Here's a key so nobody gets confused:

"Normal Speech"

'Storm talking'

Psychic Conversation

BumbleBee talking

Singing

Emphasis

Chapter 2: Forgive and Forget

(Sapphire's POV)

As I continued to cry, Storm wrapped his head and neck over me and Dad gripped us both tighter.

Jennifer CliffJumper's death was not your fault. Dad's voice told me in my head. Without looking up I replied, Yes it was. I should have listened to you and stayed at base. I felt my father's piercing gaze and I finally returned it. "Jennifer show me exactly what happened." He ordered.

It pained me to do so, but I played what happened in my head like a movie. Optimus was silent as he watched the events of before. I stopped the 'video' when the con blew up the energon.

"Jennifer….." Optimus said suspiciously. I looked at him and he spoke, "There is more that you are not showing me."

I lowered my head sadly. He put a digit under my chin and directed my eyes back up to his. "Please SweetSpark. I know it hurts, but as leader I must know." He said gently. I nodded in understanding and kept playing the memories. I showed him how mercilessly killed the remaining cons in a fit of rage, how Storm and I kept Cliff invisible while tensely waiting for the ship to leave, and even the conversation I had with CliffJumper before my song.

My father's eyes widened in surprise when Cliff said I was good enough to replace him. I stopped the memories at the end of the conversation, the song I had sung was between me and Cliff. It was private, and that was how it was going to stay.

Dad looked at me intensely for a moment before nodding slightly. I stood up and crossed my arms. "Why are you looking at me like that?" I asked nervously. He sighed and replied, "As much as it pains me to do so, I will honor CliffJumper's dying judgment. You will take his place on the team."

I shook my head, "No Dad. I will join the team, but I will not take my uncle's place. No one can take his place and it would be wrong for anyone to try." I told him firmly.

Optimus nodded solemnly, completely understanding why I felt the way I did. Dad lowered his hand to the ground and Storm and I stepped off. Dad walked over to the large air lift and we followed.

When we reached the ground inside the base, Optimus spoke in my head, I have some work to do. Will you be alright on your own? I looked up into his caring optics, Go do your thing Dad. I won't be alone I have Storm. I told him confidently through the bond. He nodded in approval and went to join Ratchet at the monitor, his footsteps echoing through the base.

I looked around when I noticed how quiet it was and saw that Bulk and Bee had left. I turned to Storm, "How about I give you a tour of the base?" I suggested quietly. Storm nodded in agreement and I led him down the hall.

Well playing tour guide; I showed him each bots quarters, the training gym, and the energon supply room, and finally the vault. Together, we walked back into the main room and I showed him the med-bay. "Always try not to get injured. Old Hatchet isn't much fun to be around." I whispered to Storm then chuckled.

Storm nodded then turned to me. He cocked his head in confusion, 'I've been meaning to ask, where did that armor come from?' Storm asked. I had already decided not to tell Storm or Optimus about how and why I had been brought back to life. I shrugged, "I'm not really sure Storm, but this symbol sure is strange." I said and then touched it.

To my shock, the symbol glowed and started to werrrrrrr. My armor's plating started to slide into each other and uncover my body, but it stopped when all that was left was the symbol on my chest and the pentagon around it. I put my hand around the pentagon and it detached from my chest. Storm and I both stared at the thing in shock.

I put the thing back on my chest and pressed the symbol. "AWESOME!" I shouted as the armor covered my body piece at speeds to fast to follow. When the armor completely covered my body, my helmet came over my head once more. Having not had the chance before, I studied my armor. It was mostly royal blue, but it was also crimson and purple with a few silver accents on the arms and thighs. I guess the best comparison would be to say I looked like a female samurai, but with colorful, more futuristic armor.

Suddenly, an idea came to me, was I armed? I lifted my arms and pointed forward. 'Blasters!' I commanded mentally. Cannons appeared on each of my arms. They started right behind my wrists and the barrel went all the way up to my knuckles.

I used my super speed and ran into the main room. Storm followed suite. I stopped behind Dad and Ratchet and spoke up, "Can either of you tell me what these are?" I asked and held up my wrists, making sure not to point the things at them for fear of accidently shooting them. Ratchet looked ready to jump out of his skin and though he hid it well I could tell I had surprised Dad too. I snickered slightly under my breath.

Both of them turned to me and their optics widened when they saw my arm cannons. After recovering from his surprise, Ratchet looked at them quizzically. "They're surprisingly similar to your blasters, Optimus." Ratchet said giving dad a sideways glance. Dad leaned slightly in order to gain a closer look. His eyes widened slightly when he saw that Ratchet was right.

