"She shows no sign of guilt." Barricade observed, him and Starscream staring at the group that waved goodbye to the leaving human. Shane Faireborn nodded one last time before stepping into the helicopter.

         "You're surprised?" The Seeker hummed. "Despite knowing her for a mere blink of an optic, I don't think she can be unpredictable anymore. That idiotic speech last night was just the natural glitch of human emotions."

         "A natural glitch, or Vector Sigma's influence?" Barricade offered, making the Seeker frown. 

     Neither were convinced that the entity had absolutely no effect on the woman. A power that could meddle with their very sparks must have a long-lasting effect on something as puny and insignificant as a human. Perhaps not long-lasting but if Marissa continued to hold the device on her wrist the apparent fondness for Cybertronian kind may linger. It made the two wonder how far the human femme was willing to go against her family to help them.

         "Marissa, you did not have to remain with us." Optimus told the woman once the helicopter was far out of sight. "You may have been safer with your family."

         "Sir," she began, placing her long locks in a ponytail, "it's hard to be any safer than with a band of giant sentient robots and an ancient energy on my wrist."

         "Says the kidnap-ee." Colonel Lennox rested a hand on her shoulder. "I know we discussed this last night, but there's two Decepticons here, ready to jump for that trinket at any moment-" both red-opticed mechs glared at the man, "and four more threats unaccounted four."

         "Three." Starscream corrected indignantly. "Sideways was terminated in the Rocky Mountains."

         "Yeah, says you." Sam crossed his arms.

     Colonel Lennox gave the teen a pointed glare in warning before returning his attention to Marissa.

         "As far as we know, the other four don't know where you live, and Vector Sigma isn't pulling on the Autobot's sparks anymore."

         "And if they do know where I live?" Marissa shrugged his hand off, turning to face the band of Autobots and humans, her previous abductors behind her. "The two Insecticons know about me, and the third likely knows as well. They don't have to do much digging to find me, Colonel. There's too many local records. If I'm gone, my family is likely far safer than if I go with them." 

         "You don' know that either." Mikaela noted. "Look, I know these guys are big and look indestructible, but they're not invincible! Bumblebee had his legs blown off and I had to drive like a madwoman in a tow truck hauling the guy on the back. Staying with these guys doesn't make things any safer here."

         "So, you're all on my dad's side in this?" Marissa questioned, her tone holding a more curious tone than an accusing one. It made Ratchet raise a metallic brow, as he had been monitoring the woman's behavioral patterns to determine how to approach her about the matter.

     From what he had observed, she was indifferent about the entire situation, the outburst from the night prior being the one exception. She had not acted cold towards her father when he was leaving, even giving him a hug goodbye, which he apparently had not expected. Her pure defiance in refusing to go with him to their dwelling proved a complete contradiction to what he was seeing compared to the fight they had. 

         'Unless Vector Sigma is lying,' the Medic frowned to himself, 'this may just be a case of Stockholm Syndrome. It would explain her insistence to ride with Barricade.'

     Lennox, feeling accused and not wanting to ruffle the woman's feather's any more than he thought they were, attempted to tread lightly with his reasoning. The unneeded precaution made Marissa look behind her at the two Decepticons with a raised brow, who both shrugged in annoyance as a response. The motion made Lennox stop his monologuing and look up at the Autobots, who shrugged in return.

     No one had a clue as to what was going on in either Barricade or Starscream's processor, but they could guess they apparently shared a singular feeling with Marissa in that moment. Someone being able to empathize with a Decepticon, or a 'Con empathizing with a human was mildly disturbing. It made the Autobots wonder if Marissa should really stay.

         "Look," said woman sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose, "I decided to stay because I want to know that Vector Sigma is safe for good. I won't lie when I say I've kind of come to like him. I've been thinking about it for a while now, and I've come to the conclusion that I was talking to him before I even came home. He's- he just wants to learn and return to his other half. He's lost, and- well, I found him! I want to help return him to where he belongs."

         :I understand why Marissa was so indifferent earlier.: Ratchet decided to announce to his leader.

         :Oh?: Optimus answered the private connection.

         :We've already observed how her father does not take well to change of the extraterrestrial kind. Mr. Faireborn would not have taken well if Marissa had explained her protective instinct over Vector Sigma.:

         :I suppose you are right, my friend.: Optimus watched a moment as the young woman stroked the face of the bracelet, smiling kindly at it as she pulled it closer to her chest. :Do you suspect anything to cause such an attachment?:

         :If Vector Sigma truly began his communication with the human femme when she had found him, than time alone, and conversation.: The mech shuffled a pede, folding his arms. :She may not have been aware, not completely, but unconsciously she was coherent enough to determine something didn't really know where it was.:

     Lennox, Mikaela and Sam continued to try and explain the dangers of the Autobots, to which Knockout had, at one point, mentioned their ability to mar and destroy perfectly good paint jobs. The group of titans, good, bad and questionable, merely watched the humans begin to argue until the seasoned veteran and two experienced teens gave up on arguing further. Marissa was clearly adept at not only arguing, but winning arguments as she nodded one last time to Lennox's warning about watching her back with the two Decepticons around.

     Ironhide huffed an amused sound as Mikaela and Sam stalked their way over toward him and Bumblebee. 

         "Too feisty for ya'?" The black mech chuckled, earning a pointed frown from his first charge.

         "It's like talking to a dumb dog. I can't even tell if she actually understands what we're trying to explain." The black-haired teen snapped, deciding to pivot on her heel and lean on Ironhide's pede to stare at the troublesome woman.

         -:I thought you were - enjoying - her company:- Bumblebee's radio popped with static near the last line.

