Ok so here is part two of the end of season 1 and I enjoyed working on this one.

Chapter 7

It had been 2 weeks since Unicron's failed awakening and Optimus had stopped him with the Matrix's energy. But as ratchet stated he had given up more than the Matrix's energy he had also given up all of his memories of being a Prime. Ratchet theorised that Optimus had reverted back to his pre Prime state, that in his mind he was once again Orion Pax. So of course he had left Unicron's spark chamber with the mech he had known as a friend back in the day.

It seemed that Optimus had suspected something like this was going to happen when he gave Jack the key card. The key card was the only way to access Vector Sigma which was the well of all the knowledge of the Primes. Is was Ratchet's belief at by restoring the matrix they would in turn restore Optimus's memories. However Vector Sigma was back on Cybertron, and they had no way of getting there, so they were all trying to come up with a plan to get their leader back.

During the pass few weeks Amber had been spending most of her time working with the rifle Fowler had left at base, refreshing old skills that until recently she had wanted to forget. At first she had to fight back her demons well shooting in the base's range but in the end she was able to overcome them by telling herself it was to save Optimus. After a few day of practicing with it and taking it apart to clean it a few times Amber knew that broken down into 3 main easy to assemble pieces it would fit in her pack. When she realised this a plan had begun to form in her mind, and she slowly began to gather what supplies she would need. Now with the time that had passed since then she was ready and waiting for the best opportunity.

-o0o-

Bee picked Raf and Amber up after school and soon had them at base, dropping them both off before he went on patrol. The two saw that Ratchet was busy so they headed up to the sitting area and started working on their homework. They had not been at it very long when they heard beeping from where the medic was working under the ground bridge and they became curious. "Ratchet are you… turbo charging the ground bridge?" Raf asked well he adjusted his glasses.

"Tinkering." Ratchet told them, seeming a bit down. "I don't want to get anyone's hopes up just yet."

Amber hummed before putting her homework aside and stepping down the steps, approaching where Ratchet was. "Do you need any help?" she asked causing the medic to look at her. Ratchet thought about it and eventually agreed, welcoming the company. Amber didn't end up actually do much in helping but she did offer suggestions or simply make conversation to pass the time. Some hours later Jack and Miko had arrived at base and Ratchet was still working when Fowler contacted base.

(("Ratchet! You awake?")) The overweight special agent snapped glaring at the mech through the video feed. (("This is an emergency."))

"Agent Fowler is it Optimus?" Ratchet asked hopeful well the kids and bots joined him.

(("Its cons and they're busting into the same military research lab they hit two months ago.")) Fowler informed them.

Bee beeped something that made Bulkhead ask. "For their space bridge?"

"For all we know Optimus is riding with them." Arcee said and Ratchet ordered them to roll out, before setting the co-ordinates. The three soon arrived at the human base where Breakdown and Knockout were fighting the human soldiers and easily fending them off. When the autobots arrived Knock out sneered at them. "Aren't you missing someone?"

Seekers arrived and opened fire on the Autobots, distracting then and allowing Knockout to contact their war ship for a ground bridge. "We'll be sure to tell the big O you said hello." Knockout said mocking them with a salute before he ran into the bridge. Arcee transformed and took off towards their bridge ignoring Bulkhead's cries of alarm. She easily avoided the seekers fire and finally managing to make it into the con's bridge. She zipped passed Knockout and Breakdown turning their so called victory glee into shame well they watched her disappear around a corner.

"Scrap." Knockout muttered dismally, unaware that behind him a small shadow had followed them onto their ship and quietly squeezed into one of the ship's air vents.

-o0o-

"You weren't able to determine the Decepticon's location or if even Optimus was even on their ship?" Ratchet asked Arcee well he checked her over after bridging her back from the artic, where Soundwave had sent her after he had removed her from the warship.

"I-I couldn't confirm." Arcee said in defeat.

In a moment of frustration Bulkhead roared before he brought his fist down on one of Ratchet's tools. "Bulkhead I-"

"What you needed that?!" Bulk snapped cutting Ratchet off. "Only thing I need is our head honcho back."

"It's not your fault." Jack told his partner, trying to cheer her up but she wasn't having it.

