Miko grinned over at Bee, "How about some rock tunes?"  Bumblebee searched the radio for a rock station, blaring it through his speakers. "I love this song!"

Miko grinned and leaned back in her seat, mimicking strumming a guitar. "We got the phase shifter and we messed up Knock Out's face! Yeah!" Miko sat up as Bumblebee stopped playing the music. "Hey!"

"We're almost to base, sorry!" 

"He said we're almost at the base." Nova translated.

 "Let me guess. You, NOva and Raf spend all your drive time listening to chip tunes."

Nova rolled her eyes. "Tch...Hardly."

"No. We listen to a lot of different music."

Miko shrugged and relaxed. "Well, it's been fun, but I'm ready to get back to my regularly scheduled partner, Bulk-"

Miko yelled out as Bulkhead's body was on the ground, right in their way. Bee turned drastically and skirted around his body. Bumblebee let Miko and Nova out before transforming.

Nova said, "Bulkhead?!"

Ratchet shocked Bulkhead again with what looked like giant defibrillators. "Bulkhead, respond!" He ordered, laying the things down again, sending flashes of blue light across his frame. He paused, running a scanner over him as Fowler and Raf came to a stop by Miko.

  Miko frowned, tears welling up in her eyes. "Bulkhead?" She went to run to him when Fowler grabbed her, holding her back. "What happened?"  

  "Tox-En exposure, among other things. Bulkhead has suffered a complete systems failure."   Ratchet reported. Nova narrowed her eyes at Ratchet, 'Tox-En....sounds fatal.'

  Arcee turned to Ratchet, "Hold on, Tox-En?"  

  Ratchet looked at his forearm, looking at Bulkhead's readings. He quickly turned to the other two 'bots. "Help me get into the medical bay, no!  

"No!" Miko called, twisting free from Fowler's grasp as Arcee and Bumblebee drag Bulk's frame to the med bay. Nova walked over and held her hand tightly. "Miko, stop."

Miko looked at her, a tear falling down her cheek. "If I hadn't gone to New York.."

Fowler shook his head, "There's nothing you could have done! Hardshell sucker-punched the big lug while he was down."

Miko turned back to him, frowning. "Who?!" 

Fowler shrugged. "Some Insecticon. It doesn't matter. The point is that it's not your fault! You got that?"

Miko glared down at the ground before looking back towards Bulkhead. "Got it."

Jack ran over to them, gently pulling Miko into a side hug. "He'll be okay, Miko.."

Novalet go of Miko and held Campy in her arms, petting his helm before watching the team worriedly.

Arcee, Bumblebee, and Ratchet worked over Bulkhead's still form, crunching numbers, grabbing equipment, throwing it back before returning to grab it again. Optimus stood not too far away, observing it all. The kids hung on the catwalk, Miko sulking dangerously close to the end, wanting to get as close to her bot as she could while Nova sat there, overlooking it all as it transpired, astonished by her guardian's capabilities and leadership. Fowler was pacing further down the line, talking on the phone.

"Yes, sir," he stated finally, flipping his phone shut. Optimus turned to him grimly. "Apparently, highlights of your big apple adventure got caught on security tape. The Pentagon needs me to run interference with the mayor," he hung his head low, turning to look at Bulk. "I tried to stall, but..."

"Go where you are needed, Agent Fowler." OPtimusrumbled sadly, turning his attention back to his bots. "There is nothing more you can do here,"

"I'll keep you updated," Nova called, hugging her knees close to her chest.

Optimus waited for the man to leave before approaching Arcee's position, coming to a halt behind her. "Wheeljack's on his way," she said softly.

"I can't believe you're giving up on Bulkhead already!" Miko cried, leaning over the railing to glare at Arcee.

"All I meant was Wheeljack and Bulkhead are close. I thought he'd want to be here."

"I know what you meant," she cried, turning her back to us. She paused, before storming off and away from us.

"Miko," Optimus called after her. "Where are you going?"

"Home!" she shouted behind her. "While Agent Fowler can still give me a lift."

