10 years ago 

Weeks has passed since she arrived at Jasper Nevada, she's been wandered on a street looking tired and hungry. Not even her worn off white clothes could keep her from the bitter cold. She fell on the ground, looking pain and too weak to move. She thought it was an end of her. Her last waking vision being that she sees a man coming to her before everything faded away.....

She felt numb, floating in a sea of black that shifted around her in waves. All of her senses were greatly dulled, save for her hearing. Every so often she would pick up the muffled sound of talking coming from somewhere close, but she could do nothing to figure out where it was coming from and who was speaking.Time seemed to drag on, then, as if a shroud had been lifted, her senses returned to her. Everything becoming clearer as her eyes slowly cracked open...

She blinked, letting her eyes adjust to the bright sunlight shining down from somewhere close. Attempting to sit up on the dirty mattress she woke up on, the girl hissed when a sharp pain pulsed from the back of his head. "Easy there. You took a pretty nasty bump on the head."

Snapping to look upward, her head screaming in protest from the sudden movement, She was met with an older man (A/N 39 year old) dressed in dirty clothes beneath a long coat and a wool cap. His rough and dirty features stretching into a kind smile as he knelt down beside him holding out a beatup metal cup filled with water.

"Here, you look thirsty." She slowly accepted the cup hesitantly before taking long drinks from it, soothing her aching throat. "Had me worried there for a while." the man continued. "Was beginning to think you'd never wake up. You looked to be in rough shape when I found you in the alley."

Taking the chance to look around where she, She saw that it was a fensed off area beneath an overpass surrounded by broken down cardboard boxes. A metal barrel in the middle of the cubicle was alight with a fire that was warming all of them and had an old teapot on a loose grate over the opening. Along the walls were makeshift shelves with tattered books, an old armchair with the stuffing coming out of it in the corner

"Where am I?" She asked cautiously.

"My place." was the honest reply. "Not very luxurious but, it's quiet. Found you in the streets a few days ago."

"And you took care of me?" She wondered, a little skeptical at the showing of charity from a random stranger. The man shrugged, "C'mon, sombody had to, couldn't just leave you laying there, dying like dogs in the street." he smiled, "The name's Raoul."

================================================================

Back in the present

Its been 3 weeks that Nova hasn't been in the base for long which. She wasn't allowed in any mission due to the last mission but that doesn't mean she could stop fighting. She has been avoiding contact with any of the autobots who were trying to find her, especially Optimus. Nova was walking around the construction site with Campy following behind. When she got back to where her Ferris cabin is, the last thing she expected was a welcoming committee which consisted of one bot in his vehicle mode but she was still pleasantly surprised. "Jeez, OPtimus," She greeted in a dry tone when my cab pulled away. "I had no idea that you missed me that much. How long have you been here?"

"Not very long," He replied vaguely.

"Uh-huh." Nova knows that even with his rather deep voice, his reply had sounded almost embarrassed when he had said that. She was amused at first but she didn't want to show it. Optimus saw the look on her demeanor face which he thought to believe she seems upset.

"Nova....Are you still upset that I cannot allow you in any mission? You may have possessed quite capabilities but You must understand...."

Nova stopped him and said, "Its Ok....I know your worried about my well being but I told you that I can handle myself. You've been helping me control my powers even when I discover my new ones lately. You don't have to concern yourself alright."Optimus began to notice the subtle changes in her demeanor and voice when she spoke. She hasn't been getting along with others but with Optimus, she seems slowly letting him in. "So, How's Ratchet?"She asked him carefully, trying to seem nonchalant as she leaned against the left side of his hood. The warm metal underneath me vibrated a bit. "I do not believe that he was as amused as you were by your little gift."

She recalled when she left a little gift to Ratchet after she left the base which she placed a wooden sign that read 'Ratchet the Hatchet ' in fiery red letter above the medbay doors. Ratchet was furious and wanted to know who did it. Nova seems to enjoyed tormenting him.

"So I'm guessing that I'm not allowed anywhere near his medbay in the near future then?"

"No, I do not think so," he said with slight amusement now coloring his tone too. She notice his expression change which she snorted in amusement but didn't say anything after that. Silence settled between them, but she had a feeling that it wasn't going to last for very long. Already, she could practically hear the inevitable next few words Optimus was say.

"Nova, why didn't come to the base?"

And there it was: that simple yet devastating question. Causing a few lose strands of her long blue hair to go flying, Nova sighed and said lowly, "I only come to base if I want to, Even when they tried to bribe me. I just....don't feel like I'm coming back yet." Thankfully, Optimus did not pursue the subject, which she greatly appreciated, though Nova could still sense his curiosity. But that was Optimus for you, she guess. A big and slightly intimidating leader he may have been with a kind heart (or spark if you prefer) and an open mind but there was always this hidden side to him that was full of curiosity but overshadowed by his unending concern for others. He would not push the issue unless it put others in danger in some way. And she hoped that that day would never come.

Later

'What am I doing? How could I let myself do that?!' SHe cursed herself inwardly after she left the construction site and now sitting at the park with Campy on her arms snoozing. After talking for a few more minutes, Optimus had been forced to leave on the account of receiving a message that the Autobots needed him for something or whatever or so she had been told. After bidding her a polite farewell, the big red and blue bot had taken his leave, speeding off into the dark until even the rumble of his engine had been lost.

