Achelois stared at the bots in shock. She couldn't believe what she just heard. "He... he's been kidnapped?" she asked incredulously, her eyes wide. Arcee nodded, while the rest of the team was silent. Achelois stumbled back, before grabbing onto a railing that was behind her and resting against it, staring at the ground.

"He promised he would be careful..." she mumbled to herself. Everyone chose to keep their distance from her so that way she could register exactly what happened. Well, everyone but Smokescreen. He walked over to where she was standing, and gently pressed the tip of his digit against her back, letting her know that he was there. Achelois was quick to grab it and hug it, startling Smokescreen.

"Achelois?" he asked, tilting his head to the side. "Are you okay?"

She shook her head, not trusting her voice. Smokescreen pulled his digit away before offering his servo to her. She was quick to climb on and Smokescreen brought her to his shoulder. She sat quietly, fighting back tears. Smokescreen glanced at her, and saw her shining eyes and knew she was trying not to cry.

"Do you wanna go for a drive?" he asked. Achelois was quick to nod, and so Smokescreen transformed gently around her. She landed in the passenger seat, and Smokescreen took off out of the base. The drive was silent until Smokescreen saw a place to change paints on a car. 

"Hey, wanna help me change my paint job?" he asked. Achelois smiled lightly and nodded. Smokescreen turned into the parking lot, and activated his holoform. "Sooooo", he started. "What colors should I do?"

Achelois tilted her head and got out of the car once it was stopped. She studied it deeply before a grin came across her face. She walked back to the car and got in.

"Make blue and yellow your main colors with an accent of white", she grinned. Smokescreen smiled at it and nodded. He drove forward into the garage and they got out of the car to speak to the workers that would change the paint job.

"Gentlemen and lady", one of them called. "My name's Bobby Bolivia, like the country, except without the runs." He laughed at his own joke, while Smokescreen and Achelois gave each other strange looks.  "How can I help you?"

"We're looking to change the paint job on this car here", Smokescreen says with a smile.

"You came to see me?" Mr. Bolivia asked, a surprised look upon his face.

"It was the first place we saw", Achelois shrugged. Mr. Bolivia grinned before looking at the car. 

"So... what colors are you thinking?"

Achelois smiled. "We're thinking blue and yellow with an accent of white."

"Ooh, good colors. This car will look nice with them colors you picked out. Let me go get some help and we'll be done with this in no time. Can I get a name for this car?"

Smokescreen's eyes widened while Achelois smiled sweetly. "The Viper."

Mr. Bolivia's eyes widened. "This a car for the Viper? The greatest street racer of all time who has mysteriously disappeared? Is she gonna make a comeback?"

Achelois laughed. "Nah, she's done with the street racing business. But she only has the one car, you know, and she doesn't want to be recognized. She's got a prodigy though, who will take over once they're ready. Which will be soon. Very soon. Just not in the same car. The Viper's lived in Jasper Nevada until the radiation took over and she was forced to leave it behind. She suspects that her prodigy will have to get a new car which the Viper will be willing to fund."

Mr. Bolivia grinned. "And they will be as great as her! Right?" He had a hopeful look on his face. Achelois grinned in return and she leaned closer.

"No. They'll be greater", she whispered softly. Mr. Bolivia cheered happily before running around to get the car ready. Achelois showed Smokescreen to the waiting room where they watched them paint the car. While they watched, Smokescreen had one question on his mind that soon led to other questions.

"Achelois, who is the Viper?" he asked. Achelois laughed softly. 

"She's the greatest racer of all time. You can look up her races on the internet", Achelois smiled.

Smokescreen's eyes dimmed before lighting up in excitement. "How do you know the Viper?" he exclaimed. "She's awesome."

"Well, I'm glad you think so. I know her because I am her. Before I met the bots, I did a lot of racing because I didn't care about what I did. The bots taught me that's there's more to life than what I've been through."

