Of the Heart and Spark

Part 1

Chapter 1

"Now don't get me wrong, they are a very...interesting group, but that doesn't mean you need to impress them to get them to like you. You should know that by now." rain battered the windshield of the old dull-blue dodge minivan as Fera and her mother sat beside one another in the front seat. Fera's arms sit crossed across her chest and her eyes remain trained viciously through the window to her right. Her long dirty blonde hair was left to tumble over her shoulders while her long eyelashes battered over angered icy-blue eyes. Her pale skin was like her mother's yet she hated to admit it. Milky skin wasn't something she wanted to flaunt.

Her mother was going on and on over an incident that she had at her high school while trying to ignore a peer that had harassed Fera. What her mother thought was this: she was about to have a fight with a smaller, very annoying female and had gotten caught by a principle.

What actually happened was this: Fera had stood with her back to her locker, staring piercing blue eyes into the muddy brown of her persecutor's. Spit flew from the glossy-lipped blonde as she accused Fera of even looking at her jock boyfriend. Disgusting.

She gave an exasperated sigh, already having tried defend herself at the school. Carly, the blonde who had yelled at Fera, had began to spew fake tears to gain the favor of the principle. "Fighting will get you nowhere, especially if you want to be...what was it again? A string player?" she asked, rolling her hand in the air. "A violinist." Fera said in a short, simple tone. "Well if you want to do that, you'll have to realize that this behavior is unacceptable." her mother droned on. Fera rolled her eyes and focused on the rain droplets that flew across the window. The water was so free, so clear to run and fly like she wished she could. Her mother's voice could be heard in the background, but Fera paid no attention.

From the time Fera was little, she knew she'd wanted to play the violin. She would watch each orchestra concert in her school and would even bother her mother enough times until she would take her to see another school's kids play. It was only until she was in fifth grade did Fera actually get the chance to start her dream. Now she was a 17 year-old girl and a senior. "So until you learn to-" she cut off and cursed under her breath, sitting forward to stare through her hurried wiper blades into the cars before her. Fera looked to her mother to see what had stopped the conversation. "These drivers act like they've never driven before!" she complained loudly, throwing a hand in the air. Fera looked ahead of them to see cars' red taillights shining and then blinking off. She too leaned towards the dash to get a better view.

Three cars, definitely sports cars, were swerving in-between their neighbors as they revved loudly across the slick blacktop. Their windows were tinted a dark black, so Fera couldn't get a good look at who was driving. She recognized the models as a red Ferrari, a black and red Mustang, and a yellow Camaro. They sped off into the sheeting rain and Fera gripped the sides of her seat in interest. She had always loved Mustangs and Camaros, but now she thought a Ferrari wasn't a bad car either.

Suddenly an alarm went off behind her mother's car and Fera's head whipped behind them to peer through the back window. A yellowish-green ambulance could be seen behind Fera and her mother, its lights dancing. The words search and rescue decorated the strip of red on the side of the vehicle. "As if I could get over!" Fera's mother yelled. Fera looked back in front of them and found the road to be clearing before them. Fera's mother sighed in relief and sped up to pull over.

There was an unexpected, bright flash that blinded Fera, forcing her to raise an arm to cover her eyes. Fera's mother called out in surprise, the car swerving. Fera yelled as well, moving her hands once the light was gone to help level her body as it slanted to the side. Their car spun, the world ripping fast around them. Squealing of the rubber wheels could be heard even in the cabin. Fera gripped the safety handles above her like her life depended on it. Maybe it did. The ambulance behind them appeared for a split second before it too moved from view. Fera and her mother became struck in frightened silence as Fera's mother tried desperately to control the spinning vehicle.

Finally it stopped moving, its body shaking with the sudden stop. Fera and her mother sat for only mere seconds before the ambulance behind them came into peripheral again. It skidded to a stop beside their car, idling next to the door. Fera looked to the car, her heart pounding. She felt a cold chill run down her spine and she gripped the necklace at the base of her neck.

