Disclaimer: The Transformers and all related material belong to Hasbro, concept originally created and licensed through Takara Co. LTD. Jaraxis, the Ch'danth and all other original characters created by C.R. Majors.

Epilogue

Ratchet stood beside the base of watch tower seven, optics gazing out across the horizon as the suns began to set, the view no longer somewhat obscured by the golden glow of the barrier. It had been nearly a month of suns and any and all signs of the Ch'danth had completely vanished around Rasha. Traders from the various outposts and surviving, smaller towns had started coming in again, helping to rebuild the city and open up the trade routes. The economy was starting to get back on its feet. Off around another section of Rasha's edge, the medic could make out the towers and construction site where Wheeljack and the others were busy building the shuttle that would take them home. Relations with the military and council had been rough at first, but thanks to Prowl's negotiation abilities, things settled down after only seven or eight suns worth of meetings. Turning his gaze back to the horizon, he watched the setting suns as they colored the sky in deepening hues of blue, purple and orange.

He couldn't remember feeling so empty since waking up as Ryn for the first time. The others, especially Wheeljack, had done what they could to comfort him and keep him company after he came back online the sun following Prowl and Ironhide's conversation in the workshop. But for as much as he appreciated their efforts and fiercely valued the engineer's concern and friendship, no one understood what it was like have carried the kind of internal bond the medic had, only to suddenly lose it without so much as a proper goodbye.

Yet he understood how and why it happened. Ratchet had made the attempt to explain it to the others, but without having been in his position, trapped within Locke's nanotech body, it was difficult for them to understand completely. It had taken Locke's spark to destroy L'Ranna's, their combined energy finishing off just about all the nanotech. As he perished, Locke managed to release Ratchet from their contract, expelling the medic's body before both building-sized beings fell to their deaths in the lava flow. And while Ratchet was not so selfish to wish that he could have died along with them and Jaraxis, the lingering pain was still so very hard to cope with. It was that difficulty that often brought him to watch tower seven, the last place within city limits the giants had stood before taking their battle to the grounds beyond.

The Tarthans had taken the loss with difficulty, as well, particularly N'Chala. Part of the house had been destroyed when Locke first got out and with Jaraxis gone, the elder had gone to stay at the Jenn residence, allowing lessons with Mira and time spent with Lithos to consume her time and distract her from her sorrow. Ratchet had not spoken with her much, blaming himself for what happened no matter how many times Lithos had tried to tell him that N'Chala did not hold him responsible.

As the last light began to fade, the lift at the bottom of the watchtower opened, allowing two Tarthans to step out onto the dusty ground.

"Ratchet," Grawl greeted in a flat tone as he and Fen glanced up at the medic. "I hate to say it, but I think it's time you let this go. You need to move on."

"Yeah, and no hard feelings about all the trouble before, right?" the other former Rider asked, a hesitant smile on his face. "What say you go with us into town and find a good time? We just got off shift."

Ratchet blinked slowly before shaking his head once. "Thanks, but no thanks, guys. I'd only cramp your style, anyway. I'll just see you back around the shuttle site, later."

Grawl frowned. "Alright. Take it easy, bot."

When the pair had gone, Ratchet sighed, turning his gaze back to the horizon. Grawl was correct; he would have to let go sooner or later, but while he remained on Tarth, it would be difficult. The city around him was filled with too many memories, both good and bad.

Suddenly, a strange feeling hit him. Bringing both hands over his chest and torso, optics widening, Ratchet struggled to stay on his feet, body shivering. He cycled more air through his intakes and glanced around as the gap within him began to vanish, hope replacing the emptiness. It was then he saw it, a hint of silver catching the last rays of light as it disappeared around the corner of the tower base. One hand still over his chest, still feeling shaky, Ratchet slowly made his way along the wall to the generator station on the other side. He blinked, not seeing any signs of life.

"Hello?" he questioned, glancing around. "...is anyone here?"

At first no one answered, but then a pair of large, pointed ears came into view around the side of the large, steely generator. As the medic watched, mouth half open in disbelief, a metallic Tarthan slid into view, creeping out hesitantly on all fours, a pair of golden, pupil-less Sun Eyes looking up at him. Ratchet gasped as he fell to one knee, desperately reaching inside himself to take a hold of the questioning bond that was trying to reform itself. The silvery Tarthan edged closer, uncertain, frightened.