"Dang it, Nova," She swore aloud, old accent leaking into her voice as she leaned against the bench. "You stupid idiot! What were you thinking?!" She was too frustrated with herself at the moment. 'Stupid, stupid, stupid! What is wrong with me? Why am I letting him in like that? I shouldn't, no, I can't afford to place my trust in him like that.' By the time she had gone through the whole thing, her rage had settled and she felt calm once more. She took a deep, calming breath, closing her eyes as she relaxed her body a bit.

She was about to leave when she felt someone coming towards her which Camp woke up and began to hid in her hood. She turned to see a man with goatee beard, in his red T-shirt and brown pants with a backpack behind him. He waved to her, "I thought you look familiar, Kid. Long time no see....." SHe stared at him confusedly as if he was crazy or a stranger. He notice the look on her face and said, "C'mon don't you recognize me?"She narrowed at him carefully until she recognize his face back then. She spoke, "Raoul?"

"Ah so you remember me? I'm so glad.....Its been long, hasn't it?"

"It....sure is."He joined NOva as he sat beside her, staring at the park and the sky. "I haven't seen you since you disappeared."He said to her. NOva replied, "Yes, I was....glad that you are healthy than before."

"*chuckled* I guess I am.....I was able to find a job and rented a small apartment after you left. What about you? Are you getting into trouble? I heard rumors about a girl wearing a dark jacket whom she was nicknamed 'Night Killer' beating up thugs in the alley. I expected that was you....."

"Y'know me I don't find trouble, they found me."

"Still as cold as ever....."

Raoul offered her a grilled cheese sandwich to her and drinks as they began silence while eating. He stared at her outfit which a thought, she was wearing the same black coat. He said, looking up in the sky, "Your still wearing the black jacket I gave you even its not cold anymore yet your using it."Nova replied, "I never wanted to let go of it beside it hides for who I am. Never to make contact with anyone."

"I see......*sigh* Hey kid, Do you remember the day we met? It seems like yesterday....when I first saw you, fainted on the street. I manage to rescue you from the cold......."

FlashBack

She was drinking the water that Raoul gave her, she stared at him cautiously and unsure about the homeless stranger. "So what's your name? Kiddo." He asked. Nova stared at him for minute and tried to recall her memories which was blurry. She couldn't remember anything except her name. Nova replied with hoarse voice, "Nova....Login...." 

"Nova Login.....Is that your name?"

"I.....think so." she said, thinking that's the only name she remembered.

"I see........So, How long you been on the streets?" 

She lowered her head, unsure to answered the questioned. He notice the distrust look as he said, "Its ok if you can't answer it.....For me, Its been about three years for me. Don't know how many times I thought I was gonna...snuff it. Just go completely nuts. But I guess you can get used to anything. Even living with nothing."

Nova looked down into the cup in her hands, "It would seem so...." Raoul looked over at her, "Are you on the run? Parents? Messed up system? Something like that?"

"Something like that." She said, taking another drink he was holding. "A little worse, though."

"Problems with the law, then?" Raoul summarized, "Nah, is none of my business. As long as you ain't killed somebody, it's fine by me.Don't you have someone who misses you? Family? Friends? Someone missing you?"

Nova tried to recall everything but all she get was a blurred as she answered with a No. "Well, you can stay here, if you like. I ain't got much to share but, whatever I got it's yours."

"THx but I'll be leaving later...."

"WHy? Your searching for something." Nova was silenced again which answered his question. He doesn't know what to make of the girl, he decided to respect her privacy. He notice she was shivering in cold since she was wearing a strange white clothes. He got up as he rummaged through the boxes that he picked up from the dumpster. He brought out a black hooded jacket, he dusted the dirt before turning to her. He said, giving the jacket, "HEre, you should wear it, It might not fit you but it'll help you keep you from the cold. For now, you should stay and rest for awhile."SHe slowly took the jacket from him as she wear it around her. She seems to like the hood she placed over her head, much to Raoul's satisfaction. He brought a canned food of beans as he shared it with her.

While they were eating, the last thing Nova expected after everything leading up to this point was to be rescued by a homeless man. Though she was willing to question providence, especially with how much in a bad way they were but decided not to.

End of Flashback

"The time when you offered me a place to stay despite my lack of trust, I wasn't sure whether I'm grateful or stupid."Nova said, recalling the time Raoul helped her.It was hard to see people so down on their luck. You hear about it on the news or read it in papers, but until you see it in person you never fully grasp the full reality of how hard some people got it. Yet despite all the trouble, they still thrived, doing whatever they could to get through one day at a time. He chuckled at her comment and asked, "Still haven't find what your looking for?"

"No...."Judging by her tone, he can tell she must have found something else. He questioned, "Instead, you found something new, isn't it? Seeing someone....."Her silenced answered his questioned. He chuckled as he patted on her shoulder and said, "Are they nice?"

"Not much.....more like strange if you ask me."Nova said nonchalant, turned her gaze away from his eye. 'Unless you had a giant alien robot from another planet.'

"Sounds like you have good connection to them, you made friends in the neighborhood......"

"I don't considered them to be called....friends. It's just I can't understand....why anyone would go so far out of their way for us, considering the circumstances."

"Well...tis the season." Raoul said, "Help your fellow man, do onto others, all of that stuff. Out here, all us folks who have it rough try to look out for each other. Better chances that way, I suppose."

