Chapter Twenty One

As the humans either settled into their temporary situations or prepared to move back into their homes- depending on which part of Jasper they lived in- he bots settled into the nearby military base that had prompted the US government's choice of location for the Autobots' now former base. Of course, this did mean recovering from the latest round of saving the world and setting up shop all over again. Particularly getting Optimus and the four newest members of Team Prime new alt modes. Dana and Ratchet had never been so busy, with everything they needed anew. It wasn't just a space bridge or boosted ground bridge that was an issue anymore, the computers this base had come with were no better than when the four young humans had originally gotten involved and the hanger they would mostly be operating from had been all but barren. Though luckily salvage from the various available sources of already built Cybertronian tech meant there wasn't much they had to build from scratch.

More importantly Team Prime had the less easily handled job of helping the quartet of new arrivals acclimate to Earth. Jazz had the easiest time to nobody's surprise, he was having a blast taking in human culture and trying every human music artist recommended to him. Ironhide adjusted well enough, but grumbled at having to be so covert. Dana had even overheard a few people complaining of 'grouchy ghosts with mean tempers'. Ultra Magnus only left base to acquire his alt mode or to go on patrol or missions. (In fact when he wasn't doing paperwork, most of which even Ratchet described as 'having been pointless for vorns' he was pestering Optimus, Ratchet or Arcee for a manual on the rules of operations for Earth without ever once stopping to consider that there might not be such a thing. The one time Smokescreen had been allowed to be a big mouth and point out said lack, Dana swore the large, burly mech had pouted.) Strangely enough Prowl, who for the most part was as serious as Ultra Magnus, had the second easiest time adjusting. Smokescreen and Arcee tried claiming that Prowl's best talents were at the best when he had breathing room (so to speak) but it wasn't even just that. Prowl simply had adjusted to Earth and more importantly the human civilians involved with the Autobots quite well, and enjoyed Earth's nature and wildlife besides.

A couple weeks after the base change, Optimus had decided to entice Dana to actually relax by rewarding her dedication by upholding a promise. He'd had Ratchet open the ground bridge to an isolated area, brought Dana along and taken her on that flight he'd promised. And it was extraordinary. It was all the freedom and exhilaration she'd experienced as Hogwarts' youngest seeker in a century, and yet somehow it was so much better. There was none of the danger of bludgers or outside interference, no pressure to succeed in a task that would win the game. And best of all, with Optimus she not only felt assured of her safety that was reassuring instead of stifling but there was also something calming and peaceful. It was a moment Dana wished would last forever.

"- and Bilbo is completely miserable like 80 percent of the time, because he's way out of his element and he much preferred his garden, and the comforts of his home and plentiful pantry. And the dwarves don't show him any appreciation, either. Though at least the movie actually develops a friendship with some of them."

Optimus hums in acknowledgement, and curiosity. "I shall have to look into reading it myself when I have the time. Back on Cybertron-"

Whatever Optimus would've said cut off. "Optimus?"

"I am getting an alert from Ratchet. An area Wheeljack's intel on Decepticon mining operations indicated was investigated then disregarded by them in the past is showing readings that imply renewed activity."

"Really? But didn't someone say that they only do that when the readings that led them to the location were false or indicate a low enough amount of energon that the potential mine would be stripped clean in about a week?"

"Indeed, most of the time that is the case. It is possible that Shockwave or Megatron have decided they can no longer afford to leave smaller stones unturned, but the possibility still remains that it indicates that Megatron is brewing another of his convoluted plots to seize power."

Dana frowned subconsciously as she pondered what Megatron might be up to this time, or what convoluted scheme Starscream or a mad scientist might have suggested that Megatron was likely to actually approve; in the back of her mind some of the worst factors of her previous life tried to surface but she stubbornly shoved them down. "It could be nothing for once, but with Starscream back in Megatron's good graces and that Shockwave guy entering the picture…"

"You are correct. And for precisely that reason, I'm afraid I'll have to cut this short. It wouldn't due to risk putting you in danger." Dana's face fell, and perhaps he saw it out of the corner of his eye or felt the shift in mood, or perhaps he simply enjoyed the time together as much as she had because after a moment of silence he added, "But I would be glad to do this again at a later date."