Smokescreen stared at her in awe. "I can see the similarities in appearance but from what I've seen of her races, you and her act nothing alike."

Achelois chuckled. "I had my walls up then. I was afraid to open up to anyone. The first person I opened up to was Dahlia when I met her several years ago. Then I met Ratchet and I was able to open up to him as well, and then the team found out because I was kidnapped by the one thing I was running from."

"What were you running from?" Smokescreen asks. Achelois smiles sadly.

"Someone I shouldn't have been running from", she murmurs. "My parents. They are the reason I was in that condition you first saw me in."

"Your parents were the reason why you were in that hospital bed?" Smokescreen looked horrified. Achelois nodded.

"For some reason... they just never liked me... they kidnapped me... and when Fowler finally found me, the man who they call my father shot me in the gut", Achelois winced as the memory came into her mind. "It's not my favorite thing to remember... nor is my childhood."

Smokescreen didn't say anything as Mr. Bolivia came into the room. "Alright, the car is all done!" he exclaimed. "And I must say, it looks gorgeous."

Smokescreen and Achelois stood up and walked outside where they saw the beautiful now blue and yellow vehicle with white paint. Achelois looked to Smokescreen who was staring at himself in awe. Achelois couldn't help but chuckle. 

"It looks amazing, Mr. Bolivia. How much do we owe you?"

"Oh, nothing! I'd do anything to help the Viper out!"

Achelois smiled softly. "Thank you, Mr. Bolivia. But don't let you being a fan of the Viper not let us pay you. How much would you normally charge?"

Mr. Bolivia shook his head. "Don't worry about it. I already get payed enough by other people, I don't need you to pay me as well."

Achelois tilted her head, before sighing. "Alright, fine." However, as she passed him to get to the car, she pressed forty 100 dollar bills into his hand. Before he could hand it back, she pulled out the black mask she carried wherever she went and put it on, smiling at him happily.

"Thanks again, Mr. Bobby Bolivia", she said. She got into the car, Smokescreen following her. As they drove off, Achelois chuckled softly at the shocked face on Mr. Bolivia.

"Where did you get that many hundreds?" Smokescreen asked, shock filling his voice.

"I told you, I was a racer", Achelois said, taking off the mask. "I earned a lot of money that way, and though I had to pay quite a bit to help out with food and the house when I was staying with Dahlia, I still kept a lot."

Smokescreen was silent, from shock, Achelois assumed. But with the silence, came the deafening feeling of terror that she had managed to press down. She was so scared for Ratchet. She needed to do something to get her mind off what had happened.

"Give me the wheel", she said softly. Smokescreen looked at her surprised, but complied, his holoform disappearing in the middle of driving. He kept driving as Achelois climbed over the center console into the driver's seat. Once she was settled, she took over the driving, instantly pressing the gas pedal all the way down, and speeding along the road way. She passed several cars, many of which honked at her for all the dangerous stunts she was pulling. But she ignored them all, just like she ignored Smokescreen's terrified, but also thrilled screams.

Soon, they sped into the base, and she slammed on the brakes, turning the alt mode to the side to show off the new paint job.

"Smokescreen?" Arcee asks, surprised. However, when Achelois stepped out of the drivers seat with a grin, Arcee sighed.

"Of course. Up to your old racing habits again, Viper?" she teased. Achelois laughed.

"Perhaps not, since my car was destroyed in Jasper. Which sucks because I had a prodigy going but now I have no clue where she is. But whenever I get the chance, I'll take it. And... it also helps keep my mind off of Ratchet." Achelois' eyes shifted downward and she lifted her right arm to grip her left.

Arcee smiles softly. "Well you'll be happy to know that we're working on a way to find him."

Achelois looks up with surprise. "Really? What do you have in mind?"

"When Smokescreen shot Lazerbeak, he knocked a piece off. That piece is trying to reconnect with Soundwave right now, so we're going to give it wings and Optimus will follow it."

"What happens if the Decepticons detect it's signal?" Achelois tilts her head to the side.

