A/N: PLEASE EXCUSE my sad drawing skillz. I'm better at drawing what I see instead of making something new... from scratch. So that's Rachel now! Under her eye is a piece of Cybertronian metal from the tendrils  having gotten up to her face. Can you read the writing on it?? Its Cybertronian :)  also she has both wings it was jUST EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO DRAW IT GAH and she has a scar on the center of her chest. Also that is energon in parts of her hair. Certain strands of hair have it flowing through them.... weird.

So you get one wing, a weird face that and a piece of CNA protruding from her face........

Anyways, on with the story!

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*Rachel's Mindscape*

Jazz stutters, his processor frying at the image he was seeing right now. 

Primus.

The Creator HIMSELF

Was standing before them all.

INSIDE. RACHEL'S. MIND.

Primus seems to sense his confusion and offers him a simple nod. "Jazz, there is no need to be concerned. I am here because I have seen this human's capacity for love, care, and kindness." He walks forward towards Onyx, and rests a hand on the Predacon's shoulder. "She has passed many tests and stayed strong through them all......" The Creator gazes at Jazz, then Broadwing, and his optics fall finally on Rachel's form. It was still beyond belief, and at the sight, Jazz's spark stops. 

She wasn't breathing anymore.

The mindscape was collapsing around them.

The once shining blue landscape was now dark, and the only things illuminating this endless abyss were Onyx Prime and Primus himself.

The Creator kneels down to Broadwing's midsection, eyeing the girl carefully. His optics are full of understanding and care. He reaches down and gracefully cups her cheek. He lifts her head slightly to gaze at her closed eyes. "She is more than worthy of my help... After all she has sacrificed to help my last knight....." A smirk plays on his lips, and his optics slightly turn up to Broadwing. "Her forgiveness towards him is astounding..... Along with some other emotions." Broadwing gives a soft smirk at that, and Jazz smiles.

Onyx turns to face them just as a light begins to ignite from Primus' hand. "Rachel... Return to us.... Your time has not yet come...." The light begins to blind everyone, but Jazz is able to spot blue begin to return to the landscape around him and color starts to return to Rachel just before the light completely consumes everything around him. As the light fades, Jazz opens his optics and his face turns into a large grin. Onyx can't help but smile as well, and Broadwing slowly stands. Standing tall before Primus, (well, as tall as a human can to the creator of Cybertron) was Rachel Penelope Darby, eyes bright and shining once more with a look of gratitude and determination set in them. However, something was different about her. Jazz doesn't have long to think on it, though, as she turns towards him with a smirk on her face.

"We've got some aft kicking to do..."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

*On the Warship*

Optimus grunts as another blast slams into his chest and sends him flying back into a wall. His backstrut cracks as he makes contact with it, and the Prime can barely hold back his shout of pain. Raising his optics, Optimus glares at Megatron, who was standing at the entrance of the brig. Scattered around him were the beaten bodies of his team, still alive..... barely alive.

The laughter from behind the warlord causes Optimus to turn back towards them. Starscream steps forward and smirks. "What a shame.... If it hadn't been for the little human, your team might have survived this war....." His optics narrow and his grin widens. "How is she, by the way? One with the Allspark yet?" This angers the prime, but Ironhide is the one to madly rush forward. The doors slam shut, and the weapon specialist still slams into them, releasing an enraged shout. "I'll kill you myself, 'Scream! Scrap you to the Pit!" He huffs and slams his tied fists against the door once more before sliding down against the wall.

He was losing energon fast from his wounds, as was everyone else, but that isn't what worried their sparks. Feeling their optics on him, Optimus lets out a vent and clicks his com back on..... It normally shouldn't have worked...

But because of a certain human, it could bypass their shielding on the ship now.

"Ratchet..... Mission failed....." He can hear the doctor on the other side release a sigh of defeat. Just hearing that made his suspicions rise. "How is Rachel?" Optimus asks slowly, and silence answers him. No one speaks for a while, and dread fills everyone's sparks. Until...

