"Well... at least I know how it feels to be Ruckus now, right?"

The minicon began his rant, scolding the femme as she gave a weak chuckle at his outburst.

         "I hear that again-"

He was silenced as Mune snatched him from the air, pinning him to the metal ground as if he was some prey she decided to have for lunch.

         "You are making to much noise for Ultra Magnus' liking," she hissed, nodding towards the currently unconscious leader.  

         "How can you tell?" Ruckus huffed, "He might as well be dead."

Grub made an angry clicking, resulting in Ruckus having to be held back by a metal talon of Mune's. Grub just baited him, his stinger sparking as he teased cruelly. (Y/D) simply sighed.

     Smokescreen just arrived from patrol, searching for any sign of Shockwave and Starscream. With Optimus currently gone, Bumblebee had taken lead after the accident with Ultra Magnus. The poor rookie couldn't help but blame himself.

         "Hey," he waved, seeing that (Y/D) hadn't killed the 2nd in command, thankfully, "How are you?"

The femme smiled when he came in, the only 'Bot she'd smile toward. (Y/D) didn't yet know of her Sire's return as Unicron's host, and while Smokescreen thought it cruel, it might be the best possible solution.

         "I'm doing well," she nodded.

         "No, I mean up here," he tapped his helm, "and perhaps here," he tapped over his spark chamber, "if you're willing to tell me."

     To this the Decepticon heir frowned. In that sense, she was far from 'doing well'. She was confused, aching and wishing to be with her Sire. She wanted to hear his voice again, listen to his stories. She wanted to be held on his lap, playing a memory game with her Carrier. But to her, he was dead now, along with her carrier... at least, she thought so, but something was nagging at her spark.

         "It's still a struggle," she finally admitted, "It's hard not to just go find the predacon... who would have thought my intervening would have confused him so much as it did..." 

The beast hadn't fought since Darkmount, coming back only to be locked up, and never released, the destroyed Project Predacon only just now known after searching the ship's files. When the ship landed, the beast was released by (Y/D), who found that he could transform, and he left, without another word. None was needed after the heavy glare sent her way.

         "At least he's only interested in surviving. But we did find him!" Smokescreen informed with a smile, "He's most likely going to fight off these new beasts to keep his self bestowed title." The mech rolled his optics at this silly notion. After all, what's a king without subjects? These new candidates were far from worthy opponents anyway, considering the height difference. Not to mention experience out in the field.

         "Probably," the silver femme nodded, picking at her single fang, as she often did while thinking.

     The rookie sighed, placing a servo on her pointed shoulder plate to earn her undivided attention, staring into those emeralds for optics that shone brighter than any star. How they entranced him.

         "It's going to be fine," he assured, "We'll find a way to undo what Soundwave and Shockwave did, then that scientist will get what he deserves after we find him!"

He was so sure... (Y/D) desperately wanted to share that confidence, but a constant nagging at her spark kept her worried. Not only did she want to murder any Autobot in sight, but something called her. She didn't understand.

         "(Y/D)?" she jumped at the sound of Ratchet, hiding behind Smokescreen as she tried not to shatter his spark into oblivion with her cannon, "What on Cybertron are you doing here? Where is Excelsior? Smokescreen I told you to keep away from here while Ultra Magnus is like this."

         "I just came back, okay?" the mech defended himself, "I found (Y/D) here, that's all! She didn't do anything."

         "We can confirm," Mune nodded, alighting on the medic's shoulder plating, "Ruckus, Grub and I."

     Ratchet huffed, but nodded, looking to a shaking (Y/D), and his optics softened. He hated seeing her like this, so afraid of herself, and there was nothing he could do to help. The damage to her processor was immense, hardly repairable. He didn't know what could be done.

         "I'm sorry," he sighed, "I'm just... a little cautious currently..."

         "Understandable," the femme nodded, still behind Smokescreen, "I will t-take my leave."

She took a step out, only to collapse as her spark fluxed painfully, and the new flier had to catch her so she wouldn't hit the ground.

         "Ratchet what's going on?" he demanded, the medic to slow for his liking as he brought her up into his arms. 

         "Don't ask me," he huffed, and pointed for her to be displayed on the counter, since the closest berth was currently occupied, "But I'll do my best to find out..."

         "Touch me, and die," the femme threatened, glaring at the medic, who took several steps back. Mune being the only one keeping her from lashing out since she was still on the medic's shoulder.

         "(Y/D), what's wrong?" 

The femme started to sit up, much to Ratchet's disagreement, but she took it slow for Smokescreen's sake as she felt Excelsior tell her to listen.

         "Something... wants through one of my bonds," she answered, "I've spoken to Soundwave a few times, so it's not him... and... Megatron is - Megatron is offline."

Ratchet sighed, Smokescreen cringed, earning a hit to his helm from the veteran. (Y/D) growled at the medic, and he wagged a digit as he scolded her silently.

         "Enough," he told her, simply tired, and not wanting to deal with any more drama, "Smokescreen, I want you with her at all times, and find Excelsior. (Y/D) don't leave his side."

The femme just nodded, glaring at the medic she once called family, only a kindled hate aimed towards him now, and she hated it. This feeling was far from deserved, she didn't want to feel it towards him, and was giving her all not to sever his helm from his body. Her anchor took hold of her arm gently, and she let herself relax into his hold. 

         "Get her somewhere safe, Smokescreen," the old medic sighed, shaking his helm, "guard her, as best you can."

The rookie nodded, guiding the femme out and toward the Nemesis, hoping that this would be the safest place wile the fight for Cybertron went on.

(Made the picture myself! I love her character and how she's turned out! Hope you all have loved this story as much as I have!)