Nova was silent again when he said something like that. He noticed the distrust look on her face. He said, "You still don't trust anyone? Look, I know it takes time to earn your trust. Just have a little faith in them and try to get to know them better."Nova replied, "I don't know.....maybe I'm better off alone, its a lot easier on my own where I don't have to feel responsible."

"Then that won't be good. It won't do any good on your own, you need others to help you. One day, There's someone who believes in you will be there."He said before standing up from the bench. "I know you don't need anyone but you need to learn to trust your friends and have faith in them. BEside, everyone watches out for each other."

Nova stared at him for a minute as he stretched his arms and said, "I have to go now....anyway I hope you found what your looking for. Whatever it was your searching, Good Luck."as he left the park.

Nova pondered about Raoul's words but never understand what he meant. While she was lost in thought, Campy sense that her master seems troubled as he hopped into her shoulder, rubbing his helm at her face just to comfort her. Nova patted his head for thanking his comfort. ' Faith huh? He wanted me to have faith in them, Perhaps I should try as long as I shouldn't open myself too much. It's for Optimus' sake as well as my own.'

With her mind clear, She understood what she needed to do. Sure, She still was at war with herself, wanting to both get to know Optimus better, but she also understood the necessity to not get too attached to him. She just hoped that she would still feel the same way when she hung out at the base next time.

The Next Day

This time, NOva came to the base which she hitched a ride with Raf and Bumblebee. Miko and Jack were shocked that Nova came without being bribed. They wanted to know the reason she came today but she told them that it is something that can't be explained. Optimus who was staring at Nova talking to the humans, he seems really pleased to see her charge since she didn't came to base. Nova and the others were on the platform by the monitors just talking. Nova was sitting on the couch, rubbing Campy's head. She was humming the a melody that eased her boring. 

"Um Nova, Can I asked you?" 

She turned to see Raf who was sitting beside her as he asked, "The song your humming...I've been hearing your humming in the base everyday. It sounded nice.....what was the song called?" Nova was surprised that he must heard her humming even though no one notice it. She wanted to tell what song she's humming but her memory was hazy that she doesn't know the name. Nova sighed and said, "the title, you mean? Well, I don't know myself.....but this song never fails to soothe me somehow. I'm not sure why is that....." Raf forgotten that she had amnesia and apologize to her which Nova was fine with it.

"Optimus, you are not going to believe this." Ratchet called, highlighting a signal and enhancing it. "I just pinpointed the location of the Decepticon war ship."

All of the Autobots stepped forward as Optimus tilted his helm, "How did you penetrate their cloaking ability?" Ratchet looked back at the screen, "I didn't. I was experimenting with various wavelengths when I stumbled upon it." He pulled up a diagram of the shape of the ship. "Even still, their ship must be experiencing some kind of electromagnetic breach." Arcee nodded, "With Megatron deceased and the element of surprise." She brought her fists together in a pummeling motion. Bulkhead, behind her, nodded. "We could cause some serious damage."

Suddenly a blue dot appeared, some distance away from the war ship, "Also on the same frequency, an Autobot emergency beacon..." Optimus shook his head, "The Decepticons can wait, there may be Autobots in distress.. Ratchet, bring your medical kit." Nova frowned softly, there may be other Autobots on Earth? and hurt? She watched as Ratchet and Optimus left through the ground bridge, Bumblebee shutting it off after they were through. As she stood there, she couldn't help but had a bad feeling about this.

Later

No...

As if she had just looked into the gorgon Medusa's eyes and been turned to stone, Nova's whole body seemed to freeze. Her face had drained of any color, becoming an ashy pale color as her blue eyes went wide in horror as she watched Ratchet haul a weakened Optimus through the ground bridge.

No.....

Placing the weak bot on a berth and hooking him up to all sorts of medical instruments, the eldest human of the group did not hear anything except what the Autobot medic was saying as time just seemed to slow down. But the red and white bots words were distant and far away like she was hearing them from across the room or through a tunnel or something.

"Cybonic plague," the medic was saying causing the other three Autobots to share a worried look. Already one could hear a faint sound of static coming from Optimus, whose optics flickered dangerously especially the right one which was obviously infected. It was as if rust had suddenly set in there but the small, dark spider web-like veins branched out from the infected area. "It's only contagious if contact is made with the infected Energon."

No, no, no!

"What was a plague doing in an Autobot spaceship?" someone asked, Nova faintly registering that it was Miko who had asked.

No! This can't be happening.....

"Its passengers were infected," Arcee explained so the Ratchet would not have to answer since he was busy doing his job as the teams medic.

Infected. Dying.

Nova's knuckles turned white with the force she was gripping the bar of the railing. She didn't even notice that she was shaking like a shell-shocked cat after being chased by a vicious dog as her thoughts swirled dangerously with her fear. The femme's next words made her want to hurl.

"The virus wiped out millions on Cybertron during the Great War."

Wiped out millions....Oh, Optimus.

Jack, noticing how unmoving and rigid Nova was, came over and placed an arm around her shoulders. Raf followed too and placed and wrapped his arms around her middle. Campy who hopped into her shoulder and tried to calm his master. Three of them tried to comfort her to the best of their abilities, but it didn't matter; she was too numb to feel it. Stoic she may have looked but on the inside, fear ruled her thoughts.

