Have I ever mentioned how much Nova enjoy riding her motorcycle before? Because if you haven't yet, then you should know that Nova was seriously enjoy the feel of the wind brushing past her. It was something about the freedom that driving a powerful machine made her feel. Freedom. That's a great word to describe what she feel right now. She was taking it for drive just to have some air for awhile. She was taking a long way before she headed back to base.

PWWWWAAAAAAARP!

Risking a glance in one of her small rearview mirrors, NOva couldn't help but smirk a bit when she sighted a familiar-looking, red-and-blue semi driving a couple yards behind her. Thankful that the long dirt road was empty, Nova switched to the left lane and slowed a bit until she was driving side-by-side with Optimus.

From the looks of it, he was just coming back from one of his 'meditative' drives that she knew he took every one in a while to clear his processor. Apparently, Cybertronians of any kind don't like being cooped up too long before they go stir-crazy, too. Even Ratchet, who seemed to be the main inhabitant of base, got out every so often to take a drive.

Anyways, since we couldn't exactly exchange words, Optimus and NOva were content to mostly drive side-by-side, even if she wasn't supposed to be driving in the other lane like that. But nobody was around and she figured that there was no harm to it.

Speaking of which...they weren't far from base. But Nova was willing to bet that she could still have a little fun before they got to their destination, and she had to put on her impassive mask and act like an emotionless freak. I mean, Nova had not forgotten her dilemma from the night before, but a little fun wouldn't hurt, right?

Accelerating once more, She maneuvered her motorcycle until she was in front of Optimus. Then, ever so carefully, Nova began to almost taunt him in a way, slowing down a bit on purpose before speeding up and doing swervies and whatnot in front of him, even revving her engine in a challenging way once in a while. It was kind of funny.

For a little bit, Optimus just to ignore her actions, continuing at the same speed they had been going at. It wasn't until Nova had started pulling some more daringly dangerous stunts like wheelies, switchbacks and a leap of faith, that she got a reaction out of him.

Optimus noticed his charge seemed to be in a rather playful mood today. But that could have just as easily have been misinterpreted as mischievousness on her part, especially considering the prank she had pulled on Ratchet previously. Anyway, coming upon her like this had been a bit of a surprise for him.

The stresses of leadership had been getting to Optimus a lot recently. So, it was inevitable that he had eventually decided to take a long relaxing drive around the area. This venture had been long overdue, and he always seemed to forget how enjoyable these drives were until he took another one.

And then he had come across Nova.

Just as he was heading back to base, he had found her riding around on her black motorcycle. He had been surprised to say the least when he first saw her. They were quite far from base after all, and he could not come up with a viable reason as to why she would be out here, driving alone on one of the back roads. Of course, he sincerely hoped that she was not planning to go on another one of her 'trips' after the last one. But it seemed that his worries were for nothing because NOva just seemed to be enjoying the freedom of driving like he was.

After getting over the shock of meeting so unexpectedly, they had both wordlessly resolved to just be content with driving like this together.

Maneuvering so that she was zooming along in front of him, he hadn't thought much of it at first, which was a mistake on his part. She had then started to accelerate before just as suddenly decelerating, slowing until her back wheel was only a yard or two from him. Then, like a sparkling she had begun to swerve from one side of the lane to the other, leaning dangerously to the side on the curves before straightening and revving her engine loudly a couple times.

It wasn't until Nova came particularly close to crashing into him that he realized that she was goading him. But, he did not give in, content to let her entertain herself this way while keeping a close eye on her so as to make sure that she did not end up hurting herself.

As it was though, ignoring her seemed to be the wrong thing to do as Nova then stepped up her efforts and began to perform more dangerous tricks like pulling various wheelie maneuvers, and turning on the seat of the bike so that she was facing the opposite direction her bike was going and waving cheekily at him before turning back around. And on one spark-stopping account, She had actually stood on the seat of the bike and jumped as high as possible into the air only to land onto the tank of the bike.

Eventually, Optimus just decided to give in to her sparkling-like antics and play along for a little while, if only to prevent her from doing more dangerous stunts.

Revving his engine loudly, the Autobot leader accelerated until he was a mere two meters from touching her back tire before decelerating. In response, Nova zoomed off farther ahead before slowing down again and swerving from side to side a mere two feet from his radiator grille. Had he been in his bipedal form, Optimus would have been shaking his helm in exasperation; the cheeky femme was toying with him. Chuckling softly, they continued their little game for a short while longer before the base finally came into sight. Of course, knowing Nova, she would not let them go in without one last hurrah.