"If any of us needed rescuing, Optimus would have found away. I didn't. Simple as that." Arcee snapped just as Fowler contacted base with even more good news. Apparently there was a dozen or so soldiers wounded after the attack. Also he added a threat from the Pentagon, saying that they would shut the Autobots operation down if they didn't get their act together. This was the start of a long argument between the bots, their frustrations of their leader's absence finally getting to all of them.

It was Jack who stopped their fight. "Hey aren't we overlooking one positive. No one's talking about what the cons just got their claws on."

"Yes we managed to allow them to finally acquire a power source for their space bridge." Ratchet snapped not happy at being reminded about that.

"And how would that be a positive?" Arcee demanded of her charge.

Jack smiled before he said. "We let them finish their space bridge."

"Why so they can bring more zombies back from Cybertron?" Bulk demanded, still cross.

"No. So we can commandeer it and use it to send me to Cybertron." Jack told them which impressed Miko.

"Whoa, that's a pretty good idea."

"Ohh… well if Miko thinks it's a good idea." Arcee snapped not please.

"Nobody's saying it would be easy but you've seized a space bridge before." Jack reminded them trying to get them to see this from his perspective.

"We blew one up." Bulk reminded him. "That's a whole lot different than 3 of us seizing and hold one."

Bee beeped something to which Arcee agreed saying. "Bee's right, we have to find the thing first."

"Ah hello!" Miko shouted, getting their attention. "If it's a space bridge isn't it…" she pointed up towards the heavens and even Ratchet could understand that.

"The term space refers to its transport range, not its physical location. I've explained the difference to Amber, you should take notes. And we've been monitoring earth's orbit since the last one we'd know if it was- wait a moment. Where is Amber?" Ratchet suddenly asked cutting his rant off looking at 3 of their 4 human charges, only now noticing the oldest of the group was not there.

Everyone looked around the base trying to find her but they soon realised that the rifle Fowler had given her, it ammo and her pack were gone. "When was the last time any of you saw her?" Ratchet asked, a horrible possibility forming in his mind.

"It was right before the others ground bridged to the human base to try and stop the cons from taking the power source." Raf said having been thinking about it well they had been searching the base for her.

"Did any of you see her sneak into the bridge behind Arcee, Bumblebee and Bulkhead?" Ratchet asked well he looked over at the sitting area, spotting all of Amber's homework on the coffee table. When all of them said no he sighed. "Then unless she suddenly appears, we must assume that Amber has taken it upon herself to get Optimus back by sneaking onto the Decepticon warship alone."

-o0o-

Amber's Pov

I snuck through the ventilation shaft of the warship, peering through vent grates periodically for any signs of Optimus. I could only imagine by now that Ratchet and the others had notice that I was gone and most likely had figured out where I was. I knew that when I did return to base there would be a few upset bots and adults waiting for me but in this moment I didn't care. I had too many questions that needed answers and there was only one mech that I knew who could give them to me.

Ever since the energy from the key had entered me my former nightmares had been replaced with visons of what I had come to believe were parts of Cybertron's past. I had seen who I assumed was Primus fighting Unicron and alongside him were who I could only assume were the thirteen. But the odd part was that it was like I was there, fighting alongside them or talking over plans with them. It brought the mentioned reborn and the name Solus to the forefront of my mind, a theory had begun to form about who this bot was and how it involved me.

I pushed all those thoughts to the back of my mind well I retched a cross roads of sorts in the vents and decided on which way to go. I knew that so far that due to my forced training or just dumb luck that I hadn't gotten caught so far. I wanted it to stay that way until I could at least find Optimus, or learn where Megatron was keeping him. I had just taken the right vent when my own watch communicator went off. Covering it I made sure I was far away from any vents and not be over heard/discovered before I answered. "Hello."

(("Amber Star Bishop! You better not be where I think you are because so help me if you are on the Decepticon warship you are going to be in a world of trouble when you get back here.")) Ratchet snapped, clearly angry with what I had done. Though I was surprised that I was getting a communication from base at all with my being aboard the Nemesis.

"So… if I don't say it does that mean I won't be in trouble when I get back?" I asked taking a page out of Miko's book for the moment and found I was enjoying myself.

I was not surprised by the sound of frustration I heard through the comm before Arcee asked. (("How in the world did you even manage to get on the warship without get caught?"))

