"Look to the heavens and you shall find your way."

★☆★☆★☆★☆★

"That is not healthy."

"I am well aware of that, Piston, that is why I drink it," Toby rolls her eyes while taking a sip of an energy drink.

"Don't call me that," the medic growls, making the woman laugh with his dislike of the nickname.

:.Why not, Piston?.: Toby snorts violently, coughing when her drink goes up her nose as Ironhide's snarky voice comes through the comm.

:.Was that really necessary, Trigger Fingers?.: Ratchet's sharp reply has the mechanic spluttering; wheezing into her flannel sleeve.

:.It's necessary as long as the lil' lady calls ya that, Piston.: Toby forces herself to take a deep breath, though fails as she erupts into a laughing fit.

:.I think your charge is dying, Piston.: Ironhide states sarcastically.

"I wouldn't be if you guys weren't teasing each other," the woman thumps her chest to clear the liquid still stuck in her windpipe.

:.Technically, this is yer fault, Gears.: A grin finds its way onto her face at the new nickname introduced by the hip hop Autobot.

"Maybe, but I'm enjoying this, and I like the name," she smiles, cradling her drink can in her hands.

:.Gears and Piston, quite the duo.: Ironhide remarks in mock thoughtfulness.

"Not nearly as much as Trigger Fingers and Jazz Hands," the comm bursts in an explosion of protests from the weapons specialist and first lieutenant while Toby and Ratchet listen with amusement.

:.This is not the purpose of all-access comm channel.: Optimus for the first time, his exasperation causing the young woman to chuckle loudly.

"But it's fun, Bossbot, so whatcha gonna do about it?" The comm goes silent, the channel having been switched off, though Toby knows that the Autobots are laughing to themselves.

Is this how family is supposed to act?

★☆★☆★☆★☆★

"Where are we even going?" An exhausted Toby asks Ratchet.

"An abandoned observatory, where we can hopefully read the coordinates on the glasses," the medic explains in exasperation.

There's a moment of silence while the woman thinks. "I believe I know which observatory you're talking about; my mom used to take me to a place nearby. She brought me there and taught me the names of the constellations and how to identify each one."

"Do you have a favourite?"

"Hm?"

"Do you have a favourite constellation?"

"Oh, yeah! Orion. My mom liked Aquarius though," Ratchet splutters the equivalent of a cough, making Toby raise a brow but otherwise continues staring out the window. "I always said that I'd name a star after her—Magar Hills—a name I came up with when I was little."

Ratchet hums quietly before responding. "Why not remember her in a less extravagant way?"

"What do you have in mind?" The woman questions curiously.

"Your surname is Williams, correct?"

"Yes," Toby answers slowly, unsure of the medic's intentions.

"Why not change it to Hills? It is your mother's maiden name after all."

A grin stretches across Toby's expression as she ponders. "Yeah, I think that'll work."

★☆★☆★☆★☆★

The morning sun shines brightly upon the team of Autobots as they regroup at an abandoned observatory. A somber atmosphere surrounds the 'bots with only a glimmer of hope radiating from a small human sitting on the shoulder of one of them.

"Please let this work," Optimus says to himself, delicately holding the glasses between two digits.

"It will work," the Prime looks over at the young woman resting on Ratchet's shoulder. She crosses her arms confidently, her gaze withholding no doubt.

"Fire it up, Optimus," Jazz paces on the roof of the observatory, eager to end the wild goose chase.

"Have patience, Jazz," Toby remarks, eyes not leaving the Autobot leader as his optics flash in pure light. The light filters through the glass lenses of the Witwicky captain's spectacles, causing a hologram of the earth to flicker into existence. The mechanic gasps in delight, eyes sparkling in wonder of the spectacle.

"The code," Optimus begins, a trickle of hope filling his voice. "The code on these glasses indicates the Allspark is two-hundred and thirty miles from here."

He lowers the glasses and his optics blink back to their usual glow. The Autobots stand before him, ready for their next command while Toby grins at the leader.

"I sense the Decepticons are getting ready to mobilise," Ratchet speaks up, his statement making his charge's smile falter slightly.