A second later, he was proven right when Nova pulled up beside him and revved her engine in challenge. Revving his in response, they both gunned it, aiming toward last meter mark at the end of the road, which was the unspoken finish line.

Sixty meters to go...

The marker was in sight.

Twenty meters to go...

Almost there.

Five meters to go...

They were neck in neck.

Nova and Optimus both roared past the marker at blinding speeds. It wasn't until he checked his speedometer that he realized that he had been traveling several miles over what even his vehicle mode was technically capable of doing. He honestly didn't know who had won. But oddly enough, he found that he did not care all that much, either. Their little race had been rather...fun.

It was rather odd, he realized, that all the little enjoyable experiences he had been having as of late usually had something to do with his charge, Nova. The short conversations, the interesting explanations of human culture versus cybertronian...even this little race; they all involved Nova. But he guessed that that was part of the enigma that comprised Nova.

Rolling into base, everyone glanced over at them before most of them turned back to their pervious activities.

That is until Ratchet stepped forward.

"And just where have you two been?" he demanded, looking between both of them like a parent waiting for his kids to actually tell him where they had been at two in the morning.

Optimus and Nova shared a look, and the Prime briefly noticed how his charge had a rather mischievous look on her face that dared him not to laugh.

"We were merely taking a drive, Ratchet," Optimus replied coolly, acting for all the world like they had not just been racing. Nova had to admit that he had a pretty impressive poker face, but she guess that came from years of practice. Nova shook her head when an image of Optimus trying to play poker popped into her head. Honestly, the weird places her mind went sometimes.

Seeing that while she had been distracted by her thoughts, Optimus had managed to send off Ratchet, She smirked up at him.

"By the way, I totally won that one, OPtimus," I said impishly.

The corners of Optimus' mouth twitched, and his striking blue optics shined with amusement. "Whatever you say, Nova." Even with that deep, baritone voice of his, the way he said it was like he was merely humoring a small child. However, she could tell that he had had fun.

Nova gave a smile sent in the Autobot leader's direction, as she moved to put her bike in a corner before removing her helmet and heading back to her room for a drink.

Later

Nova was watching a monster truck rally with Bulkhead, much to Ratchet's displeasure. Nova had never seen a monster truck rally before so Miko showed her by watching TV.

"Hoo yeah!" Miko cheered.

"Ohhh..." Bulkhead moaned as he face palmed at the sight of the monster truck crushing cars.

"MUNCHED!" Miko declared. "Ouch....That's gotta hurt." NOva winced at the show, even Campy seems to be shuddering in her arms, not liking the violence.

"Give it up for the baddest beast machines on the planet!"

"Would you mind lowering the volume?" Ratchet pleaded as he turned away from the computers. "Hey, Ratch! Check out the Monster Truck Rally Miko took me to last week!" Bulkhead suggested.

"I compiled some highlights on my cell phone," Miko said excitedly as she took out her phone. "Innocent vehicles battling for the pleasure of human spectators? Blood sport!" Ratchet visibly shuddered before walking back to his computers. 

  "YEAH!" Bulkhead and Miko exclaimed excitedly.  Nova mumbled, "I'll never understand why anyone would watched this show." 

"You could be helping Optimus in the field right now," Ratchet remarked. "Aw, he doesn't need my help to save some ancient educational thingamabob," Bulkhead scoffed. Ratchet shook his head gravely.

"The 'thingamabob', to which you refer, is a Cybertronian data cylinder,"

  At a press of a button, the Monster Track Rally disappeared from the screen and the diagram of the data cylinder filled the television set, earning protests from Bulkhead and Miko. But Ratchet ignored it.  Nova was intrigued by the diagram that Ratchet was showing.

"And there is no telling what vast intelligence it may hold. During the Golden Age, dozens of these cylinders were created. Each containing the sum total of Cybertronian knowledge on any given subject. Stellar cartography. Medicine. Ancient mythology. When the war broke out, the cylinders were hidden throughout the galaxies to keep them as far as possible from Decepticon reach. "

"Isn't it the same like the protoforms, which were sent out from Cybertron to keep them safe?" I asked.

"Yes, but detecting one signal here – on Earth – is the opportunity of a-," Ratchet was explaining, only to be interrupted by Miko's groaning.

"T.M.I, dude!" Miko groaned.