"She's gone, Optimus..... I.... I'm sorry." Optimus hangs his helm, and the others follow suit. It was truly over. Ratchet was the last one out there since no one else had been spotted and were most likely still scattered around the United States.

A frantic voice suddenly fills his audio, and Optimus snaps his head up. "Ratchet! What is going on?" This causes everyone to turn towards their leader, who grunts as he sits up. The doctor doesn't answer for a moment, then he replies.

"I-It's Rachel.... Sh-She's gone!"

Ironhide growls at this and slowly stands. "You already made that clear, Ratchet!" The medic shutters. "No! No, no I mean gone! As in her body isn't even here!" Everyone's optics widen and even Wheeljack sits up straighter. Smokescreen grunts as he moves, but no one takes their optics off of Optimus. "Can you track her location?" The Prime asks, but Ratchet shoots back swiftly. "It's all over the place. Her biosignature keeps popping up in different cities around the nation...."

Suddenly, the ship rocks and Team Prime barely catches themselves before getting tossed around. Everyone looks around, confused, until Ratchet speaks again. "By the Allspark..... Optimus! You won't believe what I am seeing right now."

Before he can speak more, blaster fire is heard outside their door. Shouts echo around before being cut off by an all too familiar grunt. Carefully, Optimus stands and glares at the door. He lifts his good arm and it switches to a cannon. His gaze doesn't move until the door opens wide to reveal three very cranky wreckers. Leadfoot lifts his servos up defensively. "Relax Optimus! We're getting you guys out of here! Let's go!"

Behind him stand Roadbuster and Topspin. Both have their backs to the group and are firing down different hallways. Topspin turns and shouts at the wounded group. "I'd suggest ya get going soon! We don't have all day!" A shot skims his helm, and he grunts before turning and firing back. Optimus shifts his servo back into a hand and quickly makes his way towards Arcee, who could barely stand. Carefully, he craddles her in his arms and she huffs. "Well.... doesn't this look attractive...." She smirks and glances up at the Prime. "Don't think Rachel will be too jealous?" Despite the circumstances, Optimus lets out one small, soft smile. "No.... I don't think she would mind. Now, hold on!" He turns to the others, who were all standing painfully, but looked ready to go. "Autobots! Let's roll." With that they leave the brig and follow Roadbuster out towards the flight deck. Two engines rev loudly behind them, but before anyone can look, two motorcycles fly between them all and transform mid air, crashing into a couple of drones that had broken the defensive line. Then, the bikes race beside everyone else. They steal a glance at Arcee, who smiles at them. They return the smile before continuing and firing at anyone else that dared attack their sister.

Optimus gazes around while they run. Nearly everyone that was left behind was now by their side, on a Decepticon warship, over thousands of feet in the sky. Nothing was making sense to him, except one thing. It was impossible though, right? Unless....

The Matrix in his chest pulses, and he suddenly understands.

'Primus.'

Before long, they turn into the hallway that leads to the flight deck. The doors seemed miles away, even as they rushed forward. However, just as they reach the doors, a tall silver mech walks into view and blocks their path. The whole group stops, glaring at the mech. Megatron only smiles and waves a servo before him. "My, my! This is quite unexpected." As he speaks, more drones appear from behind just as the rest of the Decepticons file in next to the warlord. Optimus releases a low growl that catches even Megatron off guard. Carefully, the Prime lowers Arcee to Elita-1 and Chromia. The two take her gently and Optimus stands tall before Megatron, despite his wounds. This causes Megatron to growl, but the Prime doesn't move. "You will never win, Megatron." The Prime releases a blade from each servo, and the sliver mech only smiles. "A one on one? Optimus, I thought you were wiser than that....." However, Megatron also unseathes his own blade from below his cannon.

"One shall stand..." The Prime starts.

"And one shall fall...." Megatron finishes.

Just as the tyrant begins to move, the doors behind him snap open. Before he can turn to look, a blast echoes around and Megatron is flung forward. The Autobots barely have time to move out of the way as he barrels past them and slams against the ground. As all the decepticons turn to look, Starscream lets out an unholy gasp before staggering back, allowing the bots to see what it was that fired the shot.

