Shatter Me Chapter 1: First Position, a transformers/beast wars fanfic

Author's Notes:

Soooo... I really should be working on my other story, but the newest chapter is giving me trouble. Then I got Lindsey Stirling's newest album... which spawned this story, which I'm already plotting out and everything in my head...

Yeah, I'm screwed.

But, I'm also excited about it because this story is much better developed and prepared.

So, without further ado, I give you my first chapter! Enjoy!

"I pirouette in the dark
I see the stars through me
Tired mechanical heart
Beats 'til the song disappears

"Somebody shine a light
I'm frozen by the fear in me
Somebody make me feel alive
And shatter me
So cut me from the line
Dizzy, spinning endlessly
Somebody make me feel alive
And shatter me!

"Shatter me!
Somebody make me feel alive
And shatter me!

"If only the clockwork could speak
I wouldn't be so alone
We'd burn every magnet and spring
And spiral into the unknown

"If I break the glass, then I'll have to fly
There's no one to catch me if I take a dive
I'm scared of change, and the days stay the same
The world is spinning but only in gray
If I break the glass, then I'll have to fly
There's no one to catch me if I take a dive
I'm scared of change, and the days stay the same
The world is spinning but only in gray

(Only...)

"Me...!

"Shatter me!

"Somebody make me feel alive
And shatter me!"

By Lindsey Sterling, featuring Lzzy Hale

The night waned on, wind whistling through the tall grains and grass of the surrounding fields and filling the endless silence, the only sound sans the faint sounds of dying embers crackling along the old, worn wood of the once proud framework. Broken, pine planks and twisted metal scraps pile amongst the wreckage, the only real structure left to the destroyed farmhouse being the front view of the porch.

A brick staircase, worn with age, led up with elegantly crafted metal railings, once shining proudly with their white paint, a paint that was well kept but now ruined with smudges of soot. The scene ended with two, tall pillars at the top of the porch, standing regal and untouched, unlike the rest of the structure. The last piece that gave the site any hint that this place was once a beautiful home, one that people could have happily lived out the rest of their days in.

But, attention must now turn away from the macabre scene; away from the dying embers and their reddish glow amongst the farmhouse's remains. Turned away to the figure about a hundred yards away, of a woman watching on with glazed eyes, smudged soot on her skin and night clothes, barefoot and slightly singed with the wind whipping her raven black hair in her face as she stood staring at the ruin of the place.

The ruin of her home.

But, she held no strong remorse for her childhood home. A little. But not much. The place hadn't really been a home for a while now. A home shouldn't be empty. She had all that mattered of the place, all that mattered in that single oak box that she clutched ever so close to her chest.

But still, even with little remorse, she stood still, unable to move, to think, her heart racing, her body tense, stuck in some realm between fight or flight, adrenaline still rushing through system as she tried to remember how to breathe. Her hand shot up to her neck, grasping it clumsily as she choked out a broken sound and felt for that familiar feeling, trying to calm herself. And eventually, she found it, and she was able to breathe again, running her hand along it.

Along the thin, jagged scar across the side of neck.

You're lucky to be alive.

"You're lucky to be alive."

Spinning on her heel, her right hand instinctively shot to her hip, feeling for a pistol that was not there, while her other arm pushed the box behind her, angling herself as if to protect her treasures even though she was sure no one would care sans her.

"Easy, girl." The voice carried a rough scratch to it, yet somehow fell on her ears like soothing water. She eased her tense stance a bit, returning to clutching tightly to the box as he continued to speak, his tone a bit condescending. "First, I see you running off with a drone nipping your heels, thinking you'd be dead in a minute." A bark of a laugh escaped him. "Then, imagine my surprise to find you not only alive, but to then run into that mess!"

His arm swung towards the wreckage, and her gaze slowly shifted to stare at the destruction yet again, before looking at him once more. Now that the danger had passed, she began to truly look at him. Taking in the endless twists and turns of metal, the white painted pieces of the ferrari's outer shell that now covered this new form like armor with the emerald and blood red decals that streaked down the hood now on his chest. His face displayed an irritated scowl, but his eyes… what she surmised were eyes, that is, somehow seemed… relieved.

And it hit her. She had almost died. Twice. But, its not like she hadn't faced that in the past? The only difference was the fact that this, these possible deaths… she had given all that up. She gave up putting her life on the line. But looking into those worried eyes… she saw him again. Someone dead and buried and lost to her. She saw him in this, creature, this metal alien standing some thirty to forty feet above her.

And she knew that her life was once again lost.

Steeling away her emotions, she shifted the box to her side, a determined gait heading her towards an old, bomb silo off to the side of the vast, abandoned property. "Where are you going?" his voice called after her, confusion and irritation still evident.

Steps ceasing, her head swiveled over her shoulder, dark brown eyes that appeared black in the clouded moonlight, she called out to him. "Hide those two… things. I need to grab some supplies from the barn." Gaze darting to the ground, she whispered, "And then we leave."

Head pivoting back and fast pace returning before he could speak in response, she added, "You have ten minutes, Tin Man."

"….HEY."

Ignoring him, she continued on her path, soon hearing grumbling complaints from the giant followed by his rumbling footsteps as he set about the task she gave him. Though she knew that the drones would soon be found, hiding them might by her and the transformer more time.

Time they desperately needed if she wanted any chance for this to work.