Arcee moved to follow her, but was stopped by Optimus' hand. "She needs time," he wisely told her. Nova was staring at Miko and felt very suspicious about her. The looks on her face, she seems angry as if she wants to hurt someone. NOva know what Miko's feeling right now but for her to go home, to her 'host' parents as she calls them instead of being here with bulkhead? Somethings not right and so she decided to follow Miko.

As she reached the top, She looked in the far distance there was no glimpse of agent fowler's helicopter, She looked to the floor, foot prints miko's boots, leading toward the cave where wheeljack lands his ship. And there she was trying to sneak on board his ship, "Miko." Nova called out she slightly jumped as she spun around.

"Nova? What are you doing here?" she inquired with slight annoyance in her voice.

"I was about to ask you the same thing." Nova argued, crossing her arms.

"Wheeljack will probably want to track down that bug as much as i do, so I'm sneaking myself on." 

"Miko revenge won't accomplish anything; neither will it make you feel any sense of justice or satisfaction." Nova said to Miko.

"And what do you know?!" Miko suddenly lashed out at her. "Enough." Nova replied calmly.

"I don't want to here anymore of your lecturing Nova, going around trying to be a good saint only to be sticking your nose in other people's business or feelings!" she said though her voice sounded shaky.

"I'm not trying to be nosey, I'm just trying to speak from experience..." 

"I don't care! Bulkhead is always the one to suffer and I'm sick of it, now I'm going to make up for that." 

"You need to be here with bulkhead, while you were on your quest for 'revenge' bulkhead may have gone offline the time you get back!" Nova yelled though she wasn't thinking, miko gasped as she threw a palm across her face.

"Don't you say something like that!" she screamed, you could tell by how shaky her expression was. It was the first time Nova never had anyone strike her on the face as she placed her hand on her cheek where Miko slapped.

She quickly recovered from the sudden strike since she deserved that. "I'm not saying it will, I'm just... just taking every possibility into account." Nova said.

"Yes because death...nothing...you right? Taking death into...stride i bet." She mouthed, Nova had lost track again, she looked at her up and down in a disgusted manner.

Nova's face turned solemn, "you judge me harshly miko." she said.

She looked at Nova with slight regret then suddenly had an outburst of frustration, "oh! I didn't mean that."

"You're angry it's understandable." Nova said. "Even if...were... find hardshell...wheeljack...i won't be...do anything." she said, then she took Nova by the hand, "Nova, you were an ex assasin before, please help me avenge bulkhead."

 Nova could feel the tension rising, the anger and sadness building up in her spark. She knew there was no way to change her mind. She understand what it was like when she lost someone important. She asked, "You're not going to listen to reason are you?"

"Nothing you say will change my mind." She said squeezing her hand as tears formed in her eyes.

Nova sighed in defeat and said, "Fine, I'll help you but don't regret yourself once your revenge is done."

  "So you'll come?" she mouthed, a crack escaped the corner of her lips. Was that a smile?

"Yes, now let's sneak on board before wheeljack discovers us to early." Nova said as miko nodded. "Hmmm, wheeljack normally activates the entrance himself." as Nova said that the doors opened as miko gave a frowned nod, she was serious about this.

"Let's hide in...corner...the shadows are." Miko's mouth was very small when saying this, whispering no doubt, the doors closed on them and they pressed themselves into the corner.

Minutes later, the doors opened again as wheeljack came in, he sat at his control panel, he started up the ship as it started to speed up slightly, Miko then ran into the middle of the room as wheeljack pointed a weapon at her, "what are you doing here." He said his voice was bitter and had no time for games this time with passengers, he had obviously seen the state bulkhead was in and had a set goal the same as Miko's. Nova came to her side as there was no point in beating around the bush now, "The both of you." He added.

"Going after the con who hurt Bulkhead," she stepped forward. "You in?"

"...I'm taking you back," he turned back to the controls.

"No wait." miko said running towards the passenger seat.

Miko climbed herself into the passenger seat followed by Nova as well. She was only watching over Miko who was standing in the chair as she observed the two.

