Twenty-five years later.

The clouds gathered around the tower that loomed over the destroyed town. The people were outside mining for energon and trying to get it back to the tower, hoping they lived another day. They were afraid to do anything that angered the giants.

A small group of rebels watched and waited for a way to save a few of the people. They had managed to get close and they quietly waited for their opportunity, waiting for the guards to move.

Elders gripped a rickety wheelbarrow, pushing a pile of energon crystals to the towers. Rows of people lined it, many tired and sore. None spoke a word about it. They also said none when they felt gazes, glancing toward the general area where they were watched but soon returned to work. 

The small group watched intently as they thought of a way to get them out and free. They had to hurry and didn't want to make them stay here. A young woman narrowed her eyes as she watched then got closer with the others. The cons weren't really paying attention out of boredom. They had a plan and moved in like shadows.

All the slaves were currently in the mine working and the cons wandered to the entrance. They timed it right and threw devices at the cons. They didn't have very many but it would work. The devices momentarily shocked the Decepticon drones and made them fall over. Knocking them out for a time. The team quickly moved in to save the people. 

Workers began noticing them more as they got closer. The slaves watched as they would knock out cons whenever possible. A silent man, standing by the slaves watched and began leaving. He disappeared behind the large piles of rock filled with the crystal they had yet to mine. A young man from the group split off and went to grab the keys from the knocked out cons before he went to unlock the chains bounding the slaves together. 

The group rushed forward and freed all the slaves. They then quickly got them together and had them do a head count. They glanced around to try and find anymore. An elderly man coughed, frowning.

"If you think anyone escaped, your wrong. Were all here." He muttered, still not believing they were freed so easily. His eyes shone with gratefulness.

"Where do we go now?" A young girl asked, gripping onto what they could assume was her mother's pants. Worry and fright was read easily in her expression. Cons were everywhere.

"Follow us." The young rebel woman whispered and they split the rescue group. Half walked behind and half walked in front to lead.

They then spread out a little and had the rescue team on every side to keep them from getting hurt. Making a type of circle. The group looked around one more time before they left the cave through a small tunnel and headed underground. They had been building the tunnel to that cave for a while. The freed slaves were silent, looking around as they walked tiredly, their bodies exhausted and sore.

"Who are you?" A man asked, looking to the young woman ahead with a frown. "I don't understand." He spoke in a murmur.

"Don't worry, sir." She whispered quietly and looked at him. "We'll get you home then answer questions." She said. There group of rescuers wore dark clothes and masks to hide their faces and move around easier. 

The man nodded, going silent. He was a little reassured but still couldn't relax completely. No one else said anything as they followed them in the fairly dark tunnel. The elders were slow, some holding onto each other. None of them understood what was going on but none were scared either. 

After a while the tunnel opened up to a railway. The military had put it there when they were in Jasper. The group helped the people onto the track car then made sure they were steady before rushing off.

The journey was fairly long and tiresome. It had begun to rain and many put up their coats to block the rain that sprayed through broken windows. Soon enough though the rain was gone as they left the town where the thick clouds stayed. People slept as time passed, leaning on each other in the crowded track car. 

The group watched intently as they were above ground for a moment then went back under. They were underground for a long time before it opened up to a massive cavern. They went into a type of station and people rushed over to help them. The tired people almost seemed to stumble out of the track car. A few held onto the people and frowned as they looked around.

"This isn't home." The man that spoke up earlier said in growing frustration as fear filled his eyes. "What is this place?" He asked seriously, glaring at the woman

"It's okay, it's okay." She said quickly and looked at him. "I know it's not home... but it's a safe haven from those machines." She explained as she looked at him. "We're going to take back our homes when we can..." she promised. The man rubbed his scruffy chin in irritation, scared.

"Right." He muttered, sighing. An elder took the womans hand in hers and gently patted the top of her hand.

"Thank you." She whispered, her tear filled gray eyes staring at the mask the woman wore. She struggled to smile before following the others. The woman watched them and smiled a little then took her mask off. She sighed shakily as she rubbed her head.

"Sir... do... do you... remember me?" She asked the old man. The old man looked at her, his eyes searching her face

"My memory isn't what it used to be." He muttered. "Am I familar to you?" She stared at him for a while then looked off to the side as tears filled her eyes. She felt her heart break as his words went through her head.

"I... I don't want to burden you... you have a lot to take in. Why don't we get you to the hospital section?" She whispered and led him there.

