"Okay, I'm stopping here," Starscream said the moment Iacon City came into view. He de-transformed and stood on the ground.

Charoite de-transformed and stood on the ground as well. "Really? You don't wanna at least visit?"

"Charoite, I'm Starscream. I'm kind of a big deal, I'm not with the other Decepticons, and I don't want any attention."

Charoite gasped. "Hey! That's another thing we have in common! We're both a big deal!"

Starscream rolled his eyes and smirked. "Yeah, sure. Well, see ya." He transformed and flew away.

Charoite flew over to the city and felt increasingly excited yet nervous the closer she got. She landed as soon as she reached the city limits. Her spark sunk as she caught sight of a sign that had a recording of a screaming, triumphant-looking femme, and words below her that read, "Chromia, winner of the Iacon 5000, will be making an appearance at Prime-Con!"

Charoite already hadn't been too optimistic about whether or not the Iacon 5000 had happened, but it was still a disappointment. "Well, at least there's next year, and at least I qualify again."

Now, to find the Autobots…

Did they have a base? Charoite sincerely hoped it wasn't a secret base. Then she'd never find it.

Charoite heard some gasps and whispers.

"Holy Primus! Is that…?"

"Charoite?"

"Sentinel said she was killed by the Quintessons!"

Charoite looked around and saw more and more bots gather around and stare at her.

"Yeah, it's me!" Charoite grinned and put her hands on her hips. "The new racer from a while ago! I know it's a lot to take in, but reports of my death were greatly exaggerated, and—"

"Sentinel's little bimbo came back!"

"Oh no! Should we BREAK the bad news to her gently? Ha!"

"Liar!"

"Traitor!"

"Boo!"

Charoite's face dropped. She noticed a large amount of the bots had either angry or mocking expressions. Her embarrassment turned to fear as they ran in her direction.

Charoite screamed and flew away, the flyers flying after her.

"Leave me alone!" Charoite yelled.

Her plea was only met with raucous laughter and jeers.

"What's the matter? Scared you won't find another politician to spoil you?"

After about a minute, the chasers were out of view. Charoite landed and frantically scanned the seemingly empty area for places to hide, when a yellow and black arm popped out from a small square door at the bottom of a building.

"Psst! Come with me!" A male voice whispered loudly as the arm gestured for her to come.

Charoite ran towards the door and was pulled through it.

"Hey! Where'd that little arm candy traitor go?"

"Just keep flying! We're wasting time!"

Charoite sighed with relief as she heard her harassers fly away.

"Are you okay?"

Charoite looked back and saw a mostly yellow bot with blue eyes, a subtle pair of antennas on his head. She noticed he seemed to be around her height.

"I am now. Thanks, yellow guy." Charoite tapped his shoulder.

"Oh, the name's B-127, actually, but everyone calls me 'B.' Are you really Charoite? Like, 'Sentinel's-secretary-slash-girlfriend-who-was-going-to-be-in-the-Iacon-5000-until-she-was-killed-by-the-Quintessons Charoite?'"

Charoite's spark jumped. Didn't Megatron mention a B who worked for the Autobots? "Yeah! In the metal! By the way, how does everybody know—"

"—Awesome! I only started hearing about you recently, since I was working at this really isolated place called Sub-level 50 before all the so-called mining bots got cogs and could transform. After Sentinel died—oh! Shoot! I hope you already knew—I heard some stuff on the news about you having been Sentinel's secretary and that it turned out you two were in a relationship, and that you died tragically during a trip to find the Matrix, which Orion—I mean, Optimus has now!"

"Uh, cool! How does everyone know about me and Sentinel?"

B put his hand behind his head and grimaced. "You know Darkwing, that bot you attacked to save Megatron when he was D-16?"

"You know about that, too?"

"Oh, don't worry! I'm getting there. Anyway, Darkwing and Airachnid started dating, since they bonded over being alone in society, with Sentinel gone, Airachnid now being hated for having worked with him, and mining not being a thing anymore. It probably helped that they both have kinda have 'I hate everybody' personalities." B chuckled. He cleared his throat. "Anyway, Darkwing realized that with you out of the way and with the new government still being developed—me working for it too—he had a chance to stick it to you for him making the news for being attacked by a little bot like you. He must've really hated you if he wanted to do that after he thought you died! Plus, I don't think Airachnid liked you much, either. They broke into the news room, which sucked, because they just fixed it because a bot damaged it. Not me! Anyway, they broke into the news room and broadcast some of your romantic moments with Sentinel using Airachnid's memory."

Charoite's jaw dropped as she grabbed her head. To think she once wanted to go public with Sentinel! How things changed! "What did they show?"

"There was Sentinel touching your cheek when you all were on the surface, Sentinel giving you that decal and kissing you, and there was Sentinel asking you if you were ready to go to the surface and him telling you that whatever happens on the surface stays on the surface."

"I didn't know anything! I swear!" Charoite cried as she held her hands up.

"No, no, no! It's okay! I believe you! I always had a feeling you were innocent, anyway! I'm just happy to meet a celebrity! Hug?" B held his arms out as far as they could go…they were a bit restricted from the tunnel.

"Sure! Glad to be a celebrity! Wish I was less of a controversial one!" She gave B a hug.

"Anyway, I don't know if you know about us yet, but I work for an army—well, 'army' feels like a bit of a strong word—called the 'Autobots!' I think we could help you find a way to, you know, get back on your feet. Me, Optimus, and Elita know what it's like to have everyone know who we are, so, yeah! From three celebrities to another! What do you say?" B grinned.

Charoite was so relieved by how easily she was going to find the Autobots. Even though they were supposed to be her enemies, maybe they could give her some help! "Lead the way!"

"Fantastic!" B exclaimed, "A new friend! A co-famous friend! Is that a thing? Whatever, I can make it a thing! Come on!" B turned around and crawled down the tunnel.

Charoite followed.