"Cybonic plaque was engineered in the Decepticon biological warfare program." Ratchet further explained. "By Megatron himself."

"You have a cure, don't you?" Raf asked from Nova's side, stating the question more for her benefit. Both he and Jack could feel how she tensed as she waited for an answer.

Optimus groaned then, he voice harsh and weak. His baritone was drowned out by low static, bringing his once booming voice to barely a whisper. "No...cure," he stated softly. It was heartbreaking to hear how feeble he sounded, his baritone voice now raspy and laced with static; the once mighty Prime brought low by a simple yet utterly devastating virus of the past. "Optimus please, save your strength." Ratchet pleaded.

"Would Megatron create a disease without making a cure? I-I mean what if he caught it by accident." Jack said frantically. "It's not like we can ask Megatron Jack, he's pushing up lug nuts." Bulkhead said."But, we might be able to access the Decepticon data base. For the moment we still have a fix on their Warships location." Ratchet said hopeful.

"Bumblebee, come with." Arcee then said.

"Arcee." Ratchet said turning to face her. "Quickly." then he activated the Groundbridge, both of them sped through it in their vehicle forms. He didn't need to say what they were all likely thinking: time was of the essence.

While everyone else stood to watch Arcee and BumbleBee leave, She gently pulled herself out of Jack's and Raf's grip and made her way down the stairs migrating over to her sickly guardians side. There was nothing she could do to help them but she could help Optimus. Pulling herself onto the medical berth next to him, She just stood there, still as a statue, looking at him, and taking in how sick he looked.

She barely even twitched, refusing point blank to take her eyes off her guardian for even a second. To anyone else, it would appear as if she really had been turned to stone, especially considering her rather pale complexion right now. Her expression frozen and her eyes betraying no emotion. But inside though, She was a mess, her emotions mixed and jumbled as if they had just gone through a blender. In a sense, it felt as though if she so much as batted an eyelid, she would fall to pieces, She couldn't do anything to help him. She couldn't bear to allow one of the few people she was starting to trust almost got hurt before her eyes again.

FlashBack

After she's been shown around, Raoul had told her that they had run out of food and needed to collect more so that they could eat. He told her the many ways to collect through different forms of panhandling...but Nova had another idea.'

She handed him a fifty dollar bill from her fund which surprised Raoul. At first he was skeptical, even asking if she stole, but she lied to him that before she became runaways she took every cent she had with her. But in truth, she used her technopathy to hack into the ATM without anyone noticing.

With the promise that there were no strings attached, and that she was willing to return the favor since he had saved her from freezing to death days prior, Raoul accepted the bill with a lot of gratitude before he set out to the nearest grocery store. She was told to wait for him while he get something to eat. The sun had already set. The time of year marked for shorter days.The temperature had dropped greatly, and the street lights offered just enough visibility to light the way for her. She was glad that she was able to repay him and was planing to leave. Before she could even leave, she heard a voice echo out;

"Whatcha got there, old timer?!"

 "Well, lookie here. You win the lottery, you worthless thrash?!" said one that was holding a baseball bat. "I don't want any trouble, guys..." the older man said, holding up his hands up defensively.

"Trouble? Trouble?! That is disrespectful, old man. Do we LOOK like trouble?" said another as he looked at his friends, "He's sayin' we look like trouble..."

"Oh come on guys..." Raoul said. Her attention quickly snapped as she rushed forward in time to see four men surround Raoul.

"You filming this Ed?"

"Yeah, I'm on it man." one of the men pulled out a small camcorder and started recording as the one with the bat went to swing at the older man. She stared at Raoul who was beaten up by the boys. She was shocked to see him being beaten up, her face darkened with anger that for some reason she hated when they bully the weak. Her mind was pounding almost like she felt the urged to fight them.

"HEY!!"She shouted, making all heads snap his way as she closed the distance. "Leave him alone."

The one with the back chuckled, "Hear that boys? Looks like the bum has a friend. Friends who should know than to get into where they don't belong." he gripped the bat and swung hard...

That's when her instinct acted. 

She dropped, the blunt weapon going over her head as she came back up and delivered a solid uppercut to the man's stomach. Doubling him over with the the wind knocked out of him, she grabbed the arm holding the weapon and twisted it with enough force for him to scream and drop it into her waiting hand.

Now armed, she came around and slammed the bat against the back of the other man's legs. Taking them out from under him and landing on his back in the snow, Nova cocked his arm back and landed another solid blow on his face while he was down to ensure he stayed that way.Turning to the other three thugs, the hooded-girl twirled the bat in her hand with her head cocked to the side, revealing her glowing blue eyes which surprised them.

"Who's Next...." She growled.

The one standing beside the one recording the whole event brought his fists up and charged, swinging a wide haymaker that Nova blocked. Grabbing the top of the bat, she slammed the handle-end into the assailant's stomach, then landed a right-cross that knocked him down. When he went to stand, Nova swung the bat into his side repeatedly as she dropped it on the ground. Seeing his friend getting beaten, the third thug in the group charged at her. Her eyes narrowed as he went to punch her, her forearm coming up to block the hit before coming back around with her elbow and striking him in the face.