Dana perked up quickly at that and gave a bright grin; a surge of affection welled in Optimus at that, she tried to hard to be helpful and look after the younger humans that outside of moments like this it was difficult to remember that she was still quite young herself, even if she wasn't a child anymore. "That would be great."

They wasted no time in calling a ground bridge, and once Dana was back on base Optimus was off again to investigate. Dana quickly set to work helping Ratchet repair and upgrade the equipment they already had set up, explaining to Prowl and Jazz the differences in Cybertronians' and humans' levels of technological advancement, how it effected Ratchet's and Dana's attempts to keep a working base with everything needed to keep it and the bots inhabiting it functioning, and the work arounds they had worked out.

"- and it's been really slow going without proper blueprints or instructions, but we're steadily getting closer to the point of being able to construct a proper space bridge. In fact, I'd wager with the next improvement we might even be able to reach Earth's moon! Or at least the space station orbiting the planet. It'd be so awesome to be able to go to the moon, humanity's attempts at achieving space travel have been going pretty slowly."

"Humans cannot even travel to their own moon? My statistics indicate your species is at least slightly behind typical development." Prowl noted.

Dana blinked, taken aback and unsure if he was calling humans backwards or not. "Huh?"

Jazz rolled his eyes. "Watch how ya say things, Prowler. What he means is based on our experience with other sentient species are typically a little farther along technologically and scientifically speaking."

"That's what I said."

"No, it's what you meant. I keep trying to tell ya there's a difference, Prowler."

"Oh, that. I thought you might've meant the many forms of prejudice. Or big businesses having such a death grip on their oversized share of control that human society basically purposely ignores the availability of clean, renewable energy that won't kill the planet."

Prowl's and Jazz's expressions turned incredulous, but before either of them could respond Ratchet interrupted. The team sent to the site of the old base one last time to see if they had missed anything had commed in requesting a ground bridge. Only what with the repairs, a crucial component to the ground bridge that was being adjusted needed to be finished up and put back so they could return. Moments later Ultra Magnus, Ironhide and Wheeljack were back. From the looks of things, the only salvage that hadn't already been found had turned out to be the remnants of the old base's energon stores. Bumblebee moved to take some of it so Ultra Magnus could transform back into bot mode.

"We didn't find much else in the rubble of the former base. Everything of value either has already been recovered or was discovered by the Decepticons."

"You call this 'not much else'?" Wheeljack, who had come through last, held up the giant ball of scrap metal Cybertronians referred to as a lob.

Then he proceeded to throw it towards Bulkhead. Only, since Bulkhead hadn't been expecting it it bounced off of him and landed on the raised platform for the humans and nearly hit Miko. As it was, it landed right in front of Fowler's office- breaking the door and damaging the wall around it. Ratchet was quick to shout about the damage the reckless move could've caused, and Miko as the almost-victim was also indignant.

"What were you thinking Soldier?" Ultra Magnus reprimanded.

"I was thinking Bulk would catch that lob."

"Allow me to make myself clear. As Optimus' second in command I have no intention to tolerate Wrecker behavior."

Dana raised an eyebrow incredulously. 'Really? He's making what was intended as a harmless bit of fun about whatever his issue with the Wreckers is?'

The tone had immediately changed with that out of the blue declaration regarding an off topic matter of importance, Wheeljack in particular had been drained of every bit of good mood all at once.

"What does the Wreckers' way of handling things have to do with a game meant as recreation?" Dana asked.

Jazz only looked at her solemnly, and Dana thought that perhaps he seemed a bit sad or wistful.

Prowl, in contrast made to quietly answer her."Not a thing. However-"

"I, uh don't think this is the time for an impromptu lesson." Ironhide interrupted.

The other members of Team Prime simply watched the scene in silence, either solemn or worried.

"Jackie." Bulkhead intervened warningly, hoping to prevent a fight or argument.

Ultra Magnus growled in annoyance. "Need I remind you that it was Optimus Prime himself who assigned me to command you Wreckers back on Cybertron and get you loose canons under control. An effective combat unit begins with discipline. If you won't accept that feel free to choose the path of least resistence, as you did before."

"If my ship weren't a twisted wreck at the moment I'd do that, sir." Then Wheeljack stalked off to find a way to let off steam without causing a scene.

"Now that was uncalled for, don'tcha think. Going easier on the lad won't kill ya, Ultra Magnus." Ironhide reprimanded.

