelief as he stared at it.

"I transported to the designated coordinates via the ground bridge," Ratchet explained to the children.

Though, the kids didn't quite fully understand. "What's a ground bridge?" Raf asked, which seemed to annoy Ratchet.

Azura couldn't help but giggle. "They aren't up to speed with your technology, Ratchet."

He grumbled under his breath and looked at her. "I know. And to answer your question…" He turned to look up at the monitors to read what was on them. "It's a scaled-down version of space bridge technology. Since we don't currently possess the means or the energon required for intergalactic travel."

Jack softened his expression when realized what that meant. "You're stuck here…on Earth."

"With the likes of you, yes," Ratchet responded distastefully, ignoring the frown and folded arms from Azura. "But I constructed the ground bridge to enable travel from here to anywhere on your planet."

Raf stared at the ground in awe before he turned to Ratchet curiously. "Does it work for humans?"

The medic nodded in confirmation. "Naturally."

"You mean I could just shoot on over and visit my parents my parents in Tokyo?" Miko asked curiously.

The medic was annoyed with all the questions that had been given to him. "Within moments." He leaned down with a smug expression. "In fact, allow me to send you there immediately. All three of you."

"All three?" Jack asked curiously, glancing at Azura. "I guess you seemed to have found a way to not annoy the bot."

Azura chuckled softly. "I guess so. But if Ratchet did that, the wrath of a certain autobot he would have to face would not be something he would want to happen. Besides…" She glanced at the medic with a smile. "I think we were going to look at some new fish tanks and the fish that I could have in them. Or were you just saying that to make things a bit easier for me and Optimus?"

The medic's expression softened and smiled at her. "A bit of both, I suppose. Though I am not sure if you really want another tank…" She nodded excitedly and Ratchet chuckled softly. "Very well." Azura ran closer to him as Ratchet typed on the monitor and brought up an image of a fish website. "You are…going to have to…um…I am not familiar with aquariums."

"I know." Azura looked up at the screen excitedly. "I kind of want something different to what I have though. Can you scroll down?"

Jack looked at the monitor curiously before walking over. "You never had a fish tank in the unit." She looked at him in surprise. "Was that something that you had here?"

"Yeah…I did…Optimus did a fantastic job of keeping the fish alive though," Azura said with a grin. "I have rainbow fish, tetras and a catfish in that tank. Now I kind of want to have a saltwater tank." Ratchet glanced down at her in surprise. "Saltwater fish, coral and anemone are lovely to look at…but it can require a bit extra maintenance."

Ratchet raised an eyebrow at her. "And I thought keeping regular, freshwater fish was hard enough." He shakes his head a little. "Is that even something you can do?"

"Maybe not in Jasper, but we have the means of getting to a place that sell saltwater fish." She gestured at the ground bridge and the medic quickly gave her an expression that said he wouldn't do that. "Or…not…" Azura sighed a little before looking back at the screen. "Still…maybe cichlids would be the next choice. I have been doing research on them…"

"But you need a massive tank for a lot of them and they're pretty aggressive to other fish," Jack said softly as he interrupts Azura. "Though they're pretty cool fish to own." Azura nodded in agreement. "If I had known, I might have suggested we get you a tank for your unit. But I guess with how things are now, it wouldn't have been a good idea."

"I did want a tank. But…you're right." Azura sighed a little and walked away from Ratchet. "Um…" She looked at him with a slightly embarrassed expression. "I need to use the bathroom."

He glanced at her in surprise. "Don't tell me you still need a hand."

"Well…no…but…" Azura didn't really want to show the kids her room just yet. It would give away a few things. "Are there any bathrooms close by? I don't have to go all the way back to my room, do I?"

"Oh, well, I believe up there along the catwalks…" Ratchet points to the catwalks above. "I am not sure though, we aren't exactly small or light enough to get up there and go across them. You'll have to figure that out."

"Alright." Azura was about to walk away and saw Jack give her a surprised look. "What? I wasn't here for that long when I live in the base three years ago, Jack. I don't remember where everything is!" She sighed and walked up the stairs. "Besides, you three will need to know too."

"I suppose that is true, I just thought it was a weird question to ask, that is all. But I guess that reason makes sense." Jack smiled at her as she walked up to the catwalks. "Let us know where you find the bathroom. I don't need to go now, but it will be good information for later."

Azura just nodded as she made her way up to the first catwalk and walked across it. When she opened the door at the end, she saw this looked like a control office and spotted a door with a toilet symbol on it. She walked over and opened it, and she was thankful the toilet seemed clean. She saw the tiles still needed a good clean, so she was happy to do that at some point. She used the toilet, flushed it and cleaned her hands before she left. It seemed Optimus's comment about her eating human food wasn't correct as she still needed to use the toilet even while ingesting the low-grade energon.

As she made her way back, she overheard Ratchet telling the kids to not touch anything. She chuckled softly, he was acting very different towards them than he ever did with her. But she is a sparkling, and they were human. She still had to get her head around that. Especially as she knew she was still an infant in their eyes as well. She grimaced as she walked down the stairs as she felt pain in her hips and thighs, and it felt a little worse, which meant the painkiller was wearing off.

She made her way over to Ratchet to ask about giving her another dose when she saw errors on the monitor screens. "How come you guys are using human computers?" Raf asked curiously as he noticed the errors on the screen.

