The Elite Guard arrived when the humans were stable. Ratchet had created what he called a 'safety box' for them so they could leave the room. Jack seemed to struggle a little in the box as he sat with the others. It was the size of small apartment, but he didn't like how they could see everything. The walls and floor and ceiling were all glass. They set the box in a safe place and Optimus spoke with the guard as the others helped finally wake the Decepticons.

"Now I know what the animals in the zoo's feel like." Miko whispered as she hugged her knees to her chest. She watched quietly as the giants walked by. Ratchet was tending to the sparkling as others were questioned.

"There's so many of them." Jack said as he smiled a little. "I'm happy for them..." he whispered quietly as he watched Arcee. Raf watched Bumblebee and smiled proudly when he saw his team.

"You know... I wouldn't mind being with the team again... I know we have a mission on earth... but... I miss them." The young man said as he lay there, completely useless in his mind. The car crash had damaged his spine and paralyzed him. It hadn't been addressed soon enough and he knew he was stuck like this. He closed his eyes as the other two watched the bots. Miko glanced to Rafael's missing arm and then to Jack's missing leg. She looked down as she thought about what she did to them.

"Guys.... I wanted to apologize for... what I had to do..." she whispered quietly and looked at them again.

"You don't have to do that." Jack said seriously and looked at her. "You saved our lives." He smiled proudly and ruffled her hair. Rafael smiled a little in turn. They stopped and stared as the mech that caged and tortured them walked by in cuffs. He glanced to them and stopped suddenly as he smirked.

"Why did you do it?" Miko asked and narrowed her eyes. "Why did you take us from our homes and take our friends? Why did you put us in that stupid mind game?!" She yelled angrily. The others paused and looked at them as they fell silent. The mech stared blankly then smirked darkly.

"It was a game. Purely entertainment for myself and those I shared it with. I needed inspiration for making more. I turned to Earth to see what your people would do. I found game shows, as their called, and found one that many people loved. Something called Hunger Games. It brought a lot of excitement in my spark and I decided, 'why not have the contestants be Cybertronians that are well known?' After locating several and asking a few about the idea... they said I was crazy. So I built this machine and... 'borrowed' them for my game." He chuckled softly as they glared. "I was short a few people and went to earth for their human comrades. I've heard so much about you." He said as he smirked again. "I know everything there is to know about all of you. I know Ratchet has a connection with the experiment sparkling E4. I was thrilled when I figured out how to reawaken her artifact days." He said seriously. "And in case anyone cared to put my name in the books, I am Gamble." He grinned and they glared before leading him away.

"That's not her name!" Smokescreen yelled as he walked to him and punched him hard in the facplate. "Her name is Chiyu Jikan!" he said angrily. "And she's part of the team, not an experiment!" he growled and punched him again. Bulkhead pulled him away to calm him as the rookie glared at the mech. Gamble grunted and narrowed his optics as he looked at them. He was hauled away and the mech silently swore he'd get revenge.

"Smokescreen?" A little voice asked and he looked over to the sparkling. He walked to her and gently gripped her tiny servo as he sat by her.

"Hey kiddo." He smiled a little. "Are you feeling better now that the doctor helped you?" He asked and she looked around tiredly. She looked at the others and then to the humans.

"Are... they okay?" She asked as tears filled her optics. "I didn't mean to hurt them... the human sparklings." She choked back a sob.

"No no no... you didn't hurt them." He whispered quietly and gently rubbed her tiny helm. She whimpered quietly and Ratchet walked over.

"It's okay... everyone is alright now." The doctor promised as he smiled a little and she glanced around to double check. Feeling as if they weren't telling her something.

She hugged the doctor tightly then let go when they were told they had to leave this facility for investigation reasons. Smokescreen picked her up and spoke to her as they walked to the entrance. Ratchet glanced to the humans and saw a guard pick up their box.

"Activate the space bridge. We have some... alien life forms that need to be returned to their planet." The mech said on his com as he looked at the humans with slight disgust. Miko glared at him and glanced to the other two.

"Put them down!" Ratchet boomed as he stormed over. "You aren't taking them anywhere!" he yelled as he got the others attention.

"They must be returned to their home world." The mech said seriously and narrowed his optics.

"I'm not saying they shouldn't.... but I need to make sure they're alright." He said as he studied the mech. He frowned deeply and carefully gave him the box.

