[Week Three of Base Life - Rachel POV]

"Come on, Wheeljack! If we don't make rendevous, Lennox will never let me in the field again!" My words ring out over the blaster fire surrounding us. I'm currently sitting in the window of Wheeljack's alt mode, a Lancia Stratos Turbo 5, and he's barely pushing the limits of his speedometer. I'm firing off rounds at Decepticon drones as they near us, my bullets hitting their visors and dropping them one after another. Wheeljack's doors are slightly opened on the sides, revealing his own weapons and he's taking out the legs of each one I blind. 

Technically, we are surrounded, but I know Wheeljack is being cautions because I'm with him.

"Kid, if I go any faster, you'll fall out." He grunts and drifts to avoid a ped trying to crush in the roof. With one hand, I hold on tight and the other fires off rounds at an exposed wire in the leg of the 'Con that just tried to crush us. It crumbles with a pained cry. I slip myself back into Wheeljack's alt mode and growl.

"I'm in, now drive!"

"As you wish, princess!"

My back is slammed against the seat as Wheeljack floors it. Even from here I can tell he is maxing out his speed, and the 'Cons can barely keep up even in their vehicle forms. 

But a few are still too close for comfort.

I turn in the seat and reach into the back area of Wheeljack's alt. Two of his massive grenades are sitting their, and I grab one carefully.

"Kid, what are you-"

"Just shut up and let me work!"

He doesn't reply, and I cautiously move the massive bomb to the front. It's almost the size of me! The buttons are easy to read now that Ratchet has been teaching me Cybertronian, so I quickly activate it with a fifteen-second charge. 

"Open your door!"

Wheeljack doesn't hesitate to flip open the passenger side door, a seatbelt crawling over my chest quickly. I shove the massive grenade out with a huff. When he shuts the door, I turn again to look out the back window. Sure enough, the grenade erupts just as the four Cons closest to us near it. They all go flying in different directions, and I can't help but let out a whoop.

"Nice one, kid. Maybe you're tougher than most humans."

"I've been trying to tell you that, Jackie. But, just like the others, you never listen."

"Don't call me Jackie. We're not that close... yet."

I can see the smirk he's hiding, but my eyes lift to the group we are nearing. Bumblebee, Ironhide, and Lennox are waiting for us in the middle of a forest of large redwood trees. Wheeljack starts to slow down, removing the seatbelt from me. He opens the door and I carefully walk out. He's quick to transform next to me, keeping pace and not walking over my small form.

"You're late." Is the first thing Lennox says. I look down at my watch and frown. The time I have is five o'clock and a few seconds. Looking back up, I glare at the man and huff. 

"By a few seconds. Hit some trouble on the way back, Colonel."

His eyes widen briefly, but Wheeljack speaks up before I can cover my aft.

"No one followed us, at least, not after Rachel blasted them sky-high with one of my grenades."

I lift my gaze to meet Wheeljack's optics. He gives a wink, and I return it with a smile. He's starting to become one of my favorites. My head drops to Lennox again, who crosses his arms. 

"Did you at least retrieve the package?"

This time, I smirk and detach what looks like a metal bar from my hip. Grabbing it with both hands, I slowly open it to reveal a data pad. I turn it over to Lennox, who looks over the map slowly appearing on the screen with a hard expression.

"Private, this holds more data then you were asked to uncover. What exactly did you two do while scouting the mine?"

A sheepish grin is on my face, and I scratch the back of my neck anxiously. We were specifically told not to engage, but I couldn't help myself and neither could Wheeljack. 

"So, that's a funny story."

"You disobeyed a direct order! You could have gotten yourself killed!"

"Like you would actually be worried about that!"

My snap back shocks even myself, but I can't stop now. The floodgates I have been holding back for weeks have now opened. My words keep flowing.

"How many times were Decepticons tailing Raf, Sam, and myself? Why did it have to be the moment they almost obliterate us that you finally step in? What would have happened if I didn't get Raf and Sam out of that cabin when I did? You'd be cleaning up our bodies instead of having information none of your other soldiers had the guts to get!" I have to stop to take a breath. I hadn't realized I was now standing only inches from Lennox, tears starting to stream down my face. I wipe the tears away and step back, looking away when I can't meet the cold gaze of the Colonel.

