My name is Jenna Darby, and - well - congratulations. If you're reading this, it means that you've chosen to read the greatest story I've ever told. This is the story of how I died.

Okay, okay - calm down! Don't get all emotional about it! It's cool, it's cool. I'm fine, it's okay. I've gone through the whole "five stages of grief" thing, done a lot of soul-searching - it's alright.

Now... This story isn't entirely mine. A lot of it belongs to some pretty interesting people and characters I came across before my untimely demise. But I suppose that, when it gets down to it, it all starts with my older brother, Jack.

Well, I say he's my older brother, but I'm actually adopted. Apparently, when Jack was four, he found a three year-old me scrounging for food in a trash can, and his mother - June, named for the best month of the year - adopted me. She had recently divorced her husband, so she was a single mother working as a nurse to support Jack and I. I think we can all agree in saying that that totally makes her Super-Mom.

Anyway, thirteen years passed quickly. I became the top of my class in academics, but I found myself slacking or lacking in other areas. I lacked friends mostly - my best friend was my brother -, and I was lacking so much in social-standpoints because I was "weird" that got pushed around a bit at school. As for slacking, I was sixteen years-old and didn't have a job or even a basic plan for my future.

Why didn't I have a plan? Well, it's funny, but when you're a girl who was abandoned as a toddler and you grow up getting bullied in a town like Jasper, Nevada, you don't really see that bright of a future for yourself. I guess I just didn't have the hope I needed to truly aspire.

Of course, I had fantasies about what I wanted to be. There were days when I wanted to be a singer, the first female president of te ol' US of A, or an astronaut - like Jack. I wanted to be a teacher or scientist for a while, but then I wanted to become an explorer - even though I was told that there wasn't nothing left on Earth to be discovered. But there was one persisting dream, but it was considered to be such a stupid dream by everyone around me that I lost faith in it having any hold on my future.

I wanted to be an artist. I wanted to make the world a brighter and more colorful place, and even though I didn't have faith in that dream, I still pursued it the most. I think that that's why I sorta lost any semblance of a good reputation that I had and became an outcast, a lone-wolf, a loser.

But... I suppose that I should be grateful for all of that. If I hadn't lost all faith in any future for myself in the life I was living, I would have never started leading the life that lead me here. I know you think that's crazy - you should, I am dead after all. But still... What an adventure.

My name is Jenna Darby, this is the story of how I died, and I have no regrets except for one. The one that will make this supposedly peaceful slumber troubled and uncomfortable until I can face you again, eons from now when you join me in this place, and say these words to you:

I lied to you - my first, truest, dearest, and best friend. I lied to you, and I left you... And I'm so, so sorry.

But you know why I did what I did. I'm sorry for leaving you, but I'm not sorry about the manner of my death. I couldn't be. After all, it was for you.

Now... Sit back, relax, and let the story begin.

-0-0-0-0-0-

A young girl around the age of sixteen leaned against a random car outside of a fast-food restaurant called KO Burger. She had long, wild, frizzy brown hair with blue highlights, her lightly suntanned-face was freckled, and her eyes were closed.

She wore a Doctor Who t-shirt with a picture of a splatterpaint-TARDIS, faded blue jeans, black cOn my way! this-boots, and an old green hoodie that seemed a bit big on her. A Doctor Who TARDIS necklace was around her neck, and a TARDIS book bag was slung over her right shoulder and held in place by her right shoulder.

As she listened to music blaring in her ears from a pair of custom Beats headphones - Star Wars with orange, white, grey, and the silver symbol of the rebellion -, the girl chewed some gum, seeming bored. An engine roared, and she opened a pair of big brown eyes to see a blue and pink motorcycle in a parking-spot that was previously empty. She raised an eyebrow, they shrugged it off and looked towards the restuarant doors.