"Trust me when i find out which one of Megatrons goons jumped our boy I'll take care of him...my way." Wheeljack said patting a grenade which was strapped to his side.

"I know who did it." Miko said.

"Who?" wheeljack asked.

"Take us and I'll tell you."

Nova was surprised that Wheeljack decided to bring them along since both of them had in common. We were flying for hours until we reached the forest. As they landed, Wheeljack and the two girls followed behind him as they hid in the rocks. Nova wonder what they were hiding from until her questioned been answered when she saw the vehicon came out of the tunnel.

"You know where to find decepticon energon mines?" Miko said.

Wheeljack almost laughed looking between Miko and Nova. "You didn't think I've just been sitting on my can since I've been on this rock?"

"But shouldn't we be in an Insecticon hive?" Miko quizzed him again.

"The bugs are bound by a single mind," he explained. "Trying to draw just one of them out is nearly impossible. So we're going to make some noise," he smirked.

"And get the cons to hand over Hardshell." Nova added

"Now you can get in there and scope things out a lot easier than I can," he looked at Nova.

  "Got it!" Miko cheered, darting for the entrance. "Hold up!" Nova called, grabbing her short collar. Nova switched to her robot mode and said, "I can't have you going to a scout enemy territory without my supervision, JUst stay closed to me and don't even think about leaving my side." 

  She grinned. Nova led her around the edges of the forest in front of the cave's entrance. The vehicons guarding the door were facing away from them, a perfect opportunity to practice. Nova raised her right arm, trying to aim at the con. She fired, it raining true and hitting square in the con's back. He dropped to the ground, the other running towards it, scanning the air above them. Nova formed an energy spheres on both hands which was powerful enough to explode as   she thrust the 2 energy spheres, throwing them to their feet. Nova covered Miko with her body as they blew, and through the trees Nova could see Wheeljack beaming proudly at them.  

  "Let's go," NOva whispered to her, leading the way through the cave door. Nova used her comlink which she hacked into Wheeljack.

"We got five, maybe six troopers in the main cavern, and two more keeping an eye on things from the second floor," she reported quietly.

"Good job Tiny," he responded. "Keep going."

"There's another chamber," NOva observed, moving towards the opening. "Looks like they're just using it for storage. 'Jackie, I'm afraid to fire in here, if I hit something..."

"Miko won't shoot. But trust your aim kid. From what I know you've got the Prime's shooting."

  A loud explosion echoed from the second floor, Miko ducked behind the rocks for cover while Nova rushed forward, aiming for the cons' chest. NOva released a few bolts as Wheeljack bounced between each con with his twin blades. There was one con who was consistently avoiding 'Jackie's attacks and hitting him with blaster fire. Nova crept up behind him, before releasing shots up and under his chest. He released a cry of pain, crippling to her feet.  

He landed before her, throwing his swords across his back. Miko ran up beside her, grinning ear to ear. "Now what?"

"We give Megatron a shout," he cheered.

Outside 

"Nice operation you got here, Megatron," Wheeljack called smartly though the comm. "Although technically, you might say it's under new management."

"Wheeljack," the warlord almost praised. "The one who enjoys explosive devices."

  "What can I say, chief? I'm uncouth. And right now, I'm sitting on top of one of your big, juicy mining ops."

"The loss of one asset is hardly a blow to the decepticon cause."

"Maybe. But I'm going to keep on hitting them. One by one. Until you give us what I want." Wheeljack growled, setting his controls on his ship. Miko and Nova watched from the control board.

"And what, pray tell, would that be? "

"Hardshell," Wheeljack demanded flatly. "The Insecticon scum who tried to frag Bulkhead."

"Tried? "

Nova could hear the gears running in his wretched mind.

"Are you saying the Autobot lives?"

"He's bluffing!" another voice said.