Ultra Magnus simply sighed, looking in the direction Wheeljack left. "Whatever the case, it's in the past. And best left that way."

Then Ultra Magnus changed the subject by asking about Optimus. Ratchet explained he was investigating a reading that could be an energon mine. Dana, trying to withhold judgement and avoid an argument, turned to Prowl and Jazz. While it was true that Wheeljack liked making the Wreckers sound like the rowdy, rule-breaking yet usually somehow still sanctioned war unit some superhero comics had.

"Was that first part even true? My understanding was that Wreckers being outside the chain of command was supposed to be for having a unit that could handle the sorts of missions that either would kill off the entire unit or were simply to intimidating or too grim for most units to be willing to take on." Dana pointed out.

"Not as Ultra Magnus meant it, nor perhaps as he perceives the situation at the time. Optimus' intention was more along the lines of attempting to instill a loose semblance of structure and restraint." Prowl answered.

"Slag, it's barely true even in the loosest sense, which I thought he knew." Jazz added. "He was only supposed to be a stand in while the Wreckers' leader of the time was indisposed by a solo mission, and whatever else me may have read into or assumed from his orders at the time he knows it. Springer simply didn't manage to return before the Wreckers were disbanded by the second in command of the time."

Dana forwent replying in favor of side eyeing Ultra Magnus. She trusted him, but only in the sense that she knew he wasn't of ill intent. Being by the rules was one thing. Prowl was just as by the book in most matters and she liked him well enough. But Ultra Magnus… he was probably the type to blindly obey the Council and those that did the Council's dirty work out of misguided faith in a system that probably hadn't actually worked. With a huff she went back to work, answering Jazz' and Prowl's questions about humans and Earth between the parts of a story of one of Team Prime's misadventures.

"Soldier!"

Dana jumped, startled. "Huh?! Is something going on?!"

"Does your hearing match your smaller size? I asked if you noticed anything while you were out with the Prime."

Dana looked at Ultra Magnus like he had two heads. "Since when am I a soldier? I'm just as much a civilian as Miko, Raf and Jack."

At her retort Ultra Magnus looked just as confused as Dana was. "Why would one civilian let alone four be involved with a military unit during wartime?"

"At first, it was just to make sure the Decepticons didn't capture, hurt or kill us because they assumed we were affiliated with the Autobots. Now? We're the bots' friends, and just as much a part of the team as any of you."

Behind them Miko's gushing over Optimus' jetpack and Ratchet's resulting bemoaning of Solus Prime's forge having lost its power was interrupted by Smokescreen returning from wherever he'd been. He had a change in paint job, and was now mostly blue and yellow. He acted unusually sullen when Ultra Magnus ordered him to stack the empty energon cubes so that they wouldn't be in the way. Taking it at face value as disdain for a mundane task or his usual desire to prove himself as not just some rookie, Arcee and Ratchet voiced their appreciation that he was new and reckless enough to ignore orders and go back for Optimus after the first base was attacked. Dana agreed, they all owed Smokescreen for that. Maybe she'd make use of tips on maintaining decent paint jobs she'd picked up from Knockout as a thank you; goodness knew Smokescreen deserved some sign of gratitude. (Then again, all the bots did. Something about the visible reminder of the Autobots' situation their scuffed up paint jobs served as really got to Dana sometimes.) With everyone's backs turned to her, Dana took advantage of the opportunity to sneak some supplies into the queue for an online order of supplies. She absently wonders if the chance to relax and unwind might help Ultra Magnus' demeanor might help, but writes it off just as quickly. He doesn't strike her as the type to find something soothing like a spa day relaxing.

Before long, Dana is brought out of her musings by the familiar noise of the ground bridge signifying Optimus' return. He seems to be holding something conspicuously not crystal or cube shaped. It doesn't take a genuine psychic (why are so many of the fake psychics Dana has heard of or seen on tv like Trelawney) or someone with Prowl's intellect and talent with statistics to predict that her guess earlier had been right.

"Optimus, did you find energon?" Ratchet asked.

"No. But I did uncover this." Optimus answered, setting down a strangely shaped, metallic skull for all to see.