On the door, beneath the black window and the latter, was the symbol of the face of a robot. Then the Hummer was off, its wheels wasting no time to carry the vehicle away. A red Fire department sign stood out over the pulse of a heart on the side of the Hummer. "Are you alright?" Fera's mother asked with a strangled voice. Fera looked to the woman and quickly nodded, her hand shaking with the necklace in her grasp. It had been a present by her late father, promised to be a protective force for her. At least she knew they were both ok, so maybe he had been right. That would make the next thing she did a lot easier.

Fera whipped around to her side door, clasping the handle and pushing. It wasn't locked, so it was only jammed. "Fera, what are you doing?" her mother questioned confusedly. Fera ignored her mother, ramming her shoulder over and over into the door. It popped open with a creak and Fera leaped from the car. "Wait! Fera, where are you going?!" Fera slammed the door shut, making sure her mother was safe inside. The pouring rain slipped down her neck and Fera's skin prickled with the stabbing cold that came with it. She popped up her hood and looked around. They were still there.

The four cars, including the Hummer, were all heading back towards her. Fera froze, unsure what to do. Why were they coming back? Suddenly, a jet black Lamborghini screamed out of the traffic lines and straight towards Fera. Her movements ceased and she fell still, as if maybe her lack of movement would divert the line of attack. She unknowingly gripped the necklace at her neck, her eyes locked on the cars before her. Her legs were frozen in fright, her mind racing. Her own blood, splattered across the blacktop, crossed her mind and her lungs suddenly seized. A loud, shrill alarm sounded and Fera shook her head, realizing it was the ambulance, possibly warning her. Or at least, she hoped they were. The Lamborghini never slowed, causing Fera's mind to go into flight mode.

Her eyes flicked to the cars around her, and even to the van beside her. She could hear her mother's muffled banging on the window as she tried getting to her ignorant daughter. It was almost certain that she wouldn't get the jammed door open in time, so she instead shot across the road. A flash of red caught her attention and Fera pivoted on her heels to see what was happening. The black and crimson Mustang had separated from the other three cars, coming up and around to drive side by side with the Lamborghini. The driver of the Mustang then abruptly swiveled its wheels to slam the car into the oncoming Lamborghini. Both the cars sharply turned and headed straight for the barrier, now ramped by a stray automobile.

The Mustang and Lamborghini headed for the car, neither slowed. What is wrong with these people?! Fera thought in horror. The Mustang broke off from its target and ran straight up the car held up by the barrier, launching it high into the air. Not having as much time, the Lamborghini just barreled through the wall in an explosion of concrete and dust. Fera fell to her knees, her hand covering her mouth. This maybe the only thing that kept her from releasing the piercing scream that now burned her throat.

She expected rubble. She expected shrapnel covered in blood. She expected a crumbled up shell of a machine. She expected a shredded, broken body. Her hand lifted to shakily hover over her mouth. Horrified eyes scanned the smokey scene as she searched for the seared rubble that she expected to be scattered over the wet pavement.

What she didn't expect was there to be a mostly whole, actually still running, jet black luxury car. Four wheels suddenly ripping ribbons of greyish black, the shining form of the vehicle roared to life and it shifted from side to side. It immediately sped off the moment the air cleared.

Fera, shocked into silence, forced herself up by using the side of another abandoned Sedan sitting on the side of the street. Her knees threatened to buckle beneath her, her arms almost gave. But she still stood, staring after the Mustang and Lamborghini as they left only a muddy trail in their wake. Maybe it was the deterring rain. Maybe it was her fatigue or shock. But what she knew it couldn't be was two, no make that five, psychotic drivers on a small highway in Amoret, Missouri. The Hummer, Ferrari, and Camaro all followed suit after the Mustang a mere heartbeat after they disappeared past the destroyed barricade.

Fera was left in the rain. Alone. Her heart was pounding in her chest. She could barely hold her lunch.

But she had never felt so amazed.

A sudden desire for a quite idiotic and reckless decision had her pushing off from the seeming safety of the Sedan and starting towards the pebbly result that was the amazing performers' exit. Her soaked tennis shoes squished beneath her as she started towards the exit of the vehicles. Their tire tracks showed clear in an embedded track on the surface of the mud and asphalt, so it was easy for her to track the direction they had escaped. Her mother would be ok. She would get help. At least someone had to of called the emergency number.

