Your POV

"Y/N! Y/N! Come on down! Breakfast is ready!" The voice of your Mother shouts from downstairs, jolting you awake from your slumber.

Your eyes flutter open, only to be met with the bleak ceiling above you.

"I was up way too late..." You groan, dragging your palms down your face in an attempt to wake up.

You hadn't gotten home until late last night due to Optimus' orders. Apparently, the Decepticons were very active last night, and the Prime didn't want anyone out in the dark. Hopefully, tonight wouldn't be so eventful.

Swinging your legs out of bed, you make your way towards the hallway, wincing in pain as you do so.

Stupid joints.

Shrugging it off and doing your best to hide it from your Mother, you hobble into the kitchen, every muscle in your body seemingly aching in protest.

"It's about time you woke up, Y/N! Breakfast was getting cold." Your Mother scolds, clapping you on the shoulder as she walks past you, leaving you alone in the kitchen.

Letting out a hiss of pain, you wince once more, making a mental note to inform your Guardian about your aching joints.

Speaking of the Autobots, you glance at the digital clock on the oven, gaping at the time.

They should be here any minute!

You hastily shove breakfast down and grab a glass of orange juice, running upstairs to grab your stuff and get dressed.

"See ya later, Mom!" You yell, slipping into your sneakers and donning your worn-out leather jacket, slinging your backpack over your shoulder, slamming the front door on your way out.

You jump down the last of the stairs, landing on the pavement with a thud.

Arcee and Jack should be at the meeting spot by now...

Running down the sidewalk now, you round the corner, your house disappearing from your view.

As you make your way towards the gas station on the end of the street, you can't help but feel like something isn't right.

"It's probably nothing..." You hum quietly under your breath, slowing your pace slightly as you pass the gas station and continue onwards.

Your feeling of uneasiness continues to grow as you quickly change direction and run down the back of the gas station, scanning the area, all senses alert.

"Something is definitely not right here - oh my gosh!" You yell, jumping at the sight of an all too familiar white and orange ambulance that had rolled out from behind where it was parked behind the building that you had just walked behind.

Shock turns to realization as the passenger side door swings open and you hop in, barely securing your seatbelt before the vehicle speeds off, leaving a trail of smoke in your wake, heading for the outskirts of town and back towards the Autobot base.

"Ratchet? What are you doing here? Where's Arcee? Why are you in such a hurry?" You question rapidly, your feeling of uneasiness continuing to heighten as you speed along the rough road.

No answer.

Your Guardian continues to pick up his speed as you watch Jasper disappear in the rearview mirror.

Suddenly, Ratchet veers sharply to the right, causing you to nearly hit the window.

"What the heck are you doing?" You screech, confusion and panic setting in while you double and triple check the mirrors, watching for anyone or anything that might be in pursuit.

No answer.

"Ratchet!"

Almost as if a reply, the medic veers sharply to the right, heading down a back road, the complete opposite way from safety.

"Where are you going! Safety is that way!" You screech once more, now more angry than panicked.

Once again, no answer is given as the ambulance your sitting in continues to speed along the rough road, taking sharp turns now and then.

You go quiet, too panicked and concerned to say too much as your thoughts had taken over.

Ratchet knows what he's doing... Right? He's my Guardian... He wouldn't purposely put me in harm's way...

"Arcee! Get us a bridge!" You hear the medic's voice demand hastily through the Comm line, pulling you away from your thoughts.

Moments later, the green and blue vortex appears on the road ahead, startling you slightly as you shut your eyes and prepare for some sort of impact, only to receive none.

Almost instantly, the vehicle you're sitting in comes to a screeching halt, and your eyes snap open, scanning the area.

You were back in the old missle silo, surrounded by the giant alien robots that you're beginning to call friends, who were all staring down at you and your Guardian with concerned faces.

The door beside you swings open, and you step out onto the concrete floor, legs shaky, breath uneven, heart racing.

The sound of shifting gears from behind you makes you turn ever so slightly, only to see Ratchet stride over to the computers, not bothering to make any effort to console you after what just happened.

Silence settles as everyone, including your three human friends who were watching with wide eyes from their platform, stare at you.

Anger begins to take over as your legs stop trembling and your breathing returns to normal.