"... And he's alive!" The girl shouted as a boy with black hair and blue eyes dressed in a brown shirt, an off-white long-sleeved undershirt, dark jeans, and brown sneakers exited the KO Burger, laughing and clapping sarcastically. The boy groaned in annoyance, hanging up on a call with his mother, then he noticed the motorcycle and his eyes widened. As they boy totally geeked-out, the girl grew bored again and walked over, lightly knocking on his head as she raised an eyebrow, smirking. "Hello? Earth to Jack, do you read me?"

"Just a second, Snow Queen." The boy, Jack, insisted quietly, and the girl rolled her eyes. Then, she gave a light smirk.

"You do realize the owner of this bike could show up at any moment and kick your ass into next Wednesday, don't you?" She asked, and Jack blinked. Then, the girl noticed two dark cars nearby and frowned. "Okay, that's a bit creepsy-deepsy..." The motorcycle suddenly roared to life and drove off with the boy on it, and the girl's eyes widened. "Jack!"

The girl darted over to a dark-blue bike that was waiting nearby and hopped on, starting to ride and doing her best to keep up with the motorcycle. The girl noticed the dark cars following, and her eyes narrowed slightly before she pulled a cord attached to the handle of her bike. A compartment built into the back of the bike slid open, and some grease poured out, making the road slippery enough to keep the creepy cars at bay.

The girl finally caught up with Jack after the somehow-sentient motorcycle had removed him from its seat, and the two ran down the alleyway together, the girl dragging her bike as she was unwilling to leave her brother.

"What are we gonna do?!" The girl shouted, looking at the boy with wide eyes. Jack looked over at her, his eyes just as wide.

"I don't know." The boy admitted fearfully. "In case this is the end... I love ya, little sis."

"... Don't get all lovey-dovey on me now, Jackson." The girl, Jenna Darby, gave a small grin. "I was just starting to tolerate you." At that, Jack rolled his eyes and grinned lightly, shaking his head as they turned a corner.

"Thanks for ruining the moment, Snow Queen." He commented dryly, and she snickered. The motorcycle suddenly drove up behind the two, and it flashed its headlights.

"Hop on!" A female voice exclaimed, and he obeyed. Jenna was still running. "Come on, kid!" Jenna looked over at the motorcycle, grinning nervously.

"No thanks!" She insisted, and Jack's jaw dropped as she hopped back onto her bike. "I've got this! Lead the way, caffeine-withdrawal induced hallucination!"

The humans and the motorcycle lured the creepy cars into a dried-up old water basin, and the motorcycle changed into a giant, feminine-looking robot. The creepy cars changed into giant, even-creepier males who began fighting the female robot.

"Whoa." Jenna stared, then she slowly raised her phone an took a picture. Jack looked at her, annoyed, while a younger kid with glasses and a backpack walked up, holding a backpack and the remote-control for a model car.

"Really?!"

"Jack, this has gotta be some crazy government shit! I'm putting it on my website!"

"For God's sake-!"

The three humans quickly took cover as a yellow car arrived and turned into a male with blue eyes who stood with the female robot. The younger kid and Jack stared in awe as they battled, while Jenna seemed to be thinking.

"Okay..." She began, trying to process it. "Dark cars with red eyes and car and motorcycle with blue eyes. Blue-eyes protecting us, red-eyes probably trying to kill us... I'm thinking that the blue-eyes are the good guys and the red-eyes are the bad guys." Jack looked over at her, glaring.

"You think?!"

"Which means that I should do this!" The girl pulled out a taser, charged it to full power, and fired it at an evil robots's leg. The robot tensed up, giving the yellow robot time to recover from his fight. When the evil robot didn't move, the yellow robot poked it, and it fell over. The yellow robot looked at Jenna, its "eyes" wide, and Jenna slowly waved. "Uh... Hi."

"Jenna!" Jack grabbed her hand and the boy's, finally fed-up with what was happening. "We have to get out of here before we get killed!" Jack dragged the two into a sewer pipe (Jenna holding onto her bike), and they ran back to civilization as they thought they had known it.