With his head rearing back, She capitalized by taking his arm and twisting it behind his back, knocking him off balance enough to grab him by the head and slam it into a nearby lamp post. Effectively taking him out of the fight. With three of the thugs taken down, She turned to the one who held the camcorder who was steadily backing away. "...oh....man." he muttered, now afraid with the odds against her. Nova swing her right leg with a swift, knocking the device from his hand and sending it smashing against the side of a building. "If I see you messing with this man again...you and your buddies won't be getting back up. Consider yourselves lucky." She threatened as her eyes stopped glowing. That being said, she walked toward the stunned Raoul who didn't see her glowing eyes while the other four just got up and ran away in fright. 

Raoul said weakly, "How....how did you do that?"

"I...don't know. " Nova replied, a little hesitant at first, but still managing to be truthful. "Still...it was FOUR against ONE. You fought them....how is it---?" the man said.

She stopped him and said, "Hey, None of that matters, what matter is that those Four who couldn't fight are....bunch of Idiots." Which Raoul chuckled at her comment as she helped him get in his feet. She couldn't leave injured so she decided to help him for a bit. "Come on, we better get this stuff back to your place ." As the duo made their way back to the overpass, even she doesn't know when she learn to fight but she was thankful that she learned it.

 End of FlashBack   

Blinking a couple times, I shook my head a bit before focusing back on the present, listening as Arcee's voice echoed from the open comm. link channel. "If it's here i don't see it." Arcee said frustrated.

"Are you certain Arcee?" Ratchet said calmly.

"i searched every file, nothing!"

"Well, search again! Clearly you missed something!"

"I scanned the entire database!"

"Did you use a redundant quantum algorithm?"

"Don't tell me how to research. You think you're the only one who cares about Optimus?" Arcee said with slight hesitance in her voice, over the comm link you could hear a series of beeps coming from Bumblebee she couldn't quite hear what he was saying due to Ratchet and Arcees argument, but it was obviously urgent.

"What is it?!" Arcee hissed at Bumblebee

Suddenly, a sharp gasp issued from Arcee's end of the line. Immediately Ratchet was on alert. "What is it? What's going on?" he asked worriedly.

"It's Megatron. He's....alive."

She froze. She muttered, "No.Way."

"What?!" Jack yelped, understanding just how dangerous Megatron was, despite never having met him before."That's not possible," Ratchet insisted, obviously hoping like they all were that this was all some very bad joke.

"This day is just getting better and better." Nova thought

"Well, I'm staring right at him. The good news is, Megatron isn't exactly staring back."

Optimus had obviously been listening because he rasped out weakly, "Megatron...."

"Be still." She told him sternly, not becoz she cares but worried about him.

"He's critical, hooked up to life support. Time to finish this once and for all."

"Wait! Don't!" Ratchet suddenly yelled. "One good reason, fast!" Arcee replied.

"Megatron may be Optimus's only hope for survival." He stated."What are you talking about?" she said. "Does he display brainwave activity?" he asked her.

"Spiking hard. His sick minds still at work." She said in disgust. "Perfect! If a cure exists, Megatron may be the only one who knows it. You must enter his brain, and find it." Ratchet said.

"Enter Megatrons brain?" Arcee thinking this was a joke. "Ratchet are you out of your fragging mind!"

"The Decepticon laboratory should contain all the equipment you need for a coracle psychic patch." Ratchet stated. "No way, have you ever even performed the procedure?" Arcee questioned.

"No" Ratchet simply said. "But i have thoroughly studied the theoretical litterateur, invented by Decepticons, outlawed by Autobots."

"Whoa! Can't we just haul Megatron through the groundbridge buy us some time to figure this out?" Arcee asked.

"Time is one thing that Optimus does not have! One of you must try this!" Ratchet said forcefully. "i will not allow Optimus to pass knowing that Megatron will outlive him!" he finished angrily.

This whole situation was making her heart beat fast, she's sure Optimus wouldn't want anyone sacrificing themselves if this doesn't work for his sake, but how do you choose one live over another? You just can't. The shouting, Hiss possible death, and all this in general made her feel angry at herself. Unable to do anything to help him. Moments later though she couldn't block that out for long, her conscience got the better of her for she could not hear anymore arguing.

"A-Are you sure Bumblebee?" Nova heard Raf say.

"Bees the best scout there is." Bulkhead said reassuringly to Raf. Thankfully, Jack and Miko were there to support him. Nova just hoped this crazy plan worked.

Later

"Communications downlink activated," Ratchet called over to Nova, drawing her attention back to the screen they were all surrounding, Ratchet moving aside so she may see. "This will allow us to hear and see everything Bumblebee does while in Megatron's subconscious mind." She nodded, watching as the scout trekked through an unknown territory.

He stumbled across a very familiar figure...

"No, Bumblebee, that is not Optimus." Ratchet warned as the scout darted for the figure standing before him. "Ratch, Optimus' vitals," the bulky green giant said worriedly. Already, Optimus' optics were offlined as he had fallen into a fitful and likely pain-filled recharged a short while ago while Nova had climbed up onto his chassis to watch over him better.

"I know...." Ratchet sighed as Optimus groaned again. An evil, maniacal laugh filled the base, drawing her attention back to the screen. "Optimus Prime," a familiar voice sneered evilly, Optimus stirring in his recharge. "Your Autobot armies have been defeated. Bow before your new master."