"What was that? What on Earth was that?" You demand, taking a few steps towards where your passive Guardian was standing, his back turned to you. "I want an explanation. Now."

Once again, no answer is given, only silence.

Throwing your hands in the air, you turn on your heel, stalking away from the main area of the base, ignoring the aching in your joints.

At this point, you didn't care where you ended up, wandering the Autobot base aimlessly. You just needed to be anywhere but near Ratchet.

"Such a lovely Sunday..." You mutter under your breath, hugging yourself in an attempt to calm your nerves as you continue to wander.

Why me? Why did I have to get hit by a ambulance that apparently is a alien robot war medic? Why did I get dragged into the middle of a war that humans can't even prevent? Why did I have to get stuck with Ratchet as my Guardian? Why can't I just be normal?

"Why can't I just be normal?" You repeat aloud, stopping mid stride and sinking to the floor.

"I also believe you and my old friend may have more in common than you can currently see..."

Sighing in frustration, you stare blankly at the roof, thoughts whirling.

"Well, if your going to be hanging around me so much, you might as well learn something about Cybertronians..."

I did! I learnt the basics! Heck, we saved Arcee's and Bumblebee's lives!

Maybe that's what Optimus meant?

"How am I supposed to deal with this?" You wail silently, feeling overwhelmed at the sudden rush of emotions and memories.

Another, more urgent thought consumes you.

"What was this morning all about?"

Deciding to head back to where you had came from, you get to your feet slowly, not trusting your legs to fully support you yet, and begin to walk slowly.

Upon your arrival back into the main area, your Japanese friend rushes to your side, hugging you tightly.

"I'm sorry Ratchet is such a pain in the aft." Miko whispers into the friendly embrace as you laugh lightly.

"You've been hanging with the bots too much." You tease, laughing at your friend's use of Cybertronian slang.

She lets go of you slightly, guiding you somewhat forcefully towards Jack and Raf who were playing video games.

"Come on, Y/N! It'll be fun!" Miko urges, noticing your unwillingness to move forward.

"Maybe later, Miko. I've gotta go talk to Ratchet first." You reply, glancing at the orange and white medic who was examining whatever was underneath the floor panel that had been removed by the Groundbridge controls.

"Alrighty!" She cheers, leaving your side to join the boys. "Good luck with that."

Taking a deep breath, you make your way across the floor, calling out a nonchalante greeting as you neared the medic's side.

"Where'd everybody else go?"

"They're out." Comes the usual reply as Ratchet continues working, not bothering to turn to you.

You reach your Guardian's side, tapping on his leg platting in an attempt to draw his attention to you.

"What are you working on?" You ask, genuinely curious as Ratchet sighs, annoyed, as he stops what he's doing and lets you step lightly into his hand, placing you on his shoulder out of harm's way.

"I'm just fixing up the Groundbridge controls, nothing real exciting. They haven't been right since that Scraplet attack when Optimus brought the first three children back to base." Your Guardian finishes with a disgusted tone.

"Well..." You start, trying to ignore the fact that this particular Autobot seems to absolutely despise the human race. "How can I help?"

At this, you notice the grouchy medic smile slightly.

"Just watch and learn."

****

"Well... That was certainly..." You pause, searching for the right word. "Insightful?"

I now know how to disassemble and reassemble the Groundbridge controls. Yippee.

"I hope you were paying attention. For all I know, you and the other children could be the only ones left here and we needed a Groundbridge out of a deathly situation." The medic describes, dead serious. "You'd be the only one who could get us out of there in one piece if things went screwy."

You gulp, realizing that your Guardian's worse case scenario could potentially become a reality.

"Y-yeah... I think I got it..." You reply quietly.

Ratchet scoops you off his shoulder gently, placing you in his hand, facing him.

"I need to know if you know how to do it. Do you know how to repair the Groundbridge in the worse case scenario?" He questions, his optics gazing at you sternly.

It can't be super hard if anything actually happens. I'll be fine.

"Yes. I've got it." You reply, false certainty ringing in your voice, though the Autobot didn't seem to notice.

"Good." Your Guardian huffs, setting you down on the sofa beside Jack, who's gaze was set on Raf's laptop screen.

That's it? That's all? Man, Ratchet is certainly a tough one to get to.