         "Yeah, Marissa's cool and all," Sam answered for his girlfriend, who was clearly having a deep, angry mood swing, "but she's almost as stubborn as that Sector Seven guy-"

         "Simons." Mikaela reminded sourly.

         "Right, Simons." The teen nodded. "It doesn't help she's so clingy to both Starscream and Barricade. I mean- look!"

     Indeed, the two Autobots did look, spying the woman having a rather one-sided conversation with the two before earning a 'just go away' nod from Starscream. At least, it looked that way, until Marissa turned to reveal a smile as she walked with an energized step to the kitchenette. Sam and Mikaela could only guess she was going to clean up after making breakfast. 

         "You're right to think it's weird." Ironhide nodded. "It sure isn't normal."

         "Define normal, Ironhide." Optimus approached the four, making both Autobots straighten themselves by a fraction. "While Marissa's attachment to Starscream and Barricade is odd, it was not entirely their goal. Now that they know to be prompted by Vector Sigma's influence, they may not be as likely to abduct her again, if they can avoid it."

         "And if they can't?" Lennox set his fisted hands on his hips.

         "Stop acting like we're not even here." Starscream growled. "No matter how low you speak, the woman may not be able to hear you, but I certainly can."

         "Then answer a few questions." Lennox turned, serious stare holding no sign of fear of the two powerful Decepticons. "Why stick around when you're obviously not gaining anything by doing so?"

         "I don't see you starving us to death." Barricade rumbled out an amused chuckle. "There's not exactly a freely flowing energon spring anywhere on this Primus forsaken planet."

     It was a well-placed point, which made the three humans wonder why the Autobots were so willing to give their very enemy a share of their own stores. At least Optimus was, anyway.

         "Why didn't you kill Marissa when you had the chance?" Mikaela glared at Starscream.

         "Why do you insist on asking idiotic questions?" The Seeker spat in return.

         "You're not helping, Mikaela-" Sam tried to explain, but the woman only stepped away from him and approached the two giants. 

         "Why not look for the last Allspark shard yourself? Returning for your buddy wouldn't be so hard, now would it? A fast guy like you could take down both Velocitronians easily, giving Barricade a perfect chance to escape with your prize."

     Teen stared at titan, and the audience behind her tensed as Starscream knelt down low enough to fill Mikaela's vision with his hideous faceplate. She only stood her ground, clearly running off of stupidity and hormones alone. The Seeker let their stares hold for an uncomfortably long time before chuckling lowly. It made Mikaela's confidence waver as she realized how close she was. 

     Starscream could detect the faint stench of fear.

         "A sound idea, Mikaela Baynes." 

     Hearing her last name uttered from the monster's intake made the woman's spine tingle and tense in fear. Sam took her arm quickly, having to pull it several times before she actually moved. She wondered if she had just given them the idea, but they would have already thought of it, right? There was no way she could have guessed their entire plan already. 

         "Ready to go?" Marissa asked the bracelet on her hand. 

     She knew going for a fly with Starscream would make the others worried beyond belief, but Vector Sigma had suggested it while he spoke with Optimus. Why he wanted Marissa to essentially disappear for a while, the woman had little clue. She guessed it was something akin to a parent asking a friend to go into another room while they spoke to their child. She didn't think the Prime had done anything wrong though.

         'Not quite.' Came the quiet 'plip' in her mind, making her smile.

         "I don't know if you're actually enjoying our conversations too much to stop or if you're just waiting for something to happen you know Optimus Prime is going to do."

         'You shouldn't worry about such things.' Vector Sigma told her, and she imagined him chuckling. 'You're far too young to be worrying.'

         "Maybe by your standards." Placing the last plate away, Marissa began her washing of the counters and sink. "Very rarely does a human not worry. Only the fortunate few."

         'Do you worry much?' The simple sound in her mind seemed awfully saddened by the idea, making the woman pause and think about what she wanted to say.

         "Not as much as most, I think." She admitted, wringing the rag she was using to drain it of the food residue. "I think you should worry more about yourself though, Vector."

         'I am in good servos.' Was his simple answer before they were interrupted by a still rather munchy boy.

         "You actually talk to that thing?" Miles questioned around a mouthful of bacon. He had gone back to bed after saying 'goodbye' to Shane Faireborn and enjoying a hearty breakfast beforehand. 

     His hair had nearly become matted at its near shoulder-length from tossing and turning in his sleep. His left cheek had developed a deep line from the crease in his pillow or blanket and his eyes were still droopy from sleep. He looked nearly like he had a hangover too, but Marissa guessed it was only because of the bright light of the hangar compared to the low light of the makeshift human sleeping quarters. She guessed he was still half asleep even, since he didn't strike her as the bravest of boys when it came to asking girls questions, no matter the context.

         "I talk to you." She shrugged, brushing her hands off on her jeans. She still had yet to get more clothes, but Mikaela had promised her a shopping spree. She didn't think that was likely anymore, but the probability of one of the Autobots taking her into town was promising. She remembered Vector Sigma had suggested asking Bumblebee or Blurr. "Is that so weird?" 

         "No," Miles shook his head with another mouthful of bacon before swallowing, "but I talk back. You look like you're just talking to yourself."

         "Here," she handed him a plate from the fridge, which held the leftover pancakes and eggs (she had forgotten to put the bacon in the fridge with them), "eat to your heart's content. I'll be talking to myself like a crazy person out in the hangar."

     Miles watched her leave, wondering if she was just jesting or if the older woman was offended. He mulled over what he said in his tired brain before his slowly waking self stopped his chewing. 

     He wondered if he should apologize later.