Author's Notes: I don't own Transformers. Originally this was just going to be a story about how the woman reacted when Ironhide jumped over her but then it grew to something much bigger. I will be adding characters from G1 and perhaps Armada. Chapters 1 - 18 have been edited and will be reposted. Each chapter will have dated on which day they were reloaded with the revised version. I edited all the chapters before doing this change. Revised May/11. Reposted June 30/11

Life Deals Twisting Changes
Chapter 1 – Life Crashes

It started out to be a typical morning for Katherine Lennox as she began her workday. She had brushed her long dark brown hair, thinking she'd put it up but it didn't take her long to change her mind. Dressed in the new teal green dress her boyfriend gave her for her birthday before kissing her boyfriend good-bye. If she thought that today was going to be the last time she'd ever see him alive, she would taken the day off and spend the day with him. But who could predict life would throw such a life changing curve ball?

She worked for one of Mission City's newspaper, a great reporter. There were three major newspaper companies in the city. She was so good that her co-workers would tease her by calling her Lois Lane. She wasn't a big fan of Superman therefore would shrug her shoulders and say something sarcastic like 'you got to do, what you got to do'. She knew the teasing was harmless, in fact she would get involved with the teasing sometimes by yelling 'Superman, help'. Her co-workers would laugh as she would jump on a desk and look like she was about to fall off. But shortly afterwards her boss would barge in the room, saying 'this is a paper not a Broadway play'. Everyone would sober up and go back to their respected areas.

As Katherine walked into the newsroom, she quickly grabbed her white blazer, putting it on so her boss wouldn't ogle her. She had nothing against him, he was married, but he was a typical male and once in awhile he would ogle. She never went up to him and told him to stop. She knew he wouldn't do anything to her, besides she had a brother in the army and her father was a retired police officer. If he were to try something, he probably wouldn't have a career left.

Katherine quickly sat her desk and tried to turn on her computer but it wouldn't compute. Others tried the same thing, but no luck. She cursed and slammed her hand against the tower.

"Katherine!" her boss bombed as he walked out of his office. "Don't slam company equipment."

"So what are we to do?" she asked. "How am I going to get my story done?"

"Listen up people," the boss yelled over the newsroom, getting everyone's attention from either cursing or about to hit something. "We're in a world wide communications black out. It happened in the middle of the night. Or at least that is what I believe. We must do things the old fashioned way. Break out the typewriters and type your stories. We'll have to manually print out the newspaper. So let's get to it. Katherine, you get out there and find as much information as you can about this black out."

"What about my story?"

"Save it for another day. This is more important. Now get moving."

"Yes, sir," she mockingly saluted. She quickly turned away and walked to the elevators, making her way towards the underground garage. Just before the elevator doors closed, she could hear groans and moans about having to do things the hard way.

When she got to the underground garage, she saw the night security guards, chatting with the day ones. The six guards notice Katherine's approach.

"Miss Lennox," one of them asked. "What is going on? I just saw you a few moments ago and you were bragging about a your story that needs to get done today."

"A world wide communications black out. Apparently the virus the military began to advertise yesterday has finally taken affect."

"Damn," one of the daytime guards said. "Where are you off to?"

"To find out what more information I can get."

"Well Lois Lane then better get going then," a night guard said.

"Oh yes," Katherine whipped her hair around. "Where's Superman when I need him?"

The security officers chuckled. She walked away, making her way towards her car to hopefully find some answers.


Explosions were everywhere as Katherine ran. Giant robots were fighting in the middle of the city. Dirt smudges smeared across her face and her nice shinny hair was now flat and dull. Long ago she lost her blazer when the firefight began. She had tried her best to run from the robots but she couldn't make it. She had tripped over fallen debris from a building. As she tried to get up, a sudden blast of weapons fire, fired in her direction. She ducked to the ground just as a GMC Topkick truck, driving at top speed was heading in her direction.

But to her surprise the GMC, in mid drive, suddenly started to change as weapons fire came at it. It was dodging the fire. When it was done changing, she noticed it was another giant robot. It jumped into the air and somersaulted over her. She began to scream as she thought she was going to be crushed. She was too petrified to move.