"I'll come for them when they are finished with their checkup." He stated and left to check the cons. A lot of them would be going back to prison for past war crimes. Gamble had somehow broken them out of jail.

Optimus briefly glanced to Megatron who stared at him and nodded once before being led off in cuffs. Bumblebee gathered his team together and had them go back to their base. Team Prime followed and spoke to the other captives. Once at the base, Ratchet set the medical area up to allow the humans to roam freely without being poisoned by their air. He had a field at the doorway that allowed others to walk through, but didn't allow the air to leave. He checked up on the Cybertronians then sent them off before turning to the humans.

"Will they actually take us to earth?" Miko asked and glanced to the doctor. Ratchet transformed into his alternate mode and had his holoform appear by them. "Wow! When did you make that?" She asked in surprise.

"Rafeal and Agent Fowler suggested that I have one since I was on earth, however I never found a use for it." he said as he walked over and had her sit down. He then took out a small flashlight and looked into her blind eye as he shined the light in it. "We also equipped my form with the necessary tools." he said before they could ask.

"What are you doing?" Raf asked as he watched from his spot on the berth, they had made the glass box a type of hospital room with two small makeshift beds and a few chairs. Jack held still as he lay on the other berth and let the doctor look at his leg.

"Righting some wrongs that never should have happened." he said seriously as he checked and cleaned the man's leg, what was left of it. The humans looked at each other for a moment then at him. Jack reached over and gently set a hand on his arm.

"Won't you get into trouble?" Jack asked and the doctor paused as he stared blankly. The Elite Guard had told them to return the humans to the guards immediately without interfering with them. But he strongly felt that he needed to fix this.

"So what if I do?" He asked as he continued to work. "You three are more important at the moment." He muttered. The three humans looked at each other before they smiled and Miko hugged him tightly then kissed his cheek.

"I knew you cared about us." She smiled brightly, her actions making him growl as he shrugged her off then wiped his cheek off.

"Don't make me regret my decision." He huffed as he blushed with embarrassment. Jack chuckled as Raf smiled brightly, tears falling down his face. The doctor then went back to working and taking notes.

The good doctor called Team Prime and Fixit into the medical area then locked the doors. He explained the situation to them and his plans to help the children. They looked at him then each other for a moment. They knew his spark was in the right place, but the consequences of his actions would result in his termination. Optimus finally stepped forward and set a servo on his friends shoulder plate.

"Ratchet... your actions to right an unforgivable wrong, may cost you dearly. This will fall under experimentation and is not tolerated in the optics of our leaders." He said seriously.

"I'm well aware of that. I am also aware of what will happen if any of you aide me. But I am willing to take the blame for this... all of it. I will not allow our human comrades to suffer because of a mad man from our world. Hasn't their world already been shaken by the Decepticons? I vowed to never let them go through something like that again." He said seriously then looked to the floor. "I failed them... all I'm asking is for some help on a few things. I hope Primus can forgive me for what I have to do..." He said seriously and looked at each of them. Waiting for their response.

"What are they talking about?" Strongarm asked as Sideswipe kept his audio to the locked door.

"I'm not sure... something about... the humans." He furrowed his optic ridges as he glanced to her. They stood up as Smokescreen walked over with the sparkling on his shoulder plate.

"What are you guys doing?" He asked and furrowed his optic ridges. He and the sparkling had become incredibly close shortly after they came to terms. It was after her first session with him when they were on earth.

"Oh nothing. Just being left out." Sideswipe smiled as he looked at them and Grimlock as he walked behind the rookie.

"Did you ever think they don't want you in their meetings because you don't understand?" The Dino bot asked as he gently set the sparkling on his shoulder plate.

"What?! But we're like the best choice for meetings." The red bot said as he folded his arms. Smokescreen frowned and knocked on the door. It opened and Optimus looked at him.

"Come in Smokescreen." He said seriously and the rookie nodded once before going in. Sideswipe went to follow and the door closed.

"That's not fair! Why does he get to go in?" He huffed and folded his arms as he glared darkly.

"Because he has the spark of a Prime. He's more mature." The sparkling said and looked at him.

"Like you know anything." He shot back as he glared. She looked down at her tiny servos and Grimlock held her carefully in his arms.

"Her spark is as old as the war itself." Grimlock said seriously and narrowed his optics. "I'd say she does know a lot about something." He growled before walking off. Strongarm and Sideswipe looked to the door. Wondering what was so important to hide.