"Ratchet, wait." You start, getting up off the couch. "You never answered me about... this morning? What was that all about?"

"It was nothing. A false Decepticon signal spooked me, that's all." Ratchet replies, turning to face you.

"If you say so..." You mutter, sitting down again, not bothering to ask anymore questions.

You watch, disheartened, as the medic you thought you'd gotten a bit closer to over the past three and a half hours of constant explanation about foreign technology, turns once more to close the panel to the controls and then back to his beloved computers.

Ratchet's POV
"A false Decepticon signal spooked me, that's all..."

Seriously? That's the best you could come up with?

Now she's curious. She'll pester me to no end with questions about this morning.

It was a bad move, offering to pick her up even though Decepticon activity was heightened in that general area.

You figured you could protect her better than Arcee could.

No I didn't!

Yes you did. You've become soft towards humans.

I don't really have much of a choice when they're constantly interrupting everything I do! They may be annoying, but they're useful. Take Rafael for example. He is far better with Earth technology-

It seems I have become soft.

I groan inwardly, my optics set absentmindedly on the computer screens in front of me.

"This is so pitiful." I mutter, tapping away at the keyboard randomly, lost in thought.

"What's pitiful?" The voice of Y/N sounds from below me, pulling me away from my thoughts.

Don't answer her. Just ignore her, like you always do.

"Ratchet? Are you feeling okay?" Y/N's voice sounds again, this time her voice full of genuine concern.

Like you could do anything to actually help me if I was sick.

That thought surprises me slightly.

She seems to be a quick learner, maybe she could actually be of assistance if need be.

Turning to face the small human, I nod.

"I'm fine. Just lost in thought, that's all. Nothing to worry about."

She stares at me for a few moments, questioning the validity of my answer.

After a few moments of awkward silence, other than the sounds of the video game the other children had started playing, Y/N still doesn't reply.

"Why don't we go for a drive?" I suggest, once again surprised at my actions. "Jack,"

I cast my gaze towards the second oldest child, who nods knowingly.

"I'm in charge, got it."

"Don't destroy the place while I'm gone, you three!" Y/N cheers, making her way to the floor of the base.

"Yes. Please. Don't touch anything!" I add, gesturing to any piece of Cybertronian technology I could set my optics on.

"You got it, Doc!" Miko chimes from the couch, smiling deviously.

"Don't call me Doc!" I growl, suddenly extremely fed up with these humans. "Let's go, Y/N."

With that, I stroll over to the Groundbridge controls, insert a random set of coordinates, and activate the portal.

"Y/N?" I question, glancing behind me only to see the young human girl frozen to the spot, uncertainty evident in her eyes.

"Is that thing safe? For humans, I mean..." She whispers.

"Of course it is. Now, come on." I reply, turning once more, walking through the Groundbridge, Y/N quickly following behind.

Your POV
I wonder where we're headed...

Your question was soon answered as you reach the other side of the portal, only to see your Guardian waiting.

"Where are we?" You muse aloud, joining Ratchet at his side as the Groundbridge closes behind you, leaving you with a sickening feeling in your stomach. "Does it always feel like that? For humans? I feel like I'm gonna hurl!"

"Somewhere where we won't be bothered." Comes the reply. Short and to the point, like always. "And now that you mention it, the other children did often complain of feeling ill when they first used the Groundbridge..."

You cast your gaze around your surroundings. Massive pine trees surround the pair of you, accompanied by various sized boulders littering the forest floor.

It was quiet, other than for a few chirping birds.

"Okay..." You start, making your way up a nearby boulder so you could be closer to your Guardian. "What was that all about?"

"That?"

You roll your eyes, huffing in annoyance.

"Yes, 'that'. Driving out of Jasper at like, Mach six this morning, completely ignoring me multiple times over! What is with you?" You shout, your sudden angered tone echoing throughout the silent forest.

At this, the Autobot medic in front of you sighs, glancing at the area around him briefly, before transforming.

"Oh!" You laugh, your voice still laced with anger. "You're just gonna drive away on me and leave me in the middle of no where, forget you never met me?!"

You receive no answer, only the sound of a door closing.

What the?

"Ratchet?" You question, watching the motionless form of the white and orange ambulance carefully.