"Switch it back! I wanna see the Hoedown Showdown!" Bulkhead begged.

"Ratchet! Decepticon ambush! The cylinder is at risk! We require backup!" Optimus spoke through the com link.

"Backup is what I'm built for," Bulkhead smirked as he stood and pounded his two fists together.

"Go kick some fenders, Bulk!" Miko cheered as Bulkhead ran through the GroundBridge.

"I have an important mission for you too, Miko," Ratchet smirked at her.

"Really?" Miko squealed excitedly...until Ratchet handed her a mop, "Awww..." Much to NOva's amusement.

Nova began to notice Miko was glancing between the mop and a distracted Ratchet before smirking to herself. Nova knew what she was thinking as Miko began to to run for the groundbridge. Nova groaned, "Really? For the love of....." she placed Campy before making a run to the groundbridge before it closes. Nova managed to grabbed Miko as she scolded, "Are you insane?"

 When they stepped out, they had to shield themselves from flying metal debris. Before them, was the battlefield between the Autobots fighting Decepticons. She witness many battles, but this one was more intense. Her thoughts were cut off as a shadow loomed over them, the shadow belonged to a Decepticon drone Bulkhead was pounding stumble backwards and begin to fall...on top of them. Nova got over her frozen shock as she pulled Miko and both of them ran out of the way of the falling drone. The force of the drone hitting the ground knocked Miko off of her feet and threw her to the ground behind a rock. While it made Nova slipped and fell while running off.

She joined Miko behind the rock where it was safe to hide and watching the fight. Miko gasp in amazement at the sight of Optimus and Knock Out fighting. Optimus grabbed Knock Out by the throat and punched him hard in the face, sending a screaming Knock Out hurtling to the ground near where Arcee was taking on Breakdown.

"Autobots, stand your ground! The artifact must not fall into enemy hands!" Optimus called as he went off to fight another Decepticon drone. Immediately, Arcee took off running for the data cylinder they were fighting over. However, before she had the chance to reach it, Knock Out tackled her roughly landing on the ground unconscious.

"Come to papa!" Knock Out smirked as he transformed and ran towards it...only to be knocked away by Bulkhead.

"Run to mommy!" Bulkhead remarked......only to be attacked from behind by Breakdown. "Say uncle! SAY IT!" Breakdown challenged as he held Bulkhead in the air by his head. While Nova was distracted watching the fight, Miko made the run for it.

"Miko!" Nova half yelled, not wanting to get myself caught. She slid across the ground as she stopped and landed against the cylinder panting. Knowing Miko pulling off crazy stunts like this, Nova made sure there was a clearing until she ran after her by the cylinder. When Nova got there, Miko dialed a number and held the phone to her ear.

"Ratchet, come in!" Miko begged.

"Miko?" This is an emergency channel! We need to keep it open for the oth-! Wait! Where are you and Nova?"

"Doy! We're with the thingamabob!" Miko answered in frustration.

"The thingama......The data cylinder!"

"Can you bridge it out of here, Ratch?" Nova asked through Mikos phone.

"I'll reactivate arrival coordinates!"

Within seconds, we heard the familiar sound of a portal opening up. However, it was too far away for our reach.

"Dude! Can you open it any closer?" Miko whined.

"Supply coordinates."

"Uh...50 yards?" Miko guessed.

"PRECISE COORDINATES!"

This wasn't going to get anywhere with Ratchet and the bridge. Miko moved back from the cylinder a bit and laid both hands and began to push. Nova helped her out and pushed as will only it wouldn't budge. Even with her super strength, it refused to budge. Miko then ran back and came running at it.

"Miko what are you...."

"One.....two.....," Miko counted to herself before jumping up and kicking it hard.

Her plan backfired as it made a sound of the machine slowly coming to life. The beacon glow a bright red and the multiple flaps spread out around it.

"Whoa!" Miko gasp in amazement at the sight. "Uh oh."Nova had a bad feeling coming from this. Soon the sound caught everyone's attention.

"MIKO?" Bulkhead exclaimed in surprise as he finally noticed her presence, "NO!"

Immediately, Bulkhead ran towards them and the data cylinder. Breakdown hit Bulkhead from behind and knocked him to the ground in front of the cylinder. As soon as he gazed up at it, a bright red beam shot at him on the forehead. After it stopped he groaned as his head fell to the ground.

"Bulk!" Miko gasped as she ran towards him.

