Marissa and Starscream, quite surprisingly, came back. Once the Seeker had landed, and the woman was safely set on the ground (he had transformed midair with her in his palm), she walked back into the hangar as if she and the Decepticon hadn't basically just gone on a joy ride. By the human femme's insistence, and much to Starscream's chagrin, they had asked Optimus's permission prior to their spree. The leader, at first surprised, allowed it, causing quite the ruckus and later an argument with the Colonel (to which neither the abducted nor the abductor witnessed). The leftover, tense atmosphere hit Marissa like a wall the minute her and Lennox locked eyes.

     Instead of risking another argument, the woman twisted on her heel to talk to Optimus, who no doubt held Vector Sigma somewhere on his person. Her guess was correct as the Prime knelt down to pick her up, noting the pilot's helmet tucked under her arm. She took the bracelet resting in his servo once she had climbed on.

         "Did the pilot from the helicopter offer you this piece of protection?" Optimus questioned the woman, scanning the head covering. It was at least a size too big, and held a faint stench of death.

         "No." She admitted, examining her find from Starscream's cockpit. "It was in Starscream's subspace, wedged under the controls. Knowing he was likely going to try to knock me out again, I put it on. I'm guessing he was able to pull the soldier's body out of his gears, but the helmet was wedged in him. He said it was pretty uncomfortable."

     The mech only gave a disapproving 'hm', beginning to understand further how the woman had survived with the Decepticons for so long and why Vector Sigma had dubbed her "safe" with the two enemies.

         "What did Vector have to say?" 

     The question brought Optimus out of his own thoughts, showing a stoic self that conveyed he wasn't quite willing to depart that information.

         "Not a lot that should concern you, Ms. Faireborn." He informed plainly, though not rudely. "I will say that he seems to like your use of the first half of his designation."

     The woman shrugged, tapping the plasma strands on the bracelet like one would tap a fish tank. 

         "I thought it might make the others feel a little less thrown off if I use a more human sounding name." Marissa admitted. "He didn't seem to mind. Vector told me it made him feel like a Jeremy."

        "A- I'm sorry but- what is a Jeremy?" Optimus's faceplate contorted into one of pure confusion, making the woman in his palm giggle.

         "Don't worry about it. You'll know if I need to use it again."

     The fact that she said 'again' made the mech wonder exactly what she meant even more. He knew 'Jeremy' was a human name but in the context Marissa continued to use the designation, it sounded more like a weapon as he knew humans were prone to naming different forms of defense.

     Placing her down on the floor, Optimus discreetly scanned her for anything suggesting a weapon, knowing some humans carried firearms in a concealed matter. He found nothing, of course, except the metal buttons on her torn flannel and Vector Sigma, who seemed to twinkle in a knowing cheekiness. It made the Prime chuckle as he watched the two disappear in the human quarters. 

         A half of an ancient deity keeping silly little secrets with someone? 

         Who would have thought.

     Starscream watched the little welp being picked up by the bigger mech. Curse her for wedging into his armored spark chamber, reaching for something so few have even caught a glimpse of it had become so dark anymore. 

     The moment she had suggested a flight his wings itched for the skies. A flight with the little human didn't sound all too bad anymore. However, pride and hate towards the strange acceptance of not minding the fleshling kept the mech from speaking when she had asked. Barricade had messaged the Seeker, even, though it was only to insult his need for the skies to remain sane for any amount of time. Marissa had finished explaining her reasoning to wanting to go for a flight when he finally nodded to the idea.

         If Vector Sigma wished it, it would likely lead to the finding of the last shard of the Allspark.

     Barricade was the first to greet the other Decepticon.

         "So?" He questioned, every possible inquiry implied at once.

         "So, what?" Starscream demanded a more coherent question.

         "The squishy say anything more about Vector Sigma?"

     The taller mech paused for a moment. 

         Did she? 

         He couldn't remember.

Not when they were both too busy enjoying the rush of air over his wings, and the pure G-forces that were the result of tearing through the air and clouds. His wings still were mildly wet from the moisture scattered about in white fluffy formations. He did, however, recall Marissa claiming a certain cloud looked like a spider. It was ultimately shot at and pierced through by his sleek form.

         'Did I really just enjoy such a useless act?' The Seeker internally chided himself. 

     Marissa was beginning to remind him of a long lost innocence. He wasn't too fond of the fact.

         "No." Starscream brushed passed the mech, aiming for their corner, though it wasn't like he could escape the grounder. Not unless he took off toward the skies again.

         "So, you're going soft, then. No prying for information?"

     Taking the smaller mech by his neck cables, Starscream pinned him against the now closed hangar door. The action brought several pointed weapons toward the two, making the Seeker chuckle. 

         "Jumpy, jumpy." He taunted, shaking his helm. He then allowed Barricade to slide back to the floor. Neither seemed to mind the sizable dent in the door. "I didn't think you'd mind if I offlined my own."

         "There is no need for anyone to offline, Starscream." Optimus stated.

         "Permission to disagree, boss?" Ironhide huffed, cannons itching to tear a hole in either 'Con (though both was obviously preferred).