/\/\/\/\

The next day, Jenna sat on the steps of a school, waiting for Jack. She was looking down, frowning, and hugging her knees to her chest. There was a bruise far back on her jaw on the right side, and she slowly reached up and moved her hair in order to hide it, not seeming nearly as bothered as she should have been.

"Hey!" A voice spoke, and the girl looked up to see the little boy from the previous day. "I'm Raf... What's your name?"

"Jenna Darby." Jenna replied, giving a small smile, then she frowned and looked down again. "What happened yesterday? I can't even process it without a wicked headache..." Raf sat next to her, frowning.

"Something crazy, that's for sure." He agreed, nodding. They sat there in awkward silence for a long moment, and then another voice spoke up.

"Nerd alert!" A girl who appeared to be a foreign exchange student from Japan smirked down at the two. "School's two biggest dweebs are finally talking, eh? Yawn!" Jenna stood up, glaring.

"Tch." She scoffed lightly, crossing her arms. "We may be considered dweebs because we're smart and use our brains for productive means, Miko, but at least we're not considered spoiled, arrogant, dust-for-brains children." Miko blinked, then she placed her hands on her hips, trying to get up in her face.

"Them's fighting-words, Darby." She said quietly. "We really going to do this again? You know that you've always backed down from a fight." Jenna's eyes narrowed slightly, then she took a deep breath.

"Miko, since you've simply refused to believe that problems can be solved in any way outside of smashing through them, I guess I'll take this occasion as one in which we will solve things your way." She announced simply, and Miko blinked as she began cracking her knuckles. "Now, before we begin, there's a few things you should know about me. One: I have a temper fuse about as flammable as a strip of paper soaked in gasoline. Two: I don't like bullies, especially the sort who think that they're clever when they're really, really not. Three: I don't like seeing children picked on, especially by those who are older than them - as those people are cowards." Raf's eyes widened as Jenna stretched and cracked her neck. "Four: I hate being underestimated. Five: I take karate and kickboxing classes on the weekends, and I ride my bike everywhere - so I'm likely stronger than you, faster than you, and better at fighting than you."

"What the-?" Miko blinked as Jenna stood to her full height and got into a strong fighting-stance. Miko was a year older than Jenna, and Jenna was shorter by an inch, but Miko seemed really uneasy, now. "... Darby-"

"What?" Jenna asked, smirking deviously. "Too chicken to take a nerd in a fight?"

Before Miko could reply, Jack arrived and the three humans who has seen the robots noticed the yellow muscle car that could become the yellow robot. Raf got in, and the motorcycle came after Jack and Jenna when they tried to escape into an alleyway. She claimed that they were in danger and that someone called Optimus Prime wanted to talk to them... And then, Miko showed up.

Jenna biked after the two vehicles into a secret base hidden in a desert mesa. She looked up, her eyes wide as she saw two giant robots looking down at her and the other three as they climbed off/out of their vehicles. One was huge and green, the other smaller and red and white. Jenna stared in awe, placing her bike on its kickstand and stepping away, as the other two robots transformed behind her.

"Whoa..."

"I thought there were three." The red/white robot began in an older voice, frowning and looking at Miko. Jenna blinked, then muttered quietly.

"Prediction: this is the cranky-grampa."

"Haven't you heard?" The motorcycle-robot asked coyly. "Humans multiply."

"Prediction: this is the mother-hen with sarcasm and a complicated past." Jenna continued quietly. Raf held his hand out to Jack.

"I'm Raf."

"I'm Miko!" Miko exclaimed, running up to the green robot. "Who are you?!" The green robot was obviously taken aback by her enthusiasm.

"Bulkhead."

"Prediction: this was the crazy uncle who looked like a tough guy but was a real softie." Jenna grinned lightly, then she rolled her eyes as Miko began rattling off questions.

"So, if you guys are robots..." Raf began cautiously. "Who made you?" The red and white robot scoffed.

"Puh-lease..."