Reaching the cellar, she carefully sat the old, oak box off to the side in grass, giving it one loving stroke before turning back to the task at hand. The year since she had opened the cellar and had checked the stock had left the old cedar plank on the outside to swell, leaving her to have bend down and use her shoulder to slowly press up until it popped out of the slots holding it in place and keeping her from entering. Eventually, the heavy board came out, she let it tumble to the side, discarding it. With practiced movements, she reached above the front door, grasping a bit of the planking and pulling a hidden lever, one which seemed to do nothing at all.

"What's with the lever?"

"Jesus Christ!" Spinning on heel, she glared up at the metal giant. "Warn a girl?! And how in the hell are you so quiet?" He simply ignored her question and gestured to the cellar. Rolling her eyes, she merely snapped, "It shuts off the traps. That way, we can get in unharmed."

Eyes widening, he announced, "Traps? You have traps in that thing?" Peering around her as she swung open the wide doors, he continued by barking out, "What in the frag for?!"

Huffing and bending over to dust her hands off on her sweat pants, she casually responded, "I have friends who like to deal in… not so legal activities." Stretching inside to flip on a light switch, she then proceeded to casually venture inside. Calling out behind her, she continued by adding, "They think its necessary to keep me… well stocked."

Still trying to see inside, the giant's head filled the entire doorway, his glowing sapphire optics casting a haze over his face. She took in the curiosity they showed in her stock, and how his face seemed battle worn, two distinct scars decorating the edge of his mouth. "What kind of stock?" he questioned her as she turned to another light switch.

Smirking, she announced in a mischievous tone, "This kind of stock."

Soon, rows upon rows of various contraband could be seen. Boxes clearly labeled as C4 filled the bottom rows of shelves, and the back wall held racks with guns of all sorts and sizes. Grabbing a large, already packed duffel bag off to the side, she walked up to a shelf and proceeded to grab handfuls of protein bars and such and shove them into the bag.

Letting out a whistle, the giant remarked, "Not sure if I should be nervous or impressed."

She let out a snort. "Neither." Rummaging in the duffel, she added, "This is mostly their stuff. I'm not supposed to screw with it except in emergencies." Her hand emerged with a huge wad of bills, which she examined before dropping back in the bag. "I think they would consider this an emergency."

"Don't mind me asking," he continued still staring in with shock. "But who exactly are 'they'?"

Walking to the back wall, she grabbed a pistol, dropping the ammo cartridge in a practiced manner to check the contents before popping it back in place with a satisfied sound and shoving it in the back of her sweats. "You can meet some of them when we get there."

"Wait, what?"

Grabbing a bunch of ammo cartridges and tossing them in the bag, keeping one on hand, she continued, "We need to leave. They can help us." Looking up the stairs, she added, "Its not safe here."

His eyes rolled as he pulled back from the framework, her ascending from below. "Yeah, I got that from the drones." Glaring at her as she exited the silo, setting about closing the and resealing it with the trap lever in place, he barked, "But I don't have time to go off and meet these 'friends' of yours. I need to meet up with my general—"

"Yeah," she laughed, stepping to the side to carefully lift the box and place it in the duffel. "That's easier said than done."

"What do you mean?"

Looking at him grimly, she decided to be blunt. "Your race is being hunted by humans. Its not safe here." Looking at the ruin of her house, she added, "Reinforcements are probably on the way—"

"Humans. Are. What?"

Glaring at the livid mech before her, she snapped, "Hunting you. Some idiots in the government decided that you were a threat, and now you are top on the world's most wanted list." Taking a deep breath, she tried to calm herself before speaking. "Look, you have no reason to trust me. I wouldn't if I were you. But I'm your only chance."

Letting out a disbelieving laugh, he snapped, "I can do just fine on my own, babe." With that, he turned to stalk away.

"How?" she called after him. "You don't know this planet! Your ship is wrecked over in that field!" she screeched, flinging her arm over in the general vicinity of a distant flame, which, as if to add emphasis, suddenly exploded as they stared.

Grumbling, he remarked, "There goes the Jackhammer…"

"You. Need. Me." She told him as she strode forward. "And you may not trust me yet, but I can earn it. It's not like I have anything else in my life right now. And!" she added, jabbing a finger at him. "You burnt down my house! You owe me, yet I'm trying to further help you!"

Groaning, he announced, "FINE. Fine, just behave or whatever." He then proceeded to shift down, his frame twisting and flexing, the armor bits returning to the shape of the Ferrari which had originally sped into her driveway that short hour ago.

Grinning triumphantly, she hefted the duffle bag further up her shoulder before striding over to him as he opened the passenger door. She, however, moved to stand by the driver door.

"Oh, Pit no. You are not—"

"Humans do not have cars that drive themselves," she responded firmly. "I need to at least sit in the driver's seat." Grumbling came again, but the passenger door slammed shut as the driver door popped open, to which she tossed the giant duffel in and gracefully slid into the seat, shifting about to settle herself.

Soon, the door slammed shut, and he took off without warning. An awkward silence settled in, neither speaking. Eventually, a gruff voice from the radio spoke up. "So… my designation is Wheeljack."

Letting out a soft smile, she responded, "Kara. My name is Kara."

Silence settled for a moment before Wheeljack announced, "What in the frag kind of designation is Kara?"

"Do not get me started on all the things wrong with a name like Wheeljack."

So, what did you think? Any and all reviews are appreciated! Let me know what you think~!