Everyone approached to get a better look, and just as Dana giving up on guessing which convoluted super-villain plot most resembled Megatron's newest scheme Ratchet voices shock, striking out a few guesses and making some of the more absurd ones more likely. "It can't be."

"Be what?" Jack asked, clueless as to what the item could be or what it meant if he had guessed.

"The ancient remains of a predacon." Optimus answered.

"So you mean it's a predacon fossil?"

"Wait, so it doesn't just look like a weird skull it really is a weird skull?"

"What do you think this means, that the vehicon miners are digging these up instead of energon?"

"Though it's still unclear why such a skull would be found on Earth its presence reveals all too much about the predacon that Megatron sent in pursuit of us."

"You mean that dragon bot we put on ice?"

"Except the predacons have been extinct since, well…" Ratchet trailed off, either still in disbelief or still trying to wrap his head around what this must've meant.

"Since before most life began on Cybertron." Smokescreen finished, serious for once.

"Or so the most popular theories claim." Prowl added.

"They're like Earth's dinosaurs." Raf realized.

'Wait. Mad scientist, dinos… where have I heard this before?' Dana wondered.

"Which means for you guys running into one would be like us meeting a t-rex." Jack guessed, taken aback by the absurdity of the situation.

"So then what were dinobots?" Miko asked.

"Totally different." Bulkhead replied.

"With Megatron's seeming new interest in the excavation of prehistoric skeletons and a certain scientist back among the Decepticon ranks…" Ratchet reasoned.

"It would stand to reason that Shockwave cloned the beast from one such find." Optimus concluded.

"Now Megatron's looking to clone another." Ultra Magnus spelled out.

"What makes you think Buckethead would stop at just one?" Wheeljack pointed out.

"We could have beast wars on our hands." Bulkhead realized.

"And if Shockwave only requires a single strand of CNA from which to clone a beast…"

"He already possesses what he needs to engender this one. Autobots, we must become beast hunters."

"Great. Just what we needed. Attempt at world conquest meets Jurassic Park." Dana muttered, finally realizing what seemed so familiar.

"One thing still doesn't follow. Predacons went extinct on Cybertron. So what would their bones be doing here?"

"Well, given that the vehicons had an idea where to look there's only one possibility that makes sense, right? Like Sherlock Holmes always said, 'once you have eliminated the impossible whatever remains, however improbable must be the truth."

"Dana's not wrong." Prowl agreed. "We don't know when these particular experiments began, and Shockwave has had who knows how long to perfect and refine the process. Given how much else of Cybertron has found its way to Earth it's not out of the question that Shockwave's previous attempts were sent here, and left to rust."

"Who is this 'Sherlock Holmes'?" Ultra Magnus asked.

"Fictional super skilled detective."

"More importantly, if these things went extinct so long ago what do we even know about them?"

Ratchet pulled up some images on the console screen. "From our historical texts."

Some at least loosely resembled dinosaurs. But others were familiar for a much different reason.

"But those are creatures from our Greek mythology and medieval literature."

"And mythology from some other cultures, too."

"Not dinosaurs."

"It would stand to reason that predacons did indeed walk upon this Earth in ancient times, as they seem to be the basis for much of human kind's folklore. Illustrating once again that Earth's and Cybertron's pasts are inextricably linked."

There's something almost romantic, Dana thinks, in the notion that Cybertron and Earth are connected in so many ways. Like she, Miko, Raf, Jack and June were destined to meet and befriend these people. But this isn't the time to think about that, and the implications of what Megatron's newest plot must be made the situation too grim to enjoy such thoughts anyway.

Nonetheless, she dwells on it. That night, when Ratchet was working on the synthetic energon formula- something Dana really wasn't much help with, beyond her private experiments occasionally revealing some substance that boosted or hindered some aspect or other of a Cybertronian's systems and parts of the recipes for things Ratchet called high grade and engex. So she was settled down for the time being in her chair of choice in the corner and tinkered with a part she'd been working on tuning and upgrading for the space bridge. And as she settled into the near thoughtless routine of performing repairs she let herself indulge in the whimsical notions. How strange and wonderful it would be, if her bond to these people that meant so much to her was soul deep despite most of them being literally from another world! But the phrase 'nothing lasts forever' was fairly literal, and the peace was soon shattered as she was brought back to full awareness by the one who seemed to most often be the culprit behind ending such moments. Dana noted absently as she shook her head to make herself focus on what Fowler was saying that Ratchet and Optimus had been in the middle of a conversation when the latest issue cropped up. And that he'd managed to wake up Miko.