"We're hoping they won't notice it until Optimus has the warship in his sights", Arcee sighs. "It's very unlikely, but it's the best bet we have."

Achelois nods and she smiles softly. "Let's give it our all and hope that Ratchet finds a way back to us." 'Back to me...'

Arcee nods and they go to watch Raf work. Achelois noticed that all his work was in Cybertronian and she smiled sadly. Ratchet had been teaching him whenever there was time. A small tear slipped from her eye, and then another and another. Soon she was silently crying as she thought about Ratchet. She didn't know if he was alive or dead, or if the 'cons were torturing him like they did to her so many months ago. Closing her eyes, she wiped away her tears, before sitting on the ground, and hugging her legs to her chest. She rocked back and forth trying to calm herself. A few minutes later, she felt a hand on her shoulder. She opened her eyes and looked up to see Dahlia.

"We'll find him", Dahlia murmurs. "The bots won't let anything happen to him."

"I know", Achelois whimpered. "I'm just worried. I love him, Dahlia, and I just... I don't want to lose him... not when I've just gotten him back..."

Dahlia smiled softly and sat down by Achelois, pulling said girl into her arms. "Everything will be okay, Achelois. I know it will be."

Achelois smiled sadly and clutched Dahlia's shirt. She was still crying but with Dahlia rocking and heartbeat, she soon felt drowsy and was slightly falling asleep. However, when Raf finished the last thing he needed to do, she instantly woke up. Everyone was ready to go and they all walked outside to set up the contraption. Optimus looked to Raf who started up the transponder that held Lazerbeak's signal. It almost instantly took off and Optimus was quick to follow it. Now all they could do was wait in the base.

After about an hour, Optimus contacts the base. "Optimus to base, come in."

Ultra Magnus was the one to respond. "Commander, have you determined the warship's location?"

"No, Ultra Magnus", Optimus said gravely. "The transponder has been destroyed. We are no closer to finding Ratchet than when we began."

Achelois let out a sigh but it was only a few minutes later, that another familiar voice came over the comm, causing her eyes to widen in surprise and happiness.

"Autobot base, do you read?" Ratchet's voice came through the computer. "This is Ratchet."

"Ratchet?!" Achelois shot up and stared at the computer.

"Loud and clear, old friend", Optimus answers, happiness very clear in his voice which was a surprise. Achelois smiled at the sound of Ratchet's voice, happy to hear that he was alright. There were a whole bunch of cheers from the others in the room, but Achelois focused on the computer.

"Listen to me", Ratchet said quickly. "Megatron has managed to rebuild the Omega Lock on board his warship. I've deactivated the Decepticon shielding system.  You should be able to get a fix on my coordinates." Ratchet paused before speaking to Optimus. "Optimus, you must hurry. Megatron is preparing to cyber-form Earth as we speak!"

Ratchet left the com after that and Achelois knew he was about to go do something stupid. However, Optimus already had a plan.

"Autobots, lock onto those coordinates", he ordered. "and prepare to storm the warship.

Immediately, they got ready for battle while Raf opened a ground bridge to the coordinates. However, Miko wasn't so sure she wanted them to leave just yet.

"They can't leave without saying goodbye!" she cried. Agent Fowler cut in. 

"There's no time for that", he says. "And no need. They'll be back." With a glance at Achelois, he added, "With Ratchet."

She smiled, before turning to the computer, where Optimus spoke. "Members of team Prime, Autobot and human, it has been my honor to lead you. On this day, the fates of two worlds hang in the balance, and the battle to come may very well be our last. But for Earth, for Cybertron, for our comrade, Ratchet, we must take the Decepticon warship."

Everyone was silent in watching the bots exit through the ground bridge before it closed. The humans were anxious, mainly because they couldn't do much except wait and listen. Achelois took to pacing back and forth, mainly due to her nerves about not being able to do anything to help Ratchet.