"Never, Megatron." The deep baritone rumbled through my chest, my breathing hitched for half a beat before she could settle it again. Optimus groaned as she shushed him, running her hand across the metals. "Please, Optimus....Be Strong." She whispered as his optics flickered open.

"Do you know any lullaby's?"

Nova looked up to see Raf watching them, his eyes hopeful. "Whenever I'm sick, my mama sings me a lullaby...." He kicked the ground nervously, looking down.

She wanted to help although she doesn't know any lullaby or doesn't know how to soothe Raf that everything will be alright. As she was about removed her hand until a flashed of an image appeared in my head.

MIndscape

It was like a video recorded which was different where it showed me a white room and a mysterious lady in lab coat sitting in front of her and stroking her head. Her mouth was moving almost like it was singing which was sounded the same that Nova hummed, this time with words. She smiled at her and mouthed with a gentle voice, "This lullaby helps me soothe away my worries or nightmares. I hope you remember it....."as her voice echoed into Nova's mind when she said 'remember it'before the image began to static then faded into gray screen.

End of Mindscape

Nova shook her head as she clenched her head and notice she was still back at the base. She wondered who was that mysterious lady and what she said about lullaby. Lullaby's have a strict, steady beat that she could stretch as long or as short as she wanted. He could still follow the beat, and she wouldn't be so breathless. Nova checked the screen as Raf moved back to stand closer to the others. Bumblebee was being circled by Megatron who was questioning him intently. She wondered if the song she hummed was really a lullaby? The words that sang in her memory became cleared and was beginning to remembered the song. She shrugged, turning to Optimus, 'its worth a shot.' She placed her hand on his helm as she began to sing that she recalled from that memory.

Spi, mladenets moy prekrasnyy, bayushki-bayu

Tikho smotrit mesyats yasnyy V kolybel' tvoyu

Stanu skazyvat' ya skazki, Pesenku spoyu;

Ty zh dpemli, zakryvshi glazki, bayushki-bayu.

Bayushki-bayu

Optimus' optics flickered as he held NOva's gaze, herfingers lightly tracing the exposed lines, hoping to ease his pain if not just a bit. They were losing their glow, slowly but surely. She pushed through her songs with unshed tears.

Bogatyr' ty budesh' s vidu I kazak dushoyr

Provozhat' tebya ya vyydu Ty makhnesh' rukoy

Ty makhnesh' rukoy.. ..

Skol'ko gor'kikh slez ukradkoy

YA v tu noch' prol'yu! .

Spi, moy angel, tikho, sladko, Bayushki-bayu.

Bayushki-bayu

As her song came to an end, Optimus fell back into his recharge, She evened her breathing back as before, her eyes looking to see Bulk and the kids gawking at her.

"What?" Nova said confused. "That was..." Jack hesitated. Raf finished for him,".....Beautiful." Miko exclaimed over the rail, "YOU NEVER TELL ME YOU CAN SING?!" NOva ignored her as she turned her head, noticing a lack of a medic. "Where's Ratchet?.."

"Working on the cure. Bee got it." Bulkhead grinned. "He's going to be okay."

Without even realizing it, She released a sigh of relieved that they had the cure; everything was going to be alright. Ignoring everything else around her, Nova then returned back to watching her guardian, eager to see him well again soon.

After fast Recovery

Watching from a dark corner of the room, Nova watched Ratchet help Optimus stand up. "That's it," the medic encouraged as the Prime wobbled on his pedes a little. "Steady."

The cure Megatron had provided had indeed worked and now all signs of illness were gone from the scarlet and blue bots features. Everyone was cheering, laughing, clapping and smiling at Optimus, happy to see him recovered and standing tall once again. "Please," He said humbly, "Reserve the hero's welcome for my physician and my scout."

Everyone applauded the two bots but as they did so Nova was glad he was alright as she immediately got up, thankful that no one was paying any attention, and heading into the hallway. She head to her secret room as she sat there with her thought in her mind. She wondered about the memory she saw, showing the white room and the mysterious lady. The song she sang was clearly from her yet how did she know the words. She tried to remember more but the pain in her head prevented from going further which frustrated her.

Campy comforted her again which calmed her down. None of that matter, even she doesn't remember what matter was that OPtimus was alright. She witness how Bumblebee risked his life just to get the cure from Megatron, even in a dangerous situation. Then, she recalled from what Raoul said to her; "I know you don't need anyone but you need to learn to trust your friends and have faith in them. BEside, everyone watches out for each other."

"Knowing you, you'd just tell me that that they just do it because they care, eh Raoul?" Nova asked no one in particular. She remembered the time she returned the favor for helping her after she disappeared.

 FlashBack

After saving him, Raoul and Nova shared food with the other homeless. Later, He guided her to the abandoned apartment where she sees a few homeless passed by. He showed her to the room where two old mattress is."It's not much but It'll do for now. You better get some sleep, tomorrow I hope you find what your seeking."He said as he fell asleep on the other side. He offered her a place to stay at the abandoned apartment. It may not have been perfect, but it was a better home than the one they had. And one that would be better suited for the new life that had just been born. She lay on the mattress and fell to a slumber.

In the middle of night, she had woken up a few minutes ago, she rise her from slumber. Yawning, she looked around the room, finding Raoul still sleeping on the side of the room. She wrote something on the poster that she find as a message that she left. She tiptoed out of the room and quietly closing the door behind her before making her way down the stairs and out into the alley behind the building. She stared at the sky then at the apartment, she was thankful that Raoul gave her a place to stay but she couldn't stay for long becoz she had someplace she needs to be; searching what she was looking for.