"Prime! Satellite surveillance has picked up two signs of Decepticon activity. One near an oil field outside of El Paso the other near the Hiberty's Bluffs in Scotland. So don't forget to pack your kilts."

Dana rolled her eyes, smirking. Fowler's sarcasm and dry wit could be amusing sometimes.

"We must divide our resources. Ultra Magnus, lead the Wreckers and Ironhide to the Bluffs." Optimus ordered.

"Yes Optimus." Ultra Magnus moved closer to Optimus, seeming unsure. "What's a kilt?"

Dana snorted at that, struggling not to laugh.

"Agent Fowler can at times be oblique." Optimus replied, either not finding it an appropriate time to explain it was a joke or simply not knowing. "I find it best to simply nod and mobilize."

Dana was now picturing the group plus Optimus all wearing kilts, and it instantly became even harder not to laugh. Prowl, noticing, raised an eyebrow. Ratchet simply rolled his eyes at her.

"Bulkhead, Wheeljack, Ironhide! Let's roll." Ultra Magnus ordered.

Wheeljack groaned at the prospect of even having Ultra Magnus around on a mission. Dana patted his ankle consolingly. Behind them, Ultra eyed the forge of Solus Prime speculatively before asking Optimus for permission to use it as a weapon.

"You'll get through this, it isn't a long term mission." Dana assured.

Wheeljack sighed. "I guess so. I'm probably gonna want to strangle him though."

Dana grinned conspiratorially. "I tell you what. Look up what a kilt actually is. When you're having trouble being patient with him, just picture Ultra Magnus wearing a bot-sized one."

Wheeljack looked at Dana in surprise. "All right, if you say so I'll give it a shot."

"Smokescreen, Bumblebee, Prowl. You're with me."

"So Optimus is taking all the Praxans, huh? Should be interesting." Jazz noted.

"Praxans?" Dana asked.

"Praxus was a city state back on Cybertron." Jazz explained. "Praxans were a distinctive frame type for their door wings. Once in a while you got bots with ground type alt modes altering their frame to have their doors mimic door wings, but Praxans are the only ones to have them naturally and Praxan door wings are naturally more expressive and come with additional sensors. 'S what makes it so hard to sneak up on Praxans with more experience in stealth."

"… 'Was', huh. The war again?" Dana guessed.

"Yeah. Praxus was neutral, and pretty insular. When the Cons decided to make a ground statement Praxus got the short stick an', well… let's just say it was a turning point in the war in more 'n one way. More Praxans than Megatron intended survived, but… if Praxus ever recovers it won't be nearly the same. Not that much of Cybertron would be all that different."

Dana hummed thoughtfully, unsure what she could possibly say to that. "Well… the war keeps managing to find new ways to be surprising since it came to Earth. Just maybe it's possible that something pleasantly surprising will happen in that respect too. After all, life always finds a way right?"

Jazz smiled appreciatively at his favorite of the six humans who were closest to the Autobots. "You know, not that long ago whatever positive reply I could come up with would've been a front. But lately? I'm finding reason to really believe that you might be right."

Their conversation had moved on to Jazz telling Dana what some of the bigger name cities back on Cybertron were like, and Dana either describing equivalent cities located on Earth or telling him about whatever particularly interesting cities she could think of. Such as how while Praxus by its most basic reputation was a stoic place that valued outward appearances and others' impressions above all, but it was actually one of Cybertron's biggest cultural centers, and not in the way many would think going off of the most popular perception of the city. Most of its draw as far as tourism or culture was concerned was actually centered around music or anything else that could be considered a form of art, and in fact its most famous feature was its many crystal gardens. It was really interesting- most of Cybertron's cities' cultures were actually nearly the opposite of their reputations. Such as Jazz' own home of Polyhex, it had the reputation as a cultural center for art and music, but it was actually closer to Las Vegas.

It wasn't long before the conversation was brought to an abrupt halt, something that was a common occurrence around there no matter who you were. "Incoming ground bridge request- from Scotland."