After much battle, Ultra Magnus contacted everyone. "Ultra Magnus to all units. We will be delayed. Soundwave pulled one of his relocation tricks."

Jack suddenly had an idea and talked to Raf and Miko about it. So now Raf and Miko were on the warship, except Miko with the Apex Armour. Achelois was getting more and more tense with everything.

After much more battle, and more pacing back and forth for Achelois, Optimus spoke to everyone. "Optimus Prime to all units. Megatron is no more." Achelois' eyes widened as she stopped pacing. Megatron was... dead? Optimus continued to speak. "Wreckers, a job well done securing the bridge."

Ultra Magnus spoke, giving credit to Jack and Miko for securing the bridge instead of the wreckers. After a bit more waiting for information,  an unfamiliar voice came through Raf's laptop.

"Hey, Raf, if you can tear yourself away from your laptop for two seconds, bridge yourself up here so we can get to Cybertron already."

Raf had a shocked look on his face as he stared at the laptop, ignoring Agent Fowler's question of "Who's that?" Achelois watched Raf carefully before her eyes widened at the name he spoke. "Bee?" Bee had his voice back.

They bridged up to the warship and soon found themselves looking at Cybertron. Achelois knew she couldn't go outside, and in all honesty, she didn't want to. She wasn't even sure she wanted to be here. This was where she had almost died.

After they had restored Primus, who was Cybertron's core, they went back to the base to say their goodbyes. Achelois was not ready to say goodbye to Ratchet. She loved him and didn't want him to leave her.

"Though our home world is once again capable of supporting life, we have much rebuilding to do. Alas, we will miss our home away from home, and the family that we've made here", Optimus spoke softly. 

"If the cons are out there, won't Earth still be on their radar?" Raf asked cautiously.

"Raf, if you ever need me, need us, for any reason, we're just a space bridge away", Bumblebee answered. Achelois still wasn't used to him having his voice. 

"Besides, we'll be in good hands with you, Jack, Miko, Dahlia, and Faria continuing to serve Unit-E", Agent Fowler said. "In a semi-official capacity."

Miko was instantly excited. "Woah!" she exclaimed. "We're agents?"

"Consultants", June stepped in with a look at Agent Fowler. "Until you're of age, like Dahlia and Faria."

Achelois chuckled, before a voice cut in, surprising her, especially with what that voice said.

"I trust that Unit-E doesn't have any rules forbidding the enlistment of rusty, old Autobot consultants?" Ratchet asked. Achelois stared up at him in shock, disbelief in her eyes, just like the optics of many of the Autobots, such as Arcee. 

"Ratchet?" Arcee asked. "You of all-"

Ratchet cut her off. "Ep, ep, ep", he lifted up his hand. "I know where I am needed." He was gazing at Achelois with a gaze so full of love, it filled said human up with warm butterflies. She couldn't believe that he was choosing to stay here when she knew he would have preferred his home planet instead. Achelois smiled at Ratchet happily, before turning to Smokescreen, who had bent down on one knee behind her. She smiled at him and hugged his digit.

"Thanks for protecting me when Ratchet couldn't", she whispered. "And thanks for being one of the greatest friends I've ever had."

Smokescreen smiled at her. "Don't lose your spark, Achelois. You've got a good future ahead of you, I can feel it."

Achelois smiled sadly at him, trying to fight back tears. Smokescreen smiled at her softly before pulling his digit away and walking to say goodbye to someone else. Achelois just walked to Ratchet, as she wasn't as close to any of the other Autobots. She watched the tearful separation of her best friend and Optimus, and she knew that Dahlia would not be okay for the next several months, as much as she will try to pretend she is okay."

Achelois finally made it to Ratchet, who gently picked her up and placed her on his shoulder. She watched as each of the Autobots left someone they grew to care for, or grew to respect. Optimus was the last one to leave, and his final glance was at Ratchet.

"Until we meet again, old friend", Optimus murmured, and then he was gone.