"So excuse me if I decide what my life is worth when the fate of our world is at stake." My gaze lifts to meet his, and I see that authoritative glare drop. I quickly move away and start towards the edge of the forest. He's calling for me to stop, but I don't. I know where the groundbridge will open, and I'll wait there. I don't need another lecture right now.

I know what I just threw away by letting my emotions get the best of me.

"Kid, get back!"

Wheeljack's voice makes me finally look up just as a purple servo reaches out for me. Instincts kick in and I drop down beneath the digits trying to wrap around me and roll forward under the metal hand. As I regain my footing, my blood freezes as a blank face turns toward me. Spikes are on the helm of this Decepticon, and tentacles are starting to emerge from his back.

"Soundwave."

One tentacle swiftly dives at me, snapping me out of my stupor and kicking me into high gear. I launch to the side, barely dodging the electrified appendage. The ground shakes beneath my feet, and I turn to see more drones crashing through the smaller trees and flying around the taller ones to reach us. I turn back just in time to see Lennox running from another Con, this one silver and slim. His red optics glare at the human he's reaching for.

Jumping over another attempt to grab me, I whip out my rifle and slap the side of it. The weapon grows a bit and pulses with blue light. Lifting the weapon up, I lock the sight onto the silver mech and squeeze the trigger back. It releases a volley of energon-filled rounds that explode as they slam against the helm of Lennox's would-be captor. The mech lets out a shout, stumbling into the fist of Ironhide. 

"Colonel! Drop!"

Lennox rolls forward without hesitation, and I let loose another volley at the ped of a drone trying to squish the Colonel. It crashes backward to the ground. Just as Lennox regains his footing, we stand back to back, weapons in our hands and eyes on targets slowly getting closer.

"I thought you weren't followed."

"We weren't!"

An ear-piercing cackle breaks out over the blaster fire. The fighting stops as the silver mech I shot at slowly walks back into view. Despite the dents and energon leaking from his wounds, his gaze is cold and hard. Standing next to him is Soundwave. Despite not having a visible face, I can tell he hasn't stopped watching me this whole time.

"No one was followed, you just happened to be in the right place at the right time."

A growl slips from my lips, my heart racing. A random patrol must have caught one of our groups, and now we're cornered.

Well, Ratchet needed me to test this out sooner or later.

"Alright, Starscream. You want a fight? You've got it."

"Rachel! What are you doing? We need to wait for backup!" Lennox hisses at me, pressing his back against mine a bit more as he leans in. I slightly elbow him.

"Coms are down, or have you missed Wheeljack already trying to call for backup?" I lift my gaze to spot the wrecker slowly nod, his mouth covered with a shield, but even I know he's snarling. Ironhide is standing over us now, his canons raised. Bee is behind Wheeljack, looking a bit frantic but staying ready. Besides all the drones, it looks like only Soundwave and Starscream are the main Decepticons here.

My gaze meets Wheeljack's and I smirk. His optics move to my wrist where a watch rests. I can see them flash for a moment before going wide. Ratchet told me not to use it unless absolutely necessary.

I don't know about anyone else, but this seems like one of those moments.

"What can you do, human? You don't have the strength or power to fight one of us, even with your modified weapons." His glare could burn a hole through me, but I return it evenly. I lower my rifle, locking it to my hip. 

"That would be true if Ratchet hadn't made me this."

Grabbing the watch, I twist it twice then slap the face. It shines bright before black metal starts creeping up my arm and covering my hand. Soon, I'm wearing a black and blue accented suit. It's completely made of Cybertronian material, and a helmet forms over my head. The screen lights up with a heads-up display. I can only smirk as I grab my rifle again and aim it at Starscream's face.

"Let's dance, Screamy."

Said Con just snarls and whips his arm forward. He releases one of the rockets and I fire my rifle. My bullets graze the rocket and slam into his chassis. The hit knocks him back, and I launch myself into the air. I let go of the weapon and raise my fist. Just as I near the projectile, I slam my hand into it and it erupts on contact. The blast knocks me back a bit, but I land one knee on the ground and skid to a stop. No pain hits as I stand tall, smoke rising from the suit.