"Wouldn't bet on it. So here's the deal. I'm going to transmit the coordinates of my next target. If hardshell cares to meet me there, maybe he can save you from another loss. Oh, and Megatron. In case you ever wondered what 3 tons of exploding energon sounds like...." He hit a red button on his control, the ship rising and firing missiles towards the cave we were in just moments before. The ship retreated as a massive explosion rattled the ground below, the air turning a more neon blue than normal. They flew in a few moments of silence before their gaze fell upon Miko, who was battling keeping her eyes open.

"Maybe you oughta power down for a while," he suggested caringly.

"I'm good," she fought. She shook her head, holding it in her hand before she turned to him hopeful. "He's going to make it, right?"

"No question, kid. Bulkhead's the toughest wrecking ball there ever was. And Ratchet's a great Doc - the best."

"Yeah.... There's no way Bulk would miss all the stuff we have planned. Car-sledding, Worldwide smash-a-thon. We've been making a list."

"Like I said ; Bulkhead's too stubborn not to pull through. I know it, Tiny knows it, and I bet you do too." he looked over again, before relaxing in his chair. "Tiny, look," he smiled softly.

Looking over, Miko was snoring softly in her seat. Nova smiled little as she spoke, "I can see Miko cared about Bulkhead so much, she is as stubborn as he is." 

"Well, she is.....She will do anything for Bulkhead, after all."

"Yeah After what happen now, I couldn't help but feel sorrow to see Miko in pain so I aid her in revenge for Bulkhead. I understand how she feels and believe me I know what's it like.I lost someone important to me too." Nova said solemnly. Wheeljack stared at her, he sense her pain and bitterness emitting from her. "It's alright if you don't want to talk about it but I just want to know beside we have time."

He did made a point since the ride may take long so with little time NOva told her everything about her past. After she finished, Wheeljack seems to be surprised and a bit startled by her story.

"So you have taken lives before...huh? Does it bother you?" 

"*sigh* Not exactly, I didn't have any emotions back then. It never bothered me until everything change. He took away the one important to me, I hated him so much that I wanted to take revenge. However, I was unable to get him since he evaded me."

"Hey Tiny, I know you'll get him someday and maybe I'm sure she'll be proud of what you did."

Nova was unsure if Dr. Login would appreciate it if she did, she wouldn't wanted become the killer from before. So with that she replied with a small smile, "THx Jackie, I....I appreciate that."

As the ship touched down in it's smooth landing, Miko jerked awake beside me. "I'm up!" She called. "What's the plan?"

"Kid, Tiny," Wheeljack sighed. "if anything happens to me, press this," he pointed to the blue button on the controls. "I've preset the autopilot to take you back to Prime's base."

Nova and Miko were shocked about this. "What? No way! We had a deal. You said we could help!" Miko said desperately.

"And you did. But it ends here." Wheeljack said to them. NOva said, "Jackie, you can't deal with him alone, let us help you." Miko added, "Yeah, This is our fight, too."

  "Sorry, kid," Wheeljack stood as he walked to the back. "But Bulk's going to wake up, and he'll file off my rivets if you're not there when he does."  

"Wheeljack!" She called, running after him.

"Jackie," Nova called sternly before the door to the ship closed behind him, leaving Miko and Nova in darkness. Both of them head to the window and watches from the cockpit as Wheeljack approaches the mine and calls out Hardshell, who promptly appears on the clifftop above.

"Thanks to your crippled friend," he sneered, rotating his shoulder. "I am all too familiar with your Wrecker tricks," he raised his fist, Wheeljack's optics flickering open. Nova's optics zoomed in - something she was yet to get used to as she watched Wheeljack and Hardshell clashed each other.

Wheeljack pulled his twin blades out from their holster, throwing them to his side. He charged the con, bouncing off of his chest blades whirling. He landed on his pedes, but only for a second as he ducked down, kicking his pede out from under him. The two bantered back and forth, our bot obviously having the advantage.

"What's the matter, Hardshell? Not used to fighting a bot who hasn't been doused in Tox-En?"

"Talk during battle is a sign of weakness," the bug informed him, grabbing a hold of the sword. He delivered one, single hard punch, knocking the bot down.