"They must know it's here, as well," the weapons specialist faces his fellow Autobots.

"What about Bumblebee?" Jazz demands an answer, looking down at his comrades in guilt. "We can't just leave him to die and become some human experiment!"

"He'll die in vain if we don't accomplish our mission," Optimus points out calmly. "Bumblebee is a brave soldier. This is what he would want."

"Why are we fighting to save the humans?" Ironhide questions, sparing a fleeting glance at the woman on Ratchet's shoulder. "They're a primitive and violent race."

"Were we so different? They're a young species. They have much to learn. But I've seen goodness in them," the Prime looks pointedly at Toby, compassion and thankfulness in his optics, making her smile pridefully as her cheeks tint pink. "Freedom is the right of all sentient beings. You all know there's only one way to end this war. We must destroy the Cube. If all else fails, I will unite it with the spark in my chest."

"That's suicide!" Both Ratchet and Toby say in unison, the latter in outrage and fear.

The medic scowls momentarily in confusion at the woman before stepping forward to address his friend. "The Cube is raw power. It could destroy you both."

"A necessary sacrifice to bring peace to this planet. We cannot let the humans pay for our mistakes. It's been an honour serving with you all, no matter how short the service," he eyes Toby, the woman bowing her head in her own display of her respect. "Autobots, roll out!"

"We rollin'!" Jazz cries, jumping down from his perch, loyally following his leader as the others do the same. Only one makes any other sort of comment, her screech echoing in her guardian's audio receptor to notify him that she is still there.

★☆★☆★☆★☆★

Toby's fingers shakily rewire the circuitry of her plasma gun under the guidance of Ironhide.

:.Of course, a proton cannon is far superior to a plasma weapon.:

"I was kind of limited in what I could make with my little knowledge and low budget," the mechanic cheekily responds.

:.Doesn't mean I'm wrong.:

"Please tell me the next step so this doesn't explode in my face," Toby sighs, glaring at the Topkick through the window of Ratchet's alt.

:.And I would rather not experience an explosion in my cabin.: The medic huffs.

The weapons specialist explains in detail how to safely rearm the gun, though Toby's mind wanders elsewhere.

In less than twelve hours, the woman has met an alien species, snuck into someone's house, been arrested, broken a man's nose after nearly shooting him, driven an alien in a car chase, then confronted her father and left her childhood home. Now she sits in the cabin of someone she considers to be one true friend while correcting the errors in her prototype with the aid of a trigger happy alien with guns in his arms.

"Toby, are you alright?" Ratchet's concerned voice brings the woman from her thoughts.

"Yeah, why'd ya ask?"

The medic vents softly, seeming out-of-character gentle. "You've been staring at your hands for several minutes. And don't lie," Toby glances at the dashboard, "I know you're not alright. I've seen that far off look before."

There's a moment of absolute silence as the woman fidgets uncomfortably, folding her hands on her lap.

"I—" Toby clears her voice stiffly, "—I'm analytical, Ratchet. I figure things out just by looking at them. So I know full well that-that this won't end peacefully. We are going to end up fighting and I want you to know that I will fight by your side."

Ratchet vents quietly again, in the gentle way a father would to a daughter. "I do not wish for you to fight, Toby."

"Unfortunately, it's not your choice to make," the woman snaps. "You are trying to save our planet and stop Megatron; I see no better cause for me to fight, even if it's against my own species," Toby frustratedly stuffs her delicately calibrated weapon in her shorts' pocket.

"But you don't want to fight," the comment causes the mechanic to pause, knowing her friend is right.

"No, I don't."

"Then what do you want?"

Toby takes a shaky breath, choking back a sob. "I-I don't want to die."

The seat belt tightens around the woman, the best form of comfort Ratchet can provide. She smiles sadly, moving her hands to hold the seat belt and wipes a tear stained cheek with her flannel sleeve.

"I won't let you die, I promise."

"I wish that was a promise you could keep."

★☆★☆★☆★☆★

Hey guys!

This may seem like a filler chapter to most of you, but it's actually quite important!

You'll soon see what I mean by that.

Anywhoo, I hope you folks enjoyed!

Drag0nRider out!