Standing in the doorway, wings slightly spread behind her and tail pressed against the ground for balance, was Rachel. Her hands were covered with cybertronian metal, and above them were two ion cannons on each arm. She was holding them up and smoke was emitting from barrels, showing they were recently fired.

"You are the only one falling today Megatron...."

Shockwave shows no emotion, but gazes at the girl. "Astonishing....." He whispers, before turning to Soundwave. The visored mech gives him a nod. Quickly, Shockwave rushes between the shocked Autobots to help up his leader. "My lord, I suggest we retreat... For now." The warlord shakes him off and growls. Rachel returns the growl and lowers one hand. The cannon molds back into the armor on her wrist. She then waves her hand. "Let's go, guys!" She yells, and it takes Wheeljack moving first to shock the others out of their stupor. Smokescreen follows next, barely keeping up with Wheeljack. Bumblebee takes Arcee from her sisters and starts to follow until pedsteps echo behind him. Megatron hurls himself forward, blade out, aiming to finish what he started with the scout all those cycles ago. Bee barely has time to move before a flash of blue streaks by him and collides against Megatron's face.

Landing on her feet, slightly crouched, Rachel turns her gaze up and her tail wisks behind her madly. "Bad move..." Is all she says before darting forward again. The warlord growls and slashes down, but the winged woman counters by twirling herself. Her tail collides with the blade and wraps around it. Using the momentum provided, she throws herself straight at Megatron's chassis, then releases a blast from her cannon.

Megatron hollers in pain before flying backwards and crashing into the wall. Shockwave raises his cannon and fires multiple times at Rachel, and she raises her wing to block them. A hiss of pain escapes her until another blaster joins the fight and knocks Shockwave back.

Gazing up, Rachel feels her spark pulse when she locks eyes to optics with Optimus. He tries to smile, but only ends up releasing a slight groan in pain. This makes Rachel's face harden and she motions for him to fall back. "I will be right behind you, Optimus."

The Prime doesn't move at first, but as pain racks his frame again, he turns and begins to join the others on the flight deck. Rachel makes sure he clears the door before running as well. She starts to make it through the door until a portal opens directly in front of her. Rachel barely stops herself with her wings before barreling through it. Turning her head, she growls as Soundwave steps forward, having kept out of the main fight. Rachel glares at the mech, but upon hearing Megatron regain himself, she acts.

A burst of energon flows through her, and everything around her seems to slow. With ease she launches up, curling tight into a ball, and slams straight inot the chassis of the Decepticon TIC. He slowly begins to fall, but before he hits the ground, Rachel lands and fires two shots at Megatron before ducking as one missile skims her back. Turning her head, she growls at the false cop that was slowly rushing towards her.

'We are running out of time.... We cannot afford revenge right now.'

With a snarl, Rachel tuens and rushes around the closing portal, and the echoes of explosions and falling mechs soon enters her ears. As she nears the group, she hears Bee play a movie clip in confusion. "What now, boss?" A smirk plays on the girls lips as she blasts past them. "Now, we jump!" Startled gasps flow through the air as she launches herself off the edge of the ship. However, when everyone goes to look, they find themselves staring right at an open ground bridge. Rachel was hovering to the side. "Jump! Now!"

Ironhide is the first to do so, and slowly everyone follows suit. Bulkhead stutters a bit before getting a good shove from Leadfoot. He lets out a high pitch scream as he falls, and Rachel can't help but smirk. Reaching up, Rachel taps her ear and the ear piece grows larger, wrapping around her face like a mic would. "Brains, Wheelie.... How much time do you guys need?" The two were currently on the bridge, downloading the Decepticon database and messing with the controls to keep the warship steady. Brains speaks first. "We're almost done, lady. Just give me a few more seconds, then we can take the evac." Wheelie pipes in. "Yeah! These Decepticons ain't going to know what hit them!"

Rachel shakes her head just as the last Autobot jumps in.... Besides Optimus. The Prime was staring at her, and she gives him a smile that says 'We can talk later' With an exhausted huff, Optimus jumps....

