Hey, guys!

it's been a while, huh?

It's a few days late, but...

Happy five-year anniversary :)


Of the Spark and Heart

Part 1

Chapter 1

"Now don't get me wrong, they're 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. The girl's arms sit folded 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 fluttered over angered, icy blue eyes. Her pale skin was like her mother's, yet she hated to admit it. A milky complexion wasn't something she wanted to flaunt.

Said mother, Sarah, was going on and on over an incident that happened at her high school that day. What she thought was this: Fera was about to get in a fight with a smaller, very annoying female harasser 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 her cornered victim of looking at her jock boyfriend. Disgusting.

She gave an exasperated sigh, already having tried to defend herself at the school. Carina, the blonde who had started the argument, had burst into 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?" her mother 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."

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 droned on in the background, but she paid no attention.

From the time Fera was little, she knew she'd wanted to play the violin. She would watch each orchestra concert at her school and would even bother her mother enough that she would take her to see another school's kids play. It was only until she was in fifth grade did she actually get the chance to start her dream. Now she was a 17-year-old girl and a senior in high-school and was nowhere near the level she strived to be at.

"So until you learn to-" Sarah cut off and cursed under her breath, sitting forward to squint through the hurried wiper blades before her. Fera looked to the road to see what had stopped the conversation. "These people act like they've never driven before!" Sarah snapped 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 luxury vehicles, were swerving in-between their neighbors as they revved loudly across the slick blacktop. Their windows were tinted a dark black, so she 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 was beginning to realize that a Ferrari wasn't such a bad car either.

Suddenly, an alarm went off behind the minivan, and her head whipped behind them to see the back window. A yellowish-green ambulance could be seen behind them, its lights dancing. The words search and rescue decorated the strip of red on the side.

"As if I could get over!" Sarah growled. Fera looked back in front of them and found the road clearing slowly, and Sarah sighed in relief before speeding up to pull over.

Out of nothing, abruptly, there was light.

Blinded, Fera raised an arm to cover her eyes. Her mother called out in surprise, causing the car to swerve. They both screamed, and Fera threw out her hands to grab the door in support. They 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 swept from view. The only noise between the women was their panicked voices, now struck deathly silent as the driver tried desperately to control the vehicle.

Finally, it stopped moving, its body shaking with the sudden stop. They sat for only mere seconds, disheveled and heaving for air, before the ambulance behind them came into peripheral again. It skidded to a stop beside their van, idling next to the door. Fera's eyes snapped to it, her heart pounding from more than the slick road. 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 ladder, was the image of a robot's face. Then the Hummer was off, its wheels wasting no time to speed away.

"Are you alright?" Sarah gasped with a strangled voice as she touched Fera's shoulder. Her daughter looked to her and quickly nodded, her hand shaking with the necklace in her grasp. It had been a present from 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.

She whipped around to her side door, clasping the handle and pushing. It wasn't locked, but it was jammed. "What are you doing?" her mother demanded in concern and confusion. Fera ignored her, ramming her shoulder over and over into the barrier. It popped open with a creak and she 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 her skin prickled with the stabbing cold that came with it. She popped up her hood and looked around. The cars were still there.

Four of them, 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, frozen in shock. Her hand tightened on her necklace, her eyes locked on the speeding machines before her. Her own blood, splattered across the blacktop, crossed her mind and her lungs seized. A loud, shrill alarm sounded and she shook her head, realizing it was the ambulance. The Lamborghini never slowed, and her mind went 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 inside. It was almost certain that she wouldn't get the stuck door open in time, so she instead shot across the road. A flash of red caught her attention and her head turned to see what was happening. The 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 into it. Both sharply turned and headed straight for the barrier, now leaned on by an upturned, stray automobile.

The two vehicles headed for the median, neither slowing.

What is wrong with these people? Fera thought in horror. The Mustang broke off from its target and ran straight up the car, 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. It may have been the only thing that kept her from releasing the piercing scream that now burned her throat.

The Mustang broke off from its target and ran straight up the car, 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. It may have been 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 crumpled-up shell of a machine. She expected a shredded, broken body. Her hand slipped over her chin, holding back bile. Petrified eyes scanned the smokey scene as she searched for the seared rubble that she thought would be scattered over the wet pavement.

What she didn't expect was there to be a mostly whole, actually still running, black luxury car. Four wheels suddenly ripping ribbons of grayish black, the shining form roared to life and it squealed 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 hammering in her chest. She could barely hold her lunch.

But she had never felt so amazed.

A sudden, reckless desire had her pushing off from the safety of the Sedan and starting towards the pebbly result that was the exit. Her soaked tennis shoes squished beneath her as she started towards the broken median. 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. Someone had to of called the emergency number by now.

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, caking her face and sticking her hair 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 wipe it from her face and clothes. She managed to get most of it off, but some still stained her jacket and pants.

She shoved herself back to her feet and put down her hood so the rain would wash her face and hair. She also took a rubber band from around her wrist and tied up her hair.