"You really took one for the team, Bulkhead. My team," Knock Out remarked as he grabbed the cylinder. A GroundBridge appeared behind him and with Breakdown, Knock Out ran into it. The Decepticon drones who survived the fight took flight and retreated. Optimus, Arcee and Bumblebee immediately ran over to check on Bulk.

"Bulkhead, are you?" Optimus began asking.

"Fine, didn't even hurt." Bulkhead cut him short. Miko smiled in relief that he was alright.

As soon as they got back to the base, Bulkhead, wad immediately checked out by Ratchet. Bulkhead, however, wasn't in the mood for checkups.

"I helped lose that thing. I wanna help find it! I gotta get back in the field with Optimus!" Bulkhead protested as he went to stand. "Ah ah! You're under my watch now. Optimus' orders. And running a scan on your neuro net will be a wiser use of your time!" Ratchet declared.

"Come on, doc! There's nothing up there to scan!" Bulkhead projected as he removed the cables connected to his head.

"He seems fine to me," Miko agreed with Bulkhead.

"Are you sure? What about that time when Megatron was in Bumblebee's mind." Nova mentioned. She crossed her arms. "Ever since that 'incident'. Ratchet is not taking any risks."

"She's right. Ratchet told me. "If you insist on making yourself useful, you can help Miko tidy up." Bulkhead took the mop from Ratchet. "He's mad with power!" Miko groaned as Bulkhead chuckled.

"That's Ratchet. Nul vector squared alright,"

"What?"

"Hey. We got any paint around here?" Bulkhead suddenly asked as he glanced at the mop. "There should be some paint in storage well, one anyway." Nova said

"Art project? Cool!" Miko cheered. Nova facepalmed, watching as they scampered off in search of paint.

Later

"Guys, you really need to see what Bulk's painting in here."

"Ratchet," Nova called to the medic. "She sounds serious this time,"

"Yes, yes. I'm sure one hasn't lived until we've seen Bulb's take on life with lug nuts." Ratchet chuckled at his own joke, following Miko towards where Bulkhead and her had secretly started their 'art project.'

"See!? Did I tell you or what?"

"What the.....?!" Nova muttered, looking at the sight before her. Bulkhead was painting the sides of the control systems with white paint and a mop. But it wasn't a picture, it was bunches of hieroglyphics. He was muttering something that didn't make any sense to her whatsoever.

"That is not art,.." Nova mumbled, turning to Ratchet curiously.

"It's science,"

Ratchet brought Bulkhead to the medical bay and scanned his head before explaining the situation to Optimus and the others, "This hot spot you see here is information. Data. Living energy."

"Hold on," Miko panicked above Nova on the catwalk. "Its alive. Its on fire. And its in Bulkhead's brain!?"

"Chill, Miko." Bulkhead called from the medical berth. "The data's only in a fraction of My brain. Infestisimal by standard neuro-net densities." He paused, wide opticed, looking to Ratchet. "And.....How do I know this?"

"Based on what we witnessed during our skirmish, the living data must have been programmed to eject when it sensed unauthorized access." Optimus theorized.

"In other words.....A security measure," Nova nodded, following.

"It would've jettisoned heaven word, lost to the stars."

"Except my fat engine block got in the way," Bulkhead chuckled, knocking his knuckles against his helm.

"Every con there made a grab for it," Arcee pointed out. "But it goes off as soon as Miko touches it?"

"The cylinders originated from Cybertron's Golden Age," Ratchet explained. "Predating the Autobot/Decepticon division."

"So it would've considered any being not Cybertronian to be a threat," Nova finished, looking at Optimus for approval.

"Any alien life form, including humans."

Bumblebee buzzed, gesturing to the walls. "So here's the question, What are we staring at? Genius or gibberish?" Arcee translated.

"I don't want to rally anyone's hopes.....But these equations seem to be that of a formula for a synthetic energon."

"We hit the mother lode?" Arcee added.

"Girls, do you understand what this means?" Bulkhead asked us happily, "Energon provides our fuel, our ammo, our life force! With the natural stuff in such short supply here on Earth, this could solve a whole lot of problems!"

"Such as providing us with the edge we need to turn the tide of this war," Optimus offered. "Or handing us the key to revitalizing Cybertron," Ratchet piped in.

"We got the goods and all Megatron got was an empty bucket," Arcee remarked happily. "How often do I use my noggin to save the day?" Bulkhead asked rhetorically.