The team spoke for a while and Ratchet knew he was running out of time. They stopped and looked to Optimus for a moment before they all agreed to help the doctor. They'd each have a different part to play, one that would help the process move quickly but efficiently. Magnus would help Optimus as they answered questions from the Guard. Wheeljack, Fixit and Smokescreen would help the doctor. Bumblebee agreed to keep his own team busy, knowing if they said or saw anything, they were done for. Bulkhead also helped with the calculation and Arcee helped with the more delicate things. Prowl helped Bumblebee keep his team busy, he wasn't sure about this but trusted the others.

They worked hard for a few hours, knowing they didn't have a lot of time. Ratchet sent a report to the Guard letting them know the humans needed a few days before traveling back. They agreed and the team was glad they had a little more time.

Strongarm frowned as she watched the door from around the corner. It had been three days and the humans seemed to be ready to go. At least she figured they were. She was suspicious and went to talk to Bumblebee and her team. Ratchet was quietly working in his holoform as he focused on Miko's eye. He sighed shakily as he worked and his hands shook, Wheeljack had a holoform next to him with Fixit as they helped.

"Easy doc." Wheeljack warned as the said medic frowned. Fixit tended to her vital signs and Ratchet shook his head a little. Her eye had to be removed because of an infection that had grown on her optic nerve.

"Due to the fact that none of their injuries were treated... they've become worse and I'm surprised she didn't complain about headaches." he said and focused before having to pull away for a moment.

"She probably figured the other two had far more serious injuries then herself." Fixit said as he made sure to add a little more anesthesia to keep her under.

They had all studied or downloaded medical information for human anatomy so they didn't mess up. Ratchet didn't respond to his comment and continued to work. After almost an hour, they were finished and he sighed shakily as he closed his eyes. They had cleaned up and the children were simply resting. 

"Watch them please." he said and disappeared before he transformed and went to find Optimus. Strongarm ducked out of view and glanced to the door when the doctor wandered off. She followed him as she listened. Something was wrong with the medic, mentally at least.

"Optimus." he said when he found them. "I almost lost them a few times... their... injuries were badly infected and... I had to... beside the point... this was something that never should have happened to them. Part of me feels as though... I shouldn't have done anything... blurred lines of right and wrong... oh Primus..." he rasped and buried his faceplate in his servos, realizingwhat he did. The leader gently set a servo on his shoulder plate, he could tell the medic hadn't recharged since he decided to do this. Only taking enough Energon to function.

"Ratchet, old friend...." The Prime said gently. "Your team.... your family supports you in your decision. We are doing everything we can to help them." he said seriously and the medic looked at him for a moment.

"Thank you...." he whispered tiredly and glanced back to the room. "Optimus... the Elite Guard won't let them leave at this point... are we able to request one more thing?" he asked quietly and the leader stared at him before he nodded slowly.

Jack slowly opened his eyes and stared blankly at the glass ceiling, then towards the other ceiling. He had to think for a moment before he remembered what happened. His eyes widened a little and he sat up before he paused. He glanced to his missing leg to find a metal one. His eyes widened at the Cybertronian design and how light it was, it felt like his original leg. He gently ran his hand along the smooth elegant metal and smiled a little. It had some dark blue as if it was based of Arcee's paint design. He half laughed and Ratchet came over in his holoform. 

"Everything alright?" he asked in concern and the young man looked up at him as he smiled brightly with tears in his eyes.

"Yes... how did you do it?" he asked and the doctor furrowed his brow before he glanced to his leg, as if he forgot briefly. 

"No matter." he waved his hand and gently gripped the leg to move it around. "Any pain?" he asked and the man shook his head. He did some tests and helped him stand up. "Try walking... let me know if you have even a slight discomfort." he stressed. The young man did as told and it worked perfectly. Ratchet smiled to himself, proud of his work. Miko woke next and screamed. The doctor rushed over in alarm. 

"What is it?! What happened?!" he cried as she sat up and sobbed, her new eye was blue like the wreckers and others on the team. Energon blue. Tears didn't fall from her new eye at all.

"I can see." she sobbed. "Ratchet I can see!" she smiled and hugged him around the neck. He grunted and mumbled something. She laughed happily and kissed his cheek again. He growled and moved away as he wiped it off angrily.