The sound of her scream was cut off as it moved over her. It got on the other side of her and she was able to get a good look at his face. She barely heard the words that were said by the robot.

"Run!" It said.

She almost fainted but she saw that it attacked the other giant robot that was firing. Knowing if she didn't move, she would be killed, it was able to motivate her scramble to her feet and run. She made her way to an alleyway and hid. Folding her legs straight up to her face, hot tears streamed down her dirty face. She was crying over seeing people on the street, dead and crying over the fact that her life had flashed before her eyes and was still alive.

After what seemed like forever, the battle cries halted. No more weapons fire. No more crashing into buildings. It was completely silent expect for some faint cries from the citizens. Everything just seemed to stop like turning off a movie. But this was no movie this was real.

Wanting to get away from the nightmare, Katherine slowly made her way out of her hiding spot and into the street. To her horror, building debris and dead bodies scattered all over the place. Not too far where she stood, three giant robots were left standing. Another one was strapped to a tow truck and two teenagers were standing beside it. The tallest one was holding on to what looked like another robot but it was in two pieces.

As she looked around, she saw some military officers. In the middle of the officers and to her surprise she saw her brother, Captain Lennox. She gasped before shouting her brother's name. "Will!"

Captain Lennox turned to the sound and to his surprising eyes; a woman was slowly making her way towards him. It didn't take him long to recognize that it was his sister. He quickly sighed in relief as he dropped his gun and ran to her. Just as he pulled her into an embrace, her legs gave out. She was safe his little sister was safe.

"You're safe, I'm so glad," he whispered. "I was afraid you were in a rubble."

She began to cry with relief. "No, I was sent out of find out why the world wide black out."

"Good."

She pulled away with fear in her eyes. Her eyes showed the question.

"Part of your newspaper was destroyed. I don't know if there were casualties."

"I have to go to them." She tried to get strength into her legs and pull away, but he wouldn't let her go.

"It's too dangerous, right now. Let the military handle it. Besides what you have witnessed, other media will be on your backside and right now, we don't know what to say about what happened?

"Just that some GIANT robots just tore across this city like a tidal wave!"

"Katherine," Captain Lennox rushed out. She needed to understand what was going on. She could not get the story printed out of what really happened. He grasped her hand and began to pull her towards the giant robots. "If you allow me, I will introduce you to the robots, the good guys."

"Are you telling me, there were bad guys?"

Lennox nodded. "I want you to meet some friends." When he was close enough to the robots, his hands wrapped around her waist so she wouldn't bolt.

"Everyone," Lennox began. "Meet my sister, Katherine. Katherine these guys are known as Transformers."

Katherine began to tremble as she noticed all eyes were on her. She carefully looked at each one. When she came to Ironhide, her eyes widened. She recognized the face. She trembled more as she pointed a finger towards him. "That…I met."

Optimus looked up from the girl to his weapons specialist. He had a questionable gaze.

Ironhide looked at his leader. "One of the Decepticons was attacking, while I was still in my alt mode. I just happened to transform and she was crouched on the ground. I blocked the path of the missiles from firing upon her. Jazz then attacked him."

Optimus nodded. "Well Katherine," he began. "My name is Optimus Prime and these are my men. Ironhide, which you already met, Ratchet my medic and there on the toe truck is Bumblebee."

Katherine looked at the robot strapped to the truck. She opened her mouth to ask why he was there. But she noticed he had no legs.

"This is going to be one hell of a story."

Lennox quickly turned to his sister. "No! You cannot print anything in the papers about this. Nothing!"

"But William," she protested. She forced herself away from her brother. "I'm a reporter. That's what I do."

"Look, if you print anything that has happened here, other forces will come and attack."

"I have to get the story. If I don't, some other paper will."

"I don't mean to interrupt," Optimus intervened. He knelt down to be more eye level to the two humans. "Your brother is correct. Nothing here can be publicized. A few of our enemies are still here. They fled the city, that I'm sure. If anything here gets out, we'll end up being tortured and the Decepticons then will get involved. I cannot and will not let that happen. Bumblebee already has been subjected to it."

