Faria was walking to school when she heard a honk coming from her right. She looked and saw Miko and Bulkhead. She tried to smile but it disappears. Miko invited her to catch a ride with them, but Faria declined. 

"I'm okay walking, Miko", Faria says softly. "See you at school."

Miko nods, and Bulkhead drives away. Faria continues to walk for another couple minutes, when she hears her name called by a familiar voice. She cast a quick glance over her shoulder to see Ratchet's holoform standing by a familiar ambulance.

"Faria", he says, moving toward Faria, who cast a quick glance at the school which was just a few more steps away. She wanted to talk to him, but she was afraid of what would happen. She took a couple more steps, before pausing, turning and walking to Ratchet, placing her head against his chest. He tensed up, not having expected the contact, but allowed it to happen. She wrapped her arms around him, and started to cry. Ratchet was instantly worried by the tears that came from her eyes. He wrapped his arms around her and rested his chin on top of her head.

Faria couldn't care less if she was late for school, even though she was senior and finals were coming up. Faria mumbled something into Ratchet's chest, but he couldn't understand her.

"What?" he asked, though not unkindly. Faria looked up at him, though keeping her arms wrapped around him.

"I missed you", she whispered. "And I am so so sorry for everything."

Ratchet smiled at her, and gently pressed his lips to her forehead. "I missed you too, Faria. And I apologize for just dumping you last night, I needed time to think."

Faria chuckled lightly, trying to ignore the butterflies in her stomach or the tingling sensation in her forehead. "Thank you for saving me from Screamer last night."

"I would be failing at my job as your guardian if I didn't, wouldn't I?" Ratchet smiled softly before gently removing himself from her grasp. "Now you need to get to school. I'll come pick you up afterward, alright?"

Faria nodded excitedly. "Yes please!" Ratchet chuckled before gently pushing her towards the school building. Before she left Ratchet though, she turned back to him. "Can I get your phone number in case something happens?"

Ratchet nodded and she quickly input the numbers he told her into her phone. "Thanks Ratch!" she called as she started to move toward the school. Ratchet smiled at her, as she was practically skipping with happiness, something she hadn't done since what she called as The Incident happened. Her limp nearly prevented her from skipping, yet somehow, she was doing it now. She couldn't help but beam at anyone who looked her way.

She made it to her first class on time. Unfortunately, it was after that that her smile disappeared. For they had a substitute teacher. One they didn't recognize. Well, only Jack- whom Faria shared the class with- and Faria recognized him or, rather, the logo on his jacket sleeve.

"Hello, class. My name is Mr. Wave", he said, his voice quiet and authoritative. Jack and Faria shared a glance, both of knowing that it's a Decepticon, though not entirely sure which one. Jack instantly started to text someone, and Faria assumed that it was Arcee. Unfortunately, he wasn't able to send the text due to Mr. Wave somehow knowing even though he was unable to see Jack's phone.

"Jackson Darby, please put your phone away", Mr. Wave said. Faria watched as Jack's eyes widen. Jack does so, and Faria frowned. She raised her hand.

"Yes, Ms. Weaver?" the teacher asked. Faria quickly asked her question.

"May I go call my parents?" she asked. "I forgot to bring some feminine products."

Mr. Wave's face turned slightly red, before he nodded his head at her. "Quickly, Ms. Weaver."

Faria smiled apologetically at him, before exiting the classroom, and pulling her phone from her pocket. She quickly scrolls down to 'R' on her contact list and called Ratchet. 

"I'm afraid you've probably reached the wrong number", Ratchet's voice came through the phone, his voice sounding very dry.

"Ratchet, it's Faria. There's a 'con here", Faria murmured quietly. Ratchet cursed quietly, before speaking to Faria.

"Faria, which 'con is it?" he asked. Faria shrugged.

"I don't know. He's calling himself Mr. Wave", she answers. Ratchet sighed, speaking shortly after.

"The only 'Waves' I know of are Soundwave and Shockwave, and since Shockwave is presumed dead, it has to be Soundwave. Is he wearing sunglasses or dark colors?"

Faria peered back into the classroom. "Yeah, he's wearing both dark colors and dark sunglasses. I can't see his eyes at all."

"It's Soundwave", he huffed. "I'll try to get Agent Fowler to evacuate the school."

"Thanks Ratch", Faria murmured. "See you later?"

"Yeah", Ratchet said, ending the call. Faria sent a quick text to Jack, whose number she had received earlier, though he would have no clue that it was hers.

'Jack, it's Soundwave. That's what Ratchet says anyway. School might be evacuated.'

Faria entered the classroom, and saw Jack looking at his phone, seeming a bit confused. She giggled quietly as she took her seat. She checked her phone to see a text from Jack.

'Who is this?'

'Faria.'

'How'd you get my number?'

'You gave it to me.'