She doesn't know what she'll find out there but she had to go. She was about leave when she heard voices coming from around the other side of the building. Curious, she moved silently along the wall and peered around the corner;

"You sure about this, man? We could get into a lot of shit if we're caught."

"We ain't gonna get caught. Besides, these fools had it coming. This will send a hell of a message."

"Yeah! Besides, we'll be doing the city a favor."

Her eyes widened, then narrowed dangerously when she saw the four boys that she dealt with the day before. All of them huddled around the side of the building with four, bright-red canisters among them. A small gust of wind carried the smell of gasoline to her nose.

'They're planning to set the building on fire! WITH EVERYONE STILL INSIDE!' Nova thought to herself, fear gripping her chest...but also a burning rage. Those idiots had nothing better to do than to messed with those they think beneath them, and since their egos were bruised they intended on killing innocent people for sick kicks?! She felt furious that they're few other people who do selfish deeds. Her powers flared in anger.

"Well, let's get this over with." said the obvious leader as he uncapped the first canister and went for a window with the boards torn off---

He was suddenly frozen for a moment before being flung backwards. Slamming into the side of a dumpster and leaving a large dent in the metal. "What the---" said another before he was sent flying when something invisible impacted his chest, throwing him into the brick wall of the building hard. The remaining two looked around nervously, their eyes locking on a figure approaching them from the shadows.

Nova stepped out into the light of the nearby street lamp, her expression as cold as the air around them as she leered at the thugs. "You.....just made a BIG mistake." she seethed.

"What are you doing here? Here to get your butt kicked?" one of the two remaining thugs said cracking his knuckles and stalking after the hooded-girl, who had remained perfectly still. When he was within range, he swung hard---

His fist being caught in Nova's open hand and stopping cold. He didn't so much as had a chance to look in surprise before the she brought her other fist upward into his elbow. A reverberating crack echoed as the limb bent back in the opposite direction. The thug screamed in pain briefly before Nova slammed his open palm into his neck. Silencing his wails and causing him to choke and gag. His friend ran to his aid, throwing a kick at the hooded-girl, only to have her duck under the attack, coming up with the leg over her shoulder as she used the other man's own momentum against him and flung him off to the side. Now face down in the ground, Nova walked up to him and stomped his heel down on the back of his knee. The joint crunching under the pressure which caused another cry of agony.

With all four thugs down, She flared her powers and lifted them with TK. Bringing them all together, back to back with one another, before grabbing a long piece of rope from the dumpster and tied it around them, restraining them completely. Walking over and crouching infront of the one he took to be the leader, the one who had the baseball bat the other day, he flicked him hard in the head, making him stir. "What the heck..?" he groaned, coming back to consciousness after having been tossed into the dumpster."How you feeling blockhead?" she asked, making the thug look at her and snarl.

"Cursed you, freak! You and those other homeless scum deserve to die for---" he was cut off when the she punched him in the jaw hard enough to snap his head to the side, blood splattering from his mouth and onto the ground beside him."Apparently you're too stupid to see that you hold no power here. Allow me to teach you a lesson." Nova stood up and walked over to one of the cans of gas the thugs had brought with them. Picking it up, she came back over to the men before opening it and dumping the contents on their legs.

"H-Hey! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!" the one with the broken arm screamed, pain forgotten as the gas was dumped on their lower halfs as she walked around them in a couple circles until the can was empty. Tossing it aside, Nova reached out with TK and pulled a zippo lighter from the leader's pocket. The one he obviously intended to light the building on fire with as she stood over them flipping it between her fingers.

"What's the matter?" she asked, seeing the terror on their faces. "You had intentions of killing me and those homeless people by burning a building ontop of us, why should I care about what happens here and now?"

"L-L-Look man, we were just messin' around! No one was gonna get hurt!" the thug with the busted leg pleaded. "One....." Nova said, started counting and clicking the top of the zippo open.

"It...It was Tom's idea!" the one he threw into the building shouted, motioning toward the leader. "He made us do it!"

"Two...." She flicked the lighter, a small flame coming to life and dancing in the darkness. "Wanna try one more time?"

The leader, Tom, spat at her feet. "You ain't got the nerves!"

Nova tilted her head, stretching out her arm until the lit zippo was held over their gasoline soaked legs. "Then I guess this...is game over." she then promptly dropped the lighter. All four men screamed in horror, all bravado going out the window as they struggled hard to get away and pleading for their lives to be spared...but nothing happened. No flames, no pain, nothing. When they looked up, they saw the zippo hovering in the air, just out of reach of the gas fumes that would ignite in a moment's notice. Glared darkly down at them, Nova brought the lighter back up to his waiting palm, having caught it just in time with TK. She wanted to killed them but somewhere deep inside is telling her not to.The faint smell mingled with the smell of gas telling him that she just made her point VERY clear. Reaching out her hand, her powers glowed around her hair as she picked the thugs up with TK and held them in the air above him with her blood lust look;

"Never bother these people again." She said lowly and dangerously, "If I find out you tried anything to hurt them in anyway, I will come looking for you. I WILL find you. And I will KILL you...Understand?"

