[Rachel POV]

Racing through the Nemesis, I continue to gaze over my shoulder, my ears ringing slightly. I wasn't using my superspeed, as we were dreadfully low on energon. Broadwing had switched back with me long ago, but I could still feel his urge for more energon. He was holding it back quite well, but even his eyes twitched slightly.

'You got drones behind you, kid!' Jazz yells, and I scoff. "They can't shoot a bulldozer even if it was stopped in front of the- AGH!" I never finish my sentence as a blast slams into my left shoulder, singeing the joint piece of the wing closest to it. I roll across the ground before springing back up, clutching my shoulder painfully.

'You were sayin'?'

I curse before picking up speed ever so slightly. Whatever energon we had left needed to be saved for an emergency. We were almost at the flight deck doors now. I could see them, and I wondered if I was big enough to make them open. Luckily, just as I realize this, a white and silver seeker steps through and locks gaze with me. I smirk and release my shoulder before sliding under him and swiping at his leg with a wing.

He stumbles forward and crashes into one of the other drones that had gotten very close to me. "Scrap!" I shout as I stumble as well and barely scramble back to my feet in time. Bursting into the fresh air, I feel my spark leap with joy. I gaze down, my eyes falling on my wrist, and smirk.

They may have taken my suit, but those lugnuts didn't even notice this.

I reach over and find a hidden switch, triggering a watch to seemingly appear. I tear it off my arm and slam it against my ear. It suddenly shifts into an earpiece with a screen covering one eye. 'I did not know it could do that.... Impressive.' 

'Doc bot over does himself sometimes.... and I'm so glad he did.'

Before I can reply, the sound of very heavy ped steps makes my spark grow cold. I quickly duck and roll across the flight deck just as a large shot flashes overhead. It skims my back and I hold in a scream of pain. Lifting my head up, I find myself glaring at Megatron, who was currently running through the doors. His optics were narrowed, and I growl.

Swiftly, I turn and continue running, making it to the edge and, without hesitation, launching myself off the ship. Unfortunately, the moment I jump, I feel something collide with my back and heat singe my skin. I shout, and my eyes slowly shut.

Lucky me, however, I have two very obnoxious residents in my head that were screaming and shouting in attempts to wake me.

'C'mon, girl! We can't switch with you!'

'Wake up, miss! Wake up! We are running out of time!'

'Rachel! Don't quit on us now, woman! Wake! Up!'

My eyes softly open, before snapping wide. I was free falling...

And the ground was getting uncomfortably close.

"Scrap!" I flail my hands around before Broadwing quickly reminds me of one very crucial detail. The moment he finishes reminding me of my wings, they snap open and lift my body higher into the air.

"Activate transmission! Code word: Columbine! Lock on to- scrap!" I dive quickly and growl as a blast flashes over my head. An oddly purple colored blast. Gazing over my head, I spot Megatron, in his cybertronian plane form swiftly following me, along with his high-heeled second in command. I growl once more before facing forward. "Lock on to transmission C and send emergency protocol 8!"

The moment the words leave my mouth, pain flares through my right wing and I howl. I flip a few times before stretching my wings again. However, this releases a roar of agony from me, and I feel Broadwing do the same. Despite the searing pain going through my spine, I open my eyes in time to spot the transmission opening, starting with my sentence.

C: Wonderful weather this morning isn't it?

R: Yes, but I always carry an umbrella.

"Yes! Raf got it!" I shout, and as if he heard me, my partner in crime's mugshot appears on my lens. "Rachel! Primus, where are you? Your telemitry is all over the place! Are you-"

"No time! I need a bridge, NOW-SCRAP!" I thrust my wings down just as one of the drones attempts to crash into me. I twist suddenly and my wing slices through the creature with ease. Once realigned, I blink rapidly in confusion. "I... didn't...." Shaking my head, flap my wings twice more before speaking to Raf again. "Bridge, Raf! NOW!"

A large green vortex appears before me, it's swirling pattern growing rapidly closer. "Hey Raf? Get someone ready to catch me..... I'm coming in hot!" I hear a shot blast off, but I ignore it, I was almost home free. I was almost back to O-

Fire burns against the last parts of my flesh on my back just as I enter the portal. I scream in agony and flip around. My wings wrap around my entire body protectively, forming myself into a ball. Moments later, I feel cool metal wrap around me, and the sound of metal scraping against the ground echoes in my ears. Once the noise stops, I feel my wings unfurl and I quickly shout, "Close the bridge!" As if on cue, the swirling vortex disappears and I relax. 

But, the relaxation is short lived, as every ounce of pain returns. I groan as my wings fully reveal my body, tattered clothes and all. A shadow covers me, and I gaze up to find myself in the steady hands of Optimus Prime himself. A soft smile forms on my lips, and I reach a hand up, reaching over to rest it on his thumb. "Hi...."