'When?'

'Oops... Look, I'm going to tell you a secret you aren't allowed to tell anyone, not even Arcee.'

'Okay?'

'I'm the Viper...'

Faria glanced over at Jack to see his eyes widen slightly as he looked over at her.

'Seriously?'

'Yeah. You raced against me.'

'And that means you've known about the Autobots longer than they think you have.'

'Yep. But please, don't tell anyone this. Please. I don't want anyone to find out because then I might be arrested... you know how Fowler is. And he's currently searching for me as the Viper.'

'You have to tell them at some point though. I won't tell them for you, but you'll need to tell them eventually.'

Faria sighed quietly. 'I know. I just don't know how to.'

'But that's the reason why you were able to tell Fowler so much about the Viper. It's because you are her.'

Faria smiled softly, but put her phone away due to the intercom turning on. "Due to a... peculiar circumstance, we are going to have to ask everyone to evacuate the building into the parking lot."

Faria smirked for a moment, knowing that this was Fowler's doing. She stood up and gathered all of her stuff, hearing the other students doing the same thing. When she looked to the substitute teacher, he was staring at her, his lips turned down in a frown. She only smirked at him, before walking over to Jack, and whispering to him.

"He knows that it was me that got the school evacuated", Faria whispered. Jack looked over at Soundwave's holoform, and fidgeted nervously when he noticed that the Decepticon was watching them. Faria whispered to him again. "Act confident, Jack. Don't let him know that you're scared."

Jack nodded, gulping as he walked out of the classroom, following Faria as she led him to the parking lot, where students talked excitedly with each other. Jack and Faria searched around until they found Miko and Raf standing off by themselves.

"Hey, guys", Faria greeted as she walked up to them, Jack not too far behind.

"Hey, Faria, Jack", Raf responded. Faria smiled softly.

"Dudes, this is so rad!" Miko exclaimed. "What do you think happened that they had the entire school evacuated?"

"And why is Agent Fowler here?" Raf asked nervously. Faria looked around to see Agent Fowler heading towards the school building. Faria sighed.

"In Jack and I's first class, we had a substitute. He was slightly creepy, and he called himself, 'Mr. Wave'. The worst part was that he wore a jacket that had the Decepticon symbol on the sleeve", Faria said. "I got myself excused from class to call my 'parents'. I called Ratchet instead, and told him about the substitute."

"Mr. Wave", Raf whispered. "That sounds almost like... Soundwave!"

Faria smiled softly. "Yeah. It was Soundwave."

"Ms. Weaver, Mr. Darby, would you like to introduce me to your friends?" a smooth voice drifted from behind Faria. She turned around to see the very holoform they had just been talking about.

Faria gives him a fake smile. "These are our friends, Miko Nakadai, and Rafael Esquival."

"It is wonderful to meet you all", he said, reaching out a hand for them to shake. "Ms. Weaver, may I speak with you in private?"

Faria's heart skipped a beat, but she nodded. "Give me a sec."

Mr. Wave nodded, and walked away while Faria turned to Jack. "Go find Fowler. ASAP. Tell him whatever, even tell him about that secret I told you earlier, but please, please, make sure he gets the Autobots to Soundwave's location."

Jack nodded and took off running towards where he last saw Agent Fowler. Faria took a deep breath, and gave a comforting smile to the other two, before turning away and going to where Mr. Wave waited. 

"Walk with me, Faria", he said. Faria shook her head.

"No. Why should I trust you?" she asked. "You're just a substitute teacher." 

Mr. Wave sighed. "You are correct. But I am not just a substitute teacher and I get the distinct impression that you and your friends know that."

"First of all, they're not my friends. Second of all, it was kinda obvious that you're a Decepticon, you've got the logo on your sleeve." Faria glared at him, not trusting him for a moment.

"Ah, yes", Soundwave said. "But do you know which Decepticon I am?"

"You're Soundwave. I've never met you before, but luckily, I have good contacts", Faria said. She looked around, acting casual as she looked for the Autobots. She saw no one, and became more nervous than she was before.

"Of course. The Autobots", he grinned. "But they're a little preoccupied at the moment."

Faria's heart skipped a beat. She took a step back, only to turn around and run as Soundwave's holoform disappeared. She felt the ground quiver slightly as she heard a loud clang on the ground as well as several screams from her classmates as they ran from the Decepticon.

"Leave me alone!" Faria yelled as she tried to run. She felt herself be picked up by the back of the shirt, and let out a terrified scream. What she didn't realize was that she spoke a word with that scream.

"RATCHET!!!" she cried out, searching for the familiar ambulance or any of the familiar vehicle forms. There were none. She felt tears escape her eyes as she is placed into a very dark space and Soundwave transforms around her. She shivers in fear and curls up on herself.

"Please, let me go", she whispers. 

There was no response.