"It certainly isn't by choice," Ratchet responded honestly with a slight frustrated tone, and she knew it was likely he was frustrated at the computers more than Raf. "It was handed down from the previous tenants when we inherited this former missile silo." Azura walked over to the railing and leaned on it as Ratchet continued to talk. "I make modifications as I see fit."

Azura glanced at the screen as more errors popped up and Ratchet groaned, seemingly tired of all of these errors. "I think I can fix that," Raf said as he walked over to a desk and connected his laptop to the system.

"Really?" Ratchet responded in a slightly sarcastic tone. "You know this is complex technology, don't you?" Azura chuckled softly as she watched Raf ignore Ratchet and type on his laptop. She knew he was good with technology. "I mean it isn't a child's toy."

Raf glanced up at the bot with a smile. "Now try."

The medic decided to try regardless and when he saw the errors cleared, he looked back at Raf in surprise. "Ratchet." He glanced down at Azura when she spoke to him. "Rafael is rather good with technology. He's one of the smartest boys I know in school. Sadly, he gets picked on by the other kids because of that, but they're just jealous. He's kind of ahead of a lot of humans for his age."

"Well…it's one of the few things that make me feel happy," Raf said shyly with a light chuckle. "You know my mama always wants me to study and get good grades, Azura. And being good at something like this, well, gives me something to be proud of for myself and not because of someone else."

"And I think that's pretty good." Azura smiled at him before lowering her voice and speaking to Ratchet. "I don't suppose you could give me anymore pain of that pain relief, could you? I am starting to feel a bit more pain again."

"You should be fine for another couple hours, Azura," Ratchet responded softly, and she gave him a pouty expression. "If the pain gets worse, I'll give you some more. But if it is only because you are putting pressure on your joints from walking and such, it won't be necessary for the time being. Understood?"

"Yeah…I guess." Azura looked at the bridge with a curious expression. "Do you think…that it really was an error with Cliff's signal?" Ratchet sighed a little and glanced up at the monitor. "I mean…Optimus should me where you…buried whatever was left yesterday. So…I am kind of hoping that this…I don't want to get my hopes up too much."

"His signal is still on, Azura, which leaves me to believe it wasn't a glitch." She nodded a little and sighed deeply. "Listen, Azura, I know you and Cliff might have had some kind of argument when you last saw him. But you should not feel guilty. The decepticons were the ones who attacked him, and there was nothing you could have done to stop it. Words and actions are two different things."

"I know…but still…" Azura let a few tears fall and she sniffled. "I can't take back what I said to him, Ratchet. I said awful things, and I can't tell him I am sorry." She wiped her cheeks and looked at the medic. "I…that will be the guilt that I carry. I…"

"None of us can truly know what the future holds, Azura. Whatever we say and do, we unfortunately cannot change the fate of someone we love." She was still sad, and Ratchet could see she might get herself really upset. He picked her up gently and Jack looked at her in surprise as the medic held the girl against his chassis, rubbing her back gently with his thumb. "There are friends who I have lost where I have said and done things, I wish I could take back too, Azura. And all you can do is move forward, and try to make them proud by your next action. I say the same thing to you too."

Azura just cried softly as she rests her cheek against Ratchet's chassis. Jack did not know how close of a friend she was to Cliff, but he could see they must have been close for this reaction. "Ratchet's right. I remember I lost a friend that way when I was younger…but this was during when my father was…well…" Jack took a deep breath and breathed out loudly. "Well, you know the reason why I came to Jasper with my mother. I was acting out, unfortunately, and I said some terrible things to the only friend I had. And I regret it. I lost him as a friend, and we never hung out. And while I could pick up the phone and call him to say I'm sorry, I know he will hang up. We just have to carry on, and try and learn from those experiences."

"I guess you're right," Azura said softly with a sniffle. "I will try and not feel guilty." She glanced up at the screen and gasped softly. "Oh…Cliff's signal looks different."

Ratchet glanced at the monitor for a moment before the com link opened suddenly. "Ratchet, bridge us back!" Optimus's voice ordered, and he sounded a little desperate. "Use the arrival coordinates, now!"

Azura sat up when she heard his voice and Ratchet activates the bridge. She looked at it and widened her eyes to see the bots speeding in with a cloud of blue fire behind them. It looked like some kind of explosion, and she saw Cliff was not with them. And just as Ratchet closed the bridge, Optimus transformed as he jumped and placed his hand on the ground, landing on his feet as he faced the bridge with the flames disappeared. Azura stared in shock as that seemed intense, and the kids were staring in disbelief as well as a groan from Optimus's body was heard as he relaxed his system.

Optimus turned to Ratchet, and he saw Azura in the medic's hand, and she looked like she had been crying. "Cutting it a bit close," The medic commented gently. "How about Cliffjumper?"

The bots glance down, which was a sign they failed. Azura sniffled and turned her head to hide her face in Ratchet's chassis, crying as she mourned for the loss of her friend. She knew that she wasn't at fault for his death, but she still wished she could have spoken to him one more time to tell him she was sorry. She would definitely be careful about what she would say to someone in the future. Especially as she didn't want to go through this guilt again of not being able to say sorry to someone before they pass.