"Only when you're two primitive to do two things at once," he smarted, recovering from the punch.

They started to entangle again until the bug finally reached an upper hand, sending a double punch up into Wheeljack's face. He groaned in pain, falling backwards and rolling over. The Insecticon transformed as it charged Wheeljack. He knocked into the bot, sending Him flying back towards the cavern - where he threw the pinned grenade.

"Go for the grenade!" NOva heard Miko shout beside her. The bot looked over to it, reaching.

The Insecticon planted his pede down firmly before him, striking at him. I released a shot, connecting with him square in the back. He knocked into Wheeljack, sending him backwards. The con wasted no time in regaining control of the upper hand, taking Wheeljack by the helm and tossing him around. He tossed him away, his form not moving.

"Jackie!" Nova thought desperately.

Grabbing him by the helm again, the con delivered a single, hard punch to his chest plates,

NOva turned to see Miko's tears streaming from her eyes. 'She hold the swirling pain and confusion inside you. She is weeping inside from the unbearable pain. Pain that has caused suffering for so long. Leaving on to endlessly question over and over again. Till they find the source of pain. The confusion on which and how she must act. She must rid herself of this. And I promised to help her. I want to see how she feels about revenge."  

Nova called, "Miko."

Miko wiped her tears before she turned to look at her. Nova motioned her to follow as they climbed into the seat. Miko stared at me confusedly as she said, "Remember when I said you might regret it....well your going to have two choices." Nova pointed at the red button beside the blue button.

"See that." 

Miko nodded sadly.

"That is missile launch...." which surprise Miko as she continued, "I'm not going to do it so I'm giving you choices. YOu can either walk away or.....destroy the one who hurt you the most."

Nova move aside as Miko walk towards the control, staring at the two buttons. She stared at Nova then at the buttons. Miko lowered her head solemnly as she raised her hand to press the button which Nova thought until she notice Miko's expression changed when her hand was moved to the button. Nova can feel the ship moving when the sound of two missiles were overheard. Nova looked out the window, only to see Hardshell destroyed. Nova sighed gravely, 'so that's your answer.'

Wheeljack regained himself and saw what they did.  "Nice work, you two," he cheered happily.  

Unfortunately, it was short lived when they saw a horde of Insecticons appear at the clifftop. "Run!" Miko hollered from the ship which hovered close to the ground as Wheeljack  has to limp back.

"Wheeljack.... I think we found the hive," NOva commed.

He climbed into the ship, the door closing behind him.  Nova and Miko jumped into the passenger seat, glancing up at him worriedly. "I thought I told you to hit autopilot," he scolded, sitting himself down in his seat, grabbing onto the controls.

"Bad things happen to bots when I leave them behind," she mumbled, hugging her knees close to her chest. "Miko," Nova called softly as the Jackhammer rose to the air.  NOva wrapped her in her arms. She lay her head against her shoulder, sniffling.

"The Insecticons are right on our tail," he reported, twisting the controls in evasive maneuvers. "Theres too many to pick off."

"We'll need something with a wider blast range," Nova reported, Miko cradling further into her form.

He hit the blue button on the controls, autopilot, letting go as he moved to the back. Miko twisted in her arms, turning to watch him go. He turned to a compartment behind his driver's seat, opening it to reveal hundreds of grenades. 

'So that's where he stores his grenade.' NOva blinked surprisingly.

"But I thought you -" miko started.

"I only carry one at a time," he smirked proudly hauling the box into his arms. He lifted himself through the roof, and there were a few minutes before he came down empty handed.

"Welcome to the Wrecker's kid," he cheered, smiling at Miko. "You did Bulkhead proud,"

"Then why don't I feel any different?" She asked, sitting back down next to NOva. She threw her arm around her again, her form curling against her own while Wheeljack, was watching the two carefully.

  When we got back to the base, Nova offered to carry Miko on my back. She gratefully declined, but didn't protest when NOva bent down in front of her, grabbing the backs of her knees and hoisting her up due to the exhuastion. Nova walked slowly beside Wheeljack who was still dragging his right foot, and holding onto his right arm. Nova knew miko felt no different as she had warned her but she guess this was something she had to experience for herself, only solemn faces was greeted by the Autobots.