         "What's all the racket?" Blurr's voice was heard from the other side of the dented door. "Hey, the door's broken! Everyone alright in there? I could break it down- I'll break it down-"

         "Stand down, Blurr." Optimus ordered, projecting his voice to travel through the thick barrier. "All is well."

     Clearly being a warning, Starscream chuffed before stalking back to the other end of the hangar. He spied the human teenagers, all clearly startled by the commotion. Lennox glared at both Decepticons as Barricade joined the Seeker, which was only his sign that he wasn't going to fix the hangar door. Both Decepticons spotted Marissa spying them from the kitchenette. She stared at them with concerned eyes that would flick to the bracelet on her wrist, which only meant that Vector Sigma was conversing with her. When her squishy brown orbs finally retreated back to cook or bake whatever she had in mind for lunch, both mechs relaxed. 

         "A rather degrading use of his designation, isn't it?" Knockout complained from the other side of the beat-up door. Ratchet had decided to try activating the mechanism to see if it would still retract into the ceiling. It made it high enough to find the dent before the motors reversed the motion.

     Stopping the door from lowering any more, both Velocitronians dashed in as thunder began to roll with the howling winds of California. The Autobots were thankful Mr. Faireborn had been traveling the opposite direction of the storm. 

         "Vector Sigma has mysterious ways." Ratchet admitted. "This may just be his attempt to help Marissa become used to him. Become more friendly, in a way."

         "I think tapping into her wavelength of thought is friendly enough." Ironhide crossed his gun laden arms.

         "For once I agree with the bolt-brain." Knockout insulted, earning a glare in return. "Should we really be speaking about this in their native tongue, though? I'd rather not your pets get too many half-baked ideas of their own."

         "Like what, Knockout?" Blurr rolled his optics. "Humans are smart, sure, but what can they do right now?"

         "Go after the Allspark shard." He made it seem obvious with a shrug of his shiny shoulders and the shaking of his exasperated helm. "Your Colonel knows exactly where it is, and I can bet he doesn't want those two brutes to figure out when he'd be leaving."

     Said 'brutes' glared at the mech, hoping their stare would melt the paint off his very frame. Of course, no such thing happened, and the bigger group continued their conversation in Cybertronian (though Blurr would lapse into the Velocitronian dialect and Knockout would act as his interpreter). All the while, Marissa was giving out plates of homemade tortillas. 

     She had set out vegetables, diced and sliced, for the human team to choose from, along with two types of meats for their enjoyment. The kitchenette only had a folding table for the group to eat at, so they decided to take up the lounge that had been arranged on the roof of the small kitchen. It consisted of a coffee table, television and lone futon, but it was comfortable and homey. 

         As "homey" as a lounge area could possibly be with a group of alien robots, anyway.

     The two teens who had argued with the older woman began to feel a bit regretful for being as harsh as they were. They didn't expect Marissa to make lunch, let alone homemade tortillas, after she had stormed off with Starscream. In fact, they had worried with Miles about the new member of their ragtag team possibly becoming a Decepticon, or at least mildly affiliated. Her return wasn't unexpected, but the need for some warm food during the beginning of a raging storm was far from earned from the woman. The three weren't sure whether to be suspicious or thankful. 

     When Marissa joined the group of four, their suspicion eased as she too ate a burrito. Mile's suggestion of being poisoned was forgotten, and the three decided that they would be the ones to clean up (though Sam protested quietly). Lennox complimented their guest on her cooking, to which the 21-year-old smiled and nodded over her mouthful of food. He was going to ask her for her tortilla recipe when the computer he had dragged with him made a whining sound. 

     Quickly opening the app that demanded his attention, Colonel Lennox read over the email sent by the Galloway. The contents furrowed his brow, forcing the lines in his forehead to increase as he read the email once more. He couldn't say he was surprised but the result the man was providing was far from reasonable. It would put Marissa at risk, and likely force their two willing prisoners (though he doubted he could call them that to their faces) to bolt whether or not they had the bracelet.

     His change in mood was easily caught by the four other humans. The Autobots (and one friendly 'Con) had also developed curious or grave expressions as they waited for Lennox to announce whatever was troubling him. 

         "Colonel Lennox." Optimus called, earning the man's startled attention.

     William shook his head, running a hand through his hair with a sigh.

         "The news has gotten to Galloway." 

     That statement alone was enough to make Ironhide spit on the floor.

         "Who's that?" Marissa questioned, setting her half-eaten burrito on her plate in favor of listening.

         "A thorn in our side." Ratchet admitted. "He thinks the Decepticons are only here on your planet because of us."

         -:Never mind - The Big Apple - of America's - eye:-

         "The- what?" The brunette blinked, not exactly sure what Bumblebee meant by suggesting New York.

         "He means oil." Sam clarified. "They run on energon, primarily, but oil and gasoline can be converted to a similar energy. It's not as potent, but still works."

         "So," fidgeting with the living bracelet on her arm, Marissa's imagination began to fight with her logic of what was going to happen, "what exactly is going to happen, then?"