"I'm right here." A voice sounding identical to Ratchet's says from the opposite side of the parked vehicle in front of you.

"Listen, before your so shocked that you pass out and fall off that rock your sitting on and I have to drag you back to base because you cracked your head open, let me explain a few things to you." Ratchet's voice says once more, sounding more annoyed than ever. "Oh Primus... how do I explain this?"

"Explain what?" You yell, getting fed up with your Guardian.

"Well, we have the capability to project human versions of ourselves if we wish..." The Autobot medic's voice explains as a man dressed in a long white lab coat accompanied by bright white and orange short hair, steps out from behind the ambulance. "They're called holoforms."

You sit there, utterly shocked.

"Why didn't you tell me before now!" You exclaim happily. "This will make it a bit easier to get to know you better!"

Ratchet rolls his eyes.

"It's a rarity that I actually use this, so don't expect it often." He growls, sitting down next to you on top of the boulder.

"Aw... Don't be such a grouch, Ratch!"

A silence settles between the pair of you, left alone with your thoughts.

"So..." You start, the silence drawing to a close. "What was this morning all about? It certainly wasn't a false Con' signal like you assured earlier. I've heard stories of your war days back on Cybertron, and here on Earth. You know how to fight if need be."

The medic beside you sighs.

"Do you really want to know?"

"Yes. I want the truth."

"What I told you earlier was half the truth. There were multiple active Deception signals approaching your residence at a high speed... I needed to get you out of Jasper, but I didn't want to upset you." He explains slowly, making sure you were following along.

Your eyes go wide.

If Con's were approaching my house looking for me...

"What about my Mom?" You yell, suddenly standing up.

Your Guardian puts a reassuring hand on your shoulder, guiding you back to the white and orange ambulance.

"Optimus and the others immediately went to investigate the situation after you..." Ratchet pauses, searching for the right word. "Stormed off..."

"What did they find?" You demand, stepping away from the medic, only to block him mid-stride.

Your Guardian sighs once more, not in annoyance or anger, but genuine sadness.

"They found nothing. The building itself is still standing, but your Mother was nowhere to be found. Optimus assumes she was taken by the Decepticons to be used as bait."

You couldn't believe what you were hearing.

Mom is gone? I mean, she can be a pain sometimes, but she loved me... I loved her...

"No..." You whisper, your brain beginning to process the truth behind the news. "This can't be happening..."

Ratchet guides you to the passenger side door, his holoform sizzling away as you numbly grasp the handle, pulling the door open and climbing in.

As the engine rumbles to life, so do your thoughts, like a vicious storm.

"We'll find her, Y/N." Your Guardian's voice attempts to reassure you. "And I promise that I will do everything in my power to make it that way."

Your head snaps up, gaze staring angerilly out the windshield and out into the forest.

We will find my Mom, even if it means killing Megatron himself in the process. I will get my Mother back.

"Thanks, Ratch..." You whisper as the familiar vortex of green and blue appears and you drive into it.

****

The base was quiet when both you and Ratchet returned after the talk in the forest.

In the weeks that follow, you would have fits of rage or sadness. Either way, they would come on without warning, and they were always powerful.

Your friends attempted to comfort you, but failed each and every time.

The only one who could truly seem to calm you down in your sudden outbursts was the white and orange Autobot medic, the one whom had finally warmed up to one human in particular and one whom he'd protect with his very spark. Though Ratchet wouldn't openly admit his feelings, he rather liked having Y/N around.

"Y/N? You okay there?" The voice of Arcee asks, pulling you from a set of newly formulated dark thoughts that were consuming you on this particular Monday afternoon.

You lift your head slightly to face her from the corner you had made yourself at home in.

Bulkhead and Miko had accompanied you home Sunday evening to help you gather some of your belongings, as well as school work, seeing as you'd be living with the Autobots until your Mother is found and returned safely.

"Yeah... I'm fine, Arcee. Any word on Bumblebee's recon?" You ask, hoping that Raf's Guardian had located some sign of your Mother.

The femme sighs, dropping on one knee to get closer to your level.

"He reported back awhile ago, said that he caught a glimpse of a human female on the Bridge of the Nemesis with Megatron. She probably will be moved to a holding cell eventually."