"Well I hope you don't get mad at me for say it Arcee but you do make for a very good distraction. Also I feel that I should tell you that this is a part of what Silas trained me for." It felt good to share that little bit of my past, which again surprised me but I guess it was because I was using said skills to help.

There was a few moments of silence after my words, which worried me some but then Ratchet said. (("I do not approve of you trying to rescue Optimus on your own and there will be consequences upon your return. However you have presented us with an opportunity that we did not otherwise have. Have you located him yet?"))

"Negative. This ship is huge and I'm sticking to the ventilation to avoid being spotted by any cons. I don't suppose any of you bots would know the layout of the ship by chance?" I asked hopeful but not surprised when I was told no. "Alright I'll just have to keep searching blindly and hope I find him, well not getting caught that is."

(("I would recommend that you minimize radio contact after this to avoid Soundwave picking up your signal and only contact us if you feel you have to.")) Ratchet suggested making me happy that he had come to except the situation for what I had intended it to be. I said good bye after that and went back to my search.

It felt like I had been searching for hours, not seeing any sign of him when I started to hear an odd sound, like the clicking of a cybertronian keyboard. I spotted two Vehiacons standing guard by a door, the sound getting closer well I quietly stepped pass the vent. I soon found myself at a vent that opened up to a small room with a terminal in it and I was over joyed to see it was Optimus working in there. I felt tension leave my shoulders well I took a picture of him with the small camera on my watch and sent it along with a text to Jack. 'I found him.'

The question now was what do I do? Because I knew I couldn't just pop out and talk to him, he had no reason to trust me. My thoughts were interrupted by Megatron's arrival, which made me fight the urge to pull out my weapon and shoot him. Instead I made sure to say in the shadows and listen. "Orion, how fares project Iacon?" the Decepticon leader asked my confused guardian.

"I am a bit rusty I fear. I've only managed to decode three entries." Hearing Optimus voice since the last I saw him I could hear the difference in the way he talked.

"And what do these entries comprise?" I was surprised with how soft and dare I say caring Megatron's voice sounded. Optimus… no Orion I decided in that moment I would not call him Optimus until his memory was restored. Orion went on to explain that the file he was decoding was the work of archivists during the war. He had so far figured out that it held co-ordinates to locations on earth for vessels of some kind for safe keeping. I was impressed by the holoprojection that Orion pulled up of our planet, giving me some insight to what Cybertronian tech was really like.

'Megatron sure is a smooth talker that is for sure.' I thought well I listen to him talk to Orion about what the vessels could hold. I scowled at the evil smirk on his face plating when he heard Orion's theory that it was weapons of mass destruction in the vessels. He was very convincing about "trying" to keep this weapons from Autobot hands. "We are fortunate to have you on our side Orion Pax." Megarton told him well placing a hand on Orion's shoulder before he turned to leave but Orion stopped him.

"Lord Megatron… I am puzzled by one particular finding. I have discovered several historical references to Starscream as you're second in command." he brought up the image of the tall slim mech I had only see once back in the abandon energon mine. "Yet I have not seen him aboard the ship."

Megartron turned to him. "Sadly Commander Starscream is dead."

I nearly scoffed, knowing a lie when I hear one, watching the con leave but looked at Orion seeing the look in his optics. With Megatron gone I settle down against the vent wall, watching Orion work, opening a bag of trail mix I had packed, munching on it. I made sure when I packed food and such that all of it would be precooked or in quiet wrapping. Everything was wrapped in cloth bags or in napkins that wouldn't make any noise. The only water I had was in three large metal water bottles, also wrapped in cloth, just in case I dropped one, the sound would be muffled. Other than that I carried my rifle in easy to assemble segments and other helpful items from the bunkers armory. Well I continued to watch Orion I wondered how I could approach him, and get him to trust me enough to go back to base. I was brought out of my thoughts, hearing blaster fire in the vent. Frowning I wondered what was going on, but the sound was gone a moment later and Orion didn't seem to hear it.

I nearly jumped when the door opened and the before mentioned Starscream walked into the room. He didn't see Orion at first because of the stack of energon cubes he was carrying but then he spotted him just when Orion turned around to look at Starscream equally surprised.