"... Humans, am I right?" Jenna smirked lightly, shrugging, and the robot looked at her. "What?" The ground shook, and Jenna spun around to see giant metal feet hitting the ground. The humans all looked up to see a huge blue and red male robot, and Jenna gave a small wave, her eyes wide. "Hi... Please don't kill us. I wanna live."

"Sorry about my little sister." Jack sighed, rolling lightly his eyes. "Jenna's sort of special." Jenna's eyes narrowed as she looked at him, and she rolled up her hoodie-sleeves.

"I'll show you just how special I am when I kick your ass." She growled lowly. Blue/red-robot quickly butted in.

"We are autonomous robotic organisms from the planet Cybertron, also known as Autobots."

"... Prediction: this is the badass dad." Jenna announced, and Jack elbowed her in the side. "So... Is that a no on killing us?" All went silent, so Jenna shoved Jack forward. "You shall be the delegate, Jack! Talk to the giant metal guy who could crush us if we piss him off."

"Jenna!" Jack looked back at her, glaring, then sighed and looked up at the blue and red robot. "... Why are you here?"

"To protect your planet from the Decepticons." The giant red and blue robot replied. The humans raised eyebrows.

"The jokers who tried to bump us off last night." Motorcycle-robot elaborated, irked. Jenna blinked, then slowly smirked.

"Oh, yeah... I tasered the Hell out of one of them."

"Okay..." Jack frowned slightly. "Why are they here?" The massive robot kneeled, and Jenna quickly backed off, still wary.

"A fair question, Jack. In part, they are here because our planet is uninhabitable, ravaged by centuries of civil war."

"Why were you fighting a war?" Raf asked innocently. Jenna crossed her arms, looking up as she too waited for an explanation.

"Foremost, over control of our world's supply of Energon." The massive robot stated, a hint of forlornness in his voice. "The fuel and lifeblood of Autobots and Decepticons alike. The combat was fierce, and endured for centuries. In the beginning, I fought alongside one whom I considered a brother... But in war, ideals can be corrupted. And it was thus that Megatron lost his way."

"... Is there gonna be a quiz?" Miko yawned, and Jenna blinked. Then, her eyes narrowed dangerously as she turned to the girl, glaring.

"YOU BRAT!" Jenna snapped, and many blinked. "This guy is talking about something scarring and life-changing, and you're being a total bitch about it! How would it feel if we were stuck on their planet, fighting to keep them safe after Earth was destroyed, and Doctor Dismal over there started yawning as you described how you lost your family in a war?!"

"... Doctor Dismal?" The red and white asked, breaking the HUGE tension that the brunette's snap had caused. Miko had recoiled slightly, and she watched as Jenna slowly calmed hedself, muttering quietly. Jack looked up at the blue and red robot and started talking again.

"So, what does Megatron, or any of this, have to do with us?"

"Megatron has not been seen or heard from in some time. But if his return is imminent, as I fear, it could be catastrophic."

"And you expect a nerd, a brat, a twelve year-old, and a burger-joint employee to do what?" Jenna asked, placing a hand on her hip. "I mean... Sure, I've got a taser, but not much else that can hold out in a fight. If it's fighters you're looking for, I think you can do better with - legitimately - ANYONE else."

"Since you now know of our existence, I fear that as of last night, the Decepticons know of yours." THe blue and red robot replied, frowning. Jenna cringed lightly at that.

"... Got it. So, if we spot any strange vehicles, call 911." Jack summarized, uncomfortable. "Can we go now?"

"You try calling 911 and saying 'help, I'm being chased by an evil robot disguised as a car.'" Jenna muttered, roiling her eyes. "See ya when you're a grease stain on the pavement, Jackson."

"And you insane?!" Miko asked, shocked at Jack's words. "I'm living the dream here in 'Bot-Swana, and I will not allow you or anyone else to shatter it! Especially your crazy sister!" Jack had to catch Jenna's fist before it hit her. Jenna's eyes were narrowed, and Miko blinked in surprise. "You know, you're just proving my point."

"So?!"