Nova, Campy and Miko sat watching Bulkhead right down his formula and it was taking all day. "Aren't you done yet?" Miko whined. "Gotta admit. It's weird seeing Bulkhead in braniac mode," Arcee said to Bumblebee quietly, earning bleeps in return. When Bulkhead finished painting another part of the equation on the metal board, Arcee came along and dragged it away, revealing another metal board. Miko was happy about this and declared.

"Break time! How about a lightning round of TNT Street Racer Seven?"

"....Energon temperature and volume," Bulkhead resumed his mumbling, earning a moan of disappointment from Miko.

"Aw." Miko sighed.

Nova lay on the floor as this could be awhile, She put her hands behind her head while Campy snuggle beside her as she stared at the high ceiling "he isn't stopping anytime soon, wanna go motor crossing?" Nova asked, hoping that would grab her attention. Miko looked at her slightly tempted by that offer as she bit her lip, "H-He'll be finished soon, and I'm sure Bulkhead would love to watch motor crossing." she said.

"I guess so, but I'm going to fall asleep soon." I said crossing my leg over the over.

Miko stood there for a moment as she tapped her fingers on the bar, "i know. Be right back." She told her as she ran off, Nova simply sighed and decided to nod off for a bit as the sound of Bulkhead spouting nonsense was so mind confusing it sent her to sleep.

She doesn't know how long she was sleeping until she felt someone shaking her. Nova stirred as she opened her eyes, revealing Miko with a worried look on her eyes. Nova got up, rubbing her eyes and asked, "What's up? It's almost like there's something wrong."

Miko said worriedly, "It is.....Something's wrong with Bulkhead."before she dragged her to Bulkhead. Miko asked her to used her technopathy to see what's on Bulkhead's mind, much to her surprised.

Nova said, "Woah woah.....I can only hack or talk to machines but I never done it to a cybertronian before."Miko begged, "C'mon, he's made of machine and technology....I'm sure it might work on him. All I'm asking is I want you to check what's wrong with him."

Nova thought about it, she never used her technopathy on a cybertronian. She wonder maybe she might want to experiment it. Nova sighed and said, "Alright.....I'll see what's up."Nova walked up to Bulkhead, who doesn't seem to notice and still speaking gibberish. 'What do I bother to do this? What does she mean something wrong with Bulkhead?'

Nova placed her hand on his frame as her eyes began to glow and her hand revealing a tron-lines. She was amazed that she was able to hack into a cybertronian which works. Until, it was short lived when her head jerks to the side as the flashes of images appear before her eyes. What she saw in Bulkhead's mind was filled with formulas that Ratchet mentioned and it was rushing through her mind. 

She felt her head shift back and forth as new images come and filling up her thoughts. Miko noticed that Nova just stood there frozen as she began to mumble strange words that doesn't make sense as more visions attack Nova's senses, making her feel like she's being pulled far away from reality, "Nova, Nova!! What's wrong? Why aren't you moving?" Miko clasp panickedly to her hands, trying to pull herself back to where she is, "Nova?!"

Nova felt her mind was invaded with many formulas and it was too much for her to handle, she wasn't able to remove her hand as well. Miko was afraid that Nova wasn't responding as she began to pull Nova away from Bulkhead which managed to separate the both of them and fell on the ground. Nova gasped and breathed heavily as she was back in the reality and she felt her mind was no longer burning. NOva began to questioned why there were so many formulas it's almost like it was spreading in Bulkhead's mind. Miko managed to separate Nova from Bulkhead, wondering what just happened.

Miko asked worried, "Nova?"

"W-We'd better consult with Ratchet." Nova told her, shaking the dizziness as she pulled herself back up, she nodded as her mouth hung open slightly, Nova brushed myself down as Miko jogged ahead of her.

"Ratch i think Bulks losing his mind." Miko said concerned, Ratchets face didn't give any look of surprise as Nova's and Miko's faces dropped.

"You...already know." Miko said feeling betrayed. "Miko we didn't want to frighten you, but rest assured Optimus has a plan." Ratchet said trying to reassure her.

"Optimus isn't Bulkheads doctor, i just need to know, when Bulks done spitting out that formula, he'll go back to being regular old Bulkhead right?" Miko asked half hopeful and half denial, in response Ratchet looked away from her. Miko then shut her eyes tight as Nova hold her left arm.

"Come on Miko like Ratchet said Optimus has a plan, most likely a way to get that data out of Bulks head, so let's go watch over him for the time being okay?" Nova said trying to reassure herself also.