"No… Optimus Prime!" Starscream snapped in shock, dropping his energon cubes and brought out his weapons, about to attack. I jumped to my feet, dropping my sack of trail mix, fearing that I was about to watch my confused guardian die.

"Please… I mean no harm." I was startled by the worry in Orion's voice, not use to hearing it but I focused on Starcream seeing the surprise on is face plating.

"NO… than- what are you doing here?" Starscream asked in confused panic about the situation.

"Research, for Lord Megatron." Orion explained seeming calmer.

"Is this some kind of joke?" the former Decepticon commander demanded.

"I do not understand." I nearly laughed at how shocked Starscream was, but he did put his weapons away and I let out a sigh of relief. Than Orion than asked him "And why did you call me Optimus Prime?"

"Ah… why wouldn't I?" Starscream asked confused.

"Because my name is Orion Pax, I am are far from being a prime." It was then that both Starscream and I spotted the Decepticon symbols on Orion's shoulders, where his Autobot ones had once been. I felt my blood boiling at the sight.

Starscream seemed to be able to think on his feet as he said that Orion reminded him of someone he once knew. Then I knew that Megatron had made a mistake by saying the former commander was dead, when Orion recognised him. "Lord Megatron says many things, only some of which are true." Starscream said a grin now on his face.

"You do not suggest that our leader would speak falsehoods?" Orion asked and I was grinning at the seeds of doubt that Starscream was sowing in my guardian's spark. I jumped when the former con broke out laughing.

"You truly are being kept in the dark, aren't you?" I nearly started to dance at this, well I picked up my dropped trail mix. I could hear the two mech talking well I picked up the bit that had fallen out of the bag. I than heard the door open and I saw a few vehicons had arrived and were trying to arrest Starscream. I growled when the coward ran behind Orion's bigger frame.

"Hold your fire." Orion shouted sounding more like Optimus in that moment, though I could see the alarm on his face plating. Starscream transformed from behind him and took off down the corridor, making the Vehiacon's run after him. One ordered Orion to stay at his post before closing the door, leaving behind a confused Orion. I knew that Megatron was likely going to pay Orion another visit, though I also wondered if they were just keeping him in this lab or if they had given him a room aboard the ship.

Half an hour later sure enough Megatron showed up and asked if he was alright after his unexpected encounter with Starscream. I wanted to gag at how concerned he was seeming for Orion's wellbeing. I listened to the two talk some more, about how Starscream betrayed them and joined the Autobots, being dead to their so called cause. I was glad when Megatron left again, putting the trail mix away and taking a drink from one of my 3 water bottles. Now to just figure out how I could plant my own seeds of doubt for Orion's slowly losing his trust in Megatron, a yawn escaping me.

End of Pov

Orion was feeling fatigued after a long day working on Project Iacon, strongly considering of retiring for the night. He suddenly heard a small thump followed by a small groan from the nearby ventilation cover, which peeked his interest. Walking over to the vent he peered inside spotting a small body lying on its side, so he pulled the vent cover off. He was surprised to see that it was a little human girl curled on her side up fast asleep.

Orion carefully picked her up, noting how small she was in his hand, well putting the vent cover back with little trouble. Having done some research on the humans who inhabited earth he knew that the girl in his hand looked to be a teenager. He also noticed the carrying pack on her back which he suspected held provisions. He was greatly confused to why this girl was on the ship, especially in the ship's ventilation system. Orion considered taking her to Megatron and inquiring about the girl but something in his spark told him not too.

Given the late hour he decided to head to the room that Lord Megatron had kindly given him upon his arrival. Orion carefully cupped his hand that held the girl, hoping to keep her out of sight and made sure to look casual well walking to his room. He greeted the two guards that had replaced the last ones Starscream had killed a few hour before and kept his occupied hand at his side. When he made it to his room he gently laid the girl down on his birth, where he studied her for a bit. Well he did this her eyes fluttered opened and widened when she saw him looking at her.

"Hello there little one." Orion said with a smile, well Amber sat up and looked around his room, confused.

"Uh hi. How did I get in here?" she asked remembering that she had been in the vent watching him work.

"I found you in the ventilation by my work station and feeling that wasn't the best place for you to recharge I brought you to my room. Tell me what were you doing in there in the first place?" Orion asked curious about her species. "Also what is your designation?"