Dana wasn't remotely surprised when Wheeljack came through the ground bridge alone, but nonetheless gave a sigh of exasperation at the havoc his inability to get along with Ultra Magnus was causing. Ultra Magnus wasn't bad, by any means. But he was overly strict, and his inability to not go strictly go by the book was a huge hindrance in a number of ways, many of which he didn't seem liable to even notice or consider something that might be an issue.

"Wheeljack? What happened? Where are the others?" Arcee asked, concerned something had gone wrong.

"Having a swell time taking the long way home in Ultra Magnus's ship I'm sure Miko included." Wheeljack, his tone saying what he himself wasn't likely to unless something made him mad.

"I wondered what was taking so long with those sodas." Raf commented.

Dana snorted in amusement. At least someone had actually agreed to take her and she'd had four of the bots best able to keep her safe around, thus the reason Dana stayed behind when she spotted the younger girl acting an all to familiar form of suspicious.

Jazz noticed, and managed to read between the lines. "That happen often?"

"No, this time she asked Wheeljack outright and he saw no reason to disagree so little sneaking was required for her to tag along." Dana admitted.

"- another Con hotspot right outside of Taus, New Mexico." Fowler was reporting. "Since Prime's unit isn't back from oil country…"

"Raf, set a bridge for Fowler's coordinates. You, ride with me."

"Not today, all right."

"If you're alright sending me out there alone."

"Alone's how I prefer to roll."

"Wheeljack!" Dana scolded, surprised he'd risk a comrade's safety like that just because he's in a bad mood.

"How 'bout you both chill and Dana and I tag along too?" Jazz intervened.

That set off a storm of reactions.

"You're kidding, right?"

"That doesn't sound half bad."

"Clearly I need to examine your processors."

"Well, why not? I could just order Wheeljack to go, but with his current mood he might not be the best backup. Besides, Miko got to go, and Dana just said she's usually around when Miko goes out into the field."

"Which is completely irresponsible."

"Why's it so bad? There'd be three bots who know Dana's there, and she has a weapon. And sometimes the best backup is the backup nobody expects."

Wheeljack sighed. "Fine. But in case none of you have noticed, I don't play well with others."

The moment the four of them were out of the portal, they were surrounded by vehicons and eradicons.

"Scrap."

"Know what I love most about vehicon troopers?"

"They're easily distracted."

With that Wheeljack gave Arcee a boost into the air so she had her choice of target, while Dana watched Jazz's back from her spot on his shoulder as the quartet made short work of the current group of Decepticon grunts.

"You sure you weren't a Wrecker?"

"You sure you don't play well with others?"

"You're a pretty good shot for someone who says she doesn't have much experience."

"Thanks. I love how your fancy acrobatics are like dance moves."

They wasted no time in making their way through the mine the signal was coming from. For a while they walked in silence. Surprisingly, Arcee was the one to break it.

"You're awfully quiet, Wheeljack."

"I've never been one for chit chat."

Dana supposed that could be true on missions… provided nobody he was closer to was around.

"Why do you pretend? If you really wanted to roll alone you'd have hit the open road today but you didn't. You called for a bridge back to base." Arcee pointed out.

"Hey! Don't assume you know me."

"I'm not assuming. Now. Care to chit chat about what happened out there?"

"Jackie, we only mean well. Besides, nothing good can come of letting a mood like that fester."

With a sigh, Wheeljack gave in as they approached the exact coordinates from the signal and made use of the commandeered mining equipment.

"It's ridiculous, really. It was supposed to be the Wreckers and Ironhide, doing what they do best…. But of course that didn't happen. Mostly it went like I expected- I kept trying to get things done Wrecker style, Ultra Magnus was an uppity killjoy who just won't even try to understand. But Bulkhead kept either siding with him or playing peace keeper. The nit picking I can handle, I'm even used to it. Guys like Magnus, I don't let 'em peel my paint. I peel theirs."

"So if it isn't the new commander grinding your gears, it's Bulkhead."

Wheeljack groaned. "It just burns me up when a Wrecker goes soft."

"Look, Wheeljack. You'll always have the Wreckers as you knew them- in here." Arcee assured as the three bots dug. "Times change, players come and go and if you can't adapt you'll rust- like the bones we're digging for. Don't push Bulkhead away. If something happened to him you'd never forgive yourself. Trust me, I know."