She nodded slowly as they both went over to Bulkhead but again he was oblivious to anything except his paintings as he continued writing down the formula, Nova can see where Miko's coming from seeing Bulkhead like this it's like he's just a...machine. She know what she felt like where she was treated as a machine. Nova hugged Campy in her arms as she watched Miko focused on one thing herself as she stood beside her, she desperately attempted to get Bulkhead to remember his own memories

"Do you remember the time you saw Wheeljack lob his only grenade into a Decepticon heat exchanger?" Miko asked trying to see if he can remember anything.

"Who?" was the only response she received from the Bulk.

"Wheeljack! Your best bud.....besides me, of course," Miko answered as she showed him the photo she took of him and Wheeljack on her phone.

"Do you even know who I am?"

"Of course! You're....," Bulkhead trailed off. There was pain in her eyes, Nova wouldn't blame her, and she and Bulk were close friends. Nova know what's it like where she lost her memories as well, something she didn't want to experience again. She cringed when she felt an ache in her head from the mind surge.

"What about Nova," Miko grabbed her shoulders, "Don't you remember her." Bulkhead looked at Nova for a moment trying to remember, but that didn't last long.

"Equivalent to the flattening of the outlets void to the tenth power," Bulkhead mumbled. "Keep them coming, Bulkhead," Ratchet encouraged as he took the board away. "I'm sorry Miko." Nova said to her.

Nova saw her hold herself, she didn't answer instead she went over to the computer. "What are you doing?" she asked. "Groundbridging us to the monster truck rally i took Bulkhead too, that should jog his memory." she said hopeful.

"Miko we can't leave base especially in Bulkheads current condition." Nova told her firmly.

"Nova please..." she said welling up. "I can't lose him, the way he is now, it's like he's-he's, gone." She said. Nova felt herself loosen abit, for her to say that she was already at the end of her rope. She sighed, "Alright, alright I'm going to regret this but I'm coming too. Just in case."

Miko nodded her, "Thanks."

  "Yeah, yeah."   

Nova told Campy to remained in the base while Miko picked up the paint-soaked mop, Bulkhead was using and she flailed it in the air using it to make him follow.

"Come on." She encouraged "you wanna finish your formula don't you?" As Bulkhead followed mindlessly, NOva and Miko ran through the portal as on the other side was the said monster truck rally. "Okay we're here, now what?" Nova asked looking around the empty place.

"Just give him time to acknowledge his surroundings." Miko said as Bulkhead took the mop from her and wandered over to a wall, this was a sad sight, She never seen Miko so desperate and she kept trying to hang on to that hope that Bulkhead will snap out of it, but its not a case of remembering its that information in his head that's forcing all that out. Bulkhead again continued to paint his equations, as Miko ran up to him. "Hey Bulk remember that head on collision with those two trucks? Wasn't that some carnage?"

Bulkhead merely spat out some more gibberish...in Cybertronian terms, he's become a printer. "Miko..."Nova started sadly.

"Look! You love monster trucks. Remember when we snuck in here after the show last week?" Miko said trying again, and again there was no change in Bulkhead.

"Miko..." Nova said again.

"Hold on." she told me firmly. "Is any of this ringing a bell?" She said to Bulkhead.

Then we got a response from Bulkhead "bell curve? No that wouldn't factor in." But it wasn't the response we wanted.

"How about our Sunday morning dune bashings?" she said sounding more desperate with each question asked. "Rocking out to slash monkey, helping me out with my homework, ha ha trick question! You know i don't do homework...don't you?" she said in a small voice. "Okay forget the past, starting now we can make new memories." she said in her final hope.

Nova let her be, but its too soon Ratchet said so himself that theirs a plan, but she's worried, change as quick as this doesn't really sit well. Bulkhead spoke again in gibberish, Miko had to come to terms with the situation. "Bulkhead, i know somewhere inside you always remember me and i just want you to know, I'll never forget you." She said as she leaned against his leg.

Nova sighed, "Miko he's not lost, he..."

"Boohoo! I'm shedding lubricant."

They turned around and saw Breakdown and Knock Out. And they already knew what they were after. The data within Bulkhead.

"Scrap" Nova whispered.

"Follow me right now, or these guys are gonna...steal the formula!" Miko told Bulkhead.

"My equations." Bulkhead said with panic in his voice as he followed Miko out to the car park.