"Jaraxis..." Ratchet held one hand out to him, trying to hold back the fluid that threatening to spring to his optics at any moment.

Ratchet...

The Tarthan scurried towards him on all fours and leapt into his hand before scampering up the length of his arm. As Jaraxis pushed his head under his companion's jaw, curling up like a cat needing comfort on the medic's shoulder, Ratchet finally allowed the first few tears to fall. Jaraxis' "voice" echoed in his mind, reaching through their bond.

...not all here...so lost inside...

You helped me find myself, once...I'll help you find yourself, now...

...thank you...

Getting to his feet, Ratchet looked from the horizon back to the city. It was time he rejoined the efforts of his other companions. Transforming, he took Jaraxis into his cab and sped towards the shuttle launch site.

xxxxxxx

The time had finally come. Prowl, Ironhide, Ratchet, Wheeljack, Brawn and Windcharger stood in a line before the open door to the shuttle that would hopefully carry them home. Each bot wore a blue scarf, given to them by the Rider commander and identifying them as honored members of the guard. The ship, a fast, silverly vessel christened the Wayfarer, had been built to accommodate more than twice the crew and their necessary supplies. Before the line of mechs, one of the city council members was speaking into a headset microphone, his voice blaring out through speakers scattered throughout the launch site to the huge crowd of gathered civilians and military personnel.

Ratchet felt Jaraxis sidle up a little closer to his helm and a small, fond smile played across his faceplate for just a moment. Seemingly mute and as easily startled as a small kit, it would be a long while before the Tarthan finally regained his entire sense of self, as well as missing memories here and there that would sometimes cause him a great deal of frustration. But Ratchet had vowed to take care of him in the meantime, re-teaching him what had been lost, providing a shoulder for him to hide on and behind. Finding that her only remaining kin had been allowed to survive as a living bit of nanotech had disturbed N'Chala at first, but in the end, maternal instinct won out and one moon she finally sat down with her grandson and held him, weeping. And like the Autobots, she ultimately realized that he belonged with them more than with those in Rasha. The night that was decided had been a difficult one, but from where Ratchet stood, he could just make out N'Chala standing with Lithos and the Jenns in the crowd, a sad smile on her face.

"...good luck and Primus' speed to you all," the councilor finished, his words followed by deafening applause from the crowds as each Autobot lifted a hand in Tarthan salute.

When the noise died down, the guards and military personnel present began to gather up the groups of civilians, moving them off site so the launch preparations could be completed. Lithos, N'Chala, Palgren and his family were permitted to move forward, however, to see their friends one last time.

"You take care of yourself, you old pile of rusty scrap," Lithos teased Ironhide in a stern tone, a smile on his face as he looked up at the kneeling mech. "I won't hear of you getting yourself wrecked, understand?"

"Right, can't have you comin' after me to kick what's left," Ironhide chuckled, reaching down to gently rest one hand against the old soldier's shoulder and side. "Take care of yourself, too, Lithos. And N'Chala, also. She needs you more'n I do. I got Prowl and Ratchet to kick my aft around, after all."

"Same goes for you two trouble makers," Lithos warned Brawn and Windcharger with the same tone. "Take care, both of you."

"Will do, chief," Windcharger replied, grinning. "We do know how to stay out of troubel, don't we, Brawn?"

The other minibot returned the mischievous grin. "'Course we do. Wouldn't have it any other way!"

Lithos saluted and the three bots returned the gesture, Ironhide and the Tarthan doing their best to keep the tears from coming on.

Nearby, Prowl gently took Mira into one hand, bringing her level with his faceplate while her parents looked on, Palgren standing with one arm around Jasha's shoulders. The young kit had long since finished healing from her ordeal in the power well tower. As the strategist brought her close, she leaned against the side of his helm, one hand stroking his cheek.

"Can you be strong for me, Mira?" he asked quietly, smile wavering a bit.

"I'll try." She laid her ears back, voice a little shakey as she spoke. "Thank you for everything, Prowl. I'll miss you so much..."

"I'll miss you, too. And it should be me thanking you for all your help. You and your family gave me a place to call home, and you helped me become a better mech."

"Will you come back someday...to visit?"

"Yeah, I will. I know you'll grow up into a beautiful young lady and I want to see you when you do." Turning his head a little, he carefully kissed her on one cheek.