"And you really should talk to him instead of making him worry- I know you understand on some level, considering you didn't let Miko or me near the insecticons when you faced Hardshell." Dana pointed out. "Can you really say that you'd have been any less careful if it were Raf or Jack, or that you'd have preferred risking the predacon setting Miko on fire?"

"Not that any of this is any of my business, but you should listen to the femmes. Take it someone who's watched Prowler have to transfer someone to a different unit over drama taken too far or seen someone wrecked by being unable to resolve things more than the fact that they lost someone they care about more times than I care to count, letting things fester causes bad mojo if it goes on long enough." Jazz chimed in from where he was finishing up so they could get out of the mine. "Or is your bond really so weak that Bulkhead being more careful is a deal breaker? Nothing's wrong with Wrecker style as long a you don't take it as far as Impactor did, nobody knows better than special ops that sometimes sticking to the army proper's standard protocol can be what makes a mission go wrong, but trying to think things through a little isn't a bad thing."

"You know that he's probably fretting as we speak."

"He is a bit of a worry wart."

Wheeljack sighed. "Okay. Running from Bulk and shutting down like that, pretty spineless of me."

"On the bright side, you have plenty of backbone now." Arcee quipped, referring to the predacon spine they had attached a chain to so they could transport it more easily rather than struggle to carry such an awkward piece of cargo.

That was when a call came in to Arcee via the comm link. It was Jack, Fowler and June had gone on a predacon bone retrieval mission to a museum sans bots (not having anyone available without Ratchet able to leave base or feasibly retrieve the bone without causing massive property damage or risking the identity he uses for his holoform winding up with an arrest record. Only, when Jack decided to go check on her because he was paranoid about how long it was taking he found her cell phone on the ground right by some tire marks. Which meant they were going right back into the field on a rescue mission.

Dana shook her head in bemusement. "I swear, Fowler is such a damsel in distress. At least June's with him. She's got a good head on her shoulders when she's not being overprotective."

Wheeljack chuckled. "I swear you like her more than you like Jack."

Dana shrugged. "What can I say? She's better company, and I like her sense of humor."

In short order they were back on base.

"What's the sich, Rach?" Jazz asked, actually taking up his role as a commander since allies who could do little against Cybertronians were in danger.

"The signal from the predacon bone is on the move at a rapid pace, and I've picked up a Decepticon signal in pursuit."

Pulling up a map of the area briefly, Jazz quickly came up with a plan. "Arcee and Wheeljack will take up pursuit. I'll bridge to different coordinates to try to cut the Con off. Once we've got a clear shot, Dana will retrieve Fowler and June and help them get to enough safety to bridge back to base."

"Do we need to be sneaky like this? We probably don't even need Dana, let alone all three of us."

"Better safe than sorry, and an ally's life isn't worth gambling with."

Jazz's plan turned out to be a good thing, since Breakdown was with Knockout on the blue mech's first serious mission since Airachnid nearly killed him. The three managed to take on the duo and their insecticon backup well enough to save June and Fowler without any issue. However, the pair did still manage to get away with the predacon bone.

When they got back, Jack immediately rushed to check on June, only calm because she was finally back on base where she was safe. After June reassured him neither she nor Fowler had gotten injured the pair walked off together- much closer than they'd been that morning. Dana raised an eyebrow, more in amusement at Jack's reaction than the unexpected development.

"Huh. Well, good for them." Dana commented, noting with satisfaction that Wheeljack, who immediately went over to Bulkhead once he was finished with a conversation related to how things had turned out that day, seemed to have taken the advice given to him seriously.

Ultra Magnus looked over, seeming to notice Arcee, Dana and Jazz- and seemed to start at something. Eyes narrowed, he stalked over to them.

"Soldier, where were you?"

"Uh, we were both on a mission. A signal-"

"I am well aware of the situation. I'm asking why Ratchet's student was MIA during the hours she is required to stay on base without express permission otherwise."

"Chill Mags, it's nowhere near that formal or rigid- the only rule Optimus actually has is to protect the humans, and it was my idea to bring her."

Dana merely shot Ultra Magnus an unamused expression and marched pass him to her previously abandoned work station. Ultra Magnus stared after her, seemingly unable to decide between surprise or incredulousness. Jazz simply shot Ultra Magnus an unimpressed look as Arcee laid out why it wasn't that bad to let Dana out into the field. This all went unnoticed by the young woman in question, who simply shrugged and darted a glance between Wheeljack, Ultra Magnus, and Bulkhead with a frustrated expression in response to the raised eyebrow which was Ratchet's silent way of asking what that had been about.