And purple collides with his back.

He lets out a single, aginizing shout before his optics offline and he barrels over the portal and begins his descent. "Optimus!" Rachel shouts and she quickly dives for him. 'Lil' lady.... I don't think you can hold him..' Despite the truth behind the words, Rachel keeps diving. "I have to try..." She whispers to herself. As she nears him, she stretches out her arms and grabs ahold of two large metal plates near his shoulder. She wills energon to flow into her arms and strengthen her. As she feels her arms pulse, Rachel releases her wings from her back.

A shout of pain is released from the girl, but she doesnt let go. She lets out a painful roar as they begin to slow until she finally yells out one name. "Ratchet!"

"I'm on it."

Before another word is spoken, a portal opens near the two and Rachel does one flap of her wings to push then closer. She feels her ears strain, but no noise was behind her.

No Megatron.

No Starscream.

No one.

Not hesitating anymore, she roars out another name, lifting the Prime higher. "Optimus! Wake up!" She feels him move, and finally releases the Prime. As he nears the ground bridge, she coms in. "Optimus incoming!" As he vanishes through the bridge, Rachel hears a grunt on the other end and a muffled "I got you!"

"He's good!" Raf shouts and Rachel smiles. "Alright. Will," static echoes in her ear for a moment as she turns to gaze up at the warship. Two minicons had just launched themselves over the edge with a very angry red bot standing on the edge. With a strained groan. Rachel flies over and catches the two just as a male voice hits her ears.

"Rachel?! Y-You're alive?!"

The girl smirks. "Takes more than a little Decepticon torture to kill me." She makes it back to the portal and tosses the two bickering Autobots through without mercy. "Is the army ready, Colonel?" As William seemingly regains himself, he answers back. "Affirmative, Captain. 105 shells loaded and standing by." Finally, she gazes back at the warship and taps her ear piece again. "Bring the rain."

"Understood."

~~~~~~~~~~~~

After an hour, Ratchet gets a com. Stepping away from his work on Optimus, who had sustained with worst injuries besides Arcee, the medic glances at it and smirks. "Raf, open the ground bridge." As he heads back over to Optimus, the Prime gazes over the medic towards the bridge. The sound of beating wings makes everyone turn towards it besides Ratchet. Even Arcee, who was laying on a berth resting, opens her optics just enough to see the portal.

As the noise grows louder, Rachel slowly comes into view and gracefully lands in the venter of the main hangar. Raf closes the bridge and ruushes over to the edge of the walkway. His gaze falls on the girl and she turns her blue eyes to him with a smile. Before she can speak, footsteps slamming on the pavement pound everyones audio receptors and Rachel barely has time to tuen as Jack slams into her, essentially knocking her over.

The boy wraps his arms around his older sister and hugs her tightly. Rachel, out of her shock now, hugs him back and slowly begins to rub his back as he begins to sob. "I-I thought you were dead! W-We watched y-your sp-spark stop. Rachel...." He finally lifts his head and looks her dead in the eye, slightly surprised at the tears in them as well.

"I thought I lost you too...."

Rachel reaches up and brushes the hair from Jack's face. She slightly sniffs and wraps her brother in a hug onve more. "So did I, Jack...... So did I...."

After a while, Rachel finally releases him and he stands. Rachel follows suit and shakes out her wings. They suddenly begin to fold and collapse until they are firmly pressed against her back and are perfectly hidden from view. Her tail, however, stays out and sways behind her as she walks to the stairs. She could feel everyone's optics on her, and she knew she had a lot of explaining to do, but that didn't matter.

Her eyes lock with Optimus once more and she feels her spark sputter. He was safe, as was everyone else. A little beaten, but alive.

And that was what mattered most.

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A/N: HAH JOKES ON YOU! She ain't dead!....... Yet

Aaaaanyways. Heres a 3kish word chapter. Hope yall like it and please let me know in the comments of my announcement earlier what y'all prefer. Might get another chapter out tomorrow but this weekend is a no go. Busy with a retreat!

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