The four men nodded so fast they may have gotten whiplash from it, feet dangling a good couple feet from the ground. NOva removed the rope that was restraining them before throwing them out into the street, all of them landing in a large pile of garbage on the other side. Her powers turned off and rolling her shoulders, NOva safely disposed of the rest of the gas before she left the apartment. She turned to the building one last time and was thankful that they are safe. As she disappeared into the night.

End of FlashBack     

That day had changed everything for her after she saved Raoul. Nova became more guarded and careful, and had a demeanor mask. It was like a blast of icy cold wind to the face after just leaving a warm shelter; and the cold was only going to get worse. When she struck out on her own, her trust and faith in humanity declined dramatically as she scavenged, fought, and survived on the streets. That's how she earned the nickname 'Night Kiler.' No one messed with her unless they wanted to deliberately pick a fight with one of the most feared women in the underground.

But once again, it seemed fate had decided to shake things up once more by adding Optimus Prime to the mix. As soon as she had met the alien leader, he had begun chipping away at her walls—which she had gotten disturbingly good at building up over the weeks—without her even noticing at first. And now her mask was starting to crack too as her emotional walls got weaker and weaker. Nova could probably build them both back up no problem, but the question now was: Did she want to shut Optimus out?

Sighing, She shakily got to her feet and unrolled her jacket to see her left arm still had scar that had been healed weeks ago. She recalled when Raf almost got blasted and Jack almost got killed. It frightened the thought that they would have been gone if she hadn't save anyone. Before she was able to save Raoul and the other homeless people from being burned to flames but now She wasn't able to help OPtimus, all she did was watched and couldn't do anything.

Honestly, NOva didn't really need time to think about it as she already knew her answer to that question; She was just stalling. In a way (now that she considered the situation a bit), it was sort of inevitable that she come to trust her guardian Optimus Prime. He was just always there. He never forced her to do something she did not want to and understood the subtleties of when to say something and when not to. And he actually asked about her welfare out of genuine concern, not because it was required by social etiquette. Those were definitely all rather promising marks in his favor. No one had ever cared about her before just like Raoul who helped her.

With her sleeves rolled back to cover her scar, SHe headed out the door, carrying Campy in her hand as she left, fully intent on heading back to Optimus' side to keep an eye on him. After today's events and these new revelations, She wasn't going to let him out of her sight anytime soon if she could help it.'Get ready, Prime,' Nova thought as she walked down the hall. 'Because I'm gonna be glued to your side until you recover.'

Walking quietly down the halls of base, Ratchet headed towards the medical bay to check up on the welfare of his patient, whom he had confined to the medbay for overnight observation. He did not encounter any of the other Autobots but that was no surprise considering it must have been somewhere around midnight. As a result, the halls and medbay were dimly lit but that was no problem for him since he knew the layout of them like the back of his servo.

Entering his usual workspace, Ratchet found that all was quiet. Even when he turned on a few more lights, his patient did not stir. Optimus was still in deep recharge, resting peacefully. Checking his Prime over carefully, the medic was pleased to find that no irregularities had occurred while he had been in recharge. At this rate, Optimus would likely be able to recharge in his own berth at the end of today's cycle. But as he was checking his patient's vitals, the ever observant medic noticed something unusual out of the corner of his optic. Looking over, Ratchet had to suppress a chuckle, smiling softly at the sight before him.

Nestled in the juncture between Optimus' neck cables and shoulder, a certain blue-haired femme laid there curled up and fast asleep along with a scraplet who was sleeping on her hood. Her knees were drawn up to her chassis in what was no doubt a rather uncomfortable resting position as her helm rested back on the exact spot where the Prime's shoulder met his neck cables. She almost blended in with her guardian's paint job with her black jacket if it had not have been for her blue hair—some of which now obscured her face from view—and pale skin which seemed paler than usual but that could have been a trick of the dim light. NOva barely moved as she recharged, the slow rise and fall of her chassis and occasional twitch indicating that the human femme was still online.

Turning back to the task at hand, Ratchet had honestly expected the human femme to go home with the other humans when they had left. But apparently she had decided to stick around for some reason.

Of course, the old medic wasn't blind either; he had noticed how worried she had seemed when Optimus was infected; he had seen how his leader and the quiet femme seems to grown gradually closer over the weeks since their first meeting and he was quite pleased with the results. He did not know how she had done it but Optimus seemed more open with the others now if only a little more. Sure he knew quite well that getting attached to such a short-lived race of beings was not ideal but seeing how Nova had managed to somehow worm her way towards Optimus' spark brought some joy to the old medic.

Ever since the war had begun, his old friend had felt the need to shut his emotions away in front of others in attempts to seem strong for his troops. He rarely laughed or smiled anymore like he used to before he became a Prime. And when the war began, those smiles and laughs became almost nonexistent. Until, he met Nova and she too share the same as he does. Whether that femme knew it or not, she was slowly beginning to opened herself. Ratchet was slightly thankful to her for getting Optimus to come out of his shell more. Indeed, as the oldest friend to the Autobot leader, he had noticed how the girl seemed to have a slight understanding over the Optimus, however minor it may have seemed. He even swore he saw Optimus almost smile once when the girl was around, even trying to help her to control her powers.

Double checking that everything was in order, Ratchet glanced once more at the endearing image before him before turning away and heading back to his own room and berth, mentally reminding himself to look into that little side project of his more later.