Just to make sure of this, Fera grabbed her phone from her pocket and dialed 911, holding the device to her ear as she sprinted off the road towards the retreating forms of the vehicles. They evidently seemed to be headed for the distant valleys, bordering on the Missouri-Kansas line. "Hello, 911 what's your emergency?" it was an older woman's voice, the tone being on the edge of boredom. "There's a woman involved in a car crash on highway 52. She's stationed in a light blue Dodge minivan on the left side of the road." she then clicked end and shoved the phone back in her pocket.

Fera's foot slipped on a pebble and she was left to practically run down a muddy hillside. Her toe jammed for an instant, sending her flying through the air. Mud exploded around her, muddling her senses and causing her hair to stick to her neck. The thick substance shoved up her nose and made her twist her face in distaste as it touched her tongue. "Great." she mumbled, trying to clear of most of the mud from her face and clothes. This attempt got her a satisfactory result as most of it became swiped away.

She shoved herself back to her feet and threw down her hood so the rain would wash her face and hair. She also took a rubber band from around her wrist and brought her hair behind her. There was no hesitation now. She just had to see what all this was about. Maybe she could even see the men or women inside the cars!

She soon heard loud gravelled sounds of wheels on dirt and Fera ran faster. The mounds around her were strange, consisting mostly of collected piles of rocks, mud, and rubble. Most likely it a construction site, but she didn't focus much on the area as she continued on. There was a series of groans and then a sudden human-like grunt before the mound before Fera exploded. She gasped and fell back on her butt, fumbling around herself to get to her feet. She sprinted around a nearby pile and ducked, pressing her back against it while her chest heaved. "What the-" She breathed. Her voice abruptly cut off as something large and heavy struck the dirt behind Fera. She squeezed her eyes shut and winced as a loud grunt sounded.

"Friggin 'Con." a deep, slightly gruff voice growled.

Fera's eyes widened and she clapped a hand across her mouth. Whatever that was on the other side of the hill, it wasn't normal. She dreaded the thought of what exactly was beside her.

Worst case scenario, she had just wondered upon a heavy fight. But these didn't sound like your normal James Bond pistol. These were freaking bazookas.

There was another burst of earthly matter and the ground thrummed, dull quivers shaking the earth beneath Fera's feet. oozing mire slipped like a snake over Fera's shoulder and she leaned forward to separate the contact. The mud made a loud sucking sound and Fera froze. Feet stuck deep in the quicksand-like earth, Fera strained to free herself.

When she finally yanked her dirtied shoes clear, she took note of the feral snarl that split the air. Her blood went cold.

She wasn't the one responsible for that noise.

Slowly, her eyes moved with her shocked expression. Her hand slipped from her face, taking most her lip gloss with it. Her hair dripped down her back, making the atmosphere around her even colder.

Right there.

Right next to her, was a giant, blue-eyed robot.

Its body looked to be pinned beneath another, its arms up to protect itself. The robot attacking the one on the ground had furious red lights for eyes, a mysterious black mask covering its nose and lips. Suddenly its face turned towards Fera and she nearly fainted. The robots beside her briefly stopped their struggles and glanced down at her.

The one on the ground seemed to roll its eyes, its face moving into a unbelieving expression.

"Primus. Great." it was the same voice she heard the first time. Definitely male. The 'male' focused back on his attacker and suddenly threw up his upper half, elbowing the other robot in the face. The adversary's head snapped back and it fell with a swift kick from the robot on the ground.

Fera didn't have the time to admire the skillful moves of the fighter as the form on top of him fell over, disappearing as it stood to dodge behind some other channels of bulldozed material.

"Bee! Kinda could use some help here!" it called roughly. Fera's head snapped around the mound just as yet another robot leapt over the crumpled dirt pile. It was smaller than the one on the ground, its face slightly different as well. It sprinted over the robot on the ground and suddenly looked up, seeing Fera. It then hopped sideways, pointing at the girl by the ground and looking down at its apparent comrade. The robot waved a hand, "I got it, go!" he yelled.

Bee gave a nod and twisted around, running after the fallen target. It sat up and Bee gave it a swift punch in the face. Fera winced. And she didn't even know why.

