Given to Fly

Skipping "Partners" because it's boring and there isn't much to work with. This chapter will also be shorter.

)()()()()(

"So, what was this thingamabob that you were looking for?" Marty asked.

Miko had recalled the story of how she and Bulkhead took a "thingamabob" from the Cons. She also told her that the "stuff inside the thingy" blasted into Bulk's brain and now he wouldn't stop painting.

"You a referring to the Cybertronian data cylinder we retrieved," the Prime said.

Marty nodded and looked outside at the passing Nevada landscape.

"During the Golden Age of Cybertron, those cylinders were created to hold the wisdom of the ancients. When the war began, they were jetisoned from the planet to preserve them from being destroyed."

"What kind of wisdom?" Marty asked.

"I do not know."

The girl hummed, her mind drifting to what Megatron had told her.

"You have a gladiator's heart. It is a shame that you do not posses the right body for it."

"Optimus, were there gladiators on Cybertron?" She asked.

The air in the cabin tensed. "Why do you ask that?"

She pursed her lips. "No reason," she lied. "I saw a movie with them in it."

A few moments of silence passed before Optimus spoke again. "There were warriors who fought for entertainment. They were of the lower class, however, if they fought their way to becoming a champion, they would be considered heroes."

"Mmm." Marty asked no more questions. She wasn't ready to tell Optimus of her conversation with Megatron, or what he had said of her.

)()()()()(

"The data has been fully expelled, but Bulkhead remains completely unresponsive," Ratchet said solemnly.

Marty sat next to her friend, arm around her shoulders. Miko curled in on herself next to her guardian's unconscious form.

"Because the energy took Bulkhead's mind with it, heavenward, lost to the stars." She sniffed. "It's my fault you'll never know the rest of the formula, and it's my fault Bulkhead's gone forever."

Optimus looked down at the upset girl. "Miko, your quick thinking prevented the formula from falling into Decepticon hands."

"If anyone would have backed that play, it's Bulkhead," Marty added, giving her friend an gentle squeeze.

"It's simply too early to know the extent of his condition," Ratchet stated. "Something as simple as a familiar sight or smell, perhaps even a sound, could trigger Bulkhead's awakening."

Miko blinked. She stood and ran up the stairs. Marty hopped down and watched her curiously.

The pink haired girl plugged her guitar into her amp, and strummed a chord. Marty recognized it. It was the opening chord to the song Miko and Bulkhead always blared.

As the final notes rang out, Miko looked at her guardian. "Bulkhead?"

He was unresponsive. But then, his eyes opened slowly.

He hummed the song and sat up. "I love that song!"

Marty felt a breath of relief escape her.

"Miko?" Bulkhead looked at his ward. She was smiling at him with tears in her eyes.