Amber frowned at him. "My designation? Oh you mean my name. Its Amber Bishop but please just call me Amber and as for what I was doing in the ventilation I was watching you work."

"Why were you doing that?" he asked her confused.

"Well because the human governments want to know more about the Decepticons before approaching them about an alliance." Amber internally winced at the lame lie she had been considering before her in prompted nap. "I've been on the ship since yesterday gathering information about all who is onboard, their roles and what they're intentions towards the human race is."

"But how did you manage to sneak on board with no one noticing?" Orion asked.

"Oh well there was a battle between the Autobots and the Decepticons and one of the bots made it on the ship and using her as a distraction I was able to sneak on the cons ground bridge behind the two I believe are call Knockout and Breakdown." Amber explained, with a smile. What neither of them knew was that they were being watched as the cons had set up a camera in Orion's room.

"So you don't mean any harm?" Orion asked her.

"No of course not. I mean what can I do to a mech as big and strong as you? I'm just one small human who's skilled at sneaking around." Amber hoped that he would not see the pieces of the rifle squeezed but poking out of her bag among her snack food and bottles of water. Her comment did make Orion smile at her and he then straighten up to go grab some of the energon he had in his room. "So if you don't mind my asking Orion, but I was wondering where have you been before you arrived here on the ship? I had overheard some of your comrade saying that you had arrived not too long ago."

"I was kept in stasis by Autobots until Lord Megatron rescued me 2 weeks ago. Though I do not remember how I got there." Orion explained a thoughtful frown on his face which made her think that Starscream's words had caused him to truly question what Megatron had told him.

"Well perhaps your memory will return given time." Amber said right before a huge yawn left her mouth and she started to rub an eye. Looking at her Orion noticed how tired she looked and feeling his own fatigue, he quickly finished his energon. Once he was done he walked back over to his berth, picked her up and then he laid down, placing her on his chest plating.

"Um- Orion what are you doing?" Amber asked him confused feeling her cheeks turning a bit red.

"I am in need of recharge and I see that you do as well. So I was simply offering to let you recharge on my chest, as it would be better than in the ventilation." Orion explained looking at her and frowned when he saw the blush on her cheeks from where she lay on his chest. "Your face seems to have turned a bit red? Are you alright?"

"Oh that is what we humans call a blush and it's something we do when we're embarrassed." Amber admitted, her face becoming redder.

"Oh well I did not mean to offend you by putting you on my chest without asking. You do not have to stay if-

"No, it's ok I don't mind you just surprised me is all. Thank you and good night Orion." Amber said settling down and though it was a hard surface she was laying on she soon fell asleep, listening to his spark. Orion looked at her for bit longer, wondering more about this small human that had wondered into his life before he soon fell into recharge.

Megatron scowled at the video feed that Soundwave was showing him, not pleased what so ever by the human's appearance on his ship. He knew that this one was close to Optimus as he had seen him take her away and speaking to her, during his short visit to their base. He did find himself impressed by her skill to sneak onto the ship without any of them noticing. "Well this should put a damper on his cooperation." Knockout said flinching when his leader turned and glared at him.

"This would not be a problem had you not allowed her to sneak on the ship in the first place." Megatron snapped at him and Breakdown before turning to Soundwave. "At the first opportunity that presents itself, remover her from his presence and bring her to me."

-o0o-

It was early in the morning when Amber woke up, Orion still asleep or recharging as he had put it, his right hand still cupped around her. Smiling Amber slowly climbed from under his hand and slowly made her way to the floor. Once she was there she spotted another vent cover that was ground level and squeezed her way inside. Amber figured that well waiting for him to wake up she would try and see if she could figure out the layout of the ship. Pulling out one of the few granola bars she had wrapped in a napkin she ate it well she walked.

It was quiet all over the ship where she went, which made her wonder if the cons were also resting at this time. She had just turned around a corner when a large cable with 4 claws like grabbers on it came at her. Amber jumped back, dodging its first attempt to grab her and she tried to get away by going in a different duct. However there was another cable in her way and this one was able to grab hold of her leg and pull her out of the vent. Amber soon found herself hanging upside down well she looked at the blank face plating of one of Megatron's most trusted cons. "So you must be Soundwave. Optimus and the others have told me about you." She said casually well reaching for a pocket that was on the side of her pack.