There was no hesitation now. She had to see what all this craziness was about. Maybe if she was lucky she would see the men or women behind the wheels.

She heard loud graveled sounds of wheels on dirt in the distance and she ran faster. The mounds around her were strange, consisting mostly of collected piles of rocks, mud, and rubble. It was probably a construction site, but she didn't focus much on that as she continued on. There was a series of groans and then a sudden human-like grunt before the mound in front of her exploded. She gasped and fell back on her rear, fumbling around 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 her. She squeezed her eyes shut and winced as a loud cry sounded.

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

Fera's eyes widened and she clapped a hand over 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, everyday James Bond pistol and Goldeneye. These were bazookas.

There was another burst of earthly matter and the ground thrummed, dull quivers shaking the earth. oozing mire slipped like a snake over her shoulder and she leaned forward to separate the contact. The mud made a loud sucking sound, and she strained to free herself from the quicksand at her feet.

When she finally yanked her dirtied shoes clear, she went stock still at the feral snarl that split the air. Her blood went cold.

Slowly, her eyes moved to her right, her lips parted. 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 was pinned beneath another, its arms up to protect itself. The attacker had furious red lights for eyes, a mysterious black mask covering its nose and lips. Suddenly its face turned towards Fera and she nearly dropped to the ground then and there. The battling behemoths beside her briefly stopped their struggles and glanced down at her.

The one on the ground seemed to roll its eyes, its face moving with hundreds of tiny, flat metal pieces.

"Primus. Great."

It was the same voice she'd heard the first time. It sounded male. At least, as male as you could get with a sentient toaster.

He focused back on his attacker and suddenly threw up his torso, elbowing the other in the face. Its head snapped back and it fell with a swift kick from the one on the ground.

Fera didn't have the time to think of running away 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!" he called roughly, pushing himself up from the mud. Fera's head snapped around the mound just as yet another robot leaped over the crumpled dirt pile. It was smaller than the first one, its face slightly different as well. It sprinted over to its comrade and suddenly looked up, seeing Fera. It then hopped sideways, pointing at the girl by the ground.

The bigger one waved a hand, "I got it, go!" he yelled.

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

"Ratchet! We got a human!" the black one yelled, brushed his hand over his dirt-covered armor.

Fera fell once again to her butt, looking upon a gigantic titan as he towered over her. She 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 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 Italian 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 and shoved the red and black comrade. "That's quite obvious you short-circuited sparkling," he remarked.

He looked down at his arm and brought it up, pressing a few buttons that Fera couldn't see. Her eyes were wide and her ponytail was a mess. 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 friends? 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 psychopaths. 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 were also being bombarded by the sheen, a frame of it surrounding them.

"Now stay dead, you pit-spawn!"

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? she 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 than that of a human.

"I alerted Optimus of our situation and he's 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?" she 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 adrenaline in her system.

"It talks," the red one noted. 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 bot 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...It's...Bee," it said. The small robot's words were clipped, and it seemed he talked by using the radio. The waves bent and hummed as he searched the stations for the correct words.

"Your name...what could it be, Darlin'?" 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.

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 gave some excited clicks and he shuffled up onto his feet. "That's a beauty...sounds like honey..." he commented. Unable to help herself, Fera found her lips breaking into a smile. This guy was actually kinda cute.

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

Ratchet nudged his peer and held out his hand. "You may be 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 then walked around Sol, stepping toward the downed 'Con. Sol 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 sci-fi movie that any child her age could be interested in. But she had never witnessed 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 from one to another, placing a hand on her hip.

"Now I'm going to think bad drivers are huge transforming robots." Her hand fell and the Camaro's door swung open. She gave a short, disbelieving laugh. "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. Startled, she jumped and switched her gaze to 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 into 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. When they followed after, they ran swiftly through the construction zone. The group made sure to keep out of sight of the distant highway. Strangely, the seats began to warm her chilled body and Fera let herself calm down a bit. The music played on and she 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?" she said in thought. "I think my dad knew about you guys." Not expecting an answer, she strayed into silence. The music faded and the car shifted gears, crawling across on 4-wheel drive after its comrades when they came across a particularly rough patch of road.

"How could I have known...I didn't know his last name?" the station made out, causing Fera to run her sore fingers through her dirtied scalp again.

"Am I awake?" Her hand slipped from her hair and rubbed down her face. "Someone, pinch me."

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 hovering over the seat. "What was that?!" she squealed.

Bumblebee chirped and gave another buzz before answering, "'Pinch me, I'm dreaming'...couldn't help myself..." he answered her with a few radio clips.

This was just too weird. "Well...thanks? But, next time, can you give me a little warning?" she muttered, slowly lowering herself back into the seat. Bee gave a brief buzz and then started up the music again.


After 2 years of writing this story, and then letting it sit for three more years,

I realized that this was one of the only stories I've ever been proud of.

You guys are amazing, and I think you deserved an upgrade.

Thank you all so, so much.

I'd never be where I am without you.

~SN