Nova stayed behind. "Screw this, no more running." Nova said as she faced Knockout, Breakdown transformed and came speeding past her, between the two of them Knockout was the brains and Breakdown the brawn so as he's destroying everything he comes in contact with instead of thinking she could count on Miko to outsmart the big lug.

"How cute." Knockout said as he got out his pole of electricity. "I really don't want to get the smell of scorched flesh running through my vents but i do like the crackling sounds whenever a bug gets zapped." He said as he harpooned the pole her way, Nova barrel rolled out of the way as Knockout got his pole stuck he used a little too much force there.

'What i know so far is that Knockout has a personal perfection and so how will he like this?'NOva thought as she scratched her nails down his finish.

By instinct Knockout grabbed his leg. "M-My finish." He said horrified as he tried shining it up again.

Nova then grabbed his pole; he was bent down on one leg so she ran up his back, 'Man, i look so dumb holding this huge thing." Nova thought to herself, without a second though she shoved that thing right in his neck. "yahhh!" Nova cried in an outburst of adrenaline.

"Dahhhh!" he cried as he fell flat on his face, she threw the pole to one side as Nova looked at Knockouts smoking neck.

"If that pole was about six foot long, i wouldn't mind having one myself." NOva said admiring it from afar, She jumped off Knockouts back as his fingers twitched slightly, "i haven't got long, but what to do about Breakdown." She said as she caught her breath then prepared for another run, i looked back though, i couldn't help but smile as NOva was finally able to bring a Decepticon to his knee's instead of just trying to survive of course with the help of there weaponry.

She found herself in the car park Breakdown was already laying waste to it in his search for Bulkhead. looking at his scale there was no way she could reason or dent his pride, he just focuses on one thing, so to find them NOva crawled her way through the many heavy weighted vehicles, She looked under then to try and find Miko's feet.

Knockout came driving into the car park too as he revved aggressively. He transformed and met up with breakdown, "have you found them yet?" he yelled frustrated.

"What happened to you?" Breakdown asked amusingly.

"Just find them, all of them." Knockout ordered.

"But we only need Bulkhead." Breakdown argued.

"Just do it." He said dangerously rubbing the back of his neck.

As they separated Knockout lifted up the vehicles in a more delicate manner then Breakdown as he was smashing every vehicle he past, Nova watched on as she did a series of duck, cover, duck, cover and rolls.

"Breakdown, forget the human. she's not the one i want." Nova heard Knockout said as she peeked her head round to see Miko run further and further away from the car park, Miko would ever abandon Bulkhead, so what was she doing? She looked over from her position which was farther apart then Miko's as she saw Bulkhead suddenly transform and paint all over Knockout.

"You painted my paintjob! Prepare for surgery!" NOva heard him yell as she ran in that direction.

"Why...am i always...in the most awkward...of places." She panted as she ran like i was on fire, as she approached closer, she saw two beams of red lights shoot up into the sky

"I did it again." I hear Miko gasp and I could see that she is actually worried. She gets near an unconscious Bulkhead.

"Dead battery." Knockout says as he scans Bulk with some machine. "Megatron is not going to like this." He mutters.

"You are not going to like me." Nova stated, deciding she had enough she jumped out from her  spot as she get in front of him, jump at him and punch the side of his face, just using one of her strength and her lightning power. 

"Urgh!" He yells as he quickly takes steps back and swats her away with his hand, making her fly a bit to the side, but she quickly flip to land on her two feet. She narrowed her eyes as she quickly get in front of Bulkhead and Miko in a defensive stance.

"Leave already, isn't it already embarrassing that a human is defeating you." Nova state blandly.

"Shut up!" He yells as he twirls his prod. "If we can't have the data, then we'll just have to peel you two!" He says as he charges at her.

Nova create a shield to surround the three of them and this time, She could handle the strength behind the force hit. He stumbles back before he charges forward and hits her shield repeatedly with his prod. It didn't affect her, not much. However, Nova saw Breakdown coming and he was peeved.

"I can't wait to crush you, fleshy!" Breakdown yells as he hits his hammer against her shield.

Electric sparks come out of her shield with each hit, and her energy is draining with each hit. Now with both of them hitting, and Breakdown's unrestrained strength, She's now having trouble keeping the shield up. With that blow, Breakdown finally crashes directly and it finally made her shield to dissipate.

Nova crouched in a position which rendered her weak. Miko cried, "Nova?!" 