Optimus and Ratchet turned to watch their approach. Optimus' eyes lingered on Nova, and she could sense his wheels turning. Arcee and Bumblebee moved to view the scene themselves, Miko squirming slightly in her arms.

It was deadly silent, the only sound being that of Wheeljack's foot dragging across the ground.

"Miko?" Arcee asked in concern as she crawled out of Nova's hands, barely supporting herself. "You okay?" Optimus kneeled down beside her, shooting Nova a glance before turning to Miko.

"She's fine," Wheeljack called, smiling. "Kid's a pro."

"I wasn't talking to you," she angrily shot at him.

Before NOva could respond, Miko turned towards the doc. "How is he?"

  Bumblebee's eyes whirred. "Its not good," 

"Bulkhead will survive," Ratchet reported. "He may never be fully functional again,.." He bowed his head, voice lowering as he finished. Milo's eyes widened, as she searched for the massive green bot behind them. She quickly ran in his direction. "Miko!" He called after her. "I don't think it's wise for you to-"

His movements were stopped By Optimus' firm hand on his chest, pushing him back. He simply met his optics as he shook his head. Nova walked up to Ratchet and said sadly, "Let her be, Ratchet."

They all watched as Miko climbed onto the berth, sitting on Bulkhead's chest right above his spark.

"Im...." Wheeljack started, drawing their attention to him. "Not sure I want to see Bulk right now. .... Not like this," he sighed, transforming weakly and revving his engine through the halls quickly.

They turned back to Miko, who was hugging her knees tightly, staring into Bulkhead's empty faceplates. "I'm never leaving you again." she sobbed, tears running down her face. Nova felt her chest pained when she looked at them, the image was replaced with Dr. Login and herself who was hugging her griefly which made her reeled back to the sad memory before it was switched back to Miko crying over Bulkhead.

Nova couldn't bear to see it longer as she head to the hallway before looking over her shoulder with a solemn look. Nova mumbled, "So that is what it was like to take revenge. Being beaten. But it felt no difference." With those last words she leaves the main room.  

IN HER ROOM

Nova sat alone by the platform, in deep thought. Thinking about what happened with this mission. This fight. How she felt. What she did, reflecting upon it. Seeing what revenge was like. What it could do to a person. If it takes over them. She went against her guradian. Helping Miko with her revenge. She felt disgusted with herself. From the anger she felt not just with the Decepticons, but also with Silas.

Reeling back to her old memories, knowing how she was born and how she ended up with the organization. She knew and did not try to hide it, she detest Silas who tried to turn her into a weapon. Blaming him for the cause of her misery and pain. He let himself take control of her. No. If he had never experimented her, than she wouldn't have had to go through so much. Experience the cruelty of so much. Cruelty that made Nova, shaped her to who she is now.

Still picking the pieces up and putting them together. When she saw red, you saw nothing but pain. Pain that wouldn't end. She wanted to get Silas more than she wanted but it will never came. She was just as shocked and stun as him. Guilt ridden by nearly ending him. The ride back to the lair, She remained quiet and sullen. Needing distance.

Still...the thought of heartache. Heartbreak still stung. It wretched at her, though she found in a sense peace. She wasn't complete. Loss, she had yet to understand despite seeing first hand. Experiencing it right before her. Her mind still was trying to wrap around it. To get some clarification. All she knew was that with loss came pain. With pain came emptiness. Emptiness can anger. Which turned into vengeance. Vengeance just repeated the cycle. Vengeance held great control, over anyone. Control, she didn't like the thought of something else controlling her. It caused to loose focus.

Nova stared at her hand, before clenching into fist. "I swear I'm the one who will get Silas but it's ashamed that chance will never came since I know what revenge feels like." She looked up in the ceiling and added, "I hope Bulkhead gets better soon becoz it'll be hard for Miko to open up again."