The night air was chilly and it wrapped around Arcee as she drove. The stars twinkled above and the moon cast it's silver glow across the empty desert. The roads were silent save for the rumble of the autobot's engine. Her mind reeled as she tried to process the last few weeks. The children were safe but Jack…he was a different story. Arcee's hatred for the decepticons swelled as she thought about what he had endured on that slagging ship.

The 'cons were hell spawned creatures with sparks carved from ice and minds devoid of any emotion. They had seen nothing wrong in torturing human children, nothing wrong at all because they were all sparkless drones controlled by the tyrannt. The blood stained, power hungry devil whose red optics burned with fire and who radiated with such hatred that it was sickening. Yes, Megatron for all his terrifying qualities, would meet his end underneath the blade drawn by Arcee herself.

The autobot trembled, the flashing faces of her partners obscuring her vision. Each one had fallen due to the savagery of the decepticons and it was their fault. Everything that she had ever loved was gone because of them and their twisted cause. Arcee swerved off the road, driving behind a huge rock formation. She transformed and unleashed her furious wrath on the poor unsuspecting rocks. Nothing was safe from the echoing blaster fire or fisted punches and swinging kicks.

Eventually the anger drained from her frame and the femme slumped against the craters in the rock surface and covered her face with her servos.

"Woah, what did those rocks ever do to you?" A voice said, and she looked up to see the familiar face plates of her old partner. He shimmered as he moved, seating himself close beside her. "I mean Primus, they were just sitting there, being all rock-like and you come along and just beat 'em up!" He gave her a goofy grin. Arcee took a deep breath and hung her head.

"I know you're trying to cheer me up…but I'm too worried over Jack." she gritted her teeth. "I hate them!" She screamed, squeezing her optics shut, a few tears falling. "They've taken everything from me! My partners, my home...my life." Cliffjumper reached out and took her servo.

"Look, everything seems grim right now, and uncertain. But it's always been that way and the Arcee I knew...she didn't let anything get to her. She stood strong and acted with her head, not her emotions." He smiled at her, the grin faltering when she looked away.

"Maybe that's how you remember it Cliff, but I've done stupid things because I was mad or happy or sad." She shook her helm. "I'm not that strong. I mean, I'm here beating up some rocks because I was mad. At them and….at myself. I should be able to move on, from Tailgate, from you...but I can't. I'm weak, I let my emotions rule me." She stood, facing the wide open vastness that was the desert. Cliffjumper laid a servo on her shoulder.

"Only if you let them control you. Everyone makes mistakes Arcee, and I'm not blaming you for anything. My death wasn't your fault, and neither is Tailgates'. Jack is still alive. Stop being angry and focus on the things that matter. The past is done, there is nothing we can do to change it. It's time to move on Arcee. Jack needs you to be strong, your team needs you to be strong. So go, get back there and live again. Act in the present, think in the present, feel in the present. I'll still be there for you...but maybe it's best if I disappear for a while. Goodbye Arcee." The femme turned around, and embraced him, sobs racking her frame.

"Thanks Cliff." She muttered, words lost. The ghostly bot smiled and faded into nothing. Arcee wiped the tears from her faceplates and stood with newfound strength. Her emotions would control her no longer. She transformed into her alt mode and rode back to base faster than she'd ever had.