"Ratchet! We got a human!" he yelled, getting to his feet. Fera fell once again to her butt, looking up on a gigantic titan as he towered over her. Fera jerked as another robotic face peered over the mound down at her. She tried crawling away, her hands dragging her across the mud. Her fingers dug into the soft, clutching muck as it tried holding her in place. "Frag!" Ratchet huffed, pushing the top of the mound over. She jerked and held herself away from the tumbling dirt, glancing up in fright at what this suddenly aggravated monster might do. A flash of red behind Ratchet had Fera's mind racing with the thought of yet another giant nearby. "Don't worry Bee, Mirage's got ya!" it yelled in a slightly Hispanic accent, two blades shifting from its wrists.

Fera looked from the black and red robot to Ratchet. "It's a female." the black and red one noted. Fera's mouth opened and closed over and over like a dying fish. What was this? Ratchet snorted quite rudely and shoved the red and black comrade. "That's quiet obvious you short-circuited sparkling." Ratchet remarked.

He looked down at his arm and brought it up, pressing a few buttons as if Fera wasn't even there. But there was no missing them. Her eyes were wide and her ponytail was a mess. The band suddenly snapped and it fell over her face, covering one eye. The black and red robot watched her in silence as Ratchet continued to fiddle with his wrist. Sounds of scraping and crushing metal echoed behind the two towering, mechanical beasts and Fera's gaze flicked behind them. Weren't they concerned in the least for their comrades? A loud laugh sounded and Fera's mouth fell open again.

The red and black robot crossed his arms, a small grin twitching on his face. Was this amusing to him?

Fera was sure that , if the two giants were going to kill her, they would have done it by now. Killers didn't have humor. Well, some did, but those were freaky psychopath. She came to the better conclusion and slowly started to get to her feet. Mud caked her hands and she wiped them on her jeans, making sure to keep her eyes trained on those before her. Rain ran down her hair and bounced off the top of her head to give her a small crown of water. The two robots' forms were also being bombarded by the sheen, a frame of it surrounding them. "And stay dead!" it was enough to get the red and black robot to look behind him, causing Fera to become curious as well. The red robot was coming back over the rubble, his blades shifting back into his wrists. The yellow smaller robot followed quickly behind him.

What are these things? Fera wondered. The fear was nearly gone now. It became replaced by something different, something like...wonder. The yellow robot was jumping around in front of the red one, his fists up and punching as if in mock battle. The red robot laughed, a sound not much different then that of a human.

"I alerted Optimus of our situation and he is waiting for further information." Ratchet reported. Fera looked from titan to titan, unsure of what to do. Did they forget about her? "Who's Optimus?" Fera dared call up. All robots looked down at her as if she'd said something stupid. She immediately felt like she wanted to disappear under each vivid blue gaze. Maybe I should just have run when I'd had the chance, she realized regrettably. She still had that thought in her choices and the adrenalin in her system. "It talks." the red one noted humorously. Fera looked up, seeing he too was one of the smaller of the fighters.

The smallest of the robots, Bee as he'd been called, let his gaze snap to Fera. He swiftly came over and dropped to a squat right before her, making her jump in surprise and back up a few steps. She couldn't speak as her fright sent a series of warnings through her body, making her tense in preparation to run.

The small robot had his knees jutted out like a grasshopper, one arm draped over. His other hand helped him keep his balance. He had no mouth, just a sort of cap. But his eyes showed all emotion, their smiling gaze enough. Fera knew right then that there was nothing to fear. Her shoulders relaxed and her posture became less cautious. "Hello...my name...is bumble...bee." it said. The small robot's words were clipped, and it seemed he talked by using transmissions from the radio. The waves bent and hummed as he searched the stations for the correct words.

"What's...your name?" he asked cheerfully. At first, Fera was again lost for words. Was this some kind f joke? Or was she dreaming? It was all so overwhelming. She was talking to a robot! Who knew how to communicate nonetheless!

Her tongue suddenly seemed thicker, less cooperative. "Um...well..." She looked from blue gaze to blue gaze, finally resting on Bumblebee's again. "It's Fera." she answered. Bumblebee seemed to smile again. "That's a...pretty...name." he commented. Unable to help herself, Fera found her lips breaking into a smile. This being was actually kinda cute.