He frowned, confused at what she said. He began walking with her quietly, trying to remember, his eyebrows knitting together. He wanted to say something but couldn't find the words.

"I-I'm a Doctor. I can help if you would want it." He spoke quietly, hoping to calm her. 

"Oh no no no... we need to make sure you get looked after then work on getting you a home. We can make you a doctor here if you like... but after you are settled." She said as she looked at him and smiled a little. It clicked suddenly in his head. She was his granddaughter. Everyone else in their families had been killed by the bomb.

The old man smiled faintly. "That would be nice." He spoke as tears filled his eyes, running down his old face. He hesitated as he took in a shaky breath, gently stroking her hair. "You've grown." He muttered shakily. She stopped suddenly and looked at him then smiled sadly.

"You remember me..." she whispered quietly as she hugged him. He hugged her back, closing his eyes with happiness.

"I thought I lost you." He muttered seriously, shaking slightly. "I'm glad your alright."

"I was afraid I lost you as well..." she whispered quietly and hugged him tighter then buried her face in his shoulder. He held her close and rubbed her back, relaxing as he had his family, even if it was just his granddaughter. That was enough for him. But he did begin to wonder...

"Do you know where your father is?" He whispered.

"He's dead...." she rasped quietly and looked at him. "He died trying to save the others..." she choked. "One of the robot men... stepped on him..." He frowned deeply and began shushing her lightly, stroking her hair. Perhaps it was too soon to have asked that.

"I'm sorry." He murmured. "I'll take care of you." He smiled faintly as he rubbed her cheek with his thumb.

"I'll care for you too." She whispered quietly and looked at him. "I want you to know that. I went up there to try and find you..." she whispered

He smiled a bit sadly. "Well you found me. I'm here now." He said gently. "I'm not going to let anybody or any robot take you, alright?" He tucked a piece of her hair behind her ear.

"And I won't let anyone hurt you either." She said seriously as she gripped his face between her hands 

He rested his hands over hers and sighed softly. "Nothing will happen to me. I promise." He spoke calmly.

She nodded quickly and hugged him again then led him to a place he could be looked over. When he was good to go, she took him to her apartment and gave him the extra room.

He thanked her calmly, looking around quietly. He walked into his room and went to the bed, sighing softly. Slowly he sat down, feeling the comfort of it. He hadn't had a bed in a long time. He closed his eyes, rubbing his face tiredly before getting up again and going to the kitchen so they could eat. She was making dinner and heard a knock on the door. She walked over and answered it to see a young man.

"Hello Skye." He said as he smiled slightly and looked at the man. "Oh sorry... who's this?" He asked. 

"I'm her grandfather. Who are you?" He asked seriously, suspicion filling his eyes as he walked over stiffly. 

"Grandad it's alright. He's one of the men from my team." She said as she smiled slightly. "This is Zane." She introduced.

"Hello sir... um... what's your name?" He asked as he held his hand out to him. 

The man watched him quietly before bringing his wrinkled hand forward, taking his and shaking it. "Henry." He mumbled. "Nice to meet you." 

"Nice to meet you, Henry..." he whispered quietly and shook his hand. He let go and looked at her then at him. "We have another mission." He said seriously. 

Henry frowned. "So soon?" He asked worriedly as he glanced at Skye. "What about dinner?" He asked as he began walking back to the kitchen to where she was. "When will you be home? How will I know you're safe?"

"Grandad it's alright." She whispered quietly and gently gripped his hands in both of hers. "I made you some dinner... I don't know... and I'll be with my team." She said.

His old hands tightened around hers as he stared down at her. "I just got you back." He whispered, frowning but sighed. "Be careful. Please." He murmured. 

"Just stay here... and be safe." She whispered quietly and gently kissed his cheek. "I have to help save our people..."

He nodded and kissed the top of her head. "I love you." He murmured and sighed as he let go of her. He eyed Zane quietly. "Make sure she stays safe." He spoke seriously. 

The young man hesitated then nodded slowly as he watched him then led the young woman out of the room. She smiled at him then wandered off. 

The old man stood there for a long moment before taking out his old wallet and pulling out a picture. He smiled faintly as he looked at him and his son.

He sighed softly and put it back into his wallet after a long moment. He looked at his drivers license, long expired. The name read 'Ratchet'. He sighed and closed the wallet and soon began leaving the apartment to try and find the hospital section.