His face softens and a very, very small smile forms on his lips. His optics visibly brighten, and they are suddenly joined by a set of very worried optics, combined with a yellow color scheme. "To the table, now!" Apparently we begin moving again, and everything blurs together. I'm set down on something, another face joins my vision, something is pierced into my skin, and all I can do is focus on the bright, calm, and slightly panicked cyan blue optics.

Even then.... as my eyes shut, I lose sight of them.

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

When I wake, the room is dark. I quickly realize I was back at the base, and not in my mindscape. With eyes barely open, I gaze around, smiling as I find the normal, exhausted medical officer fast asleep at his computers....

Standing.

I slightly giggle, then hiss in pain. Cautiously, I gaze down to spot my body nearly mummified in bandages. A slight shift behind me allowed me to feel the pain in my wings as well. Just the slightest movement made both flow with burning pain, and I could hear the wraps shuffling against the metal.

Suddenly, I hear a deep vent be let out, and I turn my gaze to find something quite.... Peculiar.

And cute.

Not only was he fast asleep, his helm as laying on his arms and his face was towards me. His bright blue optics were closed, and his breathing steady (despite them not actually needing air to breathe). His flaming paint job was easily seen even in the dark, and a small smile plays on my lips as I spot one of his servos outstretched and near my berth.

I reach out my own hand and lay it gently on one of his digits, my thumb making circles on the smooth metal. A soft light emits from his optics as they slowly power on, and his helm lifts slightly to fully gaze at me. I expect him to jolt up, but he doesn't. He, instead, watches me carefully as I give him a soft smile. He returns it, and I mean fully returns it. I whisper out, "Hi...." His eyes brighten, and his smile widens slightly. "Hello." He says softly. I reply in a whisper again, trying not to wake Ratchet. "You know, your berth would be more comfortable."

His smile slightly drops, and his optics move from me towards the ground, and I frown. "I was wanting to make sure you would be alright. " I sigh, hissing in the process, and his optics instantly turn back to me. "I was joking, Optimus. I don't mind." His smile returns, and I hold back another laugh. Jazz, who was sitting silently in my mind, smiles as well. It was obvious that he was glad to see Optimus happy, and Broadwing was resting. I was thankful they were both silent right now, as I was too exhausted to even attempt to speak to them and keep my eyes open.

Believe me, it takes a lot of energy just to speak to them when I'm awake.

Blinking, I feel pain start to grow on my back and shoulder, and I can't help but cringe. Optimus slowly stands and slips his servo out from under my hand. He walks around the berth and carefully rests a hand on Ratchet's shoulder, cautious not to startle the poor mech.

Slowly, his optics brighten, and he blinks rapidly a few times, panic easily showing on his faceplates. He gazes at his screens before turning as I spot Optimus tighten his grip. His optics fall on his leader, then on me as the Prime inclines his helm in my direction. I lift my right arm and give a slight wave, since it was apparently the only part of me not in severe pain. 

Ratchet sighs in relief and walks over. "How are you feeling, Rachel?" He asks, checking the monitors, and I give a slight hiss as I adjust my position. "Like I just got hit by a train.... But otherwise, I'm just peachy." His faceplates attempt a frown as he gazes at the monitors, but a smirk sneaks its way in. "Has Jazz been teaching you more sarcasm, lately?" His optics fall on me, and I give him a smirk as well, turning my eyes towards the computers. As if on cue, a familiar voice echoes around. "You know it, doc."

Ratchet grumbles, but he can't help but smile. It makes Jazz chuckle slightly, and I sigh. I gaze over towards Optimus again, and am quite surprised to meet his gaze as well. He blinks, and I can't tell if it's in shock....

or embarrassment.

Whatever the case, I offer him one last soft smile, and he returns it. "If you don't mind, Ratchet.... I think I'm going to go back... to sleep now...." I give off a large yawn, which quickly turns into a cough, then a hiss of pain. "Ow...." Ratchet looks at me with worry, but nods his helm. "Your systems are still repairing themselves and need more energon anyways. Resting would be the best course of option right now." I nod my head, and start to speak, but Ratchet raises his hand. "I will let Major Lennox and the others know you are alright."

Rolling my eyes, I relax once more and find myself, once again, staring at Optimus Prime. I really needed to work on that, but it didn't help that he was walking towards me once more and looking like he was going take his original position from earlier. As he sits, he watches me carefully, confused. "You... do not mind me staying here, do you?" I feel the need to say something sarcastic, but I only shake my head. "I.... would love it if you... stayed....." Before I realize what exactly I said, my eyes shut and I fall back into sleep.

No mindscape.

No Broadwing or Jazz.

Just sleep.