"So there's hope." You whisper, feeling better than you had in days.

"There's hope." Arcee smiles, standing up to full height once more. "Why don't you go let Ratchet know the good news?"

But you were already ten steps ahead of Jack's Guardian.

You immediately jump to your feet and rush over to the computers where the medic was examining something on the screen, paying no attention to your fast approaching form.

"Ratchet! Ratchet! Did you hear what Arcee said?!" You exclaim, nearly tripping over your own feet in the process as you reach your Guardian, who scoops you up in his hand.

"Yes, I did. It was hard not to when the base is so empty." He replies, adding the snarky comment as usual.

You roll your eyes, too over-joyed to care about Ratchet's grouchy tendencies.

"That's a good thing that Bee saw her, right?" You ask slowly, your happiness diminishing quickly.

"Yes and no..." Arcee begins, coming alongside both you and the Autobot medic. "It's a good thing that we now know where your Mother is located,"

"But it's a bad thing that Bumblebee also reported that it appeared she had sustained multiple injuries." Ratchet finishes bluntly.

"Oh..." You trail off, your negative thoughts suddenly consuming you once more. "Well, there goes that hope..."

A single tear slides down your cheek and onto your shirt, a rare thing, seeing as you've not shed a single tear out of this whole ordeal.

"The Con's won't just let her die!" You yell, anger swelling within you. "They need her so they can get to you! That's all they want her for!"

Arcee and Ratchet exchange worried glances.

"If they kill your Mother, they lose nothing... You'll still want to avenge her death at that point, and that would ultimately mean that we'd storm the ship..." The femme explains softly, compassion evident in her optics.

"Megatron gets what he wants either way." Your Guardian seethes, spiting out the Decepticon leader's name with so much hatred, he sounded like a Con' himself.

"Oh..." You whisper once more, head falling into your hands. "What are we going to do?"

"The only thing we can do. We storm their ship." Both Autobots declare in unison.

You lift your head, surprised.

"You guys would do that? You'd put your own lives on the line for one human?"

"Every sentient being deserves to live by their own accord." The voice of the Autobot leader suddenly speaks. "What is this I hear about Bumblebee's recon?"

Arcee turns to face Optimus, determination written all over her features.

"Y/N's Mother is alive," The femme starts, but us interrupted by Ratchet.

"However, She may have sustained possible life-threatening injuries... We must take immediate action, Optimus."

"I understand your urgency, old friend. However," The Autobot leader pauses, thinking. "There may be more to Megatron's plan than we can currently see."

Immediate action must be taken! Can't they see my Mother's life is on the line?

"With all due respect, Optimus," You begin, breathing deeply in an attempt to keep your rage in check. "MY MOTHER COULD BE DEAD BY NOW! We need to take action! Right now! I don't care if we have to kill Megatron himself in the process, or if I die in the process, but SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE! NOW!"

"Woah, woah, woah! Easy there! no one is dying on my watch!" Your Guardian shushes, gently setting you down on the empty couch where your friends usually sit.

Everything is spinning, voices becoming foggy through the rage, thoughts begin to blend into one.

You shut your eyes in an futile attempt to make the sensation pass, but with no success.

Make it stop! I just want my Mother back!

Your thoughts continue to meld into one as the Autobots' concerned voices fade away into nothing but comfortable, dark and empty silence.

****

You awake in the same spot you had passed out in, although you were situated in a different position.

Someone had wrapped a blanket around you and given you a pillow, as well as a water bottle which was set on the small piece of wood, propped up on bricks, that resembled a coffee table.

Your eyes drift closed once more, not yet used to the bright light that always seemed to follow whenever you awoke.

"You'll be fine." A voice states from beside you on the sofa.

Cracking your eyes open slightly, you turn to see a familiar, yet not immediately identifiable, human sitting beside you.

Lab coat... White and orange hair...

"Ratchet?" You croak, your voice barely a whisper.

The medic grabs the water bottle, passing it to you with a passive expression on his face.

You accept the water happily, taking a few small sips to quench your sudden thirst and dry throat.

"I... I thought you said I wouldn't see you in your holoform again."

"Well, here I am." Ratchet mutters, clearly not happy with where he was currently at.

The pair of you sit in comfortable silence for awhile, not bothering to speak.