That night, Dana was in a neighboring hangar that served as a garage repairing some mundane vehicles on a special commission job from Fowler when Ultra Magnus approached her. She looked up, expecting Ratchet or Optimus to come to check up on her and perhaps force her to call it quits for the night soon. Or even simply Wheeljack come to spend time with her, whether by helping, providing a break, or pulling her away from her work to catch up on his favorite sci fi drama. Instead it was the strictest commanding officer of the Autobots she was aware of. (And she had heard enough stories from enough of the Autobots to feel assured that her assessment wasn't too inaccurate. Even Prowl, formal and stoic though he may have been, had adjusted to the informal, less structured setup the Autobots had on Earth without too much trouble.)

"Can I help you with something?" she asked without pausing in her work.

"My attempts to gain advice or support have fallen flat, so I believe it would be in our best interest to talk. I do not wish to have bad blood with an ally I am not even properly acquainted with."

Dana finished tightening the bolt keeping the part she was currently working on place, not saying anything at first. Then she put down the wrench she was using with a sigh. Once she had the hood back down she boosted herself up to sit on it, and gestured at the ground.

"Might as well make yourself comfortable. No reason to aggravate how unpleasant this will be."

Taken aback that he hadn't had to convince her but relieved that for the moment she appeared to be behaving reasonably, he complied with her request- it was better to talk to your conversation partner if not face to face then as close to it as your sizes allowed.

"I was hoping to get to the bottom of your insubordination. It is not good for morale for someone to be so dismissive of protocol or have so much disdain for their orders."

Dana groaned. "See, I'm trying not to judge you too quickly or harshly, but this is your problem."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, for starters out of the six of us, Fowler's the only human you know who's even a part of the military. Miko, Raf and Jack? They're all minors- I think Raf might even still count as a sparkling? I'm not sure. I may legally be an adult, but I'm still pretty young and I'm not even done with the first level of my formal education, supposing I even decide to go beyond the basic degree at all. You can't expect all of us to meekly accept being ordered around outside of a situation that specifically involves our safety."

"I see… this makes your involvement even more problematic, but we should avoid getting side tracked. You said 'for starters'- is there anything else?"

"I won't get into your spat with Wheeljack- you're wrong to be so harsh with him, and clearly never got the memo on what the purpose of a unit specifically set up without the restraints of full standard protocol is. But I do realize that being so caught up in the past and fixating on the Wreckers at their best is holding him back. But you do still need to calm down. This isn't a base in the formal sense, and there aren't enough of you to form a proper military unit."

"I'm not sure what you mean. This is a war, and a military base. And we are all soldiers, even if some don't act it."

Dana sighed. "The Decepticons? They have numbers enough for multiple squadrons, and the Nemesis to serve as a proper base. But the Autobots? Well, just look around. This is a loosely structured team of not quite properly equipped individuals whose general situation and low numbers make full military procedure a hindrance."

"You make a fair point, but how could proper discipline hinder our goals?"

"You're not thinking in terms of the interpersonal end of things. A small number of bots in close proximity will only be strained as a team or be unable to handle the stress of your circumstances without being able to rely on each other in the sense that has little to do with dangerous situations. Surely you were around long enough before the war to see the difference in atmosphere having a roommate you like instead of just one you dislike or can only tolerate can make."

Ultra Magnus sighed. "I suppose I can understand. It's easy to forget many things over the course of such a long war, and I will admit I've seen my fair share of Autobots survive where they should have died or emerge victorious despite the odds with no potential explanation available aside from their desire to stay beside someone they care for."

Dana smiled. "See? You're starting to get it. How about this- if Optimus approves and the Ratchet either doesn't mind either or his only reason for minding seems to be his innate grouchiness just go with the flow."

Ultra Magnus thought it over, and though still concerned conceded she had a point. "Very well. I will…. attempt to take your advice into consideration. Try to retire soon, it's getting late."

"I will." Dana reassured, her tone betraying her amusement at how awkward his tentative attempt to be friendly was. "Good night, Ultra Magnus."

"Good night, Dana."