'And? How was it?'

Sideswipe flopped on the chair in front of me. 'The date? I guess you were right...' I sighed. Sideswipe grinned. 'Stuffed potato on legs, huh?' I slumped back. 'How was your weekend?' He shrugged. 'Nah, bad. I got laid but she sucked. I don't know what she was doing but it wasn't nice for me.' He shrugged. He fiddled with his hands before gazing at me. 'Sucks.' He nodded. 'Yup.' He popped the 'p' before leaning onto the desk. 'Where did you find this guy? Tell me about it because you never answered my question. 'Sideswipe...' I groaned. 'Come on.' He smiled mischievously. 'At the book club?' He mocked. 'No... no.' I huffed. 'A dating app,' I finished. 'Oh, dear...' he grinned. 'Happy?' He shook his head. 'No. I want more details. 'I sighed and reached for my bag, pulling out my lunch. Sideswipe rested his head on his hand. 'You made that?' I nodded. 'Yeah, why?'

'Sweet' he taunted. I rolled my eyes. 'Could you stop watching me like that?' He slumped back and rested his right ankle on his left knee. 'Tomorrow is your day off...' he began. 'I'm never here on Tuesdays, Sideswipe. I've college,' I stated and picked up the phone as it went off. 'Good afternoon, what can I do?'

Sideswipe childishly repeated me and snitched the phone from my hand. 'Hello? Yeah... hi, yeah, this is N.E.S.T. Yes... your phone number?' He grabbed a pen and wrote it down. 'I will let Major Lennox know. Have a good day.' He disconnected the call. 'That's how you do it.' I shook my head and took the note he was holding. I put it on my pile of post it notes. 'I was thinking...' he hummed. '... maybe... I know you have to give training in 30 minutes... I thought maybe I can... watch? I finished my work...' I trailed off. 'You don't have to ask me permission to watch.'

'But it's your class. I don't want to... interrupt or disturb.'

'I know, but I don't mind. You should know that by now.' He flashed me a smile before getting up. 'I see you in thirty minutes then. Don't be late.' I snorted. 'I am never late,' I mumbled. He eyed me for a moment before leaving. I finished my work and got up, leaving to watch Sideswipe.

'Ms. Clarke.' I turned as I heard my name.

'Prowl, sir...' I began. 'Done early today?' I nodded. 'Yes, sir.' I handed him the notes I had collected throughout the day. 'This is for you.' He took them. 'Going home?' I shook my head. 'Not yet. I would see Sideswipe in a minute,' I replied. He hummed,–– looking through the notes I just gave him. 'You have a good bond with him, don't you?' I didn't know how to reply. I fiddled with my hands. 'Yes, sir.' He met my gaze. 'He told me a lot about you...' he began. This is great. I thought, mentally grimacing. 'I bet he did.'

Prowl folded the pieces of paper. 'He said you are studying earth science?' I nodded. 'Yes, sir.' He hummed and inhaled softly. 'Interesting. Why if you studying such complicated subject, are you working here? At a military base?' he asked. 'I like arranging things and it takes my mind off all the work I have to do for college,' I replied. 'Really? You are a bit shy...' I forced a smile on my face. 'Yeah... I- I know.'

'Come with me.'

He walked off and I quickly followed without asking questions. He took me to the third floor and pushed open the door to Que's lab. The older mech, who had been talking to Ratchet moments ago, looked up. 'Do you know what this is?' Prowl pointed at the piece of rock on the counter. 'Can I pick it up?' he nodded. 'Hmm, definitely volcanic. Where did you find this?' I questioned, inspecting the stone. 'Jazz was on a mission and a Decepticon he killed had this on his ped,' Ratchet replied. 'We want to trace his steps and see if they are up to something,' Que added. 'Well, The composition of the lava varies by volcano and even by eruption. For example, the Kilauea volcano in Hawaii has very thin lava. It contains a lot of iron and magnesium and very little aluminum and silica. If you do a few tests, you can figure out where it comes from and where he has been.'

'Yeah, well... our lab is limited. You might have the resources at school to do the tests and besides, you know what to do,' Prowl said. I looked up. 'I will run a test tomorrow,' I replied and took a sample from the rock.

I had to hurry to see Sideswipe. He glanced at me when I came in. 'You are late. I thought you said you wouldn't be late.' I snorted. 'I know... Prowl wanted to know something real quick,' I apologized. Sideswipe hummed and crossed his arms. 'These are the new slaves...' he gestured at the rookies. In comparison with Sideswipe and some other mechs at the base... they were just walking sticks. 'Oh...' I trailed off. 'Yeah... They get thinner every year,' I chuckled. A soldier stopped as he passed. 'Oh, you're Katie?' I nodded and shook his sweaty hand. 'Katie Clarke and you are...?' I asked. 'Dexter,' he replied. 'Yeah and Dexter is going back to his training.'

He quickly walked off. I nudged him. 'I am not really in the mood tonight to cook and I wanted to eat at the Japanese restaurant. You'd like to come?' He nodded. 'Yeah, sounds good. 'I pay,' I said strictly. 'No, we split the bill,' he stated. 'I asked you.' He rolled his eyes. 'And in the mech. I should be paying,' he stated. I rolled my eyes. 'What did Prowl want anyway?' I sighed. 'Oh, he wanted me to run some labs on a rock Jazz found on a Decepticon.' He ohh'ed and laid his hand on my back. 'I'm going to get this group back on track.' I nodded and watched him walk up to them.