Her new eye functioned like their own optics, able to see farther and change range or see at night. He explained this to her and moved back, in case she tried hugging him again. He then glanced to Rafael as he woke and went over, speaking to him quietly as the young man moved his new arm around. It was similar to Bee's yellow and black design but the size it should be for the humans. Ratchet explained things to him and mumbled about the repairs he did to his back.

"After sending a few shocks through your spine, carefully of course, I discovered that you weren't actually parlayed but-" he grunted as Rafael hugged him tightly and smiled a little.

"Thank you." He whispered quietly and the other two walked over before hugging the holoform as well. Ratchet sighed shakily but didn't move for a moment. He then slowly hugged them back, but disappeared when he heard Optimus enter the room. He transformed back to his biped mode as he typed on his data pad. The Prime glanced between the doctor and the small group as he arched an optic ridge.

"I have the approval. I informed them that we wished to say goodbye to our comrades and we'd see them off." The leader said gently.

The humans watched for a moment then glanced to the door as someone typed. Wheeljack walked in and told them the team wanted to come in. Ratchet agreed and Team Prime entered to speak to the humans. Praising the good doctor for his work and success. He didn't respond, feeling as though it wasn't something he should brag about.

"What in the pits of Kaon?" Someone asked and they turned to see Strongarm staring with wide optics. "Sir!" She cried and pointed to Optimus, then Magnus and finally Bumblebee, as if she didn't know who to address. "This is a violation of the-"

"Strongarm, calm down." Bumblebee said calmly as he walked over and put his servos up defensively. "I need you to come with me so I can explain t-"

"You hold him sir's, I'll get help!" She cried and stepped back before she turned and ran. "No! I'll report this and get help!" She shouted when he tried to protest.

"It would appear that we need to get the humans home immediately." Optimus said seriously.

"Ya before they became part of an observation." Wheeljack muttered and looked to the others.

"We have to cross Cybertron to the space bridge. How are we going to do that without getting caught?" Bulkhead asked. Smokescreen and Bumblebee looked at each other then smirked. The Prime noticed and glanced to the others.

"Autobots, roll out." He said seriously and they all transformed except Ratchet. He carefully put Jack into Smokescreens alternate mode after making sure there was air inside the bot. He then gave Miko to Bulkhead and Raf to Bumblebee. He then transformed and they quickly headed out. Grimlock and Fixit kept Sideswipe and the sparking in the base.

After some time and going through a few shortcuts, they finally got to the space bridge and locked themselves inside for now. Ratchet typed and looked to the children for a moment as they sat in their cars, they were growing tired as their air supply was nearly depleted. The bridge opened and they all went through. The bots let the kids out when they were on earth, and transformed when they were able. Ratchet turned to his alternate mode and made his holoform appear by them. He checked them over and sighed in relief.

"Good. Everything is working properly for everyone. Now you better hurry before-" he stopped again as Miko and the boys hugged him tightly. He didn't say anything and slowly hugged them back. This would probably be the last time they hugged him.

"Will we be able to see you again?" She asked and he figured she knew of the risks he took.

"I... yes... I believe so." He whispered quietly and she kissed his cheek again then squeezed him gently.

"Thank you... for everything." She said and they let him go. He didn't wipe it off this time and stepped back. They all said their goodbyes before going back to Cybertron. Planning to visit them again. Ratchet stood there in his biped mode and looked at them.

"You should all go back to the base. Please don't argue... just go." He said seriously. They looked at him and knew what he was planning. Or they thought they knew. They said goodbye to the doctor and everyone left, except Optimus.

"Do you wish to go back to earth and hide there?" The Prime asked as he gently gripped his shoulder plate. The doctor looked up at him with a tired smile.

"No... not just yet... I think I'll rest for a while." He said and the leader studied his expression before he nodded slowly and moved back. "Goodbye... old friend..." Ratchet whispered as he watched him walk out. He stood there for a few minutes before typing and activating the bridge. He heard ped steps and deleted the coordinates. He glanced up with his servo on the lever still.

"Don't move!" The leader of the guard shouted. The doctor furrowed his optic ridges as if he didn't hear and closed the bridge.

The guard frowned deeply and they walked over before cuffing the doctor and reading him his rights. He didn't listen and glanced back to the space bridge as he was lead out of the room. He smiled a little feeling his spark settle in peace.

Despite what anyone said, he knew he did the right thing.

~~~

100%

The End