Soundwave didn't say anything well he turned and walked down the corridor, heading to where she could only assume Megatron would be waiting. Not really keen on seeing the leader of the Decepticons, she smiled when her hand closed around the Taser gun she had found back at the cabin. Pulling it out, she knew she would only get one shot so she aimed for where the cable joint was. Firing Amber watched the wires hit their mark and sent 50,000 volts into the cable holding her. Of course being an advanced alien robot Amber knew that much voltage would do nothing to him as a whole but focused in a small area, like the place where his cables came from his torso, it did the trick.

The cable holding her convulsed, the claw losing its grip and Amber found herself falling but the con tried to catch her with his slim fingers. Amber was able to grab one of his fingers slowing her descent before she let go and dropped to the floor. The moment her feet touched the ground she took off running around the corner and right into the first vent she found. Running none stop she wasn't paying much attention to where she was going so she was a bit surprised that when she blindly ran around a bend she ran right into a vent cover. With how fast she was going the vent fell out and she landed hard on the floor of which ever room she had found her way into.

"Owe, that hurt." She muttered, her body now one big sore spot, her leg being the worst but she forced her body up and too her feet. Dusting herself off Amber looked around the room she had found herself in, her eyes widening when she spotted several holding containers, all but one empty. "Oh I hope that this isn't a lap of some kind." She muttered heading to the one container holding something.

It looked to be a large neckless or bracelet of some kind, a stone of energon set in its silver metal, glyphs were engraved all over it. Coming closer to it Amber started to hear whispers that came in a strange mechanical sort of words. 'Must be Cybertronian.' Amber thought getting closer till her hands touched the container's glass, watching as the object hovered down to her level. Once it was at her eye level the energon stone began to glow and suddenly flashed blinding her. She than heard the distinct sound of braking glass before the force of something hitting and wrapping around her neck threw her back.

Amber coughed well she picked herself up off the floor again and looked around the room dazed and confused. Shaking her head she got to her feet and went back into the vents hoping to reach Orion's room without getting caught again. She wasn't sure where she was going and everything become blurry and un-focused the more she walked. Coughing again she rubbed her throat and felt a strange metal wrapped around her neck but she knew it couldn't be the dog tags Optimus had given her. She had those safely tucked in her pants pocket where they wouldn't be spotted by Orion.

Somehow she made it back to Orion's room, just as he was getting up for the day, drinking some energon. He had been a bit worried about the girl when he woke up and discovered her gone but simply figured that she had gone to explore the ship some more. He was a bit surprised to see her stumble into his room, looking very much out of sorts. He also spotted that her right leg the pants were cut and some bloodied. "Amber what happened to you?" He asked worried as he crouched down and let her fall on to his servo. Bring her up to his face plating he saw that Amber was on the verge of passing out.

Amber looked at him, giving him a weak smile. "I found my way back to you, good." Then suddenly she was out like a light. Panic filled him seeing her like this and not sure of what to do, and considered for a moment to go seek help from the ships medic Knockout. His spark clenched in fear at the thought of that, which left him confused but he had to do something. Just then there was a knock on his door, which made him panic a bit more. Thinking quickly he opened his spark chamber and ever so gently put her in the sparkling holding area that was located there. Once she was inside he closed his chest up and composing himself before he answered the door.

There stood Soundwave, who swiftly pass Orion and began to search his room for who he could only assume was Amber. "Good morning Soundwave, was there something I could help you with?" he asked glad that his voice was steadier than he felt. He did take notice of the one cable appendage that was hanging lose, randomly twitching at times. Soundwave didn't answer but he did stop searching, having not found her and stood up to look at him. Orion didn't move or say anything, feeling his spark beating fast with how nervous he was about Amber being discovered.

After a moment of not moving and awkward silence, the communication officer strode out of the room, leaving Orion alone. Orion let his shoulders sag in relief, placing a hand on his chest looking down at it, smiling that so far she was safe. It did still confuse him as to why he felt so strongly about wanting to protect a human girl he had just met but he wasn't about to deny his spark what it felt. With that in mind he squared his shoulders and left his room to head back to his workstation.