"It is best that you four remain under our watch." Optimus quickly intervened, looking between the children. "At least, until we can determine our enemy's intentions."

"Optimus." The white and red robot spoke up, not happy. "With all due respect, the human children are in as much danger here as anywhere."

"Children?" Jack asked, annoyed. Jenna smirked in amusement, but she remained silent as she listened to the massive beings' conversation.

"They have no protective shell. If they get underfoot, they will go..." The red and white robot lightly stomped on the floor for emphasis. "Squish." Jenna slowly raised her hand.

"Yeah... I'd rather not do that." She stated, like it was impossible for her not to want to get crushed. The red and white robot seemed unamused.

"... Then, for the time being, Ratchet, we must watch where we step." Optimus smiled slightly. Suddenly, an alarm went off, and Jack immediately freaked out.

"What's that?!"

"Proximity sensor." The yellow Autobot replied, buzzing instead of speaking. Jenna blinked, surprised as she found herself understanding him. "Someone's up top." Raf quickly translated for Jack and Miko.

"Prediction: this is the cute little brother of the group." Jenna whispered, grinning lightly at the yellow robot. He didn't seem to hea her.

"It's Agent Fowler." Ratchet muttered in annoyance. Jack quickly got confused.

"I thought we were the only humans who knew about you guys."

"Special Agent Fowler is our designated liaison to the outside world." Optimus explained, looking at the boy. "As he tends to only visit when there are issues, it may be best if you do not meet him at this time."

The children hid, and they heard someone fearlessly scolding the Autobots for the incident that caused their meeting.

"Whoever this guy is, he's got guts." Jenna stated, then turned to the others with a small grin. "Okay, kids! Let's review... Name all the Autobots."

"Optimus, Ratchet..." Raf began slowly, focusing. "Bulkhead, Bumblebee... The girl Autobot hasn't said hers yet." Jenna nodded, then looked at Jack.

"Arcee." Jack stated, frowning slightly. "Her name is Arcee." Jenna nodded, then she almost cracked up when Ratchet yelled at Bulkhead for crushing his equipment.

"Bulkhead, I needed that!"

Agent Fowler left the Base, and the children exited hiding.

"So..." Jenna began, lightly rocking on her heels. "I really don't get to fight anymore 'Cons? It was kinda fun..."

"What?" Ratchet asked, looking down at the girl in disbelief. She gestured to Bumblebee.

"He saw me taser one of those creeps. I totally took that sucka out."

"Yeah, she did." Bumblebee buzzed, nodding in agreement. "I've never seen anything like it." The Autobots looked at Jenna, genuinely surprised.

"Hey, when you're an illegal artist, you need to be prepared." Jenna shrugged lightly. "I've had to add some officers to the display once or twice."

"Wait... You're that mysterious graffiti artist people talk about?!" Miko asked, and Jenna blinked as the girl actually smiled at her for the first time, like, EVER. "That's so cool!"

"Those colorful wall markings in Jasper were yours?" Bulkhead asked, raising an optic-brow. Jenna slowly nodded, and he immediately grinned. "I am a HUGE fan! How do you make those explosion-looking ones?" Jenna opened her bag and pulled out a silver, spherical object.

"Got a blank wall?"

Bulkhead showed Jenna the training room, everyone else following to watch what she would do, and the girl took the sphere in hand. Jenna gazed at a black, cement wall before her and nodded.

"That'll do." She decided, and many of her observers blinked. "I think I'm gonna call this one Spark of Rebellion."

"Why?" Raf asked, frowning slightly. Jenna threw the sphere at the blank wall, and it exploded in a show brilliant colors - yellow, red, gold, and orange -, the warm-colored paint dying the wall with its colorful hues. Everyone gazed, awed, while Jenna simply nodded and smiled.

"It sounds cool."

"Pyrotechnics combined with paint to create a depiction of an instantaneous event such as an explosion." Ratchet looked down at the girl. "How could someone like you create such a device?"

"I got bored. A girl needs hobbies!"