Nova looked up to see Breakdown was about to brought down his hammer at her. Nova raised both her arms and shut her eyes ready to be squashed......but nothing happen. She slowly opened her eyes which made her shocked.Only to see her arms have been replaced with blue arm-blades similar to Arcees blades. And it was blocking Breakdown's hammer before pushing him back with her full strength. Nova stared in shock at her arms, Knock out and Breakdown saw her arms and stared in froze in shock at Nova.

NOva stood protectively in front of Miko as she ready for a fight. But just before his saw could get close enough, a groundbridge opened behind them as Arcee, Bumblebee, and Optimus jumped out and were ready to fight.

"Or peal out of here," Knock Out shrugged. With that said he and Breakdown booked it out into the desert.

"Bulkhead!" Miko sobbed by Bulkhead.Nova wanted to comfort her but she couldn't because she didn't know how she could retracted her blades back. When Arcee, Bumblebee and Optimus came to check on them, Nova could see the shock in their eyes when they saw her arms, but mostly when Bulkhead laid their still, unmoved.

Eventually, they returned back to base, Bulkhead was lying on a metal berth. Ratchet first attends to Nova to help her with her hands.

"Now, just concentrate and you should be fine." Ratchet instructed. Nova closed her eyes and concentrate hard, imagining her arms are back to normal.

She heard the sound of transforming she heard many times when the autobots transformed to change. Nova opened her eyes and saw the blades gone and arms became normal. Nova thanked Ratchet as he gave a satisfying nod before returning to the computers for Bulkhead, while Nova went to Miko's side where Campy was beside her, trying to comfort her.

"The data has been fully expelled. But Bulkhead remains completely unresponsive," Ratchet reported sadly.

"Because the energy took Bulkhead's mind with it. Heavenward. Lost to the stars," Miko sighed sadly, "It's my fault you'll never know the rest of the formula. And it's my fault Bulkhead's gone forever."

"Miko, your quick thinking prevented the formula from falling into Decepticon hands," Optimus reassured her.

"If anyone would have backed that play, its Bulkhead," Arcee piped in.

"It's simply too early to know the full extent of his condition. Something as simple as a familiar sight or smell; perhaps even a sound could trigger Bulkhead's awakening," Ratchet told her.

At that moment, Miko quickly stands up and grabs her guitar and plugs it in the amplifier. Nova and Campy subtly move away from Miko as she tunes up her strings. With her purple guitar pick in her hand, she raises her hand and then brings it down, playing one note that lingers around the base.

They all watched Bulkhead, hoping for him to show any sign. For a few moments there was nothing, until they heard a groan.

"Bulkhead?" Miko gasped hopefully.

Their response was Bulkhead raises up while imitating the electric guitar and faux playing it. Nova's shoulders sag in relief when Bulkhead states like it was the most natural thing in the world, "I love that song!"

He then looks around confused before he finally settles on his charge, "Miko?"

They both look at each other and Nova know everything is going to be alright. "I'm glad that you're back to your normal self, Bulkhead."NOva stated.

"Ha! You can say that again!" He said with a smile. Miko turned to NOva, "NOva, Thx for protecting me, even you didn't want to." Nova stared at her for a bit before turning her gaze away and replied, "DOn't mentioned it....beside now I understand why you like Bulkhead very much." Everyone stared at her, waiting for her answer.

"BEcoz you two are reckless.....Both of you, your like a walking wrecking ball." Nova complained. Miko and BUlkhead shared a look before she added, "And I guess I am too.....when it comes to charging to an enemy. Willing to risk yourself just to save a friend, You two really have a strong bond."

Miko stared at her completely stunned, she was flattered by NOva's praised. Nova was about leave before she was tackled by a hug, much to NOva's surprised. Miko said, hugging her tightly, "That is the nicest thing anyone has ever say to us. You are the most awesome friend, we should hang out more often. I know a many places that is awesome, we're going to have a blast." 

Nova tried to get out of her hug but she knew Miko wasn't letting for anytime soon. Nova saw the looks on the autobots who were smiling at them, especially OPtimus. Feeling embarrassed, her cheeks turned pink as she tried to struggled herself free. 

"Miko, Knock it off! You know I'm not used to this." Nova said, struggling her grip. Miko said to her, "Nope, it's hug time."  

 "Ugh, This is dumb."Nova groaned, however she actually managed a small but noticeable smile at the pig-tail girl that everything turned out good. They didn't get the synthetic formula complete. But Nova learned that friends and family will always come first.