Sam walked up to the woman. "Trust me," he said. "My friend was treated as a lab rat. Not to mention Megatron was frozen and a secret government agency was studying him. "This…" he swung his arms around, igniting the city. "May not have happened if the secret government was more opened. The Autobots could have prevented this destruction."

"Then what do I tell me readers?" she asked.

"The military probably will come up with a cover story," Captain Lennox said. In the distance, sirens were heard, coming closer. He turned back to Optimus. "You guys better split, the police, ambulance and fire trucks are coming."

Lennox jumped back as all three Autobots quickly transformed.

Sam looked at Optimus, in vehicle mode. "Mikaela and I will take up the rear with Bumblebee. We just need to brace his legs so they don't scratch anymore of the ground."

"Be quick. We'll meet you just on the outskirts of the city."

"Wait," Lennox said just as they were about to pull out. "Take my sister. Where she's a reporter, the police will ask her a lot of questions. Questions, she cannot answer."

"Ironhide," Optimus commanded. "Take the woman."

"Yes, sir." The door to the GMC truck quickly swung open.

To shocked from their transformation, to say anything, Katherine moved away from her brother and slowly climbed in. She was not impressed that she had to leave but the tallest robot said that she couldn't print anything, so she might as well head out and she wanted out of the city anyway. She almost jumped in fright as the truck sped off down the street.

The three Autobots quickly made their way down a street, disappearing into the crowds of vehicles still trying to flee the scene. In about 10 minutes, Ironhide noticed the toe truck coming up behind him. He was taking the rear. He quickly slowed down, giving the toe truck time to catch up and allowed them to move ahead.

As they began to near the end of the city, a man suddenly appeared in Ironhide's driver seat. Again Katherine jumped.

"It's only a hologram," Ironhide said. "This way, we can mislead your authorities."

The sound came from all around her but the hologram did not move. She cautiously moved her hand and waved at the hologram. She jumped as her hand moved through the hologram. Katherine quickly huddled herself against the door. A clicking noise distracted her and she noticed the doors had just locked. She looked up with surprise.

"It's for your protection," he sighed. He was getting vastly annoyed at the woman. Luckily he didn't have to watch the woman. Yes, he could feel her and sense her trembling but he had to concentrate on the road. He couldn't watch the woman and the road at the same time. Normally he could but he had much concentration on the hologram to keep it from flickering. He hadn't mastered the hologram.

When the Autobots got to the edge of the city, they stopped, but remained in vehicle mode. Ironhide unlocked his doors and Katherine was quick to get out. She needed to breath. Sam and Mikaela were quick to her side.

"Are you alright?" Sam asked.

She looked at the boy. "I don't know. I mean I was just driving in a car that can drive itself and a hologram appeared in the driver's seat."

Mikaela felt sympathy for the woman. "I know how you feel. When Sam and I met Bumblebee, it wasn't on the best terms. I was freaked but quickly got over it. See Bumblebee first appeared as an old 1977 Camaro, but that soon changed after a quick comment from me, and now he's 2008 Camaro. It soon became apparent for me to change my perspective on him and we didn't even know his name yet. Soon we met the rest of the Autobots."

Katherine looked up suddenly. "Where are we?"

"We're just outside the city?" Optimus answered. "Why do you ask?"

Katherine's eyes widened suddenly. "My boyfriend works for a road construction and he's supposed to be working." She suddenly ran off, taking note she was in the area where his crew was working. She ignored the two teens as they yelled her name.

Ironhide revved his engine and chased after her. It didn't take him long to catch up to her. But he had to pull himself off the road as she stood in the middle of it. Transforming, he had to stop himself from ramming into the ditch. He made his way towards her and was about to ask what was her problem but stopped.

To his surprising eyes, a construction crew were scattered all over and it was not a pretty sight. Scorched bodies were everywhere with some draped over the equipment while others laid face down in fresh new asphalt. Tears fell from Katherine's eyes as she scanned the area for any life. Her eyes fell on one person and with a gasp she ran over to that one person and started to sob uncontrollably.