"So... The most anti-social girl in school can also make bombs." Miko noted, and Jenna shot a scowl her way. "Good to know."

/\

The Autobots left in a hurry, leaving the kids with Ratchet when they went looking for someone called Cliffjumper. They used something called a ground bridge to go there, and Ratchet started getting on everyone's nerves with his dislike of humanity and distrust of them and their technology. Soon, the others returned followed by a blue explosion, and there was no Cliffjumper. Jack dragged Miko and Raf off, but Jenna stayed to listen.

"Arcee, what did you see?" Optimus asked quietly. Arcee looked sad, confused, and scared.

"Not Cliff... At least... Not anymore." She choked out. "He was mutated, butchered - like something from those 'Con experiments during the war." Arcee fell, nearly passing out.

"Arcee?!" Bumblebee asked, worried. The female Autobit raised a servo in protest to him coming closer.

"I'm fine, just dizzy."

"Robots who get dizzy?" Miko asked, confused. The others had returned out of curiosity.

"Robots with emotions?" Raf asked, his eyes wide. Jenna frowned slightly at his surprise. Hadn't he realized that, before?"

"Robots... Who can die." Jack realized, gazing at Arcee with wide eyes. Jenna slowly reached over and put a hand on his shoulder, and he hung his head.

-0-0-0-0-0-

That's where the story begins.

I met the Autobots, learned of their struggle and of their nature. I learned that they were just as human as a human, tat they weren't invincible, that they could break and bleed - but they put their love's on the line constantly for us, for humans. I couldn't believe the strength of their devotion...

I was young, stupid, and temperamental. I was angry at the world, and I took my anger out on everyone around me, which resulted in me being lonely, which resulted in me getting angrier at the world and continuing the whole cycle.

It was destructive, and if it hadn't been for the discovery of the Autobots, I don't know what would have happened to me. I would have probably grown up, graduated from high-school and college, and become an art-teacher. I would have lived alone with several dogs, and I would have painted in my spare-time. I would never have gotten married, I would have lived a hum-drum life and retired old. Then, I would have probably been found dead a few weeks after I died, sitting in front of an unfinished painting. That would have been my life...

But it wasn't.

My life, it wasn't long - it was far shorter than it should have been, according to most standards. But the adventure I went on... I couldn't have found happiness like that if I could live that simple, hum-drum life for a thousand years.

So...

Thank you, all of you. Thank you for opening my eyes, to showing me just how big the universe was, and giving me an important place in it. Thank you, for giving me a purpose - a calling.

You know what that calling was, and you'd probably be livid if you heard me say such happy things about it. But you shouldn't be - I was happy. I was, for the first time in my life, truly happy...

I went out smiling, so please: stop crying.

And to you, reader, don't let the nature of my words discourage you from this tale. Even if you know how it ends and that may trouble you, the story... The story isn't troubling at all. These where the happiest days of my life.

I just wish that they hadn't made my loved ones so sad.

...

...

...

Well... That's a thing.

*blinks as dozens of guns are aimed my way*

Whoa, whoa! Calm down, people! Calm down! This isn't a rewrite or replacement for "The Artist"! Think of it as an, uh... Alternate Universe.

You know how many "Transformers" series there are - I wanted to take another look at the same story, give a different twist! It's fine, really! I just wanted to tell another version of the tale you love! It's going to be alright! Calm yourselves!

*guns slowly lower*

Alright...

Now, you know how much I love "The Artist". It's one of my favorite stories, one of the only stories I've finished to date, AND the only one I've granted a sequel to. But as I'm working on the sequel, I keep on noticing that there are a few things I would have liked to have done differently. I'm more experienced as a writer now, and there are just a few things I should have done... Better.

*guns slowly raise again*

Oi! I'm the writer! It's my opinion! Chill out!

*sigh* So... Yeah.

I only own my OC. Please read, review, check out my other stories (including the original "The Artist" If you feel like it, but caution: SPOILERS), etc. Thanks! :)