"I think I've figured out how you did these." You muse aloud, your fingers brushing over the spot where stitches had been only days ago.

"And how would that be?"

"Holoforms."

At this, your Guardian smiles slightly.

"See? I'm smarter than I look." You smirk, knowing that your theory is correct. "Where's everyone else?"

"Bumblebee, Bulkhead and Arcee are spending time with their charges, and Optimus went for a drive." The medic next to you explains, standing up and making his way back over to the ambulance parked on the floor of the base.

"So what are we going to do?" You ask as the familiar sound of shifting gears fills your ears as Ratchet's true form appears once more, the holoform disappearing into thin air.

"I'm going to continue my work, locating any Energon deposits here on Earth. You can do whatever you wish, as long as you say in base, but make sure to take it easy!" The medic replies, pulling up a world map on the computer screen, which had multiple locations pinpointed.

You pout.

"But that's so boring!"

"It has to be done, Y/N. We're running low after the last incident and I can't afford to risk any lives that could be lost without a decent supply." Ratchet explains, glancing at your small form.

"Well, can I at least help out somehow?" You ask, gazing up at the Autobot before you.

"You can help me by finding something to do. Now, shoo." Your Guardian orders lightly, his attention back to the screens.

****

You sigh loudly as you walk absentmindedly down the various hallways of the old missile silo, hands in your pockets, earbuds in.

This is so boring! Almost as boring as school.

You immediately come to a halt, mid-stride as that thought crosses your mind.

School! It's Monday, and I wasn't at school!

"Scrud!" You yell aloud, quickly turning on your heel and rushing back the way you came, all your thoughts focused on what might happen if you don't at least call the school to tell them your safe and not kidnapped somewhere.

This isn't good. They'd have phoned my Mom, who isn't home, and may not even be alive! How do I explain this?

"Ratch! Ratchet!" You shout from across the room, doubled over, gasping for breath after your half marathon across base. "It's Monday!"

The white and orange medic turns to you, annoyance evident.

"Earth days have no meaning to me." He huffs, turning quickly back to his work.

"I was supposed to be at school!"

"Don't worry about that. Agent Fowler took care of it."

Agent Fowler? Someone other than Jack, Miko, Raf and I know about the Autobot's existence?

"Who's Agent Fowler? No one's ever mentioned him before." You question, breath back, as you make your way towards Ratchet.

"He's our liaison between your Government and us Autobots, someone who you don't want to meet, might I add." Comes the reply.

"Oh." You manage to get out before the sound of multiple rumbling engines and shifting gears fill your ears.

The rest of Team Prime was back.

"That was so much fun, Bulk! We should totally bring Y/N with us next time!" You hear Miko exclaim from where the team had returned.

"I think not!" You reply loudly, turning to face the bots that just rolled in.

"Oh! Your no fun, Y/N! You've been hanging around with Ratchet too much!" The Japanese girl presses. "You need to get out! Have some fun!"

"I'm good, Miko..." You sigh, checking the time on your phone.

8:50 PM

"Well, I'm gonna go get some sleep. See y'all tomorrow after school." You announce, strolling over to your temporary 'home-corner' at the far side of the base where your belongings sat, neatly organized.

"Actually, about that..." Miko starts once more as you stop, turning to face the girl.

"Continue?"

"You have to come back tomorrow! Agent Fowler's orders." She explains way too cheerily.

"Oh?" You question aloud as Optimus, who was observing your conversation from afar speaks up.

"What Miko informs you of is true. Ratchet is to accompany you to and from school tomorrow. After that, Arcee will once again take on her previous role with you."

You nod slowly, not wanting to agree with it all, but having no choice, you do so.

I have more important matters to be dealing with, like finding my Mother!

As that thought crosses your mind, you can't help but mentally curse all the people who seem to continually screw up your life

Stupid, Fowler.

Megatron can go burn in hell for all I care. That's where he belongs.

Anger, as well as fatigue rushes through your body, sending you tumbling into a deep, dark and restless slumber.

!A/N!
Howdy there folks! Be sure to leave your thoughts, feedback and ideas in the comments! An don't forget to vote and share!

Part 3 coming soon! Meanwhile, have this amazing video:

https://youtu.be/EWVwiLyJ5k0