I focused on my blasters. 'Transform back to normal!' I commanded and the armor obeyed. Both Ratchet and Dad watched in fascination as my blasters transformed back into my armor. I focus again in order to try something else. 'Swords!' I instructed and a blade slid out from under the armor on each of my wrists.

Ratchet looked at me with dismay in his optics. I looked at him and raised a brow from behind my mask. "What?" I asked him in confusion. He stuttered slightly as he replied, "T-those are v-very similar to that of the blades of Megatron."

I looked at my blades sadly, 'I guess I shouldn't use these unless I have to' I thought and mentally ordered them to retract. They did as I asked and Ratchets expression calmed slightly. I pressed the symbol on my chest and my armor retracted to its pentagon form. I took it off my chest and placed it in the back of my jeans pocket carefully.

I looked up and saw Dad and Ratchet giving me stunned looks. I chuckled and rubbed the back of my neck awkwardly. "Did I forget to mention that I figured out how the armor worked?" I asked uncomfortably.

"Yes, you somehow managed to leave that part out." Ratchet said and pinched the bridge of his nose. Suddenly his hand fell and his eyes darted back to me, "Where did your armor come from anyway?" he asked suspiciously.

I shrugged my shoulders, "You tell me. One second I'm dead and the next second I'm back in my body and wearing a full suite of armor! Do you really think you're the confused one?" I asked him in annoyance. Dad and Storm both flinched when I said the word 'dead' and they both had pained looks in their eyes. Storm trotted over and sat at my side. He was as close as he could get without being on top of my foot.

'Jennifer, I swear I will never let it happen again.' Storm told me solemnly. I rubbed his head reassuringly and replied, "Storm, it wasn't your fault. Heck! It wasn't even Arcee's! It just happened and it doesn't matter anymore! I'm alive and that's all that matters. I only wish we could have saved Uncle Cliff…" I said sadly.

I was too focused on Storm to notice Ratchet leave and Dad transform. I was stunned when arms wrapped around me protectively, but I automatically knew who it was. I turned in my adoptive father's arms and looked into his bright blue eyes. I could see his sadness and shame there and I put my hands on either side of his face. "The same thing goes for you. It wasn't your fault, so just let it go!" I told him sternly.

Dad gave me a sad smile, "That is rather impossible Jennifer. You nearly died and that is unacceptable. As your father and your guardian it is my duty to protect you and I failed. And for that, I ask for your forgiveness." Dad said.

I looked at him in horror mixed with disbelief. I wretched free of his arms and stepped away from both my father and Storm. I took the pentagon out of my back pocket and held it up to my chest, where it attached itself like a magnet. I pressed the symbol and the armor was on me in a matter of seconds. With my eyes covered by my mask I turned back to look at my father. I spoke, "Why you feel the need to ask for something that isn't required is beyond me, but yes. You have my forgiveness." I told him and rolled my eyes at him.

His hologram disappeared and his vehicle mode changed back to his true and glorious form. He set his palm down in front of me and I stepped on. He lifted me to his chest where he embraced me in a hug. "Thank you Jennifer. That may not have seemed necessary to you, but to me it was. I am deeply sorry that I failed you." He told me, his voice shameful.

I used my arms to push myself away from his chest and looked up at him. I retracted my helmet and gave him a glare. "It. Wasn't. Your. Fault! And you didn't fail me! So quit talking like that, your bumming me out!" I told him sternly and leapt from his arms. I landed gracefully on the ground, where I crossed my arms and continued to glare at him.

He held up his hands in surrender. "Alright little one, I will try not to blame myself, but I will do everything in my power to make sure it does not happen again." He told me.

I nodded, "And that's fine, but this whole people blaming themselves thing better stop." I demanded. Both Storm and Optimus nodded and Dad went back over to the monitor. I took off my armor and placed it back in my back pocket. Then, I walked over to the stairs that led to the platform with the couch and TV with Storm on my heels. When I reached the top I flopped on the couch and grabbed the remote.

I noticed Storm looking at me tentatively and I smiled at his hesitance. I patted the couch beside me and Storm jumped up on it, laying his head in my lap. I rubbed his back with my right hand and flipped through the channels with my left.

This had been a strange day alright. First was in my first battle, then I had to watch my uncle die before my eyes and there was nothing I could do about it, then I died, which caused me to discover my purpose in life. A strange day in dead.