"Rachel! This is Ratchet. You activated the suit?"

"No choice! Can you lock on my signal? Coms are down, Wheeljack has been calling for backup."

"I need a moment. I rigged a separate frequency into your suit in case something like this happened."

"Smart."

"I know."

A yell from Starscream pulls me back to the fight. He's charging forward, anger pointed at me. I feel the plating around my legs shift a bit. I hadn't expected to land without a scratch from the rocket, so now I really want to see what this suit can do.

"Rachel, I can see what you're doing-"

"You wanted a test run. Here's your test run!"

I rush forward as well, barreling through the barrage of massive peds and cybertronian legs. I slide beneath the tentacle of Soundwave as he tries to intercept. If only I had blades-

The metal around my arms shift and etched knives suddenly slide into the palms of each hand. I twist as I regain my footing and slice out against those annoying metal ropes. The blades leave massive gashes and sparks erupt from the wounds along with energon. Twirling on the balls of my feet, I return to my target.

Who is very close now.

The metal beneath my feet erupts, launching me into the sky. I twirl the blades around until the the points are now aimed straight at Starscream's optic. He's lunging forward, not expecting me to be as high as I am. Both blades sink deep into his helm, earning me a painful cry of agony from the mech. He reaches up, trying to grab me and I simply twist out of the way. I rip the weapons out and slice against his servo. He lurches up and I'm thrown off his head. I bury the blades into his back plates, trying to slow my fall. 

When I look down, I spot an opening in his legs. Exposed wires in a joint that I could easily slice as I fall. Removing the blades from his back, I let myself plummet to the ground. An idea comes to mind, and I slap the two blades together. Sure enough, they meld together and create a samurai-like blade. My hands wrap around the handle and I slice down with the sword as I pass the spot indicated on my HUD.

Starscream crashes to the ground just as I land. I can hear other mechs falling, and a groundbridge suddenly appears on the other side of the battlefield. "Private! That's our cue!" The sword stays in my hand and I rush over Starscream. He tries in vain to grab me again, but I slice a digit clean off his servo and jump through the hole I created.

Soundwave suddenly appears before me, but he's soon tackled by a white mech with double samurai blades. A smirk is on my face as Wheeljack kicks the 'Con away and starts matching pace with me. He slides his blades back into the sheathes on his back before noticing the one in my hand.

"Nice sword, kid."

He quickly scoops me up and transforms around my body. I'm back in the passenger seat as he barrels towards the bridge.

"Thought you'd appreciate it."

Wheeljack peels out as we arrive at the base, the portal shutting off behind us. I step out, brushing some debris and energon off the suit while moving towards the group of men waiting. Lennox is by them, arms crossed as he looks me over. 

The helmet dematerializes and sinks into the collar of the suit. I stand, hands on my hips, in front of the Colonel, waiting for him to start what will either be a lecture before I'm released from duty, or something a bit more unhinged.

"I hate to admit it, but you did a good job, kid."

My eyes widen and my jaw drops. Of all the things I expected him to say, praise was not one of them. He waves it off and shakes his head. "Yes, it was reckless, but you took precautions. You weren't followed and everyone got out safely. And," He lifts the map, slightly shaking it. A smile is on his face now. 

"This is their largest mine so far. No one has been able to gather this much data on it. You just gave us a huge advantage."

I can't help but smile. I stand straighter, hands at my sides now. "Thank you, sir. Though, I couldn't have done it without Wheeljack's help." I lift my gaze to spot the Wrecker moving closer. He squats down and nudges me with his finger. "Hey, don't kid yourself. If you didn't lob that grenade out, we would have been toast." He gives me a smile, and I return it. 

"Maybe I should have a few that are my size, but pack the same punch?"

That earns me a mischievous smirk and a glint in his optics I'm learning means a lot of explosions are about to happen.

"First, debrief. You're not skipping this one."

I can only pout, especially when Ratchet comes into view and grumbles.

"And you will not skip this check up! I need to run calibrations on your suit and make sure nothing is going to leave you exposed."

My pleading gaze turns to Wheeljack, but he gives a shrug before standing.

"Don't look at me, kid. You should know better than to dodge Doc-Bot."

"Don't call me that!"