"Well, Fera, I hope you're prepared for what you've gotten yourself into." Fera looked up, seeing that the voice belonged to the red and black being.

Ratchet nudged his peer and held out his hand. "You maybe new on earth Sol, but this is a complicated matter." he let his hand fall and Sol narrowed his eyes irritably. "Bumblebee, bring Fera back with us to base. We'll rendezvous there with Optimus." Ratchet said, walking around Sol. The giant uncrossed his arms and huffed at the other. Bee chirped happily, a series of clicks and beeps coming from the small bot. His head then sunk into his chest, the plates on his head receding back. His body twisted and reformed, loud clanks and the noise of twisting metal attacked Fera's ears. It sounded like a heavy iron hammer being bashed into an anvil. Bumblebee's arms and legs disappeared as they connected themselves to the body, the sort of wings on his back coming around to slam shut against his sides. A hood appeared, along with the top of the form. It slammed down and four wheels rolled through the mud, spraying it everywhere.

Fera raised her arms to block the assault and then stared at the thing before her. She had seen every horror movie, every thriller, every sifi-movie that any child her age could be interested in. But she had never witness a thirty foot tall robot turn into a custom yellow Camaro. Lights swam before her eyes and a lightheaded feeling washed over her. How much more could she take of this? This is crazy, she thought in consternation. This can't possibly be happening. It's not possible. The fallback emotion that any normal human being jumped back to when faced with such unspeakable amazement could only be seen as denial. It was the easiest way to keep one's sanity.

The other four robots took their own turns to twist and reform and create the unique sounds of their transformations. Now before her were the four psychotic drivers from the highway. She yanked a hand through her hair and looked form one to another, placing a hand on her hip. "Now I know to think bad drivers are huge transforming robots on the highway. He told me so." her hand fell and the Camaro's door swung open. "My dad has to be laughing in his grave right now."

For about a minute, Fera refused to come forward. The robot-car aliens- because she was pretty sure these things couldn't be artificially or naturally from earth- waited for her, even though she seemed ready to bolt any second. The black one revved impatiently while Bumblebee just sat there like he was a normal, inanimate car. A million and one questions filled her brain, both suspicious and curious. What would these beings do with her? What did they want? Would they hurt her?

As her stomach dropped in the uncertainty, she swallowed the nerves there. "Come on human! We don't have all day!" one of them -the black one she assumed- called. Jumping as she was suddenly startled, Fera switched her gaze between the waiting group and Bee.

I am going to hate myself for this, she opted grimly. But unknowing about why to even her, she climbed in to the offered cab anyway. It slammed shut, locking her inside the dark, padded car. The radio buzzed and hummed for a moment before it gave a whistle and then found a station to start playing life is a highway.

Fera let her body fall back against the seat as she watched each car before them start-up and speed away, quickly followed by Bumblebee. They ran swiftly through the construction zone, keeping out of sight of the distant highway. Strangely, the seats began to warm her chilled body and Fera let herself calm down, though she still held a measure of suspicion. The music played on and Fera suppressed a few shivers of uncertainty. What had she'd gotten herself into? Trying to keep her mind in the better light of the moment, Fera watched the road ahead.

"Bee? Is it weird that my father told me about you guys before this?" she asked, not expecting an answer. The music faded and the car shifted gears, crawling across on 4-wheel drive after its comrades when they came across a particularly. "He...did?...How did...he know about...us?" the station made out, causing Fera to run her sore fingers through her dirtied scalp again. "I have no idea. But I'm not even sure if I'm awake." her hand slipped from her hair and rubbed down her face. "Someone pinch me." she muttered to herself.

There was a moment of disturbing quiet from the car and then a sharp pain zipped up Fera's spine. She jumped and gave a high-pitched squeak, lifting herself up with her hands so that she was no longer sitting on the seat. "What was that?!" she demanded. Bumblebee chirped and gave another buzz before answering, "You said...pinch...you. But...I couldn't so...I did what I could." the last part was a broadcast that sounded like a devastated mother's sobbing voice and it twisted Fera's stomach painfully. This was just too weird. "Well...thanks? But I wasn't being serious. Sorry for confusing you." she said, slowly lowering herself back into the seat. Bee gave a small buzz and then started up the music again.