"All dead," Ironhide mumbled as he watched Katherine run off again. He knew she wasn't far and he sensed no sign of danger so he allowed her to go. The other Autobots came up behind Ironhide and they were just as shocked.

"My god," Sam whispered.

"From the looks of it," Optimus began sadly. "This is the work of the just after we reached the city."

Mikaela looked up to the leader. "I don't understand. Why would they attack here? We arrived from the other side."

Ratchet knelt to the teen as Ironhide carefully made his way around the sea of bodies to Katherine. "Either the Decepticons changed their tactic, which is pretty often, or Starscream did this himself."

"What is Ironhide doing?" Bumblebee asked. Though he had been grateful that he was able to speak again, he wished he couldn't right now.

"It would seem the young woman he saved," Optimus answered. "Has found someone in amongst this mess."

"Optimus, "Sam looked up. "We need to get out of here. The local authorities will probably be here soon. They may already know about this destruction."

"Sam, we need to give the woman some time to herself. Much has happened to her today." An idea suddenly had come to mind. "Ironhide?" he called.

Ironhide stopped and carefully turned, indicating he had his leader's attention.

"We are going to keep going. Meet up with us as soon as you can. The local Authorities will be here soon."

"Understood sir," he answered. He gave his leader a quick salute before he saw his teammates transform and leave. The two teens climbed into the tow truck and left as well. Now that it was him and the woman if would be easier, or at least that is what Ironhide thought.

When he finally got to the woman, she was draped over a fallen man, crying hysterically. She didn't care that blood was smearing into her clothes or even on her skin.

Ironhide noticed a piece of heavy equipment pinned the man to the ground. He scanned the man, Katherine cried over, and was surprised to find how bad the body was disgruntled. The man's right hand was twisted, pointing the opposite way. His legs were crushed under the heavy machinery, which was a vehicle that flattened hot asphalt. His neck was broken in two places. A sharp object was sticking out of his chest, just below the human heart with blood seeping out.

Ironhide realized the object had struck a lung. Thanks to the World Wide Wed, he learnt humans had two lungs and if one is puncture, it is very had to breath. What surprised him more was he was still breathing, barely and he was trying to speak but the words could barely be made out.

"Katherine," he whispered, barely.

She lifted her head. "Charles?" she wept

"I love…you…" he looked above Katherine and saw the giant robot. "Take…care…of…"

His eyes rolled to the back of his head and closed for the final time. Katherine screamed, crying even more hysterically. The man just said his final words.

Ironhide cautiously knelt down beside the woman but something caught his attention. With his optics, he zoomed in on the thing that was covered in blood. He realized that it was a tattoo on his left shoulder. His optics widened. The tattoo was the Autobot signet.

Ignoring the woman for the moment, he scanned around and on one of the machinery not too badly damaged, he could see the name of the construction crew. Opening his browser, he began a search of the company. He searched around and found files on every employee. The search stopped when the name Charles came up. That was the name Katherine said to the man.

Taking the one file, he searched up everything that he could find on Charles. He had to go deep into the system before finding a top-secret file that was on Charles. Only needing seconds to hack in, which would take a normal person days if not weeks to hack into, he was found by the military as an infant in what looked to like an incubator with a symbol on his left shoulder. The military had sent the infant to a local family who was raised as one of their own children. No one ever questioned his unusual marking.

Knowing he now needed to speak with Optimus, but had to do it when Katherine wasn't around, his attention was brought back to the sobbing woman, he carefully placed a finger against her back. His finger lightly rubbed her back. He opened his browser once again and began to search for ways to calm the woman down. He came across a website able to download music. He carefully picked some music that was said to help people when they were stressed. When the music was downloaded, it began to softly play from his radio.

Katherine slowly realized there was soft instrumental music playing from somewhere above her. She was all worn out from crying. Her sobs turned to sniffles but the tears still continued to fall. Her voice was completely lost from her crying.

"I know this hurts," Ironhide started, attentively. "I lost someone I loved too. Her name was Chromia. I lost her to the Decepticons."

Katherine wanted to say something but she didn't have the voice. She continued to silently sob over her lost boyfriend, no longer able to scream in hysterics, as Ironhide continued to gently rub her back. How he was able to it, she didn't know.