Mira stifled a sob and kissed Prowl's cheek before he set her down again, returning her to her parents.

Kneeling, Ratchet and Wheeljack watched as N'Chala held her grandson one last time, tears welling up in the elder Tarthan's eyes again. Jaraxis hugged her around the waist as a child might, knowing this might be the last time he would see his grandmother. As they released one another, N'Chala fidgeting with Jaraxis' scarf and smoothing the front of his dark blue bodysuit, she glanced up at the two mechs.

"I know I don't have to ask that you both take care of him," she sighed, managing a weary smile. "Especially you, Ratchet. You have never had anything but his best interests in mind."

"He's part of the family, now," Wheeljack replied. "And ain't no way we'll let anything happen to him. You just take care of yourself, alright?"

"I will now that I don't have a certain robot hauling me around like a sack of rags!" N'Chala huffed in mock indignity, causing the engineer to laugh. "Besides, with Jaraxis leaving, Lithos and I will be staying on with the Jenns for a while. They need someone to continue mentoring Mira now that Prowl is leaving. I won't have any kin left here on Tarth, but I will have those I can call 'family'. And you lot take care, as well. Don't give me those looks. I know the pair of you, almost as troublesome as Jaraxis and Shun when they were kits!"

"'Almost'?" Ratchet echoed with a smile before glancing at the engineer. "Guess we'll have to work on that a bit more, eh, 'Jack?"

"That we will!"

Slowly, the platform cleared, the few remaining Tarthan workers giving Wheeljack the thumbs up. He boarded first with Brawn and Windcharger at his heels, the others hanging back a moment longer to wave as their friends watched from a small observation tower. As the warning beacons began to echo around the site, the three glanced at one another with sad, but somewhat relieved smiles on their faces.

"Well, guys, time to go," Ironhide said as he stood on the ramp, one hand on the boarding door's frame. "Ya ready?"

Prowl nodded as he met the red bot's gaze. "It's been a long haul thus far, and as difficult as it is to leave all this behind...yes. Ratchet? Jaraxis?"

The medic cast his optics skyward, taking in the sight of the twin suns from the ground one last time. On his shoulder, Jaraxis wrapped his tail around the back of his companion's neck.

"Yeah... Let's go home."

Turning, Ratchet followed the others up the ramp and inside, the door pulling shut and locking behind them. Up in the cockpit, Ironhide took up a seat alongside Wheeljack as the rest strapped themselves in, Prowl sitting in the central command seat. Wincharger received the clearance codes and gave the thumbs up. The engines roared to life, the shuttle shuddering as it moved up the guidance tower and broke clear, gaining speed as it went.

Trailing light behind it like a shooting star, the Wayfarer shot into the sky and beyond into space, homeward bound.

- Fin -

The author would like to thank the following people for their help and support in this endeavor.

PuraJazzBot, for inspiring and encouraging me to write and post "Second Chances" in the first place. The story might not exist today if not for her.

Uftaki, for tolerating my late night ramblings on various plot elements, and for helping me work out ideas for not only this story's resolution, but also plans for a possible sequel.

MariaShadow, for playing email tag with me, whether it be about this fan fic or others.

Josh, aka "nom de plume13", for offering encouragement and putting up with my teasing about the plot during chats.

Tirya King, Tiamat1972, Draange, SNoble, TwoSpotz, HunterBlues, Shiribot, EKP, Mommimus Prime, Shadow Weaver, Twi Silvermoon, TruebornChaos, Sanjuno Shori Niko, Puffball, Mage, Ravenshield, UltraRodimus and everyone else here at Fan Fiction dot net, The Padded Cell and DevArt for all the feedback and support.

The folks at both TFBlogs and Freedom Underground for keeping me sane while writing this.

Hasbro and Takara as companies for creating those giant robots we all love so much.

The makers of the huge pile of various music tracks I kept on hand for inspiration during this project. (Much love to the original Transformers: The Movie soundtrack, the Fantastic Four Soundtrack, the score from The Rock, E.S. Posthumus, Papa Roach, Submersed, Nightwish, countless 80's artists, Econoline Crush, the Titan A.E. soundtrack, Don Davis with Juno Reactor, I've, Savage Garden, Live, Brainbug and far too many others for me to name.)

Thank you all, again. Much love.