"I also lost someone today that was a dear friend too. You saw him being held by Optimus. He was known as Jazz and he was the second Lieutenant. He lost his life fighting Megatron."

In the distance, Ironhide could hear sirens. He knew he had to move and fast. "I don't want to rush you. But we need to get out of here. I can't be seen."

Katherine would not move and it frustrated the Autobot as the sirens drew closer. He sighed angrily before transforming. She was being too stubborn. At least the authorities will be able to make her move.

"Good god," Ironhide heard someone say. He watched as a medical team quickly came on to the scene there was also another group. He read the letters on their vests saying 'CSI'. He had no idea what the letters meant.

"Excuse me, miss."

Ironhide noticed he was wearing a police uniform.

She slowly raised her head and glared at the man.

"Any idea what happened here?"

"The same thing that happened in the city?"

Ironhide looked and saw Captain Lennox.

The cop looked at the military officer. "This is a massacre."

"That I will agree with." Lennox looked very saddened but he had to an officer first before allowing his grief to come out. He was so glad he did not live anywhere near here. It made him grateful he lived in the country.

Another cop came up behind Katherine and pulled her off the dead man. Finding her vocals, she began to scream and struggle.

"He's dead," the cop said. "We have to secure the scene."

"Charles! Charles!" she continued to scream.

Captain Lennox moved swiftly and pulled Katherine to him. She still continued to scream and struggle. She yanked her arms free, flaying them out trying to reach the body. No one noticed as the Topkick's passenger door opened, allowing Lennox to put his sister in. He barely got her in, before the door slammed shut and locked. She tried to push the door open but to no avail. Lennox moved towards one of his officers for a moment and then went back over to the Topkick, getting in the driver's seat. The engine revved and carefully the vehicle made its way away from the scene.

Once Ironhide was far enough away, he gunned it to meet up with the others. He was getting really annoyed at the woman who would not stop screaming and trying to get out. Even Lennox was annoyed but he did nothing to stop her. He just covered his ear. Eventually Katherine's screams quieted it down.

Lennox turned to his sister to say something but he noticed she was asleep. He sighed in defeat. He looked back at the road. "What happened?"

"Once we got out of the city, we stopped. She ran off and I followed only to be stopped by the Decepticons handy work. She must have known the man that she hunched over. Who was he?"

"He was her boyfriend. They had been living together for the past three years. She met him 10 years ago when she was in university."

"Well that explains why she resisted to leave."

"Where are you the others?"

"Knowing your local law enforcement would arrive, Optimus left me with her to later catch up."

"Where are you to meet up with them?"

"Optimus will send me the coordinates. All he wants to do right now is get away from prying eyes."

"I can't blame him," Lennox said. "She'll probably sleep most of the way there."

"What was it that she called you?"

"William but she has always called me Will. I told my teammates to contact me when we are to be debriefed. In the meantime, I'm going to see to the well being of my sister. She has lost much today."

The rest of the drive was silent as Ironhide drove towards the setting of the sun. He had a long drive ahead of him and he wasn't going to stop unless he had to. He wanted to be with his other comrades before his female passenger woke. He didn't want to deal with another screaming fit as his audio receptors could be damaged and he didn't want to be stuck in the infirmary any more than he had to.

Though he was annoyed at the woman, he felt sorry for her. Her loss reminded him of the day he lost his mate, Chromia. It had happened before Megatron left to chase after the All Spark. Of course Megatron was the one who ordered the hit to be done in the first place and it was someone else who took her life, but it might as well have been Megatron who pulled the trigger.

His thoughts were interrupted when the passenger seat jolted. The woman was in discomfort and he was slightly shaking. He slowly tilted his seat downward so she wasn't sleeping sitting up. Lennox grabbed his backpack that he thrown in the back seat, which Ironhide did not notice. He pulled it opened and pulled out a small blanket and draped it over Katherine. He sat back in his seat and relaxed; waiting for nightfall to hit so he could sleep. There was nothing more he could do. The crisis was over and now he could a moment to grieve over his comrades who died in Qatar.